Top 10 2014 Debuts I'm Excited For

Another Tuesday another The Broke and Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday. Today I will be telling you the debuts I am looking forward to over the coming year. Click on the images and you will be brought straight to the book's Goodreads page where you can check out the synopsis.

1. The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings: This book has been talked about a lot in the booksphere so I am really excited for this one. It seems to be a pretty dark story filled with assassins and murders and I like my dark stories. A LOT.
2. Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge: I have to admit that I am obsessed with fairytale re-tellings and I have been since college when I studied Angela Carter's work (if you like fairytale re-tellings I recommend you check out this author). This book is a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast and this is another one that has been all over the book blogs.
3. Prisoner of Night and Fog: Asides from the gorgeous cover this is a story about WWII and I just can't get enough of that genre. I studied history in college and I was particularly interested in WWII and I have even been to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland. I can't wait to see what this book has to offer.
4. Hexed by Michelle Krys: I love any kind of paranormal book really, witches, werewolves, vampire, ANYTHING. This is a story about witches, which I actually haven't read much of. It appears to be a more witty and fun story while still drama-packed - have to have a bit of action at all times.
5. Midnight Thief by Livia Blackbourne: Female, kick-ass assassin portagonist, need I say more. I really, really wanted to love Throne of Glass because I love assassins and I love the whole medieval type setting. I, however, really did not like that book even a tiny bit so I am really hoping that this book makes up for the disappointment of ToG.
6. Salvage by Alexandra Duncan: Being honest here I say the words "will appeal to fans of the Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood" and I was sold. I love Margaret Atwood for her thought provoking works on the role of men and women in society. I know this book is YA,so it won't be exactly up there with Atwood, I am sold on a good story about a women struggling in a male dominated society.
7. Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano: This book is very different from what I normally read because it is not dystopian or paranormal, it's a thriller. However, I chose the book because it sounded dark and ominous (always a plus) and because the girl lives in a trailer park and her mom's a stripper, definitely something different and I am really excited to get my hands on this one.
8. Half Bad by Sally Green: This is another book involving witches but the reason I chose this one is because it is told from the point of view of a male. Hallelujah. I sometimes find (and I really hate when authors do this) that the female protagonist in a story is always so whiny and pathetic; males on the other hand are rarely portrayed that way and so sometimes I like to read from the male perspective. It is different to the usual YA female main character that I am used to.
9. Scintillate by Tracey Clark: Not going to lie I saw the words Ireland and Irish in the synopsis on Goodreads and I immediately clicked want to read. So few books are set in Ireland, or contain Irish characters and, if there are Irish characters, they are usually padding characters who are the stereotypical ginger-haired joker/drunk...that does not appeal to me. There is also some paranormal activity going on in this book so it's a must read for me.
10. Creed by Trisha Leaver: This one has no cover yet, hence why you didn't see it above (find a link to the book's Goodreads page here. This story is basically a thriller involving a cult. Do I need to say anymore? I love any story that involves cults. I find them incredibly disturbing but they make for a really fascinating read.

So they are my Top 10 debuts I am excited for. If you have any recommendations please leave them in the comments below. Also, if you have a blog post on this topic, leave a link in the comments and I would only be glad to check it out. Until next time :)

Review: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Published: June 5th 2012
Pages: 358
Book blurb:

FOR A THOUSAND YEARS THE ASH FELL. 
For a thousand years, the Skaa slaved in misery and lived in fear. For a thousand years, the Lord Ruler reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror, divinely invincible. Every attempted revolt has failed miserably.

YET SOMEHOW HOPE SURVIVES.
A new kind of uprising is being planned, one that depends on the cunning of a brilliant criminal mastermind and the courage of an unlikely heroine, a Skaa street urchin, who must learn to master Allomancy, the power of a mistborn.

What if the prophesied hero had failed to defeat the dark lord? The answer will be found in the Mistborn triology, a saga of surprises that begins here.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, in fact, I absolutely LOVED it. I have always been a fan of the epic fantasy genre, but for the past year I seem to have neglected the genre altogether. This book has completely reignited my love of fantasy and I have Regan from the Peruse Project to thank for recommending this book on her channel. There are so many reasons why this book is one of my favourites.

First off is the incredible and thorough world-building. This story has such a rich background with one of the most original magic systems I have ever had the pleasure to read. While the world is incredibly complex, it is explained so simply and completely that it was easy to understand (and, in fact, very believable!). Throughout the book the language  is direct and easy to read which I much prefer to the flowery, convoluted language used by many authors.

The characters in this story are FANTASTIC. While the story is told from the point of view of just two characters, Vin and Kelsier, the other characters in the novel are just as well-developed. The main band of characters (Kelsier's crew) each had completely independent characterizations from the loyal and stoic Sazed to the philosophical Ham. The antagonist (The Lord Ruler) was a terrifying enemy with complete control over the entire world; evil to the very core. The descriptions of the Inquisitors with metal disks protruding from their eyes was also incredibly disturbing and added to the feeling of terror surrounding the Lord Ruler.

I found the plot of the story extremely clever; there were so many unexpected twists and turns and I was completely in the dark when it came to the solution of the final conflict. I also loved the use of the diary entry style headers at the beginning of each chapter which added to the final twist at the end of the story.

The only problem I had with the story was the romance. While it did not overwhelm the plot by any means it could easily be described as inst-love and in turn caused the characters involved in the romance (no spoilers here) into complete and utter fools; all rational thoughts are thrown out the window. This was such a minor part of the story that it did not take away from my love of this book.

RATING: 5 STARS

If you love books with rich world-building and well-rounded characters, a fantastic and clever plot with plenty of action, then you will love this book too.

Have you read The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson. What were your thoughts?

WWW Wednesday (January 8th)

WWW Wednesday is hosted by Miz B at Should be Reading  

To play along, just answer the following three questions:

1. What are you currently reading?

2. What did you recently finish reading?

3. What do you think you will read next?

1. What are you currently reading?

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken
Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her her life. Now she must call upon them on a daily basis, leading dangerous missions to bring down a corrupt government and breaking into the minds of her enemies. Other kids in the Children’s League call Ruby “Leader”, but she knows what she really is: a monster. When Ruby is entrusted with an explosive secret, she must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: leaving the Children’s League behind. Crucial information about the disease that killed most of America’s children—and turned Ruby and the others who lived into feared and hated outcasts—has survived every attempt to destroy it. But the truth is only saved in one place: a flashdrive in the hands of Liam Stewart, the boy Ruby once believed was her future—and who now wouldn’t recognize her. As Ruby sets out across a desperate, lawless country to find Liam—and answers about the catastrophe that has ripped both her life and America apart—she is torn between old friends and the promise she made to serve the League. Ruby will do anything to protect the people she loves. But what if winning the war means losing herself? (Goodreads Synopsis)

I am about 60% of the way through this book and I have loved it from the very first page. This book is just WOW. I have so many feelings rushing through me as I read it and that's when I know a book has me hooked. I am emotionally invested in all the characters and can't wait to see how the story ends.

2. What did you recently finish?

The Diviners by Libba Bray

Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult. Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer. As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened.(Goodreads Synopsis)

I gave this book 3.5 stars. I just did not love this book. The characters were questionable, Evie was entertaining but incredibly selfish, Jericho was the handsome male with a dark secret yet still happened to be the most boring character, one of my favourite characters actually happened to be Sam Lloyd, he was funny, entertaining and cheeky. What I liked about the book was that it was set in the 1920s, one of favourite eras. The book was very different from anything I ever read but I just was not emotionally invested in this one I am afraid.

3. What do you think you will read next?

The Well of Ascension by Branden Sanderson

The Goodreads synopsis has a spoiler to the first book in it so I don't want to ruin the series for anyone who hasn't read it. This is the second book in The Mistborn Triology and here is the Goodreads synopsis for the first book (A thousand years ago evil came to the land. A dark lord rules through the aristocratic families and ordinary folk labor as slaves in volcanic ash fields. A troublemaker arrives. A rumored revolt depends on an untrustworthy criminal and a young girl who must master Allomancy, metal magic.

The first book in this series was one of my all time favourite books and has really reignited my love for the fantasy genre. I just picked up the book today and I can't wait to start reading it. I f you haven't read the first book yet I highly recommend it. While it isn't technically classed as a YA book I do think it is suitable for those who enjoy YA. If you are a particularly young YA reader I would not recommend it, however, as there is plenty of violence in it. If you are looking for a book with a strong romance in the story this will also not be your cuppa tea.

 If you have also taken part in this weeks meme, leave a link in the comments below and I would be happy to check yours out :)

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Published: June 5th 2012
Pages: 358
Book blurb:

The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka.

Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be the key to unravelling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free?

The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfill her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him.

But what of Mal, Alina’s childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can’t she ever quite forget him?

Now, where to start my review of this book. So many people have absolutely loved this book and it has countless gushing reviews on Goodreads, however, for me this book was incredibly disappointing. In saying that, I did not hate this book, nor was I bored by the story and so I finished the book in no time. However, there are so many aspects to this book that disappointed me. I am first going to begin by telling you what made me pick this book up in the first place. One of the first places I heard this book mentioned was on Regan's youtube channel (PeruseProject). She showed the book during a haul, describing it as a story based around magic and the Russian culture.As I had not yet read a book involving Russian elements I was intrigued and wanted to check the book out on Goodreads. This seemed to be a love or hate book for most, but mostly love and so I went with the hype and picked up the book. Unfortunately with hype comes high expectations and for me, the book just did not live up to them. There were several aspects to the story that bothered me and these will be outlined below.

Firstly, I found the link to Russian culture confusing. The only way I saw this book to have Russian elements was in the names of the people and places. The world building was seriously lacking in this story. Before picking up the book I imagined the setting to be a medieval Russia (and here is where I have to admit my knowledge on that subject is seriously lacking), however, for me, the setting was non-existent, the only area described in detail being the shadow fold and funnily enough this is the area I had most trouble with imagining. Was the Shadow Fold over sea, or was it sand? I was sure the sea was mentioned and also a boat but then they mentioned crossing the sands and I just lost all hope of understanding. Often in books I tend to imagine aspects of the book different to how it was intended but it is very rare for me to not to be able to conjure up any image at all, and unfortunately this happened me a great deal in this book. When Mal and Alina were living in the Duke's house I imagined the world to be set in the Victorian Era (yes, England). Then, when the two characters are in the army, I imagined the time period to be more medieval. This jumped again when Alina went to the palace, which seemed to be a far more modern setting. Can you tell I was a little confused by this book? I also wish that Bardugo had explained the magic in the story. There is little explanation of how Alina comes to wield her power and become more powerful and no explanation is given to explain why certain people are gifted with magic and where the magic comes from (before reading Brandon Sanderson's The Final Empire I may not have seen this as a problem).

So, the confusion and lack of world building was a problem and so too was my hatred for the protagonist. Characters such as Genya, the Darkling and Mal would have been far better protagonists as they had much more depth and intrigue to them then Alina. She is obsessed with how she looks throughout the novel and comments on the looks of others constantly, below are just two examples of this:

               " I had barely unlocked the door when it flew open and a tall girl pushed past me surveying                 the room and then me with a critical eye. She was easily the most beautiful girl I had ever                   seen."

               "I'd learnt  to avoid mirrors. They never seemed to show me what I wanted to see. But the                     girl standing next to Genya in the glass was a stranger. She had rosy cheeks and shiny hair                 and...a shape. I could have stared at her for hours." (The words "Get over yourself" come to                   mind here.)

If Bardugo had concentrated more on Alina honing her abilities and going into detail about her training, rather then discussing how much she now loved to wear makeup and dresses, I feel Alina's character may have had more substance.

One thing I was incredibly grateful for was the fact that the romance in the story did not overshadow the plot. Insta-love and romance filled plotlines are two of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to YA fiction. The romance in this story was much more believable and even had a twist to it which was unexpected and I really did enjoy that.

I seem to have completely slated this book and I did not mean to do so. I find that I may be being slightly unfair. While reading the book I enjoyed the story, I didnt by any means love it, but I wanted to continue reading, unlike some books which I have to force myself to finish. However, following this book I decided to pick up Brandon Sanderson's "The Final Empire" and WOW. This was one of my all-time favourite books with amazing characters and world-building which made me look at Shadow and Bone with a far more critical eye.

If you like the premise of the story I would encourage you to pick up the book and read it for yourself . This book was not for me but was still an enjoyable read and so it gets:

RATING: 2.5 STARS

If you yourself have read this book, what was your opinion? Also, if you have a review on this book leave a link in the comments and I will be sure to check it out :)

Top Ten Tuesday - 2014 Bookish Resolutions

Today I decided to join The Broke and Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday. Click on the link and you will be able to find a list of their future Top Ten Tuesday topics and links to their previous memes. Today's Top Ten Tuesday is my book related resolutions for 2014. So, without further ado, in 2014 I am going to:


1. Blog, blog, blog: As I am new to the blogging world, my biggest aim for the New Year is to keep blogging  and reviewing books and all that good stuff. I have a tendency to start things with great intentions and then, once I realise how hard it is, I give up. Not this year!
2. Reread the entire Harry Potter series: It has been a very, very long time since I have marathoned this series and I am ashamed to say that I have most likely forgotten several aspects to the books . This needs to be corrected immediately as this series is my all time favourite. I have so many unread books on my shelves and because of this books I have read previously get neglected.
3. Don't let my TBR shelf get too big: It happens to the best of us, we buy our books in bulk and then keep buying and buying, somehow forgetting that we do in fact have a life and a job and various other responsibilities which hinder reading and thus end up with a pile of books gone unread.
4. Not buy so many books: This one goes hand in hand with number 3. If I focus on reading my TBR shelf and only my TBR shelf then I won't need to buy new books until they are all read. Yep, that means I am on a book buying ban until I read all my TBRs. This one is going to be tough.
5. Start and complete The Percy Jackson series: I have been wanting to start this series for well over a year now and still have not gotten around to it. One of my best friends highly recommends the series, along with every YA book lover. I have been putting off reading it because I worry that I will find it too childish and will give up on it before it gets to The Heroes of Olympus series which is what I am most looking forward to.
6. Join the library: Yes, you read that right, I am not a member of any library. The main reason for this being that I love to collect my books and don't ever want to part with them. However, I happen to be saving for my masters degree which I will be starting in September this year; leaving me with little to no money to spend on books.
7. Read 80 books this year: On my Goodreads profile I thought I would be hardcore and put down that I would like to read 100 books this year...what was I thinking? With a full time job and college coming up in September I don't think I will have THAT much time for reading, so I am going to lower my goal to 80 books which is still a large amount but hey, aim high right?
8. Read more Fantasy books: I love YA fiction but being someone who has an extremely low tolerance for romance in books I can get very frustrated by the genre. I love action, fighting, suspense and so of course I love the fantasy genre. Lately, however, I have found that I have been reading about 90% YA and 10% Fantasy. (Unfortunately I won't be able to start this until my TBR shelf is read and the book buying ban is lifted because I have very few fantasy books at the moment).
9. Read the Game of Thrones Series: This one links in with the last point on reading more Fantasy. I am a huge fan of the Game of Thrones tv series and I have so far read the first book in the series and started the second. I found it hard to read them as I had already watched the series and knew exactly what was going to happen. Time to plough through and get ahead of the series.
10. Review books when I finish them: This seems like a logical enough thing to do, however, I never seem to be able to manage it. If I don't review the book right away I tend to forget everything that happened in the story, I will even blank on character and place names. To write the best reviews I can I need to be on the ball!

Phew. That is a long list. I never EVER make resolutions at the turn of the New Year (except maybe I am never ever drinking again, but we all say that) and so this is going to be tough for me to accomplish.

If you have a list of your 2014 Bookish Resolutions feel free to leave me a link in the comments and I would love to check it out.

Favourite Young Adult Booktubers

Here we have a list of my all-time favourite Booktubers. I love reading book blogs but I am sometimes very lazy and find it much easier to watch video reviews. 

First up is Katytastic. Kat was the first booktuber I ever subscribed to. Her videos include book reviews, hauls, wrap ups and tips for writing. Her videos are not too long and rambly and she has a great sense of humour too. She also uploads videos regularly so you don't have to wait too long for new videos. Kat's books are mainly paranormal/fantasy/sci-fi/dystopian etc. with the odd contemporary book thrown in. So, if you are mainly interested in YA contemporary then Kat might not be the booktuber for you. Below you will find a video of Kat's bookshelves so you can get an overview of the genres of books she reads. If you like what you see, don't forget to subscribe!

Next up we have Bookables. Heather is another of my favourites, partly due to her lovely personality, while also due to her amazing taste in books. Heather uploads similar videos to Kat including book reviews, hauls etc while also uploading videos on TV series. While Katytastic's reviews and hauls are mostly YA dystopian, paranormal, etc., Heather is equally interested in these, and contemporary books. So, if you are a big fan of both the supernatural and contemporary books Bookables is the booktuber for you. Here is a video where Heather explains her channel in her own words:

Booktuber No. 3 is Ali from Abookaffair. Ali's booktube is quite similar in content to Bookables. I would say Ali reads a mixture of all kinds of YA books and uploads reviews, hauls, wrap ups and tbrs. Here is abookaday's bookshelf tour, again, allowing you to have an insight into the kinds of books hauled and reviewed on this booktube.

Another great YA fiction booktuber is Kassidy Voinche from Travelling through pages. Kassidy has an extremly large collection of books so it is well worth checking out her bookshelf tour which you can find here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdsu_ZFnxbY. Below you will find Kassidy's video introducing you to her channel so you can find out a little more about her booktube.

Last, but certainly not least, we have Regan from the PeruseProject. If I had to choose my all time favourite booktuber it would be Regan. Her videos are entertaining, to the point and I always get excited when I see one of her videos pop up on my subscription feed. Regan, also, has a very similar taste in books to me. She is mostly interested in paranormal, fantasy and dystopian, but also features other YA fiction too. Here is Regan's bookshelf tour which will give you a better insight into her taste in books.

Those are my top five favourite booktubers. Below you will find a list of all the other booktubers I am subscribed to:

1. PolandbananasBooks: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOkc2PP2lPDUMLg0p6rGGDQ

2. LittleBookOwl: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYOhq5F-joK8qQPekd-jU1g

3. MajiBookshelf: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUQ_SZ7WgeJSIP08b1uCvYA

4. padfootandprongs07: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ_kIyREYl_9tkjdIqqXmOA

5. Books&Junk: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEsEFe_KPkk2jVzyojpFVwA

6. SarahChurchill: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfopfwSIf1h5-Th2pExUdRA

7. The Readables: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWAtADn9MGtTmace0M4nT2g

8. ReaderLand: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC91NwiJP9aNrlGZLZpaZMyw

9. AmateurBookWorm: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkf8HmbhKayEd-5YJqTxGEg

10: Abookaday: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA2hpPAWXRLa6lLKCe2CCww

11. TheBookDiary: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQNSNEl1ZZzaakc5d9qhFyA

12. BethJune237: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCskEiNx6NIghrqF2Hy0dd6w

I hope this post was helpful to those of you looking for new booktubers to subscribe to. If you have any recommendations please leave them below.

Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit - Happy New Year

The Best Young Adult Books of 2013

As it is the last day of 2013 I decided today would be the perfect time to give a run down of the best young adult books I read in the year.

This list was going to be in order, then I realised I loved all these books so much that I couldn't possibly choose my favourite. So, let's begin.

BOOK ONE:

The first book on my list is the final book of the Infernal Devices Trilogy. I loved the story, loved the outcome and really enjoyed the series as a whole.

Title: Clockwork Princess
Author: Cassandra Clare
Published: March 19th 2013
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pages: 570
Goodreads Synopsis: A net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. Mortmain plans to use his Infernal Devices, an army of pitiless automatons, to destroy the Shadowhunters. He needs only one last item to complete his plan: he needs Tessa Gray.

Charlotte Branwell, head of the London Institute, is desperate to find Mortmain before he strikes. But when Mortmain abducts Tessa, the boys who lay equal claim to her heart, Jem and Will, will do anything to save her. For though Tessa and Jem are now engaged, Will is as much in love with her as ever.

As those who love Tessa rally to rescue her from Mortmain’s clutches, Tessa realizes that the only person who can save her is herself. But can a single girl, even one who can command the power of angels, face down an entire army?

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment, and the tangled threads of love and loss intertwine as the Shadowhunters are pushed to the very brink of destruction in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.
BOOK TWO:

The next favourite read of 2013 was not one that expected to be on this list. I absolutely devoured this book. Loved the characters and the story line and Holly Black's twist on vampires.

Title: Coldest Girl in Coldtown
Author: Holly Black
Published: September 3rd 2013
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 419
Goodreads Synopsis: Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave.

One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black.

BOOK THREE:

This next book I actually only read recently even though it has been released since 2012. I was afraid to pick this book up as I am not a big fan of insta-love and everything about this book pointed to that. However, I did really enjoy this book. There were times when the love story was a bit overpowering for me but I enjoyed the story and loved the male protagonist Alex.

Title: Delirium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Published: February 7th 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 441
Goodreads Synopsis: Ninety-five days, and then I'll be safe. I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. I want to get it over with. It's hard to be patient. It's hard not to be afraid while I'm still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn't touched me yet. Still, I worry. They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness. The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don't.

BOOK FOUR:

This was another book that I could not put down. I read this in nearly one sitting if I remember correctly. I love dystopian novels with kick-ass protagonists and this book is one such novel. I loved the character of Day, while not a huge fan of June. It was a fast paced novel full of twist and turns and plenty of drama, with a love story that didn't overshadow the plot.

Title: Legend
Author: Marie Lu
Published: November 29th 2011
Publisher: Putnum Juvenille
Pages: 320
Goodreads Synopsis: What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. 

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets. 

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills. 

BOOK FIVE:

When I first picked up this next book I was unsure about how I would feel about it. From reading the blurb I knew the book was narrated by death. At first I found it slightly confusing but as I read on I loved the narration style as it was so different from all the other books I have read. I am not an overly emotional person but this book had me sobbing. It was a beautiful and heart wrenching story that I recommend everyone to read.

Title: The Book Thief
Author: Markus Zusack
Published: March 14th 2006
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 552
Goodreads Synopsis: It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.

Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. 

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak, author of I Am the Messenger, has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.

BOOK SIX:

This next book is another dystopian novel, with great characters and an excellent plot line. I have an in-depth review of the book which you can find here: http://theirishbookworm.blogspot.ie/



Title: Slated
Author: Teri Terry
Published: May 3rd 2012
Publisher: Orchard Books
Pages: 448
Goodreads Synopsis: Kyla’s memory has been erased,
her personality wiped blank,
her memories lost for ever.

She’s been Slated.

The government claims she was a terrorist and that they are giving her a second chance - as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla’s mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in her search for the truth?


BOOK SEVEN:

The last but by no means least is The Darkest Minds. This was another book I devoured in about two sittings. It was action packed from the very beginning and the characters were realistic (ok, not the powers part, but in their actions). While this book had a little bit of a love story which is ok in my books, it wasn't the be all and end all. I really dislike books whose story line is the love story leaving no plot line and thankfully this was not one of those stories.

Title: The Darkest Minds
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Published: December 18th 2012
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 488
Goodreads Synopsis: When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.


Those were my seven favourite reads of 2013. What were your favourite books this year?

Marry, Kiss, Cliff Tag - YA Books

Today I am going to do the Marry, Kiss, Cliff tag. I first saw this tag on the Bookables youtube (find her here: http://www.youtube.com/user/Bookables) and it looked like so much fun that I had to do it for myself. The basic premise of this tag is to pick three guys and say whether you will marry, kiss or cliff them.

So, there are various different ways of doing this tag but my spin on it was to just write a list of male characters from random books on my shelves, pop all their names in a teacup (yes, a teacup) and then pulled three names out at time deciding whether to marry, kiss or cliff them.

So here we go,
Round One: Simon (The Mortal Instruments Series), Harry Potter (....you know) and Gansey (The Raven Boys)

Ahhh...now this was a tough one because I am not a huge fan of any of these boys. I am going to have to:
Marry: Simon, but only after he becomes a vampire because before that he is just pathetic
Kiss: Gansey, because he is hot but so annoying (kiss and run....)
Cliff: Harry, sorry Harry but you are so self righteous and a pain in the butt.


Round Two: Jace (The Mortal Instruments Series), Day (The Legend Series) and Gale (The Hunger Games)

Now this one was easy. I will:
Marry: Jace, because he is cool, cheeky, fun, badass and a nice guy underneath it all, what more could you want.
Kiss: Day, because, like Jace, he is pretty badass but a nice guy, a little too nice for me hence why Jace wins first place ;)
Cliff: Gale, and I don't even feel sorry...


 

Round Three: Aspen (The Selection), Four (The Divergent Series) and Christian (The Vampire Academy Series)



This was another tough choice for me as I like all of these characters.
Marry: Aspen, he is tough and strong and has a lot of ambition, I like that.
Kiss: Christian, his bad boy status and broodiness just makes him hot
Cliff: It kills me to say this but it has to be Four....sorry Four



Round Four: Alex (Delirium), Ben (Slated) and Edward (The Twilight Series)


Too easy.
Marry: Alex, someone who would risk his life for mine - marriage material.
Kiss: Ben, because he is six foot and hot.
Cliff: Edward, so much hate for him.





Round Five: Draco Malfoy (Harry Potter Series), Gabriel (Wither), and Peeta (The Hunger Games)


Now this is a weird group...
Marry: Gabriel, because he is lovely but not as pathetic as Peeta.
Kiss: Draco....yes, he is a bad boy and is played by Tom Felton in the movie enough said.
Cliff: Peeta, most painful and pathetic male character, EVER.




Round Six: Liam (The Darkest Minds), Raphael (The Coldest Girl in Coldtown) and Dimitri (The Vampire Academy)

The hardest decision here was between Raphael and Liam. While Liam is lovely there is something weirdly attractive about Raphael. But, I will have to:
Marry: Liam, because he can move things with his mind; he would be handy to have around.
Kiss: Raphael, weirdly attracted to Raphael, even when he was crazy...
Cliff: Dimitri, far too uptight for my liking and follows the rules way too much.


Round Seven: Ron Weasley (Harry Potter), Maxon (The Selection) and Will (The Infernal Devices Series)



Another no-brainer.
Marry: Will, marry me now, perfect male character.
Kiss: Maxon, cause he is hot.
Cliff: Ron, sorry but he would make a great friend if I didn't have to cliff him.



This tag was a lot of fun. Round three was by far the hardest choice I had to make, can't believe I cliffed Four, so sad. I also learnt that I have terrible taste in men, why do bad boys have to be so darn attractive? Who would you marry, kiss or cliff?

A Review of Slated by Teri Terry

Today I am here with a review of Slated by Teri Terry - spoiler free.

Title: Slated
Author: Teri Terry
Publisher: Orchard Books
Published: 2012
Pages: 439


Book blurb:

"Kyla's memory has been erased, her personality wiped blank, her memories lost forever.

She's been slated.

The Government claims she was a terrorist, and that they are giving her a second chance - as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla's mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in her search for the truth?"



Review:

This is a dystopian novel set in 2054. The novel takes place mainly in the countryside outside of London. Kyla, the protagonist of the story has been slated; her memories and personality have all been wiped clean. Those who have been slated are believed to be criminals and terrorists, and all are under the age of sixteen. Lorders rule with an iron fist while the terrorists aim to gain control with violence. As the story progresses, Kyla begins to slowly understand that things are not what they seem and that she happens to be different to other slaters.

I found the characters in the story extremely interesting. At the beginning of the novel the characters appeared to be simple and two dimensional - those that were kind to Kyla and those who were not. However, as the novel progress the characters became far more complex and I realised, along with Kyla, that everyone was not who they first appeared to be. 

My one problem with this book, and it is a small problem, was the insta-love between Ben and Kyla. In 439 pages only an extremely small amount of time passes, around a month. From the moment he sees her Ben appears to be drawn towards Kyla and of course Kyla too begins to fall for Ben. Although this instant chemistry is highly unlikely (call me cynical) it did not over power the story as many young adult romances do. The focus of the story was not totally on the romance between the main characters but more so Kyla's discoveries. Kyla does not become a "Bella" (think New Moon and Bella pinning over Edward - pathetic). Her relationship with Ben does not cloud her judgement and have her running wholly into danger (well, not all the time anyway). 

Kyla is likable because she is realistic; she does not jump into danger head first to become the hero which I find to be far more realistic. She is also not completely pathetic; she is able to protect herself in the face of danger, and others, including men. Finally, a female character who is not, either, a damsel-in-distress or the perfect warrior woman who runs head first into danger because of a man (and yes I am talking about Caelena from The Throne of Glass). 

The ending of the novel was fantastic and came as a complete shock to me. I will most definitely be picking up Fractured, the second book in the series. 

Rating: 5 stars

Book Haul - December 2013

Here are some of the books I have bought so far in December....

All of these books were bought in Chapters in Dublin, except for Graceling which was gifted to me by sister.

During my trip to Dublin I had to make a pit stop (or two) in Chapters bookstore. I had read reviews online about the store and just had to see it for myself. As someone who lives in a town with one teeny bookstore I was in heaven when I walked through the doors. The downstairs comprises of new books (lots and lots of new books), while upstairs contains a fairly large volume of secondhand books. My first stop was the secondhand books. I went straight to the young adult section where I managed to find a copy of Slated by Teri Terry in perfect condition for only 3.99:

This book tells the story of Kyla whose memory and personality has been wiped. Children under sixteen years of age who have been violent or involved in terrorist activities are sent to the hospital where their memories are wiped clean in order to give them a second chance to be a better citizen. However, everything is not what it seems and echoes of Kyla's past haunt her. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12743472-slated

The YA second hand section was not very large and this was the only book on my TBR that I found, and so, I retreated downstairs. Even though I bought the rest of the books in the "general", new book section I got all these books, except for The Final Empire, for discounted prices due to a sale that was on at the time. The best bargain I found in the YA section was this hardcover copy of The Diviners by Libba Bray for 4.99:

This book has been all over booktube and so I just had to pick it up. I am not too sure what the story details however I do know it is set in the 1920s in New York during the time of the speakeasies and so I just had to have it. You can find a description of the book and several reviews here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7728889-the-diviners?from_search=true

The next book I picked up was Forsaken by Jana Oliver (The first book in The Demon Trappers series). When I saw this for only 3.99 I had to get it of course. This was another book that was on my TBR list, mainly because the Goodreads book description reminded me of The Mortal Instruments series. 

This book is about Demons and of course "demon trappers". One such demon trapper being the protagonist 17 year old Riley. By the sounds of it (correct me if I am wrong) women are not usually allowed become demon trappers, however, due to the increasing numbers of demons in Riley's city she is welcomed into the guild. Find more info about this book here:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8534899-forsaken?from_search=true

One of my favourite purchases of this book haul was The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson:

Regan from Peruse Project (find her videos here http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy6Qlkv2hif7KPtmMmNUGUw) raved about this book and mentioned it recently in one of her book hauls. It is the first book in the Mistborn series. This book basically follows the story of what happens when evil triumphs good. The immortal Lord Ruler has oppressively ruled over the land for the past thousand years...and so the story begins. Find a far better overview of this book here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68428.Mistborn?from_search=true

Can I first just say how ugly this cover is? Never judge a book by the cover they say but with a name like "Dark Lover" and a review from "Vampire Genre" saying "these vampires are hot"....it was very difficult for me to buy this book. However, it was in my TBR and happened to be 4.99 so here it is:

All I know about this book is that it is about vampires and that it has a really high rating on Goodreads (4.24) hence why I bought it! Find a detailed synopsis here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42899.Dark_Lover?from_search=true

This next book is either loved or hated in the booktube community. The premise of the book sounded interesting and so for 4.99 I said why not pick it up:

In this world, at the age of sixteen everyone has an operation that turns you from an "ugly" into a "pretty" and from there on out the only job you have is to look pretty. Sounds good right? Well not for everyone. The protagonist's friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. Shay would rather live life on the outside and remain an "ugly". The protagonist learns about the harsh realities of the "pretty" world when Shay runs away, and the authorities tell her: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Read the reviews here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24770.Uglies?from_search=true

This is another book I picked up after watching one of Regan's hauls:

I know very little about this book except that it is set in Russia (awesome) and involves magic (again, awesome). Find a far more detailed synopsis here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10194157-shadow-and-bone?from_search=true

Please excuse the following photo, for some reason this photo just would not upload correctly. This book was in my Goodreads TBR-but not right away list. However, I picked it up anyway as it was only 3.99 - How could I say no?

I know next to nothing about this book so here is Goodreads description: "While the other girls in the walled city-state of Baalboden learn to sew and dance, Rachel Adams learns to track and hunt. While they bend like reeds to the will of their male Protectors, she uses hers for sparring practice. When Rachel's father fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the city's brutal Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector: her father's apprentice, Logan—the boy she declared her love to and who turned her down two years before. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can't be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making. (qtd. by Goodreads.com)"

This last book I received as a gift for my birthday from my little sister (again, this was on my TBR):

In this world there are Gracelings who have special skills. The protagonist Katsa, is a Graceling whose special skill is her ability to kill with her bare hands....and that's about all I know about this one. As always here is the link to the book's Goodreads profile:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3236307-graceling?from_search=true

They are all my books that I have gotten so far this month. I just recently placed an order with the Book Depository (find them here http://www.bookdepository.com/). I don't expect to receive these until after Christmas so I should have another haul up around then.

Nollaig shona duit (Happy Christmas)

November Wrap-Up 2013

Hey guys. This is going to be a really quick overview of the books I read this month. I will be reviewing a few of the books in further detail. This month was a good reading month for me. I read a total of ten books. 

The first book I read was Divergent by Veronica Roth. 

Pros: Quick and easy read with plenty of drama. 

Cons: Irritating female protagonist, run of the mill young adult romance. 

Overall Rating: 3.5 Stars

Recommend: Yes.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13335037-divergent?from_search=true

The next book I read was the Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead.

Pros: The female protagonist's humor, Christian

Cons: The love stories between the main characters, and some very irritating characters, namely Dimitri and  Lissa

Overall Rating: 3.5

Recommend: Yes. Mainly because I heard the second book is better, and the film will be released soon.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/345627.Vampire_Academy?from_search=true




Next book: Insurgent by Veronica Roth, the sequel to Divergent.

Pros: Again a quick read, mildly interesting, more world building

Cons: The "heroine" spends the entirety of the novel worrying about a boy and their relationship....

Overall: 3.5 stars

Recommend: Honestly, no. Especially when I know how terrible the third book in the series is.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11735983-insurgent?ac=1

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusack

Pros: The relationships between the characters, the story, EVERYTHING
Cons: Honestly, I loved this book so much I can not pick one.
Overall Rating: 5 stars
Recommend: 100 times YES!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19063.The_Book_Thief?ac=1




Prodigy by Marie Lu

Pros: The male protagonist, such an entertaining story
Cons: The Female protagonist
Overall Rating: 5 stars.
Recommend: Yes. This is the second book in the legend triology and each book is just as entertaining as the next.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13414446-prodigy?from_search=true




Wither by Lauren Destefano

Pros: Interesting dystopian story, female protaganist
Cons: The relationship between Rhine and Linden
Overall Rating: 4 stars
Recommend: Yes. I didn't rush out to buy the two other books in the trilogy but all in all it was an interesting read.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8525590-wither?from_search=true




The Selection by Kiera Cass

Pros: Aspen
Cons: Pathetic female protagonist, relationship between female protagonist and Prince Maxon, fluffy, girly, ridiculous
Overall Rating: 2 stars.
Recommend: No. Unless you enjoy girly books with little story and annoying, bratty girls who get what they want.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10507293-the-selection?from_search=true



A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers

Pros: None.
Cons: The characters, the lack of story, everything.
Overall Rating: 2 stars.
Recommend: No.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17786125-a-little-too-far?from_search=true





The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Pros: Everything. This was one of my favourite reads this month. I invested a great deal in the characters, vying for them from the off. The romance wasn't overbearing and the story was fast paced and interesting throughout the whole book.
Cons: None.
Overall Rating: 5 stars.
Recommend: Yes. I will be picking up the second book in the trilogy, Never Fade.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10576365-the-darkest-minds?from_search=true

My favourite book of the month was: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

Pros: My favourite aspect to this book was the female character Tana. She was extremely badass without being unrealistically so. The romance in the story again was not over powering and there were many different characters and relationships including gay, bisexual, lesbian and transgender which is thoroughly refreshing in a book.

Cons: That it is a stand-alone book.

Overall Rating: 5 stars.

Recommend: Yes.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12813630-the-coldest-girl-in-coldtown?from_search=true