Update and Apologies

Hello everyone! First I want to apologize for being gone for so long. That's why this is an update of sorts, to explain everything.

School for me has really been picking up as it's the end of my senior year and there's a bunch that still needs to get done. Along with that, there's a ton of things that came up for the college I'm attending in the fall, and that has been taking up a lot of my time as well.

Along with all of this, I've come to see that I was also putting a lot of pressure on myself to work on this blog, and it made it so I pretty much just quit. I still really really want to do this blog, but I don't think I should set high expectations on myself right off the bat. I think I should start out slower and not set restrictions and specifics for myself and just enjoy the blogging and reading experience. In fact, I was stressing myself over it so much that I ended up not reading much of anything the past few weeks. 

So basically, what I'm saying here is that I plan on still posting, just not every day. I'll post reviews as I finish books until I feel confident enough to start a review queue. That's when I hope the blog will really take off, because then if I get set back because of something it won't be a huge impact. For now though, I'll try to post reviews, as I said, and I'll try to keep up my Sunday updates. I plan on posting for Top Ten Tuesday and Waiting on Wednesday as well, but I can't promise posts on that for now. I also hope to post some other things as time goes on, but I don't have specifics for them at the moment. Really though, I need to get back into reading, as I have a ton to read and am excited to do so, but I want to read for enjoyment, not rush through so I can get a review up on my blog. 

So that's really all there is to it. I don't know how frequent the reviews will be, but they're coming. Hopefully people will still check out my blog and I can continue being a part of the book blog community!!

Waiting on Wednesday #4

Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #3) by Laini Taylor

Release Date: April 8, 2014

Summary: By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz.

Common enemy, common cause.

When Jael's brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people.

And, perhaps, for themselves. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love.

But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz ... something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.

What power can bruise the sky?

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy. 

At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?

Top Ten Tuesday #4

April 1: Top Ten "Gateway" Books/Authors In My Reading Journey (so your list could be a mix of a books that got you into reading, an author that got you into reading a genre you never thought you'd read, a book that brought you BACK into read)

1. Harry Potter series by J K Rowling - This series was one of the first that I ever read. I was so enamored with this series and it really showed me that outside of school reading can be fun!
2. A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket - This series was one that also really helped me see that reading was fun as a kid
3. Wicked Lovely Series by Melissa Marr - This series wasn't necessarily my first jump into Young Adult or anything, but it was the first series I really got into in a long time
4. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan -  I wasn't really reading much, but this series, along with a few other books, helped me get back into reading when I was in a really bad place, and I've been reading a lot ever since. This one was the most prominent in pulling me back in to reading at that time, which is why I picked to list this one.
5. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - Though I had read some contemporary novels before this, this book was really the one that got me to like them a lot more, and since then, while it's not too many, I've began reading more contemporary than I used to and tend to enjoy them all.
6. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - This book made me realize that I actually like books that take place a while back in time, whether it's paranormal or not. I used to not want to ever read historical fiction, but this book made me interested in that genre a lot more.
7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - This book made me realize that I didn't have to dislike every book that school made me read. I used to hold unnecessary grudges against books I was forced to read, but with this book I was able to push through that grudge and actually enjoy it. Though I'm still usually hard on school books (classics really aren't my kind of thing. I appreciate them but I wouldn't read them on my own), I have learned to like them more than I did before.

Musing Mondays #1

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it! 
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

Recently, I bought Miss Mabel's School for Girls by Katie Cross. I've seen posts about it from several blogs, and the concept peaked my interest. I hope to read it soon, especially since it just came out. I plan on reviewing it on my blog, which will be fun. I really hope it's good! It has a lot of potential, and I was really excited to buy it. Bonus, it was only $2.99 on Amazon! Though I have a nook, I downloaded the kindle app for books that are cheaper on Amazon, which will definitely come in handy and make me able to get more books!

Book Summary: Never underestimate the power of a determined witch.

Letum Wood is a forest of fog and deadfall, home to the quietly famous Miss Mabel’s School for Girls, a place where young witches learn the art of magic.

Sixteen-year-old Bianca Monroe has inherited a deadly curse. Determined to break free before it kills her, she enrolls in the respected school to confront the cunning witch who cast the curse: Miss Mabel.

Bianca finds herself faced with dark magic she didn’t expect, with lessons more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. Will Bianca have the courage to save herself from the curse, or will Miss Mabel’s sinister plan be too powerful?

Miss Mabel’s School for Girls is the first novel in The Network Series, an exciting new fantasy collection. A gripping tale about the struggle to survive, it will take you to a new place and time, one you’ll never want to leave

Review: The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater

Hardcover, 439 pages

Published by Scholastic Press on September 17, 2013

Rating: 5 stars

Summary (Goodreads): Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. 

Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. 

Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

This review may contain spoilers for The Raven Boys, the first book in the series.
My Thoughts:
I honestly hate how long it took me to read this book. It had nothing to do with the book itself, it was just that life happened to get in the way of my reading. Besides that, I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't get enough of it!

The way that Maggie writes always captivates me in ways other writers don't. It's not that I don't love their stories just as much, but Maggie has such a way with words and I could see her thoughts and reasoning behind each and every one of them.

I thought it was interesting getting to learn so much more of Ronan. He's obviously able to take things out of his dreams, as we've seen with Chainsaw, and we get to learn a lot more about that. His "gift" or curse as some might see it, is definitely explored at great lengths, and so many secrets about him and his life are brought out to the open to the readers. It was very interesting getting to learn more about his family and all that happened. 

Another thing I found interesting was the Gray Man. I initially didn't like him, as I had a bad vibe, but that's to be expected from his profession. It turned out that I actually really did like him, and I loved how the people at 300 Fox Way treated him as well. It was definitely a different approach to a new person than most people would take, and it was intriguing to get to experience.

This leads me to the people at 300 Fox Way. I absolutely adore them all. They have so many quirks and different ways at life than most, but it all works and they all live like a family. Though it can be chaotic, they all love each other and work well together. This was something that was interesting to see through different eyes, as we usually see them through Blue, but we got to see them with the Gray Man, who was a complete outsider. I loved his perspective though, it just made me love all the inhabitants of 300 Fox Way that much more.

Now I'll go to Gansey. I know there are people who don't like him, but I'm one of the people who really do. I don't know why exactly, but I do. I feel like he has a hidden quality to him that shows up every so often. I love the way he interacts with Blue, and I think it's cool how she knows if he calls her Blue instead of Jane, then something is up. I thought the concern he had for Adam was interesting to see as well, since it shows how much he cares for his friends, though he sometimes does have a hard way of showing it.

Adam on the other hand, I always feel so bad for him. He honestly has the worst of luck when it comes to anything, and he doesn't want to accept any help from anyone. He really grows throughout the book, and he learns a lot more about the sacrifice he made in the previous book and how it affects him now. I honestly don't see Adam as the same Adam he was in the beginning of the first book, but I still care for him and enjoy reading about him just the same. It just shows how much strength of character he has and how much he's evolving as a person. 

I also really liked the whole thing with Cabeswater. It has a lot of significance to everyone, much more than originally expected. Both Ronan and Adam have some kind of connection to it, and there are some issues because of this. There's also controversy about it because of the ley line, but I'll leave this for those who read the book to figure out. 

One other person that really caught my eye was Kavinsky. He is definitely much more important in this book than the last, and though I personally don't like him, we learn a lot about him and his character. 

I found it interesting how invested I was in the car aspect of this book as well. I know nothing about cars at all, but I felt an odd thrill whenever the Camaro was brought into the story again, and it was definitely interesting seeing how issues with it come to play with Ronan, and the way he fixes them.

Overall, I felt this book had an amazing story line and I couldn't believe how well Maggie delivered her characters and showed their growth throughout the novel. I'll definitely be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series, and I hope I read it at a time I'm not so busy so I can read it more often! It was almost torture when I wanted to read and couldn't get my hands on the book, it's that good. Sadly, the ending is a cliffhanger, but all it does is make me itch for the next book to come out! Props to Maggie Stiefvater, as that shows how good of a writer she is. She's able to bring the one book to a close and wrap it all up while making you still want more. I feel that this is a hard thing to do, but Maggie pulled it off well. 

★★★★★

Making Up for Monday #4

March 31: Who is your favorite fictional villain? 

This is a hard one. I'm not really sure. I tend to almost always have a love/hate relationship with villains in books. I like getting to learn more about them, though I don't usually like what they are doing. I guess I'll go with Lord Voldemort from Harry Potter. This is because I loved getting to learn more about him and his past. This helped me understand his path in life, even if I don't agree with it. It's interesting seeing how he evolved as a person from even before he was born, back with both Merope and Tom Sr. Literally everything that happened in his past affected him and the path he took in life, and though he becomes evil, he once was just a boy who was abandoned as a baby. 

Sunday Weekly Update #4

**Note: in case anyone was wondering, in any of my posts, if you click the image of the book, it'll lead you to the book's goodreads page. 

New Books: 
Last minute this book became $1.99 at Barnes and Noble, so I ended up with one new book! The rest of the week I hadn't had much time to look for good deals, and I didn't have the money to get anything with anyway. 

The Program (The Program #1) by Suzanne Young

Summary: In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them. 

Read: 

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater

Summary: Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. 

Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. 

Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

Review to come tomorrow, Monday March 31!

Currently Reading:

Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

Summary: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

This book is a reread.

Click here to read the MOVIE review

Most Likely to Read Next:

Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2) by Laini Taylor

Summary: Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.

This is not that world.

Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

This is the same book I had last week, because I really am looking forward to reading it. With the movie coming out though and me seeing it recently, I had to reread Divergent first.