Pages

Monday, October 31, 2016

Book Review: The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett

Let's do this...time for another review and this one is really appropriate for the time that we are in, right?  Halloween and nightmares go together :)

The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett

15794940

Dusty Everhart is sixteen years old and she breaks into houses at late at night because she is a nightmare.  Yeah, she is literally a nightmare, nightmare.

She attends the Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magicking and because she is the only nightmare and living in the shadow of her mother's infamy is hard enough already.  But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker's hour, things get a whole more complicated.  He is hot, and sitting on his chest to invade his dreams is really embarrassing already and when she does she sees him dreaming of a murder and then his dream comes true.

Now both Dusty and Eli's lives are complicated and they must follow rules and clues, both within Eli's dreams and out of them, to stop the killer before more people die.  And they have to do that before the killer finds out that she is doing it or she could be the next target.

This book was okay, I liked the magic part of it and being a nightmare was something different and something I never read about it but once I was reading it felt...plain.  There was something missing, I wanted more, I felt like I was always one step ahead of Dusty and Eli and found out who was the murder way before they did.  I wanted more suspense and thriller from this book and I didn't get it.  It was still cute and the end was good, there was so action, finally, but I don't think that I will continue with the trilogy.

My final rating was 3 stars out of 5.

XOXO,

Nelia

Friday, October 28, 2016

Weekend Reads: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

It's Friday, Friday, YEAH!!!  This week has been...intense.  My dad had surgery and I ended up crashing from my headaches/PCS so I'm really ready to just be the weekend and rest and stay home and take care of my dad, well more like make sure he doesn't do anything, you know what I mean?

And while I'm home not doing much I will be reading for sure and here is the book that I'm currently reading and will continue to do so:

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Image result for city of lost souls by cassandra clare

For so reason when I read The Mortal Instruments books I always take a while reading them, I love them and really enjoy the books but it just takes me a long time reading them, it doesn't help that they are monsters of books.

What are you reading this weekend?  Can you believe Halloween is Monday?

XOXO,

Nelia

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Book Review: The Traitor Baru Cormorant

2016 for sure has been the year that I have read so many books out of my comfort zone, usually I read YA books and lots and lots of it and I love YA books and I could spend the rest of my life reading them and never getting tired of them.  But this year I promised myself to expand my reading list and read a few books out of my comfort zone and I did it, I'm really proud of myself (pats herself on the back lol).  I've read some thrillers, classic books and stuff like that.  And a book that was definitely out of my comfort zone was the one that I'm going to review today, it's Fantasy, Fiction, SciFi, Adult and even GLBT and Holly Molly I just noticed that's a lot of genres in one book lol.  Okay, I'm going to stop babbling and get to the book.

The Traitor Baru Cormorant

25600228

Baru Cormorant will pay any price to liberate her world-even if it makes her a monster.  The Empire of Masks conquers Baru's island home when she is a little girl murdering one of her fathers' in the process and Baru makes a vow; she will never be powerless again.  She'll swallow her hate, join the Empire's civil service, and claw her way high enough to set her people free.

But the Masquerade is suspicious of Baru's loyalty so what do they do?  They exile her to an accountant's post in distant Aurdwynn, a snakepit of informants and seditious dukes.  Targeted by death by the uncomfortably intriguing rebel duchess Tain Hu, Barus fears a more intimate disaster-if her colleagues discover her homosexuality, she'll be failed and mutilated.

But Baru is more than we ever think she is, she is full of games and ruthless enough to make herself sick.  She is only armed with ink (as an accountant), lies (more than you can ever image, trust me) and one sneaky loyal secretary (I still don't know how I feel about him AT ALL), Baru arranges a sweeping power play a win or die double cross gambit with empire as the prize.  If she survives it she will save her home but the cost bill be...but will she be fool enough to fall in love?  Will she trust people that she shouldn't?  Who will she betray?

This book?  OMG, I thought I knew where it was going but Seth Dickison, he destroyed me with the ending of this book and I when I was done I had so many questions and feelings.  I hadn't read a book with an ending like that...probably ever.  I killed me and I loved it; I shouldn't love it but I did.  4.5 out of 5 because that end killed me and I need the next book now.  I heard that Seth Dickison is working on the second book and I will be buying it right, right away.

XOXO,

Nelia



Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Book Review: Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

Have you started reading The Lunar Chronicles series?  If you haven't I have to start this post by saying, DO IT.  When I first started reading Cinder I didn't think I was going to like it, SciFi?  Not my cup of tea, that's for sure, but I am so glad that I gave it a change and read that first book because this series has become one of my favorite series for sure.

Stars Above is a collection of short stories, well I should say  mostly Prequels to TLC but the last short story is a Post TLC story and one that every single person loves or will love for sure.  Let's take a look?  Of course don't read this book unless you have read all the other books in the series :)


Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

25689074

The Little Android: this is a retelling of "The Little Mermaid" and redone by Marissa Meyer you will not be dissapointed!!!

Glitches: In this prequel we get to see the results of the plague and the emotional toll it takes on Cinder...

The Queen's Army: Another prequel, here we are introduced to the army that Queen Levana is building and to One soldier who is doing everything in his power to keep from becoming the monster that they are trying to make him.  I loved this one.

Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky: Prequel of Carswell Thorne, he is thirteen years old and he has big plans involving a Rampion and non-return trip out of Los Angeles.  If you think you love Thorne now, just wait until you read this one.

The Keeper: Prequel of the Prequels; we get to meet a very young Scarlet and how Princess Selene came into the care of Michelle Benoit.  I loved, loved this one.  Scarlet has been fierce from day one, that's all I'm going to say.

After Sunshine Passes by: Prequel of Cress; we get to see how nine year old Cress ended up by herself on a satellite and spying on Earth for Luna.  After reading this I just want to go to Luna and hug nine year old Cress.

The Mechanic: Prequel on how Kai and Cinder's first met but on Kai's perspective.  Kai, Kai :)

Something Old, Something New: Epilogue to Winter; someone is getting married and all our friends are together again and this time for something amazing and this wedding was amazing.  This was the ending that everyone was waiting for.  Thank you Marrisa Meyer.

What did I think of this book?  I freaking loved it, every single story, I didn't mind going back in time and reading about all these characters pasts, I was just happy that I was back in this world and we got to see one of our favorites get married and it was just amazing!!! 5 out of 5 stars.

XOXO,

Nelia

Monday, October 24, 2016

Book Review: City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Well, it sure has been a while since I read and review one of The Mortal Instruments books, I really need to read the last two books, I still cannot believe why I haven't done it yet.  Maybe it's because I don't want to say goodbye to these characters, do you know what I mean?  :( Okay, let's jump to this review before I spend the whole post babbling non sense lol:

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

6752378

The Mortal War is over!!!!  Clary is back in New York and she is officially training to become a Shadowhunter and use her unique gift.  Her mother is getting married to the love of her life.  Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace and most important; Jace is her boyfriend, she can finally call him that.

But peace is short lived, someone is murdering Shadowhunters and that is shaking the peace between Downworlders and Shadowhunters and that could lead to a second, bloody war.  Jace is off somewhat in this book and Clare is worrying sick about that.  Simon's mom just found out that he is a vampire and has thrown him out of the house. Yeah, things are not going so good for our friends.

Clare decides to find out what is going on with the murdering of the Shadowhunters and the Downworlders, even if that means she has to do it on her own.

I don't want to spoil the book if you are into the series and want to go into it like I did and find out for yourself and be surprised and that's to say it should be, right?  I did enjoy the book, but it was kind of slow at times and yes it did picked up towards the end and the end was great and really surprising.  I do want to read the last two books because the ending of this one left a door open for more and I really want to see where that leads.

I ended up giving this one 3.5 out of 5 stars, not my favorite of the series that's for sure but it was still really nice to see all of our favorite characters back been bad asses.

XOXO,

Nelia

Friday, October 21, 2016

Weekend Reads: Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay

Happy Friday!!!! Can you believe that we only have one more week left in October?  That means November is around the corner and then it's December meaning it's Christmas time again.  I need to start shopping, but before I need to start my Christmas list...AH this year is flying by way, way too quick.  I'm not ready for all of the holidays' craziness, are you?

What I'm ready is for this weekend and some relax and reading time...here is the book that I will be reading:

Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay

Princess of Thorns by [Jay, Stacey]

OMG, it's about time that I read this book, I have started already, but seriously, this book has been on my TBR for at least two years, not kidding.  Time to cross it off :)

What are you doing this weekend?  What are you guys reading?

XOXO,

Nelia

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Book Review: Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Ah, it's time to review the third and final book in the Anna and the French Kiss Trilogy...but here are my reviews for the first two books if you haven't read them:  Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door.  Now let's get back to this review:

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

9627755

Isla has had a crush on cartoonist Josh ever since their first year at the School of America in Paris started, but that was it a crush because Josh never noticed Isla.  However an encounter in Manhattan over the summer may have changed things and now Isla might have a chance at romance with Josh.

When Isla and Josh start their senior year, they are forced to confront a lot more than they imagined.  They end up having to face family drama, college decisions and the possibility of being apart.  

I loved, loved this book and these characters a lot.  We already got to meet Josh in the first book and he is back in this one and with another chance at love and Isla is the perfect girl for it (we also got the see a little bit of her in the first book).  When Josh and Isla get together, at first it all seems good, but then things start to happen, Josh gets in trouble with the school and their parents get involved and for the first time Isla gets to know them and gets wrapped out in another world, Josh's world, and she starts to understand him even more.  When Josh and Isla face the possibility to be apart, they have to go through a lot, first the realizations of their feelings for each other and being okay to spend some time apart and make decisions about their future together.

That is all I'm going to say about this book, there is a lot that happens with these two, I feel like they are the characters that had to go through the most stuff to be together and Oh Man, I was a little nervous at times, but I'm glad how it all wrapped up.  And Stephanie ended up bringing back all the characters from the other books and it was so amazing to see all of them together, job well done, I loved it.

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars, it was everything I wanted and more and I wouldn't mind reading about Isla and Josh again.

XOXO,

Nelia

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Book Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

It's time to review another book and time to review book two on the Stephanie Perkins' Anna and the French Kiss Trilogy...let's do this:


Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

30626646


Lola is happy with her life right now, she is a budding costume designer and she loves designing outrageous, sparkly and fun outfits.  She doesn't care that it makes her stand out, it makes her different and she is okay with that.  She has a rocker boyfriend and things are good with that too, her two dads are starting to accept him, so she really thinks her life is okay.

Well, that is until the Bell twins move back next door to her, Calliope and Cricket.  Cricket, a gifted inventor, has always been Calliope's shadow (Calliope is a professional dancer and this year she is going to the Olympics) but Cricket is stepping out of her shadow and moving back into Lola's life and that is going to ruin everything that is right, right now.  Lola, doesn't know how to feel about having Cricket back next door to her, they have a past and it's a past that she doesn't want to relieve and bring it back, she is happy to leave where it is: in the past.

But Cricket has different plans, he wants to get closer to Lola and he is not going to give up until he finds out why Lola doesn't want him back and he also plans to win her over.  Will he be able to?

Lola and Cricket's story is so cute and there is a past behind it so you just want to keep on reading to find out exactly what happened to them.  And also all the reasons that makes Lola push Cricket away.  Of course, I'm NOT going to tell you, you are going to have to read the book, but you will love it, trust me.

Another thing that I loved about this story is how different characters these two where, Lola is colorful and not afraid to go out the way she is and she really doesn't give a crap what people thinks about the way she dresses and I loved her for that, I want her confidence :)  And Cricket?  He wasn't far from Lola, he dresses differently from other people too and he doesn't care either. So? Conclusion? These two were made for each other :) :) :)

I ended up giving this book 4 out of 5 stars, even though I loved the story behind and loved the characters, I wanted more San Francisco thrown in as we got Paris in the first place, so not much world building.  And we got to see Anna and St. Clair but not as much, so there really wasn't much side characters and I really loved how the side characters were part of the first book.  But besides that it still was a great book; totally recommend it.

XOXO,

Nelia


Thursday, October 13, 2016

Book Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

I remember this book like it was yesterday that I read it and this is the kind of book that I wouldn't mind re reading it again, again and again.  And the kind of book that makes me want to go to Paris even more. AH...let's get to the review:


Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

17453983

Anna is so looking forward to start her senior year in Atlanta, she has a job, a best friend and a crush that she is for sure that is about to become more.  And then her father drops a bomb on her, she is being shipped off to a boarding school in Paris.  Anna couldn't be more sad about it, but once she gets there is meets Etienne St. Clair and he is smart, charming and to make it even worse, he has a serious girlfriend.

But St. Clair is not the only person Anna meets while in Paris, she meets so great friends while there, Meredith, Josh, Rashmi and they all form a great friendship.  And even though this book was more about Anna and St. Clair it didn't stay off the friendships, I loved getting to know all of the other side characters.

But St. Clair and Anna's love story?  Wow, it was so freaking amazing, St. Clair is the perfect guy and Anna is your regular girl and when she starts to fall for St. Clair? It was so darn cute.  And when you knew that St. Clair felt the same and you just wanted both of them together and and and...AH, you just have to read the book and find out how St. Clair goes from having a serious girlfriend to be with Anna.  And no, you are not going to hate him and Anna, you are actually going to cheer on both of them and be happy about how it all ends up happening.

Stephanie Perkins did an amazing job with this book and I couldn't wait to read the next one on this trilogy.  What rating did I give?  5 out of 5 stars of course.  Great writing, great story, great everything.  Totally recommend this book, so if you haven't read it yet, do it.

XOXO,

Nelia

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Book Review: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Confession time, I have actually been dreading to do a review on this book. Why? Because people just love this book and I?  I'm still not sure what to think about it...but let's get to the review of it.


Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

23395680

Kady broke off with her boyfriend that morning and she thought that was the hardest thing she had to do but then that afternoon her planet was invaded.  Two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that's little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe.  The worst is that nobody thought to wan the people living it and now with the enemy raining down on them, Kady and Ezra (her ex-who she isn't even really talking to) are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet.

Just when they thought they problems were getting better, things get worse, a deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, the fleet's AI, which is the one that should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy and nobody in charge is telling them was is going one.  Kady decides to take control into her hands and she hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, and that's when she realizes that there is only one person that will her bring it all to light, her ex-boyfriend, the one she swore she would never speak to again.

The book is told in a very different way, you will read in emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews and more formats and it's a really cool way to read it.  But for me there were times that I felt something was missing.  Towards the end, probably 75% of the book that's when things really started picking up and getting more interesting and I was really rooting for Kady.  I know that some people loved this book but for me it lacked some things.  I felt like we didn't really get to know Ezra that well and I really wish we did, he is still a stranger, right?

Well, hopefully the next book is better, will I read it?  Yeah, I will give it a chance and hope that is better than this book.  I gave this book a 3.75 stars.

XOXO,

Nelia

Monday, October 10, 2016

Book Review: Twisted Palace by Erin Watt

I can't even believe that I'm about to review this book, I want just have to say Thank You to the authors for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book by giving me an eARC and their team for sending these ARCs out all last Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  I got mine Friday and devour it and LOVED it.  So, let's jump right into this review.

Here is my review for Paper Princess and Broken Prince and as always this will contain Spoilers if you haven't read the first two books so please don't read if you don't want to be spoiled.


Twisted Palace by Erin Watt

29519517

The book picks up right were Broken Prince left us, with Reed getting interrogated at the Police station because of Brooke's death.  Yes, Brooke is dead, she really is dead, it's not a trick like many of us wanted it to be.  And Reed is the main suspect because he was the last one that saw her alive and there are cameras at that shows him going to see her and then shows him leaving 20 minutes later.  The camera doesn't show anyone else coming or go.  The worst is that the service camera was out of service so we don't know if anyone used that way to go in and out (I know, weird, right?).

Ella is freaking out because Reed was taken and accused of murder.  She doesn't even know what to think of it anymore, deep down she knows he didn't do it, but he did have a motive, could he have done it?  She is going crazy with worry and crazy thoughts and now she has one more thing to worry about, Steve.  Her biological father is somehow reappeared.  He was supposed to be dead and right after Reed was taken to jail, Steve was knocking at the door.  Callum told him that he could stay at the house but she isn't sure what to think of him.

Reed comes home from the police station, but his case is open and he still remains the main suspect of Brooke's murder.  His lawyer has a case and he needs to find a way to get Reed out of jail or Reed can face a sentence of 25 years or even life if whoever killed Brooke never shows up.

Ella backs Reed up on everything but once Steve finds out that they are together and that Ella is his daughter, he doesn't take that too well.  And to make matters worse he decides to take Ella out of the Royal's household and move her in with him and Dinah.  Ella and the Royals are not happy about it at all but there is nothing they can do about it as Steve is her father.

Ella and Reeds relationship is everything in this books, they are more in love than ever and even though Reed is facing murder chargers Ella proves it to Reed that she loves him more than ever.  I freaking love these two together and I'm not going to spoil the book but their relationship reached everything and more in this book.  It was perfect.

Callum, I felt so bad for him in this book.  I think he suffered the most, besides Reed himself facing the murder changers, Callum was there for him every step of the way.  And then he was there for Ella and he had to go deal with Brooke's death and her baby death's truth.  He needs a happy ending and he didn't get in this book.  Hopefully he will get it?

The other Royals, Gid, East and the twins, we didn't get to see much of them in this book as Twisted Palace was all about Ella and Reed so I'm really hopping that on East's book we will see lots and lots of them.

Dinah, I'm just going to say that she freaking surprised the crap out of me.  And that's it, you just need to read the book and be as surprised as me.  And you will be, trust me.

Steve, he started of as weird and like Ella I wanted to give him a chance.  And like Ella, he disappointed me a lot.  Oh Steve...WHY?

The killer?  I was surprised, maybe I shouldn't have been, but I wanted it to be a certain character but it wasn't that one, so when the truth came out?  Oh, that surprised me a lot and it hurt me but it also made lots of sense.

The end left questions un-answered because it looks like we are getting a couple Easton's books and I couldn't be more happy (does happy dance-literally lol) and I cannot wait for them.  But for this book and for Ella and Reed's story I gave 5 out of 5 stars.  It was everything and more than I was expecting.  The writing was amazing again and the twist and story line was amazing too.  Job well done ladies :)

XOXO,

Nelia


Friday, October 7, 2016

Weekend Reads: Twisted Palace and Miss Peregrines Home for Pelicular Children

Wow, I haven't done a Weekend's read in a while but this weekend I'm reading some amazing books so that's something totally work showing.  And Sunday is my son's birthday...party time.  The only sad thing about this weekend is: we are taking the boat out of the water, it's officially too cold in New England already and it's time to wrap up the Summer season and the last thing to do is take the boat out of the water :( sad, sad.

But in a much better note, here are the amazing books that I will be reading this weekend:


Twisted Palace by Erin Watt

Image result for twisted palace erin watt amazon


I know, this book doesn't come out until October 17 and you are wondering how to I have it?  I got an eARC and I am still slipping out.  I actually just got my copy last night and read 33% of it...lol, these Royals totally have me hooked and I just cannot get enough of them.  So, guess what I will be doing tonight, all night?  Reading this baby, OH YEAH.  :)


And once I'm done reading Twisted Palace, I will be jumping all over to:


Miss Peregrines Home for Pelicular Children by Ransom Riggs

Image result for miss peregrine's home for peculiar children book goodreads

Because I cannot believe the movie is out and I haven't read this yet, but I'm going to do it this weekend, because I so want to go to the movies and watch it.


What are you doing this weekend?  Which books are your reading?


XOXO,

Nelia

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Book Review: The Crown by Kiera Cass

Ah, this is the final book in The Selection series and I know some people love this series and some people don't really like and I'm one of the ones that really enjoyed it.  These books were my guilty pleasure, yes America was annoying sometimes and Eadlyn was a spoiled breath in the first book; but eh who isn't annoying and bitching in real life? lol When this book came out I just had to go and buy and see how it all ended and I was surprised how it ended...let's get to the review?  Yeah, let's do it:


The Crown by Kiera Cass

26074181

When Eadlyn was forced to hold a Selection of her own, she couldn't wait to it to over with and she definitely never thought she would fall in love with any of her suitors.  But as palace events take place and force Eadlyn into the spotlight, she is realizing that she might not be happy to remain alone in the future.

She isn't sure that she will find the fairytale romance that her parents did but the heart has a way or surprising you and Eadlyn finds herself making a choice that feels impossible but the right one for herself.

I say even if you didn't like The Heir give this book a chance because it will surprise you.  Eadlyn grew up in this book a lot, and I mean a lot.  There are a lot of things that happens to her and her parents and the palace and Eadlyn finds herself making so many decisions.  Decisions that she didn't think she had to make for at least twenty or more years down the line.  Eadlyn grew on me, I can say that I liked her character in this book a lot more than the previous one.  And I don't want to spoil the book but I just want to say that her decision in the Selection totally surprised me but in a good way and I'm actually happy now.  At the beginning I'm wasn't so sure about it because I did like another one of the characters but after everything was explained, she was right and she followed her heart and picked the person that she was falling in love with.

Rating: 4.75 stars, I love Kiera Cass' writing and I'm really happy with how The Selection series wrapped up.  And you have to admit, those covers are just stunning. :)

XOXO,

Nelia

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

October 2016 TBR

It's October and Fall and Halloween month and my son's Birthday month, I can't forget that lol.  That's a lot of things this month lol.  With October here I had to look at my TBR for the rest of the year and at the books that I still wanted to read this year and haven't done yet so I have a list of them and I'm going to split them for the next 3 months and read them, hopefully :) (prays that it happens)

So, here is my TBR for the month of October:


1. End of Days by Susan Ee-I still cannot believe that I haven't read and finished this trilogy yet, I loved the first two books, but no worries because I have already bought this ebook AND I'm currently reading :)

18500665

2. City of Souls by Cassandra Clare-It's time, people, more than time to read this book and hopefully finish TMI series this year...I love this series and I have no clue why I'm taking forever to finish it.

8755776

3. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier-uh no words...

8835379

4. Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay-I heard this is a retelling and I love them :( I need to read it, wait I need more hours in my days to read more, yes that's it. :)

18782855

5. Invaded by Melissa Landers-Well, good news with this one, it's Oct 5th and I have read this one already :)

17316770

6. Never, Never Part 3 by Colleen Hoover-Same thing with this one, have read it and it this one only took me a couple hours so that was an easy one.

25454883

7. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs-I'm planning to go to the movies this weekend to watch this one so that means that I'm picking this one up this week and reading it because I refuse to go to the movies before I read the book first.

9460487

Okay, that's all I'm adding for October and that's quiet a lot actually, hopefully I will stick with these books and read all of them.  I don't even want to look at any new books coming out because I will get distracted and buy them.  I already have some at home that I want to read but I will only read them if I finish these first. hahahah I sure hope this works, lol.

What are you reading this month?  And have you read all the books that you wanted this year?

XOXO,

Nelia

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Book Review: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Ok, this book was a surprise for me and it shouldn't have been, right?  I kept hearing nothing but amazing things about it, but sometimes I'm afraid to read a new release that is getting so much hype because I'm not sure if it is going to be that good.  Oh, but this one didn't disappointed me at all...let's get to it:


An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

22529162

Laia and Elias, both under the Martial Empire, both very different people on very different positions.  Laia is a slave and Elias is a soldier.  Everyone vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor and if they don't?  They risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

The Martial Empire is a cruel world and no one who lives in it challenges it, Laia's brother is arrested for treason and her grandparents are murdered in front of her and she is forced to make a decision.  She goes to the rebels for help, but in order for them to help her she has to spy for them within the Empire's greatest military academy.

While there, Laia meets Elias, the school's finest soldier, but what she doesn't know is that Elias only wants to be free of the life that he is forced to be in it.  Soon, Laia and Elias realize that their destinies are intertwined and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself, forever.

This book had lots of hype and when I started reading I really didn't think it was going to be something that I was going to enjoy it, but Oh Man, was I wrong.  Sabaa Tahir's writing captivated me right away and the way this book was written?  It was unique and while I thought it was going to throw me off, it actually grabbed me more.  Once I was done reading the book I wanted more and that's the only truth.  Laia was a bit slow and I really thought she was going to get caught lots of times and that stressed the crap out of me, but her courage and her way to never gave up made me love her character by the end of this book.  Elias, he had me front the first line, he was against the Empire from the beginning and you could see how even though he had to follow rules, he hated it too.  I love him and when he went out of his way to help Laia at the end, I loved him even more, he is such a freaking amazing character.

The end of the book left you wanting more and I knew we were getting the second book so that didn't freaked me out too much when it ended and even though the second one is out and I haven't read it yet, I can say that I already bought it and cannot wait to start it :) Soon, very, very soon :)

I gave 4.25 stars out of 5, I wanted more character and world building in the book and I  sure hope we will get it in the next one and I hope we get to see more of the side characters too.

XOXO,

Nelia

September 2016 Wrap Up

Fall is officially here and with it the colder weather and wait for it...I already have a cold.  :( It sucks but because the weather is cold I can just put my sweatpants on and drink tea and read a lot.  And read a lot I did these last few days.  Here are the books that I read in September in the order that I read them :)


September Wrap Up

1. The Stonekeeper (Amulet #1) by Kazu Kibuishi- 4 Stars-New GN series that I picked up and really enjoying.

19420223

2. The Walking Dead: Miles Behind Us- Volume 2 by Robert Kirkman- 4.75 Stars-It's picking up and I really, really liked this Volume.  Can't wait to continue.

138396

3. The Flame and The Arrow by Emigh Cannaday- 3.5 Stars-It was okay.

29774760

4. The Rose and The Dagger by Renee Ahdieh- 5 Stars-I freaking loved this book, that's all I'm going to say now.

23308084

5. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover- 5 Stars-Another book that I loved this month...CoHo is the queen.

27362503

6. The Stonekeeper's Curse (Amulet #2) Kazu Kibuishi- 4.75 Stars-getting better...

6277410

7. Saven Disclosure by Siobhan Davis- 5 Stars-Talking about getting better, 2nd book in the Saven series was the bomb, I'm hooked.

25820846

8. The Cloud Searchers (Amulet #3) Kazu Kibuishi- 4.5 Stars-this one answered so many questions and left us with more for the next Volume.

7955881

9. Saven Denial by Siobhan Davis- 5 Stars-Never read a Novella that was so essential...I'm still thinking about it :)

26800927

10. Peak Roland Smith- 4.75 Stars-I never thought that I would love an adventure book but this one proved me wrong. Great job Roland Smith. 

8686774

11. Thirteen Reasons Why Jay Asher 4.25 Stars-And to end the month, an Banned book and one that screwed with my mind and heart...yep that's how I do things, but I still enjoyed it a lot.

1217100


September was a really great reading month, it didn't start that way, I was kind of in a reading slump while reading The Flame and The Arrow but once I finished that and started reading the other books I got over my slump and stared picking up book after book and I'm so happy how this month turned out.  I don't even know which book was my favorite because I read so many amazing books.  The Rose and The Dagger was an amazing end to a duology and I just loved those characters and world so much and even though I was sad that it was ending the author did an amazing, amazing job with the end.  Then I picked up Colleen Hoover's new book It Ends With Us and it ripped my apart and pulled me back again, she is the queen of adult contemporary writing but this book was different but still splendid, wait, there is no words to describe it, thank you CoHo for writing this book.  After that, I wanted something littler because you just need, I picked up Siobhan Davis alien's story Save, books 2 and 2.5 and I'm just freaking hooked on the story and cannot get enough of it, the guys are hot and the girl is badass, what more do you need? Nothing!  Then I picked up an adventure book, what?   I know, not my kind of reading and I actually surprised myself with Peak, it's a story about Everest and there is just a lot more to it and I will talk more about it on my review.  And to finish the month I picked up Thirteen Reasons Why, because I needed more heartbreaking stories, you know.  It actually was a lot different from what I thought it was going to be, it was told from a guy and of course the dead girls perspective and it surprised me. 

Yeah, an amazing month, favorite book?  I just cannot pick this month, way too many great ones...so I'm not picking one this month.

What did you read in September?  And did you have a favorite book?

XOXO,

Nelia