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Tuesday, February 28, 2017

February 2017 Wrap Up

This month FLEW by so quickly, I feel like yesterday was the first of the month and boom, it's over.  I'm not really complaining to tell you the truth. Why?  Because tomorrow is March and it means SPRING is here and warmer days is to come and if you know me you know that I love my warm and hot days :)

But, let's get back to today's post and the books that I read and finished this month, February was another great reading month, I read a lot of great books ( at least I think I did)...let's take a look:

February Wrap Up


1. The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi: 4 Stars

Took me a while to get to this one and it was like nothing I read before, but I still really enjoyed it.

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2. Rat Queens-Volume 2 by Kurtis J. Wiebe: 4 Stars

Loved this one, the art was amazing and the characters were badass again...

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3. The Moth and the Flame by Renee Ahdieh: 4 Stars

I was missing this world so much and needed to pick up these little, tiny novellas and they didn't disappointed me ;)

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4. The Mirrow and the Maze by Renee Ahdieh: 4 Stars

Yes, I need a little more, just a tiny more...

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5. The Crown and the Arrow by Renee Ahdieh: 4 Stars

And the last one of the tiny novellas... :(

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6. Frostblood by Elly Blake: 5 Stars

If you haven't read this book yet, you are missing out, trust me, this book is freaking amazing.

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7. Escape from Lucien (Amulet #6) by Kazu Kibuishi: 4 Stars

Book 6 of this GN and it was good, so good...

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8. Looking for Alaska by John Green: 4.5 Stars

Alaska, Alaska...And damn John Green for making me cry again.

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9. Macbeth by William Shakespeare: 5 Stars

I don't have to say anything about this one, do I?  If so, I have a review for it :)

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10. Firelight (Amulet #7) by Kazu Kibuishi: 5 Stars

Last book out on this GN series and it's killing me that there aren't any more out now, the end of this one killed me, I need more.

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11. A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir: 4.5 Stars

I just did a book review on this one, I loved it.

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12. Caraval by Stephanie Garber: 4 Stars

Yes, I picked up Caraval to find out what the hype was all about and...it was good, the ending was amazing.

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13. Saven Defiance by Siobhan Davis: 4.5 Stars

Book 3 in the Saven series and SO GOOD.  I cannot wait to read the novellas and book 4.

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14. Losing Kyler by Siobhan Davis: 5 Stars

This book was a beta read and OMG guys, just wait until this book comes out, I promise you, it is better than the first. :)
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15. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson: 5 Stars

Do I have to say anything about this book, wait just one thing, read it.  It will open your eyes to so many things.  I could read this book over and over again.

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February was such a great reading month, I pretty much loved all the books I read and I loved that I read so many different genres too.  I read contemporary to alien books, to classics, to dystopians, to diverse, I mean it couldn't get better than that and I loved it.  I really want to continue to read this way the rest of the year too.  I'm doing really good on my reading challenges so far, I'm going to do a separate post in a day or so to update everyone on it.  

What books did you read this month, do you see any of your favorites here?

XOXO,

Nelia 

Monday, February 27, 2017

Book Review: A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

I finally got around to read this book and I gotta say it was pretty damn good...let's just jump right into the review:

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

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Elias and Laia are running for their lives as the Martial soldiers are hunting them down.  Laia is determined to break into Kauf-the Empire's most secure and dangerous prison-to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars' survival. And Elias is determined to help her succeed.

But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against Laia and Elias.  The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the Emperor Marcus, the Commandant, the Warden of Kauf, and most heartbreaking of all, Helene-Elia's former friend and the Empire's newest Blood Shrike.

Helene in the other hand bound to Marcus's will faces the worst mission of all, one that might destroy and break her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave and kill them both.

In this book we not only get to know more about Elias and Laia but we also get to know so much more about Helene.  At the beginning I wasn't too happy about reading her chapters but the more I read them the more I liked her and by the end of the book I wanted more of Helene and was rooting for her all the way.  She is my new favorite character for sure and I cannot wait to find out what is going to happen in the next book and how Helene will act.  Ah, it is going to be epic!

Laia, she started off the book so strong and fighting everything and everyone in front of her, including Elias and then she softened to him, but also to other people around her and that let to some not so good things.  But she came around again towards the end of the book and became the Laia that we know and love and fought with all her will.  And her power?  Freaking amazing, can't wait for her to find out more about it.

Elias...Oh Elias, I love this character way too much and I don't if  I'm okay with what is happening to him.  What will happen next?  I don't know, he has a very strong will and maybe that will change things?  I don't know but  I'm nervous, I will admit.  Throughout this book, we saw him fighting for his life, for Laia's life and for Darin's life too.  And I don't remember the last time we met a character so humble like Elias, I just want to go and find him and bring him home, because I will take care of him, that's for sure.

I really hope that the next book gets pushed to be release earlier than 2018 because I really need it now, I can't wait another year, come on...I loved this book, 4.5 stars and can't wait to continue with this series!

XOXO,

Nelia

Friday, February 24, 2017

Weekend Reads: Saven Defiance by Siobhan Davis...

Happy Friday!!! And I'm sick, I definitely know what I will be doing tomorrow, stay in bed and read.  I fell asleep last night not feeling so great and when I woke up today I feel worse, so cancelling any plans I had for tomorrow, I'm bummed that I will be missing my Yoga class but I'm going to improvise and do it at home for sure.  

But anyways, here is the book that I'm currently reading and will be reading this weekend:

Saven Defiance by Siobhan Davis

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This is book 3 in the Saven series and I'm already 25% done with it and it's good so far and I'm flying through it so it will be a quick read for sure.

Once I'm done with it, I have a book to read for a beta read from Siobhan Davis too.  It's book 2 of the Kennedy Boys series (Losing Kyler), really excited to find out what is going on to happen on this book as book one ended on a huge cliffhanger.

And that's all I have for now on my weekend reading list.  What are doing this weekend?  What books are you reading?

XOXO,

Nelia

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Book Review: Macbeth by William Shakespeare

I mean, this wasn't even on my radar to read this year, one day we were talking about Shakespeare at work and when I got home I couldn't get Macbeth out of my head so...I picked it up and read it.  And therefore let's do a quick review.

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

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I'm pretty sure you all know about this Shakespeare tragedy but let's just do a quick recap.  So, this play begins with the witches and then the talk about war, letting us look into this world that is all about warfare and witchcraft.  And then we see Macbeth meeting with the witches and them telling him about his "future" and how he will eventually become king.  At first he isn't sure and doesn't believe them, but when the first prediction comes true, Macbeth talks to his wife and both ambitious about becoming king and queen start to plot the death of the current king.  What they don't realize is that once they start killing, it doesn't end and soon enough they both end up going crazy because of what they do.  Lady Macbeth, the most cruel at the beginning, towards the end finds she cannot wash the blood of her hands and the madness eventually kills her.

Macbeth ambition to be king and kill anyone in front of leads to the country revolting against him and them killing him.

It really doesn't matter how many times you read this play or how long ago you read it, you end up so wrapped up in the story line and trying to figure something else in it.

Loved it a million years ago and loved it now.  5 out 5 stars.

XOXO,

Nelia

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Looking for Alaska by John Green

This is my third John Green book and by know I should know that something in this book was going to break my heart, right?  Wrong, so wrong...I will explain it at the end, let's review the book:

Looking for Alaska by John Green

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Before: Miles "Pudge" is done with his safe life at home. His whole life nothing really happens, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave "the Great Perhaps" even more.  He heads off to the sometimes crazy and anything but boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe.  Because down the hall is Alaska Young.  She is gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young.  She is an event unto herself.  She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps and steals his heart.  Then...

After: Nothing is ever the same.


As I was reading this book, the Before, I thought it was such a great contemporary book about teenagers living the life at a boarding school.  Yes, they were crazy and yes, it drove me crazy that they smoked and drank and it was wrong, because I'm so against smoking and drinking, but in a book?  Heck with it, they were having fun and they were experimenting and whatever, I just wanted to see what the After was all about but I wasn't ready for THAT.  No spoilers because if you haven't read this book, I so don't want to spoil it for you but I can say one thing,be prepared for something major and be prepared to cry.  Because I wasn't and holly crazy did I freaking cry.

Do I recommend this book?  Yes, totally.  I ended up giving it 4.5 stars, the beginning dragged a little, I'm not going to lie but it was worth it, so worth, worth i to destroy my heart, but still worth it.

XOXO,

Nelia

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Book Review; The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

Let's do this people...time for another review and let's review a book that I heard so many great things and when I picked it up it was nothing like I thought it was.  Have you ever picked up a book and this happened to you?  Let's review it:

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

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Maya is cursed.  Her horoscope promises a marriage of death and destruction and she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father's kingdom.  Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions.  Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar.  Roles that she never expected, as queen, she finds her voice and power and as Amar's wife?  She finds something else entirely: compassion, protection and desire...

But Akaran has its own secrets, there are thousands of doors locked, gardens of glass and a tree of memories instead of fruit.  Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger, but who besides her husband can she trust?  Alone, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most...including herself.

This book had so many twists and turns, every time I thought I knew where it was going, it went the other way.  And for that I loved it, but at the same time I felt a little lost at times, don't get me wrong I loved not knowing where it was going as it kept me on the edge of my seat.  But, I think I felt like Maya, not knowing my own life story, lol, but it was all in good because half way through the book started to really pick up pace and the story line really started to all connect and it really all started to make sense.  Maya was a great character, I do wish she had a little more bit of confidence on herself but poor girl spending an entire life told she was cursed it wasn't easy, I get it.  Now, Amar?  He was such an interesting character, he was cruel when needed and an adoring husband at all times for Maya.  The perfect book boyfriend, right?

I ended up giving this book a 4 out of 5 stars, I did enjoy a lot and totally recommend.  The second book in this series is a companion book and I wonder how it will be, I'm hearing lots of good things so far.

Have you read The Star-Touched Queen?  What did you think of it?

XOXO,

Nelia

Monday, February 20, 2017

Book Review: A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Do I even need to do a review on this book?  I think everyone has heard about this book or at least watched the show, I love, love the show too.  But if you watch just the show, give the book a try, I know it is intimidating (over 800 pages? heck yeah) but it is so worth it.

Let's jump for a quick review of this amazing and crazy book:

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

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Summers last decades but Winters?  Winters can last a lifetime.  And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.

As Warden of the north, Lord Eddard Stark counts it a course when King Robert bestows on him the office of the Hand.  His honour weighs him down at court where a true man does what he will, not what he must...and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty.

The old gods have no power in the south, Stark's family is split and there is treachery at court.  Worse, the vengeance-mad heir of the deposed Dragon King has grown to maturity in exile in the Free Cities.  He claims the Iron Throne.

When Lord Ed comes to court as the Hand of the King he knows the job will be hard but he never thought how hard it would be, when he starts to investigate the death of the previous Hand that's when things start to go south.  The closer he gets to the truth the crazy the court gets.  And once he does finds out the truth, his good friend and the King dies.  Ed tries to do the right thing but by doing what is right is never the right thing and that is what leads to his destruction.  Not only his destruction but of his whole entire family too as war is started all over.

We also follow Jon, Ed's bastard son who choose life at the wall and once he learns what is happening to his family starts to doubt his decision.  But the things that starts happening at the wall starts to reassure him why he choose that life.

Another main character that we follow and one of my favorites is Daenerys, who fights for the Iron Throne, we see how her brother sells her in order to gain power and help to claim the Iron Throne but that didn't go so well, right?  Then we see her married and how that went for her.  By the end of the book, Daenerys is not the little girl from the beginning of the book, she is fierce and ready to battle and fight for what she wants.  She is freaking amazing.  You root for her even if you don't want to.

There are also chapters from other characters, Tyrion, he is so freaking funny and even though he is a Lannister you still fall in love with him.

Overall, even though this book is over 800 pages, and yes there are some parts that drag, but once you really start getting into it?  It is amazing.  5 out of 5 stars because once you reach the end of it?  You want more, trust me.

XOXO,

Nelia

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Book Review: Frostblood by Elly Blake

I am in such a fantasy mood this year, when I started reading fantasy I didn't think I would read as many books as I have been reading, but the more I read the more I want.  Fantasy may be one of my favorite genres of books, and if you are afraid to start reading this kind of books this book that I'm reviewing today is a great start up into this world.  It's a new release of this year and the story line it freaking amazing, and now I'm going to jump to the review:

Frostblood by Elle Blake

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Ruby is seventeen years old and she is a Fireblood.  What is a Fireblood?  Fireblood is a person who has a power of heat and flame and in her world, Firebloods are illegals, so Ruby has spent her entire life concealing her power and hiding from the Frostblood ruling class.  But when her mother is killed trying to protect her, and rebel Frostbloods demand her help to overthrow their king, she agrees to help them in order to have her revenge.

Ruby starts training with the rebels even with the annoying and infuriating Arcus, she doesn't know what his problem is, and he is just as cold as his powers.  Before the rebels and Ruby can go through with their plan, Ruby is capture and brought to the king, where he makes her compete in his tournaments where Firebloods prisoners fight against Frostblood champions.  With each win, Ruby gets closer to destroy the crazy ruler who has taken everything from her, but will she be able to do it?
Ruby is stubborn and her desperation for revenge makes you cheer for her throughout the whole book.  But what really makes this book different is how this book is written and it makes the characters real and you feel what they feel and you just connect with them.  Yes, Ruby is courageous and a freaking weapon with her powers, but when she is about to fight or even when she is fighting, she tells you what she is feeling and many times she says that she doesn't think she is going to be able to survive and she feels weak and that's make this character and book more amazing.

I totally, totally recommend this book, once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down.  5 out 5 stars.

XOXO,

Nelia

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Book Review: The Magicians by Lev Grossman

Ah, I'm back with another book review, if you are new to my blog, I want to let you know that I review every single book that I read, so if you follow me on GoodReads , you will notice that I post reviews for all the books that I read there but I also post all my reviews here on my blog.

Now, let's get back to the reason to this post, the book review:

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

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Quentin Coldwater is a high school senior and like most everyone else assumes that magic isn't real, that is until he finds himself admitted to a very secretive and exclusive college of magic in upstate New York.  Once there, Quentin, indulges in all the joys of college, new friends, love, sex and booze, but most importantly he gets a rigorous education in modern sorcery.  However, magic doesn't bring the happiness and adventure Quentin thought it would.  After graduation, he and his friends stumble upon a secret that sets them on a remarkable journey that may just fulfill Quentin's yearning.  But their journey turns out to be darker and dangerous than they'd imagined.

First of all, I watched the first Season of The Magicians on Netflix and loved it and I really think that was my mistake because I really like to read my books before watching any movies or series that are based on them.  But this time I did the opposite and I kept comparing the show to the book and so many of the characters were different and the things that happened on the book were so different from the show and I kind of wanted to be the same.  Mistake number 2.  I gotta say that the first half of the book dragged for me, but towards the end it did picked up and it got more interesting and even though things were still different from the show I could separate them and enjoy the book a little more.  I ended up giving this book 3 out of 5 stars, it was slow, it took me a while to read but will I continue and read the last two books of this trilogy?  Yes, I will and I will let you know if it gets better.

Have you read this book?  How about the whole trilogy?  Have you watched the show?

XOXO,

Nelia

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

January 2017 Book Haul

Happy Valentine's Day!!! The perfect gift for us bookworms is a...book, of course and the perfect post for today will be a book haul lol.  So let's talk about the few books I bought in January.

I'm really trying to limit myself to buying books but for some reason 2017 is going to be very hard, there are so many great books coming out, I mean really great new books coming out, not including the sequels that I want to read.  It's not fair, just not fair, right?

And, then there are the days that when I'm not feeling so good, or when I'm having a really bad that I go to my Used Book Store for some therapy (it works, trust me) and I end up leaving out of there with, guess what? More books.  I'm just lost for words...not the ones that I bought, that's for sure lol.

But anyway, here are the books that I bought in January:

5, only 5...I'm going to tap myself in the shoulder because that's pretty good, right?


First up, Ready Player One, I have been meaning to read this book for years now and now that I have a physical copy of it let's hope that I get to it quicker.


I got Big Little Lies for $5 at Barnes and Noble and I have heard good things about it too, so...Win, Win!!!


Do you know how many times I have put this book on my TBR?  I have lost the count, and this book takes place in MA...I need to read it, period.  I found it at my Used Book store for wicked cheap so, no excuse Nelia, get to it!  We Were Liars.


Three Dark Crowns, I want, I want and I want to read this book SO BAD.  It sounds so amazing and I'm going to do it sooner rather than later, I promise.


The Goldfinch, another great buy at Barnes and Noble, can you believe they had this book for $5.96?  Yeah, me either, this book size scares the crap out of me but I have also heard that it's amazing, I will get to it one day, I promise.  Goals, people, Goals!


And that's it for my January Book Haul...not many books but the few that I got are amazing books that I know that I will get to them.

Have you read any of these?  Let me know...

XOXO,

Nelia

Monday, February 13, 2017

Book Review: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

This book right here...was amazing, it made me cry so many times, it's one of those books that will never leave your mind, ever.  Had I heard about this book before reading?  Yes, I did.  Did I hear that it was an amazing book?  Of course, but of course I didn't believe it until I read it for myself.

Let's review it:

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

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Amir is the son of a wealthy Kabul merchant.  Hassan, is his servants son and also his servant, but most importantly his companion, in Kabul he is called a Hazara, a despised and impoverished caste.  Amir and Hassan's friendship goes through a lot of bumps on the road, and eventually their bond is torn by Amir's choice to abandon his friend and makes both of them go their separate ways.
Years later after Amir has left Kabu because of the political tension of the country and made him and his dad to move to US, Amir is asking by an old family friend to return to Kabul and right his past wrongs against his only true friend he ever had.

This story is about Amir and Hassan and everything in between them.  Their friendship is like no other told before and it will touch your heart, grab it and tear it apart before it before you get a happy ending.  In this story you will learn about the price of betrayal, about redemption, about secrets and most importantly about family and friendships.

I cannot recommend enough this book, I don't want to give anymore about this book, I went in pretty much blind and yes, it broke my heart and made me cry a million times throughout the book but was it worth it?  Totally and I would do it again and again.  So, the only thing left to say is if you haven't read it yet, do it, because you will not regret it.

5 out of 5 stars.

XOXO,

Nelia

Friday, February 10, 2017

Weekend Reads: A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

So, winter has official arrived in Massachusetts, late, very, very late but it's here.  We had a big snow storm yesterday where we all end up having a snow day (yeah), but it's not over yet.  There is more snow coming tonight and tomorrow and Sunday and even more next week.  Jeez, and here I was thinking this winter is so good, I wasn't complaining too much and now boom, snow storm after snow storm.  If I get snow days out of it, I guess it's not too bad lol.  I can get lots of reading done like I did yesterday.  Is it snowing where you are?

But anyways, as we are getting lots of snow looks like I'm going to get getting lots of reading done :) so here is the book that I'm currently reading and that I'll probably finish too lol

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

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I picked this book up yesterday after finishing Looking for Alaska and I'm already 150 pages in and loving it.  Laia and Elias?  There is always something going one with these two and I love it.  Can't wait to find out what else happens.

Have up started reading this series yet?  Have you read this book?

What are you doing this weekend?

XOXO,

Nelia

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Book Review: The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

I got an eARC of this book from NetGalley so first off, Thank You NetGalley for this early copy.  And now let's get to this review, because this book was so freaking good, it's not out until March 7, and it's nothing like I have read before in the Witchy world and this makes this book unique.

And I'm going to stop babbling because once I start I never finish, right?  Okay, let's do this:

The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

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When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother from the dead, she learns that she is a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and not wanted by her community.  But Tea finds solace and guidance from a wiser bone with, who takes her and her brother to another land for training.

In her new home, Tea pulls all her energy into becoming an asha-one who can wield elemental magic.  But dark forces are approaching fast and in the face of danger, Tea will have to overcome obstacles, and make a powerful choice.

This book was written so differently from what you are used to, Tea tells her story to a bard, while she is already an exhiled asha and she is living on a beach full of skulls during present time.  And then we see the past time, when Tea was getting trained to become an asha, when her powers weren't fully yet, when she lived in a community full of ashas and spellbinders.  When in this community she met the people that trained her, the guys that loved and her brother.  But, even when we go back and forth you never really know what caused Tea to be exhiled and you just keep on reading because the past?  It's so freaking interesting, because there are things happening there that keeps you on wanting to know more about it.  And the present time?  Tea, appears crazy at times, doing crazy, dark magic and you wonder what the heck happened and what the heck is she planning.

The end left you speechless and wanting more, I definitely want to read the next book for sure.

4 out of 5 stars and how gorgeous is this cover?

XOXO,

Nelia

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Book Review: Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Book review time, I started the year pretty good, at least on the reading side, blogging?  Not so good, I ended up getting the stomach bug not once but more like 3 to 4 times, so the last few weeks I have been feeling not so good.  I have been drinking lots of tea and reading, which it's not 100% bad on the reading world but on my health world it is.  This week I feel not one hundred percent better but much, much better for sure, so it's time to catch up on so reviews...let's do this:

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

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Audrey is seventeen years old and she is a lord's daughter, which means she is born into a life of wealth and social teas and silk dresses.  However, she leads a forbidden secret life, against society's expectations and especially her father's wishes, Audrey spends most of her days at her uncle's laboratory.  What she does there?  She studies the gruesome practice of forensic medicine and she loves it.  It's during one of her work of studying a killed corpse that Audrey gets dragged into the investigation of a serial murderer and her search for answers brings her close to her own world, closer than she ever imagined.

I had really high expectations from this book, I kept hearing really good things about it, but for almost half of the book it was kind of slow for me, the second half did picked up the pace and got me really interested and more on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who Jack the Ripper was.  I gotta say that the mystery was really well hidden and I didn't find out who it was until almost to the end, so that was pretty good writing on Kerri Maniscalco's part.  But I still wanted a little bit of more action in the beginning.  I still have ended up giving 4 out of 5 stars, because the mystery and ended was really well worth it.

Do I recommend it, yes I do, I still recommend it because Audrey wasn't afraid to risk anything, not even her life at times, yeah she was badass. 

Have you read it yet?

XOXO,

Nelia

Monday, February 6, 2017

Book Review: Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

It's time to review another book and it's this book was the first book I read in 2017 :)

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

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Cheryl Strayed is twenty two years old and after the death of her mother, her own life came crumbling down.  Her family scattered and her own marriage failed.  Four years after the death of her mother she makes the most impulsive decision of her life, she decides to hike the Pacific Crest Trail from Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State and she is going to do it alone.

Let's keep in mind that Cheryl has no experience and did no training, she just wants to do this for herself and so she sets off on the trail of more than a thousand miles long, expecting what? That she learns on the way...

This book was pretty cool to read, while she is hiking Cheryl brings you back to times in her life that brought to where is she.  Or just times in her life where she was happy or sad or just damn miserable, and you are just there along for the ride with her.  Yes, there are times that you want to slap her but there are times that you feel her pain to.  But no matter how you feel about her, one thing that will impress you is her will and how she never, ever gave up.  There where lots of things thrown at her along the trail but she somehow look at the positive side and made it work for her and always find another way to finish her journey.

It wasn't the best book/memoir I have read but it was still a good read and if I wasn't such a big chicken maybe I would try to hike the PCT, hey Cheryl is a woman and she did it all by herself.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars, it took me a while to read, I don't know why but it is a solid 4 stars.  I did end up watching the movie and I liked it, of course lots of things were changed and yes some of them bothered me, but for the most part is was good.

Have you read Wild?  Or watched the movie?

XOXO

Nelia 

Friday, February 3, 2017

Weekend Reads: The Star Touched Queen...

Happy Friday!!! Hope everyone had a good week and let's all rest and read lots of books this weekend :)

This week wasn't too bad, I started doing Yoga a couple weeks ago, well not doing, doing Yoga, because I have been doing it for a while but I have joint a Yoga studio and I am loving it.  I have been going about 3 times a week and I feel GREAT.

Anyways, let's get back to today's topic which is which book I'm currently reading and the ones that I will be reading this weekend; let's do this:

First up is the one that I'm currently reading now and I'm almost done actually:

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

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And once I'm done with this one I'm going to read:


Rat Queens: Volume 2-I can't wait to read this one, I read Volume 1 last year and it was good.

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And because I will be done with RQ in a seating I will be read next:


The Moth and the Flame by Renee Ahdieh

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I loved, loved A Wrath and the Dawn duology and I miss that world so I'm really happy that there are a couple novellas to read :)


What are you reading this weekend?

XOXO,

Nelia

Thursday, February 2, 2017

February 2017 TBR

It's time to decide what to read for February and I have so many books that I want to read, so I'm just going to list all the books down that I have on my head right now that I am want to read and go from there.  Will it change?  Maybe, probably lol, but maybe not, because these books are books that I have been meaning to read for a long time and I really want to get to them so let's take a look?  Yeah, let's do it:

February TBR

1. The Star Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi: This is my current read-I heard lots of things about it and now that I'm reading it's nothing like I expected, totally surprised!

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2. Rat Queens Volume 2 by Kustis J Wiebe: Getting back to this GN series

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3. Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket- The Netflix show is out and I'm not watching until I read the books, period.

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4. Frostblood by Elly Blake: I got an eARC from NetGalley and not that the book is out it is past due that I read it, right?  And I've heard good things so far,  YEAH!

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5. A Torch Against the Night by Sabba Tahir: I mean there isn't any excuse why I haven't read this one yet, so I'm going to just shut up.

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6. The Magician King by Lev Grossman: Yes, I'm reading the next book because I just need to give it another chance and Season 2 of the show is out and I haven't watch it yet, so maybe I will enjoy the book more?  We will see.

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7. Escape from Lucien (Amulet #6) by Kazu Kibuishi: This GN series is almost over... :(

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8. Firelight (Amulet #7) by Kazu Kubuish: and the last book, can't wait to find out how it all wraps up.

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9. Looking for Alaska by John Green: I need to start reading contemporary books and this one is a short one and I have had for a while so let's do this.

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And that's all the books I have in mind for February, there is a good variety for my challenges and I'm hoping to get to all of them and more hopefully.

What are you all reading this month?

XOXO,

Nelia

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

January 2017 Wrap Up

January is over, it sure went by way to quick, in a good note it means that winter is moving along quicker too lol.

And I started off the way on a really great note, I read lots of books and most of them were really great ones too.  And, and, and I finished a book that I started...I'm so embarrassed, two years ago, yeah I wrote that right.  Without further do, let's jump right into the wrap up.

January 2017 Reading Wrap Up

1. Wild by Cheryl Strayed: 4 Stars

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I enjoyed this book, some downs but lots of ups.  More to follow on my review soon.


2. Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerry Maniscalco: 4 Stars

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I'm not going to lie, I went into this book with really high hopes, it was still a great book but it was slow at times too.


3. The Hidden Prince by Jodi Meadows: 4 Stars

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Novella of The Orphan Queen, not much to say besides it was good to be back in this world and get to know Tobias more.


4. The Glowing Knight by Jodi Meadows: 5 Stars

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This was a really great one.


5. The Burning Hand by Jodi Meadows: 4 Stars

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Another one and still good.


6. The Kite Runnyer by Khaled Hosseini: 5 Stars

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Probably my favorite book of this month, made me cry, made me laugh but most importantly made me see the world differently.  So good and totally, totally recommend.


7. The Black Knife by Jodi Meadows: 5 Stars

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Final novella for The Orphan Queen series and now I'm definitely finished with this series.


8. The Last Council (Amulet #4) by Kazu Kibuishi: 5 Stars

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I really, really enjoy reading this GN series and this one so good.


9. Prince of the Elves (Amulet #5) by Kazu Kibuishi: 5 Stars

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This GN just gets better, book after book.


10. The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco: 4 Stars

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I got an early eARC of this book from NetGalley (it comes out on March 7th) and even though it dragged a few times I still enjoyed a lot.  Review to come soon.


11. The Magicians by Lev Grossman: 3 Stars

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I had really high, high hopes for this book.  I still enjoyed reading but my mistake was reading after I watched the first season of the show, so...


12. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin: 5 stars.

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Yes, I have FINALLY finished this book.  I started this book back in 2015 when I started watching the show and I love, love GoT but I think I was just intimidated by the size of the book.  But by the end of last week instead of starting to read a new book I promised myself that I would just read this one and finish it this month and I did it.  I'm so happy that I did finish it, not only because it has been on my current read forever but because it was soooo good, I mean I knew most of the things that were going to happen because of the show but the book?  It was so much detailed and it gave so much more.  I'm going to stop gushing because I need to leave that to the review lol.


And that's it, overall 12 books, but if we divide it into GN, novellas and books, I read 2 GN, 4 Novellas and 6 books and I am so very happy about this reading month.

What did you read this month?

XOXO,

Nelia