Monday, December 31, 2018

Best Books of 2018

Happy final day of 2018 :D I hope that you will all have the most awesome day. I'm so excited for all the fireworks. And for eating more turkey, haha. Today I am sharing my Best Books of 2018 :D Eee. I have read a whole lot of aaamazing books this year. So many books that I loved. And in this post I'm sharing about my top 12 books. I have loved more, but these are my favorites of the books I have read this year. Sort of in the right correction. But also cannot choose between these. But also, to be honest, my memory is not quite right lately. And so I cannot make myself choose which books I loved most. Gosh. But I loved all of these so so very much and I do remember all the love I had for each of them. So yes. Sort of correct order of the books I loved the most. If you have not read these books yet, get moving. They were all so so very good. This year I ended up reading a total of eighty books. Which is not a bunch, but it was the most I could do, with my health being the worst this whole year. A few of these books were short stories, some only ten pages long, haha, so I'm not sure how much they count. But right now they count for me, as they made me reach my goal this year, lol. Only fourteen re-reads this past year. More next year for sure, ha. Twenty five five stars reads, twenty four four star reads. And with many being bad reads too, haha. But I did read so many good ones this year, and loved them all. Sigh. Hoping to read more next year. Crossing my fingers. I have so many books I did not get to this year, and I'm so very excited to read them all. One book missing from this list is Two Dark Reigns. It is only missing because I did not have two other books to add with it, haha. But yeah. I loved that one too. So very much. Happy reading to every one of you :D

Best Four Stars of 2018. My Goodreads 2018 Challenge. My Goodreads 2018 Year in Books.


1. The Hollow of Fear. The romance in this book killed me. It was perfection. Such a thrilling mystery too.
2. Sky in the Deep. All kinds of unique and precious. I loved the characters in it beyond words. Too good.
3. To Kill a Kingdom. The best mermaid story for sure. And an incredible romance and story too. Loved it.


4. The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein. Dark and delicious. This book ruined me. Loved it so.
5. Sawkill Girls. Most stunning girls and such an exciting monster too. This book was simply incredible.
6. LIFEL1K3. This one was way too rude. That ending ruined me. But so very good. I adored this world.


7. Courting Darkness. Full of all my favorite characters. And filled with the most exciting and rude plot.
8. Obsidio. Such a thrilling final book that I loved so very much. Also, I died in this one, and I loved that.
9. Give the Dark My Love. This one ruined me a little. That ending was the rudest. But so very precious.


10. Sadie. This book wrecked me. Very heartbreaking. But thrilling and exciting and sort of hopeful too.
11. The Blood Spell. A new stunning book by the best author. Adored the characters and loved the story.
12. Reign the Earth. Such a unique and gorgeous story. Heartbreaking and beyond amazing. Loved it so.

HAPPY NEW YEAR :D

Sunday, December 30, 2018

Review: Dreaming Dangerous by Lauren DeStefano

I have been a fan of Lauren for years now. And have read a lot of her books, but not all of them, not yet. I have read all her middle grade books, though, and my god, they are so very good. It took me some time before I finally read this newest one, but I got to it. And I'm so glad that I did. Because it was such an amazing book.

Parts of this book was perfect. And I'm pretty sure I loved it more than all her other books. Yet I'm only giving it four stars. Which I do have some reasons for. Most parts of this book were so good and I enjoyed reading it so very much. The writing was excellent too. But it is a four star for me, because it ended too fast. Hmph.

But first I will mention that this book was all kinds of stunning and good. I found the writing to be awesome and I so adored reading from the point of view of twelve year old Plum. She was just the cutest. And I loved getting to know her a little bit. She has lived her whole life at a school in the woods, a school for children with special gifts. I was so curious about all of it and I wanted to know more. Plum have the gift of dreaming with her three best friends. They dream together each night, fighting monsters and doing dangerous things. They are truly the best of friends, and I loved that so. Because Plum, Vien, Gwendle and Artem were the most adorable together. I loved reading about them. Especially loved that Plum started to feel something else for Vien. So so cute.

This book tells the story of Plum and her friends. About how they live at this school, the things they learn, and what happens to them. They all write down their dreams and share them with the teacher. But things are getting strange. And Artem is suddenly missing. I loved how they searched for him, how they learned new things about their school, who not to trust. I liked the plot in this book a whole bunch. I liked learning about their powers and how they came to be. At least the one page I got about that, haha. Needed more.

But yeah. While I loved parts of this book a whole lot, it was not enough. The book was too short. I mean, sure, it's a middle grade, but I have often read middle grades that are around five hundred pages long. I felt that this story was too short for this book. The ending was rushed. Beyond rushed. Many answers left behind. It was sort of happy, yet not too, and nothing was explained more. It was suddenly just done with. Yeah. It wasn't that good. Too rushed and with way too few answers. I loved the book, but not the ending.

And so much else could have been better if this book had been longer too. It took me less than two hours to read this one. I wish it had taken me two days, because I felt like it could have been so much longer. I wanted to know more about Plum. I wanted to discover more about her feelings for Vien. I wanted more of her friendship with all three of them. And I wanted to know more about their shared dreams. Especially wanted more of the ending, what happened next, how it all happened. Sigh. I wish this book was longer.

But despite this book not being everything I wanted it to be, since it was too short, and ended too fast, it was still such a great read. And I loved Plum a whole bunch. And I very much adored reading her story. I only know that I would have loved it so so much more had it been given more pages and more time to be excellent. I'm hoping Lauren might one day write the rest of this story, because to me it was far from over. Still. Dreaming Dangerous was a stunning book full of great friendships and I'm so happy I read this book.


Saturday, December 29, 2018

In My Mailbox #373

Where did this week go? Christmas is moving so fast, ahh :D But I'm loving it. Lots of good food, haha. And lots of family time as well. I had the best Christmas eve, with lots of turkey and presents, haha. No bookish things for me, as my family is small, but I got a bunch of money, lol. Love all that I got. <3 I'm so behind on catching up this week, but hoping to get to it soonish. I did manage to read two books; which is not a lot, but also enough since it was Christmas as well, haha. And gosh. I need to read one more book to reach my goal of 80. I can do it. Probably. Hopefully. Unsure what to read, though, gah. I'm also so so very tired lately. It sucks. I want to sleep all day long. But I cannot. How rude, haha. I also started playing my Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu for real Thursday, and played for about six hours. What. My eyes are still killing me, haha. But loving it and want to play all the time. Oops. But managed to read too, so a few new posts this week :D I shared my Best Four Stars of 2018, eee! Posted my second review of Unearthed. <3 This week I'm waiting on The Severed Moon :D Shared my review of Undying too. <3 I have had a pretty great week. Behind on everything, as usual, but doing good. But gosh. I did not get any books in the mail this week! Ahh. But yeah. With Christmas going on, there were a lot of days with no mail, haha. Maybe some books next week, though :D Still sharing something that I got, haha. Happy Holidays to you all :D



Pop Vynl. These new Harry Potter figures are all kinds of adorable and I just had to have them :D Love.
Tamagotchi. Eee. Christmas present from sister :D I had this when I was little. Had to have it again, haha.


More Instagram photos here. <3

Friday, December 28, 2018

Review: Undying by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

This final book was all kinds of thrilling. It had all of the answers that I wanted. Was full of exciting things and sweet moments as well. Very much cared for the ending too. It was pretty amazing. But it also had less romance than what I was hoping for, which I am a little disappointed about. And so I am giving this a four star.

But a very strong four stars for this book. Because it was pretty much perfection. Was exciting from beginning to end. And never slowed down. I loved reading more about all the characters. And getting to meet new ones too. All of it so interesting and exciting. And I loved almost all of this book. I needed a bit more romance.

Which is what I will begin my review writing about. The book was so good. A stunning sequel and final book. It had all the answers I wanted about the world and the plot. Though, of course, would not have minded even more books, haha, as I wanted more from all these characters. Sigh. But this book was awesome. Rude at times, but so very good. Except for the romance. Oh. Which was disappointing me a whole lot. I so loved reading about Jules and Mia getting together in Unearthed. But also felt like that book had too few kisses, haha. But I felt sure this second book would have more, much more. But it did not. And I am so upset about it. Sure, I can survive books with little romance. But I prefer my romance. Hmph. Especially since this romance was so so good.

And I wouldn't have been so upset about this, if it weren't for the fact that there could have been more of it. There were so many places in this book where there could have been kisses. So many chances for the romance to have been sweet and exciting and just so very perfect. But it was not there. Since they were both being cowards. Ugh. And I'm a little bitter about it, haha. Yes, it happens later, but it could have been so very much. There was way too little romance in this book. And it breaks my heart a bit. I wanted more.

But this does not mean that Jules and Mia were not perfect together in this one. Because they were. And they are together at all times, again. And I loved that beyond words. They argue a little, but not too much, and I was mostly okay about their arguments, haha. I only wish the romance could have been there too, sigh, because they both feel it. They both care for each other so very much and they both want more. Yet it still does not happen for ages and ages. Hmph. But I survived it, haha. And I did love the book even so.

Because this book truly was all kinds of amazing. Yes, I wanted more romance, but I was also incredibly pleased with how this book was written. The writing was amazing. The story was so so very good. I loved learning more about Earth in this world these amazing authors have created. Sigh. I loved getting to know more about the Undying too. These alien people that look like humans. I loved getting to know all of their history. Learning who they were. And what they wanted with Earth. It was exciting and so good. And evil.

This book starts with Jules and Mia having been trapped on the Undying spaceship for a week now. They have not had a shower since they were on Earth last, which was ages ago, so they both smell pretty bad, haha. Yet they are so close in this ship, hiding from the Undying. No kissing. Ugh. Still. They are adorable together and I simply loved reading about how close they were even so. They are scared. And alone. All they want is to go back home. And warn Earth about the aliens. Which will not be as easy as they want it.

There is so much going on in this book. They do manage to get back to Earth, but it is not easy at all. And they end up having to go with two Undying as well. Atlanta and Dex. These two characters were all kinds of different and mysterious and I kind of adored them. Getting to know them was pretty exciting. We also get to know Jules's cousin, Neal. And gosh, I loved that boy a whole bunch too. He was adorable. Not all that helpful, haha, but so awesome. I loved learning more about their families too. It was all so very good.

I shall not mention much more about the plot of this book. Only that it was all exciting and a little creepy and just so good. While this book was not a five star for me, it was still pretty much perfect. And I loved a whole lot of it. I loved Jules and Mia beyond words. I only wish they had managed to make the romance work faster, haha. Learning what the Undying wanted with Earth was pretty evil and rude. Especially the way they went about it. I loved reading about Jules and Mia trying their best to stop it all from happening.

Undying was an excellent final book. I loved pretty much everything about it. Jules and Mia were both so very precious. Getting to know how their story ended was the best thing. This book was full of adventures and surprises and some death too. It wasn't that heartbreaking, but it was still pretty sad at times as well. This book was almost perfect to me, and I'm so very happy that I read this series. Both books are special to me. And if you have not read any of them yet, then you really must do so. They are both very worth it.


Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Waiting on Wednesday #376

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

THE SEVERED MOON BY LEIGH BARDUGO

Goodreads Description:

A bewitching journal filled with prompts and quotations from the imagination of worldwide #1 bestselling author Leigh Bardugo.

"We learn to wring magic from the ordinary.”

Find the magic in your life with this year-long journal. On every page you will find an introspective question to respond to, or an evocative quotation from the novels of the Grishaverse—a magical world created by bestselling author Leigh Bardugo. Open your windows to the moon, write down what each prompt or quote conjures in your mind, and let this journal guide you through 365 days of magical self reflection.



Hardcover, 368 pages
Expected publication: January 29th 2019 by Imprint
Pre-Order here and here

EEE! I am so so very excited about this one :D LOVE Leigh. <3 And love everything she writes. Though this is not a book, but a journal. I do not write in journals, as I suck at writing for hand, but my gosh, I can't wait to own this gorgeous thing :D Ahh! It will be so very gorgeous. Cannot wait for the end of January :D
What are you waiting for on this bewitching Wednesday?

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Review: Unearthed by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

This is my second time reading this book, and my second time loving it so very much. It has been more than a year since I first read it, and I was a little worried about reading it again. Worried I would not love it the same way. But I did. Very much. This book is still all kinds of perfect. Sigh. I loved reading it again so much.

But gosh, I had somewhat forgotten the very rude ending. What. Such a cliffhanger. And an evil one at that. Hmph. Thankfully, I have a copy of book two to start right away. And I simply cannot wait to read Undying. It shall be all kinds of amazing and I'm so very excited. Especially so since I re-read Unearthed first. Sigh.

There is so much I could say about this book. I shall try to limit myself, haha, since I have already written a review of this book before. But yeah. I'm not good at writing short reviews, so I may fail, haha. Also because I suspect I will want to write about this book all the time once I begin. It was just that good. It ruined me a little too, again. How very rude. And yet I loved every moment of it. Sigh. I found the writing in this to be all kinds of amazing. I had no issue at all connecting to the characters and to this world. And I loved that very much. The writing was pretty much perfect. Eee. This book is told from two point of views. Jules and Mia. And my gosh, how I loved that. Because they are both so very precious. Simply loved getting to know both of them the most.

This story begins at a new planet. And I loved that it started right at the action part, when they had both already arrived at this new planet. That was awesome. Though, well, their first meeting wasn't really the best one, haha. Considering they are both about to be killed by someone else. But it did help them bond. And I loved that. Cannot begin to write down how much I adored Jules and Mia. They were such amazing characters and getting to know more about them made me so so very happy. Always wanted much more.

I will not be sharing too much about the plot this time. Because I'm not sure how to write it all down, haha. But also because I mostly just want to write about how very much I adored these precious and how much I loved reading about them being together. Eee. Oh, and I also very much loved this story. I loved that it is set in a new place, and how it was different from Earth. I loved getting to know the details about this new place, and always wanted to learn more about it. It was interesting and written so well too. I loved it much.

This book tells the story of Jules and Mia. They did not know each other before they met on this planet. And they are so very different from each other. They come from entirely different places, have lived very different lives. But gosh, how I loved that. I loved reading about them getting to know each other. Getting to care for each other, despite being different. I loved that they still had things in common. I adored their bickering. It was the most adorable to read about. Though, of course, there was a little heartbreak as well.

And that did ruin me a little bit. Yet it was not that bad either, because they are still together in the same space. Sure, they are pretty angry with each other, but they are still sharing the same space. They have not left the other behind. And that made me love this book even more. Even though they both lied, and they both got hurt, they still cared. And they still wanted to fix their issues. It broke my heart a little, but it was not anything big, and it just made me love Jules and Mia even more. And ship them even more too.

There is so much going on in this book. Jules is on this planet to try to find something for his dad. Trying to find out why this new planet is dangerous, to prove that his father was right, that he shouldn't be in jail. Ack. And Mia is at this planet to rob it. Which is not something that Jules approve of at all, haha. I simply adored reading about them together. Sigh. Mia needs the money to help save her little sister. Which was a storyline that also broke my heart. I cannot wait to know even more about it all in book two. So excited.

I'll not share much more about this book. Only that there is a temple of death and traps. There are people hunting for them. And every moment of this book was exciting. I know there is so much more I could write about Unearthed right now. But I will not. Will simply share that I loved this book so so very much and it is so special to me. Jules and Mia are both so precious. And I'm dying to know how their adventure will end. So very excited. Amie and Meagan did such an amazing job with this book, and I'm thrilled I got to read it.


Monday, December 24, 2018

Best Four Stars of 2018

Merry Christmas everyone :D Today is the day that we celebrate in Norway, and open our presents in the afternoon, at five. I'm so very excited about today. About eating turkey and presents and everything. Eee. Christmas is the best month. Today I was supposed to share a best re-reads of this year post. But I did not get to re-read a lot of amazing books. Which means my list would have had nine books only, which felt like too little. And so, instead, I'm doing a best four stars post instead, as I read a bunch of those this year :D And so many of them were pretty much perfect, and I very much want to share about all of them and which ones I loved the most. All these books were four stars for me, and read this year. They were all almost perfect to me, and I enjoyed reading them so very much. Have you read any of these? As of right now, I have not completed my goodreads challenge yet, of eighty books. Missing only a few, and hoping to finish by the end of the year. Wishing I had managed to read a hundred books this year too, but it was impossible with how badly my health has been. Sigh. But I still managed to read a lot, and a lot of good books as well. Best books of this year coming on the thirty first. So happy with all of these four star reads.

My Goodreads 2018 Challenge. My Goodreads 2018 Year in Books.


1. Contagion. This one was all kinds of creepy and thrilling. Cannot wait for the next book. Will be perfect.
2. Heart of Iron. Such an amazing sci-fi retelling. The romance almost killed me. Dying for book two, eee.
3. Onyx & Ivory. An amazing fantasy book with such great characters. I enjoyed this world a whole bunch.


4. Grim Lovelies. Gorgeously written with such a stunning story. Killed me a little, but also so very good.
5. Seafire. A thrilling pirate story that I adored a whole lot. But gosh, how I need a second book right now.
6. Fury. A pretty thrilling final book. Had almost everything that I wanted and was almost perfect. So good.


7. My Plain Jane. This historical retelling was all kinds of fun and amazing. Only wanted more romance.
8. The Disappearances. This surprised me by being all kinds of amazing. Plot was unique and so good.
9. Aftermath. A pretty heartbreaking story yet so very hopeful and good too. I adored these characters.


10. Spinning Silver. Parts of this was too long, but other parts were just amazing. Loved the characters.
11. White Stag. While not perfect, this book was still so entertaining and stunning and I liked it so much.
12. Archimancy. A thrilling middle grade ghost story that I enjoyed a whole bunch. The cutest characters.

MERRY CHRISTMAS. <3

Saturday, December 22, 2018

In My Mailbox #372

EEE! Christmas time :D Well, almost. <3 I'm so very excited about Christmas. Sigh. It's the best. Excited about turkey on Monday. And presents. And Christmas music and movies. And family time. Sigh. Hoping there will be snow coming too. Hmph. This week have been pretty crazy. Have barely had any time to do anything. Ack. This coming week will be even worse, with Christmas, haha. Oh, well. Hoping to get some reading done too. Crossing my fingers I will manage three more before January; so I meet my goal of 80 books this year. Ack. Hope I can do it :) I have already read more this month than I have done in aaages, haha. I did not get that much mail this week, haha. But that's totally okay :D Still very much in love with all that I did get. <3 Sigh. All so precious. I'm still working on catching up, but I am pretty much done with all the commenting, eee :D These past weeks I have commented on about six months of missed posts, lol. It took ages, but I have done it, and I'm so happy that I'm finally all caught up on something, haha :D A few blog posts too. <3 Shared the cover reveal for Aurora Rising :D Eee. So pretty. And the cover reveal for DEV1AT3 too :D Love. This week I'm waiting on Midnight Beauties. <3 Then I shared my review of Song for a Whale :) Which was the only book I read this week, ack. Re-reading Unearthed next, then Undying, and unsure which will be my last book of the year, haha :) But hoping I will manage to read them all this Christmas. <3 I got more medicine this Thursday, and I'm pretty exhausted. Sigh. But had a good week :)



Queen of Air and Darkness. Eee, my audiobook version is here. <3 And it is so very gorgeous. And huge.
Unearthed. Stunning US paperback edition is out :D And looks so very pretty. Re-reading this one next :D
Winnie the Pooh Plush. When I saw this in a store a few days ago, I had to have it. So very cute and soft.
Pop Figures. Eee, Ron and Hermione B&N specials :D Coraline and Pennywise special! Ahh :D Love. <3




The Deceivers. Thank you to the lovely publisher for approving my request to read this book early via Netgalley :D Eee. I adore this author. <3 A bit nervous about this book, as it is not an usual read for me, but hoping very much that I will love it so :D Wish I had a print ARC, but so happy to get to read it soon. <3


More Instagram photos here. <3

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Review: Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly

When I first heard about this one I knew I had to read it. Because that cover is all kinds of stunning. And the story seemed amazing too. I do not think I have ever read a book about a deaf girl, and I was so excited to finally get to do that. Parts of this book were all kinds of awesome. But sadly, almost all of the book was bad. Oh.

And because of that I'm giving this book two stars. Which makes me so sad, but it has to be done. I had so many issues with this one. Yet I also enjoyed some of it a whole lot. I have so much to share about it. First, a huge thank you to the publisher for letting me take part in the blog tour and for sending me the lovely book.

While my blog tour in late January was supposed to be a review and a giveaway, I do not feel okay with sharing a two star review for a blog tour. Will be posting my review today, and will hopefully be sharing a spotlight and giveaway of an ARC post in January. I truly wish I could say that I loved this book. As I really wanted to. It seemed incredible. And looks truly gorgeous. But it was sadly filled with issues. I will start by saying that I have no idea if any of the deaf part of the book had issues as well, as I do not know anyone that is deaf. I will say that I found all of it to be written really well. I loved that the main girl was deaf. I loved reading about how she lived every day as a deaf person. Was so very interesting. And she was all kinds of awesome because of that. Love.

But sadly that did not save this book. Because even though the deaf parts were incredible, the rest of the writing was so very much not. I could not connect to anything in this book. It also felt so rushed. And a bit awkward at times. Especially so because Iris is said to be twelve years old, but yet she felt years younger than that. Which was a bit depressing. I also did not like this girl. Because of her personality. She treated a girl in her class so very badly. And not once was that owned up to. It bothered me so much, at all times.

Sure, it is written in a way that makes it seem like the girl in her class was an idiot, and doing everything wrong. But she was not. She was a girl who could hear. And who tried so hard to learn sign language so that she could talk to Iris too. But Iris did nothing to help her with this. All she did was turn away from her and ignore her and get angry with her for not being able to sign anything right. I felt like Iris should have helped her. Should have tried to be her friend, like this girl was trying so so very hard to be hers. Hmph.

Which means that sadly I did not like Iris very much at all. I tried to love her, I truly did. But yeah. No. She treated this girl badly in the beginning of the book. And then near the end she reads something about her, and she laughs and laughs at her, and it made me dislike Iris more and more. Was not good. Sure, there were parts of Iris that I liked. Getting to know how she talked with sign language was awesome. So loved her friendship with this adorable boy that was deaf as well. It was pretty adorable. But was sadly too little.

This book is about Iris being unhappy in her school. Since she is the only one there that is deaf. And her grandparents are deaf too, but her grandpa is dead and her grandma lives at a home for old people. Her mom can sign language too, and her brother as well. Her father was not good at it. And that was written badly too, because it was all kinds of painful to read about, and it really shouldn't have been written that way, at least, I do not think it should have. Parts of Iris's life was hard to read, which was bad and good.

While at school, she learns about a whale. Blue 55. He has a different song than every other whale in the ocean, and so no one can understand him. He is all alone and has no one around him. This is somewhat a true story, and I did like that a whole lot. It was interesting to read about the whales and such. But also a little weird. There are even really small pages with the whale point of view. Yeah. That was odd. And the way Iris reacted to learning about the whale. Yeah. I cannot support that. Not at all. Which is depressing.

I did love that Iris felt strongly about this whale. That she wanted to help him connect with others. Liked that she decided to make a song for him that he could hear, that no other whale could sing for him. But what I did not like is that she got obsessed with this whale right away and decided that she had to go to Alaska to find him, to see him. Did not like how she treated her family because of this. And then she runs away. With her grandmother. On a cruise ship, for weeks, without telling her family first. Uhm. What even.

I cannot help but say that I found this book to be a bit problematic. If that is the right word. It might not be, but I'm not sure how else to describe it. This book makes it feel it was okay that twelve year old deaf Iris ran away with her old and deaf grandmother, who was grieving for her dead husband, and was in a home because they feared she could not take care of herself. Yeah. And they run away together. That was not safe. And it was not okay. Sure, Iris thinks about her family a couple of times while being away. Hahaha.

That was not okay either. She is on a cruise for Alaska, far away from her family, without talking to them or telling them where she is going or why. Her grandma is keeping them updated, but that was still not an okay thing to do. Yet this book tells it in a way that it felt okay, that it was the right thing for Iris to do. That it was the only thing she could have done, the thing she was supposed to do. I do not support that at all. It was reckless and dangerous. Gosh, my review is much longer than I had planned for it to be. Sorry, haha.

But can't stop writing about this book. I must share all my thoughts. Some spoilers. There is even a scene in the book where Iris jumps into cold water and swims toward a huge whale. Looking it in the eyes. And swimming around it. Not once is it mentioned that this is dangerous. And it was. Incredibly so. And I'm not sure why this book is making it seem like all of this was okay. Hmm. Can't help but feel that this book was not all that safe. Of course, it is highly possible that I am the only one to feel this way, that others will not.

Which is also okay. I'm sorry to say that Song for a Whale was not a book for me at all. I wanted to love it, so so badly, but I could not. I found parts of it to be very good, and I wanted to know more. But most parts where not good at all. And I may have shared way too much in my review. But I just could not stop writing and I do not regret it. So curious to know what others will think of this book. Do let me know if you read it. Huge thank you to Random House Kids for sending me a free ARC copy of this book to read and review.


Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Waiting on Wednesday #375

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

MIDNIGHT BEAUTIES (Grim Lovelies #2) 
BY MEGAN SHEPHERD

Goodreads Description:

The witches, beasties, goblins, and Royals return in this spellbinding conclusion to New York Times best-selling author Megan Shepherd’s Grim Lovelies duology.

Ever since she discovered her affinity for magic, seventeen-year-old Anouk has been desperate to become a witch. It’s the only way to save her friends who, like Anouk, are beasties: animals enchanted into humans. But unlike Anouk, the other beasties didn’t make it out of the battle at Montélimar in one piece.

With her friends now trapped in their animal forms, Anouk is forced into a sinister deal involving a political marriage with her sworn enemy, a wicked plot to overthrow London’s fiercest coven of witches, and a deadly trial of fire to become a witch. The price for power has always been steep in the world of the Haute. Now, it will cost Anouk everything.

Wicked and delightful, this spellbinding sequel and conclusion to Grim Lovelies is perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and The Hazel Wood.


Hardcover, 352 pages
Expected publication: September 10th 2019 by HMH Books for Young Readers
Pre-Order here and here

Ahh. I'm so very excited for this second and final book :D But beyond nervous too, haha. It seems there are love triangle hints in this one. Hmm. I hope not. And Megan has said she thinks I will love it. And so I am trusting that; and hoping beyond words that I will love this sequel :D I did adore Grim Lovelies, eee. And I am dying to read Midnight Beauties. It looks so so very stunning. My god. That cover. I love it tons. The book will be out on August 13th next year, though Goodreads says differently. Ack. I cannot wait :D
What are you waiting for on this beautiful Wednesday?

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Cover Reveal: DEV1AT3 by Jay Kristoff

I am so worried about this book. And so beyond excited. Eee! DEV1AT3 will be the most wonderful book, I'm sure. Sigh. So very excited for it. Just wishing I could read it right now, as May is too far away haha :D LIFEL1K3 pretty much killed me. It was SO GOOD. Yet that ending ruined me. So unsure how to feel. Or what to wish for. Which is why this second book has me worried. Ahhh. But I'm so beyond excited about it as well. I need more about all of these precious characters :D Gosh, I can't wait to get to read this one. <3 It will be perfection. Also, my god. That cover! I cannot! SO precious. And pink! Ahh! Love that it is pink :D So stunning. What do you think? Is it not gorgeous? Have you all read LIFEL1K3 yet? :D If not, you must.


Lemon Fresh has seen better days.

After the climactic battle in Babel, she finds herself separated from Ezekiel and Cricket in the wastelands. Lemon’s abilities to manipulate electricity mark her as a deviate, and deadly corporate operatives are hunting her to use as a weapon in the war between BioMaas Incorporated and Daedelus Technologies. Instead, Lemon finds herself falling in with a group of fellow deviates—a band of teenagers with astonishing abilities, led by an enigmatic figure known as the Major, who may hold the secrets to Lemon’s past.

Meanwhile, Cricket finds himself in possession of the puritanical Brotherhood, a religious cult set for a head-on collision with the Major and his band. Searching for Lemon, Ezekiel finds a strange ally in an old enemy, and uncovers a plot that may see him reunited with his beloved Ana.

And inside Babel, a remade Eve hatches a plan to bring an end to the world.




Sunday, December 16, 2018

Cover Reveal: Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman

Ahh! I AM SO VERY EXCITED about this one :D I adore these authors. So much. Jay and Amie are both such awesome authors and people. And I love them so. The Illuminae trilogy was so very good. Sigh. My gosh, I am very excited for more books by the both of them, ahh :D Aurora Rising looks beyond stunning. My god. Look at that cover! Gosh. It is gorgeous. I love everything about it. Sigh. And it sounds so so very good too. I cannot wait to read this book. Eee. It shall be perfect. <3 Just wishing I could get hold of all of those gorgeous ARCs of it, eee. Crossing my fingers I will get them all one day :) And hoping I will get to read this book before it is out in May, eee. <3 What do you think of this cover? Is it not just gorgeous? :D


From the internationally bestselling authors of THE ILLUMINAE FILES comes an epic new science fiction adventure.

The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the Academy would touch…

A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm
A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates
A smart-ass techwiz with the galaxy’s biggest chip on his shoulder
An alien warrior with anger management issues
A tomboy pilot who’s totally not into him, in case you were wondering

And Ty’s squad isn’t even his biggest problem—that’d be Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, the girl he’s just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler’s squad of losers, discipline-cases and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy.

They're not the heroes we deserve. They're just the ones we could find. Nobody panic.


Saturday, December 15, 2018

In My Mailbox #371

Time is moving way too fast. I have managed to read three books this week too, eee. And hoping to read a lot this coming week too. Though I will be more busy, so may not be possible. Hmph. But I want to read. Which I have not felt for so very long now. It has not been an easy year for me. Sigh. I want to read again, and I'm happy about that. Health is not better, but choosing to read despite that. Ack. Also got some most precious books this week too, eee. And they are all so very lovely :D A bit behind on catching up as usual but I have finally updated my pages with my new posts, lol. Still have to update my favorites page though, ack. That one is years old. Oh. One day, haha. Have so much to do this month. So far doing okay. But so busy. Blogged a bit too. I shared my review of Courting Darkness :D Eee. This week I'm waiting on House of Salt and Sorrows. <3 Shared my review of Archimancy :) And my review of Warrior of the Wild. Ah. I'm not feeling good with my health, but I'm reading, and I'm pleased with that. And I'm loving December the most, eee. Christmas month is the best :D Though, ha. I have no more money left, haha. But love buying presents :) What are you all doing this month? I'm hoping to read much more before January. <3 Excited.



Queen of Air and Darkness. EEE! Some of my copies have arrived, haha :D Still waiting on more, gosh. <3 My waterstones exclusives. So gorgeous. And my regular hardcover that is the one I will read, haha :)
Undying. Ahh! AUS paperback edition :D I am SO very excited to read this sequel very very shortly. <3
Sawkill Girls. Most precious. Had to have this :D But not the audio version I prefer. Gah. Still gorgeous.
Pop Figures. Some exclusives :D They are all gorgeous. Finally got the regular Dustin pop. <3 So lovely.



More Instagram photos here. <3

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Review: Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller

I felt so sure I would enjoy this book. And the fact that I did not is breaking my heart a little. That cover is gorgeous. And this story sounded interesting and exciting. Sadly, it was none of those. At least not for me. And so I have to give this one two stars. It was almost three, but I did not like it that much, I'm sorry to say. Sigh.

There is so much I feel like sharing about this book. And I do not think much of it will be positive. Will simply share all my thoughts about this book. And I have many of those. I really liked the first book by this author, even read it twice. But her second book was also a two star for me. I wish this had been better, but it was not.

Will begin by saying that I did not like the writing. At all. I tried to grow used to it, to start enjoying it, but it never happened. Oh. It bothered me from start to finish. I was not able to connect to the characters. Did also not manage to visualize most of this world either. Which was disappointing. It also annoyed me greatly that there was no empty line between when the character falls asleep or days go by, or things like that. It made sure that I lost focus on the story many times, because it happened so often, and so abrupt. Sigh. The writing wasn't terrible, truly. It was just not for me. Not at all. I really wish I had been able to love this book. I really wanted to. As I do adore this author. And Warrior of the Wild looked so very gorgeous. But ended up being not for me at all.

This book tells the story of Rasmira. She is the youngest of six siblings, all girls, born to the village leader. He has been raising her to be a warrior, like the men, to be able to take over as the leader after him. She is the best at training, the best with an ax. She is close with her sisters, but not with her mother. She also has no friends. Except for this one boy that started being nice to her six weeks ago. She truly hopes for more between them, and it seems like he wants this too. Until be betrays her just a short time later. Sigh.

At the biggest thing that happens to young people in this world, when they take a test to finally become a real warrior. This boy makes sure that Rasmira fails her test. And because of this, she is banished. And faced with the task of killing a god that lives in the forest, which is a death sentence. This whole beginning was pretty messy. Yet interesting too. I did like getting to know Rasmira. She was interesting, most of the time. But she did not question this boy at all, and that hurt my heart a little bit. How easy she was fooled.

I would not consider this to be too big of a spoiler, as it happens early in the book, and it is what gets this book started. Something that bothered me a lot, however, is that Rasmira let what happened with the boy bother her too much. And for too long. Worse things could have happened to her with this boy. She felt a bit over dramatic. But I also somewhat understood her too. Anyway. She is banished. Spends a few days on her own. Until she ends up meeting a boy almost dead in the forest. He lives there with another one.

We get to know these two boys a lot. They have been banished for a year now, with tasks of their own. I did grow to care so much for Soren. And I did ship them a whole lot. But did not feel any sparks. Probably because of how badly she treated him at times. It wasn't too horrible, but it bothered me. Oh, well. I have shared enough of this book now. Something that I did like, however, was all the different creatures in this book. I wish they had been more detailed, and more scary, but I liked reading about them. I wanted more.

This book is about Rasmira surviving out in the wild. With two other boys. About her learning to do things, learning a whole bunch of things. While also trying to figure out how to kill a god. And helping these boys with their missions too. While I did not love this book, I did find parts of it to be interesting. I liked reading about the creatures. Was curious about the world. But sadly did not love the characters. At all. Liked them sometimes. But they felt silly most of the time, and felt like the girl was too much. Do wish I had loved her.

Another thing that truly bothered me about this book was that I was never sure what time period it was supposed to be set in. The past? The future? It was impossible to tell. It did not feel like a book from the past at all. It seemed like they all lived as in the past, but none of them behaved like it. As this book was simply not written in a way that made it seemed like it was set in the past. Not with how the main girl was talking and thinking. That bothered me through the whole book, to be honest. I wish it had been clearer.

Huge thank you to the publisher, Feiwel & Friends, for the approval to read this one early as an eARC via Netgalley. I am glad I had the chance to read this one, despite not liking it much. I'm still unsure if I will be buying the hardcover or not. I do want the print ARC for my collection, however. Hmm. Sadly do not think I will ever read this book again. But I'm also glad that I gave it a try, that I managed to finish it. Although this book was not for me, I'm positive that many others will love it. Curious to see what you all think of it.


Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Review: Archimancy by J. A. White

I have been a fan of this author for many years now. I loved his first fantasy series beyond words. And will always read his new books. I was a little nervous about this new one, as I'm more of a fantasy person, and do not read many books set in present time. Yet I was excited too. And ended up liking it a bunch. Four stars.

Archimancy was a quick and fun read. I had a small issue getting into it at the beginning, but that did not last long, and I ended up enjoying everything a whole lot. While I didn't fully love the book, it was pretty much adorable, and I'm so very excited about more books coming about these characters. The ending was too soon.

This first book is written from the point of view of eleven year old Cordelia. The summer before a new school year begins, she and her parents had to move from their town, hours away. So she is now starting a new school, with no friends. Cordelia is not happy about this move at all. And she spends a lot of the book unhappy about it, yet also slowly growing to love her school and liking the town too and especially the people in it. And I liked that a whole lot. And I also enjoyed getting to know Cordelia, as she was adorable. Kind and sweet, yet a bit rude too. I loved how quickly she became friends with Agnes, the girl everyone else treated badly. I loved how she went out of her way to get to talk to Benji too, a boy who was ignoring everyone. I adored their friendship.

This is a book about ghosts. How Cordelia starts her new school, which is this huge ancient place that is all kinds of creepy and awesome. And once there, she hears a little boy crying. When she tries to touch him, her hand goes through him. Which freaks her out for a bit. She then also start seeing more than one ghost. I shall not mention more about it, since this book felt so short, maybe because of how fast I read it. But though short, it was still full of great things. And I enjoyed reading all of it. It's full of awesome ghosts.

This book is about Cordelia. And getting to know her. And her getting to know the ghosts of her school. It was interesting to get to know the history of it all, learning why there are ghosts there, and learning how it was possible to help them. Cordelia is the only person who can see the ghosts. Until she notices another boy who can too; Benji. I have already mentioned this, but gosh, I adored her friendship with Agnes and Benji. They became fast friends and were awesome together. Shipped Cordelia and Benji so much, haha.

There is not really all that much I can share about this book. And so I shall not write such a long review. Only sharing that I enjoyed it a whole lot and that I am very much excited about more books. And hoping they will all be about the same characters too, as I need more of them all. I do wish this book had been more scary, haha, yet I was happy with how it was written too. Getting to know Cordelia and her friends was the best. I wish to know even more about all of them, though. And I want even more ghosts as well.

One thing that I did not like much about this book, was that it's so short, and it takes place over an entire school year. I felt like maybe it could have happened faster, without all the time jumps. Yet I also like that they are all older now, but yeah. The time jumps didn't need to be there. I also wish there had been even more friendship scenes with Cordelia and Agnes and Benji. As they were the cutest together. But I did not really dislike anything in this book. Only small things I had issues with. The rest of this one was awesome.

Archimancy was an incredible first book in a new series. Full of fun and friendship and ghosts. I adored all of the characters. And I found the writing to be pretty amazing too. While I do not care much for books set in the present, I did not mind much in this one. Probably because of the creepy school and all the ghosts, haha. This book is not out until August of next year, which is still months away. But couldn't resist reading it early. Huge thank you to Harper for the auto-approval on Edelweiss. You all must read this one as well.


Waiting on Wednesday #374

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS BY ERIN A. CRAIG

Goodreads Description:

Get swept away in Erin A. Craig's mesmerizing House of Salt and Sorrows. As one by one her beautiful sisters mysteriously die on their isolated island estate, Annaleigh must unravel the curse that haunts her family. Be careful who you dance with. . . .

In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed.


Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor, a manor by the sea, with her sisters, their father, and stepmother. Once they were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls' lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last—the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge—and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.

Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that the deaths were no accidents. Her sisters have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn't sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who—or what—are they really dancing with?

When Annaleigh's involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it's a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family—before it claims her next.
 

Hardcover, 416 pages
Expected publication: August 6th 2019 by Delacorte
Pre-Order here and here

This book sounds all kinds of amazing and I'm pretty much dying to read it. Ahh. It sounds like Entwined. And looks like To Kill a Kingdom. And if it is a mix between those to? I am positive that I will love this book a whole bunch, eee :D I'm so very excited about. Just wishing it was out now, hmph. I need it. Can't wait.
What are you waiting for on this sorrowful Wednesday?

Monday, December 10, 2018

Review: Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers

This book was as perfect as I had hoped it would be. And it also ruined me the way I knew it would. Yet I loved every moment of it. Courting Darkness gave me all that I had hoped for and more. Such a stunning book that I adored very much. Five stars for this one for sure. The writing was, once more, perfection. Loved it so.

And I'm so very happy that this book was half told from Sybella's point of view, as she was my favorite from the trilogy. And getting to read more about her made my heart the happiest. But also so very nervous, and so I spent the entire book dreading everything that could happen next, haha. It was so very exciting too though.

Courting Darkness is told from two point of views, switching back and forth between them. One is Sybella, whom was the point of view in Dark Triumph. The other was Genevieve, a character we had not yet seen. This book takes place right after the ending of Mortal Heart, only days later. There is a tiny bit about Ismae and Annith, though they are not in this one, apart from the beginning. I missed them, but loved the small peek at their lives, and hoping there will be more in book two. As this one was very much the story of Sybella and Genevieve. Both girls that I loved so much. Reading from their point of views was the very best. Sigh. I may have loved Sybella a whole lot more, because I knew her better. And her people. But I grew to care much for Genevieve too.

The story from Sybella is of her going with the duchess Anne to France, to marry her to the french king. It is not an easy journey, and a precious person die. I am a little upset about it, haha, but also okay with it, I think. But gosh. Life at the french court is not easy. Not for Sybella, and especially not for Anne, whom is only fourteen years old in this book. The king she marries is not a cruel man, but neither is he very kind or smart. I hated how he didn't seem to care for Anne at all. It ruined my heart in all the ways. It was not fair.

Especially because of the king's sister, the regent. She is in this book at all times. And she was the most horrible woman possible, I think. The ways she humiliated Anne was not okay. So hurtful and rude and it broke my heart a little. I'm so thankful that Sybella was there for her, but it did not help all that much. And this woman was not a kind one at all. And I shudder to think of what she will do next in the second book. She was interesting, though, and I would call her a villain. A well written one at that. But oh, I did hate her.

What I loved was getting to know even more about Sybella. And seeing more of her and Beast together. Sigh. I ship those two the very most. They do not get to spend much time together at all, once they arrive in France. But they are still very much in love and their small moments together made me so very happy. We learn a little more of Beast too, and book two will be a big part of that, and I am so not ready. It will be heartbreaking and rude and ahh. I'm not ready. But hopeful too. Hopeful for a happy ending for them all.

Then there was Genevieve. She too is from the St. Mortain convent. But she was sent to the french court five years ago, when she was only twelve years old. Sent to live there as a spy, awaiting instructions from the convent. Which has never come. Getting to know Genevieve was so very complicated for me. It took some time for me to care for her. She had not suffered very much in her life, like the other main girls. But I'm so very thankful for that, though that also made it easier for me to connect to all the other main girls.

But I did connect with Genevieve too, even though it was slow to happen. She was not sent alone to this foreign place, but with a friend of the same age. They were best of friends, until the other girl started to care less for her, and treated her more badly. And then she dies. Which Gen feels torn about. I have not mentioned anything about how she lives, and I'm not going to. Only that it was interesting to read about her life and how she has survived so far. She find a forgotten prisoner in this home of hers, almost dead.

She gives him food, and visits with him, though not too often. Hmph. They end up escaping together, and Genevieve have a lot of reasons for this. I may not have liked those reasons all that much. But I grew to love this girl a whole lot even so. And reading about her scenes with this prisoner was all kinds of fun. I ended up shipping them a whole lot, and I am all kinds of nervous about how that will turn out in the next book. Hmm. I do have hope. But this prisoner is all kinds of complicated too, and brings so many issues.

There is so much going on in this book. And I have not written down much of it at all. And I'm not going to either. Though I will say that I loved every moment of this book. I loved reading more about Sybella, and her role in Anne's life. I loved learning more about her sisters too. Bad things are coming for Sybella, and I am so very nervous about it. But beyond excited too. This first book was huge and glorious. Still much to come, but this book was full of everything, and I loved that. Every moment was perfection. So very happy.

I have already written so much about this book. And yet not enough at all. I feel that I could write about it for hours more. But I will not. Though I must share that you all need to read Courting Darkness. Because it was so good. The best book to come after the Grave Mercy trilogy. I do suppose you can read it without having read those first, but you should not. Read them. All of them. Courting Darkness was everything to me. Full of vengeance and death. Romance and hope. Political drama. This book had it all. I loved it so.

I must admit to being beyond worried about the second book, which will also be the last one. As there is so much that still needs to happen. And I'm unsure if everything will end happily. But gosh, how I need a happy ending for my favorites from these books. I'm not sure I could survive to have any of them die. A good thing, though, was that Courting Darkness did not have a cliffhanger ending. Some things are still left open, but the ending was good. I mean, so much still to come, but it was not bad. I'm thankful for it.

Huge thank you to HMH Teen for sending me a free ARC of this most precious book to read and review early. It means the very most to me and I will treasure this gorgeous thing always. So very happy to have gotten to read this book right now. Re-reading the trilogy first then getting to read this new book was just what I needed right now. Every one of them was stunning. Courting Darkness was everything I needed it to be. Beautiful and deadly. The most amazing girls, full of hurt and anger and hope. Worth all of the pain.