artsy musings of a bibliophile

Sana

Review: The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma

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NRSTWAU

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma
young adult paranormal thriller published by Algonquin Young Readers on March 24th, 2015

“Ori’s dead because of what happened out behind the theater, in the tunnel made out of trees. She’s dead because she got sent to that place upstate, locked up with those monsters. And she got sent there because of me.”

On the outside, there’s Violet, an eighteen-year-old dancer days away from the life of her dreams when something threatens to expose the shocking truth of her achievement.<

On the inside, within the walls of the Aurora Hills juvenile detention center, there’s Amber, locked up for so long she can’t imagine freedom.

Tying their two worlds together is Orianna, who holds the key to unlocking all the girls’ darkest mysteries . . .

What really happened on the night Orianna stepped between Violet and her tormentors? What really happened on two strange nights at Aurora Hills? Will Amber and Violet and Orianna ever get the justice they deserve—in this life or in another one?

In prose that sings from line to line, Nova Ren Suma tells a supernatural tale of guilt and of innocence, and of what happens when one is mistaken for the other.

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Monthly Recap: February

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I would say that February needed to not be so emotionally overwhelming, but I’m used to that state of being now.

LIST OF NEWSWORTHY

January was 100uary and February is now Marchettuary because Melina Marchetta.
Travelling woes // Hello spring // Bookstore adventures // Harry Potter for life

Living in Between
In the middle of the month, I had to travel with my mother to another state for her kidney transplant. It’s still in the process of being approved (hopefully) and they ran some more tests so we’re all just sitting tight right now. And oh, my mother met the donor and we’re all so grateful.

TV Shows Be My End
This month, The 100, Suits, and How to Get Away with Murder crippled me with feelings. Clarke Griffin owned everyone, that Darvey moment, and all those twists in the How to Get Away with Murder season finale meant mindfuckery upon mindfuckery.

Two Weeks of Marchetta
I know everyone already knows, but I read and loved the hell out of Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta. I made Ellis die so many times with all my updates and I’m still crying over the perfection that is my latest OTP: Froi and Quintana.

Turkish Food
I had a döner platter for the first time ever and it was a strange experience. It was good but a little too bland for my taste? Also, I didn’t like how the beef tasted. Still, I’m glad that I’m all for trying out new food because food is important.

TV WATCH

Why do TV shows make me feel so much?
THIS SCENE ASDFGHJKL // Suits

The Flash keeps getting better with every new episode that airs and I want more. The ending of the latest episode, though.
Still need to watch the latest episode of Arrow but
Loving Brooklyn Nine-Nine whereas, New Girl and The Big Bang Theory are going okay.
I watched a few episodes of Daria and it’s the best.
Oh, I also watched a couple episodes of Criminal Minds and damn, mind is blown. I need to continue bad.
Fresh Off the Boat is hilarious and so freaking relateable. Us Asians, man.
Okay, I loved how emotional the Sheriff Forbes scene was in The Vampire Diaries but still, the show mainly sucks.
Revenge should just call it off after this season. Please.
I caught up on The Originals and it’s going pretty intense.
The 100 knows how to do intense and rock at it in. Every. Single. Episode.
Suits got so good! Loving the Harvey-Mike-Loius trio and all the Darvey moments but Jeff Malone can go suck it.
The first season of How to Get Away with Murder ended and HOW COULD THEY DO WHAT THEY DID WHY. ALSO, LEAVE COLIVER ALONE.

MOVIE WATCH

What are those again?

APP WATCH

I didn’t try out any new apps this month except one.

Dreamdays
Dreamdays – I wanted a minimalistic countdown app and Dreamdays it is.

LIST OF READS

The more fantasy I read, the more fantasy I love.

Lumatere Chronicles, everyone!

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta

LIST OF BLOGPOSTS

I wrote so many reviews this month, I feel proud of myself. I even scheduled a few, woot!

I posted my review of Rebound by Noelle August.
I posted my review Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard.
I posted my review of A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas.
I posted a top ten Tuesday list of favorite heroines in books and TV.
I posted my review of Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta.

LIST OF BOOK BUYS

Only bought an eBook which tells me that December is book buying month. Yay!

Pretty cover is pretty.

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

PLAYLIST

A slow month for music hmm.

Marina is back! // RAIGN is whoa // New music by CHVRCHES is always good

How was your February?

Review: Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

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MMFOTR

ABOUT THE BOOK

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
young adult fantasy published by Viking on September 19th, 2008
first book in the Lumatere Chronicles

Finnikin of the Rock and his guardian, Sir Topher, have not been home to their beloved Lumatere for ten years. Not since the dark days when the royal family was murdered and the kingdom put under a terrible curse. But then Finnikin is summoned to meet Evanjalin, a young woman with an incredible claim: the heir to the throne of Lumatere, Prince Balthazar, is alive.

Evanjalin is determined to return home and she is the only one who can lead them to the heir. As they journey together, Finnikin is affected by her arrogance . . . and her hope. He begins to believe he will see his childhood friend, Prince Balthazar, again. And that their cursed people will be able to enter Lumatere and be reunited with those trapped inside. He even believes he will find his imprisoned father.

But Evanjalin is not what she seems. And the truth will test not only Finnikin’s faith in her . . . but in himself.

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Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Heroines in Books and TV Shows

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mfttt200px
A weekly feature by The Broke and the Bookish
Here, have a list of my favorite heroines in books and TV shows in alphabetical order.
Adelina Amouteru // The Young Elites // Marie Lu (Source)
Adelina Amoutero is such an interesting character who’s morally ambiguous. Thought to be abomination incarnate, Adelina is full of anger. I love that Lu chose to tell a story of a villain because damn, she really is one. Bad to the core and so very complicated, Adelina is truly one of a kind.
Allison Argent // Teen Wolf
Damn that Allison Argent. Oh, how I admire her. She started out as an awesome character on Teen Wolf and then she just got awesomer. She has a bit of a rebellious streak, mad archery skills, and is incredibly strong-headed. If you want to know how a character can be strong and brave while also being vulnerable and complex, look at Allison Argent. She went through so much, but her strong-willingness made her a kickass character and the best best friend Lydia Martin could ever ask for.
Allyson Healey // Just One Day // Gayle Forman
Allyson Healey is an ordinary, play by the rules girl until she isn’t. We all have an Allyson Healey inside of us, the one who craves to abandon her life behind and just give in to the wanderlust that builds up inside  of her everyday of her life. One day she just goes ahead and embraces that side of hers and it’s glorious to see her do it.
Art3mis // Ready Player One // Ernest Cline (Source)
Art3mis is a brilliant Gunther and forget Wade’s crush, I think I’ve the biggest crush on her. She’s a damn good player, highly perceptive and she ain’t got time for romance. She’s so damn secretive which makes her all the more alluring and I really, really want to know more about her in the sequel.
Blue Sargent // The Raven Cycle // Maggie Stiefvater (Source)
Her favorite food is yogurt and she hates pretentiousness, she’s Blue Sargent, resident of 300 Fox Way. She’s very sarcastic, adventurous and most importantly, sensible. Blue values education, her relationship with Ronan is the best and I fucking adore her.
Blair Waldorf // Gossip Girl
Blair Waldorf, Queen B of the Upper East Side on Gossip Girl, is not be messed with and for good reason. She’s brilliant and nothing gets past her. Combine that with her meanest of streaks, she’s easily the most love-to-hate character to ever grace our TV screens.
Clarke Griffin // The 100
Clarke Griffin is in charge and whoever says otherwise can go float themselves. Clarke didn’t have an easy life on the Ark and then it only got worse on the ground. She had to make some really tough decisions that affected her to her core but you know what? She took it all in stride. She’s the face of a natural born leader who would do anything to save her people. That’s Clarke Griffin for you.
Celaena Sardothien // Throne of Glass // Sarah J. Maas
Celaena Sardothien is my queen and that is all. The extent of her character development from The Assassin’s Blade to Heir of Fire is one for the history books. She was at her proudest in The Assassin’s Blade and then to see her holding herself back in Throne of Glass, opening herself to pain again in Crown of Midnight, and finally seeing her at her darkest in Heir of Fire is such a profound thing to experience. Whether Celaena’s being arrogant or whether she’s being struck down over and over, she excels. Sarah J. Maas doesn’t go easy on her and it’s fascinating to see just how everything affects her, because it’s Celaena Fucking Sardothien who would bow to no one.
Emily Hughes // Since You’ve Been Gone // Morgan Matson
Emily Hughes is an introvert which is the reason I connected to her on such a deep level. She showed me that it’s okay to not want to step out of your comfort zone but once in a while, it doesn’t hurt to do just that.
Evanjalin of the Monts // Finnikin of the Rock // Melina Marchetta (Source)
Evanjalin starts out as extremely outspoken who doesn’t trust others with information until it becomes necessary to. She’s brilliant and tenacious despite going through the worst life had to offer her. Evanjalin is cunning and will do anything to take back her land. I will forever love her because of her immense love for her people and Lumatere.
Hermione Granger // Harry Potter // JK Rowling
What Google is to us, the library is to Hermione Granger. Of fucking course, she is going to make the list of my favorite heroines. I grew up with her and she was pretty much the only person in my life as a kid who loved going to the library as much as I did.
Katniss Everdeen // The Hunger Games // Suzanne Collins
Katniss Everdeen is one of the first female main characters in dystopia whose survival instincts are impressive as hell. Family is important to her and she’s much more concerned with putting her resourcefulness to use by taking care of them more than anything else. Unwillingly thrust into the role of being the mockingjay for all of Panem, Katniss comes through and it is incredible to see her defeat her enemies. Oh, the bitter satisfaction.
Karou // Daughter of Smoke and Bone // Laini Taylor – Art by Jim DiBartolo (Source)
Karou is one complex character who’s rebellious and curious with a dash of vindictiveness. Life hasn’t been the most easy on her and she has struggled to maintain a positive outlook about everything. She’s always had the unrelenting support of her best friend, Zuzana which is amazing to read about. Karou is easily the most creative and mysterious heroine I know and love.
Quintana of Charyn // Lumatere Chronices // Melina Marchetta
Quintana oh, how I adore thee. She’s a savage who rages and snarls and speaks her mind. She’s the most blunt of characters and that’s why I love her. Quintana had a very rough life but she persevered. What could be better than a princess who defeated death sixteen times and counting because I’m still reading Quintana of Charyn.
Penryn Young // Penryn and the End of Days // Susan Ee (Source)
Penryn Young doesn’t rely on anyone but herself and that’s why she made the list. She took self-defense classes and that makes complete sense because of the kind of a world she lives in. Family is very important to her and she is way stronger and wittier than she looks. Raffe can vouch for that. Also, her confidence is an entity in itself.
Rose Hathaway // Vampire Academy // Richelle Mead
Rose Hathway starts out as impulsive and reckless and then she grows out of it, learning to be more grounded and awesome. But the one thing she never learns to control is her sharp tongue and man, I love her for that. If anyone is a smartass, it’s her. Body positive? She is fucking proud of her body and it’s something to admire in her. And oh, she has a set of core beliefs that she follows and believe me, there’s nothing more attractive than that.

Review: A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas

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RTAWT

ABOUT THE BOOK

A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas
young adult fantasy retelling published by HarperTeen on February 24th, 2015
first book in A Wicked Thing series

One hundred years after falling asleep, Princess Aurora wakes up to the kiss of a handsome prince and a broken kingdom that has been dreaming of her return. All the books say that she should be living happily ever after. But as Aurora understands all too well, the truth is nothing like the fairy tale.

Her family is long dead. Her “true love” is a kind stranger. And her whole life has been planned out by political foes while she slept.

As Aurora struggles to make sense of her new world, she begins to fear that the curse has left its mark on her, a fiery and dangerous thing that might be as wicked as the witch who once ensnared her. With her wedding day drawing near, Aurora must make the ultimate decision on how to save her kingdom: marry the prince or run.

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