artsy musings of a bibliophile

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Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

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VARQ

ABOUT THE BOOK

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
young adult fantasy dystopia published by HarperTeen on February 10th, 2015
first book in Red Queen trilogy

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

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Review: Rebound by Noelle August

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NAR

ABOUT THE BOOK

Rebound by Noelle August
new adult contemporary romance published by William Morrow Paperbacks on February 10th, 2015
second book in Boomerang series

Adam Blackwood has it all. At twenty-two, he’s fabulously wealthy, Ryan Gosling-hot and at the top of the heap in the business world. His life is perfect, until a scandal from his past resurfaces and knocks the tech wunderkind down, throwing his company, Boomerang, a hook-up site for millennials, into chaos.

Three years ago, Adam married his high school love—and then lost her in a tragic accident. Now, the heartbreak and guilt he’s tried to bury with work and women begins to take over his life.

Alison Quick, the twenty-one-year-old daughter of a business tycoon—and the very ex-girlfriend of Boomerang’s former intern, Ethan—has a problem of her own. She’s got one chance to prove to her father that she deserves a place in his empire by grabbing control of Boomerang and taking Adam down.

But as Alison moves in on him, armed with a cadre of lawyers and accountants, she discovers there’s much more to Adam and Boomerang than meets the eye. Will earning her father’s approval come at the price of losing her first real love? It appears so, unless Adam can forgive her for wrecking his life and trying to steal his livelihood. But Alison hopes that old adage is right. Maybe love can conquer all.

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Monthly Recap: January

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January turned out to be an amazing month, already in love with 2015.

LIST OF NEWSWORTHY

I should just rename January as 100uary or something. Srsly.
The 100: The obsession is real // Iced tea ’cause tea is important // Keeping up with PopSugar reading challenge // From the day I started learning how to drive

And Now We Wait
My mother has been going through dialysis twice a week since December 2013 and while, it’s not the best situation to be in, I’m extremely grateful it’s not worse. Good news is that she’s up for transplant sometime in February, so January was spent figuring out what tests to get done and taking care of her. I hope everything goes well as it’s pretty daunting.

More Like Driving Rage
Sure, I’ve driven a car before but I never learned how to. The first few times I drove one, I hated the amount of work it all takes! I just thinks it takes a lot of attention to not die and I’m already doing that by living. However, I’m pretty determined to learn and I damn well, will.

The 100 and I
I binge-watched The 100 till its mid-finale of the second season in December and I survived. Mainly because I lowered my expectations so much going in, that I was all meh during the first season. (Also, the first few episodes are total garbage). The second season got infinitesimally better and the mid-season finale shocked me. But then even before January 21st rolled around, my life became all about the 100 because of the promos and clips. The 100 fucked me up so bad, I don’t think there’s a show I love more. Cannot recommend enough.

Let’s Chat Feels and Books
I joined a couple of group chats with the #The100kru and one with Aditi, Asti, Crini and Mel. And oh, there’s another one I’m in with the participants of PopSugar 2015 reading challenge (re: Crini, Elaine, Lillian and Jo). I love it because so many bookish talks. Heaven.

TV WATCH

Am I going to talk about The 100 again? Hells yeah!
Look at that face! (´∀｀)♡

I finally caught up on Orphan Black because Eve made me and damn, I love it so much more now. Also, shipping Hesse like anything.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is right there with The Big Bang Theory when it comes to comedy shows.
I also started watching Hindsight and probably won’t continue, ha.
The 100 took over my life and damn that show. Much devastation, most tears.
As much as I like parallels to flashbacks in Arrow, I think the show is currently a bit lacking.
Suits return was perfect. So many feelings.
How to Get Away with Murder came back after a break and it’s better than ever. Can I have more Coliver, please?
I gave up on The Vampire Diaries but then Elaine gave me an idea of a fast-forward watch. Damn that plot. Such garbage, much eye-rolling. All I really like now are Steroline scenes but I don’t ship them together yet. Le sigh.

MOVIE WATCH

I’m now surprised I even watch movies any more.

So f i e r c e!

Lucy (8/10) – I really, really liked the concept and I think it was pretty well executed. Action-packed and highly engrossing despite being a bit cheesy.

APP WATCH

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

Spotify because music is important, okay.
Spotify – I’ve had Spotify for a few months now but I never really got into it. I still hate the mobile app because there’s only shuffle play but the web player and desktop app are amazing. I might just also switch over from Grooveshark soon. Follow me here if you want to.
SpoilerTV – This is because I just can’t get enough of all those TV shows. It’s an okay app, though. Nothing fancy.

LIST OF READS

I read so much during the first-half of the month and not at all in the second-half. Shame.

First favorite this year // Steelheart stole my heart // The Conspiracy of Us is just amazing

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Rebound by Noelle August
Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
A Wicked Heart by Rhiannon Thomas

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 Avalon by Mindee Arnett.
I posted a thing I wrote about goal phobia featuring Crimes Against Hugh’s Manatees cartoon art.
I posted my review Boomerang by Noelle August.
I posted my review of Sovereign, Volume 1 by Chris Roberson and Paul Maybury.
I posted my review of The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall.
I posted a top ten Tuesday list of 2014’s top 15 new-tom-me authors.

LIST OF BOOK BUYS

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

Perfection.

Harry Potter box set by JK Rowling
The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman (Yay, so glad I snagged it when it was Read Now on NetGalley)

PLAYLIST

Keyword: Obsession.

Leighton Meester is back and fabulous! // Forever in love with Fall Out Boy // OOO AAA is amazing and all hail Sandra ’cause she discovered it

How was your January?

Top Ten Tuesday: 2014’s New-to-Me Authors

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mfttt200px
A weekly feature by The Broke and the Bookish
I never managed to complete my new-to-me authors post back in December so here I’m late to the party. In March of 2014, I listed ten authors I’d never read and I’m proud to say that I read five of them last year (okay, was still in the middle of reading the fifth one’s book so it counts, alright).
Also, my list contains fifteen authors whoops.
Leigh Bardugo‘s Shadow and Bone was the first book I read in 2014 and whoa, what the Darkli- I mean, what a book! Siege and Storm introduced me to STURMHOND and delved deeper into the world of the Grisha. Ruin and Rising broke me twice because of the Darkling and STURMHOND (I promise this isn’t weird ’cause I always write his name in capitals). From the badass and complex characters to exquisite world-building, the Grisha trilogy is everything a fantasy lover needs in their life.
P.S. Megan wrote a post about reasons to read the Grisha trilogy that you should definitely check out.
A. C. Gaughen‘s Scarlet is a Robin Hood retelling that first killed me with feels and then with an epic ship. I’m kind of dreading-slash-anticipating (re: avoiding) reading Lady Thief and Lion Heart (which comes out on May 19th!).
‘You are my whole heart, Scarlet. And this is breaking it.’
HEARTBREAK ALL AROUND. *sob*
I think Corey Ann Haydu‘s Life by Committee is one of the most underrated young adult contemporaries of 2014. I know many people cringe whenever a book contains subjects like cheating, slut-shaming, and bullying. However, trust me when I say that this book tackles it in a very realistic and heartbreaking way. I’m in awe of Haydu for writing such a fantastic book that makes you think, think, think long after you’ve turned the last page of the book and put it away.
Laini Taylor is the queen of beautiful prose. Even the people who aren’t a fan of her books admit that her writing is captivating and oh-so-delectable. Taylor has a knack for creating a dark ambiance in her books that I’ve seldom come across in young adult. Also, I love how all three books and the novella in her Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy follows a theme. I know that I’ll cherish this trilogy and the novella for a long time to come.
Katrina Leno‘s debut The Half Life of Molly Pierce was one of my most anticipated titles last year and rightly so. The book is everything I love about the young adult contemporary genre. Leno wrote about a girl with a personality disorder and nailed it. Positive family dynamics and writing that pulls you in, The Half Life of Molly Pierce is definitely a must-read.
There’s just something about books about suicide that I find fascinating. Some girls are just messed up because they’re miserable and that’s what Amy Zhang‘s Falling into Place is all about. It’s what life is all about.

Susan Ee, aah. She’s the creator of Raffe and Penryn and a series that’s so kickass I’d reread it forever and ever. I love the gore and violence and creatures that Susan Ee is a master of. Seriously, I’m so fucking curious as to what goes on in her mind ’cause I’m hella obsessed with this series. I kind of want to reread World After now (this is a normal occurrence and happens once a day week or so).

Jay Kristoff knows how to tear readers apart in one glorious moment and then over and over until you’re used to being torn apart by feelings and friendship and gaaah. By the way, that’s me after reading Stormdancer. It got me a while to get into it, but when I did there were tears and feels all over. Why, Kristoff?! I’ve got a feeling that Kinslayer will probably slay me and Endsinger will be the end of me.
Ernest Cline‘s Ready Player One is one hell of a ride. Admittedly, as a child of the 90s, I was a bit nervous about reading it because of the ample amount of 80s reference. But I didn’t have to worry all that much because most of them were explained anyway and didn’t come in the way of me enjoying the story. I seriously cannot wait for Armada because Cline knows his sci-fi like the back of his hand which is the best thing about reading Ready Player One.
Kieron Gillen wrote a comic and I loved it. The unique premise of The Wicked + The Divine is so thought-provoking with characters that kick ass. I’m very partial to Lucifer and Baal. I need to finish writing my post about it so that everyone can understand how deep my obsession runs.

Sara Raasch‘s Snow Like Ashes is a glorious fantasy debut and I love the world she has created. I want to live in Winter because snow all the freaking time!

Marie Lu because daaaamn, The Young Elites. I just love how imperfect Adelina Amouteru is and man, she’s not a good person. I can’t wait to see how much more bad she becomes in The Rose Society.
I must read her Legend trilogy this year and I will (if Eve and Sandra listen to me).
Rainbow Rowell‘s Eleanor & Park is a beautiful love story that I want to reread because I feel like I didn’t absorb it fully into my system? Eleanor and Park both have multiple layers and that’s what I like to read about in a young adult contemporary romance (and cry while doing so).
Also, what were those three words. Eeeeep.

Emery Lord‘s Open Road Summer reminded me why I love road trips book that involve music. And friendship, of course. Regan and Dee’s friendship is so real and close to life that I just can’t- ugh, so much love.

I just have to mention Kiersten White because how did I not read any of her books before Illusions of Fate?! So much banter and wit and swoony Finn. Sigh.

Review: The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall

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MHTCOU

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall
young adult contemporary thriller published by Putnam Juvenile on January 13th, 2015
first book in The Conspiracy of Us trilogy

Avery West’s newfound family can shut down Prada when they want to shop in peace, and can just as easily order a bombing when they want to start a war. Part of a powerful and dangerous secret society called the Circle, they believe Avery is the key to an ancient prophecy. Some want to use her as a pawn. Some want her dead.

To unravel the mystery putting her life in danger, Avery must follow a trail of clues from the monuments of Paris to the back alleys of Istanbul with two boys who work for the Circle—beautiful, volatile Stellan and mysterious, magnetic Jack. But as the clues expose a stunning conspiracy that might plunge the world into World War 3, she discovers that both boys are hiding secrets of their own. Now she will have to choose not only between freedom and family–but between the boy who might help her save the world, and the one she’s falling in love with.

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