Wednesday 25 June 2014

PAGE TO SCREEN: THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, MOVIE EXPERIENCE.

Title: The Fault In Our Stars
Run Time: 126 minutes
Genre: Drama/ Romance
UK Release Date: 19th June 2014

IMDB / Trailer

Summary
(From IMDB) 

Hazel and Gus are two teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them on a journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous given that Hazel's other constant companion is an oxygen tank, Gus jokes about his prosthetic leg, and they met and fell in love at a cancer support group.


My Experience. 

Would i say The Fault In Our Stars movie is an appropriate and satisfactory adaptation to John Greens masterpiece? That would be a positive. Going to see the Fault In Our Stars was an experience in it's self, from the movie and the actors that breathed life in to a well loved novel to the atmosphere within the audience. 

So i went to see this film with my sister and her boyfriend, and honestly i've never sat through a film where the audience were affected so visibly as a whole. The first half of the film everyone was positively giddy and if you were to only see the first half you actually could claim this to be a feel good film. People were laughing and the atmosphere was jovial the air full of excited whispers and giggles. Then as if a switch had been flipped the air got thick and the tension was rife and choking. Sadness literally clung to each person in the audience choking each one of us. 

I think that this is one of the most beautiful and heart wrenching stories i have ever read/ watched. Everyone from the actors, the screen writers, directors and prop managers (seriously the decorating was beautiful through out the locations and who ever was in charge of them, you are welcome to come decorate my house anytime!) did this film a justice, i think it was as close to perfection in terms of book adaptations i have ever seen, and honestly cannot think of another film that has done a book such justice as this.

I am already a huge fan of Shailene Woodley and her performance as Hazel Grace Lancaster was astounding, i have no trouble putting book Hazel and film Hazel together, she created the girl i imagined and it was a wondrous performance. Ansel Elgort, what can i say about his performance as Augustus Waters? When i read the book i thought it would take someone exceptional to play Augstus, and Ansel managed to pull it off flawlessly. Augustus is my favorite character and i was anticipating his part in the film, worried that he wouldn't live up to my high expectations and my love for him, but he did, oh boy did he ever. Ansel play him perfectly, especially in the last half of the film. I applaud the pair of them for their stunning performances.

It was funny, at the end of the film everyone in the screening didn't really know what to do with ourselves. Everyone was crying as the credits rolled and it was a mix between people fleeing the cinema (so they could probably go sob in private) to people like us who had to remain seated because someone in the group was having a break down (my sister). It was all rather a hysterical mess if i'm honest. Laughs and tears were shared between the three of us and when my sisters boyfriend pointed out 'Gus's leg double' that was kind of it for us, we were laughing she was laugh/crying and then we were the last ones left. I think it just showed me that this film really makes you feel, happiness and sadness, joy and heartbreak and sometimes you just have to take them both together and roll with it. 

Words cannot express what this film made me feel and i have nothing but praise for everyone involved. A phenomenal adaptation for a wondrous and breathtaking novel.


REVIEW: THE FAULT IN OUR STARS BY JOHN GREEN.

Title: The Fault In Our Stars
Series: NA
Author: John Green
Genre: YA

Summary

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten



My Review.

Five Stars. 

"Okay," he said after forever. "Maybe okay will be our always."
"Okay." I said. 

If you haven't read this book yet and do not want the risk of spoilers then please come back to this review once you've read it. I just want to be able to speak freely about the story without the fear of spoiling it for others because i would really hate to do that! 

Hazel Lancaster and Augustus Waters meet at a cancer support group for kids located in the basement of their local church, AKA the literal heart of Jesus. Hazel suffers from thyroid cancer that has spread to her lungs and now has to carry a oxygen tank with her due to her failing lungs. Augustus has suffered with osteosarcoma but is now cancer free since having his leg amputated and is only attending the support group for the benefit of his friend Isaac. The two meet and it's the beginning of something beautiful and tragic. 

I'm going to confess now, i have avoided this book like the plague for a long time. After seeing all the tears and pain it has caused people had me running in the opposite direction. So I've avoided it until avoidance was no longer possible and i had to read this story. Because i knew that this book and heartbreak go hand in hand, therefore ugly crying was going to be a sure thing i devised a genius plan on how to attack this book with minimal tears. I thought that if i were to read another book alongside TFIOS then surely with my mind and heart split between two worlds, two stories and two sets of characters i wouldn't become quite as attached to TFIOS and could keep my ugly sobs to a minimum, alas from the first line i was hooked, like a fish on a reel with each turn of a page i was reeling myself in towards heartbreak and the ugly cries, try as i might no matter how hard i tried to dig my heels in i just couldn't get enough. Step two was to read in public, as i am a shy person and the fear of having an emotional breakdown in public would be simply mortifying i thought i could suppress the tears (this by the way did not work, they began to leak from my eyes and i had to put it down.)So i told my sister of my genius plan for her to simply laugh and state it wouldn't work (she's already read it and i can clearly remember her sobbing for an hour) but i was positive i would prove her wrong! 

"I fell in love with you the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once."

So i began this story, pretty much knowing the outcome but no knowing how the story arrived at said outcome or what actually happened through the story. From the first line i realized that i was going to really love this it, i just loved Hazel's voice and they way she was so cynical and witty, so unlike other teenage girls it was simply refreshing. 

Hazel has been diagnosed terminal since she was thirteen and has to carry her illness with her daily in the form of an oxygen tank that her life depends on. Out of school for the past three years Hazel has become somewhat depressed and a recluse, only attending the support group at her mothers request she would much rather sit at home watching America's Next Top Model and reading. That is until she meets Augustus Waters, super hot, intelligent and impossibly charismatic he makes Hazel feel and want to leave the house and actually live.

Many people focus on the point of this book that impacts on all of us have read it, the loss of one of the main characters. But i really feel that as tragic and as heart breaking as it is it over shadows the journey the story takes to get us to that point, therefore i don't just want my review to be about the sadness because though this book also brings laughter and joy, about a boy so full of life and overflowing with energy that he lights up each page with his presence and a girl so terrified of living, fearing the ripple effect and the pain her death will cause, how he changes her look on life and causes her to live again. The friendship and love that is found in 'The Literal Heart Of Jesus' and how it changes and affects these two young people who find joy in reading, live in laughter and wit and ponder their questions of life and death, changing the way they both see the world and what they want out of this life that will never be long enough for them. 

"It's sad," they said. "You'll love it," they said. "It will make you cry," they said. "But it's worth it," they said. Well they forgot to mention that John Green would rip my weak Augustus loving heart from my chest in his brilliant yet evil hands and annihilate it, leaving the remains pathetic and weeping on the floor as it leaks with all of my feels and pain into the ground at his feet. 

"That's the thing about pain," Augustus said, and then glanced back at me. "It demands to be felt."

This book is not just the story of two people who have cancer and one of them meets their demise. It's a story that is so tragic and beautiful made all the more horrifying from how real and relatable this story is for so many people. There are no monsters in this book, no ghouls or demons hiding under the beds, just the cruel and inescapable claws of fate. What do you do when your faced with the probability that your most likely going to die and soon? Everyone wants to be remembered, to not be remembered when your no longer around does that make you insignificant? Or is it again just the cruelty of fate and the universe to be forgotten? The Fault in Our Stars will make you question so many things along with Hazel and Augustus, What can i do to be remembered? Why is scrambled egg exclusively known as breakfast food? What actually happened after Anna dies in An Imperial Affliction?

Yes this book will make you cry (yes my plan failed. Epically.) but it will also make you laugh and open your eyes to one of the most cruelest villains. It will show you that love can be found in some of the most depressed of places and how two people can have such life altering affects on each other. How a boy so full of life and light, overflowing with energy and charisma who fears oblivion and a girl who hated to leave the house seeing herself as a grenade waiting to cause every one she loves pain, found each other and experienced their very own star crossed romance. 

"Okay?"
"Okay."

Sunday 22 June 2014

STACKING THE SHELVES [2]

Stacking The Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Last week after going on book buying binge i decided to put myself on a book ban.. But since i'm doing this post i obviously failed. Two of the books are from a charity store and the other is a hardback that i got for only £5, so i mean i really couldn't resist! 





Bought

Incubus by Carol Goodman
Deep Blue By Jennifer Donnelly

So to say i put my self on a book buying ban, i think i did quite well to say i got all these three books for less than £7! 

Do you guys sometimes feel the need to put yourself on a book buying ban or can you control yourself when it comes to books? If you do, do you manage to stay on the ban? Or are you like me who can't refuse a new book purchase?

What books did you guys get this week? 

Saturday 14 June 2014

STACKING THE SHELVES [1]

Stacking The Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!


Iv'e decided to join in the tag "Stacking The Shelves", only the other day i posted a haul of the books i'd acquired the past few week and didn't know this was actually thing, but i love the idea and have decided to join in! :) 





Bought

Don't Even Think About It by Sally Mlynowski
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Feed by Mira Grant
Sabriel by Garth Nix
Lirael by Garth Nix 
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
The Fault In Our Stars by John Green 

These are all of the lovely books that i'll be adding to my shelves this week, i'm super excited about some of these! Especially the Percy Jackson series, Feed & Don't Even Think About It.

What books did you guys get this week? 

Thursday 12 June 2014

REVIEW: DOROTHY MUST DIE BY DANIELLE PAIGE

Title: Dorothy Must Die
Series: Dorothy Must Die
Author: Danielle Paige
Genre: YA/Retelling

Summary.

I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.

But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling.

What happened? Dorothy.

They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.

I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.

I've been trained to fight.

And I have a mission.


My Review.

4.5 Stars! 

"Simple. You're going to kill her." She looked right at me and said, "Dorothy must die." 

My childhood does not associate The Wizard Of Oz with happy memories, when i was a kid i hated The Wizard Of Oz, the munchkins gave me the heebie-jeebies, those three with the lollipops? What were they called? The lollipop club? Creeped me out! Then the Wicked Witch with her flying monkeys, freaked the crap out of me! But i still watched it, and it still gave me nightmares, between the munchkins, the flying monkeys, the Wicked Witch and the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang i had a right cast of terrors. So after experiencing a childhood filled with night terrors courtesy of the cast how could i possibly refuse another trip back into Oz, down that yellow brick road?

"Auntie Em, Auntie Em, it's a twister!" Sorry to tell you, this isn't a quote from the book and neither Dorothy or Oz are what you remember. Gone is the sweet as sugar, cheery girl who dances with munchkins and only dreams of going home, no longer is Oz filled with the joy of laughter and doesn't carry songs in the wind. Any ideas you have of Oz and Dorothy, leave them at the door because Oz has changed and so has Dorothy. 

If i hadn't read the story, i wouldn't believe that she had ever lived on a farm. She had shed that girl long ago and replaced it with a poised, haughty princess. 

Amy Gumm, is just trailer trash from Kansas, bullied and a loner known to the other kids at school as 'Salvation Amy'. Living with her no good mum, who has been a hot mess for years and makes Amy's already shitty life even worse. Amy is miserable, bullied at school and unhappy at home all she does is dream of leaving Kansas at the misery of her life. Little does she know her wish is about to be granted when a twister sweeps into town and dumps Amy and her mum's pet rat Star straight into Oz. 

When Amy arrives in Oz she meets Pete, a mysterious boy who Amy strikes up a strange friendship with, he arrives though out the story at random times but doesn't give Amy the answers she craves. Honestly at first i though Pete was the intended heart throb but the only way i could imagine him was as Peter Dinklage, even though he's supposed to be a teenage boy, the image just wouldn't go, so i rolled with it. 

tyrion lannister photo:  tumblr_m16whhDxIn1qg2lsc.gif

Amy doesn't have to spend long in Oz before she realizes this is not the Oz wrote about in the stories, on in the films. There are no singing munchkins ready to greet her, no friends ready to skip down the yellow brick road, there's no laughter, no singing, nothing. The munchkin towns are deserted and flying monkeys are tied to trees as punishment for the crime of 'sass'. The tree's don't talk, and the 'happiness decree' is only really in place to ensure Dorothy's happiness. 

This wasn't the Oz that i had read about or seen the movie. It was as if someone had drained out some of the technicolor and introduced some serious darkness. 

It isn't long before Amy has a run in with the Tin man, and he definitely isn't how he was described in the stories, she soon finds out that each of Dorothy's most loyal companions are all warped and corrupted and not at all what they are like in the book. The Tin Man has a force of Tin soldiers that the Scarecrow created with his brilliant yet evil brain in his disturbing laboratory where he creates and experiments on living beings to try aid Dorothy's cause. The Lion who once feared all the creatures and beasts of the forest now controls them all and feeds off the fear of his victims. Does nothing in Oz remain as it was before Dorothy began her reign? 

Dorothy is hungry for power, she's had a taste for magic and she liked it. Dorothy and Glinda (the 'Good Witch') are mining all of Oz's magic, using the munchkin's to do the work they are draining all of the magic from Oz as bringing it to the Emerald City to feel their need for power. Only Dorothy and her 'friends' are allowed to use magic, any one else found to be using magic will be punished accordingly. She's hated and feared more than anything in the realm of Oz, in her reign of terror she has corrupted the good and warped Oz in to a dark and dangerous place. 

Here stands Dorothy Gale, it read. She who arrived on the wind, slayed the wicked, and freed the Munchkins. 

Oz has always worked off balance, the Good and the Wicked, even they have changed roles under Dorothy's reign, with Glinda the most powerful good witch on her side the Wicked Witches are forced into hiding and forming a revolution. Amy is recruited by the Revolutionary Order Of The Wicked to help them defeat Dorothy, they believe that as she too came from 'the Other Side' she is the only one who will be able to kill Dorothy once and for all. And so they begin training her, Glamora (Glinda's identical twin), Mombi, Gert and Nox all do their part in training Amy to become an assassin. 

Nox has been part of the order from a young age, they saved him as a child from a village that has been ruined by Dorothy and her minions, he is now the best fighter the Wicked have and they entrust Amy's training to him. Though out Amy's training the two strike up a very slow burning attraction, and it is lovely. Nox gives me butterflies, i swear he seriously is that delicious. I seriously love the two of them together and the fact that their relationship is very slowly developing, never once did it take from the plot it only ever added depth and loveliness. 

"It's a Magril- a bird that' native to Gillikin Country. It spends half it's life as a beetle, and when it's an adult, it goes to sleep for a year and wakes up as this majestic creature."
"Kind of like a butterfuly."
"Kind of like you," he said. I didn't have an answer to that. 

At the beginning of the story i seriously disliked Amy, she was such a whiner! I remember thinking to myself 'i hope we see her develop into someone amazing' and we did, it was such a brilliant transformation, from the weak, insecure, bullied girl she was to the confident fighter she became. I started off pretty much hating her, to really liking her and seeing her develop and come over all of her insecurities and issues make me like and connect with her so much more. 

This story really was delightful, i enjoyed it so much! It is alot more plot based rather than romance or anything else, but that really didn't matter at all. The setting and the characters were both fantastic. The characters were all nicely rounded and i mean it's Oz, it's already an incredible setting but the warped version Paige created made a delicious twist on a classic tale. 

The story is action packed and full of curve balls, that will keep you on the edge of your seat and cheering for the Wicked in their fight against the Good. The ending was a cliffhanger which has left me thirsty for another round of Oz and the other girl from Kansas. 

"People of Oz!" she yelled. "Dorothy's tyranny has lasted long enough! It's time for us to rise up! It is time for us to reclaim the magic that is rightfully ours! My fellow Ozians-in times like these, the Wicked will rise!"


BOOK HAUL 26 BOOKS!!! (#1)



This is my first book haul, yipeee! Haha. Okie dokie so over the last few weeks I've purchased quite a few new books and wanted to share them with you, since there is quite a lot of them I've split them into where i got them from. :) 



Amazon.


These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
City Of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare
City Of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi 
Unite Me by Tahereh Mafi
Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Through The Ever Night by Veronica Rossi
Into The Still Blue by Veronica Rossi
Gravity by Melissa West
Hover by Melissa West

Book Depository.


Second Star by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Waterstones.


Half Bad by Sally Green
Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman 

The Works.


Requiem by Lauren Oliver
The Essence by Kimberly Derting
The Offering by Kimberly Derting
The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson
Deception by C.J. Redwine
Spy Glass by Maria V. Snyder

Market/ Charity Shop.


Marked by P.C. Cast
The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald
Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard
The Bleeding Dusk by Colleen Gleason
A Dangerous Inheritance by Alison Weir

Gifted.









Wednesday 11 June 2014

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY: SINNER BY MAGGIE STIEFVATER (#3)

Title: Sinner
Series: The Wolves Of Mercy Falls
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Genre: YA/PNR

Summary

A standalone companion book to the internationally bestselling Shiver Trilogy. 

Sinner follows Cole St. Clair, a pivotal character from the #1 New York Times bestselling Shiver Trilogy. Everybody thinks they know Cole's story. Stardom. Addiction. Downfall. Disappearance. But only a few people know Cole's darkest secret -- his ability to shift into a wolf. One of these people is Isabel. At one point, they may have even loved each other. But that feels like a lifetime ago. Now Cole is back. Back in the spotlight. Back in the danger zone. Back in Isabel's life. Can this sinner be saved?






What feels like years ago( maybe it was years, i do not know) i read about Grace and Sam and their cute story, i think i still need to read Forever actually.. anywhooo... Cole St. Clare was my favorite character throughout this series, he shined brighter than Grace and Sam put together, through out reading Grace and Sam's story i always wanted more of Cole, i just wanted Cole! Now, i'm gonna get what i wanted and i CANNOT freakin' WAIT!! I favored Cole and Isabel so much more over Grace and Sam so i really cannot wait to read more of their story! 

Tuesday 10 June 2014

The Gamble (Colorado Mountain, #1)The Gamble by Kristen Ashley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



"Bottom line, you didn't take care of what was your's. Now as Nina has explained, you've lost it, i found it an it's mine."


Sweet Jesus, ladies and gents i think i just struck fuckin' gold! Having never before read a Kristen Ashley book (The Gamble poppin' my KA cherry.) I am just so seriously excited at the amount of books of hers i've got to read, by from what i can tell will become one of my number one authors. (I've now read two more ga her books Sweet Dreams and Lady Luck and starting Breathe shorty i can say she's well up at the top of my list.)

Okay so.. The Gamble, honestly i was totally freakin' speechless when i finished this book. I sat there staring at my Kindle thinking Hell no! I was in now way shape or form any where near done with Nina & Max's story & that nutty bunch of people in Gnaw Bone. I wanted more i just couldn't get enough! (Not that i think myself or anyone else in their right mind would everrrr be dont with Holden Maxwell ;) )

I felt my heart rip a little i was so caught up in these two, i just didnt want it to end. I know a few people found this book to be a bit too long and a bit too crammed. But i gotta say, i fuckin' loved it! Each character had their own individual story and quirks, not one of them was under developed. As for the town, Gnaw Bone, i can actually picture it in my head with such a fine clearness as if i just walked the streets yesterday! (HUGE hi five on this KA made it even more extra special and enjoyable!)

When i really get into a book i find myself never wanting it to end. I get totally absorbed into the world and connect with the characters like we've been life-long friends.This is what a good story is meant to be, an escape. Kristen you gave me my escape and i didn't wanna come home!!


“Not one fuckin’ thing gentlemanly about protecting what’s yours. Looks like you’re gonna lose it, you do everything you can to stop that from happening.” Max looked back to Niles. “And you didn’t do that. She was a week away from me, she walked into a room I was in holdin’ another man’s hand, I’d lose my fuckin’ mind. Not at her. Wonderin’ where I lost my way and I’d talk to her about how to find my way back.”


Lord, i don't know where to start. Max & Nina, Nina & Max. Oh my lovelies i frinkin' adore you two! Nina was so well real, so connectable. Nina's thirty-six, which meant no teenage girl's bitchin', whinging, moaning, self pitying bullshit. Which is a rather popular case. Nope Neen's was a strong feisty strong independent mature woman. which was so megaly refreshing. (Yeah i'm only 20 but even i get sick of reading about girls my own age that are just soo super annoying!) Nina knew how to handle people who had been through some seriously tragic and upsetting event and she knew how to bring love, hope and positivity into these situations helping with the person suffering which its just incredible. PLUS she's a fan of Criminal Minds... HUUUGE bonus for me i just loved all the little bits slipped in there about the show made me grin like a loon. Yes me mega-fan.


"Yes. He. Was. Just. Here. Spreading his goodwill and love to all around Max's entryway. It's a wonder there aren't cherubs flying around sprinkling rose petals and rainbows erupting through the windows, an aftermath of his delightful visit."


Max.. He's just soo perfect. ALPHA ALERT!! Damnnn i sure do love me a alpha-tastic-male, this guy had me weak the the knees! So Lush, sweet amazingly sweet actually, honest... basically he was every good decent quality you could ever ask for in a man with a splash of dominance. Just 100 fuckin' percent of pure alpha male perfection. He's so protective and i just love that in a man, think it shows they truly care. i could sit here and gush about him for a week... but this is looking to be one long ass review as it is!


“I was your man, you were halfway around the world from me, honey, I’d fuckin’ phone you.”

“You on a timeout?”
“What?”
“If you told me you needed a timeout, first I wouldn’t fuckin’ let you have one, second, I wouldn’t give you a reason to fuckin’ want one, last, you took off anyway, I’d fuckin’ phone.”


i'm not gonna go into the plot cause i went in not really knowing what to expect and i enjoyed it a helluva lot more. All i'll say is strap on your seat belts and keep your arms inside the vehicle at all times. Roller-coaster? Hell yes! Not just an emotional one either somethings constantly happening. It's insane one minute i'm on the edge of my seat clinging onto my Kindle for dear life cause the suspense is just about killin' me off here then the next im all steamed up cause things are gettin' HOTT or i'm in stitches grinnin' my ass off like the fuckin' Cheshire cat. I'll hold my hands up and admit that i got a few sideways glances off my grandparents especially when i burst out laughing like a freakin' loon, to them for no aparent reason cause they're watching some frickin' murder program where someones just been slaughtered and is NOT a laughing matter.


“You’re being domineering again,” I informed him.
I felt his mouth grin under mine and watched his eyes do it.
“Yeah, baby, fair warnin’, when we’re naked, you better get used to that.”
I gasped at his words then he kissed me.”


Duchess & Macho-mountain-man... Gahh this shit could only happen in fiction... but we can dream girlies!!

This book was such a refreshing thrilling pleasure, i loved ever moment. The characters AND the plot were divine. Such an enjoyable read. I honestly could not get enough.

Well i finished the third in this series not long ago and i'm planning on starting the fourth in the morning. I'm wading my way through KA's collection like a mad woman. (Think iv'e developed an addiction to these too hot for reality males!)

Having only recently discovered my love for romance books and never hearing of Kristen before but seeing her books pop up left right n freakin' center all over my Good reads. I decided to give her a whirl, and she did NOT disappoint. So once again can i just say Thank-you Good reads for bringing this incredible talented author to my notice. Once again i'm in debt to you bringing one more awesome story into my life.

Can i just add how i LOVED Nina's & Charlie's conversations. So fuckin' beautiful.


“He put the knuckles of his fist to the table, leaned toward Niles and spoke quietly, cuttingly, in his rough, gravelly voice.

“Fucked her last night, man, and this morning. Five times. Five. It was like she hadn’t been touched in a decade. So fuckin’ sweet. Damn,” he taunted, his eyes locked on Niles. “You’ve had her, you gotta know, not enough money in the world’s worth that.”



**Review Edit..**
Can i just say i read this book like two/three weeks ago and it is STILL stuck in my head.. i'm itching to read it again. This is definatly the best of the series so far!



View all my reviews

Monday 9 June 2014

REVIEW: TASTE OF DARKNESS BY MARIA V. SNYDER

Title: Taste Of Darkness
Series: Healer/ Avry of Kazan
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Genre: Fantasy/ Romance

Summary.

She's fought death and won. But how can she fight her fears?

Avry knows hardship and trouble. She fought the plague and survived. She took on King Tohon and defeated him. But now her heart-mate, Kerrick, is missing, and Avry fears he's gone forever.

But there's a more immediate threat: The Skeleton King plots to claim the Fifteen Realms for his own. With armies in disarray and the dead not staying down, Avry's healing powers are needed now more than ever.

Torn between love and loyalty, Avry must choose her path carefully. For the future of her world depends on her decision.




My Review! 

Five Stars!!

Taste of Darkness is the third and final installment of the Avry of Kazan/ Healer series. As a final book in a series it does not disappoint. 

This series has become a favorite of mine, from the thrilling adventure to the wide cast of some of the most fabulous and lovable characters, a swooning romance and a world to get lost in. Keeping with the tone of the last two books this one keeps the pace of adventure and romance moving swiftly. 

Avry, Kerrick and the rest of their merry gang are put through their paces throughout this entire series and that doesn't let up in this book. Kerrick is now limited to staying in the forest, his connection as a forest mage has now become so strong he cannot leave the forest without it sapping all of his strength. But Avry keeps strong and positive. Hit after hit, with each turn the guys are hit with betrayals, battles but they keep going. With new enemy's and old threats returning the gang stay loyal to one another and over come every new terror and fight that is thrown at them 

From battle planning in the mines, a breakout in a convent, battles with the undead, and coming face to face with cannibals. This story is full of shocking revelations and captivating twists. 

Avry and Kerrick will always be one of my most favorite couples, everything about their relationship is incredibly refreshing, their love and respect for each other is really quite new in YA, neither are overly dependent nor smothering, they know that their are things going on that are bigger than the two of them and they realize that though they might not like it they will put whatevers necessary before them selves. 

Avry is a fantastic female protagonist, she's incredibly selfless, brave, intelligent, kind and witty. Like a breath of fresh Air she is strong willed and quick witted. I have really enjoyed seeing Avry grow over this series, no longer is she on the run hiding  healing the odd child then having to run, now she is a highly respected healer. No longer on her own she has a group of loving friends that are a lot more like family and Kerrick, which is all more than she had ever wished for. 

New characters and old light up this story, some you wish you could just hug and take home with you and some you just love to hate! Seeing how each character has grown and developed over the process of this series is really a joy in it's self and makes you feel like part of the crew! 

I have really enjoyed this series and recommend highly. Every aspect of this series is played perfectly, though this book does start of with a slight recap i would recommend that if you're going to read this series do so within a close time scale, i read all three books within a week. Obviously you don't have to read them within a week but i would say you should read them close together because with the wide range of characters and with such a complex plot and world it's best to keep it all fresh in your mind so you can really appreciate every part within out forgetting any key points from the previous books. 

The Acvy of Kazan series gave me a week filled with enjoyment, adventure, suspense and love. If your looking for a new series of fantasy and romance i suggest you pick this one up, you wont regret it. Promise. 

"Oh no," Quain said. "I recognize that look. It means trouble"
"It means she has a plan," Loren corrected.
"Same difference," Quian muttered. 

Wednesday 4 June 2014

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY: THE MERCILESS BY DANIELLE VEGA (#2)

Title: The Merciless
Series: NA
Author: Danielle Vega
Genre: Horror/ YA

Summary

Forgive us, Father, for we have sinned

Brooklyn Stevens sits in a pool of her own blood, tied up and gagged. No one outside of these dank basement walls knows she’s here. No one can hear her scream.

Sofia Flores knows she shouldn’t have gotten involved. When she befriended Riley, Grace, and Alexis on her first day at school, she admired them, with their perfect hair and their good-girl ways. They said they wanted to save Brooklyn. They wanted to help her. Sofia didn’t realize they believed Brooklyn was possessed.

Now, Riley and the girls are performing an exorcism on Brooklyn—but their idea of an exorcism is closer to torture than salvation. All Sofia wants is to get out of this house. But there is no way out. Sofia can’t go against the other girls . . . unless she wants to be next. . . .

In this chilling debut, Danielle Vega delivers blood-curdling suspense and terror on every page. By the shockingly twisted end, readers will be faced with the most haunting question of all: Is there evil in all of us?


I  mean how freakin' awesome does this sound? I'll admit it i'm total chicken shit, i make my sister walk me to the loo when we've watched a scary movie because i jump at my own shadow and she tortures me by singing the song from Nightmare on Elm Street out side my door at about three in the morning in a creepy kiddy voice.. you know the one..
1,2 freddie's coming for you
3.4 better lock your door
5,6 grab a crucifix 
7,8 gonna stay up late
9,10 never sleep again... 

At least that's now i think it goes, i mean i'm always half asleep and half traumatized so i can't really be blamed for getting the words wrong now can i? Haha any this is SO not the point of this post i guess what i'm trying to say is i am a chicken, i'm the girl that watched the Woman In Black through her fingers in the cinema and nearly fell off her chair. But i am still incredibly excited for this book! Honestly i cannot freakin' wait! It sounds bloody scary and freaky and gross and ten different kinds of awesome!!  Even if it is likely to give me sleepless nights i really don't care that's how much i want this book!