2016 is Nearly Over...And I Still Haven't Read These Books!

Hi all!

So somehow it is already nearly September, and I am woefully behind on my Goodreads challenge.

Ok, that's a bit of an exaggeration; I've read 33 books this year, and my goal is to read 50. But the reason why I'm on track is because I read the Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy novellas which count as separate books, and there are so many books I want to read but haven't done yet!

My Mid-Year Book Freak Out tag is coming out soon, but I thought I would tell you the 8 books I am desperate to read before the year is out!

1. Queen of Shadows by Sarah J Maas - I have been determined to catch up on this series this year,
 and so far I'm doing well! I finished Heir of Fire a few weeks ago, and while I'm not loving the direction the series is going in I do love the world and want to carry on with the story. I also want to read it before Empire of Storms comes out and be up to date for once!

2. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo - Everyone adores this book. It's all over Instagram and booktube, and I love love love the sound of it - thieves stealing something dangerous? Yes please! - but for some reason I've never picked it up. I have read Shadow and Bone and didn't mind it, but I think I was worried that I had to finish that trilogy to read Six of Crows. Now that I know I don't, I badly want to pick it up and find out why everyone loves Kaz so much!

3. The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye - Fantasy Russia? Two players in a game where one will die? What's not to love about the premise of this book? I've heard people compare it to The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern which is my FAVOURITE books (review can be found here) so obviously I need to read The Crown's Game.

4. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff - This was in my Illumicrate box (unboxing can be found here) and it looks STUNNING. The cover is so detailed, and there are two maps in it. As well as that, the story sounds amazing and various Instagrammers have raved about it! I feel like it's going to be a good winter fantasy read too, so I'm very excited to read it.

5. A Gathering of Shadows by VE Schwab - How have I not read this yet?! I loved A Darker Shade of Magic, it was one of my favourite books of 2015 and I loved every part of it (mostly Kell <3 My thoughts on ADSOM can be found here!). I want to find out what happens to Kell and Lila and Rhys, and I've heard that there's a new character that people love introduced in this book, too.

6. This Savage Song by VE Schwab - Another probably marvellous VE Schwab book that I have yet to read! This Savage Song sounds incredible, and I think it has something to do with music and monsters which should be a great combination.

7. Unrivalled by Alyson Noel - Unrivalled is blurbed as being similar to Pretty Little Liars and
Gossip Girl, two of my favourite TV shows. I love scandal-filled contemporary books, they're my guilty pleasure, so I am super excited to see how Unrivalled plays out.

8. Summer Days & Summer Nights, an anthology - Summer is nearly over, so I need to get my skates on if I want to read this soon! I read my True Love Gave to Me at Christmastime and I love how the season plays such an important part in the stories. Also some of my favourite authors - Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Stephanie Perkins - have contributed to the collection.

These are the eight books I'll hopefully read before 2016 ends, but this next school year is going to be absolutely manic, so I don't know how successful I'll be! As well as this I would like to reread The Infernal Devices as I read them in winter last year and think it would be a nice tradition.

Do you see a book on this list that I need to read tomorrow? What book are you hoping to read before the year is over?
Thanks for reading (:

Beautiful People: August Edition

Hi all!

For the past few Beautiful People editions I've focused on my female main characters, but this time I'm going to show one of the men in my story! Thank you as always to the hosts, Cait @ Paper Fury and Sky @ Further Up and Further In !

There are two main male characters in my story (well, technically there's three, but one isn't as important in the first book!) and this time I'll be looking at Henry Krendale, an exiled lord who also happens to be a psychic. As he is closely linked to Esme, I figured I'd include her in here too (also because she is my favourite character and she was the first one I created so I'm allowed to include her in everything!).




1. Give a brief overview of their looks. (Include a photo if you want!)

 Henry's looks have changed since I started writing, mainly because of Pinterest! At first, he had dark brown hair and dark brown eyes, but then I realised that a) he would look too much like another character, and b) I had pinned Aaron Tveit and Max Irons, who don't fit that initial description! So now he has light brown hair and green eyes, and is tall and a little gangly.

Esme for me has always been similar to Lily James looks-wise, as she has blonde hair that goes past her shoulders and brown eyes. She is quite curvy and average height.

2. Share a snippet that involves description of their appearance.

(This is when I realise I need more description!)
Henry: 'his hair was slightly curled at the edges, and Esme noted with worry that he seemed more tired than usual, his eyes framed by glasses he usually only used to read.'
Esme: 'touching the twist in her hair, she checked her reflection in the mirror and found it was already drooping. And she shouldn't have worn this dress; the empire waist just drew attention to her hips.'


3. What is the first thing people might notice about them?

 The first thing people would notice about Henry would be his height, as he is tall and the fact that he's pretty skinny emphasises this. People would probably notice Esme's eyes first, because she nearly always maintains eye contact when holding a conversation.

 

4. What are their unique features? (Ex: freckles, big ears, birthmark, scars, etc.)

 Henry has freckles when he's been out in the sun for a while and ears that stick out a little. Esme gains a unique feature (spoilers though guys, so I'm not telling! (; ) but when the series starts out she has a birthmark on the back of her leg.

 

5. How tall are they? What is their build (Ex: stocky, slender, petite, etc.)

 Given the fact that I can't judge any sort of measurements for some reason, I don't have an exact height for each of them. Basically: Henry=tall and slim, Esme=average and curvy.

 

6. What is their posture like? How do they usually carry themselves?

 Esme carries herself well, as her uncle taught her to make a strong first impression. She has a good posture which is mainly natural as she wants to always appear in control. Henry still keeps a relatively good posture from his days as a lord, but he stands quite defensively and often has his hands in his pockets or plays with the cuff of his shirt.

 

7. Your character has been seen on a “lazy day” (free from usual routine/expectations): what are they wearing and how do they look?

Esme would still wear a dress because she loves them, but it would probably be an old one that might not be in style or season. Henry would wear a plain shirt and trousers made from simple materials, forgoing a waistcoat or detailed designs.

 

8. Do they wear glasses, accessories, or jewelry on a regular basis? Do they have any article of clothing or accessory that could be considered their trademark? 

Henry needs glasses to read and often wears them if his eyes are tired, and he nearly always wears waistcoats over his shirts, but this is the fashion of the world so I don't know whether this would count as a trademark. Esme often pins her hair up but other than that she doesn't have a lot of accessories. As for her trademark, she always wears pretty dresses so maybe that's what she's known for.

 

9. Have they ever been bullied or shamed because of their looks? Explain!

Henry hasn't been bullied because of his looks because people have always considered him fairly good-looking (that fact that he used to be very very rich also helped this). Esme has lead quite a sheltered life so she has never really been bullied, although there was a time when she was younger that a group of girls picked on her because her clothes weren't in style.

 

10. Are they happy with how they look? If they could change anything about their appearance, what would it be?

 Henry is happy with how he looks as looks aren't the most important thing to him, but if he could change something about his appearance he would probably change his ears as he thinks they stick out. Esme isn't as confident in her appearance and she often feels insecure, especially about her figure, so she would change that if she could. (Although she becomes more confident as the series progresses).

So that's my Beautiful People post for the month! Let me know if you liked it, and how is your work in progress going? What are your main characters called?
Thanks for reading(:

Illumicrate Unboxing & Review!

Hi all!

A few days ago I received my Illumicrate box for August and - WOW. This box was so so good! It two books, as well as beautiful bookish extras that I can't wait to use or stick up on my wall!



*Note: This post will contain spoilers for the box, so if you haven't received yours yet wait to check it out!*




The Books:

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff - This book has been all over bookstagram recently! I was already planning on buying it soon, so when I found that a HARDCOVER version of it was included in this box I may have squealed a little bit. Everyone has raved about it and I loved Illuminae, which Kristoff co-wrote with Amie Kaufman, so I have high hopes. Plus the cover is gorgeous, and there are not one but two maps! What more could a bookworm want?

The Graces by Laura Eve - The Graces is actually out in a month, so this book feels extra special! The cover is, again, stunning, and as I read the summary I realised I had meant to remember to buy this a while ago. The letter from the author added a nice personal touch to the box, especially as it was in her handwriting, and has really intrigued me about the book.




The Bookish Goodies!

Of which there are many, so I think I'm going to list them all briefly. In no particular order, I received:

• 2 Harry Potter coasters (which are as amazing as they sound)
•  A Nevernight poster and Bookmark
• A bookplate for Nevernight and for The Graces
• Absolutely beautiful posters for Red Rising by Pierce Brown (which I unfortunately haven't read yet, but they are gorgeous)
• Grisha and Six of Crows themed COLOURING-IN QUOTES. This was a highlight for me, even though I haven't read Six of Crows or completed the Grisha trilogy!
• Strawberry tea - I'm not a tea drinker but I'm up for trying
  
  a new flavour
• A tote bag which is apparently Gilmore Girls related (I have been catching up with the other GG - Gossip Girl - instead so I haven't watched it yet)
• A discount code for Unboxed by Non Pratt
• A discount code for a bookmark from My Bookmark

This box was jam-packed with wonderful things, and I'm so happy with it!

Did anyone else receive and Illumicrate? What did you think of it? What was your favourite item?
Thanks for reading (:

Writerly Ramblings 3 - A Writing Playlist

Hi all!

Writing is - surprisingly - going well! I've passed the halfway point in the story, and it's so rewarding to see how everything is fitting together. Plots and subplots are coming together, relationships are being made - or broken, as I am an evil writer! -  and I feel comfortable in the world finally.

One of the hardest things about creating a fictional world, I think, is making up customs and a feeling that these are a normal thing in the characters' lives. I've had to sit down and focus on what different things my characters do in this world, and more importantly why; I don't just want to have a tradition just to have a tradition if that makes sense.

Character-wise I think they're what I intended them to be. For the first time in my writing I'm really thinking if a character would say what I want them to say, if their actions are typical for them or if they need justifying or changing. I'm writing from two different points of view - Esme's and Marisol's - and one thing I'm finding hard is trying to keep their voices distinct. They're both strong independent characters but in different ways, so it's a task to keep them in line!

I thought I would share some of the songs I listen to while writing! I have a playlist of about 30ish songs that I just put on a loop when I write, which mainly consist of Ruelle, Halsey, and Broods (Sidenote: I just discovered Broods and they are AMAZING!). Here are 10 songs that I find create an epic, let's-go-write-a-kickass-scene atmosphere.

1. Live Like Legends - Ruelle
2. Bridges - Broods
3. Is There Somewhere - Halsey
4. Alive - Sia
5. If You Leave Me Now - Foxes
6. Don't Let Me Down - The Chainsmokers
7. Bad Dream - Ruelle
8. Rise Up (Reprise) - Foxes
9. Figure 8 - Ellie Goulding
10. Conscious - Broods

All of these songs help me set the scene for a certain chapter, and most of them make my characters feel more badass. I believe that music can help you create emotions in your writing, and sometimes you'll stumble along a song that completely fits your novel. For my story, I think either Rise Up or Conscious work well.

Let me know if you like this playlist, and I'll make another! What are some of your favourite songs to write to? How is your writing going? I'd love to hear from fellow writers!
Thanks for reading (:

The Unexpected Everything - Review

Title: The Unexpected Everything
Author: Morgan Matson
Synopsis: Andie Walker has everything in her life planned out, until one event throws her entire summer schedule out the window. With a group of loyal friends, more than a few dogs, and a shy writer, Andie starts to learn that sometimes it's better to go with the flow, but at the end of the summer will she go back to her old ways?
Rating: 4 stars.

As always, Morgan Matson delivers a sunny summer contemporary perfect for long lazy days reading! Overall, I did enjoy this book, but I did have some problems with it, especially as I enjoyed Since You've Been Gone and Amy & Roger's Epic Detour so much. This review may have little spoilers in them, but I've tried to make it as spoiler-free as possible!

Andie's character development in this is something I really enjoyed reading about, and for the most part I liked her as our protagonist. However there was a DECISION - those of you who have read this will know what I'm talking about! - she made that infuriated me, and I didn't connect with her as much as I wanted to.

One of my favourite aspects of this novel was the friendship. I loved the texting conversations that were included as they felt like a real conversation a group of friends would have! Palmer, Andie, Toby and Bri really were close, and Morgan Matson has captured all of the little details of friendship very well.

And then there's Clark...oh how I love Clark! He has T-shirts with TV show references on them (I only got one!), a bonkers dog, and he writes! I like how he helped Andie relax and their relationship was so so cute. The sections from his books were another great addition.

Andie's relationship with her father was something that really sets this book apart. I like how they were working together to improve things, and the gradual change throughout summer was really sweet to read.

HOWEVER! I did have problems with this book. For one thing, I felt it was too long and in the beginning I felt myself get a bit distracted. As well as this, I was not a fan of the plot twist as it didn't feel very realistic to me and went against the values of friendship that ran throughout the rest of the book.

All in all, The Unexpected  Everything was a good summery read, but I would recommend Morgan Matson's other books if you've never read any of hers before. Especially Amy & Roger's Epic Detour - that is one of my favourite contemporary books!

Let me know what you thought of The Unexpected Everything in the comments!
Thanks for reading(:

5 Reasons to Read The Diviners series!

Hi all!

I finished Lair of Dreams over the weekend - at twenty past midnight, desperately trying to finish it
before my Audible free trial ran out - and it has become one of my favourite reads of 2016. I already want to reread it again! But it feels like hardly anyone has read The Diviners, so I thought I would give you some reasons why you absolutely should dive into this series!


1. The writing - Libba Bray's writing style is wonderful and enthralling. There wasn't a single point
where my attention wavered, and the way she describes things is both unique and clear. She weaves so many characters' stories together until they all join up at the end, which is something I love, and although I didn't find The Diviners particularly scary, I did find Lair of Dreams very, very creepy!

2. The setting - The Diviners takes place in 1920s New York, which to be honest was enough for me to be interested! But it isn't just set in New York; when you read the series you become immersed in the characters' worlds. I could easily imagine myself at the Follies or the Museum, and I love how Libba Bray uses just enough 1920s slang for it to be believable without it being over the top, so it felt like natural speech when someone said 'jake' or 'copacetic'.

3. The plot - There is an overarching plot throughout the two novels so far, but it is slow-moving and we find out more about it through the smaller plots of each book. I really like how towards the end of Lair of Dreams I could feel the pace speeding up, and there is a mystery at the heart of the novels which I am desperate for answers to!

4 - The characters - These are really what makes the books for me! I admittedly find Evie - the main main protagonist (there's a lot of different viewpoints) - a bit annoying, but she feels very human; she's flawed and makes bad decisions, but at the same time she's very loyal and compassionate. Each character feels like their own person and I've never gotten confused between them, and there's a lot - Jericho, Sam, Theta, Memphis, Henry, Mabel, and then Ling in Lair of Dreams. They all have strong subplots, too. After reading Lair of Dreams I absolutely adore Henry and his friendship with Ling!

5. The audiobook - I can't speak for The Diviners as I haven't listened to it, but the narrator of Lair of Dreams, January LaVoy, was phenomenal! She put on different voices for each character that were consistent throughout, and she even sang the songs in the book! I think I found Lair of Dreams spookier than The Diviners because of how excellent her narration was.

Let me know if I've convinced you to read this series! If you've already picked up The Diviners, what did you think? Who's your favourite character? (Mine are Jericho and Henry and Ling and Mabel...basically everyone!)
Thanks for reading (: