June Wrap-Up

Hey guys! June went by so fast, didn't it? I can't believe we're already a third of the way through summer... On the bright side though, a lot of bookish things happened this month!

HAUL

Books I Bought

1. Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

2. Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

3. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

4. Ivory and Bone by Julie Eshbaugh
5. Mosquitoland by David Arnold

Books I Won

B-Fest

1. The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon (ARC)

2. Kids of Appetite by David Arnold (ARC)

Giveaways

1. The Telling by Alexandra Sirowy (ARC) - thank you so much, Alexandra Sirowy!
2. A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro (eBook) - thank you again, Tamara!

BOOKS I READ

1. Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin

2. For the Record by Charlotte Huang

3. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

4. Kids of Appetite by David Arnold (ARC)
5. The Siren by Kiera Cass
6. A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

THE BLOG

Books I Reviewed

The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig (3.5 stars)

For the Record by Charlotte Huang (2.5 stars)

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner (4.5 stars)

Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin (4 stars)

The Neverland Wars (DNF)
The Siren (2.5 stars)

Discussions I Posted

Wherein I Attempt to Explain the Significance of Secondary Characters

The Complexity of Rating Contemporaries

Guests Who Posted

Shelly shared some book recommendations in her YA LGBT+ Books Start Guide

Other Blogging/Bookish Events

 I thanked some friends and shared some lessons and favorites from the year in celebration of my one-year blogoversary! Thank you to all who have supported me so far <3

I started a bookish instagram (aka a bookstagram)! It's still a work in progress, but I'm enjoying the different outlet for expressing my love of books and exploring a different type of photography.



I was resorted into a Hogwarts house on Pottermore because I forgot my previous account's info, and now I'm having an identity crisis again. So this might get ramble-y, but before I took the Sorting Hat quiz on Pottermore a few months ago, I always considered myself a Ravenclaw. That's what every other quiz I'd ever taken said, that's what I classified myself as to begin with, and I'm pretty sure I randomly stumbled across the Pottermore one online somewhere too and that said I was a Ravenclaw...? Anyway, I took the new official quiz a few months ago after they revamped the site, and it said I was a Slytherin. I was kind of shocked, but I grew to accept and love that I was a Slytherin. Flash forward to Tuesday when I created a new account, and I got sorted into Gryffindor. And then I took the Ilvermorny (North American equivalent of Hogwarts) Sorting quiz and I got Pukwudgie...  WHO EVEN AM I?!?!? 

Waiting on Wednesday (50)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that you are eagerly anticipating.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
Series: Strange the Dreamer #1
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy
Page Length: 528 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 27, 2016

About Strange the Dreamer (via Goodreads):

A breathtaking new novel by National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author Laini Taylor

Strange the Dreamer is the story of:

the aftermath of a war between gods and men.
a mysterious city stripped of its name.
a mythic hero with blood on his hands.
a young librarian with a singular dream.
a girl every bit as dangerous as she is in danger.
alchemy and blood candy, nightmares and godspawn, moths and monsters, friendship and treachery, love and carnage.

Welcome to Weep.

The Siren (Review) ~ Not Enthralled by This Siren's Song

The Siren by Kiera Cass
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy
Page Length: 327 pages
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: HarperTeen

About The Siren (via Goodreads):

Love is a risk worth taking.

Years ago, Kahlen was rescued from drowning by the Ocean. To repay her debt, she has served as a Siren ever since, using her voice to lure countless strangers to their deaths. Though a single word from Kahlen can kill, she can’t resist spending her days on land, watching ordinary people and longing for the day when she will be able to speak and laugh and live freely among them again. 

Kahlen is resigned to finishing her sentence in solitude…until she meets Akinli. Handsome, caring, and kind, Akinli is everything Kahlen ever dreamed of. And though she can’t talk to him, they soon forge a connection neither of them can deny…and Kahlen doesn’t want to.

Falling in love with a human breaks all the Ocean’s rules, and if the Ocean discovers Kahlen’s feelings, she’ll be forced to leave Akinli for good. But for the first time in a lifetime of following the rules, Kahlen is determined to follow her heart.

The Siren was a fun summer read. The premise was interesting, and the execution was decent. However, the storyline was predictable, and the characters were not very fleshed out. I saw next to no character development, and the love was way too instantaneous. A major case of instalove, if you will. And I hate instalove.

Kahlen wasn't a bad main character, but she was far from my favorite. Her relationships were decent with everyone, but it irked me that she spent decades with the Ocean and her "sisters", and chose to mope over a boy she'd only known for a minuscule fraction of that time.

To return to the topic of instalove, their interactions were too brief. There were so few scenes actually had Kahlen and Akinli together, so it was hard for me to root for them when there was so little to root for. I couldn't get a clear sense of their relationship, so I had no motivation to cheer them on when so many other people were hurt in their wake.

The secondary characters were tried-and-true friends to Kahlen and to each other, but I would have liked it if they had a bigger role. The scenes they were in seemed to go by too quickly, and they seemed to play such a tiny role in the story despite their long-standing relationship with Kahlen and the sisterhood.

In addition, I would have loved to learn more about the Ocean. She was a very unique "character" and although she irritated me quite frequently, she was so intriguing and kind of fragile, in a sense. I wish I knew more of the mythology/backstory behind her and the sirens.

All in all, The Siren was a decent and quick read, but there was a lot left to be desired.

My rating: 2 stars

June SST: Interview with The Way to Game the Walk of Shame Author Jenn P. Nguyen

The Way to Game the Walk of Shame by Jenn P. Nguyen

Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary

Release Date: June 7, 2016

About The Way to Game the Walk of Shame (via Goodreads):

Taylor Simmons is screwed.

Things were hard enough when her single-minded dedication to her studies earned her the reputation of being an Ice Queen, but after getting drunk at a party and waking up next to bad boy surfer Evan McKinley, the entire school seems intent on tearing Taylor down with mockery and gossip.

Desperate to salvage her reputation, Taylor persuades Evan to pretend they’re in a serious romantic relationship. After all, it’s better to be the girl who tames the wild surfer than just another notch on his surfboard.

Add to Goodreads

INTERVIEW

Alexandra: Do you prefer to outline your characters/plots/etc. first, or do you just start writing once you get an idea?

I’m a crazy outliner. Before I start writing, I always have to have a detailed chapter outline of the entire plot as well as character profiles. The character profiles usually starts with a picture and from there I just build on the history, personality, and relationships. Searching for pictures is usually my favorite part of the outlining and what I do first. It helps me work through the story better when I can visualize the characters like in a movie.

A: What is the hardest part about being an author? The easiest?

The easiest part of being an author is knowing that your novel will be on bookshelves. Something that used to just be ideas in your head. That all your hard work and dreams are actually coming true and people will be reading your book. On the other hand, that’s also the hardest part of being an author. There are expectations now. You can’t just write when you feel like it. And there will be people reading your book. Strangers, critics, bloggers (although bloggers are awesome :) ).

A: If you were stuck on a deserted island with one of your characters, who would you want with you and why?

Would it be wrong of me to want Evan to be with me? Lol He is a surfer after all and he’s just so easy on the eyes.

A: If you had to write a book in a different genre, what genre would you choose and why?

I would LOVE to write an epic fantasy someday just because I find that genre so daunting and scary. My weakness is definitely worldbuilding and anything is possible in a fantasy. The options are limitless! The air you breathe could be used for currency or poison. People can live on clouds. Flowers could someday build an army and conquer the world. Okay, well, maybe not. But I definitely write better with a bit of structure and rules.

A: Are you currently working on any writing projects?

I’m actually bouncing back and forth between two other YA contemporary romances that are in the same universe as THE WAY TO GAME THE WALK OF SHAME. They aren’t necessarily sequels, but characters from THE WAY TO GAME do pop up from time to time!

A: What are some of your favorite books?

All the Harry Potter books. They’re just so amazing and magical. I also love all the books by Stephanie Perkins. They’re just so romantic and fun. A perfect way to spend a couple of free hours that leave you with a content satisfied feeling.

About the Author:

Jenn Nguyen fell in love with books in third grade and spent the rest of her school years reading through lunchtime and giving up recess to organize the school library. She has a degree in business administration from the University of New Orleans and still lives in the city with her husband. Jenn spends her days reading, dreaming up YA romances, and binge watching Korean dramas all in the name of 'research'. The Way to Game the Walk of Shame is her debut novel.

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COVER REVEAL: The Great Pursuit by Wendy Higgins

Hey guys! So I am extremely excited to be one of the people who gets to share the cover for The Great Pursuit by Wendy Higgins with you guys today! The Great Pursuit is the sequel to The Great Hunt, and is the final book in the Eurona duology. It will be published March 7, 2017 by HarperTeen.

Before I get to the big reveal, here's what The Great Pursuit is all about:

Lochlanach has traded the great beast for something far more terrible, a Lashed enemy veiled in beauty, deception, and a vengeance passed down through generations: Rozaria Rocato. And she’s offering the hunter Paxton Seabolt power and acceptance he could never receive in his homeland. Pax must decide how far he’s willing to go under her tutelage, knowing she is the opponent of Princess Aerity Lochson.

In a land where traditionalists dread change, the Lochlan throne must contend with mysterious foes and traitors, while attempting to keep revolt at bay. As dire circumstances strike the royal family, matters of the castle are left in Aerity’s hands. It's time to put aside her fears and grasp the reign, taking actions that have the potential to save or destroy her people.

One hunt has ended, but the pursuit for love and justice continue. In this sequel to The Great Hunt from New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins, political intrigue and romance intensify in another thrilling fantasy. Princess Aerity embraces a quest for identity and passion before making the ultimate sacrifice for her kingdom.

You can add The Great Pursuit to Goodreads here, and if you haven't checked out The Great Hunt yet, you can pick up the eBook right now for only $3.99 (Kindle | Nook) and get yourself started on the duology!

AND NOW FOR THE REVEAL...

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Waiting on Wednesday (49)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that you are eagerly anticipating.

A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi
Series: The Star-Touched Queen #2 (companion novel)
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Mythology
Page Length: 352 pages
Publication Date: March 28, 2017
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

About A Crown of Wishes (via Entertainment Weekly):

Fans of Roshani Chokshi’s spell-binding bestseller The Star-Touched Queen are in for a treat with EW’s exclusive cover reveal and excerpt from the upcoming sequel A Crown of Wishes. The new novel follows Gauri, the younger sister of the titular Star-Touched Queen, on her harrowing quest for freedom.

When Gauri, the princess of Bharata, is captured by her kingdom’s rivals, she can only find help in Vikram, the cunning prince of an enemy kingdom. Unsatisfied with royal life, Vikram offers Gauri a chance to win back her kingdom in exchange for her battle prowess. They set aside their differences and team up to compete in the Tournament of Wishes, wherein the Lord of Wealth promises a wish to the victor. Every which way they turn new trials will test their wit and strength. But what Gauri and Vikram soon discover is that there’s nothing more dangerous than what they most desire.

If you know how much I adored The Star-Touched Queen (which is a lot, considering TSTQ is one of my absolute favorite books, if not my #1 favorite book of all time), you can only imagine my delight when I finished TSTQ many months ago and immediately found out a companion novel was in the works. AND YESTERDAY THEY RELEASED THE COVER AND A PROPER SYNOPSIS AND AN EXCERPT AND IT'S MORE THAN I EVER COULD HAVE DREAMED OF. The cover is perfect, the description is fantastic, and that excerpt. I just want to know what happens to Gauri and Vikram and everyone RIGHT NOW.

The Neverland Wars (DNF Review)

The Neverland Wars by Audrey Greathouse
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Retelling
Page Length: 302 pages
Format: eARC provided by author
Publication Date: May 9, 2016
Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing

I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

About The Neverland Wars (via Goodreads):

Magic can do a lot—give you flight, show you mermaids, help you taste the stars, and… solve the budget crisis? That's what the grown-ups will do with it if they ever make it to Neverland to steal its magic and bring their children home.

However, Gwen doesn't know this. She's just a sixteen-year-old girl with a place on the debate team and a powerful crush on Jay, the soon-to-be homecoming king. She doesn't know her little sister could actually run away with Peter Pan, or that she might have to chase after her to bring her home safe. Gwen will find out though—and when she does, she'll discover she's in the middle of a looming war between Neverland and reality.

She'll be out of place as a teenager in Neverland, but she won't be the only one. Peter Pan's constant treks back to the mainland have slowly aged him into adolescence as well. Soon, Gwen will have to decide whether she's going to join impish, playful Peter in his fight for eternal youth… or if she's going to scramble back to reality in time for the homecoming dance.

DNF'd @ 45%

I wanted to like this book. I really did. But I just couldn't. I'd been dying to finally read a Peter Pan retelling, and I really thought this particular concept sounded like a unique twist to the original story, but I'm sad to say I just couldn't get into it.

My favorite part definitely had to be the interaction between Peter, Gwen, and the mermaids in the lagoon. I love it when mermaids are portrayed on the more sinister side (like sirens) rather than innocent and naive creatures (like the ones in The Little Mermaid, as much as I do enjoy that film/story), and Greathouse did just that. The mermaids were haunting, intriguing, and not exactly evil, but they definitely had their own agendas.

Other than the mermaids, though, I thought the characters were pretty bland. At first, I thought I would be able to connect to Gwen, but I just couldn't. She seemed to lack so much depth, and the only thing I could really connect with was her struggle with growing up. And that concept was pretty much defenestrated when she quite literally threw herself out the window and flew off to Neverland with Peter Pan.

I'll admit that the secondary characters had a ton of potential, but they play such a minor role that I didn't really get the chance to appreciate them as characters. I wanted to learn more about the lost children's stories, learn about where they came from and why they were there. And maybe I could have gotten that if I had continued reading, but based on what little knowledge I learned from the many chapters already in Neverland, I don't know if that actually was going to happen.

Also, I read almost half the book and I feel like there was no conflict or action whatsoever. I know there's the looming "war" threat from the adults in the real world, but honestly I didn't see much reaction or preparation for battle or anything like that. There wasn't much plot in my opinion, other than the kids stomping around, eating, and telling stories.

All in all, The Neverland Wars had an interesting concept, but fell short of my expectations.