Wednesday 30 March 2016

March Wrap Up (2016)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I cannot believe how quickly March flew by! So, this is my March Wrap Up! Let's get on with the post!


March Wrap Up (2016)
So, these are the books that I read in the month of March:
1. Nineteen Minutes, by Jodi Picoult
2. The Reflections of Queen Snow White, by David Meredith
3. Two Truths and a Lie (The Lying Game #3), by Sara Shepard
4. I'll Give You The Sun, by Jandy Nelson
5. Demon Road (Demon Road #1), by Derek Landy
6. Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell

TBR Jar Challenge: Read a book that is guaranteed to bring you joy
What I remember is that I didn't have a clue as to what book I wanted to pick when I got given this category, but I eventually chose I'll Give You The Sun, by Jandy Nelson, and that book certainly brought me joy.

If you guys want to see me go into more detail about any one of these books on this list, I have reviews on all of these books somewhere on my blog.

Okay, so I will see you guys on Friday, where I will be doing my TBR for the month of April! And don't worry, I will be doing a review on Eleanor & Park on Sunday! So, I will see you on Friday, and bye!

-Abi xxxxx

P. S. :- Just adding this as an afterthought, so you guys can now follow me on Bloglovin'!
<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/14594245/?claim=a58km2em2gc">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Monday 28 March 2016

Meeting a Favourite Author

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I was leaving this post in case I finished Eleanor & Park, but I'm still really far away from finishing that.
So, I thought I'd do a post about this.


Meeting A Favourite Author
I'll be honest. I've never met an author. Not least one of my favourite ones, maybe even my favourite. (Well, probably, because I did rate her first on my favourite authors list), unless you didn't see my last post, it's probably blatantly obvious who I'm talking about now. So, I'll tell you. Drum roll please!
*Drum roll*

It's Teri Terry!

Author of the Slated trilogy, Mind Games, (and Dangerous Games, but that's only an E-Book, plus just a novella), and most recently, Book of Lies, that I so desperately want to read before Saturday! These are the covers:
Slated trilogy:


Mind Games, and Dangerous Games: 
 


And most recently, Book of Lies! 



Hey look, they go inwards, like a pyramid! 

But seriously, I am super excited about going to Birmingham to meet Teri Terry on Saturday, and I might even make a video of me meeting her, or interviewing her (incredibly small chance). 

If you have any experiences on what it is like meeting any of your favourite authors, or even actors or anything, let me know in the comments section! 
Okay, I will see you guys on Wednesday, with (hopefully) a review on Eleanor & Park! Byeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx

Sunday 27 March 2016

Top Ten Authors

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I can't believe I haven't done this list yet! And I think it's long overdue.
I know this is gonna be incredibly hard to decide what my top ten authors are, and saying that they might not be the authors that I have read the most books by, but let's get on with the post!

Top Authors
My top favourite authors are these, and even though I know it's going to be killer to put them in order, these are my top authors:
Derek Landy, Malorie Blackman, Teri Terry, Jenny Downham, Jodi Picoult, J K Rowling, Anthony Horowitz, Jackson Pearce, Marissa Meyer, and Rainbow Rowell.

So, this is the part that is going to be awful: Numbering them.
So, I will be numbering from ten, all the way down to one. So, let's go!

10. Anthony Horowitz
Although he isn't one of my favourite authors for this series, he is the author of the Alex Rider series. He has also written the Power of Five series, that is the series that made him one of my favourite authors. The series consists of five books, and they centre around 5 gatekeepers that all have specific powers. 10,000 years ago, some creatures called the Old Ones tried to take over the world. But 5 children stopped them, and they are back 10,000 years later, trying to stop them again. Incredible series, the first 4 books focuses on one set of the five (one is based on twins), and the last one is a bunch of craziness. Recommend for action lovers that want to get into reading (though the last one is fairly big).


9. Jenny Downham
Now, I have only read two out of three of Jenny Downham's books, but I thoroughly enjoyed both of them. I cry every time I re-read Before I Die, and Unbecoming was just the whole package. I always fly through her books, and I just love them to pieces. These are her books that I have read:
Before I Die:

Unbecoming:



8. Jackson Pearce
Author of four Fairytale Retellings: Sisters Red, based off of Little Red Riding Hood; Sweetly, based off of Hansel & Gretel; I have read both of these books, but I am yet to read the second half of the series. Though saying that, one of my TBR Jar Challenges is to read a book that is based on a fairytale, so I think the next one will fit the bill. The next book is Fathomless, and it is based off of the Little Mermaid, I'm pretty sure. This is the series:


7. Jodi Picoult
Jodi Picoult is well-known author for adults, and she is also known for writing shocking and book twisty books. Her books take you down a road of things that you will not see coming. I have only read 3 of her books: -My Sister's Keeper
-Nineteen Minutes 
-Lone Wolf
I have loved all three of these books, and all three pulled me down roads where things happened that I didn't think would happen. Full reviews on Lone Wolf and Nineteen Minutes on my blog (somewhere). 


6. Marissa Meyer
Marissa Meyer is the author for the Lunar Chronicles, and the reviews are on my blog. These are also Fairytale Retellings, but they are all Sci-fiish and in the future (5 world wars have happened) and the hype is totally worthy of this series, because these books are just totally... good. I'm sorry, not sure what to say. Here is the series: Cinder, Scarlett, Cress & Snow White.



5. Rainbow Rowell
Rainbow Rowell's books are just so damn cute! When I've finished a big and or long series or trilogy that has me kind of drained, the perfect pick me up is a Rainbow Rowell book. I particularly liked Fangirl, read that book in like a day and a half! Also really liked Carry On, and I am currently reading Eleanor & Park and loving it! Reading Attachments afterwards as well.



Down to 4 books, now this is incredibly hard! 

4. J K Rowling
I don't really need to explain why this author is on this list, do I? She wrote the Harry Potter books, and well they're the Harry Potter books. 


3. Derek Landy
Now these top 3 were incredibly tough. Now, Landy has the bad-ass characters, and the witty dialogue, and the unpredictable plot, but since the Skulduggery Pleasant series is for kids and teenagers, I think it's just a bit too basic, but I still love the series more than most. Plus the covers are awesome! 


Now these last two were incredibly hard to choose from. Malorie Blackman, or Teri Terry? Two authors that made it onto my favourite authors list because they wrote completely different books. Malorie Blackman wrote a dystopian series, and Teri Terry wrote a Sci-fi trilogy. Now who is second... 


2. Malorie Blackman
Okay, now this one was so incredible close, it was unbelievable. And even now, I'm not sure if I've made the right decision! I read Noughts & Crosses for the first time in Year 9, and I've lost time how many times I've re-read this series. You get grabbed in by the characters, and the plot, and it just flows, and it is so hard to find an author that can do that. 
These are the books in the Noughts and Crosses series: 



1. Teri Terry
The Slated trilogy (Teri Terry's trilogy) is unlike anything I've ever read. I mean, I've read a fair amount of Sci-fi books, and the Slated trilogy is by far my favourite. It's set in a completely different world, and it is about a girl that is trying to find out the truth when her memory has been wiped. The characters are a breath of fresh air, and I just love this series so much. 

Also, I loved Mind Games, and I am about to read Book of Lies!


So, that is my top authors! I really hope you enjoyed it, and I will see you tomorrow! Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

Friday 25 March 2016

March Book Haul (2016)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And today I am doing a book haul because, even though I didn't buy a lot of books this month, I still really want to show you what I bought.

March Book Haul (2016) 
Now, I'm not going to include Eleanor & Park and Attachments, because they technically aren't mine.
Now these are the books that I am including:

1. Hide and Seek, by Sara Shepard
This is the fourth book in this series, and I just got this yesterday! Can't wait to read this! First book after Eleanor & Park and Attachments, definitely. 


2. Book of Lies, by Teri Terry 
I am really looking forward to reading what looks like Teri Terry's first horror book. From what I can see is it's about twins, and even though I wasn't crazy about the plot, but it is Teri Terry that wrote it, so I'm really looking forward to reading this book. 


3. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Illustrated Novel, by J K Rowling
I GOT THE ILLUSTRATED VERSION! I can't believe I got this, thankyou Alex! Just the beautiful cover... 

So, unfortunately those are the only books that I bought this month. I really wish that I bought more, but I was kind of busy with Sister Act, and my music video (Media). 
So that is all that I have for you today guys! 
I will see you guys on Friday, and bye! 

-Abi xxxxx






Wednesday 23 March 2016

Demon Road (Demon Road #1), by Derek Landy

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I left this post until later because I thought I'd try finishing Demon Road and doing a review for it, and I just finished it on the bus!
So, here's the review!

Demon Road (Demon Road #1), by Derek Landy
Title: Demon Road
Author: Derek Landy
Genre: Action & Adventure
Release date: 28th August, 2015
Pages: 508 
Blurb: "FOR ANYONE WHO EVER THOUGHT THEIR PARENTS WERE MONSTERS...
Amber Lamont is a normal sixteen-year-old. Smart but insecure, she spends most of her time online, where she can avoid her beautiful, aloof parents and their weird friends. 
But when a shocking encounter reveals a horrifying family secret, Amber is forced to go on the run. Killer cars, vampires, unread serial killers and red-skinned, horned demons- Amber hurtles from one threat to the next, revealing the terror woven into the very fabric of her life. As her parents close in behind her, Amber's only chance rests with her fellow travellers, who are not at all what they appear to be..." 

My Thoughts
I'm feeling full of adrenaline, excited and a little scared- Full of adrenaline because I loved the book; excited for the sequel, Desolation, which comes out on the 31st March, and scared- when my cat ran in, his eyes looked like they were glowing, and it freaked me out a bit. 
No, I'm kidding. I loved this book once it got started. To be honest, I'm not quite sure why it took me so long to get past the 100 page mark, but from what I saw from the updates on Goodreads, I read the other 400 in approximately two days, so it really picked up for me after the 100 page mark. 
The whole book was classic Landy, and that isn't a bad thing, oh no. The characters were incredibly witty and interesting, often funny, and I didn't find any of them irritating, which is a first. 
The plot was explosive (as Derek Landy's books always), and the journey that the characters had was a whirlwind of action, shock and you cheering your favourite characters on as they accomplished impossible feats, and all whilst being completely bad-ass and cool (super embarrassed to say bad-ass and cool, but they are). 
The writing was straight and to the point. Not too much description, but the incredibly funny dialogue more than made up for that. 
Now, this book may be considered a children's book, but I still highly recommend this soon to be series, maybe trilogy. (Skulduggery Pleasant had 9 books in the series, and two spin-offs in the series, so I have no idea how long this one will go on for). 

Okay, so those are my thoughts on demon road! I hope you enjoyed this post, if you have any thoughts please don't hesitate to let me know. I will see you on Friday, and bye! 

-Abi xxxxx

Monday 21 March 2016

Top Characters That Aren't Protagonists

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And since I did a list of my favourite protagonists a while ago, I thought it would be time to do a post on my favourite characters that aren't protagonists!
So, let's get on with the post!



Top Characters That Aren't Protagonists
1. Mrs Wealsey (From the "Harry Potter" series)
Oh, come on. I had to put this character into this list. Such a caring mother, she will do anything for her kids, I mean look at the way she handled Bellatrix Le Strange... Also she is fierce.
Favourite scene over there, and just for good measure... 
"Not my daughter, you bitch!"


2. Tanith Low (From the "Skulduggery Pleasant" series)
Love this character to bits. She looks twenty odd, but she is actually about 80. Plus she can walk up walls, and she fights with a sword, and she drives a frickin' MOTORBIKE. If they made a Skulduggery Pleasant film, I would really want to play her, because she is a bad-ass character, yet a big sister and role model to Valkyrie Cain, the protagonist. Love this character so much. 


3. Dr Lysander (From the "Slated" trilogy) 
This character is very interesting in this trilogy. She has a need for knowledge, and her relationship with Kyla (protagonist) is a breath of fresh air, because she doesn't just want knowledge, she also genuinely cares about Kyla. 


4. The Quagmire Triplets (from the "Series of Unfortunate Events" series) 
The Quagmire Triplets consist of Duncan, the triplet that has a talent for Journalism; Isadora, a poet that has a speciality in couplets; and Quigley, who died in a fire that killed both of their parents. (He is a cartographer). Now these triplets are as cool as the Baudelaire Children, and I love them so much because they are incredibly intelligent, and incredibly quirky and funny! 


5. Fletcher Renn (from the "Skulduggery Pleasant" series)
Okay, I hate to use two characters from the same series in one post, but I felt that this post was a bit starved for boys on this list, and I just adore Fletcher Renn's character so much in Skulduggery Pleasant. He's cute and adorable, and he keeps the books light, because not only is he cute, he is caring and loyal as well. I just love him to bits. 


6. Ron (is there another Ron other than the Ron?) 
Oh, what the heck, why not put the entire Weasley Family on there? 


And there you have it! Oh, there are so many incredible characters that aren't protagonists on this list, but I just went with the ones that popped into my head first! But that is my post! And if you have any favourite characters that aren't protagonists, let me know! I love to hear your thoughts! 
Okay... bye! 

-Abi xxxxx





Sunday 20 March 2016

Introducing... Rainbow Rowell Books

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
(Finally, they think)
And I'm sorry that I haven't posted since Wednesday, but I had other commitments.
But I'm here now!
So, let's get on with the post!

Introducing... Rainbow Rowell books
These books are:
-Eleanor & Park
-Attachments

I am currently borrowing these books from my friend Simone, so thanks Simone!

Eleanor & Park
Truthfully, I don't really know much about this one, but I think it's set in the 1970s or 1980s, so that'll be interesting to read about. It is also a YA book, and it is a romance, from the looks of it. 


Attachments
This book is set in 1999, just before mobile phones became popular, which I really like about it. It is also a New Adult Book, I think. This one is also a romance. 

So that is my post today! Again, I'm sorry I haven't posted since Wednesday, but I had other commitments (Sister Act and 5K Run), and also because of the short post. 
So, I will see you guys tomorrow, and bye! 

-Abi xxxxx



Wednesday 16 March 2016

I'll Give You The Sun, by Jandy Nelson

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And wow, I seem to be wreaking through the books this month, because I just finished I'll Give You The Sun! And so, comes another review! So, let's go!

I'll Give You The Sun, by Jandy Nelson
Title: I'll Give You The Sun
Author: Jandy Nelson
Genre: Contemporary
Release date: 2nd April, 2015
Pages: 429
Blurb: "Jude and her twin Noah are close until a tragedy drives them apart. Now they are barely speaking - and both falling for boys they can't have. Love's complicated." 


My Thoughts
Some people say that good books leave you smiling, happy and satisfied, but great books leave you sad and heartbroken. Well, I'm calling it. I'll Give You The Sun did leaving me happy, but it left me grinning from ear to ear, because it was just that good, to the point that I couldn't think of anything else apart from the characters (and potentially bad considering I was about to go on stage- I was playing a hooker/nun in Sister Act).
I finally get the hype for this book, because it really is all that, just the whole package, but what I love about this book is that it is about twins that stop being friends because of some traumatic event, and one twin's point of view is from before the event, and one takes the place of three years later, and I love this because it let's you see the whole picture.

I read this book because I needed a book that fits the description of "a book that is guaranteed to bring you joy", and this book fit the bill, down to the ground. Highly recommend this book. And if anyone is on the fence as to whether they should give this book a try, you totally should!

So those are my thoughts on I'll Give You The Sun, by Jandy Nelson! I hope you enjoyed this post, and if you have any thoughts on this book, let me know!
I will see you on Friday, and bye!

-Abi xxxxx

Monday 14 March 2016

Books 1-10 of 2016

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And every ten books that I read towards my reading goal of 50 books, I will be talking about those books. I hope you enjoy it!
Also, prepare for an insanely long post.

Books 1-10 of 2016 
So, these are the books that I have read so far this year:
1. Bomb, by Sarah Mussi
This is about a girl who wakes up strapped to a bomb, with no way out. Highly intense and incredibly addictive. I haven't read anything like it. I read this book because it was published by Books with Bite, which is a publisher that published one of my favourite trilogies. 

2. Tomb Raider, The Merlin Stone (Vol. 2)
This was a TBR Jar Challenge book, and it made sense to read it because I had always enjoyed the video game. I loved the characters, and it had you on edge the entire time. Plus Tomb Raider wasn't just an action character, and I loved that. Read it in a morning. 

3. Snow Like Ashes, by Sara Raasch
This one I didn't really like as much as I was expecting to. I guess it was a hype thing, and when I was buying it I fell in love with the cover, read the blurb and said "This sounds like something I should enjoy" and I bought it. I don't regret reading it, but it took me a while to get into it. 

4. Unbecoming, by Jenny Downham
I was anticipating this book long before it came out, and it did not disappoint me. Not only is Jenny Downham one of my favourite authors, that cover is just gorgeous. This book looks at three women of the same family, from three different generations, and they all have secrets, and this book is just incredible in every way. Highly recommend. 

5. The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
I read this book because it was the Booksplotion Book of the Month, and also I had really wanted to read it for the longest time. I mean, it's set in WWII, and it is narrated by death! Who wouldn't want to read a book like that? Thoroughly enjoyed this one. 

6. Lone Wolf, by Jodi Picoult
The direction that this book really surprised me. I loved it, and I read it in 4-5 days. It really is an interesting little books because it links two subjects that you wouldn't necessarily bring together in normal circumstances (wolves and car crashes). Also, I liked the way loyalties pulled the characters in to decisions that they shouldn't have to make. Solid 4 stars. 

7. Never Have I Ever (The Lying Game #2), by Sara Shepard
I did really like this book, just not as much as the first one, but I liked it enough to continue to the third one. It might just be second book slump, hopefully. Never Have I Ever follows Emma, a girl who is posing as Sutton (her twin sister) whilst she tries to solve the mystery of her murder. Incredibly quick read as it is only 270 pages (approximately), so I do recommend it. 

8. Ritual and Legacy (Vampire Beach #3 & #4), by Alex Duval
I split this book into two reviews because there are two separate stories, but it is just the one book. Before I read this, Ritual was the only one that I hadn't read out the series, and though I feel that the story could have gone differently, I still think that it was a good read overall. Read the whole book in approximately 4 days. 

9. Nineteen Minutes, by Jodi Picoult
Loved the concept of this book, a kid goes into school and starts shooting the kids that had made his life a misery. But saying that, I feel like it could have been 100 pages shorter. But it was a very interesting read, I couldn't get enough of the characters! Read this in 12 days (took me a while, I know), but I still really liked it! 

10. The Reflections of Queen Snow White, by David Meredith
This was the first time an author approached me and gave me a free copy of his book in exchange for an honest review, and what a book to start doing that on! This story is about Snow White and her journey. It takes place in a time when Raven (her daughter) is approaching her wedding day, and Snow White is torn up over Charming's death. This book is her journey, basically. Read this book in two days! 

So, those are my Books 1-10 of 2016! I hope you enjoyed it, and if you have any thoughts on any of these books, please let me know. So, I will see you on Wednesday, and... bye! 

-Abi xxxxx










Sunday 13 March 2016

Two Truths and a Lie (The Lying Game #3), by Sara Shepard

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I finished Two Truths and a Lie!
And so, I need to review it!
So, with further ado, let's get on with the review!

Two Truths and a Lie (The Lying Game #3), by Sara Shepard
Title: Two Truths and a Lie
Author: Sara Shepard
Genre: Contemporary, thriller 
Release date: 7th February, 2012
Pages: 292
Blurb: My killer is out there. And my sister might be next. 
Two months before I died, my best friend's brother went missing. I have no idea where Thayer is or where he left , but I know it's my fault. I did a lot of horrible things while I was alive, things that made people hate me- maybe even enough to kill me. 
Desperate to solve my murder, my long-lost sister twin, Emma, is pretending to be me and looking into the many mysteries I left behind. She's uncovered my closest friends' darkest secrets, but she's never had the chance to dig into Thayer's past- until now. 
Thayer's back, and Emma has to move fast to figure out if he's after revenge... or if he's already gotten it." 


My Thoughts
When I read Never Have I Ever, I was pretty comprehensive about this one, but I am so glad I did. I felt like the mystery came back a whole lot. I mean, I felt like Never Have I Ever just dropped everything and focused on one suspect that turned out to have nothing to do with anything in the whole picture, and that Two Truths and a Lie brought some of that back, and I am so happy, because I now know that I want to finish the story. (There's 6 books in the series). 
Now there really isn't that much I can say about the plot and the characters because it is the third book in the series, but I got the feeling of the first book that Sutton's killer could be anywhere, and I really liked that. 
Another thing is that we got a bit more character development in this book that I loved. 

So those were my thoughts on Two Truths and a Lie! I hope you liked it! So I will see you guys tomorrow, and... bye! 

-Abi xxxxx


Friday 11 March 2016

The Reflections of Queen Snow White, by David Meredith

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
*And I am giving an honest review on this book because David Meredith (the author) was nice enough to send me a free copy! Thanks so much David!

So, let's get on with the review!

The Reflections of Queen Snow White, by David Meredith
Title: Reflections of Queen Snow White 
Author: David Meredith
Genre: Fairytale Retelling 
Release date: 2nd October, 2013
Pages: 155
Blurb: " What happens when "happily ever after" has come and gone?
On the eve of her only daughter, Princess Raven's wedding, an aging Snow White finds it impossible to share in the joyous spirit of the occasion. The ceremony itself promises to be the most glamorous social event of the decade. Snow White’s castle has been meticulously scrubbed, polished and opulently decorated for the celebration. It is already nearly bursting with jubilant guests and merry well-wishers. Prince Edel, Raven's fiancé, is a fine man from a neighboring kingdom and Snow White's own domain is prosperous and at peace. Things could not be better, in fact, except for one thing: 

The king is dead. 

The queen has been in a moribund state of hopeless depression for over a year with no end in sight. It is only when, in a fit of bitter despair, she seeks solitude in the vastness of her own sprawling castle and climbs a long disused and forgotten tower stair that she comes face to face with herself in the very same magic mirror used by her stepmother of old. 

It promises her respite in its shimmering depths, but can Snow White trust a device that was so precious to a woman who sought to cause her such irreparable harm? Can she confront the demons of her own difficult past to discover a better future for herself and her family? And finally, can she release her soul-crushing grief and suffocating loneliness to once again discover what "happily ever after" really means? 

Only time will tell as she wrestles with her past and is forced to confront The Reflections of Queen Snow White.

My Thoughts
I'm not quite sure what I was expecting when I started this, considering I had never been approached by an author before, but I wasn't expecting to read it in two days! 
This book grabbed me from the start, and didn't let go until the end. Saying that, there were a couple of moments (I say moments because these points really weren't long at all) that it could have been a bit faster paced, but most of it really had me wanting to know what happened next. 
The protagonist of this book was Snow White, and this story takes place decades after the story that we all know and love, on her daughter's wedding day. Now Snow White isn't happy, and this book is basically her journey as she looks over some of her most (sometimes) scarring, or (other times) happy memories that have shaped who she is, and actually, it was incredibly well done. 
If you are on the fence about whether you should read it, I definitely recommend it, because it is a well-rounded book that will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time. 

So those are my thoughts on The Reflections of Queen Snow White! I hope you enjoyed my review as much as I enjoyed reading the book, and I will see you guys on Sunday, bye! 

-Abi xxxxx



Wednesday 9 March 2016

The Hamilton Book Tag

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And since it has been pretty much a whole entire month since I've done a book tag, I thought I'd do one, and also since Polandbananasbooks did it about a week ago, I thought I'd also do it since I loveLoveLOVE musical theatre (I've probably made it super obvious by now, but if I haven't) I am doing the Hamilton Book Tag!

The Hamilton Book Tag
The Room Where It Happened- A book world you would put yourself into
Hate to be cliche, but is there any other world apart from the Harry Potter World? I mean, a world with magic sounds pretty incredible. 

The Schuyler Sisters- A female character that is underrated
Tanith Low from Skulduggery Pleasant has been in the series through it all, and her skills and her character are so underrated. She can run up walls for Christ sake! Plus she was a sister to Valkyrie, and a role model too. She is pretty much my favourite character throughout the series. 

My Shot- A character that goes after what they want and doesn't let anything stop them
I could pick Tanith Low for this one as well, but I'm not going to. I'm going to pick Scarlet from Sisters Red, because she has a goal and she will stop at nothing to get to that goal. But that's what's interesting about her, the fact that when it comes down to someone close to her, or that goal, she chooses that person that's close to her. But saying that, she's one of the most focused characters ever. 


Burn- The most devastating end to a relationship that you have read
I think I have to go with Sephy and Callum, from Noughts & Crosses. Saying that, they didn't actually break up. I'm not going to disclose what happens because it is a HUGE spoiler (end of the book) but this one got me good, and I think Sephy is with me on this, considering there's an entire book on how it affected her. 

You'll be back- Sassiest villain
I am actually drawing a blank for this one, so I'll just have to pass for this one.

The Reynolds Pamphlets- A book with a twist that you didn't see coming
The Hunger Games. I really didn't have any idea about what was going to happen. Who's with me?

Non- stop- A series you marathoned
The last series that I marathoned that wasn't a re-read was the Lunar Chronicles, because everyone was raving about it, and also because the Book-splotion crew was doing a liveshow on Winter, the concluding book in the series (I finished the last book in time, but because 7pm east time in the UK is 11pm, I unfortunately fell asleep) *sigh* 

Satisfied- Favourite book with multiple POV's
I don't really have favourite books, to be honest. But one of my favourite books that has multiple POV's is Unbecoming, by Jenny Downham.
This book has three main protagonists: Mary, Caroline and Katie, three generations of women from the same family who all have secrets and are all struggling. I really love this because the relationships fill the story.

Who lives, who dies, who tells your story- A book series that you feel will be remembered throughout the years
HARRY POTTER!

Stay alive- A character that you wish was still alive


So, that was the Hamilton Book Tag! I hope you enjoyed it! And... bye!

-Abi xxxxx

Monday 7 March 2016

Nineteen Minites, by Jodi Picoult

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
and as expected, I have finished Nineteen Minutes (took me long enough, I've been reading it since the 26th), and so I am now posting my review!

Nineteen Minutes, by Jodi Picoult 
Title: Nineteen Minutes
Author: Jodi Picoult
Genre: Thriller
Release date: 6th March, 2007
Pages: 579
Blurb: "As a midwife, Lacy Houghton brings lives into the world.
She didn't expect her son to take them away.
But that's what he did one March morning, when he walked into his high school with guns instead of books and killed ten people.
Along with the rest of the shocked and grief-stricken town, Lacy is left wondering when her shy 17-year-old boy turned in a monster. And was it her fault?
In the aftermath of the shooting, Lacy searches the past for clues and begins to realise that despite, or perhaps because of, her every effort, she never really knew her son at all..."

My Thoughts 
This one was sort of an odd one for me. I mean, I did enjoy the plot, but there were points when I was just going through the motions of reading this, and there were times when I just couldn't stop reading this. I liked the characters well enough, but there were moments that I just thought could have been more exciting. Also, it could have packed it all in in 100 less pages, in my opinion. (Nothing against Jodi Picoult's work, I just didn't like this one as much as the rest).
I love the concept of the book though, the fact that a student that had been bullied for years just casually walked into school and started shooting people. And also, the time jumps, both from before the day to the aftermath of it, and how it goes from a significant event before the shooting to afterwards, was another thing that I really liked about it.

So, those are my thoughts on Nineteen Minutes, by Jodi Picoult, and if you have any thoughts on this book that you wan to share, let me know! I am going to read The Reflections of Queen Snow White, by David Meredith, so watch out for that review! I will see you guys on wednesday, and with that, i bid you goodbye! Bye!

-Abi xxxxx

Sunday 6 March 2016

The Best Mother Characters

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And before I say anything else, let me apologise about not posting on Friday. Don't really have any explanation except for that I just didn't have time, and I probably should have told you that on Wednesday, but I didn't, and I'm sorry.  (Cue that Justin Bieber song- and I can't believe that I just mentioned him in my post)
So, anyway, this is today's post: The Best Mother Characters (I didn't know what else to do, and today is mother's day)

The Best Mother Characters
Mum (not sure of her name)- The Slated Trilogy
She starts of looking like someone who Kyla will have to dodge, (and yes, I do say dodge) but as the story progresses, she shows more compassion, and Kyla's father, the one she originally trusted, becomes the one she becomes suspicious of. She's just the character that it's nice to know that she's here for you. But saying that, she isn't just this week character. She has common sense too, and that's part of what I love about her. 

Mrs Weasley (You know what book series this character is from, otherwise what are you doing here?) 
(Just thought I should use this image)
I shouldn't even need to explain this character, you should just know. 

Debbie- Let it Snow (The Jubilee Express) 
She is the mumsie-mum. The mum that smoothers you, makes a big fuss of you, and you can tell right away that she loves and cares for her son, and it's such a breath of fresh air, because most of the books that I read don't have that, and it fit right into the story. 

Natalie Prior- Divergent 
This character is also fairly well-known, because of the film, but I still like the character. Natalie Prior appears more caring than anything, and because she is in abnegation, selfless. But this character came from Dauntless, and underneath she is incredibly bad-ass, and a fairly decent shot with a gun. This is one woman that I'd like as a mother. 

Meggie- The Noughts & Crosses series 
Meggie is a character that you just love instantly. She loves her family, and she wants the best for her children, but she suffers so much in this series. She loses her family one by one in different ways, and you just want to give her a hug and ten her that its going to be okay. But she is smart and there are moments when she just makes you laugh, and she is honestly one of my favourite characters in this series. 

So, those are my top mother characters! I really hope that you enjoyed this post, and if you have any thoughts on any of the characters that I mentioned, or any of your own, please let me know! I love to see your comments, they make my day! So, that is all I have for you guys today, I will see you tomorrow! Bye! 

-Abi xxxxx