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Dawn of Legends: Creating a World Alive with Magic and Historical Accuracy-- Guest Post by Author Eleanor Herman

6/28/2018

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Hi everyone! Whether you're a regular to my blog, or visiting for my part in the blog tour, hello and welcome! I was so honored to be contacted again to assist in the publicity of the final novel in the Blood of Gods and Royals series, as the first book, Legacy of Kings, is one of my favorites. Thank you so much to Glasstown Entertainment for sending me an early copy of the book and for thinking of including me in your blog tour. 
For those of you who don't know, the Blood of Gods and Royals series follows Alexander of Macedon in his teen years, depicting his journey of how he became "the Great." The books paint a beautiful world, and create a riveting plot with a fantastical twist, I highly recommend. If you're interested, I have reviews on all the previous books, so feel free to check them out to get more information. :) 
​Anyway, without further ado, here's what you all came here for-- a guest post from Eleanor Herman, the author of this fantastical series. 
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Dawn of Legends: Creating a World Alive with Magic and Historical Accuracy
by Eleanor Herman


Four years ago, I got a four-book contract from Harlequin Teen for my YA Fantasy series, Blood of Gods and Royals, about the adventures of a teen Alexander the Great in the fourth century BC. It was an exciting project because Alexander was one of history’s most pivotal characters. The world was one way before his reign, and a very different way after. He opened a door between east and west, a door that hasn’t closed since.

Alexander opened up Europe to silk, spices, new ideas of government, science, medicine, religion, and architecture. Today’s blond, green-eyed Afghanis look the way they do because 2,300 years ago Alexander’s men chose to stay and colonize the area. Likewise, the east absorbed western culture, and Indian statues of Buddha suddenly started to look a lot like Apollo. Alexander was a brilliant, trailblazing meteor across the canvas of world history. So very bright, so very brief.

I chose to focus on Alexander as a teen because almost nothing is known about him at that age, a fact which aggravates the historian but offers the novelist fascinating possibilities. Based on everything written about him once he became king, I could extrapolate backwards, imagining who he was at sixteen—brilliant, ambitious, personable, and trying to find his footing in a world he would, in a few years, change forever.

In addition to the challenges of writing any YA Fantasy book—plot, character development, and how to weave in believable fantasy elements—this series presented me with a special challenge. I wanted Legacy of Kings, Empire of Dust, Reign of Serpents, and Dawn of Legends to elegantly drop the reader right smack into the middle of the ancient Greek world. Luckily I am a historian well-versed in how people lived in past centuries.

What factoids could I use to create the granular feel of an authentic past? Well, lighting for one. We take it for granted that light is everywhere present, and if the sun isn’t out, the world is still well lit by electricity. But when writing a historical novel, an author must always remember that the world was one of utter darkness when the sun went down and how the characters would have lit it.

In most ages, characters use candles for light, but not the ancient Greeks! They made use of their abundant olive oil for easy lighting. It’s hard to say when candles were invented, but they took a lot of time to make, and it was far easier dumping some oil into a lamp, putting in a little cloth wick, and lighting it. Oil lamps were even put in chandeliers and hoisted on a rope to provide light for a room.

Since matches weren’t invented until the 1830s, my characters had to light their lamps with flint and tinder sets, which must have been placed throughout the house: the exterior doors and next to their beds, for instance. In the pitch dark, they would strike a flint against a piece of iron or steel, and the resulting sparks would land in a pile of lint or dried grass, catch fire, and they would dip their candle or lamp wick into it. Light was also provided by resin-soaked torches set against stone walls and outside. And then there were cressets—iron baskets on top of long poles in the ground burning firewood. They cast a lot of light, but oh ye gods, were they hot.

In the era before light pollution, the moon provided ample light on a clear night, brightening and silvering the landscape. For all four books in the Blood of Gods and Royals series, I looked up the moon cycles in 340 BC and kept a record of the phases of the moon for every chapter. I asked myself, would it have been light enough to travel at night? Or dark enough to hide your movements from your enemies?

Another consideration was windows. While glass was around in the form of small perfume bottles and goblets, the ancient Greeks didn’t have glass window panes. They had slatted wooden shutters in their windows. On a cold winter’s day, they might crack them open for a bit of light, hoping the sliver would not let in much of the biting wind or driving rain.  

In terms of heating, many historical novels mention fireplaces, but in the ancient Greek world that would have been an embarrassing anachronism. Until the Middle Ages, Europeans had fire pits in the center of a room with a smoke hole overhead (which let in cold air and rain.)  They also had braziers, metal pans or boxes in which they burned wood or coal. They placed them near an open window to vent smoke (which let in cold air and rain.)

Another aspect of ancient life I had to consider was dirt and dung. Mentioning hygiene—or the lack thereof—gave my readers a strong whiff of a very different time. City streets would have been peppered with the droppings of horses, donkeys, and oxen, and my characters, when walking, would have had to step over it. As far as personal hygiene was concerned, Greeks were far cleaner than their medieval descendants, but soap hadn’t been invented yet. They scraped dirt off their skin with a metal tool called a strigil and rubbed in aromatic oils. Still, without deodorant there would have been body odor in the heat. And their hair must have been a greasy mess, though nicely combed, clipped, and pinned.

Another consideration for the historical accuracy of the novels was the lack of medical care. With no plastic surgery, warriors would have had unsightly battle scars. Everyone over the first bloom of youth would have had missing and cavity-ridden teeth.

There was one area where I reveled in combining historical truth with fantasy. The ancient world was rich with magic. People believed there could be a god on that mountain and a water nymph in that pond. It was not such a stretch to weave into the novels a Pegasus, evil bat-like Spirit Eaters that devoured the flesh of the gods and all other living things, a flying panther called a Hellion, and Snake Magic that gives its possessors the power to slip into the bodies of animals. To the ancient mind, this would all have made perfect sense.

In Dawn of Legends and its three predecessors, I endeavored to create a world of darkness aglow with oil lamps, scented with flowery oils and pungent blasts of body odor, and throughout it all, vibrant with magic.

Eleanor Herman

is the New York Times bestselling author of Sex with Kings, Sex with the Queen, Mistress of the Vatican, and King Peggy. Obsessed by all things royal and historical, she lives in McLean, Virginia with her husband and four extremely dignified cats. Legacy is her first novel.

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Thank you everyone for reading & to Glasstown Entertainment for this opportunity! Feel free to explore more of my blog and my reviews. (Shameless advertising right there.) 
Thanks, 
Anj

Oh! And don't forget to visit Lady Katie Reads tomorrow for the last stop on the blog tour. :) 
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17 Best Stories of 2017

12/25/2017

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Wow, it's already almost 2018. How strange. 2017 was both the slowest and fastest year ever, and what an interesting year it was. Anyway, this post is going to describe 17 of the best "stories" I've read/seen this year. Why "stories" instead of books? I don't think I read enough books in 2017 to pick 17 out (of non-rereads) that I could feel good about naming as the BEST, even if they were the best out of what I read. So here's my list of great stories I read/watched this year. I recommend seeing/watching/reading all of them! These are my favorites from the year. 
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One of the best, if not THE BEST, books I read this year has to have been Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare. And really, is that even a surprise? I mean, Clare has yet to disappoint, and is one of my all-time favorite authors. Really, her world, plot, character, and relationship building are perfection, I can't think of a single way for her to improve (other than for her to QUIT KILLING OFF CHARACTERS WHO I LOVE). Anyway, this book surprised me, while I did love the first book, Lady Midnight, and I had high expectations for this one, I wasn't over-the-top excited to read it, just regular excited. The characters in this series have to be the ones I feel the least attached to in the Shadowhunter Chronicles (though I do love them, I just have a special emotional connection to the other series' characters), and I was actually more looking forward to another book coming out on the same day as Lord of Shadows, so... Basically what I'm trying to get at is that Lord of Shadows was a FANTASTIC book. I started it and it was like my eyes were superglued to the pages-- I was not able to look away. The pacing was perfect, as was all the other aspects of the novel as mentioned above. 
If you're interested here's my glowing review, but just warning you it's the second book in the series The Dark Artifices-- the first book is called Lady Midnight. If you're interested in the Shadowhunter Chronicles (WHICH YOU SHOULD BE. IT'S THE BEST), I'd suggest you start with one of the other series-- The Infernal Devices or The Mortal Instruments. This series comes after those time-wise and it spoils them. 
Basically the Shadowhunter Chronicles takes place in modern day, or at least, two of the series (Mortal Instruments and Dark Artifices) do. There's a supernatural world inside our own, and the "police" or people in charge of keeping the order in the supernatural world are Shadowhunters. Half-angel half humans. Each of the series takes place in a different time, The Infernal Devices in the Victorian Era, Mortal Instruments in 2006 and Dark Artifices in 2012. They all follow a group of Shadowhunters and various other supernatural beings as they fight... different enemies. Wow, it's hard to write a synopsis for three series at once while not trying to spoil anything. If you enjoy ROMANCE, FANTASY, and ACTION I'd recommend these series. Trust me-- they're some of my all time favorites and I read a lot. Here's the synopsis for book 1 of the Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices and The Dark Artifices. Please, please, check these series out. I can't emphasize how good they are. 
10/10 stars. Trust me, I don't give this score out a lot, but this book DESERVES it. 
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I'm going to be honest. I went into this movie with mediocre expectations seeing as all previous DC movies had been a bit of a disappointment (i.e. Suicide Squad, Batman V. Superman & Superman). Then I actually watched this movie, and I was totally blown away. For those of you living under a rock, Wonder Woman follows Diana Prince, an amazonian warrior, as she ventures out of the safety of her home island and into the world of man in order to try and save it. Yeah, that's the big picture idea, at least. If you like action, comic book movies, or just enjoy a good story, Wonder Woman is the movie for you. Don't believe me? This movie also got glowing reviews from basically everyone. It has a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. 92%! That's really quite good. This has to be one of my favorite movies to come out of 2017, and I really hope you all see it. Another 10/10 stars. 
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I know, I know, I'm a little late, but this year I got into Hamilton. My obsession began in late May and has only been growing since. I avoided this musical for so long because I told myself I wouldn't like it-- I don't like rap. Yeah, well, I don't like it. I LOVE it. I'm obsessed with it. Over the summer I think I listened to the entire album TWICE a day. That's how great my obsession is. I know every word by heart and know a ton of real random facts about the musical. Seriously, if you have yet to listen to the soundtrack and get into the musical, you're missing out. The music is insanely catchy, the plot intriguing, and the characters are ones that are easy to grow attached to. Here's a link to the entire soundtrack, if you're interested. Of course, I can't actually link you to the show because that would be illegal ;), but if you're interested in seeing the show-- either do some pretty deep digging into the internet (you'll find it, I promise), or pay your life's worth to go see it on Broadway. (Or you could also pay a cheaper amount to see it in Chicago or London, and also there's a touring cast!) It's kind of harder to get than the other things on this list, but it's so worth it if you can see it. 9/10 stars. (seriously anything above a 7 is impressive in my rating scale). 
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Another book I wasn't expecting much out of. Book 5.5 out of the Throne of Glass series (one of my favorite book series),Tower of Dawn follows Chaol Westfall as he ventures into the South looking for a cure for his damaged spine. Seeing as I'm not Chaol's biggest fan, I got the book and would read it because of my devotion to the series and the author, but I wasn't expecting to fall in love with the story and be up until the early hours reading... And yet that's exactly what happened. I really shouldn't have doubted Maas. The Throne of Glass series is another book series I would seriously recommend. Maybe if the first book doesn't hook you, try the next (even though the first book is FANTASTIC). This series is one that just gets better and better by the book and as the world expands. Throne of Glass is the perfect series for anyone who likes any of the following: a badass female protagonist, an exciting novel, action, romance, YA, fantasy, Game of Thrones, etc. 
Here's the synopsis for Throne of Glass, if you are interested. If you haven't read it, I encourage that you try the series because really, it's a fantastic story with compelling characters, intricate world building and an intriguing plot. 
I'm giving Tower of Dawn 10/10 stars. It was that good. If you've read Throne of Glass through Empire of Storms and are hesitant to start Tower of Dawn-- trust me and try it! You won't regret it. Need more convincing? Here's another glowing review. 
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It wasn't released in 2017, but I was introduced to it this year. Rent, an iconic musical following several broke artists as they struggle to make a living. Bad description, great musical. Also a great movie containing most of the original Broadway cast. Here's the IMDB description of the movie: This is the film version of the Pulitzer and Tony Award winning musical about Bohemians in the East Village of New York City struggling with life, love and AIDS, and the impacts they have on America. I don't really know how else to sell this musical other than saying it's a very moving story, and also has great actors with strong vocals. This is the show that began Idina Menzel's career, as well as one of the first musicals to introduce more edgy themes like AIDS, drag, gays etc. to the Broadway stage. 10/10 stars for both the musical and the movie. I can't link the movie here, but there is a live recording of a Broadway show, not with the original cast, but still talented. 
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I think there's a theme with the stories on this list-- they're all things wasn't expecting to love. And yet here I am, loving all of theme. The Lunar Chronicles, I've been avoiding this series for a LONG LONG LONG time. I knew it was insanely popular and everyone who read it loved it, but... I just couldn't bring myself to read Cinder because Cinder is a cyborg. Then, ironically as I was reading the book, I was getting mad at everyone for disliking Cinder because she was a cyborg. Don't let the sci-fi element throw you off like it did me. The Lunar Chronicles are a sci-fi retelling of different fairytales. For example, Cinder is a loose retelling of Cinderella. But it's not like companion novels in the same world, no all these stories are connected, just introducing new characters in each book that help along the main plot. Seriously, it's a very fun series to read. Sci-fi, romance, action and adventure-- what's not to love? Still need more convincing? Here's my synopsis for book 1. 
Also here's the book synopsis: 

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.
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I'd give the series a 8.8/10 overall. (Yes, that is a VERY good score for me). It was a great read, that I reread as soon as I finished it! Please! Try this series out, you [probably] won't regret it. (Then again, I can't see inside you're head, so I can't make an official promise!) 
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If you couldn't tell, I really love my comic book stories. And this isn't the last comic book movie on this list. I also love me some Chris Hemsworth so... Thor: Ragnarok had a VERY different tone from all the previous Marvel movies. It was light, not a serious story-telling. Poking fun at itself and everything around it, and I loved it. This movie is the perfect combination of action and comedy. It makes use of its talented-cast and was filmed mostly on improv. Interesting fact-- Matt Damon has a cameo in it. If you have yet to watch this movie, what are you waiting for?! It's a blast, I promise you. 8.5/10 stars. 
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Another musical, yeah, I'm a bit of a musical addict. Here's another musical I was introduced to this year, thanks to my friend Rachael. I loved this musical so much that I saw it TWICE within the span of like three months. RIGHT NOW on Broadway the original cast leads are back, Stark Stands and Billy Porter, only through January 7, so yeah, I know it's a short time, but if you can make it to the show GO. Sands and Porter are by far the best performers I have yet to see. Their on-stage presence is so compelling-- I couldn't tear my eyes away from them. They have the best on-stage chemistry I've ever seen, and the voices of angels. Please, please, please, see them if you can. 
You may be wondering, what is Kinky Boots about? Well. Here's the official Broadway synopsis! Based on a true story and the indie film of the same name, Kinky Boots follows young Brit Charlie Price, who abandons his family’s shoe factory to live with his demanding girlfriend in London. After the unexpected death of his father, Charlie returns to the struggling factory and finds it’s up to him to figure out a way to keep the business alive. Enter Lola, a fabulous drag queen, who gives Charlie the idea to create ladies’ shoes for men. Soon, the factory is turning out “kinky boots” under the supervision of Charlie and Lola, but can this harebrained scheme actually work? And can these two extremely different men find a common ground and become real friends?
The show is great in every aspect, which, I suppose, is not surprising for a Broadway show. Kinky Boots is a fun kind of production that will have you in absolute stitches, while also have you tapping your foot along to its infectious tunes. 10/10 stars. Sands and Porter are ​everything. (Still, the show on its own is good, too. Seriously recommend seeing it, even if you can't get in before January 7)
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Here's another story I went into thinking I'd feel meh about and ended up loving. Actually, here's a story-telling platform I wasn't expecting to get into, either. Webtoon. Online comics. I think the sale is called Manga? I'm not sure though, so don't quote me. You can quote me on saying this is absolutely one the best stories I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I'm completely obsessed with Tower of God by Siu. Sure, the start of the story is a little slow and the art isn't AMAZING to start out with either, but let me tell you both improve drastically. Soon enough you'll be sucked into the story and not able to quit clicking "next episode" (episodes are chapters). If you're like me, you'll be staying up till 1AM on every day-- even weekdays-- because the story is just that good. The further you get into the world, the harder it is to leave it. The world, character, plot and relationship building in this comic are far better than plenty of published books I've read. If you like stories and are hesitant about reading a comic kind of story, don't be! This is an experience I promise you won't regret. And it's free! You can either download the free app or read it online! 
Now that I'm done ranting about how GOOD Tower of God is, shall I explain what it's about?
Well... This is actually pretty difficult. Tower of God takes place inside a tower where, if you can get to the top, you'll be granted with any of your greatest desires. The only thing is? Barely anyone makes it to the top. There are floors that you have to pass, and on each floor you have to take a "test." It's  kind of like a game, except the games can turn out to be deadly. Tower of God starts off following an innocent character as he accidentally enters the tower while following a friend... and as he ventures up the tower... Well, I want to tell you what happens, but that'd spoil the fun! Just trust me on this and try out this webtoon. Seriously, you don't know what your'e missing out on. This story has a mysterious and compelling plot line with a very lovable ensemble of characters. You won't be able to stop reading. Trust me, I'd know. 10/10 stars. This has to be one of my favorite stories of all time at this point. (Oh, also I should mention it's kind of an action/adventure/fantasy with plenty of humor)
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This was the book I was most looking forward to coming out this year. The final book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses trilogy by Sarah J. Maas-- A Court of Wings and Ruin. And while, I'll admit, I was a  little disappointed with the novel, it was still a FANTASTIC book. My biggest issue was that it didn't seem like a finale, it didn't tie up any loose ends, it actually made more things open than anything else. If you're interested in my thoughts on it here's my review. Still, it was a great novel. 9/10 stars. 
If any of you don't know what this series is about... Please, please, please read it! The second book in the series , A curt of Mist and Fury is my favorite book of all time. Seriously, it's the best book in the world. The first book starts off a bit slowly, but as it goes on you get into it. What is it about? The first book is an extremely loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Very loose. The "Beasts" in the story are Faeries. And not like ones with cute little wings, but really attractive, immortal beings with extraordinary powers. Here's the synopsis for the first book: 
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Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price ...

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.
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Another superhero movie, surprise surprise. Spiderman: Homecoming is the most recent reboot in the many different Spiderman variations. Finally, Spiderman is able to join his fellow Marvel Avengers, thanks to a new deal between Sony and Disney/Marvel. And they finally got a Spiderman movie to be just right. Toby Maguire was a good Peter Parker, not Spiderman, while Andrew Garfield was a great Spiderman, not Peter Parker. Tom Hollands plays both roles perfectly. He also pulls off being a cute, awkward teenager, unlike both Maguire and Garfield who clearly felt older than their parts. Spiderman: Homecoming is a fun, energetic, action-packed movie that will be sure to hold your attention for the entirety of its run time. 8/10 stars. 
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Another Webtoon? Yep. I'm kind of obsessed with these. And they're free! So you can read them anytime on your phone for no cost at all. It's a really good deal. This is another fantasy webtoon. It takes place in a world where it's common to have some sort of superpower. So it's unordinary to have no powers like the protagonist, John... Yeah, it's really hard to explain more, but let me promise you-- it's good. Like Tower of God, it has excellent character, relationship and plot building. The plot is super intriguing, and the characters are very likable (well not all of them, but like, different people will like different characters. My favorite is Arlo.) If you like fantasy, action or young adult stories, try this one out! (Also the art is FLAWLESS) Oh yeah, here's the official synopsis:
The world is not perfect. Learning to deal with its flaws is just a normal part of life. But there comes a point where these imperfections spawn a crushing realization... that something needs to change...
Here's a link to the story. 10/10 stars. (Oh, also the comics aren't actually moving. That would be a show. This is just a trailer.) 
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For anyone who's been following my blog for a while, this shouldn't be a surprise. To All The Boys I've Loved Before has to be my favorite contemporary romance series. It's so realistic, to the point where sometimes I have to avert my eyes for a minute from secondhand embarrassment. It's so easy to emphasize with the protagonist and fall in love with the adorably of the story. Honestly, if you enjoy cute romances THIS IS THE SERIES FOR YOU.
Anyway, Always and Forever Lara Jean was the perfect ending to this perfect series. Unlike so many final books, this novel kept the tone and feel of its predecessors. It was good. No, it was great. 10/10 stars. Interested? Check out my review. 
If you're interested in the series as a whole, here's the synopsis for book 1. 
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What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them… all at once? 

Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.
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This was one of those movies that I was expecting to be a flop. And that I did not intend to watch. Story behind that: every Christmas my fam goes to see a movie. My cousin made me promise not to watch Star Wars: The Last Jedi without him, so we had to watch something else. (Yes, I have seen the Last Jedi by now.) I was expecting this to be pretty bad.. And yet I ended up really enjoying the experience. It wasn't the BEST plot, but it was a fun movie. Seriously, I don't remember the last time a movie had me in stitches this many times. 8/10 stars. 
Basically what Jumanji is about is four teens get sucked into a game to play as different characters. They've got to complete the game if they want to get out and survive. 
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Another old thing that I just got around to seeing/reading this year. 27 Dresses, quite possibly my favorite rom com now. Yeah, I don't really like Katherine Heigl either, but it's a really good rom com. And I'm a sucker for a good romance story. 
This basically follows a girl who loves weddings. She loves them so much so that she's been in 27 weddings, and basically planned the entire thing for each of her friends. She's also been pining after her boss... Who starts to fall in love with her lying sister, and she may just have to plan their wedding. Throw in a James Marsden writer character and you get a great rom com. 8/10 stars.  

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Another Webtoon. Seriously, this app/website is the best. Super Secret is a super adorable story about next door neighbors and best friends Emma and Ryan. It's a perfectly normal story minus the part where Ryan is a werewolf and his entire family are magical beings and Emma doesn't know. This has to be one of the cutest stories I had the pleasure of seeing/reading this year. Not only is the art absolutely adorable, but the story is as well. While being a cute story (sorry, cute and adorable are going to be used a lot here.), it also has an interesting plot. It's not just all about romance, in fact, there are a lot of subplots as well as some intrigue going on with the main romance interests. If you like cute stories, try this one out. 10/10 stars. Link here. 
(Yeah, the trailer sells the story WAY too short. There's so much more going on...) 
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And last but not least we have the only TV show on this list, the worldwide phenomenon, Game of Thrones. To be completely honest season 7 was not my favorite season due to numerous plot holes and a sense of feeling rushed due to the short amount of episodes left (ONLY 6), but it was still a GREAT season. While I did have my issues with season 7, I still sat down at 9 every Sunday night and proceeded to have my eyes glued to the screen for the next hour. Visually Game of Thrones is stunning, it has a marvelous cast and about $10 million to spend on each episode, how could it not be? Also the plot is intriguing, which is why so many people love the show. This show might have the most intricate plot on TV, one word said in the first season can come into play in later seasons. It's all very well thought out (well, this last season was a little scattered but...) I highly recommend this show to anyone who hasn't actually seen it (are there people who haven't seen Game of Thrones? At this point it seems like everyone has.) Game of Thrones is not one of those shows that you just play in the background while doing something else, no this show demands attention and it's worth every second of it. It's not too late to jump on the Game of Thrones bandwagon! You have until 2019 when the new and last season comes out! If you like fantasy, action, and intrigue this is the show for you. I promise, once you get into the show, you'll be on the edge of your seat until the very end. 
There's a reason Game of Thrones is (probably, I don't know the actual statistic, it's at least one of) the most popular television shows. 9.5/10 stars for the overall series and 8/10 stars for the last season. 
Anyway, thanks for reading this extremely long post! Hope y'all had a great 2017 and happy new year! 
​-Anj
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Q&A with Eleanor Herman (Author of Legacy of Kings)

7/6/2017

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Legacy of Kings is a action packed series filled to the brim with intrigue, deception and mystery. These books follow Alexander the Great in his teen years, with a twist of fantasy involved as well. If you have yet to read these books, I highly recommend that you do! They're such fun reads. I read both Legacy of Kings and Empire of Dust in one sitting because I was unable to tear my eyes away from the pages. If you haven't read this series yet, I have book reviews for both of them, so if you're interested, go check them out (Legacy of Kings & Empire of Dust). 
This is one of my favorite series, it's right down my alley of fantasy and historical fiction. So I was honored when asked take part of a blog tour to promote the release of the third installment, Reign of Serpents. For this blog tour I got to ask author Eleanor Herman five questions about her books. 
​Here they are!  (FYI Reign of Serpents is out, so you can read it right now!!) 

Out of all the historical figures with intriguing stories, what drew you to Alexander the Great? 

Alexander the Great was one of most pivotal historical characters in world history. He simply didn’t know the meaning of You can’t do that. Though his empire collapsed soon after his death, he had opened up the connection between the Mediterranean and the East. Good flowed both ways, along with ideas and people,reshaping the world as we know it. And he was ripe to become a YA character as almost nothing is known about him before he became king of Macedon at the age of twenty. Which left plenty of room for me to imagine him as a teen!

Do any of the characters in these books mirror your own personality or that of people you know? 

All of the characters mirror aspects of my own personality. Queen Olympias uses her femininity to manipulate, a quality I know is there but choose not to use. Princess Cynane is selfish and, at times, evil, qualities I suppress in my life but love to express in my writing! I am more like Zofia and Katerina: strong, brave, good and determined. As for the guys, well, I never felt that my soul was female. It’s neutral, bordering on male. Guys are simpler than girls. Their emotions aren’t usually as complex. They don’t overthink things. They are more about doing than feeling. So, yes, all my characters are actually me.

What are your favorite types of scenes to write? Why? 

I love writing battle scenes. Though Reign of Serpents is the one book in the series without a battle, I did manage to throw in an epic royal food fight and an earthquake that sends the Temple of Delphi collapsing to the ground in a heap. I love writing the swirl of action. In the middle of a battle—or an epic food fight or an earthquake—you would only catch snatches of what is going on. It would be like some Impressionist painting, and that is loads of fun to write.

In these books there is a lot of magic lore, how did you come up with this? Did you craft it yourself, or build on actual beliefs about magic?  

I love writing about magic. I feel we all have innate magic within us that our society suppresses. To write the magic scenes, I called on my experience living in an African village—with spirits of a cave, a pond, the forest, a sacred stool, and countless ancestors--and my study of ancient religions. I am empathic, myself, feeling the feelings of others, which isn’t necessarily a good thing as they are often stress, anger, and fear. But I do understand that magic is all around us, inside us, and we can tap into it. Jacob has a connection to the physical earth, to rocks and waves and wind. Katerina can enter the minds of animals, Alex can see the memories of people. I called on my own experiences and beliefs to write the magic scenes.
 
What was the hardest part about writing Reign of Serpents? 
 
Juggling the time line of so many characters who have split up and gone to different parts of the world. When Princess Zofia takes a thirty-three day trip from Persepolis to Macedon, I had to stall all the other action to wait for her to get there!

I'm really glad I got to participate in the blog tour, thank you to Glasstown Entertainment for this opportunity! 
And to the rest of the people reading this, I highly encourage you to ​pick up this series. As I've said before, it's just so good! The characters are easy to get attached to, and the plot is intriguing. It's not a series you want to miss out on. 
I know I'm going to pick up Reign of Serpents as soon as I get it, so keep an eye out for my review :) Thanks for reading, 
Anj
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Best Books of 2016

6/19/2016

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Yep. It's that time of year again. The time when I share what I consider to be the best books (I read) in 2016. Here we go. (In no particular order after the first) I highly reccomend all these books! (Obviously, because they're on my best reads of 2016 list, meaning I loved these novels)
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Taking the top of the list yet again is a Sarah J. Maas Book. Though, suprisingly enough, it's not the next book in the Throne of Glass series this time. It's the second book in the A Court of Mist and Fury books. 
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas.  (Review Here)
This book is now my favorite book of all time. Yeah, that's how good it is. I gave it a 10/10 stars, and am eagerly awaiting the next book, released in May 2017. This book was on my Loosely 2016 TBR List so yay at more for checking that one off. 
I loved everything about this book (especially Rhys). Highly reccomend the series-- even if you don't like the first book much (A Court of Thorns and Roses) please, please, PLEASE pick up the second. I promise you will (most likely) not regret it. 
Filled with romance, action, suspense, fantastic characters and character development, this is the perfect book (for me). I seriously cannot wait to see how Sarah ends this amazing Trilogy this spring. 
Well, here's the synopsis for book one: 
When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

(And containing spoilers to book one) here is the synopsis for book 2: 

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.


Now after this the rest of these books are in no particular order-- I love them all. 

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Empire of Storms by Sarah J Maas (Review Here)
​Yes, I love Sarah's books and I'm not ashamed of it. This is the 5th book in her Throne of Glass Series (the 4th won my favorite book of 2015). While it didn't quite top A Court of Mist and Fury, this book was still spectacularly well written and intriguing. I highly reccoment the series. 10/10 stars. 
(Also on my 2016 TBR)
Here's the synopsis for the first book: 

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for four years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

Yeah, the first book isn't great, but the series only continues to get better from there on out. 
Synopsis for Empire of Storms (spoilers for previous books): 

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those don't.

As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

Aelin's journey from assassin to queen has entranced millions across the globe, and this fifth installment will leave fans breathless. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?

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Another book I quite enjoyed this year is, unsurprisingly, Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare. (Review Here) While it might not have been as good (in my mind) as its predecessors, Lady Midnight is still an extremely well written and interesting novel, jam packed with action, suspense, mystery and a bit of romance. 
10/10 stars. Great book, I'm quite excited to be getting the next one in March. At least... I think it comes out in March. 

​(checking this one off my 2016 TBR as well) 

Synopsis: 
In a secret world where half-angel warriors are sworn to fight demons, parabatai is a sacred word.

A parabatai is your partner in battle. A parabatai is your best friend. Parabatai can be everything to each other—but they can never fall in love.

Emma Carstairs is a warrior, a Shadowhunter, and the best in her generation. She lives for battle. Shoulder to shoulder with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, she patrols the streets of Los Angeles, where vampires party on the Sunset Strip, and faeries—the most powerful of supernatural creatures—teeter on the edge of open war with Shadowhunters. When the bodies of humans and faeries turn up murdered in the same way Emma’s parents were when she was a child, an uneasy alliance is formed. This is Emma’s chance for revenge—and Julian’s chance to get back his brother Mark, who is being held prisoner by the faerie Courts. All Emma, Mark, and Julian have to do is solve the murders within two weeks…and before the murderer targets them.

Their search takes Emma from sea caves full of sorcery to a dark lottery where death is dispensed. And each clue she unravels uncovers more secrets. What has Julian been hiding from her all these years? Why does Shadowhunter Law forbid parabatai to fall in love? Who really killed her parents—and can she bear to know the truth?

The darkly magical world of Shadowhunters has captured the imaginations of millions of readers across the globe. Join the adventure in Lady Midnight, the long-awaited first volume of a new trilogy from Cassandra Clare.

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I just read this book, and of course, it made it onto this list. Crystal Storm by Morgan Rhodes. (Review Here) Last year Frozen Tides (Book 4) was on the list, so I doubt Crystal Storm's presence on this list is very suprising. f you have yet to pick up this series, I would have to encourage you to drop whatever you're doing and pick it up. Though the first book wasn't very good, like most fantasty series, it starts to pick up until it's just AMAZING. I think I gave Crystal Storm 8/10 Stars. I absotlutely loved it. Please, please, try this series out. It's decribed as the YA Game of Thrones, which I can see, but even if you don't like Game of Thrones, but love fantasy, I think there's a high chance that you'll really enjoy this read. 

Synopsis for the First book: 
In the three kingdoms of Mytica, magic has long been forgotten. And while hard-won peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest now simmers below the surface.

As the rulers of each kingdom grapple for power, the lives of their subjects are brutally transformed... and four key players, royals and rebels alike, find their fates forever intertwined. Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus are caught in a dizzying world of treacherous betrayals, shocking murders, secret alliances, and even unforeseen love.

The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

It's the eve of war.... Choose your side.


Princess: Raised in pampered luxury, Cleo must now embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of magic long thought extinct.

Rebel: Jonas, enraged at injustice, lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country cruelly impoverished. To his shock, he finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.

Sorceress: Lucia, adopted at birth into the royal family, discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Heir: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, firstborn son Magnus begins to realise that the heart can be more lethal than the sword....

Synopsis for the 5th (Spoilers for the previous books): 
​

An epic clash between gods and mortals threatens to tear Mytica apart . . . and prove that not even the purest of love stands a chance against the strongest of magic.

MAGNUS and CLEO are forced to test the strength of their love when Gaius returns to Mytica claiming he's no longer the King of Blood but a changed man seeking redemption.

LUCIA, pregnant with the child of a Watcher, has escaped the clutches of the unhinged fire god. Her powers are dwindling as she goes forth to fulfill a prophecy that will keep her baby safe . . . but could mean her demise. 

JONAS treks back to Mytica with a plan to overtake Amara, but fate takes hold when he runs into the beautiful Princess Lucia and joins her on her perilous journey.

AMARA has taken the Mytican throne, but with no way to unleash the water magic trapped within her stolen crystal, she'll never be able to seize glory and get sweet revenge.

And what kind of darkness will descend--and who will be safe--after Prince Ashur reveals the dangerous price he paid to cheat death?


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Truthwitch by Susan Dennard (Review Here) is another book that I read this year, and also fell in love with. Like many other books I find myself attracted to, Truthwitch has a sassy but strong protagonist and is fill to the brim with action, adventure and the perfect amount of romance. I actually read both of Dennard's series this year, and enjoyed both. (Truthwitch is the first, and only book out so far in her second series.) The other series, Something Strange and Deadly, I enjoyed immensely, but it didn't make the cut of my favorites for the year. Why? The last book kind of tarnished my view of the series a bit, but otherwise I found it to be quite enjoyable-- I reccomend that one as well. Though, if you were to only read one of Dennard's series, I'd say go for Truthwitch.  (Yeah, their powers sound stupid (to me), but ignore that, because the book is still fantastic.) 
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Synsopsis: 

On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a “witchery,” a magical skill that sets them apart from others.

In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble—as two desperate young women know all too well.

Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It’s a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially amongst the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires.

Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her—but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safi’s hotheaded impulsiveness.

Safi and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and ship’s captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

Surprisingly enough, that's all the TOP favorite books that I read this year. Yeah, I read a lot of good ones (e. Raven Boys, First & Then, Me Before You, etc.) but none of them could quite surpass the FAVORITES bar. Nevertheless, I highly reccomend those, as well as all the books listed here (Yeah, all four of them). If you're looking for good recomandations, I have a whole category on my blog for that, so check it out. :) 
It's been an interesting year, so thanks for sticking by and reading my reviews. I really appreciate y'all. 
​-Anj
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Camp NaNoWriMo

4/1/2016

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This month, I have joined Camp NaNoWriMo, which is basically NaNoWriMo (write at least 50k in a month, and write a book in a month) but you can set your own word count goal- I've decided to write at least 90k this month, but hopefully I'll get past 100k, just as I did for NaNoWriMo. Unfortunately, this means that i will not be reading as much, nor will I have a lot of time to be writing on either of my blogs! Sorry! I'm planning on reading a couple of books in April, but not too many. Anyway, I'm excited about rewriting my novel this month, and sorry I won't be posting too much this month! 
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Waiting on Wednesday

3/2/2016

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I am beyond excited to read this book. It was supposed to be released in 2015, but tragically, the release date was pushed back to March 8, 2016. GUESS WHAT. March 8th is in 6 days! I cannot explain how excited I am to actually read this novel. I have had it preordered, the first edition, signed, for months. I seriously cannot express online how FREAKING EXCITED I am for this book to be released. For those of you who don't know, Cassandra Clare is one of my all time favorite authors, she wrote The Shadowhunter Chronicles (which this book is a part of) which includes The Mortal Instruments Series and The Infernal Devices Trilogy. Those are two of my favorite book series. In fact, Cassandra has yet to write a book I haven't liked. She's just a brilliant author. Her books are full of action, humor, sass and romance and I love. It was actually the Mortal Instruments series that opened my eyes to the Young Adult genre, that I have since fallen in love with. 
Lady Midnight is the first book in the Dark Artifices, a sequel book series to the Mortal Instruments. It will contain cameos from our beloved characters from the Mortal Instruments, and even a few from the Infernal Devices. Plus, it will follow characters we met in City of Lost Souls- Emma Carstairs and the Blackthorn family. 
GUYS. This is really an exciting release, possibly my most anticipated of the year (next to the next book in the Throne of Glass Series) If it was not on your horizons, it is now. You're welcome. If you loved the other Shadowhunter books as much as I, you need to read this book! And if you haven't read any, I highly recommend them all. A lot of people say start with the Infernal Devices, because they're better written, I love both, so start with what sounds more interesting to you. (The Mortal Instruments or The Infernal Devices) I do recommend that you read both series before picking up Lady Midnight due to spoilers, but don't worry. It only took me like less than a week and a half to read both series, so I doubt it'll take y'all too long, if you put your minds to it! :) This is such a good series, I don't think you'll want to miss out on it.  
Anyway, here's the synopsis for Lady Midnight: 

The Shadowhunters of Los Angeles star in the first novel in Cassandra Clare’s newest series, The Dark Artifices, a sequel to the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series. Lady Midnight is a Shadowhunters novel.

It’s been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire that brought the Shadowhunters to the brink of oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in mourning, but a young woman bent on discovering what killed her parents and avenging her losses.

Together with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across Los Angeles, from the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. If only her heart didn’t lead her in treacherous directions…

Making things even more complicated, Julian’s brother Mark—who was captured by the faeries five years ago—has been returned as a bargaining chip. The faeries are desperate to find out who is murdering their kind—and they need the Shadowhunters’ help to do it. But time works differently in faerie, so Mark has barely aged and doesn’t recognize his family. Can he ever truly return to them? Will the faeries really allow it?

Glitz, glamours, and Shadowhunters abound in this heartrending opening to Cassandra Clare’s Dark Artifices series.
(FYI, Zach Lambertus is sitting next to me, and he says hi.) 
Buy Lady Midnight
Buy Clockwork Angel (Infernal Devices Book #1)
Buy City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments Book #1)
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Loosely My 2016 TBR

1/4/2016

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How the heck is it 2016 already? I was just getting used to writing 2015 on my papers (though I still, on occasion write 2012, which is weird.) Anyway, since I have time now and probably won't later, I decided I was going to make a list of a few books I want to read in 2016. Now, I know that I may not stick to this list, but putting it online will make me more motivated to do so. Also, I know for sure that I will be reading books that are not on this list because there are always new books I find out about and want to read. Besides, this isn't nearly 100 books and since, for the third year in a row, I want to read 100+ books (I've gotten it done in the past two years and probably before that, too) I definitely am going to have to read other books. These are just a few books I know from the beginning of the year that I'm interested in reading. 
I'll start this list off with one of my most anticipated books of 2016 (I should make a post on that, too). Okay, so I'm not sure if this even counts because I don't even know the title, but I'm really looking forward to reading Throne of Glass Book 5. I'm a little nervous that it won't come out in 2016 because I know basically nothing about it, but I'm really hoping it will because I'm not sure if I can wait two years for the next book in this heartstoppingly amazing series. Ooh, I just found the synopsis on Goodreads! That just made me even more excited for this book. 
Anyway, since other than that, I have no information on it, here's another book I've been waiting for for a rather long time and am very excited to read. Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare. As many of you may know, Cassandra Clare is one of my all time favorite authors and all her books in the Shadowhunter Chronicles are spectacular. Reading The Mortal Instruments is what really got me into reading. Before I loved reading but I didn't obsessively love reading (some people might say me pre TMI was better, haha.) This book was supposed to come out in 2015, but, unfortunately, it didn't. So the suspense is really built up for it, I actually already preordered the book. FYI all the first editions of this book are signed by the wonderful Cassie Clare, so if you want one, you better order it fast. 
For those of you who are unaware, Lady Midnight is book one of the Dark Artifices Series, which is the sequel series to The Mortal Instruments (one of my all time favorite series) as well as taking place in the same world as The Infernal Devices (Which is another one of my favorites). The Shadow World is so excellently built and Cassandra's books in it are only getting better and better. If you haven't jumped onto the Shadowhunter train, I highly suggest you do so. Start with either Clockwork Angel (Infernal Devices Book 1) or City of Bones (Mortal Instruments Book 1). Both are wonderful. Anyway, Lady Midnight takes place five (I think) years after City of Heavenly Fire (Mortal Instruments Book 6) and follows the people of the LA Institute. Mainly, I'm told, Emma Carsairs (who we met in City of Lost Souls (Mortal Instruments Book 5) and City of Heavenly Fire). Recognize the last name Carstairs? Yeah, well, she's James Carstair's very distant relative. Other than Emma Carstairs, this book will also follow characters such as Mark Blackthorn, Julian Blackthorn, Octavia (Tavvy) Blackthorn, Livia Blackthorn, Ty Blackthorn, (Okay, yeah, a lot of the Blackthorn Clan), Christina Rosales and more. 
The book is about the aftermath of the Mortal War (I think that's what that war was called). In this book, the Fae are not in the best situation because basically all the Shadowhunters hate them for siding against them in the war. The Fae need help and come to the Blackthorns, and I suck at synopsis's so here's the actual one. 
Synopsis:
Los Angeles. It’s been five years since the events of the Mortal Instruments when Nephilim stood poised on the brink of oblivion and Shadowhunter Emma Carstairs lost her parents. After the blood and violence she witnessed as a child, Emma has dedicated her life to to discovering exactly what it was that killed her parents and getting her revenge.

Raised in the Los Angeles Institute with the Blackthorn family, Emma is paired as a parabatai with her best friend, Julian Blackthorn. A series of murders in the city catch her attention — they seem to have the same characteristics as the deaths of her parents. Could the murderer be the same person? And her attention isn’t the only one caught: someone has been murdering Downworlders as well. The Fair Folk make a deal with the Institute: if the Blackthorns and Emma will investigate the killings, they’ll return Mark Blackthorn to his home. The catch: they have only two weeks to find the killers. Otherwise it’s open war between faeries and Nephilim.

The Shadowhunters of the Institute must race against time to catch the killers, even as they begin to suspect the involvement of those closest to them. At the same time, Emma is falling in love with the one person in the world she’s absolutely forbidden by Shadowhunter Law to love. Set against the glittering backdrop of present-day Los Angeles, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches from the warlock-run nightclubs of the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica.

This book is 720 pages. That's almost (5 pages away) as much as City of Heavenly Fire. Doesn't that make you wonder how long the rest of the series is going to be? Ha, and it might take me more than a couple hours to read. A day, at most. (Actually, it really depends on the amount of school work I have.) I'm just really excited to read this continuation of Cassandra's Shadow World as well as read more of Clare's excellent writing. 

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This book literally comes out tomorrow, so I should probably get to reading (and first ordering) it soon. Passenger by Alexandra Bracken. As some of you may know, The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken is one of my favorite series, so I'm excited to see what brilliance she's come up with now. I love Alexandra's writing style and her story plots and characters are festinating and impossible not to fall in love with. 
From what I know, Passenger is basically a time traveling scavenger hunt with higher stakes. I don't read a lot of time traveler books (the only ones I can think of right now are the Ruby Red Trilogy) so I'm pretty interested to see how well I like this genre. (Is time traveling a genre or just a category? I think it's just a category?) 
Here's the synopsis: 
passage, n.
i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes.
ii. A journey by water; a voyage.
iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time.

In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them— whether she wants to or not.

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are play­ing, treacherous forces threaten to sep­arate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home . . . forever

Sound good? I highly recommend it and I haven't even read it yet! I just have a lot of trust in Alexandra Bracken and her spectacular writing. 
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Another Sarah J. Maas Book I'm looking forward to reading this year is A Court of Mist and Fury this is the second book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series that debuted last year. Personally, I do enjoy the Throne of Glass books more, but A Court of Thorns and Roses is off to a good start and I'm looking forward to seeing where this book series is going, especially since whatever Sarah J. Maas writes seems to turn into gold. Usually the first book in a fantasy series can be quite slow because of all the introducing of the world. A Court of Thorns and Roses started off slow but kicked up quite quickly. Sarah writes such complex and intriguing characters, it'll be fun to find out more about them in books to come. 
A Court of Thorns and Roses was very very very loosely based off of Beauty and the Beast and then 2/3 of a ways through it completely changed course, so I'm excited to see what happens on book II. 
The protagonist of this series is named Feyre (Faye-rah) (yeah, there are a lot of jokes about how Sarah J. Maas create her characters' names by pounding her fist into the key board.) She was just a regular human before she killed a wolf in the woods and was forced to come and live with the faerie Tamlin. Yes, this is a fae series. No. It's not those childish little faeries with wings. The faeries in these books are tall, strong, regal beings (with no wings) with super speed, hearing, reflexes as well as prolonged lives and special powers. While at Tamlin's spring Court she starts to develop feelings for him as well as meeting Tamlin's friend Lucien and the Lord of the Night Court, Rhysand. (p.s. there's a lot more action and stuff happening than this lame synopsis check out my review of A Court of Thorns and Roses, if you're interested)All these characters are simply fascinating and as I've said before, I'm quite excited to see where Sarah takes this series. 
(no synopsis provided because SPOILERS) (no cover has been released yet) 
This book is due to be released on May 3, 2016.
Another book on my TBR list that I'm looking forward to reading is Red Rising by Pierce Brown. This was not released this year, but the last book in the series is going to be, so I better catch up on the first two before it comes out (actually, I might not have the time.) The plot sounds simply fascinating to me, and I got interested in it after watching Christine from Polandbannas books hilarious skit to promote the book. 
Anyway, here's the synopsis: 

"I live for the dream that my children will be born free," she says. "That they will be what they like. That they will own the land their father gave them."

"I live for you," I say sadly.

Eo kisses my cheek. "Then you must live for more."


Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations.

Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children.

But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity already reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and sprawling parks spread across the planet. Darrow—and Reds like him—are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class.

Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity's overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society's ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies... even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.

Sounds interesting, huh? I'm really looking forward to reading this one this year. 

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Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutjoksi is the third book in the Winner's Curse series, which I was surprisingly impressed by when I read the first two books in 2015. They're full of romance, intrigue and betrayal. In other words, just my kind of book. Since The Winner's Crime (Book 2) ended at such a pivotal point, I'm really curious to see how the series finishes. The characters are very interesting in these books as well as clever. If you're interested, feel free to check out my review of The Winner's Curse. I really flew through the first two books and I have no doubt that the third book will be just as good. 
​Released March 29, 2016.
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The Trials of Apollo by Rick Riordan debuts this year, the first book will be called The Hidden Oracle. I've been a fan of Rick Riordan ever since I was a wee third grader who became fascinated in mythology after reading the Percy Jackson and Olympians Series as well as the Kane Chronicles. I was a little disappointed in his new book- Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, but I intend to read the second book to that when it comes out this year, also. (Second book is called The Hammer of Thor and ANNABETH'S GONNA BE IN IT!!!) 
Anyway The Trials of Apollo follows the god, Apollo, after he's been turned into a sixteen year old boy by Zeus. He now has to navigate the world without guaranteed immortality until Zeus decides to turn him back into a god. The world I've always loved the most from Rick Riordan is his Greek/Roman mythology world so I'm excited to be returning to it. PERCY'S GONNA BE IN IT! I'm so excited for this book. Also, I think we'll be seeing more of Artemis (Apollo's twin, goddess of the hunt) and I really loved her character in these books so this is gonna be fun. 
Release date for:
Hammer of Thor: October 4, 2016
Trials of Apollo: May 3, 2016

P.S. I did post a review of Magnus Chase Book 1, if you're interested in checking it out. 
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A torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir comes out this year. I'm not sure how I feel about this book, because in all honesty I didn't enjoy the first book as much as I expected I would (it was really hyped up). Nevertheless, I still intend to give this series a second chance. Maybe not a third if I don't like the sequel. (Book one is An Ember in the Ashes, I have a review on it, if you want to check it out.) The setting of this story is in a Roman like empire, which is interesting. It's the characters I really don't like- the two main protagonists? Elias and Lia? Lia's really too much of a damsel in distress and Elias I just found annoying. Really, it's surprising to me that I'm even willing to try and read book 2, but I am. 
release date: August 30, 2015
No cover released yet. 

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard is one book I'll be picking up for sure sometime this year. It's the sequel to Red Queen, which debuted this year. If you remember my review (feel free to check it out) I enjoyed the first book, but wasn't overly impressed. It was very hyped up and kinda let me down a bit. There was bit of an instalove feel to it, which I didn't really like and I was able to predict every 'shocking' plot twist to occur. But I did love the main theme, don't trust anyone. And that's why I'm interested enough to pick up book 2, which is due to be released on February 9, 2015. 
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Lady Renegades by Rachel Hawkins is the final book in the Rebel Belle series. I kind of see these books as a bit of a joke and have never really loved the series, but I did enjoy the humor enough to be willing to put the last book on my TBR list. The last book I felt eh about but whatever. Basically the idea of these books is popular girl, Harper Price is at the wrong place at the wrong time and becomes a Paladin, a powerful warrior who's supposed to protect the oracle, who turns out to be her arch nemesis, David. Chaos ensues, blah, blah blah. It's a light read that's full of humor, so if that sounds interesting to you, I have a review up on both books. 
Release date: April 5, 2015
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Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid and First and Then by Emma Mills are two contemporary romance reads I'm looking forward to reading this year. They're both already released, but I never got around to reading them last year. I don't know much about them, but from what I do know, they sound impossibly cute. 

Never Always Sometimes: 

Never date your best friend.

Always be original.

Sometimes rules are meant to be broken.


Best friends Dave and Julia were determined to never be cliché high school kids—the ones who sit at the same lunch table every day, dissecting the drama from homeroom and plotting their campaigns for prom king and queen. They even wrote their own Never List of everything they vowed they’d never, ever do in high school. 

Some of the rules have been easy to follow, like #5, never dye your hair a color of the rainbow, or #7, never hook up with a teacher. But Dave has a secret: he’s broken rule #8, never pine silently after someone for the entirety of high school. It’s either that or break rule #10, never date your best friend. Dave has loved Julia for as long as he can remember. 

Julia is beautiful, wild and impetuous. So when she suggests they do every Never on the list, Dave is happy to play along. He even dyes his hair an unfortunate shade of green. It starts as a joke, but then a funny thing happens: Dave and Julia discover that by skipping the clichés, they’ve actually been missing out on high school. And maybe even on love.

first and Then: 

Devon Tennyson wouldn't change a thing. She's happy watching Friday night games from the bleachers, silently crushing on best friend Cas, and blissfully ignoring the future after high school. But the universe has other plans. It delivers Devon's cousin Foster, an unrepentant social outlier with a surprising talent for football, and the obnoxiously superior and maddeningly attractive star running back, Ezra, right where she doesn't want them first into her P.E. class and then into every other aspect of her life.


Pride and Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights in this contemporary novel about falling in love with the unexpected boy, with a new brother, and with yourself.
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Cinder by Marissa Meyer is a book that I physically own and still haven't gotten around to reading. This series is insanely popular at the moment and I really need to start it. Hopefully putting that thought up here will motivate me to actually read it. These are fairytale retold with a sci-fi twist, I believe. Sorry these are starting to get rushed, I didn't realize this post would take so long and I have other stuff I need to get done! 
​
Here's the synopsis: 
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.
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Defending Taylor by Miranda Kenneally is a book I'm really looking forward to reading. This is the seventh book in the Hundred Oaks series, a series of companion contemporary novels. Miranda Kenneally really knows how to write a romance and she's one of my favorite contemporary authors. Her books include Catching Jordan, Stealing Parker, Racing Savannah and Jesse's Girl. All beautifully written, hilarious and lovely stories. I reviewed each and every one, if you're interested, which I think you should be, because these books are simply magnificent.

Synopsis: 
Taylor’s always felt pressure to be perfect. That’s what happens when you are a senator’s daughter. So when she’s kicked out of private school for covering for her boyfriend’s not-so-legal behavior, she is devastated.

Things go from bad to worse as she joins what used to be her rival soccer team at Hundred Oaks High. The only person who seems to understand all that she’s going through is her older brother’s best friend, Ezra. But Ezra has secrets of his own. Will Taylor repeat past mistakes, or can she score a fresh start?

Expected: July 1, 2016
(no cover released) 


Empire of Dust by Eleanor Herman is a book I'm especially looking forward to. This is the sequel to that book I recently review (and absolutely loved) called Legacy of Kings. This series follows Alexander the Great in his teen years (it's fantasy so it's not exactly historical fact, though, interesting fact, Eleanor Herman is a historian.) I really loved this book, it's plot, idea, and especially its characters. I grew very attached, very quickly as well as getting intriguing from page one. I highly recommend this book to any of you fantasy lovers. 

release date: June 28, 2016, no cover released. 

The Fifth book in the Falling Kingdoms Series by Morgan Rhodes is one I eagerly anticipate. As my last review shows, I absolutely fell in love with this series after reading the Frozen Tides, the fourth book (I've reviewed all four books, if you want to check them out). The characters and plot of this series are fascinating (well, I don't like one character, but whatever.) Anyway, there is no title or cover or even release date for this book aside from 2016, so I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens with that. 

The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson is the last book in the Remnant Chronciles, which I've been reading pretty much since the first book was released. I will be sad to see this series go. The ending of the second book, Heart of Betrayal, left me with some questions, mainly about Kaden, my favorite character. I seriously cannot wait for this book. Since Books 1 and 2 were excellent and intriguing reads, I expect no less from the last book.  Full of deception, romance, betrayal and action, this is one of my favorite series and I cannot stress how excited I am for this last book. (Please, someone read this series so I can talk about it with you!!) 
Release date: August 2, 2016
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Since I'm running out of time, I'll just list my last two books now, Power by Jennifer Armentrout, and The Last Star by Rick Yancy.  Power in the second book in the Titan Series, a spin off of Jennifer Armentrout's magnificent Covenant books, following my personal favorite character, Seth. I hear Alex is going to show up in this book. I do believe this is going to be a lot of fun. (I did review The Return (Book 1) I think...) 
Released: February 23, 2015
The Last Star is the last (haha) book in the 5th Wave series. You may recognize the name from the movie that's coming out, yeah, that's based on these books and I'm very excited to see it. It's coming out this month!! And I'm very very excited to read the Last Star. I can't wait to see more of Cassie and Evan... and Ben, I guess.  I'm sure this will be an explosive finale and I can hardly wait to read it. 
Released: May 24, 2016

Thanks for reading, feel free to email me for a personal book recommendation ([email protected]) :)
​-Anj
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Best Reads of 2015

12/21/2015

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Can you believe 2015 is almost over? Wow, it's been quite the short year filled with many unexpected events. Anyway, I kinda of forgot to count slash keep track of every single book I read this year (That would be a difficult job) but I did manage to keep track of most of them on my Goodreads Reading Challenge, so I've compiled a list of my favorite {new} books I've read this year. I highly recommend each and every one of these books because they're great novels. Some of them aren't exactly in any order because I couldn't pick which one I liked best!
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By far, though, my favorite book I read this year would have to have been Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas {Review Here}. The review in a nutshell, I freaking loved this book. The Throne of Glass Series (Queen of Shadows is book four) just keeps getting better and better. I don't see how the next book could possibly get an more fantastical than this, but I'm sure Sarah will be able to pull it off. I gave Queen of Shadows 10/10 stars, a rare rating from me, but THIS BOOK DESERVED IT. Full of nonstop action, mystery, suspense and a little bit of romance, this is the perfect book for me. I seriously cannot wait to see what Sarah has in store for the next (and last) two books of this series. (Which, by the way, is one of my all time favorite books and I highly recommend that you read it because it's sooooo amazing.) 
The first book is not that good, I'll admit, but it just keeps getting better and better so even if you didn't really enjoy book 1, push on to book two, because it only gets more intriguing from there on out. Here's the synopsis for book one: 
After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for four years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

Haha, back when the protagonist's biggest problem was a competition... Let me tell you, it definitely gets more intense and you never know what to expect with Sarah's books. 

Alright, all the books after this aren't in any order because I couldn't decide what I liked better. 


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This next book I obtained and finished yesterday. And it met and exceeded my expectations which were pretty darn high. {Review should be up soon} I actually just started reading the Falling Kingdoms series this year. After reading the first book {Review here} I was not totally impressed- rating it 6.5/10 stars. It was okay, but I felt as though i was dragging my feet through most of the book. I only liked two of the main characters and really, I just didn't enjoy that book too much. Luckily, I decided I'd give the series another chance and order the second and third books. The second book I found much more interesting and started to feel a lot more invested in this spectacular series- rating it 7/10 stars but I still only liked two of the main characters. And then I read the third book- Gathering Darkness and it sucked me right into the world. (8/10 stars). While reading Gathering Darkness, I was surprised to find myself beginning to like one of the characters I'd previously despised. Hey, you know it's a well written story if you go from hating to tentatively starting to like a character. And then I read Frozen Tides yesterday. It was amazing. This series is full of action, betrayal, deceit, suspense and romance and this last book really brought out the most interesting sides of all the characters. And that one character I was tentatively starting to like?  I love his character now. This series is amazing and quickly working its way up to one of my favorites. The characters (well, most of them) are ones you'll grow quickly attached to and the plot is intriguing- you won't be able to tear your eyes away from the book. I highly recommend reading this series. Yeah, sure, the first book isn't so good, but it only goes up from there. 

Synopsis for Book 1: 
In the three kingdoms of Mytica, magic has long been forgotten. And while hard-won peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest now simmers below the surface.

As the rulers of each kingdom grapple for power, the lives of their subjects are brutally transformed... and four key players, royals and rebels alike, find their fates forever intertwined. Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus are caught in a dizzying world of treacherous betrayals, shocking murders, secret alliances, and even unforeseen love.

The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

It's the eve of war.... Choose your side.


Princess: Raised in pampered luxury, Cleo must now embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of magic long thought extinct.

Rebel: Jonas, enraged at injustice, lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country cruelly impoverished. To his shock, he finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.

Sorceress: Lucia, adopted at birth into the royal family, discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Heir: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, firstborn son Magnus begins to realise that the heart can be more lethal than the sword....

I'm giving Frozen Tides 8/10 stars. I absolutely loved it and hope y'all try this series out because it is fantastic. 


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Here's a romance for all y'all romance lovers out there. It's one of those cliches that I seriously love. The tom boy girl falling in love and not being quite sure how to handle her feelings. My absolute favorite thing about this book is that there's a very unexpected plot twist that happens in the story. The thing with romance books is you think you know who the protagonist is going to end up with (which I love but-) this book makes a complete 360 spin about halfway through. I loved that about it. I rated it 8.8/10 stars. {Review Here} 
Here's the synopsis: 
ONE OF THE BOYS

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.

But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Green moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart's on the line?

Here, I can tell you this. This series is one of my favorite romance book series ever. Seriously, each book in this series has a heart warming romance. I really think you all should read this excellent book. 

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Here's another one of Sarah J. Maas's books that were released this year. This is the start of a new book series she's writing, all of the books in it are going to be loosely based on a fairytale. A Court of Thorns and Roses is loosely based off of Beauty and the Beast. Key word loosely. The idea for 2/3 sounds slightly like Beauty and the Beast but the last bit of this book is very very very different. And also Sarah twists the story so much that it turns a lot darker than you would ever expect. I really loved this book. Sure, the beginning was a little slow, but I got really invested quite quickly. I gave this book 8/10 stars {Review Here} because it was suspenseful, witty, entertaining, full of action and there were quite a few plot twists. Sarah has an excellent style of writing and I fully plan to read the rest of this series as well as the Throne of Glass books. 
Synopsis: 
A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Timesbestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it... or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!


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Better Off Friends was a book I put off reading for so long. But when I read it, I seriously regretted that. This book is seriously good. It follows a pair of friends, Macallan and Levi, through their lives as seventh graders and ends when they're seniors in high school. It's witty and adorable, answering the question Can girls and boys be just friends? This whole novel was so quirky and very lovable. I've reread it several times since the first time and I still haven't lost any of my adoration for this excellent story. In fact, I think my adulation has grown even more. This is such a cute story, please, please, read it. I guarantee you won't regret it. 
I gave this novel... I'm realizing now that I was enjoying this story so much that when I reviewed it, I forgot to rate it, ahah. Well, here's my review. 
Synopsis: 
For Macallan and Levi, it was friends at first sight. Everyone says guys and girls can’t be just friends, but these two are. They hang out after school, share tons of inside jokes, their families are super close, and Levi even starts dating one of Macallan’s friends. They are platonic and happy that way.

Eventually they realize they’re best friends — which wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t keep getting in each other’s way. Guys won’t ask Macallan out because they think she’s with Levi, and Levi spends too much time joking around with Macallan, and maybe not enough time with his date. They can’t help but wonder . . . are they more than friends or are they better off without making it even more complicated?

From romantic comedy superstar Elizabeth Eulberg comes a fresh, fun examination of a question for the ages: Can guys and girls ever really be just friends? Or are they always one fight away from not speaking again — and one kiss away from true love?

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P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han. I absolutely loved this book just as much as I loved the first- To All The Boys I've Loved Before. Filled with realistic cute and quirky scenes, there's nothing not to love about this adorable duology. {Reviews for both} This is really one of my favorite romance book series (along with Catching Jordan books and Anna and the French Kiss) and I just strongly reccomend this book to anyone who wants an adorable love story, of course, you gotta start out with book one first, but believe me when I say, book two is no disappointment. 

Synopsis for To All the Boys I've Loved Before 

What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them…all at once?

Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

And there you go, these books were my favorites among all of the fantastic stories I've read this year. I hope y'all had as good a year of reading as I did, and if you didn't, well in 2016 why not try some of these excellent books? *wink* *wink* 
Here's the links to buy them if you're interested. 
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
Frozen Tides by Morgan Rhodes
Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally 
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg 
P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

Thanks for reading and I hope you take some of these recommendations to heart. 
-Anj

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Waiting On Wednesday

12/3/2015

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It's been a while since I've posted one of these, eh? Well, since Their Fractured Light is already out, I only have one more December book that I'm excitedly waiting for and that would be *Drum Roll* Frozen Tides by Morgan Rhodes, the fourth book in the Falling Kingdoms series. 
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Even though I hate Lucia, the girl on the cover, I really love a lot of the other characters and am intrigued about the direction the plot is going. Here's the synopsis for the first book, Falling Kingdoms: 
In the three kingdoms of Mytica, magic has long been forgotten. And while hard-won peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest now simmers below the surface.

As the rulers of each kingdom grapple for power, the lives of their subjects are brutally transformed... and four key players, royals and rebels alike, find their fates forever intertwined. Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus are caught in a dizzying world of treacherous betrayals, shocking murders, secret alliances, and even unforeseen love.

The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

It's the eve of war.... Choose your side.


Princess: Raised in pampered luxury, Cleo must now embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of magic long thought extinct.

Rebel: Jonas, enraged at injustice, lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country cruelly impoverished. To his shock, he finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.

Sorceress: Lucia, adopted at birth into the royal family, discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Heir: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, firstborn son Magnus begins to realise that the heart can be more lethal than the sword....

​Sound interesting? You should pick it up. I wasn't overly fond of the first book, but as I read more, I got more and more sucked into the world and characters. Here's my review of the first three books: 
​(Click the link here) 
I'm ecstatic to read this book. I believe it's going to be a lot of fun and it comes out right before my Christmas Break so I'll have plenty of time to enjoy it :). I'm sure I'll be writing a glowing review about this book soon enough. 
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9 Meaningful Book Quotes

9/6/2015

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    Anji Cooper

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