ABC Challenge Week 1

Week 1 Update:

I guess it really has been a week hasn't it, and one that has sort of been all over the place. You know its a problem when you forget to wear jeans on casual Friday, because it is something that you look forward to every week.

I started this challenge out with Air Awakens by Elise Kova, there is a very specific reason why. I think she is one of the sweetest authors I have encounter on Twitter. I hear bloggers rant left and right about this book, so I thought this was a good bet. It was a fast read as well, finished it in almost one sitting, meaning I could have sat a read it probably in a good 2 hours of no distractions, doesn't really work that well though. My review will be separate, but I loved the book. The premise was a familar one, meaning I probably have picked up a another book along the same story lines. It did actually remind me a little of Robin McKinley's Blue Sword story.

Beauty and the Werewolf is book 6 in Mercedes Lackey's Five Hundred Kingdoms series. They describe these books as fractured fairy tales. The little review I wrote on Goodreads, just says I loved every one of the books that I have read in the series. Which I think is a feat to have read almost all of them because I am terrible about finishing things. I haven't picked up the one about the Snow Queen, which I might in a little while. That particular fairy tale isn't one of my favorites, so I am a little hesitant.

I have actually just started my C book. I am reading The Court of Thrones and Roses by Sarah J Maas. I am liking it thus far, which doesn't surprise me because I have liked everything I have read by this author. Sometime I am actually going to finish the Throne of Glass series, which I do own in its entirely. I did almost change this, I had in mind maybe I wanted to read something different then fantasy, but I stuck with my first choice because I really wanted to read it.

My reviews for each book will be separate, but this update actually motivates me to write them. Happy Reading and Writing out there. 

Sort informational post

So my November challenge will only be the ABC books I picked, the help me decide sort of fell through. And December will now include a reread challenge of Harry Potter, all good things, and I am ready to get myself back on this reading train.

PS, I am going to post pictures of my first fanmail box tomorrow. I am super excited about the items in this box.

My ABC TBR LIST Starts November 1, 2015

This is the list of books I picked for my challenge months, as you can see the ABC's are the theme, I am having a little trouble at the end with the x y and z, and recommendations would be great. I may just leave these three up to a random choice, but since they are at the end, I have a little time

a.    Air Awakens
B.  Beauty and the Werewolf
C.  Court of Thrones and Roses
D. The Darkest Minds
E. Ember in the Ashes
F. Forever Song
G. Girl in the Steel Corset
H. Hacker
I. Infinite, The
J. Jewel, The
K. Killing Moon, The
L. Legacy
M Mechanica
N. Name of the Star
O. Of Shadow and Bone
P. Poison Princess
Q. Queen of Tomorrow
R.  Red Queen
S. Serpetine
T. Talon
U.Ugly Stepsister, The
V. Vicious
W. Witch Hunter
X (Someone told me about a book called XVI)
Y.Young World, The
Z.

Update post, and what is happening in November and December

There are many things going on as of late, its been a busy month. So here are a few things to see what has been going on

My favorite birthday present, my pride and prejudice poster from Litographs.

Going to the fierce reads tour, sorry that isn't the best picture by its the only group one I have

Owlcrate came the other day, I am super excited about the book, and the swag was cute.

November will be my last Owlcrate, I wanted to see what else is out there, I am getting another from Fanmail, which I am going to keep for another month as well. They are having a mix of science fiction shows in their box next month, can't walk away from that. Okay october is finished, what is next...

I am starting a big challenge month, 26 books picked by me, 26 books picked by others. Hey will we see.

Top Ten Bookish things I want to quit

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday a meme hosted by Broke and Bookish.


Top Ten bookish things I want to quit

1. Not finishing a series:

I know this is a bad habit...but seriously what person can say they never finished Allegient, So my 2016 goal is finishing those series that I have started and trying my best to break this habit

2. Judging a book by its cover

This may sound cliche I fall in love with covers all the time, but then hate the content. I have learned to do some research into what the book is about first, and reading a few reviews. This sort of leads into my third thing

3. Not Judging a book by others review

Just because one person didn't like it, doesn't mean the book will be the same for you. I hate to admit I sort of let this happen a few times in the past. The same goes for the opposite too, everyone loves loves the book and it just falls short for you, again I don't think this is a bad thing, not every book is going to be a hit.

4. Buying books I might not read

I can't be the only one who does this, I really have this thing about see a book for free, or buying books for 99cents and not ever reading them. I just read that many books go unread on ereaders, and I know I have some I may not ever read, so maybe that 99 cents can get get saved for that new book that I really want.

5. Arc-envy

You know that I see people with arcs every day on twitter, I almost broke down once into begging mood. I had to step back and think for a second. I could try to write to the publishers, but I am not that well-equipped. I don't have many followers. I am trying better on Netgalley to get my rating up. There are so many 2016 books I want to read, I am just going to have to wait until I get them. In the very least it gives me something to look forward too.

6. Getting rid of books-

Gasp...no I said it, I really need to do a major clean out, I have book that I have had since middle school. Honestly do I really need them all, no. I have a hard time with this, books are memories to me, but they are a pain in the butt to move. (Just ask my sister lol)

7. Getting to know people

I have learned through Twitter that book bloggers are amazing people, they are there to help when you need it. Authors are more open to conversations than I first thought. I have to learn how to open up more. This may not be such a bookish habit as it is a life habit.

I may have some more of these, but I can't think of any at the moment. Do you guys have any bookish habits you want to break?

Review of Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

Title: Wolf by Wolf

Author: Ryan Graudin

Format: Arc

Publication Details: Expected publication: October 20th 2015 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Source:  Arc Adoption Program at Miss Prints Blog page

Description from Goodreads:
Code Name Verity meets Inglorious Bastards in this fast-paced novel from the author of The Walled City.

The year is 1956, and the Axis powers of the Third Reich and Imperial Japan rule the world. To commemorate their Great Victory over Britain and Russia, Hitler and Emperor Hirohito host the Axis Tour: an annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents. The victor is awarded an audience with the highly reclusive Adolf Hitler at the Victor's ball.

Yael, who escaped from a death camp, has one goal: Win the race and kill Hitler. A survivor of painful human experimentation, Yael has the power to skinshift and must complete her mission by impersonating last year's only female victor, Adele Wolfe. This deception becomes more difficult when Felix, Adele twin's brother, and Luka, her former love interest, enter the race and watch Yael's every move. But as Yael begins to get closer to the other competitors, can she bring herself to be as ruthless as she needs to be to avoid discovery and complete her mission?


My review:

I am giving this book a solid 4 star review

I am going to be honest in the beginning. I think I may have a problem with alternative history books. It takes me awhile to wrap my mind around new details about the world, and I always have questions about the holes that never seemed to get answered.

I did this awhile back about a alternative history book that centered around the Rape of Nanking. This one also happened during the time period, even though it was before World War 2 started, nothing seemed to read right for me, and there are so many now what's to ask.

So looking at the state of the world in Wolf by Wolf, Hitler won his war in Europe, England fell, Russia fell, the United States remained isolated which I guess means Pearl Harbor didn't happen, there were no nukes...you see I have a serious problem. There are just to many questions to be answered, okay lets get back to the story

We met Yael, a young Jewish girl on a train to a concentration camp, she is picked by a doctor, now I am sort of curious which concentration camp they are at, but maybe in not naming it, it makes it just seem like all the others. She is picked by a camp doctor for experimentation. I am not a doctor, and honestly I might have to go back and do research in what he was trying to do. I am a little lost in those details. Most important fact, this changes Yael, she gains the ability to change her appearence which in fact aids in her escape.

This book takes place in two parts, flashbacks to the people that are important to Yael and the present. The race which takes place across Europe into Asia. She takes the appearance of Adele Wolfe, the only female racer to have won the race before. She meets Luka, who shares a past with Adele and Adele's twin brother Felix. She struggles most often in her deception around these two. She doesn't have the details about the relationship with Luka, and Felix whose relationship runs deep with Adele.

I think I loved the race idea, its sounds crazy to compete in, but at the same time cool to read about. I loved the complex character of Yael, a girl who doesn't seem to know who she really is and assumes other's identities. She makes the story more intriguing, and I can not help but wonder if Ms. Graudin has a sequel in the works. 

I would really like to know more, about what happens next in this world. I am not going to spoil anymore details, but I can't help but feel that the ending was sort of a cliffhanger. Romance isn't a big part of this book, there may have been a few kisses, but they were ones of mistaken identity. I can even get past the problem I have with alternative histories, I swear I can.

I would recommend this book to a person who like a strong female lead character, even to people who like alternative history.

I loved signed books I cannot lie

Okay maybe that was a flashback to the wrong song.

My friend Jessica over at CrossRoad Reviews , recently went to the Speculative Fiction Convention in Orlando. She is a great person because she lets her friends send her books to sign. You know Speculative fiction is a hard one to figure out here is a quick definition

The term speculative fiction refers to any fiction story that includes elements, settings and characters whose features are created out of human imagination and speculation rather than based on attested reality and everyday life. So basically it includes fantasy, science fiction, paranormal anything like that. 

So going back to the point of the story, two of my favorite authors were going to be there, Marie V Snyder and Jacqueline Carey. Well thanks to the awesomess of my friend...here they are

I know that this month is the 10th Anniversary of Poison Study and to have it signed is all kinds of yay!















 Jacqueline Carey's Saints Olivia was a surprise like for me, I haven't actually read book two yet, the continuation looks awesome as well.

Some cool swag too. Thanks Jessica you are awesome.