Ann: Inside & Out Tag

The Inside & Out tag was created by MathomBooks
I Inside flap / Back of the book summaries: Too much info? Or not enough (Discuss)
Sometimes I like to have to much information but most of the time I like to have short book summaries.
N New book: What form do you want it in? Be honest: audio book, e-book, paperback, or hardcover?
I like to get paperbacks if they are floppy books but I also have a soft spot for hardbacks. However I don't often listen to books or read e-books.
S Scribble while you read? Do you like to write in your books, taking notes, making comments, or do you keep your books clean clean clean? (Tell us why)
Definitely CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN. I do not like the idea of writing on books. 
I In your best voice, read for us your favourite first sentence from a book.
I don't have a favourite first sentence from a book I like all of them.
D Does it matter to you whether the author is male or female when you’re deciding on a book? What if you’re unsure of the author’s gender?
That does not matter to me in any way. I read books because i like the sound of them from the blurb not because of the authors gender.
E Ever read ahead? Or have you ever read the last page way before you got there?
I have to say I have already read the ending of Anne of the Island because I couldn't wait to find out what happens. So on some special occasions I do read ahead.
O Organized bookshelves, or outrageous bookshelves?
I have a really messy book  shelf and when I get a new book I just chuck it onto the book shelf where there is space.
U Under oath: have you ever bought a book based on the cover (alone)?
I don't really buy books but yes I have brought a book just because of the cover once of twice.
T Take it outside to read, or stay in?
I tend to always read inside but I do occasionally read outside when the weather is nice.

You can find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) and on Twitter (Ann and Clare)

Friday Reads and Friday 56 With Book Beginnings 28th August

Ann:


I am not planning on reading many books this weekend but I do plan on reading most of the Anne of Green Gables books. I finished Anne of Green Gables on Tuesday and then moved on to Anne of Avonlea which I finished yesterday.

Clare:

Time for a Throne of Glass re-read in preparation of Queen of Shadows which will be released on Tuesday. I should have plenty of time to read this weekend and Monday so I'm hoping that I'll be finished just in time for Queen of Shadows to arrive. I'm going to read them starting with The Assassin's Blade so I can read them in order of events. But if you are new to the series you should definitely read them in release order.

Friday 56 and Book Beginnings:

Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice. The idea is to grab a book, turn to page 56 (or 56% in an e-reader and find any sentence (no spoilers) and then post it. Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

Ann:

"Do you remember what Dr Davis said last Sunday evening - that the sorrows God sent us brought comfort and strength with them, while the sorrows we brought ourselves, through folly or wickedness, were by far the hardest to bear?" - Page 56

Book Beginning:

" 'Thanks be, I'm done with geometry, learning or teaching it,' said Anne Shirley, a trifle vindictively, as she thumped a somewhat battered volume of Euclid into a big chest of books, banged the lid in-triumph, and sat down on it, looking at Diana Wright across the Green Gables garret, with grey eyes that were like a morning sky."

 

I love the Anne of Green Gables series and cannot wait to read all of them!

Clare:

"Ahead of them were the golden lights of Skull's Bay. Hoots and cheers echoed across the water. Word had certainly spread about the free ale.She smiled slightly. "Get read to unleash hell."" - Page 56

 

The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

Book Beginning:

"After a year of slavery in the Salt Mines of Endovier, Celaena Sardothien was accustomed to being escorted everywhere in shackles and at sword-point. Most of the thousands of slaves in Endovier received similar treatment - though an extra half-dozen guards always walked Celaena to and from the mines. That was expected by Adarlan's most notorious assassin. What she did not usually expect, however, was a hooded man in black at her side - as there was now."

 

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Back where it all began. I remember discarding whatever I had been reading when I read the first page of Throne of Glass and then being completely absorbed. I'm hoping I still feel the same way now!

You can find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) and on Twitter (Ann and Clare)

Thursday Quotables 27th August

Thursday Quotables is a weekly meme hosted by Bookshelf Fantasies. Its all about sharing a quote, passage, or line from a book that you have read recently or are currently reading.

Ann:
My quote in from Anne of Avonlea by L. M. Montgomery.

"A thunder-shower came up while the girls were at Carmody; it did not last long, however, and the drive home, through the lanes where the raindrops sparkled on the boughs and little leafy valleys where the drenched ferns gave out spicy odours, was delightful."

Anne of Avonlea was supposed to be my next classic for next month but after finishing Anne of Green Gables I couldn't wait until September to start reading the next book. So I started reading it on Tuesday and am nearly finished. I like this quote because it is great description and it makes me wish I was there experiencing it with Anne.

Clare:

My quote is from Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas.

"Daisy had known the novel was silly even as she had read it, but that had not detracted one bit from her enjoyment. And she had been perversely disappointed when Penelope had been rescued from imminent ruin by the bland golden haired hero Reginald, who was not nearly as interesting as the villain."

I have been having a really lazy week and have just been re-reading old books. And I decided to re-read the Wallflower series by Lisa Kleypas (which starts with Secrets of a Summer Night). I like this quote because it describes my whole experience with reading - why oh why is the villain always more interesting? 

 

You can find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) and on Twitter (Ann and Clare)

September 2015 New Releases

These are books due for release in September that I am excited to read. I will not necessarily be reading them in September as I do not have all of them pre-ordered (I can't afford that!) so I may have to wait for my local library, which is a shame but I am excited to read these however long it takes me to get to them!

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas: Due for Release 1st September. YES! Finally! I feel like I've been waiting on this one forever.

Only a Kiss by Mary Balogh: Due for Release 1st September. The latest in her Survivors series. I've really enjoyed all the previous books so here's hoping.

Cloud 9 by Alex Campbell: Due for Release 3rd September. The premise of this one just fascinates me. I haven't heard any hype around it but the plot and the cover have convinced me to try it.

Crow Mountain by Lucy Inglis: Due for Release 3rd September. Trapped in a storm is one of my favourite tropes.

The Next Together by Lauren James: Due for Release 3rd September. I have heard good things about this one so I'm trying to make sure not to let my hopes get too high and spoil it.

Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman: Due for Release 9th September. So much buzz around this.

This is One Moment by Mila Gray: Due for Release 10th September. I really, really loved Come Back to Me so I'm hoping this one will be just as good.

Mirrored by Alex Flinn: Due for Release 15th September. Fairy Tale retelling. Pretty much an Auto-Buy

Maid of Wonder by Jennifer McGowan: Due for Release 15th September. The third book in the series. Each book follows a different girl, and they are all very individual.

Ash & Bramble by Sarah Prineas: Due for Release 15th September. Another Fairy Tale retelling. Really excited for this one.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo: Due for Release 29th September. I was undecided about the Grisha trilogy but I've heard that this is so much better!

You can find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) and on Twitter (Ann and Clare)

Bout of Books Read-A-Thon Wrap Up

Our goals were; Ann (6-8 books) and Clare (8-10 books). We also aimed to participate in as many challenges as we could.

Ann:

Monday:

• Number of Pages Read Today: 1016
• Total Number of Books Read Today: 5
• Books Finished:The Pug's Guide to Etiquette and The Pug's Guide to Dating by Gemma Correll, Shadows by Amy Meredith, Feeling Sorry for Celia and Finding Cassie Crazy both by Jaclyn Moriarty.

Tuesday:

• Number of Pages Read Today: 880
• Total Number of Books Read Today: 3
• Books Finished:The Potion Diaries by Amy Alward, The Disappearing Duchess by Imogen Rossi and Spelled by Betsy Schow.

Wednesday:

• Number of Pages Read Today: 672
• Total Number of Books Read Today: 3
• Books Finished: The Dark City and The Painted War by Imogen Rossi and Mug Cakes.

Thursday:

• Number of Pages Read Today: 402 
• Total Number of Books Read Today: 2
• Books Finished: The Doomspell and The scent of Magic by Cliff Mcnish.

Friday:

• Number of Pages Read Today: 404
• Total Number of Books Read Today: 1
• Books Finished: The Wizards Promise by Cliff Mcnish.

Saturday:

• Number of Pages Read Today: 588
• Total Number of Books Read Today: 2
• Books Finished: The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine and Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo.

Sunday:

• Number of Pages Read Today: 1661
• Total Number of Books Read Today: 6
• Books Finished: Farm Boy, Cool and Toro! Toro! by Michael Morpurgo, Pathfinders by Angie Sage, Siege and Storm and Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo.

Week:

• Number of Pages Read: 5623
• Total Number of Books Read: 22
• Favourite Read: Pathfinder by Angie Sage I love Angie Sage's writing and this book was amazing.
• Least Favourite Read: I loved all of the books I read this week so can't really pick a least favourite book.

Clare:

Monday:

• Number of Pages Read Today: 1214
• Total Number of Books Read Today: 4
• Books Finished: The Potion Diaries by Amy Alward, Complete Nonsense by Edward Lear, Spelled by Betsy Schow and Pop Sonnets by Erik Didriksen.

Tuesday:

• Number of Pages Read Today: 736
• Total Number of Books Read Today: 3
• Books Finished: Dracula in Love by Karen Essex, Grace's Guide by Grace Helbig and Once Every Never by Lesley Livingston.

Wednesday:

• Number of Pages Read Today: 441
• Total Number of Books Read Today: 3
• Books Finished: Mug Cakes, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne and The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine.

Thursday:

• Number of Pages Read Today: 448
• Total Number of Books Read Today: 1
• Books Finished: Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery.

Friday:

• Number of Pages Read Today: 410
• Total Number of Books Read Today: 1
• Books Finished: The Silversmith's Wife by Sophia Tobin.

Saturday:

• Number of Pages Read Today: 299
• Total Number of Books Read Today: 1
• Books Finished: The Confectioner's Tale by Laura Madeleine.

Sunday:

• Number of Pages Read Today: 2358
• Total Number of Books Read Today: 7
• Books Finished: Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott, Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott, An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott, The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery, A Tailor-Made Bride by Karen Witemeyer, The Secret History of the Pink Carnation and The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig.

Week:

• Number of Pages Read: 5906
• Total Number of Books Read: 20
• Favourite Read: The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery - I really loved this, way more than I actually expected to.
• Least Favourite Read: Dracula in Love by Karen Essex - I have a review up for this here.

Challenges Participated In:

• Fictional World Travel Challenge
• Scavenger Hunt
• MASH
• Road Trip Challenge

Sunday Wrap Up 23rd August

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer, it's a chance to post a recap on the past week, show the books we have received and share what we plan for the coming week. Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Showcase Sunday is hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea and the aim is to show our newest books and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops or downloaded on to their e-reader.

Last Week on the Blog:

• Clare Reviews: The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan
• Jennifer Lawrence Book Tag
• Bout of Books Fictional World Travel Challenge
• Top Ten Auto Buy Authors
• Bout of Books Challenge: Scavenger Hunt
• Tuesday Intros and Teaser Tuesdays
• Bout of Books Challenge: MASH 
• WWW Wednesday and What Are You Reading Wednesday?
• Clare Reviews: Dracula in Love by Karen Essex
• Thursday Quotables
• Clare Reviews: Netherwood by Jane Sanderson
• Friday Reads and Friday 56
• Clare Reviews: Once Every Never by Lesley Livingston
• Ann Reviews: The Doomspell Trilogy by Cliff McNish
• Bout of Books: Road Trip Challenge

Books We Got This Week: 
Clare:

Fairest by Marissa Meyer: I very desperately wanted this when it first came out but I wanted the hardcover and couldn't afford it - and then I was Amazon browsing the other day and found this for three pounds! 

The Novel Cure by Ella Berthoud and Susan Elderkin: This is pure fun. Basically, think of any ailment from a stomachache to a break up and this book will recommend a novel to "cure" it.

Dinner With Mr Darcy by Pen Vogler: I love this book - the recipes range from the I-definitely-must-make-this to where-the-heck-do-you-buy-pigeons-anyway but its really pretty and I love the Austen links.

10,000 Cupcakes by Susanna Tee: I have wanted this one for ages and ages. Each page is divided into three sections, the bottom for the base of the cupcake, middle for icing and top for toppings and then you just flip to create any combination you want. We are really looking forward to trying these.

Mug Cakes by Lene Knudsen: These we already have tried, it went awfully when I did one (think possibly poisonous smoke and a burnt smell that lingered for days - I followed the recipe I SWEAR) and really well when Ann tried.

Best Ever 30 Minute Cookbook by Jenni Fleetwood: A break from the cake books - I really really love this book. I have been filled with a fervor to make every single recipe in here. So, so good.

Mad About the Hatter by Dakota Chase: Review copy from Netgalley, I am very excited about this and it is at the very top of my TBR for September!

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness: Received for review from the publisher through Waterstones read and review: I really didn't think I'd get this and it came in the post yesterday: Excited.

Grimm Tales by Philip Pullman: Another one I have wanted since it came out, couldn't afford the hardcover and then found cheap (this time it was two pounds). I love fairy tales so this was a no brainer.

Reading Update:

This week we participated in the Bout of Books Read-A-Thon and we will have a wrap up for that up tomorrow so there's no update for this week yet since we haven't quite finished for the week!

Classics Update:

Ann: I have nearly finished Anne of Green Gables and am currently on page 300 and hope to finish it in the next couple of days. 

Clare: I have finished Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne and once Ann has finished Anne of Green Gables we will be posting a review of our Classics for the month. I am not going to start another Classic until September.

Next Week on the Blog:

• Song Title Book Tag
• Top Ten Books That Would Be on Our Syllabus if We Taught x101
• Tuesday Intros and Teaser Tuesdays
• Top 5 Series You Wish Had More Books
• WWW Wednesday and What Are You Reading Wednesday?
• September Releases
• Friday Reads and Friday 56
• Classics Review
• Cover Characteristics: Toys

Bout of Books Read-A-Thon Reading Update Day 6

Saturday:

Ann:

588
Today I finished reading The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow, which I really enjoyed it was a really good book. I then read Shadow and Bone. I finished reading it really quickly because I was really enjoying it and had finished it after a couple of hours.

Clare:

299

Today I finished The Confectioner's Tale by Laura Madeleine. It was a fairly enjoyable read and went quite quickly once I had got about halfway through but I didn't love it. 

Total Books Read So Far This Week:

Ann: 16 books (3962)

Clare: 13 books (3548)

Bout of Books: Road Trip Challenge

This challenge was hosted by Steph in Wonderland. The aim is to pick four or five books set in places you want to visit or written by authors from those places.

New York: For this we picked City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Paris: Die For Me by Amy Plum, this is on Ann's TBR because I read it last year and really liked it.

Prince Edward Island: This is where Anne of Green Gables (and actually pretty much every other L.M. Montgomery book) takes place, which has made us want to go there.

Italy (specifically Siena): Juliet was the first book I ever received for review (through the Waterstones read and review program) and it filled me with the need to go to Siena. I loved this book, since then I have read every book I could find set in Siena but this is the one that started it.

California: Ann and I actually want to do a road trip around America and the idea is to start in California and finish in Florida. We completely blanked on books set in Florida (although no doubt we'll think of some later) but I'll Meet You There is set in California and I loved it.

Bout of Books Read-A-Thon Reading Update Day 5

Friday:

Ann:

404 pages
I finished The Wizards Promise by Cliff Mcnish which was a great book and I will be doing a review of it today which you can find here. I then read 100 pages of The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine which is such a good book I am loving it. Then I read 54 pages of Anne of Green Gables which I have nearly finished.

Clare:

410 pages

I finished The Silversmith's Wife by Sophia Tobin which was an excellent mystery. I didn't fully figure out who had killed Renard until it was actually revealed and I really liked how everything was resolved. I am definitely looking forward to her next book The Widow's Confession. I then read 33 pages of The Confectioner's Tale by Laura Madeleine.

Total Books Read So Far This Week

Ann: 14 books (3374)

Clare: 12 books (3249)

Ann Reviews: The Doomspell Trilogy by Cliff McNish

Title: The Doomspell Trilogy

Author: Cliff Mcnish

Series: The Doomspell (1), The Scent of Magic (2), The Wizard's Promise (3)

Rating: 4/5

Blurb: In a blaze of light, a rush of wind and a scrabble of claws, Rachel and her brother Eric are ripped through a wall and hurtled to a terrifying place. Like thousands of other children before them, they have been snatched away by the Witch. But Rachel and Eric discover they have astonishing gifts.

The Witch has meet her match, but she will stop at nothing to enslave them and slay her old adversaries, the Wizards. The fate of all children hangs in the balance. Rachel and Eric embark on a journey from which there may be no return:their extraordinary  skills and courage could save our world, or grant the witches the final triumph they have been waiting for.

My sister read this series when she was younger and said that I should read them, because she liked them and thought that I might enjoy them too. When I read the blurb I really wanted to read them because they sounded really good and they were.

The main female character Rachel was confused in the first book when she first discovered her powers and had to fight the Witches persuasion. Then as she started to develop her powers and learn how to use them better she developed as a character at the same time. Through book 2 she struggled with her powers and keeping them under control. Then through the last book she was in complete control of her powers and had developed from book 1 were she was scared to a girl who was the main leader of an army. The main male character Eric didn't really show any magic in the first couple of chapters of the first book but then he found out that his magic was special and important. He wasn't as scared as his sister and told her he wasn't scared at all because he didn't want her worrying about her to much. Then through the second book his powers started to develop a tiny bit until in the third book his powers and developed a lot. In the third book he struggled with the fact that his magic was so different to others, and he couldn't do the same things they could.

The plot developed really well through all three books as all the characters develop and start to understand things more. The excitement was all the way through the books with battles and fights happening between the characters until the final fight at the end when the most exciting bit happens.

The description of the world and every character was really great and I found it easy to picture it as I read. It was like watching a movie in my head. The parts that took place in a fantasy world contained excellent world building.

Overall I loved this series and would recommend that you read them because they were well written and had a great plot.