Cover Characteristics: Fish

This is a weekly meme hosted by Sugar and Snark; each week they come up with a cover characteristic, this weeks was Fish and here are our choices!

You can also find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) to keep up with what we are reading

Sunday Post 22nd November

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. As always you can click on any of the pictures to be taken to the Goodreads page for that book if you're interested in finding out more about it.

I got back from my time away on Tuesday (thank you to both my brother and my best friend for letting me visit you!) I had a great time but I am still glad to be home. On Thursday me and Ann and our Mum went to see Mockingjay Part 2 at the cinema and I cried like a baby (unsurprisingly) and then of course on Saturday was Jenna Coleman's last episode of Doctor Who and I cried. Like a baby. Again. 

Last Week on the Blog:

• Cover Characteristics: Books
• Top Ten Quotes I Loved From Books I Read in the Past Year
• Wednesday Catch-Up
• Top 5 Hunger Games Moments
• Friday Reads
• Ann: The Secret Life of a Book Blogger Tag

Reviews:

• Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski
• Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young
• Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Books We Got This Week:

The Widow's Confession by Sophia Tobin: I loved her first book and I have been looking forward to this one.
Black Five by J. Lynn Bailey: Received from Netgalley. To be entirely honest I'm not completely sure what this is about. The plot sounds intriguing if potentially confusing and I love the cover.
Girl Last Seen by Heather Anastasiu and Anne Greenwood Brown: Received from Netgalley. I have been trying to get more into mysteries and thrillers lately and this sounds like a great one. It's not released until March so I may wait a bit before reading it.
Seven Ways We Lie by Riley Redgate: Received from Netgalley. Again this isn't released until next year, but I love the sound of this. 

Reading Update:

Ann:
I was very busy with school work and everything this week and then I had a sleepover at my friends house so I didn't manage to finish anything this week.

Clare:
I had a really slow reading week this week. I basically haven't read anything since Wednesday because I just haven't been in the right mood for it. I am still reading Winter which I am loving but I am progressing very slowly with it. 

End of Days by Susan Ee: 4 stars, I thought this was a really good ending to the series. I love all the characters and I enjoyed this.

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff: 5 stars, I absolutely loved this. It was so exciting and just all around great! I have a full review for this up.

Cress by Marissa Meyer: 4 stars, I was waiting to read these until Winter was released so I could avoid cliff-hangers (so glad I did). Really enjoyed this. I love Cress and Thorne. So very much.

Fairest by Marissa Meyer: 3 stars, I did pity Levana a bit but mostly she just acted so terribly. I think she is just all around crazy. Interesting but not amazing.

Classics Update:

Ann: I haven't really read any this week but I am planning on reading a bit today after doing a bit of homework.

Clare: I haven't read any of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame again this week. Which means I am way behind on finishing this but hopefully I will be able to finish it this month.

Next Week on the Blog:

• Cover Characteristics: Fish
• Wednesday Catch-Up
• Top 5 Books We're Thankful For
• Friday Reads

Upcoming Reviews:

• Winter by Marissa Meyer
• An Inheritance of Ashes by Leah Bobet

You can also find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) to keep up with what we are reading

The Secret Life of a Book Blogger Tag

Ann is currently at a sleepover at her friends house but she left me a book tag with her answers to type up. 

1) How Long Have You Been a Blogger

6 months. I am really enjoying it.

2) At What Point Do You Think You'll Stop Blogging?

I hope never. I really like doing the blog with my sister and watching it grow and gain followers.

3) What is the Best Thing About Blogging?

The nice comments and knowing that I am helping someone decide whether they want to read a book or not. I also love that it's something to do with Clare.

4) What is the Worst Thing? What Do You Do To Make it Okay?

I don't think there are many bad parts except, like last week, when I have to deal with the blog on my own. Clare usually formats the blog posts so I was stressed hoping I was doing it right! 

5) How Long Does It Take You to Create/Find Pictures to Use?

This is something that Clare usually adds to the blog. When I do it it takes around 20 minutes. I am not sure how long it takes Clare usually.

6) Who is Your Book Crush?

My male book crush is Jace because he is so cool. My female book crush has to be Isabelle. So both from the Mortal Instruments!

7) What Author Would You Like to Have on Your Blog?

Cassandra Clare because I love all of her work. Or Suzanne Collins so I can ask why she killed certain people.

8) What Do You Wear When You Write Your Blog Posts?

My pyjamas normally. Generally my Christmas pudding onesie at the moment.

9) How Long Does It Take You to Prepare?

Not that long I tend to be a fast worker. Clare usually has blog posts prepared in advance whereas I more often do them the night before. 

10) How Do You Feel About the Book Blogger Community?

I love it. Everyone is so friendly and supportive.

11) What Do You Think One Should Do to Get a Successful Blog?

I have no idea. Just don't be afraid to share your opinion and enjoy blogging!

You can also find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) to keep up with what we are reading

Friday Reads 20th November 2015

Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice, the idea is to grab a book, turn to page 56 (or 56% in an e-book) 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 currently reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence and impressions about the book.

Ann:

I am going over one of my friends houses today but I aim to finish Illuminae this weekend because it is just so, so brilliant.

Book Beginning & Friday 56:

"So here is the file that almost killed me, Director.

I won't bore you with the tally of databases plundered, light years jumped, or cute, sniffling orphans created in its compilation- our fee already reflects Level Of Difficulty." - Illuminae 

I love how rude this person is to their boss. I also really really love everything about this book it is one of my favourite reads this year so far. 

"In the six months since we left Kerenza, we have been pursued by the BeiTech vessal BT042-TN, the ship we know as the Lincoln" - Page 51 Illuminae

I really wanted to use Illuminae for friday 56 but it is a long list of casualties so I went to the closest page that had sentences. I really love this book it is so amazing.

Clare:

I haven't had much of a chance to read the last couple of days. I spent most of Wednesday recovering from my week away (I get exhausted by time away) and then yesterday we went to see Mockingjay (which was amazing) and it completely overtook my mind and I wasn't able to focus much on Winter, but I am definitely planning to finish it today and then I should have a lot of free reading time this weekend so I hope to read An Inheritance of Ashes which I am very excited for and Snow Like Ashes which I have heard so much good about that I am honestly a little bit nervous about it!

Book Beginning:

"'Hallie?' The voice whispered around the broken chairs and cobwebs, and I breathed out because it wasn't my father." - An Inheritance of Ashes

I am definitely excited for this book. I haven't heard much about it but this opening sentence intrigues me. Her father is obviously not a good person.

Friday 56:

"Only when they were discussing strategies for Cinder's revolution did he seem rejuvenated - his fists flexing and tightening like the fighter he was meant to be." - Winter

Aww poor Wolf. I am really rooting for all of these characters so much! I need to finish this soon!

You can also find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) to keep up with what we are reading

Clare Reviews: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Title: Illuminae

Authors: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Series: The Illuminae Files #1

Format: Hardback

Pages: 599

Rating: 5/5

Blurb: This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.
This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

“Perhaps bravery is simply the face humanity wraps around its collective madness.”

 I was not properly emotionally prepared for this book. I was told it would make me cry and laugh and basically just bring all the feelings but still. Not prepared. I'm not sure there was ever any chance I could be. I made the mistake of starting this book at 11pm and I am now writing this review at half 3 in the morning. I am emotionally and physically exhausted and I probably should have slept first but I feel like I need to get my thoughts down.

I was in love with the main characters by page 32 and thoroughly captivated by the story by about page 10. This is not a book you can just dip into. Or at least I couldn't. Once I'd started I was hooked. Ezra and Kady were both great characters. They were both sarcastic and intelligent and I just adored them. I will admit that for the first half of the book I was a little more in love with Ezra but by the end Kady had stolen my heart just as much. 

Because of the way the story is told, through documents and emails, you don't hear as much (although there are some parts) from the other side characters. However this in no way lessens their impact. There's one part of the book where a number of people die and I cried like a baby despite the fact not one of them had appeared in the book before this point. And AIDAN - I didn't know I could be this attached to an artificial intelligence program. I mean sure I hated it for a bit there in the middle but I warmed up!

The story had the potential to be dry. I'll admit I was a little nervous about the documents. As drawn as I am to unusual formats I was worried this would stop me from connecting with the characters and the plot. Fortunately it did not. There are statistics and diagrams that somehow never bored me. I was on the edge of my seat, figuratively, from the first page to the last. There is so much going on and even when you think one thing is resolved up pops something else but I loved every minute of it.

There were some funny moments too - the laugh out loud kind. And of course their is the relationship between Kady and Ezra which was so realistically and wonderfully done without ever overpowering the overall plot. I am very excited for the rest of the series and I highly recommend Illuminae. This is definitely one of my favourite books of 2015.

You can also find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) to keep up with what we are reading

Clare Reviews: Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young

Title: Hotel Ruby

Author: Suzanne Young

Format: Hardback

Pages: 288

Rating: 3/5

Blurb: When Audrey Casella arrives for an unplanned stay at the grand Hotel Ruby, she’s grateful for the detour. Just months after their mother’s death, Audrey and her brother, Daniel, are on their way to live with their grandmother, dumped on the doorstep of a DNA-matched stranger because their father is drowning in his grief.

Audrey and her family only plan to stay the night, but life in the Ruby can be intoxicating, extending their stay as it provides endless distractions—including handsome guest Elias Lange, who sends Audrey’s pulse racing. However, the hotel proves to be as strange as it is beautiful. Nightly fancy affairs in the ballroom are invitation only, and Audrey seems to be the one guest who doesn't have an invite. Instead, she joins the hotel staff on the rooftop, catching whispers about the hotel’s dark past.

The more Audrey learns about the new people she's met, the more her curiosity grows. She’s torn in different directions—the pull of her past with its overwhelming loss, the promise of a future that holds little joy, and an in-between life in a place that is so much more than it seems…

Welcome to the Ruby.

"The sparkle of the chandelier sets everything ablaze with magic, timeless and alive. A never-ending party at the Ruby - where you can stay tonight or stay forever."

I didn't much know what to expect going in to Hotel Ruby. I loved Suzanne Young's Program duology but this seemed entirely different. And it really was. Not in an entirely good way.

Audrey was a character I did grow to like, though never love, and I found she behaved in ways that seemed very odd to me. And from the start she annoyed me with the absolutely constant flirting. For a girl whose mother just recently died and who just broke up with her boyfriend this seemed a bit weird. Although maybe it was her way of coping. However when, in the first chapter alone, she has flirted or been flirted with three times by three different people it starts to get frustrating.

The romance was not to my taste. It was a definite case of insta-love which I almost always dislike and I found that, though I liked Elias they never really had enough of a connection to convince me that theirs was a timeless true love. It always felt like more of a rebound. She talked about her ex-boyfriend a lot, especially at the beginning and although I do believe she was no longer in love with him I do not believe she was ready to jump into something serious with someone she had only just met. 

"We're all hormones as we sit at a small table on the back patio, gazing stupidly at each other."

I would have liked more time spent on her family relationships. She had a really good, though complicated relationship with her brother that I would have liked to read more about. Not least because her brother Daniel was probably one of my favourite characters of the book. And her Father I felt didn't really progress throughout the book. I'm not asking for a major attitude turn-around but some development or conversation or something would have been nice.

The plot was intriguing although it was fairly obvious from the start what was going on and who the guests/staff really were. But I was still excited to see how it all resolved and I did, for the most part, like the ending. I would have liked a bit more resolution as to what happens next though. Although I liked the ending it felt like once the "evil" was defeated it was all just done and I would have liked some wrap-up. 

As I mentioned - Audrey and Daniel's mother has just died and there are a few flashbacks and mentions throughout the book to before her death and to just after her death. However I didn't really feel connected to her Mother. I get very attached to characters very easily and I cry at the drop of a hat so it's kind of surprising to me that I never really felt sad about her death. Daniel definitely seemed to feel more grief than Audrey so perhaps reading a book from his perspective would have felt different. 

Overall, I was just a little disappointed with Hotel Ruby. Suzanne Young did such a great job with The Program that I was just expecting a little more engagement in her characters and her plot. I did enjoy the plot but the lack of a connection with the characters and their relationships really let the book down for me.

You can also find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) to keep up with what we are reading

Top 5 Hunger Games Moments

Top 5 Wednesdays are hosted by Ginger Reads Lainey and you can find the goodreads page here. I am taking my Hunger Games moments from the books, we are actually going to see Mockingjay Part 2 tomorrow and I know Clare is going to cry!

1) When Katniss volunteered as tribute in place of Prim.

I love this part because like me she would do anything for the people she cares about.

2) When Katniss lays Rue on a bed of flowers.

This is such a touching and sweet moment and I loved it.

3) When Peeta volunteers as tribute in place of Hamitch.

I like this scene because Peeta does it so that he can be with Katniss and make sure that she is safe, but he is also saving Hamitch.

4) When Katniss kills the leader of 13.

I really liked this scene because I never really liked the leader of 13.

5) When Katniss hears that they recovered Peeta from the capitol.

This is a really cool scene because she cares about him so so much.

You can also find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) to keep up with what we are reading

Wednesday Catch-Up 18th November 2015

Every Wednesday we are linking up with WWW Wednesday, What Are You Reading Wednesday? and Waiting on Wednesday. WWW Wednesday is hosted at Taking on a World of Words and asks 3 questions: What are you currently reading?, What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you'll read next? 

What Are You Reading Wednesday are hosted on It's a Reading Thing and asks;

1. What's the name of your current read?

2. Go to page 34 or 34% in your e-book and share one complete sentence.

3. Would you like to live in the world that exists within your book? Why or why not?

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted at Breaking the Spine and is a chance to show what upcoming releases you are excited for! Each week we will take it in turns to choose a book for Waiting on Wednesday and this week was Ann's turn! You can click any of the pictures in the post to go to that books goodreads page.

Ann:

Currently Reading:

I am still reading The Turn of the Screw which is my Classic for this month. I am actually about to give up on Bloodlines since I am not getting anywhere with it and I think I'm just not in the mood for it at the moment. Clare has just finished Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff and she loved it so I am excited to be starting this.

"Ezra Mason: (Laughter.) Nice one, chum. You know, you're the first shrink I ever met with a sense of ...... Wait, you serious?" - Page 34, Illuminae

I would not like to live in the world of Illuminae because everyone keeps dying. It just seems like a very dangerous place to be.

Recently Finished:

I really enjoyed Texts from Jane Eyre by Mallory Ortberg, I hadn't read a lot of the books she was writing about but I still found it very funny.

Planning to Read Next:

I have been wanting to read Throne of Glass for a while so I definitely want to read it once I have finished Illuminae!

Clare:

Currently Reading:

I have just started Winter by Marissa Meyer which I am loving so far. I have really enjoyed this series and I am excited to read this (incredibly long) finale. I am also currently reading The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo. I didn't read any of it this week as I didn't take it with me when I went away but I am glad to be able to get back into it.

"She dug a wrench from her pocket and set to loosening the nuts on either side of the cylinder. As soon as it was free, the ship fell eerily quiet, like a humming that became noticeable only after it stopped." - Page 34, Winter

I am not sure if I would want to live in the world of Winter. Apart from the Lunar colony and the technology it's not hugely different from here and now. But I think I'd love to meet all the characters so I am going to say I would like to live there.  

Recently Finished:

When I left to visit my friend last Wednesday I was reading Far From You by Tess Sharpe. Ultimately I think this just wasn't the book for me, my friend did want to read it though so I left it with her and hopefully she will like it. On the train to visit my brother I then read Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young which I did enjoy but I found a bit disappointing given how much I enjoyed her Program duology. I will have a full review up for this tomorrow. I also read World After and End of Days by Susan Ee (it was a really long train journey!) both of which I really enjoyed. I liked how the series ended and I really enjoyed all the bits with Pennryn's sister. I think Pennryn herself really grew as a character. I then read Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff and was completely blown away. I will have a full review up for this on Friday, it was amazing and I highly recommend it. And then, because Winter had arrived, I caught up with the series by reading Cress and Fairest. I did enjoy Cress more than Fairest. Whilst Fairest was an interesting insight into Levana it didn't feel as engaging as the rest of the series is to me.

Planning to Read Next:

I had planned for November to be a Fantasy month for me which has kind of not happened. But I have a lot of great looking fantasy on my shelves that I would love to read soon. And Soundless has just arrived which makes this the perfect time to read them. I am perhaps most excited for The Burning Sky. I also need to read November 9, I don't know what exactly this is about but that's the way I prefer to read Colleen Hoover books. I am also hoping to read The Widow's Confession by Sophia Tobin which is released tomorrow. I really enjoyed her first book and am excited for this one.

Waiting on Wednesday:

Big and sweeping, spanning the refined palaces of Osfrid to the gold dust and untamed forests of Adoria, The Glittering Court tells the story of Adelaide, an Osfridian countess who poses as her servant to escape an arranged marriage and start a new life in Adoria, the New World. But to do that, she must join the Glittering Court. 
Both a school and a business venture, the Glittering Court is designed to transform impoverished girls into upper-class ladies capable of arranging powerful and wealthy marriages in the New World. Adelaide naturally excels in her training and even makes a few friends: the fiery former laundress Tamsin and the beautiful Sirminican refugee Mira. She manages to keep her true identity hidden from all but one: the intriguing Cedric Thorn, son of the wealthy proprietor of the Glittering Court.
When Adelaide discovers that Cedric is hiding a dangerous secret of his own, together, they hatch a scheme to make the best of Adelaide’s deception. Complications soon arise—first, as they cross the treacherous seas from Osfrid to Adoria, and later, when Adelaide catches the attention of a powerful governor.
But no complication will prove quite as daunting as the potent attraction simmering between Adelaide and Cedric. An attraction that, if acted on, would scandalize the Glittering Court and make them both outcasts in wild, vastly uncharted lands. . . .

Ann: I have loved her Vampire Academy books so I am definitely excited for this. It is due for release on 5th April 2016.

You can also find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) to keep up with what we are reading

Top Ten Quotes I Loved From Books I Read in the Past Year

Top Ten Tuesdays is an original feature created by The Broke and The Bookish and you can find their page here. 

"I don't have an opinion about ghosts. It's people I don't believe in, I suppose."

"He's glittery, sparkling candles on a birthday cake. He's only for special occasions."

"No mourners. No funerals."

“People say teenagers think they're immortal, and I agree with that. But I think there's a difference between thinking you're immortal and knowing you can survive. Thinking you're immortal leads to arrogance, thinking you deserve the best. Surviving means having the worst thrown at you and being able to continue on despite that. It means striving for what you want most, even when it seems our of your reach, even when everything is working against you.” 

"It gave me hope: if you could make a beautiful piece of art from discarded newspapers and old matchbooks, then it meant that everything had potential. And maybe people were like collages—no matter how broken or useless we felt, we were an essential part of the whole. We mattered."

"No concoction of chemicals can right the world's wrong. Evil and injustice can only be conquered by human action, by people strong and courageous enough to fight for what is right."

"But dreams can't be contained for long. Their natural trajectory is forward. Out. Up. Away. Past all barriers and borders. Into the world. This is true of nightmares too."

 

“You are an ember in the ashes, Elias Veturius. You will spark and burn, ravage and destroy. You cannot change it. You cannot stop it.”  

 “You are full, Laia. Full of life and dark and strength and spirit. You are in our dreams. You will burn, for you are an ember in the ashes.” 

“She was a dangerous, dangerous girl. A plague. A Mountain of Adamant who tore the iron from ships, sinking them to their watery graves without a second thought. With a mere smile and a wrinkle of her nose.” 

“You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can't carry on at all.” 

You can also find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) to keep up with what we are reading