Taylor Swift Book Tag

Today we will be doing the Taylor Swift Book Tag. This tag was originally created by TheBookLife

1. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together - pick a book or series that you were pretty sure you were in love with, but then wanted to break up with.

• Wendy - If I Stay Series by Gayle Forman.
• Shon - Divergent series by Veronica Roth.  I love both Divergent & Four. Insurgent was so so. But with Allegiant, I was like WTF I'm reading, that book was...
• Tina - same as Shon.

2. Red - pick a book with a RED cover.

• Wendy - Allegiant by Veronica Roth is the 3rd book in the Divergent series. 
• Shon - Outlander (20th Anniversary Edition) by  Diana Gabaldon
• Tina - The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh (what kind of question is this?)

3. The Best Day - pick a book that makes you feel nostalgic.

• Wendy - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Tina - Alanna The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce

4. Love Story - pick a book with forbidden love.

• Wendy - Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
• Shon - City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3) by Cassandra Clare.  
• Tina - The Forbidden Game by L.J. Smith

5. I Knew You Were Trouble - pick a book with a bad character you couldn’t help but love.

• Wendy - Dimitri in Blood Promise and Spirit Bound in the Vampire Academy Series. & yes I like him in both books.  
• Tina - Aaron Warner from Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi.

6. Innocent (written b/c of Kanye West!) - pick a book that someone ruined the ending for.

• Shon - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling.  Spoiler alert! My co-worker told me who dies.  I was so mad that I did not talk to him for a week.
• Wendy - None, It hasn't happened yet!! hahaha 

7. Everything Has Changed - pick a character from a book who goes through extensive character development.

• Tina - Celaena Sardothien from Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. She goes on different adventures in each book. And her adventures keep you on your toes. However, she is such a complex character, whatever situation she encounters, she's completely adaptable.
• Wendy - Sydney, from The Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead , who later starts as the narrator for Mead's spin off  Bloodlines

8. You Belong With Me - pick your most anticipated book release. 

• Shon - That's a tie between Glass Sword (Red Queen #2) by Victoria Aveyard and The Winner's Kiss (The Winner's Trilogy #3) by Marie Rutkoski.  
• Tina - I'm currently waiting for Passenger by Alexandra Bracken and The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh. However, any Sarah J. Maas releases I'm happy!
• Wendy - The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (paperback)

9. Forever and Always - pick your favorite book couple.

• Shon - I wanted to pick Tris & Four from the Divergent series by Veronica Roth, After reading Divergent I started fangirling. Then I got to Allegiant and the fangirling stopped and I wanted them to die!  Spoiler alert! There is no forever and always for Tris & Four.  So I pick Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark from Catching Fire (The Hunger Games trilogy) by Suzanne Collins.  I'm still fangirling over Catching Fire.
• Tina - Juliette and Warner from Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi. Simply...sigh. See Tahereh Mafi's youtube video Chapter 55!
• Wendy - Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters from The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. 

10. Come Back, Be Here - pick the book you would least like to lend out, for fear of missing it too much.

• Shon - Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
• Tina - Any of my L.J. Smith series >_< the book covers changed!
• Wendy - Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead 

Six of Crows

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Published by Henry Holt and Company on September 29th 2015
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Adventure
Page: 466
Source: Bought
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Review by: Tina

Synopsis

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. 

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. 

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

Review
I enjoyed it. I had a good time reading this book. Not only is the book beautiful but the story as well.

To start, this is my first Grisha novel. I haven't read the previous triology so I made deliberate slow reading to focus and create this vast imagery of races, countries, and alliances in my head.

I love the dynamics of Kaz's crew. Somehow these mixed personalities click and the time taken to develop love and friendship was a nice touch. It kept the pace flowing nicely.

Now the writing style takes a bit getting used to. It jumps from place to place without a page break. When I finally figured out what is happening, I had to run back to put pieces together. It is forgivable but needless to say I fell for it twice.

Overall, the story is very entertaining and I will continue with the series. It will lose a star for the writing inconsistency.

Chocolate Book Tag

Today we will be doing the Chocolate Book Tag. This tag was originally created by A Daydreamer's Ramblings.

1. Dark Chocolate -- A book that covers a dark topic (abuse, domestic violence, rape, loneliness, bullying, death, etc)

• Shon - A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, Jim Kay (Illustrator), Siobhan Dowd (Conception).  This book was not what I was expecting.  I thought it would be a dark horror story. It is not, it is a beautiful but sad story about a boy and his mother's sickness.
• Tina - Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. Ender was bullied by his brother and classmates for excelling as the brighter child. Ender was raised to play "bugger" and fight "bugger." 
• Wendy - Looking for Alaska by John Green. The book contains sexual explicit, smoking, drinking, and suicide. 

2. White Chocolate -- Your favorite light-hearted/humourous read

• Shon - Tell Me Lies by Jennifer Crusie.  I first read this book back in 1998.  To most people this might not sound a light-hearted/humourous read but I was in my living room LMAO. 

 Plot: Maddie Faraday's life would be perfect if it weren't for her cheating husband, her suspicious daughter, her gossipy mother, her secretive best friend, her nosy neighbors, and that guy she lost her virginity to twenty years ago who is suddenly back in town...   

• Tina - Rachel Hawkins is hilarious. Here is an excerpt from Rebel Belle: His eyes fixed on mine. "You killed someone," he said, his voice barely audible, "with a shoe." "He had a sword," I fired back and then, to my shock, David burst out laughing. And this is a piece from Hex Hall: I heard a cry as I frantically racked my brain for some sort of spell, of course the only words that I actually managed to yell at the werewolf as he ran at me were, 'BAD DOG!' "You know," someone said off to my left, "I usually find a blocking spell to be a lot more effective than yelling 'Bad dog,' but maybe that's just me." 

• Wendy- Falling Up by Shel Silverstein. So come, wander through the Nose Garden, ride the Little Hoarse, eat in the Strange Restaurant, and let the magic of Shel Silverstein open your eyes and tickle your mind.

3. Milk Chocolate -- A book that has a lot of hype that you're dying to read.

• Shon - Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
• Tina - Ruby Red series by Kerstin Gier. I saw the movies and loved them now I need to read these gorgeous covered books.
• Wendy- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: The Illustrated Edition
  
   

4. Chocolate with a caramel center -- Name a book that made you feel all gooey in the middle while you were reading it

• Shon - Catching Fire (The Hunger Games trilogy) by Suzanne Collins.  Hello my name is Shon and I'm a Fan Girl.  

“Peeta, how come I never know when you're having a nightmare?” I say.
“I don't know. I don't think I cry out or thrash around or anything. I just come to, paralyzed with terror,” he says.
“You should wake me,” I say, thinking about how I can interrupt his sleep two or three times on a bad night. About how long it can take to calm me down.
“It's not necessary. My nightmares are usually about losing you,” he says. “I'm okay once I realize you're here.” 

― Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire

• Tina - Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi. The misunderstood Aaron Warner and the hot hot hot scenes she writes. Go ahead, check the boards, there is a ridiculous amount of discussion titled "Chapter 55." 
• Wendy - To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han 

5. Wafer-free Kit-Kat -- Name a book that surprised you lately.

• Shon - The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger.  Never judge a book by it movie.
• Tina - Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews. The book isn't like a story, it speaks to you.
• Wendy - Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. This book has a major plot twist. OMG go read now. 

6. Snickers -- A book that you are going nuts about

• Shon - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: The Illustrated Edition (Harry Potter, Book 1) by J.K. Rowling 
• Tina - A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. The writing, the innuendos. I'm so excited with where this story is going. It will be sexxxxy...muahahaha.
• Wendy - Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch. 

7. Hot Chocolate with cream and marshmallows -- What book would you turn to for a comfort read?

• Shon - Mockingjay (The Hunger Games trilogy) by Suzanne Collin.  Not the whole book, just page 388. My name is Shon and I'm a Fan Girl.

“You love me. Real or not real?"
― Suzanne Collins, Mockingjay

• Tina - again, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. Such an epic love.
• Wendy - Divergent Series by Veronica Roth.

8. Box of chocolates -- What series have you read that you feel has a wide variety and a little something for everyone

• Shon - Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
• Tina - Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, story for all ages
• Wendy - Unwind series by Neal Shusterman

The Evolution of Mara Dyer

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Published October 29th, 2013 by Simon & Schuster Books
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Mystery, Supernatural, Fiction, Horror, Contemporary
Pages: 527
Source: Bought
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Review by Wendy

Synopsis

The truth about Mara Dyer's dangerous and mysterious abilities continues to unravel in the New York Times bestselling sequel to the thrilling The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.She can't. She used to think her problems were all in her head. They aren't. She couldn't imagine that after everything she's been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets. She's wrong. In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

Review

This series is very thrilling, suspenseful, and scary! I finally found out if she was really crazy or if her situation was real life. Surprised about the characters who were involved in making Mara's life difficult. I still haven't figured out Noah besides the fact that he will do anything for her including putting his life at risk. Perfect October/Halloween read.

Book Review - The Scorpion Rules

The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow 

Series: Prisoners of Peace
Published September 22, 2015 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Fiction 

Pages: 384

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Review by Tina

Synopsis

A world battered by climate shift and war turns to an ancient method of keeping peace: the exchange of hostages. The Children of Peace - sons and daughters of kings and presidents and generals - are raised together in small, isolated schools called Preceptures. There, they learn history and political theory, and are taught to gracefully accept what may well be their fate: to die if their countries declare war.

Greta Gustafsen Stuart, Duchess of Halifax and Crown Princess of the Pan-Polar Confederation, is the pride of the North American Precepture. Learned and disciplined, Greta is proud of her role in keeping the global peace, even though, with her country controlling two-thirds of the world’s most war-worthy resource — water — she has little chance of reaching adulthood alive. 

Enter Elián Palnik, the Precepture’s newest hostage and biggest problem. Greta’s world begins to tilt the moment she sees Elián dragged into the school in chains. The Precepture’s insidious surveillance, its small punishments and rewards, can make no dent in Elián, who is not interested in dignity and tradition, and doesn’t even accept the right of the UN to keep hostages. 

What will happen to Elián and Greta as their two nations inch closer to war?

My Review

This seems like a September book less known. I haven't seen many reviews. It was on my radar when I read the A.I. takes control of Earth and rule the World. I had strong hopes but the writing hm I'm hesitant to give a strong 3 or 4 stars. 

"Once upon a time, humans were killing each other so fast that total extinction was looking possible, and it was my job to stop them. Talis’ first rule of stopping wars: make it personal . And that, my dear children— that is where you come in."

The firstborn child (ages 5-18) of royal families are sent to Preceptures (schools) as royal hostages. Some arrive as young as 5 years old and are raised under the AI rule until 18 when they can return back to their families. They learn respect, subservience, knowledge to rule kingdoms but learn nothing of throwing revolts. Their teachers are walking monitor screen robots that were once human but downloaded into AI bodies. Despite having the best education, the children are living hostages and as hostages, many of the children perish before reaching 18. 

It took a new human hostage for a tight knit group of six to notice how enslaved they were. 

The overall story line is compelling, that's a 4. The process, however, that's a 3.

I find it unnecessary for some of the scenes to be overly-descriptive, especially describing emotions, the pages are heavily verbose. Now, the general direction of the story, I'm not sure where it's headed. It doesn't seem likely we will see rebellion in the future; the AI have the humans wrapped around their fingers. It is possible the AI want to achieve godhood. Will the next volume continue with the omnipresent power theme or delve into the creation and workings of the AI?

Coffee Book Tag

This time, we are doing a book tag that includes two of our favorite things Books and Coffee!  We weren't tagged by anyone to do this, but we are going to do it anyways.  This tag was originally created by BangadyBanz.

1. Black: Name a series that's tough to get into but has hardcore fans.

• Shon - Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.
• Tina - Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
• Wendy - Game of Thrones series by George R.R. Martin

2. Peppermint mocha: Name a book that gets more popular during the winter or a festive time of year.

• Shon - A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.  I saw a lot of people pick Harry Potter, but for me Harry Potter always remind me of fall.
• Tina - The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm.
• Wendy - My True Love Gave to Me edited by Stephanie Perkins

3. Hot chocolate: What is your favorite children's book?

• Shon - Anything by Dr. Seuss.  I had all the Dr. Seuss books as a child.
• Tina - Arthur and Berenstain Bears
• Wendy - The Very Hungry Caterpillar

4. Double shot of espresso: Name a book that kept you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

• Shon - The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski.  This is the second book in the The Winner's Trilogy, and I can't not wait till The Winner's Kiss come out in March 2016.
• Tina - A Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. Recently discovered, it took me a week to read all three books from start to finish.
• Wendy - The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin. I'm already done with book 2. Waiting for book 3 which comes out in November.

5. Starbucks: Name a book you see everywhere.

• Shon - Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas.  This book was on everybody's blog.  Tina told me not to talk to her for two days while she read.
• Tina - The Power of Six from I Am Number Four series by Pittacus Lore. I tried but couldn't get into the series.
• Wendy - Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

6. That hipster coffee shop: Give a book by an indie author a shoutout

• Shon - N/A
• Tina - Andy Weir! Your book rocks! Quit your day job and write better books.
• Wendy - Susan Ee 

7. Oops! I accidentally got decaf: Name a book you were expecting more from.

• Shon - I have two answers for this.  A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab (see my review) and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.
• Tina - the small fan-following books that seemed promising but were dull Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White and The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson.
• Wendy - Looking for Alaska by John Green. I literally just couldn't keep reading. #sorrynotsorry 

8. The perfect blend: Name a book or series that was both bitter and sweet but ultimately satisfying.

• Shon - Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead.
• Tina - Daughter of Smoke and Bone series by Laini Taylor.
• Wendy - I agree with Shon! VA all the way!