Run- Kody Keplinger BOOK TALK

***
I was a bit disappointed with this read because Kody Keplinger is one of my favourite authors and it just didn't meet my high expectations. I don't know if this is because Run isn't really centred around a romance and I love how Keplinger writes her romances. It was still a good book but it just didn't wow me like I was hoping it would.
The story was a bit slow and didn't amaze me like I wanted/expected it to. Sadly, I found it to be a flat story in comparison to her other books though it did still deal with fragile topics such as; sexuality, disability.
It was an average book, in my opinion; okay, but not mind-blowing.
If I was to recommend a Kody Keplinger book (and I will) I'd definitely suggest going to The DUFF or A Midsummer's Nightmare. They're absolutely the stories you should read first.

SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD
In the beginning, I found Bo and Agnes' relationship to be very controlling but as I read on, I understood the dynamic of their friendship more and how they support/care/love each other and yada yada.

Writing Diary #4 - Finishing the first draft!!!

I've finished!!!! The first draft, anyway...
I'm so excited to have completed a first draft of an entire novel because I've never done that before. It's a massive achievement for me! Yes, it's pretty rubbish right now but I can change what I want- there's no time limit. I need to work on my character development, plot lines and general writing style but it's great to have a written structure that I can work around and tweak.
I have spent hours upon hours each day writing this for eight months! That is a hecka long time, a lot of hours and I'm so goddamn proud of myself for persevering and finishing it.
I know it's not perfect- I'm not kidding myself. I know that in future I'll need to polish it, refine it and probably change every single word of it but, for now, I'm happy- I'm thrilled at where I am.
I'm super excited and let the editing commence!
I'm going to take a month or two off before starting to edit so that I can distance myself from the story and then come back with a blank and objective perspective. I can come back with a fresh mind and read through it subjectively.
Meanwhile, I'm playing around with another idea that I've had for a while and I think I'm going to jump straight into writing that (which I'm super excited about too!)

Thank you so much for reading! Feel free to comment. Stay amazing!
Chloe

September Realeases and TBR 2016

Exciting month!!! There are so many amazing releases coming out in September so I'll get straight onto them...
Releases:

Empire of Storms- Sarah J. Maas (Throne of Glass #5)
I'm so excited for this book!!!! I cannot wait!!!!! *waves hands around in excitement- extreme fangirling in process*
Leave Me- Gayle Forman
Stealing Snow- Danielle Paige
Tales of the Peculiar- Ransom Riggs
Crooked Kingdom- Leigh Bardugo (Six of Crows #2)
The Fever Code- James Dashner (The Maze Runner #0.6)


TBR:
Run- Kody Keplinger
I've already started this book so plan on finishing it this month! So far, so good.

Empire of Storms- Sarah J. MaasI am definitely going to read this book in September. I'm planning to get it as soon as it comes out and read it straight away!

Writing Exercises #2- Colour Writing

Forenote: If you haven't read Writing Exercise #1, I will link it here for you to check out if your heart desires it.
I sort of randomly created this writing exercise myself, one random Monday morning and I figured that you might like to give it a try!
Basically, you take the rainbow (this can be as detailed as you wish- I went for easy colours) and create a short story, using those colours in order. I used one colour in each sentence as I went on. It's harder than it looks!
I'm sure I could make up some rubbish about the metaphors and connotations of colour but, honestly, I just blurted out a bunch of words and crossed my fingers that they'd made sense.
I suppose this colour exercise could work in poetry as well as short stories so have a go at whatever you like!
So, here's my example. Try it out yourself and I'd love to see the results! Good luck!

My vision blurs red as I see it. Orange flames flicker over my mind, scorching every part it touches. Only an hour ago, the yellow sun beat down and I'd previously been smiling as the heat of it warmed my skin. But I'm sure my face is green now as I stare at the scene- shock flooding through every cell. It's like an image from a horror movie and my happiness seems so far off now that blue has invaded my thoughts. The first thing I notice is how her purple shirt is ripped, straight down her arm. I'd always thought she looked better in pink but my sister was- was- stubborn with her choices. And she was also caked in mud- the brown seeping into her clothes, face and hair, making her look her like a ragged doll. Black shadows lingered under her eyes and I wondered if it was for the best. I hoped it had been quick and that she'd seen the white light, enabling her to travel to heaven peacefully. A tear slipped free as I thought of the beautiful technicolour she'd brought to my life- now snuffed out as easily as a candle's flickering flame.   

Thank you for reading! I'd love to see your try! Stay amazing!
Chloe

August Wrap Up 2016

August, as expected, was a super great reading month for me! I had all the time in the world to read and I read some freaking great books this month! On with the Wrap Up!



A Court of Mist and Fury- Sarah J. Maas
*****
I'm so happy I finally read this! This book has been my favourite Sarah J. Maas book yet by far! It was gripping, fast-paced and I cannot rave about it enough. It deserves all it's hype and I get so excited just thinking about it. I have a BOOK TALK for this book that includes all of my crazy theories on the next book. Check it out here.







The Hunger Games Trilogy- Suzanne Collins (Re-read)
I fancied a bit of a re-read this month and felt the urge to go to The Hunger Games. It was lovely to re-read them and made me feel  nostalgic and homey!

A Midsummer's Nightmare- Kody Keplinger BOOK TALK

*****
OMG, Kody has done it again!
It surprises me in no way whatsoever that this was a 5 star book. Keplinger is one of my favourite authors and her books are guilty pleasures of mine.
Yes, they're a bit cliché. Yes, they're a bit stereotypical. Yes, they can be a tad bit predictable.
But they are so damn good! They are quirky, funny and quick to read.
A Midsummer's Nightmare is the third book in the Hamilton High series but you can read the series in any order so it doesn't really matter.
Kody Keplinger's books- and I cannot stress this enough- are so much more than cheesy, high school books. They have so many untouched, fragile and relatable subjects dealt with Eg. divorce, cyber-bullying, stereotypes, alcoholism, sexuality and so much more!
Do not, I repeat, do not be put off by the covers (although this is probably the best one).

SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD

Kody Keplinger knows exactly how to write a funny, witty and mind-boggling book. Every single story of hers just instantly grips me in and I love them too much for words.
Yes, they're pretty predictable but deliciously so!

Omega- Lizzy Ford (Non-spoiler) BOOK TALK

***
This book, weirdly, both disappointed me and impressed me at the same time.
I love Greek mythology and love reading about it- when it's executed well. I thought this novel had an 'okay' premise and storyline but wasn't the best that I've ever read.
However, it had me gripped and the cliff-hanger makes me yearn for the next book so desperately.
When first going into this book, I didn't like it. It was slow, confusing and hard to read. I couldn't latch onto any characters and all the secret agendas and opposing sides had me confused as to who was who and who wanted what.
But....
When I got about half way through the book, things changed.
The story picked up, I got immersed in what was happening and I grew to really love it. It was unfortunate that the beginning let it down but the second half definitely made up for it.
The action sequences were really well written and it was exciting and thrilling to read. The romance (????) was either non-existent and all in my head or very very slow-burning (which can be a good thing).
I'm excited to some when get to the sequel, Theta, to follow what happens!

Thank you for reading! Comment your thoughts! Stay amazing,
Chloe  

A Court of Mist and Fury- Sarah J. Maas BOOK TALK

* * * * *
This has been my favourite book of the whole year so far! This is the best Sarah J. Maas book I've read to date and if you haven't read this series yet- you need to stop whatever you're doing and get on that.
This is the sequel to A Court of Thorns and Roses- a beauty and the beast retelling with fairie lore weaved right in. This series is stunning and this book definitely didn't disappoint. It deserves all the hype it has and I can't rave about this book enough.
With every Sarah J. Maas book I read, my love grows stronger and my reviews get longer. It's an inevitable cycle but I love it!!!
Plus, I have some crazy theories at the end of this review!
I can safely say that this my all time favourite book and will continue to be until.... I read the next book in the series, probably. Go figure.

GOODREADS

AMAZON

SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD
I feel like this entire review will be me fangirling over Rhys and Feyre...
OMG!!! I have no chill! This book was everything and more that I wanted it to be and I have so many thoughts- I don't even know where to start. I sped through this book in two days and I'm having the worst possible book hangover because I just need the next book right now!!!!!
Be warned: this is going to be a humongous book talk, I can already feel it.

August Book Haul 2016

I didn't get too many books in August but I'm very happy with the ones that I did. I bought a nice selection of genres and can't wait to get to them. Let's get started!



The Cursed Child- J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, Jack Thorne
Obviously, this had to be the first book I purchased. This book has probably been the most anticipated release of the year and I was so excited to get it. It is such a beautiful book and I have already read it and posted a BOOK TALK. I'll link that review here if you'd like to check it out!
This story is set nineteen years after the Battle of Hogwarts. It follows Harry's son, Albus, and a lot of other familiar faces! The story is in a script format but don't let that put you off! It's amazing, trust me.

The Cursed Child- J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, Jack Thorne BOOK TALK

****
So, here we are! The Cursed Child recently released and the entire fandom is going crazy over it!
It was weird reading in a script style because it's not usually my go-to but I actually enjoyed this book's format. It made the story very quick and easy to read. There wasn't any waffle or over-description to slow the action of the book.
The new characters were really fun to read about and seeing the similarities they had to their parents was weirdly nostalgic and just so damn cute!
In the Harry Potter series there isn't much elaboration on time turners (they're only mentioned in Prisoner of Azkaban) but this story delves into the effects and consequences of time turners nicely.
There have been mixed reviews for this book but, personally, I would definitely recommend it. 

SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD
I was quite sceptical when going into the script-style of story because it's not usually my go-to but I ended up really enjoying it. It was quick, easy and fun to read.

Printing Mistakes RANT (Bookish Pet Peeves #3)

So. I'm in a ranting mood and I just have to let it out. Just got to get it out.
So I've had a bit of a reading slump and just didn't know what to read. I picked up many books before finally settling on Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. I've been wanting to read this for a while and I started reading and it was sooooo goooood!!!!!!
I'm 240ish pages in when suddenly, the pages jump back to 217 again. So, for the next thirty odd pages, there's a re-write of what I'd just read and then it skips to page 280. It doesn't make sense to me anymore as there's a massive chunk missing!
I can't continue reading because it doesn't make sense but I desperately want to read it!! Suffice it to say, I'm a bit annoyed.
And the worst thing is- I don't have the receipt anymore. I bought the book about a year ago and knew I wouldn't take it back so chucked the receipt.
*face palm*
Printing errors are so so so so inconvenient and annoying!!
So now I'm in an even bigger reading slump because I can't read what I want to read!
Rant over!!!!

Thank you for reading! Can anyone relate? See you soon,
Chloe

Writing Exercises #1- 7x7x7

Recently, I've been delving into lots of writing exercises to help me get into the 'zone' when writing. Some of the activities I've found are really fun so I decided to recommend a few activities that might help you and to give some of my own examples.

This exercise is called 7x7x7 (obviously, if you look at the title). For this, you simply pick the seventh book on your bookshelf, go to the seventh page and pick out the seventh sentence. (Picking up a theme here?) The task is to basically write a seven line poem using that sentence as your first line. I found this super fun and I'll give you a few of the ones I did. The sentences started off well but the third one I got... well, it was a bit iffy....

"I love that my touch affected him so."- The Power, Jennifer L. Armentrout

I love that my touch affected him so.
subtle, yet significant.
The way a shiver ran down his spine,
and the spread corners of his lips.
He let out a soft sight,
and, boy, am I surprised.
I never knew my touch affected him so.

The Death House- Sarah Pinborough BOOK TALK

***
The Death House was a very mysterious and intriguing world to jump into. It gave me a Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children vibe from the very beginning. There was a whole mystery to unravel throughout this book and, while I didn't feel completely satisfied by the end, it was a great read.
It's secretive, captivating and worth the read if you're into creepy and dark reads.





SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD
I had conflicting views on Toby as a protagonist. Strangely enough, I preferred him at the beginning compared to the end of the book. He started off being quite depressing and realistic and I liked that reaction and view of the Death House. But, after Clara joined, he turned too love-struck for my liking. His whole personality flipped and suddenly he'd changed all his opinions. Toby, overall, wasn't my favourite character mainly because he was either too much of a bully or too love-struck- it was quite a bit of a contrast.

Beautifully Burned- C. J. Burright BOOK TALK

3.5 stars
Beautifully Burned is the second book in the Dreamcasters Series- the first being Wonderfully Wicked. I'll link my spoiler free BOOK TALK here for the first book if you'd like to give it a read.
This book was a strong sequel and continued nicely from where we left of in Wonderfully Wicked. Though it follows different characters, familiar faces frequently pop up (Kalila, Lydon, Alun etc.) which was nice to read. Some say that this can be read as a standalone but I personally disagree. Sure, you can read it by itself and it'll make sense but I think that reading Wonderfully Wicked first would give you a much better insight on the world instead of reading it by itself. This book doesn't have as much explanation of Dreamcasters and the V'alkara because it's assumed that the reader already has a basic understanding of this world.
Just saying. *shrug*
This book was very good and, as a whole, I can safely say that I preferred it to the first book. I would definitely recommend it for paranormal romance lovers- it's right up your street.

SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD
I liked Ella as a protagonist but I preferred Kalila. It's difficult to compare the two books because, when going into Beautifully Burned, all I wanted to do was read about Kalila and Lydon (...Kalydon?) but had to settle for Ella and Daxon. However, I preferred Daxon so much more to Lydon- he was nicer, kinder and he had a love of books... (Perfect, am I right?)

Wonderfully Wicked- C. J. Burright (Non-spoiler) BOOK TALK

3.5 stars
Wonderfully Wicked is the first book in The Dreamcasters Series by C. J. Burright. This first book follows Kalila who is a dreamcaster that gets thrust into this world of the V'alkara. In a world of mistrust, deception and lies she must figure out how to survive, who to trust and how to rid herself of her haunting and dangerous nightmares.
When she meets, Lydon- the man from her dreams- literally- she must discover what his true intentions are and whether or not to trust him.
To be honest, at the very beginning, I struggled to get my head around what was happening. It's a very mysterious novel and you don't really know much about what's going on in the beginning. It's one of those books where you have to connect the dots throughout as you learn things and that's not necessarily a bad thing- it just left
me confused with some minor details. It won't make 100% sense in the beginning but you have to kinda accept that and figure out things as you read.
I appreciated the originality of dreamcasters and V'alkara. The idea of nightmares being created and brought to life was very interesting and fun to read about.

Rapid Fire BOOK TAG

I found out about this tag from Jessethereader on booktube so please check that out- he's an amazing booktuber.
So, without further adieu, the tag!

 

1. E-book or Physical book?

Physical. (I have a whole post about it which I'll link here ;)

2. Paperback or hardback?

Paperback- cheaper, easier to read...

3. Online or In-Store shopping?

In-store

4. Trilogies or Series?

Series

5. Heroes or Villains?

Villains- I have a real soft spot for psychotic evil people and, of course, the sassy ones are awesome!

6. A book you want everyone to read?

Undone- Cat Clarke

7. Recommend an underrated book.

Dorothy Must Die- Danielle Paige

Writing Diary #3 - The Final Stretch!!!

It's both scary and exciting that I'm so near the end of my first draft. Only a few more chapters to go and it's so fun for me to finally write these scenes. These moments have been playing over in my head since the very beginning and the relief to finally get them down on paper is surreal.
I know that when I go through and edit, I need to flesh out the side character plots. Throughout the book, I've been gradually dropping each character and keep forgetting to add them in again. I'm so focused on the main characters and main plot that the others just slip out of the narrative. I've tried to pick them up again but there's still so much to add in when I finish. It's going to be a lot of work but I'm preparing myself for it...ish.
I seem to be writing so much so quickly at the moment because I want to finish the first draft before school re-starts and my time is wholly consumed by it. But I'm so excited to be nearly finished!

Thank you for reading! Feel free to comment! See you soon,
Chloe

 

 

 

 

The Flame Never Dies- Rachel Vincent BOOK TALK

****
I have loved Rachel Vincent since first reading the Soul Screamers series and was fully prepared to jump straight into- and love- this series. This book is the sequel to The Stars Never Rise and obliterated the second book slump! It was fast-paced, action-packed and heart-warming (and any other hyphenated word that I can think of!)
This series and the world that is created was unbelievably interesting and intriguing from the beginning. I've never read anything like it and the originality blew me away! There were so many plot twists that weave together to make such an ingenious story.
This novel is a unique blend of fantasy and dystopian. It has demons, soul possession, action and even a little romance. It's the full package!
Rachel Vincent has been one of my favourite authors since I first read the Soul Screamers series and fell in love with it! This new series is really exciting and I definitely recommend you go and read it if you haven't already!
My BOOK TALK for The Stars Never Rise will be linked here if you want to check it out!


SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD
To get straight into the things I loved about this book (and there were many), the family orientation of the book made it super relatable and sweet to read. The relationship between Nina and Melanie warmed my heart and I respected Nina's want to sacrifice her soul for Mel's baby. I didn't realistically think that Nina would end up giving her soul to the baby but then again, I thought that Melanie would end up sacrificing herself for her child so... I wasn't right on all accounts.

The Stars Never Rise- Rachel Vincent BOOK TALK

****
This book and the world created was so interesting and unexpected. I've never read anything like it and the originality blew me away. There are so many plots and twists that I still can't even wrap my head around! It's different from what I've ever read before and I loved that!
I'd describe it as a mixture of dystopian and fantasy. It has demons, soul possession, action and romance. So ... everything you need basically.
Rachel Vincent has been one of my favourite authors since I first read the Soul Screamers series and fell in love with it! This new series is really exciting and I definitely recommend you go and read it if you haven't already!



SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD
This book had my mind reeling!
The idea of demons possessing human bodies and the premise that the world is running out of souls was so cool! The whole aspect of soul possession and demons reminded me of the Soul Screamers series and that alone had me fangirling from the start.
In my head, I sort of imagined the degenerates like cranks from The Maze Runner trilogy. It worked for me! I think Vincent created such an awesome world and pulled it off so flawlessly.

Ebook Vs Physical Book- Book Debates

One of the biggest debates in book culture is the dreaded: Ebook vs. Physical books. I was inspired to talk about this debate by a booktuber's video discussing it so please go and check out their original video: PolandbananasBOOKS.
Personally, I prefer the latter but we'll get onto reasons in a sec. I'll be outlining some of the main arguments and you guys can comment/vote your preference!
Let's get started!

Physical

The satisfaction of the left side getting bigger and the right side getting smaller!

Ebook

Can carry thousands of books in one hand