Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Spearwood Academy Two: Episodes 6–10 by A.S. Oren

Spearwood Academy Two: Episodes 6-10
Source of Pic: Amazon
Spearwood Academy Two: Episodes 6-10 by A.S. Oren
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Current Rating on Goodreads: 4.14 of 5 stars
Pages: 93
Synopsis (on Goodreads):

Avalon is the first female of her kind in centuries. She is a dragon shapeshifter, who is painfully cursed to turn into her dragon form every night. Spearwood Academy has the answers to her questions, but there is just one problem, up until she came along it was an all boy school. How ever will this Harry Potter geek, Whovian and Nerdfighter wade through the waters of testosterone, greed and even love? 

An omnibus of episodes 6-10. Corruption rains down on Spearwood Academy.


*****I recieved a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.*****

Okay, so V2 starts of exactly where V1 ended. And if you're wondering, these volumes aren't written like 'novels'. Rather, almost like TV episodes ^^ It's pretty funny because I feel like I'm watching TV, except I'm reading it lol!

Anyhoo, the first thing I wanted to do when I finished reading was gloat :P Because I totallyy guessed Amr and Avvii's connection from the start! *triumphant smirk* Of course, I'm can't say anything about it tho *zips lips* That would be a spoiler after all hehe!

The constant mention of shows and fan fiction was a bit weird for me, since I didn't understand half of the puns or inside jokes, but whatever *shrugs*

Also it's interesting that the Royals aren't actually on top of the pecking order ^^ I guess they're in as much of a jam as everyone else......they just get fancy clothes and a let's-boss-people-around right as a bonus XP
And then you have the Ancients, whom I can't seem to figure out if they're 'good' or 'bad'......apparently they have different vibes? *cocks head* I'm assuming that means that some have better intentions than others......

And the heat thing was hilarous....in a creepy kinda way XDD It was also quite dramatised in a way that almost reminded me of Rebel Belle ^^ Same with the memory thing, it was really weird and dramatic....I'm not sure how I feel about it all, but I'll just roll with it for now I guess *shrugs*

Avalon/Avvi is as strong as she was in V1, which I'm grateful for lol! Only problem is I feel a bit disconnected from her, but overall she's pretty cool.
Then you have the boys....and duudee is there many of them or what! What I don't get is Avalon has gotten tingles and 'electricity' *cough* with half of them when she happens to brush fingers or something silly like that *quirks brow* How is this even possible? o.O Stick to a tops of 2 love interests, girl! *facepalm* This is like, multiple puppy love at once *wags finger at Avvi*
You have Dante the flirt, Horace the calm one (generally), Amr the brotherly one *sly grin*, Triton my fav *winks*, Lusk the bully (who's not so bully-ish anymore yaay!), Bullock the rude tutor and Kearn the servant (I don't really care for him honestly)
And then you have the Royals! Paden is a total creepo o.O Seriously, I thought he'd give up, but nooo he's still trying to get Avvi to marry him *cracks up* Poor guy. Mind you, he seems to be calming down towards the end of V2, so mayhap he'll be tolerable after all XDD
And of course Maverick the mysterious one. By mysterious, I mean, he's a confusing character. He was Avalon's childhood bully when she was in school, and then he randomly pops up at Spearwood Academy, and it turns out, not only is he a dragon, but he's a Royal and Paden's brother. And then icing on the cake, he apologises repeatedly for bullying her and says that he was there to protect her? Very confusing.

Also, I happened on Oren's wordpress website (here), and I know the competition related to Spearwood Boys is now finished, but out of curiosity, I searched up the songs, and I'm sad to say I have no idea which boys half of the songs are connected to XD What I'm interested in, tho, is that most of the songs seem to suggest that the boys have feelings for Avalon that we don't know about just by reading V1 and V2, feelings that aren't platonic no less, so now I'm quite intrigued, and can't wait for the release of Spearwood Boys, because I'm certainly interested in knowing the inner workings of the boys' minds, especially since I now know of their apparent hidden feelings :P

While some things that happened in V2 were quite outlandish, it is a good indie story and continuation of V1, and if you want to read something that's just sheer fun and ridiculousness, then this is your material ;)
Again I thank A.S. Oren for giving me the opportunity to read this!
My review of V1 can be found on the blog: here

3 stars!

—MissBloodsucker™ All Sucked Out!

View this review on Goodreads

RELEASE DAY LAUNCH: The Fine Art of Pretending by Rachel Harris

TFAOP RDL Banner

We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch of Rachel Harris' THE FINE ART OF PRETENDING! THE FINE ART OF PRETENDING is the first book in Rachel's The Fine Art of Pretending Series published by Spencer Hill Contemporary.


The Fine Art of Pretending

THE FINE ART OF PRETENDING Synopsis:
According to the guys at Fairfield Academy, there are two types of girls: the kind you hook up with, and the kind you're friends with. Seventeen-year-old Alyssa Reed is the second type. And she hates it. With just one year left to change her rank, she devises a plan to become the first type by homecoming, and she sets her sights on the perfect date—Justin Carter, Fairfield Academy’s biggest hottie and most notorious player. With 57 days until the dance, Aly launches Operation Sex Appeal and sheds her tomboy image. The only thing left is for Justin actually to notice her. Enter best friend Brandon Taylor, the school’s second biggest hottie, and now Aly’s pretend boyfriend. With his help, elevating from “funny friend” to “tempting vixen” is only a matter of time. But when everything goes according to plan, the inevitable “break up” leaves their friendship in shambles, and Aly and Brandon with feelings they can’t explain. And the fake couple discovers pretending can sometimes cost you the one thing you never expected to want.

Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Amazon | Amazon UK | IndieBound


EXCERPT:
An exhale of breath leaves Brandon’s lips, almost like a laugh, and he scoots closer to me on the blanket. I twist my legs under myself, sitting tall as I face him. He cups my chin and tilts it toward him, drowning me in the now dark-green depths of his eyes, the cologne I gave him for his birthday filling my head. It’s woodsy and yummy and I always loved how it smelled on the store testers, but on Brandon, it’s even sexier.
My eyes flutter closed, and I inhale again, this time slowly. Goose bumps prickle my arms, and my head gets fuzzy. Brandon slides his hand down the column of my neck and brings the other up, threading his fingers through the hair at my nape. His breath fans across my cheek, and everything south of my bellybutton squeezes tight. When his mouth first meets mine, it’s hesitant, questioning. But as I move my lips with his, he quickly grows bolder, coaxing them apart.
Desire, pure and raw, electrifies my veins as his tongue sweeps my mouth. A whimpering sound springs from my chest, and instinctively, I wrap my arms around his neck, tugging him closer. Needing more. My teeth graze his full bottom lip, and I pull it, sucking on it gently. He moans and knots his fingers in my hair, and a thrill dances down my back. Brandon is an amazing kisser, just as I knew he would be. I have no control over my body’s reactions. I lose myself in his lips, his tongue, and his strong arms, forgetting time and space and even my surroundings—until Gabi’s snicker brings reality crashing around us, reminding me we have an audience. And that I’m kissing Brandon. We break apart, out of breath, and stare into each other’s eyes. That was unexpected.

Belle: Hmmm....*eyes glaze over* I've actually read one of Harris's YA books called My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century, and I'm going to be putting up the review soon! She's a pretty good YA writer, and I can't wait to read this one, especially since it's her first shot at proper contemporary YA.....and by proper I mean, no time travel ;)

Author Photo


About Rachel Harris:
Award-winning and Bestselling author Rachel Harris writes humorous love stories about sassy girls next door and the hot guys that make them swoon. Emotion, vibrant settings, and strong relationships are a staple in each of her books...and kissing. Lots of kissing. An admitted Diet Mountain Dew addict and homeschool mom, she gets through each day by laughing at herself, hugging her kids, and watching way too much Food Network with her husband. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult romance, and LOVES talking with readers.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Author Goodreads


Monday, September 29, 2014

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner
by
Khaled Hosseini

Stand Alone.
Page Count: 401

My Rating: ★★★★★ Brilliant!
Current Average Rating on Goodreads: 4.21

Synopsis:
“It may be unfair, but what happens in a few days, sometimes even a single day, can change the course of a whole lifetime." 
Amir is the son of a wealthy Kabul merchant, a member of the ruling caste of Pashums. Hassan, his servant and constant companion, is a Hazara, a despised and impoverished caste. Their uncommon bond is torn by Amir's choice to abandon his friend amidst the increasing ethnic, religious, and political tensions of the dying years of the Afghan monarchy, wrenching them far apart. But so strong is the bond between the two boys that Amir journeys back to a distant world, to try to right past wrongs against the only true friend he ever had.

The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies.

A sweeping story of family, love, and friendship told against the devastating backdrop of the history of Afghanistan over the last thirty years, The Kite Runner is an unusual and powerful novel that has become a beloved, one-of-a-kind classic.

Hassan:
FOR YOU, A THOUSAND TIMES OVER!

Thissss.. was an hjhfdxgfgvbkj (speechless) book.
Honestly, I'm becoming more pulled towards books with classic-y feelings lately, and stories like these are the reason why. It's just so timeless and magical!

First, I was skeptical about this because I haven't read much historical fiction, plus it didn't really help that everytime I went to school, my friend was like 'Oh my gosh Cassie, that is such a weird and inappropriate book!'

*facepalm*

Yes it was a bit inappropriate, no it wasn't weird. Now we got that sorted out, moving on.

 It's centred around Afghanistan, which I am quite sad so say I have no clue about it's history :/ *cough*Notmyfault..wellmaybebutshhh

The time period this book goes through is reaaaally extensive. Amir is telling us about his story, and it begins with his 13 year old self, and we're still with him when he's like 34 or something 0.o Oldd! I haven't read many stories where the characters are full grown adults! Woah.
(If you're wondering, I checked and no it isn't YA. Apparently it's an adult book.. partly because Amir ain't no young adult and there are some mature themes.)

 There is SO much character development with Amir as we literally live through most his life. It was seriously wacky XD But I got attached with all the people, (Hassan<3) and although some of them didn't get a happy ever after..... nothing seemed rushed and random.

If you see it one way, there really wasn't a definite plot line either. It was like the story just went ooon and ooon right until Amir forgave himself (kind of).. and that's when it finally stopped. Took long enough :P

Sounds strange? A bit maybe. But give it a go. :)

We could also see how America and Afghanistan contrasted back then. And how the poor and rich differed; how people in opposite classes considered each other, and just general human things. Enlightening :0 Dun dun dun!

Bottom Line:
Beautiful book, characters you live through hardships with. Tis truly a powerful impacting book that will put in views of people you've never really considered. Highly recommendedd!

Wowzers short review.
But it really seems like i'm reading nothing but amazing books these days, no?! :D *is proud*

—MissOddball™ Over and Out.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Biggest Flirts by Jennifer Echols

Biggest Flirts (Superlatives, #1)
Source of Pic: Amazon
Biggest Flirts by Jennifer Echols
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Current Rating on Goodreads: 3.78 of 5 stars
Pages: 336
Synopsis (via Goodreads):

Tia and Will’s lives get flipped upside down when they’re voted Yearbook’s Biggest Flirts in this sassy novel from the author of Endless Summer and The One That I Want.

Tia just wants to have fun. She’s worked hard to earn her reputation as the life of the party, and she’s ready for a carefree senior year of hanging out with friends and hooking up with cute boys. And her first order of business? New guy Will. She can’t get enough of his Midwestern accent and laidback swagger. 

As the sparks start to fly, Will wants to get serious. Tia’s seen how caring too much has left her sisters heartbroken, and she isn’t interested in commitment. But pushing Will away drives him into the arms of another girl. Tia tells herself it’s no big deal…until the yearbook elections are announced. Getting voted Biggest Flirts with Will is, well, awkward. They may just be friends, but their chemistry is beginning to jeopardize Will’s new relationship—and causing Tia to reconsider her true feelings. What started as a lighthearted fling is about to get very complicated…


You see, there were parts that I absolutely LOVEDDD. But then most of the time I wanted to claw Tia's eyes out and bash her head into the wall! *hisses* She was just so fixated and scared that she did practically everything wrong :/
This book is sooo wrong! XD Tia sobs when she accidentally does well in sumfin *facepalm* And she wants Will all to herself but refuses to date him! And Will is an introverted cosmic flirter.......but only with her? o.O The flirter part, obvs :P And so he half-dates the straight-A dibby dobber Angelica, who I feel obliged to hate because I'm reading in Tia's POV xD but still flirts with Tia, and then gets mad at her everytime someone comments on their flirting *rolls eyes* #riddonkculous
But it was a seriously hilariousssss read XPP

I couldn't help becoming attached to the characters in the book because they were so flawed in their own ways that I wanted, needed, to see them truly recognise their mistakes and finally succeed. I really hope that Tia learns from and retains the life lessons she gained in the book.

There was also a serious tone to the novel. The underlying themes were quite relevant to youths in problematic circumstances and showed that mind sets cemented at a young age are quite hard to break, but you can get there and it is always possible if you put the effort in. Yesssss I'm talking about Tia XD *snorts*

So yeaaaahhh. Half the time I wanted to throw the book at the wall and yet as the story concluded, I couldn't help smiling broadly, because the characters had grown so much from the beginning, and it was such a privilege to read.......even if they're technically just charries written up on paper, in fact, especially that they're written up on paper; there's just something so magical about it and the thoughts of the author really emanate through.

I was a teensy bit peeved that we don't know for certain what happened with Twill........yeessssss my ship name ;P But I suppose the open ending was more fitting of the book *pouts* I just wish we'd been given concrete proof *sad sigh* Tho good newsss! There are more books in the series (even though they're not centred on Tia and Will *sadface*) so in any luck we'll still hear more of them xD

I wasn't sure how many stars to give Biggest Flirts, but in the end I decided to go with 3 stars :P

P.s. Aaand, leaving you with a parting gift *winks*
“Ms. Nakamoto called through the microphone, “Mr. Matthews, get off Ms. Cruz. I’m starting to sound like a broken record.”
Down the line of snare drums, Jimmy tapped his watch and said, “Seven minutes.”

*busts out laughing* I just loved that xDD

—MissBloodsucker™ All Sucked Out!

View this review on Goodreads

Friday, September 26, 2014

Reluctant Prince by Dani-Lyn Alexander Cover Reveal!

Today we have a gorgeous cover reveal for Dani-Lyn Alexander’s Reluctant Prince. She’s also sharing an excerpt with us and hosting a giveaway!!! So make sure to keep reading and check all the goodies we have for this awesome cover! :)
Title: Reluctant Prince Kingdom of Cymmera Book One
Author: Dani-Lyn Alexander
Release Date: November 3, 2014

Reluctanct3
Belle: Hmm.....*cocks head* Not bad ;) *gazes at the cover.....guy*

Betrayal lies cloaked in shadow.
Seventeen year old Ryleigh Donnovan is certain her life is cursed. Nothing ever goes smoothly, and her first job interview is no exception. An earthquake rocks the building, sending Ryleigh on a frantic search for her younger sister, a search which lands her in the hospital. Terrified they’ll push her for answers she can’t afford to give, Ryleigh flees with a mysterious stranger.
Jackson Maynard is about to be ordained as a Death Dealer, a warrior for the Kingdom of Cymmera, but first he must pass one more test. When he fails to acquire the human girl the prophet has chosen, he’s forced to stand trial for treason. Banished from his realm, he seeks out the girl from the vision, Ryleigh Donnovan, and together they embark on a journey to save his dying kingdom.

Advance Praise for Reluctant Prince
"A gorgeously wrought fantasy realm with a heroine who will make you cheer!"
~Wendy Higgins, NYT and USA Today bestselling author of the Sweet Evil trilogy. 

Links:

Exclusive Excerpt:
Jackson clutched the stone wall of his chamber and gasped for air. What had just happened? He had returned to Cymmera, of that he was certain, but how? He hadn’t accessed the gateway. At least he didn’t remember opening it.
A vision of her assailed him, beat at him, reminded him that he’d failed. Oh, man. He was in trouble.
He pushed away from the wall. Images of his target taunted him. He shoved a chair aside and tore through the pictures scattered across the table in a desperate search for salvation. There. He pulled the shot from the mess but found only condemnation.
The long blond hair flowing behind her in the snapshot had not been visible to him, but there was no mistaking the deep blue of her eyes.
The pounding of a fist against the heavy wood door released him from whatever spell she’d cast. “Jackson.” Another loud thud punctuated his name. He struggled to get his bearings, tried to slow the racing of his heart. “Yeah, one minute.”
“Now. Your father wants to see you, immediately.” Kai, his father’s most trusted warrior. He was in more trouble than he’d originally thought. Was it possible the king would sentence him to death for ignoring a direct order? Surely not without offering him a fair trial, or at least granting him the opportunity to explain. But what could he say? What explanation could there be for failing to deliver the girl? None.
“I won’t knock again.” The warrior would soon break down the door and drag him before the throne. He crumpled the offending photo, the evidence of his disgrace, into a ball. Instead of tossing it in the trash as he’d intended, he shoved it into the small leather satchel he wore at his waist. With a deep breath, he released the latch and pulled open the door.
“Come.” Kai turned his back on him and strode purposefully down the corridor, their footfalls echoing through the silence of accusation. The thought of escape taunted him, but he would never make it out of the castle. He had only recently completed his warrior training under Kai’s watch and would be no match for the seasoned soldier. Besides, Kai was a stickler for the rules. If he tried to run, the warrior would surely take him down, protégé or not.

Dani-Lyn_Alexander (1)
About Dani-Lyn Alexander
Dani-Lyn Alexander lives on Long Island with her husband, three kids and three dogs. She loves spending time with her family, at the beach, the playground, or just about anywhere. In her spare time, which is rare, she enjoys reading and shopping—especially in book stores. Some of her favorite things include; Bernese Mountain Dogs, musicals, bubble baths and soft blankets. She’s an incurable insomniac and has an addiction to chocolate.


Enter Dani-Lyn’s giveaway!!



Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Stay With Me by Jennifer L. Armentrout – Release Day Launch!

SWM RDL Banner

We are so pleased to bring you the Release Day Launch for Jennifer L. Armentrout's STAY WITH ME! STAY WITH ME is a New Adult contemporary romance being published by Avon (William Morrow), an imprint of HarperCollins, and is a part of Jennifer’s With You Saga!


Stay With Me Cover

STAY WITH ME Synopsis:
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wait for You and Be with Me comes a daring tale that pushes boundaries . . . At 21, Calla hasn't done a lot of things. She’s never been kissed, never seen the ocean, never gone to an amusement park.
But growing up, she witnessed some things no child ever should. She still carries the physical and emotional scars of living with a strung-out mother, Mona—secrets she keeps from everyone, including her close circle of college friends. But the safe cocoon Calla has carefully built is shattered when she discovers her mom has stolen her college money and run up a huge credit card debt in her name.
Now, Calla has to go back to the small town she thought she’d left behind and clean up her mom’s mess again. Of course, when she arrives at her mother’s bar, Mona is nowhere to be found. Instead, six feet of hotness named Jackson James is pouring drinks and keeping the place humming. Sexy and intense, Jax is in Calla’s business from the moment they meet, giving her a job and helping her search for Mona.
And the way he looks at her makes it clear he wants to get horizontal . . . and maybe something more. Before Calla can let him get close, though, she’s got to deal with the pain of the past—and some very bad guys out to mess her up if she doesn't give them her mom.

Stay With Me Teaser 1
Belle: *coughs* XD

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iTunes ** Kobo ** GooglePlay



EXCERPT:
As I lay there, trying to swallow a loud, obnoxious yawn, I remembered something he’d said when we first met, about life being too short. I imagined he had firsthand experience with shortened lives while he was serving. That mentality came from experience. I got that now. Could even understand it, but there was something I didn’t understand. “Why?” I asked. There was a beat.
“Why what?” Jax sounded tired, and I should shut up or point out that I was now tired and could sleep, so he could leave. But I didn’t. “Why are you here? You don’t know me and . . .” I trailed off, because there really wasn’t anything left to say.
A minute went by, and he hadn’t answered my question, and then I think another minute ticked on, and I was okay with him not answering because maybe he didn’t even know. Or maybe he was just bored and that was why he was here.
But then he moved. Jax pressed against my back, and the next breath I took got stuck in my throat. My eyes shot open. The sheet and blanket were between us, but they felt like nothing. “What are you doing?” I asked. “Getting comfortable.” He dropped an arm over my waist, and my entire body jerked against his.
“It’s time to sleep I think.” “But—” “You can’t sleep when you talk,” he remarked. “You don’t need to be all up on me,” I pointed out. His answering chuckle stirred the hair along the back of my neck. “Honey, I’m not all up on you.”
I freaking begged to differ on that point. I started to wiggle away, but the arm around my waist tightened, holding me in place. “You’re not going anywhere,” he announced casually, as if he wasn’t holding me prisoner in the bed. Okay. The whole prisoner thing might be melodramatic, but he wasn’t letting me up. Not when he was getting all kinds of comfy behind me.
Oh my God, this was spooning. Total spooning. I was spooning with an honorary member of the Hot Guy Brigade. Did I wake up in a parallel universe?
“Sleep,” he demanded, as if the one word carried that much power. “Go to sleep, Calla.” This time his voice was softer, quieter.
“Yeah, it doesn’t work that way, Jax. You have a nice voice, but it doesn’t hold the power to make me sleep on your command.” He chuckled.
I rolled my eyes, but the most ridiculous thing ever was the fact that after a couple of minutes, my eyes stayed shut. I . . . I actually settled in against him.
With his front pressed to my back, his long legs cradling mine, and his arm snug around my waist, I actually did feel safe. More than that, I felt something else—something I hadn’t felt in years. I felt cared for . . . cherished. Which was the epitome of dumb, because I barely knew him, but feeling that, recognizing what the warm, buzzing feeling was, I fell right asleep.

Stay With Me Teaser 2


Author Photo

Jennifer L. Armentrout/J.Lynn Bio:
#1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true.
When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.
Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math.
Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.
She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** J. Lynn Goodreads Page ** Jennifer L. Armentrout Goodreads Page

 

Saturday, September 20, 2014

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief
Source of Pic: Goodreads
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Current Rating on Goodreads: 4.36 of 5 stars
Pages: 552
Synopsis (via Goodreads):

It's just a small story really, about, among other things, a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery.

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak's groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can't resist: books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids - as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.


The Book Thief is the story of Death's recollection of Nazi Germany with World War II looming, Jews being taken away to concentration camps and the life of a certain young girl named Liesel Meminger as she meets her new foster parents, makes friendships, and grows mentally and emotionally. Throw in an accordion–playing foster papa with a promise from long ago, a young man who also happens to be a Jew, and a craving for books with stems back to death and a snowy grave, and you have the story of a book thief.

Wow! This was......... *gulps and dabs puffy eyes* And it was sooooo dense and hugee! It took forever to finish without succumbing to the temptation for reading ahead.........*groans* It's a real timeless masterpiece tho.
I knew as soon as I started to get into the story that it wasn't going to end well, but that was okay........ughhh wrong word, it was NOT okay, but it was acceptable, because the tragedy was part of what made the book brilliant and truly eye-opening. Or as Death said.....
“I wanted to tell the book thief many things, about beauty and brutality. But what could I tell her about those things that she didn’t already know? I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race—that rarely do I ever simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant.”
And it was sad to read about the jews :'( Even tho I already know the stories of what happened to jews in Nazi Germany, every time I hear/read about it, it still manages to make my stomach churn for the injustices that occurred.

I loved the writing! It was a queer narration from a queer narrator, but it flowed nicely with so much originality :D
It's really interesting that the book was 'narrated' by Death himself. It's such a weird concept, made marvellous, at least in my eyes, by the fact that in this book, Death is an amicable, even funny guy! ;D The poor creature too, while reading, you just want to give him the vacation he's always whining about XDD
“I say His name in a futile attempt to understand. “But it’s not your job to understand.” That’s me who answers. God never says anything. You think you’re the only one he never answers? “Your job is to …” And I stop listening to me, because to put it bluntly, I tire me. When I start thinking like that, I become so exhausted, and I don’t have the luxury of indulging fatigue. I’m compelled to continue on, because although it’s not true for every person on earth, it’s true for the vast majority—that death waits for no man—and if he does, he doesn’t usually wait very long.”

There was also a merry (or not) bunch of complexities we like to call characters:

Liesel: She starts off almost 10 years old, stealing her first book, and meeting her new foster parents. At first she's insecure and haunted my nightmares. As the story progresses you really get to see Liesel grow and mature, and I loved reading her story (told by the wonderful Death, of course :P) It's tragic tho, what she had to endure at such a young age *sniffs*
“At times, in that basement, she woke up tasting the sound of the accordion in her ears. She could feel the sweet burn of champagne on her tongue.
Sometimes she sat against the wall, longing for the warm finger of paint to wander just once more down the side of her nose, or to watch the sandpaper texture of her papa’s hands.
If only she could be so oblivious again, to feel such love without knowing it, mistaking it for laughter and bread with only the scent of jam spread out on top of it.
It was the best time of her life.”


Hans: I loved Hans <3 He was clearly a kind man from the get-go. And you continue to see affirmations of this all through the book.
“Many times, on the way home, women with nothing but kids and poverty would come running out and plead with him to paint their blinds.”
But sometimes his kindness gets the best of him, and he's haunted by his decisions. You can't help feeling sorry for him, because, of all things, kindness could hurt him.
“I am stupid,” Hans Hubermann told his foster daughter. “And kind. Which makes the biggest idiot in the world. The thing is, I want them to come for me. Anything’s better than this waiting.”
Hans Hubermann needed vindication.”


Max: Is a jew. And what was sad was that the damnation and shunning of the jews really took a toll on them, Max included. He felt extreme guilt for surviving as long as he did where his family did not. He felt extreme guilt for feeling relieved to be alive. And he felt extreme guilt for letting other's risk their own lives to help him. Which, frankly, is really sad and disturbing. It wasn't the jews' fault that they were being hunted, tortured and killed. And yet the ones that survived felt the burden of guilt.
But through it all there was still a seed of hope buried beneath all Max's despair and guilt, the perseverance of the human soul. (view spoiler)

Rudy: Rudy.......w-was such a weird, funny, loyal charrie.......*makes low keening sound*.......a-and.....he loved his best friend dearly.......
“How about a kiss, Saumensch?”
(view spoiler)

Rosa: Okaayyy. *wipes eyes and clears throat* At first she seems to be a strict, rude woman with a tough skin, and this is true! XD But as you continue reading the story to begin to realize that that's just the beginning of Rosa's character, and that she's so, sooo much more. She has a big heart but normally doesn't sugarcoat things, and she actually does have a sense of humor :P And of course, she loves using three particular words..........*cackles loudly*

I think that the moral of the story was to point out, just as Death pointed out, the relationship between the monstrous heartache and the sharp beauty that live within the same moment.
“Was this Germany?
Was this Nazi Germany?”


After such a sad and gripping historical fiction (this took me 2 months to read, seriously o.O With a million stops and starts tho....*rolls eyes* I'm not that slow at rweading :P), I think I'm gonna go off on a splurge of romance stuffed fantasy YA books *giggles and winks at Cazz*........so if you'll excuse moi *skips away*
5 stars!!!! <3333333333
P.s. Now I understand the meaning of the cover Cazzi *chin wobbles* :'(

“All I was able to do was turn to Liesel Meminger and tell her the only truth I truly know. I said it to the book thief and I say it now to you.

A LAST NOTE FROM YOUR NARRATOR
I am haunted by humans.”


—MissBloodsucker™ All Sucked Out!

View this review on Goodreads

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

20 Things You Might Not Know About Me Tag


Hey there peeps! Belle 'ere! I knoww, I'm totally bombing the blog with tags lately, but I can't help it :P .....in fact we aka the Misses still need to do the Zombie Apocalypse Book Tag and the Book Gif Tag because we got tagged for both a while ago and still haven't got around to posting it up.....and now Cass is off in Mongolia so more waiting XP
Geeky Belle: *makes note to round up Misses in the near future to do tags*
So yeahh, I know there's a lot of tags going around, but they're soooo fuun, so I'm just gonna roll with it ;) Cool? Cool.

So today I'm gonna be doing the 20 Things You Might Not Know About Me Tag! Thanks Tika and Bless mah newest besties over at Fangirl Confessions and Mischievous Reads respectively for tagging me :P
The title makes the tag obvious, so yesss, there are 20 questions which you might not know my answers to, and basically....I answer them. Simple as that :D Hehe let's do this! *rubs hands together*

Question 1: How tall are you?
*cough* Just over 5 feet. In other words, short. Very short. In fact, out of all the dancers in my dance school, I'm only as tall as the 10 year olds. It's sad xD

Question 2: Do you have a hidden talent? If so, what?
Hidden talent? *raises eyebrow* Hmm, well.....I can do this weird thing with my throat.....but I have no idea how, why or what, and I wouldn't consider it a talent anyway o.O
Ohh! I'm pretty good at memorizing things! Last year I memorized about 2/3 of the Periodic Table ;) And I'm kinda smart, if I do say so myself.....not to be cocky or anythang XDD But I did do year 11 and 12 equivalent Chemistry last year when I was 14.....tis my greatest achievement evaaaahh!

Question 3: What’s your biggest blog-related pet peeve?
 We use G+ as the comment system on FM, and it irritates me to no end when G+ somehow plays up or sumfin and refuses to let me directly answer a comment -___-

Question 4: What’s your biggest non-blog related pet peeve?
When people eat with their mouth open. Urghh. Sometimes my brother does it on purpose to annoy me, and grrrr does it work or what? >.<

Question 5: What’s your favorite song?
I don't have a favorite song because just like books, there's simply loads of cool songs coming out all the time! But the first songs/singers/bands that come to mind are:
•Missy Higgins
•Iggy Azalea
•Florence + The Machine
•Justin Timberlake
•One Republic
•The Neighbourhood
•Two Steps From Hell
•Christina Perri
•Ed Sheeran
•Borrow My Heart; Taylor Henderson
•Brave; Sara Bareilles
•All About That Bass; Meghan Trainor
•Pass That Dutch; Missy Elliott
Just to name a few......hehehehe I can keep going.....*grins and clamps hand over mouth*

Question 6: What’s your favorite Etsy shop that isn’t yours?
I don't use Etsy, but I've heard of it once or twice.....

Question 7: What’s your favorite way to spend your free time when you’re alone?
Reading, blogging, interneting (yessss interneting is now an official word! By order of....me :P), listening to music, watching movies, dancing, the occasional video game, sleeping......*winks*

Question 8: What’s your favorite junk food?
Doritos....pizza....fried icecream....Burger Rings....buttery popcorn....yuuuummmm.

Question 9: Do you have a pet or pets? If so, what kind and what are their names?
Yesssss :) Currently (we've had loads of other pets in the past but I won't get into that XD) two cutesy female British Shorthair cats....also known as Garfield cats :P
Technically the tri-colored one, ShiShi, is my brother's, and the blue one, Cupcakes, is mine. And ShiShi is Cupcakes's mother....so I've known Cupiiiicakes all her life *grins*

Question 10: What are your number one favorite nonfiction and fiction books?
I don't read non-fiction, but my total fav fiction is Throne of Glass! <3 Aaaand my HoF copy just arrived last night! Squee!

Question 11: What’s your favorite beauty product?
*snickers* Uhhh.....sooo.....I only recently started wearing a bit of makeup now and again, so I'm more the “ohh-looksies-some-unidentifiable-branded-eyeliner! That'll do!” kinda person lol

Question 12: When were you last embarrassed? What happened?
I don't remember when the last time was, per say, but the one that sticks out most in my mind is my incredible knack of introducing myself as “my brother's BROTHER” *winces* I've done it like 3 times now! *facepalm*

Question 13: If you could only drink one beverage (besides water) for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Umm, probably Cascade Apple Isle :) I've always loved that stuff!

Question 14: What’s your favorite movie?
Whoa. Whoa whoa whoa BUDDY! You do not tell a movie fanatic to pick a favourite movie o.O That's just......meaaan. *pauses* Yeaahh that was a terrible comeback, hush. XD

Question 15: What were you in high school: prom queen, nerd, cheerleader, jock, valedictorian, band geek, loner, artist, prep?
*quirks brow* Well firstly I've been homeschooled since 2nd grade, and secondly, I don't think Aussie schools are like that. I'm pretty sure that this American high school cliché doesn't exist here.....for one we don't have football teams, which means no cheerleaders and not really any jocks *shrugs*
But if I was to self-classify, hmm......that's kinda impossible XDD I'm a little bit nerd status with how much of my time is monopolized by my school work, and I get really high scores a lot so I guess I could take a shot at valedictorian, I dance, I've done a bit of drama before and have quite a few drama friends, and my clothing style is just the way I like it. Aka really funky and fickle xD I love wearing odd bits and pieces! I must visit thrift shops when I go to America one day! They'd be like heaven to meee *beams*

Question 16: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
I'd love to visit a million different places, but as for settling down in one place, I'd want it to be somewhere nice and sunny! I hate the cold brrrrrr *shivers* The first places that come to mind are Cairns and California.

Question 17: PC or Mac?
MAC! I have one, and duuudee is it awesomesauce!

Question 18: Last romantic gesture from a crush, date, boy/girlfriend, spouse?
Don't and have never had one.....soooo o.O

Question 19: Favorite celebrity?
I don't really buy into the 'celebrity craze'......I mean, in the end they're just people like us, but if I had to pick, probably Jennifer Lawrence because I've seen some interviews on TV and she's hilarious ;)

Question 20: What blogger do you secretly want be best friends with?
That's an interesting one.....I could mention a bunch of bloggers, but I don't want to go on a craze, so I'll keep it to a few....
Sunny over at A Sunny Spot and Fran over at My Crazy Bookish World (I'm so jealous btw! I wanna see The Maze Runner soooo baad and my mum is refusing to let me! >.< Grrrrr)! I think it would be a new and exciting experience to chat with other Aussie teen bloggers :)
Ohh! And also Inge, who's a co-blogger over at Bookshelf Reflections! Her 'about me' is just so hilarious and I keep hearing it in a particular English accent.....*cough*BillyConnollyinGarfield2*cough* SMITHEE!!! XDD
(and fear not, dear Tika and Bless, for I already claim you as my besties *ominous music* You're stuck with me now mwahahahah)

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Alrighty! Time to tag some peeps:
Sunny @A Sunny Spot
Fran @My Crazy Bookish World
Inge @Bookshelf Reflections
Laura @Blue Eye Books (another bestie *waves*)
Jess & Kell @A Cup of Tea & A Big Book (mah dears!)

—MissBloodsucker™ All Sucked Out!