Reading Deadlines (#1)

  I'm introducing a new segment to my blog: "Reading Deadlines".  I'm the kind of person who places library holds on 18 books at once thinking it will be while before I can get them. However, magically, 5 - or more- of them become available on the same day. I check them out (obviously!) and, with that, comes a deadline. 
All this to say: I have lots library books to read! I'll list them in order of when they need to be returned.

Disclaimer: I'm not sure whether this will be a weekly segment simply because I check out books for 3 weeks at a time and don't always have any to talk about. Moreover, I won't give a synopsis of each book, just the title and cover because I'm don't always remember the plot and want to be surprised myself. However, for sequels, I'll either link you to my review of the first book or to the synopsis of the first book in the series, in case you want to know more.

Fractured Innocence - Julia Crane

(IFICS #2)

This is the sequel to Freak of Nature which I reviewed here.








Format: paperback



Due date: August 31st (so soon, argh!)

Book of Shadows - Cate Tiernan 

(Sweep #1)

Format: eBook

Due date: September 3rd

Rogue - Julie Kagawa

(Talon #2)

This is the sequel to Talon, reviewed here !

Format: hardcover

Due date: September 5th (FINISHED)

Outlander - Diana Gabaldon

(Outlander #1)

Format: eBook

Due date: September 6th

The 5th Wave - Richard Yancey 

(The 5th Wave #1)

Format: hardcover

Due date: September 12th

The Heir - Kiera Cass

(The Selection #4) 

 Here's the synopsis of the 1st book from the series, The Selection.

Fun fact: I've had a hold on this book since June and was 130th in line to get it.

Format: hardcover

Due date: September 12th

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams

A stand-alone book!

Format: paperback

Due date: September 12th

Fairest - Marissa Meyer

(The Lunar Chronicles #3.5)

This is an extra for the series. Here's the synopsis of the 1st book, Cinder.

I checked this out once before but unfortunately didn't get around to reading it :(



Format: hardcover



Due date: September 16th




So, as you can see, I have a lot of books to read (and fast!).

Book Tag - Reading Habits

What? Another tag? Heck yeah, they're fun to do. I like changing it up a bit and only posting reviews is pretty monotone so I think I'll keep doing tags every once in a while for a pop of fun - oh no, did I actually use that phrasing? Am I that person? I guess I will be for now.


This tag was created by TheBookJazz.

1. Do you have a certain place at home for reading?

Not really...
Most of the time I lay on my bed and read but sometimes I'll sit on - lay across - the couch or even sit in the front yard.

2. Bookmark or random piece of paper?

Random piece of paper!
I cannot keep track of my bookmarks so I've given up on trying to use a nice one. When I pick up a book I've had on hold from the library, there's a piece of paper sticking out with my name on it so I can find it easily. I end up using that paper as my bookmark.

3. Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter/ a certain amount of pages?

I can just stop reading at any point.
I used to stop at the end of a chapter but, in some books, chapters can be 20 pages and I would have trouble staying focused. Now I just try to avoid stopping in the middle of an action scene because it's confusing to pick up later. 

4. Do you eat or drink while reading?

As much as I wish I could, I can't.

I'm too worried about damaging my precious book.

5. Multitasking: Music or TV while reading?

Nope!

I'm able to listen to music while reading but I don't really care for it; it can be distracting.

6. One book at a time or several at once?

Several at once.

During school, I read several books at once but if it's over break I have enough time to read, I tend to stick to just one. Other times I start a book but can't seem to get into it so I'll start another one (like right now). It basically depends on my mood - haha.

7. Reading at home or everywhere?

Everywhere, anywhere!!

I'll read at home, on the bus, in the car, at my friend's house, in the park... ANYWHERE.

8. Reading out lout or silently in your head?

In my head.
I actually do read out loud sometimes but only when it's a school book that's difficult to follow.

9. Do you read ahead or even skip pages?

Absolutely not.
It would spoil the fun.

10. Breaking the spine or keeping it like new?

I try to keep it like new.

Sometimes it's just not possible though... :(

11. Do you write in your books?

In books I'm reading for school? YES. Otherwise, no.

Some teachers require I take notes as I read and I find it a lot easier to write directly in the book rather than use post-it notes. Then again, if no notes are required I won't write in it because I don't see what good it would serve. 

Review - Talon by Julie Kagawa

Synopsis

Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.

(Goodreads)

Review

★★★★★

  Talon is the first book in the Talon series - yes, it's a surprise, I know. The series consists of 5 books: Rogue (book 2), Soldier (book 3), and two other books that are currently untitled.

  I'd like to take a moment now to admire the beauty of this cover. I read the hardback edition (published by Harlequin Teen) and the cover is textured to feel scaly. Although the aesthetic of the book isn't the main reason I picked it up, it made me happier to look at - does that make any sense?

  The plot revolves around dragons - you know, the awesome mythical creatures that breathe fire and are incredibly strong and beautiful - and how they must hide themselves from the rest of the world. Now, this may not be a lot of information but it was enough to hook me in. I mean, come on, fire-breathing Dragons. That sounds pretty badass to me (and it is, indeed).

    Dragons do all sorts of things during their impressively long lives. Many have successfully assimilated to human society and even hold positions of power. There are also dragons who have broken all bonds with Talon, the secret organization that works to protect dragons; these are known as rogues.

  The story alternates between two point of views: Ember (a dragon), and Garret (a soldier who hunts dragons).
Both characters are around the same age but have a very different focus in life. For instance, Ember borders on rebellious behavior as she strives for freedom and fun while Garret, also known as the "Perfect Soldier", is all about doing his job.
Needless to say, things get complicated when these two opposed personalities meet (it's great!).

  Since Ember and her twin, Dante, are supposed to infiltrate society, they take it upon themselves to blend in with the crowd. This means hanging out with humans, surfing, and overall just experiencing the joys of being a teenager on summer break in California. It's fun to see - read - as the siblings discover the thrills of "ordinary" teenage lives such as surfing, drinking smoothies every day, going shopping and even attending parties!

    Now, it wouldn't be a proper YA novel without some romance. Within the secret organization, Talon, it is taught that dragons don't feel like humans do; they don't fall in love. However, who can judge what love is and who can or cannot feel it? No one, that's who. (Was that as deep as I think it is?)  It's interesting to see how Ember deals with unknown feelings. Aaaaand the male characters are, once again, rather attractive.

  Talon is full of surprises whether they involve romance, or action. The fight and training scenes are wonderfully described. I love the precision when it comes to describing the way a dragon's body moves and coils as well as the suspense that comes with one-to-one fighting. I even got worried more than once about the outcome on an altercation.

Review - Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini

Synopsis

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying experiences that others in her hometown of Salem take for granted, which is why she is determined to enjoy her first high school party with her best friend and longtime crush, Tristan. But after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class, Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly, Lily is in a different Salem—one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of them all is Lillian . . . Lily's other self in this alternate universe.

What makes Lily weak at home is what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. In this confusing world, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone and a love she never expected.

(Goodreads)

Review

★★★★★

  Trial by Fire is a part of the Worldwalker series along with its sequel Firewalker. I believe the book's title might have been changed to: I am a Witch and Witches Burn (according to a new cover reveal). It makes sense but I personally really liked the original title because it referenced different aspects of the story and made it sound action-packed and rather mysterious. 

   I was confused when I started reading this book because, as usual, I hadn't read the synopsis of the book. Although I got it after Benjaminoftomes's stellar review, I had totally forgotten what it was about.
So here I was, reading about a sick teenager and her life in high school and I thought to myself: this seems like an interesting concept, I like it. Then, all of the sudden, the story switched directions as the main character, Lily Proctor, was transported to another world. At that point, I took a reading break and thought about it. I jumped right back in and let me tell you, I'm glad I did. Magic, witches, hot guys (yes, characters can be attractive just from their description despite what people say about how you don't actually see them so you're wrong), oh and did I mention magic? - What else could you ask for in a book?

  This book contains interesting magic. I liked the idea of using willstones to connect with others and help control your magic. It allows unbreakable bonds and conflicts to arise. In this world, magic isn't used to simply vanish or make food appear. It allows telepathic communication, impressive protection, and, okay, it can probably make stuff appear but that's beside my point. Magic is the source of everything in this world: medicine, electricity, heat, protection, and pretty much anything you can think of. Animals are grown. That's right, they're grown, not bred. Science doesn't have much relevance under the rule of this parallel world's queen (not elected, it's a monarchy - yay?) who is no one other than our dear Lily Proctor.

  As expected, the story involves friendship as well as romance. Although many think romance in YA novels is overrated and sappy, I love it. The romance is very well-written and, let's face it, I'm a sucker for it. However, the focus remains on the issues at stake quite a lot.

  I'm usually pretty good at guessing what's going to happen next in the book I'm reading. But this time, I simply couldn't. Sure, I guessed some parts; but other events blind sided me and it was a wonderful feeling.

  You know what they say, "when the action surprises you, you  must keep reading". 
Well, at least that's my excuse for reading all day and avoiding chores... 

  I look forward to reading the next book because this one ended with a cliffhanger. Why does the author hate me?

Book Tag - Would you rather?

I thought I'd try something a little different this time. I love watching book tag videos on youtube so I figured I'd give it a go! I sort of justified each of my answers because I personally like seeing the thought process in making the choices...

This tag was created by RayKayBooks (otherwise known as Rachel Reads).

Would you rather...

1. Read only trilogies or stand alones?

Although with trilogies I have more time to get attached to the characters and see their world evolve (or get destroyed, huh), I'd have to go with stand alones. That is because I tend to get attached to characters early on in the book and the action is faster paced when there is no sequel. I always worry that I won't like the sequel and it would ruin the book series for me.

2. Read only female or male authors?

Now, for this one, I couldn't care less. 
I've never payed attention to the author's gender when choosing a book. There are suppositions that female authors are more in touch with feelings... Excuse me, have you read anything by John Green?!

3. Shop at Barnes & Noble or Amazon?

Definitely Amazon! 
What could be better than ordering books online and having them delivered to your front step? Moreover, the books I want always seem to be cheaper on Amazon than on Barnes and Noble but, then again, I don't go there often.

4. All books become movies or t.v. shows?

Honestly, I'd go with neither but since this is a would you rather tag and not a please voice your opinion in total disregard of the nature of these questions tag, I'd rather all books become TV shows. In a TV show, the characters can portray more development and more details from the book can be included. (But the Harry Potter movies were, indeed, incredible)

5. Read 5 pages per day or 5 books per week?

5 books per week!
I couldn't stand only reading 5 pages everyday, I'd only finish about 4 books in an entire year! I already read a lot and there was a time when I would read 5 books per week so I would but rather do that.

6. Be a professional reviewer or author?

A professional reviewer.
You know those times when you have a creative writing assignment and you're stumped? Yeah, that's me 75% of the time. That being said, if I have specific guideline, I enjoy it. As a professional reviewer, I could help inspire others to pick up books they might have ignored otherwise. I'd have a chance to show how a book can make you feel and think; I would love it.

7. Only read your top 20 favorite books over and over or always read new ones that you haven't read before?

This is a tough one but... I'd always read new books I haven't read before. 
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy re-reading my favorite books but thinking about the thousands of other books I could read, I'd be missing an opportunity to find a new great book. 

8. Be a librarian or book seller?

A book seller.
That is because I believe there would be more customer service involved. Maybe someone would come in looking for a book as a gift to someone and need advice based on their favorite genres. Personally, when I go to the library, I already have a certain book in mind so I don't ask anyone their opinion. I simply walk through, find it, (check it out - of course) and leave.

9. Only read your favorite genre, or every genre except your favorite?

I would stick with my favorite genres (is that cheating?): fantasy, paranormal, dystopian...
There are so many books in each genre, I don't think I could possibly get bored of one.

10. Only read physical books or eBooks?

Only read physical books.

I love the feel of the book in my hands and turning the pages makes me feel for accomplished for some reason. I would miss the practical aspect of eBooks though... 

  So there you go, those were my answers to all the questions!

  Feel free to leave a comment or tweet me if you have any questions, suggestions or comments about tags or my blog in general. I'd love to interact with you guys! You can reach me on my twitter !

Review - The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan

Synopsis

Tim Macbeth, a seventeen-year-old albino and a recent transfer to the prestigious Irving School, where the motto is “Enter here to be and find a friend.” A friend is the last thing Tim expects or wants—he just hopes to get through his senior year unnoticed. Yet, despite his efforts to blend into the background, he finds himself falling for the quintessential “It” girl, Vanessa Sheller, girlfriend of Irving’s most popular boy. To Tim's surprise, Vanessa is into him, too, but she can kiss her social status goodbye if anyone ever finds out. Tim and Vanessa begin a clandestine romance, but looming over them is the Tragedy Paper, Irving’s version of a senior year thesis, assigned by the school’s least forgiving teacher.

(Goodreads) 

I think it should be mentioned that most of the book consists of flashbacks as Tim retells events from the past year that intertwine with Duncan's (current senior) life as well as Duncan's senior year at Irving and how Tim's experiences affect his own life.

Review

★★★★★

  This is a stand alone novel that's quite different from my normal reads but great nonetheless.

  The narration alternates between two main characters: Tim (last year's senior) and Duncan (current senior).
Tim, a hopeless teenager in love, expresses his struggles at fitting in as a new albino student while trying to forge friendships and stay on task for school.
Duncan has been attending Irving School since freshman year and doesn't have the same issues as Tim had his senior year.
They do, however, share something important: they were present the night everything changed. As Tim retells the events leading up to that night in his own words, Duncan realizes that he may have misjudged last year's senior. Hoping to avoid the same results, Duncan makes changes in his own life. 

  When I was younger, I wanted to go to boarding school. I thought it would be fun! I rarely read books that are in such settings so this was a nice change. Life in a boarding school isn't everything you'd imagine but it's far from being prison-like (at least in this book).

  All throughout the book, many references are made to tragedy, hubris, magnitude... I enjoyed this because it made me think about my own life. Am I living it to the fullest? Am I setting myself up for a tragic event?
Okay, I know this may sound dramatic and you're probably wondering why you should read something so mood-crushing. The fact is, it makes you wonder what could be without overwhelming you. Tim is a humorous guy and, thankfully, provides comic relief when it's needed.

  Once I got immersed in the story, I couldn't put it down!

Review - Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

Synopsis

She won't rest until she's sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. But that's all it takes. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real.

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn't careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies.

(Goodreads)

Review

★★★★☆

  Alice in Zombieland is the 1st book in the White Rabbit Chronicles series. It is followed by Through the Zombie glass (book 2 - which I have also read), The Queen of Zombie Hearts (book 3), and A Mad Zombie Party (book 4).

  So let me start off by saying that, it's probably not what you think. It's not a modern day adaptation of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. There are, in fact, a few references to the tale such a white rabbit and such but the plot couldn't be more different.

  I was spooked when I started reading this book because when I think zombies I immediately think of the gory, decaying bodies you see in movies. These zombies, however, are different. They're evil spirits with red eyes - and before you say it's worse, I like it better this way. They don't feed on brains; they devour souls. Like "normal zombies", they infect their victims who will then rise as evil spirits themselves. They're invisible to the ungifted eye and sort of glide through the night.

  I love the way the book is written in the first person. It makes me feel like I'm in Alice's head and thus closer to everything that happens. Her reactions are those of a sassy and rebellious teenage girl and don't seem fake (especially when she notices a handsome and far from charming classmate!).

  Fighting zombies is pretty darn badass if you ask me. The book isn't overwhelmingly action-based and includes witty comments from Alice and her friends, as well as guy-drama (when is there not?).

Review - Freak of Nature by Julia Crane

Synopsis

Donate Body to Science. Check.

When seventeen-year-old Kaitlyn checked the box, she never suspected she’d have her life–and her body–stolen from her. She awakens one day in a secret laboratory to discover that her body is now half-robot and is forced to hide her own secret: that she still has human emotions and a human mind. If the scientists who made her find out, they’ll erase what remains of who she was.
Kaitlyn finds an unlikely ally in Lucas, a handsome, brilliant scientist who can’t get over the guilt he feels knowing she was once a vibrant, beautiful young woman. He never expected a science project to affect him the way she does. As he tries to help her rediscover her past, he finds himself falling for the brave girl struggling to find her place and acceptance between the human and computer worlds.
(Goodreads)

Review    

★★★★☆

  Freak of Nature is the 1st book in the IFICS series. It currently has 2 other books: Fracture Innocence (book 2) and Fatal Abduction (book 3). I'm unaware of whether a 4th book is set to be published.

  I read this book because of Benjaminoftomes' recommendation. 

  I wasn't sure what to expect because I try to avoid reading the synopsis of books before I read them.

  I liked the general plot and idea for the novel. I personally enjoy reading about cyborgs (part- human/ part-robot) in modern times who don't want to destroy the world and what not.

  This story is told from two point of views: Kaitlyn's (the teenage cyborg), as well as Lucas's (a scientist).
It is interesting to see how they reason as they interact with each other. Kaitlyn has a very logic-based mindset since her brain works as a computer. She doesn't understand common expressions like "having butterflies" whereas Lucas struggles with logic as his emotions sometimes cloud his judgement.You also get to see - imagine - whatever you like to call it - what the compound is like through two sets of eyes who view it as completely different environments. 

  There is action, humor, sarcasm (which I live for),and, of course, love and affection.  There were sections of the book that were slower paced and I had trouble immersing myself in their world at times but ...

  I didn't care much for the writing style. It might have been on purpose but it seemed almost robotic to me, rather dull. 

Overall, I would recommend this book if you enjoy fiction mixed with conflicts of the heart and a CYBORG - I mean, come on!

It's free on Amazon Kindle ! 

Introduction

Hey everyone! 

I'm Nicolette.
I love reading books and hearing about others' reactions to them (so basically I like to read reviews online as well as immerse myself in the booktube world). 

I mostly read YA novels but sometimes I read other genres.

I'll be posting about the books I'm currently reading, those I've finished and, of course, my never ending TBR-list. I might even do a few tags because they look like fun.