March 2018 wrap-up

Hey guys! I have to say, March was incredibly eventful for me in terms of reading and school and traveling … but not in blogging. I’ve been terrible at updating this month, but I guarantee April will be better! Anyway, let’s get into this wrap-up.

Books I’ve read:

It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini – 3 stars

Queen Of Shadows (Throne Of Glass #4) by Sarah J. Maas – 4 stars

Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy #4) by Richelle Mead – 3.5 stars

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon – 2 stars

Empire Of Storms (Throne Of Glass #5) by Sarah J. Maas – 3.75 stars

Tower Of Dawn (Throne Of Glass #6) by Sarah J. Maas – 4 stars

March posts

Anticipated releases: March 2018

In Other Lands by Sarah Reese Brennan (review by Aliza)

WWW Wednesday #11

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon (review by Haven)

Burn, Rewrite, Reread Tag

WWW Wednesday #12

WWW Wednesday #13

In other news, did anyone see Love, Simon? I STILL haven’t seen it (and am very, very bitter about it) but everyone seems to be raving on and on about it! I’ll definitely reread the book going to see it and I’ll see it soon, I promise! Maybe I’ll even be nice and give y’all a movie review. 🙂

Thanks for viewing, guys! How did your March go? Let me know in the comments! 🙂

WWW Wednesday #13

WWW Wednesday is a weekly event where you share (1) What you’re currently reading, (2) What you recently finished reading, and (3) What you think you’ll read next. Originally hosted Taking On A World Of Words.

What’s up, guys? March is coming to an end and I still can’t believe how fast senior year is going! I’ve got a lot planned for the coming week in terms of reading, and I’m definitely excited.

What are you currently reading?

From the author of the New York Times bestseller Eleanor & Park. A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love. 

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan…

But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving. Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words… And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

I’m JUST about to begin this novel, and it’s been a long time coming to say the least. I’ve heard much about this book, both good and bad, but I’m excited to read it nonetheless. Cath sounds like a really relatable character and while I’m fairly distant from Rainbow Rowell’s work (the only work I’ve read of hers is a short story from the contemporary anthology My True Love Gave To Me), there’s no doubt she’s a talented writer.

What have you recently finished reading?

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius as war looms on the horizon. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don’t.

With her heart sworn to the warrior-prince by her side, and her fealty pledged to the people she is determined to save, Aelin will delve into the depths of her power to protect those she loves. But as monsters emerge from the horrors of the past, and dark forces become poised to claim her world, the only chance for salvation will lie in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

In this breathtaking fifth installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, Aelin will have to choose what—and who—to sacrifice if she’s to keep the world of Erilea from breaking apart.

Empire Of Storms wasn’t as engaging to me as Queen Of Shadows, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Like I said before, I really loved reading about Maeve’s cadre and their relationship with Rowan, Elide and Lorcan’s relationship, and Aedion’s character development from Aelin’s loyal little puppy to someone more than that. SJM’s writing has improved so much, especially when she writes drama and action. I mean, that ending?! SJM, how dare you?!

And…

In the next installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, follow Chaol on his sweeping journey to a distant empire.

Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken.

His only shot at recovery lies with the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica—the stronghold of the southern continent’s mighty empire. And with war looming over Dorian and Aelin back home, their survival might lie with Chaol and Nesryn convincing its rulers to ally with them.

But what they discover in Antica will change them both—and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined.

This book was a triumph in a number of aspects — from Chaol’s wonderful character development and further insight into Nesryn and Yrene’s background, to the intricate world-building/culture of Antica and the action/intrigue. The romance was lovely as well and I especially loved how slowly and naturally it progressed. It’s going to literal hell waiting for TOG7.

What will you be reading next?

Signed, sealed, delivered…

While spacing out in chemistry class, Lily scribbles some of her favorite song lyrics onto her desk. The next day, she finds that someone has continued the lyrics on the desk and added a message to her. Intrigue!

Soon, Lily and her anonymous pen pal are exchanging full-on letters—sharing secrets, recommending bands, and opening up to each other. Lily realizes she’s kind of falling for this letter writer. Only, who is he? As Lily attempts to unravel the mystery and juggle school, friends, crushes, and her crazy family, she discovers that matters of the heart can’t always be spelled out…

It’s been a long time since I’ve read any Kasie West, and since I’m in a contemporary mood (I’ve been reading so much fantasy lately, whew!), it seemed like a good idea to pick this one up. Let’s hope it satisfies my fluffy contemporary romance needs!

Thanks for viewing, guys! What are you guys currently reading and what do you plan on reading next? Leave me a comment below! 🙂

WWW Wednesday #12

WWW Wednesday is a weekly event where you share (1) What you’re currently reading, (2) What you recently finished reading, and (3) What you think you’ll read next. Originally hosted Taking On A World Of Words.

Hey guys! I’m back with another WWW Wednesday, let’s get into it!

What are you currently reading?

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius as war looms on the horizon. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don’t.

With her heart sworn to the warrior-prince by her side, and her fealty pledged to the people she is determined to save, Aelin will delve into the depths of her power to protect those she loves. But as monsters emerge from the horrors of the past, and dark forces become poised to claim her world, the only chance for salvation will lie in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

In this breathtaking fifth installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, Aelin will have to choose what—and who—to sacrifice if she’s to keep the world of Erilea from breaking apart.

Y’all already know I was ready to jump on this book real quick after finishing Queen Of Shadows, and while I’m not finding it as interesting/engaging as the previous installment, I’m still enjoying certain parts of it. I’m particularly liking the appearances of Maeve’s cadre, Aedion’s character development, and the unlikely Elide x Lorcan pairing.

What have you recently finished reading?

Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Ugh. Dimple knows they must respect her principles on some level, though. If they truly believed she needed a husband right now, they wouldn’t have paid for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers…right?

Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself.

The Shahs and Patels didn’t mean to start turning the wheels on this “suggested arrangement” so early in their children’s lives, but when they noticed them both gravitate toward the same summer program, they figured, Why not?

Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways.

After months of enduring the immense hype this book got on Goodreads, I finally managed to pick it up and finish it in two measly days. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy it as much I originally wanted to. You can find my full review of it here.

In the next installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, follow Chaol on his sweeping journey to a distant empire.

Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken.

His only shot at recovery lies with the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica—the stronghold of the southern continent’s mighty empire. And with war looming over Dorian and Aelin back home, their survival might lie with Chaol and Nesryn convincing its rulers to ally with them.

But what they discover in Antica will change them both—and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined.

My lord, I am so excited for this. Chaol is my BABY (even when he was acting like a total ass in the first half of Queen Of Shadows) and I’m totally down for anything that takes me away from Aelin’s whole soap opera.

Thanks for viewing, guys! What are you guys currently reading and what do you plan on reading next? Leave me a comment below! 🙂

Burn, Rewrite, Reread Tag

So I haven’t been explicitly tagged for this, but when Haven did this, she technically tagged “anyone and everyone” so I’m technically allowed to do this because it sounds like so much fun. The idea for this tag is, in case you don’t know, to randomize your read shelf, pick the first three books, and list whether you’d burn, rewrite, or reread each of the books on there. So let’s go!

Round 1:

Burn: The Fill-In-Boyfriend by Kasie West – I remember liking this plenty when I read it, but ultimately the main character and all her relationships with people were much to shallow to be believable. Pass for now!

Rewrite: Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger – Can you believe I rated this five stars in 2014? As I remember, the whole book centers around a a rather cheesy romance that I would love to rewrite, but the world-building and main character were super fun.

Reread: The Sea of Monsters, by Rick Riordan – I haven’t read the Percy Jackson series in…eons. I would love to reread the series and get some insight into my obsessed fifth-grade self. 😉

Round 2:

Burn: Liars, Inc, by Paula Stokes – My review of this was initially very favorable, but I remember little to nothing about this book, which says something about its quality. Rereading my review makes me think that I was young and naive and didn’t understand how game-changing some flaws can be. Nope!

Rewrite: Angel Burn, by L.A. Weatherly – This is really a rather typical angel book, but pretty enjoyable. I’d love to have seen less (or none) of the love triangle, though.

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon (review) | YES to the Indian rep but I still got issues (surprise surprise!!)

Imagine my joy (and apprehension) when I finally stumbled upon a copy of When Dimple Met Rishi in my school library, the book that people had been going nuts over at Goodreads. If you guys didn’t know already, I’m Indian, and it makes me absolutely crazy, excited, and understandably scared that this book features Indian MCs and a view into our vast culture. Unfortunately, besides this fact, the romance, characters, and overall writing did NOT do great things for me.

I finished this book quick because it was entertaining and easy to read, but the writing was repetitive and the plot was practically nonexistent. The book had practically no direction but still happened to remain as predictable as typical dramatic Bollywood love story. Basically nothing happens for 75% of the book and then when something finally does, you’re so bored that you don’t even care about continuing. Especially since you already know what’s coming. I mean, it only took 2 days to get through this book, but halfway through, I was this:

Dimple and Rishi, I will say, have pretty realistic goals, flaws, and personalities. Dimple is passionate and independent, but is rebellious toward her traditional parents (specifically her mother) who tend to focus more on her appearance and acquiring husbands than her interest in coding and computer science. Rishi, on the other hand, is much more welcoming and embracing of his culture, but has trouble expressing his true passions to his parents. The characters themselves were too inconsistent for me to be invested in, but I could relate to both of their insecurities and fears about who they were and what others wanted them to be. The secondary characters, however, were altogether unnecessary. Besides adding a dash of cringe (which every Bollywood movie contains, let’s be real), they served no purpose but to stir up drama that had nothing to do with the message of the book or the plot.

WWW Wednesday #11

WWW Wednesday is a weekly event where you share (1) What you’re currently reading, (2) What you recently finished reading, and (3) What you think you’ll read next. Originally hosted Taking On A World Of Words.

What’s up, guys? I know, I know. I skipped out on last Wednesday, but I’m willing to make that up to y’all with a LOADED WWW Wednesday post.

What are you currently reading?

Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Ugh. Dimple knows they must respect her principles on some level, though. If they truly believed she needed a husband right now, they wouldn’t have paid for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers…right?

Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself.

The Shahs and Patels didn’t mean to start turning the wheels on this “suggested arrangement” so early in their children’s lives, but when they noticed them both gravitate toward the same summer program, they figured, Why not?

Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways.

FINALLY. I have finally got to the book that readers (especially South Indian ones) have been talking about for ages. I’m a South Indian myself, and currently I’m about a 1/4 through, and while it’s pretty entertaining, cute, and easy to read… I do have a few things to complain about. I let you know my full thoughts soon after I finish it!

What have you recently finished reading?

The queen has returned.

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past…

She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.

The fourth volume in the New York Times bestselling series continues Celaena’s epic journey and builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

AHHHH I’m LOVING this series. The character development just keeps building and building, the plot is constantly thickening, and the events that take place in this book are just… incredibly unpredictable and shocking. The writing has improved immensely since Throne Of Glass, and the relationships between the characters (Aelin x Rowan, Lysandra x Aelin, Aedion!!!) are so realistic and intriguing because you truly feel like you know these people. Besides a few complaints (which mostly have to do with everyone being up Aelin’s ass, but what else is new?), I hereby declare that Sarah J. Mass has officially got her hold on me. Empire Of Storms, where you at?

And …

They come first.

My vision was growing dimmer, the blackness and ghosts closing in. I swore it was like I could hear Robert whispering in my ear: The world of the dead won’t give you up a second time. Just before the light completely vanished, I saw Dimitri’s face join Lissa’s. I wanted to smile. I decided then that if the two people I loved most were safe, I could leave this world.

The dead could finally have me.

Rose Hathaway has always played by her own rules. She broke the law when she ran away from St. Vladimir’s Academy with her best friend and last surviving Dragomir princess, Lissa. She broke the law when she fell in love with her gorgeous, off-limits instructor, Dimitri. And she dared to defy Queen Tatiana, leader of the Moroi world, risking her life and reputation to protect generations of dhampir guardians to come.

Now the law has finally caught up with Rose – for a crime she didn’t even commit. She’s in prison for the highest offense imaginable: the assassination of a monarch. She’ll need help from both Dimitri and Adrian to find the one living person who can stall her execution and force the Moroi elite to acknowledge a shocking new candidate for the royal throne: Vasilisa Dragomir.

But the clock on Rose’s life is running out. Rose knows in her heart the world of the dead wants her back…and this time she is truly out of second chances. The big question is, when your whole life is about saving others, who will save you?

Join Rose, Dimitri, Adrian, and Lissa in Last Sacrifice, the epic, unforgettable finale to Richelle Mead’s international #1 bestselling Vampire Academy series.

It’s the FINALE guys!! I have to say though, as conclusions go, this one was kind of underwhelming. I enjoyed Rose’s dynamics with the rest of the characters and it was fairly mysterious and entertaining enough. I definitely liked Lissa and Sydney’s characters better (especially because their character development always felt stunted to me), and Adrian certainly improved too. However, the plot progressed at the pace of a snail and the crescendo and buildup I was waiting for… never really came. It didn’t have the epic feel I wanted it to have, but I’m still interested in this world. Since I’m liking Sydney a lot more now, I’ll definitely check out the Bloodlines series soon.

What will you be reading next?

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius as war looms on the horizon. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don’t.

With her heart sworn to the warrior-prince by her side, and her fealty pledged to the people she is determined to save, Aelin will delve into the depths of her power to protect those she loves. But as monsters emerge from the horrors of the past, and dark forces become poised to claim her world, the only chance for salvation will lie in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

In this breathtaking fifth installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, Aelin will have to choose what—and who—to sacrifice if she’s to keep the world of Erilea from breaking apart.

I don’t care if it’s too soon, I will get my hands on this book or I will die trying. It’s only been about a week since Queen Of Shadows, but I’m already facing withdrawals from being apart from my babies for so long. And when I do get my hands on it, it better not disappoint!

Thanks for viewing, guys! What are you guys currently reading and what do you plan on reading next? Leave me a comment below! 🙂

In Other Lands, by Sarah Rees Brennan | Review

4 Stars

“What’s your name?”

“Serene.”

“Serena?” Elliot asked.

“Serene,” said Serene. “My full name is Serene-Heart-in-the-Chaos-of-Battle.”

Elliot’s mouth fell open. “That is badass.”

The Borderlands aren’t like anywhere else. Don’t try to smuggle a phone or any other piece of technology over the wall that marks the Border—unless you enjoy a fireworks display in your backpack. (Ballpoint pens are okay.) There are elves, harpies, and—best of all as far as Elliot is concerned—mermaids.

Elliot? Who’s Elliot? Elliot is thirteen years old. He’s smart and just a tiny bit obnoxious. Sometimes more than a tiny bit. When his class goes on a field trip and he can see a wall that no one else can see, he is given the chance to go to school in the Borderlands.

It turns out that on the other side of the wall, classes involve a lot more weaponry and fitness training and fewer mermaids than he expected. On the other hand, there’s Serene-Heart-in-the-Chaos-of-Battle, an elven warrior who is more beautiful than anyone Elliot has ever seen, and then there’s her human friend Luke: sunny, blond, and annoyingly likeable. There are lots of interesting books. There’s even the chance Elliot might be able to change the world. 

Man, it’s been a while since I read this book (and by a while I mean maybe three weeks), so I’ve had a sufficient amount of processing time to decide how much I liked this book. Let’s get started!

In Other Lands is essentially a version of Harry Potter where Harry, or Elliot, in this case, goes through five years of magic schooling in the course of one book. The story essentially follows Elliot’s journey into the Borderlands and his discovery of the world while making friends and discovering himself.

Now, if I were you, I would have raised an eyebrow immediately at five years of Hogwarts in one book. I mean, if J.K Rowling needed seven books (plus eight movies and a play and an amusement park and five more prequel movies but that’s beside the point), how could Brennan possibly pull it off? Well, dear reader, to that I say you’re right… except in this case.

This book is not really about the Borderlands. It’s honestly not even about magic or schooling, considering how little time the characters spend in actual classes. This is a book about Elliot Schafer, muggle-born wiseass and possibly one of my favorite characters of all time. Elliot’s character is basically what you would act like if you found out about a magical world existing under your nose. He detests quills and parchment and promptly spreads the word about ballpoint pens, laments the lack of technological revolutions, and best of all, is completely against violence

Anticipated releases: March 2018

February brought us really interesting fantasy releases, but March’s releases are totally taking this to the next level. Let’s get into it!

Release Date: March 6th, 2018

Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?

Yay, another fantasy! And this one has a gorgeous cover, a dangerous princess, and SIRENS. I’ve never read a book with sirens before, and I hella hyped for this one.

Release Date: March 6th, 2018

Tomi Adeyemi conjures a stunning world of dark magic and danger in her West African-inspired fantasy debut, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Sabaa Tahir.

Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zelie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were targeted and killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now, Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers—and her growing feelings for the enemy.

Isn’t it cool that Black Panther, a movie set in a fictional African country that possesses science-fiction and fantasy elements, came out just a little while ago, and now we’re getting even more of West African magic? This book sounds incredible, and the rave reviews on Goodreads are only further encouraging me to get my hands on it quickly.

Release Date: March 20th, 2018

Leigh Chen Sanders is absolutely certain about one thing: When her mother died by suicide, she turned into a bird.

Leigh, who is half Asian and half white, travels to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents for the first time. There, she is determined to find her mother, the bird. In her search, she winds up chasing after ghosts, uncovering family secrets, and forging a new relationship with her grandparents. And as she grieves, she must try to reconcile the fact that on the same day she kissed her best friend and longtime secret crush, Axel, her mother was taking her own life.

Alternating between real and magic, past and present, friendship and romance, hope and despair, The Astonishing Color of After is a novel about finding oneself through family history, art, grief, and love.

This is different! It features a mixed Asian-american heroine, some fantasy aspects, and a unique setting. I’m very interested in seeing how Pan combines all these elements to create a story.

Thanks for viewing, guys! What March releases are you most hyped for? Let me know in the comments below 🙂