THAT TOOK A WHILE... | PART I

1Q84 (1Q84 #1-3)
by Haruki Murakami
Vintage International | January 22, 2013
Status: Part 1 complete

      The year is 1984 and the city is Tokyo.
      A young woman named Aomame follows a taxi driver’s enigmatic suggestion and begins to notice puzzling discrepancies in the world around her. She has entered, she realizes, a parallel existence, which she calls 1Q84 - “Q is for ‘question mark.’ A world that bears a question.” Meanwhile, an aspiring writer named Tengo takes on a suspect ghostwriting project. He becomes so wrapped up with the work and its unusual author that, soon, his previously placid life begins to come unraveled.
      As Aomame’s and Tengo’s narratives converge over the course of this single year, we learn of the profound and tangled connections that bind them ever closer: a beautiful, dyslexic teenage girl with a unique vision; a mysterious religious cult that instigated a shoot-out with the metropolitan police; a reclusive, wealthy dowager who runs a shelter for abused women; a hideously ugly private investigator; a mild-mannered yet ruthlessly efficient bodyguard; and a peculiarly insistent television-fee collector.
      A love story, a mystery, a fantasy, a novel of self-discovery, a dystopia to rival George Orwell’s - 1Q84 is Haruki Murakami’s most ambitious undertaking yet: an instant best seller in his native Japan, and a tremendous feat of imagination from one of our most revered contemporary writers.

COVER REVEAL | THE ALCHEMISTS OF LOOM

I'm so excited to help Elise Kova reveal her new book's cover! If you've been following me for a while, you've probably seen my fangirling for Elise Kova/Air Awakens. (I really need to start Fire Falling XD) 

Elise will be publishing a brand new book for us called The Alchemists of Loom, which is part of The Loom Saga. The first book will be out on January 10, 2017. If you have a blog and want to include the countdown timer, you can go here: Alchemists of Loom Timer. If you want an ARC, you can contact Keymaster Press via Publicity@Keymaster.com. Without further ado...

FINALLY FINISHED | AND I DARKEN ARC REVIEW

And I Darken (The Conquerors Saga #1)
by Kiersten White

Delacorte Press | June 28, 2016

ARC courtesy of First in Line

       NO ONE EXPECTS A PRINCESS TO BE BRUTAL.
       And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets.
       Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, who’s expected to rule a nation, Radu feels that he’s made a true friend-and Lada wonders if she’s finally found someone worthy of her passion.
       But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against-and what Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point.

I was quite surprised to receive this book and I was quite surprised by this book. Two of my favorite reviewers on goodreads loved this book; however, I found this book rather boring, long, and unnecessary.

ASFKDJ | THE 100 SEASON 1&2

If you follow me on Twitter, you'll probably see a lot of tweets related to The 100. (Mainly Bellarke related stuff #BellarkeTrash) I binged the first two seasons and I love it. The 100 is an: Action, Drama, Utopian, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, and Sci-Fi show on The CW network. A nuclear Armageddon destroyed civilization on Earth. The 12 international space stations joined up to form The Ark. After a few generations, The Ark begins to deteriorate and the supplies dwindle. The Ark decides to send 100 juvenile delinquents to the radiation soaked Earth. The show follows Clarke and her struggle to create/maintain unity and peace despite the wars and hardships on Earth.

I'm going to separate this post into two parts. The stuff before 'read more' will be my general thoughts on the show and after 'read more' will be my "nerdy criticism" on what happens on the show. (Mainly science related things. Gotta get your science right!)

So, *inhales deeply*

This show is Game of Thrones, but BETTER! Now some of you are saying, "Nothing is better than GoT, take that back!" I'm serious, this show is better! It has mostly the same content as GoT, but it's "appropriate" for younger audiences and much more exciting. It's not full of sex, so I can actually watch this on TV without making it awkward! There's also fighting, some political intrigue and (maybe) more character deaths than GoT. I enjoyed the Sci-Fi aspect of The 100 immensely, for the most part (click 'read more').

The 100 is exciting, but it should have a little bit more gore and some cursing, just saying. It has a really interesting plot and the story stands out amongst other TV shows. I love how there were many twists and turns and millions of character deaths. The show keeps you on your toes and makes you go Cot dammit Elizabeth, did that really happen?!?!?! The show also has an amazing cast of characters. Clarke is a bad b*tch. She developed into such a strong, take-charge person. She's such a great leader and she made many difficult decisions. Sometimes shit hits the fan, sometimes it doesn't. There's also Octavia, Raven, Lexa, Indra and Anya... Honestly, this show has a lot of bad ass women! There are female LEADERS!!!!

There's also Bellamy.

This show knows how to play with your feelings. The people behind this show know how to make you hate/love people. Although this show is super great, I thought the lighting kind of ruined it. The frames were too dark sometimes and it was hard to make out what's going on. There were grammar issues too, says the girl with horrible grammar. I would have liked a better transition between the seasons. I felt like some info was missing.

Other than that, I think that's pretty much it. This show is great! I totally advise you to watch it on Netflix. If you don't have Netflix, ask a friend like I did.

Now to Science: Beware of Spoilers

MINI BOOK HAUL

Yesterday, I received 3 books in the mail. I received Cruel Beauty and Stolen. These are two books that I purchased from B&N because I got a 20% coupon and free express shipping.

I loved Cruel Beauty, so I bought it and I'm planning to reread it some time next year.

I purchased my second copy of Stolen. My first copy, the paperback, has been read a little too many times. The spine looks like it's going to split in half. Hopefully this hardcover will last longer.

Finally, I received And I Darken by Kierstan White, which was really surprising. I don't remember requesting from First in Line, but I did and won apparently. It was a great surprise. I know absolutely nothing about the book. But, I've seen a lot of praise from people in the book community.

These books really brightened my day. Unfortunately, I have to take my Geometry Regents in about 2 hours. Yay...

STOLEN SONGBIRD REVIEW

Stolen Songbird (The Malediction Trilogy #1)
by Danielle L. Jensen
Strange Chemistry | April 1, 2014
Status: Complete

        For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the mountain. When Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she realises that the trolls are relying on her to break the curse.
        Cécile has only one thing on her mind: escape. But the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time…
        But the more time she spends with the trolls, the more she understands their plight. There is a rebellion brewing. And she just might be the one the trolls were looking for...

THE BOOKWORM BOX REVIEW

Some time ago, Colleen Hoover posted something on her social media that said she wanted book bloggers/reviewers/book box openers. I followed the directions and I was fortunate enough to receive the April box for review. Crappy Instagram photo, that I took on my phone, of what I received

The Bookworm Box is a monthly subscription box created by Colleen Hoover. All profits are donated to charities and you can suggest charities, as long as they fit the criteria. In the box, you will find two SIGNED books and some goodies. All this at a price of $39.99.

CRYSTAL TOUR BEGINS!!

Elise Kova's Crystal Tour has started! I read her book Air Awakens and I LOVED it. It was so magical and it's a great start to the series, which I have yet to continue. IT'S AN AMAZING SERIES. Everyone is loving this series. So, join us in the Facebook Release Party! It's on July 12, 2016 7:00-10:00 P.M. EST. Fans will be there and so will: Michelle Madow, Susan Dennard, Rachel E. Carter, Leia Stone, C.M. Lucas, Laura Thalassa, and Danielle L. Jensen! There will be games, discussions and giveaways. If you're still skeptical, don't know why, check out my review of Air Awakens.

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WE COULD BE BEAUTIFUL | REVIEW

We Could Be Beautiful

by Swan Huntley
Doubleday | June 28, 2016
ARC Copy Courtesy of Publisher

        A spellbinding psychological debut novel, Swan Huntley’s We Could Be Beautiful is the story of a wealthy woman who has everything—and yet can trust no one.
        Catherine West has spent her entire life surrounded by beautiful things. She owns an immaculate Manhattan apartment, she collects fine art, she buys exquisite handbags and clothing, and she constantly redecorates her home. And yet, despite all this, she still feels empty. She sees her personal trainer, she gets weekly massages, and occasionally she visits her mother and sister on the Upper East Side, but after two broken engagements and boyfriends who wanted only her money, she is haunted by the fear that she’ll never have a family of her own. One night, at an art opening, Catherine meets William Stockton, a handsome man who shares her impeccable taste and love of beauty. He is educated, elegant, and even has a personal connection—his parents and Catherine’s parents were friends years ago. But as he and Catherine grow closer, she begins to encounter strange signs, and her mother, Elizabeth (now suffering from Alzheimer’s), seems to have only bad memories of William as a boy. In Elizabeth’s old diary she finds an unnerving letter from a former nanny that cryptically reads: “We cannot trust anyone…” Is William lying about his past? And if so, is Catherine willing to sacrifice their beautiful life in order to find the truth? Featuring a fascinating heroine who longs for answers but is blinded by her own privilege, We Could Be Beautiful is a glittering, seductive, utterly surprising story of love, money, greed, and family.

(Go here to win a  $2,000 gift card from Amazon, not my giveaway)