VAMPIRE ACADEMY REREAD

At the beginning of this year, I read The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare for the third time. I did this because I had such conflicting experiences with it, and needed to justify my purchase. When I first started the series, I loved it. I went to Barnes and Noble to buy a hardcover BOX set. OOF goes my wallet. Once I got the box set in the mail, I decided to reread the series, and I hated it. I found Jace annoying, and I was bored by the writing. You can read how I felt about the series HERE and my COHF REVIEW.

Since I did that with The Mortal Instruments, it only makes sense to do the same with Vampire Academy, which I also bought a box set of (softcover) while purchasing TMI. Rest in peace wallet!

I distinctly remember discovering Vampire Academy in the eighth grade, and it was a "hot commodity" among readers of the series. I brought the first book to school, a classmate I didn't particularly like asked to borrow it, I lent it to her, and I have regrets. Why didn't you say no, Vivien? Because I was intimidated by her! Another classmate asked to borrow the book, but I said no because I learned my lesson. Anyway... I loved this series. I loved Rose's sassiness, her friendship with Lissa, the drama, and Dimitri. I hope I still love those aspects and this series.

And so it begins...

AUGUST WRAP-UP

August was such a great month for reading! I read a lot of books, I read great books, I have new favorites, and I rediscovered the joys of the local library. Without further ado, here's what I read this August. 

I read Hunted by Meagan Spooner, and it's brilliant! Because of this book, I realized how much I love Beauty and the Beast retellings. The author reimagines the tale, adds Russian folklore, and a piece of her soul. I particularly liked the addition of The Firebird. Everything is great: the writing, the main character, the supporting characters, the love interest, the "romance," the plot, the concept, and the twist. There are times where you get frustrated with the plot, pacing, and/or characters, but I think that's normal with books. The author even directly mentions Stockholm Syndrome, which I don't recall being outrightly stated in retellings I've read, so I was pleasantly surprised. If you were to read any of the books I mention, read this one!

PRODUCT AND BOOK DEPOSITORY REVIEW

The Bookish Box hosted a Harry Potter trivia on Instagram, and they gave out prizes. I answered a question correctly for the Amortentia bubble bath. It smells pretty, girly, and fruity-like lychee, apple, and berry. Unfortunately, the bottle does not say who created the product, or the scent name. With the help of Google, I was able to find the creator and the product. (You can purchase a bottle from "Cherry Pit Craft's" website, or Etsy.) Here are the possible scents and their profiles, which can be found on the store's website.

-Love Spell: A lavishly lush blend of orange, peach, cherry blossom, and white jasmine.

-Pure Seduction: A seductive blend of musk, floral bouquet, apple, and fresh citrus.

-Orgasm: A unique blend of melons, citrus fruits and berries tempered with brisk citrus notes and hints of kola.

-Passion Fruit & Rose: An exotic floral that is ideal for refreshing the long hot days of summer. Crisp, sweet, and modern… As cool and tropical as a tall iced mimosa, this scent will instantly remind you of warm, windy Hawaiian nights.

Whatever the scent is, I can't stop smelling it! I do notice that they're all similar with the floral, fruit, and citrus combos, but different... The only thing I dread is wasting water.

After using it:
I like baths, they're relaxing-I was very tempted to sleep in the tub. Bathing also made me feel like a little kid again. The cons are still wasting water, and feeling like a cooked lobster. The product made my bathroom smell nice, but it had little to no effect on me. *sniffs forearms and wrists* I still smell the perfume I sampled when I went shopping on my wrists.

CARRY ON REVIEW

Carry On 
by Rainbow Rowell
St. Martin's Griffin | October 6, 2015

     Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen.
     That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.
     Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here — it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up.

RAPID-FIRE BOOK REVIEWS II

I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest

It may be because I finished watching Veronica Mars before reading this book, but the story reminded me of Veronica Mars. The main character is May, who is trying to solve her friend Libby's murder/prove that Libby is alive. The former is essentially season 1 in a nutshell, but the book has less sarcasm and no romance. Her partner in crime is a computer whiz named Richard. Richard has Wallace's personality and Mac's skills. I miss the show, so I was happy to read something similar. I love the illustrations; the story is fun; the friendship aspect of the story is cute; it's also kinda meta. I can see people of different ages enjoying this book. 

MY LITTLE ADVENTURE IN HORROR

I never liked Horror because jump scares are the worst! I think jump scares are cheap cop-outs that screenwriters resort to because they can't build suspense and make people feel scared. I also never like Horror because I'm a total scaredy-cat. Now that I live in a Horror movie, courtesy of America's current political situation, Horror movies don't seem so scary anymore! I do not claim to be an expert in Horror.

BELATED CELEBRATION OF PRIDE

On Sunday, June 25th, 2017, I participated in the NYC Pride March with three of my friends. I was excited about my first Pride experience, but perhaps the walk wasn't the best option. According to Google Maps, the walk was 2 miles long, but it felt much longer than that. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the "NYC experience."

ANOTHER ARISTOTLE AND DANTE REVIEW

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Simon & Schuster | February 21, 2012

      Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

 

I don't know if you're aware, but my former co-blogger has written a review for Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. You can check her review by clicking this link, her review.