Blogspiration (4)

Blogspiration is a weekly meme hosted by GrowingUp YA & saz101. The meme was created to help spark inspiration among bloggers, readers & writers alike. An inspirational quote/picture/video is posted weekly, on the day of the author's choosing, so that it may inspire creativity, conversation & just a little SOMETHING.

Source: Job's Wife

I know what you're thinking... where is the Harry Potter love?

But okay, this totally relates to one Luna Lovegood. Case in point:

Source: imgfave

Hope you've been having a great weekend! <3

Standalones vs. Series

Standalones: the dying race of YA novels.

Okay, so not completely true. It's not like they're nowhere in sight... I read Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson just last week and there is no sequel (as far as I know) for that one. In general though, I feel like 95% of the books I read are part of a series/have a companion novel.

And I love that.

(Most of the time)

I KNOW. I feel like everywhere I go online, people are complaining about the lack of standalones, and with some very convincing arguments! I think my personal favourite is Ash (<3) from Typing Tiara's song because that is SKILL right there. I understand that side of the argument too because omg, sometimes it feels like a series has 7000 books that I have to read and as a reader that hates reading out of order, that can be discouraging.

I actually started to outline all the reasons I generally prefer a series over standalone but then I realized that they're all essentially the same:

I'm a greedy reader.

I want more character development and more adventures. I want more romance and more kissing. I want more words and pages and stories. If I like an author/character/world, I just want to read more more more and having a series (be it trilogy or quartet or whatever) just feeds that need for MORE.

I get so attached to some characters (Harry, m'boy, I'm looking at you) that I just feel really SAD when a series is over and I don't get to see them again. (I actually still re-read the whole HP series like once every 2 months, but shhh).

Companion novels are kind of the best of both worlds where you get a separate story but also a journey through the same world or with some familiar characters.

And, of course, some books work better as standalones because that's just the way it is. If all the loose ends are tied up and enough has taken place, I'll be satisfied with a standalone.

Kind of.

On an unrelated sidenote: MY HEART when I look at the David Tennant gif... it breaks into a million pieces. 


Thoughts? ANGRY DISAGREEMENTS? Please feel free to share whatever you're thinking in the comments section! :)

Waiting on Wednesday (42)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine so that (this is me paraphrasing) we can all FREAK OUT TOGETHER about some rocking upcoming books. Warning: extreme fangirling may occur.

Timepiece by Myra McEntire

Add it: Goodreads

Publisher: Egmont

Format: Hardcover, 336 pages

Release Date: June 12, 2012

A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking...

Kaleb Ballard's relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers, the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never been able to see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb's powers expanding, or is something very wrong?

Then the Hourglass is issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he's stolen on the time gene, or time will be altered with devastating results.

Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough...

The follow-up to Hourglass, Timepiece blends the paranormal, science fiction, mystery, and suspense genres into a non-stop thrill ride where every second counts.

Let us ignore the gorgeousness of the cover. (I thought it was worth a shot... *eyes jump back to it*) Seriously, how AWESOME is that??

Okay, so I loved Hourglass. Time travel is waaay up there on my list of things I adore reading and that aspect of it was really well done. Kaleb was such a fascinating character... I liked him even more than Michael despite thinking he's a better match for Emerson and so I am THRILLED that he'll have centre stage in the sequel.

Kaleb's POV! EEEEE! <3

What are you waiting on this wonderful Wednesday? :)

My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison

My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison

Add it: Goodreads
Source: Library
Publisher: Walker BFYR
Format: Hardcover, 311 pages
Release Date: January 6, 2009

Finding your one true love can be a Grimm experience!

After her boyfriend dumps her for her older sister, sophomore Savannah Delano wishes she could find a prince to take her to the prom. Enter Chrissy (Chrysanthemum) Everstar: Savannah's gum-chewing, cell phone-carrying, high heel-wearing Fair Godmother. Showing why she's only Fair--because she's not a very good fairy student--Chrissy mistakenly sends Savannah back in time to the Middle Ages, first as Cinderella, then as Snow White. Finally she sends Tristan, a boy in Savannah's class, back instead to turn him into her prom-worthy prince. When Savannah returns to the Middle Ages to save Tristan, they must team up to defeat a troll, a dragon, and the mysterious and undeniably sexy Black Knight. Laughs abound in this clever fairy tale twist from a master of romantic comedy. 

My Fair Godmother will have you smiling in no time with its relatable cast of characters and fun, lighthearted plot.

Savannah is your typical popular high school girl. When we first meet her, she comes off as sweet but rather ditzy. She's more focused on clothes and boys than her grades and she seems to have a penchant for lateness. Still, it's clear almost immediately that Savannah is a caring person despite her occasional cluelessness and it makes it even more difficult to read when her boyfriend dumps her for her older, more mature sister. Reading through this novel provided me with one of my favourite reading aspects: character development! We get to see Savannah turn from this irresponsible girl into one that's infinitely more mature, rational and dependable. I loved the new Savannah and I was cheering loudly by the time the trials at the end of the book took place!

The plot in this book is just insane. Savannah's Fair Godmother reminded me a bit of Ella from Ella Enchanted in that she doesn't seem to get anything right! It's hilarious and amusing to read about Savannah's adventures into the past and I loved how Janette Rallison incorporated some fairytale stories. The plot progressed at a captivating speed with great writing and was just pure FUN.

I can see how it would be easy to hate Savannah's sister for stealing her boyfriend. I mean, what kind of big sister does that?! You really get a feel for all of the characters though and I loved that we got to understand them better than just what Savannah saw on the surface. Tristan, the poor boy that gets mixed up in the mess and is sent to the Middle Ages, was a perfect blend of irritating and irresistible. Even the characters that don't share as much page space were memorable... personally, I loved the seven dwarves (the way that they spoke to Snow White was just wonderful). Who knows, maybe you'll end up falling for the mysterious Black Knight!

All in all, a delightfully entertaining read of love, magic and humour.

Cover Comments: I love the crossed out 'Fairy' haha. Poor Chrissy to have that constant reminder looming over her head (HA. It is literally over her head here, you see? As always, I must ask you excuse my lameness). Loving the hair and the outfit!

4 stars out of 5

Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson

Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson

Add it: Goodreads
Source: Library
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Format: Paperback, 304 pages
Release Date: May 1, 2011

Three days before her drama club's trip to Italy, Jessa Gardner discovers her boyfriend in the costume barn with another girl. Jessa is left with a care package from her best friend titled "Top Twenty Reasons He's a Slimy Jerk Bastard," instructing her to do one un-Jessa-like thing each day of the trip. At turns hilarious and heartwrenching, Instructions for a Broken Heart paints a magical Italy in which Jessa learns she must figure out life-and romance-for herself.

A quick and enjoyable read awaits you in this contemporary novel.

Jessa Gardner is on the trip of her lifetime. She's been waiting to travel to Italy for as long as she can remember and finally the tme has arrived! It's too bad that instead of enjoying it with her boyfriend like she had planned to, she's being forced to spend it watching him and the girl he cheated on her with. This an easy kind of read. I wouldn't really classify it as a romance, although I'm sure many would disagree with me on that front. To me, it was more of a novel of self-discovery and being able to do it in the beautiful country of Italy was a huge bonus.

The descriptions of Italy were probably one of my favourite aspects of the novel. Even more than physical landmarks, Kim Culbertson manages to describe the atmosphere and feelings. It has me itching to hop on a plane!

Jessa as a character... confused me. I went back and forth with her a lot and although in the end I had more positive feelings than negative ones, there were a lot of times while reading that I got frustrated. Jessa's thoughts and actions are kind of all over the place. Understandable, considering her situation, but still a little jarring to read through. There's also the fact that when Jessa feels something, it hits you like a ton of bricks because of how deep it runs. Drama school indeed!

The supporting cast definitely made the novel interesting. Tyler, one of Jessa's best friends, was undoubtedly my favourite character. He puts up with a lot but still manages to keep up the friendly, supportive attitude. Carissa, Jessa's other best friend, I feel considerably less warm towards. There were moments I liked her and moments I understood her, but mostly I was just thinking that I hoped my best friend would never act like that with me.

Finally, Dylan Thomas! He had such great potential to be this smart, amazing guy that I felt we rarely got to see. He definitely wasn't shown enough for my liking and I would have liked to dig a bit deeper into his head.

Set with a stunning backdrop, Instructions for a Broken Heart is a novel about finding yourself when it seems like you've lost everything.

Cover Comments: It's cute! I'm a little confused as to why Jessa is wearing a coat but I like the overall effect :)

3.5 stars out of 5

Waiting on Wednesday (41)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. The purpose of the event is to spotlight the upcoming releases that readers are most looking forward to.

This week, I've chosen:

 

Storm by Brigid Kemmerer
Add it: Goodreads
Publisher: Kensington
Format: Paperback, 432 pages
Release Date: April 24, 2012
 

Earth, Fire, Air, Water – they have more power than you dream.

Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her, Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys—all the ones she doesn't want. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water—just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They’re powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.

Secrets are hard to keep when your life’s at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who’s hiding the most dangerous truth of all.

The storm is coming . . .

Reasons I must have this book:

1) The first chapter that was posted. fjshdfkjhsfkjh so good already.
2) The cover... holy hotness.
3) Brodie's amazing review.
4) Lisa's amazing review.
5) Sarah's amazing review.
6) I HAVE BEEN PROMISED FIVE HOT GUYS.

Sold.

Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers

Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers

Add it: Goodreads
Source: Won
Publisher: Tor Teen
Format: Paperback, 400 pages
Release Date: July 5, 2011

Luc Cain was born and raised in Hell, but he isn’t feeling as demonic as usual lately—thanks to Frannie Cavanaugh and the unique power she never realized she had. But you can’t desert Hell without consequences, and suddenly Frannie and Luc find themselves targeted by the same demons who used to be Luc’s allies.

Left with few options, Frannie and Luc accept the protection of Heaven and one of its most powerful angels, Gabe. Unfortunately, Luc isn’t the only one affected by Frannie, and it isn’t long before Gabe realizes that being around her is too…tempting. Rather than risk losing his wings, he leaves Frannie and Luc under the protection of her recently-acquired guardian angel.

Which would be fine, but Gabe is barely out the door before an assortment of demons appears—and they’re not leaving without dragging Luc back to Hell with them. Hell won’t give up and Heaven won’t give in. Frannie’s guardian exercises all the power he has to keep them away, but the demons are willing to hurt anyone close to Frannie in order to get what they want. It will take everything she has and then some to stay out of Hell’s grasp.

And not everyone will get out of it alive.

After the thrill ride that was Personal Demons, I had high hopes for Original Sin... hopes that Lisa Desrochers obliterated. I loved this sequel!

It really hit me in this installment just how much I like Frannie. She's so different from the kind of heroine I normally read about. I love her genuine strength and capability. She's tough, she knows it, and she makes sure that everyone else is perfectly aware that she can take care of herself. Not bad when you're thrown into the situations Frannie finds herself in!

Luc and Gabriel are literally polar opposites and although Luc is the more popular choice and definitely more present in the actual novel, I still remain 100% Team Gabe. I just can't help but fall in love with him... he's beautiful. That doesn't mean that I couldn't appreciate Luc though! So many of the scenes he shares with Frannie are scorching hot and (for the most part) I love the direction Lisa Desrochers is taking their relationship.

There are also two "new" characters in this novel (although one isn't really new, I suppose). Luc's new neighbour and Frannie's new Guardian are both characters that brought up some pretty strong emotions in me. I'll let you read and decide which end of the scale the emotions fell on!

Interested in drama? Look no further! This book presents you with so many twists and turns that it's almost overwhelming at points. There is always something going on and the stakes are raised continuously. This is definitely a good book if you're in the mood for some excitement! Of course, the ending adds to that... holy wow. Can I have Last Rite like this very second?

 Cover Comments: Well... it's better than the cover for Personal Demons :P I am really not a fan of the cover for this book or the last one but I DO like the cover for Last Rite a lot more (YAY!). Aaaand, this cover seems to imply that there's lots of Gabe... not true, sadly.

In My Mailbox (19)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren which gives bloggers a chance to share the books, swag, etc. that they've received each week.

--
This IMM is for the past few weeks and WOAH is it crazy. Take a look at the new additions to my bookshelf!

The Green Man by Michael Bedard

Noah Barleywater Runs Away by John Boyne

Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale

You Against Me by Jenny Downham

BZRK by Michael Grant

Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom by Susin Nielson

The Dragon Turn by Shane Peacock

The Taming by Teresa Toten and Eric Walters

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bartugo (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama

Delirium by Lauren Oliver (finally, I have the special edition!)

A Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Okay, so I have to give Random House Canada the biggest possible thank you. On Wednesday, they hosted a YA Blogger event at their office and it was tons of fun! The first 8 books (that's the entire left side) are from the event and 3 of them are signed. THANK YOU, RANDOM HOUSE <3333 I can't wait to read aaaaall of them! Ooh, and check out this fabulous new bag I got:

Then we have an ARC of Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bartugo. Colossal, sparkly rainbows of gratitude to Mimi AKA the sweetest girl in this world for sending me her extra copy -- I'll be reading it ASAP!

Delirium, A Witch in Winter and Monstrous Beauty are giveaway prizes won from the Valentines event that Brodie and Lisa hosted back in February. Aren't they gorgeous? <3 *hugs*



And, as always, a million thank yous to my library for being awesome.

I hope you had a fantastic reading week!

The Storm Makers by Jennifer E. Smith

The Storm Makers by Jennifer E. Smith

Add it: Goodreads
Source: Publisher for review
Publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
Format: Hardcover, 384 pages
Release Date: April 3, 2012

Enter the world of The Storm Makers, where there's magic behind every forecast.

What starts as an ordinary summer turns exciting and perilous for twins Ruby and Simon when strange occurrences begin happening on their farm -- sudden gusts of wind, rainstorms, and even tornado warnings -- that seem eerily timed to Simon's emotions.

Then a stranger arrives and tells the twins that Simon is a Storm Maker -- part of a clandestine group of people entrusted with controlling and taming the weather -- and that he is in great danger. Soon Simon and Ruby must race against the clock as they try to master Simon's powers in time to stop a rogue Storm Maker's treacherous -- and potentially deadly -- plans.

In this thrilling new adventure, loyalties can shift as quickly as the wind... and the ordinary can turn extraordinary in the blink of an eye.

Enter the world of The Storm Makers, where there's magic behind every forecast.

Ruby and Simon are having a typical summer. They're adjusting to a somewhat new city, the weather is just a little too hot and they're not as extraordinarily close as they were before, but for the most part, nothing too out of the ordinary has happened.

Until it does.

A real page-turner, The Storm Makers guides you through Ruby's life as she tries to adjust to the fact that her brother has the ability of control the weather. As I was reading this novel, I kept thinking to myself that it was such as interesting direction to have taken to have RUBY as the main focus of the story rather than Simon. In this case, I think that decision worked out really well and it was fascinating to get a peek into the mind of someone privy to all the action but not necessarily going through it first-hand. Ruby was such a great character: level-headed, logical and firm in her beliefs. I love that there was initially some jealousy of her brother's power but always also a love for him and desire for him to succeed. I love reading about twins!

If you're into magic, this is a book for you. I've always been intrigued by the elements and stories about people that worked with them on a magical level and so this was really a hit for me. I was so hooked on discovering some inside facts about the world of weather control and I really hope that this book has a sequel so that I can learn more!

Despite the fantastical elements, The Storm Makers seems a realistic and relatable novel in the characters and the progression of their talents. I can't wait for more!

Cover Comments: Sarah (saz101) mentioned that she thought this looked "Van Gogh-licious" and is that not SPOT-ON? I think so.

Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

Add it: Goodreads
Source: Raincoast Books for review
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Format: Hardcover, 369 pages
Release Date: March 6, 2012

It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before.

Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her.

A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…

I was hooked on to this book before the cover had even been released (and for the shallow person that I am when it comes to covers, this should say a lot!) but now find myself kind of torn as to how much I really enjoyed reading it.

Violet started off as a character that I could definitely relate to. Her motives for feeling things made sense to me and I appreciated the strong way she carried herself. Moving further along in the story though, I felt like she travelled farther and farther away from who she started off as. The whole situation with accepting her destiny and picking a guy (the love triangle is a dominating force of the book, I'd say) just felt drawn-out and rather dramatic to me by the end of it.

And ahh, the love triangle. Lincoln and Phoenix. For me, there's a clear winner, but I always seem to go for the good guy -- can you guess which one I prefer? The romance in the story was very compelling and although it got a little bit intense for me at times, I liked it overall. I'm looking forward to seeing how Violet's relationships with Lincoln and Phoenix progress!

That being said, I did really, really enjoy the mythology of the book, something that seems to be time and time again a saving force for me :) The angel lore was fascinating to read about and it's unlike any other paranormal novel I've read in that regard. There was enough revealed to keep me reading but I can tell that there's still more to share.

Jessica Shirvington's writing is solid and the pacing of the book was tight without feeling like an overload of action.

Recommended to fans of paranormal romance!

Cover Comments: It's so pretty and even more so in person! I love that they chose to make the background purple -- my favourite colour, so I'm a little biased -- and those wings are just stunning.

Blogspiration (3)

Blogspiration is a weekly meme hosted by GrowingUp YA & saz101. The meme was created to help spark inspiration among bloggers, readers & writers alike. An inspirational quote/picture/video is posted weekly, on the day of the author's choosing, so that it may inspire creativity, conversation & just a little SOMETHING.

This week I thought we'd do things Potter Style! Not that I have yet to do a Blogspiration post that wasn't Potter Style but... you know what I mean.

 

Source: weheartit

I've always liked the idea of choice and that what you're born with doesn't dictate who you are. My man Dumbledore acknowledges that we are human and therefore not perfect but doesn't hesitate in saying that our actions speak louder than anything we may be thinking.

What inspires YOU? And hey... you have all read HP, right? *stares*

Fever by Lauren DeStefano

SPOILERS FOR WITHER (BOOK 1) IN THIS REVIEW!

Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Add it: Goodreads
Source: Library
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Format: Hardcover, 341 pages
Release Date: February 21, 2012

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.

In a story that is just as, if not more, bone-chilling and evocative as its predecessor, Fever makes for a stunning sequel.

If you thought that the excitement was over with Wither, think again. Even though Rhine and Gabriel have managed to escape the mansion, the 'real world' is no less frightening and they soon find themselves in the hands of a twisted ringmistress. In her domain, the 'carnival' is more of a brothel and things don't look so great for Rhine and Gabriel.

Rhine is such a strong heroine. In a world where life is precious and there isn't time to lose, I find it so refreshing that she takes charge of the situation and acts despite the fear she may feel. It's said a couple of times in the novel that Rhine likes to take care of everyone and I think it's a pretty accurate statement. I can't wait to see where Rhine leads the story in the next book!

This series is one of the few with a love triangle where I can honestly say I find myself conflicted in which guy I prefer. Gabriel is caring and sweet but also kind of dull for me. Linden has some unidentifiable quality that I like but then there's the obvious reasons of him being so naive that I can't get over. I guess I don't really feel like either of these guys are worthy of Rhine yet... I'll be happy with whoever she picks.

One thing that I can see myself repeating over and over again is that I am in love with Lauren DeStefano's writing. It's elegant and gorgeous and I love how she can bring out the hope in one of the most bleak universes I've ever read about. Speaking of bleak... Housemaster Vaughn is back and creepy as ever! The story definitely has an edge of terror with him as an ever-looming threat and I love to hate him.

Magnificent!

Cover Comments: When this cover was first revealed, I think all of us were a little startled. I mean, the colours are kind of bizarre and what is up with Rhine? Now that I've read the book though, I have to say that I think it's perfect.

There are spoilers below if you haven't yet read the book:

A guy I was talking to actually said that Rhine looked like she had been drugged and was having hallucinations. I guess the cover gets the desired reaction, eh? ;)

5/5

(What do you guys think of the crowns? I've been trying to come up with something to use for my rating system and I'm trying this one out. Feedback is, as always, very much appreciated!) 

Waiting on Wednesday (40)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. The purpose of the event is to spotlight the upcoming releases that readers are most looking forward to.

This week, I've chosen:

 

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
Add it: Goodreads
Publisher: Random House BFYR
Format: Hardcover, 370 pages
Release Date: September 11, 2012

Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

Let's pretend I'm not a huge Sarah Rees Brennan fan.

I AM STILL DYING TO READ THIS BOOK. DYING, I TELL YOU!

The fact is that I am actually a lover of SRB's work and I know this will be fabulous as well. Seriously though, forgetting all of that... look at the summary! IMAGINARY FRIENDS AND MYSTERY AND A TOWN NAMED SORRY-IN-THE-VALE. It sounds magical and I can't wait to read it.

What are you impatiently waiting for? 

Blogspiration (2)

Blogspiration is a weekly meme hosted by GrowingUp YA & saz101. The meme was created to help spark inspiration among bloggers, readers & writers alike. An inspirational quote/picture/video is posted weekly, on the day of the author's choosing, so that it may inspire creativity, conversation & just a little SOMETHING.





The topic for this week was:

"What is your favorite literary quote?" Think about that ONE quote that speaks to your soul? The one you've considered tattooing onto your body? or the one you've plastered all over the walls of your...um, heart?

***

My initial thought was: OH NO, HOW WILL I CONDENSE THE ENTIRE HARRY POTTER SERIES INTO ONE POST? Then rational thoughts started making themselves known in my brain and I figured that probably wasn't a feasible idea.

So, okay, my number one quote because I'm being forced to pick! I don't know, this one below has always really stood out to me and (of course) it's from the genius Albus Dumbledore.

"Of house-elves and children's tales, of love, loyalty, and innocence, Voldemort knows and understands nothing. Nothing. That they all have a power beyond his own, a power beyond the reach of any magic, is a truth he has never grasped."

You said it, Queen Rowling.

Some other quotes that I love with ALL MY HEART are:

"Whatever you are physically, male or female, strong or weak, ill or healthy--all those things matter less than what your heart contains. If you have the soul of a warrior, you are a warrior. All those other things, they are the glass that contains the lamp, but you are the light inside."
- Jem, Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare 

Jem darling, I knew there was a reason you were at the very top of my list :)

*

“Happiness. It was the place where passion, with all its dazzle and drumbeat, met something softer: homecoming and safety and pure sunbeam comfort. It was all those things, intertwined with the heat and the thrill, and it was as bright within her as a swallowed star.”
- Karou, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

There were sosososo many quotes I could have taken from this book but I always seem to like the ones about happiness.

*

And finally... because I must end off with HP...

"It is our choices, Harry, that show who we truly are, far more than our abilities."
- Dumbledore (AGAIN!), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

 Are there any bookish quotes that inspire you? DAZZLE ME.