Music Matching Monday: The Crown

SYNOPSIS:

When Eadlyn became the first princess of Illéa to hold her own Selection, she didn’t think she would fall in love with any of her thirty-five suitors. She spent the first few weeks of the competition counting down the days until she could send them all home. But as events at the palace force Eadlyn even further into the spotlight, she realizes that she might not be content remaining alone.

Eadlyn still isn’t sure she’ll find the fairytale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible—and more important—than she ever imagined. 

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I'm still not entirely over how much I loved this book so I thought I'd pair a song with this book to help with the process. I absolutely adore this series, especially this book and how the ending played out! Totally didn't expect it! The whole point of Eadlyn having her Selection is obviously to find a husband to rule alongside her when it's her time to take the throne and rule her kingdom. However, Eadlyn is set is not falling in love, completely determined to rule on her own no matter what happens. Of course, she ends up developing feelings for a few suitors, particularly one who she can't seem to stop thinking about. Eadlyn soon discovers that maybe falling in love isn't such a bad thing after all. So, with that being said, I hope you guys enjoy the song I chose to pair with this lovely book.

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YEAH BOY by Kelsea Ballerini

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The Selection by Kiera Cass (The Selection #1)

Add It To Goodreads!

SYNOPSIS: 

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Read on, bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

 

Review: The BFG by Roald Dahl

The BFG by Roald Dahl

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Rating: G

Genre: Children's, Fantasy

Score: 4.5 stars

Page Count: 194

Stand Alone

Publisher: Puffin

Published: June 16, 2016 (first published 1982)

THE BFG by Roald Dahl, now a major new movie directed by Steven Spielberg.
The well-loved story of a big friendly giant who spirits a child out of bed to the land of the child-eating giants.

Every night, when the world is sleeping, big gruesome giants guzzle up whoppsy-whiffling human beans. And there's only one giant who can stop them - the BFG. He's the kindest giant there is and, with his friend Sophie in his top pocket, he sets out to rid the world of the Bloodbottler, the Fleshlumpeater and all their rotsome friends forever . . .

Listen to THE BFG and other Roald Dahl audiobooks read by some very famous voices, including Kate Winslet, David Walliams and Steven Fry - plus there are added squelchy soundeffects from Pinewood Studios!

Look out for new Roald Dahl apps in the App store and Google Play- including the disgusting TWIT OR MISS! inspired by the revolting Twits. 

Review:

PROS:

1. When I first read this book when I was a wee seven-year-old I fell in love with the story. The idea of a big friendly giant who blew dreams out of a trumpet into children's bedrooms was one I found absolutely entertaining and for a while, I wondered if that was how dreams actually came about. So, when the movie was officially announced I knew I just had to reread the story for old time's sake. Here's the review!

2. The characters in this book are nothing but loveable and classic. Sophie is the typical little girl who is full of curiosity and adventure and is seriously the cutest thing ever. The BFG is also very loveable with his enormous ears and funny way of talking who loves children and finds a friend in little Sophie. Together, they learn about each other's world and the different ways of living while also figuring out a way to get around all the other giants and learning that there's always a little bit of magic waiting to be discovered. 

3. I've always loved the illustrations in a Roald Dahl book so this one was no different. I think the reason why I love the illustrations so much is simply because they're adorable. They don't hold a lot of detail and are very simple in the way they're drawn with only a few lines here and there to give an outline of what they should look like. It reminds me of something a child might draw which brings innocence into his books that I find very refreshing.

4. I think The BFG is a timeless classic for children's books and is full of adventure and wonder and had me laughing at the situations and conversations that Sophie and the BFG got into. I think any child would enjoy this book and the pictures strewed throughout so if you haven't yet read this book or are looking for a new children's book to read, definitely pick this one up for yourself or your kid if you have one or know one. 

I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! Do you plan on seeing the movie in theaters on July 1? What is your favorite children's book? Let me know in the comments! Read on, bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

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Fantasy Favourites Read-a-Thon Intro Post!

Hello, everybody! Today is a fun little post for the Fantasy Favourites Read-a-Thon hosted by Olivia from Olivia's Catastrophe and Inge and Aly from Of Wonderland so I'm super excited for this one! Anyhoo, today, as part of one of the challenges for this read-a-thon I'll be telling you guys my reading goals as well as maybe letting you know a little more about me that you probably didn't know before.

Disclaimer: If you're new to my blog, HI. I'm very weird and you're really cool and I love books. Now that we have any potential introductions out of the way, let's get on with this post!

1. Who are you?
My name is Anissa, you can call me Anne if that's easier, and I LOVE books. Duh. I love writing, sketching, math, and I'm borderline OCD. Because you needed to know that. I also love coffee, Netflix, and have a really big crush on Nick Wylde at the moment. Oh, and I love Disney. I promise I'm seventeen.

2. Why are you joining the read-a-thon?
I simply thought it would be fun because I love fantasy books and don't read as many of them as I would like to. I also thought it would help give me the boost I need to finally read Percy Jackson at long last. Yay!

3. Which books do you intend to read?
THESE ONES!

4. How many pages do you think you’ll manage?
I'm hoping to read just as much as possible so I'll be shooting for 500 pages. That's a safe number, right? I don't want to set my goal too high since this summer I'm working on some other creative projects but I still hope to get a lot of reading done.

5. What’s your favourite thing about the fantasy genre?
I have to say I love the fantasy genre because nothing is impossible or out of the ordinary. Not really, anyway. Fantasy is all about letting your imagination run rapid with all the ideas that you wish were real. For instance, if I lived in Middle Earth, I'd finally have a pet dragon. Like, yes, please!

6. Which fantasy books do you always recommend?
I'm guilty of always recommending the same books over and over again. But when you have a book you really love, you tend to want everyone on earth to read the same book. For me, my fantasy favorite is The Young Elites by Marie Lu. Maybe it's just because I adore dark fantasy but this book was so up my alley! Given, it broke me into about a million pieces but I still loved it!

7. Which fantasy books are you dying to read?
Ugh, there are so many out there in the world! Let's just stick with these titles for now:



8. If you could travel to one fantasy world, which one would it be (I know it’s hard, but try not to say Hogwarts.)

Since I've never read Harry Potter, I don't exactly wish to go to Hogwarts. I know, I know, shame on me. But my number one answer is and forever will be Narnia. Ever since I saw the first movie in theaters I was just entranced by the world and I think it pretty much was the start of my love for fantasy. I adore the movies and I'm so excited for the next one! If I could find an antique wardrobe in an old house or furniture shop, I would honestly go inside of it. Let me dream.

So, that's my post for today! What fantasy book is your favorite? I would love any recommendations if you have any. Read on, bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

If You Like This, Try This! Book Recommendations!

Today, I'm back with even more recommendations for you guys! Because who doesn't like recommendations, right? It's not a new thing to see certain trends in books take off for a season where everyone seems to read the exact same things in either the same genre, same currently trending trope, general new releases, etc. So, I thought I'd compile a list of books that I think you as a reader might enjoy if you've read any of these books and are looking for more or less of the same story whether it be a summer romance or something to give you nightmares. We all go through our moods for the books we feel like reading so I thought why not help make your TBR bigger?

If you have any recommendations for me to consider, please leave them in the comments! I always welcome new books to my shelf! Probably more than I need but who's counting?

   

Both of these books tell the story of a young girl escaping to a different city in a different country. One being Paris and the other being Korea. I adored both of these books since they're both swoony romances, fun to read, have the cutest covers, and in my personal opinion, are the perfect blend of self-discovery and falling in love while making new friends along the way. Did I mention they have cute covers?

Add "Anna" On Goodreads! --- Add "Hello, I Love You" On Goodreads!

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These books both have to do with a world out of the ordinary and are both full of crazy experiences, creepy old photos, and are shrouded in mystery with many twists and turns along the way. I loved both of these books and both series are very addicting! If you want a haunting read that is perfect for a late night with all the lights on. try picking these up if you haven't already.

Add "Miss Peregrine's" On Goodreads! --- Add "Asylum" On Goodreads!

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If you love aliens and sci-fi adventures, stop right here. Both books are about such subjects, one being more of an apocalyptic adventure and the other being more along the lines of mystery and horror with an ending that's sure to leave your jaw dropping. Just when you think you know what's going on, both books will offer some surprises and plot twists that you weren't expecting.

Add "The 5th Wave" On Goodreads! --- Add "172 Hours" On Goodreads!

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If you're like me and you love a good book about mental illnesses and rare sicknesses, then these books are ones I highly recommend! Both tell the story of a girl with an illness that I personally have not seen a lot of in YA books. One dealing with schizophrenia and the other dealing with a disease that makes the main character allergic to the world, literally. Both books are heartbreaking, eye-opening, and such interesting stories with some surprising revelations that will make you want to reread it as soon as you finish. At least, that's the effect they had on me.

Add "Made You Up" On Goodreads! --- Add "Everything, Everything" On Goodreads!

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Which books look most interesting to you? And do you have your own recommendation to go along with these? Let me know in the comments! Read on, bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

Music Matching Monday: Code Name Verity

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Oct. 11th, 1943-A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun.

When "Verity" is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn't stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she's living a spy's worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution.

As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage, failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy? 

A Michael L. Printz Award Honor book that was called "a fiendishly-plotted mind game of a novel" in The New York Times,Code Name Verity is a visceral read of danger, resolve, and survival that shows just how far true friends will go to save each other

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For this book, I thought I'd pair it with a song that had something to do with some sort of war, planes or anything having to do with feeling imprisoned but yet a fighter which is the main point of this book. I chose a song that talked about feeling like you're drowning, calling out mayday when it feels like you're going down but having no one to rescue you. I adore this song and this artist and I hope you guys think it goes well with Code Name Verity, especially since the music video was inspired by Amelia Earhart. Enjoy!

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MAYDAY by Cam

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Read on, bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

Review: Queen Of Hearts by Colleen Oakes (Queen Of Hearts Saga #1)

Queen Of Hearts by Colleen Oakes (Queen Of Hearts Saga #1)

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Rating: PG-13

Genre: Fantasy, Retelling, Fairy Tale

Score: 3.5 stars

Page Count: 306

Book #1 of the Queen Of Hearts Saga

Publisher: HarperTeen

Published: May 3, 2016

As Princess of Wonderland Palace and the future Queen of Hearts, Dinah’s days are an endless monotony of tea, tarts, and a stream of vicious humiliations at the hands of her father, the King of Hearts. The only highlight of her days is visiting Wardley, her childhood best friend, the future Knave of Hearts — and the love of her life.

When an enchanting stranger arrives at the Palace, Dinah watches as everything she’s ever wanted threatens to crumble. As her coronation date approaches, a series of suspicious and bloody events suggests that something sinister stirs in the whimsical halls of Wonderland. It’s up to Dinah to unravel the mysteries that lurk both inside and under the Palace before she loses her own head to a clever and faceless foe.

Part epic fantasy, part twisted fairy tale, this dazzling saga will have readers shivering as Dinah's furious nature sweeps Wonderland up in the maelstrom of her wrath.

Familiar characters such as Cheshire, the White Rabbit, and the Mad Hatter make their appearance, enchanting readers with this new, dark take on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. 

Review:

PROS:

1. First off, can we just appreciate the cover art? Like, oh my goodness. I was pretty much sold on this book when I first heard about its release because of the fact that it's a retelling of Alice in Wonderland, more specifically, a retelling of the Queen Of Hearts. I'm becoming more of a fan of Alice every day and now that there are so many Wonderland retellings coming out within the next year, I really wanted to start by reading this book. Here's the review:

2. I thought the characters were so interesting and they were all dark and whimsical just like you'd expect. I liked the characters because they reminded me a lot of the Tim Burton representations. Dinah aka the future Queen Of Hearts, is more or less the hero of this story. She's a teenager getting ready to take her father's throne one day in order to be a better ruler than he ever was. She was very determined to stay out of her father's way but was also set on challenging him whenever she thought it was worth it. She was also very loyal to her friends which was a nice element to the villain we've come to know her as. This retelling did a great job as portraying Dinah in more a hero sense.

Her father was very abusive and you can't help but hate the guy's guts. He was quick to put Dinah in her place using fear and physical abuse as a way to do that. Charles was easily my favorite character in the book, a familiar character that you already know and love. He was innocent and Dinah would do anything in order to protect him from the world and her own father.

3. I liked the world of the book, though I wish there was a little more detail about it since I thought it had a lot of potential. It was definitely dark and had a gothic feel and a place I'd be both excited to visit and terrified to venture through. It seemed like a world in which only nightmares lived and that was greatly expressed with the Black Towers and the areas surrounding the palace. There were also interesting creatures such as the Hornhooves and the general feel of the book was both scary and thrilling but also fun and full of wonder and whimsy. 

4. Lastly, I enjoyed it overall. It was a promising start to this series and having read the first pages of the next book in the series, I'm intrigued on what will happen next to the Queen Of Hearts. It's a book I'd recommend to anyone looking for a darker read on a playful subject and of course, to fans of Alice In Wonderland if you want to explore this retelling of Dinah.

The reason I didn't give this book a five-star rating was because it was a bit slow. It didn't pick up the pace for me until about 3/4 of the way into the book and I did find myself getting a little bored in some parts of the book. The ending was a nice one, though it also wasn't something I found amazing. I couldn't really connect with any of the characters but I still enjoyed their story. 

So, I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! Is there a retelling you can't wait to read? What fairytale would you like to read a retelling of? Let me know in the comments! Read on, bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

Book UNhaul #1

Hello! So since I've been buying a few books lately, probably buying more than I should and walking the line between abiding by my book buying ban and going overboard, I thought I'd share with you guys the books I will be UNhauling within the next few weeks.

These books are ones I'm giving away for various reasons which I'll be discussing later. I've been giving away quite a few books since June of last year and little by little I clear off books from my shelf that I feel have been there for long enough. I want to clear some space for the books I currently have on the way as well as future books that I know I'm going to read.

I don't want to give away my books, I never really do. But at some point, you have to think about if you really are going to read it or if you're just telling yourself you'll read it one day and never do. There are even books on my shelf that I have read, didn't really care for, yet still have them sitting on my shelves. That is another problem for another day so let's just get into the books I know are hopefully going to better homes.

These first few books I'm giving away are the Chronicles Of Narnia books #6 and #4. The reason I'm giving these away is simply because I plan on purchasing a box set of the series since I desperately want to read it but I just can't stand that these two are different bindings and don't match at all. I really hope to get my hands on the entire series soon!

The other two books I'm giving away are Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards and Unremembered by Jessica Brody. I actually enjoyed Three Rivers Rising when I first read it but I'm not keeping it because I just don't see myself ever rereading it. It wasn't a book that stuck with me, only a one-time read. 

For Unremembered, I first bought it thinking it sounded like it could be a really cool mystery book since I'm a sucker for those and thrillers. However, soon after buying it I started hearing from other readers some very bad reviews of this book, some even saying it just wasn't worth my time. So, after thinking long and hard, I'm finally adding it to my giveaway pile. If you think I should consider giving it a second chance, though, please let me know in the comments!

This pile of books consists of these titles:

▪ Into The Shadows by Troy Taylor

▪ The Flame Tree by Richard Lewis

▪ The Watcher In The Woods by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

▪ The Restless Dead by Various Authors

▪ Jackie by Kathryn Dixon

▪ The Incas: People Of The Sun

Most of these books I honestly just lost interest in or they were cover buys. The cover buy was for Jackie and The Incas but at the time, I was also interested in reading them, more so the Incas. I love reading about anything having to do with ancient civilizations since I find them fascinating but there are also a lot of documentaries I've found that are about those topics so I no longer feel like I want to read The Incas: People Of The Sun. 

These next couple of books are rather popular so don't bring out the pitchforks just yet. The reason I'm giving away Daughter Of Smoke and Bone and Days Of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor is because I no longer have any interest in reading the last book nor do I want to reread the books. BUT that doesn't mean I didn't love them, because I do. VERY MUCH. Laini is such an inspiration to me because her writing style is so poetic and I couldn't have loved these books more than I did when I read them. But, having waited too long to find the last book, I realized I just didn't want to read it anymore. So sad.

This next book is a very strange case that I don't really feel like delving into so I'll just quickly give a reason. I tried reading The Diviners by Libba Bray in October of last year and I was so excited to read it because of it being set in the 1920's in New York. YES, PLEASE. However, I was unable to read past the first two chapters because I kept getting panic attacks while reading it. I'm still not entirely sure the reasons, maybe it's just because of the tone of the book or the amount of dark anticipation but I can't keep a book if I can't read it. Which makes me very sad.

These books are also very popular and very, very loved. I, however, cannot stand these books anymore. I have reviews for both of these books that will fill you in on the reasons why I dislike them so much. Moving on.

These two books, AirHead and Being Nikki by Meg Cabot, are books one and two in the Airhead series which was recommended to me by a friend who really loved these books. I liked the first one well enough but I just honestly don't care enough to continue on with the series. It's a neat idea for a book, a contemporary sci-fi story, but I was just a little bored throughout the first book.

I don't doubt this series is good but I know I won't be reading the next two books.

And the last book of this unhaul is Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler. I'm giving this book away because it was just so darn sad and depressing that there is no way I'll be rereading it. Ever. Never again. 

You could argue that since this book is so sad, then why have I read The Fault In Our Stars twice? The answer to that question is . . . no idea. Just go with it. 

So that's it for this unhaul! Do you have a specific book you plan on giving away? Are you currently trying to sort through your own shelves to give some of them away to make room for new books? Let me know and we can summer clean together!

Read on, bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

Book Talk #7: Popular Books That Fell Flat For Me

Hello, everybody! As you could tell by the title of this post, today I'll be discussing a list of popular books that everyone and their mother has read that just didn't live up to the hype for me personally. I'm really sorry if anyone gets offended if you're favorite book is in this post, I know I get a little sad when my favorite book is someone else's least favorite but we're all entitled to our own opinions. 

As a side note, have no shame in loving one of these books or all of them. I don't about you guys, but I always get a little agitated when other readers make fun of someone for loving a book they personally didn't like. For me, these books just weren't what I was hoping for, expecting, or just weren't my cup of tea. If these are some of your favorite books, good for you! Now, let's get started!

1. Throne Of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (TOG #1)

Review: Throne Of Glass

Why It Fell Flat: Even though I did like the characters and the storyline and the world building in this book, based on the hype this book was getting I was expecting it to be spectacular, the best book I could ever read in my lifetime. That was sadly not the case.

I don't really know why I didn't end up loving it, maybe because I just couldn't connect with the characters or I felt that there weren't enough fantasy elements. I did think it was a cool book but since I was let down by it, I don't really have the drive to continue the series at this time. I do plan on picking up the second book in this series but it's not my top priority.

2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (THG #1)


Review: The Hunger Games

Why It Fell Flat: I will admit, I got pretty annoyed with this series when the movie first came out. I get that a ton of people were excited about it but when it came to turning around at the store and seeing Hunger Games this and Hunger Games that, it got a little overwhelming. Which is why I think I avoided the series for so long until I was sure I could give it a fair chance.

Fast forward three years and I finally picked up the book. As with the whole point of this post, it just didn't live up to the hype. I found it boring and didn't like any of the characters nor did I really care what happened to them. Since reading the first book, I've gotten around to reading the second one but I'm still struggling to bring myself to read the last one. One day I'll read it . . . hopefully.

3. The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken (TDM #1)


Review: The Darkest Minds

Why It Fell Flat: First off, now that I look at my review for this book, I couldn't disagree with it more. I think at the time, I really did love it but now that I've discovered other books and kind of figured out exactly what I like about a book, I no longer feel the same about it.

I honestly don't remember a single thing from the story, the characters names, or even what the plot of the book is. The only thing I remember is that it's dystopian and had a decent ending. Other than that, I'm not sure how I feel about it anymore. Since reading it, I've given the book away to a friend who really wanted to read it so maybe one day I'll consider rereading it? Maybe even continue to the series?

4. If I Stay by Gayle Forman (If I Stay #1)


Review: If I Stay

Why It Fell Flat: Once again, not an accurate review anymore. At the time, I think I liked it and I still really wish I loved it but now that I've read other books over the years, I just don't feel the same anymore about this book. Has that ever happened to anyone else? I feel like it's happened to me plenty now that I think about it.

I just find the story boring now and no longer care about the characters. They seem really annoying to me and I think I realized that when I actually saw the movie when it first came out. I think the movie honestly ruined it for me which a sad thing. I don't know if I'll ever read the second book but what we'll see what happens, right?

5. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey (The 5th Wave #1)


Review: The 5th Wave

Why It Fell Flat: Luckily, I read this book before I started hearing the hype so I salvaged as much of my honest feelings about it as possible. Still, this book just wasn't all that for me. I just thought it rambled on a little too much and thought Cassie's entire section of the book was boring. I much preferred Ben's POV since, well, it was actually exciting. That goes for the movie too.

Once again, I don't know at all if I'll ever read the next books in the series so I'm still debating whether to just move on with my life or give it another shot with reading the next book.

So I hope you all enjoyed this post! Is there a popular book that just fell flat for you for some reason? If so, which one was it? Read on, bookworms! See you in the next chapter!