Melinda's favourites book montage

The Mark of Athena
The Son of Neptune
The Lost Hero
The Last Olympian
The Battle of the Labyrinth
The Titan's Curse
The Sea of Monsters
The Lightning Thief
Throne of Glass
City of Glass
The Red Pyramid
City of Ashes
City of Bones
The Golden Door
The Farseekers
Obernewtyn
The Poison Diaries
Mockingjay
Catching Fire
The Hunger Games


Melinda's favorite books »

Sunday, 19 May 2013

Wrap-up/Preview

My first full week back on blogging and what a week it was!

What happened on the blog this week?

As I am still going strong on my book buying ban, I have not bought any new books. Neither have I received any review books and I am still waiting for a couple of books to come into my library. 

What will happen on the blog next week?
Monday - Bout of Books wrap-up post
Tuesday - Review: Runes by Ednah Walters
Thursday - Review: Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
Saturday - Seven on Saturday: Books that I would want with me if I was stranded on a deserted island
Sunday - Wrap-up/Preview

Bout of Books update
Currently Reading: Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta and Why I Let My Hair Grow Out by Maryrose Wood
Pages read of Current Read: 186 and 134, respectively.
Total Pages read: 993
Books read: 3
Goal: 4

Hope you all had a great week!

Mel.

Seven on Saturday: Book Worlds that I want to live in!


This weeks topic on Seven on Saturday was the top seven book worlds that I wanted to live, so in no particular order, they are:

1. Hogwarts (Harry Potter series)
Ever since I first read Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, I really wanted to go to Hogwarts and be sorted into a house. I wanted to learn magic and play quidditch.

2. Narnia (Chronicles of Narnia)
I would love to live in Narnia, especially the Narnia when the Pevensies ruled after The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I would love to talk to animals and be friends with Mr. Tumnus and see the stone table.


3. Camp Half Blood (Percy Jackson and the Olympians series)

I would love to live at Camp-Half Blood. I would love to have a cabin to live in and cabin mates that were my brothers and sisters. I would love to play capture the flag and sit by the bonfire.


4. Alagaesia (Inheritance Cycle)

Probably the main reason why I would want to live in Alagaesia would be for the dragons. I would love to be a dragon rider and be connected to a dragon. I would also love to see the dwarves in Farthen Dur and the elves in Ellesmera.


5. Araluen (Ranger's Apprentice series)

The thing I loved the most about Araluen was the medieval feel. I would love to live at Castle Redmont or visit Malcolm in Grimsdell forest.


6. Keltor (Legendsong series)

Despite all the political turmoil happening in Keltor, I really feel like it would be such a magical and vibrant place to live.


7. Lumatere (The Lumatere Chronicles)

I would love to live in the Lumatere that is ruled by Isaboe and Finnikin. I think that it sounds like a beautiful place to live, even if it wouldn't be the easiest life. I would also love to have Isaboe as my Queen!

What book worlds would you like to live in?

Mel.

Bout of Books Update
Current read: Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
Pages read of current read: 186
Total pages read: 667
Books read: 2
Goal: 4

Up next: Wrap-up/Preview

Friday, 17 May 2013

Review: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Synopsis (from Goodreads)
In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street—and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends.
With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them. 
Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do? 
As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.
Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2)
Clockwork Prince is the second book of The Infernal Devices, here being my review for the first. I really enjoyed going back into the world of shadow hunters and discovering more about Tessa, Will, Jem and the other characters.

Firstly, I have to say that Cassandra Clare really knows how to write endings. The ending of Clockwork Prince was very much a surprise for me and had me yelling, “Wait! What?” which probably surprised my housemates. I am really eager now to get my hands on a copy of Clockwork Princess as soon as I possibly can.

I kind of felt that this book was kind of a fill-in book. I felt like there was no major event in the story just an accumulation of minor ones. I felt that the book is here to tie-up loose plot ends of Clockwork Angel, and to set-up the scene for Clockwork Princess. In saying that though, I still really liked the story and we did learn a lot about the different characters. The plot wasn’t predictable and it didn’t feel slow either, I just felt that a major event was missing.

I love the complexity of the world that Cassandra Clare has created. It is so vivid and convincing and half the time I feel like it could exist. It is very easy to picture the world that Tessa is walking through and I feel that there is so much detail about it, yet none of it takes away from the pacing of the story.

I love how complex the characters are. There were many times throughout the book when I thought that I knew a character and then something would happen and I would have to change how I thought about them. I love that Tessa is not a whinny character and the she is strong and fairly independent, and quite a bit stubborn as well. I love Jem’s steadiness and loyalty, Charlotte’s kindness and Henry’s eccentricity. I think most of all I love Will’s complexity, he is broken in so many ways yet yeah manages to stay strong and loyal.

I have to say that I really like the romance. I am not a fan of love triangles, but this one is really well written. I don’t necessary like that there is a love triangle, because someone will get hurt and I don’t want that to happen, but I like that Tessa really does love both of them and how the choice is going to be very hard for her. It is one of the few love triangles that I think is well done. I also love Charlotte and Henry’s relationship. There was one scene in the book between the two that I cried reading because of the gorgeous fluff between them. I really hope that they end up happy together.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story, and I think that I have to say that I like The Infernal Devices more than The Mortal Instruments, because I feel I can connect to the characters better. I give Clockwork Prince 4/5 stars!

I read this book for the 2013 Sequel Reading Challenge.

Bout of Books read-a-thon update.
Currently Reading: Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
Pages read of current read: 90/593
Books read so far: 2
Goal: 4 books

Mel.

Up next - Seven on Saturday - Book Worlds that I want to live in

Wednesday, 15 May 2013

Review: Through the Door by Jodi McIsaac

Synopsis (from Goodreads)
It’s been seven years since the love of Cedar McLeod’s life left with no forwarding address. All she has left of him are heart-wrenching memories of happier times and a beautiful six-year-old daughter, Eden. Then, one day, Eden opens her bedroom door and unwittingly creates a portal that leads to anywhere she imagines.

But they’re not the only ones who know of Eden’s gift, and soon the child mysteriously vanishes.
Desperate for answers, Cedar digs into the past and finds herself thrust into a magical world of Celtic myths, fantastical creatures, and bloody rivalries. Teaming up with the unlikeliest of allies, Cedar must bridge the gap between two worlds and hold tight to the love in her heart…or lose everything to an ancient evil.
The first in the Thin Veil series, Through the Door is a pulse-pounding adventure that takes readers across the globe and deep into the hidden realms of Celtic lore.
Through the Door



I am still not really sure how I feel like this book. I found it to be a quick and easy read, and I liked it, but I felt that it was missing something. I really enjoyed the mixture of our modern day world with Celtic and Irish mythology.

When I read the synopsis, I was immediately intrigued by the idea. I felt that it could be a really interesting story if it was executed correctly. In terms of the plot, I did feel that it was well done, but there was a certain predictability that didn’t make the read as enjoyable as it could have been. I found that I was guessing what was going to happen before it did happen and not once was I surprised by the storyline. In saying that, I still enjoyed the story, it just wasn’t as captivating as I would have liked.

As I said earlier, I really liked the Celtic and Irish Mythology that was incorporated into the story. The addition of magic and mythical beings really added to the story. I felt that the mixture of mermaids, leprechauns, druids and old gods/fairies was really well balanced.

The writing style was reasonably good. I felt that sentence structure was good and made it easy to read. I did feel that maybe things were described in too much detail, or unnecessary things were mentioned. I felt that this took away from the pacing of the story, and I often found myself skimming through the descriptions because I wanted to know what was happening in the story.

Another thing that I didn’t really like was the changing in perspectives. I was never confused by which character’s point of view I was currently reading but it made the story feel a little choppy and I felt at times that the story was jumping around different time points of the story when we changed perspective.

I also felt that I couldn’t connect the characters that well. There were times in the story when I should have felt emotion and I didn’t really feel anything and I think it was because I couldn’t relate to the characters. It may be because I have never been in the character’s shoes, but that hasn’t really stopped me from connecting before. In saying that, I did like the characters. I felt that each character was an individual and there were no unnecessary characters. I liked that despite everything she had been through, Cedar was a strong character and I also liked how twisted Nuala was.

Overall it was a good read, but not a story that I felt was memorable. I give it 3/5 stars, because I did like the story, I just feel it could have been executed better.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review.


Bout of Books read-a-thon update.
Currently Reading: Runes by Ednah Walters
Books read so far: 1
Goal: 4 books

Mel.

Up next – Review: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Monday, 13 May 2013

May's New Releases that I am looking forward to!

There are some great books set to come out this month. Here are some that I am looking forward to! The usual applies, click the picture to go to the Goodreads page.

The 5th Wave (The Fifth Wave, #1)Chantress (Chantress, #1)GoldenIcons (Icons, #1)Loki's Wolves (The Blackwell Pages, #1)SilenceMaid of Secrets (Maids of Honor, #1)The Summer I Became a NerdSchool Spirits (School Spirits, #1)The Beautiful and the CursedThe Perfume CollectorToweringNight School (Night School, #1)The Resurrectionist: The Lost Work of Dr. Spencer BlackThe Fall of Arthur

The Fifth Wave (The Fifth Wave #1) by Rick Yancey - Putnam Juvenille - 1st May 2013

Chantress (Chantress Trilogy #1) by Amy Butler Greenfield - Margaret K. McElderry Books - 7th May 2013

Icons (Icons #1) by Margaret Stohl - Little Brown Books for Young Readers - 7th May 2013

Loki's Wolves by K. L. Armstrong & M. A Marr - Atom - 7th May 2013

Maid of Secrets (Maid of Honor #1) by Jennifer McGowan - Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers - 7th May 2013

Silence (Queen of the Dead #1) by Michelle Sagara - DAW - 7th May 2013

The Summer I became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller - Entangled Teen - 7th May 2013

Golden by Jessi Kirby - Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers - 14th May 2013

School Spirits (School Spirits #1) by Rachel Hawkins - Disney-Hyperion - 14th May 2013

The Beautiful and the Cursed (The Dispossed #1) by Page Morgan - Delacorte Books for Young Readers - 14th May 2013

The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro - Harper - 14th May 2013

Towering by Alex Finn - HarperTeen - 14th May 2013

Night School (Night School #1) by C.J. Daugherty - Katherine Tegen Books - 21st May 2013

The Resurrectionist: The Lost Work of Dr. Spencer Black by E.B. Hudspeth - Quirk Books - 21st May 2013

The Fall of Arthur by J.R.R. Tolkien - Harper Collins - 23rd May 2013

What books are looking forward to the release of?

Mel.

Up next  - Review: Through the Door by Jodi McIsaac

Sunday, 12 May 2013

Bout of Books 7.0

So I have been looking for a read-a-thon to participate in for a little while. I have seen quite a few different bloggers sign-up to Bout of Books 7.0 so I checked it out and decided that I would participate.

Bout of Books

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 7.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

My goal for this is to read three-four books. I am not really sure what books I will read yet, I tend to read according to my mood.

Check it out if you want to join in!

Mel.

I'm back!

Hey guys so I am now back from my two week holiday! I didn't actually get as much reading done as I would have liked doing because things went a little crazy there. However, I am back and really looking forward to getting back into it! Today's post is just a quick preview on what to expect in the coming week!

Monday - May's New Releases that I am looking forward to!
Tuesday - Review: Through the Door by Jodi McIsaac
Thursday - Review: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
Saturday - Seven on Saturday: Book worlds that I want to live in

I am still on my book buying ban, which I am amazed I haven't yet broken, and I have yet to get anymore library books. I did receive one book from Net Galley though, that being Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead, thanks to Penguin Books Australia which is to be released on 6th of June. As always click the picture to go to the Goodreads page.

Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X, #1)

Hope you have all had a good time while I have been away and you are looking forward to the week as much as I am!

Mel.

Up next: May's New Releases that I am looking forward to!

Monday, 29 April 2013

Tea and Books reading challenge

I have decided to sign-up to the Tea and Books reading challenge, hosted by The Book Garden. The book has to be over 650 pages to count in the challenge, with books being over 1200 being counted as two. As I have a few large books that I plan to read, I thought that this would be good motivation to read them. I signed up for the Chamomile Lover level, which means I have to read two books. To sign up click the button below.


Mel.

Saturday, 27 April 2013

Announcement

Firstly I apologise for not getting a review up on Thursday. I was super busy on Thursday and then on Friday, I was back at the dodgey internet house. Today I was meant to do Seven on Saturday but I am going to do a wrap-up post instead, but first I have an announcement.

This blog will be going on a two week hiatus. I have gotten a bit behind on my reading and I am going to take two weeks off the blog to catch-up on reading. This means that I will be back on the 12th of May with a preview of that week. Hope you all have a great two weeks.

So now to the wrap-up. I only had one thing happen on the blog this week but I have received some books.
On Tuesday I posted a review of Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder.

The books that I received were from my library, an op-shop and Netgalley. As usual click the picture to go to the goodreads page.

From Netgalley:
Through the Door by Jodi McIsaac, thanks to Amazon Publishing, which was released 23rd of April
Romulus Buckle & the City of the Founders, thanks to Amazon Publishing, which is released 2nd of July

From the Library:
Hood (King Raven, #1)
Hood by Stephen R. Lawhead

From the Op-Shop:
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carre

See you all in two weeks time.

Mel.

Wednesday, 24 April 2013

Review: Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Synopsis (from Goodreads)
Choose: A quick death or slow poison ... 
On the eve of her execution for murder, Yelena Zaltana is offered an incredible reprieve - on the condition that she becomes the food taster for the military leader of Ixia, Commander Ambrose.
Avoiding poison is the least of her troubles, however ... General Brazell, father of the man she killed, has vowed bloody revenge; she's beginning to have feelings for her captor, Valek; and someone is plotting the downfall of the current regime. In a desperate race against time, Yelena must learn to control the growing magical talent withinn her and master the demons of her past. The Commander's life, the future of Ixia and all those she loves depend on it
Poison Study (Study, #1)

Wow. This book was amazing! It was the sort of book that I just couldn’t put down, no matter how late it was or how tired I was. I read this in one day and pretty much in one sitting, except for a little break to watch Doctor Who. I found that the story was really captivating.

I loved the plot. I hadn’t read any books before where the main character was a food taster and it was a really interesting idea. I enjoyed the little touch of magic that was sprinkled throughout the plotline which made the story more intriguing and created more potential. There was some predictability in the plot, in that you knew who the bad guy was and who was behind everything, to an extent. In saying that though, I found the outcomes to be unpredictable as well as who was a magic user and who wasn’t.

I really liked the characters in this book. I liked that Yelena was a murderer who wasn’t remorseful for what she had done. It was great to see a flawed character, who was haunted by her past and unsure of who she is. I also loved how she stayed strong in the books even when she had no hope of surviving. I absolutely loved Valek. He is another character who is so flawed, he has a bad temper, a jealous streak and not to mention that he has killed a lot of people, but underneath all that he does have compassion and a caring side. I loved how complex both Yelena and Valek were. I loved Ari and Janco, and hope that we get to see more of them in the next books. I loved Janco’s humour and Ari’s loyalty. I did find the Commander to be a little one sided at times, but his history did kind of explain why he was so.

I loved how well written the “bad” characters where in this book. Some of them had reasons behind their actions and their betrayals and others you constantly questioned their actions. I loved that some characters started out as bad and where trying to kill Yelena and then changed and helped her. I really loved how one character tried to kill Yelena and then became friends with her and then kept setting up ways for her to be killed and trying to save her every time. It just summed up the complexity of the characters and the complexity of the plot.

I really liked the world-building in this story. I could imagine the world vividly, and when Yelena was walking through a setting, I could visualise everything around her. I felt like I was walking through the world with Yelena. The descriptions were concise so they didn’t take away from the pace of the story and they also allowed room for imagination.

I really enjoyed the intriguing plot and world building in Poison Study. I really loved the characters in this book, and I look forward to reading the second book. I give Poison Study 5/5 stars.

Mel.

Up next - Review: Lament by Maggie Stiefvater