Graceling by Kristin Cashore

January 28, 2013

Today I am here with a video review of Graceling by Kristin Cashore.



Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Released: October 1st, 2008
Series: Graceling Realm [Book One]
Publisher: Harcourt
Pages: 471
Source: Purchased
Buy it: Book Depository (free shipping) | Amazon

In a world where people born with an extreme skill - called a Grace - are feared and exploited, Katsa carries the burden of the skill even she despises: the Grace of killing. She lives under the command of her uncle Randa, King of the Middluns, and is expected to execute his dirty work, punishing and torturing anyone who displeases him.

When she first meets Prince Po, who is Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.

She never expects to become Po's friend.

She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace - or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away...a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.



The Short
Graceling had a bit of a slow start and it took me a little while to get into the story, but when it did I was completely hooked! I loved the development of the story, the characters, the Graces. I loved the setting and learning about the Kingdoms. I loved Katsa's strength, and I adored Po.


The Long


The Good
Intriguing concept, great characters, development of story.

The Bad
Slow start, Katsa's rants were slightly annoying.

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

January 22, 2013

Today I am here with a video review of What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang.



What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang
Released: September 18th, 2012
Series: The Hybrid Chronicles [Book One]
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 2343
Source: Purchased
Buy it: Book Depository (free shipping) | Amazon

I should not exist. But I do.

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.



The Short
What's Left of Me was an enjoyable read set in an intriguing world with a very interesting concept. The characters were likeable and were very believable. I didn't fall in love with the characters like I hoped, but I am looking forward to seeing more of them in the future books!


The Long


The Good
World-building, concept, believable characters.

The Bad
Not strongly connected with characters, wanted more from resolution (or maybe I just expected too much).

2013 Reading Challenges

January 11, 2013

This year I will be participating in a couple of challenges, as well as a few goals I have set for myself!

+ Goodreads Reading Challenge: to read my goal of 75 books
+ Debut Author Challenge: to read 12 debut books of 2013
+ Classics Reading Challenge: to read 5 classics
+ Read 10 adult novels
+ Re-read 5 books


Adult Novels

1. The Silver Linings Playbook
2. The Bronze Horseman
3. The Bridge to Holy Cross
4. The Summer Garden
5. Damned
6. The Name of the Wind
7. The Wise Man's Fear
8.
9.
10.


Re-Reads

1. Paper Towns
2. The Host
3. The Book Thief
4.
5.


The Tales Compendium For the Classics Reading Challenge I aim to read 5 classics.

1. A Clockwork Orange
2. The Great Gatsby
3. The Hobbit
4. A Study in Scarlet
5.








So the aim of the Debut Author Challenge is to read and review a minimum of 12 Young Adult or Middle Grade debut novels between January 1, 2013 - January 31, 2014.

I will most likely be reviewing each book that I read for this challenge, and below is a list of the books I have read for this challenge as well as those I plan to read.


1. Splintered (TBR)
... to be continued




2013 Reading Challenge

2013 Reading Challenge
Catriona (LittleBookOwl) has read 5 books toward her goal of 75 books.
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This year on Goodreads, I have challenged myself to read 75 books, a little more than last year. As I don't have school to worry about this year, I should have plenty more time to read!

1. Graceling
2. Pushing the Limits
3. Beautiful Disaster
4. Speak
5. Easy
6. A Clockwork Orange
7. Paper Towns
8. Warm Bodies
9. Harken
10. Beautiful Creatures
11. The Host
12. The Silver Linings Playbook
13. Scarlet
14. A Million Suns
15. The Iron Daughter
16. The Evolution of Mara Dyer
17. The Bronze Horseman
18. Unwind
19. The Archived
20. Poison Study
21. The Darkest Minds
22. The Bridge to Holy Cross
23. The Great Gatsby
24. Quidditch Through the Ages
25. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
26. Tales of Beedle the Bard
27. Blood Storm
28. The Summer Garden
29. The Invention of Hugo Cabret
30. The Selection
31. The Prince
32. The Elite
33. The Hobbit
34. Glitches
35. The Queen's Army
36. Damned
37. The Princess Bride
38. Ink
39. The Name of the Wind
40. Lost Sloth
41. The Dark
42. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
43. Rapture
44. Destination: Ooo
45. The Luxe
46. The Book Thief
47. A Study in Scarlet
48. Panic
49. Eleanor and Park
50. Exceptional
51. Eden at the Edge of Midnight
52. Maus
53. A Clockwork Angel
54. The Adventure Time Encyclopaedia
55. Wonder
56. Death Note
57. The Death Cure
58. Maus II
59. The Near Witch
60. The Knife of Never Letting Go
61. 100 Ghosts
62. Asunder
63. Destroy Me
64. The Wise Man's Fear
65. Blood Phantom
66. Making Faces
67. Partials
68. I Am The Messenger
69. The Night is for Hunting

December Wrap Up | 2012

January 6, 2013

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas (if you don't celebrate it then HAPPY HOLIDAYS!) and a fantastic New Year :) Sorry things have been quiet on here, but going away on a couple of little holidays makes it tricky to post.




Books Acquired:

- Gravity by Melissa West
- Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
- The DUFF by Kody Keplinger
- Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
- The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
- Miss Fortune Cookie by Lauren Bjorkman
- Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
- Enclave by Ann Agguire
- The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
- Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck
- Unwind by Neil Schusterman
- The Monstromologist by Rick Yancey
- Damned by Chuck Palahnuik
- some vegetarian cookbook
- Harry Potter: Page to Screen
- A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
- Need by Carrie Jones
- The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Meyers
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
- The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory
- Slurp
- Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson


I also forgot to include:
- Grave Minder by Melissa Marr


people mentioned
Brandon from MrGarssonBugaloo
Dana from TheBookHoarder
Misty from BookRatMisty




Books Read:
- The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan
- Throne of Glass by Sara J. Maas
- What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

/In Progress/
- Graceline by Kristin Kashore
- A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
- The Night is for Hunting by John Marsden


November TBR:
- Easy by Tammara Webber
- Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
- THE VIEWER'S CHOICE RESULTS!

*****


Reviews
-none :(-



Additions to Reading Challenges
Throne of Glass by Sara J. Maas - Debut Author Challenge
What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang - Debut Author Challenge

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