Christmas TBR & Update before the New Year

Christmas TBR & Update before the New Year

December Books:

(What I'm trying to read anyway)

• The Mysteries of Udolpho by Anne Radcliffe Dissertation
• Crimson Peak by Nancy Holder Dissertation
• Beowolf (J.R.R Tolkien adaptation) Pleasure read
• Truthwitch by Susan Dennard ARC
• Soundless by Richelle Mead ARC

Updates:

Unfortunately as a third year student my time is now being swallowed up by the amount of coursework I need to do and the upcoming deadline of my dissertation (and the other one). That being said I think I will be able to post a few updates but if you're looking at my Goodreads page and perhaps wondering why I've not been posting anything I'm reading, then it's because I will most likely be buried underneath piles of papers. 

I have drafted a few reviews, not much but I am hoping to get back online properly by mid January (if things go to schedule!).  Please please please bear with me!

Remember by Shannon Dermott

Remember by Shannon Dermott

Published by: Wicked Truth Publishing

Genre: Young Adult. Fantasy, Romance

Tagline: Things hide in the shadows because of what's revealed in the light

I recieved this arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm conflicted over whether or not I like this book. 

I've read a few of Shannon Dermott's novels and I've just been as equally conflicted. But in Remember I felt as if the love triangle/square. whatever you want to call it, was really ridiculous and took priority over explaining what the hell was going on and why these guys were suddenly all over the protagonist.

I didn't actually finish the book. I lost interest and then tried to pick back up (hence the lateness of posting this) but maybe another day I might try and reread this and the  understand it.

But what I did really like was the attention to detail, how Demott became a teenager. I really really liked that! Everyone knows being a teenager is really awful, you're old enough to have responsibilities but too young to actually do what you want to do, so add to the mix a small town and that is our protagonist everyone. She's quite nerdy, but it's not like push up the big black framed glasses, it's subtle. Baggy shirts, marvel logoed shirts etc.

Yet that is then changed, Charlie or Charlize (super nice name!) starts to make an effort. Baggy shirts get a little tighter or fitted. She even buys a skirt at one point but it's part of the transition. Everyone goes through the stage of wanting to change up their style and to shed that awkward stage and I think Charlie does it well, okay maybe a little too over the top. But she's an alright kid.

The Penryn and End of Days Trilogy by Susan Ee

The Penryn and End of Days Trilogy by Susan Ee

Book one: Angelfall

Book two: World After

Book three: End of Days

Published by: Skyscape

Genre: YA,dystopia, angels, supernatural, demons

The reader is introduced to Penryn in a really relatable way. She's a young carer and takes care of her mother who is a little cuckoo and her younger sister who is disabled and in a wheelchair. However  things take a turn for the worse when the badguys aka angels take her sister and leave poor Penryn to locate her and to try and get things back to normal (whatever that is). 

However Penryn's plan gets foiled by the arrival of another angel naemd Raffe (three guesses which famed archangel he is). Raffe is a fighter. Their first meeting is him fighting against two-three other angels and his wings are cut off in the midst of it (poor guy), thus starting the beginning of Penryn and Raffe's journey. 

In Angelfall, the duo explore more of West coast America, mainly Sillicon Valley for some reason. But Susan Ee has done a marvelous job of creating this dystopian world, to imagine our Earth after its been ravaged by angels... For some reason I kept imagining it would be like a mix of Walking Dead and the video game The Last of Us.

An example of The Last of Us

The above artwork can say enough about how the story is described so wonderfully. I had zero problems envisioning the world in which the characters roam.

World After is devastatingly good. Like keeps you on the tip of your toes good. Most sequels get a little eugh. Especially the dystopian/fantasy ones but few stay good simply as they're known as fillers. I felt as if this book carried on the storyline I knew and loved. Therefore when it finished, I almost cried because it meant I had to wait til I could purchase the book.

Then finally End of Days is like a christmas and birthday present all wrapped up in one. It's the big battle we all wanted to happen and more. All I really want to scream is how much I love Raffe but that can wait til later. The book concludes on Penryn and Raffe's journey to save the world and to reattach Raffe's wings. Occasionally there's a few tiny battles featuring demons, angels and zombie-like things but everything is a-okay in the end.


All of the books can be found here on Amazon

The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent

The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent

What possibly could I say to get you to read this book?

How about the fact that it's from the author of amazing series such as Shifters and Soul Screamers? If that doesn't work then maybe this review might. 

The book inserts the reader into an almost apocalyptic world, I had the feeling I was stuck in the last of Us world minus the zombies and a bit more civilised and noone wanting to kill you. However you get the gist of everything Vincent wants you to get and more. The characters are wonderful, very easy to get, understand and relate to whilst being entertaining and clearly able to be envisioned in your mind. 

I was blown away by this book. I only finished it last night and I couldn't even sit down and read some other arcs. That is very rare. 

The Stars Never Rise is out June 18th 2015 and should be available at most bookstores in the UK.

Go buy this book because it's amazing!!

The Originals: The Rise by Julie Plec

The Originals: The Rise by Julie Plec

I cried when my request to read this approved. Okay so cry is a bit strong. I wept in delight because it's Klaus. Everyone loves Klaus!

This book starts off before the tv show, it's New Orleans still but it gives you more of a background and it's got Klaus in it (That is how I'll sell this book). Within the novel you get the typical Elijah is a saint, always helping the family, Klaus the one who's reckless and does what he does as seen in VD and TO. Rebeckah is Rebecca, the girl who falls in love and the world is against them until bad things happens. I felt like I was in their world even more than when I watch the show. 

All fans of the series will adore this book.