January 2014 Wrap Up

I have read 9 books this month which is impressive for me. The books are:

1. Dead until Dark(book 1:13) by Charlaine Harris 4/5

2. Unearthly (book 1:3) by Cynthia Hand 4/5

3. Living Dead in Dallas (book 2:13) by Charlaine Harris 4/5

4. City of Bones (book 1:6) by Cassandra Clare 4/5

5.The Austere Academy (book 5:11) by Lemony Snicket 5/5

6. Torn (book 1:3) by K.A Robinson 5/5

7. Clockwork Princess (book 3/3) by Cassandra Clare 4/5

8. Twisted (book 2:3) by K.A Robinson 5/5

9. Black City (book 1:3) by Elizabeth Richards 3/5

I hope to do this good next month and exicted for the month of Febrary 

Black City by Elizabeth Richards Review

 A dark and tender post-apocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war.

In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-old Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash’s long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong.

When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.

               - Goodreads Summary

Rating: 3/5

Format: Hardcover

Pages #: 374

This book is a Romeo and Juliet but with Darklings. The  POV was told by the main characters Natalie Buchanan the sentry brat and Ash Fisher the twin blood. At first they hated each other but slowly and surely it turned into love. What I love about them is when they first meet and the humor behind there arguments. Even when they started their secret relationship since human and Darkling relationships means pretty much death. Character wise I didn't really connect with them as much as I wanted to. I don't know know why I think it's because I thought they we're annoying two examples Beetle and Day. Beetle was love struck and Day was just a complete bitch. In all I liked the story itself it was something different from what I've read before. So now am going to read the next book but not right away. It's not that I don't want to see what happens next its for a later read . 

The Austere Academy Review

 5/5 stars 

Summary:

   Dear Reader,

If you are looking for a story about cheerful youngsters spending a jolly time at boarding school, look elsewhere. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are intelligent and resourceful children, and you might expect that they would do very well at school. Don't. For the Baudelaires, school turns out to be another miserable episode in their unlucky lives.

Truth be told, within the chapters that make up this dreadful story, the children will face snapping crabs, strict punishments, dripping fungus, comprehensive exams, violin recitals, S.O.R.E., and the metric system.

It is my solemn duty to stay up all night researching and writing the history of these three hapless youngsters, but you may be more comfortable getting a good night's sleep. In that case, you should probably choose some other book.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

            -Goodreads

My Thoughts: there is something about reading Lemony Snicket that just makes me smile everytime. I think about how fun they are and how snicket puts himself in them. In this unfortunate event the Blaudaire sibling are sent to a school. Sadly though it's not the best school which have all this stupid rules. But the siblings made friends (though you knew that wouldn't last), and make best of there situation. I still really enjoy this book even though why are the adults so dumb. I mean really know one can figure out that under the disguise is Count Olaf. I mean I figured it out when theirs a line like "a new person to take over for someone else."

So even though in these books the children are smarter then the adults I still like these books and going to finish the series. so that I can see if Count Olaf and his gang get what's coming to them.

Book Buying Spree

• Nineteen Eighty-Four (paperback) by George Orwell $9.04
• Prince of Thorns (paperback) by Dr. Mark Lawrence $7.99
• Shatter Me (paperback) by Tahereh Mafi $9.50
• Onyx (paperback) by Jennifer L. Armentrout $10.52
• Obsidian (paperback) by Jennifer L. Armentrout $10.60
• Opal (paperback) by Jennifer L. Armentrout $9.99
• Origin (paperback) by Jennifer L. Armentrout $9.99
• More Than This (hardcover) by Patrick Ness $20.28
                        

                                        total: $97.90

The Gathering book review

Author: Kelley Armstrong


Pages: 359


Rating: 4/5

Recommend: yes

Summary:


Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn’t know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island.

Until now.

Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend’s hidden talent for “feeling” out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel…different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya’s biological parents and it’s easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet.

                     
-goodreads


My thoughts:


Another book with a cliffhanger and it’s one of those cliffhangers where your like WTF. I mean they get to safety get on a chopper with five other people then it just ends.Nothing gets explain and just left it in the air until the next book.
The story was interesting how these families live on this remote island in Canada owned by this family called the St. Clouds and how everyone knows everyone. I really enjoyed Maya and her scenes of humor with everyone like her dad and her best friend Daniel. Also for the fact that she has a thing with nature and animals. The friendship between Maya and Daniel is just a friendship and not this secret love crap that authors sometimes use. Daniel is like the big brother that she never had, and a little overprotective. However I think that's good since Maya has a bad habits of finding cougars. Something I didn’t like all that much is how Maya was toward Rafe she liked him one minute and wouldn't talk to him the next. And Rafe he just seems to not take the hint which bugs me to. There was murders that didn’t get solved and hope when I get to the next book will get into those and who those mystery people in the forest and how one knew Maya. This is a book about a small town holding a big secrets in supernatural type of way.

Dead until Dark Review

Series: book #1 Sookie Stackhouse 

Author: Charlaine Harris

Pages: 292

Summary: Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She's quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn't get out much. Not because she's not pretty. She is. It's just that, well, Sookie has this sort of "disability." She can read minds. And that doesn't make her too dateable. And then along comes Bill. He's tall, dark, handsome--and Sookie can't hear a word he's thinking. He's exactly the type of guy she's been waiting for all her life....

But Bill has a disability of his own: He's a vampire with a bad reputation. He hangs with a seriously creepy crowd, all suspected of--big surprise--murder. And when one of Sookie's coworkers is killed, she fears she's next....

               -goodreads 

My thoughts:

I liked how this book reminds me of criminal minds meets vampires. It was a cool concept and I got though it pretty quickly. A couple things though what kind of name is Bill for a vampire. I don't know why this bugs me so much but it just does. Another thing the romance was a little rushed for me. I mean I get those Sookie and Bill where going to get together. But seriously a little early on the I love you's. Lastly please don't tell this will be a team Edward and team Jacob type of thing between Bill and Sam. It seems Sam has backed off but with books you never know. 

Okay what I liked about this book. I liked how it's a different way to look into vampires. How it's a virus that people can get beside getting bitten. Also how the vampires to have to hide what they are. Their  maybe some people who don't like vampires but they have rights to live among humans whichever they like. Also the mystery was really cool I didn't guess who the actual murder is but that's okay because you can't get it right all the time. Character wise I just don't know yet about all of them. If I have to choose a favorite it has to be Eric the oldest vampire who is liked the Godfather which I found funny. It's not that I don't enjoy the two main characters but Sookie can't make up her mind if she want to be with Bill or not. And Bill is okay, but not great.

  On that note I highly enjoyed this book and can't wait to continue this series to see what happens next.

Goals for Bouts of Books 9.0

My bouts of books 9.0 TBR was going to be books on my bookshelf. However since I started all the books I read are on my kindle app and nook. But I am reading and if I read more than a hundred pages a day then I'll be happy. Happy reading and wish me luck:D

Monday:

Number of pages I've read today: 261

Challenges Completed: 1

Books completed: 1

Tuesday:
Number of pages I've read today:282
Challenges Completed: 0
Books completed:1

Wednesday:
Number of pages I've read today:213
Challenges Completed: 0
Books completed: 0

Thursday:
Number of pages I've read today: 77 :(
Challenges Completed: 0
Books completed: 1

Friday:
Number of pagesI've read today: 60
Challenges Completed:0
Books completed:0

Saturday:
Number of pages I've read today:144
Challenges Completed:0
Books completed:1

Sunday:
Number of pages I've read today:0
Challenges Completed:0
Books completed: 0

Total number of books I've read: City of Bones by Cassandra Claire (finished)     The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong (finished)  Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris (finished)   Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (finished)       The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd (started) The Calling by Kelley Armstrong (started)

Total number of pages: 1037