Bookish Academy Tag


I'd like to thank Carina from My Addiction Books for tagging me, you're the best!

I tag these lovelies!:

Best Actor:
(Best Male Protagonist) 

Ash from The Iron Fey Series. 




Best Actress:
(Best Female Protagonist)

Celaena from Throne of Glass




Best Cinematography: 
(Best Plot Twist)



I won't say exactly what happened in this for those of you who haven't read it BUT seriously the ending destroyed me, I still haven't gotten over it since reading! 

Best Costume Design:
(Best Book Cover)


These are gorgeous and to make it even better the book has purple writing!! It's truly the little things :)


Best Supporting Actress and Actor:
(Best Female and Male sidekick)

Female: Iko from Cinder, robots count right? She had me laughing so much.
Male: Puck from The Iron Fey Series, completely made the series!


Best Original Screenplay:
(Most unique plot/world)

Definitely The Winner's Curse, the plot/world/characters are completely different to my usual YA books and thank god ;)


Best Adapted Screenplay:
(Best Book-to-Movie Adaptation)

Oh this is EASY! It's obviously H-Potz! <3


Best Animated Feature:
(A book that would work well animated)

I have no idea for this one.

Best Director:
(A writer you discovered for the first time)

Relentless & Refuge (Relentless Series) by Karen Lynch. Karen and her writing skills are amazing, everything you could want from a book! 



Best Visual Affects:
(Best novella or short book)

It will be Untamed by A. G. Howard once it comes out, simply for Morpheus <3



Best Picture:
(Best Stand-Alone)

Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge. Her writing and world building is epic, her ability to twist a classic fairy tale into some dark and unrecognisable is spectacular.






REVIEW: The Darkest Part of the Forest - Holly Black

THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST
Series: Standalone
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Release Date: January 13th 2015
Book Length: 324 pages
Publisher: Indigo
Source: Physical copy, Goodreads 
Review: 3/5 *Full Review Below.

Blurb:
Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.

Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once.

At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.

Until one day, he does…

As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough? 

Cover Reveal: The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins

WE FINALLY HAVE A COVER!

Surely we all remember Kai from The Sweet Trilogy? *Sigh for Kai*

Now Wendy is back with a brand new book which is high fantasy and romance....


And a cheeky retelling!


Princesses, hunters, dark fantasy, magic and because it's Higgins lots of smushy scenes?

Here's the blurb:

Kill the beast. Win the girl.

A strange beast stirs fear in the kingdom of Lochlanach, terrorizing towns with its brutality and hunger. In an act of desperation, a proclamation is sent to all of Eurona—kill the creature and win the ultimate prize: the daughter of King Lochson’s hand in marriage.

Princess Aerity understands her duty to the kingdom though it pains her to imagine marrying a stranger. It would be foolish to set her sights on any particular man in the great hunt, but when a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention, there’s no denying the unspoken lure between them…or his mysterious resentment.

Paxton is not keen on marriage. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He’s determined to keep his focus on the task at hand—ridding the kingdom of the beast and protecting his family—yet Princess Aerity continues to challenge his notions with her unpredictability and charm. But as past secrets collide with present desires, dire choices threaten everything Paxton holds dear.

Inspired by the Grimm Brothers’ tale, “The Singing Bone,” New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins delivers a dark fantasy filled with rugged hunters, romantic tension, outlawed magic, and a princess willing to risk all to save her people.
 

GIVE ME THIS NOW PLEASE.. You'd be crazy not to read this! Add The Great Hunt to your Goodreads shelves :)

Deadly Crush Review

DEADLY CRUSH
Series: Deadly Trilogy #1
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal
Release Date: August 22nd 2013
Book Length: 258 pages
Source: eBook, Goodreads 
Review: 5/5 *Full Review Below.

Blurb:
Dog Mountain is just like any other small town — peaceful and uneventful. Well, that is if peaceful means wolves howling all night, and uneventful means it’s overrun by pesky werewolves, then yes, Dog Mountain is just your average small town.

Jade Shaw has spent the last two years avoiding the pack. But when Aidan Collins moves to town, avoiding the dogs doesn’t seem possible. The pack wants him just as much as she does.

Determined to keep him out of the pack’s grasp, Jade does everything she can to gain his attention. Little does she know, Aidan is in deeper with the pack than she could have imagined, and competing for his attention is a deadly game, one she may not want to win.
 

That One Night Review

THAT ONE NIGHT
Series: That One #1
Genre: NA, Romance
Release Date: June 26th 2015
Source: ARC (Thanks Josie!!), Goodreads 
Review: 3/5 *Full Review Below.

Blurb:
All it takes is just one moment to change the course of your life. For me, it was one perfect night.
I have always had a thing for my brother’s best friend, Ben. When I found him on my parents’ couch, drowning his sorrows in a whiskey bottle, my attempts to comfort him quickly turned into a night of raw and intense passion. 
My foolish heart hoped he might feel the same way I do. 
But Ben wasn’t there to stay and I woke up the next morning alone with a broken heart.
I attempted to forget the guy with a smile to die for and a touch that sets me on fire.
I thought I was over him.
I thought he was gone forever.
Until, eighteen months later Ben returns and learns my secret. Now, he is hell-bent on winning me back. 
He plays dirty. 
And he won’t stop until he gets what he wants—me.

But he has secrets of his own. 
Secrets that could destroy everything we might have and everything we are.

Not suitable for under 18's due to strong language, violence and sexual content.

Seraphina Review

SERAPHINA
Series: Seraphina #1
Genre: YA, High Fantasy
Release Date: July 1st 2012
Book Length: 369 pages
Publisher: Corgi Childrens
Source: Physical copy, Goodreads 
Review: 4/5 *Full Review Below.

Blurb:
In her New York Times bestselling and Morris Award-winning debut, Rachel Hartman introduces mathematical dragons in an alternative-medieval world to fantasy and science-fiction readers of all ages. Eragon-author Christopher Paolini calls them, "Some of the most interesting dragons I've read in fantasy."

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.
 

Glass Sword (Red Queen #2) Title and Synopsis Revel

Sooo we finally have a title and synopsis to the long awaited Red Queen series...

GLASS SWORD

Synopsis:
The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?



Hmm I'm not sure what I expected as a title but when I heard this, I was somewhat disappointed!


Ahh well, Glass Sword promises a lot more action and I'm hoping lots more Cal ;) if only we had a fabulous cover to go with it :( 

Onyx Review

ONYX
Series: Lux #2
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Release Date: August 14th 2012
Book Length: 366 pages
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Source: Physical copy, Goodreads 
Review: 5/5 *Full Review Below.

Blurb:
Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…

Beautiful Bloggers Award


I have been nominated for the Beautiful Bloggers Award by my lovely blogger friend, fangirl and Bad-Boy lover Erika from Books, Stars, Writing And Everything In Between and Tasya from The Literary Huntress! Thank you so much for the nomination!

Rules:
1. Link to the blogger who nominated you.
2. List seven random facts about you.
3. Nominate seven creative, beautiful bloggers, and notify them.
 

Random facts about me:

1. A Court of Thorns and Roses has been the most enjoyable read of this year, I'm still obsessing over it now!
2. I finally know who Daemon Black is now and OH MY GOD, book boyfriend much? So yeah, I'm in that fan club.
3. I'm now a big fan of story retellings, especially the dark and twisty kind
4. I've always wanted a pet Husky, they're gorgeous!
5. My day isn't complete unless I've read, even if it's just a few pages.
6. I'm graduating from University next month yay!
7. My next highly anticipated book is Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout, last book in The Dark Elements series. Roth <3

My lovely nominees:

1. Anna from Enchanted by YA
2. Cari
 from My Addiction Books
3. Amanda from Amanda Hearts Reading
4. Sophie from Seemless Reader
5. Tracy from Cornerfolds
6. Hannah from PS I Love That Book
7. Jazmen from The Girl Reads A Lot!

I love all of your blogs, I'm always visiting and thanks so much for all your comments of reviews and just silly things I post now and then! Thanks again to Erika & Tasya for the nomination and I can't wait to see everyone's answers :)

Happy Reading,
Cody
x

Alice in Zombieland Review

ALICE IN ZOMBIELAND
Series: White Rabbit Chronicles #1
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Release Date: September 25th 2012
Book Length: 404 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: Physical copy, Goodreads 
Review: 4/5 *Full Review Below.

Blurb:
She won't rest until she's sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. But that's all it takes. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real.

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn't careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies.

Obsidian Review

OBSIDIAN
Series: Lux #1
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Release Date: May 8th 2012
Book Length: 335 pages
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Source: Physical copy, Goodreads 
Review: 5/5 *Full Review Below.

Blurb:
Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring… until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something… unexpected happens. 

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. 

If I don’t kill him first, that is.

Currently Reading Update..

I really don't intend to do posts everytime I read a new book but this one I feel deserves it...

Thank you to all you guys to basically demanded I read this book, I'm obsessed with JLA's writing skills I mean look at this?



And this isn't even up to date! Her Lux series is probably her most famous series and from what I've heard Daemon Black is her most famous (and some say swoon worthy) character. I can't wait to get stuck and read about some aliens at my reading is somewhat lacking in this area so it's bound to be an interesting read.

Also for fans of JLA I'm thinking of doing a Dark Elements Re-read around the end of June early July to prepare for the final instalment of the series Every Last Breath. I'm so excited for this book so if anyone would love to read along and basically fangirl over it all feel free to join! Happy Reading Guys x

The Artisans Review

THE ARTISANS
Series: Standalone
Genre: YA, Romance, Retelling, Paranormal
Release Date: May 12th 2015
Book Length: 344 pages
Publisher: Month9Books 
Source: Physical copy, Goodreads 
Review: 4/5 *Full Review Below.

Blurb:
They say death can be beautiful. But after the death of her mother, seventeen-year-old Raven Weathersby gives up her dream of becoming a fashion designer, barely surviving life in the South Carolina lowlands.

To make ends meet, Raven works after school as a seamstress creating stunning works of fashion that often rival the great names of the day.

Instead of making things easier on the high school senior, her stepdad's drinking leads to a run in with the highly reclusive heir to the Maddox family fortune, Gideon Maddox.

But Raven's stepdad's drying out and in no condition to attend the meeting with Maddox. So Raven volunteers to take his place and offers to repay the debt in order to keep the only father she's ever known out of jail, or worse.

Gideon Maddox agrees, outlining an outrageous demand: Raven must live in his home for a year while she designs for Maddox Industries' clothing line, signing over her creative rights.

Her handsome young captor is arrogant and infuriating to the nth degree, and Raven can't imagine working for him, let alone sharing the same space for more than five minutes.

But nothing is ever as it seems. Is Gideon Maddox the monster the world believes him to be? And can he stand to let the young seamstress see him as he really is?