May and June Wrap Up

Tags

A Court of Mist and Fury, Ally Condie, Amy Zhang, And I Darken, Atlantia, Confused, Deborah Biancotti, Girl Out of Water, Half Bad, Half Lost, Half Wild, Inbetween Days, Kiersten White, Lauren James, Let the Wind Rise, Lynette Noni, Margo Lanagan, Morgan Matson, Nat Luurtsema, Pittacus Lore, Raelia, Rick Riordan, Sally Green, Samantha Shannon, Sarah J. Maas, Scott Westerfeld, Shannon Messenger, Since You've Been Gone, The Bone Season, The Book of Pearl, The Hidden Oracle, The Next Together, This is Where the World Ends, Timothee de Fombelle, Trials of Apollo, United as One, Vikki Wakefield, Wanda Wiltshire, Zeroes

Ok, so June went by so fast that it was over before I realised I hadn’t yet done my May wrap up…

So today we’re going to have two wrap ups in one!

General Happenings

So, I realised that half my books didn’t fit properly on my bookshelf…

So, I decided that a complete bookshelf rearrangement was in order.

And this was the result:

I hit 300 Instagram Followers

YAY!

There was a lot of rain in Sydney

This was our backyard at around 9pm. We had to spend about an hour getting the sheep out of the paddock and into the backyard (which is higher ground). Our house is at the top of a rather decent sized hill, so we were fine.

Bookish Info

Books Read:

The Hidden Oracle, by Rick Riordan
Atlantia, by Ally Condie
Half Bad, by Sally Green
Half Wild, by Sally Green
Half Lost, by Sally Green
This is Where the World Ends, by Amy Zhang
A Court of Mist and Fury, by Sarah J Maas
And I Darken, by Kiersten White

Books Bought:

The Hidden Oracle, by Rick Riordan
A Court of Mist and Fury, by Sarah J Maas
Let the Wind Rise, by Shannon Messenger
And I Darken, by Kiersten White
United as One, by Pittacus Lore

Books Received for Review:

The Book of Pearl, by Timothée de Fombelle
Girl Out of Water, by Nat Luurtsema

(Both from Walker books Australia)

Books from TeenCon:

Inbetween Days, by Vikki Wakefield
The Next Together, by Lauren James
Since You’ve Been Gone, Morgan Matson
Confused, Wanda Wiltshire
Raelia, Lynette Noni
Zeroes, by Scott Westerfield, Margo Lanagan, and Deborah Biancotti
The Bone Season, by Samantha Shannon

Stacking the Shelves: The Yearly Edition 2015

Tags

A Court of Thorns and Roses, Alexandra Bracken, Alienated, All Fall Down, All the Rage, Ally Carter, Ambelin Kwaymullina, Amie Kaufman, Amy Ewing, An Ember in the Ashes, Barry Jonsberg, Because You'll Never Meet Me, Bright Before Sunrise, Brigid Kemmerer, Champion, Cloudwish, Courtney Summers, Cynthia Hand, Dawn Kurtagich, Dead of Winter, Demon Road, Derek Landy, Dreams of Gods and Monsters, Ellie Marney, Every Move, Every Word, Far From You, Fiona Wood, Fleur Ferris, Frostbite, Half Wild, Happily Ever After, Harry Potter, Harry Potter Illustrated Edition, Hold Me Like a Breath, Holly Black, Illuminae, Illusions of Fate, In the Afterlight, In The Skin of a Monster, J.K. Rowling, James Smythe, Jane Austen, Jay Kristoff, John Flanagan, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, Julie Kagawa, Justine Larbalestier, Kady Cross, Kathryn Barker, Kerstin Gier, Kiera Cass, Kiersten White, Kresley Cole, Laini Taylor, Lair of Dreams, Lauren James, Lauren Oliver, Leah Thomas, Legend, Leslye Walton, Libba Bray, Lisa M. Stasse, Maggie Stiefvater, Magnus Chase, Magonia, Margo Lanagan, Maria Dahvana Headley, Marie Lu, Meagan Spooner, Megan Miranda, Melinda Salisbury, Melissa Grey, Melissa Landers, Miss Mayhem, Pandora Jones, Panic, Percy Jackson, Pittacus Lore, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Prodigy, Queen of Shadows, Rachael Craw, Rachel Hawkins, Ranger's Apprentice, Razorhurst, Rebel Belle, Red Queen, Renee Ahdieh, Richelle Mead, Rick Riordan, Risk, Rogue, Ruby Red, Sabaa Tahir, Sally Green, Sarah J. Maas, Sea Hearts, Shadow Kiss, Shiver, Sisters of Blood and Spirit, Skulduggery Pleasant, Soman Chainani, Sophie Jordan, Soulprint, Spark, Star Wars, Stephanie Oakes, Stray, Susanna Clarke, Tess Sharpe, The Darkest Part of the Forest, The Dead House, The Diviners, The Dream Thieves, The Fate of Ten, The Foretelling of Georgie Spider, The Forsaken, The Girl at Midnight, The Heir, The Iron Warrior, The Jewel, The Last Time We Say Goodbye, The Next Together, The Raven Boys, The Ruby Circle, The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly, The School of Good and Evil, The Scorpio Races, The Sin Eater's Daughter, The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, The Wrath and the Dawn, These Broken Stars, Thicker Than Water, Tiffany Schmidt, Trish Doller, Uninvited, Vampire Academy, Vanishing Girls, Victoria Aveyard, Way Down Dark, Where the Stars Still Shine

Stacking the Shelves is a thing where we talk about the books we’ve collected in the past week. These can be bought, delivered, ARCs, ebooks, etc.. Pretty self-explanatory.
Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tygna’s Reviews

When I did this last year, it was so much fun I just had to do it again.

So, here are ALL the books I obtained throughout the year 2015.

Books Bought:

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, by Leslye Walton
Illusions of Fate, by Kiersten White
Hold Me Like a Breath, by Tiffany Schmidt
An Ember in the Ashes, by Sabaa Tahir
Illuminae, by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Magonia, by Maria Dahvana Headley
Red Queen, by Victoria Aveyard
The Ruby Circle, by Richelle Mead
The Diviners, by Libba Bray
Lair of Dreams, by Libba Bray
Way Down Dark, by James Smythe
The Darkest Part of the Forest, by Holly Black
Pandora Jones: Admission, by Barry Jonsberg
The Last Time We Say Goodbye, by Cynthia Hand
Razorhurst, by Justine Larbalestier
Alienated, by Melissa Landers
Sea Hearts, by Margo Lanagan
The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly, by Stephanie Oakes
These Broken Stars, by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
The Wrath and the Dawn, by Renee Ahdieh
The Dead House, by Dawn Kurtagich
Vanishing Girls, by Lauren Oliver
Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes, by Rick Riordan
All Fall Down, by Ally Carter
Ruby Red, by  Kerstin Gier
The Sword of Summer, by Rick Riordan
Rebel Belle, by Rachel Hawkins
Miss Mayhem, by Rachel Hawkins
The Fate of Ten, by Pittacus Lore
In the Afterlight, by Alexandra Bracken
Every Word, by Ellie Marney
Every Move, by Ellie Marney
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling (new edition)
Star Wars: Verily, a New Hope, by Ian Doesher
Vampire Academy: Graphic Novel
Frostbite: Graphic Novel
Shadow Kiss: Graphic Novel
Legend: Graphic Novel
Sisters of Blood and Spirit, by Kady Cross
Far From You, by Tess Sharpe
The Sin Eater’s Daughter, by Melinda Salisbury
Uninvited, by Sophie Jordan
Soulprint, by Megan Miranda
In The Skin of a Monster, by Kathryn Barker
The Girl At Midnight, by Melissa Grey
The Raven Boys, by Maggie Stiefvater
The Dream Thieves, by Maggie Stiefvater
Risk, by Fleur Ferris
Ranger’s Apprentice #1, by John Flanagan
Because You’ll Never Meet Me, by Leah Thomas
Skulduggery Pleasant books, by Derek Landy
The School of Good and Evil, by Soman Chainani
Dreams of Gods and Monsters, by Laini Taylor
Rogue, by Julie Kagawa
Happily Ever After, by Kiera Cass
The Heir, by Kiera Cass
Half Wild, by Sally Green
Prodigy, by Marie Lu
The Foretelling of Georgie Spider, by Ambelin Kwaymullina
Queen of Shadows, by Sarah J. Maas
Box Set of Puffin Classics, various authors
Harry Potter Illustrated edition

The Shiver Trilogy, by Maggie Stiefvater
The Scorpio races, by Maggie Stiefvater
Champion, by Marie Lu

Books Won:

The Jewel*, by Amy Ewing
Spark*, by Rachel Craw
The Iron Warrior, by Julie Kagawa
Demon Road (signed ARC), by Derek Landy
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
Cloudwish, by Fiona Wood
In the Afterlight (signed), by Alexandra Bracken

I also somehow ended up getting a bowling ball.

*Won in 2014, received in 2015

Miscellaneous:

ARCs and Review Copies (requested and surprise):

Bright Before Sunrise, by Tiffany Schmidt
Where the Stars Still Shine, by Trish Doller
Stray, by Rachael Craw
The Next Together, by Lauren James
Thicker Than Water, by Brigid Kemmerer
A Court of Thorns and Roses, by Sarah J. Maas
The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly, by Stephanie Oakes
The Sword of Summer, by Rick Riordan

Books I got through BooksForTradeAU:

Pandora Jones: Deception, by Barry Johansberg
Pandora Jones: Reckoning, by Barry Johansberg
The Forsaken, by Lisa M. Stasse
Cinder (ARC), by Marissa Meyer (Not pictured)

Presents (Birthdays, Christmas, etc.):

Panic, by Lauren Oliver
Dead of Winter, by Kresley Cole
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, by Seth Grahame-Smith (and Jane Austen)

Books I got for free (through various means):

White Time, by Margo Lanagan
All The Rage, by Courtney Summers
The Lost and the Found, by Cat Clarke
This Raging Light, by Estelle Laure
Pompidou Posse, by Sarah Lotz
Dumplin’, by Julie Murphy
Running Like China, by Sophie Hardcastle
We All Looked Up, by Tommy Wallach
Hidden, by Marianne Curley
The Astrologer’s Daughter, by Rebecca Lim
Lifespan of Starlight, by Thalia Kalkipsakis
State of Grace, by Hilary Badger
Cooper Bartholomew is Dead, by Rebecca James

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So…that was all the books I got my hands on 2015.

How was every one else’s year?

TTT: Books I’ve read so far in 2015

Tags

A Court of Thorns and Roses, Alexandra Bracken, An Ember in the Ashes, Fleur Ferris, Half Wild, Magonia, Maria Dahvana Headley, Markus Zusak, Michelle Hodkin, Rachael Craw, Rachel Hawkins, Rebel Belle, Risk, Sabaa Tahir, Sally Green, Sarah J. Maas, Spark, Stephanie Oakes, The Book Thief, The Darkest Minds, The Retribution of Mara Dyer, The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly

Top Ten Tuesday is a thing where we get given a topic, and we have to list our ‘top ten’ things for the topic. Pretty self-explanatory.
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This Week’s Topic: Top Ten Books I’ve read so far in 2015

1. The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak

2. The Darkest Minds, by Alexandra Bracken

3. Spark, by Rachael Craw

4. A Court of Thorns and Roses, by Sarah J. Maas

5. Rebel Belle, by Rachel Hawkins

6. The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly, by Stephanie Oakes

7. The Retribution of Mara Dyer, by Michelle Hodkin

8. Half Wild, by Sally Green

9. An Ember in the Ashes, by Sabaa Tahir

10. Magonia, by Maria Dahvana Headley

Bonus: Risk, by Fleur Ferris

It’s May Now

Tags

A Court of Thorns and Roses, Bright Before Sunrise, Half Wild, Julie Kagawa, Kady Cross, Magonia, Maria Dahvana Headley, Melissa Grey, Playing With Fire, Rogue, Sisters of Blood and Spirit, Skulduggery Pleasant, The Faceless Ones, The Girl at Midnight, The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly, We All Looked Up

So, the plan for April was:

– Participate in CampNaNoWriMo
– Read many books
– Buy very few books

How did I do? Well…

– I did participate in Camp NaNo, however, I only got up to 5000 words, which was half-way towards my goal of 10,000. I’m happy with it 🙂
I also downloaded the free trial of Scrivener, and I love it.

– I read some books…nowhere near as many as I was planning. My holidays was way more busy than I was planning (plus consisted of binge watching the final seasons of The Mentalist).

– Up until the last week of April, I BOUGHT NO BOOKS!
And then I went and bought 4 books last week.

And I received a few books from publishers. My first review copies and requested ARC 🙂

Some things I have coming up in May:

– Uni is wrapping up
Which means final assessments and exams and a whole manner of horrible things. So, I’ll try to keep up posting, but I’m not promising anything.

– TeenCon15
I’m SO EXCITED FOR THIS! It’s not until the end of the month, but still.

Review: Half Wild

Tags

Half Bad, Half Wild, Sally Green

Author: Sally Green

Series: Half Life (Book 2)

Rating: 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Synopsis: After finally meeting his elusive father, Marcus, and receiving the three gifts that confirm him as a full adult witch, Nathan is still on the run. He needs to find his friend Gabriel and rescue Annalise, now a prisoner of the powerful Black witch Mercury. Most of all he needs to learn how to control his Gift – a strange, wild new power that threatens to overwhelm him.

Meanwhile, Soul O’Brien has seized control of the Council of White Witches and is expanding his war against Black witches into Europe. In response, an unprecedented alliance has formed between Black and White witches determined to resist him. Drawn into the rebellion by the enigmatic Black witch Van Dal, Nathan finds himself fighting alongside both old friends and old enemies. But can all the rebels be trusted, or is Nathan walking into a trap?

How I got this book: Netgalley (and bought)

Release Date: March 25, 2015

The Short Version:

When I finished Half Bad, I asked myself if it was even possible for the next book to be half as awesome…

It WAS COMPLETELY POSSIBLE THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING AND I’M JUST GOING TO FLAIL FOREVER BECAUSE THIS SERIES IS INCREDIBLE AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON NEEDS TO READ IT!!!!!!!

The Challenge: A Summary

Tags

A Court of Thorns and Roses, Alexandra Bracken, All Fall Down, Ally Carter, Amie Kaufman, Ballad, Cooper Bartholemew is Dead, Cynthia Hand, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Derek Landy, Half Wild, Harry Potter, In the Afterlight, J.K. Rowling, Justine Larbalestier, Laini Taylor, Lauren Oliver, Leslye Walton, Maggie Stiefvater, Meagan Spooner, Megan Miranda, Melinda Salisbury, Never Fade, Rachel Hawkins, Razorhurst, Rebecca James, Rebel Belle, Red Queen, Richelle Mead, Ruby Circle, Sally Green, Sarah J. Maas, Shadow Kiss, Skulduggery Pleasant, Sophie Jordan, Soulprint, The Darkest Minds, The Last Time We Say Goodbye, The Sin Eater's Daughter, The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, These Broken Stars, Uninvited, Vampire Academy, Vanishing Girls, Victoria Aveyard

As some of you may recall, I gave myself a challenge at the beginning of February. I was to limit myself to reading only books that I already owned/had out from the library. I was not to buy any new books in this time, with the exception of new releases.

So, how did I go?

Well, silly me forgot to take into account the fact that it was my birthday in February. Which means that I got birthday money to spend on ALL THE BOOKS!!!

So, here are the books I bought with my birthday money:

And here are the books I was ‘allowed’ to buy during the challenge period:

And here are all the other books I bought because they were there, or because they were cheap, or because books.

And here’s a picture of them all together:

Total number of books bought: 16.

That’s like, one book every 4 days.

Better yet, for every one book I was allowed to buy, I bought three others.

Reading wise, I faired a little better, reading 6 of the books I bought, as well as several others:

And due to the fact that I read a few ebooks/library books/Netgalley books, here is a full pic of all the books I read:

Total books read: 18.

So, while I did technically read more books than I bought, I made a very, very small dent in my to-read pile. Also, some of these books didn’t make it to the to-read pile before they got read (namely, the ebooks/Netgalley books), so they were, if anything, counter-productive.

In conclusion:

Waiting On Wednesday: Half Wild

Tags

Half Bad, Half Wild, Sally Green, Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a thing where we talk about the books we’re waiting for. Pretty self-explanatory.
Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine

Author: Sally Green

Release Date: 25 March, 2015

Synopsis (from Goodreads): “You will have a powerful Gift, but it’s how you use it that will show you to be good or bad.”

In a modern-day England where two warring factions of witches live amongst humans, seventeen-year-old Nathan is an abomination, the illegitimate son of the world’s most powerful and violent witch. Nathan is hunted from all sides: nowhere is safe and no one can be trusted. Now, Nathan has come into his own unique magical Gift, and he’s on the run–but the Hunters are close behind, and they will stop at nothing until they have captured Nathan and destroyed his father.

Why this book?

Why NOT this book? HALF BAD WAS AMAZING I NEED MORE!!!!!

A New Year, Things are happening!

Tags

A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ambelin Kwaymullina, Champion, Cynthia Hand, Dangerous Deception, Dead of Winter, Forever, Half Wild, Illusions of Fate, Julie Kagawa, Kami Garcia, Kresley Cole, Let the Sky Fall, Linger, Maggie Stiefvater, Margaret Stohl, Marie Lu, Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes, Prodigy, Richelle Mead, Rick Riordan, Rogue, Sally Green, Sarah J. Maas, Shannon Messenger, Shiver, Sword of Summer, The Dream Thieves, The Foretelling of Georgie Spider, The Forgotten Crown, The Last Time We Say Goodbye, The Raven Boys, The Raven Cycle, The Ruby Circle, Throne of Glass

New Bloggish Stuff

It’s January, which means it’s a new year! (In case you missed it, New Year’s Eve was on Wednesday). This means that I can finally implement the changes I’ve been planning since October!

First, if you look towards the left of the screen, you will notice that a rating system is being added. I’ve been wanting to do this for a while.
Also, if you look up, you’ll notice that I’ve created a review archive. That was fun to make.

And speaking of reviews, I have finally figured out a general format for them, which makes me happy.

In other news, Top Ten Tuesdays and Stacking the Shelves will continue on as usual. Sometimes there’ll be pictures or links, other times just a list because I’m lazy/busy.

I haven’t done one in a while, but my weekly wrap-ups, known as This Week in Books, will now be called This Week’s Adventures, and will hopefully start to become more elaborate.

Book Buying Limitations

As you can see here, last year’s book buying got a little out of hand.

To combat this, I’m giving myself a list of books I am allowed to buy. If it’s not on the list, I am not allowed to buy it.

Note: this list is still in progress, so it may change slightly in the near future.

Coming 2015:
The Ruby Circle, by Richelle Mead
The Last Time We Say Goodbye, by Cynthia Hand
Throne of Glass #4, by Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Thorns and Roses, by Sarah J. Maas
Rogue, by Julie Kagawa
The Forgotten Crown, by Julie Kagawa
Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes, by Rick Riordan
The Sword of Summer, by Rick Riordan
Dangerous Deception, by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Half Wild, by Sally Green
Dead of Winter, by Kresley Cole
Let the Sky Fall #3, by Shannon Messenger
The Foretelling of Georgie Spider, by Ambelin Kwaymullina
Raven Cycle #4, by Maggie Stiefvater

Already out:
Prodigy and Champion, by Marie Lu
The Raven Boys and The Dream Thieves, by Maggie Stiefvater
The Shiver Trilogy, by Maggie Stiefvater
Illusions of Fate, by Kiersten White

So, last year, by final count, I was buying an average of 9 books per month.
To keep this up, I have to buy an average of 2 books per month.

Bookish Bingo Challenge

So, Maddie over at The Girly Geek has created this marvellous challenge which basically consists of this bingo card:

 

Overall, there are 45 challenges, to which I say:

 

Top Ten Tuesday

Tags

A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ambelin Kwaymullina, Books I'm Looking Forward To In 2015, Cynthia Hand, Half Wild, Julie Kagawa, Let the Sky Fall, Maggie Stiefvater, Richelle Mead, Rick Riordan, Sally Green, Sarah J. Maas, Shannon Messenger, The Foretelling of Georgie Spider, The Forgotten Crown, The Last Time We Say Goodbye, The Raven Cycle, The Ruby Circle, The Sword of Summer, Throne of Glass, Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a thing where we get given a topic, and we have to list our ‘top ten’ things for the topic. Pretty self-explanatory.
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This Week’s Topic: Top Ten Books I’m Looking Forward To In 2015

1. The Ruby Circle, by Richelle Mead

2. Half Wild, by Sally Green

3. The Foretelling of Georgie Spider, by Ambelin Kwaymullina

4. The Sword of Summer, by Rick Riordan

5.  The Last Time We Say Goodbye, by Cynthia Hand

6. The Raven Cycle #4, by Maggie Stiefvater

7. Throne of Glass #4, by Sarah J. Maas

8. The Forgotten Crown, by Julie Kagawa

9. A Court of Thorns and Roses, by Sarah J. Maas

10. Let the Sky Fall #3, by Shannon Messenger

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So…which books are you looking forward to?

Top Ten Tuesday

Tags

Aimee Carter, Ambelin Kwaymullina, Captive, Half Wild, Julie Kagawa, Maggie Stiefvater, Michelle Hodkin, Richelle Mead, Rogue, Sally Green, Sarah J. Maas, Sequels I Can't Wait To Get, The Foretelling of Georgie Spider, The Forgotten Crown, The Raven Cycle, The Retribution of Mara Dyer, The Ruby Circle, Throne of Glass, Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a thing where we get given a topic, and we have to list our ‘top ten’ things for the topic. Pretty self-explanatory.
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This Week’s Topic: Top Ten Sequels I Can’t Wait To Get

1. The Ruby Circle, by Richelle Mead
FINAL BLOODLINES BOOK!

2. Half Wild, by Sally Green
Because Half Bad was amazing.

3. Throne of Glass #4, by Sarah J. Maas
Do I need to explain?

4. Rogue, by Julie Kagawa
Um…it’s Julie Kagawa. That is all.

5. The Dark World #2, by Cara Lynn Shultz
Because The Dark World was awesome! And Cara Lynn Shultz is awesome.

6. The Foretelling of Georgie Spider, by Ambelin Kwaymullina
Anyone who hasn’t read The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf needs to read it. And then needs to read book #2. So that I have someone to be excited with for book 3, because I don’t know anyone else who’s read this series!! *sobs*

7. The Raven Cycle #4, by Maggie Stiefvater
*hyperventilates excitedly*

8. Let the Sky Fall #3, by Shannon Messenger
*sobs because I wants it*

9. The Forgotten Crown, by Julie Kagawa
I know, two Julie Kagawa books in one list…BUT I WANT THEM!!

10. Captive, by Aimee Carter
Thankfully, this one comes out, like, next week.

BONUS: The Retribution of Mara Dyer, by Michelle Hodkin
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO COME OUT WEEKS AGO *sobs* But alas, it doesn’t come out until December in Australia. This is what I get for wanting all my editions to match.