A month full of studying & holidays | December 2015 Wrap-up & January 2016 TBR

Hi everyone!

I hope you're well and had a wonderful December month! For the first two weeks of the month, I had uni and a lot of work to do, so I didn't get that much time to read *sigh* I've been on holidays since the 18th (yay!), but I also have to study (nay!), since I have five finals to take in the first two weeks of January.

But in the meantime: 

HAPPY NEW YEAR GUYS!!!

I wish you the best of the best ;)

Air Awakens (Air Awakens #1) by Elise Kova 4.5 stars

A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston DNF

Zodiac (Zodiac #1) by Romina Russell 3.5 stars

Witch Hunter (The Witch Hunter #1) by Virginia Boecker 4.5 stars

Their Fractured Light (Starbound #3) by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner 4 stars

Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee 3.5 stars

The Sweet Far Thing (Gemma Doyle #3) by Libba Bray 3 stars

The Orphan Queen (The Orphan Queen #1) by Jodi Meadows 4 stars

Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White 4 stars

Happy Again (This is What Happy Looks Like #1.5) 5 stars

The Hidden Prince (The Orphan Queen #0.1) by Jodi Meadows enovella 4 stars

The Glowing Knight (The Orphan Queen #0.2) by Jodi Meadows enovella  4 stars

The Burning Hand (The Orphan Queen #0.3) by Jodi Meadows enovella  4 stars

The Alloy of Law (Mistborn #4) 2.5 stars

At some point in the month, I realized I was in a reading slump. You'll be shocked that I'm saying that, since I still read a lot. Well, I know... Tbh, in the first two weeks of the month, I read three books and DNF one, it wasn't that great. But most of the time I was reading 'meh' books and then a great one and boom. BOOK HANGOVER I need The Mirror King. So I read enovellas and I think my reading is getting better? IDK but it's a New Year so I shall be fine. 

 Movies                                        TV Shows

      The Minions                            Once Upon A Time

        The Scorch Trials                      Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

           Paddington                                       Supergirl             

           Inside Out                                 The Big Bang Theory
                            Star Wars: The Force Awakens            Downton Abbey                                  

Saving M. Banks                                              

I finished Downton Abbey with my boyfriend on December 31st, I'm still so sad because it's over for real.

Official TBR:

The Secret Fire by C.J. Daugherty and Carina Rozenfeld

Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios

Fire Falling by Elise Kova

Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis

Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay

New releases I want but probably won't have 'til my birthday next month:

Out on January 5th:

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

The Impostor Queen by Sarah Fine

Thief of Lies by Brenda Drake

Worlds of Ink and Shadow by Lena Coakley

Out on January 19th:

Sword and Verse by Kathy MacMillan

Out on January 26th:

The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman

The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry

To sum up the beginning of the month...

(it was the DEATH of me)

I sure had a lot of papers to turn it, but overall, I only had two finals to take. I still have five of them during the first two weeks of January, though *cries*

But since the 17th, I've been on holidays and got ready for Christmas!

I totally sucked at the Advent Calendar thing-y this year, because I was between my parents' home and Paris for most of the month. I was so late and I'm grateful my boyfriend ate them all. To be honest, I still have the last two chocolate to eat but I'm not home until January 9th so... I'll finish it that day, yay! #BIGFAIL

 Actually, there were two creches at my parents' home and I did a little one in Paris, hahaha. It seems that I was obsessed with Christmas, but not really, since I was bad with my Advent calendar.

I also made Christmas cookies, yay!

Anyway, I had a quiet Christmas at home with my family, it was quite nice. I got a new computer (two weeks early actually), some little presents and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: The Illustrated Edition. I'm a bit sad I couldn't have books but it's the only thing I'll ask for in February (for my birthday).

The last week of December, I went to my boyfriend's, since he's going back in Germany for the whole month in January, and then he comes back for real (I can't wait!). I spent New Year's Eve there and we had an enormous meal (I'm still dying).

How was your month? What did you do during this holiday season? Are you happy we are in 2016? (I am)

It was a long month... | November 2015 Wrap-up & December 2015 TBR

#covergasm

HI GUYS!

I got a lot of work to do for uni this month, but apparently, I survived! I should reward myself by buying more books. On a sadder note, I live in Paris and I guess you’ve all heard about the attacks… I was at my parents’ house for the week-end, and it was really depressing getting back there. The atmosphere is heavy and I can’t entirely feel secure these days, but it will be better. Let’s talk about happier thoughts, like books!

Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman 4 stars

Carry on by Rainbow Rowell 4 stars

Ungodly by Kendare Blake 3.5 stars

The Revolution of Ivy 3.5 stars

Winter by Marissa Meyer 5 stars

November 9 by Colleen Hoover 5 stars

Soundless by Richelle Mead 2 stars

Angels Twice Descending by Cassandra Clare enovella 3 stars

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon 4 stars

Hidden Huntress by Danielle L. Jensen 4.5 stars

Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray 4 stars

Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken DNF 
Through the Dark by Alexandra Bracken 4.5 stars

Currently reading: Air Awakens by Elise Kova

I also read a lot of books for my history class, but I won’t list them for you, it’s less interesting.

I'm really happy that I got to read all the new releases I was excited for in November, it was my main goal for the month. I had a good reading month, I enjoyed most of the books I've read. However, I DNF-ed Alex Bracken's debut novel - released in 2010 - because even if the world was interesting, it felt like books I've read before... She sure grew up as a writer since this book and I'm still really excited for Passenger! I immediatly picked up Through the Dark - The Darkest Minds novellas - because I wanted to love her books again... And I did! The novellas had a real point and I loved reading more from this world. 

Movies                                                 TV shows

Lolo                                                         Arrow

Astérix : le Domaine des dieux                   Once Upon A Time

           Dofus : Julith                                       The Big Bang Theory

            Belle et Sébastien                            Marvel's Agents of SHIELD

Mockingjay Part 2                                                            

Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang                                                  

November 1^st, I was in Rotterdam for the end of my holiday, but I think I already talked about it in my October Wrap-Up. November 11^th, I had a holiday, I walked around in Paris, because I don’t do that that much – and I’ve lived there for two years. I went to Champs-Elysees when I saw the Republican Guard because of the ceremony of the day. Then, I went to WHSmith, an English bookstore rue de Rivoli when I got Winter by Marissa Meyer (yay). I went to an exhibition about a painter of the 18^th century (one of my favourite time periods), it was really interesting. After that, I got back him by walking near the Seine, it was so beautiful, but it was quite far from home so… My feet hurt so badly.

If I had such a beautiful day, we got the news of the Paris attacks two days after. I don’t want to talk much about it, but we’ll be okay, like we always have.

On Saturday 14^th, I went to a premiere for an animated movie based on the video game Dofus. The movie was made by a French studio not far from home, I’m so happy about it! The movie was great because FANTASY, we even got goodies; it was so nice of the team.

(My little brothers with the masks we got)

I mostly had a quiet month for the rest of November. I went to my grandmother’s home for the weekend two weeks ago. She lives near the sea but it was SO COLD. I saw it but… In the car! I went to a French book even there and bought books for my family (and two for myself, what happened, I’m gonna read something in French?).

Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner (published December 1st)

Frozen Tides by Morgan Rhodes (published December 15th)

Zodiac by Romina Russel

Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman

The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray

A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston

Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker

Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee

For me, this month was SO LONG and I'm happy it's over, because it's December, which means Christmas isn't that far away. I also need to finish buying Christmas presents!

How was your month?

Tell me everything in the comments ;)

Frozen Tides | Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine in which we discuss our most anticipated upcoming releases.

Title: Frozen Tides (Falling Kingdoms #4)

Author: Morgan Rhodes

Published: December 15th 2015 by RazorBill

Goodreads summary: Rebels, royals, and monsters wage war over the Mytican throne in the shocking fourth book of the Falling Kingdoms series, from New York Times bestselling author Morgan Rhodes.

CLEO: Reeling after a bloody showdown in Limeros ending with Amara’s abduction of the water crystal, and a vacancy in the Mytican throne, Princess Cleo must cast aside her feelings and look toward her kingdom with the eyes of a Queen.

MAGNUS: With the kingdom in chaos, Princess Lucia still missing and quite possibly in danger, and a shocking realization about Cleo, the steely prince is once again torn between love and duty, leaving him wondering whether he’s strong enough to rule his people.

LUCIA: The young sorcercess has had her vengeance after the cruel death of her first and only love. Heartbroken and unable to trust anyone, she allies with the awoken Fire god, who also seeks revenge.

JONAS: After escaping death by the skin of his teeth, the defeated rebel—along with a mysterious stranger–leader reunites with Princess Cleo, only to find himself a mere pawn in a dangerous hunt for the elusive Kindred.

KING GAIUS: Abandoned by Melenia and betrayed by his own children, Gaius flees Mytica and sails to Kraeshia, where he attempts to ally with the famously brutal emperor across the Silver Sea.

MY THOUGHTS

Have you seen how gorgeous the cover is? *grabby hands*

This series is one of my favourite among YA high fantasy books. It's basically Game of Thrones... But for teens. The world is rich and complex, I love that you get to read the point of view of the "guardians" of Mytica, it's unique, it's like reading from the Fates if we were in a Greek perspective. Of course, I have my favourite characters, but every point of view adds something to the story, because everyone is seeking the Kindred and has a different perspective. Also, I'm a Cleo/Magnus shipper, so I can't wait to see what will happen to them in this book. This is the fourth book so A LOT will happen. I have high hopes for this one, I pray that it won't be a little disappointment like Queen of Shadows, who also was a fourth book.