Why aren't these in my hands yet? | Top Ten Tuesday

I'm always so excited about new releases, I actually have a document where I list the release dates, because I'm that crazy to get my hands on them. Sometimes, I want to throw away all I have on my TBR and read those books, which aren't even published yet. But well, the wait is part of the bookworm life, isn't it? 

Anyway, today I'm participating in Top Ten Tuesday as the prompt is "top ten most anticipated releases for the second half of the year", since I'm a rabid fangirl who wants all the books. Also, I'm gonna shriek a lot about beautiful covers, because look at these babies. *heart eyes*

The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles #3) by Mary E. Pearson (August 2nd) - Okay, I just saw that it was 688 pages long, which makes me even more excited (!!!). I'm planning on rereading the first two books over the summer, because they were that good. I think that the premise clearly shows it's about romance, but it became so much more. Also, I read the prequel novella in April and I think it will help me understand some aspects a bit more.

A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes #2) by Sabaa Tahir (August 30th) - In my opinion, An Ember in the Ashes was one of the best debuts published in 2015, so it's not a surprise I'm excited about it. It was really hyped up (optioned for a movie before the publicaiton, like whaaat?). I also converted my boyfriend to the series in November, so yay me! But anyway, I can't wait to see the direction this book is going.

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco (September 20th) - The title totally called me while I was browsing Goodreads, because it's really creepy and promising. I love Victorian era novels and this one focuses on Jack the Ripper, so while I'll be scared all. the. time., I want it. Moreover, it will have sinister photos of the era, which is amazing even though I'm scared in advance.

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake (September 20th) - I read everything Kendare Blake published and she's such a good author. This one particularily appeals to me because it's a high fantasy and I'm pretty sure it will be about girl power, since the strongest of the three princesses will become queen. Moreover, these girls won't be powerful straight away, as two of them can't really use their powers. Also, the cover is so pretty!

A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess (September 20th) - *squeals* VICTORIAN LONDON! I know, I'm pretty predictable, but, but... Victorian era <3 Another debut I need, as it's about a girl who poses for the Chosen One among the sorcerers, when she's definitely not. We also have another strong case of covergasm, because look at this beauty!

Stealing Snow (Stealing Snow #1) by Danielle Paige (September 20th) - I liked Dorothy Must Die but was disappointed in the second one and I don't plan to continue, especially when book 2 and 3 were under 300 pages and a fourth one has been announced, but I want to give the author a second chance, as this one seems amazing. It's a retelling of the Snow Queen and how she became a villain and I'm rooting for villain origin stories (like many readers out there!).

Like A River Glorious (The Gold Seer trilogy #2) by Rae Carson (September 27th) - I loved the first book so much, when I never finished A Girl of Fire and Thorns (I know, I should try again), it totally took me by surprise! It was about a girl with the power to sense gold during the Gold rush. While the first book was more about traveling to California, the characters have now arrived and I can't wait to see what happens to them. Moreover, I have strong Frontierland's vibes when I think about it (yeah, I need to go back to Disneyland). I'm still in shock about the cover, I'm totally in love with it, because this blue is glorious (ha, ha, ha...).

Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) by Leigh Bardugo (September 27th) - Leigh Bardugo is one of my favourite writers and I'm still crying inside that I got to meet her last October (she's fabulous). Six of Crows was just amazing and it ended in such a cruel way... I really need to have Crooked Kingdom, even though my heart will probably be broken, since it's the final book. I need all the ships to get together, but let's be real, some of the characters might die... *sobs* I want it more than Nina needs cake <3

The Midnight Star (The Young Elites #3) by Marie Lu (October 11th) - I'm so sad this trilogy is coming to an end, even though I'm so excited about Marie Lu's new projects. These books are so dark and I love the world, with its secret societies, powers coming from a plague... Moreover, after the ending of The Rose Society, I need to know what will happen. 

Gemina (The Illuminae Files #2) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (October 18th) - Okay, everyone was right, Illuminae was amazing and I need Gemina. I'm a bit sad it will focus more on new characters than the previous ones, but well, it was the same thing with the Starbound trilogy, so I should get used to it. Illuminae was so unique and a crazy adventure, like everyone said when it came out.

Are you excited for any of these books? What books are you dying to get your hands on during the second half of the year?

Greek gods, have you abandonned us? | Legacy of Kings

Legacy of Kings (Blood of Gods and Royals #1) by Eleanor Herman

Published: August 18th 2015 by Harlequin Teen

Genre: young adult, historical fiction, fantasy

Goodreads summary: Imagine a time when the gods turn a blind eye to the agony of men, when the last of the hellions roam the plains and evil stirs beyond the edges of the map. A time when cities burn, and in their ashes, empires rise.

Alexander, Macedonia’s sixteen-year-old heir, is on the brink of discovering his fated role in conquering the known world but finds himself drawn to a newcomer…

Katerina must navigate the dark secrets of court life while hiding her own mission: kill the Queen. But she doesn’t account for her first love…

Jacob will go to unthinkable lengths to win Katerina, even if it means having to compete for her heart with Hephaestion, a murderer sheltered by the prince.

And far across the sea, Zofia, a Persian princess and Alexander’s unmet betrothed, wants to alter her destiny by seeking the famed and deadly Spirit Eaters.

Weaving fantasy with the shocking details of real history, New York Times bestselling author of Sex with Kings Eleanor Herman reimagines the greatest emperor the world has ever known, Alexander the Great, in the first book of the Blood of Gods and Royals series.

REVIEW

When I first heard about this book, I was definitely intrigued, because of the time period it was set in. In YA historical fiction, we mostly have novels set in the 19^th century, sometimes 18^th century, but let’s be real: that’s pretty much it. So of course, being this huge history nerd, every time I see a book set before those time periods, I add it to my TBR (even though they’re not always great, like Into the Dim *sobs*).

Because Legacy of Kings was written by a historian, the world was totally accurate, and I actually could grasp how people had lived during this time period. There were also so many myths the author mentioned, that intertwined with the story perfectly. Moreover, the fantasy aspect of the novel also depended upon the historical setting, because it was about the gods, the mythological creatures and so on. However, be warned that in this first book, we don’t see that much of the fantasy aspect, but it’s definitely introduced and we’ll get more of it in Empire of Dust.

This book had seven points of view, which was definitely too much. It actually took me quite some time to get through the first seventy pages or so, because each chapter introduced a point of view. I quickly adapt though, but at times some points of view felt a bit unnecessary. It didn’t help me to connect with some characters, as they were more secondary than anything. I particularly struggled with Zo, because she was so far from the action (but I’m sure it’ll be better in the next book!) and Jacob, because he was so self-centred, and the author kind of forgot his point of view at the end of the book, haha. Nevertheless, all of these points of view helped to understand the bigger picture and I liked that.

Legacy of Kings definitely felt like the first book in a series, because it was introducing so many aspects, the world, the characters, but also multiple subplots. It definitely set up to be an amazing series and it showed that so many things will happen in the latter books, but as a standalone, I didn’t feel like I had enough closure, because it was an introduction. I still liked it though, because I was invested in most of the storylines and it got me totally intrigued. But I’ve seen it bothered many readers and I can understand why.

I was really engrossed into the story during almost the whole book and am excited for the next one. However, I was a little disappointed because I had guessed the final plot twist early on… I think that plot-wise, it was heavy, because there was so much going on, for seven characters. I don’t think I would advise you to start fantasy with this one, even though I loved it. This novel was also quite dark, which I liked, because it wasn’t sugar-coating anything.

Eleanor Herman chose to have so many strong female characters, which I was so excited about, because it’s the Antiquity! I don’t mean I like all of them, but they were all so interesting. Indeed, the author wrote realistic characters, who all had their own agendas, even if it made them flawed, like Olympias, who was more on the villainous side, or Cynane, a morally grey princess. Moreover, can we talk about how Olympias has snakes everywhere and I’m scared to death of snakes?? I will never go near this woman, seriously. I would have liked to have more of Alexander’s point of view, because the book was supposed to be about him, but it was more about Kat, even though I liked her.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the dynamics between the characters, sadly. In the first chapter, the author hinted something was going on between Kat and Jacob, but I didn’t like how he treated her during the whole novel… At some point, something was also going on with Heph and I had no idea where it was coming from. So yeah, sometimes it felt a little bit forced. However, I liked the friendship between Heph and Alex, they were so loyal to each other and Cynane was definitely jealous.

The action definitely picked up during the last chapters of the novel and I was addicted. The characters will have to face so many enemies but I can’t wait to see it. Moreover, I’m curious of the paths some of them are going to take, because they will be farther away from the palace, as the war is starting.

Overall, this book was a very good introduction to a new epic series and I loved reading it. It definitely had flaws though, like the number of points of view or some dynamics between the characters, but my enjoyment of the novel was so high. It was also quite dark, which is so fitting in fantasy. If you haven’t yet, you should read this one, especially because Empire of Dust, the second book, is coming out at the end of June! 

Have you read this book? What did you think of it? Are you excited for Empire of Dust? Have you read other YA novels set in Ancient Greece?

Want to spend the summer in Hawaii? | Summer of Sloane

Summer of Sloane by Erin L. Schneider

Published: May 3rd 2016 by Disney-Hyperion

Genre: young adult, contemporary

Goodreads summary: Warm Hawaiian sun. Lazy beach days. Flirty texts with her boyfriend back in Seattle.

These are the things seventeen-year-old Sloane McIntyre pictured when she imagined the summer she’d be spending at her mom’s home in Hawaii with her twin brother, Penn. Instead, after learning an unthinkable secret about her boyfriend, Tyler, and best friend, Mick, all she has is a fractured hand and a completely shattered heart.

Once she arrives in Honolulu, though, Sloane hopes that Hawaii might just be the escape she needs. With beach bonfires, old friends, exotic food, and the wonders of a waterproof cast, there’s no reason Sloane shouldn’t enjoy her summer. And when she meets Finn McAllister, the handsome son of a hotel magnate who doesn’t always play by the rules, she knows he’s the perfect distraction from everything that’s so wrong back home.

But it turns out a measly ocean isn’t nearly enough to stop all the emails, texts, and voicemails from her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, desperate to explain away their betrayal. And as her casual connection with Finn grows deeper, Sloane’s carefree summer might not be as easy to find as she’d hoped. Weighing years of history with Mick and Tyler against their deception, and the delicate possibility of new love, Sloane must decide when to forgive, and when to live for herself.

REVIEW

By now, you might have noticed that I don’t read many contemporary novels, because fantasy is the best genre of them all (at least, for me). However, because it’s now Spring, I’ve been more and more in a contemporary mood, which means I’m giving all the contemporaries on my TBR a shot. I was excited about Summer of Sloane mostly for the Hawaiian setting and let me tell you, it’s a perfect beach read!

Summer of Sloane tackled down so many important contemporary issues and I won't really talk about it because it would be spoiler-y for most of them, but it was eye-opening - I think it especially would be for younger teens - and thought-provoking. Indeed, in the first pages of the book, the main character learns that her boyfriend cheated on her… With her best friend. A few hours later, she is flying to Hawaii to spend the summer with her mother, which allows her to start fresh.

This book was a pretty quick read and I was definitely hooked from the beginning, I needed to know how it would end before I went to bed. It was still pretty predictable though, because thirty minutes after finishing it, I told my boyfriend what I thought would happen… And that's exactly what happens. Nevertheless, I liked the dynamics aspect of the book, as it focused a lot on family and friendship, as well as the romance obviously. It's all I ask in a contemporary novel, and it totally delivered.

I loved the setting of the book, it almost felt as if I was in Hawaii with Sloane, enjoying the tropical weather and being in the water all the time. Schneider definitely captured the feeling of this place, with her vivid writing, which pleased me to no end, as I wanted to read the book because it was set in Hawaii. Because of that, it's definitely the type of book anyone would like to read on the beach, or just outside in general. It felt like summer and holidays, which was perfect.

The characters were all pretty fleshed out, everyone had a backstory and drama going on, even secondary characters like Lucy, Finn's sister, who was younger than the rest of the cast. I really liked that aspect, because even though Sloane had so many problems of her own, the story wasn't that self-centred because it intertwined with her friends' and family's. Moreover, considering what she had been through, I would have reacted the same way that Sloane did, taking time for herself (for once) and trying to build something new. However, about the characters, I think that in the end, one of them was just being a drama queen, in order to make Sloane's decision look good. I might be wrong about that, but it seemed pretty easy…

The romance was pretty cute, I was definitely rooting for the characters, since they had so much chemistry. Moreover, it was a little funny as the first time they saw each other was a little… Intense? I was annoyed at the drama between the two of them in the last part of the novel, because once again, communication is the key and they weren't good at that, apparently. However, I liked the way the author built their relationship, they were confiding in each other and they were friends, before it evolved into something else.

Overall, if you're looking for a book you'll be able to read quickly while on vacation, Summer of Sloane is the book for you! It definitely felt like I was in Hawaii and it tackled down so many important problems we can face in our everyday lives. I was rooting for the characters and it ended quite well for most of them, even though they had been through so much.

Have you read this book? What did you think of it? Do you read more contemporary novels in summer than the rest of the year?

May 2016 | Tea & Screens #3

I watched so many TV shows and movies this month, because after finals I was pretty much free and I loved that. Many seasons of shows were ending so I was busy catching up on everything, and now I'm up to date! Of course, there are shows I haven't started the new seasons yet, so it's my plan for the summer. I'm currently catching up on Game of Thrones as we speak. 

Once Upon A Time (520-523) - Aaah, I'm happy that the villain wasn't redeemable after all! At first, it felt a little weird they had defeated it before the last two episodes of the season, but I'm so pumped about the new villain they introduced. I wasn't keeping up with the news abut the show, so I had no idea, but it's pretty interesting in my opinion (I don't want to spoil people who haven't finished!). I also want to know more of the new land we saw. There was an important death and it was a bit sad, but I can't tell I was surprised. Moreover, I liked how two characters are becoming close, but well, it's a family show so we could expect it.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (319-322) - The way they defeated the villain was pretty interesting and sad, it also means we finally got rid of a certain character (hahaha). But, what was that ending, creators? It was pretty weird but I'm definitely curious about what will happen next.

New Girl (510-522) - I literally marathoned all of these episodes during finals (I know, it's bad), because I grew so addicted to this show. I wasn't a huge fan of Megan Fox's character though, because she was pretty much a filler while Jess wasn't there, you know? I liked that some old characters came back this season, it was so much fun to have them again. And oh, in the end the wedding was hilarious. Nothing went as planned, but who expected it to be perfect? The ending made me a little sad for Jess, but well, I'm sure it will be better for her next season.

The Big Bang Theory (921-924) - As always, I'm having so much fun watching this show, it has such a perfect format. However, I feel like this season's finale wasn't really a finale. I mean, it could have been any episode of the season, so I was a little disappointed about that... I needed more tension and more closure, but well, I'll have season next season I guess, as it's the last!

The Flash (220-223) - Okay, I can't stand Iris anymore. A villain should come and kill her instead of good characters, duh. But well, she's endgame and they have to keep her while she says cheesy stuffs to Barry. Nope, nope, nope. The only reason her character is here is to be Barry's love interest, I definitely don't like that. Nevertheless, I liked the resolution of the season. I'm scared for the new season, though, because Barry, you shouldn't have chosen to do that! It will mess everything up for sure! And ah, it was pretty funny to see who was behind the mask in Zoom's lair.

Arrow (420-423) - While I loved the whole season (because magic :D), I was disappointed on how this season ended. It's exactly the same that last season, except the characters are reversed. Seriously, some originality, please? However, I like that Arrow is one of those shows that doesn't end on a cliffhanger, it changes a little. Curtis was definitely the best, he helped the team a lot, I hope we'll see more of him.

DC's Legends of Tomorrow (108-116) - This show is amazing, I marathoned most of it with my boyfriend in a day, that's how obsessed we were. However, I'm mad at this soul mate thing, okay? We choose who we love, period. Except for that complain, it was so kickass, the characters are amazing and I can't wait to see what happens next! And well, they were aboard a time travel ship, which means I was bound to like it! ;)

Tinkerbell and the Legend of the NeverBeast (2014) - It was on demand and I hadn't seen this Tinkerbell movie, so I had to (there is still one I haven't seen I think). I loved the plot, it was pretty original and introduced so much world-building. It also focused a lot more on Noa than Tinkerbell, but I didn't mind that, it was interesting to switch focus a little. Moreover, I cried at the end because it was saaaaad. Yes, I know it's ridiculous that I cry during Disney movies when I'm twenty, but I don't care.

Atlantis: the Lost Empire (2001) (rewatch) - The first time I watched this movie I was five apparently (I went with my school), I didn't remember a lot. I loved it because Atlantis' myth is so interesting and the movie was steampunk, which I love. I'm happy I got to watch it again, especially when my little brothers had never seen it.

Becoming Jane (2007) - I'm obsessed with this movie. I saw it on demand and was like 'oh it sounds interesting' but then I was completely hooked. I know it was romanticized but the chemistry was on point. The best scene was when Jane was dancing with Wisley and then she had to switch partners and then it was Lefroy and he had such a smile... My heart completely melted... The last scene was also pretty cute, even though it probably never happened. But it was hope and respect and I'm dying here, guys. I want more and Jane Austen to be happy forever and ever with Lefroy, even though it didn't happen and helped her become such a great writer. *sobs*

Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) - Funny that this book was inspired by Pride and Prejudice as I watched Becoming Jane during the same month. I never read the book but I found the movie to be really funny and ridiculous. I still loved it even though everything was WTF. Also, Colin Firth is so attractive it hurts. Apparently he played Darcy in one of Pride and Prejudice's adaptations??? I need to watch that.

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004) - When I started watching it, I was a little 'meh' because I knew it would be drama, over drama. But it was still funny and the situations 100% ridiculous. This movie was definitely not mind blowing but I had such a good time watching it! Moreover, I learnt that a new Bridget Jones movie is coming out this year? I totally want to watch that.

Have you watched any of the movies and TV shows I mentioned? What did you watch this month?

A game-changing sequel that focused A LOT on the romance | Soldier

Soldier (Talon #3) by Julie Kagawa

Published: April 26th 2016 by Harlequin TEEN

Genre: young adult, fantasy

Goodreads summary: The price of freedom is everything.

When forced to choose between safety with the dragon organization Talon and being hunted forever as an outcast, Ember Hill chose to stand with Riley and his band of rogue dragons rather than become an assassin for Talon. She’s lost any contact with her twin brother, Dante, a Talon devotee, as well as Garret, the former-enemy soldier who challenged her beliefs about her human side.

As Ember and Riley hide and regroup to fight another day, Garret journeys alone to the United Kingdom, birthplace of the ancient and secret Order of St. George, to spy on his former brothers and uncover deadly and shocking secrets that will shake the foundations of dragons and dragonslayers alike and place them all in imminent danger as Talon’s new order rises.

REVIEW

I discovered Julie Kagawa last year and devoured seven of her books. By far, her Talon series is my favourite, and this third instalment definitely confirmed it. It is a long series, because there are still two books to be published, but in my opinion, it won’t be too much. If you love dragons, you should definitely read it!

Soldier picked up right after the ending of Rogue and the plot was totally addictive, I devoured the book in a few sittings when I got time. While Soldier was the middle book of the series, I didn’t feel like it was a filler at all. At the beginning of the novel, Garret uncovers game-changing secrets and the rest of the book deals with the consequences of that. I liked to see everyone team up against their enemies and I cannot wait to see how they’ll work together next. Soldier totally made the main plot progress and opened up new subplots.

However, I wanted more character development. Ember mentioned several times that she had changed with all she’s been through, but I would have liked to see it more, she was still a whiny teenager (even though I like her). Riley was still the same character that in the first book, and I never really liked him, so we have a complicated relationship. Can another dragon burn him or something? I was satisfied with Garret’s development though, because he just wanted justice and to show the truth, which is laudable.

This book still had four points of view, five if you count Garret’s flashbacks and Kagawa managed to balance them perfectly. I’ll admit that Dante’s point of view wasn’t the best, because it was far away from the action, but I found it to be totally useful, since he was our only way to know what was going on in Talon. What was happening there was totally dreadful, which was to be expected after the epilogue of Rogue. Moreover, it amuses me that we don’t have much of his point of view, and then it ends on his with a big revelation.

What truly surprised me was that Kagawa managed to expand the world she created. Indeed, because Garret was uncovering truths about the Order, we saw more of the organization, but also flashbacks of how he came to be a soldier. Moreover, we learnt more about the dragons, with some unexpected aspects. Also, some of the revelations made my heart stop for a second.

I won’t lie, this book totally contained a love triangle and it focused a lot on that aspect. In Kagawa’s defence, it seemed realistic, because Ember was conflicted between her human side and her dragon side. However, I really don’t like when authors pull the “we’re meant to be together” trope, because I believe we choose who we love. Not the contrary. So yeah, I admit I was a little pissed at some point, but it’ll wear off. I’m totally team Garret, since I love their chemistry so much more, and because sometimes, I feel life Riley wants to own Ember, which isn’t a healthy relationship at all. But maybe it’s just that I don’t get their chemistry, who knows?

Soldier ended on a cliffhanger, which disappointed me a little, since it was already the case last time. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the last chapters, they were action-packed, filled with tension and I couldn’t stop reading. I think the book could have done with one more chapter, because the resolution to this cliff-hanger is a little obvious since it’s YA fiction.

Overall, it was a solid instalment in the Talon series and you should definitely read this series if you haven’t given it a shot yet, because DRAGONS. I’m so happy that Kagawa didn’t made a filler of this book, since it had an actual goal and helped move the stories. I would have liked more character development though, and to get read of this “we’re meant to be” trope. But other than that, it was pretty good and I can’t wait for Legion!

Other:

• Review of Talon (book #1)
• Review of Rogue (book #2)

Have you read any of Julie Kagawa's novels? Which one is your favourite? Have you started the Talon series yet? Do you love books about dragons?

The Brontë's worlds were MORE than fictional | Worlds of Ink and Shadow

Worlds of Ink and Shadow by Lena Coakley

Published: January 5th 2016 by Amulet Books

Genre: young adult, fantasy, historical

Goodreads summary: Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne. The Brontë siblings find escape from their constrained lives via their rich imaginations. The glittering world of Verdopolis and the romantic and melancholy world of Gondal literallycome to life under their pens, offering the sort of romance and intrigue missing from their isolated parsonage home. But at what price? As Branwell begins to slip into madness and the sisters feel their real lives slipping away, they must weigh the cost of their powerful imaginations, even as the characters they have created—the brooding Rogue and dashing Duke of Zamorna—refuse to let them go.

Gorgeously written and based on the Brontës’ juvenilia, Worlds of Ink and Shadow brings to life one of history’s most celebrated literary families in a thrilling, suspenseful fantasy.

REVIEW

If you didn't know, I'm a huge fan of the Brontë sisters, even though I haven't read that much by them. Nevertheless, I've always been compelled to learn about them and when I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it. This book made me want to read all of their works even more than before, so it totally worked in that sense. I'm left craving for more of their writing and I'll do something about it soon.

I felt like this book was quite unique, with its imaginary worlds created by writing about them, it was quite interesting. This concept of traveling to them was based off a folktale, which I could totally picture in the 19th century moor. It was so mysterious the whole time and I loved the explanation. The fact that it was about these imaginary worlds the characters could access reminded me of the Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray, in a way, because it was as eerie and a little scary. But I didn't read this book at night so this effect was a little lost on me.

However, while I was interested by this concept, I was totally underwhelmed during the whole book. I kept reading, but I never got the spark that pushed me to read until I was done. For me, it was quite a slow book, but it wasn't necessarily a bad thing, because it got along with the atmosphere of this book, it's just that I was never hooked (which is a little sad). Moreover, I would have liked to see more of the madness mentioned in the synopsis. Yes, they were seeing things but it lasted for a couple of chapters and it didn't actually feel like madness.

My motivation to keep going lied in the Brontë siblings, because I love them so much and it felt close to their actual stories. Indeed, the author said she had based her novel upon their work, even though she had taken some liberties. I loved that it truly showed the power of words, but also how sometimes, the characters do whatever they want, even if you are the writer. However, I would have liked to know more about Anne. I know that she's the youngest of the four, but I couldn't quite picture her motivations, when I understood Branwell, Emily and Charlotte completely. Moreover, what happened in those fictional worlds felt like the beginning of something bigger, namely the novels of the Brontë sisters and I could see Heathcliff in Rogue or Mr. Dorchester in Zamora.

However, while I liked reading about the Brontë siblings, I think that they were unmemorable characters and that I will only remember them because they existed in real life. While the book was unique, I never felt like the characters truly shone and it was just the same for the fictional characters, that they had created to be huge clichés. I didn't came to care for any of them. For the romance, it felt just the same, I had definitely seen it coming and it was just okay for me.

Overall, this one had potential and I don't regret reading it, because I learnt a lot about the Brontë siblings, whom are my little babies. The concept was definitely interesting and the author did her research, but because I didn't actually love the characters and I wanted a more fast-paced plot, it didn't do it entirely for me. But now I want to read all the books by the sisters.

Have you read this book yet? Do you love the Brontë's sisters? Have you read any of their books?

Are you sure it was just a month and not two? | May Wrap-Up & June TBR

Wow, I feel like May started forever and a day ago. I remember that I watched Captain America: Civil War on the first day of the month but it feels so far away. It's a good thing I have my bullet journal to remember what I actually did!

Delicious food because why not?

I finally tried out colouring!

From May 3rd to May 12th, I was on finals and I still don't have my results (ugh). I know that I killed it in my English presentation, I'm so happy about it. On May 8th, I went to an archeological site with my family, I loved the reconstitutions that they made, it was quite interesting and more lively for my little brothers.

After those two crazy weeks, I had a long week-end to rest, I just read and watched TV shows with my boyfriend. When I came back home the Tuesday after that, I got a letter for a job at a library for August and an email for an intership's interview (in a span of two hours, like what?), I was over the moon. Two days later, I went to my interview, it was great and I got the internship. *victory dance* Since then I've been trying to gather all the papers that I need, it's exhausting. I'm starting the internship on June 13th, wish me luck guys!

I also went on an adventure with my family in a 17th century castle and even though it rained all day, it was so beautiful, I'm still thinking about it. For the last week of May or so, I didn't do anything except stuffs for the internship, taking care of my little brothers... Anyway, I felt like May started such a long time ago and I didn't really have time to rest, even though I'm supposed to be on holidays. But at least, I'm occupied. I wanted to start doing my research for my Camp NaNoWriMo's project but I was only able to do this for an hour. Life is so crazy, guys!

My physical haul for this month.

REREAD: Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater 5 stars

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater 3.5 stars

Open Road Summer by Emery Lord 4 stars

A Tyranny of Petticoats by Jessica Spotswood (anthology) 4 stars

Dreamology by Lucy Keating 3 stars

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas 5 stars 

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin 4.5 stars

The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig 3.5 stars

Ruined by Amy Tintera 4 stars

Warrior Witch by Danielle L. Jensen 3 stars

Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman 3 stars

The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan 3 stars

Worlds of Ink and Shadow by Lena Coakley 3.5 stars

Summer of Sloane by Erin L. Schneider 4 stars
Soldier by Julie Kagawa 4 stars

Goodreads challenge: 67/120. I'm more than halfway through, which is a good thing since I have no idea how much I'll be able to read this summer!

Flights of Fantasy : 40/50. I read eight books in this genre this month, but well, I'm killing this challenge so no one is surprised, really. 

Retelling challenge : 11/20. I read three books that can be considered retelling this month. A Court of Mist and Fury was a retelling of Hades and Persephone (and maybe other stories like it was the case in ACOTAR? I don't know) and my favourite book of the month (year?). I'm also including retelling of famous figures, since Worlds of Ink and Shadow was a retelling of the Brontë's childhood and Blackhearts of Blackbeard's beginning, but it still works!

'16 Debut Author challenge : 11/15. Wow, I read four debut novels this month, I'm quite proud of myself. Moreover, it included two contemporaries and one historical novel, so look, I'm not only reading fantasy!

When We Collided by Emery Lord

Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

King Slayer by Virginia Boecker

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

Beyond the Red by Ava Jae

Riders by Veronica Rossi

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson (reread)

 as part of The Remnant Chronicles readalong

What did you do this month? Are you done with finals? School? What did you read? Any new favourites?