Summer Plans

I know it is technically not summer yet, but the school year has ended so for me, this is the start of "summer"!


I want to talk about summer plans. First off, I am planning on blogging regularly again. Finally, I can relax (if my stressed out brain lets me!), so I can read more and concentrate on my blog :)


I am also planning on walking down to the library a lot. I live fairly close to it, so it is an incentive for exercise, plus many books I want to read! It's nice for when I want to get out of the house and not spend money.


I am thinking of making a summer TBR list. I have some books I definitely want to get to this summer, generally thicker books I don't have the time to really get into during the school year. Among these books are my copy of The 120 Days of Sodom and Other Writings (which has been.....an experience so far), Lady Midnight and Lord of Shadows (the second of which I received for Christmas!), A Court of Mist and Fury, and the soon-to-be-released Bedlam!

However, I don't want to put too many books on this list, as I also need to make sure that I have enough time to read library books as well (I never have time to visit the library during the school year). Do you make a summer TBR list? Is it definitive, or do you just choose a few select books that you make sure to sprinkle throughout your summer reading?


I am also hoping to get some planning and maybe even part of a draft done for the story I am working on. I really worked on world-building throughout the year, so maybe I can get things going on this project.



I don't really have any other summer plans, besides working. No traveling, no major get-togethers, just a nice, chill summer.



Just some important reminders: make sure to drink lots of water this summer! Don't forget to wear sunscreen, and try to have fun!


Do you have any summer plans?

Beautiful Book Covers

Today I want to talk about some more beautiful book covers! I am featuring a trilogy with covers I love!

 

 

I love these covers for a lot of reasons. I think they're just so pleasing to the eye, but what I really love about them is the colour scheme. I love the mostly grey scale colours with a big pop of orange, blue, or red. It makes them stick out from other books to me, and it is simple enough, but not boring. It is interesting, but not overwhelming either.


What do you think of these covers?

The Blood Keeper by Tessa Gratton + Vamps by Nancy A. Collins

Series: The Blood Journals
Author: Tessa Gratton
Page Count: 432
Published: August 28th, 2012
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
  3 Stars ★★★

Mab is the new Deacon, leader of those who practice blood magic. Blood magic is a normal part of life for her, living on a farm, spending time with other blood witches like herself. Her peaceful existence is threatened, however, when she awakens a curse.

Will is an ordinary boy in an ordinary town. One day, a humanoid creature made of mud attacks him and he meets Mab. She's strange, and he tries to dismiss what happened, but a strange bruise leads him back to her, where he learns that he is now marked by a dangerous curse.

I really enjoyed Blood Magic, and I thought I'd love the sequel just as much, but honestly I can't say that I did. I liked Mab and Will, they were both interesting and good people, and I love how they were brought together through magic, but the book just took too long to get really, truly interesting. It was too slow paced for me. I spent a good portion of the book just wondering when the action was going to really get started!

I liked that the author included writings from the past, like from Mab's ancestor. It filled in the blanks and foreshadowed what was going to come. Sometimes I feel it distracted a bit from the main plot, though. And it made the book seem even more slow than it already was. 

Overall, I did enjoy reading about Mab and Will, but this book could have been a lot better. The pacing was too slow for me and it took too long for the action to really get going! 

Find The Blood Keeper on Goodreads

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Series: Vamps
Author: Nancy A. Collins
Page Count: 235
Published: July 22nd, 2008
Publisher: HarperTeen
  2 Stars ★★

Lilith is the daughter of a very rich vampire, and as an Old Blood vampire herself, she attends Bathory Academy, a night school for young female vampires. Going out with her friends one night to find some humans for dinner, she gets into a fight with a New Blood, Cally. Vampire hunters descend upon them and kill one of Lilith's friends, leaving Lilith hating Cally and blaming her for the death. 

Cally is upset when she learns that she must leave her New Blood school and attend the Old Blood Bathory Academy. After narrowly escaping vampire hunters, she must now deal with the wrath of Lilith at school. Furthermore, one vampire hunter seems particularly interested in her, and she thinks she might be developing feelings for him too. 

I picked this up because I love vampires! And the idea of vampire feuds sounded really interesting to me. Unfortunately I found myself pretty disappointed.

First off, the characters weren't developed very well. They all seemed very shallow and I wish that the author had taken more time to make them seem more real. I outright hated Lilith, and I think I was supposed to care about Cally but I honestly didn't. I also think the romance between the vampire hunter and Cally was very unrealistic and happened way too fast.

There didn't seem to be any concrete plot to this book, so I kept reading wondering where this was going. Nothing seemed really connected to a greater story-line.

I did like the author's writing style, her choice of words was excellent in my opinion. I also thought there was an interesting twist near the end. Had the story been more solid and the characters more developed, this could have been a great book. Unfortunately it didn't really do it for me.

Find Vamps on Goodreads

Awesome Things about eBooks

Hey everyone! So with the rise of technology, we've seen an increase in the ways we can read books. Whether we still read them mostly in physical form, in audiobook form, or via eBook apps on our phones and eReaders, there are so many choices and possibilities out there.


I always wonder what we are going to come up with next! It seems like we are continuously developing new ways to read, create, and listen to books and stories.


With that in mind, I want to talk about some things I really like about eBooks!


First off, they are super portable. I use my phone to download eReading apps, and it is so nice to just be able to pull out my phone and read! No carrying around bulky books, no worrying about bending the cover because I put it back in my bag too roughly.


I love being able to read thick books in eBook editions, because that saves room on my shelves, in my bags, and in my hands. It is especially useful on the bus where books, both thin and thick, are at risk of being dirtied or ruined by snow and dust and people stepping on it if I drop it.


Another awesome thing about eBooks is that authors have more options when publishing their work. No longer do authors rely on big publishers to have their stories read and appreciated. There are lots of independent publishers that give authors platforms for short stories, stand alone novels, and series. Some publishing options allow even the most inexperienced writers to publish their work, which allows them to receive feedback from readers and ultimately improve their writing skills.


Ebooks often cost less than physical books, which can be great for people on a budget. On the other end of this, though, is that unfortunately some people may not have access to eBooks for financial reasons. They may be unable to afford a compatible phone or other device, leaving them with only physical books for entertainment.


Overall, it seems that eBooks offer many advantages to both readers and authors alike, although there are difficulties accessing eBooks for some individuals. Do you see any other advantages, or even disadvantages, with eBooks? Do you prefer eBooks over physical books?

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Happy 2019!

Happy New Year everyone!


I hope you all had a great 2018, and I hope you all have an even better 2019!



How did all of you do concerning your book and reading goals for 2018? I achieved my goals, reading 72 books in 2018, with most books being 4 stars reads. According to my Goodreads stats, I read over 22 thousand pages!



This year, my reading goal is 50 books, though I hope I get to read more.



Concerning the new school semester, I will try my best to keep up my blog, because I really do miss blogging. But again, it depends on the work load. If it's anything like last semester, unfortunately blogging regularly may have to become a summer thing. I hope you can all be patient with me! I still think you're all awesome.



Do you have any non-reading resolutions for the new year?



Personally, my resolution is really just to take better care of my mental health. Whether that's through self care, or not hesitating to talk to someone when I'm struggling, I think I need to focus on myself a bit more.



Have a great year, everyone!