Tag: young adult

Top Ten Tuesday: Fantasy Book Series That NEED to Be a Movie (Page to Screen Freebie)

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We live in an amazing day and age where CGI is actually worth our time. The technology advances towards movies has jumped leaps and bounds.

That’s why I declare that these ten series (or standalone) NEED TO BE A MOVIE. As someone who doesn’t watch movies (no really, my husband is amazed at how often I will watch a movie — which is to say, once every 6 months, at least) I put a lot of stock in choosing ones worth my time.

THESE WOULD BE WORTH MY TIME. If they were exactly. like. the. book.

Okay, let’s get started. Happy Top Ten Tuesday y’all!

A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas

Caraval Series by Stephanie Garber

Mistborn Series by Brandon Sanderson

Arc of a Scythe Series by Neal Shusterman

Final book, The Toll, coming soon.

The Daevabad Trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty

Final book, The Empire of Gold, coming 2020.

Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden

Strange the Dreamer Duology by Laini Taylor

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Have you read any of these? Which do you think should be a movie too? Lets talk in the comments. Happy Tuesday!

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Book Tag Saturday: Night and Day Tag

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I wasn’t formally tagged in this, but I found it on Kristin’s Site (Kristin Kraves Books) and thought it would be fun to do for this week! I love her page, definitely make sure you’re following her!

Hope you enjoy the answers. Have a great weekend!

Do you read more in the morning or at night?

Lately it’s been at night. After the babe (+my husband) have gone to bed I snuggle in for a few hours and read whatever book I’m currently reading.

Are there any books that changed the way you thought about things?

Oh, I feel like every other book I read does that to me. For instance, I finished The Simple Wild last night (or a few nights ago at the posting of this tag) and it made me consider a lot about my relationships with my loved ones. It doesn’t have to be non-fiction to cause a change in thought. But I’ve ready plenty of non-fiction (i.e. When Breath Becomes Air) that also has changed my thoughts about life.

YA or not?

ALL DAY. That’s what I mostly read. I don’t think anyone is too old to enjoy a good story, regardless of it’s “target audience.” I love reading YA and I will do so for the foreseeable future.

Are there characters that you honestly believe are real?

Not really. Are there characters I wish that were real? DEFINITELY. Especially in fantasy. But I’m also very aware that we don’t have *that* kind of magic happening in the real world.

In contemporaries and such, I don’t necessarily believe the characters are real. Though, since it is real life I can better believe that something like that could happen.

Nobody touches my books or I don’t mind loaning my books out?

Loan them to everyone (mostly). I actually have a few right now that are out with friends. it makes my heart unbelievably happy when a friend asks if they can borrow a book. OF COURSE YOU CAN. It’s like letting them take a tiny piece of my bookish soul.

Do you ever smell your books?

Eh, no. If I open a box and the scent wafts out, sure. But I don’t go up to my books and sniff them.

Not everyone loves books…is this a positive or negative?

Positive! I do secretly believe that there is a book for everyone, buuuut I know not everyone likes reading. AND THAT’S OKAY. Different interests and passions are what keeps ideas flowing in the universe.

Gosh, I have too many books! True or False?

False. I know I have around 300 books, but honestly it hasn’t grown much since 2016. I really dialed back how much I buy and y’all. Have you seen bookstgram? Some of those shelves have close to 1,000 books and I’m sitting here stunned by that fact. I think I would be overwhelmed if I had *that many*.

Have you ever spilled or stained books before with something, if so how?

With water, usually a few drops. I can’t remember the last time I full-on damaged a book though. *crosses fingers* I SHOULDN’T HAVE SAID THAT.

Toned or untoned? In other words, do you read and workout at the same time?

I do! If I’m on a cardio machine I will bring my book (in whatever format) and read while I’m running, biking, etc. I love how quickly it passes the time. I’ll listen to an audiobook occasionally as well, but when I lift I usually need a song to power through.

Since I wasn’t formally tagged, I’m not tagging anyone. So feel free to do this (and tag me in your answers if you’d like too!). What are some of your answers to these questions? Lets talk in the comments!

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Book Review: Storm Siren (Storm Siren #1) by Mary Weber

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Rating: ☆☆☆ 1/2
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 333 pages
Author: Mary Weber
Publisher: Thomas Nelson/HarperCollins
Release Date: August 19th, 2014
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

“I raise my chin as the buyers stare. Yes. Look. You don’t want me. Because, eventually, accidentally, I will destroy you.”

In a world at war, a slave girl’s lethal curse could become one kingdom’s weapon of salvation. If the curse—and the girl—can be controlled.

As a slave in the war-weary kingdom of Faelen, seventeen-year-old Nym isn’t merely devoid of rights, her Elemental kind are only born male and always killed at birth — meaning, she shouldn’t even exist.

Standing on the auction block beneath smoke-drenched mountains, Nym faces her fifteenth sell. But when her hood is removed and her storm-summoning killing curse revealed, Nym is snatched up by a court advisor and given a choice: be trained as the weapon Faelen needs to win the war, or be killed.

Choosing the former, Nym is unleashed into a world of politics, bizarre parties, and rumors of an evil more sinister than she’s being prepared to fight . . . not to mention the handsome trainer whose dark secrets lie behind a mysterious ability to calm every lightning strike she summons.

But what if she doesn’t want to be the weapon they’ve all been waiting for?

Set in a beautifully eclectic world of suspicion, super abilities, and monsters, Storm Siren is a story of power. And whoever controls that power will win.

CONFUSED BY MY THOUGHTS.

I have left this review sitting around for about a week now because I couldn’t decide if it worse or better than I thought. I will say this book got better the further I got into it, but also, why does someone want to wait 200 pages to enjoy a book?

I appreciated the way Nym and Eogan’s (Wow, I don’t like that name) relationship built. There was a bit of an enemies to lovers piece. I was freaked out there was a love triangle flying in, but NEVER FEAR, it was nothing. The bugger from Nym though was that she could not stop talking about how attractive he was. I hate when this is repetitively added to books. They’re more things to think about Nym!

Speaking of no love triangle, Nym’s’ friendship with Colin was stellar. I was practically more invested in that at times. They were a fun pair to watch and had great banter and chemistry (friendistry).

One thing I could not wrap my head around was how the girl with all the powers (and she really could destroy a place) was the one not destroying all those who sought to control her!? I guess I was looking for a bada** type, but got a lackluster I don’t want to be used as a weapon character. You don’t have to be a weapon Nym, OWN THE ELEMENTAL POWER.

There were rotating villains in here, but Adora was the worst of all (not in a good way). I found her silly outfits laughable and her whole demeanor a farce. The real wickedness didn’t show up til the last few chapters and that’s the leg this series needs to stand on.

I missed all of the world-building and politicking I’m used to reading in fantasy. For instance, there were multiple animals in here and I couldn’t tell you what they actually looked like. Nothing was ever described enough to paint a picture. And all of the politics were behind closed doors where Nym never bothered to listen to. This made a lot of decisions by other characters seem empty.

I will say, there was a solid plot twist or two at the end. Where I even wrote in my notes: HOLY PLOT TWIST BATMAN. Reading like every other YA fantasy book left me begging for from the story. That ending has me debating picking up book two though. I’ll keep you posted.

Overall audience notes:

  • Language: none
  • Romance: a kiss
  • Violence: knives, physical, magical
  • Trigger warnings: slavery

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Book Review: The Traitor’s Kiss (The Traitor’s Circle #1) by Erin Beaty

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Fantasy/Romance
Length: 344 pages
Author: Erin Beaty
Publisher: Imprint
Release Date: May 9th, 2017
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

An obstinate girl who will not be married. A soldier desperate to prove himself. A kingdom on the brink of war.

With a sharp tongue and an unruly temper, Sage Fowler is not what they’d call a lady―which is perfectly fine with her. Deemed unfit for marriage, Sage is apprenticed to a matchmaker and tasked with wrangling other young ladies to be married off for political alliances. She spies on the girls―and on the soldiers escorting them.

As the girls’ military escort senses a political uprising, Sage is recruited by a handsome soldier to infiltrate the enemy ranks. The more she discovers as a spy, the less certain she becomes about whom to trust―and Sage becomes caught in a dangerous balancing act that will determine the fate of her kingdom.

OKAY. THIS BOOK WAS MADE FOR ME.

Yes, I firmly believe this book was written for me, so if by the end of this review you aren’t feeling it. THAT’S COOL. I’LL BE FINE (but seriously if it’s up your alley you should read it and gush with me).

This is a love story with other components surrounding it. Definitely reminded me of The Remnant Chronicles by Mary Pearson (which I absolutely adore). The plot flowed from action, to new locations, to one heck of an epic battle scene at the end. EPIC.

My angst filled romance between the two main characters WAS EVERYTHING. This didn’t start out as enemies to lovers. It was more who are you to lovers. BUT NEVER FEAR. There was banter, some hate vibes (which created the angst I previously mentioned) and plenty of sweet, precious moments.

My dearest Sage. Girl is stubborn, rash, strong-willed, and independent. I love that she hung with the men and wanted to DO something rather than sit on the sidelines. Even better, our lovely military escort allowed her too. NO HOLDING HER BACK. What I appreciated most was when she found out some information (that of course, as a reader, I already knew) that she responded in a matter that made sense. Sage was angry, yes, but also was able to listen and understand why things were done in such a way. It made me love her character even more.

Don’t even get me started on our male POV — yes keeping his name out. It’s more fun this way, TRUST ME. Y’all he was so swoon-worthy. He’s a new addition to my ever growing book boyfriend list. His final battle scene had me cheering. YOU TAKE DOWN THE DUKE. I loved getting to know him on many levels and watching this love story grow.

There was even one part that brought tears to my eyes. I wasn’t prepared and didn’t think it would happen. I appreciate this in authors though because sometimes, crap has to happen. And that’s okay, even if it pulls at all my heart strings.

Funny tidbit: the opening scenes are straight out of Mulan (the matchmaker scene). Not sure if it was actually inspired by that, but it brought Mulan to mind and I thought it was humorous.

Overall audience notes:

  • Young adult fantasy + romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: a few kisses, and make-outs
  • Violence: Knives, poison, physical, arrows, battle scenes (+gore), mentions of torture
  • Trigger warnings: suicide (a random soldier in front of male POV), domestic abuse + miscarriage (mentioned that it occurred to a character not in book), sexual assault (unwanted grab of backside & kiss to female POV)

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