Monday, 30 January 2017

Book Haul

Hey guys. So if any of you have a book addiction like I do then you know how costly it can be. I was searching the interwebs and found a site that sells new books for really cheap. The site is called bookoutlet. Once I found this website I went a little crazy a bought 10 books.




The first book I got is Bone Gap by Laura Ruby.

Everyone knows Bone Gap is full of gaps—gaps to trip you up, gaps to slide through so you can disappear forever. So when young, beautiful Roza went missing, the people of Bone Gap weren’t surprised. After all, it wasn’t the first time that someone had slipped away and left Finn and Sean O’Sullivan on their own. Just a few years before, their mother had high-tailed it to Oregon for a brand new guy, a brand new life. That’s just how things go, the people said. Who are you going to blame?

Finn knows that’s not what happened with Roza. He knows she was kidnapped, ripped from the cornfields by a dangerous man whose face he cannot remember. But the searches turned up nothing, and no one believes him anymore. Not even Sean, who has more reason to find Roza than anyone, and every reason to blame Finn for letting her go.

As we follow the stories of Finn, Roza, and the people of Bone Gap—their melancholy pasts, their terrifying presents, their uncertain futures—acclaimed author Laura Ruby weaves a heartbreaking tale of love and loss, magic and mystery, regret and forgiveness—a story about how the face the world sees is never the sum of who we are.

I got the book is hard cover which is usually really expensive but I paid $7.97 for this book and the original price is $21.99.






The next book I got is Dream A Little Dream by Kerstin Gier. This is book 1 in the Silver Trilogy.


Mysterious doors with lizard-head knobs. Talking stone statues. A crazy girl with a hatchet. Yes, Liv's dreams have been pretty weird lately. Especially the one where she's in a graveyard at night, watching four boys conduct dark magic rituals.

The strangest part is that Liv recognizes the boys in her dream. They're classmates from her new school in London, the school where she's starting over because her mom has moved them to a new country (again). But what's really scaring Liv is that the dream boys seem to know things about her in real life, things they couldn't possibly know--unless they actually are in her dreams? Luckily, Liv never could resist a good mystery, and all four of those boys are pretty cute.



This book is again hard cover. The original price is $20.50 and I spent $3.89.





The next book I got is Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John.


The Challenge: Piper has one month to get the rock band Dumb a paying gig.

The Deal: If she does it, Piper will become the band's manager and get her share of the profits.

The Catch: How can Piper possibly manage one egomaniacal pretty boy, one talentless piece of eye candy, one crush, one silent rocker, and one angry girl? And how can she do it when she's deaf?

Piper can't hear Dumb's music, but with growing self-confidence, a budding romance, and a new understanding of the decision her family made to buy a cochlear implant for her deaf baby sister, she discovers her own inner rock star and what it truly means to be a flavor of Dumb.


This book is not a hard cover and the price of this book is $10.50 and I paid $4.59.




How To Be Bad by E. Lockhart, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Myracle s the next book I got.


Vicks is the wild child whose boyfriend has gone suspiciously quiet since he left for college; Mel is the newcomer desperate to be liked; and Jesse will do anything to avoid a life-altering secret. Each one has her own reason for wanting to get the heck out of their nowheresville town, even just for the weekend. So they climb into Jesse's mom's "borrowed" station wagon and head south.

Hearts will be broken, friendships will be tested, and a ridiculously hot stranger could change the course of everything.

This is a soft cover book that costs $12.50 and I paid $4.59.




The next book is Liars, INC. by Paula Stokes.


Max Cantrell has never been a big fan of the truth, so when the opportunity arises to sell forged permission slips and cover stories to his classmates, it sounds like a good way to make a little money and liven up a boring senior year. With the help of his friends Preston and Parvati, Max starts Liars, Inc. Suddenly everybody needs something and the cash starts pouring in. Who knew lying could be so lucrative?

When Preston wants his own cover story to go visit a girl he met online, Max doesn’t think twice about hooking him up. Until Preston never comes home. Then the evidence starts to pile up—terrifying clues that lead the cops to Preston’s body. Terrifying clues that point to Max as the murderer.

Can Max find the real killer before he goes to prison for a crime he didn’t commit? In a story that Kirkus Reviews called "Captivating to the very end," Paula Stokes starts with one single white lie and weaves a twisted tale that will have readers guessing until the explosive final chapters.

This soft cover book retails for $12.50 and I got it for $3.89.




The next book I got is a hard cover book of Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen.


Peyton, Sydney's charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention and—lately—concern. When Peyton's increasingly reckless behavior culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident?

Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time.

The uber-popular Sarah Dessen explores her signature themes of family, self-discovery, and change in her twelfth novel, sure to delight her legions of fans.



This book usually costs $23.99 but I got it for a low price of $9.09.




The next book I got is a book that I had to read for school my grade 9 year and I wanted to have my own copy and reread it. The is called The Boy In The Striped Pajamas by John Boyne.


Berlin, 1942 : When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move to a new house far, far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people in the distance.

But Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different from his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences.



I paid $5.19 for the book which is a really good deal considering the original price is $23.99.




The next book I got is a hard cover book called The Lies About The Truth by Courtney C. Stevens.


Sadie Kingston, is a girl living in the aftermath. A year after surviving a car accident that killed her friend Trent and left her body and face scarred, she can’t move forward. The only person who seems to understand her is Trent’s brother, Max.

As Sadie begins to fall for Max, she's unsure if she is truly healed enough to be with him — even if Max is able to look at her scars and not shy away. But when the truth about the accident and subsequent events comes to light, Sadie has to decide if she can embrace the future or if she'll always be trapped in the past.


This book costs about $21.99 and I grab this book up for $7.19.




The next book I got is The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp.


SUTTER KEELY. HE’S the guy you want at your party. He’ll get everyone dancing. He’ ll get everyone in your parents’ pool. Okay, so he’s not exactly a shining academic star. He has no plans for college and will probably end up folding men’s shirts for a living. But there are plenty of ladies in town, and with the help of Dean Martin and Seagram’s V.O., life’s pretty fabuloso, actually.

Until the morning he wakes up on a random front lawn, and he meets Aimee. Aimee’s clueless. Aimee is a social disaster. Aimee needs help, and it’s up to the Sutterman to show Aimee a splendiferous time and then let her go
forth and prosper. But Aimee’s not like other girls, and before long he’s in way over his head. For the first time in his life, he has the power to make a difference in someone else’s life—or ruin it forever.

I have already watched the movie and really enjoyed it so I decided to pick up the book. The book sells for $10.99 and I paid $3.98 for it.




The final book is What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler.
Kate Weston can piece together most of the bash at John Doone’s house: shots with Stacey Stallard, Ben Cody taking her keys and getting her home early—the feeling that maybe he’s becoming more than just the guy she’s known since they were kids.

But when a picture of Stacey passed out over Deacon Mills’s shoulder appears online the next morning, Kate suspects she doesn’t have all the details. When Stacey levels charges against four of Kate’s classmates, the whole town erupts into controversy. Facts that can’t be ignored begin to surface, and every answer Kate finds leads back to the same question: Where was Ben when a terrible crime was committed?

This story—inspired by real events—from debut novelist Aaron Hartzler takes an unflinching look at silence as a form of complicity. It’s a book about the high stakes of speaking up, and the razor thin line between guilt and innocence that so often gets blurred, one hundred and forty characters at a time.


I heard a lot of good reviews about this book and wanted to give it a shot. This book costs $21.99 and I only paid $5.19 for it.




With Shipping, I got the 10 books for about $72. I saved $109 which can buy me another 10 books.


Well guys thats it for this week post. See you guys next week.

Thursday, 26 January 2017

Harry Potter Book Tag

1. Expecto Patronum: A childhood book connected to good memories


2. Expelliarmus: A book that took you by surprise


3. Prior Incantato: The last book you read.


4. Alohamora: A book that introduced you to a genre you had not considered before.


5. Riddikulus: A funny book you've read.


6. Sonorus: A book you think everybody should know about.


7. Obliviate: A book or spoiler you would like to forget to have read.


8. Imperio: A book you had to read for school.


9. Crucio: A book that was painful to read.


10. Avada Kedavra: A book that could kill (interpret as you will).







1. (EXPECTO PATRONUM) I gotta love Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park. The stories begin with Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus, in which Junie B. is an "almost six-year-old" starting her first day of kindergarten. I grew up with these books and she was the start of the mischievous path I lead. (there was a sly glint in my eyes as I wrote that)


2. (EXPELLIARMUS) Matched by Ally Condie. I looked at this book briefly many times before in the Chapters but then put it back because it didn't seem very interesting. When I finally bought the book (due to many friends telling me to), it sat on my bookshelf for months. All of the other books around it got taken and read until one day, when I had read everything else, I picked it up. I read the first chapter and immediately fell in love and couldn't put it down. Definitely suggest!


3. (PRIOR INCANTATO) Eve by Anna Carey. I just finished this one yesterday, would definitely suggest!


4. (ALOHAMORA) To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee. This book introduced me to classic literature.


5. (RIDDIKULUS) An Abundance of Katherines. This book was funny and if I showed emotion while I read, I would be rolling on the floor laughing.


6. (SONORUS) The Hollow by Jessica Verday. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and want other people to have a chance to have that feeling too.


7. (OBLIVIATE) The Harry Potter series. It's not that I didn't like the book series, believe me, I did, I love this book. I just wish that I didn't hear all the spoilers about it before I read it. I wish it was more surprising.


8. (IMPERIO) Christmas with the Kranks. I had to read this book and write a book report on it. Why couldn't we just watch the movie?


9. (CRUCIO) The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. This book was painful. I pushed through and finished it but it wasn't interesting at all.


10. (AVADA KEDAVRA) I interpreted this by a book that could kill because it is boring and could bore you to death. I chose The Fire Chronicles by John Stephans. This book, I couldn't even finish it because I was so bored.


Thanks for reading, catch up with you next week!




~Tea-Riffic



Monday, 23 January 2017

Perks of Being a Wallflower Book vs Movie

Hey guys. How are you? School has been really busy lately. I had like no time for reading or blogging which I really need to catch up on. Why can't there be a extra day in the week dedicated just to reading. So anyways I have just read perks of being a wallflower for the hundredth time (ok I have not read the book 100 times but I have read it a lot). As I was reading, I realized that there are a lot of differences between the book and the movie and I thought today I would talk about some of them.



1) What Happened to Michael

After reading the book again, I was at the part where they are at a party and Sam was making Charlie a milkshake and I was waiting for the part where Charlie tells Sam what had happen to his friend. As I kept reading there was no mention of what had happen. From the start the reader knows what had happen to Michael but it is not clear if Charlie's friends know as throughout the book Charlie does not talk about it with them.


2)  The English Teacher Relationship

One of my favourite characters in the book is the english teacher Bill. I like hime because he listens to Charlie and makes sure he is okay. He also gives him books to read and asks hime to write essays on them which is a good thing because it gives Charlie a distraction. In the book, Charlie and Bill have a closer relationship and Bill even invites Charlie over for lunch but in the movie that does not happen and the only interaction between them, is when Charlie is getting a new book or handing in an essay.


3) Small Musical Change

This one is a small difference but any one who is big on music should have picked up on this. Think back to the tunnel scene where Sam is standing in the box of the truck. In the book, the song that is played is Landslide by Fleetwood Mac. The vibe you get from the song is a little sad. In the movie the song is Heros by David Bowie. This song is more up beat and happy. I know it is not a major change but this kinda changes the meaning of the tunnel scene.




Thursday, 19 January 2017

Tea-Riffic's To Be Bought List

Hey, readers! I will be making a list of books that I want to buy in this upcoming year when I buy/read a book off this list, I will strike it out so check back to this list once and a while to see my progress. I will also be adding books to this list.

1. The Way We Bared Our Souls by Willa Strayhorn

2. Sweet by Emma Laybourne

3. Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

4. Frost Blood by Elly Blake

5. Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

6. The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine

7. Queen of Hearts by Colleen Oakes

9. Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell

10. Paper Princess by Erin Watt

11. Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody

12. Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter

13. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

14. Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

15. The Lovely Bones by Alice Seboid

16. Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

17. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

18. Identical by Ellen Hopkins

19. Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix

20. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Monday, 16 January 2017

Social Media Book tag

Hey guys. How are you? I'm really good! School has started again, which means less time for reading, but thats ok I've already finished my reading for this month. Anyway, this week I thought I would do a book tag. If I'm not reading or blogging, Im watching booktube videos. As I was deep in my video watching, I found this tag and decided to give it a try. The orignal video is linked here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4csNy-ZLsA8





Twitter: Your favourite shortest book:

Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. This is probably my all time favourite book even though it is so short (213 pages). I wish it was longer, that there was more to the story but it is still a good book with the amount of pages it has.


Facebook: A book everyone pressured you into reading:

I had to think really hard about this one and the only thing that came to mind was the Twilight series. When the book came out there was so much hype and everyone I know was reading it. I felt pressured to read it to fit in with the crowd. Later I realized that I was not a fan and did not finish all the books.

Tumblr: A book you read before it was cool:

I read Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira not long after it came out and now, apparently it is going to be turned into a movie.

Myspace: A book you don't remember whether you liked or not:
For school we had to read a book that had one a literary award and do a book report on it. One of the books I choose was The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill. I don't really remember much the only thing I remember is it was a really big book. I don't know if I will ever try to reread it.

Instagram: A book that was so beautiful that you and to instagram it:

Dreamology by Lucy Keating has such a pretty cover. Here is a link to our instagram where I had to post it: https://www.instagram.com/p/BOyp4Ddg_Hj/?taken-by=the_readingcafe

Youtube: A book you wish would be turned into a movie:

I think Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell would be a good movie or any one of Rainbow Rowell books because she is an incredibly writer.

Goodreads: A book you recommend to everyone:
If you love teen romance novels then I would recommend any of Sarah Dessen books. In each book she writes, there is a different kind of love story, which is one thing I like about her books. My favourite book by her is Just Listen.

Thursday, 12 January 2017

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

     This is the first book I read for my reading challenge. I really wanted to just read a stand alone and I didn't do my research before I read this book. So when I finished this book, I nearly chucked it across the room. I almost threw a temper tantrum! This book was so good! But then, it ends. It ends on a massive cliffhanger. And I was like, no! I didn't want to start another series. The next book doesn't come out till the end of 2017, so now, I have to wait for a whole year until the next one comes out. Argh!

    This book was not extremely interesting until around half way through. I came very close to putting this book down and not picking it up again but I stuck with it. And I am so glad that I stuck with it. The last half of the book got exciting. Before I get to the book talk, I'll give a brief description. 

Three dark queens
are born in a glen 
sweet little triplets will never
be friends.
Three dark sisters 
all fair to be seen
two to devour
and one to be Queen 
   
     This book is about three sisters, one has the power to eat the deadliest poison without as much as a stomach ache, she is named Katherine, one has the power to control the fiercest wolf and bloom the most gorgeous flowers, she is named Arsinoe and the third one, can control fire and bring the most vicious storms, she is named Mirabella.  Over the course of this book, the three girls are preparing for the quickening. The quickening is when the girls show off their skills. And after quickening, the Accension starts. The Accension is a year where the girls are allowed to kill each other and last standing becomes queen. 


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     So welcome to the book discussion portion of this review. In this section, I will be going over the book in a little more detail. Picking out the good things and the bad things. If you are reading this, I'm hoping to have already read the book. So leave comments as to if you agree or disagree with my thoughts. 

     Let me start out with the style of writing. This book has so many characters, that at the beginning it was difficult to understand what was happening. The chapters are also labeled strangely. They are labeled by places. For example, where Katherine lives it is called Greavesdrake Manor. And for every chapter that's about her, the chapter is labeled Greavesdrake Manor. The name of the chapter also follows the character no matter where she goes. For example, when Mirabella ran away, the title of the chapter was 'The Western Coast', because that's where she was. 
     The author (Kendare Blake) decided to do this book in third person. I think this fits because we follow so many different characters in this story, it would just get confusing with all the point of view switches. 

    Now, on to the story. The story line for this book is a good idea. I found that the plot was well rounded and I can only hope that in the next novel it will tie up the loose ends. It seems like Kendare Blake thought out the plot and the characters. The fact that Arsinoe and Katherine were gift less and Mirabella was this awesome powerful girl, kinda throws me off but I see where the author is going with it.
     One of my favorite moments from before the Beltane Festival is when Mirabella holds out her hand to Arsinoe. I really like this moment because Mirabella is trying to be kind. Mirabella remembers what happened a the cottage. I wish the other girls did too because I want them to be more reluctant to kill each other. But it makes for a good story. 
      One of my favorite moments during Beltane was when Arsinoe came back and Mirabella called the huge storm. It really shows how much Mirabella cares about her sisters. Ok, let's be fair, Mirabella is probably the most kind sister and probably my favourite character. 

     And then there's the ending. Julia eats a piece of candy that was poisoned and becomes really sick. But it turns out that Arsinoe had already ate some of these candies when she first got them. And that's when it dawns on her, she's not gift less, she's a poisoner. Then, it ends! Argh! I loved the book but that fact that I have to wait a full year to know what happens next just kills me! Can't wait for the end of 2017 just because I want this book.

     The first book in this series is overall pretty good. The plot, the idea, the story line and the characters are all thought out and well rounded. Although, the first half of the book is boring, if you stick with it, you will definitely not regret it.

    See you next week!

~ Tea-Riffic 

























Monday, 9 January 2017

Owl crate December 2016 *My opinion with spoilers

Hey, guys. How are you all doing? To start this post off I would like to say that I am aware that this post is a little late seeing as this is being posted mid-January. I have been really busy with the holidays and school starting again. I would also like to say sorry for this bad picture but it was hard to show everything off (the owl crate pin fell as I was taking the photo and I gave up on trying). 







The first thing that I got in the box is a lord of the rings pin. 
I am not a big fan of the books or movie but I still think this is pretty awesome and will add it to my jacket that I put a bunch of pins on the back.

The next thing I got is a blind Harry Potter figure. I was really excited when I saw this because I collect pop vinyls and mini figures plus it is Harry Potter. But to my disappointment, I got Hermione which I already have.

The next thing in the box is a sticker with a quote from A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E Schwab. "I'd rather die on an adventure than live standing still." I think the sticker is really cute and like it a lot since I just bought the book.


What I think is really cool is how Owl Crate includes a pin every month based on the theme.

The next thing I got is a set of Game of Thrones coasters. I am not a big fan of Game of Thrones. I have given the tv show a try but I don't like blood and gore. 

Next, I got a greeting card of The Chronicles of Narnia. Growing up my whole family was big on the movies (I have never read the books). I will probably put this on my dresser or something and never write in it.)

And the final thing in the box is the book this month. The book is a fantasy book called Of Fire & Stars by Audrey Coulthurst.

Here is the book synopsis:

Betrothed since childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile lands. But Denna has a secret. She possesses an Affinity for fire—a dangerous gift for the future queen of a kingdom where magic is forbidden.

Now, Denna must learn the ways of her new home while trying to hide her growing magic. To make matters worse, she must learn to ride Mynaria’s formidable warhorses—and her teacher is the person who intimidates her most, the prickly and unconventional Princess Amaranthine—called Mare—the sister of her betrothed.

When a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom reeling, Mare and Denna reluctantly join forces to search for the culprit. As the two become closer, Mare is surprised by Denna’s intelligence and bravery, while Denna is drawn to Mare’s independent streak. And soon their friendship is threatening to blossom into something more.

But with dangerous conflict brewing that makes the alliance more important than ever, acting on their feelings could be deadly. Forced to choose between their duty and their hearts, Mare and Denna must find a way to save their kingdoms—and each other.



Looking at this book I have mixed feelings on whether I would like it or not. Fantasy novels can sometimes be hit or miss but I am willing to give it a try.


So overall I am not really impressed with this month's box comparing it to past boxes. The only thing I really liked was the greeting card. Hopefully, next month's box is better (the theme for next months is classic remix). Well, guys, I have to go and wait by the door for the post man to drop off the next Owl Crate. See you next week.

Thursday, 5 January 2017

First Post from Tea-Riffic



Hey, everybody! My name is Tea-Riffic and I'm so excited that you're reading this blog.

Today, I don't really have an interesting post because it is my first post, but I promise next week will be better. I decided that for today, since it is the new year, I will post the 10 books I can't wait to read in 2017.



1. Kings Cage the third instalment in the Red Queen Series by Victoria Aveyard
    Expected publication: February 7th 2017


2. Long May She Reign by Rhiannon Thomas.
    Expected publication: February 21st 2017

3. The Sand Castle Empire by Kayla Olson
     Expected publication: June 6th 2017


4. American Street by Idi Zoboi
    Expected publication: February 14th 2017


5. The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy
     Expected publication: July 4th 2017


6. The Best Kind of Magic
     Expected publication: May 16th 2017


7. In a Perfect World by Trish Doller 
    Expected publication: May 23rd 2017

8. Lucky Girl by Amanda Maciel
    Expected publication: April 25th 2017


9. Bad Blood by Demetria Lunetta (don't start singing, you can control yourself)
    Expected publication: March 14th 2017


10. The Suffering Tree by Elle Cosimano
       Expected publication: June 13th 2017



These are my top ten books to read in 2017, I definitely would suggest trying these books out with me when they come out. Thanks for reading, see you next week!


Good bye!

Tuesday, 3 January 2017

Christmas haul


Yes, I have decided to bless you again this week with my presence. The reason is that I have so many posts that really only work the beginning of January. As it would be weird for me to do a Christmas book haul in May.


So anyways, for Christmas I got a gift card for Chapters and went right away to buy some books. Then the next day I went back and purchased more books (I have a book buying problem).
I have purchased 13 books.



The first and second books are by the same author, V.E Schwab.

A Gathering of Shadows

(I have included a synopsis of the book that I have took from goodreads)
It has been four months since a mysterious obsidian stone fell into Kell's possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Prince Rhy was wounded, and since the nefarious Dane twins of White London fell, and four months since the stone was cast with Holland's dying body through the rift--back into Black London.

Now, restless after having given up his smuggling habit, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks as she always meant to do. As Red London finalizes preparations for the Element Games--an extravagant international competition of magic meant to entertain and keep healthy the ties between neighboring countries--a certain pirate ship draws closer, carrying old friends back into port.

And while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night will reappear in the morning. But the balance of magic is ever perilous, and for one city to flourish, another London must fall.



Vicious

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong. Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?

I bought these books because my favourite booktuber Jessethereader (side note; you should check him out because he is the best), (another side note; if Jesse is somehow reading this, let's be friends), has made lots of videos talking about this author so I decided to give her a try.




The next one I bought is a book of poems called Chaser of the light by Tyler Knott Gregson.
The epic made simple. The miracle in the mundane.

One day, while browsing an antique store in Helena, Montana, photographer Tyler Knott Gregson stumbled upon a vintage Remington typewriter for sale. Standing up and using a page from a broken book he was buying for $2, he typed a poem without thinking, without planning, and without the ability to revise anything.

He fell in love.

Three years and almost one thousand poems later, Tyler is now known as the creator of the Typewriter Series: a striking collection of poems typed onto found scraps of paper or created via blackout method. Chasers of the Light features some of his most insightful and beautifully worded pieces of work—poems that illuminate grand gestures and small glimpses, poems that celebrate the beauty of a life spent chasing the light.



I bought this book because I like really like reading short poems. I also really like that he has written poems on random things, for example a receipt or graph paper.




Next book is Rockoholic by C.J Skuse.


She's got it bad, and he ain't good -- he's in her garage?

"I'm your biggest fan, I'll follow you until you love me..."

Gonna have to face it: Jody's addicted to Jackson Gatlin, frontman of The Regulators, and after her best bud Mac scores tickets, she's front and center at his sold-out concert. But when she gets mashed in the moshpit and bodysurfs backstage, she's got more than a mild concussion to deal with. By the next morning, the strung-out rock star is coming down in her garage. Jody -- oops -- kind of kidnapped him. By accident. With a Curly Wurly candy bar. And now he doesn't want to leave.

It's a rock-star abduction worthy of an MTV reality series...but who got punk'd?!



As I was about to walk over to the checkout to pay for books, I saw the word 'rock' on the spine and picked it up. I love reading books about music, bands, concerts and once I read the book description, I knew this was the book for me.(Hey this is future me editing this post after I finished reading the book and let me tell you this book is a little bit weird. Look out for a review on this book soon)




The next book I picked because I thought the cover look cool (I can relate to the goth girl on the cover). The book is called 100 Days by Nicole McInnes.
Agnes doesn't know it, but she only has one hundred days left to live. When she was just a baby, she was diagnosed with Progeria, a rare disease that causes her body to age at roughly ten times the normal rate. Now nearly sixteen years old, Agnes has already exceeded her life expectancy.

Moira has been Agnes’s best friend and protector since they were in elementary school. Due to her disorder, Agnes is still physically small, but Moira is big. Too big for her own liking. So big that people call her names. With her goth makeup and all-black clothes, Moira acts like she doesn’t care. But she does.

Boone was friends with both girls in the past, but that was a long time ago—before he did the thing that turned Agnes and Moira against him, before his dad died, before his mom got too sad to leave the house.

An unexpected event brings Agnes and Moira back together with Boone, but when romantic feelings start to develop, the trio’s friendship is put to the test.


The next 2 books I have heard good things about them from numerous booktubers. The first book is The Diabolic by S.J Kincaid.


Nemesis is a Diabolic. Created to protect a galactic Senator's daughter, Sidonia. The girl who has grown up by her side and who is as much as sister as a master. There's no one Nemesis wouldn't kill to keep her safe. But when the power-mad Emperor summons Sidonia to the galactic court as a hostage, there is only one way for Nemesis to protect Sidonia.

She must become her.

Now one of the galaxy's most dangerous weapons is masquerading in a world of corruption and Nemesis has to hide her true abilities or risk everything. As the Empire begins to fracture and rebellion looms closer, Nemesis learns that there is something stronger than her deadly force: the one thing she's been told she doesn't have - humanity. And, amidst all the danger, action and intrigue, her humanity might be the only thing that can save her, Sidonia and the entire Empire...



I have been contemplating getting this book for a while and after watching a few book review videos on it, I decided to give it a try. I also think the cover looks really cool (even though I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover).



The second book is The Raven boys by Maggie Stiefvater.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her. His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Gansey is different. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been told by her psychic family that she will kill her true love. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.


I have heard good things about other books the author has written and I have seen a few different booktubers talk about this book.

The next book is Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.

In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.



I first found this book on Jessethereader goodreads favourite lists and then I saw a few other booktubers say positive things about the
book.




Now the last book (or should I say books) is The Wonder Series by R.J Palacio.
(I only included the synopsis of the first book)


August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.

I am really excited to read this series. I have heard lots of good things about this book. It is also being turned into a major motion picture. So hopefully I can finish the series before the movie comes out (wish me luck).



Well that is it for this book haul. Let me know in the comments if you have read any of these books and your thoughts. Well I have to go and add these books to my TBR list. `

Monday, 2 January 2017

First blog post, TBR list and 2017 Reading challenge

Hey, guys. Espresso Patronum here and welcome to my first blog post. I thought for my first blog post I should talk about my reading challenge for 2017 seeing as it is the start of the new year and my TBR (to be read) list.


Reading Challenge 2017

Reflecting back to last year, I realized that I did not read as much as I would like. It's not that I did not have the time to read but I spent my free time watching Netflix. So by the end of 2017, I would have liked to have read 50 books whether they are books I have already read or books from my TBR list. If you want to see my progress you can click on the Expresso Patronum reading challenge tab at the top. 


TBR List

Below is my TBR list. I will be updating this list frequently with new books I buy and striking out books I have read. So check back to see my updated list.


  1. Asylum by Madeleine Roux 
  2. Ballads of suburbia by Stephanie Kuehert 
  3. Before I fall by Lauren Oliver 
  4. Dear life you suck by Scott Blagden 
  5. Everland by Wendy Spinale 
  6. Exile by Kevin Emerson 
  7. Flawed by Cecelia Ahern 
  8. Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow 
  9. Have a nice day by Julie Halpern 
  10. Hold still by Nina Lacour 
  11. Holding up the universe by Jennifer Niven 
  12. Looking for Alaska by John Green 
  13. Meet me at the river by Nina de Gramont 
  14. Miss peregrine's home for peculiar children series by Ransom Riggs 
  15. My heart and other black holes by Jasmine Wanga 
  16. One man guy by Michael Barakiva 
  17. Our chemical hearts by Krystal Sutherland 
  18. Peter pan by J.M Barrie 
  19. Remix by Non Pratt 
  20. Replica by Lauren Oliver 
  21. Rude by Jay Crownover 
  22. Side effects may vary by Julie Murphy 
  23. Six impossible things by Fiona Wood 
  24. Suicide notes by Michael Thomas Ford 
  25. Tape by Steven Camden 
  26. The Haters by Jesse Andrews 
  27. The Immortals series by Alyson Noel 
  28. The Probability of miracles by Wendy Wunder 
  29. The Problem with forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout 
  30. The Savage song by Victoria Schwab 
  31. The Soul Seekers series by Alyson Noel 
  32. The Sweet dead life by Joy Preble 
  33. The Distance between us by Kasie West 
  34. Thirteen Reasons why by Jay Asher 
  35. We know it was you by Maggie Thrash 
  36. We were liars by C. Lockhart 
  37. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan 
  38. Zac & Mia by A.J Betts 
  39. The Raven boys by Maggie Stiefvater 
  40. The Diabolic by S.J Kincaid 
  41. 100 Days by Nicole McInnes 
  42. Rockoholic by C.J Skuse 
  43. Vicious by V.E Schwab 
  44. A Gathering of Shadows by V.E Schwab 
  45. Ready player one by Ernest Cline 

Well, guys, I have to go, I have to start on my reading challenge. Hope to see you all next week
“This is my favorite book in all the world, though I have never read it.”