New Years Resolutions Book Tag

❄️ New Years Resolutions Book Tag ❄️

The original video was here but it's no longer available: https://youtu.be/PV9kI2UCSJo
I watched Kayla's video from last year on her channel BooksandLala: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZbJCEbJ0_w

I'm going to focus this on the books that I want to really read in 2018.

1. An author you'd like to read (that you've never read before).
    ❄️ Jane Austin- I'm not sure of what book that I will read of hers. I'd love to read Emma.

2. A book you'd like to read.
    ❄️ Circe by Madeline Miller. This is the book I look forward to the most for next year. I already have it pre-ordered.


3. A classic you'd like to read.
   ❄️ Too many. A Jane Austin book, Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, the rest of Dante's Divine Comedy (besides the Inferno), Candide by Voltaire, The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Something Wicked this Way Comes by Ray Bradbury, etc.

4. A book you'd like to re-read.
   ❄️ I re-read Chris Colfer's The Land of Stories series every year in July, so definitely that. Can't wait for is next books that are coming out next year. :)

   ❄️ Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli- for the movie.


5. A book you've had for ages and want to read.
   ❄️ The Book Thief by Markus Zusak


6. A big book you'd like to read.
   ❄️ Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, this is on the classics list that I really want to read in 2018. It is intimidating though at 864 pages.


7. An author you've previously read and want to read more of.
    ❄️ Rick Riordan- I have to read all of his other series. I read Percy Jackson series this year.

8. A book you got for Christmas and would like to read.
    ❄️ All of them. Here they are.

I have already read Father Christmas by Terry Pratchett, Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C Dao, and The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom. Can't wait for the rest.

Mythos by Stephen Fry will be my first book of next year.

9. A series you want to read (start and finish).
    ❄️ Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson.

    ❄️ The Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan

10. A series you want to finish (that you've already started).
    ❄️ The Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke. The problem with this series for me is that I was spoiled for the second book in the series years ago and the spoiler that I know sort of makes me so apprehensive about actually finishing this series. I loved the first book when I read it but this really gets to me every time I try to pick it up. I am going to try again next year.

    ❄️I would also like to finish the City of Bones series by Cassandra Clare. I have only ever read City of Bones.

11. Do you set reading goals? If so, how many books do you want to read in 2018?
    ❄️ 100 books

Carrie Fisher Post

In Memory of Carrie Fisher

10/21/56- 12/27/16

I remember when I first saw Carrie Fisher, it was when I was a little girl watching Star Wars for the very first time. Her with her hair in buns on the side of her head, long white dress, and snapping at her rescuers.  For most of my life I knew Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, as many others have. My brother and I became obssessed with the Star Wars movies and she became one of the people I looked up to. Princess Leia was a hero to me from that age on because she wasn't like many I had seen before. I remember when I first found out Carrie's name and realized that someone that I looked up to so much had the same name as me (well at least the actress playing her did). Little eight year old me (I'm not sure of my exact age at the time) was so excited when I read that in the credits. 

So it took me many years to actually get really into Carrie as a person and not just as the character of Leia. I had seen her many other movies but she'd always be Princess Leia to me. I believe that I was nineteen when I first watched her HBO documentary Wishful Drinking based on her memoir of the same name. This is also when I picked up the memoir and became totally obsessed with her type of humor. I love snarkness and she was one of the best at it. The memoir is about her life as a child of famous A-List celebrities, Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher. It's funny I loved Debbie from Disney Channel's Halloweentown movies and Carrie from Star Wars and it took me until I was probably thirteen or fourteen to even realize that they were mother and daughter. 

Last year, I remember first hearing about Carrie's death on the tv. For about a week she was not doing too well and I remember saying I hope that she'll be okay. I never actually got to meet Carrie and I wish that I could have. From an early age, she was one of the people that I always looked up to as a character but also then as a person. Carrie was not perfect and admitted to her every fault with such sincerity. She was someone who was always able to speak her mind and that's something that I admire so much. I didn't know at the time of her death how to react. People will say why do you care so much, it's not like you actually knew her. No, I didn't but I really felt like I did. I grew up with her as a person that admired for a majority of my life. Then as I grew older I learned of some of the things she had done in her past that were not always the best. This all made her more human and not any less of someone that I looked up to. Her pressence and effect will always be missed. 

It was hard watching her as Leia again in The Last Jedi but also so great. She was just as incredible to me in that movie as she was in all those previously. Her own humor and loving nature showed through and I was very pleased that I got to see her final performance. She was wonderful. I have loved watching Carrie perform as the many characters that she portrayed but also talk about her life. And today one a year later, I'm sad to know that she's not alive but am also happy to know that I got to know this famous actress, even if that was only from movies, books, and shows. She is truly missed. 

Week 16 Reviews

🎄 Week 16 Reviews 🎄

December 16th- 22nd

☃️ Book 1: Confessions of a Serial Songwriter by Shelly Peiken

Read by the author

Listened to December 17- 20th ☃️

📚📚📚📚📚

I have been a major music fan since I was a child. Throughout my childhood, I listened to classics from the 60s-80s. Also, the present day songs from the 90s and early 2000s. Music was and still is everything to me. Usually, when we think of music at least I know for me I think about the person singing the song. There is really so much more in the development of the music that we listen to other than that but still, I know that I really think about just the singer. This piece is about a woman who writes the music for or with many of the singers that I have listened to and loved in my life.  Britney Spears, Natasha Bedingfield, Keith Urban, Celine Dion, Cher, Reba McEntire, NSYNC, Miley Cyrus, Ed Sheeran, Selena Gomez, Idina Menzel, David Archuletta, Demi Lovato, and so many more. The tales she tells are just so personal and I could not get enough of them.

Shelly's memoir is a quite amusing and poignant take on her life as a writer of music and how it has affected her over the years. The best part of this audiobook experience is listening to Shelly narrate her life. Each piece of insight that she gives becomes even more intriguing getting to listen to her take on it. There is always something special when you hear an author read their story and this is no different. She knows just when to change the inflection in her voice to match a more heartfelt section and also when to add a bit of humor to it. This piece gives a feeling like she is telling her stories right to the listener.

I really loved the part when she came up with the lyrics for the song "Bitch" that she wrote with Meridith Brooks. Really that is true, you will be sitting in the most random place and random thoughts for writing will come in your head. This happens all the time for me with poetry and with stories. It is why I now carry around a notebook with me everywhere that I go because I never know when new inspirations will hit me. You do not want to forget a great line and then try to remember it again later. Most likely you will never get the line back. Or it will not be as good as the one that you come up with in the moment. This was a part that I could really relate to and I love how she said it.

This book was so great and I loved reading about Shelly's experiences. It felt somewhat like a friend telling me about her life and I could not get enough of it.

                                    *I received this book for free for an honest review*

❄️Book 2: Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks by Jim Mahfood

Read December 20th ❄️

2. 5 stars

A Short Synopsis 

The concept of this graphic novel is one that interested me. The whole idea of having a pair of magical socks that makes someone all-powerful when they are wearing them is just a humorous idea, to begin with. This piece has an overall amount of humor that drew me into it from the beginning. GRRL Scouts: Magic Socks is about a group of girls, Gwen, Daphne, and Rita who are trying to find out the mystery behind the Magic Socks, their new powerful weapon that everyone wants to get ahold of. Their problem is that Daphne has a cousin that is dead set on getting the Socks and won't stop until she and her group of recruited minions get ahold of them. Insanity ensues as the girls fight to keep and get the Socks.

Writing Style

One aspect that got me out of the overall story was the writing. It did get quite funny at times which definitely helped me want to see what happened next. This is described as a psychedelic, hilarious, and destructive insanity that fills the whole entire story and trust me this is right. There were just times that I wished that this would have stuck to the aspects of the story like the past of the Socks or something like that more. This could have had so much more development in aspects like that and would have had so much more of a plot. I love pieces that have weird stuff like magic Socks but this could have used much more of strange features instead of the crazy and action-packed stuff. This idea is something that really made me want to read it but I had a hard time staying invested throughout the whole thing.

The Art, Lettering, and Coloring

Also, the art style is something different than what I have ever seen before in a graphic novel. It’s colorful, wildly entertaining at times, and a bit crazy to go along with it. There were times while I was looking at the designs in the panels and I could not believe how nice they looked. The colors are all bright and just pop on every single page. Then there are pages with more of a psychedelic side of the story that contrasted well with the others but to me were not as appealing. This is a graphic piece that has adult scenes that I would not recommend for the younger readers.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I can say that there are some aspects of this piece that I really enjoyed especially the concept of it. There was just so much more that I wanted from it and that I was hoping for. This is a crazy piece that I believe was hilarious at times, but when I’m reading a story I want more than just a few laughs. The concept I felt was just so silly but it really did not get implemented as well as I would have hoped. This piece I believe does a perfect job showing the insanity of this story of the GRRL Scouts but the plot is lacking. I would have really liked to see more of the Socks and also learned more about each of the girls. The major focus is on how crazy this all is and can be but when it comes down to it that does not help make me invested in any of these characters or the story as a whole. This is definitely a piece that is interesting to look at. I just wish there was more that made me want to read more about the girls.

*I received this book for free for an honest review*

Week 15 Reviews-

☃️ Week 15 Reviews

December 9th- 15th 🎄

Book 1: Descender: The Deluxe Edition Volume 1
by Jeff Lemire, Dustin Nguyen (Illustrator)

(Volumes 1-3/ 

Issues 1-16)  
Read December 13th, 2017

📚📚📚📚📚

A Short Synopsis

A young robot boy named TIM-21 is a companion robot of a boy named Andy. In a universe where androids have blown to pieces the way of life for many, the robots are outlawed and hunted by bounty hunters. The graphic novel follows along with Tim and his companions as they struggle to stay alive in a universe with so much war.

The first issue opens before the war, when a group of planet-sized robots, called the Harvesters, come and destroy the way of life of the civilization. We skip ahead ten years and meet TIM-21 who has been asleep for the past ten years. Him and “his family” lived on a mining development. He slowly finds out what has happened since he was “sleeping” and is trying to find his companion and his mother. Bounty hunters come and attack him and the adventure continues from there. 

The Writing
The writing style of each issue in this deluxe edition is quite interesting. I really liked how the writer relieved information throughout the story. As we get introduced to more characters we slowly learn more and more about their identities and their backstories. As the series continues on more and more reveals to come out in the writing. The story never feels bogged down with this information though and it all feels essential to get to know the characters and where they are coming from.


Another aspect of the writing that really sticks out throughout is the characters. We follow along TIM-21 throughout the entire piece but also his companions. Each is developed and has characteristics that make them intriguing to continue to read about. The characters range from humans, many sorts of alien races, and many types of robots. Each has their own motivations in the wars and struggles that have been happening since The Harvesters came and destroyed many of their lives. The integral part of the overarching story is the fact there are both good and bad characters on both sides of the battle. Not all of the androids have done horrible things but not all of the humans and aliens can be trusted at face value. The idea of grey areas of thinking can be seen throughout the entire story. Neither side can be considered either good or evil.

The Art, Colouring, and Lettering
What really drew me to this graphic novel from the very first page was the magnificent illustrations. The art style is beyond beautiful and was stunning to look at, even with some of the more grotesque scenes. Each panel has a simplistic painted background that really helps each of the characters and other details to come alive over it. The watercolor feel to each panel makes a stunning story stand out even more.


Many of the different characters get different types of lettering depending on who they are. The aliens and the humans have one type and then many of the androids will get a more synthetic type of font. The only android that seems to not is Tim. Tim is one of the androids that is humanized more and also, we are meant to symphonize with his character.

Final Thoughts
Overall, this as an incredibly made series that I cannot wait to continue on with. I enjoyed reading about everything that has happened in this universe since The Harvesters had started wreaking havoc. Each character was complex and brought different sides to this story that made it a joy to continue to read. With a great mixture of story development and stunning graphics, this is a graphic novel that I cannot recommend enough. If you are a science fiction fan I would say that you should pick it up. I believe that you will be impressed by it.

*I was given a copy of this graphic novel
 for free for an honest review.*

Book 2: Elsewhere Volume 1
 by Jay Faerber (Story), 
Sumeyye Kesgin (Art), Ron Riley (Art)

(Issues 1-4)
Read December 15th, 2017

📚📚📚📚

A Short Synopsis
The mystery of where Amelia Earhart, the first female aviator to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, ended up in her famous flight has been something that has many puzzled over the years since. Nobody really does know what did ever happen to her.

Elsewhere takes that idea and brings Amelia Earhart to an alien world that she never expected. During her famous flight, Amelia goes through a portal into another world altogether and meets two aliens, Cort and Tavel, who save her from a tree. She wants to find her companion Fred and from the information Cort and Tavel, she believes that Lord Kragen may have him. Lord Kragen is the villain who has been capturing the rebellion and putting them in jail. She with the help of her new friends tries to find her companion but slowly finds out that nothing is what she expected. Lord Kragen has grown very interested in her and will stop at nothing to have her in his clutches.

Writing Style
The story in Elsewhere is developed well and was fascinating to learn about. It was a great adventure with characters you really root for especially Amelia. I felt that the story did get predictable near the end though and that brought the overall story down for me. From the end of the first issue I had figured out the ending and that detracted from the overall impact of it. Also, I would have liked to get more information about this world especially about the villain Lord Kragen. The information we do get is a great part of this tale but I would have liked to have some more. This might be in future volumes and it does make me want to them, which is a good thing.

The Art/ Colouring/ Lettering
The visuals were definitely the best part of this graphic novel. This intricate world that was created is appealing to look at and was quite engrossing. I could look at some of these illustrations again and again. The structures especially at Lord Kragens’ just really stand out and bring some magic into the story. In regards to lettering, this aspect does not really stand out but looks nice visually with the illustrations throughout the entire piece. The visuals gave at least to me, the impression that this world can be expanded upon greatly for future installments. This is a world that I would like to see much more of and I hope that it will even get more and more details in a continuation.

Final Thoughts 
Overall, this was a solid piece that I enjoyed delving into. The characters were good especially Amelia and the world that was created was one of the best parts. Really, the major aspect that detracts from it is the predictability of the story and also the lack of solid information. If we get more development in the actual story arc this could be an incredible piece but that is not saying that I did not enjoy reading this. I just really wanted more to it that I didn’t get.

 I really hope that this will be expanded on in future installments because this really is an idea of a story that stood out to me. Historical fiction that plays with fantasy/ science fiction has always interested me and Amelia Earhart’s story is something that always seemed fascinating to me too. One final point that I would like to touch on is the idea of the other humans who have come to this alien world. I really hope that aspect is continued on and we learn more about them. That would be a good continuation.

*I was given a copy of this graphic novel
 for free for an honest review.*

Books Under the Tree Tag

🎄 Books Under the Tree TAG ☃️

Tag Tuesday: December 12, 2017

Created by Game of Tomes on Booktube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXy40S7XJLk&feature=youtu.be

1. What book would you like to find under the tree this year?
❄️  I'd love to eventually get Neil Gaiman's Sandman graphic novel series. I've been wanting to read them for so long.

2.  What is the best book you have ever received for Christmas?
🎄  Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess' Stardust Illustrated Deluxe Edition- Stardust is one of my favorite books by Neil Gaiman and this edition is just so special to me. This came out when the movie came out in 2007. I was lucky enough to get a copy of this for Christmas two years ago.

3.  What book gives you all the Christmas feels?
❄️  A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens- this is everything to me that is Christmas.

4.  What book(s) do you plan on reading to put you in the Christmas spirit this year?
🎄   Hogfather by Terry Pratchett- I love Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. This is not the next one in the series for me to read. This is technically number twenty, but the holiday of Hogswatch is based on Christmas and the Hogfather is based on Santa. Also, it's another from the Death subseries, who is my favorite character in the series. Can't wait to read it and get back into the series.

❄️  A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck- I have had this book since I was probably in ninth grade and have never read it. Apparently, it's part of a series that I never knew about but oh well. I'm going to read it because it looks pretty good and Richard Peck is a famous middle-grade writer that I want to read more of.

🎄  A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens- I read it already. I have read/ watched a version of this every year since I was a kid. It's a favorite.

❄️  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling- The illustrated edition of this book came out this year in October. It's my favorite Harry Potter book and one of my favorite books of all time. I just cannot wait to read this edition.

🎄  The Christmas Joy Ride by Melody Carlson- I bought this book for my mom last year for Christmas because she loves Christmas books and I thought this sounded interesting. She loved it and I am planning on reading it before the end of December. It looks pretty good and I love road trip books so much so I'm hoping I love it.

5.  What book have you read this year that you would like to throw out with the Christmas tree after the holidays?
❄️  The book that I disappointed me the most was Troilus and Cressida by Shakespeare. It's actually a play. I won't get rid of it because it's Shakespeare and I could never get rid of it but I did not like it.

6.  What is a book from this year that you would like to place under a friend's tree?
🎄  A Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo- which is just amazing. It has some of the best stories that I have read in a long time. I love fairy tales (especially dark ones) and this has some of the best. I could read this again right now and still get something out of it.

❄️ The Marvels by Brian Selznick- This is another book that I really enjoyed this year that I'd love to pick up again.

7.  Challenge: Create a stack of books in which the spines alternate green and red! Share the titles.

Week 14 Reviews

🎄 Week 14 Reviews ☃️
December 2nd- 8th, 2017

🧜 Book 1: Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie 💀
Read December 4th- 5th, 2017
📚📚📚📚📚

This edition of Peter Pan is gorgeous.
I love the MinaLina designed classics.

This is the second time that I have read this book, with the first being when I was around ten or eleven. It's a story that I have known and loved for most of my life. J. M. Barrie's narration throughout this book was one of the most enjoyable parts. His comments about what was going on were often times funny. I loved how he was not only telling the tale but also seemed himself to have a part in it. One of my favorite scenes is when he says he's flipped a coin to figure out which adventure he is going to tell us about. Also, I agree with him when he calls the children brats (at least a little bit).

A Brief Synopsis

Peter  Pan is about a young boy who never wants to grow up; his spunky fairy, Tinker Bell; the dastardly pirate, Captain James Hook; the other pirates; the Lost Boys and three English children-Wendy, John and Michael- who Peter takes with him to Neverland. The story focuses mainly on their adventures in the wonderful world of Neverland. A story of growing up but also of the importance of believing. This is a timeless tale. 

The Characters

Peter Pan is everything I already knew about him. The boy that never wants to grow up can be quite stubborn, forgetful, and a bit of a showoff. Overall, he really does care for his friends and he can be a sweet boy when he wants to be. He has always been one of my favorite characters of all time and reading this again, I can see why.

Tinkerbell was a snappy and amusing character to watch. Her little comments about Peter were great. I love the side comment that Barrie gives about how fairies can only be bad or good at a certain time. They cannot be both at the same time because they're too tiny. It's that kind of quirky writing that makes this just incredible.

The mother and father of Wendy, John, and Michael were characters that I felt sorry for. Their children are away for who really knows how long and they have to just stay there and hope that they will come home. Mr. Darling's idea to stay in Nanny's kennel until his children are safely home was not expected and so funny.

Then there's the dastardly Captain James Hook, my favorite literary villain of all time. His character was so much more complex than the Disney version gives him credit for (though I adore the Disney version). James is after Peter Pan, yes because the boy took his hook, but also because of his cocky attitude. He also is cunning and a gentleman at heart. We find out a bit about his backstory and can see why he wants to fight with such precision. "Bad form."

And finally the quote "To die would be an awfully big adventure"- will never stop being great.

Ending Thoughts

Overall, Peter Pan will never stop being one of my favorite books of all time. It really is one of the best books I have ever read. Great story and equally great characters. This is a bit darker than most versions of the story that I have watched but that makes it so much better. Peter is a character that I will never have enough of.

👻 Book 2: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens 🎄
Read December 7th, 2017
📚📚📚📚📚

I have read, watched, and listened to this story so many times I could probably recite every plot point. It will never get old for me. I first fell in love with this story when I was a child with Mickey's Christmas Carol. I really do not know how many times I have consumed A Christmas Carol, but most likely it's been over thirty.

 You have probably heard of this story before but for those that have not, I'll give a quick synopsis. We follow around Ebenezer Scrooge and his encounters with four different ghosts on Christmas Eve. Scrooge has lived a good part of his life mean-spirited. He is an arrogant, insensitive and quite cold miser, who spends every day miserable at the world around him. His old friend Jacob Marley (who has been dead for seven years) comes as a ghost that very night to give Scrooge a chance to change his ways so he doesn't end up like Marley. Marley has been doomed to wander the earth as a spirit, to forever carry the burden of his sins in the chains on his back.

The other three ghosts that Scrooge encounters are of Christmases past, present, and future. They each help him see the errors in his actions and really help show the overall message of this story. A Christmas Carol is known for its story and Scrooge's redemption. We want him to succeed, at least I know that I do. Yes, he is a man who is a curmudgeon but that does not mean there is no room for change. Like I have said before I grew up with Mickey's Christmas Carol. One of my favorite characters from Disney cartoons was Scrooge McDuck. It was great getting introduced to this famous literary character through him, especially since Scrooge McDuck is based on Ebenezer.

As we follow Scrooge through his journey through his past, present, and a possible future, we learn a good amount about him. He is never really as cold-hearted as he seems. There are many glimpses at a softer side to Scrooge that shows that he really could change. Our other characters such as Bob Cratchett and his family are also a joy to read about. This is a family that has hardly any money but they can still see the joy of Christmas. Spending time with their family is the most important thing to them. The ghosts are also each distinct from each other and bring about some quite interesting scenes.

This novel just brings a warm feeling to my heart every time I read it. This story is a favorite of mine that I know will never change. It's a classic for a very good reason. If you have not taken the time to enjoy this before now, please pick it up in some fashion. I believe that you will enjoy the overall message and get something out of it.

Bookish Things You're a Grinch About/ Top 5 Wednesday

🎄 Bookish Things You're a Grinch About/ 

Top Five Wednesday- December 6th, 2017 🎄

"You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch"

For this week's top 5 Wednesday, we were supposed to pick out petty bookish things that bother us/ that we hate. (Stuff about covers, dump tropes, etc.) These are not serious topics that we hate (like a lack of diversity or abusive relationships in fiction, etc.). Basically, have fun with it. 

Top 5 Wednesday is a group created by Lainey of Ginger Reads Lainey on Booktube. It is now hosted by Sam of Thoughts on Tomes on Booktube. Here is a link to the group on Goodreads if you are interested in joining. 

5. Different book sizes- This usually bothers me when books in the same series change sizes. Also, the fact that there are so many different sizes for both paperbacks and hardbacks. I kind of wish that there was one standard size for both types.

4. Series that do not have the numbers on them- When series are not numbered it makes it hard to know what order they are in. I buy a lot of series at book sales, for instance,  the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde and there are versions of the books that are numbered and then those that are not. It became a pain because since I have not read the series yet I didn't actually know the names of every single book in the series (I do now).  This is just one example. I wish that they would have the numbers on all series. It really just makes it so much easier. Also, don't start the series and not put numbers and then decide by the third book in to put them in. Ugh. 

3. Book series that start out with one perspective and then add more as they go on- There has been one series that has done this that I have read, the Divergent trilogy. Maybe I'm the only one but when Veronica Roth decided to write Allegiant in both Tris's and Four's perspective it made it very obvious to me how the book was going to end. Also, if you can't make the perspectives distinct enough what is even the point of doing this. Again, I have not really read any books that have done this again but this is just annoying to me.  

2.  Stickers on covers- This is something that I really don't deal with too much anymore because most of the books I get are online or at book sales (sometimes I do find them on these though). I have always hated when there are price stickers or "This is going to be a movie" stickers. They always leave a sticky residue on your book after you pull them off, which then causes all kinds of junk to stick to it. It just really bothers me. The worst times with this though are when the stickers will not come fully off of the book without wrecking it so you have to leave it on the cover.

1. Cover design changes halfway through a series- I have no problem when series get new cover designs after the full series is out, but why do they do it in the middle of the series. The worst case scenario is when every single book has a different cover design. This is for visual reasons mainly for me. No this does not actually affect the content of the book but if I'm going to have these book sitting on a shelf together I kind of want the books to match. 

Good example The Diviners series- I mean come on why does each book need another cover. The first was gorgeous. Also, the first two books at least are an example of being different sizes (I don't have the third so I have no clue if that one is).

Lair of Dreams looks to be about twice the size of The Diviners

but it has 611 pages to The Diviners - 578 pages. 

Tis the Season Book Tag

🎄 'Tis the Season Book Tag ☃️

 Tuesday, December 5th, 2017 

☃️🎄🎁🎄🎁🎄 ☃️

Created by my favorite Booktuber- RichardMediaGeek.

I love Richard so much.  He's just the best.

Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bQ7nmhU9SQ

1. Do you have a favorite Winter read?
    ☃️ A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

       

2. Find a book with blue on the cover!
    🎄 Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins 

3. Find a book you’d use as the star on a Christmas tree? 
    ☃️ The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan because it's so pretty

4. Pick one fictional place that would be perfect for a Winter vacation!
    🎄 Hogwarts- which he picked but it's my favorite place from any book. Could you image spending the winter holiday there? It would be great seeing the castle all decorated and having meals with all the professors at one table. Opening Wizard crackers and Christmas carol singing. What fictional place could be better? None that's the answer. :) 

5. Pick one fictional character you’d take with you on your Winter vacation! 
    ☃️ Percy Jackson because he's amazing. We would have so much fun. Percy and Harry at Christmas would be everything. (I am getting excited about this fictional occurrence.) 

6. Name one book on your Wishlist this year!
    🎄 I'd love to get Neil Gaiman's Sandman Graphic Novel series

7. Favorite Holiday drink, treat, & movie? (I'm also adding songs because what is Christmas without music)
     ☃️ Drink: Green tea- but this is all year round. I drink this almost every day.
                 Hot chocolate- for the Holidays

     🎄 Treat: I love pumpkin roll

     ☃️ Movie: Ebby's Story (a retelling of A Christmas Carol)
                   Home Alone because it's awesome

   

     🎄  Song: "Last Christmas" by Wham!- this is just everything to me.

Week 13

❄️Week 13 Reviews ❄️

November 25- December 1st

☃️ Book 1: How the Grinch Stole Christmas ☃️

By Dr. Seuss

Read November 25

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I figured that this would be the perfect way for me to get into the holiday and Christmas spirit. This is not my first time reading this book. I've read it countless times as a child. It's my second favorite of Dr. Seuss's books right below Green Eggs and Ham. This was a great jump back into nostalgia and such a great story. Many know this story because of the animated movie. This was just as good as I remembered it. What a great book.

🎄 Book 2: The Knowing 🎶

By Sharon Cameron

Read by Emily Woo Zeller and Andrew Eiden

Listened to November 29- December 2nd 

 📚📚📚📚📚

If you have not read my review of the first book The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron, here is a link to it: http://whattoreadwithcag.blogspot.com/2017/11/friday-reviews-week-12.html.

 I recommend reading that book before this book but they are companions to each other so you don't have to. Both can stand on their own. 

This is the companion book to The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron and was just as good. It takes place nearly 400 years after the end of the first novel. Set in New Canaan, we follow around both Samara and Beck. Samara cannot forget and she is not the only one that can't. She is free of the Forgetting but her memories plague her and she wonders what is really going on. She leaves and escapes to the cursed city of Canaan hoping to find some answers. 

What really intrigued me about Samara was this idea of her never forgetting. She's one of The Knowing a group that is forced to constantly relieve, over and over things that have happened in their life. I really did not realize when reading the description of this book what this actually meant. It's quite insane the extent that this goes to. Samara literally just has to search her memory for information and she can remember it. She can scan pages of a book and read them fully later on. Also, she has vivid and complete memories of most her life after she became one of the Knowing. This is one of the most interesting concepts that I have ever read about. 

Our other narrator is Beck, a citizen of Earth, who is flying on a spaceship on his way to Canaan. His parents are researchers trying to find out about the settlement on Canaan and what has happened in the years since the original settlers left Earth. Beck becomes stranded on Canaan without a way of contacting the ship and meets up with Samara. Little does he or she know what secrets Canaan and the others on his spaceship are hiding. 

One of the best aspects of this book was the switch back and forth between Beck and Sam's perspectives.  I really enjoyed this aspect of the book and I felt that the dual perspective actually added to the story. These types of formats are always either a hit or a miss for me. Another aspect that I really loved from both this book and the first is the little snippets of their books scattered in throughout the story. This not only lets the reader learn more about the two main characters but also of other people in the world.

This story was a great companion to the first book and expanded onto this concept in an interesting way that I didn't expect. Sharon Cameron has such an intriguing world set up in these novels that I cannot get enough of. Each of the characters, especially the narrators are fully fleshed out, dynamic and compelling. I loved Nadia and Grey in the first book but I equally loved Sam and Beck. How they ( Nadia and Grey) are tied into this book was really interesting. Overall, this book had a tightly woven plot that pulled me in while I was reading. I enjoyed learning more about this world and how unexpected major parts of this plot really were. It was an enjoyable time listening to this book. All I know is that I really hope that she writes a third book because I'd love to see more. Maybe one that is set between these two, a prequel to both, or something else internally. I know that I'd read it. 

If this all sounds intriguing to you, you should pick this and the first book up. 

* I received a copy of this audiobook for an honest review *