Friday Reads #9 - December 30.

Hi booklovers

I can't believe 2016 is coming to an end. It's been a weird year at times, but luckily one thing has been a constant for me: reading.

So, why not end the year with a Friday reads post?

This week I finished Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo and oh my, that last but one chapter really got under my skin.

Because I was suffering from a mild book hangover, I decided to pick up a book in a totally different genre, because I was afraid I was going to compare every other fantasy book to CK. I was also scared I might get into a reading slump, so I picked up Some Kind of Perfect by Krista and Becca Ritchie.

Now I know these aren't the easiest, lovey dovy kind of books either and I might suffer from an even bigger book hangover, but I felt like it was time to dive into this book. It's good to visit Lo, Lilly, Connor, Rose, Daisy and Ryke again, but it's also bittersweet because it's the last book about them. Hopefully, I'll be able to finish it before my Christmas break is over.

If so, I might pick up Gemina by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

or Amour Amour by K. & B. Ritchie, the first book in a new series(?).

I also started listening to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, but I probably won't finish that before the end of the week.

I hope you had a great reading year and that 2017 may bring you much joy and a lot of reading pleasure.

Bye for now and Happy New Year

Annelies

Friday Reads #8 - November 4.

Hi booklovers

It's been a couple of weeks but I thought I'd do another Friday Reads post.

Since my last Friday Reads I finished the following books:

- Saga Volume 3.

- Six of Crows (which I really, really, really loved).

- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

- Hogwarts: an Incomplete and Unreliable Guide.

- Prodigy.

- Champion.

- Life before Legend.

Yesterday, I started reading Splintered by A.G. Howard. So far, I'm really enjoying it even though it's a bit weird. But it's a good kind of weird :-) I'm hoping to finish this one this weekend or early next week.

Today, my order of Crooked Kingdom arrived, so I want to start reading that one next - even though I don't want to the story to end just yet.

I'm not sure if I'll be starting a new audiobook next week. If I do, it will probably be Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

My colleague lent me some graphic novels and I might start one of those while commuting, I'm not sure yet.

What are you reading this weekend / next week?

Bye for now

Annelies

Friday Reads #7 - September 23.

Hi booklovers

First, let me give you a little summary of what I read this week:

- I finished Saga Volume 1 and Volume 2. Today I started Volume 3. I really enjoyed rereading the first two volumes. I had forgotten how much I liked the art work. I'm curious to see if I'll like the third volume just as much.

- I'm slowly making my way through Six of Crows. I read about 40 pages.

- I listened to about three hours of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

During the upcoming weekend and week I would like to:

- finish Saga Volume 3. Although I want it to last a while, I know I will fly through it. But I don't own the next volume yet, so yeah...

- hopefully make a big dent in Six of Crows. I already know I won't finish it before Crooked Kingdom comes out, but oh well, I'm really enjoying it so far.

- finish listening to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I'm not really sure which one of my audiobooks I would like to pick up next: I have Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence, The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson and The Lies of Locke Lamore by Scott Lynch. I also have these books in physical form, so I want to combine reading and listening to them. Any suggestions on what I should start reading first?

What are you reading this weekend / next week? Let me know in the comments.

Bye for now

Annelies

Friday Reads #6 - September 16.

Hi booklovers

I know it's been a while, but today I want to do another Friday Reads.

Since the beginning of September I've started teaching again, which means I'm commuting again as well. That also means I'm going back to reading more on my e-reader or picking up graphic novels.

I've already read Legend by Marie Lu (both as an e-book and a physical copy) and I really enjoyed it. I also finished listening to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. This is wonderful, Stephen Fry does such a great job at narrating the story.

This week I started and finished Volume 2 of Fables (Animal Farm). I'm really enjoying this graphic novel series and I really want to continue with it. I've also started listening to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I'm currently reading the physical copy of Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. Hopefully I'll be able to finish it before Crooked Kingdom comes out. On the train today I started rereading Saga Volume 1.
I'll be continuing Six of Crows this weekend and the upcoming week. I'm hoping to finish Saga Volume 1 and also start Volume 2 so I can soon move on to Volume 3.

What will you be reading this weekend / next week? Let me know in the comments.

Bye for now

Annelies

Waiting on Wednesday #1 - August 3.

Hi booklovers

Today I'm participating in another new (to me) meme: Waiting on Wednesday. This was created by Breaking the Spine.

In Waiting on Wednesday we talk about new releases we are excited about.

A book I'm really looking forward to it being released is Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo.

I haven't read Six of Crows yet, but I adored the Grisha trilogy, so I'm pretty sure I will love this duology too. I'm really looking forward to going back to that world.

So, I definitely plan on reading SoC before Crooked Kingdom comes out, which is the 27th of September.

What book are you looking forward to being released? Let me know in the comments.

Bye for now

Annelies

As I read - Shadow and Bone #4 (chapter 16 - After / epilogue)

Hi booklovers

Be warned: this will be filled with spoilers so only read on if you've read this book!

The raw emotions in chapter 16 are so different from the joy in chapter 14 (the fete). This was such a fast-paced chapter!

I was totally taken by surprise by Mal's behaviour, whispering right before she falls aslepp that he'll always find her. 

And then I finally read the sentence that made me pick up this book in the first place:

'I don't care if you danced naked on the roof of the Little Palace with him. I love you, Alina, even the part of you that loved him.'

I was also surprised that Alina got the scar on her hand from a shard and not from her gift.

Inside the Fold you think that everything is lost, but then everything starts to change and shift.

I really like how strong Alina is, I think she is one of the strongest female protagonists.

I love that the book ended the way it began: the epilogue - here named After - doesn't mention their names, it just talks about a boy and a girl.

Bye

Annelies

As I read - Shadow and Bone #3 (chapter 15)

Hi booklovers

Be warned: this will be filled with spoilers so only read on if you've read this book!

I just read chapter 15 and... WHAT THE WHAT??????

What just happened? After what happens between Alina and the Darkling at the fete, this is such a blow to the gut. How can the Darkling be so completely different from what he appears to be???

These thoughts are tumbling around in my head:

* The Darkling is the Black Heretic?????

* Baghra is the Darklings mother?????  

* Does he really want to expand the Fold, not destroy it????

I'm very curious to read on, I need to know what happens next!!

Annelies

P.S. I apologise for all the question marks :-$

As I read - Shadow and Bone #2 (chapter 6 - 14)

Hi booklovers

Be warned: this will be filled with spoilers so only read on if you've read this book!

After reading the sixth chapter I was completely taken in by the Darkling! He is so mysterious and dark (sorry, pun not intended) but I'm still not completely sure who or what he is.

Alina is so incredibly sassy, I just love her. She has been through so much in the first 5 chapters, but she still tries to stand her ground. She is a 'realistic' character, especially when it comes to her feeling left out because she can't summon the sun on her own. You really understand why she feels out of place amongst the Grisha. You also feel her struggle about Mal not responding to her letters. It was a great moment when she was finally able to unlock her gift.

I knew something would happen between the Darkling and Elina, but I was still surprised when the Darkling kissed Alina. The attraction may be a bit cliche, but I don't think she can help but be attracted to him.
   

There are a few side-characters I want to talk about:

* Genya is an interesting character and she has a fascinating ability: being able to change someones appearance/face.

* The Apparat made me cringe every time he made an appearance. Urgh!
 

* Marie & Nadia are so fake, it's frustrating.

* Zoya: I wonder if we're ever going to find out why she's so vicious to Alina the first time they meet.

* What's up with Mal, why isn't he answering Alina's letters? They've spent their childhood and a big part of their youth together, why is he able to forget her so easily?
I was so happy when he turned up at the Little Palace but their reunion doesn't go as planned. What has happened to him? Is he jealous? Is he in love with Alina?

That's all for now.

Annelies

As I read - Shadow and Bone #1 (chapters 1 - 5)

Hi booklovers

After finishing Amy & Roger's Epic Detour (click on the title for my spoiler-free review) I posted a picture on Instagram asking which book I should read next. While browsing Instagram I stumbled upon a picture from eunice.reads with a quote from Shadow and Bone and it got me really intrigued so I decided to pick that one up.

Last year I watched a BookTube video by Elisabeth Paige called 'As I read' and I thought it might be nice to do something similar while reading this book. 

Be warned: this will be filled with spoilers so only read on if you've read this book!

I want to start by showing a couple of photos of things I really like about this book:

I love this cover and the font is gorgeous

Beautiful map, gorgeous chapter headings, page numbers and a drawing to mark different sections:

 
 





 
I found the Grisha explenation page really helpful:

And can we take a moment to appreciate my very appropriate - DIY - bookmark :-)

I'm 5 chapters in and at the moment I mostly have questions I would like to see answered!

* page 4: Who is the blonde man in purple and how is it that he knows that 
               Alina and Mal are eavesdropping?

* page 5: What are the Grisha exactly? 

* page 7: I found it a bit confusing that there is a time lapse between the 
               prologue and the first chapter, but we don't actually know how much 
               time has passed. I also didn't know at first who was talking,
               which was annoying.

* page 12: - I'm intrigued by the scar on Alina's right hand. Does it have 
                something to do with 'the gift she must unlock' (which is mentioned 
                in the synopsis)?

                 - Who is this Darkling? I've heard people on BookTube mentioning 
                   him and the synopsis intrigued me...

* page 30: What's with this white light Alina has seen during the attack of the
                 volcra? (This was answered rather quickly)

* page 40: What's a Sun Summoner?

* page 60: Who or what are the Fjerdan and why do they want Alina dead?

In chapter 5 we get to know a bit more about the Darkling: he's very old, yet looks very young. He's extremely powerful, yet feels the burden of his ancestors' actions. He appears to have a sense of humour.
Although Alina is completely overwhelmed, she is also not afraid to speak her mind. I like that in a character.

One last question: Why on earth does Alina need to lock her door at night while she is in the Little Palace???? (This warning is given at the very end of chapter 5)

I think it's safe to say that although I'm only 77 pages in I'm quite intrigued by the book and I definitely want to keep reading.

Let me know in the comments if you've read this book and what you thought of it, but please don't spoil it for me!!

Bye for now

Annelies