get to know me

Underrated Books

 

I personally read a range of popular books. It's nothing against older books or underrated reads, it's simply that a lot of time they are cheaper. I wish my local library could help but they are currently on the verge of shutting down and have a very small young adult selection as it is.

This doesn't mean I haven't read a few underrated books that I personally believe deserve more hype than they receive.

Some of these books feature triggers, I won't be mentioning in this review but I've linked their Goodreads profile so you can have a peruse over reviews and description.


Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin.

Goodreads: here

I say Wolf by Wolf because around 10 people on my Goodreads have read it. A pretty astronomically small number when over 99% of my friends have read A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas.

I'm personally not a fan of historical fiction books, I get caught up in the world and pissed that woman aren't treated well. What I was a fan of though in high school was World War Two. I studied Nazi Germany in depth for my final exams. That was the time I picked up Wolf by Wolf and wow. Just imagine the world if Hitler had won the war. Well, imagine no more because that is what Wolf by Wolf is.


Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee

Goodreads: here

Now, this is a book I have maybe seen five people on all my social media platforms has read. It is also a book I have been recommending non-stop since I have read it. From what I've read, it is fantastic representation. The diversity featured is great.

Not only that, though, the plot is fabulous. It's a little predictable, but it is without a doubt adorable. Jess and Abby are two characters I love beyond words, as well.

Fun fact, too, this was actually the first relationship I've ever read between two females.


How To Make A Wish by Ashley Herring Blake

Goodreads: here

How To Make A Wish was a book that shocked me beyond belief. It was such a beautiful tale that touched me beyond belief. It was a story that replicated instances in my life I never expected to see in fiction. I won't get into those because unlike some scenarios in my life, I like to keep this private. I do recommend picking this book up, but have tissues near by! This is another f/f romance as well, and so beautifully done (but I can't speak on the rep of this novel).

 

 

 


Air Awakens by Elise Kova

Goodreads: here

Air Awakens was a book that, again, surprised me. I picked it up after seeing a friend recommend it frequently over on Instagram. I'm so glad I did. The cast is delightfully diverse and the storyline is equally as brilliant.

Though, my only compliant is the ending is a tad unsatisfactory. I was a tad frustrated with it and I got tired of the relationship drama that was present throughout.

 

 


Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall

Goodreads: here

This is, again, a book I shout from the rooftops. Every time I see someone ask for something "similar" to Everything, Everything I recommend this. Now, this is nothing like Everything, Everything but it is similar. Under Rose-Tainted Skies doesn't include all the icky problematic stuff though, a clear benefit. It's also completely absent of "love cures your mental health" and my heart skipped a beat. The parental figure is delightfully excellent as well!

 

 


A List of Cages by Robin Roe

Goodreads: here

I don't see A List of Cages being read much, but it needs to. This book features minimal romance and is instead a completely heartbreaking story. I stayed up late reading it, which is rare because I have a self appointed bed time, and finished around 1am. I was destroyed. This is definitely another book where you will need the tissues.

 

 

 


 

Goodreads: here

I recommend Poison Study to people who liked Throne of Glass. Or if you think Sarah J Maas has an incredible lack of diversity in her writing (she does) this is the book for you. I've only read this and the second book but wow. A book beyond its time, that's for sure.

 

 

 

 


So, there are a few of the books that I believe are underrated. You may disagree and that's fine, but these are the books I instantly mention whenever someone comes to me for a recommendation.

What's a book you think is underrated?

reviews

Roar by Cora Cormack | Review

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Release Date: June 13th 2017.

Pages: 380

Goodreads Review: here

Goodreads blurb:

In a land ruled and shaped by violent magical storms, power lies with those who control them.

Aurora Pavan comes from one of the oldest Stormling families in existence. Long ago, the ungifted pledged fealty and service to her family in exchange for safe haven, and a kingdom was carved out from the wildlands and sustained by magic capable of repelling the world’s deadliest foes. As the sole heir of Pavan, Aurora’s been groomed to be the perfect queen. She’s intelligent and brave and honorable. But she’s yet to show any trace of the magic she’ll need to protect her people.

To keep her secret and save her crown, Aurora’s mother arranges for her to marry a dark and brooding Stormling prince from another kingdom. At first, the prince seems like the perfect solution to all her problems. He’ll guarantee her spot as the next queen and be the champion her people need to remain safe. But the more secrets Aurora uncovers about him, the more a future with him frightens her. When she dons a disguise and sneaks out of the palace one night to spy on him, she stumbles upon a black market dealing in the very thing she lacks—storm magic. And the people selling it? They’re not Stormlings. They’re storm hunters.

Legend says that her ancestors first gained their magic by facing a storm and stealing part of its essence. And when a handsome young storm hunter reveals he was born without magic, but possesses it now, Aurora realizes there’s a third option for her future besides ruin or marriage.

She might not have magic now, but she can steal it if she’s brave enough.

Challenge a tempest. Survive it. And you become its master.


W A R N I N G

This review reads more like a rant. You’ve been warned.


P R E R A M B L E

Roar was a book I went into with major low expectations. My best friend had loved it but I had seen it floating around Twitter and being labelled as problematic. I wasn’t sure I wanted to read that. But, I found myself without anything to read and the cover reminded me of Game of Thrones, a show I have recently become obsessed with, so I picked it up.

Here’s the thing:

I enjoyed it.

 This isn’t to say it isn’t problematic. Honestly, what book isn’t these days? This is simply me saying I enjoyed it. It was cliché. It was kind of slow. Absolutely nothing happened. The world building was terrible. Somehow I managed to enjoy it.

I think my biggest problem with this text was that there were no dragons.

I’m kidding.

Kind of.

But, no, my biggest problem was the lack of world building. We’re suddenly and abruptly thrown into the world and barely given anything to go by. I’ve finished the book and to be honest, I’m still not 100% sure what kind of world this was.

Actually, now that I think about it, I did have another problem. The first two chapters. I have never read something so terrible in my life. The dialogue was terrible and I wanted to put the book down so bad to avoid the cringefest I was encountering. Cassius and Aurora were two characters that seemed co-dependent and I am not about that lifestyle.

Apart from that, I really did enjoy this book. I can see why others hated it but this is exactly what I needed for the time I read it.


C H A R A C T E R S  

#A U R O R A

I had a lowkey problem with Aurora as soon as I started this book. It was mainly that I hate her name. One girl I can’t stand has this name and she’s ruined it for everyone else. I also didn’t enjoy Aurora as a character. She was pretty useless, honestly. I worked out her big special snowflake power before everyone else too and honestly I rolled my eyes. Hard.

#L O C K E

He was really far up Aurora’s ass. He basically meets her, thinks she’s like his sister (incest???) and falls madly and deeply in love. I felt some chemistry between the two of them, but not to the point where they should be declaring love by the end of the book (spoiler, they were). I really don’t think he had a personality; he was pretty unintelligent (says the one who took six tries to spell that word, someone save me form myself) as well.

#C A S S I U S

I got nothing on this guy. He was straight up creepy and basically Joffrey Lannister in my mind.

#J I N X, R A N S O M, D U K E, B A I T, S L Y & N O V A Y A

These are all characters we learn about one page of knowledge about but I want more. They’re the side characters that, ultimately, are used as props to make Locke and Aurora better people. I mean that in the way that they suffer the consequences of every dumb decision the pair make. Justice for these characters in the sequel.


P L O T

 I don’t have much to say in this section of my review. Why? There honestly is no plot. I wish I was kidding. Nothing happens the whole book. There are some “scary” events but literally, nothing happens bar the princess running away. Big whoop. Pick up 80% of fantasy and you’ll get the same plot line.

There’s also a romance that I still don’t really care for, I guess that’s the main plot. Bar the whole kingdom takeover that we got about two chapters of?


O V E R A L L

Reading all that and scrolling back up to my rating of three stars would be confusing, right? I can’t explain my rating. This book is pretty trash, I’ll be honest. I enjoyed it though. It definitely won’t end up on my recommended list but I will read the sequel.

What I want in the sequel? More dragons and less Aurora. What will I probably get? Zero dragons and too much Aurora.

Also, very quick side bar, but how gorgeous is this cover?!

get to know me

Books I Probably Won’t Read

 

Wow, that title. I'm probably about to spread shade on one of your favourites. Am I ashamed? No. These are books that hold little interest to me, or just simply aren't worth my time from the reviews I have read.


Holding Up The Universe by Jennifer Niven

Goodreads: here

I think this one is pretty easy to work out why I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole. "Author of All The Bright Places" aka the one book that should have never gotten a movie but somehow did. This is 13 Reasons Why all over again.

My best friend did actually put herself through the pain and torture of this book, messaging me quotes and making my whole body light up with rage. For her review click here.

 


The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Goodreads: here

This one is just here because some asshole spoiled me. So, let's move on because I'm still trying to find their Goodreads profile so I can slam them with the anger I kept in when it happened.

 

 

 

 

 


Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab

Goodreads: here

Wait for it, there's a real trend here. I was spoiled for this as well. Yep.

I  mean, Victoria Schwab and I do not have a great author/reader relationship. I just can't get absorbed into her worlds like everyone else and it makes me mad. I love being able to get involved with the hype, but Victoria and I are just never going to work.

 

 

 


A Conjuring of Light by V.E Schwab

Goodreads: here

I don't think I have to say too much about this one. I desperately wanted to be a fan of this series. I didn't mind the first book, gave it three stars, but I completely DNF'ed the second one. I even sold the two books I had. I just can't with character driven plots.

 

 

 


 

Reboot by Amy Tintera

Goodreads: here

Now, I have actual beef with Amy Tintera. I was a massive fan of her Avenged series. Adored her writing and was excited to get onto this series. I even posted on Instagram expressing my love, all excited and tagged her. Now in this post, I mentioned briefly that the second book was a tad boring for me but I was so excited for the final book in the series. Amy seemed to take this as an attack and subtweeted about me. Since then, I've basically decided I will not support a petty, immature author who thinks tha

 

t is okay. I was beyond thankful she isn't that popular as an author because only one of her fans bothered to come comment on my post. But for three days my anxiety was off the scales in fear. So, here I am boycotting anything she writes.

The tweet in mention.

The Instagram post in mention.


 Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat

Goodreads: here

From what I've heard, this just isn't the book for me. I'm staying far, far, far away. Purely because of the fact the fan base for this series is so large they scare me. I mean, I read this review and just decided I would never pick this book up. I'd say sorry if you love this book, but I'm really not.

 

 

 

 


The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Goodreads: here

I actually read the first book. That's why this is here. I hated the first book. It was a trope filled mess that I know I would have loved when I was 13. However, at 19 it was just an annoyance and made me want to punch someone. I will 110% not be continuing with this series.

 

 

 


This list could honestly go on for another thousand words but I figure I should stop before everyone comes at me with pitch forks blazing.
Noteable mentions: Carve The Mark by Veronica Roth, anything by the duo Erin Watt, The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley, Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire, Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L James, Girl Online by Zoella and anything written by Abbi Glines.

What's a book that you probably won't read?

 

 

reviews

Before She Ignites by Jodi Meadows | ARC REVIEW

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Release Date: 12th of September 2017.

Pages: 400

Goodreads Review: here

I kindly received an ARC, which I’m beyond thankful for, but all thoughts and opinions remain my own.

TRIGGERS: anxiety attacks and parental neglect/manipulation (?)


P R E A M B LE 

Ah, welcome back to “Amber the serial DNF’er”. I went into this with high expectations. I have just recently started watching Game of Thrones so the idea of dragon trafficking was right up my alley. However, around 40% in I had only encountered one dragon. Only one.

For an accurate representation of me reading this book have this gif:

To further my disdain of this book, it seemed to reflect others. I know that Idris and Silent Brothers are universal terms but being the massive Shadowhunters fan I am it rubbed me the wrong way. It wasn’t that they were included in general, but that the names really had no point. The Silent Brothers themselves were an unnecessary information that never really got explained.

The other novel that Before She Ignites reminded me of was Shatter Me, a book I unfortunately hated. Our main character likes to obsessively make lists that really don’t add a single thing to the plot (what plot?), it reminded me of Juliette crossing things out throughout Shatter Me.


C H A R A C T E R S 

#M I R A   M I N B O K A

I would like to add Mira Minboka to the list of characters I despise. She is yet another bland female character who simply cares about her beauty. Now, that may seem like I’m exaggerating. I promise, I’m not. Almost every other page we are reminded that Mira is beautiful, but oh that isn’t helpful in the pit.

Let’s also not forget the fact, Mira can’t do anything. She is comparing herself to basically everyone she meets and tears down her younger sister any time she gets. Not that we actually meet any characters besides the big mean prison guard who’s name I have forgotten.

Not only that, but Mira does not want to give a single bit of information to anything. Not even you as the reader. I couldn’t believe it. It’s not as if the writing style, which uses “before” and “after” chapters, helps. Barely anything is given away and almost every character that is featured throughout is one dimensional. I truly don’t think I’ve ever been so bored.

Also, one useless tidbit that annoyed me, Mira is in The Pit, right? Meant to be the worst jail on the Isles blah, blah, blah. You know what she’s worried about? Wrapping her hair at night. She even makes a friend who cuts up the dress she came in so they can both wrap their hair in silk when they sleep. That is truly around three chapters of information right there.

I would write about other characters included but there aren’t any worth mentioning. They’re all just as bland as the main character and do absolutely nothing to the plot line. They further nothing. Except one of the best friends rejected the main character? Boo-freaking-hoo.


P L O T 

What plot? That’s my question. I was promised dragons and dragon trafficking, but what did I get? A whiny girl in a pit. That’s it. A whiny girl in a pit doing mundane activities for a crime she didn’t commit for over 40% of this book. I’m sure that continues too since she has no drive or initiative to do absolutely anything.

From the few other negative reviews that sit on this book currently, it doesn’t seem the plot improves. Mira continues her complaining and absolute hopelessness.


O V E R A L L 

What a waste of such a beautiful cover. I wanted this to be so much more. I wanted there to be a prison escape before 40%, I wanted dragons to eat people and I wanted a description of some kind of murder. What I got was none of that. Just a whiny, spoilt, special snowflake who can’t do a single thing for herself.

I will attempt this book again once it has been released in September, I really hope these issues get sorted because this has so much potential.

Really, a note to the author, add more dragons. Would have made this book so much better.

tags

Unpopular Opinion Tag

I was tagged by Liza over at DuskAngelReads to do the unpopular book tag and let me just say I'm a little excited. I love unpopular opinions. You can find the original tag over here on YouTube.

Let's just jump in because I have many unpopular opinions I would love to share with you all.


A POPULAR BOOK OR SERIES THAT YOU DIDN’T LIKE

This one is definitely not a shock if you've read my review, you would know I think this is probably the worst book to ever exist. I'm not ashamed of it. I also had to choose this since I am still completely confused as to why it holds a 4.2 average on Goodreads.

A POPULAR BOOK OR SERIES THAT EVERYONE ELSE SEEMS TO HATE BUT YOU LOVE

Look, I know this book is trash. I know it has some terrible themes but it is such a guilty pleasure. Whenever I see someone trashing it I can't help but I laugh. I mean, I even enjoyed the spin off stories (maybe even more than the originals).

 A LOVE TRIANGLE WHERE THE MAIN CHARACTER ENDED UP WITH THE PERSON YOU DID NOT WANT THEM TO END UP WITH (WARN PPL FOR SPOILERS) OR AN OTP THAT YOU DON’T LIKE

I don't think this is spoilers considering that everyone has either seen the movies or read the book, but I didn't like Peeta. I thought he was incredibly weird and he rubbed me the wrong way. It's not even that I liked Gale. I just wanted Katniss to be with her sister, repair her relationship with her mum and maybe rule the world. Definitely a series I think would have been better without the romance.

A POPULAR BOOK GENRE THAT YOU HARDLY REACH FOR

I am a pretty well-rounded reader, but lately, I have had no urge to reach for New Adult or any form of trashy romance book. A few years ago New Adult and Romance were the only genres I would read. I thought I was so mature because I was 17 and reading them. Gag. Now I instantly gravitate towards a contemporary (hopefully light on the romance) or want to jump from fantasy world to fantasy world.

A POPULAR OR BELOVED CHARACTER THAT YOU DO NOT LIKE

Noah Shaw. I can't even talk about this book without getting mad, so check out my review.

A POPULAR AUTHOR THAT YOU CAN’T SEEM TO GET INTO

Stephanie Garber. I know Caraval was her debut novel but after the mess it was, I will not be reading any more of her work. For more of my thoughts, find my review here.

A POPULAR BOOK TROPE THAT YOU’RE TIRED OF SEEING. (EXAMPLES “LOST PRINCESS”, CORRUPT RULER, LOVE TRIANGLES, ETC.)

Oh boy. I'm a fan of tropes, personally, if they're done right. It gets boring when you've read the same book eight times in a row by separate authors.

My least favourite, currently, is authors including twists that have no relavancy being in the text. I am simply tired of the trope that is authors taking cheap shots in order for a reaction.

Though for another trope I hate that is more common in text, love curing you from whatever mental illness you are surviving through. I believed this and it was incredibly damaging when I found myself in a relationship that only damaged my menatl health.

A POPULAR SERIES THAT YOU HAVE NO INTEREST IN READING

9780147511683.jpeg

After having the final book spoiled, I have no interest in this series. So, shout out to that one asshole on Goodreads for spoiling a series I really wanted to read.

THE SAYING GOES “THE BOOK IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN THE MOVIE”, BUT WHAT MOVIE OR T.V. SHOW ADAPTATION DO YOU PREFER MORE THAN THE BOOK?

I read both of these books and found them terrible. I was bored and wanted to DNF them both, however, this was before I became the serial DNF'er I am today. The films of both I did enjoy though. For The Maze Runner film, it could have just been staring at Dylan O'Brien for an hour and a half.


And, that's it! One book I didn't mention anywhere is Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgens, but I really wish I had since it is one of my least favourite books in existence. Damn past Amber.

I'm not really sure how to tag people, I'm a WordPress newbie, so I tag everyone who read this far in my post! Have fun. Can't wait to read your unpopular opinions.  ♡

reviews

Warcross by Marie Lu | ARC Review

Rating: ★★★★☆

Release Date: 12th of September 2017.

Pages: 416

Goodreads Review: here

I kindly received and ARC, which I’m beyond thankful for, but all thoughts and opinions remain my own.


P R E A M B L E

I didn’t expect a lot from Warcross. I’m not a gamer. I don’t know anything about gaming or any terminology. The only game I know how to play is Mario Kart (and the Shrek 2 game on X-Box but that was years ago). I mainly wanted to read this because basically everyone on my Goodreads feed couldn’t shut up about it. It was the best thing since sliced bread, from the reviews I was reading.

So I wanted it.

Thankfully, I was given an eARC and let me tell you all, it is worth it. Despite the weird cover that looks like an 8-year-old made it on Microsoft Word, this book is worth your time.

This review will be a little sparse because you need to go into this not knowing anything. This is why for characters I will only be talking about the main character.


P L O T 

I’m not sure why, but I thought the plot was something it really wasn’t. I feel I may have mixed up the plots of another book I had heard of (maybe Ready Player One?) and just figured it was this. So, for a lot of the book, I was expecting my imaginary plot to happen.

Thankfully my imaginary plot in no way compared to this beauty. I was fully involved with this story, unable to stop reading once I had time to truly sit down.

The story follows Emika, a hacker with a criminal record who is struggling to make ends meat. She is drowning in debt, not her own, and is about to be kicked out into the streets when she goes into the virtual reality world that was created. Now, I have no idea how to explain this part but Emi basically hacks into the game and this causes a massive uproar. This is something that has never happened? Thankfully, the creator, Hideo, isn’t made. He instead needs Emi’s help.

I’ll leave it there because I truly can’t even begin to explain the complexity of this plot and how, ultimately, amazing it is.


C H A R A C T E R S 
#E M I  K A    C H E N 
Is a character you can look up to. The girl is kickass and not someone to take shit from anyone. She doesn’t even whine. Something so fucking rare in young adult fiction.
An MC who doesn’t whine? UNHEARD OF. 

SHE ALSO HAS RAINBOW HAIR TOO. Most main characters have blonde, brown or red hair but not Emika. Nope. Rainbow. I was so beyond happy. My best friend in high school used to dye her hair different colours every other month (favouring blue and purple) so it just made me think of happy memories, as dorky as that is.

Ultimately, Emi is one of the best main characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading about. She has quickly skyrocketed to my favourites, sitting level with Emma Carstairs in the badass category for me.


O V E R A L L 

Overall, this book is so worth your time. There are two reasons it wasn’t a full five stars for me. One was that I got a bit lost during the gaming parts. However, that is all on me and my not understanding. The other is that I guessed something, though the other thing completely blindsided me (what a great lack of information there).

Seriously though, I will be recommending this book to everyone. Gamers or not, this is the book for everyone. Marie Lu is a fantastic author and I need to finish her Legend series ASAP.

reviews

This Darkness Mine by Mindy McGinnis | Review

3/5 STARS.

I received an eARC but all opinions/thoughts are my own.

BUDDY READ Solomon,

One word to describe this book?

Fucked.

I have never been both utterly disturbed and confused when reading a book. This Darkness Mine manages to successfully do this, however. I was stunned. Completely stunned into silence. I started to get really into this book while I was waiting at the train station to pick up Caitlin, and I’m pretty sure everyone in my surrounding area was confused while I whispered “what” to myself over and over.

The premise of this book was confusing but reading it was even more messed up. I couldn’t grasp some aspects and since I did most of the reading of this at night I was afraid to fall asleep in case I had had a twin in the womb (lmao I checked, I didn’t).

Sasha Stone is a good girl though. She plays the clarinet, is in the first chair, and is on her way to being accepted to a prestigious music school. She and her boyfriend fit and she gets good marks. She’s the definition of a goody-goody who follows strict rules. Things start to get weird though when a boy who doesn’t fit her definition of life starts acting as if they have a thing, and that she gave him her number. Something she knows she didn’t do. It’s here the book takes a turn I didn’t expect. A turn that had me staring at my phone like what! Shit gets weird. It gets wild and I could barely keep up with the story. Turns out our main character had absorbed in the twin in the womb. But, Sasha’s heart hadn’t been very strong so the twin’s heart came into play and now the twin wanted to live. Live in a very different way to our protagonist.

There were boring bits, which had me rolling my eyes and wanting a lot more crazy. Though the crazy would hit and I would be begging for the book to return to the normal because seriously. However, the writing style was brilliant. It was a tad jerky in some parts, scenes suddenly changing but that could be because it isn’t the final version.

I have so many questions for the author. How did they create this idea? A book that still has me jumping in the dark and making sure there are no messages from random boys in my phone (there aren’t, boys are lame).

I recommend you all check out this book when it releases – especially if you’re looking for a weird book.
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