Top Ten Tuesday #16 : My Favorite Heroines (in books)

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday. This meme is created and hosted at The Broke and The Bookish. Every week there is a new top ten list for bloggers to take part in and enjoy!

Wow, I just realized how few books I've read.... I couldn't really find any more than 6 heroines from books that I loved! But at least I found some! Anyway, enjoy!


1. Cinder from The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

I recently read the first book in the Lunar Chronicles series and I completely fell in love with the main character. As a half cyborg Cinder is judged and looked down on by many (including her own family) and the fact that this never managed to bring her down made me really respect her. She is a person that would do anything for the people she cares about, Strong, brave and quirky, she had my immediate attention from page 1.

2. Alex from the Covenant series by Jennifer L. Armentrout

JLA definitely has a talent for creating very fun and intriguing characters. Alex is one of those characters that make you want to be their best friend. She puts others lives before hers, brave, with a humor that has no limits and the right amount of recklessness she is a very fun heroine to read about.

3. Annabeth Chase from PJO and HoO series by Rick Riordan.

There was no way this character was going to be left out of this list. Annabeth belongs in the short list of heroines that have affected me and my life the most. Over the years she has become a role model, you could say, for me. She is studious, intelligent, brave, has a sense of duty... the list could go on for ever.

4. Amy Cahill from The 39 Clues series by a variety of authors.

The 39 clues is a 10 book long series I started when I was 9 and Amy became a favorite character of mine from book 1 (which btw was written by Rick Riordan!). I always enjoyed her personality and her ability to solve mysteries. She's 13 and a complete genius in my opinion. She's not easily fooled by her manipulative relatives and can handle her younger brother really well, something that I haven't quite managed to do yet with mine....

5. Penryn from Angelfall by Susan Ee

The lengths Penryn was willing to go to in order to save her sister made her immediately a favorite of mine. On  top of that, i loved that she wasn't your typical YA female protagonist. She was brave but not reckless. Sure, she ended up liking Raffe but when that happen she still kept her focus on her 'quest', he didn't become the center of her world. I loved her sense of duty and her devotion to her sister and her family was really moving for me.

6. Celaena Sardothien from The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Mass

Of course, I couldn't leave out Celaena. This girl deserves an award for Most Kick-ass Main Character! She is an assassin that can easily bring a man to his knees, even when she speaks she sounds bad-ass and she's also a reader! Do I need to say more?

Have you read about any of the characters mentioned? Which are your favorite heroines?

Top Ten Tuesday #15: Top Ten Things I like/dislike About Romance in Books

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday. This meme is created and hosted at The Broke and The Bookish. Every week there is a new top ten list for bloggers to take part in and enjoy!

There so many things I love about Romance in books. but there is an equal amount of things I hate in it... So I decide it to split this post up to like-dislike. Hope you enjoy!

LIKE

1. From Best Friends to Lovers

For me, Best Friends to Lovers romance is the sweetest and most beautiful romance there is. The fact that the two main characters already know each other so well, know what makes each other laugh, how to comfort one another... It's so sweet!

2. From Hate to Love

Some of my favorite books contain 'Hate-to-Love' romance! These Broken Stars, Obsidian, Angelfall... I love the process of going from 'enemies' to friends and eventually falling in love!

3. All those Fluffy adorable moments

Something you should know about me, I love fluff. All those mushy moments every romance has? I live for them! These moments are so sweet and adorable!

4. Forbidden Love

I don't know what it is about forbidden romance but I love it. I love the whole process of the characters struggling to find a way to be together and all the sweet moments in between and then, at the end, when they finally can be together... I love the feeling it gives me. The urge to start jumping around and fist-bumping the air! ......yeah, I'm weird....

5. Slow Burning Romance

I admit it! I love to suffer when it comes to romance! I'd rather it be slow, frustrating and well-developed than fast and unexplained.

DISLIKE

1. Insta-love

Oh how many times this has ruined a perfectly good book for me! I just can't do it! I'll leave it at that.

2. Undeveloped Love Triangle

Don't get me wrong, I love a good love-triangle. But if the person the main character will choose is literally holding a sign that says 'IT'S ME' well then.... I need conflict! I want both characters to have equal chances!

3. When It Happens At the Last Page

No. Nononono! I literally cannot stand it when the characters get together in the last page! I have spend the past 200-300 pages dealing with all their frustrations and problems and I demand at least an extra chapter of them being together! Romance isn't only the process of the couple getting together but also them being together!

4. Alpha Male

If there's something I hate more than insta-love is an alpha male. Jealousy, possessiveness... Yeah,no.

5. Damsel in distress

Lastly, I want my main characters to be able to stick for themselves and not call their 'boyfriend' for help every five minutes! I need them to be independent and kick-ass!


What do you like/dislike when it comes to romance in books?

Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Maffi

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Review

Shatter Me was the first book I finished in 2015 and I loved it! It was an amazing dystopian with a paranormal twist full of action, suspense, romance and well-written characters. 

When it came to the romance, it was really sweet and at times even a little bit steamy. Juliette and Adam definitely had an undeniable connection from the start of the novel that got stronger with each passing chapter. But the book was also full of twists and surprises that kept me at the edge of my seat holding my breath! In truth, though, what first captured my attention about Shatter Me was its writing.  I completely fell in love with it! Tahereh Maffi's writing is incredibly lyrical, beautiful and unique! It really helped capture Juliette's emotional state in the book. 

Juliette is a very strong and complex character. Declared as a monster by society and locked away in isolation for the better part of a year she's in a turmoil of emotions. In a way she's broken and lost but at the same time, in many parts of the book, you can really see the strength she carries. She's definitely a very inspiring character!

I liked Adam. I really did. I didn't love him, but I liked him. He was very kind to Juliette and in a way he was what kept her from completely going insane, her rock, even though he started out as a huge jerk... Another thing about him was his devotion and love for his little brother. It really moved me in many ways. 

Warner was.... well, he was truly something else. I know that about 80% of the people who've read the Shatter Me trilogy are completely in love with this character but for now, I don't really see it... Maybe it's because it's the first book? But even though, at least for now, he is not the kind of character you fall in love with he was a great antagonist.  He was cruel at times and his way of thinking sometimes made me think he was also a bit mad but I have to admit he is a fun character to read about. He certainly has many layers I can't wait to explore in the next books.

Another character that really stood out for me was Kenji. Despite not appearing much in the first book, Kenji certainly made a great impression on me. He was, the least to say, hilarious! On the few pages he was in I was constantly laughing out-loud! I'd really like to see more of him in the next instalments!

Overall, this was an amazing read and a book you really should pick up if you're into the dystopian genre! 

Book info:

Hardcover, 374 pages

First Published: November 15th 2011

Publisher: Harper

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Romance, Paranormal.

Rating: 4.5/5

Top Ten Tuesday #14 : Top Ten Fantasy Books I Really Need to Read

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday. This meme is created and hosted at The Broke and The Bookish. Every week there is a new top ten list for bloggers to take part in and enjoy!

1. Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

This is one of my 2015 goals. I can't believe I haven't read the Harry Potter series yet! I really, really need to get around to doing that soon!

2. The Seven Realms by Cinda Williams Chima

This is one of those series that you know will be epic and adventurous. I 'discovered' these books around mid-2014 and have been dying to read them since then. Look at these gorgeous covers!

3. Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

This is a new fantasy series that everyone seems to be talking about. There are three books currently out and, I think, there will be six in total? Not sure. But, they say it's like Game of Thrones for teens so I'm intrigued!

4. The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater

I have heard nothing but amazing things for The Raven Cycle and Maggie Stiefvater's writing and the high ratings on Goodreads are making them all the more desirable for me!

5. The Fire and Thornes trilogy by Rae Carson

I want to read this trilogy so badly! The premise sounds amazing and I have had so many people recommend it to me!

6. The Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy by Laini Taylor

This is one of those extremely popular and loved series that I can't believe I haven't read yet. The first two books in the series are currently sitting on my selves waiting for me to read them.... I will! I promise!

7. Snow like Ashes by Sarah Raasch

If there was a fantasy book I couldn't stop hearing about during the last months of 2014 it was Snow Like Ashes. I am really excited for this book! And look at that gorgeous cover!

8. The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Beautiful cover and very intriguing premise... Need to get around to reading it soon!

9. Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

I have heard nothing but amazing things about this trilogy and since I started reading YA I have had countless people recommend it to me! 

10. The Young Elites by Marie Lu

I haven't read anything by Marie Lu but The Young Elites seems like an amazing book to start with!


Have you read/ planning to read any of these books? Which books you need to read ASAP?

I'm Back! + January Book Haul (Stacking the Selves #4)

Hello! I'm so sorry for this long break! I realise it's been almost a month since I last updated but boy, January was a crazy busy month for me! It was the month that marked the end of my first semester and it was full of tests and unannounced quizzes. If I wasn't studying, I was probably sleeping and when I had a little free time on my hands, I admit, I preferred to spend it relaxing on my bed and watching re-runs of Friends....

 I also only managed to read 2 novels (reviews to come!) which really sucks because I've acquired some pretty amazing books the past few weeks...

But, Anyway! This week was the final week of the exams so now I'm ready to jump right back into reading and blogging! 

Let's start with a small book-haul!

Stacking the Selves is all about sharing the books you recently added to your selves. Whether they are in the form of a paperback, hardpack, ebook, audiobook, or a book you borrowed from your friend or the library and of course review book. It's hosted by Tynga's Reviews!

Sorry for the quality, my phone doesn't have the best camera!

The Bane Chronicles

by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan and Maureen

Johnson

I finally have it in my hands! I'm so excited to read The Bane Chronicles! Magnus Bane is one of my favorite characters in the Shadowhunter Chronicles! I'm actually going to be buddy-reading two of the novellas in the book (What to Buy the Shadowhunter Who Has Everything and The Course of True Love and First Dates) with a friend of mine who's almost as huge Malec fan as I am!

 The Young Elites by Marie Lu

 I haven't read the Legend trilogy by Marie Lu (yet) but I've heard so many wonderful things! Nevertheless, I'm very excited for The Young Elites!

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Look at that gorgeous cover! It also has deckle edges! So beautiful! 

The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

I've heard this book is going to be made into a movie starring Emma Watson! Plus I'm in a bit of a fantasy kick lately so why not!

Winterspell by Claire Legrand

I love the Nutcracker tale and this book sounds really amazing! Also it's blurbed by Marissa Meyer! But I don't know if I'm going to be reading it any time soon as I think this book would be more fit to read in a snowing day and Winter is finally over. Maybe in December!

The Queen of Zombie Hearts by Gena Showalter

I finally have the whole series on my selves! Now I can marathon it! So excited!

The Ask and the Answer and Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness

What I said before!

So that was my January book haul! Have you read any of these books? What books did you get this month/week?