Jen, Moriah, and Ambur's Excellent Read-a-long Adventures: THE ROSE & THE DAGGER - Review & Playlist!

Hello, hello! 

Sooo....I've been a pretty bad blogger lately, and I haven't been posting at all this summer, but today I have an extra awesome post to share!! Jen, Moriah, and I have continued our read-a-long adventures with the sequel to The Wrath & the Dawn, THE ROSE & THE DAGGER! We decided that for this one we would share our reviews and also our own fanmade playlists with however many songs we wanted that reminded us of THE ROSE & THE DAGGER!

So...let's get straight to it! 

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THE ROSE & THE DAGGER
(The Wrath & The Dawn #2)
by Renée Ahdieh

Source: Borrowed from the library.
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Release Date: April 26, 2016
Number of Pages: 416 (Hardcover)


Description from Goodreads:

The darker the sky, the brighter the stars.

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad is forced from the arms of her beloved husband, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once thought Khalid a monster—a merciless killer of wives, responsible for immeasurable heartache and pain—but as she unraveled his secrets, she found instead an extraordinary man and a love she could not deny. Still, a curse threatens to keep Shazi and Khalid apart forever.

Now she’s reunited with her family, who have found refuge in the desert, where a deadly force is gathering against Khalid—a force set on destroying his empire and commanded by Shazi’s spurned childhood sweetheart. Trapped between loyalties to those she loves, the only thing Shazi can do is act. Using the burgeoning magic within her as a guide, she strikes out on her own to end both this terrible curse and the brewing war once and for all. But to do it, she must evade enemies of her own to stay alive.

The saga that began with The Wrath and the Dawn takes its final turn as Shahrzad risks everything to find her way back to her one true love again.

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MY REVIEW

I absolutely LOVED the first book in this duology, THE WRATH & THE DAWN, so I was extremely eager to pick up THE ROSE & THE DAGGER! I was hoping for vibrant prose, excellent characterization, and some seriously high-stake situations similar to the first book and Renée Ahdieh didn't disappoint!

THE ROSE & THE DAGGER was just as magical, and amazing as the first book⎯I really didn't want it to end! It was exactly what I could have hoped for, but I definitely wouldn't have minded if it were longer. I don't think I can ever get enough of Shazi, Khalid, Jalal, and Despina! As soon as I started reading, I didn't want to put it down and I was so glad to be back in the wonderful world that Renée Ahdieh created!

This book begins just slightly after THE WRATH & THE DAWN left off, and the rapid pace Ahdieh established in the first book just keeps going! I loved seeing both Shazi and Khalid grow in their own parts of the story, but I loved when they worked together even more. I ship those two so much! AS always, I love how feisty and strong Shazi is. She never faiths to make me grin like a madwoman with her witty and quick remarks...and I really loved seeing Khalid come into his role! I also loved seeing him interact with more of the characters. While the first book is pretty much confined to the palace in Rey, THE ROSE & THE DAGGER expands over a much larger area. Jalal and Despina are still my favourite secondary characters in this duology, but I also really loved getting to see Shazi's sister, Irsa, in THE ROSE AND THE DAGGER! She didn't have much of a role in the first book, but in this one, she really comes into her own!

Sequels are always a bit tough to review because I don't want to spoil anything, so I'm being rather vague, but just know that I loved this book! I loved the characters, the story, the magical elements, the little tie-ins with One Thousand and One Nights, and the writing itself! I absolutely adore Renée Ahdieh's writing style, and her characterization is wonderfully dynamic⎯even amidst her minor characters, there isn't a flat character in the whole bunch!

Overall, I absolutely loved both THE WRATH & THE DAWN, and THE ROSE & THE DAGGER! This is one duology where both books equally pack an absolutely epic punch, and the ending will leave you satisfied...but possibly also eager for more, just like me!

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MY PLAYLIST

1. "A Whole New World" - Aladdin Soundtrack (Disney)

I just simply couldn't resist putting this song on my playlist...it's ridiculous yes, but I honestly kept singing it in my head throughout several parts of the book. Once you read it, I'm sure you'll know the parts I mean. hahah

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2. "Icarus" - Bastille (from All This Bad Blood)

I'm a HUGE Bastille fan, so I pretty much adore all of their songs. "Icarus" is a particular fave of mine, and it definitely reminded me of one of Shazi's stories, so when I was thinking of a playlist for THE ROSE & THE DAGGER, this song immediately came to mind.

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3. "Demons" - Imagine Dragons (from Night Visions - Deluxe Edition)

Imagine Dragons is another of my favourite artists, and I think "Demons" is pretty much the PERFECT song to describe Khalid and the complexities in his past which have led him to the path that he's been on before he met Shazi. Want to know more about those demons? Well, my lips are sealed, you'll have to read the books to find out. ;) haha

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4."Treacherous" - Taylor Swift (from Red - Deluxe Edition)

I'll be the first to admit that I'm a big Taylor Swift fangirl, too. haha Anytime I think of romance in books, I tend to think of T-Swift songs, but I think this song is extremely fitting for Shazi and Khalid. Their love really is treacherous...and I love that. Take out the modernizations in this song, and this song is even more perfect! :D

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5."All of the Stars" - Ed Sheeran (from x - Deluxe Edition)

Ah, Ed Sheeran. I really just CANNOT make a playlist without an Ed song, and I think that this song is another one that fits well with Shazi and Khalid.

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6. "Strange Magic" - Darren Hayes (from Ella Enchanted Soundtrack)

This is another one of my silly picks for my playlist. There's a bit of magic going on in this duology, and I thought that "Strange Magic" added a nice levity to those scenes.

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7. "Haven't Met You Yet" - Michael Bublé (from Crazy Love)

 This song totally reminds me of Jalal and Despina....I can totally picture Jalal singing this song before he met her, and after I think he would change the words to "Hadn't met you yet"...he's such a charmer that I just know he'd totally pull something like that. ;D

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8.  "Let Her Go" - Passenger (from All the Little Lights)

 Another song that reminds me of Jalal. That's all I'll say because I don't want to give away any spoilers. ;)

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9. "She Is" - The Fray (from How to Save a Life)

I feel like this song completely embodies how Khalid feels about Shazi...and just listening to this song with them in mind gives me ALL the feels!!!

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10. "Teardrop" - Newton Faulkner (from Hand Built by Robots)

This happens to be one of my absolute favourite songs about love. It's a song with simple lyrics, but it never fails to make me smile and to move me, so I'd just apply this song to all of the couples in this books, but it definitely reminds me of Irsa's storyline the most. :)

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11. "Brave" - Tawgs Salter (from The Vampire Diaries soundtrack)

This is also one of those songs that I just love so freaking much, so I pretty much think of it whenever I want to make a playlist, so I may be biased, but I think it fits, too. Again, this one is perfect for Irsa⎯it's all about being brave, especially in love.

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12. "Heart Like Yours" - Willamette Stone (from If I Stay Soundtrack)

First, I really wish Willamette Stone was a real band...their songs are my favourites on the If I Stay soundtrack, and second, this song is PERFECT for Khalid! I think it really embodies his feelings for Shazi. :)

Listen to my playlist on 8tracks, here: http://bit.ly/2aHCAKm

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Don't forget to check out Jen's (The Book-Nook) and Moriah's (Feel Your Books) posts, too! 

What do you think?
Have you read THE WRATH & THE DAWN and THE ROSE & THE DAGGER yet?
If not, do you want to?

And what did you think of my playlist?
Do you have any songs that you'd add to a playlist for either/both books in THE WRATH & THE DAWN duology?

Firsts Blog Tour: Review & Mini Interview!

I'm so excited to be a part of Raincoast Books's FIRSTS blog tour!! I first heard about FIRSTS back in August, and I was immediately intrigued!! When I got an egalley from Netgalley, I actually giggled with glee, and once I started it, I was hooked!

Today for my post in the FIRSTS blog tour, I'm sharing my review and a Q&A with the absolutely fabulous author of FIRSTS, Laurie Elizabeth Flynn! :)

Title: FIRSTS
Author: Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

Source: egalley from the
publisher through Netgalley
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: January 5, 2016!
Number of Pages: 320 (Hardcover)



Description from Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Mercedes Ayres has an open-door policy when it comes to her bedroom, but only if the guy fulfills a specific criteria: he has to be a virgin. Mercedes lets the boys get their awkward, fumbling first times over with, and all she asks in return is that they give their girlfriends the perfect first time- the kind Mercedes never had herself.

Keeping what goes on in her bedroom a secret has been easy- so far. Her absentee mother isn’t home nearly enough to know about Mercedes’ extracurricular activities, and her uber-religious best friend, Angela, won’t even say the word “sex” until she gets married. But Mercedes doesn’t bank on Angela’s boyfriend finding out about her services and wanting a turn- or on Zach, who likes her for who she is instead of what she can do in bed.

When Mercedes’ perfect system falls apart, she has to find a way to salvage her reputation and figure out where her heart really belongs in the process. Funny, smart, and true-to-life, FIRSTS is a one-of-a-kind young adult novel about growing up.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LAURIE ELIZABETH FLYNN writes contemporary fiction for young adults. FIRSTS is her debut novel.

Laurie went to school for Journalism, where the most important thing she learned was that she would rather write made-up stories than report the news. She also worked as a model, a job that took her overseas to Tokyo, Athens, and Paris.

Laurie now lives in London, Ontario with her husband Steve, who is very understanding when she would rather spend time with the people in her head. Laurie can mostly be found writing happily at her desk, with the world’s most spoiled Chihuahua on her lap. Laurie drinks way too much coffee, snorts when she laughs, and times herself when she does crossword puzzles.

Connect with Laurie: Twitter | Facebook | Website | Instagram | Tumblr | Goodreads

MY REVIEW

As soon as I started reading FIRSTS, I was hooked! The story itself is incredibly intriguing, the writing is fabulous, and the characters all jump right off the page! I especially loved that it challenged stereotypes about sex, and about female sexuality.

I absolutely LOVED Mercedes. I'm nothing like her, but I really appreciated the honesty of her narrative. She was snarky (which I loved!), and dishonest with her friends, but as a narrator, she held nothing back. While certain parts of her past were revealed later in the story, I really appreciated the transparency that her narrative had when she was considering things, and I loved seeing her slowly open up to the people in her life, too.

I loved that Mercedes for the most part was in control when it came to sex. Her personal reasons for helping out virgins are something that you'll have to read the book to find out about yourself, but she definitely did everything that she did to help them. While her desire to help guys give their girlfriends a good first time was honourable in a way, it did bug me that she was sleeping with guys that had girlfriends. I loved that she was in control of her sexuality, but I did wish that she wasn't sleeping with guys in relationships. There were also a couple of minor moments where I really wish Mercedes had stuck up for herself and stuck to her original decisions, but overall, I was still really happy with this story.

As I said before, I loved how FIRSTS challenged preconceived notions about sex that so many people have. I LOVED that it pushed boundaries, and I loved that even Mercedes' notions about relationships were challenged throughout the story. I loved seeing her friendships grow, and I especially loved when she finally allowed people to see the real her. She changed a lot throughout the story, and that was because she finally decided to start letting people in. Her friendships with Angela, Faye, and Zach were my absolute favourite part of FIRSTS. I did appreciate and love the romance too, but I loved that friendship had such a high importance in the story.

FIRSTS was a wonderful story! The characters were fantastic and complex, and I absolutely loved the writing. I loved how Laurie Elizabeth Flynn challenged so many different preconceived notions about sex, and I'm really looking forward to whatever she writes next! :D

Q&A

1. As FIRSTS is your debut novel, what was the process of writing it like, and what advice would you give to other aspiring authors? 

FIRSTS is my debut novel, but it’s not the first book I wrote. Previously, I wrote two New Adult contemporaries, both of which were meticulously plotted. With FIRSTS, I let myself experiment with a new style of writing: Flying by the seat of my pants. I had the hook and the main character’s name, but that was it. I was both ridiculously excited and scared to start writing, but as soon as I wrote the first line, I knew this method was a great fit for me. I wrote quickly and freely and finished the first draft in three weeks as opposed to several months. Most importantly, I had so much fun!

One thing I’d tell aspiring authors is to not be afraid to experiment with their writing. Not every project will follow the same formula, and that’s okay. Take chances. Take risks. Try new things. Tackle ideas that scare you. Most of all, write what you want to write, because that’s the story only you can tell.

2. If your characters went to Hogwarts, which houses do you think they would belong to and why? 

 What a fun question! I think Mercedes would be a Slytherin. She’s very ambitious and resourceful and has a plan to get what she wants in life. Zach would be a Hufflepuff. He’s incredibly loyal, patient, and kind. Angela would be a Ravenclaw—she’s smart and sensible and doesn’t like surprises. Faye… well, Faye would definitely be a Gryffindor. She’s bold, daring, and has a heart of gold.

 (Fun fact: I’m a Slytherin!)

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I loved Laurie's answers to my questions!! She's given some great advice for writers, and I love her Harry Potter house picks for her characters!! I definitely agree with them all!! :D

What do you think?
Does FIRSTS sound like something you'd like to read?
And what did you think of my Q&A with Laurie?

Blog Tour - Review: Priscilla the Great by Sybil Nelson

(Click this link to go to Priscilla the Great's Goodreads page.)

Sybil contacted me about her blog tour a while ago, and I jumped at the chance. Priscilla the Great sounded hilarious. I knew it would totally make me nostalgic for junior high and all that 'lovely' drama (yes, that was sarcasm, although sadly some of it was actually nostalgic :P). Here's the blurb:

"Meet Priscilla Sumner, an ordinary seventh grader with extraordinary gifts. As if middle school isn’t hard enough, not only does Priscilla have to fight pimples and bullies, but genetically enhanced assassins trying to kill her and her family. Armed with wit, strength, and a genius best friend, Priscilla must defeat the Selliwood Institute, an organization dead set on turning children into killing machines.

Add an older brother annoyingly obsessed with Christina Aguilera, mischievous baby twin brothers who could scare the sin off of Satan, and parents more puzzling than a Rubik’s cube in the Bermuda triangle and expect a smoking page-turner!"

See how I couldn't resist it?!

I thought, 'If the blurb is this funny, the book will be hilarious!' and boy was I right! 

Priscilla was an awesome narrator and a pretty fierce superhero too! I loved her jokes, and her whole inner monologue, which was also packed with jokes. I was laughing throughout this book, and when I wasn't laughing I was thinking about being twelve, almost thirteen, and how awesome it would have been to have superpowers...which was another thing that I totally predicted would happen while I read this book, and I was so right. I mean it would've been scary too, not knowing why it was happening or how to control it, but it would've been beyond cool! Yup, she's even got me talking like I'm in grade 7 again. :P 

The characters in this book were described simply and we got to know each of them through their interactions with Priscilla. I absolutely loved her friends, Tai and Kyle, and her Christina Aguilera-loving brother was pretty awesome too. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just talk about her parents a little bit. Her dad was described as a body-building secret service agent at one point...and he was trying to get jiggy with it. Oh how I miss using words like jiggy, I think my friends would look at me weird if I said jiggy, but I'd still do it anyways. Her mom's name is Quindolyn, which I think is such a cool name...totally long and a little crazy, but I still love it.

This book is middle grade, so it's not too complicated and it's easy to follow. It's also not too long, but it packs a huge punch. The paperback copy that I have has 271 pages, and in those pages it was probably one of the most exciting books I've read in a while. I forgot how dramatic being a pre-teen/early teen is, and how exciting everything feels. Reading this book helped me remember all that, and I was as caught up in it as Priscilla was herself. I would've loved to have read this when I was younger because I loved the story now, as a girl a few months shy of 20, but I would have loved it even more if I were Priscilla's age. That being said, I think this book is versatile for many ages. Sybil did an amazing job at making this book applicable to more than just those in the middle grade age group, she uses vocab and Priscilla's thoughts to help put you in Priscilla's shoes. I'm gonna be honest too, I really miss reading books where the writing it a nice font, it's easy to read, doesn't hurt my eyes, and it looks pretty. So many adult or YA books have tiny writing on big pages, so it was a relief to read a book that had really clear font, and that looked amazing too. I loved the texts that were used...I'm a sucker for aesthetics inside and outside of a book. :P

Priscilla the Great was an adorable and funny story. I'd recommend it to anyone, from the target middle grade age group, to fledgling adults like myself, to parents, or anyone looking for a fun story, which will make them remember their own childhood...and be slightly envious that they didn't have superpowers, or an ice cream machine in their school. :)

Here's the official trailer for Priscilla the Great if you wanna take a look:

And here are some links that you might wanna check out:

Buy Priscilla the Great

Visit Priscilla's Website

Visit Sybil's Website

*I was provided with a copy of Priscilla the Great by the author, Sybil Nelson, for an honest review, I was not required to right a positive review, and all the opinions are my own. 

I'd just like to thank Sybil for asking me to participate in her blog tour, and for sending me a copy of her book. I'm so glad to have gotten to read it. :)

So, am I the only one who would've loved superpowers in grade 7 or would you want them too? What powers would you have liked to have? I would've loved to have had telekinesis, I still wish I had it, then I would've have to get up just to grab things...yup, now you know how lazy I am sometimes. :P

Happy Reading!!!

♪♫ Ambur

Review: The Mind Readers by Lori Brighton

The Mind Readers by Lori Brighton

(Click HERE to go to The Mind Readers' Goodreads Page.)

Ok, let me start this review by being honest. I have honestly had a huge thing for mind readers ever since Twilight...there I admitted it! That being said, this book was absolutely nothing like Twilight, so if the mind reader comment about Twilight has put any big non-Twilight fans off from reading this book, just ignore that I said it because you'll be missing out on an amazing story.

I loved this story. It was unique, and had me completely enthralled. Right from the beginning, and the title too, you know that people in this story can read minds. I loved the beginning of this book, it was a fantastic way to introduce Cam's ability, and also to introduce Cam's character. We learn about her relationship with her grandma and very shortly after that, we learn about her friendships.

The main character, Cameron or Cam, was easy to relate too, even though she can read minds and I most definitely can not. I think that teenage girls especially will be able to relate to Cam, she spends most of her time trying to fit in, despite the fact that she can't actually stand most of her friends. She also struggles to uncover what the truth is rather than just accepting what people tell her. She shows incredible strength, and I admired her as a character. I think she's one of the strongest heroines that I've read in a long time, and Lori did a fantastic job developing her character.

I don't like to put spoilers in my reviews because I want you to read it and experience it for yourself, so I'm gonna try to not spoil anything...but if I do, I'm sorry. The action in this book was intense and incredible...and you even get a taste of romance, although it's fairly bittersweet. This book had my heart a fluttering for Lewis, Cam's love interest, and it had me on toes the entire time. I was constantly trying to guess what would happen next, and by the end I was stunned. This book was awesome, I thought it was a wonderful paranormal story, and at times it reminded me of The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting because Cam and Violet are both struggling to keep their abilities secret, but are also desperate to help others in any way they can. The Mind Readers was an emotional, mental ride, and it left my mind blown away. I'm hoping for a sequel personally. Fingers crossed that there is more to come.

If you're interested in reading The Mind Readers by Lori Brighton, you can purchase an ebook or kindle edition at these links: Smashwords, Amazon

*I was given a copy of the ebook by the author, Lori Brighton. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.

Have you already read The Mind Readers or even if you haven't, what are your thoughts?

Happy Reading!

♪♫ Ambur

Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

CITY OF BONES by Cassandra Clare

(Click to go to the City of Bones Goodreads page.)

I'm a huge Cassandra Clare fan. I've yet to find one of her books that I didn't like. City of Bones was her first published book, and it's no wonder why it's so popular. It's full of action, as well as characters that you can't help but feel like you're friends with.
Clary is a fierce and definitely stubborn heroine. I loved that she was never afraid to get right into the action, despite the fact that she was so inexperienced in the Shadow World. She’s also witty, I love reading books where the characters just have lines that bounce off one another, and City of Bones is definitely one of those books. Some of the banter in this book is hilarious. If I were in stand-up, I’d be tempted to steal some of it if I could find the right situation to use it in.

Clary’s best friend, Simon, is another amazing character. He’s the go-to friend. Simon’s that friend that you know you can always count on, even if you totally pissed him off. He’s the best guy friend that most girl’s wish that they had, and I don’t mean that he likes to shop and all that, he’s just a reliable, friendly and awesome person to be around.

Well, I’m not going to talk about all of the characters here, but I have left my favourite one for last. He is of course, Jace. Oh how I loved reading about Jace. He is without a doubt, my biggest book crush ever. I’ve read the three books that are out five times, and it’s been months since I read them last and Jace is still the bomb diggity in my eyes. I won’t lie, I think he is freaking gorgeous, but I also love his personality. He’s definitely harsh at times, and knows how to hurt people, but at other times he is so sweet and he’s so funny. He has some of my favourite one-liners in the series, Simon has some too, but I just love some of the things Jace says. I may just have to do a post of some of my favourite lines in this series. :)

Okay, so I’ve told you about some of the characters, and why I love them, but now I’m gonna tell you a little more about the book as a whole. I’ve heard people say that they really didn’t like this book, and that they couldn’t get past the beginning. To be honest, I never had that problem. I was drawn in as soon as that blue-haired guy tried to get into Pandemonium. But, if you do have a problem with getting into the beginning, I just have to say...keep going! It’s an amazing story, within an amazing world that seemed to seamlessly fit within our own. You can almost believe that Shadowhunters, demons, and downworlders really exist, and that we just can’t see them. I love that New York was the main setting for the series. I’ve never been there, but boy do I want to go someday...so many amazing things to see, and I love that Clary and the others are so familiar with it all. I felt like I knew the city too.

The first time I read City of Bones I finished it probably within a day (to be honest, I think I’ve pretty much read it at that pace every time, it is that awesome), and I was so glad that I’d already purchased City of Ashes because I couldn’t wait to read more. I also got lucky and started this series right after City of Glass came out, so I had absolutely no wait time, because at that time, City of Glass was the last book. Now there are going to be three more books in the series and I couldn’t be more excited. I can’t wait to read City of Fallen Angels!

I’m planning on reviewing City of Ashes and City of Glass as well, and I’ll probably do Clockwork Angel too, why not right? :P

Here are a couple of links for you:
Cassandra Clare's Livejournal
The Mortal Instruments Website

Here are the Goodreads pages to the other books in the Mortal Instruments Series:
City of Ashes - 2nd Book in the Series
City of Glass - 3rd Book in the Series
City of Fallen Angels  - 4th Book in the Series
City of Lost Souls  - 5th Book in the Series
 City of Heavenly Fire  - Set for Release In March 2014


Also,  I absolutely love the idea of Alex Pettyfer for Jace, so I just have to leave you with a fanmade picture ;)