Friday, January 31, 2014

Photo Friday - Library Crow

This is out library's unofficial mascot, my mom has been crocheting it a different hat and scarf each month since November and one of my coworkers made the tiny legwarmers. :)

November

 December

January

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Question of the Day - What word do you overuse when you write?

While writing I find that I overuse the word definitely and very a lot. So what are your go to words when writing that you use too much?


Wednesday, January 29, 2014

"Waiting On" Wednesday - Ignite Me

"Waiting On"  Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on...  


Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

* Book will be released February 4, 2014

Check out the description from Barnes & Noble:

"The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, called “a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love.” 
With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world . . . but that’s not all he wants with her."

I’m looking forward to this last book because I’ve read the first book and knew I had to see where this series was going. I plan to start the second book and then be ready right away with the third book so I won’t have to wait.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Thrilling Throne

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

5 out of 5 gnomes

I adore this book with its political intrigue and a kick-butt assassin who is a lot more than people think she is. I was wary of all the hype surrounding this book but I really should have believed it, it's so good and reminds me of the Magic Study series which is one of my favorites.

This is definitely my kind of fantasy world with some intense world building and striking characters. I like the names in the book but don’t really have a clue how to pronounce Celaena’s or Chaol’s name. It's great that everything's not black and white with the main character because she's an assassin but you really root for her. The story looks cut and dry at first but then you start to see the layers to the characters and how everybody has a motive. The story is full of strong characters with a lot to prove.

The potential magic of this world is interesting. Magic has essentially disappeared and it’s not even a good idea to talk about it. The story is already magical without magic but there is a massive threat out there that only magic may be able to stop.

The love triangle is actually well done and makes sense as in I’m not a hundred percent sure right away who she might pick. I’m a fan of Chaol more than Dorian but there are legitimate reasons why she might end up with either guy. She has some pretty intense chemistry with both Dorian and Chaol. Who knows she might end up being her own woman and picking neither guy.

The competition in the story is crazy and shows just how determined Celaena is. The King wants a Champion and this competition will ensure that the best one wins. Celaena needs to win for many reasons and it’s a wild ride seeing all the challenges.

The final battle is epic and shows some hints of what the future might hold. There are more mysteries to solve and the end of the book was truly surprising.

I can’t wait to have Celaena’s past explained more because I think there’s a lot to be revealed. I was happy with how the book ended and can’t wait to see what happens next.

Monday, January 27, 2014

Sentence Sneak Peek - Throne of Glass

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

The first sentence from each chapter of Throne of Glass, it's a mini summary of what you can expect to read.

* Spoilers are highlighted like so :)

“After a year of slavery in the Salt Mines of Endovier, Celaena Sardothien was accustomed to being escorted everywhere in shackles and at sword-point.”


“Your Highness,” said the Captain of the Guard.”


“The prince’s eyes shone with amusement at her brashness but lingered a bit too long on her body.”


“When Celaena finally collapsed onto a bed after her meeting in the throne room, she couldn’t fall asleep, despite the exhaustion in every inch of her body.”


“Celaena brushed a stray wisp of hair from her face and allowed herself to be led into the clearing.”


“For the next two weeks, they traveled down through the continent, the nights becoming colder, the days shorter.”


“Trumpeters signaled their arrival as they passed through the looming alabaster walls of Rifthold.”


“Celaena walked down a marble hall, her dress flowing behind in a purple and white wave.”


“Celaena stood before the rosewood mirror, smiling.”


“She saw the floor first.”


“Celaena felt as if she’d barely closed her eyes when a hand jabbed her side.”


“Just as Celaena was about to launch herself and her knives at the captain, someone stomped a spear on the ground and called the room to attention.”


“It was lunchtime when Brullo released them for the day, and to say that Celaena was hungry would be a severe understatement.”


“For the next four days, Celaena awoke before dawn to train in her room, using whatever she could to exercise—chairs, the doorway, even her billiards table and cue sticks.”


“Though she’d never admit it, Celaena didn’t really know what to expect at their first Test.”


“Despite her attempt to keep her breathing steady, Celaena gasped for air as she ran beside Chaol in the game park.”


“With heavy eyelids, Dorian Havilliard tried not to slouch as he sat upon his throne.”


“Celaena smiled as she watched the Crown Prince of Adarlan lead the Princess of Eyllwe through the basic steps of fencing.”


“Sitting in a chair near the hearth of the great hall, Kaltain watched Duke Perrington converse with Queen Georgina atop her dais.”


“Celaena closed her book and sighed.”


“Celaena dangled from the stone wall of the castle, her legs trembling as she dug her tar-covered fingers and toes into the cracks between the giant blocks.”


“Wind tore at her, but Celaena kept her focus on Nox, falling so fast, so far from her outstretched hands.”


“Celaena gaped at the ground.”


“Celaena lay on the bed, staring at a pool of moonlight on the floor.”


“Celaena dreamt.”


“The doors to her bedroom banged open, and Celaena was on her feet in an instant, a candlestick in hand.”


“Late that afternoon, Celaena stared at the ebony clock tower.”


“Brows narrowed, Celaena aimed the cue at the white ball.”


“At their Test the next afternoon, Celaena stood in the training hall with her arms crossed, watching Cain spare with Grave.”


“You’re not focusing.”


“Someone was standing at the foot of her bed.”


“After cutting short their lesson in favor of a stroll, Celaena and Nehemia walked through the spacious halls of the castle, guards trailing behind them.”


“Kaltain pinched her cheeks as she emerged from the dressing room.”


“Celaena sat by a window in her bedroom, watching the snow dance in the night air.”


“The next evening, Chaol Westfall stood on the second floor of the castle, looking over the courtyard.”


“Days passed without seeing Nehemia, and Celaena kept her mouth shut about the incident to Chaol or Dorian or anyone who visited her chambers.”


“Seated in a pew in the rear of the spacious temple, Celaena kept her mouth closed so tightly that it hurt.”


“Yards of silk, clouds of powder, brushes, combs, pearls, and diamonds glistened before Celaena’s eyes.”


“He was lost—lost in a world of which he’d always dreamed.”


“Celaena groaned as something cold and wet brushed her cheek and moved to lick her face.”


“The clock chimed ten, and Celaena, seated at the small desk in her bedroom, looked up from her book.”


“Cain.”


“Celaena opened her eyes.”


“The king.”


“Celaena panted as she and Nox lowered their swords, the Weapons Master shouting at the five Champions to get some water.”


“The forest was still and frozen around Dorian, and snow collapsed from the trees in large clumps as he passed by.”


“Kaltain pullded her red cape around her, savoring its warmth.”


“As she expected, Grave launched himself at her, going straight for the center of the staff in his hope to break it.”


“Dorian watched in wide-eyed terror as Celaena thrashed on the ground, waving away things they couldn’t see.”


“Celaena’s right leg could barely support her, but she gritted her teeth and rose.”


“The next morning, Dorian kept his chin high as his father stared at him.”


“Celaena awoke the next day, unsure what time it was.”


“Celaena leaned back in her seat and propped her feet on the table, balancing the chair precariously on its hind legs.”


“Several hours later, Chaol stared at the door to her dining room.”

“The following day, Celaena approached the glass throne, casting a wary glance about the council chamber.”

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Top 5 Sundays - Most Jaw Dropping "Plot Twists"! {TV, Movie and Books - Idea by DhesiX}

This feature was thought up by the awesome Larissa's Bookish Life
Rules:

1 - Write a post listing your TOP 5 choices within the theme I chose (or was chosen on a poll) for the week.
2 - Mention this Blog on the post and link back to it.
3 - Feel free to use the Features image
4 - After you've finished your post, add your link (of the post, not your blog's main page) to the Mr.Linky at the end of that week's post.
5 – If you don’t have a blog to post, just leave your list in the comments =)


Top 5 Sundays - Most Jaw Dropping "Plot Twists"! {TV, Movie and Books - Idea by DhesiX}


The last episode of the second season of Sherlock has a crazy twist and then you had to wait forever for the third season to start...

Bloodrose has a brutal twist that I should have saw but wow it will wreck you if you’re at all attached to the characters.

Rogue was such a surprise but again a very fitting ending.

Oh Alegiant, the twist ending to this one was so so disappointing. I don’t think I’ve ever loathed an ending more than this one. There seemed to be no reason for what happened to happen, if you’re going to build up characters so much why would you end their story in such a haphazard stupid way...

I adore this series but WOW the end to Double Cross almost made me throw the book across the room and then there was a really long wait for the third book.

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Bibliognome Catch Up

Okay here's some catch up for what I feel the blog still needs:

A new reviewer, if you're interested apply following this post here.

Story Time Serial Sign Up - check out the post here. I really want this feature to work so please see if you'd be interested.



Friday, January 24, 2014

My Favorite Quotes/Lines - Throne of Glass

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

How unfair of him to be royal and beautiful.

“I don’t know how you can sleep at night with only a wall of glass keeping you from death.”

“Over a million? A million books? Her heart leapt and danced, and she cracked a smile. “I’d die before I even got through half of that!”

“I didn’t know assassins liked to read,” Chaol called.”

“Libraries were full of ideas—perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.”

“You don’t need me to rescue you.”

“ ‘Magnanimous Holiness’? Oh, I like that one.”

You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into, little man.

“But it makes no difference if my name’s Celaena or Lillian or Bitch, because I’d still beat you, no matter what you call me.”

“You could rattle the stars,” she whispered. “You could do anything, if you only dared. And deep down, you know it, too. That’s what scares you most.”

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

"Waiting On" Wednesday - The Unbound

"Waiting On"  Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on...  


The Unbound by Victoria Schwab

* Book will be released January 28, 2014

Check out the description from Barnes & Noble:

"Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books. 
Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive. 
Last summer, Mackenzie Bishop, a Keeper tasked with stopping violent Histories from escaping the Archive, almost lost her life to one. Now, as she starts her junior year at Hyde School, she's struggling to get her life back. But moving on isn't easy — not when her dreams are haunted by what happened. She knows the past is past, knows it cannot hurt her, but it feels so real, and when her nightmares begin to creep into her waking hours, she starts to wonder if she's really safe..."

I really liked how different the first book in the series is. It has quite the unique perspective on death and how the world works. Mackenzie's job as a Keeper isn't easy and it's hard for her to know who to trust. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

PRR (Pre Review Ravings) - Throne of Glass

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

* I adore this book, it's full of such great strong characters.

* I was wary of all the hype surrounding this book but I really should have believed it, it's so good and reminds me of the Magic Study series which is one of my favorites.

* Celaena is such a kick butt taking names heroine.

* I'm not a hundred percent sure how to pronounce Celaena's or Chaol's name.

* It's great that everything's not black and white with the main character because she's an assassin but you really root for her.

* I like Chaol a lot more than Dorian

* Finally a potential love triangle that makes sense.

* All the intrigue and politics make for an exciting read.

* The potential magic of this world is very interesting.

* I was happy with how the book ended and can’t wait to see what happens next.