Sunday 27 December 2015

CHRISTMAS HAUL AND DECEMBER RECAP

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! Hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.


Sunday 20 December 2015

BLURB LOVE #6

Book blurb is the most important aspect when it comes to deciding what I want to read. It is usually what makes me add (or not add) book to my TBR. Imagine there is no cover, no title and you have no idea who wrote it. Would you read such a book based just on its blurb?
Test yourself.


Friday 11 December 2015

THE BEST OF ALL THINGS BOOKISH IN 2015 + GIVEAWAY

Let me tell you about my holiday season plans. This year is going to be my first time of cooking whole Christmas Eve dinner for myself, my husband and mother-in-law (fingers crossed dinner turns out okay). Then I will be traveling hundreds of kilometers back and forth to spend some time with my parents and grandparents. So yeah, you can say that late December will be a busy time for me. And since I have no idea how much of free time I will have to come up with a post, I decided to dodge a bullet a little bit early this year and sum up my year 2015 in the middle of December. What were my top bookish and blogging moments of 2015? Read on.



Monday 7 December 2015

NO MORE WAITING #5: DUST LANDS BY MOIRA YOUNG

Are you fed up with cliffhangers? Are you not patient enough to wait months for next instalment when reading series? Or do you just prefer to completely lose yourself in story and marathon all the books together? If you answered "yes" to at least one of these questions, this post is for you. NO MORE WAITING is a feature on my blog that spotlights completed series. You can look forward to spoiler-free reviews and graphic arts to accompany it.

The Dust Lands Trilogy

Written by: Moira Young

Genre: YA Dystopia

Purchase: AmazonB&N 

  
      
Saba lives in Silverlake, a wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms where her family scavenge from landfills left by the long-gone Wrecker civilization. After four cloaked horsemen kidnap her beloved twin brother Lugh, she teams up with daredevil Jack and the Free Hawks, a girl gang of Revolutionaries.

Saba learns that she is a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Saba and her new friends stage a showdown that change the course of her civilization.

Tuesday 1 December 2015

REVIEW: LONG WAY DOWN BY KRISTA & BECCA RITCHIE - EMOTIONAL CONCLUSION TO ONE-OF-A-KIND SERIES

Long Way Down (Calloway Sisters #4)

Written by: Krista & Becca Ritchie

Genre: New Adult Contemporary 

Release date: Novembe 20th 2015

Purchase: Amazon / B&N / Kobo

         
          
With a seven-year age difference, Ryke & Daisy have faced an uphill battle in the eyes of the world and their families. Known as the most adventurous, fast-paced couple — their next step has always been elusive to the rabid media.

Behind the scenes, heartbreaking troubles continue to test Ryke & Daisy’s resilience and shape their future together.

They promise: To never slow down. To never compromise who they are. To never abandon their love for each other.

But preserving their happiness also means adding more risks. Ones that Connor Cobalt wouldn’t even take. As a professional free-solo climber, Ryke is no stranger to risk, but his next step with Daisy wagers more than just his health.

With their lives on the line, Ryke & Daisy head towards the vast, wild unknown in this epic final conclusion to the Addicted series.

***Authors' Note***
It's possible to only read the Calloway Sisters spin-off series without reading the Addicted series, but you MUST read Fuel the Fire (Calloway Sisters #3) before reading Long Way Down (Calloway Sisters #4).

It's highly recommended to read the books in the recommended reading order, which is in tangent with the Addicted series. 

Saturday 28 November 2015

WHAT I READ AND BLOGGED ABOUT IN NOVEMBER

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! Hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.


Saturday 21 November 2015

LIFE CHANGING READS #4: INSPIRING YA HEROINES

LIFE CHANGING READS is occasional blog feature in which I talk about books that recently (or in the past) had a big impact on me and left me in the state of slight addiction in one form or another.


Monday 16 November 2015

4 REASONS WHY TO READ HELLO? BY LIZA WIEMER

Hello? by Liza M. Wiemer
Published by: Spencer Hill Contemporary

Genre: Young Adult Realistic Fiction

Release date: November 10th 2015

Purchase: Amazon / B&N / Indigo

        
         
One HELLO? can change a life. One HELLO? can save a life.

Tricia: A girl struggling to find her way after her beloved grandma's death.
Emerson: A guy who lives his life to fulfill promises, real and hypothetical.
Angie: A girl with secrets she can only express through poetry.
Brenda: An actress and screenplay writer afraid to confront her past.
Brian: A potter who sets aside his life for Tricia, to the detriment of both.

Linked and transformed by one phone call, Hello? weaves together these five Wisconsin teens' stories into a compelling narrative of friendship and family, loss and love, heartbreak and healing, serendipity, and ultimately hope.

Told from all five viewpoints: narration (Tricia), narration (Emerson), free verse poetry (Angie), screenplay format (Brenda), narration and drawings (Brian).

Friday 13 November 2015

BLURB LOVE #5

Book blurb is the most important aspect when it comes to deciding what I want to read. It is usually what makes me add (or not add) book to my TBR. Imagine there is no cover, no title and you have no idea who wrote it. Would you read such a book based just on its blurb? Test yourself.


Tuesday 10 November 2015

TWO QUICK REVIEWS: WELCOME TO THE CIRCUS

The other day I noticed that circus setting has become quite popular in contemporary romance genre. As a part of November edition of Two Quick Reviews feature I decided to pick two standalones set in a circus and compare them for you. Which one won me over?


(check my Rating System for detailed explanations of my quick rating)

Monday 2 November 2015

NO MORE WAITING #4 :FIRE AND THORNS SERIES

Are you fed up with cliffhangers? Are you not patient enough to wait months for next instalment when reading series? Or do you just prefer to completely lose yourself in story and marathon all the books together? If you answered "yes" to at least one of these questions, this post is for you. NO MORE WAITING is a feature on my blog that spotlights completed series. You can look forward to spoiler-free reviews and graphic arts to accompany it.


The Girl of Fire and Thorns

Written by: Rae Carson

Published by: Greenwillow Books

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Purchase: Amazon / B&N


        
All three volumes of Rae Carson's New York Times‒bestselling The Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy plus the three novellas set in the same world, available together! An insecure princess with an unclear destiny becomes a secret bride, a revolutionary, a queen, and—finally—the champion her world so desperately needs in this epic fantasy series that Tamora Pierce called "engrossing" and that Veronica Roth said was "intense, unique . . . definitely recommended."

Once every century, one person is chosen for greatness. But the prophecy is vague, and Elisa has no idea why she was chosen or how she will fulfill the expectations. Her future is unknown and her potential is tremendous—even if she doesn't realize it. A sweeping fantasy series about a young woman finding her true strength, this is perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore's Graceling and George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones. 

Saturday 31 October 2015

STACKING THE SHELVES: OCTOBER 2015

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! Hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.


Saturday 24 October 2015

WHAT BOOKS TO READ TO GET INTO HALLOWEEN MOOD


Zombies. Ghosts. Bad vampires. Devil. Monsters.
Do you fancy any of the above-named? 
Are you in the mood for some scary read? 
Two following authors will definitely give you your Halloween fix!

Sunday 18 October 2015

REVIEW: FANGIRLING OVER SIX OF CROWS

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Published by: Henry Holt and Company

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Release date: September 29th 2015

Purcase: Amazon / B&N / Kobo

        
          
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.  

Tuesday 13 October 2015

DISCUSSION: OUTLANDER INFLUENCE ON YA GENRE


BEWARE: TIME-TRAVELING TOPIC EVERYWHERE!

Friday 9 October 2015

REVIEW: CARRY ON BY RAINBOW ROWELL

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Published by: St. Martin's Griffin

Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal

Release date: October 6th 2015

Purchase: Amazon / B&N

    
     
Rainbow Rowell continues to break boundaries with Carry On, an epic fantasy following the triumphs and heartaches of Simon and Baz from her beloved bestseller Fangirl.

Simon Snow just wants to relax and savor his last year at the Watford School of Magicks, but no one will let him. His girlfriend broke up with him, his best friend is a pest, and his mentor keeps trying to hide him away in the mountains where maybe he’ll be safe. Simon can’t even enjoy the fact that his roommate and longtime nemesis is missing, because he can’t stop worrying about the evil git. Plus there are ghosts. And vampires. And actual evil things trying to shut Simon down. When you’re the most powerful magician the world has ever known, you never get to relax and savor anything.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story — but far, far more monsters. 

Tuesday 6 October 2015

TWO QUICK REVIEWS: BOOK VS. MOVIE - THE MARTIAN

This month I decided to do something different for my Two Quick Reviews post. Instead of comparing two books as I usually do, I will talk about last year's bestseller The Martian and movie of the same name that is based on this book.


(check my Rating System for detailed explanations of my quick rating)

Saturday 26 September 2015

STACKING THE SHELVES OR HOW I GOT MARRIED

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! Hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.



Saturday 29 August 2015

STACKING THE SHELVES + RECAP: August 2015

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! Hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.


Monday 17 August 2015

ARC REVIEW: WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER

Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson
(The Gold Seer Trilogy #1)
Published by: Greenwillow Books
Release date: September 22nd 2015
Genre: YA Historical Fantasy

       
         
The first book in a new trilogy from acclaimed New York Timesbestselling author Rae Carson. A young woman with the magical ability to sense the presence of gold must flee her home, taking her on a sweeping and dangerous journey across Gold Rush–era America.

Lee Westfall has a secret. She can sense the presence of gold in the world around her. Veins deep beneath the earth, pebbles in the river, nuggets dug up from the forest floor. The buzz of gold means warmth and life and home—until everything is ripped away by a man who wants to control her. Left with nothing, Lee disguises herself as a boy and takes to the trail across the country. Gold was discovered in California, and where else could such a magical girl find herself, find safety? Rae Carson, author of the acclaimed Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy, dazzles with this new fantasy that subverts both our own history and familiar fantasy tropes.

Walk on Earth a Stranger, the first book in this new trilogy, introduces—as only Rae Carson can—a strong heroine, a perilous road, a fantastical twist, and a slow-burning romance. Includes a map and author’s note on historical research.

Tuesday 11 August 2015

5 TIPS How To Survive the Wait For Next Instalment in Your Favorite Series


I don't know about you, but I prefer to wait until book series is completed and marathon read it. However, sometimes blurb is so appealing and reviews are so persuasive that I cave in and start series before it is finished. I just can't help myself. But with this "weakness" come consequences - I loved the book, I have huge book hangover and I desperately need to know what will happen next because of that cruel cliffhanger at the end. But next book does not come out until next year. How do I survive such a wait?

Thursday 6 August 2015

TWO QUICK REVIEWS: SUMMER LOVING

Summer entices us with its vacations and exotic destinations in foreign countries. If you are stuck at work all summer as I am, there is still a possibility to enjoy romantic summer atmosphere - through books. So in the spirit of summer, I decided to test two latest adventurous NA romances by Karina Halle. Which one won me over?


(check my Rating System for detailed explanations of my quick rating)

Saturday 1 August 2015

Consistency in Blogging: Yay or Nay?

Some of blogging gurus out there recommend maintaining a consistent schedule of your posts in order to gain bigger audience and build their trust. But on the other hand, other successful bloggers suggest not pressuring yourself with strict posting schedule which can lead to lower quality of your blog content. What is your take on this topic? Let's discuss.

Saturday 25 July 2015

STACKING THE SHELVES: July 2015

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! Hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.


Monday 20 July 2015

BLURB LOVE #4

Book blurb is the most important aspect when it comes to deciding what I want to read. It is usually what makes me add (or not add) book to my TBR. Imagine there is no cover, no title and you have no idea who wrote it. Would you read such a book based just on its blurb? Test yourself.


Monday 13 July 2015

REVIEW: EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING BY NICOLA YOON

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Published by: Delacorte Books FYR

Release date: September 1st 2015

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

       
        
This innovative, heartfelt debut novel tells the story of a girl who’s literally allergic to the outside world. When a new family moves in next door, she begins a complicated romance that challenges everything she’s ever known. The narrative unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, texts, charts, lists, illustrations, and more.

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

Wednesday 8 July 2015

TWO QUICK REVIEWS: YA WITH EXOTIC SETTING

Today, as a part of my Two Quick Reviews feature, I will compare two YA novels which were inspired by Arabian Nights stories. Both novels are first books in fantasy series and both are set in magical world a lá Orient style. Which one won me over?


(check my Rating System for detailed explanations of my quick rating)

Wednesday 1 July 2015

EARLY REVIEW: ANNE & HENRY BY IUS DAWN

Anne & Henry by Ius Dawn

Published by: Simon Pulse

Release date: September 1st 2015

Genre: YA Contemporary Fiction

     
      
In this wonderfully creative retelling of the infamous—and torrid—love affair between Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII, history collides with the present when a sizzling romance ignites in a modern-day high school.

Henry Tudor’s life has been mapped out since the day he was born: student body president, valedictorian, Harvard Law School, and a stunning political career just like his father’s. But ever since the death of his brother, the pressure for Henry to be perfect has doubled. And now he’s trapped: forbidden from pursuing a life as an artist or dating any girl who isn’t Tudor-approved.

Then Anne Boleyn crashes into his life.

Wild, brash, and outspoken, Anne is everything Henry isn’t allowed to be—or want. But soon Anne is all he can think about. His mother, his friends, and even his girlfriend warn him away, but his desire for Anne consumes him.

Henry is willing to do anything to be with her, but once they’re together, will their romance destroy them both?

Inspired by the true story of Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII, Anne & Henry beautifully reimagines the intensity, love, and betrayal between one of the most infamous couples of all time.

Saturday 27 June 2015

STACKING THE SHELVES: June 2015

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! Hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.


Sunday 7 June 2015

GUEST REVIEW: Infinite Dolls by Emalynne Wilder

Infinite Dolls by Emalynne Wilder
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Release date: June 7th 2015

    
       
There was a riot in my heart.
It needed to be heard.
~
Everly Brighton's expected to die before her twenty-first birthday, at the hands of a rare medical condition. Under the watchful eye of her father more is being stolen from her than years. Everly longs for connection and freedom she has never been allowed due to her dad's controlling routine. Time ticking away she begins to defy his rules and make up her own.

One star-crossed meeting grants Everly her greatest desire when she befriends Callum Trovatto, a grief-stricken med student needful of his own blissful upswing in the wake of his mother's death.

When Everly becomes the center of Callum’s class assignment, their fate is tested, as they try to awaken their true selves with the infinite promise of friendship, renewal of faith, and an unexpected love that shakes the charade forever.

INFINITE DOLLS is a story of grief, faith, and how the power of deep-rooted love encourages living in the preciousness of Now.

Saturday 30 May 2015

STACKING THE SHELVES: May 2015

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! Hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.



Friday 22 May 2015

Tips How To Survive Vacation (For Book Junkies)

Bonjour! Why the French greeting? I'm leaving on vacation to France next month and I need to practice my (very poor) French. I'm going with my dad and I really can't wait! As a true book junkie, I can't forget to bring books with me. And it got me thinking - how should a true book junkie prepare for a vacation? Here are my semi-serious tips: