Tuesday, 28 October 2014

Saturday, 25 October 2014

The To-Be-Read Tag!

I have been tagged by lovely Megan from Reading Books Like a Boss blog to share some info about my TBR list. I had a lot of fun filling out all the questions and I hope you will enjoy reading this post :)
Note: by clicking on picture, you will be directed to respective Goodreads page

Thursday, 23 October 2014

GUEST REVIEW: Delinquents by The Elizabeths

Long awaited sequel to Innocents (Dusty #1) has been released today. 
Here is Marta's spectacular review.


Delinquents (Dusty #2)

Written by The Elizabeths

Release date: October 23rd

Purchase: Amazon / B&N


Monday, 20 October 2014

REVIEW: Killer Queen by L.H. Cosway


Killer Queen (Painted Faces #2)

Written by L.H. Cosway

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Purchase: Amazon USAmazon UK 

B&N  / Kobo / iTunes / Smashwords


Synopsis:

Willkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome…

Come inside The Glamour Patch club to see the star of our show, Miss Vivica Blue.


Do you want to read my diary you nosy little devils? Have a glass of champagne (you’ll need it) and get comfortable because you’re in for some crazy shenanigans brought to you straight from the horse’s mouth.

I can be whatever you want me to be: boy, girl, a little bit of both.

If you have a problem with a man in a dress then best be off with you. If males in make-up give you the willies, then I’ll say au revoir and don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

So, who are we left with? Ah, a fine collection of curious souls. I want to tell you a tale of love, because those are the most glorious kind. I want to tell you about real love, a love that transcends labels and gender stereotypes.

The moment I first laid eyes on my Freda I knew that we were kindred. Well okay, I also knew I wanted to get into her pants, but that’s beside the point. My world was a grey place. I was at my lowest ebb. Then she came along and patches of colour began to spring forth. One day the daffodils were yellow and before I knew it, colour was everywhere, lighting up my life.

Love is not about how we appear on the outside, it’s about the soul contained within.

Our story was not a conventional one, but it was ours, and that’s what made it shine.

Killer Queen is a companion novel to L.H. Cosway’s contemporary romance, Painted Faces. It contains scenes that take place before, during and after the original story. It can also be read as a standalone.
THIS BOOK IS RECOMMENDED FOR MATURE READERS AUDIENCES ONLY. HOWEVER, THIS REVIEW ITSELF DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL.

* 5 STARS * Review:


"We human beings are strange creatures, and that strangeness makes us fascinating."



One of the best feelings ever? Getting back to your most favorite characters whom you completely adore and immersing yourself in their story once again. When I found that L.H. Cosway was writing companion novella to my favorite novel of 2012 Painted Faces, I was ecstatic. Written in Nicholas's POV, Killer Queen is a story about life of drag queen Vivica Blue and sassy Dublin-native Freda - the most unforgettable, complex and in depth depicted bookish couple I have ever encountered in contemporary genre. 


Story in Nicholas's POV was exactly as the man himself - captivating, eccentric and very colorful. This book provides a fascinating insight into the psyche of troubled man with sad past and fabulous performer with constant highs and lows in the present. It is one of a kind story and I adore it to pieces. It will break your hearts and simultaneously lift them up. I cried happy tears, I cried devastated tears, I laughed, I swooned. It was perfect reading experience and I can't recommend this book enough.

Events and characters on the pages of this novel come truly alive through L.H. Cosway's rich and phenomenal writing. Unique settings? Unconventional situations? Intense and emotional tale of love and friendship? You will find it all in this book.


Killer Queen is written in a form of diary entries. Readers get to see not only events from Nicholas' early life and events that that led him to Freda, but also his life in Dublin itself and period after the end of Painted Faces. Yeah, L.H. Cosway has been generous to her fans.

And even though this novel can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend you to read Painted Faces as well. After all, Killer Queen is "only" companion novel. And if you want the full picture, the proper experience, Painted Faces from Freda's POV is a must-read. Moreover, her POV is a blast to read so I can assure you won't regret it!

Thursday, 16 October 2014

REVIEW: RED RISING BY PIERCE BROWN

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

(Red Rising Trilogy #1)

Published by: Del Rey

Genre: Sci-Fi / Dystopia

Release date: January 28th 2014

    
      
The Earth is dying. Darrow is a Red, a miner in the interior of Mars. His mission is to extract enough precious elements to one day tame the surface of the planet and allow humans to live on it. The Reds are humanity's last hope.

Or so it appears, until the day Darrow discovers it's all a lie. That Mars has been habitable - and inhabited - for generations, by a class of people calling themselves the Golds. A class of people who look down on Darrow and his fellows as slave labour, to be exploited and worked to death without a second thought.

Until the day that Darrow, with the help of a mysterious group of rebels, disguises himself as a Gold and infiltrates their command school, intent on taking down his oppressors from the inside. But the command school is a battlefield - and Darrow isn't the only student with an agenda.

MY REVIEW:


Wow, what a page-turner! I am impressed. Red Rising is outstanding debut novel by Pierce Brown, phenomenal introduction into new series and my personal new favorite of this year.


I'm not going to provide summary of this book. It would be too long and it wouldn't do this complex story justice. You need to read this book yourself, experience it all on your own without having any knowledge of storyline or spoilers. After all, this is kind of the book that, plot-wise, you should definitely go into blind. But what I can tell you is how this story made me feel, what kind of impression it left on me. And let me tell you, it affected me big time!

Red Rising is one of the most creative and captivating stories I have had the pleasure of reading. Its imaginary took my breath away and heart-stopping situations often left me in goose bumps. Moreover, world building is done perfectly. This great introduction into dystopian society will grab your attention from the first pages of this novel and its twists will keep you anxious and entertained till the very end.


Red Rising is story about death and sacrifice, about big dreams and broken ideals. It is story that most definitely won't let you indifferent. Power, freedom, justice, politics and loyalty. All these topics have been used countless times in the books before. ButPierce Brown gives them new shining, he shows them in his own singular light. And result is awe-inspiring and enthralling.

Most importantly, I can't forget to mention writing style. I absolutely loved how author managed to narrate this novel. It was straightforward, fast-paced and attention-grabbing. There was not a single thing I would not love about it and I can't recommend this book enough to all those who love great storytelling.


This novel shows us one thing. When you live for the dreams of others, you can easily lost your true self in the process. Will that be Darrow's fate? I already can't wait to read next instalment - Golden Son!


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Tuesday, 14 October 2014

QUICK REVIEW: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green


The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Genre: Contemporary YA Fiction

Purchase: Amazon US / Amazon UK / B&N




Synopsis:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

* 3.5 STARS * Review:

"That's the thing about the pain. It demands to be felt."
Bittersweet. Bitter. Sarcastic. Sad. Super sad. Entertaining. Nerdy. Emotional. Feelings-evoking. Depressive. I could go on and on describing this book, its characters and events. But I would never do it a proper justice. You have to read and see yourself.

I expected to be completely wowed, but I think I probably had too high expectations. Yet I liked the writing and realistic bitterness of events in this book. But I have to admit that some parts (dialogues) were over-the-top and seemed artificial and caused that I could not truly fall in love with this book.

Nonetheless, I absolutely understand why this book won Goodreads Choice Award in 2012 and I am more than glad that I finally found courage to read it even though I did not end up loving it.
"The world is not a wish-granting factory."


Sunday, 12 October 2014

GUEST REVIEW: Reignite by J.M. Darhower

Hi everyone, Marta is back with her guest review of Reignite, 
sequel to amazing Extinguish by talented J.M. Darhower! Happy reading :)


Reignite (Extinguish #2)

Written by J.M. Darhower

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Release date: October 13th 2014

Pre-order: Amazon US / Amazon UK



Synopsis:

The moment the short-lived apocalypse came to an end, life returned to normal. Mortals continued on with their oblivious existences while the earth healed and flowers again bloomed, the devastation instantly wiped away. It was as if it had never happened.

But it did.

Luce knows. He’s cursed to remember every moment, forced to live with everything he has done. Suddenly finding himself out of confinement, he’s faced with a decision: where to call “home”. Free will turns out not to be the freedom he expects when the only thing he wants doesn’t know he exists.

Serah woke up with no memory of where she came from or who she was before that moment. Struggling to adapt to the world as a mortal, she’s haunted by a set of bright blue eyes that always seem to be watching her. She can’t shake the feeling that he could be her salvation… if only she can remember him before it’s too late.

Lucifer didn’t fall from Grace alone. He’s not the only angel with a grudge, nor is he the only one fascinated by his beautiful mortal.

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions...


Marta's * 5 STARS * Review:

Because time passes, and memories fade, but a beating heart never truly forgets anything. Never.
I had to start this review with a quote from book one, because this quote, people. This quote. The very last line of book one. It just struck me with so much tragedy, hope and closure, all in one. Extinguish blew me away with its brilliance and when the ending is so perfect, it’s always risky when a sequel gets released. It can either be really good or really bad. I can’t lie. I am a sucker for tragedy and the ending of book one was very tragic, but despite that, I am so glad J.M. Darhower decided to give this story a continuation. And I am so glad the lovely Lucia gave me the opportunity to review this amazing story for her blog

Reignite continues right where Extinguish stops, so it feels like you’re still reading Extinguish and it’s amazing. I had missed being in that world. I don’t have to acquaint you all with the story, I’m sure. If you haven’t read Extinguish yet, I strongly urge you to do so and stop reading this review. You can read my review for Extinguish here.

Extinguish taught me the nuances, and showed me the gray area between the black and the white. Reignite told me the story of how it all came to be, and how venturing over to the gray area might push you straight into the black.
“What’s their purpose?”
“To exist, and to love, and to worship.” 
God had Angels and Archangels to work for him, but he created the Earth and humans with the sole purpose of existing, loving and worshiping. He gave them Paradise and assigned the Angels to protect them. The sin that led to Luce’s venture into the gray and black area was envy. What Luce was the most envious of was free will. Humans were free to do as they chose, free to do good or bad. And would you not rather suffer by choice than be happy by force? Luce had always sought out freedom and fought for freedom. He wanted the choice and demanded it. But when he finally got it, he didn't know what to do with it anymore.
Free will. It didn't quite feel as freeing as Luce thought it would. 
The epilogue of the first book kind of gives us an idea of what happens after it all ends. Serah becomes a mortal and her memory is wiped clean, while Luce continues roaming the earth, doing nothing special, except for watching Serah. He is obsessed with Serah’s heartbeat, he follows her around and loves her from afar, until she notices him. And she always notices him.
He once envied the humans because they were given the Earth, but looking at her, he wondered if maybe Paradise was to be found in a person and not a place. 
While Serah’s slate is wiped clean, Luce’s is not. He is left to face his actions, to live with the knowledge that he manipulated Serah, and most importantly, he is left to live without her. While Serah is desperately trying to remember her life, her past and even her name, Luce is trying to forget.
I wish I could forget everything you no longer remember. 
Lucifer has lost his will to fight and has given up on the war. When another war threatens to break out, he no longer fights for himself, but he fights for her.
Luce’s priorities had changed. He wasn't sure when it happened, or even why, but eventually his fight against the world turned into a fight for one soul, a soul that almost got damned for him. 
Why did Eve eat from the forbidden apple? Why did God’s son turn against him? And who can save him? Darhower has given us her own brilliant version of the answers to those questions. Serah had saved Lucifer once from the pits of Hell, but this time she saves him from the darkness inside his soul.
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things,” Michael said. “Love never ends”. 
I admit, while reading this, I fell victim to the line of thinking that starts with but why doesn't God just…, but I got my answer without having to stalk the author and ask. For the sake of avoiding spoilers, I’m just going to go very cheesy on you and say that God works in mysterious ways.

Once again, I have nothing but praise for this series. The author managed to add so many layers to this fairly short story and had me swooning so bad when I read the epilogue. This is a beautiful and well-crafted story about love and sacrifice. About envy and redemption. About choices and consequences. About an angel falling for a devil. About a devil giving it all up for the angel.
His lips lightly touched hers, barely a kiss, a soft graze, but it ignited something inside of her, rekindling an extinguished flame.