Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Covers of Books I've Read

Top Ten Favorite Covers of Books I've Read

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they post a new Top Ten list  that bloggers are welcome to join in and answer. 

Hello! How have you all been?

Today's top ten topic is favorite covers. So here's my list:

GRACELING by Kristin Cashore

DARKEST MERCY by Melissa Marr

EONA by Alison Goodman

SHADOW AND BONE by Leigh Bardugo

THRONE OF GLASS by Sarah J. Maas

STORMDANCER by Jay Kristoff

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? [3]

It's Monday! What are you reading? Is a meme by Sheila @ Book Journey. And I quote her: "This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!"

Hello! Nice to see you again. I've finally managed to get back on my reading schedule after such a crazy few weeks.

RECENT READ

  

APOLLYON by Jennifer L. Armentrout
THE SHADOW READER by Sandy Williams

I've been looking forward to Apollyon after reading its predecessor, Deity and the novella Elixir. So as soon as this arrived in the mail, I just had to read it then and there. The Shadow Reader however has been on my shelf for a few months now, but I only thought to pick it up recently. And boy did I love it! Can't wait to read the next books in the series (or trilogy? I heard).

Book Haul [26]

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My "Weekly Book Haul" is pretty much just like In My Mailbox by the Story Siren, This Week In Books by Pop Culture Junkie, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews and all the other titles with the similar concept here and there. This is a weekly post showcasing the books you received for the given week, either bought online or from a physical bookstore, borrowed from the library or from a friend, received for review or won from a giveaway, etc.

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Hello! How are you?

Let's just cut to the chase, shall we? LOL. Here's what I got for this week's post:

TITLES:

(from the Book Depository)
TOMB RAIDER LIMITED EDITION STRATEGY GUIDE by Brady Games
APOLLYON by Jennifer L. Armentrout
THE ORIGINALS by Cat Patrick
THE ELITE by Kiera Cass
THE ETERNITY CURE by Julie Kagawa

(received as Gift)
THE LORD OF THE RINGS BOXSET by J.R.R. Tolkien

(from NetGalley)
THE SKY: THE ART OF FINAL FANTASY by Yoshitaka Amano
OUTCAST by Adrienne Kress

(from Author)
THE ISLAND by Jen Minkman

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken [REVIEW]

TITLE: The Darkest Minds
            (The Darkest Minds #1)
AUTHOR: Alexandra Bracken
PUBLISHER: Disney Hyperion
PUB DATE: Dec 18 2012

Summary from Goodreads:

"When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living."

Rating:

I’ve read Bracken’s first book, Brightly Woven, and I just adored the story. It’s been a while since I read her first book so I was ecstatic to find The Darkest Minds. Even better is finding that this was going to be a series. Hooray! I just knew from the synopsis that I was going to enjoy reading The Darkest Minds.

“The government was never scared of the kids who might die, or the empty spaces they would leave behind... they were afraid of us – the ones who lived”

What a line! It actually gave me goose bumps when I stumbled upon it. If that doesn’t get you intrigued, I don’t know what will.

I was already impressed by Bracken’s world building skills and writing style from her debut novel, and she did not fail to impress me the second time with The Darkest Minds. While Brightly Woven was a simple sweet fantasy story, this book was dark and downright crazy. A world where our heroes befall misfortunes, being hunted by every possible villain, and find that there are no good guys to side with – that has got to be tough!

Saving June by Hannah Harrington [REVIEW]

TITLE: Saving June
AUTHOR: Hannah Harrington
PUBLISHER: Harlequin Teen
PUB DATE: May 1 2011

Summary from Goodreads:

"‘If she’d waited less than two weeks, she’d be June who died in June. But I guess my sister didn’t consider that.’

Harper Scott’s older sister has always been the perfect one so when June takes her own life a week before her high school graduation, sixteen-year-old Harper is devastated. Everyone’s sorry, but no one can explain why.

When her divorcing parents decide to split her sister’s ashes into his-and-her urns, Harper takes matters into her own hands. She’ll steal the ashes and drive cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going, California.

Enter Jake Tolan. He’s a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession and nothing in common with Harper’s sister. But Jake had a connection with June, and when he insists on joining them, Harper’s just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanour and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what she needs.

Except June wasn’t the only one hiding something. Jake’s keeping a secret that has the power to turn Harper’s life upside down again."

Rating:

Saving June was a gift from Maria for my birthday. To be honest, I was sceptical about reading it, but since I was looking for some contemporary books to read, I thought to give Saving June a shot. It’s rare to find myself reading books such as this. Realistic fiction has never been up my alley. I guess I get so much of real life everyday that fantasy and other otherworldly books were a great way to take a break from reality.

When I started to read Saving June, I didn’t really think much of it. The first chapters showed me an angst Harper grieving over her sister, June’s death, who committed suicide. In their family, June is the prodigy while Harper’s the black sheep. I didn’t find Harper to be a character I’d let myself be influenced by. All the smoking and bad seed persona doesn’t win my affection, but that doesn’t mean she’s not a strong character. Over the course of Harper’s journey to California made see what kind of strength she brings into the life of the people she’s with. It may not be as noticeable as everyone else’s, but the subtlety of it makes it all the more awe inspiring.

News and Updates

Hello there! How have you been?

I apologize for the lack of posts these past few weeks (I only got 2 posts for 2 weeks). I've been on out of town trips over the weekends and work has got me completely occupied during the weekdays.

Also, [if you're following me on Instagram, you probably know this already] just last Wednesday (May 8th)...I got engaged!!!

Written inside: "I would rather spend one lifetime with you than
face all the ages of this world alone" - Arwen
Will you marry me!

If you're wondering which book that is, it's The Fellowship of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien. How very apt is that proposal, yeah? Although I did kind of blurt out that he murdered my book when I should have said 'yes' first. Ah well, talk about bookish people's problems. LOL.