Follow Friday!

This is my first time doing Follow Friday meme. Expecting a lot of fun here! Anyway, this meme are hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

Don't forget to leave a comment and a link to your blog so I can visit it later! :)

 Hard print (real thing) or Kindle/Nook, which is your favorite? - The Realm of Books

I prefer hard print as I love the feeling of holding a book. You sure can't feel the same with Kindle. I also like to smell the old pages of books (I know, it's weird!). But, looking at my bookshelves that are leaden with a lot of books (only fellow bookworms will know how exactly a LOT is. xD), I only buy hard prints that I already read in my Kindle and love it enough to want a physical copy.

Happy Friday, everyone! Have a great weekend! :)

Never Never (Never Never #1) by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

Published: January 7, 2015
Publisher: Hoover Ink
Genre: NA Contemporary-Paranormal Fantasy
My Rating: 3/5

Best friends since they could walk. In love since the age of fourteen.
Complete strangers since this morning.
He'll do anything to remember. She'll do anything to forget. 

This is a really short read so there's not much for me to complain. It's too early in the series to be making any judgments so I won't be doing any harsh judgements just yet. 

It's an interesting story with a great potential. But I got to admit, the plot left me in the dark with not much understanding about what had happened to the characters. I'm sure there is something sinister going on but it wasn't revealed yet about what it was. The author is really testing my patience with this one. I mean, how can you just end a book without so much as an explanation!

The story managed to hook me from the start. There were no dilly-dallying in the starting of the story. The plot had me guessing and just when I thought I had it, a new layer of mystery was added to the story and my theories goes to the bin.

At first I was hesitant to read this book but boy, am I glad I did! Never Never is a great start off to a series that will be a major recommendation for a lover of NA. This book is also suitable for those who want a different variation to NA but not too much on the romance-y stuff (like me!). Never Never does have a romance involve but really, the paranormal occurrences stole the limelight. I am now dying to find out what really happen to our main characters-Silas and Charlie. The blurb doesn't really say much as to what happened to them so I don't think I'm suppose to tell you guys either! You will have to read the book to find out. (Sales pitch much? xD)

The cliffhanger almost killed me! Truthfully, I was a bit irritated at the muddle of the story because there were no explanation as to what happened. Just when it was about to get super exciting, the story ended! 

The dreaded To be continued... 

I was like "What the heck?? You can't just leave me hanging!" But hanged I was. If I was hesitant about this book before, I am not anymore now, that's for sure. 

I have no idea why the author will split the book in half and will publish the second half of the book at other times when it could have been published as a whole book so I could read it and not suffer through this long wait! When the next book comes around, it better be good (better!). Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher, you guys owe me an explanation! In the mean time, I will pore over these theories that will just have to satisfy my curiosity about the mysteries in the book.

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Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer

Published: January 3,2012
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Genre: YA Dystopia-Fairy Tales
My Rating: 4/5

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future. 

When it comes to re-tellings of a classical fairy tale, I always become wary and may feel a little doubt for the book. I have read countless of re-tellings and every one of them handles the tales in almost similar ways. It seems like most re-tellings follow the same guidelines and story plots as the original work. It's hard to find re-tellings that are good, different and doesn't lean too much on the original classical tale. So, you can imagine how glad I was to have found this work of Marissa Meyer. She is clever and creative in the re-imagining of a classical fairy tale-Cinderella.

• This book is refreshing and unique in its telling. I mean, who will ever thought that Cinderella could be a cyborg? Cinder still follow the rule of the midnight and of course there's the iconic ball where Cinderella lose her shoe but not much is taken from the original Cinderella story so, it didn't felt like a direct imitation of the original work. Even the iconic scenes happened in a different way and was not predictably obvious and you wouldn't expected it to happen until it plays out and you go "Oh, that's the part where Cinderella did that too!". 
• Set in the future, Cinder is a cyborg. Instead of a glass slipper, she has a poorly fitted prosthetic leg that is made out of metal. At least, she doesn't need to worry about other girls fitting in her shoe right? 
• I love that Cinder is strong-minded, independent and resourceful. She doesn't need a fairy godmother when she can handle things by herself. 
• The world building are incredibly creative. The story not only have people living on Earth but also on the Moon! I love everything about the moon so I was especially excited about the fourth (and last!) book where the settings is going to be on the moon. Imagine that!

“I'm sure I'll feel much more grateful when I find a guy who thinks complex wiring in a girl is a turn-on.” 

• There were things that happened repeatedly that just irks me. 
• Prince Kai and the doctor was so casual in handling their "Confidential" information. They were so willing to tell Cinder about Confidential stuffs after only a little pestering from her. 
• I know this was supposed to show their trusts for Cinder, but it just annoys me because they were vehemently telling Cinder that they couldn't tell her something but end up telling her anyway. 
• Also, I don't understand why the redhead-freckle-full-face (I don't remember her name! Was her name even mentioned?) girl from Lunar was so willing to help Prince Kai (and Earth) when I'm sure she grew up being told to despise Earthlings. She just appeared out of nowhere to save the day! 

I had to share this gif! xD

• Despite the amazing galactic (world) building, it seems like the smaller of the world were ignored. There were not any mention about New Beijing and how they became to be colonized by the Commonwealth. 
• There were mentions of things that ties New Beijing to the current Beijing (in our world) like dumplings and market stalls but not enough to envision the world they live in. 
• It almost felt like New Beijing was long ago converted into an English-speaking and mannered country with only the tradition of the Asian countries as its commonplace activities. 
• There were no mentions about the people who you would have expect to live in New "Beijing" ie. the Chinese! 
• Come to think of it, I am not even sure if the people in New Beijing speaks Chinese or English. Since, it wasn't mentioned I think we were supposed to assume that they speak English since they were colonized and all. 

The ending of the book seems kind of rushed. The redhead girl that I mentioned seems to be a deus ex machina since she sprout out of nowhere and told Cinder of useful information for Prince Kai that (maybe) could save the day. 

Despite of all that, Cinder is a very refreshing read. I am looking forward to be reading the next book. Recommended for those who love re-tellings and looking for a new twist of Cinderella!

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Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Published: October 12, 2010
Publisher: Random House Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Genre: YA Historical Fiction-Time Travel
My Rating: 3/5

BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.
PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.
 Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

I remember giving up on this book before. I don't know what got into me to not want to read this book. I read a few pages and just got tired and didn't pick this book up for a very long time. I am glad that I decided to pick this book up again to read it. I nearly made a huge mistake by not wanting to read this because oh boy, this book took my breath away! I have always love historical fiction and this book doesn't disappoint me. Though there are some things that I can't help but have problem with. Nonetheless, this book has it's own specialty that I love.

•  This is the first work of Jennifer Donnelly that I read so I have no idea or expectation on her way of writing. But I have no complaints whatsoever about her writing. She managed the dual POV's quite well.  The main characters, Andi and Alexandrine were craftily distinct so were never confused for the other. I had no trouble distinguishing the two different voices of Andi and Alexandrine. 


• The extensive playwords about music are both entertaining and amusing. In fact, the involvement of music in the story line is what makes it more interesting.


• The story were set in the olden times of the French Revolution and it was clear that the author had done extensive research because it shows in her descriptions of the environment and events that happened during the Revolution. Also, I love how the author had created a seemingly believable historical character that's entirely fictional. It's not rare that some author uses real historical figure as a character in their books but Jennifer Donnelly didn't use any, but instead, created one. Amade Malherbeau sounds legit enough and Donnelly didn't forget to create a whole complete and plausible life and works of Amade.

I'm wishing he could see that music lives. Forever. That it's stronger than death. Stronger than time. And that its strength holds you together when nothing else can. 

• I kind of have a sort of love/hate going on with the characters. I sympathise that Andi's brother died but I hate her for being the reason he died in the first place. Her continuing self-admonishment and multiple suicides made me grow tired of her antiques. 


• Also, Alexandrine was only 11 when she was struck with sudden life enlightenment and purpose. It's entirely unbelievable for a kid that young of age to have such a determination. 


• Although I like the representation of Amade, I can't help but cast him a wary glance now and then. I was kind of worried about the possibility of him and Andi, no matter how absurd that sounds! 


• I mentioned before that I love the musical elements in the story but it got kind of over the top at times. Mentions of bands and songs now and then is good to keep the story interesting but too much of it makes the character seems obnoxious and over the top. Not only that, most of the bands I don't even recognize or sure if they even exist. 

• I am tired of the high amount of self-hatred and angst in the story. In fact, I think it was the very reason why I droppped this book at the first time. From the very start I was striked with a high dosage of hatred and grumpy-ness from Andi. Clearly, I persevered in hopes that the story will get lighter. Then, we get to see the many ways of Andi's attempted suicide and I was forced to indulged in her never ending self-admonition and hatred.


• Andi was so self-centered and had no care for the world. Her brother died because of her fault alone and yet, she blames the whole world. Her negativity was pressing down on me. 

• Also, Andi is quite thick in the head. She is so oblivious to the things happening around her! Get a clue, Andi!

Despite sounding like I hate this book, I do not. The love I have for this book outweigh the dislike. If the unnecessary and over the top things are toned down, this book will be better. Besides, the plot is interesting enough to hold me through the reading. This book is recommended for those who love historical fiction and if you like a story that weaves around music.

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This Blog Was Declared Awesome!

I am excited to tell you guys that this blog had made it to the list of Top 21 Blogs for YA Book Lovers 2015. I feel so happy that this blog had received a special recognition. It's been almost a month since I've been blogging and I already met a number of book bloggers that are as awesome as they are supportive. I love that I can say anything and be overly obsess with a fandom and no other book lovers will look at me differently or roll their eyes at me like how my family usually reacts whenever I talk about my obsession. (sob!) I know I can always count on other bookworms on the net! :) I always like to meet new friends so if you think I am interesting enough and want to be friends with me, please do! I like nothing more than a good buddy to talk books with. If  you want to check out other blogs that made it to the Top 21, head on over here. Thank you to Mary from Mythology Retold Books for nominating me to be one of the Top 21!

Cheers!

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Quotes of the Week

I had read books this week that has some amazing quotes. Instead of just marking them on the pages, I thought of making a picture out of them. That way, I can pin it on my Pinterest board dedicated to book quotes. I want to share these with you guys so you can pin it too. What better way to share favourite quotes, right? If many of you like this idea, I might start a weekly meme.

As you can see, most of my quotes are from The Storyteller by Antonia Michaelis. I just love the book! The way of writing is so beautiful that every words seems quotable. Also, this week hasn't been a great week for reading. Most of the books are letting me down. I hope I will have more next week. 

Anyway, what do you think of these quotes? Is it good enough for you to pin?

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The Storyteller by Antonia Michaelis

Published: January 1, 2012
Publisher: Amulet Books
Genre: YA Mystery/Realistic Fiction
My Rating: 5/5

Anna and Abel couldn’t be more different. They are both seventeen and in their last year of school, but while Anna lives in a nice old town house and comes from a well-to-do family, Abel, the school drug dealer, lives in a big, prisonlike tower block at the edge of town. Anna is afraid of him until she realizes that he is caring for his six-year-old sister on his own. Fascinated, Anna follows the two and listens as Abel tells little Micha the story of a tiny queen assailed by dark forces. It’s a beautiful fairy tale that Anna comes to see has a basis in reality. Abel is in real danger of losing Micha to their abusive father and to his own inability to make ends meet. Anna gradually falls in love with Abel, but when his “enemies” begin to turn up dead, she fears she has fallen for a murderer. Has she?

“Go away princess. Leave your outlaw alone. You won't change him... go away, Anna, far away, and don't ever come back. The fairy tale doesn't have a happy ending.” 

It's been so long since I've read a book this good! The Storyteller had left me a gaping hole in my heart that can only be refill with an equally amazing book like this. I have a feeling that it will take a long time for that to happen. The writing is flawless and the way the author wrote it seems magical. Antonia Michaelis is truly the

finest in the art of writing. Never was a moment where I was bored, I couldn't even tear my eyes away from the book! 

I absolutely love everything about this book. I love how it started out seeming like a young romance story and unfolds to be a more poignant and deep story. The words were magical and were weave with an utmost artistry that are rare in young adult books. The settings seems to have an old fashioned aura to it and the beautifully written prose added authenticity to the feeling. 

The characters were impossible not to love. Abel is the storyteller and he told the story to his sister, Micha but the audience later grew to also include Anna. I like to think that the story is a way for Abel to tell Micha the truth about their life but since Micha is still young, he did not want to destroy her innocence. Thus, he created a story that is both magical and poignant to tell his sister in hopes that one day she will understand. SPOILER:[Too sad though that he will not be there when she does! *SOBS EVEN LOUDER]. I love EVERY WORD of Abel's story. The writing style is magnificent! Antonia had managed to carved not one but two beautiful and enchanting stories in one book. Every words is beautiful and there's so much you can quote from this book. 

What is more amazing is that the fact that this is a translated book. It is a widely known fact that a translated book is never as good as the original but this book defies that law. Whoever translated this, you deserves an award and a million of unending thanks from me because you are the reason that I can even read this. But of course, billion more unending thanks and love for Antonia Michaelis for writing this piece of art in the first place!

This book is going to last in my mind for a very very long time. I am surely going to read this again sometime in the future but not soon, as my heart will need time to recover from this deep and gashing wounds inflicted solely by the amazing powers of a well written story.

“Just a tiny little pain,

Three days of heavy rain,

Three days of sunlight,

Everything will be alright,

Just a tiny little pain...” 

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The 100 (The 100 #1) by Kass Morgan

Published: September 3, 2013
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Genre: YA Science Fiction-Dystopia
My Rating: 1/5

In the future, humans live in city-like spaceships orbiting far above Earth's toxic atmosphere. No one knows when, or even if, the long-abandoned planet will be habitable again. But faced with dwindling resources and a growing populace, government leaders know they must reclaim their homeland... before it's too late.
Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents are being sent on a high-stakes mission to recolonize Earth. After a brutal crash landing, the teens arrive on a savagely beautiful planet they've only seen from space. Confronting the dangers of this rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community. But they're haunted by their past and uncertain about the future. To survive, they must learn to trust - and even love - again. 

I watched the show without knowing that it's actually an adaption from a book. Naturally, being an avid reader that I am, I waste no time in searching for the book to read it. Despite being a great show, the book somehow is lacking in a lot of areas. It is uncommon for a movie/tv show to be better than the books but it has happened and in this case, it happened again. 

 First and foremost, as unusual as it is, the tv show has more character development and depth compared with the book. *gasp* This is highly disappointing as you'd expect that to be the opposite. Also, as absurd as it sounds,

the author had not made an effort to describe her characters (or I may have missed it?) aside from a select few like Clarke who from all that I've read had gathered that she has "shiny blonde hair that shines from the sunlight/moonlight" or Octavia that was mentioned as being chubby and has wide blue eyes. This is quite maddening because this is a novel and descriptions of the characters' features are as essential as the plots itself.  If it weren't for the show, I will have no idea what's going on in the story and I will have fits from reading the book! It seems like the tv show completes the book and fills in the missing plots and added in characters that's essential to the show. 

 Somehow, the book felt incomplete in the sense that we weren't told in depth what happened to earth and how  exactly were the people in The Ark was sent to space. It would have been better if the book had mentioned and elaborate more in that areas. So we were introduced to a post-apocalyptic world where humans live in space in some sort of a space station called The Ark. We weren't told  how they survived in the space station or how exactly they got there in the first place. The settings were bland and nonconstructive in the sense that it is not majorly involve in the story but only serves as an essential background for the story.

 It became clear after a few chapters that this book is not so much about surviving in a post-apocalyptic world as it is about romance. From early on we were introduced to Wells Jaha (the son of the Chancellor) who committed a crime that had the potential to endanger the lives of everyone on board The Ark just so he can be with his "one true love" (selfish much?). Not that the Chancellor had any problem in sending his only son to an uncertain fate at the earth that could highly potentially kill his son. Despite what Wells had done to be with Clarke (his one true "love"), Clarke was not any more appreciative of him than she is with anything else. I can understand that Clarke resented Wells because he did "something" that betrayed her but what I hate about her is that she is so uncertain in making her choice. At first she hate Wells then she make up with him because he saved her from an almost sure death (*rolls eyes*). Ironically, she broke up with him again after that because he was trying to stop her from another certain death by running into the fire to save someone. Guess what she did next? She ran away with another guy. 

All in all, The 100 is a bland and boring story that centers mostly around young romance and completely lack of the post-apocalyptic world that I was expecting. I love the show though. It is million times better than the book. I will continue watching the show but I can't say the same for the book. 

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Pawn (Blackcoat Rebellion #1) by Aimee Carter

Published: November 26, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Genre: Young Adult-Dystopia
My Rating: 1/5

YOU CAN BE A VII. IF YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING.
For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.
If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.
There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

-SPOILER ALERT-

When I first set my eyes on the blurb, I was taken in by the amazing possibilities and sure promises that this will be a great read. I was looking forward to be reading this and was sure that this will be one of the dystopian books that I love. However, I'm disappointed (as I've been a lot lately, not sure why) when I finished this book. I had a disastrous experience from reading Aimee Carter's previous work, The Goddess Test. I thought I could get The Goddess Test out of my mind so that I can give Pawn the chance it deserves. I thought surely the author has become better in her works and will not make the same error in judgement like she did in The Goddess Test. I was wrong.

The Goddess Test haunts my mind as I'm reading Pawn. I couldn't help but dissect and analyse every bit of the story. I started to see similarities in the flaw of the characters and in the story itself. I really tired to give this book a chance but in the end it fails to entice me and thus gave me another bad experience from this author.

First and foremost, what kind of name is KITTY? Had anyone seen that coming? How absurd it is that a heroine and savior of this glorious universe is named KITTY freakin DOE?? You've heard of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and yeah, Catwoman but Kitty? Look it's a bird, it's a plane, it's.....KITTY! *sigh

It's kind of hard to take someone so seriously when her name is "Kitty". Also, that name sound so kinky!. I thought it suit her well when she wanted to work at the club and become a prostitute.

So this book has the same character flaw as from The Goddess Test. It is one flaw that I absolutely loathe and get sick of! Kitty was constantly feeling bad for herself. She started whining from the very start of the book. I might be able to handle it if she had not continued on for chapters onwards. Better part of the book was spent with reading about how Kitty is feeling sorry for herself and how the people around her keep saying things to make her feel better. I mean, cut it out! Stop whining! I cannot stand it! Did I mentioned she was selfish?

I had tried to steal that orange. Benjy had offered to run with me. We all dodged bullets from the moment we turned seventeen. Sometimes they caught up with us and there is nothing I could do about it. Feeling sorry for myself and Tab wouldn't bring her back and had she known what was happening that i was getting a VII, she would have smacked me upside down the head for risking it all because of her especially when nothing I did would change what happened. People died and were send Elsewhere all the time. It hurt like hell when it happen close to home but what made Tabs any different from the others who were punished for breaking the law?  I never cried for them. I never thought twice about the articles Benjy read to me about executions. People were they one day and gone the next and they were the ones who had risked it. It was different when it was my friend but at the same time it wasn't. Life still went on. Daxton still ruled the country and I'm still a nobody. At least I'm a nobody with a VII.

Omg, she is so self-absorbed! I feel like strangling her!! Also, her "suppose" cleverness:

Benjy sighed and reached for me but I sidestepped him. I couldn't take his disappointment too. He slouched. "I don't understand, sixty-eight people who were tested were IV".

 "Yeah, well I guess I'm dumber than sixty-eight percent of the population".
I kicked a puddle of the rancid rainwater splashing a few rats that squeaked in protest.
"Eighty-four percent actually, including the V and above", said Benjy and he quickly added, "But you're not. I mean you're smart. You know you are. You outsmarted the Shield out there".

Excuse me, but outsmart what?? All she did was lied, and a bad one at that! The Shield wouldn't even trusted her if it weren't for Benjy! 

I know what the author was trying to do. She's trying to make our heroine seems smarter. I appreciate that but in that scene, Kitty didn't really do anything significant to warrant being called a "smart". Kitty was portrayed as being very smart though and her only problem that made her failed the test was her inability to read because she have some form of dyslexia or something. Still, I find it very hard to like Kitty. 

It seems like the other characters were formed just so you will have the bad guys. Every story needs a bad guy right? In this case we have the Hart family who were evil for fun. I don't think there were reasons for them being evil. They just conveniently are. If there were reasons, I didn't notice any. It was so predictable and it was so clear to see who's side everyone is on. On this line you've got the good guys and on the other line is the bad ones. I feel like the characters were bland and it's hard for me to connect with any of them. 

Also, I find it hard to like the story. It seems like there's a lot of sub plots and it's hard to keep track the things going on. Even the "plot twist" was so glaringly obvious and I could see it coming from miles away. 

In all, this book is an utter disappointment. What could have been another great dystopian turns out to be another failure due to the characters and plots that were utter crap at its best. 

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Fictional Foods From Novels Made True

What can be better and more fulfilling than books? It's food, of course! Never has anything else has combined more perfectly with a book. A book can have many reasons to stick on your mind. One of the reason could be that it has the most intriguing foods that makes you wonder and imagined the look and taste of it. Mere descriptions from the book is not enough for some of us to feel satisfied. Books has always been a great source of recipes. From potions to elixirs and varieties of other foods, it has never stop us from wanting. I remember reading Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler and it was full of cupcake recipes. I remember thinking about how I wish I can just grab the foods through the pages and yank it out and eat it instead of just reading about it and salivating. But because of the lack of ability to put my hands through the pages, I resort to making the food on my own with the help from recipes I found online. So I went in search for iconic foods from books and I found several recipes that looks so delicious! Definitely want to try these! 

1. Kiwi Pie from Lola and The Boy Next Door

So someone had a vision to put kiwi in a pie! Who would have thought, eh? 

Looks like it will taste great too.

You can get the recipe at The Reader and The Chef.

2. Lorax Decorated Cookies

Omg! Don't that just look so cute! This will be perfect to enjoy with kids. You can get the recipe at Sweetopia. 

3. Banana and Nutella Crepes from Anna and The French Kiss

Another recipe from The Reader and The Chef. Anna was so in love with her crepe. It was of no wonder! I am in love with this one  because of the chocolate! What else that could be better than this! 

4. Dauntless Cake by you guess it! Divergent! *duh*

Oh I know what is better than chocolate! More chocolate! The mysterious chocolate cake has been mentioned in Divergent countless of times. Make you think about what so special about it. Well, think no more! Just taste it! The recipe is from Epic Reads.

5. Pumpkin Juice from...can you guess it?? 

A very popular drink in the wizarding world and is a main drink in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Can be drink at breakfast, lunch, dinner and anytime really. The recipe was obtained from Pop Sugar.

6. Chocolate Cream Pie from The Help

Let's just get the part where Minny gave Hilly the chocolate pie out of our mind and just enjoy this chocolate cream pie from Book Eats. Rest assured that there is no "special ingredient" in this one! ;D

7. Butterbeer from you know where!

Do I even need to mention where this drink is from? Butterbeer is as widely known as its place of origin. What better way to reminiscence the stories than to drink the iconic drink itself. Get the recipe from Instructables! 

8. Button Cookies from Caroline Coraline.

It still creeps me out about the mother with the button eyes in the other world that Coraline found. But this cookies is anything but creepy. It's a perfect Halloween treats! Get the recipe from Food Through The Pages.

9. Tears of Lys from A Song of Ice and Fire

Hard to detect and the deadliest of all poisons, sure is handy when dealing with enemies. But it can also be drink when in need of fine refreshments, minus the poison of course. If you want to wow your friends or scare your enemies, then get the recipe from Flavorwire and serve it to your friends (or foes)!

10. Frothy Raspberry Soup from the Capitol

Hunger Games may be well known for Peeta's bread, but for me the frothy raspberry soup that Katniss ate in the train is by far the most salivating for me. Just look at all that colour! It looks so good and I bet it taste better! Get the recipe at Fictional Food.

What better ways to you enjoy your favourite books other than with food! Plus, these aren't just any food. These are the foods from the books itself. Talk about being realistic! Hope you can enjoy the foods if you are making them!

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The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North

Published: October 21, 2014
Publisher: Redhook
Genre: Adult Science Fiction-Time Travel
My Rating: 2/5

SOME STORIES CANNOT BE TOLD IN JUST ONE LIFETIME.

Harry August is on his deathbed. Again.

No matter what he does or the decisions he makes, when death comes, Harry always returns to where he began, a child with all the knowledge of a life he has already lived a dozen times before. Nothing ever changes.

Until now. 

As Harry nears the end of his eleventh life, a little girl appears at his bedside. "I nearly missed you, Doctor August," she says. "I need to send a message."

This is the story of what Harry does next, and what he did before, and how he tries to save a past he cannot change and a future he cannot allow. 

When I read the synopsis of the book, I thought this is going to be one of those books that just sticks inside your head and will make you chew your mind pondering about the message of the book and what it delivers. The title is intriguing and the cover is mesmerizing. The reviews it has gotten made me feel ashamed for not able to appreciate the beauty of this book as other readers had claimed it was to be. Never have a book that sounds so interesting feel like such a chore. It started pretty well with a promising start that gives you the feeling that

the story will be magnificent. I was excited! But that feeling diminished as I arrived to the middle of the story. I felt it was sluggish and I struggled to read the next sentences. The story lacks the action that was expected coming from a story that's about a man with multiple lives who's trying to save the world from ending. You'd expect something of an action from that wouldn't you? But for all the dire consequences the human race will face comes the ending of the world were not significant enough to acquire an action from the characters involved. Most of the action involved were by talking. It's not the typical mindless chatter either, mind you. It was full of science and logic and never ending sentences. I was distracted half of the time. There was nothing engaging to the actions of the main character. I guess it was my penchant for reading fast-paced story that made me so hard to enjoy the complexity of this book. 

The main character, Harry August lives multiple life times and it always started the same way. There were others like him and they even have a club for it! Not that the club wants to do anything to save the world so boo on them.

It is interesting to see how August handles the numerous life times he has and how he tries to come to terms with it. 

This book does lives up to the expected complexity and doesn't fail to deliver mind-churning questions and some were answered in the equally mind-churning ways. But the mind-churning ways doesn't help when you were already struggling to enjoy the story and were now forced to comprehend the complex ideas aside to the already mind numbing slow moving story. A drop of rocket-science questions doesn't hurt now and then but this book has a penchant to drag on a long conversation that I just have trouble following. I am as equally troubled of that as of the notion that the reason that I cannot appreciate the story is because of my lack of science knowledge. But I don't think I would have trouble understanding the sciences behind the conversations if I'd tried hard enough. I guess what puts it off is that the conversation was lacklustre and put into consideration that I was past my bed time trying to finish the book.

The book picks up at about a few chapters near the end. I am not satisfied with the ending though. It felt 'incomplete'. It doesn't felt resolute.

Overall, I am disappointed. I was expecting so much more from this book. I was expecting actions, dramas and terrors. But all this book has brought me is exhaustion and disappointment. It might due to the fact that I am not used to read books of such pace. If you are more patient and have a lot of time on your hands then maybe you will like this book.

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Promises Hurt (Promises Hurt #1) by Elle Brooks

Published: August 2, 2014
Genre: New Adult-Contemporary
My Rating: 1/5

I wasn't planning on falling for Ethan Jamison, hell I wasn't planning on our paths ever crossing. He’s the most popular guy at school and a complete player. Me; I’m the perpetual good girl, trying to carry out one last request. But when you make a promise, how far do you go to see it through? ~ Blair

It’s a running joke that I’m a terrible liar, if only people knew the truth. My whole life has been spent making excuses and deflecting questions. I was pretty good at it until Blair Thomas entered my world. She saw through the mask that everyone is so willing to accept. She makes me want to tell her all my secrets, but can she promise to keep them?~ Ethan

Okay so it is entirely my fault for wanting to read this book. I don't know what possessed me into wanting to try to read this book. The reviews I've read mostly stated about how amazing this book is and how the ending was the best cliffhanger ever and they just couldn't wait for the second book. I was expecting something different from a genre that spouted the same cliche story over and again. I thought this book could be different. Besides, it's not a thick book so I thought of giving it a go. From the reviews I've read, I thought there will be something dramatic going to happen but there were none whatsoever.

The story was flat and made me roll my eyes a lot. It was a pretty easy read and I finish reading it in just one

sitting. That doesn't necessarily meant that this book was such a great read that I finish it in one go. Rather, it was pretty flat and I was bored after just a few pages. I skipped a few chapters and I still have a pretty good idea what the story is all about.

There're two main characters; Blair and Ethan and they are as perfect as any main characters typically are. The story mostly centers around the relationship between the two of them and that is such a bore. But nothing less you'd expect from a book of this genre. But even if I'm not a fan and have not read many books of this genre, surely there has to be more going on in the story? I feel like Ethan is such an overused and typical main character. An all around perfect guy and to top it off, he's in a band so that just basically made him a deity in a high school society. 

I don't know why I was expecting more from this book. I guess it's pretty alright if you are a fan of New Adult romance. It has all the right things for a light romance novel with the all around perfect guy who have a secret that makes him oh so pitiful and makes you want to lend your shoulders (and perhaps more) for him to cry. There's also the nerdy unassuming girl who thought she was very plain and boring when in fact, she's really hot and have all the guys falling for her. *rolls eyes* Not that I have anything against such characters but it's getting old when every books you read have all the right and perfect characters and have them doubt them self of their perfectness.

Overall, the story is pretty bland for my taste. There's nothing new of the story that makes it stands out from other books of its genre. 

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Wake (Dream Catcher #1) by Lisa McCann

Published: March 4, 2008
Genre: Fantasy-Paranormal
My Rating: 2/5

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.
She can't tell anybody about what she does they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can’t control.
Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant.

So where do I start? There is a lot of things that is wrong with this book. Bear with me on this one.

This book confuses the heck out of me. First of all, the character development is nil. So where does Janie comes from? So who is this hunk of guy, Cabel that seems to fall from the sky? So he is the guy that is suppose to be swoon worthy? Create a sob story for him so we girls will love him? Would have work if executed properly but it's not so instead of making me feel sorry for the guy, I felt nothing for him. He is as flat and uncharacteristic as a 2-D flat cardboard. Also, why did Janie fell for the guy anyway? Just because they are in the same boat? Or was it because the guy suddenly became hot in senior year and she seems to be the only one who recognize him as before he was hot? Grrr... Janie is as shallow as the cheerleaders she mocked.

When there is a teenage person who has an amazing or unique abilities, usually there is going to be a secret government involve. Well, in this case there were none. There is some kind of a secret-rogue-drug fighting-club going on though. That is one thing I have not seen coming! It's not a good twist though. It just adds to the what-the-heck list. Also, what kind of name is Captain Fran Komisky anyway? She sounds more like a drug lord than a drug fighting mumbo. 

So if someone tells you that they have the ability to see your dreams filled with your deep and darkest and filthy secrets, I don't think you'd just sit there and say "oh,okay", but that what Captain Weirdo did. I don't know if that was supposed to make her badass or something but it didn't work. Same thing with Janie. Was she surprised to find out who her boyfriend actually is? She didn't even break a sweat! 

This book has so many plot holes. Things happen for no reason or for reasons that doesn't even makes sense! I was like "wait,whaaatt?" half the time. 

It's such a dissapointment because this book could have been great. But poor execution and unclear plot lines ruined it for me. It's such a short read and I finish reading this book in 3 hours! That's a lot of time wasted though. 

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Top Ten Tuesday #1: Most Anticipated Debut of 2015

This week Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and The Bookish is about Ten Most Anticipated Debuts of 2015!

New Year is great for many things and one of it is that comes a new year, comes new books! 2015 is going to be one hell of a great year with all the amazing debuts coming! Here are the books that will debut this year and I just cant wait!

10.  No Parking At The End of Times by Bryan Bliss

Expected Publication: February 4, 2015

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

This book is about a family who thought the end is coming so they did their preparations that  include selling their belongings and ultimately their house. When the end didn't come, their family fell apart and it seems like only Abigail who cares and want to keep the family together. I will love to read what will happen to this family and it's going to be quite a thoughtful read I think as we read from the POV of a person who actually believe when some random shaman says that the end is coming. Not that we will know the whole story yet. We'll have to wait until the book is out!

9. Mindwalker (Mindwalker #1) by A.J. Steiger

Expected Publication: June 9, 2015

Publisher: Knopf Books

Of a dystopian genre, where in the future people are able to erase the mind of others who have a traumatic experience(s). That sounds amazing! But it does sounds as typical as any other dystopian it seems as the main character is going to rebel against the government. It's amazing how many different ways that could happen. Anyway, it does have an interesting premises so I can't wait to get my hands on this one!

8. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Expected Publication: September 1, 2015

Publisher: Delacorte

This book is about a girl who have an allergy. But it's no ordinary allergy! This girl is allergic to the world! Yep, you read that right! It's not a typical allergy so it will be interesting how the author will tackle the issue. I, for one will be interested in how the girl is going to survive the world if she's allergic to it! Oh, there seems to be also a little teenager love story here so I am absolutely curious how it will turn out. 

7. The Memory Key by Liana Liu

Expected Publication: March 3, 2015

Publisher: HarperTeen

Another dystopian but it doesn't seems to have anything against the government. It's about the future that heavily relies on technology. One of the tech is a memory key that are added to a human brain to help them remember. So in the future we are all struck with an alzheimer disease that no longer happens to oldies but also young ones. Of course, every tech has its disadvantages so in this book we uncover the disadvantages of the memory key. 

6. My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga

Expected Publication: February 10, 2015

Publisher: Harper Collins

A story about a girl who wants to commit suicide but couldn't do it alone. She found some kind of a suicide club that you can find a partner to commit suicide with. 

5. An Amber in The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Expected Publication: April 28, 2015

Publisher: RazorBill

An opposite of dystopian, this book sets in the Rome-like era and in a Rome-like settings. About Laia who goes undercover to save her brother from execution. Also, there's Elias who is a very obedient soldier but very reluctant inside. 

4. None of The Above by I.W. Gregorio

Expected Publication: April 7, 2015

Publisher: Harper Teen

Now this is different! Normally when there's a hot girl who is a soon to be prom queen, you'd expect there to be a gorgeous blonde with nothing to hide. In this book, not only the soon to be prom queen has a skeleton in her closet, but the skeleton is out! That is the worst that could happen in high school. What secret can be so bad anyway? Well, our heroine is intersex! Gasp! Now that is no typical high school scandal! 

3. Playlist for The Dead by Michelle Falkoff

Expected Publication: January 27, 2015
Publisher: Harper Teen

A story about a guy who try to understand his best friend suicide by listening to a playlist that his best friend left. I've always love a book that has anything to do with songs. It seems to be a short read though.

2. The Second Self (Second Self #1) by Claire Lovell

Expected Publication: November 2015

I won't even try to explain this book. You should read the blurb yourself! 

"My name is Lori,
In the USA alone there are 376,480 people with the same name.
So why this happened to me, I'll never know."
When the mysterious new Stanley twins moved in opposite Lori, she had no idea how much her life would change. That chance meeting with the gorgeous Ryan Stanley sparks a life changing event which will leave her fearing for her life.
On the night of her 22nd birthday Lori splits in two. Literally. The product is her (Almost) identical twin and evil alter ego.
Now she's battling strange questions, a twin that wants her dead and the intense pull she feels towards the dark haired Ryan.
The closer they get the more their twins push them apart, but why?

Don't that just sounds amazing! 

1. Made You Up by Francesca Zappia

Expected Publications: May 19, 2015

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

About a schizophreniac Alex who is a senior in high school  and having
trouble differentiating realities with illusions. She met a guy but aren't sure if he is real or just a figment of her reality? Definitely a must read!

So that is all! Share yours! :D

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