Snow Like Ashes by Saara Raasch

Author: Sara Raasch

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Number of pages: 416

Genre: High Fantasy, Magic

About (Goodreads): A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

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Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Publisher: Harper Teen

Number of Pages: 444
Genre: Fantasy, Action

About: If there’s one thing Mare Barrow knows, it’s that she’s different.

Mare Barrow’s blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control. 

The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the prince—the friend—who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind.

Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors. 

But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat. 

Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?The electrifying next installment in the Red Queen series escalates the struggle between the growing rebel army and the blood-segregated world they’ve always known—and pits Mare against the darkness that has grown in her soul. 

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Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Publisher: Harper Teen

Number of pages: 383

Genre: Fantasy, Action

About: This is a world divided by blood - Red and Silver. The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change. That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart.

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The Liebstar Award

The Liebster Award helps bring attention to new blogs or bloggers you feel deserve more recognition. These are the rules;

1. Acknowledge the person who nominated you for the award and post the award.
2. Answer the questions that were asked by the blogger who nominated you.
3. Give 11 facts about yourself
4. Ask 11 questions of your own
5. Nominate 11 blogs for the award (or however many blogs you can nominate)
6. Notify your nominees

I was nominated by Gabrielle over at fullofbookishwonder Thank you for nominating me! Nice answers to the questions btw. If you want to check out her award post click here. Now without further due, lets get into the questions that she asked me.

1. Have you ever watched a film adaptation that was just as good as the book? (or came close!)
Divergent. I think the characters are amazing both in the book and movies. I really enjoyed both.

2. What's the longest book you've ever read?
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas. Its like 650 pages long. When I got it from the library, I looked at it and thought that I'm never going to be able to finish it. But to my own surprise I finished it in like 2-4 days. I couldn't just put it down. It was amazing. 

3. What's your favorite childhood book?
Little Red Riding Hood. I just love that story. I mean, I also read a couple of Disney books but I mainly watched those. 

4. What are some of your favorite character names?
SOME!!! I have a whole list of favorite's. It's okay I'm not going to write all of it though. I will mention a few and also what books they are from.
Chaol (Throne of Glass)
Dorian (Throne of Glass)
Rhysand (A Court of Thorns and Roses)
Nesta (A Court of Thorns and Roses)
Shade (Red Queen)
Kilorn (Red Queen)
Gisa (Red Queen)
Day (Legend)
June (Legend)
Asher (Gathering Frost)
Omorose (Gathering Frost)
Rhea, Cadis, Suki, Iren (Daughters of Ruin)
And many more! I would love to tell more but these are my top favorites.

5. Where's your favorite place to read?
My couch. I think people would know when I say that you know that one corner on the couch. That one corner where you feel really comfy and don't want to get up from for the rest of your life! Well now I'm being dramatic but you feel me? Yeah my couch is my favorite place to read.

6. What book characters(s) do you feel you resemble the most?
I don't know *sigh* Like there are times when I resemble so many different characters that It's hard to count. So idk.

7. What's your least favorite book of your favorite series and why?
My all the time favorite series is Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. And I loved all the books in the series. So, Yeah, I don't know how to answer this question.

8. What fiction places would you love to visit?
Adarlan, Terassen. They are both amazing places to read about but I would love to visit. Like the way it's described is just amazingly beautiful. These places are from Throne of Glass series. Yeah, yeah, Baria Loves Throne of Glass. I think this obsession is kind of contagious but it's ok lol.

9. What was the last book that made you cry?
A Court of Mist and Fury. People who have read the book know what I'm talking about. That one scene. I won't ruin it for people but FYI I cried my eyeballs out. Just FYI.

10. What book do you wish you had written?
We all know what my answer is going to be. A Court of Thorns and Roses. Yes, this is Sarah J. Maas book. Can you believe that she was only 16 when she wrote Throne of Glass. That's me now. I'm 16 and I can't even write a short scene. But I am trying to write a book and it's coming together.

11. What are you currently reading, and are you enjoying it so far?

I am reading Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard. I love it so far. It's like the best thing. Follow me on Goodreads to hear about my rants, excitements and also frustrations. Or not. No hard feelings!

11 facts about me!

1. I am a huge introvert.

2. I don't have any pets.

3. My favorite series are the Throne of Glass series.

4. I have about a couple hundred books on my Goodreads shelf that I still need to read (literally!)

5. I have about 8+ tv shows I need to catch up on, which guiltily I know I never will.

6. Other than reading I love to do anything Office related. Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, Excel etc. Or even do some organizing.

7. Or if I'm not doing that either, I'm trying on Makeup. You know gotta know how that highlighter looks!

8. I tend to overthink.

9. My favorite app is Snapchat.

10. I am a Scorpio.

11. I am currently writing a book that I've gotten like 5 chapters done.

I nominate the following people:

Maria at mindspiritbookjourneys

Kat at perksofbeingabooknerd

Katie at katiesbookblog

Amy at thelittlebooknerdinthecorner

Kelly at bookmarkbelles

Here are my questions to you guys! No pressure on answering them though.

1. Would you rather read multiple different short stories or one really thick book? (genre doesn't matter)

2. What book made you a reader that you are now today?

3. Which format do you prefer for any kind of book? (Digital, Hardcover, paperback, mass market)

4. What time of the day do you usually read? (Night, Day, Afternoon)

5. How many books do you read at a time? (Audible also counts!)

6. Favorite series of all time?

7. Which Author's do you like the best?

8. Have you met any authors? If yes, which ones? If no, which one would you like to meet/

9. Most Anticipated book?

10. Do you write?

11. One book that you recommend to everyone and anyone? (Yes, it can be a series)

Email me or DM me if you have any questions. And more than that enjoy doing this post! 

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's

Release Date: May 3, 2016

Number of Pages: 640
Age Group: 15+

Genre: Romance, Fantasy, fairytale

About (Goodreads): Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

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Gathering Frost by Kaitlyn Davis

Author: Kaitlyn Davis

Publisher: Self-published

Release Date: February 15, 2015

Number of pages: 306

Genre:  Fairy tales, re-tellings, fantasy, dystopian

Kaitlyn Davis was kind enough to send me a ebook of book 1 so Thank you Kaitlyn.

About (from Goodreads): Will the prince's kiss be enough to revive her frozen heart? Don't miss GATHERING FROST, a dystopian romance from bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis that reimagines the classic fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty.

"I wish I could say I was the hero of the story. A resister. A rebel. Someone who lived to bring an end to the queen who stole my childhood--my mother, my life, my very world. But I'm not. I'm not the good guy. I'm the one who puts the good guys in their graves."

Jade was only a little girl when the earthquake struck. Before her eyes, half of New York City disappeared, replaced by a village that seemed torn out of a storybook. Horses and carriages. Cobblestone streets. A towering castle. And, above all, a queen with the magical ability to strip emotions away.Ten years later and Jade has forgotten what it is to feel, to care...even to love. Working as a member of the queen's guard, she spends most of her time on the city wall staring at the crumbling skyscrapers of old New York. But everything changes when the queen's runaway son, Prince Asher, returns. Under his relentless taunts, her blood begins to boil. Under his piercing gaze, her heart begins to flutter. And the more her icy soul begins to thaw, the more Jade comes to question everything she's ever known--and, more importantly, whose side she's really on.  

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A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's

Release Date: May 5, 2015

Age Group: 15+

Number of Pages: 416

About: When a huntress named Feyre, kills a wolf in the forest, a beast like creature comes at her door for retribution. As a Rough retelling of Beauty and the Beast, she obey's and goes leaving her two older sisters and a limp Father behind. This beast is a Faerie and is bringing her to his home. This  world of Faeries, who she hates, she starts getting feeling for the beast named Tamlin. Her feelings turn from Ice cold rage to fiery passion. But a evil spurs up over the Fae world and Feyre must be able to stop it...or doom Tamlin and his world forever.

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The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson

Author:  Mary E. Pearson
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Release Date: July 7, 2015
Number of Pages: 470

About (Goodreads): Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape. Desperate to save Lia's life, her erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komizar that she has the gift, and the Komizar's interest in Lia is greater than anyone could have foreseen.

Meanwhile, nothing is straightforward: There's Rafe, who lied to Lia but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom Lia always believed to be savages. Now that she lives among them, however, she realizes that may be far from the truth. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her sense of self, Lia must make powerful choices that will affect her country... and her own destiny.

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Summer TBR -- 2016

Summer is just rolling around. Finally, this school year is done. I have been waiting for this year to be done when It started. Summer TBR is something that we all have. If you don't know what it is, then I don't know, isn't it obvious? Anyways Summer TBR is basically a TBR pile that is going to be accomplished in the summer. 

Okay, I'm done ranting. Let's get on to this!

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Re-tellings

I have been obsessed with re-tellings now-a-days. Like all I have been reading are re-telling based on disney's princess and princes. So far the re-tellings include Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast. I have read re-tellings that are not disney based and have loved them. For example, The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdeith is a re-telling of A Thousand and One Nights. I haven't read A Thousand and One nights yet but its happening soon because summer is just around the corner so time to sit around my bookshelf, read and review.

Ok I'm done ranting. Let's get on with the recommendations. The books that I have are not all disney based but some of them are.

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Withering Rose by Kaitlyn Davis

Author: Kaitlyn Davis

Publisher: Self-published
Release date: May 17, 1016

Number of Pages: 211

Genre: Fantasy, re-telling, Fairy tales

About: A re-telling of the famous fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast. In this book, beauty is cursed. Omorose Bouchene is cursed. She has a secret, magic. At the age of seven, an earthquake hit her world. Her planet and the new world got crashed into each other. This new world is called Earth, where people use cell phones and skycrapers. Anyone with magic will become the enemy if they use it.
But after ten years, she want's to be free. All magic comes with a price. And if she uses magic, it takes off some days of her life. Her price is time. The only option is left is to escape to the realm of the Beast. But the king of monsters isn't what he seems to be. The realizes that the only person she needs to be afraid is herself, as she opens her heart.

I received this book through NetGalley.

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May Wrap up and June TBR

Another month has gone in this year with me reading books. I wish my job would entail a full-time person reading books and reviewing it. But anyhow, onto the books that I read in the month of May and what I'm going to be reading in June.

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May Haul

I couldn't help myself and I got a bunch of different books. Last month I got like 14 books on a sale at the library so I had to buy more books for myself because you know why not?!

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Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Sypnosis (from Goodreads):

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. In just a few weeks she'll have the operation that will turn her from a repellent ugly into a stunning pretty. And as a pretty, she'll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun.

But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world-- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally's choice will change her world forever...

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5 tips to help you get out of a reading slump

Reading Slumps. We all hate them. They just keep us from reading another book. For some of you who don't know Reading Slumps refer to when you just read a great book and you loved. In fact, you loved it so much that you can't get over it. 

I had a reading slump at least once. It was when I was reading Queen of Shadows and I loved it so much that I couldn't get over it. There are two different types of reading slumps. There's long-term and short-term. Mine was Long-term. Long-term usually last about 1-2 months where as short-term lasts about 2-3 days.

So here are some tips if you are in a reading slump or your not actually in one right now but what to do when you actually have them. These tips are for long-term and short-term reading slumps. Enjoy!

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The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

Sypnosis (from Goodreads):

A princess must find her place in a reborn world.

She flees on her wedding day.

She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.

She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.

She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.

The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.

Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.

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The Crown by Kiera Cass

Sypnosis (from Goodreads):

When Eadlyn became the first princess of Illéa to hold her own Selection, she didn’t think she would fall in love with any of her thirty-five suitors. She spent the first few weeks of the competition counting down the days until she could send them all home. But as events at the palace force Eadlyn even further into the spotlight, she realizes that she might not be content remaining alone.

Eadlyn still isn’t sure she’ll find the fairytale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible—and more important—than she ever imagined.

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The Heir by Kiera Cass

Sypnosis (from Goodreads):

Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.

But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.

Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought.

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The One by Kiera Cass

Sypnosis (from Goodreads):

The time has come for one winner to be crowned.

When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

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The Elite by Kiera Cass

Sypnosis (from Goodreads):

The Selection began with thirty-five girls.

Now with the group narrowed down to the six Elite, the competition to win Prince Maxon's heart is fiercer than ever—and America is still struggling to decide where her heart truly lies. Is it with Maxon, who could make her life a fairy tale? Or with her first love, Aspen?

America is desperate for more time. But the rest of the Elite know exactly what they want—and America's chance to choose is about to slip away.

My Review -- 5/5 stars!

The Selection recap: America is chosen to be one of the 35 girls to compete for Prince Maxon's heart. She meets her best friend Marlee. Maxon eliminates some the girls. The palace gets attacked, and then the girls start panicking. Maxon doesn't know how to handle them so America helps him. After the attack, some of the girls get terrified and leave The Selection. Aspen, America's ex, comes to the palace as a guard and tells America that he wants to get back together. Maxon and America start having a crush on each other. They went on dates through the gardens. America is hated by the King. Maxon fights for her and keeps her in the top 6 girls.

Diving from The Selection into this was a great experience. Wonderful writing. America and Maxon progress their relationship in this book through a lot of twists and turns. 

Friendship's grew and so did enemies. Loved that kind of twist that Kiera put in this book. I could not put this book down and read it in one sitting.

Characters:

America and Maxon (Protagonist)

Their relationship is my favourite in this book. They fight so much in all of the books. Sometimes when they are on the verge of breaking up, something would come along and fix it. Kiera is a genius author.

Marlee (Protagonist):

She is still a best friend of America but one with a lot of secrets. I loved that she was so sweet and kind with everyone.

Aspen (Antagonist):

When he arrives at the palace in the previous book, I was in between shocked and happy. Some people and some of my friends said that they couldn't stand Aspen there but I didn't mind him, as long as he doesn't end up with America it's all good.

Celeste (Antagonist):

She was a pain The Elite but sometimes got better in treating America. I think without her the books would have really boring.

The Plot:

As you all know, the country that they live in Illea. The name itself has a kind of a fantasy thing to it. The plot twist was so tragic that I was almost in tears. The tragedy brought a horror upon The Elites and the whole palace especially America. The views on The Caste's is really high in this book. A five or below are considered nothing which I despised in this book. Why do have to get treated this way in the book? No one should be treated that way.

Favourite quote:

"Don't tug your ear with anyone else. That's mine."

"A lot of things are yours, America."

The Elite

The One (The Selection, #3)

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Sypnosis (from Goodreads):

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

My Review -- 5/5 stars!

When I first read the book back in 2014, I never thought I would like the book this much and would continue the series. I am so happy I actually went through with it. America's interpretation about love was the most shocking to me. Sometimes I would think that she was actually a narcissistic person because of two guys fighting for her love. 

I don't think this genre has a name but I love it when The stories are about princesses, princes, King and Queens. Reading the selection series brought me more into the genre.

As the book progresses I am more and more into it. Mason is my favourite prince I ever read about. The relationship between America and Maxon gave me giggles and I loved it. I think, personally, everyone deserves to be treated the way Maxon and America treated each other, in real life. I didn't mind having Aspen around but I wanted America to end up with Maxon (I won't tell who she ended up with because I don't to ruin for whoever didn't read the book)

Characters:

America -- one of the selected, a five (Protagonist)

Kind character who was the most noble in the entire book. The perspective is told from her. I loved to experience the romance that she had with Maxon but at certain times in the book I would have LOVED to see Maxon's perspective of them dating.

Maxon -- The prince (Protagonist)

He is my favourite prince. Although, there is no perspective of Maxon at all in this book, he is described as handsome (which I don't mind at all) and a nice person. I wish there were more Maxon's in real life.

Marlee -- Bestfriend of America, a three (Protagonist)

I would love to have her as my best friend because she is so sweet and kind to not only America but also her fellow competitors. 

Aspen -- former lover of America, a six (Antagonist and partly Protagonist)

He left America heartbroken when she saw him with another girl on the day she was leaving to go to the Palace. In this book he is like a enemy to America but not in the other books -- and it gets exciting from there.

Celeste -- one of the selected, a two (Antagonist)

The first thing that comes to mind when you think of her (after reading the first book) is pride. She has this obnoxious feeling to make everyone feel down just because she is a two.

The Plot: The Caste System

The story takes place in the country called Illea. There is a caste system to this story. The levels of classes goes uptil 8. The One's are the Kings and Queens. The two's are just below except that they don't live in a palace. They live with people where their houses are bigger and they are clean. The three's do have bigger houses but less than the two's and just a level down. The four's are still considered "high" in society but there are less opportunities for them. The Five's --America's caste are more poor people where they can not afford some things and have to live in small houses. The six's -- Aspen's caste, are more and more poorer people where they 

work for the caste above to earn money for their families. The seven's almost live on the streets. They are most likely ignored due to them being dirty from hard work. The Eight's are the one's that live on the street's, completely ignored by the people, no opportunities for work given and they either survive from scratch or just survive to death.

The Selection

The Elite (The Selection, 2)

April Wrap up and May TBR

I am so sad that I did not get to read most of the books that I planned to read during the month of April. I'm actually ashamed because you know, education kinda got into the way.

As I said in my previous post, Two of the books included were for school and two of them were for myself. Unfortunately, I did not get to read Emma By Jane Austen, Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakely and The Revenant by Scott Kauffman. 

I am actually really happy and I finished Brave New world By Aldous Huxley. I know this might sound bad for some people but I could not understand this book. But it was sometimes. This book has a purpose on reading it and I don't think that this was the right book for me. But I didn't have a choice because it was school so it's all good now. 

May TBR

I'm actually so excited about the month of May because today I received The Crown by Keira Cass and I am so excited to read it. I can't say good-bye to the series that actually got me into reading.

The Crown By Keira Cass

I'm actually so excited to read this. I was borrowing through the bookstore's websites and found out that new releases were in a cheap price. So I rushed my mom to get me the book and she did! My feelings are mixed in between Excited and scared to death. But we'll see how it goes.

Emma By Jane Austen (for school)

I really have to finish this book for school and It's stressing me out like a lot. So I think I'll count it over on my TBR. 

Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakely

I'll try and get through this one. It's because this month is kind of hectic since it's like the second last month of school so teachers are kind of rushing to get things done. 

Revenants: The Odyssey Home by Scott Kauffman

Again, I'll try my best to read it this month but its hectic.

That's it for my April Wrap up and May TBR. A couple of things I want to add. I got twitter so follow @readingcorner_b and give me recommendations and bookish stuff to chat about. 

25 Bookish Facts about ME!

I wasn't tagged to do this, but I saw all these videos and posts about it and it looks like so much fun so I'm going to do this. These are more like confessions, which by the way I'm not at all ashamed about.

1. I started reading and fell in love with books at the age of 15.

2. My all time favourite author is Sarah J. Maas.

3. The novel/series that got me into reading was in fact The Selection.

4. Specifically YA, I'm obsessed with the fantasy genre.

5. I can't read two books at a time.

6. I can't listen to audiobooks. I can't really picture what's happening in the novel.

7. In terms of online reading, I download books off of ibookpile.com into my iPhone and read there.

8. Once for a whole week, I went to Chapters every single day and bought a book every single time.

9. Since I started reading, I am less stressed.

10. I love writing reviews on my blog, for myself and also for the readers.

11. I love re-tellings of disney princesses.

12. I'm a Hardcover person.

13. Following that, It stresses me out when the second book in any series are Hardcover and the rest are Paperback.

14. The Longest Book I ever read was Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas.

15. Following 14, I read a 600 page book in 3 days.

16. I always use a bookmark for my reading. I have never Dog-eared my books.

17. I am not at all interested in adult books whatsoever, but I have read some.

18. I have the first two books in the Harry Potter series which I haven't read.

19. I organize my bookshelf atleast 3 times a week.

20. I don't have sticky notes sticking out of my book that I'm currently reading just to make notes.

21. Whenever I go to the bookstore and pick a book, chances are that I haven't read the back.

22. I have more books on my TBR than my Read pile.

23. I don't eat while reading because most of the time the crumbs fall onto it and that bugs me.

24. I have never lent my books to anyone.

25. I used to think that I will eventually grow out of reading but turns out it grew more.

So there you have it. What are some of your confessions? I would love to know.

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahedith

Sypnosis (from Goodreads):

One Life to One Dawn.

In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad's dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph's reign of terror once and for all.

Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she'd imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It's an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid's life as retribution for the many lives he's stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?

Inspired by A Thousand and One Nights, The Wrath and the Dawn is a sumptuous and enthralling read from beginning to end.

My Review (5/5 stars!):

I had heard/saw a lot of mixed reviews about this when I saw how famous this book was getting at that time. I was really nervous about picking up this book because of those reviews. I had not read A Thousand and One Nights when I read this book so It's safe to say that u intact can read this without actually reading A Thousand and One Nights.

This book gave me all kinds of emotions but mainly a relaxed one. Since the names are actually chosen as in Arabic language it was easy for me to read it and connect to it. Which also helped me with imagining the scenarios that took place in the book.

As u read from the Sypnosis of the book above, that this is a retelling. This actually was my first retelling I ever read and I think that is the reason that I was nervous.

Characters:

Shahrzad or formerly referred to as Shazi (Protagonist):

She is the most fancy heroin I ever read about. Her perspective of pursuing matters were, I guess, appropriate. Her bravery and strength that she showed to Khalid was so original that I think every woman should have that level of. 

Khalid Ibn al-Rashid, the Caliph of Khorasan (Protagonist):

He is the boy-king is the Caliph of Khorasan. Although the perspective of Khalid is not shown that much but when it is shown, my mouth is wide open because of amusement or sometimes shock.

Jalal al-Khoury (Protagonist):

He is also known as the Captain of the Guard in other books. I actually liked him. He supported Shazi through out but only her good decisions. If her decision seemed crazy he would actually stop her. I guess best friend/family to Khalid.

Despina (Protagonist):

She is the "house worker" in this novel. After Shiva dies, Shazi feels like Despina may be her new best friend with whom she could share anything. 

General al-Khoury (Antagonist):

Father to Jalal, uncle of Khalid, (that was never a secret) is kind of against Shazi being alive. Throughout the novel he acts like a villain (which he is), and sometimes a generous person.

Jahandar (Antagonist):

Father of Shazi and I hated him. Actually I think hate is a really strong word so I'm just going to say that I strongly disliked him, a lot. I could connect as to why someone would be that worried about sending his daughter to the death camp (to Khalid), his reasons of, "revenge" very unreasonable (don't worry I did't give anything away).

Tariq (Antagonist):

Former lover of Shazi, he is exactly like Jahandar. Its like that scenario, 'my best friends brother'. Shiva is Shazi's best friend and Tariq is Shiva's brother. Throughout, he acts Irrational which excitedly makes him the villain of the novel.

The Plot:

The plot twist is the best part of this book. You start reading this book thinking that she will eventually avenge him but what comes of his life is shocking. I never would have thought that this book would make me think about what happened. I actually went a few pages back to check if I had missed anything but apparently I didn't. Khalid's story is so much more darker and intense than what one may think. That is the reason why I loved it so much.

Favourite Quote:

“What are you doing to me, you plague of a girl?” he whispered.
“If I’m a plague, then you should keep your distance, unless you plan on being destroyed.” The weapons still in her grasp, she shoved against his chest.
“No.” His hands dropped to her waist. “Destroy me.”

The Wrath and the Dawn

The Rose and the Dagger (The Wrath and the Dawn, #2)