Browsing Tag

ignite me

Lucy Recommends… [2] – The Shatter Me Trilogy by Tahereh Mafi

Posted on 21 February, 2014

Lucy Recommends… is a feature aiming to persuade you to read a particular book, genre or series.

This time I’m going to be featuring the Shatter Me trilogy by Tahereh Mafi, which I think you should all read. There are many mixed reviews, so it’s not everyone’s type of book, but I do see more positive than negative reviews.

Even if you don’t read the trilogy, you’re going to want to own the books because they’re so gorgeous. The trilogy starts off with Shatter Me, then Unravel Me, and finally Ignite Me. The books get better and better as they go on and Tahereh Mafi has written one of my favourite trilogies.

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Shatter Me is similar to The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken and the main character, Juliette, isn’t able to touch anyone. It is set in a futuristic world where everything is dying and the country is set into different sectors. Something that sets the books apart is the way they are written: there are parts of the book crossed out and we can tell that Juliette isn’t completely sane from this. Mafi writes in incredible prose though and there are so many beautiful quotes I could pick out.

Another major pro is that all three books have been released. Ignite Me, the final book, was released earlier this month and, boy, was it amazing. I was so nervous because I wasn’t sure how it would end, but everything was wrapped up nicely and I was incredibly happy. All three books took my breath away and I cannot wait to see what Mafi brings to the table next. Whatever it is, I’m sure it will be amazing.

Have you read the Shatter Me trilogy yet? Are you planning on doing so?

Book Haul

Letterbox Love (24)

Posted on 15 February, 2014

Letterbox Love is a UK based feature where book bloggers showcase the books that they received that week, be they e-books, paperbacks, hardbacks or any other format. It is hosted by Lynsey from Narratively Speaking.

I haven’t posted a Letterbox Love in ages, so I thought I would post one today. These are all the books I’ve received since the start of February, and I’m so excited about all of them.

To Review:

Mutant City by Steve Feasey sounds so exciting and I don’t read much apocalyptic, futuristic fiction so I’m sure this will be a nice change. Thank you to Bloomsbury for the review copy! When The Rock Splits the Sky by Phillip Webb has me intrigued and I can’t wait to start it. It sounds so, so good! Thank you, Chicken House! Then we have Amy and Matthew by Cammie McGovern which sounds like a beautiful contemporary that I can fall in love with. Think Wonder and the like. Thank you, Macmillan! It has taken all my willpower to not start Take Back the Skies by Lucy Saxon immediately because it sounds like exactly my type of book. Thank you, Bloomsbury! Flirty Dancing by Jenny McLachlan has been compared to Geek Girl by Holly Smale which I loved so I’m very excited to read it. Thank you, Bloomsbury! I was hoping I would be sent a copy of Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott to review because I’ve heard amazing things about it; it sounds amazing! Thank you, Chicken House! I love Greek mythology and so Goddess by Laura Powell sounds like it will be right up my street. Thank you, Bloomsbury! And finally we have The Glass Bird Girl by Esme Kerr. I think this is slightly younger than YA so it will be nice to read something a bit different. Thank you, Chicken House!

Bought:

I bought The Lord of the Flies by William Goulding because I do want to start reading more classics (more on that soon!) and it has a very intriguing premise – a group of school boys stranded on an island. I can’t wait to read it. After enjoying Here Lies Bridget a few years ago, I decided I would try New Girl by Paige Harbison, which is based on Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. Finally we have Autumn Rose by Abigail Gibbs. I’m a huge fan of the first book in the series and so I am very excited to read the sequel.

I was so pleased when my copy of This Star Won’t Go Out arrived in the post. It tells the life of Nerdfighter Esther Earl who died of thyroid cancer in 2010 through her diary entries, pictures and pieces written by those around her. It was such a beautiful book and I will be posting a review of it very soon, so keep an eye out!

When Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi dropped through my letterbox I was so excited and started it straight away. Let me tell you, I was not let down! I’ll be posting a review of it very soon!

I had to buy Dead Silent by Sharon Jones because it turns out my review of the first book, Dead Jealous, is featured in it! I’m quoted inside the cover and I squealed so much when I found out. I’ve never been quoted before and so it was a very momentous occasion.

Won:

I was so excited when I won a copy of Liz De Jager’s Banished. I’m currently reading it and really enjoying it. It’s been compared to City of Bones, but I think it’s better! It’s out at the end of the month so you all need to go out and buy it please, on my orders!

That is my massive haul! I’m rather lucky to get so many amazing books. Thank you to all the lovely publishers who sent me review copies.

What did you acquire this week? Have you read any of these books? Let me know below!

Uncategorized

Waiting on Wednesday (6)

Posted on 29 January, 2014

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that people are eagerly anticipating.

I haven’t done a Waiting on Wednesday post in ages so I thought I would share a book I am very excited about reading today.

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi!

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she’ll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew-about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam-was wrong.

I LOVED Shatter Me and Unravel Me so I’m super excited to read the last book in the trilogy! I’m so scared though! I don’t want the trilogy to end!

Ignite Me is out on 4th February.

What are you looking forward to being released?

Uncategorized

A to Z Book Survey

Posted on 12 August, 2013

The A to Z Book Survey was created by Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner. I love her blog so much (seriously, she’s one of my blogging idols) and she does the End of Year Book Survey every year which is such a good idea. I’ve seen this going round the blogosphere for a few days now and I thought I’d give it a go myself because it’s such fun.

Author you’ve read the most books from:

According to Goodreads, I’ve read the most books by Cassandra Clare (7), but I know that according to my bookshelf it is Meg Cabot. I’ll read anything written by both.

Best Sequel Ever:

I’m going to choose Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi for this one because I couldn’t put it down. I love her books so much and this one exceeded Shatter Me by miles.

Currently Reading:

At the time of writing this (yesterday), I was reading The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle, which I’m finding very difficult to get into. 🙁

Drink of Choice While Reading:

I only drink water so that’s going to have to be my answer. Although when I’m reading I usually forget to drink anything.

E–reader or Physical Book?

I’ll always love physical books, and nothing will beat them for me, but I am trying to read more e-books because they’re so much cheaper and it’s much easier to buy novels that aren’t so freely available here in the UK. This saves me having to buy a hardcover for a book I might not enjoy.

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:

Levi from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell! My ultimate book boyfriend. *swoon*

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:

Wings by Aprilynne Pike, because I was very close to DNF-ing it.

Hidden Gem Book:

The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did!

Important Moment in your Reading Life:

Starting my blog. I wouldn’t be the reader I am today without it, because blogging made me read more and look to other genres that weren’t familiar to me.

Just Finished:

Faking It by Cora Carmack which I LOVED. I love her books so much now!

Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:

I don’t like reading vampire novels, but I will tolerate them. I do avoid time travel novels now because I just have a lot of problems with them.

Longest Book You’ve Read:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Major book hangover because of:

Shaman of Stonewylde by Kit Berry. It’s the last book in my favourite series

Number of Bookcases You Own:

I have two shelves that run the length of my wall, one that runs half and a big bookcase. And I still don’t have enough room…

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. Whenever I’m in a reading slump, I’ll pick it up and it always helps me get out of it.

Preferred Place To Read:

I can read just about anywhere, but I love reading in my chair which normally has things heaped up the sides and fall on me pretty regularly. I’d take a picture but it’s so messy the sight would probably horrify you.

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

“‘After all this time?’

‘Always,’ said Snape.”

It gets me every time!

Reading Regret:

This is a really hard one for me to answer because there’s nothing that I wish I had done differently. I’m still really young so I can’t say I wish I had done things years ago and I read so much anyway that I can usually fit in anything that I want to read. I’m going to leave this one blank for now.

Series You Started And Need To Finish(all books are out in series):

The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa. I only have one more book to go!

Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Magus of Stonewylde by Kit Berry

Unapologetic Fangirl For:

Anything Rainbow Rowell, which is pretty ironic seeing as though one of her books is called Fangirl.

Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi! Words cannot explain how excited I am. 😀

Worst Bookish Habit:

I do buy a lot of books that end up sitting on my pile for months and months. My TBR pile takes up two shelves.

X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Your latest book purchase:

Faking It by Cora Carmack for my Kindle.

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):

Losing It by Cora Carmack! I stayed up all night reading it!

Have you done this survey? Link me to your own posts if so!

(sorry for the lack of pictures. My post wouldn’t format them properly. :))