It's Monday! What are you reading? (#7)

It's Monday! is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey

So last week, I only read the one book. This week, I'm determined to do better.

June Wrap-Up

June started out as a good month but then when I started my new (and current) rotation back in the city, reading has unfortunately fallen to the side. 

This month, once again, I only read 6 books, which is incredibly slow for me. But if I factor in exactly how much time I spent on reading this month, I didn't really expect another outcome. 

So here are the six books I read this month:

• Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
• Dual Image by Nora Roberts
• The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers
• Enchanted by Nora Roberts
• I, Morgana by Felicity Pulman

Feature Follow Friday: Favourite Coffee Mug

Feature Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read. It's a way for bloggers and readers alike to make some new friends and gain some new followers as well. The point of this hop is to follow other bloggers. I follow you, you follow me.

Also, this week's featured bloggers are Vicki and Fandomly Bookish, so make sure you check them out too.

While I do prefer GFC and/or Bloglovin follows, if you would like to follow me via email/twitter etc, that's great too! Also, please leave a comment so I can follow you back!

It's Monday! What are you reading? (#6)

It's Monday! is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey

Work is taking a toll on my reading progress again. (And today was just a horrible day at work so I'm not going to even talk about it). But I'm hopeful about reading this week. 

I, Morgana by Felicity Pulman

You know my name, but you don't know my story...

After being schooled in magic by Merlin and promised a kingdom, Morgana is robbed of her birthright and betrayed by everyone she has ever trusted. Risking everything for revenge, Morgana uses her magical arts to trap Merlin, threaten her half-brother King Arthur, and turn away the only man she will ever love. In destroying King Arthur and Camelot, Morgana sets into motion a catastrophe that can only be reversed if she can learn from the past in time to protect our future... and so fulfill an ancient prophecy.

In the tradition of The Mists of Avalon comes a new story of Morgan le Fay, one of the most enigmatic and reviled characters in Arthurian legend.

I'm still in the early chapters of this book so I'm not too sure what I think of this book yet. But I love the Arthurian legend and am interested in finding out what this novel entails. 

Note: I received an ARC copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher Momentum Books.

What are you reading this week? :)

Book Review: The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers

The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers

Standalone book
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Release Date: 16th January 2014
Read Date: 12th June 2014
Tagged under: 2014 read, 4, YA fiction, mystery or thriller, paranormal
Pages: 384
Buy at: Amazon, The Book Depository

If you're reading this, then it means you're close to finding me...

Seventeen-year-old Jocelyn follows clues apparently from her dead twin, Jack, in and around Seale House, the terrifying foster home where they once lived. With help from childhood friend Noah she begins to uncover the truth about Jack's death and the company that employed him and Noah. 

Jocelyn's twin brother Jack was the only family she had growing up in a world of foster homes - and now he's dead, and she has nothing. Then she gets a cryptic letter from "Jason December" - the code name her brother used to use when they were children at Seale House, a terrifying foster home that they believed had dark powers. Only one other person knows about Jason December: Noah, Jocelyn's childhood crush and their only real friend among the troubled children at Seale House.

But when Jocelyn returns to Seale House and the city where she last saw Noah, she gets more than she bargained for. Turns out the house's powers weren't just a figment of a childish imagination. And someone is following Jocelyn. Is Jack still alive? And if he is, what kind of trouble is he in? The answer is revealed in a shocking twist that turns this story on its head and will send readers straight back to page 1 to read the book in a whole new light.

Book Review: Prodigy (Book #2) by Marie Lu

Prodigy by Marie Lu

Series: Legend (Book #2)
Will need to read the first book prior to reading this one
For the beginning of the series, click here
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Release Date: 29th January 2013
Read Date: 17th May 2014
Tagged under: 2014 read, 2014 favourites, dystopian, YA-fiction, 4
Pages: 371
Buy at: Amazon, The Book Depository

She is a Prodigy...

Injured and on the run, it has been seven days since June and Day barely escaped Los Angeles and the Republic with their lives. Day is believed dead having lost his own brother to an execution squad who thought they were assassinating him. June is now the Republic's most wanted traitor. Desperate for help, they turn to the Patriots - a vigilante rebel group sworn to bring down the Republic. But can they trust them or have they unwittingly become pawns in the most terrifying of political games?

Top Ten Favourite Books of 2014 so far

TTT is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

So we're halfway through the year and it's time for us to reflect back on the first half of 2014 and showcase our favourite reads so far. In the first six months of 2014, I have read a total of 64 books, reaching just over half way to my goal of 100 books this year. These are my favourite 10 books so far :)

It's Monday! What are you reading? (#5)

It's Monday! is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey

June has started off fairly productive. Not only have I finished both of the books I listed in my previous It's Monday post, I've also started and finished Dual Image by Nora Roberts. So that's three books in one week, which is still fairly slow by my normal reading standards but given how crazy work has been, I really can't complain. 

The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers

Seventeen-year-old Jocelyn follows clues apparently from her dead twin, Jack, in and around Seale House, the terrifying foster home where they once lived. With help from childhood friend Noah she begins to uncover the truth about Jack's death and the company that employed him and Noah. 

Jocelyn's twin brother Jack was the only family she had growing up in a world of foster homes - and now he's dead, and she has nothing. Then she gets a cryptic letter from "Jason December" - the code name her brother used to use when they were children at Seale House, a terrifying foster home that they believed had dark powers. Only one other person knows about Jason December: Noah, Jocelyn's childhood crush and their only real friend among the troubled children at Seale House. 

But when Jocelyn returns to Seale House and the city where she last saw Noah, she gets more than she bargained for. Turns out the house's powers weren't just a figment of a childish imagination. And someone is following Jocelyn. Is Jack still alive? And if he is, what kind of trouble is he in? The answer is revealed in a shocking twist that turns this story on its head and will send readers straight back to page 1 to read the book in a whole new light.

The story summary and the cover just makes me think of Halloween and scary supernatural forces at play. I don't know what tempted me to pick this up but it sounds like an intriguing read. I think this will be one I'll be reading during daytime!

Feature Follow Friday: Non-Book Guilty Pleasures

Feature Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read. It's a way for bloggers and readers alike to make some new friends and gain some new followers as well. The point of this hop is to follow other bloggers. I follow you, you follow me.

Also, this week's featured bloggers are Scripturient and Little Librocubicularist, so make sure you check them out too.

While I do prefer GFC and/or Bloglovin follows, if you would like to follow me via email/twitter etc, that's great too! Also, please leave a comment so I can follow you back!

Question of the Week

What are your non-book guilty pleasures? Like TV shows, food, website, hobbies etc.

So many thins come to mind! But not all are as consistent as reading books. I seem to go through phases of different other past-time activities. For instance, I might get hooked onto PC games for a couple of weeks at a time (Age of Empires, Starcraft, The Sims, Dungeon Siege etc.), or I might spend endless amount of time reading manga (Fruits Basket is my favourite!) or I might catch up on a TV show that I have been neglecting for a while (Bones, HIMYM, Revenge). But after a few weeks, I might get bored and switch to another hobby. :D

So there you go, those are my other non-book guilty pleasures. Let me know what yours are. Leave a comment and/or link below and I'll be sure to check it out!

Top Ten Books that Should Be in Your Beach Bag!

TTT is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I'm in the midst of winter at the moment so I can only envy the rest of you up in the Northern hemisphere and recommend some of my favourite summer reads! :D

1. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
For some light-hearted romance goodness set in Paris.

2. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
This is a book that sings out to the nerd within us all.

3. Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
For those looking for some action!

4. One Summer by Nora Roberts
Suits the summer theme.

5. 1800-Where-R-You series by Meg Cabot
Add a dash of supernatural

6. A Quick Bite by Lynsay Sands
For those looking for romance with the supernatural

7. Legend trilogy by Marie Lu
For those looking for a bit of dystopian

8. Ruby Red trilogy by Kerstin Gier
I absolutely loved this trilogy - it's a good series to sit down and simply devour.

9. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
For those looking for a more serious read

10. A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
For the inner child in us.

So those are my 10 picks for this week, what are yours?

It's Monday! What are you reading? (#4)

It's Monday! is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey

If I considered April a bad month with six books, May was even worse (four). The end of the rural rotation really drained a lot of my energy and time as I had to pack for my journey back home. Today was the first day in my third rotation - stroke - and a 8AM to 4:30PM shift turned to a 7AM to 8:30PM job. But having finished Gameboard of the Gods and The Immortal Crown last week, I'm slightly optimistic about this month.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

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

I have finally started this book! It's been sitting on my shelf for over a month now but I've finally picked it up and I'm so excited! I'm up to Chapter Six now and so far so good. 

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn't believe in fashion... she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit - more sparkly, more fun, more wild - the better. But even though Lola's style is outrageous, she's a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood. 

When Cricket - a gifted inventor - steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

I have the paperback version of TFIOS, which I loath to lug around on my busy ward job, so I have to resort to ebooks whilst commuting to and from work. So I've decided to start Lola and the Boy Next Door on my iPad.

So what are you reading this week? :)

Book Review: The Immortal Crown (Book #2) by Richelle Mead

The Immortal Crown by Richelle Mead

Series: Age of X (Book #2)
Will need to read the first book prior to reading this one
For the beginning of the series, click here
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia
Release Date: 29th May 2014
Read Date: 31st May 2014
Tagged under: 2014 read, adult fiction, fantasy, mythology, 4, review copy
Pages: 432
Buy at: Amazon, The Book Depository

The War of the Elect...

In the wake of Gameboard of the Gods, religious investigator Justin March and the beautiful supersoldier assigned to protect him, Mae Koskinen, have become firmly enmeshed in investigating reports of the supernatural and the return of the gods both inside and outside their country's borders. With this highly classified knowledge comes a shocking revelation: not only are the gods vying for control of humans, but the Elect - those special humans marked by the divine - are turning against each other in bloody fashion. 

Justin and Mae's mission takes a new twist when they find themselves assigned to a diplomatic delegation headed by Lucian Darling, Justin's old friend and rival, into Arcadia: the Republic of United North America's dangerous neighbouring country. Here, in a society where women are commodities and religion is intertwined with the government, Justin discovers powerful forces at work even as he struggles to come to terms with his own reluctantly-acquired deity. Meanwhile, Mae - grudgingly posing as Justin's concubine - has taken on a secret mission of her own: finding the illegitimate niece her family smuggled away years ago. But with Justin and Mae resisting the resurgence of the gods in Arcadia, a reporter's fortuitous connection with someone close to Justin back home threatens to expose their mission and the divine forces the government is determined to keep secret.

Book Review [Spoiler Free]

The Immortal Crown is the second book in Richelle Mead's new series, Age of X, which began last year with the publication of the Gameboard of the Gods. As far as sequels go, this one is certainly very impressive. Everything stepped up into the next gear. There is more action, more plot development, more secrets and information unveiled and, of course, more supernatural forces at play.

Last warning: please read the first book before continuing on with this review. Although it's spoiler free for this book, it will contain details regarding the first book, possibly spoiling it for you.

In The Immortal Crown, Justin and Mae, along with Lucian and his delegation, heads into Arcadia, the Republic of United North America's (RUNA) neighbouring country. Each of them have their own motives. Lucian wants to win his election. Mae wants to find her missing niece. And Justin has to, however reluctantly, follow the guidance of his deity.

While Gameboard of the Gods is a solid enjoyable read, the sheer volume of information with regards to the world building at times overshadows the overarching plot. Not so in this sequel. Don't get me wrong, The Immortal Crown still contains a heavy dose of world building. While the reader is familiar to the world of RUNA, Arcadia, which is only briefly mentioned in the first book, is very different. Religion is just as powerful as the government. Women are submissive properties of their men. And the country is a mix of rich and poor, modern technology with old-fashioned labour.

The pacing, however, definitely steps up a notch. With the majority of the foundation set in the first book, The Immortal Crown is free to focus on multiple concurrent plot lines that run through this book. As Justin and Mae slowly stumble across more and more revelations, the pieces of the story slowly come together like that of a jigsaw puzzle. While much has been revealed in this book, there is definitely a sense that there is more at play here than what Richelle Mead is willing to show. She definitely has plenty of trump cards up her sleeve, if the ending is anything to go by.

The characters are still as flawed and well-developed as they were in the previous book. Despite their flaws, there is always reason to their decisions and actions, making them highly relatable to the reader. It is no surprise that readers will come to care for both Justin and Mae and in turn, be heavily invested in their relationship. 

And the ending! I still have mixed feelings about it. I'm heavily disgruntled at the last major plot development before the end. But the plot twists that followed really steps up the anticipation for the next book. Without revealing much more, all I can say is that I felt the issue was dealt with rather abruptly and I didn't appreciate that. However, the two end reveals - one with regards to a deity and the other with regards to a mortal - those literally made my heart leap when my mind connected the dots.

Overall: 4/5

The Immortal Crown is definitely a step up from Gameboard of Gods and the anticipation is high for the next book. All the Gods have come out to play and the battle might be out in the open sooner than any of the characters think. 

Disclaimer: A complimentary copy of the ebook was provided to me by the author and publisher in exchange of an honest review. The views expressed above are entirely my own and are in, no way, affected by the source of this book.