Getting Organized for 2016

2015 is nearly over. Where has this year gone? A lot of things have happened this year but still, when I look back, it feels like we were just in January and all of a sudden, Christmas is right around the corner!

Outside of work, one of my big loves is books, obviously. But another hobby of mine is planning and some of my guilty pleasures including decorating/organizing my planner and watching YouTube planning videos. There are an amazing array of diaries, planners and printables out there to select from but I have yet to find the perfect system that suits me in terms of work, reading, blogging and social life. So as 2015 draws to a close, I couldn't help but think I should come up with my own planner printables to suit my needs.

Merry Christmas

It's that time of the year again!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, a festive season with your family and loved ones and all the best wishes for the oncoming New Year!

Read Online: First Impressions by Claudia Gray

I have recently posted a book review of Ten Thousand Skies Above You, the second book in the Firebird trilogy by Claudia Gray. You can read my thoughts on it here if you would like. If you haven't yet picked up the Firebird trilogy, I would highly recommend it to you. 

The Firebird trilogy is centred around the concept of multiverse (aka parallel universes) - an infinite number of universes set apart from each other by sometimes one small difference and at other times, major changes. As Marguerite's parents and their two college research students, Theo and Paul, are designing a device that will allow them to travel and experience the different universes, they encounter people that are determined they fail in their endeavour and will do anything they can to stop them. 

Whilst I was browsing GoodReads trying to discover when the third and final book in this series would be released, I came across this short story set in the short time period between the first and second book of this trilogy. You can find it on scribd here. If you have read this series and enjoy it as much as I have, I would highly recommend you go and check this short story out!

Off Topic Sunday: Christmas Gift Ideas for Book Lovers

Welcome to Off-Topic Sunday, a tag that I'm using to post whatever is floating in my head that I want to chat about. For the most part, they'll be book-related but you may occasionally see some non-book-related posts/rants as well.

We're finally in the holiday seasons! Where has 2015 gone? I'm not sure if it's a sign of aging but I definitely feel with each passing year, time is flowing by quicker and quicker. Anyhow, while one side of me is disappointed 2015 is almost over, another (big) part of me is really excited about Christmas and all the great food and company that accompanies it. So this week, I've decided to talk about gift ideas for the book lovers in your family.

Feature Follow Friday: Favourite Non-Bookish Website

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 is Booklover Circumspect 4 and Billbrarian, 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!

Book Review: Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray

Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray

Series: Firebird (book #2)

Will need to read the first book prior to this one

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: 3rd November 2015

Read Date: 5th December 2015

Tagged Under: 2015 read, 2015 favourites, 4, fantasy, romance, YA-fiction, book review

Check It Out: @Amazon, @TheBookDepository, @GoodReads

Book Summary

Ever since she used the Firebird, her parents' invention, to cross into alternate dimensions, Marguerite has caught the attention of enemies who will do anything to force her into helping them dominate the multiverse - even hurting the people she loves. She resists until her boyfriend, Paul, is attacked and his consciousness scattered across multiple dimensions. 

Marguerite has no choice but to search for each splinter of Paul's soul. The hunt sends her racing across a war-torn San Francisco, the criminal underworld of New York City, and a glittering Paris where another Marguerite hides a shocking secret. Each world brings Marguerite one step closer to rescuing Paul. But with each trial she faces, she begins to question the destiny she thought they shared.

Book Review

Feature Follow Friday: Favourite Ice-cream Flavour

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 is 125 pages and Da Bookaholic Book Blog, 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!

Book Review: Winter by Marissa Meyer

Winter by Marissa Meyer

Series: The Lunar Chronicles (Book #4)

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Release Date: 10th November 2015

Read Date: 28th November 2015

Tagged Under: 2015 read, 2015 favourites, fairy tale, favourites, romance, science fiction, YA fiction, book review, 4

Check It Out: @Amazon, @TheBookDepository, @GoodReads

Book Summary

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana. 

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won't approve of her feelings for her childhood friend - the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn't as weak as Levana believes her to be and she's been undermining her stepmother's wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that's been raging for far too long. 

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?

Top Ten 2016 Debut Novels I'm Looking Forward To

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

To be honest, I'm not a big reader of debut works. There are so many books on my TBR that by the time I have made some progress in trimming down my list, the previously debut authors have already released their sophomore (or higher) works. But I'm excited to try out more authors and after visiting Goodreads, I was surprised to discover that there are a lot of debut works that I am really excited to get my hands on next year.