June Wrap Up 2016

   Hi everyone! 

   First of all, I'm really sorry that Ohana Reads had nothing new for most of June. After returning from BEA 2016, back in mid May, everything was a mess for me. I had missed a ton of school work, so I was playing catch up, and then final exams started happening. Between exams and prepping for

my graduation at the end of June, I had no time for blogging. So in the next little while, definitely look forward to seeing those last few posts about my BEA trip, as well as a blog tour and a few book reviews.
   At the beginning of June, my lovely local blogger friend, Joy from Joyousreads invited a bunch of us other locals to her house to pick a bunch of books from her stacks that she didn't want anymore to take home. "A bunch" being 50ish books, and holy she still had more for us to take. Besides getting a whole bunch of new books to take home, it was lovely seeing Kristie (Lost in Ever After), and Mari (The Autumn Bookshelf) again, as well as finally meeting Joy and Sara (Just Another Story)!

   The last week of June was all about me graduating, yup I graduated High School. Finally. With the

My date, Riley and I.

27th being my school's garden party, basically we dressed up in our grad attires and walked down a carpet, and our grad dinner. That day started with me getting my hair done, then coming home to do make up and get dressed. From there the party began at my school, my friends and I walked down the Kodiak blue carpet then took MANY photos outside. When we were finally done that we headed to Sweet Tops, our local ice cream place where we ate in style.

   Dinner was in the evening, our school had rented a place in our local convention centre for us to

My rather large friend group.

have our party. We had a bar, a casino section, a photo booth and a silent raffle. The whole evening was a blast, especially when I had won 60 free slurps in the raffle.
   My friend was hosting our after party at his house, but with such  long day I ended up hitting the hay earlier then the rest if my friends.
   Wednesday the 29th was our convocation, where were saw all of our graduating class together for the last time. It was great, and amazing to see as all graduating together.

   And that was my grad. From the way I described it, it probably seemed like a boring thing, but I had a phenomenal time. I'm glad I was able to share High School with my friends, I'll definitely miss the ones that are leaving the city for school.

   That is my monthly wrap up! And now for the stats!

Books Read:

My girls, Tia and Cynthia.

And I Darken by Kiersten White
The Crown by Kiera Cass
The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead

Book Haul:

White Cat by Holly Black (UK Paperback)
The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova (Hardcover)
Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout (ARC)
In A Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis (Hardcover)
Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis (Hardcover)
Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Paperback)
The Selection by Kiera Cass (Hardcover)
Nocturne by Christine Johnson (Hardcover)
Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff (ARC)
Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Paperback)
Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout ( First Edition Paperback)
Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Paperback)
Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Hardcover)
Succubus on Top by Richelle Mead (Paperback)
Succubus Dreams by Richelle Mead (Paperback)
Succubus Heat by Richelle Mead (Paperback)
Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder (Paperback)
And I Darken by Kiersten White (ARC)
Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey (Hardcover)
Pride by Rachel Vincent (Mass Bound Paperback)
Inbetween by Tara A. Fuller (Paperback)

Some of my nerds, Cynthia and Justin.

Of Metal and Wishes by Sarah Fine (Signed ARC)
Unite Me by Tahereh Mafi (Paperback)
Wither by Lauren DeStefano (Hardcover)
Between the Sea and the Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore (Hardcover)
Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma (ARC)
Feed by Mira Grant (Mass Bound Paperback)
The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker (ARC)
The Nine Lives of Chloe King by Liz Bramwell (Paperback)
Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch (Hardcover)
Siren by Tricia Rayburn (Hardcover)
Undercurrent by Tricia Rayburn (Hardcover)
Sublime by Christina Lauren (Hardcover)
My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent (Paperback)
My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent (Paperback)
My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent(Paperback)
The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler (Hardcover)
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (Hardcover)
Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer (Hardcover)
Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer (Hardcover)
Snakeroot by Andrea Cremer (Hardcover)
Heir to the Sky by Amanda Sun (Hardover)
My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows (Hardcover)

A huge thank you to Joy from Joyousreads, Brittany from Brittany's Book Rambles, and OwlCrate for this fabulous book haul this month!

Books Reviewed:

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas
Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

July Releases That I'm Excited For:

The Savage Song by Victoria Schwab (5th)
A World Without You by Beth Revis (19th)
Invincible by Dawn Metcalf (26th)
How to Hang A Witch by Adriana Mather (26th)


   That's my month! I'm already starting to get into my bookish feel again, so expect a lot of stuff come July!

Book Review: Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

Release Date: October 15th, 2013
Read: April 22nd-May 2nd, 2016
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Series: The Darkest Minds, #2
Format: ARC, 512 pages
Source: Gift

Description from GoodReads:

   Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her her life. Now she must call upon them on a daily basis, leading dangerous missions to bring down a corrupt government and breaking into the minds of her enemies. Other kids in the Children’s League call Ruby “Leader”, but she knows what she really is: a monster. 

   When Ruby is entrusted with an explosive secret, she must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: leaving the Children’s League behind. Crucial information about the disease that killed most of America’s children—and turned Ruby and the others who lived into feared and hated outcasts—has survived every attempt to destroy it. But the truth is only saved in one place: a flashdrive in the hands of Liam Stewart, the boy Ruby once believed was her future—and who now wouldn’t recognize her. 


   As Ruby sets out across a desperate, lawless country to find Liam—and answers about the catastrophe that has ripped both her life and America apart—she is torn between old friends and the promise she made to serve the League. Ruby will do anything to protect the people she loves. But what if winning the war means losing herself? 

Review:

   Give 'em hell, darlin.
   I thought after what occurred in The Darkest Minds, that Never Fade would be as exciting as the first novel in the series. The Darkest Minds certainly left us off in a good place for it to be so, but unfortunately that was not the case for me, I found it to be a slow and not as entertaining novel.
   The whole book was honestly just ridiculous to me, Ruby our main character had made a deal in the first novel that left her in the possession of the Children's League, and all it was a one giant bad decision. She could clearly see how bad the League was, and the things that were doing were wrong, but she stayed with them anyway. Even with the deal she made, it was honestly not in her best interest, even if it was to protect Liam.
   With such a slow pace, and nothing really important happening until the very end, I found Never Fade not to be to my taste. The only reason I'd consider picking up the final book in the trilogy would be to see how the final events in Never Fade, play out in In The Afterlight. 

   

Rating:

Favourite Quote:

"Ghosts don't haunt people--their memories do."

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:

Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian, Paranormal, Post-Appocalyptic, Super Powers

Book Review: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Release Date: May 3rd, 2016
Read: May 23rd-25th, 2016
Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses, #2
Format: Signed Hardcover. 630 pages
Source: Bought

Description from 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.

Review:

Contains Minor Spoilers:

   To the stars who listen- and the dreams that are answered.
   I knew from the minute the cover was released, that my heart wouldn't be able to hand A Court of Mist and Fury, I was not wrong. With reading A Court of Thorns and Roses well over a year ago, I did not really understand how much ACOMAF was going to effect me, not even a reread of the first book could prepare me. Although I did expect tears, I didn't let myself down.
   After a Court of Thorns and Roses, and the different tasks Feyre was forced to endure you'd expect Feyre to be a utter mess. Emotionally and physically. Normally in YA books, I've found that no matter what the hero/heroine endures, they always bounce right back. Without suffering any sort of effect of their actions. With Feyre, she didn't take the typical YA path, her character actually felt the responsibilities of her actions. She felt grief, depression and especially guilt. They effected her throughout the novel, until roughly the end when she was finally able to overcome it all. (To a certain extent.) Where I don't suffer from depression I do know the effects that it has on a person, and from what I've seen, Maas really hit the marker with Feyre, and even Tamlin and Rhysand. No one experiences depression the same, so being able to see it differently from more than one character really emphasized it. The same goes with how people are pulled out of their depressed state, each person is different as well, and in some cases, people can't leave the state.
   To bring Feyre out of her state, Rhysand was our hero. In A Court of Thorns and Roses I was never really in love with either Tamlin or Lucien, neither really tugged at my heart, but Rhysand's deviousness did. Although in ACOTAR he couldn't really be a love interest from the short appearances that we saw him, I couldn't help but be intrigued by his character. In ACOMAF we got to experience the true Rhysand, and now that I've met him, I never want to let him go. Throughout the novel my love for Rhys grew until Chapter 54, until the exact moment when my heart broke at his words. He became the one that pulled Feyre out of her state, he became the one that gave Feyre the family that she deserved, he was the one that gave her everything. Their relationship built up throughout the whole novel to a point where you were confused to why she ever loved Tamlin in the first place. A Court of Mist and Fury left me believing in Rhys and Feyre are the perfect couple, and my heart still melts at the thought of them.
   Tamiln was another character that took a major jump as a character. Even though we only saw him for roughly a third of the novel, a lot about him has changed since A Court of Thorns and Roses. Like said above, I believe that Tamlin also was facing the consequences of his actions from under the mountain. But the way he handled them just made things worse for him, as well as Feyre, but especially Feyre. I probably would have been able to get over his actions in the beginning of the novel, but with what he did at the very end, I hope he gets what is coming to him.
   A Court of Mist and Fury was an emotional rollercoaster that left me in a worse off state than A Court of Thorns and Roses ever did. Being just as great as ACOTAR, and even better, ACOMAF reached all my expectations and more. Once again reminding me why the series is one of my all time favourites, I will be a utter mess until the final novel releases next year.



   Before reading A Court of Mist and Fury, I had heard a great deal of things from others who had already read the book that it should not be considered a YA novel. After reading it, I've come to the decision that the novel should be considered more NA rather than YA. If you were to ignore the explicit sex scenes, and how constant they were, then I would still see the novel as YA. But because those scenes were so frequent and so graphic, I would not recommend A Court of Mist and Fury to a younger audience.

Rating:

Favourite Quote:

"The villain is usually the person who locks up the maiden and throws away the key. 

He was the one who let me out."

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:

New Adult, Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Fey, Fairies, Kingdoms, Magic

   I do NOT recommend this book to younger readers, unless you are comfortable with them experiencing extremely mature content.