Thursday, October 13, 2016

Hiatus

   Hi guys,
   As you guys have probably noticed already, I've been pretty distant and haven't had a lot of posts for you to read. With University, I've been pretty busy and just haven't had the chance to put anything together. I've had no real ideas for anything either. September was rough, I didn't get a lot of books read, so I don't have anything to review. 

   I don't know how long this Hiatus will be, but I do promise you that when I do return, I will have posts after posts for you guys to read! Hopefully in the time I'm gone, I'll be able to get into some sort of routine that'll allow me to read and blog alongside school. 

   Sorry guys, but I'll talk to you real soon,

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Book Review: The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

Release Date: March 4th, 2014
Read: October 4th-9th, 2016
Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens
Series: Throne of Glass, #0.1- 0.5
Format: Signed Hardcover, 435 pages
Source: Bought




Description from GoodReads:


   Discover where Celaena Sardothien's thrilling saga began

   Celaena Sardothien is her kingdom's most feared assassin. Though she works for the powerful and ruthless Assassin's Guild, Celaena yields to no one and trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam.

   When Celaena's scheming master, Arobynn Hamel, dispatches her on missions that take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, she finds herself acting independently of his wishes—and questioning her own allegiance. Along the way, she makes friends and enemies alike, and discovers that she feels far more for Sam than just friendship. But by defying Arobynn's orders, Celaena risks unimaginable punishment, and with Sam by her side, he is in danger, too. They will have to risk it all if they hope to escape Arobynn's clutches—and if they fail, they'll lose not just a chance at freedom, but their lives...

   A prequel to Throne of Glass, this collection of five novellas offers listeners a deeper look into the history of this cunning assassin and her enthralling—and deadly—world.

   Included in this volume:

   The Assassin and the Pirate Lord
   The Assassin and the Healer
   The Assassin and the Desert
   The Assassin and the Underworld
   The Assassin and the Empire 

Review:


   Words can be just as deadly as steel.
   This series is basically a huge part of my life now, but I never really got the chance to read The Assassin's Blade until after reading Queen of Shadows. When it comes to reading, I'm not usually a huge fan of novellas. If, like The Assassin's Blade, they come out as a bind up in print form, I will eventually pick them up. But they aren't a high priority. 
   The Assassin's Blade was just like I expected it to be, just a bunch of short stories of Celaena before she was Aelin, when Sam was still alive and they were still working for Arobynn. I really enjoyed being able to see who Celaena was and what she was like before Endovier. In Throne of Glass it sort of felt like Celaena was all talk and no action, with the novellas we got to see some of that action, even if we still never got to see why she was considered the greatest assassin next to Arobynn. 
   Sometimes novellas are all over the place position wise, with the five in The Assassin's Blade, that wasn't the case. Each novella basically took place right after each other, with only a small passing of time between them. The last one ending right as Celaena reached Endovier, I do sort of wish that we got to see her surviving in Endovier though. 
   The only thing I found with the stories was that no matter how hard I tried, I just could not love Sam. I knew what was going to happen to him since I had read the original series first, and so I just couldn't connect with him. 
   The Assassin's Blade was a sweet little bit of backstory to Celaena's story. Where I enjoyed the book as quick little stories, I still prefer reading the storyline the main series has. But I am looking forward to seeing what Chaol's novellas will be like.  

Rating:

Favourite Quote:


“There was no way in hell she was going to move to the southern continent without all of her books."

"Where do men find it in themselves to do such monstrous things? How do they find it acceptable?"

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:


Young Adult, Fantasy, Supernatural, Fairies, Rebellion, Romance, Assassins, Magic, Demons



Saturday, October 8, 2016

OwlCrate Monthly Haul: September Box 2016


  Hi y'all! So today I wanted to show everyone my September box from OwlCrate! In order to not spoil anything for anyone, I decided to wait and post it a good while after most people have received theirs already.

   OwlCrate is a monthly bookish YA subscription box, which every month features a new theme. Each box features a recently released YA book, along with a few bookish goodies created specially for the box.

This months theme is: Darkness!


This months box included:


- A Fortune Telling Bath Bomb from Da Bomb Frizzers.
-A fabulous Six of Crows book mark from Evie Bookish!
-A marvellous candle inspired by Celaena's chocolate cake in Throne of Glass from The Melting Library
-A passport like first look at Moon Chosen by P.C. Cast, from St. Martin's Press!
-The first episode of a thriller like mini series, REMADE. Don't forget to check out the rest of the series from Serial Box!
-Of course an exclusive OwlCrate pin, that goes with this month's theme.
- And finally, Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake, along with a signed bookplate, a letter from the author, and a fortune teller inspired by the book!


Next months theme is: Once Upon a Dream!

Stay tuned to see what's in store for that box!



Sunday, October 2, 2016

Ohana Talks: Top 5 Favourite Authors.

   Since I began my obsession with reading oh so long ago, I've come to read a lot of books over that time, and with those books, I've fallen in love with so many great authors. Today I wanted to show you all, my top favourite authors. The authors that I own almost all of their books, as well as multiple editions of them. Many of them don't need any help getting their books out there, they're already big names, but I wanted to show them off to you anyway.

   I was originally just going to do my top 5, but I found that I had two authors that were tied in 5th place. So now I have 6 total.


Marisa Meyer/ Kiera Cass

   I was lucky enough to have met both Kiera and Marissa, to be completely honest, I've met all the authors on this list, expect one. I met Kiera Cass back in 2014, at YALLfest. She still remains one of the sweetest people I have met in my entire life. She adored how loved my copy of The Selection was, as well as The Selection and The Elite earrings that my sister was wearing. (That I made, hehe) I've loved her book since that one camping trip when I happened to have picked up The Selection at the library to bring along, and finished it in one day.
   I first met Marissa at BEA 2016, when I went through what you could say was A LOT of trouble to get tickets to her Heartless signing/ARC drop. I've adored her books since I first read Cinder, oh so long ago. Her Lunar Chronicles had been instant pre-orders, the minute the next book in the series was announced. 


Richelle Mead

   The Vampire Academy series was one of the first series' that I got into when I first started reading. My mom thought that because I started reading because of Twilight, that it was the vampires that sucked me in. (LOL, excuse my pun.) And so my love of Richelle Mead started. I went from reading and loving her Vampire Academy series, to her Bloodlines series, to eventually reading all her adult series' like the Dark Swan series. As of today, I've read everything but two books that Richelle has published, and I just can't wait to read her latest upcoming book, Midnight Jewel


Cassandra Clare

   Cassandra's City of Bones is what got me into her writing. The first trilogy of the series, The Mortal Instruments, was all released when I first picked up the series, and so I was able to read them all as a binge read. But it wasn't until I realized that she had a prequel series out as well, that I really became a fan of hers. I picked up Clockwork Angel, and read it, I believe in a week, although, Clockwork Prince is what really got me hooked. Will and Jem are who won my heart. Since then, I've read everything that connects to the Shadowhunters, and made it my mission to own all of them in hardcover. 


L. J. Smith

   The Night World series was another one of the series that got me into reading, reading it after Twilight but before Vampire Academy. I had picked up the Omnibus of the first three books, and so I was able to read them all at once. Even though the three should have lasted me a while, I had to go to the bookstore twice in the following two weeks to pick up the next two omnibus'. To this day, the series still has a place in my heart. Unfortunately it's been almost 19 years and we still don't have a conclusion to the series, but I still have hope. I even own the originally 1990's editions of the series. 
   I fell in love with the original few seasons of her Vampire Diaries TV show as well, even though it's totally different from the books. I still love them just the same. 
   She is the only one of my top five authors that I have yet to meet, I hope to change that one day.


Sarah J Maas

   I met Sarah J. Maas back at YALLfest 2014, along with Kiera Cass. At the time I had only read her Throne of Glass, which I hadn't really enjoyed. It wasn't until after that festival that I received the first ARC for her new book/series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, that she finally had me obsessed. I couldn't wait for the sequel, but since it was an ARC, I knew I had a long wait ahead. So I finally picked up the rest of the Throne of Glass series. Today, the A Court of Thorns and Roses series remains my all time favourite, and her Throne of Glass series is just a little bit below on that list.
   For her A Court of Mist and Fury tour, I was able to meet her again, but as a true fan. I was a blubbering mess, but at least I was able to see her and have my prized books signed for my collection.


   Those were my top 5,(6) all time favourite authors. Who are your favourites? What stories do you have behind those authors? What do they mean to you? I'd love to hear about your favourites!