Showing posts with label Amanda Sun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amanda Sun. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Ohana Reads 3rd Blogiversary!

   It's been another year already, holy crap, oh how time flies when you're having fun. In the past year, so much has happened, for better or worst. I've started University, wither I like it or not, I joined more bookish things, and I overall got a lot of things done. I didn't let 2016 break me, that's for sure.

   Although a lot was accomplished, I didn't stick to some of my goals like I said I would. I didn't host any giveaways, I didn't really advertise my posts, but I did talk to bloggers and my online friends more! This year, things will definitely be different than last year, although I'm not sure if that's for the best yet.


This is my Break Down of the Year:


Over 140, 950 Total page views
208 Published Comments
384 Published Posts
My Top Series Enders of 2013 being my most viewed post...at 47, 310 views
The Ohana Reads 2nd Blogiversary Post being my most viewed post of 2016... at 731 views
59 Bloglovin Followers
14 GFC Followers
53 People have me in their Circles
895 Twitter Followers
86 Facebook likes
381 Instagram Followers

   Like every year, I say I only ever focus on a few sites in particular, and this year is no different. Twitter was definitely a priority this year, and in my mind GFC is as well, even if I don't boost it often. 
   Although it varies everyday, I'm really satisfied with my average number of pageviews per day, this year. I find that I get around 250 pageviews, roughly each day. To think that 250 people visit my blog a day, honestly just amazes me. That number sure has grown since I first started out. 
   I know I said this last year as well, but this year I think I'm really going to drop Facebook. I don't even check my blogs Facebook page anymore, and so I think that it's really time to go. I guess we'll see, what happens with that.


   Like always, the year wouldn't have been anything with out amazing friends and amazing people in general. Here are the people that made my year great. (Definitely give them a follow)


People Who Made 2016 Great:


Joy from Joyousreads

Kristie from Lost in Ever After

Sara from Just Another Story

Mari, Ola and Lauren from The Autumn Bookshelf

Brittany from Brittany's Book Rambles

and

   Like usual, Stephanie was a huge part of my year, I even got to meet her for the first time. It was the best feeling, finally being able to meet one of your best friends for the first time. Lots of tears were shed, but I honestly had the best time being able to spend a whole week with her. I love this girl, with all my heart and I can't wait to see her again soon. I love you lots girl. 



Highlights of Ohana Reads 2016:


   1. Since I first started blogging, I've encountered a few Winnipeg Bloggers to talk with online. For the first time this year I've actually had the chance to meet them all in person, and become super close with them. This group consists of Joy from Joyousreads, Kristie from Lost in Ever After, Sara from Just Another Story, Sabrina from Behind the Book Reviews, and Mari, Old and Lauren from The Autumn Bookshelf. We try to hang out at least once every month, and its become something that I look forward to. I love hanging out with these girls, and I can't wait to hang out with them more this year!

   2. This year, I was asked to become a member of MYRCA, the Manitoba Young Readers Choice Award. I couldn't be more excited to be apart of something that encourages young readers to read, and honestly, I get to read as a job. MYRCA has already made my life all that more fun, with getting to meet Kenneth Oppel, to just getting to meet every month and discuss Canadian Books that we love. I've only been apart of MYRCA for half a year, but I'm super excited to see where else it takes me. 

   3. In 2016, I was able to go to my second book convention. I was able to go to BEA 2016, with one of my best friends, Stephanie from Doodle's Book Review. It was sort of a last minute decision on our part, but in the end it was the best decision. Besides meeting Stephanie in person for the first time, I was also able to meet so many other book friends that I had been able to befriend online in the past few years. Obviously bringing home 80+ books was also another highlight, but just making so many memories to look back on was a favourite. Just looking back at that trip, always brings a smile to my face. Although I probably won't be able to do BEA again, anytime soon, I look forward to seeing more friends and attending more signings and conventions in the future! 


Goals for 2017:


   1.  With the end of 2016 being a little iffy for me blog wise, one of my goals for 2017 is to actually make time to plan and write posts for the blog. I love running this blog, and I don't want to give it up or let it die, so I gotta keep up with posts.

   2. I've only ever seen Ohana Reads as my own, but it's always nice to switch things up and have other people bring their ideas to the blog. For 2017, I'm going to try to have multiple guest posts on the blog. So if you're interested in maybe having a post or two on Ohana Reads, shoot me an email and I'll try to work something out!

   3.  It's not really a goal for Ohana Reads, but I want to actually write a book. I've plotted out a few already, and started little things but I'd like to actually write it this year. I'm one of the biggest procrastinators I know, so we'll see how that turns out. 



Giveaway

To celebrate another year passing, I have a giveaway for you all. The giveaway features my favourite 2016 releases that I read in 2016! Good luck!

- Ohana Reads Giveaway Policies apply. (Check out the policies page)
- Open to any country that can receive books from Book Depository!
-Price of book limited to $25 Canadian.
- Winner gets to choose from any book pictured or any book from one of the series pictured.
- Must have followed @OhanaReads on Twitter, and had Retweeted the Tweet. (I will be checking)
- Giveaway runs until February 6th, 2016.


To enter the giveaway click the link below.

ENTER GIVEAWAY.


   Thank you guys so much for all your support in the last year, I wouldn't have done it without you all! Hopefully 2017 will take it easy on us all, we sure as heck need it!

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

August Wrap Up 2016

   August was certainly as busy as July was, and I definitely got as much reading done, maybe more. Starting with a bunch of books that I had to get done for publishers. 
   Like last month, my family went camping again. This time to a closer location, maybe 15 minutes away from my home. Because of the campsite being so close, we ended up having a ton of visitors. They ranged from visits from family, to friends, to many squirrels that decided to taunt and mess with my dog. Then there was my new hammock that I got to finally try out, unfortunately everyone else had the same idea too..

   After camping, for a brief moment of actually being my home after a week of camping, I was able to celebrate my best friends birthday with her! We spent the evening hanging out with her boyfriend, and another friend of ours, then going out to eat. Overall I had an amazing time, and I couldn't have been happier that my bestie wanted to spend her birthday with me. 
   Then exactly the next morning my family went on a quick weekend trip to the US, Fargo, North Dakota to be exact. Sometimes we enjoy heading down there for a weekend of shopping, and oh boy did we shop. My bank account is weeping still, and it's been a couple of weeks already. oops. I did get tons of amazing shoes, purses and clothes though.....
   Probably the best thing about that trip was that I finally got to use my Cold Stone Creamery gift card that Steph had gotten me for my birthday last year. We don't have CSC in Canada, so we had to celebrate the occasion with a ridiculous picture after waiting so long to try it.
   Besides that, I've worked the rest of the time or I've spent my time driving my sisters around for summer camps or work as well. Not the best way to spend the last few days of my Summer Break but whatever.
   With University starting shortly, I've had to say goodbye to a few of my friends who went out of province for school. I'm excited for them to go to school out there, but I'm sure as heck going to miss them. 
   And that sums up my August, with me going to University for the first time I'm not sure what you guys should expect for September. I already have a ton of things scheduled and ready to go, but I guess we'll have to see where things take me from there.
   Until next month!

   Now for the monthly stats:

Books Read:


Book Haul:

The Swan Riders by Erin Bow (ARC)
Sisters of Salt and Iron by Kady Cross (Hardcover)
Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Paperback)
Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid (German Edition Hardcover)
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon (Hardcover)
Trono de cristal by Sarah J Maas (Spanish Edition)
Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes (ARC)
Sea Glass by Maria V. Snyder (Paperback)
Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Hardcover)
The Turning by Jennifer Armintrout (Paperback)
A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole (Paperback)
Recreated by Colleen Houck (Hardcover)
P.S. I Like You by Kasie West (Hardover)


   A HUGE thank you to Simon and Schuster, Adi Alsaid, my best friend and my sister for 
most of the books I received from this month!

Books Reviewed:


September Releases I'm Excited For:



   That's August! I'm super excited to see what's to come, but I'm also super nervous at the same time. Anyone else starting University for the first time this fall? Tell me about some of your new experiences, I'd love to hear them!



Sunday, August 14, 2016

Book Review: Heir to the Sky by Amanda Sun

Release Date: April 26th, 2016
Read: August 3rd-5th, 2016
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Series: Standalone
Format: Hardcover, 293 pages
Source: Bought




Description from GoodReads:



   As heir to a kingdom of floating continents, Kali has spent her life bound by limits—by her duties as a member of the royal family, by a forced betrothal to the son of a nobleman, and by the edge of the only world she’s ever known—a small island hovering above a monster-ridden earth, long since uninhabited by humans. She is the Eternal Flame of Hope for what’s left of mankind, the wick and the wax burning in service for her people, and for their revered Phoenix, whose magic keeps them aloft.

   When Kali falls off the edge of her kingdom and miraculously survives, she is shocked to discover there are still humans on the earth. Determined to get home, Kali entrusts a rugged monster-hunter named Griffin to guide her across a world overrun by chimera, storm dragons, basilisks, and other terrifying beasts. But the more time she spends on earth, the more dark truths she begins to uncover about her home in the sky, and the more resolute she is to start burning for herself.

Review:


   A monster is a monster.
   As you all know, I'm a rather big fan of Amanda Sun. I adored her Paper Gods series, and couldn't wait for her to release something new. With her being an insta buy, I went straight to the bookstore come April when Heir to the Sky released. 
   Monsters, who doesn't love them? At first when going into the book, I thought for sure that the monsters that the people of the continents meant, were 'savage' humans, that kind of thing. To my surprise they were real monsters, chimeras, dragons, leviathans, the whole bunch. Being mythology obsessed, I couldn't have been happier.
   Griffin was perhaps one of my favourite parts about the novel, I really enjoyed seeing him have so much hope in such a dire situation that was his world. Not to mention that he was a sweet, and very skilled monster hunter, talk about intriguing to read about. I didn't mind for Kali a whole lot, even if she was our main character. She reminded me of multiple characters that I've met before in other novels, a character that thinks her ways could not do any wrong, then deny the truth until finally giving into it. I just found nothing new with her. 
   I feel like if Sun really wanted too, she could have nicely managed to make Heir to the Sky a trilogy or a series. With so many monsters to discover, the rebellion, and all the different villages on the earth, I think there was definitely enough material to do a series. I'd certainly read more books if there were!
   Heir to the Sky was a stunning standalone, it was sweet and quick, with just enough mystery to let your imagination wander, not allowing you to stop thinking about it, and I once again can't wait to see what Amanda Sun has in store for us next. 


Rating:



Favourite Quote:


"I must burn for others, even if it means I will burn and crumble for whose path I light."

"I survived a whole day in a land overrun by monsters. I will survive another."

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:


Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Dystopian, Monsters, Survival, Rebellions



Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday:(56)

Heir to the Sky

Amanda Sun
Harlequin Teen
Expected: April 26th, 2016


Description from GoodReads:


   As heir to a kingdom of floating continents, Kali has spent her life bound by limits—by her duties as a member of the royal family; by a forced betrothal to the son of a nobleman; and by the edge of the only world she’s ever known—a small island hovering above a monster-ridden earth, long since uninhabited by humans. She is the Eternal Flame of Hope for what’s left of mankind, the wick and the wax burning in service for her people, and for their revered Phoenix, whose magic keeps them aloft.

   When Kali falls off the edge of her kingdom and miraculously survives, she is shocked to discover there are still humans on the earth. Determined to get home, Kali entrusts a rugged monster-hunter named Griffin to guide her across a world overrun by chimera, storm dragons, basilisks, and other terrifying beasts. But the more time she spends on earth, the more dark truths she begins to uncover about her home in the sky, and the more resolute she is to start burning for herself.

Why I Want it:


   After Amanda's Paper God Chronicles, I'm ready to read just about anything from her! Plus, doesn't the description sound AMAZING? I mean, a kingdom of floating continents?? Like c'mon, give it to me already!

   That's my Waiting on Wednesday this week! Will you be picking up Heir to the Sky? What are you waiting on this week?




Monday, January 11, 2016

Top 10 Books I'm Looking Forward to in the First Half of 2016


   As always, I have huge list of books that I'm looking forward to this year. Unfortunately only half of there covers have been released, so in order to show off all their beauty I've decided to only show you my favourite books from the first half of 2016. So here they are! 
   

   Those are them! Are you excited for any of these? No? What books are your excited for in 2016? Let me know! I'd love to add them to my TBR pile! 

Monday, August 31, 2015

August Wrap Up 2015

   August was definitely more jammed packed than July was, from camping to working, to even everyday things. I can 100% say I have not had a full on lazy day this month. 
   Anyhow at the beginning of the month my sisters and I went on a bookish adventure. We went to about 6 different bookstores in my city, some new and some old. Obviously some of the visits were a bust, but one stop was a gold mine! Red River Books, is now my favourite bookstore in the city, next to McNally Robinson of course!
   I finally had the chance to visit our local zoo! I used to visit maybe 2 times each summer, when we were younger but a few years ago they renovated. So I hadn't gotten to see it since! They based it around Churchill Manitoba! ( A place in our province that makes us popular.) It was fun to see how everything turned out!
   School starts back up on the 9th, and my body is not ready. My fam already has done our back to school shopping, now all that is left is the wait.
   Oh! And I discovered that Lawrence Hill will be making a stop in Winnipeg! So I'll see if I go to his signing or not!
   That's a wrap on August, September will undoubtedly be slower and have less action. So we'll see how that goes! 

   Time for the bookish stats!


Books Read:




Book Haul:


Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (Original Hardcover)
Bison Books 

Books Reviewed:


September Books I'm Looking Forward Too:




Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Book Review: Storm by Amanda Sun

Release Date: June 30th, 2015
Read: July 13th-15th, 2015
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Series: The Paper Gods, #3
Format: Paperback, 304 pages
Source: Bought



Description from GoodReads:


   After almost a year in Japan, Katie Greene has finally unearthed the terrible secret behind her boyfriend Tomohiro's deadly ability to bring drawings to life—not only is he descended from Kami, the ancient Japanese gods, but he is the heir to a tragedy that occurred long ago, a tragedy that is about to repeat. 


   Even as the blood of a vengeful god rages inside Tomo, Katie is determined to put his dark powers to sleep. In order to do so, she and Tomo must journey to find the three Imperial Treasures of Japan. Gifts from the goddess Amaterasu herself, these treasures could unlock all of the secrets about Tomo's volatile ancestry and quell the ink's lust for destruction. But in order to complete their quest, Tomo and Katie must confront out-of-control Kami and former friend Jun, who has begun his own quest of revenge against those he believes have wronged him. To save the world, and themselves, Katie and Tomo will be up against one of the darkest Kami creations they've ever encountered—and they may not make it out alive. 

Review:


Contains Minor Spoilers:

   The world is rotting.
   The Paper God Chronicles was one of my favourite series from the past two years, I was super excited for Storm to be released. The covers to the books, the books themselves, they were all fabulous. A little before Rain, the sequel, was released the publishing house was bought over by another. I didn't really think much of it at first but with this book I noticed some changes.
   The cover design was a bit of a different theme then the original two, but it still fit, so again I didn't think much of it. The MAJOR thing that ticks me off about the book was that it was a centimetre shorter then the first two books. If you go out and buy the first two books you can now get the shorter versions to match the third book, but to people who owned the series before the last book released they'll be different.
   Honestly, as much as I loved Amanda Sun's writing style and the whole theme of the novel, I think Storm was my least favourite of the series. It felt a bit rushed to me, the book felt like it should have been stretched out a bit more, along with having more things explained.
   There were a bunch of little things that were thrown into the book, some things necessary and some not. I really enjoyed seeing Shiori in the Hospital with her baby, or how Ishikawa was in love with Tomo, I always knew something was up with him. But I didn't like how Katie's Dad was brought into the novel, I understand that her having powers needed to be explained but I didn't think it needed to be done like that.
   And finally like always, it's fabulous to have learnt more about Japan and the culture. That's always my favourite with Diverse YA novels. I am always thinking of the Japanese words now.
   Even if Storm wasn't for me, the rest of the books were and so I look forward to reading Amanda Sun's next book Heir to the Sky, which releases April 2016.

Rating:



Favourite Quote:


" Monsters can smile, too. And this is the monster who longed to be human." ~ Jun


Recommend to People Who Enjoy:


Young Adult, Fantasy, Cultural, Mythology, Japan, Kami




Thursday, July 30, 2015

July Wrap Up!

   I have been terrible this month with being online and blogging. It has been one of the busiest summers I've ever had. Camping, hiking, going to the cabin, non stop hanging out with my friends, holy crap. It feels like I haven't even gotten a chance to just slug around. Even though I haven't had a chance to slug around, the summer has been a blast.
   This summer I've been keeping up with my collection of books, I got Illuminae from the Two Thumbs Up program at McNally Robinson. Honestly I think I'll be done it by next week. I'm excited to see what they'll have for me next time! 
   Next month I plan on going on a bookish adventure with my sisters, we're going to go to a bunch of local bookstores, used and new books. Hopefully I remember to take pictures! I'll make sure to show you what I hauled in as soon as I can!
   My sister and her friends started a book blog just recently, it's just taking baby steps but it's looking good! I'm excited and proud of my sister, she's also asked me to help them get everything moving smoothly. I'll introduce the blog to you guys when everything is all set up with them!
   Finally for this month, you've probably noticed by now that I'm taking part in the Summer Blogger Promo Tour. I've been having a blast being apart of the tour, we're only half way done for the summer. Which means I still have a bunch of people to introduce you too!
   That's everything for this month, or everything that I can remember anyway. 

   Time for the bookish stats!


Books Read:


Book Haul:


Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff (ARC)
Storm by Amanda Sun (Paperback)
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli ( Hardcover)
The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead (Paperback)
The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong (Hardcover)
Reawakened by Colleen Houck (Hardcover)




Books Reviewed:




August Books I'm Excited For:


   I have a bunch more books to read this summer! Hopefully I get through them all! Now I just need to finish them in the next month!



Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday: (44)

Storm

Amanda Sun
The Paper Gods, #3
HarlequinTeen
Expected: June 30th, 2015


Description from GoodReads:


   After almost a year in Japan, Katie Greene has finally unearthed the terrible secret behind her boyfriend Tomohiro's deadly ability to bring drawings to life—not only is he descended from Kami, the ancient Japanese gods, but he is the heir to a tragedy that occurred long ago, a tragedy that is about to repeat. 

   Even as the blood of a vengeful god rages inside Tomo, Katie is determined to put his dark powers to sleep. In order to do so, she and Tomo must journey to find the three Imperial Treasures of Japan. Gifts from the goddess Amaterasu herself, these treasures could unlock all of the secrets about Tomo's volatile ancestry and quell the ink's lust for destruction. But in order to complete their quest, Tomo and Katie must confront out-of-control Kami and former friend Jun, who has begun his own quest of revenge against those he believes have wronged him. To save the world, and themselves, Katie and Tomo will be up against one of the darkest Kami creations they've ever encountered—and they may not make it out alive.


Why I Want It:


   WHY WOULDN'T I WANT IT? I adored Ink and Rain, they were two of my favourite reads last year and of all time. I NEED to know what happens next! The Kami are a new experience for me, I'm excited to see what else Sun will show us!