Monthly Reading List: October 2013

October was a really busy month, mainly because university started again. So I only managed to read 4 books in October, or let's say 4 1/2.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Allegiant by Veronica Roth
The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness
Hereafter by Tara Hudson
Lover at Last by J.R.Ward

Although I only "half-finished" The Book Thief, I already know it was my fav book of the month!

Top Ten Tuesday: Halloween Reads

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

I'm not really a big fan of horror, but from time to time I do enjoy a scary setting. Here are my top picks for Halloween:

1. The Forbidden Game by L.J.Smith
2. Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
3. Sanctum by Sarah Fine
4. Fractured by Sarah Fine
5. The Blood Books Vol. 1 by Tanya Huff
6. The Blood Books Vol. 2 by Tanya Huff
7. Angelfall by Susan Ee
8. Dark Visions by L.J. Smith
9. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
10. Blood Will Tell by Samantha Young

Top Ten Character Names

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

Names are important, really important. Although they are important to most readers I don't tend to include them in my rating. Actually, I've rated all the books down below with 5* although I couldn't stand the names of Wolfe, Malachi or Po. But first, let's do my fav names:

 

 

Karou/Akiva: I love their names. They sound melodically and go perfectly together.

 

Ren/Calla: Again, I love them. They are short and pregnant, and especially Ren's name fits perfectly to Ren's character. I couldn't imagine any other name for Ren. Just perfect.

 

Hazel: I absolutely adore this name. Enough said.

 

Ananna/Naji: First, I wasn't too sure about Ananna's name, because it's a real tongue-twister, but somehow it stuck with me and I liked the sound of it. The same goes with Naji. I love the oriental touch to their names.

 

Celaena/Chaol: Really unique names that fit perfectly to the characters. I'm not sure how to pronounce them correctly, but it doesn't matter, because in my head they sound beautiful.

 

 

I don't hate the following names (except Po, I can't handle this name), but rather find them unusual, not fitting or just stupid.

 

 

Po: Argh, although I loved Graceling I really struggled with the name of Po. Mainly because Po means "ass" in german...yeah, so imagine you read a book where you automatically think of "ass" while reading the character's name over and over again. Not pleasant.

 

Wolfe: I didn't like the name Wolfe, but his last name Stovia made up for his stupid first name.

 

Malachi: While reading Sanctum I seriously switched the pronounciation of Malachi everytime I read his name. I wasn't too fond of his name.

 

Ongraygeeomryn: Yes, I had to look this up. Of course, this name fits perfectly to the character, it's just impossible to read. Go ahead and try to read it out loud.

 

Gus: I have nothing against the name of Augustus, but I can't stand his nickname Gus. Sorry Hazel.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Best Series Endings

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

 

 

I didn't really finish a lot of series, therefor it's quite hard to do this week's TTT. But let's try!

 

 

Top Ten Best Series Endings

 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling: It's Harry Potter, do I need to say more?

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead: I read this series when I was living abroad, so it's a really special series for me and  I really enjoyed the final book!

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins: I cried reading Mockingjay, enough said.

Lord of the Rings and the Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien: It's a classic one for me, so it had to be mentioned here!

The Priate's Wish by Cassandra Rose Clarke: This series is so refreshing and unique, and I absolute love the new theme of pirates, assassines, treasure hunting and witches! The only downside of this series is, that it only consists of two books. I wish there were more! But the second and last book was pretty amazing! I loved the ending and how everything came together.

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare: omg...I can't...sorry...probably the best ending to a love triangle EVER!

Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer: I got my first book hangover from Bloodrose, omg that ending!! It's one of my fav werewolve series and I highly recommend it!

A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin: One of my favourite fantasy series is definitely A Song of Ice and Fire and in my opinion George R.R. Martin is a genius! I know that A Dance with Dragons isn't the last book in this series, but seriously it feels like it, because let's face it: it will take another 15 years before our genius will publish the 6th book.

 

At the moment I can't name one series ending I don't like, because normally when I didn't like the first (or sometimes second) book I hardly finish the series (such as Delirium by Lauren Oliver). So, no Top Ten Worst Endings this time :)

Monthly Reading List: August and September 2013

I thought I would combine the months of August and September in my Monthly Reading List because August was a really poor month (reading wise). So here we go:

        

 19 books in total! I think I've read 6 books in August and 13 in September :D
Favourite e-ARC: Fractured by Sarah Fine
Favourit Sequel: Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi
Favourite Free Book (Amazon): Cloak and Dagger by Nenia Campbell
Favourite Book of the Month: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas and Shatter Me by Taherah Mafi

Escaping Reality by Lisa Renee Jones

I received this e-ARC for free on netgalley.com (Thank you!) and in exchange I will do an honest review.

This book was quite ok but didn't really blow me away. I was addicted to Amy's secret and that's the main reason why I kept reading. I wasn't a huge fan of Amy herself, because who in their right mind would trust a complete stranger while being on the run? Just because he is attractive and obviously rich she spills her secrets...that's just stupid and unrealistic. Amy doesn't act like a woman with a single shred of self-preservation (and that's so odd considering she's running for her life!). Liam was a possessive and domineering jerk, I absolutely hated him.

I just couldn't get into this book and the cliffhanger is quite unnecessary as nothing really happens throughout the book. Overall, the book was okay, but honestly I wouldn't recommend it.

2/5 stars

Fractured by Sarah Fine

I received this e-ARC for free on netgalley.com (Thank you!) and in exchange I will do an honest review.

To be honest, I had a really hard time reading this book. I loved the first book Sanctum and I was beyond excited to get an ARC of Fractured. So I came up with 4 stars, mainly because of the great and unexptected ending and cliffhanger. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading this book but it somehow suffered from the "2nd book syndrome", e.g. the introduction of a love triangle (whyyyy?). The romance between Malachi and Lela was perfect in the first book, why distroying it with a meaningless lovetriangle. The plot was quite slow especially after the beginning, it was all about hunting the Mazikin, nothing really happens despite patroling the area. The new characters were nicely introduced, though.

 

So overall it was a nice read with some unenjoyable elements BUT Fractured did end on such an interesting/crazy/intense/... note that I'm really eager for the third book!

 

4/5 stars

Monthly Reading List: July 2013

And again, 9 books for the month of July :D