My Netgalley Life

Okay, weird title for a post, but I thought it would be catchy, and in essence this is what my post is all about!

What books have I requested (and am I still waiting for?), what books were accepted (and am I looking forward to them?), and what books did I get declined for?

Up first, the books which I requested and have been accepted for!

The Wicked Cometh by Laura Carlin

So, it's not often that I go for historical fiction on Netgalley, and this was on of my first requests for that genre, mainly because I've heard a lot of people talking about it, and it sounds so intriguing! I really hope it lives up to everything I've heard about it!

The Emerald Circus by Jane Yolen

Guys, can you guess what made this book pop out to me on Netgalley? The cover of course, it's spectacular and the colours literally pop. And the blurb, referencing all these little stories like Peter Pan or The Wizard of Oz, why would I not be interested in this?!

Blackbird by N. D. Gomes

Yet again, I was drawn in by the cover of this. It's not a genre I really read (murder mystery) but as I like my murder TV shows, I thought I'd try this book out. Plus, I've heard a lot of good things about this, so I can't wait to read and compare my views to everyone elses!

Fix Me by Lisa M. Cronkhite

So, I've told you about this before, in one of my first posts about what was on my TBR list (see HERE). And I have waited a while to read it, mainly because of the release date was further away than some other books I got accepted for, but I'm still intrigued about just what this book will be like, and it's going to be one of the first out of this list which will be read.

Next on this list, is books which I got rejected for:

Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller

So, this isn't available on Netgalley anymore as it's been let out, but I was slightly disappointed I never got to read this, as it was compared to some books that I adore. But, now I guess I can add it to my TBR list for if I buy any new books, which is good.

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The cover for this book is beautiful, and it is a fantasy book mixed with history. I do love these types of books, as I've read some amazing books with a similar mixture of history and fantasy, so I was slightly gutted when this request wasn't accepted.

Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody

I have heard so much about this book! And it sound so good, and the cover is amazing (both US and UK cover) and that's about the only things I can say about it. It's a shame I got rejected, but it is one I will definitely be buying when it is out!

The Book of Pearl by Timothee de Fombelle

One phrase that will make you guess why I wanted to request this book: modern fairytale. I love me some fairy tales. It's a shame I got rejected, but I always will buy any fairytale re-imaginings that I find, so not much of a loss!

Next, is the two requests that I have yet to get an answer to (here's hoping they're accepted!):

Invictus by Ryan Graudin

This is nearly out, so I probably won't be getting accepted for this unfortunately, as I've heard so much about it. However, it's definitely one I'll be buying when out as I've heard a lot about it and it sounds so interesting and totally in my taste.

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

I am forever going to be hoping that my request for this gets accepted, as it isn't out until January I will be hoping for a little while yet. I've said this so many times about some of the books in this post, but so many good things have been said about this book, and it seems right up my alley, so I'll be buying it if I can't get a hold of a copy from Netgalley.

And that is my Netgalley life summed up so far (with probably a few more posts like this to come in my bookblogging life).

Have you read any of these books, or been accepted to read any of these books? Comment below!

Review: Fables, The Deluxe Edition 1 by Bill Willingham

So, this is just a quick review today!

My friend decided to loan me his copy of Fables, a comic book about Fairy Tales who live in Fabletown, a neighbourhood in New York after being forced to leave their storybook lands because of a character called the Adversary.

I've never really read comic books before, so I wasn't sure how I would do with one, but wow did I love it!

Especially because you should all know by now I love fairy tale re-tellings so much.

So, for those of you that haven't heard of this particular comic book, here it is:

Once Upon a Time...

Imagine that all the characters from the world's most beloved storybooks were real - real, and living among us, with all of their powers intact. How would they cope with life in our mundane, un-magical reality?

The answer can be found in FABLES, Bill Willingham's celebrated reimagining of the venerable fairy tale canon. From Snow White and the Big Bad Wolf and Goldilocks, and Little Boy Blue, the folk tales of old are reborn here as exiles living in the magically camouflaged New York City neighbourhood of Fabletown.

So, as I said, a fairytale retelling. Not one that I've seen before though, it's definitely unique from the other plots I've read about fairytales in the modern day world. But, you can tell how much I loved it by the fact that I've already borrowed the third book in this series of comic books from my friend, and plan to borrow all the others!

I do warn you though, it's definitely not all PG, and some of it can be a a bit dark. However, in my opinion it all blends well together, and it did have me laughing a lot at some of the characters!

Overall, a very good first venture into the comic book world for me, and I'll definitely be reading others in this series, and other comic book series too (my friend has just lent me another comic book series that will definitely be read & reviewed soon).

I'm giving this comic book: 5 cats!

Have any of you read this comic book before? Or do you have any other comic books you would recommend to me? Comment below!

My Favourite Movies!

So, I had a movie day with a couple of friends this weekend, and we decided to make it a favourite movies day. We each took two of our favourites, and we chose which ones we should watch.

So, after a little poll on my Twitter about if you'd be interesting reading about my favourite movies, I decided to post and tell you all about them!

First, the two I chose to take with me to this movie day (yes they're both animated but come on, I love a good animated film!):

Spirited Away

I only started watching Studio Ghibli films after a friend introduced me to them, and this one is my favourite. I just love the idea of a whole other world, and well, I also love the weirdness of it.

Weird and wonderful is how I describe it! (my friends face expressions while watching for the first time were rather amusing)

The Rescuers

And, there is it, a Disney film, I bet you must have expected at least one of these in my list! The rescuers is not a classic Disney film, but I used to watch it so much when younger that my VHS copy ended up dead from reuse. So, yes, definitely one of my favourites!

There was one other film I would have loved to have taken with me, but couldn't seem to find, and that is this one:

Big Fish

I first watched this during senior school and it just stuck with me as one of my favourites, I watched it so many times during university, it's just such a cute little story-telling film!

And last but not least, those movies that I can always rewatch, even if I've watched them a ridiculous amount of times! (yes I have quite a weird taste in movies, but don't we all have such different tastes?)

Taken

I don't know why I like this movie so much but I do! Whenever it is on TV I always make sure to put a timer on it to remember to watch it.

Alice in Wonderland

I am just a tiny bit obsessed with Alice in Wonderland, both the original animation and most new adaptations that I can find. I think it comes from the fact that I once played Alice in a musical during school.

But yes, it's one of my feel-good movies that I go to when I'm feeling bad.

Tangled

Surprise! Another Disney movie! But I love it, it is actually my favourite new Disney movie, and I've watched it so many times, I even downloaded a couple of the songs from the soundtrack, they're just amazing!

Con Air

I know, some of these options are so weird when I am usually a Disney addict, but I love this movie ever since I watched it with friends! No idea why but I do!

Forrest Gump

Come on, who doesn't like a bit of Forrest Gump? I sure do! And I visited Bubba Gump's Shrimp restaurant while in Florida, it was amazing! I just love the stories told in this movie.

Sleeping Beauty

Yep, another Disney movie, who woulda guessed? This is my favourite classic Disney movie out of all of them. Not to say I don't like the others but this one just calls to me, and I love a good adaptation of it!

Obviously, these aren't all of my favourite movies, these are just a few that I most like of all.

What are your favourite movies? Or, what do you think of mine? Comment below!

ARC Review: Book of Fire by Michelle Kenney

So, I got this book from Netgalley, as an e-copy in exchange for a review.

I was extremely excited to read it. I had a bit of a slump while reading, so it took me longer than usual, but my slump was definitely not because of this book.

I loved this book. One word I can think of to describe it, is: Amazing.

Here it is:

Life outside the domes is not possible. At least that’s what Insiders are told.

Twins Eli and Talia shouldn’t exist. They’re Outsiders.

Their home is a secret. Their lives are a secret. Arafel is a secret.

An unexpected forest raid forces Talia into a desperate mission to rescue her family while protecting the sacred Book of Arafel from those who would use it as a weapon. As Talia and her life long friend Max enter the dome, she makes some unexpected discoveries, and allies, in the form of rugged Insider August, that will change the course of her life forever.

She’ll stop at nothing to save her family but will she sacrifice her heart in the process?

The Fire Sermon meets Gladiator in this brilliant YA debut.

Guys, I just do not know how to express my love for this book. It was so good! If I hadn't have had my slump I would have read this so quickly I'm sure, and I will probably re-read it a few times too!

This book is all about Talia, a girl who lives in a forest village, after a nuclear war. The world is split into 'Insiders' who survived inside a Dome after the devastation from the war, and 'Outsiders' who, according to those inside the Dome, should not exist.

While in this book, you see so many wild and weird creatures, all thanks to the genetic engineering of the Insiders. Creatures from history and mythology, such as Griffins or Cyclops, and just random creatures, like fluorescent cats. (This particular cat was only mentioned in the book once, but you know what I'm like with cats, so it stuck with me!).

The imagery in this book is just stunning, and it had me able to imagine all of the little details of the creatures, and places, and so I definitely congratulate Michelle on how well this little book world is written.

And guys, I doubt I've said this before, but I do love a love triangle! I don't know why, but they really draw me in to a book, and I love to take sides (apparently I usually choose the least popular side).

And what did this book give me? A love triangle! Talia had to choose between an Insider, August, and an Outsider she grew up with, Max.

I'm so routing for her and August (feel free to disagree with me in the comments if you've read the book!).

So, yes, a love triangle, genetic engineering, a Fluorescent cat, and a strong female main character, it all makes an amazing book that I highly recommend!

My rating: 5 cats!

This book is out this week (25th August) and it has recently been confirmed that it will be part of a trilogy! Yay!

Have any of you read this? Or are planning to read this? Comment below!

Harry Potter Book Tag!

So, here I am, big Potterhead, probably a bit too big of a Potterhead, and when I saw this tag on Rebecca's blog I knew I had to do it, and she unofficially tagged me when I talked to her about it.


Just can't resist the pull of a Harry Potter tag!


So, here are the questions:


1. What house are you in?



Technically Hufflepuff (on Pottermore) but I was sorted into Ravenclaw for my uni society and so I feel more like a Ravenclaw than anything. I guess I'll choose to be a Ravenpuff!



2. What is your patronus?


I took a while to actually do the patronus test, but I got a Dolphin!



3. What is your wand?


Hawthorn wood with a unicorn hair core, 13 ¾



4. What would your boggart be?


I'm not sure, maybe spiders/bugs, or heights? not sure xD



5. What position would you play in Quidditch?



I'm not really a sporty person, so I'd much rather be in the stands reading a book like Hermione! But if I have to choose probably a keeper, I'm good at being a goaly.



6. Would you be a pure blood, half blood or muggle born?


Most likely muggleborn as my parents aren't that into the magical world of Harry Potter like I am!



7. What job would you want after to have after graduating Hogwarts?


I'd love to be the Hogwarts librarian! Or maybe be in the Department of Mysteries! I'm good with secrets ;)

Quite a big difference between the two I chose!



8. Which of the deathly hallows would you choose?



Invisibility cloak! Great fun that'd be!




9. Favourite book?



Prisoner of Azkaban! Love it, and love that Sirius comes in and we find out a bit more about Harry's family/family friends.



10. Least favourite book?


Probably Order of the Phoenix (can't deal with Sirius being gone) or Deathly Hallows (I miss Dobby and loads of other characters so much!)



11. Favourite film?



Yet again, Prisoner of Azkaban! Love me some Sirius.



12. Least favourite film?



Oooooh hard to say! Maybe chamber of secrets? I just don't like it as much as the others, I don't know why (still watch it over and over though)



13. Favourite character?



Noooo how to chooooooose? But I guess I love me some Sirius (if you hadn't guessed) and I love Dobby so much. (notice how I chose two characters that broke my heart later in the books)


14. Least favourite/most hated character?


Eurgh, easy peasy. Umbridge. Don't think I need to explain myself for that answer!



15. Favourite teacher at Hogwarts?


McGonagall! Totally McGonagall! Love her, love she turns into a cat, and just love her character so much. (also Lupin, but as he's only at Hogwarts for a year I chose McGonagall instead.



16. Least favourite teacher at Hogwarts?


Yet again Umbridge. I seriously think she was the worst teacher EVER. Even stuttery Voldemort possessed Quirrell was better than her!



17. Do you have any unpopular opinions about the series?

I think that Harry and Hermione would have been a great romantic pairing! (or another one is I so wanted the Hermione and Krum relationship to work out)

Please don't kill me for that opinion guys *hides in a corner*



Do you agree with my answers? Comment below! Or, feel free to do this tag even if I haven't tagged you!



I tag (and anyone else that wants to do it):


Jess


Sydney


Paige


Linda


Jackie


Megs


Ash


Aisha