A Bookie's Books

Fate: The Winx Saga Review

If you were a child duirng the 2000s-2010s you most likely watched Winx as a kid. It was a show about fairies at school. It was a dumb little kid show and it was great.

Well, incase you live under a rock and didn’t know, they made a live action remake of it. Now, I was a kid when I saw the Winx cartoon so I have no remembrance if it was similar to this or not.

But, I loved it.

I know a lot of critics about the show were that they over exagerrated being a teenager. Like there was one line about Sorting Hat quizzses that people hated. I dont see why anyone hated that. Like, do you not take sorting hat quizzzes?

It is exactly how 16-year-olds talk. I dont know what to tell you.

I loved it. All the characters were great. Bloom was well-casted and she did terrific. I really like the actor. I think the other girls were great too. If I am being honest I only remember one of there names and that was Terra. I loved Terra. She was so kind and had plants all over her room. Because of her, I went out today and bought two more plants for my room. Also, the male actors they had were very very attractive. Props to the casting director for their choices.

The plot was good. I wish that we had more episodes. I think the ending was great. Like not great, it was a bad thing that happened, but great because SEASON TWO BABY!!! I hate that Netflix only does like 6-10 episodes for each show they produce. Does anyone know why that is?

Anyways, the storyline was great. I think that it could have been better with more episodes because it would not have been so rushed but other than that it was fantastic. I cannot wait to see where they go with this next season.

I cannot really talk about what I want to talk about and keep it spoiler free so I am going to end it here. I hope that everyone goes out to watch it. If you have seen it let me know what you thought in the comments.

As always, thanks for reading,

A Bookie

Star Rating: 4

A Christmas Book Review? In February?

Book: Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares

Author: Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Series: Dash & Lily, Book #1

Published by October 27th 2020 by Ember (first published October 26th 2010)

*the book photographed is not the same cover for the actual edition I read. I just like this cover more than the one I had when I was looing for my edition. But the published by is correct for what I read*

Genre: Romance, YA, Christmas vibes

Pages: 260

“’I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.’

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.” -Goodreads

My Review:

I did a thing that I hate doing.

I watched the show before I read the book. I know, right? YIKES.

That being said, I did not know that it was a book until I turned the show on. But, at that point I was already intrigued.

I mean, it included my favorite bookstore in the whole world, The Strand. How was I not supposed to watch it?

Since this book was originally published in 2010, I dont feel it is necessary for me to do a super in-depth review. I did want to review it because I was in desperate need for a post for the end of the week. I feel like I dont post enough.

But, oh well. Between college and work this blog is last place in importance. I think I am doing okay though. I have posted at least once a week this year I think which was my goal.

Okay sorry for not starting the review yet.

So the book. Very good.

It was super short, a cute little read. I was not surprised by much because I watched the show before.

A few of the plot points were different from the show. (SPOILERS FOR THIS PARAGRAPH JUST SKIP). I did not like the dog scene. It just seemed a little fake. I mean clearly it was. But, I did not like it. The show had a way cuter and dramatic ending. I did think the show’s ending was super rushed, but I liked it. The whole dog thing and the jail thing was weird. It was just one of those things annoyingly fake things that happen in YA novels. So I shouldn’t be mad. But, because I watched the show I had this expectation for a really romantic and surprising ending, and then everything was different.

I think that the characters were kind of undeveloped. They were kind of boring. Dash was way to grumpy all the time. I get that was his persona but there was hardly any moments where he seemed happy. Lily was either too happy and not weird enough. In the show she always more cool crazy clothes. That was like the whole point of the story was like they brought the best out of each other.

That being said I still loved this book. I liked the Christmas theme. I liked everything else that happened other than what I said in the last two paragraphs. I think the general plot was cute. I think that a bookstore romance was perfect for literally every book lover. I wish that I would find a red notebook from a man trying to find my love. I wouldn’t do it because I am not going to copy, but if someone else did that for me I would appreciate.

Okay, I am tired so I am going to end this review. I loved it a lot. I REALLY loved the show. I would recommend people go read both.

As always, thanks for reading,

A Bookie

Star Rating: 4.1

Top 5 Couples

While I wanted to do the WWW, it would exactly like last week because I have not finished anything yet.

So I am doing Top 5 Wednesday which is hosted by Goodreads.

This weeks topic is top 5 books couples.

1.) Harry and Ginny from the Harry Potter series.

Image result for harry and ginny fanart — Could not find the artists username anywhere on the website I was on and I cannot really read the signature so if someone finds the person can you please let me know so I can link their socials 🙂

2.) Rowan and Aelin

Image result for rowan and aelin fanart — Art by _aniake.art_ which again this picture was not on her account so if you can find the account pls help a girl out

3) Simon and Baz (I have not read the second book so if there are any spoilers about this couple dont you dare say it)

Image result for carryone fana rt — Art by dancingwdinosaurs

4) Kate and August from This Savage Song and Our Dark Duet. I couldn’t find any fanart that I liked. And yes I shipped them.

5) Kenna and Duncan in the Doon series. I could not find any fanart AGAIN, so sorry…

As always, thanks for reading,

A Bookie

Ten Books About Love on my TBR

It is Tuesday.

That means it is time for another Top Ten Tuesday!

“Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.” -That Artsy Reader Girl

So, it said Valentine’s freebie so I am taking to chance to talk about the books on my shelf that have romance or are romance novels.

First up is Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer. While it may not be 100% a romance book, it is a book about love. It also has red on the cover so it fits with the theme.

Second is Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Leviathan. This is what I am going to be reading this week. I think that it is going to be a really cute book it read. I am very excited.

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares (Dash & Lily, #1)

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is the third book. Yes I haven’t read it yet, what about it?

To go along with above fourth and fifth are Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.

Sixth is The Princess Bride by William Goldman. This is sort of an important book for my family so I feel like it is very important to read this. I promise Grandmama and Grumpy that I will read it.

The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead is coming in at a hot seventh. The list is hard to make because I am just grabbing what I can off my TBR shelf. I am not sure if I am even getting romance books since I dont know what all of them are for.

The Glittering Court (The Glittering Court, #1)

Ride the Winter Wind by Christina Kingston is the eight book. I have never even heard of this book before but I got it in this bundle of used book from Half Price Books.

Ninth is Fated by Alyson Noel. This was hard to find cause it looks like fantasy but then they synopsis mentions a boy so I am going to count this because my pickings are becoming slim.

And to end the list, I have to include Maas in here somehow so the entire ACOTAR series from A Court of Thornes and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruins, and A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas. (If anyone can tell me which order do I read ACOFAS in the series that would be great). Once I finish the ToG series, I will be beginning this series next.

Anyways, I hope you guys all have a great week and fill it with love. Take extra time out of your day to show someone that you really care about them and they are special. Who knows who need to hear it.

As always, thanks for reading,

A Bookie

Down the TBR Hole: an old tag that I need to do

Down the TBR Hole is a meme created by Lia at Lost in a Story where we decide whether to keep or remove books on our TBR. I believe that someone else took over the tag but if someone could let me know that would be great.

Rules:

Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
Order on ascending date added.
Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
Read the synopses of the books
Decide: keep it or should it go?

Now, I have never gone through my Goodreads shelf and deleted anything. Before doing this, I have 604 books on my TBR. Some of them books that I just saw people read and added them to my list. So this is going to be interesting.

The Magicians (The Magicians, #1) — Keep

The Selection (The Selection, #1) — Keep

The Night We Said Yes (The Night We Said Yes, #1) — Keep

So these are my first ten. I did not include the synopsis in these because I realized that the post would be way too long. I obviously am keeping them all. I felt like this was a little bad but its not my fault I chose great books.

Anyways, this was supposed to be a short simple posts just to post something today. I plan on doing more of these. But, I was so tired writing this that I will write more later.

As always, thank you for reading,

A Bookie

Is it really February already?

So I guess its February?

When did that happen?

Well I guess it is time for me to do my monthly wrap-up.

Books I read this month:

Empire of Storm by Sarah J. Maas
Lucy by Jamacia Kincaid
What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

A list of posts I made:

(Also I just found of I can drag and drop post titles from another tab onot here so I did not have to rewrite out all these titles!)

Things I did:

I really did not do much. I played ALOT of Minecraft. I started my Winter quarter in school. I went to Yakima with my roommates. I went home twice for a dentist and a doctors appointment. I had my first IV and my first (and hopefully last) MRI. I kept up with all my school work. I think I am following through on most of my resolutions. I just have not been able to purchase my journal. I did not even know that February was so close so I am going to do that after work. I am excited for Febuary.

I would like to, in the future, be able to provide my posts that I plan on making in this part but I am lazy at the moment unable to do it for the moment.

Anyways, as always, thanks for reading,

A Bookie

Late Christmas Book Haul: Part 2

Hey guys

I am back with the second part of my Christmas book haul. If you did not read the last one, it was full of gifts my grandparents and mom bought for me. Go check it out!

These are the books I bought myself with the money people gave me to buy books.

Except this one:

The Short Second Life of Bree Taylor by Stephanie Meyer

“BREE TANNER CAN BARELY REMEMBER LIFE before she had uncannily powerful senses, superhuman reflexes, and unstoppable physical strength. Life before she had a relentless thirst for blood… life before she became a vampire.” -Goodreads

This was a late present from my grandparents. Now for the stuff I bought:

A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab

“Kell is one of the last Antari—magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black…”-Goodreads

And I Darken by Kiersten White

“No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets…”-Goodreads

Now I Rise by Kiersten White

“Lada Dracul has no allies. No throne. All she has is what she’s always had: herself. After failing to secure the Wallachian throne, Lada is out to punish anyone who dares to cross her blood-strewn path. Filled with a white-hot rage, she storms the countryside with her men, accompanied by her childhood friend Bogdan, terrorizing the land. But brute force isn’t getting Lada what she wants. And thinking of Mehmed brings little comfort to her thorny heart. There’s no time to wonder whether he still thinks about her, even loves her. She left him before he could leave her…” -Goodreads

Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith

“Private Detective Cormoran Strike is visiting his family in Cornwall when he is approached by a woman asking for help finding her mother, Margot Bamborough — who went missing in mysterious circumstances in 1974.”-Goodreads

Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?” -Goodreads

The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout

“Growing up, Mallory Dodge learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. And even though it’s been four years since her nightmare ended, she’s beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime. Now, after years of homeschooling, Mallory must face a new milestone…” -Goodreads

Those are all the books I got this Christmas! I am so excited for them all. My TBR shelf now has no room so I really need to finish all these books so I can add more. My mom will be so mad I want to buy more but it is okay.

As always, thanks for reading!

A Bookie

What If It’s Us Review

Author: Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

Series: What If It’s Us #1

Published October 9th 2018 by HarperTeen

Genre: YA, Romance

Pages: 437

“Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it.

Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things.”-Goodreads

Review:

Well…

I hate giving in to reading hyped up books. They always ket me down somewhat.

Now the book was good, the romance was cute, but it just seemed to stereotypical. The romance was too rushed and the endless talking about musicals was insane.

Now, I love a good musical. I do not think they are represented enough in books. I listen to the Hamilton soundtrack every time I make the 2 hour drive from college to my home.

But I felt like Hamilton refrences were being shoved down my throat the ENTIRE book.

And it is cute to have a thing. I like when books have a thing so you can remind yourself of these books. Sometimes I think books dont show the romance’s “thing” enough.

BUT GODD*MN I have never been more annoyed in my life.

That being said this book was good. Lots of people enjoy it and I also enjoyed it. It just was too much sometimes.

I loved that the romance was relatable. Like it modelled a modern day romance (in the middle). It showed how people are flawed. I liked that it showed both sides of the story, but the end and the beginning just seemed too much. Like okay, I am going to try and say this in a way that does not spoil anything. The beginning goes WAY too fast. Like the authors could have played around with this a bit more. Led the chase on a bit longer than it did. And the end, wasn’t unrealistic enough for me to like it. And it wasn’t realistic enough for me to like it. If you have read it and want to know what I mean, go o my contact page. But seriously, the end was like a moderate ending. I did not like it. Part of why we like books is because they are unrealistic. They are our fantasies. And this did not play out that fantasy, But, it did not play out how real-life would have taken the relationship (if they were any normal 16-year-old couple). So I did not like that aspect.

Saying that I did not like the romance of a romance novel pretty much means the book was bad. But it wasmt. I liked it a lot. But it just was inconsistent.

I loved the characters though. Arthur and Ben were amazing. I loved Dylan. Ethan and Jessie were too predictable but it was a cute trope that they had going on.

Anyways I do not want to talk about this book anymore. I am glad I finished one more book of my shelf.

As always, thanks for reading

A Bookie

Star Rating: 3.4

WWW: Some Random Reads 1/20/2021

Hi guys!

Guess what? It is WWW Wednesday. This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words. And it involves answering the 3 Ws!

•What are you currently reading?

Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

“Chaol Westfall and Nesryn Faliq have arrived in the shining city of Antica to forge an alliance with the Khagan of the Southern Continent, whose vast armies are Erilea’s last hope. But they have also come to Antica for another purpose: to seek healing at the famed Torre Cesme for the wounds Chaol received in Rifthold…”-Goodreads

Lucy by Jamacia Kincaid (for school)

“Lucy, a teenage girl from the West Indies, comes to North America to work as an au pair for Lewis and Mariah and their four children. Lewis and Mariah are a thrice-blessed couple–handsome, rich, and seemingly happy. Yet, almost at once, Lucy begins to notice cracks in their beautiful facade. With mingled anger and compassion, Lucy scrutinizes the assumptions and verities of her employers’ world and compares them with the vivid realities of her native place. Lucy has no illusions about her own past, but neither is she prepared to be deceived about where she presently is…”-Goodreads

•What did you recently finish reading?

Empire of Storm by Sarah J. Maas

“Kingdoms will collide.

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius as war looms on the horizon. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don’t…” -Goodreads

What if it’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

“Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it.

Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things…”-Goodreads

•What do you think you’ll read next?

Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas

“Aelin Galathynius has vowed to save her people ― but at a tremendous cost. Locked within an iron coffin by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin must draw upon her fiery will as she endures months of torture. The knowledge that yielding to Maeve will doom those she loves keeps her from breaking, but her resolve is unraveling with each passing day…” -Goodreads

Anyways, hope you guys are having a good week. I am trying to get my review for What if its Us out as soon as possible. It has been a busy week but I get to go home for a quick visit.

As always, thanks for reading!

A Bookie

Empire of Storms (or should I say tears) Review

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Author: Sarah J. Maas

Series: Throne of Glass #5

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Pages: 689

“Kingdoms will collide.

With her heart sworn to the warrior-prince by her side, and her fealty pledged to the people she is determined to save, Aelin will delve into the depths of her power to protect those she loves. But as monsters emerge from the horrors of the past, and dark forces become poised to claim her world, the only chance for salvation will lie in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

In this breathtaking fifth installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, Aelin will have to choose what—and who—to sacrifice if she’s to keep the world of Erilea from breaking apart.” –Goodreads

As I write this the tears are streeaming down my face.

Never in my life have I ever felt so much emotion from a book before.

I mean I have felt every emotion you can think of from reading this book.

Sadness…you got it

Betrayal…you got it

Optimistic…you got it

Desperate…you got it

Literally every emotion ever.

I mean come on. That ending. It was so dramatic. It had me hating every single character and loving every single character.

Sarah J. Maas has never ceased to amaze me. She is my role model in life. I wish I had an eighth of her skill. I can barely write a 500 word review on her book without feeling sucky. Imagine writing the entire Throne of Glass series which has about 1,393,501 words. (That is probably not exact, some books I could not find the exact total so I took the best guess the websites could come up with.) I love Maas and everything she does.

Most readers have already read the series and if you have not I cannot do much in ways of reviewing it that does not spoil previous books. But, if you have not read the Throne of Glass series, READ IT! It has magic. It has adventure. It has a bad*ss b*tch who does is a role model for girls around the world (other than the whole assassin thing). The love stories and love triangles are amazing. It is just all around amazing and you will cry. I promise, you will cry.

This is literally one of the best published works out there that someone will ever read.

I have two more books of the series to read. I will be sad to let it go but watch out for my other reviews about it.

As always, thanks for reading

A Bookie

Star Rating: 5