The Da Vinci Code

Title: The Da Vinci Code

Author: Dan Brown

First Published: March 28th 2006

Series: Robert Langdon #2

Genre: Fiction, Mystery

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 481

My Copy: Physical Copy

My Overall Rating: 8/10

Goodreads Summary

An ingenious code hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci. A desperate race through the cathedrals and castles of Europe. An astonishing truth concealed for centuries . . . unveiled at last.

While in Paris, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is awakened by a phone call in the dead of the night. The elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum, his body covered in baffling symbols. As Langdon and gifted French cryptologist Sophie Neveu sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to discover a trail of clues hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci—clues visible for all to see and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter.

Even more startling, the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion—a secret society whose members included Sir Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, and Da Vinci—and he guarded a breathtaking historical secret. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle—while avoiding the faceless adversary who shadows their every move—the explosive, ancient truth will be lost forever.

  Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Illuminae

Title: Illuminae

Author: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

First Published: October 20th, 2015

Series: The Illuminae Files #1

Genre: YA, Science Fiction

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 599

My Copy: Physical Copy

My Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Goodreads Summary

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. 

This afternoon, her planet was invaded. 

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit. 

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again. 

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

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Ruler of Books Tag

Hi everyone! After a long while, I'm back with another tag! So, I'd like to start off with a huge THANKS to Caroline @ Just Another Bookish Blog for tagging me in this :) You can find her post here. Without further ado, let us begin!

Not my picture. Credits to Caroline :)

1. What book would you make everyone read?

I would probably make everyone read Illuminae, because it's such a unique book and I enjoyed every aspect of it!

2. What would you abolish from book construction?

Probably the fact that there are some books where the next chapter follows directly from the last sentence on the same page. I mean:

blah blah blah. (end of chapter)

Chapter 3 (for example)

I don't know why, it just makes it a lot more difficult to read. There are no breaks whatsoever and my poor eyes water. 

3. What author would you commission to write every book ever? OR what author would you commission to write a book for you?

So many authors to choose from! My top 5 will be:

1. J.K Rowling

2. Cassandra Clare

3. Rick Riordan

4. Suzanne Collins

5. Sarah J. Maas

4. What book would you demote to the library basement to make room for new books?

I would probably pick Paper Towns by John Green *hides from angry mob*. I really didn't enjoy the book or the movie, for that matter. I don't get what the hype is all about, but oh well. 

5. What cover artist would you commission to paint a beautiful mural?

I'd get Alison Klapthor, who designed the cover of A Thousand Pieces of You! It looks amazing and having a mural like that? SO cool!

6. What character's face would you put on a coin?

I'd put Katniss Everdeen on one of them, because she's one of the most badass protagonists I've ever read about. No one comes close. Not even Tris.

7. What book would you give the Ruler of Books award of 2016 to?

Oh, I've read so many good books in 2016, so how do I choose? I think my top 2 books of 2016 are A Court of Mist and Fury and A Gathering of Shadows! I equally loved the two of these books! :)

So, I hope you enjoyed reading this little tag! Now, I nominate:

Tasya @ The Literary Huntress

Fiona @ A Girl Between The Pages

Kayleigh @ A Book Lovers Playlist

Laura @ Blue Eye Books

And anyone else who wants to join in! :)

Lady Midnight

Title: Lady Midnight

Author: Cassandra Clare

First Published: March 8th 2016

Series: The Dark Artifices #1

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 698

My Copy: Physical Copy

My Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Goodreads Summary

In a kingdom by the sea… 

 In a secret world where half-angel warriors are sworn to fight demons, parabatai is a sacred word.  

A parabatai is your partner in battle. A parabatai is your best friend. Parabatai can be everything to each other—but they can never fall in love. 

Emma Carstairs is a warrior, a Shadowhunter, and the best in her generation. She lives for battle. Shoulder to shoulder with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, she patrols the streets of Los Angeles, where vampires party on the Sunset Strip, and faeries—the most powerful of supernatural creatures—teeter on the edge of open war with Shadowhunters. When the bodies of humans and faeries turn up murdered in the same way Emma’s parents were when she was a child, an uneasy alliance is formed. This is Emma’s chance for revenge—and Julian’s chance to get back his brother Mark, who is being held prisoner by the faerie Courts. All Emma, Mark, and Julian have to do is solve the murders within two weeks…and before the murderer targets them. 

Their search takes Emma from sea caves full of sorcery to a dark lottery where death is dispensed. And each clue she unravels uncovers more secrets. What has Julian been hiding from her all these years? Why does Shadowhunter Law forbid parabatai to fall in love? Who really killed her parents—and can she bear to know the truth?

The darkly magical world of Shadowhunters has captured the imaginations of millions of readers across the globe. Join the adventure in Lady Midnight, the long-awaited first volume of a new trilogy from Cassandra Clare.

  Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Title: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Author: John Tiffany, Jack Thorne, J.K Rowling

First Published: July 31st 2016

Series: Harry Potter #8

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 330

My Copy: Physical Copy

My Overall Rating: 8/10

Goodreads Summary

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016.

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

How Hard Can Love Be?

Title: How Hard Can Love Be?

Author: Holly Bourne

First Published: February 1st 2016

Series: Normal #2

Genre: YA, Contemporary

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 480

My Copy: Physical Copy

My Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Goodreads Summary

Amber, Evie and Lottie: three girls facing down tough issues with the combined powers of friendship, feminism and cheesy snacks. Both hilarious and heart-rending, this is Amber’s story of how painful – and exhilarating – love can be, following on from Evie’s story in Am I Normal Yet?

All Amber wants is a little bit of love. Her mum has never been the caring type, even before she moved to California, got remarried and had a personality transplant. But Amber's hoping that spending the summer with her can change all that.

And then there's prom king Kyle, the guy all the girls want. Can he really be interested in anti-cheerleader Amber? Even with best friends Evie and Lottie's advice, there's no escaping the fact: love is hard.

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

July Wrap-Up, August TBR & Book Haul!

Hi everyone! I know, I have been inactive for a while, but blame that on... anyone but me ;) How has everyone's July been? It's already August! Time really flies, especially during the summer. Just one more month and I'm back in school... :( But enough about me and my life. Let's get on with the post!

July Wrap-Up

Books read:
(links are to my review)

• Summer Days & Summer Nights, edited by Stephanie Perks - 8.25/10
• All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - 8/10
• A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas - 9/10
• Inferno by Dan Brown - 8/10
• Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton - 8.5/10
• Twelve Kings of Sharakhai by Bradley P. Beaulieu - 7/10

I'd call this quite a productive July! So, from the ratings, I'd say my favourite was A Court of Mist and Fury, followed by Rebel of the Sands - two books I'd been putting off for a while. My expectations were met and I enjoyed both books a lot! However, I was a little disappointed by Twelve  Kings of Sharakhai. I picked it up because of the compelling blurb and cool cover, but the story itself was not that enjoyable. It was really slow, jumping back and forth from past and present, and action was minimal except for the scenes where Çeda fights in the arena. More on that later.

August Book Haul & TBR

I went on a shopping spree for books yesterday for no reason. We never need reasons to buy books, right? :) 

1. How Hard Can Love Be? by Holly Bourne. Yes, another Holly Bourne book! I adore all her books, especially the ones in this series. It's the second book in the Normal series, but this time about Amber, our hardcore feminist! I'm really excited for this one!

2. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K Rowling. 

*Inner Potterhead takes over* YYESSS LET'S GET READING! CAN'T WAIT! YAAAAAAS! Ahem, excuse my shrieking. :P All over Instagram, people were so hyped and so excited - and I was too! Many people also talked about waiting hours in line, but here? I'm lucky to live in a place where not many people read at all, let alone Harry Potter. So, quite easy to get your hands on books you want :) 

3. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman. I've heard quite a lot about it, and it does seem like an interesting book to read, especially since the sequel is coming out quite soon. Have you read it? What do you think? I think it looks really cool! 

4. My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier. I saw this book on Cait @ Paper Fury's blog, on her post on Australian Recommendations, and I thought it was a really intriguing book. It's a YA Thriller - goodness knows I don't get enough of that genre in my life. If you also want some horror in your life, read it too!

That's it for today! Have you read any of the books mentioned above? What did you think? Feel free to drop me a comment, I'd really appreciate it! :)