A Court of Wings and Ruin

Title: A Court of Wings and Ruin

Author: Sarah J. Maas 

First Published: May 2nd 2017

Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #3

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 699

My Copy: Ebook

My Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Goodreads Summary

Looming war threatens all Feyre holds dear in the third volume of the #1 New York Times bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses series.

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin's manoeuvrings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit – and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.

As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords – and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

In this thrilling third book in the #1 New York Times bestselling series from Sarah J. Maas, the earth will be painted red as mighty armies grapple for power over the one thing that could destroy them all.

  Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Lord of Shadows

Title: Lord of Shadows

Author: Cassandra Clare

First Published: May 23rd 2017

Series: The Dark Artifices #2

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 701

My Copy: Physical copy

My Overall Rating: 9/10

Goodreads Summary

Would you trade your soul mate for your soul? 

A Shadowhunter’s life is bound by duty. Constrained by honor. The word of a Shadowhunter is a solemn pledge, and no vow is more sacred than the vow that binds parabatai, warrior partners—sworn to fight together, die together, but never to fall in love.

Emma Carstairs has learned that the love she shares with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, isn’t just forbidden—it could destroy them both. She knows she should run from Julian. But how can she when the Blackthorns are threatened by enemies on all sides?

Their only hope is the Black Volume of the Dead, a spell book of terrible power. Everyone wants it. Only the Blackthorns can find it. Spurred on by a dark bargain with the Seelie Queen, Emma; her best friend, Cristina; and Mark and Julian Blackthorn journey into the Courts of Faerie, where glittering revels hide bloody danger and no promise can be trusted. Meanwhile, rising tension between Shadowhunters and Downworlders has produced the Cohort, an extremist group of Shadowhunters dedicated to registering Downworlders and “unsuitable” Nephilim. They’ll do anything in their power to expose Julian’s secrets and take the Los Angeles Institute for their own.

When Downworlders turn against the Clave, a new threat rises in the form of the Lord of Shadows—the Unseelie King, who sends his greatest warriors to slaughter those with Blackthorn blood and seize the Black Volume. As dangers close in, Julian devises a risky scheme that depends on the cooperation of an unpredictable enemy. But success may come with a price he and Emma cannot even imagine, one that will bring with it a reckoning of blood that could have repercussions for everyone and everything they hold dear.

  Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Handmaid's Tale

Title: The Handmaid's Tale

Author: Margaret Atwood

First Published: 1985

Series: Stand alone

Genre: Classic, Dystopia, Sci-Fi

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 311

My Copy: Physical copy

My Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Goodreads Summary

Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the years before, when she lived and made love with her husband, Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now...

  Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Caraval

Title: Caraval

Author: Stephanie Garber

First Published: January 31st 2017

Series: Caraval #1

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 407

My Copy: Physical copy

My Overall Rating: 9/10

Goodreads Summary

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval… beware of getting swept too far away.

  Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Flame in the Mist

Title: Flame in the Mist

Author: Renée Ahdieh 

First Published: May 16th 2017

Series: Flame in the Mist #1

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 393

My Copy: Physical copy

My Overall Rating: 9/10

Goodreads Summary

The only daughter of a prominent samurai, Mariko has always known she’d been raised for one purpose and one purpose only: to marry. Never mind her cunning, which rivals that of her twin brother, Kenshin, or her skills as an accomplished alchemist. Since Mariko was not born a boy, her fate was sealed the moment she drew her first breath.

So, at just seventeen years old, Mariko is sent to the imperial palace to meet her betrothed, a man she did not choose, for the very first time. But the journey is cut short when Mariko’s convoy is viciously attacked by the Black Clan, a dangerous group of bandits who’ve been hired to kill Mariko before she reaches the palace.

The lone survivor, Mariko narrowly escapes to the woods, where she plots her revenge. Dressed as a peasant boy, she sets out to infiltrate the Black Clan and hunt down those responsible for the target on her back. Once she’s within their ranks, though, Mariko finds for the first time she’s appreciated for her intellect and abilities. She even finds herself falling in love—a love that will force her to question everything she’s ever known about her family, her purpose, and her deepest desires.

  Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Happy Pride Month Everyone! (And 10 LGBTQIA+ Book Recommendations)

Hi everyone! As you all know, June is Pride Month of 2017. In honour of this celebration, I am going to list 10 books that have LGBTQIA+ themes in them. Some I've read, others I've only heard of. Most of the books listed here are gay couples, but I hope to find more diversity in the future! Also, the couples mentioned here range from being the main characters to minor side characters. I hope you enjoy this post and will get round to reading them!

P.S. Carrie made a similar post on The Butterfly Reader which actually inspired me to make my own list of recommendations, which you can read here if you're interested as well!

1.  Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

This book is one of my favourite books of all time. The friendship (which develops into something further) between Aristotle and Dante is so sweet and fluffy! I want to squeal every time I reread the book. It's written beautifully so that it really keeps your attention on the book. 

2. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

I quite enjoyed this book because I liked the slight mystery behind the true identity of who Simon was communicating with. It's an easy read which I quite liked, but for me, it just wasn't the type of book that really stuck in my memory. 

3. Half Bad by Sally Green

This was one of the first fantasy books I've read where the main character is gay. In most fantasy books, the LGBT+ character is often the side/supporting character. Nathan and Gabriel are so cute together but *major spoiler* I hate that Gabriel dies in the last book!! Why can't Nathan have something good? He deserves so much!! :( *spoiler over*

4. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Malec is my favourite ships in this series! They definitely trump Clace for me ;P I like how Cassandra Clare has but some diversity in this series as well as in The Dark Artifices as well. We definitely need more!

5. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Carry On is like the canon version of Drarry, just with different names. I really liked the idea behind the book and it was kind of funny to read Drarry fan fiction, just with subbed names and in the form of a real live book!

6. The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan

Yay! Rick Riordan is beginning to include more LGBT+ characters in his books! Nico finally gets a boyfriend YAAAS SOLANGELO is like my OTP! Also, we have Apollo as being openly bisexual, which is pretty cool. 

7. Two Boys Kissing by David Leviathan 

This one I haven't read, but it seems very interesting :) 

8. If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

This one I thought is worth the read since it educated me on the topic of transgender, something which is usually shied away from in YA novels. It is an easy read, one that you would devour in one sitting. 

9. A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

There is a gay couple in this book that I hope to see more of in the next book: A Conjuring of Light. They seem like they are suited for each other, despite the fact that one of them keeps breaking the other's heart. :(

10. Release by Patrick Ness

I adore all of Patrick Ness' books, so when I heard of this new one, I was ecstatic. I haven't actually gotten round to reading this book yet, but I think it's definitely worth the read. 

So, this is my list! If you have read any of them, or have more recommendations for me, just drop a comment down below! I'd really appreciate it :) Happy Pride Month everyone!

Milk and Honey

Title: Milk and Honey

Author: Rupi Kaur

First Published: November 4th 2014

Series: Stand alone

Genre: Poetry

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 204

My Copy: Physical copy

My Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Goodreads Summary

milk and honey is a collection of poetry and prose about survival. It is about the experience of violence, abuse, love, loss, and femininity. It is split into four chapters, and each chapter serves a different purpose, deals with a different pain, heals a different heartache. milk and honey takes readers through a journey of the most bitter moments in life and finds sweetness in them because there is sweetness everywhere if you are just willing to look.

  Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Girl with All the Gifts

Title: The Girl with All the Gifts

Author: M.R. Carey

First Published: June 19th 2014

Series: Stand alone

Genre: Fiction, Sci-Fi, Horror

Available As: Hardcover, paperback

Pages: 460

My Copy: Physical copy

My Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Goodreads Summary

Melanie is a very special girl. Dr. Caldwell calls her "our little genius."

Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite, but they don't laugh.

Melanie loves school. She loves learning about spelling and sums and the world outside the classroom and the children's cells. She tells her favorite teacher all the things she'll do when she grows up. Melanie doesn't know why this makes Miss Justineau look sad.

The Girl with All the Gifts is a sensational thriller, perfect for fans of Stephen King, Justin Cronin, and Neil Gaiman.

  Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Book Courtship Tag

I know I haven't been that active these past weeks, but Tasya @ The Literary Huntress nominated me to participate in this tag, so I decided to haul myself to my laptop and post! :) Thanks Tasya for nominating me! Also, you can count this as my super late Valentine's Day post :P

Phase 1 : Initial attraction | A book you bought because of the cover

Doesn't this say it all? I mean, look at the cover! It looks so amazing. I still haven't began to read it yet, but I can't wait to!

Phase 2 : First impressions | A book you bought because of the summary

I was immediately intrigued by the summary of Made You Up, because it would be the first book I've read of that genre. I ended up enjoying it very much and I hope you read it if you haven't already! 

Phase 3 : Sweet talk | A book with great writing

I must say All The Light We Cannot See wins this spot. Actually, I think most historical fiction has great writing (and is usually quite deep) but I love this book the most. 

Phase 4 : First date | A first book in a series that made you want to pick up the rest

It has to be Shadow and Bone, right? Leigh Bardugo's world building of the Grisha 'verse is just great. I love all the concepts and I'm still waiting for time to free up to read Crooked Kingdom. Oops. I didn't mean to push it that far down my TBR... 

Phase 5 : Late night phone calls | A book that kept you up all night

A Darker Shade Of Magic is one of my favourite fantasy books of all time, and when I first picked up ADSOF, I could't help but question myself why I took so long before buying it. The world building was amazing and I adore the idea of many Londons. Can I live in Red London? I can't wait for the A Conjuring of Light!

Phase 6 : Always on my mind | A book you can't stop thinking about

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson should be here. I can't stop thinking about Melinda and how common her story actually is in our world now. It's a really good book and I devoured it in one sitting, even though the topic is a touchy and difficult one. 

Phase 7 : Getting physical | A book which feels nice

A book that feels nice? Then I guess I'd have to choose a book with a lot of fluff. Which is difficult to do since authors just like to play with our feelings with cliffhangers/plot twists and destroy our ships and OTPs :( but ok, I guess The Hidden Oracle (Trials of Apollo #1) was good enough because it had Solangelo in it! That is all I need, so thanks Rick :) Everything else in the book was angsty.

Phase 8 : Meeting the parents | A book you would recommend to your family and friends

My family and friends (sadly) don't always read the same genre of books I do, so if I were to recommend something, it would be The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom, because I do love his books. They are all so sad yet comforting to read. 

Phase 9 : Thinking about the future | A book you will re-read a lot

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is one of the few Contemporary books that I actually enjoy rereading over and over again.  I really like the developing relationship between Aristotle and Dante, and how they gain confidence, finally finding themselves and each other. Aww, so sweet :)

Phase 10 : Sharing the love | Whom do you tag?

I tag Caroline @ Just Another Bookish Blog and Laura @ Blue Eye Books but anyone can join in!

Enoch and the Stars Above

Title: Enoch and the Stars Above

Author: Rich Paz

First Published: July 1st 2016

Series: Stand alone

Genre: YA Fiction, Sci-Fi

Available As: ebook

Pages: 245

My Copy: ebook (PDF) 

My Overall Rating: 7.5/10

Goodreads Summary

How will it all end? It was a night that would change Enoch´s life forever. It was a night like many others, yet strange and unusual, a star-filled sky put together by uncertainty, yet in a breath of magic, Enoch Sotheby is reborn again as he is chosen for a mission to save humanity as an interstellar care-taker lands in his backyard. He is visited by a member of the Arcs, Uriel, who comes to warn of his evil android counterparts whose intent is to annihilate the Earth and its surrounding quadrant. Enoch is then thrust into a position of great power as he forges unlikely alliances to help save the world from its inevitable destruction. Universal reign shall never be the same again.

  Goodreads | Amazon

Speak

Title: Speak

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson

First Published: October 22nd 1999

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: YA Fiction, Contemporary

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 208

My Copy: Physical copy 

My Overall Rating: 9/10

Goodreads Summary

"Speak up for yourself--we want to know what you have to say." From the first moment of her freshman year at Merryweather High, Melinda knows this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She is friendless, outcast, because she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen to her. As time passes, she becomes increasingly isolated and practically stops talking altogether. Only her art class offers any solace, and it is through her work on an art project that she is finally able to face what really happened at that terrible party: she was raped by an upperclassman, a guy who still attends Merryweather and is still a threat to her. Her healing process has just begun when she has another violent encounter with him. But this time Melinda fights back, refuses to be silent, and thereby achieves a measure of vindication. In Laurie Halse Anderson's powerful novel, an utterly believable heroine with a bitterly ironic voice delivers a blow to the hypocritical world of high school. She speaks for many a disenfranchised teenager while demonstrating the importance of speaking up for oneself.

Speak was a 1999 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature.

  Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Asking For It

Title: Asking For It

Author: Louise O'Neill

First Published: September 3rd 2015

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: YA Fiction, Contemporary

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 346

My Copy: Physical copy 

My Overall Rating: 9/10

Goodreads Summary

It's the beginning of the summer in a small town in Ireland. Emma O'Donovan is eighteen years old, beautiful, happy, confident. One night, there's a party. Everyone is there. All eyes are on Emma.

The next morning, she wakes on the front porch of her house. She can't remember what happened, she doesn't know how she got there. She doesn't know why she's in pain. But everyone else does. 

Photographs taken at the party show, in explicit detail, what happened to Emma that night. But sometimes people don't want to believe what is right in front of them, especially when the truth concerns the town's heroes...

  Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

If I Was Your Girl

Title: If I Was Your Girl

Author: Meredith Russo 

First Published: May 3rd 2016

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: YA Fiction, Contemporary

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 288

My Copy: Physical copy 

My Overall Rating: 8/10

Goodreads Summary

Amanda Hardy is the new girl in school in Lambertville, Tennessee. Like any other girl, all she wants is to make friends and fit in. But Amanda is keeping a secret. There’s a reason why she transferred schools for her senior year, and why she’s determined not to get too close to anyone. 

And then she meets Grant Everett. Grant is unlike anyone she’s ever met—open, honest, kind—and Amanda can’t help but start to let him into her life. As they spend more time together, she finds herself yearning to share with Grant everything about herself…including her past. But she’s terrified that once she tells Grant the truth, he won't be able to see past it.

Because the secret that Amanda’s been keeping? It’s that she used to be Andrew.

  Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Goodbye 2016, Hello 2017

I'd like to say 2016 was a great year, but was it really? In terms of reality - no. In terms of books, 2016 was great. I read so many interesting (and not-so-interesting) books this year, and I wanted to put it into visuals for everyone. I did this last year, but seeing Cait's post made me remember to do it again!

Books by Rating

From this chart, I can tell that I am quite generous in rating. I don't use stars on my blog, but I do on Goodreads. Should I switch to stars? Maybe I will, but in 2017.

Books by Genre

Which genre is your favourite? I was meaning to read to read more mystery and horror this year, but I got too stuck on Fantasy, as usual. Contemporary just pops up here and there, I don't go actively looking for this genre. Haha, yeah :)

Top 10 Books of 2016

This year has been a good year, like I said already. So here are my 10 favourites - but in no particular order!

1. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
2. Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard
3. A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
4. Half Lost by Sally Green
5. The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan
6. Rebel of the Sands by Alywn Hamilton
7. Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
8. Heartless by Marissa Meyer
9. The Midnight Star by Marie Lu
10. Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

All these books were amazing! Have you read any of these ones? All of them? What do you think about them?

Top 4 Disappointments of 2016

Of course, not all books will be good, and here are some of the books I've read this year that have been either a) a pain or b) boring or c) crushed my hopes or d) all of the above. Let's go!

1. Silas Marner by George Eliot
2. Twelve Kings in Sharakhai by Bradley P. Beaulieu
3. Doll Bones by Holly Black
4. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (because I expected so much more from her!)

Most Anticipated Books of 2017

Moving on to the happy category! 2017 - new books, new series, sequels, all that good stuff. So, which great books are coming our way?

1. A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3) by Sarah J. Maas
2. King's Cage (Red Queen #3) by Victoria Aveyard
3. Lord of Shadows (The Dark Artifices #2) by Cassandra Clare
4. A Conjuring of Light (Shades of Magic #3) by V.E. Schwab
5. Caravel (Caravel #1) by Stephanie Garber
6. The Dark Prophecy (Trials of Apollo #2) by Rick Riordan

And that's all for today! I hope you all enjoy yourselves today and get ready for 2017! Enjoy the last of 2016 :)

Gemina

Title: Gemina

Author: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff 

First Published: October 18th 2016

Series: The Illuminae Files #2

Genre: YA, Sci-Fi

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 608

My Copy: Physical copy 

My Overall Rating: 9/10

Goodreads Summary

Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.

The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault. 

Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy's most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.

When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station's wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.

But relax. They've totally got this. They hope.

Once again told through a compelling dossier of emails, IMs, classified files, transcripts, and schematics, Gemina raises the stakes of the Illuminae Files, hurling readers into an enthralling new story that will leave them breathless.

  Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Title: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Author: Becky Albertalli

First Published: April 7th, 2015

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: YA Fiction, Contemporary

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 320

My Copy: Physical copy 

My Overall Rating: 8/10

Goodreads Summary

Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised. 

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

  Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Heartless

Title: Heartless

Author: Marissa Meyer

First Published: November 8th 2016

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 449

My Copy: Physical copy 

My Overall Rating: 9/10

Goodreads Summary

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland and a favorite of the unmarried King, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, she wants to open a shop and create delectable pastries. But for her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for a woman who could be a queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the King’s marriage proposal, she meets handsome and mysterious Jest. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into a secret courtship.

Cath is determined to choose her own destiny. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

  Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Movie Review: Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them

Today, I've finally watched Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them! I was so excited for it - it's been so long since we've seen anything to do with the Wizarding World on movie screen. I had no idea what the plot was (I refrained from reading spoilers) but I had quite high hopes for it.

I was not disappointed!

What I loved

• Eddie Redmayne as Newt was 5 stars. I love Eddie Redmayne as an actor anyway - he's really good! I loved how he played Newt as an awkward, sweet wizard who loves animals. 
• The plot was so intriguing! There is a new big bad - Grindelwald. Remember him? ;) Plus, he's played by Johnny Depp (which is kind of weird, but oh well)
• Tina and Queenie! Badass sisters!
• Queenie and Jacob :) I hope there's a future for the two of them.
• All the beasts! I thought the niffler was very cute and fluffy Occamy? YAS I want one. Plus, the Bowtruckles would be such great companions 
• Newt's mating dance was hilarious
• Tina and Newt's developing relationship
• Hedwig's theme at the beginning of the movie. Really brings back old memories of Harry Potter (*teary sniffle*)
• Basically? Everything

After the fiasco of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, J.K. Rowling comes back with this fantastic movie. It's supposed to be a five part movie, each set in a different place. First New York, next where? I can't wait for the next one (coming out in 2018 *cries*)

Before Voldemort, it was Grindelwald. I'd love to see his evil plans and how Newt and Tina plays into them. Plus, I hope Dumbledore will show up! I'm pretty sure he use to like Grindelwald, so we'll see what happens.

Have you watched Fantastic Beasts yet? Have you seen the cover of the screenplay? It's beautiful.

Room

Title: Room

Author: Emma Donoghue

First Published: September 13th 2010

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: Fiction

Available As: Hardcover, paperback, ebook

Pages: 321

My Copy: Physical copy

My Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Goodreads Summary

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.

Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, Room is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another.

  Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Halloween - Books, TV Shows and Movies

It's Halloween everyone! It's also one of my favourite holidays in the year >:) So in honour of Halloween, I've decided to do another Halloween theme post - this time with books, TV shows and movies to enjoy during this Halloween. Are you ready?

BOOKS

1. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. I remember reading this entire book in one sitting - it was that good! It's not that scary, just bordering on creepy/spooky. I loved it so much and now I just want to reread it! :)

2. Coraline by Neil Gaiman - both the movie and book. I adored the movie though it did freak me out a bit. (I was 8 when I watched it - bad idea, yeah I know) The concept is so creepy and yet so thrilling!

3. Slasher Girls & Monster Boys, which I haven't actually read yet but seems pretty good. It's an anthology of horror stories, including some of my favourite authors: Leigh Bardugo, Marie Lu and Jonathan Maberry! YES this is perfect :)

TV SHOWS

1. Supernatural, of course. Yes, there are 12 seasons and counting, but what a better than to start season 1 if you haven't already? There are so many monsters, demons, plot twists that can keep you entertained.

2. American Horror Story, if you are into more horror, gore and whatnot. Sure, there are scenes that make 99% of viewers uncomfortable, but what can you do? If you want more ghosty stuff, go for season 1 and season 6 ;)

3. Scream Queens, if you want something a little more light-hearted. It's a horror-comedy, and I thought the characters are pretty funny if not stupid at times. They are all sassy though, which makes up for it.

MOVIES

1. The Shining - both the book and movie works. There aren't many jump-scares or anything like that, but it's the atmosphere and tension that builds up, making the movie that much more effective. 

2. The Conjuring (the first movie) because it's way better than the second one. Also, the plot is more interesting than the other spinoffs (Annabelle I'm looking at you) , but that's just my opinion. 

3. The Exorcist - a all-time classic. I think it's pretty good, but same as in the Shining, there aren't many jump-scares since they also focus on the creepy atmosphere and rising fear.

So, here are my 3 suggestions in each category! Do you have some for me? I hope you all have a fun Halloween :)