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 :)