Christmas Book Haul

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday – I did! This Christmas I got some wonderful books from both my parents and, well, myself and as usual I thought you guys might want to take a look. So here we go.

Gifts to Me From Me:

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Not That Kind Of Girl by Lena Dunham

Yes Please by Amy Poehler

Shadow of the Wolf by Tim Hall

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

The Life and Loves of a He-Devil by Graham Norton

Gifts From Me To Me…That Have Not Arrived Yet!

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

On Writing by Stephen King

Gifts To Me From My Lovely Parents!

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Deception by C.J. Redwine

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

The Watcher in the Shadows by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy by Helen Fielding

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Woo! That is a lot of books! But I think I’m up to the reading challenge! If you guys want to know more about the books just click on the covers and you will be swept away to a world of knowledge and by that I mean Goodreads.

Once again I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday! And I hope you all got some wonderful books! See you all soon!

Defiance: Review

Author: C.J. Redwine

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Genre: Fantasy

Summary: While the other girls in the walled city-state of Baalboden learn to sew and dance, Rachel Adams learns to track and hunt. While they bend like reeds to the will of their male Protectors, she uses hers for sparring practice.

When Rachel’s father fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the city’s brutal Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector: her father’s apprentice, Logan—the boy she declared her love to and who turned her down two years before. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making. (Via Goodreads)

Review:

Defiance is a very fast paced book, from page one you are immediately tossed into the action but it doesn’t detract from the world building of the series. You get a great understanding of all the characters and the world they live in while they are doing something really interesting; you get background on Logan when he’s buying weapons, you learn about the standing of women in the world while Rachel is scaling a wall and you see how evil the Commander is as he runs people down on his horse while battling the Cursed One. It is very fast paced, very dramatic and very action-y while still having some very nice dept to it.

However, the book did slow down for me particularly towards the middle and the end. I don’t know what it was but I just didn’t enjoy it as much as when Rachel and Logan were facing off against the Commander in Baalboden. There was just a bit more political intrigue there and I found that a bit more interesting than walking through the Wasteland – but I did still find the book enjoyable and I did read it very quickly.

The story is told using a dual POV (Rachel and Logan’s) which I don’t usually like as I think some authors have issues making the voices distinctive enough (see Allegiant) but I did really enjoy it here. I loved the back and forth between Rachel and Logan and seeing their different perspectives on how everything works in Baalboden and their interactions. I especially loved the Choosing Ceremony scene when Rachel comes out in the dress and Logan looses his shit. It was amazing!

I also really liked the budding romance between Logan and Rachel. I thought it was really sweet and cute but, once again, towards the end of the book it left me a little cold because of the obvious Love Triangle being set up and I was like “NAAAH” (Voldemort sounds.)

Overall, I did really enjoy this book, the ending did leave me wanting and a little cold but I’m definitely invested enough to pick up the sequel.

4 Stars.

Top New Series I Want To Start

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the Broke and the Bookish. Each week they post a new list for bloggers to answer and this weeks is Top New Series I Want to Start. Without further ado, here are my picks:

1) Defiance Series by CJ Redwine – I have heard a lot of people rave about this series and it has been on my TBR list forever! Now, I finally own it and I can’t wait to sink my teeth into it!

2) Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch – I am so excited for this series and I don’t even own the first book! Anytime I see the cover I just want to do the Xena War Cry! Must order soon!

3) The Selection by Kiera Cass – I have decided to bite the bullet, even though I hear such mixed things about The Selection, I have decided to finally read it.

4) His Fair Assassin Series by Robin LeFevers – Another one that has been on my TBR for what feels like a lifetime! I will get around to this one eventually.

5) Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi – This sounds so good and the covers are so, so pretty. I want!

6) The Young Elites by Marie Lu – I love Marie Lu. I loved the Legend Series so I am very excited to start reading her next one.

7) The Magisterium Series by Cassandra Clare and Holly Black – I adore Cassandra Clare so this is a obvious one.

8) The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare – Not technically out yet but when it is it will be mine!

9) Just One Day Series by Gayle Forman – I adored If I Stay and Where She Went so I am dying to get my hands on another Gayle Forman Duology.

10) Embassy Row by Ally Carter – Love Heist Society so I know I’m going to love this.