20 Things You May Not Know About Me

Nevillegirl tagged me a while ago for a "20 Things You May Not Know About Me" tag, and because I've been a terrible blogger lately, I'm only getting around to it now. *sigh* But I did do it eventually, so that's got to count for something, right? Anyway:

1. How tall are you?

Five feet and five and a half inches, last we checked. I used to be the shortest person amongst my friends for the longest time, but I'm at least half an inch taller than my BFF now and several inches taller than my mom. Of course, being tall(ish) comes with responsibilities, so when my dad's not around, I'm the designated grab-things-from-the-high-shelves person.

2. Do you have a hidden talent? If so, what?

I manage to make a spectacular mess in the kitchen, even when making something as simple as a bowl of cereal. I'm good at organizing things, but I'm not good at keeping things clean. I can carry lots of things at once, but I usually end up dropping at least one of them.

3. What’s your biggest blog-related pet peeve?

Bloggers who don't respond to comments! What's up with that? Also, I hate it when I can't subscribe to follow-up comments. Drives. Me. Insane.

4. What’s your biggest non-blog-related peeve?

Hiatus. I'm not a patient person.

5. What’s your favorite song?

Of all time? "Safe and Sound" by Taylor Swift featuring The Civil Wars. Recently? "Out of the Woods" by Taylor Swift. (I really like Taylor Swift.)

6. What’s your favorite Etsy store that isn’t yours?

I don't use Etsy. :P

7. What’s your favorite way to spend your free time when you’re alone?

Reading and writing!

8. What’s your favorite junk food?

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. And cookies. And ice cream. And doughnuts. I also really like hot chocolate and coffee drinks (but not plain coffee--blech).

9. Do you have a pet?

Yes! A little shi-chon named Scout. And she is, without a doubt, the best fit for our family. She's spunky, playful, snuggly, energetic, and just a little crazy. She definitely has a personality, and she won't hesitate to jump onto the top of the couch, walk over to you, and whack your head with her paw to get a treat. But say "mailman" or "UPS" and she goes berserk!

10. What is your top favorite nonfiction and fiction book?

 

 Fiction: Harry Potter. Non-fiction: Um . . . I guess I Am Malala.

11. What’s your favorite beauty product?

Lip gloss, since that's all I really use. :P

12. When were you last embarrassed? What happened?

I can't remember when I was last embarrassed, but I remember the last time someone else was embarrassed in front of me. At the Ren Faire a couple weeks ago, a boy ordered food from the stand I was working at. He was maybe sixteen or seventeen, and when I handed him his food, I said, "Enjoy!" He must've been expecting me to say, "Have a nice day" or something, because he said, "You, too," then immediately blushed and started babbling, "Well, you're not eating the food, so I guess you wouldn't enjoy. I mean, you might like the food, but you're not eating it now, so that doesn't really make any sense . . ." It went on like that for a while, before I interrupted and started talking about how the food he'd ordered (Scotch eggs) was my favorite thing there so he wouldn't feel so awkward. But he was still bright red when he left. I felt so bad for him.

13. If you could only drink one beverage (besides water) for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Butterbeer, for sure!

14. What’s your favorite movie?

Besides all the normal book-to-movie adaptations I always mention ("Harry Potter," "The Fault In Our Stars," "The Hunger Games," etc.), I really like "The Way, Way Back" and "What If."

15. What were you in high school? Prom queen, nerd, cheerleader, jock, band geek, valedictorian, loner, artist, prep, et cetera?

Being homeschooled, I have no idea. :P Out of all of those, probably nerd.

16. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

London! It'd be so cool.

17. PC or Mac?

*skips question because computer terminology baffles me*

18. Last romantic gesture from a crush, date, boy/girlfriend, spouse?

The male love interest in Beneath the Moon and Stars bought the female love interest hardback copies of her favorite books, just because. He definitely knows the way to her heart.

19. Favorite celebrity?

Jennifer Lawrence, because she's so delightfully dorky, awkward, and hilarious. But nobody can deny that Benedict Cumberbatch is an amazing actor, too.

20. What blogger do you secretly want to be best friends with?

All of you! *sends virtual hugs to all the bloggers*

Tag, you're it!

OTPs

Having recently started using Pinterest more often, I've had fandoms on my mind. Specifically OTPs.

What is an OTP?

An OTP--or a One True Pairing--is a couple from a book or TV show that you "ship" (meaning that you support an existing couple, or want two characters that aren't in a relationship to fall in love). However, I don't think you should be forced to choose just one, so here are my several true pairings.

Couple: Rose and the tenth Doctor

Book/TV show: "Doctor Who"

Couple name: Tenrose

Why I ship them: He showed her the universe, she held his hand. The Doctor has a dark side, a tragic past, and is often lonely, but Rose was the bright spot in his world. They battled aliens, saved lives, and protected the future. They made the perfect team, and might just be might top OTP.

Couple: Sherlock and Molly

Book/TV show: "Sherlock"

Couple name: Sherlolly

Why I ship them: Similar to Sheldon and Amy's relationship on "The Big Bang Theory," Sherlock is oblivious to Molly's attempts at romance, and it frustrates us Sherlolly shippers like nothing else. Molly is willing to do anything for the consulting detective. Heck, (highlight for spoiler) she even helped him fake his own death and managed to keep it a secret for two years. And while it seems as if Sherlock will never come to his senses (such as in the embarrassing Christmas scene in "A Scandal In Belgravia"), shots of Sherlock giving Molly tender looks that she doesn't notice, such as these, gives us some hope.

"Sherlock" headcanon

Couple: Neville and Luna

Book/TV show: The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Couple name: Luneville

Why I ship them: The two oddballs, the misfits, the ones who never really had friends before Hogwarts and the DA. They're both so sweet and kind and brave. They'd be perfect for each other.

Couple: Hazel and Augustus

Book/TV show: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Couple name: None (because most of the TFIOS fans say that Hazel and Augustus are so great together, they don't need a name.

Why I ship them: These two are smart, sarcastic, funny, and adorable together. Gus was the first person to get Hazel to do things since she was diagnosed. They even fangirl/fanboy(?) over books together. How cool is that?!

***SPOILERS FOR "Gilmore Girls"***

Couple: Luke and Lorelai

Book/TV show: "Gilmore Girls"

Couple name: Javajunkie (quite possibly the best couple name ever)

Why I ship them: This explanation could be kept to simply, "he makes the coffee, she drinks the coffee," and that would be enough. But I think part of the reason why these two are so freaking perfect for each other is because they're both extremely loyal and willing to drop everything they're doing to help the other. Luke kicked customers out of his diner and closed it in order to give her a ride to the hospital when her father collapsed. Lorelai worked at the diner for no pay so Luke could plan his Uncle Louie's funeral. Luke is like the father Rory never had, and Lorelai is usually able to get him to crack a smile, or at least wear a different baseball cap. And they both put up with each other's annoying quirks, which is probably one of the most important things in a relationship.

You can totally see it in the way he looks at her . . . and she's completely oblivious.

***END SPOILERS***

What's your OTP?

September Wrap-Up

Books I Read

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

4/5


Recommended to anyone who likes urban fantasy, romance, and a good, long series.


This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

3.5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes quick reads, romance, and light, "fluffy" reads. This is not a hard book to get into and read, which makes it a great remedy for a book hangover.

Shadows Wake by Robyn LaRue

4/5

(Thanks for sending me an ARC, Robyn!) Recommended to anyone who likes quick reads, gothic novels, romance, and books with a small-town feel like that of "Little House on the Prairie."

Where Angels Fear to Tread by E.M. Forester

2/5

Although it's not one of my favorites, this is a great introduction to classics, because it's quick and not difficult to read.

Paper Towns by John Green

3.5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes mystery and light, "fluffy" reads. This was a great beach read and is a good book to read after something dark or heavy.

Movies I Watched

"Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back" (a rewatch)

3.5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes sci-fi, space stories, and epic adventures.

"Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi" (a rewatch)

3.5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes sci-fi, space stories, and epic adventures.

Quotes I Wrote

While I have been writing, I haven't exactly written a ton, and definitely not anything quote-worthy. This month was more focused on editing, as I've finished Beneath the Moon and Stars and finally worked up the courage to approach the behemoth that is Flightless Birds (which needs a ton of work and should be approached with a finger hovering over the backspace button. It needs to be cut down a lot).

Obsessions I Acquired

Pinterest. I hadn't realized how to use it to its fullest potential until recently, and I'm discovering so many cool boards for writing inspiration!

This song.  It was already a great song, but slowing it down made it even prettier.

Headcanon. Of any kind, but especially "Sherlock" (like on this awesome website). I didn't even know this existed until a few weeks ago! It's addicting, so much fun, and isn't as involved as creating a whole piece of fan-fiction is.

And this song. I know it was barely released, but still. MOCKINGJAY!!! (I'm so excited.)

The new Doctor! :) It always takes me a few episodes to accept the change (Tennant to Smith was the worst, I think), but Peter Capaldi has proven himself to be worthy of the title role. He's like an older version of Eccleston, who was also fantastic. ;)

Picture of the Month

Basically how I've been feeling after finishing the entire series for the second time with my parents. I've had a massive TV hangover for weeks, cured only by new episodes of "Doctor Who."

How was your September?

The TBR Tag + The Book Blogger Confession Tag

Thanks, nevillegirl, for tagging me! :)


TBR Tag

My TBR shelves, which are, for the most part, alphabetized.

 

1. How do you keep track of your TBR pile?

Goodreads, mostly, and this super cool jar filled with sticky notes that have the titles of all the books on my bookshelf written on them. :) When I can't decide what to read next, I let the jar pick for me.

2. Is your TBR mostly print books or e-books?

I don't like reading e-books that much, I much prefer physical copies. So if it's ever possible not to read an e-book, I pick that.

3. How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next?

See #1.

4. A book that’s been on your TBR the longest?

Umm, probably Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. Either that or 

5. A book you recently added to your TBR?

This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl by Esther Earl, Wayne Earl, and Lori Earl.

6. A book on your TBR strictly because of its beautiful cover?

I never pick books based on cover alone, although there are covers that draw my attention more than others. I especially like minimalistic covers, like Eleanor & Park and the Lunar Chronicles books.

7. A book on your TBR that you never plan on reading?

I'm reading all of them!

8. An unpublished book in your TBR that you’re excited for?

Winter by Marissa Meyer, The Seeker and The Soul by Stephenie Meyer, and Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A.S. King.

9. A book in your TBR that everyone recommends to you?

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, Alice In Zombieland by Gena Showalter, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, The Selection by Kiera Cass, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, and Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare, all recommended by various blogger friends.

10. Number of books in your TBR?

 Goodreads: 22

Bookshelf: 53

Book Blogger Confession Tag

1. Which book did you recently not finish?

The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare. Bleh.

 2. Which book is your guilty pleasure?

No guilty pleasures. :) Just pleasures.

3. Which book do you love to hate?

I don't love to hate any book, because I want to like them all! But currently my least favorite books are Cather In the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Trash Can Days by Teddy Steinkellner, The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander, and The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare.

4. Which book would you throw into the sea?

*gasps* Did you just suggest I would actually, voluntarily, throw a book into the sea?!

5. Which book have you read the most?

The Harry Potter series, no contest! :)

6. Which book would you hate to receive as a present?

See #3. (Ironically, I own all three of those books, too.)

7. Which book could you not live without?

The Harry Potter series. But other than that, since I have to pick one, technically, Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. Just seeing the title and author makes me happy. :)

8. Which book made you the angriest?

I don't think a book has ever made me angry, except when I get frustrated by how much time I'm wasting reading a book I hate.

9. Which book made you cry the most?

That's a three-way tie between The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, Allegiant by Veronica Roth, and We Were Liars by E. Lockheart.

10. Which book cover do you hate the most?

This one.

Just . . . what happened here? The whole cover is an ugly shade of puke. It doesn't even look professional. It's like his kid drew it and he felt bad not putting it on his book.

 I tag anyone who wants to do this! :)

Beautiful People Linkup--September

The "Notebook Sisters" are co-hosting a linkup called "Beautiful People." Each month they announce a new set of questions to answer about your character so you can learn more about them.

This month, I'll be interviewing Hans Levarius, the alchemist, necromancer, and antagonist of my YA medieval fantasy, the sequel to The Sorceress. It is still untitled, though I'm planning to resolve that soon. I'd toyed with The Necromancer, but then that'd be two books in the series that have the same title as the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series. Anyway.

One quick note about Hans: When I was making my Pinterest board for the story, the person I cast to play his part is Benedict Cumberbatch. He looks a lot like him, and he'd be excellent at the straight-faced and low voice thing.




1. What is their motive?

Power, riches, your typical bad guy stuff. He's a little very bitter over his childhood, because his older brother was the clear favorite, and Hans often got the shaft.

2. What do they want, and what are they prepared to do to get it?

To kill the king of Stormcastle and become ruler. He then plans to take over the surrounding kingdoms, and so on, until all of England is his. Hans deals with blackmail and poison, so it's not very hard for him to get people to do what he wants.

3. How do they deal with conflict?

Hans is sneaky, so he doesn't usually have to deal with conflict directly. He has others do it for him until the time is right to reveal himself, and by that time, he'll have all the power necessary to take over.

4. Describe their current place of residence.

It's a small room in the king's castle. It has a bed, a wardrobe, a bookshelf, etc. What the king doesn't know is that Hans is hiding potion vials and spell books underneath the floorboards.

5. If they were writing this story, how would it end?

With him sitting on the king's throne, the crown upon his head.


6. What habits, speech patterns, etc. are unique to them?

He often speaks as if he's irritated, at least when Anya (the protagonist) is in the room. When he's alone with the king, however, he's very smooth and influential. He's charismatic in the sense that no one has a reason to distrust him and generally listen to what he has to say.

7. How do they show love? What do they like to do with/for people they love?

Love? Hans doesn't love. Love is weakness. Love means you're willing to sacrifice yourself for someone else. That's not Hans at all.

8. Do they have any pets?

Nope. He doesn't have enough time to care for someone/something else, not even a potted plant.

9. Where would they go to relax/think?

In his room in the castle, amidst his spell books and potion supplies.

10. What is their weapon of choice? (FYI: words, eyes/looks, and fists count as weapons too.)

Secrets, lies, blackmail, poison, anything that allows him to kill while remaining undercover.

What's your villain like? Leave a comment!

Looking For New Music

For my dad's fortieth birthday, my mom arranged for forty of his friends to send one of their favorite CDs to him so he could discover new artists. For my "CD" I created a YouTube playlist filled with songs that have influenced my writing in one way or another. I had a lot of fun seeing what people sent him, and I realized that I've been in a sort of music rut recently. I've been listening to the same stuff over and over again, and I'd like to find something new.

So I was wondering if any of you would like to comment and say what your favorite artists are. It can be a band, a singer, an instrumental group, anything you'd like. If you'd like to include a favorite song, too, that would be great. :)

I've also been really addicted to alternative stuff (Lorde, Melanie Martinez, music from the "Hunger Games" movies, music from "The Fault In Our Stars," music from "Parenthood" and "Gilmore Girls," etc.), so if you know of anything that's similar to those artists, I'd love to hear your suggestions.

(Psst. If you want to see a list of my favorite music, check out the "My Favorite . . ." tab at the top of the home page. Scroll down a little bit and it's right there.)

The Sunshine Award

Thank you, nevillegirl, for nominating me! :)

Facts

1. I am constantly reorganizing the TBR shelf in my bedroom.
2. I am a huge fan of really creative practical jokes, but am often terrible at doing them (while keeping a straight face). But this past April Fool's Day, I created a fake e-mail address under the name Wendy Tyler and sent my mom an e-mail requesting to join her homeschool group with her two kids, Jamie and Alice. She didn't find out that it was me until June!
3. My all-time favorite name for a boy is Jamie.
4. I name my electronics, so if you ever hear me call my desktop Shelly, my laptop Lulu, or my iPod Piper, now you know why.
5. My "middle name," Isabel, is not legally my middle name!

nevillegirl's Questions

1. What book will you read next?

After City of Heavenly Fire, I will probably read Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi.

2. Do your parents, siblings, or any other relatives read your blog? What do they think of it?

Yes, yes, and yes! They all seem to like it, and if they don't, they haven't told me. ;)

3. What is the funniest thing you've seen or heard recently?

My friend Dave's responses to Facebook posts. He's hilarious. For example, my friend Jake recently posted a Facebook status (that turned out to be fake) that said, "I think I'm in love with someone. What should I do?" His advice: "I would definitely start by tattooing their name on your forehead and having your last name changed to theirs. Then try to get to know them as a person."

4. If you could choose, right now, to be either ten years young or ten years older than you currently are, which option would you pick?

Ooh, tricky! Ideally, neither, but I suppose I would choose to be ten years younger, because I could always relive the past ten years. But if I were older, I could never get those ten years back.

5. What is your quest?

To become a full-time author!

My Questions

1. Would you rather drink a liter of your least favorite soda in one sitting or eat a pound of fudge of your least favorite flavor in one sitting?

2. What book do you think is over-hyped?

3. What book have you reread the most?

4. Movies or TV shows?

5. Binge watching or syndication?


I nominate . . .

Mom and Dad at "Sushi and Pizza."
nevillegirl at "Musings From Neville's Navel." (This is honorary, since you've obviously been nominated before.)
Cait and Mime at "The Notebook Sisters."
Skylar Finn at "Life of a Random."
storytellergirlgrace at "Storytellergirl."
Karoline at "As a Teen Writer."
MorningTime4 at "The Ups and Downs of My Not-So-Average Life."
Maria at "The Idea Catcher."
Shelumiel at "Whims and Ramblings."
Lydia at "Planet Lydia."

August Wrap-Up

Books I Read

Mercy Mode by Em Garner

4/5


Recommended to fans of The Program and Divergent, zombie-lovers (though it will appeal to those who don't like our rotting friends so much), and both paranormal-newbies and paranormal-junkies. You can read my review of it HERE.


The Program by Suzanne Young

5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes books that make you cry, romance, Divergent, and dystopian books.

Four: A Divergent Collection by Veronica Roth

5/5

Divergent, quick reads, a chance to get into another character's head, short stories, anthologies, and anyone who is in desperate need of more Fourtris.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes fluffy reads, terrible writing but a fun story, a cast of characters that you'll instantly love, a typical romance, and happy and predictable endings. I lied.

The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

DNF

Blech. This whole book (or what I managed to force myself to read) seemed like a Harry Potter ripoff to me. I had so much more hope for these two authors, but it didn't really work out.

Movies I Watched

"Dead Poets Society"

5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes simple movies, inspirational messages, and a good cry.

"Aladdin"

4/5 

Recommended to anyone who likes a classic Disney movie and likes to laugh.

"What If"

5/5 

Recommended to anyone who likes Indie movies, likes to laugh, and a best-friends-first-couple-later kind of romance.

"The Hundred-Foot Journey"

5/5 

Recommended to anyone who likes Indie movies, likes to laugh, and loves good food. Similar to "Julie & Julia," this is not a movie to watch on an empty stomach!

Quotes I Wrote

I grinned. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.” And I could imagine the eyebrow wiggle that would accompany his mysterious tone. “But make sure you get all gussied up.”
I snorted. “Gussied up? Are we going square dancing?”
--Beneath the Moon and Stars

“Becca told me she thinks your mother is borderline.”
“Becca thinks everyone is borderline.”
“You know, she’s probably right. She is a psychology major.”
And when I didn’t answer, she laughed.
“I win!”
“What? How did you ‘win?’”
“Any time you can’t think of a response to something I say, I win.”
--Beneath the Moon and Stars

I laughed. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
“It doesn’t have to.”
“Why not?”
“Because life doesn’t make sense, so why should we?”
“I have a theory,” I said, ignoring her, “Oh boy, here we go.” I sat up. “Maybe we do make sense, and it’s everyone else that doesn’t. What if all the weirdos and freaks of the world are actually the normal ones, and the normal ones are actually the weirdos and freaks of the world?”
“You make my brain hurt.”
“The feeling’s reciprocal.”
--Beneath the Moon and Stars

"I need you to do me a favor. Marcus is having a party tonight and I couldn’t find the movies. Can you go to Wal-Mart and see if they have the movies? Quickly?"
"Yeah, ‘course. What’s your apartment number?"
"Two-twenty-one."
"As in B Baker Street?"
"Lane."
"All right, I'm going."
--Beneath the Moon and Stars

“That looks bad.” Lane sat down next to me and dragged my hand away from my mouth.
“Nothing you can do about it,” I mumbled.
“I can kill him. That’s always an option.”
The corners of my mouth twitched, but even that hurt. “That’s not an option.”
Lane’s eyes still burned with a fiery rage. “Why not?”
I pushed his hair out of his eyes. “Because you’d be arrested as a convicted murderer and I’d never see you again.”
“I’m sure there are visiting days.”
“Not an option, Lane.”
--Beneath the Moon and Stars

Obsessions I Acquired

Synthesia. I found a few piano tutorials on YouTube by accident, and now I'm hooked. It's a great way to learn a song before printing out the sheet music. I'm working on the "Doomsday" theme from "Doctor Who" and the "Sherlock" theme song.

My job at the Renaissance Faire. Technically I've been working there since June, but I only started working costumed weekends at the beginning of this month. It's so much fun! :) I'm actually leaving to go in a couple of hours as I'm writing this.

My YA contemporary romance novel, Beneath the Moon and Stars. I wrote over 15,000 words this week alone, and it's almost finished! I had no idea I would have this much fun writing a romance novel.

Picture of the Month

I went a little photoshop crazy.

How was your August?

The Bookshelf Tag

I was tagged by nevillegirl and Karoline for this meme! :) Thanks, guys!

1. Is there a book that you really want to read but you haven't because you know that it'll make you cry?

I don't tend to avoid books because I know they're going to make me cry. In fact, sometimes that's a big plus for me. I love getting so emotionally invested in a book that the author could pull tears from me like that. It means I've really connected with the characters.

2. Pick a book that helped introduce you to a new genre.

The Host, These Broken Stars, and the Lunar Chronicles, along with "Doctor Who," all helped me to discover that maybe sci-fi isn't so bad. At least, not all of it.

3. Find a book that you want to re-read.

Harry Potter, forever and always. But other than that, I like to reread books before going to see the movie, so I'll probably read Mockingjay again soon.

 4. Is there a book series you read that you wished you hadn't?

No, I don't really have a lot of reading regrets, or regrets in general. And if I don't like the first book in a series, or I'm satisfied with the ending of the first and don't want to screw it up (like with If I Stay and Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes, for example), I won't read the sequel(s).

5. If your house were burning down and your pets and family were safe, which book would you run back inside to save?

One book?! I'd probably end up throwing my Harry Potter books out the window before I had to choose one.

6. Is there one book on your book shelf which brings back fond memories?

Aside from Harry Potter (because duh), the Calvin and Hobbes treasury always makes me smile when I look at it. I used to read the books under my blanket by the light of a flashlight, giggling at the crazy stunts they pulled. (Sometimes I still do this.)

7. Find a book that has inspired you the most.

Different books inspire me in different ways, though I'm always influence by any book I read, whether it's because I learn what not to do or I mimic the style of the author subconsciously. Harry Potter has always given me the extra push I've needed--and is quite possible the book series that started it all--but most recently, I was blown away by the beautiful writing and descriptions in We Were Liars by E. Lockhart.

8. Do you have any autographed books?

Yes! I have Eleanor & Park signed by Rainbow Rowell herself (thanks, Mom and Dad!), Princess Academy by Shannon Hale, most of our Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems, the Spiderwick chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi, and several others.

9. Find the book that you have owned the longest.

That would be my very well-worn Harry Potter set. The bindings are so beat up, you can't even read the titles, and the first copy of the Sorcerer's Stone I owned ripped in half, so we had to get a new one.

10. Is there a book by any author which you never imagined you would read or enjoy?

Definitely The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I'd avoided it for so long because of the whole Twilight series that my bookish friends couldn't stand, but then I saw a preview for the movie and it looked really good. Soon afterwards, my best friend recommended that I read it, and she's usually right about that stuff, so I picked it up. Boy, am I glad that I did!

I tag anyone who wants to complete it!

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

Thank you, Robyn LaRue, so much for nominating me! :)

Rules

• Thank and link the amazing person(s) who nominated you.
• List the rules and display the award.
• Share seven facts about yourself.
• Nominate some other amazing blogs and comment on their posts to let them know they have been nominated.

Facts

1. I've eaten--and liked--raw baby octopus.
2. I am a well-known klutz and space cadet.
3. I've ridden in a stretch limo.
4. I am a pantser and a procrastinator.
5. I dogear and deface write in my books, much to the horror of my other bookish friends. (Hi, Cait!)
6. I avoided "Doctor Who" for the longest time because, to be frank, I thought it looked stupid. I am now a proud Whovian and ship Ten/Rose more than any other couple (on TV).
7. Most of my characters have at least one trait from a person I know (including myself!).

I nominate . . .

Mom and Dad at "Sushi and Pizza."
nevillegirl at "Musings From Neville's Navel."
Cait and Mime at "The Notebook Sisters."
Skylar Finn at "Life of a Random."
storytellergirlgrace at "Storytellergirl."
Karoline at "As a Teen Writer."
MorningTime4 at "The Ups and Downs of My Not-So-Average Life."

Half-Blood (a Book Review)

by Skylar Finn

Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Pages: 281

Amazon
Goodreads

This is the first Jennifer L. Armentrout book that I’ve ever read. And I have to say I’m impressed but...not blown away.

First, I want to make a quick note about the romance. If you take the blurb at face value, then it’s easy to assume that the whole entire book is all about a forbidden romance which is a very big turn-off for me. It’s not all about the romance though. Yeah, it’s a big part of it but not the whole story. So if you saw that and thought Meh this doesn’t sound like something I’d like, don’t let the blurb convince you to pass up this read.

Of course I’m going to talk about the characters first. ;) Alexandria (or Alex, as she would insist on you calling her) is our main character. She’s a risk-taker, super confident. But half the time she was putting her foot in her mouth, talking smack, not thinking of the consequences. She was a flirt, yeah, but she was loyal, determined, caring, and had the most epic humor and sarcasm ever.

Her personality was a contradiction and that’s what won me over and made me like her. She wasn’t always the nicest person, and she admitted it. This kind of character doesn’t usually work for me, but Alex was different.

Alex is a half-blood, daughter of a Hematoi or pureblood and a human. The Greek gods and all the new terms were so interesting to me! Half-bloods are super skilled fighters (or they have the potential to be) and they live to protect the purebloods.

Most of the purebloods completely disregard this fact and treat the half-bloods badly. Really badly. If you don’t become a Sentinel which is a daimon hunter or a Guard who protects the homes of the pures, then you become a servant in one of the pures’ homes. Which means, you’ll serve them all the days of your life made senseless by some potion.

These completely new society dynamics were very interesting to read about. The politics were there. The tension was there. And the history was also something I loved and would love to learn more about.

The ultimate enemy, though, was the daimons. The crazy, aether-sucking things that crave the Hematoi’s blood. I believe the daimons completely fulfilled the creepy, animalistic factor. And although they weren’t the most intelligent, with them running around (getting better at what they do) and the general sense of “danger” lurking around every corner, I don’t think the villain part was under-written.

The plot was a little slow to be honest, not slow as in nothing happened but slow as in all that happened was Alex training and figuring out her feelings for Aiden. While I was entertained, it wasn’t my favorite plot of a book ever. I did like how I learned a lot about the other characters through these seemingly inconsequential scenes though.

The romance, like I said before, isn’t as hardcore as it seems. I thought that, Alex being an accomplished flirt and wild child, the romance would be all about teasing each other (sexually, for lack of a better word) and the two of them kind of playing with each other’s hearts. But it wasn’t like that at all.

It felt real. Like when Alex talked about what she loved about Aiden it wasn’t his abs or his face (or yeah...she talked about those a lot too). It was about how kind and patient he was with her. I think he was the first person besides her mom to ever treat her that way no matter what and he was a pure. That’s HUGE. Those were the things Alex talked about when she talked about him to her friends and I feel like that was something totally new for her and it was adorable.

A quick note: If you’re not comfortable with more the more mature side of a couple that’s “in love” or “in serious like”, for example heated making out or almost getting really serious then you might want to skip this read, or just skip those parts. Just a heads up. :)

This book was a great, fast read that I would recommend to readers who love paranormal, all-things-Greek, headstrong main characters, and the ups and downs of dirty (“friendship”) politics. Oh, and I can’t forget the kick-butt fighting. Lots of that too. 

Actual rating: 3.75


About Skylar Finn:

Skylar Finn is the pen name of a recent high school graduate (who never gets tired of saying she's graduated). Her real name is top secret because she's secretly a spy. That does spy stuff. Secretly. When she's not spying, she blogs about books, life, and chocolate at Life of a Random. Skylar loves talking with bookworms about everything, so don't be shy. She's probably weirder than you anyways.

Mercy Mode (a book review)

Mercy Mode by Em Garner

Released: August 26th, 2014

Publisher: EgmontUSA
Pages: 352

Seventeen-year-old Velvet has managed to patch together a new family for herself and her eleven-year-old sister after the raves of the Contamination--the epidemic caused by a wildly popular diet drink. They now live in their old house, in their empty neighborhood, with Velvet's boyfriend, Dillon; old Mrs. Holly, their elderly neighbor; and one of the Contaminated, the woman who was once their vibrant mother. But the Contamination seems to have returned, more people are falling victim, and the government begins to test people to see if they have the disease.

And Velvet has some symptoms . . . 

Amazon
Goodreads

I bought a copy of Contaminated last year and ate it up, so I was overjoyed when Em Garner sent me an ARC of Mercy Mode to read and review. And I definitely liked it as much--if not more--than its predecessor. Plus, it's set in PA, and reading a book that's set in someplace familiar is always a huge plus for me! But let's go into detail.

I've said it before: I'm not a huge zombie girl. In fact, I'm not even a huge fan of paranormal. But the Contaminated series has a way of making these zombie-like victims seem fresh and unique, while still keeping things familiar. This, I think, will make the book appeal to both undead junkies and paranormal newbies, like me.

As far as plot goes, I was actually very impressed. Often times, the sequel to a dystopian novel lacks in action and excitement (as shown by the first halves of Catching Fire and Insurgent). While it may not have been as riveting as I would've liked, I wasn't yanked around. Mercy Mode managed to keep things at a steady pace, and the final third of the book was successful in keeping me up far past my bedtime.

Now for my favorite part. Characters.

Mercy Mode doesn't have a large cast of characters, which I appreciate, because it gives me a better chance to connect with each of them in ways that wouldn't be possible if there had been more. Yes, Mrs. Holly did seem a little unnecessary to the story, but she was still strong and sassy for an old woman living in harsh conditions. Velvet's mother triggered a lot of sympathy from me, and Opal was the bright spot in a crappy situation. Cute, spunky, and, to quote Velvet, "sometimes a bit of a brat," Opal provided a lot of entertainment.

There was a character that did seem a little off to me. Dillon. He was sweet and tried his best to provide for his and Velvet's makeshift family, but he always seemed a little distant, something he hadn't been in Contaminated. But it's possible that he was written that way on purpose. He and Velvet were forced to have a somewhat rushed relationship, marrying solely for the purpose of benefits and more food, rather than love. Velvet herself often remarked that she and Dillon had been awkward with each other recently, and I don't blame them, under the circumstances.

My favorite character was Velvet. She was great. She appealed to me in ways that Katniss and Tris do, but without being a copycat, dystopian heroine. She's original and very much her own person. She's strong and feisty and would do anything for her family. She's fiercely protective of her little sister and puts herself through life-threatening danger to make things better for her.

So all in all, Mercy Mode is a fantastic and entertaining read that will appeal to paranormal and dystopian lovers alike, especially for fans of The Program and Divergent. I definitely recommend reading the series, and sincerely hope there is a sequel very soon!

Meet the author:

Em Garner writes books.

She began writing at a very young age, always preferring the stories about what goes bump in the night. An avid reader of horror, science-fiction and fantasy, she first turned her hand to short stories about the sorts of things that hide under the bed…and she kept right on going.

Now Em spends most of her time in front of her computer, writing away at all the ideas she has swirling around in her head and hoping she can get them into a story before she forgets them.

She loves zombies, unicorns, and rainbows, the color purple and the smell of roses. She hates the smell of lilies, the feeling of corduroy and biting sandpaper. (Well. Who doesn’t?)

She lives at the beach with her family, where she spends a lot of time reading and sticking her feet in the sand. She is afraid of sharks, but that doesn’t stop her from going in the water.

Connect with Em Garner:

Website: http://emgarner.com/

Twitter: @EmGarnerBooks

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emgarnerbooks1

Beautiful People Linkup--August

The "Notebook Sisters" are co-hosting a linkup called "Beautiful People." Each month they announce a new set of questions to answer about your character so you can learn more about them.

This month, I'll be interviewing Anya Perriwinkle, the protagonist of my YA medieval fantasy The Sorceress. I actually completed The Sorceress last year, but am taking this opportunity to learn a little more about what happened during the two year gap in between the end of The Sorceress and the beginning of the sequel (which is not yet titled).


1. What does your character regret the most in their life?

Letting her friends come with her when she went to steal the magic emerald. Every day she kicks herself for it.

2. What is your character's happiest memory? Most sorrowful memory? 

When the king let Anya and her friends join the army, of which she later became the leader.

3. What majorly gets on your character’s nerves? 

Misogynistic men who doubt her simply for being a girl.

4. Do they act differently when they're around people as opposed to being alone? If so, how? 

Anya tends to let her guard down when she's alone, lets herself cry more. She doesn't want to worry her friends, despite Ronald (her best friend) insisting that they worry about her anyway.

5. What are their beliefs and superstitions? (Examples: their religion or lack of one, conspiracy theories, throwing salt, fear of black cats.)

Anya nearly died once, and was stuck in between life and death, so she knows what comes after. But she refuses to tell anyone what happened. She doesn't believe anyone should know what's waiting for them after life on earth, and wishes she could forget herself.

6. What are their catchphrases, or things they say frequently?

"James, get off (insert name here)!" "James, don't swing your sword around like that, you're going to chop somebody's head off!" "James, pay attention when you're shooting your bow. Do you want Edward to lose an eye?"

7. Would they be more prone to facing fears or running from them?

Facing them, for sure. Anya's a perfectionist, so she never stops trying to make herself stronger, less afraid, better at a certain skill, etc.

8. Do they have a good self image?

She's appropriately confident in her abilities, though sometimes a little encouragement from her friends is necessary to make her see just how capable she is.

9. Do they turn to people when they're upset, or do they isolate themselves?

She mostly isolates herself, but she knows Ronald is always there if she needs a shoulder to cry on. And James is insistent on knowing more about what's happening in her life. He tries his best to break down the walls she puts up.

10. If they were standing next to you would it make you laugh or cry?

Um, neither, I guess. We'd probably be good friends. :)

Nutty's Letter to the Humans

Many of you requested to see the letter that Nutty the squirrel wrote to the humans about installing electricity in his tree. Well, I finally got around to posting it. Enjoy!

Dear Mr. Human,

         

I’m writing you because I would like your help with a project. I’m attempting to install electricity in my friend Chippy’s tree, as well as my own. We would love to have heat—especially in the winter—and air conditioning—especially in the summer—as well as cable for the TVs we’re saving up for.

         

As you can see, I can’t do this on my own. While I may have opposable thumbs, I’ve never been to school—for some reason, most of the animals I know find school unnecessary, though I highly disagree—and don’t know a lot about installing electricity. I know it has something to do with wires and tools, but I have no idea how to actually make it work.

         

So could you please, please help me? I would greatly appreciate it.

         

Thank you for your time and I hope to see you at my tree very soon.

         

Sincerely,

Nutty the Squirrel

         

PS: I almost forgot to give you directions! If you walk outside—through the front door—and turn left, all you have to do is keep on walking until you reach the first cluster of trees. Look for the tallest redwood. That’s my house. If you still can’t find it, look for a small weeping willow. That’s Chippy’s house. See you soon!

PPS: I'm sorry for the messy handwriting. I would've sent you an e-mail, but I don't have a computer. Or internet. Or electricity. Do you see my problem now?

PPPS: Could you bring some peanuts with you?

The Bookshelf Tag

I was tagged by nevillegirl and Karoline for this meme! :) Thanks, guys!

1. Is there a book that you really want to read but you haven't because you know that it'll make you cry?

 

I don't tend to avoid books because I know they're going to make me cry. In fact, sometimes that's a big plus for me. I love getting so emotionally invested in a book that the author could pull tears from me like that. It means I've really connected with the characters.

2. Pick a book that helped introduce you to a new genre.

 

The Host, These Broken Stars, and the Lunar Chronicles, along with "Doctor Who," all helped me to discover that maybe sci-fi isn't so bad. At least, not all of it.

 

3. Find a book that you want to re-read.

 

Harry Potter, forever and always. But other than that, I like to reread books before going to see the movie, so I'll probably read Mockingjay again soon.

 

4. Is there a book series you read that you wished you hadn't?

 

No, I don't really have a lot of reading regrets, or regrets in general. And if I don't like the first book in a series, or I'm satisfied with the ending of the first and don't want to screw it up (like with If I Stay and Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes, for example), I won't read the sequel(s).

 

5. If your house was burning down and your pets and family were safe, which book would you run back inside to save?

 

One book?! I'd probably end up throwing my Harry Potter books out the window before I had to choose one.

6. Is there one book on your book shelf which brings back fond memories?

 

Aside from Harry Potter (because duh), the Calvin and Hobbes treasury always makes me smile when I look at it. I used to read the books under my blanket by the light of a flashlight, giggling at the crazy stunts they pulled. (Sometimes I still do this.)

 

7. Find a book that has inspired you the most.

 

Different books inspire me in different ways, though I'm always influence by any book I read, whether it's because I learn what not to do or I mimic the style of the author subconsciously. Harry Potter has always given me the extra push I've needed--and is quite possible the book series that started it all--but most recently, I was blown away by the beautiful writing and descriptions in We Were Liars by E. Lockheart.

 

8. Do you have any autographed books?

 

Yes! I have Eleanor & Park signed by Rainbow Rowell herself (thanks, Mom and Dad!), Princess Academy by Shannon Hale, most of our Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems, the Spiderwick chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi, and several others.

 

9. Find the book that you have owned the longest.

 

That would be my very well-worn Harry Potter set. The bindings are so beat up, you can't even read the titles, and the first copy of the Sorcerer's Stone I owned ripped in half, so we had to get a new one.

10. Is there a book by any author which you never imagined you would read or enjoy?

 

Definitely The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I'd avoided it for so long because of the whole Twilight series that my bookish friends couldn't stand, but then I saw a preview for the movie and it looked really good. Soon afterwards, my best friend recommended that I read it, and she's usually right about that stuff, so I picked it up. Boy, am I glad that I did!

I tag anyone who wants to complete it!

The Bookshelf Tag

I was tagged by nevillegirl and Karoline for this meme! :) Thanks, guys!

1. Is there a book that you really want to read but you haven't because you know that it'll make you cry?

 

I don't tend to avoid books because I know they're going to make me cry. In fact, sometimes that's a big plus for me. I love getting so emotionally invested in a book that the author could pull tears from me like that. It means I've really connected with the characters.

2. Pick a book that helped introduce you to a new genre.

 

The Host, These Broken Stars, and the Lunar Chronicles, along with "Doctor Who," all helped me to discover that maybe sci-fi isn't so bad. At least, not all of it.

3. Find a book that you want to re-read.

 

Harry Potter, forever and always. But other than that, I like to reread books before going to see the movie, so I'll probably read Mockingjay again soon.

4. Is there a book series you read that you wished you hadn't?

 

No, I don't really have a lot of reading regrets, or regrets in general. And if I don't like the first book in a series, or I'm satisfied with the ending of the first and don't want to screw it up (like with If I Stay and Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes, for example), I won't read the sequel(s).

5. If your house was burning down and your pets and family were safe, which book would you run back inside to save?

 

One book?! I'd probably end up throwing my Harry Potter books out the window before I had to choose one.

6. Is there one book on your book shelf which brings back fond memories?

 

Aside from Harry Potter (because duh), the Calvin and Hobbes treasury always makes me smile when I look at it. I used to read the books under my blanket by the light of a flashlight, giggling at the crazy stunts they pulled. (Sometimes I still do this.)

7. Find a book that has inspired you the most.

 

Different books inspire me in different ways, though I'm always influence by any book I read, whether it's because I learn what not to do or I mimic the style of the author subconsciously. Harry Potter has always given me the extra push I've needed--and is quite possible the book series that started it all--but most recently, I was blown away by the beautiful writing and descriptions in We Were Liars by E. Lockheart.

8. Do you have any autographed books?

 

Yes! I have Eleanor & Park signed by Rainbow Rowell herself (thanks, Mom and Dad!), Princess Academy by Shannon Hale, most of our Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems, the Spiderwick chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi, and several others.

9. Find the book that you have owned the longest.

 

That would be my very well-worn Harry Potter set. The bindings are so beat up, you can't even read the titles, and the first copy of the Sorcerer's Stone I owned ripped in half, so we had to get a new one.

10. Is there a book by any author which you never imagined you would read or enjoy?

 

Definitely The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I'd avoided it for so long because of the whole Twilight series that my bookish friends couldn't stand, but then I saw a preview for the movie and it looked really good. Soon afterwards, my best friend recommended that I read it, and she's usually right about that stuff, so I picked it up. Boy, am I glad that I did!

I tag anyone who wants to complete it!