The Wrath & the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Page Count: 388

Published on: May 12th 2015

Published by: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Genre(s): Fantasy, YA, Romance, Retelling, Historical Fiction, High Fantasy
Source: Print: Hardback: Library

Age Rating: PG-16

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

Twitter: @radieh    

My Rating: 5 stars!!

Goodreads synopsis:

Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi's wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend.

She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all

~~~

Hey guys!

        So I finished this on July 4th, and I can't even! This book really surprised me to be honest. I had just finished A Court Of Thorns & Roses and Ice, so that got me into fairy-tale retelling. I wasn't sure if I'd like The Wrath & the Dawn, because I wasn't too familiar with the story of 1001 Nights, but I found that I knew little bits and pieces of it. The premise was really intriguing, and when the synopsis hinted about Khalid's personality I did a little happy dance because it reminded me of Warner from the Shatter Me series by Tehereh Mafi. The language was beautiful and mysterious, and Renee Ahdieh really knows how to build a world! Holy crap! I felt like I was in the palace with Khalid and Shahrzad!

        

        OK, so now I need to gush about the characters and the storyline! Holy crap! SOOO GOOOD! Shazi is such a strong and independent character! I love the parts where she wanted to get revenge, but I loved it when she started discovering her feelings for Khalid. The writing all though out is so poetic and descriptive, and just so gorgeous! 

        The plot is so cool! It's about a young king who marries a young woman every night and in the morning kills his bride. Shazi marries the young king to get revenge for killing her best friend. This story follows Shazi as she tries to figure out a way to fulfill her revenge plot. There is a magical aspect to it as well, but for spoiler reasons I won't go into the details, but let me just say that they are amazing! The romance in this book is so intense and beautiful and I really really really love it. Ahdieh's ability to suck her readers into her world is really inspiring and beautiful. I feel Shazi's emotions and I totally understand her doubt in falling in love with Khalid, but I also really ship them together. I loved that she acknowledges her conflicting emotions, and doesn't just instantly fall in love with Khalid. I really loved the side characters, they all had such differentiating personalities that I really loved. 

OH AND THE PROLOGUE TO THE ROSE & THE DAGGER IS AT THE END AND ASJAJALALHJ I NEED MORE RENEE AHDIEH PLLEEEEEASEEEE!

I recommend that everyone picks this up because it is a work of art! It is so freaking amazing, and I need to pick up my own copy ASAP!

“Make sure they never forget. You are the Calipha of Khorasan, and you have the ear of a king.” She bent forward and lowered her voice. “And, most important, you are a fearsome thing to behold in your own right.” 

~The Wrath & the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

This is a must read guys!

Enjoy!

Olivia 

~livthebooknerd~

Twitter // Instagram // Tumblr // Goodreads // Bloglovin

Ice by Sarah Beth Durst

Page Count: 308

Published on: October 6th 2009

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books 

Genre(s): YA, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling, Adventure
Source: Print: Hardback: Library

Age Rating: PG-15

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

Twitter: @sarahbethdurst

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

When Cassie was a little girl, her grandmother told her a fairy tale about her mother, who made a deal with the Polar Bear King and was swept away to the ends of the earth. Now that Cassie is older, she knows the story was a nice way of saying her mother had died. Cassie lives with her father at an Arctic research station, is determined to become a scientist, and has no time for make-believe.

Then, on her eighteenth birthday, Cassie comes face-to-face with a polar bear who speaks to her. He tells her that her mother is alive, imprisoned at the ends of the earth. And he can bring her back — if Cassie will agree to be his bride.

That is the beginning of Cassie's own real-life fairy tale, one that sends her on an unbelievable journey across the brutal Arctic, through the Canadian boreal forest, and on the back of the North Wind to the land east of the sun and west of the moon. Before it is over, the world she knows will be swept away, and everything she holds dear will be taken from her — until she discovers the true meaning of love and family in the magical realm of Ice.

~~~

Hey guys!

        I really love the story of East o' the Sun & West o' the Moon by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen. East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon is basically a Norweigian version of the Beauty & the Beast. Ice follows Cassie, who on her eighteenth birthday, is given the option of marrying the king of the polar bears and save her mother...or you know...stay with her father and not save her mother. When she makes her choice it starts the beginning of a real life fairytale. She had to give up her future as a polar bear scientist, and go to the north pole. Before she knows it, she's swept up into a new world. She finds the meaning of love and family and magic. 

        I really loved this book. I've always been really into the story of EOTS&WOTM. I kind of compared this to another book that I've read called East which is by Edith Pattou. The plot of this book was fantastic. I really loved the romance and the concept of the munaqsri. Sarah Beth Durst created a new aspect to a fantasy novel that I absolutely loved. She built the Arctic World, and made you feel as if you're in the snow yourself (and it's 80 degrees right now, so that was amazing).

        The only reason I'm giving this 4.5 stars is because in the second half of the book, I thought Cassie was endangering herself too much. She didn't make very good choices, and she was annoying me. She doubted her love for Bear which was super dumb, because it was obvious that they're perfect for each other. She just over all bugged me during the second half of the book, but overall I really loved it and it was a really great book. Also, I wanted more at the end, I feel like Sarah Beth Durst could easily write a sequel. :D

If you liked ______, you'll love Ice.

• East by Edith Pattou
• Sun & Moon, Ice & Snow by Jessica Day George
• Beauty by Robin McKinley
• The Wrath & the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
• A Court Of Thorns & Roses by Sarah J. Maas [see review]
• Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell [see review]

Enjoy guys!

Olivia

~livthebooknerd~

Twitter // Instagram // Tumblr // Goodreads // Bloglovin

Unite Me (Destroy Me & Fracture Me) by Tahereh Mafi

Page Count: 197

Published on:  February 4th 2014

Published by: HarperTeen

Genre(s): Science Fiction, YA, Dystopia, Romance, High Fantasy
Source: Print: Paperback: Library

Age Rating: PG-15

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

My Rating: 5 stars

Twitter: @TeherehMafi

Goodreads synopsis:

Destroy Me tells the events between Shatter Me and Unravel Me from Warner’s point of view. Even though Juliette shot him in order to escape, Warner can’t stop thinking about her—and he’ll do anything to get her back. But when the Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment arrives, he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner cannot allow.

Fracture Me is told from Adam’s perspective and bridges the gap betweenUnravel Me and Ignite Me. As the Omega Point rebels prepare to fight the Sector 45 soldiers, Adam's more focused on the safety of Juliette, Kenji, and his brother. The Reestablishment will do anything to crush the resistance . . . including killing everyone Adam cares about.

~~~

Hey guys!

        So it's been about 7 months since I've read the Shatter Me series, and I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to get back into the Shatter Me world, but it was actually really easy to get back into it and I basically read the novellas in a couple hours. I really loved Destroy Me, because who doesn't love Warner *drools* he's so dreamy <3. I really loved the writing for Fracture Me, but I really hate Adam...a lot..and this novella just enhanced my hate for him. The writing was absolutely lovely and I really loved the content, but I loath Adam. 

HOLY COW JULIETTE'S JOURNAL WAS SO AMAZING AND SOB WORTHY AND I REALLY REALLY LOVED IT!

Check out my reviews for Shatter Me, Unravel Me, & Ignite Me! (click on the titles)

 

So, Destroy Me takes place after Shatter Me, and it's told in Warner's perspective. I absolutely love Warner and I was really excited to learn more about Warner. It was really cool to figure out why Warner was the way he was, and what his feelings were about Juliette. There were also snippets of Juliette's Journal, which was really amazing, and I really loved it.

My Rating: 5 stars

Fracture Me follows Adam right after Unravel Me. This was also really interesting, but I had to wonder if Tehereh Mafi purposely wrote Adam the way he was or if she wrote his character the way that Warner imagines him. I found that Adam didn't care as much as he should've. He acted like she was a burden, and that she was holding him down, she's the weak link, she's trapped in her head, she can't protect herself. Oh. My. Gosh. He drove me insane! Juliette is such a strong character! She's broken and sad, but she's so head strong and she's just really amazing and Warner is one of the only person who really sees her full potential and Adam is just so freaking annoying!  I hate Adam so that's why I'm rating it the way I did.
My Rating: 4.5 stars


I'm really excited to see if Tehereh Mafi writes more books. I desperately need more of her writing...

I need to show you guys a passage of Juliette's Journal, so here yah go:

"These letters are all I have left.
       26 friends to tell my stories to.
       26 letters are all I need. I can stitch them together to create oceans and ecosysystems. I can fit them together to form planets and solar systems. I can use letters to construct skyscrapers and metropolitan cities populated by people, places, things, and ideas that are more real to me than these 4 walls.
        I need nothing but letters to live. Without them I would not exist.
        Because these words I write down are the only proof I have that I'm still alive." 


I need more of Tehereh Mafi's writing...

GUYS THE SHATTER ME SERIES IS BECOMING A TV SHOW! THIS IS SO AMAZING! ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 HOW EXCITED ARE YOU!?!?!?! I'M AN ELEVEN!!!! Comment down below!


ENJOY GUYS!
Olivia
~livthebooknerd~

The Jewel by Amy Ewing

Page Count: 358

Published on: September 2nd 2014 

Published by: HarperTeen

Genre(s): Science Fiction, YA, Dystopia, Romance, High Fantasy
Source: Print: Hardback: Library

Age Rating: PG-15

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Twitter: @amyewingbooks

Goodreads synopsis:

        The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.

        Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.

        Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence... and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.

~~~

Hey guys!

        When I first picked this up, I was hoping for a kind of (The) Selection-vibe, and I kind of got what I wanted, but so much more! The Jewel follows Violet, who is basically just a number. As a surrogate, raised to bear a child for whatever member of the royal Jewel section of society purchases her in an auction, Violet has been trained for years to be submissive and poised and perfectly fine with being in the background. What's cool about the surrogates are that they can access the three Auguries: special powers that can change the colors and shapes of objects, as well as grow things. Violet specializes in Growth, and she is one of the most popular surrogates in her group (197/200). At the auction she is bought by the Duchess of the Lake. Violet is thrown into a world of glittering jewels, fancy balls, and wealth. But there's a dark side to this glittering world. Will Violet survive the madness?

        Ok, so this book was really good, but I didn't like the romance aspect of it. I felt like she should have been focusing more on surviving than on her love life. It also felt really insta-lovey, which was rushed and kind of annoying. She didn't want to be pregnant, and she couldn't do anything about becoming pregnant  because she was bought by the stupid royalty. Sometimes she didn't really use common sense, and that kind of annoyed me. 

        The characters were really cool, and Amy Ewing did a really great job of describing the characters so that you could get to know them. I felt like I really understood the characters. I also loved how original it was, it was definitely not something I've read before. I really fell in love with Violet's character, she's a really strong character, given her circumstances. I'm really excited for the second book coming out on October 6th! The first book left off with a cliffhanger so I'm really excited to dive back into the world of the Jewel.

My Favorite Character: Violet
My Least Favorite Character(s): The Duchess of the Lake and the Electress 

If You Liked _____ You Will Like The Jewel.

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collin
2. The Selection series by Kiera Cass

Enjoy guys!

& Happy Independence Day to my readers from the USA

Olivia

~livthebooknerd~

Twitter // Instagram // Tumblr // Goodreads // Bloglovin

June 2015 Wrap Up

Hey guys!

        I've surprisingly had a really great reading month! I've read (about) 16 books this month! I read 13 books, 1 graphic novel, 1 novella, and the 3 lost chapters from the Spiderwick Chronicles (which I count as a novella, and therefore a book at least) and That is insane for me! Especially since I've had a summer school class for the past 4 weeks! How many books did you read this month? Well here are the books that I've read this month!

The Spiderwick Chronicles (#2-5) +the three lost chapters by Holly Black & Tony DiTerlizzi
2. The Seeing Stone
3. Lucinda's Secret
4. The Ironwood Tree
5. The Wrath of Mulgarath
The 3 Lost Chapters

Each of these I gave 4 stars.
Click [here] for the joint review for #2-#5 :D
Find them here: Goodreads // Amazon

Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson

Page Count: 128

Published on: April 7, 2015

Published by: BOOM! Media
Genre(s): Adventure, Fantasy, YA, Graphic Novel

Source: Paperback: Library

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon  

My Rating: 5 star

I'll have a whole post dedicated to the graphic novels I've read throughout 2015. 
So far, this is my favorite graphic novel that I've read this year and I highly recommend it :D

The School For Good & Evil by Soman Chainani

Page Count: 496

Published in: May 14, 2013

Published by: HarperCollins

Genre(s): Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fairy-tales, Romance,
Source: Print: Hardback: Library

Age Rating: PG-10

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon 

My Rating: 5 stars

Click [HERE] for my review!

I really loved this book. It's definitely one of my favorites this month.



The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery

Page Count: 98

Published in: 1940

Published by: Harcourt, Inc.

Genre(s): Fiction, Fantasy, Children's Fiction, French Classic, Classic, Philosophy, Academic, European Lit
Source: Print: Paperback (French) & eBook (English)

Age Rating: G

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon 

My Rating: 4 stars

Click [HERE] for my review!

A World Without Princes (The School For Good & Evil #2) by Soman Chainani

Page Count: 433

Published in: April 15, 2014

Published by: Harper Collins

Genre(s): Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fairy-tales, Romance,
Source: Print: Hardback: Library

Age Rating: PG-10

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon 

My Rating: 5 stars

Click [HERE] for my review!

Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles: The Nixie's Song by Holly Black & Tony DiTerlizzi

Page Count: 162

Published on: September 18th 2007

Published by: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Genre(s): Middle Grade, Fantasy, Adventure, Urban Fantasy
Source: Print: Hardback: Library

Age Rating: G

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

My Rating: 4 stars

Click [HERE] for my review!

The Duff by Kody Kleplinger

Page Count: 280

Published on: September 7, 2010

Published by: Little Brown/Poppy

Genre(s): YA/NA, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit
Source: Print: Paperback: Library

Age Rating: PG-17

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Click [HERE] for my review!

A Court of Thorns & Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Page Count: 416

Published on: May 5, 2015

Published by: Bloomsbury Children's Publishing

Genre(s): Fantasy, YA/NA, Fairy-tale Retelling, Paranormal
Source: Print: Hardback: Library

Age Rating: PG-17

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

My Rating: 5 stars!!

Click [HERE] for my review!

The Iron Trial by Cassandra Clare & Holly Black 

Page Count: 299

Published on: September 9, 2014

Published by: Scholastic Press

Genre(s): Fantasy, Children's Lit, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Adventure, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
Source: Print: Hardback: Library

Age Rating: 

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Click [HERE] for my review!

The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Page Count: 236 
Published on: January 2nd 2012
Published by: Poppy
Source: Print: Hardback: Library
Genre(s): Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult, Romance

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

My Rating: 4 stars

Click [HERE] for my review!

The Jewel by Amy Ewing

Page Count: 358

Published on: September 2nd 2014 

Published by: HarperTeen

Genre(s): Science Fiction, YA, Dystopia, Romance, High Fantasy
Source: Print: Hardback: Library

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

My Rating: 4.5 stars

REVIEW COMING SOON!

Destroy Me by Tehereh Mafi

Page Count: 109

Published on: October 2, 2012

Published by: HarperTeen

Genre(s): Novella, YA, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy
Source: Print: Paperback: Library

WhereTo Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

My Rating: 5 stars

REVIEW COMING SOON!

My Favorite Book I Read This Month Has To Be either A Court Of Thorns & Roses by Sarah J. Maas or The School For Good & Evil (#1 & #2). I've been really into fantasy and fairy-tale retellings lately. Over all I read a lot of really great books! I'm really excited to see what will happen during the month of July. Hopefully I will read a lot of amazing books. :D

Enjoy guys!

Olivia

~livthebooknerd~