Review: Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas

With all the excitement surrounding the release of Heir of Fire, I thought I'd share my reviews of what I've read so far in this awesome fantasy series. This is a pretty short review so I didn't bother with hiding the spoilers. Also, please excuse all my exclamation marks because honestly, this is more of a raving than an actual review :P

*Review contains spoilers.

Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1)

by Sarah J. Maas

August 7, 2012

404 pages

Goodreads  Chapters

Goodreads Summary:

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another.

Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

Liebster Awards!

 

I finally have some time to do this! Since I was nominated five times, I thought I'd just do one post and pick a few questions from each person to answer. Thank you to the following people for nominating me :)

The Curator of Knowledge @ The Curator of Knowledge
Steph @ I Am Simply A Book Drunkard
Deasy @ The Bibliophilism
Zed K @ A Whisper of Thoughts
Noelia @ A Day In Bookland

Here are the rules:  
1. Link and thank the blogger who nominated you 
2. Answer the 11 questions they asked 
3. Pick 11 other bloggers with no more than 200 followers to nominate
4. Ask them 11 questions and let them know you nominated them 

My answers to their questions are: 
1. Favourite dessert?
I love chocolate so anything with chocolate in it.

2. Favourite superhero?
Hmmm this is a hard one. If I really had to pick I'd pick Iron Man. Even though he can be a bit of an a**hole sometimes, he's super intelligent and has a great sense of humour ;)

3. Road trips or air travel?
Probably air travel because all the places I want to visit are pretty far away.

4. Most memorable character is?
Jace from The Mortal Instruments series. I love how his last name just keeps on changing. Also, his sarcasm makes him hilarious and so lovable.

5. Do you like taking selfies?
I guess so but not so much ones of myself but ones with my family and friends.

6. Do you have any special treatment to keep your books in good condition?
I always take the dust jacket off when I'm reading the book. I use a bookmark and never leave my books lying open near sources of possible damage (eg. water and people).

7. Which do you prefer, a paperback or e-book?
Honestly I prefer hardcovers but if I really had to pick between these two I would say e-book. I have a kindle and I carry it with me everywhere. It's just so convenient and easy to use.

8. If you were able to jump into some particular universe of a book, which one you would choose?
The Shadowhunter world! It's such a unique and mesmerizing world!

9. What is the first book you ever remember reading?
The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner. My sister and I used to love them!
 
10. Three items you can’t live without?
My cellphone, laptop and kindle. I know, they're all electronics but I can't help it :P

11. Explain the meaning behind your blog name. 
BookCatPin. I love books and my cat and Pin is my nickname :)

My questions for the nominees are:
1. Where do you live?
2. Where would you like to visit most?
3. What's your favourite drink?
4. Are you a cat or dog person?
5. When did you start reading?
6. What's your favourite book?
7. Most memorable secondary character in a book?
8. Do you prefer hardcover or paperback?
9. What do you do to get out of a reading slump?
10. What's your most comfortable position to read in?
11. If you could be a book character for a day, who would you choose?

A lot of bloggers I know have already been nominated so I will just nominate a few.

I will nominated:
Amber @ Cosying Up With Books
Michelle @ A Thousand Lives Lived
Naban @ The Literary Oracle
Maricris @ A Lass's Book Obsession

Sorry if you don't want to be nominated or if you've already been nominated. Please don't feel pressured to do this. If you do decide to participate, I'd love to see your answers :)

Review: Isla and the Happily Ever After (Anna and the French Kiss #3) by Stephanie Perkins

Isla and the Happily Ever After

(Anna and the French Kiss #3)

by Stephanie Perkins

August 14, 2014

339 pages

Goodreads  Chapters

Goodreads Summary:

From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.

Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.

Stacking the Shelves #8

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that lets us share what we've added to our shelves.

This week I got two ebooks which were also my first approvals from Netgalley! I was so excited I already started reading Queen of Someday and it's pretty good :)

 

Queen of Someday (Stolen Empire #1) by Sherry D. Ficklin

Right Kind of Wrong (Finding Fate #3) by Chelsea Fine



I think my cat wants to read them too! What did you guys add to your shelves this week?

Feature & Follow #7: Book Character You’d Trade Places With

 

 

Feature & Follow is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read where each host will have their own Feature blog to show off more new blogs!

This was a tough one. I think I'd have more answers for who I wouldn't want to trade places with haha. After racking my brains, I finally decided on Clary Fray from The Mortal Instruments series. It's one of my all time favourite series and the Shadowhunter world is just so fascinating to me. Clary's not the smartest or most kickass character but she is surrounded by people who love her very much. I think everything she went through sucked but it also helped her grow as a person.

Which book character would you want to trade places with and thanks for stopping by!

Book Blitz & Giveaways: Athena's Ashes (Star Thief Chronicles #2) by Jamie Grey

Athena's Ashes

(Star Thief Chronicles #2)

by Jamie Grey

August 26, 2014

 350 pages
 

Goodreads  Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

It’s Renna’s biggest job yet – convincing MYTH leadership that she’s put away her lock picks and is ready to save the galaxy, despite the dangerous implant in her brain. But with the Athena on the run, she’s working solo and facing her most ruthless enemy, the traitor Pallas, who’ll go to any lengths to destroy the MYTH organization. Including framing Renna for a devastating assault on MYTH HQ that leaves their defenses crippled and hundreds dead.

Now that MYTH believes she’s a dangerous double-agent, Renna escapes their firing squad before they put more holes in her than a pair of fishnet stockings. But the ticking time-bomb in her head is the one thing Pallas needs to complete his master plan and he’s not about to let her get away. Even worse, he’s discovered the only thing that will bring Renna to her knees – threatening Captain Nick Finn.

Out of time and options, Renna’s got one shot to take down the traitor before he annihilates everything she loves, even though winning this battle may cost her everything.

Excerpt

 

Renna jolted awake as a warm hand brushed against her face. She’d been dreaming again. Of ships and stars and men she’d thought long dead. And right now, she had no idea what was real and what she’d made up in her head.

Renna licked her cracked lips and opened her eyes. It took a moment for them to focus on the face hovering above her. A face from her dreams.

“Finn,” she croaked.

“Shhh.” He smiled down at her, expression full of concern. “Don’t talk, just take it easy. You’re going to be fine.” His fingers brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek, and her skin erupted in goose bumps.

If she wasn’t so weak, she’d have thrown herself at him. Instead, she ordered her own hand to touch his. It resisted at first, but eventually it moved and Finn curled his fingers around hers.

The touch lent her enough strength to ask, “Are you really here? How are you here?”

He gave her one of those heart-twisting half-smiles of his. Maybe she’d died and this was heaven. Maybe this was just another dream. But damn, if that was the case, she never wanted to wake up.

Her tongue felt like a wad of cotton in her mouth. Gods, when was the last time she’d brushed her teeth? She gestured to the glass of water on the table beside her bed. Finn helped her hold it to her lips, and she drank thirstily.

When her hand started to shake, Finn gently took the glass from her and set it on the table. “I was hoping you could tell me that,” he said, brushing back another strand of her hair. His gaze softened, making him look young and vulnerable.

An electrical jolt shot through her with an emotion she didn’t want to name. Putting her feelings into words would make them too real.

“The Athena brought us here on her own,” he said. “But Gheewala said she could sense your electronic signature on the ship. We didn’t have much choice but to believe her. And then we arrived in the space port and saw the Eris.” He studied her for a long moment, his expression curious but wary. “How did you do it?”

Renna frowned at him. “I don’t understand. Do what?”

“Control the Athena. You brought us here.”

 

Giveaways

  

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Review: The Star Thief (Star Thief Chronicles #1) by Jamie Grey

I randomly picked this book up a couple months ago because I had seen a few good reviews on it. Let me tell you that it did not disappoint! I want to share this review because the second book is out this week and something special is coming tomorrow :)

The Star Thief

(Star Thief Chronicles #1)

by Jamie Grey

February 1, 2014

400 pages

Goodreads  Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

Stealing another galactic secret will get her arrested, but playing by the rules might just get her killed.

At twenty-three, Renna Carrizal is the most notorious thief in the galaxy. There's just one problem - all she wants is to get out of the business.

But after Renna rescues an injured boy on her final job, she finds herself on the run from the mob instead of enjoying retirement. She unwittingly becomes ensnared by MYTH, a top-secret galactic protection agency who offer her a choice - either help them on their latest mission, or spend the rest of her life on a prison ship.

Forced to work under the watchful eye of handsome but arrogant Captain Finn, Renna learns the former mercenary-turned-hero has a few dirty secrets himself. As Renna works to discover the truth about Finn's past and keep the tantalizing man at arm's length, she unearths a plot to create an unstoppable army. The target? The human star fleet.

Now Renna must pull off the biggest job of her career - saving the galaxy. And maybe even herself.

WoW #8: The Young Elites (The Young Elites #1) by Marie Lu

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted every week by Breaking the Spine which lets us showcase an upcoming release we are excited about! 

The Young Elites

(The Young Elites #1)

by Marie Lu

October 7, 2014

368 pages

Goodreads  Chapters

Goodreads Summary:

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.
Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

Marie Lu's books are fast-paced and action-packed so how can I not be waiting for this one?!? Plus, that synopsis is too badass for words.

What are you guys waiting on this week?

TTT #7: Books I Really Want to Read but Don't Own Yet

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish where people share their top ten things according to the topic of that week.

 

 

There are so many books I want ten is not enough haha! Most of the books I ended up picking are part of a trilogy or series. I either already own the first book or somehow ended up owning the second or third book first but I do want to read them all! Some of these have already been released while some are coming soon. They're listed below in no particular order :)

 

1. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

2. Forever Summer (Summer Series #4) by C.J. Duggan
3. Angelfall (Penryn and the End of Days #1) by Susan Ee
4. Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms #1) by Morgan Rhodes
5. Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3) by Sarah J. Maas
6. Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi
7. The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds #1) by Alexandra Bracken
8. The 5th Wave (The 5th Wave #1) by Rick Yancey
9. Dark Triumph (His Fair Assassin #2) by Robin LaFevers
10. A Darkness Strange and Lovely (Something Strange and Deadly #2) by Susan Dennard

 

What books do you want to read but don't own yet?

Book Blitz & Giveaway: Unrequited by Emma Grey

Unrequited

by Emma Grey

May 26, 2014

240 pages

Goodreads  Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Kat Hartland loathes Unrequited, the world's biggest boy band. Is she the only girl in Sydney who can't be bothered with perfect-looking Angus Marsden?

Give her 5 Seconds of Summer. Now.

Or maybe the seriously-hot med student who rescued her on a train—and who could be Douglas Booth's twin! Perfect formal partner, much?

But when Kat comes face to face with Angus Marsden himself, things start to get complicated. Very. Throw in a deranged female popstar, final exams, a part in the musical and a mum who just doesn't get it—and where is her best friend?

When did life get so crazy? Kat's just an ordinary schoolgirl.

Isn't she?

 

Excerpt
 

Kat is dialling Joel’s number but it’s engaged, and then a call flashes on her screen from ‘Bryce’. She actually falls off her bed. Seriously. She’s sprawled across a pile of clothes on the floor as she answers the phone and has to clamber up and compose herself while attempting to sound like it’s not at all disconcerting that Angus is on the line.

‘Angus, hello!’

‘Glad you answered,’ he says. ‘I was worried I might have turned you off last night.’

Turned her off? No. Not exactly the words she would use to describe his impact. ‘Of course not!’

‘Good. We have work to do.’

Yes. Work. Recording a hit song together. In secret.

‘And I’m not in town much longer, so it’s kind of urgent. I’m worried this might be bad timing for you in terms of your final exams.’

School. Ahem. Yes.

She’d given her education virtually no thought at all since the Unrequited concert, which is bad because she’s already doing the early entry subject at uni and really wants to follow through with a great university entrance score. That’s going to require a great HSC performance, which involves lots of studying and LOTS of focus. She can’t let this random singing opportunity destroy Plan A, even though as soon as that thought runs through her mind, she realises that Plan A is in fact now Plan B, and she wonders what her mum’s going to make of that.

‘I’d like to see you again, Kat. Today, if possible. We’ve got a lot to talk about and arrange. And we need to nail this song. Are you free?’

Am I free? Let me just think about that for a second Angus Marsden from Unrequited, who wants to record music with me…

‘YES, I’m free! I mean, I’m actually not free. It’s Tuesday, so I’ve got double maths this morning and a chemistry lab test, then lunch, but a free period straight after, then double PE …’

‘Skip PE,’ he cuts in. ‘See me at lunch? I’ve got soundcheck at four.’

Right. Of course. Soundcheck. Wait. Skip PE?

Kat has never once, not in all of her twelve-and-three-quarter years of formal education, skipped a class. Not to sneak off to the shops with friends. Not to binge-watch DVDs and scoff ice cream straight out of the tub while her mum’s at work. Certainly not to visit a pop star in his hotel suite, because he has soundcheck at four, right before yet another sold-out gig and can’t see her outside school hours, like a normal person.

‘C’mon, Kat. Don’t tell me you’ve never done that before?’

He doesn’t know the half of what she hasn’t done.

‘Of course I have! Gosh, Angus, what do you take me for?’

He laughs. ‘A girl who’s scared she’s going to get her first detention. Am I right?’

He might be …

‘Look, it’s okay, Kat. I get it. I really don’t want to lead you astray, but we’ve got a song to work on and a really tight schedule. I’m leaving the country soon. I’ll order sushi?’

‘How do you know I like sushi?’

‘Your impostor posted it on Twitter …’

Kat’s glad he can’t see her flush bright red. And she wants to kill her sisters.

Sushi? Just the two of them? She’s shaking with nerves already, and has to remind herself that, just eight days ago, she was ignoring Angus at his own concert. Rudely. It was easy to be confident then. Note to self: He’s just a normal boy! Albeit an extremely famous one, with whom practically everyone she knows is thoroughly infatuated. Everyone except her, of course.

‘All right,’ she says. ‘I’ll be there around one.’

‘Good. And don’t worry,’ he says. ‘If you get caught I’ll write a note for your teacher …’

Giveaway

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Review: Silver Shadows (Bloodlines #5) by Richelle Mead

 *Review contains spoilers from the previous books of the series.

Silver Shadows (Bloodlines #5)

by Richelle Mead

July 29, 2014

416 pages

Goodreads  Chapters

Goodreads Summary:

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.

Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive.

For Sydney, trapped and surrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves. Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him. . . .

Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where all bets are off.

Stacking the Shelves #7

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that lets us share what we've added to our shelves.

Here's my cat snuggling comfortably on pillows for all the feels you'll get with the only book that I got this week :)

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

What did you guys add to your shelves this week?

Review: Here for the Cake by Emily Poule

I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book from The Page Girls a few weeks ago. I recently finished it so I thought I'd share my thoughts :)

Here for the Cake

by Emily Poule

March 14, 2014

256 pages

 

Goodreads  Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

"Something should happen: a thunderbolt should erupt, a car should crash, a bell should ring. There should be a soundtrack—some horrible, frightening sound to accompany the news of your ex-boyfriend marrying one of your best friends from high school. Especially when you're still in love with him."

No, of course she wasn't going. Are you insane? For 29-year-old academic Mina Joseph, going to Luke's destination wedding to the venomous Ella Hutchinson would be the ultimate act of lunacy. It would be much safer to stay in her small studio in Boston so she could stalk the Facebook pages of the bride, groom, and every other guest in attendance before falling asleep in a box of tears and Wheat Thins.

But Luke's best man, the insufferably charming Benjamin Fogarty, has different plans for Mina. Both desperate to break up the mismatched couple before they say their "I do’s” and convinced that Luke is still in love with Mina (though he can’t figure out why), Ben offers her a plane ticket and a wad of cash to come out of hiding to seduce the groom.

Armed with a new wardrobe, devious friends, and copious amounts of tequila, Mina has five days to rekindle her love with Luke, expose Ella for the certifiable psychopath that she is, and at all costs, avoid having sex with the best man, regardless of how hot it could be.

Feature & Follow #6: What book/series would make a better TV show than a movie

 



Feature & Follow is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read where each host will have their own Feature blog to show off more new blogs!


For this question, I'm going have to go with The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. I think there's so much to the Shadowhunter world that can be explored if it was turned into a tv series. There would be more time to explain the world, get to know the characters and understand the overall story. A spinoff series on The Infernal Devices would be even more awesome ;)

What book/series would you pick and thanks for visiting!

Review: If I Stay (If I Stay #1) by Gayle Forman

I was lucky enough to go to an advance screening of the movie yesterday and it did not disappoint. My sister and I both cried :( I thought today, I would share the review I wrote when I read the book. I decided not to hide the spoilers because they're really very mild ones. 

*Review contains mild spoilers.

If I Stay (If I Stay #1)

by Gayle Forman

April 6, 2010

262 pages

 

Goodreads  Chapters

Goodreads Summary:

On a day that started like any other, Mia had everything: a loving family, a gorgeous, admiring boyfriend, and a bright future full of music and full of choices. In an instant, almost all of that is taken from her. Caught between life and death, between a happy past and an unknowable future, Mia spends one critical day contemplating the only decision she has left. It is the most important decision she'll ever make.

Simultaneously tragic and hopeful, this is a romantic, riveting, and ultimately uplifting story about memory, music, living, dying, loving.

WoW #7: Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted every week by Breaking the Spine which lets us showcase an upcoming release we are excited about! 

Black Ice

by Becca Fitzpatrick

October 7, 2014

400 pages

Goodreads  Chapters

Goodreads Summary:

Sometimes danger is hard to see... until it’s too late.

Britt Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn't prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage.

In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there... and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target.

But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally?

BLACK ICE is New York Times bestselling author Becca Fitzpatrick’s riveting romantic thriller set against the treacherous backdrop of the mountains of Wyoming. Falling in love should never be this dangerous…

I read that synopsis and I was just like wow, I need to read that. It sounds so intense and thrilling and I've heard some great reviews on it already so I can't wait!

What are you guys waiting on this week?

TTT #6: Books People have been Telling Me to Read!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish where people share their top ten things according to the topic of that week.

I believe these books need no explanation :D Some of them I either already own or am planning on getting very soon. They are in no particular orders below.

 

 

  

1. Boomerang (Boomerang #1) by Noelle August
2. Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
3. Vicious by V.E. Schwab
4. Magnolia by Kristi Cook
5. The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes

6. Angelfall (Penryn and the End of Days #1) by Susan Ee

7. Seraphina (Seraphina #1) by Rachel Hartman

8. The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1) by Mary E. Pearson

9. The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy #1) by Marie Rutkoski

10. These Broken Stars (Starbound #1) by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

What books have people been telling you to read?