Owlcrate Review

For those of you who don't know, Owlcrate is a monthly book subscription box that sends you a newly released YA book and assorted goodies to accompany it.  To sign up for a subscription you have to use a credit card or you can purchase past boxes using PayPal.  I've been watching the past boxes available, and when one popped up that I was interested in I finally took a chance and purchased it.

I bought one of the boxes from July which was Good vs. Evil.  My box was Evil and included:

• the book of the month: The Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
• a Draco Malfoy POP Figure
• a Death Star necklace from Vector Engravings on Etsy
• a Queen of Hearts magnetic bookmark
• and more goodies

I have to say, that I absolutely loved this box.  Now, I did purchase this box in August so I already knew what was in it.  However, I was still extremely excited for it and I can only imagine how people are when they're getting the box as a surprise that month.  The goodies are a lot of fun and seem to be good quality items - they're not just filling these boxes with cheap tricks.

The only negative I have about the entire experience was that it took two weeks for me to receive the box after ordering it.  I originally ordered the box on August 24th and it was finally shipped by September 6th.  Even then, it ended up in my neighbours mailbox instead of mine.  That being said, none of this is Owlcrate's fault and shipping may have taken longer because it had to clear customs into Canada and there was a long weekend in the middle of shipping.  Ah well, what can you do?

I'm definitely interested in getting more boxes from Owlcrate in the future and I'll be keeping watch on the boxes they have available.  Perhaps I'll get a subscription someday (hopefully soon!).

Do any of you have an Owlcrate subscription?  How do you feel about their monthly boxes?  Let me know in the comments!

A Review: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Everything, Everything is a very cute and fun read that at the same time manages to touch on more serious issues such as alcoholism, domestic violence, and mental illness.  (Be aware, this review contains spoilers.)

I liked the characters of Madeline and Olly as well as their relationship.  Though it seemed like an insta-romance at first, their relationship does grow and develop quite gradually and they are quite a cute couple.  The different styles of writing throughout the story (IMs, emails, notes to one another, etc) and the accompanying illustrations were fairly cute as well and made a quick read even faster.  I personally finished it in just a few hours.

Though we only catch glimpses of it through Maddy's eyes, the story does deal with domestic violence within Olly's household as well.  I was happy to see a resolution to this problem when Olly's mother and the kids finally move away from the abusive father.  (Hopefully, this will send a message to people who may be in this type of situation.)

I did end up enjoying most of the book.  However, while shocked at the big twist at the end, I wasn't quite happy with the ending.  I didn't necessarily dislike it but, in a way, the reveal that Maddy wasn't even sick kind of cheapened the story for me.  Now, she and Olly can go off and do whatever they want with their lives.  Before the reveal, they had this huge problem to contend with.

Overall, I did like the novel and would definitely recommend reading it for those who are into cute, contemporary YA fiction.

Rated: 3/5

Different Ways to Organize Your Bookshelf

The big debate: what's the best way to organize your books?  Should you shelve them alphabetically?  What about by series or by favourites?  How about colour coding?  There may be no right way to organize your books, but we all have our favourites.  Or maybe you're hating the way you do it and are looking for a new style.  In that case, take a look below and consider some of these methods.

1. Alphabetical

This is probably the most obvious way to arrange your books and one that I used for quite a few years (even after it became stupid to continue doing so).  Provided you remember the name of the author that you're looking for, you can easily find whatever book you're looking for in just a couple seconds.  However, if you have a lot of books this isn't necessarily the best way to arrange them.  What happens when you get another "Armstrong" or "Aveyard" and have to shift every single book along the shelf?  When you have six different shelves like I do, this can get real tedious real fast.

2. Group by Series

This is obviously a great way to keep your book series without being tied to keeping all books by an author together.  It can give you more leeway with how you choose to organize your books.  And when the series is already finished then you can just put the books together and go.  Unfortunately, it's not the greatest for series that are still getting new releases.  If these series are towards the end of your shelf then it's not too bad.  If they're at the beginning of your shelf though then you're stuck shifting all the books after it if you didn't leave some space.

3. Group by Themes

This can be a great way to keep all the books relating to one thing together.  Contemporary fiction goes together, sci-fi goes together, classics go together, etc.  Whenever you're in the mood for a specific type of book you can know exactly where to go on your shelves.  However, you still run into the problem of shifting books around as you get new additions.

4. Group by Favourites

It's always nice to be able to put all your favourites in one space.  You could dedicate a shelf for your all-time favourites and then arrange the rest of the shelves in some other way.  Or you could line your shelves from favourites to least favourites.  Just remember, if you find a new favourite you may have to do some shifting around with them.

5. Rainbow Colour Coding

Though time consuming, this style can look amazing when done well and can earn you a ton of compliments on your shelves, particularly if they're in a more public space such as your living room.  This style can work well for you if you're not particularly fussy about keeping entire series or an author's works together.  And, if you remember what colour the spine is, it's not too difficult to find a book you're looking for.  However, part of this design is having enough books with the right colour - it may not look as great if you have fifty red spines and only two green.  Another thing to keep in mind is that if you don't remember what colour a book is then it may be challenging to locate a specific one.

6. All One Colour (Black, White, Etc)

Using construction paper or something similar, you can wrap all your book covers and make them a nice uniform.  This can give your shelves a nice clean look which you can then add pops of colour to with decorative items.  Unfortunately, it's practically impossible to find a specific book when you're looking for it.  On the plus side, if you don't know what to read next just pull one off the shelf and go for it!

7. Increasing (or Decreasing) Height

Arranging your books by increasing or decreasing heights can add an interesting look to your shelves.  It can look particularly cool if you stagger your shelves with an increasing, decreasing, increasing height pattern as you go down the shelf.  However, works in the same series or by the same author may not necessarily be able to be kept together.  So, if that's your thing this may not be the best style for you to use.

8. Let Them Do Their Own Thing, Arrange Them Willy-Nilly!

If you've got hundreds of books to keep organized, but just don't have the time, then this way might be best for you.  When you have tons of books, listing alphabetically just isn't practical.  By putting your books wherever they fit on the shelf you no longer have to worry about shifting them around all the time.  Be warned though, depending on the amount of books you have it can be extremely difficult to find a specific one when you need it.

So, which shelving method do you favour?  Or do you have another method to keep your books organized?  I'd love to hear your thoughts, so let me know in the comments!

Book Apocalypse

If there was an apocalypse and you could only save a limited number of books, which ones would you save? I've decided to cheat a little, and combine all the books in a series together.  So, here's my list of 5 book series that I would save:

5. Reason to Breathe by Rebecca Donovan

4. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

3. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

2. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

1. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Quite honestly, most of this list (aside from Harry Potter) could change tomorrow and I can guarantee it'll be different a year from now as I read more amazing stories.  But for today anyway, these are the series that I'd save if I could only save 5.

What books would you save?  Would you be able to decide?  Let me know in the comments what you would do!

A Review: Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

I'm going to make this review short and sweet on account of the fact that I'm still trying to wrap my head around that ending!

Overall, I loved this book.  The action started off almost immediately and didn't end until the book did.  For me, no parts of this book dragged and I found myself eagerly flipping through so that I could finish it.  I was happily surprised by all the fact that I love so many characters that I hadn't expected to.  I was constantly looking forward to seeing what was happening with Lorcan and Elide and I quite liked learning more about Rowan's cadre members, particularly Fenrys who I absolutely love.  Manon was also quite a nice surprise as well.

The only thing that I was even slightly upset about was the fact that Chaol wasn't present in this book.  I've seen a lot of hate about the fact that he wasn't here and that was should have seen a glimpse into what was happening with him in the south.  However, I'm sure that we'll get something like that in the next book and I feel that if it had been included here the book may have ended up dragging.  Maybe I'm just feeling better about it because I don't love Chaol quite as much as others do?  (I've always been a Dorian fan myself.)

Can't wait to find out what happens next now that Aelin has been kidnapped and her army is heading toward north.  Only, what?  Another year?  Oh boy...

What did you think about it?  Let me know in the comments!

Rated: 5/5

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A Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a difficult review for me to make. On the one hand, I was extremely excited for it. Another chance to enter the magic? Yes please! On the other hand, I had severe reservations about it. Not only was it not written by Jo herself, but it didn't concentrate on Harry and the gang and I can only read it in script form (I am very much a novel person, I enjoy that style of writing and storytelling). I finally read it and those mixed feelings haven't gone away.

In many ways, I quite enjoyed The Cursed Child. It had many of the elements that made the Harry Potter series so amazing from the start (although many of these elements are probably much more impressive if you actually get to see the play). The new characters that the story revolved around were quite likeable – Scorpius in particular stole my heart. I also enjoyed seeing a glimpse into what the future was like for the golden trio and other favourites from the original series.

However, there are many aspects that felt entirely off to me as well. I fully admit that part of the issue may be the fact that I'm reading the play rather than watching it as intended. This is unfortunate, but doesn't change my opinions about the story in general. The first problem that I had was that Albus was sorted into Slytherin. I don't know if J.K. Rowling had confirmed this (if she has, please let me know!), but I myself always just assumed that he would be sorted into Gryffindor (as had everyone else that I talked to). While this isn't a huge problem, it started my entire reading of the play with the feeling that everything was off. The time travel aspect also presented many problems. Readers were given a clear set of 'rules' regarding the Time-Turners in the series which were all completely thrown out the window in The Cursed Child. Suddenly there were some that could take you back longer in time, causing numerous issues and multiple different timelines, ultimately ending in a pretty confusing story. The biggest problem to me though was the fact that Bellatrix and Voldemort had a child together. That type of relationship seems completely out of character for Voldemort who has always only cared about himself. Voldemort having a child was completely out-of-the-blue and uncharacteristic of him that this, more than anything else, showed that this was not a story written by Rowling. And let's not even talk about the trolley lady and her hands – that was probably the weirdest thing I have ever read in my life.

Overall, I didn't hate the story but I also didn't love it. As a continuation of the Harry Potter series, it is disastrous. So many things that made the world of Harry Potter so special were destroyed in this (as other reviewers also say) piece of fan fiction. While the characters have the same names, they are not the same at all. However, if we completely ignore the Harry Potter universe and read this story as though these are all new characters in a new world it actually isn't bad. The story itself is interesting and entertaining enough that I kept reading it – even when I was thrown off from the inconsistencies from the original series. I only wish that I was able to see the play so that I could give a more fair review to the story.


What are your views on the story? Love it? Hate it? Let me know in the comments.

Rated: 3.5/5

Mischief Managed! ;)

A Review: The Unmoving Sky by K.L. Hallam

Hi guys, my next review is for The Unmoving Sky by K.L. Hallam which I received a free ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

I became interested in this book immediately when I read the synopsis for it, and I did end up quite liking it.  The main character, Jackson, is incredibly interesting and I was constantly trying to figure out more of his backstory.  Other supporting characters, such as Artie, were likable and/or interesting as well.

My biggest problem with the book, however, is how rushed it seems to be.  The novel is quite short and as a result there's little time for the development of major plot lines or even the main characters.  Much of the book was spent focusing around a potential event occurring and suddenly it was resolved with little explanation for how or why.  The short length of the book also caused some confusion in some areas of the text.  There were scattered flashbacks throughout the novel that had little explanation and, quite honestly, no point other than to add filler.

This book has a lot of promise and I honestly think that if it had gone through a bit more rigorous editing it could have been fantastic.  However, the length of the book led to very little development of plot or characters.  The conflict was resolved with little explanation and felt entirely too easy to me.  I just wish more effort had been put into adding more details into the story.  The extra length would have allowed for the reader to know more about the motivations of many of the characters and could have led to a much better read overall.

Rating: 3/5

A Review: Poetry from The House of Dorz by Doreen Marshall

Hi there everyone, I've finally been able to get to my next review for Poetry from the House of Dorz by Doreen Marshall.  I don't normally read poetry, but I received a copy of this through Goodreads giveaways and decided to give it a shot.

Overall, I thought the poems were okay.  Like I said, I'm not too into poetry so I'm not sure what's normally considered good or bad.  However, I found that quite a few of the poems were to my liking and I actually quite enjoyed reading them.  There were a few that I wasn't too fond of, but, like everything else, everyone has their own opinions.

If you're into poetry, I would suggest this for you.  There were quite a few poems focusing on many different subject matters so there should be something for everyone.  I do have to say though, if you're not that into poems like I am then you should probably just skip this and stick with novels (or whatever it is that you do like to read).

Rating: 3/5

June Reads, Currently Reading, and July To-Be-Read

June Reads

Finished

• Lazarus Vol. 1 - Greg Rucka

• Poetry from the House of Dorz - Doreen Marshall

• Glass Sword - Victoria Aveyard

• The Unmoving Sky - K.L. Hallam

• The Burning Sky - Sherry Thomas

• Me Before You - Jojo Moyes

Still Currently Reading

Started in May

• Isla and the Happily Ever After - Stephanie Perkins

• The Glittering Court - Richelle Mead

• The Walking Dead Compendium 1 - Robert Kirkman

• Forest of Ruin - Kelley Armstrong

Started in June

• The Raven King - Maggie Stiefvater

• Brainwalker - Robyn Mundell

• 12 Hours in Paradise - Kathryn Berla

• The Dream Protocol - Adara Quick

• Last Seen Leaving - Caleb Roehrig

• The Perilous Sea - Sherry Thomas

July To-Be-Read

In addition to those listed as currently reading above:

• A Court of Mist and Fury - Sarah J. Maas
• Falling Kingdoms - Morgan Rhodes
• Cruel Crown - Victoria Aveyard

Ideas for August?

Anything that you want me to read in August?  Or any ideas for upcoming posts?  Let me know in the comments below!  I'll see what I can do.

Lack of Activity

Hi there guys, I'd just like to apologize for my lack of activity lately.  There have been a lot of personal things going on lately, so I haven't been able to get on here.  I have posts planned out for everyday this month - including new reviews and some other fun posts - so make sure to keep visiting back everyday to stay updated!

A Review: Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard

Warning: This review contains spoilers; read at your own risk.


“If there’s one thing Mare Barrow knows, it’s that she’s different.”

Glass Sword, the sequel to Victoria Aveyard's Red Queen, started right where the story left off, with Mare and company fleeing from Maven and the rest of the Silvers. The same elements that made Red Queen so likeable continued in this sequel and we continued to learn more about the characters that we loved in the first book.

What I Liked About It:

• We learned even more about the characters we were introduced to in the first novel, allowing readers to better understand their motives and choices. We were also introduced to a large amount of new and lovable characters. 
• The plot was just as unpredictable as the original. There were so many things that happened that had me at the edge of my seat as I was reading it. The fight scene at the prison was amazing, as was the cliffhanger at the end. I can't wait to find out what happened with Cal, Kilorn, and the rest of the group after they were (hopefully) let go. 
• The death of the queen. She was by far my least favourite character and I was incredibly happy to see her go. Especially since she was so evil. 

What I Didn't Like About It:

• Shade's death. He was my favourite character and it hurts to see him gone. That being said though, I like seeing what it has done to Mare and look forward to seeing how it continues to change her in the next book. 

Once again, I loved this novel. Aveyard did an amazing job making Glass Sword just as good as Red Queen. I continued to love these characters, this story, and this world overall. Can't wait for the next one!

Rating: 4/5

What did you think of the book? Do you agree or disagree with my rating? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

A Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Warning: This review contains spoilers; read at your own risk.

“This is a world divided by blood – red or silver.”

A world where those with silver blood, those with special powers, rule over the weak with red blood. This book has an overall similar plot line to many other popular YA novels, but Victoria Aveyard manages to take these elements and weave them into an original story, one that I happened to love.

What I Liked About It:

• The characters were extremely complex and many were quite likeable. The quote “anyone can betray anyone” is a recurring theme throughout the novel and as a result it was incredibly difficult to know who to trust and who not to. Many twists occurred throughout the book as well with betrayal after betrayal.
• The many twists and turns. As mentioned above, betrayals occurred frequently throughout the book and constantly kept me on my toes. I never knew what exactly to expect. Maven's betrayal, and the subsequent death of the king, shocked me despite the fact that I was expecting him to be evil.
• Cal and Mare's fight scene in the arena at the end of the novel was, in my mind, absolutely fantastic. The book had been a bit slow in places, but the huge amount of action here was well-worth the wait.

What I Didn't Like About It:

• A little slow in places, but the pacing was fairly good.
• Maven's betrayal. I loved the character throughout the book and was really hoping he would turn out to be trustworthy. However, the twist was huge and leaves a great plot for sequels.

Overall, I loved this novel. The world-building was great, the characters were interesting and complex, and the plot was full of twists that continued to surprise me. Already eagerly part-way through the sequel, and loving that as well.

Rating: 4/5 (really liked it)

A Review: The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow

“Greta is a duchess and crown princess—and a hostage to peace. This is how the game is played: if you want to rule, you must give one of your children as a hostage. Go to war and your hostage dies.”

I started reading Erin Bow's The Scorpion Rules with such high expectations. Unfortunately, I was severely let down. The idea sounds fantastic, but the book was incredibly boring and I had to force myself to finish it.

What I Liked About It:

• The original premise was promising, and the first part of the book (while being extremely slow) seemed like it could lead to a fantastic story 

What I Didn't Like About It:

• The characters were extremely boring and under-developed. It was difficult to tell any of them apart, and most seemed to have no role in the story whatsoever. Diversity is great, but if the characters don't have a point in the book it's better just to keep them out. None of the characters were likeable either. Greta, the main character, had nothing special about her character. For the entire book her classmates treated her like she was a queen though they had absolutely no reason to. For the life of me, I can't figure out what is supposed to be likable about her character. 
• The love triangle was, simply put, just stupid. First of all, I hate love triangles in novels. I don't see how they add anything to the story, and in this book it was no exception. In fact, this book may have the most useless love triangle ever. The first half of the book sets up one person as Greta's love interest, and then out of nowhere she suddenly realizes she's madly in love with someone else. No hints earlier in the book at this second relationship and no explanation to how Greta fell in love with this person. The development of the entire relationship was just awful. 
• The second half of the book seems like a completely different novel than the first half. Tons of things start to happen that just don't make sense in the world created in the first half of the book. I was very confused throughout the second half and managed to just skim through most of it as I didn't care about it anyway. 
• Finally, like many reviewers half mentioned before me, the insane number of times goats were mentioned throughout the novel was a huge problem for me. By the end of the book, I felt like I knew more about the individual goats than most of the human characters.
  

Overall, the idea was great and this could have been a fantastic novel. Unfortunately, Erin Bow just didn't deliver. The story was incredibly slow, the world-building was awful, the characters were boring and unlikeable, and the plot was extremely confusing in many places. I was shocked when I found that this book was getting a sequel. While I normally go out of my way to get sequels to my books, I can't figure out why one is necessary here and I definitely won't be reading it.

Rating: 2/5 (it's okay)