Sharing with the Group: The end of 2015 Haul

(Forgive all the adjusting I do.)

Hilary Clinton Pop-up Book
Titans by Victoria Scott (Poster)
Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
The Glass Arrow by Kirsten Simmons
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E Schwab
Sirensong by Jenna Black
The Story Spinner by Becky Wallace
The Dead House by Dawn
Waterfell by Amalia Howard
Empire of Night by Kelley Armstrong
Shards and Ashes by Various Authors
The Sin Eaters Daughter by Melinda Salsibury
The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows

Book Subscription Box: Owlcrate box for January 2016

This is all the stuff in Januarys box

Artwork by Bookish Evie

I've never heard of the book, but it sounds good.

I love that we got a full size funko pop and it's one I don't 

have so now I'm going to have to collect the Harry Potter ones.

I love the way this lip balm smells.

Book Subscription Box: Lit Cube unveiling for January

Lit cube is another bookish subscription box that I decided I would try out for a few months.

Book Subscription Box: Uppercase box for January 2016

From the Uppercase Website

"Uppercase is a young adult book subscription box. Simply put: You sign up and receive a YA book and a bookish goody every month! Plus the subscription comes with online access to extras like a live book discussion & recommendations for similar books."

Everything that came in the box this month was awesome.

I was so excited to see this book in the package this month.

The book is even signed (although you can barely see it)

This is a little coloring book.

This is a map of the truthwitch world.

This is the note that is always sent with the box.

And these adorable socks that say 'Sup Nerd

Book Review: The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

AUTHOR: Renee Ahdieh
PUBLISHER: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
PAGES: 388
STAND ALONE/SERIES: Series
SOURCE: Bought
OUTLINE:
In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad's dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph's reign of terror once and for all.

Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she'd imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It's an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid's life as retribution for the many lives he's stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?

Inspired by A Thousand and One Nights, The Wrath and the Dawn is a sumptuous and enthralling read from beginning to end. 

MY THOUGHTS
I put off reading this for almost a year because I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it. I mean I liked the synopsis, but I had never heard the story from which this one is being re-told, A Thousand and One Nights. Not only that, but I wasn't sure if I would enjoy the characters and the setting of it. I know now that I shouldn't push books like this a way.  I should really try and be more open minded to new cultural and diverse books. It did take me a few pages to really get into it though, but as soon as I did I wanted to learn as much as I could about these characters.

SETTING

The setting was something new to me so I enjoyed reading about it. I love how the author described these places so vibrantly. 

CHARACTERS

There were a ton of different characters in the book, but only a few I care to mention.

Shahrzad or Shazi as I will call her is the main herione in the book she volunteers to be married to this boy-king who is known for killing his wives at dawn the day after they marry. So why is she taking on the responsibility because she wants revenge for the murder of her best friend Shiva. What she doesn't know is that she will be the one falling....falling for this boy. As strong and independent as she is she is also weak and emotional. I don't think I would be so forgiving and involved with the monster who killed my BF. Yes, she learns a bit of Khalids story as to why he is this way, but that should not matter. 

Khalid was the boy king who was known as this monster to the people in his country/town. He did not bare his soul to very many,and therefore no one knew the real reason behind the killings. I won't lie I had a soft spot for him when I learned of his past, and  how he begin to treat Shazi not like a thing, but his mate.

Tariq, Shazi's old friend was hell bent on saving her from the monster and killing him. Soon he learned that time changes things.

Despina was such a fun character. I loved her banter and wit, and I'm glad that Shazi and her became some what close. It was their back and forth conversations I loved. Despina acted as a friend more than a handmaiden.

DOWNFALL

I had a few downfalls with this book.

The main downfall I had with this book was the names. This may seem like a stupid reason to put on here, but I get so tripped up trying to say the names and read it right that I sometimes get frustrated. 

Another downfall I had was how Shazi so quickly fell for this boy-king who murdered her best friend. Why? This person has taken away so many lives, and yet you have this connection with him. 

ENDING

In a way I'm glad I took this long to read it because now I won't have to wait so long for is sophomore book The Rose and the Dagger. I can't say that I enjoyed how it ended. I'm very much looking forward to one of the characters journeys.

QUOTES

Books read in 2016

2016

My goal for this year is to read at least 50 books

2016 Reading Challenge

Ashley has read 4 books toward her goal of 50 books.

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4 of 50 (8%)

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• The Curious Tale of the In-between by Lauren DeStefano
• The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
• Perfect Lies by Kiersten White
• Hollow City by Ransom Riggs
• Soundless by Richelle Mead
• A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas
• The Truth about Alice by Jennifer Mathieu
• Daughters unto Devils by Amy Luckavics
• Bluescreen by Dan Wells
• Sisters of Blood and Spirit by Kady Cross
• A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
• Kingdom of Ashes by Rhiannon Thomas
• Nowhere but Here by Katie McGarry
• Walk the Edge by Katie McGarry
• Allegiant by Veronica Roth
• Four by Veronica Roth
• The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
• The Haunting of Sunshine Girl by Paige Mckenzie
• Lark by Tracey Porter (re-read)
• Dreamology by Lucy Keating
• First and Then by Emma Mills
• The Sin Eaters Daughter by Melinda Salisbury
• Neferet's Curse by P.C Cast
• The Iron Trial by Cassandra Clare and Holly Black
• Titans by Victoria Scott
• Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott
• Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann
• Spark by Holly Schindler
• Nerve by Jeanne Ryan
• One by Sarah Crossan
• Gena/Finn by Hannah Moskowitz
• Hold Me Like a Breath by Tiffany Schmidt
• Ivory and Bone by Julie Eshbaugh
• Break Me Like a Promise by Tiffany Schmidt
• 52 Reasons to hate my father by Jessica Brody
• An Ember in The Ashes by Saaba Tahir
• Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
• Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
• The Heir and the Spare by Emily albright
• Blythewood by Carol Goodman
• My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Ashton Brodi, Jodi Meadows
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
• Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins
• Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
• Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally
• Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young
• Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
• Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl
• This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
• Body and Soul by Stacey Soul
• Denton Littles Death date by Lance Rubin
• Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
• Before I fall by Lauren Oliver
• Ripple by Mandy Hubbard
• The Unidentified by Rae Mariz
• Far from You by Lisa Schroeder
• 99 Days by Katie Cotugno
• The Love that Split the world by Emily Henry
• Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
• My Soul to take by Rachel Vincent
• Ruined by Paula Morris
• All these things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin
• At Any Price by Brenna Aubrey
• BlackBird by Anna Carey
• 
  

Readathon: Clean Slate Challenge: Resolutions

Resolutions Challenge

Hosted by Novel Ink

I always try to do Bookish resolutions, and I start off well, but by the end of the year I've let myself down.

Here are some resolutions for this year.

Bookish/blog/social media

1. Write the review a day or so after reading the book.

2. Try to read the books I didn't finish in 2015

3. Clean out my email

4. Try to interact more with the bookish community.

5. Participate in reading challenges and actually work on them.

Life

1. Save money (So we can move into our own place)

2. Eat healthier (I'm pre-diabetic.)