Lux: Beginnings

Title: Lux Beginnings (Obsidian & Onyx)

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Rating: ♥︎♥︎♥︎ (For both books)

Current Mood: Feeling like you were acting weird and someone suddenly shows up and catches you, so you try to act like you weren't doing that weird thing you were doing. Perfectly illustrated by the most popular school skipper, Ferris Bueller. 

I've heard nothing but wonderful things about Jennifer L. Armentrout and literally everything she has written, so picking up the Lux series seemed like an absolute no-brainer. So I bought Beginnings, Consequences, and Opposition just so I had all five novels ready for me when I had the time to pick them up. If I had not bought Consequences and Opposition, I'm not too sure that I would have continued with the series; maybe I would have because I don't really like leaving things unfinished. But struggling to find the time to sit and actually read Opal (the third book in the series) has been difficult, which has put off my entire TBR list, which kind of irritates me. 

Brief rundown of Obsidian: The novel is about a girl named Katy, who moved with her mother to a small town, after the death of her father. So Katy moves in next door to the Black family, that consists of Dee and Daemon Black, twin brother and sister who are so ridiculously good looking they can't be from this planet. And the kicker? They aren't. Daemon, being non-human, does not want to associate with humans, and is the jerkiest jerk to Katy, but his twin sister Dee likes Katy and wants to be BFFs. Cool, so Katy and Dee become fast friends, and then weird stuff happens, and it's revealed that Katy's BFF is a Luxen, an alien race. Weird twist of events, as if it's not already practically written in the first sentence: Katy ends up having feelings for this hot alien boy, the same one who acts like he can't stand her and is really rude to her, but she can't help her feelings, and he can't help his and mush. 

Katy and Daemon's relationship. I feel like it's so generic -- I seen it coming just by reading the back of the book. And at first it didn't really bother me, but then it kind of did. At this point I'm reading the series just to find out what happens, and it has nothing to do with Katy and Daemon's relationship. It happened so quick and so spontaneously, and Katy is actively trying not to want Daemon, but golly-gee, she just honestly can't resist him because he's irresistible. Not to mention that he's a huge narcissistic egomaniac. The guy is totally obsessed with himself. And it's quite hilarious, in a very sad way. 

The one thing that bothered me even more than the Katy/Daemon relationship? The spelling errors in this book. The spelling errors, the spelling errors. I understand if there's one, a slip up in the editing process, but really? This is a book that is published, and is sold on nearly every online retailer and in-store, and there are multiple spelling errors? It was the thing that bothered me the most. The most. I can't even put into words how much those spelling errors infuriated me. Isn't there someone called an editor, who has a job at a publishing company, and their job is specifically made for someone to read a book and edit it before it's shipped off to the printing press? Come on guys. 

There were literal moments, when reading this book, that made me cringe and made me feel ridiculously embarrassed for the characters. Honestly. There were times where I had to close the book and look around to make sure that nobody was alerted to the embarrassment that was radiating from certain pages within this book. Do you know how sad it is, that I had to close the book a couple of times and collect myself because I was embarrassed for these characters? And I was alone. To be embarrassed and alone? I don't know if that's good writing, just cringe-worthy situations, or Jennifer L. Armentrout trying to channel her inner teenager. If she is trying to channel her inner teenager, that inner teenager is awkward as shit, and needs to be homeschooled and should never be allowed to leave the house.

The story and the idea is absolutely great, don't get me wrong. It's just the generic romance, the way it all played out, the having to hang out with each other, and trying not to want each other, and all that bullshit that makes it.. well.. bullshit. Once I finish with the series, they will be put nicely and neatly on my shelf, and they most likely won't be picked up again. The covers are gorgeous, though. Super shiny, and I like shiny things.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell & My Sincerest Apologies

Title: Fangirl

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Rating: ♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎(♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎ to infinity and beyond) 

Current Mood: A mix between happy & crying as brilliantly displayed by the lovely Kristen Bell, who I love, seriously. She's brilliant.  

What's going on homo sapiens! I've been MIA for two, almost three months, 

and I would like to formally (and in writing) apologize sincerely for my absence. Things in Jess-world have been a little crazy; things happen, school deadlines come faster than you think they are, and slowly your line of vision starts narrowing and you're only capable of focusing on one thing at a time. Hey-o University! But now that I got that garbage over with, and I am officially on summer (thank you full summer courses for thwarting my desire for knowledge) and I have nothing to do all day but take care of the furson munchkin, play some video games, and read. All favourites of mine. Seriously. 

So yesterday, I finally pummelled through finishing Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which I had started during my christmas break back in December. And as soon as I finished that gorgeous and glorious masterpiece of writing, I picked up Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl. And my heart just imploded in on itself. I honestly don't know how to put into words all the feels that this book pulled out of me. I really enjoyed this book. So much. So so so much. I don't think I can even write enough so's because I don't think there are nearly enough that I can write that will express just how much I loved this. 

So Fangirl. What is it? What is this about? Is it really about some crazy obsessed Fangirl who is stuck in the past? Did she go all crazy, find the person she's Fangirl-ing over and completely infiltrate their lives? That's what I thought this book was about! And it does have that Fangirl aspect, that Fangirl lifestyle without going too overboard, like I thought. I originally didn't think I was going to like this as much as I actually did. This book is about two twin sisters: Cath and Wren (Catherine, get it? Well.. I thought it was clever). And it's their times to shine in college. Wren, unlike Cath, wants to break away from her twin sister, do her own thing. Cath is more dependent on Wren, she wants to be dorm mates with her sister, she wants to hang out with her, she's the built in best friend she got when she was a baby and she wants to keep it that way. Cath wants her best friend, the person she has been writing Simon Snow fanfiction with, to stick together.

So, the last week of summer Wren tells Cath that she doesn't want to room with her at school, which completely devastates Cath. Which is where this story really begins. Cath is stuck rooming with Reagan, who has a best friend, Levi, who hangs around her dorm more than needed. Throughout the course of the novel we really see Cath branch out. She realizes that she doesn't need her sister nearly as much as she thought she did. Cath really grows into her own person, she becomes her own person instead of just being Wren's twin sister. And that's what this book is about. The most important thing I got out of this book is to keep doing what you love, never stop doing what you love, even if that thing may seem childish or immature to others. This is a coming of age story that I really inherently related to. It's beautiful. The way Cath comes into her own just floored me, and really did choke me up: mainly because she doesn't realize it. She doesn't realize she is becoming an independent person, she doesn't realize that she is becoming her own person, a person that she always was, but needed that independence to truly become.

I feel like I share a lot in common with Cath -- and maybe that's the reason why I'm so obsessed with this book. I read it a couple of weeks ago, and I'm already itching for a re-read (Not to mention that I just purchased the limited edition Pink cover copy from my local Chapters). I just enjoyed this book so much. I read it in one sitting, and that says a lot about a book with over four hundred pages -- in one sitting. I was literally up until 4am finishing that bad boy, and I have:

NO RAGRETS.

Rainbow Rowell might just be my new favourite author. I've read Attachments, and now Fangirl. I own Eleanor & Park, and will most likely pick that up after I finish the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout (which is what I'm currently reading). I will absolutely be picking up Landline, and Carry On soon... because I just don't think I can live my life without Rainbow Rowell's amazing stories in my life.

Rainbow Rowell, if, by some streak of miracle goodness you happened upon this blog. Please. Please, please, please keep writing the feel good, happy, amazing things you write. I'm pretty convinced, even after just two of your books that I'm quite possibly in love with you and your writing. 

Guys, if you still have a big question mark floating above your heads, debating whether or not to pick this book up. Please do. You absolutely need to pick this book up. It's just... perfection in binding. You won't regret this read. I guarantee it.

So, this is my review after my long, terrible, inexplainable, and irritating hiatus from books and reviews. I hope I still got it. Writing reviews, that is. I think. Hope you guys are as satisfied with my review as I was of Rowell's Fangirl. 

Don't never stop being awesome, 'cause you're pretty rad. And you should stay rad by being you. xoj

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

What's going on homo sapiens! I hate to do this to you guys again, but yes, it's another book review, so lets talk about this shit!

Title: Attachments
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Rating: ♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎ 1/2
Current Mood: Feeling like Gob throwing pennies on a table for a bunch of money hungry people, which makes them so happy, and lights their face up with pure joy. (specifically the third guy on the right -- he nailed that surprise face!)

Why I feel like Gob, I have no idea. Maybe because this book is a feel good book, and it made me feel really good for some reason. So I guess I should explain why: Get ready for the squeals

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell, a contemporary (millennial; if this makes sense) love story. It takes place from 1999 - 2000/1 (maybe?), and dude, it's pretty rad. This book is about a guy named Lincoln O'Neill, who takes a IT/Internet Security job at a newspaper, The Courier. It's basically his job to sift through flagged emails, and send out warnings to people who break the rules. That is, until he starts reading Beth and Jennifer's emails to each other. Beth and Jennifer's emails to one another almost always come up flagged, and if it isn't already as blatantly obvious, Lincoln ends up falling in love with Beth through reading her email conversations with Jennifer.

When I picked up this book in one of my large hauls, the main reason was the premise. I said to myself, "You know what, Jessica, when are you ever going to read a book like this ever again? Don't you want to know how things end up working out? How exactly is this woman going to play this out?" So I clicked that magical 'Add to Cart' button so I can find out the answers to all those questions myself. And now that I've read the book in t-minus like, two days, I have all the answers to those questions myself and need not stress about it any longer.

Once again, my intention during my reading week wasn't to read two books (that have absolutely nothing to do with my education) in less than a week, it was to actually get school readings and essays done. But Emerald Green had to be read because I needed to finish the trilogy, and I made the crucial mistake of reading the first chapter of Attachments right after it as I was putting EG back on my bookshelf, and I was hooked.

What can I say about this book? It's hilarious. It's so funny, and so witty, and the situations that play out aren't over the top and the reactions from characters are on point and realistic! This book made me laugh (out loud!) and I liked everyone (Except for Stef, because she's a raging bleep). All of the characters, not one character annoyed the shit out of me or made me want to douse them in gasoline and "accidentally" flick a match their way (Except for Stef, because she's a raging bleep). I loved everyone in this book (Except for Stef, because she's a raging bleep), and I rooted for Lincoln so hard. I've never wanted the guy to get the girl as much as I wanted Lincoln to get Beth. (Except for Disney movies, but that's irrelevant in this case).

This book. Shit, Rainbow Rowell, you got me hooked on your writing style. It was smooth, it was easy, it was effortless! Reading Lincoln read through Beth and Jennifer's emails -- shit, I felt like I was working in IT reading their emails myself. I really did find myself getting invested with the characters. I got invested, really invested. I care about Lincoln, and Beth, and Jennifer, and even Doris. I didn't want it to end. I wanted this book to go on forever.

The chapters! The chapters are short! Which kept me hooked. Because you can't not read another three page chapter. You can't decide to go to bed, or eat food, or take a shower, when you have just three more measly pages until the next chapter! Which I think is why I read the majority of this book in one day. The chapters teeter-totter (if this is spelt right at all). One chapter is the email back and forth between Jennifer and Beth, and the next chapter is Lincoln going over what they said, or dealing with his own things. Which is nice. It's a nice refreshing difference. It's not stuck in the same boring perspective; it changes up almost every chapter, which is nice.

This book really, just --- really made me happy, and bubbly, and excited, and I'm really super happy that I decided to pick this up, because I will most definitely read it again in the future. Like the title of this book, I am Attached to it. I love it so much! I have another book by Rainbow Rowell - Eleanor & Park, and that is already on my T(o) B(e) R(ead) list, but there's a shit ton of books on there, so I might bump it up above a few others just so I can read another Rainbow Rowell book. And I am looking into buying Fangirl, because it seems like it's my thing. I just need to make sure I want the green cover, cause there's a pink one floating around out there, and I'm not sure which one will make my bookshelf look snazzy-er.

Have you read Attachments? What did you think of it!? Have you read any other Rainbow Rowell books? Or books similar to Attachments? Hit me up and let me know the low down! And if you wanna subscribe to my blog to be updated whenever I post some new shit, there's a box somewhere near the top right area of my blog that will do that for you!

Oh by the way, you light up my life like Gob throwing pennies on a desk in front of me. I'm that third guy on the right. You're snazzy, and awesome, and don't not read Attachments. So keep being rad as shit. xoj

Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier

What's going on homo sapiens! It's me again coming at you with yet another book review, so lets talk about some more book shit!

Title: Emerald Green (Third and final book in the Ruby Red trilogy)
Author: Kerstin Gier
Rating: ♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎
Spoilers: Yes. Tons. If you have no interest in reading spoilers about the entire series, turn back now. Just X out of here, seriously. I'm going to spoil the shit out of this for you if you have an interest in reading it, because I am going to unload.


Spoiler Alert: Seriously, dude, turn back now if you do not want this series ruined for you.


My reading week is finally here and instead of using my reading week to do essays that are due really soon, and catching up on critically important course readings, I decided to read the final book in the Ruby Red series. Lets jump right into this.

Emerald Green, the third and final book in the Ruby Red trilogy. Can I first start out by saying how utterly insane as shit it is that these three books take place within, what? two to three weeks at the latest?! I feel like nothing happens, yet so much happens. This book really did pick up the slack left by Sapphire Blue, but the best thing about it? All answers are revealed, and now I can finally sleep in peace without waking up in a cold sweat wondering about what's going to happen.

Turns out that I was right about Lucy and Paul being Gwen's biological parents, but I think that was kind of revealed in Sapphire Blue, but it was outright finally said out loud in Emerald Green. And unfortunately, I think I was wrong about the gift of the Raven, at least in part -- I was under the assumption that the gift of the raven was Gwen's ability to see ghosts, but it turns out that she's f^@$!&# immortal. So yeah, the chick can't die, which is pretty rad and I didn't expect that shit at all. But it does kind of make sense -- if she's immortal and can't die (because of the two time travelling blood lines; which are her mother and father: Montrose and de Villiers) then the 'veil' to the other side would be extremely thin and allow for her to see ghosts. So, that was a really great twist.

Another huge f^@$!&# twist? Turns out the Count was immortal -- well, he was immortal until Gwen was born, and from there he ages. Which blows my mind completely. I wasn't expecting that at all. With all this shit about closing the circle of twelve and the talk about the philosophers stone, I was sure that the Count wanted the philosophers stone to become immortal. I never really thought the philosophers stone would be in the chronograph, but when you think about it, it's pretty obvious. (Also Philosopher's stone, Harry Potter -- I knew exactly what that guy wanted. Too bad there wasn't any mention of Nicholas Flamel!) And the count ends up being Mr. Whitman? Are you kidding me? I wasn't expecting that at all! AT ALL! I- damn. I just- don't even know where to begin thinking about everything I missed whenever he interacted with Gwen and Lesley. Wasn't expecting that at all.

I did like how the book played everything out. I love how Gwen ended up with the second chronograph and is able to elapse on her own and get shit done, and I like how Gideon came around and stopped flip flopping all over the place acting like a world class ass. I like how I got all my answers. And I really liked the way things tied themselves up, in a sense. I'm super happy that James (the ghost) ended up having a nice long life because of the smallpox cure.

But that ending though. So Mr. Bernard is Paul? That must have been really hard for him, growing old and seeing Gwen pay no attention to him even though he's her biological father. I know that obviously Paul and Lucy have a life together and end up having more children, but I would have liked to know what happens with their story line. Where's Lucy in Gwen's present? (Maybe Mrs. Bernard was mentioned but I just don't remember)

And damn, so Gideon ended up taking the philosopher stone/immortality powder or whatever, so that's cool because Gwen is immortal, but am I just supposed to assume that they stay together for the rest of eternity? How does that work out for them? Could this reveal have been any more anti-climactic? It's revealed that Gideon is immortal after Mr.Whitman/Count put an entire gun clip into him. Which I guess was a bit of a shock, but it's just brushed over once he wakes up.
Gwen:"Oh thank goodness Gideon that the philosophers stone potion thing worked,"
Gideon: "yeah, me too, we just mixed it with some water lol, yay immortality"
Really?! (This is not how the scene actually unfolds, but to me, it felt like it -- so not an actual representation but pretty damn close)
Also, are there two philosopher stone/immortality potion things in each of the chronographs? Because I'm really interested in knowing. So two people can become immortal? WHO ELSE?!
And about this chronograph business. The guardians were complete idiots. If this thing was super important enough to create an entire damn secret society over, wouldn't it have made sense to get the time travellers to use both chronographs? At least use the backup once so that way they have the blood already stored (and then put away and kept safe until the next two time travellers pop up)? Or at least have a little drop of blood or something preserved and safely stored away somewhere, just in case? But I guess if it was that easy, there wouldn't have been a trilogy about it!

OH! And what about the Count/Mr.Whitman? I know that he dies in the end because Mr. White hit him over the head (at least, I hope he died), but what about all those essays that Giordano translated and Lucas put into the copy of Anna Karenina? What's the count's story?! I was hoping that part of his defeat would be because Gwen and Gideon went back in time to talk to Elisabetta, but clearly that didn't happen, even though it should have. I would have loved to know what the count's real name is, where he came from, a little backstory on why he became the massive immortality seeking asshole he turns into.

This book was pretty great, I'm not going to lie, it really was. I finally got all of the answers I wanted, well, needed. But it was so anti-climactic. Once you find out Gwen is immortal and that the item inside the chronograph is a philosophers stone, you know that Gideon is going to take it and be immortal with her. But I just want to know more. What about Gwen's and Gideon's family? They're going to outlive them, obviously, but what happens to them? Is there a way to split the philosopher's stone since it's just like crystals in a little tube? Do they age? What?! What are Gwen and Gideon going to do for the rest of their immortal lives? If they have children, will they be immortal, too? So many more unanswered questions.

But overall, this book gave me what I needed, and left me with more questions I'll hopefully get over, or make up silly answers for. It was a great ending to the trilogy, and it was action packed and exciting at times. I would definitely recommend this entire trilogy to people! I can't recommend it to you guys reading this, since you've hopefully read the trilogy if you're reading this spoiler post!
I'm definitely glad that this trilogy is apart of my collection, and I definitely see myself picking it up again in the future -- now knowing how the ending unfolds, there's most likely little bits and pieces of things characters did, or said, that hold some type of significance that I didn't catch before.

Guys if this spoiler has only encouraged you to pick these books up for yourself, or if you haven't read my spoiler entwined posts about this trilogy and happen to be skimming and see this part: Do pick it up! Really! It's a really amazing read, especially if you just want something light to read that will make you laugh (and frustrated because lack of answers). And the hardcover covers are just stunningly gorgeous, aren't they?! Aren't they?! The paperback covers are pretty too, just... not as pretty as the hardcovers.

Overall I rate this series: ♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎
Because I enjoyed the frustration, and everything it had to offer utterly and entirely.

So that's my wrap up of my first trilogy review! Stoked!

If you guys have any suggestions on what books I should read next? or what I should do next in terms of posts? Please comment/email and let me know! Have you read the Ruby Red series? How did you like it?! I might hold back on the book reviews for a while due to school commitments, but I'm thinking of doing a bookshelf tour-ish thing? Showing you guys my bookshelf and going through it posting what books I have, which I've read, which I haven't, stuff like that! If you're interested in that, let me know below!


Dude, you're so awesome it's depressing for all those who aren't as awesome as you! Keep doing that thing you're doing cause it's clearly working! Blam! xoj

Annabelle (Valentines/Single's Awareness Day Edition)

What's going on homo sapiens! Today I will be talking about and reviewing some Annabelle movie shit.

Movie Title: Annabelle
Rating: ☹☹☹ (Three frowny faces -- this will be explained in my review/talk/rant.
Will I watch this again: Never. Ever.


So guys, I have this thing. You know, it's not a... shit how do I explain this? I have an irrational fear of porcelain dolls. I'm f$^*#&g terrified of porcelain dolls. I don't like them. I don't like anything about them: they're creepy as shit, they're really really creepy. And I don't know how people think that buying porcelain dolls for their kids is a good parenting decision?! How do you animals live with yourselves?!

Porcelain dolls just really rub me the wrong way, and I think it goes all the way back to my childhood; specifically around the time I watched Chucky for the first time. Just the thought of an inanimate doll coming to life and killing everybody is a terrifying thought, and, I don't know, it really freaked me out. So I've always been a little, you know, wary when it comes to dolls, especially porcelain dolls. They have these fake looking, porcelain faces, and they either have these beady black little eyes or the eyes that look like they were just harvested from an organ donor and transplanted into a doll. And that's creepy as shit, I don't care who you are or what you say, it's creepy. And growing up, I always got these creepy porcelain dolls as gifts -- they weren't nearly as large as Annabelle, but no matter their size, it was enough to make me stare at them until I finally passed out. I would closely monitor them. Make sure that they're in the exact same position they were in the night before, you know, safety measures. But then you start to think that they know that you know, and nothing good can come from you knowing what they don't want you to know, right?!

Finally, I packed up those porcelain dolls and got them as far away from my room as possible -- I'm not too sure if my parents still have them in the basement, but that's not something I particularly want to find out, or go looking for. And for the most part, I'm able to watch Chucky every halloween without completely losing my $#!t, so I have made progress, but dolls will always freak me out. Which leads me to this movie review. Annabelle. It came out on October 3rd, 2014. And I had absolutely no intention on watching it, possessed porcelain doll + probably terrible plot/ending just wasn't something I wanted to waste my time on... until tonight.

My mom and I have been joking back and forth about how we should rent Annabelle just for the heck of it. And finally tonight, we rented it. So a little explanation on the background of the story, which includes spoilers. So (may include some spoilers)

The movie centres around a family; a man, and his pregnant wife. The movie opens up with the happily married couple in church having a thumb war with each other. Church is over, they get a ride home from their neighbours. A little conversation on the sidewalk in front of their houses reveals some information: The neighbours have a daughter that ran away from home to join a cult two years ago. So the happily married couple go to bed, and the wife, Mia, wakes up after hearing screaming coming from next door. Husband John goes to check, comes out covered in blood, tells Mia to call the police. Turns out the runaway cult joining daughter came back and murdered her parents with her boyfriend because they're part of this cult (something about a ram), and they were trying to 'summon something'. Well, after crazy cult lady's boyfriend gets shot by the police after stabbing Mia in the stomach, she ends up slitting her own throat in the nursery -- she drew some weird satanic cult symbol on the wall in blood, and when a drop of blood fell from the crazy cult lady and landed on the doll's eye, the eye absorbed the blood. Boom possessed doll alert!

Essentially, the entire movie is about Mia trying to deal with this summoned demon and possessed doll, and in order to do that, a soul must be given. The demon wants the baby's soul, but it'll take anything it can get.

Now, I gave this movie three frowny faces, and now I will explain why. The frowny faces do not mean that it's a -3 rating. It's your general 3/5, I just used frowny faces because it's supposed to be a horror movie, and horror movies make you scared and frowny. The ending of the movie was totally predictable (to me, anyways). I knew it was coming, I saw it coming, I wasn't surprised in the least, which kind of killed it for me. And other than a few parts that made me want to crawl under my blanket and say a couple of Hail Mary's and Our Father's, the movie was just... average. Like I said, some parts really made me jumpy, and the long pauses on that creepy doll just made me feel really creeped out and uncomfortable. So just for those parts, this gets three frowny faces. It wasn't a terrible movie, it just wasn't as good as some I've seen, and I would never put it in a category with those other movies. Would I watch this again? Never. Never ever ever again. Not because it was the scariest thing I've ever watched in my life (it's not), but the doll really freaks me out, and I wouldn't really want to watch it again because that doll is creepy and should be burned in a fire.

So, guys, my first movie review! My opinions are completely my own, and I obviously didn't like this movie because of my personal reasons, but to you this movie could be the bee's knees! It could be in your top ten horror movie list. I do think it's worth the watch, in a way, especially if you dislike porcelain dolls like I do, the creepy factor is off the charts.

I still have this movie rented and ready for me for the next 48 hours. And I can't wait until that expires, because I can't look at this doll anymore. If I never see this porcelain doll for the rest of my life, it'll be too soon. Plus that blush on that doll, and the fact that it starts off as a pure porcelain white doll and turns to this grey, ashy colour... goodness, it's creepy.

Have you guys watched Annabelle? Do you share the same opinions about it as I do? OR do you disagree with me completely and you absolutely loved the movie?! Do you have an irrational fear of porcelain dolls?
Comment, email, subscribe to my blog, and let me know your thoughts and opinions!

Never buy your children porcelain dolls, because they are creepily scary, and will probably try to kill you and your whole family while you sleep. xoj

P.S. Happy Valentines Day, or Happy Singles Awareness day -- enjoy your day no matter where you land on the spectrum. Chocolate as a gift is awesome, and for all us single people -- chocolate will be on sale tomorrow. Win win for everyone!

Book Haul Part 2!

What's going on homo sapiens! Today I'm going to be talking about and sharing my book haul shit with you! This is technically part dos of this haul, since I got the first shipment before I decided to start consistently blogging. However, even though I don't have any pictures of the box containing those precious books themselves, you can just pretend that you seen it, and it's the most amazing picture of books in a box you've ever laid your gorgeous eyes on!

So without further ado, I'm going to share my shit with you! Also, I am not very skilled in picture-collage creating, so please ignore the terrible collages of books that will follow in this blog. I apologize in advance for the 'potato' quality. The only camera I own is attached to my phone, so please bare with me!

So for this collage duo, I've decided to include a tower of books I have received from this shipment, along with the tower of books I've received from the previous shipment. The books on the left are from my previous haul, and the books on the right are from my most recent haul. The lighting in both pictures are crap, but I will list titles, authors, etc!




The first book that I picked up, and I absolutely fell in love with the cover was Gris Grimly's Frankenstein. I was a little worried when I picked this book up, since I ordered it online. I was very fearful that I wouldn't get the dust jacket, and I'm super glad I did! The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous. As soon as I seen the cover I fell in love with it but as I opened this book, to a completely random page, I fell even more in love with it. I gave you guys a little snippet of what the illustrations look like (the book is divided into three volumes). The second picture, containing the skull with the F along with cogs and wheels, that's the cover of the book behind the dust jacket. Although I stupidly forgot to take a picture of the spine of the book, I'll describe it (and you can be rest assured it holds up to the no-dust jacket cover, and the gorgeousness that it contains in between those covers. It has gold lettering, contains more cogs and wheels, and makes my jaw drop every time I look at it. This is not the first graphic novel I have picked up in my time, but it's most definitely the first graphic novel that I have purchased and now own. And I'm so glad that it's mine, so so glad. Look at it! I can't stop looking at it! And it's inspired by Frankenstein written by Mary Shelley! Super duper bonus! Cha-Ching!

Next in the lineup is *drumroll* the first three novels in The Luxe series! And yes, I did accidentally add the photos in the wrong order. The Luxe is the first novel, Rumors is the second, and Envy is the third. Splendor, which I do not own is the fourth novel in the series. I kept hearing BookTubers talk about this series. I heard wonderful things about it, and I heard some people even talk about how it's their "guilty pleasure read." I'm not one who believes in the whole 'guilty pleasure' thing. Nothing that gives you pleasure deserves to make you feel guilty about it, even if the covers all contain girls in really frilly dresses, and probably contain nothing but romance. If you like it, good on you, dude! Don't let the fear of people possibly giving you the stink eye about something you enjoy get you down from enjoying what you enjoy. Forget 'em. Moving along, this series, as I understand it is about two high status girls in Manhattan in the year 1899, but they end up finding out that their status in society isn't as 'secure' as it once was, and their way of living is now threatened. It does sound absolutely interesting. I can just imagine how much drama is going to unfold within this series. Catfights, oh the catfights that are probably within these books. The thing that really made me want to pick this series up, despite all the catfights I'm looking forward to reading, is that this series is supposed to be historically accurate. Hook, line, and sinker! The catfights had my curiosity, but now you, the historical accuracy bit, have my attention. I'm excited to read this series. The books I got are all paperback, and the thickness of the book just, ugh, it feels so good when I hold it. That sounds absolutely weird, but along with my obsession with covers, I am also really particular about the way a book feels when I hold it. It's no secret that I obviously prefer physical books in comparison to eBooks and reading online, and there's something about the way a book sits comfortably in your hand that makes that experience so much more enjoyable.

Next, we got some random Stephen King books! We have: The Dark Tower (part of the dark tower series), Danse Macabre, and Storm of the Century (which is a screenplay). These, well all Stephen King books I own are shared with my mom -- to be fair they should be more her books than they are mine since she had an entire collection of King books before I was even conceived, and most definitely before I could even read. But as time went on, I picked up Pet Sematary, Carrie, Christine, Skeleton Crew, and have since tried to make my way through her entire collection, because this guy is quite possibly one of my favourite writers of all time. He's all dark and twisty, and psychotic, and gets you paranoid, and he scares the absolute shit out of you and I love it. So I picked these up, more for her, to add to her ever expanding collection. And when I'm done with my enormously large non-King T(o)B(e)R(ead) list, these will most definitely be working their way into my busy
reading schedule and giving me the utmost pleasure of going to bed, terrified as shit, and enjoying the thrill of the paranoia.


Moving along, we've got a collage here of four different books, by four different authors. Aside from The Treatment by Suzanne Young and The Art of Wishing by Lindsay Ribar, the rest of the books aren't part of a series, that I'm aware of. The Treatment is the second book in The Program series, The Program being the first book. However, I have yet to read it, and own it, so I won't be able to read The Treatment anytime soon. But my impression of what the series is about is: Teen suicide has become an epidemic, and in order to prevent teens from taking their own lives, at any sign or display of emotion or distress, these kids are taken and brought into the 'program' and when they come back they're blank slates, with no memories, etc. So they try to hide their feelings as best as they could, but these two teenagers suffer from depression and the 'program' is going after them. And the second book is The Treatment, and since I have no idea how the first book ends, I'm not going to look up any synopses about it because I'll end up ruining it for myself, then hating myself, and then I'll just be really sad.

Next up, Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin (I picked up All These Things I've Done by her in my last book haul, and when adding books upon books to this order, I read the synopses and watched a book haul video on YouTube and found someone mention this book and a quick little blurb about it, and it intrested the shit out of me) -- So to sort of paraphrase what I've heard about it: It's about a fifteen year old girl who has gotten into an accident, and dies. From there she is brought to this place called 'Elsewhere' and in this place you age backwards until you are reborn. Which is interesting as shit, right? Like, damn. Reincarnation never sounded so cool, well it did, but this makes it a whole different kind of cool.

The Art of Wishing by Lindsay Ribar. I'm not going to sugar coat how little I know about this book. The only thing I know is that it's about genies. And since I have very little experience reading paranormal or supernatural type books, I thought I would pick this up at at least give it a try. But with a genie in it, I can only imagine how many amazing wishes are going to happen! I'm Stoked!

And the last book in this picture collage, Parallel by Lauren Miller. I was browsing the site and since there's a discount on science fiction books, this book was dirt cheap and it sounded interesting as shit. Apparently it's about this girl who is about to graduate from high school. She takes a drama course, but then something happens (the collision of parallel universes) and instead of being on a set, she's in a dorm room at Yale. So this girl now has to navigate through everything that's happening to her, and learn how to cope. It sounds really interesting. Imagine just waking up one morning and your life is completely different based on choices the parallel you made that you didn't. I'm so down to read this. I'm so excited to read this.

Last but definitely not least is Jennifer L. Armentrout's Consequences (Part of the Lux series, and part of the Special Collector's edition). This sparkly edition contains two books in one: Opal and Origin. I haven't read the first two book in the series yet either (Obsidian and Onyx; eek) but once again, I've heard nothing but wonderful things about this series from BookTubers and other bloggers, etc. So after reading the synopses of Obsidian, I thought I would give it a go. Aliens are cool. So I'm stoked to read this. Part of this picture has the famous tower of books I received in part two of my book haul! I'm super excited and I absolutely can't wait to finish my TBR pile and start reading these beauties.

A special thank you to bookoutlet, for making all my book buying dreams come true. You guys really do offer read-iculously low prices, and I'm completely and utterly addicted to your site. If I could marry it, I would. You guys have overflowed my bookshelf and overflowed my heart with love, and you guys have made it possible for me to buy books upon books for really affordable prices. I just want to say, bookoutlet, that you tha real MVP! You make a struggling student indulge in books like this, and it makes me so happy. You guys are super rad.

Enjoy book hauling, and don't never stop being you cause you're awesome as shit
xoj

BookOutlet Book Haul Part One!

What's going on homo sapiens! Welcome to another instalment of 'Jessica has way too many books, and she shouldn't even be looking at books, never mind ordering large amounts of books online that sit on her shelf for large amounts of time because she has a huge T(o)B(e)R(ead) list that just keeps growing and growing and growing' -- also known as talking about some book haul shit with you!

This image right here to the left is a very accurate description of my life. If I'm not reading books for school, I'm reading books for pleasure, because... well, books are magical pieces of paper. They're able to transport you to a totally different world, they're able to make you feel things, and they're nice, and accepting -- they don't care who you are, the moment you open that book and begin reading you are automatically part of that world, and that feeling is just... so nice and magical. But when it ends, goodness shit, when it ends, it's literally the end of the world. I should just buy the pillow on the right, because I feel like it is an accurate description of how I feel every damn time I finish a great book.

Since I didn't think I was going to take blogging as seriously as I am, I did not take any pictures of my books in the box, but you can just pretend you saw it yay!

I actually wrote the second part of this blog post first, because the box had just arrived and I was super stoked to get everything rolling and stuff, so I just got it all out, and now I'm writing the first part. Talk about being backwards! Phew. So without further ado, let's skip all the formalities and move right onto showing you the greatness I obtained through mail, and where I obtained them from. I think I'll start with where first, if you guys don't mind!

Book Outlet. I swear, this place will be the death of me. I, once again, found out about BookOutlet through a few BookTubers and bloggers that I follow. I honestly thought this place was too good to be true! I was completely skeptical about this place. There was no way in hell that this place was selling hardcover books for $5.99, there was absolutely no way they were selling paperbacks for $2.99 (And even some books for as low as 99 cents? What? You're kidding me, right?!). No way. No no no no no freaking way! A small little dot or mark on the book (the bottom along the pages) is a really small price to pay for books that are otherwise in perfect or near-perfect condition. So I said, what the hell, and I placed an order of thirteen (13!!!) books and decided to check it out for myself. I was not expecting the books that I got to be in the quality the site said. I honestly was expecting these books to be barely glued to the spine, pages falling out everywhere, cuts, scratches, dents... you name it, I thought these books had it. I was not expecting at all to get the books I got in the mail, and I was so pleasantly surprised it didn't take me long to place another order. So, lets begin this BookOutlet haul, shall we?!

So I'm going to start off with the Stephen King and Joe Hill books. I mentioned this in the second part of my book haul, but since I will be posting that part after this part, I'll reiterate, but I guess it's not really reiterating if you guys haven't seen it yet, right? I'm confused. Anyways, my mom is a huge fan of Stephen King. She loves everything this man does, absolutely everything. She's been a fan of his writing way before I was even a thought in her head. She has an ever expanding collection of his books, and as I got older I picked up this guy's books as well and absolutely fell in love with them. So now I share her collection, even if she might not completely agree with that notion, but I am definitely helping her expand it. So we have The Wind Through the Keyhole, Song of Susannah, and Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King. And then we have N0S4A2 by Joe Hill, who coincidentally happens to be Stephen King's son! My mom and I recently watched Horns, and despite my general rule of not watching any movie that is based off a book before I read the actual book, the trailer and idea behind the movie knocked the wind out of me. So despite my better judgement, I watched the movie, which blew me away, and now I'm on the hunt to add that book to my collection so I can read it. But I've heard wonderful things about Joe Hill's writing. Especially after just watching Horns, I can see the similarities in writing compared to his father. And I get that a writer never really wants to be told their writing is like anyone else's, let alone if that other writer you're comparing them to is their own father, but I mean it in the best way possible, and which is also why I decided to buy this book and give his books a chance and try not to compare to his dad. So, Joe Hill, Stephen King, your books are going on my ever expanding T(o)B(e)R(ead) list... well Joe Hill, your book will be placed on a higher priority just so I can get a feel of who you are, which I'm excited for!

Next four books! I got Reckoning by Kerry Wilkinson, Above World by Jenn Reese, Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza, and Rain of the Ghosts by Greg Weisman. I had only heard of Mila 2.0 in passing whilst watching a book haul video on YouTube, but the synopses of it interested me so much. It's about a girl named Mila, who becomes self-aware. She realizes, or figures out, that she was created in a lab and programmed to do things that regular/real people do. So, now people know that she knows what she knows, and they're after her, so she takes off. This book, to me, definitely has a lot of promise, and I'm looking forward to reading it, and hopefully enjoying it as much as I think I will!

Reckoning is about this girl named Silver to takes 'the reckoning,' a sort of test which will tell her where, in society, she will be placed, and she will ultimately be offered up to a King. But when people go to the castle, they never return, and it's up to Silver to find a way out. Once again, seems really interesting. I'm really fascinated by the entire sorting process, and I can't wait to read this and find out if it's as good as I'm hoping it is.

Rain of the Ghosts. These synopses are not going in the order I originally thought, but none the less here we go. This book is about this girl named Rain, who, if I remember correctly, lives on the islands surrounding the Bermuda triangle. Her grandfather dies, and she is left with this arm band, which allows her to see dead people, and from there she uncovers some sort of secret. Once again, sounds interesting as hell.

Above World. You guys have not had the opportunity to find this out about me, but now you do have this opportunity so I'll share -- I'm a humongous fan of Mermaids. I'm sorry, I just can't help it. I love mermaids, and it does stem from my growing up watching Disney movies, especially The Little Mermaid. Ariel is my absolute favourite, and instilled this deep and unfaltering love of everything mermaid-ish, and I don't care that I'm 23, I can like mermaids if I want. So this book, is a mermaid book, one of many that I have added to my collection over the years. It's set in the future where humans have adapted to either growing tails and living in the water, or growing wings and living on mountains (just writing that sentence instilled so much excitement in me that I had to keep backspacing all of my spelling mistakes). This book already sounds like the biggest most raddest shit ever. So Aluna, the main girl, (REALLY cute name, too!) is thirteen, and her mermaid people are having issues with their underwater breathing necklaces (I WISH SOMETHING LIKE THIS EXISTED. AAAHHHHHH!!!). But the elders are scared or something, which obviously leaves everything up to Aluna and a friend to go to the surface and find out what in the world is going on. This book is part of a series, so once I finally get to it on my to be read list, I'm beelining straight for the second book in the series, because a mermaid book like this can in no way shape or form ever disappoint me.

Onto the next four books I purchased. The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot, Punkzilla by Adam Rapp, All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin, and Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. 

The Princess Diaries, where to start. I didn't even know that this was a thing. I mean, I watched the movies with Anne Hathaway, but I didn't think that they were based off a book. I am a fan of the movies, I think they're hilarious and Anne Hathaway is great, and again the Disney movie watching when I was a kid gave me this idea of princesses that I enjoyed. So much. So watching The Princess Diaries and seeing Anne Hathaway go from a loser to a princess of a mother f'n country. Yeah, I immediately jumped on that train. So when I was browsing BookOutlet and came across this, I thought it would be nice to read the book that inspired the movie I watched as a kid and maybe watched a couple of weeks ago on netflix. I'm an adult, I do what I want. It also doesn't hurt that the cover is so pretty, and looks like an actual diary -- I'm a sucker for book covers, and upon further research and seeing that the rest of the books in this series also look like diaries, I'm really hoping I like the book as much as I enjoyed the movie(s).

Punkzilla. Reading this synopses of this book kind of reminded me of Catcher in the Rye in a sense. Just the idea of this kid travelling to go meet his brother, and most likely finding himself, reminds me of Holden so much. But anyways, this book is about a fourteen year old boy who goes by the name of "Punkzilla," is kicking a meth habit, and is a runaway, he tries to reconnect with his older brother, a gay man who is dying from cancer, so he travels from Oregon to Memphis. I don't have a shadow of a doubt that I'll enjoy the shit out of this book. I just know I will.

All These Things I've Done is a book about this girl, who's the daughter of a mob boss, who died. They live in the near future, in a world where chocolate and coffee are illegal and against the law, and her family's business is selling chocolate, or something? And then her ex-boyfriend gets poisoned, or sick from eating the chocolate, and the police think that she's to blame. It sounds really really interesting, and I've heard nothing but wonderful things about this book!

Eleanor & Park is a contemporary love story. It's about two misfits who end up bonding and falling in love. They're both sixteen, and they know that first love never lasts but they're so brave to try. I'm honestly a little hesitant about this book. The only reason I even decided to get it was because it was less than $5 for a hardcover copy, and every time I see a book haul video, this book is lurking in there somewhere, so I thought I would just suck it up and give it a try. Again, I'm skeptical of my liking this one, but we'll see, shall we?

Crater by Homer Hickam is the last book I picked up in this part of the haul. It was the last copy BookOutlet had, and after reading the synopses, I decided add to cart and checkout. This book takes place in the future and is about a boy named Crater, who works as a helium-3 miner. After rescuing one of his fellow miners, Crater is sent on a mission and he ends up fighting human and subhuman enemies. A quote from Goodreads just makes me want read this asap. "He'll battle his way across a thousand miles of deadly lunar terrain and face genetically altered super warriors in his quest to recover an astonishing object that will alter the lives of everyone on the moon." -- How cool does that sound? Honestly!


Anyways, blog followers, that's it, that's part one of my BookOutlet book haul blog. I hope you've enjoyed this as much as I've stressed writing it!
If you guys have read any of these books and want to encourage me to read it quicker than I plan to, comment below, or if you've read a book on this book haul list that you didn't particularly enjoy comment below and tell me why!

Even though the second part of this book haul is already typed up and ready to go, I don't want to overload you guys with such great content. So definitely check back within a couple of days, or you can subscribe to my blog by putting in your email to the little gadget thingy to my right that says, "Follow By Email" under the blog archive at the top of my blog, so that way you can be alerted whenever something of mine is posted!

It's absolutely crazy how awesome you are! Oh stop it! No you stop it! No you! Really, I don't think my blog can handle all your amazingness!

Keep being you, cause you're the raddest there is!!
xoj

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier

What's going on homo sapiens! Today I will once again be reviewing and talking about some book shit! I've been on a bit of a book bender, haven't I?! All the more content for you to enjoy, my pretties!

Title: Sapphire Blue (Can I just point out how much I adore the titles of the books in this trilogy, despite the fact that they're so simple?! Ruby Red, Sapphire Blue, Emerald Green, ugh. It's satisfying for some reason! I think it's the alliterativeness of it, I think. I'm a sucker for alliterativeness)

Author: Kerstin Gier 

Rating: ♥︎♥︎♥︎ (Giving this three hearts really hurts my heart. Kerstin Gier -- You could have done so much. So much more, and it made me super sad that you didn't)

Cover: (This isn't a list thingy, but can I just mention how gorgeous these book covers are?! If I was just rating this book based off of cover alone, it would get a solid unfaltering five hearts. It's so purdy!)

Okay, here we go. The second instalment of the series. I was expecting so much more to happen, and I was ridiculously disappointed. Literally nothing of use happens, for me, anyways. Just another bunch of set ups and unrevealed information that makes me want to slowly rip out the pages of this book as some sort of torture device. It made me want to dunk my head in an entire sink filled with ice cold water. Reading this.. I mean, I really enjoy the writing style of Kerstin Gier, and I love the entire plot of this book, but I genuinely feel that she's dragging this out. A lot! I usually feel a sense of satisfaction after finishing a novel, and this did not provide me with that, at all. I will be picking up Emerald Green in the morning, just so I can finally start getting some answers... holy shit.

Once again, I will be breaking out the huge red spoiler alert... you're welcome readers who have yet to read this book, and quite possibly the one before it!

SPOILER ALERT: ATTENTION ALL READERS, THE WRITTEN WORDS BELOW WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS OF THE BOOK SAPPHIRE BLUE. IF YOU HAVE READ THE BOOK, PLEASE IGNORE THIS MESSAGE, IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK, HAVE NO INTENTION ON READING THE BOOK, YET ARE INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHAT HAPPENS... WELL, SHIT, IGNORE THIS, TOO.

So what happens? Absolutely nothing. Gwen travels back in time and sees her grandpa! Losing a grandfather at a young age myself, this part warmed my heart, it really did. I almost felt my eyes well up when Gwen was explaining that she loved him, almost. 

The entire second book of this trilogy is just a run around. There's definitely way more, much more, too much emphasis on Gwen and Gideon's relationship. It doesn't take a genius rocket scientist to figure out that Gideon really is in love with Gwen, and he's going to end up helping her with something that involves the count (I'm betting on his death), and he's going to side with her, Lucy, and Paul, and things are going to end so wonderfully after everything is safe and the circle isn't closed, and she finds out that Lucy and Paul are her biological parents that she can travel back in time to spend time with. I think it's pretty obvious, unless Gier has a totally different idea about how this novel is going to end and then I might literally lose my mf'n mind.

Told you guys about the magic of the raven -- Gwen's ability to talk to dead people. I'm excited for when she actually travels back in time to see James in the flesh! But I just can't wrap my head around all these secrets, and the length of time! The books are decently long. I think Ruby Red and Sapphire Blue are both upwards of 300 pages, and the fact that two entire novels take place within, what? Three days? Four days? Definitely less than a week, that's for sure, is absolutely insane! I can understand they need to travel back in time everyday or else they run the risk of elapsing randomly at a different and unsafe time, but shit -- three/four days ago this girl just learned that she can travel back in time, and now she's met this count guy twice, and he choked her once, and then she went to a soiree, and in Emerald Green she's going to a ball, and she's had an attempt on her life, and fallen madly in love with a guy who's so hot and cold I just want Katy Perry to constantly sing her song in his smug face.

Gwen and Gideon. These two. Infuriating. I did, in a sense, get the impression that Gideon was using her at first. Well, trying to make Gwen fall in love with him (the count's suspicions made me squeal in delight). The guy is just so touch and go it's ridiculous. It's just, unbelievable. One minute he's really into her, and the next he completely loathes her. But obviously, this book heading in the direction I think it's heading -- it'll all work out for the best and they're going to live a magnificent, time-travelling life together.

Raphael -- I love his name because he shares it with my late grandfather and it's a ninja turtle. But other than contributing to the 'code' technically Mr. Bernard found he hasn't contributed anything to this story. Not a damn thing. 

No secrets have been revealed. At all. Not even one. Not one that I wasn't already expecting. And that is quite possibly the most infuriating thing I have ever experienced when reading a series. If I had picked up this series when it was first released, and if I had to wait a year before each book, I don't think I would have continued with the series. Well maybe I would have, because I need to know what this damn circle shit is all about, but making someone wait an entire year for the second book in a trilogy only for there to be no major new developments is just... plain cruel. 

SPOILER ALERT OVER WITH. SHARE IN MY FRUSTRATIONS OF THIS BOOK BELOW.

So, I mean... the writing of this book is absolutely great. I loved reading this book. This book isn't terrible. My three heart review isn't me saying the book is absolute shit and you should avoid it at all costs, absolutely not! My three heart rating and review is just about my frustration with this book. Just this book in the series. Now I know why professors and teachers tell you to put your weakest argument in the middle. By that time your audience is already hooked, nodding along, agreeing with what you're saying, and then the middle argument (like this middle book) is completely confusing, frustrating and ridiculous, and the last argument is going to drive it all home and give your audience a feel of being completely satisfied with your shit. I feel like this is exactly the direction this trilogy has been going in. 

It's a thick-ish book, upwards of 350 pages -- 362, to be exact, (hardcover, including the acknowledgements, and including a couple pages of the final instalment of the series) and next to nothing happens! The emphasis of this book is placed on a budding romance, and as I said in my review of Ruby Red, "I want the secret. Give me the secret". I don't care about your romance (although I'm sure it'll play a particularly large role in the final book), but I'm so looking forward to reading it because I will finally get some answers! Every. single. time. this book is headed in a direction that even hints at revealing a secret, someone gets whipped back in time and "oops, sorry, guess we'll have to save this conversation for a later date." Really?! REALLY?! I want to cry tears of frustration. I don't understand why I'm not getting any answers here! 

As I said above (in my pre spoiler portion of this blog) I am most definitely going to start reading Emerald Green in the morning. Once I finish with that, I might need to take a break from pleasure and leisurely reading (although I do feel like my turnaround rate for finishing books is pretty quick!) since I have school commitments that I've... committed to. Hahaha, get it?! Commitments that I've committed to? Never mind *sigh*.

Unless you guys are totally stoked to read a rad review on Congreve's The Way of the World?! Actually, I think I might just blog about that because I have a 'response seminar' (basically a presentation) about it for my class, and I think blogging about it will definitely help me present.

I mentioned in my Ruby Red blog post, that I would post something up for those who didn't want to read spoilers, or lack there of (because nothing happens!) of Sapphire Blue, so once I get everything together for that blog post, I will absolutely post it on up. I expect everything I am waiting for will come together tomorrow, and hopefully by Thursday/Friday I'll have that post up for you guys!

Tell me what you think of my reviews, comment below! If you guys have read the Ruby Red trilogy, or Sapphire Blue and want to talk about things I haven't discussed in my blog? Or talk about things I have discussed in my blog, please comment or email me, I'd love to interact with you guys (assuming there are lurkers who read this... I'm hopeful!) Or you can comment and tell me what a pansyass I am! Or you can comment or email me book suggestions? Are you getting tired of all the book reviews? Should I throw in a music/album review just to spice things up a little?! Let me know and I will oblige! You ask, I see, I think about it, I say to myself no, but then I change my mind and give you what you ask. 

Keep being awesome

xoj

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

What's going on homo sapiens! Today I'm going to be reviewing and talking about some book shit!

Title: Ruby Red
Author: Kerstin Gier
Rating: ♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎ (Yay for a four heart review!)

It is 1:32am my fellow book lovers, and I have just finished this gorgeous book! It did take me a little to get through it, what was it, three or so days? Real life commitments aren't fun. If I could just, sit at home all day and read, and not have to do anything at all -- I think that's what I'd call paradise!

Snapping back to reality, though, I finished Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier! And I'm super excited to be sharing my thoughts about this book with you guys! So, to begin, I guess I'll provide you all with a little synopses of what this book (trilogy) is about:

Gwyneth is sixteen years old (I guess this book and Alienated are considered Y(oung)A(dult) Fiction because Gwen and Cara are not even voting age! Boo! Your opinion about politics means shit you meagre and hormonal little wenches! just kidding!!) and she comes from a long line of women who are able to travel back in time! Ooh gripping! But not every woman in that blood line are time travellers, apparently the gene is present in every other generation... it skips a generation (Am I confusing you yet, I feel like I'm confusing you). So anyways, Gwyneth was raised to be a normal girl. She was raised thinking that she didn't inherit the gene, that her cousin Charlotte who was born a day earlier than her had inherited the gene. Obviously, a book being a book, and this is a book, things don't work out that way. Oh the irony. So Charlotte is expecting to time travel at any given moment. She has been feeling dizzy for days, and suddenly boom Gwen travels back in time instead! Except that's not all there is to this time travelling business. There is some huge mystery associated with the chronograph (a device created by a member of this secret lodge society -- I'm a little confused at this myself, so bare with me) -- and this device controls when, meaning what day, month, year of the past that the time traveller will be going back to. It was created to ensure the safety of the time traveller -- to ensure they don't end up in the middle of WWII, or somewhere during the plague, etc. It's a safety precaution. There are also 12 time travellers in all, and there's some business about completing the circle of the twelve! Which is supposed to reveal some hugely massive secret.

SPOILER ALERT (IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK AND DO NOT WISH FOR THE INTIMATE DETAILS OF THIS BOOK TO BE REVEALED TO YOU, THUS ULTIMATELY RUINING THE JOY OF READING THIS BOOK, THEN PLEASE IGNORE THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH OR SO! IF YOU'RE A LITTLE REBEL AND YOU DON'T GIVE A WHAAAAAT ABOUT SPOILER ALERTS, AND YOU'RE JUST SO BADASS YOU DECIDE TO READ, THEN GOOD ON YOU. IF YOU HAVE READ THE BOOK AND KNOW ALL OF THIS -- PLEASE COMMENT BELOW AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK. CAUSE I NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS BOOK ASAP) Really long spoiler alert, but I just want to make sure you guys know what you're doing!

So, the book starts off with this very weird interaction between two unnamed people, who are upset and claiming they won't see this girl, but at least she'll have a normal childhood -- upon reading the entire book. I have come the conclusion, with my insanely accurate intuition that these people are Gwen's biological parents -- Paul and Lucy. I hope I'm right. I think I am, and I hope I am. I'm pretty sure I am right, though! Ugh I cannot pick up Sapphire Blue (second instalment in the Ruby Red Trilogy) fast enough!

Charlotte bothers the shit out of me, and so does her mother Glenda. I have never really disliked a character as much as I have disliked these two. Whiny. Whiny whiny whiny. I understand that Charlotte was raised to be prepared for this, she was taught how to fence, and dance, and ride a horse, and all that shit that was expected of women in the past, but my shit, you're not the Ruby, get over it, go home, and move on with your life man.

Everyone is so suspicious about Gwen's mom, Grace. Yeah -- they kinda should be. She's the one who hid Lucy and Paul from the guardians and the lodge people, and she also took in their child and lied about how she's her biological daughter, cause Lucy and Paul are Gwen's parents. Most likely. Probably. I think so.

I'm still really confused about all this closing the circle of twelve shit, though. What is the secret?! Give me the secret, I want the secret! But ugh, it's insane. Obviously Lucy and Paul know some shit we all don't know, and Gwen needs to stop following Gideon (her male time travelling counterpart) like a lost puppy. They're definitely going to end up trying to hide the secret as well. Shit. I need to pick up Sapphire Blue ASAP!

Moving on, what else is spoiler worthy? OH! The gift of the Raven?! Yeah, that's the fact that Gwen can see ghosts and shit, which is actually really cool. You're telling me you wouldn't want an adorable little gargoyle as a pet, that literally can't die because it's technically already dead? Immortal pets FTW! Plus, Ravens are usually associated with death and creepiness, so that makes sense.
I'm just not sure why Gwen is the "Ruby," why is each person associated with a type of stone? And a musical note, and a random word? sdfghjkl need answers *whimper*.

SPOILER ALERT IS NOW OVER! PLEASE CONTINUE WITH THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOOK REVIEW THAT I AM WRITING AT 1:55AM!

This book was published in English in 2011, by Henry Holt. But it was originally published in 2009 and in German, with the snazzy title of Rubinrot. It has since been translated into over 27 languages! Holy shit, Kerstin Gier, people love your shit! Not only has the series been translated into all of these languages, making it super popular in book form, but it also has a movie adaptation by the same name as its German printing, Rubinrot! Which I will definitely be watching in the coming days, which hopefully has English subtitles! Fun fact: I LOVE subtitles!

Overall, Ruby Red was such an interesting read. There were definitely moments of adventure, and the story line is interesting as hell. But I think the most captivating part of this book for me has to be all these missing pieces. Some people might be into this book just for the historical-ness of it, or the story line (a time travelling teenage girl who time travels with a good looking time travelling boy, yes please!), but if you're like me, you need those gaps filled in. I mentioned this quite a few times already in this review, but I really do need to pick up Sapphire Blue. Which I will be doing tomorrow! So hopefully in a couple of days' time I'll have another review up for you with more of my thoughts about the series. However, for all you readers of my blog who have not read Ruby Red (whoa alliteration!), when I post up my review of Sapphire Blue, I'll put up another blog post for you all to enjoy since the Sapphire Blue post probably won't interest you much, and will be filled with spoilers. I'd hate to ruin the second book for people who haven't read the first yet!

Once again, this blog post is now finished! If you guys have any comments about this book, or would like to talk to me about it more, tell me your thoughts about it: did you like it? love it? hate it? burn it in a fire? Let me know! Feel free to email me, or comment below, and I'll reply as speedily as I can!

Keep reading -- xoJ

(dis)order

What's going on homo sapiens! Today I'm going to talk about some upkeep/blog shit.

So as some of you may (or may have not) noticed, the layout of my blog has changed! I have very little html/css skills, but it appears that blogger likes to use templates that I have absolutely no idea how to work!

So, please don't stress if you see my blog start changing fonts, colours, layout, etc randomly and often. I'm just figuring out my flow. I want to present my ideas and thoughts and talk to you guys about whatever, in a way that blocks out distractions (due to ugly layouts or just general disorder), and is easy for you to navigate and read. I was a huge fan of the black on black I previously had for this blog (that lasted from the time my blog was created a couple of years ago, up until last night), but since this is a new year, and my new years resolution, yet again, has been to take my blogging seriously, I thought sprucing things up a little was in order. I'm still not sure the pink works. I'm generally not a fan of pink, but I can't help but feel that it makes everything work. Shit.


Anyways, to continue on with the theme of being productive and finally getting my behind in gear with blog stuff, and review stuff, and stuff i just generally want to discuss with the world. I have begun reading another book for me to review and talk shit about once I finish with it. So far, so good, and I'm enjoying it! It's Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier!

I purchased the entire series all at once from amazon (.ca, whoo canadian amazon) because of the fantastic reviews I've seen a ton of BookTubers have up on their respective channels. Almost all of the BookTubers I keep my eye on have in one way or another mentioned this book, and mentioned it's amazingness, so I thought I would just bite the bullet, pick up all three books in the series, and get on this time-travelling train! Shit, I'm on a lot of mf'n fandom trains lately. 

On a side note, I'm thinking about starting to add in reviews of books that I've been reading for school. I'm not entirely sure if the general public would really like my review of Shakespeare's As You Like It, or of H.G. Wells's The Time Machine (Which was kind of an excruciating read for me). I guess if anyone has any feedback they'd like to share about this, I'd be absolutely enthralled to hear it!

Have any of you guys read Ruby Red, or the entire Ruby Red Series? If so, get in touch and let me know what you thought about it!

P.S Invaded drops in five days. It's still FIVE DAYS AWAY. But it's ONLY five days away. I can't wait to get my grubby little hands on it.