Monday, February 2, 2015

January Wrap Up + Book Haul

If you haven't figured out already I'm not doing great with the filming videos thing so I'm back to writing up my wrap up/book haul posts hah! The amount of time required to edit and film the videos is just not worth the return right now.

January was very awesome for me and I think I really started 2015 off with a bang. Despite going on holiday to Tasmania for 5 days (where I trekked Cradle Mountain and braved the 40min walk up a consistently upward incline to see Wineglass Bay) and Hamilton Island for 4 days (relaxing on the beautiful Whitehaven Beach and snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef - dream come true!) where I read nothing, I still managed to read 10 books. I also held my 2 year blogoversary and am so happy to be sharing books with you guys. I was also part of Australian leg of The Mime Order global blog tour hosted by Bloomsbury. I could have made it 11 books as I was halfway through Red Queen by yesterday but I my friend and I drove (well he drove) to the Hunter Valley to do some wine tasting - it was a beautiful day and I tasted lots of lovely and uh... interesting... wines and brought back some for myself. The vineyards were extremely picturesque and the air was so fresh.

Some pictures for your viewing pleasure...

Cradle Mountain and Wineglass Bay, Tasmania

Hamilton Island and Whitehaven Beach, the Whitsunday Islands Queensland

Hardy Reef, one the 2000+ reefs part of The Great Barrier Reef Queensland

The Hunter Valley, New South Wales

Let's break down January book-wise!

Wrap-Up

Reviews Posted

I only posted 2 as I wanted the focus of the month to be on my blogoversary giveaway (thanks for all your entries and your comments, I read through every single one of them <3)



Books Read

Unite Me (Shatter Me #1.5, #2.5) by Tahereh Mafi (4/5) - Destroy Me (Shatter Me #1.5) 4/5, Fracture Me (Shatter Me #2.5) 2/5, Juliette's Journal 4/5. I loved Warner's thoughts in Destroy Me, it was this ordered chaos after meeting Juliette and I loved the way he saw her potential. I really disliked Adam's POV as he was this emo, sulking guy who kept thinking Juliette was weak and breakable. She is NOT fragile! Juliette's Journal was very realistic. Overall, I liked how each had its own unique voice so I could immediately tell who I was reading, very believable.

The Mime Order (The Bone Season #2) by Samantha Shannon (4/5)

Something Strange and Deadly (Something Strange and Deadly #1) by Susan Dennard - 2.5/5 this just wasn't for me. While I liked the premise of zombies and the steampunk vibe to SSaD, the MC really annoyed me and I didn't find her relatable.

Ruby Red (Precious Stone trilogy #1) by Kerstin Gier - 4.5/5 such a fun read and I enjoyed this immensely. I rounded up the rating to 5/5 because I haven't read such an amazing book 1 since These Broken Stars back in 2013.

Sapphire Blue (Precious Stone trilogy #2) by Kerstin Gier - 3/5 I disliked how this one concentrated so much on the romance and it felt very juvenile with the MC sulking over the guy, it was like insta-love and that definitely stole from the story's arc which I wanted this book to develop more.

Emerald Green (Precious Stone trilogy #3) by Kerstin Gier - 4/5 a satisfying end to the trilogy with some great revelations. Overall, the series had a LOT of flaws, I think there were plot holes (even from book 1 but especially as the series developed), insta-love and other problems but I couldn't help but overlook them in the fast-paced story that had so much wit, hilarious moments on the MC's part and just how much I enjoyed this.

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson - 4/5 if you liked The Sky is Everywhere (which I LOVED) you'll definitely enjoy this. It's got that Jandy touch where the story is a standard one but the writing and the POV's are so eccentric it really makes the book out of this world.

Mr Penumbra's 24h Bookstore by Robin Sloan - 3/5 I enjoyed the mystery and the premise to this, as well as the good explanations of technology but I REALLY disliked the MC and I swear he had like no morals... well where secrets were concerned. There are some things so rooted in tradition that they are best left like that. Sure we have technology for a reason, but there's a reason why people still prefer to read the printed word. He could NEVER keep a secret. Ask the MC to keep a secret and he'd go and spread it to the world. Swear to god I wanted to punch him. He kept thinking he was doing the right thing and I think in the end he sort of learned his mistakes but yes my issues with him ruined the experience of the book.

Snow Like Ashes (Snow Like Ashes #1) by Sara Raash - 2/5 an extremely hyped up debut in my favourite genre so I think I set my expectations too high. I was quite disappointed by this, unrelatable MC with her coming to terms with things so quickly when she was opposing them moments before, insta-love (despite me shipping the couple), predictable plot, and simplistic writing that seriously hindered the world-building - a high fantasy needs eloquent and lush writing to really support the world.

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton - 3/5 very beautiful writing but so much sadness and wtf moments. Full review to come.

Book Haul


NetGalley


Red Queen (Red Queen #1) by Victoria Aveyard (4.5/5) - I already read this, and it is a FANTASTIC debut. Full review to come.

Thanks to Hachette Australia for this e-galley!

Review Copies





Books Bought and Gifted


(From L to R, top to bottom)



Whew, this haul completed so many trilogies - Everneath, Mara Dyer, Splintered and Dante Walker :D

20 comments:

  1. It's so gorgeous-I may have to visit there! The water is just so pretty. It looks like you had fun! All the Bright Places is one that I've been seeing around quite a lot so it must be pretty good. The Mime Order is even better than the Bone Season! :)
    Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian

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    1. Yes Australia has so many beautiful places! The GBR was sooooo gorgeous. Definitely check out AtBP, lots of feels. The Mime Order <3 much awesome.

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  2. All the scenery from your holiday look beautiful Jaz! Glad to hear you enjoyed Red Queen - it's getting the hype for all the right reasons, and I loved it too :) I'll Give You the Sun is a contemporary I'd love to read sometime, I'm definitely moving it up my TBR.

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    1. Thanks Eugenia! Yes Red Queen!!! Ohmygod Eugenia you have to read I'll Give You the Sun, it just won the 2015 Michael L. Printz Award so so yeah, fantastic.

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  3. Oh dude I went and did that trek up to Wineglass Bay as well! I had period cramps at the time so I was dying so bad omg. AHH SO MANY PRETTY HARDBACKS! Eeeeee I can't wait to read your review of Red Queen xD

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    1. But the view was worth it right? I had my period in Tassy (so lame) so I was on Naprogesic the whole time lol. YES HARDBACKS GALORE.

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  4. Oh my gosh your travel pictures look freaking gorgeous, you are an amazing photographer Jaz! And really great book haul, those everneath books have the prettiest covers. YESSS To the Mime Order, it would have been awesome being part of the blog tour! I can't wait for my preorder to arrive (can't believe it hasn't yet >_>) You read some pretty awesome books this month too, I really want to pick up that Ruby Red Trilogy.

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    1. Awww thank you Jeann! Girls in dresses covers will always be gorgeous. I hope you get your preorder of The Mime Order soon so you can devour it. Definitely check out Ruby Red, I recommend.

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  5. Wow that is such a beautiful place Jaz! I'm glad that you were still able to fit in some reading inn around then, 10 books is impressive! I loved The Mime Order too, I need more from this series asap! I hope February is another great reading month for you! :)

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    1. Thanks so much Jasprit, the same to you. I want book 3 of The Bone Season so badly now. The direction that the series has taken is shocking and amazing I love it. Gah idk how long the wait is :(

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  6. I so agree with you on Warner and Adam! I hated Adam after that novella, he really didn't understand Juliette at all.
    I'm happy you liked the trilogy by Kerstin Gier, I'd like to start that one soon! Also I'll give you the sun was on of the best books I read last year! *-*

    Ps. I have a blog as well, written both in English and Italian. I'd love if you stopped by :) -> http://frannieinthepages.blogspot.com/

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    1. RIGHT? Ugh I loved Adam SO much in Shatter Me but I hated him in Unravel Me and then his novella just really pissed me off. I just love Jandy Nelson's writing!

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  7. DAYUMMM GURL, you've definitely had a busy month! I love your photos, I wish I can go to Hamilton Island soon and go snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef. Definitely on my bucket list! How in the world did you manage to read so many books when you've been away as well?! Teach me your ways!!! I'm not a fan of the vino, they all taste the same to me. Yeah, I'm a pleb whatever, I prefer ciders and beers heh...

    I've heard great things about the Ruby Red trilogy, I want to get them all they're so pretty! Glad to know that they impressed you too! Happy February :D

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    1. I love your photos too Joy! I hope you get to go to Hamilton Island soon, I was SO happy to tick off snorkelling in the GBR from my bucket list - mum wants to go again so if we do it's scuba diving for me. I want to go to New Zealand :D
      I don't know how I read 10 haha, I think when I got back I decided to be a hermit soooo yeah.
      Hrmmm maybe you weren't tasting the right ones? I asked for all the sweet ones heh because I love Moscato!

      YES GET THE RUBY RED TRILOGY IN HARDBACK THEY ARE GORGEOUS.

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  8. The places you visited look sooooo gorgeous! Love that you shared some photos with us, even if I wish I were also somewhere warm and beautiful at the moment and not stuck in snow + cold here ;) Awesome book haul too!

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    1. Yessss I want to go back Alexa. Omg Alexa come to Australia and let's go together! I can't stand the cold haha.

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  9. Oh man, the photos are so pretty! I haven't been to any of those places (Hunter Valley, Tasmania or The Great Barrier Reef), and I feel like I really need to!

    I'll Give You the Sun! I just heard that it won the Printz, and now I want to read it even more! Might wait for the paperback to come out though haha. I wish they'd make an edition to match the Aussie edition of The Sky is Everywhere.

    Barajou no Kiss definitely has fantastic art! The plot is a bit lacking, but I still continued reading it to admire the art haha

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    1. Time to go explore our beautiful country Nara.

      I don't even know what the Aussie edition of TSiE is haha there are so many. I love the hardback of I'll Give You the Sun so I just had to get it.

      The ending of Barajou no Kiss was disappointing haha but yes the art and omg I loved Black Rose <3

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  10. Wow Jaz! Awesome haul! So many books there I need to read. Good luck reading them all!
    You are lucky to visit so many nice places this summer! We went up to Jindabyne (Threadbo) and to Melbourne, so we had a great break. I have to get to Tasmania sometime!

    Thanx for visiting My Weekly Wrap-Up!
    Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace

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    1. Ooooh how was Jindabyne in the summer? I've never been to the Snow Mountains haha, I'm too afraid of the cold.

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