Sunday, September 24, 2017

New York Comic Con 2017 : A Book Lovers Guide!

Hey Bookies,

This is finally the year I will be attending New York Comic Con for the first time ever! Goes without saying, I am SUPER excited about going this year.


Since I am an INTJ and have the perpetual NEED to make plans for plans because, I mean come on, my total existence depends on it . . . I have decided to try and construct a A Book Lovers Guide for the fellow #Bookiedeeds Warriors also attending NYCC.

 Schedules: 

  • Penguin Random House’s schedule is here
  • Chronicle Books schedule is here
  • MacMillan’s schedule is here
  • Abrams Kids schedule is here
  • Harper Voyager’s schedule is here
  • Simon & Schuster’s schedule is here
  • Epic Reads schedule is here
  • Fierce Reads schedule is here
  • Tor’s schedule is here
  • Scholastic's schedule is here


Happy Reading!


Sunday, June 4, 2017

Spread the Word Sunday #9


Spread the Word Sunday is a meme hosted by The Tattered Page to announce some sort of book related news or cause.

This year will be my third time attending ALA and I am so excited. I did not get the attend the Midwinter in Atlanta earlier this year but I will be making up for it this June! *wink, wink*

ALAMW17

For those who do not know what the American Library Association convention is, I provided some info below:

"With more than 900 exhibiting organizations, multiple pavilions and stages featuring the hottest authors, and numerous related fun events, the exhibit floor is an integral part of your learning, professional development, and networking. The Exhibit Hall offers you the opportunity to explore and discuss with expert vendors the breadth and depth of new and favorite library products, services, books, online services, tools, and technologies.
The ALA Annual Exhibits will be held in McCormick Place, Chicago.

Exhibit Hours
June 23rd: Friday Opening Reception on the Exhibit Floor5:30pm - 7:00pm
June 24th: Saturday9:00am - 5:00pm
June 25th: Sunday9:00am - 5:00pm
June 26th: Monday Exhibits Closing Events - Wrap Up / Rev Up Celebration     9:00am - 2:00pm

As I mentioned in my posts, ALA Midwinter 2016 Recap & ALA Annual 2016 RecapALA Conferences are quite similar to BookExpo America. More like a lowkey version of BookExpo America. And I am so grateful to be able to have attended!

If you're a fellow book blogger or someone who loves books and will be attending this year's Annual Conference, look me up!

*For more info, check out the official website for the 
ALA Annual 2017 Meeting & Exhibit*

Happy Reading!

Monday, May 29, 2017

New YA Releases : Week of May 29th



Here are some upcoming releases this week. Release dates sources: 
Barnes & Noble, Amazon, etc.





I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo

When It's Real by Erin Watt

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts

Spectacle by Rachel Vincent

Romancing the Throne by Nadine Jolie Courtney


Are any of these on your Bookish Wishlist or Pre-Order cart? Which do you look most forward to?


Happy Reading!

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Wishlist Wednesday #135


*Wishlist Wednesday is where you show a book that has been on your wishlist/TBR list for a while, the meme is hosted by Pen to Paper*


The Immortal Throne by Bree Despain


PublisherCarolrhoda Lab TM 
Release DateOctober 1, 2016
Pages: 344

The Story:

Daphne Raines knew it was risky to enter the underworld to save the love of her life, Haden, who had sacrificed his own honor as an Underlord for her sake. But she could never have predicted that she'd end up betrothed to Haden's conniving half-brother, Garrick, new King of the Underrealm and bound to his dark world. 

Even worse, Haden is banished to the mortal realm, and has just days to live as poison takes over his body and mind. Only Daphne's kiss can save him, but how can she escape Garrick and reach Haden in time? Surprises lurk around every corner in the final chapter of this epic romance story, as Haden and Daphne fight to fulfill their destinies.

-via Amazon




Meet the Author

Bree Despain is the author of The Dark Divine trilogy and the Into the Dark trilogy. She currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and two sons. Visit her online at breedespain.com.



Want to see my entire Wishlist? Check it out on Amazon: Books I Dream About


Happy Reading!

Monday, May 22, 2017

Review: Avenged by Amy Tintera


*Warning: This review may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

Publisher
HarperTeen
Release DateMay 2, 2017
Pages: 416
Source: Own

The Story:

With the romance of The Selection and the epic stakes of Red Queen, Amy Tintera’s New York Times-bestselling Ruined trilogy continues with the thrilling young adult fantasy Avenged.
Emelina Flores has come home to Ruina. After rescuing her sister, Olivia, from imprisonment in rival kingdom Lera, Em and Olivia together vow to rebuild Ruina to its former glory.
But their fight has only begun. Olivia is determined to destroy everyone who acts against Ruina. Em isn’t as sure. Ever since Em posed as Prince Casimir’s betrothed in Lera, she’s started to see another side to this war. And now that Cas has taken the throne, Em believes a truce is within reach. But Olivia suspects that Em’s romantic feelings for Cas are just coloring her judgement.
Em is determined to bring peace to her home. But when winning the war could mean betraying her family, Em faces an impossible choice between loyalty and love. Em must stay one step ahead of her enemies—and her blood—before she’s the next victim in this battle for sovereignty.
via Amazon

Rating







One-word ReviewFANTASTICAL

Reading Tune Game of Survival  - Ruelle


Tag Line:


What goes around comes around.


Opening Line:


The remains of Em's home sat at the bottom of the hill.


My Review


I am usually hesitant about sequels but I enjoyed Ruined so much that I pre-ordered Avenged when I pre-ordered A Court of Wings and Ruin. So that tells you something. . . 


And I a glad to say it was worth it!

The plot Avenged of is flows smoothly with the first book. Why not suspenseful, the plot does not drag. Emelina Flores has brought down the Lera empire the exterminated almost all of her people, and rescued her sister, Olivia. But there are a few hiccups.

Emelina cannot stay away from the newly minted king of Lera. Her husband. Cas.

Em and Olivia take the remainder of their people back to Ruina. Where there is nothing left for them but the ruins of their home and dead earth.

Olivia is bloodthirsty, the most powerful Ruin and cannot listen to reason. And is the now the Queen of what is left of Ruina.

In Avenged we see the chasm between Em and Olivia grow as the story progressed. By the end of the book, we are left with expectations for the next book.


How many wars will ensue? Jocita against Cas? And Olivia? Olivia against Em? And Cas? 

Will Jocita rise up as a false Queen and hunt down Cas again to ensure her throne?

Will the remains of the Ruina people survive the coming war? The split between the sister queens?

Will Em be capable of betraying her sister, her only family left?

Will Olivia murder her last living relative, the one person who risked and gave up everything to rescue her and the Ruina?

 Em has some decisions to make and sides to take. But where will that leave her and her false husband? What does the future hold her Cas and Em?

All in all, I ate Avenged up! Tintera did a good job with the sequel and I will anxiously await the next installment.

Character Breakdown:


Emelina Flores - Em was a badass from the first book. Fierce and loyal to the people of her blood, the Ruin. Even though she is considered a Useless and they shunned her from being Queen. In she is learns how to forgive and to learn her enemy. Quite literally, might I add.

Olivia Flores Bloodthirsty, blind to reason and hellbent on revenge. A.K.A. annoying and unreasonable as fuck. However, while I do not particularly like Olivia I can sympathize with some of her rage. Her people are near extermination and she was held captive and tortured for a year. 

Meet the Author:




Hi! I’m Amy Tintera, and I write novels for young adults. I grew up in Austin, Texas and graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in journalism. After receiving a masters in film at Emerson College I moved to Los Angeles, where I promptly discovered I didn’t enjoy working in the film industry, and went back to my first love, writing.
***Check out Amy Tintera's website for more information about her and Avenged HERE


Happy Reading!

New YA Releases : Week of May 22nd



Here are some upcoming releases this week. Release dates sources: 
Barnes & Noble, Amazon, etc.




The Gauntlet by Megan Sheperd

Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare


Are any of these on your Bookish Wishlist or Pre-Order cart? Which do you look most forward to?


Happy Reading!
Saturday, May 20, 2017

Bookish Movie Review : Everything, Everything



Synopsis: Maddy is a smart, curious and imaginative 18-year-old who is unable to leave the protection of the hermetically-sealed environment within her house because of an illness. Olly is the boy next door who won't let that stop them from being together. Gazing through windows and talking only through texts, Maddy and Olly form a deep bond that leads them to risk everything to be together, even if it means losing everything.

Release date: May 19, 2017 (USA)


Director: Stella Meghie


Adapted from: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon


Production companies: Alloy EntertainmentMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer


Trailer:


Cast:





Maddy Whittier played by Amandla Stenberg











Olly Bright played by Nick Robinson






 Dr. Pauline Whittier, Maddy’s mother, played by Anika Noni Rose

Carla, Maddy's nurse, played by Ana de la Reguera 

 Kara Bright, Olly’s younger sister, played by Taylor Hickson  

Rosa, Carla's daughter played by Danube Hermosillo


My Review:

Rating






One-word ReviewEverything

From the moment I watched the trailer for Everything, Everything I was smitten. I NEEDED to see the movie set to hit the big screen months later.

I was chomping on the bit as the countdown drew nearer to the release date. We purchased tickets in advance.

Movie Day: Fruit snacks in hand, I settled into my reclining seat and theater AC as I anxiously waiting the previews to be over.

Then Magic!

From start to finish.

I did not blink once. 

The on-screen chemistry between Olly and Maddy was perfect! Amandla and Nick did such a superb job playing Maddy and Olly, as individual characters and as a couple. The quirkiness, the romantic and awkward tension was so on point - especially the scene when Olly Visited Maddy in the Sun-room.



The character-actor dynamic was fantastic - they vibe together very well. The screenplay writer and the casting director did a great jobs translating the characters from book to screen and choosing the actors to play them. 

The scene settings were exactly how I imagined them to be, while I was reading Everything, Everything, and more. Although, I wish the Sun-room was more of a sunny room - more windows, to be honest. But other than that, Maddy's sterile home, Olly's dark boyish room, the trip to Hawaii, were cinematic visions.


Serendipity: 

-Olly covers Maddy’s window with photos of the ocean in the book *key:swoon*

-Text conversations transport Maddy and Olly into her architectural models.

-Rosa, Carla's daughter, had more of a prominent role in the film than in the book; they were friends in the film but not in the book


Maddy,
Every ocean deserves to be seen by you.

Peeves: 

-The lack of emphasis on Maddy's favorite book, The Little Prince. And therefore, to the ending when Maddy tells Olly to find The Little Prince in the bookstore. Olly not only shows up, but finds the book. And Maddy. Boom! But, in the movie, Maddy just texts him to meet her in the bookstore. Talk about boring and a flop!




All in all, Everything, Everything is a fantastic cinematic rendition of its novel. If you have not gone to see it, you must!


Happy Reading!