Thursday 23 February 2017

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads:

Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?).

Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay.

New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.

Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.


-- Goodreads.com description --

I really enjoyed this book! It's a genre I don't usually pick up but I was intrigued by the plot. You know a parent is murdered on trivia night, but you don't know which one and who murdered him. That was the strength of the novel. I really needed to know my favourite characters would be alright! You only find out at the end who, why and how of the murder but the journey to that point of the story was amazing as well.

This story is told in three perspectives: Madeline, Celeste and Jane. Everything leads up to the trivia night, but we get to know these women thoroughly, and the their lives and troubles are worth it! Neither one of them has an easy life. 

I can't wait to watch the TV show! I hope it will live up to my expectations because with a cast like that, it would be a shame if it didn't!

I gave this book 5 out 5 stars! I loved how different it was from other books I've read, I loved the characters and I absolutely got hooked by the mystery! This is definitely a book you need to read before watching the TV show!

Saturday 18 February 2017

Review Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening by Marjorie M. Liu and Sana Takeda (Artist)

Set in an alternate matriarchal 1900's Asia, in a richly imagined world of art deco-inflected steam punk, MONSTRESS tells the story of a teenage girl who is struggling to survive the trauma of war, and who shares a mysterious psychic link with a monster of tremendous power, a connection that will transform them both and make them the target of both human and otherworldly powers. 

-- Goodreads.com description --











Monstress is a fantasy comic published in 2016. I read this while I was in a reading slump but I still really enjoyed it! The artwork is what initially drew me in and got me to buy it! The visualization of these characters and their world is absolutely amazing. If I just had to review the art style I would give this 5 out of 5 stars without a second thought. It's simply that stunning! However, there is the storyline to rate as well.





I really enjoyed the characters, Maika, a foxlike creature Kippa, and a cat called Master Ren among others. Together with the art, the characters made me want to read on. The fantasy elements were interesting as well, however there are a lot of information gaps which some readers might find confusing. I was okay with most of them, although a little bit more world building wouldn't have done any harm.

I'm definitely picking up the next volume when it comes out! This was an amazing read! I liked the art the most, then the characters and the plot. I really want to know where these characters will end up! It ended on a plot twist that completely blew me away!

Be aware that this comic is graphic and explicit and contains both violent and sexual images. This comic is intended for a mature audience.

Since I do have some minor problems with the plot and the information gaps and at times not enough world building, I give Monstress 4 out of 5 stars! I highly recommend it to fans of fantasy comics!

Tuesday 7 February 2017

2017 Reading Goals

Better late than never! These are my 2017 reading goals!

My Goodreads reading goal is to read 50 books! I'm going to have a lot less time in the future to read, so I had to lower my Goodreads challenge.

Read at least 3 classics
This year is the first year I don't have any literature classes at all, and I'm going to miss them! Therefore I want to read at least 3 classics this year.

Read 5 books over 500 pages
I really wanted to join the last Tome Topple Readathon but due to some deadlines I was unable to participate, so this year I want to read at least 5 books over 500 pages on my own!

Read 3 comics
I own a couple of comics I haven't read yet and I want to continue some series I started, so this won't be much of a problem!

Read at least 5 adult fantasy books
Last year I read Royal Assassin and Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb and The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson and I truly enjoyed them all! Therefore I hope to read at least 5 adult fantasy novels this year!

Read at least 3 diverse books
I already own a couple of diverse books I didn't get to in the previous year, so I truly want to change this soon!

Finish at least 5 series that I started in previous years: 

Here are a couple of choices:
The Remnant Chronicles, The Gentlemen Bastard Sequence, The Darkest Minds trilogy, The Winner's Trilogy, Bloodlines series by Richelle Mead, the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs, the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson, etc.

Finish 3 books that I have owned for more than two years.
Fangirl, Ready Player One, Throne of Glass, Wool, Eon and Eona, etc. are all suitable reads.

Which books do you really want to read this year? Leave your thoughts down below!

Saturday 4 February 2017

Stacking the Shelves: January Book Haul

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Each week bloggers post the books they purchased or received. These are the books I got in the month of January!

1. One Fell Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles #3) by Ilona Andrews 



This is the only e-book I got this month, I already read this one and really enjoyed it!

2. Windwitch (The Witchlands #2) by Susan Dennard



3. Caraval (Caraval #1) by Stephanie Garber



This one was in my FairyLoot box! Absolutely loving that subscription box!

4. Traitor to the Throne (Rebel of the Sands #2) by Alwyn Hamilton



5. Ship of Magic (Liveship Traders #1) by Robin Hobb


Really excited about Ship of Magic! I need more Robin Hobb in my life!

Which books did you get this month? Have you read any of the books mentioned above? Leave your thoughts down below!

Wednesday 1 February 2017

January Wrap Up

I had a bunch of exams this month so I didn't have a lot of time to read. I still managed to read four books, which is great!


1. Windwitch (The Witchlands #2) by Susan Dennard



I really enjoyed this book! However, I had to put it down so much in order to study, I felt at times disconnected and therefore I gave it only 4 stars. Review to come!
2. Flashfall (Flashfall #1) by Jenny Moyer



This book was in my very first FairyLoot box and I told myself, I can only order a new box if I read the book I got first. I'm hoping I'll be able to keep this up, because those FairyLoot boxes are awesome!

I did enjoy Flashfall, especially the second half of the book, which was very action-packed! I don't know if I'm going to read the sequel though. 3 stars.

3. The Heart of Betrayal (The Remnant Chronicles #2) by Mary E. Pearson 



This is the second book in The Remnant Chronicles and I absolutely enjoyed this book! I love Lia, she's a fantastic character! 5 stars! I highly recommend this trilogy!

4. A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic #1) by V.E. Schwab



This book was awesome! It's an adult fantasy novel and the first in a trilogy! Can't wait to read the other books! 5 stars!

Which books did you read this month? Have you read any of the books mentioned above? Leave your thoughts down below!

February TBR

Exams are over and now I have a little bit more time to read fantastic books! These are some of the books I hope to read in February.

1. The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles #3) by Mary E. Pearson



I'm borrowing this from my friend and can't wait to read the conclusion to the trilogy!

2. Heartless by Marissa Meyer



3. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness



I'm also borrowing this from my friend and I really want to read it soon so I can watch the movie!

4. Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1) by Leigh Bardugo



Yeah, I still haven't read this yet... so I need to change that this month!

5. Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) by Leigh Bardugo



6. The Diabolic (The Diabolic #1) by S.J. Kincaid



7.  Wires and Nerve, Volume 1 by Marissa Meyer and Douglas Holgate (Illustrations)



8. My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella



Finally another Sophie Kinsella standalone novel! Can't wait!

Which books do you want to read this month? Have you read any of the books mentioned above? Leave your thoughts down below!