Stacking the Shelves: February Book Haul E-book Edition

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. This week, I couldn't stop myself from buying a few e-books when I received a discount, in the end, the discount wasn't even one euro but still. I bought four e-books this week and I can't wait to read them!

1. Honour's Knight (Paradox, #2) by Rachel Bach 

I read Fortune's Pawn last year, and I have to say I wasn't that impressed by it. However, it kind of ended on a cliff-hanger, so I decided to pick up the second book in the series after all.

2. Air Awakens (Air Awakens, #1) by Elise Kova 

This one wasn't very expensive and I've heard good things about Air Awakens and I believe this is about a librarian? What's not to like? I can't wait to read it!

3. Born Wicked (The Cahill Witch Chronicles, #1) by Jessica Spotswood

I recently read some amazing reviews of this book, so I couldn't wait to pick this one up. And I must admit, I love reading about witches!

4. Transcendence by Shay Savage

Since I saw the booktuber Little Book Owl talk about Transcendence last year, I have wanted to pick it up, however, the paperback version of this book is still very expensive (like 15 euros, still!). I don't remember why I exactly looked this book up on kobo.com but it was around 5 euros and I think that's a pretty good deal, so I snatched it up!

Which books did you buy this week? Have you read any of the books I mentioned? Let me know your thoughts down below!

Starflight (Starflight #1) by Melissa Landers

Life in the outer realm is a lawless, dirty, hard existence, and Solara Brooks is hungry for it. Just out of the orphanage, she needs a fresh start in a place where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. She's so desperate to reach the realm that she's willing to indenture herself to Doran Spaulding, the rich and popular quarterback who made her life miserable all through high school, in exchange for passage aboard the spaceliner Zenith.

When a twist of fate lands them instead on the Banshee, a vessel of dubious repute, Doran learns he's been framed on Earth for conspiracy. As he pursues a set of mysterious coordinates rumored to hold the key to clearing his name, he and Solara must get past their enmity to work together and evade those out for their arrest. Life on the Banshee may be tumultuous, but as Solara and Doran are forced to question everything they once believed about their world—and each other—the ship becomes home, and the eccentric crew family. But what Solara and Doran discover on the mysterious Planet X has the power to not only alter their lives, but the existence of everyone in the universe...

-- Goodreads.com description --

This is my first Melissa Landers book and I really enjoyed it! At first I was hesitant to pick it up but after several days I finally gave in and purchased this book in hardback, which I don't normally do but the paperback isn't available yet. I read the book without the dustjacket and I most add that the paint of the hardcover rubbed off on my fingers, which I didn't enjoy at all. If I can bring myself to buy an expensive hardcover, it better be one of great quality!

Moving on to the actual story! I hoped this book would be a fluffy, cute, science fiction romance and I wasn't disappointed! I love romance stories that start out with an antagonistic relationship between the main character (Pride and Prejudice is one of my favourite books, so what did you expect?). Doran stars out as Solara's bully and he doesn't seem to possess any redeeming qualities, especially in the beginning. However, there is a lot of character development present in this book which was absolutely amazing!

One thing I didn't know before actually reading the book, is the fact that we get to different perspectives: one from Solara of course but we also get Doran's point of view! From the moment I read the first page, I knew I would love this book! I absolutely adore the characters, even all the secondary characters all amazing! I had a fantastic time reading Starflight and I'm actually sad it's over! Thankfully, we get a second book with two different main characters but I believe all the characters of this book will make an appearance.

I highly recommend Starflight if you are looking for a funny, fluffy, science fiction YA romance novel! I can't but give this book 5 out of 5 stars! I loved it! However, I would have preferred the paperback over the hardback, because the last one isn't very special (just plain dark blue and the title and author on the spine) and like I said, your fingers will be blue if you read the hardback.

Do you want to read Starflight or have you already finished it? Leave a comment down below!

The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1) by Mary E. Pearson

A princess must find her place in a reborn world.

She flees on her wedding day.

She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.

She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.

She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.

The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.

Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.

-- Goodreads.com description --

I don't own this book, it was a loan from my wonderful friend! I'm really pleased that I got to read this book, I've been wanting to for a while and now it finally happened! I have to say though that I wasn't as impressed by this book than so many other people seem to be.

My main problems with this book are all situated in the beginning. I had a very hard time getting in to the story and even liking the characters. Enjoying the characters is a very big deal for me. At about half way through the book, I eventually did start to slowly like the main character, thank God!

I believe I'm still in a reading slump, unfortunately, even though I thought Truthwitch got me out of it, I haven't been reading a lot lately. Reading The Kiss of Deception didn't help at all in overcoming the slump. I really had a hard time getting into the book, the beginning contains some very boring descriptions and I even felt the characters were dull. I started to enjoy the book more once I got halfway through. I do really want to read the second book, but I'm glad I didn't waste my money on this one when I could lend it from my friend!

The concept was so intriguing! A princess runs away to avoid an arranged marriage and is followed by the prince and an assassin. We get several perspectives and the reader has to guess who is the prince and who is the assassin. Sounds cool, right? I thought so too, but it was boring!

The romance itself felt too like insta love, which is not something I particularly enjoy. I do not actually have a favourite love interest, I don't actually care who Lia ends up with, which is sad. The second part of the book is more based on an adventure and some amazing new characters were introduced which is what redeemed this book for me! It made me want to read on, because, truthfully, I almost marked this book as dnf.

This book was also way too long! Especially the first hundred pages could have been much shorter. However, since I did really enjoy the second half of the book, and the fact that I'm currently in a reading slump, made me give the book 4 out of 5 stars after all but I'm still having doubts if a 3 or less would have been more accurate.

Have you read this book? Let me know your thoughts down below! I also would like to know if the second book is worth my time.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Enjoyed That Weren't My Typical Genres

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is top ten books out of your comfort zone. I mainly selected books out of my comfort zone from last year, so you might have seen them on this blog before.


1. The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

The Blind Assassin was my first Margaret Atwood book and it will not be the last. I loved it! This is a historical fiction or literary fiction novel. Looking back at the previous year, I read a lot of (YA) fantasy books.

2. Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald

Like the previous book, this was a reading assignment for my Canadian literature class. Whilst reading Fall on Your Knees you are confronted with several disturbing things. After the lectures I even appreciated this book and I highly recommend it! This book, however, is probably the farthest from my comfort zone as a reader.

3. The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard #1) by Scott Lynch

This was the first adult fantasy book I read. I previously read a lot of YA fantasy and urban fantasy but this one is neither.

4. Assassin's Apprentice (Farseer Trilogy #1) by Robin Hobb

The next adult fantasy book I picked up was Assassin's Apprentice and in the beginning of 2016, I finished the second book in this series! I'm hoping to read the third one quite soon!

5. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Historical fiction is not my most read genre although I enjoy reading those books every once in a while.

6. Estrella Distante by Roberto Bolaño

This was a reading assignment for my Contemporary Latin American literature class and I really enjoyed it! This is about life during the dictatorship in Chile.

7. Kiss of the Spider Woman by Manuel Puig

This was another literary fiction book I had to read for a Spanish literature class. This one was even more out of my comfort zone.

8. The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

Another literary fiction, this one I read just because I wanted to, and I fell in love with it! Absolutely amazing!

9. Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

YA contemporary is not my usual genre at all, in fact I try to avoid it. However, I read all of Sophie Kinsella's standalones, so I couldn't miss out on this one.

10. Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce

This is a middle grade series and I really hesitated to pick this series up because of that. Now I'm really glad I did, because I truly enjoyed it.


Which books did you recently read that were out of your comfort zone? Let me know down below!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Songs I Wish Were Books

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week you need to pair up a song with a book. I did have some difficulties compiling this list but here we go:

1. Jolene by Dolly Parton

I love this song and I like the cover by the White Stripes even more! You can check out the White Stripes version here. It would make a sad story but I would still love to read it!

2. Never Stop – Safetysuit

Youtube link with lyrics here. You could probably use this song as a theme song for many books out there already.

3. Live Forever – Black Box Revelation

I love this song, and it makes me so proud to be a Belgian. Please, check this one out if you don't know it already! Clip here. And a book contemplating what it means to live forever? You can't tell me that doesn't sound awesome!

4. Halo – Beyoncé

Another romantic song, but it's Beyoncé, so I don't really need to say more, do I?

5. Feeling Good – Nina Simone and Sinnerman – Nina Simone

I couldn't choose between my two favourite Nina Simone songs!

7. Move the Mountain – Stratovarius

I don't remember where I heard this song for the first time, but I still love to listen to this one every now and then, youtube link here.

8. Can’t Pretend – Tom Odell

Another potentially sad book, but I think it would make for a great read! Link here.

9. Falling Slowly – Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova from the Once soundtrack

This is my favourite song from the movie and I believe it would make a fantastic book! This song is just heartbreakingly beautiful! Link here.

10. X-Men First Class Soundtrack: Magneto

This would make a fantastic book about a villain! I would definitely read that! Link here.

Which song do you wish were books? Do you know any of the songs I picked? Let me know down below!

Stacking the Shelves: February Book Haul Part 2

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Every week, bloggers post the books they bought that week. This week, I got four books, and I hope these will be the last books I buy this month because together with last book haul, it's becoming quite expensive.

1. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo 

I recently read The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo and I really enjoyed it! I hear Six of Crows is even better, so I can't wait to read it!

2. Starflight by Melissa Landers

I heard someone compare this book to The Lunar Chronicles, so I can't not pick it up. The only problem I have with this purchase, is the fact that it is an expensive hardback. This is not actually a book I want in hardback as it the book itself is quite plain beneath the dustjacket, just black with the title on the spine and no endpapers. If this book would have been available in paperback, I would not have hesitated to pick it up. So the story better be good!

3. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

I hoped to join the read-along of this book on the blog: 
smartdamescleverbooks.blogspot.com, however, this blog has been removed, I don't know what happened but if anyone has more information about the read-along and if others are still going through with it, I would like to know because otherwise I probably bought this book for nothing.

4. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

I recently watched the BBC adaptation of War and Peace and I loved every second of it! Therefore I wanted to read the actual book as well! However this book is huge! It's more than a thousand pages long (and very heavy to lift)! I will probably need a little encouragement to read the entire book. If anyone is interested in doing a read-along or buddy read, definitely let me know! I bought the Vintage Classics hardback edition and it's so beautiful!

Have you read any of these books or are you planning to? And which books did you buy this week? Let me know down below!

Top Ten Tuesday: Valentine's Day Themed Freebie: Favourite Couples in Books

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is a Valentine's Day freebie, so I decided to write a top ten of my favourite couples in books! I chose the characters that actually do get together in end, so I'm not going to give the names of the characters because I don't want to spoil anyone. It's just the main couple at the end (of the series) that I list. This wasn't a very hard topic for me, so let's get started! These are in no particular order:

1. Enchanted Inc. by Shanna Swendson

OMG! This couple is so, so cute! I need more!

2. Cress by Marissa Meyer

My favourite couple from The Lunar Chronicles!!! I hope they are featured extensively in the epilogue or get an entire series based on them because I simply need way, way more!

3. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

I read this books years ago, and I still catch myself thinking about it every now and then. It's also probably the book that made me cry the hardest and longest of all books.

4. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

How can this one not be on the list? They are perfection!

5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

6. The Winter Rose (The Tea Rose #2) by Jennifer Donnelly

7. As Shadows Fade (The Gardella Vampire Hunters: Victoria #5) by Colleen Gleason

8. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

9. De guillotine by Simone van der Vlugt

10. The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger 

I know a lot of people have mixed feelings about this book, but it felt very real to me and stuck with me.

Have you read any of these books or do you want to? I would like to know your thoughts about them, so leave them down below!