Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge Book Review

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Credits to Katherine for the calligraphy


I think it's already pretty obvious by my blog design that Belle is my favorite, and I am not that well-read on re-tellings of classic fairy tales so I gave Cruel Beauty a try and I absolutely loved most parts of it. *wink*


 Title: Cruel Beauty
Author: Rosamund Hodge
Website: http://www.rosamundhodge.net/cruel-beauty
Published by: Balzer + Bray on 7th April 2015
Genre: Fantasy Retelling (fairy tales & mythologies)
Format: Paperback, 368 pages
Copy Source: Bought (Fullybooked)
Purchase: NBS [PH] | Amazon | B&N
Rating: 3.4 Roses
Graceling meets Beauty and the Beast in this sweeping fantasy about one girl's journey to fulfill her destiny and the monster who gets in her way-by stealing her heart.

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle—a shifting maze of magical rooms—enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.


This book is an intricate story of interwoven mythologies, fairy tales and other enchanting stories. It is good and well thought of. It is dark and twisted but confusing. For me it is a new and refreshing take on Beauty and the Beast and that's what I like most about it, although it's a really, really different story.

In this novel, Belle is named Nyx, and she has a twin sister named Astria (I think, please do correct me if I'm wrong. I tend to forget names easily). Beast is called Ignifex, which is not his real name. There is some hint of Rumpelstiltskin's story blended in this book so Nyx has a choice of guessing Ignifex's name, and when she does, she can have her freedom back. Bearing in mind that this is a retelling, some things are better when it's twisted, so true love's kiss may or may not work. What do you think? I think you need to find out yourself. :D

It's a mind-blowing novel, really effin' twisted to its core. Genius craft, but the ending was a bit too confusing and I did not like it (I don't know if it's not well-thought of or what). It was going great right until the curse was broken, and I think this might be the first time that I loved a book that has a not so great ending and not so great rating for me.

Nyx is not a very strong character in terms of kick-ass-ness. You know, you'd really think that she is since she trained her whole life for the purpose of killing Ignifex, but the training was not physical, damn. But to be fair, she's definitely not your typical damsel in distress. She knows what she have to do but is torn between love and duty; she knows what she's supposed to feel but she's torn between hatred and bond of family. It was kind'a irritating, her fickle mind and indecisiveness,but I guess it's her character. I can't say I love it, but I can't say I hate it either.
Ignifex is supposedly the villain, but mind you, he isn't. It's easy to fall for Ignifex because he is kind and not at all evil; he is vulnerable and and charming and really, really beautiful. I love him I love him I'm in love with him *heartsssss*
I was really doubtful of Shade even from the beginning, I can't trust him. I find it hard to trust a lot of characters in books, because authors are so damn good in making you love a character you will hate in the end *HAHA, ehem to those authors*. But I guess I was both right and wrong to doubt him, and it would do you good to find that out for yourself.

The world was great, but it's kind of confusing and I had a hard time wrapping my mind around it but I guess it was okay. I feel like the world is trapped inside a book (like Read Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer)  because of the description of the sky: the world is trapped under a dome of a parchment sky. Again, to be fair, it's not all about the world, because what's fascinating was Ignifex's shifting castle itself. The castle held secrets and doors that should never be opened and things that should never be touched.

I loved how some things unfolded itself, especially when the truth about Nyx's world was revealed, I was sooo mind-blown, I'd have to read it again to wrap my head around it well because I was so shocked at that genius plot-twist. Like OMG!

This was made by my sister, Katherine. She's so great with this, and as a practice, she agreed to write the calligraphies for this blog. So sweet.


The ending was good. but the events that happened before that was *uhhhhh what just happened??*. It's confusing and crazy and I don't know where I was standing at that moment because I was totally lost and I did not like it at all.

It's a great book for me, but with some faults and flaws. Even with those, it was a great debut novel, so congratulations Rosamund Hodge, you did great!  *smiles brightly*

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes SPOILER REVIEW

Monday, February 15, 2016

A fitting quote for the book. Credits to Katherine Codico for the beautiful handwriting.


Right after finishing the book, I immediately typed down my thoughts on my phone so as not to drown out all the other feelings that I might have an hour or a day later. I don't want to feel nothing as I jot down my emotions, I still feel sad, yes, but it's not as intense as when I was originally typing my review. This is a retype, by the way.

Title: Me Before You
Author: Jojo Moyes
Website: http://www.jojomoyes.com/books/me-before-you/
Published by: Viking Adult on 31st December 2012
Genre: Contemporary Adult Fiction
Format: Ebook
Purchase: NBS [PH] | FullyBooked [PH] | Amazon | B&N
Rating: 4 Roses

They had nothing in common until love gave them everything to lose

Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has never been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex–Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.

Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.

"The thing about being catapulted into a whole new life---or at least, shoved up so hard against someone else's life that you might as well have your face pressed against their window---is that it forces you to rethink your idea of who you are."

I felt as if the world crumbled down on me after finishing this depressing book. It's a mix of right and wrong choice during this month, but it's definitely a wrong idea to read on days surrounding February 14. I still can't believe these books are allowed to exist, though. It shouldn't be legal for authors to crush their readers' hearts just like that and get away with it. I believe I do love books that gives me a good cry (sometimes ugly cry too, which is ALWAYS!), but this book was not just an ugly cry kind of book but a freaking depressing cry kind of book.

Let me start by saying do not read beyond this point, because this is definitely a SPOILER review.

I'll start with the basics, so that your eyes won't dart to a word that would finish off the entire book. Honestly, on a very different circumstance, I would've already put down the book few chapters later. It is a very descriptive book and if it weren't for the movie that would star two of my faves, I wouldn't have finished it. Obviously I did. The reviews are freaking flying high with a five on the book community, and I would've given it a five too, if it were not comprised of 75% story telling/descriptions and 25% dialogues. I just felt as if I was deprived of Lou-Will moments. Their dialogues, as less as they are, are very enjoyable. The banters and everything are just perf, and even though the book was not keen on the romance side, the little moments that there was was just rewarding. Some made me cry too.

It is a slow paced love story. Something that most books are not. Insta-love, as we would've called it, but this is different. Will and Lou's love blossomed to the point where none of them knew at which point everything changed. Maybe Will found it out first, we just don't know, because he has no POV, but Lou stayed in denial for too long, or she kept her eyes closed because she's taken, but she definitely fell hard and it was painful. SO.FREAKING.PAINFUL. SO.FREAKING.HEART-BREAKING.

Will's death gave birth to a new Louisa, but I know that it's not for long because something in her would definitely die with Will. I was selfish because I believed that this would be a happy-ending kind of book. Up until the last few chapters, I held on to a tiny string of hope that there would be a miracle, that Will might be well or that there might be a possibility of getting better, but there was never hope from the start. It is All the Bright Places all over again. I know that it is a really hard position for Will but the moment that there are words in the book that implied that people are never enough to make you want to fight, is just painful. I just can never stop myself from thinking of all the "might have been"s even when there is nothing I can really do to stop an inevitable ending.

The death was sudden, as was the ending. Like WTH?! The last night of their vacation and the moment Lou walked away,was, I thought, the last time that I would cry, but I was, again, wrong. The death was not at all cry-worthy but my hands were shaking as I read the last chapters and I realized I was already sobbing, not because of the words, but because my heart was shattering, like the impact of the sudden death was creeping into me in slow motion. The fact that the words were not the reason behind my tears just made me cry even more, because I know that deep down, I was really affected by the tragic ending. To the last pages of the book, I thought Will would write the saddest goodbye letter to Louisa, but he did not (and I was expecting).Typical Will.

Lastly, I don't think I would be reading the sequel because I still can't accept that Will is gone and that Louisa would eventually find someone new, which is so selfish of me, but I guess I'm still mourning and I can't think of anybody else for Lou at the moment.

I was really emotional about this review and I could have told you more but this is already really long as it is. So buh-bye!


NOVEMBER 9 by Colleen Hoover Book Review [Non-Spoiler]

Sunday, February 7, 2016







Title: November 9
Author: Colleen Hoover
Website: http://november9book.com/
Published by: Atria Books on 10th of November 2015
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Setting: Los Angeles, California
Format: Trade Paperback, 320 pages
Copy Source: Borrowed from Daniela :)
Purchase: NBS [PH] | Amazon | B&N
Rating: 5 Roses

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

I freaking cried a handful of tears finishing this book until 12:30 in the morning of February 3. Sorry, I just have to say the date even though it's far from November 9. HAHA

I knew deep down in my heart that Colleen Hoover will never make an easy character. She will not craft one that has no less than a dramatic past that may be connected to a series of downfall in that character's present happiness. I mean, I think it's her best formula and I never did like the way she wove it in her past novels that I have read, but I can certainly say that I loved how she made November 9 made me feel otherwise. This is my third CoHo novel, and I can finally say that finally, after three long novels, I finally found that one CoHo I can finally swoon about.

The moment that I finally got to the first glimpse of the connection between Fallon and Ben, my eyes went wide with disappointment, and in my head I was saying, "not again!", but I did not waver. I kept my mind open for the possibility that I still might like it, because all my friends loved it. I made the right choice because despite the first wave of disappointment, I found myself in tears and then I knew right then that whatever the ending might be, I already knew that this novel has captured my heart even with my initial distaste with the plot twist.

I felt both heartache and happiness and I was satisfied with both feelings. The fourth, fifth and last November 9 was definitely the ones that would broke your heart into fragments and it can only be mended by the truth found on the last remaining pages.

This book was not quite original, but unique in its own way. There's this one scene where Ben said that he would be insulted if their story is compared to One Day or Sleepless in Seattle since it is an entirely different concept to what they were doing. Which is true, somehow. Before Trilogy (movie) is the closest that I can think of. Maybe I'll do a separate movie review for that, so I'll talk a lot about it there.


All in all, this book was great. The dialogues are witty and the characters are lovable and memorable, plus the fact that Ben was a writer and Fallon was a reader and everything just falls into place for me and this book. Another book to place on my favorites' shelf. *wink*

Obsidian & Oblivion by Jennifer L. Armentrout Book Review

Thursday, January 28, 2016






















OBSIDIAN
Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring… until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something… unexpected happens.


The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.


If I don’t kill him first, that is.


OBLIVION
Experience the epic love story of OBSIDIAN as told by its hero, Daemon Black…

I knew the moment Katy Swartz moved in next door, there was going to be trouble. Lots of it.

And trouble’s the last thing I need, since I’m not exactly from around here. My people arrived on Earth from Lux, a planet thirteen billion light years away. Plus, if there’s one thing I know, it’s that humans can’t be trusted. We scare them. We can do things they only dream about, and honestly, we make them look weak as hell. ‘Cuz they are.

But Kat is getting to me in ways no one else has, and I can't stop myself from wanting her—or wanting to use my powers to protect her. She makes me weak, and I’m the strongest of our kind, tasked with protecting us all. So this one simple girl…she can mean the end for us. Because the Luxen have an even bigger enemy—the Arum, and I need to stay on my game.

Falling for Katy—a human—won't just place her in danger. It could get us all killed, and that’s one thing I’ll never let happen..



***REVIEW***

I've read Obsidian two years ago, and I was nearly done with the third book, Opal, when I stopped continuing the series. I have no reason behind that, I just suddenly forgot that I was reading the Lux series maybe because of my college life spiraling down or whatever, but I did stopped. I decided to reread Obsidian when I found out that Obsidian is written in Daemon's POV (Oblivion), and I read these two books, alternating between chapters because I think it'd be good to see same scenarios in different heads, that is Katy's and Daemon's.

I can't believe that even though I've already read Obsidian a few years back, it still didn't cease to enthrall me with its charm and kick-ass-ness (there's no such word, Ishie!). Reading it again for the second time, I still wasn't spared from Daemon's green eyes and I still fell for him over and over again (three times now, because I've read Obsidian twice and Oblivion once*wink*).

Jennifer L. Armentrout is just a genius in making hot male protagonists and seeing Obsidian again for the first time through a different perspective is just refreshing. Maybe you'd think that it would be boring because it's just the scenes from Obsidian just changing some stuff, but it's not. You would freaking enjoy Daemon's arrogant and cocky thoughts as he tries so hard to stay away from Katy but found himself doing the opposite every single time. As much as it is fun staying in Katy's malicious head, it is so much more fun in Daemon's undressing (HAHA) and brooding thoughts.

Katy is a representation of the book nerd in all of the bookworms in existence, mainly us. She's a book blogger and vlogger, who freaking met a freaking hot alien and the hotness is freaking all around that you just can't help but be envious. Like, hey, I review books too, where's my hot neighbor alien?! Katy, you are freaking lucky but unfortunate at the same time. I just know that you are in the center of a freaking war that not even Daemon is aware of yet (I think).

I admit that there are some parts that are way better told in Katy's POV, especially the fight scenes in the end. It is much more intense in Kat's because she is a fragile human that can die at any moment (which is totally impossible, though, because there are still other books in the series where she'll be POV'ing on once againg) and you can feel every pain searing through her.

I really love this series even though I'm not done with all the books yet. This is a gut feeling, but I know I will. *wink*

Rating: 5 ROSES


Best Books I've Read in 2015 & Goals and Challenges for 2016

Tuesday, January 5, 2016



I've only read a total of 37 books last year. Three more books and I would've completed my 2015 Goodreads Reading Challenge, deym! So out of 37 books, I can say that I fell in luuuurve with 8 of them. Two standalones and six books in a series.

In no particular order. I just can't choose which ones to go first and last. :P

by Jerry Spinelli

This is the first book that made me cry tons last year and I would definitely reread it this year. I love that this book is about individuality and it awakens the child in all of us. It inspires us to do good in others. This book should be read by everyone, child and adults alike, it's a must.

by Marissa Meyer

I haven't gotten into reading the next books in this series because I want to own the physical copy but I haven't had the chance yet to buy the next one, so I'll probably be reading Scarlet this year.
This book got me hooked! Who knew I would love a cyborg Cinderella that much? Even I can't believe that I did. I once cringe at the thought of that but I was thankful I read Cinder. You should def try it too. *wink*
by Jennifer Niven

Need a reminder that you are not alone? Read ATBP.
I don't suffer from any of the issues talked about in the book but I really loved the book anyway.


by Claudia Gray

Geeee. Paul Markov. Geeee. I love this book and I am still waiting for the next book. It's out in the local bookstores but it's still not available in any bookstores near me. UGH. I'm dying.
This book will take you places and I love those places myself. Ooooh Russiaaaa!!
by V.E. Schwab

I was stunned with this book. I love all the characters and I love the setting so much. This was my second book with parallel universe and at first I thought it would be boring and just the same as many other parallel universes out there but IT.IS.NOT! It is so AMAZEBALLS!
by Thalia Khalkipsakis

Time travel is different in this book, and I never thought about it that way before. It shed a light on how it  truly is to time travel, and here I am still hoping that I could travel, deym.

by Nicholas Sparks

I did not finish my #NSRead-A-Thon last year *saaad*. I only managed to finish 4 books, I think, of Nicholas Sparks, but I'm still on it this year, no one can stop me.
I really love The Longest Ride, both the book and the movie equally. I fell in love, like really fell in love with all the characters in the book. It is like The Notebook for me and I love it so much.

by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Lastly, my second to the last read of 2015, Illuminae. It's one hell of a roller coaster ride with fun pages and everything you want to find in a sci-fi novel. Complete with space ship schematics and files and stuff that is sooooo sci-fi-y! :D

__________________________________

I also did not finish my Popsugar Reading Challenge. I have no time to update it yet, but soon I think I'll add more books to that, but even with the addition, I don't think I was successful in that challenge. I should do better this year. *grins*

__________________________________

2016 READING GOALS



I am a full-time student by day and a part-time reader by night and free time, but my Goodreads Reading Challenge for this year is to read 50 books. Last year my goal was only 40 and I did not finish it in time, but I'm pushing it this year by adding 10 more. Study harder, though.

With this, here are my bookish resolutions for this year:

  • Read more on genres I've yet to explore.
  • Finish series
  • Save up to buy physical copies of books.
  • Read at least one non-fiction
  • Try audiobooks again.
  • READ.MORE. :D

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff Book Review



I was freaking excited when I received this book as a gift during our class christmas party. I had sore throat that time and i had a hard time speaking because my voice is super hoarse but when i opened the gift, I squealed an ugly squeal because the orange cover peeked and said "Hi!!!". I wasn't really expecting it because it's too expensive so it's a real shock.

So anyway, I finished this super thick book in 3 days I think? I read it with my classmate and I was forced to finish it one night because he finished it super fast, and I was like, "What the??". So I finished 400 pages or less in just one night.

I was astounded even when I started this book because it is really creative, and even though I only watched one star wars movie in my entire life, the book reminded me of that in the beginning. And then came Star Trek because of the space ships I think? and when I was in the middle, all I can think about is Legend by Marie Lu set in space.

This is my first sci-fi and I can say it's a good experience. I try all kinds of genre and reading my first sci-fi ever did not disappoint me. I prolly am going to watch all Star Wars movie in one go when I am already done with my holiday stuff with le fambam soon.


Title: Illuminae
Series: The Illuminae Files #1
Author: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Published by: Knopf Books for Young Readers on 20th October 2015
Genre: Sci-fi
Setting: Outer space
Format: HArdbound, 599 pages
Copy Source: Gifted
Purchase: NBS[PH] | Amazon | B & N
Rating: 4.5 Roses

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.

This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.
  • I cannot tell you enough how f*ckng beautiful this book is. Every bookshelf should own an Illuminae because it's really beautiful inside and out! Plus, all curse words are censored in black pentel pen like thing-y. I mean, what other book does that?! Yuhh, the awesomeness can't be contained, what with the schematics of the space ships, blowing of planets and all those cool intergalactic, interstellar whatever stuff that is going on inside this 599-page book! YOU.SHOULD.DEFINITELY.READ.ILLUMINAE!
  • This book is a crazy experience for me. Not the usual type of book I read all the time because the story is told in transcripted files from intercoms, cctvs, chatbox, and others. It was really cool even though I had a hard time following in the first half (I was bored, in other words), but after 200 pages, I think, I.WAS.HOOKED!
  • The second half was a real page turner. You can't even fathom the crazy stuff that happens along the way. So many deaths and shocking revelations that you never want to close the book until the end. And when I say SHOCKING REVELATION, you'll really get shocked big time. I don't want to spoil anything but there is a part in the book where I literally stood up and said HO-LY SHEEZ! with wide eyes and I had a hard time moving on after that. Guhhh.
  • I think it's been such a long time since I last read a book with relationships that aren't built on sexual tension. Ezra and Kady's relationship is a series of funny IM's and conversations that makes you want to smile or giggle or laugh. Their banter turned to not too sweet conversations in the span of the book. I tell you, this is the only book where you'll get OD'd with chat flirting.
  • The ending was way better than I thought it would be. It wrapped up in an awesome way that gave way to the second book which is really intriguing, by the way, because you know that there's a bigger war in play and Illuminae is just the freaking start. Illuminae blew my mind and I have no idea what more secrets and bam bam bam! the next book would offer! I.AM.EXCITED!!
  • All in all, PEW! PEW! PEW! Read or I'll shatter your space ship into tiny gazillion pieces!
    Glimpse inside the dust jacket and inside the book itself. Amazeballs *O*

Kiss Kill Love Him Still by Jamie Blair Book Review

Monday, January 4, 2016

Title: Kiss Kill Love Him Still
Author: Jamie Blair & Dawn Rae Miller
Published: 10th November 2015
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Format: e-ARC
Copy Source: The Fantastic Flying Book Club Blog Tour
Rating: 2.5 Roses

Jackson Landis kept secrets. It's how he got girls into bed, the grades he wanted, and a reputation for being the life of the party.

But now he's dead, and no one knows how or why. Especially not the four girls whose secrets he protected. Secrets so scandalous they could cause each girl to lose something valuable. Secrets so dark, someone may have killed for them.

The four girls - a campus drug dealer, an overweight bookworm, a closeted lesbian, and a spoiled princess have one thing in common – they’re terrified the things Jackson knew may not have died with him. As Reggie, Haddie, Val, and Livie try to piece together her own role in Jackson’s death, each girl realizes Jackson had some not-so-pretty skeletons of his own.

Which makes a girl wonder, who really wanted Jackson Landis dead?


Am I supposed to be impressed with this book? I was really intrigued at the synopsis. I really wanted to know who killed Jackson Landis, and the way the blog tour was executed made it more exciting to find who the real murderer is.

Finishing the book, I was really disappointed at how it ended. In my opinion, I think this book is better as a standalone. The ending sucked and making a sequel would be trying too hard to make it longer. Although I may never know right now if the sequel would be better than what I am imagining, but as of the moment, I'm giving it 2.5 roses. I really didn't love the story, at all, and the way it ended made my decision not to love it even more solid than when I was halfway through it.

I don't love the characters enough but I am curious as to who is the killer. Maybe I'm just going to google for spoilers when the next book comes out. Taaa!


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