WRAP-UP: June 2015

I have had a very successful reading month. I didn't exactly follow my TBR list, but I read some great books (and a few not-so-great), and I'm feeling good about maintaining my good reading habits for the months ahead. So let me tell you about the amazing books I read in the month of June :)

The Dark Space

by Mary Ann Rivers and Ruthie Knox

I really didn't love this book. I had high expectations, the buzz around it was awesome, the synopsis promising, but in the end, this book was an epic fail. It saddens me that I hated this book, as it was co-authored by one of my favourite authors.

Rating: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ // Full Review

Saga, Volume 1 (Saga, #1-6)

by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

AND THEN I READ THE MOST AMAZING STORY EVER. This was my first ever graphic novel read, and I absolutely loved it. It was a beautiful story told through incredible writing and beautiful artwork. So much love for this one!

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ // Full Review

All the Bright Places

by Jennifer Niven

There was a lot of hype around this book when it was released in January, and I got caught up in the rave reviews and purchased a copy of the book. It wasn't until this month that I finally got around to giving it a read. However, I was grossly disappointed. I had to put this one down at page 158, because I just wasn't enjoying it at all, and wanted to move onto something else.

A Pound of Flesh (A Pound of Flesh, #1)

by Sophie Jackson

This book was amazing. Reading this book filled me with happiness, joy and nostalgia. It was exciting, thrilling, suspenseful and offered so much throughout as it was a pretty long book that had a lot of different things happening. It was a whole lot of fun, and I can't wait to read its sequels.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ // Full Review

Songs of Submission Series

by C.D. Reiss
Then I went on a crazy erotica reading binge with the Songs of Submission series. The plot was juicy, the characters strong and well-developed, and the writing was, surprising, of a high quality that I don't often see in erotic fiction. Monica was definitely the highlight of the series, as a strong, independent woman. With Jonathan, she becomes an undeniable force of power.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ // Full Review

Saga, Volume 2 (Saga, #7-12)

by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
Praise the gods behind Australia Post for delivering me this volume before I went insane from my withdrawals. It arrived towards the end of my addiction to the Songs of Submission series, so as soon as I finished those, I dove straight into this graphic novel. It was all kinds of epic, and I loved it just as much, if not more, than the first. So, so, so much love for this series.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ // Full Review


I'm also currently reading The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas. I was hoping to have finished this by the end of June, but I'll now include it in my July TBR, which is also likely to include the rest of the Throne of Glass series. I'm enjoying it so far, but I'll share more of my thoughts in my upcoming review and July wrap-up.

So, in the month of June, I achieved the following:

• I completed my Goodreads Reading Challenge! Given, I had only set it to thirty books, because I wasn't expecting to be able to read too much this year, but I'm so excited that I was able to complete my challenge in only half of a year. I'll probably up my challenge to sixy and try to read another thirty books in the second half of the year.
• I read a total of twelve books. This includes the first eight novellas in the Songs of Submission series, and excludes All the Bright Places.
• I read three out of five books from my June TBR (this includes All the Bright Places, because I at least attempted it). I considered picking up The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, but I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to pick it up this month, so I'll try to pick it up later on in the year. I also wasn't feeling in the mood for any Shakespeare, but I hope to pick up one of his plays sooner rather than later.

All in all, it was a fairly good reading month for me, especially considering that I didn't read anything in the month of May. I'm hoping I can keep up this reading momentum in July before I will inevitably have to slow down when my semester starts up again at the end of the month.

Let me know what you read this month, or your thoughts on the books I read this month. I'd love to hear from you.

If you'd like to keep up with my reading progress throughout the month, feel free to follow me on Goodreads.

BOOK REVIEW: Saga, Volume 2 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Saga, Volume 2

Author: Brian K. Vaughan
Artist: Fiona Staples
Series: Saga, #7-12
Published: 2 July 2013 by Image Comics
Genres: Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Comic
Format: Trade Paperback
Source: Purchased
Links: Goodreads, Publisher

Synopsis:

From award-winning writer Brian K. Vaughan (Pride of Baghdad, Ex Machina) and critically acclaimed artist Fiona Staples (Mystery Society, Done to Death), Saga is sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the universe. Thanks to her star-crossed parents Marko and Alana, newborn baby Hazel has already survived lethal assassins, rampaging armies, and horrific monsters, but in the cold vastness of outer space, the little girl encounters her strangest adventure yet... grandparents.

Rating:

Review and Discussion:

This volume is a fantastic continuation of the series, with just as much action, drama, suspense, humour and entertainment. It is a series that I know I will be dedicated to for many years to come; as long as it is being published, I will be reading it.

It was refreshing and lovely to reacquaint myself with Vaughan's fantastic writing style and Staples's gorgeous artwork. The writing continues to deliver an engaging story, with sarcastic characters, witty comments and individualised character voices that make the reading experience so enjoyable. The artwork is just as beautiful, if not more so, than in the previous volume, and I had forgotten how much I loved it.

As I was reading this volume in particular, all I could think about was how much I wanted this whole comic book series tattooed across my whole body. Every frame, every character, every word. I love it all so, so much, and I just want to be able to have some of my favourite characters with me forever. Alana is probably my favourite character at the moment; I feel a really strong connection with her, her actions, her beliefs, her morals, her backstory. I can't wait to explore her character in future publications, and if I ever were to get a Saga tattoo, she would be the character I'd have inked on my skin first.

There's not really much more I can say about this graphic novel without giving away spoilers or repeating what I've said in my review of Volume 1. Essentially, this graphic novel keeps me on my toes, surprising me with every turn of the page, making me laugh and gasp and cry and feel all the emotions all at once. It is one of my favourite series I've ever read, and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone, lovers of graphic novels or not.

BOOK TAG: Unpopular Opinions!

I was tagged by the lovely Crystal at Infinite Ink to do this tag, which was originally created by TheBookArcher. Unpopular opinions are something I rarely express, because wow the internet can be an intolerant environment, but they can also be something fun when done in a respectful, considerate way. I hope I've managed to achieve that in my answers for this tag.

1. A popular book or series that I didn't like

The Shatter Me Trilogy by Tahereh Mafi. This series started out okay, and I tried to love it because of the hype, but by halfway through the second book I was bored and frustrated and couldn't even try to enjoy it. I persisted through the series because I had purchased them all thinking I'd automatically love them, but I was so disappointed. I can see why the series appeals to some, but I just couldn't find myself enjoying the characters or the plot or the dystopian world.

2. A popular book or series that I love but every one else hates

For this one, I'm going to choose We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. When this book was released last year, most of the reviews were scathing. So many people hated this book, hated the plot twist, and couldn't appreciate the characters and their role. I, on the other hand, absolutely adored this book. It was one of my favourites of 2014, and I know that it will be one I re-read many times into the future.

3. A canon ship that I don't agree with

The Infernal Devices has a massive, complex, over-emphasised love triangle that I just couldn't appreciate. I was all for Team Will, and didn't see any valid arguments for Team Jem. If the love triangle could be removed from the series, it would be perfect. And my enjoyment of the series came from everything beyond the love triangle. I think Cassandra Clare took the easy, 'cop-out' option for how she ended the trilogy and determined who Tessa ended up with, which just made me hate this love triangle even more.

4. A popular book genre that I hardly reach for

I don't think I've ever read a single mystery novel. They just don't appeal to me. In my mind, mystery is a sister genre of thriller/horror, because it's designed to keep you on edge, never knowing what's going to happen next, and it could turn awful and gruesome without any warning. If I were to ever pick up a mystery novel, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins would be my first choices, but beyond that, I don't even know of many mystery authors/books to pick from.

5. A popular or beloved character that I do not like

Noah Shaw from the Mara Dyer Trilogy by Michelle Hodkin. Those who love the series seem to be completely and irrevocably devoted and in love with Noah Shaw. Personally, I wasn't a fan of him from the beginning. He was unnecessarily distant and confusing, and I just don't think he was a good match for Mara Dyer, especially at that point in her life. He seemed a bit controlling at times, didn't take her condition seriously on some occasions, and just an annoying character all-round.

6. A popular author that I can't get into

It seems like everyone in the world is obsessed with Colleen Hoover. There is so much hype around her books, so of course I became intrigued and eventually caved in and purchased Ugly Love. I have a passion for good new adult fiction, and everyone was recommending Ugly Love, so I went in with very high expectations. Safe to say, I was pretty disappointed. The writing wasn't anything spectacular, the characters were frustrating, and I just didn't enjoy the general plot direction of the story. Following this story, all Colleen Hoover books were removed from my TBR. Sorry, not sorry.

7. A popular book trope that I'm tired of seeing

For this one, I'm going with the "jealous boy" trope. This is kinda linked to the love triangle trope, which I can enjoy only when there are no jealous boys involved. Jealous boys include Jacob Black (Twilight), Adam Kent (Shatter Me), and Gale Hawthorne (The Hunger Games). Love triangles? Sure, I can enjoy them if they're done right. Jealous boys? Not a chance in hell.

8. A popular series that I have no interest in reading

I have absolutely no interest in reading the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan, or any Riordan book for that matter. Apparently every Gen-Y in the world read these books as part of their childhood, and somehow I missed the memo. Out of curiosity, I started reading the first chapter when I saw the book on my cousin's bookshelf, but I couldn't get past three pages. It was weird and confusing, and I just don't think it's a series I would enjoy. If I had read it as a child, I'm sure I'd have loved it, but as an adult, it just doesn't appeal to me at all.

9. A movie/T.V. adaptation that is better than the book

I find no fault with the books in The Hunger Games Trilogy. In my opinion, they are perfect and cannot be improved anywhere. So please don't think I don't love the books when I say that the movies are so, so, so much better. The action, the extended scenes, the array of perspectives possible, and the visual journey of the movies is such an amazing experience. I'm so proud of this series and Suzanne Collins for experiencing such worldwide success. This is definitely my favourite book and movie franchise, and I'm going to be a basket case of emotions when Mockingjay Part 2 is finally released. (Okay, I realise this isn't really an unpopular opinion, but I couldn't think of anything else for this question.)

Let me know what you think about my responses! What are your unpopular bookish opinions? I'd love to know!

Thank you again to Crystal for tagging me!

I'm going to tag:
Hanna from Gimme Books
Kieran from Book Bitch Reviews
and anyone else who wants to do this tag!

SERIES REVIEW: Songs of Submission by C.D. Reiss

Songs of Submission

Author: C.D. Reiss

Published: 2013-2015 by Flip City Media

Genres: Adult, Erotica, Romance

Format: Kindle ebook

Source: Purchased

Links: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Jonathan Drazen.

Gorgeous. Check.

Charming. Check.

Smart. Check.

Rich. Hey... I'm not gonna complain.

All the ingredients for a few nights of mind-blowing pleasure are right there. He's made it perfectly clear he can't love me, and I'm not out to fall in love either.

But I can't stay away from him. He's got this bossy way about him in bed. The word "Sir," falls from my lips, and when he tells me to get on my knees...well, my knees have a mind of their own.

I got this. I can be his slave for a few nights and walk away unscathed.

We get in. Get it on. Get the hell out. Done.

He knows the line between love and lust. It's right between my legs. Now, let's see if that line blurs for me.

Rating:

Review and Discussion:

If you follow me on Goodreads, you might be aware that I went a little crazy this week when I completely inhaled the Songs of Submission novella series by C.D. Reiss. Each novella is short and easily consumed within a few hours, so now here I am at the end of it all with a massive reading hangover and a plethora of emotions I want to share with the world.

I had every intention of not becoming addicted to this story. I was in the market for some entertaining erotica, and this series came along. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the first book, and so I just continued reading... and reading... and reading. This series was so dangerously addictive. When I was at work, all I could think about was these characters. When I was looking for a birthday card for my friend, I browsed the cards wondering which one would best suit the main characters. This story invaded every part of my life, and it was a fantastic experience.

The writing in this series is surprisingly excellent. I'm not used to reading high quality erotic novels, but this one is definitely of a higher calibre from what I've been reading previously. Mind you, I did notice a few grammatical and spelling errors throughout the novellas, but I was happy to ignore them because of how much I enjoyed the story. The story flows effortlessly, and the characters all have their place and their role is expertly crafted, which alludes to their increased involvement in the plot later in the series. And when they do come back, holy moly it is with an intense purpose.

But, without a doubt, my favourite thing about this story was our main character. Monica is headstrong, determined, and has a clear idea of what she wants her future to look like and how she can get herself there. She enters into her ~relationship~ with Jonathan with a clear head and open eyes, aware of anything and everything that might happen. It's refreshing to read such an admirable, feminist character in such a cliché story trope, and her strength is maintained throughout the series (with a few minor slip-ups here and there).

Jonathan's character, however, I loved a little less. In the beginning, I adored him as much as I adored Monica, but as the series progressed, I became uncomfortable with the amount of control he tried to execute over Monica in her day-to-day life. I was one hundred percent on board him being in control during their sexcapades, but when he extended this to her personal life because he was jealous or insecure, it made me feel a little less love for him. In the end, his character did regain itself in my good books, but I still love him with caution.

This series is the result of two of my favourite things coming together – cheesy cliché and strong female characters. It's refreshing, entertaining, indecently hot, and addicting. If you're in the market for some good quality smut, this is the series for you.

Beg (Songs of Submission, #1)

Published: 16 January 2013

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

This was an intriguing start, to say the least. Jonathan, a real estate zillionaire, meets Monica, a waitress with dreams of being a singer, and together they begin a BDSM relationship that is so juicy and addicting, you won't be able to put it down. Some issues with the plot, but otherwise, a wonderful read.

"I trust myself. I trust my instincts and my resolve. You just make me curious is all."

Tease (Songs of Submission, #2)

Published: 24 February 2013

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

This novella focused a lot on Monica and Jonathan's pasts, which was insightful as well as frustrating. Bringing exes into a plot only caused a heap of drama to go down, and I feel the drama pot being stirred already. It is high quality, entertaining, and surprisingly charming smut.

"If you have never seen beauty in a moment of suffering, you have never seen beauty at all."

Submit (Songs of Submission, #3)

Published: 17 March 2013

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

This novella was definitely my favourite in the whole series. Monica's strength of character was the highlight, especially in how she negotiates her relationship with Jonathan. The plot twist was cruel and heartbreaking, but in the end it made our characters' love stronger.

"My name is Monica, and I am not submissive. I stand six feet tall in heels. I am descended from one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century. I can sing like an angel, and growl like a lion. I am not owned. I am music."

Control (Songs of Submission, #4)

Published: 10 May 2013

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

In this novella, Jonathan's controlling tendencies extended to Monica's personal life, which made me somewhat uncomfortable. I loved the whole jealous boyfriend trope, but his overall control was suffocating. I enjoyed watching Monica develop and struggle to establish these boundaries.

"I accepted him as a dominant in bed, and that worked out very well for us. In the outside world, I was my own woman."

Burn (Songs of Submission, #5)

Published: 4 June 2013

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

This novella was full of sexual tension as Monica and Jonathan tried to sort out what they each wanted from the relationship. I enjoyed the focus on Monica's personal life beyond Jonathan, and the added drama of their exes just made this story one big juicy addiction.

"I can’t fuck a commitment out of you. That’ll be worthless. I have to have your heart, Monica. The real thing. Without fear."

Resist (Songs of Submission, #6)

Published: 7 August 2013

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

I started to grow tired of Jonathan's drama and unwillingness to open up to Monica. His controlling tendencies of Monica's personal life really rubbed me the wrong way. Monica's character, however, was a delight as always. It ended with a massive cliffhanger, too!

"The truth is that I love you. The rest is unnecessary complication."

Sing (Songs of Submission, #7)

Published: 7 October 2013

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

This novella was probably my least favourite of the series, mostly because not a lot actually happened. Jonathan had been hospitalised, and Monica gave up everything about her own independent life to be by his bedside. She made a lot of stupid decisions, but in the end it was refreshing to see her in control.

"There’s no one else, no one whose soul balances mine the way his does."

Dominance (Songs of Submission, #8)

Published: 22 October 2014

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

This is a collection of short stories and scenes from the series in Jonathan's point of view. The stories insightful, but I felt they weren't completely necessary. The information revealed in these stories was eventually revealed in the series, but if you're an avid fan of the series I'd recommend this to you.

Coda (Songs of Submission, #9)

Published: 18 March 2015
My Rating: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

This one was hugely disappointing, mostly because nothing of significance happens.The happily ever after had already been achieved, and this book was just a play-out of their married life and. The pacing was weird, the writing style wasn't my cup of tea, and I just felt like it didn't serve a purpose in the series. (Updated 18 July 2015)

TOP 5 WEDNESDAY: Characters I Wish I Could Drown

So if there was a legal loophole that protected me from being found guilty of murder on all charges, I would not hesitate one moment to drown the following characters.

Honourable Mentions:

Dolores Umbridge from the Harry Potter series

Gale Hawthorne from the Hunger Games series

Evelyn Johnson-Eaton from the Divergent series

5. Juliette Ferrars, Aaron Warner and Adam Kent

I really did not enjoy the Shatter Me series, mostly because of the characters. They drove me crazy. Juliette, Warner and Adam all had me tearing my hair out. I was able to tolerate Kenji, so I might save him, but I would definitely drown everyone else.

4. Blake Saunders

Blake's role in the Lux series was a huge cause of my reading stress – he was so effing frustrating and I hated him with every ounce of my being. Love triangles usually annoy me, but this one absolutely enraged me in the best way possible. I loved hating him. That sounds stupid, but it's absolutely true. His character was complex, his backstory tragic, but if given the chance, I would not hesitate to drown him with a smile on my face.

3. President Snow

I don't know if I've read a character so inherently, deliberately evil. This man has no redemming qualities, nothing to even make me love hating him. His character is so grotesquely evil, and I hate him with a burning passion akin to Katniss's. I would happily drown him and then laugh as I watch his body crash down a waterfall.

2. Richie

Eleanor's stepdad is nothing short of terrifying. He is a monster, and reading about his abusive behaviour made me feel sick. His character was such a powerful, potent element to Eleanor and Park, and probably the number one thing that I keep thinking about, a year after reading the book. He is absolutely terrifying, but what is more terrifying is that there are people in the real world who are just like Richie, or who could make his character look like a fluffy bunny.

1. Marcus Eaton

And on a similar vein to Richie, Marcus has terrified me for a much longer period. His abuse of both his wife and son is disgusting, and it highlighted the bravery of my favourite character from the Divergent series – his son. The fact that he doesn't even consider his actions abusive or detrimental to the wellbeing of his family is awful, and his victim blaming is just unacceptable. There is no justification for his actions, and I would love to watch him drown.



I think that's enough negativity for one day. I'm off to think happy thoughts, have a cup of tea and read a book! Let me know in the comments below what you think of the characters I've listed here, and which characters you would drown. I'd love to hear from you :)

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Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Lainey of gingerreadslainey. I tend to participate only when the topic tickles my fancy and isn’t too difficult. Today was one of those occasions.

TOP 5 WEDNESDAY: Books Read in One Sitting

Another week, another Wednesday, another top five list! This time around we're discussing our top five books that we read in one sitting... or close enough to one sitting :P All of the books that I have listed below were read within a day (twelve hours or so).

5. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

I remember reading this book within about five hours. It's only 200~ pages, and therefore a very quick read, but you don't miss out on anything. It was such a deep, beautiful, soul-wrenching story that I completely adored.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Every year, I re-read The Hunger Games Trilogy around the time that the movies are released. And I am able to fly through a book per day, no worries. They're some of my all-time favourite books, and I'm proud that I can read them so quickly. It makes the story more approachable, knowing that it is always there, and that I can absorb the story again and again without having to dedicate a week or so to it.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

3. Saga, Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Most recently, I read the first bind-up of Saga, and I absolutely adored it. It probably took no more than three, maybe four, hours for me to read this one, because it was just so freaking fantastic that I could not put it down for a minute.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

2. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

This is the first book that I remember reading within a day, and being so gosh-darn amazed with myself for managing to do that. I don't know of anyone who doesn't love this book. This book was written to be adored by everyone who reads it, because no one could possibly deny the love between St. Clair and Anna. <3 <3 <3

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

1. Four: A Divergent Collection by Veronica Roth

I devoured this book as soon as I got my hands on it. Many people hated this book, but I'm one of the few who loved it. I loved being in Four's mind, seeing his side of things, witnessing his story. His childhood was heartbreaking, his determination inspiring, and his love for Tris overwhelming. It was definitely my favourite book in the series, and it only took me about three or four hours to fly through it.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★


Let me know in the comments below what books you've read in one sitting!

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Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Lainey of gingerreadslainey. I tend to participate only when the topic tickles my fancy and isn’t too difficult. Today was one of those occasions. 

BOOK REVIEW: A Pound of Flesh by Sophie Jackson

A Pound of Flesh

Author: Sophie Jackson
Series: A Pound of Flesh, #1
Published: 9 June 2015 by Headline Eternal
Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Format: Kindle ebook
Source: Purchased
Links: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Wes Carter: Dangerous, brooding and behind bars, Carter's emotional scars are as permanent as the ink on his skin.

Kat Lane: Vibrant and gutsy, Kat chooses to become a prison tutor in tribute to her father whose murder haunts her.

Although worlds apart, when their eyes meet, Carter and Kat's searing attraction is instant.

As teacher and student, any relationship is against every rule.

But although their love is forbidden, it won't be denied...

Rating:

Review and Discussion:

Reading this book was a beautiful, nostalgic experience.

Beautiful in its story; the plot and the characters were wonderfully explored and developed to tell a heartwarming story of love, individual strength and acceptance of one another's differences.

And nostalgic in that it reminded me of my days reading and writing on Wattpad; the structure, the style and the development of this story was a strong reminder of my own writing style on Wattpad, as well as the style of other books I would read on the site. In this way, it made the story feel all the more real – I felt like I knew Sophie Jackson, her hours behind the keyboard to write her story, her thought processes throughout each chapter, and the agony of putting such a story together. It felt like a real story written by a real person, and I loved that I got this sense of connection with the author when reading her book.

U. S. Edition, published
by Gallery Books

Another great thing about A Pound of Flesh was that it was, undeniably, an entertaining read. It was dramatic, exaggerated at many times, a little ridiculous at some points too, but it all added together to form a story that was so incredibly entertaining that I didn't want to put it down. The fact that it starts off in a prison – very much so appealing to my Orange is the New Black obsession (which, admittedly, I have neglected this week because I was obsessed with reading this book) – then moves onto the sticky situation of a student/teacher relationship, and then the family dramas behind closed doors, and then the big finale and happy ending, all together gave this story substance, diversity, and a huge A+ for its entertainment factor.

As you might imagine, however, all of this crammed into one book did make it excessively long, and at some points it felt like it should have been split into two separate books, perhaps more. Some scenes felt like they were unnecessarily drawn out, or unnecessary to the plot in general, and this sometimes became tiring to read. And also, sometimes drama was made for the sake of constructing a new plot device; this was most prominent towards the end in some of Carter's actions that were not justified at all. I struggled to find them believable, and it was clear they were weakly justified to simply add to the plot/drama. Perhaps if they had been developed a little differently, it would have been more believable.

But don't let that sway your opinion of this book – oh no! In fact, you'll find the cheese in this book is so goshdarn delicious that you don't care how much the author throws in. I found myself craving all the little additions of drama and cheesy character interactions. It was probably the biggest contributor to the entertainment factor.

In my view, this book it not to be taken seriously. If you do, you'll DNF it at the earliest opportunity. You will disagree with so much of this book (I, for example, couldn't stand the romanticisation of Carter's smoking, hated some casual sexist remarks made by characters, and how every character held a lexicon of character traits that they would display depending on the mood of the chapter), but if you take it with a grain of salt, you will be thoroughly entertained.

And on a personal note, I loved that our main character was a teacher with a teaching philosophy that I could connect with myself (minus the whole teacher/student relationship thing, of course!). As a preservice teacher, I am currently in the situation of developing my own teacher identity and teaching philosophy, and I found that Kat's own practice reflected much of what I want to be able to achieve in my own career. It was great to see insight into where I could take my teaching career in the future, and having this an aspect of Kat's character made me feel instantly connected to her.

So all in all, I absolutely loved this book, and I would recommend it to anyone keen on new adult novels, or those intrigued by the idea of a well-to-do teacher falling for her prisoner student. There's a lot that this book offers for readers, and I hope you can find something to love just as I did.

Hyped Books: Good or Bad?

Whether they're hyped by publishers, bloggers, vloggers, or a combination of the three, there are some books that everyone hears about when they're released. Sometimes we get caught up in the hype and buy them along with everyone else, but when we come around to reading them... well, sometimes we love them as expected, but other time we're grossly disappointed.

This post was inspired by my own reading experience of All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, and jessethereader's vlog (below) where he discussed the hyped books that he enjoyed. I thought that this would thereby be the perfect opportunity to share my own thoughts in this ongoing discussion.

Admittedly, I have been caught up in book hype a few times. This was mostly from the influence of booktubers, but lately bloggers and people I follow on Goodreads have been more influential. I have purchased many books only because of the hype, knowing next to nothing about the plot and not reading reviews. Just getting caught up in everyone's excitement.

Most of them turn out to be okay - nothing too exciting, nothing to write home about. Some of them were loathesome, and I hate the fact that I bought them only because of the hype. A couple were excellent. And the rest I haven't read yet because I'm too nervous to pick them up.

Now I will list some of the hyped books that I have purchased, and what I thought about them.

Hyped books that I enjoyed:

• Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
• Divergent by Veronica Roth
• The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
• We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
• The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare
• Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
• Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Hyped books that were okay:

• Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
• Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins
• The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

Hyped books that I hated:

• Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
• Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
• All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Hyped books that I haven't read yet:

• I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
• The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
• Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira

Let me know in the comments below your thoughts on hyped books and your experiences with them. I'm really interested to hear others' experiences on the matter.

BOOK REVIEW: Saga, Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Saga, Volume 1

Author: Brian K. Vaughan
Artist: Fiona Staples
Series: Saga, #1-6
Published: 23 October 2012 by Image Comics
Genres: Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Comic
Format: Trade Paperback
Source: Purchased
Links: Goodreads, Publisher

Synopsis:

From award-winning writer Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man, television's Lost) and critically acclaimed artist Fiona Staples (Mystery Society, North 40), Saga is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the universe. When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall in love, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old world. Fantasy and science fiction are wed like never before in the first volume of this sexy, subversive ongoing epic.

Rating:

Review and Discussion:

For a long time now, people have increasingly been reading and recommending graphic novels to the world, and in spite of their rave reviews, I had been nervous about picking one up myself. I continued to talk myself out of reading them, convincing myself that (1) I wouldn't like the different format, (2) I wouldn't even know how to read a graphic novel, and (3) I wouldn't enjoy it. Period. I'm happy to say that I was wrong on all of these fronts, and that I absolutely adored this first volume of Saga.

I have never read such a story so intriguing, so wonderfully crafted, so unexpectedly beautiful. I went into this graphic novel expecting blood-and-guts savagery, but it was so much more. It completely went beyond my wildest expectations. It was a lovely, uplifting story of love, hope and fighting for what is right.

The depth and range of characters was also unexpected. There were about four main storylines, and I was intrigued by all of them. There was definitely no clear-cut distinction of good and evil; I started out loathing some characters for their evil manner, but then came to love them by the end. There is definitely good and bad in each of the characters, and they justify them in their own ways, which creates only more shades of grey and more intrigue from the reader.

What was also surprising was the different personas from each of the characters, and how each of them were able to present their own voice. This is attributed to Vaughan's impeccable writing craft, where he gave each character their own style of speaking and their own mannerisms that made their voice distinct from everyone else's. This was a huge surprise to me, as I didn't think this level of story-telling was possible in graphic novel format (attributed to my ignorance of graphic novels). It was truly, truly wonderful.

And, of course, the artwork was epic. It was so beautiful, so vibrant, so vivid, so colourful, so perfect for the story. It added so much dimension to the story-telling in this book, and it was completely unexpected. Again, I speak as a graphic novel novice, but the artwork completely blew me away. It really gave a new definition to the requirement that story-tellers show us the characters, emotions, reactions, scenery, etc., rather than tell it. The intricacy and brightness of the artwork was such a beautiful element to the story.

All in all, I absolutely loved this graphic novel, and I immediately purchased the next three collections as soon as I finished this one. I look forward to continuing with the series as each edition is released. If you're interested in this graphic novel, I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone who loves science fiction, fantasy, and beautiful story-telling.

TOP 5 WEDNESDAY: Books with Multiple POVs

Soo... as I was planning out this post, I realised that I haven't read all too many books with multiple points of view (or at least books that I actually enjoyed with multiple POVs). I've somewhat stretched the definition of "POV" to achieve this list, and so here they are :)

5. The Legend Trilogy by Marie Lu

This is one of my favourite trilogies of all time, and I thoroughly enjoyed the narration style. Having both June and Day narrate this series gave rich, detailed insight into the world and the characters. The layout, too, was beautiful – different colours and fonts for each character really helped to distinguish their voices, and gave just a little something more to the beauty of these books.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

4. The Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy by Laini Taylor

This is one where I had to stretch the definition of POV, because the whole series is narrated in the third person. But the focus of the narration shifts throughout this story, so that is why I have included it: one moment we're following Karou, the next Zuzana, the next Akiva. It switches around constantly, and I loved getting such a holistic account of the world, the characters and the story.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

3. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

One of my favourite books from 2014, this story is also bawl-your-eyes-out-in-hysterics sad. The alternating voices and narration from Eleanor and Park was lovely to read, but also heartbreaking. When their points of view didn't line up, when they began to doubt themselves, when they went through unspeakable trauma and felt too ashamed to seek support from each other – this book was like torture. A wonderful, wonderful story told from the perspectives of two beautiful characters.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

2. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

This was one of those books that is so frustrating because the POV changed so frequently, leaving sections on cliffhangers and, at times, overwhelming you with a sense of panic for every single character at the exact same time. It was exhausting! But oh so satisfying :3 I really, truly loved this book, and I cannot wait for the release of The Last Star next year (*cries because it is so far away*)

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

1. The Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling

Again, I'm stretching the "POV" definition, but this series has a whole bunch of different perspectives, all narrated in the third person. My personal favourite from the whole series was Snape's chapter at the beginning of Half-Blood Prince. Reading that chapter was a complete game-changer for me. My views towards Snape, my understanding of good/bad, my predicitions for the end of the series all changed with this chapter.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Alas, we come to the end of another Top 5 Wednesday. Let me know if you've read any of the books I mentioned here, and what books with mutliple POVs are your favourites! :)

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Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Lainey of gingerreadslainey. I tend to participate only when the topic tickles my fancy and isn’t too difficult. Today was one of those occasions.