Tuesday 3 March 2015

The Taylor Swift Book Tag!


We were tagged by Charnell from Reviews from a Bookworm to do the Taylor Swift Book Tag!


We Are Never Ever Ever Getting Back Together

A book or series you fell for, but epically broke up with.


Stacie: The Hundred and Sookie Stackhouse Series

Unfortunately there happens to be a lot of books/series that I thought I was going to love/did love but it ended in tears, but no more than these two. I am obsessed with the show The 100, and I was with True Blood (ended now). I didn't know that either were based on books before I started watching them and by that point, I was already so hooked that I couldn't wait to read the novels. They.. they're better as TV shows. Lets just leave it at that. I have read both The 100 and Day 21 of The Hundred series and I do plan on reading the last book because I have to see how it ends. When it comes to the Sookie Stackhouse books though I read 10 of the 13 books in the series, but I only reviewed Dead Until Dark, Living Dead in Dallas, Club Dead & Dead to the World.

Amanda: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

This shouldn't be too surprising for some people, especially those that followed me from Book Badger because man, do you recall how the series just crashed and burned? I sure as hell do. Vampire Academy was a brilliant first installment, seriously, I don't hand to 4.5 stars to just anything, and Frostbite, I admit, wasn't as good yet a far cry from not good, but from then on, it just crumbled - I never even finished the series, I couldn't bring myself too, I'd hit that point where nothing could rescue my opinion of the series, and that always sucks. (Get it, vampires?)

Reviews: Book #1 | Book #2 | Book #3 | Book #4 | Book #5

Red

A book with a red cover/red on the cover.

EntangledStacie: Entangled by Cat Clarke

While I looked through my read pile on goodreads for covers with red on them, a lot caught my eye, but when I got to Entangled I knew that I wanted to use it. Firstly, the cover is simple but pretty beautiful, I've read 3 of the 5 books that are already out, and I just really love her style of writing. I know a lot of people had issues with this book, but I enjoyed it and I think a lot more people should read her work.

Rating: 4 Stars.

Amanda: Prep School Confidential

I have a real soft spot for covers with red on, red is one of my favourite primary colours (yet I never seem to use it in my designs..) so narrowing it down to just one cover was a little tough, but in the end, I chose Prep School Confidential, not just because I absolutely adore the shade of red used on the cover, but because the balance with hello, white and black, and the school theme just screams 'Amanda Book'. The boarding school theme, with stuck up girl drama, boys and mystery is a stela synopsis, but pair it with a beautiful shade of red and you can bet that I'm going to do whatever it takes to get a copy. I might be slacking on not reading it yet, but soon my friends, very soon..


The Best Day

A book that makes you nostalgic/reminisce.

Stacie: Cirque Du Freak by Darren Shan
If I have to tell you why the first book I ever read by Darren Shan makes me nostalgic or reminisce then I haven't been talking enough about him or you haven't been listening haha. I didn't want to use Harry Potter because I have feeling I'll need it somewhere else, so I thought I would use the other book that inspired my love of reading. I miss the feeling of discovering just how much joy I could actually get from reading a story, I would sit in my room for hours and all I wanted to talk about was books and I only wanted to go to book shops, I was pretty obsessed within the first few years of seeing how much I enjoyed reading because I was around 13/14 when I became this bookaholic, I wasn't one from birth and couldn't think of anything worse than reading before I was a teenager.

Love Story

A book with a forbidden love.

Stacie: You Against Me by Jenny Downham
For me, it really could only be You Against Me. It's got a duo POV, Mikey the boy who's sister claims she was assaulted and Ellie, the sister of the accused. Obviously its a contemporary, obviously the two character have some chemistry but being on opposing sides it's of course forbidden. I know people might have had a problem with the writing or the characters or the book in general, but honestly Jenny Downham has not only been one of my favourite authors since reading Before I Die, but she is also really underrated. I just wish that she would write more.

Amanda: Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
Personally, my choice almost speaks for itself - Forbidden is just the perfect example of a forbidden love; a brother and a sister, biologically related, living in the same house, fall in love with one another. Oh yes, it's taboo, it's shocking, it's so addictive and enticing and so horribly horribly heart-breaking. Everything about this book screams pain, and the ending is no different. *sniffles*

Trouble

A book with a bad character you loved.

Stacie: Severus Snape from Harry Potter

When it comes to the bad characters in books, none will ever come close to my love of Mr Snape. I always knew from the start that there was more to him than meets the eye (granted I didn't have a clue what and was shocked like everyone) but I knew! I defended him religiously to anyone who would bad mouth him, I would tell them that he's not all bad but they didn't believe me, only to turn they opinion 360 with the release of the last book (which of course I hated). The reason I've picked him is because deep down, I would have still loved him even if he was bad. I would have followed him even if he ended up killing Harry. I'm pretty sure there isn't much I wouldn't forgive him for.

Amanda: Darquesse from Skulduggery Pleasant

There's been a few first class 'bad' characters that I've really enjoyed, but none others have really made me smirk, laugh, rage and be in utter awe of like Darquesse. She's your bad side, the side of you that actually wants to kill people, the side of you that turns it's back on shows of affection and replaces it with broken necks and 3rd degree burns. Darquesse is the perfect villain because has no comprehension of pain, be it emotional or physical, she doesn't understand hope or faith, she cares nothing for consequences or how she can manipulate or hurt people, and there is ultimately no real end to the havoc and hell she can create and manifest. Oh, and she's pretty snarky too, that's always a good thing in villains.

Innocent

A book that's ending was ruined for you.

Stacie: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
I know that it might sounds crazy, but at the time I didn't mind because I only just really getting into Harry Potter, that and I'll be honest, he really wasn't a favourite of mine anyway.

Amanda:
Clockwork Princess. There is no other worse book I could have been spoilt for...

Everything Has Changed

A character who goes through extensive development.

Stacie: Celaena Saradothien from Throne of Glass
The really is no one else that is coming to my mind right now (apart from Rick from The Walking Dead). Every single book Celaena grows more and more, in Throne of Glass, we see her as a broken girl just trying to survive and make it through the day while still managing to hold her head up high, in Crown of Midnight she's trying to deal with right and wrong and is a little bit more carefree and in Heir of Fire. Well that’s my favourite so far. We see her as both women, but with nothing left to lose any more and so focused on hell bent on becoming who she is destined to be. I mean come on, seriously, if you read these books and you don't think that her character development goes from strength to strength, with the writing, as the story goes on then you are blind.

Amanda: Queen Levana from Fairest
Oh oh oh, this is without a doubt a very very easy choice. While Levana might not feature hugely through The Lunar Chronicles, the development her character goes through in Fairest, although it's far from positive, is just one of the biggest changes I've ever read. Nothing screams 'hold the heck up' like a young, scarred princess becoming a murdering, scheming, conniving, manipulative queen of a whole planet (well, moon, details people..), seriously, nothing prepares you for that character growth. I felt remorse, I felt hatred, I felt emotional pain both for Levana and for the people's life's she changed, affected and essentially ruined. Oh man, this book, this character. *flails*

You Belong With Me

Your most anticipated book release.

Stacie: Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
This book.. Just shut up. I AM DYING TO READ IT! If there was just one book I could receive as an ARC this year, in any format, it would be this. I am just a little bit obsessed with Sarah Dessen. I've read nearly all her books, I've loved them all, I've gone all out fangirl and recommended them to anyone and everyone. I just need it, now. This year is going so quick, and on one hand I want it to slow down because I think it's going to fast but at the same time all I can think of is it'll be May soon and how all I'll be doing on the 5th is reading this glorious book.

Amanda: The Traitor by Allen Zadoff
There a few books this honour could have gone to, but The Traitor is the one that's on my mind most frequently at the moment, therefore there is no other book I want as much as this one. Just - everything. Zach, The Program, the mystery, the agendas, the suspects, HOWARD, oh Howard.. Yes. So. This book. I want very much. Please and thank you.

Forever and Always

Your favourite book couple.

Stacie: Draco and Hermione
I am one of these types of people that see a couple where no one else does, and for that the list would be too long. So I will give you a ship that I will sail to my dying day, regardless of them being a couple or not. Draco and Hermione. Others may not think it, but they would have made a bloody great team!

Amanda: Maggie/Griffin or Blue/Gansey
You cannot make me choose. I refuse. They are so beautiful. Everyone. Everything. Asdfghjkl.

Teardrops on my Guitar

A book that made you shed tears.


Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, #7)Stacie: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I am what you could call an emotional person. I cry at the littlest things and I'm not ashamed of it. However out of all the books that have made me cry, none have come close the the snot bubbles produced while reading Harry Potter #7 (every time by the way!) My feelings for this book have never been matched in nearly 10 years and I don't think they ever will. The most heartbreaking of them all.

Rating: 5 Stars

 Amanda: All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Many, many, many books made me weep, seriously, there are so many to choose, however, All The Bright Places is the book that, as far as I'm aware, I spent the most time crying over. I think I was crying within the first 50 pages, and many more times that followed. The whole story was heartbreaking, it was realistic, it was so so painful. No. Too many tears. I'm actually really surprised my copy made it to Stacie in one piece from all the tears, wow.

Other worthy mentions: Wonder, Last Leaves Falling, What If, Love and Other Unknown Variables, We Were Liars, Me Since You, The Geography of Me and You, No and Me, Pivot Point, Forbidden.


Shake It Off

A book you love, but other's hate.

Stacie: Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer
Thankfully I have great taste so most of the books  rave about others are on the same wave length, when it comes to Between the Lines though that's not the case. A lot of people have problems with the book and that's ok, I understand everyone can't like the same thing. I'm just a massive fan of Jodi Picoult and though I myself had doubts about the book, I found it a really enjoyable read and I really felt something for the characters. Plus the world building is pretty immense and unique :)

Amanda: Riot by Sarah Mussi
I don't even have to think about this choice, because it's clear as day. I gave this book 4 stars, I thought the premise, the execution, the action, the realism throughout, the depths at which this future dystopian society were willing to go to in order to 'fix' the economy and the baby boom from young generations, I just thought the entire novel was really quite brilliant. Goodreads 3.26 average rating says others didn't feel the same way as I.. Meh, I'm excited for Mussi's next novel Bomb, as long as I liked a book, that's good enough for me.

Stay, Stay, Stay

A book you didn't want to end.

Stacie: all of them!
Haha no seriously, any book thats a standalone and got a rating of 4+ for me I would have happily just have kept reading. If I'm enjoying a book I try to read it as slow as possible to really take everything in and make it last longer, but then before I know it I'm still reading it 2 hours later and I'm close to the end. So that ladies and gentleman is why I said all :P

Amanda: Never Never by Colleen Hoover
Once again, there are a number of options that I could have picked from, but Never Never's ending was just - I think the word is unacceptable. In no way was that ending okay. How did the publishers let that slip through their fingers. Endings like that should not exist. They should be banished. They should never be used. Ever. Never never.

All Too Well

A series you didn't want to end.


Stacie: Harry Potter

So as well as everything I have managed to let slip about myself in the tag, there is one more thing you should know about me. I get addicted and obsessed with things easily. But there really is no other answer worthy for me. This series has managed to teach me so much about myself and open up a new door to me. I owe it a lot and I like many others were heartbroken when it ended but it would have got silly if it carried on.  I will forever wear my love of Harry Potter proudly on my sleeve (or you know.. my forearm where my tattoo is). I'm not ashamed to still be a Potterhead at 25 an I can't wait to try Caitlyn out on them when she's older. (I did want her to go as Hermione for World Book Day at school but she didn't want to..)

Amanda: Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

There are a lot of series around in the childrens and young adult genres, but none have stayed with me as much as Skulduggery Pleasant, not even Harry Potter (don't hurt me Charnell..) Landy's character's, their development, their humour, his world, it's magic system, his plots and his ideas, his secrets and the reveals, everything about the series still sing to me like finishing the series last August never happened. If there was ever a series I would reread, recommend or buy people and pray could be real, it would be Skulduggery. Every. Damn. Time.

Reviews: Book #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7#8, #9, Novellas

3 comments:

  1. Oooh yes, I'm reading Fairest right now and I absolutely love it. I think Queen Levana can seem quite one-dimensional if you read The Lunar Chronicles without Fairest. But this novella? Adds a whole new layer(s) to her! So good (esp because I love me some villains)!

    Not surprised to see so many mentions of HP on this list! Severus Snape def is another bad character who you love to hate and hate to love. I really loved how you didn't know what side of the coin he was on throughout the whole book. Rowling left you guessing. So good.

    And All The Bright Places! I haven't read this one yet but I did pick it up. I'm usually not huge into contemps or anything like that but it's called to me and I think I could use a good crying. We'll see. My mom won't let me read it right now. (How bad is it that I'm 25 and my mom says I can't read a book and I listen. haha.)

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    1. It definitely explores Levana in a new light doesn't it? I was very impressed personally. I do think All The Bright Places could be a you read, but it's tough on the subjects, it could be sensitive, be careful<3

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  2. YAY!!! :) I love a good book tag. I couldn't resist this one either because I loved all the questions, even if my knowledge of the actual songs is rather limited haha. I'm sorry I've not been buy in a while, things have not been going to plan atm. But this has worked well for me as I can now binge read loads of your posts and it will make my night! Seriously, be prepared for mass commenting... IT'S COMING!

    I really want to read Fairest but I'm stopping myself. I want the hardback because IT'S BEAUTIFUL! But I also want to get paperback because the rest of the books I own are paperback. Hard choices. But I need to read Levanas story. I am desperate for it!

    Fobidden had to be my choice for a forbidden love story too... I mean, come on, it's in the title! It could have just as easily been my answer for the books that made me cry though.

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