Well That Lasted Long...

Happy New Year!

'we wish you a merry Christmas and a HAPPY NEW YEAR'

Fairly recently I posted a posty thing called Structure [link: structure] and I basically laid down some rules about how I was going to post my things in an 'orderly way'. This lasted for precisely two days. Yeah, I know. This wasn't exactly my fault. Well no, that's a lie, but for the most part I couldn't exactly help it. I was on holiday(ish) and didn't have my laptop with, rendering me without posting ability. Yeah.

Well considering that I'm not very good at sticking to... well anything, I am instating some different rules. From now on I will force myself to create one main post at least once a week, and I will warn you when I will be absent. Or I will write drafts to post in staggers. But that I feel isn't enough for you guys, and that's not right *cough*Matilda*cough* so as I really love ranting about my inadequate feelings I will try and post a review for almost every book I read. Just let that sink in. So good luck to me and I hope you enjoy hearing all my opinions on EVERYTHING I'll ever read. Have fun!
Bye xx

-A

Top Books of 2015

Merry Christmas!,

It's actually crazy early in the morning right now but it's Christmas so what the hell. I would like to apologise deeply for not posting for ages, or keeping to my schedule, but I've been super busy; I wasn't here last week, or the week before. I was laptop-less, it was a sad two weeks.
Now for the actual purpose of today's post, I am  going to be giving you the top books I read this year. The books for the most part follow this criteria; I have to have read them this year, and I have to read more than one in a series if it is one, unless there's only one book out at the moment. Here we go (this will be long)
P.S. There is no order from 10-1, well 15-1...


1. Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
This one should be no surprise considering how often I talk about it. The writing style is fantastic and the story is really in depth. The characters feel really real and they each have individual personalities. Their are four books out in the series and they are getting better with each book. I am wholly obsessed and have probably re-read each book at least 7 times. And just to let every one know I am and always will be shipping #celorian so deal with it you rowailen and chaolena fans.

2.Harry Potter by J.K Rowling
I finally read this this year and I was kind surprised with how obsessed I've become, you'll find that a good book is like a drug. I don't really need to say much because everyone on the earth has read this so... yeah.

3.Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan
This includes The Olympians and Heroes of Olympus. I was very late on the band waggon with these but to me they were kind of like MY Harry Potter. I read them with my friend and we enjoyed discussing various passages so they were something I really looked forward to, when I bought them.

4.Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
This one really surprised me this year. I read it fairly recently and I absolutely loved it. I didn't love, love any of the characters but they all interested me and gave a different personality to the book, and the various twists throughout the story is really interesting and keeps you guessing. I'll probably review it sometime soon.

5.Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
I included this in my favourite fantasy books or series, but now I have actually finished the series and love it even more. The ending was perfect and just what the series needed. I'm interested in reading Bloodlines to find out more about what happens to Adrian.

6.The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare
I read The Mortal Instruments last year and really enjoyed it but this series was a absolute ton better. The characters are better and the story is better, but not by much. I really love Will Herondale which helps. I recommend you read The Infernal Devices before The Mortal Instruments to avoid spoilers.

7.Miss Peregrines Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
This is included because Library of Souls came out at the end of September and it was explosive! I really loved the first one, which I read 3-4 years ago, then I super mega loved Hollow City book two which was much more fast paced and adventurous. Then this year book three comes out, I've pre-ordered it I am ready for this, and BAM it was phenomenal every thing I wanted from the last book in the series especially at the very end, with the mental hospital car scene, if you've read you'll know what I mean

8.A Court Of Thorns And Roses by Sarah J Maas
Another Sarah J Maas book but what can I say she's a fantastic author. I read this after reading Throne of Glass because I was hooked on her books and I wanted more by her so I bought this. Whilst reading this I was surprised with the turn of events mid way through the book but I think it was an interesting yet reasonably subtle twist. Feyre (the main character) kind of irritated me a little through the book but I still enjoyed it. P.S as of right now I am #teamrhysand.

9.Paper Towns by John Green
I just recently watched the movie for this and it was also really great but not as good as the book. I really love john green's writing and the way he will always make me laugh or smile because of a subtle joke. I really love the way he put the bread crumb trail together even though it was supposed to finish, there were still clues to follow. The book made me want to live and experience and adventure for myself, the road trip was by far my favourite part, though I did like the 9 wrongs as well.

10.All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
This book. I love this book, I love all of the quirky elements to it and the story is so so beautiful. If you've read it then you know what I mean about the ending. I love the way the love story unfolds and the way they travel and see the state, I also love the inside jokes that mean a lot in the story; like post-it notes.

11.Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
This is probably my favourite contemporary of 2015, I loved it. The thing I like about this book is it isn't a really soppy love story though it could be. It is quite relateable to some people who, like Audrey, suffer from social anxiety or depression. I love the way it is told in first person because it makes the reader feel more included, and I really love experiencing the twists and turns of Audrey's healing process. The inside jokes are also really funny for this book too. I'm currently audio booking it as well.

12.The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
This is probably the only modern classic, so far, that I have actually enjoyed and read to the end. The main thing I like about it is the way it is written in letter format, I love books with different formats and style intertwined through the story. It fells very realistic and I love all the characters and the way they fit into the story. The twist at the end is hard to catch, but if you do it is really sad.

13.Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
This one was interesting. I really love the mystery aspect to the book and the fact that it shines through as a funny and light topic, I like all the glimpses at the past that we get through the course of the book, and their are a ton of funny statements and jokes that make the book even better. By far the best aspect of the book is, of course, the list. I really love the whole list, the way it makes the main character do things she'd never dream of doing. The book made me want to live my life in a more fun way and have those interesting experiences.

14.Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Another book that surprised me. I loved the beginning because we immediately sympathise with main character because of what is going on, we experience her life straight away. I loved the writing and the format, it includes pictures and diagrams and short passages and book reviews. The twist at the end was something I didn't expect but I wasn't to surprised when it happened, but I really feel sorry for the main character and, in fact, her mum who obviously just doesn't want to lose her.

15.To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Hann
Another 2015 contemporary fave. My favourite thing about this book is the characters, no doubt. I love the way the letters bring the adventure to Lara-Jean. I kind of prefer the sequel P.S I Still Love You because we are introduced to John Ambrose Mclaren who is gorgeous. I love the inclusion of that mean girl Genevieve which adds a good aspect to the story. I love the assassin game and the various confrontations in the books.

15 books for the 15th 2000, if that makes sense. I would just like to add that I am really sorry for my absence and will be posting something on it later. Also, I started this post Christmas morning, hence the beginning, but only got round to finishing the post now, it was quite long. I hope you understand.
Bye xx
- A

Currently Reading

Hey Guys,

I have actually managed to stick to my schedule even though it's only day one of properly using it. I would like to also apologise for going on about 'seeing you on Monday' I got a bit confused and didn't realise until after posting it, now I could have changed it but I like to leave my posts in their practically original form so I left it. Now on with the main purpose of today's post...
 So as promised today I'm posting a currently reading. So I am currently reading shatter me by Tahereh Mafi. I am on page 167 and I am currently loving it...

Blurb:
I have a gift, I'm more than human, My touch is power, I will fight back.
No one knows why Julliette's touch is fatal, but the Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon. But Julliette has plans of her own. After a lifetime without freedom, she's finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time-and to find a future with the one boy she thought she'd lost forever.

 Even though I'm only half way through I can already tell it's a new favourite. It feels quite mysterious and the writing style is so beautiful and unique. Tahereh has this thing with her writing where she crosses things out and replaces them, almost like in real life and it's really cool. Another cool writing feature is the way it's written so metaphorically she describes things in a really weird yet interesting way that really makes the reader think about what is being said.
The story and characters are also really interesting and we are slowly getting to know them see their back stories and feel their personalities. We haven't so far gotten a description of the main character which is different but we get a feel for what's inside instead.

Structure

Hey Guys,

So you may have noticed I have literally zero structure or times or days when it comes to my posts. I post things whenever I have a good idea or when I feel like it, and that needs to change. As someone who is a major control freak and perfectionist I feel really uncomfortable, I guess, that all my are on different days and there's no alternating pattern of say; Wednesday, Friday, Wednesday, Friday with the occasional Sunday or Saturday, like today, thrown in. I have been inspired by another bookblog that I enjoy reading (Ill link it the bottom) to add structure and meaning to my posts. Also, side note, I'm feeling the need to give my blog new life, a redesign I guess. So without further ado I bring you my weekly schedule:

Monday: On Monday I most likely won't post anything because, well I do actually have a life, and friends

Tuesday: On Tuesday I will be posting either a 'currently reading' or a review, probably.

Wednesday: On Wednesday I probably wont post anything either because, well, unfortunately the life and                       friends thing keeps popping up.

Thursday: On Thursday I will post my main post. It could literally be anything, even a review, but not a                  currently reading (you'll have to wait until Monday for that)

Friday: On Friday I don't plan on posting anything, but the occasional post might creep in.

The Weekend: Yes the weekend falls into one category, calm down. On the various days that make the                         weekend I have the option of possibly doing a haul or a book update (check out chapters one                       and two below) This day is my choice whether to post or not, but if I do it would be one of                          the things I mentioned

So that is my new structure, I will try to stick to it as much as possible but I don't make any promises, any. See you next time (on Monday) bye xx
- A


Link to the blog I mentioned earlier, check it out: AnInfinateBookShelf

NaNoWriMo (fail) Wrap Up (sort of)

Hi Guys,

First apologies for the mass bracket use in the title... Continue. So obviously November has ended and ther for NaNoWriMo has ended, I have written 3,507 words in total. I know. I failed misrably, however I do really enjoy writing and creating a world and people of my own. So i'm going to carry on writing even though NaNoWriMo has ended.
Side note: writing NaNoWriMo takes ages!
So for my final Update wrapup sort of thing I present the next crap chapter of my book...

Chapter 3

From her perspective the fight must have been pitiful. She’d thrust both her sword towards him with uncanny precision, he’d managed to deflect that blow. Then using his shoulders as a support she flipped over him and from behind swept his legs out from under him.  She’d dragged him to his feet, and no amount of thrashing on his part could have broken her grip, from there she slammed into a wall a few times until he was bordering unconscious. And, that was where she now held him, with a dagger beneath his chin.

She leant into his face blocking his sword with her knee, not that he could do much with it in his current state, and growled into his ear

“Not just your soldiers died today, what about my people huh?” So she was the one who’d got away, no wonder “just because they don’t grovel at the feet of your king” She spat those last words with more venom than he’d ever heard.

Cole took the opening silence as a chance to voice his questions “Where…how” He flinched as she whipped her head round to glare at him, cutting millions of invisible scratches into his skin with strands of her hair in the process. But she was listening “how did you learn to fight like that?”

“You already know” he opened his mouth to object but she wasn’t finished “My name is Lillian, yours is Cole” damn name tags “You probably know me as the shadow” His sharp intake of breath was enough for her to register his surprise. Of course he knew who the shadow was: ex-seeker, best of the rogue, most wanted. Who knew they’d have a chance of catching her!

She suddenly span and slammed him against the wall, she brought her face so close to his that his vision of her went fuzzy and duplicated. He could feel the heat of her breath and the drops of spit landing on his face as she spoke

“If you tell anyone, anyone about my appearance I will personally hunt you down and return the favour” He knew as well as she did that it was not an empty threat.

                                               ___________

Lillian could see the fear in the young guard’s eyes. As soon as she’d dropped from the rafters to attack she’d seen the panic set in and it wasn’t leaving anytime soon. She didn’t mean to be so intimidating but after everything that had happened she didn’t quite feel like herself. She released him and with her back turned she heard him slide to the ground after taking a good couple of breaths; she turned and sat next to him.

He moved away as quickly as he could in his current state, which was a mere shuffle. She stood up and began pacing the anger that had been building inside her began to fizzle and disappear. How intimidating could she have looked? He’d seemed terrified of her but had she really looked all that scary? Maybe she had she couldn’t when they had fought the only thing she had been able to see was red. The red of blood, of anger, of hatred, she shuffled his trying not to seem to intimidating. She extended a hand to lift him to his feet, he flinched away. She grabbed him by the arms and lifted, not helped, but lifted him to his feet. He stood trembling in the corner that shed dragged him into back when she was unrecognisable to herself. It was almost comfort to know that inside her was the feral beast that pretty well how to fight.

“It’s pathetic really, the quality of the guards they install these days” she scoffed.

“I’m actually considered the best of my kind” Cole announced holding his chin a little higher as he spoke. That was until she burst into fits of laughter

“So…You…Sorry” she said composing herself “you are the best guard in Axos”

“Yes Axos and Pythees and Magmanus and probably Hycanamie too”

She bit down on her laugh this time, though a snigger still escaped “The rest of you must be pathetic then”

“Well” Cole paused and though he tried to hide it, she saw the flash of recognition light up his face, More guards had arrived “by your standards I guess we are, but it’s not every day that we fight ex-seekers” She heard the emphasis on the last word, warning the people who were trying, and failing to sneak up on her.

“Oh by the way” She said casually acting as if nothing was wrong, then she dropped the bomb “I can hear your little friends behind me” she turned to face them, caught in their sneaking they paused and looked sheepish as she stared them down.

“Well…” she was going to say something but then her eyes latched to something, something lurking near the back. Prince Alexander. Suddenly she was swept into the memory that still caused her so much pain. Would he recognise her? No, even though he was such a bit part of her past, she was an insignificant part of his.

She snarled baring her teeth before she launched herself at him. Faster than an arrow she struck pushing the prince to the ground. Before she shoved herself and him onto layer three, she wanted to take her sweet time getting her revenge on the man she had pinned beneath her.

See you soon

- A

NaNoWriMo (fail) Update 2

Hi Guys,
So today I'm going to update you on my NaNoWriMo story. So it's currently the 23rd of November and I have a total of 3,339 words. Yeah, I know. So i've concluded that i'm not going to reach 50,000 in fact I'm not sure I'm going to reach maybe 5,000. So It's not going great, but I am enjoying writing it.
So what you've all been waiting for (like probably not at all):chapter 2.

Chapter 2

Cole Tholan was a guard at the palace and he was standing silently as the Prince Alexander had a quite conversation in the corner with Caro Sutter. Caro was a duke who hailed from Pythees (the healing dirsist, Axos the selfish dirsist) and had run into the prince’s games room where he had lounging claiming he had important news. The prince had then awkwardly shuffled into a corner where they had a whispered conversation.

Cole, although was trusted with Alex’s life, couldn’t focus his mind. He’d had a very trying day and was now worried for the seventeen guards he’d sent to ambush the rebel base unknowing whether they’d make it back alive or if their ambush would reverse and end in death and loss for the palace instead.

            He was in the middle of one of these thoughts when Alex called on him. Caro was gone and Alex was waiting to go.

            “Earth to Cole, what’s on your mind? You know don’t answer that it’ll probably take hours.” Cole grunted in annoyance. “No but seriously you look worried. Is it about those soldiers?”

            “Yeah it is. It’s just that I sent those soldiers away and what if they don’t come back?” Cole meekly admitted.

            “You do what you always: you tell their families then get the hell over it. Plus which there are like 15 untrained rebels Vs 17 Highly trained guards, what do the odds show?” Alex’s voice held a sort of sarcasm that assured Cole he was right.

            “Yeah, Yeah I guess. Anyway I should be the one reassuring you. Forget this happened” Alex nodded his agreement then smirked

            “I can’t believe you were worried about something so petty” Cole shoved him but not hard enough to make the prince do anything but stumble.

            “Shut up! Anyway where do you want to go?”          

“Let’s just walk” Alex grabbed Cole’s arm and led him towards the gardens “let’s just walk.”

                                                            ____________

Lillian rose from the fields of bodies around her. Her dark ebony hair had gained a reddish quality as had her clothes, neck, hands and face stained by the blood of many.

 The guards had indeed began to ambush and without considering the others she swung herself into the beams that blanketed the ceiling and stood watching as the guards cut down person after person without hesitation. She felt slightly guilty about just letting her people die but then again they hadn’t believed her about the guards and here was her proof. She stayed hidden where she was and when the guards were leaving her thought about the lives they’d just removed from the planet and as they thought they had gotten away with it, she unleashed herself upon them.

They’d died too easily. The fight they put up was hardly worthy of all the death they’d just caused, then again they weren’t expecting a highly trained ex-seeker to be there. No one could out fight a seeker, it was almost impossible, almost.

She closed the grate as she exited the sewer, now on sight layer one, and began to make her way through Greve. She kept to the shadows in fear of people spotting her and making a scene, she was covered head to toe in blood. As she slipped from the shadow of one building to another she bumped into a hooded figure going the opposite direction. In fact he was going so perfectly in the opposite direction that she grew suspicious so she naturally came to the decision to follow him.

                                                ___________

Cole bumped into a figure and was surprised to see she was covered in blood, leaving a sticky brownish residue on his cloak. She mumbled her apologies and annoyance as she brushed past then he heard her stop and turn back in the direction he was heading in. Why? He turned to catch her in the act but there was no one behind him. He continued on his way slipping into the second layer as he approached the grate. He readjusted his long cloak and re fastened the mandatory name pin. He lifted the grate and slid it aside then called into darkness. No reply. So he grudgingly began the descent into the sewer.

                                                ____________

It took her a few minutes after her initial encounter to recognise the cloak he was wearing, each of the soldiers she’d killed had been wearing won. She was watching him while running across a mixture of ground, roof and balcony, when he disappeared from sight. In that moment she knew exactly where he was heading, she slipped a layer behind and saw him begin to descend through the sewer entrance she had thought was secret.

She could smell the putrid smell of blood long before descending down the ladder. She heard an audible retch from below and slipped to layer three before finishing her descent to avoid being spotted. When she landed in the room, she (like before) swung into the rafters and switched back to layer two so she could watch.

                                                  ____________

Cole counted the dead 32 so someone was still alive. Who? He counted his soldiers 17 so the missing person was rogue. He checked the bodies and began putting story together. His guards had ambushed and killed 15 rogues, and then the one who remained killed his guards and escaped. But who would be skilled enough to kill seventeen guards? Seekers would be, but why would seekers kill a guard they were fighting for the same thing. He made his way around the room saying a short prayer to each one and placing their hoods over their heads. He didn’t bother to clear away the bodies; no one would come down here. Also, not many people came onto the second layer to smell flesh either.

He soon grew sick of the smell of death and decay and turned to leave. He made his towards the ladder head bent in concentration. He looked up to find his footing on the rungs, but there was someone blocking his way. Hell! It was the same girl he’d bumped into on the streets, and she meant business. Her hair was made of the blackness that came with night, and it was matted with blood. That same blood covered every square inch of her; her face, her neck, her arms, legs and clothes. She was holding to swords each one so bright and silver they were like individual slices of moon. He could see other sinister weapons glinting around her hips and her thighs, He could also see by her stance and positioning that she knew how to use them. Was she the one who’d escaped? The guttural growl she let loose was nothing short of animalistic, and he could do nothing more than draw his own sword before she began to advance.

So another cliffhanger and I know it's awful but there you go. Chapter 3 soon. Bye,

-A

NaNoWriMo (fail)

Hi Guys,
So this month is NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and the aim is to write 50,000 words in during the month of november. Now I have been guilted into takin part.
Now as you can tell I am a little late to do this post, but I've been really busy lately and haven't had the time. However in the time that I haven't been using to blog, I've been ussing to actually atempt to write this thing because well why not! I am not very good at this at all, it is way past the halfway mark and I have just over 3,000 words. By my standards that is pretty impressive and considering I started like 10 days late I'm doing Ok. Jokes I'm failing quite alot.
I will link my NaNoWriMo here: NaNoWriMo

Now for the real reason of my post here is chapter one of my book:

Chapter 1                                              

She dropped, well that would be a fancy word for what she did. She fell, off the roof of a warehouse after just escaping the clutches of the council. Lillian Winewood knew that within seconds the guards would be after her, but then again, she also knew that she could outrun them.

As Lillian fell through the darkness that was collecting around and within Greve, she thought to recall what the seekers had told her. And, as she hit the grimy streets, she tucked her legs up against her far too thin stomach and rolled into a standing position. She took no more than a second to regain her footing, and when she had she once again began to sprint through the repulsive city that was Greve. It was when she heard a loud commotion behind her that she realized how fast her pursuers actually were and without giving it a second thought she ducked into an alley to wait out their hunt.

Would this actually work? She questioned. Then smiled maliciously; first at the noise of the council guards as they rushed past her; and then at their mistake in not considering which of many possible ways she could have gone. Again Lillian began to question herself about, was what she had achieved in snatching worth the risk that she piled on herself every day? But then righted her thinking by muttering under her breath

“You have to, to survive, and any way they don’t call you the sphinx for nothing; they haven’t caught you once in seven years” She physically grinned at the prospect, seven years! No one lasted that long; she was the best of her kind (that would be the rogue). She hastily smoothed her features into a bored sort of expression as she began to stroll casually down the alley.  The neutral expression turned grim as she made her way back to the hellhole that she had to call home, but to her it felt more like a headquarters of a sort; she would check in, and out, and give in her daily prizes so they could be shared with the more helpless rogue.

                                                                               _____

Lillian once again began to doubt the victory of her bread as she lifted the iron grill that closed off the sewer to public access (it obviously didn’t do a great job) and hopped down into the bowls of the city. When she had first learnt about this ‘sewer entrance’ she was adamant that she wasn’t going anywhere near it and would use the more innocent looking front entrance. She had, as well as most others, believed the sewer entrance would in fact lead to an actual sewer. But, in fact, it lead to a ladder, and that ladder led to a room that would be seemingly empty unless you thought to remove yourself from that layer of sight and position yourself on the in one under which case you would clearly be able to see a small group of people. That small group of people were in fact the rogue of Axos. 

It was that very ladder that she made her way down before dropping into the room expecting, as normal, for it to be empty and it was until she peeled back the layer of muck that clouded her vision and blocked her from viewing the door. When that layer was gone the scene around her changed and burst into life. The room was alive with people bustling around doing their jobs as if nothing was amiss, but she knew better than to trust them. She peeled away yet another block, exactly like her mother had been teaching her. That was until she was captured and killed for being different. When that layer was gone she felt rather exposed as peeling away sight barriers was like taking of layers of clothing. You remove the layer in front of you and put it behind you meaning that you are now invisible or ‘clouded’ from others on different layers of sight.

After the second layer was fully behind and she opened her mind to see more, the bustling crowd disappeared as they remained on a previous layer. What stood in front of her was worse. Seventeen city guards stood there waiting for a moment like this to happen, that or waiting to attack when everyone was asleep. As quickly as she noticed them they noticed her and began to move in set on claiming this one-off prize. Before she fully disappeared from their view, Lillian saw a sword jab where she was standing but a few seconds ago.

When she popped back into existence on layer two, it took a few seconds for her to realize she was now without her bread; she had dropped it in her haste to get the barrier back in place. She quickly congregated anyone who would listen to tell them about the situation.

“Ok, Ok how do I start” she began to mumble, her voice rose as she clearly spoke To the 15 people who had gathered “umm well right then, I was umm checking the layer of sight beneath the one we declare ours and well I was faced with 17 city guards waiting to ambush. They obviously can’t do it now while we are all up and active, I mean they would be stupid to try. Break into a room full of thieves, exiled warriors and in my case seekers, they would be crazy absolutely cr...”

“Get on with it” She allowed her eyes to skit over the crowd and with little effort located the owner of the yelling. David Marks, an idiot. The look she then gave him would have made the worst of the worst shudder even a little. She glared at him until he backed down mumbling apologies before she continued.

“I don’t think we need to evacuate or anything like that. This is no extremity it’s simply them waiting to ambush us so instead we ambush them. Anyone who would like to fight can stay here. We don’t need many there were only seventeen guards four or five of us will do” She waved a hand in dismissal waiting to see who was left. No one, that’s who no one had taken her seriously and stayed behind to help her fight no one, if that’s how they wanted to play it they could die. See if she cared. Lillian then turned to go and not a moment later seventeen city guards popped into existence and began to ambush.

I know it's awful but I'll post chapter two soon just to keep every one from killin them selves with the suspense (not) bye.

-A