Saturday, February 29, 2020

Monthly Wrap-Up: February 2020



I hope everyone had a great February! Mine was filled with work, tons of reading, trying to catch up on reviews and failing 😅😂

Friday, February 28, 2020

Review: Secrets (Fear Street Collector's Editions #3) by R.L. Stine

Secrets (Fear Street Collector's Edition, #3)
Title: Secrets

Series: Fear Street | Fear Street Collector's Editions

Books in this omnibus: The Confession | What Holly Heard | The Face

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: January 1999

Published by: Archway Paperback

Source: Purchased paperback

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Buy it: Amazon | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

Are you afraid to walk down Fear Street? Maybe you should be.

They say that weird things always happen on that dark and twisting road. They say it's a place to be frightened of - that those who go there never return the same. And some never return at all...

They say it's a place where everyone you meet is keeping a terrible secret... Discover three of these dark secrets in the FEAR STREET books of this special Collector's Edition!

My rating: ★★★☆☆

🤫

Sunday, February 23, 2020

Sunday Post #235: B&N Pop Up Shop!



Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Friday, February 21, 2020

Review: The Face (Fear Street #35) by R.L. Stine

The Face (Fear Street, #35)
Title: The Face

Series: Fear Street #35

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: February 1996

Published by: Archway Paperback

Source: Purchased paperback

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Buy it: Amazon | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

Why can’t she remember?

They say something horrible happened that day. But Martha can’t remember any of it—not the smallest detail. They say it will come back to her in time.

But someone wants her to remember now. She draws his face, over and over—the face of a dead boy. She can’t control her hand. And she can’t remember how he died.

But she’s going to find the answer. Even if it lies with the dead.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

The Face had a very interesting concept. Basically, Martha went on a trip with her friends where something SO traumatic happened that Martha got amnesia. Now she keeps drawing the same face of a stranger over and over and she believes it has something to do with the trip.

Sunday, February 16, 2020

Sunday Post #234: Rock, Ramen, and Nail Art!



Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Friday, February 14, 2020

Review: The Confession (Fear Street #38) by R.L. Stine

The Confession (Fear Street, #38)
Title: The Confession

Series: Fear Street #38

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: May 1996

Published by: Archway Paperback

Source: Purchased paperback

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Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

Five close friends... one murderer.

All Julie’s friends hated Al. They all wished Al were dead. But that doesn’t mean one of them killed him. Julie knows her friends. She knows they are innocent...

Until one of them confesses.

Julie and her friends promise to keep the killer’s secret. After all, they know he would never kill again.

Or would he?

My rating: ★★★☆☆

Sometimes the truth can kill you.

I loved the beginning of this book:

What would you do if one of your best friends took you aside and said he had a confession to make?
What if your friend confessed to you that he killed someone? And he begged you not to tell anyone. He begged you to keep his horrible secret.
What would you do?

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Review: The Battle (Bleach #59) by Tite Kubo

Bleach, Volume 59
Title: The Battle

Series: Bleach #59

Author: Tite Kubo

Genre: YA, manga, fantasy

Publication date: February 2014

Published by: VIZ Media

Source: Borrowed from library

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Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

After the defeat of the Soul Reapers by the mysterious group of warriors calling themselves the Vandenreich, Ichigo heads to the royal palace to heal his wounds. With that accomplished, it’s time to get stronger! But does Ichigo have what it takes to survive some super-intense training?!

My rating: ★★★★★

This book started off amazingly with Renji and Ichigo arguing. Lol.

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Review: The Queen's Army (The Lunar Chronicles #1.5) by Marissa Meyer

The Queen's Army (The Lunar Chronicles, #1.5)
Title: The Queen's Army

Series: The Lunar Chronicles #1.5

Previous books in this series: Glitches (#0.5) | The Little Android (#0.6) | Cinder (#1)

Author: Marissa Meyer

Genre: YA, sci-fi, fairy tale retelling

Publication date: November 2012

Published by: Feiwel and Friends

Source: Purchased Stars Above

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Read it for FREE here!

Buy Stars Above: Amazon | Book Depository | Book Outlet | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

It is time. The boy must leave his family to serve in the Queen's army. To be chosen is an honor. To decline is impossible. The boy is modified. He is trained for several years, and learns to fight to the death. He proves to the Queen—and to himself—that he is capable of evil. He is just the kind of soldier the Queen wants: the alpha of his pack.

My rating: ★★★★☆

The Queen’s Army takes place just before Scarlet and it’s about Wolf aka Z, and him being turned into a soldier. It tells the story from the moment they came for him in his home, to his transition through the mutations, to how he became an alpha.

Sunday, February 9, 2020

Review: Malice by Pintip Dunn


Malice
Title: Malice

Author: Pintip Dunn

Genre: YA, sci-fi, mystery thriller

Publication date: February 4th 2020

Published by: Entangled Teen

Source: ARC via Netgalley for Blog Tour

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Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Google Books

Synopsis:

What I know: a boy in my school will one day wipe out two-thirds of the population with a virus.

What I don’t know: who he is.

In a race against the clock, I not only have to figure out his identity, but I’ll have to outwit a voice from the future telling me to kill him. Because I’m starting to realize no one is telling the truth. But how can I play chess with someone who already knows the outcome of my every move? Someone so filled with malice they’ve lost all hope in humanity? Well, I’ll just have to find a way—because now they’ve drawn a target on the only boy I’ve ever loved...

My rating: ★★★★★

This book was incredible! As soon as I read the synopsis I knew it was something I needed in my brain asap! The premise was just really intriguing to me: Our main character Alice is basically trying to find out who in her school is going to release a virus that will decimate 2/3 of the world's population. There was also an unexpected sci-fi twist I wasn’t expecting at all, and I loved it! I don’t even want to say what it is because I went into this not knowing and I was pleasantly surprised. So, since the synopsis doesn’t mention it, I won't either 😉 I will tell you this though, the sci-fi aspect was very cool! And when we find out exactly what’s going on, I was mind-blown! 🤯 It was just really intriguing and really well done! And then the virus itself... damn 😬 To unleash a virus like that is just insane! What it does to humanity is awful and it’s definitely something you wouldn’t be able to survive. And it all comes down to one girl to save the world: Alice.

Sunday Post #233: Finally Using My Christmas Gift



Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Saturday, February 8, 2020

Friday, February 7, 2020

Review: The Deadly Fire (Fear Street: The Cataluna Chronicles #3) by R.L. Stine

The Deadly Fire (Fear Street: The Cataluna Chronicles, #3)
Title: The Deadly Fire

Series: Fear Street: The Cataluna Chronicles #3

Previous books in this series: The Evil Moon (#3) | The Dark Secret (#2)

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller, historical

Publication date: October 1995

Published by: Archway Paperback

Source: Purchased paperback

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Buy it: Amazon | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

Death on wheels...

The Doom Car has already destroyed racecar driver Stan McCloy, but his brother Buddy still can’t seem to stay away from it. There’s something about that gorgeous Cataluna...

Something ancient and evil. But all Buddy sees is a way to win back his girlfriend from Will,the mysterious guy she’s been seeing. Just one race and Sara will be his. Just one explosive race... to the death.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

Dying in this car is no accident...

First of all, this book is called The Deadly Fire... but there is literally NO deadly fire in this entire book, whatsoever! Does not compute.

?

Anyway, I really liked the premise of this series—a cursed girl born under a bad moon, time travel, magic, evil car... Yes please!

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Review: The Shadowhunter's Codex by Cassandra Clare and Joshua Lewis

The Shadowhunter's Codex
Title: The Shadowhunter's Codex

Series: The Shadowhunter Chronicles

Authors: Cassandra Clare and Joshua Lewis

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: October 2013

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | Book Outlet | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

Delve into the details of all things Shadowhunter with this illustrated guide to the knowledge and lore of the Shadowhunter world.

Since the thirteenth century, the Shadowhunter’s Codex has been the one and only manual for Shadowhunters looking to brush up on their demon languages, learn proper stele use, and discover just what exactly a pyxis is. Featured in both The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices, this guide is a necessity for any young Nephilim on their journey to becoming a Shadowhunter. Beautifully illustrated, the Codex contains images of the famous Shadowhunter homeland of Idris, as well as depictions of demons and other Downworlders.

But this isn’t just any copy of The Shadowhunter’s Codex. It’s Clary’s copy, and as an artist herself, she’s sketched pictures of her friends and family in the book, and scrawled helpful advice in the margins. Of course, she couldn’t exactly stop Jace or Simon from adding their thoughts either. Part encyclopedia, part history, part training manual—complete with commentary from Shadowhunters who have seen it all—this beautiful guide is a perfect supplement to the #1 New York Times bestselling series.

My rating: ★★★★★

The Shadowhunter’s Codex basically has all the information you need to know about Shadow World and being a Shadowhunter. It was very informative but it was also fun thanks to all the little notes left by Simon, Clary and Jace. The book also has some really beautiful images on the inside, and even the hardback itself is gorgeous! (You can click on the images to make them larger.)

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Review: The Fire (Bleach #58) by Tite Kubo

Bleach, Volume 58
Title: The Fire

Series: Bleach #58

Author: Tite Kubo

Genre: YA, manga, fantasy

Publication date: October 2013

Published by: VIZ Media

Source: Borrowed from library

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

As the Soul Society struggles against the mysterious group of warriors calling themselves the Vandenreich, Captain General Yamamoto joins the battle. With his Bankai finally revealed, Yamamoto takes down the Vandenreich’s king. But is the battle really over...?

My rating: ★★★★★

This volume of Bleach was very much Head Captain-centric, and it was really interesting because we got to see some cool stuff from him. We also learn a bit more about the Big Bad, Yhwach. We kinda find out where he comes from and that was also really interesting. And while I sort of get why the Quincies hate the Soul Reapers and want revenge... I mean, the reapers basically slaughtered them! But it’s just not cool, dude! I do not like! Lol. Even though the whole slaughter thing may have been an overreaction on the Soul Reapers part 🤷‍♀️

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Review: Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1)
Title: Cinder

Series: The Lunar Chronicles #1

Previous novellas in this series: Glitches (#0.5) | The Little Android (#0.6)

Author: Marissa Meyer

Genre: YA, sci-fi, fairy tale retelling

Publication date: January 2012

Published by: Feiwel & Friends

Source: Purchased paperback

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | Book Outlet | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

My rating: ★★★★★

I loved, loved, LOVED this book! I’ve actually had this book for a very long time. I’ve met Marissa Meyer TWICE at TLC signings and I’m only just reading this book now.


I’m really mad at myself because I really loved it and I just can’t believe I waited this long to read it 😩😅 I mean, there are A LOT fairy tale retellings out in the world, but this is one of the best, and definitely one of the most unique, ones that I have read! I mean sci-fi and a cyborg Cinderella?

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Sunday Post #232: Sweet Normalcy



Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Finish the Series #5: Last Minute Scare



In the past I've done these Random Reads posts where I would randomly choose a series to finish, but that hasn't worked out that well for me, me being a mood reader and all. So I decided that I would just pick a couple of series I'm in the mood for every so often and then post about it to really cement in that commitment 😅