SlowReader's Kingdom

At the beginning of 2015 I listed my 5 most anticipated books and 5 series I wanted to start this year. Now that 2015 is almost over, I thought I did a little check up on how I did:

5 Most Anticipated Books

5. “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas

Nope, did not read it and actually do not plan on reading it anymore. The reviews did not convince me.

4. “The Winner’s Crime” by Marie Rutkoski

Check. Read it and loved it. Can't wait for the last book of the series.

3. “Winter” by Marissa Meyer

Kinda. It's the next book I'll be reading as soon as I finished "My true love gave to me". It's already sitting on my couch table.

2. “Queen” by Aimee Carter

Check. One of my favorites this year.

1. “The Doors of Stone” by Patrick Rothfuss

Well, since it hasn't been released, yet, I don't think it counts.

5 Series I Want to Start This Year

5. Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Nope. Still planning to read it, though. 2016 is the year. :D

4.  The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Nope. How is 2015 already over?

3. Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Check. And the second book is next.

2. The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

Check. Again the second book is already sitting on my shelf.

1. Blood of Eden by Julie Kagawa

Nope. But I still want to start it.

As you see, I did alright on my most anticipated books but started only 2 of the 5 series that I want to start. So for 2016 I set some goals:

1. Read 50 books

2. Finish/Catch up on all the series that I started and want to continue BEFORE starting new series/books.

3. Start those 3 series still waiting to be read. 

So in January and February I will propably read my 7 books in my TBR pile. After that in March and April I will catch up on my ongoing series. And then, hopefully, I will start the new book series that I planned. Of course, if I am really in the mood for a totally different book I will not hold myself back. Reading is for pleasure after all.

Welcome to Christmas, CA by Kiersten White

I must admit I was a little apprehensive at the beginning because I could not imagine a good Christmas story set in California. Christmas for me means snow and coziness, not hot sun and a diner. But White got the other things right: warm feelings, family, and happiness. I loved all the characters (besides one) in this story. I had a smile on my face the whole time reading. And that little food magic was just adorable. Beautiful little Christmas story.

“It looks like a warm, happy community. It looks like, well, Christmas.”

4 stars.

Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus by Myra McEntire

This was kind of disappointing. I even skimmed of a few pages because the story did not hold my interest. It was actually quite well written and the characters interesting but the plot was boring. I just did not care at all what was going to happen. And when I skim pages then the book must be bad enough that it can’t hold my attention.

1 star

I love, love, love this series. The Blackcoat Rebellion is a series not many have read. And it is one of those series that you either love or hate. I absolutely love it!!!

Ever since I read the first page of the first book Carter had me hooked. This series is incredible. It’s so fast-paced. There are so many twists and surprises. I couldn’t stop reading. Now the last installment has come out and again Carter had me wrapped around her little finger. The characters are fantastic. I love Kitty and Knox. I am disgusted by Daxton Hart’s cruelty. I am fascinated by Greyson’s brilliance. This book series has everything I love in a great book. I will continue recommending this book series even though not everyone loves it as much as I do. I can’t wait for Carter’s next book and I hope I will like it as much as I loved this series.

What The Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth? by Gayle Forman

What I liked most about this story was the setting. For some reason I have a soft spot for college stories. I don’t read them often but when I read them, I like them a lot. Especially when the main character is still getting used to the different place and people and adulthood in general. So this was the big plus point for this story. The main characters were alright. They didn’t stand out to me but they were quite cute together. And ever since I read this story I am wondering if apple pie with cheese really tastes that great as it is proclaimed in this story.

2.5 stars

Krampuslauf by Holly Black

This was the worst story yet in this book. It was not like I had to force myself to finish it but I did not care for the story at all. The characters were so cliché and while I love fantasy I just made no sense in this particular story. I did not expect a fantasy story. It did not read like one. And suddenly we have magical beings walking around. Even if I ignored all those problems that I had with this story, it was supposed to be a Christmas story. Never did I, even for a second, get a Christmas feeling from this story. I’m sure Black is a great author but this one was a miss for me.

1 star

Can I just say how unhappy I am about this:

Whose stupid idea was that? You seriously shouldn't cross my way any time soon!

Your Temporary Santa by David Levithan

This story started out so good. First of all I am sucker for gay relationships in stories. Second of all I loved the main character’s humor.

“Yes, little girl,” I say. I am very conscious that this makes me sound like the Big Bad Wolf, so I cheer it up about halfway through, which makes me sound like the Big Bad Wolf after three Red Bulls.

Third I loved the main character’s interaction with little Riley and deeply hurt Lana. But the main character’s insecurity about his relationship left me confused and a little bit sad. That’s not something I enjoy in a Christmas story.

3 stars

It's a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown by Stephanie Perkins 

This story had me smiling the whole time. Perkins created two amazing main characters and managed to give them some depth on those few 38 pages. The banter between Marigold and North is so cute. There is chemistry, and humor, and just everything a cute story needs. I haven’t read any of the author’s books but I really enjoyed her writing style. Maybe I should give her books a try.

“I was wondering if you guys had any … you know. Charlie Browns?”

He led her to a gathering of pint-size trees near the register. They came up to her kneecaps.

“They are so short.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “But did you or did you not ask me for the Peanuts special?”

“Charlie Brown’s tree was pathetic,” she said, “but it was almost as tall as he was.”

“Yeah. And he was short.”

5 stars

Polaris Is Where You'll Find Me by Jenny Han

I absolutely loved this story! It’s a true Christmas story with a touch of magic and hope. My only problem with it was that it was too short. And I don’t mean in a good way, like when you want a story to continue because you like it so much. No, I mean like in a bad way when you feel like the story was cut short, like the end is missing. The end came totally unexpected to me. I turned the page and just stared at a blank page and thought: ‘Wait, what?!’

But other than that I loved the story. It gave me a warm, hopeful feeling. And it had an awesome quote in it:

“The thing about snow is, it’s very quiet. The air is hushed. It’s reverential.”

That! Yes, yes, and yes! That is what I love about winter and snow. Favorite story so far.

4 stars

Angels in the Snow by Matt de la Pena

When I started reading this story I didn’t think I would like it as much as I ended up doing. For some reason I didn’t get into the story at the beginning. I didn’t care for the story of the poor half-Mexican guy and the rich white girl (how cliché) but as the story progressed and I learned more about the story (especially Shy) I started to really like them. But what made this story special to me was the Christmas feeling it conveyed. Being snowed in without thousand people surrounding you but also warm and happy family gatherings is what I connect with Christmas. So this got all the stars in the Christmas and some stars in the character department.

4 stars

The Lady and the Fox by Kelly Link

Hm. This story was okay. It was entertaining enough but I did not really connect with the characters. While I liked the idea behind the story I found reading about it almost boring. I waited for something to happen. I don’t know. It just wasn’t my kind of story.

2 stars

Midnights by Rainbow Rowell

What a cute, fun story! I really liked this one. It was sweet and heart-warming. You could tell from the beginning where this was going but Christmas time is about happy endings and not melodrama. I loved the friendly relationship the two main characters had. My only problem with the story was the New Year theme. I was expecting a Christmas story and not a New Year story.

3.5 stars

Shame on me, for not having posted anything since November 10^th. My excuse? Work – like always. Though I am not sure it counts as an excuse. But I have been really busy.

Now November has passed and one of my favorite times of the year started: Advent season. I love it so much. My apartment is decorated and everything is set for coziness and relaxation.

This month I read 3 books and listened to 2 audiobooks. Lately I have not been too lucky with my audiobook picks. I rated the last 8 audiobooks all between 1 and 3 stars.  I hope that will change with the one I start today: “The Raven Boys.”

Now, usually I am not a seasonal reader but I have been in a mood for Christmas-themed books, so I kind of have a TBR for December: I am currently reading “Coming Home for Christmas” by Jenny Hale (got it for free *yay*). I ordered “My true Love gave to me” and “Winter”. I plan to read both of them in December. What else depends on how much reading time I will have.

But here are my favorites of November:

Books

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

This book was a little different than I expected and I needed a little bit to get into the story but in the end I loved it. Fantastic read. Recommended to everyone.

Music

Light ‘Em Up by Fall Out Boy

Love this song. Actually stumbled over it by watching a fanmade video of Void!Stiles (Teen Wolf). The video is fantastic and the song is just addicting.

TV Show

I did not have the time to watch a lot of TV this month. But a TV Show I enjoy watching again and again is

Castle

I’m always smiling while watching this show. I have not watched the episodes in order but that is the greatest thing about the show: you don’t have to.

Movie

So I bet you are expecting Mockingjay Part 2 but the sad truth is, I haven’t watched it yet. There has been some bullying of a bigger more expensive movie theater against a smaller cheaper movie theater in my home town which resulted in a belated showing of Mockingjay Part 2 in the smaller theater. I won’t be able watch it until the middle of December but I rather wait than support the other movie theater for their actions.

So I don’t really have a favorite for this month because I did not really watch a movie that blew me away.

Have you watched Mockingjay, yet? Did you like it?

There is not going to be a real review for this book since it is going to be a 1 star book for me. I am so disappointed in this book.

Trial of Fire is NOT a fantasy book. It is a romance book with a fantasy aspect. And the romance is not even good! No tension, no nothing.

The second problem I have with this book is the main character Lily. I dislike her so much. She is a whiny, little kid who acts like a spoilt princess the whole time. If I did not want to strangle her, I wanted to slap her. 

I wil definately not continue this series. Glad, that I did not pay a cent for this book.

I hate how deceiving YA books have become.

I mean, when Twilight came out, you knew by reading the blurb that the book was a romance with a touch of fantasy. The Hunger Games promised a dystopia with a little romance on the side and it delivered. The Ruby Red series was supposed to be a cheesy romance with time travel and it was.

But now most books are being sold as fantasy or dystopian books when in fact they are romances with a little "twist". I hate that! If I want to read a romance book, I pick one up. But don't promise something that the book is not.

This book is a perfect example. I'm halfway through and all I hear is how beautiful Rowan (? sorry, I'm listening to the audiobook and don't know how his name is spelled) is or how Lily can't stop staring at him.

It's so disappointing. The blurb sounded really promising but now I'm just glad I never bought the book....