For those that dont know, WWW is a meme and this meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words. And it involves answering the 3 Ws!
I have gladly finished some books and am now reading new ones so here you go!
“Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.” -That Artsy Reader Girl
This weeks theme is:
Animals from Books
There is not context to what these should be about so I am making it what I would love to own.
Unsurprisingly the first few will be from Harry Potter.
Here is my list:
Niffler
2. Hippogriff
3. Pygmy Puff
4. Three headed dog
5. Unicorn
6. The animal soul companion things from The Golden Compass; Daemons
Okay so let me just say how much I loved this show. It was powerful. It dealt heavily on race issues and it had the hottest man on earth, Sebastian Stan, rocking the vibranium arm.
This series really had me going through it. I wish I had not watched it with my roommates because I was unable to cry like I wanted to.
The end was really touching with Sam’s speech to the Senator. I thought it was such an iconic moment and Marvel really did that. I kept thinking wow, this is really in a Marvel movie. How exciting for the new generation of kids who are growing up watching this. I think this is signaling a turn of a new age for Marvel movies.
Bucky Barnes was hot as always in this last episode. He looked amazing. I thought he was going to catch that truck that was falling off the building with his arm. Alas that did not happen, but how epic would that have been?
Bucky Barnes looking drool worthy
Sam was amazing in this movie. Captain America is now Black. This is opening up the door for so many things. Anthony Mackie portrays the character so well. He really fits the part. I will have to say the new suit is a little ridiculous because I do not like the neck thing and I wanted to laugh about how his little ears were poking out the whole time.
Sam looking good as always
I am glad to see Caps legacy live on through Sam. I think this is exactly what Steve Rogers would have wanted.
And we love to see the representation!
John Walker can go die. He is still making weird choices. I am glad he got that little redemption arc, but he is working with that purple haired lady which can mean nothing good.
I wanted Zemo to come back at the end. Technically, he did. But, I wanted him to come and fight.
Zemo looking spicy
This last episode seemed a little rushed. They put a lot of action in this one episode but not a lot of questions were answered. A lot of things just seemed to easily covered over.
I knew who the powerbroker was from the moment Sharon made the phone call in like episode 3 or whatever. I was so hyped to have my suspicions confirmed but I thought that Bucky and Sam would have found out.
Anyways, I love Marvel so much and this show is no different. I think it was great and I cant wait to see where their story progresses.
“No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets.
Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, Radu feels that he’s made a true friend—and Lada wonders if she’s finally found someone worthy of her passion.
But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against—and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point.” -Goodreads
My Review:
AAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA NO WAY
So, if you dont know, I do not like historical fiction. Have I really read a lot of historical fiction? No. But I was never really into it and sometimes I would pick up a book just to get bored with it. I especially hated the American historical fiction (weird because I am American) because I basically knew what was going to happen, I did not care, etc.
But I know nothing about the Ottoman Empire except that they like fail in the end. I thought this would make me dislike the book even more and I was so scared to start it.
(Disclaimer: When I bought the book, I had no clue that it was historical fiction. I only found out when I started reading, oops.)
I began reading and I instantly liked it. It started off with like a nice little montage of the two main character’s Radu and Lada’s childhood. I thought it was really entertaining to see them grow up.
I mean you know a book is good when:
“Let her be strong. Let her be sly. And let her be ugly.“
is one of the first major lines.
With the timeline ion the book, I did get a little confused later on because one minute they were 13 and the next chapter they were nearing 18 or were 18. That was a hiccup I could not quite wrap my head around.
The way this book reads is a lot like Game of Thrones. A lot of time chunks get cut off. I think this was to account for the real-life time of the Ottoman Empire.
It turns out that the Murad and Mehmed in the book are actually real people. Radu is also real but I am not so sure about Lada. I cannot really look too much into it because every time I search her name it takes me to wiki fandom links about the series, AND I CANNOT GET SPOILED.
If Lada isnt real I will cry. But I dont think she is so…
Gif of Man Crying
Lada was a great character. I think that she stayed a petty static character throughout. Yes, she had some changes but not life changing personality changes, in my opinion. I think she was pretty badass though. She stays strong from childhood on ward. I wish she had been a little more trusting of her brother and had not kept things from him, but I guess that is just because I also know Radu’s side. She is a crazy intense character and I cannot wait to see how she develops in the second book.
I mean she really is such a strong lady in a time where woman were not taught to be strong.
I am loving the books I am reading with these strong female leads.
Radu is a great character in my opinion. I do think he has some weird shifts in character and he kept too many secrets too. The gay sub-plot was exciting and I knew nothing about it. I definitely would have loved to see more of it, so hopefully the next two have a bit more of this.
Mehmed is someone who I hate. I absolutely hate him. Sure, he seems like he is nice, but he is too set on his goals in life. Even when everyone around him, including his dearest friends, are telling him he is wrong, he still believes he is right. The ending was so annoying because of this BASTARD.
Ugh… anyways,
Look at this happy cute little fanart of the three of them:
The book was really good. It was extremely tense on some parts and then somewhat dull in others. I think at the end the big climactic moment ends WAAAAAY to short. Like honestly, I did not even know it had ended, that is how short it was. That was kind of sad.
But the way it ended was phenomenal (other than Mehmed whom I still hate) and I am excited to read the others.
If you like historical fiction, this book was meant for you. If you do not, this book might get you hooked into historical fiction. I am not sure if I will venture out into that genre after this series, but who knows?
AHHH I have been nominated for a book tag and it is an aesthete blogger award. I was nominated for by Steph at The Book Throne, thank you so much for the nomination!
About the award:
“This award is to honor every creative person, irrespective of their number of followers and views. Because, as long as you create, that is all that matters. This award is for those bloggers who put an insane amount of thought in each of their posts and for those who spread creativity like wildfire! Just wow!” -Ashmita
Rules
Use the official logo/graphic of the award and display it on your blog.
Tell me something about this world that you admire.
What is your favorite form of creativity?
Nominate 7 lovely people and notify them by commenting on their posts; spread some love!
Ask your nominees 4 questions.
Share something you created. (can be anything!)
And lastly, just so you know: I LOVE YOUR CREATIONS!
Tell me something about this world that you admire
I just really admire nature. I love going on drives to go see the way the world curves and how it is shaped. I love seeing and hearing forests or the ocean. Ugh, I love nature.
What is your favourite form of creativity?
I really love writing and creating worlds through writing. If I were to pick something that I cant do, it would be songwriting. I dont write song’s but I think they convey beautiful worlds too.
Steph’s Questions:
What is your favourite song at the moment?
I am really listening to the re-released Fearless album (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift. I am loving listening to all my old favorites again. And her Mr. Perfectly Fine is fire!
Who would you choose as your book (romantic or platonic) partner?
Not to default to Harry Potter characters, but George Weasley will always be the boyfriend of my dreams.
Second would be Julian from the Caraval series. I have only read the first book so far but I love it.
Which country do you wish you could live in?
I wish I could live in Scotland if I have to choose another country. I do really want to live in New York, but if it is a new country, definitely Scotland. I mean I have never seen a picture that has disappointed my eyes. I want to go visit so bad.
Which book do you wish you had written?
Harry Potter. That will always be the blueprint for me if I ever write a book. Or any Sarah J. Maas book. She is just amazing.
I do not really have too much that I created one this computer but I will put a picture on here that I took the other day:
My friend with a smiley balloon
My Questions:
What shows are you watching right now?
What characters are you most like?
What are your goals for this month? Any projects you are trying to finish?
OMG this was such a fun tag. I am so happy to have been a part of this. Again, THANK YOU STEPH for the nomination. I am so grateful for you, your blog, and your nomination.
“Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.” -That Artsy Reader Girl
This weeks theme is:
Colorful Books
So I took a look at my Goodreads shelves. And here are some of my favorite books with colorful covers!
I love posting book haul posts. Those are literally my favorite posts to read.
And that is totally why I spent another $100 on books.
Now, if my mom sees this, I am sorry but I promise you these were for a good cause.
That good cause is my bookshelf looking full.
Now, like I said last book haul, which sadly, was only a week ago, I bought Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom (which I got both in the mail two days ago. They are so pretty look!).
Pic of my copies of Six of crows and Crooked Kingdom
I also got really nice copies of the last 2 Caraval books but that is besides the point.
For this book haul I got 5 books, all hardcover, and one of those was a preorder.
(You might notice that Siege and Storm is missing, but guess what I did not want to spend the astronomical amounts of money on that book because for some reason that book is the most expensive of the series)
AHHH my friend Sydney and Booktok made them sound so good! And because this last one literally comes out tomorrow, I thought I would buy all three. I might try to binge read all of them and give a three book review.
I bought all of them in hardcover, because I have been working hard these past few weeks on school and my now three jobs I have. I wanted a little something extra for myself.
Also, I might start my Bookstagram back up, I am not sure. So if I do I want some hardcovers to get my pictures popping.
Have I read any of these? No. Have a I read any Leigh Bardugo? No. Have I only read a total of three Jennifer L. Armentrout books and they weren’t of this genre? Yes. But do I care? NO.
I have bought books I disliked and have bought many books I like. Like I said in the last post, every book is an investment towards my huge library I hope to have one day.
Also, sorry mom for spending my money on books, but hey this did not go over my Entertainment budget. It was exactly the rest of my entertainment budget and some change.
Anyways, I hope you all enjoy. Let me know if you have bought anything recently!
“Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.
But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.
Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic.” -Goodreads
My Review:
I do not think I have ever said I disliked a book in a review.
And it will not be today!
I loved this book.
I think it was a really good book. Was it the best? No. Was it great? No. But, was it entertaining? Yes. Did I buy the last two books in the series? Yes.
The last two are wins in my book.
While I have read through a few reviews to get this review, not a lot were positive. A lot said that the characters, setting, and plot was bland. While it may not have been as well-developed as one could wish, I do not think it was horrible.
Twitter @wickandfable
Scarlett was an interesting character. I think she was really unique. Yes, she was kind of static. But, what was she supposed to do, hate her sister? The only idea she had was to protect her sister. That never changed, but how do you expect it too? She learned that she was not to trust people’s words and to trust people for their actions. While she may not have been the most creative character, she was fun to read about. I related to her a lot. I think she was really confused and did not know how to deal with anything.
Julian and Tella were cool. I think I saw the whole Julian plotline sooner than I would have liked. I wish he had a been a little bit more unpredictable. Also, Tella kind of made me super mad. I know she could not technically have been completely upfront with her sister, but she was so rude for the things that happened.
The idea of Legend was really interesting. I think that his storyline will be developed more in the next two but I wish we had a bit more of him. I cant say much without spoiling but I am intrigued.
I think Caraval seemed really pretty. I liked the descriptions. It was interesting to look at the map and the places that they went to. I do agree with others that sometimes it was hard to follow. A few plot points were not on the map and I had no clue how they got to the places they went to so fast.
But other than those things, I really liked it. I think it was quick and entertaining. It has been on my TBR list for way to long.
Sorry for not making this a long blog. I really am tired and needed to write this. I did not think that it was necessary to write a huge review since most bloggers have already read it.
I recently got a Visa gift card from my grandpa. I had no clue what to buy with it but my mom kept saying I should buy groceries and gas.
Well mother is going to be disappointed because guess what I spent it on…
BOOKS
Tehe
I just ordered them five minutes before I posted this.
I consider each book I buy an investment because one day I would like a huge library so, every book I buy goes toward that goal.
I purchased them from the Strand in New York because they are my favorite bookstore in the world. I was going to buy them from a local bookstore in the town where I live, but I did not want to talk to the guy who owned the store. People have told me he is weird and talks too much. I am too anxious to talk to anyone.
I got them all in hardcover so they were all a hefty sum, but I wanted them. I already have Caraval in hardcover. And I plan on getting all of the Grishaverse books in hardcover.
So the end of the longest month I have had yet this year. Half the month I had finals and the second half of the month I had spring break. It was intense. It was really hard for me to write quality blogs while in this intense schedule I have.
It also seems like April is going to be the same way. My classes are insanely fast-paced and have so much work for each class already.
