Being Happy.

some of my faves

tess's birthday

art basel

my love for ed sheeran and his music grows everyday

I know I've been gone for quite a bit but it's only because I'm on exam leave and I need to obviously attend these exams as well as still be revising. I will definitely be updating more coming into summer however after summer I'm not too sure how much I'll be updating as the two years ahead of me are going to be a roller coaster. 

I've been meaning to post this. This post has been in my drafts for months now and I just keep adding to it and never actually posting it. 

I think everyone goes through a time, whether it's a mid-life crisis or you feel like the world in ending and no one is on your side. Some people get this a lot and some people get it once in a while but I'm here to tell you that it'll be okay. Sometimes I think about our world and it makes me sad to see some horrific things happening and I can literally do nothing about it. I have like 5+ close friends (give or take) that actually care about me but know barely anything about me at the same time. I have one close friend that I tell everything to but she's half way across the world. 

You need to be positive. Now I'm assuming all of you reading this are privileged as you're able to read this and for that reason I say try and be happy when things go bad. 

I started 2014 differently and as the year progressed I progressed and learnt so much and became someone I needed when I was younger but never had. I changed the way I perceived things and I read more books. I loved 2014! So much tragedy happened in that year but that year was a personal year for me, I left a mark on that year. 2015 isn't my year and maybe the whole 'my year' thing only happens once in your lifetime, who knows but although 2015 may not be my year it may be someone else's. 

2015 however is weird. It's different. It's not my 2014 but it's a new year and things are bound to happen. I learnt a lot and it's only May. I'm not reading as much but I'm still content with myself and the person I am. I drink lots of water. DRINK WATER! People always told me to but I didn't care but lemme tell you drinking water has so many benefits you'd be amazed. 

I moulded my lifestyle the way I wanted it to be and ate foods that nourished me better. I'm a somewhat vegetarian somewhat vegan. I'm not quite sure but I'm having fun with it. A good way to start off something new or to have some change in your life is to alter your lifestyle for the better. Whether that be drinking less vodka and more water or eating more plant based foods (or more meat based foods?). Getting a haircut and making your hair blue, wearing new clothes, reading more books and cleaning around your room, apartment, house. Listen to good music and now is my time to recommend you some fantastic stuff. Now I'm going to recommend a bunch of different genres and artists:

(the bolded are my new faves or all time faves) 

All Time Low 

Arctic Monkeys 

Ariana Grande

Halsey 

Banks 

Bastille 

Birdy

BORNS

Drake 

Ed Sheeran 

Ellie Goulding 

Fall Out Boy

Fifth Harmony 

Frank Ocean 

Hozier 

Imagine Dragons 

Indila 

James Arthur 

James Bay 

Kodaline

Krewella

Lorde

Marina and the Diamonds 

Nicki Minaj

One Direction

OneRepublic 

Sam Smith

Sia

Skylar Grey 

Taylor Swift

Tove Lo

Years & Years 

Youth Lagoon 

The 1975

As well as this I recommend finding new music on Spotify or 8tracks. 

As this is the awareness week of Anxiety and Depression from the 3rd to the 9th of May. Green and Blue ribbons. I wanna say from someone who suffers from social anxiety I want to say you're not alone, we can do this. 

Help others out! Take care of yourself whether you interpret that as your health, mind, body whatever. Just be content with the person you are! 

Drink water! 

The Young Elites | Marie Lu | #1

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“Be true to yourself. But that's something everyone says and no one means. No one wants you to be yourself. They want you to be the version of yourself that they like.” 

This book is plantastic......get it............

As per usual with mind-blowing books I have to take at least a few hours prior to writing my review to filter through my thoughts and possibly read a few other reviews and see what other people thought of this. 

Recently I haven't been reading as much as well as reviewing as much, partly because I have a whole month and a bit of exams ahead of me but also because I'm in a reading slump. I didn't actually realise I was in a slump until I started reading this. I just thought I was revising and that's why I haven't been reading, but the thing is I haven't been wanting to read anything. I actually forced myself to read this and that's why I finished it, but jokes on me because the book turned out to be really good! 

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I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all. 

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen. 

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

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This whole book is sexy and badass. 

This whole series has been deemed as 'dark' and slightly morbid but GOD BLESS Marie Lu for doing this though because everything has juts kept me on my toes and extremely interested to see where the next books goes and the third book. Marie Lu has just gotten better and badass! Extremely proud of her. I say this because if you've read her other books: The Legend trilogy which consists of:

Legend 

Prodigy

Champion

I have reviews on all three that I will link and they are all spoiler free! 

The Young Elites is a Young Adult, Fantasy book that is going to be a trilogy. So far the first book is out which is, yes...The Young Elites and the second book is going to come out THIS YEAR IN FALL. 

This book follows three character perspectives however it's more of one perspective - the main character Adelina - and I'm assuming this series will follow the same or more perspectives. Although it's not constantly jumping to a new POV it's mostly Adelina's. I think out of the three in this book: Adelina, Enzo and Teren I adored Adelina's the most and maybe Enzo. I fell in love with Enzo. 

✧*:✧ *:Enzo is beautiful ✧*:✧ *:

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED, LOVED, LOVED THE MAIN CHARACTER ADELINA!!! I'm not some psychopathic freak who is into morbid stuff when I say I love this main character. She is definitely dark and just....very dark. I just want to point out she was crafted and written very well, I'm sure this is new to Marie Lu as she hasn't ever written a character like this before. Adelina is both the protagonist and the antagonist/villain. She is her own villain. You don't understand how excited I am to see how this all turns out!

The rest of the characters were amazing, especially Enzo and Teren. TEREN....where do I begin. I'm sure many people will love this book. I highly recommend this, truly a wonderfully written book. So grateful I started reading Marie Lu's books last year because she truly is amazing. Her world building and everything is very intriguing; it's not perfect (nothing ever is) but it's better than shit world building. 

That ending though.............................................................................................. Also if you're wondering the second book is called The Rose Society, that is getting published on October 6th 2015 (as of right now). 

ALSO GAME OF THRONES IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!! I'M SO BLOODY HAPPY, but I have so many exams I think I am deceased. I really need to get reading on the first book but I think I will do that in the Summer. 

p.s

follow me on twitter for my reading and life escapades

follow me on goodreads to find out what I'm reading next! 

Lullabies | Lang Leav

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Well, this is something new and I'm 100% excited because I adore poetry and I would love to share this with you. My wonderful friend -Tess- lent this to me. I mention her in quite a few of my posts *clears throat* i'mma just link ya'll: here, here and here. 

Current mood: sitting wishing for a cat and waiting for my face mask to dry.

How is everyone?

Comment est tout le monde?

Jak se všichni?

(I asked the same question in French and Czech. Not quite sure what I'm doing.) 

This was soooooooosososososo good. 

Need I say anymore?

That's all you need to know.

Go read it.

Bye.

This review is over.

Seriously! 

I don't actually think this book sells near any of the bookstores I live near so I had to borrow it from my friend Tess who actually got this from her Dad in the US. I'm supposed to give this back to her but I love it a lot and it's been two weeks. I'll give it to her when we meet up for another one of my friends birthday. 

Lullabies is Lang Leav's second book. Her first is Love & Misadventure, which I have yet to read. Her books aren't in order so you can read them however you please. Lullabies is filled with an assortment of poems all relating to 'love' and relationships. 

This book is short and filled with amazing poetry. It's not very long and maybe that's why I wanted to read it over a few days rather than at once. I wanted to savour the words and the experience. I feel like when you read poetry about love or sometimes friendship, you tend to think of a significant other and sometimes when you read 'love' poems it can feel like it sums up your relationship with the person or as if the poem speaks to you on an emotional level. For some people they may just be delighted by reading poetry about love or poetry in general, which is wonderful. I wish I would read more poetry and do it willingly. The idea of reading poetry when I was like 10 was horrific because that meant Shakespeare and I have a love hate thing going on with that dude. 

The reason for feeling as though these poems speak to you is because Lang Leav has created this to make you (the reader) the protagonist and you take on these poems with your experiences. This is also one of those books you have to own and physically hold. In my opinion anyways. 

A few of my favourite poems in this are: 

Her Words

Metamorphosis

Lullabies

The Dinner Guest 

Fading Polaroid 

Fairy Tales 

Soundtracks 

An Artist In Love 

The End

Lets talk about Lang Leav. Now I'm assuming she is a hopeless romantic like me (it's a life struggle). LANG LEAV HAS THE TYPE OF WRITING I WANT TO GET TATTOOED ON MYSELF! It's just so beautiful I think I'm going to cry. She has a way of capturing feelings into written words which I am so amazed by and makes me cry. Her work is truly lovely. 

Also she draws all her sweet images on the cover of her books and I HAVE NEVER RELATED SO MUCH TO AN AUTHOR. I like to write and paint, those two things are my favourite, also hugs. 

I've come across many bad reviews on this book. Most say that it just was written awfully or without much context; everything was jumbled. I don't particularly understand that however I read another review where someone said that they would have loved this in their teenage years. Which to an extent I agree. I'm not sure if I love this because I'm in that 'phase' or because I just love the poetry. For those reasons I gave it three stars, this book also won the Goodreads 2014 Winner for poetry (I think). 

To conclude if you want some hopeless romantic songs to die to, here:

Happy - Marina and the Diamonds 

Someone New - Banks 

Fuck Em Only We Know - Banks 

Why Try - Ariana Grande 

One Last Time - Ariana Grande 

Wake Me Up - Ed Sheeran (+ the rest of his songs)

Love Me Like You Do - Ellie Goulding 

Jet Pack Blues - Fall Out Boy 

Something I Need - One Republic

Avalanche - Nick Jonas 

You Are In Love - Taylor Swift 

Not On Drugs - Tove Lo

Robbers - The 1975 

Love Love Love - Avalanche City 

Everything by Sam Smith.....

Fireproof - One Direction 

Buy A Heart - Nicki Minaj

Bed Of Lies - Nicki Minaj 

Grand Piano - Nicki Minaj 

Sugar - Maroon 5

Hold Back The River - James Bay

Polaroid - Imagine Dragons 

Take Me To Church - Hozier 

These are only a few, I don't think you understand that I'm trying very hard to hold myself back from writing all my favourite songs!

p.s

follow me on twitter for my reading and life escapades

follow me on goodreads to find out what I'm reading next! 

Red Queen | Victoria Aveyard

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I know I've been gone for a very long time but that's just it, time is literally getting away from me and I have a load of exams over the next two/three months and I'm trying to stay on track, motivated and organised with all my revision. In that time I haven't been reading that much and I hate that I'm not reading as much as I was this time last year but it is what it is. I'm currently reading the fourth book in Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which I can hopefully speed through. 

I read The Red Queen a week or so ago and I'm only reviewing it right now because now is the only time I can. I am rebelling and writing this in one of my classes #sorrynotsorry. 

The Red Queen is a Young Adult, Dystopian that has fantasy elements to it. This is the first book in what I believe is going to be a trilogy. This came out towards the end of February (i think, i could be wrong).

Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood--those with common, Red blood serve the Silver- blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own.

To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard--a growing Red rebellion--even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. One wrong move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal.  

I'm sure many of you have heard of this book as it is super hyped up. I did enjoy it, I thought it was similar to a few books I have read before but this has a big plot twist that I 100% did not see coming and by the end of this I was screaming at the book. I'm not going to sit here are write about how this was super unique and the plot was amazing or anything because it was quite generic as a young adult dystopian, I'm not sure if it's because I have read so many that I feel this way. I did a review a few weeks ago on The Girl of Fire and Thorns where I address generic Y/A books. One thing or vibe I got from this book was that it was similar to The Selection series by Kiera Cass but more badass and not sappy, the female protagonist in this book is represented well. If I had to compare it to something better better I would say it's like a mix between Throne of Glass (I have a review of the third book), The Selection and Game of Thrones (my fav). 

What I will say is that it was written well, I was delighted by Victoria Aveyard's writing and I thought it was easy to follow. The writing is nothing new and it's not poetic but it did appeal to me in a different way than other Y/A dystopians. 

As well as this book being somewhat predictable and generic, it did hold some intense moments and emotional ones. Although before anything happened in this book I had predicated in either two chapters before hand or right at the beginning of the book, however that last part......I did not see that coming at all. 

It might sound like I'm coming off as bored from what I'm saying, but I want to express that I DID ENJOY this book and I'm 100% looking forward to reading the next one that comes out in a YEAR! I cannot wait a year, I live of these kinds of books that are filled with betrayal. Like I was so hungover after watching the ending of Season 4 Game of Thrones cause I knew it wouldn't come back and I would have to wait a year. (but only a few more months now!) 

Also I can't always be reading books I want to read because I have to re-read a few books and memorise quotes for my English exams. But I promise when we get to summer I will be reading non-stop and trying to pile down my tbr (it's overflowing). Don't worry thought because hopefully I'll read some quick fast pace books that I can review quickly. I'll miss you all, till my next review have a lovely day!

x

p.s
follow me on twitter for my reading and life escapades
follow me on goodreads to find out what I'm reading next!

The Girl of Fire and Thorns | Rae Carson | #1

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I took a photo of this book with some flowers I got on Valentines Day which feels like ages ago because I haven't put up a proper review till now......Not just that, but the fact that February has practically ended and it's almost March, like whAt? This year is floating by. 

The Girl of Fire and Thorns is a Young Adult, Fantasy novel. It is the first book in a trilogy. Here is the goodreads synopsis:

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness. Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can't see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's saviour. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Q: Guess how I ended up reading this book rather that all the books on my 'to-read'/'currently reading' (which you can find on your right)?  

(If you don't want to guess imma tell you anyways.)

A: I stole it from my sister. She has recently bought a couple of books she has mentioned she will definitely read but that has not happened so I saw this on her shelf and it looked interesting so I started to read it. This is 100% not something I would read. Yes, it is fantasy, yes it is Y/A but it's not a book I would normally be gravitated towards. 

I am all for BOOKS HAVING D I V E R S I T Y! I know that in most young adult, there is quite a minimal amount and the books are mostly whitewashed which is a big disappointment. THIS BOOK HAS GREAT REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN AS WELL AS BEING DIVERSE and that makes me so happy. To be honest I expect all books to have diversity and to somewhat not be a 'generic read'. I say this because lately when I think of the Young Adult genre the first couple of things that pop up are: (1) love triangles, (2) some form of the story leading up to a relationship, (3) the main character is white (and the rest of the characters are as well), (4) super unrealistic representations of people, (5) these horrendous gender society roles! (6) "Your not like other girls, you're different." (6) Loads of violence but it is taboo to have sex, (7) "I let out a breath I did not know I was holding." (8) Overthrowing/rebelling a system, government, society, etc (9) Lack of LGBT+ (10) and of course, lack of diversity/poc and there is much more but I am trying to contain myself. 

I'm not gonna lie and say that before I educated myself on these issues I was definitely reading books like those and thinking they were amazing. 

If you would like to see funny tweets relating to the 'generic' young adult books and phrases most said, I will link you to this twitter account: @DystopianYA , enjoy! 

this account is a great laugh and highly recommend you follow them for more amusing tweets, here are some tweets I thought were hilarious: 

In no way am I saying this book is the perfect book or anything along the lines of that. Yes, this is a book with great diversity and represents characters realistically but this book, like any other book will have flaws. This book starts off with the main character Elisa having to get married off to the King for reasons (read the book) and the King is a beautiful man with black hair and captivating eyes. Shocker! However, trust me when I say sometimes things like this need to be in books. Just to keep it interesting. I will agree that there are MANY ways in which books can be more compelling rather than something generic like a hot dude and a love triangle (which is also shockingly in this book). I mean sometimes a love triangle is needed, sometimes there need to be a hot dude and I'm not saying this needs to stop entirely but something new and alluring would be preferred. 

However I will mention this book is fantastic at keeping you on edge and the many plot twists. 

*whispers* everything changes

This book is also strongly and I mean VERY STRONGLY surrounded around the authors perception and views of religion. I applaud Rae Carson for having religion/faiths a part of this book. Religion is another thing I believe most authors don't write about or simple choose not to and it's always cause: they 'just don't want to go there' or don't want to explore that extent, I totally understand why but it nice to see once in a while something different. 

In this book Rae Carson has addressed religion without condemning or condoning a certain faith. Religion is a very hard thing to introduce in writing; this is because there are many religions/faiths and in a way when it is pronounced in books it can come off as trying to 'advertise' a certain religion. I'm not saying religion in books is crazy rare because of course there are books where it is hinted or clear elements shine through in the writing, for example Harry Potter. 

I love reading about strong female characters and Elisa in this book was phenomenal. She is strong, smart, witty and truly wonderful. It is so heart-warming to see authors write about female characters like this with good representation that can relate to many readers. Elisa goes through a physical and emotional journey throughout this book and I'm sure throughout this series. Another thing that makes me very happy is that periods have been mentioned in this book. If you ask me the rarest thing I read in books it's probably addressing that the majority of people with vaginas bleed occasionally is by far the rarest! Thankyou Rae Carson for including that, even though it might have only been mentioned less than a page, it is better than nothing. 

I highly, highly recommend you go read this! 

p.s: tbh I am still waiting for a book other than the THRONE OF GLASS series by Sarah J Maas and this one where having a period is mentioned. 

p.p.s: Follow me on twitter for my reading and life escapades. 

Follow me on goodreads to find out what I'm reading next! 

Fairest | Marissa Meyer

✴ ✴ ✴ . 5

*(I'm so sorry for not reviewing anything. I've written this review ages ago and I've been meaning to post it but I haven't..........I don't know. It's ehh. I've been on edge with this review, like I don't really want to post it but whatthehell!) 

Okay I read this super fast, it doesn't even feel like I read the book but then again I was reading this when I should have been working. This is seriously the most prettiest book I have had the pleasure of reading this year. Just a heads up, this is like a prequel from the perspective of one of the characters from The Lunar Chronicle series by Marissa Meyer. That series consists of: Cinder, Scarlet, Cress and Winter (yet to be released, I have review of only Cress so I will link that here.

If you have not read the Lunar Chronicles series I highly recommend you do, the books get better are you read on and the story lines are amazing! They are based of fairytale re-tellings. As this is a prequel I don't think it really matters if you haven't read the series or all the books but it would be better if you have read the books so you actually understand some of the context as well as the world. 

Fairest - just like the books in the Lunar Chronicles - is a Young Adult, Dystopian/fantasyish novel. follows the perspective of Queen Levana, who if you've read the Lunar Chronicles we know her as a very heartless woman. This book gives us her backstory it is somewhat a novella, this is labelled as 0.5 so it is before the Lunar Chronicles Series. I've read a few reviews about this book where people have said that this was pointless and added nothing to the plot/story line of the Lunar Chronicles but isn't that the point of novellas and prequels of certain characters? I mean the only thing I took away from her story is that now I see her slightly different manner and I don't look to her and have millions of ??? flying everywhere. In the series we don't learn much about Queen Levana but only her tactics, we don't get an insight into her world or how she thinks or to why/how she has become what she is. Maybe this was pointless but to me it wasn't. Nevertheless it was written by Marissa Meyer and I love everything she has come out with so far. This was a quick read and I enjoyed it very much. 

In this we get more insight into her world or the 'world' built on the moon: Lunar. IT IS SERIOUSLY SO SCARY BUT VERY COOL AND I LOVE IT! I highly recommend reading the Lunar Chronicle series. 

The Darkest Minds #1 | Alexandra Bracken

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Sorry, sorry, sorry! 

I am still alive just not reading because I'm trying (not) to revise for exams. I'm sorry if you guys miss me, I understand as I would miss myself. Truly sorry. 

(If you missed me, I missed you too!) 

Anywaysssss....

I super sped read this for you guys and to get something up on this blog. I was halfway through this after my saga book review but then I went hiatus on reading for quite sometime. I don't even know, sometimes you just gotta give yourself a break from the stuff you enjoy so it doesn't feel like a 'job' or a burden so it doesn't become unenjoyable. Not to mention on top of that I have all the revision I'm (not) doing. 

THIS WAS REALLY GOOD! That's an understatement. I haven't read much dystopian in a while so this felt really good to read. If you're wondering why I haven't read much dystopians it's because I stopped reading them around the end of last year because I was reading an overladen amount that I started to feel as though every, single, plot line was becoming generic and repetitive. I have owned this book and the second book, Never Fade for....since last year, which if you ask me is a long time. I started reading this in January and it is now February. WhaT? 

The Darkest Minds is the first book in a trilogy and is a Young Adult, Dystopian based around a group of kids that get sent to a 'rehabilitation camp' because of a wide spread disease that is affecting and killing most of America's youth. Ruby -the main character- might have survived the disease that practically wiped out the majority of America's youth but she and many other have emerged with something worse, something that made the government build this 'camps'. They have emerged with abilities they cannot control. They are dangerous. 

Escape, love, action, violence, blah blah you get the gist. This is terrible synopsis go look at the better one on goodreads. 

One thing I would like to mention is that the idea for this book is very unique but somewhat, poorly executed. I truly did enjoy the reading experience, however this book went so, damn, slowly! The book itself is 470+ pages and when I felt as though I had read a chunk, it was more like two pages. The book is filled with adventures and action, yet it went very slowly; that is another reason why it took me a decade to finish it. Nevertheless I like that I ended up savouring the book more that I would if I just flew through it. It's a solid book and it's not cliche with the romance aspect. The book is not a 'romantic dystopian' but a proper dystopian where we focus more on the plot rather then who is making-out with who. God Bless Alexandra Bracken.

(Quick, irrelevant, interlude update of my life: I've had more than three cups of tea today also HOZIER IS AMAZING if you didn't already know.)   

Even though I personally enjoyed this book very much, it is quite littered with flaws that I would like to mention. Before I address a few of them, I am not hating on this book or Ms Bracken because I adored the book in the end and Ms Brackens' writing. With that being said, this book keeps you in the dark for the most part of the storyline; I was expecting it to ease into everything so you're slowly understanding everything. But no. I know that keeping readers in 'the dark' is a literary device where you keep readers on their toes and engaged (i forgot what it called when you do that), although I believe there are necessities that you need to address in the beginning of the book. For example, these kids have 'mind powers' and I didn't properly understand how they worked till halfway through the book. I don't believe it was my fault that I didn't understand but the way it was written and explained. Not to mention for a world as the one in this book, you need good world building! I felt as though this booked lacked effective world building. 

I definitely plan on reading the next book Never Fade and maybe this one will be even better! You know how it goes with dystopian: they get better as you go through the trilogy, for the most part anyways. 

Again, I am extremely sorry that I've been gone but not to worry I have another review coming in a couple of days. Hopefully! I'm not making any promises. 

Have a lovely day everyone! 

Saga: Volumes 1-4 | Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

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I'm very sorry for the mess behind these beautiful novels, (it's brochures for a bunch of different uni's).

~~~this series is unreal~~~

Also this is all spoiler free. 

Saga is an amazing graphic novel series. As of right now I have no idea how many volumes they are making but I hope it's gonna be loads because this series is a must read. It is NSFW and for mature readers as it has sexy times but it's-so-good-you-should-really-like-read-it-!!! It's basically about these two parents (who are new to the whole parenting thing) who are trying to raise their child in the midst of a galactic war. Um....hello???!!! This is amazing go read it now! Saga is truly wonderfully crafted, action packed graphic novels. There is more to the synopsis but the last thing I want to do is spoil people, so I recommend if you're remotely interested to give it a go and I swear you will adore this. I highly recommend this and I have given all the Volumes out so far (which is four) 5/5 stars. 

This is my first ever graphic novel and I absolutely loved it! The experience of reading Saga was very fast because I read all these books on different days but in one sitting. Graphic novels are quick and fast paced, most of the time and you literally whizz through them. Especially this series, I flew through these and now I desperately want to own Saga Volume 5. 

Saga is written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by the lovely Fiona Staples. I can only imagine the time and effort that was put into every single instalment that is out right now. This series seriously does deserve all the hype it's getting because I kid you not it is so unique and very gripping. 

As I said before there is, so far only 4 volumes out and I read all four in the time span of around three days and each volume took me about 20-25 minutes depending on my schedule on that particular day. These graphic novels are also around 140+ pages. 

Saga Consists of: 

Volume 1:

Volume 2:

Volume 3:

Volume 4:

These are my first proper (if you will) graphic novel everything was quite displaced in the beginning as I'm not used to it but like literally after a page of two I was hooked. No joke the art is so unique in this series, I'm sure I'm going to be saying this for all the rest of the volumes but I don't know how to explain how wonderful it is without shoving the book in your face. In the fist volume, obviously we get world building and an array of colourful characters as well as the main characters. I remember being so excited. I probably looked high. 

I CANNOT COMPREHEND THE ART, IT'S SO UNIQUE (in my opinion anyways), I LOVE IT! Fiona Staples your graphics are tremendous. 

The writing of this series is nothing special however it is quite humours. As this is a graphic novel I hope none of you are expecting loads and loads of writing. Graphic novels to people who have never read them are like comics. The characters in this series are so loveable, kickass and colourful! I actually don't think I hate or dislike any character, they are all brilliant in their own ways. 

In a nutshell: READ IT! WORTH THE HYPE.

Yes Please | Amy Poehler

✴ ✴ ✴

Amy Poehler? 

Yes Please. 

Don't mind if I will. 

(*・∀・*) THIS BOOK! (*・∀・*)

You know what I love more than Parks and Rec? 

Amy Poehler talking about Parks and Rec. That show is the best and it's about to end. I promise not to cry through this review...and the rest of the last season. 

Yes Please is the first book Amy Poehler has written and it's pretty much about her life. How she started out, her family, her friends, her work and it's filled with pictures and other miscellaneous funny stuff. There is quite a bit about advice of different things but most of all it's super fun and funny hilarious uproarious.     Yes, U P R O A R I O U S. What a great word.

To start of let me mention that this is a humour, memoir. If you don't know who Amy Poehler is...where have you been? and I highly, highly recommend you start watching Parks and Recreation if you need a substitute for The Office or if you just need a new TV show to watch because it's a hilarious show! 

Amy is also good friends with Tina Fey (please, you have to know who Tina Fey is!) and they have both hosted the Golden Globes quite a few times I believe (2013, 2014, 2015 psshhhhhh). I really love them. Considering recent events when they hosted the 2015 Golden Globes and joked about North Korea and rape, I have not excused them for that because that was nothing to be joking about but I'm here to review this book not them. Also nobody's perfect, they probably learnt from that anyways. 

I'm pretty sure this book is aimed for adults but who even cares! I mean like, yes, there is advice on careers/yourself/relationships/friendships/children blah blah blah but it's all good and funny. Preparing me for my future; now I know what not to do. It was very heartwarming for Amy to talk about her life and her family; how she started from the bottom (shoutout to Drake) and now she's doing better than ever. There is an aspect of this book that bored me but that's only because I'm not yet an adult that has to do adult things, there is also a lot of her writing about her acting career which I also sort of got bored of reading...but only because I didn't know half the people she was writing about. There is also a whole chapter dedicated to the Parks and Rec squad so I'm not complaining, YES PLEASE! 

You could say that this is my first ever memoir that I have read. Memoirs/autobiographies/non-fiction/classics are not my scene. I genuinely don't like reading them and that is why I have yet to finish: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me by Mindy Kaling, Not That Kind Of Girl by Lena Dunham (both of which are on my 'Currently Reading' shelf on your right) and I have yet to read Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg. Don't get me wrong, I try really hard to be able to read everything and that is why I force myself to at least try but I don't know how long I'll be keeping this up. However this book was different, I'm not exactly sure if it's because it was more interactive and there were visuals but I enjoyed it thoroughly. When I say interactive I don't mean 'Wreck This Journal' interactive, I mean that it was much more relatable and you get to understand and experience Amy's world. 

*i feel like this is a good time to mention that i'm drinking chamomile/honey tea and it tastes like flower and i keep sniffing it* 

Another thing I would like to address is that this book isn't about comedy or how to be funny. I wish that I read more memoirs just so I could compare, for example Tina Fey's Bossypants but I'm a virgin to memoirs and this is my first. In this book she really delves into her career more than anything; how she got her job at SNL and quite a lot of simple improve she was doing in NYC. This book isn't about comedy and it's not a comedy book, it's simply Yes Please. This could be classified as a 'self help' book but then again not really. Like I see what you're saying and what you're getting at but nah. The advice in this book (personally) is top notch and really good (and very funny).  It's a very good, solid book. I thoroughly savoured this. Why I gave it a three stars? I don't know, I just wasn't feeling the 4 or 5. 

I'm glad this was my debut memoir because they can be really enjoyable if written and produced well. This had everything that the other two memoirs I'm trying to tackle didn't have. That is exactly why I actually finished it and revelled it. Can I also just say this photo shoot she did for the front cover is fantastic and basically sums up Amy Poehler. I love her. 

This book is also one of the goodreads 'best books of 2014' that readers voted on for the humour category. 

p.s

Check out my most popular reviews:
Love and Misadventure by Lang Leav
I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson
Yes Please by Amy Poehler
To All The Boys I Loved Before by Jenny Han
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Alex + Ada by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn 

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