Percy Jackson Re-read: Discussion Saturday!

Hi all! Welcome to another Discussion Saturday!

Today's topic: How would you prepare to go into the Labyrinth?

Now that is an excellent question! How does one prepare to venture into a place that is designed to kill you, with hopes of making it out alive? Good question. For me, there are two main components: packing and strategy.

Packing the Everyday Essentials of Survival 101: Weapons, obviously. I'd bring my sword, plus a hunting knife. Also food, water, ambrosia, nectar, and maybe a small first aid kit. I'd take a spare change of clothes (they double as bandages if need be), since who knows if you'll find yourself in a water chamber. Maybe a compass or map. The Labyrinth is also booby-trapped, so I'd pack light.

Strategy: if possible, I'd use Ariadne's string. If not possible, I'd find a trustworthy, able-bodied mortal with the Sight. And if that doesn't work at all, well, I'd try to learn as much as I could about the Labyrinth, and how is uses your feelings against you, and then try to fool the Labyrinth into working for me. It's better than nothing!

Would I be nervous? I think you'd be crazy not to. But ideally, I'd be going in with a few other people, so I wouldn't be completely alone (that's a terrifying thought). Going mad isn't very appealing, and it's harder to lose your mind if there's other people with you.

And that's it for me! Don't forget to check Caroline's post to see her thoughts!

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October Book Haul!

Allow me to be giddy as I show you my newest babies. Birthdays are great, you know? :D

MY PRECIOUSSS.

Magnus Chase and The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan: Norse mythology, set in modern-day Boston. Plus, it's Rick Riordan. Need I say more? (You can read my review here)

Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli: this is the most heartwarming book I've ever read. Seriously. It's definitely going on my list of best books I've ever read! Read it, guys, you won't regret it! (You can read my review here)

The Iron Warrior by Julie Kagawa: MY FEELS ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE RIGHT NOW. Because it's the LAST book in the Iron Fey series, like ever. I can't bare it. I can't. If this blog doesn't have any activity for a while, it's going to be because I'm in a huge book hangover over this book.

The Immortal Heights by Sherry Thomas: this is a truly epic fantasy series! I can't wait to read this last book. After that epic war declaration in the last book, I'm super excited to see what happens! Mages, blade wands, London, dragons, blood spells, you name it, this series has it!

I also got Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined by Stephanie Meyer, but I don't physically have it with me at the moment, and thus didn't make it into the picture. (Review and discussion here)

And that's it! What books did you guys get this month? Have you guys read any of these before? (I recommend them all!)

Percy Jackson Reread: Mythology Wednesday!

Hi all! Welcome back to another Mythology Wednesday, which is part of me and Caroline's Percy Jackson reread!

My topic this week is the god Pan, and Caroline's is Icarus. Let's get started! :)

Now, when I saw Pan, I don't mean Peter Pan. I mean the god Pan, son of Hermes and Dyriope. He's the god of the wild, shepherds and flocks, nature, and woodland music. 

One of the most famous icons of Pan are his pan flute. Syrinx, a water-nymph, attracted Pan one day, and fled from him, until she found her sisters at Mount Lycaeum. Her sisters turned her in a reed to help escape him, and Pan, not knowing which reed she had turned into, collected 7 reeds and glued them together to form the famous pan flute. Pan is always seen with his reed pipes, and is seen as him refusing to part with Syrinx.

The story goes that 2000 years ago, Pan was pronounced to be dead. Different versions tell different things about how this came to be: in some, Pan assigned the satyr Lysas to spread the word of his death, whereas in others, Pan told a sailor named Thamus to spread the word. But all stories agree that Pan is one of the gods who actually have undergone a supposed death. In Percy Jackson, the satyrs all refuse to accept it, and ever since, have been looking for him...

Pan, apart from being the god of the wild, is also known for giving out angry shouts, causing the word panic to form. This shout is one of anger and frustration, and is said to be so terrifying that any enemies who hear it immediately turn around to flee.

And that's it for this week! Don't forget to check out Caroline's blog for some fun things about Icarus!

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The Retribution of Mara Dyer Review: Mara

Book: The Retribution of Mara Dyer

Author: Michelle Hodkin

Series: Mara Dyer

Standing: Book 3 (final)

POV: 1st person by Mara and Noah, present tense

Setting: New York City (modern day)

Genre: YA paranormal

Source: Physical copy

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Pages: 470

Release: November 4th 2014

Mara Dyer wants to believe there's more to the lies she’s been told. There is. She doesn’t stop to think about where her quest for the truth might lead. She should. She never had to imagine how far she would go for vengeance. She will now. Loyalties are betrayed, guilt and innocence tangle, and fate and chance collide in this shocking conclusion to Mara Dyer’s story. Retribution has arrived. (Goodreads)

Falling Kingdoms Review

Book: Falling Kingdoms

Author: Morgan Rhodes

Series: Falling Kingdoms

Standing: Book 1

POV: 3rd person by Cleo, Jonas, Lucia and Magnus

Setting: Mystia (composed of Auranos, Paelsia, and Limeros)

Genre: YA fantasy

Source: Physical copy

Publisher: Razorbill

Pages: 412

Release: December 11th, 2012

In the three kingdoms of Mytica, magic has long been forgotten. And while hard-won peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest now simmers below the surface. As the rulers of each kingdom grapple for power, the lives of their subjects are brutally transformed... and four key players, royals and rebels alike, find their fates forever intertwined. Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus are caught in a dizzying world of treacherous betrayals, shocking murders, secret alliances, and even unforeseen love. The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed? It's the eve of war.... Choose your side. Princess: Raised in pampered luxury, Cleo must now embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of magic long thought extinct. Rebel: Jonas, enraged at injustice, lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country cruelly impoverished. To his shock, he finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making. Sorceress: Lucia, adopted at birth into the royal family, discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield. Heir: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, firstborn son Magnus begins to realise that the heart can be more lethal than the sword.... (Goodreads)

Percy Jackson Re-read: The Battle of the Labyrinth Begins!

Hi guys! We're onto Book 4 of the Percy Jackson series this week!!! If you guys don't know yet, Caroline from Just Another Bookish Blog and I are re-reading the Percy Jackson series, doing a book per week!

Are you guys read for The Battle of the Labyrinth? I know I am! Same as the last few weeks, we'll be having fun posts along the week! And don't forget to check out Caroline's blog for some awesome things this week! :)

Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse. In this fourth installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth - a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn. (Goodreads)

Percy Jackson Reread: Discussion Saturday!

Hi guys! Welcome to our third Discussion Saturday! We have two more after this, so don't forget to check them out!

Today's topic: Which Archer Twin, Artemis or Apollo, would you trust more?

Hmm... I have to admit, this isn't an easy question. I like them both. Apollo is easy-going and laid-back, but when it counts, he's there to help. Artemis is a skilled huntress, and I can see myself hanging out with her, discussion the best way to hunt monsters. 

I think my final decision would be...Artemis. Mainly because she's the more rational of the two, and is proactive. She's also described as the most vocal of the Olympians arguing for action against Kronos in Percy Jackson. She knows what needs to be done, and will argue to get it done. She also looks out for her Hunters, and isn't really that absent in the world like Apollo might be.

What do you guys think? Who would you choose?

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The Titan's Curse Review: Percy

Book: The Titan's Curse

Author: Rick Riordan

Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Standing: Book 3

POV: 1st person by Percy

Setting: New York, San Fransisco (present day)

Genre: Children's fantasy, mythology

Source: Physical copy

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Pages: 320

Release: May 5th, 2007

Rating: 5 stars

IT'S NOT EVERYDAY YOU FIND YOURSELF IN COMBAT WITH A HALF-LION, HALF-HUMAN. But when you're the son of a Greek god, it happens. And now my friend Annabeth is missing, a goddess is in chains and only five half-blood heroes can join the quest to defeat the doomsday monster. Oh, and guess what? The Oracle has predicted that not all of us will survive... (Goodreads)

Cover Reveal: THE BEAUTY OF DARKNESS

*Hyperventilating* THE THIRD COVER OF MARY E. PEARSON'S THE REMNANT CHRONICLES IS HERE!!!

WHOA!!!

Is that a gorgeous cover or what??? I mean, that sword! War is definitely here, I mean it's practically screaming it on the cover! Lia has come a long way from the first book, even cover-wise (image is below). I mean, the first cover is green, and she's wearing white, which really speaks 

of her innocence and ignorance to the world. A fresh face venturing out, a new beginning. But now here, there's a huge difference between the two, and we have a warrior, dead centre in the midst of battle. Is she fighting them all, or is she leading them? Either way, I'm sure the book will be fantastic!

Though...I have a confession to make. I haven't read The Heart of Betrayal yet. But I swear, I'm getting to it! Promise! I'm just a bit boggled down with life at the moment.

Have you read the series? If not, check out the first book, The Kiss of Deception! It's really good!

Lia and Rafe have escaped Venda and the path before them is winding and dangerous - what will happen now? This third and final book in The Remnant Chronicles is not to be missed. Bestselling author Mary E. Pearson's combination of intrigue, suspense, romance and action make this a riveting page turner for teens. (Goodreads)

Percy Jackson Re-read: Mythology Wednesday!

Welcome to another Mythology Wednesday!

I'm doing Pegasus this week, and Caroline's doing the Archer Twins, Artemis and Apollo, plus a small bonus of the titan Atlas! Be sure to check her's out too! :)

Pegasus can refer to two things: the immortal being, Pegasus, or the the species pegasus (plural pegasi), who are the offspring of the original Pegasus. I'll be talking about them both, so no need to worry about confusing one for another!

The immortal being Pegasus is most famously known for being a winged horse. He's known for being the son of Posedion, the god of the sea, and Medusa, the famous snake-haired monster. Pegasus came to be when Medusa was decapitated by the hero Perseus, springing into existence from the stump of her head (gross, but hey, it's mythology). Pegasus wasn't the only being born at that moment. His brother, Chrysaor, also came into being at that moment.

The story goes that Bellerophon managed to capture Pegasus with the help of Athena, and with Pegasus, was able to slay the Chimera. However, arrogance made Bellerophon attempt to fly to the top of Mount Olympus on Pegasus. Zeus wasn't too happy, and sent a gadfly to sting Pegasus, who ended up bucking and throwing Bellerophon off his back, crippling him. Pegasus then continued the journey to Mount Olympus alone, and became Zeus' steed. Since then, we always see pictures of Zeus riding Pegasus, throwing down his lighting bolts and smiting his enemies!

Hope you enjoyed this week's myth, and don't forget to check out Caroline's post too!

The Sword of Summer Review: Magnus

Book: The Sword of Summer

Author: Rick Riordan

Series: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard

Standing: Book 1

POV: 1st person by Magnus, past tense

Setting: Boston/Midgard, and other realms (present day)

Genre: Children's fantasy, mythology

Source: Physical copy

Publisher: Disney Hyperion Books

Pages: 528

Release: October 6th, 2015

Rating: 4 stars

Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother’s mysterious death, he’s lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers. One day, he’s tracked down by a man he’s never met—a man his mother claimed was dangerous. The man tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god. The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years. When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision. Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die . . .  (Goodreads)

Percy Jackson Reread: The Titan's Curse Begins!

Hi guys! We're onto Book 3 of the Percy Jackson series this week!!! If you guys don't know yet, Caroline from Just Another Bookish Blog and I are re-reading the Percy Jackson series, doing a book per week!

We're reading The Titan's Curse this week! Don't worry if you're joining late or anything, after all, the more the merrier. And don't forget to check out Caroline's blog for some awesome things this week! :)

IT'S NOT EVERYDAY YOU FIND YOURSELF IN COMBAT WITH A HALF-LION, HALF-HUMAN. But when you're the son of a Greek god, it happens. And now my friend Annabeth is missing, a goddess is in chains and only five half-blood heroes can join the quest to defeat the doomsday monster. Oh, and guess what? The Oracle has predicted that not all of us will survive... (Goodreads)

The Sea of Monsters Discussion Saturday!

Hey all! Today is Saturday, which means it's time for me and Caroline's second Percy Jackson discussion!

Today's Topic: What Would You Do If had the Golden Fleece?

Now that is a good question. For those of you who don't know, the Golden Fleece as healing powers beyond imagination, potentially even rivalling the gods' healing powers. Even poison from the depths of Tartarus doesn't stand a chance against it.

I think if I had the fleece, the first thing I would do would be to heal myself (the fleece is guarded by Polyphemus and a flock of man-eating sheep, so stealing the fleece would have been no easy feat) while travelling back to Camp Half-Blood. Obviously I'd heal Thalia's tree first, and once that was all good, I'd casually sneak off and do my stuff.

My first stop would probably be to the hospital, where I would heal the most severely ill or injured. A stop to the children's wing would be a must, too. Though I'm not quite sure how I would go about choosing who to heal first...

I think after that I would shift my attention to the environment. Cleanse brownfields (areas that used to have factories, but upon being shut down, was not properly dealt with and thus has contaminated the environment around with toxic waste and whatnot), cleanse polluted waters, heal coral reefs, and such. I'd also maybe even try to see if the fleece would regrow trees and vegetation. You never know, right?

What about you guys? What would you try to heal if you had the fleece? Let me know in the comments!

The Sea of Monsters Review: Percy

Book: The Sea of Monsters

Author: Rick Riordan

Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Standing: Book 2

POV: 1st person by Percy, past tense

Setting: Sea of Monsters, aka Bermuda Triangle (present day)

Genre: Children's fantasy, mythology

Source: Physical copy

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Pages: 279

Release: April 1st, 2006

Rating: 5 Stars

The heroic son of Poseidon makes an action-packed comeback in the second must-read installment of Rick Riordan's amazing young readers series. Starring Percy Jackson, a "half blood" whose mother is human and whose father is the God of the Sea, Riordan's series combines cliffhanger adventure and Greek mythology lessons that results in true page-turners that get better with each installment. In this episode, The Sea of Monsters, Percy sets out to retrieve the Golden Fleece before his summer camp is destroyed, surpassing the first book's drama and setting the stage for more thrills to come. (Goodreads)

Obsidian Movie!

So, if you do not know yet, I am a HUGE fan of Jennifer L. Armentrout. Like HUGE. And don't get me started on all her male leads. Do the names Aiden, Daemon, Roth, Zayne, Seth, Cam, Jase, Jax, Reece, Nick, Kyler, or Tanner make anyone swoon? (Covenant series, Lux Series, The Dark Elements trilogy, Titan series, Wait For You Series, Frigid series)

Yes? Yes? Well, I'm here to announce that news of a movie adaptation of Obsidian has just been released! That's this fine looking book here:

Now, if you're like me, there are 2 categories you instantly think of: a) THAT'S AWESOME b) oh dear...movie adaptations are, well, generally not that good. They don't have a good track record...

I completely agree with both points. On one hand, I'm thrilled, because I absolutely loved this series, but on the other hand, I'm skeptical. I can easily name over ten movie adaptations that have flopped. Plus, I'm a huge Daemon Black fan (I mean, just look at the cover model!), so I'm not sure how I'm gong to react to the casting...hmmmm....

But either way, I'm going to be thrilled for the author! Her enthusiasm is contagious, so it's hard not to be happy for her!

You can read the full announcement here.

What do you guys think? Will this be the new "it" movie like Hunger Games, or will it be a bust, like so many others before? Let me know!

Percy Jackson Re-read: Mythology Wednesday!

It's Wednesday! Which means it's time for another post about Greek mythology!

This week's topic for me are the Sirens, and Polyphemus and Odysseus for Caroline! Be sure to check her's out too! :)

The Sirens

No, these are not the loud ringing sounds you hear on police cars/firetrucks/ambulances! We're talking about the actual Sirens, the ones famous for luring sailors and other unsuspecting (and unfortunate) beings to their deaths. But what's their real story?

The Sirens are the daughters of the river goddess Achelous. They were very close to the goddess Persephone, and upon her abduction by Hades, were devastated. The goddess Demeter, Persephone's mother, was equally as devastated, and thus transformed the humanoid Sirens into bird-hybrids and set them off to go find Persephone. However, their search ended in failure, and they settled on the island Anthemoessa. Since then, they have lured sailors and other sea-travellers to their island with their beautiful singing, in which they all would drown to their deaths trying to reach them.A great way to make friends, no?

The only stories of anyone avoiding the Siren's temptations are the Argonauts, who had Orpheus on board, and Odysseus. Orpheus, a talented musician, was able to use his music and poetry to override the Siren's songs, and thus he and the Argonauts were unaffected. Similarly, Odysseus ordered his crew to stuff their ears with wax, ultimately creating great earplugs, but only after they had tied Odysseus to the mast so that he could hear them.

Rumour has it that the Sirens sing truth and wisdom, and is ultimately really good for your life assuming you don't jump overboard and drown to death. That's why some people choose to be tied to the mast as a way to listen to their wise words and hope to make their lives a little better. But like I said, it's only a rumour...

Bottom line: if you're approaching the island Anthemoessa, do yourself a favour and either a) turn around b) stuff your ears c) tie yourself to the mast. Else, a watery grave awaits you...

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Don't forget to drop back on Friday to read our reviews! :)

Percy Jackson Re-read: Sea of Monsters Begins!

We're onto Book 2 of the Percy Jackson series this week!!! If you guys don't know yet, Caroline from Just Another Bookish Blog and I are re-reading the Percy Jackson series, doing a book per week!

We're reading The Sea of Monsters this week, and like last week, we'll be doing some fun posts along the way! And don't forget to check out Caroline's blog for equally awesome things! :)

The heroic son of Poseidon makes an action-packed comeback in the second must-read installment of Rick Riordan's amazing young readers series. Starring Percy Jackson, a "half blood" whose mother is human and whose father is the God of the Sea, Riordan's series combines cliffhanger adventure and Greek mythology lessons that results in true page-turners that get better with each installment. In this episode, The Sea of Monsters, Percy sets out to retrieve the Golden Fleece before his summer camp is destroyed, surpassing the first book's drama and setting the stage for more thrills to come.  (Goodreads)

Ruin and Rising Review: Alina

Book: Ruin and Rising

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Series: The Grisha

Standing: Book 3 (final)

POV: 1st person by Alina, past tense

Setting: Ravka

Genre: YA fantasy

Source: Physical copy

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Pages: 422

Release: June 17th, 2014

Rating: 4 stars

The capital has fallen. The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne. Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army. Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives. Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for. (Goodreads)

Life and Death Review and Discussion

Book: Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined

Author: Stephanie Meyer

Series: Twilight

Standing: Spinoff of Book 1

POV: 1st person by Beau, past tense, present day

Setting: Forks, Washington

Genre: YA paranormal

Source: Physical copy (included as part of Twilight tenth anniversary edition)

Publisher: Little Brown

Pages: 387 (total book with Twilight is 752)

Release: October 6th, 2015

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Celebrate the tenth anniversary of Twilight! This special double-feature book includes the classic novel, Twilight, and a bold and surprising reimagining, Life and Death, by Stephenie Meyer. Packaged as an oversize, jacketed hardcover “flip book,” this edition features nearly 400 pages of new content as well as exquisite new back cover art. Readers will relish experiencing the deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful love story of Bella and Edward through fresh eyes. Twilight has enraptured millions of readers since its first publication in 2005 and has become a modern classic, redefining genres within young adult literature and inspiring a phenomenon that has had readers yearning for more. The novel was a #1 New York Times bestseller, a #1 USA Today bestseller, a Time magazine Best Young Adult Book of All Time, an NPR Best-Ever Teen Novel, and a New York Times Editor’s Choice. The Twilight Saga, which also includes New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella, and The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide, has sold nearly 155 million copies worldwide. (Goodreads)

Percy Jackson Re-read: Discussion Saturday!

Hey all! Today is Saturday, which means it's time for our very first Percy Jackson discussion!

Today's Topic: Reactions to Discovering our Half-Blood Selves

Finding out that the Greek gods are real isn't easy. Even harder is finding out that you're a demigod, meaning one of your parents is actually one of the Greek gods or a goddesses. Everyone reacts different to this life-shattering information. Take Percy, for example:

"Half-human and half-what?" "I think you know." I didn't want to admit it, but I was afraid I did. I felt a tingling in my limbs, a sensation I sometimes felt when my mom talked about my dad. "God," I said. "Half-god." Annabeth nodded. "You're father isn't dead, Percy. He's one of the Olympians." "That's...crazy."

To be fair, I think Percy took it surprisingly well. I know I wouldn't have taken it that well.

I'd like to say that I would have taken this revelation in a similar manner: cool disbelief. But the reality would probably be slightly different. I no doubt would have discovered my true self upon being chased by monsters, nearly dying in the process. Eventually, I would have ended up at Camp Half-blood, to be interrogated by Chiron and Mr. D. similar to Percy. I'd probably be in a state of shock and simply nod when they explained everything to be, while on the inside, I'd be in denial.

Realistically, I'd probably go through a series of stages after learning the truth, probably moping the entire time: denial (I'm pretty sure everyone goes through that), anger (because my entire life has been a lie and I can't ever go back to it and live normally), fear (because there are a lot of monsters out there, all more than happy to try to gun me down, and everyone at camp is completely out of my league), determination (to not die, to get better at protecting myself so that I will survive for years to come), and finally, acceptance of the truth and my identity. Long process, but yeah. Besides, who says I'll be in each stage for long? This could all happen within a time span of a few hours...or a few days.

But after a few days of accepting my real identity, I think everything would come naturally to me. Everyone probably has gone through the same thing, meaning it would be easy to find someone to talk to and get support from if needed. Plus I'm 100% my cabin mates would be super supportive, since we're family...that is, unless I'm put in the Hermes cabin for not being claimed.

Being claimed. Another thing that would bother me if I wasn't claimed for a while. I think I'd be a little irritated at my godly parent for not claiming me right off the bat, maybe even a little embarrassed, angry even. But I would keep faith. I'm not sure what I would do if I wasn't claimed at all, but after the Battle of Manhattan, it wouldn't be an issue anymore.

And after that, my life would be pretty normal. Or, as normal as a half-blood's life can be, anyways. Training, quests, going out for the school year, avoid getting attacked by monsters until the summer, back to training, and so forth. I think it would settle to be quite a familiar (though not exactly comfortable) routine after a while.

Also, be sure to check out Caroline's post! She did the opposite of me, and is a lot more entertaining to read about ;)

So, what about you guys? How would you guys react if you found out you were a half-blood? Let me know in the comments! Also, don't forget that Caroline and I are starting Sea of Monsters tomorrow, so come join us! :)

Cover Reveal: LADY MIDNIGHT

GUYS GUYS GUYS. The cover for Lady Midnight came out!!! Here it is:

OH MY GOD IT'S SO PRETTY. Allow me to rant!

1. THE COLOUR PALETTE. I cannot get over the beautiful colours! Unlike the other covers for The Mortal Instruments or The Infernal Devices, there isn't a popping gold or silver in the colour. This one is more subdued, and I think it makes the entire cover more intriguing!

2. Emma, front and center! Emma is floating in water! If I recall correctly, Emma actually has a fear of water... But is she sinking downwards or floating upwards?

3. Cortana! I particularly like how Cortana, Emma's sword, is featured on this cover. It a) speaks of Emma's badass nature b) lets us know that Cortana is special, and probably will be important in the book :)

4. The shafts of light from the sky above at the top of the cover... It just drags your eyes up, doesn't it? So cool!

5. Not completely related, but the only slight question I have...Emma's in a dress, and yes, it's gorgeous, but isn't she supposed to be super badass? I'm just hoping people who haven't read the series before won't write her off as some damsel in distress with a random sword, because she is far from being that!

But overall, I am very pleased with this cover! It has an...alluring element to it, and I absolutely cannot wait for me to get my hands on it! This book is slated to be released March 8th, 2016, so look for it then!

Here's the blurb:

Los Angeles. It’s been five years since the events of the Mortal Instruments when Nephilim stood poised on the brink of oblivion and Shadowhunter Emma Carstairs lost her parents. After the blood and violence she witnessed as a child, Emma has dedicated her life to to discovering exactly what it was that killed her parents and getting her revenge. Raised in the Los Angeles Institute with the Blackthorn family, Emma is paired as a parabatai with her best friend, Julian Blackthorn. A series of murders in the city catch her attention — they seem to have the same characteristics as the deaths of her parents. Could the murderer be the same person? And her attention isn’t the only one caught: someone has been murdering Downworlders as well. The Fair Folk make a deal with the Institute: if the Blackthorns and Emma will investigate the killings, they’ll return Mark Blackthorn to his home. The catch: they have only two weeks to find the killers. Otherwise it’s open war between faeries and Nephilim. The Shadowhunters of the Institute must race against time to catch the killers, even as they begin to suspect the involvement of those closest to them. At the same time, Emma is falling in love with the one person in the world she’s absolutely forbidden by Shadowhunter Law to love. Set against the glittering backdrop of present-day Los Angeles, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches from the warlock-run nightclubs of the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. (Goodreads)

The Lightning Thief Review: Percy

Book: The Lightning Thief
Author: Rick Riordan
Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Standing: Book 1
POV: 1st person by Percy, past tense, modern day
Setting: Manhattan, New Jersey, St. Louis, Las Vegas, Denver, Santa Monica, basically everywhere.
Genre: children's fantasy

Source: Physical copy
Publisher: Disney Hyperion Books
Pages: 377
Release: March 1st, 2006

Favourite line: "Even strength has to bow to wisdom sometimes."

Rating: 5 Stars

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse—Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena—Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods. (Goodreads)

Book Boyfriend Tag!

Thanks go to Caroline of Just Another Bookish Blog for tagging me! Seriously, if you guys haven't checked out her blog yet, do it now!

This is my kind of tag. Mainly because I know I'm going to take forever to complete it, due to all the FEELS ;)

1. The Most Romantic.
Hmm. Aiden from the Covenant series. He's just a sweetheart sometimes, and the number of times I've simply stopped reading from all my fangirl moments...well, you get the picture!

2. Dark and Moody Bad Boy with a Good Side.
ROTH from The Dark Elements. *Sighs dreamily* Seriously. He's a total demon bad boy, who also gardens and has kittens.

3. Paranormal Boyfriend
Morpheus from Splintered. He's just so...alluring. Mysterious. Troubled. Irresistible. A Netherling. I would totally be all over him, if he would have me.

4. One who you want to tame.
Kai from Sweet Evil or Seth from The Return. Both are just...wow. *blushes at the thought*

5. Boy you friend zone.
David, from Rebel Belle. He's cool and all, and I like him, but I think we'd be better off as friends.

6. Your soul mate.
OOOOH Ash from The Iron King or Jackson Tate from Rush! *Dies from the feels*  <3 <3 <3 

7. One you want to elope with.
Quinn Runningbrook from Defiance. I will run away anywhere with him.

8. One you'd venture anywhere with.
Can I say the Darkling from the Grisha series? Please???

9. One you'd want to be stuck on a deserted island with.
Prince Kai from The Lunar Chronicles ;)

10. Most butt-kicking.
Jace Herondale from City of Bones! Just think of all the weapons he's mastered to use, and the demons he's slain...