Hexed by Michelle Krys

I first heard about Hexed from Sasha over at abookuptopia on Youtube, the plot really intrigued me as I don't normally read much about witches, and also because the hardcover edition looks gorgeous naked, but unfortunately I have the paperback, so that will do for now!

Indigo Blackwood is your typical teenager living amongst the LA scene, one thing she didn't plan on being was a witch. That was her mothers dream, it was never her intention to live out her mother's wildest fantasies but somehow fate has a funny way of showing itself. Other than finding out about the witch business Indie also has the trouble of the Priary members, sorcerers Frederick and Leo, who are after the Bible, something that has been kept in her family for generations, something that she must protect at all costs. But when the inevitable happens Indie along with her friend Paige, and some other witches she's met along the way, Indie plans to regain ownership of her family heirloom before the Priary uses it for deadly intent against the witch community.

Indie is a pretty likeable and very much relatable character to many teenage girls, I really liked her sassy thoughts and comebacks about her best friend, Bianca, who believe it or not is miss queen bee at their high school. The fact that its set in LA is a location that hasn't been featured or written about in many young adult books, although there is the upcoming The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare, so it was interesting learning about the scenery. Indie's mom and next door neighbour, Paige, were very quirky characters in their own right, who both influenced Indie's final decisions in various scenarios. Of course there always has to be that one male character who is sarcastic, broody, and mysterious, which sums up stranger Bishop. However I did not like the insta-love, I really wish it would of developed gradually within a few months, not a week or two!

I found myself flying through the pages because this certainly was a fast paced book and I definitely would of liked a few more scenes here and there just to lengthen out the story. Hexed is pretty predictable however there was only one thing I didn't see coming but I won't mention that because that is pretty much a giant spoiler!

I definitely recommend Hexed to the readers of The Mortal Instruments and Angelfall.

****

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You can get Hexed online or at your nearest available bookstore.
I brought my copy from Amazon.

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON TEASER TRAILER

Pretty much everyone has seen the first official teaser trailer of Avengers: Age Of Ultron ever since it landed online early yesterday morning, but if you're one of the few that haven't... well watch it now! So what do you think? I know for sure that I absolutely cannot wait for this much longer, from the looks of it this instalment it's definitely going to be a lot darker than the previous Avengers film, which I'm certainly all for, let the character development continue! The second instalment of the Avengers stars an impressive ensemble cast which includes, Robert Downey Jr, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johanson, Jeremy Renner, Cobie Smulders, Paul Bettany, Hayley Atwell, Andy Serkis, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, and James Spader.

When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and it is up to The Avengers to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plans.

Love, Rosie (Where Rainbows End) by Cecelia Ahern | Spoilers

With the film release of Love, Rosie this month I decided to finally read the book, which has been on my tbr pile for a while, before I watch the film!

Rosie Dunne has always spent her whole life with best friend Alex Stewart ever since they met at school when they were five years old, but all that changes when Alex's dad accepts a job offer in Boston. When Rosie finally accepts that her best and only friend is leaving she does her best to pass the time left at school studying hard enough to get accepted to Boston college, so she can be closer to Alex. But one drunken mistake at the school prom leaves Rosie in a situation that she can't very well undo because it turns out Rosie will never get to live her dreams as a hotel manager but instead a mother, a single one at that when the father of her child runs when he learns of the news. Devastated, Rosie tries her best to raise her daughter, Katie, and wonder what her life would of been like if she had moved to Boston to be with Alex.

Rosie and Alex keep in touch through letters, emails, instant messaging, and texts spanning through fifty years, which is quite incredible if you think about it, not that many people from school keep in touch these days.

At times I wished Rosie would speak her mind and not let others opinions bring her down, which also applies to Alex. I just wanted them both to express their feelings, but thats where character development comes in, so there'd be no point of the book of they said what they felt sooner, and of course they grow as people finding their own path making their own mistakes which they truly learned from. Though I really wish Rosie and Alex got together sooner as I did want them to have a family but the age they were when they eventually got together they were far too old, so that was kind of sad but also a heartfelt moment when they finally came to their senses!

There were times when I really didn't like Ruby as I found her annoying and I just wanted her to vanish but other times I found myself laughing at her snide comments. I certainly did not like Greg one bit his character seemed very off and I did wonder why he was ever with Rosie if he kept going to these 'business meetings'. Throughout the whole book I really wanted to know what Kevin was up to when we didn't hear from him as he was quite a hidden and mysterious character and only really showed up when he wanted something. I was quite surprised at the turn of events when Brian showed up the minute Rosie made her mind up to flee the country, I really did want her to leave even if that meant Katie not knowing who her father really was.

This format of writing is very unique and of course very fast paced, I managed to read Love, Rosie in two days! Overall I really liked this book, though I felt as if there was something missing, which is why I've rated it a total for four stars.

****

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You can get Love, Rosie online or at your nearest available bookstore.
I brought my copy from Amazon.

October Book Haul #1

More books I brought this month...

Amazon

Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern

As you might already know I did buy a used copy of Where Rainbows End and I wasn't entirely happy with the condition so I brought the film tie in edition, which I'm now currently reading!

The Mile Long Bookshelf

Amber from the mile long bookshelf began a free book giveaway at the beginning of the year and due to the success and popularity Amber continues to collect any unwanted/unread books and host giveaways on a first come first serve basis which you only pay for delivery, however only UK residents are eligible as international shipping can be quite pricey! Anyway here are the books from a giveaway earlier this week...

Winger by Andrew Smith

This is probably one of the most talked about and hauled book on the booktube sphere that I've never actually heard any feedback or reviews about it, so I hope its as good as people claim it to be! Winger is about a fourteen year old Ryan Dean West experience through boarding school, though guessing from the cover design he gets into a few fights!

If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch

I've heard a lot of buzz about this book through booktube, so I'm pleased to finally own a copy and uncover the events that led sisters, Carey and Jenessa, living in the woods with their mentally ill mother.

Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead

I'm slowly building up my Vampire Academy collection, I previously marathoned the series this summer but I've yet to read the Bloodlines series, so now I own book one and five.

TOMORROWLAND TEASER TRAILER

The highly anticipated Disney movie, Tomorrowland, has just released its first official teaser trailer, it stars George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Judy Greer, and Hugh Laurie.

Bound by a shared destiny, a teen bursting with scientific curiosity and a former boy-genius inventor embark on a mission to unearth the secrets of a place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory.

AMERICAN SNIPER TRAILER

The trailer for Clint Eastwood's latest film, American Sniper, was released earlier this week, which stars Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Jake McDorman, and Luke Grimes.

A Navy S.E.A.L. recounts his military career, which includes more than 150 confirmed kills.

My Top Favourite Books From 2014 (so far!)

With the year drawing to a close I have selected my favourite books of the year, including standalones and series, though the amount of my favourites are probably subject to change as it's not quite the end of year! What are you favourites so far?

Standalones

How To Love by Katie Cotugno

This is a love story. But it’s not what you think. This is not a first kiss, or a first date. This is not love at first sight. This is a boy and a girl falling in messy, unpredictable, thrilling love. This is the complicated route to happiness that follows.

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

After a traumatic experience Valerie has spent the summer secluded away attending therapy sessions to relive her mind of the awful day when everything changed in her small suburban town. Now Valerie must return to complete her last year of school, but she must face the guilt of the infamous Hate List she created with her boyfriend Nick which so happened to leave a wake of tragedy behind them. Will her classmates be so forgiving and will she forever forgive herself.

Series

Wait For You by J. Lynn

Avery Morganstern wants to begin her life again and by that she wants a fresh new start, she choses a college on the other side of the country, so very far away from home where nobody knows her or what happened to her on that fateful halloween night, though with hints along the way we get an understanding of how Avery became the person she is today. But when Avery is late for her first day of class she accidentally bumps into socialite Cameron Hamilton, a guy who knows pretty much everyone on campus, except that he doesn't know her but as sure as hell wants to. Who would of thought that the first guy Avery stumbles into would be the one to bring the spark back into her life, but will her secrets hold her back from an undeniable attraction.

Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry

No one knows what really happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms.

Angelfall by Susan Ee

Its been weeks since the angels have fallen and taken over the world. Seventeen year old Penryn Young finds herself battling through a post apocalyptic world, though something she didn't plan on was stumbling into an angel dispute. The angels are angry with Penryn and take her sister, Paige, it's Penryn's mission to find her with the help of an wingless angel.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

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

Throne Of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

In Throne Of Glass we meet Celaena Sardothien, one of Adarlan's greatest assassins, who has spent an entire year at one of the harshest prisons in the land, Endovier. It is known that most prisoners can survive up to a month, however due to Celaena's excessive training she had the mental and physical abilities to survive the conditions of Endovier. But now Celaena is given the choice, enter a competition to serve as the King's Champion, if she wins Celaena will fulfil her contract with the King and will finally be given her freedom. Though if she does not succeed Celaena will be sent back to Endovier, knowing that she won't be able to survive for another year she accepts her sponsors terms, who just so happens to be the King's son Prince Dorian.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

There has been a lot of hype surrounding Stephanie Perkins, I must admit I wasn't very interested about Anna and The French Kiss, but once it came up on iBooks for a ridiculously cheap price I made the purchase. Though it was only last week that I finally decided to read it on my trains journeys to uni.

Anna is forced to to study abroad in France for her final year of schooling, although unhappy with the decision Anna find that she's not entirely alone as the school she's placed at is solely for American citizens. Which is where she makes a new group of friends, however one of those friendships goes too far, causing a rift between friendships that cannot be salvaged or can it?

Anna in my opinion was so annoying the first hundred pages, if not more, she kept whining about how the move to France had ruined her life. Anna should of been more grateful that she got to spend an entire year living in France, something that most people can't afford. Its these experiences in life that we can look back on, which is something that I can relate to as I also spent a year living in Spain when I was younger, something that I greatly miss. Another annoyance was that Anna kept making a big deal about that she was the new kid and couldn't speak the language, sometimes in life you've just got to get through with it and do not care what people think about you, don't waste your life on these things. But when the pace started to lift Anna's annoyance slowly deflated, which finally allowed her to mature and actually speak to the locals for once without getting embarrassed.

When introduced to St Clair, he was presented as the most charismatic, charming, social boy of the year and probably the whole school, so there wasn't a great deal of what not to like about him. Though St Clair seemed very mysterious throughout as we didn't get to see his actual self through all those layers he's been building up, probably due to an abusive childhood.

I guess the only disappointment I had with this book was the predictions, because I guessed most of them way early on, but who can expect contemporaries to be completely predictably free because they aren't.

I'm not sure if I'll continue with the trilogy as I read a sample of Lola and the Boy Next Door and I just could not get into it, but I do like the premise of Isla and the Happily Ever After, so I may come back to those later, but who really knows, maybe I won't. However one thing I do like about the trilogy are the covers, which are stunning, so kudos to whoever designed them. Anna and the French Kiss is a toss up between three or four stars, but for now its three.

***

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You can get Anna and the French Kiss online or at your nearest available bookstore.
I brought my copy from iBooks.