Book Feels Tag

So, of course, I got the idea to do this tag after seeing Nose Stuck In A Book do it on hers, so I had to try it out for myself! You should try it too! Now it's time to get into my feelings about books, and I have a lot of them so I'll try to keep my answers as short as I can, haha.

A book/series that made you smile or laugh

Oh, most of them honestly. I always find the happiness or the small amount of humor within a lot of books. I like finding those little moments while I read. And I think mainly the series that made me smile the most was the Iron Fey series.

A book/series that made you sad or want to cry

While the whole series didn't make me want to cry, the last book of the Witch and Wizard series really hit me hard. I was not okay for like three days afterward, and still not okay because of it.

A book/series that you love

The Hunger Games trilogy. I will sing its praises for all my life. I know that not everyone loves it, and that some people have so many things wrong with it, but I loved it. I read the books when I was in high school, and I fell in love with them. I also read them with friends and saw the movies during premieres with them, so it's a sentimental love I have for them as well.

A book/series that you didn't particularly like

I mean...it's not that I don't like it. I've never read the Harry Potter series. I am currently watching the HP movies with friends, I just don't think I'll ever read the books.

A book/series that was made into a movie that you liked

The Hunger Games movies were GREAT in my mind. I loved them, especially when the second director came into the scene. He really captured the storyline. I will always love that trilogy as well and always will. I need to read and watch them all again.

Also the Divergent movies (only the first two). I loved them and it felt like I was reliving the series over again in a different way. And the way Insurgent ended, I felt like a nice closing and don't even need to watch Allegiant.

A book/series that was made into a movie that you didn't like

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones movie is not what I thought would happen, and don't like all the changes they did with it. The TV show though, I really liked it.

A book/series you have mixed feelings about

Lord of the Rings. I want to finish reading it, I really liked The Hobbit. But it's so long and some of the parts are so long (he needed someone to edit some of those parts down) that's it's going to take me so long to get through. I love the movies and the world of Middle Earth, I'm just trying to figure out if I'll ever finish it or not.

A book/series you haven't read but are totally excited about

Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh. I am going to start reading Reign of the Fallen after I finish this post so I am very excited about that. I got my copy from PageHabit so it has annotations from Marsh throughout the book. I love reading those!

Also anything by Julie Kagawa and The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell, which I got as a Goodreads giveaway.

A book/series that made you angry

Moby Dick or anything Hemingway. I read those during a really bad time in my life so they hold really bad memories to them. It was when I was in an honor's English class that I shouldn't have been in. The books took a lot out of me, as well as the teacher herself because she wasn't even close to a nice person to those she didn't like. I'm only happy that I didn't get to spend the whole year in her class, I got out half-way through and then actually enjoyed myself in that subject again.

A book/series you feel like you can relate to

At this moment, I have found very few series that I can fully relate to in a sense of who I am as a person. I love the Talon series for its usage with twins, as well as Ty and Livvy. I haven't read any books yet with a bisexual MC, but I know once I read those I'll connect that way with those books.

I think that I need to look more into the world of books and find more stories with characters I could relate to on deeper, more emotional levels as well. If you have any suggestions based off of what you know of me, please let me know as well!


I liked doing this and reaching into my feelings of books. Though it's actually not that difficult, I'll always talk about books!

À bientôt!

Photo/Gif creds: my photo of ROTF, lady with book,

Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare - A Book Review

I finished this book when I should have gone to bed, and I'm writing this review when instead I should sleep on it. You know what, I'm going to go to sleep. And when I wake up, I'll finish this review. I'm just full of emotions right now and I want to SCREAM TO THE HEAVENS because wow...

Okay, I napped for a long while, let's start.

Now, as you saw from my review of the Shadowhunter Academy stories, I love this world, but this book might just be my least favorite, for a few reasons. As I write this, I am still trying to decide on three or four stars (you'll find that out at the end...as will I).

Because I did like a lot of it, but there are just so many things within the narrative of this one book that I didn't like, and a lot of them were at the very end. Which tends to happen with a lot of CC books. She shoves a blade through your heart just when you think the damage couldn't get any greater. You'd think by now I would have learned, but alas, I have not.

So I want to start with the things that I did like because I feel that will be nicer and easier for me at the moment. I'll try to be as spoiler-free as I can be, but honestly, it's not easy for me and I don't read books when they first come out so most people interested in the book have probably read it. But I'll keep the big stuff hidden. It's the smaller things I normally have a harder time keeping secret.

Likes

I have always loved Diana, and this book just made that fact more solid for me. She is a dynamic character and now I ship her and Gwyn, thanks for THAT. Gwyn saying to Diana that she's been in his dreams swept me off my feet, and I was laying down when I was reading it. Need me someone like that.

Also, I do love how CC likes to bring in so many different types of characters, just to show that they are the same as humans, how we are all unique and it's just so fake and weird that everyone would be straight/cisgender all the time soooo. That's always a plus in my book. Mark, Alec, Magnus, *name struck out due to spoiler*, Helen and Aline (always a fan of them).

I want my own Clary Fray to comfort me on a rooftop and tell me everything might be okay. Because I need reality at some points in my life and I don't like being lied to. I wish she was more in the series, but at the same time it makes sense since this isn't her series anymore...but I still miss her.

The mention of Marisol and Jon in this book made my heart so happy and light, my small children! Happy together! Great, so happy.

Diana SHUTTING DOWN Zara like a damn Queen will forever live on my memories. How sweet it is to read a bigot get yelled at and put in their place.

The relationship between the twins and Kit was a great friendship and I felt beautifully written.

I also loved reading as Kit learned more about Ty and why he does what he does, and how Livvy works with him. And how Kit learned his own ways to work with Ty. It made me smile to see things like that, making anxiety attacks, and being different or even autistic (I don't think they said it outright that Ty's autistic and I could be wrong, maybe it's just close to that but not labeled that) is just something that is. And you have to just accept someone for who they are as a person and be there for them.

While I didn't like that he left so soon because I liked his character, Arthur's sacrifice (sorry small spoiler) for his family was so caring and an amazing final moment in his life. Something they can all think of, it was for them, because he loved his family.

Dislikes

*this section has slight spoilers because of my FEELINGS, please enter at own risk*

HOW DARE YOU TAKE AWAY JON! His character grew so much in the Academy and I thought he could be more in this book and work with the Blackthorns but NO!, just rip my heart right out again. I just want happiness at some point within these books. please cassie

Zara reminds me of so many people. I hate extremists and just the type of people like her. It's so fitting to read of someone like her, who hates anyone who is different or not 'normal' in her eyes. While it's fitting to reality, doesn't mean I LIKED IT BECAUSE SHE WAS MEAN. Also while I disliked her character, I liked her addition to the plot because of the different Downworlders that have always helped the Blackthorns and other shadowhunters since...a long time ago.

As much as I love a forbidden romance, the whole 'parabatai curse/against the law' plot with Emma and Julian, wasn't a fan. I felt it was almost unneeded with the rest of the story going. I see where certain plot points would not be able to be there without the forbidden love, but so much of the rest of the plot would remain the same if taken out, in my opinion. I just...it was something I felt didn't need to be in the book.

However, I am one person and most likely not in that majority and I'm fine with that. I'll still read the rest of the series.

I think that it's mainly because it's more of a law and a curse and not like...two families who said: "no don't do that". I like things like that where it's more of a principle that they can't be together, and not a curse.

Also, something I find that happens a lot with CC books: a large majority of bad stuff happens to multiple people at the same time during a mass chaos situation at the end so you can't SLEEP afterward. Like what happened here in Lord of Shadows. Like, please Cassie, STOP HURTING THEM! They've all been through so much already.

Now one final note,

To the piskie with its whole head in a bowl of milk: 

I just want you to know, from the bottom of my heart and soul; BIG MOOD.

Stars given: 3.75 (4 on Goodreads). This is because of the things that I did not like.

I love the world, I love the characters, but so many other things I just...I can't fully put my heart into it. So much loss, and so much destruction and death, the curse. Sometimes I just can't get past it if so much blood has already previously been spilled as well. However, perhaps in time, I won't think this and I'll have a different opinion. This is just my current one.

*Michael Cera voice* well, that's my review, let's talk about it.

À bientôt!

Photo/Gif creds: shadowhunters, michael cera,

Disney Princess Book Tag

So, of course I got an idea from Nose Stuck In A Book, and you should all go and read her post on this tag, but I also wanted to try this due to my love of books and my love of Disney. If only that was my college major. Books and Disney. Imagine the homework!

The Rules (copied right from Kathryn's blog)

• Mention where you saw the tag/thank whoever tagged you because that's always good fun
• Tag Book Princess Reviews and Zuky with your posts so we can check out the wonderful Princess fun throughout the blog world (BPR is this link and Zuky’s is here) (I can't do ping backs off here so I can't do this, sadness)
• Play a game of tag at the end!

Now the ladies:

Snow White: This Book (like the Movie) Started it All

Favorite debut book from an author

I guess I can say that my favorite debut book is either The Iron King or the Hunger Games. I loved those books so much, they helped really fuel my reading life and the kinds of books that I read (and I know Suzanne Collins wrote other books before THG but they weren't in the same genre/age-range so I don't count it personally).

Cinderella: A Diamond in the Rough

Just like Cinderella, you either didn't expect much out of this character in the beginning but turned out be a total JEM

I guess this comes with most books, there's a character that I just don't like, but I end up being okay with them by the end of the day. I honestly can't think of a specific person at the moment.

Aurora: Sleeping Beauty

A book that makes you sleepy or just could not hold your attention 

I read at night so many books make me feel sleepy, but books that don't hold my attention don't stay in my mind or my Goodreads. Also, reading the Lord of the Rings books always makes me sleepy but I'm interested in the story.

Ariel: Under the Sea

A book with a water/ocean setting

I mean, I haven't read it yet, but the Seafarer's Kiss has an ocean setting with a female Viking and a mermaid. I just have to get my hands on a copy of it. Only thinking of the books I have read, no ocean settings.

Belle: Beauty and the Books

Name a book with the best bookworm/book lover 

I mean, I have read one of the original Beauty and the Beast novellas so I guess that one. Also, Tessa Grey and Will Herondale from the Infernal Devices books really liked to read, so I'll include them in here as well. As I was typing this I remembered them haha.

Jasmine: The Thief and the Princess

Name a book with an unlikely love story (either in terms of romance or a book you didn't expect to love so much)

Most of the time I only read books that I know I'll like, but I guess I can say that it's Witch and Wizard by James Patterson. I've talked about this story a lot but basically I was told to read this book for a homework assignment and fell in love with books again. So thanks Wisty and Whit.

Pocahontas: The Real Life Princess

Name a book that is based on a real-life person you want to read/have read 

So I while ago I got a book called 'Suite Française' by Irène Némirovsky. While it's not exactly about her life, it's two parts of a five-part story that took her years to write, and then she got arrested during the process, and her daughters hid the book, only to bring it out years later when it was safe and have it published (and translated). She was killed in WW2 before she could complete it, and I think that's just the saddest thing to me right now, and also a fear of mine.

Mulan: The Princess that Saved Her Country

Name the fiercest heroine you know 

One heroine in any book series that I loved is Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games. I will defend those books and Katniss with my life and a new fire has been lit of my love due to the 10th-anniversary editions of the books came out. I have such a large need to reread them, but I no longer own the books (long story).

Tiana: The Princess With the Coolest and Most Diverse Crew

Name a diverse book whether it is a diverse set of characters (like Tiana's group of Naveen, Louis, Ray, and more) or just divers in general 

The first two books in the Galahad series, Comet's Curse and Web of Titan. I feel they're two of the most diverse books I've read in a while because all the characters are under the age of 16/17 (could be younger) and they come from all ends of the earth. I think it had said in the book it wanted to save all cultures or languages or something of that nature, or that was my own thought process. The premise of the world ending from a curse and the only ones saved were these kids in a large ship...was also pretty cool to read.

Rapunzel: Let Your Longggggg Hair Down

Name the LONGEST book you've ever read 

Under The Dome is the longest book I've read if I combine both parts that I read because I had them separate and not in the same book, it's around 1,070 pages.

Merida: I Determine My Own Fate

A book where there is no love story/interest or isn't needed

Out of all the books that I have read, The Hobbit is the one that I pick for this. There was no romance within the story (at least none that I can remember). I know there is another book on my shelf that is like that but I can't picture it/remember it at the moment.

Anna/Elsa: Frozen Hearts

A book in a winter/cold setting 

A book that I read three years ago (I've been meaning to get to the other two but I'll probably have to reread the first one again for refreshing) is Greta and the Goblin King. I got it on my Kindle for free and one day decided to try it out and see what it was all about. It had intrigued me enough to download. In the end, I found the book was very good and unique from other books in the same genre.

Moana: How Far I'll Go

A character that goes on a journey

Basically, every book that I have read a character has gone on a journey, whether it be a physical one or an emotional/mental/educational one. There's always a journey to a story.


Those are my princess books! I had a lot of fun doing this (even though it's taken me so long to actually get this out because school is kicking my butt). Let me know what your answers for each princess was, I'm always curious for other people's answers.

À bientôt!

Photo/Gif creds: snow white, cinderella, aurora, ariel, belle, jasmine, pocahontas, mulan, tiana, rapunzel, merida, anna/elsa, moana,