31 October 2013

Halloween: a tag and some recommendations

It's HALLOWEEN!

1. Which are your favourite supernatural/horror/scary characters to read about? (e.g. vampires, werewolves, witches, monsters, serial killers, murderers etc).
Ghosts! I love reading about ghosts, I think it is so scary and creepy - since I believe that ghosts exists. Unbreakable and Anna dressed in blood are really great ghost stories. 

2. Which scene from any book would be your ultimate nightmare to have been part of?
Tobias' fear landscape, I am afraid of heights and I have claustrophobia.....

3. If you could visit and explore any one scary or evil setting which would you pick and why?
Unbreakable! It would feel like I were in a TV show - a paranormal TV show - that would be AMAZING!

4. Which book was so frighteningly terrible that you almost fell asleep for eternity trying to finish it?
The 19thwife or Delirium... They were soooooo terrible

5. Name one book you wish you could pull certain pages out of and swap for others to make it better?
Allegiant….. That ending killed me!

6. If you could turn any 'bad or evil' character into a good character, who would you pick and why?
hmmmm I do not know, it would be fun to experience Voldemort as a good guy, Draco Malfoy or Bellatrix Lestrange.... I really like Bellatrix and Malfoy would be the sweetest as a good guy. 

Quick fire round:
1. Favourite vampire character?
Alice or Emmett from Twilight

2. Favourite werewolf character?
Ren or Shay from the Nightshade series.

3. Favourite witch character?
Evil: Bellatrix Lestrange 
Good: Luna Lovegood 

4. Favourite monster character?
R from Warm Bodies (a zombie is a monster, right?)
or Tyson (cyclop) from the Percy Jackson series

5. Favourite ghost character?
Anna from the Anna dressed in Blood duology

6. Favourite serial killer/murderer character?
I do not think I have one.


Halloween Reads
Unbreakable (The Legion, #1)

If you haven't guessed allready, I am going to recommend Unbreakable by Kami Garcia. I have written a review, you can find it here.
This book is probably my new all-time favorite paranormal book. I really enjoyed it and it is the perfect read for halloween since it scared the **** out of me.


Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna, #1)




I believe I read Anna dressed in Blood back in July or August, and I really liked it. It is not nearly as creepy as Unbreakable, but it is still a creepy read.


The Graveyard Book



I read The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman in 2011, it is not that creepy - maybe it is for younger readers - but it is set in a graveyard and the characters are wonderful. I cannot remember that much about this book, exept that it was cute but a tinge creepy.

The Indie Eclective: The Halloween Collection



The Indie Eclelective: The Halloween Collection, is a collection of spooky stories. It is about 100 pages, so it is not that bad, perfect for a quick halloween read. You can get it for free on amazon, just click here. I have not read it yet, but I am going to this evening, hopefully. That cover, doesn't it just scream "HALLOWEEN"?


There is a lot of free books on amazon for kindle, here is some of the more creepy ones, I have read some of them, but not all.

There you have it, a bunch of recommendations, both short stories AND books AND free ebooks! 


I have been thinking about making a monthly post with some great free kindle books / collections. And maybe some that sounds interesting that I have not yet read. What do you think?

28 October 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Scariest looking covers

Top Ten Tuesday is, as usual, hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. This time it is all about halloween! Either covers or a TBR, I chose covers. 

The Benny Imura series by Jonathan Maberry
Rot and Ruin (Benny Imura, #1)Dust and Decay (Benny Imura, #2)
Fire and Ash (Benny Imura, #4)Flesh and Bone (Benny Imura, #3)
There is something about these covers! So this series is about a zombie-apocalypse, if you do not get a job by the time you turn fifteen, your rations get cut in half, and then something happens! I have had these on my TBR-list for quite a while now... I love reading about zombies! 


The Anna series by Kendare Blake
Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna, #1)Girl of Nightmares (Anna, #2)
I love these covers! When I saw the cover for Anna dressed in blood I knew I HAD to read it, but of course I could not - my local library had not bought the book. But I read it recently and OH MY GOD I really liked the duology! It was really good!

The Monstrumologist (The Monstrumologist, #1)The Curse of the Wendigo (The Monstrumologist, #2)

The Isle of Blood (The Monstrumologist, #3)The Final Descent (The Monstrumologist #4)
This series is different and very intriguing. It is beautifully written and it is just an amazing idea. The fourth one just came out... So hopefully I am getting it soon, I am thinking about buying all of them....


That was my top ten, what are the most scary looking cover according to you?

The Happy Bookaholic Tag!

This tag was created by Sabrina from "About Happy Books"!


Lisa = bookaholic
I found this picture last night, and I just had to put it up here. Seriously. I really like watching The Simpsons, but somehow I have managed not to watch this episode. I just thought this picture perfectly sums up what "serious" a "problem" readers have. WE CANNOT BE SATISFIED WITH JUST ONE!
I have talked to my parents about this so many times, my mom had a couple of months where she thought I was just reading TOO much ALL the time. I cannot understand why she wasnt happy about me not being a drug addict or and alkoholic. But oh well, I guess readers have a "problem" anyway.

Now, on to the tag:

1. What do you love about buying new books?
The feeling of a new book. I love just watching the cover and speculating about what this book is actually about (I tend to not read the blurb on the back). Also, the trophy of a new book! Is there anything better? (except reading a good book).

2. How often do you buy new books?
Uhm, yh.... Often. I tend to buy most of my books online, so when I browse around and find a good deal on a book I have heard good things about, it calls to me. 

3. Bookstore or online book shopping - which do you prefer?

A mixture. Books in Denmark tends to be kind of expensive, the average price of a paperback is 22$... and hardcovers 37$, so when I find a book online to 5 dollars, I cannot help to buy it online instead of in the store. Who wouldnt? My favorite thing about bookstores is that you can discover new books, which I think are harder to do online. But the price online will probably always win.

4. Do you have a favourite bookstore?

Not really, but I really like our local Arnold Busck and our second hand book and video store "The Book Worm". They both tend to have the biggest english section.

5. Do you preorder books?

I actually just preordered my first book this monday. I know it will not be one I can buy here, so when I find it online to 20$ for a brand new hardcover.... TAKE MY MONEY. So it should probably be here November 5th.

6. Do you have a monthly book buying limit?

No, I mostly just buy what ever I want to. I have periods where I buy ALL THE BOOKS, and then there is sometimes when I do not buy anything. 

7. Book buying bans - are they something for you?

Not really, when I ban myself from something, I go crazy and have to have it. So if I ban myself from buying books, I will probably use all my money on books in a week.

8. How big is your wishlist?

Big, but some of them I choose to get from the library instead - especially if it is a series or one that is hyped up.

9. Which three books (from you wish list or preorders, or ... ) would you like to own NOW?

Cold Spell (Fairytale Retellings, #4)


Cold Spell from Jackson Pearce - I have waited long enough, just give it to me!









Alice in Tumblr-land: And Other Fairy Tales for a New GenerationThe Jane Austen collection from Heirloom, they are GORGEOUS! And either my mom or my boyfriend are buying them for me for christmas. I feel like a brat....







Alice in Tumblr-land by Tim Manley - This is on its way.. Hopefully.








25 October 2013

#FridayReads + a quick update

FridayReads was originally brought over from Twitter by BunnyCates on youtube. I have not seen it on blogs, but I thought it would be fun to bring to this blog also.

Today (and through out the weekend) I am going to be reading Allegiant by Veronica Roth, since it just came out. When I finish it - if I finish it, I will probably read The Cuckoo's Calling by J.K Rowling and some in Zombies vs. Unicorns.

I am in a bit of a reading slump right now... I have a major book hangover because of Unbreakable by Kami Garcia. So I am having a hard time picking up a new book, because Unbreakable seriously blew my mind.

You can follow me on twitter if you want, I just made an account: @LttleMissReader

24 October 2013

Discussion: Series vs. Standalones

So, since I am having a sick day, I thought it would be a great idea to make a longer post - since I have the time. I have chosen to talk about series vs. standalones, because it something I think about everytime I either buy books or have to choose a new book to read, but here we go.

Story
Some series are great story wise - for example Harry Potter - one book would never be enough so it is great that there are multiple books set in the same world. But there are also some series that contains 4 books but the story is dragged out, so 2 or 3 books would have been better.
Then there is the standalones, for the most part, I like standalones better - I HATE cliffhangers - but also the story is actionpacked or filled with amazing scenes because everything has to be in this 1 book.
Sometimes series are better, because you get to know the characters better and you get to live in their world for a longer period of time. But other times standalones are just better because the story does not have to be dragged out over multiple books.
I would say that this one is a tie.

Series: 1
Standalones: 1

Characters 
When I look back, most of my favorite characters are from series, because when you really like a character that is in a series, you get to know them better and watch them evolve. You get to see them grow and learn new things. You get to see how sad they get over the tragedies they experience. And you get to see how triumphant they are when they overcome something.
Sometimes I just do not feel like I really get to know the characters when I read standalones. The only characters from a standalone I have "befriended" are from The Fault in Our Stars by John Green and The Help by Kathryn Stockett.
When it comes to series, I can honestly say that I feel like Hermione is one of my best friends ever and that I can tell her everything. Harry and Ron are those boys you just cannot help to like and become friends with. I feel like I could just meet Hermione, Ron and Harry, and then die happy. Because then I have met my best friends ever.
This one would have to go to series..

Series: 2
Standalones: 1

Covers
I have a bit OCD, so cover changes REALLY bothers me. I cannot look at series or buy them, if the covers do not match, I really can't. That problem is something you very easily get over with standalones - because you just have to find the version of the book you like and then you are done. You do not have to worry about matching covers or get mad if you cannot find them.
Okay, I only have one problem with that. I want all my John Green books to match, so I have to find the yellow version of Paper Towns with the car on... And I cannot find it ANYWHERE. But other than that, the standalones win.

Series: 2
Standalones: 2

Money
Obviously series are, for the most part, more expensive. Because if you want to buy all of them it tends to add up - especially with the longer series, trilogies and duologies are not that big a problem. Standalones are ofcourse a "one time pay", you pay for it and that is that, you have a WHOLE story in your hand.

Series: 2
Standalones: 3

Time
I think it is safe to say that everyone has read a marvelous book that ends on a cliffhanger - then you find out that it is a series and the next books comes out in a year. For example the Divergent trilogy, my friend has waited and waited for the third one to come out, and I personally got extremely mad when I read the Nightshade series by Andrea Cremer.. I read the sequel, because I thought it was a duology. Then it ends on a cliffhanger and I am like NO, this is NOT TRUE. And ofcourse I find out that it takes a year or so before it gets published - and books here in Denmark tends to get published ½ a year after the actual release date -.-' lucky me.

Series: 2
Standalones: 4

So we have a winner, and that is STANDALONES, which is what I expected, but it was actually fun to find the pros and cons for both sides.

Do you prefer series or standalones? And what is your favorite series and favorite standalone?

23 October 2013

Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

Unbreakable (The Legion, #1)
Series: The Legion #1
Publication date: 2013
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Genres: YA Paranormal
Format: Ebook
Source: Bought


Supernatural meets The Da Vinci Code in this action-packed paranormal thriller, the first book in a new series from New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia. 

I never believed in ghosts. Until one tried to kill me.

When Kennedy Waters finds her mother dead, her world begins to unravel. She doesn’t know that paranormal forces in a much darker world are the ones pulling the strings. Not until identical twins Jared and Lukas Lockhart break into Kennedy’s room and destroy a dangerous spirit sent to kill her. The brothers reveal that her mother was part of an ancient secret society responsible for protecting the world from a vengeful demon — a society whose five members were all murdered on the same night.

Now Kennedy has to take her mother’s place in the Legion if she wants to uncover the truth and stay alive. Along with new Legion members Priest and Alara, the teens race to find the only weapon that might be able to destroy the demon — battling the deadly spirits he controls every step of the way.

Suspense, romance, and the paranormal meet in this chilling urban fantasy, the first book in a new series from Kami Garcia, bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures novels.

OH MY GOD! This book is probably my new all-time favorite. I LOVED IT. 
The beginning was not even that slow, and about 30 pages in.. BAM.. Welcome to your new life Kennedy! 

In "ghost hunting" there is a lot of different concepts like grave jumping, poltergeists and vengance spirits. This book explains all that in a way that is understandable and does not feel forced. 

I am not that easily spooked, and a book have never EVER made me scared before. But this one, oh god, this one made me want to keep the lights on because I was afraid that some ghost would kill me in my sleep. I was seriously afraid of reading this book in the dark, because WHAT IF some ghost was with me WHAT IF it wanted to kill me.... I could not sleep....

I can understand why somepeople are not so fond of Kennedy, but when she first meets Priest, Lukas, Jared and Alara, she changes. She becomes another person that is selfish and brave - that is the Kennedy I like. 

I love everything paranormal, I really like watching ghost horror movies (grave encounters is probably my favorite one). I love The Da Vinci Code (unlike a lot of people I know) and this contains all of it perfectly somehow. 

Downside is that this book ends on a killer cliffhanger! AND the second one doesnt even come out till 2014 - hopefully it comes out in 2014! 



Have you read this? And if yes, what did you think? If no, do you want to read it?

22 October 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Character Names I Love

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. This Tuesday is all about names! And I maybe picked 11..... But only because some other names should have a chance... But of course there is a winner.... The first ten is in no particular order, and the last one is my absolute favorite.


Les Misérables

Cosette & Fantine from Les Misérables. I have not read the book yet - but I have watched the movie. My favorite movie EVER.. I think. But that is beside the point. I love France, it is my favorite country and favorite language.. And the names.. aaaah... Cosette and Fantine has always been favorites of mine. 
The Fault in Our Stars


Hazel from The Fault in Our Stars. It is one of my favorite books and the name is just so different - I have not really heard it before. I cannot explain exactly why this name is one of my favorites, it just is. 
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, #5)


Hermione & Bellatrix from Harry Potter .Yes, I went there. Harry Potter is my favorite series of all-time. I grew up with Harry, and when I was little my imaginary friend was literally Hermione. Helena Bonham Carter is a phenomenal actress and she is actually the reason why I like the name Bellatrix.. 

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1)

Katniss & Primrose from Hunger Games. Okay sooo, I love the names from my favorite books, I just realized that, or that is the pattern so far. But Katniss and Primrose are just such beautiful names. And they are from nature! I love nature names. My daughter will (hopefully) bear the name Calla Lily like the main character from Nightshade. It is my favorite flower. Sidetrack.  
Uglies (Uglies, #1)


Shay from Uglies. I am actually not that big a fan of this series. I had really high hopes and it did not live up to any of them. But anyways, I really like the name Shay, both for a guy or a girl.

The Host (The Host, #1)


Wanderer / "Wanda" from The Host. This is quite different from other books (except Enclave, they have some pretty nice and weird names). There is just something about this name.. And it has a meaning behind it - that just makes me love it even more. 

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares


Dashiell / "Dash" from Dash & Lily's Book of Dares. It just sounds so good "Dash". And the fact that the guy that is named Dashiell actually likes to read.. Well, does that not makes it more lovable? Also, I love the name Lily. 
Nightshade (Nightshade, #1)


Like I said before, Calla Lily is my favorite name out of every name, so of course that has to win, but I thought I would give some other names some credit first... But I just cannot exclude that name. So even though I did not like the books that much, I love the main characters name. Calla Lily. 
what is your favorite name from a book?

18 October 2013

Autumn TBR

So, since there is a lot of new books coming out this autumn, I thought it would be a good idea to actually see how many books I want to read, because... I know there is quite a lot.

Unbreakable (The Legion, #1)

Unbreakable by Kami Garcia. The summary is just so CATCHY! I love Supernatural - it is my favorite show (after the Big Bang Theory). And The Da Vinci Code is one of my favorite books. Could it be more perfect?
That cover! That is gorgeous!

Reasons why supernatural fans should read this book

The Dollhouse Asylum


The Dollhouse Asylum by Mary Gray. My little sister actually found this book before me, and when I read the summary OH MY GOD I just had to read it. And then I find out that it is not even released yet. Bummer. There is some greek mythology, sci-fi and horror. It sounds fun.

Release date: October 22nd 2013 (SOON!)



Parasite (Parasitology, #1)

Parasite by Mira Grant. So I am not that big a fan of her Newsflesh trilogy - except for the prequel - but this sounds interesting. Apparently people have parasites in them, and now they want their own life. There will also be a sequel!

Release date: October 29th 2013



Cold Spell (Fairytale Retellings, #4)


Cold Spell by Jackson Pearce. I think I have been waiting long enough for this book. I have loved the first 3 in this "series" and since this is from H.C. Andersen (a danish writer) I just have to read it. I grew up with his stories and I still have all of them. I even came up in one of his stories for my final exam and I got A+!

Release date: November 5th 2013



Alice in Tumblr-land: And Other Fairy Tales for a New Generation


Alice in Tumbr-land: And Other Fairy Tales for a New Generation by Tim Manley. I love fairy-tales, and since this is a modernisation of the old ones I think it will be quite different and really funny. I actually plan on buying it and read it aloud for my brother. I think he would love it. 




Allegiant (Divergent, #3)


Allegiant by Veronica Roth. Well, this is kind of a no-brainer. Everyone (or almost everyone) will be reading this when it comes out, right? 

Release date: October 22nd 2013




Horde (Razorland, #3)

Horde by Ann Aguirre. I have not read the 2. book in this series yet, but I really like this series. It is different from the other zombie books out there and there is also something extra in there I cannot quite place.

Release date: October 29th 2013







This is just a little part of my TBR for Autumn. I also plan on reading some classics (Jane Austen and Dracula) and hopefully some of the books I just bought.

15 October 2013

Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott

Love You Hate You Miss You
Series: N/A, Standalone
Publication date: May 26, 2009
Publisher: Harper Teen
Genres: YA, Contemporary
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
Pages: 276

Get this, I'm supposed to be starting a journal about "my journey." Please. I can see it now: Dear Diary, As I'm set adrift on this crazy sea called "life" . . . I don't think so.

It's been seventy-five days. Amy's sick of her parents suddenly taking an interest in her.

And she's really sick of people asking her about Julia. Julia's gone now, and she doesn't want to talk about it. They wouldn't get it, anyway. They wouldn't understand what it feels like to have your best friend ripped away from you.

They wouldn't understand what it feels like to know it's your fault.

Amy's shrink thinks it would help to start a diary. Instead, Amy starts writing letters to Julia.


But as she writes letter after letter, she begins to realize that the past wasn't as perfect as she thought it was—and the present deserves a chance too.

I had a really hard time liking Amy. In the beginning I thought she was irritating, but as the story started unfolding itself I started to like her.
 The person she was before Julias death and the person she was after were to completely different people. The person she is when the book ends, is again a whole other person - but that was the person I really liked.

When she finally understood that Julia might not have been the best friend and she started talking to Caro, that was some of my favorite parts about the book. The parts where she takes action instead of just being sad or angry all the time.

I LOVED Patrick. He was shy and yet whenever Amy and him was alone, he talked to her. I doubt he told other people the stuff he told her. 

I hated Julia but in another way I really liked her. It is hard to explain. But she had some characteristics that just was provocative, and then there was the Julia with Amy - two different people (for the most part).


I really enjoyed the book, but I also thought it was missing something. Therefore 3 out of 5.