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3 Important Things to Know About Me, Your Overlord (And Other Exciting Stuff)

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- Nominated by the infinitely fabulous Adaline @ Not Gary Cooper -

- The “Mystery Blogger Award” is an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging; and they do it with so much love and passion. Award was created by Okoto Enigma @ Okoto Enigma. -

The Rules

  • Put the award/logo image on your blog
    • Oh. Shit.
    • Hold on a minute.

    • There it is.
  • List the rules
  • Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog
  • Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well
  • Tell your readers 3 things about yourself
  • Nominate 10-20 people i'm lazy and also friendless
  • Ask your nominees 5 questions of your choice
  • There are possibly more, but I am, as aforementioned, highly lazy. 

3 Important Things to Know About Me, Your Overlord

1. I once named an ant Ronaldo. I fed him some of my hotdog, too.

2. This was, of course, before I went vegetarian. And no, I'm not a super picky eater who only eats food that tastes like cardboard. That's a vegan you're thinking of, mate.

3. Also, there is a secret portal to the Void in my closet. However, it is quite finicky, and it will often take to dumping me out in the middle of Finland.

Wonderful Questions From a Wonderful Adi

1. What is your all-time favorite book character?
ALWIN ARUNDEL LOWDHAM. An extremely obscure Tolkien character, Ari is a scholar living in the 20th century who receives visions of Atlantis and learns its extinct language. He's also the Sassmaster of the Century.

A few runners-up:
  • Cyrano de Bergerac (Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand)
  • The Grey Man (The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater)
  • Bartimaeus (The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud) 
  • Granny Weatherwax (Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett)

2. What writing style aggravates you the most?
He went there. She did this. He said that, this, and the other thing. Also, I started to do that thing.
*BANGS HEAD AGAINST WALL*

3. Favorite book cover?
I'm as indecisive as my closet portal, so have a collage.


4. Thoughts on the trend of pages being made super thin in order to make long books look smaller?
Why not? 

5. What book do you hate that you can't understand why everyone else loves?


  • highly transphobic
  • writing blander than potato soup
  • insta-love
  • super confusing portrayal of depression??? 
  • why

I nominate...

You. Go ahead. Do this tag. Live your dream.

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Let's chat! Who are your favorite book characters? Favorite book covers? What books did everyone but you enjoy? Comment below, and remember that you are all very beautiful pickles.

Namarië,
Ellie



Mini Writings #4

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(kind of somewhat written for my crush??? who knows??? not me, fam.)

Gold, darling, thick in your veins. You are cut and you bleed and red streams down your arm, but truly, that blood is gold. At least to me. Every moment, every laugh, every love. Every thought, every smile, every tear. You say you are human and your soul is crimson red, but can't you see that's only an illusion you harbor? You are gold like laughter, gold like sunshine, gold like life. Not red like human greed and corruption, but gold.


(I wrote this scene for this post last week, and it accidentally spawned an entire duology idea. Oops?)

Abraxas leaps across Zilrone’s roofs, an arrow zooming towards a target. He wishes he could allow himself to enjoy this night, these sensations: cold wind snapping his hair, adrenaline rushing beneath his skin, But these feelings merely skate on the edge of consciousness; the red tiles and thatched roofs beneath his feet zip by in a dim blur. His entire soul is bent to one thought and one only. He is focus personified; all his energy, mental and physical, is being exhausted in pursuit of his goal. He has no existence outside of it.

This is why he’s the best assassin in Zilrone.

Well, one of them.

He eases down his energy, slowing his shadow-run as he lands on the Temple roof. Clutching a feather-pendant in his palm, he prays briefly that Cebisile will forgive his trespass. Then he promptly strides forward and begins climbing over the domes of her sanctuary.

He eventually reaches the designated spot, easing into the shadow of one of the outermost domes. Beneath him, raucous laughter and yellow light from the Boar’s Head Tavern spill into the street. Beside him, another figure crouches in the dark.

“A greeting would be nice,” murmurs Abraxas.

“You being on time would be nice,” retorts Kasinda, his partner-in-crime.

Abraxas permits himself to crack a smile. “Her lover was going to come meet her tonight. That carpenter apprentice, remember? I had to take care of him. Have you seen her yet?”

“Yes,” replies Kasinda. “She comes by the window on occasion.”

Abraxas nods. Their target tonight is uniquely powerful and uniquely dangerous, though she does not know it. She is Verys Salingora, innkeeper’s little daughter - and Zilrone’s princess, hidden since birth.

Tonight, Abraxas and Kasinda have been contracted by enemies of the royal family to kill her.

And when the best assassins in Zilrone are set on a target’s tail, that target never, ever survives.



The little girl never quite understood. Never quite understood what was wrong with what she did, never quite understood why people called her a demon. Lots of other people could do the things she did. Her friend Selena, for example, coaxed flowers open with just a whisper and a breath. Light streamed from the palms of Gabriel, the boy at school with the shiny shoes.

And Elya Katyovich could summon wolves.

It was hard to do on purpose - the wolves did not like being ordered here or there like slaves. But whenever she was cold outside because her coat had holes, or lonely because people wouldn’t play with her, or breaking and bleeding because of the stones neighbors threw her way, then the wolves would come.

They weren’t real wolves, of course. Real wolves had not been mellowed by the experience of dying; they were not tame enough yet to be beckoned by magic. Elya’s wolves were the spirits of wolves, wispy and misty and cool to the touch. Yet their eyes were bright, and every little fur was outlined - they might as well have been living, except for the fact that they passed through walls. Whenever Elya needed comfort, no matter what walls she was locked behind or outside of, the wolves would come. They licked her pale wrists and buried their heads in her black skirts. Whether it was raining or foggy, dark or darker, they always found a way in.

But as much as Elya understood the wolves and the wolves understood her, she couldn’t understand what problem other people had with her gift. She tried, she did! Auntie Tatiana told her to try, and she’d tried very hard. But many others had magic gifts, and they were praised and respected as elders in their villages. Yet Auntie said Elya was acting out and misbehaving when she summoned wolves. She was to stop the devil magic immediately! Elya said she couldn’t help her magic. Auntie beat her with a stick until she was purple as a sunset.

She locked herself in her room, a closet-sized thing with a shattered mirror in one corner and a pile of blankets in the other. She remembered her old room, one with a real bed and a fireplace and her dolls. But Auntie said she could not go back there until she ceased her magic, so she was stuck in the closet with the shattered glass on the floor. Her knees were cut every time she crawled around.

She locked herself in with the glass and the forlorn pile of blankets, and sure enough, the wolves came. They licked and whimpered at her bruises, and she whispered to them, voice and soul cracking, “I’m sorry, but you mustn’t come anymore when other people are about. Just when it’s just us.”

And they answered, sadly, “We can help it no more than you.”

Months went by, and the wolves kept coming. Elya’s skin kept bruising until it seemed permanently that way; she couldn’t find a way to lay where something didn’t hurt. She thought something might be broken, too, for whenever she breathed it felt like being stabbed. But whenever she tried to go to the doctor, he screamed and threw loose herbs at her, then rocks, then old pill bottles - anything to make her go away.

So away she went, back to her closet and back, when Auntie let her, to school. She liked learning, although she wished she could do it without the other children staring and snickering. And without getting beaten so badly she couldn’t walk straight whenever the wolves materialized in class.

The seventh time that happened, Auntie beat her until she could barely keep her eyes open. Then she woke up to find herself in chains, in a dirty and padded room, with Auntie and the doctor staring at her from behind a wall of glass.

Elya tried to speak. She could not. Everything hurt, and everything screamed, and everything was on fire. She whimpered out a request for water.

“No,” said the doctor, both to her and to Auntie. “Giving no relief from the pain will be a good incentive for her to stop this behavior. You were right in taking her here, Tatiana. Here she will be taught.”

“Good,” spat out Auntie. “You,” she snarled at Elya, “have dishonored my name more times than I can count, and I haven’t been anything but good to you. I should have left you to rot in the streets. Do you know how much of my life you’ve ruined?” She twirled on her heel and stomped away. The doctor followed. Elya cried.

And the wolves were there.

The wolves were there through the electric shocks, one after another until she was screaming, and the knives cutting off her fingers so she couldn’t use them to beckon to the wolves. Nevermind that she’d never used them in the first place. The wolves were there as she lost her tongue so she could not call to them, then her eyes so she could not see them. The wolves were there until the very end, until not three days after her seventh birthday, when Elya Katyovich closed her eyelids on the world forever.


(kinda want to expand this into a short story. or maybe a novelette??)

I wait for him on the windowsill, our windowsill. The one he used to crawl in at night when dad was asleep so we could kiss under the covers and he wouldn't know. The one he threw rocks at. The one we sat on and held hands and dangled our legs over the edge. We traced cars with our feet and carefully avoided splinters. We talked about his dad and my dad and his dream of studying animation and my dream of studying analytics. We talked and we talked and, after a while, when our voices got tired and watery sunlight peeped over the horizon, we just kissed.

But now I'm going to another place, another window. This one will be ours no more. This is the last day I can sit on it and run my fingers across its wood, physically touch the memories hidden in that peeling paint. Dad is taking me to another town, another tiny Georgia town where being gay is punishable by expulsion in this life and damnation in the next. This one was barely big enough to stretch my legs; I can't imagine how I'll fit in the next one. Maybe if I curl up into a ball so small nothing of me is visible anymore and the universe forgets I exist.

Dad moves around in the living room, then slams the door behind him as he drags more suitcases out into the apartment hallway. As if on queue, Xavier's head pops up above the sill.

"Hey."

"Hey."

These may be the last words we ever say to each other, but we don't care. Our lips do the talking for now.

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Let's chat! Which writing was your favorite? What do you imagine happening in those pictures? Comment below, and remember that you are all very beautiful pickles. <3

Namarië,
Ellie
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All-Time Coolest Fantasy Book Covers

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Hey, young bloods! Today, I'm linking up with The Broke and the Bookish for Top Ten Tuesday (which I really should do more often?? wtf Ellie??). This week's prompt is anything about book covers, so today I'm sharing my favorite fantasy book covers!



8. Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater - I'm not a fan of most Stiefvater covers, but this one really speaks to me for some reason. I love how artfully obvious the brushstrokes are <3


7. Merrick by Anne Rice - This cover is so striking in its stark simplicity!


6. A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab - For some reason, I really hate the US covers of this series?? But those UK covers. Man oh man.


5. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valante - This is such an beautifully old-fashioned looking book; it looks like the kind of thing someone put serious time and love into creating.


4. Exiles by Jaye L. Knight - This isn't coming out until July (cry), but lOOK AT THE GORGEOUSNESS.


3. Windwitch by Susan Dennard - Although this book itself was pretty underwhelming, that cover nearly gave me a heart attack when it was released. lOOK AT IT.


2. Trick by Natalia Jaster - Like Merrick, the beautiful simplicity of this cover is what really strikes me. Also, how cool does that title look?!


1. The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids by Michael McClung - liTERALLY LOOK AT THIS. I'M DYING. OH MY GOD.

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Let's chat! Have you read any of these books? What are your favorite book covers? Comment below, and have an incredible day. <3

Namarië,
Ellie

Current TBR Pile #20

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My TBR is like my disgust for Donald Trump. It never stops increasing.

Age of Myth by Michael J. Sullivan


This looks amazingly well-written, and I love the concept of a civilization finding out their gods are killable.

Vittorio, the Vampire by Anne Rice


Does Vittorio ever appear in The Vampire Chronicles?

No.

Do I have any idea who he is?

No.

Or why I should care about him?

No.

But am I trash for all Anne Rice's vampire stories?

YES.

A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston


Like Renee Ahdieh's The Wrath and the Dawn, this is a retelling of Thousand and One Nights. The writing style in this one looks absolutely gorgeous, and I LOVE the storytelling choice of never revealing the main character's name. I may end up liking it more than The Wrath and the Dawn??

The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman


This short mystery/cop novel isn't something I'd usually read, but my grandma gave it to me for my birthday with fervent recommendation. I've loved the last two books she rec'd me, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan and The Martian by Andy Weir, so I'm going to give this one a try!

Mexico City Blues by Jack Kerouac


Because I am cOMPLETE AND UTTER KEROUAC TRASH. This one is actually on its way right now, and I'm super excited to FINALLY have my own copy of what I consider the greatest poetry collection of one of America's greatest poets.

Heaven Water Blood by N.L. Shompole


This is another poetry collection, this one by the author of Lace Bone Beast and Other Fairytales for Wicked Girls, one of my favorite ever poetry books. N.L. Shompole is such a fantastic writer, and I genuinely don't understand why she's not more well known.

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Let's chat! Have you read any of these books? What books are on your TBR pile? Who are your favorite authors? Comment below, and have an awesome day. <3

Namarië,
Ellie

Dear May - Sincerely, April

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Because apparently I'm doing recap posts again.


- I had quite a reading slump this month. I think I only enjoyed about three of the books I read? Plus, since one of those was over 800 pages (@ Stephen King: why), I didn't get to a lot of the good books I was hoping I would get to. But I DID read:


- Mary Poppins is a thing that happened. I loved doing crew for my school's musical - this is my fourth time participating in a school performance in some capacity - but man, MP is a long show. Four highly stressful 2.5 hour performances plus a slew of 8 hour practices takes it out of you, lemme say.

- Have a mixtape.



- I WILL FINISH KARISSA GOLDLOCK'S GUIDE TO (ALMOST) UTTERLY EVERYTHING IF IT KILLS ME. You know that MG steampunk pirate novel that was supposed to be done in December? And then in January? And then in February?
Yeah.
It's still not done.
BUT IT WILL BE. I SWEAR.

- I will also maintain straight A's if it kills me. Okay, maybe not in chemistry. Might have to settle for an A- there. I'd like to strangle whoever thought calculating equilibrium concentrations of weak acids and bases would be a fun thing to invent, please.

- SO MANY EXCITING RELEASES. On the movie front - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Guardians of the Galaxy 2. On the book front - Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh, The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich, and Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia.


What were you reading, writing, and listening to this month? What May releases are you looking forward to? Other May goals? Comment. I made a special banner inviting you to comment. Don't hurt the banner's feelings.

Namarië,
Ellie

Beautiful People #10: A Prince and His Parentals

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Hey, young bloods! Today I'm linking up with Cait and Sky to bring you Beautiful People, where you answer questions about your book characters in an effort to get to know them better. This month is a special parental addition in honor of Mother's Day, and I'll be introducing Linus, Alizabeth, and Elosius.



Alizabeth and Elosius are the Empress and Emperor of Cavanor in my high fantasy series Death of the Skies. Linus is their son, a reclusive, cynical, and bookish 16 year old.

1. Overall, how good is their relationship with her parents?
It's.....not bad? Linus is pretty independent and reclusive, but since he's an only child, his parents tend to hover around him. As a result, he drifts away even more. So he's not close to them, but he doesn't particularly dislike them.

2. Do they know both their biological parents?
Yep!

3. How did their parents meet?
Elosius was the prince at the time, and he needed to find a suitable wife. Alizabeth, a young noblewoman who'd recently moved back to the city after three years spent in the country for her father's health, caught his eye and stole his heart. They met at a banquet, courted for a few months, and were married. Their relationship is rather unique in that although their marriage was a perfect political move, they are still very fond of each other.

4. How would your character feel if they were told, "you're turning out like your parents"?
Linus would be pretty ambivalent. His parents are good political strategists, so he wouldn't mind being compared to them. However, he wouldn't be thrilled. He wants to be more than his parents - more powerful, more brilliant, more dangerous. More.

5. What were your character's parents doing when they were your character's age?
Aside from dealing with crime lords and uncovering royal plots, Elosius was doing much the same thing as Linus. The same sorts of lessons, the same sorts of training, the same sorts of responsibilities. Alizabeth would have recently left the overcrowded capital, Galhorn, for the refreshing countryside.

6. Is there something they adamantly disagree on?
Linus wants to stay in Galhorn. However, his parents want to send him away for his safety since there are rumors of a plot for his head.

7. What did your parents find hardest about raising your character?
Well, being Emperor and Empress, they didn't have time to do a lot of raising. Linus was mainly brought up by his servants and the royal librarian, Tertio. As a result, he's always been super independent from his parents and, though he doesn't disrespect them, he still sees little point in deference purely because they birthed him. Whenever they try to interact with him, his distance and lack of deference frustrate them to no end.

8. What's their most vivid memory of their parental figure(s)?
Alizabeth and Elosius may be Linus's parents, but Tertio has always been much more of a parental figure. Linus's most vivid memory with Tertio is of one day when he was eight. Tertio was sitting Linus that day, and he brought him back into the maze of library rooms only open to librarians and scholars. Linus was completely enchanted. It was the day that ignited his love for learning, researching, and always looking for new answers.

9. What was your character like as a baby/toddler?
Lots of people were involved in raising Linus, so he never developed a super strong connection to any one of them. Thus, he was reclusive even as a toddler. He often went off only with his toy soldiers to run around outside and hide in trees and under plants. He liked playing hide and seek in the huge Castle and its enormous gardens.

10. Why and how did your parents choose your character's name?
Linus Afhildor Gaelmorond Galatius Aradassian is Linus's full name. Linus is after Alizabeth's father, Gaelmorond and Galatius are traditional royalty names (like Henry or Charles in England), and Afhildor is the male version of Afhildora, the Patron Priestess of Power.


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Let's chat! Who are your favorite bookish parents? Do you know why your name was chosen? Are you participating in Beautiful People? Comment below, and remember that you are all very beautiful pickles.

Namarië,
Ellie

Sincerely, Ellie #2

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*all names changed*

Dear headphones,
9 times out of 10, I can't find you. In the remaining 1 time, you don't work. Remind me why I haven't thrown you away?

Dear Stephen Colbert,
Never stop existing.
(Save the bees.)

Dear Sarina,
I think you are most beautiful when you're talking to other people. Your gestures, the light you get in your face, in your hands, in your eyes. But then again, perhaps you are most beautiful when you are simply by yourself, contemplating things like your place in the world and what kind of noodles to have for dinner.

Dear homophobes,
Your worrying is sweet. But no, I don't need Jesus. No, I'm not interested in therapy. And yes, I am tired of your "concern". How can you tell?

Dear my English teacher, who's made 2 people cry this semester,
Why are you still a teacher?

Dear Alexei,
You think you're all that and a bag of chips, but you're really only half a bag of chips. And not the half with chips in it, either.

Dear obnoxiously trendy Apple Stores,
See above.

Dear my conscience,
Is it bad I celebrated when Emmerson got rejected by all but one of the colleges she applied to?

Dear Tumblr mobile,
Why.

Dear Archive Of Our Own mobile,
You're worse than Tumblr mobile. Worse! Than! Tumblr! Mobile! How is that possible? Are you run by sorcerers?

Dear God,
If you exist, you're doing a pretty lame job of it.

Dear people I care about,
I'm too shy to talk to you 75% of the time, but 100% of the time I'm still here.

Sincerely, 
Ellie

Lists I: Things I Hate

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Among other things, such as:


  1. You. Your brains, which I have to admit are at least nearly as good as mine. Your hair, the kind I’ve always wished I had. Your friends, the ones I want. That the teacher loves you and not me when they have always loved me most before. I have always been the best at writing; it is my passion, my lifeblood, the part of my life that keeps beating and blooming no matter how dark and shadowy the rest becomes. It is the only thing I know - I ever will know - that enables me to fly as no bird has flown before. And you took it. You took everything. You are everything, everything I am and am not and aspire to be all rolled into one. And God, I hate you.

  2. My temper. It is both the most human and inhuman part of me; it is both the most life-giving and life-taking. It gives me fuel and fire and humanity, flaws and emotions and thought. Yet it rips away the opinions of others and the love of others; it throws them in the trash and never speaks to them again. Not that they would want to engage in conversation if an attempt was made. It is my highest high and my lowest low; it is intoxicating energy followed by:

  3. The hurting. The fact that it’s bad enough to make me want to disappear forever, to puff out of existence, to be both a “not now” and a “never have been”. The fact that it makes me want to see blood and feel blood, touch pain and feel pain; the fact that it makes me want to throw away all my happiness just so it fucking stops. Yet it’s still not painful enough or bad enough for other people to care or think I should. It’s not enough to want to hurt yourself; it’s not enough to want to die. It’s only enough when you actually do.

Namarië,
Ellie
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The Ultimate Book Tag!

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- Tagged by the lovely Amy @ Little Moon Dragon

- Note: for the sake of avoiding repetition, I'll be avoiding questions I've answered in multiple past tags. -

Which Book Has Been On Your Shelf the Longest?


<3

What is Your Current Read, Your Last Read, and the Book You'll Read Next?


I just finished Albion Academy by Elijah David. I'm currently reading two books, Resistance by Jaye L. Knight and The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two by Catherynne M. Valante, and I think I'll next read Mexico City Blues by Jack Kerouac.

What Book Do You Keep Telling Yourself You'll Read But You Probably Won't?



Maybe The Mitfords? It's an 800 page book of letters written between 6 sisters across Europe during WWII. It looks so good, but sO LONG. 

What Books Are You Saving for Retirement?

None! Retirement is way too far away. I'm incapable of restraining myself from reading a book for that long.

Last Page: Read it First or Wait Until the End?

Always read it first! Well, read the last couple sentences first. Maybe not the entire last page.

Acknowledgements: Waste of Paper and Ink or Interesting?

Not a waste, but still boring. And obnoxious. 

  • I dedicate this book to my dearest sister/daughter/husband/uncle/aunt/niece/dog. That's great. But I don't know your sister/daughter/husband/uncle/aunt/niece/dog and don't care about any of them, except maybe the dog. Next. 
  • I dedicate this book to my readers. Adorable. Done pandering?
  • I dedicate this book to myself. Congratulations. Maybe you can use your next dedication to explain to me why I should give a shit.
Which Book Character Would You Switch Places With?


Bilbo is the first who comes to mind, though I wouldn't mind switching with most LOTR or Hobbit characters. I want to go on a quest! And slay a dragon! And destroy a ring! 

Is There a Book That Reminds You of Something Specific? (Person, Place, Time, etc.)


There are plenty! But The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands will always remind me of my trip to New Orleans last year because I bought it at an independent bookstore there. Likewise, The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma reminds me of visiting my family in Minnesota last fall.

Name an Interesting Book You Acquired in an Interesting Way.

I don't think I have one? The most interesting way I've acquired any of my books is from a Little Free Library.

Have You Ever Given a Book Away for a Special Reason to a Special Person?

I've given away a lot of my childhood books to my cousin who's a 3rd grade teacher to use in her classroom, but nothing other than that.

Which Book Has Been With You the Most Places?


Les Miserables is the first that comes to mind. I kept it in my backpack for a long time, and it went overseas with me the first month I had it.

Any Required High School Reading That Wasn't So Bad Years Later?

I don't think so. I either liked it at the time (ex. Cyrano de Bergerac, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) or have never liked it (ex. Brave New World, Fahrenheit 451).

Have You Ever Read a Dan Brown Book?


Yes! I read The Da Vinci Code and loved it. I need to read more of them one of these days.

Have You Ever Read a Book That Made You Hungry?


Pita, hummus, grape leaves.....this kind of food is my shit, man.

Who is the Person Whose Bookish Advice You'll Always Take?

Definitely Adaline. Besides getting me obsessed with Nora Sakavic's All for the Game trilogy, she also introduced me to Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin, and We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson, all of which I've enjoyed.

Is There a Book You Love Even Though it's Out of Your Comfort Zone?


Blank Spaces is a fluffy contemporary romance. I like neither fluff nor contemporaries, and I enjoy romance least of all. Yet somehow I loved this book?? I chalk it up to the characters. They're all such beans.

I Tag

You. Go ahead. Do this tag. Live your dream.

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Let's chat! What character would you like to switch places with? What's your current read and the last book you read? And what do you think of the last page? Comment below, and have a lovely day. <3

Namarië,
Ellie

P.S. - I know a lot of you may not enjoy tags so much, but they're quick + fun to put together, so there will be a lot coming up with finals season. Thanks :)

- Find Me: Goodreads + Pinterest + Tumblr + Bloglovin' -
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The Aussie Book Tag!

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Aussie books?

No.

Aussie stereotypes?

Yes.

Was Ellie tagged?

No.

Does she care?

Still no.

Koala: A Character You Want to Cuddle All Day Long


Noah Czerny is my child. If you fight him, you fight me.

Vegemite: A Book You Love That Everyone Else Hates


Ooh, I don't know. None really come to mind, but I do love Shakespeare (some of my favorites are above ^-^), and I know many don't enjoy reading his works.

Socceroos: Favorite Fictional Squad


What other answer is there?

Southern Cross: Most Recent 5-Star Read


Karneval, Vol. 1 by Tōya Mikanagi. Karneval is an anime + manga about an international crime-fighting organization of superpower spies who fly around in futuristic blimps and wear Victorian outfits. I LOVED the anime, but it only covered a few of the manga and so left a lot of loose ends untied. I've started reading the manga in order to find out what happens next, and it's sO FREAKING GOOD. 

Patriotism: Favorite Book By an Author From Your Country


AHHHHH I CAN'T CHOOSE. So have my top two: Bunker Hill by Nathaniel Philbrick (nonfiction) and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg (children's mystery).

Echidna: A Book You Like to Look At, But it Physically Hurts to Read



Trick wasn't horrible. It was....fine. But the cookie-cutter heroine and dull storytelling don't live up to the gorgeousness of the cover.

Ned Kelly: A Book That is Really Grim but an Iconic Must Read



This book gets quite hard to read at parts, but I think that's for the best. The harder to read, the greater the impact. And with books like this, the harder to read, the better to understand.

Great Barrier Reef: A Book That Had You Gaping in Awe


This Book Destroyed My Life Last Year. Holy Shit.

I can not praise Merrick enough. It is one of the most shocking, beautiful, and haunting books I've read in my entire life. It's both real and surreal, dangerously seductive and poignantly realistic. It's mystery and morality and blood and smoke and night and death and life and sacrifice all in one. It's incredible.

Pavlova: A Light and Fluffy Book You Can't Help But Love


I rarely enjoy fluffy romances, but this one absolutely stole my heart. Jonah and Vaughn are SUCH unique, interesting, precious characters, and the entire story was super hilarious and heartwarming. Plus!! LGBT+ rep!! I'm all here for that, fam.

Milo: A Genre/Author You Reach For to Get You Out of a Reading Slump


Anything written by this man.

I Tag

You. Go ahead. Do this tag. Live your dream.

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Let's chat! What's your most recent 5 star read? A character you MUST protect? Favorite fictional squad? Comment below, and have an amazing day <3

Namarië,
Ellie
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Current TBR Pile #21

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I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore


The concept of this book has intrigued me since I was little, and I've finally decided to "officially" add it to the TBR pile! 

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness


This isn't a super high priority read, but it does look like a contemporary I could actually enjoy. Plus, one of my best reading buddies recommended it!

Griffin and Sabine by Nick Bantock


A bit like Illuminae, this is a story told purely through nontraditional media - letters and postcards, to be exact. It starts as a really sweet correspondence between two artists, but it quickly grows darker and more twisted. By the end of the story, you're questioning the reality of the world and sanity of the characters. 

As you may be able to tell, this one will be a reread for me. I've finally tracked down the next couple books in the series, but I want to get in a reread of this initial installment first in order to remind myself of everything that happened.

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen


This book won the Pulitzer, which is pretty dang impressive. Plus, the writing style looks like something I'd enjoy. I actually own this one, so I should be getting to it soon!

Sword Art Online: Progressive, Vol. 1 by Reki Kawahara


Like The Sympathizer, I already own this one. Long story short: Sword Art Online is a famous anime, manga, and book series. The premise is that players of a D&D-style virtual reality game are trapped inside the game, and they'll die in real life if they die in the game. The only way to survive is to beat the 100-level game. The original SAO books + manga really speeded through the different levels, not even touching on most. However, the new Progressive revamp elaborates a ton on Kirito and Asuna's adventures at every level. I've already seen the non-elaborated anime, so I'm really excited to experience more of Aincrad with the Progressive revamp.

Karneval, Vols. 3 + 4 by Tōya Mikanagi


Karneval is an anime + manga about an international crime-fighting organization of superpower spies who fly around in futuristic blimps and wear Victorian outfits. I LOVED the anime, but it only covered a few of the manga and so left a lot of loose ends untied. I've started reading the manga in order to find out what happens next, and it's sO FREAKING GOOD. (In the United States, a lot of manga comes bound in 2-in-1 editions. Thus, what's two separate volumes, 3 and 4, in Japan is just one huge volume here.)

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Let's chat! Have you read any of these books? What books did you recently add to your TBR pile? Comment below, and have an incredible day. <3

Namarië,
Ellie

Main Character Spotlight #3

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Hey, young bloods! Inspired by the lovely Katie @ Bookwise, today I'm spotlighting several of my favorite main characters using a six-prompt character challenge. For four of my main characters from various works, I'll share a contradiction in their personality, their Myers-Briggs personality type, their favorite color, how they'd slay a dragon, their biggest secret, and where they see themselves in ten years. Without further ado, I hope you enjoy!

Sage Kolominov
The Information Broker from The Spies Just Shy of Legendary

Contradiction: He's very logical and has sound practical judgement, yet he enjoys brown sugar pop tarts.

Myers-Briggs: ISTJ. Sage is reserved yet sincere and very analytical and hardworking.

Favorite Color: Purple.

How He'd Slay a Dragon: Hire a guy to do it. Or sharpshoot it in an eye. He could probably hit it if he were close range.

Biggest Secret: He pretends his contract with Siobhan is all business, but in truth, he cares more deeply for her. It's not in a romantic way; she's like a best friend or a big sister. However, he's skeptical about letting her know that.

10 Years: Possibly still working with Siobhan? Probably not, though. He'll probably be freelancing a lot more. He knows he'll still be in the trade, though. Once you get into his sort of business, it's nearly impossible to get out.

Karissa Goldlock
The Fae Thief from Karissa Goldlock's Guide to (Almost) Utterly Everything

Contradiction: Karissa has little use for sentimentality in the present - seeking out friendship, sympathizing with others' feelings - but she holds very tightly to her past and memories. 

Myers-Briggs: ENTP. Karissa is very inventive and enthusiastic about new ideas and challenges.

Favorite Color: Orange.

How She'd Slay a Dragon: Karissa's been very skilled in acrobatics and gymnastics since a young age, so that would definitely play a role. She'd probably try to make a long-distance kill using a knife, bow, or other long-range weapon.

Biggest Secret: For a lot of the book, Karissa's keeping her true identity as an exiled criminal secret (and for good reason).

10 Years: Alive, hopefully. Karissa is on the run for almost the entire book, and her main focus is to survive each individual day.

Skylar Anastose
The Strategist from The Spies Just Shy of Legendary

Contradiction: Skylar is super accepting and gentle with those he likes, but towards people he doesn't like, he's really judgmental and mean.

Myers-Briggs: ESTP. Skylar is great at problem-solving and negotiating, but he's also really outgoing and spontaneous.

Favorite Color: Red.

How He'd Slay a Dragon: Yikes! He has no idea. He would probably run to the sidelines/a survival bunker as fast as possible.

Biggest Secret: While working as a secretary to the former U.N. Ambassador, he conspired with Russia to spy on the U.S.

10 Years: He has no idea! His life has changed SO MUCH in the past ten years - university, the State Department, the U.N., and now working as a strategist for a U.S. branch of the yakuza (Japanese mafia). He doesn't think he could predict what will happen in the future. 

Xavius Blackgrail
The Assassin from Death of the Skies

Contradiction: Xavius yearns to be able to perceive himself as good. He wants his morality to be level with what society perceives as moral; he wants people to admire him for his goodness. He wants to be able to admire himself for his goodness. However, he often lies and cheats in order to achieve that end.

Myers-Briggs: INTJ. Xavius is very innovative and strategic, and he doesn't like working with others to achieve his ends.

Favorite Color: Blood red, like his favorite apples. Like power. Like death.

How He'd Slay a Dragon: It would definitely be a stealth job, probably long-distance, like Karissa. He doesn't like bows and arrows, though, so he'd likely use a throwing knife. 

Biggest Secret: He's in disguise as a Watchman for most of the series, so his true identity is a huge secret.

10 Years: He wants to be living in Galhorn, for sure. Cavanor's capital, a city built in and on rocky cliffs right next to the sea, is incredibly dear to his heart. He'd also like to marry Sabina, a thief and spy he works with during the series and finds himself falling in love with.

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Let's chat! Which of these characters is your favorite? (Mine is probably Xavius, but shhhh, don't tell the others.) Who are your favorite characters in literature? In your own writing? Comment below, and remember that you are all very beautiful pickles.

Namarië,
Ellie

Ultimate Summer Read Rec List - Beach Reads for Every Type of Bookworm!

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Hey, guys! Today I'm linking up with The Broke and the Bookish for Top Ten Tuesday (which I should really do more often??). This week's topic is a summer reads freebie. Personally, the first things that comes to mind when I think "summer reads" are light + fluffy contemporaries. But I tend not to enjoy those types of books - in fact, we all have different reading tastes. So with that in mind, here are 10 different book categories and a recommended read for each genre.

If You Like....

Fluffy Romances
Try Blank Spaces by Cass Lennox



Six-Second Summary: Vaughn is an asexual emerging artist. Jonah is definitely not-ace sarcastic insurance agent. A series of art thefts at Vaughn's gallery brings them together, and as they fall for each other, they struggle to reconcile the ace/non-ace space between them. 

My Thoughts: I usually hate fluffy contemporaries?? But I absolutely LOVED this one. Jonah and Vaughn are beyond precious (in fact, all the characters are), and this book brilliantly balances being incredibly cute and bringing in several more serious topics (such as the foster care system and the divide between the rich and the poor).

Fantasy
Try The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud



Six-Second Summary: Bent on revenge against his master and the magician who publicly humiliated him, magician apprentice Nathaniel summons a 5,000 year old wisecracking djinn. Unbeknownst to both, they're about to be plunged into a web of intrigue and deceit that has its roots in London's darkest magical secrets.

My Thoughts: Bartimaeus is one of my all-time favorite fictional characters, and this book is worth a shot just for him and his snark. Plus, the intrigue and mystery keeps you guessing right up until the end.

Poetry
Try Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur



Six-Second Summary: Abuse. Suffering. Healing. Loving. It's a cycle almost all women go through, even in modern day society where we like to think sexism is completely eradicated. In Milk and Honey, debut poet Rupi Kaur explores the struggles and triumphs that come with being a woman today.

My Thoughts: THESE POEMS ARE SO GOOD. Heart-wrenching, insightful, and emotionally charged, there was rarely a second when I wasn't going "Yes!! This!! I want to tape this up everywhere". Even if you're someone who doesn't like poetry, I would recommend giving this one a shot. It's definitely not your traditional poetry book.

Retellings
Try The Wrath & the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh



Six-Second Summary: In the kingdom of Khorasan, Khalid, the boy-king, takes a wife every night only to have her killed come morning. When Shahrzad's best friend is taken and murdered, she resolves to do everything in her power to get vengeance - even going right to the heart of Khalid's dark past and bloody secrets.

My Thoughts: I usually hate retellings.

Seriously.

It takes a LOT to get me to like a retelling, but The Wrath & the Dawn had it all. I knew how the original story turned out, but this one was still highly unpredictable. The writing was lovely, and the characters were quite intriguing. If you haven't read this one yet, what are you doing?

Historical Fiction
Try The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller



Six-Second Summary: Basically The Illiad, but super gay and super sad.

My Thoughts: INCREDIBLY WELL-WRITTEN. EXCELLENT CHARACTERS. BUT BE WARNED: TSOA WILL RIP OUT YOUR HEART AND STOMP ON IT.

REPEATEDLY.

WITH NO REMORSE.

Thrillers
Try Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan



Six-Second Summary: Clay Jannon gets a job working the graveyard shift at a mysterious 24-hour bookstore where the only customers seem to borrow books, never buy them. As he starts investigating the secrets behind the bookstore, he gets drawn into a web of cultish intrigue and mystery that may hold the secret of the end of the world.

My Thoughts: Okay, FIRST OF ALL. A 24-hour bookstore?? How cool is that? The whole dusty old books, shelves so high you can't see the top kind of aesthetic really appeals to me. Secondly, Clay's voice is incredibly engaging, and the mysteries keep you guessing and unsure at every twist and turn (and there are a lot!).

Science Fiction or Survival Stories
Try The Martian by Andy Weir



Six-Second Summary: Mark Watney is one of the first people to walk on Mars. He also might be the first person to die there.

After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate without him, Mark is completely stranded on Mars's surface. The astronaut is determined to stay alive, however, using his botany expertise to grow food and even hatching a mad plan to contact Earth.

But Mars has plenty of surprises in store for him yet.

My Thoughts: I usually hate both science fiction and survival stories. Space doesn't really interest me, and survival stories make me too anxious and stressed. However, I LOVED The Martian. The brilliant writing, Mark's hilarious voice, and the multimedia layout of this book (told partially through narration and partially through log entries) combine to make it one of my favorite reads of 2017.

Middle-Grade
Try The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands



Six-Second Summary: It's 1600s England, and apothecaries are being mysteriously murdered throughout London. This does not bode well for Christopher Rowe, who is an apothecary's apprentice. When his own master is killed, he is thrown into a mystery rife with conspiracy, explosions, and magic.

My Thoughts: HAHAHA. YOU THOUGHT I COULD GO MORE THAN A WEEK WITHOUT RECOMMENDING THIS BOOK.

Seriously, though.

The Blackthorn Key is one of the best books I read last year. It's one of the best books I've ever read, hands down. It's hilarious, heartwarming, suspenseful, and magical all in one. If you like any of Jonathan Stroud's books, you'll love The Blackthorn Key.

Paranormal
Try Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman



Six-Second Summary: The Apocalypse is nigh. The Four Horsemen are gathering. God and the Devil are rolling up their sleeves....

Until the Antichrist goes missing.

And it's up to a bookish angel and fast-living demon to find him.

My Thoughts: Good Omens is humorously and brilliantly written, with fantastic characters and incredibly high stakes. Be prepared to be glued to the page.

Magical Realism
Try The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma


Six-Second Summary: On the inside, there's Amber. Surprisingly gentle despite her apparent toughness, she survives day-to-day in juvie by burying herself in books and her imagination.

On the outside, there's Violet. Ambitious and murderous, she'll do anything to keep her position as the best ballerina in town.

And spanning both worlds is Orianna. Loyal to too many faults, with vengeance in her breath, she holds the key to unlocking everyone's deepest secrets. 

My Thoughts: Magical realism definitely isn't a genre for everyone. But if you like books such as When the Moon Was Ours, Burial Rites, and The Stars at Oktober Bend, this is definitely a must for you.

Series
Try The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart



Six-Second Summary: Four kids with varying extraordinary talents take on a vast criminal empire through a series of quests for the mysterious Nicholas Benedict.

My Thoughts: Intriguing and fun, The Mysterious Benedict Society Trilogy combines humor and whimsy with the perfect amount of thrilling danger. For fans of The Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch, this is a must-read.

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Let's chat! What books are you planning to read this summer? What are your recs for any of these genres? Comment below, and remember that you are all very beautiful pickles.

Namarië,
Ellie

Mini Reviews #17: Recent YA Disappointments

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We Are Okay by Nina LaCour

You go through life thinking there’s so much you need…

Until you leave with only your phone, your wallet, and a picture of your mother.


Marin hasn’t spoken to anyone from her old life since the day she left everything behind. No one knows the truth about those final weeks. Not even her best friend, Mabel. But even thousands of miles away from the California coast, at college in New York, Marin still feels the pull of the life and tragedy she’s tried to outrun. Now, months later, alone in an emptied dorm for winter break, Marin waits. Mabel is coming to visit, and Marin will be forced to face everything that’s been left unsaid and finally confront the loneliness that has made a home in her heart.


3/5 cuddly kittens.
This is definitely an "it's me, not you" thing.

Theoretically, I should have loved We Are Okay. It's beautifully penned, and for me, the most important thing about a book is always how well it's written. This book took the time to fully explore individual sensations, seconds, and emotions. And boy, there was a ton of emotion in this book. I was moved to tears at several points, which rarely happens.


So why didn't I like this book all that much?


I chalk it up to the genre. Contemporary has never been and never will be my thing. And I just couldn't connect to Marin or Mabel - going to lots of parties? Shopping for dresses? Getting excited about cute underwear??? I go to fantasy rp get-togethers, shop for snarky t-shirts, and get excited about cute dogs. Parties?? Dresses?? Boys?? wHaT???


So if you like both beautiful prose and contemporary novels, you are one of the many out there who would enjoy We Are Okay. I, alas, happen to not be one of those people.

Hunted by Meagan Spooner

Beauty knows the Beast’s forest in her bones—and in her blood. Though she grew up with the city’s highest aristocrats, far from her father’s old lodge, she knows that the forest holds secrets and that her father is the only hunter who’s ever come close to discovering them. 

So when her father loses his fortune and moves Yeva and her sisters back to the outskirts of town, Yeva is secretly relieved. Out in the wilderness, there’s no pressure to make idle chatter with vapid baronessas…or to submit to marrying a wealthy gentleman. But Yeva’s father’s misfortune may have cost him his mind, and when he goes missing in the woods, Yeva sets her sights on one prey: the creature he’d been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance. 


Deaf to her sisters’ protests, Yeva hunts this strange Beast back into his own territory—a cursed valley, a ruined castle, and a world of creatures that Yeva’s only heard about in fairy tales. A world that can bring her ruin or salvation. Who will survive: the Beauty, or the Beast?


3/5 overdramatic elf-kings.
If nothing else, Hunted has definitely cemented one fact about me: It is very, very hard to get me to like retellings. So if you like retellings, you'll probably enjoy this a lot more than I did. That being said, my issues with this book went beyond genre. 

The few things I enjoyed: Meagan Spooner is undoubtedly a genius at vivid yet concise prose, and reading Hunted helped me pinpoint ways to improve my own writing. I also loved Asenka and Lena, and the whole Russian vibe of this story was very intriguing.


However, I had serious issues with the plot. This stems partially from the genre, but I've read other retellings that didn't have this issue at all. Nothing that happened in this book surprised me. I already know the story of Beauty and the Beast, so there were no plot twists or surprises I couldn't see coming. Plus, the middle third of this book felt ridiculously repetitive, and I couldn't connect to Yeva. I feel like I SHOULD like her because she's a heroine who's strong without being obnoxious. But nothing about her stood out as unique or memorable.


Overall, Hunted was book full of well-written words and poorly-written plot. If you like retellings, this might be worth a try; however, if you tend to shy away from them, this probably isn't the read for you.

Albion Academy by Elijah David

Is a Djinni just a trickster? Can a wizard only learn magic? Must a Valkyrie always ferry the dead? For Mortimer, Merlin, and Bryn, it seems the fates have already written the ends of their stories. When Mortimer asks unorthodox questions, the Djinni Elders exile him to a human school of magic—Albion Academy. Merlin's friendship with a mortal only increases his mother's determination for him to live up to the heritage of his ancestors. And Bryn's prophetic sisters outright declare that her fate is tethered to Mortimer, Merlin, and the mysterious door in the school's basement. As the three of them struggle against the constraints of their families' expectations, they find themselves inexorably drawn into a conflict that encompasses rogue Faeries, dangerous mortals, and sorcerers hidden in Albion Academy itself. Defying their fates might be the only way they survive their first year at Albion Academy.


3/5 Nifflers.
(get ready, this one is a bit long)

Plenty of authors, such as Natalie C. Anderson with City of Saints & Thieves, stun me with the excellence of their debuts. I am sad to say Elijah David is not one of them. However, this does mean that almost all the problems I found in this book appear to be results of writing inexperience. They can easily be fixed by the third, fourth, or even second Albion book, and I predict most of them will be. Thus, I still plan on trying the next book in the series.


All that being said, here are the reasons I had to drag myself through most of Albion Academy:


- The writing itself. It almost always tells and never shows, and there is very little imagery. Add in lots of information dumping, and you get a book that caused no strong reactions on my part. 


- Bryn, Mortimer, and Merlin. All of them, especially Mortimer, have the potential to be SUCH incredible characters. But most of their actions, thoughts, and dialogue felt very cookie-cutter and generic.


- Albion Academy as a whole didn't feel very unique. In fact, it gave me strong Harry Potter vibes. Two male and one female first-year students at a magic school discover mysterious stuff is going on in their school's basement, the girl is aloof from the guys at first but eventually becomes friends with them, one of the guys is a Chosen One chosen against his will, the headmaster is a guidance figure who knows more than he lets on.....you get the gist.


"So, Ellie," you may be thinking, "why did you enjoy this book at all?"

- There were a couple characters I liked. Harry was very heartwarming, hilarious, and unique, and I loved watching Gabriel's redemption arc.


- Some of the dialogue was pretty damn funny. Mortimer propositioning Bryn before the Door of Doom made me laugh out loud. (I want more flirtatious Mort in the next book, please!!)

- Though the plot line itself wasn't too unique, the twists and turns ALWAYS surprised me. Elijah David is the master of plot twists that are unexpected at first but make sense when you look back at the clues leading up to them.

Overall, Albion Academy was a pretty rough debut. The writing itself, plot, and main characters need a lot of work; however, I'm confident that the author is capable of improving greatly in the next book or two. Fingers crossed that Albion Apparent will be better!



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Let's chat! Have you read any of these books? What YA books have you been reading lately? What books have been recent disappointments? Comment below, and remember that you are all very beautiful pickles.

Namarië,
Ellie

Spring Reading Snapshot | Bookish Bingo

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Hey, young bloods! This winter, I discovered an awesome seasonal challenge hosted by Bekka @ Pretty Deadly Reviews. It's called Bookish Bingo, and each season, you get a bingo card with different book categories on each square. If you read a book that matches up with a square, you get to mark it off! It's a really fun way to organize my tbr and discover new books. This spring is the second season I've done it, and here are my results:



Green Cover: A Good American by Alex George (4/5)

Paranormal: Durarara!!, Vol. 4 by Ryohgo Narita (4/5)

Sisters: Caraval by Stephanie Garber (4/5)

Magic: Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling (4/5)

Spring Release: Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner (4/5)

 Non Fiction: American Spring by Walter Borneman (4/5)

Thriller: 11/22/63 by Stephen King (4/5)

Over 500 Pages: Mark of the Plague by Kevin Sands (5/5)

POC on Cover: Durarara!!, Vol. 6 by Ryohgo Narita  (3/5)

Multi POV: Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith (2/5)

LGBT+ Main Character: Trick by Natalia Jaster (3/5)

Adapted to TV/Movie: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey (4/5)

2017 Debut: Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones (3/5)

Historical: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (5/5)

Retelling: Hunted by Meagan Spooner (3/5)

Scary: Durarara!!, Vol. 5 by Ryohgo Narita (5/5)

Blue Cover: Designing Your Life by Dave Evans and Bill Burnett (4/5)

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Let's chat! Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them? Are any on your TBR pile? What books have you been reading this spring? Comment below, and have a lovely day <3

Namarië,
Ellie

Summer Break Goals

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Hey, young bloods! In order to kick off summer vacation, I have a bit of a different post for you today. I have very few concrete plans for this summer, such as work or vacations, so I'm setting a few productivity goals to keep myself occupied. 

What will I be up to this summer?

- Finishing either Four Suns Falling OR The Spies Just Shy of Ordinary. In order to keep up with my writing to-do list, I want to finish one of two projects over the summer. Four Suns Falling is the first book in my high fantasy + assassins series, and The Spies Just Shy of Ordinary is the first installment in a novella spy series I'm currently plotting. Camp NaNo will be a huge help with this.

- Making some money. I may or may not get a job, but regardless, I want to make a nice amount of cash this summer. 

- Getting at least 15 service hours. I'm trying for my school's service chord, which requires 210 service hours by May of senior year. In order to stay on track, I want to get 15 by the end of the summer.

- Completing all my summer homework. This is less of a goal and more of a must, but I do fully intend to do it (obviously). I have summer assignments for APUSH, APLAC, AP European History, AP Bio, and Academic Decathlon, and I want to get them mostly finished by the start of August to avoid scrambling last minute.

- Finishing at least three more anime. I'm headed to AnimeIowa this summer, and I'd like to finish a few more shows prior to that. I'm thinking Attack on Titan, Your Lie in April, and Anohana? We'll see.

- Watching at least three movies. Since I so rarely watch movies, I have a weird goal of seeing twelve this year. In order to keep on track, I have to watch three this summer - I'm thinking Howl's Moving Castle, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, and Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2.

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Let's chat! What are your summer (or winter, if you live down under) plans? Have you seen GuardiansPirates, or any other great films lately? Are you doing Camp NaNo? Comment below, and remember that you are all very beautiful pickles.

Namarië,
Ellie

Dear June | Sincerely, May

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- Finals killed and ate my soul. BUT I CAME OUT OF IT ALIVE, SOMEHOW. My brain hasn't seemed to process this yet, however. I still feel very tense and high-strung, no matter what I do. Hopefully, this will recede come June.

- I've been binging SciShow like crazy. Especially their biology videos. I plan to start on physics next; maybe Hank Green will finally be the person to make me like math in science.

- May was our best month EVER for page views?? Whoa, guys. I can't say thank you enough, especially to the newcomers!

- Also, our wifi crashed a few days ago. I've been kinda getting by with a hotspot from my phone, but the connection is tenuous at best. Canva, finicky even with a strong connection, is downright refusing to load or save. Thusly, I may end up having placeholder images in a few posts until we can get this fixed up. :/

Best: Barnaby Grimes: Phantom of Blood Alley by Paul Stewart. Worst: Goodnight Punpun, Vol. 3 by Inio Asano.

- In terms of reading, May was.....interesting. I read eight books, which is WAY less than usual. However, I'm still ahead in my Goodreads challenge, so I'm not too upset.

- Have a playlist.




- SAGE AND STONE IS COMING OUT. I'M CRYING. For those of you who don't know, Sage and Stone is the debut solo EP of former Pentatonix member Avi Kaplan. The singles released so far have a very chill, folky, Simon-and-Garfunkel feel, and I'm really excited to hear the rest of the songs.

- I hope to get a big start on my summer goals. Volunteering frequently, writing a lot, and binging anime - click here to view all of them.

- I've recently started biking daily, and I want to continue that. My goal is to build up my stamina, so I can bike all the way to my grandma's house by the end of the summer!


....because SO MANY other awesome bloggers put out amazing content this month.

Madeline @ A Paper Reverie talked about the problems with YA fantasy. And honestly, I'm pretty sure her article read my mind.

Anissa @ Of Wonderland wrote a master list of places to get cheap books. My wallet sends her a thousand thanks.

Julia @ Twilight to Dawn summed up my entire existence in one poem. Can someone get this girl published, please?!?

Finally, Leah @ Quite the Novel Idea posted an awesome review of Flame in the Mist by Renée Ahdieh. FitM is one of my next reads, and her review was very well-written and informative!


How was your May? What were you reading, watching, and doing? Any June plans? Comment below, and have a wonderful day <3

Namarië,
Ellie
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Current TBR Pile #22

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Half Bad by Sally Green


The lovely Adi's review piqued my interest in this book, though probably not for the reasons she intended. The writing style employed in this book looks like something right up my alley; I always love when authors break boundaries and convention. 

Note to Self by Connor Franta


I mentioned a long time ago that although I can't stand Tyler Oakley's videos, I love his writing. I think the opposite is true with Connor Franta - I love his videos, but I nearly fell asleep while reading his memoir A Work in Progress. However, I'm willing to give his writing a second shot. Note to Self, a poetry and personal essay collection, looks like the type of book I more often tend to enjoy. 

Though tbh, I'm somewhat convinced it'll just be pretentious hipster white boy trash. Something like this:


Till We Meet Again by Judith Krantz


This historical fiction about two generations of badass women is not the kind of thing I'd usually read. Badass women are awesome without a doubt, but historical fiction? Not so much, in my opinion. However, I found this gem of a book at my little free library. It looks very well-written, so I'm excited to try it out!

Daja's Book by Tamora Pierce


This is a series I started when I was a youngin, but I never finished it. Now, years later, I'm reading all the volumes I didn't get to in elementary school. Daja's Book is the third in the Circle of Magic series, and I'm excited to return to the world I left as a ten year old!

Durarara!!, Vol. 7 by Ryohgo Narita


MY BABIES. *INCOHERENT SCREAMING*

The Poetic Underground: Reverie by Erin Hanson


I've talked about Erin Hanson's awesomeness before, and I 100% guarantee my love for her has not faded. I really want my own copies of her poetry books, so I can mark up and sticky note them to my heart's content. This is her first volume of poetry.

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Let's chat! Have you read any of these books? What books did you recently add to your TBR pile?Comment below, and have an incredible day. <3

Namarië,
Ellie

P.S. - I recently teamed up with the awesome staff at RogueCart to write a list of five YA books that are unafraid to tackle important issues. Click here to check it out!

P.P.S. - Happy pride month to my fellow LGBT+ bloggers and readers! Here's to being queer *clinks glass* *confetti*

Beautiful People #11: The Transgender Gang Leader

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Hey, young bloods! Today I'm teaming up with Cait @ Paper Fury and Sky @ Further Up and Further In to bring you Beautiful People, a link up where you answer questions about your book characters. This month, I'll be introducing Eloise St. Amadine, the transgender gang leader from my novella series The Spies Just Shy of Legendary.


Eloise is a half-Angolan, half-Guatemalan trans woman who helps head the spy gang my story is about. She's generally known as "the Muscle" of the gang, as she's a very talented fighter and sharpshooter who relishes getting down and dirty. Despite her toughness, she's the mother figure of the gang and the glue who keeps everyone together. If you're going through hard times, she'll be right there to help.

1. What's their favorite place they've ever visited?
This sounds cliche, but her grandmother's house. Eloise had a pretty rough childhood and adolescence, but her grandmother was a constant source of stability. She has so many fond memories of that rickety little house, from playing with puzzles as a kid to helping cook waffles and grits as she got older.

2. What's one mistake they've made that they learned from?
Eloise's parents refused to foot the bill for most of her high school education, so she turned to drug dealing to pay her way. She eventually gained a cocaine and cigarette addiction from that, and now she's trying to quit. She's been mostly successful with cigs and partially with coke, but it's definitely a two-steps-forward one-step-back process.

3. What was their favorite subject in school? Or favorite thing to learn about?
Eloise loves chemistry and physics. She finds it so fascinating to learn about the math and science behind why the universe works and exists in its current form.


4. What's their favorite flower/growing thing?
She loves bougainvillea.

5. Have they ever made someone cry? What happened?
OH. BOY. Eloise makes people cry all the time, and often, she doesn't really care. Just in the first chapter of the first book, she makes two main characters bawl. Usually it's because she's beating them up for some disobedience or cheek on their part. She's not too fond of verbal abuse - that's Nagisa, her co-leader's, forte.

6. Would you consider them a reliable or unreliable narrator?
Definitely reliable. Eloise is very pragmatic.

7. What do they dream about at night?
Usually about Nagisa and their vision for the gang. Often about the drugs she's trying to quit. Sometimes about her grandmother. Sometimes about the current heist.

8. They've gone out for a "special meal". What do they eat?
Fried chicken, cheesy grits, and chocolate cake. (Can you tell she was raised in the south?)

9. What's at least one thing they want to do before they die?
Visit Amsterdam. Become drug-free. Grow her dream garden. Be to someone what her grandmother was to her.

10. Do they have any distinguishing or unique talents?
The ability to beat people to a pulp without trying too hard comes to mind. And though she doesn't seem like it, she's a real people-person great at forging and maintaining relationships.

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Let's chat! Who are your current favorite book characters? What's your favorite place you've ever visited? Comment below, and link me your BP posts!

Namarië,
Ellie

My Maybe TBR Pile #5

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Hey, young bloods! If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you'll know that I frequently share the books on my (ridiculously ginormous) TBR pile. However, what you don't see is my "maybe" TBR - a list of the books I think I may want to read but am totally not sure about - even though it's almost as long as my actual TBR. So here is a small snapshot of my "maybe" pile and why I'm not sure I want to read them.

Plot


Aspects of these books - such as worldbuilding, characters, or writing style - look interesting, but the plots strike me as being too predictable (Stargazing for Beginners, Once and For All), trope-filled (Winterspell, Song of the Current), or just unbelievable (The Young Elites, Here We Are Now).


Writing


I love the concepts of these books, but (either because I've not been able to get my hands on a suitably-sized sample or because I have and haven't been impressed) I'm afraid the writing will be bland, boring, or lacking in beauty.

Other


Rosewater - My reason for being hesitant about this book is a pretty stupid one, especially because I'm a firm advocate for reading books that make you uncomfortable. But this story, about a British journalist who's captured and tortured in Iran, feels like it might be a little tooooo intense for me? I FEEL SO BAD ABOUT SAYING IT, BUT THERE IT IS. I really want to read this story, I'm just not sure my stomach can handle the details.

The Pirates! in an Adventure with Scientists - This looks like EXACTLY the kind of book I would have loved when I was little. But that's the key phrase - when I was little. Everything, from the writing to the plot to the characters, looks like something I would have enjoyed once upon a time but is too young for me now. However, middle-grade is one of my favorite book age ranges. So would I find it too young or enchanting?? Who knows. It's the same reason I'm unsure about Percy Jackson.

The Ship Beyond Time - I can't quite pinpoint my reason for being hesitant about this one. I really liked The Girl From Everywhere, but I just don't feel any particular urgency about reading the sequel. Why??? I don't know.


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Let's chat! Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them? What books are you hesitant about reading? Comment below, and have a lovely day. <3

Namarië,
Ellie
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