The Olympic Book Tag: Take 2

I love the Olympics and I love Olympic Book Tags! Yes, I have already done one, but there are 2 Olympic Book Tags floating around the blogosphere and Deanna from A Novel Glimpse, tagged me for this one.

The Opening Ceremony — What book did you think had an incredible opening?

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum. I was hooked on this book from the start

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The Games — What is your favorite fictional competition?

The Hunger Games is literally the only book I can think of with a competition. I feel kind of bad for saying it’s my favorite competition, though, haha.

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The Original — The modern games are based on the original Greek competition – what is your favorite book based on a classic?

Definitely, Maybe in Love by Ophelia London. A cute re-telling of Pride and Prejudice

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The Eternal Flame  — What is one ship that you won’t let die, even after the books made it clear it was never going to happen?

I usually end up shipping the ship we’re supposed to ship, so the only one I can really think of is *Ruin and Rising Spoilers* Nikolai and Alina. While I was ok with her ending up with Mal, Nikolai was always my favorite.

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Gymnastics — What’s a book that had so many twists and turns it left your head spinning? (in a good way)

Golden Son. I was trying really hard not to repeat books, but what is a tag without a Red Rising mention?!

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The Controversial Judge  — What’s a book that you have a totally different opinion about than most other people?

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. I just don’t get it. I really did not like this book at all, but the blogosphere loves it.

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Beach Volleyball  — What is your favorite fictional duo?

I’m going to go with Shazi and Khalid from The Wrath and the Dawn series. I thought they were a great example of a romantic pairing also working together for the greater good.

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Weightlifting — What is the most massive book on your shelf?

A collection of Jane Austen’s novels. I love it.

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Track & Field — What is a book that you just tore through with world record speed?

I read P.S. I Like You by Kasie West in a day.

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Synchronized Swimming — What is a book series that you kept reading, even though you didn’t have any idea why?

Pretty Little Liars. I made it to book 10 before I couldn’t take anymore.

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The Tortured Fan — What fictional family, group, nation, or organization do you irrationally root for no matter how many times they break your heart?

Joe from the You series. He is a sociopath, but I always root for him.

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Closing Ceremony — What book had an ending that just blew your mind?

Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas

The 1989 Book Tag

I’ve seen this on a few blogs, including Brandie is a Book Junkie, and since I am all about the tags lately, I decided to join the fun.

Welcome to New York
You can want who you want, boys and boys and girls and girls.

1. A book with LGBT themes.

It’s not one of those specialized “diverse” books, but The Lynburn Legacy series has a romance side plot involving gay and bisexual characters.

 

Blank Space
You can tell me when it’s over, if the high was worth the pain.

2. A book that hit you right in the feels, but was totally worth it.

First off, I totally thought the line was “…if I was worth the pain.” I’m going to go with Mockingjay because I refer to it as the book to read “if you never want to be happy again”, but I still love the series so, so much!

I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream.

3. A book that you hated but you loved the cover.

I loooove the cover for Red Queen, but the story that goes with it was pretty Blah.

 

I’ve got a blank space baby and I’ll write your name.

4. Your latest book boyfriend/girlfriend.

Haydn from The Fill-In Boyfriend

 

Style
We never go out of style.

5. A timeless classic you love.

Pride & Prejudice – obviously.

 

Out of the Woods
The rest of the world is black and white, but we were screaming color.

6. A book that had vivid world building.

A Darker Shade of Magic

 

The monsters turned out to be just trees.

7. A book where things weren’t exactly how they seemed.

Unbecoming. This was one of my early favorites of the year. I think I need a re-read.

 

All You Had To Do Was Stay
You were all I wanted… but not like this.

8. A book you were eagerly anticipating, but ended up being disappointed by.

 

The Wrong Side of Right. I was so looking forward to this and really, really wanted to like it. It was just ok.

Shake It Off
The haters gonna hate…

9. A book/series that everyone seems to love but you can’t help but hate.

Throne of Glass. I Just. Don’t. Get. It.

 

10. A book/series you love but everyone else seems to hate.

I honestly can’t think of one. I tend to be the one to hate series that other people love (see above), but I don’t think there’s a lot of hate out there for any series that I really enjoy. I guess I just have wonderful taste 😛

 

I Wish You Would
I wish you knew I’ll never forget you as long as I live.

11. A book/series you know you will always love.

 

The Raven Cycle. I love these characters more than I like most people I know in real life.

 

I wish you were right here, right now.

12. An upcoming release you wish you could have right now!

Winter – the Lunar Chronicles finale!

 

Bad Blood
Now we’ve got bad blood, you know it used to be mad love.

13. A character you once loved but grew to hate.

Adam Kent from the Shatter Me series. I adored him in the first book and slowly grew to really despise him through the rest of the series.

 

14. An author you haven’t forgiven for the things they did to your favorite characters/books.

I think we all know who the answer to this is for me by now – Veronica Roth for Allegiant – the whole book, not just what she did to one of the main characters

Wildest Dreams
I can see the end as it begins.

15. A book that was far too predictable.

The Magician’s Lie.

 

Nothing lasts forever but this is getting good now.

16. A book/series that you wish could have gone on forever.

I don’t know about forever, but the ending to the Elemental series was not good enough for me and I need more!

 

How You Get The Girl
That’s how it works, that’s how you get the girl.

17. One of your favorite books where they ‘got the girl’.

Someday Maybe

 

This Love
In darkest screams, in wildest dreams, I never dreamed on this.

18. A book that completely shocked you.

Dangerous Girls

 

I Know Places
Loves a fragile little flame it could burn out.

19. A book you thought you loved but quickly came to hate.

I can’t think of anything for this one either. I usually hate books pretty early into them if I’m going to hate them. I guess I could say Allegiant again since I had decided to love it before I even started it, but then, it turned out to be garbage.

 

Something happens when everybody finds out. See the vultures circling dark clouds.

20. A book you didn’t want to be seen reading.

The Pretty Little Liars series was a guilty pleasure (as is the tv show) – though I stopped reading them somewhere in the middle of the series.

 

Clean
The drought was the very worst, when the flowers that we’d grown together died off first.

21. Does the wait between books made you forget everything that happened?

Often times, yes. Unless it was a book I completely LOVED, but even then I might need a bit of a refresher.

 

By morning, gone was any trace of you, I think I am finally clean.

22. A book/series you wiped from your memory.

Not to beat a dead horse or anything, but I like to pretend that Allegiant doesn’t exist.

FEEL FREE TO TAG YOURSELF IF YOU’D LIKE TO PARTICIPATE. LEAVE A LINK IN THE COMMENTS SO I CAN SEE YOUR ANSWERS!

Unpopular Opinions Tags

I saw this over on Howdy Yal and thought it looked fun as I often disagree with the masses on beloved book series.

A book or series that everyone seemed to hate but you loved:

I don’t think “everyone” hates it, but I have seen a fair amount of Sherlock and Dr Who fans hating on Jackaby, just because the synopsis compares itself to those shows. As I’m not a die hard Dr Who or Sherlock fan it didn’t bother me – and Jackaby did remind me of a Sherlock Holmes character with a little Dr Who. I liked it quite a bit, actually.

A love triangle that didn’t end the way you wanted it to. – *SPOILER ALERT FOR THE COVENANT SERIES*

Alex-Aiden-Seth from The Covenant series. I was always, always Team Seth! Aiden was just ok for me. I never really got into him. But, thankfully Seth got his own spin-off..

A book genre you hardly ever reach for.

New Adult. While there are a few that I’ve enjoyed and there are still a few that will peak my interest, for the most part it’s just Young Adult Erotica and I can’t get behind it.

A popular or beloved character you did not like.

Somewhere in book 2 of the series, Tris really got on my nerves. And in Allegiant. Forget about it.

A popular author you just can’t enjoy.

Cora Carmack. I’ve heard lots of great things about her books, tried one and couldn’t get through it. Then again, this is a New Adult author which I’ve already said I don’t really like.

A popular trope you’re tired of:

Memory Loss. I’m actually reading a book that features this right now, but it seemed to kind of blow up recently and they all seem pretty similar.

A popular series you have no interest in reading.

I’m changing this to no interest in CONTINUING reading. Throne of Glass series. I read the first book and really have no idea what all the fuss is about. I just did not care for it at all.

A TV show/movie that was better than the book.

Pretty Little Liars is a guilty pleasure show for me. While I haven’t really liked the past couple of seasons as much, I did like the first couple. I’ve read most of the series and I have to say I like the show much better.

Disney Song Tag

I saw this over on Books Over People and thought it looked like fun. I’m also stealing all the gifs she used! Feel free to tag yourself if you want to do it!

 

1. A Whole New World- What is your favorite newest fantasy series?

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

 2. Part of You World- What book world would you like to live in? 

The Night Circus

3. Let it Go- What book/series do you wish everyone would stop talking about?

the Throne of Glass series. I tried the first book and did not enjoy it. I just don’t get it, but everyone loves it!

4. When You Wish Upon a Star- What book or series do you wish you could have more of?

The Raven Cycle! I want to read about the Raven boys and Blue Forever and ever and ever!

5. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious- What is the longest book you have read?

According to Good Reads it’s Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

6. Hakuna Matata- What book could you read over and over without a care in the world?

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

7. A Spoonful of Sugar- What couple has the sweetest relationship?

Sydrian! = Sydney & Adrian from the Bloodlines series

8. You Got a Friend in Me- Who are the best “best friends?”

The Raven Boys & Blue

9. Zero to Hero- What character wasn’t expected to be a hero?

Hunter from the Elemental series

10. You’ll Be in My Heart- What Character death made you cry the most?

***Beware of The Passing Bells spoiler*** Ivy Thaxton

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Disappointing Reads of 2014

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by the Broke and the Bookish, is a Freebie! I’ve decided to go with my Top Ten Most Disappointing Reads of 2014. Click on the links for my review (if applicable) or the Good Reads page.

1. Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas. It seems like everyone in the blogosphere is obsessed with this series. I just don’t get it. I gave this book 1 star.

2. Four: A Divergent Story Collection by Veronica Roth. I was hoping that this book would in some small way make up for Allegiant. Or make me fall for Four again. It did not.

3. Just One Day by Gayle Foreman. Yet another book the blogosphere loves that I did not. I just don’t get it, guys.

4. The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen. I really enjoy Klassen’s novels, but this one was pretty bad. Especially the parts where she actually plagiarizes herself from another book!

5. All’s Fair in Love and Cupcakes by Betsy St. Amant. This book had so much potential, but just didn’t live up to it. I really wish it would’ve focused more on the reality show plotline.

6. Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge. While it started out interesting enough, it had super unlikable characters and became very confusing.

7. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. I think this book suffered from too much hype. It had a good twist, but it did not make up for the rest of the book.

8. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins. Don’t get me wrong, this book was cute! But it was definitely my least favorite book of the series.

9. The Fine Art of Pretending by Rachel Harris. I love the fake relationship trope and had been looking forward to this book for a long time and it just didn’t live up to my expectations.

10. The Archived by Victoria Schwab. Yet another beloved book in the blogosphere that just didn’t do it for me. I found it way too slow and pretty boring until the end.

What Top Ten Tuesday topic did you choose? What are some of your most disappointing reads of 2014?

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I almost put down, but didn’t.

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by Broke and the Bookish, is: Books I almost put down, but didn’t.  I usually CAN NOT put down books (or series) once I start them, but I’ve been working on it. My list are books I didn’t put down, but wish I did. So, it’s the TOP TEN WORST BOOKS I ALMOST PUT DOWN AND DIDN’T.

1. Friday Night Alibi by Cassie Mae. Silly premise. Silly characters. Waste of time.

  

2. & 3. Passion and Rapture by Lauren Kate. The first 2 books were readable. These last two were AWFUL.

4. Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas. Everyone seems to love this book, but I thought it was horrible.

5. Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. I like Sophie Kinsella, but after the first couple of Shopaholic books, I just could barely stand them anymore.

6. What I Thought was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick. I kept reading because I thought it would get better. It didn’t.

7. Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge. Another book I kept reading because I thought it would get better.

8. The Innocents by Francesca Segal. I wanted to like this book. I did for awhile. I wish I would’ve stopped reading before it completely let me down.

9. The Dress Maker by Kate Alcott. I thought this was supposed to be this popular, wonderful book. I’m not sure how popular it became, but it was not wonderful at all.

10. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. There was so much hype about this book, so I made myself finish it. It was ridiculous.

Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Meet Celaena Sardothien.
Beautiful. Deadly. Destined for greatness.

In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake: she got caught.

Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament—fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted?

I’ve read nothing but great things about this series, so I was excited to finally read it. Unfortunately, it did not at all live up to my expectations.

Celaena is supposed to be the greatest assassin ever, but she was betrayed and ended up in a prison camp. I would have liked this to have been explored further. We don’t really get any information about her assassin glory days. We get hardly any details about her former trainer, her fellow assassins, or her past other than in vague terms. In addition to the poor background, I felt that the rest of the world building was pretty shoddy. There’s talk of old magic and different gods, but they were never really explored either. Though, the magic was explained a little towards the end of the book, though I still didn’t totally understand it.

While Celaena was a mostly likable character, I didn’t find her the great, strong female character everybody praises her for. She was often shallow and petty. Other than one time where she talked about how music makes her feel, there wasn’t really much depth to her. I also would’ve liked to have seen the other characters more developed.

Then there was the love triangle. While I almost always hate love triangles, this one was particularly poor. Neither Dorian nor Chaol were developed enough for me to care that much about them. Celaena was also incredibly fickle about who she liked more at any given moment.

Overall, I just didn’t care for Throne of Glass. The pacing was slow, the characters were not very well developed, and the plot just didn’t really interest me. While I almost always have to finish any series I start, I don’t think I’ll be continuing this one.

Rating (out of 5):
Plot: 2
Characters: 2
Readability: 2
Enjoyability: 1.5
Overall Average: 1.875 stars