The Shadowhunter Academy Novellas by Cassandra Clare

The Shadowhunter Academy novellas follow Simon Lewis as he tries to regain his memories after the events of City of Heavenly Fire and attends Shadowhunter Academy in Idris to eventually Ascend as a Shadowhunter. While many of the novellas focus on Simon's trials at the academy, his newfound friendship with George Lovelace, and his struggles with Shadowhunter law a good few of them also focus on some other characters that have popped up throughout the Infernal Devices and the Mortal Instruments or will be in the upcoming Dark Artifices and Last Hours series.

Reading these have really made anxious for the Dark Artifices and have made me feel guilty for still not having read The Infernal Devices or The Bane Chronicles yet... /shame/

It wouldn't be a Cassandra Clare work if it wasn't an emotional roller coaster ride of feels induced hysteria. Here are some one sentence summaries that should help you get a small gist of what I was feeling after each book. No spoilers are intended.

Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy
One sentence summary: Reading this was like coming home after being gone for several months.

The Lost Herondale
One sentence summary: I am curious as to how the plot of this short may come into play in future Shadowhunter novels.

The Whitechapel Fiend
One sentence summary: Love hearing more of Tessa Gray's story!

Nothing But Shadows
One sentence summary: James Herondale and Matthew Fairchild, some interesting back story in this installment.

The Evil We Love
One sentence summary: The beginning of The Circle as told by Robert Lightwood.

Pale Kings and Princes
One sentence summary: Helen and Mark Blackthorn get some air time in Simon's studies.

Bitter of Tongue
One sentence summary: Simon had to get kidnapped at some point. 

The Fiery Trial
One sentence summary: Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn get a cameo and Simon trips on Lake Lyn water.

Born to Endless Night
One sentence summary: Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood have a fantastic character dynamic and I am so excited for their little plot twist!

Angels Twice Descending 
One sentence summary: I was so smiley and happy and then I was emotionally destroyed.

Graphic Novel Wrap Up | #2

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

 This was a really interesting story about Jin, Danny, and a monkey king. Jin is a young Chinese-American boy who has just moved to a new school and just wants to fit in with everyone else. Danny is an All-American boy who is embarrassed annually when his cousin Chin-kee comes to visit. The monkey king struggles with wanting to be the master of everything and not wanting to be a monkey. Each story adds a new facet to a great story of self-discovery, understanding your worth, and being comfortable with who you are. Each character damages their lives with choices they have made and now they need to right the wrongs. This is a great story for anyone to read because it makes you think about choices you have made. Plus it is just a fantastic graphic novel with beautiful art and story telling. ★★★★

Seconds by Bryan Lee O'Malley

This was such a fun read! If you have ever thought back on an event in your life and wanted to change it thinking that it would only get better this book illustrates just how wrong you might be. Katie has it pretty good, she helped start an amazing restaurant and is now moving on to owning a new restaurant but things are not happening the way she wants them and when given the chance she is able to write her mistakes away. I love Katie and Lis and would love to read more of this story and the magic involved. The art in this book is gorgeous and the story was so intriguing and quick to read. ★★★★

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll

Through the Woods is a collection of "spooky" stories based around the woods. Knowing that this is a Middle Grade/YA book I new that it would not be super scary but it was spooky enough to be perfect for the month of October when I read it. I really enjoyed the second story of the book. It had a good rhythm and flow to it. The rest of the stories were just okay. None of the stories in this book blew me away but I definitely appreciate what Carroll was trying to do. I kind of wish the stories fit together better and that the conclusion would have tied all of the stories together. The art is lovely and the stories are unique and interesting. ★★★

Here by Richard McGuire

Here is a graphic novel that focuses on the corner of a living room and how that one corner evolves over billions of years. The most interesting thing about this book for me was that it was not a linear progression of time and that multiple years of time were depicted in one image. It was so interesting to see how time and history can be shown through a fixed point. This is such a surreal and thought provoking novel that makes me think of how the would may have changed over the course of time in my own fixed point, my own corner of the world. What was here 50, 500, 5 million years ago? What will be here in my place in another 500 years? I definitely recommend you leaf through this a few times to get the full impact. I have noticed something new each time. ★★★★

Saga Vol. 5 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples

Saga is a FANTASTIC sci-fi graphic novel!

"When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall in love, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old universe."

Saga is all about this family and their fight to stay together despite all of the attacks coming at them for being from two different races and having a child together while their planet and moon are fighting a civil war. This story is crazy, awesome, action-packed, and graphic. It is definitely for mature audiences. I have enjoyed every single volume of this story, so much that I had to start buying the individual issues to sate my obsession. The art style and the amazing cast of characters are just two more reasons you should dive into this story sooner rather than later! ★★★★★

Bookish Subscription Boxes

Subscription boxes are becoming very popular in the lives of many pop culture geeks and nerds of the world as well as foodies, readers, and homemakers. If you are into geeky gamer gear you may have your eye on Lootcrate, Nerdblock, or 1up Box. If you are a foodie you may get a Graze Box or Nature Box. If you enjoy getting things for your dog friends there is always the Bark Box. If you are a fan of jewelry you may have seen the Flitwicks Box and the Fandom of the Month Club. The list goes on and on!

For readers like me, and probably you too since you are on my blog, there are several book related boxes that have become all the rage recently especially in the realm of YA literature. Here are just a few of the boxes that I know of that contain books and book related goodies and a few quick notes about them:

• Owlcrate - YA book box based in Canada - each monthly box has a theme
• Uppercase Box - YA book box based in the US - 3 price level options
• The Book Drop - book box based in US - run by an independent bookstore
• The YA Chronicles - YA book box based in Australia - boxes center around a theme
• Illumicrate - YA book box based in UK - boxes are delivered quarterly
• The Bookworm Box -  book box based in the US - all profits are donated to charity
• The Bookish Box - book related home, beauty, and apparel products - based in the US

There are so many great options and surprises wrapped up in these boxes of goodies. I have seen the products that all of these boxes have put out (not all in person unfortunately) and I am really impressed with the quality that each box puts forth. Out of the ones above I have personally purchased the Owlcrate, Uppercase, and The Book Drop boxes and I will go a little more in-depth on what each of these boxes are and my opinions on the boxes. If you are interested in other boxes mentioned above please click on the links and visit their websites where you will be able to find out more information about the different services they provide. Now, on to the reviews!

Owlcrate - "Magical Monthly Reads"

What comes in the box?

The Owlcrate box always comes with a new release YA book (sometimes an adult book) and the book is usually a new release from the month that the box ships out (example: the November box has a November new release book in it). Along with the book there are usually 3-5 other bookish goodies and some kind of exclusive from the author or publisher. Each month is curated around a specific theme and items are usually from other small businesses such as Etsy shops. 

How long have I been subscribed?

I have been subscribed to this box since March 2015  which was the first ever box they released.

What purchase options are there?

There is currently only one type of box being offered but you can subscribe for 1, 3, or 6 months at a time.

What is something special about this box?

I love the themed aspect of this box. Each month has a theme and that is all we know about the box until it is dropped off by the owls. I always try to venture a guess at the book and sometimes I am wrong and sometimes I am right! The theme also gives me a hint as to what books to stay away from when book shopping.

What is my overall impression of the box?

I love this box! Each one gets better and better and I am always surprised as to what will be in the box. The attention to detail and the wonderful owners behind the box make this a subscription that you shouldn't miss out on! I even got a book that was slightly damaged and they were quick to respond and get a replacement sent to me right away.

Uppercase Box - "YA Books Delivered to You"

What comes in the box?

The Uppercase box delivers a new release YA book and 1-2 exclusive book related items. You also get an online interactive "Uppercase Reading Experience" via codes placed throughout the book that you enter on the Uppercase website to get exclusive content or be a part of the discussion on the book with other Uppercase subscribers.

How long have I been subscribed?

I have been subscribed to this box since October 2015 (and a one box trial back in March 2015).

What purchase options are there?

There are currently 3 plans available for you to choose from:

• The lowest price option is the Book Exclusive plan and costs $17 a month before shipping. This plan only includes the book (which is the same as the Expert plan book) and the Uppercase Reading Experience. 
• The second option is the Expert plan which includes the book, 1-2 bookish goodies, and the Uppercase Reading Experience. The cost for the Expert box is $23 per month before shipping. 
• The third plan is the Personalized Plan which is tailored to you and is not a "cookie cutter" box that everyone receives. This plan is $29 per month and includes a new released book and 1-2 bookish items. The personalized plan does not have an online, interactive component nor are the books guaranteed to be signed/include a bookplate.

The Expert and Book Exclusive plans also guarantee that the book will be signed or come with a signed book plate and usually come with a promotional item.

What is something special about this box?

One of the perks of the Uppercase box is the fact that you get a signed book or a bookplate to put in your book each month. I love having that little piece of a connection with an author especially since signings just don't happen that often in my area. I also think the fact that this box only has 1 or 2 items will appeal to those who don't want a bunch of extra trinkets. 

What is my overall impression of the box?

This is a fantastic box! It is well worth the price and the items are high quality and usually exclusive to the Uppercase Box. The packaging is different because the "box" is actually a bag and it is delivered inside a padded envelope. 

The Book Drop - "Run by an independent bookstore at the beach"

What comes in the box?

The Book Drop box comes with one paperback book and usually some kind of extra bookish item. Most of the time the book comes signed or with a bookplate or signed swag. On rare occasions the lovely people at Bethany Beach Books includes a bonus book or item! I receive the YA box called A Little Bit of Everything.

How long have I been subscribed?

I have been subscribed to this box since August 2015!

What purchase options are there?

This box has the most options that I have seen in a subscription box yet! There are adult boxes - the Jane and the Ernest, 3 genre based YA (14+) choices, and 3 genre based children's (8-12 yo) boxes. The Jane box includes a book that is either contemporary, historical fiction, or literary fiction. The Ernest box includes a book that is either thriller, action, or non-fiction. The YA box choices are Romance/Love, Action/Adventure, or A Little bit of Everything. The Children's box choices are Pleasant Reads, Action/Adventure, or A Little bit of Everything.

What is something special about this box?

I love that this box is so diverse an that there is literally something that could please everyone! I also really love that this is a box that is run by an independent bookstore from my state and that this is a great way for me to support them even when I can't make a trip there as often as I do the more local indies near me. These boxes have a very personal feel to them and are always packaged with great care.

What is my overall impression of the box?

This box has its own little niche to serve of people who prefer paperbacks or don't want the newest most hyped books out there. I am so impressed that I have gotten books that I haven't really heard of before (aside from A Thousand Pieces of You) and that they have been some fantastic reads.

In Conclusion

I seriously love each of these boxes and it has been so much fun getting a surprise each month. It is like Christmas or your birthday each month when a box pops into your mailbox. Anyways, I hope that my reviews of these boxes help you gain a better understanding of what these products are and why they are such a hit with loads of people. I wish I could review all of the bookish boxes out there for you but I have to draw the line somewhere. :)

If you receive any of the boxes featured in this post or know of any other boxes that should be on my list please leave a comment below sharing your experiences and varied knowledge! 

Survive the Night by Danielle Vega

Genre: YA Horror/Thriller

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: July 7th, 2015

My Edition: eARC Pages: 272

Purchase: Book Depository
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 stars)

Trigger warnings: drug use/addiction

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

SUMMARY

Just back from rehab, Casey regrets letting her friends Shana, Julie, and Aya talk her into coming to Survive the Night, an all-night, underground rave in a New York City subway tunnel. Surrounded by frightening drugs and menacing strangers, Casey doesn’t think Survive the Night could get any worse... 

WHAT I THOUGHT

This book was insane! Fantastic dialogue, characters, and a mind blowing plot; Vega sure knows how to craft an epic YA horror novel! This book was seriously trippy and had shivers running down my spine on more than one occasion. Don't be surprised if you fly through this book in one sitting because it is totally worthy of a one sitting read. After Vega sets up the cast of characters and the plot the book starts to fly by and the last 100 pages are a complete blur, but an insanely wonderful blur! I absolutely loved this book!

I am at a loss for words that would adequately describe this book without giving away the finer points of the plot, seriously I didn't even post the full summary from Goodreads because I feel that it is a spoiler. I highly suggest you go into this book without knowing anything more than the above information and know that this book will take you on an insane journey!

'89 Walls by Katie Pierson

Genre: YA Romance/Historical Fiction

Publisher: Wise Ink

Publication Date: June 5th, 2015

Edition: ARC Pages: 264

Purchase: Book Depository
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3 stars)

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Trigger warnings: abortion, (assisted) suicide

SUMMARY
College is not in the cards for Seth. He spends his minimum wage on groceries and fakes happiness to distract his mom from the MS they both know will kill her. It’s agony to carry around a frayed love note for a girl who’s both out of his league and beneath his dignity. 

Quinn’s finishing high school on top. But that cynical, liberal guy in her social studies class makes her doubt her old assumptions. Challenging the rules now, though, would a) squander her last summer at home, b) antagonize her conservative dad, and c) make her a hypocrite. 

Seth and Quinn’s passionate new romance takes them both by surprise. They keep it a secret: it’s too early to make plans and too late not to care. But it’s 1989. As politics suddenly get personal, they find themselves fighting bare-fisted for their beliefs—and each other—in the clear light of day. (Goodreads)


WHAT I THOUGHT
This was an interesting story overall. I haven't read much on the political fiction side of historical fiction but I found this very easy to follow and read even though I did not live through the events surrounding 1989, the year in which this book takes place.The prologue really drew me into the story, sadly I did have some issues with the book.

Things I liked: I appreciated the historical aspect of the novel and how it explored both sides of the political climate during this tumultuous time in our countries history. The book explored the impacts of the Cold War, apartheid, Roe v. Wade, and presidential decisions. This book would be a useful educational tool for helping students get historical information from fiction. The ARC copy even had a glossary and timeline for reference! I also thought the romance was really cute and somewhat realistic for the time period. I also appreciate what the author was trying to do with including abortion, MS, and a father in the military to highlight more of the issues that people faced during that time. I enjoyed the dual perspective between the two main characters/love interests.

Things I didn't like: The book was too short to explore so many different issues. The political issues with the cold war were enough to make the story interesting to anyone who understand the complete and utter opposition between a democrat and a republican but the author also added abortion, illness, living wills, and so much more to the story that it kind of diluted the impact that it could have had. The abortion scenes were quick and didn't have much emotion besides the activists and I was surprised at how the news was taken; it added to the political climate of the book but didn't really add to the story. I feel the same way about the sex scene, interesting but it fell flat because it didn't contribute to the story, honestly it lost me at "breast pancakes".

The political and historical angle of this book makes it great for getting that information across to students who just don't 'get it' from reading a history textbook. The romance makes it fun and the teenager angst makes it relatable. I don't think this book is bad, I just think that it could have been better had it been longer and took more time to complete each arc of the story with more detail. I feel like the issues addressed were very quickly resolved and somewhat unrealistic.

I would still recommend this book because the romance was cute, historical fiction is always interesting, and I did enjoy reading this book! I just wish it hadn't have felt so rushed.

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary/Science Fiction

Publisher: Soho Teen

Publication Date: June 2nd, 2015

Edition: hardcover Pages: 293

Purchase: Book Depository

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 stars)

Trigger Warning: Suicide, depression

SUMMARY

The Leteo Institute's revolutionary memory-relief procedure seems too good to be true to Aaron Soto -- miracle cure-alls don't tend to pop up in the Bronx projects. But Aaron can't forget how he's grown up poor or how his friends aren't always there for him. Like after his father committed suicide in their one bedroom apartment. Aaron has the support of his patient girlfriend, if not necessarily his distant brother and overworked mother, but it's not enough. 

Then Thomas shows up. He has a sweet movie-watching setup on his roof, and he doesn't mind Aaron's obsession with a popular fantasy series. There are nicknames, inside jokes. Most importantly, Thomas doesn't mind talking about Aaron's past. But Aaron's newfound happiness isn't welcome on his block. Since he can't stay away from Thomas or suddenly stop being gay, Aaron must turn to Leteo to straighten himself out, even if it means forgetting who he is. (Goodreads)

WHAT I THOUGHT

Wow. This story got me in the heart, and broke it. Aaron is such a witty character, though his thoughts can be a bit depressing. The story progresses easily and had some fun humor, relatable pop culture, and all of the makings for a fun contemporary with a side of romance; but then things got serious. As Aaron opens up to his new friend Thomas he also opens up to the reader and you get a glimpse of who he really is underneath of what he shows to his other friends. Aaron starts to discover that his life is starting to turn in a different direction and it scares him but he also begins to embrace it. This is a coming of age story, a story of finding yourself, but also of losing yourself. 

I really enjoyed the science fiction element with the Leteo institute and the possibilities it would bring if it actually existed. If you had lost a child, a friend, a parent; if you had done something unspeakable would you want to forget? If you hated something about yourself and that hatred consumed you and lead you to dark paths would you want to fix it? Leteo wants to help you fix it by suppressing memories and allowing you to move on. Leteo isn't portrayed as a magical fix, there is therapy and support given to all candidates before the procedure and after. 

Another thing I liked that has nothing to do with the plot was how the smiley faces that broke up the different scenes changed as the tone of the book changed, it was a cool feature, an awesome attention to detail.

My final thoughts... you should read this book! It is a book about courage, love, and the lengths people will go to find happiness There are some wonderful quotes about grief, pain, and memories that I think everyone can relate to and understand.