NEW FEATURE: BOOKHYPE

We've all experience the feel of anticipation over a new book, but what happens when the book doesn't live up to the expectations? You feel like the black sheep or just left out. Everyone's gushing and you are just by yourself. This is a new feature on my blog/ YouTube channel, that I'm very excited to present. 
Kingsley is one of my favorite YouTubers and he celebrates an annual monthly Overexposed where he counts down 12 of the most overexposed things of the year or mid-year. My concept is pretty similar, but with books!
Rules:
I want you to leave comments down below on your books that let you down that have been published from NOVEMBER 2013 to JUNE 2014.
The final books will be the ones with the most votes. I'm hoping to have a countdown of at least 12 to 15 different books. I'm really looking forward to your votes.
Not sure what books are published during this time. Here are some lists that may help you:
YA Books Published in November 2013
New YA December 2013
YA Books January 2014
YA Books February 2014
YA Books March 2014
YA Books April 2014
YA Books May 2014
YA Books June 2014
2014 Paranormal Romance/ Urban Fantasy Jan.-June
2014 Romantic Releases (YA, NA, & adult)

Let me know down below what books left you feeling like a black sheep down below. In two weeks I'll tally up the votes overall and then compile a video series (kind of).

Massive Monday Book Haul

 

Please check out my first book haul ever! I'm sorry for the bad quality. I'm trying to work my webcam and learn new editing techniques. Next video will be better! Tell me what you think and don't forget to subscribe!

Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor

Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor

Second in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy

ALL THE STARS 5 stars!

This book picks up quickly after DoS&B. Karou has found something that starts the cataclysm to the war in Eretz and its finality. She’s found the White Wolf and she is now the Resurrectionist. She’s torn up by Akiva’s betrayal and has no clue what the future may bring. She’s Hope for the chimaera race, but she doesn’t feel like the future of Eretz is very bright. Akiva fights with Misbegotten and within this battle he decides to finally do the one thing he knew was supposed to do his whole life, but people have other plans and nothing turns out the way anybody planned. I absolutely loved this book. It was just so perfect and stunning and breathtaking. I loved every minute of it. It’s been a few years since I read Daughter of Smoke and Bone and bought this one on a whim. I knew the trilogy was finishing and I thought it was the perfect time to conclude it. I’m so glad I bought this one. It was absolutely perfect. You’re gonna hear that a lot because this book is just that perfect. 


I don’t know what to say without spoiling anything. For readers who loved DoS&B, the sequel is very different. There are multiple POVs and several different plot points and storylines. I loved them all. This book opens up with Zuzana being her normal mischievous self and it was so funny and lighthearted. The opening made me think that this one would be light. I was so wrong. This book is dark. Incredibly dark. Bonechilling, sweaty palms, what’s-gonna-happen-next-I’m-scared dark. The opening for the war is brutal and it’s hard to pick a side. Should the chimaera win or the seraphim? I honestly think both races balanced each other out. They were both brutal but also both showed sides of light. In my opinion, this book shows that in a war there is no winner. Only losers. Everyone suffers a lost and each race is impacted with loss.


The main female character is Karou. Karou is one of my all-time favorite heroines. She can annoy me to no end sometimes. I was practically doing this in my head the whole time

But Karou has a sort of spark in her that gave me hope for the chimaera and for her love with Akiva and just hope for a better Eretz. I think this is the hardest part of Karou’s journey. Deciding what to do with her job as a resurrectionist and whether she should forgive Akiva. (This doesn’t come until around page 300 when they start interacting. Every fangirls worst nightmare!) Basically Karou has it tough, but I never stopped rooting for her.
 

Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 9.5

The main male character is AKIVA!!! I love Akiva. He is perfection. He’s made mistakes, but everyone in this trilogy has and Akiva really does pay for them and he feels horrible for his choices. I love Akiva and he was so strong in this novel. His POV with Liraz and Hazael were some of my favorites.


Madrigal and Akiva from a the moon temple scene.♥


Swoon Worthy Scale: 10

The Villain- The White Wolf, Jael, Joram, and Razgut. Each with a hidden agenda but all such fantastic villains. My hate for the White Wolf (Thiago) burns so deep. He was a monster and I hated him with a burning passion. Jael and Joram both brothers and the reason the war is still going on. One brother nastier than the other and it all leads to the apocalypse (maybe). I consider Razgut to be a villain (especially since I read the DoG&M). He has a horrible agenda and he would destroy anything with a blink of an eye.


Villain Scale: 10

There is such a wonderful cast of characters. The main characters are great, but the glue and what makes me root for this novel are the side characters and they are all so wonderful. Zuzuna and Mik are hands down one of my favorite POVs to encounter in this entire trilogy. Zuzana was funny and witty and Mik was always the chivalrous one. They are also one of my favorite couples that aren’t the main couple in a novel that I’ve ever encountered. Ziri, sweet lucky Ziri. He plays such a wonderful role in this novel and the upcoming one. My love for Ziri is fierce. He’s sweet, humble, and a true warrior on the battlefield and when it comes to what’s right and wrong. Liraz and Hazael, Akiva’s brother and sister. Liraz is very cold and this novel had me hating her, but by the end she was slowly winning me over. Hazael is also a joy in the Misbegotten. He was funny and seriously don’t click this if you haven’t read the novel HUGE spoiler (view spoiler) There was also a very brief character introduction of Sveva and Rath. Sveva is a Dama and she was a chimaera slave and encountered the chimaera warriors in a brutal takedown of seraphim and Rath helped her and her hurt sister escape. I really liked Rath and his possible storyline. He showed a lot of promise. Let’s not forget the chimaera in the sandcastle. I love the chimaera. No matter how crazy or brutal they are, they are one of my favorite paranormal race to ever be introduced to. Issa! That's all I say. ;)
 





Character Scale: 10





I heard that Daughter of Smoke & Bone was optioned for a movie and if it happens I will be so excited, but I can’t help but wonder if the movie is successful how they’ll create Eretz. Or if they’ll keep the brutality of The White Wolf. Seriously he is hardcore and even Jael with that horrifying treatment toward Ziri. I can’t help but think that these scenes are a little too brutal for an audience, but then again I would be so excited to have a seat in the movie theatre to see it! One of my favorite things about this book is Taylor’s writing. She is a goddess. Her writing screams perfection and is just so beautiful. She can make you feel all kinds of emotions in a brief period off pages and chapters. I loved it! Here is a sample of her writing from one of my favorite chapters. Chapter 19:
"One upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a new way of living---one without massacres and torn throats and bonfires of the fallen, without revenants or bastard armies or children ripped from their mothers’ arms to take their turn in the killing and dying.
Once, the lovers lay entwined in the moon’s secret temple and dreamed of a world that was like a jewel box without a jewel--- a paradise waiting for them to find it and fill it with their happiness.
***
This was not that world.”
Seriously, read this trilogy and if you haven’t finished it yet. DO IT! It’s seriously amazing and it’s one of my favorite trilogies ever!


Cover Thoughts: This is my favorite cover of the trilogy and one of my favorite covers ever. It’s so gorgeous and beautiful. Plus it’s perfect for book selfies.








 

RT New Orleans Book Convention 2014 Recap!

As some of you may know I went to the NOLA RT Book Convention yesterday for the Giant Book Fair and it was so much fun! We had to walk a few books to get to the Marriot but it was worth the walking. Here's some pictures of our walk:

 

My sister, friend, and I.

 We stayed in the gallery waiting for quite some time. We were there for about two hours and we were in the third line to get out of the door. It took sometime but once the lines started moving they moved.

Here's a picture of me and my friend, Jackie. We passed the time by reading the brochure of authors featured. When we finally were able to go into the convention it was so amazing and overwhelming. I have never met authors before so I was a bundle of emotions. I was nervous, excited, and exhilarated. I didn't know how to feel and I was so excited.

The first author I've ever met was yesterday and it just so happened to be Lisa Kleypas. My sister and I were stumbling around pushing through the crowd when I saw her booth. I immediately went to wait in line. My mom came and met us because the plan was that we would meet Lisa Kleypas together. I was nervous. I was shaking and the girl in front of us had asked me to take a picture but my hands were shaking so bad I couldn't. Lisa Kleypas hugged me! She told me I was adorable and that she was the same way when she first met an author. She was so sweet and I got my copy of Married by Morning signed by her. She told me that almost everyone didn't like Leo, including her editor. Everyone told her that they hope she wasn't going to try to make him a hero, but Leo is my favorite and she totally understood my love for him.

 

The tote bag is a quote from her novel, The Wallflower Christmas. I haven't read it yet but I'm definitely going to.

 

It says: To Sarah, Best Wishes, Lisa Kleypas

Here's my mom and I. We were both so excited to meet her. She was so nice and just absolutely amazing. I'm really happy I met her first because she was the nicest author I met and she's had such a huge impact on my love for romance novels.

I met a really nice author, who was next to Lisa Kleypas. She put on this really cool little marionette show and gave me a fan.

 

Here's the fan and it so cute.

There was a little book underneath the fan. The book is called Valour and Vanity. It's by Mary Robinette Kowal and I will definitely be giving this series a try.

 Then I met Brodi Ashton. I bought Everbound because I liked Everneath and figured it would be great to finish the trilogy.

 

It has a beautiful cover!

 

I'm really excited to start this one!

The next author I met was Ilsa J. Bick. I have heard so many great things about her book Drowning Instinct and she was so nice. So I finally bought a copy! Especially after we both agreed on the best books being those that make you cry.

 

I got a bookmark along with my copy!

 

Her handwriting is so tiny. It's cute. Her daughter and I have the same name and she told me she wanted to know what I thought about it and if I cried when I was finished. I'm sure I'll bawl like a baby.

Then I stopped by Teri Brown's booth on a whim. I've been curious about Born of Illusion and the cover screamed come over and buy me. So I did!

 

I got a sticker and a bookmark for the sequel!

 

Sarah, It's all magic! Teri J. Brown :)

Then my sister and I went to Tera Lynn Childs booth. She was very sweet and she was happy to give me and my sister both books. I bought Sweet Venom and my sister bought Forgive My Fins.

 

Stickers and a book template of her books. I'm really looking forward to this one. Medusa and Greek Mythology. I think YES!

 

Sweet and sassy! TLC My mom says this fits me and my instagram name is @sassysarah. You should follow me for book selfies!

Then I met Susan Dennard. She's another author I really liked meeting. She was funny and we joked around for about five minutes. So happy to give her book a try.

 

A lot of great book swag!

 

For Sarah! ♥ Aim for the knees! Susan Dennard

Next I stopped by Tessa Gratton. She didn't really talk to me, but I'm looking forward to her novel.

 

To Sarah- Enjoy my MONSTERS! Tessa Gratton

I will definitely try to! Monsters are my favorite.

Then I met Cynthia Hand! She was nice and I got to take a picture with her. Whoop! I also finally got the sequel to Unearthly! YAY!

 

Cynthia and I!

 

To Sarah- Don't be afraid to spread your wings! Cynthia Hand 

Then I met Beth Revis. She was nice enough. She didn't really try to talk to me. Just signed book my told, handed me swag, and that was it. But then again I didn't really know what to say because I wasn't in love with her book. I just liked it.

 

The fan art is gorgeous!

 

To Sarah- Reach for the stars! Beth Revis

Then I met Carrie Ryan. She was so sweet. We talked about Laini Taylor and the DoSaB trilogy and she told me about her anthology which I have read (Foretold). She was so nice and funny. I'm so glad I went to meet her because I really enjoy The Forest of Hands and Teeth and The Dead-Tossed Waves, but she was so fun to talk to.

 

Me and Carrie Ryan!

 

For Sarah- Folow your own path! ♥Carrie Ryan

 

I received two free downloads for an ebook!

 

For Sarah- Reach beyond barriers! ♥Carrie Ryan I love when authors sign books with something to do with their books.

Then I met April Genieve Tucholke. She was very funny. I only talked to her briefly but she had a lively personality.

 

To Sarah AGT

Then I met Leigh Bardugo. She was really nice and I haven't read her book but I bought it about a month ago. She told me I was smart for waiting to read it because I won't have to wait for the last book in her trilogy to come out. I wish I would've taken a picture with her because she was so sweet!

 

To Sarah- Make me your villian...

 Then I met Jennifer L. Armentrout!!!! She was so nice and I was just so starstruck. I wanted to talk to her more, but I was just so dumbfounded I couldn't think of much to say. I wanted to tell her thank you for writing a book where a blogger was portrayed correctly and that I connected to Katy on a personal level, but I couldn't find the words at the time. Hopefully I have another chance to meet her and can actually say it to her in person.

 

AHHH! Fangirling!

 

Look at that fan art.♥-♥

 

Sarah- "Hey Kitten..." Jen Armentrout ♥

 

Sarah Want a cookie? Jen Armentrout ♥ Yes I would love a cookie Daemon.

Then I met Gayle Forman! *heavy breathing* She was so perfect and again I was starstruck. We both love Twix though. That much I was able to talk to her about.

 

My eyes are closed but it was a great moment. :')

 

For Sarah All. The. Feels. Gayle F

 

For Sarah- Anything can happen Gayle 

I really love this one because it just speaks to me on a personal level and this book had a huge impact on me and my perception of fate.

Then I met Rachel Caine. I've only read three of her books, but I do enjoy the Morganville Vampire novels. I talked to her about the webseries coming out. She is so excited for it and she loves the cast. I'm hoping it will be awesome!

 

To Sarah! Will all my heart Rachel Caine

 

To Sarah Love and keep Rachel Caine

Then I met P.C. and Kirstin Cast. I hate saying this but they are JERKS! They were condescending and I told P.C. I liked her tattoos and she just brushed me off. I personally don't think I'll be buying books from them anymore and I'll just go to the library.

 The last author I met was Kerrelyn Sparks. She was the first romance author I ever read. We both love Scotsman. ;)

 

Swag everywhere!

 There were some authors I didn't get to meet, actually a lot of them. Here's a picture of me with the books I didn't get signed and lugged around all day.

I really wanted to meet Chloe Neill, Jeaniene Frost, Melissa Marr, and Nalini Singh. I couldn't find their booths and so I just kind of gave up. But next year, I'm going to be prepared for this and I will go to all my authors! Here's some of the tote bags I got!

 

Sylvia Day was nice enough to provide rolling bags for free. It was awesome!

Here's some of the random swag I handed throughout the day.

 I also met a lot of nice people. I didn't get most of the people's names I met, but there were so many nice people there.