2016 reading list so far...

I wish y'all a happy new year!
 2015 I started this blog and I'm happy about how far I've come already, so thank you for that.
I know that these won't be all books I'm going to read this year but it's the plan so far. Bear with me here.

1. "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas
See my last blogpost about it here: http://bookstain3.blogspot.de/2015/10/my-tbr-shelf-4_31.html

2. "A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1)" by George R.R. Martin 
Summers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.

As Warden of the north, Lord Eddard Stark counts it a curse when King Robert bestows on him the           office of the Hand. His honour weighs him down at court where a true man does what he will, not what he must … and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty.

The old gods have no power in the south, Stark’s family is split and there is treachery at court. Worse, the vengeance-mad heir of the deposed Dragon King has grown to maturity in exile in the Free Cities. He claims the Iron Throne.  (source: goodreads)

Basic, I know. I'm a huge fan of the TV-Series so I feel like i have to at least read the first book. Only problem, it's HUGE. Gonna need a lot of time there.

3. "Outlander" by Diana Gabaldon

The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is just back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of Our Lord...1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life, and shatter her heart. For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire—and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives. (source: goodreads)

It's my moms favourite book series and my favourite booktubers (Sasha Alsberg/ abookutopia, go check her out!) so maybe I'll like it too. I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction but I will try this series.

4 & 5. "Rivers of London (Peter Grant #1)" by Ben Aaronvitch and "Sophie's World" by Jostein Gaarder

Check out this post to see what they're about: http://bookstain3.blogspot.de/2015/06/my-summer-holiday-reading-list.html

I know I should have already read them but new books came and I guess you know the struggle.

6. "Half Bad (The Half Bad Trilogy #1)" by Sally Green

Wanted by no one.
Hunted by everyone.

Sixteen-year-old Nathan lives in a cage: beaten, shackled, trained to kill. In a modern-day England where two warring factions of witches live amongst humans, Nathan is an abomination, the illegitimate son of the world's most terrifying and violent witch, Marcus. Nathan's only hope for survival is to escape his captors, track down Marcus, and receive the three gifts that will bring him into his own magical powers—before it's too late. But how can Nathan find his father when there is no one safe to trust, not even family, not even the girl he loves? (source: goodreads)

It's waiting in my shelf for about half a year now and I'm really excited about this book, don't get me wrong, I'm just more excited about other books. As always.

7. "Poison Princess (The Arcana chronicles #1)" by Kresley Cole

She could save the world—or destroy it.

Sixteen-year-old Evangeline "Evie" Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they're still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can't do either alone.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can't totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it's not always clear who is on which side. (source: goodreads)

One year it's on my shelf. That's all I'm going to say.

8. "To kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee

To Kill a Mockingbird is primarily a novel about growing up under extraordinary circumstances in the 1930s in the Southern United States. The story covers a span of three years, during which the main characters undergo significant changes. Scout Finch lives with her brother Jem and their father Atticus in the fictitious town of Maycomb, Alabama. Maycomb is a small, close-knit town, and every family has its social station depending on where they live, who their parents are, and how long their ancestors have lived in Maycomb. (source: cliffsnotes)

It's so hard to find a summary about this book. I'm still not sure what this book is about but, oh well, still going to read it.

These books are just on my top shelf, so this is just the beginning. Yay!

Love,

"Endgame - The Calling" by James Frey and Nils Johnson-Shelton

ENDGAME HAS BEGUN. ENDGAME HAS BEGUN. ENDGAME HAS BEGUN.

Twelve thousand years ago, they came. They descended from the sky amid smoke and fire, and created humanity and gave us rules to live by. They needed gold and they built our earliest civilizations to mine it for them. When they had what they needed, they left. But before they left, they told us someday they would come back, and when they did, a game would be played. A game that would determine our future.

This is Endgame.

For ten thousand years the lines have existed in secret. The 12 original lines of humanity. Each had to have a Player prepared at all times. They have trained generation after generation after generation. In weapons, languages, history, tactics, disguise assassination. Together the players are everything: strong, kind, ruthless, loyal, smart, stupid, ugly, lustful, mean, fickle, beautiful, calculating, lazy, exuberant, weak. They are good and evil. Like you. Like all.

This is Endgame.

When the game starts, the players will have to find three keys. The keys are somewhere on earth. The only rule of their Endgame is that there are no rules. Whoever finds the keys first wins the game. Endgame: The Calling is about the hunt for the first key.

Will exuberance beat strength? Stupidity top kindness? Laziness thwart beauty? Will the winner be good or evil? There is only one way to find out.

Play.
Survive.
Solve.
People of Earth.
Endgame has begun.                                                                                    (source: goodreads)

I actually don't like this book at all. I don't enjoy writing bad reviews but otherwise you'll never know what books aren't the best of the best! I like the cover and all but it's just not what I enjoy reading. I heard from other people that they liked the books so you can of course always give it a try.

First of all I don't get the concept of the Endgame. Like why does it exist in the first place? Second, I cannot identify with any of the characters. Maybe it's because they don't think like normal people bc of their training or their personalities are just too extreme idk. Or it's bc their names are so hard to remember that I always mix the people up and then I'm confused why they are doing what they are doing bc it doesn't fit with their personalities.

Third, the romance between the people is just straight up weird. It's not really romantic but in their own twisted way it is. Like I said, weird.

Fourth: I feel really sorry for some candidates. They lose everything so they can fight for their own line. Like, at the beginning of the book several humans die just bc a big meteor destroys everything around the chosen one. Just like that. Just so the one person knows that they are chosen. I mean it's not like there's something called the mail or a telephone. No we need the whole drama and some candidates even enjoy the death and destruction (now we're back at point two). Anyways I think the whole details about who died and what it looks like when your best friend arises from the ground like a zombie with one arm missing are overrated. I wouldn't miss them tbh.

And last but not least I'm sorry to say that but I absolutely hate how the book's written. Here's an example: "Marcus sneers at the TV in his small, undecorated room. He is slouched in a plush black leather chair that sticks to his skin whenever he sits up. It is night, but Marcus keeps the lights in his room off."

Every second line it's " Marcus,...". I don't like that at all.

Well, I think you got an idea of my opinion *wink* and I still envy the authors for writing a whole book. I know how hard that is. So if you want to make your own opinion about this book, you do you. Don't let me stop you. I'm not going to read the rest of the series although the covers are beautiful, especially the ones with the 3D letters.

Love,

Why I liked the " Papertowns" movie more than the actual book

First of all: Sorry John! ( I still love your books tho)
I really enjoyed the book and I was thrilled to see the movie and even more thrilled when I left the cinema. The movie was made beautifully and never boring. The book on the other side was sometimes a bit boring. So here are some reasons, why I liked the movie better!

1. The cast is awesome! Cara is my queen and Natt is just how I imagined Quentin to be. To be honest everyone looked how I imagined them to be...yay!
2. The movie had two jokes that I laughed way to hard at, that weren't in the book ( I think). One was at Jases party, when Ben was drunk,  holding a sword made of plastic cups and he screamed "Valar Morgulis" (*Game of Thrones fans feel me*) . The second one was when Quentin, Ben and Radar were scared to go through the hole in Margos hiding place, so they began singing a song so they wouldn't be  terrified. The song was the one from "Pokémon" *lmao*!
3. The car ride to find Cara was epic. I feel like every detail from the book was in there, but made more exciting and funny. And of course the best part was the surprise guest at the gas station (I screamed when I saw Ansel standing there #bestmoment)!
4. The soundtrack is maybe my favourite of all times. The music was always inserted at the right moment and the songs gave me the thrills. Epic roadtrip songs for sure!
I think the soundtrack here was even better than the one for the " Divergent" movie and y'all know those songs were pretty epic.


5. And last but not least, I liked that they stood true to the original story. As you may or may not know it was a huge problem for the fans in "City of Bones" that the story was changed, but I didn't hear anything bad about "Papertowns" so I guess I'm not the only one here!

But of course not everything was awesome. Personally I thought that the pranks were much funnier in the book and that it had more details, but that's about it.

Please write in the comments if you agree or disagree. I would love to hear about it.

Love,

My top 3 books to read this christmas

Christmas is waiting, it smells like cinnamon and apples everywhere and you just want to sit down, wrapped up in blankets, some hot drink at your side and read some good books.
Well, here are my suggestions that make me feel warm and fuzzy, just like christmas.

1. "Anna and the French Kiss" series by Stephanie Perkins
There's nothing better than a cheesy teenage romance book set in Paris. Or San Francisco for that matter. The three books are easy, well-written and fun. Tho the last did book made me cry. Tears of joy of course!
If you want to read all three review on these books click here for
"Anna and the French Kiss": http://bookstain3.blogspot.de/2015/09/anna-and-french-kiss-by-stephanie.html
"Lola and the Boy Next Door": http://bookstain3.blogspot.de/2015/10/lola-and-boy-next-door-by-stephanie.html
"Isla and the Happily Ever After": http://bookstain3.blogspot.de/2015/11/isla-and-happily-ever-after-by.html

2. "Shadow Falls Camp" series by C.C.Hunter
These book are my all time favourites and the covers are just beautiful. You just feel at home right away and the characters grow to you, it hurts to let them go after the last book, trust me. Luckily there's a new series about "Shadow Falls Camp"!
To read what they are about click here for
"Born at Midnight": https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8705784-born-at-midnight
"Awake at Dawn": https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10800916-awake-at-dawn
"Taken at Dusk": https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12866426-taken-at-dusk
"Whispers at Moonrise": https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13416236-whispers-at-moonrise
"Chosen at Nightfall": https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15745371-chosen-at-nightfall

To read about the new series click here for
"After Dark: Reborn": http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17905355-reborn

3. "Let It Snow" by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle
Three authors and three stories colliding in just one book. As you can tell by the title it's set in winter. It's romantic and funny. Grab some hot cocoa, a cookie and a book and you're ready to dive into the story.

Sparkling white snowdrifts, beautiful presents wrapped in ribbons, and multicolored lights glittering in the night through the falling snow. A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks. Thanks to three of today’s bestselling teen authors—John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle—the magic of the holidays shines on these hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and breathtaking kisses.
(source: goodreads)

Now just relax and enjoy the warmth inside and read, read, read...

Love, 

" Isla and the Happily Ever After " by Stephanie Perkins

" "You don't love me like you think you love me," I whisper. Now he's crying, too. "Why are you doing this?" "

"Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on introspective cartoonist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart." (source: goodreads)

This book. OMG! I love it, everything about it. Isla is such a beautiful character and Josh I liked since "Anna and the French Kiss". This book weaves all three book by Stephanie Perkins together perfectly. The old characters come together one last time to celebrate something amazing. Chapter thirty is my absolute favourite. 

I love that Isla and her sister Hattie get on well again and that Isla meets Josh again. That it's the first time to read about all characters together at one special place. You don't have to miss Anna, Étienne, Lola, Cricket or Meredith because they all have a connection.

Spoiler!

And omg  my favourite part is when Étienne asks Anna to marry him at Notre-Dame, on Point Zéro.

I cried tears of happiness!

Just read these books. They make me happy and probably will make you too.

Love,

My TBR shelf #5

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for four years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined. (source: goodreads)

I'm maybe gonna start this after I'm done with "Delirium" by Lauren Oliver. I only heard good things about the whole series, but I hope there's some romance between all the killing and action! I also read " A Court of Thorns and Roses " by Sarah and I absolutely loved it! 
Still, I'm very excited to read it and now I feel bad for having it on my shelf, thanks. I still love you guys!

Love ( see? ),

" Lola and the Boy Next Door " by Stephanie Perkins

“People should say what they mean and not make other people stumble around.”

Lola Nolan is a budding costume designer, and for her, the more outrageous, sparkly, and fun the outfit, the better. And everything is pretty perfect in her life (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood. When Cricket, a gifted inventor, steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door. (source: goodreads)

This is the second book in the " Anna and the French kiss " series. The series isn't always withe the same characters, but the characters always come back again. In this book the major characters are Lola and Cricket, but Lola works with Anna at the movie theater ( she's the major character in book #1 ). And we all know, where Anna is, Étienne isn't far away. 
This is one thing I love about Stephanie Perkins books: the characters you will miss come back.
Lola Nolan is me in extreme. I think, this quote she says: “I don't believe in fashion. I believe in costume. Life is too short to be same person every day ”, is what every girl should know. 
Lola's very wild and colorful and doesn't care about other peoples opinions on her looks and I envy her for that. And omg Cricket is like the cutest thing ever. Buying strange clothes, like too short trousers just too show off his socks? Brilliant!  
He and Lola are perfect for each other, just like Anna and Étienne are (#otp )!
And the end was my dream date: Prom with an awesome dress, dream boy next to you, who makes you beautiful presents and standing out from the crowd. 




I highly recommend the whole series. Like the first book, "Lola and the Boy Next Door" is a feel good book and a easy read. The characters Stephanie creates are extraordinary and you just want to be in their group of friends. Read them, love them and feel awesome!


Read here my Review on " Anna and the French Kiss ": http://bookstain3.blogspot.de/2015/09/anna-and-french-kiss-by-stephanie.html
Love,