Top Ten Tuesday (14) - Ten Books You'd Buy This Second if Someone Handed You A Fully Loaded Gift Card

Top Ten Tuesday is a an original feature/ weekly meme that was created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new topic is presented and this week's is: 

Ten Books I'd Buy ASAP If I Was Able To

Top Ten Tuesday (13) - Ten Facts About Me

Top Ten Tuesday is a an original feature/ weekly meme that was created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new topic is presented and this week's is: 

Ten Facts About Me 

I've been doing reviews lately, so taking about something not-bookish is a change of pace. You'll get to learn more about me! And that's always more exciting. 


1. In honor of Pokemon Go, my favorite starters have always been water types, with Mudkip coming in first place! Pokemon Ruby was the first Pokemon Game I played, and I got my Mudkip all the way to lvl 100 Swampert. 

2. When it comes to unique role models, I always admired Catherine the Great. I did a report on her in middle school, read a book on her, and have looked up to her ever since. She's fierce and cunning, and never let her weak-willed husband get his way. Instead she overthrew him, revolutionized Russia and St. Petersburg, had the Hermitage become a center of Western art, and basically lived up to her title, the Great. Plus a ton of guys fell in love with her while she was being badass. And, even though she's been dead for centuries, being in the city she resided in and seeing paintings of her was a bucket list completed option.

3. I'm a Slytherin, through and through. I once thought I'd be a Ravenclaw (and at the time, I went to a technical HS, where many of my friends were Ravenclaws), so I had the shirt and scarf and everything. When I took the Pottermore quiz and got Slytherin, I was surprised but it really did fit me more. The cunning. The ambition. The loyalty to our family/friends. Wish I had some Slytherin merch though. 

The newest hair color

4. I haven't had my natural hair color since sophomore year HS, and I don't think I'll be returning to black for many years to come. Black hair always looked boring (on me at least). On the topic of hair, I had a fear of cutting my long hair until I was convinced by a friend to cut it short for healthy hair. I'm much happier with short hair. 

5. I won the Forensic Science award in HS, but I was always falling asleep in that class. Not because it was boring (it was a very fun class), but because I was very much an overachiever (still am), and stayed up late, and came to that class tired. 

6. I got ENFJ on the Myers-Briggs test; several years ago, in HS, I was ENTP. I'd imagine I'm more diplomatic and more open to friendships and being the middle-man. However I'm quite terrible at first impressions and actually approaching people so if you want to be friends please say hello! (I'm not scary or anything)

7. My favorite color is purple. When I was little, my favorite was yellow. But there's a line in one of the Princess Diaries books that stated that Grandmere's love of purple meant that she was suffering from delusions of grandeur, which is something I suppose I'm suffering from, too. 

8. There is never one definitive pronunciation of my name, and this amuses me, greatly. Different friend groups would say my name differently. (In my family I'm always anak or ate) It's been RAY-SAH, RAY-ZAH, RYE-SAH, and for the bold, RAZOR. There are many more out there I'm sure of it. I like the first one the best, but the others are applicable too. 

9. One of the many ironies in my life is that I'm allergic to cats. I love cats and dogs, but unfortunately can't have a pet. I do have a love of Pusheens, and I suppose those are my substitute cats. 

10. I've been to approx. 30 countries, having recently visited the Baltic/Nordic region of Europe and Nicaragua. My favorite country is my home country, the Philippines, but every country I visit has a place in my heart. Nicaragua, especially, has been a lifechanging time with the Global Medical Brigades. Long story short, I desire to visit all these countries numerous times over, and all the rest, because a few days is not enough.



Well, took awhile to think of 10 fascinating facts about myself. Glad to have been able to share with you the person behind all the reviews/rants about terrible romance. 

Is anyone a Slytherin? Anyone like purple? Any fun facts you may have wanted to know but I didn't include? Comment below!

Top Ten Tuesday (12) - Top Ten Historical Fiction I've Read/Want to Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a an original feature/ weekly meme that was created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new topic is presented and this week's is: 

Top Ten Historical Fiction I've Read/Want to Read

This past January I went on a historical fiction binge, so this TTT post came in at the right time! I still haven't read all the historical fiction I wanted to, but I'll get to it soon enough. There's also some other h.f. I want to read in the future... So without further ado, here's my list!

Divided into the top five books I've read and the top five books I want to read in the future!

Top Ten Tuesday (11) - Freebie Week aka Top Ten Books on My Wishlist

Top Ten Tuesday is a an original feature/ weekly meme that was created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new topic is presented and this week's is: 

A Freebie! 

So you know what that means? I come up with something original, although I don't think I've read enough to make up a unique post. But my birthday is next month, and that got me to think - What are the top non-2016 books on my wishlist? This is totally not a hint to my friends or anything. But as much as I want a lot of 2016 books, there are other books I've been dying to read, as well. Granted, these are mostly books in series I still have to finish... whoops.

Top Ten non-2016 Books on My Wishlist/To-Be-Read List

Top Ten Tuesday (10) - Ten Favorite Book Quotes

Top Ten Tuesday is a an original feature/ weekly meme that was created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new topic is presented and this week's is:

Top Ten Quotes from Books I Read This Past Year

This is also an opportunity for me to update my favorite quotes section on Goodreads.

Luckily for me, I tend to dog-ear the pages of my favorite quotes/passages. 

But don't you think that it's better to be extremely happy for a short while, even if you lose it, than to be just okay for your whole life? 

- (Claire) Audrey Niffeneger, The Time Traveler's Wife

Top Ten Tuesday (9) - Ten Bookish Things I Want to Quit!

Top Ten Tuesday is a an original feature/ weekly meme that was created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new topic is presented and this week's is:

Ten Bookish Things I Want to Quit

To be more specific, it'll be the

Top Ten YA Tropes I Don't Want to Read Anymore

(in no specific order)

I've read many books in the almost twenty years I've been alive. I was in a bit of a book slump during high school, but I noticed, when I picked up books again this year, that there are some things that never change in books. For instance, the many tropes I can't seem to get enough of in YA. They're predictable, sort of annoying, but they're in YA for a reason, amirite? And I've been saying for awhile I wanted to make a list of all the tropes I can't stand in a book. So, without further ado, here is my list. 

(Note - I couldn't reach 10 tropes by myself, so Yiling and Sarah have shared their ideas!) 

1. Perfect Male Protagonist. 

When you start a book with your female character immediately having insta-sparks of attraction to this mysterious new guy, you know you're in for a hell of a ride. Especially with the male protagonist. He's got everything. He has the brooding, dark, bad boy persona that no one, not even our goody-two shoes heroine can resist. He has smoldering long eyelashes and really kissable lips. The lips are really kissable (you see what I'm going for here?). To further emphasize his attractive features, his physical appearance is remarked upon every single time they meet. So basically every chapter, you'll get a great, long winded description of this gorgeous (and this is the key word here!) beauty, which means you'll be unlikely to forget him as you read along. You'll only remember him for his looks, and his brooding/grunting, because really, who said your male protagonist needed to have personality?

2. Insta-Romance

Speaking of the powers of attraction, your male protagonist's beauty will cause anyone, but especially the heroine of our story, to fall weak in the knees! In the first few chapters, they're already clearly madly in love, but have not confessed their feelings. Give it a few more chapters, and we've already moved into the boyfriend/girlfriend territory. But hold onto your horses, because I'm pretty sure they're planning on running off to elope in the wilderness where no one can disrupt their happiness. If you're lucky, you'll even hear of how many children they're planning to have before the sequel.

Example: Awake

3. Love Triangles/Other Geometric Figures

The only way for above insta-romance to be ruined is with another equally perfect guy (or girl, but usually a guy), who wants to steal the stage for himself (or herself!) That girl/guy clearly deserves him/her! I'm so much better than his/her current love interest, and I'm going to prove it by creating unnecessary tension and dragging out the book longer than it needs to be. The book will be even longer if said guy/girl they're vying for can't simply make up their mind.

Example: Twilight

4. Imperfections are Actually Perfections 

I've been reading a lot of these recently. The protagonist is the only one in her family with black hair, compared to their dominant red hair, but she's the most beautiful one of all. The protagonist has eyes that sparkle like the deep blue sea (is that even possible)? The protagonist is a plain-Jane and is unnoticeable to the general public, but one lucky male protagonist will take interest in her.
Example: Ruby Red (I actually liked this book, just not the constant mentions of her beauty)

Sarah

5. Vampires vs. Werewolves 

Many of us have read Twilight, right? (I'm in the minority here, and my only knowledge of Twilight is Cinema Sins). Upon further research (and I did do my research) - Twilight did not create the trope. See Dracula, Ghostbusters, etc. But what makes a Vampire vs. Werewolves even better is a love triangle plot. Imagine, a super attractive vampire and an equally attractive (more or less, depending on your preference), werewolf, fighting for a human girl's affections? The vampires and werewolves are no longer grotesque and scary, but sparkling beautiful beings! They have the magnetic force to attract everyone.

Also, there are other mythical beings that need some more representation. Er-hem, banshees or wraiths anyone?

The obvious example - Twilight

6. Bad Boy with the Troubled Past 

We're so drawn to this character, and to expand upon the perfect male character trope (1), he runs from a past that haunts him. Did he murder anyone? Did he steal from the poor? Did he abandon his brother? Whatever is behind that guilty conscience, he'll be automatically forgiven by his female love interest, and they're drawn closer together.

Example: Abandon

7. Perfect Girl, Perfect Life, Cue Mysterious Boy

So there's all this talk about novel and their cliches regarding guys, but there are a ton of Mary-Sues out there too. This girl has everything, let me tell you. She has a boyfriend, a penthouse in the Upper East Side, a pet poodle, the best grades, everything. But yet... something is incomplete! Her suddenly perfect boyfriend isn't enough. All the apparent imperfections are pointed out when mysterious boy walks into town!

Example: Reawakened

Yiling

8. Love at First Sight

Does that even exist? According to some (many) books, it does! And let me tell you, it falls under the same formulaic style of purple prose writing. Here are some examples.

The moment our eyes met, I couldn't see anyone else but him. It was like we were destined to be. 

His hand lightly grazed mine, and in the millisecond we touched, I felt the sparks between us. 

She stared straight into my eyes, into my very soul. My heart stopped, and only a kiss upon her lips would be able to start it again.

Honestly, if sparks were meant to be taken literally, I'd be electrocuted by the time I finished reading said purple prose literature.

Example: Remembrance

9. Everyone is awful and I'm perfect AKA the Whiners 

Why is everyone so mean? Why won't he fall in love with me? Why is the sky blue? I'm not sure, whiny protagonist. I'm really not sure. If you're complaining about everyone else, there isn't anything wrong with you, right? Note: These protagonist spend most of the novel complaining, and not actually doing anything.

Example: Spellbound

We all had similar ideas on what tropes we disliked... But one common ground we share is -

10. Lack of Diversity 

Your white straight female meets your white straight male. They fall in love. They encounter obstacles to their love. Love prevails. The end. 

That's the plot of many books, folks. 'But... not everyone is straight, and not everyone is white...?' You say. 

Well, that's why we need more diversity in books! 

So, did you agree or disagree with this list? Agree/Disagree with the examples? Think we're missing a couple of tropes here and there? Have any examples? Let us know in the comments below!

Top Ten Tuesday (8) - Top Ten Books on My Fall TBR!

Top Ten Tuesday is a an original feature/ weekly meme that was created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new topic is presented and this week's is:

Top Ten Books on My Fall TBR (in no order whatsoever!)

1. 

Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J. Maas

Queen of Shadows might actually be one of my later books on my fall TBR; I'm still two books behind. Nevertheless, I have my signed copy lined up to read what happens to our favorite female assassin! Also, don't reveal any spoilers for me hehe. 

Release Date: September 1st 2015

2. 

Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) by Marissa Meyer

The Lunar Chronicles is a great series, and Meyer does such a great job of creating a diverse range of characters. I finally caught up with Cress a few weeks ago, and I must say, I'm really glad Cinder and Kai are back together again! I can't wait to see what happens in Winter - I have faith in the Rampion crew! (Also really hope they get Scarlet back b/c it seems like she's going through hell)

Release Date: November 10th 2015

3. 

A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire #5) by George R.R. Martin

I've been reading this series since... Junior year of high school. And because of the extreme length, it has taken me years to finally get to this point of catching up. Actually, I've just been really lazy about books until this year. Nevertheless I can't wait to see what ADWD has in store, and really hope (although it probably won't happen) that Winds of Winter comes out soon!

Published: July 12th 2011

4. 

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

For a really long time, I've wanted to read this book, as the premise resonates so well with me! And I also read Shug as a child, only recently realizing that she wrote this book too. I wonder what happens, when you send out love letters to your former loves. I can't wait to read it - I just got it in the mail!

Published: April 15th 2014

5. 

Fire Falling (Air Awakens #2) by Elise Kova

Everyone on this blog can tell you how in love I was with Air Awakens. It was so amazing and poignant and wonderful - before I go on, I must say, I can't wait for Fire Falling to come out this November! I'm thoroughly anticipating this one (UGH SO MANY GOOD NOVEMBER RELEASES) because I need more Aldrik and Vhalla and Fritz and Larel in my life! This is also basically me throwing my recommendation to everyone to read Air Awakens!

Release Date: November 19th 2015

6. 

Ten Thousand Skies Above You (Firebird #2) by Claudia Gray

I picked up A Thousand Pieces of You while I was on vacation, and it blew me away. Romance across parallel dimensions written well - I loved how the Firebird technology worked, and how you can be yourself, and also the person of that dimension, when you dimension-hope. I might be explaining this in a confusing fashion, but it was a fast-paced compelling read for me I'm excited to get! I really want to hear more about the other dimensions, especially the Russia-verse. 

Published: November 3rd 2015

7. 

The Crimson Crown (The Seven Realms #4) by Cinda Williams Chima 

I got into the Seven Realms series because I was searching for a book with my name in it, and stumbled upon it. There are not that many books with a Raisa in 'em, and this one did not disappoint. Princess Raisa transformed throughout the books and she's now the most powerful Queen of the Fells. What will happen to her and Han in this conclusion? Or the Bayars? This is high fantasy and court intrigue at its finest. Also, all the chills reading about the awesome things 'I'm' doing.

Published: October 23rd 2012

8. 

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

My interest in this book came from the sampler I got at this year's Bookcon. From what I got out of it, it's really something different than my usual high fantasy or contemporary novels. It seems darker and much more mature, as well. Now, this is one of the books that is out in stores at the moment, but I don't have a copy of it yet. Hopefully I get one soon, as this looks like a read I shouldn't miss. 

Published: April 28th 2015

9. 

Illuminae: The Illuminae Files #1 by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

I picked up the ARC of this at Bookcon, and this one takes a totally different style of writing than the usual left-to-right line after line. And that's pretty awesome! It's a futuristic dystopia out there, complete with the action and adventure. I'll be reading and reviewing this one sometime in October.

Release Date: October 20th 2015

10. 

Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson

Coincidentally, today is the release day of Walk on Earth a Stranger! Check out my fellow blogger Yiling's post here with some release day blitz and giveaway fun. Does the sensing gold power seem similar to King Midas's everything he touches turns to gold, or is it just me? Regardless, it's a cool power, and it's a historical novel too! (I love my historical fiction)

Release Date: Today! 

Well that's my top ten fall TBR. Are any of these books on your TBR list? Let me know in the comments below! 

Top Ten Tuesday (7) - Top Ten Book Related Problems I Have

Top Ten Tuesday is a an original feature/ weekly meme that was created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new topic is presented and this week's is:

Top Ten Book Related Problems I Have

1. Book Withdrawal- You know that feeling that you get after you finish a really good book? And you just want to read the next one except it's not coming out until next year? Or even worst there is no next one? Yeah, that feeling.

2. Book to Movie- The hope. The disappointment. We've all been there with the crappy adaptations with half the plot changed and the other half gone altogether. (I'm looking at you Mortal Instruments movie- why??) 

3. I Have Too Many - I didn't realize exactly how many books I actually owned until I had to move this summer. Let me tell you I think that I hurt my back transporting boxes and suitcases of books to my car. I thought that I was really good about limiting the number of books that I owned- I usually give out or donate my arcs/ books that I didn't enjoy, but there was still a ton of books. I cleared out most of shelves during the move but I have a feeling that books are soon going to replace the space again.

4. I'm Spending Too Much On Books- This is probably the reason for the previous one. Is it my fault that the book just came out and that I really need it? Or that it has a nice cover? Or that it got great reviews from everybody that I know? Or that it's on sale? No. No it's not.

5. The Never-ending Stack of Books to be Read- They're glaring at me as I type this. "Read me! Why haven't you read me yet?"

6. When There's No Fandom for the Book- Where is the fanart? The fanfiction? The place where I can talk about how much I loved it? WHY DON'T MORE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THIS BOOK??

7. Forgetting What Happens in the Previous Book- "Oh man I know that I liked the first one? Wait what happened in it?"

8. My Covers Don't Match - I absolutely hate it when a publisher changes the book covers in the middle of a series because then I have the problem of my covers not matching on my bookshelf. They look like they don't belong together even though they do! (Although some book covers changing are for the best)

9. The Long Nights/ Early Mornings- When you HAVE to finish the book and know how it ends. You can't go to sleep without finishing the book! There's only a couple of pages left. Does it matter if you have class tomorrow? Probably not.

And (Of course)

10. I Don't Have Time to Read Them All- The classic booklover's problem. *sigh* 

Top Ten Tuesday (6) - Top Ten Book Boyfriends

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a an original feature/ weekly meme that was created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new topic is presented and this week's is:

FREEBIE

Since this week's topic is a freebie, we have decided to do Top Ten Book Boyfriends

Alice's Picks

Valek

1. Valek from Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

2. Ash from The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

3. Jackal from The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

4. Ari from Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

5. Gavriel Duval from Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers






Yiling's Picks

Will

1. Cassel from White Cat by Holly Black

2. Adrian from the Bloodlines series by Richelle Mead

3. Finn from Born Wicked by Jessica Shea

4. Wolf from Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

5. Will from Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

Top Ten Tuesday (5) - Top Ten 2014 Releases I Meant To Read But Didn't Get To

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a an original feature/ weekly meme that was created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new topic is presented and this week's is:

Top Ten 2014 Releases I Meant To Read But Didn't Get To

Yiling's Picks

Oh man 2014 had so many great books that I meant to read but (unfortunately) didn't have enough time for. (So many books, so little time!)

1. The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy #1) by Marie Rutkoski

I heard so many great things about this book and it immediately came to my mind when I saw this week's topic. I'm still pining for a copy of this book (and enough time to read it of course)

2. Messenger of Fear (Messenger of Fear #1) by Michael Grant
I actually featured this book before in a Waiting on Wednesday. (which you can check out here) Sadly I still have not gotten to it but I hope to fixed this soon!

3. City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments, #6) by Cassandra Clare

There's so many books in the Mortal Instruments world and I think that with all of the new spinoffs of the series being announced that I just put this one out of my mind?? I did start it and I loved it, but then I started college and just had no time to finish the book. But here's to hoping that I finish it in 2015! *fingers crossed*

4. Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi

Another series that I have yet to finish but can't wait until I do. I'm afraid that I won't remember what happened in the first two books but maybe when I start reading it I'll remember everything? (Also I think that I read a spoiler about this book but I'm hoping that it was false)

5. Snow Like Ashes (Snow Like Ashes #1) by Sara Raasch

The summary sounds so interesting! It's been a while since I read anything high fantasy but the premise sounds so appealing and I have a feeling that I'm going to love it when I read it.

Alice's Picks
1. Talon (Talon #1) by Julie Kagawa
Okay, I am so ashamed by this! Julie Kagawa is one of my favorite authors and I was looking forward to Talon for a while. I actually started it, but then college took over and I never had the chance to finish it. But I WILL read it!

2. Atlantia by Ally Condie
Based on the title and synopsis, this seems to take from the legend of the lost city of Atlantis and I have always been fascinated by that. Besides that, this book has gotten some rave reviews!

3. Defy (Defy #1) by Sara B. Larson
A prince and a sorcerer? Yes, please! I enjoy reading books that involve some type of magic in it, which is probably why I read a lot of fantasy. And that cover! It's simple yet gorgeous; the colors are very eye catching. I'll be the first to admit that I do judge a book by it's cover sometimes!

4. Death Sworn (Death Sworn #1) by Leah Cypess
Ever since Poison Study, I have become fascinated with assassins in YA literature, especially in fantasy novels (think Graceling, Grave Mercy).

5. Snow Like Ashes (Snow Like Ashes #1) by Sara Raasch
This is on Yiling's list as well, but unfortunately I also didn't get to read it. However, I have the book so I'll definitely finish it in 2015! This book is also considered "similar" by goodreads to The Kiss of Deception, which I really enjoyed so I'm looking forward to it.

Top Ten Tuesday (4) - Top Ten Most Anticipated Debut Novels For 2015

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a an original feature/ weekly meme that was created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new topic is presented and this week's is:

Top Ten Most Anticipated Debut Novels For 2015

1. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
2. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
3. The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey
4. The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall
5. Duplicity by N.K. Traver
6. The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker
7. My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga
8. Vendetta by Catherine Doyle
9. Becoming Jinn by Lori Goldstein
10. Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed

Top Ten Tuesday (3) - Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing This Year

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a an original feature/ weekly meme that was created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new topic is presented and this week's is:

Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing This Year

My list is made up of both new, old, and soon-to-be-released books! :)

 

1. Branded by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki
2. The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson
3. Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder
4. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
5. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
6. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
7. Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder
8. Abandon by Meg Cabot
9. Insatiable by Meg Cabot
10. The Selection by Kiera Cass

Are any of these on your list?