Posted on by Hermione · 7 Comments

Tweet Cute-A Book Review

Well, this book is…*tries to find a word other than cute in my mental dictionary*…ADORKABLY CUUUTE! I mean, this book had me smiling like an idiot all along but let us just pretend I didn’t write that…because this book is the overall definition of adorable and witty. Anyone heard of Twitter war? Because I have never read a book where teenagers fight over Twitter. Well I have…this one.

Gahahaha! This book contains a lot of grilled cheese so make sure to eat it will reading this book. It sets the atmosphere…unfortunately, I wasn’t eating grilled cheese but I tell you…half of the book is GRILLED CHEESE…GRILLED CHEESE…GRILLED CHEEEESE!

  • Title: Tweet Cute
  • Author: Emma Lord
  • Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Fiction
  • Category: YA
  • Publishing Date/Publisher: January 21st 2020 by Wednesday Books
Tweet Cute
Source: Goodreads

There is Pepper. High flyer and captain of the swim team. Practical, fierce and determined with unwavering focus on her goals. She also anonymously controls Big League Burger’s Twitter account, a massive fast-food outlet run by her parents.

Now, there is Jack. Sits next to Pepper in class, member of the dive club and totally the opposite of Pepper. He is always trying his best to be better, since he is overshadowed by his twin brother, Ethan who is extremely popular in school. In some ways he and Pepper are similar; he anonymously manages Girl’s Cheesing’s Twitter account, a smaller fast-food chain. He is also the unknown creator of the popular chat app called Weazel.

When Big League Burger steals the name of Girl’s Cheesing’s grilled cheese, Pepper and Jack are instantly thrown into a heated Twitter war…while staying friends a school (and falling for each other on Weazel [obviously…anonymous]. Things get spiced up when people on Twitter start SHIPPING JACK AND PEPPER!!

After all, all is fair when it comes to fighting over grilled cheese…and when it comes to love.

About the Author:

Emma Lord

Emma Lord is the NYT bestselling author of YOU HAVE A MATCH and TWEET CUTE, a BuzzFeed market editor, and dessert gremlin living in New York City, where she spends whatever time she isn’t writing either running or belting show tunes in community theater. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a major in psychology and a minor in how to tilt your computer screen so nobody will notice you updating your fan fiction from the back row. She was raised on glitter, a whole lot of love, and copious amounts of grilled cheese.

[Picture and text taken directly from Goodreads]

My Ratings: 3.9/5

Rating: 4 out of 5.

My Thoughts:

Sweeeeet! I definitely enjoyed this book much more than You Have A Match because I was CONSTANTLY SHIPPING JACK AND PEPPER [and smiling like an absolute idiot but just ignore this part]

I mean, this book is cheesy, cute, funny and has the weirdest pair of friendship in it. And a main character who doesn’t know how to take a bus…by herself.

This book had me wondering though…WHO ON EARTH would put their kids in charge of a fast-food Twitter account…like who…would do that? I cannot imagine a parent doing this but okay…

Pepper was this girl who could open her own bakery on the spot if she wanted. She literally BAKES ALL SORTS OF CAKES AND GIVE THEM FUNNY NAMES?? Like there was So-Sorry-Blondies, Monster-cakes and…well…certainly she definitely knows how to cook. She says she would never be caught dead on Weazel but she actually uses it!! That was funny to be honest. She is an all-round high achiever who cares A LOT ABOUT HER GRADES and takes her responsibilities very seriously. Like being the swim team captain for example. I really liked her but right now, I guess Jack is my favourite character.

Jack…looks like a cinnamon roll, acts like a cinnamon roll and most of the time, IS a cinnamon roll. He is really cute (why am I even saying that?) and really likes Pepper (because he gets really jealous when Pepper talks to another guy) and all the time when he and Pepper were spending time together, I was like…AAWWWW!!! I totally ship those two people! At least, he had some humour and the story is told in his and Pepper’s point of view.

Apart from that the plot was okay…mainly because I am still wondering why people would let teenagers manage a Twitter account for a fast-food chain but the cuteness in the book made up for it. I wish the book wasn’t so self-centered around Pepper and Jack only because now that I realize it, very little is mentioned about Pepper’s friends or Jack’s best-friends. Like only 10% but overall I really recommend this if you need your day/night brightened up a little bit!

I guess that is all for today and next post will definitely be my August Wrap Up for this month. I really like August…why do you have to go already?? 😦

Nevermind, I like September as well and my little sister’s birthday is coming soon!

So…goodbye for now and see you with another post!

Love, Hermione

Posted on by Hermione · 2 Comments

House of Hollow-A Book Review

Hey all people!

I hope none of you are getting stuck in other worlds or worlds of the dead or worlds between the lands of the living and of the dead or anything of this sort because I tell you…I have read enough about these to know that when you get stuck in some other world, it is very difficult to come back. So don’t go opening mysterious doors…

Well, the review shall not be forgotten haha.

  • Title: House of Hollow
  • Author: Krystal Sutherland
  • Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Magical Realism
  • Category: YA
  • Publisher/Publishing Date: April 6th 2021 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
House of Hollow
Source: Goodreads

Can somebody tell me? How many beautiful covers exist in this world? My god!! Just look at the ants, beetles and flowery pattern on this face! I mean, how can people draw so beautifully?

WOW.WOW.WOW.

And tell me? How can any author be THAT lucky to have a cover that beautiful in a book????

Iris Hollow and her two sisters are the human definition of ‘strange’. Strange in a way that all three possess a half-moon scar at the base of their throat and a mysterious connection that binds all three to each other…almost magically. Iris doesn’t remember how she ended up with a scar but something happened to her during her childhood that she can’t recall, not even put a finger on.

Iris has always wanted to be a normal person but fitting in is not what the Hollow sisters do best. When Grey Hollow, Iris’s eldest sister suddenly goes missing, Iris and her other sister, Vivi will do anything to find her. Life cannot get any weirder than that can it? Even for the weirdest people?

Following mysterious trails and unraveling secrets along her way, Iris and Vivi’s mission won’t be easy. Horned men start following the two sisters, and the corpse of a man is discovered in one of Grey’s apartment. It isn’t the end either. Memories unfurl…memories of the sisters’ childhood that Iris starts to remember in fragmented pieces…all Iris and Vivi can hope is that things don’t become more complicated, impossible to solve and most of all, that their sister isn’t dead…but probably, she is. Already.

About the Author:

Krystal Sutherland

Krystal Sutherland is an internationally published author. Her latest novel for young adults, House of Hollow, was released by Penguin in April 2021. Sutherland’s first novel, Chemical Hearts, was published in over 20 countries and was named by the American Booksellers Association as one of the best debuts of 2016.

[Picture and text taken directly from Goodreads]

My Ratings: 4.5/5

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

My Thoughts:

Okay, if there is one thing I like, it is mystery thrillers with magical realism and in this book, the author blends those two EXTREMELY well. It was dark, mysterious and had the concept of ‘otherworlds’ (if any of you were wondering why I started this post with a very *hemhem* weird introduction). It wasn’t the sort of ‘otherworld’ that is about parallel universes and lands of the dead but rather the part between the land of the living and the land of the dead. And this place is mentioned under the name of the ‘Halfway‘ in the book. Unique I tell you.

Iris is the definition of weird, mysterious, dark, way-too-beautiful-but-doesn’t-know-how-to-take-advantage-of-it. The story is told in her point of view of course since she is our main character. She is a sort of person who wants to be NORMAL. Like lead a normal life where people don’t point at her wondering if she remembers anything about her childhood or thinking about whether she is a witch and if she is too dangerous. Haha, considering the fact that her and Vivi’s life fall upside down when Grey isn’t here. Like they are Grey’s fiercely loyal soldiers and Grey is the main commander and without her…well…upside down life it is.

This is why Iris and Vivi go nuts when their sister isn’t here. They have such a strong sister bond which I admire (considering the fact that me and my sister are constantly bickering and always have one major fight ever day)…

Vivi, is this person who almost HATES her beauty and even shaved her head for this. She has loads of tattoos and is the human definition of rock-n’-roll. She is that sort of person who wears crop tops, jeans, mini-skirts. And she ruins her health…okay…cannot live without smoking or drugs for a day and every day without is a day ruined for her😂. She is fierce, caring, a little clumsy when it comes to manners and loves her sisters very much.

Grey…the most enigmatic of all…she is a supermodel and owner of her own designer brand called House of Hollow where she designs clothes and being a very weird person, inserts secret runes or pieces of paper into the hems and all. She, unlike Iris, knows her worth very well and embraces her uniqueness. She uses her beauty as an advantage and is fiercely protective of her two smaller sisters (includes death threats to her own parents…and we see more things in the book.)

Other than that, the plot was unique and unlike any I have read before. Magical realism makes the book so out of the ordinary and you know what I explained above about the concept of the ‘otherworld’ which was definitely a different one. I have never read a book about an otherworld between life and death so that was an aspect that really liked.

There is just a way in which everything is explained in the book and nothing is left out. Like the childhood mystery wasn’t left unsolved. Like everything was part of of the main goal in the book.

Since I guess I have definitely talked enough, I should probably end this post and draft my August Wrap-Up since I haven’t yet done it and I cringe every time I think of it…😭

Well, I think that is all for today otherwise this post will become a very-long-post so bye for now!!!

Love, hermione!

P.S. Next post will be my August wrap up or a review of Tweet Cute by Emma Lord so be sure to stick around for more!!

Posted on by Hermione · 13 Comments

The Sunshine Blogger Award #3🌻

Welcome to another Sunshine post! I was tagged by the awesome Manjiri (also known as Penjiri) and if you haven’t yet checked out her blog, spend a few minutes to check her creative blog out! She also has awesome posts so you’ll definitely find one which will make you smile! Thank you so much Manjiri for the tag!

What is the Sunshine Blogger Award?

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image-1.png

The Rules:

  • Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their blog.
  • Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you.
  • Nominate 11 new blogs and write them 11 new questions.
  • List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award in your post and/or in your blog.

Manjiri’s Questions:

1. When you read the word ‘love,’ what’s the first song that comes to mind?

Okay….there are two songs…the first one is Lover by Taylor Swift and then there is Lose You To Love Me by Selena Gomez. AND CAN I ADD KILL THIS LOVE BY BLACKPINK!!! Fine…maybe I cheated a little bit but I had to add all of my favourite singers over here…

2. What were your favourite TV shows to watch when you were little?

*trying to wonder what is the difference between a movie and a TV Show and proceeds to ask Google…*

Okay, according to Google, a TV Show is something like a movie with many episodes/seasons and a movie only lasts like about two hours and doesn’t usually continue into many many episodes.

Alright, I finally understood! Can I change the question to movies please? I am still wondering what are the TV Shows that I watched…

There is this movie called Frozen (you all know about it…Elsa and Anna…) and it is still my favourite movie and I have to watch Frozen 2 during the holidays!

3. What’s a colour you recently started to love?

There is this green colour called ‘Sage’ (a sort of pale greyish olive green). I came across this colour when my friend from school had a sage wallpaper and theme on her phone and I was like ”This colour is actually beautiful! It is called sage!”

4. Tea or coffee? What’s your usual tea or coffee order?

Because I am still 12 (I am turning 13 this year though), my mom doesn’t allow me to drink much coffee but I am allowed to at times so I mostly drink tea which I really like.

Tea in the morning anyone??

5. Do you prefer writing or typing?

Writing because I am a paper-pen freak. My TBR on Goodreads is filled with precisely 141 books and all the 141 books are carefully written down in a small notebook where I tick once when I have read it and twice where I have read it and reviewed it.

There is also the fact that I keep a purple diary and write in it everyday…

So, you SEE…

6. How long have you been blogging?

I have been blogging consistently for the past few months but if this question actually means since when I had this blog…then the answer is 2 years (since November 2019). Don’t judge me…I haven’t really been blogging consistently. I have only started looking after my blog properly since those few months.

7. If you could add to or change one thing about your bedroom, what changes would you make?

My bedroom is mostly green. The curtains are green so there is always that greenish glow on the walls since the walls are white. I would like to paint one of the walls blue or purple (I mean, one side of the wall was blue long ago but we covered it up😥) and have once side of the wall covered from the bottom to the top with a GIGANTIC wooden bookcase. And we could probably change the curtains to some black or dark blue or dark purple or dark green…

8. What are your favorite games right now?

I don’t really play games but I really enjoy playing that dinosaur game on chrome when there is no Wi-Fi and my highest score was 1800-something. I don’t know how I reached there and I haven’t yet beaten myself to my own record…

9. Do you prefer succulents or flowers?

Both😂. I really cannot choose. They are both so unique in their own ways.

10. What’s the last thing you ate?

That will be a piece of bread with fried chilli.

(it isn’t very hot, I don’t know exactly how to explain this but in Mauritius here, we call it ”piment-cari”. Like chilli curry but it isn’t chilli curry. It is a green chilli which is a little larger than the normal ones and you deep fry it, so that it doesn’t burn your tongue)

11. What’s in your purse/bag/backpack? (pick one lol, you don’t have to tell me about all of those)

Backpack. We have started going to school now. It has been two months already and I am just going to go with school books which are always trying to rip my shoulders!😂.

Those questions were extremely fun to answer and thank you again Manjiri for nominating me!

Here are the people I tag:

Here are my questions:

  1. Do you have a fear of something or a specific phobia?
  2. Name ALL of your favourite characters from your favourite books.
  3. Do you have a crush on any book character? If so, name him/her😎
  4. Do you make enemies faster than friends or is it the other way round?
  5. Name the subject(s) you had to study at school that you absolutely hate?
  6. What is the longest book you have read?
  7. What is the weirdest thing you have ever said to your friends?
  8. What word do you use the most?
  9. What do you love to do apart from reading?
  10. Weird question but which do you prefer, black or white?
  11. Well, for this last question, I am giving you the chance to SCREAM about your favourite books/movies/singers or whatever else you like😄.

So, I think that this is all for this post and thank you again Manjiri for giving me the chance to participate in this tag! Thanks a ton!

So, well, see you later with another post. I just finished reading House of Hollow so that will probably be my review post coming soon!

Love, Hermione!

P.S. Thanks again, for nominating me Manjiri! 🙂

Posted on by Hermione · 15 Comments

Sorcery of Thorns-A Book Review

Hi all people! Hope you are all doing very fine….and all the usual stuff. Well, this is a review of Sorcery of Thorns (it is uncommon to find a standalone fantasy novel because most of them are usually part of a series…). Well, I just realized that everyday it is someone’s birthday. (Don’t ask me how, but I am that sort of person who realizes obvious things out of the blue…).

Since, I have nothing else to say unless if you want me discussing soil particles with you right now but let’s just go to the review.

  • Title: Sorcery of Thorns
  • Author: Margaret Rogerson
  • Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Magic
  • Category: YA
  • Publication Date/Publisher: June 4th 2019 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
Sorcery of Thorns
Source: Goodreads

This cover is one of the MOST BEAUTIFUL COVERS I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE…and you know who drew this cover? Charlie Bowater! Her art is simply amazing. The green in the background is one of my FAVOURITE colours!! I think it is dark turquoise. Isn’t this colour gorgeous??

Note: I have an obsession with greens especially dark greens, bottle greens, emerald greens, dark turquoise, dark teal….as long as the green is dark…

Also Note: I have an obsession with blues like midnight blues, royal blues, dark navy blues, dark grey blues…ya know, all dark blues…

Elizabeth Scrivener has lived in one of the Great Libraries for almost all her life. She has known the way the magic grimoires whisper endlessly on the shelves…the way they turn into wild monsters known as ‘Maleficts’ if they are damaged. She dreams of becoming a warden, somebody who protects the kingdom from the magic books can unleash.

All turns wrong when one of the most treasured book of the library turns into a Malefict and the Director of the library is found dead. When Elizabeth chases the Malefict and destroys it saving the whole town from wreckage by a savage book, she is accused for crime and is sent to face justice at the capital…with the sorcerers.

The sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn and his mysterious servant, Silas escort her to Ashcroft, one of the greatest sorcerers to face justice but Elizabeth senses that all things seem wrong.

Ashcroft doesn’t seem to want to accuse her for anything but rather he wants her for information. Other libraries are being attacked, with dangerous books turning into Maleficts one by one. Can Elizabeth stop those attacks before things get much worse? Before the world tumbles down, unable to repair? With the help of Nathaniel and is demonic servant Silas, Elizabeth will have to find out all she can to find out what is causing all those attacks and if it isn’t for something much greater than what the Earth can handle and cause a damage beyond miraculous repair…

About the Author:

Margaret Rogerson

Margaret writes fantasy for young adult readers. She lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, and when she’s not reading or writing she enjoys drawing, watching documentaries, making pudding, gaming, and exploring the outdoors in search of toads and mushrooms.

[Picture and text taken directly from Goodreads]

My Ratings: For the first time in a very long time, I am not sure what to give this book…just keep in mind that I have MANAGED TO CONVINCE MY BEST-FRIEND TO READ THIS BOOK! I am so happy!!! But I have to admit that she has started it a few days ago and SHE HASN’T EVEN YET FINISHED IT!

Like…excuse me…this book…I finished it in HALF A DAY and YOU tell me that…But maybe I have to understand…

I told her I am giving her ONE WEEK to finish this book. Come oooon!! It isn’t very long! Like 450 pages…that isn’t very much.

My Thoughts:

First thing: This book gives off major Slytherin vibes…and Hogwarts library vibes as well. This book SCREAMS Slytherin. AND MAGIC!

Elizabeth Scrivener was a character with a fierce passion for books (like all of us out there) and who is also an orphan who has been rescued by the Director and who lives in one of the Great Libraries since she was quite little. I think she is that sort of girl who would definitely choose books over friends. I wish I lived in a library…*sighs*

AND she is TALL! I mean, it is nice to relate to a character who chooses books over pretty much everything and who is tall.

I mean, I am 12 years (almost 13) and I am 168 cm…(that is around 5 feet 5 inches). WHY am I so tall?? It scares me to think how much will I grow…:(

Nathaniel Thorn…Thorn Nathaniel…*tries on the Sorting Hat* SLYTHERIN *almost immediately*. This sorcerer is pure Slytherin I tell you. Black hair with a streak of white, emerald robes (how much Slytherin do you seriously have to give off Nathaniel?), a lot of sass, dark past, deep friendship with his servant Silas. Pretends he doesn’t care about Elizabeth…and he calls her SCRIVENER?? Like, why?? Here is an example but I guess it is kinda cute though haha.

I like girls too, Scrivener. Amusement danced in Nathaniel’s eyes. I like both. If you’re going to fantasize about my love life, I insist you do so accurately.

Sorcery Of Thorns-Margaret Rogerson

Oh my god Nathaniel…I can’t believe it.

Silas…..white hair, yellow eyes, clawed hands, very short, extreme amount of sass when it comes to Nathaniel. He is a highborn demon who comes from the Otherworld (not telling more about this:) and who serves Nathaniel. He is my favourite character and without him in the book, well, it wouldn’t even have existed then. Here is a a paragraph from the book:

I will see Master Thorn settled. Silas paused to sniff the air beside Elizabeth. Then, Miss Scrivener, I shall draw you a bath. I believe supper is also in order. And-has no one lit the lamps? He looked aggrieved. I have hardly been absent for twenty-four hours and already, the world has descended into ruin.

Sorcery Of Thorns-Margaret Rogerson

I love you Silas😂. Did I mention he always wears gloves and can turn into a fluffy cat with yellow eyes and who calls Elizabeth ‘Miss’ almost all the time.

The story was way much more original that I thought. It combines magic, grimoires, demons, Otherworlds, sassy people almost perfectly. It has libraries, Slytherin vibes, magic, Silas (I cannot imagine the book without him).

It touched my heart, especially the ending; it caught me so hard I was turned into an emotional tangle of emotions. I never imagined the ending to be this way and it really did catch me off guard. I think this has goes to my favourite books of all time. It is a book I definitely recommend so go read it. It isn’t a part of a series so…why am I feeling weird right now? I want to buy the book and hug it.

Just go read this book. You don’t know how happy I was when I told my best-friend to read the book and she listened. I forgive her though for no finishing (she started it last week??) it but at least she started it.

I think that is all for today. So see you all bookworms with another post!

Love, hermione.

P.S. I haven’t yet started any book yet because I still haven’t gotten over this book because we had a lot of tests this week and last week and I am so happy I only have Physics test next week! Duh, too many ‘weeks’ I guess haha.

Posted on by Hermione · 10 Comments

Wilder Girls-A Book Review

Hi all people! I really can’t believe almost half of August is gone yet! (I need time-travel powers right now!!). Well, never mind…Today I am posting a review on the second book I have read by Rory Power…bloop! What does bloop mean by the way?

A few days ago my lil’ sister was busy looking at pictures of German Spitz dogs and was dying of cuteness overload. Ugh, really? I probably have to find a book on ”How To Resuscitate People Who Died Of An Overdose Of Cuteness”. I think I managed to bring my sister back to life though because she went to school yesterday and is back to her usual self.

  • Title: Wilder Girls
  • Author: Rory Power
  • Genre: Horror, Mystery, Fiction, LGBT
  • Category: YA
  • Publishing Date/Publisher: July 9th 2019 by Delacorte Press
42505366
Source: Goodreads

OMG…the CCOOVVEERR!! EEEEEEE! I love it!!! Especially the green in the background! I have a thing for green because it is one of my favourite colours.

For more than a year, the Raxter School for girls have been put on quarantine. A disease called the Tox has ravaged the whole school. The teachers dropping dead one by one until only a few were left still alive. Then it spread to the students of Raxter, leaving many girls dead while others suffering from weird deformities on their body and flare-ups which can happen anytime leaving you screaming while changes to your body occur, slowly turning you into something that isn’t you anymore.

Their quarantine has been harsh. The Navy promised to find a cure but the food sent is barely enough to satisfy everyone’s hunger. They don’t dare venture beyond the school fence because once the quarantine is broken, they will be left on their own, to die if need be, and no cure will ever be provided.

Hetty has also been affected by the Tox, she is now blind in her right eye and always has the feeling that something that wasn’t supposed to be in her body is occupying her. Hetty has always been a fierce and caring person and when her best friend, Bryatt falls ill and goes missing, she promises to do anything to find her. Anything for her best friend even if it means breaking the quarantine and venturing beyond the school fence.

Hetty will learn many secrets, some devastating, some hopeful, some scary but if there is one thing on her mind right now…it is to find Bryatt, before the Tox or any other mysterious people take her away for good…because once you have the Tox inside of you, it will ravage you and leave you in pieces if it must. The Tox is a disease that doesn’t care whether you die or not, it only takes and takes and takes and leaves you with nothing.

About the Author:

Rory Power
Source of picture: Goodreads

Rory Power lives in New England and works as a crime fiction editor and story consultant for TV adaptation. She writes mostly Young Adult books and is the New York Times Bestselling author of Wilder Girls and Burn Our Bodies Down.

My Ratings: 4.5/5

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

My Thoughts:

This book went way beyond my expectations (considering the fact that I hadn’t read the synopsis before adding it to my Goodreads TBR…).

The characters were full of personality, each so different from the other and enigmatic. Hetty was this character who would do anything for the people she loves. Reese, Hetty’s other best-friend is the one who interested me most. She is that person who pretends to be indifferent when she has this fierce protectiveness of her best-friends (she doesn’t show it). Reese has an interesting past which is mostly dark and mysterious. She has been affected by the Tox in a different way; one of her hands are silver with scales that seem to scare everyone.

Bryatt, I think is the one who is quiet and a little of the ‘thinker’ I assume. I think she is also a punctual person because EVERY morning she and Hetty go out for a short morning walk in the school garden. Because of this awful and mysterious Tox, SHE has grown another spine and I will spare you the teeny-weeny details…

I loved how the mysterious disease was portrayed in the book. It wasn’t just some monotonous illness where everyone falls ill, has some weird fever and just drops dead. It was different in a sense that almost every symptom in every human was different which made the Tox much more interesting to learn about and scary. I tell you this book isn’t for people who don’t stand gruesomeness, blood, weird deformities, abnormally-strong and scary animals like cats with teeth way too long and other scary features (the Tox also affects animals and all the girls of Raxter are trained on how to shoot just in case they come across a affected wild animal)

The plot was great and whatever happened in the book kept me on the edge, always wanting to know more and more. That is Rory’s superpower; she knows how to keep you wanting more and more from the story. This story had me immersed into it completely from the start till the end and if you liked Burn Our Bodies Down by the same author, then this book is definitely for you! I also recommend this to anybody who doesn’t mind creepy things, loves horror and any other book about wormy things, diseases, scaly hands, and you know what else.

If you have read this book…then do tell me what YOU think in the comments down below!

I guess that’s all for today and keep in mind…next review is Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson! I finished this book before yesterday and there is that one character who just can’t leave my mind…well, I will probably tell you all that next time with another post!

Love, Hermione🤍

Posted on by Hermione · 5 Comments

You Have A Match-A Book Review

Hi all pea-ple and creatures of the great Earth! (What has seriously got into me today?) Well, on Saturday, my little sister and I were having an argument on the way to the pool for our swimming lessons…and you know WHAT!!!

She doesn’t even believe in ghosts, spirits, souls, elves, faeries/fairies, and all these other FASCINATING LIVING THINGS! I mean…it is pretty obvious right…they DO EXIST!! Tell me yes…She doesn’t even believe me when I tell her dragons exist? Infuriating…

Look….THEY DO EXIST AND N.O.T.H.I.N.G IS CHANGING THAT.

Well, let’s get to the review shall we. *heavy breathing*

  • Title: You Have A Match
  • Author: Emma Lord
  • Genre: YA, Contemporary, Fiction, Romance, LGBT
  • Publishing Date/Publisher: January 12th 2021 by Wednesday Books
You Have a Match
Source: Goodreads

Abby has signed up for a DNA service, not really for herself but mostly for her best-friend Leo. Leo and his sister were adopted since they were quite little and Abby thought of giving Leo a little push to take the DNA service and perhaps discover who his biological parents are.

The very last thing Abby wanted is to find out she has a secret sister, only a year and a half older than her, Savannah Tully, an Instagram star. Shocking, that they share Abby’s parents given they both look very similar but so different from each other in their own ways.

The only reasonable thing to do is to meet up at summer-camp and find out some solution on how to explain everything to their parents.(Nor Abby nor Savvy have told their parents about their discovery.)

Ever since the BEI (Big Embarrassing Incident), Leo and Abby have been a little awkward mostly relying on their other bestie, Connie, to help them talk normally.

Lately, Abby has started falling for Leo but she doesn’t want to shatter their friendship and so keeps her feelings for herself. Abby doesn’t realize how complicated her life seems to be, growing feelings for Leo, a secret sister if revealed to her parents might make things much worse for all of them. Growing secrets, growing feelings…but sometimes you have to go for it, even if it looks like the hardest thing because there is always a chance a told-secret might change things for the better.

About the Author:

Emma Lord

Emma Lord is the NYT bestselling author of YOU HAVE A MATCH and TWEET CUTE, a BuzzFeed market editor, and dessert gremlin living in New York City, where she spends whatever time she isn’t writing either running or belting show tunes in community theater. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a major in psychology and a minor in how to tilt your computer screen so nobody will notice you updating your fan fiction from the back row. She was raised on glitter, a whole lot of love, and copious amounts of grilled cheese.

[Picture and text taken from Goodreads]

My Ratings: 3.5/5

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

My Thoughts:

I am not sure what to say about this book. Well, it was actually something between ‘I liked it’ and ‘I really liked it’. The problem is that a lot has seemed to have leaked out of my brain…

I should probably talk about the characters first. Abby was a good character, with her issues and happiness and problems and secretly crushing on her best-friend. Avid photographer, daring, adventurous and not-fussy about breaking the rules (even when you don’t know the rules). Leo was an okay character and I wished there was more about him because at the end of the book, I realized I didn’t really know much about him at all.

The character I found the most likable is Finn, my favourite character. He was this funny puppy guy who really cared for Abby (and she really cared for him too). I think the author did a great job creating him, like he was so real. I love him. Really love him. His character itself felt crafted beautifully. He was the one who caught my attention, the second he was introduced to the book. He is certainly special and there is something about him. He has his own family problems and my heart melted all the time he took Abby someplace special, like the Wishing Tree which is haunted by a ghost, so that she could make a wish. Abby’s and Finn’s friendship is really special I could almost see it right there floating through the words.

[Note that the majority of stars come from Finn’s and Abby’s friendship and Finn’s special place in my heart]

[Also note that I am sorry for all inconvenience caused by me for using the word ‘special’ too many times]

Overall, the best thing in the book [in my opinion] is Finn. I found the story quite interesting [umm…I finished the book in a day] and the plot was nice but I wished there were more things happening in the book. I was quite satisfied with the ending actually even though it wasn’t exactly what I wished for but okay.

Well, I guess that is all for today!

So see you next time with another book!

hermione 🖤

P.S. Next review is Wilder Girls by Rory Power! Shh!

Posted on by Hermione · 1 Comment

The Queen Will Betray You-A Book Review

Eeeeeeeeee! I finished The Princess Will Save You before last month and I am awfully glad I read this book! Not considering the fact that the third book of this series is to be released next year.😭. WHY?? It is coming out in in August 2021…..I’m SEETHING!

⚠ WARNING!! This post DEFINITELY contain spoilers for the first book so please don’t read ahead!! ⚠

I’m dropping a link for my review of the first book in the series: The Princess Will Save You (Kingdoms of Sand and Sky#1)

  • Title: The Queen Will Betray You
  • Series: Kingdoms of Sand and Sky #2
  • Author: Sarah Henning
  • Genre: YA Fantasy, Adventure, Romance, Retellings
  • Publishing Date/Publisher: July 6th 2021 by Tor Teen
43603842. sy475
Source: Goodreads

*falls in love with the cover and the way the artist portrayed those two characters*

Does anyone know who designed this cover? If you do please tell me!

⚠ WARNING!! AGAIN. IF YOU DON’T WANT THE FIRST BOOK SPOILED THEN FOR BOOKS’ SAKE DO NOT CONTINUE READING!! ⚠

Don’t say I didn’t say I didn’t warn yaaaaaaa!! *tries not to sing the lyrics out loud*

Amarande will have to separate with her true love and best-friend, Luca in order to reclaim her kingdom and for Luca to prove he is the heir to the throne in Torrent which is currently ruled by a Warlord after the whole royal family of Torrent was believed to be wiped out.

Surprises are always there of course and in the most unexpected situations. Amarande realizes that during her absence, her kingdom and castle has changed a lot and she discovered the unlikeliest surprises ever.

Meanwhile, Luca is constantly afraid of being discovered. Word has reached the Warlord’s ears and nobody wants the last of the royal family of Torrent which was supposedly eradicated, to come up, raise a rebellion, reclaim the rightful throne and the Warlord fallen forever.

Amarande and Luca’s mission to create peace in the whole of the Kingdoms of Sand and Sky and prevent any war from surfacing seems a very good idea but will they succeed?

About the Author:

Source: Goodreads

Sarah Henning is a recovering journalist who has worked for The Palm Beach Post among others and who is also the author of many books, Sea Witch and Sea Witch Rising just naming a few. When not writing, she can be found hanging out with her husband and two kids.

My Ratings: 4.5/5

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

My Thoughts:

Well, there is me busy wondering what a beautiful name Amarande is whenever her name pops up. This is the way I pronounce it “Ah-mah-raan-day”. Isn’t the name beautiful??

It went WAY beyond my expectations and the end had me a little sad AND screaming I WANT THE THIRD BOOK NOW! I greatly recommend the whole series by the way and read it right now if you don’t mind waiting a lot. I MEAN A LOT.

It was nice getting back to all of these characters after so long and it picked up a few days after the ending of the first book I think. The book isn’t that big because I finished it in one day in one sitting (me reading for 4 hours straight). I don’t remember how much time it took me to finish the book because I could have started at eight in the morning and finished it before midday…

The book talks about so many things…there is Amarande discovering the hidden parts of her family and Luca discovering his true family and learning about them. There is the theme of loss, sadness, and betrayal above all and trust is something almost privileged. Before all of this chaos happened, the Kingdoms of Sand and Sky was a male-dominated place but now, it is almost female-dominated with Queens wanting to rule the whole of Kingdoms of Sand and Sky all for their own gain. And you imagine!! All of this started just with the death of the Warrior King, King Sendoa who is Amarande’s father! The tragic and sudden death of one powerful King sends all the of the Sand and Sky in complete mess. It is unbelievable the way Sarah Henning created such a story.

I am not sure if it was much better than the first one but there was definitely a little more action, suspense and things happening in the book. Amarande was as ruthless and badass as ever, Luca was as willing as ever to support Amarande and protect the ones he cares for and loves. This is what I love about Luca; his trust, humbleness, fierce protection of the people he cares about and bravery.

The person I found the most interesting in the book was Taillefer, Prince Renard’s brother. I didn’t like him AT ALL in the first book but he is now my favourite character. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of plants, potions and all these gruesome scary animals which he keeps in jars. I would love to meet him (he is not nice…he tortured Luca once with his Fire Swamp or whatever it is called) and we could be friends… I mean, in the book, we get to see him more often and sometimes feel a lot of sympathy for him because he is more human in this book. We get to see his fears, his sadness and hopes and dreams. He is very sarcastic (I mean VERY sarcastic) and with a weird sense of humour as well. I love his personality actually. Is he my favourite character? I guess so because I am not done talking about him😂. I think the end of the book didn’t do much justice to him and…I seriously don’t know why it his ending had to be this way. The only reason why I took half a star away is because of this😔.

I guess that is all for today! Next review will definitely be You Have A Match by Emma Lord because I finished the book yesterday so stay around for more!!😊😊

Lots of love,

~hermione

Posted on by Hermione · 18 Comments

The Sunshine Blogger Award #2🌻

This is the second time I have been tagged for this award so thank you very much Jessica@The Awkward Book Blogger for tagging me last month😊! I hope I’m not too late (tiny freak out realizing that it has been almost a month…)Let’s jump right in!

What about the Sunshine Blogger Award?

The Sunshine Blogger Award is given to those who are creative, positive and inspiring while spreading sunshine to the blogging community.

The Rules:

  • Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their blog.
  • Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you.
  • Nominate 11 new blogs and write them 11 new questions.
  • List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award in your post and/or in your blog.

Jessica’s Questions:

What is your favorite book you’ve read so far this year?

That will definitely be Fable and Namesake by Adrienne Young. It gave me those pirate vibes and badass-girl vibes I obviously needed (and lacked). There is also The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E Schwab and my mind hasn’t got over it yet. I think I feel like reading those books again…

What is one of your guilty pleasures?

Eating to much cake or anything sweet! That is the reason why I don’t like it when we have cake at home because I tend to fill my stomach with only cake or sweets or chocolate…(don’t get me started on how much I luuuurve chocolate)

What is your favorite snack/food?

Just mentioned it above…CHOCOLATE and CAKE! I am so happy those foods exist. I think I also like chicken and any other sort of meat as long as it is cooked some way that looks good😂. I mean, VERY GOOD. AND I FORGOT SALAD!! Why do we even HAVE to COOK vegetables….we can very well eat them RAW….there are some exceptions of course…

If you could have any fictional creature as a pet, which one would you choose?

I was thinking about dragons but that would cause too much disaster and I don’t think I am up to that task…as much as I like unicorns, I don’t think they really suit me but I guess we could be friends…I think I’ll go for a baby dragon which stays a baby for its whole life or a baby wolf. OR A BABY SEA DRAGON!! (where did I get this? I don’t think I have read any book with sea dragons before…)

Name a fun fact about yourself.

Well, I am a Scorpio since I am born in November and I don’t really like birthdays because it just reminds me I’m getting older. (I am turning 13 this year🙄). I DON’T THINK I WANT TO BE THIRTEEN YET! I do enjoy birthday parties though because they are really fun and you almost forget you are older!!!

Is that even a fun fact? I am not sure myself…..

Any authors/books you’ll never read?

Well…that. I don’t think I’ll ever be reading Twilight by Stephanie Meyer or perhaps I’ll read it when I am older and when I have run out of books to read (is that ever happening?)

What is the best movie/TV show that you’ve watched this year?

There is this movie called Venom which is a 2018 movie and it was a little scary but you get used to it after some time. I hate scary movies but I think that’s an exception. Wait…I think I watched this in December or in January? Never mind.

Venom (2018 film) - Wikipedia
Picture taken from Wikipedia

Another movie I watched is Kung-Fu Panda! I loved it actually. I don’t know which Kung-Fu Panda I actually watched but it was the one with the secret scroll.

If you could switch spots with any character in a book/movie/TV show, who would it be and why?

I would like to switch places with Belle from Beauty and the Beast. No, not for the romance but the library. Just imagine a library THAT BIG! I probably have to find the ”machine” that will make me enter Belle’s world though. The problem is I don’t know where to find it…and if it is in another planet….I’m doomed…then I’ll have to find a super rocket and hoard up a lot of food so I don’t run of food during the journey because I don’t think alien food from another planet will be suited for an earth-dweller like me.

What kind of music do you like listening to?

I guess I like pop songs and classical (a lot). My favourite music artists are Taylor Swift (how many of you love her), Selena Gomez (I love her voice) and BlackPink (K-pop isn’t really my thing but…). BTW, how many of you are waiting for Lisa’s solo to come out? I seriously cannot wait!

Name your last 1 star read.

I don’t have a 1 star read…before I read a book, I make sure I will enjoy it and even though I have read a few books without reading their synopsis, I have never disliked a book THAT MUCH!

Would you rather have the ending of every book you read spoiled or be able to read a book without being spoiled but never know the ending?

I’d rather have a book spoiled…I don’t think I would really mind but it would take 50% of the fun. You know that moment in books when the main character or whoever is on the verge of death and you already know they won’t die…given the options I have I’d rather have all the endings spoiled. Never knowing the ending is MUCH MUCH WORSE than spoiling the book I THINK I’LL DIE OUT OF SHEER CURIOUSITY!

I was just wondering when you reread a book, you actually know what has happened but it still doesn’t lose its fun…especially if it is your favourite book! How many of you wished you could read your favourite books again for the first time?

Here are the people I tag:

I really believe that every single blogger out there deserves this award because we all put a lot of effort in our blogs.💛💛

Here are my questions:

  1. If the world had to be of only ONE colour (and its tints and shades) what colour would you choose?
  2. Tell us of a character you hated much more than the antagonist itself.
  3. If you had to be a virus for a day and destroy the whole world, which virus would you be? You can also invent one if you like.😎 Or steal one.
  4. If you had to be in a movie what character would you like to be (hero, villain, sidekick…)?
  5. When do you usually get your best ideas?
  6. Name your favourite quote(s) from your favourite book by your favourite character?
  7. What is the weirdest question you asked yourself?
  8. What is your worst personality trait?
  9. Are you a sunlight person or a moonlight person? (you can be both):P
  10. What is the wisest thing you’ve done in your entire life?
  11. Would you rather have the main character die in the end victorious or still be alive, defeated? (and never be able to win ever again)

*extreme evil laughter after that last question*

That is all for today! Is that post way too long? I seriously don’t know because I have been writing it since last month AND I HAVE TO GET GOING BECAUSE I HAVE A TON OF TESTS FOR NEXT WEEK AND TOMORROW AND I HAVE TO REVISE!!! I AM KINDA FREAKING OUT ACTUALLY…I HAVE ALREADY PREPARED MY REVISION SHEETS AND ALL BUT….AAAARRRRRHHHH.

Don’t mind me. Just tests and unnecessary stress…

Lots of love, Hermione🤍