​Ahh! I read one of the series in my TBR pile. The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater I finally finished this series. It was really great series overall but it did have some slow spots. My most favorite part of this book are the friendships and the bonds that are formed over the course of these books.
 
The Raven Boys
 So, I’m not going to lie to you it took me forever to start reading this book and it took me forever to keep reading this book. It had a slow start but if you stick with it, it does get better. I had to force myself to listen to it on audiobook because it was not grabbing my attention. But all in all, I really did love this book. The romance was cutesy and all but somewhat childish. It has an interesting storyline and relatable character’s.
 
The Dream Thieves
I liked this book a lot better. It had more action and more mystery. I didn’t like how some story lines were never explained (Kavinsky) and I felt that the battle scene at the end was poorly written and really weird. I liked the plot twists and the “romance.”
 
Blue Lily, Lily Blue
 This is where this series lost me. I liked the book and I loved the budding romance between Blue and Gansey but this book was just really weird. I felt like the story progressed fast and slow all at the same time. And the plot lines were weird.
 
The Raven King
Ok book. I’m glad most of the character’s got happy endings but I’m sad that Noah sort of just drifted out of the story. I do love the romance in this book (Ronan and Adam & Blue and Gansey). I glad that after Gansey died he was brought back to life because I would have been heated if he just died. I think this is my favorite book in the series and I don’t usually like last books.
 
This was an okay series. I think it would have been better if I had read these books when I was younger because the writing and the storylines seemed childish compared to what I have recently read. But if you don’t mind sticking around for a while to get hooked on these books, read them.

I feel that 2018 is going to be a great year for movies! I can’t wait to see how they all turn out! Hopefully I’ll make it to all the ones I want to see and discovers one I dint know about!
 

1. Maze Runner: The Death Cure (January 26)

I am excited to see how this trilogy ends, I didn’t read all the books but it was a good first two movies.
Trailer 
   2. Fifty Shades Freed (February 9)
Ahh! I am so excited to see this movie. I read all the books and I loved them. I really liked the second movie with the changes they made from the second book, so I can’t wait to see how they handle this last book.
Trailer
    3. Avengers: Infinity War (May 4)
Who lives, who dies?!?!?!?!
Trailer
   4.  Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (June 22)
Loves these movies, can’t wait to see what happens! Sort of sad that the two main characters are not together when the movie starts but we will see what happens.
Trailer
    5. Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again (July 20)
Ahh!! I literally loved the first Mamma Mia! I can’t wait for the summer to see this movie. I’m concerned that the mom is not in the movie but I hope we will be surprised and she will show up.
Trailer
   6. Mulan (November 2)
One of my favorite Disney princesses. I really like the most recent of Disney’s live action retelling of their classic tales and I can’t wait to see how they do this!
Trailer
   7. The Nutcracker & the Four Realms (November 2)
I loved Barbie and the Nutcracker and I got really excited when I saw the trailer for this movie. It was like a dream come true! I just love the characters and the storyline and the dancing and songs!
Trailer

Ahh! Happy New Year! I am so excited to all the books 2018 is bring me. Some books will close a chapter on the characters I’ve come to love and some books will help me discover new worlds! I think that 2018 will have some great books! So, below are some of my most anticipated.
 
This website is amazing, the writers has managed to create and compile most of the books going out in 2018. so if you need any help in finding your next read visit this site! http://wanderingsofabookbird.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/your-guide-to-2018-ya-releases.html
 

1. The Dark Calling (#6) by Kresley Cole (February 13)

 
New intrigues, adventure, and stunning revelations fill the penultimate installment of #1 New York Times best-selling author Kresley Cole’s electrifying Arcana Chronicles.
In a world teetering on the edge . . .
When Evie receives life-changing—and possibly game-changing—news, she has trouble believing it. Why doesn’t she feel any different? Is it possible someone she trusts might be lying?
With enemies at every turn . . .
Tensions seethe inside the castle of lost time as Evie begins to doubt her own sanity. Answers might be found outside their stronghold, but will Death help her find them—or prevent her from learning the truth about her future and Jack’s possible survival?
Darkness beckons.  
A mysterious, sinister power begins to affect all the Arcana in its path. Forced out into the wasteland alone, Evie must depend on unexpected allies for survival. But as a battle with Richter looms, can her new alliance defeat the dark calling before hell reigns on earth?
-Excerpt from the website
 
I have been waiting so long for this book to come out! I need to know what happens to all my favorite characters. This series was the first adulterer young adult book I read. I was a sophomore in high school and I just fell in love. The characters were very honest and not cookie cutter like most YA characters seem to be. It was a very real telling. I also love how the author turned something as simple as tarot cards and made this Hunger Games meets zombie apocalypse story. It is really amazing and I recommend it to everyone. Plus, the book cover art is so amazing in this series!
 
          2. A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Mass (May) 
A companion tale to the #1 New York Times bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses series that takes place several months after the explosive events of A Court of Wings and Ruin
Narrated by Feyre and Rhysand, this story bridges the events in A Court of Wings and Ruin and the upcoming novels in the series.
Feyre, Rhys and their companions are still busy rebuilding the Night Court and the vastly changed world beyond. But Winter Solstice is finally near, and with it a hard-earned reprieve. Yet even the festive atmosphere can’t keep the shadows of the past from looming. As Feyre navigates her first Winter Solstice as High Lady, she finds that those dearest to her have more wounds than she anticipated – scars that will have a far-reaching impact on the future of their court.
Excerpt from the website
I absolutely loved this trilogy and I can’t wait to return to these characters. I ate up these books in like 3 days. The world building, the storyline, the characters are all amazing! These books are a must read!
 
     3. Throne of Glass 7 by Sarah J. Mass (Fall 2018)
Ahh!! I’m not sure if I want this book to come out because it’s the last in the series and I hate goodbyes, but on the other hand I need to see what becomes of Aelin and I need to see if all my OTP’s get happy endings and I need to see who lives and dies!
 
     4. Smoke in the Sun by Renee Ahdieh (May 1st)
The highly anticipated sequel to Flame in the Mist--an addictive, sumptuous finale that will leave readers breathless from the bestselling author of The Wrath and the Dawn 

After Okami is captured in the Jukai forest, Mariko has no choice--to rescue him, she must return to Inako and face the dangers that have been waiting for her in the Heian Castle. She tricks her brother, Kenshin, and betrothed, Raiden, into thinking she was being held by the Black Clan against her will, playing the part of the dutiful bride-to-be to infiltrate the emperor's ranks and uncover the truth behind the betrayal that almost left her dead. 

With the wedding plans already underway, Mariko pretends to be consumed with her upcoming nuptials, all the while using her royal standing to peel back the layers of lies and deception surrounding the imperial court. But each secret she unfurls gives way to the next, ensnaring Mariko and Okami in a political scheme that threatens their honor, their love and very the safety of the empire.
-Excerpt from Goodreads
 
The first book was amazing and left off on a cliffhanger so, I can’t wait to see what happens. I love this Mulan inspired tale. Renee weaves this amazing story and her world building is magnificent.
 
       5. Tiger’s Dream (#5) by Colleen Houck (March)
A tiger left behind.

A goddess in need of an ally.

Stranded in a time and place he never wished for, Kishan Rajaram must carry out his destiny of assisting the beautiful yet extremely irritable goddess Durga. This daunting task is not made easy by the fact that he must also face the truth about the girl he loves and the brother who stole her away.

When the wily shaman Phet appears and tells Kishan that Kelsey needs him, he jumps at the chance to see her again. In his efforts to save her, Kishan discovers that the curse he thought was over is just beginning. As time unravels around him, Kishan realizes that the fates of all those he holds dear lie in hands.

The goddess’s power hangs in the balance. Kishan has no choice but to sacrifice the unthinkable to fight the dark forces swirling around the woman he’s charged to protect. As he does, he discovers that love and loyalty create their own magic and accepts that he must decide his destiny once and for all.

Tiger’s Dream is the conclusion to the epic Tiger’s Curse fantasy romance series that left you breathless.
-Excerpt from Goodreads
It’s been so long since I visited these beloved characters. The first four books will be a defiant reread before this book comes out. I am very anxious to see if Kishan will get a happy ending he wholeheartedly deserves after sacrificing himself. I do also hope the we get to see how Ren and Kelsey are doing.
 
 
So these are my most anticipated reads of 2018 but only because I know of these worlds. I know that I will discover so many more books that will become loved by me!

Happy New Year people!! I hope that yalls 2017 was everything you hoped for and that 2018 is all that you expect. I am so excited for this year, I feel that it is going to be great. I hope to grow as a person, and as a blogger. Though 2017 had some disappointments (like not getting an officer position in my sorority or struggling in my college classes or losing some more high school friends) I am ready to rise above these obstacles and be my best self. I want to put 100% of myself in all that I do and show myself I can do anything.

1. Continue becoming fluent in Spanish

I have come a long way from knowing nothing last year and I will continue to learn a new language.
     2. Stay active on my blog!
I definitely plan to be more active on my blog this year. I had some trouble with school last year and didn’t read as much books as I would have liked but I will be better this year.
    3. Travel
I hope to travel much more this year. My sister is graduating, so hopefully she will want to go somewhere on my bucket list. I also hope to study abroad this summer; I want to either go to Greece or Great Britain.
   4. Get a 4.0 for both semesters of college
Last semester was very hard on me, I took my last moth class and math just isn’t my forte. But I am so excited for the classes I am taking this semester. I finally get to take a cooking class and I don’t have any 8am’s!!
   5. Read 150 books
​Last year I read 65 books but I did go through a few months of a reading slump and I know that this year I will be able to accomplish this goal because there are some great books coming out this year and I’m excited for them!

I was really looking forward to 2017’s movies but unfortunately college got in the way and I did not see all the movies that I wanted to see. So, I did this list below with the movies I did see. There were some really great movies out his year. They were diverse in many aspects and the ones I was able to see were great.
 

1. Beauty & the Beast

This is literally my favorite Disney princess and the fact that Disney made a live action movie is amazing. I didn’t get to see this movie in theaters but I saw it when it came on Netflix and I watched it like 5 times in a row. I really love the soundtrack and how the story had more details than the original cartoon.
      2. Fifty Shades Darker
​I rarely like the movies better than the book but I liked the direction and the changes that they made to make this movie. They did not focus on the inappropriate scenes and focused on the story. I didn’t mind that they excluded some original characters and gave bigger parts to others. Really can’t wait for the final movie!
      3. Girls Trip
If you are in need are a really good laugh look no further than this movie. It is hilarious and heartwarming. It was one of the best movies of the year!

       4.Spiderman: Homecoming
I really know a lot about the Marvel universe but this is my favorite Spiderman remake. Probably because he was the closest in age to me and the actor was cute. And Zendaya was in it. But I really liked the storyline and getting to see how he was after the bottle in Civil War and how Tony had taken him under his wing. I loved how well they weaved the story lines from the current Marvel movies to fit into this movie. It was great!
     5.Star Wars: The Last Jedi
I have read so many reviews on this movie and it has gotten so many different opinions to viewers. Some fans wanted the movie to never have existed and others loved it. I only really watch Star Wars because my dad was in it and that how we spend time together but he has been a fan since they came out when he was a child and he liked the movie, so I have a hard reason seeing how it got so many negative opinions. I laughed a lot during the movie. It had some serious moments and funny moments. I really liked the underlying romance between Rey and Kylo (but my dad says they can’t get together because it will defeat the purpose of the movie) but a girl can hope for a little romance in the movies she watches! Though I did feel that it took so long for any action and then the battle was a little disappointing. But I feel everyone should watch the Star Wars Saga because the movies have transcended generations and is a pop culture legend and it’s a movie that most people have watched or heard about.

1. Famous in Love (Freeform)

I don’t normally like a tv show/movie better than the book but in the case of Famous in Love I thought that the show took the basis of the book in a totally different (but way better) direction that made it appeal to a wider audience. I also defiantly liked that the whole season got released at once because I was able to watch the whole season in a matter of days rather than a matter of weeks. I liked that the show added drama that wasn’t in the book because while the books appear childish to me, the show was more relatable because I am around the same ages as the characters on the show. And hopefully season two will come out in 2018 because it was recently renewed! So, you can now watch the whole season on Hulu and Freeform now!
​
2. Bones
I recently discover this show at the beginning of December and I am just in love with this show. I really like the crime shows I found this year, but this one is my favorite. It has mystery, action, friendship, humor, and romance. The series ended at the beginning of this year with 14 seasons under their belt. I really liked Dr. Brennan, I found her humor and witty saying to be hilarious and I definably relate to her and her things in more ways than one. Put this on your list of shows that you should see in your lifetime.

3.The Bold Type (Freeform)
     Fresh. Empowering. Girl Power. A few of the words that
     come to mind when I think about this show. This show
     was one of the greats of 2017. It was a feel good, relatable
     show that everyone should watch. It has been renewed
     for a 2nd and 3rd season!

4.Freakish (Hulu)
    Ahh!! I normally am not into the gory, scary shows but this show made me want to watch shows like it. It’s about high school students, trapped in a high school (yikes! Worst nightmare) trying to survive an explosion that has infected everyone and turned them into zombies! It had its second season this year and it stars teenagers from hit YouTube Channels, which is so cool. Can’t wait for the third season!

5.Jane the Virgin (CW)
    This show is so adorable. I felt that this year’s season was great. I’m not sad that Michael died (sorry not sorry) because I’m still team Rafael. I like that they did a time lapse so we could see how the death has affected the show but also how that have all moved on. My mom and I love watching this show together and everyone should watch this show if they want to feel warm on the inside.

 
I watched a lot of great tv shows in 2017 and the ones below were good but not good enough.
Honorable Mentions
-The 100 (CW)
         Still waiting for my ship to sail! #Bellarke Can’t wait for
season five!
-Runaways (Hulu)
         Still waiting for them to run away. Great show though!
-CSI: Miami (Hulu)
         Love my crime shows! But not enough romance
-Dynasty (CW)
         Lots of drama and murder
-Riverdale (CW)
         Sort of dragging now, liked season one better. Team
Veronica!
-Zoo (Netflix)
         Interesting take on why we should be nice to animals and
not experiment with genes!
-How to Get Away with Murder (ABC)
         Really liked this show, but I still don’t like the
flashbacks/flash-forwards?
-Greys Anatomy (ABC)
         Well Meredith still hasn’t died and Alex didn’t go to jail!
-The Handmaids Tale (Hulu)
         AHH!! An amazing show, everyone needs to watch this!

I can’t believe that 2017 is about to be over. In terms of books I felt that 2017 was a great year. I discovered lots of my new books and series. I did have sort of a slump at the beginning of August but I am ending the year strong with a total of 68 books read this year. I can’t wait for 2018’s books.

Standalone

1. Flame in the Mist by Renee Adieh

I know this this book is becoming a series in 2018 but since it is still alone I put it as my top stand-alone book of 2017. I honestly love this book so much. He characters are interesting and relatable. The story keeps the pages turning and I can’t wait till the next book. This book got me through my nine hour drive to college and really got me out of my reading slump. I love that it is inspired by Mulan (aka one of my favorite Disney princess movies.)

    2.   Lost Girl by Chanda HahnI think that I am just obsessed with perter pan. I love how authors can manage to keep putting interesting retaliating on this tale. You will not be disappointed if you decide to pick up this book as Chanda manages to put a really interesting twist on Neverland and its characters. Watch the book trailer here! And be on the lookout for is sequel Lost Boy.

    I didn’t read a lot of standalone books this year but I truly believe that a book can’t be great if there is only one. I mean the ones above are becoming series. You truly have to be great at writing to have all the elements of a great story and put it in one book.
 
Series

1. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass

OMG! I am just in love with this book series. If you haven’t read it or you have this is an excuse to discover it again. But a warning that one you read this series most books will pale in comparison to Mass’s ability to weave storylines together and tell a magnificent tale. Here’s one book trailer and another one!

     2. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. MassSarah J. Mass just has an amazing ability to write stories. I love this series and the underlying beauty and the Beast inspired themes. I love how real and relatable the characters are even though they are not all human. And I just love the friendship and love story that these books feature. The plot twist will keep you at the edge of your seat and you will devour these books in a snap.

 
      3.Fallen Crest Series by TajanThis series was a little more on the adult side of YA but I found it so refreshing to read. It revealed the dark side of bad families and a true love story. It had crazy moments and still relatable moments. I could truly relate the characters and I believe everyone should read this series when they feel that they are ready to be more adult in YA contemporary scene.

 
      4.  The Royals by Erin WattLike the series above these books are more on the adult side of the YA spectrum. It does have darker themes but I just ate these books up. I love the plot twist and how the story keep drawing me in.

         5. Famous in Love by Rebecca Serle
               These books were a cute little weekend read. While the
     characters were a bit childish it was very entertaining. I would      
    not recommend reading the novella Locked that goes with this  
   series because it is seriously disappointing. But it was a cute love
  triangle and you could read this book if you needed a pick me up.
         

​Flame in the Mist is about The daughter of a prominent samurai, Mariko has long known her place—she may be an accomplished alchemist, whose cunning rivals that of her brother Kenshin, but because she is not a boy, her future has always been out of her hands. At just seventeen years old, Mariko is promised to Minamoto Raiden, the son of the emperor’s favorite consort—a political marriage that will elevate her family’s standing. But en route to the imperial city of Inako, Mariko narrowly escapes a bloody ambush by a dangerous gang of bandits known as the Black Clan, who she learns has been hired to kill her before she reaches the palace.
     Dressed as a peasant boy, Mariko sets out to infiltrate the Black Clan and track down those responsible for the target on her back. Once she’s within their ranks, though, Mariko finds for the first time she’s appreciated for her intellect and abilities. She even finds herself falling in love—a love that will force her to question everything she’s ever known about her family, her purpose, and her deepest desires.
SEE LESS
the daughter of a prominent samurai, Mariko has long known her place—she may be an accomplished alchemist, whose cunning rivals that of her brother Kenshin, but because she is not a boy, her future has always been out of her hands. At just seventeen years old, Mariko is promised to Minamoto Raiden, the son of the emperor’s favorite consort—a political marriage that will elevate her family’s standing. But en route to the imperial city of Inako, Mariko narrowly escapes a bloody ambush by a dangerous gang of bandits known as the Black Clan, who she learns has been hired to kill her before she reaches the palace. Dressed as a peasant boy, Mariko sets out to infiltrate the ranks of the Black Clan, determined to track down the person responsible for the target on her back. But she’s quickly captured and taken to the Black Clan’s secret hideout, where she meets their leader, the rebel ronin Takeda Ranmaru, and his second-in-command, his best friend Okami. Still believing her to be a boy, Ranmaru and Okami eventually warm to Mariko, impressed by her intellect and ingenuity. As Mariko gets closer to the Black Clan, she uncovers a dark history of secrets, of betrayal and murder, which will force her to question everything she’s ever known.
-summary from Penguin Random House
 
Honestly this is the book your read that after you finish it you can’t pick up another book right away. Like this might be might favorite book of the year. I actually listened to the first part of this book on my drive up to college and then I finished the book that night because it was so good and I just had to know what happened.
This book is a reimaging of Mulan and she is one of my favorite Disney princess and I am all about girl power. I really like how this story was told and it was really interesting to be in the head of a girl trying to act like a boy. She has thoughts that every girl has had at one time trying to understand boys. Renee writing has the ability to keep us guessing and every point.
Though what I did not like about this book is that she a had theses chapters every few chapters that complete switched point of views and I had absolutely no idea what was going on. I understand that they are supposed to be like that and we are not supposed to figure out what is going on because it adds to the story background plot but I just did not like them. And then the actual book ended in one of these chapters and it was one of my least favorite endings.
I would recommend The Flame in the Mist to people who like Mulan and for people who like stories where the underdog becomes the hero.

So, last week I read A Court of Thornes and Roses by Sarah J. Mass and all I can say is Do Not read these books unless you are prepared to be disappointed by any books you read after these. The world building, the character development, the story lines, and the way the story just seems to flow and you read it. Amazing! I actually made the mistake of starting this series in the middle of her other series Throne of Glass (which is just as equally amazing) because I didn’t have the next book in the series yet, and I ended up reading the whole series in like 3 days. I stayed up till like 3 a.m. in the morning reading these books just to get up at 6 a.m. to go babysit.
The first book, A Court of Thorns and Roses, is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast with Fae aspects and an unexpected twist. Like I said before the amount of detail that Sarah J. Mass put into her world building is incredible. I felt like I was a part of the story at all times, this book was incredibly fast paced and I never put this book down! I really loved seeing all the characters interact Under the Mountain, those were probably my favorite chapters. I was a little disappointed that I was able to figure out the riddle given to Feyre the second it was given to her. I am not sure if the reader was supposed to guess the answer before Feyre came to the realization but it was way too easy.
The second book, A Court of Mist and Fury, is absolutely my favorite book of the trilogy (Chapter 55!). Feyre and Rhysand slow burn relationship has the most well written relationship in my library (at the moment) and I am in love with the night court and the Inner Circle. This book did not seem as fast paced as the first one but it still flowed effortlessly. This one did not have as much action as the first book but focused more on the repercussions of everyone’s action Under the Mountain (hint- hardcore PTSD) and the blooming relationships of Feyre and the Inner Circle.
The last book, A Court of Wings and Ruin, was ok. Honestly Nesta is my spirit animal! And I ship her so hard with Cassian! I found this book a little hard to get through, it might have been the fact that it was the last book and I have this thing about last books in a series where I do not like to read them because then it means it is over. But anyways I found this book to be very slow paced compared to the other books and I felt that there were too many obstacles in their way. I also felt that some of the characters (Tamlin & Jurian) were too shady and I felt the Sarah could not decide how she wanted the storyline to play with them. I really loved that Feyre’s father came to bat for them at the end (even if he died later) but I felt a wave of excitement and happiness rush through me when I read it. So while I was super happy that Rhysand lived, I didn’t see the point in killing him only for him to come back a page later but at least Amern came back with him.
I recommend this book if you liked The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa or The Light trilogy by Lauren Bird Horowitz or you can read these book if you really loved these books!