I Dare You Book Tag

I was tagged by the super sweet Mrs_Bookdragon over on instagram, to do the "I Dare You Book Tag", to which she was originally tagged by Thrice Read!

To my understanding, the original creator is Lena of BookFandom1001!

 THE RULES ARE THE FOLLOWING:

• You must be honest
• You can’t not answer a question
• You have to tag at least four people

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Which book has been on your shelves the longest?

Hmm, this could mean either books I've bought and left gathering dust for years, or books I've owned the longest, regardless of my reading procession of them. Both possible answers, though, can result in me reciting a long list of books. I am an obsessed bibliophile, and really have a struggle to exit a bookstore without any purchases, from a really young age, you see!

What is your current read, your last read and the book you’ll read next?

My current read (or, rather, audiobook) is Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince!
My last read was Stolen Souls by Stuart Neville.
And, my next read will either be Extraordinary People by Peter May, or the Johnson Road saga by Clayton E. Spriggs. 

What book did everyone like, but you hated?

I haven't hated many books. Most of them I just dislike. And, some, I don't find particularly exciting. A slow read had been the first book of Harry Potter for me, but on my second attempt I devoured the book. And, then I listened to the whole audiobook!
I've also dropped Narnia. But, who knows, one day I might try those books again!

What book do you keep telling yourself you’ll read, but you probably won’t.

All those ebooks I have managed to acquire within the last years. My kindle has filled and refilled, and I just don't scroll all the way down anymore!

Which book are you saving for retirement?

None actually, because the moment I decide that I want to save a book for later, that will be the moment I will NEED to read it the most!

Last page: read it first or wait till the end?

Definitely wait until the end. And, at the rare times that something happens and I get a glimpse, I instantly regret it.

Acknowledgements : waste of paper and ink or interesting aside?

Um, not exactly a waste of paper and ink. I just "acknowledge" them myself only when a book and its author have stolen my heart (which happens rarely, but then is the moment I will try to read every single detail that has been printed upon the new addition to my favorites!

Which book character would you switch places with?

Hmm, tough question, because all of the characters usually find themselves in rather grave situations. But, I would gladly switch places with people that go to boarding schools (a fetish of mine)!

Like my first bookish addiction: the Laura Leander series by Peter Freund.

Or, Hogwarts, for so many obvious reasons. Magic and beautiful setting among them!

And, I would even like to go to St.Vladimir's Academy from Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. I was very much into vampires back then.

Do you have a book that reminds you of something specific in your life (a person, a place, a time)?

Hmm, mostly my childhood books. That I have mostly connected with my parents and probably vacations we took.
Or, our weekly visit to my favorite super market (yes, I do have such a thing!), where I got to spend half of the day in the books aisle while my parents were grocery shopping, and then choose one book to get home with me and spend the other half of the day devouring it.

Name a book that you acquired in an interesting way.

Hmm, most interesting way... I've acquired quite a few books through giveaways, and it is always so exciting to find out I've won, so yeah!

Have you ever given away book for a special reason to a special person?

I've bought books as gifts countless times! I deeply believe that a book is the greatest present, so yeah! I've also lent books, but these times can be counted on the fingers of only one of my hands, as I feels quite overprotective of my precious!

Which book has been with you the most places?

Hmmm..... I'd say, my audiobooks! And, ebooks of course, but seeing as I listen to my audiobooks in my phone, yeah! Most of my audiobooks are my Harry Potter copies!

Any “required reading” you hated in high school that wasn’t so bad two years later?

In high school we were required to read mostly Greek literature, with a great emphasis on Ancient Greek scripts, but I really haven't gotten down to reading them again!

What is the strangest item you’ve found in a book?

Well, if we count pop-up books, quite a few things actually. I own a really spooky one, which I loved immensely, and in which I found so odd-smelling cards inside.

Used or brand new?

Usually brand new! I even have some issues when taking home library books, but if a used one is in a pretty good condition, I tend to forget about it.

Have you ever read a Dan Brown book?

No, and I'm not sure I would like to, as religion is a complicated matter I'm not really into reading about on my spare time!

Have you ever seen a movie you liked more than the book?

Aaah tough one, too! Mostly because if I watch a movie before I've read the book, I rarely try the book afterwards. BUT! The Harry Potter movies, and especially the first ones, are so lovely and cozy I want to watch them all the time!

A book that should have NEVER been published

Only one comes to mind that I found down-right repulsive when I first read. It's probably unknown to almost everyone, and it fell to my hands because it was supposed to be written by an Anonymous person, which greatly intrigued me!

Have you ever read a book that’s made you hungry, cookbooks excluded?

Um, yes, definitely, I can be hungry all the time!

Who is the person whose book advice you’ll always take?

Um, not anyone in particular! I like to take advice and recommendations by everyone, but lots of factors contribute to what I will finally read, like the cover, the description, everything!

~~~

I will be tagging some of my fellow bloggers on an Instagram post,

but if you happen to fall upon this blog post, feel free to tag yourself, too, and everyone you wish, to this awesome and fun tag!

REVIEW: The Alchemists Of Loom by Elise Kova

Title: The Alchemists Of Loom

Series: Loom Saga (#1)

Author: Kova, Elise

Format: eBook ARC (Advance Readers Copy) by Keymaster Press

Edition: English

Publication: January 10th, 2017

Pages: 380

Goodreads Blurb: 

"Her vengeance. His vision.

Ari lost everything she once loved when the Five Guilds’ resistance fell to the Dragon King. Now, she uses her unparalleled gift for clockwork machinery in tandem with notoriously unscrupulous morals to contribute to a thriving underground organ market. There isn’t a place on Loom that is secure from the engineer turned thief, and her magical talents are sold to the highest bidder as long as the job defies their Dragon oppressors.

Cvareh would do anything to see his sister usurp the Dragon King and sit on the throne. His family’s house has endured the shame of being the lowest rung in the Dragons’ society for far too long. The Alchemist Guild, down on Loom, may just hold the key to putting his kin in power, if Cvareh can get to them before the Dragon King’s assassins.

When Ari stumbles upon a wounded Cvareh, she sees an opportunity to slaughter an enemy and make a profit off his corpse. But the Dragon sees an opportunity to navigate Loom with the best person to get him where he wants to go.

He offers her the one thing Ari can’t refuse: A wish of her greatest desire, if she brings him to the Alchemists of Loom."

My Rating: ✿✿✿✿✿

My Review:

Where do I start from, with this incredible book?

Do you enjoy reading about dragons (especially a unique and original take in them), steampunk (with all the technology and dress style that comes hand in hand with the term) and amazing, strong, independent and mysterious heroes?

Then, look no further!

The first installment in the brand new series written by the author of Air Awakens, Elise Kova, has all those elements and so many more!

The story started with so much action right away, and I found myself trying to get a hold of everything happening, and attempting to understand exactly who the narrator is!

But, as soon as I got into the vibe, I fell right in love with all this action and the strong heroine.

The plot was very interesting. In a land of loom, where Fenthri (the "grey" equivalent of the common humans - who really have different shades of grey skins!) have to live below the clouds and suffer the will of the Dragon King. But, the interesting fact, is that the dragons (and their King) are not the typical 4-legged, winged and colorful creatures. While they are indeed colorful, the similarities end there! The dragons are 2-legged human(or, rather, Fenthri)-like creatures that can fly by using very advanced technology.

But, apart from Dragons and Fenthri, there is also another creature (that doesn't go bump only in the night)! Chimaeras are a combination of the two. They are Fenthri, who have acquired (with maybe not so legal ways) Dragon blood, organs and body part.

Our heroine, Ari is a Chimaera herself.

And, that is all that we actually know about her. Her whole previous life remains a mystery almost to the end of the book!

All we know is that she lives with Florence, since the latter abandoned her home in the Ravens Guild in order to pursue a life as Revolver.

Because there are 5 Guilds, and each Fenthri has (according to the law of the Dragon King) to belong in one of them and demonstrate it through a facial tattoo!

So much information. I know, and yet just the essential for you to get just a glimpse of this complex world created by Kova.

As for the characters, I liked Ari and I liked Florence. Each for different reasons.

Ari was strong and independent and brave and everything most people would want to be.

But, Flor was strong, too! In her own ways! And, while it didn't get proven until the second hald of the book, I still felt a little more love towards her then!

I liked Cvareh, too! He is a Dragon, and while it was a little difficult for me to picture him as colorful as he was, I loved his personality and the way he handled things.

He is a man in a mission and I loved his concentration and deep will to execute his mission!

The writing style was flawless, and the fact that everything started so seemingly sudden, I loved every single part of this book!

It makes me crave the release of the rest of the books in the series so bad!

All in all, 5 stars for a greatly executed novel, which revolves around 

a complex world, with its own intricate rules, 

brave and strong characters and lots of interesting new creatures!

Detailed overview of all items included in my very first package from The Blind Date Book Company!

THE BLIND DATE BOOK COMPANY

"NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER"

A while back, I was very fortunate to receive my very first rep package from The Blind Date Book Company!

You can read my first impression of my Blind Date, by clicking on the photo! 

The items that I received in my package were the following:

❥ The Love Letter, contained in this adorable little enveloped, sealed with a heart, only for me to open it!

❥ A Lyons No. 3 coffee bag, with detailed instructions on the exact way to brew my coffee, on its back.

❥ My wrapped Book! Which was so gorgeous that I almost *almost* didn't want to unwrap!

As you can see, I picked these four words:

COTTAGE

MYSTERY

FAMILY

SECRETS

Here is a photo of the items, with the book now being revealed:

The book was "The Hidden Legacy" by G.J. Minett.

I have to admit that, having already spotted the word mystery in the 4 words, I was very excitedly waiting for a book of the mystery genre!

And, I was very pleased with what I got!

Here, you can read the description in the back of the book (click on the photo to enlarge it):

The blurb in the Goodreads is:

"1966. A horrifying crime at a secondary school, with devastating consequences for all involved. 

2008. A life-changing gift, if only the recipient can work out why . . . 

Bearing the scars of a recent divorce - and the splatters of two young children - Ellen Sutherland is up to her elbows in professional and personal stress. When she's invited to travel all the way out to Cheltenham to hear the content of an old woman's will, she can barely be bothered to make the journey. 

But when she arrives, the news is astounding. Eudora Nash has left Ellen a beautiful cottage, worth an amount of money that could turn her life around. There's just one problem - Ellen has never even heard of Eudora Nash.  

Her curiosity piqued, Ellen and her friend Kate travel to the West Country in search of answers. But they are not the only ones interested in the cottage, and Ellen little imagines how much she has to learn about her past . . . 

Graham Minett's debut novel, The Hidden Legacy, is a powerful and suspenseful tale exploring a mysterious and sinister past."

Doesn't that sound totally mysterious, or what? 🙀😍💘

I also brewed the Lyons coffee bag I received with my package, and I had to stop myself from drinking the whole cup before taking enough photos!! I loved this brand of coffee!!

The amazing thing is that there was a thoroughly detailed description in the back of the Lyons wrapping bag, so I knew how much time I was to brew it to make it strong enough for my tastes!

All in all, I am totally in love with this package, and I absolutely recommend it to everyone!

Many Christmas options are currently available on the Etsy shop of this small business, from Blind Date Books to Blind Date Book Boxes, stuffed with lots of amazing goodies, and a beverage of your choice, from a wide variety of tea, coffee or chocolate!

You can also use the code BDBREPS2016 in order to get a 25% discount off of your order!!!

Find my post on Instagram by clicking the photo below!

You can learn more about this awesome initiation on the OFFICIAL WEBSITE!

You can check the products in their ETSY SHOP!


Also, find them on their social media accounts, on Facebook, on Instagram and on Twitter!

My very first rep package from The Blind Date Book Company!

THE BLIND DATE BOOK COMPANY

"NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER"

Very recently, I was fortunate enough to be selected as a representative for an amazing new company named, The Blind Date Book Company, which is just that: A Blind Date with a Book!

This company is behind a great idea, in which you are asked to select only 4 words that describe a book (the words are usually quite specific and accurate, and make you aware of the major plot points, so that you can pick a book that will be in accordance with your reading tastes), or, a latest addition to their shop, a genre, and then you are sent a beautifully-wrapped package.

Your wrapped book is also accompanied by a Love Letter, as well as a beverage!

The beverage choices are not limited, either, as you can select from a variety of coffee, tea and chocolate companies!

The company as described by themselves, in their Etsy Shop :

"Never judge a book by its cover" choose a book described with just 4 words or by just the Genre! You never know it could be true love?Our Blind Date books are beautifully wrapped in brown paper & ribbon or other decorative items.
The Book is described using just four words which are printed on the front using a Retro Dymo Embosser label maker. Each book includes a Teapigs teabag or a Lyons coffee bag, we also have Galaxy Hot Chocolate and a variety of Herbal Teas - for that festive twist you can also choose a MULLED WINE TEABAG that you add to red wine. 
Are you stuck in a reading rut? Reading the same thing over and over again? Take a leap of faith and pick a book that sparks your curiosity by the four words. You never know you could end up falling in love!
They also make the perfect gift for that person that loves nothing more than to immerse themselves in a good book. Take the hassle out of choosing the 'right' book and surprise them with this unusual gift idea. Each book comes with a letter explaining the concept.

As their representative, I was asked to choose my own 4 words (a task which was quite difficult as their variety is great, and I loved all the possibilities) before I got sent this amazing package!

Isn't this the most beautiful and adorable package you've ever seen?
Honestly, it put me into the whole Blind Date climate so badly!


Let me give you a brief overview of each of the items I received!


❥ The Love Letter, contained in this adorable little enveloped, sealed with a heart, only for me to open it!
❥ A Lyons No. 3 coffee bag, with detailed instructions on the exact way to brew my coffee, on its back.
❥ My wrapped Book! Which was so gorgeous that I almost *almost* didn't want to unwrap!
As you can see, I picked these four words:

COTTAGE
MYSTERY
FAMILY
SECRETS

I am a loyal fan of crime fiction, so when I spotted the words "Mystery" and "Secrets", I just couldn't resist picking this combination. I admit that the beautiful wrapping paper might have also swayed me a bit towards this decision. But, I totally swear that I put more emphasis to the words!


I should also note that this particular wrapping was unique to me, too!
There are no duplicate packages, which makes these products even more unique and worthwhile!


Given the fact that each product is unique, I would suggest you go quickly check the available choices if you want to pick one of these beauties for yourself!


You can also offer them as a gift to a loved one, whom you think the particular 4 words you chose, would be a total perfect fit for! You can also send with the book a PERSONALIZED note for the giftee, completely free of charge!

If you want to do some Christmas shopping, too, there are many choices for Christmas wrapping and packages, as well as some Blind Date Gift Boxes!


You can learn more about this awesome initiation on the OFFICIAL WEBSITE!

You can check the products in their ETSY SHOP!


Also, find them on their social media accounts, on Facebook, on Instagram and on Twitter!


I would suggest you hurry up to check the products, if you want to get a Blind Date with a Book that will really steal your heart, exactly like mine did!

Find my post on Instagram, 

by clicking the picture below!

You can also find my post on Facebook

and on my Twitter!

RELEASE & REVIEW: Heart Of Power by S. L. Giger

 Title: Heart Of Power

Series: The Siren's Awakening (#1)

Author: Giger, S. L.

Format: eBook provided by the author

Edition: English

Publication: November 10th, 2016

Pages: 223

My Rating: ✿✿✿✿

My Review:

Serena was a normal girl! Until a fateful, terrible accident happened on her school trip.

She would die, if she hadn't been saved by three Sirens.

Yes, you read that right, Sirens.

This book is very original and unique, in the sense that offers us a new, fresh and modern glance at what is would be like for a Siren to exist and try to live among us a normal life.

I loved the author's take in the matter, how she attempted to explain everything to us, right away, and how she presented us with the struggle Serena, who was now supposed to answer to the name Nathalie, as her old self is supposed to be dead, faced in her new life.

How she wanted to get back to her family in Switzerland, at least to tell them that she is fine, for them not to mourn anymore. But her three guardians, her new family members knew better than to let her do what she had in mind.

Instead, she was now supposed to start afresh, leading the life of a high school girl in America.

I rarely have the opportunity to read about this fantastic mythological creature, the Siren, an I was greatly excited that this read provided me with the chance!

I loved the little changes the author had made, so that it would become easier for a Siren to fit into our world. Especially as the story progressed, and "Nathalie" was called to take more and more difficult decisions, regarding her new life!

The writing was easy, fast-paced and smooth, and I would totally love to get to know more about Nathalie's story!

All in all, 4 stars to a fresh, original and easy read, 

written by a newly presented author!

RELEASE & REVIEW: Army Of Fire by Jennifer L. Kelly

Title: Army Of Fire

Part of Series: The Elementals (#1)

Author: Kelly, Jennifer L.

Format: E-book

Edition: English

Publication: 25th October, 2016

Pages: 324

Description: According to the Legend of the Impossible Girl, the Five Elemental Stones must be obtained from the Elemental Abyss. Newly initiated into Fire, Ka must retrieve the Fire stone from the Land of Fire and upon her return single-handedly defeat the Army of Fire in order to save her friends.

* An e-book version of this book

was provided to me by the author, free of charge,

in exchange for an honest review! *

My Review:

You are all possibilities and yet you are impossible.

You are the Impossible Girl"

This book was a quite fast and thoroughly enjoyable read.

In fact, I loved the originality of the plot and the easy flowing of the writing so much, that I immediately categorized it as one of my favorite books!

But, first things first, with more details!

The plot, as I already pointed out, was just brilliant!!

Everything is explained shortly and very effectively right from the Prologue.

The Sun's explosion forced 3.000 people move from Earth to Xon 9, a planet where five elements are effective. So effective, in fact, that after 800 years of inhabiting this planet, people have resided to holding a ceremony, the Pronouncement, where 18-years-old decide which element, Metal, Wood, Earth, Fire or Water, will affect them for the rest of their lives.

This is, understandably, a really major decision. The wrong choice may have some very negative effects on the person.

That's why, the protagonist, Ka, a passionate, stubborn, yet indecisive and a little insecure girl, despite her immense capabilities, finds it so hard to decide in which element she will be pronounced.

Yet, despite the recommendation she gets on her Pronouncement day, she goes with Fire.

A fact that only leads to warnings by everyone around her, even from the people that this is most unexpected from.

But, Ka is a really extraordinary and unique girl.

She isn't suitable, nor unsuitable for Fire.

And, she must find out why, and what that means for her, her future, and the future of every colonist of Xon 9.

The action just got more and more after that point, and I loved the way everything turned out.

The style of writing and the whole way the story was unfold to the reader, captivated me right from the beginning, even from the prologue, and made me fall even deeper in love with the story and its characters.

As for the heroes?

Ka was one of my favorite heroines ever! And, I even loved the fact that she seemed to be so indecisive about the biggest decision of her life. Even if that was a major part of the plot, it still made her feel more real, than most female leads in other books.

Yet, she still managed to be courageous and strong and take the best decisions, at all the right times.

I found myself so anxious of how the story will unfold, and what exactly being the Impossible Girl meant for Ka, the more I read into the book.

And, well, I have to admit that Sloan, despite all the wetness of the situation, he seemed to me as down-right swoon-worthy right from the start. And, I even longed to find out his real name, even more than Ka, if that's even possible!

Many other people played a huge role in how the events would unfold for Ka, and I loved every single one's contribution to the story.

All in all, five HUGE stars to an amazing and 

captivating read that kept me on the edge of my seat, 

and made me anxious for the sequel 

even BEFORE the release of the first book!!

 

  See my post on Instagram:

Review - Throne of Glass (ToG #1) by Sarah J. Maas

Click on the picture to get to my post on my Bookstagram.

After all the hype surrounding Sarah J. Maas and her books, and after finding out about the fact that the main heroine of this book is a brave and badass assassin, I just knew I had to try this series out!

So, I bought this book and the first book of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series.
I decided to start reading this book, though, because, from my experience, the first works of an author are indicative of their personal writing style and their imagination, but not always as personalized as their later works.
Yes, you got that right, I wanted to take a taste of the author's writing before trying out her latest books!

And, I have to admit that this book did not disappoint me. Quite the opposite, to be exact!
Mrs. Maas writing style was quite unique. While reading this book I kept thinking that this is her first work and sensed that some things needed a more personal touch. But exactly the fact that this was the first book she probably ever published, it delivered amazingly!

I kept missing something, which led me to not categorize this book as a favorite of mine, even if I gave it 5 stars!
But throughout my reading of this book, I could almost feel all the potential this series and this author has. And, considering the fact that I have this book in my TBR pile for quite a few years, but hadn't even realized the hype all around it, this potential might have been exploited in the following books of the series.

Celaena, the main heroine, is indeed a very brave and badass young woman who, orphaned at a very tender age, was taken under the care of the King of Assassins, who made her the best and most known assassin of Erilea.
The protagonist is really a character worth reading about, and I immensely enjoyed knowing her thoughts and reading about her adventures.

The story starts with her as a slave of the tyrannical King of Erilea, making us really crave to know what made her the best assassin, and also how she was captured!
While a few hints of her past are given, I came to realize that we really know next to nothing about her previous life, before she arrived at the court of the King to serve as his son's Champion!

Celaena is given a choice, to either become the Crown Prince's Champion and win in a contest of assassins, thieves and soldiers, where the winner will become the King's assassin, or keep on being a slave in Endovier and ultimately die.
A quite interesting storyline, that narrates the dilemma an assassin sworn to get revenge on the King whose orders killed her people, is showed with.

While reading this book, I had the strong urge to share a few comments of my progress, something I rarely do. If you have noticed those comments, you will know that I showed a preference for one of the male heroes, quite early on the book.
That person is Chaol, Captain of The King's Guard and childhood friend of the Crown Prince, Dorian.
While Dorian is describe as, oh, so handsome and glamorous, and everything, Chaol has his own qualities, which I believe are better in a person. Dorian was also a reader, and was said to be able to converse with Celaena for multiple hours, about a variety of subjects. But this was the only thing he had going for him, in my opinion!
Chaol was loyal and found it difficult to trust an assassin, who killed people, a fact that went against all of his instincts of guarding, even if by the end he had grown to be much warmer towards her.

I don't particularly enjoy love triangles, but in this book it wasn't so apparent. Mainly because Celaena was quite oblivious of one of the two heroes' qualities and feelings, for the best part of the book.

I thoroughly enjoyed the protagonist's friendship with Nehemia, a Princess from Eyllwe. Their relationship was tested quite a few times throughout the book. But, Nehemia also proved to be a brave young woman.

I also loved the fantasy aspects of this book! There was suspense, mystery, mixed with some magic, magical beings and portals to other, dark worlds. There were numerous villains, but quite a few unexpected friendships, too! I would definitely love to see more of Nox in the future!

All in all, 5 stars for a great start to a series that 

seems to have so much potential to become an 

even greater adventure of a badass heroine.

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