This Week's New Books

If you're wondering why I'm not having an IMM - read this post.

There are so many new "Look at my new books!" memes that I'm having troubles choosing. I know a few of the hosts personally and I don't feel like picking teams on this one. So, I introduce my own conglomeration of all the memes out there! If you're hosting a similar meme or if one of your friends hosts one, let me know and I'll add their graphic (:

Since I finally got a job (although it's just for three weeks) I decided I could reward myself, just for a little bit! Me and the boyfriend went to Amsterdam and visited the Waterstone's there. They had an amazing collection, but I decided not to go overboard and only bought two.

Click on the covers to go to their Goodreads page.

For review:

Big thank you to Outskirts Press and the author for this one! I have no idea what to expect, but it does sound great.

Bought:

I can't wait to read either of these! I've already started Miss Peregrine's, but I'm not sure what to think of it. It's very atmospheric, yet slightly weird and I feel a bit disconnected from the story. I'll let you all know in a review.

So what do you have in your mailbox, on your shelf or to showcase? Leave a comment with your link so I can visit you back!

Top Five: Summer Reads

Don't you just like those nice comprehensive lists? I know I do. I love spying on other people's top lists, see if I know any of the books they read and enjoyed. It's the reason I have stalked around on Goodreads for almost three years now, and the reason I'm going to do a series of posts highlighting my Top Five somethings!

Obviously, there are several "Top Number" memes out there, and this has been inspired by those.

The sun is finally showing its wonderful head here in the Netherlands, and I thought I'd kick off this series of posts with my Top Five Summer Reads!

#5 The House of Silk by Anthony Horrowitz

Don't you just love letting other people do the hard detecting work while you are relaxing in your chair with a nice cold beverage? Especially when those other people are Sherlock and his trusty sidekick Watson.

The House of Silk is one of those books I thouroughly enjoyed, but never reviewed. Well, here it is. This book is awesome, especially if you have a little Sherlock Holmes crush. Not that I have one of those.

#4 Dark Lover by J.R. Ward

This is one of my worst guilty pleasures.

I don't even really know why I adore these books as much as I do. J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood books are straight up paranormal romance books with kick ass tortured alpha males that swoop their eternal loves off their feet.

Maybe every girl needs some swooping once in a while.

#3 Angels by Marian Keyes

Angels was my first foray into chick-lit territory. You know, that scary world where there are no zombies, vampires or werewolves to keep you feeling safe and comfortable? That's the one.

And quite amazingly enough, I very much liked it. It's not something I would want to read all the time, but fast-paced, light but not fluff, full of hilarious friends Angels works very well to keep you company while getting a tan.

#2 The Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind

During summer is actually the only time in the whole year that I feel like I have the time to read a massive fantasy book, like the Sword of Truth series. There is nothing like being fully immersed into a world so different from ours, a world so fascinating and full of all these wonderful characters I would just love to know in real life.

This is definitely one of those series that has everything to keep you entertained during quite some summer weeks.

#1 Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

I'm starting to get the feeling that at one point or another, Harry Potter always shows up in Top lists. Doesn't matter if it's summer reads, winter reads, awesome reads, favourite reads, best character lists, favourite worlds... I almost feel compelled making a list of the lists Harry Potter dominates. But I'll save that for another time.

There is no denying that Harry Potter has grown dear to me. To hell with Twilight, Harry Potter is what got me hooked on reading. I grew up with these books, and I will continue reading them in sickness and in health, until I die.

This Week's New Books

If you're wondering why I'm not having an IMM - read this post.

There are so many new "Look at my new books!" memes that I'm having troubles choosing. I know a few of the hosts personally and I don't feel like picking teams on this one. So, I introduce my own conglomeration of all the memes out there! If you're hosting a similar meme or if one of your friends hosts one, let me know and I'll add their graphic (:

So I kind of caved and bought some books even though I'm still on a book buying ban. I keep telling myself it's okay though, because they're all books in series I've already read the first book of. I have to buy them, otherwise they might not sell those covers any more!

Sigh, the lengths I go in deceiving myself. The books are really awesome though, and I can't wait to dig into them (:

Click on the covers to go to their Goodreads page.

For review:

Another Outskirts Press book (thanks!). It looks like a mystery kind of book. Looking forward to read it during the Review Copy Cleanup!

Gifted:

I got my very first RAK!! If you want to know more about Random Acts of Kindness, go to the Book Soulmates site.

I got my RAK from Christine, a reader of my blog. Thank you thank you thank you! <3 I'm so happy you thought of me! I can't wait to start Magic Bites, it's an urban-fantasy series I've had my eyes on for so long. Look look, she even drew balloons on my card!

So what do you have in your mailbox, on your shelf or to showcase? Leave a comment with your link so I can visit you back!

This Week's New Books

If you're wondering why I'm not having an IMM - read this post.

There are so many new "Look at my new books!" memes that I'm having troubles choosing. I know a few of the hosts personally and I don't feel like picking teams on this one. So, I introduce my own conglomeration of all the memes out there! If you're hosting a similar meme or if one of your friends hosts one, let me know and I'll add their graphic (:

So I kind of caved and bought some books even though I'm still on a book buying ban. I keep telling myself it's okay though, because they're all books in series I've already read the first book of. I have to buy them, otherwise they might not sell those covers any more!

Sigh, the lengths I go in deceiving myself. The books are really awesome though, and I can't wait to dig into them (:

Click on the covers or links to go to their Goodreads page.

For review:

This is a rather large book, but it looks quite interesting! It looks like it's a mystery/thriller kind of book, but with vampires. I have no idea how this combination will turn out, but the cover is quite catchy. Thanks to Outskirts Press & the author for providing the review copy (:

Bought:

Blackout! I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one since I loooooved Deadline. I already started reading it, and it promises to be just as awesome as the previous books.
Perchance to Dream & So Silver Bright. The first book in the series, Eyes Like Stars, was one of the weirdest books I've ever read. It's this kind of surreal fantasy story. These covers are absolutely gorgeous, and I'm glad to have the complete series.
A Witch in Love. Ruth Warburton's writing shows a lot of promise in her debut, A Witch in Winter, and I'm really looking forward to read the second book in the series. I also had the honour of interviewing her, if you're interested.

So what do you have in your mailbox, on your shelf or to showcase? Leave a comment with your link so I can visit you back!

Vlog: Why We Like Reading Tag

From now on, vlogs will be posted regularly on Saturdays! If you have any comments or suggestions, please do let me know (:

This week's subject is the Why We Like Reading Tag. We all answer thirteen book-related questions. If you're interested in watching more Fanatical About Fiction videos, check out our Youtube channel.

Book Favourites: Killer Unicorn series by Diana Peterfreund

In a perfect world, reviewers would be able to review every single book they read. But as most of you know, you can't. Sometimes it's because you simply don't have the time. Sometimes it's because you just can't find the inspiration. And sometimes the book you're reading is so awesome that you can't describe it without turning into a blubbering fangirl. Every week I will be highlighting one of such books in Book Favourites.

This is one of my favourite series ever. EVER. I still can't believe these books aren't more popular. They so deserve it! The books I'm talking about are the Killer Unicorn books. I've mentioned them before in my vlog, and I actually wrote a review of the first book, Rampant. I'm actually thinking of doing a readalong event kind of thing for Rampant, so if there's any interest in that, let me know!

Why these books are awesome:

• It has unicorns. And not the fluffy, cute kind of unicorns. No, unicorns with venomous horns that would like to rip you appart
• KILLER UNICORNS
• The fact that, if the killer unicorns finally grows tiresome (which it never does) it's actually a really good story
• The main character Astrid is a realistic girl. She's kick-ass, but not in a "let's push everyone around me away" kind of way. She has boy trouble, just like any other girl, but in the meanwhile she makes sure the unicorns don't rip her friends apart
• The majority of the series is set in Rome. Rome is an amazing backdrop for a book
• They're gritty. The girls get hurt in fights, and don't miraculously heal
• I can only think of one downside of the books: there are only two of them!

I recommend these books if you like:

• Paranormal or fantasy reads
• Unique creatures
• Kick-ass heroines
• Amazing action scenes
• Good worldbuilding & background
• Messed up families

This Week's New Books

If you're wondering why I'm not having an IMM - read this post.

There are so many new "Look at my new books!" memes that I'm having troubles choosing. I know a few of the hosts personally and I don't feel like picking teams on this one. So, I introduce my own conglomeration of all the memes out there! If you're hosting a similar meme or if one of your friends hosts one, let me know and I'll add their graphic (:

I had a huge birthday haul last week, so I'm keeping my book buying at a bay for a little while. I did receive one book for review though, and it looks really good!

Click on the cover to go to the book's press page (since it doesn't have a Goodreads one yet).

For review:

A big thank you to Outskirts Press & the author for providing this review copy. I really like the cover, and I'm looking forward to read it. It's the third part in a series and I haven't read the first three, but since it's a thriller/mystery kind of thing that I've decided that it won't matter that much anyway. It came all the way from Jeruzalem! I never got a book from Jeruzalem.

So what do you have in your mailbox, on your shelf or to showcase? Leave a comment with your link so I can visit you back!

This Week's New Books

If you're wondering why I'm not having an IMM - read this post.

There are so many new "Look at my new books!" memes that I'm having troubles choosing. I know a few of the hosts personally and I don't feel like picking teams on this one. So, I introduce my own conglomeration of all the memes out there! If you're hosting a similar meme or if one of your friends hosts one, let me know and I'll add their graphic (:

I had an amazing week! It was my 18th birthday this week, and I celebrated with a nice BBQ. I got quite some bookish gifts, but most of them in the form of book gift cards. I will be able to buy a LOT of books! Still, a few of my family members and friends ventured to give me a book I don't own yet, and succeeded very well!

Click on the covers or links to go to the book's Goodreads page.

For review:

Requested this one from Netgalley (thanks Amulet!). It looks pretty interesting, kind of a young-adult mystery about a group of people bullying bullies. Or something like that. I'm looking forward to read it!

Gifted:

I got these pretty flowers from my boyfriend. Never thought I would be flower kind of girl, but I thought it was so sweet!

Couldn't find this one on Goodreads since it's a Dutch book (with an English title). It has all these pictures of weird places, hotels, items... It's a really cool book (:

From another friend I got this awesome "hang your book somewhere" thing! The bottom is a little flat metal bar that makes sure your book doesn't get damaged. A thank you to my mom for posing with it!

Books! Insurgent is actually a late-late Valentine's Day gift. I have been waiting for this book to come out for SO LONG. As you can see, I already started it. Dreamcatcher is a great addition to my Stephen King collection. And I finally got a copy of A Game of Thrones! And man, that book is scary. It's huge!

And I got some awesome non-bookish stuff too. I got lactose-free chocolate (yay!) and some Lush bathstuffs. If you've never heard of Lush, check out their website. All of their products have not been tested on animals, are vegetarian, and smell amazing. I wish it was my birthday more often!

So what do you have in your mailbox, on your shelf or to showcase? Leave a comment with your link so I can visit you back!

Book Favourites: Fracture by Megan Miranda

In a perfect world, reviewers would be able to review every single book they read. But as most of you know, you can't. Sometimes it's because you simply don't have the time. Sometimes it's because you just can't find the inspiration. And sometimes the book you're reading is so awesome that you can't describe it without turning into a blubbering fangirl. Every week I will be highlighting one of such books in Book Favourites.

This is my first Book Favourites post that doesn't feature a series. This book is so amazing, it deserves a post all on its own. I am talking about Megan Miranda's Fracture. It had been on my wishlist for quite some time, and since it came highly recommended by some bloggish friends, I decided to pick it up. And I didn't put it down for the rest of the day.

Why this book is awesome:

• It's so good, I couldn't write a review afterwards. You know a book is good when that happens
• The whole story. It's about a girl that falls through ice, and dies for eleven minutes. No one comes out of a coma when their brain hasn't had oxygen for such a long time. Yet Delaney does. After being dead, her whole outlook on life is changed. She is forced to examine what makes her want to live
• Dying didn't come without a cost. Her brain is damaged; she gets massive headaches, can't concentrate on reading anything. And she can sense when someone is about to die
• There is a slight mystery part which was predictable, but entertaining
• It's short, yet has so much depth
• A best friend kind of love interest! Those are the best kind, in my opinion
• I can't describe it, but this book is so much more than just a paranormal love story
• I'm slightly squeamish with non-paranormal books. This is the perfect mix of contemporary with a slight dash of paranormal

I recommend this book if you like:

• Contemporary novels
• Fast reads
• Books that make you think
• Novels dealing with death and it's aftermath
• Teen love stories

This Week's New Books

If you're wondering why I'm not having an IMM - read this post.

There are so many new "Look at my new books!" memes that I'm having troubles choosing. I know a few of the hosts personally and I don't feel like picking teams on this one. So, I introduce my own conglomeration of all the memes out there! If you're hosting a similar meme or if one of your friends hosts one, let me know and I'll add their graphic (:

Okay so maybe being on a ban isn't that easy. I went on a trip with my boyfriend yesterday to the city I'll be moving to in a few months and he kind of forced me into the book stores (how awful when that happens!). The Charlaine Harris is a gift from him, and the Terry Pratchett one I bought myself. They're both from series I already own, so I don't have to feel bad about starting a new series again ^^

Click on the covers to go to their Goodreads page.

Gifted:

I'm currently rereading this series and still loving it! I'm at book three right now, the furthest I've come was book four a few years ago. I hope I'll like the last few books, the reviews have been rather aggressive.. 

Bought:

I absolutely love the crazy Discworld books Terry Pratchett has written, and I'm collecting his books now. That should keep me occupied for a while!

So what do you have in your mailbox, on your shelf or to showcase? Leave a comment with your link so I can visit you back!

Cover Cravings: Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Title: Born Wicked
Author: Jessica Spotswood
Published: February 7th 2012 (Razorbill)
Click photo to see it full sized


I'm currently listening to this one on audiobook, but I'd like to talk about that awesome cover for a bit too. It was the cover that drew me in to pick it up (yes I know, I pick books because of their covers) and the fact that it's about witches. We need more books about witches! Vampires and werewolves bore me sometimes, while magic is something that's always refreshing.

From the cover you can't really tell this is about witches. There are no cool swirly things or sparkles or wands, the only indication it has magic in it is the subtitle "The Cahill Witch Chronicles". I like the title and its font - it's simple and short, yet very mysterious and appealing. Born Wicked? How can you be born wicked? It has an instant attraction that makes you want to know more about this book.

The main focus of the cover is the upside-down face with the flowers. The rest of the body is slightly out of focus, making the eyes pop out. I absolutely adore the colour composition of this cover. The mossy green outside, the bright white dress and the red and pink of the flowers underneath her blue eyes. I love the fact that even though the main character is apparently "born wicked", she is wearing a white dress which is a sign of purity. I'm not sure how much I like the dress itself - it's slightly too ruffed for my taste.

The main reason I love this cover so much is because it stands out from other YA covers. Blue, red and black are colours that are very hip right now, usually with a girl standing or running. I think this one looks very beautiful and inviting, everything a cover should be. I would love to have this one in hardcover so I could put it on my shelves.

Book Favourites: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

In a perfect world, reviewers would be able to review every single book they read. But as most of you know, you can't. Sometimes it's because you simply don't have the time. Sometimes it's because you just can't find the inspiration. And sometimes the book you're reading is so awesome that you can't describe it without turning into a blubbering fangirl. Every week I will be highlighting one of such books in Book Favourites.

A friend of mine recommended this series, and I started reading it last year. I've finished the first two books, but I'm hoping to fit the rest of the series in with my reading schedule. I'm talking about the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams! These little books are a science-fiction classic, and rightly so.

Why this series is awesome:

• It's like the daydream of an astrophysicist on XTC. These books are completely crazy
• You can say what you like, but they're definitely original
• Did you know the name of the Babel Fish online translator comes from these books?
• Brilliant writing style
• Incredibly fast reads - these books are all about 200-250 pages
• If you have a particular sense of humour, these books are very funny

I recommend this series if you like:

• Science fiction
• Short books
• Daydreams of astrophysicists on XTC
• Space-travel
• Classics

This Week's New Books

If you're wondering why I'm not having an IMM - read this post.

There are so many new "Look at my new books!" memes that I'm having troubles choosing. I know a few of the hosts personally and I don't feel like picking teams on this one. So, I introduce my own conglomeration of all the memes out there! If you're hosting a similar meme or if one of your friends hosts one, let me know and I'll add their graphic (:

Still on the book buying ban! I did get a very new and shiny non-fiction book from my mom that looks awesome. I'm still supposed to get two more books from the boyfriend, but we decided to go to the movies for our anniversary instead (: I'm forcing him to buy me Insurgent soon though!

Click on the covers to go to their Goodreads page.

Gifted:

I'm a total disaster with Photoshop. Like really, really bad. So I hope this book will help me make shiny pictures for my blog. My first project will be to make a new button. :D

So what do you have in your mailbox, on your shelf or to showcase? Leave a comment with your link so I can visit you back!