My Signed Books Collection!

Greetings readers!

I am finally on my March break (Spring break) and it feels glorious to know that I will be away from that wretched school of mine! Joking…it’s not wretched…well only slightly! So, one day I had a mini conversation that inspired this post with a special blogger friend, Mandy @ Book Princess Reviews . You should all go check her out because she has an amazing blog, with amazing reviews and is just generally awesome! (<3 you Mandy!)

Now since this post idea was inspired by Mandy, I felt it necessary to create it and make her feel jealous! Mwahaha! Just kidding! I won’t make you too jealous…maybe. Today I shall be sharing with you all the books I have signed in my collection. I have acquired these books over the past year, from June of 2016 to today. I hold all signed books close to my heart because the author took the time to dedicate their book to me and sometimes I see them physically touch and sign my book, so I fangirl like crazy! *That does not sound creepy whatsoever!*

Let’s start with the first signing I ever went to!

It wasn’t really a signing but more of an event for Romance writers that the public could attend…if they payed the ticket fee. I knew Morgan Rhodes was going to be there, so I had to go and dragged my sister along. It was the first time I ever met Morgan Rhodes (or an author for that matter) and even though I only talked to her for a few minutes it was one of the best moments ever! *I was internally fangirling and blushing like crazy…I was that nervous*

1. Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
2. A Book of Spirits and Thieves by Morgan Rhodes

In June, I went to another signing featuring Morgan Rhodes, E.K. Johnston and Teresa Toten. I only had books for Morgan to sign that day, but it was so wonderful seeing and listening to the other authors as well.

1.  Rebel Spring  by Morgan Rodes
2. Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes

In August, I was lucky enough to attend the Indigo Teen Fall Preview Event hosted  by my local bookstore Chapters Indigo. Surprisingly, E.K. Johnston joined our meeting and I was able to get an ARC of Spindle signed! (It is the companion to A Thousand Nights…you should definitely read it!)

1. Spindle (ARC) by E.K. Johnston

In September, I went to the HCCFrenzy author signing featuring Lauren Oliver and Kendare Blake! You can read more about that signing in my Teen Tour Experience post! I actually had Three Dark Crowns made out to my sisters and I because we are going to buddy read it! Also, Lauren Oliver signed REPLICA twice! One signature and message on each side! So Cool!!!

1. Three Dark Crowns by Kendare  Blake
2. Replica (LYRA) by Lauren Oliver
3. Replica (GEMMA) by Lauren Oliver

In October, I had the amazing opportunity to go to another signing event! Penguin Teen brought their teen tour to Brampton and so I had the chance to meet Morgan Rhodes (again 🙂 ), Catherine Egan, Kiersten White and Marie Lu! I was so incredibly happy that day, you can read more about that event in my The Lady is a Champ – Experience post!

I honestly get so giddy when I look at these books!

1. Legend, Prodigy & Champion by Marie Lu
2. The Young Elites, The Rose Society & The Midnight Star by Marie Lu
3. Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White

In December, I got lucky and won a giveaway for an ARC of Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves! I didn’t think it would come signed but I am so happy it did! You can read my review here!

1. Blood Rose Rebellion  by Rosalyn Eves

In January, I got lucky again and won a signed hardcover of Poison’s Kiss by Breeana Shields. Please take a moment to admire this beautiful signature!

1. Poison’s Kiss by Breeana Shields

Finally, in February I got lucky AGAIN! I won a signed hardcover of Frostblood by Elly Blake! (Another Canadian author YAY). I also attended the Veronica Roth signing for her Carve the Mark Tour and got the book for FREE and SIGNED! You can read more about that hilarious night in my Veronica Roth Event Experience.

1. Frostblood by Elly Blake
2. Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth

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That is it for my signed books! I have a total of 18! It feels so cool when I say that. Of course, I could have had 20 if I had gone to the Leigh Bardugo and Sabaa Tahir signings the year before, BUT NO I DIDN’T AND IT IS THE BIGGEST, LARGEST, MOST MASSIVE REGRET I HAVE! *cries*

Anyways, I will be getting more signed books in the near future! I will be meeting Sarah J. Maas when she comes to my town in May for her A Court of Wings and Ruin tour. It’s time for me to jump on that bandwagon. I will be getting Crown of Midnight signed with some other books and I, of course will obsess over Chaol and his novel! Look forward for that event recap!

I hope you guys enjoyed this post and are feeling envious. Just kidding! Tell me about your signed books and author meetings below so I can get super jealous! Seriously, if any of you mention meeting Sabaa and Leigh I will get CRAZY jealous!

Happy reading!

~ Rendz

A Torch Against the Night Reviewed

Dear readers:

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

image via Goodreads

Goodreads synopsis:

Elias and Laia are running for their lives. After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire.

Laia is determined to break into Kauf—the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison—to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars’ survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom.

But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against Laia and Elias. The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene—Elias’s former friend and the Empire’s newest Blood Shrike.

Bound to Marcus’s will, Helene faces a torturous mission of her own—one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave who helped him escape…and kill them both.

There are so many words I could use to describe this book.

Yet I find myself with my hands on the key board not moving.

I sit here and I question how it will be possible for me to summarize this book that made me feel…

Feel….

FEEL.

That’s it I have figured it out.

A Torch against the night by Sabaa Tahir was a beautiful-sad-gut wrenching-hope filled-scary-insane-joyful-intense-suspenseful-amazing-tear worthy-yell worthy-cuddle up into fetal position not wanting to move until the next book comes out-kind of book.

In short, I LOVED IT.

What I liked  ADORED

Pages 1-452 :The whole book

The characters: I just cannot get enough of these characters. Laia is whom I identify with most. She is wonderful, loving, tender and stubborn. She has flaws, she has strengths and she always finds her courage in times of desperation and defeat.  Helene is my inspiration. She is fierce, talented, bold yet compassionate, loving and loyal. (so, so loyal–sometimes far too loyal) These lovely ladies are very family orientated something of myself that I see in them. Then there is Elias. Elias Veturius. THE COMPLETE PACKAGE. Sweet, funny, caring, thoughtful, merciful, hot-headed, just really hot Elias. *Could there be a more divine creation?* Then there is Harper Avitas. A very interesting man, whose past is very mysterious up until the end when there is a huge bombshell. And I Mean HUGE. The commandant just needs to die. She needs to die. She should have died in this book. But certain characters are ever so merciful. We also get to see more of Darin and Afya, so those were two very good bonuses!

The world: The empire is such an amazing world. their politics and government system although very cruel is very interesting. I also loved how we got to explore surrounding lands like the tribe lands and *cough* a very mysterious forest *cough*. It felt like I was actually travelling with them through the sands and snow.

Magic: MAGIC! There is more of it in this one!

Romance: Not too much but just enough to keep me satisfied. I do not want to give away too much BUT I will say I have high hopes for my ship. AND I see huge potential for a second ship which  I really hope happens! *crosses fingers*

Maps: I loved the maps at the beginning and end of the book. They were very informative and helped me keep track of where the characters were.

What I disliked

NOT APPLICABLE

giphy.com

RATING: 5 / 5 shiny and bright stars

Overall, yes I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has amazing action moments and fight scenes. It has epic and insane plot twists and reveals that will haunt me forever. Many characters die. I lost count. (It just adds to my tremendous heart break) The ending is so unbelievably utterly perfect. Unfortunately the third book does not come out until 2018. 2018! Why Sabaa, why? Regardless I know I will rereading these again soon. There is a reason this series and author is on my Favourites list.

Do I reccommend it: 100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000% yes.

giphy.com

Happy reading!

-Rendz

Favourites!

Greetings readers:

source: giphy.com

Today I have decided to share with you some of my Favourites about reading. Some have been with me for long periods of time or in some cases are recently favourited. Each of these books or people have impacted my life in some way, shape or form. It could vary from being extremely entertaining or inspiring or the “reason I read” kind of book or author.

There a countless books in the world, so many I have yet to read. So while this may be a list of my favourites, know that this list will only grow bigger and bigger.

Genres

#1. Fantasy

I will admit it, when it comes to reading I will always, ALWAYS go to Fantasy first. I rarely read out of fantasy (but I do so no worries my other genre loving peeps). Fantasy (like many who use this cliche) is my escape. When I look around me and see how messed up this world of ours is, I want to leave. But I can’t, so I turn to books, with other worlds, with their own set of screwed up problems, with their adventure and resolution.

I go there for magic.

Any type of magic in the book world, whether it be elemental or witchcraft/wizardry or pulling rabbits out of hats, instantly has my attention. I love to read about magical human beings (or maybe not human), who have the ability to wield forces that are unrealistic. If I had a magical power it would be all magic (don’t you dare ask me to pick and choose).

I could go more in depth and reveal my soul deep love for fantasy and write how it has allowed me to grow, learn from mistakes and have courage. But that will come another time. For now I’ll let you know that most of my points will always lead back to my desire to wield magic.

#2. Science fiction and Dystopia

#3. Historical fiction (I have a sweet spot for Sherlock Holmes spin offs even though I have yet to read a Holmes novel)

#4. Contemporary. I will be honest I am not a big contemporary reader. The stories don’t bore me (at least not usually) but I am always looking for an adventure, something different and outside of realistic element aka fantasy. I do try to read at least one contemporary a month to explore the reading realm.

#5. Paranormal/Supernatural. I hardly read from this genre because I find each story to be the same. Guy is super hot and muscular (not a complaint) and is a powerful demon/vampire/angel who is sent to kill girl who has hidden power or guy spontaneously saves girl from enemy/herself as she discovers her power. Some fight scenes, kissing scenes and cheesy romantic lines later and they all lived as happily as demons can live! But I’m a hypocrite. This is my guilty pleasure genre. Something about the predictable end and well…MAGIC always keep me hooked!

Favourite Books/Series
As I said this is the current list. With time, some titles will change many more will be added but for now I will share the current list. (Note: Eventually each or at least some of these mentions will get their own appreciation post)

#1: The Chronicles of Narnia  by C.S. Lewis

#2: The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

#3: The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

#4: The Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

#5: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

#6: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

#7: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

#8: Accidentally Fabulous series by Lisa Papademetriou

#9:  The Winner’s Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski

#10: Snow Like Ashes trilogy by Sara Raasch

And many more but I will cut the list here. There will be some huge rants about some of the books listed above.

Favourite Authors

#1. Marissa Meyer

#2. Morgan Rhodes

#3. Sabaa Tahir

#4. C.S. Lewis

#5. Leigh Bardugo

#6. Sara Raasch

#7. Marie Lu

#8. Sarah J. Maas

#9. Maggie Steifvater

#10. Marie Rutkoski 

Again there are so many more!

Favourite places to get books!

#1. That one time in a blue one moon when I win a giveaway! Hello free books!

#2. The Library– I am a TPL teen

#3. Overdrive–basically the library for ebooks

#4. Chapters Indigo –my home away from home

#5. BMV stores across Toronto– Hello cheap books!

Favourite places to read!

#1. My room –curtains drawn, window open, warm blanket if needed

#2. Living room couch

#3. Porch

#4. Library

#5.  School

Bonus: Favourite Guilty Pleasure Reads!

#1. The Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey

#2. The Divinicus Nex Chronicles by A&E Kirk

#3. Anything by Catherine Fisher, especially her Chronoptika quartet and Incarceron series

Well that’s it for this week my friends. I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit more about moi! Feel free to comment some of your favourites and I will write to you again next week!

Happy Reading!

-Rendz