Top Ten Tuesday: Top Apps/Websites to Waste Time With

A weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I love procrastinating. It's one of my five favorite things. So any website or app that helps me do that I am totally game for. Oh and before I give you my list, I'm off to BEA in a few hours... YAY! I was originally considering going on a haitus but I actually have posts that are scheduled for this week. So business as usual over here. But I did want to let everyone know because I won't really be able to comment in the way I normally do. But when I get back I'll respond and check out all your amazing posts. And if you want to follow along with my adventures you can check me out on some of these sites that I mention.

Social Media:

1.) Twitter
Username: @mythoughtslit
This is the ultimate time waster if you ask me. I spend hours upon hours on Twitter. I'm pretty much on there all day. I'm periodically looking through it while at work and then every half hour or so at night. I love chatting with you all on Twitter and seeing all your thoughts.

2.) Instagram
Username: mythoughtslit
I am not a huge Bookstagrammer but wow do I admire some of your picture taking skills. I love scrolling through my feed and seeing all the pretty pictures of books. And I also have fun coming up with my daily photos which usually involve my cat and coffee along with books.

3.) Snapchat
Username: mythoughtslit
I'm super new to Snapchat but I'm enjoying it for sure. It's fun to take pictures and add fun little things to it like text, emoji, and filters. I'll probably be snapchatting my BEA so follow me there to see what I'm up to. And also let me know your username so I can follow you!

4.) Facebook
I'm not on Facebook a lot these days but I am our social media person for work, naturally, so I use it more often for that. But every time I go there to update our page I fall down the rabbit hole. It's overly political these days though.

Games:
5.) Best Fiends
I just found this game and it's super fun. It's like Candy Crush but with more puzzles. It's super addicting and I am often determined to win the levels which take me forever to finish. Like the one I am on now, arg!

6.) Neko Atsume
How can something so simple be so fun and addicting. Remember in the winter when everyone was all obsessed with that game with the cats. I was one of them. I love cats and they were super cute and this was like a really easy Tamogochi.


7.) Flow
This is the most unassuming game but I love it so much. It's like a puzzle game where you have to fill up the screen by connecting dots. It's similar to tetris but with lines and it's super addicting. For one thing I'm pretty sure that these puzzles are how my brain works

Video and TV 
8.) YouTube
My favorite game to play is "six degrees of YouTube." Pick two songs or YouTubers and then try to get from one to the other by only clicking on the suggested videos. But seriously, I can spend hours watching video after video. Especially Game of Thrones theories and show reviews.


9.) Netflix
Obviously. I mean who doesn't love a weekend binge watch. Me, if I'm being entirely honest. I can't binge stuff like I used to. But I do still love my Netflix. Their originals are fantastic and finding old shows that I never watched or rewatching stuff on there is amazing.

10.) Hulu
I don't watch TV in real time. Aint nobody got time for that. I'm often to busy reading. But that's why I love Hulu. I can watch the shows I love on my own time. I've had Hulu+ for years and I cannot recommend it enough. Plus now they have premium subscriptions. I'm a fan.

What are your favorite apps and websites to waste time on? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: Devil and the Bluebird by Jennifer Mason-Black

Title: Devil and the Bluebird Written by: Jennifer Mason-Black Published: May 17, 2016 by Amulet (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: “Devil-at-the-crossroads” folklore finds its way to YA via this moody, magical tale  Blue Riley has wrestled with her own demons ever since the loss of her mother to cancer. But when she encounters a beautiful devil at her town crossroads, it’s her runaway sister’s soul she fights to save. The devil steals Blue’s voice—inherited from her musically gifted mother—in exchange for a single shot at finding Cass.  Armed with her mother’s guitar, a knapsack of cherished mementos, and a pair of magical boots, Blue journeys west in search of her sister. When the devil changes the terms of their deal, Blue must reevaluate her understanding of good and evil and open herself to finding family in unexpected places.  In Devil and the Bluebird, Jennifer Mason-Black delivers a heart-wrenching depiction of loss and hope.

*** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

I learned about this book from Britt when we were filming our podcast about debuts. It sounded totally interesting so when I saw a copy on Netgalley I had to request. I enjoyed Devil and the Bluebird. It's a great combination of a coming-of-age road trip story with magical realism but there were some elements that I didn't really blow me away.

I went into this book expecting it to be much more of magical realism, a fantasy subgenre that I have been really enjoying so far. I mean it's about making a deal with the devil after all, and that sounds really cool. But it actually didn't have much of those elements but that was okay. But there were some really great fantasy and supernatural elements that were involved here in the book. Like most magical realism it would throw subtle magic into the story which added a lot of atmosphere and mystery to the book. It made for an interesting world and setting for the book which I really liked. 

One thing that surprised me about this book is that I actually liked the road trip aspects. I'm typically not into that plot device but here it worked. Not only was it purposeful but engaging. Each stop brought the MC closer to her goal and along the way she learned all about herself and the world around her, as road trip stories should. This may have also been because there was a lot of action and drama along the way. I usually hate road trips but this one I liked. But that being said, there were some things I didn't like about the plot and pacing. It did all build to an interesting conclusion but it felt like it took to long to get there for me.

But that being said, there were some elements of the plot development that didn't exactly work for me. I think that my main criticism is the fact that there was almost no falling action. It took almost the whole book to get to the climax and then when that was over, so was the book. The actual climax was good however, it had subtle hints as to where it was all leading and small things from early in the book came back in a big way towards the ending. But for me, it took a little too much time to get there and then the climax was over in too short a time. Then the book was just done. To me, it seemed sudden and then left things feeling unresolved.

As far as the characters go, most of them were involved for such a short time it was hard to fully connect with them but I did like them enough, they just didn't make a lasting impression. But I did like the main character, Blue. She has some great character development throughout the book. It's this interesting combination of learning to be independent and accept help on other people. It was nice seeing her find connection and a support system along the way while searching for her family.

Devil and the Bluebird was a good read and I did enjoy this road trip story with subtle magic and interesting characters. I would have liked a little more falling action but it was an entertaining read and a good debut.

I give Devil and the Bluebird by Jennifer Mason-Black 8 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow/Buy. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would to be entirely honest. If you are a fan of road trip stories then definitely check this one out, especially if you like magical realism or books with subtle supernatural elements.

Have you read Devil and the Bluebird? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: Gena/Finn by Hannah Moskowitz and Kat Helgeson

Title: Gena/Finn Written by: Hannah Moskowitz and Kat Helgeson Published: May 17, 2016 by Chronicle Books (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis:The story follows the unlikely friendship of two young women forged via fan fiction and message boards, and is told entirely in texts, chats, and blog posts.  Gena (short for Genevieve) and Finn (short for Stephanie) have little in common. Book-smart Gena is preparing to leave her posh boarding school for college; down-to-earth Finn is a twenty-something struggling to make ends meet in the big city. Gena’s romantic life is a series of reluctant one-night-stands; Finn is making a go of it with long-term boyfriend Charlie. But they share a passion for Up Below, a buddy cop TV show with a cult fan following. Gena is a darling of the fangirl scene, keeping a popular blog and writing fan fiction. Finn’s online life is a secret, even from Charlie. The pair spark an unlikely online friendship that deepens quickly (so quickly it scares them both), and as their individual “real” lives begin to fall apart, they increasingly seek shelter online, and with each other.

*** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

This was a great read. It's one of those books that is deeper and more complex than I expected, something that may have made me shy away from the book, but I'm glad I didn't. It was a fantastic and fast read with great characters and an engaging story.

I always enjoy when books are told in a different kind of format and narrative style. I wouldn't really refer to this as epistolary but it is definitely not told in the traditional narrative style. Gena/Finn is told completely through electronic interactions like blog posts, texts, and emails as well as through journal entries. It made for a really fast read but it also made for an interesting one. As someone who has a blog and interacts with people who I know from online regularly, it felt entirely natural to read about these characters chatting in this way. It made for a very immersive kind of read. It's not necessarily told in second person but it gave that vibe. It's as if you are one of the characters interacting with the others. Everything about this format made for a really interesting and compelling story.

The surprising thing about the format too is that you get to know the characters so well with just these interactions. You wouldn't think that this would allow you to experience the characters on such a deep level but because you almost inhabited them during the book, it did just that. And these are definitely fantastic and relateable characters which made it all the more engaging. I loved both Gena and Finn. Their friendship and attraction ran so deep and I loved that. They meet through the fandom they are a part of and become instant best friends. This is something us internet people can identify with but I felt like with this book it went deeper than that. Throughout the book, the characters are trying to figure out who they are and what they want with life during a period of change for them. In many ways I was really able to hold the mirror up to myself with these characters and that I think is really the mark of a great writer.

I'm not a huge contemporary fan but I love books about fangirls/fanboys and friendships which this book is. But I also don't typically love books that are on the more emotional side and this book was that too. It kind of lulled you into a false sense of security and friendship before hitting you with the serious stuff. But that's what made it all the more impactful. I ended up really loving the way it balanced the serious and lighthearted moments of life. It was very real that way. But it was also really hopeful in the end. I didn't leave feeling completely bummed. I left feeling encouraged about life and friendship and moving on.

On the whole I really enjoyed Gena/Finn. It was a unique and well-written story about two young women finding someone to help through the challenges of life on the internet. It's a post-modern story of friendship that is relateable and impactful.

I give Gena/Finn by Hannah Moskowitz and Kat Helgeson 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. I would definitely recommend Gena/Finn. If you are a fan of contemporaries then absolutely pick this one up when it comes out in a few weeks. But if you're like me and you're not a huge fan the genre but you are looking for a unique read, or especially if you are a part of any fandom or internet community then check this out.

Have you read Gena/Finn? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

Title: The Star-Touched Queen Written by: Roshani Chokshi Published: April 26, 2016 by St Martin's Griffin (Macmillan (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Fate and fortune. Power and passion. What does it take to be the queen of a kingdom when you’re only seventeen?  Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of death and destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father’s kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran’s queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar’s wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire…  But Akaran has its own secrets—thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most…including herself.

*** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

I was so excited to read The Star-Touched Queen. It was one of my most anticipated debuts of 2016. But I think the dreaded hype monster struck me on this one. Either that or it was a case of poor timing (reading anything before and after The Raven King was going to be problematic). Now don't get me wrong, I liked The Star-Touched Queen it just didn't blow me away.

One thing I did love about this book is the world-building. It's a beautiful and descriptive fantasy world that is essentially a love letter to fantasy worlds. There is so much to explore in the beginning of this book and I was absolutely loving being able to do just that. I'm always looking for fantasies with different kinds of worlds and inspirations which is what I found here. It effortlessly combined traditional fantasy elements with mythology. especially Indian, to make something unique and fascinating. And while there is so much to explore it never felt overwhelming, full of unimportant details, or with info dumps. It was just there to experience. Even some of the language and stories lifted from Indian culture while a bit confusing at times just worked to establish and interesting and immersive world. I'm not usually a big fan of the exposition portion of a book but here I loved it. It was all full of magic and wonder.

It was in the beginning portion of the book too that there was also plenty of mystery and intrigue that kept me reading then suddenly the entire tone and setting of the book changed.  It was in the second half that I think more of the plot development started kicking in. Now normally this would have been the part where I would start loving it but it felt jarring and sudden to me. It kind of made things confusing and the plot feel a little disjointed. It honestly felt like two separate books, a before and an after. At some points there was a lot of different storylines working together and I think it muddied the waters for me a little bit. I understand that we were slowly getting reveals that would unfold the larger plot and lead to the conclusion but it was like I had to learn things all over again and then I slowly started losing interest.

But I also think that part of my losing interest in the plot towards the middle had to do with the romance. I wasn't exactly loving the relationship. This is supposed to be based on the Hades and Persephone myth which I'm pretty familiar with and have seen done to some degree a few times. It's similar to the Beauty and the Beast story which as you may know, is not my favorite. It has to be done really well for me to get on board. I wouldn't necessarily call it instalove because reasons but I didn't really feel it in the way I do for more slowburn romances. I honestly think I just didn't feel the chemistry in the beginning so it made it harder later in the book. Not liking the romance is nothing new for me but I just didn't feel the connection between the characters and so when there was a desire from the MC to succeed in a romantic capacity I just wast invested.

But in the end I did really like many of the characters. I thought Maya was fantastic and I liked her development throughout the book. I especially liked her when it came to taking control of her life and her decisions. She was not treated very well and after spending so long walking on egg shells and doing what other people wanted. it was nice to see her take on that responsibility for herself. And I loved that she was so caring and compassionate in the face of it all. She was a really well-rounded and likeable MC with great character development. I also really liked Kamala, the talking demon horse who wanted to eat Maya and then grows to be her friend. And the villain of this book was great as well but when they finally came into the story it seemed a little out of the blue. I honestly would have liked more with the antagonist in the first half and less with Amar. Amar was fine but I didn't feel the chemistry with him and I think he came off a little bland for me. Honestly more establishment and character development of Amar would have been nice. Maya was very much the focus of the book which was good but at times I would have liked more from those secondary characters.

On the whole this was a good read but it didn't blow me away like I had hoped. But I think that may have been just been bad timing. It's got a great world and great characters but I just didn't connect with the plot and the pacing made my interest wane towards the end.

I give The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi 8.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow/Buy. I think this is a book I would recommend to fantasy fans. I would especially recommend it if you love lush and descriptive world building and you are looking for fantasy with a more of a romance element like A Court of Thorns and Roses. But if you are looking for a more action-packed fantasy then maybe this isn't for you.

Have you read The Star-Touched Queen? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Waiting on Wednesday: Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine.

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Title: Paper and Fire Series:  The Great Library #2 Author: Rachel Caine Published: July 7, 2016 by NAL (Penguin Group) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: In Ink and Bone, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine introduced a world where knowledge is power, and power corrupts absolutely. Now, she continues the story of those who dare to defy the Great Library—and rewrite history… With an iron fist, The Great Library controls the knowledge of the world, ruthlessly stamping out all rebellion, forbidding the personal ownership of books in the name of the greater good. Jess Brightwell has survived his introduction to the sinister, seductive world of the Library, but serving in its army is nothing like he envisioned. His life and the lives of those he cares for have been altered forever. His best friend is lost, and Morgan, the girl he loves, is locked away in the Iron Tower and doomed to a life apart. Embarking on a mission to save one of their own, Jess and his band of allies make one wrong move and suddenly find themselves hunted by the Library’s deadly automata and forced to flee Alexandria, all the way to London. But Jess’s home isn’t safe anymore. The Welsh army is coming, London is burning, and soon, Jess must choose between his friends, his family, or the Library willing to sacrifice anything and anyone in the search for ultimate control…

Why I'm Waiting 

Ink and Bone seriously blew me away. It was probably my favorite under the radar read of the year. It has an amazing and atmospheric world and a really exciting plot with a complex and sinister villain WHO IS THE LIBRARY. Plus the setting is really cool with the alternate history and a really interesting boarding school. It's great.

So obviously I need the sequel. It didn't really end on a cliffhanger but it did end with me needing more. I need to know where this series goes for both the characters and the world. I think things are going to get super intense in this book and if the synopsis is anything to go off of that sounds right.

Obviously I need it. I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley last month (Thanks NAL/Penguin) and I can't wait to start reading it!

What about you? What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Are you waiting on And I Darken along with me? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Top Ten Tuesday: Childhood Characters to Catch Up With

A weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

1.) Pippi Longstocking
I wanted to be Pippi Longstocking when I was a kid. I mean she was a messy-haired spunky tomboy living alone with a pet monkey and a treasure chest full of gold. Dream come true. I wonder what she's up to now. Pirate Queen, probably.

2.) The Boxcar Children
What do you think The Boxcar Children are up to now? Are they still living in that Boxcar in the woods? Maybe they moved to one of those Tiny Houses. At least one of them lives in a Tiny House, I'm sure of it.

3.) The Babysitters Club
I'd love to see where these girls ended up as adult. Actually a few years ago The Hairpin did a great where are they now with them. I thought it was absolutely possible. The only difference is I think Dawn is totally a climate activist

4.) Brian Robeson from Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
I loved Hatchet so much when I read it as an eleven year old. I read all the sequels. It was my favorite. So I would love to catch up with an adult Brian. Do you think he has his own Survirorman style show or is he just totally off the grid?

5.) Madeline
I loved Madeline as a kid. She was my favorite. Clearly I loved spunky redheads (see Pippi). I bought my niece a Madeline book for Christmas to get her into it. But I wonder about adult Madeline.

6.) Harriet the Spy
Did she join the CIA? Is she a real spy? Or a police detective? Or did that bad experience spying on her friends teach her never to spy on people again and she ended up living a completely normal life as a teacher or something.

7.) Miss Frizzle's Class from The Magic School Bus
Miss Frizzle's class 10 year reunion, anyone? Or maybe Miss Frizzle is retiring and all her students come back for one more adventure on the Magic School Bus. Except this time Arnold really did stay home (like a jerk!)

8.) Emily Elizabeth from Clifford
I loved Clifford as a kid. I wanted to name our new dog Clifford when I was twelve because he was a red-tri Australian Shepard. But I wonder what Emily Elizabeth is up to now. Does she still live on Birdwell Island? Or did she make it back to the mainland and never look back?

9.) Charlie Bucket from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Who will take over the factory from Charlie? As he is getting on in the years perhaps he should have another Golden Ticket style search for his heir. Or maybe Slugworth stages a hostile takeover and Charlie has to get everything back from him.


10.) Molly McIntire from the American Girl series
I loved the American Girl books so much as a kid. I was partial to Felicity and Kirsten while my sister like Molly and Samantha. But if I think about which character I want to get an update from that's Molly. Post-War 1950's Molly you guys!

Those are my picks. What childhood favorites do you want to catch up with? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: The Raven King by Maggie Steifvater

**** This review is spoiler free! If you've read The Raven King or not you can enjoy my flails. Heck you can even enjoy it if you haven't read The Raven Boys. But seriously, what are you waiting for? These books are amazing! ****

Title: The Raven King Series: The Raven Cycle #4 Written by: Maggie Steifvater Published: April 26, 2016 by Scholastic (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Nothing living is safe. Nothing dead is to be trusted.  For years, Gansey has been on a quest to find a lost king. One by one, he’s drawn others into this quest: Ronan, who steals from dreams; Adam, whose life is no longer his own; Noah, whose life is no longer a lie; and Blue, who loves Gansey…and is certain she is destined to kill him.  Now the endgame has begun. Dreams and nightmares are converging. Love and loss are inseparable. And the quest refuses to be pinned to a path.

So I have been able to sleep on my feels for this book and while I am still frequently overwhelmed by the threat of tears and flailing I think I might be coherent enough to review it a little. First things first, this was a fantastic ending to a wonderful series. The Raven Cycle has slowly and methodically worked its way into my heart and it will live there forever. I am sad to see it end but I am so satisfied with the way it did. And interestingly, the more I sit with my thoughts the happier I am with this conclusion and usually it's the other way around.

The best part about this series has always been the characters. Maggie does such a brilliant job of introducing you to a crazy amount of people who you can't help but love and root for. And because this book alternates perspectives in such rabid succession, you get inside the head of so many of them. Protagonists, antagonists, minor secondary characters, main characters. You see this book from every side and it makes things really interesting. Because of that you can feel the character's pain, their hope, and their love. They are all so different and similar at the same time. They are all searching for "something more" as Maggie puts it and I wanted that for them. It's rare for me to feel this connected to characters but Maggie's writing and characterizations makes it so easy. I love Blue and The Raven Boys so much that at this point I don't think I could be more invested in their success.

And then there are the relationships. This book, this series, has so many amazing relationships. The connecting thread in this series is the friendships between the characters and the support they give one another. Whether it's the friendships, the familial relationships, or the romantic ones, the way the characters relate to one another is so amazing. I laughed along with them as they made fun of each other (Ronan and Blue in this book might be my new favorite BroTP), I cried along with them when bad things happened, and I swooned and flailed along with them when their crushes became more. Seriously, sometimes I'll remember certain phrases and chapters regarding ships and I will just get suddenly excited. But the relationships here are so brilliant and perfect I couldn't help it.

But the other thing that is so great about this book is that it is an amazing coming-of-age story disguised as magical realism. Sure, yes, there is a ton of magic in this book and it was great seeing that come more and more into play as the series developed. And yes, it was that magic which helped lead to our ultimate conclusion but it was more than that. I was talking to someone about this book and I how I loved that it wasn't just another one of those books where magic saved everything. Magic played a part but it was the characters that saved everything. The book didn't really feel over, the series didn't really feel over when each of the main characters had that "aha moment." The one where they took matters into their own hands and got their "something more." And when I look back on where they were in book one, I love what these characters have become by book 4. And while I was surprised by some of the ways the book ended for certain characters, it feels right. It's a really great coming-of-age story and I didn't realize that until now.

I should have expected surprises with this series. That's how the plot development has been the whole time. And The Raven King was in fact full of surprises and amazing reveals that caught me totally off guard. There were a few big things that I wasn't expecting at all despite the obvious hints along the way. But that's how The Raven Cycle has been for me, subtle clues coming together in a big way to shock me like few series can. I prefer when series have individual plot lines while at the same time having one overarching one that takes up all the books. That's what The Raven Cycle is like. There was a storyline that was independent to this book but there was also the larger one for the sseries. This of course being the conclusion, the stakes were even higher and the reveals had more impact. And some endings did feel a little anti-climactic but it was still satisfying end when it was all said and done.

On the whole, The Raven King was a brilliant conclusion to an absolute favorite series. I'm sad to see it end but it was a brilliant ride. Now if you don't mind I'll just go be overwhelmed with feels somewhere else now. I think I have moved on from my book hangover now that it's been a few days but oh boy it was pretty intense for a minute there. But who can blame me? This book is so good!

I give The Raven King by Maggie Steifvater 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! Is that even a question? Of course you should buy this book. If you have read the first three books and didn't get a copy already I'm not sure we can be friends anymore. The Raven King is the perfect ending to an amazing series. If you have not read this series yet, start it now. It's brilliant.

Have you read The Raven King? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!