Review: The Conspiration of The Universe by Kenneth Olanday

Hello readers! Long time no post? :) Anyway, yes this blog is still alive and today is my stop for The Conspiration of The Universe blog tour.

Title: The Conspiration of the Universe by Kenneth Olanday
Release Date: October 2017
Published by: Popfiction
Source: From the publisher (Thanks Ishi and Jesselle!)

Summary:
Luke believes in a quote by his favorite author -- that is you want something so bad, the universe will conspire to help you get it.

Luke must have wanted to find love so much that Eureka, the heroine of his favorite book, comes to life and falls in love with him.

There is just one catch: once Eureka reaches the end of her book's storylike in the real world, then her story with Luke will end, too.

Will the universe conspire to help the star-crossed lovers find true happiness with each other?

One thing is for sure, Luke will do everything he can to keep Eureka forever.

Now, I will be completely honest. There are things in the book that worked for me and unfortunately a lot that didn't. I'll do my best to explain why, but again keep in mind that every reading experience is different, so read this review with your own preferences in mind.

When I first read the summary, I was immediately hooked. I'm a sucker for stories like this, and when I saw the cover, I was more eager to read the book and find out for myself if it's really good. A girl who came to life from a book you love? Her life following the book's story line? Very, very interesting indeed.

This is technically my 3rd Pop Fiction book, and I really loved the one I've read before this, which was Better Than Fiction. (My rave review for that will be posted soon, for those who haven't seen my tweeting spree a few days ago.) It might have set my expectations higher, and I have hoped that reading The Conspiration of The Universe will sustain those feelings but the reading experience is a bit different with this one.

It was very hard for me to connect with Luke. He was not the best protagonist I've read about, and having a love-hate relationship with the person whose POV I'm reading the book from tends to lessen my enjoyment of a story. While I can understand how he can be a pessimist at times, but can he at least have a better attitude towards his mother? Is it teenage angst? I didn't like his thoughts at all when he broke up with Sydney, and I didn't like Sydney any better too, so no love lost there. Do you really invite your ex out for lunch in the aftermath of a break up and get angry because they said NO? Come on.

On the other hand, I feel like Luke's love for books made me connect with him even just a little. I understand that feeling, where you love a book so much you wish the characters were real. In that sense, I was so amused when Eureka showed up. She's like a breath of fresh air in the story. She's quirky, dorky and cheerful. Though her cluelessness sometimes confuse me because 3 years seems like a short amount of time to not have an idea that the internet does exist and yes there are DVD players, she's still an interesting character. I was rooting for her. I want to see her carve her own path and do what she loves and break out of that box of expectations her parents had set for her life. She wanted to be a videographer and I admire her reason for aspiring to be one.

Slow burn is my jam, but that was not the case here. The story started out very shaky for me, what with having a book whose pages suddenly became blank and eventually have an e-book where you can read everything is a bit weird. I felt like the chemistry between Eureka and Luke were at a level of strong, platonic friendship at best and falling in love, really, was out of the question. There are also scenes where I felt were unnecessarily added and then having so little time to establish having Luke and Eureka fall in love. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the way they interacted with each other and find myself smiling when Matt teased them about being a nerdy couple.

The ending is to be expected. There were lots of moments that set the story up for the conclusion, so it was sensible that it ends that way, but I still feel like it could have been explained better. Why was there a video at the end from Eureka? Did she just disappear or just left Luke behind for good? Did she return to the book? I was very confused with that part. The author made an effort in giving the story an ending that was open to interpretation, and I feel that it gave the book more depth. The portrayal of Luke's struggle to move on was very emotional, and that eventually gave the book an extra kick in the heart as it ends.

My absolute favorite part of the book is, admittedly, Matt. He's like that friend who tends to fight with you all the time but is always there to set you straight and get you out of the mess you're in when you need them to. He's fun and sarcastic and basically delivers the hard punches and truths and the personified version of a very good smack in the head for Luke. His prequel story was EXTREMELY good, and it was such an uplifting snippet that I wished was longer so I can drown in the feels a little bit more.

The Conspiration of the Universe is not what I expected it to be, but the elements that worked for me gave brief moments that were sweet, enjoyable and entertaining. Insta love and meeting the author of the book you've obsessed over for years kind of plot twists aside, people will find the light-hearted moments between friends (Matt and Luke), lovers (nerdy couple Luke and Eureka) and that extra dose of angst a good combination in a story like this.


Content (plot, story flow, character):

I'm not trying to nitpick, but the typos also bothered me a little bit. Maybe I'm a jaded older reader, but more fluff please. This had so much potential but fell a little short for me.

Okay: Liked, but The Goddess demands more!

Book Cover:
Oh my goodness, I love everything about the cover! The illustration is SO good and it blends well with the typography used. It's stunning and if you have the chance to get your hands on a real copy, the texture of the cover is really nice. Kudos to whoever designed the cover, what an amazing job!

Review: Karmic Hearts by Jhing Bautista + Author Interview!

Fair warning, this is the first Pop Fiction book I've read. I tried to keep my expectation at a minimum, but right after I've read the summary for Karmic Hearts I knew I just had to read the book.

Title: Karmic Hearts by Jhing Bautista
Release Date: May 09, 2017
Published by: Pop Fiction (Summit Books)

Source: From the publisher

Read the original Wattpad story here.

Love. Magic. Fate. Best-selling romance novel author Karmina Joan writes about these things. She believes that every person has a purpose, that every soul has a destiny to fulfill. She thought hers was simply sharing her stories.

Her story unfolds with Cupid, the Angel of Love himself. He brings with him a mysterious vessel and a message from on high. It turns out Karmina has a bigger purpose after all—a mission that will make or break humanity as we know it.

As Cupid teaches her the tricks of his trade, Karmina unknowingly gives him something unexpected in return— something the angel of love will find oddly familiar. This may become the one flaw in an otherwise perfect plan that destiny had in store for them.

Does love truly conquer all or are there limits to what humanity can do in the name of love? Witness as Karmina struggles to find the answers before time runs out on true love.

I have a tendency to swoon over stories about Love, Fate and Destiny. So a story about a girl seeing red strings? Meeting Cupid? With a writer as the character lead? Count me in.

I must admit that I initially had a hard time reading the book. There were grammar and spelling nuances that distracted me from going further faster, and I had trouble connecting with Mina initially, but I powered through for the sake of the story and I am glad I did. There is something magical in the way the story unfolded, and I found myself flipping through the pages until I reached the end. And WHAT. AN. ENDING.

There's something about Jhing's writing that sustains your curiosity and makes you want to read up to the last page.

If Cupid is real (can he be, please? :) ) he'll probably just smile one of those smiles of his upon finding so many people liking him in the story, and that includes me. This charismatic, drop dead gorgeous guy... humorous and witty. And though I did not like Mina at first, you cannot deny the chemistry between the two of them. Karmina does have a bigger purpose, and it is so much more than sharing her stories, I am glad that even if I find her disagreeable at first, she grew into someone I really want to root for in the story.

Staying true to the title and the plot, Karmic Hearts is a story about all forms of love and all the trials and tribulations that comes along with falling in love. It can be tricky to have a mix of the myths, red string, fate and destiny but Jhing Bautista makes you believe in it. If you don't, then this story will make you want to believe. What a heart warming story, and I am glad my first Pop Fiction book reading experience went really well.

P.S.

Call it curiosity on my part but I did read the original version on Wattpad. My reading experience is a little bit different with that one, but the story still delivers nonetheless. I can easily agree with a lot of the readers that the Wattpad format is easier to read, but reading the book form is so much worth the time as well!

Content (plot, story flow, character):

I mentioned the things that made me lose a bit of focus at the start of the book, but this is still a good read! Ah, Cupid...

Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:
Super in love with the cover!

And now I share to you, my dear readers, an interview from the author of Karmic Hearts herself, Jhing Bautista. As part of the blog tour, I was able to ask Jhing a few questions about the book, being an author and the transformation Karmic Hearts went through from Wattpad to being a published book. Read it all below!

First things first, where did you get the idea for Karmic Hearts?

Karmic Hearts is a collection of random ideas that I’ve gathered over the years but didn’t know where and how to use.

a. When I was a kid, I used to save coins to buy this 99-peso cologne. The scent was not the thing that made me want to buy that particular cologne. It was the design on the container. Guardian angels.
b. I love movies that tackle destiny and fate, like Serendipity. It’s just nice to know that no matter what happens, if you’re meant to end up with someone, the universe will conspire to get you two together.
c. I love the movie, City of Angels. It’s just so poetic.
d. I was always curious about who I’ll end up with and how we’ll end up together. This made me curious about everyone else’s fate as well.

Since Karmic Hearts was first published in Wattpad, I'm curious to know more about your writing process. How did you go about writing? Do you finish a couple of chapters at a time and post? Or post the chapter as you finish writing them?

I don’t make a draft for each story. I only have a concept, an ending, and some key points along the way. The Wattpad version of KH went through the same process as my other stories. I wrote the first few chapters and figured out the middle part and up to the end. After I write a chapter, I post it on Wattpad right away.

For the book, since I don’t have to post it anywhere, the writing was continuous. However, the only difference from the Wattpad version was I consulted a few people and asked them to read the chapters that I’ve finished so they can tell me if I’m losing the feel halfway.

You have so many stories published in Wattpad, how do you make time to write? What is a typical writing day for you?

I always have time to write. Even when I’m at work, I find the time to write. Writing is not something that I can schedule because inspirations and ideas come at random times. My typical writing day does not only involve writing. I also listen to songs, watch movies, stare into space, eat, sleep, observe my environment.

Any advice for writers, not limited to Wattpad writers only, looking to have their books published?

First, be ready to compromise. I think people who want to have their stories published should keep this in mind. The thing is, even though we want certain things and think we know what is best for our story, that will change once the publisher comes into the picture.

Second, it is best to rewrite your story, remove the fillers, and only keep the important things. The publisher provides a certain budget for our book. The least we can do is to make it worth their money.

The one lesson/idea your readers can learn when they read Karmic Hearts?

Hmm. A reader sent me a message, probably a year or two ago. She said that Karmic Hearts taught her to pray harder and more sincerely. It somehow strengthened her faith in God.

If you can be in Cupid's shoes for one day, whose hearts would you want to connect and why?

I can’t think of anyone I’d want to connect. Haha!

---

And there you have it! I am the last stop for the Karmic Hearts blog tour. Check the list of blogs who participated in the tour for their reviews and other interviews related to the book. Happy reading!

[Blog tour] Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

Keeping in mind the title of the book, and the conversation format between Jessie and SN (Somebody Nobody), I will tell you my initial reactions after finishing this book in the same way:

1. Oh wow, the feels. I am drowning in feelings. And by feelings I mean this in a good way. It alternates from drowning in a tsunami of fluff and me sporting a goofy smile, to feeling emphatic and soaking in grief and all the teenage drama that unfolds in the pages.
2. This is like a movie in my head. So very entertaining and such a fun read. I love how I can just imagine every single moment in this book vividly.
3. Ethan. Because Ethan is Ethan is Ethan. (You'll get this once you read the book!) And that's all that matters. He makes everything better and I just can't get enough of him! I'm sure a lot of readers feel the same way.

Title: Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum
Release Date: April 5th 2016
Published by: Delacorte Press
Source: From the publisher (Thanks Julia!)

Buy locally: Fully Booked
Buy online: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

Everything about Jessie is wrong. At least, that’s what it feels like during her first week of junior year at her new ultra-intimidating prep school in Los Angeles. Just when she’s thinking about hightailing it back to Chicago, she gets an email from a person calling themselves Somebody/Nobody (SN for short), offering to help her navigate the wilds of Wood Valley High School. Is it an elaborate hoax? Or can she rely on SN for some much-needed help?

It’s been barely two years since her mother’s death, and because her father eloped with a woman he met online, Jessie has been forced to move across the country to live with her stepmonster and her pretentious teenage son.

In a leap of faith—or an act of complete desperation—Jessie begins to rely on SN, and SN quickly becomes her lifeline and closest ally. Jessie can’t help wanting to meet SN in person. But are some mysteries better left unsolved?

Don't you just love the initial intrigue you feel right after you read the summary? I did, and my expectations for the novel weren't really that high to begin with. But oh wow, as soon as I was 20 pages in I know I'm going to enjoy reading Jessie's story. So let me tell you three things that made this such a good read for me.

One: Jessie, Jessie and Jessie. S/N. Theo, Scar, Liam, Dri, Agnes. In short, the characters.

I absolutely love stories that hooks the reader right from the start, and meeting Jessie pulled me right in. A lot of aspects in her life is something I have experienced myself, and reading, remembering that similar place and point in my life instantly made me connect and relate with Jessie. I don't know how she did it but there's something in the way that Julie Buxbaum shaped Jessie's character that didn't make her an annoying person despite her life being very dramatic, and her being in the midst on an emotional time of her life. Here is a teenager, grieving, suddenly presented with a life drastically different than she's used to, alone, surrounded with everything unfamiliar. I admired Jessie in a lot of ways because she got through it. Jessie is fascinating, and her thoughts allowed me to know her more. What better way to present the story than being seen in her eyes.

And S/N. S/N, S/N, S/N. Oh, I just love him. Entertaining, witty, humorous, and despite being weird (Yes, even I can use the word to describe S/N) I can't get enough of S/N. Before I knew it I was looking forward to reading the banter, the IMs, the conversations with Jessie. Because that's just it, full of laughs and amusing thoughts of two teenagers. Though shrouded with secrecy, we also get to know S/N through the random facts shared in their conversations. It's like Julie was giving away bits and pieces and clues so the readers can find out who this person is, and I just ate up every single thing thrown my way. I loved that the uncertainty of S/N and Jessie's relationship was evident, and how it was properly expressed that real life and cyber versions of themselves aren't similar, that not all things might be real or true, how easy it is to say things online than to say it in person.

One more thing that I love: how there's a spectrum of other interesting characters throughout the book, each of them contributing in making the story likable and lovable. Theo, who I love to hate and hate to love. He has his own share of grief, and though most of the time he confuses me, grabbed my attention as well. Scar, who I loved because she's such a great best friend. And thrown in a couple of other hot guys like Liam, Caleb, Ethan to the mix to further muddle the trail that leads to S/N and it makes the story all the more adorable.

Two: The feelings, oh the feelings.

I've lost count how many times I found myself chuckling or full on laughing while reading. I was also frustrated, worried, anxious at various points of the book. To be able to feel such a variety of emotions while reading is something I don't always get to experience, but this book just gave me so much joy, laughter, made me a little teary eyed, sad, nervous and made me hold my breath in a span of 300 pages. Finding a place to belong, learning to live a good life after such a devastating loss and finding love in unexpected times and places, the story takes me through all of that. In the history of big secret revelations, the twist in this book is probably the best anti-climactic moment I will like for a long time. It was so... S/N.

Three: Julie Buxbaum's writing

I will be honest, I've figured out who S/N is very early in the story. But you know what? I think figuring out just who this online, mysterious friend is added an extra dimension to my reading. Because then I get to know this person as S/N and as who they are in real life. The contrasts in personalities, the why's, the what's and the how's that made them such a person. (I refuse to give unnecessary clues away!) The journey S/N and Jessie made before the secrets were revealed. I didn't give up until I see it happen, how Julie will bring the readers to that point. The story itself is simple and straightforward, but I like how as a reader, I get more than what I expected and that's what makes it such a special read. There's depth, emotions, lively characters, and it was such an engaging story. Who am I not to fall in love with such a potent combination?

In closing, here are the three things I know:

1. I recommend this book to all of you. It's already been a week since release date and you need to grab a copy NOW.
2. I am so glad I had a chance to read such a story. Another book to add on my favorite YA contemporary list. And I am proud to say that I will read anything Julie Buxbaum writes from now on.
3. Do I need a third reason? If yes, please read my review again and see if I can convince you one more time.

Kai's favorite quote:

When I close my eyes at night, I see last moments, impossible goodbyes.
But I don't dream anymore. Do you dream? I miss it.

Content (plot, story flow, character):

YA contemporaries just keep getting better and better this year. Wow. I just love this book so much I don't even know what else there is left to say! Just read it!

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:
Of course. Waffles!

[Blog tour] A Darker Shade of Magic by Victoria Schwab + Giveaway!

Hello lovely readers! As you may have guessed, I am way late in this tour, but I am posting and hey! I still have exclusive content just for this blog tour. But first...

Guess which London I'm in? Yup.

It's Grey London.

I had a chance to ask Victoria a question, which was: What's the weirdest thing you have done while trying to get ideas for your writing?

Victoria answered: As strange as my ideas are, my process is fairly ordinary. The only thing is, my mind is too cluttered when my body is still, so I have this habit of walking. I walk when I need to parse ideas, I walk when I need to sort out plot, I walk when I need to write and can’t get out of my head enough to do so. I’ve thought through stories in half a dozen countries, trodding up soggy hills in the Lake District, wandering through a small church in Prague, one day I clocked 14 miles just wandering NYC. While trying to sort through ADSOM with my beta reader, I paced my front yard in the middle of January for two hours. I would say that very few of my ideas sort themselves when I’m sitting still.

A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC

V. E. Schwab

Step into a universe of daring adventure, thrilling power, and multiple Londons.

* * *

Kell is one of the last Travelers—magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes, connected by one magical city.

There’s Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, and with one mad king—George III. Red London, where life and magic are revered—and where Kell was raised alongside Rhy Maresh, the roguish heir to a flourishing empire. White London—a please where people fight to control magic and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. And once upon a time, there was Black London. But no one speaks of that now.

Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, ambassador of the Maresh empire, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they’ll never see. It’s a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which seeing firsthand.

Kell is now Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs into Delilah Bard, a cutpurse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.

Now perilous magic afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they’ll first need to stay alive.

Buy a copy: Macmillan / Indiebound / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Books A Million

* * *

V. E. SCHWAB's first adult novel, Vicious, debuted to critical praise and reader accolades. Schwab is the author of YA novels The Near Witch, The Archived, and The Unbound, and the Everyday Angel series for middle grade readers.

Follow her on: veschwab.wordpress.com. @VESchwab. Facebook. Goodreads.

If you'd like to know more about A Darker Shade of Magic, check out the links below:

Explore Darker-Shade.com - a special website for A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC that is full of information and materials for readers.

Take this fun Buzzfeed Quiz you and your readers can take that will sort you into a magical London.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

WIN A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC PRIZE PACK!

Thanks to our amazing friends over at Tor, I'm giving away a limited edition signed by the author, double sided poster which features BOTH the US and the UK covers. I'm also giving away a FINISHED COPY of A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC. If you've been checking my Instagram, I posted the prettiness of the finished copy there as well, if you wanna check it out!

Rules:

- Open Internationally

- Ends March 30th

- Must be at least 13 years old to enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! My review will be posted this weekend and I hope you'll read it as well!

[Blog Tour] Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

A world divided by blood and color. The Silvers who are the rulers and the Reds who follow, inferior, slaves. It was the way the world works, until a Red girl named Mare came along.

Title: Red Queen (Red Queen Trilogy #1) by Victoria Aveyard
Release Date: February 10th 2015
Published by: Harper Teen
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

Graceling meets The Selection in debut novelist Victoria Aveyard's sweeping tale of seventeen-year-old Mare, a common girl whose once-latent magical power draws her into the dangerous intrigue of the king's palace. Will her power save her or condemn her?

Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood--those with common, Red blood serve the Silver- blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own.

To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard--a growing Red rebellion--even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. One wrong move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal.

Mare just wants to escape. Having been born a Red, her only choice as she turns 18 is to serve in the military like her older brothers because she had no other talents. But Mare doesn't want that, and so she would do anything in her power to avoid it. But Mare doesn't have the money nor the ability to do so, the only way she can help feed her family is when she picks pockets. Until one day she meets a mysterious boy, compassionate enough to give her help in a way Mare couldn't forget. But the boy isn't what he seems, and when Mare finds herself working inside the palace, amidst the mighty and superior Silvers, Mare finds out that she might be something else entirely. And the boy who helped her? He happens to be the heir to the throne, the boy she can never have, even as she became a part of the family to protect her secret.

See, Red Queen had this hypnotic quality that just pulls you in the moment you start reading. Everything about this book intrigued me. Mare is a girl one can easily sympathize with, fierce and loyal to her family and right from the start she wanted something more for herself, to break free of the life given to her just because her blood runs red. Her strong personality became more evident especially when she found herself smack dab in the middle of the Royal family, and with her new found ability, she was tested over and over as she familiarizes herself with the very same people she hates: the Silvers, their world, the powers they possess, the rebellion, all while Mare tries to keep herself alive and protect herself as she tries to make the lives of her people, the Reds, better.

While reading Red Queen, I learned early to be wary like Mare, but no amount of vigilance and readiness prepared me for when I encountered Cal and Maven, Silvers and Princes, possessing great abilities harnessing the power of fire. An older brother with the burden of ruling a country divided, a younger sibling who has always existed in the shadow of the first born. They fought for attention and though their personalities are in total contrast with each other, there's much to love and admire on both brothers. That is, until conspiracies, secrets, hatred and betrayal got woven in the story. I loved how Victoria Aveyard managed to make me lose focus enough to not figure out which brother isn't what he really seemed. And boy, the shock I got when I figured it out was something that made me love this book more.

The author managed to build a believable world, full of strife and conflict, and there's a lot of elements worth discussing aside from Mare's complicated relationship with the Royal family. The world Mare sees, it's social hierarchy, the way the society functions under the premise of the superior ruling and subjugating the weak, where one's place in life is dictated with the color he/she bleeds, and the obvious disparity in life when it comes to privileges and power. There's this palpable impact seeing all of these through the eyes of someone who was once that, a Red and now suddenly a Silver as the readers get to see both sides of the story. Even Mare's struggles as she became someone who was neither of the two, still with that burning desire to right the wrongs done to her people is noteworthy. There's absolutely nothing in this book that isn't worth paying attention to, even the minor characters. (Officer Samos deserves a special mention!)

Red Queen is an addictive read. If the political or royal intrigue and family dynamics isn't enough to make your heart race, then the action scenes will. It's not so much about the explosions and uprisings, but the consequences and complications they create, and the impact they have on Mare who exists in a lie in order to live. Nothing is certain. People betray even those they hold dear, and death is always on their heels. No guarantees, no promises. It's a cruel, cut throat world, and I loved reading every single minute of it. Victoria Aveyard's debut novel convinces the readers of her talent and the potential for this book to become a hit is really high. Thoroughly enjoyable, with breath taking, heart breaking romance set in a fascinating, futuristic world, Red Queen is definitely a favorite of mine this early in the year!

One of the very few downside of this book? Waiting for the sequel. How do we past time now?

Content (plot, story flow, character):

This book could have been close to perfect were it not for that one aspect of Mare's personality that I didn't really like: that single minded desire to "avenge" her people, ignoring everything else which leads her to being an irrational person more often than not. Combine that with her complete inability to choose between Maven and Cal which caused her a lot of problems, that feeling of love consuming such a big part of her that she loses focus, until it was too late.
.5

Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:
This cover speaks volumes, and it makes so much sense when you read the story. What a perfect representation of the story as a whole.

I have extra content for the followers and readers of this blog! I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to ask Victoria one question. What is it? Check out the graphic below:

And if my review made you want to read the book, you can check out the video that the wonderful folks over at Epic Reads made to find out more about Red Queen:


Thank you so much to HarperCollins International for letting me be a part of this tour! Follow and check out the rest of the international tour stops by checking out the list below:

2/2 http://amaterasureads.blogspot.com (Philippines)

2/3 http://staybookish.net/ (Philippines)

2/4 http://ghostgrrrl.wordpress.com (Malaysia)

2/5 http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com (Singapore)

2/6 http://thedailyprophecy.blogspot.com (the Netherlands)

2/8 http://spellsaab.juice.ph/ (Philippines)

2/8 http://defiantlydeviant.blogspot.com (Philippines)

2/9 http://www.carinabooks.blogspot.com (Norway)

2/12 http://www.booksloveme.com/​ (Malaysia)

[Blog tour] Review: Cities by Carla de Guzman + Interview & Giveaway!

"What if in another universe, I loved you too?" That tagline just got to me enough to make me curious about this book. I'm glad I was able to read it! Interesting, fascinating, confusing and bittersweet.

Title: Cities by Carla de Guzman
Release Date: November 30th 2014
Published by: Midnight Books
Buy: Amazon | Createspace

Summary:

Celia has dreams.
She dreams of going to Seoul for that scholarship she never took, of leaving everything behind and moving to New York.
In all those dreams, she finds herself attached to Benedict, the boy she has always loved, who didn’t love her back.

Ben believes in parallel worlds.
Worlds where the things you didn’t do come true—worlds where he went to London and fell in love with Celia, where he shows up on the day she needed him most. He believes that dreams are glimpses into that parallel world, and it’s not a coincidence that Celia’s been having them too.

It’s the day of Ben’s wedding, in the middle of a typhoon in Manila. How will these dreams and unmade decisions change their lives? Will they bring them closer together, or just drive them further apart?

A friend of mine had mentioned this book in passing one day while we were waiting in line for a cab, and then a few days after I found myself reading this for a tour. It's destiny.

And speaking of destiny, this book talks about it and a whole lot more. All the possibilities, all the what-ifs. Worlds and cities. Various circumstances that could have led to varying outcomes. Broken hearts. Hope.

Celia is attending a friend's wedding, and she was plagued by dreams. Dreams of what could have been if she had decided to do things she didn't, visited places she could have gone to. After all, it was the wedding of her best friend, Vivian, and Ben, the guy she loved who broke her heart that faithful night back in college.

The idea of multi-verses is a tricky one to handle, and it could lead into a total disaster if not written well. Cities confused me because of the jumps from one dream to another, to a city, to another life, to what could've been but I enjoyed the ride with a few bumps, so to speak. That question, what if?, presents itself over and over in various scenarios and set-ups that a reader like me couldn't help but feel completely different emotions every single time Celia dreams. Her dreams made me feel hopeful, but reality doesn't, and reality is what Celia must face.

Carla de Guzman wrote a book wrapped in an interesting premise, a story that many can relate to.  The dynamics of friendship and the strain it is put through when love gets mixed in and the kind of love that you want but couldn't get. Unfulfilled, unreciprocated feelings? Check. Supportive friends? Check. Cool places and pop culture references we all know? Check. Being an Asian Pop fan, I loved the Seoul City story the most!

Cities pinches the reader's heart quite a few times while being immersed in a world within worlds. It's fascinating to see what these "could've been" are, from Celia's perspective to the various transformations her friends made in the places Celia's dreams took her. Definitely an interesting, quick read!

Content (plot, story flow, character):
Very interesting concept, but like I said, if you're not aware of the presence of multi-verses (and you will only get it once Ben mentions it), you will be confused very early by the jumps in every chapter. But you'll get it eventually, don't worry. I didn't like Vivian that much because is she really that kind and perfect? (In every "City", yes) And Henry, how I wish I know you more. I like him a lot! Ben? Not so much...

.5
Okay: Liked, but The Goddess demands more!

Book Cover:
I am so in love with the cover!

THE AUTHOR
Carla de Guzman (ck.deguzman@gmail.com) had horrible handwriting as a kid. That didn't stop her from writing, though. Riddled with too much energy and a vivid imagination, she started writing every midnight. She grew up with her toes in the sand and her bags packed and ready to go on adventures. Her books are chronicles of her journeys, with a little romance mixed in.

When she’s not sitting in a plane or working, Carla writes for her blog, Some Midnights (www.somemidnight.wordpress.com) and for When in Manila.


FOLLOW CARLA:
Blog: http://somemidnight.wordpress.com/
Tumblr: http://www.somemidnights.tumblr.com/
Archive of Our Own: http://archiveofourown.org/users/ckwhales/pseuds/ckwhales
Instagram: @ckwhales

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I had a chance to ask the author a few questions and here are answers. How fun would it be to read a book set in Camiguin AND Osaka? I need to read that book now.

1. First up: describe Cities in 3 words
Travel, Love, Multiverses

2. What inspired you to write Cities and why the idea of multiverses?
Cities started out as a short story, the concept of which I got from Throught Catalog. For a sadsack, no boyfriend since birth type like me, it was comforting to know that somewhere out there, there was a version of myself was braver, that could have the ones that got away. As the story grew, the multiverses began to have personalities of their own--meaning certain situations fit only in certain cities, making each city a different universe in itself.

3. Given that Cities is a story where multi-verses exists, do you believe in them? Given the choice, in what alternate universe would you like to be in if you can go to one?
It's an idea that I find incredibly fascinating. I love stories that explore what ifs. But I think totally believing in parallel universes would drive me crazy! If I could live in an alternate universe, it would be the one where I actually pursued musical theatre instead of writing. I'm still very much attached to that world, and I wonder what it would be like if I stayed on that path.

4. Which of the "Cities" is your favorite? Mine had to be the one in Seoul. I love how it's familiar like something out of a KDrama but still managed to have that bite of bittersweet kind of love.
I'm glad you liked the Seoul verse--a lot of it is a reflection of everyhing I know about Korean dramas (and I've seen a lot)! Ben's character espescially was fun because I had a good archetype to work with! But I have to say that the London story is my favorite, only because you really get to see Celia's relationships with the other characters, and how interconnected they are.
Plus I got to reference Doctor Who quite a lot, which is always a bonus!

5. Are you working on a new story other than Cities?
Yes! I'm plotting out a letter-driven story set in Camiguin and Osaka. That's all I have about it so far, because I'm still working out a lot of...kinks in the plot. It was originally going to be set in Bali, but maybe next time.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

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[Blog Tour] Fall Like Rain by Ana Tejano Excerpt + Giveaway!

It's the 2nd day of the FLR blog tour, and I'm the 3rd stop today! Now it's my turn to share with you an excerpt that will make you all the more curious and interested in Ana's book!

But first, if you're curious to know what the book is all about:

Fall Like Rain by Ana Tejano
Release Date: September 29th 2014

Add to your Goodreads list!

Summary:

Rain De Castro has been in love with her best friend, Mark Velasco, for almost the entire time she has known him, but she’s clearly in the friend zone because he’s happily in a relationship. Or so she thought, until the news of his break-up reaches her. Now that Mark’s single again, she decides that it’s time to get out of the zone. But when her cousin Lissa comes into the picture and sets her eyes on Mark, Rain feels troubled when he gets a little too friendly with her. Rain is determined to fight for what she feels this time, but is it worth the effort if it's a losing battle from the start? Will she back off to give way for her best friend's happiness, even if it means losing him to someone else again?

Buy the book: Amazon | Smashwords

You can also pre-order a paperback copy of the book by filling out the form here: http://bit.ly/FLRPrint

And now, for the excerpt!

“So I heard you almost didn’t invite Mark. Why?”

I groaned. Of course, they would have done a tag-team on me. “Why does it matter? He’s probably with his girlfriend,” I replied. I wish I could say I didn’t cringe at the last word.

They exchanged looks. Meah nodded at Faith, who shook her head slightly but was rewarded with a pointed look. Faith sighed. They knew something I didn’t know, obviously, and I waited for one of them to break down and just tell me, even if a part of me was itching to ask.

“Are you mad at Mark, Rain?” Faith finally asked, her brow furrowed with concern. “I mean, are you still mad at him?”

“I was never really mad,” I said, shaking my head. “And why are we having this conversation again?”

“But did you guys have a fight recently or something?” Faith insisted.

“No. Come on guys. Mark? We never even argued. I mean, remember we called him smiley-faced boy in college? I don’t think he’s capable of being sad or angry, ever.” I laughed at the last bit, despite the weirdness of the conversation.

“But...have you talked to him recently? Like...early this year or something?” Meah asked.

This time, I felt a teeny, tiny stab of worry. “Well...” I said slowly, trying to recall the last time Mark said hi. “I saw him on my birthday, but I wasn’t able to talk to him for too long. But guys, I’ve been very busy with work and the wedding for the past few months.”

They exchanged looks again. Frustration bubbled up in me, as well as this urge to tear my hair out from all their cryptic looks. They were friends with Mark, too, so I understood the curiosity, but why the sudden interrogation?

“So...did he tell you...I mean, did you talk about...” Faith stammered, giving Meah a helpless look.

“Oh girls, will you cut it out? What is it? Is there something wrong with Mark?” For a moment, I wondered if he got into an accident and I didn’t know about it, but I waved it off. If that had happened, I was pretty sure I would have heard of it.

There was a moment of silence, which felt like it stretched on forever, until Meah finally blurted it out.

“Rain. Mark is single again.”

Dundundundun. And the plot thickens. If the excerpt tickles your fancy, you can buy the ebook or print version through the links I posted above! Or you can always join the giveaway to win the following:

1 of 3 ebook copies of Fall Like Rain (Open Internationally!)

1 signed paperback copy of Fall Like Rain (PH Only!)

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About the author:

Ana Tejano has been in love with words and writing ever since she met Elizabeth Wakefield when she was in Grade 3. She has contributed several non-fiction pieces in print and online publications, and has been blogging for years. When she’s not writing, she works as a marketing lead for a multinational company by day, manages a book club, and serves in her church community in every other time that she doesn’t spend reading or sleeping. She lives in Metro Manila and is also known by another name in her other circles (but it’s not a secret identity, really).

You can follow Ana on Twitter, Facebook and Wattpad.

[Blog tour] The Polaris Uprising by Jennifer Ibarra Excerpt + Giveaway!

Featuring a fellow Filipino who also happens to be a YA author, Jennifer Ibarra. I'm sharing with you an excerpt from her novel, check it out and let me know what you think!

Title: The Polaris Uprising (Polaris #1) by Jennifer Ibarra
Release Date: October 30th 2013
Published by: Tiwala Books
Summary (from Goodreads):

No citizen shall be left behind.

Life in Neress is simple. For nearly four decades, people have known exactly what’s expected of them. Obey the rules, follow the path that’s been laid out, and everything will be provided for: food, shelter, education, safety. No need goes unmet.

But the cost is steep: you lose all rights to make your own choices in life.

In seven years, eighteen-year-old Ryla Jensen will come of age and take over for her father as president of this idyllic nation. Groomed since childhood to take on a role she’s not even sure she wants, Ryla’s only escape from the pressures of duty is her sister, Alanna. But when her eyes are finally opened to the oppressive regime her father built, she begins to question everything she’s set to inherit—and finds herself at odds with her sister’s blind allegiance to their father.

Torn between loyalty to her family and the fight for freedom, Ryla must decide just how far she’s willing to go to make a stand and risk losing the person she loves most in the world: Alanna.

Very interesting, right? Check out the excerpt here:



Please read this very important message from Jennifer and let's support her cause!

Cancer has touched all of us in one way or another. Those who have read THE POLARIS UPRISING will know that I dedicated it to my dear friend, Brittanie, whom we lost to Stage IV ovarian cancer in 2010. She was only 26 years old. In her memory, I am pledging to donate $1 out of every sale on Amazon and Barnes & Noble to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society from now until October 6--the day she was diagnosed with the disease that took her life. Every donation up to $2,000 will be matched by my employer, so your generosity will be doubled! Thank you in advance for helping me in this special cause.

BUY A COPY of THE POLARIS UPRISING HERE:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | iBooks | Kobo | Smashwords

About the author:

Jennifer Ibarra grew up on a steady diet of books, Star Wars, and other fantastic feats of the imagination. Her debut novel, The Polaris Uprising, is the first book in a trilogy and mixes dystopia with family drama, romance, and political intrigue.

She lives in Silicon Valley, where she does marketing for a tech company and spends her time running, cooking, baking, and keeping up with celebrity gossip.

 Author links:

Website: jenniferibarra.com
Facebook: facebook.com/officialjenniferibarra
Twitter: twitter.com/writejenwrite
Tumblr: writejenwrite.tumblr.com
Goodreads: goodreads.com/jenniferibarra

-----

GIVEAWAY TIME!

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[PH ONLY]

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[Blog tour] Review: A Death-Struck Year by Makiia Lucier + Giveaway!

It might be your friend. Your next door neighbor. Your mom, dad, your sister.
No one is safe.

Title: A Death-Struck Year by Makiia Lucier
Release Date: March 4th 2014
Published by: HMH Books for Young Readers
Source: Publisher / Rockstar Book Tours
Buy: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | THE BOOK DEPOSITORY | GOODREADS

Summary:

A deadly pandemic, a budding romance, and the heartache of loss make for a stunning coming-of-age teen debut about the struggle to survive during the 1918 flu.

For Cleo Berry, the people dying of the Spanish Influenza in cities like New York and Philadelphia may as well be in another country--that's how far away they feel from the safety of Portland, Oregon. And then cases start being reported in the Pacific Northwest. Schools, churches, and theaters shut down. The entire city is thrust into survival mode--and into a panic. Headstrong and foolish, seventeen-year-old Cleo is determined to ride out the pandemic in the comfort of her own home, rather than in her quarantined boarding school dorms. But when the Red Cross pleads for volunteers, she can't ignore the call. As Cleo struggles to navigate the world around her, she is surprised by how much she finds herself caring about near-strangers. Strangers like Edmund, a handsome medical student and war vet. Strangers who could be gone tomorrow. And as the bodies begin to pile up, Cleo can't help but wonder: when will her own luck run out?

There was something in the premise that struck me as interesting. Call it a morbid fascination, or it might just be me looking for a read that will rouse a powerful emotion, but I know what kind of read this was supposed to be. What else would you expect?

I was, however, initially apathetic. 10% in and I was wondering if the story was really supposed to start that way. It was an ordinary day, where Cleo was hating on the fact that she's stuck in the dormitory during vacation. That was it. It was normal. But then the threat of the Spanish Influenza was spreading like wildfire in the United States until it reaches her hometown, and Cleo, who was just a girl not liking the fact that she's spending her free time without her older brother and her sister in law, became something else in my eyes. Someone that I admire. Who better would understand what it's like to lose a loved one, to have no one come to your aid when you need it than Cleo, who've experienced it all as a child? Those moments of doubt, thinking of her safety and if she had what it takes to do the job. I liked that side of her. Better that she doubt, because that made her human and real for me. She was not doing it because she was bored, alone in her house with nothing better to do.

It's always a surprise when a book with the theme like this manage to inserts something else to look forward to, like the untimely, budding romance between Edward and Cleo. Edward had his own share of loss and reasons why a very young capable soldier like him was helping the Red Cross. He was this rock Cleo can lean on to when the deaths and the unexpected losses were to much to take. My admiration for him was as strong as with Cleo. He's tough, and the second chance he got in life he used to help others. He's one half of a pair of characters that will stuck themselves close to your heart because of the way they are. In a time of chaos and worry, they're kind and understanding.

Makiia Lucier's painted a grim story with stark clarity that gave me goosebumps throughout. You never get used to the deaths, because you see how the disease takes away people, and you see it happen through the eyes of these heroic people who chose to help when no one else wanted to, who risks their own lives so that others might live. It makes one realize just how short life is, that it can be taken away in a blink of an eye. What made me like A Death-Struck Year wasn't the romance between Cleo and Edward, it was what they've done, the selflessness and beneath that, the underlying fear that maybe they're just tempting fate, because they are. That constant emotional nudge the author gives as the Spanish Influenza gradually changes Cleo's life and everyone else around her was what made this book a memorable read. Makiia Lucier crafted a solid, riveting story that's equal parts sad and bittersweet.

Content (plot, story flow, character):

You can tell how well researched this novel is by the way Makiia Lucier captured the setting, the latter part of the 1910's, perfectly. That nagging feeling of when and if Cleo gets sick sticks to you and wrap you in a bubble of tension, waiting, as the story gets grimmer and hopeless makes this book lives up to what it's supposed to be about.

Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:
Very appropriate cover that represents the theme well.

GIVEAWAY!!!!

A SIGNED COPY of A DEATH-STRUCK YEAR to one winner – US ONLY.

Giveaway ends on March 17th at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.

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Makiia Lucier grew up on the Pacific island of Guam. She received a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Oregon and a master's in library studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She's had plenty of jobs, mostly in libraries, and currently lives in the small college town of Moscow, Idaho.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

Tour Schedule

Mar. 10th - Bookish - Interview
Mar. 11th - Amaterasu Reads - Review
Mar. 12th - Songs and Stories - Review + Guest Post
Mar. 13th - The Cover Contessa - Guest Post
Mar. 14th - Kindle and Me - Review

[Blog Tour] All's Fair in Blog & War Excerpt + Giveaway!

I am so so so happy to be a part of the blog tour for this wonderful book!

If you're curious, you might want to check out my review of All's Fair in Blog and War and then read the excerpt which I will be posting below to win some awesome prizes!!!

Title: All's Fair in Blog and War by Chrissie Peria
Release Date: June 2013
Source: Blog Tour
Buy: Amazon | Smashwords

Summary:

Five Cuevas @fivetravels
Three guesses to where I'm going next. Starts with an M. Ends with a U. Has a lechon named after it. #travel

Twenty-something travel blogger Five thinks she has hit the jackpot when she gets invited to glittering Macau for an all-expense-paid bloggers tour. Think majestic old churches, sparkling casinos, exhilarating bungee jumps, and the world's most unforgettable egg tarts. The trip is practically perfect, except for one little glitch. She gets assigned to be travel buddies with Jesse, the world's most infuriating photo blogger, and it's definitely war at first sight.

Will Five let Jesse turn her dream vacation into a total nightmare? Or will falling in love be on the itinerary?

Look! The characters even have their own Instagram and Twitter accounts!

Instagram: @fivetravels
Twitter - Five: @5travels
Twitter - Jesse: @wanderingcamera


ALL'S FAIR IN BLOG AND WAR EXCERPT:



About the author:

Chrissie's first trip to Macau was in the summer of 2010. Like her main character, she fell in love there. Unlike her main character, she didn't fall in love with a guy; she fell in love with egg tarts.

An advertising copywriter in her past life, she now spends most of her time writing, taking photos, cooking and babysitting. She tweets about food and writerly things as @kitchencow. For thoughts longer than 140 characters, she blogs on http://thewriteside.kingdomcow.net. She still plays with dolls and she thinks that bacon is the answer.

This is her first novella.

AUTHOR LINKS:
Blog: http://thewriteside.kingdomcow.net
Twitter: @kitchencow
Instagram: @kaoko25

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I leave you with this quote: