The Purgatorium by Eva Pohler

Seventeen year-old Daphne Janus is floored when her parents agree to let her accompany her best friend to a getaway resort on an island off the coast of California. She doesn't know her parents have sent her to the Purgatorium as a last-ditch effort to save their child.

Her best friend and life-long neighbor takes her to a mostly uninhabited island with a wildlife preserve on one side and Chumash Indian ruins on the “haunted” side. The resort might be beautiful, the beach pristine, and the views from the headland amazing, but strange things begin to happen that soon have Daphne running for her life. At first she finds the therapeutic games thrilling: the ghosts that visit her room, the dropping elevator, and the kayak incident are actually kind of fun once she recovers from them. But when her horse bucks her off during a trail ride and she becomes lost on the haunted side of the island, it’s not fun anymore, and she wonders if her parents have sent her there to help her or to punish her.

Why Read: Recommended by Benjaminoftomes who is a blooktuber who I love watching plus its FREE on Kindle! Who wouldn't say no to that!?!

What I Liked: This novel gave me the curiosity that made me flew over the pages with a damn QUICKNESS. I have to say it was a interesting premise that you want to know what is going on with the book, Which is a good thing if you are a reader with a reading challenge. The setting is another plus to the creepiness that is going on and I like how the characters were somehow weird that had me thinking a lot and be suspicious of. Another thing that I like is the myths that intertwined with the novel that always gets my attention sprinkling the story with fantasy.

What Disappointed Me: I wasn't a fan of the pacing though, There were parts especially the flash backs that for me wasn't really necessary to repeat over and over again. I also don't like the main character that tends to self pity a lot in the story. It brings bad vibes on my mood aha One more thing is the ending, It wasn't what I expected. It was a bit shallow ending. 

Book cover is okay. I'm just not a fan of the eye thingy, find it cheesy and a bit cliche. 

Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen by Serena Valentino

The tale of the young princess and her evil stepmother, the Wicked Queen, is widely known. Despite a few variations from telling to telling, the story remains the same--the Queen was jealous of the girl's beauty, and this jealousy culminated in the Queen's attempt on the sweet, naive girl's life.

Another tale far less often spoken of is the one that explains what caused the Queen to become so contemptuously vile. Still, some have attempted to guess at the reason. Perhaps the Queen's true nature was that of a wicked hag and her beautiful, regal appearance a disguise used to fool the King. Others claim that the Queen might have hated the girl for her resemblance to the King's first wife. Mostly, the Queen is painted as a morally abhorrent woman who never loved another being during the course of her miserable life.

In fact, the theories about exactly what cause the Queen's obsessive vanity and jealous rage are too numerous to catalog. This book recounts a version of the story that has remained untold until now. It is a tragic tale of love and loss, and it contains a bit of magic. It is a tale of the Wicked Queen. 

Why Read: I first saw this from Pbookbuddy who is one of the amazing book tuber that I follow on YouTube. He was raving how great this book is and I was totally sucked in and gave in with what he said about this that somehow made me really want it bad.

What I Liked: Where to start?! haha Its a retelling! For the N'th time, I LOVE RE-TELLINGS! Any twisted fairy tale re-telling's is a pleasure for me to read. NO JUDGEMENTS! haha I find it refreshing and mostly interesting to know the other side of the stories. For this novel if you still haven't noticed yet, This is from Snow White and The Seven Dwarf's story specifically the wicked queen's side and it's evil origin. I was so encapsulated by the story. The writing was so good that it made me feel the feels for her, if you know what I mean. haha! The plot works well from the Disney story that it really made me believe that it was really from Disney. After reading this I immediately watched the cartoon and it made me see it in a different way which really felt good. I was satisfied with the whole story line and the plot twist was AARGGHHH! It made me feel! haha I don't want to spoil anything but the feels ahaha    

What Disappointed Me: NONE!

GO READ IT!

PLEASE! :)

To tell you frankly even if I didn't had the chance to see this being raved from Pbookbuddy and just saw this from the book store, The book cover alone had me already. No need to know the book synopsis. It just got sold from the cover itself. I'd die for this cover. Its amazing!

 

These type of books is the reason why I LOVE READING.

CHEERS TO US BOOKNERDS!!! :)



Fairest By Marissa Meyer

In this stunning bridge book between Cress and Winter in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles, Queen Levana’s story is finally told.Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Who is the fairest of them all?

Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story – a story that has never been told . . . until now.

Marissa Meyer spins yet another unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. This extraordinary book includes full-color art and an excerpt from Winter, the next book in the Lunar Chronicles series.

Why Read: I'am a fan of this series so its a must to get this on my reading list.

What I liked: First of all I wasn't aware that this was a back story of Levana or should I say "The Evil Queen". I didn't even read the synopsis of this book cause I just don't need to. aha! Anyway I enjoyed this book in a way that now things are pretty much clearer  to the whole rivalry thing between cinder and levana plus the story of winter which will be coming soon! Its good to know the side of levana, to learn where she is coming from but even though its still hard for me to sympathize for this character because of how sick she really is in the head. haha! This has me gripped to my kindle non stop. The dark, twisted mind of the character will really keep you hooked. Though I would suggest that you read the books in order to avoid spoilers to the main story.

What Disappointed Me: Well its really not a bad disappointment. I wasn't aware that this was a short story. I wanted more though cause I enjoyed it.

I'am happy of the book cover and glad that they didn't released other versions of this. Plus they still stayed within the theme of the whole series. THUMBS UP!

This book cover is very dark and mysterious feel into it. I like it a lot it somehow what I felt about the book.

BOOK EVENTS!!!

 

Instituto Cervantes is celebrating their annual book event. "Dia Internacional Del Libro" ( International Book Day ) on April 23'15. 5pm-10pm. Its a great day for us book lovers to support such wonderful book event!

 

For every book purchased, each buyer will receive not only a 20-percent discount but a long-stemmed rose courtesy of participating bookstores. Its a day full of books, music, poetry, Spanish foods, roses and stars. Plus a free Spanish class!

 

There will be exciting activities going on. The first 100 visitors to come will receive a free book or a rose upon entrance. And those who would sign up for a membership at the Instituto Cervantes Library would also get a free book!

 

I myself have to admit that this is the first time I have heard such event and I cannot simply wait to come and see the marvels of this book gathering. I'm so excited and totally be coming and hopefully to see you guys there.

BEAT YOU AT THE GATES!!!

CHEERS!