Top Ten Tuesdays: Top Books On My Fall TBR

September 22, 2015September 22, 2015 ~ aentee @ read at midnight ~ 75 Comments

It’s actually spring in Australia, so I guess this is more my summer reading TBR – but I’ll roll with the rest of the world 😀

I had the idea to make this Top Ten Tuesday resemble magazine advertisements, it sounded really cool in my mind but my execution failed spectacularly lmao. I also had some surprise family visits so I could only do seven books! I AM SORRY. REAL LIFE CALLS.

1) SOUNDLESS by Richelle Mead because it’s an Asian fantasy with a kickass cover, how could I NOT love it? Continue reading “Top Ten Tuesdays: Top Books On My Fall TBR” →

Top Ten Tuesday: Young Adult Book Syllabus

August 25, 2015August 25, 2015 ~ aentee @ read at midnight ~ 101 Comments

I am so excited for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. I can’t wait to see what everyone else is going to write up. WARNING: my options are a bit contrived, eep.

1. If I Taught: Psychology 101

I Would Recommend: All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Why: Because it’s a startling look into depression and survivor’s guilt.

Continue reading “Top Ten Tuesday: Young Adult Book Syllabus” →

Top Ten Tuesdays: Last 10 Books Acquired

July 14, 2015July 14, 2015 ~ aentee @ read at midnight ~ 27 Comments

As always, this Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

So I got a new credit card this month, and I totally needed to rack up enough points to be eligible for some Qantas Frequent Flyer freebies. At least, that’s the excuse I’m going with, since somehow I got 10 books in the last 2 weeks?! I’ve already read 5 of them, and on my 6th, so at least I am being productive… RIGHT?

1. Archivist Wasp by Nicole Kornher Stace was totally getting some buzz on both The Midnight Gardens and The Book Smugglers, so I *had* to have it. As far as I can tell, it’s about a girl who hunts ghosts to remain an Archivist. To be honest I know very little about it, but I trust the opinions of the ladies who have been heaping the book praises so I’m very excited to check it out. 2. Armada by Ernest Cline was from Netgalley, I was so ecstatic to be approved for for title! I just finished it this afternoon and holy nerd-reference galore batman! It was a fun, quick read. 3. Way Down Dark by James Smythe was recommended by The Diva Booknerd, and I loved this gritty scifi. Full review here. 4. Golden Son by Pierce Brown was pretty much an instant purchase the moment I finished Red Rising – 11 out of 10, a flawless sequel! Review scheduled to be published tomorrow. 5. The Young Elites by Marie Lu was acquired on Kindle because I am in the mood for some fantasy, and I have never read a Marie Lu book so why not?

6. Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine has an awesome premise: The Library of Alexandria still exists and is pretty much the most powerful force in this world! The setting did not disappoint, but I had doubts about the characters – I still really enjoyed it, so review to come this week! 7. Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch was purchased because I saw Kynndra give it good ratings and she has awesome book taste – plus a world centred around seasons ala Game of Thrones? Yay! 8. Bone Gap by Laura Ruby I bought through Book Depository because there’s no Kindle version, it’s a fairy-tale for adults which is my favourite genre of books ever. I started reading 9. Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes today and omg why did I not get onto this bandwagon earlier? I am snobby about high fantasy in YA because the worlbuilding is always a bit thin, but this book is incredibly entertaining and has the potential to be meaty. I am so ready to love this series, you guys. Finally, A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray was a buy because of the comparison to Cloud Atlas, one of my favourite movies last year.

So have you all been as terrible as I am in terms of bookish self control? Share your list! If you have read any of the above, please let me know what you thought of them/link me to your review!

Top Ten Tuesday: Hyped Books I Haven’t Read

July 7, 2015 ~ aentee @ read at midnight ~ 23 Comments

As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

This week features those super hyped books that I have not read. Sigh, there are many, there is not enough time, nor enough shelving space, or money *CRIES* Though tbh I don’t have plans to read most of these, hee.

1. The Fault In Our Stars has never particularly piqued my interest, not even when it became a blockbuster and paved the way for many other contemporary books to Hollywood. I haven’t even seen the movie. 2. Eleanor & Park, along with Rainbow Rowell’s many other titles are on my long to-do list in my journey to assimilate to contemporary fiction. 3. I’ll Give You The Sun sounds adorable, the trouble is picking which cover I want: the pretty US version or the pretty UK version? Bookworm choices are hard. 4. Me, Earl & The Dying Girl along with 5. If I Stay falls into the same category as TFIOS for me: lots of media hype, but I have zilch personal interest.

6. The Selection is apparently going to become a TV series soon (feels like they all are!) so I suppose I will read it at some point: but it looks like a weak version of The Hunger Games. Besides, if I wanted to watch The Bachelor I can just switch to Channel 10. 7. The Mortal Instrument series is so hard for me to get into, I have tried twice now and never made it past the 50% mark of City of Bones – perhaps third time’s the charm as another adaptation is coming out (plus a new set of pretty covers!). It seems like a sin to not have read 8. His Dark Materials trilogy, but I have grand plans to finally purchase and complete these books some time this year. Similarly 9. Percy Jackson and co. sounds right down my alley, what with Greek Myths and shennanigans, so I will have to read them all… this year as well, I hope! Finally 10. Divergent came out when I was super burnt out by dystopia, so I never got into it – then I heard of the silly idea of factions based on personality and my interest pretty much flatlined.

This was so fun, I would love to know what your list looks like!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Scorpion Rules

July 1, 2015July 2, 2015 ~ aentee @ read at midnight ~ 21 Comments

Waiting on Wednesday, as always, is hosted at Breaking the Spine.

Title: The Scorpion Rules

Author: Erin Bow

Release Date: 22 September 2015

In the future, the UN has brought back an ancient way to keep the peace. The children of world leaders are held hostage—if a war begins, they pay with their lives.
Greta is the Crown Princess of the Pan Polar Confederacy, a superpower formed of modern-day Canada. She is also a Child of Peace, a hostage held by the de facto ruler of the world, the great Artificial Intelligence, Talis. The hostages are Talis’s strategy to keep the peace: if her country enters a war, Greta dies.
The system has worked for centuries. Parents don’t want to see their children murdered.
Greta will be free if she can make it to her eighteenth birthday. Until then she is prepared to die with dignity, if necessary. But everything changes when Elian arrives at the Precepture. He’s a hostage from a new American alliance, and he defies the machines that control every part of their lives—and is severely punished for it.

Continue reading “Waiting on Wednesday: The Scorpion Rules” →

Stacking the Shelves: No. 1

June 27, 2015June 28, 2015 ~ aentee @ read at midnight ~ 10 Comments

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Review. Here are the books I acquired this week.

Paladin by Sally Slater: I’m in the mood for some Mulan-esque action: cross-dressing shennanigans & female warrior. This book has been getting good reviews, Kindle had it for less than $3, so it’s a no-brainer purchase.

The Martian by Andy Weir: I was attracted mainly by the pretty cover and the glowing reviews about how great the research was for this book. Since reading it, I also found out that it’s going to be a movie starring Matt Damon (!!!) later on this year! Review to come.

Throne of Glass & Crown of Midnight by Sarah J Maas: I’ve tried reading Throne of Glass in the past, but it never managed to grip my attention. Since reading ACOTAR, I’ve wanted to try this series again. I picked up the first two books hoping that I will love them!

Have you guys read any of these books? Did you enjoy them?

Waiting on Wednesday: Serpentine

June 24, 2015June 25, 2015 ~ aentee @ read at midnight ~ 16 Comments

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. This is my first week participating!

Cindy Pon, Serpentine

Waiting on Wednesday, WoW, Breaking the Spine

Title: Serpentine

Author: Cindy Pon

Release Date: 9 August 2015

More Details on Cindy’s Site!

SERPENTINE is a sweeping fantasy set in the ancient Kingdom of Xia and inspired by the rich history of Chinese mythology.

Lush with details from Chinese folklore, SERPENTINE tells the coming of age story of Skybright, a young girl who worries about her growing otherness. As she turns sixteen, Skybright notices troubling changes. By day, she is a companion and handmaid to the youngest daughter of a very wealthy family. But nighttime brings with it a darkness that not even daybreak can quell.

When her plight can no longer be denied, Skybright learns that despite a dark destiny, she must struggle to retain her sense of self – even as she falls in love for the first time.

Continue reading “Waiting on Wednesday: Serpentine” →

Top Ten Tuesday: Favourite Top Ten Tuesday Topics (that I’ve never done)

June 24, 2015June 25, 2015 ~ aentee @ read at midnight ~ 4 Comments

This is my first ever Top Ten Tuesday, the meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. The theme this week is fortuitously favourite Top Ten Tuesday, so I have the opportunity to do them all at once. I’ll give my top pick for each topic.

1. Top Ten Book I’ve read so far in 2015
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E.Schwab

A Darker Shade of Magic, V E Schwab

Four different Londons. One debonair cross-dressing heroine. Thieves, pirates, magicians. Royals. A plot that never loses its steam. Engaging dialogue. Really, I could go on and on. So far this is my absolute favourite read of this year.

2. Ten Fairytale Retellings I’ve Read/Want To Read
Orphan’s Tale Duology for Catherynne M. Valente

Catherynne M Valente

This is probably my favourite series of all time, and it’s criminally underrated. A creative retelling of 1001 nights, the stories in this book are masterfully interwoven. All the characters are plotlines forms an intricate and carefully crafted web that spans over two books, four main stories, and numerous characters. The prose are lyrical, beautiful, provoking. The female characters really shine in this book. It is strength and feminism done right. I can’t recommend it enough, please read it!

Continue reading “Top Ten Tuesday: Favourite Top Ten Tuesday Topics (that I’ve never done)” →