Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Hex Hall (Hex Hall #1) [Review]

Title: Hex Hall 
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Series: Hex Hall Series 
Publisher: Hyperion Teens
Release Date: March 2nd, 2010
Hardcover: 323 pages
Average Star Rating: 4.06


Synopsis (from Publisher):
Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she is a witch. Her non-gifted mother has been supportive, consulting Sophie’s estranged father—a warlock—only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it’s her dad who exiles her to “Hex Hall”, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, fairies, and shape-shifters.
By the end of her first day, Sophie has three new enemies, a futile crush on a warlock, a tagalong ghost, and a vampire roommate. Worse, Sophie soon learns that an unknown predator has been attacking students. As a series of blood-curdling mysteries converges, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.



My Thoughts:
I am a huge fan of witches, whether it be in books or movies or TV shows. My favorite witch-y show was Bewitched. So when I won this book through a giveaway, I was super excited to read it because I hadn't read a witch book in quite some time. I've always wanted to be a witch. Where I could just snap my fingers and manifest anything that I ever wanted. You know like Sabrina or Samantha (from Bewitched). So, you can tell that I was really excited to read this book and thankfully, the excitement never ended.


So why did I love this book so much, you ask? Well, for one, witches. However, I liked the characters, the plot, the writing, and so much more.


I absolutely fell in love with the main character, Sophia Mercer. She is very relatable and humorous (whether she says something funny or she does something that you just cannot help but to laugh at). This book had me laughing a lot because of the quick-witted remarks. I love that about books. I also have to say that I am definitely on Team Archer. The romance within this series has potential. I am looking forward to what Rachel Hawkins will write next. 


This book had me so enthralled that I read it in basically a day and the second I finished it, I had to go and by the second book. This book was a bit predictable, yet, not to where the ending completely threw me. This is a wonderfully written, fast paced, and easy read. Hex Hall has a little bit of everything in it-- mystery, love, heartache, friendship, finding self, humor, family and their issues, etc. It is definitely worth it to pick this book up and get an exciting and enchanting dose of bewitchment.


Memorable Quotes:
“Good luck explaining to God that you used to spank one of his heavenly beings."
Mom gave a startled laugh. "Sophie!"
"What? You did. I hope you like hot weather, Mom, that's all I'm saying.”



“Archer isn't hot anymore.... He tried to kill me, and his girlfriend is Satan.”


“But this room looked like it had been decorated by the unholy lovechild of Barbie and Strawberry Shortcake.” 


“When someone tells you somebody’s been murdered, laughing is probably not the best response. You know, for future reference. But laughing is exactly what I did.”


“I should say upfront that I have never been in a cellar in my life. In fact, I can see no reason why anyone should ever go into a cellar unless there is wine involved.” 
       -This one I so agree with! :D


My Rating: 
4.5/5 Stars


xo
Stephanie

Friday, February 17, 2012

F&F Friday (1) & TGIF (2)

Feature and Follow Friday is hosted by: Parajunkee and Alison Can Read For more information on this weekly meme, click on their names and check them out! :D


Q: BeefcakeandBabes Asks: I like unique names for characters and am looking forward to coming up with some when I start writing. What's the most unique character name you've come across?


A: I have come across quite a few unique character names. The most unique that come to mind are: 
1. Katniss from The Hunger Games Series
2. Archer Cross from The Hex Hall Series
3. Della from The Shadow Falls Series
4. Neferet from The House of the Night Series
5. Ever from The Immortals Series
6. Sookie Stackhouse from The Sookie Stackhouse aka Southern Vampire Series


I'm sure there are more but these ones came to mind first. :]


This Friday's Question:
Book Blogger Pride: What do you take pride in when it comes to blogging?

When it comes to blogging, I take the most pride in my book blog in general. I absolutely love my book blog. It is a time consuming hobby, but I have so much fun with it. I'm very proud with how far I have come so far and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I love the bookish community and I feel that we are one HUGE family and I love that and am so proud to have all of you as my second family. :D

Happy Friday everyone!! I love you all! Leave some love and your links if you do these memes! Hell, leave your links regardless! :D

xo
Stephanie

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Book Tag Fun

Rules:
1. You must post the rules.
    2. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then create ten new questions to ask the people that you have tagged.
      3. Tag eleven people and link to them on your post.
4. Let them know you've tagged them!   

Questions from Ro-Alwaysinspired:
1. What is your favorite genre to read?
Most definitely anything within the YA spectrum. I do enjoy the paranormal.

2. Why do you blog?
Because I love it. I love getting my words and ideas out there. Plus having a book blog is a lot of fun and there is always something to do with it :D

3. What is your favorite book from childhood?
Well, when I was little I absolutely loved Goodnight Moon. Then in Middle School I was in love with the Angus Thongs series.

4. If given the opportunity, which author would you like to meet and why? They can be living or dead.
Jane Austen. One of my all-time favorite books is Pride & Prejudice. I have all of her books and she is just an inspiration to me. 

5. What was the last book you read that you really loved? What makes it so special?
The last book I read was Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins and I really enjoyed it. It was awesome getting back into the witch realm of books. I absolutely love witches. The main thing I loved most about Hex Hall: Archer Cross.

6. How many books on average do you read in a month?
The number changes all the time because it depends on how much schooling I have. Like in the summer I will read a shit ton of books but while I am in school.. I may be lucky if I finish a book a month. :/ I'm trying to change that though. So far this month I have already finished one book and I am on my second which I'm hoping to be done with this weekend. So maybe I will have 3 or 4 books read this month :D

7. Do you prefer reading e-books or actual books? Why?
Either or. I love my kindle because it is so handy and it can have so many books on it without all the weight. But I love the actual copy of the book. I love the smell, I love the feel, I love flipping through the pages. But either one is fine for me. If I have an e-book that I really enjoyed I will go and get the actual book to put on my shelf. haha.

8. In your opinion, what is the most overrated book of all time?
Twilight. Ugh. I'm not going to lie, I used to LOVE this series but then I read other vampire literature and ended up hating the Twilight series. I like the aspect of Twilight but I hate how it is written. I hate the sparkling vampires. I cannot stand it anymore.

9. What genre do you refuse to read? Why?
I don't really refuse to read any genre. If the books perks my interest, I will read it.

10. What is your favorite book to movie adaption?


Ooh, that is a toughie. Pride & Prejudice with Keira Knightly. LOVE IT! I actually just watched it last night. One of my favorite books and movies. :D

Okay now here are my questions:
1. What is your favorite book of all-time and why?
2. If you could have a dinner party and invite 5 authors, who would you invite and why?
3. What is your favorite thing to read about?
4. What book(s) would you love to see on the big screen or on TV?
5. What was the last book you read and did you like it?
6. Have you ever started a book and not finished it?
7. Do you have any book boyfriends? If so, who are they and why?
8. If you could be any character, who would you be?
9. What is your dream job?
10. What's your favorite store/shop to buy books from?

And I Tag:
1. Evie @ Bookish
2. Haley @ Ya-Aholic
3. Kristi @ The Story Siren
4. Giselle @ Xpresso Reads
6. Ginger @ GReads!
7. Bailey @ IB Book Blogging
8. Jude @ In Between
9. Melody @ Melody With Words
10. The Broke & The Bookish Team @ The Broke and the Bookish
11. Rebecca @ Reading Wishes

This was a fun and interesting thing to join in on! Make sure to leave me a link to yours!! :D
xo
Stephanie

IMM (3)


[[In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren and you either post pictures or a video of the books that you have received in the past week or so]]



Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
Claire De Lune by Christine Johnson
The Poison Diaries by MaryRose Wood
Frozen Fire by Tim Bowler

Blogs To Talk About (3)

[[Blogs To Talk About (BTTA) is a meme that I host here every Thursday (as long as I have a participant every Thursday). What it consists of is an interview to get to know the book blogger for that week. For more information go to: Blogs To Talk About]]

This weeks Blog To Talk About is:

Books With Marshmallow
1. What's the story behind the blog name?
Books with Marshmallows? Hahah. Originally when I first started this blog, my blog name is Books All the Way. But then I find it hard to make a blog theme out of it so I try to make some other name. Then one day I got an inspiration. In a forum game I ask a player is Coffee with Marshmallows a yum or an eeewww. He said Yum and I found it surprising since I never tried coffee with marshmallows before. I enjoy drinking chocolate milk with marshmallows and I like to read books too. So I thought why not make my two most favourite things as my blog’s name? Books With Marshmallows!  So I went to my blog make several changes and there!

2. Where is your favorite place to read?
I like reading while lying down on my bed with a chocolate milk by my side. I could easily finish a book in a day. I hate distractions as I am easily distracted and I will find myself reading the same line over and over again and man, that’s annoying!

3. E-Book or Hardcopy?

Definitely hardcopy! It’s easier to read and I love the smell of the pages!!XD Everytime before I read a book, I’ll flip the pages under my nose to smell it. LoL weird, eh?

4. Favorite book and why?
Percy Jackson! I love the fast pace and the humourous story line. I love how Percy is not the lone hero like some other hero in books are. The very idea of Camp Half-Blood thrills me. The camp is really a place I would never mind going even on my summer holiday.

5. What are your inspirations?
I always get inspired by characters in books. I love how they hold themselves together in hard times or when sometimes you just have to break the rules. My favourite character would be Katniss from the Hunger Games. I also like to walk when I’m depressed. I walk across the bridge listening to the swishing sound and the sound of wave slapping the stone.....

6. What do you like to do in your free time?
Well besides reading, I like to write! I write about random things, fan fiction mostly. I also love to hang out with my buddies and watch movies together.

7. Name a color, a dessert, and a drink:
Purple, pink smoothies ,Strawberry Sherbet and...Marshmallows! I love to say ‘Sherbet’. When I say it, I could already feel the froth of the strawberry!

8. Favorite coffee shop?
Hah! I’m a very big fan of coffee. But I don’t really have a favourite coffee shop. I like to go to new places or shops and order things that I never taste or heard before.

9. If you could be one character, who would be and why?
I would love to be like Katniss from the Hunger Games. She is tough and can survive on her own. She is not afraid to voice out her thoughts and she have her mind of her own. Just everything I would like myself to be. :D
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Go check out the blog and leave comments! If you want to be featured on my next Blogs To Talk About, send an e-mail to littleredreads@gmail.com with your name, blog name, blog address, and letting me know that you are interested in participating in the BTTA meme.

Love you all,
xo Stephanie

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Monday, February 6, 2012

Apologies

Oh my goodness, it has been entirely way too long since I last done anything bookish that didn't include school. I just wanted to apologize to all of my followers and bookish people for not being around in the past couple of months. I haven't even been on my twitter keeping up with you guys in forever. I have been so preoccupied with university (it's my senior year now) and I am so busy and behind and it's only the fifth or sixth week of classes. I haven't even been able to finish the books I started over my winter break yet. It's been pretty crazy.

However, I am planning on changing all of this soon. In the next week or two, I will be concentrating on my studies and hopefully catching up and getting ahead. I have a 25 page paper that is due by the end of April and I plan to have that done way ahead of schedule. For some reason, I am in this funk (that I always seem to be in as of late) where I just don't want to be in school anymore. All I want to do is read and write and do bookish things (not school bookish things, just bookish things). Am I the only one who gets this way? My grades haven't been as good as I want them to be and I am slowly getting to the point where I just don't care anymore.

Anyways, my good friend, Evie (from: Bookish) has been designing a new layout for me. So, hopefully once I get that up and running I will be back to doing all of this fun stuff and being committed to all of you guys.

Again, I'm so sorry for not being around. Hope all is well with you! Post a comment and tell me all about your holidays and how everything has been going!

Much love,
Stephanie