Blood of Elves - Am Reading

Before Henry C went all blonde for the TV series and even before the game, there was...

Blood of Elves - The Witcher #1

by Andrzej Sapkowski

What they say: The New York Times bestselling series that inspired the international hit video game: The Witcher.

For over a century, humans, dwarves, gnomes, and elves have lived together in relative peace. But times have changed, the uneasy peace is over, and now the races are fighting once again. The only good elf, it seems, is a dead elf.

Geralt of Rivia, the cunning assassin known as The Witcher, has been waiting for the birth of a prophesied child. This child has the power to change the world - for good, or for evil.

As the threat of war hangs over the land and the child is hunted for her extraordinary powers, it will become Geralt's responsibility to protect them all - and the Witcher never accepts defeat.

The Witcher returns in this sequel to The Last Wish, as the inhabitants of his world become embroiled in a state of total war.

More info at GR

Reread of Top Fav - The Golden Compass

I love this series so much I even wrote about the characters in my first degree. With the new TV adaptation His Dark Materials starting on the Beeb a few weeks ago, I felt it was time for another reread!

The Golden Compass - His Dark Materials #1

by Philip Pullman

What they say: Lyra is rushing to the cold, far North, where witch clans and armored bears rule. North, where the Gobblers take the children they steal--including her friend Roger. North, where her fearsome uncle Asriel is trying to build a bridge to a parallel world.

Can one small girl make a difference in such great and terrible endeavors? This is Lyra: a savage, a schemer, a liar, and as fierce and true a champion as Roger or Asriel could want--but what Lyra doesn't know is that to help one of them will be to betray the other.

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The 100 Book & TV Blitz

I am so excited that THE 100 returns to TV tonight (in America - us Brits have to wait a while longer *le sigh*)! 

To help celebrate the show's return Little Brown Books For Young Readers and Rockstar Book Tours are giving away 5 Boxed Sets of the Complete series below...! 

Title: THE 100 Box Set (Books 1-4)

Author: Kass Morgan

Pub. Date: January 3, 2016

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 1360 Formats: Paperback

Find it: 

Amazon * Goodreads

All four thrilling novels in The 100 series, now available in a paperback boxed set! 

Ever since nuclear war destroyed our planet, humanity has been living on city-like spaceships hovering above the toxic surface. As far as anyone knows, no one has stepped foot on Earth in centuries--that is, until one hundred juvenile delinquents are sentenced to return and recolonize the hostile land. The future of the human race rests in their hands, but nothing can prepare the 100 for what they find on this strange and savage planet. 

Read the series that inspired the hit TV show. The 100, Day 21, Homecoming, and Rebellion are gathered together for the first time in this striking box set, perfect for fans and series newcomers alike.

Author Spotlight:

Kass Morgan
  Oxford, and now resides in Brooklyn, where she lives in constant fear of her Ikea bookcase collapsing and burying her under a mound of science fiction and Victorian novels. Kass is currently working on the sequel to The 100, which she’ll finish as soon as she finds a coffee shop that allows laptops on the weekend.

Twitter * Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

5 winners will receive the complete boxed set of THE 100 Series, US Only.

Ends on February 8th at Midnight EST!

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Books to Movies Hop

Hosted by Mary from Bookhounds & I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
This Hop focuses on book to movie/TV show adaptations.
I'm offering you the chance to win one of my favourite films Atonement (DVD) & one of my fav books The Book Thief. 
I'm aware that they're not exactly the most happy stories or recent releases, but I love them both for every different reasons.
International

To enter: Fill out the rafflecopter using as many or few of the options below as you like (I've used different options to give you have a more of a chance of finding a way to enter): 

Free entry if you follow/add the blog on: Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, follow the blog (on either Google+, BlogLovin', email or GFC) or leave me a comment below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The winner has 3 days to reply to winner notification email before I redraw.

Giveaway T&C's:

I cannot be held accountable for winners & prizes - I am not responsible for missing prizes & anything lost in transit. Prizes will not be replaced (but proof of postage is gained). I check all entries before giving out prizes to make sure your entry is still valid. I'm sorry kiddies but you need to be 18 or older to enter, or have a parent enter for your (or have recognised parental permission) as some of the content is for adults. The giveaway is not linked to the publisher, author, company, or any social media unless stated otherwise. If you're not legally allowed to enter then your entry is void. Incomplete entries or giveaway only accounts are also void - show me that you love books!! These are UK editions & so you must be able to play region 2 DVDs (most players are multi-region).

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Hop Linky has been temporarily removed as is broken and am looking for a solution :(

The Originals: The Rise ARC Review

The Originals: The Rise #1 by Julie Plec

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What they say: It's the year 1722. Ever since the siblings Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah Mikaelson landed on the shores of New Orleans, they have been fighting to claim the city as their own. They are the oldest vampires in the world, trying to share the city with the witches and the werewolves.
Enter Vivianne. Raised as a witch, she is betrothed to a werewolf for a union that should bring peace between the witches and the werewolves. She is the only girl in New Orleans off limits to the Mikaelsons. Klaus immediately plans to make Vivianne his own.

Can the vampires cling on to their territories in the city? Or will Vivienne and Klaus trigger a battle bigger than anything New Orleans has ever known?


Published in 5th Feb by Hachette Children's Books/Hodder Children's Books ISBN: 9781444923841

Pre-order: Amazon US * Amazon UK

I received a copy from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review!

What I say: I'm a big fan of The Vampire Diaries books and TV programme. Since they first appeared in TVD I've been really intrigued by Klaus, Rebekah and Elijah Mikaelsson. The Originals quickly became a firm favourite in our house. I was slightly concerned that if I didn't like The Rise then it may spoil the TV series for me, but thankfully it supports the show really well and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 
Although it may help to have watch some of TVD or The Originals, you really don't need to because The Rise is a separate story, a kind of beginning to their adventures in New Orleans.
We get POV chapters from all three of the siblings which helps to get inside their minds. I've always been a fan of Klaus (not sure what that says about me?) and it was nice to see him interact with Vivianne. He's certainly determined and very focused when it comes to getting what he wants. 
I'm never sure how to feel about Rebekah and Elijah but I liked them both in the book and felt really sorry for Rebekah at times. When I like a book, show or film, then I always want to get as much information as possible on it and the characters, so I enjoyed getting another insight into their pasts. Roll on book 2!!!
4 Stars in my Sky!

Jodi Ellen Malpas on ITV

For all you non-Brits I thought I'd share this pic of the lovely Jodi Ellen Malpas who has just appeared on ITV This Morning talking about Jesse The Lord Ward & her naughty books! 

The segment was called 'Fictional Men Became Benchmark For The Real Thing'. If you missed it you can catch up here on the ITV player when it's loaded up later today...

Hear JEM talking about books, fiction and everything in between (even her relationship) she's very gracious & honest! Love her!

The 100 Review

The 100/The Hundred by Kass Morgan

What they say: No one has set foot on Earth in centuries -- until now.

Ever since a devastating nuclear war, humanity has lived on spaceships far above Earth's radioactive surface. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents -- considered expendable by society -- are being sent on a dangerous mission: to recolonize the planet. It could be their second chance at life...or it could be a suicide mission.

CLARKE was arrested for treason, though she's haunted by the memory of what she really did. WELLS, the chancellor's son, came to Earth for the girl he loves -- but will she ever forgive him? Reckless BELLAMY fought his way onto the transport pod to protect his sister, the other half of the only pair of siblings in the universe. And GLASS managed to escape back onto the ship, only to find that life there is just as dangerous as she feared it would be on Earth.

Confronted with a savage land and haunted by secrets from their pasts, the hundred must fight to survive. They were never meant to be heroes, but they may be mankind's last hope.

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• ISBN: 9780316234474 - Little,  Brown Books for Young Readers/Orchard Books

I received a copy from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review!

What I say: This review is a little complicated for me to write for the following reasons: I started reading The 100 when it was first released (I lost my copy), then started watching the CW TV show (season 1 is still being aired over here in the UK so I haven't seen it all yet). I then went back and read the entire book. It's difficult to review without being influenced by the TV show but I'm going to try.
First up I have to say how much I love the concept! The dystopia theme has been done many times but the idea behind The 100 is different because of the added sci-fi element. It's sort of Battlestar Galatica for YA, meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer, meets The Hunger Games, but kinda not (with me so far?). Sorry I'm making this far more complicated than it needs to be! After several generations of people have been living on a spaceship (Earth was destroyed in a nuclear war), 100 teenage criminals are sent to Earth to see if it's habitable. The book focuses on 4 POVs Clarke, Wells, Bellamy and Glass. Glass remains on board the ship whilst the others are part of the 100 sent to Earth...
I liked the different POVs because it allows the reader to gain a greater insight into the different classes and situations present in their troubled society. The problem is that it can be a little confusing at times. There are a few characters who are different in the book than the TV show (some completely new ones appears in the show) but for the most part main character, Clarke is very similar. She's clever, determined and organised; she's a  good leader. Don't worry I'm not going to solely write a book verses TV comparison here.
We get to see events on Earth and on the spaceship, but we also get insights/flashbacks to certain characters former lives and see what crimes the 100 teens committed. I wasn't expecting the direction the plot took with Clarke's parents (this is very different from the TV show) but as disturbing as it was, it added drama to the story. There were certain romances I wasn't expecting after watching the show but I can see where they were coming from...
I enjoyed The 100 and am a big fan of the TV show, so I am glad to have got my hands on Day 21 (the follow up book to The 100) as I want to know what happens next because it ended on a bit of a cliffy. I'm going to keep an open mind when reading Day 21 and watching the show because although the basic premise is the same, it seems to be heading in a different direction (for now) and so I'll try to judge them separately.

3.5 Stars in my Sky!

Waiting On Wednesday: Day 21

Waiting on Wednesday is my weekly post where I obsess over the shiny new books  I cannot wait to read! 

This week I'm waiting on... 

Day 21 (The Hundred #2) by Kass Morgan

What they say: No one has set foot on Earth in centuries -- until now. It's been 21 days since the hundred landed on Earth. They're the only humans to set foot on the planet in centuries...or so they thought. Facing an unknown enemy, Wells attempts to keep the group together. Clarke strikes out for Mount Weather, in search of other Colonists, while Bellamy is determined to rescue his sister, no matter the cost. And back on the ship, Glass faces an unthinkable choice between the love of her life and life itself.
In this pulse-pounding sequel to Kass Morgan's The 100, secrets are revealed, beliefs are challenged, and relationships are tested. And the hundred will struggle to survive the only way they can -- together.

• Expected publication: 16th September by Little, Brown Books

Goodreads * Website * Twitter * TV Show Page

Why I'm Waiting on Day 21

1. I love the first book!
2. I think the TV show is really good.
3. Where will Kass take the books now the TV show is out?
4. Who is gonna die next?
5. I like seeing the differences between the original book characters and those in the TV show we need more of the books!

50 Years of Doctor Who

Geeks like me rejoice (and yes I know this has nothing to do with books)!!

I had a big, long, rambling post planned where I would tell you all how much I love the awesomeness that is DOCTOR WHO and how excited I am for the 50th Anniversary episode The Day of the Doctor which air's tonight at 7:50 pm (UK time) and simultaneously in over 80 other countries. 

BUT then I decided to bake a TARDIS cake whilst watching past episodes...!

For more info about the 50th Anniversary and the special TV and radio events the Beeb have going on (there's a live after party on BBC3 this eve directly after the episode) then head to the BBC Doctor Who website!!

For anybody who is as excited as me, I'll see you on Twitter for lots of OMG-ing, crying and drinking!! Back to books tomorrow!!