September Wrap-Up & October TBR

September Wrap-Up

I definitely meant to upload this blog post like, three days ago… but I have been deathly ill with a disgusting cold and I went to the Taylor Swift 1989 World Tour on Friday (which absolutely did not help my cold) so I completely forgot! I also have two upcoming midterms this week so I have been dedicating all my time to studying. Better late than never though, right?

September wasn’t the best reading month. Between going back to school, working, and attempting to do homework I haven’t had much time to read. However, I did finish a series I have been working on for a while, so I wasn’t completely useless!

Ms. Marvel, Vol. 2: Generation Why by G. Willow Wilson

I honestly have a pile of like 20 graphic novels that I have accumulated in the last few months, so naturally I was like “I’m going to read all of these in a week!” and then clearly did not. However, I am so glad I read this one before I failed at the rest! This was a fantastic continuation to the story. I was so much more invested in this volume and I have the third volume sitting on my desk already so I honestly don’t know why I haven’t picked it up yet! 5 out of 5 stars!

The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines, #4) by Richelle Mead

Probably the most stressful book in these series. So many things were going on, it was bound to go to shit at some point! I enjoyed this one, but definitely not my fave. 4 out of 5 stars, find out more in my series review.

Silver Shadows (Bloodlines, #5) by Richelle Mead

Definitely my favourite book in the series! I felt like this book was really reminiscent of Vampire Academy for me in that I could not put it down. I didn’t really feel that way with a lot of the other Bloodlines books. 5 out of 5 stars, again check out my series review for more thoughts!

The Ruby Circle (Bloodlines, #6) by Richelle Mead

I finally finished the series! I also felt like I could not put this one down, but more because I just wanted to find out what happened in the finale. I definitely think it was a good concluding novel, but I refuse to believe Richelle Mead is done with this world. 5 out of 5 stars. Do I need to mention the series review again?

Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, #3) by Sarah J. Maas

Oh my heart, this book. I honestly can’t even wrap my head around the events that occurred in this book. It was so upsetting and so dark, but simultaneously so heartwarming and beautiful. I literally cannot even form coherent thoughts. I just can’t. I’m not emotionally ready for Queen of Shadows, I’m just not. 5 out of 5 stars, can I even give her any less?

I guess I did okay this month considering how much I’ve got going on! I’m just ready to get these midterms over so I can read all my October TBR books!! Which brings us to…

October TBR

Okay, so I was at home sick last week and wanted to get some fresh air…? Yeah, sure we’ll go with that… So I decided to take pictures of my October TBR instead. Except for you literally cannot bring a camera out without attracting my puggle. She is the definition of a princess and thinks you just want to take pictures of her. Whereas my other dog is so camera shy you will never see him on camera, ever. So my little puggle princess Bella decided she also wanted to be part of the TBR.

Here’s my Halloween themed October TBR.

Here’s my Halloween themed October TBR featuring Bella and her “can I eat the Voldey now?” face.

I’m currently 222 pages into Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor so hopefully I can finish it this week!

What are you reading in October? Do you also have a Halloween themed TBR or are you just reading regular books this month? 

I’m off to watch Once Upon A Time! Who else is excited to see what’s in store for Dark Swan??

xx

Jacqueline

Bloodlines: Series Review

Warning: will contain spoilers seeing as I will be briefly talking about all the books in the series!!

Bloodlines (Bloodlines, #1) by Richelle Mead
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: August 23rd, 2011
Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal
Source: Bought
Finished: January 29th, 2015
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My Thoughts: 

If I’m being completely honest, I don’t remember what happens in this book at all. All I remember is that Sydney Sage is back and gets sent to Palm Springs, CA to protect Jill Dragomir (Lissa’s half sister) from anyone who decides they want to remove Lissa from the throne, as you need at least one other family member in order to be King/Queen. Honestly, I was just super excited to be back in this world and I was so happy the first book started out with the same characters we know and love from Vampire Academy *cough* rose and dimitri *cough*. This was definitely a great introduction to the new series and it set the stage really well for what was to come.

***

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines, #2) by Richelle Mead
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: June 12th, 2012
Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal
Source: Borrowed
Finished: July 14th, 2015
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My Thoughts: 

The second book to the series was definitely one of the most important ones. This is when we finally see Sydney start to question her Alchemist beliefs, which is such a relief. We also get more of an introduction into her as a human magic user and it’s really interesting stuff! Her teacher, Ms. Twillinger, is hilarious! I just loved that this book covered so many different dynamics. The magic, the group really becoming a family, the brewing love interests, and of course the weirdo vampire hunters.

***

The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines, #3) by Richelle Mead
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: February 12th, 2013
Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal
Source: Borrowed
Finished: July 26th, 2015
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Thoughts: 

This book was definitely my least favourite in the series. I felt like too much was going on and I was getting confused and annoyed at some of the decisions that were being made. Sydney finds herself tracking down Marcus Finch, an ex-alchemist who has been on the run for years, while simultaneously tracking down a rogue witch who is using her powers to suck the life out of other young, gifted magic-users. She finds out a lot of important things about herself and is able to accomplish a lot in this book, but of course this is not without it’s consequences. At the end of the book we learn that Zoe Sage, Sydney’s younger sister, is to join the ‘family’ in Palm Springs to help Sydney ‘cope’ with the vampires she deals with daily. Also, I can’t remember if Angeline was introduced in this book or the last one, but she quickly sky rocketed to one of my favourites… She’s so hilarious and unpredictable!

***

The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines, #4) by Richelle Mead
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: November 19th, 2013
Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal
Source: Borrowed
Finished: September 8th, 2015
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Thoughts: 

This book was so stressful!! OMG. Zoe’s presence definitely threw everyone off. Neil, the new damphir assigned to them, stirs up some ‘romantic’ feelings in Jill and Angeline. Sydney struggles to balance her sister’s presence as well as all the problems she usually takes care of for the crew, all the while trying to keep her secret relationship with Adrian under wrap and at the same time create two tattoo formulas that could one, break the alchemists hold and two, prevent damphirs/moroi from becoming strigoi if attacked by one. Sydney has many amazing traits, but the fact that she is so stubborn and self-sufficient isn’t helpful when she has so many priorities. Of course she starts raising suspicion and of course it doesn’t end well.

***

Silver Shadows (Bloodlines, #5) by Richelle Mead
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: July 29th, 2014
Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal
Source: Borrowed
Finished: September 11th, 2015
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My Thoughts: 

This was by far my favourite book in the series, which is strange because I for sure thought I would hate reading an entire book of her being stuck in re-education. It was so good! I love that Sydney was risking everything to help the people in re-education even though they really didn’t deserve her help. I love that Adrian was struggling back at court without her. I love that regardless of the hell she was going through, she knew she had to find a way out so that she could be with Adrian again. I love that Adrian finally snapped out of it and enlisted Marcus and the rest of their friends to help break her out of re-education, and I love that they saved everyone else in the process. The end of this book was absolutely fantastic. The running from the alchemists, the shotgun wedding, the hope that being at the moroi court would save them, the fact that they didn’t care at all what anyone thought of their relationship… It was all fantastic!

***

The Ruby Circle (Bloodlines, #6) by Richelle Mead
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: February 10th, 2015
Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal
Source: Borrowed
Finished: September 17th, 2015
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My Thoughts: 

A really good ending to the series. The fact that Jill was kidnapped was terrifying, but also the best way to end the series seeing as they were sent to Palm Springs to hide her away in the first place. There was just so much that still needed to be resolved and this book was certainly successful in resolving all of it. Adrian had to deal with his spirit demons. Sydney had to accept that her life would certainly not be easy as a full-fledged witch and wife to a vampire. They found Olive and although they couldn’t save her, they made and kept an important promise. Jill and Eddie finally accepted their love for each other in the end <3. Adrian’s mom accepted both Adrian and Sydney, while accepting herself as a divorced woman. THE BABY. OLIVE’S FRIGGIN BABY ❤ ❤ ❤ The end of the book was probably my favourite. Adrian and Sydney and their new little family. The fact that she speaks to the baby in Spanish… The fact that Rose and Dimitri got engaged… Ugh. Just so good. How can these books be over?

***

I refuse to believe that Richelle Mead is done with this world. Even if she doesn’t write about the Moroi and Damphirs for years, I will be right here when she does. I will never be able to get over the characters she has created, she is so gifted. The series was so kick ass and emotional and hilarious and heart-warming… and just UGH.

For those of you who have read the Bloodlines series, which book is your favourite? Which character? Tell me your feelings! 

Until next time,

Jacqueline

xx