Bibliophilia, Please Blogoversary 3: Day 5

Once again, and quite surprisingly, we are passing another annual benchmark here at Bibliophilia, Please. From what started as a one (wo)man lovefest for Kevin Hearne and the great YA Kayla stumbled upon in 2011 has evolved into two well-educated, eloquent, and magnificent women sharing and reviewing the books they love. And then, of course, there is Kayla. (Will is, unfortunately, still missing.)

Be sure to check out the previous days to see how 2014 was for Janelle, Amber, and Kayla; enter the giveaways on Tuesday and Thursday; and maybe see a special guest post from an up-and-coming author.

Amber

This has been a really busy year for me, personally and professionally, so sometimes my reading has really fallen by the wayside. This is my first full year as a reviewer, and I have really learned a lot, including a lot about my reading tastes, in that year.

I applied for the reviewer position with Bibliophilia, Please, because I had been playing with the idea of starting my own blog for about a year to six month prior. I was just scared to start it on my own. I wanted to talk about all the books I loved with people (my friends either don't read as much as I do, or give me crazy looks when I am pushing the next book YOU HAVE TO READ RIGHT NOW). In my head, blogging was this big space where everyone was always discussing all the great books, and by discussing I mean, leaving back and forth comments. In reality, not so much. I guess I should have realized this earlier, because no one really comments on my Amazon, Goodreads or Shelfari reviews either. And those comments aren't ever really conducive to conversation. (Side note: I need to comment on other reviews that help me find books). So, my favorite reviews are generally when Kayla and I read the same book, then email each other in exclamation points about how great it is, then Kayla somehow manages to make them look like a review.

Waiting on Wednesday (75): Lion Heart by A.C. Gaughen

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



Title: Lion Heart (Scarlet #3)
Author: A.C. Gaughen
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Release Date: May 19, 2015
The eagerly-awaited conclusion to the Scarlet trilogy delivers another action-packed and romance-filled adventure.

Scarlet has captured the hearts of readers as well as the heart of Robin Hood, and after ceaseless obstacles and countless threats, readers will finally find out the fate of the Lady Thief.

Imprisoned by Prince John for months, Scarlet finds herself a long way from Nottinghamshire. After a daring escape from the Prince's clutches, she learns that King Richard’s life is in jeopardy, and Eleanor of Aquitaine demands a service Scarlet can’t refuse: spy for her and help bring Richard home safe. But fate—and her heart—won’t allow her to stay away from Nottinghamshire for long, and together, Scarlet and Rob must stop Prince John from going through with his dark plans for England. They can not rest until he’s stopped, but will their love be enough to save them once and for all?


Scarlet book three!!! King Richard! The first two in this trilogy have been phenomenal, so I'm expecting nothing less from the ending. A.C. Gaughen said on her blog that this was the hardest thing she had ever done. I can't wait to see where all her hard work and turmoil created. Although, I'm a a little underwhelmed by the cover; the first two covers were much better. I think it's that filigree on the side that is so off-putting for me.

What are you waiting on this week?

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Were Hard For Me To Read

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Nine Books That Were Hard For Me To Read


1. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
I think this took me almost an entire year to finish, which considering I normally finish books within 2 or 3 days, is ridiculous. I tried everything - print, ebook, audio. I just can't stand epistolary novels. It's why I had a hard time finishing Dracula and one of the reasons I'm stalled in the middle of Frankenstein (but seriously Frankenstein is the monster, even if he is the doctor).



2. Unholy Ghosts (Downside Ghosts #1) by Stacia Kane
Chess is one of my least favorite heroines, and the narrator made this worse because she made Chess' voice very high pitch and whiny. I did give this another shot, and the series gets better around book 3.

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Cover Trends

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Book Cover Trends

I Like:



1. Girls in Dresses on Historical Romance Novels
This is so much better than half-naked men and women who, more often than not, are making odd faces.



2. Covers That Actually Depict Scenes in the Book

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Have Read So Far This Year

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Books I Have Read So Far This Year


1. Scarlet (Scarlet #1) by A.C. Gaughen
This is definitely the best book I've read so far this year, especially considering I almost didn't read it. To get over the dialect, I listened to the audiobook, and the book is just amazing. You can read my review HERE



2. Code Name Verity (Code Name Verity #1) by Elizabeth Wein
This was such a great story of friendship set against the background of World War II.

Audiobook Review: Scarlet by A. C. Gaughen

Title: Scarlet (Scarlet #1)
Author: A. C. Gaughen
Narrator: Helen Stern
Publisher: Walker Childrens (Bloomsbury)
Acquired Via: Purchase
Release Date: February 14, 2012
Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance.

Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in.

It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.

My Review

Scarlet is the best book I’ve read so far this year! It’s sad that I almost didn't even read it. The first time I tried to read this, I put it down probably without finishing the first chapter. I think I’ve figured out that I don’t like books written in dialect. It's the same reason that I couldn't get through Blood Red Road (maybe I'll get that on Audible now, too), even though I know that a lot of people love it. So I decided to try it on Audible, because I wouldn't have to read the dialect, just listen to it. Best. Decision. Ever.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Almost Put Down But Did Not

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Books I Almost Put Down But Did Not


1. Scarlet (Scarlet #1) by A.C. Gaughen
I did put this one down when I first started reading it on Kindle. I just couldn't take the dialect. I read so many great reviews about the heroine that I decided to pick it up on Audible. I ended up loving the book, and immediately buying and also loving the sequel, Lady Thief.



2. The Demon King (Seven Realms #1) by Cinda Williams Chima
This one has a really slow and slightly confusing start, and I almost put it down about a quarter of the way in. By the time that I got to a little over half, though, I was loving it. I then read the rest of the series in quick order.

Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.

Title: Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan)
Release Date: February 5, 2013
Acquired Via: Personal Collection
My Review

I, like many other Marissa Meyer fans, have waited longingly for over a year to read Scarlet. I did not even request an ARC of the novel because it came out a day before my birthday, and it made the perfect gift. (There is no denying that the temptation to get my hands on an ARC was strong.) When the book came in the mail, I petted it - LITERALLY petted it! It has ridden in my purse for a week, just so I can snatch moments to devour the pages. It was a whirlwind romance. Sadly though, it did not sweep me off my feet. I'm so sorry, Scarlet - it's not you, it's me.

No, I mean it, it really must be me. Scarlet had all of the fantastic qualities that Cinder had: strong heroine; Iko; fantastic mix of sci-fi and fairy tale (Meyer is beyond genius in her execution of this); Iko; deliciously evil villainess; Iko (you see where I'm going with this). Little Red Riding Hood is even one of my favorite fairy tales! Scarlet and Wolf had all of the makings of interesting literary characters, but I found myself resenting the time given to their story. The banter between Cinder, Captain Thorne, and Iko (and all combinations thereof) was delightful. Maybe it was just me wanting more of Cinder and her story that disrupted my enjoyment of the novel. Scarlet wasn't a bad character - she was just as strong and determined as Cinder. I just had trouble connecting with her after I spent so long waiting to rejoin Cinder on her journey. I can say that Wolf is far too broken of a bad boy for my taste, and maybe it was the mom in me that wanted to smack Scarlet for taking him along.