Top Ten Characters I’d Like To Switch Places With For 24 Hours

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday has another topic and different bloggers give their top ten. I love making lists, so here's mine for this week!

This week topic is 

Top Ten Characters I’d Like To Switch Places With For 24 Hours

I like this week's topic! What I love most about reading is that you can dive into another world. And of course I've thought about how it would be to be truly in that world. So it wasn't hard making this list!

1. Hermione Granger (Harry Potter)
Hermione is without a doubt the first character I would switch places with any day! First of all, because I would love to go to Hogwarts, but I also love Hermione's character. I think I look a lot like her. I never mind learning at school and I admire her bravery. 

2. Angela Clark (I Heart)
Wouldn't it be awesome to punch your cheating boyfriend in the face, hop on a plane and go living in New York. I don't want the cheating boyfriend, but the moving to NYC, YES! And the things she experiences, hilarious and amazing! If only my life would turn out that way. 

3. Cassie Blake (The Secret Circle)
Of all the books about witches I think Cassie is the toughest witch of them all. She felt really genuine to me and I liked that about her. She's this big power witch without asking for it, and she deals with everything, including her mum who just passed away. Of course I would love to be one of the most powerful witches of all time for a day!

4. Calla Tor (Nightshade)
On this list you'll find most magical creatures. I think it would be great to experience for one day how it would be to be e.g. a werewolf. I would shift and run all day! 

5. Lyra Belacqua (His Dark Materials)
I love the worlds she lives in and I wouldn't say no to spending a day there. And having a daemon is something I wanted since I read this series.

6. Isabelle Lightwood (The Mortal Instruments)
I think it would be awesome to kick ass as Isabelle Lightwood. Just for one day! I'm not really that bad ass in real life.

7. Arianna Rossi (Stravaganza)
The people who come here more often know by now that I love the Stravaganza series. My favorite character is Arianna Rossi. She leads the most beautiful city, Venice. It would be great to switch places for 24 hours.

8. Alice Cullen (Twilight)
The next magical creature. I think it would be a special experience being a vampire. And even more because Alice is special. For just one day I would love to have her gift. 

9. Arwen Undomiel (The Lord of the Rings)
Being an elf would be amazing. I thought Arwen was the most beautiful female character in The Lord of the Rings. But I would only trade if I can be together with Aragorn ;). 

10. Grimalkin (The Iron Fey)
I really liked The Iron King and I want to be Grimalkin for one day just to know what he's thinking!

Upcoming (11)

In Upcoming I talk about the books that I will review on this blog. So you know what you can expect here in the upcoming days. 


This week

Review Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look. 

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life. 
As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares. 
His life depends on it.

Synopsis from Goodreads

Review Bunheads by Sophie Flack

As a dancer with the ultra-prestigious Manhattan Ballet Company, nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward juggles intense rehearsals, dazzling performances and complicated backstage relationships. Up until now, Hannah has happily devoted her entire life to ballet.
But when she meets a handsome musician named Jacob, Hannah's universe begins to change, and she must decide if she wants to compete against the other "bunheads" in the company for a star soloist spot or strike out on her own in the real world. Does she dare give up the gilded confines of the ballet for the freedoms of everyday life?

Synopsis from Goodreads

Next week

Review Otherkin by Nina Berry
I got approved for a reading copy and I'm reading it right now. 


Review Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
I heard amazing things about this book and not one bad thing! 

Hope to see you soon!

Review Rapture by Lauren Kate

Title: Rapture

Author: Lauren Kate

Published: June 21st, 2012 (Doubleday Childrens)

Pages: 432
Source: bought

Series: Fallen #4
Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads: The sky is dark with wings . . . 

Like sand in an hourglass, time is running out for Luce and Daniel. To stop Lucifer from erasing the past they must find the place where the angels fell to earth. Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this—live only to lose Luce again and again.
Yet together they will face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies . . . and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed. And suddenly Luce knows what must happen.
For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her—and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now will be the only one that truly matters.
In the fight for Luce, who will win?
The astonishing conclusion to the FALLEN series. Heaven can’t wait any longer.

The last book in a series is always a bit special. You know that when you finish this book you'll know all the answers, which is good, but you also know it's the last time you can dive unknown into the story. I couldn't wait to read Rapture, but I was also a bit hesitant. Did I really already want to know what happened? Well, I did. And it was the perfect ending to this series.
I must say I anticipated this ending ever since finishing the third book, but I really liked that it ended this way. Every other way would have been less perfect. 


I wasn't as disappointed with Passion as many other readers, I actually really liked it. But I was happy that this book was more like the first two in this series. Lucy and Daniel are together again, but now they are threatened by Lucifer. And I must say when you discover why, it's so beautiful. I loved that part. I wanted to read that fragment again and again, but I also wanted to know how it would end, so I didn't. 


I liked Luce's character from the beginning. And for most part she stays the same person and I loved that about her. I've never liked Daniel. I don't know why, but he just doesn't appeal to me. He comes across as distant to me. Luckily the story is amazing and I'm pretty sad it's over now. Although I still have to read Fallen in Love, so there's still something I can look forward to. 


I can definitely recommend Rapture. It's a beautiful story and ending. If you haven't read this series, you're missing out on an awesome series, so pick it up!

Versatile Blogger Award

I have been nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award! Thank you Beth at Beth Art From the Heart for nominating me!

The Award Rules:

1. Nominate 15 fellow bloggers who are relatively new to blogging
2. Let the nominees know that they've been nominated
3. Share 7 random facts about yourself
4. Thank the blogger who nominated you
5. Add the Versatile Blogger award picture to your post

My 15 nominees are:
Lili's Reflections 

Vonnie's Reading Corner 

Blog of a Bookaholic

Understanding Shea's Story

Reading Between Classes

Smiling_Ina's Bookish Corner

Delirious About Books

Hey, Tara

Mixed Book Bag

Kimberly's Novel Notes

The Whimsical Procrastinator

Reese's Reviews: My Addiction to Fiction

Readergirl Reviews a Teen Book

BookSmartie

Reading Kelly

The nomination is intended as a compliment, so I hope you take it that way! It's fun participating!


7 Random Facts About Me


*My favorite time in the day is 2 pm. I don't know why, but that it always makes me happy. 
*It's because of my boyfriend that I'm a fan of James Bond and I loved he was part of the opening of the Olympics last night. 
*The person I admire most in the world is my mum. 
*What I love most about blogging is discovering new books and talking about them!
*I hate losing or forgetting things.
*My favorite fruit are grapes. 
*Things I always carry in my bag: wallet, phone, keys, book or ereader, hand balm, lip balm, diary, notebook and pens.

Stacking the Shelves (4)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Bloggers share what new books (physical or virtual) they got these week. This is the first week that I'm participating! I like getting new books and showing them. So here's my haul for this week! 

Bought

Title: Pledged

Author: Gwynneth White

Published: June 13th, 2012 (Smashwords)

Pages: 503
Series: Soul Wars Saga #1

Ever since I first saw this book and read the synopsis I want to read this book! And now I can! Yay! 

Title: Cinder 

Author: Marissa Meyer

Published: January 3rd, 2012 (Feiwel & Friends)

Pages: 387
Series: Lunar Chronicles #1

I heard so many good things about this book! At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to read it, but after all those amazing reviews I have no other choice ;).  

Feature and Follow / TGIF (3)

I'm new to the blogging society and I think these two memes are a great way to get to know other bloggers!

Feature and Follow is hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read. Follow them and the featured blogs, answer this weeks question and join the following!

This weeks question:

Summer Reading. What was your favorite book that you were REQUIRED to read when you were in school?

Call it a coincidence, but I was actually thinking about this last night. I hated most books I was required to read, just because it was required, but the title that left the biggest impression on me was:



On the Beach by Nevil Shute


I never stopped thinking about that ending. [A bit spoilery after this, I'm sorry] It's about the end of the world. Everything is dying: animals, people. But there are some exceptions. The people who don't get sick and die. The main character discovers he's one of them, but he chooses to die together with his wife and child, when they receive pills that will put an end to everything. I was like 14 years old when I read this and this never let me go. So beautiful. 

TGIF is hosted by GReads!. This features re-caps this weeks posts and proposes a questions to the followers. 

This weeks question:

Christmas in July: If Santa were to come down your chimney in the middle of summer, which books would you want him to leave for you under the tree?


This question is almost the same is the one from FF last week, but it's always fun to pick out books! But I'll choose different ones from last week. 


My wish list is endless and I don't want to leave Santa all broke I narrowed it down to my top three books. 

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Revived by Cat Patrick

Eve by Anna Carey

I've read amazing reviews about these three, so these is my top three for now. And now I can only hope Santa is really stopping by in the middle of summer!

Last week posts:

Review I Heart London by Lindsey Kelk
Stacking the Shelves (3)
Upcoming (10)
Top Ten Most Vivid Worlds/Settings In Books
Waiting on Wednesday (5)
Review A Witch In Love by Ruth Warburton

Review A Witch in Love by Ruth Warburton

Title: A Witch in Love

Author: Ruth Warburton 

Published: July 5th, 2012 (Hodder Children's Books)

Pages: 401
Source: bought

Series: Winter Trilogy #2
Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads: Anna still finds it hard to believe that Seth loves her and has vowed to suppress her powers, no matter what.

But magic – like love – is uncontrollable. It spills out with terrible consequences, and soon, Anna is being hunted.

For the review of A Witch in Winter go here. 

This second book in the Winter Trilogy is even better than the first. I just couldn't put it down and most of the book I read in one sitting. 

It takes place six months after the ending of A Witch in Winter. Anna is in a happy relationship with Seth, but she still can't believe he truly loves her. And there is her uncontrollable power. She still wants to know where her magic comes from, but her father is as closed as ever on the subject of her lost mother. But everything turns around when Anna starts receiving creepy threats from an outwith enemy. 


In my review of the first book I told you what an amazing writing style Ruth Warburton has and that hasn't changed. I would say it got even better! A very important thing for me, it can really ruin a book. 


But also the story is so good. It's full of tension. The relationship between Anna and Seth is on edge at some point, because she can't let go of the fact she bewitched him at first and she's still not sure if the spell is broken. But also the threats from the outwith enemy is so strong. Especially when Anna thinks them as less dangerous than the Ealwitan and other witches, you just know she's in even graver danger. You'll have a hard time putting this down. 


I love Anna. She goes for what she wants, but she isn't a stupid heroine who goes running off to all sorts of dangers. Danger just finds her, but she has a great way of getting herself out of it, with or without help from others. She still is getting to know her powers and I absolutely can't wait to read the next book, A Witch Alone, and find out more. I just read the synopsis and it sounds amazing! 

Waiting on Wednesday (5)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week I'm waiting on 

Beautiful Lies by Jessica Warman

Title: Beautiful Lies

Author: Jessica Warman

Will be published on: August 21st, 2012 (Walker Children's)

Pages: 422

Synopsis from Goodreads: Rachel and Alice are an extremely rare kind of identical twins—so identical that even their aunt and uncle, whom they’ve lived with since their parents passed away, can’t tell them apart. But the sisters are connected in a way that goes well beyond their surfaces: when one experiences pain, the other exhibits the exact same signs of distress. So when one twin mysteriously disappears, the other immediately knows something is wrong—especially when she starts experiencing serious physical traumas, despite the fact that nobody has touched her. As the search commences to find her sister, the twin left behind must rely on their intense bond to uncover the truth. But is there anyone around her she can trust, when everyone could be a suspect? And ultimately, can she even trust herself? Master storyteller Jessica Warman will keep readers guessing when everything they see—and everything they are told—suddenly becomes unreliable in this page-turning literary thriller.

After reading Between I can't to read more books by Jessica Warman and this synopsis sounds so good!

Top Ten Most Vivid Worlds/Settings In Books

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday has another topic and different bloggers give their top ten. I love making lists, so here's mine for this week!

This week topic is 

Top Ten Most Vivid Worlds/Settings In Books

1. Stravaganza by Mary Hoffman  (review)
This is the book world I love the most. The combination time traveling and Italia is just perfect. 


2. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
I don't think this one needs an explanation. 


3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The first book setting in years that was so vivid it actually gave me nightmares.


4. Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan (review)
This book is set in space and it's so beautifully written. Everything about this world is really cool. 


5. Finding Sky by Joss Stirling
The idea of soul mates with gifts is so nice!


6. His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
I loved this book and the world setting is amazing! Wouldn't it be amazing having your own deamon?


7. The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare
Who doesn't love a world with Jace in it?


8. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
I really like books about time traveling and this was one amazing book! It's one of my all time favorites.


9. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
I admire Tolkien for the whole world he set up, including languages!


10. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (review)
One of the best dystopian world settings! 


What's your Top Ten?

Upcoming (10)

In Upcoming I talk about the books that I will review on this blog. So you know what you can expect here in the upcoming days. 

Being a week on an island where it was really warm coming home was a real downer. It rained and it was cold, blegh. Luckily for all those great books I could read!


This week

Review A Witch in Love by Ruth Warburton

Anna still finds it hard to believe that Seth loves her and has vowed to suppress her powers, no matter what.
But magic – like love – is uncontrollable. It spills out with terrible consequences, and soon, Anna is being hunted.

Synopsis from Goodreads

Review Rapture by Lauren Kate

Like sand in an hourglass, time is running out for Luce and Daniel. To stop Lucifer from erasing the past they must find the place where the angels fell to earth. Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this—live only to lose Luce again and again.
Yet together they will face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies . . . and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed. And suddenly Luce knows what must happen.
For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her—and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now will be the only one that truly matters.
In the fight for Luce, who will win?

Synopsis from Goodreads

Next week

Review Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
Like many other books this book set on my wish list for ages. When a colleague set to me that I should really read this I finally bought it and I read it during a great vacation on Rhodes. 


Review Bunheads by Sophie Flack

Next to reading I love to dance and combining those two is just awesome. Since dancing while reading a book might be a bit dangerous the other way around is the best, and there aren't enough books about dancing! I was so happy when Bunheads came out. 

Hope to see you soon!

Stacking the Shelves (3)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Bloggers share what new books (physical or virtual) they got these week. This is the first week that I'm participating! I like getting new books and showing them. So here's my haul for this week! 

For review

Title: The Selection

Author: Kiera Cass

Published: April 24th, 2012 (HarperTeen)

Pages: 327
Series: The Selection #1

I heard great things about this book and I'm really happy I got approved for a copy on Netgalley. 

Review I Heart London by Lindsey Kelk

Title: I Heart London

Author: Lindsey Kelk

Published: Juny 7th, 2012 (Harper)

Pages: 366
Source: bought

Series: I Heart #5
Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads: Home is where the heart is. Right? Angela Clark has fallen in love with America -- and it's starting to love her back. Throw one expired visa into the mix, and things quickly take a turn for the worse. She might love her life as a Brit in New York, but now she has no choice but to return to London. Not only does she leave behind her gorgeous boyfriend Alex -- she must also face unfinished business back on home turf. There's the ex-boyfriend -- who she moved to New York to get away from. Then there's her best friend, with her perfect new baby. And there's her mum. Now, there's another wedding in the offing -- and everyone remembers how well the last one went ...

I love a good Chick Lit and Lindsey Kelk wrote / is writing (please tell me there is going to be another sequel!) one of the best Chick Lit series ever! When it comes to this kind of books I'm kinda picky, because I hate it if it has to many cliches. And that's why I love the I Heart series. Angela is so funny, clumsy and she has a real gift for getting herself into trouble, I can't get enough of it! And (almost) no cliches!


So, this is the fifth book in the series and this time the lovely city London is the one we heart. After almost getting deported Angela can remain in New York and her parents aren't so happy with it. Especially when they find out Angela is engaged and hadn't even told them yet! So her mother *forces* Angela (more like puts a lot of pressure) to come home and bring Alex. With her mum's sixtieth birthday coming up Angela hops on a plain and gets her ass back to London. And there the fun part starts (although that beginning with that meeting on bare feet, hilarious!), because of course Angela can't go home without immediately running into Mark, the ex boyfriend. And her mum has all kind of weird presumptions and she gets the *crazy* idea where Alex and Angela marry that Saturday in the garden. 


I just couldn't stop laughing through the entire book. The combination of the characters and events is just so funny. Angela just can't seem to stop putting herself in all sorts of trouble and Jenny doesn't really help with her determination to get this wedding done within a week. And who doesn't love Alex? The only one who remains perfectly calm whatever happens. He and Angela are a match made in heaven (I know cheesy right?). Her mum and dad aren't really helping the situation, with her dad smoking weed in his shack and her mum just being her mum. 

If you love Chick Lit you have to read this book! If you never read Chick Lit and you want to give it a try, read this book! Seriously, you won't be disappointed! 

I just want to add one last thing: this book has the perfect Chick Lit cover. I have the entire series on my bookshelves and I love putting them next to each other and stare at them. They always make me happy! 

Feature and Follow (4) & TGIF (2)

I'm new to the blogging society and I think these two memes are a great way to get to know other bloggers!

Feature and Follow is hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read. Follow them and the featured blogs, answer this weeks question and join the following!

This weeks question:

Q: Christmas in July! Someone gives you a gift card for two books (whatever that costs). What two books will you buy?


Just two books? That's hard, my wish list is so big. But well, I will play along nicely. I would choose:

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
I really can't wait to read this title!!


Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
For some reason I never put this book on my wish list, but I heard so many good things about it now that it's right at the top. 

TGIF is hosted by GReads!. This features re-caps this weeks posts and proposes a questions to the followers. 

This weeks question:

Throwback TGIF: Pick a previous question you posted on your blog in the past & revisit your answer. Has it changed since then?


Since this is only my second TGIF (and the answer hasn't changed) I'm going to cheat a little and just going to pick a question. 

A Book Blogger is Born: What made you decide to start your very own book blog?

I think my answer is the same as almost everyone who owns a book blog, I just really love books and talking about them. So that's what made me start my blog. I started at the beginning of this year, but I just hadn't really thought through how I wanted it to be, so I stopped posting. In may I felt like now was the time to really start taking it seriously and here I am, totally happy with my blog. And the book blogging community is awesome!

Last two weeks posts:

I was on vacation last week so here are the posts for the last two weeks!

Review City of Swords by Mary Hoffman
Best Books This Year (So Far)
Waiting on Wednesday (4)
Upcoming (9)
Review Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble
Cover Love
Review Glitch by Heather Anastasiu
Top Ten Tuesday Freebie!

Upcoming (8)

Stacking the Shelves

Review A Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton

Review City of Swords by Mary Hoffman

Title: City of Swords

Author: Mary Hoffman

Published: July 5th, 2012 (Bloomsbury)

Pages: 368
Source: bought

Series: Stravaganza #6
Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads: Desperately unhappy, Laura has resorted to secretly self-harming. But Laura is a Stravagante, somebody who can travel in time and space. When she finds her talisman, a small silver dagger, she stravagates with it to sixteenth-century Fortezza, a town similar to Lucca in Italy, where she meets her Stravagante, who is a swordsmith. But Laura also meets the charming and attractive Ludo, and falls for him. Their love for each other is tested when Ludo lays claim to the crown of Fortezza, and Laura finds herself fighting on the side of the Stravaganti opposing him.

When I really love a book I find it far more difficult to write a review. City of Swords is one of those books. I’m totally in love with that book, but it’s so hard to put it in a readable review. But I’ll try!

So City of Swords is the sixth book in one of my all time favorite series, Stravaganza. There are so many awesome things about it: the world setting, the writing style, characters, covers.  I’ve loved every book in the series. In every story there’s another main character, and in City of Swords that’s Laura. She’s a self harmer and that’s the reason she gets chosen as a Stravagante when she picks up the small silver dagger from sixteenth century Talia, a country similar to our Italia. Every Stravagante has another city he or she is traveling to. Lauren city’s Fortezza, a city similar to Lucca.

The world setting is great with the traveling between our world and Talia, where the chosen Stravagante has a task to fulfill. Although they don’t know what kind of task beforehand. The other Stravaganti from the previous books also play a role in the next books. The characters are amazing, I love them all! Even the di Chimici. Seeing them return is so nice!

Mary Hoffman has a great writing style! The story is full of tension, so it’s hard to put down, but the writing style just makes it impossible! What I love more about this series is that the story is told from different perspectives. This makes the story very intriguing to read, because you know a lot more than when you only read it from Laura’s point of view. But there are still a lot of plot twists you don’t see coming.

And last but definitely not least: did you see that cover?! I could stare at it all day, it’s so beautiful!