Top Ten Tuesday: Bookworm Delights

This is a weekly meme started by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they have a specific topic for a top ten list. Link up, visit blogs and compare lists!

Topic of the Week: Bookworm Delights

Oh where to start...

• Book Covers: I can fall in love with a book based on covers alone. Of course you can't (or shouldn't) judge a book by its cover, but I mean come on, if a book had a gorgeous look and title I'll probably pick it up. 

• Near birthday release dates: Is it not the best feeling in the world to have a book released on or around your birthday? If you're really pumped for this book, it makes it all the more special to you! Alsoooo, great excuse to get it as gift, so yay free book for you

• Bookshelves: For avid readers, book shelves are like trophy in our eyes. We get to see all of the books we have conquer and all of the ones we own. Its like our own personal collection and you cannot help but be like an annoying person displaying your achievement. 

• Recommending books (and it going well): I have many friends that always say they would read more if they find those books that would get them really interested. Have no fear, Nicolette is here with plenty of books that might appeal to you. There is no greater feeling than someone absolutely LOVING the book you gave them. You practically deserve an award ceremony after it right? I'll get my acceptance speech ready.

• Meeting other book nerds and bloggers: You're not alone out there in the quest to blow through your TBR pile and make the employees at your local bookstore know you by name. Its great to talk with other people who have read books you want to read, who want to talk about books, and are just cool people. What's better? 

• OTPs: One of he greatest thing about reading books is getting heavily invested in the characters and then playing match maker. Oh the interesting conversations that spawn from that... We get so heavily invested in who we want to be together and we accept nothing other than that! We definitely get a little crazy but it always keeps us interested.

• Bookish themed items: The amount of times I have coveted pillow bases, blankets, mugs, totes, hats, t-shirts, leggings, etc. is ridiculous. But they are absolutely irresistible!  what better way to display your favorite series than proudly walking around with the merchandise. Its also a great way to trap people into conversations about the book. What does this tote say you ask? Well then, step in to my office...

• Meeting authors: Its the ultimate fan girl moment. You want to keep it cool, seem like you're not desperate but you totally are. But then its even better getting to know them as people and see that they are normal and have the tendency to write stories that keep you up until ungodly hours of the night. No biggie.

• Quotes: Book quotes are everything. Its great to be reading a book and then BAM the next line is something so great that you have to stop everything you're doing to document it.  Then all of a sudden you have accumulated a large amount of them and they're all so beautiful and from different books but you love them all the same.

• Reading: Actually sitting down whenever you can find the time to crack open a book is great. We read between classes, during breaks, while eating, hell even on the phone. I love staying up late to read, even though my body will make me hate it in the morning, I'll be okay knowing how much I read.

Gathering Darkness (Falling Kingdoms #3) by Morgan Rhodes REVIEW

Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes

  

4.5/5 stars

In GATHERING DARKNESS, book three of the New York Times bestselling Falling Kingdoms series, the stakes have never been higher as three teams push forward on a race to find the Kindred, the four elemental crystals possessing ancient all-powerful magic, first:
Prince Magnus has just witnessed torture, death, and miracles during the bloody confrontation that decimated the rebel forces. Now he must choose between family and justice as his father, the cruel King Gaius, sets out to conquer all of Mytica. All Gaius needs now are the Kindred - the four elemental crystals that give godlike powers to their owner. But the King of Blood is not the only one hunting for this ancient, storied magic...

• THE KRAESHIANS join the hunt. Ashur and Amara, the royal siblings from the wealthy kingdom across the Silver Sea, charm and manipulate their way to the Kindred, proving to be more ruthless than perhaps even the King of Blood himself.

• THE REBELS forge ahead. Princess Cleo and vengeful Jonas lead them, slaying with sweetness, skill, and a secret that can control Lucia's overpowering magic - all so they can use the Kindred to win back their fallen kingdoms.

• THE WATCHERS follow Melenia out of the Sanctuary. They ally in the flesh with King Gaius, who vows to use Lucia's powers to unveil the Kindred.
The only certainty in the dark times is that whoever finds the magic first will control the fate of Mytica... but fate can be fickle when magic is involved.

This book series so far is one of the best things since sliced bread and I'm loving it. Calling it the Game of Thrones of YA hold SO much truth. You never know who is going to live or die, who will be spared or betrayed by someone close to them. And as the titles of the series suggests, kingdoms are always falling.


I read this book in a day and half if that is any indication of how good it was. I couldn't out it down and then the next thing I knew, it was over! The third book of this series exceeded all of my hopes and more.
I must commend Rhodes on getting everyone up to speed with everything that happened in the past two books. Even if you only read the books two weeks apart you're bound to forget something, but never fear!

The fact that I could never quite tell what was going to happen made me want to find out more. The amount of intrigue I got from this book was astounding. This book was very fast-paced and full of action.There were so many plot twists that it made my head spin, but it was welcomed! The way I can be so attached to a character one moment then see who they truly are and wishing harm against them is amazing!
When it comes to ships, I have never been more confused and undecided as to who I want together. my INITIAL ship three books ago sunk before it could even test the waters. Now I still don't really know what I want. But I might as well take what the books is going to give me.

In Gathering Darkness, the character development was great. Cleo is really coming into her own and figuring out how to manipulate all of those who stand in her way of reclaiming the throne. She has become so much stronger mentally and actively displays her cunning and wit. Magnus is having a rally hard time accepting his role and the son of the King, brother to Lucia, and husband of Cleo. He does not know who he should be or what she should and shouldn't feel. Though there are some choices he made that made me angry, I can't say he hasn't grown on me. I used to be simply indifferent toward him, especially after a certain person he killed. I felt like I did not see too much of Jonas, but what I did see was the typical Rebel leader who values everyone under his care and will do anything possible to get King Gaius out of commission. 

Do not hesitate to pick up this book if you haven't already. This is a great read that you won't regret! 
If you've read it, let me know below!

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Last Week I Read:

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer review here

What I'm Reading This Week:

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers (His Fair Assassin #1)

Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes (Falling Kingdoms #3)

What I Plan on Reading Later This Week:

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski (The Winner's Trilogy #3)

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard REVIEWWWW

Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother’s mysterious death, he’s lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers.

One day, he’s tracked down by a man he’s never met—a man his mother claimed was dangerous. The man tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god.

The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years.

When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision.

Rick has done it again. I've been obsessed with anything he writes since the 6th grade, and this is no different. 

Now many people might doubt Riordan's ability to successfully write three separate series about mythological gods. I will admit when I heard about Magnus and Norse mythology I was hoping that it wouldn't be a Percy rewrite. And luckily it wasn't. Magnus for one, is as old as Percy is in the last book of his series. He lives in a different state and has had much more different and harder experiences than Percy had at his beginning. 

Magnus is a witty with a dry humor that can come off as angry at times. But like any other character he is a good person nonetheless with a hero complex. He has a certain wisdom about him that most people o not gain until their later years. And much to my enjoyment, he is very sassy and I love it. 

I am so happy to be excited about another one of Riordan's series again. This book made me so happy. We got to see a character from the Percy Jackson novels which really surprised me. Another thing is some of the diversity! One of the main characters is a young Muslim girl, and that's great. Getting to learn more about Norse mythology was great. I've always known about the Greek gods, but the extent of my Norse mythology knowledge has to do with Marvel, Chris Hemsworth and Tom Middleson. 

Even if you haven't read any of the other series, this is definitely worth the read. The great characters and struggles are even more worth the read.