My Life in April: Ripley's Aquarium, Easter Eggs, and Meeting Laini Taylor

Hoo boy! April was a busy month for me! Whereas March was a quiet stay-at-home kind of month for me, I saw a lot of action in April.


First up in April, I finally got to go see Ripley's Aquarium of Canada!!

I had been wanting to go ever since I moved to Toronto and I'm so glad I finally got the chance because I absolutely LOVED it! I spent a solid six hours there because I am the type of person who likes to see and read EVERYTHING there is to see and read at these kinds of places. So in the end, I got a TON out of my experience, saw some absolutely breathtaking sea creatures, and got to pet a few of them, too. I would highly recommend going there to anyone who hasn't gone yet, but you should definitely try to avoid peak times because it was PACKED.

April also meant Easter and though I am not religious, Easter for me has always been a time for getting together with family and painting Easter eggs, a tradition I have carried out for as long as I can remember:

The top picture are eggs painted with a dollar store egg painting kit and the bottom picture are eggs painted in the traditional Ukrainian pysanka method. It's amazing how much more vibrancy and detail you can get with the real deal! Unfortunately, I didn't get to spend Easter with my own family, but luckily, my boyfriend's family lives nearby and they generously took me in. I had a GREAT long weekend!


And finally, the moment I had been waiting for all month... the Laini Taylor signing event!

Can you spot me? Hee.

And so I got to meet my Queen, the one-and-only, Laini Taylor (in a leopard shirt to show my support for the chimaera):

Aiiiieee - IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED!! Unfortunately, I was way too starstruck to say much of anything to her. I kind of feel like I missed my chance to tell her how amazing I think she is. I just lost my ability to speak in front of her!! Ah well. At least I had a fun time hanging out with Zahida of Musings of a YA Reader!


There were three - extremely different - TV shows that I binge watched in April:

I don't have much to say about True Detective that hasn't been said before... excellent acting, writing, and story. Definitely highly recommended! I'm very curious what they're going to do for the second season.

Now Girls on the other hand... I'm not sure where I stand with it. I didn't find any of the girls to be particularly relatable, but at least the time of their lives (right out of university and trying to make it in the real world) was a lot more relatable to me than Sex and the City ever was. The girls are all deeply flawed and I found myself actually liking the guys on the show a lot more... still it's a pretty entertaining watch nonetheless!

I also caught up on the latest season of Avatar: The Legend of Korra. Loooovee!! If you've never watched Avatar: The Last Airbender, you definitely should (but please, let's not even think about that abomination that was the M. Night Shyamalan film). And once you've done that, you can get to The Legend of Korra! The animation is sooo gorgeous. But don't take my word for it, see for yourself:

Blog Posts in April:

March Recap: Back Into the Swing of Things
Top Ten Bookish Items That Are THE SHIZ
Waiting On Wednesday: HarperCollins Summer 2014 Catalog
Waiting On Wednesday: Hachette Summer 2014 Catalog
Waiting On Wednesday: Macmillan Summer 2014 Catalog
Review: Night of Cake and Puppets by Laini Taylor - 4.5 Stars
Review: Sunrise (Ashfall #3) by Mike Mullin - 4 Stars
Review: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare - 3.5 Stars
Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - 5 Stars
Review: The Wizard's Promise by Cassandra Rose Clarke - 3 Stars

Best Book Read in April:

I mean, what more can I say about my love for this series and Laini Taylor that I haven't already said? Laini is just INSANELY talented and Dreams of Gods & Monsters proves that!!

Review: The Wizard's Promise by Cassandra Rose Clarke

Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Published: May 6, 2014
Pages: 336
Source: For Review from Strange Chemistry/NetGalley
Rating: 3 Stars

All Hanna Euli wants is to become a proper witch – but unfortunately, she’s stuck as an apprentice to a grumpy fisherman. When their boat gets caught up in a mysterious storm and blown wildly off course, Hanna finds herself further away from home than she’s ever been before.
As she tries to get back, she learns there may be more to her apprentice master than she realized, especially when a mysterious, beautiful, and very non-human boy begins following her through the ocean, claiming that he needs Hanna’s help.

In short: The Wizard's Promise by Cassandra Rose Clarke was not as engaging as its previous companion novels, but was still a good read nonetheless.

I knew I needed to read The Wizard's Promise, the companion book to Cassandra Rose Clarke's Assassin's Curse duology, the moment I heard about it. I simply adored The Assassin's Curse. I found it to be highly entertaining with a compelling plot and completely engaging, vibrant characters. Plus, I love the world building and magic system that Cassandra Rose Clarke has created and was eager to return to it. Unfortunately, I can't say I was as invested in the new protagonist, Hanna, and her story as I was with Ananna and Naji of The Assassin's Curse.

I can't exactly put my finger on it, but The Wizard's Promise seemed to be missing that special something that The Assassin's Curse had, leaving me largely disconnected from the characters and plot. I did like Hanna - she reminded me of Ananna in her determination and bravery - and I pitied her for the truly crappy situation she finds herself in. But I can't say I was much taken with any of the other characters. Romance-fans may be disappointed - and non-romance-fans may be refreshed - to hear that romance is notably lacking in this instalment - though I imagine this situation will change in the sequel.

But I think it was the plot - or should I say lack thereof - in which I was truly disappointed with in The Wizard's Promise. The pacing was very slow and events are repetitive and lacking in much excitement. I really needed to see more momentous developments and less concentration on day-to-day activities to be truly engaged. The lack of engagement in the plot was definitely the biggest letdown for me in The Wizard's Promise because I remember flying through The Assassin's Curse, I was so engrossed. I can only hope that Cassandra Rose Clarke will pick up the action in the sequel.

Overall, The Wizard's Promise was far from a bad read. Like I mentioned earlier, Cassandra Rose Clarke has created a magic system and world that is so intriguing to me; it is deceptively simple, and yet wonderfully enchanting. I enjoyed spending more time in this world and was interested in the unfolding of certain enigmatic elements that were explored. I just wish I could have been as engaged and invested in the story as I was with The Assassin's Curse. Hopefully the sequel, The Nobleman's Revenge, is faster paced and more enthralling!

Previously, my reviews of The Assassin's Curse and The Pirate's Wish.

Other Reviews:
Cuddlebuggery
Read. Sleep. Repeat.

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Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Published: January 1, 2005
Pages: 552
Source: Bought
Rating: 5 Stars

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.

Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. 

In short: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is very special to me and I can't recommend it highly enough.

I am going to attempt to review The Book Thief, a transformative novel that I read at the end of last year that left me reeling with its beauty and drowning in feels. I say attempt because it would be near impossible for me to do a book such as this one justice. How can I adequately relate my feelings for a book that has become so special to me? I struggle with this when it comes to reviewing these kinds of meaningful books and I'm envious of any reviewer who can manage to describe their feelings effectively. But attempt I will.

The Book Thief is narrated by Death, a storytelling device, which, at first I thought was going to be a bit gimmicky, but actually pays off in dividends and really elevates the book into memorably-genius-work-of-fiction territory. The standouts in The Book Thief are the characters and the character relationships, each notably dear to me and thought-provoking in their own way. But the crappy part about reading a book about treasured characters living in Nazi Germany that is narrated by Death is that you know things are not going to end well for many of the characters that you have grown so attached to and you just have to deal. Somehow, someway, with plenty of tissues and maybe a shoulder to cry on, you have to deal.

I suck at describing writing styles so I usually just settle for “well written” or “not well written” in my reviews, but I feel like it would do Markus Zusak’s writing a disservice by merely calling it “well done” and leaving it at that. So I will attempt to expand on this a bit: Markus Zusak is a freaking GENIUS. His grasp of imagery and metaphor is unparalleled (albeit as far as my limited range of reading goes). There were certain turns of phrase that he uses that were SO unique and that I have never read anywhere before that made me – for once in my life – want to whip out a highlighter and start highlighting the crap out of his prose. No, I didn’t actually deface my copy, but I was TEMPTED. Maybe I might consider it again upon a reread.

If you’re wondering: no, I haven’t seen the movie yet and I’m a bit apprehensive about it because the reviews have been less than favourable, which bums me out SO MUCH because this book deserves nothing less than brilliance in film form. How about you guys – has anyone seen the movie and would you recommend it?

So there were my jumbled thoughts. I do wish I were better at thoroughly describing the perfection of certain books, but instead I will settle for shouting it across the rooftops, if I must: READ THE BOOK THIEF. I know I must’ve been among the few remaining non-readers of The Book Thief out there, but I imagine there are still a few of you out there somewhere who have yet to read it. And you simply must! Please say you will and then once you have, let me know and we can drown in our feels together.

Other Reviews:
Books: A True Story
The Daily Prophecy
Just Another Story
Reading In Winter

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Waiting On Wednesday: Macmillan Summer 2014 Catalog

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking The Spine in which upcoming, eagerly anticipated releases are highlighted on the blog.

This week, I've chosen to feature a few picks from the Macmillan Summer 2014 Catalog:

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
Date: June 17, 2014

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The capital has fallen. The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.
Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.
Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.
Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

OMGOMGOMG - I NEED Ruin and Rising in my life and I can't believe I have to wait - very impatiently - for two whole more months to get it. Alina, Mal, the Darkling, STURMHOND (!) - can't wait to see them all again!!

Unwept by Tracy Hickman
Date: July 1, 2014

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Gamin, Maine, is a remote seaside town where everyone seems to know Ellis Harkington better than she knows herself—but she doesn’t remember any of them.
Unknown events have robbed Ellis of her memory. Concerned individuals, who purport to be her friends and loved ones, insist that she simply needs to recuperate, that her memories may return in time, but refuse to divulge what has brought her to this state. For her own sake, so they say.
Ellis finds herself adrift in a town of ominous mysteries, cryptic hints, and disturbingly familiar strangers. The Nightbirds, a clique of fashionable young men and women, claim her as one of their own, but who among them can she truly trust? And what of the phantom suitor who visits her in her dreams? Is he a memory, a figment of her imagination, or a living nightmare beyond rational explanation?
Only her lost past hold the answers she seeks—if she can uncover its secrets before she fall prey to an unearthly killer.

Not really sure what to make of this blurb for Unwept, but all I can say is that I am intrigued. How can I not be when there is mention of "ominous mysteries, cryptic hints, and disturbingly familiar strangers"? I can't help it - I'm curious!

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson
Date: July 15, 2014

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In this timeless new trilogy about love and sacrifice, a princess must find her place in a reborn world.
In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia’s life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight—but she doesn’t—and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom—to a prince she has never met.
On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assasin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love.

It's possible that The Kiss of Deception might be a bit too heavy on the romance for my tastes, but I just can't help but be drawn to high fantasies with court drama. I'm especially keen on this one because I've heard amazing things about Mary E. Pearson's other books!

Extraction by Stephanie Diaz
Date: July 22, 2014

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Clementine has spent her whole life preparing for her sixteenth birthday, when she’ll be tested for Extraction in the hopes of being sent from the planet Kiel’s toxic Surface to the much safer Core, where people live without fear or starvation. When she proves Promising enough to be “Extracted,” she must leave without Logan, the boy she loves. Torn apart from her only sense of family, Clem promises to come back and save him from brutal Surface life.
What she finds initially in the Core is a utopia compared to the Surface—it’s free of hard labor, gun-wielding officials, and the moon's lethal acid. But life is anything but safe, and Clementine learns that the planet's leaders are planning to exterminate Surface dwellers—and that means Logan, too.
Trapped by the steel walls of the underground and the lies that keep her safe, Clementine must find a way to escape and rescue Logan and the rest of the planet. But the planet leaders don't want her running—they want her subdued.

Extraction has a great premise, one that I can see myself becoming engrossed in if the story delivers and is as action-packed as the blurb promises. There is great potential here and I hope Extraction lives up to it!


How about you? Are you waiting on any of these Macmillan Summer 2014 reads? Are there any upcoming books from the Macmillan Summer 2014 Catalog that I didn't include here that you feel I should add to my list?

Review: City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5) by Cassandra Clare

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published: May 8, 2012
Pages: 535
Source: Bought
Rating: 3.5 Stars

What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?

In short: Though I am no longer as enamoured with this series as I once was, Cassandra Clare does a good job of getting me amped up for the conclusion of The Mortal Instruments in City of Lost Souls.

It saddens me that this series that I once loved has become a bit of a chore to read. I really enjoyed the original Mortal Instruments Trilogy and I thought City of Glass was a great and epic finale. My thoughts upon the announcement of the expansion of the trilogy to a further three books were conflicted: I do love these characters that Cassandra Clare has created and I was excited to see more from them, but I was also satisfied with the original ending as it stood and wasn't convinced the plot could be dragged out further in any particularly interesting way.

Upon reading the first two books of The Mortal Instruments v2.0, City of Fallen Angels and City of Lost Souls, my thoughts remain similarly conflicted. I do still love spending time with these beloved characters, but it has taken me a while to become truly invested in this whole new story line. The beginning of City of Lost Souls dragged for me and I was worried that I wasn't ever going to find that gripping spark that The Mortal Instruments once had. Thankfully, the story does hit its stride eventually and ramps up to a thrilling final sequence, but I wish my excitement had been incited sooner.

I guess my main concern is that The Mortal Instruments v2.0 and specifically the final book, City of Heavenly Fire, will fail to live up to high standard set by the epic conclusion of the original trilogy. How disappointing would that be if the series ended with a less than stellar finale? It would be anticlimactic. That said, I do still have faith that Cassandra Clare will pull out all the stops for City of Heavenly Fire. She has yet to disappoint me with a finale and I liked the direction she went with the ending of City of Lost Souls, so I haven't lost hope on the series yet!

Previously, my review of City of Fallen Angels.

Other Reviews:
Avery's Book Nook
Burning Impossibly Bright
Mundie Moms

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