Book Review // Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Hello again!

I am so sorry for posting so infrequently right now. Things have been a little hectic with going back to school and everything, so I am hoping to get back into the swing of things in the next couple weeks. I have been reading pretty often, however, and am a little backed up on writing posts, so expect a few more than usual over the next few days.

Also, Megan and I are discussing a new posting schedule - one that is less restricting and will allow for more posts on the blog. This is the tentative new schedule:

Top Ten Posts // Tuesdays by both Caelyn and Megan (prompted from The Broke and the Bookish)
Reviews // Whenever a book is finished and simultaneously posted on Goodreads
Features and Misc. // Again, whenever we feel like it.

In addition, I am really trying to get our social media up and running. Thank you to those of you who have followed us there despite the lack of posts! I have been building up a collection of photos and have an idea as to how to conduct the social media in my busy life. 

Whew. It feels good to have that all out there. 

Okay, now onto what this post is actually about. A book review!

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

"Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now the Winterians' only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter's magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter's defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, Winter's future king—she would do anything to help Winter rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter's magic, Meira decides to go after it herself—only to find herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics—and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own. "

I really, really liked this book...not quite a five star review, but really, really close. Now, this could have something to do with the fact that my brain was rather muddled as I decided to get sick on my FREE WEEKEND after working for pretty much 2 WEEKS STRAIGHT AT SCHOOL (yes, that includes an entire weekend).

No, no. No problem there.

I read this book (at least the beginning part of it) very fast, which could be another reason I didn't give it five stars. It was one of those things where my brain was slightly switched off and was kind of skimming for part of the time, which made me not super involved in the plot. But I still really liked it.

Things I Loved:

• All the twists and turns of the plot. There were totally some things that I did not see coming! The whole plot enthralled me, and there was pretty much something happening at all times, which I really liked. 
• The relationship between Mather and Meira. I love how flawed it is because I am really looking forward to seeing how it progresses. This might sound like a weird opinion...but I see a lot of potential growth there. 
• I really love that feeling in a book where something completely unexpected happens and your jaw just drops and you start saying, "No...did that really just happen?" out loud and get weird looks from the people around you. It is also one of those things where your adrenalin spikes and you feel like you need to go release all of your energy by talking yelling about it with someone who has already read it. Or not. This book had a lot of that, and it was so enthralling that, just...I don't even have the words. 
• The full on girl power and female strength (go Meira!). Meira shows us that girls, too, can change the world and make a difference.
• I also loved the uniqueness of the world. Each kingdom is so different and amazing that it is easy to tell them apart.
• The ending.
• There was a lot more that I loved, but I finished it about a week ago and not I cannot remember what else I wanted to say about it. Darn my school-stuffed brain. But there are a lot more positives. Just trust me on this one.

Things I Didn't Love As Much:

• Some of the characters annoyed me from time to time (namely: Sir), but I know, I know. There was a reason for it. But still!
• I was slightly confused at some parts about the layout of the land. The kingdoms also confused me for a little while, but it became clearer in my mind as I kept reading. 
• This is something really small and nitpicky, but as a writer, some of the names bugged me. Not so much those of people, but mainly those of places. I felt like they were jumbled from everywhere and did not have a flow to them (such as all Anglican names for one place, African names for another, etc.). But this is a really small detail that I really don't think a lot of people would notice. I apologize for pointing it out...

Overall, this book was very good and I highly recommend it. I just finished reading the sequel, so stay tuned for a review on Ice Like Fire tomorrow or the next day. 

The final thing I would like to point out is that you should visit our new and improved quotes page. Feel free to repost any of the social media quote photos (but only if you give credit to us). 

Thank you so much for reading, and check us out on social media (Twitter, Instagram, and Bloglovin'). Our links are on the top right of the blog's homepage.

Feature // Highly Anticipated Upcoming Books

Let me just start off by saying this...I kind of suck at blogging.

At least I do right now, but I am kind of hoping that it is one of those things that you slowly get better about as you learn about all of the things that it has to offer. But just to sum it up for those of you who are new, here is a list of my blogging accomplishments:

• 2 posts on Twitter and reaching 4 (cough cough) followers
• Some impromptu "Oh my goodness I forgot to take pictures so let me just use my phone to snap a horrendous close up of these two books on my carpet..." posts on Instagram (refer below)
• A total of, oh I don't even know, three weeks without a post? Wait, I think I might have posted last week...or the week before...

You get what I'm saying. I'm not a complete slacker...homework reacher a new high for this year last week and I was swamped with one essay and six tests over the course of four school days. I even spent the entire weekend studying for an AP Euro test...but now that's over and life seems to be returning to its regular routine!

As for an update on building the blog, we added links to all of our social media pages on the "About Us" page and added a quotes page. Also check out our "Must Reads" page for inspiration on what to read next. (I couldn't remember if I included this in any other posts...so here it is anyway...)

Today, I am not bringing you our typical TV Thursday post, but instead I am compiling a list of my most anticipated books for the coming months. I might include a few books that *just* came out, mainly because, as you can probably tell, I am running behind in life. 

Yes, this might sound like something that I could do for a Top 10 Tuesday post, but I want to do it now, so sorry. Stay tuned for a school related Top 10 Tuesday post next week, as I have something in mind to commemorate the beginning of school. 

A Collection of Upcoming Books I Wish to Read (In Order of Release Dates)

The Reader by Traci Chee

"Sefia knows what it means to survive. After her father is brutally murdered, she flees into the wilderness with her aunt Nin, who teaches her to hunt, track, and steal. But when Nin is kidnapped, leaving Sefia completely alone, none of her survival skills can help her discover where Nin’s been taken, or if she’s even alive. The only clue to both her aunt’s disappearance and her father’s murder is the odd rectangular object her father left behind, an object she comes to realize is a book—a marvelous item unheard of in her otherwise illiterate society. With the help of this book, and the aid of a mysterious stranger with dark secrets of his own, Sefia sets out to rescue her aunt and find out what really happened the day her father was killed—and punish the people responsible.

With overlapping stories of swashbuckling pirates and merciless assassins, The Reader is a brilliantly told adventure from an extraordinary new talent."

For some reason, I love reading books about reading...it is always something that I can relate to. As soon as I read the description for this book, I knew that it was something that I wanted to read, and I am hoping that I can read it soon. I have a few books ahead of it on my TBR, but it is pretty high up there. 

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

"A Torch Against the Night takes readers into the heart of the Empire as Laia and Elias fight their way north to liberate Laia’s brother from the horrors of Kauf Prison. Hunted by Empire soldiers, manipulated by the Commandant, and haunted by their pasts, Laia and Elias must outfox their enemies and confront the treacherousness of their own hearts.

In the city of Serra, Helene Aquilla finds herself bound to the will of the Empire’s twisted new leader, Marcus. When her loyalty is questioned, Helene finds herself taking on a mission to prove herself—a mission that might destroy her, instead."

Now this book is an automatic read, one that is actually the next book on my TBR. I am currently rereading An Ember in the Ashes to prepare for this, and I am loving it just as much as I did the first time through. Someone please remind me to go and order this book RIGHT NOW!

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

"Three dark queens

are born in a glen,

sweet little triplets

will never be friends

Three dark sisters

all fair to be seen,

two to devour

and one to be Queen

Every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.

But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose…it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins. The last queen standing gets the crown."

Something about this book caught my attention. For one thing, look at that cover...I mean, just look at it! How gorgeous is it? I need to get this book and then take some beautifully creepy pictures of it for Instagram. But also I love how unique the story line is, and I love how it has QUEENS! Queens, not kings are the heirs to the throne.

A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess

"I am Henrietta Howel. The first female sorcerer. The prophesied one. Or am I?

Henrietta Howel can burst into flames. When she is brought to London to train with Her Majesty's sorcerers, she meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, young men eager to test her powers and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her. As Henrietta discovers the secrets hiding behind the glamour of sorcerer life, she begins to doubt that she's the true prophesied one. With battle looming, how much will she risk to save the city--and the one she loves?"

With a huge Harry Potter reread hangover, I need some magical books to quench my thirst for all things wonderfully and (literally) magically not real. What better book to read than one about sorcerers? Not only sorcerers, but Her Majesty's sorcerers. I'm in.

Replica by Lauren Oliver

"From Lauren Oliver, New York Times bestselling author of Before I Fall and the Delirium trilogy, comes an epic, masterful novel that explores issues of individuality, identity, and humanity. Replica is a “flip book” that contains two narratives in one. Turn the book one way and read Lyra’s story; turn the book over and upside down and read Gemma’s story. The stories can be read separately, one after the other, or in alternating chapters. The two distinct parts of this astonishing novel combine to produce an unforgettable journey. Even the innovative book jacket mirrors and extends the reading experience.

Lyra’s story begins in the Haven Institute, a building tucked away on a private island off the coast of Florida that from a distance looks serene and even beautiful. But up close the locked doors, military guards, and biohazard suits tell a different story. In truth, Haven is a clandestine research facility where thousands of replicas, or human models, are born, raised, and observed. When a surprise attack is launched on Haven, two of its young experimental subjects—Lyra, or 24, and the boy known only as 72—manage to escape.

Gemma has been in and out of hospitals for as long as she can remember. A lonely teen, her life is circumscribed by home, school, and her best friend, April. But after she is nearly abducted by a stranger claiming to know her, Gemma starts to investigate her family’s past and discovers her father’s mysterious connection to the secretive Haven research facility. Hungry for answers, she travels to Florida, only to stumble upon two replicas and a completely new set of questions.

While the stories of Lyra and Gemma mirror each other, each contains breathtaking revelations critically important to the other story. Replica is an ambitious, thought-provoking masterwork."

I love how unique this book sounds. A book that flips so that the stories intertwine together? That reminds me of a Snow White picture book I had when I was little. I also love the idea for the story. All in all, count me in!

Thank you all for reading this post, and I am sorry for neglecting to post recently. I am working on it, I promise!

Book Review // My Lady Jane

Hello everyone! Sorry for the lack of posts these past few weeks. I went on vacation with my family and then school started, so there has been a lot of transition over the past few days. That is also why I have not been able to post on social media. I need to find time to take Bookstagram photos (hopefully this weekend!), so stay tuned for that. For now, here is a book review.

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

"Who on earth could feel comfortable enough to sleep in a room with no books?"

I really, really liked this book for so many reasons. It gets five stars. For one thing, it was centered around books. I mean, a book about books! What could get better than that? But that's not all...here is a list of all of the things that I loved about this book!

Things I Loved:

• The main characters - they are all so unique and really grew as the novel progressed. They also all possess traits that you would expect the actual people in history to have while being adapted to relate to our modern society.
• Magic, but not normal magic. This was magic that was used to show the disagreements between two religions - talk about plot device! Basically, people have the ability to turn into their animals - randomly or not at all at the beginning and with control as they learn to embrace their abilities and believe in themselves.
• Evil advisers, evil sisters, and evil animal-people-magic things. 
• Backstabbing and attempted (and believed) murder!
• I also really loved the whole (SPOILER ALERT) arranged marriage = falling in love thing. 
• The fact that the authors stole Shakespeare and had G write his poems. There was controversy anyway...
• The comedy! I was laughing so hard throughout this book. If you want to laugh, read this. 
• The dedication. Trust me.
• And lots, lots, LOTS more! I read this book a while back and I absolutely loved it, but I can no longer remember specifically why. Argggghhhh! Anyhow, I really want to read it again at some point, and I highly recommend it. Read it. Now. Seriously, I mean it.

Things I Didn't Like

• I can honestly think of nothing bad about this book. I'll get back to you on that if I thing of anything. 

Thanks for reading! I hope to be back with more posts soon! But until then, have a wonderful everything! :)

Feature // OverDrive

This is meant to be my Friday post, but....  Here it is anyway. 

OverDrive is a free app that links with different public libraries.  Once you get the app and choose your library (you can sign in with you library card or make an account), you can barrow ebooks and audiobooks for 21 days.  If a book is unavailable, you can place a hold just like in a regular library. OverDrive connects with libraries in over 60 countries and about 30,000 libraries. I love this app and the fact that I pay nothing to read some great books.  

"Borrow eBooks, audiobooks, and more from your local public library - anywhere, anytime. All you need is a library card."

TV Thursday // When Calls the Heart

Every Thursday, we will try to bring you a post on a book and its TV show or a movie.   

Today I bring you, When Calls the Heart by Janette Oke and the TV show "When Calls the Heart".

The Book 

This Canadian book tells the story of Elizabeth Thatcher, a young school teacher who goes west to teach in a small, developing town.  Her half brother, who lives out west asks her to come out to teach, and she, wanting to try something new, leaves her home of servants and fancy dresses to live in a home where she must pump her own water, cook her own food, and deal problems like mice. 

The book is similar to the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingles Wilder - it tells the story of a life rather than of one big obstacle the protagonist must face.  I found this book interesting, but not very captivating.  This is the first book in the series of six.  

The Show

I watched the first two seasons of the show before I read the book, and I fell in love with it. 

While Elizabeth Thatcher is the young school teacher in both the book and show, there were more differences than similarities.  

Elizabeth heads west to teach in a town called Coal Valley, arriving just after a disastrous mine accident that killed most of the men in the town.  There she learns to fend for herself, meets a handsome Mountie (Canadian Mounted Police), and tries to fit in among the widows.  

I found the show much more captivating and attention holding than the book and I cannot wait for season 3 to be on Netflix. 

Top Ten Tuesday // Fantasy Books

Hello everyone! Sorry for not posting very much lately, but Megan and I have finally discussed it and have come up with a schedule for posting. It will soon be illustrated on the About Us page, so stay tuned!

Today is our first Top-Ten Tuesday (one day late). Basically, Megan and I will alternate weeks writing a top ten post. Today's subject is: Fantasy Books!

I have read a lot of fantasy books and they are by far my favorite genre. Here is a list of my favorite fantasy/fantasy(ish) books and series as of now. Each series is only going to count as a single number.

1 // Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

This one is pretty self-explanatory. I mean, who doesn't love the Harry Potter books? I am currently on my third read-through of the entire series and I still love it as much (or maybe even more) than I did when I read it for the first time when I was eight.

In my eyes, J.K. Rowling is a genius. I love how she is able to foreshadow the happenings of the next book in the one before it. Sometimes something mentioned in book one comes into play in book seven which absolutely blows my mind. She simply worked on coming up with ideas for five years before she wrote the first book. Five Years! Her precisions is what is what I strive for in my writing.

Here are some Harry Potter themed pictures. I am hoping to do a photoshoot soon so more to come (probably in Monday's post):

(The story of how this book turned out to be like this will be in Monday's post...)

(And these two pictures are a hint at what Monday's post will be...stay tuned!)

2 // An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

This book was...I can't even put it in words. I loved this book so much that I sat down in one day and read the whole entire thing. The world was so vivid and imaginative and all of the details were so amazing. I am so excited for book two, A Torch Against the Night, coming out at the end of this month! Every fantasy lover should read this book if they get the chance!

I also was able to meet Sabaa and get my book signed and it was amazing! Sabaa's signature is so cool!

3 // The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

This book doesn't seem to get the best reviews on Goodreads, but I loved this series so much. It was so imaginative and I felt like the world could be real, as it was so detailed and well thought out. It was sprawling with so much detail, not only for one country, but for three! I loved the main character and her struggles, along with the romances that the story has. This series is one of my favorites. 

4 // The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Okay, I know that this is not traditional fantasy, but the stories are based on fairytales, so it is close enough for me. I love all of the characters in this series, as each one is so well thought out and is unique from the other characters. They each have their own quirks!

I also love how all of the plot twists are based on the classic fairytales, but they are changed to fit a futuristic, sci-fi world. I love how all of the stories mesh together into one sprawling adventure. In addition, everything in the world is so creative and well thought out. I particularly enjoy how each happening has a scientific explanation in their world. 

5 // My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

Not only did this book utilize (and change) history, but it did so in a very funny and entertaining way. I loved how unique all of the characters were and how basic parts of history were extravagantly explained through magic. It is more of a historical fantasy book than a pure fantasy book, but it is still a wonderful read!

All of the characters are fully fleshed out and I love how funny the book was. The three authors did a wonderful job!

6 // Graceling by Kristin Cashore

I really, really enjoyed this book. It was a fantasy world without traditional magic, but where people were born with Graces. Not all people have, and those that do are not treated the same as those without. This is a sprawling fantasy about a girl named Katsa. I loved how unique the story was and how developed all of the countries were. It was a really good book.

It also was a different read for me because it did not have any magic in it, but the author wrote the story very well! I highly recommend it. I have not yet gotten the chance to read Fire and Bitterblue, but they are high up on my TBR list (the main reason I haven't read them yet is because the bookstore did not have any copies of Fire, so I bought Bitterblue and keep forgetting to order Fire, which you are supposed to read first apparently).

7 // The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye

This book was so cool and imaginative that I could not leave it off of this list! I was able to get an ARC of this book, and I have to say that it was a really good read. I love how magic and other fantasy elements are interwoven with history to make a compelling and exciting story. It was a very unique premise, and I thoroughly enjoyed the book! I highly recommend it!

8 // The Siren by Kiera Cass

I love all of the books that Kiera Cass has written, especially her Selection series (which is not on this list because I am considering it more futuristic/dystopian). When I found out that she was writing a new book, I was very excited, and when it came out, I bought it on the first day. It was a really good book. While not quite as good as The Selection, I still really enjoyed it.

I loved all of the characters and how fleshed out they were, along with all of the secrets revealed throughout the course of the book. It it a very unique concept, which I love, and I really enjoyed all of the diversity of its characters. There were girls from all over the world in the book! Overall, it was a very good read and I would recommend it.

9 // Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

This book series was...wow. I have never been one to read angel books, or to glom onto any particular type of book for the matter. But this series was really good and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy books but is looking for something set a little bit more in the real world! I guarantee that you will be rooting for the main character throughout all of her struggles, and that you will really connect with her and her personality. 

10 // The Selection by Kiera Cass

Okay, I couldn't resist. The only reason this book is down at number ten is because it is not a true fantasy books, so you get a list of fantasy with one really-good-but-not-quite-fantasy book tacked on at the end. I think its a pretty good deal. This series was AMAZING! I have read it three times and each time I can literally not put the books down. I just sit all day and read (there's nothing wrong with that, right?). But just read this series. Now. 

And another surprise list!

I decided that I wanted to make a small list at the end of this post of fantasy books and series that I really want to read and are high up on my TBR list. So, here you go!

1 // The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

2 // The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

3 // The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare

4 // The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine

5 // The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead

6 // Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

7 // The Winner's Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski

8 // The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

9 // Precious Stone Trilogy by Kerstin Gier

10 // The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Okay everyone! That is it for today...you got two lists - one incomplete and one complete! I hope you enjoyed this post, and make sure to check out our About Us page to look at our new posting schedule. Have a great day! 

Are there any fantasy books that you loved so much that you think we should read? Comment below!

An Introduction

Hello World!

You might not know us yet, but hopefully you will soon. We are Caelyn and Megan, the masterminds behind Bookish Blog.

What is Bookish Blog you might ask?

Well, it is a blog in which we write about pretty much anything we would like, as long as it has something to do with books, reading, or writing. We plan on reviewing books, writing posts about books and writing, and just having fun.

Click on our profiles or the "About Us" page to learn more about us, or go to the "Must Reads" page to see what books we full-heartedly recommend.

Finally, visit us on Instagram (@bloggingbookish) or on Twitter (@BloggingBookish).