May 2016 – Books and Beauties

May 30, 2016August 19, 2016

The Wrath and The Dawn [Review&Discussion]

I bought this book, and this is not a sponsored blog post.

The Wrath and The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Series: The Wrath & The Dawn

Number in Series: Book One

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction

My Recommended Age: 14 and up

Amazon Recommended Age: 12 and up

Edition: 2015 hardcover

Pages: 416

Check it Out: Goodreads, Amazon, PenguinRandomHouse

From Publisher:

Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi’s wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend.She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all.

YOU GUYS I AM LIVING. At first, I was excited for this book. It has an Arabic setting, something I really haven’t seen in a while, and I was looking forward to the change of pace. A mad king, a headstrong queen, revenge, love, betrayal, and lotsandlotsandlots of angst.We first find our brooding heroine, Shahrzad aka Shiza, thirsting for revenge. Her best friend, Shiva, was killed by the monstrous boy-king Khalid. She wants blood, and she’s willing to sacrifice her relationship with everyone (including her childhood love — hello love triangle) and even her life to achieve her goal.

What she doesn’t count on is betraying everything and everyone by falling in love in a tortured King.

Words cannot describe how much I love this book; I was literally squealing as I was reading. ~~I WAS SCREECHING, LIKE A PTERODACTYL.~~

I love Shazi, her quips kill me!

“I can’t say I’m surprised. As for me? I believe I’ll leave this set of goods on the rack, as well. I have no interest in. . . tiny cucumbers” (pg 159) Shazi to a rude boy in the city of Rey.

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I also think I have a problem, much like Shiza does. I was sold on Khalid probably the moment he entered the room, or the moment he showed Shiza kindness. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? He killed so many innocent young girls (there is a ~~kind of~~ a good reason, but I’m not going to spoil it for you) and yet I’m still fawning over him. I recently read The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead, and the main guy was a good boy, but I was so bored with him. Khalid is just so

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Okay, okay. I know everyone will be confused by this next quote, but this scene gives me life:

“And only those watching very carefully saw the Caliph of Khorasan lean back against the cushions and toy with the bangles on his wife’s arm” (pg 254).

*internal screaming* I can just see Khalid lean back into the cushions with a smug expression as he plays with her wrist. I literally get goose bumps (the good kind) rereading that scene. Ahhhhh!

Okay, and I NEED to talk about the writing. Ahdieh does such a phenomenal job describing everything. I can almost taste the food, smell the prized roses, feel all the emotions as if I was character in that moment. I COULD NOT PUT THE BOOK DOWN. I started at eight and finished around 12, I WAS SLAYED SO HARD.

And just to convince you that I’m not crazy, here’s a little quote to prove that our Caliph is not just some brazen lunatic, and is aware of his sins:

“It’s a fitting punishment for a monster. To want something so much–to hold it in your arms–and know beyond a doubt you will never deserve it.” – Khalid (pg 316).

Also, Shazi is tormented by loving a monster:

“Shahrad slid to the floor. The hands that had appeared steady against him now shook before her face. Proof that she was being eqaully punished for her own transgressions. Punished for desiring a monster” (pg 316).

If this display of internal conflict doesn’t enticement you, I don’t know what will. YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK NOW.

And can we just take a moment to appreciate how stunning the model for the cover is?? Just damn!

The_Wrath_and_the_Dawn_Model

Overall rating: 5/5 HEARTS

Cover: 5 hearts

Characters: 5 hearts

Writing: 5 hearts

Pacing: 5 hearts

Creativity: 5 hearts

5 hearts

Discussion: SPOILERS AHEAD // CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK//

Continue reading “The Wrath and The Dawn [Review&Discussion]”

May 17, 2016August 19, 2016

Andy BLACK: The Shadow Side [Review&Discussion]

“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” – Plato

I bought this album, and this post is 100% my opinion. This is not a sponsored post.

The Shadow Side by Andy Black

Genre: Rock

Version: Pre-Ordered Digital

Songs: 13

Personal Favorites: We Don’t Have to Dance, Drown Me Out, Put the Gun Down

Get it Here: iTunes, Amazon, Google Play

On Friday May 6th 2016, Andy Biersack the frontman of rock band Black Veil Brides released his first solo record. I’m a long term fan, so all of the content he produces means a lot to me. Anyway, let’s get into it~

Homecoming King: 3.5/5 hearts

I like the meaning behind it, on the Andy Black YouTube channel, Andy says the song is about the cool kids from high school. They were popular as teenagers, but life doesn’t always work out for them. A lot of this song is imagery such as, “Here comes the invisible man” which is referring to himself, or at least that’s what I believe. However, I knocked off 1.5 points because it was hard to follow the song until I looked up the lyrics. His voice was clear, but the story was hard to comprehend until I read it.

We Don’t Have to Dance: 5/5 hearts

It’s catchy, relatable, what’s not to love? I literally listened to this song for days on repeat, and even got a few friends addicted to it.

Ribcage: 3.5 hearts

I like the melody and rhythm of this song! It’s the lyrics again that have me knocking hearts off. “Nothing in the cage of my ribecage” confused me. Aside from that, I really enjoyed this song, it was meant to be a dance song. While it’s not the usual music I jam to, I can rock out to this! On a side note, “Ribcage” is lowkey referencing the time he jumped off of stage a broke his ribs. Ouch.

Stay Alive: 2 hearts Continue reading “Andy BLACK: The Shadow Side [Review&Discussion]”

May 15, 2016May 16, 2016

[Makeup Review]Skinfood: Red Orange Makeup Finish

I bought this product, and this post is 100% my honest opinion.

Skinfood Red Orange Makeup Finish (Glossy Type)

Country: South Korea

Price: $9.80

Find it Here: Amazon

Product Description:

A makeup finish that contains orange extract and a skin-affinitive oil to add a natural-looking glow to skin.

Hey guys! This is my first makeup related blog, so hopefully everyone can enjoy it. Let me know how well I did, and if I need to cover anything else! So let’s get into it~

I’ve never used a finishing spray/mist before. I picked this up is because my makeup would only last a few hours before melting off my face. I have oily to dry combination skin. There is actually a matte type too, but my dry skin couldn’t handle that. Mostly my t-zone and eyelids are oily, so the glossy type actually looks good on my skin.

The pump sprays very lightly, meaning it’s not to harsh on my skin. I know some misting products can feel like some it is hitting you in the face with a jet, but this one is very nice.

I’m sitting in the sun, so that’s why half of my face is lit up. (This is with mist on btw)

The smell is a bit strong, but I actually love it. It smells like oranges! Not some kind of chemical fru-fru crap like some products. It comes in a bottle of 80 ml, and between my sister and I, we’ve only managed to use up half of the bottle in two months. So a little goes a long way, and I don’t have to keep applying it all day. Once is enough! Although, I haven’t tried it swimming yet, so be aware of that.

I also really enjoy the packaging. It’s really cute and really adds some color to my makeup collection. It’s the kind of product you can leave out for other people to see. Also, I don’t think this product is vegan or cruelty free. I don’t usually lookout for that kind of thing, so addition research might me necessary. I’ll put the ingredients down below!

Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Phenyl Trimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Trisiloxane, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Fagaria Vesca (Strawberry) Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Chloride, Disculum EDTA Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol Fragrance.

(I got the ingredients off the bottle, but some letters were rubbed off, so let me know if I misspelled anything)

Final verdict? 5/5 hearts!

Quality: 5 hearts

Smell: 5 hearts

Packaging: 5 hearts

Effectiveness: 5 hearts

May 9, 2016August 19, 2016

The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead [Review&Discusion]

I bought this book, this is not a sponsored review. This is 100% my honest opinion.

The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead

Series: The Glittering Court #1

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Adventure

Edition: First, Hardcover

Pages: 416

Source: Goodreads, Amazon, Penguin Random House

Summary from the Publisher:

For a select group of girls, the Glittering Court offers a shot at a life they’ve only ever dreamed of, one of luxury, glamour, and leisure. To high-born Adelaide, whose wealthy family is forcing her into a loveless marriage, the Glittering Court represents something else: the chance to chart her own destiny, and adventure in an unspoiled, prosperous new land across the sea.

After a chance meeting with the dazzling Cedric Thorn, Adelaide poses as a servant to join the crop of impoverished girls he promises to transform into proper ladies. But her familiarity with upper class life comes with a price: she must hide her identity from her new friends, mysterious refugee Mira and fiery former laundress Tamsin, and most importantly, from Cedric himself—even though she’s falling in love with him.

Everything begins to crumble when Cedric discovers Adelaide’s ruse, and she catches the eye of a powerful young governor, who wants her for a wife. She didn’t leave the gilded cage of her old life behind just to become someone else’s property. But nothing is as daunting—or as wonderful—as the potent, forbidden attraction simmering between Adelaide and Cedric. One that, if acted on, would make them both outcasts in a wild, dangerous, uncharted world, and possibly lead them to their deaths.

I found this book super enjoyable! Especially our protagonist: Lady Elizabeth the Countess of Rothford aka Adelaide Bailey. She’s an aristocrat who doesn’t want to marry her boring cousin; who dreams of a freer life, and one who does so with sass.

“I gave him a demure smile, not deferential enough to diminish my superior rank but enough to make him think his charm had flustered me.” (pg 3)

I barely made a dent in the book, and I’m already smitten with Miss Adelaide. She reminds me of one of my favorite fiction characters, Rose Hathaway from Vampire Academy. Also created by Richelle. Of course, with a lot less angst.

I would also like to point out that our hero, Cedric Thorn, has red hair. I repeat, HE IS A GINGER. I love that, I’m not a redhead, but I always feel sad that male gingers are usually painted as ugly, or in the worse case evil. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” as the saying goes. I try not to judge.

There are two other important characters: Tasmin and Mira. Tasmin and Adelaide are from Osfrid, which is the equivalent of England, while Mira is Sirminican, which is basically their Spain. They travel to Adoria, which is based on the United States.

Fun Fact: when I went to the book signing, I asked Richelle how she came up with the names for the countries. She said she tried to use syllables that sounded like it was from the country it was based on.

Anyway, I loved Mira! She is the strong independent type, and a warrior.

“Mira watched him dash away, her eyes smoldering with anger. ‘Men get to do everything.'” (pg 145)

I think that sums her up nicely. As for Tasmin, she is a fireball. She is a commoner, and she is determined to find a good husband–and a better life. In the beginning, we follow these three girls as they train to be sold as wives to the “new nobility.” However, it’s when they travel to Adoria that they get separated, and the story focuses more on just Adelaide. I’m not sure how Tasmin and Mira’s stories will pan out, but I think that Adelaide’s tale is more focused around love. So I would recommend this book to people who like romance, and strong female characters. Adelaide is definitely someone who makes her own destiny.

Overall Rating: 4.6 hearts

Cover: 4.5

Characters: 5

Writing: 5

Plot&Pacing: 4.5

Creativity: 5

DISCUSSION: SPOILERS WILL OCCUR, CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Continue reading “The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead [Review&Discusion]”

May 3, 2016May 4, 2016

I Met Richelle Mead

When I was in the 8th grade, I met someone called Rose Hathaway. She was loyal, strong, and funny; Rose was my hero. She went to the Vampire Academy and was training to become a guardian, so she could protect her best friend Lissa. She fell in love, overcame many obstacles, and was just a badass.

In April of 2016, I was able to meet her creator! It was nerve racking, and exciting! Richelle was extremely nice, straight to the point, and acted the same way she did on Twitter. I was stunned, I have been reading her books since I was 12-years-old, and it was crazy meeting her in person. I feel really blessed to be given this opportunity 🙂