Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Heroines in Books and TV Shows
February 24, 2015 by Sana 16 Comments
Here, have a list of my favorite heroines in books and TV shows in alphabetical order.
Adelina Amouteru // The Young Elites // Marie Lu (Source)
Adelina Amoutero is such an interesting character who's morally ambiguous. Thought to be abomination incarnate, Adelina is full of anger. I love that Lu chose to tell a story of a villain because damn, she really is one. Bad to the core and so very complicated, Adelina is truly one of a kind.
Allison Argent // Teen Wolf
Damn that Allison Argent. Oh, how I admire her. She started out as an awesome character on Teen Wolf and then she just got awesomer. She has a bit of a rebellious streak, mad archery skills, and is incredibly strong-headed. If you want to know how a character can be strong and brave while also being vulnerable and complex, look at Allison Argent. She went through so much, but her strong-willingness made her a kickass character and the best best friend Lydia Martin could ever ask for.
Allyson Healey // Just One Day // Gayle Forman
Allyson Healey is an ordinary, play by the rules girl until she isn't. We all have an Allyson Healey inside of us, the one who craves to abandon her life behind and just give in to the wanderlust that builds up inside of her everyday of her life. One day she just goes ahead and embraces that side of hers and it's glorious to see her do it.
Art3mis // Ready Player One // Ernest Cline (Source)
Art3mis is a brilliant Gunther and forget Wade's crush, I think I've the biggest crush on her. She's a damn good player, highly perceptive and she ain't got time for romance. She's so damn secretive which makes her all the more alluring and I really, really want to know more about her in the sequel.
Blue Sargent // The Raven Cycle // Maggie Stiefvater (Source)
Her favorite food is yogurt and she hates pretentiousness, she's Blue Sargent, resident of 300 Fox Way. She's very sarcastic, adventurous and most importantly, sensible. Blue values education, her relationship with Ronan is the best and I fucking adore her.
Blair Waldorf // Gossip Girl
Blair Waldorf, Queen B of the Upper East Side on Gossip Girl, is not be messed with and for good reason. She's brilliant and nothing gets past her. Combine that with her meanest of streaks, she's easily the most love-to-hate character to ever grace our TV screens.
Clarke Griffin // The 100
Clarke Griffin is in charge and whoever says otherwise can go float themselves. Clarke didn't have an easy life on the Ark and then it only got worse on the ground. She had to make some really tough decisions that affected her to her core but you know what? She took it all in stride. She's the face of a natural born leader who would do anything to save her people. That's Clarke Griffin for you.
Celaena Sardothien // Throne of Glass // Sarah J. Maas
Celaena Sardothien is my queen and that is all. The extent of her character development from The Assassin's Blade to Heir of Fire is one for the history books. She was at her proudest in The Assassin's Blade and then to see her holding herself back in Throne of Glass, opening herself to pain again in Crown of Midnight, and finally seeing her at her darkest in Heir of Fire is such a profound thing to experience. Whether Celaena's being arrogant or whether she's being struck down over and over, she excels. Sarah J. Maas doesn't go easy on her and it's fascinating to see just how everything affects her, because it's Celaena Fucking Sardothien who would bow to no one.
Emily Hughes // Since You've Been Gone // Morgan Matson
Emily Hughes is an introvert which is the reason I connected to her on such a deep level. She showed me that it's okay to not want to step out of your comfort zone but once in a while, it doesn't hurt to do just that.
Evanjalin of the Monts // Finnikin of the Rock // Melina Marchetta (Source)
Evanjalin starts out as extremely outspoken who doesn't trust others with information until it becomes necessary to. She's brilliant and tenacious despite going through the worst life had to offer her. Evanjalin is cunning and will do anything to take back her land. I will forever love her because of her immense love for her people and Lumatere.
Hermione Granger // Harry Potter // JK Rowling
What Google is to us, the library is to Hermione Granger. Of fucking course, she is going to make the list of my favorite heroines. I grew up with her and she was pretty much the only person in my life as a kid who loved going to the library as much as I did.
Katniss Everdeen // The Hunger Games // Suzanne Collins
Katniss Everdeen is one of the first female main characters in dystopia whose survival instincts are impressive as hell. Family is important to her and she's much more concerned with putting her resourcefulness to use by taking care of them more than anything else. Unwillingly thrust into the role of being the mockingjay for all of Panem, Katniss comes through and it is incredible to see her defeat her enemies. Oh, the bitter satisfaction.
Karou // Daughter of Smoke and Bone // Laini Taylor – Art by Jim DiBartolo (Source)
Karou is one complex character who's rebellious and curious with a dash of vindictiveness. Life hasn't been the most easy on her and she has struggled to maintain a positive outlook about everything. She's always had the unrelenting support of her best friend, Zuzana which is amazing to read about. Karou is easily the most creative and mysterious heroine I know and love.
Quintana of Charyn // Lumatere Chronices // Melina Marchetta
Quintana oh, how I adore thee. She's a savage who rages and snarls and speaks her mind. She's the most blunt of characters and that's why I love her. Quintana had a very rough life but she persevered. What could be better than a princess who defeated death sixteen times and counting because I'm still reading Quintana of Charyn.
Penryn Young // Penryn and the End of Days // Susan Ee (Source)
Penryn Young doesn't rely on anyone but herself and that's why she made the list. She took self-defense classes and that makes complete sense because of the kind of a world she lives in. Family is very important to her and she is way stronger and wittier than she looks. Raffe can vouch for that. Also, her confidence is an entity in itself.
Rose Hathaway // Vampire Academy // Richelle Mead
Rose Hathway starts out as impulsive and reckless and then she grows out of it, learning to be more grounded and awesome. But the one thing she never learns to control is her sharp tongue and man, I love her for that. If anyone is a smartass, it's her. Body positive? She is fucking proud of her body and it's something to admire in her. And oh, she has a set of core beliefs that she follows and believe me, there's nothing more attractive than that.
Top Ten Tuesday: 2014's New-to-Me Authors
I never managed to complete my new-to-me authors post back in December so here I'm late to the party. In March of 2014, I listed ten authors I'd never read and I'm proud to say that I read five of them last year (okay, was still in the middle of reading the fifth one's book so it counts, alright).
Also, my list contains fifteen authors whoops.
Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone was the first book I read in 2014 and whoa, what the Darkli- I mean, what a book! Siege and Storm introduced me to STURMHOND and delved deeper into the world of the Grisha. Ruin and Rising broke me twice because of the Darkling and STURMHOND (I promise this isn't weird 'cause I always write his name in capitals). From the badass and complex characters to exquisite world-building, the Grisha trilogy is everything a fantasy lover needs in their life.
P.S. Megan wrote a post about reasons to read the Grisha trilogy that you should definitely check out.
A. C. Gaughen's Scarlet is a Robin Hood retelling that first killed me with feels and then with an epic ship. I'm kind of dreading-slash-anticipating (re: avoiding) reading Lady Thief and Lion Heart (which comes out on May 19th!).
'You are my whole heart, Scarlet. And this is breaking it.'
HEARTBREAK ALL AROUND. *sob*
I think Corey Ann Haydu's Life by Committee is one of the most underrated young adult contemporaries of 2014. I know many people cringe whenever a book contains subjects like cheating, slut-shaming, and bullying. However, trust me when I say that this book tackles it in a very realistic and heartbreaking way. I'm in awe of Haydu for writing such a fantastic book that makes you think, think, think long after you've turned the last page of the book and put it away.
Laini Taylor is the queen of beautiful prose. Even the people who aren't a fan of her books admit that her writing is captivating and oh-so-delectable. Taylor has a knack for creating a dark ambiance in her books that I've seldom come across in young adult. Also, I love how all three books and the novella in her Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy follows a theme. I know that I'll cherish this trilogy and the novella for a long time to come.
Katrina Leno's debut The Half Life of Molly Pierce was one of my most anticipated titles last year and rightly so. The book is everything I love about the young adult contemporary genre. Leno wrote about a girl with a personality disorder and nailed it. Positive family dynamics and writing that pulls you in, The Half Life of Molly Pierce is definitely a must-read.
There's just something about books about suicide that I find fascinating. Some girls are just messed up because they're miserable and that's what Amy Zhang's Falling into Place is all about. It's what life is all about.
Susan Ee, aah. She's the creator of Raffe and Penryn and a series that's so kickass I'd reread it forever and ever. I love the gore and violence and creatures that Susan Ee is a master of. Seriously, I'm so fucking curious as to what goes on in her mind 'cause I'm hella obsessed with this series. I kind of want to reread World After now (this is a normal occurrence and happens once a day week or so).
Jay Kristoff knows how to tear readers apart in one glorious moment and then over and over until you're used to being torn apart by feelings and friendship and gaaah. By the way, that's me after reading Stormdancer. It got me a while to get into it, but when I did there were tears and feels all over. Why, Kristoff?! I've got a feeling that Kinslayer will probably slay me and Endsinger will be the end of me.
Ernest Cline's Ready Player One is one hell of a ride. Admittedly, as a child of the 90s, I was a bit nervous about reading it because of the ample amount of 80s reference. But I didn't have to worry all that much because most of them were explained anyway and didn't come in the way of me enjoying the story. I seriously cannot wait for Armada because Cline knows his sci-fi like the back of his hand which is the best thing about reading Ready Player One.
Kieron Gillen wrote a comic and I loved it. The unique premise of The Wicked + The Divine is so thought-provoking with characters that kick ass. I'm very partial to Lucifer and Baal. I need to finish writing my post about it so that everyone can understand how deep my obsession runs.
Sara Raasch's Snow Like Ashes is a glorious fantasy debut and I love the world she has created. I want to live in Winter because snow all the freaking time!
Marie Lu because daaaamn, The Young Elites. I just love how imperfect Adelina Amouteru is and man, she's not a good person. I can't wait to see how much more bad she becomes in The Rose Society.
I must read her Legend trilogy this year and I will (if Eve and Sandra listen to me).
Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park is a beautiful love story that I want to reread because I feel like I didn't absorb it fully into my system? Eleanor and Park both have multiple layers and that's what I like to read about in a young adult contemporary romance (and cry while doing so).
Also, what were those three words. Eeeeep.
Emery Lord's Open Road Summer reminded me why I love road trips book that involve music. And friendship, of course. Regan and Dee's friendship is so real and close to life that I just can't- ugh, so much love.
I just have to mention Kiersten White because how did I not read any of her books before Illusions of Fate?! So much banter and wit and swoony Finn. Sigh.
Top Ten Tuesday: Books I've been Pushed (and Pushed) to Read
August 19, 2014 by Sana 19 Comments
I'd been rec'd books over the past year more than I've been all my life (thanks, Eve) so I thought it's a good time as any to share them. But first let me share the ones which emotionally wrecked me and then the ones I hope will.
Eve rec'd Vicious to me last year and all she said was basically that Victor Vale is the best villain of all time and that I should read it. I did and man, I was blown over by it. All hail the genius of V. E. Schwab.
I'm one of those people who haven't sweared off of vampires and still loves a good paranormal book. So I read Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy, Frostbite, and Shadow Kiss in a span of a few weeks. However, I was hesitant to continue the series for various reasons such as Dimitri at the end of Shadow Kiss. But then Judith posted why she loves it so much, Raquel said it gets better, and Eve pushed me to read it because it's Romitri and how I can't not continue. So I spent my New Year's Eve reading Last Sacrifice and there couldn't have been a more perfect ending to this series. Sigh.
Angelfall. What can I say about this book, about this series, would never be enough. Susan Ee is an evil genius with a vicious imagination when it comes to world-building. Eve is the reason I read Angelfall and Sandra why I reread it and then read World After immediately after. Else I'd have waited till May 2015 to read it, not even kidding because I do stuff like this to avoid waiting and dying from said wait over and over. So you're entitled to give me an ARC of Angelfall #3 (no title yet *sobs*), Sandra.
If it's Patrick Ness rec, we should all know by now that Asti is behind it. Seriously, she made up my mind to read The Knife of Never Letting Go and I did and I'm still recovering. I do plan to finish reading the trilogy this year so, yeah I'm not ready but I can't wait any longer.
First, Fahima rec'd Jay Kristoff's Stormdancer to me, then Asti and then both of them. Guess what? I'm currently reading it. Well, I actually need to read it faster because I'm on Chapter 3 since four days now. Still, I expect great things.
Emily Murdoch's If You Find Me has Judith written all over it. I plan to read it before the summer is over. I don't think I'm prepared for it, though.
This is Racquel, of course. I first added Abigail Haas' Dangerous Girls before it was released but always forgot about it when it came to deciding what to read next. I really want to read it and I hope I do it soon.
Well, #SandersonArmy told me to read it back when it was only composed of Nikki and didn't actually exist. I also read Terri's post on Sanderson which convinced me further. Seriously though, I read the prologue and it gave me chills. I'm so looking forward to reading it, I can't even.
Everyone in the blogosphere wants everyone else to read Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl. Okay, well at least 90% of people in the blogosphere. I bought it and now it's just waiting to be read.
Joe Abercrombie's Half a King is the latest recommendation by Aditi whose book photography is just so drool-worthy.
So have you read any of these and want to re-rec them to me? Now would be the time.
Top Ten Tuesday: 2014 Series Starters I'm Unsure of Reading
We all own books we're not sure we should read anymore. Even though I know I won't be able to read all the books I want to, I still want to try. So this post is basically me trying to find reasons to read these books more than trying to do the opposite. I'm a bookworm, afterall.
There's been a lot of hype surrounding The Ring and the Crown as it wasn't even on my radar before. Some books just seem to creep up on you like that. Anyway, almost all of the reviews I've read about this book seem to agree that it's an okay read. I kind of still want to read it and my decision may or may not be somewhat influenced by that cover.
The only thing I know about Mortal Danger is there's some sort of academy in it and that it's creepy. Okay, that's two things. I like creepy but not average creepy. Thoughts?
Everyone who's read it either love it or is meh about it. I don't know what to do. Let me tell you this, it's hard being a reader.
I don't know much about The Young World expect that there's a baddy government involved and maybe some sort of a rebellion group? It's science fiction so I kind of want to read it…
The fantasy lover in me screams at me to give Stolen Songbird a chance. I'm torn about whether I should.
Apparently, there's something Ocean Eleven-y about Illusive. Have you read it? Is it good enough?
I just saw it on my Goodreads to-read shelf and I don't even remember adding it. Err.
So many people seem to be meh about it. I'll probably read this since I've an eARC. But to be honest, I've been a somewhat put off.
There are so many things in this book that I love reading about from brutal murders to survival. Why are mixed reviews so confusing?
I've been wanting to read this but I'm not sure because of its average rating of 3.56 on Goodreads.
Are you sure of any book on my list and feel that I should definitely give it a read? Let me know!
Top Ten Tuesday: Artsy Covers
June 24, 2014 by Sana 16 Comments
Covers are the most fun part (apart from the story) of books and I love it when designers get that. Recently, there has been a surge in artsy covers in YA and if every cover was as artsy as these, I'd happily buy all of the books (as if I don't already). (Still pretty books equals a happy little reader).