Trailer Reaction | The Hunger Games: Mocking Part 1

Don't forget to leave your thoughts, theories and comments below.

Anybody else excited to see Mockingjay Part 1? Where do you think Part 1 will finish?

Thanks for watching :-)

Blogging Hiatus - Still BookTubing and on Goodreads

Hi all,

Sorry for my absence lately. I've been so busy of late participating in a course that I have hardly had anytime to read, let alone continue updating all my social media platforms. That being said, unfortunately my blog was the platform that has suffered the most. I hope you can be sympathetic to my current busier schedule. Unfortunately my course is a year long and I'm not sure if my busier schedule is going to last the whole year or just this first module. I do hope to be back blogging soon though.

I'm not completely gone, I'm still updating my goodreads and YouTube channel regularly, as well Instagram and Twitter with general updates. Links are all in the right sidebar.

See you all soon :-)

Rebel Nation by Shaunta Grimes (Viral Nation #2) Book Review | Blog Tour Stop

Rebel Nation
(Viral Nation #2)
Shaunta Grimes
Genres: Dystopia, Sci-Fi, Post-Apocalytpic
Age Group: Young Adult
Publication Date: 1st July 2014
Number of Pages: 320
Publisher: Berkeley Trade
Source: Received for review
Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble

Add to your TBR shelf:

Sixteen years ago, a plague wiped out nearly all of humanity. The Company’s vaccine stopped the virus’s spread, but society was irrevocably changed. Those remaining live behind impenetrable city walls, taking daily doses of virus suppressant and relying on The Company for continued protection. They don’t realize that everything they’ve been told is a lie… 


Clover Donovan didn’t set out to start a revolution—quiet, autistic, and brilliant, she’s always followed the rules. But that was before they forced her into service for the Time Mariners. Before they condemned her brother to death, compelling him to flee the city to survive. Before she discovered terrifying secrets about The Company. 


Clover and the Freaks, her ragtag resistance group, are doing their best to spread the rebellion and stay under The Company’s radar. But when their hideout is discovered, they are forced, once again, to run. Only this time, The Company has special plans for Clover, plans that could risk her life and stop the uprising in its tracks…

Shaunta Grimes has worked as a substitute teacher, a newspaper reporter, a drug court counselor, and a vintage clothing seller. No matter which direction she strays, however, she always comes back to storytelling. She lives in Reno with her family, where she writes, teaches, and perpetually studies at the University of Nevada. Viral Nation is her debut traditionally-published novel.

How to Connect with Shaunta:
Twitter | Facebook | Blog | Newsletter

First Book in the Series:-

Viral Nation
After a virus claimed nearly the entire global population, the world changed. The United States splintered into fifty walled cities where the surviving citizens clustered to start over. The Company, which ended the plague by bringing a life-saving vaccine back from the future, controls everything. They ration the scant food and supplies through a lottery system, mandate daily doses of virus suppressant, and even monitor future timelines to stop crimes before they can be committed.

Even more twisted and survival based than Viral Nation! This series keeps getting better and better with every book.

Rebel Nation seamlessly wove the story from Viral Nation (book 1) and reminded us readers of the main story developments from book 1 but without overkill - an element not usually done so efficiently, well done Grimes! I did however miss the time travel element from book 1 but I do fully understand and appreciate its non-existence due to the focus of the Freaks in the present and concentrating on rooting themselves for the Winter months as well as escaping Bennett's grasp.

Bennett's character in Rebel Nation was even more evil than book 1 - a task I didn't think possible! There was one scene in particular that was so craftily written by Grimes that I thought I knew what Bennett had done, but I wasn't sure - I was also hoping he hadn't - and it turned out he did! I still can't believe it! He's so evil!

I further continued to enjoy Clover's character in Rebel Nation, as I did in Viral Nation, and continued to feel that her autism made her character more interesting and her behaviour in certain situations added to the chaos of the post-apocalyptic world and the dystopian theme. Mango, Clover's dog companion, again was my favourite character, he didn't get as much focus in Rebel Nation but he continued to understand and help Clover's behaviour and thoughts. She's certainly building herself a good support system now with Mango, West and Jude - there was more development of the Clover and Jude relationship in Rebel Nation too which was sweet.

Overall Rebel Nation did not disappoint with its dystopian content, more details were presented about the Company and their evil doings, the Freaks rebellion as well as the world outside of Reno and other survivor settlements. This rebellion has officially kicked off and I guess we'll now have to until Book 3 to see how it all continues. Once again I've been left wishing I had the next book. Grimes writes a superb cliffhanger again!

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Tour Schedule:

Week One:
6/23/2014- A Book Obsession- Review
6/23/2014- Word Spelunking- Interview
6/24/2014- Reading with ABC- Review
6/24/2014- Pieces of Whimsy- Guest Post
6/25/2014- bookaholics anonymous online- Review
6/25/2014- Fire and Ice- Interview
6/26/2014- Cold Tea and Crumbs- Review
6/26/2014- Such a Novel Idea- Guest Post
6/27/2014- modern-assassin- Review
6/27/2014- Page Turner Blog- Interview

Week Two:
6/30/2014- Buried Under Books- Review
6/30/2014- Bookhounds YA- Guest Post
7/1/2014- The Demon Librarian- Review
7/1/2014- Library of the Seen- Interview
7/2/2014- Crystal in Bookland- Review
7/2/2014- the Windy Pages- Guest Post
7/3/2014- My Dear Bibliophage- Review
7/3/2014- The Book Monsters- Interview
7/4/2014- Books, Bones & Buffy- Review
7/4/2014- Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, and Romance- Guest Post

The Maze Runner by James Dashner | Amazing, Gruesome Survival Story

The Maze Runner
(The Maze Runner #1)
James Dashner
Genres: Dystopia, Sci-Fi, Survival Story
Age Group: Young Adult
Publication Date: 6th October 2009
Number of Pages: 371
Source: Bought

Add to your TBR shelf:

When the doors of the lift crank open, the only thing Thomas remembers is his first name. But he's not alone. He's surrounded by boys who welcome him to the Glade - a walled encampment at the centre of a bizarre and terrible stone maze. Like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they came to be there - or what's happened to the world outside.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea Book Review | Gatsby-esque Horror Romance

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
(Between #1)
April Genevieve Tucholke
Genres: Paranormal, Horror, Romance
Age Group: Young Adult
Publication Date: 3rd April 2014
Number of Pages: 360
Source: Netgalley

Add to your TBR shelf:

You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town… until River West comes along. River rents the guest house behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard.

Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more?

Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery... who makes you want to kiss back.

Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a modern day Gatsby-esque drama including vintage mansions, wealthy families with the drama and infidelity all mixed together.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is narrated through Violet's perspective, a 17 year-old book-loving, intelligent teenage girl who's quirky and vintage style all stems from her grandmother Freddie. After Freddie's death a couple of years ago, Violet now likes to remember her grandmother by wearing her vintage clothes and imagining she's speaking to her in her head. But since Freddie's death, Violet's family has let their historic mansion turn to ruins and when Violet's parents run off to Europe to divulge themselves in art, Violet and her brother Luke are left to think of ways to earn money. Since they've never worked a day in their lives and their family is major part of small town, Echo's, heritage they post a flyer advising their guesthouse for rent. Cue River, the mysterious handsome 17 year-old stranger, who rides into town and rents Violet's guesthouse. But River is not to be trusted and as Violet starts to become interested in him, she learns that River is a compulsive liar and he's hiding a dark and horrific secret.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea was an addictive read to begin with, I loved the Gatsby-esque similarities and location, and the beginnings of Violet's and River's relationship was intoxicating. Unfortunately though, as the story progressed and River's secrets began unravelling, the story started to become very predictable and began to feel a little rushed. Overall, a gorgeously descriptive and imaginative story but I would have preferred the action and horror aspects of the story to be a little more rounded and un-rushed.

If you're looking for a story with a vintage flair and will-they-won't-they romanic storyline then this is definitely a book to check out!