Scorpio Hates Virgo by Anyta Sunday

Netgalley has proven to be a jewellery holder for gems again! This book is released tomorrow 1st September 2017, so I wanted to read it before to offer a review since it was my first 'request accepted' on Netgalley! But damn, I read it fast in like 2 days because it was SO GOOD.

I had to switch on my laptop (I have to figure out how to put them on my NOOK which I have fixed!), which I don't like but for this, I did it with pleasure! This book made my facial expressions contort into all sorts of smiles.

From the start I loved Perseus and Callaghan (Percy and Cal) - and their names! I feel for Percy but the cul-de-sac made him realize that not everyone leaves.

Bit about the story: Percy moves back to his aunt's house where he had taken refuge, after his aunt's death. He wants to sell the house because of too much memories but he does love the cul-de-sac and gossiping about his neighbours. Cal is Percy's neighbour in his aunt's house and from the start...the bants oh the bants. They bicker and use sarcasm as their modo operadi. Seriously, I love sarcasm though sometimes it gets too much in books...not this one! I always found myself thinking at the end, 'How does Anyta Sunday come up with this??'.

Cal wants to convince Percy to stay and they switch from being nemeses (but not really!) to environmentalists (friends).

This book wasn't just a romance. It had actual plot with actual supporting characters. The Glovers, Cal's family, sort of became Percy's family too. The neighbors, especially playing a game where they have to guess each other's identity while giving each other gifts, prove to be supportive even if grumpy or nosy. This neighbourhood, is a family in and of itself.

The writing! Apart from the really brilliant comebacks and sarcasm, the writing was fun, witty and just beautiful. For example:

''Hands that lifted sisters. Fingers that flicked through dictionaries''

A cool thing was all the mediums used. There was forum posts, chats, texts and in between chapters...dictionary entries about some of the words used in the book. Dictionaries were sort of a running joke.

Cal and Percy's jobs and studies were also interesting and pertinent to the story! Percy is a masseur! Really good with his hands and this was useful. Cal...studies Paleontology! I mean Jurassic Park studied and he wears a lot of geeky t-shirts.

Their interactions really kept me smiling! I had a hit at one point that there was an ace character. This was a surprising delight! Especially seeing what type of sexuality and orientation he had (hint: not many people even know about these things much less together, it's demipansexual!) and the fact that the other character knew what it meant! As someone that's ace, this made me so happy. I kept thinking, since it was slow-burn which I love, that if all that happened during the book was them bantering, then I would be happy.

There was sex towards the end. I was happy with their dynamics (flexible). All in all, realistic. Messy but happy.

Both of them knew what they wanted. It just took some time until they got there. There's also a lot of continuity in the book. Things mentioned before get mentioned again in a new light. The author certainly isn't one that just throws in facts and then forgets about them!

have I said how amazing the cul-de-sac'ers were? Well they were. So accepting, helpful despite grumpiness and all sorts of families and friends.

I have a hint who the next book will be about. Not sure if my Sherlock skills are up to scratch.

I don't re-read a lot...but this book I know I will be re-reading. If for nothing else the slow-burn and banter.

For your enjoyment, here are some memorable quotes, of which there were a lot...I took NINE A5 pages of notes from this less than 250 pages ebook!

''Two hours and he was pulling out weeds like a pro. Three hours, and he was swearing like a sailor''

''you're quite the pro at putting on pants Perseus'' '' I'm a pro at taking them off too''

''The blood drained from his cock and traveled where it was better used: his head'' [Thank you Anyta Sunday for not falling into the trope of cannot-help-it-we're-nothing-more-than-our-animal-instincts]

Taproot by Keezy Young

This cute as heck graphic novel is free for the moment on Net Galley! Don't waste this opportunity and go and read this!

Loved this! Where to start, so this graphic novel is about Blue, who's a ghost and Hamal, who can see ghosts. Hamal works at a garden center and loves plants! In the beginning they are both a bit clueless but I think they both knew the other loved them, but Blue was avoiding the subject because he knew it was useless and they couldn't be together.

For a little bit there's a mystery. The ghosts start going into a creepy dark forest all of a sudden but then the cause is discovered and the price to set the balance again seems to be high...only the reaper ships it. The Reaper was totally awesome.

It's cute, only some angst and the rest is so fluffy! In the beginning it seems that Blue and Hamal have an adopted ghost daughter as well! So Blue's job comes to no surprise in the end.

Another awesome thing was that Chloe, the girl that in the start Blue says has a small crush on Hamal, didn't turn out to be evil and all those tropes used to ship the main pairing. She was lovely and made no undue moves.

There was also POC representation (one is obvious, the other isn't) and different body types! It was nice that the characters weren't all white and thin.

Recommended to everybody! I wish that there were more graphic novels like this for all genders, not just male.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35833506-taproot

Fire Review

 

I have finally finished the Engelsfors trilogy, one year later! 

Fire picks up some time after The Circle. It starts with Linnea's POV which was great as she's my favourite. At first, I got bothered that Ida didn't have a full chapter, but later on she had. I wanted to know more about her and we do get to see more of her life.

We get to know more about the circle's family lives - almost all bad except for Vanessa's- as well as more about magic and how it started.

The girls are getting more and more powerful but also more worried. There is a new evil in town...or two. It takes the shape of 'Positive Engelsfors' a sect like club where they preach that if only you are positive, everything will be well. A lot of people seem to be brainwashed. There is a plot twist as to who was behind PE.

In town arrive also Alexander and his son Viktor who are members of the Council and are investigating Anna Karin's breach to the three laws of the council.

The others seem to stick together, even Ida. Now Ida, was actually one of my favorites! I wanted to know about her because the person that appears more 'cold' usually has reasons, and seeing her family life you understand why. Her personal life isn't that great either. She supports Linnea when something happens. I think in the end, where I was shouting 'NOooooooo' she redeems herself for all her past bullying.

Vanessa was ever sweet and kickass especially with her friendship with Linnea. Her family life improves which is great and she also gets a new job which was hilarious.

Minoo and Anna Karin also develop their friendship further. Which I thought left Ida sidelined. Rebecka and Elias, although dead still play a part in the series.

Another point in the story which I felt wasn't just a sub-plot, was one character's feelings for another. This doesn't involve just the two of them but the others get involved.

Adriana and Nicolaus who both were trying to protect the girls, still continue to do so but Nicolaus left town after he got his memories and Adriana couldn't help them much with the council in town. The council's motto apparently is control over magic.

Overall, the writing was superb. It does multiple POVs justice and I realized that I cannot tell whether Mats or Sara are writing.

Libyrinth Review

This book was such an exquisite read! It's for Bibliophiles and very realistic.

It contains a lot of quotes that are very timely and make you want to read the other books- of which there is a list at the end.

It was interesting to read a bout the various cultures- they are so different but also complimentary. There are the people of the Libyrinth with value the written word and are equal in treatment of women and men. There is the Singers who value the song and are mostly patriarchal. And there are the people of Ilysies which like books but are also warriors and like the good life and are mainly matriarchal. Anthropologically this book is appealing. Even ebing so different, they had some things the same and this shows that the environmental context does affect culture.

It was interesting to see these cultures and that people look different. There is an Earth-culture element combined with new. It was also nice to see how there is no concrete bad vs. concrete good. Everyone and every group was not perfect, they all made mistakes. It was interesting to see how they all came together and in the end did not base their existence solely on old knowledge but strived to make up new knowledge by working together. It was also good that they admitted their mistakes and saw how things got twisted along the way.

There was the element of how both practice and theory are needed and this is something that reminds me of ancient Greeks. There was also the element of one-ness which reminds me of Hindu philosophy.

I felt that things mentioned, like vaccines and eggs were not mentioned for nothing but were later tied in the story. Although then some things remain a mystery such as what happened to Scio- maybe this is brought up in the second book.

It was interesting to see that Haly, Selene (who was my favourite) and Clauda all did not want to lead or be seen - although Clauda and Haly were happy to have their value noticed- but they all do what they must and there was a lot of creative thinking to do this.

It was also interesting to see how the various sexualities- mainly of Haly and Clauda were treated. Although I am still curious about Selene and Clauda! 

The Circle Review

This book was amazing! read it in like 5 days while I was on holiday. It was good that I discovered it while in Sweden and also had the opportunity to meet the authors who as amazing people.

It is very realistic in its portrayal of teen characters and has ethnic, body types, sexuality, social class and lifestyle diversity with hints of sexual orientation diversity.

Some characters want to feel special, others get corrupt from power but then realize their mistake. They have to stick together but it is sometimes difficult as they are very different from each other. I do hope to get some Ida chapters in the next two books because yes, she is a bully but I want to know why. The characters all have their own problems but in a way, are strong because of that.

The side characters are also compelling, they are not there just to fill the gaps but they all have their own story and their own roles.

It also has enticing world building for the fantasy element although it may be that I think that because I have been meaning to read a witch story for a while.

It is told from different perspectives so secrets remain so for a while and you are kept curious. Some things are not resolved but the ending is not annoying with a big cliff hanger, you still want to read more though!


Even though I read the English translation, the writing style is still really good and the authors work well together.

me hyping about this book could also be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYMwkAjn1D0&list=UUkCw26jDSeZglXrSxh0tp1w
my goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/21468880-marthese-formosa
my twitter: mew_mar
my youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mewmar

Blue is the Warmest Colour Review

I really enjoyed this book, but if you are looking for a happy-go-lucky read, don't read this now.
It immediately tells you what happens, although you don't know how. In fact, I had assumed wrong.

Art wise: I like how some panels are just art, movements, without the need for words. I like how when there is loneliness, there is a blank in the page. I like the prominence of colours, especially blue. I also like the font, it seems so personal.

The script: was fantastic, most characters, especially Emma and Valentin, know what they are talking about. You can easily memorize some quotes as comebacks for real life.

Plot wise: This is a coming of age story but goes beyond that. The discovering of sexuality and acceptance is so point on for many people. I liked how Maroh showed prejudice within the queer community, how simply because you are young, inexperienced and look a certain way, you are labeled as straight. Was what happened later, a case of loneliness, wanting children, or a case of self-predicting future? Emma is Clementine's first in many things and I think it could be said also the other way. They both change. The quotes on love, were spot on. This story also shows how some people can helps us to accept ourselves, and how some others are so influential that even if we fight against it, their opinion is ingrain in our minds. They had to mature so quickly, it was painful to see.

characters: I liked how some were flawed. There were reconciliations and not. It's real, cause they are not perfect. I  think, even more than Emma or Clementine, I liked Valentin. Everyone needs someone like that in their lives.

This graphic novel made me cry, but I'm glad I read it. Be careful, it could be triggering to some people.

I also put up a video review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q00mMr7imFs
my goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/21468880-marthese-formosa
my twitter: mew_mar
my youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mewmar