Books & Wanderlust

Traveling is one of the things that I strongly desire to do after graduation. To be honest, I have never been out of the country so that pretty much explains my serious case of wanderlust. I even have this small wooden journal where I listed every place I wanted to visit someday. I wish to go see every touristy and local destinations or perhaps just let my feet take me and discover the places for myself and along the way meet interesting people. The adrenaline from almost getting lost, excitement on finding the way back and probably a hundred other unpredictable experiences will be the most memorable things of the trip, the ones we least expect. ;)

Reading influenced my desire to travel and it made me feel as if I were really there...in that moment. The adventure, the culture, the languages... are all fascinating. I've always wanted to create a travel/book post like this so I made a list of some of the books I've read that greatly fuel my wanderlust:

Clockwork Princess

by Cassandra Clare

Release date: March 19th, 2013

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Margaret K. McElderry

Source: kayodeok.wordpress.com

                                                                     Destination: London

When I was reading the Infernal Devices I thought Blackfriars Bridge is only a fictional setting because of the genre (interestingly the name sounds like from a fantasy book too) then after reading the afterword of the author I found out that it is an actual place. The bridge has been an important place for the characters and I just think that it's really an awesome feeling what it's like to stand on the same spot where the writer imagined the characters were standing on. London is a mixture of old and new so wandering around the city would also be amazing (either with Will or Jem or BOTH, a girl can dream, right?) ;)

Anna and the French Kiss

by Stephanie Perkins

Release date: December 2nd, 2010

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Source: http://thesireniccodex.blogspot.com/2013/11/bookish-vacations-anna-and-french-kiss.html

      

    Destination: Paris

The picture above shows Shakespeare and Co., the antique bookstore across Notre Dame where Anna and St. Clair went. I remember that he also bought a book for Anna. Aww...For a book lover like me that is totally awesome St. Clair! 

What more can I say *happy sigh* it is Paris...totally a heaven for artists and the hopeful romantic.

Un jour bientôt Paris! Someday soon... :)

Reawakened

by Colleen Houck

Release date: August 11th, 2015

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Source: www.liberty-int.com

Destination: Egypt 

Adventure in Egypt? Count me in! I've always been fascinated by history, mythology and mysteries so the book and setting is a no-brainer. A tour inside the pyramids (sans booby traps) and the beauty of the great sphinx would be an ideal and exciting experience.

The Fault in Our Stars 

by John Green

Release date: January 10th, 2012

Publisher: Dutton Books

               

Source: www.hdwallpapersnnew.net

Destination: Amsterdam

Last but not the least, a picturesque place worthy of instagram! Haha. A bittersweet place for every TFiOS fans out there. Gus and Hazel's stroll around Amsterdam made it a must-visit place for me. I think to personally wander around the place would be a feast for the eyes. I guess I would be torn between capturing as many pictures as possible or taking in my surroundings with my naked eyes.

A very lovely place

Have you visited any of this place or do you plan to? What other places base from books would you like to visit? Leave a comment with a link of your blog post if you also made a list of places base from books and I'll make sure to stop by your blog!

By the way, it's been a long while since the last time I posted here, I miss y'all and blogging. It's good to be back! :D

Exclusive Q&A with Sara Raasch, Author of Snow Like Ashes

Hi everyone! Another week is about to end and Christmas is just around the corner, with that we wanted to give you one of our Q&A with one of the most anticipated debut author this 2014. I know, I know it's been months since the book has released and a lot has already read it--I envy you all people--but for those of you who want to know what Snow Like Ashes is all about and its characters, read our exclusive interview with Sara and a short This or That below too. Have fun!

How did the idea of writing Snow Like Ashes come about? Did something/someone influence you to write about witches?

(not part of my answer but: SLA isn't about witches...)

I honestly have no idea where SNOW LIKE ASHES came from. I started writing it when I was a wee preteen, and it's been so long, all the details of its origins have been lost in my eternally worsening memory. I do know that I always loved winter and hated that it got pegged as the "bad guy" whenever it was portrayed in books/shows, so that could have been part of SLA's beginning!

Could you describe the mundane details of writing: How many hours a day to you devote to writing? Do you write a draft on paper or at a keyboard (typewriter or computer)?

I spend about four hours every morning either drafting or editing, then I break for lunch, then I come back and either do more writing/editing (depending on how productive I was that morning, ha) or get caught up on social media goodness. I do all of my drafting on my laptop, and I mix notes between (totally illegible) handwritten and online. Excel spreadsheets are GLORIOUS.

Can you tell us about your protagonist, Meira, and her best friend the future king, Mather? 

Meira is a sixteen year old soldier, one of eight refugees who escaped her kingdom's fall. She wants more than anything to help save her kingdom, but she gets forced into certain roles by the refugees' leader, Sir -- which is good, because he knows what their kingdom needs, but it's also bad from Meira's side, because she wants to feel some connection to the home she doesn't even remember (sort of survivor's guilt). 

Mather is sixteen as well (they were both infants when Winter fell) and suffers from his own form of guilt. Every kingdom in SLA has a magic item, a conduit, that can only be used by that kingdom's given gender. For instance, Winter's conduit can only be used by the oldest living female heir. Mather is Winter's only heir and he, obviously, is not female, which means he can't do very much for Winter, aside from someday having a female heir. This restriction haunts him, but it also fuels him to do everything he can for Winter despite his limitations.

Meira and Mather's shared upbringing and similar weaknesses really unite them -- they both understand one another's pain in ways the other refugees don't. It's an interesting relationship, and one I hope readers fall in love with as much as I have! 

How did you begin writing? Did you intend to become an author, or do you have a specific reason or reasons for writing each book?

I began writing as a child -- one of my earliest memories is of making (really awful) hand-drawn pictures books. I always knew this was what I wanted to do -- be an author -- and I am grateful every day that it happened. It sounds cliche, but dreams totally come true! You know, after years of hard work and dedication ;)

What makes Snow Like Ashes different from other books in the Fantasy genre?

I'd have to say SLA's niche is in its Season Kingdoms -- each kingdom embodies a certain season and that season affects every part of that kingdom's culture, and getting to write this part of the world was so much fun!

Because this is your debut novel, we're very curious; how did you celebrate your first book deal?

Tears. Lots and lots of ugly, sobbing tears. 

THIS or THAT

Summer or Winter? 

Winter! Obviously. 

Vampires or Zombies? 

Zombies! I actually hid little zombie finger puppets in the table decorations at my wedding. 

Chocolates or Flowers?

Ehh...neither? I'm allergic to cocoa/milk and most types of flowers. How about vegan cupcakes?

Abs or Chest? Oh god. Arms, actually -- there's something about really lean, muscular arms that's just debilitating. 

Skirts or Shorts? Shorts! I've never been able to find a skirt I like.

Hardcover or Paperback? For prettiness: hardcover. For affordability (I am poor): paperback.

The Hunger Games or Divergent? I...haven't read either. *ducks thrown objects* 

Contemporary or Paranormal? Hm. Going off the grid here again to say fantasy, because obviously.

Bad boys or Good boys? Good boys. Bad boys are overrated. 

Young adult or New adult? Young adult! Though I am liking some of the freedom New Adult gives.

 

Snow Like Ashes (Snow Like Ashes#1)
by Sara Raasch

Hardcover: 422 pages
Publisher: Balzer+Bray

Release Date: October 14th 2014

Blurb:

A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

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, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom 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. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds 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. 

You can purchase Snow Like Ashes at the following Retailers:

    

   

About the Author 

Sara Raasch has known she was destined for bookish things since the age of five, when her friends had a lemonade stand and she tagged along to sell her hand-drawn picture books too. Not much has changed since then — her friends still cock concerned eyebrows when she attempts to draw things and her enthusiasm for the written word still drives her to extreme measures. Her debut YA fantasy, SNOW LIKE ASHES, the first in a trilogy, comes out October 14, 2014 from Balzer + Bray. It does not feature her hand-drawn pictures.

Follow her on these sites
   

So that's it. What do you think of the interview? Have you read the book?

We love to hear from you! Tell us in the comments below *wink*

P.S: Our Signed Legend giveaway has just ended, we'll be picking the winner this Wednesday so stay tuned! :)

JOIN the Blizzard

Waiting on Wednesday: Talon and Let's Get Lost

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Here are my WoW picks this week (click title for the Goodreads page):

Talon
 by Julie Kagawa

Release date: October 28th, 2014
 Publisher: Harlequin Teen
 Pre-Order: Amazon | Book Depository

Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.

This summer I finished reading the Iron Fey Series and I must say that Julie Kagawa is so one of my favourite authors! Now there's another book written by her and it's about dragons! *imagining the cool dragons of khaleesi...* Anyway Talon is one of my anticipated reads of the year and I bet Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian is one helluva sexy dragon slayer. Ha! *wink*

Let's Get Lost
 by Adi Alsaid

Release date: July 29th, 2014

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pre-Order: Amazon | Book Depository

Five strangers. Countless adventures.One epic way to get lost. 

Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most. 

There's HUDSON, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And BREE, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday—and a few stolen goods along the way. ELLIOT believes in happy endings…until his own life goes off-script. And SONIA worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love. 

Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth— sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way.

A road trip book! I wonder if this is going to be told on five perspectives and I'm certainly intrigued by the plot. Their lives are connected through one girl and when she leaves they started their epic journey. A book about friendship, loss, love. Definitely like it! I also like the cover. ^_^

Waiting on Wednesday: The Road & Midnight Thief

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Here are my WoW picks this week (click title for the Goodreads page):

The Road
 by Jay Mclean

Release date: December 2014

*Chloe*

For four years I watched him roaming the halls of high school, always quiet, without a single clue of his A-list status. Then one night he ran into me, literally.  He thought he saved me, but he had no idea how impossible that was. Now he wants to talk. Now he wants to get to know me. Now he thinks he's in love with me. 
Stupid, stupid boy.   

*Blake* 

I wish I'd found her earlier, but she chose to stay invisible. I watched her take in the world one breath at a time, while living her life alone. I told her that I saved her that night, but I lied. I think she saved me. She wants to push me away and tell me I'm wrong, but it's too late. Now she's been noticed. Now she's a part of me. Now I'm in love with her. Beautiful, beautiful girl.

This sounds another great YA Contemporary set in High School and one that should definitely be on my hands as soon as it is release in stores. I like High School romances...and sometimes reading something sweet is my getaway to relax plus it wouldn't hurt to know that I might add another boy on my long list of book-boyfriends (which I think Blake will soon join *wink*). The cover is beautiful and it only adds to the reason why it should be on my shelf. I am so excited for this one!

Midnight Thief (Midnight Thief, #1)
 by Livia Blackburne

Release date: July 8th, 2014

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Pre-Order: Amazon | Book Depository

Growing up on Forge’s streets has taught Kyra how to stretch a coin. And when that’s not enough, her uncanny ability to scale walls and bypass guards helps her take what she needs. 
But when the leader of the Assassins Guild offers Kyra a lucrative job, she hesitates. She knows how to get by on her own, and she’s not sure she wants to play by his rules. But he’s persistent—and darkly attractive—and Kyra can’t quite resist his pull.

Tristam of Brancel is a young Palace knight on a mission. After his best friend is brutally murdered by Demon Riders, a clan of vicious warriors who ride bloodthirsty wildcats, Tristam vows to take them down. But as his investigation deepens, he finds his efforts thwarted by a talented thief, one who sneaks past Palace defenses with uncanny ease.

When a fateful raid throws Kyra and Tristam together, the two enemies realize that their best chance at survival—and vengeance—might be to join forces. And as their loyalties are tested to the breaking point, they learn a startling secret about Kyra’s past that threatens to reshape both their lives.

After reading the Seven Realms series which is such an amazing fantasy series I'm now always looking for another High Fantasy to read. I think Midnight Thief is just right up my alley and the synopsis is very interesting.
Action + Romance = I NEED this book NOW. No more explanations needed. :)

Waiting on Wednesday: The Kiss of Deception, Wish you were Italian & The Prince of Venice Beach

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Here are my WoW picks this week (click title for the Goodreads page):

The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1) by Mary E. Pearson

Release date: July 15th, 2014

Publisher: Henry Holt

Pre-Order: Amazon | Book Depository

In this timeless new trilogy about love and sacrifice, a princess must find her place in a reborn world.

In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia’s life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight—but she doesn’t—and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom—to a prince she has never met.

On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assasin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love.

Wish you were Italian (If Only...)

by Kristin Rae

Release date: May 6th, 2014

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Pre-Order: Amazon | Book Depository

Pippa is in Italy for the summer and, despite her parents’ wishes, she has no intention of just studying the local art! She has a list of things of her own to do: from swimming in the Mediterranean Sea to getting a makeover – and falling for an Italian boy! As Pippa explores the dramatic ruins of Rome and Pompeii, she is swept into her own drama with two guys: an irresistible local she knows is nothing but trouble and a cute American archaeology student . . . Will she find her true love?

The perfect reckless romance to enjoy whether you are home or abroad.

The Prince of Venice Beach 

by Blake Nelson

Release date: June 3rd, 2014

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Pre-Order: Amazon | Book Depository

Robert "'Cali" Callahan is a teen runaway, living on the streets of Venice Beach, California. He's got a pretty sweet life: a treehouse to sleep in, a gang of surf bros, a regular basketball game...even a girl who's maybe-sorta interested in him.

What he doesn't have is a plan.

All that changes when a local cop refers Cali to a private investigator who is looking for a missing teenager. After all, Cali knows everyone in Venice. But the streets are filled with people who don't want to be found, and when he's hired to find the beautiful Reese Abernathy, who would do anything to stay hidden, Cali must decide where his loyalties truly lie.