Cinder by Marissa Meyer // the most original retelling I've ever come across

Title: Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Warnings: disease, death
Rating: 4 stars
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Cinder is the most original retelling I've ever come across. With all the hype for this series, it's a wonder that it took me 4 years to finally start.

The concept is just so mind blowingly brilliant. The futuristic setting is gorgeous and if Cinder as a character wasn't interesting enough, she also happens to be a cyborg.

Books I'd Love to Teach If I were an English Teacher

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

I'm one of those rare people who pretty much loved every book we had to study in high school, so you'll find a few of those on this list, along with some books that I selected myself, and some books that I know others have done that I wish I did too.

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin // alternate history with a dash of fantasy

Title: Wolf by Wolf (Wolf by Wolf#1)
Author: Ryan Graudin
Genre: Historical Fiction
Warnings: murder, war
Rating: 3 stars
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Wolf by Wolf is an alternate history with a dash of fantasy.

As a young Jewish girl living after the events of the second World War, Yael has lost many people. And the losses continue, because in her world the Nazis won and Hitler still rules. But her time being experimented on in concentration camps left Yael with an extraordinary gift - the power to shift her skin to appear however she wants. And with the annual motorbike race approaching, Yael will finally have a chance to enact her revenge and kill the Fuhrer.

Why diversity across all forms of fiction is so important to me

It's no news that representation in fiction is important to me. I mention it a lot on this blog, and my friends know I highlight diversity or lack thereof in books and TV frequently. But one thing I haven't explained is why it's so close to my heart.

Books That Have Been on my TBR since Before I Started Book Blogging

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by the Broke and the Bookish.
I started blogging in June 2015, but the number of books on my TBR since before then is super small. This may be surprising, but if you've been stalking my goodreads (don't worry, I wont judge you) you'll know that I'm very careful to limit how many books I add to my 'to read' shelf. Right now there are only around 30! Hopefully I'll get to reading the following books this year.

YALC Book Haul!

Around 3 weeks ago I went to YALC with a bunch of my book nerd friends and it was honestly so much fun. I was only there for the Sunday and I couldn't stay for the evening party, but there was so much to do and see in one day and the guests were on point so there was never a dull moment. Who says all the good conventions are in the US?

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff - 2 stars

Title: Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1)
Authors: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Genre: Sci-Fi
Warnings: death, war, disease
Rating: 2 stars
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I gave Illuminae 10 months so I wouldn't have the constant hype surrounding it to alter my thoughts. But I don't think any length of time would made a difference in the fact that this book just wasn't for me.

And I Darken by Kiersten White // I could literally scream forever

Title: And I Darken (The Conquerors Saga #1)
Author: Kiersten White
Genre: Historical Retelling
Warnings: torture, violent murder, attempted rape
Rating: 5 stars
Goodreads

"Souls and thrones are irreconcilable."

I could literally scream forever about this book and nothing I ever write could truly do it justice.

And I Darken is a historical retelling of the life of Vlad the Impaler, but with one major twist. I admire White so much for writing Vlad as Lada, because there truly is so much to be said for this character through the perspective of a woman.

Top 10 Books Set in the Past

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's topic is 10 books with X setting, but I thought that instead of assuming the setting was a place, why not a time? So here are 10 awesome books set in the past!

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray // a whole pile of ugh (no thank you fake sci-fi)

Title: A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird #1)
Author: Claudia Gray
Genre: Sci-Fi, Romance
Rating: 1 star
Goodreads

DNF at 22%

I read the blurb. I knew I was getting into a Sci-Fi Romance that would be more Romance than Science. But boy is that an understatement.

NEW BLOG NAME! (previously Astronomical Books)

I've wanted to change my blog title for a while now, and I've finally done it!

Because You'll Never Meet Me by Leah Thomas // awkward yet adorable genre blending book

Title: Because You'll Never Meet Me
Author: Leah Thomas
Genre: Sci-Fi Contemporary
Warnings: death
Rating: 5 stars
Goodreads

Normally when I rate a book I rate it based on a specific list in my mind of what makes a book a 'good book' to me. Obviously there's the basic 'I liked it/I didn't like it', but explaining why is a lot harder (reviewing is not easy, kids!). But I guess Because You'll Never Meet Me is just going to be one of those impossible books to review.

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Vicious by V.E. Schwab // favourite read of 2016 so far

Title: Vicious (Vicious #1)
Author: V.E. Schwab
Genre: Sci-Fi
Warnings: death, murder, self-harm, torture
Rating: 5 stars 

How does Victoria do it?! How can one human being master concept, characters, structure and language all in one book?

When his college roommate Eli begins researching the potential for developing ExtraOrdinary abilities, Victor wants in. But a series of disastrous events leads Victor to now - a prison escapee in a cemetery with a young girl and a dead body, and with only one intention: make Eli suffer.

We Need More Diverse Fantasy!

As part of the challenges I'm doing this year, I have been focusing on reading more diversely. Diverse fiction is hugely important, but one thing I quickly noticed is that diversity is scarce in the Fantasy and Sci-Fi genres. Why is this? Do alternate fantastical dimensions not have diverse people? I sat down and had a think about this.

Books I LOVED but Never Reviewed

Top 10 Tuesday is Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's TTT is a rewind! I've gone through past topics and realised that this was one I hadn't done yet, so here are some amazing books I'd recommend but I never reviewed!

Pokemon Go Book Tag!

Aentee at Read At Midnight created this book tag (as well as these super beautiful banners) and it's definitely one of the coolest tags I've seen in a while. I'm still getting the hang of Pokemon Go and haven't had a lot of time for it, but from playing so far it's really fun and it's no surprise it's got the whole world obsessed.

Books I'd Buy Right This Second If Someone Gave Me a Fully Loaded Gift Card

Top 10 Tuesday is Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.