Looking Back at the Letter

Back in February, I participated in the absolutely wonderful Book Blogger Love-A-Thon and wrote this letter to myself for when I've been blogging for one year. And I'm not going to lie, writing it, I wasn't even sure I would be blogging for a year. At the time, those few months had felt so much longer than they actually had been, but in an amazing way. I was unsure of the future and what it would hold, but that event made me love blogging even more and really appreciate the book blogging community. So, here's my letter to my One Year of Blogging Self - 
Dear Future Self,

Hello! How has the blog been going? I can't believe it will have been a year of blogging once you read this! Right now, I'm writing this for the Book Blogger LoveAThon, and so far I've participated in several blogging events. I stayed up for 24 hours reading, I've done Bout of Books, and I'm so excited for everything else that's to come. 

What's been your favorite read of the year? Have you had a good reading year? I know that I'm excited for more of blogging; meeting other bloggers and making friends, as well as sharing my love of books. So, I hope you enjoy your blog anniversary, congraulations on having come so far, and I wish you more happiness to come.

From the paper world several months back,
V

Looking back at this, it reminds me of all the fun blogging things that had happened in just those few months. I'd been lucky enough to read for hours on end with other bloggers, and to have read some wonderful books (even back then I knew I wouldn't be able to pick one favorite, but a few of my favorites have been Jellicoe Road, Amy and Roger's Epic Detour, Anna and the French Kiss, and these books from My First Half of 2014 series). In general, I've had a good reading year, with some big life changes but a persisting love of books, albeit reading much more slowly now. I've also had so many wonderful opportunities to talk to other bloggers and do readalongs together. 

So, there's my letter to myself, a few months later, and one year later of blogging. What are your thoughts on how your first year of blogging went? Or, if you're still a newer blogger like myself, how has blogging been for you thus far? And if you're interested in the Book Blogger Love-A-Thon, Katelyn and Alexa hosted it in February and it was a lot of fun!

From the paper world,

V

The Five Star Spotlight - Endless Knight by Kresley Cole

*this is a review of a sequel, so there may be spoilers for the first novel. You can find my review of the first novel in The Arcana Chronicles, Poison Princess, here.*

Shocking secrets.
Evie has fully come into her powers as the Tarot Empress, and Jack was there to see it all. She now knows that the teens who’ve been reincarnated as the Tarot are in the throes of an epic battle. It’s kill or be killed, and the future of mankind hangs in the balance.

Unexpected allies.
With threats lurking around every corner, Evie is forced to trust her newfound alliance. Together they must fight not only other Arcana, but also Bagmen zombies, post-apocalyptic storms, and cannibals.

Gut-wrenching treachery.
When Evie meets Death, things get even more complicated. Though falling for Jack, she’s drawn to the dangerous Endless Knight as well. Somehow the Empress and Death share a history, one that Evie can’t remember—but Death can’t forget…

In this seductive follow-up to Poison Princess, #1 New York Timesbestselling author Kresley Cole takes us deeper into the dark world of the Arcana Chronicles.

Endless Knight on Goodreads                 Visit the Author's Website

It's time for yet another Five Star Spotlight, and today's is on a sequel that I read in February and loved. Endless Knight is the second book in the Arcana Chronicles by Kresley Cole. The first book, Poison Princess, is one I read within a day or two because it was so fast paced and interesting. I immediately picked up the sequel and this book was even better. This is a really unique series, and as I've already reviewed Poison Princess I wanted to share my thoughts on its sequel.

The last book was very interesting and fast paced, and this book continued on that trend. Evie's journey is filled with action, danger and intrigue. The story develops and this installation adds a lot of intrigue as we learn more about the characters and their histories. The histories of these players goes back further than we'd seen in Poison Princess, and there's a lot of reveals that are going to impact the rest of the series. The story went in a unique direction, and I loved how this story was different from the first book. I really liked how this book developed with more intrigue as the characters developed.

Speaking of character development, this book was fantastic in that area. Evie faced a lot of internal conflict in the last book, and while that was still present it wasn't overdone. Instead, this book reveals more about Death, and he is probably the most interesting character in the book to me. These two characters were really interesting in their interactions and story, and I'm curious as to how their characters will be in the next book. I wasn't a fan of Jack in this book, even less so than in the last book, but all of the characters grew in this story, and it was great to learn more about them in this sequel.

This is a fantastic sequel to a series that's very engaging and interesting. The plot has definitely grown even more complicated, and the ending leaves a lot of conflict to be resolved in the next book. Evie and Death particularly had some amazing character development and interactions, but overall every character grew in some way. After this book I can't wait to read the third book, Dead of Winter, and this series has books that are quick reads and well developed characters. I hope this is a series and not just a trilogy, because I love reading about this world and these characters! 

Have you read The Arcana Chronicles? Let me know your thoughts!

From the paper world,

V

Reading Review - Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

She could save the world—or destroy it.

Sixteen-year-old Evangeline "Evie" Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they're still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can't do either alone.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can't totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it's not always clear who is on which side.

Poison Princess on Goodreads              Visit the Author's Website

Today's review is on a book that I've been curious about and finally picked up at the beginning of February - Poison Princess by Kresley Cole. The idea behind this book is really unique, and the book was engrossing. I ended up reading it in two sittings, and it was an enjoyable read. The one area that seemed to be weaker than the others was in the characters, but aside from that this is a great start to the Arcana Chronicles.

Typically, I begin a review with my thoughts on the characters, and so I thought I'd address why I thought they were lacking. The protagonist, Evie, was a good narrator. I found her character to be interesting, undergoing a major internal conflict, and developing into a very interesting lead. However, the other characters didn't read as well to me. The male protagonist, Jack, was interesting but not my favorite lead. His and Evie's relationship seemed random to me, and as characters they lacked a good dynamic. The supporting characters were all mysterious enough, but also annoying and again lacked a good dynamic with each other. Selena's character in particular bothered me, as she didn't seem to add anything to the story in general. However, I think that the characters can improve in the sequel and I'm hoping that they will prove to be more interesting and have more interaction and development in the sequel.

The story itself was very engaging. I was engrossed in the story and with what was going on. The idea is unlike anything I've read, and I'm curious to read on in the series. There are a lot of details and obstacles in the world that kept the story fast paced. Generally, the world building was limited to the aftershock of the Flash- not much is explained in terms of the supernatural that's in the story. However, as Evie learns more about what's happening, there's more to discover in the sequel. 

I really enjoyed this book. Although some of the characters were lacking, the world and concept are interesting enough to make this book a good start to the series. After reading it, I'm definitely excited to pick up the sequel and continue on.

From the paper world,

V

The Five Star Spotlight - Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

From the author of the New York Times bestseller Eleanor & Park.

A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love. 

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .

But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

Fangirl on Goodreads                  Author's Website

Today is a Five Star Spotlight on a contemporary novel that has been talked about for quite awhile- Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell! I finally picked this book up in February, and I really enjoyed it. I wasn't sure if I was going to love it as much as everyone else, since I'm not a fan of contemporary, but I was impressed by this novel.

To begin, the main character Cath is written to be very life-like. Cath suffers from social anxiety and reading along in the beginning was even making me nervous for her! All of the other characters are written in such a way that the reader connects with them as well. They are interesting, dynamic, and don't have the cliches that I see in many contemporaries. There are problems in Cath's life, and they aren't perfectly resolved by the end of the novel. 

The book is very fun and lighthearted, but it's not all fluff. Cath really develops as a character in this book, and her sister does as well. Cath and her love interest don't have a perfect romance, but again it stays away from cliches. This really is a story about Cath, and who she is. Although there's romance, family drama, and other difficulties that come up in life, Fangirl shows how Cath learns and grows from these. A major aspect of this is also her writing, which was fun to see glimpses of and also what inspired it throughout. This book was so wonderful and unique that it was fun and romantic without being overbearing or overdone. Even if you aren't a fan of typical contemporary like me, I would still suggest you try reading this book. It's fun but with realistic characters, and I throughly enjoyed reading it!

Have you read Fangirl or Eleanor & Park? I've yet to read the latter so let me know your thoughts!

From the paper world,

V

Monthly Wrap Up - February 2014

So... that January Wrap Up never happened...

Welcome to the February Monthly Wrap Up! This month was filled with awesome books, and I ended up writing a lot of reviews as well and completing some towards my challenges. So, let's take a look.

What I Read...


Poison Princess by Kresley Cole                        Endless Knight by Kresley Cole
Ink by Amanda Sun                                           Golden by Cameron Dokey
The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd     Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
 Cress by Marissa Meyer                                  Article 5 by Kristen Simmons


What I Reviewed...
 Angelfall by Susan Ee
 Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier
The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

What I Participated In...

I did a guest post on A Backwards Story where I reviewed Golden by Cameron Dokey. This was part of the Week of Rapunzel celebration. I had a lot of fun reading and writing up my review, and it was my first guest post. Bonnie has an amazing blog, so definitely check it out!


I participated in the Book Blogger Love-A-Thon Alexa and Katelyn hosted and this was such an incredible experience. Not only were the challenges and posts tons of fun, but I met a bunch of new bloggers and started a series on books and travel that I've wanted to post since I was planning out this blog.

I helped with a Giveaway for Melissa Landers  and so the blog saw its first Rafflecopter.

I reached over 200 followers on my Twitter and it's been a lot of fun to talk to you all there.

So, for those keeping track of my reviews for challenges... I'm falling dreadfully behind. However, I've read and reviewed quite a few books so those reviews are coming up as well. Keep in mind that some of my reviews are posted on Goodreads, so you can always check out my reviewed on Goodreads shelf through the sidebar. Also, I constantly forget to link up my reviews to the host blogs, but if you participate be sure to do so! I'm planning on doing that soon!


Six Reviews for Bookish's 2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge



None for The Story Siren's 2014 Debut Author Challenge (how have I not read any 2014 debuts yet?!)


Five Reviews for Novel Heartbeat and Writer Girl's 2014 Prequel & Sequel Challenge

February 2014...
This was a great month. I met a lot of new bloggers and found some great blogs as well, so expect a Blog Roll in the works soon. I hope you all had a wonderful month as well, and best wishes for March 2014!

From the paper world,
V

Reading Review - The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.

Goodreads                          Author's Website

My Rating - Four Stars

Today's review is of The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd. When I first picked this up, I had thought it was a historical fiction, which typically isn't among my favorite genres. However, I found out soon after that this book is actually a retelling- which many of you know I love. The Madman's Daughter is actually a retelling of The Island of Doctor Moreau, and this entire trilogy is retellings of the grim and creepy nature. In short, this is a series I should have known about long ago, and honestly a lot of my reactions throughout the first part of the book were astonishment, wonder, and 'Why didn't I pick this series up sooner?'. I've yet to read The Island myself, but I'd certainly like to after finishing this book.

The protagonist is Juliet Moreau, the daughter of the infamous doctor. She's struggling to survive in London in the aftermath of losing her parents and the enormous scandal her father left. Juliet is a really interesting character- as the story progresses she has an intense internal conflict. Juliet is a really interesting character to read about and journey alongside. She wasn't my favorite protagonist, as I felt she would become so mired in her thoughts and puzzlings that sometimes there would be more lengthy narration than interesting action furthering the plot. However, Juliet is generally an interesting and unique narrator with a moral dilemma and an internal conflict that drive her character throughout the novel.

  

The other characters added to the eerie and strange atmosphere of the island. Montgomery and Edward were always intriguing when they had a scene with Juliet. The doctor was an infuriating character, but definitely added a unique presence in the group. The characters interacted well, and scenes with multiple people in it were always interesting and engaging to read. However, the scenes when Juliet is alone and narrating her thoughts sometimes dragged on and slowed the pacing of the story. Since Juliet is unaware of any of the island's mysteries, following her along as she thinks about everything and doesn't come up with a conclusion wasn't as compelling as the rest of the novel. These instances slowed the plot down for me, although whenever other characters came into the scene there was a lot of mystery and suspense throughout.

I gave this book four out of five stars, and I ended up going to get the sequel shortly thereafter. In case you were curious, the sequel Her Dark Curiosity is said to be a retelling of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. The third and final installment is going to be a Frankenstein retelling. I am really excited to continue on with this series, and read more of these eerie retellings!

Have you read any retellings like this? What did you think? 

From the paper world,

V

Character Chat - Top Five Book Boyfriends of 2014

As it is February, the month of love, and the Book Blogger Love-A-Thon that recently happened included a love letter to your book boyfriend, I thought it appropriate to introduce this new segment to the blog. Character Chat is going to be my discussions about various wonderful characters I've encountered through the books. Also, this feature will be talking about books I've read this year, so that way it can be a continual feature that I revisit in the coming years. So, there will be a chat on book boyfriends for 2014, 2015, etc. Now, I know it's very early in the year, but I want to do this and start the series, so without further ado...

no. 5 - Raffe from Angelfall by Susan Ee

Raffe is hilarious, strong, and surprisingly tender throughout Angelfall. He has some really adorable moments, but he is also a tough warrior with a very sarcastic side. The banter between him and Penryn is probably one of my favorite aspects of this novel, and I would love to travel around with Raffe and trade wit. He's also got a soft side, and there are glimpses of that throughout the book that made me want to hug him. So, I think that Raffe would definitely have to be one of my book boyfriend picks thus far in 2014.

no. 4 - Sam from Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Sam is completely adorable. He is so sweet, kind, and gentle! Also, he's very musical, and any scene involving him and an instrument was beautiful. Sam's a great character because he's amazing and understanding, but also flawed. He has his doubts and fears, but he is a strong person anyways, and his character is really admirable. Numerous times throughout this book, I have wanted to just give Sam a hug. 

no. 3 - Captain Thorne from Cress by Marissa Meyer

Ah, another hilarious and sarcastic one with a sweet side. Yes, Thorne made himself my favorite character in this book. He's got a very dry wit, yet also is capable of gentleness and compassion. Thorne is a character that I love because he's very funny and snarky, but also because he's more than what many people think of him. He's brave and intelligent, very resourceful, and even if he isn't the best at something he's determined to try. Thorne radiates charisma and charm, but beneath all the fluff he's also got a lot of strong qualities. I can't wait to read more about him in Winter!

no. 2 - Warner from Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Ok, so I'm reading this book now, and I'm only just over 50 pages in. But, Warner has been a favorite of mine since Shatter Me. Before Destroy Me even came out I wanted to know more about Warner because who Juliet thought he was didn't seem to match with some of what Warner said and did. He is passionate and complicated, but he's also got a sensitivity and understanding to him that makes him an even more amazing character. And yes, I'm loving him so far in this book and will continue to do so. Warner is a fantastic book boyfriend! Also, thus far in Ignite Me, he has stolen every scene he is in and definitely remained my favorite character in this series- Warner is absolutely wonderful!

no. 1 - Morpheus from Unhinged by A.G. Howard

Look who is number one on the book boyfriend list. Morpheus, you aren't even surprised, are you? If you look in some other blog posts, you'll see constant mentions of Splintered, Unhinged, The Moth in the Mirror, and general Morpheus love. I've even written a love letter to him as a challenge for the Love-A-Thon. Morpheus is witty, dark, mysterious, and yet is loving and loyal. One can never guess what Morpheus will do, but he has certainly swept me off my feet. He will probably be my number one book boyfriend for a long time to come, so Morpheus will certainly be staying around the blog and fluttering through more posts! Also, this cover features Morpheus!

There is the beginning of the character chat saga! Now, I want to hear from you. Have you read these books? Loved these guys? Who are your book boyfriends? Let me know!

From the paper world,

V

Book Blogger Love-A-Thon - Farewell Until Next Year

Sadly, it is the end of the Book Blogger Love-A-Thon...
However, this weekend has been absolutely amazing. As a new blogger, I was completely amazed by all the participants, their enthusiasm, and the general love and support for book blogging. You guys are all awesome. Seriously, if you just stopped by and checked out a post, or if you commented or tweeted, or followed... I was really touched. All the notifications I got and interactions with other bloggers made this weekend so memorable. I loved this. As a new blogger I found not only a ton of new book blogs to follow (a blog roll page is now in the works so that I can share some awesome blogs with you all) but a ton of book bloggers who are all so kind, happy to talk about books, and very supportive. 
Honestly, I was in a bit of a creative slump this past month. I was really worried because I felt like I was running out of ideas and I'd only been blogging a few months. However, after this weekend, I am so excited about everything. This community is so wonderful, and now I'm excited to share my thoughts and ideas again. One example? I debuted a new series on the blog called Wanderlust in Words. Now, this is an idea from before this blog even came about, back when I was just coming up with ideas and getting excited about even starting a book blog. But I never posted it, because of this reason or that. Well, I didn't have anything planned for the mash up challenge, and I thought that this supportive and awesome event would be a good time to test it out. The response absolutely amazed me. I was getting a bunch of comments on how much you all loved it, loved the name... and I'm definitely excited to continue the series. That meant so much to me.
So, it's the end of this event. But luckily, this is a yearly thing, and awesome book blogs and bloggers are always around year round. So, to all my fellow new bloggers, I say talk to some other bloggers, and share your love of books. There's a really awesome crowd of people out there. To everyone who's stopped by, you are amazing. I've loved talking to all of you, and I can't wait to see what this year brings us all. Thank you to Alexa and Katelyn for a truly wonderful event.

From the paper world,
V

Book Blogger Love-A-Thon - Mad Lib Mini Challenge

There are some really great mini challenges for this LoveAThon, and so I'm back with my second of the day! This is the Mad Lib Challenge, and so, here we go! If you aren't familiar with mad libs, or it's been awhile, basically I've picked random words with prompts (for example, I'm asked for an adjective and I say old) without knowing how they'll be put into a story. If you want to do this, pick the needed words without seeing how they fit into the story, then put them in and let me know what your story says in the comments!

Ok, are you ready? Here's the story without my words in.

One day, I was VERB ENDING IN -ING with BOOK BOYFRIEND #1. Out of the blue, a NOUN came out of nowhere! It was so ADJECTIVE, ADJECTIVE and ADJECTIVE. At first, we were afraid, we were petrified, but we PAST TENSE VERB. We hopped on RANDOM MODE OF TRANSPORTATION to make our getaway. 

As we escaped, we turned up the radio because A CATCHY TUNE came on and made me VERB. Everything was extremely smooth sailing until an ANIMAL appeared in the middle of the road. We swerved to avoid it, but while BOOK BOYFRIEND #1 stayed on SAME RANDOM MODE OF TRANSPORTATION, I got thrown onto my side in the woods.

I couldn't get up, and felt ADJECTIVE as I lay there staring up at the trees. What was I going to do? I heard a WORD DESCRIBING A SOUND among the leaves, and felt EMOTION. Surely, this was going to be my end. As my eyes fluttered shut, the last thing I saw was a head of COLOR hair and COLOR eyes.

When I woke up again, I was on a PIECE OF FURNITURE. My body hurt a whole lot less, and I could sit up. There was a NOUN and NOUN in the room, along with FOOD and DRINK. The door suddenly opened to reveal BOOK BOYFRIEND #2, a concerned look on his face. I blushed and averted my gaze, but he VERB and said, "Don't be shy. It's okay."

He came over to sit by me, and we started talking after I told him my name. We chatted about HOBBY 1,HOBBY 2 and HOBBY 3 and realized we had a ton in common! I thought he was ADJECTIVE and couldn't help feeling a little swoony. 

Just as he reached out for my hand, the door crashed open and in came BOOK BOYFRIEND #3. "Don't let him charm you away, my love!" He yelled, running at BOOK BOYFRIEND #2. They each had KITCHENWARE in their hands and began to fight. "Stop!", I yelled, feeling so EMOTION. They didn't listen to me. Before I could intervene, BOOK BOYFRIEND #2 fell to the floor and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"What was that?" I asked, staring at the empty space. BOOK BOYFRIEND #3 dropped his weapon, and came over to me. "Magic, but you are safe now, PET NAME." He hugged me close, and I suddenly knew that this was the real deal and not just a dream.

Just as LOVE SONG started playing in my head, I woke up. I cursed my ADJECTIVE luck. Why had it only been just a dream?

And now, here's my version - 

One day, I was reading with Morpheus. Out of the blue, a tree came out of nowhere! It was so old, graceful and inconsistent. At first, we were afraid, we were petrified, but we strolled. We hopped on Hagrid’s motorcycle to make our getaway. 

As we escaped, we turned up the radio because Best Day of My Life by American Authors came on and made me leap. Everything was extremely smooth sailing until an phoenix appeared in the middle of the road. We swerved to avoid it, but while Morpheus stayed on Hagrid’s motorcycle, I got thrown onto my side in the woods.

I couldn't get up, and felt calm as I lay there staring up at the trees. What was I going to do? I heard a pop among the leaves, and felt nervous. Surely, this was going to be my end. As my eyes fluttered shut, the last thing I saw was a head of purple hair and green eyes.

When I woke up again, I was on a couch. My body hurt a whole lot less, and I could sit up. There was a cat and jump rope in the room, along with pizza and green tea. The door suddenly opened to reveal Captain Thorne from the Lunar Chronicles, a concerned look on his face. I blushed and averted my gaze, but he blinked and said, "Don't be shy. It's okay."

He came over to sit by me, and we started talking after I told him my name. We chatted about making flower crowns,skydiving and book blogging and realized we had a ton in common! I thought he was nice and couldn't help feeling a little swoony. 

Just as he reached out for my hand, the door crashed open and in came Sam from Incarnate. "Don't let him charm you away, my love!" He yelled, running at Thorne. They each had forks in their hands and began to fight. "Stop!", I yelled, feeling so puzzled. They didn't listen to me. Before I could intervene, Thorne fell to the floor and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"What was that?" I asked, staring at the empty space. Sam dropped his weapon, and came over to me. "Magic, but you are safe now, dear." He hugged me close, and I suddenly knew that this was the real deal and not just a dream.

Just as I See the Light from Tangled started playing in my head, I woke up. I cursed my makeshift luck. Why had it only been just a dream?

 Well, that was certainly interesting. You know, some of it actually makes sense. Except for the part with purple hair and green eyes. That just sounds like a deranged Furby... Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this fantastic adventure, and my dream with Morpheus, Thorne, Sam, and some forks and green tea. This was such a fun challenge to do! Let me know if you did this in the comments!

From the paper world,

V

Book Blogger Love-A-Thon - Love Letter Mini Challenge

It's time for more Love-A-Thon festivities! This is a mini challenge that sounds very Valentine's Day appropriate- write a love letter to your book boyfriend. It's probably no surprise to many that Morpheus of the Splintered series is going to receive this letter.

Dear Morpheus,
My dear, you are amazing. You steal every scene you are in, and from the beginning you stole my bookish love. Any time I walk past a top hat, I think of you and your Wonderland magic. I find myself calling for a Swooning Hat any time you show just how strong, loyal, and loving you are. I am a mothling, and happily love to read about you and your daring adventures. 

Before I ever picked up the books that happily led me to you, I heard tales of this series back in 2o12. I finally found the book, and dove into the strange, enchanted world you call home. My dear, you were witty, charming, mysterious...There was not a moment in the book when I could predict what you would do next. I cheered out loud to see you on the cover of Unhinged. That book showed the world how loving and dedicated you can be. Happy Valentine's Day to you, Morpheus.

Love,
Violet

There's my attempt at a love letter to Morpheus! Here's a little info about who this guy is, and I'll include the sequel's cover that stars him!




This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.
When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.


Who's your book boyfriend? Let me know down in the comments! Stay tuned for more of the Book Blogger Love-A-Thon, and find even more of the participating blogs over at the hosts', Alexa and Katelyn.

From the paper world,
V