April Wrap Up | FTM

The first book I read this month was Red Queen by: Victoria Aveyard. There has been so much hype surrounding this book, so I had my expectations set. My expectations weren't fully met, the story wasn't anything special but the writing was fantastic. You can read all of my thoughts in my review HERE

The second book I read this month was Fairest by: Marissa Meyer. I read this book in a couple of hours which is normal because it is a fairly short book. The Lunar Chronicles is one of my all time  favourite book series, however I have not read Cress yet, I want to buy it in paperback. I really loved reading this book, it gave me so much more understanding and backstory on Levana! I loved how we got to see her get crazier and crazier throughout the story, we also got see so many other things like Cinder (The accident which made her a cyborg!) and Winter. Marissa Meyer has never ceased to amaze me with her stories! I would rate this a 5 out of 5 stars.

The third book I read this month was The Shadow Throne by: Jennifer A. Nielsen. The Ascendance Trilogy has been one of my favourite trilogies of all time, I read the first book The False Prince when it first came out when I was younger, and have followed the series since then. I have had this on my TBR list for quite some time and I have finally finished it. I really like how this series ended, it ended on a happy note. This wasn't my favourite out of the trilogy, my favourite is probably the first book or the second. I would rate it a  3 out of 5 stars. I also hope that these books get turned into films, and I have a weird dream that I will get to play Imogen which is probably never going to happen, but it would be awesome if I could. Then again, I feel like every book lover has a dream of being involved in one of their favourite book-film adaptations.These books are actually quite underrated and I would love it if more people would read them in the YA world. Even if they are marketed as middle grade/children's literature, they're pretty dark to be placed in that category, I would say that they are YA but they're not for some reason.

The fourth book I read was a comic book! It was Superman & Wonder Woman, the new 52 edition! If you didn't know, I am a really big superhero fan and my all time favourite super hero is Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman. I picked this up because I have never picked up any comic book whether it be DC comics or Marvel. I couldn't help but be amazed that Zod is still alive! Besides that, it was a little strange to see Wonder Woman and Superman as a couple because I've always known that they have never been a couple, it was always Lois you know? Can someone tell me what happened to her?! Also I loved the part when Clark is facing one of the sun gods or something and he gets hit, and he rises back up and the god is like "WHAT HOW?" and then he's like, "You really don't know much about me do you?" IT WAS THE BEST! 4 out of 5 stars.

The fifth book I read this month was ANOTHER COMIC BOOK! It's The Flash, Move Forward: Volume 1. I am quite obsessed with the TV show and I really love Grant Gustin, I mean he can sing and he plays The Flash.

I really felt like such a noob reading this one because I barely knew anything (unlike Superman) and I messaged one of my close friends and I asked him what seemed to be like such a generic question and he was like "Yeah, blah, blah." I felt kind of ashamed! ;)

The sixth book I read this month was The Wicked Will Rise by: Danielle Paige. I was a little disappointed with this book, I'm not the kind of person to rate a book higher then it should be just because of a plot twist or cliffhanger. I expected so much more. You can read my review coming May 15th, 2015!

Red Queen: Victoria Aveyard | Review | FTM

Graceling meets The Selection in debut novelist Victoria Aveyard's sweeping tale of seventeen-year-old Mare, a common girl whose once-latent magical power draws her into the dangerous intrigue of the king's palace. Will her power save her or condemn her?

Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood--those with common, Red blood serve the Silver- blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own.

To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard--a growing Red rebellion--even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. One wrong move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal

This Review Will Contain SPOILERS

Nuts Vs. Volts #3 | Youtubers & Books

Nuts:

What would make you interested in reading a 'youtubers' book?

FTM - Nuts

I would say proof of time and effort. It is so easy to say "I wrote a book" while not having done anything at all. I am going to take Colleen Ballinger (Miranda Sings) and her brother Christopher Ballinger for example, they have made a book with Miranda Sings name on it. However they have made each page by themselves, they have done everything. How do I know this? Vlogs that show them doing the work. You can just tell how much effort they put into it, and overall love and thought. Another factor would be the idea of the book, it would have to be something that I find interesting.

RQK - Volts

I agree with everything FTM has said. For me the effort as well is important. I think for me though it also depends on what kind of book they are making. If it is a book about them, their life or some other personal story, then I really don't mind it. You know that they had to have contributed in writing that as only really you can tell your story with the upmost accuracy. I think with all books it doesn't always matter whose book it is, but really what the book itself is all about. I don't really care if a youtuber I like writes a book unless the book itself and its story genuinely interests me.

How would you feel if you were a 'youtuber' and a publishing company approached you to have a book published?

FTM - Nuts

It is one of my dreams to write and publish a book. If this ever were to happen to me, I would be on top of the whole world. However, I do understand the difficult process of writing and publishing a book when you are doing it yourself unlike some others. If I were asked to do this, I would personally ask if I could write it myself and not have a writer assist me(A.K.A write it for me). I would want to go through the whole lengthy process of multiple drafts, I want arcs to be released, I would want the whole experience. If I wasn't allowed to do this, I would probably say no to the offer because I don't think it's worth it to have someone write something that won't truly be mine.

RQK - Volts

I would pretty delighted however I don't think I would accept the offer. I just don't think I could really write a good book. I know I wouldn't be able to write a fiction book and I don't feel I have accomplished enough to write a story about myself. Even if I could come up with an idea I wouldn't feel comfortable with somebody else writing a book and then just putting my name on it. Anybody can come up with an idea, the real hard part is writing it. Thats truly what makes somebody a writer. As for FTM I definitely think that she should take the offer because I truly think that one day she could be a great writer. She has very vivid and creative ideas that I think could really be amazing stories. 

Volts:

What are your opinions on Youtuber Zoe Sugg having her book ghost written?

RQK - Volts

Honestly my opinions on it are really conflicted. I mean it is really hard to tell how much of her book really was ghost written. Not only that I personally haven't read her book therefore can't exactly judge the true content of it. However based off just the summary and storyline I can say it definitely doesn't seem to be a book I would like and I would rather not waste my time reading it. Zoe Sugg isn't any sort of professional writer, she is truly just a known person with an idea of a story. Many people can come up with an idea, but writing the story is the real hard part of it. It takes a certain amount of skill to really write a good story. In my opinion I don't think that she really has the skill to write the book very well herself. I mean her idea may or not have been good. I am not saying to not read this book, considering I haven't read it I don't think I have the right to suggest it, but I will say I personally have no interest in reading it.

FTM - Nuts

Basically, I completely agree with everything RQK has said. Of course it is common for well known people/celebrities to have books published and have them be ghostwritten. However, what really bothers me about Zoe's book is that the supposed real author was only acknowledged a few times. Usually when a book is ghostwritten, the person who's face is on the book will actually acknowledge that they were assisted in the process. For example, it will say Name WITH Real Author. Having something ghostwritten is understandable and okay to an extent. 

What are your thoughts about so many Youtubers being approached about writing books?

RQK - Volts

I think that many of these book publishing companies are more just using Youtubers as a face to sell books. I am not saying that some Youtubers might not have good or interesting books, but there are some that definitely don't. They are just using these peoples already established popularity to easily make quite a bit of money off a maybe "okay" book. I don't mind Youtubers in general writing books, but only when they are truly putting in the work to write the book and when the book isn't just something made for money. I am not trying to really put down all Youtubers who write books. There are some Youtubers who's books are good and I would be interested in reading. I think it's almost unfair to those authors who have written  some books that are phenomenal and truly deserve recognition are completely blocked out by these books who were pretty much just written for money.

FTM - Nuts

Again I agree with RQK especially with the aspect of effort. It is very easy to spot a youtuber who hasn't really put any effort into the book. Unpublished authors spend months-years writing and writing and are sometimes blown off by publishing companies. They put so much love and time in their work, while (I'm not trying to point fingers.) some youtubers are approached with the idea of a book and they give an idea then all they do is take some pictures for the cover so their face can be on it. There is nothing special or original about these books being released with youtubers faces on them.

Insurgent | Book - Movie Adapataion | FTM

One choice can transform you-or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love. Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships. Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

- IMBD storyline synopsis.