Y is for Young | Blogging from A to Z

Blood Red Road
by Moira Young

Blood Red Road was one of those books I did not expect to like at all. Just pick up a copy and look at the way it's written and you may understand why I was a little hesitant to pick it up at first. I'd not long finished The Hunger Games when it was recommended to me, and I refused to believe anything could fill the void Katniss had left behind, but I kept seeing it everywhere and when I finally found a copy for only £1.99 I knew it was time to just get it over with and buy it.

I didn't read it for a little while after buying it until one night during the final term of my undergrad degree when I was struggling to sleep. I suffered a lot with insomnia during those months - final exams and a dissertation will do that to you! - and I thought I'd pick it up and read the first few pages until I fell asleep. The next thing I knew it was 4 in the morning and I'd read 2/3s of the book. If my eyelids hadn't been fighting to stay open I would have finished it there and then, but it turns out I did need sleep after all.

I ended up loving this book. I loved Saba and I loved the world and I loved Jack and I even found myself loving the way it was written. Saba has such a distinct voice, and reading this book was such a fun, gritty adventure. It was just what I'd needed.

Three Trilogies I Want to Finish This Year!

I'm a terrible finisher. It's sad, but it's true, and one of the many things I seem to struggle to finish most nowadays is a series. I start a series, adore the first book, and then end up too worried about the rest of the series being disappointing that I never finish it.

Finishing a series is one of the best feelings when it comes to reading. Sometimes it can be sad to say goodbye to characters you've grown to love, but there's something so satisfying about closing that final book and knowing you were there for the entire adventure.

There are three trilogies I'm determined to finish this year. All of them are trilogies which I own the first and second books of, but still need to get my hands on the third!


The Dust Lands Trilogy by Moira Young

I read Blood Red Road around this time last year and I absolutely loved it. Not long after finishing it I bought myself a copy of the second book, Rebel Heart, and somehow I still haven't gotten around to reading it. I think I enjoyed Blood Red Road that much that I've been so worried about reading Rebel Heart and finding it to be a huge disappointment.

Back in May the final book in the trilogy, Raging Star, was released, and now that it has been I think I'm going to buy myself a copy and then marathon the rest of this trilogy, because I love the brutal world that Young has created and I really want to know what happens to Saba, Jack and all the other characters I grew to love in the first book.

The Healer Trilogy by Maria V. Snyder

Touch of Power, like Blood Red Road, is another book I read last year and then bought myself a copy of the second book, Scent of Magic, upon finishing it. I have to be honest I'm not quite as into this trilogy as I am the other two trilogies on this list, but I still like it a lot. I started Scent of Magic earlier this year and then accidentally got distracted by another trilogy. Basically the Newsflesh trilogy has taken over my life this year and I don't regret a thing because I'm obsessed with it and I love it. That being said I still want to finish this trilogy and find out what happens to Avry, Kerrick and the entire land of Kazan. I've heard pretty good things about the finale of this trilogy so far, so it could be that I just need to get my hands on the third book, Taste of Darkness, and marathon this trilogy, too!

The His Fair Assassin Trilogy by Robin LaFevers

Unlike the other two trilogies on this list, His Fair Assassin is the one trilogy of which I've read books one and two, and the one trilogy that isn't complete just yet. Mortal Heart won't be released until November, and I'm really looking forward to its release!

I love me some historical fiction, as I'm sure most of you know by now, so I picked up copies of Grave Mercy and Dark Triumph earlier this year. I read Grave Mercy back in February, and enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would, so as soon as I finished it I picked up Dark Triumph and loved it. This is one of those rare instances in which I've enjoyed a second book in a trilogy more than the first (though it's not the first time it's happened; my favourite book in The Hunger Games trilogy is Catching Fire). I'm really looking forward to Mortal Heart's release and seeing how this trilogy wraps up! 

Are there any series/trilogies/duologies you plan on finishing this year?

J.

Top Five | Fictional Boyfriends

Don't judge me, okay? It's totally normal to have feelings for fictional characters. I think.

As it's February, and therefore the month of love, it only feels right that I should share with you the five men who each have a special place in my heart. And my closet. They can never leave. -evil laughter-

Sirius Black

from the Harry Potter series

by J. K. Rowling

You never forget your first love. Especially when he's only present and alive for three books of a seven book series. I'm not bitter about that at all.

I like older men. Men are like a fine wine, if you drink them they'll die they get better with age. With that in mind, it was only natural that I found Sirius more attractive than Harry or Ron. Add in the fact that he's a mischievous, misunderstood escaped convict and I'm there. Accused of murder? I like him even more! Don't ask. It's a problem.

Jack Barak

from the Shardlake series

by C. J. Sansom

I started reading C. J. Sansom's Shardlake series back in 2012, and since then it's quickly become one of my favourite series. If you're a lover of Historical and Crime Fiction (especially together!) and you haven't read this series then you certainly need to.

The books are set in Tudor England and follow Matthew Shardlake, a lawyer and hunchback, as he solves mysteries he'd rather not be a part of in the first place. We are introduced to Jack Barak, who eventually becomes Shardlake's assistant, in Dark Fire, the second book in the series, and I loved him immediately. He has a roguish quality to him and a sense of humour that I just can't resist.

What can I say? I'm weak!

Kyo Sohma

from Fruits Basket

by Natsuki Takaya

Now we're onto younger men. In fact Kyo's a high school student, which is pretty creepy given that I'm 22 now, but when I was first introduced to Fruits Basket I was around 14/15 (which is a terrifying thought - I can't believe it's been that long!) so it's acceptable. Or so I tell myself.

I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've mentioned a manga on this blog, and if you're a fan of manga who hasn't checked out Fruits Basket yet or you're someone who wants to read some manga then I highly recommend this series! It's just so good.

It's not for everyone. If you like Death Note or Attack on Titan more than you like Ouran High School Host Club or School Rumble then it might not be your thing, but it's still worth a try all the same! This series has it all; it'll make you laugh, cry and go 'aww' more than you'll ever admit to any of your friends.

I love Kyo and I will always love Kyo. Just read this manga and you'll understand.

Jack

from the Dust Lands trilogy

by Moira Young

Another Jack. Hm. Blood Red Road was one of my favourite reads of last year because of its fantastic, angry heroine and its fun, fast-paced story. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy the romance in it, and that it didn't make me feel the feels.

Like the previous Jack, this Jack also has a 'cheeky chappy' feel to him that, evidently, I find hard to resist! Plus he's hot. I'm not particularly shallow but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy people who are just hot.

I love Jack Sparrow, too, so it must just be a 'Jack' thing.

Prince Kai

from The Lunar Chronicles

by Marissa Meyer

Given the previous list of fictional guys on this list you might think that if I was going to pick anyone from The Lunar Chronicles it'd be Wolf or Thorne, but there's something about Kai that's so decent and adorable that I just love him. Not to mention Cinder is my favourite heroine so far, so I guess it only makes sense that I love Kai the most too.

If this series doesn't end with Cinder and Kai happy and together I might just cry.

Well I imagine now you know some things about me that you wish you didn't, but that just makes our bond stronger, doesn't it?

So who have you got hiding in your closet?