Books

Goodbye Summer; Hello No More Free Time!

~ Cheyenne Raphael ~ 1 Comment

Hi guys! It is officially my last day of Summer… That’s right… I start my Junior year of high school tomorrow… Oh my gosh… I’m gonna be a junior! Anyway, no matter how much I try to will it out of happening, school is happening. And so in one last effort to cling onto this Summer, I’ve decided to do the Summer book tag… No one actually tagged me for this, but I’ve seen it floating around the internet, and so here it is! 

 

LEMONADE: Pick a book that started off bitter but then got better. 

Girl of nightmares book cover

Girl of Nightmares was SO sad, and… well… tortured I guess is the right word in the beginning, but it had the sweetest, or maybe bitter-sweetest, ending ever! My review will be coming soon, and you can click HERE to read my review of the first book in the series. 

 

GOLDEN SUN: Pick a book that made you smile beyond compare. 

The Worst Class Trip Ever

The Worst Class Trip Ever by Dave Berry is possibly the most hilariously funny book I’ve ever read! It’s a middle grade book, but I think anyone can enjoy it. It’s so stupid it’s funny in places, but it’s guaranteed to give you a good laugh! Just don’t read it in some place like school where you need to look somewhat sane cause you will find yourself laughing hysterically! 

 

TROPICAL FLOWERS: Pick a book set in a different country. 

The islands at the end of the world coverart

The Islands At The End of the World isn’t set in a different country, but it’s set in a different state, and it felt like a different country because of the difference in culture. It takes place in Hawaii, so there are also lots of tropical flowers! I guess I could have used Girl of Nightmares again because part of it happens in England, but I’m trying not to use anything twice, and I honestly haven’t read much that happens outside of the US this Summer. 

 

TREE SHADE: Pick a book where a mysterious or shady character is introduced. 

The Deviners

The Diviners by Libba Bray has several shady characters, but what’s cool about the book is that the reader is always one step ahead of the other characters and knows exactly what is going on at all times! The writing is SO amazing, and I have sO much to learn from it, and there will be a review for that going up soon! 

 

BEACH SAND: Pick a book that was grainy and the plot barely developed. 

Vampire Academy Book Cover

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead needs some serious plot doctoring! It’s an ok book, but that structure needs some tightening! It’s got great characters, but the main plot pretty much fell apart by chapter three because the subplots started taking over everything! 

 

GREEN GRASS: Pick a character that was full of life and made you smile. 

The lightning thief

Percy Jackson was the first character who came to mind for this. Lets face it… Who doesn’t love Percy? If you don’t love Percy, then why on earth are you reading this blog?! Just kidding! All book lovers are welcome here, and your certainly welcome to your own opinion, but I’m also sticking to my opinion that Percy is awesome! 

 

WATERMeloN: Pick a book that had some juicy secrets. 

Girl of nightmares book cover

Ok… So I’m totally abandoning my rule of not using stuff twice, but Girl of nightmares just has SO many secrets that it’s perfect for this position! And maybe I just love it a little too much… 

 

SUN HAT: Pick a book with a vast/big universe/setting. 

Harry potter

Please tell me I don’t have to explain why I picked the Potterverse for this…

 

BBQ: Pick a book in which a character was portrayed as a hunk. 

Vampire Academy Book Cover

Here I am using another book twice, but the hunkiness of one of the main characters is a BIG part of the problem with this book’s plot! I mean seriously… It’s ok to have romance in a book, but don’t trick me into thinking I’m getting an epic fantastical vampire filled adventure and then let that awesome plot get swallowed up by a doomed romance! Sorry… Rant ended… Maybe… 

 

SUMMER FUN: Pass the tag on. 

I’m not tagging anybody because I think a lot of people have already done it, but do it if you want! Drop a link in the comments to your post, and tell me what your favorite Summer read has been even if you don’t do the tag. Also, tell me about a book you’ve read that has secrets or shady characters because those are some of my favorite things to read. Good luck if your also starting school tomorrow, or if your starting it sometime soon! I hope you all are more excited about it than I am! I’m signing off now because school is tomorrow like I’ve already said about a zillion times and I told myself I’d be in bed an hour ago! Good night all you bookish and writerly people! 

The Harry Potter Book Tag

~ Cheyenne Raphael ~ Leave a comment

Harry potter

Since I’m a total “dumbledork,” and I’m still not over Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, I decided to do the Harry Potter tag in celebration of the eighth story! I promise I’ll try not to fangirl over Cursed Child the whole time… But it’s just SO amazing!!!! You can go HERE to see my Cursed Child review and the rest of my fan-girling, but for now, turn on the HP playlist above, and keep reading to see my answers to these tag questions! 

 

FLAGRATE: writing charm 

Vampire Academy Book Cover

A book that you found interesting but would like to rewrite 

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead 

I liked Vampire academy. It certainly wasn’t your typical trope-filled vampire book, and it had some very interesting characters. It had an awesome plot in the beginning, but one of the subplots seemed to take over the main plot about three chapters in. I’d still recommend the book for anyone wanting to read something a bit different, but that plot needs fixing! 

 

ALOHOMORA: unlocking charm 

The lightning thief

The first book in a series that got you hooked 

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan 

It took me a while to actually start the Percy Jackson series because it sounded to me like it might be a series about a bunch of wannabe super heroes, but I couldn’t have been more wrong! If you haven’t read it, go read it!!! Not reading this series is like not reading Harry Potter! It’s just wrong! 

 

ACCIO: summoning charm 

 

A book that you wish you could have right now 

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake 

I want it NOW!!! I just finished Anna Dressed in Blood, which is the first book in this series, and it was amazing! I’ll have a review up on that sometime in the near future… 

 

AVADA KEDAVRA: the killing curse 

The Deviners

A killer book 

The Diviners by Libba Bray 

I’m not sure if this question means “killer” as in a good book, or “killer” as in lots of people die, so I picked a book that has both! The Diviners is freaky… Like I mean do not read this at night freaky… But it’s SO good! It’s made even better because I learned a lot about writing multiple POV characters while I was reading it! 

 

CONFUNDO: confusing charm 

Things fall apart

A book you find confusing 

Things Fall apart by Chinua Achebe 

I had to read this book for school last year, (which should tell you something right there), and the only thing I got out of it was that it involved African politics. Seriously… If you’ve read the book, and you can understand it without consulting spark notes, please explain the general plot line to me! As far as I can tell, it doesn’t have one! 

 

EXPECTO PATRONUM: patronus charm 

Fangirl Cover

Your spirit animal book 

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell 

The first answer that came to mind was Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, or Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, but this tag already shows that I’m a total Potterhead, so I’ll be somewhat original. Fangirl is the first contemporary I’ve read and liked in a long while. As I said in my review, Fangirl didn’t seem to have much of a plot, but I was really able to connect with Cath, the main character. As much as I try not to admit it, I am a lot like her, and that’s why I’m saying it’s my spirit animal book. 

 

SECTUMSEMPRA: dark charm 

Anna Dressed in blood

A dark, twisted book 

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake 

I already used the Diviners in this tag, so the dark charm goes to Anna Dressed in Blood. It is definitely dark and twisted! Like we’re talking’ voodoo dark and twisted! It was seriously creepy, perhaps because I was reading it around midnight since I couldn’t sleep, but it was also really sweet. It’s got some of the best characters I’ve seen in a long while, and it almost made me cry at one point. It’s probably made it onto my list of books with the reread ability factor, which is NOT easy to do! I could keep fan-girling, but I’ll save that for my review which should be going up some time tomorrow. 

 

APARECIUM: revealing charm 

The Fault in Our Stars

A book that surprised you in a great way 

The Fault in Our stars by John Green 

I am not a contemporary reader, and i don’t enjoy reading about real-life diseases. I have enough real-life diseases; I don’t need to read about them… That being said, I absolutely LOVE The Fault in Our Stars! I picked it up after about ten people yelled at me for refusing to read it, and I read the thing through in two days. It was SO sad… I mean… One character dies… But at the same time it was beautiful. The characters were so real and open that I was really able to connect with them, which honestly isn’t something I’m usually able to do with a contemporary novel. I’m glad I read it, and I’ll probably end up rereading it! 

 

I’m not sure who has and hasn’t done this tag, or who is and isn’t a Potterhead, so if you wanna do the tag, do the tag! Drop a link to your post in the comments or tweet me @Cheyenne_writes, and I’ll check out your answers! 

 

P.S… I found all those cover images myself, so please forgive me if any of them aren’t what they’re supposed to be! The blind girl finding pictures doesn’t always end well! If it’s anything completely insane, please, I beg of you, clue me in in the comments! I’m trying to keep the blind blunders on this blog to a minimum… 😉

Book Review: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

~ Cheyenne Raphael ~ Leave a comment

Carry On Cover

Title: Carry On 

Author: Rainbow Rowell 

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press 

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance 

Published: October 6, 2015

Pages: 384 

Synopsis: 

Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who’s ever been chosen.

That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.

Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here—it’s their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, and a mystery. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story — but far, far more monsters.

 

*Synopsis and cover art from www.rainbowrowell.com. 

 

☆☆☆☆☆

I am giving Cary On five out of five stars because it is absolutely amazing! If you’ve read Fangirl, (click here for my review), you will understand the meaning behind Carry On a bit better. In fangirl, Cath is writing fictional fan fiction for a fictional fantasy series, and Carry On is Cath’s fictional fan fiction brought to life by Rainbow Rowell! A lot of people are criticizing Cary On for being a rip off of Harry Potter, but honestly I don’t see that. Yes, it features a school of magic, a dark creature trying to harm magic, spells that relate to common words and phrases, and a young chosen one who seems like the worst chosen one ever, but the story still seems to be a world away from the Potterverse in my opinion. Harry Potter has a more fantastical flow to the words, like it’s set in a far away world, while Carry On is set in the modern world, and has a more modern flow to it. I would consider HP full on fantasy, while Carry On to me is “modern fantasy,: if there is such a genre. 

I absolutely LOVE the romance in Carry On, and that coming from me is a huge complement since I’ve been called an “anti romantic” for my views of romance in YA literature. It’s amazing to me that Rainbow Rowell was able to turn two complete enemies around and make them fall for each other in one single book.

**Possible romantic spoiler alert!!! Baz and simon are sO awesome together, and I was shipping them even as I was reading Fangirl. I love how the little bit of diversity in Carry On seemed perfectly natural, unlike in some books when it seems forced, or like it’s there simply for the sake of being diverse. 

**Possible spoiler ended… 

Carry On is meant to be the eighth book in the fictional Simon Snow series that is portrayed in Fangirl, and I would honestly love to see Rainbow Rowell publish the other seven books. I really like how Carry On encompasses so much world building and character development in one novel without it seeming overwhelming, but I really would love to spend more time in the Simon Snow universe. In short, Carry On is amazing, and you should totally read it if you A: read Fangirl and loved it, or B: like YA romance/fantasy and want something a little bit different to read. 

Buy it now at: 
Let’s start a discussion! 

Have you read Carry On? Do you agree or disagree with my thoughts? I’d love to know what you think in the comments or on twitter @writergirl1999! 

Book Review: Fangirl

~ Cheyenne Raphael ~ 1 Comment

Fangirl Cover

Title: fangirl 

Author: rainbow Rowell 

Publisher: st. Martin’s Press 

Copyright: September 10, 2013 

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, Romance 

Pages: 445 

Synopsis: 

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, everybody is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath it’s something more. Fandom is life. It’s what got her and her sister, Wren, through losing their mom. It’s what kept them close.

And now that she’s starting college, introverted Cath isn’t sure what’s supposed to get her through. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fanfiction 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? 

 

*Synopsis and cover art from www.rainbowrowell.com 

 

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

I am giving Fangirl four out of five stars. I really love the characters, but I wasn’t that impressed with the plot… Honestly there was nothing that surprised me about it, and I would’ve given it a lower rating had it not been for the amazing characters. Cath, the main character, is someone I can really identify with. She’s the nerdy girl who loves books and writing, and who doesn’t really understand other people her age. I could totally see myself feeling the way Cath does about college. She’s the kind of person who over-analyzes every situation before she actually gets into it, and that is one of my biggest faults. Cath also writes fan fiction for a fictional fantasy series, and you get little snippets of what she’s writing at the start of each chapter. It’s almost like you’re reading two books in one, and I was completely fascinated with how that was done. Rainbow Rowell also published the story that Cath was writing during Fangirl, and I am currently in the midst of reading it. I can’t wait to review that as well because so far it is amazing! Cath’s writing in Fangirl features some diverse, (LGBTQ), characters, and I think that incorporating them into a YA contemporary novel was very well done! 

Fangirl is not the sort of thing I normally read, (I usually won’t touch it if it doesn’t involve magic or SciFi), but lots of people kept telling me to read it. I’m so glad I did, mostly because I’m a sucker for character focused stories and well-written diversity of any kind. It’s the kind of book that anyone can pretty much enjoy because it captures a bit of real life between the pages. It really gives you something to connect with because it demonstrates how you are going to grow up and away from things, and how it’s ok to let that happen. It shows that the things that used to make you who you are will not always define you as well as they once did, and that it’s ok to let other things define you as you grow and change. In short, (before I continue to ramble), Fangirl probably isn’t for you if you like twisting, surprising plots, but it does give you some things to think about. I’m really glad I stepped outside my fantasy bubble and gave it a chance. 

 

Let’s start A Discussion 

Have you read Fangirl? Do you agree with my thoughts? I’d love to know what you think in the comments! 

Welcome to the Blog of the Bookish and Writerly!

~ Cheyenne Raphael ~ 2 Comments

Hello and welcome to the blog of a writerly bookworm! I’m Cheyenne Raphael, (or that’s my future pen name anyway.) I write young adult fantasy and read a lot. I’m also blind as a bat, (minus the sonar hearing), so I use braille and screen-reading software to read, write, and maintain this blog. Please excuse any odd things like the occasional misplaced picture or oddly colored font… I won’t catch visual things like that unless it pops up in the blog coding, so clue me into anything really weird!

On this blog you can expect to find all sorts of things, including the unexpected! I post book reviews, writing tips and tricks, snippets of my own writing, stuff about the blind and visually impaired, and random life stuff that happens to pop up in my writerly mind! I love hearing from my followers, so feel free to drop me a comment with a post suggestion or just general feedback. If you’d like to know more about me, go here! And if you’d like to contact me directly, go here! I look forward to chatting with all you fellow writers and bookworms!