Love Mangakas in Anime? Then 'Monthly Girls Nozaki-kun' is For You!

Thursday, March 31, 2016


Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kunGekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun (Monthly Girls Nozaki-kun)

Studio: Doga Kobo
Producer: TV TokyoFrontier Works,Media FactoryAT-XSony Music Communications
Genre: Comedy, School, Romance, Shounen
Episodes: 12
Episode Length: 24 min per episode



Chiyo Sakura is a cheerful high school girl who has fallen head over heels for the oblivious Umetarou Nozaki. Much to Chiyo's confusion, when she confesses to her beloved Nozaki, he hands her an unfamiliar autograph. As it turns out, the stoic teenage boy is actually a respected shoujo mangaka, publishing under the pen name Sakiko Yumeno! A series of misunderstandings leads to Chiyo becoming one of Nozaki's manga assistants. Throughout the hilarious events that ensue, she befriends many of her quirky schoolmates, including her seemingly shameless fellow assistant, Mikoto Mikoshiba, and the "Prince of the School," Yuu Kashima. Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun follows Chiyo as she strives to help Nozaki with his manga and hopes that he will eventually notice her feelings.

Likes:

  • The side character couples were much more interesting than Nozaki and Chiyo. Seo and Wakamatsu had this confusing relationship, with Seo being the beloved Lorelei. And Hori and Kashima were so cute. They had this love hate relationship, but I loved it so much. They kept pushing each other down and yelling, but they really did care for each other. I wanted these couples to get together more than Chiyo and Nozaki. Chiyo and Nozaki was so boring. There were episodes when they disappeared entirely.

Dislikes:


  • There was a lack of plot. The story didn't seem to follow any sort of path. There weren't dates or attempts to confess. It was a lot of boring nothing. You could pick up the story at any episode and still get the gist. I was tired by the lack of anything.
  • The main couple is boring. As I said, I didn't particularly care if they got together. They didn't have chemistry. And, at times, you could forget that's Chiyo like Nozaki. They barely talked. And most of it was research for the manga. While I liked their work relationship, nothing came out of it. Just boring gaga stuff.
  • There isn't an ending per se. The couples I wanted together weren't together. I needed more. Some closure really. I wanted people to kiss and hug and just be adorable fluffy couples. That's what I watched this show for. And I have nothing to show for it? Boring.

This is Why I Stay: Ten Things That I Love About the Book Blogging Community

Wednesday, March 30, 2016


People typically talk about the community when they explain why they love blogging. And while I do love the community, I feel like we're too vague about what is the 'community'. So I've made a (totally awesome) list about what exactly I love about the book blogging community.

1) People who help InterBlogCon in any way
InterBlogCon is an event in July to connect book bloggers all across the world. But it's not something I could do alone. I've had help, and I appreciate all of it. I really do. Thanks to all the people who have signed up for moderator or teacher. Thanks to my three hosts Joan, Ali, and Claire. Thanks to the people who donated swag for the giveaways. You guys always make me happy with all the support you give to, not only me, but the event. Thanks.
By the way...you should check it out. ;)
If you want to attend
If you want to teach

2) Advice
Originally, I sought out a mentor to help me figure out what I was doing. It didn't work out. In the end, I just started to wing it. I still don't know how I've made it so far. But I've noticed that people give out advice EVERY DAY. Through discussion posts or simply a Tweet, people (who are more experienced) give out advice. And I try to take it.

3) Well wishes
When things get rough in life, who do you turn to? For me, I Tweet things out. My thoughts. My emotions. My reactions. But when things go sour, people in the community flock to your side. They give you prayers and well wishes and get well soons. They empathize with you.
And this is great. Really great. It can really pick up somebody's spirits. And I know this from personal experience.

4) Fangirling
I watch anime. Three or so of my good book blogger friends love anime too. I can fangirl and flail over my favorite animes and books and characters. Because FLAILING. And I get to do this because of my blogger friends.

5) Cute book bloggers
You guys are adorable. Just so so adorable. Enough said. Let me go flail over your cuteness.

7) Awesome Twitter chats
Alphabet soup. RQWN. BBTC. Twitter chats are amazing. You meet new people (which goes with number eight) and learn new things. And have an overall fun time. I love chats like this so much. And it's a lot of work. Trust me, I know.

8) Meeting new and awesome people
I'm shy. It's just me. I don't interact with people a lot. But I do interact online. I do it a lot. I love meeting people. It's so much fun. Even during Twitter chats. You can't stay with the same people over and over. You have to spread out and meet new people. And it's amazing.

9) Do amazing things
Book bloggers do amazing things. Internationally or no. People volunteer and help. And Fable's Library started a program to donate to nonprofit organizations even. Book bloggers are humans too.

10) Love and support
Thank you for all your help. In anything. You always love and support what I do. And what everyone else does.

Sweets, Sweets, and More Sweets For Me

Monday, March 28, 2016
Since I already did a bookish list of stuff I want, I'll give you a fun list of snacks and sweets I'd like to eat. Because Easter baskets are full of snacky goodies.

Sweet

Cadbury egg
Dude. This stuff is basically chocolate on crack...wait...that makes sense...ugh. Let's correct that. It's chocolate with caramel. And any chocolate and caramel is an A++ for me! And it's also Easter related!

Kinder
Kinder is delicious. I love it. The milky taste within is just -flails-. So I'd definitely want this in my Easter basket.

Oatmeal raisin cookie
Unlike many who despise oatmeal raisin cookies, I have a certain fondness for them. Because YUM. The rough texture...the little raisin surprise. Totally delicious. 
I also quite like peanut butter cookies (but I hate peanut butter. I love being a conundrum.) 

Cookie dough
I've never actually had cookie dough before. It seems unsanitary to me...but I'll try it! I've had those yummy cookie dough bite, so why not step it up? 

Cool whip
You're probably super confused by Cool Whip is on this list. It's because you can make ice cream with it! Just stick it in the fridge and tada! ice cream! (With less calories too!)

Savory/Korean-ish
Lays Korean BBQ chips
If you've ever had these chips, you'll understand. They are amazing. I love the taste. It's mildly spicy and a little meaty. (I love Korean food really. Except the spicy stuff. That's a no-no.)

Crispi Rolls
You'd never think that these things are super delicious. But they are! My aunt and uncle introduced me to them. And I am ADDICTED. They are crunchy but kinda soft-ish. And the taste is fantastic. Plus, they don't have a lot of calories!

Corn Tube
While this doesn't sound so appealing, these little corn tubes are pretty awesome. This is not the exact brand I've had, but the general idea is the same. The hollow middle is actually pretty cool (but you're basically eating air.)

Japanese snacks
Candy kit
The idea of a candy kit might be a little disgusting, but they look fun. You use powders and water to make candy foods. People say these can be delicious or disgusting, but it really depends. I'm in it for the creation and not really the eating.

Mochi
Mochi is one of the Japanese snacks I have tried. And they're pretty good. Chewy and squishy and powdery, mochi is delicious. (Unless it's like...taro flavor or whatever.)

Green Tea Kit Kat
I've heard so much about these! I've been dying to try one. And I'm in my matcha/green tea phase. Sooo.

Green Tea Pejoy
Pejoy is better than Pocky because a) there is cream INSIDE the tube and b) Pocky is mostly cracker tube thing and not filling (and I prefer the filling). So Pejoy is perfect for people who prefer the cream filling thing.
And I like matcha. Duh.

What would you like in your Easter basket? Tell me! I'd like to know.

We're Going on a Trip in Our Favorite Rocket Ship To Anime

Friday, March 25, 2016

Fictional worlds can be totally amazing. (Except for the ones with a lot of fantasy. I'd probably die if I went to those.) 

We'll be taking a quick trip to some awesome animes. And I'd probably survive in these. Probably.

Hetalia Gauken or Hetalia Academy

Welcome to the Hetalia Academy! You see some bishie boys just casually walking in, decked out in stripes and blue blazers. One with a rogue curl bouncing freely walks up to you. "Veeee. Oh, hello, ragazza! (apologies if you're male...)" he gushes, grinning stupidly. You wave weakly and smile shyly. "I'm Feliciano. And you look new. Come with me, pretty ragazza!" He snatches your hand and runs around the halls. He throws out names like nothing to them, and you wave, trying to commit it all to memory. Three halls in and you give up. You'll never remember this.
Feliciano rounds the corner and grins. "There are my friends. Ludwig and Kiku. Hello hello!" he calls. You spot the two, one a German and one a Japanese. You nod as somebody slams into you from behind. You whirl around, about to scold the rude person, but you're frozen as you see a wavy-haired man with a bit of stubble on his chin. 
"Oh, I'm sorry, mi amor. Please forgive me," he says. Feliciano pats the other man on his man, cheering and calling him 'Big Brother France'. You gulp nervously. The Frenchman takes your hand and kisses it. "I am Francis. It is nice to meet you, but I must go. Goodbye, Feliciano. Goodbye, mi amor," he says, floating away. You stare as Feliciano pats your shoulder. "He's Francis," Feliciano says simply before launching into another monologue.

The day slowly ends, and you're exhausted. You flop onto your bed and groan. Your roommate Elizabeta glances at you. "Are you okay?" she says, bending down to look at you. You nod weakly. "I hope you had a good day," she says, pulling your head into her lap in a motherly way. You shrug and curl up into a ball. She pets your head, coming her fingers through your hair. 
Just your first day at Hetalia Academy...
And you can't wait for what comes next.

(Sorry. I had NO CLUE what to write. By the way, this is actually a game, and you play Seychelles.)


Ouran High School Host Club

A blond beams at you. "Hello, lovely," he says, leading you into the host club. You're new to the school, but, of course, you heard about the host club. A single glance around the room is dizzying. So many girls surround a few boys. And you don't know where to look first. The blond leads you to a couch and sits you down.
"What can I get for you?" he asks. 
"N-Nothing," you stammer. "Who are you?"
"I am Tamaki host extraordinary," he says dramatically, placing a hand on his heart.
He walks away but returns with a tea set. He pours out some Earl Grey, and you sip (even if you don't particularly like tea or Earl Grey.) There are a set of twins and a hulking form and a smaller one on the massive guy's shoulders. And a guy who is glaring at you. Avoid! 
You get up and smile. "Thanks for this, but I should go," you say abruptly. Tamaki, who was talking, frowns. "What's wrong?" he asks, concern in his eyes. You shake your head. "I'll be back tomorrow," you call as you hurry out of the room. "Thanks but goodbye!" You wave and leave the room, heart slamming into your chest.
'Stupid bishie boys,' you think.

(And because we live on the side of danger, let's go somewhere...scary.)

Future Diary

I think a mini GIF party will sum up your trip to Future Diary


You first arrive and think everything is okay. Everything seems normal. Seems.


But somebody threatens your (puny) life. With a knife. But you can work your way out of the situation.
Things are not normal.


You run for your life. But the creepy, pink-haired girl chases you! Insert screaming! 


But you're saved by a white-haired guy.  (Who is totally cute.) He sticks to your side and helps you through this mess. 

And you leave. Stupid vacation. You're going to the Bahamas next year...

Tomato Talks Episode 4: Small Blog, Big Personality

Thursday, March 24, 2016


Today, I talked about small blogs. And how much it sucks to be a small blogger.

Well...what is a small blog? 
For me, it's somebody whose blog isn't as well-known. It's not some blogging household name. 

So...what's a big blog?
It's somebody who is more well-known in the blogging community. People recognize your name.

You might think there are no perks to being a small blogger.
But there are. Even if you don't want to admit it.
You can mess up and not as many people notice. That's a perk. A big one. 
And you can try out new things and not have people judge you. Awesome, right?

But everyone wants to be popular. Even I do. For me, there's another level of feeling sad about being a small blogger. 
I sometimes think I won't get popular. You might feel that way too.
So here are some tips for people who feel like they'll never make it to the big leagues.
1) everyone started like this. So they get it. You can talk to anyone about the struggles
2) you're amazing. People just might not know this yet
3) realize that there is a lot of standards for big blogs. So it's not as pretty as you thought.
4) and it takes time and luck. The big blogs might have been lucky to get a big break. I'm not saying that's universal but it's possible.

Don't let being a small blog dampen your spirits. YOU'RE AWESOME. Don't let anyone say otherwise!

And...if you'd like to gain 'followers fast', you could join an established blog. They have a readership and all. But don't join one you don't like. You want to fit in. In a way.

Why Six of Crows Should Be A Series

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Six of Crows is an amazing book. And it has so may interesting complexities that would be super cool as a show.

Here are four reasons why:

  1. The world would be amazing. There are so many countries and cities. I imagine the opening credits would be an overview of the whole city of Ketterdam. Wouldn't that be amazing? 
  2. The costumes would be great to see. The characters wear different outfits. Inej has her little 'skinny and showing it off' outfit. And Nina has her flowy dress. We've seen it in the SOC poster, but it'd be different to see them in a show. 
  3. The three-dimensional characters would come to life. Their banter and sarcastic words would definitely work well in a show. I would love to see all the characters' interactions in a show. It'd be like seeing your mental image on a screen.
  4. The cultural is rich and flavorful. There are small nuances which show so much culture. The pleasure houses show that the people aren't necessarily loyal or truthful to spouses. And there are the gangs themselves. What does that say? We have these things in our culture, and it makes the SOC world seem more real.

Perhaps We Shall Dance: A Dramatic Reading

Monday, March 21, 2016

I was supposed to read a scene or act out a scene from a book or something. But I'm weird, so I decided to read a scene from my WIP Soaring, Falling, Crashing (a tentative title.)
I give you a good five minutes of background info, so you can skip ahead if you don't want rambling and background info. I've pasted some background info below.

It's a story about the House system and betrayal and traitors. The main character Oswald 'Oz' and love interest Alessandro 'Les' are part of the Invisible House and are participating in the House Trials for Acrobats and Herbalist respectively.
In this scene, Les is stressed out because he's a well-known Herbalist advising the Small/Smaller House Alliance against the Higher Order. And, of course, shy Les gets mad at Oz. And the scene is about what follows.

Not Too Into 'Into the Dim'

Friday, March 18, 2016


25897792

Into the Dim

Author: Janet B Taylor
When fragile, sixteen-year-old Hope Walton loses her mom to an earthquake overseas, her secluded world crumbles. Agreeing to spend the summer in Scotland, Hope discovers that her mother was more than a brilliant academic, but also a member of a secret society of time travelers. Trapped in the twelfth century in the age of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Hope has seventy-two hours to rescue her mother and get back to their own time. Along the way, her path collides with that of a mysterious boy who could be vital to her mission . . . or the key to Hope’s undoing. 

Books with hype are the worst. Why? Because they have unnaturally high standards. And, to me at least, they are only half as interesting as people make them out to be.
This book was one of those hyped books. Of course, there are a lot of hyped books of 2016. But in the winter months, this was one of those hyped books.
So I felt disappointed because I just thought it was meh.

Likes:

  • Admittedly, Bran was kinda funny...and kinda cute. His quips were quite well thought out. It was pretty obvious that he was smart. But the quick turn around betrayals just grated on my nerves. He really wasn't putting himself in a good light. But the care he had for his brother kinda explained why. Honestly, I don't think cute and funny guys like Bran fall for quirky but genius girls like Hope. At least...that's what I think.
  • I felt like the author had really researched her time period. Not that I know much about 12th century England. But the characters seemed quite accurate. Not that we know exactly what Eleanor might do. I also felt like the research for all the useless facts Hope knew about other things were well-researched too. Not that I know about those things either.
Dislikes:

  • I seriously doubt that homeschooled, seemingly-unathletic Hope could do all the flips and jumps she did. She was portrayed as meek and shy in the beginning but somehow gained all the confidence in the world by the end. Highly unlikely? I think so! She slashed and stabbed and jumped and rolled. Since when has Hope ever mentioned exercise? Horse back riding doesn't count here. She magically learned parkour in the few days/weeks between arriving at the manor and leaving for the past. Without Phoebe and Collum, she'd probably be dead.
  • The dueling 'families' made me a little annoyed. This idea reminded me too much of Romeo and Juliet for me to like the romance. Also, these two barely knew each other. It was basically another Romeo and Juliet fated star-crossed lovers romance. And...man, do I hate that. The romance was supposed to be hot and one of those 'I feel like I know you' things, but it was barely touched upon. To me, Hope wasn't used to flirting and fell for the first flirt. One of those 'I was isolated but now I'm not' things.
  • The cliffhanger ending made me cry in horror. Oh how I hate cliffhangers. I might just continue a series because of a cliffhanger. Even if I didn't feel starstruck. And this is one of those instances. I have no compelling need to continue the series...except for the epic cliffhanger. I WANT MORE.

DateMe! Ravenda and Dyvian


Today, I create wonderful dating profiles for my babies from Ravensoul and King of the Crows: Dyvian and Ravenda.

Dyvian

Sharp belted black trench: Gender: Male
Occupation: King of the Ravens. Also college kid. I can always handle more than one thing!
Likes: Sunshine. (Not the sunshine you're thinking of.) Being with friends. Happy things! 
Dislikes: Nothing. Except the freaks who killed my Sunshine... -clenches teeth- (He is actually serious about this comment.)
Past dating experiences: I had a significant other once. But...she died. -looks broodingly to the horizon-
What type of person are you? I am the happy person who will always be your friend. Do you need a hug? I'm your guy! (With a plan for revenge.) WREN. (Okay okay.)
Where would you go on the first date? Hm...the amusement park. It's sweet and cute. And fun!
What type of person are you interested in? I'm interested in a happy person like me. (Without my emotional luggage.) What did you say? (Oh me? Nothing.)
Do you want kids? Of course! I love kids.
Thoughts on religion? Hm...I'd rather not answer.
What is your favorite restaurant? I like this quaint little place in my hometown. It has amazing and weird stuff. Like roasted mice! Yum.
What is your dream job? Hm...King? But I am King!
What is your favorite book? Romeo and Juliet. A lovely love story. And one that is oh-so similar. (Star crossed lovers...how true.) Stop, Wren!
What would you do for your loved ones? Anything. Everything.
What place do you want to go to the most? Home. I miss it. But I can't go back. Not yet... (Not until I-) NO.

Ravenda

https://www.etsy.com/shop/FeralCrafter  Dark Mage Mask by FeralCrafter on Etsy, $250.00: Gender: Male
Occupation: (Epic Brooder...) King of the Crows.
Likes: I do not like things. (Brooding. Pouting. Ordering people around.)
Dislikes: You. And the rest of the world. (Please ignore him. He's rude.)
Past dating experiences: I don't like humans. I don't like woman. (He's kidding...)
What is your favorite book? I don't read.
What is your worst fear? I fear nothing.
Where would you go on a first date? Nowhere.
What is your secret spots? That's none of your business. (He means flying. Teehee.)
What do you think you did in your past lives? I don't believe in that.
How would you react to another country invading your country? Retaliation is the only answer.
Thoughts on other races? Peacocks are pathetic. All show and no brains. (So...background. Ravenda and Dyvian are part of the Animalia Kingdom. Which is basically all the creatures on Earth. But in human form. And in the story King of the Crows, Ravenda talks to the peacock king. And kinda hates him.)
How do you define love? It's stupid. And a pathetic emotion from humans only. I am above that.
Describe your happiest moment. The second I left this interview. (How rude! I will ignore that. I know you love me.) I do not.
What type of person are you looking for? I am not. Dyvian made me do this. Now, let me leave.

Do you like this? I do! I'd love to do more. I love involving my characters. SO MUCH FUN.

Screaming and Shouting and Overall Ranting: Stephanie Perkins Books

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

While I love gushing over my favorite books, I do have books I hate. And I have one series I completely hate. I just... -roar-
But I'll try to put my anger into words. And what is the series? The 'Anna and the French Kiss' series.
-shiver-

Begin rant.

These are the said books

For one, the characters are highly unbelievable. The girls are so completely unlikable. The only one I could stand was Lola. And that was only because she was quirky.
They couldn't be real people. (Wow...that sounds super rude...) For me, if a character seems like they could exist in the real world, then that's the sign of a real character. Anna and Isla were impossible characters. They couldn't have existed in real life. And a lot of their 'characteristics' would, in no way, have gotten them a guy. Sorry not sorry. More on this relationship thing later.
The guys were too...perfect. Hot. Multicultural. Genius. I wanted to gag. This is not possible. Let's look at my friends. There's Noah of the Messed Up Kidney. He's a science nerd. And he has the worst romantic troubles in the world. So...is he like Cricket? Etienne? Josh? Just think about that...hm...no. And my other friend Matthew. He is in no way like any of the three love interests. He's perverted and likes anime. The two of us (Matthew and I) created this weird fan fic about Noah and Bo (who are both friends of ours). It ended up quite amazing if I do say so myself... But my friends are not these guys. And, trust me, high school boys are either creepy, perverted, or anything but hot and sexy as these boys are 'supposed' to be. Haha. No.

Two, back to characters...Isla is a creep. I hate her the most. She is a stalker. She eyes Josh longingly. But she never talks to him? She knows his movements but isn't a friend. That is pretty much the definition of a stalker. She freaked me out.
Plus, she freaked the flip out over a drawing of Josh's ex. As if he hadn't had a lot of firsts with her. How rude! And she made him re-draw it. Okay, Josh loved his ex. And while he might 'love' you now, his past isn't gone.
Insert expletive here...

Three, the romances are completely laughable. Why in the world would these guys fall for these girls?
Anna is so antisocial and pretty much hates the entire school. So why Etienne? Why her? You had so many girls you could choose from. And I hate how height was a major thing in this relationship. I'm on the shorter end. I'm maybe five feet, at most five feet one inch. So I am pretty short compared to my friends. I hate being the shortest in the bunch. So stop making Etienne's shortness 'cute'. It's making me mad.
Lola isn't too bad... Compared to the others, she's mild. Her quirky style is actually pretty cool. But still. I imagine she's the girl who only makes commitments in college. Not high school. Plus the boy next door is not her style.
And Isla and Josh. The creepiest romance I've ever read. I hate it. Josh should have just moved on, no Isla. Isla is just freaky. I can't stand her. She makes me so mad.

So. Have you read these books? What do you think?

Insert Magic and Turn Me Into Victor Vale

Monday, March 14, 2016
Sorry for not making an original graphic I had no clue what to do.
I'm not the typical, normal person. So I decided to turn YOU into the amazing Victor Vale. And I'm totally not that this seriously. So enjoy two 'Vicious' on crack things and one maybe-possible snippets.

Anything on crack is amazing. And by that, I don't seriously mean crack. Just YouTube SAO on Crack. Or something. They're so funny. I love it.
'Vicious' on crack. Begins in five...four...three...two...one.

You are handsome. Extremely so.
Not that you care.
But you are handsome. There. A self confidence boost. Whoosh.
Off topic.
You are walking down the street with your little sidekick Sydney by your side. But she's totally not your sidekick. She's like...your ally.
But that's not important.
You are going to extract revenge...on the bagel lady. She totally gave you the wrong order. And you're going to bring the pain hammer down. Sorta.
"Victor," Sydney says softly, "where are we going?"
"Nowhere...and everywhere," you reply.
The two of you round the corner and end up at the local shopping mall. You slide your sunglasses up your nose; they had been slipping.
'Hipster,' you think. 'I'm a total hipster.'
Swag.

Okay...that was totally not it. Let's try that again. For reals.

Blood runs down your fingers. You let the body slide to the ground. Sydney cups its cheek.
"Go well," she whispers. She glances up at your face. "Victor?"
You back away and shake your head. "Let's go," you say. "He was going to die anyways." You start to leave, but Sydney snatches your sleeve.
"But why..." she asks. "Why do we have the right to give and take lives?"
Her words freeze you. "Because we're cursed," you reply. You shake her little hand off your clothes and start to leave. But Sydney doesn't join you.
You stand in the doorway and dare a glance back. Sydney has crumpled and is weeping softly.
"Come on, Sydney," you call. "We have work to do."
Sydney looks up, tears glistening in her eyes. "Okay..."
She runs over and takes your hand. You stiffen slightly but relax.
The two of you walk away, leaving the corpse behind.
But you walk towards the future.

Okay...that totally works. Sorta? Let's put this on crack again. Ah...anime on crack is amazing. Okay. You know what, I'm making this an AU as well. An AU is an alternate universe. There are Genderbent! AUs and High School! AUs. Stuff like that. This will be a High School! AU. And on crack. It's gonna be INSANE.

"Swiggity swaggity," you say. "I'm gonna get Eli's booty." You saunter over and lean against the wall, staring obviously at his ass. Because who cares about hiding it? He was, and always would be, highly attractive. 'Best friends? Pssh,' you think.
He sits down on the bench and opens something, resting it on his knees.
Your swag sister Sydney struts over. "Yo." She winks slyly at you.
You smirk. "What's up, boo?" you ask. Sydney shrugs in response and eyes Eli.
"Yum," she says. "You going for it, Vicky?"
"Ugh. Ew. No. Never call me Vicky ever again," you say.
"Whyyy? It's an adorable name. It shows how much I wuv you." She pinches your cheek, but you scoff and scoot away. She pouts, rolling her eyes in annoyance. "Evil," she taunts. She darts forward, aiming to punch your cheek again. You swat at her hand and push her off.
"Come on. I have stuff to do," you whine. Sydney laughs and starts to go into the school. She blows a kiss at you. "Good luck, Vicky dear," she cries before disappearing into the dark halls of the school.
You push off the way and walk towards Eli. He's just being adorable and staring into the distance. "Hey," you say casually. Eli looks up from his...thing and smiles. "Ah, how are you, Vicky?" he asks. You roll your eyes. Sydney's claws were sliding into every day life. Ew.
"Fine, Eli," you reply. "You?"
"Enjoying my mag. It's good. Wanna a look?" he replies.
You shake your head. How did he not know? You did not swing that way. Eli stuffs the magazine into his bag, and you exhale. You're a badass, but dirty mags like that were so not your style. Just no.
"Whatcha come over to do?" Eli asks.
You lean in and brush your lips against his cheek. "I'm here for sweet, sweet love, Eli," you whisper.
Crimson blooms across Eli's cheeks. He slowly rises and glances at you. "In a minute, love," he says. He winks at you before slipping into the crowd. You whoop...on the inside of course. And you follow him.
He liked these games too much.

Love it? I did. Or...at least I loved writing it. Try writing 'swiggity swaggity' without laughing or smiling. Impossible, you know?
Also! You should totally check out Vicious. It's amazing. GO CHECK IT OUT. It's by Victoria Schwab in case you need it.

Totally Quotable: Sunday Street Team 'Beyond the Red'

Sunday, March 13, 2016
FullSizeRender-5

25898435Beyond the Red

Author: Ava Jae
Release Date: March 1, 2016
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Get it Here: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository

Alien queen Kora has a problem as vast as the endless crimson deserts. She’s the first female ruler of her territory in generations, but her people are rioting and call for her violent younger twin brother to take the throne. Despite assassination attempts, a mounting uprising of nomadic human rebels, and pressure to find a mate to help her rule, she’s determined to protect her people from her brother’s would-be tyrannical rule.

Eros is a rebel soldier hated by aliens and human alike for being a half-blood. Yet that doesn’t stop him from defending his people, at least until Kora’s soldiers raze his camp and take him captive. He’s given an ultimatum: be an enslaved bodyguard to Kora, or be executed for his true identity—a secret kept even from him.

When Kora and Eros are framed for the attempted assassination of her betrothed, they flee. Their only chance of survival is to turn themselves in to the high court, where revealing Eros’s secret could mean a swift public execution. But when they uncover a violent plot to end the human insurgency, they must find a way to work together to prevent genocide.

I have put together a short list of five AWESOME quotes from BTR. Enjoy!

"I am Avra, and an Avra never bends."
Page 25
I really love this quote because it shows you Kora's resilience. And she will do anything for her people. I love how much it shows about her. 
And this quote also how the society is built. The leader is stone. The leader is power. The leader is resilient and unmovable.

"Yes, I want to say. How crazy of me, to walk in here, dress up as a slave, and serve you water. I don't know what I was thinking." 
Page 174
This quote is just so sarcastic. I love it! I'm a huge fan of sarcasm. (Not that I'm good at using it in real life... Haha. My brand of sarcasm is vague. And my humor is dark. Fun times, people.) 

"I am fire. I am the suns."
Page 201
This description is amazing. Not that I'm implying I like romance. (No, my stance on romance is firm still.) I am a huge fan of using short phrases and descriptions in my writing. And this quote is the same style as mine. So, yes, I do love this quote

"We'll be with you wherever the stars reach, Esta said, but all I see is empty shadow."
Page 231
This quote is just so beautiful. I love how poetic it is. And the lack of hope seen in Eros's words... It pulls a heart-string. 

"Emptiness feels like a living thing. A parasite growing in the center of your chest, somewhere behind your heart, taking every ounce of warmth and light and happiness and consuming it until there's nothing left. Emptiness feels like exhaustion, like there's no reason to fight, no reason to take another breath, no reason to try to survive.
"But emptiness also feels like freedom. Because it doesn't just take the good, it takes the bad, too--the anger, the bitterness, the pain--and when it's done, it leaves you with just you. A cold, shell-like echo of yourself, but still you."
Page 231
Gosh. How relatable can that quote get? People feel like this every day. I feel like this sometimes. Once, I wanted to be an emotionless robot. Seriously. And putting this into words...amazing.

If I Don't Have These, I Can't Live

Friday, March 11, 2016


There are so many things I want. For birthdays or for Christmas. I made a wishlist around 2015 Christmas for stuff I want. A lot of random stuff on there, though. Haha.
So. The following list is stuff you should buy me for my birthday. Hint hint. And I'll make a more definite NEED list near my birthday.
But these are just the bookish things. Haha.

Evie Seo Vicious iPhone Case: https://society6.com/product/vicious-by-veschwab-we-could-be-heroes_iphone-case#9=375&52=377 (This only works if I switch onto the iPhone I got.)
Evie Seo Six of Crows hoodie: https://society6.com/product/six-of-crows-monster-white_hoody#7=107&19=145&8=37 (Because I need a new hoodie. Always.)
ALA tickets: http://2016.alaannual.org/rates (Sadly...my mom might not let me go. She is reluctant because she doesn't know who I'd stay with or plane stuff.)
This Savage Song ARC (Because I am a Schwab fan for life. Also, I founded VElites.)
Crooked Kingdom preorder (Because I like planning ahead. Also, SIX OF CROWS IS AMAZING.)
The Raven King preorder (I actually want one of the signed ones. With the book plate? Yeah, that.)

What would you like for Easter/your birthday/Christmas? 
(Because I'm totally preparing a gift. Wink wink)

Being Human Sucks: 'Symptoms of Being Human'



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Symptoms of Being Human

Author: Jeff Garvin


The first thing you’re going to want to know about me is: Am I a boy, or am I a girl?

Riley Cavanaugh is many things: Punk rock. Snarky. Rebellious. And gender fluid. Some days Riley identifies as a boy, and others as a girl. The thing is…Riley isn’t exactly out yet. And between starting a new school and having a congressman father running for reelection in uber-conservative Orange County, the pressure—media and otherwise—is building up in Riley’s so-called “normal” life.

On the advice of a therapist, Riley starts an anonymous blog to vent those pent-up feelings and tell the truth of what it’s REALLY like to be a gender fluid teenager. But just as Riley’s starting to settle in at school—even developing feelings for a mysterious outcast—the blog goes viral, and an unnamed commenter discovers Riley’s real identity, threatening exposure. Riley must make a choice: walk away from what the blog has created—a lifeline, new friends, a cause to believe in—or stand up, come out, and risk everything.


My emotions when I saw this book were as follows:
Shock, disbelief
Excitement
Fear
Dread
Though not in that order. People were hesitant with this book since the last genderqueer book didn't accomplish a lot.

Likes:

  • This book had real emotions and realistic portrayal. The story of Riley and Riley's troubles could be somebody else's. People get bullied over this. It's somebody's reality. I'm happy that the author wrote about this. He didn't hold back. He didn't hide the truth. He wrote about the bullying. And he went one step farther by showing the cyber bullying. In this day and age, people use social media to lash out at others. Cyber bullying is, sadly, something that happens. We can't prevent it really, unless you never use the Internet ever again. But then you'd be faced with real life bullying. And I'm not sure which is worse.
  • The blogging aspect was amazing. A lot of people turn to social media to vent and figure things out. I mean, I do. Even now. Blogs are great outlets, for the writer and reader. I remember that Instagram let me vent and helped me figure out a lot of things. In middle school, I learned more about the world via Instagram. Social media can teach you, but it can also be destructive. I'm happy that this book also had the social media focus. Social media is amazing but also a little detrimental. Also, bloglr just makes me laugh. Bloglr? Haha. Perfect.
  • The LGBT community was strong in this story. There was the Q. And the people who read Riley's blog. The sense of family was strong. I wanted more of that. It was intriguing to read. People who are outcasts band together. Even if they have nothing else in common. We're all different. But the same in a way. And we come together to form a community.
Dislikes:

  • The lack of plot really annoyed me. It seemed to just go with the flow. There wasn't an overarching story. To put things bluntly, Riley moved to a new school, Riley met new people, Riley was bullied, Riley came out, and Riley dealt with the aftermath. That is putting things in the most simplistic manner, but the story didn't continue past that. I wanted more of Trans Health Con and the coming out, but the story was too focused on the beginning (with the blog and the bullying.) The thing is Riley didn't do much in the beginning. It was a lot about the dysphoria. And not much else. I wanted more of the story. More of the after-coming-out.
  • Bec was just tiresome. Her mood swings and her appearances and disappearances were annoying me. I was sick of her. She was so rude to Riley, and she didn't deserve Riley. I just wanted to shake some sense into her. If I was given more about her life, I'd probably be more sympathetic. But this isn't Bec's story. It's Riley's.