Let's Talk: What I look for in a Book Blog

This is the first edition of 'Let's Talk' on my blog. I've been wanting to start a discussion meme like this for a long time, but I just never knew what to talk about:) 

Today I want to discuss the topic: What I look for in a book blog. This of course differs for everybody, but here I will state my like-factors and you can share yours in the comments or in your own discussion post. 

• Reviews of my kind/genre of books. 

This one is fairly obvious. I follow book blogs to get new recommendations for books and to see what other people think about the books I read. If a blog only reviews adult romance novels for example I won't follow it, because I will most probably never read their posts. A mix of genres is not a problem, but I mostly follow YA-only blogs. You have to have very interesting other posts, like discussions or tutorials, to make me follow a non-YA blog.

• A clear blog design.

Of course, the first thing you see when opening the blog is the blog design. I like blogs to be clear and clean. I don't really like sidebars on each side of the blog filled with flashy banners of all teams and blog tours etcetera, that in the worst case make music. This will just distract me from the actual content. A few banners are nice, just don't overdo it. The blog should be readable, so no weird fonts or fluorescent font colours. And if I want to follow the blog, I don't like to search for half an hour for the follow button.

• Good and original mix of posts.

I like the occasional meme. Especially the Top Ten Tuesday posts I always read with much joy on every blog. But when I see a blog only consisting of memes I click away very quickly. Memes are just not very original and personal, and I follow blogs for reviews in the first place. Same goes for blog tours. I like blogs with original content, like discussions and reviews. If you alternate these with some memes, I'm happy to follow you.

• Comment (back).

I like blogs who comment on other blogs and participate in discussions. If someone comments on my blog, I always try to comment back on a post on their blog. And if I see a nice, thoughtful comment on a blog, I will definitely check the blog that commented out. Commenting is not a requirement for following, but it will bring me back to your blog once I follow you and it will get you noticed by others.

And please: leave your blog link in the comment or in your Disqus profile/name, otherwise I won't be able to visit your blog!

Here are a few examples of blogs that meet the points above:

I swim for oceans - Has a great 'Let's Talk' meme!

A bookish heart - Original post mix!

Flip that page - Super fun discussions!

YA escape from reality - Awesome comments!

There are many more blogs I love and frequently visit. Sorry if I did not mention you, I love you! 

I hope you guys liked this post and I'd love to know what you think.

What do you like or dislike in a blog?

The Scorpio Races - Maggie Stiefvater [Review]

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Scorpio Races

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Series: Stand-alone

Release Date: October 18th 2011

Pages: 404

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 

Blurb:

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

Update on YA Dystopian Challenge

As I mentioned in this post I joined the 'Yearly Challenge: Favourite YA Dystopian Book' from the YA Dystopian Club on Goodreads. 

For this challenge you first need to pick your favourite YA Dystopian book. I chose The Hunger Games. Then, all you have to do is spell out it's title using the titles or authors' names of books you will read in the challenge.

This is my progress since June 18th.

T - Reboot by Amy Tintera

H - The Host by Stephanie Meyer
E - The Moon Dwellers by David Estes

H - Boundless by Cynthia Hand Finished June 22th

U - Unwind by Neal Shusterman  Finished July 3rd

N - Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi Finished June 26th

G - Gone by Michael Grant

E - Extinguish by JM Darhower

R - Rush by Eve Silver

G - Goddess by Josephine Angelini

A - Across the Universe by Beth Ravis Finished June 30th

M - Crown of Midnight by Sarah Maas

E - Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins Finished June 19th

S - Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo Finished June 24th

Of course Crown of Midnight and Extinguish aren't even out yet, so I cannot read those unfortunately. The rest is all waiting for me on my E-reader. I'm especially excited to read Goddess, since I loved the first 2 books in the Starcrossed series.

So I finished 6 books in the challenge since June 18th.

I loved them all, except Sweet Evil and Across the Universe, I wasn't really a fan of those books.. The rest all got 4 stars, here are their reviews:

Siege and Storm (Grisha #2) by Leigh Bardugo

Boundless (Unearthly #3) by Cynthia Hand
Sweet Evil (#1) by Wendy Higgins

Across the Universe (#1) by Beth Ravis 
Under the Never Sky #0.5, #1 and #2 by Veronica Rossi

Unwind (#1) by Neal Shusterman

Are you currently participating in any challenge?

Blog Survey!

Hi lovely readers!

I've had this blog for 2 months now and I just wanted to see if it is to everyone's liking.
Anything you want to say about my blog, you can say in this survey, don't hold back:)
Thanks in advance for filling in this survey, it really helps me!

If you have any questions about the survey, just comment.




Thanks for helping me improve my blog!

-xx- Eveline

Top Ten Tuesday #8

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers over at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join.

This week: Top Ten Words/Topics That Will Make You NOT pick up a book

If either of these 1o things are in the blurb or a review of the book, I will probably not read it or it will get little stars in my own review.

1. Erotica

I don't judge people who read these kinds of books, but this topic just really doesn't attract me.

Examples: Fifty Shades of Gray and similar books.

2. Love triangle

It's not like I would not read any book with a love triangle in it, because then I probably could not read any YA. But if the blurb/review makes it seem like the love triangle is the most important part of the novel I won't pick it up. The romance should never overshadow the actual plot, this goes for every sort, not just love triangles.

Example: The Elite

3. Depressing topics

I read books for fun. That doesn't mean every book I read has to be all about happy stuff, but books particularly about serious stuff, like death and depression, I want to avoid. It just gets me depressed myself.

Examples: The S-Word, Thirteen Reasons Why

4. Super arrogant protagonist/love interest

When the blurb already mentions such a person I immediately get repulsed from the book. I really hate these characters and when they are so obviously arrogant it's mentioned in the summary, I'm not going to like it. There's nothing wrong with a bad boy, but only if he actually has a good side.

Examples: The Collector, Obsidian

5. Instalove/ unrealistic romance

'She meets a mysterious boy and is immediately attracted to him. After this meeting she can't get him out of her head and has to know him.'

If something like this is in a blurb I will already be irritated with the book. I get that people are attracted to each other without really knowing the other, but instantly loving another person and getting obsessed with them.. no. This happens in so many books and it's just not realistic. 

Example: Across the Universe, Unraveling

6. 'The New (fill in a very famous book)'

I don't like it when this is said in a blurb. I know it's to attract readers who liked those other famous books, but it gives too many high expectations. Most books can't possibly rise to the level of these famous books, and the comparison just makes them look bad. And is it not good to be unique and not to be compared to another book?

Examples: The Testing, The 5th Wave

7. Whiny/unlikeable protagonist

When in a review people talk about an unlikable MC they could not connect too, I'm already hesitant to read the book. I like to be able to identify with the MC. Of course she/he does not have to be perfect, but if I get constantly irritated by this person, there's something wrong.

Example: Across the Universe, Parasite

8. Too many/confusing POVs

Multiple POVs in books can be amazing, if only they are clear, distinguishable and written in the same narrative. I like the POVs to be in different chapters, that is the clearest. If at a certain moment I don't know who's speaking anymore, the whole story will get confusing.

Example: Of Poseidon

9. Too little worldbuilding

Especially with dystopians worldbuilding is very important, I like to have a good view of the world and how it came to be. In dystopians/sci-fi's this is extra important because the world is not our own. If I am kept in the dark for a long time or the worldbuilding is so minimal I have no idea how to imagine a world, I don't like it.

Example: Legend

10. Bad grammar

Bad use of grammar is so annoying. And no, this is not only the case in self-published books. A few mistakes are not that bad, but if I'm constantly distracted by them I will get the urge to quit the book.

Put the link to your TTT in the comments!

All our Yesterdays - Cristin Terrill [Review]

This review may contain spoilers.

All our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

Title: All our Yesterdays

Author: Cristin Terrill

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Series: Stand-alone

Release Date: September 3rd 2013

Pages: 368

Rating: ★★★1/2

Blurb:

"You have to kill him." 

Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.

Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside. 

Marina has loved her best friend James since the day he moved next door when they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles apart, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Now someone is trying to kill him. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it. At least not as the girl she once was. 

All Our Yesterdays is a wrenching, brilliantly plotted story of fierce love, unthinkable sacrifice, and the infinite implications of our every choice.

Blog Tour: Keeper of Reign by Emma Right [Interview + Excerpt + Giveaway]

Title: Keeper of Reign

Author: Emma Right

Date Published: 5/19/2013

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Blurb

Books written in blood. Most are lost, their Keepers with them. A curse that befell a people. A Kingdom with no King. Life couldn’t get more harrowing for the Elfies, a blend of Elves and Fairies. Or for sixteen-year-old Jules Blaze. Or could it? 

For Jules, the heir of a Keeper, no less, suspects his family hides a forgotten secret. It was bad enough that his people, the Elfies of Reign, triggered a curse which reduced the entire inhabitants to a mere inch centuries ago. All because of one Keeper who failed his purpose. Even the King’s Ancient Books, did not help ward off that anathema. 

Now, Gehzurolle, the evil lord, and his armies of Scorpents, seem bent on destroying Jules and his family. Why? Gehzurolle’s agents hunt for Jules as he journeys into enemy land to find the truth. Truth that could save him and his family, and possibly even reverse the age-long curse. Provided Jules doesn't get himself killed first.