Monthly Recap : February

February, to say the least, is a month full of tests and quizzes and assignments. There are no weeks without one of those (in fact, I have a 1 week full of those on the last week of February). I think March will be the same, since I'll have my mid-term tests in March. February is also a month of parties and family-gatherings, apparently. I celebrated Chinese New Year by visiting many of my relatives (and get a lot of red envelopes <3). Also, some of my friends have their birthdays parties in this month. At least their parties are great (eventhough it's a little tiring).

On blogging life, you may notice that I participated in Love-A-Thon event! It's a really great event and I met many new friends through it. Plan to participate again next year :)

ARC Review : The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heillig

Title : The Girl from Everywhere
Author : Heidi Heilig
Genre : YA fantasy
Release Date : March 3rd, 2016
Publisher : Hot Key Books

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It was the kind of August day that hinted at monsoons, and the year was 1774, though not for very much longer.

Sixteen-year-old Nix Song is a time-traveller. She, her father and their crew of time refugees travel the world aboard The Temptation, a glorious pirate ship stuffed with treasures both typical and mythical. Old maps allow Nix and her father to navigate not just to distant lands, but distant times - although a map will only take you somewhere once. And Nix's father is only interested in one time, and one place: Honolulu 1868. A time before Nix was born, and her mother was alive. Something that puts Nix's existence rather dangerously in question...

Nix has grown used to her father's obsession, but only because she's convinced it can't work. But then a map falls into her father's lap that changes everything. And when Nix refuses to help, her father threatens to maroon Kashmir, her only friend (and perhaps, only love) in a time where Nix will never be able to find him. And if Nix has learned one thing, it's that losing the person you love is a torment that no one can withstand. Nix must work out what she wants, who she is, and where she really belongs before time runs out on her forever.

2016 Love-A-Thon : Book Spine Poetry

I'm so excited of this challenge, that I think about it weeks before this event started. I love reading poetry, but I'm suck at making them. After thinking for a few hours, I finally found something that sounds like a poetry (or maybe not). Here's the book :

The Blood of Olympus

(will) Unravel Me,

Ignite Me

(and I'll be a) Champion

Okay, I totally cheat there, but the lack of physical books in my house make it hard to not cheat (and I can't take photos of my ebooks in my phone since I'm too lazy to borrow my parent's camera). Also, I know, it might not be a poetry, but I try my best :)

How's your poetry?

2016 Love-A-Thon : Introduction

Hi everyone! So, as you know, the famous Love-A-Thon, which is hosted by Alexa, Cee, Mel, and Hazel, is back this year. I'm so excited to join it since last year I didn't get a chance to join (because I'm a newbie blogger and didn't know anyone. Those are a really dark days). Anyway, since it's an introduction post, here's a bit about myself.

Pen Name and Its Purpose

Ever since a long time ago until now, many authors use pen name. In case you didn't know (which I doubt), pen name is basically a fake name created by author or whoever in the publisher. Eventhough I already know the term "pen name" since a long time ago, I still didn't exactly understand why authors use pen name. After I do some searching on Google, I got some reasons why authors use pen name :

ARC Review : Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman

Title : Blackhearts
Author : Nicole Castroman
Genre : historical fiction, contemporary
Release Date : February 9th, 2015
Publisher : Simon Pulse

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Blackbeard the pirate was known for striking fear in the hearts of the bravest of sailors. But once he was just a young man who dreamed of leaving his rigid life behind to chase adventure in faraway lands. Nothing could stop him—until he met the one girl who would change everything.

Edward "Teach" Drummond, son of one of Bristol's richest merchants, has just returned from a year-long journey on the high seas to find his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, Teach dreams only of returning to the vast ocean he’d begun to call home. There's just one problem: convincing his father to let him leave and never come back.

Following her parents' deaths, Anne Barrett is left penniless and soon to be homeless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne is forced to take a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks, and Anne longs for escape. How will she ever realize her dream of sailing to Curaçao—where her mother was born—when she's stuck in England? 

From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn to each other, they’re trapped by society and their own circumstances. Faced with an impossible choice, they must decide to chase their dreams and go, or follow their hearts and stay.

Love is in the Air! | Ten Books to Read on Valentine

created by the Broke and the Bookish

Valentine is just a few days away! I didn't have a boyfriend, but I'm perfectly fine in spending Valentine Day with my book boyfriends ;) Anyway, here's ten swoony books to read on Valentine day!

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

This is an all-time favorites of mine! I've read it at least 3 times and I still get all giddy because of Xander and Caymen

“I love you,” I whisper.
“What was that? I didn’t hear you.”
“Don’t push me.”
“I love you, too,” he says. He puts his cheek against mine. “So much.” 

Review : The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

Title : The Sword of Summer
Author : Rick Riordan
Genre : YA fantasy
Series : Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #1
Release Date : October 8th, 2015
Publisher : Disney Hyperion

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Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother’s mysterious death, he’s lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers.

One day, he’s tracked down by a man he’s never met—a man his mother claimed was dangerous. The man tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god.

The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years.

When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision.

Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die . . .