10 Popular, Well Loved Series I Think I Should Finish

In the past, I have been known to enjoy binge reading a series or five, and these days, although reading in itself isn't as common a hobby as it was previously, I still enjoy swallowing entire series whole. Alas, while this habit isn't actually a bad one, an unfortunate reaction to that hobby is that I can sometimes quite frequently forget to give series I didn't mind a chance to improve, or I simply don't have to time, nor effort, to give a better the book a second impression. For some series, that's unfair, and for others, I've almost convinced myself that I should give them another go, or at least, consider it. Today therefore, I share with you 10 pretty popular and well loved series that I have a niggling feeling I should finish.

What's With The Absence of Fat Girls in Fiction?

I'm the first person to admit that I'm a fatty. I'm obese, if not severely, and if you were to name the most unhealthy foods, I could tell you right now that I probably love them. I've never been as big as I am now, and I've never been the right weight for my body size and type, but I seldom care. I eat what I want, and I don't have any physical health problems to stop me. The same can't be said for the fat girls in fiction, which, considering their size, seem damn near impossible to find. I ask you world, where are the fat girls in fiction?

Of course, the most obvious reason to not have fat girls, or boys for that matter, in fiction, is that it's not healthy, and in the most extreme cases, can kill you. Not something you want to be glorifying in front of young, impressionable children, am I right? Alas, growing up, I never read of any fat girls in fiction. Sure, I didn't read as much back then, but still, not a one, and that does nothing for a growing girl whose never had a boyfriend before. I wouldn't, and couldn't wear shorts because they suctioned on to my thighs, and I couldn't leave the house without a coat because I was afraid my bouncing belly would be off-putting. Was my double chin the reason people didn't want to be my babe, or was it my bingo wings, strapped to my arms, denying me a sweat-free life?

It's Time To Stop Using Sexual Assault and Rape In YA as 'Plot Development' or 'Character Personality Shifts'

I've lost count how many times I've read a young adult novel where the main character is trapped in a scene that has them fighting off somebody who's made a sexual pass at them, and I am willing to bet that you've read a scene exactly like that recently too. A scene of somebody being pressured into a situation they don't want to be in, being 'convinced' that what one person wants, they want too, having to forcibly shout, scream and beg for somebody to stop what they think is acceptable. I've read scenes like these one too many times, and I've reached breaking point.

Is this the kind of message we want to send to young readers - 'sexual assault and rape is a plot development in your life' - something that we should all have some sort of experience of to appreciate? That, in order to make it anywhere in life, you have to have been through something horrific and life changing and get through it forever changed, forever affected, to become the person we're meant to be? I know it's not the message I want to send, because I know how it feels..

5 Insanely Silly Love Triangle Tropes I'm Actually Sick Of

Plain and simple, I have an issue with love triangles. Most people have some sort of issue with love triangles and the tropes that come with it, not the mention the predictability or drama involved, however, I have quite a few issues.. all of them equally brain smashing. I am, as one would call it, a traditionalist in that sense. I like relationships to be very much a Spice Girls Christmas Number #1, and I have quite a few reasons for that, like so.

There's always a 'winner' and a 'loser'

Call it what you want, but there's always somebody that draws the short straw and gets left out of the love boat, and while I'm actually quite alright with that, my issue is why this usually takes numerous installments to get right? Some series go down the 'woman is a prize' route, which is entirely problematic in it's own right and is not okay in the slightest, but it implies at it's strongest that the entire plot is focused on finding Mr or Mrs Right?

If that isn't the case, it usually results in one of the romantic interests does something inherently horrific that results in the leading character essentially throwing away everything they've developed with them, see The Hunger Games, or  , resulting in the same scenario. Of course, this means the leading character doesn't have to 'choose' a love interest, in that the plot or the direction of the story chooses for them, which is in many ways, lazy writing, and in others, a cop out. It's almost always predictable too, which leads onto my second trope..

There's usually a 'good' option, and 'bad' option

When it comes to love triangles and their basic components, one of my biggest turn offs is having both an obviously good choice and a bad choice, good being the hero, the sidekick, the knight in shining armour, and the bad being, well, bad. The Grisha series is one clear example of a 'good vs bad' choice, and it's for this reason I am yet to continue with it - why must there be a good or bad, why can't there be a middle ground interest? Somebody who's interested in saving world, but doesn't mind if they have to kill a few people to get there? Somebody will a wonky moral compass, but unwavering loyalty and respect for the heroes they support? Why is there is always one or the other.

There doesn't actually have to be a 'good vs bad' option, as evident in If Only. Pine gives Jordan two perfectly good love interests, and not one of them is 'good' or 'bad' they're two very moral, well balanced, fleshed out characters and it worked, and it made sense. When a relationship is meant to work and characters are created to be together, you don't need choices, you just need chemistry.

Do Your Free Books Promotions Make Buying Cheap Okay?

I really like getting books for a bargain, and this is something that has never, and will likely never change. I enjoy spending hours online searching for the best price for the best books, buying used or second hand over brand new in order to spend less, and doing whatever it takes to save money. I'm without a doubt a cheap ol' gal, however, these habits have caused me to consider something much more sinister.

Does the price we pay (or don't pay) for a really book matter, as long as we're promoting it?

If we're searching out these book bargains and deals, buying them and having them shipped from different countries or from somebody else, and so not contributing to the amount of sales the author makes, is it hypocritical? It is excusable? Is it wrong in the grand scheme of things?

Let's say for example that you buy something on Amazon for less than the standard RRP, which is pretty common practice, someone somewhere is losing profits, whether that's the author, the publisher, the designers, the stores you could have purchased the book from instead. Does promoting that book on your blog, on your Instagram feed make up for that loss of profit, or is it okay?

7 Super Helpful Things To Consider When Reading Series

Once upon a time, I was told by Cait from Paper Fury that 'when I start a series I REALLY start a series' and it got me thinking about how and why I read so many series, and why I find it so easy to do. More so than ever before, I'm reading and loving series and rereading even more books because of my mental health conditions, and marathoning series is one of the better habits I've developed because of this.

Way back when, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I got involved in the YA Midnight Reads Iron Fey Read-a-long, which not only introduced me to a really awesome series and encouraged my bad book buying habits, but also gave me my first taste of marathoning series, and I loved it. From that point onwards, I've loved the feeling of zooming through a series, going on another exciting adventure immediately after the first, staying with the world and the characters I love, and I've never looked back. Since then, I've read and marathoned an AWFUL lot of series -

My Must Have Apps for Books, Blogging and Social Media

As somebody that spends an awful lot of time dealing with a variety of blogging tasks, you can only begin to imagine just important having my phone handy is, especially when I'm in a pickle, out and about, or just not close to a computer of any kind. Being able to make tweaks to posts, or schedule social media on the go is always something I appreciate, and there are certain apps that I cannot live without on my phone, both book and all-round blogging related, and I wanted to share with you what those are, why I have them, and what makes them so worth having. Oh, and did I mention they're all free? Can I get a woop woop?

Books/Book Blogging

1 | Kindle/Adobe Digital Editions - I don't actually spend an awful lot of time reading on my phone, only merely because phone battery lives these days suck more than anything, but if I'm on a particularly long bus journey alone (which is rare) and I've forgotten some music or a physical book, I will tend to turn to my digital collection for something to get started with or continue. For people who spend A LOT of time away from home and can't take physical books with them, these apps, both on phones and on other pieces of tech like tablets, these apps are a GODSEND.

2 | Overdrive - For those who don't know, Overdrive is a digital library within the actual libraries that a certain area of the country has access to or can share books through. For example, I live in a small county and in that county we have around 8 libraries varying in size, but the overdrive puts all those libraries together into a county, and all the digital books those libraries have are available through that one combined library. It's pretty awesome, and is super helpful for having more book on the go. I can check out books, reserve them, and download them to my phone, audio and digital, and even do so on the desktop too.

3 | Goodreads - I do find myself in bookstores and libraries quite often, and sometimes I'll need to have a quick nosey on Goodreads to check a books details such as if it's part of a series, and if so, what number, or what some of my trusted friends have thought of the book in question. Sometimes I'll use it's scanning feature to add it to my shelves right away, and sometimes I'll do more of the mellifluous things such as friend requests and updating my reading status on books on the go or right before bed rather than logging online. They're not my most used apps by a long shot, but I always appreciate having them there when I need them most.

Ten Books and Series I Adore That You Need To Read Now

In between all the blogging, all the designing, the coding, the teaching, the learning and the sleepless nights spent getting my head around business, the one thing I've never quite fallen out of love is reading and books. Sure, I might have dropped my 'book blogger' label, and I may have only recently started rereading due to anxiety and other mental health conditions, but I have been an avid reader for quite a few years now, it's what brought me to this point in my blogging life, and it doesn't look likely to change any time soon. As you can imagine, I've read an awful lot of books in that time, and within those, an awful lot of good books too, which means that sadly, there's always a few books and series I just don't chat about all that often, and that's a shame.

Because of this startling fact, I thought I'd turn back time and get involved in what used to be one of my favourite features as a start up blogger, the feature that helped me create friendships, connections and develop favourite blogs in return. I'll be linking up with Top Ten Tuesday from yesterday, and I'll be sharing 10 books/series that I simply don't talk enough about that you need to make time to read, as soon as you possibly can. Drop everything and check them out.

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

You know what, I might talk about Landy and this series quite a lot, but it's never enough, not even nearly enough. We're talking a real-dead talking skeleton detective, lots of paranormals like zombies and vampires that shed their skin, and witches that will turn you inside out, and characters that transform into spiders, and badass independent women that cause havoc, and cool shady characters that travel underground and leap around, and hilarious banter, and lots of death and evil and necromancers, and most of all, messages of friendships and family and saving those we care about most no matter what that means. It's a BIG series, and it's a commitment, but oh man, the rewards are vast. Ask Cait, she'll confirm my story.

How Anxiety (and Other Mental Health Conditions) Actually Encourage Me To Crave Rereads

I don't delve into extremely personal things all that much in my blogging endeavours, and on those rare occasions when I do, they've been met with both support and kindness, or I've included them subtly and gently that people have based them by without a seconds glance, and that's a only a good thing. With that in mind, I wanted to talk about the magical properties of books, in that, they've managed to bring me comfort, joy, a sense of happiness and strength in dealing with some nasty monsters that have dared to arise again.

I've shared my life with depression in the past, and sadly, it's reared it's ugly head once more and has shaken up all aspects of my life - my hobbies, my work, my friendships and my family life, and while I absolutely hate how it destroys the very person I am, it has brought with it one uniquely strange positive. I've started rereading books, as an actual hobby. I've talked about the rarity that is rereading books unless it's over the seasonal festive period and how it's not something I do outside of that. Until now.

If you've been following my adventures on Instagram, you'll have seen me do nothing but bang on about Skulduggery Pleasant (only my favourite series of all time!), but it's not the only books I've had the itch to reread. I've felt a pull towards The Curse Workers series, Under the Never Sky, and others that have hit the spot very nicely previously, so why the sudden change of heart. Why am I racing to jump back into the arms of these series when I don't even see the point in completely book collections if I've already read them?

Unique Alternatives That Will Shake Up Boring Reviews

There's a general consensus that reviews are the least liked and least read posts in the blogosphere. They're the posts that people skip reading, the posts that generally take the longest to write, and they aren't just easily plucked out of thin air, I mean, you've actually got to do an entirely different activity before you can even write anything, unlike discussions or how-to posts that can go from roaring idea to words in a matter of seconds. In fact, there's a lot of the same phrases going around lately..

• 'I'm never in the mood to write reviews.'
• 'I just can't bring myself to sit and write them.'
• 'I've got a backlog of reviews I just don't want to write'
• 'I don't read enough to be able to create constant review content.'
• 'Reviews are the least liked, so I like writing them least.'

The list could go on and on, but the general vibe is that reviews are demanding little buggers that want you to sit down and come up with fabulous words that don't always encourage anyone to do anything, and we simply don't have the time, the effort, or motivation for them if that's the end result. The said truth is, if you haven't heard of the book, seen the book, or read the book, you probably won't be clicking the 'read more' button, and that means you've wasted your time entirely.

It's time to shake up your reviews, creative style!

You actually don't have to write reviews for anybody, not for publishers, not brands, nobody whatsoever, at least, not in the way you're used to seeing them. You don't have to stick with the traditional paragraphed style, turning your focus onto something different for each one, you can actually do whatever the heck you want, however you want, and still get your feelings about a product or service without taking a head-first dip into a very deep well.

Why Do Authors Get Hate For Writing MORE Books?

We've all seen the excitement that spreads amount the book community when an author says the words: 'I'm writing another book!' but the reaction can quickly turn sour when the author further states that it'll take place in a world they've already written about. Call me naive, but why is this a problem, and why do some authors get praise, excitement and happiness, while others get the shit hauled at them from big 'I ams' behind their computer screens?

Why are some authors penalised by 'fans' for writing more about their imagined world, following new and known characters, while others are celebrated?

Let's get real for a second and take three rather popular childrens and young adult authors: J.K. Rowling, Rick Riordan, and Cassandra Clare.

J.K. Rowling has 7 full-length novels set in the Harry Potter universe, 3 smaller companion textbooks written for Comic Relief, and a to-be-released stage script (not a novel, not a sequel, not a prequel) of a play set in the same world, following similar characters in the future, not written by her.

Total number of books: 10 books

Rick Riordan currently has 4 mythology series: Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus, Kane Chronicles and Magnus Bane, a new to-be-release series Trials of Apollo, a small crossover series Demigods and Magicians, and at least 5 further additional companion books.

Total number of books: 20

Cassandra Clare currently has 2 complete series in the world: The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices, a recently started series: The Dark Artifices, two short story series: The Bane Chronicles and Tales From the Shadowhunter Academy in the form of bind-ups, and one short companion book.

Total number of books: 13

Here's the clincher.. Out of those, why does Cassandra Clare get so much shit, when others get party poppers?

Why I Only Re-Read Books at Christmas | TDOC

I very rarely re-read books. Whether it's been a few hours, a few days, a few weeks or a few years since I read a book, I can on most occasions recall almost everything that happens in a book, why it happens, what characters said or did, and how much I liked it, so the feeling to actually re-read almost never comes around, the only exception being at Christmas. For the last three years, I've gotten the re-reading itch around the Christmas season, and while the Christmas season is the perfect opportunity to read some seasonal reads, I always turn to the same books for some winter comfort. But why?

I only wish I had an answer to that question. It could be because of any number of things:

1. I'm busy planning Christmas, I don't have time to take chances

In the middle of summer, I'm more open to taking chances on books I'm not sure about, and even during the colder, more Autumnal months, I takes chances on scary books, something I only make a point of doing rarely, but on the run up to Christmas, I just don't have it in me. I don't have time to scour my bookshelf for what could be my next favourite read when I know there are seasonal books that I love that I could read instead. I don't have the patience for a new and exciting adventure then I have adventures I know and love, and if there's ever a better time to remind myself of why I love these books, it's Christmas.

2016 Releases and Other Books I Want To Read Next Year

With the book releases slowly drying up the closer it gets to Christmas, and some of the big blockbuster novels having already been released already (I'm looking at you Winter, I'm getting you very soon!), it's only natural to look forward to next year and start planning what books are taking our fancy and breaking our bank balances. Having recently dropped the book blogging label, and deciding that it's probably time to dial it down on requesting books on NetGalley and through LoveReading unless I really really think I'll read them, my 2016 'need' list has rapidly decreased.

That being said, there's still quite a few books I really can't wait for and plan on making time and money available for, and alongside those, there's quite a few books I've had for a while now that I not only think need reading, but I really want to read them next year - I've been putting them off for far too long. I'd love to check out and read all of the following books, so who knows, maybe it's a challenge?..

2016 Releases

1. See How They Run (Embassy Row #2) by Ally Carter
Release Date: 12th January

Can we appreciate a moment how irritating the release day differences are between the UK and almost every other country around please? Still, there's no way I wasn't going to be reading See How They Run. I adored All Fall Down, and that cliff-hanger was just stupid in ways that I cannot handle, seriously, those kind should be illegal in every shape and form. I really want to see where the story goes and what Grace's past and troubles stir up for different characters. Oh, and I'm pretty excited about the boys, okay, very excited.

2. Glass Sword (Red Queen #2) by Victoria Aveyard
Release Date: 9th February

I definitely felt like one of very few people that actually thoroughly enjoyed Red Queen and genuinely couldn't wait for Glass Sword. When it came down to it, I thought the plot, the world, the betrayal, the characters and the god damn romance was super, and Glass Sword has been on my calendar ever since. I'm genuinely really excited to see Mare's character get tested even more, and really dive deeper into the mystery and the world surrounding the Reds and Silvers. It's gonna be goooood..

Does Fiction Really Need To Be Based on Reality?

Let's say for example that you read a fictional book set in a country based off Spain. It's not actually Spain, because this book is, after all, fictional, and so the country is a fictional country and isn't actually Spain, it's just based on Spain. So, the book you're reading takes place in a country with similarities to Spain, but it isn't actually Spain, it's just a little bit like Spain, so does that mean it has to have typically Spanish elements, like Spanish food, or Spanish accents, or Spanish culture, or Spanish beliefs, or even Spanish landmarks, or the same history as Spain, or even the same present day actions taking place as Spain? After all, this book is fictional. So, should it?

My Bookish Christmas Wishlist (2015 Edition)

Over a year ago, I compiled a Bookish Wishlist, featuring a quaint handful of books that I had taken an interest in and didn't or wouldn't have minded owning. Fast forward a year later and I have acquired 7 of the featured books and read a grand total of.. zilch. I'm definitely going to be sorting that out sooner rather than later, but it doesn't stop me eyeing up other books to add to every increasing collection, something I probably need to work on.. I have, once again, acquired a bit of a wishlist, and still long for some of those books previously mentioned, so today I'm sharing my a snippet of my wishlist as it stands.

New Books To The Wish List Club

1. Enders by Lissa Price
When I consider what I actually rated Starter's when I read it earlier this year, it surprises me that I still very much want to read Enders. Sure, the series had it's issues, and there were a few elements I would have liked to have seen done differently, but the writing was addictive, the characters were pretty easy to follow and the premise was pretty awesome. I may not fall in love with this series, or consider it highly in comparison to some all-time-favourites, but I really want to see how Callie's story ends.

How I Dropped My 'Book Blogger' Label and Why

I used to sell myself as a 'book blogger'. I told people I met that I worked closely with publishers, that I worked hard as part of the marketing team behind releasing a book. I help promote particular books, and sometimes, my name even ends up in them. Sure, not everyone understand that those kind of things existed, that people actually did things like that, but that was how I referred to myself as.

Months down the line, a brand new blog later, and I'm no longer a 'book blogger'. I still work closely with publishers, and I still review books, man, I read less but I'm still reading, but I'm not a book blogger anymore. I dropped my label and realised I didn't want to pick it back up again. For the first time in what felt like a long time, I felt free.

Maybe free sounds harsh, I was hardly being kept, locked up in a tower until I'd finished reading every book I owned - if so, I would have been there for a looooooooong time, but by dropping my label, I definitely felt as though a weight had been lifted. I enjoy writing reviews, no matter the format, and I appreciate that I've found so many fabulous friends along the way, but I wasn't as passionate about it as I am about other things.

Every Book I Own That I Have Yet Still To Read (Vote!)

I have a teeny, tiny confession.. I own a lot of books. I say a lot in the knowledge that someone somewhere has said that exact same sentence and owns more than me, but for somebody in a small two bedroom flat, with a square box room, my 120+ books is a tad bit of a problem. Sure, I won't deny that it makes a fabulous looking statement wall now they're in coloured order, but there's still an awful lot of them that I haven't yet read, and I'm starting to think that's a bit of a problem. With Christmas making it's rapid journey to meet us in December, and I fully aware that I'm getting even more books, I thought it was time I took a long hard look at the books I still have to read, and give you the chance to choose which of those books I make a point of reading sooner, rather than later. Let's check out the hoard collection..

10 Authors I've Read The Most Books By

It's to be expected that, when you've been in the reading and blogging business for as long as a lot of us have, we're going to come across authors who just - they rock our world you know? We read something by them and find ourself falling in love with it, so we search out more by them, and then a few more, and a few more after that, and before you know it, you've got yourself a throne of Derek Landy novels you can rule a kingdom from! Okay, so maybe I'm a terrible fan and only have two out of 13 of his books, but still, I've read them, and that counts for something, right? Today, I've going to be taking you through the 10 authors I've read the most books by, so buckle in kids, there's a lot to get through..

Uncle Rick - 14 Books

I still can't believe that I managed to read 13 of these 14 books last year, it blows my mind.. and I read every single one of them from the library - how cool is that?! Rick Riordan became one of my instant favourite authors last year, and I don't think I could pick a series by him I love most, although I do have a sweet spot for Kane Chronicles - a) because I've also loved Egypt and their mythology and beliefs, b) because damn, those characters and the action and the whole premise and storyline was so absolutely fabulous and c) because it gets some serious stick for not being 'all about Percy'. Sure, you're entitled to dislike it, but if you dislike it because there's no Percy, our friendship is on the rocks. Oh, and Magnus Chase? It's so good, I can't wait to share my feelings closer to realise date!

Half Way To '16! | Best Books I've Read During 2015 - So Far

We're more than half way through 2015, can you believe it? It feels like only a few weeks ago I was celebrating last Christmas, and it's scary to think this years is right on our tails. Unlike last year though, I've been struggling with my reading this year. A bit of this, a stumbling block here, not being in the mood, life just interfering and attitudes changing have all played their parts, alas, I have still read plenty enough to showcase some of the best of those I've found time for. Here's my best of 2015, as of today.

Series Starters

1. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard: After so many varied reviews of Red Queen, I almost didn't actually read my digital copy, but something in me decided I had to give it a go and wow, what a book. There's so much of the features I love in this book - deceit, politics, romance, abilities, hierarchy, secret revolutions, Red Queen has it all going on, and it's fabulous. I can't wait to continue to series next year.
2. The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: I chose The Naturals on a whim to be gifted to me because it sounded pretty interesting and like an easy read. Boy was I surprised. Fantastic characters, brilliant plot and mystery, lots of grit and depth and so many twists, I could not have been more pleased. It's ultimately found it's way into my favourite series collection. I cannot wait for All-In. Series Reviews - The Naturals
3. Never Never by Colleen Hoover & Tarryn Fisher: Granted, I am yet to read Never Never: Part 2 just yet, but Never Never in itself was a whirlwind in a compact package. The romance, the mystery, the agendas, the sci-fi/memory aspects, it all amazed me and had me completely immersed. It's not without it's weak points, but be warned, it's got a painful of a cliff-hanger.
4. Half Bad by Sally Green: Much like Red Queen, I really wasn't sure I'd actually read Half Bad, but something stirred in me and encouraged me, and I couldn't be happier for it. There's so much depth and harshness in this series, it's characters feel real and organic, it's politics and ruling, oh and the writing, it's so one of a kind. It's a series you need to form your own opinion of for sure. Series Reviews - Half Life

Hide and Seek My Pretties! | The Find Me Book Tag

Okay okay, you caught me. I was never ever ever tagged for this tag and damn, I was disappointed about it. I've missed taking beautiful images of my beautiful books and now I'm getting back on my reading bandwagon, I'm back on the 'take photos of all my pretty books' bandwagon too. I just could not resist taking part in it myself. Here's my.. adequate, photography skills.

A Book With Sunset

I'm confident enough that Because You'll Never Meet Me is a sunset and not sunrise, because if it were sunrise, would you see the blue of the sky? Who knows, but this cover is so damn pretty. I still need to read this, although I plan on it this week and I'm still wary as hell about the weird ending, however, pretty cover is pretty and I'm glad I own it.

A Book With Water

I was so tempted to go with The Deep End of the Sea because man, that cover is so haunting and blue and water-filled and I'm excited to read it and just - but no, I went with Wake because I still need to start this series. Also, I am wary because bad reviews, so, should I take a shot, or let it swim away? You decide, tell me now people.