TOP 4 Best Series Of 2k15

THE LAST DAY OF 2015! This year has gone extremely fast for me. I started many books this year, so why not make my personal 'Best Series Of 2k15'?

1. The Precious Stone Trilogy - Kerstin Gier

I loved these books so much (they're Fantasy), I expected it to be kind of cheesy but they're the best books I've ever read. It has a relatable main female character (Gwendolyn/Gwyneth), a hot main male character (Gideon), it has funny ghosts (Xemerius), secrets, and so much more! I was clinged onto these books the entire time, because it has a lot of secrets and things I wanted to find out. The last book's ending was really strong, I felt slapped in the face for not knowing. I cried, laughed, dropped my book but I was mostly blown away by Kerstin Gier's writing skills.

My reviews for more information:

Ruby Red

Sapphire Blue

Emerald Green (coming soon!)

2. Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead

VAMPIRES YES. I'm still obsessed with vampires. So when I watched the movie in 2014 and wanted a second movie (we shall not talk about the second movie), I found out there were books and in July/August I finally started with them. The first book was adapted, so I didn't like it as much as the others, but THE SECOND BOOK, WOW. The ending was so beautifully written, I love Rose (main character) so much, she's so sassy, she cares so much about Lissa (her best friend who she's bonded with), and most of all, she ends up with the HOTTEST DUDE EVER (who's a Strigoi (bad vampires) hunter as well, damn). The endings of these books always hit me in the face and the fourth book had me rolling on the ground because it was so sad but so GOOD. I have only read 4/6 books, but they were amazing and I'll hopefully read them out before February/March.

My reviews:

Vampire Academy (book 1)

Blood Promise (book 4)

3. The Iron Fey series - Julie Kagawa

AAAH FAERIES!!!!!
Okay, seriously, faeries are my favourite creatures. I love their rules/habits (they can't lie, they fool you). Because of this book I knew I loved High Fantasy. I read them faster than ever, I always adore characters who used to be 'normal' human beings and suddenly get dragged into this world of magical creatures (Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and the Olympians). And Ash, holy, he's one of those dark males that you can't really get into at first, but when you get to know them, you'll gradually love them more. These books aren't adapted so I didn't have any spoilers and I could picture the people in my head.

I sadly don't have any reviews of these, cause I read them out in the beginning of the year.

4. Shatter Me series - Tahereh Mafi

OOOHHHH MY FAV DYSTOPIAN!

Yes, I normally don't really enjoy Dystopian (High) Fantasy is more for me), but this was so good! I've only read the first 1,5 books (oops), but I still love it so much! I heard loads of good things about these books, so I'll try and read it out very soon!
Even though I haven't read all the books, I highly recommend these!

My reviews:

Shatter Me

Destroy Me

I hope you all have an amazing 2016, I wish you all the best of luck and many reading experiences <3.

Dominique (@mynewyearsreading on Instagram).

The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones - Cassandra Clare

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know... 

Okay, it's a nice cover, totally gives away the ambiance of the book, but I don't like it. I don't exactly know why, but this whole world Cassandra's created deserves way more than just a guy on a cover with the title on it. It didn't bother me much, cause I had the movie version (which is gorgeous).

 I liked the story, don't get me wrong, but I just don't get what all the fuzz is about. It was cheesy at times, the only thing I actually liked and didn't expect was the end and Malec (Alec and Magnus). I have watched the movie before, which I really enjoyed but of course spoiled the book for me. I have to stop doing that, cause it can literally ruin a book. 

So, Jace. Some may like him, some may hate him with their guts. I loved him! I love sassy characters, I love characters that act like they know no sadness and genually become more caring and -oh wow I did not expect that *sarcasm*- fall in love. You'll get to know him throughout the book, and find out he isn't so bad after all.

I love Magnus. Oh god, he's the best Warlock I've ever seen (half human/half demon). I wanted more of him, get to know his backstory, but you didn't get much of Magnus. I'm assuming it will be told in further books, so I'll read them to try and figure out who Magnus Bane really is.

I feel like it would have been better when the book was shorther and she saved something for City Of Ashes. Still, I really enjoyed this new world, one of the biggest franchises in YA culture. And with Shadowhunters (tv show on ABC Family/Freeform) coming I'll try and start City Of Ashes soon. 

I'll give this book 4/5 stars, it had nothing new, and I know I completely bashed this whole book, but I still feel like this is a must read for YA-fans.

Title: City Of Bones (Stad van Beenderen)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Series: The Mortal Instruments (Book 1)

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Age: 13+

Price (Hardcover): $15,35

Pages (paperback): 485

Dominique (@myxmasreading on Instagram)

Blood Promise - Richelle Mead

WARNING, THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS TO THE THIRD BOOK

Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same. 

The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck, a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count. But only one victim matters ... Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa—her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess—or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She'll have to go to the ends of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved? 

Now, with everything at stake—and worlds away from St. Vladimir's and her unguarded, vulnerable, and newly rebellious best friend—can Rose find the strength to destroy Dimitri? Or, will she sacrifice herself for a chance at eternal love?

What an awful cover, it doesn't match the book at all (I'm not saying the girl on the cover is awful, she's beautiful). I'm kind of done with the whole 'face looking away girl'. The reason I'm saying this, is because these books deserve a way better cover than this. Shh, I know they renewed the covers, but I can barely keep those apart.

WOW, this is one of my favorite series. I love Dimitri (gorgeous god), I love Christian (Lissa's boyfriend), I love Adrian (sassy vamp), but I mostly love Rose! I could feel with her, connect myself with her. Okay, no, I know I'm not half-vampire (Dhampir), and I'm definitely not as strong as her (I spend my life indoors behind a laptop), but she loves Lissa so much and will do everything for Dimitri, and yes she's a little selfish, but so am I, so is everyone. 

It wasn't hard to get in at all, I read it in like 5 days because of school and there was one time I realised it was already 1 AM and I was still reading. These books are so addicting, so beautifully written. If you love it when you read books and something really plot twisting happens, then this is something for you. I dropped my book like 5 times cause of the amazing plot twists. 

There was one thing though, and that was the fact there wasn't enough Dimitri. Rose finally found him at page 350 or something. Not that this is that bad, but I want more and more Dimitri in my life and I have never shipped two people this badly before (liking two people in a relationship).

I'd give this book 5/5 stars, the ending was so so amazing, I'm not going to spoil it so you'll have to read on your own! (hehehe do it fast or you'll regret).

Title: Blood Promise
Author: Richelle Mead
Series: Vampire Academy (book 4)
Publisher: Razorbill
Age: 14+
Price (paperback): €14,95, $11,00
Pages: 538

Dominique (@myxmasreading on Instagram)

Destroy Me - Tahereh Mafi

In Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me, Juliette escaped from The Reestablishment by seducing Warner—and then putting a bullet in his shoulder. But as she’ll learn in Destroy Me, Warner is not that easy to get rid of...

Back at the base and recovering from his near-fatal wound, Warner must do everything in his power to keep his soldiers in check and suppress any mention of a rebellion in the sector. Still as obsessed with Juliette as ever, his first priority is to find her, bring her back, and dispose of Adam and Kenji, the two traitors who helped her escape. But when Warner’s father, The Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment, arrives to correct his son’s mistakes, it’s clear that he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner simply cannot allow.

Wow, I'm so astonished by these covers. I'm not allowed to buy books and I don't want to (I borrowed this at my local library, don't worry I don't do anything illegal :D), but if I could, this would be mine. I simply can't get over how beautiful these trilogy's covers are. It doesn't give away much about the book though, other than the fact Warner is hurt by what Juliette has done to him.

It's a short book cause it's a novella, completely in Warner's perspective. In the book you'll find out who Warner really is. I read the first book a little while ago and posted a review, and a friend of mine told me I was gonna go from Team Adam to Team Warner gradually with the books, okay then, am I Team Warner? Nope, I still don't like him but I've grown some respect for him. Warner isn't so bad and maybe he and Juliette fit better together than I thought.

I can't say much without spoiling the book, only that it was a fun read and I'm totally in love with these series. I enjoyed it less than I did the first one, but maybe that's just because Warner isn't someone for me and Juliette was. I read it out very fast, it has a different writing style than other books I've read, totally 'Tahereh Mafi', that makes it so unique.

Okay, last thing. I highly suggest you start these series. Shatter me (the first book in the Shatter Me series) might look very big and a lot like other books, but it's original and I read it out very fast.

I'll end this review by giving this 4.5/5 stars. As much as I don't like Warner, this is a must-read for book 2 and I liked it a lot!

Title: Destroy Me (Vertrouw Me)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Series: Shatter Me (book 1,5)
Publisher: HarperCollins
Age: 14+ (don't worry, I wasn't that old either, it all depends on how far you are)
Price : $2,99 (eBook), €9,99 (Hardcover)
Pages: 114
ISBN: 978-0062085535

Dominique (@myxmasreading on Instagram)

Insurgent - Veronica Roth

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

Aah, I love the cover! It totally gives me the feeling what the book is about, something I really want. The covers are gorgeous, on this cover you can see the symbol of Amity (basically friendship), the faction where Tris and her friends start because she's not safe in her own faction. 

I'm sorry, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did the first. I had this huge gap of non reading for 1 month and then picking it up again, I think it took me 2 months to read this book. That's an awful lot, and maybe it was because of the Dutch writing, or it was just boringly written. 

I don't like Tris, she's horribly selfish. I can't believe there is Abnegation in her (selflessness), she doesn't listen and I don't like her at all. In Divergent, she shoots someone, and it takes her so long to pick up a gun again. Like, really? She wasn't that bad-ass, she's whiny. She keeps complaining that she isn't good enough and that she should die, while she has a bunch of friends that sacrificed everything for her (and of course, Tobias/Four). 

To be honest, I think the book had some parts that should have been taken out, but I -of course- still liked it. I like the idea of the story a lot, and I like Uriah and Tobias a lot, but Tris really needs to know that's she's acting stupid and she shouldn't want to do everything on her own. 

Also, I need to say that I couldn't survive a day in this world. Jeanine is just wow, the most awful villain I've ever had in a book. So I wouldn't have acted differently if I was Tris. 

If you like Dystopian more than I do (I like Fantasy more), I highly suggest you read this series or check it out if you've been living under a rock. 3,5/5 stars from me.

Title: Insurgent

Author: Veronica Roth

Series: Divergent (book 2)

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Age: 13+
Price (Hardcover): $17,99, €15,00
Pages: 368

Much love, Dominique (@myxmasreading on Instagram)

Btw, sorry for the background of the text, sometimes Blogspot won't work with me haha x

The Fault In Our Stars - John Green

(summary on back)

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has brought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Okay (cheeky pun), start judging me already. This was my first John Green book. A friend of mine kept pushing me into reading his books that I had to read them, and I obviously started with his signature book.

The cover isn't that special. When I see the book, I'd like to know what it's about. If I hadn't heard about the story yet, I'd probably think it's about space. Because, well, stars, clouds, space (on the Dutch cover). I knew it was about Hazel and her lung cancer who falls in love with this charming dude Augustus Fires (the name me and my friend gave him), but if I hadn't heard how amazing John Green was, I would have never picked up this book.

What a beautiful story, it completely changed my thoughts on life and made me question if I was whiny for wanting more when I had everything they wanted. It was really well written, sometimes a little bit too well that I had to grab my dictionary (Dutch girl reads English books problems), but I understood the story and I loved it. It was this mixture between sad, happy, funny, I laughed a couple times, but I also cried a couple times. I now know why John Green is seen as an amazing author, since he can mix humor in a book with sad parts and wow, he deserves a metal for that.

There is one thing though, and that's the fact that I don't understand poetry (not talking about a specific language, just in general), definitely not old-English poetry, and I don't know why everyone likes it so much (trust me, I've tried to like it). There were a few poems in this book that I just didn't understand, and I wanted to understand them because I liked the book so much, and now I just feel bad. Poetry is nothing for me, so that was something I didn't really enjoy. 

But overall, it's a beautiful story and I'll definitely read some of Green's work again sometime! 4,5/5 stars from me.

Extra: a movie has been made from this book (no, really?), check out the trailer here.

Okay? Okay.

Title: The Fault In Our Stars

Author: John Green

Publisher: Penguin Books

Age: 13+

Price (paperback): €14,99, $6,50

Pages (paperback): 310

ISBN: 978-0-141-35367-8

Dominique (@myxmasreading on Instagram)