On unexplained absences

Some of the more observant people out there may have noticed that i have been nonexistent in the last week, the reason for that being that i was on holiday. Skiing, to be more precise.
Unfortunately i didn't have a lot of time to write a post beforehand, so i kinda just had to leave things hanging.

I am happy to say that i had an amazing trip, the snow was great, my friends were crazy (in a good way), and those black runs were the best adrenalin high i've had in ages. I may have had a teeny tiny (well, HUGE) crash with another snowboarder and dislocated my shoulder on the last day, but that's all good. Apart from the epic soreness, i'm fine.



I hope you guys have had a great holiday as well, and now i leave you to sleep and take more of those amazing painkillers.

Have an awesome day,
Imo xx

Random Thursday

For those of you who don't know what Random Thursday is, it's a post that some of us do where we list five random things that have happened in our day. You guys, of course, are welcome to comment or share a few of your own on your blogs!

1. I was up all night reading The Golden Lily, and yes, it is AMAZING. Why can't i have The Indigo Spell now, i need more Sydrian!



2. I'm going on a study exchange to Germany in two months, and i couldn't be any more excited :D Although, the OCD person that i am, i've started listing all the things that could go wrong: lack of washing machines, stuff won't fit in suitcase, robbed...delightful things like that. I'm sure i'll be fine though!





3. Mein Bruder got speared in rugby last night (yes, that is illegal...and horrifying to watch), and now has a shattered collarbone. However, the best bit was when he was high on painkillers, and started singing Adele in the ER. The nurses, for one, were very entertained. The elderly gentleman in the cubicle next to us? Not so much.

4. It's the solstice today! Just a random piece of actually relelvant information for you there.



5. Today i learned that drinking pure cordial (squash in the UK, i have no idea what you call it in the US) in large proportions was not a good idea (it was a dare, okay? Blame my stupid immature friends). I have got such a sugar rush headache right now it isn't funny.

So, there you go. What random things have happened in your day?

Imo x

Exam Hiatus

Bonjour, my lovelies.

There comes time in every persons life when they must seek higher education, and, of course, with that comes a pesky little thing called exams. A 2 hour, ridiculous exercise that decides the rest of our life. Next week, i have several of those things.
So, as you can probably guess, i'm not really going to have time for blogging around all my studying and casual freaking out.



For the next week or so i'm not going to actively writing posts. If you comment, i will see it and probably reply, so please don't stop just because you think i'm not going to be there. Because i will be checking this blog, pretty much every day, and writing reviews for the many beautiful ARCs i have received after the past month.
I just won't be posting.



That kid, is AMAZING



In the words of those i greatly admire, YOLO, and have an amazing week.

Imo

Random Thursday

This is going to be a quick one, i have to get moving on this stupid theoretical paper. Ugh.

Anyways, Random Thursday is essentially a break for me, where i get to write up five random things that have happened in my day, and you can comment on them if you want or share your own.
So...let's go.

1. The Community season finale was aired last week, and i NEED the next season now! I heart Trabed so much, and i can't wait to see where the show goes with Jeff/Annie and Britta/Troy. I'm a bit scared, however, because apparently the show's writer/creator Dan Harmon is leaving and it may not match up to it's previous awesomeness. Only time will tell.

2. I've been trying to lose weight (only five kilos or so) which is failing epically, i just don't do enough exercise. I had to drop out of the hockey season when i did my knee and i barely do anything else. My goal is to do this by July...I MUST PREVAIL.

3. Went to a mandatory uni seminar about cyber safety and all that jazz. It was boring, surprisingly funny at times, and extremely awkward when it came to the topic of sexting. Thank god i don't do any of that stuff, i don't even have facebook (blame my mother).

4. I bought City of Lost Souls! I can't wait to get stuck into the shadowhunter world again!

5. For some reason i can't stop listening to Florence + The Machine and Neon Trees, which isn't a bad thing because they're both great bands. Plus, Florence performed here two days ago which i'm so annoyed i missed!

Sorry they're so lame, but i seriously do not have time to spare. However i will see you guys tomorrow for Follow Friday!

have an awesome day,
Imo xx

To all those new bloggers out there...

Wow, it feels like only yesterday i started this blog, when in reality it was months ago.

A few days ago, i found myself having a delightful conversation about blogging with one of my friends, lets call her Mack (not in any way a representation of her actual name). Now, Mack loves books, as do i, and is thinking about starting a blog. Of course, i was like 'sure thing bro, we'll be awesome blogging biddie central!'


Sadly, this has actually happened to me...at a pool

And as any blogging biddie would do, i gave her a few starting tips, such as;
1. Review a few times a week
2. Make sure to put on big book news, etc.
3. Participate in blog hops
4. Host giveaways
5. Comment, comment, comment
6. Wait until you have at least 100 followers before you request an ARC.

This was the monent when she went, 'Wait, what? I don't get free books for ages?'. And all i could do was sigh and explain the many intricacies of ARCs and the wonderful yet sometimes crushing publishers that send them.


Thankfully, she wasn't quite that devastated...nothing can beat the disappointment when you find out THAT

So you see, lovely girl that she is, Mack made the mistake of wanting to start a book blog only to get free ARCs, when in reality a lot of hard work is needed before you can even get CLOSE to that. A lot of people start a blog expecting to succeed within only a couple of months, when it can actually take more than a year to get the kind of base to start all of that stuff. And that's even without this thing called LIFE.

Once, i was like Mack, i was fully expecting to have at least 100 followers within the month and 1000 in a year. But then i had all that stuff with my knee, and my med course, and family, and really those resolutions went down the drain in a matter of weeks.

So, for all you peeps who are new to the blogging bizzo or who want to get started, be prepared for the long haul, because sometimes you just can't be stuffed and it takes constant effort to maintain a popular and successful blog. Put in the work, and you get the reward, just make sure you can do it, as i told Mack.
But by all means, go ahead and make you're own little patch of internet realestate, and hopefully one day i'll be visiting you, instead of the other way around.


Jks, i'm not a cat LOL

Have an awesome day,
Imo

AVPM...Finally

Okay guys, i FINALLY caved into peer pressure and watched A Very Potter Musical. It is absolutely AMAZEBALLS, and dana, i totally owe you that 20 bucks.

Plus, Draco malfoy rolling around on the floor? Hilarious.



So, i am going to watch A Very Potter Seuqel right now, DO NOT DISTURB ME FROM THE AWESOME CAVE.

Imo <l:)> (Dunbledore <3 Zefron)

Random Thursday

Okay, so for you peeps who haven't seen one before, Random Thursday is a thing i do every thursday (totally didn't see that one coming) where i post 5 random things about my day. And if you want, you can then leave a comment telling me something about YOUR day. Get it? Awesome.

1. I've watched all the available episodes of Community, i now have to *sniff* wait like regular people. What is this monstrosity? I don't think i can live without my daily dose of Trabed.

2. One of my biddies is over in Canada right now for some uni exchange, and i am so jealous i practially look like an alien. She went skiing for the weekend and sent me a long email about how awesome it was, and now i am trying not to scream because I SHOULD HAVE GONE FOR IT. Ugh, i am so stupid.

3. My computer crashed again, so we took it to a repair shop who said the hard drive was shot. And guess what? It's not my fault! Apparently after the Japanese tsunami all the hard drive factories went out of business, so they're importing crappy ones from somewhere else is Asia. I'm kind of glad it happened though, becasue now i get a brand new, working hard drive!

4. I went to a dessert cafe last night. Best guilty pleasure ever. I can feel the calories being added to my butt, but it was so good i don't even care.

5. My dog is currently snoring under my bed, the fact that it's completely normal behaviour for her? Priceless.

Have a great thursday!

Imo <l:)>

Random Thursday

Oh wow, its been so long since i've done one of these, perhaps a quick recap to get you up to speed? Basically, every Thursday i tell you five random things that have happened today, yet somehow caught my interest. And then, if you want, you guys can tell me something about YOUR day.

1. I have just started watching Community, and ohmygod it is AWESOME. I'm halfway through Season 2, and i can honestly say i am absolutely loving it. The tension between Jeff and Annie? So wrong...but so hot. And Troy and Abed are adorable together, BIDDIES FOR THE WIN! Plus, Chang is just freakind hilarious.


2. I've just been to stay at my bestie's overnight, and i swear to god her boyfriend has been on the Xbox for over 24 hours straight. Seriously, COD, Halo, MW3, you name it, he's been playing it. I don't even get why, surely you'd be bored after the hundredth kill? But no, it just goes on...and on...and on. Ugh.


3. My old Scout leader (Shut up, i was lame back then) died last Thursday, on the last day of term (in middle school). I don't know quite how to feel about it, but we all (old scouts) got a letter today, and now i'm having a sad moment where i ponder the infinite meaning of life. Philisophical much?


4. My computer crashed yesterday, and the only way to save it was to restore it to factory state. I thought i'd lost EVERYTHING. Pictures of my high school graduation and other important stuff, my coursework...i've never been so scared in my life. But, thank god, some amazing program made an emergency back up, so i got it back. And i totally pwned my dad in the process (you have no idea how much it thrills me to say that).


5. Just finished reading my ARC od The Immortal Rules. It was awesome. Nuff said.

So, what have you been doing today?

Imo <l:)>

It's BAAACK

So, what up peeps.
Basically, i have been camping (AGAIN, I KNOW) for the last week, and it rained. A lot. Ergo, i am not a fluffy bunny right now. Except you know what makes me slightly fluffier? Game of Thrones is back!

Now, first of all, for all thing GoT related you must see this blog of Rachel Hawkins' before you even cast your eyes on what i have written below.

Season 2 picks up at the beginning of A Clash of Kings, where we have the annoying asshat Joffrey upon the Iron Throne with his absolute b*tch of a mother Cersei taking control. Elsewhere, Robb Stark (the newly crowned King of the North), Renly Baratheon and Stannis Baratheon are preparing to launch an attack on King's Landing, where each one hopes he will become the new king.
And yes, all of them of are single.
Apart from Renly, who has a lovely rich boyfriend, but we don't see him yet.

In the far North, Jon Snow and his trusty band of Night's Watchmen have gone past the Wall and entered the lands of confirmed creep Craster, who marries his own daughters and...ew. Jon also takes this moment to make it even more awkward, saying 'What happens to the boys?'



No one knows, Pretty one, however, as Dolorous Edd's face clearly shows, WAY TO MAKE AN AWKIE

Then we go to Tyrion, who is the new Hand of Cersei...i mean, the King, and is integrating himself into the council with much b*tchiness on Cersei's part, although that's mainly due to the fact that her little secret's come out. And no, i don't mean that she's actually a man, it's more like her twincestual relationship with Jaime has finally got onto the grapevine.

When the b*itch face is showing, you know you're screwed.

With a standard look at a whorehouse and the murder of innocent children, we're finally onto Arya, who is making her way with the new NW recuits to the Wall. She is accompanied by Gendry, the last living bastard of Robert Baratheon and also a hoarder of eye liner.

And then that's it. Five seconds of Arya (who is one of my fave characters) and it's over. Capiche. Now i have to wait until the second episode gets leaked. WHAT IS THIS MONSTROSITY?!

And now, because i find it strangely hypnotic, the Lannisters wearing Snuggies:

Out till the holidays

Okay guys, it's been building for a long time, but i finally can't take it anymore; i need to have a break. You may have noticed i've been an absolute FAIL in the blogging area recently, and trust me, i'd rather be doing this than my med course right now (why did i ever think becoming a doctor was a good idea?).

Anyway, i'm completely snowed under, so i'm going to be taking a hiatus for a couple of weeks, at least until the holidays and i can finally get my life under control. I may still pop in with the occasional review (i have so many e-ARCs right now that need to be posted about) and a bit of juicy goss, but the rest of the time i'll be studying and thinking of you.

Have an awesome couple of weeks,
Imo

Random Tuesday

Not feeling amazing today, so i thought i'd do somethig nice and simple.

Here's five random things from my day:

1. My brother is an absolute machine. He just stuffed himself with five tomatoes, about six biscuits, two bowls of chips, half a litre of juice and a sandwich he forgot to eat for lunch. I'm pretty sure my face for the last ten minutes has looked like this:


2. Best Awkward moment ever: A guy had just asked out my best friend (like, two seconds before) when Harry, another friend, interrupted by going over to them and saying 'Wassup?'. I then had a major spaz at him, my best friend started laughing and the guy turned bright red with embarrassment. It's all good though, she said yes and they're SOOOO cute together :D

3. We are now out of biscuits (see no. 1), which is a bummer, but i can't be bothered actually going to the store. Me thinks brother should do it for me...

4. It's been raining today and my knee's aching (completely destroyed it a while ago), and in lecture it cracked so badly that everybody turned to stare at me. Epic fwin.

5. WATCH SHERLOCK. It's amazing, i love it, i think the world should watch it. And  i can't believe i have to wait another year after THAT. Oh well, at least it isn't two like last time...

There you go, five randon things about today, what have you been doing?

Imo<l:)>

What I Like Right Now

I'm slowly starting to get back into the blogging groove, and thought i'd share some of my favourite things at the moment maybe to brighten your day, or to lead you to love them too!



So, i finally caved in to some serious peer pressure and watched Howl's Moving Castle the other week, and can i say, OMG AMAZEBALLS! It's an animated film (which i'm ususally sceptical of), but everything from the unique plot to adorable characters totally sucked me in. Just because of this movie, i ordered the book immediately after and am now waiting with a nervous tic for it to arrive. Like. Yesterday.




I've been on a bit of a music slump lately, even *gulp* referring to the itunes charts *shock horror*. Don't worry, i am now well away from that mainstream hippity-hoppity stuff (though a few, and i mean a few, weren't half bad), and i totally thought i should tell the world my new finds.

From an episode of Buzzcocks i found Love is Noise by The Verve, it's admittedly slightly weird at the beginning but i love that it has an actual tune and meaning. A lot of these 'popular' songs don't have that, just a repetitive bass that sounds eerily similar in every song, and i congratulate the band for getting it right.

Some other likes right now are Numb by Linkin Park and Boys Like You by 360, though the female vocal on the latter is so weird. I was surprised that i liked 360, i don't normally go ANYWHERE near rap, but on this occasion i didn't mind.



Uhh, what else? Oh yeah, i got an ARC of Slide by Jill Hathaway and it was absolutely amazing! I loved Vee's power and how it was involved in the plot, i've never read about this kind of thing before and it intrigued me. The murder was well hidden in a series of twists and cryptic clues, and it doesn't hurt that there's a couple of hot guys thrown in either :D If you're looking for a good read in March, i would whole heartedly recommend this.



Alri-ghty, so that's all i've got for you today, but that should be enough to send your fingertips flying. What are you guys liking right now? Drop me a line and i'll be sure to check it out!

Have a great day,

Imo <l:)>

Waiting on a Wednesday

Oh wow guys, i'm so sorry i'm failing so bad the moment, but the start of year always means that my professors are eager to get us straight into it. Ergo my maximised studying hours and minimal reading hours. Anways, here is a quick look at the books i can't wait for!

The Temptation - April 24th

His touch was electric.
His eyes were magnetic.
His lips were a temptation....
But was he real?

After crashing her car on an empty highway, Shane is miraculously saved by Travis, a mysterious cowboy who walks out of nowhere. She is instantly attracted to him, and for the first time, she believes in “soul mates.” But Shane soon discovers that Travis is dead and that strict rules from the Underworld govern kindred spirits of different dimensions. Breaking these rules could destroy both their souls. And while Travis is almost impossible to resist, temptation proves to be the kindest enemy they encounter.

Can true love surpass the power of pure evil? Part love story, part supernatural thriller, this first book in the Kindred trilogy will leave readers lusting for more!



Unraveling - April 24th (what a coinkydink!)

Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl's fight to save herself, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.

Have fun drooling...

Imo

 

Follow Firday #27

Hey peeps! As most of you know Follow Friday is hosted by the awesome Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, so go ahead and sign up :D
HOPPERS: If you are hopping by and especially FOLLOWING, please leave a comment down there, i do read all of them and visit all of your lovely blogs! Don't be shy, and also, IF YOU FOLLOW ME I WILL TRY AND RETURN THE FAVOUR, so spread the love :D

Q: I like unique names for characters and am looking forward to coming up with some when I start writing. What’s the most unique character name you’ve come across?

Oh wow, i've come across some weird ones, but the worst? Um, for the guys it's probably Nixtiagra, a very strange Greek based name that i once saw in a 'mythical' book, or Balloch, and i have no idea where i heard that one. For the gals it's either Keturah or Aikaterini, but surprisingly i actually kind of like the latter one.

If you've heard of those, wow, you are actually so awesome it's mind-imploding. If you haven't, don't worry i had no clue either. So what's your unique names? Leave a comment and i'll try to come see!

Omnom Out,

Imo <l:)>

Cover Reveal

Have to be quick, research essays are beckoning, but just thought i'd share one of the beautiful new cover releases thsi week, Silver by Talia Vance. This is high on my list of must-reads for fall 2012, and if you're a book stalker too, i'm sure you'll agree why.

So, without further ado...

Beauty is pointless when no one's looking.

Brianna Paxton has been invisible to guys since the eighth grade. She’s pretty enough, it’s just that no one bothers to look. There’s almost nothing that can’t be explained with science, and Brianna has a theory: she’s missing the pheromone that attracts people to one another. Brianna’s theory is shot to hell in one frozen, silver moment, when time stops and Blake Williams not only sees her, he recognizes something inside her that she’s been hiding from even herself.

Before Brianna fully understands who and what she is, she accidentally binds her soul to Blake. Forced to find a way to reconcile forbidden love and her bloody heritage, Brianna discovers that there's nothing pointless about her, and Blake may be in the most danger of all.

Slated for release September 8th 2012.

Back to theoretical analysis,
Imo <l:)>

And again...

Hey guys, i just want to say a massive thank you to everybody who visited and followed yesterday for Follow Friday! You are all awesome, and i am trying to return the favour to every one of you, so bear with me!

On an awkward side note, i will be gone again until next Saturday, due to my friends' absurd love for camping (pity me). So if i don't manage to follow you back tonight, it might be that i end up having to do it next weekend, so just be patient and i promise i'll deliver :d

Anyways, have to go back to frantically following and packing,
Imo <l:)>

Top Tuesday

As this is the last day of January, i thought i'd give you a list of my top books published in this wonderful month. Early it may be, this year has started off with a bang.

Dazzling, futuristic and strangely echoing Under The Never Sky was the first book i read from 2012, and certainly set the bar high. One for all who enjoy dystopian romance, i am definitely looking forward to its sequel; Through The Ever Night.

Another quick favourite from a debut author, Cinder is a futuristic retelling of the classic fairy tale Cinderella. Filled with romance, intrigue, mystery and, of course, the ball, this is one new release i would recommend to everyone.

The long awaited debut from author Jodi Meadows, Incarnate takes is into a new world of fantasy where magic, dragons and incarnation all exist. An amazing book with wonderful characters and skilled writing, Incarnate was a definite yes for this list.

The conclusion to Andrea Cremers bestselling Nightshade trilogy, Bloodrose is packed with tension and tough choices. Though it might not be the most amazing book i've read this month, it was included because it is memorable in being the final book of the series.

Though i would love to keep on going, time is not on my side and i have to stop there. However, i do have one last surprise for you, the title to the sequel of Daughter of Smoke and Bone (if you haven't already seen it), Days of Blood and Starlight (Coming September 2012). I have no idea how she comes up with these names, but i am so jellous of their awesomeness.



Omnom out,

Imo <l:)>

Au revoir

Hey guys, i hope you had a fantasbulous new year!

I went to a lovely party in the city, which made me all the more appreciative of the fact that i don't drink when i saw absolutely everyone get smashed. Seriously, so smashed one guy jumped into a bush thinking he could get to Narnia (the saddest part, it's completely true - i have photos).

Anyways, i'm sure you all had great fun as well, and what better way to kick off the new year than to go on a holiday?

Yep, that's right, i'm off again for three weeks to New Zealand. We're going all around the North Island (avoiding the south because of the earthquakes and stuff), and it's promising to be absolutely stunning. Win win situation for me i think, because i'm also getting a new laptop courtsey of meinen Vater!

So, i hope you guys have lots of fun where ever you are in the next few weeks, and before you know it i'll be back :D

Have a  wonderful summer (or winter, in the northern hemisphere. HA)
Imo <l:)>

Top Ten Books of 2011

Many blogs are posting their Top Ten Books of 2011, and, being a sucker for these kinds of things, i prepared my own for your entertainment.

It took a while, and it was really difficult, but i finally managed to pick my absolute favourite, completely fan-girl worthy top ten books.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Obsidian by Jennifer l. Armentout

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentout

Special mentions go to:

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

For some reason i feel like i've forgotten tonnes of books, but i suppose that's what everyone feels like when they've completed one of these lists. However, i'm pretty sure those are (if not close to) my top ten books of 2011, and what an amazing group they are!

But, what did you guys pick? I am sure within about five minutes of posting this i'll look at someone else's and go 'DAMN, i should have thought of that!' Whoopsie.

Oh well.

Have an awesome week,

Imo <l:)>

Hiatus...again

I know, i am being such a blogging FAIL, but i have to take another week or so off. Not due to exams this time, but me and some friends are going camping (YAY! Not) for a week to 'get back to nature'.
Ugh, my friends are so weird.



Yeah, that's totally going to be me....

Anyways, whilst i am gone i will not be even close to a form of internet or communications, so the chances of you hearing anything from me are below zilch. However, do not fret mon cheres, as soon as i get back i will be sure to check out everything and return the favour when required, i just won't be able to for the next few days.

Have some awesome holidays, peeps, and keep reading!

Imo <l:)>