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Winter Reads [BOOK RECS]



As I do every year, I've compiled a list of wonderful winter reads! I feel like all of these would make the perfect book to curl up under a blanket with. As I tend to read fantasy 24/7 and even more so, a lot of these are fantasy. But, don't worry! I included several others I feel like fit the winter mood and aren't fantasy. Enjoy  

  • Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor 

"The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?

The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? And if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?"

  • Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

"Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen.

That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.

Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here — it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up."

  • A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini 

"A Thousand Splendid Suns is a breathtaking story set against the volatile events of Afghanistan's last thirty years—from the Soviet invasion to the reign of the Taliban to post-Taliban rebuilding—that puts the violence, fear, hope, and faith of this country in intimate, human terms. It is a tale of two generations of characters brought jarringly together by the tragic sweep of war, where personal lives—the struggle to survive, raise a family, find happiness—are inextricable from the history playing out around them."

  • This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

"Kate Harker and August Flynn are the heirs to a divided city—a city where the violence has begun to breed actual monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent—but he’s one of the monsters. One who can steal a soul with a simple strain of music. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate, who’s just been kicked out of her sixth boarding school and returned home, August jumps at it. But Kate discovers August’s secret, and after a failed assassination attempt the pair must flee for their lives."

  • Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

"Harrowing and beautifully written, Elizabeth Wein creates a visceral read of danger, resolve, and survival that shows just how far true friends will go to save each other. Code Name Verity is an outstanding novel that will stick with you long after the last page."

  • Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

"In a country teetering on the brink of civil war, two young people meet—sensual, fiercely independent Nadia and gentle, restrained Saeed. They embark on a furtive love affair and are soon cloistered in a premature intimacy by the unrest roiling their city. When it explodes, turning familiar streets into a patchwork of checkpoints and bomb blasts, they begin to hear whispers about doors—doors that can whisk people far away, if perilously and for a price. As the violence escalates, Nadia and Saeed decide that they no longer have a choice. Leaving their homeland and their old lives behind, they find a door and step through."

  • Furyborn by Claire Legrand
"When assassins ambush her best friend, Rielle Dardenne risks everything to save him, exposing herself as one of a pair of prophesied queens: a queen of light, and a queen of blood. To prove she is the Sun Queen, Rielle must endure seven elemental magic trials. If she fails, she will be executed...unless the trials kill her first.

One thousand years later, the legend of Queen Rielle is a fairy tale to Eliana Ferracora. A bounty hunter for the Undying Empire, Eliana believes herself untouchable--until her mother vanishes. To find her, Eliana joins a rebel captain and discovers that the evil at the empire's heart is more terrible than she ever imagined.

As Rielle and Eliana fight in a cosmic war that spans millennia, their stories intersect, and the shocking connections between them ultimately determine the fate of their world--and of each other."




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Books to Read After Watching The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina



I recently watched all of the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and I'm totally obsessed. I'd read the comics when I was younger because I'm a giant Archie fan but I never knew they were going to recreate Sabrina the Teenage Witch in a non-cheesy, terrifying way. Immediately after watching, I found myself wanting to indulge in more stories about witches. Of course, I've made an entire list of the books that include witches and more!

  • Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

"Akata Witch transports the reader to a magical place where nothing is quite as it seems. Born in New York, but living in Aba, Nigeria, twelve-year old Sunny is understandably a little lost. She is albino and thus, incredibly sensitive to the sun. All Sunny wants to do is be able to play football and get through another day of school without being bullied. But once she befriends Orlu and Chichi, Sunny is plunged in to the world of the Leopard People, where your worst defect becomes your greatest asset. Together, Sunny, Orlu, Chichi and Sasha form the youngest ever Oha Coven. Their mission is to track down Black Hat Otokoto, the man responsible for kidnapping and maiming children. Will Sunny be able to overcome the killer with powers stronger than her own, or will the future she saw in the flames become reality?"

  • The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

"Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…

Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.

Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.

Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.

Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.

But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself."

  • Toil & Trouble: 15 Tales of Women & Witchcraft 

"From good witches to bad witches, to witches who are a bit of both, this is an anthology of diverse witchy tales from a collection of diverse, feminist authors. The collective strength of women working together—magically or mundanely--has long frightened society, to the point that women’s rights are challenged, legislated against, and denied all over the world. Toil & Trouble delves deep into the truly diverse mythology of witchcraft from many cultures and feminist points of view, to create modern and unique tales of witchery that have yet to be explored. "


  • A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

"Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell."
  • The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

"Let me be clear: I never intended to raise my brother from his grave, though he may claim otherwise. If there's anything I've learned from him in the years since, it's that the dead hide truths as well as the living. 

When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy means that she's a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community. But Tea finds solace and guidance with an older, wiser bone witch, who takes Tea and her brother to another land for training.

In her new home, Tea puts all her energy into becoming an asha-one who can wield elemental magic. But dark forces are approaching quickly, and in the face of danger, Tea will have to overcome her obstacles...and make a powerful choice."

  • Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

"In a continent on the edge of war, two witches hold its fate in their hands.Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home.

Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she's a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden - lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult's true powers are hidden even from herself.

In a chance encounter at Court, Safi meets Prince Merik and makes him a reluctant ally. However, his help may not slow down the Bloodwitch now hot on the girls' heels. All Safi and Iseult want is their freedom, but danger lies ahead. With war coming, treaties breaking and a magical contagion sweeping the land, the friends will have to fight emperors and mercenaries alike. For some will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch."

  • How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather
  • The Crucible by Arthur Miller 
  • The Witch's Daughter by Paula Brackston


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October Playlist



i go crazy (acoustic) - orla gartland
1950 - king princess
you should see me in a crown - billie eilish
forgotten love - AURORA
infections of a different kind - AURORA
generation why - conan gray
queendom - AURORA
where were you in the morning? - shawn mendes
lost in japan - shawn mendes
particular taste - shawn mendes
in my blood - shawn mendes
dead girl walking - heathers: the musical
seventeen - heathers: the musical
mutual - shawn mendes
big fun - heathers: the musical
it's not living (if its not with you) - the 1975
mercy - shawn mendes
when the party's over - billie eilish
slow dancing in the dark (acoustic remix) - joji
plastic taste - joji
if i believe you - the 1975





the photo on this post is not mine. i found it on pinterest but if you know whose picture this is, feel free to tell me and i'll give credit.

November YA Releases '18



  • Archenemies by Marissa Meyer [November 6th, 2018]
  • Pulp by Robin Talley [November 13th, 2018] (I'll have a review soon!)
  • Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald by J.K. Rowling [November 16th, 2018]
  • Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean [November 6th, 2018]
  • This Splintered Silence by Kayla Olson [November 13th, 2018]
  • Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan [November 6th, 2018]


Books That Have Changed My Life



  • Into the Wild by Jon Krakeaur 5/5

Into the Wild by Jon Krakeaur is a book I read for AP language in junior year of high school and when I found this book, I've never done so much research. I loved Chris McCandless and I loved how not everyone could understand why he was so great. I’ve always wanted to pack a bag of books and leave across the country but I could never have the guts. Jon Krakeaur wrote such a wonderfully read and painfully sad non-fiction story about a boy who found himself living a life outdoors and on the go. This book makes me think about my life in retrospect SO much, it’s ridiculous. I feel so angsty when I read this book and so ready to leave for the west coast. I am always thinking about this book and I don’t think I’ll forget it.
  • the Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephan Chbosky 5/5

I read this for the first time in middle school and then re-read it when I became a senior in high school. It’s something that has always stuck with me because of the emotions I feel while reading it. It deals with soo many important things like ptsd, rape, homophobia, depression, etc. This book is the ultimate coming of age novel for me. I love absolutely everything about it.  

  • The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger 4/5

This is one of the first classics I ever read and I didn’t get it at all. I closed the book after finishing it the first time I read it freshman year of high school and thought I had only just read a book about a dumb boy roaming New York. As I grew older, I realized Holden Alexander is way too relatable and the entire centering theme of innocence is something I think about a lot. Also, I love coming of age. So good.


  • the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini 5/5
Do I really need to explain myself for this one? I can’t say it impacted me personally in ways I still realize today but it made me open my eyes more to situations other people can be in and how you impact someone else’s life. I cried heaps when reading this book. 

honorable mentions:
  • Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 4/5 
I read this for school in my junior year of high school and I haven’t let go of it. It really just made me appreciate literature more and become aware of what’s going on in the world around me.


  • All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven 5/5 

This book gives me a place to go whenever I'm sad. Her writing is genuinely so beautiful and I won't forget it.



How I Edit My Bookstagram Photos and Stories




Isn't it about time? I finally share with you all how I edit my instagram photos and stories! I'm often asked questions about my editing so I decided it's time to show you all of my tips and tricks. 



For my instagram photos and feed, I use two apps! 

Photos + Feed

1. VSCO - I use VSCO for the filters! My feed is just the M5 filter, +3 brightness and sometimes a little bit of grain. The app is incredibly easy to navigate and I'd highly recommend it for your photos.

2. Preview - I use preview to plan out my feed and captions. It's basically just an app that shows you how your photos would look exactly next to each other. It's super useful and allowed me to get more into the idea of having a theme.

Instagram Stories

1. Unfold - This is an app that allows you to create Instagram story templates. I use the free template set they give you (CS1) and the $1.99 template set called RP1. Here's a preview:



2. 8mm - 8mm is an app that allows you to edit and take videos into an old film-like style. I often use this on my stories for little videos and get questions constantly! It's $1.99 in the app store and I adore it.

3. Afterlight 1 & 2 - I use Afterlight 1 & 2 to edit photos into polaroids with washed out filters and light effects. I prefer 1 because I'm more used to and I bought the polaroid border on there awhile back but they're both great! You can use these for filters and editing photos for your theme as well.

4. Hype Type - This app just allows cool moving texts on videos or photos to change up your Instagram story! I don't use it as often because the free version has a water mark but if you're interested in something like that, it's a great app!


Wasn't that easy? People seem to think I put a lot into these stories, but it's just a few great apps! I know all of these are available in the U.S. app store but I'm not sure if it's on all of them. 

Let me know if you use any of these as well! 

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Fall/Halloween Decorating + Home Decor



I finally took some photos of my fall decor to share with you all! I love decorating my room but Fall is the time I really go all out. I'm going to be talking about the items and all photos of them being used around my room with be featured on Instagram. It was too dark whenever I was taking these photos to take photos of my bookshelves, chair, etc. Anyways, enjoy! Hopefully, you find some inspiration. 



I've had this little Halloween black cat/pumpkin pillow for so long but it's the cutest to put on my shelf at the end of my bed. I bought this cat awhile ago and I'm not sure if it's online but if not, I'll link something similar! I sit on top of this wooden palate that you can find at Michaels and it's decorated with a pack of pine cones I also found at Michaels!

Cat Pumpkin Pillow (Similar): http://bit.ly/2PdPXWp
Wooden Slate: http://bit.ly/2RvOzzX
Pinecones & Cotton (Similar): https://amzn.to/2PgFbyM 


I often own Fall candles and scents year round but this is the time of year to use them as decoration! I stock up on the Pumpkin Cinnamon scented candles from Bath & Body works. I also recently bought a Gunn Dean & Co candle which smells absolutely divine. The top right small candle I actually made myself! Making candles is such an easy and fun Fall activity, I would highly recommend! 

Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Candle: http://bit.ly/2DZcAN6 (ON SALE!)
Witch's Brew by Gunn Dean: http://bit.ly/2y2mHvt
Poesie Perfume: http://bit.ly/2DZNbmr



I went a little overboard at Michael's during their Halloween and Fall decor sale and ended up with this adorable bookish decoration! It's just the cutest stack of spooky books for the end of my shelf. 

Spooky Book Decor: http://bit.ly/2Pev6lZ


I have two of these cinnamon scented brooms hanging up in my room. It's ones of the best things about Fall whenever these start to show up in grocery stores. I even have a mini one in my car!

Cinnamon Brooms (Similar): https://amzn.to/2C2ArJ8

Please note that these are MUCH cheaper in store. You can find them in almost any grocery store around this year and Home Depot! They go for about $6 dollars in the U.S. :-)


These little shiny pumpkins were actually from the dollar store! They make great decor pieces for my bookshelves and cost almost nothing! The little leaves you might've been noticing in these pictures are also from the dollar store. 

I probably won't be able to find these online obviously but check out your local dollar store to see if they have any of these tiny ceramic pumpkins. 


While Romeo is a photo hog, the pillows I've been featuring in the background are actually from Target. I love using throw pillows as decor -- it really makes the place cozy!

Giant mustard yellow pillow (VERY similar): http://bit.ly/2zUeF9l
Tiny blue pumpkin stitch pillow (similar): http://bit.ly/2PgJ8mX 

I couldn't seem to find these on Target's website but the tiny blue one was in the cheaper section with Halloween decor for 5$ dollars U.S. 


I wanted to share this little DIY blood dripping corner with you all! I put this on my mirror as well and it's so cute. I just used red craft paper to cut out the drips and it just adds a little spooky detail. The bag is from pre-ordering Vengeful by V.E. Schwab (shout out to Tor!) and the painting above it is something I did!



Finally, I have all my Fall fake greenery/flowers. I got a fake eucalyptus from Michaels, fake babies breathe from the dollar store, and the cotton/white flowers from Michaels as well. As for the bottles they're placed in, I actually just cleaned a root beer bottle and a wine bottle. You can find similar ones at Michaels, though. 


I hope you all enjoyed a little look into my Fall/Halloween decor! Do you decorate for the season? Let me know! 

If you end up doing any of these or getting them, show me on Instagram! I'd love to see them :)

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Salt to the Sea [MINI REVIEW]




*please note this is an old review that I'm reposting on my new blog for archive reasons*

NO SPOILERS!


I have always been intimidated by historical fiction. Yet, I’ve always wanted to get my hands on a Ruta Sepetys book. Being partly German and currently attempting to learn the language, reading about WWII sparks my interest. But, a common element in Ruta Sepetys’ books is that it’s hidden history. Salt to the Sea is about four individual characters: a young Polish girl, a German sailor, a Lithuanian nurse and a Prussian art thief. Seeing the different perspectives all going through similar situations blew me away. They all aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff. The story shows how they got themselves there and how they deal with it. If you’re not informed about this ship before reading it, the journey through out it all will amaze you even more. We were also introduced to some precious side characters such as: the shoe poet and the blind girl. All these beautiful stories and people intertwine in such a heart breaking way, yet, I left the story with a sense of positive closure. Throughout each chapter, the story kept me gripping onto where I didn’t want to let it go near the end. I’m definitely going to be reading her other novels as i’m sure they’re just as wonderful. But, i’m so glad that this was my introduction to historical fiction. If you like historical fiction and haven’t read a Ruta Sepetys book, what are you doing with your life? I even mentioned this book to my current history teacher and he enjoyed it just as much. I read this book entirely in a day, on a school day. I barely ever reading after school because i’m so exhausted but I forced myself to stay awake and binge read this book. The heartache and day long binge were entirely worth it. 




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Spooky Reads for Fall



Thrillers\Mysteries are made for the Fall. It's the best time of the year to read spooky books! I've made a little list of all the spooky books I've read and plan to read. Enjoy!


  • Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl
  • The Diviners by Libba Bray
  • There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins
  • The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
  • This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
  • Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
  • The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
  • A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
  • The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
  • The Call by Peadar Ó Guilín
  • Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart
  • Meddling Kids by Edgar Canteno 
Are you going to be reading any of these this Fall? Let me know!

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September '18 Playlist


xi. septembre

baby where are you - mountain man
coffee - beabadoobee
7 hours ago - honeywater
i knew this would be love - imaginary future
love (aint always so good) - isaac gracie
GOLD - BROCKHAMPTON
RENTAL - BROCKHAMPTON
wait a minute! - willow
SWEET - BROCKHAMPTON
1950 - king princess
infections of a different kind - AURORA (the entire album tbh)




the photo on this post is not mine. i found it on pinterest but if you know whose picture this is, feel free to tell me and i'll give credit.

September '18 Wrap Up




Well, I read one thing this month. Oops.



                                                      I have a review of Wildcard here!


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