Book Haul [12]: MIBF Edition!

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My "Weekly Book Haul" is pretty much just like In My Mailbox by the Story Siren, This Week In Books by Pop Culture Junkie, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews and all the other titles with the similar concept here and there. This is a weekly post showcasing the books you received for the given week, either bought online or from a physical bookstore, borrowed from the library or from a friend, received for review or won from a giveaway, etc.

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Hello, fellow readers! Here I am again, doing a weekly book haul here at the Blair Book Project on this beautiful Sunday morning.

This week's book haul is a special one since we have a very exciting event for all bookworms: the 33rd Manila International Book Fair!!! Woohoo!

I just went to the SMX Convention Center at SM Mall of Asia yesterday where MIBF was held at. So much was going on, there's books everywhere, and book signings, and some other crazy stuff. And of course there where a lot of people around. So forgive me for not having any pictures during the event, I always get overwhelmed with crowds, and I can't believe that because of it, I forgot to pull out my camera. Ugh! Bad me!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top 10 Books That Are On The Top Of My TBR List For Fall

Top Ten Tuesday

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

Top Ten Books That Are On The Top Of My TBR List For Fall

        

        

1. The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

          - Who doesn't want to read this? I know the ARC's available online but I'd rather wait for the real thing. I'm not much of an e-reader.

2. Vanish by Sophie Jordan

         - I'm curious about who the cover is and what's in store for Jacinda and Will's relationship.

3. Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stolh

         - I loved the first 2 books so I'm excited about this one too.

4. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

         - It's kind of like a girly version of "Lord of the Flies", I want to see what it's all about.

5. Forgotten by Cat Patrick

        - It has a very interesting synopsis.

6. Devoted by Hilary Duff

         - I've read the first book out of curiousity now I want to see how Hilary develops as a writer/author.

7. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

         - Beautiful cover, intriguing summary, 'nuff said.

8. Enclave by Ann Aguirre

         - I've seen this many times on the shelf of a bookstore I constantly go to, I think it's about time I pick it up.

9. Meridian by Amber Kizer

         - It sounds dark and mysterious, I want to know if this has something new to offers to the whole raving angel-themed books.

10. The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

         - This has been in my TBR list for a while and now that it's coming out I can't wait to get my hands on it.

Hopefully those that are just about to come out this fall would be available here in the Philippines as per their expected release dates. I'm really excited to get my hands on them.

The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray

      

The Sweet Far Thing
(Gemma Doyle Trilogy #3)
by Libba Bray

Summary from Goodreads:

"IT HAS BEEN A YEAR OF CHANGE since Gemma Doyle arrived at the foreboding Spence Academy. Her mother murdered, her father a

laudanum addict, Gemma has relied on an unsuspected strength and has discovered an ability to travel to an enchanted world called the realms, where dark magic runs wild. Despite certain peril, Gemma has bound the magic to herself and forged unlikely new alliances. Now, as Gemma approaches her London debut, the time has come to test these bonds.

The Order - the mysterious group her mother was once part of - is grappling for control of the realms, as is the Rakshana. Spence's burned East Wing is being rebuilt, but why now? Gemma and her friends see Pippa, but she is not the same. And their friendship faces its gravest trial as Gemma must decide once and for all what role she is meant for."

Rating:

First of all, I have to admit, when I picked up The Sweet Far Thing, I immediately checked the number of pages I’d be reading and asked myself: “What could possibly be in this book to use up over 819 pages?” I winced at the thought that this might be slow-paced. And unfortunately, it was.

Bray’s writing was indeed beautiful. But more than half of the book was a drag. It was only kept interested by a few stolen moments between Gemma and Kartik. Every other chapter just showed why I loathe (and love) the characters; they threw their wrath at each other; they were greedy and selfish, annoying and deceitful. One other interesting thing that went in between the chapters was the revelation of Felicity’s identity. The whole lot of the story was thrown in at about Chapter 60 (Page 687), imagine the long wait! Although, I do understand that it was meant to give the reader time to absorb and mould the idea of the tale. Still, I wish I could’ve been at least a bit lesser than 819 pages.

As I reached page 777, I was starting to feel edgy and by the end of the book, my face was sleek with tears. The ending was heartbreaking. It seemed unfair, since I’m a sucker for happy endings. I didn’t expect how it turned out, yet it was rightly fitting. Despite being torn from what happened, The Sweet Far Thing has brought me a bittersweet tale that is well to be remembered.

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

        

A Great and Terrible Beauty
(Gemma Doyle Trilogy #1)
by Libba Bray

Summary from Goodreads:

"A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.

Sixteen-year-old Gemma has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order. A Great and Terrible Beauty is an impressive first book in what should prove to be a fascinating trilogy."

Rating:

A Great and Terrible Beauty opens readers to the world of characters whom you’d love to hate… Seriously! That’s the first thing I felt when I read the book. Gemma was such a brat to her mother, Felicity was a b****, Pippa was annoying and Ann was a suicidal coward. I hated them! But at the same time, it was what made me find them interesting. They had such defined characters, it’s like it was built with much history and foundation. They had solid personality and they become rather funny and intriguing once you get passed the hating part. 

The plot was good. It’s nice to find a book not having to wither on focusing at a love triangle or having damsels rescued by the love of their lives; there’s the urge of power for women, and that’s something I like in a story. I’m too much of a feminist! Ha! Ha! 

Since I’ve already read Rebel Angels, I did find this one a bit on the downer side. It was mellow compared to the 2nd book, although I do understand that this book was meant to establish the trilogy, so basically it would start off on a mild course. 

All in all, it was pleasing to read and I’m rather curious to know how this trilogy would end. 

Rebel Angels by Libba Bray

        

Rebel Angels
(Gemma Doyle Trilogy #2)
by Libba Bray

Summary from Goodreads:

"Ah, Christmas! Gemma Doyle is looking forward to a holiday from Spence Academy, spending time with her friends in the city, attending ritzy balls, and on a somber note, tending to her ailing father. As she prepares to ring in the New Year, 1896, a handsome young man, Lord Denby, has set his sights on Gemma, or so it seems. Yet amidst the distractions of London, Gemma’s visions intensify–visions of three girls dressed in white, to whom something horrific has happened, something only the realms can explain. . . . 

The lure is strong, and before long, Gemma, Felicity, and Ann are turning flowers into butterflies in the enchanted world of the realms that Gemma alone can bring them to. To the girls’ great joy, their beloved Pippa is there as well, eager to complete their circle of friendship. But all is not well in the realms–or out. The mysterious Kartik has reappeared, telling Gemma she must find the Temple and bind the magic, else great disaster will befall her. Gemma’s willing to do his intrusive bidding, despite the dangers it brings, for it means she will meet up with her mother’s greatest friend–and now her foe, Circe. Until Circe is destroyed, Gemma cannot live out her destiny. But finding Circe proves a most perilous task."

Rating:

When I finished Rebel Angels, I immediately thought of the TV series “Gossip Girl”. Instead of “the scandalous lives of Manhattan’s Elite”, it twists to “the scandalous lives of Victorian-Era London’s elite society” – with magic to add to that. 

Rebel Angels is the first book from the Gemma Doyle Trilogy that I have read. As expected, I was a bit puzzled with the story. The characters mention events that happened during the first book that I haven’t yet known. But as soon as Gemma narrated the past incident, I was able to grasp at the plot.

The characters are very distinctive and their personalities were quite real. There’s greed, hunger, and deceit; pretty much as scandalous as any society can get. I love the imperfection and the struggle for perfection and everything that goes with it; wealth, popularity, a higher praise in society, the works. 

Bray’s writing was indeed incredible. It was dramatic and clear. Although, being the impatient reader that I am, I was fretful to figure out everything and I kept screaming, “C’mon! C’mon! Who is Circe?” or “What now?! What’s next?!” I was agitated with the suspense and mystery, yet Libba Bray had a beguiling way of unravelling the mysteries.