What's Happening in February AKA The Game Plan

I'm probably going to have to check this post every time I come up with an idea for a post, just so I don't forget what I'm supposed to be doing, but here we go: The Game Plan for 2016. Otherwise known as: This post really should have happened in January but oh well. This is basically going to be a summary of different types of posts and what I'm going to be doing with them... or not doing.

Just in case you forgot who you were dealing with.

Reviews

This month, I am only going to be reading and reviewing books that were first published on Wattpad. I have a serious problem with discovering new authors (AKA I never do unless the book is super hyped), and a serious problem with reading at all once school starts (for some reason I don't read paper books, I only read books that are online) so hopefully this will fix both problems. 

This is only going to be going on in February. In March, it'll be something else, but from here on out every month is going to have a theme. Ex: In March, I might only read high fantasy, and in April I might pick steampunk. 

Life Posts

There are going to be almost none of these. And that's because my life is ridiculously boring. 

Moving on.

On Writing

I'm going to be doing these approximately once a month. Sometimes it might be a little more, sometimes I might not do them at all (if I'm not currently writing anything), but these will just be about different aspects of my current WIPs. Like characters, plots, world building, etc.

Since I just did one last week, another one probably will have to wait until near the end of this month.

Link Ups

I hardly ever do these as it is, but now I am thinking of doing them once a month. Again, hopefully. I don't really know about a lot of link-ups, so that's going to be another thing I try to know more about this year. Also I don't really read a lot of blogs. I only religiously check three blogs for new posts and that is terrible. 

Other than the types of posts I talked about above, there isn't anything else that I'm thinking about posting about. Occasionally there might be some lists (because, seriously, who doesn't like a good list)-- probably like the Top 5 Villains post I did forever ago. I am completely open to any other ideas, but for right now this is what to expect. 

I'll be posting on either Sunday or Monday each week. 

Reviewing: Winter by Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles #4)

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend—the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be and she’s been undermining her stepmother’s wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?

I am simultaneously heartbroken that The Lunar Chronicles are over and super, duper relieved because GOOD GOD this book is huge. I have no idea what I should talk about first, because everything was pretty much flawless (even though there were a couple things that I will mention later). The couples are all here, and excuse me while I cry over Scarlet and Wolf, please. I am also so, so ridiculously proud of Cinder. She accomplishes so much and gets hurt so badly, but she's still herself. Still her stubborn, sarcastic, heroic self. The book does, in fact, kind of focus on her more than in Scarlet and Cress. Cress gets so much stronger and braver (I'm really happy that she is portrayed as brave and strong even though she's not like Cinder or Scarlet), Thorne becomes the hero we all sort of knew he was, Iko is remains the quirky best friend, Winter is crazy strong and lovable (I love how she stays so loving and gentle despite all she goes through), and Jacin, that little prick, is actually a (selective) sweetheart. I AM SO PROUD OF EVERYONE. (And may I just say that my respect towards Kai has skyrocketed). And Cinder and Thorne have more sarcasm! Yes. I love it when they sass each other. I'm not disappointed about what happened. At all. Which is crazy, because with everything that happens you'd think at least one when get on my nerves. Don't get me wrong-- it is emotionally devastating and I'm pretty mentally exhausted right now. I'm probably going to be stuck in this haze for a couple days. But the things that happened seemed like they could and probably would if such a world existed. The ending felt like it was wrapped up in a pretty bow very, very quickly compared to everything else. But I wanted it so badly that I wasn't even mad. I mean, c'mon. Look at everything that they have all sacrificed! They all deserve to be happy, so that Scarlet and Wolf can be together on their little farm and eat tomatoes together. (I think tomatoes are the grossest things ever but each to their own). They all kind of go their own ways, but with bonds that will never be broken and friendships that will last for the rest of their lives. I could legit cry from how close they've all become. As always, Marissa Meyer's descriptions are flawless. The world of the Lunars is beautifully written and the emotions that the characters feel are written in such detailed beauty that you can't help but feel some of it yourself. One thing that became exhausting is the length. It's 800+ pages long. THAT IS TOO LONG. My head hurt, my eyes hurt, everything kind of hurt because I'm suicidal and have to read everything in one sitting. (In case you're wondering, no, I did not read it in one sitting, I read it in two). I finished this in a total of 7 or 8 hours. That's a little more than 100 pages per hour, each page packed with action and important information-- so, yes, my mind is currently numb, thanks for asking. My advice? You know how Marissa Meyer splits her books into littler books? Winter has five (FIVE. I am in disbelief). Read one each day. You'll finish it in 5 days, but you also won't feel like passing out afterwards. (Or you might, if the feels are just too much, which they probably will be). ALSO. Reading Fairest will help your understanding of what happens in this book. A lot. It's not like it's absolutely necessary, but, regarding Levana, you know so much more about why she does what she does. And it's not terribly long. (LIKE WINTER).

Hi, 2016

Obviously, I'm a little late. I wanted to post this on the 1st of January, but... I got distracted. That being said-- I'm back! At least... for a little while. School isn't heavy right now at all, so that means I will be posting more.

Anyways. This post is just going to be a list of resolutions. A lot of them are going to be simple, but hopefully they won't be too boring (who am I kidding-- it's probably going to be 90% school).

2016 | Resolutions

1. Get my driver's licence.

2. Join a club at my school.

3. Keep my 4.0 GPA.

4. Check out dual-enrollment at my local college.

5. Try something, anything new. (because my comfort zone is about the size of a miniature pea)

6. Finish one WIP-- this one. (I am too distracted to hope for more than one)

7. Get down to some serious plotting for Shadows Dancing. (I think I've put this off for about 2 years)

8. Expand my music horizons. 

9. Spend more time outside, just because.

10. Try to find more beauty in the simple things and not to get too caught up in what hasn't happened yet. (because I have a tendency to hyperventilate if I think about the future for too long)

11. Actually make a reading/posting schedule for my blog. (I think everyone can agree that it's about time)

12. Spend more time with my family.

13. Send my sister at least one letter while she's at college this year/semester.

14. This year, I really, really want to find my happy place.