BTM: Tis the Season Book Tag

Hi  again!

It’s time for another book tag, and this one I found over at _ForBooksSake . I loved her answers and kinda wanted to leave my own too, and it’s a good way to finish December’s Book Tag in a winterish vibe.

Are you ready?
Allons-y!

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Do you have a favourite winter read? 

I’m not much of a rereader, but two books I love to reread that leave me with a winter vibe are Shadow & Bone (Grisha), and, the obvious, Harry Potter- I always seem to either read or watch the first book/movie around Christmas.

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Find a book with Blue on the Cover. 

I have Call Down the Hawke, by Maggie Stiefvater, right beside me, I don’t need to go too far xD.

No, I’m not crazy, I have a special edition that turned it blue, and it’s also blue on the naked cover 😉

Find a book you’d use as the star on a Christmas Tree. 

I almost went with the Niffler cover on Fantastic Beasts, but those giant Christmas trees at Hogwarts, with flying candles and a starish sky… It won. I mean, I even spent Christmas Eve has a Gryffindor student so it wasn’t a real fight 🙂

Pick one fictional place that would be perfect for a Winter vacation. 

I spent so much time thinking of one place and then…. CHRISTMAS TOWN! Of course! Maybe I’d even meet Jack along the stay! Or get lost and find the other holidays doors- I do tend to get lost a lot in new places, even with freaking GPS.

Pick one fictional character you’d take with you on your Winter Vacation. 

Kenji from Ignite Me, that boy really needs a vacation! I love how he’s getting more appreciated, and known, in the last books, outside his funny persona. Kenji, you in?

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Name one book on your Wishlist this year.

I want THE WITCHER series so much, I’m finishing the first book for the 2nd time and want to know more, but I promised myself I wouldn’t buy more books until I read some of my TBR. Sad Gerard is sad.

Favourite Holiday Drink, Treat and Movie!

Drink – Apple and Cinnamon Tea, or Chai Latte with ginger and cinnamon sprinkled on top! I love spicey hot drinks 🙂 I do love Hot chocolate, but that’s year-round.

Treat – Bûche de Noël/ Yule Log. It’s my essential dessert for Christmas, and I always need to find the best one for our Christmas Eve table.

Movie – Home alone– a staple on Christmas around here- and Nightmare before Christmas! I love watching Jack’s joy in the snow.

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✨       *         *    .    *        ✨        *.       *.   .      ✨    *.   . ✨  *.  *      *

There! Finito incatatem!

This was a fun one! Have you done this book tag? What different answers you would have given? Comment below and let’s trade ideas!

If you wanna, find me at ♡  ❤ and on 💙

Bye!

2019 in books

Hi again,

One of my goals for 2020 is to start doing a bookish statistic sheet, where I can record what I’m reading, from what year and the genres as a way to be more aware of the books I’m tending to.

I tried to do it this year, but I failed majorly, and the date I have doesn’t match so I gave up and let 2020 be the year I begin doing it. If you’re a reader that likes to do this and have some tips, I’d love to know!

So, I’m left with My year in books, which is still a good tracker, and I’ll evolve more about what I read by theme.

Are you ready?
Allons-y!

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✨       *         *    .    *        ✨        *.       *.   .      ✨    *.   . ✨  *.   *      *

✨Books read: my goal for 2019 was to read 100 books, something I have done comfortably for the past years, and I surpassed my goal in July, way way sooner than I expected! I’m finishing the year with 179 books, which is an awesome number for a busy and stressed year

✨Total pages read: holy guacamoli, I read 57,410 pages, making the average book 322 pages. My shortest books read was a Jessica Jones comic book (12 pages), and the longest was Kingdom of Ash (984 pages)

✨ Major Genres read: I tended to YA, Fantasy, Sci-fi and Contemporary over the year, with a few thrillers/horror and self-help/psychology books read in-between.

✨ Releases: most of the books were from 2019, but I did read books from 2007-2018 over the year, maybe half of the total.

✨Languages read: I accomplished my goal of reading more in French, with 15 french books read, read around 20/30 books in my language, Portuguese, and the rest was all in english

✨Formats: this year I tried audiobooks, with 8 audiobooks read, bought 40 physical books, read 20 online (mangas), and the rest of my reading was via kindle.

✨Ratings: my average rating was 4.2, something I’ll try to change in 2020, because I give 4 starts way to easily, I only need to like the book and not be annoyed by inconsistencies in the story.

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✨       *         *    .    *        ✨        *.       *.   .      ✨    *.   . ✨  *.  *      *

I’m not going into favorites and least favorites here, and I want to annex, in the future, points about cover colors, new authors, pocs and/or lgbt+ books, arcs, if I reviewed the book or not, if it was in a tbr list, and also mark release years in a better way. Do you think I should add anything else to the list?

How was 2019 to you reading wise? What does your year in books look like? I’d love to know!

If you wanna, find me at ♡  ❤ and on 💙

Bye!

Unknown: Chp 2

Chapter 2: Stronger

 

Muttering to myself about the heat, I finally arrive home.
I let my bags fall to the floor without care and go to the balcony, taking refuge in the afternoon shade setting on this side of the building. Feeling exhausted to the core, I slide onto the chaise and let my head fall back.
I foolishly thought it’d be okay going shopping in the worst and loudest hour of this heated summer in Portimão, after spending yesterday cleaning the apartment and the day before traveling to get here. Now I have a migraine paying homage to this brilliant idea, and no meds to take care of it because of course, of course, the airport wouldn’t permit my medication on board, not while traveling between countries, and I was stupid to not think of going to a pharmacy before coming home. Ugh, this vacation is starting great.
I close my eyes, and concentrate on breathing.
In, and out.
In, and out.
In, and out.
I’m assaulted by my senses. By the sound of seagulls flying near me, waves hitting cliffs and the beach areal, the salty smell of the sea in the air. I can hear children laughing somewhere, and cars passing on the street below me. I feel the heated caress of the sun beating in my face and arms, kind and warm, like a hug from a friend who hasn’t seen me in a long time.
Well, maybe that’s true. I haven’t felt like going out and enjoying life for a long time, and that was the point of coming here after all.
I open my eyes and brace my legs on the chaise, looking around me. I’d take a photo of this view if I hadn’t left my phone with the bags inside. The colors of the sky and sea blending nicely, the lines of a city far away, the sounds… Although a photo wouldn’t pick the sounds, it’d still make a nice photo, if I remember to do it later. Knowing myself, I have 50/50 chances.
Feeling calmer, and thinking about the ice cream I bought,  I go back inside and start sorting everything I bought to the shelves and fridge.
Maybe it was foolish to go out at two of the afternoon, but I kinda had no choice since the apartment was void of all food and toiletries, and there was only so much I could bring as snacks in my suitcase.
Tasks finished and gone, I can begin to enjoy my vacations here, and I’ll start with a vanilla coke and going back to the chaise.
This place was my parents’ home, and well, mine too, before we went to live in England 8 years ago. The apartment itself is quite simple, the living room is the central space of the floor, separated from the kitchen by a counter, and connecting to a bathroom and two bedrooms. One of the bedrooms can also be reached via the balcony, with a view of the beach on the left and the urban side of Portimão far away on the right. We maintained this house, instead of just selling it, and had a family member come take care of it, even though we never came back in all this time, not even for vacations. I guess we were happy there.
Here, I’m both near and away from humanity, neither close nor far. Just how I like it. Just how I need it.
I came here to enjoy the summer my so-called therapy-home before actually going back home and starting college, back into the routines, sports, and all that hellish studying and supposed all-nighters with friends.
Yes, supposed because I’m not that into parties. With good company, I could go out and have fun, but most of the time I preferred a good film or having a night in with the friends I loved. At least I used to- it hasn’t happened in a while.
Back home, I spent the last two months retracting inside myself to lick my wounds, and it’s not like I had many friends left- most of mine were either pissed at me, not talking to me or licking their own wounds. So, my parents and I decided I needed an out and bought the passage here, following a dream of mine of coming back to Portugal and enjoying my hometown beach for a summer.
It just that, in my dreams, the motive of coming back was happier. Maybe with my best friend, and certainly not alone.
Fuck, I need to start thinking of something else.
I pick my phone and go back to the balcony, pressing play on the music app as I sit. Since I didn’t bother updating the playlists with the music I downloaded, I take some time finding the music I wanted to listen to. Not right, not right…. This one!
Stronger by Kiesza starts filling the air, and I close my eyes, focusing on the rhythm and not in my darkened thoughts, letting her lyrical voice fill my mind.

“Feelings like there’s nothing left, I’m all alone
And the road ahead, I must walk alone
They’re all leaving me, don’t be leaving me
No, they can’t take away my mind
Where I go they will never find

Through the darkest place, the faintest light
Oh, it gave me hope to face my fight
Pain delivered me, I don’t need that sympathy
No, they can’t take away my pride
Where I go they will never find”

Another music starts playing, but I’m already beyond awareness.
I fall asleep with the sun warming me and people singing in my mind.

Wraetlic- Forbidden Soldier

I am, I am
A beautiful thing
Shaped for fighting
(Can you see the lights blazing?)

A moon, a constelation
And an arrow
For a skillful warrior
A moon, a constellation
And an arrow

Never felt this victorious
Whenever I am bent
I am better than before
Are you ready for this fight?

Lose my limbs, feel my pain
This is what I speak of
I am all eager
To start this game

Hear my roar, let me soar
Unstrung I obey
No man, no man
Only a goddess
To show me the way

A moon, a constelation
And an arrow
For a skillful warrior
A moon, a constellation
And an arrow

Never felt this
Victorious 

Can you tell me my name?

 

Will be appearing in UNKNOWN in the future
THE FORBIDDEN SOLDIER is a rock band created and existing in UNKNOWN.

T7T: My Bucket list for 2020

Hi again!

With 2020 so close, it’s time to start thinking about Bucket lists and “new year, new resolutions to make” again, and say goodbye to the plans we made for 2019.

We can take this in-between time to be thankful for the things we have done and for the people we met, to be proud of what we accomplished and the dreams we had; to analyze what were our 2019 resolutions, what we did and didn’t do, and what we want to take with us to the next year, and what we want to leave in the past. And to decide what will be our resolutions for the future.

I’m still thinking about what I want for the next 12 months, and what 13 resolutions I’ll be fighting towards (13 is my lucky number, don’t be scared xD), but here’s 7 items I want to put my energy towards:

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✨ Be more mindful and take care of my mental health ✨

✨Be more creative: draw more, write more, and try new things✨

✨Get out of my bubble more times, to socialize and explore what’s around✨

✨Create 5 bookstagram challenges, including #hadexmas and #bookoween✨

✨Finish and defend my thesis✨

✨Get my tattoo done (it was supposed to be this December but plans fell through)✨

✨Visit either Amsterdam or Frankfurt✨

✨       * *.*✨*. *. .     ✨*. . ✨  *. **

Will you also do a 2020 resolutions list? What are your plans for the next year? I’d love to know, maybe we have some in common!

If you wanna, find me at ♡  ❤ and on 💙

Bye!

BTM: Joy of Christmas Book Tag

Hey!

How are your preparations for Christmas? I have all my presents shopping done, now I need to go buy food xD Well, nevermind it, today is Monday so I’m doing another book tag with a festive theme, this one was created by Samantha at Novels and Nonsense 🙂
Also, I promise to not talk about any of my favorite books in this one, just to challenge myself- I’m talking about SKenyon books, Leigh Bardugo, Anne Bishop and Tahereh Mafi’s books. Also, can’t repeat series in the questions.

Are you ready?
Allons-y!

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Anticipation: The Christmas excitement is real, what book release(s) are you most anticipating?

Thinking about December releases, I’m most anticipating Wicked Hour (Heirs of Chicagoland #2) by Chloe Neill, a paranormal urban fantasy book, Reverie
by Ryan La Sala, an YA Fantasy with LGBT+ characters, and A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh, an adult romance thriller.
Little notes: I’ve loved Nalini Singh’s book until now, so of course I want to try her new thriller, and I’ve heard so so much about Reverie that I just added it immediately to the TBR pile even before reading the resume. Also, love the cover! Wicked Hour is the only from these three that belong to an old love of mine,  Chicagoland Vampires, continuing the story with the daughter of its protagonists.

Christmas Songs & Carols: What book or author can you not help but sing it's praises?

I can’t talk about those four, I can’t talk about those four….. Argh!
I love Veronica Roth’s books, Divergent is a serious love of mine- although I hated the ending-, Carve the Mark was also good, so I can’t wait to read more books from her!

Gingerbread Houses: What book or series has wonderful world building?

Kresley Cole, without a doubt, she built a ginormous world with races and various creatures from mythology for the series Immortal After Dark, and it’s so good! But I’m an adult paranormal fantasy addict, so, yeah. Also, if you love villains turned not-that-evil, like Loki, read Lothaire from the series. I love my villains’ stories.

A Christmas Carol: Favorite classic or one that you want to read?

I’ve talked about this one before 🙂 love Dante‘s Divine Comedy, an italian classic that actually represents my idea of the Underworld/Hell, and all its level/differentiation categories.

Christmas Sweets: What book would you love to receive for Christmas?

I’d looooooove to have the  Folk of the Air Gift Set by Holly Black, but a white version if there’s even one out now. I have the kindle versions of the books, and I have Cruel Prince from a Fairyloot box, but I just love the series so much that I need to have the hardbacks in my shelves too, to revisit whenever I want.

Candles in the Window: What book gives you that warm fuzzy feeling?

Endless Knight (Arcana Chronicles #2) by Kresley Cole gives me a lot of fuzzies with the Death Card. Again, love me some villains-not-villains in my books.

Christmas Trees & Decorations: What are some of your favorite book covers?

What if I showed you instead of writing? These were my most aesthetic covers from books I read this year for the Goodreads challenge 😀

Christmas Joy: What are some of your favorite things about Christmas And/Or some of your favorite Christmas memories?

I talked in a T7T about my love for my local christmas traditions (I’ll put the link here when I find it xD), and I enjoy searching and buying gifts for the people I love, what I think is best for each one, but my favorite thing is… having my family together. I study in my hometown but my parents are in another country, so Christmas has been, for the past 11 years, the time where they come back and we spend it with my grandma and uncle all together, trade stories and just enjoy the holidays. While it may not be that eventful and sometimes stressful, I love being with them all.

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There! Finito incatatem!

Have you done this book tag? What different answers you would have given? Comment below and let’s trade ideas!

If you wanna, find me at ♡  ❤ and on 💙

Bye!

Bucket list items I crossed off in 2019

Hi again!
2019 decided to kick my ass for the last weeks of the year (couf decade couf), leaving me stressed out and in no mood to write or, the shocker, read. But this year, although it has kicked my ass and mind a lot of times, also brought me a lot of joy in-between its months, and it’s something I need to remember.
For that reason, here are the items I was happy to finally cross-off my Bucket list in 2019.

Ready?

Allons-y!

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✨Bought my firsts chocolate frogs, and am now the owner of 3 of the 4 Hogwart founders cards!
✨Went to London with one of my best friends, and we visited a lot of nerdy places there
✨Ate a whole english breakfast- forget the touristy thing here, for someone who's happy with a bowl of cereals or an apple as breakfast, it's worth crossing off as WHOLE
✨Got to see a Van Gogh Exposition (one of my favorite artists)
✨Rode a canoe in Ria d'Aveiro, with my cousins, which was a first for us three together
✨Ate a Poke Bowl for the first time, can give it 4 stars as food material, pizza is still my favorite dish to have
✨Participated in a college ONU simulation as Russian delegate, and learned a lot about the inner workings of ONU
✨Celebrated my 4th year of being a Red Cross volunteer
✨Got to see the start of Rally Portugal in Coimbra, my hometown
✨Went to a Bullet for my Valentine concert, and they played TEARS DON'T FALL (bless my dark heart)
✨ Participated in my last Queima das Fitas as a finalist
✨Went to Wallibi Halloween, and got to see Aaron Crow's show
✨Finished my college internship with 17
✨Went to two stand-up comedies that I was excited to see for the first time (Diogo Batáguas and Os Barbixas)
✨Went to one of my besties wedding, which was so beautiful and kickass
✨Visited an old Christmas market (in Luxembourg)

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There! Finito incatatem!

I always stress with the things I didn’t finish, avoided or didn’t get to even start, and forget to celebrate the ones I did get to finish, so seeing all the activities and plans I crossed off this year brought another, more positive, light to my year, and made me remember that I have a lot of things I can be proud of having done and shared.
I had fun and was honored to be present in some really special moments, and will be leaving the year with good food and fond memories to share in the future, and that’s more valuable than the stress I can pick up on the way.

How did 2019 treat you? Which items did you cross-off your Bucket list, and which ones are you wanting to strike in 2020? Maybe we have some in common? Let me know, and leave your thoughts down below!

If you wanna, find me at ♡  ❤ and on 💙

Bye!

T7T: 7 TBR books that will stay that way until 2020

Hi again!

When I started living alone, I went from reading at the public library and only buying or being given books on holidays, to hoarding one (or more if I found a promotion) each month. The only things is while I may buy them, I don’t always read them all before buying more, and I now joined the club with TBR piles in their bedrooms. Yeah, I know, #firstworldproblems.
So, today I’ll talk about 7 books that I bought this year, and that passed 2019 right into the TBR pile of 2020!
Ready?

Allons-y!

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✨       * *.*✨*. *. .     ✨*. . ✨  *. **

✨A FEAST FOR CROWS (A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE #4) by GEORGE R. R. MARTIN✨

Excerpt Synopsis:
Crows will fight over a dead man’s flesh, and kill each other for his eyes.
Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory will go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel and the coldest hearts.

Why I bought it:
I loved watching Game of Thrones and wanted to read the books that started it all.

Why I haven’t read it:
Well… Martin’s writing is extensive and is a slow read for me, so I take well over two weeks to finish each book, and it’s not something I usually commit to, so I leave for the months I’m travelling a lot, like summer, so I can read on the buses and trains.

✨THE LUCCIFER EFFECT: HOW GOOD PEOPLE TURN EVIL by PHILIP G. ZIMBARDO✨

Excerpt Synopsis:
The Lucifer Effect explains how—and the myriad reasons why—we are all susceptible to the lure of “the dark side.” Drawing on examples from history as well as his own trailblazing research, Zimbardo details how situational forces and group dynamics can work in concert to make monsters out of decent men and women. By illuminating the psychological causes behind such disturbing metamorphoses, Zimbardo enables us to better understand a variety of harrowing phenomena, from corporate malfeasance to organized genocide to how once upstanding American soldiers came to abuse and torture Iraqi detainees in Abu Ghraib. He replaces the long-held notion of the “bad apple” with that of the “bad barrel”—the idea that the social setting and the system contaminate the individual, rather than the other way around.

Why I bought it:
Zimbardo is a major player in Psychology, and when I heard about him in a class, I wanted to know more about what takes a person to commit what we consider as evil actions. There was so many experiments in psychology where the darker side of humanity and the sheep-mindset came to light, and it interested my love for forensic themes.

Why I haven’t read it:
Well, like Game of Thrones, psychology books are slow reads for me, and I read so much class materials that when I get home, I just can’t pick more books related to it, and go read a fluffy book instead. Since I’m finishing my thesis and stopping the I have all these materials I have to read, I can take my time with Lucifer Effect after it.

✨Spartan Destiny (Mythos Academy: Colorado #3) by Jennifer Estep✨

Synopsis:
This Spartan makes her own destiny . . .
Most kids at the Colorado branch of Mythos Academy know me as Rory Forseti, the daughter of Reaper assassins. Secretly, I’m a member of Team Midgard, a group of students and adults tasked with stopping Covington, the evil leader of the Reapers of Chaos. For me, the mission is a deeply personal one, since Covington is also the man who murdered my parents.
When my friends and I get a lead on a powerful artifact that Covington wants to steal, we think we finally have a chance to thwart the Reapers and stop them for good. Team Midgard comes up with a plan, but everything goes sideways, and I’m suddenly in the fight of my life.
My worst fears might have come true, but I know what my Spartan destiny is—to save my friends, or die trying…

Why I bought it:
I loved the first Mythos Academy series, and I really enjoyed the first books of the Colorado branch.

Why I haven’t read it:
No specific reason, it hasn’t spoken to me yet, or fitted my reading mood.

✨Bid my Soul Farewell (Give the dark my love #2) by Beth Revis✨

Excerpt Synopsis:
Alchemy student turned necromancer Nedra Brysstain has made a life-changing decision to embrace the darkness–but can the boy who loves her bring her back to the light before she pays the ultimate price?

Why I bought it:
The first book hit right home with my love for dark fantasies, antiheros and villains-not-villains characters, her represented by our protagonist, Nedra.

Why I haven’t read it:
Same like Mythos, I haven’t felt like reading it. I don’t want the story to end, so I’m avoiding reading it xD

✨Sword and Pen (The Great Library #5) by Rachel Caine✨

Synopsis:
The corrupt leadership of the Great Library has fallen. But with the Archivist plotting his return to power, and the Library under siege from outside empires and kingdoms, its future is uncertain. Jess Brightwell and his friends must come together as never before, to forge a new future for the Great Library . . . or see everything it stood for crumble.

Why I bought it:
I need to finish this series and see how it all ends.

Why I haven’t read it:
The last book left a bit to be desired when comparing to the rest of the series, and I’m afraid of the same happening here. The Great Library has that long series problem- the story has started to look stretched.

✨The Raven's Tale by Cat Winters✨

Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Edgar Poe counts down the days until he can escape his foster family—the wealthy Allans of Richmond, Virginia. He hungers for his upcoming life as a student at the prestigious new university, almost as much as he longs to marry his beloved Elmira Royster. However, on the brink of his departure, all his plans go awry when a macabre Muse named Lenore appears to him. Muses are frightful creatures that lead Artists down a path of ruin and disgrace, and no respectable person could possibly understand or accept them. But Lenore steps out of the shadows with one request: “Let them see me!”

Why I bought it:
Poe is a mysterious poet to me, and I wanted to read a book inspired by his story and creativity muses.

Why I haven’t read it:
I did start the book, but it hadn’t caught my interest by the second chapter and I had other books waiting to be read, so I jumped to another and left it to another day. That day hasn’t come yet.

✨GOTICO by RAFAEL ABALOS ✨

Synopsis:
Un vieil homme s’éveille dans un cachot médiéval sans avoir la moindre idée de ce qui se passe. Une neurologue candidate au prix Nobel est retrouvée morte, le mot Gótico marqué au fer rouge sur la main. Nicolas et Beth, deux lycéens brillants doivent résoudre de mystérieuses énigmes qu’on leur envoie par email.
Aucun lien entre ces trois événements, pourtant ils sont scellés par un ténébreux secret qui peut changer le cours du monde…

Why I bought it:
That cover got my eye, and when I saw there was a promotion I had to have it. Also, the synopsis seemed something from my booknerd alley.

Why I haven’t read it:
My love-hate for french made me avoid this book until a time I feel more comfortable, and less headache prone, when reading complex french. For now, I read psychology books and mangas in french, and feel sufficiently happy with this.

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✨       *         *    .    *        ✨        *.       *.   .      ✨    *.   . ✨  *.  *      *

There! Finito incatatem!

Have you read any of these books? What books will you be leaving to 2020 to be read?I’d love to know!

If you wanna, find me at ♡  ❤ and on 💙

Bye!

Tu esqueceste

Oh, como fugiu depressa o tempo
As coisas que tão depressa esqueceste
São as palavras que ainda me mantém acordada
A sonhar com o passado
E como seria bom o alterar

Oh, não me leves a mal
Não para me mudar pessoalmente
Mas para reorganizar a importância que lhes dei
E como te deixei me marcar tão espetacularmente

Oh, são aquelas pequeninas coisas
As coisas que tu esqueceste
Mas eu ainda não consegui apagar.

Halfway to hell

I’m anxious

Can’t you tell?

Depressed, possessed

Halfway to hell

In perpetual house arrest

Waiting for my fears to manifest

Like a cardiac arrest

Are you ready for this test?

 

will appear in UNKNOWN

BTM: A to Z Book Tag

Hey!

I can’t believe we’re near the end of 2019, time went by so quickly and I have still so much to do before it ends! So let’s start this week in a good bookish way, doing a book tag!

Today’s tag will be A to Z Book Tag, found in Book Noted . Let’s get to it?

Allons-y!

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✨       *         *    .    *        ✨        *.       *.   .      ✨    *.   . ✨  *.  *      *

A – Author you’ve read the most books from

Sherrilyn Kenyon without a doubt. I love her Darkhunters and The League series, which are ginormous!

B – Best sequel ever

I am not the best at choosing a book over the others. Why don’t you tell me what book you’d pick to go here instead?

C – Currently reading

I finished yesterday Queen of Nothing and holly damn… HOLLY DAMN! I’m still in shock of how much I loved the book. I need to reread it asap. This time not in one go, preferably.

D – Drink of choice while reading

Chai lattes, but I’m lazy to do them from scrap so I just go with apple cinnamon tea most of the time and feel happy all the same!

E – E-Reader or Physical books

I… E-reader. Especially right now in winter, my hands get so so cold that I can’t read much with physical books, so I pack my kindle with books. Also, it easier when traveling.

F – Fictional character you would have dated in High School

Kenji from Ignite Me. He really hit me with the feels in Reveal Me, where we got to go inside his head and see his… Not emotional side, but how he really is, outside the funny joker Kenji side. Kenji is bae.

G – Glad you gave this book a chance

Wicked Saints! The book was all over bookstagram and it made me want to avoid it and lose interest, the resume also didn’t attract me, but I decided to try with the audiobook… So worth it, now I want the physical version of it!

H – Hidden gem book

Spartan Promise by Jennifer Estep. Again, it’s a cool mix of mythology, teenagers and a war between what is right and what’s just evil. Here, go look for yourself, maybe it’s one you’d like to read in the future!

I – Important moment in your reading life

Do I have an important moment? Hmmm. When I read Anne Bishop and her Blood Jewels Series for the first time I discovered a whole new world of books and the dark fantasy genre that I didn’t know I was missing. I went outside my age group books then and it did teach me a lot.

J – Just finished reading…

Queen of Nothing by Holly Black.

K – Kinds of books you won’t read

Insta-love romancey books where you can almost hear dripping from the cover and the female voice is too moony and “woe is me”. They enervate me.

L – Longest book you’ve read

Either Styxx or Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Which is funny, because they’re brothers

M – Major book hangover because of…

(do not think of Queen, do not think of Queen…). Oh man, when Blood Singer ended I had such a hangover. That ending took a bit to recover to.

N – Number of bookcases you own

I had to google search what was this xD I have three in my home, plus one converted (half books half school stuff) and a small wall one in my bedroom. In my parents house I have five bookcases and a wall one too.

O – One book you’ve read multiple times

Harry Potter and Ignite Me. I can’t help it. Oh, also Arcana Chronicles!

P – Preferred place to read

My bed, that way I can change positions easily and continue the book without distractions, or people looking at me funny because I started laughing out of nowhere.

Q – Quote that inspires you / gives you the “feels”

We believe in ordinary acts of bravery. In the courage that drives one person to stand up for another (Dauntless motto)

This quote translates so well why Divergent inspired me, and why it drove me into the movie theatre alone for the first time, and right into studying the moment I left the cinema. The need to be there and help others is what made me choose psychology, why I volunteer in an ambulance and why I strive to be better. The book didn’t tell me to be a hero or be extraordinary, nothing wrong with that, but to do small, ordinary, acts, stand up and be present in what happens around me.

R – Reading regret

Reading The Cursed Child. I wish I hadn’t and that the story was still a mystery to me because I hated everything that contradicted the ‘cannon’ I knew.

S – Series you started, but need to finish

A Song of Ice and Fire, I love Game of Thrones but god! The books take me ages to read xD Also, need to read Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare.

T – Three of your all-time favorite books

Pft, Divergent, Ignite Me and Shadow and Bone (I do have 3 more loves but let’s diversify)

U – Unapologetic fangirl for…

Wizarding World, Grisha, and Shadowhunters.

I even dressed as a shadowhunter for Halloween in the past, and I felt amazing! I also dressed as a Gryffindor student for New Year’s dinner this year because why bloody hell not.

V – Very excited for this release more than any others

Imagine Me by Tahereh Mafi! I love love love Ignite Me series, Juliette and her poems killed me when I read the book, Warner is dream material and the last book just ended me. I can’t wait to know what happens! Also, Kenji found a girlfriend? What?

W – Worst habit

Dog earing books because it’s easier, and just searching for ebooks because they’re cheaper and not continuing my physical book series.

X- X Marks the Spot: the 27th book on your shelf

 Marked by PC Cast

Y – Your latest book purchase

I bought Grisha tomme un, which is Shadow and Bone in french. I already have the original trilogy, but oh damn, this cover!! I also like to challenge myself to read books in french, it takes more mental space for me than reading in english, so that’s a plus. What spoilers can you find in the cover?

Z – Zzzz snatcher

Most of Sherrilyn Kenyon books! I did an all-nighter reading Styyx, Acheron and Born of Legend (not the three together or I would be seriously sleep deprived!), I just couldn’t get the books down while reading them.

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And it’s doooneeee!

What did you think of the questions? What’d be your answers! Send me your links if you do the tag too, or cool tags you’re loving right now!

If you wanna, find me at ♡  ❤ and on 💙

Bye!

Unknown: Chp 1

Chapter 1: Hi, lover

“Hi, lover.”
I say while sitting on the grass, before I kiss the yellow rose in my hand and place her in the grave.
In front of me is a decorated grave, between all of its flowers and little memorabilia people left as a way to honor who they lost, who I lost.
Rodrigo Cortez, I slowly read in the stone,

24/7/1993 – 10/5/2011
Beloved son, grandson, kin and friend.

“Think of me fondly, when we’ve said goodbye
Think of all the things, we’ve shared and seen
Don’t think about the way things which might have been
Please promise me you’ll try”

Trying not to cry, I can’t help but sigh as I read the last phrase, it was so him. I sang the music in my head with his voice, and even knowing it was his way of dealing with life, and what he truly wanted me to do, I just couldn’t. I am just not you, Ro.
“Remember our rose? People telling us it was a bad color for a rose, that it meant pestilence, hunger or whatever. We were just kids, but you decided a rose would stop my sadness and there you went, crossing the street to the other forbiden side just to pick me a yellow rose in a bush. It was a cutie, it really was, and it started to mean happiness for us. Your color, with your constant smiles, capable of changing all the bad memories to good moments.”, I sigh again. “I’m not breaking my sadness with this one today, even for you, Ro. It’s more of a see you later, alligator rose, as I won’t come again for a while. All the exams and college admissions are over and done, everything went to hell without you, after all, you were our group glue… God, things are so broken, the team hasn’t been the same without you, there’s too much silence, too much left to say, and I’m just too tired, nothing feels the same, I can’t even look at the faces of our group anymore, not after what happened. And we fought. Real bad. You’d be pissed at us for doing something so stupid.
And tomorrow I’m finally returning home, like we dreamt of doing in group. Only now I’m going alone, Nyalla has gone to Belgium to regroup with her family and I haven’t seen the rest since your funeral. But I know, I promised to do the trip in our finalist summer, to have fun and take lots and lots of pics, but… I wanted you there too! I don’t get to show you my home town and my favorite places, I don’t get to show you Óbidos and its ginjinha in a chocolate cup, or my future college campus, or listen to you mess with me for my food having no salt… Fuck! Instead, I’m talking to a grave hoping you’re listening wherever you are.
I don’t know truly when I’ll come back. Maybe before college starts, although I don’t know what the future will bring so I won’t make false promises. I loved you”, my voice breaks, and I taste tears in my lips. “, Rodrigo Cortez. You were one of my best friends since forever and I will never forget you. One day we’ll meet again.”
“So you’re really leaving.”
I jump three meters high when I hear the voice behind me.
“God, Adam! Are you trying to scare me to death?”
“That’s not a nice thing to say in a cemetery”, he smiles sadly and sits on my left.
Adam was, IS, a friend of ours, mine and Ro’s, and also Nyalla’s ex, another of my best friends in our group. Although, I haven’t seen him since they broke up, before the accident.
“No. No it’s not, but so isn’t getting behind a person so silently and then scaring them.” I pause, and then ask quietly, “how are you?”
“I’m… Getting there. What happened with Nyalla and then losing Rodrigo… Yeah. I thought you heard me, I wasn’t exactly silent. And how have you been?”
“I’m trying. I’m trying”, I slump into myself.
“He wouldn’t want you to forget the trip because of him, you know that?”, Adam says, putting his arm around me to comfort me. “He’d want you to follow your dreams and be happy ”
“I know, he was stupid that way.” I pause, and sigh. Sighting this past week really became second nature for me, I think, my head on Adam’s shoulder. “I miss him.”
“So do I, and I didn’t spend all those years with his craziness like you did. Sometimes, I think I still hear him making fun of me when I do something stupid in his dictionary. Yesterday, I burned myself while cooking pasta, and I swear I could hear him laughing, saying I’m an idiot because of course the pan was hot, so much to the left as it was.”
“Yeeeep, he really liked to make fun of people’s cuisine skills,” I shrug, “so whenever we were together, it was him the cook, since he was a pro at it.” I smile, remembering, “One time, he wanted to make a fancy Italian pasta, but got pissed because he couldn’t find… what was it? Oh! Fresh salsa and one stupid type of cheese, so he had to contend himself with poor normal store-bought salsa and cheese. It was a good dinner, but when we commented on it, he couldn’t stop grumbling with it not being 100% perfect.”
Adam smiles and nods.
“He could be a bit paranoid with his food.”
“Just a little bit.”
He sobers up, and I know what he’s gonna ask.
“So you’re leaving tomorrow.”
“Yeah. Will you be okay here? With all that happened…”
“I can’t change the past. My life is here and it was here long before I started dating Nyalla and met you guys. It’s where I have my band and my things. I don’t know how things will go on from now on, but I have to try.” He shakes his head, “even if I could change the past, I don’t think I would change anything. I still love her, but… I also understand. The need to go and change the air. Every place has too many memories, and it’s hard dealing with them. It doesn’t make it easier to accept, though we did talk after the break-up.”
“I promised I’d go even if he couldn’t make it so, for me, it’s not only about running from the memories and the changes and not… Having… Him… here.” I say slowly, the words hard in my mouth, “it’s also about him. I know you have your band and group, but I am still sorry for not being here for the summer.”
Adam bumps me sideways, since he can’t with his shoulder, now my pillow. “It still sucks. Everything.”
“Yeah, it does. But you know you can talk to me whenever you want, right? I know we haven’t talked since the funeral,”
“No, don’t be silly”, he immediately interrupts me, but I continue,
“But if you need anything, or want to talk, or whatever, I’m here. Text, facebook me, skype… I’m here. We’re broken enough already, so please don’t become a stranger. I actually like you.”
“You have no idea the pandora’s box you just opened.” He smiles, an unfamiliar emotion hidden in his smile, “Thanks, truly, Anne. You’re an amazing girl, and I hope you do the same, talk to me while you’re there, tell me what’s happening. And enjoy your time in Portimão, not just because you promised Rodrigo. Put your thoughts in order, but also try to have some fun. You deserve it,”  a small pause, “You and Nyalla both deserve it”, he finished softly.
I bump him as an answer, meaning more than words could say. We stay like this for a while, dealing with our loss in companionship. There was no need to fill the silence or exchange words with Adam, it was just comfortable to simply be.
I look at all the graves, at my, our, lost friend that we’ll never get to see again, thinking about what Adam said, about our past, Ro’s words…

And everything that’s still to come.

Liar, liar

We’re heading for war
You and I
Get your gun, pour and
Prepare to score
Go ahead and run again
Run, it’ll be fun
Run just like you’re a

Liar, liar
Pants on fire
Looks like I caught you
Now blinded by the fame
Like you couldn’t wait

You just couldn’t wait
to get over me
Breaking free
“Happy as I can be”
Posting away for all to see
Warrior stance
Let’s start the dance

You are going to be shredded
One more foeman beheaded
So pour the drinks
And light up our rink
You’re just a

Liar, liar
Pants on fire
Looks like I caught you
Now blinded by the fame
Like you couldn’t wait

 

Will appear in UNKNOWN