Book Review Monday- Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs| Its's Carenza B

Hello!
So today I have another Book Review Monday and today's post is all about Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. I read this over two days and I honestly can't wait to get my hands on the other books in this series. I read this over half-term, while staying in London and I have to say it has been my favourite read of 2016 so far. So without further a do, here is my thoughts, feels and opinions!
Warning:
This review contains spoilers, if you have not read this book I would advise you to read it and then read my review as I don't want to spoil it for you.

Cover

Can we just take a minute to appreciate this cover? Although my use of flash makes it brighter and probably wasn't the best idea, is this not a thing of beauty? It's a photo that is featured in the book and I love how the title is in several different fonts, which makes it seem even older and more rustic looking. Also the spine looks like it should be from some old fashioned book and I can't wait to put these beauties on my shelves! 

Plot

Miss Peregrine's follows a young boy called Jacob Portman living in Florida. Jacob grew up on his grandfather Abe's crazy stories about monster and were he lived during the war (World War Two). At first Jacob believes the stories but as he grows up he realizes they are just a figment of his grandfathers imagination. The story then jumps to a now teenage Jacob, who is unhappily working in his families chain store. He suddenly receives a phone call from his panicked granddad, who now suffers from a dementia like illness, demanding where the key is. Jacob tries to reason with him, but he hangs up. Upon arriving at his grandfathers house it is clear something is wrong, and he finds a trail leading into the woods. After a short distance he finds his grandfathers mutilated corpse and he sees some monster, like the ones his grandfather use to tell him about. His grandfather begs him to go and tell "the bird" that "they found him" and he dies. After these traumatic events, Jacob is sent to a psychiatrist and has regular appointments. While clearing his grandfathers house out, he finds a box of old photos and a letter from a mysterious women called Miss Peregrine's. He then decides to head out to the island his grandfather used to tell him about, after he has persuaded his parents and psychiatrists. The island is a small one of the coast of Wales and doesn't have much to do. After making his way up through the woodland, Jacob notices someone following him and he runs after them, going through this old cave. He is then jumped by the people he chased and they take him hostage, revealing he has time traveled to 1940. He notices that they have very peculiar talents and it is revealed that these are the children his grandfather told him about. He is then taken to to the house were his grandfather lived and introduced to everyone, including Emma Bloom (who took him hostage) and Miss Peregrine. He then spends the next few days travelling between the present and 1940. When weird things begin happening in the present, it is revealed that wights (a failed peculiar experiment) are trying to kill the protectors of the peculiar's. Jacob, Emma and the other peculiar's must fight off these threats and Jacob must also make his own decision about whether he will stay with the Peculiar's or will he stay with his parents.

Characters

The first character I am going to talk about is Jacob Portman. I really like Jacob, he is a slightly cheeky teenager who will do anything to infuriate his parents. He seems to despise his parents wealth and goes out of his way to hang around with people who annoy his parents. I could tell that there was a really close bond between Jacob and his grandfather, a possibly closer bond than Jacob has with his own father and that his father had with his grandfather. I got the feeling that Jacob wasn't close to his parents and that his parents didn't really care about him. I felt really sorry for him, and could see the change him in after he became obsessed with finding the island his grandfather had told him about. I was really surprised by his decision to stay with the peculiar's but at the same time thought it was for the best.

The next character I am going to talk about is Emma Bloom. Again, I really liked Emma but it did take me a while for me to like her. At first I thought she was a bit hot-headed and arrogant, but you learn that she doesn't want to see Jacob because he looks like Abe and she and Abe were lovers. You get this immediate  sense of some kind of relationship building between her and Jacob, but you are unsure as to whether it is romantic or not. I felt that Emma was the rebellious one of the Peculiar's and that she would do anything to save them. I was surprised by how old she was, I thought she was a teenager but when you see a picture of her she must be in her twenties at least.

The final character I am going to talk about is Miss Peregrine. I have a on-off relationship with her character as at first she was really nice and she let Jacob come and go, but then she becomes more cruel and either insists he stays or leaves. You learn that this decision is because she wants to protect the peculiar's, but still it's a bit harsh seeing as Jacob has only just discovered this world and he needs to get use to it. I am intrigued to see where her character goes as at the end of the book, she is stuck  as a bird.

Opinion

I am going to be 100% honest, I didn't want to read this book when my mum bought it in August. I thought it would be creepy and horrid and give me nightmares, but I was just judging it by its cover. It wasn't until I saw Jessethereader (Jesse) rave about it on his channel that I decided to pick it up. I really enjoyed it and found that I couldn't  put it down, and this is very rare that I will find a book like this. I really liked his writing style and found it so interesting that he came up with lots of the ideas from old photos. I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy and I hope he brings out more books, Ransom I need more books! I also believe that it's being made it to a movie but I'm not 100% sure.

So those were my thoughts, feels and opinions on Miss Peregrine's. If you have read this book, please leave a comment down below telling me what you thought. Don't forget you can follow my blog by clicking the follow button. Also don't forget to follow my Instagram and Twitter (@itscarenzab), and if you have any business inquires please email me at itscarenzab@gmail.com
Carenza x    

Bookstagram Tips| It's Carenza B

Hello!
So today I have something a bit different, as you may know I have changed my blog and other social medias to be focused on books. I am really glad I have done this and I have been getting some great feedback on my Twitter and Instagram, and because of this I thought I'd share with you some of my personal tips on how to start/ improve your bookstagram account, enjoy!

Tip 1) Post photos of books you love/ have read

This is probably one of the most important tips I can give you as if you don't like what you are posting, there is absolutely no point posting it. Take photos of the books you love and have read so you can discuss with people why you love them. The bookstagram community is so lovely and everyone is there because they love books, so you will most likely meet someone who is passionate about that book and will want to discuss with you. So if you haven't read the book, then you are going to look like a bit of an idiot when you have no clue what you are talking about.

Tip 2) Use props- these can be anything  

Most bookstagrammers use props to enhance there photos and this is rightly so because of a picture of a book by itself can be quite boring and if everyone did this, it wouldn't be as interesting. So use props and don't worry, you don't have to spend anything. These can be household objects like candles, mantelpiece ornaments, fairy lights, soft toys etc! You do not have to spend lots of money on fancy props, but if you want to you can. I use fairy lights in my photos and in my Harry Potter posts, I use my Pop Funkos, which I collect anyway. I also use my Tsum Tsums as they just add a little something to a photo. But before you leap into the world of props, do a bit of research as to what everyone else is using to see if you can make your unique.

Tip 3) Join in with other bookstagrammers

If you want to take part in something make sure that other people know you. Follow lots of different bookstagrammers to see what's hot and what's not. Like and comment regularly on people's posts, this shows that you are interested and that you want to be a part of the community, also you never know when they might spot you.

Tip 4) Use appropriate hashtags

This is crucial if you want to get your photos noticed, every time you post use a certain amount of hashtags in a separate comment. By posting them in a separate comment, you aren't adding to what they have to read. I usually post two comments with hashtags, one specific to the photo the other, using generic bookstagram hashtags. Now you may be wondering in this works and I can confirm it does, I have received a lot more likes since I started using hashtags.

Tip 5) A little bit of editing can go a long way

Editing can do a photo a whole lot a good, it can enhance it to make it look super good. I use my iPad to take all my instagram photos and I then edit it to make it look more like it was taken with a camera. I just bump up the highlights and shadows, make it a bit warmer and bobs your uncle, you have a good looking photo.

Tip 6) Interact with followers

By interacting with the people who follow you, it makes you seem more approachable. I follow every single person who follows me as a little thank you for following me. If they comment on your posts, reply and tell them how much it means to you. But on the negative side, keep an eye out for inactive followers or people who are following you just so they can gain followers.

Tip 7) Do appreciation posts

By appreciating fellow bookstagrammers, it shows how much you love the community but it also helps you get noticed. I posted an appreciation post recently and it is my most liked photo, with 4 of the 9 people I tagged in it liking it.  Appreciation posts also make those who you are tagging know that you enjoy there posts and it can make peoples days.

Tip 8) The basics- name, bio and schedule

Name- when it comes to choosing a name, keep it simple. I had already chosen my name before I started bookstagramming so my name doesn't really relate to my account but then several bookstagrammers have done that also. Don't stress over the name, pick something that you like and shows that you have an interest in books.
Bio- again, keep it simple. Mine at the moment isn't simple as my instagram is playing up, but an ideal bio is something like: Small statement about yourself (around 4 words), other social media handles, currently reading and business email. That is all you need.
Schedule- when it comes to posting, stick to a schedule. I post 1-3 times a day, usually in the evenings after school. Once you have found a schedule you like and works for you, stick to it. This means your followers will be anticipating your next post.

So that's everything so far that I have to say on bookstagram, I hoped you like this post and let me know if you want more. Don't forget to follow me on instagram and twitter (@itscarenzab) and if you have any questions please feel free to email me on my business email itscarenzab@gmail.com
Carenza x

January Update 2016| It's Carenza B

Hello!
So today I have a bit of a different post, I have decided to update you guys on how my New Years Resolutions are going every month. I am doing this so I can look back on it later but also so I can track my progress. I think you guys might like these posts as they are a bit more personal than my other posts.
Enjoy!

1) Be more organised i.e be more tidy
This one is a work in progress. I would say that I have become more organised with things like planning blog posts, writing in my various diaries and calendars what I'm up to. But when it comes to being tidy, it isn't going to plan. I have been stupidly busy with school based commitments so tidying just got pushed further and further to one side. I also had some personal problems to deal with that meant I didn't have time to tidy. I have also been planning out what I am going to revise each night.

2) Be more confident
This one varies at times. I feel though at times I am a lot more confident but others I tend to be quite shy. Throughout January I feel as though I was a lot more on the shy side of things and that I didn't open up a lot. I am going to try and be more confident this month and I'll update you next month as to how things went.

3) To get fit and feel happy with my body i.e drink more water
This one was going really well. For two weeks straight I exercised every morning before school and I began to notice a difference. I could push myself further and I felt that I could stay awake a lot longer, that I was more alert in lessons. But then things happened and I stopped exercising, I plan to start exercising again after the half term holidays. I also drank more (water and fruit juice), I noticed that I didn't get headaches as much as I normally do.

4) Study more often
This one has not happened at all. I have been procrastinating really badly and because of this I have downloaded this amazing app called Forest which blocks apps while you study. I have started to plan what revision I am going to do every night. If any of you know an app or something for windows laptops that blocks certain websites while your on your laptop, please let me know. It is quite scary to think that 12 weeks on Monday (22/2/16) I start my GCSE's.

5) Do more of what makes me HAPPY
I think that this one has taken over the previous one. I am glad I am doing things that make me happy but I think I need to do more studying as once I finish my exams in June, I have around 12 weeks holiday before I start school again. I am going to try and balance fun and studying more.

6) Write and read more
This one didn't really happen in January, I only read two books in January and did a little bit of writing that wasn't blog post writing. I plan on doing a small bit of writing every now and then as I am enjoying it lots.

I hope you enjoyed this update type post and please let me know if you would like more. Don't forget to follow my blog and my Twitter and Instagram- @itscarenzab. I am so close to 30 followers on Twitter but I only have 4 on my Instagram. I also have a business email if you have any requests, which is itscarenzab@gmail.com.
Carenza x   

Book Review Monday- Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard| It's Carenza B

Hello!

Today I am sharing with you guys my second Book Review Monday, this time I'm talking about Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. As the second book in this series has just come, I think it's only fitting to talk about the first book. If you have any requests for books for me to review, please let me know as I don't have a book to review for the next Book Review Monday, which will be going up on the 29/02/2016. Anyway, here is my review of Red Queen!
Enjoy!

Cover

Like the last two Book Reviews I have posted, I love the cover! If you didn't know, I'm a sucker for a beautiful cover and white covers are my favourite. I love the bold red writing, and the blood dripping down from the upside crown. I think the covers for this series are amazing and love seeing them lined up on my bookshelves.

Plot

I will  try and make this as spoil free as I can but I would advise reading the book first before you read these posts. The story is set in a world were common Reds like Mare Barrow are undermined and ruled by superpower possessing Silvers. When Mare is cornered by Silvers and threatened, it is revealed that she has powers. The Silvers panic and to cover her up, announce she is a long lost heiress and she is entered into a competition to win one of the hands of the Royal Princes,  heir to the throne of Norta Prince Tiberias (known as Cal) and his younger brother Prince Maven. While settling in to life in the castle, Mare is approached by her old friend Kilorn Warren, he has been called up to fight but he thinks he has found a way out by joining a rebel group led by a women called Farley. The story follows Mare as she learns to control her powers and sees her grow close to both of the Princes.

Characters

The first character I am going to talk about is Mare Barrow. Mare is a 17 year old Red, the second youngest in her family, she struggles to support her family. All of her older brothers have been sent to the war and her sister works in a sewing factory. Mare is protecting her sisters when her powers are revealed and because of this her sisters arm is broken. Mare is strong, fierce and independent. She is use to looking out for herself and hates living in the palace. She finds life very different and difficult from what she is use to, but she finds a friend in Cal.

The next character I am going to talk about is Cal, Cal is slightly older than Mare. Unlike the rest of his family, Cal enjoys walking around the Red part of town, and isn't as formal as the rest of his family. The first time he meets Mare is before she has discovered her powers, he was nice to her and seemed to see something in her.

The final character I am going to talk about is Maven. Cal's younger brother and Mare's fiancee, he is young and hotheaded. He is kind to Mare like his brother, but is very rash and turns out he's not as nice as he looks.

Opinions

I love this book and can't wait to get my hands on the second book, Glass Sword. I love the way it's been written and her characters are brilliant. Mare is such a feisty and independent person, it's hard not to love her. You also get to know how hard it is to survive in that world and I hope the next book finishes a lot of unanswered questions.

So that concludes my book review for Red Queen, I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know what you think of Red Queen and if you have read Glass Sword, please no spoilers! I'm waiting for it to come out in paperback. Don't forget to follow my blog, and my Instagram and Twitter, my username for both is @itscarenzab. If you have any business inquires, please email me at itscarenzab@gmail.com.
Carenza x    

January Favourites 2016| It's Carenza B

Hello!
Today I have another favourites for you, but this one is my first of 2016! January was a very busy and emotional month for me, so I don't have too many favourites. I barely read anything and didn't really try anything new, so this post might be very short! I hope you guys like it though!

Beauty

Left to Right:
Maybelline New York Baby Lips in Peach Kiss,
Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream,
Etre Belle Golden Skin Caviar Eye Gel Roll On

The first beauty product I liked in January was one of my two Baby Lips, this one is Peach Kiss. It's a very subtle nude that makes the lips a bit shiny and smells like peaches. I have been loving putting this on first thing in the morning and before I go to bed, it makes my lips feel super soft as they have been really dry because of the awful weather we have here in the UK. I would highly recommend Baby Lips as they do their job really well and are affordable.

The next beauty product I enjoyed using was the Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream, this stuff makes my skin feel really good. I don't know if I have said this before but I have super dry and sensitive skin, and this stuff makes my skin feel nice. It doesn't give me an allergic reaction like some products do and doesn't make me look like a tomato from being red in the face. I love the Vitamin E range and have loads of products from it, I highly recommend it!

Finally I have a favourite eye product and this one is the Etre Bell Golden Skin Caviar Eye Gel Roll On. This was in the December Glossybox, so this has been thoroughly tested and I have noticed a massive difference in my under-eye bags. I think that I have really noticeable dark circles under my eyes and it is something I hate with a passion, so finding a product that helps this is a massive relief. However this product is pricey, it's around £30 so I am going to have to find  a cheaper alternative! 

 Books

I didn't get round to reading many books this month and if you do want to know what I read, click here to be taken to my January Wrap Up and TBR post!

Girl Online On Tour by Zoe Sugg (Zoella)

I really enjoyed reading Girl Online On Tour and was really interested to see where she took the characters after her first book. I will admit I was a bit skeptical about reading this book as contemporary books aren't my favourite, but I was pleasantly surprised. I do go into more detail on the post I linked above, so go check that out!

Bits'n'Bobs

I only have two random favourites for the month of January and you can wear both of them.

My first random favourite is a Christmas present I got from my parents , it's this cat watch they got from notonthehighstreet.com. I know it's from their because I put it on my Christmas wishlist. I have worn this pretty much every day and I love how comfy it is. It's also super cute because it's a cat!!

 The next thing I have loved is this black and red checkered shirt from New Look. It's super slouchy and cosy, I really like that it's longer at the back. I love the New Look checkered shirts, all bar one of mine are from there and I get so much love out of them! They are really good quality!

So that concludes my January Favourites, I hope you liked it. Leave a comment saying what your favourites more and I'll chat to you in the comments. Don't forget to follow my blog and other social medias like Twitter and Instagram (@itscarenzab). I got a notification the other day informing me that I now have over 25 followers on Twitter which is insane. If you have any business type things, please email me on itscarenzab@gmail.com.
Carenza x

January Wrap Up and February TBR 2016| It's Carenza B

Hello!

So firstly I owe you guys an apology, this post was suppose to up yesterday (5/2/16) but this week has been a very emotional and busy week for me, and to top that I am coming down with a nasty cold. I haven't had the time to write and I felt really crap last night so I decided to chill in order to get better quicker.

Anyway, today I have my first Wrap Up and TBR post. You guys can tell that I am book obsessed, its got to the point were I am browsing Amazon for books and dying to get my hands on new covers (The Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices new covers are to die for, shame they're only available in the US!). Anyway, lets get into the post!

January Wrap Up

This month was a very bad month for reading books, I only read two books! I have been stupidly busy and had family things to deal with, and because of this I only read two books! This is an all time low in book reading terms as I can usually read 3 or 4 books a month.

The first book I read was Girl Online On Tour by Zoe Sugg aka Zoella from YouTube. This is the second book she has written and continues the story of Penny and Noah. Penny has just finished her GCSE's and has also stopped posting on her blog after receiving hate from the Media for dating Noah. Penny and Noah haven't seen each other in a long time and tonight Noah is performing in her local area, then going on tour around the world while taking Penny with him. Things then escalate and don't end well. I have to say I enjoyed the first book a lot more as it focused more an Penny as an individual and how she learnt to cope with her anxiety, whereas this book was more about Noah and Penny's relationship. I will admit I ready this over two days and really enjoyed myself, and unlike other Zoella "fans" I hope there isn't another book as I feel that the story has run its course and ended nicely. If you want I can review this for my Book Review Monday Series, leave a comment if this is something you would be interested in reading.

The other book I read was The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen, my full review can be read here and I won't ramble too much. I will say that I have a love-hate relationship with this book but am hoping the sequel to this book is a lot better than the first one in the series. 

February TBR

I have chosen three books to read this month, one classic and two Young Adult books. One of the books I have chosen I am half way through.

The first book I plan on reading is the one I am half way through and that is Queen of Shadows by Sarah J Maas. Holy crap, I love this book. It may be my fave so far in the Throne of Glass series, it's also the largest in series. I'm not going to say anything as I plan on review the series throughout the year, but I will say that I am really annoyed that I have caught up with the series and that I have to wait for the last 2 books to come out.

The next book I plan on reading is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, I had to study this in 2014 for school and really enjoyed it but I didn't finish it. I recently saw a play version of it and it has reignited my love for the book and her writing style. I love Jane so much as she is such a strong independent person and she won't let anyone put her down.

The final book I plan on reading this month is The Kill Order by James Dashner. This book is the prequel to the Maze Runner series and I thought I'd start with this before reading the series. I really want to read the series so I can watch the movies as they look super good.

So that's it for today's post, sorry it's very short but I am still feeling super crappy and my writing skills aren't great at the minute. Don't forget to follow my Instagram and Twitter for more everyday updates (@itscarenzab) and don't forget to follow my blog. I was thinking of hosting a read a long type thing for Jane Eyre so let me know if you are interested in joining me. If you have any business type things email me at itscarenzab@gmail.com. Hope you're having a lovely weekend!

Carenza x    

  

Book Review Monday- The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen| It's Carenza B

Hello!

So today I have another book review, but unlike my Throne of Glass review this review is part of my Book Review Monday series. As you can probably tell, I am really into books at the moment and want to share some of the amazing books I have read. I hope you guys like this review and I would love it if you left some constructive feedback, don't forget to follow my blog and my twitter and Instagram (@itscarenzab). Enjoy!

Cover

I really like the cover for this book, I think it makes you think what the book is about without giving it away. I love the use of red on the cover as it can symbolise danger but it might just be a pop closer, I really like that the metal object (I can't remember what it's called!) looks like a crown.  

Plot

Again I am going to try and make this as spoil free as I can but if you want to read this/are reading this, I would advise you to read the book first. The plot follows the life of Kelsea Raeleigh Glynn, who just turned 19 and the royal guards have turned up at her door. Turns out she's the Queen of a land called the Tearling, who have suffered greatly while she has been in hiding under her mothers orders. She has to travel very far to get to her kingdom and the journey proves to be treacherous. Upon her arrival to the kingdom, she makes some rash decisions and angers the enemy of the Tearling. The rest of the book follows her decisions and how they affect everyone else in the kingdom. 

Characters

The first character I am going to talk about is Kelsea Raeleigh Glynn, the Queen of the Tearling. I have to say that I have a love- hate relationship with Kelsea. There are parts of her that I like, for example that she stands up for what she believes in and is able to defend herself, but some of her actions are very rash and in my opinion very stupid. Some of the things she does affect lots of people and in my opinion causes more problems than before. At the start I found her very whinny and stuck up, but she has grown on me.

The next character I am going to talk about is Lazarus (The Mace). One of the members of the Royal Guard under Kelsea's mother, he is wise and has a reputation. Again he makes very rash decisions and often goes against Kelsea, but he means her well at heart. I have to say I like Lazarus as he becomes a father figure to Kelsea and he seems to be able to calm Kelsea down.

Finally I am going to talk about one of the "baddies" in this book, The Regent- Thomas who is her uncle. While Kelsea has been in hiding, Thomas has been ruling but has been a debauched puppet of the elusive Red Queen. He is a really nasty person and means to hurt Kelsea, he wants the power for himself and his puppeteer.  

Opinions

I have to say that this book was a disappointment, the beginning was really sluggish and the end just seemed really weak. I haven't got the sequel, but am looking forward to reading it to see if it picks up. I just couldn't get into this book and felt it was boring. I have to say my favourite bit was when they were in the library and mentioned current existing books as being classics, that scene touched me. Apart from that scene, I wasn't too impressed by the world it was set in.

So that concludes my review of The Queen of the Tearling, I hoped you liked it and remember all the opinions stated are my own. Let me know if there are any books you want me to review for the next Book Review Monday, which takes place every other week. If you have any business related questions, please feel free to email me on my business email- itscarenzab@gmail.com Let me know what your opinions are of this book and we can chat in the comments.

Carenza x