#TheReadingQuest Sign-up Post w/TBR

So, I found out late in the game, (in bed when I should have been sleeping before work and not on twitter) about a fun reading challenge called The Reading Quest.  In this challenge you can choose a character, and much like an RPG game, you follow that character's path, reading books as its quest earning points along the way.  I know I am explaining this poorly, but DO check out the site to see the rules and how the quest runs.

I have chosen the path as Mage:

(artwork by CW of Read, Think, Ponder )

1 word titled book -  Nyxia (ARC) by Scott Reintgen

Magic book - The School of Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

Book based off Mythology -  The Lightning Thief by Rick Roirdan

1st in a series - Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

In a different world - Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll  

After this I will try to move to another character or try the mini quests. I’ll edit this post if I get that far.

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Get Up Offa That Slump: Easter basket

Hosted By Beauty and the Bookshelf

Today we are going to see my DREAM Easter basket. This would be my ultimate basket, which I will never see in my life, but if I can put anything in here, I'm gonna make that chick in the Santa Baby song look like she is asking for more mush in Oliver Twist.

First off a basket is needed. You know that bag in Harry Potter where he could store anything and never run out of space? The one that looked like a old purse for a Victorian woman?  Yeah that would be perfect.

 Now a basket need grass in it, and I like green, so this works well

Candy? I few dozen boxes of this will do.

Something shiny

A new toy

And something to read too! 

Anything I should add? 

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Get Up Offa That Slump Challenge: Idea Board

Hosted By Beauty and the Bookshelf

Yep, I know we are late this time, but poor Mel was sick then went to Wondercon, and I was swamped with family and Easter prep. Sorry loves. So, FRIDAY'S challenge was either plan a trip, or make and idea board for your blog. We chose the last one, because it is kind of WHY we wanted to do this challenge in the first place.
Since there is two of us, we opened a shared google doc, and started adding in ideas to do. So, this is going to look more like a idea list and not a board, but ideas are ideas!

Things we like from this challenge to do more of:

• Mad Libs is fun and easy and something to do randomly with popular books/add on to a book review or a movie review too! 
• Spins off the easter basket bit - Bookish 12 days of Christmas and things like that 
• More Book Tags, or any fun tag things. 
• Maybe once a month. Dogs and Books somehow.

New Things

• Caption Contest. Maybe the prize is a bookmark Mel can make and mail out? This can be fun with a new movie or show, or even an old one people love. Just grab a screenshot and go. 
• Bring back TOP 3 but do fun topics. We have the top 10 tues where we can do book like things. Bookshelf Tour Blog Post 
• Funko Pop with books theme post 
• Weekly character bookmark Post 
• Weekly Booktuber Recommendation/Graphic Post 
• Comic Con Posts!
• Blog Tour blitz - we set a time and look at X number of blogs and read and comment to posts, and then post a post on what we liked, if we are following any new blogs, or if someone has a post we think people should read. 
• Add a follow thing to our blog, so people can follow. And HOW DO YOU EVEN WORK BLOGLOVIN? Someone tell me PLEASE!

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Get up offa that slump Challenge: Puppies + Books

Em

When Mel and I saw "Dogs and Books" as a challenge option, we knew we had to show our fur babies and some books. For myself, I was trying to get pictures of all four dogs, but anyone that has animals know, they are as hard to make sit for a picture as a child. So, here is Loki with my next hard copy read.

Mel

Here are a few pictures of my favorite books with my little puppy. Oh, how I adore him.

   

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Get Up Offa That Slump: Book Spine Poetry

Hosted By Beauty and the Bookshelf
Today I learn that my books are poets and didn't even know it! Yeah I went there. With most books not titled like in or a or the for my use, this is going to sound like some odd "How I Married an Ax Murder" beat poetry. I don't know if I should be sorry or not.

Also why do all my books sound like I am depressed?

The Rogue
Betrayed, Hunted
Dark Places, Bullet
Death's Sweet Embrace
A Feast For Crows

Show us your own poem. Or link us to your post.

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Get up offa that slump Challenge: Mad Libs

Hosted By Beauty and the Bookshelf
Today's challenge is to make our own Mad Lib from a book. Since I am doing a blog tour on Beastly Manor today (hence why this is posted so early) I thought, "Hey that book you really, really, really loved that you just read? Let's use an excerpt that you are not going to use. And when you are done with your fun (please post your results in the comments) go check out the tour post and giveaway! Buy the ebook! Get me more books like this written! OVERUSE THE EXCLAMATION MARK!

Setting this up like most Mad Libs I use to do, first fill out this list, no peeking to make your story funnier. Anwser the numbers and then replace the numbers in the passage with your answers. Come on we have all do it before!

1- Male Name                              2- adjective                     3- Building to live in  
4- Verb                                         5- Weapon                      6- adjective      
7- adjective                                   8- verb                            9- Noun (place in a building)
10- Body Part                              11- Body Part                  12- adjective              
13- weapon                                  14- weapon                     15- Body Part
16- Verb (past)                            17- Mythical creature      18- Animal Body Part
19- Animal Body Part                 20 -Animal Body Part     21- Teacher's Name    
22- Body Part                              23- Color                         24- improper noun  
25 -adjective                                26- Clothing Item            27- color    
28- Clothing Item                        29- adjective                    30- Clothing Item
31- Color                                     32- Hair Style                  33- Color
34- adjective                               35- adjective                    36- verb
37- Food

(1) felt the Beast's approach, (2) footsteps like a pulse deep in the stone heart of the (3). He (4), Da's (5) (6) in defense.

"You've come (7)." The Beast (8) just inside the (9), against the (3) door. He looked (1) very thoroughly from (10) to (11) and back up again. "Or (12) educated. The curse says I'm ended not by (5) or (13) or (14), but of a broken (15)."

(1) didn't waver. He (16) the Beast just as assiduously as the Beast (16) him. He'd expected the (17) from Da's memories - all (18) and (19) and (20) claws - or even the flame-eyed devil he knew from (21)'s canvas. The (22) were there - (23) as (24) and so very bright - but they belonged to a (25) young man dressed in (26) and a clean (27)(28) beneath a (29)(30). He wore his long (31) hair in a neat (32). His fingers were long and elegant, nails short and clean. His polite smile showed only (33), even teeth against dusky skin.

(17)s, (1) knew from hours of (21)'s tutelage, were (34) creatures. They (35) in surprise and confusion, and fed upon a man's terror.

"I carry an enchanted ifrit glaive," (1)replied evenly. "One of only four (5) made sharp enough to pierce a (17)'s breast."

The Beast's smile spread wider. He (36).

"You're the (37) monger's get. You've his temper and his naivety." The Beast left the door. He approached (1) carefully, circling in and then away. "But you're two seasons too early and although you've your mother's delicate features, you're certainly no girl. I was promised the merchant's heir. What was her name?" He paused, head tilted,(23) eyes narrowed to burning slits. "I was promised Beauty."


Now the passage the way it was written :) 

 Corbin felt the Beast's approach, heavy footsteps like a pulse deep in the stone heart of the manor. He whirled, Da's sword raised in defense.

"You've come ill-equipped." The Beast stood just inside the threshold, against the manor door. He looked Corbin very thoroughly from head to toe and back up again. "Or improperly educated. The curse says I'm ended not by blade or stone or fire, but of a broken heart."

Corbin didn't waver. He studied the Beast just as assiduously as the Beast studied him. He'd expected the monster from Da's memories - all fang and fur and wolfish claws - or even the flame-eyed devil he knew from David's canvas. The eyes were there - yellow as the sun and so very bright - but they belonged to a dapper young man dressed in breeches and a clean white shirt beneath a dusty velvet coat. He wore his long black hair in a neat braid. His fingers were long and elegant, nails short and clean. His polite smile showed only white, even teeth against dusky skin.

Demons, Corbin knew from hours of David's tutelage, were tricky creatures. They delighted in surprise and confusion, and fed upon a man's terror.

"I carry an enchanted ifrit glaive," Corbin replied evenly. "One of only four blades made sharp enough to pierce a devil's breast."

The Beast's smile spread wider. He laughed.

"You're the cheese monger's get. You've his temper and his naivety." The Beast left the door. He approached Corbin carefully, circling in and then away. "But you're two seasons too early and although you've your mother's delicate features, you're certainly no girl. I was promised the merchant's heir. What was her name?" He paused, head tilted, yellow eyes narrowed to burning slits. "I was promised Beauty."

Post your results! I would love to read them!  

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Get Offa That Slump Challenge: Reviewy Your Favorite Book Ever (March 16th) Mistborn

Challenge | Post

Reviewing a favorite book is a very had thing to do for the reason that a favorite book constantly changes for me. It's hard to pick one specific book. So I will write a review for my favorite book ever at the moment (because knowing me it may change in a few months). Although I love the Harry Potter series it would be too hard for me to choose one specific book in the series and review it. I would be going back and forth deciding which of the series I would like to review. So I have decided to pick another book.

I was torn between two books in this post it came down to Ready Player One by Ernest Cline and The Final Empire (Misborn #1) by Brandon Sanderson. The book that has everything I love a book should have about pop culture or the book that started my obsession with fantasy and everything involving Brandon Sanderson. With a hard decision I have chosen The Final Empire.

Title: The Final Empire (Mistborn #1)

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Release: July 25th 2006

Rating:★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Pages: 647

Format: Paperback

Where to find it:

Series: Yes - Mistborn

Summary: In a world where ash falls from the sky, and mist dominates the night, an evil cloaks the land and stifles all life. The future of the empire rests on the shoulders of a troublemaker and his young apprentice. Together, can they fill the world with colour once more?

In Brandon Sanderson's intriguing tale of love, loss, despair and hope, a new kind of magic enters the stage— Allomancy, a magic of the metals. (goodreads)

Thoughts:
This was the book that started it all. My obsession to everything that is Brandon Sanderson. I finish reading this book on September 21, 2014.  It open my eyes to a whole new world (Disney song in head... lol).

I always love fantasy worlds. But never really thought about the magic system and the rules behind a magic system until I read this series. I loved Harry Potter and I loved the world. The richness of the characters and the imagination of being a wizard. But this world is different in the way that it states the cruel reality of what if the bad guy won. If he was the one who rule the world and that is what we see in this world. We see the dictatorship of a world that was taken over. But not everything is what it seems. That is why I love this book so much.

As a reader we are lead to believe one thing about the story but we end up finding out something completely different which I have never read anything like this before. This book was my introduction to a world of fantasy that I never thought excited. It open doors to other worlds that I didn't know of and made me more open to read other type of books and not just one genre or one group of books. Now my reading is more diverse and not set into one narrow minded type.

What I love most about this group that it has so many different characters in the story that we end up carrying for. We end up loving every single one and we end up questioning what the morals of those characters also. I also love that they don't make a specific character more important than the others they all play a part in the story and without one the other won't be able to succeed.

I do say that if you don't really like fantasy this book may not be for you. It is a heavy read and there is different perspectives. But the writing and the outcome of the story is so worth reading this book for. You will fall in love with Brandon Sanderson's writing. The way that he just pulls you in and doesn't let you go. At the end of the story you want more and you don't want it to end.

I continue on and on in with telling you how amazing this book is but I don't really want to give much away. I didn't really know much about the story as I read the book. I think that is what made it so amazing. I went in not knowing what the book was about only that people loved it and that it was about what if the dark lord won the battle and I was instantly drawn into the story line.
The best part of this series is that it's still continuing and it will continue for a long while with 6 books out in the series out so far he is still planning 7 more in the series and may even add more as time goes on. So we will be in the Mistborn world for a long while.

Give it a try you may end up loving it as much as I do. If you have read it, what are your thoughts about the book? Did you enjoy it? What is your favorite book? Is it to hard to just pick one?

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Get Offa That Slump Challenge: Do a Book Tag (March 14th) - Unpopular Opinion Tag

For this challenge I will be doing the Unpopular Opinion book Tag created by TheBookArcher.

1. A Popular Book or series that you didn't like. 
I didn't like A Court of Thorn and Roses by Sarah J Mass. I think what ruin it for me was all the hype surrounding the book I was expecting too much of the book. I also think that the book felt too rush and try to fit a formula. She try to make the main character something that she wasn't and I didn't like how she force the relationship.

2. A Popular Book or series that every one else seems to hate but you love.
It's hard to find a book that people hated. But a book that I actually enjoyed was The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling. There is a lot of people that dislike this book but in my opinion I thought it was interesting. It really got in the mind of people in this town and how this small community work. I think the reason people didn't like it was because they were expecting too much from the book. What Rowling was doing in this book was focusing on just a small group of people in a small little town and I thought it was really interesting.

3. A Love Triangle where the main character ended up with the person you did NOT want them to end up with (warn ppl for spoilers) OR an OTP that you don't like.
I DISLIKE TRIANGLES in general. Sometimes I do read a book with a love triangle but I usually try to avoid them. If there is a love triangle in the description or I read from a reviewer that there is a love triangle I usually don't read the book. It has to be a real interesting book for me to read in order for me to read it and if I do read the book they usually end up with the person that I like them with.

4. A popular book Genre that you hardly reach for.
Contemporary. It's unusual when I pick up a contemporary. I really need to be in the mood for it. It's more of an in to moment thing to read.

5. A popular or beloved character that you do not like.
I think it's a tie between Clary and Jace from The Mortal Instruments. I just think the other characters in the series are more interesting. Although, Jace does have a more interesting story line I just don't really enjoy it as much as I enjoy the minor characters in the story line.

6. A popular author that you can't seem to get into.
Sarah J Mass. I try reading two of her books and they were not the best things of the world for me. I really didn't get A Throne of Glass and really disliked A Court of Thorn and Roses. Her covers of her books are beautiful but I just really don't didn't enjoy them.

7. A popular book trope that you're tired of seeing. (examples "lost princess", corrupt ruler, love triangles, etc.)
The chosen one that knows everything and get's everything on the first try. I would like to see the person with the journey struggle. I don't like that they usually pick up everything so easily. No one picks up things so easily. Also, the love triangle. Hate it. Like why is it necessary. When do you actually see that. I can just go one with this question. Like the trope of "hiding it from the other person" it gets on my nerve. It would be interesting to read a story if the characters would communicate.

8. A popular series that you have no interest in reading.
The Shatter Me series. I don't know why. It just doesn't interest me enough to read the book series.

9. The saying goes "The book is always better than the movie", but what movie or T.V. show adaptation do you prefer more than the book?
The Maze Runner. I really loved the movie. The book read more as a movie script than a book so I was very happy with the movie adaptation.

What do you guys think about my answers? Do you agree or disagree? Do you guys have a few of your own that you guys would like to share?

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Get Offa That Slump Challenge: The Price Of My Kidney (March 11th)

To be clear, I demand all these things if you want a kidney from me. I only have 2 and will need at least 1 of them, so the price is high! 

Em's List of 10 Bookish Things You'd Give Your Kidney For

10. 

LOTS of Bookish shirts! Comic books ones count!

9.  

My own Hogwarts letter and owl to carry with me ALWAYS

 

8. 

Laptop case. So my ebooks will look a little more bookish

7. 

Book art!

6.

A new mug or 12 with a LIFETIME SUPPLY OF COFFEE!

5.

Harry Potter Tattoo

4. 

How do you read in the yard?

3. 

Tardis Bookshelf

2 and 1.

Bookcase hidden door AND my own library room. Like this

Mel's List of 10 Bookish Things You'd Give Your Kidney For

10.

Just give me all the Harry Potter things and I will be happy.

9.

Every single Stephen King book written

8.

My home filled with books everywhere. Built in bookcases everywhere.

7.

A pass forever to the Wizardry world of Harry Potter for anywhere in the world

6.

A scale size (like the one see above) replica of Hogwarts Castle
5.

The entire Marvel collection currently publish. Basically a Marvel library full of all of Marvel's publish work. I GIVE IT TO ME ALL!

4.

Everything that is currently out written by Brian K. Vaughan. Love His story telling. Been loving everything I have read by him.

3.

Every single Brandon Sanderson book written. (Or his laptop where he holds all his secret files of all unknown story unknown from us mortals)

2.

I have been debating for a while if I would like to get a tattoo. Really would love a Deathly Hallow one.

1.

It would be amazing to own a first Edition Harry Potter book sign by JK Rowling

Was there something on our lists that you would add to yours? Or was there something you think we should have added to our lists, this is for a kidney after all! 

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Get Up Offa That Slump: Challenge - The Fangirl Interview with Us (March 9th)

An interview with myself. Or ourselves, since there is two of us. Hi, everyone and welcome to our first post in the Get Up Offa That Slump challenge that Rachelle at Beauty and the Bookshelf posted. Now, while Mel and I HAVE been posting, it has been mostly reviews and not fun content that we wanted to included in our blog. When I saw this pop up on my twitter feed, we jumped on the idea of doing something to get out of our boring slump. So, without further rambling from me, Mel and I will interview ourselves.

For the sake of new readers, can you give us your name?
Em: Nope, you can just call me Em. Everyone does...now.

Mel: Well if you so strongly want to know it’s Melody. But people usually call me Mel since apparently Melody is such a hard name to pronounce… I don’t get it either.

Ooookay. Why don’t you start by telling us about your blog, what are you aiming to do with it?
Em: Short answer, fangirl or things with my fellow fan-people, but mainly Mel. Long answer … there is no long answer. Fangirling. Like minded people. Yep that’s about it.

Mel: Yep, yep.

Really? No 12 step plan for like world domination, huh?
Mel: Don’t tell them the plan. *she whispers quietly to Em*

Em: Right the first step to world domination is, don’t talk about world domination.

So, what do you fangirl over?
Mel: Marvel everything!!! Harry Potter, BRANDON SANDERSON, movies, Zombies, BOOKS, Books, books, books, BRANDON SANDERSON!!!!!, fanart, BRANDON SANDERSON, harry potter ... *person asking the questions stares at me really weird* ... well you asked me…. I am obsess. (maybe a little too much)

Em: Take Mel’s answer, pull out Brandon Sanderson, cause I have yet to read him, and put in URBAN FANTASY and it is pretty much the same. Oh and ghosts! I love me all the good ghost stories.

Do you remember the first time you you fangirl about something?
Em: Picture it *waves hand across the air* it was the late ‘80’s and X-Men was on Saturday morning cartoons - and if you can get that reference, you get a chocolate bar!

Mel: *remembers a long time ago* (whispers 1993) … *remembers 1993* little me sitting in front of the television. “Colorful costumes” I say as I stare at the television with people fighting people with grey costumes and at that point I was obsessed with these people in colorful costumes…

Go Go Power Rangers da da da dada
Go Go Power Rangers da da da dada
Go Go Power Rangers
Mighty Morph’ and Power Rangers

(If you don’t know the show was called Mighty Morph’ and Power Rangers) But it could also be a close call with the X-Men Cartoons. Come on that theme song is still stuck in my head.

Na na na na nana
na na na na nana
na na na na nana
nana
na na na na na na na na … (OH and those costumes)

Em: when you nana na na na it, I think of the ‘60 batman show! Wait that may be the first thing I fangirled over! Now THERE was cheesy costumes! I think we may have found something else - tightskin off the wall costumes!

Em: Hey Mel, chocolate sounds good. Is 8 am too early for candy?

Mel: It’s never too early for chocolate!

Em: Good cause chocolate and coffee sound like it would be a breakfast of champions!

Em: Also, I need to update my wish list did you SEE everything release these last two weeks?

Hey, ladies. I’m the one asking questions. Em: *waits*

Mel: *stares at interrupted conversation quietly*

Hold on just checking my notes.

Do you have a to go fandom?
Mel: HARRY POTTER! What do you expect other tha.... oh BRANDON SANDERSON *internal monologue* (Is Brandon Sanderson a fandom??? It must be right. He writes books. But he is a person. But how can you not like all his books? But he is a person. WITH A BRAIN I WISH I HAD! But he is still a person. WITH WORLD BUILDING OUT OF THIS WORLD. But he is a person. WITH OVER 20 PUBLISH PIECES OF WORK AND STILL COUNTING. BUT HE IS A PERSON!) Yup, and Brandon Sanderson. Along with movies and BOOKS!! *HOW CAN I FORGET THE MARVEL!!!* oh and MARVEL ANYTHING! There is no such thing as one thing to a go to fandom. It must always be multiple.

Em: *SCREAMS* HARRY FLIPPING POTTER! BOOKS! MOVIES! TOYS! THINGS I CAN CRAFT! AND WE ARE GETTING MORE! *laughs a little too evilly* Although, Marvel has my heart lately. And the Deadpool movie! CAN I OWN IT YET?

What may be the oddest thing you are “addicted” to?
Mel: … Buffy … *it’s because of you! you did this to me! With your shipping and fanfiction and your everything. You did this to me* (curses with two fist to the air) *DAMN YOU WHEDON*

Em: Ramen noodles and… Oh not food? *thinks hard* Okay, I am told it is weird to love the NCIS show as much as I do. Including reading case fanfic. I am told it is not cool and old *finger quotes* BUT F-YOU I LOVE FOUND FAMILIES AND CASES TO SOLVE AND THE PEOPLE! Plus it was nice to see Thackery Binx grow up and become a cop. I know too many odd things.

Mel: It’s not weird at all I love crime shows. I love Criminal Minds and Law and Order: SVU and Chicago PD and OH DON’T GET ME STARTED WITH CHICAGO MED (current obsession with Chicago PD and LAO:SVU) I even do this thing where I picture every character of every fandom I like in a setting where they are detectives. LOL I NEED MORE FANFICTION WHERE ALL THE CHARACTERS I LOVE ARE DETECTIVES. PLEASE FANDOM WORLD GIVE ME DETECTIVE FANFICTION IN ALL MY FANDOMS!!!

Em: It’s kinda sad that fandoms tend to run to the young crowd, even if I know a ton of people that read/draw/write in these ones too. GIVE YOUR DETECTIVE SHOWS MORE LOVE FANDOMS!

Mel: YES!!! WHAT EM SAID!

Okay, I know you are busy ladies, so this it the last question. What new things would you like to see on your blog this year?
Em: Fun things like this! I know some people jump right into knowing how to blog right, or something. But, I think Mel and I are getting our feet wet. Also, we have this bad, bad. bad thing of not posting something new unless we clear it with the other first. Not like “read this post” but more like “Hey do you mind it I do X on the blog”

Mel: I think just posting in a steady schedule for me and just posting what I like and not over thinking things. I personally have this thing on waiting too long in posting things and also over thinking everything. I feel that I must sound a certain way. I should just write what is on my mind and post. I also agree with Em. We do always wait for each other to be on the clear on posting. I think we should just trust each other and post. Because we are both pretty much open to anything. Hopefully we will get in the redome of things in the blogging world. It’s a process.

Thank you ladies for your time.


For more interviews by other amazing bloggers check them out HERE.

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