It's been way too long since I just sat down and had a bit of a catch-up with all of my readers, and since we're nearing the end of March I thought that now would be the perfect opportunity. The past few months have been very busy and exciting for me, and although I've been regularly updating you on Twitter, I haven't really spoken about my life here on Daisies and Delights. Sit back and relax for this super chilled post if you'd like to hear what I've been up to for the past few months.
COLLEGE
Having said that, I'm really enjoying college and all of my subjects, no matter how hard they can be at times. I've made some truly amazing friends that I talk to all the time and couldn't imagine not knowing, and I think I've settled in really well. I'm also really happy with all of my subject choices and I have a genuine interest in each lesson. There have also been some random moments thrown in, such as the hilarious teacher lip sync battles that took place on Friday for Red Nose Day or being photographed for the college prospectus pretending to be served in the cafe (the free hot chocolate was definitely worth the embarrassment!)
BLOGGING
I've also been lucky enough to collaborate with more brands over the past few months. Rimmel has been incredibly generous yet again and sent me some more of their products, most notably their new Volume Shake Mascara. This came at the perfect time, as my previous mascara was running out, and I have to say that I've been loving this one ever since. I was also invited to The Body Shop's blogger event for their Mother's Day product launch, and I had an amazing time testing out all of their products and even getting a mini-makeover. I spoke about the event more in my previous post, which you can read here.
The icing on the cake for me was definitely reaching 500 blog followers, which I still can't quite believe. When I created Daisies and Delights I didn't have very high expectations, and never thought that I'd even make it close to 100 followers. To have reached this milestone is absolutely incredible and I'm very thankful for the dedicated and loyal audience that my blog has.
PERFORMING
In February, I also started a new dance school alongside some of my friends from Lipa. When our previous dance teacher left at Christmas to start her own school, we knew that we wanted to still take classes from her and so joined her academy when it started up. I've really been enjoying these extra dance sessions on Thursdays and all of the combos we've worked on have been very enjoyable. We're also working towards a competition at the end of May, hopefully taking a contemporary group dance and a commercial group dance, so I'll definitely update you on how that goes!
LIFE
In terms of music, I'm still very much into Bastille and Amber Run and listen to their music on a daily basis (it's pretty much all I listen to at this point). I'm not sure if I've actually mentioned my music tastes on my blog before, but these are my two go-to bands and I love pretty much every song they've come out with. I've also found these music tastes to bring me closer to some people, and a few of my new friends in college also like Bastille which is great.
As for TV shows, I've never really been one to become obsessed with a series and binge-watch it from start to finish. However, the past couple of weeks I've started watching Twin Peaks (you can see the Bastille theme emerging) and I'm honestly hooked! You definitely wouldn't expect it to be my cup of tea but it's such an interesting and weird show, with the 90s vibes really adding to the appeal. I'm currently at the start of season 2, but I'm sure if you asked me again in a couple of weeks then I'll have finished the series and be eagerly awaiting season 3.
I hoped you liked hearing this little update of what's been happening in my life over the past few months. If you'd like to know more and regularly hear about what I'm up to, make sure you follow me on Twitter @DaisiesDelights, as I frequently post on there about my day. Thanks for reading this post and I'll see you soon with another one!
Love from Daisy, x
It's been way too long since I just sat down and had a bit of a catch-up with all of my readers, and since we're nearing the end of March I thought that now would be the perfect opportunity. The past few months have been very busy and exciting for me, and although I've been regularly updating you on Twitter, I haven't really spoken about my life here on Daisies and Delights. Sit back and relax for this super chilled post if you'd like to hear what I've been up to for the past few months.
COLLEGE
Having said that, I'm really enjoying college and all of my subjects, no matter how hard they can be at times. I've made some truly amazing friends that I talk to all the time and couldn't imagine not knowing, and I think I've settled in really well. I'm also really happy with all of my subject choices and I have a genuine interest in each lesson. There have also been some random moments thrown in, such as the hilarious teacher lip sync battles that took place on Friday for Red Nose Day or being photographed for the college prospectus pretending to be served in the cafe (the free hot chocolate was definitely worth the embarrassment!)
BLOGGING
I've also been lucky enough to collaborate with more brands over the past few months. Rimmel has been incredibly generous yet again and sent me some more of their products, most notably their new Volume Shake Mascara. This came at the perfect time, as my previous mascara was running out, and I have to say that I've been loving this one ever since. I was also invited to The Body Shop's blogger event for their Mother's Day product launch, and I had an amazing time testing out all of their products and even getting a mini-makeover. I spoke about the event more in my previous post, which you can read here.
The icing on the cake for me was definitely reaching 500 blog followers, which I still can't quite believe. When I created Daisies and Delights I didn't have very high expectations, and never thought that I'd even make it close to 100 followers. To have reached this milestone is absolutely incredible and I'm very thankful for the dedicated and loyal audience that my blog has.
PERFORMING
In February, I also started a new dance school alongside some of my friends from Lipa. When our previous dance teacher left at Christmas to start her own school, we knew that we wanted to still take classes from her and so joined her academy when it started up. I've really been enjoying these extra dance sessions on Thursdays and all of the combos we've worked on have been very enjoyable. We're also working towards a competition at the end of May, hopefully taking a contemporary group dance and a commercial group dance, so I'll definitely update you on how that goes!
LIFE
In terms of music, I'm still very much into Bastille and Amber Run and listen to their music on a daily basis (it's pretty much all I listen to at this point). I'm not sure if I've actually mentioned my music tastes on my blog before, but these are my two go-to bands and I love pretty much every song they've come out with. I've also found these music tastes to bring me closer to some people, and a few of my new friends in college also like Bastille which is great.
As for TV shows, I've never really been one to become obsessed with a series and binge-watch it from start to finish. However, the past couple of weeks I've started watching Twin Peaks (you can see the Bastille theme emerging) and I'm honestly hooked! You definitely wouldn't expect it to be my cup of tea but it's such an interesting and weird show, with the 90s vibes really adding to the appeal. I'm currently at the start of season 2, but I'm sure if you asked me again in a couple of weeks then I'll have finished the series and be eagerly awaiting season 3.
I hoped you liked hearing this little update of what's been happening in my life over the past few months. If you'd like to know more and regularly hear about what I'm up to, make sure you follow me on Twitter @DaisiesDelights, as I frequently post on there about my day. Thanks for reading this post and I'll see you soon with another one!
Love from Daisy, x
Mother's Day is quickly approaching us, being on Sunday 26th March, and so it's time to start searching for the perfect gifts for the wonderful mothers out there. You certainly won't need to search hard, as The Body Shop has got us covered with their amazing new launches and gift sets. I was invited into the Bold Street store in Liverpool for the latest blogger event, showcasing all of their Mother's Day gifts and other product launches, and I immediately knew that I wanted to share them with you!
Gift Sets - the Body Shop are back with some amazing gift sets this Mother's Day, which is the perfect way to treat your loved ones to a selection of wonderful products. There's a variety to choose from, including some budget-friendly gift sets and more premium ones, but they're all great value for money and allow you to test many of their products. A lot of the sets are in the British Rose scent, which screams Spring with its floral notes and is perfect for mothers.
White Musk L'eau Fragrance - When Sarah told me that this was possibly her favourite fragrance that the Body Shop has released, I instantly knew that it'd be worth trying. It has a gorgeous scent that is very light and fresh, making it perfect for the Spring and Summer months. Containing jasmine and rose, this fragrance smells very feminine without being too heavy, making it a perfect gift for mothers, and it's definitely one that I'd recommend having a spritz of when you're next in store.
Contour and Lip Quads - these are another new launch that I was able to experiment with while attending the Body Shop event, and so far I'm in love with them. These contour and lip quads are interchangeable, meaning you can customise your own palette to create a look best suited to your complexion or a particular occasion. I love the concept of this and they offer some beautiful shades, so this is definitely the way forward if you want to buy a more personalised Mother's Day gift - or just treat yourself to a new palette.
I also found out that individual eyeshadow pans that fit within these palettes will be released very soon, so this is definitely something to look forward to in the near future!
Liquid Peels - the Body Shop have also launched three new Liquid Peels in their drops of youth, drops of light and vitamin C ranges, which I'm very excited about. I watched a demonstration of this exfoliator on Hollie's hand and it honestly worked like magic, leaving her skin feeling incredibly soft. I'd never seen an exfoliator like this before, but as someone who can get dry patches of skin around my nose, it's definitely a product that I'm looking forward to trying.
The Body Shop hosted such a wonderful event, and I loved seeing all of their products in action and having the freedom to test them out. It was great to chat to some local bloggers, a few of which I'd already met at The Body Shop's Christmas Event, and I also had a mini-makeover, which I really enjoyed and loved the finished look. Thank you again to the team for inviting me down, as it was a very enjoyable evening.
I hope you liked seeing some of The Body Shop's newest product launches and that it's given you an idea as to what gifts to buy for Mother's Day this year. Thank you for reading this post and I'll see you next Sunday with a new one, but while you're waiting there are plenty of others on my blog to have a read of.
Love from Daisy x
Mother's Day is quickly approaching us, being on Sunday 26th March, and so it's time to start searching for the perfect gifts for the wonderful mothers out there. You certainly won't need to search hard, as The Body Shop has got us covered with their amazing new launches and gift sets. I was invited into the Bold Street store in Liverpool for the latest blogger event, showcasing all of their Mother's Day gifts and other product launches, and I immediately knew that I wanted to share them with you!
Gift Sets - the Body Shop are back with some amazing gift sets this Mother's Day, which is the perfect way to treat your loved ones to a selection of wonderful products. There's a variety to choose from, including some budget-friendly gift sets and more premium ones, but they're all great value for money and allow you to test many of their products. A lot of the sets are in the British Rose scent, which screams Spring with its floral notes and is perfect for mothers.
White Musk L'eau Fragrance - When Sarah told me that this was possibly her favourite fragrance that the Body Shop has released, I instantly knew that it'd be worth trying. It has a gorgeous scent that is very light and fresh, making it perfect for the Spring and Summer months. Containing jasmine and rose, this fragrance smells very feminine without being too heavy, making it a perfect gift for mothers, and it's definitely one that I'd recommend having a spritz of when you're next in store.
Contour and Lip Quads - these are another new launch that I was able to experiment with while attending the Body Shop event, and so far I'm in love with them. These contour and lip quads are interchangeable, meaning you can customise your own palette to create a look best suited to your complexion or a particular occasion. I love the concept of this and they offer some beautiful shades, so this is definitely the way forward if you want to buy a more personalised Mother's Day gift - or just treat yourself to a new palette.
I also found out that individual eyeshadow pans that fit within these palettes will be released very soon, so this is definitely something to look forward to in the near future!
Liquid Peels - the Body Shop have also launched three new Liquid Peels in their drops of youth, drops of light and vitamin C ranges, which I'm very excited about. I watched a demonstration of this exfoliator on Hollie's hand and it honestly worked like magic, leaving her skin feeling incredibly soft. I'd never seen an exfoliator like this before, but as someone who can get dry patches of skin around my nose, it's definitely a product that I'm looking forward to trying.
The Body Shop hosted such a wonderful event, and I loved seeing all of their products in action and having the freedom to test them out. It was great to chat to some local bloggers, a few of which I'd already met at The Body Shop's Christmas Event, and I also had a mini-makeover, which I really enjoyed and loved the finished look. Thank you again to the team for inviting me down, as it was a very enjoyable evening.
I hope you liked seeing some of The Body Shop's newest product launches and that it's given you an idea as to what gifts to buy for Mother's Day this year. Thank you for reading this post and I'll see you next Sunday with a new one, but while you're waiting there are plenty of others on my blog to have a read of.
Love from Daisy x
Exam season is rapidly approaching us and that means teenagers across the country will be frantically revising in hope of getting the best grades possibles. However, it's often hard to tell what is an effective revision method and what is counterproductive, ultimately being a waste of time. I wanted to share some of my revision tips with you today, all of which have been useful for me, and hopefully this will assist you with figuring out which method of revision is best for you.
Although I've done a few posts like this already, I thought it'd be valuable to share this advice as my revision tactics have definitely changed after sitting my GCSEs last summer. I've discovered new methods and techniques, as well as discovering what works best for me, all of which I aim to share with you in this post.
Utilise Youtube Revision Videos
Many teachers, examiners and even past students have created revision videos for each specific subject and exam board. These will be tailored to your specification and so will contain all the knowledge you'll need to know in a condensed and easy-to-understand format. There are plenty out there to search for, so if you're struggling with a particular concept in Maths or don't understand a particular character in English Literature, this is the best place to look for a step-by-step guide that makes sense and is taught by an expert.
By far my favourite Youtube channel for revision videos is Mr Bruff for English Literature. His videos are extremely in-depth and contain a lot of higher-level analysis that's useful for getting the top grades. I honestly owe my GCSE English Literature grade to Mr Bruff, as his poetry analysis was extremely helpful and the exam technique videos ensured I knew exactly what the examiner was looking for when marking.
Download Revision Apps
It'd be a lie to say that, as a teenager, I don't spend a lot of time on my phone. I've discovered that there are some great apps for on-the-go revision, some of which I couldn't live without. My holy grail revision app is Chegg Flashcards, which allows you to make online flashcards to test yourself on knowledge. I use this religiously for learning terminology for English Language and also found it very helpful when revising for GCSE Science. The flashcards are incredibly quick to create and you can effectively test yourself to see where any gaps in your knowledge are.
If you're studying a language, I'd highly recommend downloading the Memrise app. I used this every day leading up to my GCSE French exams and the game-style layout made it feel more like a reward than revision. I'm certain that I learned more vocabulary from this app than from just reading over my class notes, so I'd highly recommend it. The BBC Bitesize app is also really useful as it has quizzes for each topic, meaning you can test yourself on the important knowledge and practice exam-style questions.
Colour Code and Highlight Your Work
Revision notes can often seem like a sea of writing and can be really daunting, which is why I recommend breaking it up through the use of colour. Highlighting topic titles and keywords can help to focus your attention on the most important details, as well as making your revision more colourful and visually appealing. In the image above, you can see that I used different colours in my John Donne book for the different themes in the poem, whereas in the revision notes it was for the different sub-topics. I also have these brightly coloured sticky tabs and labels which are great to use for annotating books in English Literature and organising it by theme or character.
Complete Past Papers and Look at the Mark Schemes
It's important to get as much practice at questions as possible and perfect your exam technique before it's actually time to sit the test. In no time, you'll become well-versed in how exam questions are phrased and inferring what they're looking for based on the question, meaning you're more likely to access the higher marks. Completing past papers also allows you to see any gaps in your knowledge and focus your revision on these areas. I'd recommend going through the papers at a steady pace, as you wouldn't want to rush through them a year before your exam and then find that you have no past papers left when you actually need them.
Don't Just Rely On One Source of Info
Although it's easy to simply revise by opening your textbook and copying down all of the information, this won't be an effective method to use. You never know if the book you're using has missed out important topics or if it's too brief in explanations, which could hinder your knowledge. I'd recommend using as many sources as possible when compiling your revision, including class notes, textbooks, revision guides and online resources. This will ensure you have a wide range of information to consult, meaning that everything you could possibly be asked about will be included in your notes.
Buy Revision Guides for Each Subject
The CGP revision guides are honestly a necessity for all of your subjects, with the content being tailored to each exam board and specification. They contain all of the important details in an easily understandable way, and the fun diagrams and colourful layout make revision much more manageable. Although they aren't as useful for some subjects, I found them to be vital when I was revising for my science and RE GCSEs.
For English literature, I've discovered that the York Notes revision guides are the best ones to purchase. They contain a huge amount of detail and insightful analysis that other revision guides omit, and they're great for understanding parts of a novel that you might otherwise be struggling with.
Display Your Revision in a Way that Works Best For You
Don't be tricked into thinking that you must display your revision in the form of written notes like you'd create in class. Although this is one method and definitely works for some people, there are plenty of alternatives that you may find easier to use. If you do opt for writing your revision notes, check out the ones I created in the photo above. Using images, diagrams and colour made these much more manageable and interesting to look at.
Making mind maps are great for seeing the different areas of knowledge you need to know for each topic and how they link with each other. Although they can become quite hectic if you try and include lots of information, they're perfect for seeing many different aspects of a topic in one place. I find mind maps particularly useful for the different interpretations of a character in English Literature: I put the character's name and the scene in the centre of the bubble, branching out with different interpretations, quotes to support each of these and analysis of each quote.
Flashcards are also great for testing yourself on knowledge and making your revision more concise. They can be used in many different ways, so it's worth trying out some different methods. You can see above that I used these flashcards for an important quote for English Literature, followed by my analysis, links to other quotes, contextual information and relevant critics.
I really hope that it was helpful to hear all of my revision tips and I wish you the best of luck in any upcoming exams that you might have. If there are any revision methods that you swear by but haven't been included in this post, make sure to let me know as I'd love to find out some alternate methods.
Thank you very much for reading this blog post and I'll see you next Sunday with another new one, so make sure you check back then!
Love from Daisy x
Exam season is rapidly approaching us and that means teenagers across the country will be frantically revising in hope of getting the best grades possibles. However, it's often hard to tell what is an effective revision method and what is counterproductive, ultimately being a waste of time. I wanted to share some of my revision tips with you today, all of which have been useful for me, and hopefully this will assist you with figuring out which method of revision is best for you.
Although I've done a few posts like this already, I thought it'd be valuable to share this advice as my revision tactics have definitely changed after sitting my GCSEs last summer. I've discovered new methods and techniques, as well as discovering what works best for me, all of which I aim to share with you in this post.
Utilise Youtube Revision Videos
Many teachers, examiners and even past students have created revision videos for each specific subject and exam board. These will be tailored to your specification and so will contain all the knowledge you'll need to know in a condensed and easy-to-understand format. There are plenty out there to search for, so if you're struggling with a particular concept in Maths or don't understand a particular character in English Literature, this is the best place to look for a step-by-step guide that makes sense and is taught by an expert.
By far my favourite Youtube channel for revision videos is Mr Bruff for English Literature. His videos are extremely in-depth and contain a lot of higher-level analysis that's useful for getting the top grades. I honestly owe my GCSE English Literature grade to Mr Bruff, as his poetry analysis was extremely helpful and the exam technique videos ensured I knew exactly what the examiner was looking for when marking.
Download Revision Apps
It'd be a lie to say that, as a teenager, I don't spend a lot of time on my phone. I've discovered that there are some great apps for on-the-go revision, some of which I couldn't live without. My holy grail revision app is Chegg Flashcards, which allows you to make online flashcards to test yourself on knowledge. I use this religiously for learning terminology for English Language and also found it very helpful when revising for GCSE Science. The flashcards are incredibly quick to create and you can effectively test yourself to see where any gaps in your knowledge are.
If you're studying a language, I'd highly recommend downloading the Memrise app. I used this every day leading up to my GCSE French exams and the game-style layout made it feel more like a reward than revision. I'm certain that I learned more vocabulary from this app than from just reading over my class notes, so I'd highly recommend it. The BBC Bitesize app is also really useful as it has quizzes for each topic, meaning you can test yourself on the important knowledge and practice exam-style questions.
Colour Code and Highlight Your Work
Revision notes can often seem like a sea of writing and can be really daunting, which is why I recommend breaking it up through the use of colour. Highlighting topic titles and keywords can help to focus your attention on the most important details, as well as making your revision more colourful and visually appealing. In the image above, you can see that I used different colours in my John Donne book for the different themes in the poem, whereas in the revision notes it was for the different sub-topics. I also have these brightly coloured sticky tabs and labels which are great to use for annotating books in English Literature and organising it by theme or character.
Complete Past Papers and Look at the Mark Schemes
It's important to get as much practice at questions as possible and perfect your exam technique before it's actually time to sit the test. In no time, you'll become well-versed in how exam questions are phrased and inferring what they're looking for based on the question, meaning you're more likely to access the higher marks. Completing past papers also allows you to see any gaps in your knowledge and focus your revision on these areas. I'd recommend going through the papers at a steady pace, as you wouldn't want to rush through them a year before your exam and then find that you have no past papers left when you actually need them.
Don't Just Rely On One Source of Info
Although it's easy to simply revise by opening your textbook and copying down all of the information, this won't be an effective method to use. You never know if the book you're using has missed out important topics or if it's too brief in explanations, which could hinder your knowledge. I'd recommend using as many sources as possible when compiling your revision, including class notes, textbooks, revision guides and online resources. This will ensure you have a wide range of information to consult, meaning that everything you could possibly be asked about will be included in your notes.
Buy Revision Guides for Each Subject
The CGP revision guides are honestly a necessity for all of your subjects, with the content being tailored to each exam board and specification. They contain all of the important details in an easily understandable way, and the fun diagrams and colourful layout make revision much more manageable. Although they aren't as useful for some subjects, I found them to be vital when I was revising for my science and RE GCSEs.
For English literature, I've discovered that the York Notes revision guides are the best ones to purchase. They contain a huge amount of detail and insightful analysis that other revision guides omit, and they're great for understanding parts of a novel that you might otherwise be struggling with.
Display Your Revision in a Way that Works Best For You
Don't be tricked into thinking that you must display your revision in the form of written notes like you'd create in class. Although this is one method and definitely works for some people, there are plenty of alternatives that you may find easier to use. If you do opt for writing your revision notes, check out the ones I created in the photo above. Using images, diagrams and colour made these much more manageable and interesting to look at.
Making mind maps are great for seeing the different areas of knowledge you need to know for each topic and how they link with each other. Although they can become quite hectic if you try and include lots of information, they're perfect for seeing many different aspects of a topic in one place. I find mind maps particularly useful for the different interpretations of a character in English Literature: I put the character's name and the scene in the centre of the bubble, branching out with different interpretations, quotes to support each of these and analysis of each quote.
Flashcards are also great for testing yourself on knowledge and making your revision more concise. They can be used in many different ways, so it's worth trying out some different methods. You can see above that I used these flashcards for an important quote for English Literature, followed by my analysis, links to other quotes, contextual information and relevant critics.
I really hope that it was helpful to hear all of my revision tips and I wish you the best of luck in any upcoming exams that you might have. If there are any revision methods that you swear by but haven't been included in this post, make sure to let me know as I'd love to find out some alternate methods.
Thank you very much for reading this blog post and I'll see you next Sunday with another new one, so make sure you check back then!
Love from Daisy x
Fantasy is probably my favourite genre to read from, and I often find myself gravitating towards novels with paranormal features, so I have plenty of titles to recommend. After my Young Adult Contemporary Recommendations post was extremely well-received, I've been planning a follow-up and now is the perfect time to do so. I was very selective, only choosing the books that I thought were the best or had the most potential, so hopefully there'll be something on this list for you.
City of Glass by Cassandra ClareTo save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight. As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?I've mentioned the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare hundreds of times on my blog, so I'm going to keep this short and sweet. It is perfect if you're looking for a high-fantasy series filled with lots of magic and fantastical elements, whilst still containing mystery, action and romance. Taking place in an urban New York City, this series contains paranormal characters that are both relatable and don't conform to common stereotypes, making it an interesting and unique read. It's no secret that I love Cassandra's writing and the level of detail she employs, with City of Glass probably being my favourite novel of hers so far.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J MaasIn the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake. She got caught. Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament—fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted?I read this book over summer and instantly fell in love with the entire world that Sarah had crafted. It truly came to life before my eyes and I was immersed in the story, being emotionally tied to the characters like I knew them in real life. I love the building tension and excitement in this novel through the competition setting, and it was an easy book to sink my teeth into. I'm eager to continue with this series so I can find out what happens next, but I'd definitely urge you to get onboard and read this novel.
Caraval by Stephanie GarberScarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over. But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner. Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.I included this novel in my Top 10 Upcoming Book Releases of 2017, and I went out to buy it almost instantly after writing the post, as I was hooked by the synopsis. I'm currently halfway through it, so I can't give you a full view of my thoughts, but so far I'm really enjoying it. It's a fast-paced, fresh read that has a unique and tasteful feel compared to other YA novels. It's also been described as the biggest YA release of the year, and with a title like that you certainly can't avoid reading it.
Northern Lights by Philip PullmanHere lives an orphaned ward named Lyra Belacqua, whose carefree life among the scholars at Oxford's Jordan College is shattered by the arrival of two powerful visitors. First, her fearsome uncle, Lord Asriel, appears with evidence of mystery and danger in the far North, including photographs of a mysterious celestial phenomenon called Dust and the dim outline of a city suspended in the Aurora Borealis that he suspects is part of an alternate universe. He leaves Lyra in the care of Mrs. Coulter, an enigmatic scholar and explorer who offers to give Lyra the attention her uncle has long refused her. In this multilayered narrative, however, nothing is as it seems. Lyra sets out for the top of the world in search of her kidnapped playmate, Roger, bearing a rare truth-telling instrument, the alethiometer. All around her children are disappearing—victims of so-called "Gobblers"—and being used as subjects in terrible experiments that separate humans from their daemons, creatures that reflect each person's inner being. And somehow, both Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter are involved.This book was one of the first young adult fantasy novels that I became acquainted with and it really opened my eyes to the genre. I was 10 years old on holiday in Spain and I'd finished all of my books when I came across a copy of The Amber Spyglass in a supermarket. Although some of the novel was too complex for my age and the darker aspects went over my head, I was immediately enthralled by the captivating story of Will and Lyra. The entire series is beautifully written, and with it recently being announced that Philip is writing a follow-up series, now is the perfect chance to read this series.
Hush Hush by Becca FitzpatrickRomance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment. But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.This is a love-hate series for many and I've heard some mixed reviews over the past few years. I personally really enjoyed it, hence why it's on this list, and I think it's a perfect post-Twilight read that'll open your eyes to other paranormal romance series. The series definitely gets better as it progresses, with Silence being my favourite book, but there's no doubting that this novel contains many unexpected events and plot twists that'll leave you shocked.
I hope you liked seeing what fantasy novels I'd recommend that you should read, but as I said earlier, I've read countless novels from this genre and so there are many more I could suggest. I'd love to know what fantasy novels you enjoyed reading, so why not leave them in the comments below? Thank you very much for reading and I'll see you next Sunday with a new post.
Love from Daisy x
Fantasy is probably my favourite genre to read from, and I often find myself gravitating towards novels with paranormal features, so I have plenty of titles to recommend. After my Young Adult Contemporary Recommendations post was extremely well-received, I've been planning a follow-up and now is the perfect time to do so. I was very selective, only choosing the books that I thought were the best or had the most potential, so hopefully there'll be something on this list for you.
City of Glass by Cassandra ClareTo save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight. As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?I've mentioned the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare hundreds of times on my blog, so I'm going to keep this short and sweet. It is perfect if you're looking for a high-fantasy series filled with lots of magic and fantastical elements, whilst still containing mystery, action and romance. Taking place in an urban New York City, this series contains paranormal characters that are both relatable and don't conform to common stereotypes, making it an interesting and unique read. It's no secret that I love Cassandra's writing and the level of detail she employs, with City of Glass probably being my favourite novel of hers so far.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J MaasIn the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake. She got caught. Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament—fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted?I read this book over summer and instantly fell in love with the entire world that Sarah had crafted. It truly came to life before my eyes and I was immersed in the story, being emotionally tied to the characters like I knew them in real life. I love the building tension and excitement in this novel through the competition setting, and it was an easy book to sink my teeth into. I'm eager to continue with this series so I can find out what happens next, but I'd definitely urge you to get onboard and read this novel.
Caraval by Stephanie GarberScarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over. But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner. Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.I included this novel in my Top 10 Upcoming Book Releases of 2017, and I went out to buy it almost instantly after writing the post, as I was hooked by the synopsis. I'm currently halfway through it, so I can't give you a full view of my thoughts, but so far I'm really enjoying it. It's a fast-paced, fresh read that has a unique and tasteful feel compared to other YA novels. It's also been described as the biggest YA release of the year, and with a title like that you certainly can't avoid reading it.
Northern Lights by Philip PullmanHere lives an orphaned ward named Lyra Belacqua, whose carefree life among the scholars at Oxford's Jordan College is shattered by the arrival of two powerful visitors. First, her fearsome uncle, Lord Asriel, appears with evidence of mystery and danger in the far North, including photographs of a mysterious celestial phenomenon called Dust and the dim outline of a city suspended in the Aurora Borealis that he suspects is part of an alternate universe. He leaves Lyra in the care of Mrs. Coulter, an enigmatic scholar and explorer who offers to give Lyra the attention her uncle has long refused her. In this multilayered narrative, however, nothing is as it seems. Lyra sets out for the top of the world in search of her kidnapped playmate, Roger, bearing a rare truth-telling instrument, the alethiometer. All around her children are disappearing—victims of so-called "Gobblers"—and being used as subjects in terrible experiments that separate humans from their daemons, creatures that reflect each person's inner being. And somehow, both Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter are involved.This book was one of the first young adult fantasy novels that I became acquainted with and it really opened my eyes to the genre. I was 10 years old on holiday in Spain and I'd finished all of my books when I came across a copy of The Amber Spyglass in a supermarket. Although some of the novel was too complex for my age and the darker aspects went over my head, I was immediately enthralled by the captivating story of Will and Lyra. The entire series is beautifully written, and with it recently being announced that Philip is writing a follow-up series, now is the perfect chance to read this series.
Hush Hush by Becca FitzpatrickRomance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment. But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.This is a love-hate series for many and I've heard some mixed reviews over the past few years. I personally really enjoyed it, hence why it's on this list, and I think it's a perfect post-Twilight read that'll open your eyes to other paranormal romance series. The series definitely gets better as it progresses, with Silence being my favourite book, but there's no doubting that this novel contains many unexpected events and plot twists that'll leave you shocked.
I hope you liked seeing what fantasy novels I'd recommend that you should read, but as I said earlier, I've read countless novels from this genre and so there are many more I could suggest. I'd love to know what fantasy novels you enjoyed reading, so why not leave them in the comments below? Thank you very much for reading and I'll see you next Sunday with a new post.
Love from Daisy x
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