Angel Reads

10 Feb

Book Review: The Ruby Circle (Bloodlines #6) by Richelle Mead

Posted by angelreads Book Reviews 3 Comments

The Ruby Cicle by Richelle Mead

Pages: 348
Publish date: 10th Feb 2015
Publisher: Penguin Australia
ISBN: 9780670078691
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

After their secret romance is exposed, Sydney and Adrian find themselves facing the wrath of both the Alchemists and the Moroi in this electrifying conclusion to Richelle Mead’s New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series. When the life of someone they both love is put on the line, Sydney risks everything to hunt down a deadly former nemesis. Meanwhile, Adrian becomes enmeshed in a puzzle that could hold the key to a shocking secret about spirit magic, a secret that could shake the entire Moroi world.

The Ruby Circle:

Holy Crap. Richelle Mead is just a beautiful person. Let me just say it’s going to be incredibly hard to review this book without giving spoilers. I’m going to try my absolute hardest to not spoil The Ruby Circle but let me tell you it’s going to be hard. But Warning there are going to spoilers from the Vampire Academy series and the other Bloodlines books.

Also please, no spoilers from The Ruby Circle in the comments please. You can email if you want or even direct message me on twitter or my Facebook page.

My love for Richelle Mead has just increased if that is even possible. The Ruby Circle is a step up from any other VA and Bloodlines book. The reader will not have any time to rest, from the very first chapter something exciting starts to happen. And every chapter after that, I was on the edge of my seat.

I do wish at some parts it was a little slower, maybe because I didn’t want it to end and just wanted to keep on reading and reading. It wasn’t all the time, but the ending before the epilogue, I think could have been just that little bit slower.

There are just so many things that we find out during The Ruby Circle. And damn Richelle Mead is good. We do find out who has taken Jill, I wasn’t stunned per say, but I don’t think a lot of people have guessed whom it really is. I found it fascinating, but like I said not surprising, if I think about it. Seemed pretty logical.

We do get a few surprise visits from some re-accruing characters. I wanted to jump up and squeal about. Some others I wanted to bash their heads on a wall. I really do wish that there was more Lissa and Christian. They do make some appearances in The Ruby Circle but I wanted more. But in saying we have this classic Christian in a scene that I loved.

“Just a demo, please,” Called the guardian wearily. “We don’t need to wipe our supply of dummies yet” – Adrian, page 71

Therefore one of the main things I prized about The Ruby Circle is that Richelle did tie up a lot of loose ends. It just made the whole thing that more perfect. Some of these questions we have asked, since the first book in the Vampire Academy series. I may or may not have been laughing and repeating Holy shit for one of those scenes. It was so good finally knowing this answer.

There are also many shocks for certain characters and I just wanted to hold one and tell them everything is going to be alright.

Spirit also got the better of some, at certain points and oh my heart just broke. There is still so much more to know about Spirit and controlling it, I just wish there was more to do about it.

One thing that I loved was the Sydney/Adrian and Rose/Dimitri my heart exploded and I could not stop laughing.

“Good thing we’ve got our own cowboy” – Adrian, page 132

Sydney and Adrian my heart for these two, the love that these two people have for each other, melts my heart. They have struggled to be together and when they do, they are on the run. But those moments they had together, were just sweet and loving that somehow made everything better for just that moment.

There were some highs and lows throughout The Ruby Circle. But Richelle Mead, the genius just made everything fit perfectly. With her Richelle Mead wit, to those heartbreaking scenes. This is probably Mead’s best work. Her writing is incredible, and moving. And it isn’t a Richelle Mead book without some shocks.

However let me tell you, there is 2 revelations are wow. I think every single fangirl/boy will melt. It’s just perfect. I was beaming like an idiot for hours after I finished reading. Mind you I did read it in under 3 hours and finished reading at 2 in the morning.

I truly cannot fault The Ruby Circle. To me it was flawless. The best way to end a series even two. She fixed up loose ends, but left it open for more. Which I am hoping for an Eddie and Jill book. It doesn’t have to be soon, nonetheless hopefully in the near future. Just what a way to finish some amazing books. Everything is bittersweet.

Have you read The Ruby Circle yet? How are you feeling?

Other Richelle Mead Reviews;

– Bloodlines
– The Golden Lily
– The Indigo Spell
– Silver Shadows

05 Feb

Books to the Table: Harry Potter – Hogwarts Shepherd’s Pie

Posted by angelreads Books to the table No Comments

Something that I love other than reading is cooking. I am always looking up new things to cook and try. And then I thought why not combining my two favourite things in the world. So welcome to my new feature; Books to the Table.

And I thought why not start my new feature today with Harry Potter. Today’s Special is Hogwarts Shepherd’s Pie.

Shepherd’s Pie is pretty much one of my favourite things to eat in the world. And this recipe is pretty special. This is the recipe that is my mum’s. And she has cooked this, for as long as I can remember.

And when I was thinking of recipes to make from the books. I thought of these. It’s a pretty popular English meal. At first I wasn’t too sure if it was mentioned in the books. But I was right, it had been.

It is mentioned in Chapter 7 of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The chapter is titled ‘Mudbloods and Murmurs.’ Harry mentions that he didn’t fancy his Shepherd’s pie after finding out he has to serve detention with Lockhart.

I hope that you enjoy this much more than Harry did. Because I know, I do all the time. It’s perfect for winter but I love eating it all time round.

I am pretty sure, the rest of Hogwarts like the Shepherd’s Pie. It’s mouth-watering. The meat is soft and melts in your mouth. The pastry is nice and crispy. And the mash potato is soft and pulls the whole things together.

So I hope that you liked this news feature and these is going to be more to come. Below is a printable recipe that, you can use to make this dish. Tell me how it turns out.

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05 Feb

Discussion: Why do I love Harry Potter?

Posted by angelreads Discussions No Comments

If you didn’t know, today is Harry Potter Book Night. If you don’t know what that is. Check out my introduction post here.

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I cannot begin to explain how much Harry Potter means to me. There are so many ways to describe it, but one that comes to mind is my life.

Harry Potter came out in 1997, just a year after I was born. So I didn’t get to read it as soon as it came out. But just before the Philosophers Stone was brought to the big screen, my mum started to read the books to me. And let me tell you. I loved them.

Since that moment my life has all been Harry Potter. I started to read the books by myself when I was able to. When I was about 9-10 years old. I am not sure and I did need some of my mums help for some of those difficult words.

I not only loved the books, but the movies as well. And it wasn’t just me. I also got my sisters and brother into the movies as well as getting my brother to read the books. (At the moment he is reading Goblet of Fire).

I remember the first time I watched Philosophers Stone was when it was out at the movies and my parents took me and my younger sister to the drive-ins to see it. I think I was about 5 at the time and I feel proud that the only part I was scared of was the scene where Voldy goes to kill Harry. Just that opening gate scene. I have no idea why it was only that scene and not when we see the two faces. For the last 3 movies, I was watching the movie the first day it was out and the last 2 I went to midnight sessions.

A funny fact that watching the Philosophers Stone caused. Well I used to be sacred or nervous to look out of the car at night because I always thought Dumbledore would be standing under a street light. Tell me I am crazy, please.

But even though the movies were wonderful and I still watch them time and time again. They are not as magical as the books.

I don’t even know how many times I have read the Harry Potter books. There is something about them, I just never get bored reading them. Pretty much all my books are first versions, so they are not in the best condition. But I love that about them. It shows how much I love them.

I remember when The Order of the Phoenix was about to come out at the movies, my library teacher had a Harry Potter class. It was awesome, we got sorted into houses. Names were spit out of the Goblet of Fire for the ‘Triwizard Tournament,’ it was simply the best thing ever.

One thing about the books that I do remember was, when I was reading the Deathly Hallows I cried a river. Also my book may have ended on the other side of the room, when a certain someone died (I don’t want to say who, because some people have not read the books or watch the movies). My mum still laughs till this day because I did this.

I don’t know how many times I have cried while reading the books. No matter the numerous times I have read them, I still will cry.

What the series has taught me.

The books have also taught me so much through all different characters, events just everything.

Luna is most likely my favourite character because she taught me that being who you are is much more interesting than trying to be someone else.

Hermione taught me that it’s okay to be smart and to stand your ground. Don’t let people put you down just because you rather have your face in a book than go outside.

Harry taught me that family doesn’t have to be just from blood.

Dumbledore taught me that love is the greatest weapon.

And Ms J.K Rowling taught me to fight. Fight for what you believe in. Fight for what you love and fight for who you love.

My Collection

My love for Harry Potter spreads to my room and my collections. I have a full set of books and I really want the new UK/AUS set in hardcovers but just so expensive. I will hopefully get them one day.

I also have a Ravenclaw banner, time turner as well as figurines and a collection of movie stills as postcards and wands that I collected.

Furthermore, out of all these experiences nothing beats the moment when I met Evanna Lynch. If you didn’t know Evanna plays Luna Lovegood. That day I was so excited. I brought my ticket to take a photo with her and get her signature. First I stood in line to get a photo with her and let me tell you the line was long and I was there for a pretty long time. When I stepped into the room and saw her I nearly fainted. After shaking like crazy, my sister and I took a photo with her. I walked out the room and started to cry like crazy. I could not believe it. It was pretty much the most remarkable moment ever.

If you have no realised already Harry Potter has changed my life and I would not change that for anything. What about you, how has Harry Potter changed your life?