A Million More Pages - Hogwarts: All About the Stars - Finished

All About the Stars hosted by A Million More Pages on Goodreads.

This was more difficult than I had expected but I just managed to finish the challenge at level 2 and get 9 points instead of 3

All about the Stars
February 1 - April 30

*When you sign up for this challenge, please include the following information:
-title and author of a book you rated 5 stars
-title and author of a book you rated 4 stars
-title and author of a book you rated 3 stars
-title and author of a book you rated 2 stars
-title and author of a book you rated 1 star.
⚑ Do not include any fan fiction, manga, comics, graphic novels, sequential art, or any book with "children's" on its main page. Those will not be accepted for this challenge! Young Adult books that meet the page length requirement are fine.

For this challenge, you will read books previously read and rated by your fellow group members.

*For each book you read you must include the following:
-link to the book
-author
-date finished
-your rating
-previous rating
-short review (3-5 sentences)

Levels:
Level 1: Read 1 book for each star
Level 2: Read 2 books for each star
Level 3: Read 3 books for each star

Points:
Level 1: 3 points
Level 2: 9 points
Level 3: 12 points
Participation (at least 3 books): 1 point
*Completing the challenge means finishing within the given timeframe
*You CANNOT claim both completion and participation points

Rules:
-Remember to include your House name when you sign up!
-Books must be at least 125 pages in length (except for Y.A. which is 140)
-Re-read ARE NOT allowed!
-Fan fiction, manga, comics, graphic novels, sequential art, or any book with "children's" on its main page are NOT allowed!
-Books must be read entirely within the given timeframe and MAY NOT be started early!
-You must post a link to the book read for each task
-Once you have completed the challenge, copy and paste your challenge into a new message so that I may verify that you have finished. I will then tell you that you may claim your points in your House Homework Box.
-If you finish the challenge before the deadline, you may attempt it again. HOWEVER, you MAY NOT choose the same books as before! 

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

★ ★ ★ ★
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
The Woman In Black by Susan Hill

★ ★ ★
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Witch Hunt by S.M. Reine

★ ★
The One Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window And Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
Ovenpå er der Stille by Gerbrand Bakker 

★
Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Chef Charming by Lyn Ellerbe 

Ovenpå er der Stille by Gerbrand Bakker

When Henk’s twin brother dies in a car accident, Helmer is obliged to return to the small family farm. He resigns himself to taking over his brother’s role and spending the rest of his days ‘with his head under a cow’.
After his old, worn-out father has been transferred upstairs, Helmer sets about furnishing the rest of the house according to his own minimal preferences. ‘A double bed and a duvet’, advises Ada, who lives next door, with a sly look. Then Riet appears, the woman once engaged to marry his twin. Could Riet and her son live with him for a while, on the farm?
The Twin is an ode to the platteland, the flat and bleak Dutch countryside with its ditches and its cows and its endless grey skies. Ostensibly a novel about the countryside, as seen through the eyes of a farmer, The Twin is, in the end, about the possibility or impossibility of taking life into one’s own hands. It chronicles a way of life which has resisted modernity, is culturally apart, and yet riven with a kind of romantic longing. From Goodreads.

This was a rather depressing story. Helmer basically hates his life but has done nothing to change it. He felt a huge loss when he first lost his twin brother to a girl and shortly after lost him completely when he died. The whole book is depressing but in some weird way it is quite interesting too.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Wheel-A-Thon II
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: All About the Stars
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Meet a Million Members

Witch Hunt by S.M. Reine

A brutal murder.
There are scratches on Cèsar Hawke’s arms, a discharged Glock on his coffee table, and a dead woman in his bathtub. Yeah, maybe he brought the waitress home for some fun — he was too drunk to remember it — but he knows for a fact that he didn’t kill her. He’s an agent with the Office of Preternatural Affairs. He doesn’t hurt people. He saves them.
The cops disagree. Now Cèsar is running.
The search for a shaman.
Isobel Stonecrow speaks with the dead…for the right price. She brings closure to the bereaved and heals broken hearts. But when she resurrects someone for the wrong client, she ends up on the OPA’s most wanted list.
One risky solution.
Tracking down Isobel is the last case assigned to Cèsar before he bolts. If he finds her, he can prove that he didn’t kill that waitress. He can clear his name, get his job back, and bring justice to the victim.
She’s just one witch. Cèsar has bagged a dozen witches before.
How hard can one more be? From Goodreads.

I liked this, I liked that I did not know who the bad guys were till quite late. Cèsar Hawke runs fom the law, which means his own colleagues, to prove his innocence. But as soon as he finds out he actually did kill somebody he turns himself in, to his boss. Not everything is as it seem and when both demons, necromancer, witches and other paranormal creatures are involved it is not easy to find the culprits.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
2015 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Wheel-A-Thon II
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: All About the Stars
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

A SACRED OATH
A FALLEN ANGEL
A FORBIDDEN LOVE
Romance 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. From Goodreads.

I didn't like this book much. I don't understand why the male protagonist has to be a horrible, arrogant jerk and then end up being the extreme good guy. None of the characters in this book were the least bit interesting. There is no way I will continue this series. 

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Pass The Parcel
The Challenge Factory - R6: Team Challenge SSS
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Wheel-A-Thon II
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: April Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: All About the Stars
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Holding out a Hero
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: MARCHing Through Time
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Meet a Million Members
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick Your Fate Adventure Challenge 

The Woman In Black by Susan Hill

Arthur Kipps, a junior solicitor in London, is summoned to Crythin Gifford to attend the funeral of Mrs Alice Drablow, and to sort through her papers before returning to London. It is here that Kipps first sees the woman in black and begins to gain an impression of the mystery surrounding her. From the funeral he travels to Eel Marsh House and sees the woman again; he also hears the terrifying sounds on the marsh.
Despite Kipps’s experiences he resolves to spend the night at the house and fulfil his professional duty. It is this night at Eel Marsh House that contains the greatest horror for Kipps. Kipps later discovers the reasons behind the hauntings at Eel Marsh House. The book ends with the woman in black exacting a final, terrible revenge. From Goodreads.





Another Horror book that I didn't find particularly scary. At least it was slightly scarier than The Haunting of Hill House and I felt sorry for Arthur that the ghost followed him.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Wheel-A-Thon II
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: April Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: All About the Stars
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
Crazy Challenge Connection Read your age
Crazy Challenge Connection Scrabble, anyone?
Spring Into Horror 2015
Dewey's Read-a-Thon April 2015 

The One Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window And Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

After a long and eventful life Allan Karlsson is moved to a nursing home to await the inevitable. But his health refuses to fail and as his 100th birthday looms a huge party is planned. Allan wants no part of it and decides to climb out the window... Charming and funny; a European publishing phenomenon.
Sitting quietly in his room in an old people's home, Allan Karlsson is waiting for a party he doesn't want to begin. His one-hundredth birthday party to be precise. The Mayor will be there. The press will be there. But, as it turns out, Allan will not . . .
Escaping (in his slippers) through his bedroom window, into the flowerbed, Allan makes his getaway. And so begins his picaresque and unlikely journey involving a suitcase full of cash, a few thugs, a very friendly hot-dog stand operator, a few deaths, an elephant and incompetent police. As his escapades unfold, Allan's earlier life is revealed. A life in which - remarkably - he played a key role behind the scenes in some of the momentous events of the twentieth century. From Goodreads.

I wasn't wild about this book. The part in present day was okay and interesting though it at times was a bit too unrealistic and fantastical. I didn't like the historical part about Allan meeting all these different Heads of States and making himself invaluable to them, it seemed a bit too easy for him to get near them. A bit too political for me.

Chef Charming by Lyn Ellerbe

The neatly ordered life of Chef Marcus MacRae changed dramatically when Aurora Sinclair walked into his evening cooking class. Marcus was drawn to Aurora but couldn’t seem to stop himself from pushing her away. He fought to hide his ridiculous, unwanted attraction behind a facade of indifference.
Aurora ‘Rori’ Sinclair could not understand what she had done to annoy the handsome chef. Letting her roommate talk her into taking this class so close to graduation was a bad idea. The dislike she read in Chef MacRae’s actions confirmed her mistake. Not only was she facing the pressure of her graduate art show but now this enigmatic man had invaded her life. Unfortunately she found herself fighting a losing battle with attraction. Marcus was fascinating, and according to their mutual friends, not really a mean guy.
Would Rori be able to keep her attraction secret long enough to survive the class? Would Marcus be willing to admit his feelings in time to keep her from walking out of his life forever? Could God actually use ‘love at first sight’ to bring two people together? From Goodreads.

I don't mind a Christian romance if it is just mentioned in betweeen. Unfortunately, this book was too much for me. It only made it up to two stars because it was funny in places.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: April Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: All About the Stars
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: I Solemnly Swear
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Student Club Roster
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: MARCHing Through Time
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: 2015 Reading Challenge!
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Who is ... The Death Eater?
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick Your Fate Adventure Challenge

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Young Tristran Thorn will do anything to win the cold heart of beautiful Victoria—even fetch her the star they watch fall from the night sky. But to do so, he must enter the unexplored lands on the other side of the ancient wall that gives their tiny village its name. Beyond that old stone wall, Tristran learns, lies Faerie—where nothing, not even a fallen star, is what he imagined. From Goodreads.

A cute fairytale with the farmboy going on a quest to win his true love. There are witches, 3 brothers, a unicorn and other fairytale cretures. A fun quick read with a nice, slightly different, fairytale ending.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
2015 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: April Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: All About the Stars
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: I Solemnly Swear
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Student Club Roster
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Meet a Million Members
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Who is ... The Death Eater?
Crazy Challenge Connection Monopoly

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics. But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills.
Nobody fights the Epics...nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.
And David wants in. He wants Steelheart - the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father. For years, like the Reckoners, David's been studying, and planning - and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience.
He's seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge. From Goodreads.




Another really good fantasy book from Brandon Sanderson. I liked David who has worked hard the last 10 years to learn all he could about the Epics. Also, the way he had studied to remain an average student in order to avoid being noticed. The Reckoners who fight and kill the Epics are quite interesting and I liked the twists and surprises at the end of the story. I am looking forward to reading the next book.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Pass The Parcel
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Wheel-A-Thon II
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: April Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: All About the Stars 
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Professor Trelawney
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Harry Potter Bingo
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: I Solemnly Swear
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Student Club Roster
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Finding Ginny
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Guess Who?
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Meet a Million Members
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Who is ... The Death Eater?
Crazy Challenge Connection Monopoly

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

Imagine this. Great Britain in 1985 is close to being a police state. The Crimean War has dragged on for more than 130 years and Wales is self-governing. The only recognizable thing about this England is her citizens' enduring love of literature. And the Third Most Wanted criminal, Acheron Hades, is stealing characters from England's cherished literary heritage and holding them for ransom.
Bibliophiles will be enchanted, but not surprised, to learn that stealing a character from a book only changes that one book, but Hades has escalated his thievery. He has begun attacking the original manuscripts, thus changing all copies in print and enraging the reading public. That's why Special Operations Network has a Literary Division, and it is why one of its operatives, Thursday Next, is on the case.
She has been trying to trace Hades ever since he stole Mr. Quaverley from the original manuscript of Martin Chuzzlewit and killed him. You will only remember Mr. Quaverley if you read Martin Chuzzlewit prior to 1985. But now Hades has set his sights on one of the plums of literature, Jane Eyre, and he must be stopped. From Goodreads.

This was a quite fun read. I liked the interaction between real people (the real people of this book) and the fictional characters. The funniest part though was when I was caught up in the book and then thought they had made printing mistakes in the book.
(About the Bookworms): "They were happily farting out apostrophes and ampersands". Just after this sentence there were suddenly a lot of ' and & in all the words and I didn't catch on right away, just complained to my husband that it was difficult reading and annoying that this mistake had been made. In the middle of my complaining I suddenly understood. I think it was very well done.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
The Challenge Factory - R6: Team Challenge SSS
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Wheel-A-Thon II
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: March Challenges (2/7)
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Spring Fling
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: All About the Stars
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: the 50 States Amazing Book Hunt

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Starting over sucks.
When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.
And then he opened his mouth.
Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something... unexpected happens.
The hot alien living next door marks me.
You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. If I don't kill him first, that is. From Goodreads.



Katy, the new girl in town, meets her neighbours, Daemon and Dee who turn out to be aliens. It is not safe for them or humans to be friends but of course it happens and now they have to deal with it. They must fight the evil Arum before they steal their powers and kill them all. I will definitely try to get hold of the next one from the library. 

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: February Challenges (2/5)
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hogwarts Face Off
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Spring Fling
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Butterbeer Recipe
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: To Be A Ravenclaw
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: A Trip To Hogwarts
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: All About the Stars
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Zodiac
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Hunger Games
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: 2015 Reading Challenge!
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Meet a Million Members
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Who is ... The Death Eater?
Nothing but Reading Challenges - 50 States Challenge

A Million More Pages - Hogwarts: All About the Stars

All About the Stars hosted by A Million More Pages on Goodreads.

All about the Stars
February 1 - April 30

*When you sign up for this challenge, please include the following information:
-title and author of a book you rated 5 stars
-title and author of a book you rated 4 stars
-title and author of a book you rated 3 stars
-title and author of a book you rated 2 stars
-title and author of a book you rated 1 star.
⚑ Do not include any fan fiction, manga, comics, graphic novels, sequential art, or any book with "children's" on its main page. Those will not be accepted for this challenge! Young Adult books that meet the page length requirement are fine.

For this challenge, you will read books previously read and rated by your fellow group members.

*For each book you read you must include the following:
-link to the book
-author
-date finished
-your rating
-previous rating
-short review (3-5 sentences)

Levels:
Level 1: Read 1 book for each star
Level 2: Read 2 books for each star
Level 3: Read 3 books for each star

Points:
Level 1: 3 points
Level 2: 9 points
Level 3: 12 points
Participation (at least 3 books): 1 point
*Completing the challenge means finishing within the given timeframe
*You CANNOT claim both completion and participation points

Rules:
-Remember to include your House name when you sign up!
-Books must be at least 125 pages in length (except for Y.A. which is 140)
-Re-read ARE NOT allowed!
-Fan fiction, manga, comics, graphic novels, sequential art, or any book with "children's" on its main page are NOT allowed!
-Books must be read entirely within the given timeframe and MAY NOT be started early!
-You must post a link to the book read for each task
-Once you have completed the challenge, copy and paste your challenge into a new message so that I may verify that you have finished. I will then tell you that you may claim your points in your House Homework Box.
-If you finish the challenge before the deadline, you may attempt it again. HOWEVER, you MAY NOT choose the same books as before! 

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

★ ★ ★ ★
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
The Woman In Black by Susan Hill

★ ★ ★
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Witch Hunt by S.M. Reine

★ ★
The One Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window And Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
Ovenpå er der Stille by Gerbrand Bakker 

★
Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Chef Charming by Lyn Ellerbe