Wearing the Cape by Marion G. Harmon (Quote Breakdown Review)

Wearing the Cape by Marion G. Harmon

Series: Wearing the Cape #1
Genre: Sci-Fi
Add on Goodreads

Who wants to be a superhero? Hope did, but she grew out of it. Which made her superhuman breakthrough in the Ashland Bombing, just before starting her freshman year at the University of Chicago, more than a little ironic. Hope’s life is further complicated when the supervillain responsible for the Ashland Bombing takes an interest in her. Apparently as Astra, Hope is supposed to save the world. (This novella contains the first 13 chapters of "Wearing the Cape".)

Top Ten Favorite Romance Books

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

I had every intention of doing an anti-valentine's day list. I was going to talk about all the awesome books I've read without even a hint of romance. Then I realized that there probably weren't any. It's hard to find those books. Instead, I decided to go in the exact opposite direction and leave you a list of my favorite romance books. (Don't ever let it be said that I only do things in half measures.) To me, a romance book is a book that the plot/story wouldn't work without the romance. So, let's get started.

Cover Talk: Silhouette Profile

Cover Talk

Welcome to the first edition of a semi-regular new feature here at Pages of Starlight! I've been thinking for a long time about introducing a feature where I get the chance to talk about various covers (trends and uncommon ones) and what I like and dislike. (Maybe even get a little deeper than that, occasionally...) And, considering that February is looking a little light on the posting front, I thought what better time to do this than now. (Besides, I'm bored. Like super bored. So I should blog, no?)

For my first post, I decided to feature book covers that feature silhouette profiles. This is something that I didn't even know was a thing, but I love it! (Covers should take you to the Goodreads page, if you're interested in the book.)

First we have the classic/classy covers. The ones that remind me so strongly of those little old carved 'cameos.'

Next are the more showy ones. The colors are brighter or the style is more in your face.

Then there are the covers that are playful and cute.

And, finally, the face off. Or two people looking like they're going to kiss. The covers that remind me of that old test 'what do you see?' and some see two facial profiles and others, a vase.


Personally, my favorites are the first - classic style - and the third - the more playful style.

Confession time: I have totally not read any of these books. ^_^' If you'd like me to feature a certain type of book cover, let me know. (Of course, I make no guarantee that I will, but it just might capture my attention.)

Being a Mood Reader

I think I've actually been a mood reader my entire life - I just didn't realize there was a name for it until I started blogging. Basically what it means to be a mood reader is that when I want to read, I don't just want to read anything. I want a specific type of book. Maybe I'm in the mood for a dark (ish?) fantasy - or I want nothing more than to read a cute contemporary.

Whatever the case, it has to be a certain type of book otherwise I will probably enjoy it less than if it was the type of book I was looking for. What does this mean?

#1: I dither when it comes time to pick out what book to read next.
It's not that I don't know what I feel like reading. Nor is it that I don't want to read. Because I do. It's that I don't know which book will best capture what I want to read. Which leaves me frustrated and finally just grabbing a book. (I've noticed a little structure helps me tremendously.)

#2: I have a really, really bad habit of not being fully invested in books.
Sure, there are exceptions, but if a book starts taking me too long to read, I tend to get distracted. There's always another book that's looking at me, wanting me to read it instead and I can't help the voice that's telling me I'll probably like it more.

#3: I'll be super excited for a new book, rush out to buy it ASAIR (as soon as it's released) and leave it sitting on my shelf for months.
I have no excuse for this. Besides the fact that it depresses me to see a book I wanted desperately sit around gathering dust, I'm not made of money. Books are usually five to ten dollars cheaper if you wait until they've been out for awhile I've learnt.

#4: I never know what to buy.
What am I going to be in the mood for? Sure, this book sounds great right now - but what about next week? Or next month? This is especially bad when I get on a genre kick and want to read pretty much only one type of book.

#5: It helps me diversify what I read.
Being a mood reader has sent me to some unusual places. Sure, I have favorite genres, but there's little I won't read if the mood strikes me.

#6: Sometimes I discover the perfect book.
Occasionally all the dithering and outright pain pays off when I settle into a book that is exactly what I wanted. There's no issue of wandering eyes or mind. The book fits my mood perfectly and that makes it the perfect book.


Are you a mood reader? Give me your thoughts on this.

February Reading Goals

I've been learning something these past few months: I'm unable to force myself to read a book if I'm not feeling it. (And no, I don't just mean the DNF's. I mean the books that I know I'd love if I read them at a different time.)

This may seem obvious (or you may have no clue what I'm on about) but this all stems from being a mood reader - a phenomenon that seems to be getting worse each month. (And that I talk about tomorrow.) This can make deciding what I want to read difficult - but it can also make using my TBR jar impossible.

For about three months (now that I think about it, around the time my genre burnout - which I think I'm finally over - started) my TBR jar has been left sitting defunct.

I still love writing down the book titles on little slips of paper and keeping track of what I've been reading this month by clipping the strips together, but lately I've been unable to just read whatever I draw.

So, much like my decision last month to mix things up a little for my TBR, I've decided to do the same again - only this time with my reading goals for the month!

#1 Read at least 12 books
#2 For a total of at least 4000 pages
#3 Finish/catch up on at least 1 series (I've currently got 3 that I can)
#4 Read at least 1 book that I've physically had for over a year

And there we go. I'm pretty much unstructured this month, which is both exciting and scary. I think next month that I'm going to try to return to using the TBR jar strictly and see how that works out.

Review: Illusive by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Illusive by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Series: Illusive #1
Genre: Sci-Fi/Superpowers
Add on Goodreads

When the MK virus swept across the planet, a vaccine was created to stop the epidemic, but it came with some unexpected side effects. A small percentage of the population developed superhero-like powers. Seventeen-year-old Ciere Giba has the handy ability to change her appearance at will. She's what's known as an illusionist...She's also a thief.

After a robbery goes awry, Ciere must team up with a group of fellow super-powered criminals on another job that most would consider too reckless. The formula for the vaccine that gave them their abilities was supposedly destroyed years ago. But what if it wasn't?

The lines between good and bad, us and them, and freedom and entrapment are blurred as Ciere and the rest of her crew become embroiled in a deadly race against the government that could cost them their lives.

Top Ten: The Future And The Past Settings

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

As soon as I caught sight of the topic for this week I was practically jumping up and down going 'this will be so much fun.' I am absolutely horrible at actually doing the hop when the posts go live, but as long as my internet is cooperating, I have every intention of hopping everywhere this week because I totally can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!

So, in the little topic explanation, the ladies over at TBatB said 'spin it however you choose' and I intend to do just that.

Up first, I will list five books whose settings are in the future and they are books or settings that I love. Then I will list five books whose settings are historical, also settings or books that I love.