National Kissing Day: Top 5 bookish kisses & couples

Top 5 Bookish Kisses and Couples

It's National Kissing Day. So in honor of it, I'm posting my top-5 favorite book snogs. (Not in order because YOU CANNOT MAKE ME CHOOSE). There will be spoilers for books in here, so be careful!

1) The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo -- Alina and Nikolai

I am a very proud Nikolina shipper. From the moment they met I shipped them with a burning passion. But alas, they and also my other favorite ship of Grisha (the Darkling and Alina) never happened. *Cocks shotgun and aims it at Mal* I honestly believe that Nikolai and Alina would have been amazing together and it pains me even now that their kisses -- no matter how cray-cray they were -- never amounted to anything more. *Allows shotgun to hit Mal* *Walks away* Damn you Mal!

2) A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas -- Feyre and Tamlin

Feyre and Tamlin. Can you GET a couple hotter than these two?! I don't think so. Their romance sizzled through the pages. I practically burnt my fingers and eyes reading these two. Sarah does an amazing job at creating scorching couples, I'll give her that! I'm also one of those people who ships Feyre with not only Rhys, but Lucien too. What can I say? Feyre is just SO shippable. I ship her with everything and everyone. Much like Sarah's other book heroine, Celaena Sardothien from Throne of Glass.

3) The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecket -- Elizabeth and John

These two are a very recent addition to my list of favorite couples. I read The Witch Hunter a few weeks back and LOVED IT. They have one of the most adorable romances I've read in a long time. She and John TOTALLY deserve to be up here with the greats. John is fluffier than a Pomeranian and I am DESPERATE for book 2 to read more of their growing relationship. *Cuddles John and Elizabeth close*  

4) The Infernal Devices/The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare -- EVERYONE

It is simply impossible to pick a ship out of Cassandra Clare's books. There's Clary and Jace, Magnus and Alec, Izzy and Simon and so many more. Plus the Herongraystairs ship that is Tessa Gray, William Herondale and James Carstairs in The Infernal Devices. Oh gosh then you have the ships in THAT book too! Nope, I'm going to stop right now and say that every kiss and couple in these books are my favorites.

Except that Sebastian and Clary one in City of Lost Souls. Hell nope. #SayNoToClabastian2015.

5) Trial By Fire by Josephine Angelini -- Lily and Rowan

Another brand-new favorite ship! I devoured the beauty that is Trial By Fire in less than a day. And made new book boyfriends in the process! Lily and Rowan easily made the top-5 list with how beautiful they both are. They're just so... UNIQUE! I could go on forever about just why they're such an amazing couple, really. Read Trial By Fire and find out why I love them so much for yourself! You won't be disappointed, I assure you!

So... that's it for my top-5! But there are LOTS more that belong up there. Such as Celaena/Aelin with Chaol, Rowan and Dorian, Penryn and Raffe, Karou and Akiva, Mara and Noah, Merik and *mumbles name because SPOILERS AND I CAN'T SAY* and Aeduan and *MUMBLE MUMBLE MUMBLE* Hmmm, and Jett and Flo, Dimitri and Rose, Peeta and Katniss, Harry and Ginny... Oh heck, I could go on F O R E V E R! 

What are YOUR Top-5 book kisses and couples? Let me know below!

REVIEW: Trial By Fire by Josephine Angelini

TRIAL BY FIRE (Worldwalker #1)
Josephine Angelini

Love burns. Worlds collide. Magic reigns.

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying many of the experiences that other teenagers take for granted...which is why she is determined to enjoy her first (and perhaps only) high-school party. But Lily's life never goes according to plan, and after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly Lily is in a different Salem - one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruellest of all the Crucibles is Lillian . . . Lily's identical other self in this alternate universe. This new version of her world is terrifyingly sensual, and Lily is soon overwhelmed by new experiences.

Lily realizes that what makes her weak at home is exactly what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. It also puts her life in danger. Thrown into a world she doesn't understand, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone, and a love she never expected.

But how can Lily be the saviour of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?

Published: 28th August 2014

Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books

Genre: YA, Witches, High Fantasy

My goodness! What a ride! 

First of all, let's take a look at that STUNNING cover for a moment! How gorgeous is that?! I was worried that the UK cover wouldn't top the US one... but I think it just about does! (Excluding the brand-new covers! Which blow both covers out of the water with their beauty.)

I have attempted Josephine's work before with Starcrossed, but unfortunately I never got to finish it. Plain and simple, I was not keen on her writing style and characters. But NOW? WOW! Just... WOW! Josephine has improved beyond recognition. When I bought this book, I was extremely apprehensive in case it was another Starcrossed. But it is completely different to that trilogy. I'm kicking myself for not picking this up off my shelf for so long!

This story is a gem in the parallel universe/alternate world genre. I have never been a fan of the genre, but TRIAL BY FIRE has changed my mind. The moment I finished, I went searching for more like it. 

In the story itself, the plot is so well thought out and exquisite. I could almost reach out and touch Lillian's world. Each character is masterfully crafted. Too well in the case of Lillian. Lillian is a terrifying character because... well, she is completely against nuclear power like her counterpart, but where Lily just wears a t-shirt with a slogan on and protests, Lillian is at the complete other end of the spectrum with the whole "Whoo let's hang a school that I created!" Yes love, nuclear power IS bad and I agree with that, but you don't run around and kill thousands of innocent people! She's doing something good by doing something beyond bad. I want Lillian to die a painful death, but I also love her. I am so conflicted!

And while we're on the subject of nuclear power and stuff, the mixture of magic and science in the book is absolute genius! The bioluminescent trees that act as streetlamps, the Woven, which are creatures that have been spliced and combined, the way heat turns into energy and power. It completely captured my imagination and left me in awe of Josephine Angelini's writing skills. 

The romance in this story was perfect. Not too much that it turns into a cheese-fest, or two little that we feel unfulfilled. The relationship between Lily and Rowan is more than beautiful, it's an acorn. An acorn that has only just sprouted. In the coming books, that tiny sapling is going to grow into a majestic oak tree. Lily did not spend the book 24/7 thinking "he's SO hot," which is a breath of fresh air. She was easily one of the most likable character's that I've ever met. Cannot wait to see where her story goes after that ending!

Speaking of that ending... how EVIL! EVIL I TELL YOU! I turned over the page, my heart in my mouth and desperate to see what happened... and there was nothing but the acknowledgments! Ack! I need the next book so terribly bad!

In short, this book is completely BEWITCHING. Yes. There had to be at least ONE witchy pun in this review!

Rating? A magical 5 hearts!