Book Review: Death Cloud (Young Sherlock Holmes #1) by Andrew Lane

Title: Death Cloud (Young Sherlock Holmes #1)
Author: Andrew Lane
Pages: 311
Publication: February 1, 2011
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Summary taken from goodreads: 

It is the summer of 1868, and Sherlock Holmes is fourteen. On break from boarding school, he is staying with eccentric strangers—his uncle and aunt—in their vast house in Hampshire. When two local people die from symptoms that resemble the plague, Holmes begins to investigate what really killed them, helped by his new tutor, an American named Amyus Crowe. So begins Sherlock’s true education in detection, as he discovers the dastardly crimes of a brilliantly sinister villain of exquisitely malign intent. 

2.5 STARS - I LIKED IT ENOUGH 

MY REVIEW: 

I've been interested in Sherlock Holmes ever since I started watching ELEMENTARY, an American modern adaption of the detective, and since I've had DEATH CLOUD for a while now, I thought why not give young Sherlock Holmes a try. Unfortunately for me, it wasn't that interesting.

Young Sherlock Holmes wasn't anything different from any other boy except for his observational and deductive skills, so I was kind of bored of his bland personality throughout the whole book. The rest of the characters weren't that interesting either, although I would like to learn more about Amyus Crowe.

The villain was an intriguing character though. What happened to him and how he moved about was not something I had ever expected, especially in that time period. His motivation was sound, but his execution was a bit far-fetched for an evil mastermind though.

Also, for a mystery, it wasn't that very interesting either. I had to force myself to read the first 100 pages thinking that it would get better eventually, and by the time I read half of the book, the pace finally picked up enough that I wasn't just skimming the paragraphs. 

Maybe it's because I've never been a huge fan of the historical genre or because I've been in the mood for action and explosions lately, but I just did not like this book that much. Either way, I doubt that I'm going to continue this series. 

Cover Lover 42

I liked how today was a holiday so that we didn't have classes, but I still signed up for work, so I was on campus anyway, lol. Plus, I did not manage my time well this weekend, so I have a lot of homework to do before Wednesday...

Can't really say that it was all of my fault since Michelle and Kyle came down this weekend, and we had to do some taxes for our parents and other things, so there really wasn't much time to do anything but lay around in bed and play Cards Against Humanity (Kyle recently bought all nine expansion packs).

So yeah, classes start up again tomorrow, and I am not excited at all. I just want to laze about in bed with David forever, lol.

The semester has started...

School started back up this week, and I've been super busy or tired as per usual. Even though I didn't have a lot of homework every night, I've been preoccupied with hanging out with David after he got off of work every night and procrastinating on the interwebs, lol. I already have terrible motivation to do any homework ahead of time. 

This is not good. D:

But yeah, because of school and all of the errands I have to do because of it (I have to get so many art supplies for my art classes D:) and because of how draining school is, I've been really tired by the time I get home and barely have the time (or motivation) to do any homework, let alone blog. I'll try to do better since last year's blogging wasn't that great either. 

Even though classes just started so the workload isn't that difficult yet, going to school tires me out so much. I mean, I've been going to bed around 11:30-12:30 this whole week, which is earlier than how I slept all break. Was it this bad last semester? I just remember the second half of the semester being super stressful and tiring. 

On a better note, Raymond and I started working out again this semester, so there's that. Hopefully, I'll be able to keep on working out as the semester gets even more stressful, lol. Maybe one day I'll be able to walk up the UC steps and not be out of breath. XD

That's all for now. I have to go do some homework. :(

2015 Reading Challenges

Last year, I completed three out of five reading challenges, which was pretty cool. I don't think I really want to do so many challenges anymore though, so I'm only doing two this year. One is the 2015 TBR Reading Challenge and the Goodreads 2015 Reading Challenge. The first challenge's information is below, and the Goodread's challenge is on the sidebar to the left.

2015 TBR Reading Challenge

Challenge Guidelines: 

1. The challenged will run from January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015. The sign up link below will remain open until January 16, 2015 at 11:30am.
2. Anyone can enter! You don't have to be a blogger, just as long as you review the book you've read. You can review on your book on your blog, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, etc.
3. Any genre, length, or format of book counts as long as it is a book that's been sitting on your self for some time. Short stories and novellas do count! The only stipulations that the book must have been released in 2014 or earlier. No 2015 ARCs or 2015 fresh-off-the-press releases allowed.
4. On the 25th of every other month (see schedule below), we will post a wrap-up for the previous two months. These posts will be done by one our bloggers and will contain new linkys for you to add your own wrap-up posts. If you did not sign up by January 16, this is where you can sign up as well.
5. To help you tackle your TBR piles we will also be hosting Read Alongs on months that do not have wrap-ups. Voted on by challenge participants, Read Alongs will have two post dates: the first half of the book and the second half. Please note: You do not have to take part in our Read Alongs  to participate in the TBR Pile Challenge. You can participate in all of them, some of them, or none of them. This aspect of the challenge is entirely optional.
6. There will be two giveaways - July and December. Giveaway details will be explained once the giveaway post goes up. We don't want to overwhelm you with too many details now  :)
7. You don't have to follow Bookish to join the challenge, but you do have to follow us to be entered in the giveaways.

How many books are you planning to read for this challenge?

1-10 A Firm Handshake

11-20 A Friendly Hug

21-30 First Kiss

31-40 Sweet Summer Fling

41-50 Could This Be Love?

50+ Married with Children

You can sign up here!

I've been doing this challenge for a couple of years now, and I really like how it motivates me to read more of my older books, since I have so many. Hopefully I will complete this challenge, since I'm doing Could This Be Love?

1. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
2. The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
3. The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
4. The Goddess Hunt by Aimee Carter
5. 
   

Books I Want to Read This Month

I really need to start reading more...

1. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
2. The Young World by Chris Weitz
3. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
4. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
5. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
6. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
7. Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher
8. The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
9. Spark by Amy Kathleen Ryan
10. The Geography of Me and You by Jennifer E. Smith
11. Insignia by S.J. Kincaid
12. Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers
13. Nevermore by James Patterson
14. Divergent by Veronica Roth
15. Insurgent by Veronica Roth

December in Retrospect

David and I watched way too many movies this year, lol.

I read:

• Plan B by Jenny O'Connell

I watched:

• The Irregular at Magic High School (2014)
• La Corda d'Oro: Blue Sky (2014)
• Black Bullet (2014)
• Haikyuu!! (2014)
• Chocolate (2008)
• Defiance (2008)
• Ip Man (2008)
• Ip Man 2 (2010)
• 3 Days to Kill (2014)
• Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (2010)
• Fists of Fury (1972)
• Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009)
• Full Metal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos (2011)
• Love Stage!! (2014)
• Special ID (2013)
• Kundo: Age of the Rampant (2014)
• Camp Takota (2014)