As a new blogger, I’m constantly finding more blogs that I like.  Blog hops &weekly features seem like a great way to meet new people, so I’m going to give two a go this week and see how it goes!  Both the features I’ve picked run today (which means if you hate them, you only have to skip one post!) and feature a book-ish question to answer.

Feature & Follow is a blog hop hosted at Parajunkee’s View and Alison Can Read.  The idea is that two blogs are featured every week, and it allows book bloggers to meet more like-minded individuals.

The question this week is:

Q: Birthday Wishes — Blow out the candles and imagine what character could pop out of your cake…who is it and what book are they from??
I would love for it to be Silk (Prince Kheldar) out of the Belgariad series by David Eddings.  He’s an amazing character, and I imagine it could result in a hilarious birthday – he’d end up convincing everyone to indulge in something fun but probably immoral.

“I thought you said you were the one in charge!” Ce’Nedra exclaimed.
“I lied.” Silk said. “It’s a vice I have.”

I think my second choice would probably have to be Charlie Weasley from Harry Potter.  I’m not a huge Charlie fan in all honesty, but who wouldn’t want to see if they could talk Charlie into letting them ride a dragon for their birthday? Plus, I’m pretty sure if you played your cards right you could end up with a Molly Weasley homemade birthday cake, and a night out with the Weasley kids (excluding Percy) and the Trio (if you must!)

TGIF is a weekly feature hosted at Greads.

The question this week:

Best I’ve Read So Far: We’re half way through the year (crazy how time flies!), which top 3 books are the best you’ve read so far this year?

Oh dear, I found this question seriously difficult.

I’ve settled on (in no particular order)

1. Divergent
I read this because it’s been on my TBR list forever, after hearing so much about it.  I finally knuckled down and got on with it in preparation for the release of Insurgent, but I haven’t got a copy of that yet.

2. City of Dragons

I’m a big Robin Hobb fan, having loved her Assassin’s Apprentice (The Farseer Trilogy, Book 1)
& Liveshiptrilogies (and enjoyed the Tawny Mantrilogy).  This series has been my favourite so far though, and this book my favourite of the series.  I literally couldn’t put it down and I can’t wait for the next.

3. Fifty Shades Darker
I know this is a controversial choice – Fifty Shades has been both loved and hated.  Was it the best written book? No.  Was it enjoyable, gripping and full of twists? Yes.  I found book 2 to be the most dramatic, and felt it had more of a plot (even if it was a bit crazy!) than Fifty Shades of Grey.  I also feel that, despite the mixed reviews of Fifty Shades, E.L. James has made….shall we say more adult?…books more popular and less taboo to the wider market, and I personally think that can only be a good thing.