Tag: Fantasy

TTT – Top Ten Tuesday – Books On My Fall 2018 TBR

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Hey Everyone,

I am back with TTT, I kind of missed doing these in August. I wanted to give myself a little break from doing these, I felt worn out and unmotivated to do them.

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and Bookish and has now been transferred to The Artsy Reader Girl.

This week’s theme is books on my Fall 2018 TBR, or Autumn if you’re from the UK.  I love Autumn, their air is crisp, leaves are changing colour and I can pull out all of my jumpers. I am excited. I have kind of picked books that I feel fit during the season as well as books that I want to get to at the end of the month. I am one book away from my Goodreads Reading challenge and it’s weird that I have almost read 65 books before the end of the year. This is the part where my reading goes downhill and my TBR starts growing and growing.

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A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

The TV series has just started and already I am feeling in the mood to pick up the series again. I am so happy that this book finally turned into a TV series, the first episode was really good, I really enjoyed it. The cast is amazing and I am looking forward to the rest of the series.

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It by Stephan King

Ambitious, scarred and even nervous reading this book. I have been saving this book to read in the month of October before Halloween. Mainly because I have been persuaded from watching Zoe by ReadbyZoe on Youtube who read It in over A DAY, a day! that is insane. You should watch the video, it’s so much fun to watch and I think I have seen that video at least 10 times, maybe more I can’t remember. I also have the audiobook, so maybe on my commute to work, I’ll listen to it.

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Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco

I read Stalking Jack the Ripper earlier this year and I know that Escaping Houdini is set to come out soon or it’s already out, I’m not sure. It is another book that I would like to get to in the month of October. I am trying to push myself and read a lot of books that fit in the theme of Halloween.

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Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

I tried to read this book back in 2015 but I wasn’t getting very into it and put the book down. I want to give the book another chance so maybe for the remainder of the year, I could finally get to this book.

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Dracula by Bram Stoker

This is another book that I have tried to get into but didn’t finish. I tried to read it back when I was in secondary school and that was about 10 years (wow just realised that it was 10 years at this time I was in my final year of school before I went to sixth form, time flies).

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The Crow Girl by Erik Axlsund

I got this book last year around the time when The Snowman The Movie came out. I remember some of the reviews were comparing to The Snowman and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. With it being a thriller crime novel, it nice to read about a murder in the winter or autumn (A nice way to let people know I like to read about murder, serial killers and deadbeat cop, although I have no idea if the police offer in this one is a dead-beat.)

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Witches of Eastwick by John Updike

I have been wanting to read this book. I’ve seen the movie and the TV show and I really enjoyed it and I wanted to read the book. I don’t know what to expect but with the fact that it has been turned into a movie and Tv show I hope it’s good.

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Dark Tales by Shirley Jackson

This is a book I would like to casually read. The book is filled with short stories by Jackson and after reading The Lottery I don’t need to rush. I have some expectation that it might be some of Jackson’s horror-ish style as I really enjoyed We Have Always Lived In The Castle.

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The Tennant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte

I started this book earlier in the Spring and I want to actually finish the book. I have to book on Audible, so maybe that would motivate me to read more of it. It’s still in the same place as I left so I just have to pick it up and continue reading.

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Runemarks by Joanne M.Harris

This is another book that I would like to re-read. I got the older copy of this book years ago but I gave it away (stupid of me) but when I found out that Joanne was turning into a series and also a change of the cover, I immediately bought a new copy and I want to read it soo bad. I remember really enjoying the book. so hopefully I will be able to get to it soon.

Happy Reading xx

Book Review – Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

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Hey Everyone,

Sorry that I have been MIA, I’ve been a little preoccupied with other things in life and I wanted to focus on that. I know that I have missed a couple of Top Ten Tuesdays but honestly, I haven’t been in the mood to do them so I might leave it until next month and see how I feel about it. I have been reading (hence the fact that I am uploading a book review) but you can follow me on my Goodreads account if you want to see any updates from me I am gladly ok for you to follow along.

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Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

Mia Corvere is only ten years old when she is given her first lesson in death.

Destined to destroy empires, the child raised in shadows made a promise on the day she lost everything: to avenge herself on those that shattered her world.

But the chance to strike against such powerful enemies will be fleeting, and Mia must become a weapon without equal. Before she seeks vengeance, she must seek training among the infamous assassins of the Red Church of Iltreya.

Inside the Church’s halls, Mis must prove herself against the deadliest of opponents and survive the tutelage of murderers, liars and demons at the heart of a murder cult.

The Church is no ordinary school, but Mia is no ordinary student.

Published: August 2016
Published Edition: June 2017
Publishers: Harper Collins
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Pages: 463

Format of Reading: Paperback/Hardback

Goodreads Star Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Review

Honestly, this book has been the year in the making. I was immediately attracted to the cover which was illustrated by Kerby Rosanne. He is amazing, I have one of his published colouring books and it was his style of art which drew me to Nevernight.

Initially, I thought the book would be like Throne of Glass but it was more than that. It starts off with Mia who is a teenage girl but is filled with anger and hate towards the man that destroyed her family, turned her into an orphan and her sole desire to kill him. But she wants to learn how to kill him. Mia is smart and witty but she also has her weaknesses, I enjoy scenes with Mia and her shadow familiar Mister Kindly the dynamic reminds me of Kiki and Jiji from Kiki’s Delivery Service minus the witches and broomsticks, and add poison, death and sex.

The writing was a little hard to get into when I first started reading the book, I wasn’t too keen on the additional information of the world which ended up me DNFing last year but I was able to get past it this time and enjoyed the book. I am still quite surprised that this book was categorized on Goodreads as Young Adult which I think it’s not. To me, it’s quite explicit when it comes to the graphic sense of death.

I am looking forward to Godsgrave, I interested in learning a lot more about Mia and the reason why she is the only one to have a shadow familiar. I hope that with whatever happened at the end of Nevernight, that there would be more depth and more vengeance for Mia. I am very intrigued by how the series continues.

I hope you are having a lovely day

xx

 

Book Review | The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn #2)

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Hey Everyone,

How are you?

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The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

Evil has been defeated…The War has just begun.

THEY DID THE IMPOSSIBLE, deposing the godlike being whose brutal rule had lasted a thousand years. Now Vin, the street urchin who has grown into the most powerful Mistborn in the land, and Elend Venture, the idealistic young nobleman who loves her, must build a healthy new society in the ashes of the empire.

They have barely begun when there separate armies attack. As the siege rightness, an ancient legend seems to offer a glimmer of hope. But even is it really exists, no one knows where to find the Well of Ascension, or what manner of power it bestows.

IT MAY BE THAT KILLING THE LORD RULER WAS THE EASY PART…

Published: August 2007
Published Editions: December 2009
Publishers: Gollancz
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction
Pages: 781

Format of Reading: Paperback

Goodreads Star Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Review

I read the first book in the series two years ago. I’ll try not to spoil as much of the second book but give you an idea of what the series is like.

The book follows a group of Allomancers, they are people who infuse themselves with metals. Each metal has a different effect on the Allomancers but they are only able to use one metal. But there is also the Mistborn, a Mistborn is someone who has a unique ability to use multiple metals at the same time.

Vin is a street urchin working under a vicious man, one day she is approached by a man called Kelsier, he can see how much of a talented girl she is and takes her in. Vin discovers that she is a Mistborn but also Kelsier is also one as well. Kelsier, or Kell, teaches her how to use her abilities while also making a plan to kill the Lord Ruler. The Lord Ruler has been on the land for a thousand years and Kell want to kill him, nobody knows how this man became to be who he is but he is not a good person.

This book continues on a year after the first book. A mist clouds the city during the night and Vin is very cautious. As much as I loved the book, I felt the relationship issues between Elend and Vin to be very cliche and ridiculous at times. I found Elend to be a bit annoying, mostly because of the role that he plays in the second book. I had hoped that he would already be well adjusted to it but it was disappointing to know that there was a very little effect from the end of Book 1.

I grew to enjoy the history of the Lord Ruler and the mystery of the Mist, I really enjoyed Oreseur a character that I had forgotten about in the first book but I was very intrigued by him in this one and I very much liked the bond that he had with Vin. Another character who stood out for me was Zane, from the very first introduction of the character I was very intrigued.

While I found the book to be quite political, it was something I wasn’t too keen on. I felt the other characters like Ham, Clubs and Breeze appearance to be very little in this book and I wanted to see more of the dynamic friendship that made me intrigue with them in the first book. I mostly enjoyed the Vin’s progression in this book, while she may be someone who prefers to be alone I liked how she was able to open herself a lot more and accept that she is a Mistborn and an icon to the people of Luthandel.

What did you think of the book? Let me know. XX

Book Review | A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge

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Hey Everyone,

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A Skinful of Shadows by France Hardinge

We See Ghosts. And They Are Drawn To Us.

Sometimes when a person dies, their spirit goes looking for somewhere to hide. Some people have space within them, perfect for hiding.

Makepeace has learned to defend herself from the ghosts that try to possess her in the night, desperate for refuge – but one day a dreadful event causes her to drop her guard.

Now she has a spirit inside her. The spirit is wild, angry and strong, and it may be her only defence when she is sent to live with her father’s cruel and powerful ancestors. But as she plans her escape to a country torn apart by civil war, Makepeace must decide which is worse: possession – or death.

Published: Sept 2017
Published Edition: May 2018
Publishers: Pan Macmillian
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Pages: 448

Format of Reading: Paperback

Goodreads Star Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Review

I had my doubts with this book, it was recommended by an employee by Waterstones and sometimes whenever an employee from the store I visit, they would recommend a book and I would just leave it on my TBR pile until I decide to give up on the book.

I have heard about one of her other book, The Lie Tree last year but I didn’t put two and two together. After reading this book, I definitely am purchasing the rest of her work because I was completely transfixed in this book and I couldn’t let it down.

But this book really surprised me, the writing was spectacular I felt that I was in that world with Makepeace, I love the young and innocent Makepeace, and I loved the character growth throughout the book. She became a stronger version of herself.

I loved the magical realism in this book, the interactions between Makepeace and the ghosts but also the family members being possessed with their ancestors, the description of the ghosts coming out of the body like a slithering snake. Oh my goodness, I loved it.

And to top it off with a cherry, I got an opportunity to meet France Hardinge. In my hometown with a collaboration with Waterstones and Timezone Tours, there was an offer of a Ghost Tour around my hometown and I learnt a lot about my hometown. And I got my book signed by the author. EEEPPP! And she even asked if I would like a goose, which I obviously said yes.

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Book Review | Strange The Dreamer by Laini Taylor

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Hey Everyone,

How are you?

I have an amazing book to gush about today. But AHHH! It’s snowing outside and I am loving it ( I am writing this the day before just in case you were curious). Recently I have been a little obsessed with watching 24-hour read-a-thons more specifically Zoe by ReadbyZoe. I am just amazed that she was able to read It by Stephan King during the whole video. I am interested in taking part in her next one but I’ll have to see if I am free from work to do it.

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Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

The Dream Chooses The Dreamer

Since he was five years old, Lalo Strange has been obsessed with the mythical lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to go in the search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself – in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors – and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

What happened in Weep to cut it off from the world? What did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?

The answers await in Weep, but so do many more mysterious – including the blue-skinned goddess who visits Lazlo’s dreams…

Published: March 2017
Published Edition: March 2018
Publishers: Hodder Paperbacks
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult

Pages: 532

Format of Reading: Paperback

Goodreads Star Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Review

Lazlo Strange has always grown up in the Library and being fascinated with a town called Weep or the Stolen City. He believes in magic and monsters, he recites fairytales but they are only in his interpretation. I found Lazlo to be like myself, always head in the clouds and a nose in his book. His deep passionate fascination of Weep makes everyone around him think that its silly. And yet a chance encounter with the Godslayer and an opportunity to stand beside this hero that he has known in books but also visit the town that he has dreamt of for years.

My first interpretation of this book was that I though Lazlo has the ability to go into peoples dreams, I think the title just threw me a bit. But it is more about this dreamer who learns that not all stories from books are the truth. The introduction to the blue-skinned people really intrigued me, you have Sarai who has an amazing ability involving moths which I am considering of getting a tattoo of and the rest of the other blue-skinned people with all their abilities which I have to say is a breath of fresh air when you learn about their skills.

I remember reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone two years ago loving the writing and the world building and yet again Laini does a fantastic job. Her style of writing is amazing and very enticing, she is someone that gives a new look to fantasy compared to many other authors. I am even more excited for the next book in this duology.

I love how this book is created, I want to find a way to jump into this world and explore more like Lazlo, I loved learning more about the history of Weep how it became to be known as and also learning about Sarai and her friends, and why the world justice is perceived in different ways (I don’t want to go into more detail of Sarai because it is really major spoilers – if you have read the book you cane message me through my social medias and freak out together about that ending. IT CAN’T END THAT WAY!)

I don’t do predictions of books in the series because I am just excited to just get into the book and not expecting anything because that might ruin the book for me. I am excited for the next one and I hope that Laini will release another series soon.

I hope you are having a lovely day

XX