#re3 - Mister Monday

This is going to be my last bookish post before my two week break and my themed month. And, of course, it's a reread.

Although, not really. I was reading something else. But, I got a good 150 pages in and I wasn't feeling it. Sometimes, you just don't click with a book at that moment. And I didn't click reading that book - though I do have plans to return to reading it in the future once everything has calmed a little down.

I had an itch to read Garth Nix. I was thinking of rereading books from his Old Kingdom series, to get myself ready for Goldenhand, out later this year. But after reading the prologue of Lirael, I changed my mind. Not sure why, but I picked up Mister Monday instead. I always had an itch to reread this series (though I have never read Drowned Wednesday).

On the first day, Arthur was meant to die of an asthma attack. Instead, Mister Monday and Sneezer appeared and changed all that. Now, Arthur can see a House that no one can see. Now, there are dog-faced men trying to catch him, trying to steal something Mister Monday gave to Arthur to protect himself from the Will, whatever that is.

Seven days. Seven keys. Seven sins. Seven virtues. One House. But is Arthur up to saving the House, but the his world as well...?

It's been a while since I had read this series, so I was going to back with a vague memory of this book. Not a complete memory, but I wasn't working in blind. But there were things in this that I read a went "Oh yeah! I forgot about you!"

This series is older middle-grade so it's very different from the Old Kingdom which is very much older YA. So little scenes that would be more graphic was much simpler (not a bad thing, mind). Plus, while I would class this as fantasy, it's a mix of genres - steampunk, for example, is dotted here and there.

And I forgot how nuts this series is. It really is mad on fantasy and magic. And this is book one. We get use to this as the series goes on, but in this first book, it's a little shocking and, for poor Arthur (and for us), overwhelming.

But I missed this world. I forgot how much I enjoy this! And I feel the itch to continue rereading this series. So, after my themed month is done and dusted, looks like am going to reread two series for the rest of the year. Brace yourselves, dear reader. It's going to be one weird ride!

eNovella Review - The Crown and the Arrow

Ok, I only downloaded and read this eNovella because of two reasons. The first was that it's a prequel to The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh and I keep seeing this book online and people gushing over it. Plus, it sounds like something I think I would enjoy so decided to take the plunge and try this out.

The second was it's free. What better way to figure out if you are going to like a book series than trying out a prequel novella that is free?!

Seventy one days and nights have passed. Seventy one brides that Khalid has had killed. This dawn marks the arrival of Khalid's seventy second bride. But this bride is different. Not only did this bride volunteered but, when they first meet, Khalid is shocked by the look of hatred that he receives from his new bride...

Why does she hate him so much? And why isn't she afraid of dying, when everyone knows that she will be dead by next sunrise? Khalid has never entered his wife's chamber before... tonight is going to be different...

Ok, am going to say it. THIS IS VERY SHORT! I read it within 10 to 20 minutes, it's that short. Yes, I know it's free and I shouldn't complain but its length surprised me.

Plus, the eNovella is basically what you have read above, taken from Khalid's point of view. This is a scene from The Wrath and the Dawn, told not from the main character but from someone else in the room. If you have read the book, this would be very interesting for you.

But, if you haven't, as such as myself, it might come across confusing. All the questions asked weren't answered (because they are answered in the main story and the main character that this eNovella is told from knows all the answers already, but hate them so never reference/explain himself), and there were little hints. But it's very open ended. Like I said before, this is a scene from The Wrath and the Dawn, told from other character's point of view.

However, this does intrigue me. I liked the writing style and I am curious over why Khalid takes a bride, only to have them killed a few hours later.

I know this duology doesn't have a UK publisher, to my knowledge, but if I see The Wrath and the Dawn in bookshops, I might pick it up and find out more. Might being the word here. I'm not completely sold on it as of yet, so I await book bloggers/vloggers I trust opinions on it before I go any further...

Harry Potter News!

It's been a busy few days in the Harry Potter world.

First was the news that, within the first four months of being available on Audible, Harry Potter has sold one million copies. This is going across Audible.co.uk, Audible.com, Audible.de & Audible.com.au.

But this came within hours of the cover of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - illustrated Edition being unveiled by Bloomsbury UK and Scholastic USA, and with exclusive images being shown on Pottermore.com.

Now, I don't own Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - Illustrated Edition (and I call myself a fan!!!), but I just wanted to show you guys the cover and point out the audiobook news so... well... the fandom isn't dead yet! And with this only the start - we have Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them both coming out later in the year... well... Busy time for us lot!

Anyway, here is the cover!

Ok guys, what do you think? Do you like? Do you hate? Do you think it's too similar to the original UK children's cover? Leave a comment down below as am very intrigued over your thoughts and feels on this... 

Book Review - The Austere Academy

I'm still not sure why I am still not saying that reading/rereading this series is my year long challenge.  It seems to be turning into something I want to read by the end of this year and, let's face it, am doing a pretty good job of staying on track with this series. 

And as you might know if you have read my #re3 of The Miserable Mill, this is the first book in this year long unofficial challenge that I haven't read, so was going into this quite blind. I didn't even google what the word "Austere" meant (See? We book bloggers aren't as smart as we fake ourselves to be!) till I was quite close to the end of the book. 

In this, the fifth book of the series, the Baudelaire orphans are sent to the boarding school which was mentioned in pasting in The Wide Window, Prufrock Preparatory. And, while the three make new friends within Duncan and Isobel Quagmire, this don't mean their lives turn for the better. They are forced to sleep in a shed, with crabs, weird fungus and hideous wallpaper. There's a bully of a vice-principal and a bully for a class mate. And, of course, Count Olaf in disguise, after the Baudelaire fortune... 

This is a weird one for me. I have faults with it - it's repeating the same pattern as the previous books in the series (and while that's ok, I wish there was more) and the story feels a bit flat with some characters. 

However, this seems to be the book that really starts the series off. We met characters - Isobel and Duncan Quagmire - who seem to be in the same situation as Violet, Klaus and Sunny - and I liked reading them. Plus, it's these two characters who give an important piece of information that will now be the driving force to the series, I hope. 

This was a fast read (I read this over two days - Good Friday and Easter Saturday. Well, I had to read something to get over the shock/despair my heart was feeling after reading Half Lost!) and I think because I am much older than this series's target audience, if that's why I am reacting the way I am to it. I sped through and then find things that bother me when, I know, that if I discovered this when I was eight or ten years old, I would have devoured it! 

But am going to keep going with this series. Why not? I'm in this far! Ok, onto book six, The Ersatz Elevator!

Book Review - Half Lost

As you guys are probably aware, I fell in love with this series last year. I became a little obsessed with it and, because I binge read the first 2 books and one eNovella, I fell into a book slump. So, yes... I had to get my hands on this, the final book in the series. I HAD TO!!! I was going to buy it, hunt it down and panic read. So, when the lovely Megan from Reading Away The Days tweeted that she had a copy and wanted to give it to someone, George of George Lester fame suggested me and I went on full on "I WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER IF YOU GIVE ME THIS BOOK!" tweets. So, my huge thanks to George for suggesting me and a big thank you hug to Megan who I have probably scared with my tweets (and me asking questions about Sookie Stackhouse - it's a series I dip in and out of that I really want to investigate and read!)

After the devastating events at the end of Half Wild, Nathan is running again. The Alliance of Free Witches has all but been destroyed, but they have a plan. They need Nathan to go talk to a witch called Ledger to get half of something that could help me take down Soul and his Council.

But war is war. And not everyone will survive.

I shouldn't have read this so soon after Frail Human Heart by Zoe Marriott. Reading two books which are the end of trilogies I love is too much for my poor heart.

But Half Lost. Ok, am saying this right now, but this book destroyed me. I forgot how much I love Sally Green's writing and I forgot how quickly I fell into this world. I had to force myself to read slow so I didn't power-read it! And this book... oh, this book did feels to my poor heart. It's a breathless read and there were moments I was holding my breath. Or moments where I was going "Nonononono!!!". (George knows this as I was DMing him on Twitter after I finished the book, SCREAMING IN CAP LOCK!!!)

There are some trilogies out there (am not going to name names) that should look at Half Lost as THIS is how you end a trilogy. This book gets it right on the money. I trust Sally Green (as you should with any author whose book you are reading - otherwise, why are you reading the book?) and Sally wrote Nathan's story her way - unflinching and never afraid to take the tough route - and I love her for that. I love how the book is raw, dark unflinching but has moments of softness, kindness and love (only to rip these moments into tiny pieces in front of your very eyes...)

This series is definitely a marmite read - you are either going to love it or you are going to hate it. I love it and I am already itching to reread the whole trilogy again. And I am watching Sally's Twitter feed for any news on her next project. But this trilogy... wow. Just wow.

Tiny RSM Announcement

I was going to post this on the 1st April, but I didn't want to post it and then tell you guys that it's not an April Fool's joke.

The last two weeks of next month, I am going to take off. I won't be blogging from 15th April (ish) to the very end of the month.

No, WAIT! Don't react like that! I have reasons!!!

Ok, this could be seen as a tiny blog break - I do believe tiny breaks are good for the blog, you guys and myself and I will probably have another blog break before the year is through.

But my main, true reason is that next month (May 2016), I am doing a themed month. Which means I will be trying to get ahead of myself and give you a good mix of stories, linked to the genre I am going to dive into throughout the course of May.

I'm not going to tell you what genre as I want it to be a surprise, but if you follow my Twitter/Pinterest in the next few weeks, you might have an idea. But I want this themed month to be the best I can give to you guys so am going to give myself these two weeks to try and read/audiobook a lot of stories.

Probably a bad idea but yes, am going to try!

But don't worry. You have me for the next two weeks so you can't get away from me that easily! But forewarned is forearmed.

So, before we carry on like nothing has happened, here is a gif of a cat wearing bunny ears and looks not so thrilled about it. Well... it was Easter a few days ago...

Scholastic's #BloggersBookFeast 2016

So yesterday was a little manic.

I say that with love, but it was manic. I woke up early (other half decided to do overtime and Bagheera demanded hugs). Then I got scared because my Twitter @ reply box was filled. Did something awful happen?! WAS I HACKED IN THE NIGHT?! No, Friday's #UKYAChat was talking book bloggers and bloggers and people were being kind about this blog. THIS BLOG GOT LOVE!!! Yes, I have moments when I don't think my blog is good/smart/funny/savvy enough but reading your tweets were lovely so thank you.

Sidetracked there. So, because of the joys of trains, drove to London and got tube. Only to have maintenance work on the tube. DAMN IT, LONDON! LET ME LOVE YOU!!!!

But, somehow, from pure stubbornness and me head banging to my iPod, I got to Scholastic! And I met fellow bloggers and vloggers who I haven't seen since last year and discovered some new bloggers/vloggers that I am now following on Twitter!

After being moved into a boardroom and grabbing tea and coffee (I drunk 1 coffee and 2 teas while I was there. Publishing peeps know how to look after us!), Scholastic got excited and the lovely hosts (there were a few so sorry if I forget names but Lucy, David, and Rachel are names I remember!) got excited and started to wet our reading appetites with books that will be coming out in the next few months (Just you're aware, I'm not going to mention them all, but am going to mention a few that I think you need to get on your radar [aka Books I want to read THIS VERY SECOND!])

The first needs no introductions. The Sleeping Prince by Melinda Salisbury is the sequel/companion novel to The Sin Eater's Daughter, the fastest selling debut novel of last year (go Mel!). I haven't read this series (I apologised to Mel about this so she doesn't break bones!) and I have no idea why as this series sounds right up my street! In The Sleeping Prince, Errin knows the tale of the Sleeping Prince. Every hundred years, he awakes and wrecks horror and bloodshed. But what if he was real... what will Errin do then?

The Shadow Queen by CJ Redwine is a dark reimagining of Snow White. Inspired by the movie Snow White and the Huntsman (where CJ was hugely disappointed over Snow's character - SOMEONE ELSE WHO UNDERSTANDS MY REACTIONS TO THIS MOVIE!), CJ decided to rewrite the tale where two strong, complex and total badass characters go head-to-head in epic fashion. No dwarves in this retelling, oh no! We have seven dragons! SEVEN DRAGONS!!! I LOVE DRAGONS!!! WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME THAT?!

If I didn't mention The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater, I think you guys would attack me! The fourth and final book in the Raven Boys series, this promises to be an epic conclusion. As I haven't read Raven Boys (or Sinner. And Scorpia Races), I need to get my rear in gear and play catch up!

Defender of the Realm is a rumoured 3 book series from the BAFTA & Emmy nominated writing duo, Mark Huckerby and Nick Ostler. Alfie just wants to be a normal teenager. Not to much to ask, right? Expect, he's not. His dad is the king of the United Kingdom so normal doesn't exist. But when his father dies, he has to learn quickly not only how to be king but Defender of the Realm, a superhero who has to protect the world from monsters, villains and goodness knows what else! Fans of the Skulduggery Pleasant series and superhero movies might want to keep eyes peeled on this one...

There's a load of debut novels are coming out this year, but the one I think you guys NEED to get on your radar is Lying About Last Summer by Sue Wallman. Compared to 13 Reasons Why and We Were Liars (I need no more selling. I am SOLD on this!), the story follows our main character, Skye, who goes to camp to cope with her grief. And she seems to be coping. Until the text messages from her sister start. Which are impossible, as her sister died last year in a swimming pool. Suspect everyone, trust no one...

After the book talk, some of the authors chatted about their books. Mark Huckerby and Nick Ostler made us laugh, as did Beth Garrod (another debut author who's novel, Super Awkward, which promises to make us laugh and cringe in equal measures), while Sue Wallman made us all a bit teary-eyed (she made one of the Scholastic crew cry over what inspired her to write Lying About Last Summer).

After this, we had a talk where authors, editors and designers chatted about writing, editing and designing book covers. Authors (this included all mentioned above & Eve Ainsworth, author of 7 Days and Crush) talked about writing, how they cope with the pressure of fans (we're a scary bunch!) and advice they would give to themselves in terms of writing and being published.

Editors then chatted about editing and how they edit manuscripts, while designers talked about how they design the covers for each book. One of these was the new Hunger Games covers - the "Flaming" Editions. One design of these wasn't accepted as it didn't feel like the right covers for the UK audience but was picked up by Scholastic in Australia (and when I tweeted pics of these, they got a lot of love!)

And after this, we had a Hunger Games mastermind quiz. Which was hard. Very hard. And someone, my team was joint second! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?!

And that was it. With tote bags full of books (we book bloggers/vloggers are vultures! Never say "Here are some free books", publishers. We will take them all and leave that room gutted!), back onto the tube that dislike me. But on the plus side, I saw my grandparents for a quick cup of tea and my grandparents are cool so it was worth it!

My thanks goes to Scholastic. Thank you for hosting this lovely event and thank you for inviting me!

And now, I have a tiny surprise for you. I am hosting a tiny #BloggersBookFeast contest. I managed (without anyone at Scholastic noticing) to grab a few extra copies of a few titles (one of which has been signed! GO AUTHOR/AUTHORS!) and one of you guys is going to win them. These are delicious books and I hope you love them.

Oh, you want to know what they are? Nope. Let's keep that as a surprise for the winner, shall we?

Book Review - Frail Human Heart

I've had this book, the third and final book of the Name of the Blade trilogy by Zoe Marriott since last summer. Yes, since last June-ish time. And I love this trilogy. If you have read my reviews of The Night Itself and Darkness Hidden, you know how much I love this trilogy. I adore it and compare it to Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunters series.

So why, I hear you ask, did I not read it when I got the book (and got Zoe to sign it and begged her to tell me if there were any deaths so I can brace my soul - yes, I did. I also told her that I trust authors when I read books. I just don't trust the book. [I'm weird. I know this and I accept this]) back in June 2015?

Because, I didn't want to. I love this series and I didn't want it to end. I didn't want to say goodbye to these characters or this world. Plus, what happens if something awful happens to a character I love? Will it be like when I meet Cassandra Clare when City of Glass has just come out and I said to her "If Alec and Magnus don't get together, I don't know if I can forgive you"?

Enough of my panic, let's talk Frail Human Heart. After the devastating events in Darkness Hidden, Mio doesn't want to carry on. How can she is that means putting the people she loves at risk? But she must. With the final battle between gods coming to a head and London being their battlefield, Mio is the only one who can end it. But how far is she willing to go to end this war? What sacrifice is she willing to make?

I am going to say this now: I do love this series. I think this is one of the coolest urban fantasy series I have read in recent years. And because I love this series, I had to numb myself to Frail Human Heart hence my reactions might not be as OTT as you all might be expecting.

It's a strong finale. The world building and the events leading up to the final dramatic conclusion are wonderful. Zoe knows how to write action and keep the pacing strong, while writing small, private moments. There isn't a dull or boring moment in any books within this trilogy. You will keep turning those pages, needing to know what happens next. And because I loved the previous two books, I returned to this world really easily, as if returning to an old friend.

Maybe because I took a long break away from this world, but there was one or two times I think that some people might not like how Zoe wrapped everything up and left things hanging. I fear some of you guys might find this a little too clean compared to other final books in series out there.

But this is a strong satisfying end to a series I love. Fans of Cassandra Clare need to get this series in their lives and I will be reading the two Zoe Marriott's I have on my TBR shelves (The Swan Kingdom and Daughter of the Flames) before the release of Zoe's Beauty and the Beast retelling, Barefoot on the Wind and her rumoured Mulan retelling (which I am VERY excited to read!).