In My Mailbox #695

It's been another hard week with sleeping. Sigh. And I'm itching everywhere. Shudders. And my shoulder is such a mess of pain. Sobs. But I'm doing okay. The best that I can :) Still doing my short daily walks. <3 Still able to daily play pokemon go and animal crossing new horizons and animal crossing pocket camp :) This week I also read a book, which I'm happy about. <3 I'm hoping to start another one this coming week sometime :) I got a bunch of lovely mail, ack. <3 So much precious :D I just hope my health starts getting better. Getting a new dose of the medicine next week. Fingers crossed. This week I'm waiting on Broken Dolls :D And I shared my review of She Waits for You Beyond the Dark. <3 Hope you are all doing well :)

The Mortal Instruments Graphic Novel. Part 8 :D One day I shall be reading these gorgeous editions. <3
Disney Store Plushes. Eee. The Aristocats. <3 Missing one, getting it later on. These are so precious :D
Funko Europe. I know. More pop figures. Oops :D I failed again to get the Bilbo chase. Sobs. I have tried once more. Will know on monday. Please let me get him this time. Love the Alien 3 ones, eee. Had to get them. Too cute. No new mystery mini; I'm only missing Anna. Love the Lady and the Tramp. <3 Precious.

More Instagram photos here. <3

Review: She Waits for You Beyond the Dark by Kristen Simmons

Of course I had to give this sequel a try, to know what happened after the ending of book one. I'm glad that I read this, that I know how it all ends. But I'm disappointed to say that I sadly did not like it much. The ending was good. But I had no feelings at all for it. A two star, like the first one. I didn't hate it, but I did not like it either.

It shall not be easy to write down my thoughts for this book. As I have many of those. I so wish I could have loved this sequel. I'm sad that I'm giving it the same rating that I gave book one, a year and half ago. But it is my honest thoughts. And I wish it had been better. There were parts that were great and that I enjoyed a lot.

But then there were all the other parts that I just did not care for at all. I did not actually like any of the characters. Maybe just that one villain from the other world, the guy with all of the spiders. He was pretty awesome. But the others I did not love at all. I did not feel any of their emotions. I did not care what happened to them. And that is not a plus at all. I liked learning about this extra world. I did not like the real world at all. I liked the creatures. But I found none of it to be creepy or scary I do not get why I did not care for this book. I just found it hard. I wanted to love it, I really did. But I sadly did not. Maybe it was the writing. I had some issues. But still. It was not that bad. I didn't re-read book one before I started, but I peeked, and somewhat read the important parts.

This book starts one month after Find Him Where You Left Him Dead ended. They managed to save Ian from Meido, got him back home again. But they lost Dax back there while doing so. I was happy that Ian was back home with his family. He seemed like a sweet boy. The beginning of this book focused a lot on the unspoken romance between Ian and Owen. I did like them together. But it was a little silly to me too. They had been apart for four years. And I felt like they should have gotten to know each other again first.

Then there was Maddy and Emerson. Back to being best friends. And I just did not understand it at all. Sigh. And Emerson had a whole lot of issues too, believing that Maddy would leave her and that she did not care. This happened a lot in the book, so it ended up being a bit too much for me. I did like when she got past it, but found that whole part to be all kinds of silly and weird, where that took place near the end of it all. I did like Emerson, though, for the most part. Did not like how she seemed to hate Dax. So rude.

How they all seemed to hate Dax. Because they learned what he truly was. But even so. The rest of them became friends again so fast. And yet they are hating on Dax for something he could not control. I did not approve. And it made me dislike them all. Except for Maddy. She loved him. But that was so very rushed that it hurt my heart a little. Still. At least she cared. And Dax was the person that I liked the very most in this series. His past was heartbreaking. And I loved it so much. He got a little weird in this book, though.

I'm not going to write too much about the plot of this book. Like the first one, it takes place over one day only. Which I liked and did not, haha. I do wish there had been a longer time, where the characters got to spend more time together and actually get to know each other. I missed that. With everything taking place in just one day I felt like it was all too rushed. All the feelings, all the things that happened. It would have felt more real for me, I think, if it had been a little slower. Maybe. Or I wouldn't have liked that either, haha.

The story is that the empress did not die in book one. She is now inside of Ian and she's using him to get back to life again. And so to save Ian, Owen agrees to another game in Meido, to find three pieces of an item. This is not a good thing to do. But so they are all sucked back into the game. But it is different this time. I did like all the changes and the games. I just didn't care. It took them forever to find Dax again. So rude. I liked that one guy from book one with all the spiders. He was crazy, but pretty awesome as well.

I honestly wish this book had been more scary. I do suppose it is meant to be scary. But I didn't feel it, not once. Which makes me sad. There was a game that happened in a spiral. Where they had to die several times to try to win it. And I just did not care. It wasn't dramatic or epic or anything. Made me feel nothing. Sigh. Then there were all of the characters and their emotions. I did not feel any of them. Dax had some anger, and it was so silly to me to read about. And Emerson with her alone issues. Still I wanted to care.

I think one of the things that bothered me most about this was how great friends they were supposed to be. As I didn't get that at all. None of them spoke together for four years. They were best friends before that. Then so many years of nothing from any of them. And then they spend about a day together in the game, in Meido, And now they are all best friends again and Maddy and Dax are so very in love. I didn't buy it, sadly. I guess that is also why it was hard for me to connect with these characters and this story.

But even though She Waits for You Beyond the Dark was not a book for me, I still very much adore this author. I have read and loved several of her books. This duology just ended up not being for me. And yet I do think many others will love it. I just could not. I'm glad that I read this final book, though, as I usually do not when I don't like book one. But I wanted to see how it all ended. So I'm happy that I did, even if I wasn't in love with the book. Parts of it were great. And it's a story I will remember, even so. Give it a try.

Goodreads - Blackwells - Amazon US - Amazon UK

Waiting on Wednesday #697

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

BROKEN DOLLS BY ALLY MALINENKO

Goodreads Description:

Author of Ghost Girl and This Appearing House Ally Malinenko brings to life a terrifying middle grade novel about a girl learning to grieve her grandfather and the creepy antique dolls in his house that seem to come alive, perfect for fans of The Doll in the Garden.

One. Two. Three. Are you ready to play?

Ever since Kaye's grandfather died, she's been obsessed with counting the steps to her bedroom, the dolls on her sister's bed, even the threads on her favorite blanket. It's arithmomania, and with the selective mutism that sometimes prevents her from speaking, she literally can't find the words to talk about how she feels now that Grampa is gone. When they take the summer to clean out and renovate his old house, Kaye finds herself counting the days.

That is, until her younger sister, Holly, starts finding dolls. She finds them buried in the backyard, stuffed in the walls, crammed into the closets. From the first one, Kaye knows they aren't like normal dolls. They smile at her like they know something, and sometimes their eyes open and close on their own. Kaye hears her sister talking to them constantly—and she swears she's heard the dolls whispering back.

Everyone assumes that Holly's just a kid with a good imagination. Kaye doesn't think it's a game, because she knows that Holly—and the dolls—are going to make her play with them. Forever.

Format: 288 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: September 30, 2025 by HarperCollins
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

This cover is just all kinds of lovely and creepy. And so I have to have this book, haha :D It also sounds pretty great too. I'm a little nervous, since I just lost my grandpa. This might be too painful for me. Yet I still want to read it. Hoping it will help more than hurt. Fingers crossed. It sounds like such a great story.
What are you waiting for on this broken Wednesday?

In My Mailbox #694

Suddenly another week gone by. How rude. Yet I'm so glad that time is moving fast. There is very much coming up in the next few months, and I am both excited and nervous. Just want it over with, haha :) This week haven't been the best. I still have trouble sleeping after quitting my sleeping pills. But still do wish to stay off them. But yeah. It's hard. And I keep waking up so very often. Sigh. Been having bad headaches too; so bad that I puked in the night a few days ago. Which sucked. Feeling a little better now, but yeah. My health really sucks these days. Hoping it gets better soon :) I got a whole lot of pop figures this week, ack. <3 So much awesome. I'm planning on starting a new book tomorrow, which I'm excited and nervous about. Also spent this week re-watching all the Alien movies, oops. Just had to. <3 I love them so :D This week I'm waiting on Wake the Wild Creatures :D Hope you're doing well. <3 Better than me, at least, ha :)

Empire of the Damned. New UK paperback. Of course I had to get it for my way too big collection, ha :)
Cirque du Freak. New edition :D Been so long since I read these. Must re-read one day. Loved them so.
Beth Revis Swag. Eee. Thank you so much Beth for this latest Patreon swag. <3 It is so very precious :)
Jellycat Plushes. Look at those tiny Bartholomew plushes :D Eee. I love them so. One tiny, one keychain.
Funko Europe. Oh. They got too many new pop figures lately. Ahhh. I had to get them all, haha. <3 Love the new Pokemon ones :D And finally more The Lord of the Rings, eee :D They are all awesome. Some extra Bilbo and Eowyn.. as I failed to get the chase versions. Sigh. I'm going to try again, though, haha :D

More Instagram photos here. <3

Waiting on Wednesday #696

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

WAKE THE WILD CREATURES BY NOVA REN SUMA

Goodreads Description:

Already one of the most acclaimed novels of 2025, this extraordinary, timely, and must-read novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Nova Ren Suma explores young women's freedom and rage as Talia plots her way back to her hidden mountaintop home after her mother's arrest for murder.​

I reached the clearing with the seven white pines and stopped to get my breath back. The mist filled my lungs, peppery and also sweet, and momentum pushed me forward. Giddy, I dropped into a bed of moss, soft and slick in spots, and rolled in it, howled for no reason, felt close to an understanding of some kind, as if an eye inside me was peeling open. It was the first full moon after I turned thirteen, and I knew that whatever happened in this next stretch of hours would change me forever after.

I wasn’t wrong.

Three years ago, Talia lived happily in the ruins of the Neves, a once-grand hotel in the wilds of the Catskill Mountains, with her mother Pola and their community of like-minded women. Some came to the Neves to escape cruel men, others to hide from the law, but all found safety and connection in their haven high above civilization, cloaked by a mysterious mist that kept intruders away. But as their numbers grew, complications followed, and everything came crashing down the night electric lights pierced the forest. Uniformed men arrested Pola, calling her a murderer and a fugitive, and Talia was taken away. 

Now sixteen, Talia has been forced to live with family she barely knows and fit into a world scarred by misogyny, capitalism, disconnection from nature . . . everything the women of the Neves stood against. She has one to return to the Neves. But as Talia awaits a signal from her mother, questions arise. Who betrayed her community, and what is she avoiding about her own role in its collapse? Is it truly magic that keeps the hotel so hidden? And what does it mean to embrace being her mother’s daughter? With the help of an unexpected ally, Talia must find her way to answers, face a mother who’s often kept her at arm’s length, and try to reach the refuge she lost—if the mist hasn’t swallowed her path home.

Fierce and lyrical, unsettling and tender, Wake the Wild Creatures marks the long-awaited return of one of the most distinctive voices in young adult literature.

Format: 384 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: May 6, 2025 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

Ohhh. I am SO excited about this book :D It looks gorgeous and sounds so awesome and different and magical. I just know that I will love it lots. I have read and loved three books by Nova before, now over ten years ago. What. I am so glad she is having a new book out. I just know that I am going to adore it so :)
What are you waiting for on this wild Wednesday?