Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Waiting on Wednesday #694

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

THE COURTING OF BRISTOL KEATS BY
MARY E. PEARSON

Goodreads Description:

From NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Mary E. Pearson comes a thrilling romantic fantasy full of dangerous fae, dark secrets, and addictive romance-- the first book in a duology.

After losing both their parents, Bristol Keats and her sisters struggle to stay afloat in their small, quiet town of Bowskeep. When Bristol begins to receive letters from an “aunt” she’s never heard of who promises she can help, she reluctantly agrees to meet—and discovers that everything she thought she knew about her family is a lie. Even her father might still be alive, not killed but kidnapped by terrifying creatures to a whole other realm—the one he is from.

Desperate to save her father and find the truth, Bristol journeys to a land of gods and fae and monsters. Pulled into a dangerous world of magic and intrigue, she makes a deadly bargain with the fae king, Tyghan. But what she doesn't know is that he's the one who drove her parents to live a life on the run. And he is just as determined as she is to find her father—dead or alive.

Format: 547 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: November 12, 2024 by Flatiron Books
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

Another book that is already out, but that I recently got as a Fairyloot book. <3 And I think it sounds pretty awesome :D I'm curious about it. I think I could love it. And so I shall read it one day, ha :) Hope I love it.
What are you waiting for on this dangerous Wednesday?

Monday, February 3, 2025

Review: A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

This was a book that I simply had to read again. It has been just over a year since I first read it. And I loved it so much back then. As always, I was a little nervous that I would not love it the same this second time. But I did. Oh, how I loved this story. It is still so precious to me and I adore it to pieces. It's a big favorite of mine.

This second time I shall not write such a long review. And I am going to talk less about the plot and more about my feelings for the story. Just how much I loved this book. I am beyond excited to start reading an eARC of the sequel next. It's going to be truly amazing. The writing in this was fantastic. I had no issues with it.

And what I loved most about this book is that it is a romance. In a way. It becomes a romance, at least. The growing relationship between Effy and Preston was the sweetest thing. I loved them together so much. They argued at times. But it was the cutest. I loved how well they fit together. How it then grew into something more, despite the place they were in and all that was happening around them. I loved how honest they both were. How they both cared and just getting to know them both. Effy starts out as such a broken girl. Trying her best to live her life, despite not getting to study what she truly wants to. She got taken advantage of. That hurt so much, reading those memories come back to her. Not as bad as it could have been, thankfully. But bad enough.

But oh, how I loved Effy. She was broken, yes. But she was perfect. I loved all the broken parts of her. I loved how she finally started to heal a little. How Preston helped her get better as well. She did change a lot. Became a little more confident, I think. I can't wait to see more of it in book two. She was so hurt. And I very much wanted to see those who hurt her get hurt back. Hmph. I want to see more of her mother, just so I can see her in pain as well. What she did to Effy was not okay. And she deserves some punishment.

But yes. Effy was all kinds of awesome. I loved how she was such a fangirl for her favorite book. How she knew everything from it. It was so lovely to read about. And Preston. Sigh. He was such a good person. I just loved him to pieces. And it hurt me a whole lot to read about what happened to his dad, and how that still hurt him. They both had trauma. And I love how they were both able to help each other from it. I really hope there is more of that in book two, ack. Now I'm getting more nervous about reading it next. Excited.

There is so much I could write about this book. But I'm trying to keep it short. I loved how this world was a little magical, despite being fully ordinary. I loved how it seemed a little old-fashioned, not set in our time. It made me love it more. I very much loved the old mansion they were staying at. Effy trying to figure out how to fix all the broken parts. Preston hunting for a mystery. I so loved how it was almost falling into the sea. The whole atmosphere of this book was incredible. I loved it so very much. It was written very good.

This book was also about the Fairy King. How he was just a story to some. But how he was more to Effy. How he was in her most favorite book and how he suddenly started to appear in her life more often. I so loved how it was all connected. I did not like this Fairy King. I liked how it didn't seem like I was supposed to either. He was not someone that Effy saw in her dreams that she wanted there. He was a nightmare to her. But I very much loved that whole storyline. All of it was very interesting and fascinating to read about.

I liked how this ends with this world about to change. How it might end up with women getting stronger. At least, it felt like it. This book was set in a world where men were in charge of most things. Only they could write books. I love how Effy wants to change that and how she is starting to. I loved how a certain person was alive at the end of the book, when I thought it was just a ghost. I also loved how that person started changing things too. Most of all I just loved everything about this one. The magical feeling it had. Loved it.

There is honestly just so much that I loved about this book. Effy and Preston were so precious to me. And I cannot wait to read more about their epic romance in book two. Eee. I'm hoping for lots of kisses. Lots of affection and love. There was much in this. But I want even more, ha. They are simply the best together. I cannot wait to learn more about the world in book two as well. So excited for it all. And I am honestly just so happy that I still loved this book to pieces a second time. It still ruined me in the best ways. Do read it.

 

Saturday, February 1, 2025

In My Mailbox #691

How is it already another Saturday? Ahh. Time is moving so fast. In some ways. But I am glad January is finally over :) Also, eeee! Happy Birthday to my lovely girl. <3 My cat is 12 years old today :D Such an old lady. Yet still thinks she is just a baby. <3 I started my re-read of A Study in Drowning this week, and I will finish it by tomorrow. Loving it so. Then reading the sequel as an eARC next week :D I have been a little better this week. Somewhat. I'm not sleeping the best, but I'm doing okay. Got a bit of lovely mail. <3 And just doing the best that I can :) Watched more Marvel movies with my nephew, finally some that I had yet to see, ha. This week I'm waiting on A Language of Dragons :D Hope that you are all doing well lately. <3

Fairyloot YA. January edition. Cruel is the Light. This actually looks all kinds of awesome. Hope I love it.
Fairyloot Adult. January edition. Immortal. This one also looks all kinds of gorgeous. I really hope I love it.
Movies. Got some new blu-rays for my collections, ha :) I still haven't actually seen any of these yet, ack. Excited about Inside Out 2 and The Garfield Movie and Migration and Wish. <3 They all seem awesome.

More Instagram photos here. <3

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Waiting on Wednesday #693

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

A LANGUAGE OF DRAGONS BY S. F. WILLIAMSON

Goodreads Description:

EVERY FIRE STARTS WITH A SINGLE SPARK.

Welcome to Bletchley Park… with dragons.


London, 1923. Dragons soar through the skies and protests erupt on the streets, but Vivien Featherswallow isn’t worried. She’s going to follow the rules, get an internship studying dragon languages, and make sure her little sister never has to risk growing up Third Class. By midnight, Viv has started a civil war.

With her parents arrested and her sister missing, all the safety Viv has worked for is collapsing around her. So when a lifeline is offered in the form of a mysterious ‘job’, she grabs it. Arriving at Bletchley Park, Viv discovers that she has been recruited as a codebreaker helping the war effort – if she succeeds, she and her family can all go home again. If she doesn’t, they’ll all die.

At first Viv believes that her challenge, of discovering the secrets of a hidden dragon language, is doable. But the more she learns, the more she realises that the bubble she’s grown up in isn’t as safe as she thought, and eventually Viv must decide: What war is she really fighting?

An epic, sweeping fantasy with an incredible Dark Academia setting, a clandestine, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, and an unputdownable story, filled with twists and turns, betrayals and secret identities, A Language of Dragons is the unmissable debut of 2025, from an extraordinary new voice.

Format: 480 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected Publication: January 2, 2025 by Harper Fire
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

This book came out earlier this month, but I got it as a Fairyloot exclusive a little after that. And ahh. I am very curious about this book. The Fairyloot edition is all kinds of stunning. This sounds like an interesting book too. I'm going to have to read this book one day, ha :D Hoping it will end up being fully awesome :)
What are you waiting for on this extraordinary Wednesday?

Saturday, January 25, 2025

In My Mailbox #690

Ugh. Another hard week. I'm having trouble sleeping, which sucks. But at least my cold has gone away, at last :) So I do feel a little bit better. I had another hospital visit this week, which was kind of a waste of time. But I had a great day with my sister, which I loved. I read an shorter eARC this week, which I did not love, ack. And starting a new book shortly. A re-read. Which I'm a little nervous about. What if I don't love it as much this second time? Ahh. I'm so worried. But I think I will still love it. Did not get a lot of mail this week, though I got a couple of lovely books. <3 I managed to take more photos outside for Instagram as well, so I have enough photos until February 11th, which is good. I'm just fully exhausted lately. I'm trying my best, though. And hoping to feel better soon. I shared my review of Gloam :) This week I'm waiting on Wild Reverence :D Hope you are all doing well these days. <3 I'm still waiting for winter to be over, ha :)

A Monsoon Rising. Fairyloot edition. <3 I still haven't read book one. Oops. But now I own both. So pretty.
Sound the Gong. Paperback edition :D I so loved this duology. This paperback version is so gorgeous :)

More Instagram photos here. <3