Review: Graceling by Kristin Cashore

For so many years now Graceling have been my most favorite book of all time. That is still the case. I can't believe I again let it go over three years before I re-read it. Almost four now. This was my sixth time reading this book. And I am so happy that I finally read it again. Because it is still my favorite. It is still fully perfect.

And that makes me the happiest. I will not be writing such a long review of this precious book. As I am sure I have already said it all before, many times. I just cannot stop loving this story. And I cannot wait to re-read the next two books as well, before at last getting to read Winterkeep, a brand new story. Beyond excited.

There is so much I could write down about this book. But that would take me forever, and it would mostly just be me fangirling over every part of this book that I love. I can't believe it has been nine years since I first read this perfect book. And I'm so thrilled that I still love it just as much as I did then. The writing is still so amazing. The characters still take my breath away. I love them all so much. And the story is still all kinds of epic and dangerous and so very good. The romance still kills me the most. Katsa and Po are the perfect couple and I just love them to pieces. Reading about their growing romance was the best to me. Reading about Katsa fighting things was all kinds of incredible too. So loved the scene with the mountain cat. I loved their sea journey.

I will not go over the plot of everything this time. Will only share a little of my favorite things. Starting with Katsa and Po. Them meeting and getting to know each other was the best thing. Seeing them becoming friends, training their fighting together, it was fully good. And then becoming something more. I shipped them the most. And their romance was perfection. It starts early in the book, and I was thankful for that. Reading about the two of them together was my most favorite part of the book. I just love them so much.

But getting to know them was also incredible. Katsa has the Grace of killing. At least, that is what she thinks. I loved her getting to know herself better, trusting herself more. It was so good to read about. I loved her friends too. I loved learning about Po, and the secret of his true Grace. Which was incredible. Simply loved these two characters the most. Then they meet the young Bitterblue. She was so fierce and small, and I loved her so. Their friendship was the best thing too. So much bad happens. My poor heart.

The sad parts of this book still killed me. When they had to leave Po behind. It broke me. And it was so good. And learning about King Leck, and his powers over his kingdom. It still kills me how awful that was. And how much worse it will become in Bitterblue. Such a well written story and villain. This whole book was perfection to me. And I will never stop loving it. Shall not write much more about it. Just that I very much love this world created. I love these characters so much. Hope Katsa and Po will be in Winterkeep.

Okay, a small confession. I once again took so long to re-read this amazing series because I still have hurt feelings over a small thing that happened years ago. There is so reason why I should be hurt by it at all. But I am. And it is so slow to go away, probably because I'm a Taurus, and we hold our grudges until we die. Yeah. But I am slowly making myself get over this small hurt. I am not letting it make me dislike my most favorite book. It's just making me re-read them less than I should. How rude. I must get better.

But finally made myself start reading them again. And I am so happy that I did so. Graceling is still my favorite book of all time. It is still the one that makes my heart race. Okay, I might love Fire just as much, but will know that for sure once I read it again in a moment. If I might love it more than Graceling. But I do not think so. They are both perfection, though. And I'm just so glad that this series exists. If you still have not read this most incredible book then you are for real missing out on the best adventure. Go read this.

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Waiting on Wednesday #484

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

SPARROW RISING BY JESSICA KHOURY

Goodreads Description:

Jessica Khoury brings her masterful world-building and emotional depth to a brand-new fantasy series. In a world where everyone is born with wings, stone monsters prowl the skies, hunting those who dare to fly too high.

In the Clandoms, everyone is born with wings, with tight-knit communities formed around bird types: Jay, Falcon, Crow.

Ellie Meadows dreams of growing up to join the Goldwings -- the famed knights who defend all the people of the Clandoms. It was a Goldwing, after all, who saved her life on that terrible day her parents were killed. There's just one problem: Ellie is a Sparrow, and the Goldwings are almost invariably picked from the higher clans like Eagles and Ospreys. This rigid hierarchy means that Ellie is destined to become a farmer.

Determined to honor her parents' memories and prove herself worthy of the Goldwings, Ellie sets out on her own for the capital. But her journey will be dangerous. Foul creatures called gargols lurk behind every cloud, ready to slay anyone unlucky enough to be caught outside in a storm -- just as Ellie's family was.

Soon her path intertwines with a colorful band of fellow outcasts, each with their own aspirations... and their own secrets. Ellie's new friends offer not just roadside companionship. They'll challenge her ideas of right, wrong, and what truly makes a hero.

Hardcover, 288 pages

Expected publication: July 6th 2021 by Scholastic Press
Pre-Order here and here #ad

Eeee. I am so very excited for this one :D Such a huge fan of Jessica and all her books. She's amazing. And this new middle grade looks gorgeous. And sounds so awesome. I am thrilled that it will be a trilogy. And I just cannot wait to read this stunning book. I know that I will love it so very much. Beyond excited.
What are you waiting for on this soaring Wednesday?

In My Mailbox #480

Hi. Another week gone by, so very fast. I'm still just trying to take it easy. Playing Animal Crossing each day, and pokemon go, still, and it is the best. Spends time with my family all the time too, which is the best. This week I finally managed to read a book. Eee. Okay, super short, but still counts. I'm in a bit of pain at the moment, but doing well despite this. This week I'm waiting on Winterkeep. <3 I shared my review of Serpentine :) Okay, such a short book to read, but still good. And I'm starting my re-read of Graceling next, eee. I cannot wait. So very excited. Got zero books in the mail this week, but waiting on many, so hopefully next week. Hmm. Taking forever to arrive at the moment. But yeah. I'm doing okay, mostly. Pain, always, but good too. Though my psoriasis is bad. Ugh. Hope you are all well and safe. <3

Taylor Swift: evermore. Eee. Finally got my two copies. <3 Got the clean edition too, just to own it, ha.
Totoro. I saw this in a local store here. And I had to get it. A most adorable drinking flask :D I love it so.
Ring Fit Adventure. Okay, this might not be for me, but I really really wanted to try it, so I had to buy it. Oops. It looks like fun :D I just know that I am veeery weak. But still going to try my best, ha. Hoping it'll make my arms stronger. Hoping I don't have to jump, as my place is not built for jumping. Ha :) Excited.

More Instagram photos here. <3

Review: Serpentine by Philip Pullman

There was no way that I would not be reading this newest Lyra short story by Philip. And I finally had the chance to do so. As with his other ones, this was so very short. Which was a little sad, as I would have loved to stay in Lyra's mind a little longer. But it was still such a great short story. I did love it very much.

Giving it five stars. Too short, though. But perfect even so. And the illustrations by Tom Duxbury were incredibly gorgeous. So many of them too, mostly of Lyra and Pan. Pretty. Since it was so short, I'm only sharing a little bit about it. I am such a huge fan of the His Dark Materials trilogy. It's simply the best series.

I loved La Belle Sauvage too. Still not happy about The Secret Commonwealth, though. But I still have hope that book three will be better, that it will make the second one better. Oh, how I hope. It can go a very wrong way too, which I very much hope not. Because of my love of these books, of course I needed to read this very short story too. There is little happening. It takes place one year after Lyra's Oxford, so when she is a teenager. She and Pan have travelled north again. I liked reading about how the north had changed, after the war. It is not the same. We get to see more of Lyra and Pan together, and they are the cutest. Already starting to grow apart, which I still do not approve of. I'm still angry. It better be ten times better in book three. Hmph.

Nothing much happened in Serpentine. It was a gorgeous little book. With stunning artwork. The writing was amazing too, which is always the case with books by Philip Pullman. I just wish it had been longer. But even so, I loved this little peek at teenage Lyra and Pan. Loved learning a little more about the north again too. If you are a fan of this trilogy, like I am, then I very much think you should read this adorable small book too. I just wish there will be news about the third Book of Dust soon. My heart is so worried.

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Waiting on Wednesday #483

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

WINTERKEEP BY KRISTIN CASHORE

Goodreads Description:

Something is rotten in the heart of Winterkeep...

Four years after Bitterblue left off, a new land has been discovered to the east: Torla; and the closest nation to Monsea is Winterkeep. Winterkeep is a land of miracles, a democratic republic run by people who like each other, where people speak to telepathic sea creatures, adopt telepathic foxes as pets, and fly across the sky in ships attached to balloons.

But when Bitterblue’s envoys to Winterkeep drown under suspicious circumstances, she and Giddon and her half sister, Hava, set off to discover the truth–putting both Bitterblue’s life and Giddon’s heart to the test when Bitterbue is kidnapped. Giddon believes she has drowned, leaving him and Hava to solve the mystery of what’s wrong in Winterkeep.

Lovisa Cavenda is the teenage daughter of a powerful Scholar and Industrialist (the opposing governing parties) with a fire inside her that is always hungry, always just nearly about to make something happen. She is the key to everything, but only if she can figure out what’s going on before anyone else, and only if she’s willing to transcend the person she’s been all her life.

Hardcover, 528 pages

Expected publication: January 19th 2021 by Dial Books For Young Readers
Pre-Order here and here #ad

Gosh. Suddenly realized that I had yet to share about this most perfect looking book on my blog. What even. I haven't done cover reveal posts in so long. And have missed out on sharing about many books. Oops. So I forgot about this one too. And oh my gosh. I'm so very excited for Winterkeep. Eee. Graceling is still my most favorite book. That whole trilogy is perfection. And this is pretty much a direct sequel to Bitterblue. And I cannot wait at all. Okay, I have waited forever already, and now it's almost out. Eee. I must re-read the Graceling trilogy first, though. Which I suddenly realized I have not done in four years in a couple of months now. What even. I love these books so so much. Sigh. Must re-read shortly. Anyway. This cover is gorgeous. And the new trilogy covers looks amazing too. I am so excited about this book :)
What are you waiting for on this mysterious Wednesday?