Friday, July 31, 2020

Review: One True King by Soman Chainani

I have waited years to know how this series would end. To know if all the heartbreak and pain was worth it. To know if the happily ever after I was waiting for would come. To know if Agatha would get the ending she deserved. Finally all the waiting is over. And I am so happy to say that it was worth it. I loved this one the most.

Giving this precious five stars, of course. As it was everything I had hoped it would be and more. I was nervous about this final book. That it would not be everything I had wished this would be. But it was. Very much so. This story has meant so much to me. I know I will be reading them again. I'll never stop loving them all.

There is so much that I loved about this final book. I will not be able to write it all down. But I shall try. But do know that I loved every part of this most precious book and I cannot wait to read all the books again and again in the future. They are so perfect. As always, the writing is so good. The illustrations are precious and perfect. I love how they fit with everything. The covers are fully perfection. I love them to pieces. This was a book about a boy becoming a king. About him learning how to trust himself, how to behave like a king. It is about a girl learning to trust her prince, learning how to not lead everything by herself. It is about another girl trying to find her happy ending, after so many bad loves. About her learning how to fight for herself and everyone.

This book was full of secrets and twists coming to light. Some were all kinds of obvious, but some I did not see coming too. And they were all awesome. This book is about Tedros trying to become king. Trying to kill the Snake, Japeth. King Arthur left behind a second, secret, will. With three tests to decide who the real king would be. And gosh. These three tests were all kinds of interesting and exciting. And dangerous. So many dead characters. Ahh. But I loved reading about it all so very much. So thrilling. And so fully evil.

There is so much to share about this story. Will not mention too much about what happens. But my gosh, how exciting it all was. Tedros and Agatha trying to win the tests. Sophie trying to get free from the snake, who was controlling her. It was so sad to read about. But so good too; Sophie was amazing. More scenes with Merlin, all awesome. I just completely loved reading about Agatha and Tedros together. Their love is the strongest. And the friendship with Sophie and Agatha. The very best. I love them all very much. Sigh.

Everything about this book was perfect to me. Okay, I may have wished for more Agatha scenes, haha. And a little more romance between her and Tedros. Yes, they are in love, but I wanted to see even more of this love. Sigh. I guess that is why this is a middle grade series. Hmph. Still. The romance is very much perfect. And I love that the most. Agatha had to learn some lessons in this book. Which broke my heart a little, as I loved how she always took control over everything. Oops. But I also loved her growing up more.

There was a lot of scenes with Sophie and Hort. And I loved that so very much. I may have shipped them for ages. But worried if it would ever happen or not. We learn the answer to that in this book. And I loved it so much. Sigh. I loved how Sophie grows in this. How she cares more for others, putting them before herself. Yet still loving herself the most too. She was just way too precious. An evil witch at times, but so good at heart even so. Her friendship with Agatha was truly the best thing. They are so perfect together.

There was just so many amazing characters in this book. I cannot mention them all. But oh gosh, how I adored all of them. Hester and Anadil and Dot is still the most perfect witch coven. I love how they take care of each other. I loved learning more about Dot and her past. I loved how Hester and Anadil were a couple. They were adorable. I loved reading about all the first years. And all of the new characters. Only thing I wish is that there had been a real epilogue. A long one. There is so much I still wish to know. Ack.

I am so very excited and nervous about the Netflix movie deal. It is the best place this movie could have ended up, I think. But gosh, how I am nervous. Worried that they will ruin it. But so very hopeful too. They better cast the most perfect Agatha. I just cannot wait to know more about it all. Though nothing can ever replace my love for the books. But really hoping the movie will make me love them both. Fingers crossed. But yeah. What I really want is for Soman to write more books in this world, with these same characters.

But I also know that this was the end for them all. Everything closed, for the most part. There does not need to be more books. But gosh. How badly I want more, ha. I just love these characters and this world way too much. I only have one thing to complain about. And that is how messed up time is in this book. So many things do not make sense at all. Almost like Soman forgot what he had written, lol. I noticed it many times, how the years are not right. Like Hester and old Hansel and Gretel. It made no sense at all.

But still. This did not make me love this book any less. Oh. And one more thing. I felt like maybe there were a bit too many deaths in this book. Oops. I don't mind many dead characters at all, but there were so many important ones that ended up dead in this book. Ack. What bothers me most is how they never speak about these deaths. Like when Agatha's mom died. They haven't mentioned it since. I wish there had been more grief. Sure, they do not really have time, but I wish it had been there. Made it more real.

And yet. One True King was everything I wanted this final book to be and more. So full of adventure and danger and romance. The most beautiful friendships. The most perfectly written characters. All so flawed and so perfect. You all need to read this series too. These books are fully worth it. And should be read by all ages. I am so happy that I started reading these books years ago. So happy that I found them and fell in love with them. And so thrilled that I still love them all the same. Which is with all my heart. Perfection.

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Cover Reveal: The Island by C. L. Taylor

Today I'm sharing the cover for The Island by C. L. Taylor, coming out in January 2021 :D And this cover looks all kinds of awesome. And the book sounds pretty great too. I'm curious about this one. And hoping that I will end up loving it :) Thank you to Lily at HarperCollins UK for inviting me to take part in this cover reveal day. <3 You should all check out this book too. Sounds like it's going to be pretty awesome. Buy it.







Lost meets The Hunger Games in the thrilling new young adult novel from C.L. Taylor, the Sunday Times and million-copy bestselling author.

Welcome to The Island.
Where your worst fears are about to come true…

It was supposed to be the perfect holiday: a week-long trip for six teenage friends on a remote tropical island.

But when their guide dies of a stroke leaving them stranded, the trip of a lifetime quickly turns into a nightmare.

Because someone on the island knows each of the group’s worst fears. And one by one, they’re coming true.

Seven days in paradise. A deadly secret.

Who will make it off the island alive?

Waiting on Wednesday #459

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

CITY OF SPELLS
(Into the Crooked Place #2)
BY ALEXANDRA CHRISTO

Goodreads Description:

City of Spells, the follow-up to Alexandra Christo's gritty YA fantasy, Into the Crooked Place, finds the world on the brink of war and four unlikely allies facing sacrifices they had never imagined.

After the loss of Wesley and the horrifying reveal that Zekia is helping the Kingpin of her own free will, Tavia, Saxony, and Karam flee to Saxony's home to rebuild their rebellion. Meanwhile, trapped in the Kingpin's darkness, Wesley must fight against the deadly magic that invades his mind and find a way back to his friends before it's too late.

As the Kingpin's dark magic spreads and his army conquers Creije, these four unlikely friends have to decide just how far they’ll go―and how much they are willing to sacrifice―to win.


Hardcover, 384 pages
Expected publication: March 9th 2021 by Feiwel Friends
Pre-Order here and here

Oops. I still haven't read Into the Crooked Place. Ahh! But I own all the editions of it, haha. <3 And it looks so gorgeous. And sounds awesome too. And I can't wait to read it. But I shall wait. Wait for this stunning sequel to come out first, ha :D So that I can read them both together. So yeah. Really excited for City of Spells. <3 As I very much adored the first book that Alexandra published. Which was so very magical. <3
What are you waiting for on this gritty Wednesday?

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Review: A Crystal of Time by Soman Chainani

So happy that I have finally been able to read this precious book for the first time. I was in a bad reading slump back when it came out. And was not able to make myself re-read the first books. And so I waited for the final one to be out too. Now I have finally read this too. It was so worth waiting for. Five stars for this perfect one.

There is much to say about this. I shall try to control myself, ha. I just loved it so much. And so glad to finally have read a new book in this most perfect series. We learn so many new things. Yet so much is still to come. I cannot wait to get started on the last book. Though I don't want this series to end. Wish there would be more.

As always, the writing is perfect. I never have issues connecting with these books by Soman. Or falling in love with his characters. Sigh. Or having my heart broken by all of them. Hmph. This book was so rude. And so perfect. I loved every moment of it. Though it was so full of pain at times. Though those moments may have been my favorite ones. There is still stunning artwork at the start of all chapters. And it is still beyond perfect. The artist for these books are the very best. And I love them all so very much. All the drawings fit so well with the story and the characters. It's amazing. I cannot get over how very much these books are. How much I love these characters. How much I adore reading about this world. And learning all of their struggles. I love it tons.

This book takes place right after the ending of book four. And takes place in less than two weeks. Which was all kinds of crazy and awesome. Agatha was the only one to escape from the new king, Rhian. While all her friends was taken to jail. With her prince sentenced to die. With her best friend being tricked into marrying a monster in two weeks. Agatha had to run. She had to find help to save them all. But oh gosh. This book was full of complications. And I loved every moment of it. So thrilling and exciting and evil too.

We get to read so much about Sophie in this book. And I loved that too. So very much. Agatha is still my favorite, always. But I grew to love Sophie even more in this one. She is so complicated. Evil at times. Yet good at heart too. Which is why I love her so much. Everyone always doubts her. With good reason, most often. But not in this one. In this book Sophie was doing good. I loved reading about her trying to save her friends. Reading about her choosing her friends over saving herself. Sophie grew up so much in this one.

There is very much going on in this story. Agatha on the run, trying to find a safe place. Ending up at the School for Good and Evil at the end. Planning rescues with the first years and teachers. Which I loved so very much, eee. Agatha is the best. Then there was all of her friends in the dungeons. Tedros got beaten up. Which was so sad to read about. I love that boy. The rest of them were not doing much better. But my gosh, how I love all of them. The coven. Hort. Nicola. Willam and Bogden. I adored those to pieces. Eee.

Then there was Sophie. Who we get to see so often. As she is living with Rhian at Tedros's castle. With Rhian taking over everything, remaking the whole castle to fit him. It was so heartbreaking to read about. And then there was Sophie. Being a captive in this castle. Hoping she would get free. Trying her best to trick them. Not really succeeding. But gosh, how I loved this girl. Sigh. She did so much in this book and I loved every moment of it. Love how much she has grown. Hope it will still be the same in book six, haha.

But it was not only Rhian she had to stay safe from. There was also the Snake, not actually dead like they all thought. And not actually an enemy. Since he turned out to be Japeth, twin brother of Rhian. The very much evil one of the two. I hated him beyond words. Gosh. He did so many bad things. He killed and hurt so many people. It was the worst. Yet he was written so well and was an awesome villain, ha. Though I'm dreading reading book six to find out what else he might end up doing. Shudders. A great villain, though.

There is just so much I could say about this book. It was so heartbreaking at times, but so very hopeful too. I loved the king of the gnomes and their world. I loved the Sheriff, though I hated him in the last book. Rude. I loved reading more about Dean Dovey and her crystal ball. About Agatha learning how to use it. So good and so dangerous too. There is so much going on in this book. And I loved every second of it. I shall not say much more. Just. Gosh. This story is so very good and I could not have loved it any more.

A Crystal of Time was everything I wanted it to be and so much more. The series is full of adventures and magic and the most perfectly flawed characters. I love them all to pieces. I cannot wait to know how it all ends next, finally. Okay, fine. I have peeked. But only at the very end. I know nothing more. Very excited. Eee. This series is truly the best. So exciting and painful and so real. Every heartbreak was worth it. I so loved all the twists and secrets. And I cannot wait to learn even more. You must read this series already.

Saturday, July 25, 2020

In My Mailbox #455

This week have been good. So busy, but good. I am reading faster, finally. And loving my re-read of this series so much, eee. Finally on book five, which I had not read :D So excited. And a little bit of mail this week too :) Which I'm so happy about. Sigh. Love my books. But gosh, I really do not have room.. sobs. How rude. We have had rain for days, but now finally sunny and warmer again. So will be spending more time outside again, finally :) But also reading. And trying to do other things. Oops. But no time. No energy. Sigh. As always, hoping my health will get better. Anyway. A few new blog posts this week :) I shared my third review of The Ever Never Handbook. <3 This week I'm waiting on The Project :D Eee. I shared my second review of Quests for Glory :) I'm doing my best. Corona is still not big in Norway, and no cases in my town. So still safe. For now. I hope you are all staying well and safe. <3 I am happy to be okay so far.



The Lord of the Rings. Oh. When I saw this, I had to order it. Finally own big copies. Must read one day.
The Unready Queen. Finally got my copy of this gorgeous book, eee :D I love this series so very much.
Games. Eee! I have not had time to play yet, oops. But SO excited for these. Especially for Paper Mario :)


More Instagram photos here. <3

Friday, July 24, 2020

Review: Quests for Glory by Soman Chainani

Finally got to read this a second time. And gosh, I had forgotten how much this book hurts. How rude. It's so good. But so full of pain at times. It's the worst. But also the best. I am just so happy that Soman decided to write more books about these characters. Sigh. I can't wait to finally get to read the final two books as well.

But oh. This book hurt my heart. It takes place six months after the end of book three. With Sophie as dean of Evil. With Agatha and Tedros having moved to Camelot to rule as king and queen there. But things are not going very good for them. And reading about it all was so heartbreaking. But so good and I love it all so.

The writing is perfect, as always. The illustrations are still fully gorgeous. And the covers are still blowing me away with beauty. Sigh. So precious. I still love this world the very most. I love the fairy tales and all the characters. I love the magic and danger. It is all so exciting and thrilling to read about. Most of all, I still love Agatha more than anyone. And she's still in pain in this book too. Hmph. So not fair at all. They arrived in Camelot six months ago. With Tedros about to be crowned king. But this did not go as it should have at all. Everything went wrong. First his speech. Then the test his dead father had given him. He was unable to pull his sword, Excalibur, out of stone. It would not move for him. He tried it so many times. And so he was not crowned king at all.

And this gave a whole bunch of troubles for him and Agatha. Hmph. They spent six months ignoring each other. He did not ask for her. He did not go to her. She was all alone in a new place without the comfort of her prince. I am still a bit angry about all of this, haha. I still really really hope that Tedros will finally make it up to Agatha in the next two books. Agatha deserves the world. And he treated her so badly in all of this book. I am not pleased. Yet I still adore Tedros very much too. And I ship them more than anything. Sigh.

But yeah. This book was also about their classmates back at school. During their fourth year, they were all sent on quests to prove their worth. All of them should have been easy to get done. But they have all been going badly for the students. And so Agatha and Sophie are sent to rescue the students and look for what is causing all the trouble. It begins with a dead boy. Which was all kinds of sad. But then we got to read about all the other characters too. And I love them all so very much. Sigh. I love their friendships.

Hester and Anadil and Dot. The most perfect witch's coven. Dot is still the best person of all of them. But I love them all the most. And Hort. Sigh. Poor Hort. I do adore him. But he deserves so much more. There was a new character, Nicola. Whom I loved a whole bunch. A little unsure about her at first, but I grew to love her very much. I fear her ending will be bad. Ack. Many other characters are in this book too, and I just loved reading about them all. Especially Tedros's mother. She is fully complicated and I love her tons.

This book was about a Snake in the woods. A villain out in the woods causing trouble and hurting people. Killing people too. And he want to take over Camelot. To prove that he is the worthy king of them all, not Tedros. The story about all of this was exciting and interesting. So many plot twists and secrets. I loved them all. But gosh, reading this book again made me so nervous, haha. As I knew the ending. I wished it would not happen again. Oops. But it did. And now I am even more excited to finally get to read book five.

Then there was Sophie. She and Agatha are still such good friends. I love that so very much. Although Sophie is all kinds of complicated. I still love her, though. But yeah. Sophie was way too trusting when it comes to boys. You do not agree to marry someone you met a couple of days ago. Ugh. I just. I adore Sophie. But her falling on love with Rhian that fast was not okay. She should be way more careful and way better at reading people. So much happens in this story. Most bad things, ha. But all written so well.

There is so much I could say about this book. But I shall not say much more about it. My thoughts are a mess right now. I'm just so happy to finally be reading these books again, to finally get to know how it all ends. I cannot wait for it. Quests for Glory was such a perfect fourth book. Full of issues and pain and so much amazing. It was everything I could have wanted it to be. Okay, I always want more of Agatha and the love she deserves, haha. These books are pretty close to full perfection. You need these in your life.

The Snake become the Lion and the Lion become the Snake.

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Waiting on Wednesday #458

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

THE PROJECT BY COURTNEY SUMMERS


Goodreads Description:

The next pulls-no-punches thriller from New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author Courtney Summers, about an aspiring young journalist determined to save her sister from a cult.

"The Unity Project saved my life."

Lo Denham is used to being on her own. After her parents died, Lo's sister, Bea, joined The Unity Project, leaving Lo in the care of their great aunt. Thanks to its extensive charitable work and community outreach, The Unity Project has won the hearts and minds of most in the Upstate New York region, but Lo knows there's more to the group than meets the eye. She's spent the last six years of her life trying--and failing--to prove it.

"The Unity Project murdered my son."

When a man shows up at the magazine Lo works for claiming The Unity Project killed his son, Lo sees the perfect opportunity to expose the group and reunite with Bea once and for all. When her investigation puts her in the direct path of its charismatic and mysterious leader, Lev Warren, he proposes a deal: if she can prove the worst of her suspicions about The Unity Project, she may expose them. If she can't, she must finally leave them alone.

But as Lo delves deeper into The Project, the lives of its members, and spends more time with Lev, it upends everything she thought she knew about her sister, herself, cults, and the world around her--to the point she can no longer tell what's real or true. Lo never thought she could afford to believe in Lev Warren . . . but now she doesn't know if she can afford not to.

Welcome to The Unity Project.


Hardcover, 1st Edition, 352 pages
Expected publication: February 2nd 2021 by Wednesday Books
Pre-Order here and here

EEE! I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK. My gosh. Courtney writes the best books. The worst books. Hahaha. They are all eeevil. But so goddamn good. And I cannot wait to read this newest one. I need it in my life already, though. Hmph. Sounds thrilling and kind of creepy too. I cannot wait to learn more about this cult. And get to know another amazing girl written by Courtney. Sigh. Also, it looks fully gorgeous. <3
What are you waiting for on this thrilling Wednesday?

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Review: The Ever Never Handbook by Soman Chainani

Reading this book for the third time was a must after I finished re-reading the first three books in this series. And I am so glad I read this precious thing again. It took longer than I remembered, haha. But so worth it. It is a book that shares details about going to the school for good and evil. A handbook about surviving it all.

And so not really a complete book with a story, but still all kinds of incredible. And I loved reading it again so very much. It is still perfect. And there is still so much to learn from reading it, which I loved. The writing is stunning, as always. It is filled with precious artwork. All of it completely beautiful. This book was fully unique.

In a very good way. There is so much to learn in this one. What happened to all of the characters after the ending of book three. Although a lot of this is changed after book four to six came out too. But even so. This handbook is a must-read for every fan of these books after having finished book three. It is all kinds of fun and exciting too. I so loved seeing artwork from every part of the school. The trial by tale. The snow ball. Many of the characters from the books. It was all so awesome. And the illustrations were simply too good. There were entries by Hester too. Which I very much loved. That girl was too amazing. We learn more about Sophie and all the others too. Which was also the best. I might be growing to love Sophie and Hort more, as I always do, ha.

This book shared details about the school for good and evil. It shared about the different classes the new students would take, which was not really included that much in the three books, since they were at war more than they were in classes. Learning more about it all was all kinds of interesting. I so loved learning more about what they all do after their third years. And learning that the students that would be animals and plants were not that upset about it, haha. And they got a second chance after book three, thankfully.

There is so much to love about this handbook. I shall not share more about it. But gosh, The Ever Never Handbook is a must-read for every fan of this series. It is so much fun and interesting and so good. And fully beautiful as well. It's a peek at what happened after the first three books. But then we got three more books, eee. Which is even better, ha. But this small book was still so very much worth reading. All of the drawings of the different creatures were my favorite part of this book, I think. All of it was simply amazing.

The Evil attack. The Good defend.
The Evil punish. The Good forgive.
The Evil hurt. The Good help.
The Evil take. The Good give.
The Evil hate. The Good love.

Saturday, July 18, 2020

In My Mailbox #454

Eee. I actually got some of my books in the mail this week, haha. Still waiting on more, but some have arrived, at last. <3 I'm still slow at reading, but have re-read one book. Making progress :) Just so busy with sister and her kids and everything else too. We also have warmer weather, finally, so spending time outside too. Though now rainy for ages, so maybe I'll have more time to read. Ha. A few new blog posts this week. I shared my fifth review of A World Without Princes :D This week I'm waiting on The Camelot Betrayal :) And shared my fourth review of The Last Ever After. <3 I'm doing as good as I can. Exhasuted but happy and safe. Worried about the rest of the world, though. I hope you are all staying safe and well :)



Aurora Burning. Finally got my AUS paperback edition of this book. <3 It looks gorgeous. Loved it so.
My Calamity Jane. I'm so excited to read this book soonish :D Loved the other ones by these authors. <3
One True King. Eee. Finally got my first copy, haha :D Could finally peek at ending too, haha. So excited.
Battle Born. Third book. <3 Must re-read book one soon so I can read them all :) They look so so pretty.
The Kingdom of Back. Thank you Beatrice for trading this with me. <3 I had to own this precious ARC :)
Supernova. Well. Have waited months and months for this one. Took two months this time. First time it never arrived, so they had to re-ship it. Now it has arrived squished. Ahhh. Still. Happy to finally own it :)


More Instagram photos here. <3

Friday, July 17, 2020

Review: The Last Ever After by Soman Chainani

Reading this book for the fourth time and I'm still as heartbroken as the first time I read it. Ha. This third book is still my favorite of them all. It hurts in all the right places. Although I'm not sure my heart can take more. It's also the book with all the best endings. For so many of them. It is a book filled with hope for the future.

At the same time as they watch their world almost be destroyed for good. There is so much going on this book. All of it exciting and interesting to read about. Agatha is still the most precious of them all, always. And Sophie is still fully complicated. I hated her the most in this one. Yet I still love her too, at times. Mostly.

The writing is still perfect, of course. Though I'm still confused about how time is working in these books, ha. It has not passed as much time as they are all claiming. Yet I don't mind this much at all. Too busy focusing on the amazing story. I shall not share too much about this precious book this time. Just sharing a little about how much I love it. It is the book that brings me the most pain. But it is also the book that makes me the most happy. All the Agatha and Tedros scenes are so good. First so painful and hurtful. Then so hopeful, precious, lovely and romantic. Their romance is the best thing. And the friendship between Agatha and Sophie is so good too. Though I may have wanted Sophie dead for most of the book. Oops. But even so. I loved her as well.

This book is about the war between the old villains and everyone else. It is about Agatha learning to love herself like she should. About her learning to set herself first at times, although she pretty much never do this. Agatha is the most good person in all of these books. And I loved her so very much because of this. She deserves all the love and all the happy endings possible. And I still want Tedros to give her the world. So fingers crossed for that in the next books, haha. I just. Agatha is the very best and I love her so much.

Then there was Sophie. Having chosen the young evil school master as her love. This does not go well. And Sophie changes so much. She gets so evil at times. It's heartbreaking to read about. As all she really wants is to be loved. Not to end up alone. But she chooses all the wrong ways to get her happy ending. She hurts many people. Agatha most of all. I will probably never forgive Sophie for trying to take Tedros away from Agatha. And not even feeling a little bit sorry about it. Hmph. Yeah, I am a little angry with her.

But gosh, how good this book is. We see more of the famous fairy tales. Meet some of the older heroes from those tales and their villains too. This book is so dark at times. I loved it so. It focuses on them all trying to save the fairy tale world from ending. Well, the good people trying to save it anyway. So many secrets are revealed. I loved the story about Sophie's mother. Heartbreaking but good. I loved learning everything in this book. So much is revealed. All of it awesome. How I love all of the side characters too.

I could probably talk about this book forever and ever. But not sharing much more about it. I just love it so very much. I love the relationships between them all. I so love the amazing friendships. I love the schools and the teachers. They are all awesome. Most of all I love reading about Agatha. Sigh. Though I feel like maybe the death of her mother should have been bigger, aka more grief. Still. It was still written so well. And I just love this world to death. I cannot wait to read even more about it. So excited for the next books.

The Last Ever After is still the most perfect book to me. Completely heartbreaking and evil. Fully hopeful and good. This book has it all. It still hurts my heart the most to read through the beginning. Agatha is in so much pain. It is the worst. But still the best too. Sigh. I simply love Agatha too much, haha. I cannot stand seeing her in pain. Hmph. But yes. This book still means everything to me. It is still my favorite of them all. Though I haven't read book five and six yet, so it might change. But I doubt it. This is perfection.

There is so much I love about these books. The gorgeous covers. I mean, come on. They are stunning. I love the illustrations in the beginning of each chapter. So precious. I love this fairy tale world. Adore these amazing characters and how different they are. I love that this is a story about good and evil. And how it's possible to be both at times. I'm so glad I found these books. So glad I'm reading them again now. I know that I will still read them again and again. If you still haven't started, you are missing out on the best story.

And because Sophie knew that deep, deep down, in the pit of her soul, Agatha was Good.
And when put to the test, Agatha would sacrifice everything to stay true to that Good.
Even if it meant surrendering her battle to win the war.
Even if it meant giving up her prince.
Even if it meant her prince giving up her.

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Waiting on Wednesday #457

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

THE CAMELOT BETRAYAL (Camelot Rising #2)
BY KIERSTEN WHITE

Goodreads Description:

The second book in a new fantasy trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White, exploring the nature of self, the inevitable cost of progress, and, of course, magic and romance and betrayal so epic Queen Guinevere remains the most famous queen who never lived.

EVERYTHING IS AS IT SHOULD BE IN CAMELOT: King Arthur is expanding his kingdom’s influence with Queen Guinevere at his side. Yet every night, dreams of darkness and unknowable power plague her.

Guinevere might have accepted her role, but she still cannot find a place for herself in all of it. The closer she gets to Brangien, pining for her lost love Isolde, Lancelot, fighting to prove her worth as Queen’s knight, and Arthur, everything to everyone and thus never quite enough for Guinevere–the more she realizes how empty she is. She has no sense of who she truly was before she was Guinevere. The more she tries to claim herself as queen, the more she wonders if Mordred was right: she doesn’t belong. She never will.

When a rescue goes awry and results in the death of something precious, a devastated Guinevere returns to Camelot to find the greatest threat yet has arrived. Not in the form of the Dark Queen or an invading army, but in the form of the real Guinevere’s younger sister. Is her deception at an end? And who is she really deceiving–Camelot, or herself?


Hardcover, 384 pages
Expected publication: November 10th 2020 by Delacorte Press
Pre-Order here and here

Confession. I haven't read book one yet. Ahh! But I own it. And I even own a personalized copy of it. <3 I just. Need to start it, haha. I got a little bit nervous when the author said there are three love interests. Oh. What even. Yet I'm still too excited about starting this series, haha :) Hoping to read book one soon. <3
What are you waiting for on this magical Wednesday?

Sunday, July 12, 2020

Review: A World Without Princes by Soman Chainani

Fifth time reading and still as good as the first time I read it. And even more painful, I'm sure. Ha. It is such a precious and special story. Yet the heartbreak is killing me. A little bit of drama. A lot of hurt. All amazing but so very painful to read about. I loved every moment. Sigh. This is such a great second book. Every part of it.

I admit that I was so nervous while re-reading this one. Because it is my least favorite of the series. Yet still five stars, always, and I still love it to pieces. But gosh. Some of the drama and betrayal just kills me. Hmph. Hard to read through. Good and well written. But gosh. The pain is real. And I would not have it any other way.

As always, Agatha is still my most favorite character. And I still love to hate Sophie, haha. They have been home in their village for nine months now, being best friends again. They are happy. Well, they think so. Until Agatha makes a wish for her prince. A wish for a different ending to her fairy tale. Which opens up their book again. And with people from the woods around their village trying to kill Sophie. Agatha want to take back her wish so badly, but it is too late. And, honestly, I did not blame her at all for wanting a different ending. Agatha changed so much from book one. From being all alone and thinking that she did not deserve a happy ending. To now feeling like a princess, wishing for her boy. And she deserves this happy ending more than anyone.

I very much loved reading about the girls back in their village. Reading about their families. How Sophie feels about her dad. It's kind of heartbreaking. But so good. And I love Agatha's mom. But they could not stay in the village. Those wanting Sophie dead kept destroying it, and so the elders took Sophie away, to give her to them. Those old men were such evil people. Hmph. But Agatha ran after them. Which ended up with them both back at fairy tale school. Now a much different school. The School for Girls and Boys.

Which was all kinds of awesome and weird to read about. I loved it so. There is so much going on. With Agatha wanting to be with Tedros. With Sophie wanting to stop them from sending her back home alone. So much pain and heartbreak yet so many good moments too. Everyone was different in this book and I very much loved that too. It was a little darker which was so good too. I just do not have words for how much I love this series and this book. The story is simply too incredible. Yet so fully rude and evil, always.

There is a different villain in this book. A new teacher. And I did not like her one bit. Hmph. But she is an awesome villain. How she fooled everyone. So rude. Then there was the whole plot about Sophie. She is most definitely evil. Yet she and Agatha keep thinking that she can be good. And so far in this series, she can not truly be good. She tries her best, but it is not possible. She keeps hurting Agatha. And it kills me so very much. I love their friendship. But I hate how Sophie treats Agatha. And it will get much worse. Ah.

I love how very much fairy tale this series is. With characters from the famous stories, their children in these schools. It was all so exciting and interesting to read about. I love reading about all of these lovely characters. Especially the witches. Sigh. They are simply too incredible. And I loved most of the teachers too. I did not like how they all treated Tedros for a while. Though, well, he might have deserved it all. Ha. There are so many plot twists in this book. So much happens. And I love reading about it. Sigh. So good.

Trying to figure out how time works in this series, though, is no easy thing. The characters were about fourteen close to fifteen in book one. Most likely. That book took place in three months. This book starts nine months after, so a year has passed. But this book only takes place in a few short weeks. What does confuse me are the school years, haha. How short are they? Hmm. But being confused about all of this does not really matter. Because I still love these books so much and I do not mind being confused at all.

A few things were simply too ridiculous. But this did not stop me from still loving this book the most, haha. But yes. Dot going from being super round to having a flat stomach, being said to have lost thirty pounds? That is way too few pounds. Not realistic. Same for Tedros having lost twenty pounds in one week? And looking bigger after eating one meal? Yeah, no. It also bothered me a little how they claimed to love each other so fast and be best friends so fast. It was all too fast. Yet I adored them all so. Did not mind it much.

A World Without Princes was still everything I wanted it to be and more. Okay, fine, I would have wanted more kisses, ha. But the story is fully good. I have read this book five times now. And I still love it so very much. Which is the best feeling. You all need to read this series too. It's simply incredible. Full of pain and magic and the best friendships. And the romance between Agatha and Tedros is going to be the very best and I can't wait to read about it all over again. Sigh. Though book three is the one that ruins me the most.

IN THE FOREST PRIMEVAL
A SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL
TWO TOWERS LIKE TWIN HEADS
ONE FOR THE PURE
ONE FOR THE WICKED
TRY TO ESCAPE YOU'LL ALWAYS FAIL
THE ONLY WAY OUT IS
THROUGH A FAIRY TALE

Saturday, July 11, 2020

In My Mailbox #453

Whoops. A second week with no books in the mail. Uuugh. But got one pop figure, haha :) But yeah. I am waiting and waiting on my books. Sobs. Been two whole months of waiting on one of them. Sigh. Over a month for most. Beyond annoying. I want my books. Hmph. Also, now we only get mail two days a week. Three days the week after. Instead of five days a week. So rude. Hoping this coming week will bring me lots of missing books, haha :) Plus side, I have read two books this week. <3 A bit slow going, but have started my re-read of The School for Good and Evil books. And I am so excited. Second review coming up now after midnight; have to write it first. So happy to be re-reading these books again. Sigh. Anyway. I got medicine again this week. First time in my own town. It went very well; and the place was so so nice. Back again in four weeks. Hoping I can always get medicine there. Fingers crossed. But I'm not feeling all that well not after getting it. Sigh. Hoping it passes soon. Two new blog posts. I shared my fifth review of The School for Good and Evil. <3 This week I'm waiting on Dustborn :D I hope you are all doing good and staying safe, always. <3 I am still doing my best :) We are finally getting some low summer warmth, haha.



Iron Man. I couldn't not buy this most precious thing. Love him so. Worst scene in all the movies. Uuuugh.


More Instagram photos here. <3

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Waiting on Wednesday #456

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



DUSTBORN BY ERIN BOWMAN

Goodreads Description:

Delta of Dead River sets out to rescue her family from a ruthless dictator rising to power in the Wastes and discovers a secret that will reshape her world in this post-apocalyptic western mashup for fans of Mad Max and Gunslinger Girl.

Hardcover, 432 pages
Expected publication: April 20th 2021
by HMH Books for Young Readers
Pre-Order here and here



That description shares way too little. Yet just enough too. Gosh. I cannot wait to read this gooorgeous book, eee :D I loved Mad Max: Fury Road so very much. And I adore Erin and her books. And so I just know that I am going to love this book the most. Also, how perfect is that cover? Click for bigger. LOVE.
What are you waiting for on this epic Wednesday?

Monday, July 6, 2020

Review: The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

Reading this for the fifth time and it is still every bit as precious to me as the first time. I'm always nervous before re-reading a book I have loved. Yet I had no reason to be nervous. As this was still so perfect to me. I still loved every single thing about it. Though, of course, it still ruined my heart at all times. Loved this so much.

The writing was perfection. Had no trouble connecting with these precious characters, again. This world created is still the best. I love this fairy tale world so much. The characters are all way too cute and evil at times. I could not have loved them more. And the plot of this book still kills me. Every time. Full of twists. So good.

I have probably already said everything there is to say about this book four times before, haha. Yet I'm still sharing my love for this story. Though I'm having trouble finding the words. I have waited so long for the final book to come out, and still haven't gotten my copy of it. Hmph. But I was still going to re-read the other books first. And I am so glad that I finally started. I was nervous, that I would not love it the same way. But I did. I very much still loved this book to pieces. It still made my heart ache and fill with love. Agatha is still my favorite of them all. And she always will be. I'm still angry at Sophie, ha. Yet I love her too. Tedros still needs to make things up to Agatha. Rude. Yet I love him too. Every thing about this book was precious to me. I'm so glad it is still so.

The School for Good and Evil tells the story of Agatha and Sophie. They are teenagers living in a small village, set far back in time, it seems like. They are best friends. Though only recently became friends, it seemed like. But they needed each other. Agatha was dark and quiet, hated by the village. Ignored by them, not having friends. Sophie was all kinds of stuck up and rude and did not have any friends either. They were so different. Yet they became friends even so, growing to love each other. I loved it so much.

This book is pretty much all about their friendship. How it came to be, and how it gets destroyed. It was all kinds of exciting and heartbreaking to read about. They have grown up reading fairy tale books. Knowing that every four years two children over age twelve are kidnapped into a dark forest surrounding the town. Never to return again. Until they show up in new storybooks, having lived through a fairy tale. Sophie had dreamed her whole life of being taken. Of becoming a princess, meeting a boy, having her own fairy tale.

Then the day comes and it is not so simple. Agatha does not believe in all of it. Until a dark shadow come from the woods straight for Sophie's house. It takes her, and Agatha runs after trying to get Sophie back. But she ends up being taken along with her. Both of them taken for the School for Good and Evil. Sophie is sure she is going to Good, that Agatha is destined for Evil. But this doesn't happen. Sophie get dumped in Evil and Agatha in Good. Which is what this book is about. If this was a mistake. If it can be reversed.

And gosh, how I loved this story. But oh, how it ruined my heart. It is fun and sad and full of heart. I love these characters so much. Agatha is my most precious one. She is so alone and hurt and full of pain. She does not see herself the way she is. And her finally learning how to see herself made my heart so happy. Of course, a lot of pain before that. Agatha was beyond good and precious. There wasn't a single person in this school more good that her. They were all supposed to be good, but hmph. They were all so cruel.

Then there was Sophie. Convinced she is good, that she does not belong in the school for evil. Yet we all know that she is not very good at all. She thinks so badly about everyone. Even Agatha, her friend. She hurts people all the time. And gosh, she does so much evil. Ahh. Yet I still loved this girl. Because she did have moments of not being evil too. But yeah, she was no Agatha, haha. Still. I adored her too. Reading about her complicated friendship with Agatha was the very best thing. Full of hurt and betrayal and hope.

There is so much I love about this. The different schools. The teachers. The classes. The blue forest. The trials. All of it was so awesome. And all the different students. Sigh. Hester and Anadil and Dot were still so awesome. Dot most of all. This book was filled with magic too. And I very much loved that. And filled with creatures. All awesome. There were so many twists and turns and secrets. I liked them all, still. This book is simply still so very precious to me. And I am so thrilled that I still love it so very much. Eee. Sigh.

Okay. So. Agatha is still the most precious of them. And she still deserves so much more. Sophie treated her so badly through a lot of this book. All of the students did. And I am not happy about it. My girl better get the most spectacular ending of them all in book six. Hmph. And I still so want Tedros to grovel at her feet, haha. Especially in the next books. Anyway. The School for Good and Evil is way too good. And if you still haven't started it, you are for real missing out. It is a fairy tale like no other. Complete perfection.

It had taken her whole life to make a single friend. And here these girls had become
best friends in minutes as if making friends was the simplest thing in the world. Agatha
prickled with shame. In this School for Good, where everyone was supposed to be kind and
loving, she had still ended up alone and despised. She was a villain, no matter where she went.

Saturday, July 4, 2020

In My Mailbox #452

Oops. Not a single thing arrived in my mailbox this week. Sad face. I am waiting on so many books. One audiobook has now taken almost two whole months to arrive. Yeah. Other books take at least one month to arrive. I hate Corona times. Uuugh. Waiting on so much. Nothing arrives. Sigh. Hope nothing gets lost.. gah. So yeah. No new mail this week :) But still writing this post, haha, as I love just writing updates and such. <3 I'm doing my best. Haven't read anything yet. I know what I'm starting. I just have no energy to get it done. Too tired, too exhausted, too busy. So rude. I'm still playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons every day, eee. It's still the best. And still, of course, playing Pokemon GO each day too, during the whole day. This week I got a pokestop almost just outside my door. Sigh. So I can take it from inside whenever, haha. Have dreamed of this since I started playing four years ago. Oops. Two new blog posts. I shared my review of Rebel Spy for the blog tour. <3 I adored this book. And this week I'm waiting on The World Between Blinks :) Oh, and I'm also trying my best to have my spa baths every day too. Which also takes up so much of my time. And makes me even more tired, ha. And still doing daily walks with mom too. And spending time with sister and her kids. I just do not have time for anything else, not really. So rude. Still. It is all good :) Just wishing I could read more. Will try my hardest to start tomorrow. Fingers crossed. I hope you are all staying safe and doing good. <3 Corona isn't bigger in Norway. But it will still come, of course. Gah. I have only posted once on instagram this week. Which was a photo I took the week before. Yeah. I need to take photos. Oops. And I need to read. And start catching up soon too. Just need more energy :)


More Instagram photos here. <3

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Waiting on Wednesday #455

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

THE WORLD BETWEEN BLINKS
BY AMIE KAUFMAN & RYAN GRAUDIN

Goodreads Description:

Discover a magical world where lost things are found.

Whenever cousins Jake and Marisol get together, adventure follows. They have their late Nana to thank for that. Her epic trips and treasure hunts were the stuff of family legend.

This summer, with the whole family reuniting for one last vacation at Nana’s home, the cousins are in for a legendary trip of their own.

Following a map Nana left behind, Jake and Marisol sneak out to a nearby lighthouse—then accidentally slip into another world! The World Between Blinks is a magical place where all kinds of lost things (and people!) end up. Everywhere they turn, the cousins find real mysteries from history—plus a few they thought were only myths.

But the man who holds the key to Jake and Marisol’s return journey doesn’t want to be found . . . and if the cousins don’t catch him fast, they could end up lost in this world for good.


Hardcover, 304 pages
Expected publication: January 5th 2021 by Quill Tree Books
Pre-Order here and here

This book sounds all kinds of adorable and fun :D I love Amie and Ryan. They both have such amazing books out already. And I am beyond thrilled that they are writing a book together. Eee. I cannot wait. <3
What are you waiting for on this magical Wednesday?