Saturday, October 29, 2022

In My Mailbox #573

This has been a busy week. Gosh. I read a book, at last :) Took me a few days, though, despite it being short and easy to read. Oops. Took a few new instagram photos too, to be shared later :) It was medicine week too, which sucked. But done with for now, and hoping my health may finally improve. Ha. A dentist appointment too, so expensive. And bad news too. Suuucks. It's been a busy week for me. Honestly, just playing animal crossing new horizons daily, and pokemon go, and animal crossing pocket camp several times a day, it takes up my whole day, haha :) So I barely have time for anything else. It's rude. Hoping to be able to do more soon, though. I need to play the new Mario Rabbids already. <3 Tomorrow, hopefully :D I'm waiting for November to begin. This year I will be re-reading The Scorpio Races again. <3 I cannot wait. Ahh. And Christmas will come up around mid-november. I'm excited :D First Halloween, though. <3 But.. well. It's just a normal day for me, haha :) But love having my ornaments up. <3 Anyway. Got some lovely mail. All awesome. I shared my review of A Breath of Mischief :D This week I'm waiting on Cut! <3 I shared my Eleven Years of Blogging post :D Ahh! I hope you are all doing well. <3 Happy Halloween :D

Poster Girl. Yay for new book by Veronica :D And adult too. I think it sounds and looks pretty awesome.
Malice House. I'm pretty excited about this one :D Read a bunch of books by Megan. Hope to love this.
Greywaren. UK paperback has arrived. <3 So far behind on this series. Ahh. Hoping to catch up soon :)
Museum of Magic. Some gorgeous swag arrived from Beth Revis, eee. <3 Also can't wait for this book :)
Nintendo Switch games. I'm so excited about this new Mario Rabbids game :D The other looks great too.
Pop Figures. Got some free vouchers to use, and got these for free :D Love them both. Hogwarts! Eee.
Stitch Light. I may have seen this months ago while ordering pop figures, and had to get it. Oops. Cute :D

More Instagram photos here. <3

Friday, October 28, 2022

Eleven Years of Blogging

My blog turned eleven years old this year :D Feels like I have been blogging forever. <3 And still doing it. And not planning on stopping anytime soon :) I may have forgotten about my blog birthday, again. Oops. Which was October 11th. Ack! I remembered it last month, then it just went away, ha. At least I managed to remember it again while it is still October :D And get a post up. <3 This time I'm not doing a giveaway, but hoping to share one sometime soon anyway :) I have had a few giveaways on instagram this year, for funko pop figures. I have been taking a lot more photos in the past year. Of both books and pop figures. I'm loving it. Much more photos outside too. This year have been so long yet also gone by so fast. Next year I'm turning thirty years old. What even. And my cat will be ten years. We are getting so old, haha :D

I will not be sharing very much this time, just a little update on what I have been doing this past year. My health is still pretty much awful, and I still have so little energy. No catching up to anything yet. Not really. I'm spending time with my family every day, and love that. I still play animal crossing every day and love it the most. Started playing the pocket camp version as well, and may be too addicted. Oops. And I still play pokemon go as well. I'm reading more, but only lately. Started very slow this year with reading. So I have not read many books this year. But those that I read were good. I am happy about that. I am doing okay :)

I hope you are all doing well :) And reading lots. <3 Thank you all so, so much for reading my blog and for still following me. You guys are the best. I'm hoping to be able to catch up more soon. And read more too. I have been reading a lot more lately than I had done before, so I'm feeling positive that I may actually get back into reading again, at last :) I cannot believe it is almost Christmas time again. I'm so very excited :D

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Waiting on Wednesday #575

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

CUT!
HOW LOTTE REINIGER AND A PAIR OF SCISSORS REVOLUTIONIZED ANIMATION
BY C. E. WINTERS & MATT SCHU


Goodreads Description:

Long before Walt Disney, a young woman revolutionized the landscape of animation using light, a pair of scissors, and her imagination. From acclaimed author C. E. Winters and debut illustrator Matt Schu, STEM meets the arts in this engaging nonfiction picture book biography about Lotte Reiniger. Cut! is an exceptional choice for classrooms and for fans of Hidden Figures, I Dissent, and the Questioneers books.

In the 1920s, when young women had limited opportunities, Lotte Reiniger used her curiosity and ingenuity to change the landscape of animation forever. Inspired by the films of her youth, and encouraged by teachers and mentors working in film at the time, Lotte Reiniger honed her skills in cutting out paper silhouettes to use in stop-motion animation.

Eventually, her talent and her drive led her to invent the multiplane camera, which allowed her to give her animation depth of field. With her small team, Lotte designed and directed the oldest full-length animated film in existence.

Acclaimed author C. E. Winters and debut artist Matt Schu expertly introduce young readers to Lotte Reiniger, a remarkable and often overshadowed historical figure. Balancing biographical information with a compelling story, Cut! follows Lotte Reiniger from childhood to her first groundbreaking accomplishments. Matt Schu's dynamic illustrations draw inspiration from Reiniger's own artistry and are full of detail, color, and light. Cut! is an excellent nonfiction picture book perfect for classrooms and family sharing.

Features extensive backmatter, including a timeline of Lotte Reiniger's life, an author's note, and sources.

Format: 40 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication: January 24, 2023 by Greenwillow Books
Pre-Order: Book Depository and Blackwells and Amazon

I must confess to never having heard of Lotte before. But that just makes me more excited to get to know her in this gorgeous picture book :D I'm a huge fan of Cat Winters. <3 And I just know that I will adore this new book by her as well, though way different from her YA. It sounds amazing. And I just love that cover.
What are you waiting for on this remarkable Wednesday?

Review: A Breath of Mischief by MarcyKate Connolly

This cover is just too beautiful. I can't stop looking at it. I have been excited about this book for ages now, as I have adored MarcyKate and her books since her first one came out years ago. She always gets the best covers, ha. I was lucky enough to win a personalized ARC of this precious book, out next April.

I could not help but read it right away. It was such a quick and easy read. And I liked the story a whole lot. But I sadly did not love this book. I am giving it three stars. I found it to be pretty much adorable, with a few small faults. Will share a bit of this tale, but not too much. I highly suggest you all read it, though.

A Breath of Mischief tells the story of Aria, a young girl who live in the skies. She is a child of the Wind, an otherling. Aria have the power to float, and she does not really look human either. She has always lived in the skies with the Wind as her parent. With her friend, Gwyn. Whom is a young gryphling. Which was such an awesome creature. I love everything that flies, ha. And reading about Aria and Gwyn was pretty fun. I loved how great friends they were. This is a story of how the Wind suddenly disappears. And how this affects their whole world, not just Aria personally. She goes on an adventure to get the Wind back. Where she learns that the Wind has been captured, and she needs to go on a quest to find special treasures to get her Wind back.

I shall not say too much about what happens in this book, as it is short, and I don't want to spoil it all. But Aria makes some mistakes along the way of freeing the Wind. Which were a little obvious, but she was a bit too naive to realize that. And all she truly wanted was to get the Wind back, so she did not really care about anything else at first. It's a story about the elements, the Wind and the Water and the Earth and the Fire. We get to read a little of each, as they all have an otherling like Aria, for each element. I did like that.

Aria had always been in the skies, loving her life there. When the Wind was taken, she was forced to the ground, no longer able to float. Her castle of clouds falling down. She learned much more about the world during her days on the ground. How evil some men could be, how kind some women could be. She got some friends too, the other otherlings. We learn only a little about them, but I liked getting to know them too. Especially Bay of the Water. Wanted to know more about him. Enjoyed reading about Aria exploring.

This book was short, and everything happened fast. It was about Aria trying her best to save the Wind. Going on a quest to find three items, which was dangerous for her and Gwyn. I liked reading about the dragons they met. The reason this was a three star for me, was because I had issues with the writing. It felt awkward most of the time and I just did not manage to get lost in it. Which made me not care much about Aria either. But I did like this book a whole lot, even so. It did feel magical. A great small adventure.


Saturday, October 22, 2022

In My Mailbox #572

Another Saturday. Gosh. Another week gone by super fast. Ahh. I have sadly not been able to make myself read yet. Oops. No time, no energy. Sigh. But I did get to see The School for Good and Evil on Netflix, eee. <3 And it was aaawesome :D Missed a bunch of my favorite scenes, aw, but still loved the movie. <3 Other than that my week have just been busy and exhausting. Trying to take it easy and get my energy back. Not working well, ha. But hoping to feel better soon :) It's now even darker outside each day. Sun goes away soon. So rude. So my photos will get darker from now, which sucks. But hoping time will go fast :) Got some stunning mail. This week I'm waiting on Silver in the Bone :D Hope you're well. <3

The School for Good and Evil: Collector's Edition. New UK edition. <3 Blue edges :D One signed. Pretty.
Greywaren. So behind on these precious books, aaack. But own them all, of course ;) And peeked, ha :D
Princess of Souls. US and UK editions. <3 I'm excited to read this one :D I do think that I will love it lots.
Pop Figures. Oops. More ordered from Funko Europe. Sigh. But love them all :D Ha. New Britney too :)
Animal Crossing. Tested a new site to order ten of series 3, ack. Went okay, though :D I got one new. <3
Funko Nordic. Those stunning in boxes pop figures is my newest ambassador gift, eee :D Love them. <3

More Instagram photos here. <3

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Waiting on Wednesday #574

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

SILVER IN THE BONE BY ALEXANDRA BRACKEN

Goodreads Description:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Alexandra Bracken cements her status as one of the top fantasy authors writing today in this stunning series opener inspired by Arthurian legend and fueled by love, revenge, and pure adrenaline!

Tamsin Lark didn’t ask to be a Hollower. As a mortal with no magical talent, she was never meant to break into ancient crypts, or compete with sorceresses and Cunningfolk for the treasures inside. But after her thieving foster father disappeared without so much as a goodbye, it was the only way to keep herself—and her brother, Cabell—alive.

Ten years later, rumors are swirling that her guardian vanished with a powerful ring from Arthurian legend. A run-in with her rival Emrys ignites Tamsin’s hope that the ring could free Cabell from a curse that threatens both of them. But they aren’t the only ones who covet the ring.

As word spreads, greedy Hollowers start circling, and many would kill to have it for themselves. While Emrys is the last person Tamsin would choose to partner with, she needs all the help she can get to edge out her competitors in the race for the ring. Together, they dive headfirst into a vipers’ nest of dark magic, exposing a deadly secret with the power to awaken ghosts of the past and shatter her last hope of saving her brother. . . .

Hardcover, 480 pages
Expected publication: April 4th 2023 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pre-Order: Book Depository
and Blackwells and Amazon

Oops. I'm a little behind on books by Alexandra. Despite owning a bunch of them, ha :D Still excited for this newest one, though. <3 And will be getting it :) I think the cover looks stunning. Sounds so good too.
What are you waiting for on this cursed Wednesday?

Saturday, October 15, 2022

In My Mailbox #571

Suddenly Saturday again. Oops. Time moves so fast. Now even closer to Christmas, ha :D I'm way too excited. Christmas stuff have started arriving in stores. Finally Christmas soda too, a little later than usual. I'm happy. But I'm also goddamn exhausted. My body and health is still a mess. But I'm doing my best :) Took a bunch of new photos this week, and I was happy with all of them, eee. <3 And oh gosh. Season finale of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power was yesterday. Ahh. It was perfection :) I love this so much. Just need more already, ha. <3 This week I'm waiting on The Ruby Code :D Hoping to start a new book in the coming days :) I do know what I'm reading next. Got some awesome mail too, eee. I'm trying to take it easy these days :) Busy watching some tv. I saw the Dahmer documentary on netflix first, which was good but disturbing. Then saw the ten episodes long Dahmer show. Yeah. That was too long and too awful at times. It was good, as I do love true crime. But so heartbreaking. Hope you are all doing well. <3

GIVEAWAY! Win three funko pop figures. Worldwide. Ends October 21st. Enter HERE.

The Infernal Devices. The mangas in one hardcover. <3 I already own all the copies, oops. This too :D
Spells for Forgetting. A new Adrienne book. I think it sounds pretty awesome :D Hoping that I will love it.
Demon in the Wood. First of a few copies to come, ha :D I adore Leigh. This graphic novel is gorgeous.
Prince of Song & Sea. I could not resist buying this book. Just because I love The Little Mermaid. Pretty.
A Breath of Mischief. Thank you SO much MarcyKate for this precious ARC that I won :D I'm SO excited.
Pop Figures. Oh. More Funko Europe orders, ha :D Some specials I'm so very excited about. Some cute new sodas. More mystery mini valentines, though no new ones. Aw. Finally got Bruno as well. Adorable.
Pokemon. Eee. Finally got to buy some of the pokemon go trading cards, ha :D They are just too cute. <3

More Instagram photos here. <3

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Waiting on Wednesday #573

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

THE RUBY CODE BY JESSICA KHOURY

Goodreads Description:

From Jessica Khoury comes a high-action sci-fi adventure about a video game AI come to life. Warcross meets Ready Player One in this thriller set in a high-tech near future.

Bullied at school and home, Ash finds respite from his unhappy life in virtual reality games. One night, he spends his meager savings to help a homeless man, who thanks him with a copy of an old fantasy RPG called The Glass Realm.

While exploring inside the game, Ash meets a seemingly humble NPC named Ruby. From the start, she seems different than most game characters, though—especially when they stumble across an in-game quest designed not for the player, but for Ruby to solve. But when Ruby develops powerful abilities that can rewrite the very code of the game, they realize she is far more than a pre-programmed side character—she’s a sentient artificial intelligence who’s been hidden inside the game itself.

Following the quest left for her in The Glass Realm, Ruby and Ash discover she was originally made to power high-tech military equipment. When her developer realized she was a living, feeling being, however, he stole her from his employers and hid her away, hoping to keep her safe.

That safety vanishes when Ash and Ruby are targeted by the Symposium, the powerful shadow organization who funded Ruby’s development, and who would use her to spark a world war to rack up huge profits. Caught in a deadly game that blurs the line between real and virtual, Ash and Ruby must uncover and expose the Symposium’s plans before they're caught. If they lose this game—they might just doom the world.

Hardcover, 288 pages
Expected publication: June 6th 2023 by Scholastic Press
Pre-Order: Book Depository
and Blackwells and Amazon

Eee! I am SO excited for this newest book by Jessica :D Gosh. It looks gorgeous. And sounds so so awesome. <3 I just know that I will end up loving it a whole bunch. I just cannot wait to read this one :D
What are you waiting for on this deadly Wednesday?

Saturday, October 8, 2022

In My Mailbox #570

Another Saturday. Gosh. Time is just moving so fast. This week I took down my spa bath. Aw. Down until April. So very rude. Winter will be so long. Sigh. I shall survive it, ha :D Probably. I have just been so fully exhausted this week. Trying to get things done, but it feels impossible. Hoping to get better shortly. Finally made myself read more of my current read, though. And finished it last night. So yay for that :D Now I can finally watch some Netflix things too, haha. Before I decide on a new book to read, soonish. Need a little reading break. It makes my head hurt. But still love reading, and loved the last book I read. <3 I got some gorgeous mail this week too :D Love it all. And waiting for more, as always. Oops. This week I'm waiting on What Stays Buried :D And I shared my review of For the Throne. <3 I hope you are all doing well :D

GIVEAWAY! Win three funko pop figures. Worldwide. Ends October 21st. Enter HERE.

Fairy Tale. I have only read one Stephen King book. Now bought my second one. I think it sounds great :)
The School for Good and Evil: Ruled Journal. This movie book merch is just too cute. I love it so, eee :D
Vampiric Vacation. Second book in Kiersten's middle grade series. <3 Reading them all one day soon :)
Dust & Grim. Could not resist this cute cover :D New book to me. Hoping that I will love this, one day. <3
The Collectors. Had to own the UK version of this too, ha. Heard it as an audio, years ago. It was good.
Movies. Morbius, Uncharted and Turning Red. Not seen the first two movies, hoping to love them too :D
Pop Figures. Eee. More Pokemon. <3 More Rob as Batman :D And love my Blue dinosaur. All precious.

More Instagram photos here. <3

Review: For the Throne by Hannah Whitten

Reading this second book took me longer, but it was worth the time I spent with it. It was such an excellent sequel and ending. Giving it five stars. As I enjoyed it to pieces. I loved reading the ending of Red and Neve's story. I loved how it all fit together and how the ending made sense as well. Very much liked the writing.

There is a lot going on in these two books. Especially in this final one. I shall try to not share that much, though. I mostly just want to mention what I liked about this story. How I very much loved reading about Red and Eammon. Sigh. They are such a perfect couple and I adore them the very most. Both fully precious. Eee.

This second book is mostly about Neve and Solmir. Their story. But while it is mostly her point of view, we still get to read much from Red too. And a little Raffe and a little of others too. I loved all of the different views. But, yeah. I loved Red the most. Neve was still amazing, of course. I just never had the same type of love for her as I did for Red. Oops. Could be because Red was pretty much all good. And Neve had so much darkness inside of her. But such a good heart and I adored her so much. I loved her dark parts too. I did love her relationship with Solmir. Started out so badly, ha. But it grew into a friendship. Maybe something more. And while they were no Red and Eammon to me, they were still precious in their own way. Still shipped them very much.

This book take a lot of place in the Shadowlands. Sort of like a dark place beneath our world. Well, it was beneath the Wilderwood. It's where Neve ended up at the end of For the Wolf. With Solmir, one of the five kings. Though Neve will learn he is not what she has always thought he was. He is not like the others. He is doing his best to kill the kings. For that, he needed Neve's help. And oh, they had such a journey to go on. So much walking, ha. I liked reading about this dark place, where there was no color. No life. Nothing.

Except for the shadow creatures living there. Those could kill Neve. And I did like reading about how she killed them instead, how it was possible to take their shadow magic and make it her own. Because Neve has a different type of magic from Red. A dark kind. Full of thorns and darkness. But so awesome to read about as well. Neve and Solmir starts out as enemies. Slowly turning to something more. They were not sweet and tender like Red and Eammon and their love story. Neve and Solmir was way more painful. Ah.

I shall not say that much more about this story. Just that Neve goes on a journey to figure out how to kill the four kings, before they escape their prison and ruins the world. I did love reading about the old gods she met. They were awesome. Especially loved the last one, the big one, the scariest one. I loved how Red was such a big part of this story too, how they needed each other to get this mission done. I loved reading more about them both and learning more about them too. They loved each other so very much.

And, confession. I did love Red the most. And Eammon. And so loved reading more about Fife and Lyra too. And getting to know Raffe more. He met a girl. It was both good and bad, ha. I loved reading about it, though. Honestly, I just mostly loved reading about the romance between Red and Eammon. Sigh. It was beyond precious and sweet. So good. But yeah. The story was more than that. And I did enjoy every part of this story. Some things were obvious, some were surprising. All were exciting, though. Liked the twists.

I did have a few small issues with this book. But they were not many and they were not big. And so I am still going with five stars, because I really truly loved this world and this story. It was mostly Neve's book, but I still preferred to read about Red and Eammon. Oops. I just love them too much. Sigh. What annoyed me a tiny bit was how Solmir's face was described. All the time. His expressions, that is. It seemed weird. At least to me, with his sharp face. But I also did not mind that much. Just took me a little out of the story.

But I will say that this final book was all kinds of awesome. I loved reading about the shadow creatures. The whole of Shadowlands. I loved how the Wilderwoods had changed. I loved how exciting everything was. I loved how it all ended too. A little silly, a couple of things. But it was such a great ending. A happy one too. For the most part. I still want to know more, ha. I also can't wait to read more books by Hannah. For the Throne was a most excellent ending to a stunning fantasy duology. You must read these books.


Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Waiting on Wednesday #572

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

WHAT STAYS BURIED BY SUZANNE YOUNG

Goodreads Description:

In her first book for middle grade readers, New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Young brings together a thrilling ghost story, a heartfelt coming of age journey, and a poignant reminder that those we've loved and lost are never far away--perfect for fans of Bone Hollow and The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street.

Twelve-year-old Calista Wynn will lose her ability to speak with the dead on her thirteenth birthday.

And with only a few weeks left, children have started going missing.

When Calista meets The Tall Lady--an angry spirit with a grudge against Calista, her family, and the entire town--she knows she's found the ghost responsible for the disappearances.

It's up to Calista, the only one who can see The Tall Lady, to stop her. If she doesn't, Calista won't just lose her powers... she'll lose everyone she has left.

Hardcover, 272 pages
Expected publication: March 7th 2023 by HarperCollins
Pre-Order: Book Depository
and Blackwells and Amazon

Another new book for me to be curious and excited about :D That cover just drew me in, ha. It looks awesome. And sounds like a pretty great book too :) I hope that I will end up loving it. I have not read anything by Suzanne Young before. Buuut. I bought some of her first books, back in 2013. Oops. Yet never read them, and ended up selling them. Ack. This one sounds better for me, though :D Ha. <3
What are you waiting for on this ghostly Wednesday?

Saturday, October 1, 2022

In My Mailbox #569

I don't even know where this week have gone. Time has moved so fast. I have been so busy. Went out of town for a hospital visit. It was an all day thing, with shopping and pool. It was good, but exhausting, and killed me for a few days. I still hurt. Rude. Oh, and then it was medicine day two days after that trip, which killed me even more. So, yeah. This week have been painful. Good, but hurting. And so busy and I have not had any time for anything. I have not read more of For the Throne for daaaays. Oh. Hoping to read a little tonight. I need to read more. I love this book. Just. No time, no energy. Will try to be better. Plus side of this week, had some great spa bath days. <3 Bad side, taking it down in just days. Sobs. Winter will be long, spa gone until April. Rude. But another good thing, got some lovely mail. <3 I got the Baymax chase :D Eeee. Could not be happier about it. <3 Yesss :) This week I'm waiting on The Pearl Hunter :D I hope you are having a great week. <3 And happy first Halloween day, ha :D I got all my ornaments up today :)

Descendant of the Crane. Eee! New US paperback edition is out. <3 Gosh, this new cover is stunning.
Animal Crossing. Yesss. Got my 2023 calendars, without any issues. They are perfect. Sigh. Love them.
Pop Figures. Oh. SO many pop figures this week too. Oops. Britney and Thumper was bought in person, as the town I went to actually have pop figures, ha. Mine doesn't. Ugh. I got my second Baymax soda. <3 Chase version :D Yesss. It's so rare and special and gorgeous. Love it so. And a bunch of other precious figures. Oh. Love the Jurassic moment. Love my Villainous Valentines mystery mini figures. Too cute. Oh! And Lucifer :D Eeee. He is precious. So glad I got to order all the D23 figures that I wanted. <3 Love :D

More Instagram photos here. <3