Saturday, January 28, 2023

In My Mailbox #586

Whoops. This past week went by even faster than I thought it would. I wanted to read a new book, but have not had the time for it at all. Ack. I have just been busy and exhausted. Sigh. But hoping to start my next book very shortly, as I do know what I'm reading next :) I did get a bunch of mail this week, oops. <3 But DHL have lost one of my funko packages. Uuugh. They better find it on Monday. I'm a little stressed about it, but hoping they find it. Sigh. And waiting on more lovely books :) And more pop figures, oops. I'm too excited. I'm just exhausted lately. Everything hurts and everything sucks. But doing okay. I'm happy :) Just hurting. And hoping my health will get better soon. This week I'm waiting on Sword Catcher :D I hope you are all doing well. <3 Are you reading anything good lately? :) I want some recommendations, ha :)

Funko Nordic Pop Figures. Eee! Thank you so much Funko Nordic for this most amazing gift. <3 Love!
Hell Bent. Two editions have arrived; US and UK hardcovers. <3 Hoping to read book one soon, ack :)
Sinister Summer 3: Camp Creepy. I.. have not yet read book one and two. Oops. But I have them all :)
The Silmarillion. This was expensive. But I saw it on sale in my town. I had to get it, oops. So pretty. <3
Funko Europe. Ahh. Two orders have arrived. Waiting on two more. I went a little bit crazy. Oops. I got a new purse and wallet :D And they are just adorable. Love my Maleficent soda. Love my Coraline pins. Some new mystery minis, finally got a new villain version :D And the Goofy is new too, so yay for that :)

More Instagram photos here. <3

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Waiting on Wednesday #588

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

SWORD CATCHER BY CASSANDRA CLARE

Goodreads Description:

Two outcasts find themselves at the center of world-altering change in the start of a riveting epic fantasy series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Shadowhunter Chronicles.

In the vibrant city-state of Castellane, the richest of nobles and the most debauched of criminals have one thing in common: the constant search for wealth, power, and the next hedonistic thrill.

Kel is an orphan, stolen from the life he knew to become the Sword-Catcher—the body-double of a royal heir, Prince Conor Aurelian. He has been raised alongside the prince, trained in every aspect of combat and statecraft. He and Conor are close as brothers, but Kel knows he has one destiny: to die for Conor. No other future is possible.

Lin Caster is one of the Ashkar, a small community who still possess magical abilities. By law, they must live behind walls in the city, but Lin, a physician, ventures out to tend to the sick and dying of Castellane. Despite her skills, she cannot heal her best friend Mariam without access to forbidden knowledge.

After a failed assassination attempt brings Lin and Kel together, they are drawn into the web of the mysterious Ragpicker King, the criminal ruler of Castellane’s underworld. He offers them each what they want most; but as they descend into his world of intrigue and shadow, they discover a conspiracy of corruption that reaches from the darkest gutters of Castellane to the highest tower of its palaces. As long-kept secrets begin to unravel, they must ask themselves: Is knowledge worth the price of betrayal? Can forbidden love bring down a kingdom? And will Lin and Kel’s discoveries plunge their nation into war—and the world into chaos?

Format: 576 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: October 10, 2023 by Del Rey Books
Pre-Order: Book Depository and Blackwells and Amazon

Eeee! I am so very excited about this new Cassandra Clare book :D I.. am so many books behind right now on her stories. Sigh. But I will be reading this one later this year, ha ;) Since it has nothing to do with her other books. Though I will read all of them someday soonish too, hopefully. Not that far behind. But yeah. This one sounds exciting and complicated and different and I cannot wait :D Love the cover too. <3
What are you waiting for on this mysterious Wednesday?

Saturday, January 21, 2023

In My Mailbox #585

Eee. I have read two books this week :D What even! Haha. I'm proud of myself :) And I'm even thinking about reading again soon. Not sure what's happening to me, lol. But so so happy to finally feel a little like reading again :) Been too long since I have wanted to read. So yay for that. But my next book must have some romance, so I'm not sure what to read next. Oh. Also. No mail this week. Aw. So only sharing my instagram photo below :) But getting looots of mail next week. Oops. And oh. The sun is finally back. At last. Some daylight again, ha. Excited to get to take prettier photos, finally. <3 For once, I have more than one new blog post to share about, ha :D I have three. This week I'm waiting on It Found Us :) I shared my review of Gallant. <3 And I shared my review of The Last to Vanish :) Oh. And yeah. My health goddamn sucks, so I'm even more surprised that I managed to read two books this week, with all the pain I am in. So, yeah. I'm awesome, ha :) This week was medicine week. Which suuucked. And I twisted my neck or something that same day, and have had intense neck and shoulder and back and head pain for daaays now. How rude. Keep waiting for it to get better, but so far not. Hmph. But despite this, I'm doing okay :) Also just so happy that the sun is coming back again now, at last, haha. Hope you are all well too. <3

More Instagram photos here. <3

Review: The Last to Vanish by Megan Miranda

It will not be easy to find the words to write about this book. Will start by saying that I had high hopes for it, as I have very much enjoyed books by Megan Miranda before, having read all but one of her books. But I did not love her latest one. And this one was sadly the same. I so wanted to love it. But it was just impossible.

I have ended up with giving this book two stars. I thought about three. But it was honestly not worthy of that. The mystery was excellent, but it was too little. Pretty much this entire book was boring. And nothing happened. I kept waiting for it to be exciting. It never really happened. A little at the ending. Was not enough.

I did also have some issues with the writing, sadly. I could not get truly into this book. I did not really connect with the main girl at all. I sort of liked reading about her, but I did not care. It was honestly so very boring. It was just her thinking almost the entire book. About the same things over and over again. I wanted so much from this one. I wanted a most exciting mystery book, like many of her other ones. But this one fell short. At least for me. There were some surprises, which I liked. And I liked finally knowing what the mystery was. But it was also a little too easy, I think. I wasn't as satisfied as I wanted to be, with the answers. Also wanted more at the ending. Oh. And there was zero romance. Disappointed about that. It could have made it better.

I am not going to write too much about this book. As I do not really feel like sharing all that much. And there is not much to share either, to be honest. It is a story about Abby, in her late twenties, I think. She has now lived in this very small town for ten years, working at the inn at the mountains. Always being an outsider, as the people who lived in this town always stuck together. She is finally feeling more like she belongs as well. I kind of liked this story about her, but I also did not love her. I so wanted to feel more.

Oh. Yes. There is a secret revealed about her at the end of the book. If this had been known from the beginning, if it had been used better, I most likely would have cared about her much more. But it was not. It was more like it was all an afterthought, just added at the end to shock a little. As it was not used at all before then. Rude. So, yeah. I wanted to like Abigail, but I just did not care. I cared a little more about her friend, Georgia. But only a little. Somewhat liked Cory, but not really. Trey was just there, not interesting.

I suppose this is a mystery book. Four people went missing on a trail twenty-five years ago. Another ten years ago. Then two more a little after as well. The last one just four months before. And now his brother showed up, trying to figure out what happened to him. Which is how Abby starts looking into it all. But my gosh. This book was so very boring. It took ages before something happened. Before she started figuring out anything at all. And the things didn't even make much sense either. The reason for the murders. Ugh.

Honestly, I'm just disappointed about The Last to Vanish. I had thought it would be much better. But it ended up being so disappointing for me, sadly. So much of the book is about Abby being at work at the inn. It was boring. Only a tiny mountain walking, which I liked, but it was so little. I somewhat liked the answers we got at the end, but also not. And so, truly, this book wasn't worth it for me. And I wonder if others will enjoy it, though. And I will still read any new book by Megan. I do think this cover is gorgeous.

Goodreads - The Book Depository - Blackwells - Amazon

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Review: Gallant by V. E. Schwab

I have wanted to read this book for ages now, and finally managed to do so. And oh, it was worth it. This book was stunning. Writing was great and the story was incredible. Giving this one four stars, as I had a few very small issues with it. But I also loved this book and I'm glad that I read it.

This is a story about a girl named Olivia. I think she was around fourteen years old. It is never said. But it seemed like that was the age. I loved that this book was between middle grade and young adult, in a way. As I so adored this main girl. She was special and I loved getting to know her.

Olivia is an orphan and had been at this school or home for orphan girls since she was a baby. We get to know a little about this place. And I did not like it. Some of the girls had been cruel to her. And almost everyone ignored her. I did not approve. Because Olivia was adorable. The girls were sort of afraid of her. As she could not speak. I so loved that part of her. It also made her even more interesting to read about, as she found other ways of communicating. Though the girls at her school did not want to help her with that, which was a little heartbreaking. Olivia just wants a family, a place to belong. A home. All she knows about her parents are from a journal she has from her mom. Loved getting to know the inside of it.

This story really begins when Olivia gets a letter from an uncle she did not know she had, telling her to come home to Gallant, to her family. She gets to leave right away. But it's not as she thought, her uncle has been dead for a year. And her cousin did not send her the letter. Neither did the two people taking care of the house. And oh, I really liked this story. I liked getting to know this place. I liked learning more about it all. I liked how Gallant had two places, one in our world. Another behind the gate, more darker.

Mostly I just adored reading about Olivia. I liked her getting to know her real home, learning more about her dead mother and her family. But the things I did not love about this book, why it is a four star, is that it felt too little. It was short and easy to read. Maybe too short. I felt like there should have been much more. There should have been more people. Maybe a romance, ha. But more family at least. And that ending. Hmph. Was a bit bittersweet, because nothing truly ended. It was too abrupt. I wanted and needed more.

I shall not say much more about this story. There were ghosts, of a sort. Ghouls. I so enjoyed reading about them and getting to know more about them. But, again, should have been a longer book with even more details about everything. But I did like it so much. I loved the story about Olivia's parents. But I kept wondering about why she could not speak, and if it was because of her dad. And I kept waiting for it to be fixed. But then it ended. I still feel like that was missing, like there needs to be a sequel. Maybe one day.

But anyway. Gallant was an excellent book. It was exciting and amazing. I so loved reading about Olivia. She was adorable. There was not really much going on in this story, as we are mostly just inside Olivia's head. It is about Gallant. Almost all of it takes place in this house. But I also liked that, that it wasn't a too complicated book. But still wanted a little more. But even so. This book was stunning and I'm happy that I finally read it. I think you should read this book too. Oh. And there are gorgeous illustrations in it as well.

Goodreads - The Book Depository - Blackwells - Amazon

Waiting on Wednesday #587

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

IT FOUND US BY LINDSAY CURRIE

Goodreads Description:

From the author of Scritch Scratch and The Girl in White comes a new spooky mystery about a girl detective who must decode a series of ominous clues tied to a century-old tragedy to find a missing teenager before it’s too late…

Twelve-year-old Hazel Woods has always had an unusual knack for sleuthing. Some may call it snooping, but all she really wants is to solve mysteries around town. So, when she not-so-accidentally overhears her brother Den planning to sneak into the cemetery at night for an epic game of hide-and-seek, she decides to secretly tag along. This seems like the perfect opportunity to investigate the claims that the cemetery is haunted.

But the moment the game ends, Hazel realizes something is very, very wrong. From her hiding spot in the bushes, she overhears that her brother’s best friend, Everett, is missing. Everyone else was found by the seeker but there’s no sign of Everett anywhere. It’s as if he just . . . vanished

Hazel and Den are determined to find Everett before it’s too late. But as they begin to unravel the terrifying clues that started appearing since that night in the graveyard–eerie whispers that sound like someone counting, the intermittent smell of smoke, and the cold, lost presence that follows them everywhere, she’s not sure what they are dealing with. But Everett needs more than search parties and scent-tracking dogs to find him, especially if his disappearance is tied to the history of the cemetery, and the lost, century-old spirits that might still be trapped there.


Format: 224 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: September 6, 2023 by Sourcebooks Young Readers
Pre-Order: Book Depository and Blackwells and Amazon

This book just sounds too awesome. I so love that cover, eee :D And when I saw it, I knew I had to have this book, haha. I will be getting it when it comes out in September :) I think I will love it. <3 Sounds great.
What are you waiting for on this spooky Wednesday?

Saturday, January 14, 2023

In My Mailbox #584

Gosh. This past week have gone by even faster than usual. Oops. I have not read anything yet. Sigh. Or felt like doing much of anything, to be honest. I'm so so exhausted. Buuut. I did spend this week watching more of Miraculous Ladybug. <3 Now seen everything :D Even the first 10 episodes of season 5. <3 Eee. And. Gosh. I love this show so, so, so much :) I just need the rest of it right away. Hmph. But now finished with what is out, so maybe I can finally try reading something again too :) Fingers crossed. I haven't much else to share this week. I am just so exhausted and tired. But doing good despite this :) Oh. Wait. I had a hospital visit this week. Only a short appointment, but a long day. Shopping and eating good food with my mom. <3 And a trip to their awesome swimming pool, eee. I wish I could go way more often. Sigh. It's so good. One new post, as usual. This week I'm waiting on The Shadow Sister :D I hope you are all well. <3

Pop Figures. Only got these two this week; bought while out of town. <3 They are both just adorable :)

More Instagram photos here. <3

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Waiting on Wednesday #586

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

THE SHADOW SISTER BY LILY MEADE

Goodreads Description:

Sutton going missing is the worst thing to happen to Casey, to their family. She’s trying to help find her sister, but Casey is furious. And she can’t tell anyone about their argument before Sutton disappeared. Everyone paints a picture of Sutton’s perfection: the popular cheerleader with an entourage of friends, a doting boyfriend, and a limitless future. But Sutton manipulated everyone around her, even stole an heirloom bracelet from Casey. People don’t look for missing Black girls--or half-Black girls--without believing there is an angel to be saved.

When Sutton reappears, Casey knows she should be relieved. Except Sutton isn’t the same. She remembers nothing about while she was gone—or anything from her old life, including how she made Casey miserable. There’s something unsettling about the way she wants to spend time with Casey, the way she hums and watches her goldfish swim for hours.

What happened to Sutton? The more Casey starts uncovering her sister’s secrets, the more questions she has. Did she really know her sister? Why is no one talking about the other girls who have gone missing in their area? And what will it take to uncover the truth?


Format: 336 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: June 27, 2023 by Sourcebooks Fire
Pre-Order: Book Depository and Blackwells and Amazon

I think this book sounds all kinds of exciting :D And I love the pretty cover. I'm trading for an ARC of this one very soon, I hope. <3 I cannot wait to read it. Fingers crossed that I will love it; a new-to-me author :)
What are you waiting for on this shadowy Wednesday?

Saturday, January 7, 2023

In My Mailbox #583

First week of the new year :) I have not read anything yet, ack. But I think I know what to read next, so fingers crossed that I will start it soon. I haven't been having the best week, to be honest. Christmas was great, though. <3 I had to remove my third wisdom tooth this week, and I'm not doing the best. Not the worst pain, but I'm exhausted and it does hurt. Ugh. So I haven't taken any new photos this week either. Oops. Oh. And I suddenly had a thought that I would rearrange my bedroom. And did that in just a few days; it was aaa lot of work, as I have a small bedroom with so so so many things, haha. But it turned out so great :) Anyway. I'm hoping to read soon. And hoping to feel better shortly too. I shared my Best Books of 2022 post. <3 This week I'm waiting on House of Roots and Ruin :D Hope you are all doing well. <3

The Mortal Instruments Graphic Novel: Part 6. These are so pretty :D Reading these one day, ha. <3
Funko Pop. I bought "used" pop figures for the first time, ack :) New in box, all chase. Look gorgeous.
Pokemon. I could not resist buying another Pokemon GO trading cards box, ack. The cards are stunning.

More Instagram photos here. <3

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Waiting on Wednesday #585

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

HOUSE OF ROOTS AND RUIN BY ERIN A. CRAIG

Goodreads Description:

A modern masterpiece, this is a classic Gothic thriller-fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Erin A. Craig, about doomed love, menacing ambition, and the ghosts that haunt us forever.

In a manor by the sea, one sister is still cursed.


Despite dreams of adventures far beyond the Salann shores, seventeen-year-old Verity Thaumas has remained at her family’s estate, Highmoor, with her older sister Camille, while their sisters have scattered across Arcannia.

When their sister Mercy sends word that the Duchess of Bloem—wife of a celebrated botanist—is interested in having Verity paint a portrait of her son, Alexander, Verity jumps at the chance, but Camille won’t allow it. Forced to reveal the secret she’s kept for years, Camille tells Verity the truth one day: Verity is still seeing ghosts, she just doesn’t know it.

Stunned, Verity flees Highmoor that night and—with nowhere else to turn—makes her way to Bloem. At first, she is captivated by the lush, luxurious landscape and is quickly drawn to charming, witty, and impossibly handsome Alexander Laurent. And soon, to her surprise, a romance . . . blossoms.

But it’s not long before Verity is plagued with nightmares, and the darker side of Bloem begins to show through its sickly-sweet façade. . . .


Format: 544 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: July 25, 2023 by Delacorte Press
Pre-Order: Book Depository and Blackwells and Amazon

EEE! I am SO excited about this book :D I so adored the first one. <3 And love that this is set years later, with a different sister :D I adored Verity and cannot wait to read more about her, older now. <3 Hoping for some glimpses of my favorites from book one as well, though, haha ;) Oh. Look at that gorgeous cover. Eee. I love the pink :D It just looks stunning. And sounds so awesome. I just know I will love this one. <3
What are you waiting for on this ghostly Wednesday?