Saturday, February 25, 2023

In My Mailbox #590

I'm still alive, haha :) Still healing from having had corona again. Ugh. Still so exhausted and so tired all the time. But I'm doing better, I guess :) This week I got a bunch of new mail, oops. <3 No books, though. But some arriving next week, I think :) I haven't really done much this week. Just taking it easy. I've been watching my nephew play the new hogwarts legacy game on my playstation 5 for hours. And it looks so exhausting, haha, but good too. I only read a very short picture book this week, but I'm still happy to have read something :) Fingers crossed I will read a new book next week. Oh, I am doing another re-watch of The Lord of the Rings. <3 This week I'm waiting on Menacing Manor :) And shared my review of Cut! <3


Lore Swag. Eee! Thank you so much Alexandra for this most gorgeous Lore paperback pre-order swag.
Beth Revis Swag. Love these new pieces of swag that I got from Beth, eee. They are all stunning. Love.
Funko Europe. Oops. I was not supposed to order more pop figures for a while. Then they got that most gorgeous Lord of the Rings in stock. And I had to have it. Ahh. And some more, haha :) I finally got the Maleficent soda dragon diamond chase version. <3 Took me five tries. Ooops. But so worth it :D Love it the most. Oh. And my two new pokemon pop figures were bought from amazon; was the last two I was missing :D Love them all. A bunch of new mystery minis, no new ones. Aw. But I still had to try, haha :)

More Instagram photos here. <3

Friday, February 24, 2023

Review: Cut!: How Lotte Reiniger and a Pair of Scissors Revolutionized Animation by C. E. Winters & Matt Schu

I just could not resist reading this short picture book. Although I had never heard about Lotte before. And only bought this book because of my love for the author, Cat Winters. This was such a short story, but I am glad that I read it.

I'm giving it four stars, as it was stunning, but not fully a story for me, haha. But I so enjoyed getting to know about Lotte and her history. It was fully fascinating. All the illustrations were gorgeous too; Matt Schu did such a great job.

I shall not write much more about this story, as this picture book was really short. It had great writing and a good story. I knew nothing about Lotte Reiniger before, but now I'm curious about her. I so loved reading about how she made movies with scissors, cutting out paper silhouettes. I loved all of the illustrations. Cut! How Lotte Reiniger and a Pair of Scissors Revolutionized Animation tells the story of how Lotte came to be such a great filmmaker, ending up making at least 60 of her unique movies. You should all read this story too, to get to know about Lotte.

Goodreads - The Book Depository - Blackwells - Amazon

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Waiting on Wednesday #592

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

MENACING MANOR (Sinister Summer #4)
BY KIERSTEN WHITE

Goodreads Description:

Book four in the tragic series about the Sinister-Winterbottom twins, who must solve one wretched mystery after the next, brought to you by #1 New York Times bestselling author KIERSTEN WHITE. The electrifying penultimate adventure finds the Sinister-Winterbottoms at the manor of Mr. Frank and Dr. Stein!

After escaping from Edgaren't and Dr. Jay, the Sinister-Winterbottoms and their friends arrive at Stein Manor Science Camp. They all work together to distract the friendly teenage camp director so they can explore and look for clues about where their parents might be.

Meanwhile, Theo and Alexander settle on a daring plan. They know exactly where Edgaren't is going to be: coming for them, and the books. This time, they'll be ready. This time, they'll get answers. And this time, they won't trust the adult in charge, which is easy enough when it's enormous, lurking, unfriendly Mr. Frank. But as they get closer to opening the books and their parents' histories, an unexpected foe is watching everything they do. . . .

Fake volcanoes! Real sea caves! Strangely modified frogs! Startling betrayal! And a lightning-struck manor! all combine for the electrifying penultimate Sinister Summer adventure.

Format: 272 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: May 2, 2023 by Delacorte Press
Pre-Order: Book Depository and Blackwells and Amazon

I know, I know. I have not yet read book one. Oops. And this is book four! What even! Ha :D But.. I own them all :) And I'm getting this one too. Simply because I adore Kiersten. Oops. I do think I will like these spooky stories, though, as they look gorgeous. And sounds awesome too. So, yeah. I'm excited for this :)
What are you waiting for on this menacing Wednesday?

Saturday, February 18, 2023

In My Mailbox #589

This past week have suuuucked. Ugh. I was sick a week ago. Then I took a corona test on sunday, and it was positive. Goddamn it. I am not happy about it. Second time, a year since my first time positive. And this week have been fucking awful. I have not been doing well at all and have been reacting so poorly to having corona, haha. My body and health sucks. Sigh. I'm better today, but not good. Just want to heal fast and hoping my body isn't more damaged from having had corona again. Ugh. But, yeah. I am okay. Have not read anything this week, have not been well enough. Just mostly been sitting still, trying to take it easy. Sigh. Oh. And I got all the mail this week. Oops. Aaall the books. Ahh. Even my two-week missing package showed up. What even. I cannot believe it, haha :) But I'm glad it made it. <3 I got a bunch of pop figures, oops. Must stop buying. This week I'm waiting on Lying in the Deep :) Hope you're well. <3

Chain of Thorns. Whoops. All my copies are here, ha :) Two US hardcovers, one UK hardcover, and the waterstones uk hardcover special edition. <3 It's gorgeous. I need to catch up on this series very soon :)
Seasparrow. Got my fairyloot edition of Seasparrow :D And it is stunning, eee. I love it so much. Sigh. <3
The Stolen Heir. Had forgotten about this one, now bought :) I know, haven't read book one yet. One day.
Empire of the Vampire. I haven't read this one yet either. Oops. But now I have the new UK paperbacks :)
Lore. Another book I have not read yet, oops, and I own the hardcover. But bought this new pback too :)
Ninth House. Ordered from waterstones, so had to get this special edition cover paperback, haha. Pretty.
Skyborn: Call of the Crow. Paperback edition is out. And it looks stunning. I loved this series so so much.
Animal Crossing. I had to own this desk mat :D It is so pretty. Eee. I have nowhere to put it, ha, but love.
Funko Europe. Yeah. I got a whole bunch of more pop figures. Oops. Max, at last :D Love love love all my mystery minis from Stranger Things. <3 Got a bunch of different :) Now missing four rarer ones. I need :)

More Instagram photos here. <3

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Waiting on Wednesday #591

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

LYING IN THE DEEP BY DIANA URBAN

Goodreads Description:

A juicy mystery of jealousy, love, and betrayal set on a Semester at Sea-inspired cruise ship, with a diverse cast of delightfully suspicious characters who’ll leave you guessing with every jaw-dropping twist.

After being jilted by her ex-boyfriend and best friend, Jade couldn't be more ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime—11 countries in 4 months, all from the luxurious Campus on Board ship—and to wedge an entire globe between her and the people who broke her heart.

But when Jade discovers the backstabbing couple are also setting sail, her obsession with them grows and festers, leading to a shocking murder. And as their friends begin to drop like flies, Jade and her new crush must race to clear her name and find the killer they’re trapped at sea with….before anyone else winds up in body bags.

Perfect for readers of Natalie D. Richards, E. Lockhart, and Karen McManus!

Format: 384 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: May 2, 2023 by Razorbill
Pre-Order: Book Depository and Blackwells and Amazon

I'm both curious and nervous about this book, haha :) I like the cover a whole lot. And I think it sounds like it could be an amazing murder book. I'm worried about the romance. Sigh. Hoping for no drama/triangle feelings. I'm hopeful that it will be amazing and that there will only be romance with the girl and her new crush. I'm crossing my fingers, ha :) As I do think that I will like this book a whole lot. Want to, at least :)
What are you waiting for on this shocking Wednesday?

Saturday, February 11, 2023

In My Mailbox #588

Already another Saturday. How rude. Time is moving too fast :) But I am so excited about that, because I cannot wait for winter to be over, haha. I want it to be April, for it to be time to put my spa bath up again. <3 And for it to be May, as I will have the most wonderful birthday, ahh :) Hope time continues to move fast, haha. Anyway. This week. Ugh. My missing/lost package has not been found. It went missing two weeks ago. At last got a refund from funko europe, but ugh, I'm disappointed. I wanted my sold out items. Rude. I did get a bunch of other great mail, though. <3 And I read another book this week :D Yay! That makes it four books read so far this year, which is way more than last year, when I read my fourth book at the end of April. Gosh. So, yeah. I'm happy to be reading more :) But now need a little break, I think. I'm exhausted. And I am now sick too, of course. Uuugh. Not feeling good at all. Yeah. But I'm doing my best anyway :) Oh, I have played a whole lot of Mario Party Superstars with my nephew; so much fun. <3 This week I'm waiting on Find Him Where You Left Him Dead :D And shared my review of Princess of Souls :)


Cut! I'm so excited to read this new book by Cat Winters. <3 I love that she has written a picture book.
Rise of the Dragons: The Lost Lands. Bought this book only because Jessica Khoury wrote it, haha :)
One Girl in All the World. One day I shall read the first book, so I may read this second one too, ha :D
Seasparrow. Finally bought the UK paperback edition for my collection as well. <3 Huge and gorgeous.
Hell Bent. Got my stunning waterstones edition, at last :D Love the stained edges. <3 So love this cover.
Funko Europe. Oops. Another pop figure order, ha :) LOVE my orca. <3 Love the new spider-man too :)
Funko Pop. Oh! The Mickey Mouse holiday pop figure was bought via a private seller here; needed him :)

More Instagram photos here. <3

Friday, February 10, 2023

Review: Princess of Souls by Alexandra Christo

This was a book that I badly wanted to love, just because of how amazing it sounded. And I am happy to say that I did love it. Not as much as I wanted to, but enough. It was such a great story. A four star for me, as I had a few small problems, but nothing big. I loved the writing, mostly. And these characters were pretty great.

This book tells the story of Selestra and Nox. Two very different people who end up meeting, trying to change the world together. I liked getting to know both of them. I loved them, but I did not fully care about everything, which hurt my heart a little. I do wish I had loved it all more. Hmph. But oh, their story was still very exciting.

Selestra have been locked up in her tower her whole life, pretty much. Only allowed to walk through the castle she lives in, never allowed to leave. Never allowed to have contact with people. Only with her mother and their king. She had some small rebellions, a little sneaking out and getting to know a couple of people. But this was not enough. I felt truly sad for her, because she did not know much, at age sixteen. And she wanted so badly to be a part of the world too. But Selestra was not a normal girl. She was a witch. And not a good kind. I so loved getting to know her family history, with her mom being the witch of the king, forced to do so many bad things. It was such a great storyline. And so dark. But only in the beginning. Sigh. I so wanted more darkness, honestly.

Nox is a soldier in the king's army, surviving his days. I honestly wanted to know more about him, now that I think about it. His life was pretty boring, haha. All he wanted was revenge for how his father died two years before. He had one friend, Micah. I suppose we were meant to care for him, but I did not, as I felt like I did not know him at all. Oops. Wish he had been written a little better too, same with Selestra's friend, Ilenya. Got to know her a little more, but also not enough. Didn't really care for the side characters.

I shall not write that much about the plot of this book. And so I will try my best to not write such a long review either. The story of this world is that the king has lived for ages, eating the souls of the people in his kingdom, with the help of his witch. One hundred souls a year. This will be the life of Selestra as well, when she turns eighteen. She does not want it, but there isn't any choice. Until Nox shows up. There is a festival, where people give their souls to the king if they are unable to escape their deaths for two weeks.

Nox signs up for this, as there is a different version too. Survive four weeks and you can kill the king. No one has ever tried this. But Nox would do anything to revenge his father. Selestra can see how people will die, if she touches them. And so she has gone her whole life pretty much never touching anyone. It was sad to read about, and one of the things I liked most about this. I wish this had been written about more later on, though. But it was a great story. How Selestra and Nox meet, with her the one to see his death.

Okay, I have missed out on describing a whole lot of this story. But I'm not going to write more either. Nox is trying to escape death. And Selestra is trying to help him, as they are connected in a special and weird way. They end up fleeing the kingdom, with their two friends as well. I did like reading about them up in their air balloon. And the small adventures that they had. I did not really love the story when they arrived at the island they were looking for, though. Was some drama I did not like. And just a little bit boring too.

But overall, this story was exciting. And I loved reading about Selestra and her witchy powers. Only wish there had been even more about it all. And I must mention what I did not like about this book. The writing was a bit much at times. Nox was always smirking and I could not stand it. Oops. There was a bit much with the goddess things at the end of the book, felt a little weird to me. Yet I liked it too. There was a small romance as well. It was pretty great and I did love them together. Wish there had been more kissing, ha.

I may have already written too much about this book. Oh. And yet I haven't really written much about it at all. My thoughts are a little messy right now. The book was good. I loved parts of it. But other parts I did not like that much. I wanted more of the magic of this world. Yet I did love getting to know what we could about this place. The story was mostly about Selestra and Nox. Which I loved, as I honestly only cared about them. The king was the bad guy, yet I was never scared. Should have been scarier, honestly, haha.

Princess of Souls was an excellent story. I so enjoyed getting to know these characters and this world. I may have wanted more of everything, but I still liked this book a whole lot. I did want a little more from the ending, as I felt like it was a bit rushed with the final battle. But it was a good ending too, and I am happy with it. I can't wait to read more books from Alexandra. I have now read her first and latest book, hoping to read the other two soon as well. I think you should all read this book too. This is a story worth reading.

Goodreads - The Book Depository - Blackwells - Amazon

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Waiting on Wednesday #590

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

FIND HIM WHERE YOU LEFT HIM DEAD
BY KRISTEN SIMMONS

Goodreads Description:

AT DAWN HE’LL BE GONE AND YOU’LL BE HERE FOREVER.

Kristen Simmons's masterful breakout horror novel that's "Jumanji but Japanese-inspired" (Kendare Blake) about estranged friends playing a deadly game in a nightmarish folkloric underworld.

“Intense.” —Kendare Blake • “Unforgettable.” —Margaret Rogerson • “Bone-chilling.” —Lauren Shippen • “Twisted.” —Lish McBride • “Won't let me sleep!” —Chelsea Mueller

Four years ago, five kids started a game. Not all of them survived.

Now, at the end of their senior year of high school, the survivors—Owen, Madeline, Emerson, and Dax—have reunited for one strange and terrible reason: they’ve been summoned by the ghost of Ian, the friend they left for dead.

Together they return to the place where their friendship ended with one goal: find Ian and bring him home. So they restart the deadly game they never finished—an innocent card-matching challenge called Meido. A game without instructions.

As soon as they begin, they're dragged out of their reality and into an eerie hellscape of Japanese underworlds, more horrifying than even the darkest folktales that Owen's grandmother told him. There, they meet Shinigami, an old wise woman who explains the rules:

They have one night to complete seven challenges or they'll all be stuck in this world forever.

Once inseparable, the survivors now can’t stand each other, but the challenges demand they work together, think quickly, and make sacrifices—blood, clothes, secrets, memories, and worse.

And once again, not everyone will make it out alive.

Format: 272 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: September 26, 2023 by Tor Teen
Pre-Order: Book Depository and Blackwells and Amazon

Eee! I am so very excited about this book :D Ahh! I think it looks gorgeous. <3 Love that cover. It sounds so epic too, eee :D I just know that I will love this one. <3 I'm a bit behind on books by Kristen, but I have read a bunch of her books, and enjoyed them all :) So this new one is going to be great. I cannot wait :)
What are you waiting for on this eerie Wednesday?

Saturday, February 4, 2023

In My Mailbox #587

Another week has passed, ack :) Already February. Gosh. My little girl, my cat, turned 10 years old on the first :D Ahh! So old now, haha, but acting so very young. I love her the most. <3 It's getting closer to April. I am, hopefully, putting my spa bath up again in just over two months, eee. I can't wait :D Plus side, I read a book this week, yay! And I loved it; a five star. <3 So happy about that. But this week have sucked. I have been so stressed. And I still am, honestly. DHL Express lost my package last Friday. And they still have not found it. It arrived in my town. Then it was gone the next day. And this is just not okay. Half of my funko order is out of stock. I won't get the items again. And I am so so angry and sad about it, to be honest. Sigh. So, yeah. I'm stressed. They are all looking for it. A case has been opened with dhl and from funko as well, since I contacted them. I just. I hope they find it. Sigh. But.. I don't really think they will, I think someone stole it. Hmph. But yeah. I hope, even so. Anyway :) Despite this, I'm doing okay. Health sucks, always, ha. But I'm good. Feeling positive about reading, and hoping to read something else this coming week :) Fingers crossed. This week I'm waiting on Arch-Conspirator :D I shared my review of Curses. <3 Three books read so far this year. More than last year :) Hope you are all well :)


Riven. I'm excited about this book :D Been a fan of Mindee for years. <3 I'm hoping to read it very soon.
Beyond the End of the World. US paperback edition. <3 I must re-read book one soon, so I can read this.
Serendipity. New US paperback version :) I have not read this yet, but Marissa Meyer, so had to own it :)
Funko Europe. Oops. I ordered all the things this past week. Of course, one package is still missing. Ugh. But I got all of these items at least :D And ahh, so much amazing. <3 Many exclusives. Oh, a few were ordered from EMP. I finally got Vecna and Eddie from Stranger Things :D Love love my The Lion King special. Love my Kit & Doggy, eee. SO cute. Everything is perfect. Of course, I don't have room. Oops :)

More Instagram photos here. <3

Review: Curses by Lish McBride

It gives me so much joy to say that I loved this book just as much as I had hoped I would. It only took me ages to finally read it. But I'm so happy that I did, at last. As it was such a great book. I am even giving it five stars. As I loved it so. It was a fun and exciting story and I thought it was wonderful. Plus the writing was great.

I shall not share too much about this book. Only a bit of my love for it. At first I was worried that I would not like it, as it seemed like there was a bunch of different point of views and people to get to know. But turns out there was not. Only truly two point of views to get to know and love. And oh, how I loved them most.

This book tells the story of Merit and Tevin. Two very completely different people, from different lives. Getting to see them coming together and getting to know each other was the very best thing. Sigh. I loved how fun this book. There was a little heartbreak, of course. But not much. It was mostly just fun and so good. Well, the curses were not fun. And I wish this world had been kinder. But it was so amazing too and I loved it the most. I so wish Lish would write more from this world, as I want to read more about all of them. Want more of my precious favorite characters. And also more from all the side characters. I want to know if they all ended up happy. I want other curses broken, I want punishment for the godling's who cursed them, ha. But even so. This book had such a great and perfect ending and I loved it so much.

I figure I should mention this world first. The book is set in the past, but not fully our past. A world that has magic, at least some of it. There are creatures living in this world too. And I so loved that. I wish we had seen even more of them, as they were adorable. It is a world of curses and gifts. I loved getting to know all about it. I only wish there had been even more, more books with even more details. But oh, it was so good. I felt like this world was written really well, which I loved. But what I loved most were the characters.

First there was Merit. She was cursed by a fairy godling when she was almost fifteen years old. Cursed to be a beast for the rest of her life, unless she married someone her mother chose before her eighteenth birthday. Or if she found true love. She got turned into a true beast. But with her mind her own. I so loved getting to know this girl. She is now just six weeks from turning eighteen. Until she turns into a beast for real, her mind gone. She is running out of time, losing more of herself. She just wants to break her curse.

We get to know her pretty well. And I adored this girl so very much. I loved how there was something she could take, to be a human again, if only for a few hours. But I truly loved the beast side of Merit. It was so interesting to read about and I just so adored getting to know it. Her beast was a little wild but still her too. Wish she had been described a little more, though. Merit was such a feisty girl and I adored her. She was fun and sweet too. Her relationship with her mom was very complicated, but it did get better, somewhat.

And then there was Tevin. Such a complicated boy. He was not cursed, but gifted instead. With charm. And reading about all of that was so interesting, how he was able to charm almost everyone into doing what he wanted. He was also fully handsome. And I loved that too, haha. His parents were thieves. And he was too, to help them; help his siblings. Which is how he ended up meeting Merit; his mother traded him away. But anyway. Tevin was all kinds of stunning and I loved him so. He was fun and sweet and oh.

There were so many other characters in this book. I cannot mention them all, and so I will not. But I will say that Merit had two friends that I adored so very much. Well, her healer and her protector. They were both her friends and I loved getting to know them. Tevin also had the very best family, well, siblings. His parents were the worst. But his two siblings were the best. And his best friend, Val, was incredible too. I loved how everyone was included in this book. There were two sisters, cursed, whom I loved to pieces.

Oops. I have already written way too much about this book. Had planned on writing just a little. But then I started talking about these characters and I could not stop. And I still have things that needs to be written down. But almost done. There was so, so much going on in this book. The plot was every kind of exciting and thrilling. Also rude. Merit hires Tevin to help her find a good husband before her time is up. It does not go as planned. And it was so great, ha. Curses was a magical adventure book. One that I loved so much.

I must say that I did not really like her having to spend time with other boys, trying to find a husband. But I also did not mind too much, because it was written in a good way too. The romance was between Merit and Tevin. A little slow to happen. But so very good and I shipped them the most. Sigh. There is so much I could say about this book. Already said too much, yet not nearly enough. It was such a fun read. I did want a little more, but I'm so happy with it too. And just glad I finally read it. Now you must read this too.

 

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Waiting on Wednesday #589

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

ARCH-CONSPIRATOR BY VERONICA ROTH

Goodreads Description:

From dystopian visionary and bestselling phenomenon Veronica Roth comes a razor-sharp reimagining of Antigone. In Arch-Conspirator, Roth reaches back to the root of legend and delivers a world of tomorrow both timeless and unexpected.

Outside the last city on Earth, the planet is a wasteland. Without the Archive, where the genes of the dead are stored, humanity will end.

Passing into the Archive should be cause for celebration, but Antigone’s parents were murdered, leaving her father’s throne vacant. As her militant uncle Kreon rises to claim it, all Antigone feels is rage. When he welcomes her and her siblings into his mansion, Antigone sees it for what it really is: a gilded cage, where she is a captive as well as a guest.

But her uncle will soon learn that no cage is unbreakable. And neither is he.

Format: 128 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: February 21, 2023 by Tor Books
Pre-Order: Book Depository and Blackwells and Amazon

I honestly have no idea what this book is about. I feel confused about the summary above, haha. Buuut. I'm still getting this book :D As I will get anything by Veronica, and I am excited to give this book a try :)
What are you waiting for on this timeless Wednesday?