Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Review: Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt

I knew I had to read this book the moment I saw that gorgeous cover. It is the best. I was lucky enough to get approved to read this book early as an eARC. I could not resist it. And may have read it too fast this evening. Impossible to stop once I started. I had to know how it would all end. It was a pretty exciting story.

But I am having mixed feelings about it too. There were parts of this book that I loved. But there were also many parts that I were not happy about. Was unsure how to rate it. Ended up at a three star. I wanted to love it more, but that was not possible. But yes. There were parts of this book that I did love. Especially Elwood.

He was the very best boy. Sigh. This book is his story, but also the story of Wil. And that was where my issues began. I did not like her. At all. I wanted to, but I could not. She was always mean and cruel. Sure, her mother had been missing for year. But that is no excuse to act in the way she did. Elwood and Wil had been best friends for years. Until her mother went missing a year ago. And Wil said that his family did something to her. And made him choose between her and his family. He chose his family. I did not blame him. She would have chosen her family too, if it had been reverse. Because where was the proof? I did not get it. She blamed his family right away. But why? It was never said. Sure, there were reasons to be suspicious after a while. But she blamed them right away, for no reason explained. I truly did not get it.

And so Elwood and Wil spent a year not being friends. With her hating him and blaming him. I get that she was hurt. Truly. She wanted her mom and wanted to know where she was. But oh, I did not like Wil. Did not like how she treated Elwood. He was the sweetest and kindest and gentlest soul there was. And she hurt him badly. And to me, she did not make up for it. I kept waiting for that during the whole book. It never happened. Instead he was the one being sorry and trying to make it up to her. That did bother me.

Okay. Enough about that. There was some romance too. After they started getting over their hurts of each other. But I was not very forgiving of it. I did like them together. Elwood had loved her since they were little. And I loved that. Sigh. But after this past year, I did not think she was deserving of this love. Okay, I didn't actually hate her. She did have some good sides too. But mostly she was mean towards everyone and I disliked that very much. Though she did have one other friend, Ronnie. And I liked her.

And now I have talked too much about the characters before I even started talking about the book. Oops. I just had to get it off my chest, haha. First. That cover truly is stunning. I love it so. But it is also a lie. And that hurts me. Because this book takes place during Christmas, in full winter at all times. Yeah. The forest is a huge part, but it is winter and snow. Always snowing. I'm surprised they did not die of cold, honestly. But still. It was about the forest and I loved that. Parts of this book felt a bit magical, which was wonderful.

I very much liked the plot of this book. It is somewhat the story of a cult. A story of a boy breaking free from his family and what they had planned for him. Him learning what his life was supposed to be. And wanting something different. Just. Oh. I very much loved Elwood. He had been abused his whole life by his parents. All for their religion. Ugh. Religion is so not my thing, especially with all of this that do go on. He had few bright spots in his life. Wil being one, until she was gone. Butterflies another. I so loved that.

I just cannot get over how gentle and loving Elwood was. He just wanted to please everyone. And that just makes me more mad at Wil for hurting him. Sigh. I'm guessing it might just be a problem for me, ha. But yeah. It was a problem. I did like her. But I did not like how she treated him for so long. Another thing I disliked was how this book was such a teenage school type of story at times. With drinking and partying, okay, only once, but I did not like it. Fighting with their friends over silly things. Sigh. Just felt a little stupid.

This review of mine may be a little messy. I just have to get all my thoughts down, even though they are not in the right order. The story is about Elwood and Wil. Him trying to escape his fate from his parents. Her trying to figure out where her mom went. We do learn that, but it felt a little weird. I wanted more from it. The cult was kind of creepy and I liked reading about how it came to be. But I felt like his dad was just weird and not scary like he was supposed to be. And her dad was such a drunk then suddenly not. Hmm.

Anyway. I have written too much. Yet not enough. Three stars for me. I wanted it to be better. But there were parts of it that I loved. Elwood especially. Loved the somewhat creepy parts of what was growing inside of it. It was so interesting to read about. Together We Rot was not as perfect as I wanted it to be, but it was still a pretty magical story that I very much enjoyed reading. Thank you the most to Penguin Teen for letting me read this book early via Netgalley. Will still get my hardcover too. You should read it.

Goodreads - Blackwells - Amazon US - Amazon UK

Waiting on Wednesday #606

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

ARTIFICE BY SHARON CAMERON

Goodreads Description:

A dramatic story of duplicity and resistance, betrayal and loyalty, set against the backdrop of World War II, by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Light in Hidden Places.

Isa de Smit was raised in the vibrant, glittering world of her parents’ small art gallery in Amsterdam, a hub of beauty, creativity, and expression, until the Nazi occupation wiped the color from her city’s palette. The “degenerate” art of the Gallery de Smit is confiscated, the artists in hiding or deported, her best friend, Truus, fled to join the shadowy Dutch resistance. And masterpiece by masterpiece, the Nazis are buying and stealing her country’s heritage, feeding the Third Reich’s ravenous appetite for culture and art.

So when the unpaid taxes threaten her beloved but empty gallery, Isa decides to make the Nazis pay. She sells them a fake―a Rembrandt copy drawn by her talented father―a sale that sets Isa perilously close to the second most hated class of people in Amsterdam: the collaborators. Isa sells her beautiful forgery to none other than Hitler himself, and on the way to the auction, discovers that Truus is part of a resistance ring to smuggle Jewish babies out of Amsterdam.

But Truus cannot save more children without money. A lot of money. And Isa thinks she knows how to get it. One more forgery, a copy of an exquisite Vermeer, and the Nazis will pay for the rescue of the very children they are trying annihilate. To make the sale, though, Isa will need to learn the art of a master forger, before the children can be deported, and before she can be outed as a collaborator. And she finds an unlikely source to help her do it: the young Nazi soldier, a blackmailer and thief of Dutch art, who now says he wants to desert the German army.

Yet, worth is not always seen from the surface, and a fake can be difficult to spot. Both in art, and in people. Based on the true stories of Han Van Meegeren, a master art forger who sold fakes to Hermann Goering, and Johann van Hulst, credited with saving 600 Jewish children from death in Amsterdam, Sharon Cameron weaves a gorgeously evocative thriller, simmering with twists, that looks for the forgotten color of beauty, even in an ugly world.

Format: 416 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: November 7, 2023 by Scholastic Press
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

Ohh. I am pretty excited about this book :D I so adore this author. Have not read all her books yet, but a bunch of them. And her historical stories are the very best. This one sounds amazing. I know I'll love it :)
What are you waiting for on this dramatic Wednesday?

Sunday, May 28, 2023

Review: The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman

This book was just as incredible as I knew it would be. Such a fun and exciting story. Of course, all kinds of heartbreaking and evil too. But mostly just fun and such a great read. It makes me so happy that I loved this book. Five stars. But now I must wait long for book two, which is so not okay, haha. I must know more.

The writing was stunning, as always with books by Amie. I truly loved to get to know the different characters. Some good, some all kinds of bad. But all of them fully exciting to read about. And so very different from each other. Yet they were coming together to survive and getting to know each other better. I so loved that.

I do not know how to write this review of mine. It is always harder with books that I love. Oops. But going to do my best. This book is for the most part the story of Selly. But it is from other point of views too. We get to know Leander and Keegan and Jude and Laskia. But yes, it's mostly about Selly and Leander and so we hear more from them. And I very much adored these characters. Eee. Selly has spent pretty much her whole life on the sea with her father. But he has been gone for the past year and she is growing restless. She bumps into Leander on the night she was trying to leave her crew and find her father, ending up staying with them instead to escort him. As he was no regular boy, but the prince of their home. He has a mission that must be done.

Selly pretty much hates him from the beginning, ha. I loved their banter. How it turned into more. It was an enemies to lovers type of story. Though they were not actually enemies. It was also just how I like it. They were not cruel to each other. Just a little rudeness from Selly and I did not mind that. Their banter was mostly just fun, as it was easy to see that they actually liked each other. I do wish the romance had been more, though. Especially with how it ends, as I worry there will be less. Hmm. It was still beautiful.

I honestly just truly loved getting to know Selly and Leander. They were so different. He was such a rich and spoiled royal boy. All kinds of handsome and knowing it. Full of magic, more than usual people with magic in this world. A little selfish, not fully caring about the world around him until now. But even with his faults, I loved him to pieces. Because he was honest and real. Kind of just a rude boy, at first. But full of heart and so sweet beneath it all. And he did care. He was just slow to show it. I just loved him the most.

Selly was also such a great girl. Pretty stubborn and a little rude too, ha. But full of heart and all kinds of brave. We get to know her crew a little too, though only half of them were on the ship when they had to leave with Leander. They all seemed awesome. And their end was the worst. Shudders. But written so very well that I just could not help but love the scenes. Oops. It fit with the story. Selly was such a great person and I simply adored her. Her growing friendship with Leander was truly the very best thing. Sigh.

Of course, this book had a whole bunch of other characters too. But it did focus most on those two, and I loved that so much. They had another boy with them on this journey across the sea, Keegan. And he was so very different from both of them. I loved that. A little rude, he too, haha. But he was such a lovely and kind person. I loved to slowly get to know him and his history with Leander at school years ago. They did not have the best of a relationship back then. I loved how they both grew and slowly ending up friends.

Then there were the villains, I would call them. They are from a different town or place in this world. And were trying their very best to make a war, to wake up their sleeping god. There was Laskia, the younger sister of Ruby, whom was the biggest crime boss around. Both of them pretty horrible, honestly. Laskia was willing to do anything to get her sister to approve of her and make her an equal to her. And oh, how many people she killed in this book. Shudders. I did not like this girl. I am not ever going to either. Hmph.

And then there was Jude. Who works for Laskia, having to help her do all the dirty work. They are hunting down Leander to kill him. Jude went to school with him too, until he left their town a couple of years ago. Thinking that Leander did not care and did not help when he needed him most. Jude just want to keep his mother safe, who is sick. And so he does whatever Laskia tells him to. I'm not sure what I felt about him. I kind of liked him, I kind of did not. Ugh. He needs to redeem himself more, for me to actually like him, ha.

Oh. I guess I should mention a little more about the world now, ha. It is one big place, filled with different towns or islands or something. They needed to travel by boat to get to the other places to visit. It was a place of gods and worshiping them, though not all did that, as they had been gone for so long. It was a book with a little bit of magic over the four elements and that some people had control over one of those. Leander had all four. I loved how the magic was spirits that helped if you ask nicely and with an offering.

This book is about Leander being delayed in making a sacrifice to their goddess to help strengthen her. He is one year delayed, as he was busy living his life. Not actually a good idea, but I did understand him too. But because of this, war is on the horizon. Not getting into all that. But it was so interesting. Leander travels with Selly and her crew. But they are being hunted and it does not go well. So much happens. All fully exciting and thrilling to read about. I loved everything being at sea and all the sailing. Written so well.

I have already written way too much about this book. Oops. Hopefully my thoughts make some type of sense. I just really loved this book. And the plot was all kinds of exciting. There was not a single boring moment in this story. I did have a few small issues with the writing at times, but nothing big. I still loved this one so very much. I just need more of Selly and Leander. Hmph. And oh, how good that ending was. The next book will be the most exciting, I'm certain of it. What I loved most was all the great friendships.

The Isles of the Gods was such an incredible adventure story at sea. Full of amazing characters and full of heart. A bit of magic and gods. A bit of madness from some. Every kind of perfect. This book did not disappoint me. I just cannot wait for the sequel. Hmph. I must know how it all ends, haha. As I am a little bit too worried. Oops. As that ending was the rudest. Okay, mostly a good ending, but such a cliffhanger even so. I'm worried about everything, ha. I am certain everyone else will love this one too. So go read it.

 

Saturday, May 27, 2023

In My Mailbox #603

I finally started reading yesterday, whoo :D Haha. I'm proud of myself, lol. Been so slow to get myself to read. Finally managed it. And I have read a lot, and will finish the book tomorrow. Also loving it, so yay for that. This week have been pretty exhausting, as always. Doing better, health-wise. But still so exhausted. How rude. And I may have gotten way, way too much mail this week. Oh. Help. I really truly need to stop buying things. Sigh. I shall get better. Hopefully. This week I'm waiting on The Forest Grimm :D OH! And I saw The Little Mermaid at the cinema :D It was so very good. I loved it. I hope you are all doing well. <3

The Only Survivors. I'm so excited about this book. Had some bad luck with her latest; hope to love this :)
Team Chu and the Epic Hero Quest. Book two, oops :D Haha. I must read them both one day. So pretty.
Sinister Summer: Menacing Manor. Oh. Book four. And I haven't read book one yet. Oops. One day soon.
Fall of the School for Good and Evil. Got my UK and International paperback editions :D Looks stunning.
The Isles of the Gods. Got my international paperback. <3 It is so gorgeous. Reading my hb now. Love it.
The Ones We're Meant to Find. Sigh. This most gorgeous book. So in love with this new paperbk cover :)
A Crown of Ivy and Glass. Ohh! The international paperback was not delayed :D And it's perfect. Sigh. <3
Beth Revis Swag. Eee! More special swag from Beth. <3 And it is fully gorgeous. So love that bookmark.

Funko Europe. Oops. Had to get those Jurassic moments :D SO perfect. Free purse. Love it. And some other pop figures I just had to get, ha. Finally got the final mickey and friends mystery mini I needed :D
Poki-Heaven. Tried a new Norwegian site :) I'm happy with it. Finally have Scar and Espeon :D Love it.

Funko Europe. Ha. Yeah. This order was huge and expensive. Sobs. But so worth it too, eee :D I love the new The Witcher pop figures, eee. Still four to be released. At last got my Ursula chase soda, haha. Love Remy. Love Bambi. Sigh. And new halloween pop figures, finally :) Supposed to come last year. Hmph. Very much delayed. And.. more mystery minis. Sigh. All doubles. Goddamn it. Makes me sad, haha :)
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Oops. I could not stop myself from buying this collector edition. But gosh. I did not know it was going to be this huge. Oops. And heavy too. How rude. But it is stunning, love the art.

More Instagram photos here. <3

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Waiting on Wednesday #605

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

THE FOREST GRIMM BY KATHRYN PURDIE

Goodreads Description:

A spellbinding YA fantasy from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kathryn Purdie, where fairy tales come to life with dark, deadly twists.

" Tell me again, Grandmère , the story of how I die. "

The Midnight Forest. The Fanged Creature. Two fortune-telling cards that spell an untimely death for 17-year-old Clara. Despite the ever-present warning from her fortune-teller grandmother, Clara embarks on a dangerous journey into the deadly Forest Grimm to procure a magical book― Sortes Fortunae , the Book of Fortunes―with the power to reverse the curse on her village and save her mother.

Years ago, when the villagers whispered their deepest desires to the book, its pages revealed how to obtain them. All was well until someone used the book for an evil purpose―to kill another person. Afterward, the branches of the Forest Grimm snatched the book away, the well water in Grimm’s Hollow turned rancid, and the crops died from disease. The villagers tried to make amends with the forest, but every time someone crossed its border, they never returned.

Now, left with no alternative, Clara and her close friend, Axel―who is fated never to be with her―have set their minds to defying fate and daring to accomplish what no one else has been able to before. But the forest―alive with dark, deadly twists on some of our most well-known fairy tales―has a mind of its own.

Format: 352 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: September 19, 2023 by Wednesday Books
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon

I had to check out this book when I saw the cover, haha :) I think it looks great. It is a new to me author, but I am pretty excited about this book :D It sounds exciting and I'm hoping to end up loving it a whole lot.
What are you waiting for on this fated Wednesday?

Saturday, May 20, 2023

In My Mailbox #602

This week went by too fast. I have not gotten much done at all. Oops. Been busy watching some movies, ha :) And just taking it easy. My bump is finally healing, after I had to stab it three times. Sigh. But it feels better, finally. Though I'm still exhausted. But I'm doing better, at least :) Still have not managed to read anything, though. Aw. But hoping to get started very shortly, I know what I'm reading. I did get a bunch of great mail, ha :) More pop figures, oops. <3 Always love my mail. I must begin to control myself, though, ha :) This week I'm waiting on Bee Bakshi and the Gingerbread Sisters :D Hope you are all doing well. <3


ARC trade. EEE! Thank you so much God of Wax for trading these with me :) I love them all so, so very much. And the biggest of thank you to Becky for helping me get them. <3 And the SGE keychain, eee :D
Funko Europe. Oh. Another very big order. Ahh! I had to get all of these. Sigh. LOVE that Stitch, eee. He is so very cute. Love my Smeagol. My Eeyore. My Peter Pan. Got the regular Bruno soda at last :) But still not the chase of Ursula. Aw. But I shall try once more even so, haha. More mystery minis, too many doubles. Oops. Yet I still buy them. Sigh. I want the last three Stranger Things that I am missing. Hmph.

More Instagram photos here. <3

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Waiting on Wednesday #604

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

BEE BAKSHI AND THE GINGERBREAD SISTERS
BY EMI PINTO

Goodreads Description:

Inspired by Hansel and Gretel, this spooky ghost story and touching debut investigates the gingerbread houses that we trap ourselves in when we don’t learn to love ourselves as we are, perfect for fans of Ghost Squad and The Girl and the Ghost.

Bee wanted to spend the summer reading Betsy Chillers books and exploring the new spooky theme park with her best friend. Instead, she’s spending the summer trapped at Storm Lake with her too loud, too thrifty, and too Indian family.

Luckily, Bee finds a place to escape her embarrassment—a magical house across the lake that transforms her into the cool girl she always wanted to be. Maybe cottage life isn’t so bad after all! But strange dreams are haunting Bee, and there’s a chill in her bones she just can’t shake.

Bee follows her hunch—and the scent of gingerbread—to Lucas, the dorky boy next door. He thinks there are ghosts in the forest, but new friend Alina tells her what Bee has feared all along: There’s a witch at Storm Lake. And she’s coming for Bee.

Format: 304 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: September 12, 2023 by HarperCollins
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon

EEE! This cover is just all kinds of amazing. I just have to have this book, haha :) I think I'm going to love it a whole bunch too, as it sounds like such a great middle grade. Sigh. It sounds awesome. Cannot wait.
What are you waiting for on this spooky Wednesday?

Saturday, May 13, 2023

In My Mailbox #601

Gah. This have been one painful week. I got sick after my Paris trip last week. So been dealing with that. At last getting a little better :) But then the bump I have had under my arm for months started getting bad, turning into an abscess. Sigh. So that have been killing me for days. Oh. So much pain, as it's huuuge. I killed it yesterday, but it's not gone yet. Rude. Hoping to be better soon, as this pain sucks. So I have not had the energy to read yet at all. Or do much of anything. Aw. Took some photos today, though, which I'm happy with at least :) And I got a bunch of books this week, oops. <3 No pop figures. What even. But got a large order arriving next week. Ha. Wait. That is a lie. I did get a Funko Nordic pop figure gift pack this week, oops. <3 Forgot those. Must add a photo below too, haha :) Anyway. I'm not doing too good, but getting better, hopefully :) This week I'm waiting on The Unmaking of June Farrow :) And I shared about my Disneyland Paris 2023 trip, eee. <3 Hope you are doing well :) Have you read any great books lately?

The Sun and the Star. Oops. Thought one of these was the US version. Was not. Sigh. Reading one day.
The Isles of the Gods. Got my signed UK hardcover and US hardcover. <3 Going to read this one next :)
Lying in the Deep. I'm unsure if this one will be for me. But I'm giving it a try, as it do sound pretty great.
Gigantosaurus the Game. I could not resist buying this on sale, haha :) I so love dinosaurs. Looking cute.
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. I'm excited to try playing this game very soon, eee :D Everyone is loving it.
Gengar Squishmallows. Oops. This one was on sale. I had to have it, haha :D So cute. Need Pikachu :)

Funko Nordic gift. Eeee! My latest ambassador gift. <3 Oh. So thankful. I love them all. Tiana the most :)

More Instagram photos here. <3

Thursday, May 11, 2023

Disneyland Paris 2023

Eee! Last week I turned 30 years old, on May 3rd. I spent that day at Disneyland Paris with my sister. <3 Her birthday gift to me :) We only had a couple of days in Paris, and did not actually go to the city. But I did not really want to either, so I'm good with that. What was important was the Disneyland trip. It was all kinds of magical and amazing. Going to be sharing some of what we did today :) Sharing photos too. Did not take that many, as I was busy just being there, haha. It has taken me a week to get this post ready, as I got sick when I got home. But I was okay when we were there. I was worried, but went okay. Of course, all the walking killed me, and I'm still hurting, but it was so good, just being there. Worth it, I guess? Ha :)

Sharing a few details about our trip, and what we did there. Left for Paris on Tuesday, spent Wednesday at Disney and went home again on Thursday. Just a short trip, but it was amazing. We stayed at Relais Spa Val d'Europe and it was such a nice hotel. Their shuttle to and from Disney was the best. They had a good pool too. And their breakfast was amazing. Ha :) It was a short walk to a huge mall right next to it, Val d'Europe. But that was beyond disappointing. They had so many stores, but not truly anything for me. I bought a few small things, but nothing big, like I had imagined I would. And it was so, so dirty. Shudders. And had so few sitting places, considering it was huge to walk through. So, yeah. It was not a good mall, ha. The village of Val d'Europe right next door was way more pretty, though. Nothing there for me, only designer things, ha. But beautiful. We also visited Disney Village, the free place. So so many people. We ate at McDonald's, which was also dirty. Sigh. I did love looking at the stores. But, again, nothing for me to buy. I thought there would be a lot of Disney stuff. I had a wishlist. They had none of it. Uugh. But I did buy a few things, but so little. Aw. So that was disappointing. Still. I loved just looking at everything. <3

And now finally going to talk a little about what we did at Disneyland Paris :D Only one day there, for both parks. But that was enough for us. We did so much walking. It was exhausting. But good. The day was sunny at all times and around 20c, which was nice. A little cold wind, but we weren't freezing. And I got such a bad sunburn on my face and chest. Oops. So, yeah. Do wear sunscreen. I did not think of it. My trip had been planned and ordered since December, when my sister gifted it to me. And yet there was something I did not learn until about a week before learning. About the Priority pass. I did not know this existed. And that I had what was needed to get it. I'm so thankful that I learned of it before leaving, as I would not have gotten much done at Disneyland without it. It helped so much. We didn't have to stand in lines for ages at all. At most 10 minutes, usually just 5 minutes or less. It was the best and helped me so much as I cannot stand for too long without sitting down. So, yes. The Priority pass saved my trip and I am so glad it was possible. Even got a photo with Mickey because of it, haha :) Oh! And I got a birthday pin as well, which was so pretty. Did not really do anything at all, but many staff members wished me a happy birthday, which I so loved :) Also, people in Paris were nice and always said Bonjour. Loved that.

Now sharing about the rides we took :D Did not do them all, and may have missed out on a few we did not go to, so we did not see them. Oops. Another time. But loved the rides we did take. Sharing about them in a random order. We took Crush's Coaster. Which we thought would not be too bad or scary, as many children were waiting in line. Ha. Yeah. That one was all kinds of scary. Hahaha. Oh. But it was a little fun too. But made me nauseous. It was almost fully dark inside too, so we didn't see anything. Rude. And went so fast. Ahh! We took Peter Pan's Flight. Which was good, yet also pretty boring, and wouldn't have been worth it standing in line for about an hour, like most people did. Oh. We took Dumbo the Flying Elephant twice, and so loved that one :) A safe one, yet fun and a little fast too. We took Le Carrousel de Lancelot, which was boring, but pretty. We took a Cars one that went pretty fast and was fun. We took the Autopia, driving around in cars. It was fun and pretty. We took Mad Hatter's Tea Cups, which was fast and all kinds of fun. Loved it. We took Orbitron, which was a little scary, as it was hard to hold on and it went fast. But fun too. We also took Ratatouille, which was so boring and the worst of them, I think. Hated the 3D glasses. Ugh. But was good enough. I think that were all the rides we did :) All of them pretty fun. <3

Sharing only a little bit more. We did not eat very much at the park, as there was not really anything we wanted to try. Though we did go to Bella Notte to get the Mickey pizza. It looked pretty, but didn't taste all that well. Oops. We spent most of the time at the Disney park, and only a little at the Walt Disney Studios park. As that one was smaller and kind of boring, haha. But we did take some rides there, which I loved. But didn't really visit the Marvel parts, were too exhausted by that time. Just walked around and watched things :) We did leave for the hotel around 5pm, as we needed a break and to order some room service. Then we went back to the park around 9pm, so we could see the special light shows at the Disney castle at 11pm :) It was such a full park by then. Gosh. It even said full capacity when we arrived back. Ahh. So it was hard to find a spot to stand in to wait for the show. We did not know at first where to find the Priority pass special place to be, so that took a while. But we did find it, which was closer to the castle and closer to see. But no places to sit, which sucked. We had to sit on the cold ground, which wasn't very good at all and too hard for me. If I go back, that will be planned better and I will bring something to sit on. And rent a wheelchair, as that is needed for me. The show was pretty, but not really worth it to spend so long in the cold waiting for it. But I'm glad I saw it too :) But anyway. I have now shared all kinds of details about our Paris trip, haha :) It was such a magical place to visit. <3 I'm still exhausted, but so worth it. I'm sharing a few photos. Did not take many. Took a few photos of myself, but I'm not happy with them, so not sharing, ha :) Though I must share one Mickey photo, despite not really loving it. But loved getting to meet him :)


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And that is all the photos I had to share :D Not too many, as I did not have the time to take photos, ha :) But happy with those that I got. <3 I took a few videos of the show at night, but it so did not look pretty to share here on my blog. So I will share those on my instagram, so visit me there, if you want to see them :)

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Waiting on Wednesday #603

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

THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW BY ADRIENNE YOUNG

Goodreads Description:

One woman risks everything to end her family's centuries-old curse, solve her mother’s disappearance, and find love in this mesmerizing novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Spells for Forgetting.

In the small mountain town of Jasper, North Carolina, June Farrow is waiting for fate to find her. The Farrow women are known for their thriving flower farm—and the mysterious curse that has plagued their family line for as long as anyone can remember. But June is determined to be the last of her name, and in turn, be first Farrow to never find love. The whole town knows of the madness that led to Susanna Farrow’s disappearance, leaving her daughter, June, to be raised by her grandmother and haunted by rumors. Everyone in Jasper is certain that it's only a matter of time before she finds the same end, but June hasn't told a single soul that it's already begun.

After her grandmother’s death, a series of clues linking her mother's disappearance to the town's grim past emerge, leading June to a mysterious door. Behind it may lay the answer to the mysteries that have always lingered like a dark shadow over Jasper and the Farrows, but the further into the unknown she goes, the more her mind seems to unravel. Upon crossing the threshold, June embarks on a journey that will not only change both the past and the future, but entangle her fate and her heart in a star-crossed love.

With The Unmaking of June Farrow, Adrienne Young delivers a brilliant story with romance, mystery, and a touch of the impossible—a story you will never forget.

Format: 336 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: October 17, 2023 by Delacorte Press
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon

Oops. I am so so so far behind on books by Adrienne. Sigh. But I'm still getting this newest one, ha :D As I did love her first book. And I know I will love her other books too. Probably, ha :) At least I own them all, and hoping to catch up very soon. Fingers crossed that I will end up loving all of them. This one as well :)
What are you waiting for on this mysterious Wednesday?

Saturday, May 6, 2023

In My Mailbox #600

Eee! I turned 30 years old this week :D Whoo! All kinds of old now, haha :) And I spent my birthday at Disneyland Paris with my sister. <3 It was the best day and such a great trip. Fully exhausting, but so good. I will be sharing a blog post just about that, tomorrow sometime :) Will share a few photos then too. I'm still exhausted from my trip, arrived home late Thursday. Now sick too, so that's fun. Ha. Not. Hoping it won't get worse. Fingers crossed. Did get some lovely mail while I was gone. <3 Bought a few things in Paris too :) But not a lot.. had a long Disney wishlist. They did not have a single thing that I wanted. Uugh. Such a disappointment. They should have had at least one thing I wanted. Hmph. But no. Still. Got a few nice things :) But bought so very little, honestly. Aw. This week I'm waiting on The Night Hunt :D Hoping to find something new to read soon. When I feel better :) Fingers crossed. Hope you are all doing well. <3

The Isles of the Gods. First of my copies, ha :) UK edition. I'm planning on reading this beauty soon :)
Funko Europe. Oops. Two new orders arrived. Ahh. I so love the new The Little Mermaid pop figures :D Eee. I had to get them all. Cannot wait for the movie. And oh, the new Disney moments. Moana! Eee. My precious. I love it so much. And a few mystery minis; still missing one Mickey. Sigh. Love the Lilo one. <3

Disneyland Paris. Bought so little. Aw. But love what I got :) Had to get the lego figures, ha, as they are so cute. Only three plushes. Aw. But they are adorable. Got two pair of ears; love them. I so wish they had a bigger selection, though, as I wanted to get more. Hmm. A few small figures and things. Only one pop :)

More Instagram photos here. <3

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Waiting on Wednesday #602

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

THE NIGHT HUNT BY ALEXANDRA CHRISTO

Goodreads Description:

From Alexandra Christo, the author of To Kill a Kingdom, comes The Night Hunt, a dark fantasy romance about a monstrous girl who feeds on fear and the Gods-cursed boy who falls in love with her.

Atia is a monster who feeds on fear. As the last of her kind, she hides in the shadows of the world to escape the wrath of the unpredictable Gods. Silas is a Herald, carrying messages and ferrying the dead as punishment for a past he can’t remember. Stripped of his true name, he yearns to recover his identity.

Atia would never dream of allying with someone like him, but when she breaks a sacred law and the Gods send monsters to hunt her, Silas offers an irresistible deal: he’ll help avenge her family and take on the Gods who now hunt her, if she helps him break his curse and restore his humanity. All they need to do is kill three powerful creatures: a vampire, a banshee, and one of the very Gods who destroyed both their lives. Only together can they finally rewrite their destinies.

Format: 384 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: October 10, 2023 by Feiwel Friends
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon

Eee! I am all kinds of excited for this book :D Gosh. Look at that pretty cover. Sigh. I have read some of the books by Alexandra, and still have to read a couple. But I'm so very excited for this new one. Sounds dark and awesome. Hoping it will be dark, at least, ha :) Hoping for some great romance too. I can't wait.
What are you waiting for on this monstrous Wednesday?