In My Mailbox #621

Gods. This week. Sigh. I got my new iPhone 15 pro max, which I very much love. <3 I got a whole lot of books this week which I also very much love, haha :) But I have been so exhausted this week. Sigh. So much stress because of my pokemon go. First that spoofing cheater who has been a jerk for months now. And then my home gym was suddenly gone a few days ago. Yeah. I'm heartbroken. It makes everything harder now. Sigh. I am not pleased. So, yeah. A little too much stress for me. And today I took down my spa bath as well. Aw. Sobs. Had some great baths, though. <3 But yeah. Now it is down for six months, until April. How rude. So anyway. I hurt all over these days. But I'm doing okay :) I haven't read anything yet, but will be starting Champion of Fate next, and I can't wait for that. <3 This week I'm waiting on The Familiar :D I'm hoping to start reading tomorrow. Fingers crossed for me :) Hope you are all doing well. <3

Fall of the School for Good and Evil. Finally got to buy myself my regular hardcover of this book too, ha.
A Study in Drowning. Waterstones exclusive and regular US hardcover :) I'm hoping to love this one a lot.
Impossible Creatures. Yeah. I bought this because it was exclusive and looked gorgeous. Sounds great :)
Champion of Fate. At last, my hardcover is here, haha :D I'm very excited to read this one next, yess. <3
Anna Dressed in Blood. Yesss. New paperback edition, and it is gorgeous. I loved this book so so much.
Hide. Graphic novel version, ha :D I did not love the regular book, ack, but had to own this one even so :)
Bee Bakshi and the Gingerbread Sisters. I'm so excited for this one :D The cover looks so very stunning.
Lore. Realized I was missing this US paperback edition, ack, so now I finally own it, eee. Loved this book.
Our Dark Duet. Special edition of book two is out, eee. These editions are so pretty. Loved this duology.
Silver in the Bone Fairyloot Swag. Eee! Thank you to two lovely people for helping me get this swag. <3
Barbie Ken doll. I had to buy this one from amazon, haha :D Waiting on Barbie; hopefully arriving soon.
Animal Crossing. A bunch of 2024 stuff, haha :) I love the wall calendar and the daily one is the very best.
Stranger Things + Pikmin 1+2 + Pokemon. Small merch :D Love the game remake. New trading cards :)
iPhone 15 Pro Max. Eeee! My precious is here. Sigh. I had to buy this new phone. Oops. And I love it :)

More Instagram photos here. <3

Waiting on Wednesday #623

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

THE FAMILIAR BY LEIGH BARDUGO

Goodreads Description:

From Sunday Times bestselling author of Ninth House, Hell Bent and the Shadow and Bone series comes a highly anticipated, gorgeously written historical novel with a dusting of magic brimming with peril and dark deeds

When Luzia, a servant in the household of a Spanish nobleman reveals a talent for domestic magic, her social-climbing mistress demands she use her gifts to win over the royal court. But what begins as simple amusement turns dangerous, as the king seeks any edge in his ongoing war with England.

Overmatched and at risk of revealing herself as a heretic, Luzia will have to use every bit of her wit and resilience to survive-even if that means enlisting the help of an embittered (and rather dashing) immortal familiar.

Format: 476 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: April 11, 2024 by Viking
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

Eee! New Leigh book :D And it sounds aaamazing. I know, I do not read a lot of adult books. But I will read this one, of course :) That cover is so different. I love it. I'm so excited for this. It shall be awesome.
What are you waiting for on this historical Wednesday?

In My Mailbox #620

Ohh. This week have been good and bad. I'm so exhausted. I haven't been sleeping that well. Hoping it gets better soon. Sigh. Been having some stress from a pokemon go cheater who keeps ruining for me, and it is driving me insane. I have reported him, several times, so I just hope he gets banned. Ugh. But yeah. It's stressful and I do not like it. I have also been waiting on updates about my ordered iPhone 15 pro max, since it was delayed. But it got shipped yesterday, eee, so should be here monday or tuesday. I'm too excited. <3 And was waiting for my america package too. And that has arrived :) I got way way too much mail this week. But I love it all so much, eee. Waiting on a bit more, though, oops. Next week I will get a bunch of books, two that I'm planning on reading next. So I am hoping to read this coming week :D Fingers crossed. So yeah. I'm fully exhausted. But my week has been good too. So I'm doing my best :) This week I'm waiting on The Lost Ones :) Hope you're all doing well. <3 Have you gotten autumn yet? :D

Once Upon a Time in the North. Of course I had to get this illustrated version, ha. Loved this short story :)
Fall of Ruin and Wrath. I confess. I only bought this Waterstones excl. because everyone else did, ha :D
Queen of Air and Darkness. New special edition :D Finally have all three in these versions. It's huge, ack.
The School for Good and Evil. Collector's edition :D Eee! Isn't it just gorgeous? Excited for the bonus. <3
The Nightmare Before Christmas. I bought this since I like the author, ha :) Reading this one day, though.
Animal Crossing graphic novel. Number five is here :D I haven't read these, ha, but owning them all still.
Silver in the Bone AUS ARC. EEE! Thank you so much for trading me this, precious. I own all of them :D
Funko Europe. Oops. More pop figures, haha. Of course ;) I love my Aragorn. And some adorable spooky cuteness. Still not getting my mystery mini Max. Sigh. Next time, ha. Bought Pikachu from Norway; love :)

Package from Becky. <3 EEE! Biggest thank you to my precious US friend, Becky, for helping me get all of this to Norway, ahh. <3 You are the very best. All the hugs :) She also helped me get a perfume and some gum for my mom, which means the most. <3 Some things are just not possible to get to Norway at all. Ugh. So it means everything to me that I have some friends in the US who are willing and able to help me :) Feeling so very grateful. <3 Anyway. Time to share about what I got, haha :D I got all of the books, ahh. First, B&N exclusive editions :) Foxglove King. Silver in the Bone. EEE. House of Roots and Ruin. Excited for them all. <3 And ahh! My personalized copies of A Crown of Ivy and Glass and Extasia :D I love them so much. <3 Claire is the best. And my personalized copy of Fall of the School for Good and Evil :D Eee. I love it. And had an ARC trade for The Forbidden Wish; so excited to finally own it. <3 Also Fall of the School for Good and Evil pre-order pin :D Eee! Thank you Becky for helping me get this. <3 I love it so. And a bunch of CDs :D I had to get them all, haha. Finally have Taylor Swift Speak Now. <3 So gorgeous. And then there was a whole lot of EOS lip balms, ha :D I love them the most. Sucks that they stopped selling in Norway. Best lip balm. <3 Anyway :D I got so much! AHH :D Just. Thank you so much love. <3 (I bought everything myself, of course, and paid for the big amount of shipping, ack, but Becky helped me and shipped to me and it means the most to me. <3) Sigh. Fully love my new books :D Eee.

More Instagram photos here. <3

Waiting on Wednesday #622

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

THE LOST ONES BY LAUREN DESTEFANO

Goodreads Description:

Journey to Never Land in the second book in the Disney Villains-focused Dark Ascension series, which shares the untold story of teenaged Captain Hook and his twin sister Marlene, penned by New York Times bestselling author Lauren DeStefano.

Before Captain Hook became Never Land’s villain, there were two siblings seeking a home . . .

James and Marlene have always felt out of place in their humdrum fishing village, longing to escape the quiet lives their parents envision for them. But when Marlene’s birthday wish transports them both to an unsettling, magical paradise called Never Land, they discover an unexpected the chance to stay forever with the charismatic Peter and his Lost Boys.

As the twins delve into the island’s violent secrets, their actions reignite a conflict between the fractured Lost Boys—and for the first time in their lives, James and Marlene find themselves at odds. With a war brewing and their memories slipping away every minute they spend in Never Land, they must choose whether to stay or go. But even if the twins stand together, Never Land--and Peter--won’t allow them to leave so easily.

How far are James and Marlene willing to go to chart their own destinies? And if the price for freedom is losing their true selves--and each other--is it worth the cost?

Format: 336 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: January 9, 2024 by Disney Press
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

I am pretty curious about this book :D I like that cover a whole lot. And I own a whole bunch of books by Lauren; though it has been some years now since I read her books. But liked a bunch of them. So I will give this one a chance too, and hoping that I will love it :) Sounds like a great sort of Peter Pan re-telling.
What are you waiting for on this lost Wednesday?

In My Mailbox #619

Meh. I have mostly just been exhausted this week. So I haven't felt like doing much. I have not read anything new, and will not until I get my hardcover of Champion of Fate, so I can read that one, ha :) I took some new instagram photos today, which was nice. Still going on daily walks each afternoon, which is good too. And taking my spa baths pretty often too, though it needs to be taken down in just a few short weeks. Oh. Got some stunning mail, though :D Love! And I was waiting all week to finally be able to get the iPhone 15 Pro Max. <3 Took forever before it finally was able to be bought, ha. But I got it. Though it will take a couple of weeks before I get it. Sigh. But I'm so very excited :D This week I'm waiting on The Hunting Moon :) Also! Watched all of One Piece last week. I loved it so :) Hope you are all doing well. <3

Lore. Ahh! This is gorgeous. Bookish box version. Bought from someone on facebook. Worth the price.
A Crown of Ivy and Glass. Eee! The Fabled edition :D Bought from Australia via ebay. So stunning. Love.
Champion of Fate. Eee! I am so excited for this :D UK paperback. But will read hcover when I get it, ack.
Seraphina + Forever ARCs. Thank you so much Cassy for trading with me :D So happy to have these :)
Beth Revis patreon swag. Ahh :D Thank you so so much Beth. I so love this Night of the Witch swag. <3
Funko Europe. Ah, yes. Another order. Oops. I had to get those two sodas, ha :D And the other big mom.

More Instagram photos here. <3

Waiting on Wednesday #621

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

THE HUNTING MOON (The Luminaries #2)
BY SUSAN DENNARD

Goodreads Description:

The Hunting Moon is the highly anticipated sequel to The Luminaries by New York Time s bestselling author Susan Dennard.

Winnie Wednesday has gotten everything she thought she wanted. She passed the deadly hunter trials, her family has been welcomed back into the Luminaries, and overnight, she has become a local celebrity.

The Girl Who Jumped. The Girl Who Got Bitten.

Unfortunately, it all feels wrong. For one, nobody will believe her about the new nightmare called the Whisperer that's killing hunters each night. Everyone blames the werewolf, even though Winnie is certain the wolf is innocent.

On top of that, following her dad's convoluted clues about the Dianas, their magic, and what happened in Hemlock Falls four years ago is leaving her with more questions than answers.

Then to complicate it all, there is still only one person who can help Jay Friday, the boy with plenty of problems all his own.

As bodies and secrets pile up around town, Winnie finds herself questioning what it means to be a true Wednesday and a true Luminary―and also where her fierce-hearted loyalties might ultimately have to lie.

Format: 304 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: November 7, 2023 by Tor Teen
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

Okay. I have not yet read The Luminaries. Ooops. But I own many copies of it, ha :) And I am planning on reading it sometime soon, after this one is out, of course, haha :) I think it sounds and looks amazing. And I just know that I will like these books a whole lot. So I cannot wait to read them both at the same time. <3
What are you waiting for on this fierce Wednesday?

In My Mailbox #618

Time is moving so fast this fall. How rude, haha. But I am also excited about it, as Christmas is coming closer :D Yesss. This week I did get a bunch more mail, oops. Too many pop figures. Sigh. Waiting on some amazing books and I cannot wait to get them. <3 Though might still take a few weeks to arrive. I'm impatient, haha. I have been walking daily this week, had such a long walking break, but we have finally started again so hoping it sticks this time, haha. I had planned on taking a reading break, but I ended up reading a book this week too. Which was also just a two star. Uuugh. My next read better be amazing, ha. It isn't actually fall yet here, at least it doesn't feel like it. Had some more warm days, which is very nice :) Though it will get colder next week. Brrr. Hoping snow is ages away, though, haha :) This week I shared my review of It Found Us :) And I'm waiting on Impossible Creatures :D I hope you are all doing well. <3

Her Radiant Curse. I'm excited for this one :D Love the Waterstones exclusive. Hoping to love this book.
Fourth Wing. I realized I had ordered the wrong edition, so now got the US one, returning the other, ha :)
Together We Rot. Okay. So. I read an eARC of this. A three star; did not love it. But needed this cover :)
Lore. Eee! Dutch special edition :D And pre-order bonus, ahh. I love it so. Thank you Sanne for selling.
Funko Europe. Yeah. This is actually three orders that arrived this week, ha. Ohhh. I had to order three times. Oops. As I had to have all of these. First was skating Barbie and Ken; and I adore them. Then I needed to get the Hocus Pocus witches, and I love them too. Wait, maybe it was the other way around. Oh, well. Then there was the One Piece specials. Which, uhm. I might have bought just because people are going crazy about them? Hahaha. Oops. But I love them too; now have both Luffy boats :D They are adorable. And I do like that other boat too, ha. Big Momma was a bit too big. Gosh. But I like her. Almost done watching the new Netflix version of One Piece, and oh, I love it so :) And so I don't regret these pop figures, ha. Anyway. A whole bunch of other things too, though. Oops. More mystery mini. Still not gotten Max. Sigh. But I finally did get that damn Harry Potter cat, at last, ha :) Need a break from buying, though.

More Instagram photos here. <3

Waiting on Wednesday #620

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

IMPOSSIBLE CREATURES BY KATHERINE RUNDELL

Goodreads Description:

It was a very fine day, until something tried to eat him.

A boy called Christopher is visiting his reclusive grandfather when he witnesses an avalanche of mythical creatures come tearing down the hill. This is how Christopher learns that his grandfather is the guardian of one of the ways between the non-magical world and a place called the Archipelago, a cluster of magical islands where all the creatures we tell of in myth live and breed and thrive alongside humans. They have been protected from being discovered for thousands of years; now, terrifyingly, the protection has worn thin, and creatures are breaking through.

Then a girl, Mal, appears in Christopher's world. She is in possession of a flying coat, is being pursued by a killer and is herself in pursuit of a baby griffin. Mal, Christopher and the griffin embark on an urgent quest across the wild splendour of the Archipelago, where sphinxes hold secrets and centaurs do murder, to find the truth – with unimaginable consequences for both their worlds. Together the two must face the problem of power, and of knowledge, and of what love demands of us.

Format: Paperback
Expected Publication: September 14, 2023 by BLOOMSBURY
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

Ohh. I saw a signed copy of this book on Blackwells. And that cover was too beautiful. Then I read the summary and decided that I had to order it, haha. And so I did :D So I cannot wait to read this book. <3 I'm hoping that it will end up being aaamazing. I think it will, though, as it truly looks so beautiful. Sigh :)
What are you waiting for on this impossible Wednesday?

Review: It Found Us by Lindsay Currie

This was my first book by this author. I had hoped it would be my first of many, that I would want to buy all her other books too. But sadly I think this will be the only one for me. I had to buy it, since that cover is beyond creepy and awesome. It sounded spooky. I thought I would love this one so much. I very much did not. Sigh.

I'm unsure about how I will write this review of mine. I am giving the book two stars. It disappointed me so much. And I honestly do not have all that much that I want to share about it, so I think my review will end up being short. I simply wanted so much from this book. I adore creepy middle grade stories. And this was not.

I shall begin with the writing. I did not like it one bit, I am sorry to say. It felt so awkward, the way everything was written. A weird type of first person point of view, I guess. I didn't like it at all. The main girl was twelve years old, I felt like she was eight. She was supposed to be super smart, solving mysteries and such. I didn't think she was. Her list of clues bothered me so much, haha, and it was repeated so many times. It was the simplest list. And their detective work was bad too. I wanted to love this book. But I did not. It just felt silly most of the time. The kids were trying to find a missing boy. Trying to be detectives. They were so awful at it, honestly. So many things were repeated through the book too, about how awesome their parents were. I grew very tired of it.

This book tells the story of Hazel and her older brother Den. And her best friend Maggie too. I sadly have to say that I did not care for any of these characters. I didn't find them exciting or anything like that. Sigh. Hazel likes to solve things. Den is a typically teenage boy. Maggie is someone who hears every type of gossip. That is mostly what we get to know about them. I didn't see why Hazel and Maggie were friends. And I wish there had been more about that, honestly. So I could have actually cared about any of them.

Anyway. The story is that Den is sneaking out with his friends to play hide-and-seek at the graveyard and Hazel goes to spy on them, trying to get content for her someday-podcast. They play one round. Everett, the best friend of Den, does not come out. And they cannot find him. And they hear scary noises and bad weather arrives too. I felt like this book tried hard to be scary, but it never actually was. Not even for one moment. And I think that is what disappointed me the most. It was not creepy or spooky or anything. Aw.

The kids are sad and just want to find Everett. So they do their own investigating. Which leads to ghosts and things like that. I found it to be written so badly. It annoyed me at all times. Sigh. Wish the elephants on the cover actually had anything to do with the story. They didn't. The one thing I liked about this book, was the actual story of the ghost. But it was written so badly that I did not care. But it was based on a real event; I liked that a lot. I just wish the book around it had been better. How rude. Still. I liked that one part.

It Found Us ended up being a huge disappointment for me. It looks gorgeous. But the story was not. But I'm going to say that it might just be a me issue. Perhaps, anyway. I like my middle grade books to be a little more mature, and the writing in this one was very much not. I suppose some kids might like it, but I just found it awkward. And I have read a whole lot of amazing middle grade stories with amazing writing. So yeah. This book was not for me. But it might still be for you. It is very much not as creepy as the cover.

Goodreads - Blackwells - Amazon US - Amazon UK

In My Mailbox #617

Ohh. I am exhausted. Been doing a lot of walking these past days; was able to make a couple pokemon go routes on my daily walk trail and yeah, it took me forever and eeever to get that first goddamn cell, lol. But I did it today, at last, ha. So now I will be taking it a little easier with the walking. As I now feel like I'm getting a cold as well. Sigh. But yeah. Have walked a lot, which I do think is good for my body and health :) Despite being exhausted. Had a bunch of spa baths this week too. <3 Not ready for it to be taken down in about a month or so. Sobs. And I read a book this week, so yay for that :) But.. it was not very good, so I'm not feeling so positive, haha. Hoping my next read will be more epic. As always, I still play pokemon go daily, animal crossing new horizons daily, and animal crossing pocket camp daily too. It takes a whole lot of my time, haha. But I love all three games so I just cannot stop. <3 Anyway. This week I got no pop figures. What even! Buuut. Getting some next week again. Oops. Not a whole lot, though, but a few that I just had to get, ha. <3 This week I'm waiting on Sound the Gong :D And I shared my review of The Pearl Hunter :) I am going to take a little break before reading my next book :) Hope you are all doing well. <3

It Found Us. This looks so creepy and oh, how I hope that it will be aaaamazing. I'm reading this next :D
Clementine and Danny Save the World (and Each Other). Eee! Hardcover finally arrived. I'm so excited about this book; it looks adorable. And pre-order swag from Livia arrived too :D I love it so very much. <3
Movies. Sharing about these just because, ha :) I love owning blu-rays of movies. Haven't seen these yet.

More Instagram photos here. <3