In My Mailbox #700

Hi. This have not been an easy week at all. Started with going to the hospital on Monday for my tonsils surgery. Fasted all day, and was told to be the last on the list for surgery, as always. They got me ready with the needle in my arm, and I was just waiting for my turn. Then I was told they did not have time for me. Ha. So we had to stay an extra day and do the surgery on Tuesday instead and not go home until very late Wednesday. Which was the absolute worst. Plus side, got to do a little shopping and eating on Monday then. But I was fully exhausted. Then it was surgery on Tuesday. Got taken in earlier, so I got it done. It went well, I think. I am in a bunch of pain. But it also is not that bad, thankfully. But oh, it hurts to swallow. Badly. So I do not eat or drink much. Trying to drink more, but it is difficult, as many things just burn my throat. So I haven't eaten much at all. But that's okay; I can survive a couple of weeks with little food :) Shall be good for my health, I think, haha. I'm still worried about bleedings and possibly dying. It can still happen while healing. But so far everything is going well, so fingers crossed. But yeah. I'm still nervous. Yet so glad I finally got rid of my huge tonsils. Can already notice a huge difference with them gone. But anyway. Now I'm just taking it easy and trying to heal. Will spend two weeks at least doing just about nothing, which is needed. Possibly three, depends on if I heal fast or not. And my body is not fast at healing. Ha. Anyway. Got a bit of precious mail this week. <3 Now back to relaxing and hoping these next weeks pass by fast. Fingers crossed. This week I'm waiting on Firebird :) Hope you are all doing well. <3

The Prince Without Sorrow. I'm still a little unsure if this book will be for me. But I want to give it a try :)
The Notorious Virtues. This book is finally out, after so many years :D UK Waterstones exclusive. Love.
Hello Kitty Island Adventure Deluxe Edition Switch. Eee. Finally I will get to play this game very soon. <3
Bukowski Plush. Two new plushes from the hospital airport. <3 Love them both very much. Two small :)
Jellycat Plush. I just had to order this most adorable bee bear, haha :D Bartholomew is such a cute plush.
Flåklypa Grand Prix. Norwegian Switch game, that I used to play on a PC. Collector edition. Had to have.
Lego. Couldn't resist finally buying a couple Animal Crossing legos; just small ones. <3 + free Easter one.

More Instagram photos here. <3

Waiting on Wednesday #702

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

FIREBIRD BY JULIETTE CROSS

Goodreads Description:

Passion ignites in Firebird, a scorching, dark romantasy set in Ancient Rome. From acclaimed author Juliette Cross, this is House of the Dragon meets From Blood and Ash.

A conqueror captivated.
A witch prophesied to save them all.
A world where dragons rule Rome.

From the moment Roman general and nephew to the emperor Julianus Dakkia laid eyes on Malina, he was enthralled by the Dacian dancer. Years later, the fierce beauty stands before him on a scarred battlefield, her life in danger. He instinctively shifts into his dragon form to save her, an action that may result in his head on the imperial gate. But he and his dragon know one she belongs to them.

Malina can’t believe that the centurion who had once bestowed a secret talisman on her is the Roman general of legendary brutality. His warrior prowess cannot be denied, yet it doesn't reveal the secret he hides. All Malina knows is his protection and gentle touch and how her soul has always seemed to answer his.

As they navigate a world where flying deathriders conquer and burn, their love will ignite a firestorm that can only end in heartbreak or death. Or both.

Firebird by Juliette Cross is the first fiery book in the The Fire That Binds romantasy series.

Format: 400 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: April 8, 2025 by Bramble
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

Oops. I somehow ended up pre-ordering the Waterstones exclusive of this book and the Amazon special first edition. And I have no idea if I will like this book at all. Ack. But I think it looks awesome. And I think it sounds great too. Curious about the dragon part. And so I am crossing all my fingers I will love this one :)
What are you waiting for on this fiery Wednesday?

In My Mailbox #699

Ahhh. Surgery in just a couple of days. I am so nervous. Getting my tonsils removed. I'm so worried. But I think it will be good for me to get rid of them. So fingers crossed it will go okay, and that there will be zero bleedings, and that it will heal fast and well and have less pain. Ack. So yeah. Been busy this week being nervous, haha. I'm still a little sick, coughing a little each day. But I'm much better this week than last. So I think my surgery can still be done. Probably. These past few days I have gotten lots of instagram photos taken; so I have over three weeks of not needing to take photos after my surgery :) I also finished reading my book earlier this week, so now taking a reading break to focus on healing next week. It will take weeks of healing, ack. Anyway. I got way, way, way too much mail this week. Sigh. So many pop figures. So love them all, haha :D I shared my review of The Listeners. <3 This week I'm waiting on The Rose Bargain :) I'm not sleeping well enough lately; keep waking up so very early each day. Ugh. It's driving me a little bit insane, haha. And not sleeping good either. I hope it gets better soon :) Hope you are all doing well. <3

Star Wars: Someone Who Loves You. Had to get this, as I adore Beth. <3 Still haven't seen Star Wars :)
Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter. New Jay Kristoff graphic novel. Reading this one day. Hope it is good.
Sunrise on the Reaping. Eee. Haven't read the other spinoff yet either. But reading them all one day. <3
Ghost Girl. Finally decided to buy this book to give it a try :) Have read one book by this author already.
The Dark Refrain. Eee. Finally a print copy of book three in this series. <3 Must re-read book one soon.
Artifice + Bluebird. Paperback editions of two gorgeous books that I so adored. I so love this author. <3
Funko Pop. I forgot to include the Stitch pin and Bitty pops in my photo below. Love them. + Megan :D
Moana 2. These were all kinds of expensive. Ahh. But had to get UK 4K editions. <3 And the CD too.
Funko Nordic / Funtastic by Proxy. Eee! Thank you so very much lovely for this most precious newest free ambassador gift. <3 I so love the two new Snow White pop figures :D And the Goo Jit Zu squishy figures are amazing, eee. I love them so. Will be sharing about all of these on instagram next week. <3

Funko Europe. Oh, help. This is a total of three orders, oops. <3 There were simply too much awesome coming out, haha :) I had to get it all. Sigh. My poor money. Love the new Pokemon. I love all the cute new Hello Kitty and friends. Adore The Secret of Nimh. And The Electric State :D Love the rest too. <3

More Instagram photos here. <3

Waiting on Wednesday #701

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

THE ROSE BARGAIN BY SASHA PEYTON SMITH

Goodreads Description:

The Cruel Prince meets The Selection in this captivating duology opener brimming with heart-pounding romance, vicious competition, and beautiful, cruel fae, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Witch Haven, Sasha Peyton Smith.

Every citizen of England is granted one bargain from their immortal fae queen.

High society girls are expected to bargain for qualities that will win them suitors: a rare talent for piano in exchange for one’s happiest childhood memory. A perfect smile for one’s ability to taste.

But Ivy Benton’s debut season arrives with a shocking twist: a competition to secure the heart of the Queen’s fae son, Prince Bram. A prize that could save Ivy’s family from ruin… and free her sister from the bargain that destroyed her.

Yet every glittering fae deal has a rotting heart—and at the center of this contest is a dark plot that could destroy everything Ivy knows.

Sweepingly romantic and deceptively enchanting, this alternate history romantasy will enthrall readers of Holly Black, Stephanie Garber, and Adalyn Grace.

Format: 400 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: February 4, 2025 by HarperCollins
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

I am pretty curious about this book :) As the Fairyloot edition I got of it is all kinds of gorgeous. Ahh. I so love the artwork in it, haha. And it made me think I would enjoy this book. Hoping to read it one day. <3 Though, well. I don't read many romantasy books. But I guess it's time to read some of them, at least :D
What are you waiting for on this enchanting Wednesday?

Review: The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater

Writing about this book is going to be complicated. As I have so many different feelings about it. And I'm not planning on sharing everything. Just enough. I'm giving this book four stars. As I had some issues with the beginning of it. Then I loved the last third of the book so very much. And the ending was pretty incredible too.

The writing was fantastic, as always, with books by Maggie. The setting was amazing too. I so loved reading about the mountains and the hotel as well. Especially the sweetwater and everything about it. I adored the three dachshunds, even though their role in the book was small. They were simply too cute. Loved the vibes.

There is simply too much to share about this story. And I am not sure where to begin. So I shall start with the year. It is set during the spring of 1942. The Avallon hotel is being forced to be a host for three hundred Axis diplomats. Nazis from different countries. Enemies of America. They are to stay there until those in charge are able to swap them for their own prisoners in Germany. I must confess that I hadn't heard about this part of history before now, about diplomats and such. At least not that I can remember. And so I did find it interesting and fascinating to read about, to learn more about the past as well. It was interesting to read about these people, to figure out who were actual enemies and who were just unlucky in their work. As there were several of those too.

But this book is more about the hotel than those staying at it. It tells the story of June Hudson, the woman who takes care of the hotel, the sort of owner of everything. It took a whole while before we finally learned her age, which did bother me a little. She was thirty-five. Which is a little old for me, and yet I didn't mind. As she was adorable and awesome and I just loved her to pieces. Getting to know June was the best. We slowly learn more about her childhood and how she ended up running this hotel. June was just incredible.

Then we spend pretty much half the book getting to know the hotel and the guests and everything around it. I do wish the book had been a little bit faster, as I had some trouble with the start. It grew a little boring for me. Since nothing happened. But still. I did enjoy the slow parts too, as I loved getting to know June. She worked for the Gilfoyle's, the owners of the hotel. She had been general manager of the hotel for ten years, having been there for over twenty years. The hotel was her home, the Gilfoyle's her almost family.

We learn about the sweetwater. The water that runs under the hotel and that everyone drinks from. It is sort of magical. And I so loved that. I wanted to know more. It seemed mysterious and awesome. There were four small pools at the Avallon and I enjoyed getting to know more about it. This book is about the hotel and about June. About the complicated state of having to host the Nazis. About June beginning to learn more about herself and about what she wants for her life. I honestly just liked this story a whole lot.

I have already said too much about this book yet not nearly enough about the plot. And yet. There was not that big of a story. It is a slow and lovely book. The last third had more happening, but it was pretty quiet as well. But I did not mind. I found this book to be precious. A little slow, but then better. I so loved June. I loved Agent Tucker and all we got to know about him. He was a mystery first. But he opened up and become someone better. I loved reading about him and June together. Him with everyone else too.

The book was filled with amazing characters. I'm not going to mention all of them, but have to talk about some. There was a ten-year-old girl, Hannelore. She was different. She did not speak, but she could sing. And scream. She had some fits at times. She was all kinds of smart and lovely and I adored her. We get some chapters from her, which I so loved. She was a little damaged, I think, but I could fully see why, with her parents being who they were. They seemed nice, but on the wrong side. Hannelore was so precious.

Then there was the state agent, Pennybacker. He was all kinds of fun and lovely. I adored reading about him and getting to know him. I liked when he and June were together. They grew some type of friendship that I liked. He did not have it easy. But he did his best and I adored him. There was a guest at the hotel who had lived there for years, never leaving her room. They just called her 411. We learned a little about her, but not enough. I thought she was pretty awesome. A little mysterious. But a special friend to June.

I'm not going to write about the war parts of this story. It is a complicated one. The hotel June works at have always served the rich, no matter if they were nice or not. But this is different, having the hotel filled with Nazis. The staff does not want to work for them. But they have no choice and they are getting paid for it. And June is their boss, their Hoss, and they love her and would help her with anything. And so they try their best to be civil to them all, even though it was hard. I loved that. But yeah. A heartbreaking time.

Going to mention the romance a little bit. There was not much of it. But what we got was pretty lovely. At first, June had a somewhat relationship with the eldest Gilfoyle son. She had loved him since she was a kid. And he kept coming back to her. But he was also with someone new almost every week. And I hated that so much. June deserved so much better. I love how she realizes this too. How she starts to slowly fall for Tucker. And how their relationship started. It's small and slow, but I loved it with all my heart. Precious.

The Listeners was such a different and special story. I had some troubles with it at first, with how slow it was. But then it got better and I started to love it a whole lot. I loved the hotel and the sweetwater. I just wanted even more details about it. The water was still such a mystery. And I wished to know more. It was awesome. I'm pretty sure there was a hint to The Scorpio Races island in there too, and I loved that very much. I loved the history of this book, how much of it was real. I loved that the book was honest and real.

The biggest thank you to the lovely PRH International for this free eARC copy of The Listeners to read and review via Edelweiss. I'm so glad that I got to read this one early. I should have read it a few months ago, but it took me a while to find the time. It was worth the wait, though. And I cannot wait to buy all the finished copies of this book too. Now to wait for Maggie to write more. The Scorpio Races will always be my favorite of her books. But they are all incredible. And you all really need to read The Listeners as well.

Goodreads - Blackwells - Amazon US - Amazon UK

In My Mailbox #698

Uugh. I thought last week was a bad one, with little sleep and such. Ha. This week is the worst. I got sick suddenly. A cold, I guess. But gods, it is ruining me. I'm not doing very well at all. My head and nose and throat is so bad. And when I lie down to sleep, I start coughing like crazy all the time and it all really hurts. Ugh. I'm not happy about this at all. I have my tonsils surgery is just over a week. I need to be well before then, or it will get cancelled. Ahh. Fingers crossed, please. As I want this surgery to happen and be done with. Ugh. So yeah. I'm not doing well at all. And this sucks so badly. But I'm trying my best. And I started reading a new book, and I am liking it, somewhat. But it's just taking me a while to read, as I have trouble focusing since I'm sick. Sigh. And oh. I got all the mail this week, ahh. So many books. <3 And next week will be filled with pop figures. Ugh. I need to stop buying everything. And so I will have to try taking a little shopping break, haha :) Though I have a whole bunch pre-ordered. Oops :) this week I'm waiting on Dark and Darker Still. <3 I hope you are all doing well :D I'm just nervous about getting well before my surgery.

The Ragpicker King. Oh. Intl hardcover exclusive. UK paperback. Intl paperback. All gorgeous editons :D
Sword Catcher. Finally managed to buy the international paperback for my collection. <3 First ed. too :D
Fable for the End of the World. Regular UK hardcover. <3 Had to get it too. Oh, how I hope to love this :)
She Waits for You Beyond the Dark. Of course I had to had the hardcover for my collection, just because.
Ruthless Vows. New UK paperback edition :D I had to get the regular and waterstones exclusive. Oops.
The Mirror of Beasts. At last out in UK paperback. <3 Oh, how much I loved this duology. Perfection. <3
Deep Blue Sea. One of my all time favorite shark movies :D Of course I had to get this new 4K exclusive.
Movies. Smile 2. Excited to see this one :) Hope it's good. The Wild Robot. Looks so cute. Hope to love it.
Games. I couldn't help but get these Switch games. Smurfs looks adorable. Bought Mario for the goodies, haha :D Already have the boosters via my subscription. My sister will be getting the boost game code :D

More Instagram photos here. <3

Waiting on Wednesday #700

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

DARK AND DARKER STILL BY J. A. WHITE
AND YANG JIALUN (Illustrator)

Goodreads Description:

Middle grade master of horror J. A. White and acclaimed dark fantasy artist Yang Jialun join forces to deliver a boldly original illustrated collection that dares its audience to turn the page with each increasingly terrifying tale—a Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark for a new generation of readers.

You stand before a tunnel, deep in the woods. The beam of your flashlight barely penetrates the darkness beyond the opening. You cannot know what secrets—or dangers—lie within, but you are curious, and so, gripping your flashlight, you enter. At first you can still see the last rays of sunlight behind you, but soon the pathway begins to split and twist. There is scratching movement in the shadows around you, whispering voices in a language you cannot understand. You want to leave but can no longer remember which path leads back.

And that’s when your flashlight goes out.

Like this tunnel, the terrifying stories in the collection you hold grow darker with each step. Around each twist and turn, fork and bend, you’ll encounter lost ghosts, insatiable aliens, hungry night visitors, possessed children, evil creatures in search of human hosts, and horrors of which we can only guess—for the only ones who know them are the ones who have never found their way back out.

Format: 256 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: September 2, 2025 by Clarion Books
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

Eee! I am so excited about this book :D I very much adore J. A. White and his books. Been a fan of him for so many years now. <3 And of course I have to read all his new books, haha :D And this new middle grade looks so awesome and sounds creepy and I just cannot wait for it. And illustrated! Eee. I love that :)
What are you waiting for on this darkest Wednesday?

In My Mailbox #697

Sleepy today. So I'm writing a short update. I'm doing okay, but still fully exhausted and hurting a bit too much. But I'm good as well; doing my best :) I watched The Electric State tonight, and I loved it lots. <3 I got a whole bunch of awesome mail this week. Oops. And I love it the most :D My surgery in just over two weeks. Nervous, but hopeful it will go okay. Fingers crossed, please :) I shared my review of You Belong Here :D And this week I'm waiting on Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter :) I hope you are all doing well. <3

Dreams to Ashes. I adore Livia. And this new picture book from her simply looks all kinds of awesome.
The Ragpicker King. Oops. Three copies. <3 US and UK hardcovers, and UK Waterstones exclusive. <3
Switch. New game holder, possibly for my upcoming Switch 2 games :D And two new games. Looks cute.
Funko. First some pop figures bought from Poki-Heaven here in Norway. Had to get a second Maleficent to stay in her box. <3 Love the pocket pops. Failed at Jurassic mystery. Love the Villains one. Winnie the Pooh and Stitch are so very cute. Then got Timon and Eowyn from Elkjøp here in Norway, eee :D And I got the chase! Finally :D Ahh! Love. <3 Though I had just bought her and Bilbo from a private seller here. Oops. But sold the one I bought of her; and keeping my own luck :) So happy to have Eowyn and Bilbo.
Fable for the End of the World. Got my Waterstones exclusive and US deluxe. <3 Hope to read this soon.
Movie. Into the Deep. Had to buy this shark when I saw the cover. But oh. The movie was so bad. Sobs.
Figures. Look at those awesome creepy small figure dolls, eee. So cute. Love Chucky. I had to get some mini tubbz. Love Legolas so much. Chucky and Pennywise are awesome. Love the squid game squish.

More Instagram photos here. <3

Waiting on Wednesday #699

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

DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL: ALLWINTER
BY JAY KRISTOFF & TIRSO CONS

Goodreads Description:

The Dark Knights of Steel saga, placing DC's heroes in the realm of epic fantasy, continues with a standalone tale starring Deathstroke in a deadly frozen wasteland!

The snow falls thick, blood runs black, and color itself is only a distant memory. The legendary assassin Deathstroke stalks a frozen wasteland, killing for coin among a nation of ever-warring jarls.

But when our murderer for hire finds himself cast in the role of reluctant guardian, will he fight to end the icy curse destroying his land or be consumed by the sins of his own dark past?

The red-hot Dark Knights of Steel epic, which reimagines DC's heroes in a medieval fantasy world, expands into bone-chilling new territories with new surprises in store, with a story written by Jay Kristoff, with striking images from rising star artist Tirso!

Plus, this volume includes a story by Dark Knights of Steel architect Tom Taylor and The Fellspyre Chronicles artist Riccardo Federici, detailing an all-new origin of Aquaman!

Format: 224 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: March 18, 2025 by DC Comics
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

I am so curious about this graphic novel :) I have been a huge fan of Jay for so many years now. <3 And so of course I'm getting a copy of this one, ha :) Not really my thing, but I shall try it and hopefully love it.
What are you waiting for on this epic Wednesday?

Review: You Belong Here by Megan Miranda

This was a book I was both excited and nervous about reading. Fully excited, as it's Megan Miranda, and I have read and loved her books for so many years now. Nervous, because the main character of the book is forty years. Which is over twice the age of what I'm used to reading. Yet I knew I would enjoy this story.

And I did. I had some issues, but for the most part this book was exciting and thrilling and full of suspense and mystery. Ended up being a four star for me. Not perfect, but such a great story. And I'm so glad that I read this, despite being nervous at first. As the writing was good and the setting of this book was great as well.

Although at first I did have some issues with the setting. As the beginning of this book was pretty boring. As I don't actually like school books. But this focused less on that and more on what was going on, which I liked. But yes, the beginning was slow. It starts with Beckett, who is taking her eighteen-year-old daughter Delilah to college. We get to meet her parents, whom seemed a little bit weird. I did not like them much. We learn that Beckett is not together with Delilah's dad, Trevor. Though Delilah spends every summer with him. But Beckett does not. I did like learning about their history, to know when they were together and how it ended. I wish they had stayed together, though. Hmph. As they seemed to have been great together. I did like him a bunch.

Beckett grew up in the small town that her daughter is now going to college to. Her parents are still living there. But she left, years ago, before finishing college herself. There was a fire. Two men died. Her best friend was accused of the crime and went missing. And everyone else thought Beckett had something to do with it too. And so she was kicked out of the college and had to travel elsewhere. Which is where she met Trevor and got Delilah. She's spent the past eighteen years with her daughter, just the two of them.

And so she was a little bit too overprotective, I think. A little paranoid at times. Yet I fully understood her too. She just wanted her daughter to be safe. And then Delilah applies for her old college, without Beckett knowing about it. And so she is now forced back to the town she has left behind. And all of the memories. The beginning was slow, with her just getting Delilah there for her first day. Then some weeks pass while she is back home. Until she gets a weird dropped call from Delilah in the night and can't reach her again.

This makes Beckett drive all the way to her hometown in the night. Her parents are not home, they are on a work trip to Peru. And she has no one else to look for Delilah. This book is about Delilah being missing. About Beckett going a little crazy trying to search for her. Catching up with school friends and not. I did like reading about it all, as it was fascinating. I both liked and hated Cliff. He was interesting. I wish that Beckett had been a better friend to Maggie, as she seemed like such a sweet and caring person. Rude.

There is a lot going on in this book. I shall not write too much about it. Just that the book is about Delilah being missing. With Beckett doing everything to find her. Making a whole lot of bad choices as well. Then there is another twist near the middle of the book. Then someone is found dead. And there is very much happening after that. Many secrets are revealed and it was all pretty exciting to read about. It was almost perfect. I just wanted there to be more danger, and maybe romance. Still. It was mysterious and thrilling.

I liked reading about the past in this book. There were a few short moments from before, back when the fire happened. I loved learning all the secrets and the twists. And the truth about what actually happened that night, all those years ago. I loved reading about Beckett and Adalyn together. They seemed to have been such great friends. And it broke my heart that all that just went away. Adalyn had a whole bunch of secrets to uncover. Which I really enjoyed. I liked some of the other characters, like the older neighbor.

I will admit that I did have an issue with Beckett's age. I would have liked her to be twenty years younger, haha. And yet I very much loved reading about her too. Beckett was pretty awesome. A little crazy. Yet I grew to adore her. And I loved reading her story. So yes. I had some issues with her age, but in the end it did not matter much. Her story was still thrilling and exciting. I just wish it had been a little bit more. Still. It was a great mystery. I liked her relationship with her daughter, sometimes. They were so very much alike.

You Belong Here was such a thrilling story. The writing was excellent and the family relationships were so great. I loved the mystery of it all and the twists and all the secrets that came out at the end. I did find the ending to be a little depressing, yet it was also fully fair, which I liked. Though I wish that one person had not died, to be honest. And I do wish the book had been a little more brutal, a little more dangerous. It felt pretty tame. Yet I loved it that way too. This book was more of a quiet terror. And I enjoyed it a whole lot.

Thank you so much to Ali at Marysue Rucci Books for sending me an invite to read and review this book early via Edelweiss. I'm so happy that I was able to read this book right now. And I cannot wait to own the gorgeous hardcover when it comes out at the end of July. This is a book that you all must read. Megan is the best at writing suspense. And her writing is just stunning. I have read all of her books, except for one older sequel. And her books have all been amazing. I cannot wait to read even more by her in the future.

Goodreads - Blackwells - Amazon US - Amazon UK

In My Mailbox #696

Time is moving so fast these days. Ahh. I'm having a surgery at the end of the month; finally removing my tonsils. I'm so nervous. And time is moving so fast, so the surgery is coming closer, haha. But yeah. It has been a hard week. I am still exhausted all the time and not doing too well. Itching everywhere. Ugh. And I still have bad headaches. I'm itching less today, but my head hurts. How rude. I hope to feel better soon. Hmph. Plus side, I got a whole bunch of awesome mail this week, haha. <3 Oops. And I'm reading too :D I started it last night, and may have to finish it before going to bed. It has gotten to be too exciting, haha :) I love that. This week I'm waiting on You Belong Here. <3 I hope that you are all doing well these days. <3

Fairyloot YA February. The Rose Bargain. I think this one looks all kinds of gorgeous. Sounds great too.
Fairyloot Adult February. The Scorpion and the Night Blossom. This one looks stunning too :D Love. <3
Fable for the End of the World. Regular US hardcover. May have bought too many. Oops. Hope to love it.
Unlock the Dark. I read this one some months ago, and I really liked it :D Love the hardcover edition. <3
To Cage a God. I still haven't read this one. Oops. But had to have this waterstones exclusive :D Pretty.
With a Little Luck. Paperback edition for my collection, of course, haha. <3 Have to read this one day :)
The Ogress and the Orphans. Been wanting this pback for ages. Finally bought it. Still have to read it. <3
Nintendo Switch Sports. I have been meaning to buy this game for ages; finally got it, haha :) Looks fun.
Coraline magnet. Eee. This little magnet is just all kinds of cute. Bought it from amazon; I could not resist.
Beth Revis Swag. New piece of awesome swag from Beth and her Patreon. <3 She's so awesome. Love.
Pop Figures. Dinosaur from Funko Europe, same with Bilbo. Failed again to get the chase. Sobs. I'm so heartbroken about it. Hmph. Got Hermione from amazon, as this edition never came out in europe. Rude.

More Instagram photos here. <3

Waiting on Wednesday #698

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

YOU BELONG HERE BY MEGAN MIRANDA

Goodreads Description:

A decades-old secret that drove a mother from her hometown now threatens her college-bound daughter in this twisty new thriller from New York Times bestselling author Megan Miranda.

Beckett Bowery never thought she’d return to Wyatt Valley, a picturesque college town in the Virginia mountains steeped in tradition. Her roots there were strong: Beckett’s parents taught at the college, and she never even imagined studying anywhere else—until a tragedy her senior year ended with two local men dead, and her roommate on the run, never to be seen again…

For the last two decades, Beckett has done her best to keep her distance. Then her daughter, Delilah, secretly applies to Wyatt College and earns a full scholarship, and Beckett can only hope that her lingering fears are unfounded. But deep down she knows that Wyatt Valley has a long memory, and that the past isn’t the only dangerous thing in town…

Format: 352 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: July 29, 2025 by Marysue Rucci Books
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

Eeee. Always excited about a new Megan Miranda book :D I also just got an eARC of this beauty. <3 And I shall be starting it in the next few days :D Can't wait. So excited for it. A little nervous, but I shall love it :)
What are you waiting for on this dangerous Wednesday?

In My Mailbox #695

It's been another hard week with sleeping. Sigh. And I'm itching everywhere. Shudders. And my shoulder is such a mess of pain. Sobs. But I'm doing okay. The best that I can :) Still doing my short daily walks. <3 Still able to daily play pokemon go and animal crossing new horizons and animal crossing pocket camp :) This week I also read a book, which I'm happy about. <3 I'm hoping to start another one this coming week sometime :) I got a bunch of lovely mail, ack. <3 So much precious :D I just hope my health starts getting better. Getting a new dose of the medicine next week. Fingers crossed. This week I'm waiting on Broken Dolls :D And I shared my review of She Waits for You Beyond the Dark. <3 Hope you are all doing well :)

The Mortal Instruments Graphic Novel. Part 8 :D One day I shall be reading these gorgeous editions. <3
Disney Store Plushes. Eee. The Aristocats. <3 Missing one, getting it later on. These are so precious :D
Funko Europe. I know. More pop figures. Oops :D I failed again to get the Bilbo chase. Sobs. I have tried once more. Will know on monday. Please let me get him this time. Love the Alien 3 ones, eee. Had to get them. Too cute. No new mystery mini; I'm only missing Anna. Love the Lady and the Tramp. <3 Precious.

More Instagram photos here. <3

Review: She Waits for You Beyond the Dark by Kristen Simmons

Of course I had to give this sequel a try, to know what happened after the ending of book one. I'm glad that I read this, that I know how it all ends. But I'm disappointed to say that I sadly did not like it much. The ending was good. But I had no feelings at all for it. A two star, like the first one. I didn't hate it, but I did not like it either.

It shall not be easy to write down my thoughts for this book. As I have many of those. I so wish I could have loved this sequel. I'm sad that I'm giving it the same rating that I gave book one, a year and half ago. But it is my honest thoughts. And I wish it had been better. There were parts that were great and that I enjoyed a lot.

But then there were all the other parts that I just did not care for at all. I did not actually like any of the characters. Maybe just that one villain from the other world, the guy with all of the spiders. He was pretty awesome. But the others I did not love at all. I did not feel any of their emotions. I did not care what happened to them. And that is not a plus at all. I liked learning about this extra world. I did not like the real world at all. I liked the creatures. But I found none of it to be creepy or scary I do not get why I did not care for this book. I just found it hard. I wanted to love it, I really did. But I sadly did not. Maybe it was the writing. I had some issues. But still. It was not that bad. I didn't re-read book one before I started, but I peeked, and somewhat read the important parts.

This book starts one month after Find Him Where You Left Him Dead ended. They managed to save Ian from Meido, got him back home again. But they lost Dax back there while doing so. I was happy that Ian was back home with his family. He seemed like a sweet boy. The beginning of this book focused a lot on the unspoken romance between Ian and Owen. I did like them together. But it was a little silly to me too. They had been apart for four years. And I felt like they should have gotten to know each other again first.

Then there was Maddy and Emerson. Back to being best friends. And I just did not understand it at all. Sigh. And Emerson had a whole lot of issues too, believing that Maddy would leave her and that she did not care. This happened a lot in the book, so it ended up being a bit too much for me. I did like when she got past it, but found that whole part to be all kinds of silly and weird, where that took place near the end of it all. I did like Emerson, though, for the most part. Did not like how she seemed to hate Dax. So rude.

How they all seemed to hate Dax. Because they learned what he truly was. But even so. The rest of them became friends again so fast. And yet they are hating on Dax for something he could not control. I did not approve. And it made me dislike them all. Except for Maddy. She loved him. But that was so very rushed that it hurt my heart a little. Still. At least she cared. And Dax was the person that I liked the very most in this series. His past was heartbreaking. And I loved it so much. He got a little weird in this book, though.

I'm not going to write too much about the plot of this book. Like the first one, it takes place over one day only. Which I liked and did not, haha. I do wish there had been a longer time, where the characters got to spend more time together and actually get to know each other. I missed that. With everything taking place in just one day I felt like it was all too rushed. All the feelings, all the things that happened. It would have felt more real for me, I think, if it had been a little slower. Maybe. Or I wouldn't have liked that either, haha.

The story is that the empress did not die in book one. She is now inside of Ian and she's using him to get back to life again. And so to save Ian, Owen agrees to another game in Meido, to find three pieces of an item. This is not a good thing to do. But so they are all sucked back into the game. But it is different this time. I did like all the changes and the games. I just didn't care. It took them forever to find Dax again. So rude. I liked that one guy from book one with all the spiders. He was crazy, but pretty awesome as well.

I honestly wish this book had been more scary. I do suppose it is meant to be scary. But I didn't feel it, not once. Which makes me sad. There was a game that happened in a spiral. Where they had to die several times to try to win it. And I just did not care. It wasn't dramatic or epic or anything. Made me feel nothing. Sigh. Then there were all of the characters and their emotions. I did not feel any of them. Dax had some anger, and it was so silly to me to read about. And Emerson with her alone issues. Still I wanted to care.

I think one of the things that bothered me most about this was how great friends they were supposed to be. As I didn't get that at all. None of them spoke together for four years. They were best friends before that. Then so many years of nothing from any of them. And then they spend about a day together in the game, in Meido, And now they are all best friends again and Maddy and Dax are so very in love. I didn't buy it, sadly. I guess that is also why it was hard for me to connect with these characters and this story.

But even though She Waits for You Beyond the Dark was not a book for me, I still very much adore this author. I have read and loved several of her books. This duology just ended up not being for me. And yet I do think many others will love it. I just could not. I'm glad that I read this final book, though, as I usually do not when I don't like book one. But I wanted to see how it all ended. So I'm happy that I did, even if I wasn't in love with the book. Parts of it were great. And it's a story I will remember, even so. Give it a try.

Goodreads - Blackwells - Amazon US - Amazon UK

Waiting on Wednesday #697

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

BROKEN DOLLS BY ALLY MALINENKO

Goodreads Description:

Author of Ghost Girl and This Appearing House Ally Malinenko brings to life a terrifying middle grade novel about a girl learning to grieve her grandfather and the creepy antique dolls in his house that seem to come alive, perfect for fans of The Doll in the Garden.

One. Two. Three. Are you ready to play?

Ever since Kaye's grandfather died, she's been obsessed with counting the steps to her bedroom, the dolls on her sister's bed, even the threads on her favorite blanket. It's arithmomania, and with the selective mutism that sometimes prevents her from speaking, she literally can't find the words to talk about how she feels now that Grampa is gone. When they take the summer to clean out and renovate his old house, Kaye finds herself counting the days.

That is, until her younger sister, Holly, starts finding dolls. She finds them buried in the backyard, stuffed in the walls, crammed into the closets. From the first one, Kaye knows they aren't like normal dolls. They smile at her like they know something, and sometimes their eyes open and close on their own. Kaye hears her sister talking to them constantly—and she swears she's heard the dolls whispering back.

Everyone assumes that Holly's just a kid with a good imagination. Kaye doesn't think it's a game, because she knows that Holly—and the dolls—are going to make her play with them. Forever.

Format: 288 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: September 30, 2025 by HarperCollins
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

This cover is just all kinds of lovely and creepy. And so I have to have this book, haha :D It also sounds pretty great too. I'm a little nervous, since I just lost my grandpa. This might be too painful for me. Yet I still want to read it. Hoping it will help more than hurt. Fingers crossed. It sounds like such a great story.
What are you waiting for on this broken Wednesday?

In My Mailbox #694

Suddenly another week gone by. How rude. Yet I'm so glad that time is moving fast. There is very much coming up in the next few months, and I am both excited and nervous. Just want it over with, haha :) This week haven't been the best. I still have trouble sleeping after quitting my sleeping pills. But still do wish to stay off them. But yeah. It's hard. And I keep waking up so very often. Sigh. Been having bad headaches too; so bad that I puked in the night a few days ago. Which sucked. Feeling a little better now, but yeah. My health really sucks these days. Hoping it gets better soon :) I got a whole lot of pop figures this week, ack. <3 So much awesome. I'm planning on starting a new book tomorrow, which I'm excited and nervous about. Also spent this week re-watching all the Alien movies, oops. Just had to. <3 I love them so :D This week I'm waiting on Wake the Wild Creatures :D Hope you're doing well. <3 Better than me, at least, ha :)

Empire of the Damned. New UK paperback. Of course I had to get it for my way too big collection, ha :)
Cirque du Freak. New edition :D Been so long since I read these. Must re-read one day. Loved them so.
Beth Revis Swag. Eee. Thank you so much Beth for this latest Patreon swag. <3 It is so very precious :)
Jellycat Plushes. Look at those tiny Bartholomew plushes :D Eee. I love them so. One tiny, one keychain.
Funko Europe. Oh. They got too many new pop figures lately. Ahhh. I had to get them all, haha. <3 Love the new Pokemon ones :D And finally more The Lord of the Rings, eee :D They are all awesome. Some extra Bilbo and Eowyn.. as I failed to get the chase versions. Sigh. I'm going to try again, though, haha :D

More Instagram photos here. <3

Waiting on Wednesday #696

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

WAKE THE WILD CREATURES BY NOVA REN SUMA

Goodreads Description:

Already one of the most acclaimed novels of 2025, this extraordinary, timely, and must-read novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Nova Ren Suma explores young women's freedom and rage as Talia plots her way back to her hidden mountaintop home after her mother's arrest for murder.​

I reached the clearing with the seven white pines and stopped to get my breath back. The mist filled my lungs, peppery and also sweet, and momentum pushed me forward. Giddy, I dropped into a bed of moss, soft and slick in spots, and rolled in it, howled for no reason, felt close to an understanding of some kind, as if an eye inside me was peeling open. It was the first full moon after I turned thirteen, and I knew that whatever happened in this next stretch of hours would change me forever after.

I wasn’t wrong.

Three years ago, Talia lived happily in the ruins of the Neves, a once-grand hotel in the wilds of the Catskill Mountains, with her mother Pola and their community of like-minded women. Some came to the Neves to escape cruel men, others to hide from the law, but all found safety and connection in their haven high above civilization, cloaked by a mysterious mist that kept intruders away. But as their numbers grew, complications followed, and everything came crashing down the night electric lights pierced the forest. Uniformed men arrested Pola, calling her a murderer and a fugitive, and Talia was taken away. 

Now sixteen, Talia has been forced to live with family she barely knows and fit into a world scarred by misogyny, capitalism, disconnection from nature . . . everything the women of the Neves stood against. She has one to return to the Neves. But as Talia awaits a signal from her mother, questions arise. Who betrayed her community, and what is she avoiding about her own role in its collapse? Is it truly magic that keeps the hotel so hidden? And what does it mean to embrace being her mother’s daughter? With the help of an unexpected ally, Talia must find her way to answers, face a mother who’s often kept her at arm’s length, and try to reach the refuge she lost—if the mist hasn’t swallowed her path home.

Fierce and lyrical, unsettling and tender, Wake the Wild Creatures marks the long-awaited return of one of the most distinctive voices in young adult literature.

Format: 384 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: May 6, 2025 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

Ohhh. I am SO excited about this book :D It looks gorgeous and sounds so awesome and different and magical. I just know that I will love it lots. I have read and loved three books by Nova before, now over ten years ago. What. I am so glad she is having a new book out. I just know that I am going to adore it so :)
What are you waiting for on this wild Wednesday?

In My Mailbox #693

Another new Saturday. Time is moving fast lately. And I don't mind. I am fully ready for this winter to be over. Though it's still months left. Ugh. Just a month and a half until my tonsils surgery, ack. I'm nervous. Yet I am still sure that I should get it done. Probably. I have not felt like doing much this past week. Been sleeping so poorly lately that it's driving me crazy. Plus I'm in constant pain. Sigh. But I'm doing my best :) Going to start a new book next week, most likely. This week I only got pop figures in the mail, oops :D I'm getting more next week. Ahh. They suddenly got a whole bunch that I had been waiting for. <3 I could not resist them all, haha. Sigh. My poor money, though. But. Well. I love my pop figures too much :) Just one regular blog post this time. This week I'm waiting on The House of Quiet :) Hope you are all doing well. <3

Funko Europe. I couldn't stop myself from getting that exclusive One Piece boat, haha. Since I have the other ones, oops. They just look awesome. And the new Jurassic babies are so cute :D And Stitch easter versions. Love. And Gizmo with a bow. He is just the cutest. And failed at mystery mini, as always, ha :)

More Instagram photos here. <3

Waiting on Wednesday #695

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

THE HOUSE OF QUIET BY KIERSTEN WHITE

Goodreads Description:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of And I Darken comes a dark fantasy about a girl who will do anything to find her sister, including posing as a maid to infiltrate the mysterious House of Quiet.

To save her sister, she must enter the House.

In the middle of a deadly bog sits the House of Quiet. It’s a place for children whose Procedure triggered powers too terrible to be lived with—their last hope for treatment. No one knows how they’re healed or where they go afterward.

Birdie has begged, bargained, and blackmailed her way inside as a maid, determined to find her missing sister, Magpie. But what she discovers is more mysteries. Instead of the destitute children who undergo the Procedure in hopes of social advancement, the house brims with aristocratic teens wielding strange powers they never should have been burdened with.

Though Birdie wants to ignore them, she can’t help being drawn to stoic and silent Forest, charmed by clever River, and concerned for the youngest residents. And with fellow maid Minnow keeping tabs on everything Birdie does, danger is everywhere.

In her desperate search for Magpie, Birdie unearths terrifying threats and devastating truths, forcing her to confront just how much she’s willing to sacrifice to save her own sister. Because in the House of Quiet, if you find what’s lurking beneath . . . you lose everything.

Unravel the mystery. Ignite the rebellion.

Format: 400 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: September 9, 2025 by Delacorte Press
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

I am all kinds of curious about this book :D Yay for new YA book by Kiersten. <3 And it sounds so very good too. I cannot wait to read it. It sounds creepy and great. And I think that the cover is awesome :)
What are you waiting for on this terrifying Wednesday?

In My Mailbox #692

It has been such a long week. And I spent most of it reading :) Finished my re-read and read book two as well. Which I did love as much, ahh. Which was a little disappointing. But glad that I read them both :) But now glad to have a few weeks of a reading break, haha. And I'm so unsure about what to read next then. Hmm. Been pretty exhausted this week. Sigh. But doing my best :) Took some new photos outside today for instagram. Wish there had been some winter ice. But no. Was so warm outside today, like spring. And the beginning of the week was freeezing. Yeah. The weather is so weird right now. Then I got a bunch of lovely mail, eee. And started re-watching my favorite movies, which I'm very excited about. Re-watched Damsel and Anastasia; both perfect movies. And now Maleficent 1 and 2, both fully perfection. I shared my second review of A Study of Drowning. <3 This week I'm waiting on The Courting of Bristol Keats :) And shared my review of A Theory of Dreaming :D Four star, ack. Hope you are all doing well lately. <3

A Sea of Unspoken Things. Finally bought this. Behind on Adrienne books, ack. But I own them all, still.
Notable Shadowhunters and Denizens of Downworld. Second kickstarter book has arrived. It is stunning.
Stranger Things calendar. New for my table; since Animal Crossing failed this year. It looks awesome :D
Divine Rivals. Waterstones exclusive paperback. I had missed out on it. Had to buy it from a person here.
The Hurricane Wars. I could not resist buying this US paperback edition, despite not having read it yet :)

Funko Nordic / Funtastic by Proxy. Eee! Thank you so much lovelies :D I am so happy with this newest ambassador gift from you. <3 Five different campaigns to share about. All of them new. I love them so :D

More Instagram photos here. <3

Review: A Theory of Dreaming by Ava Reid

I could not have been more excited when it was announced that there would be a sequel to A Study in Drowning. Which I so loved with all of my heart. I simply could not resist reading this book as soon as I was able to. So thankful to have gotten an early eARC copy. I loved this book, yet I sadly did not love it with all my heart.

And so a four star for me.Which do break my heart a little bit. As I had hoped to love this second book just as much as the first one. But I did not. Sharing all my thoughts below. Maybe too many of them. But oh, the writing of this book was all kinds of wonderful. I loved that. I loved the characters of Effy and Preston very much.

This sequel takes place a little after the end of book one. Effy is now about to start at the literature college. She is both nervous and excited. It does not go as she had hoped. That hurt to read about. I wanted only the best for her, but it's not going easy at all. And so this book if about Effy sort of drifting away. With Preston mostly doing the same. He is still hearing the bells. And we learn more about what all that means. How he is able to enter a sort of dream world, created by himself. Where he can do anything. I did like learning more about it all and how it worked. But it also meant that he was drifting away too. And that was not easy. This book is about their life in the real world and how they are trying to deal with it all. It is not at all easy. But they are still together most of the time and are still very much in love. Loved that most.

What was hard to get through with this book was how slow it was. There were barely anything happening. I kept waiting for something big. But it never came. So that was a little disappointing. And yet. I loved the small moments too. I loved just reading about Effy and Preston and getting to know them better. But I so wish they had more happy moments in this book too. Sigh. It was all a little too sad at times. Yet beautiful too. I truly did love this book. I was just a little disappointed about it too, as I had wished for a little more.

There is so much going on in this book. I am not going to mention most of it. But I have some things that bother me that I have to mention. But also things that I loved. And I did love this book a whole lot, despite having some issues with it. I loved the romance of Effy and Preston, despite the issues they had. I loved how they both had loving friends. Rhia truly cared for Effy. And we got to meet Lotto, Preston's roommate and best friend. He was such a delight and I loved reading about their friendship. They had great friends.

I did like reading about the stories in this book. About the myths and history of this place. All the sleepers and their stories. Learning that so much of the history was not right. It was interesting to read about. But I was a bit depressed about the other things, so it was hard to focus at times. But the story was wonderful. But I did feel like some things were missing. Only one mention of Effy's mother, and it was not good. We did not even get to see her grandparents, which I really wanted to. I wanted a little more personal things.

Then there was the bullying. I hated it so. How they all looked down at Effy. And how another boy hated Preston. I wish those things had been left out, as it just hurt my heart. Effy was so affected by it all. It felt so real. I really wish it had been better. Then there was Master Gosse. Who kind of tormented Preston through the entire book. I did not like that either. He kept pressuring him about the dream world. Never letting him rest. He was a little insane, I think. And yet it was all pretty fascinating to read about as well.

What bothered me a little about this book was that Effy was back to being her old self. Feeling weak and scared and unsure. I thought she had changed a little by the end of book one, gotten stronger. But all that went away in this book. She really truly crumbled. And that truly broke my heart. I did love to read about it, because it felt so real. But it really hurt as well, as I thought Effy was better. But she got much worse, with her sleeping pills as well. And that hurt to read about too. I just wanted her to be happy, to be okay.

Oh. And that brings me to what hurt me most about this book, which is why it was a four star for me and not a five star, like I had hoped it would be. The lack of trust Effy and Preston had in each other. As they both kept such big secrets from the other. And that was simply not okay for me. They loved each other. They could have helped the other. Yet neither said anything. And instead suffered alone. Preston should have told her about his dreams. He never did. Will always bother me. They should have been more open.

I think that the thing I was most disappointed about in this sequel was the lack of magic. Book one felt so magical. Then there was this book, where everything was the real world and just so painful to read about. That hurt my heart. I wish there had been a bit more magic. There are some hints of it, with the dreaming world of Preston. But it wasn't enough. It did not give me that same magical feeling, sadly. I wanted a little more from this story. It did not give me the same feeling of wonder. But I got the same romance feelings.

Okay, somewhat. I was a little conflicted about the romance in this second book. They both obviously love the other so very much. There is not anyone getting in the way of that, thankfully. But they are both trying to ruin it, in their own way. Effy doesn't believe she is worthy of love. Preston doesn't believe he is worthy of her, that he cannot keep her safe. And so they are messing it up. That hurt me so very much. And yet. They were together, for the most part. The small touches were there. Despite the pain, they were in love.

But even though I did not love all of this book, I still loved most of it. And A Theory of Dreaming was such an amazing second book. It did end everything nicely, I think. And I so loved reading more about Effy and Preston and their friends as well. I did love this world. It was just a little more depressing than I wanted it to be. But the writing was beautiful. The love was real. And the story was incredible. Biggest thank you to HarperTeen for the auto-approval on Edelweiss. So glad I got to read this one early. You will all love it too.

Goodreads - Blackwells - Amazon US - Amazon UK