In My Mailbox #660

I just spent my evening re-watching Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. <3 And ugh. I still love this movie the most :) It's amazing. I also finally read a book this week, so yay for that. And I shall be starting a new one in the next few days. Spent days of this week outside in the sun, which is nice. <3 But yeah. I'm also fully exhausted, which sucks. But I'm doing my best :) Also. My sister got a new small dog last week. It's the cutest, so I'm spending lots of time with him too. <3 I got a bunch of mail this week, ack :) Many pop figures. I could not resist, haha. Love them all so much. Sigh. This week I'm waiting on Unraveled :) And shared my review of When Among Crows. <3 Hope you are all doing well :D Oh! Duh. Forgot to mention my new blog header, haha. <3 Got this taken last week sometime. Finally made it my header :) Some of my most favorite books. <3 And outside. With two pop figures too. I love it, haha. Might change the size and the text some more, though. One day, probably. But so far I love my new header. It's more me, ha :)

For the Wolf + For the Throne. Oh, help. This boxset was expensive. But I had to have it. So gorgeous :D
The Darkness Within Us. Fairyloot June edition :) As always, it is gorgeous. Reading this series one day.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. My 4K blu-ray steelbook has arrived, eee :D It is precious. Love it so.
Luigi's Mansion 2 HD. Going to play this game soon. Probably, haha :D I just had to own it, of course. <3
Marissa Meyer swag. Eeee! Entered a form by her a while ago. And oh, I love this swag so very much :)
Funko Europe. Yeah. This was a big order. Sobs. I just could not help myself. Sigh. I do need to get some more self-control, haha :D But I love them so. Bought the new Shrek mystery minis; got several awesome ones. But need and want the dragon. Gah. And love the new Shrek pop figures :D They are so cute. And Garfield. And new Frodo. I had to have them. Got Elsa in Disney Princess mystery mini; new one. Love :)

More Instagram photos here. <3

Review: When Among Crows by Veronica Roth

Of course I was going to read this book the moment I could. Been a fan of Veronica since Divergent. Although this new book did not fully sound like a book for me. Yet I did think I would end up liking it. And I'm happy to say that I did. Four stars. Only wish that it had been longer. I grew to adore these characters and I wanted more.

I'm not going to write such a long review for this book. As it was pretty short. Felt like half a book. Which was both good and bad. It did finish in the time that it had. And I did like the ending. But I also felt like the story had just begun, and then it ended. Ha. So yes. I wanted more. But I still found this story to be fully exciting.

This book tells the story of Dymitr and Ala and Niko. And it takes place over less than two days. But it was enough for me to really like reading about all of these characters. As we get to know the three of them pretty well. The writing was great. This book is set in our time and our world. Yet also a world of magic that is filled with different types of monsters. And also those who then hunt the monsters, the Holy Order. We learn a little about them, and I did not like them. Except for one, of course. The monsters could be both evil and kind. I liked how there were many different types and how we get to learn about some of them. Their magic was interesting to read about and I enjoyed that a whole lot. This is a story based on Slavic folklore. Which I do not know enough about, so I'm not going to write about that. But I loved it lots.

First there was Dymitr. In his late twenties, probably. We get to learn much about him. And I just grew to like him more and more. He was a bit soft and a bit broken. Yet he had to be strong and do such horrible things because of his family. And those were some awful things. He does not want this life anymore. And is on a mission to atone for his sins, to get rid of part of himself. Despite all of the bad he had done in the past, I very much adored this man. I loved reading about him, his soft heart. I just. I wanted more. Hmph.

Ala is a girl in pain. She is also a monster. And I loved learning about her. She is cursed and is probably dying shortly. I adored getting to know her. But wanted to know more. Sigh. But yeah. Ala was awesome. Dymitr finds her and offer her a deal to maybe get rid of the curse of her family. And so they team up, to search for Baba Jaga. While doing this, they also meet Niko. A different type of monster. Whom was also interesting to get to know. I loved the small romance between him and Dymitr. It was sweet. I loved them.

This book is about looking for a cure to a curse and getting rid of a family curse, in a way. Though Dymitr is keeping what he is a secret from the others. Causes some drama when it comes out. But I still loved it. I loved how this book ended, as it was so short. I wanted more. How rude. But the ending was great. And I found When Among Crows to be a pretty excellent read. Loved the writing. Liked the setting. Loved the monsters. Loved the characters. Just wish this one had been longer, as I truly wanted more of everything.

Goodreads - Blackwells - Amazon US - Amazon UK

Waiting on Wednesday #662

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

UNRAVELED (Keeper of the Lost Cities #9.5)
BY SHANNON MESSENGER

Goodreads Description:

Book 9.5 in the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Keeper of the Lost Cities series follows fan-favorite Keefe on his adventures in the human world during the events of Stellarlune.

While his friends faced their own challenges in Stellarlune, Keefe was in the human world. Where did he go, who did he see…and what shocking secrets were revealed to him?

This can’t-miss installment of the series is told entirely from Keefe’s POV and contains crucial clues about truths buried deep in the elvin world.

Format: 416 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: November 12, 2024 by Aladdin
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

I know, I know. I am foooorever behind on this series. I think I only read the first two books? Aaack! But I own them all, of course. <3 And think I will wait to read them all until the final book is out :) I have always been a Fitz fan. And I'm worried the series will end with Sophie and Keefe. Sigh. I do not want that, haha :D Even though I have only read the first two books, lol. Still; this new story do sound great, of course :D
What are you waiting for on this unravelling Wednesday?

In My Mailbox #659

Meh. New week. I'm not doing all that much better, honestly. Sigh. My arm hurts a little less during the day, more during the evening. My wound is aaalmost closed, finally :) Got my new spa bath, at last. It has some faults too, of course. Ugh. So been a bit stressed. But hoping it works out. Tomorrow will be a warm summer day, which I'm looking forward to. <3 I am just trying to take it easy. I hurt all over. My stomach is bad too. My medicine is simply not working. Ugh. So rude. Haven't started reading yet, but shortly :D Got a bit of gorgeous mail this week, oops. <3 I'm just waiting for more summer to arrive. And for my body to stop hurting. Hmph. This week I'm waiting on The Temptation of Magic :) Hope you are all doing well. <3

Icon and Inferno. I know, I have yet to read book one, haha :D But I will read them both. One day, haha :)
There is a Door in This Darkness. I'm unsure if I will read this one. But it's Kristin Cashore, so I own it. <3
Braided. Ha. I know. Book five! And I haven't yet read book one. I'm the worst. Reading them one day :)
Funko Europe. Yeah. I bought more pop figures, haha. <3 Snubbull is from amazon, though. I had to get those new Coraline pins, eee :D Third set they have released. What even. So many. But all gorgeous :D Tried for more mystery minis.. no new ones. Sigh. Still no Max. Sobs. And now they don't have more on the site. Whaaat. How rude. I need her, ahh. Still missing one of the mystery Lord of the Rings bitty pops too, so will keep trying, haha :) I got the chase Smurfette :D Ahh. But I wanted the normal one. So rude :)

More Instagram photos here. <3

Waiting on Wednesday #661

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

THE TEMPTATION OF MAGIC BY MEGAN SCOTT

Goodreads Description:

As an Empyreal, Nicole has the ability to kill any deadly supernatural. But if her power ever awakened, the Wake—the organisation that governs supernaturals—would force her to be their loyal huntress. Or kill her, like they did her mother.

To stay safe, Nicole hides in a small university town, convinced the mythological art collection at a local manor contains a final message from her mother. But before she can study it, Kyan McCarter, the Wake’s most skilled Empyreal, arrives on his own hunt. When they discover his prey has stolen a painting for leverage, they’re forced to work together.

As the creature threatens to expose Nicole’s powers, her tenuous alliance with Kyan threatens her heart. If her true identity is revealed, Kyan will hunt her next. No one disobeys The Wake and survives. Especially when the art they’re seeking unveils a conspiracy that would change the lives of creatures and humans forever...

But Nicole may only be able to resist one: her wicked impulses, or a love that could repaint their world. And after a life of hiding her true nature, who could resist the temptation of magic...

SERPENT AND DOVE meets A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES, in this luxurious, forbidden romance.

Format: 384 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: May 23, 2024 by Magpie
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

I know, I know. This book is already out. But it is a book that I got via Fairyloot, and did not know about before getting it :) And now I'm curious. It sounds pretty exciting. Yet I'm nervous too. Hope to love it :)
What are you waiting for on this forbidden Wednesday?