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Bookstagram & Creative Tour for Second Star to the Left by Megan Van Dyke

bookishy

Today I’m excited to participate in the Bookstagram & Creative Tour for Second Star to the Left by Megan Van Dyke hosted by MTMC Tours. This is an Adult Fantasy Romance and it was published on February 15th, 2022 from City Owl Press!

BASICS

Title: Second Star to the Left
Series: Reimagined Fairy Tales #1
Author: Megan Van Dyke
Publication Date: February 15th, 2022
Genres: Adult, Fantasy Romance
Pages: 302
Format: eBook, Paperback
Purchase a copy: Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble  | Indiebound | Blackwell’s
Add on Goodreads!

Tinker Bell, banished from her homeland for doing the unthinkable, selling the hottest drug in Neverland—pixie dust—wants absolution.

Determined to find a way home, Tink doesn’t hesitate to follow the one lead she has, even if that means seducing a filthy pirate to steal precious gems out from under his…hook.

Captain Hook believes he’s found a real treasure in Tink. That is, until he recovers from her pixie dust laced kiss with a curse that turns the seas against him. With his ship and reputation at the mercy of raging storms, he tracks down the little minx and demands she remove the curse. Too bad she can’t.

However, the mermaid queen has a solution to both of their problems, if Tink and Hook will work together to retrieve a magical item for her. As they venture to the mysterious Shrouded Isles to find the priceless treasure, their shared nemesis closes in. However, his wrath is nothing compared to the realization that achieving their goal may mean losing something they never expected to find—each other.

REVIEW

I’ve never would have thought that a Peter Pan retelling featuring a Hook/Tinkerbell romance is what I need, but apparently, it was. Second Star to the Left by Megan Van Dyke is a fantasy romance telling the story of Tinkerbell, a pixie known from Peter Pan, who got banished from her homeland for selling her pixie dust. Tinkerbell, or Tink for short, is looking for another way home when she crosses paths with the famous Captain Hook. Needless to say, the sparks fly from their first meeting (even though Tink seduced him and stole his treasure).

I really enjoyed this book, especially the different approach to the Peter Pan story because I would have never imagined a Hook/Tink pairing. It works oddly well in Second Star to the Left. The chemistry between Hook and Tink is undeniable from their first meeting, and I absolutely loved seeing their relationship progress over the course of the book. Having a dual POV definitely helped me understand their relationship a bit more and made them both more likeable to me.

Tinkerbell is a perfect combination of adorable and badass, which doesn’t happen often in main characters. She can take of herself, but at the same time, she is not afraid to blush or cry. Captain Hook is the charming pirate who is probably gonna steal your heart from the first pages of the book, but to be fair all great love interests do that.

The book has a lot of different twists, some of which I was expecting and some of which took me by surprise. I enjoyed the little references to the original fairytale, and I liked the changes the author made. Smee was probably my favourite change the author has made. I have to admit that while I find Captain Hook absolutely swoon-worthy, a big part of my heart belongs to Smee.

Overall, it’s a perfect read for fans of Peter Pan, like me, who want something more adult and serious from a retelling. And, of course, if you are a romance fan you don’t wanna miss this one!

Q&A with the characters

Hi Tink and Hook! Can you introduce yourselves?

Tink: Tinker Bell here, but please call me Tink. I’m one of the youngest top tinkers in Sylvanna Vale’s illustrious history. Spending the day working on my designs and eating dew candy is the best.

Hook: Hello, loves. A pleasure to meet you. I’m Captain Hook, the greatest pirate to ever sail the Cerulean Sea, captain of the Jolly Roger, and the most devilishly handsome man you’ll ever meet

Tell us about your world! What is it like and how far have you travelled?

Tink: Well, I haven’t seen much of the human world. Pixies aren’t really supposed to spend much time there, but my cousin and I sneak in sometimes for a night out. Humans really know how to have a good time. The Sylvanna Vale, the pixie homeland, is a paradise! Lush vegetation, beautiful homes in the trees, crystal clear streams, and more food that you could ever need. We take care of the land, and the land takes care of us.

Hook: The sea is my wife, my home. I know it better than anyone living. There’s nothing better than the sun on my back, the gentle rock of the Jolly Roger under my feet.

Tell us 2 random facts about yourself! 

Tink: I might be a Tinker by birth and trade, but I love music. Most pixie’s do, and are great at playing, but if I’m really honest, human music is more exciting. They just infuse it with so much fun and life.

I can’t swim. Embarrassing, I know, but there really wasn’t a need in the Sylvanna Vale. But now that I’m stuck in the human lands, it really would be helpful if I knew how…or if I didn’t get seasick every time I step foot on a boat.

Playlist for Second Star To The Left

Fancast

Who better to play Hook than Hook?

Colin O’Donoghue played Captain Hook in the TV show Once Upon a Time, and while reading Second Star to the Left I imagined Hook as this lovely gentleman.

Lily James, in my mind, is a perfect actress to play Tinkerbell. She is adorable and known for her big smile. And she can also be a badass.

Her role in the Cinderella movie immediately came into my mind when I was reading Hook’s description of Tink!

INTL Tour-wide Instagram Giveaway

Head over to my Instagram account to enter the tour giveaway where TWO lucky readers will win a paperback copy of Second Star to the Left, a $25 Amazon gift card + mailed swag pack and emailed epilogue!

Ends on March 12th, 2022. Winners will be announced on @mtmctours’ Instagram account.

Tour Schedule

February 28
@thereaderandthechef

March 1
@annoying_sidekick_thoughts

March 2
@paperfury

March 3
@thebookishmusician

March 4
@bookishy

March 5
@buildingourbookshelves

March 6
@thindbooks

March 7
@dreaminginpages

March 8
@shaked_reads

March 9
@the.book.nerd.fox

About Megan Van Dyke

Megan Van Dyke is a fantasy romance author with a love for all things that include magic and kissing. Many of her stories include themes of family (whether born into or found) and a sense of home and belonging, which are important aspects of her life as well. Megan also watched way too many Disney movies as a child, and adult, and has a deep love for fairytales and happily-ever-afters.

Megan is a former IT risk and security executive and current stay-at-home mom. When not writing, Megan loves to cook, play video games, explore the great outdoors, and spend time with her family. A southerner by birth and at heart, Megan currently lives with her family in Colorado.

Website | Instagram | Goodreads | Twitter

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MTMC TOUR – FROSTED BY M.C. FRANK

MTMC TOUR – FROSTED BY M.C. FRANK

bookishy

Today I’m excited to participate in the Bookstagram tour for Frosted by M.C. Frank hosted by MTMC Tours! Frozen meets Jane Austen in Frosted, the new enemies-to-lovers Regency novel that will melt your heart.

Title: Frosted
Series: Regency Retold #2
Author: M.C. Frank
Publication Date: February 20, 2021
Genres: Regency Romance

Purchase a copy: Amazon | Book Depository
Add on Goodreads!

SUMMARY

Can two people hate each other more than these two?
She has a heart of stone. He is the notorious pirate every lady swoons for.
They have vowed never to meet again.

Captain Timothée Vaughn
Heart: Broken
Face: Gorgeous
Tone: Acidic
Pirate: Yes, he is
Marital Status: Forced into an engagement
Willing to: Break his own arm to escape his wedding tomorrow.

Lady Stella DeWinter:
Heart: Frosted
Face: Angelic but sad
Tone: Silent
Secrets: Many, but one in particular. A very dark one indeed.
Marital Status: Jilted Captain Vaughn right before their wedding, five years ago.
Willing to: Do anything to meet Timothée one last time.

Question: Why? (on earth)

Meeting place: The Frosted Ball.

What follows: Chaos. Noisy ballrooms. Starry skies. White flurries. Hungry kisses. Haughty stares. Frozen lakes. Shaking breaths. The truth. Finally. Frosted is a heart-wrenching romance about a pirate and an ice-cold lady who seem to have hated each other for years, inspired by winter-themed fairytales like The Snow Queen and The Steadfast Tin Soldier. It is set in a witty, glittering Regency world made up of a little bit of Jane Austen, a little bit of Georgette Heyer, and a lot of a modern heart yearning for romance, passion and a tall gentleman with a smoldering gaze. This is a broken tale of beauty, dark secrets and love lost.

MINI REVIEW

I really enjoyed the love story between Stella and Vaughn, and we all know I have a weakness for privateers so I basically loved Vaughn from the beginning of the book. The writing was amazing – I really felt as if though I was reading a book from Regency times, and the mood set by the book was absolutely magical! Also, the plot twist in the middle absolutely shocked me, and I really liked how it was handled. If you like historical romances I recommend you try this one!

5 HISTORICAL FICTION SHOWS TO WATCH AFTER READING FROSTED

Downton Abbey
It’s a British historical drama set in the early 20th century, which is set in the country estate of Downton Abbey, and follows the lives of the Crawley family and their servants. Thanks to the show, you can get some insight into living in the English countryside (just like Stella), and see on the screen what proper ballroom behaviour is! Also, the British accent in Downton Abbey is swoon-worthy (just like Vaughn!).

the Tudors
It’s a historical fiction set in 16th century England, which follows the rule of Henry VIII, who is famous for his six wives and for the creation of the Anglican Church. It is a little bit before the time period in Frosted, but you can get the whole English court vibes (also, the communication problems almost equal Vaughn and Stella!).

Reign
It’s American historical fiction, but it focuses on the life of Mary, Queen of Scots, and her life in the French Court. When I was reading about Stella’s dresses this show instantly came to my mind! Also, the dancing scenes make me think of Vaughn’s first Christmas with Stella.

the Spanish Princess
It’s a historical fiction, which follows the story of Catherine of Aragon, a Spanish princess, sent to England to become the Queen of England. The outfits in the show are amazing, and young Catherine of Aragon reminds me so much of Stella (I think their character development is quite similar).

Victoria
It’s historical fiction following the first years of the reign of Queen Victoria, one of the longest-ruling monarch in British history. The action of the show takes place more or less in the same time period as Frosted, and it gives good insight into what Stella and Vaughn’s world looked like.

MEET THE CHARACTERS Q&A

Vaughn! What led you to the pirate– er, I mean privateer life?

Vaughn: I was wounded in the Navy, and had to retire. I still have a limp, but that doesn’t prevent me from having adventures. I became a privateer because I decided to join a worthy cause, and help clear the high seas of criminals and pirates. Most privateers do it for the gold, but I have no need of it. Also, *voice grows dreamy* I had promised a girl that I would have a pirate ship one day.

Stella! What’s something you’re passionate about?

Stella: Some of my passions include reading, riding, gardening, and spending time with my best friend, Georgina. But my biggest passion is fashion. I spend hours looking over catalogues and dreaming up new gowns. Then, of course, there are the accessories, hats, gloves, slippers…I don’t often go to London, and Georgina says my fashion sense is wasted here in Highberry, but I highly disagree. Good taste and aesthetics are important everywhere, don’t you agree?

What’s your greatest strength?

Stella: I have gotten very good at hiding my true feelings. From myself, mostly. But I don’t know if that is a strength. I am told that I have been strong in the face of incredible adversity, but I myself don’t see it. I just do the best I can and carry on.

Vaughn: Love. My strength is love. Oh, and holding a grudge, I’m very good at that too. *thinks for a bit*. Wait…

TOUR SCHEDULE

April 26
@thereaderandthechef – Bookstagram + Book Blog
April 27
@gcreads04 – Bookstagram
April 28
@paperfury – Boostagram + Book Blog
April 29
@nelthewhichcraftsbooks – Bookstagram + Book Blog
April 30
@kalisbookishrambles – Bookstagram
May 1
@bookishy – Bookstagram + Book Blog
May 2
@greta_in_blues – Bookstagram + Book Blog
May 3
@joyfulreader – Bookstagram
May 4
@foksha_1996 – Bookstagram + Book Blog
May 5
@aliyahherondale – Bookstagram

INTERNATIONAL INSTGRAM GIVEAWAY

Head over to my Instagram account to win a paperback copy of Ruined (book 1 in the Regency Retold series) and Frosted (book 2). Both novels can be read as standalones! This giveaway is open internationally and ends on May8th, 2021. Winner will be announced on @mtmctours’ Instagram account.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR – M.C. FRANK

M.C. Frank (writer, reader, designer, physicist and teacher, to name a few) has been living in a world of stories ever since she can remember (that’s before she knew how to write). She started writing them down when she could no longer stand the characters in her head screaming at her to give them life, and while those first scribblings weren’t exactly good (nor were they books, although she insisted on calling them that), they were enough for her to discover her passion in life.

She got her university degree in physics a few years ago (yes, she’s like Sheldon, only a bit crazier!) and is now free to pursue her love of reading and writing, as well her free-lance job as editor-in-chief.

She lives with her ‘dude’ in a home filled with candles, laptops and notebooks, where she rearranges her overflowing bookshelves every time she feels stressed. Which is often, since (as you might have noticed) she doesn’t pick the easiest subjects for her novels.

Website | Instagram | Goodreads | Twitter

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My most anticipated reads of 2020

bookishy

Infinity Son (Infinity Cycle #1) by Adam Silvera – January 14th 2020

This year I’ve read “They Both Die At The End” by Adam Silvera, which left me wanting more of his writing. And this one has magic in it, and two brothers getting caught up in a war, which sounds like a recipe for a heart-breaking disaster.

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34510711-infinity-son

The Upside of Falling by Alex Light – February 18th 2020

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45891343-the-upside-of-falling

The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller – February 25th 2020

THIS LOOKS LIKE MY KIND OF ROMANCE. Magic, shadows and seduction – what can a girl want more than a disaster mission to make a king of shadow fell in love with a protagonist. Also, Tricia Levenseller is such a great author (so far I’ve only read Daughter of the Pirate King duology, but I’m excited by her other books).

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35702241-the-shadows-between-us

Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold – February 25th 2020

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43721070-red-hood

House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1) by Sarah J. Maas – March 3rd 2020

With my love for A Court of Thorns and Roses series, it is not a big surprise that I cannot wait for Maas’ newest book series. I’m really curious to read about demons and angels from her point of view. After all, I really enjoyed her take on faeries (and her talent for creating swoon-worthy characters).

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44778083-house-of-earth-and-blood

The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu – March 3rd 2020

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34213299-the-kingdom-of-back

If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane – March 24th 2020

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46650016-if-i-never-met-you

Ruthless Gods (Something Dark and Holy #2) by Emily A. Duncan – April 7th 2020

The first book in the series, Wicked Saints, has left me absolutely shattered and was one of my favourite reads of 2019. I got a serious Leigh Bardugo vibe (and Bardugo is my favourite author ever), which I really loved. The ending of the first book has left me wanting more, so I really cannot wait for this premiere.

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40126121-ruthless-gods

Aurora Burning (The Aurora Cycle #2) by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman – May 5th 2020

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40516960-aurora-burning

House of Dragons (House of Dragons #1) by Jessica Cluess – May 12th 2020

Dragons and a group of disaster characters? Count me right in. This is probably one of my most anticipated releases of 2020, even though I haven’t read any of the author’s books before. But, hey, it has dragons inside so it has to be good, right?

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44603554-house-of-dragons

The Kinder Poison (The Kinder Poison #1) by Natalie Mae – June 16th 2020

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42893340-the-kinder-poison

Seasons of the Storm (Seasons of the Storm #1) by Elle Cosimano – June 23rd 2020

Okay, so I got Jack Frost vibes from the synopsis. And Winter and Spring falling in love? That sounds amazing and totally different, so I’m really excited to read that.

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48245147-seasons-of-the-storm

Sisters of Sword and Song by Rebecca Ross – June 23rd 2020

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48245040-sisters-of-sword-and-song

Empire of the Vampire (Empire of the Vampire #1) by Jay Kristoff – September 3rd 2020

In 2019 is the year I finally read Jay Kristoff, and it was amazing. I have no doubts that he is going to write an amazing book about vampires (I mean, vampires are making a comeback, right?)

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43728380-empire-of-the-vampire

Set Fire to the Gods (Set Fire to the Gods #1) by Sara Raasch and Kristen Simmons – August 4th 2020

Gladiators? Gladiators.

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41954467-set-fire-to-the-gods

The Winds of Winter (A Song of Ice and Fire #6) by George R.R. Martin – no date

I know, I know – there isn’t an official date just yet, but one can hope, right? Though after watching season 8 of the show, I’m a bit wary about reading this final book in the series.

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12111823-the-winds-of-winter

July wrap-up

bookishy

https://www.paperandword.com/

‘Sky in the Deep’ Adrienne Young
★★★★

I actually gave it 4,5 stars, because it was really damn good. We don’t have many books about tribes in Young-Adult, which is a shame. I liked the characters, who were from different tribes, but realise that they are the same despite fighting for centuries – I think it sends a strong message, and additionally, it’s a really good read. I can’t wait for Adrienne’s new book!

‘Onyx and Ivory’ Mindee Arnett
★★★

The beginning was really good – it pulled me right in, the middle of the book was a little boring, but I guess every book has a boring part? The ending was an absolute mess – I honestly have no idea what happened there, and I couldn’t decipher which characters were on the good side? I’m going to read the second book in the series, just to find out what happens next.

‘A Little Book of Hygge’ Meik Wiking
★★★

For those of you who don’t know, hygge is a Danish lifestyle involving a lot of happiness and cosiness. I fell in love with the idea when we discussed it during English class, and I bought this book because I wanted to find out more – sadly, the book was very general. The author wrote about general things, like the fact that hygge involves candles. I expected more details and more information.

‘Wicked Saints’ Emily A. Duncan
★★★★

This book was so damn good. Everything was great – the characters, who were complex and interesting; the plot that was surprising; and I didn’t even mind the dual narration – one was from Nadya point of view, and one was from Malachiasz’s. The only thing that annoyed me throughout the whole book was the similarity to Grisha trilogy by Leigh Bardugo – I could foresee the ending because I’ve read Grishaverse before.

‘Anna and the French Kiss’ Stephanie Perkins
★★★★★

If you like contemporaries, you need to read this book – it stole the first place for my favourite contemporary after the first chapter. Every part of the book was amazing – the main character, Anna, was adorable and relatable; the second character, St. Clair, was a perfect bookish boyfriend; the plot was full of twists which could have been avoided by honesty, but I guess that’s similar to real life.

‘A Curse So Dark and Lonely’ Brigid Kemmerer
★★★

I had such high expectations for this book, but I was really disappointed. The main character annoyed me, the whole story had nothing to do with ‘Beauty and the Beast’, and the plot was really boring and predictive. I just expected more from this book.

‘Hunting Prince Dracula’ Kerri Maniscalco
★★★★

I definitely liked ‘Stalking Jack the Ripper’ more. The beginning of this book was so boring, but the second part was really interesting. What saved my rating of this book, was the characters – the amazing Audrey Rose and the charming Thomas. I just can’t help but love them.

‘Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies’ J.K. Rowling
★★★★★

To be honest with you, I would love anything connected to the magical world of ‘Harry Potter’. It doesn’t matter that this book only had 73 pages – for a couple of minutes I took an amazing trip back to my childhood and back to the magic of Hogwarts. I know, I know – I sound like a such a dork, but I can’t help it!

‘Daisy Jones & the Six’ Taylor Jenkins Reid
★★★★★

An absolute masterpiece. I loved everything about this book – the characters, the storyline and the rock n’ roll. I can’t even articulate how much I loved this book. Taylor Jenkins Reid managed to convince me that the band really exist, and I just wanted to listen to their songs so much.

‘If You’d Just Let Me Finish’ Jeremy Clarkson
★★★

I always like to read about Clarkson’s witty and sarcastic approach to life, which for me is also an inside look into life in England (which fascinates me). This one was much better than the previous book of Clarkson’s I read – he has definitely grown up a bit and managed to make me laugh out loud a few times.

I also read a book in Polish by a Polish author, but it’s not available in English so I didn’t include it in my wrap-up. For any Polish readers, I may have, it’s ‘O pisaniu. Na chłodno.’ Remigiusz Mróz.

March wrap-up

bookishy

‘Anne of the Green Gables’ L.M. Montgomery
★★★★★

I have so much fondness for this book since it was the book that got me into reading when I was little. I remember having to read the entire series in one weekend because I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen. Going back to this book, it’s still as amazing as it was when I was twelve. And, quite frankly, every book that manages to make me cry deserves five stars from me.

‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ Jenny Han
★★★★

That book was such a fun read! I love both the book, and the movie – I kind of like how different they are. I like the difference in the details, though after seeing the movie I was a bit disappointed with the ending. Now I can’t wait to read the rest of the series, but it seems that I will have to wait a while for it. Also, now I’m in love with Peter Kavinsky, and that’s a real problem.

‘Anne of Avonlea’ L.M. Montgomery
★★★★

As always, the second book wasn’t as good as the first one. For me, this one was more boring than ‘Anne of the Green Gables’. I think I remembered there being more Gilbert and Anne relationship, but I wasn’t disappointed by how their friendship developed throughout the book.

‘Esme’s Wish’ Elizabeth Foster
★★★

This book is perfect for young kids who are just starting their journey with fantasy – it has a different world, dragons, and magic. For me, it was action-lacking and boring. I think I’m too old for this book – I especially got angry at Esme (who is the main character) at the beginning, when she was just being a problematic kid.

‘Cristiano and Leo: The Race to Become the Greatest Football Player of All Time’ Jimmy Burns
★★★★

The first part of the book bored me – I was really struggling to continue it, but I have read enough biographies to know how difficult it is to write them. The second half of the book captured me completely, hence the four stars. In the Jimmy Burns made me curious what was going to happen next, even though I knew was going to happen. I recommend this book for anyone who loves football.

‘Sea Witch’ Sarah Henning
★★★

I’m torn between giving this book 3 and 4 stars. It didn’t capture my heart, but it was nice to read – a retelling of the little mermaid. It was a decent book, but I was expecting something different – like for example less teenage drama between two princes fighting for a girl. But somehow ‘Sea Witch’ made me want more – I wanted to know what happens next, and that’s really the point of a good book.

‘The King’s Man’ Nora Sakavic
★★★★★

That book honestly broke my heart, like all of the books in ‘All For the Game’ series. The ending made me want to cry because Andrew and Neil definitely didn’t deserve that. As I reread this, I realised that writing is not as good as I thought it was. Nonetheless, it’s a five-star read for me because any book that makes me wanna cry and smile at the same time is an incredible piece of literature.

‘Stalking Jack the Ripper’ Kerri Maniscalo
★★★★

I liked this book a lot, though I didn’t like the slow pace of solving the murder. What I liked the most was the complexity of the characters – Audrey Rose who was both girly and brilliant, Thomas Cresswell who probably the most confusing character I have ever read, and finally Jack the Ripper, but I’m not going to say anything about him because I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone.

‘The Avengers: The Ultimate Guide to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’  Scott Beatty, Alan Cowsill, Alastair Dougall
★★

I had no idea that superheroes could be as boring as they were in this book. There were too many details, too many characters for a reader to keep up with them. I wanted to find out more about the Avengers, but after reading this book I’m just more confused. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you are an ultimate fan who has already read the comics.

‘A Discovery of the Witches’ Deborah Harkness
★★★★

Technically, this book deserves 4,5 stars from me. I loved it so much, but in the end, there were parts when I was like ‘What? Why?’. But the writing was really, really good – it was both descriptive, and interesting. I even liked Diana, and Matthew, which is surprising because I almost never like the main character. I recommend both the book and the tv show.

‘Fire and Blood – part 2’ George Martin
★★

In Poland, this book was divided into two, which really annoyed me. In my opinion, the second part of ‘Fire and Blood’ was much more boring than the first part. I thought that the part about Dance of Dragons would be interesting, but it really wasn’t. Overall, I’m really disappointed with both ‘Fire and Blood’ books.

‘To Kill A Kingdom’ Alexandra Christo

bookishy

synopsis

Lira is a daughter of the Sea Queen and is determined to prove to her mother that she is worthy of being her daughter. But Lira makes a mistake and now she has to pay for it – she must deliver the heart of the infamous siren killer or she will remain a human (a creature she hates) forever. Elian is a prince, but he is also a siren killer who travels across the sea with his own crew and kills every single of them he can get his hands on. He has no idea who had he met when he recuses a woman from the sea. She seems to know a lot about sirens and she promises to help him destroy siren kind forever. But should he trust her?

review

Where do I even start talking about this book? It was amazing and it was everything I’ve never known I needed – who doesn’t love a good siren story mixed up with incredible characters and a marvellous plot. Lira is one of the best character developments I’ve ever read –  we meet her as a prince-killing siren and, well, we end up with somebody with a conscious. Elian is now on my endless list of bookish boyfriends. But let’s move on into my review, shall we?

I have to admit, at first I was a bit weary. Lira was a terrible human being (or rather a siren, but all sirens were terrible), and I could not see this plot going anywhere. But then I was totally blown away by how Alexandra Christo managed to connect Lira and Elian’s story. I have loved all those connections that came to a conclusion. The story is compelling and it keeps you on your toes for the entire time you are reading it. I felt like every chapter is a new surprise and I had absolutely no idea what was going to happen next. Rarely does a book surprise me, but this one certainly did. At some point, I totally forgot that it was a ‘Little Mermaid’ retelling. Really. This was so far from the ‘Little Mermaid’ as it could have been. It was dark, twisted and I absolutely loved every minute of it.

But above all, I loved the main characters and their chemistry. What am I saying, I also loved the minor characters? Basically, I adore all characters, maybe besides Yukiko and the Sea Queen (they are both terrible characters and I hate them, thank you very much).

In conclusion, go and read that book right now. It is absolutely dashing, I love coming back to it and every aspect of it was perfection. ‘To Kill a Kingdom’ is a perfect Young-Adult read and it was one of my favourite reads of 2018, if not of my entire life. But seriously though, go read it. Like now.

‘The Heart of a Changeling’ Caitlyn E. Lloyd

bookishy

synopsis

Nora’s entire life has been marked with bad luck and horrible accidents. With so much tragedy in her past, all she dreams of is a normal life. But when a camping trip is cut short by a brutal attack and a kidnapping that nearly costs Nora her life, she is thrown headfirst into Avalon—a world where magic thrives, and the creatures of myth and legend all vie for dominance. This is the world of the Fae, and this dark realm claims Nora as one of its own. She’s a Changeling of unknown origin—a Fae child hidden at birth in the human world…

The synopsis is much longer, and the full synopsis is on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40674201-the-heart-of-a-changeling)

review

I have so many feelings about this book! It was completely amazing, and now I am in love with it. I loved how the fae were presented, and the characters were so interesting. For me it was like ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’ and ‘The Cruel Prince’ meets the Darkling from ‘Grisha Trilogy’, and I am here for it. It has been two months since I was grinning throughout the whole book, and I can’t remember the last time the main protagonist made me actually like her.

Nora is sassy and does not take shit (excuse my language) from anyone, even the Autumn Princess and the Winter King. She is fearless, and even when she is scared (which does not happen a lot) she does not show it. And Nora is actually funny, which so unusual for the main protagonist. But my heart was absolutely stolen by the fae – Serkhele and Carrious. Carrious is your typical asshole friend, who actually cares a lot. I am a sucker for asshole best-friends, both in real life and in books. And Serkhele – Oh. My. God. He is absolutely dashing, and I love his cold heart. I think he is my new book boyfriend (boyfriend #3). Serkhele have me serious the Darkling vibe, but without all the psycho stuff (which put me off in the Darkling). Serkhele’s backstory absolutely killed me (in a good sense).

I love how the fae are presented in the book – the world is very well-planned, and I really liked how the author implemented explanations into the story. That’s what I usually don’t like about fantasy books – the worlds are usually too complicated and are not explained well. This was not the case here – everything was clarified throughout the book. The Winter Court is so freaking incredible that I think I now have a new favourite court. Also, I kind of loved all the Shakespeare reference with Titania.

I know it sounds too good to be true, but I loved absolutely everything about this book. I loved all the fae, the world-building, the characters, the plot twists, and I even loved the ending, even though it absolutely broke my heart. I cannot wait to read the second book in the series, which comes out in the spring of 2020 so keep your eyes open for it!

Disclaimer: I was provided with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

‘Grace and Fury’ Tracy Banghart

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synopsis

In a world where women have no rights, two sisters Serina and Nomi have two very different opinions about their society. Serina is ready to fulfil society’s expectation and to become one of the Heir’s Graces, for which she had been training her whole life. Nomi, on the other hand, thinks that the whole idea of Graces is ridiculous and is a firm believer that women should have equal rights. Nomi is to aid her sister if she was to become a Grace. However, Serina is not the one that catches the Heir’s eye – Nomi is. Nomi has no choice, but to become a Grace. But what’s even worse, Serina is sent to prison after taking the fall for Nomi’s dangerous secret.

review

At first, I was so engaged in ‘Grace and Fury’. I have thought it would be another one of my favourite books, full of feminism and strong female characters. Could have I been more wrong? The beginning was amazing, both mysterious and promising. The first plot twist was also incredible – I was not anticipating it at all. But from there everything went downhill. The part of the story dedicated to the king’s sons reminded me of Victoria Aveyard’s ‘Red Queen’, but the execution wasn’t even half as good. That part felt copied from ‘Red Queen’ and from the first moments I was introduced to Asa I knew what would happen. The idea for the story was genius, truly. The world where women have no rights and are treated as objects? That was an instant buy for me. I just wish that execution was much better.

The characters were promising at first. Two sisters, different as fire and water. One obedient, the other one rebellious. The more chapters I have read, the more flat the main heroines were becoming. Nomi lost her rebelliousness which only left her with being rude and reckless. The author was clearly planning to reverse their roles – she wanted Nomi to be more obedient and level-headed, and and Serina to be the rebellious one. In my opinion, she failed. Nomi did not become more reasonable, she has only became more reckless. Serina, however, lost her cleverness and replaced it with plain rebelliousness when she should have been more level-headed. The heir to the throne was supposed to be a mysterious character – one you cannot figure out. Instead, he seemed like a spoiled prince who changes his mind with just a flick of his fingers. I won’t say anything more since I do not want to spoil anything. I will just add that this story had such a potential for amazing and complex characters, but in the end they were just plain.

I think that a book that was supposed to be about feminism and women fighting for their rights, there shouldn’t be so many parts of the plot dedicated to love. I don’t mind that Nomi and Serina had a bit of romance in the book, but I have felt that it was too much. That they did not have time to be their own heroes, but instead they dependent on their significant others. I just think that in a book that is advertised as a feminist book love should not be one of the main themes. I’m not saying that love is not feministic, because that is bulls**t ,but I was expecting more action from Serina and Nomi.

In conclusion, I was so disappointed by this book! I know that OwlCrate has an amazing taste in books, so I was surprised to find out that this one was also a part of their box. I also noticed that a lot of people love this book so, if you are one of them, please tell me your opinion about ‘Grace & Fury’.

October wrap-up

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October was such a good reading month for me! Honestly! I have managed to read 10 books which, compared to September, is a lot. My favourite read of this month was ‘Everless’ (I don’t include ‘Harry Potter’ in that, because ‘Harry Potter’ is ‘Harry Potter’). Here is my October wrap-up!

‘Catwoman’ Sarah J. Maas
★★★★★

I was so excited to finally get my hands on one of the books from the DC Icons series. The authors that feature in this series are incredible – Marie Lu, Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo are among my favourite authors in the world. I stumbled upon ‘Catwoman’ in a small bookstore in Malta and I knew I had to have it instantly. I have read in one day, before and after classes, and I have loved it so much. The plot is incredible and all the decisions come to a perfect conclusion in the end. The characters are well-done and intriguing, especially the female ones – Selina, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn. I adore this book and I will definitely order the rest of DC Icons books.

‘Daughter of the Siren Queen’ Tricia Levenseller
★★★★

I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed by this one. I love the first part of the duology, ‘The Daughter of the Pirate King’, and was anticipating the second part for weeks until it finally arrived. The plot felt forced and not very well-planned. The characters I have loved so much in the first book – Alosa and Riden – were so flat in the second one. They always seem to create problems where there were none. If ‘Daughter of the Siren Queen’ was a standalone, it would be a much better book. But as a continuation of ‘The Daughter of the Pirate King’ I have felt like it was missing something important.

‘Grace and Fury’ Tracy Banghart
★★

Ugh, I was so disappointed by this book. I’ve seen people fuss over it on bookstagram and I had great expectations of ‘Grace and Fury’. The plot was too simple, besides the plot twist at the beginning. The characters were too plain and I couldn’t help to think that the idea of two princes was taken from Victoria Aveyard’s ‘Red Queen’. The book was supposed to be very feministic, but I had an impression that Nomi and Serina, the main characters, were only depending on men.

‘A Whole New World’ Liz Braswell
★★★★

At first, I was excited for this retelling. After the first few chapters, I was disappointed – everything seemed to be written down from the Disney’s movie. And then, everything changed – the characters were different from the fairy-tale and I liked the storyline with the rebellion of Agrabah. Also, I think that writing the book from Aladdin’s point of view was a great decision. Now, I’m on to read the retelling of Mulan by Liz Braswell and I hope it will be as good as ‘A Whole New World’ was.

‘The Last Wish’ (‘The Witcher’) Andrzej Sapkowski
★★★★★

I love this book – I have read it four before so technically it is a reread of a reread of a reread. Or something like that. It is probably one of the few books written by Polish authors that I like. It is also my sister’s favourite book. The main hero is perfectly written and, even though I don’t usually like this form, this time the form of short stories was fitting. I strongly recommend reading this book, even if you are not Polish – I can guarantee that you will love it.

‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ J.K. Rowling
★★★★★

There is no better month than October for a ‘Harry Potter’ reread. Well, every month is good for that, but there is something about October and fall that just screams ‘Harry Potter’. I am a big Potterhead and it felt amazing to read the first book again – I have to admit I cried every time James and Lily were mentioned. And when Sirius was mentioned. I’m so emotional when it comes to ‘Harry Potter’. Well, now I need to watch the movie, don’t I?

‘Descendants of War and Magic’ Ruby Fitzgerald
★★★★

I’m torn whether this book should get three or four stars – I think I would settle on 3,5 ★. It was a good book and I liked it, yet it was nothing outstanding. It did not make me wanna cry, laugh or scream (maybe a bit scream when some people were mean to Xenos). The magic realm was well-written and organized, which I liked a lot. The characters were fine, but there were too many of them, and the book was too short for me to get attached to them. It is not a book to obsess about, but it is a good one to read in a tram.

‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ J.K. Rowling
★★★★★

It is my least favourite of all ‘Harry Potter’ books. But it still gets five stars, because it is Harry Potter. I do not know what to write here, because if I start discussing the book it would turn from being a ‘wrap-up’ to my monologue about ‘Harry Potter’. I have to admit though that my heart skipped a beat when Ginny was taken into the chamber, even though I knew the ending. ‘Harry Potter’ does make me emotional. Also, that Slytherin hate is breaking my heart.

‘Everless’ Sara Holland
★★★★★

I love this book so much and I cannot wait for continuation! It had me turning pages since the first chapter, and I have read it in two sittings! I was on my toes the whole time – I could never predict what is going to happen next. Jules is an amazing main character and I loved her nerve and wit. ‘Everless’ had me crying, smiling, putting down the book to stare into space blankly – basically it had everything one needs from the book.

‘True Fire’ Gary Meehan
★★★★

At the beginning I was sceptical about ‘True Fire’, but I appreciate a book that can surprise me, especially if it surprises me multiple times. And this one definitely did. Megan is not a heroine I had expected, since she is sixteen and pregnant. The plot twist that occurs at the end (I’m not going to say anything more, not to spoil the book) made me put this book down for a moment and stare at the wall. It missed a kind of swiftness which made it not easy to read, but other than that I recommend it strongly.

September wrap-up

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It was a terrible reading month for me, really. I wasn’t home for the most time and I didn’t take any books with me. Then, I was on my holidays where I was too busy sightseeing, resting and bonding with my family. But I still wanted to share the books I have read this month with the world. I managed to find two interesting books when I was staying over at my aunt’s. Also, I bought ten books on my holidays and so far I have read two of them. So here is my September wrap-up and hopefully October will a better reading month for me.

‘The Girl on the Train’ Paula Hawkins
★★★

I am not a big fan of thrillers or criminals, but I was really bored and needed something to read. That was the only interesting book on my aunt’s bookshelf. The beginning was too dull for me and I felt I had been waiting forever for something to finally happen. The whole plot had unsolved in the last forty pages which was irritating and felt a bit forced – like the book was supposed to be longer. The only thing I liked was the turnout – the denouement of the plot was thought out and the clues left throughout the whole book all match up. I liked this book, but it was nothing special. Shame since I heard so much buzz around this book and I expected great things from it.

‘Fablehaven’ Brandon Mull
★★★★

I know, I know – ‘Fablehaven’ is a children book, but theoretically also Rick Riordan’s books are and they are freakin’ awesome. And so was ‘Fablehaven’. It was a perfect read for a rainy day with a perfectly thought-out and planned secret world. Kendra and Seth are exact oppositions of each other and with a traditional sibling bond. Seth was a bit irritating for my taste – his every mistake had terrible consequences for him and his sister, and for Fablehaven.

‘Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook’ Christina Henry
★★★★★

It was my favourite read out of all four books I have read this month. It was incredible and it stayed in my thoughts for days after I have finished it. ‘Peter Pan’ is my favourite fairy tale and even though it’s a untraditional look at the story. It shows Peter Pan as a childish and narcissistic villain and James Hook as one of Peter’s victims. The only drawback of this book is how bloody it is – it was a little bit like a ‘Game of Thrones’ meets ‘Peter Pan’ without the sex parts. I quite liked how brutal it was – that made it more real – but considering that the cover suggests it’s a children’s book it might be an unpleasant surprise for a reader.

‘The Belles’ Dhonielle Clayton 
★★★★★

What an interesting idea for a book and, at the same time, what an important topic. I completely fell in love with the main character, Camellia. She wasn’t perfect, she had her own ambitions and she was driven. With all of her traits she was more appealing to me. Camellia was beautiful, but she was also imperfect, confused and had a lot of different dilemmas that she didn’t always handle right.

It was so difficult to choose whether I liked ‘Lost Boy’ or ‘The Belles’ more. In the end, I chose ‘Lost Boy’, because it stayed with me days after I have finished it. Seriously, I was walking around the beach and I just thinking about this book. I’m definitely going to read more books by Christina Henry – I saw that she has a book about ‘Alice in Wonderland’. Hopefully October would be a better reading month for me and I hope I will find the book I love as much as I have loved ‘Lost Boy.’