Books – Page 57 – The Constellation of Moon

The Memory Trees Review

Posted on January 10, 2018

This book was part of November’s Book Box Club and we just had the Clubhouse meeting last week.

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The Memory Trees by Kali Wallace

Rating:

I struggled with this book. It was a slow-burn, the prose was beautiful but it left me with so many questions and the ending just made me wonder what happened next. I don’t mind books that leave me some questions, but this one left me wanting to know so much more as if there was a next book and I don’t think there is meant to be another one.

However, the way it portrays mental illness is impressive and it was a wonderful thing to read in that sense. And it has a very ethereal feel to it that makes it hard to place.

Also, one of my favourite things is that there isn’t a “forced” romance between characters. It was very refreshing to not have to deal with that aspect of a book when it wasn’t necessary.

Moon recommends

This book has a very distinctive feel like The Disappearances. So if you liked this one, then definitely recommend you read The Disappearances or the other way around. The orchard was a delightful place, even if there was a lot going on.

Book Review

This Mortal Coil Review

Posted on January 6, 2018

This one of those books I had been eyeing for a while and then stumbled upon a preorder incentive and I am very glad I bought it. You can see my attempt at making the Origami DNA that was part of the incentive, the letter, bookmark (and there was also a signed personalised bookplate).

This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada

When a lone soldier, Cole, arrives with news of Lachlan Agatta’s death, all hope seems lost for Catarina. Her father was the world’s leading geneticist, and humanity’s best hope of beating a devastating virus. Then, hidden beneath Cole’s genehacked enhancements she finds a message of hope: Lachlan created a vaccine.

Only she can find and decrypt it, if she can unravel the clues he left for her. The closer she gets, the more she finds herself at risk from Cartaxus, a shadowy organization with a stranglehold on the world’s genetic tech. But it’s too late to turn back.

There are three billion lives at stake, two people who can save them, and one final secret that Cat must unlock. A secret that will change everything.

Rating:

I loved the concept of this book. The whole idea of being able to “hack” and code DNA was amazing and then there is the whole actual story. It is hard to review without giving too much away, as there are SO many things going on (which usually is a bad thing in a book as it is confusing but in this one it all fits the story and adds to it, so it is very neat).

The plot twists were unexpected (or at least the main one, I did guess the ones relating to Cat’s father) and were done quite well so that once it happened you were like “oh of course” but before it happened you couldn’t guess it.

Now I want the next book because there is so much to learn and Emily’s letter included some secrets that just make me want to read the next book more. Why?!

Moon recommends

I don’t think I’ve read a book like this before. It isn’t exactly distopyian yet it is in a way. And it introduces such a new concept that it is hard to class. It is full of science but it is futuristic since it technically doesn’t exist yet but it makes sense. The protein coating idea makes sense as something like that is what causes dementia, so it is very very interesting. I just think you need to read This Mortal Coil.

Book Review

The Language of Thorns Review

Posted on January 4, 2018

First review of the year even if I read this book in 2017 (and it was book 99 out of 100 I read in the year, woot!).

For this particular book, I have the special Fairyloot edition whcih I have to say pleases me more than the actual original cover.

The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo

Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns.

Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid’s voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy’s bidding but only for a terrible price.

Inspired by myth, fairy tale, and folklore, #1 New York Times–bestselling author Leigh Bardugo has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love.

Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, these tales will transport you to lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse.

This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, all of them lavishly illustrated with art that changes with each turn of the page, culminating in six stunning full-spread

Rating:

I will be brutally honest and say I am not the biggest fan of the Grishaverse. I did not like the first trilogy, and Six of Crows was better and nicer but I am not a proper fan. So this gorgeous book was a very lovely surprise.

I guess the best way to put it is that it is a reimagining of fables and fairytales. And Leigh does this in such an amazing way. every story kept me wanting to know more even when I already knew the heart of the story and more or less the way it’d go, but the little twists and the writing won me.

I just have to say, Leigh has definitely grown as a writer and I absolutely appreciate this. And of course, the gorgeous growing illustrations on each page had we swooning as I read and matched the artwork with the story.

Moon recommends

I am not sure what to recommend here, usually I suggest books this reminded me of, but this time it is all about fables and fairytales and there are too many variants, editions and options of collections of them that it’d be a disservice to choose just one to recommend to you. I just have to say I recommend digging into fairytale stories and fables and enjoying those.

Books, Subscription Boxes

Oh So Regal FairyLoot

Posted on December 29, 2017

After the fiasco with Hermes and their ~~bad~~ delivery I was a bit scared that my Fairyloot would not arrive before Christmas, however I can say that it did!

This was also an easy guess of the book for me, since I had already read it, but I had given my ARC copy away so it was nice to have a proper hardback version of it. Let’s start from the book and go clockwise:

Everless by Sara Holland. Just go read it, it is quite interesting and it left me with a book hangover. You can read my review here.
Prince Eric candle by A Court of Candles. It smells gorgeous and apparently there were 4 different smells to get.
Red Queen notebook by Stella’s Bookish Art, which matches the book of Everless which is pretty cool.
Theme card and theme bookmark.
Rosemarked sampler.
Keyring which I really liked and is now holding my keys, by Fiction Tea DEsigns.
William Shakespeare pouch by . Probably my least favourite item but it is still cool.
Promotional bookmark.
Simba Funko, there were supposed to be 6 different ones and all of the other options are princesses, so why do I get Simba? I did want one of the other princesses and would’ve preferred say Merida or Mulan over Simba as a choice. Oh well, can’t have it all.

Another nice wintery box to enjoy before Christmas (it arrived before, even if the post is after).

Books, Subscription Boxes

Winter FairyTales Book Box Club

Posted on December 23, 2017

This year has brought us a cold prewinter (since officially winter starts on the 22nd) so it has lovely to receive bookish boxes that make you feel even more Christmassy.

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Book Box Club did not disappoint this time, so starting on the theme card and going clockwise:

Winter Fairytales theme card.
Baba Yaga wish bracelet by Charmed Delight Co. Last year they sent a different one which had three stars, so I am seeing a theme here, can we keep it up?
Hansel & Gretel’s Gingerbread Mallows by Bonboosh. They are the reason this picture was taken during nighttime using the lights in the room, as they didn’t make it to the next day.
Christmas Card, this was personalised to all the members of our house (sans the 9 chickens, but it’s hard to know all of their names! PS. Cow, Big Mama, The Sweeties, Skittles, Scarface, Red 1 and Red 2, Pearl) including our puppy and it is now proudly being displayed alongside the other Christmas cards we’ve received.
Underneath it all is a super soft scarf with shiny golden trees that makes me want to get dressed up already for Christmas (by Hazel & Pip)
A bookmark featuring the two books in the box.
Fairy Godmother notebook by TJ Lubrano.
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. I actually guessed the books because I already had this one. The bonus is that the extra book is going to a good home and now I have a signed book plate for the book.
The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden. Second book of the series and yay to double books in the box.
Fairytales pencil.
Scrolled Clubhouse invitation.

All in all, a lovely box with a very wintery feel.

Books, Subscription Boxes

November’s Fantasy PageHabit

Posted on December 19, 2017

The biggest downside to PageHabit is the shipping but they gave me $5 credit, however it is still such high cost I ahve had to cancel my subscription which is a shame.

To avoid repeats, I chose the Fantasy box, and somehow I still kind of did (can’t complain though). Starting on the book and going clockwise:

The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty. This is what made me laugh, because I got an ARC for it in Illumicrate and now I have an annotated finished copy!
Author’s Letter.
The usual quote bookmark they tend to send.
The card that says where they send extra books and which books were featured this month (or rather last month).
A short story.
A study tote bag which I liked since it looks and feels quite strong and good.
A magnifying bookmark, which was a great unboxing prop.

My favourite thing about PageHabit is that the books are annotated by the authors and they are such a gem.

Book Review

An Enchantment of Ravens Review

Posted on December 11, 2017

I love books with fae but I am a little picky on them once I have read them. So when I saw this gorgeous book (I adore the cover) I had to give it a go.

Side note: I also learned I have no black feather props or anything that coud be used for this book at hand, so have a lot of white ones and a quill I made myself from a swam feather.

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

Isobel is a prodigy portrait artist with a dangerous set of clients: the sinister fair folk, immortal creatures who cannot bake bread, weave cloth, or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and Isobel’s paintings are highly prized among them. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—she makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes – a weakness that could cost him his life.

Furious and devastated, Rook spirits her away to the autumnlands to stand trial for her crime. Waylaid by the Wild Hunt’s ghostly hounds, the tainted influence of the Alder King, and hideous monsters risen from barrow mounds, Isobel and Rook depend on one another for survival. Their alliance blossoms into trust, then love, violating the fair folks’ ruthless Good Law. There’s only one way to save both their lives, Isobel must drink from the Green Well, whose water will transform her into a fair one—at the cost of her Craft, for immortality is as stagnant as it is timeless.

Isobel has a choice: she can sacrifice her art for a future, or arm herself with paint and canvas against the ancient power of the fairy courts. Because secretly, her Craft represents a threat the fair folk have never faced in all the millennia of their unchanging lives: for the first time, her portraits have the power to make them feel.

Rating:

I will start this review by saying I thoroughly enjoyed the world of Whimsy. And Isobel’s sisters, March and May, were a great addition to the story, every appearance they had made me smile in some way.

It was all in all an interesting quest adventure with romance at the centre of it yet at the same time, as much as the romance is part of the plot, it isn’t the only thing and Isobel has a lot of interesting layers (as does Rook).

Meeting the fae folk in their own courts was also a revelation and it was interesting to see how they interacted with Craft (and the effect of Craft in them, of course).

And that ending was wonderful. I didn’t expect it exactly the way it happened and it was a good ending. Made me quite happy.

Moon recommends

This book, because it is a true enchantment. Or if you’d like to read more about fairies, you can try Holly Black’s Modern Fairie Tales. I remember enjoying reading them ages ago (and in general I like Holly’s books).

If you’d like to buy Enchantment, you can do so here. I am off to buy some black feathered things…

Disclaimer: There is an Amazon Associates link, but if you choose to use them and buy from them, know that you’re just helping me buy more books and feed my reading needs. Book synopsis is from Good Reads.

Book Review

Dear Martin Review

Posted on December 7, 2017

I won this book as part of T.J.’s giveaway and I had a few reads to finish before being able to grab this little gem.

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can’t escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates. Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.

Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it’s Justyce who is under attack.

Rating:

I will start this review by stating that I do not live in the US, but I have been in the US and one of the things that shocked me the most was the racism that steeps from everywhere and is so latent. I had never before in my life experienced anything like it, from all sides.

This book is a raw, gripping depiction of this racism, and the predisposition to think someone is bad just because of how they look. For such a short book it really packs a punch. As soon as I finished I texted Nikki and was just wanting her to read it.

I deducted half a fox because it is a little convoluted and jumps from here to there at times. And sometimes you get so little information on things that could’ve been expanded and a lot of information on things that aren’t that necessary to the story. I understand we’re being shown who Justyce is.

Otherwise, it is a great read, looking at things from an own voices point of view. And it breaks my hear that this is very much a reality for many. I also appreciated it wasn’t just a book where “white = bad” but it tackled on how both white and black can try to stop other blacks from raising above it. Kudos to Nic for that!

Moon recommends

Go read this book, then add THUG (The Hate U Give) to your list and learn a little more about black lives. And also, please, try to shake any racism and prejudice off yourself. It makes a difference however small it may be.

If you’d like to read it, you can find it here.

Book Review

The Complete Book of Dragons: A Guide to Dragon Species Review

Posted on December 3, 2017

This book came in LitJoy Crate alongside The Last Namsara as it was a “great companion book”. And I devoured The Last Namsara but had put this one on my bookcase and forgotten a little about it.

The Complete Book of Dragons: A Guide to Dragon Species by Cressida Cowell

This guide is a must-have for fans of the New York Timesbestselling How to Train Your Dragon series that inspired the hit movie and TV show. This gift book features all of the dragon species from the series plus brand-new ones created just for this book, with color illustrations of each and every one!

Rating:

This was fun to read, in the same style of all the other “How to Train Your Dragon” books, this one is full of annotations and scribbles. It is full of different kinds of dragons which are somewhat categorised by their habitat and some by how dangerous they are.

It includes the coloured illustrations, the writing about them, some rating of how fearsome (fear factor) the dragon is, size, etc. It was fun to read and it went quite quickly, but I think as fun as it is, if you haven’t really read anything about the series, this book may not be as enjoyable as it is when you actually have, as some of the references or anecdotes are related to other books.

Moon recommends

You read the whole series, this is a fun one, because it is geared for younger readers but it is a delight to read as an adult and both Hiccup and Toothless make for a very interesting team. If you haven’t read it, you can start with the first book, How to Train your Dragon. You’re in for a ride for sure with the whole series. Enjoy!

If you’d like to have a handy dragon guide, you can find it here.

Book Review

Before She Ignites Review

Posted on November 27, 2017

Any book that has dragons in it usually makes me curious and Before She Ignites defintiely caught my attention. Then I was lucky enough to win a giveaway for Briony’s birthday and I chose this book as a prize.

Before She Ignites by Jodie Meadows

Before

Mira Minkoba is the Hopebearer. Since the day she was born, she’s been told she’s special. Important. Perfect. She’s known across the Fallen Isles not just for her beauty, but for the Mira Treaty named after her, a peace agreement which united the seven islands against their enemies on the mainland.

But Mira has never felt as perfect as everyone says. She counts compulsively. She struggles with crippling anxiety. And she’s far too interested in dragons for a girl of her station.

After

Then Mira discovers an explosive secret that challenges everything she and the Treaty stand for. Betrayed by the very people she spent her life serving, Mira is sentenced to the Pit–the deadliest prison in the Fallen Isles. There, a cruel guard would do anything to discover the secret she would die to protect.

No longer beholden to those who betrayed her, Mira must learn to survive on her own and unearth the dark truths about the Fallen Isles–and herself–before her very world begins to collapse.

Rating:

This book was interesting. I think that’s the best way to describe it. The first few chapters were messy and almost put me off reading it. But I was intrigued by Mira’s panic attacks and her counting as a coping method (this is not a spoiler, as you know I try to keep my reviews spoiler free). Also, there are dragons here (and sadly I think there isn’t enough of them in this book).

However it was interesting to see Mira grow through the whole book and shed a lot of what she “was” for who she is.

I really liked Aaru, probably the reason I kept reading at first. And he doesn’t disappoint as a character. He is definitely my favourite one of them all.

There seem to be a lot of layers to this story and sadly we miss out on most of them because this has to be a trilogy (or a series or whatever it is) instead of a long book. I can kind of see where the story is going, so it isn’t a very surprising plot, but it kept me going.

I think the summary would be that it has good characters (even if Mira isn’t probably the best one out of them), and it touches on interesting topics like panic attacks and a few other things which was refreshing.

Moon recommends

Books with dragons! Also, if you have suffered a panic attack or are curious about them, this is an interesting depiction of it. But I’d also recommend The Last Namsara and all the recommendations done in that post. Here be dragons indeed.

If you’d like to buy this book, you can find it here.