Nothing is perfect, and as such, the reviews in this blog are chaotic. My main aim is to share my thoughts, joy and opinions on a book, not make a publication perfect review. This blog endorses authenticity, showing up and joy over perfection.
I love a good little graphic novel and Doughnuts and Doom does not disappoint. For starters, what a title!
But our story follows Margot who has troubles being a witch in public or under stress, she just wants to get her license and be able to do her own life. But as she gets a craving for doughnuts to cheer herself up, she accidentally casts a curse on Elena who just wants to be a rock star and make it.
Their lives now accidentally entwined due to Margot’s chaos and her magic being a little out of control, we keep getting some interesting interactions and a cute story.
One of my favourite things is that there are a lot of raw feelings depicted here, the frustration, the anxiety, the fears, they are here and they’re not “positive” or made pretty, instead they cause chaos, they harm, and then our characters have to figure out a way to make things work, or to find a way to keep going.
A feel good lovely graphic novel that will have you craving doughnuts and maybe a good soundtrack in the background to listen too while reading.
I bought this one on one of their sales after they had released it as I wanted the book. I am not the biggest fan of romance (I have my moments when I want a romance book but I tend to be picky and need to be in the mood for it).
If however, unlike me, you are a Romance avid reader, I can say Afterlight has come leaps and bounds with their boxes and they are a lovely choice.
As you can see from the picture, this isn’t a hugely big contents box, but rather a love letter to romance, and in this case it was all about Lizzie Huxley-Jones book, Make You Mine This Christmas, a cute love story that now has a “sequel” (don’t quote me on that, it is another book similar to this, I haven’t read it yet). I am bad at this reviewing romance part, woops.
Anyway, it came with a print, author letter and some nice socks which are super soft and cute! I like how little it comes with because then it iisn’t adding clutter or unwanted items, and it feels extra cosy, so if you are looking for present ideas for your Romance lover, why not try Afterlight?
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
Rating:
Nothing is perfect, and as such, the reviews in this blog are chaotic. My main aim is to share my thoughts, joy and opinions on a book, not make a publication perfect review. This blog endorses authenticity, showing up and joy over perfection.
Disclaimer: Receiving a review copy from the publisher does not affect my opinion of the book. If you think I review it highly it is due to me knowing my taste well and therefore not requesting books I won’t enjoy. And I am not obligated to review the book if I do not like it, so you may not see bad reviews due to me preferring not to hype down a particular book. I only do reviews of books I disagreed with if I think it is worth bringing a topic or warning to light.
This is the sequel to Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Fairies, which is a cosy fairy fantasy book and I found it to be a wonderfully autumn/winter read that I devoured. Map of the Otherlands was also a devour alongside some tea and cake type of book.
Emily is feeling more secure in her position at the university after publishing her encyclopaedia and her adventures in the previous book, and well, there is also the fact that she has some feelings for Wendell Bambleby who isn’t entirely human and more part of the Fair Folk.
What’s even more interesting is the fact that he has proposed they get married and well, she is unsure how to navigate that, does she want to marry him? There are a lot of implications and ramifications she doesn’t even want to think about. I don’t blame her, it is a big bold choice, even when you choose a human, so I assume one of the Fair Folk is an even more difficult and big decision.
And there is also the fact she’s trying to map the fairie realms, but this plan of researching goes a bit sideways when Bambleby is almost assassinated by his mother’s underlings. This spurs a new adventure to the Austrian Alps, in search for a door that may help Bambleby figure a way to free himself from whatever it is his family is planning which so far does not bode well. It is never good news if your mother is trying to kill you, you know?
Once again we navigate a lot of chaos and interesting situations as our pair navigate new company in their adventures and even more interesting stakes.
I enjoyed this one, which still had the same feeling as the previous one, and as a sequel it stands good. It does not have as much punch as I felt the first book had, but it was still cosy and delightful. A good pastry of a read with a good feeling left behind and more curiosity about what is to come. It reminds me in a way, but more cosy of Lady Trent’s Memoirs (A Natural History of Dragons). It is also a lighter approach and it feels less dense (I love the other series but this one is a lot easier to read for tired minds and a lot smoother to go through).
So I can recommend this if you like fairy tales, you like stories about the Fair Folk, and similar books to Lady Trent’s Memoirs. Or if you simply want a cosy read with a nice feeling afterwards.
Nothing is perfect, and as such, the reviews in this blog are chaotic. My main aim is to share my thoughts, joy and opinions on a book, not make a publication perfect review. This blog endorses authenticity, showing up and joy over perfection.
Gamer girl graphic novel? Couldn’t pass it up!
Anda loves spending time online where she can do whatever she wants, and be whomever she wants. And she can meet people from all over the world and make friends, it is overall a good thing.
But then in the game, she meets a “gold farmer”, an avatar in game that illegally collects valuable objects and sells them to players that afford the expense, with the kid behind it being Chinese and trying his best to provide for his family.
As Anda interacts with the gold farmer, this brings into questions a lot about what is right and wrong, and what the rules mean, since they are not as straightforward when real lives are involved.
This may be a book that does not sit well with people, but as I come from a “third world” country (I hate this designation and calling it “underdeveloped” is also not good) this resonated with me in how life can be easy to live by the rules (or break them in ways that sound just daring) but that don’t have any real impact in livelihood and how life pans out for you.
There is usually some discourse on social media about “you shouldn’t do this, go do this privileged thing that to a developed rich country sounds like a low class thing or a right everyone has everywhere”, and usually it is done in ways to say “well, I am better than you, how dare you break the rules that were imposed by capitalism”. and well, this books brings some of the reality of life for those not as privileged and what the impact of it is, and why hard choices are made.
It is still a very idealised approach and I get it, the discussions for this type of nuance can’t be had in a single graphic novel, but at least it tries to touch on it and ask some of the questions we love ignoring because it is nicer to feel better and morally higher than others that have less options or possibilities.
The artwork is really fun and fits well with the ideas behind the story, so that’s a good win for me too.
Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing an Illumicrate subscription, you can do it on their website.
Illumicrate is a book subscription box, it usually features fantasy and sci-fi but not exclusively young adult, sometimes it features adult fiction too. It usually contains a new release, a pin and several bookish goodies.
A lovely little box, and let’s start from the top left corner going clockwise:
Fire is Catching towel. I have found the towels to never dry well enough for me (I like fluffy towels and for my hair t-shirt or high absorbing ones) which is the disappointing part, otherwise I would absolutely love this towel.
Aromatic Magic tea cups. I love a good stemless cup in this style, these are delicate and gorgeous.
Guess the character card game, which is a cool idea, but I am very bad at faces and matching my idea of how a character looks with the overall view, however the art collection here was stunning.
The featured book, which is The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem, another absolutely amazing read that I enjoyed and have actually read.
A guild of knowledge embroidered pouch which I use to store cards in.
This wasn’t a bad box, but if you compare it to the Night and Day one, it’s definitely lacking. The stemless cups were a win (I tend to use mine as “wine glasses” but also as cups for tea) but the game fell flat for me as did the towel. I would’ve liked more an “art” collection book of characters or something similar to properly browse the artwork, or maybe we need a where’s the character type of book with lots of characters form different books doing their own thing in a fantasy world…
Nothing is perfect, and as such, the reviews in this blog are chaotic. My main aim is to share my thoughts, joy and opinions on a book, not make a publication perfect review. This blog endorses authenticity, showing up and joy over perfection.
Disclaimer: Receiving a review copy from the publisher does not affect my opinion of the book. If you think I review it highly it is due to me knowing my taste well and therefore not requesting books I won’t enjoy. And I am not obligated to review the book if I do not like it, so you may not see bad reviews due to me preferring not to hype down a particular book. I only do reviews of books I disagreed with if I think it is worth bringing a topic or warning to light.
This is a lovely little poetry book, with a good collection of poems about mindfulness and about various topics to do with peace, calm and introspection.
The collection comes with the poems by “topic” and each beautifully illustrated. Some of the poems were ones I had read before or knew quotes that had come from them, but other were new to me and I found them fascinating. As it is always the case with a poetry collection, some of the pieces resonated more with me than others and there was one in particular that just stuck.
The Ink Cure by Kate Wakleing just hit me deeply, because damn, I use at and sketches, the little distracted doodles to navigate sometimes complex feelings or situations. It is known that my art is heavy in emotion and expression and part of it is because to me drawing is both a mindful practice and a very emotionally driven one. And I felt like this poem captured a lot fo my feelings very well.
I recommend this book for getting a nice encouraging collection that guides you through various approaches and ideas with a good touch of art and illustration. Beautiful in so many ways!
Nothing is perfect, and as such, the reviews in this blog are chaotic. My main aim is to share my thoughts, joy and opinions on a book, not make a publication perfect review. This blog endorses authenticity, showing up and joy over perfection.
I remember someone saying they had fond memories of reading this book for thunder storms and rough times, and so I obviously had to get a copy and read it.
Thunder cake is a lovely little book about the power of grandma’s and good food.
As a thunder claps and booms, Grandma explains it is time to make a thunder cake and they need to get the ingredients immediately because a real Thunder Cake must be in the oven before the storm arrives.
However the list of ingredients is long and thunder signals the storm coming close faster and faster, looming over them.
Now, this is based on the author’s childhood memories of her grandmother and how she helped her overcome her fear of thunder, and well, I think this is a delightfully way to help a child get over fear of thunder and make it into something nice, an epic lovely quest to make a cake and have a delicious item ready.
Can definitely agree with whomever had mentioned this was great for rainy weather and rough times, it will make you smile, remember your time as a child and maybe also remember those adults who made an effort to help you conquer fear with a kind and fun adventure.
I haven’t yet baked a Thunder Cake, but one day I will when the thunder storms come and they are not in the middle of the night and I am actually able to have some of the ingredients. In the meantime, I recommend this book for another cosy autumn/winter read.
Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing an Illumicrate subscription, you can do it on their website.
Illumicrate is a book subscription box, it usually features fantasy and sci-fi but not exclusively young adult, sometimes it features adult too. It usually contains a new release, a pin and several bookish goodies.
Another one of those boxes that are just epic on the theme and being so matching with the items for it. Starting on the bottom left corner with the leaflet:
Night and Day leaflet of contents
Underneath it all an Astral Balance (sun and moon) cushion cover, which is proudly presented to this day on my couch. Perfect fit for my vibes.
Equinox bowls (the black and white one), mine had a defect were the coating wasn’t applied properly and it was coming off (it happens) and thankfully the team sent a replacement so I could use them safely for food (they’re my breakfast bowls now).
Dawn and Dusk coasters, also happily living in between my coaster collection next to my spot on the couch.
The featured book which is The Sun and the Void by Gabriela Romero Lacruz, I have actually read this one for once in a while!
Celestial Harmony shoe charms, which I am not sure about using, mostly because I don’t really add charms to my shoe laces but I do like these.
Overall probably one of my favourite boxes and some of the items are still being used actively (except for the shoe charms) which I think is a big win on the ratio of use versus not. And to me that absolutely wins a lot because I love boxes that have items that will be part of my everyday life rather than pretty decorations or dust catchers.
Nothing is perfect, and as such, the reviews in this blog are chaotic. My main aim is to share my thoughts, joy and opinions on a book, not make a publication perfect review. This blog endorses authenticity, showing up and joy over perfection.
I think Becky Chambers asks some of the most interesting questions and, to me particularly, her Monk & Robot series has such a delicate and philosophical way of asking them.
I fell in love with A Psalm for the Wild Built, and it meant I had preordered this little book because I couldn’t wait to continue the story with Sibling Dex and Mosscap.
Our story brings us back from the rural areas, from the jungles and the wildness to a more inhabited part of the little moon they wander and call home.
Sibling Dex is finding the change from the quiet chaos of nature and back into “society” and humanity a bit abrupt, do they even like being a Tea Monk anymore? Whereas Mosscap is asking all the interesting questions he has been pondering before and left pondering answers for new questions that are asked by the villagers as they come into contact with new friends and experiences.
For me, it was a beautiful enquiry into “why do you choose to do something?” and “what happens when you achieve the thing you wanted?”. But not only that, it is about being content and satisfied, about having what you want and it being enough (or maybe not), do you need more? What do you choose to do then?
The prose is beautifully lyrical as always and the questions and interactions are so deep and make you stop and ponder over and over, and question yourself about your own self.
If you enjoy hopeful philosophical science fiction with a focus on kindness and identity, I highly recommend this series.
The Wolf’s Secret by Myriam Dahmn and Nicolas Digard. Illustrated by Júlia Sardá
Rating:
Nothing is perfect, and as such, the reviews in this blog are chaotic. My main aim is to share my thoughts, joy and opinions on a book, not make a publication perfect review. This blog endorses authenticity, showing up and joy over perfection.
There’s a cosy vibe going on and this book is full of that stay at home curled up with a good book feeling that I crave during the colder months.
Our story follows Wolf, who is a feared scary hunter, but he has a secret. There is a girl who lives in the forest that sings and makes him very curious.
But will his curiosity and his loneliness (no one tells you that being scary means it is hard to make friends) get the best of him and will he ever go beyond watching this girl and listening to her?
The artwork was absolutely breathtaking, in that beautiful way that is just so expressive and makes you feel everything. I kept wanting to keep that feeling. And the prose, the words, it is a masterpiece in sweetness, in ease of story-telling.
The story overall talks about trust, differences, obstacles, loneliness and friendship and it is one of my favourite books. I kept thinking of it even after finishing reading it, over and over.
I can recommend it for a beautiful short fairy and folk tale that will whisk you away and bring you back feeling like a little magic happened.
