Art

Moon Draws: Inktober 2017

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Because I am never late to the party, right?

So the first year I did Inktober was 2016 and I decided to do it last year (it feels so odd to say this about 2017). So here’s my round up of artwork (I did NOT complete the 31 days, but I am pleased with the ones I did do).

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A swiftly jumping Moire Fox (this is kind of a rework of a previous sketch I had made but with a little more detail.

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A cosy fox sleeping and enjoying time off.

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Underwater kiss between Dalv Le Wot and Rose Vered. I had fun drawing this…

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Long stretch of a fox.

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I have been on a Horizon Zero Dawn loving rampage and so it took 3 days to actually finish this one (you can see the work in progress) but it was absolutely a pleasure to do it. The only thing is that I drew it in an A5 piece of paper, so the details are tiny!

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This was an easy prompt to play with, Inej from Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom.

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Another two day videogame inspired piece, this time it is about bioshock and it included several prompts. As you can see I enjoy steampunk/mechanical/techie bits as part of the challenge. (You can also see how small it is by comparing to the pens on the side).

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This was the first videogame (not PC game) that spurred my love for them. Alice Madness Returns (there is a lot of violence, and difficult topics so it is for rated M/R).

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This was a piece I had sketched in 2014 after some difficult events in my life, and it took a few days to complete too. It is meant to be me surrounded by my characters, the creations and stories that helped me stay sane and keep going.

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See if you can name all of the characters found in this piece. A prize for the person that does.

Book Review

The Memory Trees Review

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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: MoonKestrel Logo2 20pxMoonKestrel Logo2 20pxMoonKestrel Logo2 20px

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.

 

Subscription Boxes

December’s LitJoy Crate Unboxing

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This was delayed due to me being a silly person and having it sent to work address so it arrived while I was on holiday so the unboxing was very delayeed, woops!

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I kinda guessed what book would be in this box as I follow the author on Twitter, but let’s go in order on the contents of this box, starting with the book of course:

  • Kat and Meg Conquer the World by Anna Priemaza.
  • Signed book plate and author letter.
  • Happy holidays postcard from the team.
  • Kat & Meg spoiler card (it includes all the items and why they were chosen).
  • Parabatai rune pin.
  • Spoiler card for January’s box (Batman!)
  • Epic Reads Look Book which is kinda like a fun activity book about books.
  • Inej and Nina print by Katherine Butler.
  • Lavender sleep mask which is a nice relaxing bit and quite unexpected.
  • Kindred Spirits candle by The Muggle Library. It smells nice and friendly.
  • Harry Potter Golden Trio tote bag by Sarah Conradsen, and I love the illustration on it.
  • Calm Yo Self anxiety roller by the Literary Apothecary. I tested it the day it arrived and have been using it at work and it is quite interesting, even when I am not the most fond of the lavender smell. It may be my favourite item from the box.

Now I can’t wait for this month’s box to arrive as it is curated by Marie Lu!

 

Book Review

This Mortal Coil Review

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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).

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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.

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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

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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.

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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 

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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.

 

 

Subscription Boxes

Accio! Holiday Box (Ravenclaw)

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Accio! is a box based in the US. They sell Harry Potter Universe merchandise, usually from superior quality (I tried them out for 3 months when they first opened up for international subscriptions, and the only reason I stopped my subscription is that the customs were making it too expensive for me, otherwise I’d get it more often!).

Anyway, they made a special Holiday Box, and I had to get one (Ravenclaw).

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As you can see it was packed full of stuff (and the cracker had also goodies inside, see picture below) and I am utterly in love with it. Contents are listed this time in the picture so I won’t list them again.

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The cracker had the list of items inside, a paper crown, a mini lotion bar and a joke.

Of course, the ornament went directly to my tree, the mug has become one of my favourites (it is quite sturdy and big and it is so gorgeous!) and all in all it really is an amazing box and I was extremely pleased with the contents.

So if you are a HP fan, do please try them out, they are absolutely worth it.

 

 

Wrap-ups and Tags

2017 Wrap-up: Let’s end the year well

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Hi everyone!

This is a general wrap-up for the year, even if this blog isn’t yet a year old. But I wanted to thank everyone of you that reads it, those of you that leave comments, and the ones that nominate me for awards and tags. Also, to Nikki and Steve who spot the times I forget to add the pictures in time and remind me to add them.

Let’s see what this year has brought around.

I found my bookish partner in crime, Nikki. And we have had some fun adventures like:

  • Going to YALC
  • Perfecting a Sunday Roast and Yorkshire puddings.
  • Visiting The Making of Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour (such a mouthful).
  • Putting up Christmas decorations.
  • Day of the Dead and bookish event by Gollancz.
  • New Year’s Eve

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I have to say, we’re friends thanks to Book Box Club, since we met through there and I am so glad about it. Which brings me to the next one.

I collaborated for three book boxes. Two for Book Box Club (one of them is the January box) and one for Leafer Box. This collaborations then brought me to do some interesting things.

I opened my blog, and I started contacting publishers about ARCs and reviewing books, I joined bookbridgr and I started my bookmark shop. I am not a super popular big blogger but I do enjoy blogging and the friendships I have made. I hope you enjoy reading my posts.

And of course, I have managed to make a 101 post on book boxes, I have had several giveaways on my Twitter (which is also a new thing) (the last one runs out today!)

Made friends with more bookstagrammers (it only took me two years to actually get into the community and not just be in the sidelines with an account that no one saw).

I also managed to snag a delightful Book Advent Calendar, which they launched this year. It still needs a lot of work, but it was a delight to unwrap a book every day after work. (Admire my “book tree” making abilities which are zilch).

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All books came as part of the book advent calendar and are more or less in order, top first days, bottom last few days.

And not only that but this Christmas was the best I have had in about 6 years. It had a few books, a lot of fox themed gifts, too much food, and good company. And it was good. (Also, I have a puppy now which is also a bonus, and a new job that I had been wanting for the last few years).

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Christmas Haul. Left: books I bought myself, Middle: gifts, Rgiht: Book Boxes

2017 has been a good year. Much better than previous ones. A few secret things that will probably be revealed next year are also making me quite happy.

So I just want to thank everyone that reads me, my reviews, my artwork adventures. To those that have bought bookmarks and cheered me on. The ones that have entered my giveaways. All of you friendly people that have made me smile. You all know who you are (if you think you are of them or no you couldn’t be, it is actually probably you).

Thanks for making 2017 a much better year than previous ones.

Here’s to a wonderful 2018 for all of us (now I know bad things happened this year, they did to me too, very much, but I am being positive as much as I can).

Love,

Moon

Books, Subscription Boxes

Oh So Regal FairyLoot

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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!

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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).

Wrap-ups and Tags

2017 Wrap-Up: Books to make you think

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The year is ending (much too quickly for my tastes, but oh well), so I have been looking back at this year and the books I’ve read. And this year has been full of books that have made me think a lot, so I will post a quick recommendation of some of them.

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After The Fire, by Will Hill. This is a brutal book, but in a good way.  It is inspired by the Waco Siege and follows Moonbeam as she recovers from a fire in her “commune”. It is chilling and touches on a lot of interesting topics, and thankfully Will does not shy away from writing about bad things, yet it is not horridly done but with good taste.

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Dear Martin by Nic Stone. I read this before THUG and despite how short it is, it was good. Another brutal book on the reality of being black and racism in America.

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Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer. Grief is a very interesting thing and one we all experience in our lives. Brigid does a masterful writing in touching different ways grief comes through and how it affects our lives. Have some tissues at hand.

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If this is a Woman by Sarah Helm. This is not a book that was published this year, but once again, another brutal read about how women where treated at the concentration camp of Ravensbruck. It also gives you an insight into WWII that is rare to get.

I would also recommend all books reviewed on here, as they have been amazing reads.

 

Announcements

Merry Christmas!

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Wishing you a merry Christmas and hoping that it is a time well spent with those that matter to you.

(Artwork features The Captain and Knit Anele)