The Constellation of Moon

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.

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.

Subscription Boxes

November Illumicrate Unboxing

Posted on December 5, 2017

Hi all, I have more boxed goodness to show you. Illumicrate is UK based and I have been subscribed to them for two years I think (my memory is fussy with my long term subscriptions, sorry), and I absolutely love the box. It usually comes with the book and an ARC which makes it even better (twobooks? yes please, always!) and it tends to have unusual goodies (like a money jar which I am trying to fill with coppers only and then try to find out if I can afford a book with them, it’s about 2/3 full for now, so if you have coppers to donate, please do it for the science!).

I will stop blabbering now, sorry and do the unboxing.

Let’s go, just to mess yp with your heads again, counter clockwise this time, starting from the bottomleft corner:

Bookish Tea Towel by Evannave, if you want me to love your book box, include a tea towel with some awesome designs. It’s even better if it is colourful. I will squeal and be all happy about it and love the rest of the box because, tea towel…
JK Rowling quote print by Nutmeg & Arlo, it is shiny, I like it.
This Mortal Coil and Iron Gold samplers.
Moon + stars necklace by Oh Panda Eyes which I absolutely adore because I am Moon so it is perfect!
Artemis pamphlet.
Reading in bed candle by Meraki Candles. It smells like a fresh mug of hot chocolate and it is utterly delicious.
A 2018 planner with unicorns by Prism of Starlings, it was AWESOME to receive this since I had started thinking I ought to plan what planner I’d buy but now that is sorted.
Artemis by Andy Weir and a bookmark too. I ma looing forward to reading it.
And a City of Brass ARC, which is awesome because I have been lookign forward to reading it so now I have the ARC and yay!

All in all I was absolutely pleased with this box and the only thing I am not keeping are the samplers, so I think it is a 10/10 box. Very very happy with it.

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.

Subscription Boxes

Into The Future Ninja Book Box

Posted on December 1, 2017

Ninja Book Box are a UK based book box with the focus on indie books and small companies. And this was their anniversary box.

So starting with the mug on the top left corner and going clockwise:

The Future Belongs To Those Who Prepare For Today mug.
Futuristic Foam by Geeky Clean (I was very happy to see this one in there as I love their products).
2084, which is a collection of short stories that was funded by Kickstarter I think.
Story Cubes with a futuristic/space theme
Ninja Recipe Card, this time it was biscuits.
Tiny red books bunting
Ladybug mask which reminds me of a TV show called something like My Darling Ladybug (?).
A lot of Fox Spirit merch. It included a coaster, a pocket mirror, a keyring/bottle opener, a pin, postcard and an ebook.
And not in the picture because I am a forgetful Moon, a cute Saturn charm.

Subscription Boxes

Haunted Minds Book Box Club

Posted on November 29, 2017

The theme for this month’s Book Box Club was Haunted Minds. And one of the things I loved about it is that it seems to be geared up to soothe haunted minds rather than actually haunt your mind.

Let’s do the unboxing clockwise starting from the theme card:

Theme card, Haunted Minds, which also on the other side says what everything is and who made it (I love, love, love that they include links to the makers).
Underneath everything there is a wonderful delightful Raven Boys tea towel which made my day (I really love pretty tea towels, the pretty ones are used on our coffee table as centre of it or to hold warm tortillas when we have tacos or freshly baked homemade bread, which is one of the most honourable tasks a tea towel can have in our home).
The Memory Trees by Kali Wallace, the book sounds intriguing.
Bath Salts by , because having a relaxing bath is exactly what everyone needs when your mind is haunting you. The tin they came in is beautiful too and much better than a plastic bag so bonus points for that.
Heathcliff candle, in a TipTree jam jar. If you missed my unboxing I mentioned this made it really cute because the jars are usually given out when you order toast with jam at a coffee shop/tea room and they usually have a saying in the lids. I used to collect the lids because some have encouraging or fun phrases.
An Usborne YA 2018 books sampler with a lot of interesting reads there.
A Calm Colouring pocket book, because once again it is all about relaxing and calming your mind.

This box was a cuddly hug to calm and soothe the mind and the body and I am glad about it. If this sounds good, then maybe subscribe for the month of December? They are including two books! And you can use code MOON17 for 5% off.

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.

Books, Subscription Boxes

Historical and Sci-Fi Leafer Box

Posted on November 25, 2017

Before I unbox this lovely box (it is the cheapest box I have found), let me tell you that December’s boxes will include an exclusive colouring bookmark design by me. This design won’t be available in the shop and can only be found when purchasing a Leafer Box.

Just as a reminder, I receive two boxes in one (which means only one chocolate and no repeat items). This time I went for the Historical one rather than Fantasy (the theme appealed more to me), and it is my first “Historical” box.

So let’s unbox it, starting from the chocolate and going clockwise:

A Mint and Lemon dark chocolate bar which is quite refreshing and my boyfriend even stole a few squares of it.
The First Casualty, the Sci-Fi book. I was very pleased that it is an “indie” paperback size (until recently, this was the size I had in my head when anyone said paperback).
A glorious golden cage bookmark, it is so detailed and beautiful.
Galaxy socks, they are soft and comfy and fun to wear.
Space stickers, which I want to stick everywhere and at the same time neveruse them up because they’re so cute and there’s so many designs…
A choker with a purple rose. This is very pretty and I can’t wait to have an occasion to wear such a beauty.
Hidden under the chocolate and by the choker, there’s a magnet with a quote from Charles Dickens which is now holding some To-Do on my fridge.
The Undesirables, whcih was the Historical pick of the month.

As per usual, I was very pleased with my box. It is less main stream but most of the items make me happy and I think it is the box that has the least “set apart to give away” items ever. (As I mentioned in my 101 post, it is normal to choose not to keep some items).

If Leafer Box sounds up your street, you can purchase the November box until the end of the month and then the December one as soon as it is the 1st of December. If you use code KESTREL10 you can get 10% off any purchase and there are several genres to choose from.

Book Review

A Shiver of Snow and Sky Review

Posted on November 23, 2017

This sparkly book was included in Book Box Club and I can’t wait to chat with Lisa during the Clubhouse meeting!

(Also, that cover, it sparkles and it is just so gorgeous!)

A Shiver of Snow and Sky by Lisa Lueddecke

Red, red, the lights glow red
Beware the danger up ahead…

On the frozen island of Skane, the sky speaks. Beautiful lights appear on clear nights, and their colours have meaning: Green means all is well, and the Goddess is happy. Blue means a snow storm is on the way.

And then there’s red. Red is rare. A warning.

Seventeen years ago, the sky turned red just as Ósa was born, unleashing a plague that claimed the lives of hundreds of villagers, including her own mother. This time, when the night sky once again bleeds crimson, she must discover how to stop the onslaught before so many lives are lost again

Rating:

I had been looking forward to reading this book for a while and I am glad it didn’t disappoint.

Ósa is a very well developed heroine. She has layers and she tries to cope with life in her own way, but then she decides to do the bravest thing and go search for the Goddess at the top of the mountains. She doesn’t do it for the glory or to be famous, or anything like that. She chooses to do it because it is the only idea she can think of to help and to redeem the fact that her mother died after giving birth to her.

Ivar was also well developed and I was happy to be able to have his eyes to relate what was happening in the villages while Ósa made her way to find the Goddess. It was real and it was gripping.

I am glad I wasn’t living in Skane, but the world was believable and it was scary but also so beautiful. The stories behind the stars and the ending were amazing and I was left wanting more once I finished reading it.

Moon recommends

You should try reading this sparkly gorgeous book. It is hard to think what to recommend similar to it. The one book that comes to mind is in Spanish and it was also very gripping, sadly there is no translated edition that I could find. La Emperatriz de los Etereos (The Empress of the Ethereal) touches on an adventure towards her realm where it is said suffering doesn’t exist, however the way to it is difficult. Bipa doesn’t believe in it but she ends up making the journey because her best friend Aer sets off on the quest and she’s trying to stop him from the foolishness. It is also very well written and I enjoyed it a lot.

If you’d like to read A Shiver of Snow and Sky, you can find it here.

Subscription Boxes

Witch, Please! Fanmail Box

Posted on November 21, 2017

First let me tell you that I had been eyeing Fanmail for a while but managed to miss all the awesome book editions that they made. And choosing this one was a spur of the moment decision (as I am not that into Halloween so it could’ve gone wrong). However it left me with my mouth wide open, I kept pulling things out of the box and it was awesome.

Let’s go back to the usual and go clockwise starting from the Witch Please card:

Witch Please! card, it includes the items, and recommendations about the theme and what to do and see and watch.
Pancake Madness (Sabrina the Teenage Witch) apron.
Jiji (Kiki’s Delivery Service) keychain, it is the most adorable thing ever.
Print
An extra “treat” and no tricks, which was a Marvel pin.
“Anything is possible if you’ve got enough nerve” T-shirt.
Broomstick pen (this made me laugh and is now sitting on my HP cauldron mug)
Two promotional bookmarks.
Two mini comics.

Book Review

Warcross Review

Posted on November 19, 2017

Before I go into this review, I want to give some background which will help you understand my opinions. I have been gaming since Where is Carmen San Diego (insert 8-bit music) and programming/coding for around 15-20 years. And as part of my job I look at code and logs and software and find the problems so they can be fixed (and also apply fixes, depending on how it will take to fix it and how familiar I am with the system). So you can see where this is going and how the review will pan out. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

I love the hardcover with it’s colours (the Funko’s are lead ladies of two game franchises, Emily from Bioshock Infinite and Emily from Dishonored).

Warcross by Marie Lu

For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. Needing to make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.

Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

Rating:

I really found very interesting the concept of Warcross (the game). I am not sure how popular it’d be and how it’d pan out (as I know that VR is considered to be just a niche market and not to go as much as expected), but I’d totally give it a go and play and enjoy it. This appealed to my gamer side very very much.

Another thing I found interesting was the way poverty and being on the brink was described, it felt real (as I have been in struggles like that) and it was well done. And if we’re on well done bits, the team work and the diversity of the characters was good. I love the fact that the cast is diverse but it is subtle, they don’t stick out (for me, diversity has always been around and no one has ever stuck out so this is the best portrayal, were it is normal to be from wherever and look however you do).

And now the side I wasn’t too keen on. When Emika finds the first error with Hideo, I totally get it, the whole search for something out of the pattern. I do that, see things from afar and then zoom in. However, my problem is that unless Hideo coded every single bit of code for Warcross (which I doubt, as he has a company and he mentions having programmers or something of the kind), the code would not be smooth. Software is made by several programmers each with a different style of programming and as such, the code becomes a mash of different patterns and sometimes a pattern is broken by a fix added by a different person to someone else’s code. [Please excuse the teacher mode here]. So impressing Hideo with finding the errors so easily felt like a snowflake moment (and this was made even more snowflake after you realise there are other bounty hunters doing the same thing, why isn’t Hideo impressed as much by them, from Emika’s point of view the other bounty hunters totally hide from her and she doesn’t realise they are in the same boat until later).

The romance was also probably not my favourite part. It felt forced and I wasn’t really buying it. Which probably led me to figure out a lot of the plot twists and to have the Chekhov gun feeling for the “biggest twist”. I did guess easily who Zero was.

In the end, I did like the book but not enough to be super crazy about it. I read it expecting it to fail a little on the coding/hacking side, but that is normal after you’ve been involved in things too long.

I’d still read the next books as I am intrigued by “Zero” and the choices made and I’d recommend it for a relatively easy read. The writing was easy to read and it flowed so I didn’t feel like it was chopped or struggled with it.

Moon Recommends

As expected, I’d recommend Ready Player One because it is good. I’d also recommend watching Summer Wars, somehow it reminds me of this and probably reading Paprika (and watching the film) as they all have this interesting flavour on technology. Each one has a unique point of view of it, though probably Summer Wars is the closest to Warcross in a way.

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