Hi all! I’m back again with another Top 5 Wednesday. And this week’s topic is favourite retellings of myths, fairytales and/or literature.
Author: Dearna_Mulvaney
Dearna is a Melbourne writer and reviewer.
bookworm//inked girl//music fanatic//history nerd
November Book Haul – Part 2
Hi all! I back with part 2 of my November book haul. As I mentioned in my first haul post, this haul is the result of my library having one of two book sales. So all books still have the stickers on them as I’m not sure how to get rid of them – if you know comment down below, it will be much appreciated!
This post will be mostly picture as I don’t much about these apart form what the blurb say. I will link their Goodread pages down below as they will describe the books better than I can! I will include who recommended books and interesting facts randomly.
Some of these books are 2nd, 3rd or even 4th in their series but sounded interesting enough that I am willing to hunt around for the first book.
On to the books!
Goodreads pages
- The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas – I picked this one up because I really enjoyed the TV adaptation
- Melting Stones by Tamora Pierce
- The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood – the lovely Jean at Jean Bookishthoughts recommended this one!
Goodreads pages
- The Jewel Box by Anna Davis – there are a few historical fiction novel set in the 20s in this haul as it is the setting for my own writing project.
- Island of the Swans by Ciji Ware
- An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon
Goodreads pages
- A Treacherous Likeness by Lynn Shepherd – Alternative title: A Fatal Likeness
- Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick
- The Taker by Alma Katsu
Goodreads pages
- The Forbidden by F.R. Tallis
- Oscar Wilde and the Nest of Vipers by Gyles Brandreth – this is the fourth in a really interesting series. It is a Sherlock Holmes style novel where author Oscar Wilde is the detective.
- Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
Goodread pages
- The Border Lord’s Bride by Bertrice Small – this cover makes me cringe but I’m looking for another novel set in the Scottish Highlands since I loved Outlander so much!
- Angelica by Arthur Phillips – this was the book my brother picked out for me.
That’s all for me for today. Comment down below and let me know if you’ve read any of these and what you thought.
I’ll be back tomorrow with my Top 5 Wednesday. Until then, happy reading!
Dearna
December TRB
Hi all! I’m back again with my December TRB. I haven’t picked too many books this month as I hoping to ease back into my writing and being the holiday season I might not have that much reading time. Also I might be getting books for Christmas or at the Boxing Day sales and will want to read them right away.
I haven chosen 5 books this month and I might drag over 2 from my November TRB – The Lies of Locke Lamora and Skin – as I really want to read them before the year is out
Now onto the books!
#1 His Dark Materials Trilogy ~ Philip Pullman
This month I’m taking part in the His Dark Materials Read-along hosted by Jen Campbell and Holly from Library at the Edge of the World. I am exciting because I haven’t read this series – I have only read half of the first book around the time the horrid movie adaptation came out. I love the concept of this world and I can’t wait to dive into it!
#2 Room ~ Emma Donoghue
I found this one on BookTube, I can’t remember who recommended it, but I just loved the concept of this one. It’s told from the perspective of a five-year-old named Jack. Jack and his Ma live in a locked room. Room is home to Jack, but for his Ma it’s the prison she’s been held in for 7 years. It sounds dark and creepy and the fact it’s told from a child’s point of view makes it more interesting. And I think it was short listed for the Man Booker so I’m exciting to get to this.
#3 Epitaph for Three Women ~ Jean Plaidy
I picked this one up from the library as a) historical fiction and b) about Joan of Arc. I’m fascinated by Joan of Arc and want to read more about her life. I haven’t heard about the other women mentioned in this story – Katherine de Valois and Eleanor of Gloucester. But it’s set just before the Wars of the Roses with the death of Henry V which is a favourite time period of mine. I think i should enjoy this one.
That’s all for my tiny TRB, comment down below and let me know what you’re planning to read this month.
Until next time, happy reading
Dearna
November Wrap Up
Hi all! It’s time for my first monthly wrap up. I am really happy with the amount I read this month; I took this month off writing after what was an crazy, intense university semester. I read 8 books all up.
November TRB challenge: 4/7 which I pretty happy as this was the first month I’ve actually set a TBR list as I’m more of a mood reader.
November Book Haul – Part 1
Hi again! I’m here with my November book haul. And I can’t believe it is the end of the year all ready – scary stuff. This is part one of what could possibly be a 3 part book haul – obviously I brought a lot of books. The others are the blame of my library for having secondhand/ex-library book sales. I’m not ashamed of the amount of book I got, more proud of the bargains I found (2 boxes of books for $14 each!).
Anyway this will mostly be pretty picture with random reasonings for why I got some of these books.
On to the books! They are listed in no particular order.
Lovingly Bookish October Box
Hi all! Today I’m here with a review for the Lovingly Bookish’s October subscription box.
Lovingly Bookish is a YA subscription box. Each month you received a beautiful hardcover book and 4 to 8 bookish items, along with a golden ticket. There is a Golden Ticket Giveaway for each subscription box which gives you a chance to win more bookish items. Lovingly Bookish themes each box depending on the book chosen. For October the theme was dark blue which represented superstition – a perfect theme for a Halloween box.
For those in Australia like me, one of the perks that made me chose this box over others is that shipping is included in the price. The box costs $45 USD each month.
For more information about Lovingly Bookish and what they do: http://lovinglybookish.blogspot.com.au/p/home.html
Now onto the review!
For October the box included:
- 1 beautiful hardcover book – The House by Christina Lauren
- 1 Halloween bookmark from HappyHelloCo
- 1 Mini Funk Pop – Olaf
- 1 Bird magnet from theangryrobot
- 1 Book review notebook from YellowPaperHouse
- 1 Bookish lip balm from FromthePage
- 1 Bag of lollies
- 1 Adorable mini tote bag
The Bookish Goodies 
I really loved all the items in this box and I think they fitted with the Halloween theme perfectly. The review book was perfect as I had just decided to start up my book blog so it will defiantly get a lot of use. The magnet is adorable and reminds me very much of The Raven which in one of my favourite poems. And I love the little tote bag and the quote is perfect!
The lollies were a nice touch for Halloween – they do not appear in the photo as I ate them.
Not being a huge fan of Frozen, I did give my mini Pop to my sister who adores it. So this would be the item I was least happy about.
The item I was most excited about was the bookish lip balm. I love FromthePage’s Etsy store and want to buy just about everything they stock but had been putting if off due to the shipping costs. I’m so happy with the lip balm, it’s nice and moisturising also it’s inspired by Winterwell which I love – House Stark forever!
The Book
I hadn’t heard of this book and don’t know much about it apart form what the blurb says. But I am interest to read it.
The House is told from two perspectives, Gavin and Delilah, and is about this strange and spooky house. This sounds like the perfect read for a stormy day.
Overall I really loved this box and would defiantly subscribe to get another one. I highly recommend this subscription services, especially for those like me who live outside The States and can’t afford pricey shipping costs.
Let me know in the comments if you’ve read this book and what you thought or what subscription boxes you’ve subscribed to.
Until next time happy reading!
Dearna
Top 5 Books I’m Thankful For
Hi all!I’m back again with another Top 5 Wednesday. And this week’s topic is Books We’re Thankful For which is perfect as America’s Thanksgiving is this week.
Before we get onto the books I would like to mention that Top 5 Wednesday was created over on BookTube by the wonderful Laniey at gingerreadslaniey. Also you can check out the Goodreads page for past and future topics. Now onto my Top 5 Book I’m Thankful For. The books are listed in chronological order.
#5 Dragonkeeper ~ Caroline Wilkinson 
When I was in Grade 6 the Victorian Government funded a reading program. This was the book I first read for that program and I fell in love with. This book is about a slave girl in China who become a Dragonkeeper to the last dragon.
I am thankful for this book for getting me sucked into fantasy books and inspiring me to read at a young age.
#4 The Time Traveler’s Wife ~ Audrey Niffenegger 
I read this book in Year 9 or 10 thanks to my friend, Bree, who would’ve stop talking about it. This story is about a man named Henry who is a timetraveler and his wife, Clare. Henry first meets Clare when she is six and he is thirty-six. The book follows Henry’s life chronologically but as he’s a timetraveler we see Clare across all different times in her life. This book made me laugh and cry more than any other book I’ve read.
I am thank for this book for introducing me to a whole world of fiction outside YA – which at the time was heavily saturated with vampires.
#3 Of Mice and Men ~ John Steinbeck
I read this book at the end of my final year of high school. I had decide that I needed to read more classics so I asked my mum for some recommendations – this being one. Armed with the list, I headed to a bookshop and to the penguin classics section. I picked Of Mice and Men because it’s short and not intimidating like other huge classic like The Count of Monte Cristo or War and Peace. This book makes me cry every time!
I’m thankful for this book for getting me to feel comfortable with reading classics and showing me classics aren’t just for English literature essays.
#2 The Kingmaker’s Daughter ~ Philippa Gregory 
This is a book I read last year. It a part of Gregory’s The Cousins’ War companion series. This book focuses of Anne Neville and Richard Duke of Gloucester or Richard III.
I am thankful for this book for introducing me to historical fiction, fuelling my love of this period – The fall of The Plantagenets and the rise of The Tudors.
#1 The Gracekeepers ~ Kristy Logan 
Lastly is The Gracekeepers. This is a book I have yet to own a copy as I borrowed it from the library. I read this book thanks to writer and Booktuber, Jen Campbell. The way she described this book made me really excited to read it myself.
I am thankful for this book as it is a beautiful example of how multiple perspectives can work – which is something I working me in my own project. Also that beautiful lyrical writing is just for poetry or gothic classics.
That’s all from me for today. Comment down below and let me know what books you’re thankful for.
Until next time,
Happy Reading!
Dearna
Top 5 Historical Novels
Hi all! I’m here with my first Top 5 Wednesday. I know that this week’s top 5 is supposed to be Top 5 Hunger Games Moments (movies or books) but I have never read The Hunger Games and have only seen the first movie once – I know I know. So I decided that I would do a past Top 5 Wednesday topic and this once seemed perfect for me.
November TBR
Hi all! Here is a list of books I’m planning to get through this month and some reasons why I’m excited for them. November, being the first month of my uni holidays, I am planning to get to a lot read – hopefully. So lets get to the books
The Lies of Locke Lamora ~ Scott Lynch 
This is the first book is Scott Lynch’s fantasy series, Gentleman Bastard. I don’t know too much about that book only that it is a twist of Robin Hood – basically they steal from the rich and keep from themselves – and set in a renaissance period which just sound amazing. I will admit my need to read this book was fuelled by the wonderful Choncey at C. A. DuBois over on BookTube. She has really sold me on this book and I can’t wait to get to this one.
Devil’s Consort ~ Anne O’Brien
I read another of Anne O’Brien’s novel last month and really enjoyed it. Anne O’Brien is a historical fiction author who focuses on Plantagenet England, which is my favourite time period. Devil’s Consort focuses on Eleanor of Aquitaine and how she become the Queen of England and one of histories most powerful women. This isn’t an area I’ve read a huge amount about so I’m excited to learn more about here.
The Last Kingdom ~ Bernard Cornwell
I am loving the BBC adaptation of Cornwell’s Saxon series – it is so good! And because I’m impatient and want to know what happens next I have turned to the books. I am currently reading this one and it is a little different from the TV series – which doesn’t bother me – and I am loving Cornwell’s writing style. So I’m hoping to finish this one off and get started on the rest of the series soon.
Bloodline ~ Conn Iggulden
This book was my most anticipated release for this year. Bloodline is the third instalment of Iggulden’s Wars of the Roses series. I am completely invested is this series and can’t wait to delve into this one. This book focuses on Edward of York and the bloody battle of Towton. I’m excited to get back into this series.
Skin ~ Ilka Tampke 
Skin is Ilka Tampke’s debut novel as is set in Iron-Age Britain of the cusp of Roman Invasion. The story follows a girl named, Ailia, who doesn’t have skin. For the Iron-Age Britons skin is their totem, their connection to their ancestors and their land.
Earlier this year I was lucky enough to take Tampke’s historical fiction class and listening to her talk about the process of how she wrote the book and explaining her inspiration has got me excited to finally read this book.
Peter Pan ~ J.M Barrie 
Peter Pan is one of my favourite childhood fairytales and I thought it was about time I actually read the original tale.
Dangerous Women Anthology ~ Edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner R. Dozois 
I’m hoping to read a few of the short stories in this anthology. I will admit that I hired this purely for Sharon Kay Penman’s short story – Penman is one of my favourite authors. But this anthology includes an amazing selection of authors, including: Brandon Sanderson, Cecelia Holland, Megan Lindholm, Joe Abercrombie and Diana Gabaldon. Who knows I might just find my next favourite author.
That’s all for this month. Keep an eye out for my November Wrap-up to see what I read and my thoughts. Until then happy reading!
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