Top 5 Bookish Things I’m a Grinch About

On December 6, 2017December 13, 2017 By Dearna_MulvaneyIn Top 5 Wednesday2 Comments

Hi again! it’s been a while so I thought I’d so another Top 5 Wednesday. Today’s topic is the books we’re thankful for. In honour of NaNoWriMo wrapping up, we are discussing some authors we’d like to write like. Whether its their writing style, what genre they write in, or how many books they manage to churn out a year!

Top 5 Wednesday was created over on BookTube by the wonderful Laniey at gingerreadslaniey and run by the lovely Sam of Thoughts on Tomes . Also you can check out the Goodreads page for past and future topics.

They are listed in no particular order.

Insta Love

I love a slow burn relationship because it does feel more natural but also has room for angst and all the anxiety that comes with the warm and fuzzy feelings of a new relationship. Aside from fairytales I don’t see the need for this to be a feature of any book. Yes I will admit I complete trash for the whole mate, soulmate trope but I don’t like when they look at each other and bam their both head over heels in love. I do love the whole happy ending, if I’m looking for something fluffy, but guess I’m old fashion and like the whole courting thing.

“She’s Not Like The Other Girls”

For me I feel like this just feeds into the whole idea what women and girls should tear each other down and compete over jobs and man rather than support each other and embrace our differences. Whenever this saying pops up in a book I roll my eyes. I feel like how is insulting other girls a good things? I don’t get it. It’s not romantic and really needs to stop! Please and thank you.

Changing Formats

I like books to look pretty on my selves and I keep my series together so nothing annoys me more than when a book changes cover or size half was through the series. The ones that annoy me most are; The Vampire Academy which became taller paperback and The Morganville Vampires which went from mass market paperbacks to the more standard size paperback which is really popular. Not sure if I’ll end up replacing them because I don’t really have an interested in rereading them but it still frustrates me. So please publishers stop changing covers and formats halfway through the series!!

Movie Covers

I don’t feel like I need to say too much on this one since most readers aren’t too fond of the movie cover but I had to include it. Personally, I don’t like people on my covers so the movie covers always annoy me and the original book cover designs are normally stunning and relate to the book rather than some actor’s face.

Lack of Platonic Relationships Between Boys and Girls

This one relates to the whole love triangle/shape thing. How come all these guys she’s meeting all have to be romantic interests? Why can’t they be friends? Lots of people have friends of the opposite gender who they haven’t be interested in and/or been in a relationship. I think it would be nice to see more of.

That’s all for me. Comment down below and let me know if any of these thing annoy you or some of your bookish pet peeves.
Until next time, happy reading!
Dearna

Top 5 Books I’m Thankful For

On November 22, 2017December 13, 2017 By Dearna_MulvaneyIn Top 5 WednesdayLeave a comment

Hi again! it’s Wednesday so here is a Top 5 Wednesday. Today’s topic is the books we’re thankful for.

The books are listed in no particular order.

Twilight by Stephenie Myer

I’m sure this book will be a lot of people’s list and is no surprise. This book, despite it’s problems, really got me hooked on reading again in high school. I was a pretty big read in primary school but mostly flicked through non fiction and picked up a lot of books I never finished. So I am very thankful that it ignited that passion for reading in me because I can’t bear to imagine all the stories I would’ve miss out on if it weren’t for this series.

The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

I first found out about this series through it’s BBC adaptation. Once I finished the tv series, I promptly found the books in the seres that were out and devoured them. I am thankful for this series because it got me into historical fiction, importantly The Plantagenets and The Wars of the Roses.

The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer

This book is amazing and one i’m thankful for due to two reasons. First reason, is that it was one of the first non fiction book I’ve read that had made me realise that non fiction is just as diverse in style as fiction can be. So since reading this I’ve been looking into more non fiction titles. Second reason, is that it’s helped me realised that it okay to open up and ask people for help.

The Picture of Dorian Gary by Oscar Wilde

This was the first classic I read outside of school assigned reading. It did take me like a month to get thought but I feel in love with gothic literature. So thankful Oscar Wilde for showing me that classics are so scary and you’d don’t need to only read them in english classes.

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

A friend at high school threw this book in my hand and said ‘read it!’ so of course I did and it became one of my favourite books of all time. This book was one of the first adult fiction books I read at time were I was reading exclusively young adult. So I’m thankful that it expanded my reading.

That’s all for me. Comment down below and let me know if you’ve read any of these or some of the books you’re thankful for.
Until next time, happy reading!
Dearna

The Boy Made of Snow

On November 14, 2017March 13, 2019 By Dearna_MulvaneyIn Review5 Comments

Author: Chloe Mayer

Publisher: Hachette Australia

Published: 14 November 2017

Rating: 5 stars

‘I looked at the sunbeams, hoping to see the constellations inside them, but there was nothing there but dust in the air.’

I will start by saying that I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.

Continue reading “The Boy Made of Snow” →

Around the Year in 52 Book Reading Challenge 2017

On November 9, 2017November 5, 2017 By Dearna_MulvaneyIn Reading ChallengeLeave a comment

Hello!

Today I thought I’d give an update my Around the Year in 52 Books reading challenge.

I first did this challenge last year, and read 42 out the 52 books I planned to read. Even though I didn’t finish the challenge it was so much fun that I thought I’d give it another go.

Around the Year in 52 Books as the title suggests, the goal is to read 1 book for every week of the year. The Goodreads group has set a different challenge for each week – for example, a book with blue on the cover.

Listed below are the books I’ve either read or am planning to read. The images that are black & white, along with the bolded prompts are the books I still have to get to.

1. A book from the Goodreads Choice Awards 2016
The Star-Touched Queen by Roshanni Chokshi

2. A book with at least 2 perspectives (multiple points of view)
The Sultan, The Vampyr and The Soothsayer by Lucille Turner

3. A book you meant to read in 2016
The Rose & The Dagger by Renee Ahdieh

4. A title that doesn’t contain the letter “E”
Why God is a Woman by Nin Andrews

5. A historical fiction
Days Without End by Sebastian Barry

6. A book being released as a movie in 2017
The Gunslinger by Stephen King

7. A book with an animal on the cover or in the title
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

8. A book written by a person of colour
Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh

9. A book in the middle of your To Be Read list
The Gods of Olympus: A History by Barbara Graziosi

10. A dual-timeline novel
Tony & Susan by Austin Wright

11. A category from another challenge (Booktubeathon – Hyped Book)
Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh

12. A book based on a myth
Cassandra by Kerry Greenwood

13. A book recommended by one of your favourite authors (Kirsty Logan)
The Comet Seekers by Helen Sedgwick

14. A book with a strong female character
Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Lani Taylor

15. A book written or set in Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland)
The Constant Queen by Joanna Courtney

16. A mystery
Live by Night by Dennis Lehane

17. A book with illustrations
Hansel and Gretel by Neil Gaiman

18. A really long book (600+ pages)
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

19. A New York Times best seller
Caraval by Stephanie Garber

20. A book that you’ve owned for a while but haven’t gotten around to reading
Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan

21. A book that is a continuation of a book you’ve already read
Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh

22. A book by an author you haven’t read before
Kingmaker: Winter Pilgrims by Toby Clements

23. A book from the BBC “The Big Read” list
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

24. A book written by at least two authors
Loki’s Wolves by K.L. Armstrong and M.A. Marr

25. A book about a famous historical figure
A Knight’s Tale: a Novel by Edward John Crockett

26. An adventure book
The Odyssey by Homer

27. A book by one of your favourite authors
Caressed by Ice by Nalini Singh

28. A non-fiction
Bad News by Anjan Sundaram

29. A book published outside the 4 major publishing houses (Simon & Schuster; HarperCollins; Penguin Random House; Hachette Livre)
The Battle for Troy: An Adaptation Homer’s Iliad by Alan Whiticker

30. A book from Goodreads Top 100 YA Books
The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Lani Taylor

31. A book from a sub-genre of your favourite genre
Moon Chosen by PC Cast

32. A book with a long title (5+ words, excluding subtitle)
Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops by Jen Campbell

33. A magical realism novel
One Hundred Shadows by Hwang Jungeun

34. A book set in or by an author from the Southern Hemisphere
Skylarking by Kate Mildenhall

35. A book where one of the main characters is royalty
The Stolen Queen by Lisa Hilton

36. A Hugo Award winner or nominee
The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle

37. A book you choose randomly
Lucky Us by Amy Bloom

38. A novel inspired by a work of classic literature
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood

39. An epistolary fiction
Dracula by Bram Stocker

40. A book published in 2017
Daughter of a the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

41. A book with an unreliable narrator
The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O’Neil

42. A best book of the 21st century (so far)
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

43. A book with a chilling atmosphere (scary, unsettling, cold)
See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt

44. A recommendation from “What Should I Read Next”
Days of Blood and Starlight by Lani Taylor (recommended from The Wrath and the Dawn)

45. A book with a one-word title
Riders by Veronica Rossi

46. A time travel novel
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

47. A Book with a title, setting or subject having to do with a museum
The Museum of Modern Love by Heather Rose

48. A banned book
In Cold Blood by Turman Capote

49. A book from someone else’s bookshelf
The Hate Race by Maxine Benabe Clarke

50. A Penguin Modern Classic – any edition
Bonjour Tristesse by Francoise Sagan

51. A collection (e.g. essays, short stories, poetry, plays)
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

52. A book set in a fictional location
Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

So I think I’m doing pretty well, if I do say so myself! Comment down below and let me know if you’ve set any reading challenges for the year and how you’re going with them!

Until next time, happy reading
Dearna

T5W: Genre Benders

On November 8, 2017December 13, 2017 By Dearna_MulvaneyIn Top 5 WednesdayLeave a comment

Hi again! It’s been ages since I’ve done one of these and it’s Wednesday so why not? Today’s topic is Genre Benders – in other words those books that seem to defy genre labels.

This was last weeks topics but I was struggling to think of anything for this week’s topic so I’m just going to go with it.

The books are listed in no particular order.

Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh

If you’ve been around my blog or Instagram for a while you may notice that I’ve become completely obsessed with Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series. This book is one the list because I think it’s been marketed as a romance, which it definitely is, but that doesn’t take away from the urban fantasy, sci-fi elements that help to round out this world.

If you’re looking for a urban series that is filled with political intrigue and swoon worthy romances please, please pick this up!

Bayou Born by Hailey Edwards

This books is part detective mystery, part urban fantasy. I know it’s being marketed as an urban fantasy but the detective procedure is just as important to the plot. Which maybe a trope in urban fantasy but I still wanted to mention it!

Sound interesting I have uploaded a full review if you want to know more!

Cross Stitch/Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Time travel, romance all set in the Scottish Highlands in the 16th century. This was the first historical time travel novel and I, like everyone else, am completely in love with it. Diana has done a fantastic job of balancing the sci fi and historical elements.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Adventure, coming of age, romance, fantasy, retelling and historical fiction are just a few of the genres I can think that fits this novel. Madeline weaves together all these elements seamlessly in her beautifully lyrical writing. This is one of my favourite books of all time because it’s one of the few that actually shows the romance between Achilles and Patroclus. Highly, highly recommend!

Cassandra by Kerry Greenwood

Kerry Greenwood bring the myth of the Trojan War to life complete with the fantastical Gods and well researched time setting. Myth and history intertwine to give voice to silenced Trojan Princess, Cassandra.

I have a full review of this one if you’re interested! This one might be hard to track down if you don’t like in Australia, but trust me it’s worth the effort if you do!

That’s all for me. Comment down below and let me know if you’ve read any of these or some of your favourite genre defying books.
Until next time, happy reading!
Dearna

Bayou Born

On November 6, 2017November 6, 2017 By Dearna_MulvaneyIn Review2 Comments

Author: Hailey Edwards Bayou Born

Publisher: Hachette Australia

Published: 31 October 2017

Rating: 4 stars

‘The urge to pat him came out of nowhere. One did not pat grown men in praise for learning a new trick.’

I will start by saying that I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.

This book is a mystery, thriller all wrapped up in an urban fantasy bow. Bayou Born follows the story of strange wild child who was found in the swampy bayou of Canton, Mississippi. She had no memories, no family and is covered in mysterious markings; swirls of metal bands embedded into her skin. The policeman, Edward Boudreau, who rescued her, adopts her. 15 years later Luce follows in the footsteps of her beloved father and joins the police force determined to prove her worth and distance herself from her controversial past.

Luce and her partner, Rixton, are working on finding missing girl, Angel Claremont, when there’s a call about a body in the swamp. On arrival they discover this isn’t the girl they were looking for because of the strange markings on her skin. Markings that match Luce’s own. A freelance security group called The White Horse show up on the scene to help. They’ve been hired by Angel’s parents to help with the rescue effort. The security group stays to help fish out the unconscious Jane Doe. Hope blooms within Luce. Maybe this is her chance to find out about her past, a chance to learn about her markings and her family. From here the story unfolds with Luce trying to find the missing girl and helping Jane Doe. However, there’s more of a battle ahead than Luce could possibly imagine. She may be an orphan without a past, but no one – including Luce herself – could ever be prepared for the truth of her dark, powerful destiny.

This was a fantastic start to a new series. The world building was amazing. I really enjoyed that we got to spend time with Luce and get to know the cases she’s working on before the fantastical elements kicked in. It was like the more Luce unraveled in the case the more it became obvious that it wasn’t the work of a regular person. The magic elements went in a direction that I did not expect but I super glad they did. I haven’t read many books like it.

I love seeing the relationship Luce had formed and how different they were. I also adore that a female friendship, between Luce and schoolteacher, Maggie, was at the heart of this novel. These relationships are hugely important to see especially given the bullying and ostracised nature of how the other people in Canton treat her.

Luce herself is a well-crafted character. Yes she is snarky and gives off a vibe of apathy but that’s not all. We see just how much she does care through her relentless word effort. She wants to fit it so much, despite what she may say, that she join a career where the staff take care of one another. Her humor is darkly funny and at time self-deprecating which again is another layer to keep her from being venerable. I found her highly relatable.

I cannot wait for the second book! So many questions left unsaid. Highly recommend for any urban fantasy fan out there.

October 2017 Wrap Up

On November 3, 2017December 22, 2018 By Dearna_MulvaneyIn Wrap UpLeave a comment

Hello!

I am here with my October 2017 Wrap Up! These are the book I read in October, I kinda failed on the horror, spooky reading but hey Halloween is every day so I’ll get to all those spooky books sometime.

I read a total of 11 books which was way more than I thought. I read 1 Poetry Collection, 1 Middle Grade, 1 Historical Fiction, 1 Horror and 7 Fantasy.

Onto the ratings!

Continue reading “October 2017 Wrap Up” →

Dust of Many

On October 31, 2017November 8, 2017 By Dearna_MulvaneyIn Review1 Comment

Dust Of Many Cover Front

Author: Brian M. Oldham
Published: December 2017
Rating: 4 stars

‘My hopes are my own,” she replied, squeezing Minia’s hand. “No one owns my dreams.”

I will start by saying that I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.

The Sarpathian people are under rule of a barbaric nation after the catastrophic defeat on the pains of Godsfeld. Their emperor, Leo Dillianos of the House of Lily was dethroned and sent to live out the rest of his days in exile; his heir, Serilla, taking in by their enemy; and the surviving soldier’s, like Ward Captain Hyde, lock in chains and sold as slaves. In the three years since that battle a revolution has been bubbling and is about ready to attack. Forgotten by myth and memory a long burnished power begins its ascension — a power that may redeem or end the world once and for all. Will the Sarpathian Empire survive or crumbling into the history books?

I picked this book up because I really loved the sound of the premise, however struggled a little with it at the start. This is because I haven’t read much traditional style, epic fantasy so this was new to me and took a bit of a learning curve. Overall it was Serilla’s character and the world that peaked my interest and kept me reading, which I’m so glad I did.

The book is split into four perspectives— exiled Emperor Leo Dillianos, Leo’s daughter and empress to be Serilla Dillianos, the traitorous, smoothing talking Tarjun and Sarpathian Ward Captain Hyde. Not all characters get an equal amount of chapters, in fact I’d say the two main protagonist are Serilla and Hyde.

We see every little of this world, but the little we see I’m already in love with. We see the castle of Sarpathia and the ruins of the city. We also get to experience the shocking hardships of the mines and gladiatorial arenas all covered in gritty sand and blistering heat. The magic in this world is quite subtle so far and I’m looking forward to seeing which direction Oldhamn takes it.

Overall this is a pretty great start to a new series! I have so many questions and I need to know the answers. Highly recommend if you’re interested in epic fantasy.

5 Star Book Predictions

On October 17, 2017November 5, 2017 By Dearna_MulvaneyIn Discussions, TRBLeave a comment

Hello!

How are you? Tell me all the things you’re reading!

Today I thought I do something a little different and share with you 5 books I have yet to read but think will be 5 star reads. I’ve been wanting to do this since I saw Mercedes from Mercy’s Bookish Musings video. I think it’s a really interesting exercise in seeing just how well you know your own reading tastes.

So the way this works is that I will share with you 5 books I think will be new favourites and why I think so. Then, once I’ve read them all, I will come back and share my thoughts and rating and see if I was right.

Onto the books!

The Wild Girl by Kate Forsyth

I recently went to the Historical Novel Society of Australasia’s conference and got to hear Kate Forsyth talk — spoiler she was amazing! This book tells the story of Dortchen Wild the wife of Wilhelm Grimm and how she share fairytales with her husband. This sounds like it is going to be a perfect mix of fairytale and history and I can’t wait.

The Diviners by Libba Bray

I’ve had this book to me recommended so many times by people who I trust so I think I should just get to it. It was everything I love in a book, awesome historical setting, magic, young adult protagonist, with a bit of crime.

The Reckoning by Sharon Penman

For me, this might be a safe bet seeing how I have yet to give any Sharon Penman book less than 5 stars. But I thought I’d include it because it is the last in the series and that always worries me a little. This is the third in her Welsh Prince’s trilogy and follows Llewlyn, Prince of Wales who finds himself on a collision course with the feudal realm of Edward I.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

The Princess Bride is hands down one of my favourite movies, Westley was my first movie crush. I am hoping the book will also become a favourite. I have high hopes because William Goldman also wrote the screenplay. This story has everything; humour, fencing, fighting, true love, giants, revenge and pirates. What else do you need?

The Last Days of Leda Grey by Essie Fox

This is a book I brought because of the cover and I kept hearing about it. It’s not a period of history that I normally read but was one I saw drawn to after seeing it Historia Magazine. I haven’t hear anything else about this books but I’m excited. It follows silent actress, Leda Grey and her volatile love affair that left her recluse for over half a century.

That’s it for me. Comment down below and let me know what books you think will be 5 star reads.
Until next time, happy reading!
Dearna

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

On October 9, 2017October 8, 2018 By Dearna_MulvaneyIn Review2 Comments

Author: Jessica Townsend The Trials of Morrigan Crow

Publisher: Hachette Children’s Books Australia

Published: 10 October 2017

Rating: 5 stars

‘A tornado of questions swirled in her head, and all she could do was try to grab them as they flew by.’

I will start by saying that I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.

Miss Morrigan Crow has known since she was born that she will die on Eventide. Although she is the daughter of the distinguished Chancellor Corvus Crow the people of Jackalfax, her family included, will not mourn her passing. Morrigan is wonderful and whimsical eleven-year-old girl, who is desperate to find family and appreciation, all the while resigned to accept the responsibility for all bad luck that plagues Jackalfax. This is the dark reality of being a cursed child. On the eve of Eventide Morrigan receives an invitation to the Wundrous Society sponsored by a man named Jupiter North. Survival and Nevermoor await her.

Morrigan Crow is a fantastic character. She finds herself as the blame of all kinds of disasters from a burnt batch of jam to a boy losing the spelling bee to the Crow’s gardener’s heart attack. But thanks to Jupiter she finds herself living in a hotel that adapts to its guests’ needs and mingles with a cast of crazy characters. She finds out that for her to stay in this wonderful world she must get into The Wundrous Society and in turn face four trails which aren’t what they seem.

This is why I love middle-grade fantasy. I flew through this. It was so much fun and at times suspenseful. There something about this genre that allows the worlds to be innovative, creative and refreshing. Cursed children, brolly rails, secret societies, giant talking cats, magic trails and my new favourite holiday, Hallowmas. Townsend has mixed the whimsy of worlds like Wonderland and Whoville with the dark humour of Lemony Snicket. The Trials of Morrigan Crow is a wondrous adventure, which will ignite the imagination of any reader.

Townsend hasn’t only created a relatable protagonist and an amazingly creative world; she also created a cast of amazing secondary characters. These characters are all well rounded and aren’t just there as props to support Morrigan. Jupiter North is really the child at the heart of this story. He is a mysterious man who is an explorer, hotel proprietor, member of the Wundrous Society and Morrigan’s Patron and guardian. I adore Morrigan and Jupiter’s friendship, mostly how the roles seem reversed with Morrigan being the reserved and sensible one. Along with Jupiter, we have, Fenestra the talking Magnificat, Jupiter’s broody nephew, Jack, a vampire dwarf, an opera singer whose voice summons woodland critters and Hawthorne, Morrigan friend and fellow competitor in the Wundrous Society trials. I adore all these characters and they have—Hawthorne and Jupiter especially—become some of my all-time favourite characters.

I have a feeling this book is going to create a new generation of readers much like Harry Potter did when I was a kid. Please, pretty please can we have some kind of TV or film adaptation! I need to see Nevermoor in Technicolor! All I can say is it’s going to be a long wait for the squeal and my Wundrous Society Invitation.