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‘Waiting on’ Wednesday – June 2

This is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. In this post we highlight a book that’s highly anticipated.

The book that I’m waiting on this Wednesday is Fawkes by Nadine Brandes.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Thomas Fawkes is turning to stone, and the only cure to the Stone Plague is to join his father’s plot to assassinate the king of England.

Silent wars leave the most carnage. The wars that are never declared, but are carried out in dark alleys with masks and hidden knives. Wars where color power alters the natural rhythm of 17th century London. And when the king calls for peace, no one listens until he finally calls for death.

But what if death finds him first?

Keepers think the Igniters caused the plague. Igniters think the Keepers did it. But all Thomas knows is that the Stone Plague infecting his eye is spreading. And if he doesn’t do something soon, he’ll be a lifeless statue. So when his Keeper father, Guy Fawkes, invites him to join the Gunpowder Plot—claiming it will put an end to the plague—Thomas is in.

The plan: use 36 barrels of gunpowder to blow up the Igniter King.

The problem: Doing so will destroy the family of the girl Thomas loves. But backing out of the plot will send his father and the other plotters to the gallows. To save one, Thomas will lose the other.

No matter Thomas’s choice, one thing is clear: once the decision is made and the color masks have been put on, there’s no turning back.

What books are you waiting on this week?

Review: The Showrunner

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Title: The Showrunner
Author: Kim Moritsugu
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Dundurn
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Release Date: June 26, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Rising-star showrunner Stacey McCreedy has one goal: to leave behind her nerd-girl origins and become a power player — like Ann Dalloni, her former mentor and current producing partner. Ann, meanwhile, is feeling her age and losing her mind. But she’ll be damned if she cedes control of their hit primetime TV show to Stacey.

After Ann hires Jenna, a young actress hoping to restart her stalled career, as an assistant, the relationship between Ann and Stacey deteriorates into a blood feud. Soon, Jenna must choose whom to support and whom to betray to achieve her own ends. And Stacey will find out if she possesses the killer instinct needed to stay on top.

Review:

This story was entertaining and unpredictable!

I enjoy stories that are about television or movie production. It’s an industry that I don’t know much about, in terms of the behind the scenes work, but I watch TV and movies. It’s interesting to see how movies and shows are created, as well as the drama behind the camera.

I liked the dynamic of the three main characters. Ann is the matriarch, who is close to retiring age, though she won’t give up the reins of the show. Stacey is her business partner, who is constantly put down by Ann. Jenna is a young actress who is trying her hand behind the scenes. This gave three different perspectives of the industry from three different generations and positions of power.

There was an interesting scene of inappropriate behaviour in the work place between a man and a woman. It was initiated by the woman, and made the man uncomfortable. This wasn’t taken as seriously, because she was a woman who was abusing her position of power, rather than a man. It’s interesting to see how these gender dynamics can play out, even though they aren’t right. Women can be abusers just like men.

The ending was so shocking! I never would have predicted what would happen when I started reading this book. It was very dramatic!

I really enjoyed this story! Have you read it? What did you think?

Harry Potter Day – Hogwarts Tag

Today is the 21st anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. I’m a huge fan! Luana @ Book Storm Girl tagged me in this last week, and I’m so excited to do it! So let the fun begin!

What house are you in?

I’m a Ravenclaw all the way!

What is your wand?

“Laurel wood with a Phoenix feather core 9 ¾” and Slightly Yielding flexibility”

So a laurel wand cannot do a dishonourable act, and it doesn’t tolerate laziness. Phoenix feathers are picky because they come from independent creatures. There’s so much information about wands on the Pottermore website! I had no idea they were so complex.

What is your Patronus?

It’s a Chow dog! I’m not sure how helpful it would be against dementors…

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What would your boggart be?

I took this quiz to find out (the same as Book Storm Girl) and I got Dementor! This makes sense, since they’re so creepy… I wouldn’t want to meet one in a dark alley, or on the Hogwarts Express.

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What position would you play in Quidditch?

I did the Buzzfeed quiz for this one, because I had no idea what position I would play in Quidditch. I got chaser, just like one of my favourite witches, Ginny Weasley!

Would you rather take Divination or Care of Magical Creatures as an elective?

This is a hard one. I would like Divination, but I can’t stand Trelawney. But at the same time, I don’t want to be outside all the time with all kinds of strange creatures that Hagrid would choose for us to study. So I’ll have to go with Divination.

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What pet would you take to Hogwarts?

I would definitely bring an owl!

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Which of the Deathly Hallows would you choose?

Hmm.. this is another tough one. I’m torn between the elder wand and the invisibility cloak, but I think I’d choose the cloak.

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Would you enter your name for the Triwizard Tournament?

Nope. Nope. Nope.

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Would you rather drink Butterbeer or Pumpkin Juice?

I would like to try both, but I have a sweet tooth, so I think I would prefer Pumpkin Juice.

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Favorite teacher at Hogwarts?

I love McGonagall. She’s so tough, but she really cares about her students and wants them to do well.

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Least favorite teacher at Hogwarts?

Umbridge. All the way. I can’t stand her. She’s even worse than Voldemort.

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Would you rather have the marauder’s map or a time-turner?

This is another tough one. I would rather have the map, because I think I would mess up the timeline by doing something wrong with the time-turner.

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What Hogwarts ghost would you like the most?

I like Nearly Headless Nick. He’s funny and nice to Harry.

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Would you join the Frog Choir?

Haha, nope. I don’t sing.

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Would you rather get a pygmy puff or Weasleys’ Wildfire Whiz-bangs?

Is this even a question? Pygmy puff, for sure! They’re so adorable! How can you resist!

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The Hogwarts Express trolley is passing by, what do you get from it?

Pumpkin Pasties because they sound delicious.

Would you sneak into the restricted section of the Hogwarts library?

I probably would if I needed a book from there, or if I ran out of reading material in the rest of the library!

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If you could save one character from the Battle of Hogwarts, who would it be?

This question is going to make me cry. I’m torn between Fred and Lupin. Probably Lupin… no Fred. No Lupin. It’s hard to say because if Fred survived, the Weasley twins would live on, but if Lupin survived then his son wouldn’t be an orphan. However, that continues Harry’s story by repeating history, since Harry is the godfather of the new orphan just like Sirius was to him. Okay, since I like the way history would repeat if Lupin died, I choose to save Fred.

I tag you!

So I realize this is the last day of the Harry Potter week celebrations, but I’m still going to tag some people. And anyone else who would like to do this tag is welcome to do it. Tag me so I can see your answers.

Thanks for reading!

(All images taken from Pottermore.com and Pottermore.wikia.com)

Top Ten Tuesday – Series I’d Like to Finish One Day

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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and it is now hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s theme is Series I’ve Given Up On, but I want to put a more positive spin on things, so I’ve changed it to Series I Want To Start/Finish One Day. Here’s my list:

1. Throne of Glass

2. A Court of Thorns and Roses

3. Pretty Little Liars

4. The Lying Game

5. Percy Jackson and the Olympians

6. Lumberjanes

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7. Giant Days

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8. Red Queen

9. The Raven Cycle

10. Stalking Jack The Ripper

(All photos taken from Goodreads)

Review: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Vol. 1: The Crucible

Title: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Vol. 1: The Crucible
Author: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Robert Hack
Genre: Graphic Novel
Publisher: Archie Comics
Source: Library
Release Date: August 16, 2016
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

On the eve of her sixteenth birthday, the young sorceress Sabrina Spellman finds herself at a crossroads, having to choose between an unearthly destiny and her mortal boyfriend, Harvey. But a foe from her family’s past has arrived in Greendale, Madame Satan, and she has her own deadly agenda. Archie Comics’ latest horror sensation starts here! For TEEN+ readers. Compiles the first six issues of the ongoing comic book series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

Review:

It’s been a long time since I thought I shouldn’t read a particular book before bed. This one was so creepy and disturbing, that I thought it would give me nightmares!

This definitely isn’t the same Sabrina the Teenage Witch that I grew up reading and watching on TV. She lives in a much darker town with murdering witches and dark spells. I didn’t realize just how “chilling” this graphic novel would be.

My favourite character has always been Salem, and he was just as great in this book. He’s sarcastic and funny, but he’s always looking out for Sabrina.

I also liked the cameo appearances of the gang from Riverdale. Two witches from their coven come to visit and help out at the end: Betty and Veronica!

I enjoyed this graphic novel, though I had to look away from the bloody graphics at times. Have you read it? What did you think?

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? – June 25

It's Monday! What Are You Reading

This blog meme is hosted by Book Date. It is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organize yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment, and er… add to that ever growing TBR pile!

What I just finished:

This weekend I finished Chilling Adventures of Sabrina by Robert Aguirre-Sacasa.

What I’m currently reading:

I’m currently reading The Showrunner by Kim Moritsugu.

What I’m reading next:

Next I will be reading How To Be a Supervillain: Born to be Good by Michael Fry.

What are you guys reading this week? Have you read any of these books?

Jill’s Weekly Wrap-Up – June 24

Here’s my weekly wrap up!

Here are my reviews for the week with my ratings:

A Study in Treason (The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes Mysteries #2) ★★★★
Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 1: Cosmic Avengers ★★★★
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children ★★★★
Providence ★★★★★
Giant Days, Vol. 3 ★★★★★
The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1) ★★★★★

I did 5 weekly blogging memes:

How was your week? What did you guys read?

Sundays in Bed With… A Court of Thorns and Roses

The meme that dares to ask what book has been in your bed this morning? Come share what book you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed, or which book you wish you had time to read today! This meme is hosted by Midnight Book Girl.

This Sunday I reading A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Feyre’s survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price …

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre’s presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.

What book are you in bed with today?

Review: The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1)

Title: The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1)
Author: Lemony Snicket
Genre: Middle Grade
Publisher: Scholastic
Source: Library
Release Date: September 30, 1999
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Dear Reader,

I’m sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very first page of this book when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune.

In this short book alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast.

It is my sad duty to write down these unpleasant tales, but there is nothing stopping you from putting this book down at once and reading something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

Review:

I can’t believe this book is almost twenty years old! I first read the series years ago, and I’ve wanted to reread the whole series for a while. I’m finally doing it, and I’m going to read them in order this time (when I was little, I had to read whichever one was available at the library).

I love the writing style in this series. The author, Lemony Snicket, who is a character himself, speaks directly to the reader throughout the book. My favourite parts were when he would explain what a word meant. When I was little, I usually knew the word, and sometimes his definitions were funny, depending on the situation. As an adult reader, I still found this meta-narrative funny.

I also love that the Beaudelaire children are very resourceful. As the series progresses, their problems become more and more complex. This first book is fairly short, but I remember being surprised at how they defeated their horrible guardian, Count Olaf.

The new Netflix TV series of A Series of Unfortunate Events is very good. It even has some surprises for fans of the books, though it does stay faithful to the stories.

Have you read this series? What did you think of it?

Review: Giant Days, Vol. 3

Title: Giant Days, Vol. 3
Author: John Allison, Lissa Treiman, Whitney Cogar
Genre: Graphic Novel
Publisher: BOOM! Box
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Release Date: October 11, 2016
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Best friends Susan, Esther, and Daisy are rounding out their first semester at university. The girls, along with their male hall-mates Ed and McGraw, find that college is more than academics and bad microwavable meals. Add some pub-hopping, hookups, breakups, and political scandal and this might just be the most eventful first semester ever.

Review:

I liked this volume the best so far. The characters developed and the story moved along quickly.

Ed met a few girls and had hookups that didn’t all work out as planned. Esther’s old friend Lindsay came to visit and made them all party way to hard. Meanwhile, the student union president was kicked out, and Susan was pressured by an unknown person to abolish the student government. They also visit the great outdoors and the dark night world.

I really like the complexity of these graphic novels. There is a lot more that goes on around the main characters, such as drama with their student union or classes.

Have you read this volume or the rest of the series? What did you think?