Victoria Moschou's Blog, page 14

🙌🏻 Beacon Book Box Unboxing ~ RISE UP ~ January 2021 🙌🏻

Hello awesome people, happy Monday everyone and welcome back to another Beacon Book Box unboxing.

It may have taken a while for things to get back to normal in terms of shipping (or at least I hope they have gotten back to normal), but last week I received both my January and February Beacon Book Box boxes, and so you can expect not only today’s unboxing, but another one coming up this Thursday.

For those of you who don’t know, Beacon Book Box is a YA monthly subscription box, in which every month you receive a new release, as well as a bunch of bookish items focusing on a specific theme. As y’all know, I am one of the permanent reps of the company, and you can always use my rep code VICTORIOUS5 to save on your subscription or single purchase.

With all that being said, let’s get to the actual unboxing for the January 2021 box.

The theme for the month of January was RISE UP and it was essentially a way to boost everyone and show to every single member of the bookish community how proud we are of you that you made it through 2020. And even though 2021 is following similar patterns, there’s still plenty of time to make good things happen.

All you have to do is… rise up!

THE GOODIES

Clockwork Angel inspired night light, designed by @catarinabookdesigns

Witcher inspired enamel pin, designed by @sjwonderlanz

Divergent inspired pencil cup tin, designed by @vanediaz

Shadow & Bone “Alina and the Darkling” Collectible 5×7 Print (1 of 12), designed by @sopsoart

Shadow & Bone Collectible Picture Frame (1 of 12), designed by @riddleandravens

#BakingWithTheBeacons Gerald of Rivia’s Maple Walnut Fudge

THE BOOK

The book of the month was Black Canary: Breaking Silence, by Alexandra Monir. The book was, as per usual, signed by the author and it also came with a letter from the author themselves.

If you haven’t heard of this book before, this is the fifth book in the DC Icons series and the first one of this series that I’m gonna read (I also have Catwoman: Soulstealer, but I haven’t read it yet).

To let you know more about the book, here’s the blurb for you to read:

“THE HANDMAID’S TALE meets the DC universe in this breathtaking, thrilling origin story of Black Canary. Her voice is her weapon, and in a near future world where women have no rights, she won’t hesitate to use everything she has to fight back.

Dinah Lance was seven years old when she overheard the impossible: the sound of a girl singing. It was something she was never meant to hear—not in her lifetime, and not in Gotham City, taken over by the Court of Owls. The sinister organization rules Gotham as a patriarchal dictatorship, all the while spreading their influence like a virus across the globe.

Now seventeen, Dinah can’t forget that haunting sound, and she’s beginning to discover that her own voice is just as powerful. But singing is forbidden—a one-way stop to a certain death sentence. Can she balance her father’s desire to keep her safe, a blossoming romance with mysterious new student Oliver Queen, and her own desire to help other women and girls rise up and finally be heard? And will her voice be powerful enough to destroy the Court of Owls once and for all?” 

This one looks like a very empowering, motivating and inspiring book, and I can’t wait to read it. Especially after everything that happened last week and how oppressed some women still are, even in 2021, I believe that this book is the perfect read, not only for young ladies out there, but for every person who wants to speak up for themselves and make a difference in the world.

Let me know in the comment section down below which was your favourite fandom and item included in this box, if you have read Black Canary: Breaking Silence and if you liked it.

Also, don’t forget that you can get your April RETRIBUTION box, as well as your Bitty Beacon Special Edition Boxes of the King of Scars Duology, made in collaboration with Leigh Bardugo, and the Blessed Monsters, in collaboration with Emily A. Duncan.

As mentioned above, you can always use my rep code VICTORIOUS5 at checkout, to save some money, and you can follow that link to see what these three boxes are gonna feature.

Thank you all so very much for stopping by once again. It honestly means the world to me and I want you to know that I most certainly don’t take your presence here for granted.

Love you all to Pluto and back, dearies. Have a great week everyone, stay safe and stay positive.

Till next time… Toodles!

Do Writers Get Inspired From Personal Experience Or Do They Write What They Wish They Had Lived?

One of the best things about knowing someone for over ten years is that you can talk to them about everything, without wondering how they’ll react to what you’ll say, and what they’ll think of it. These people have seen you during your best of times and your worst of times. They’ve chosen to stay in your life regardless, while others chose to walk away. The ones who stayed are the reason why you made it, despite the worst of times. So, naturally, you turn to them whenever something’s bothering you.

I was talking with an old friend the other day about relationships, the amount of complexes people have and how things have changed due to COVID over the past year. Between that and a hilarious The Bold Type episode, it dawned to me.

Do we writers write what we’ve lived or what we hope we’ve lived? Do we get inspired from personal experience or from the fantasies that live inside our heads?

In all honesty, for me, it’s a combination of the two. I write both from personal experience, as well as from getting inspired from the things that take shape inside my mind, the situations I suppose and hope would’ve happened if I had made a different decision or if someone else had made a different call.

When I started working on my very first novel, The Passion of Hate, which has been put on hold indefinitely, I was actually talking about my first toxic relationship. I didn’t really know back in the day how therapeutic this would actually be, considering that the break-up was still quite fresh and new to me.

But it was, and I as I kept writing, I realised that there were certain things I still wanted to experience, certain situations I wanted to explore. That’s when fiction took control and that’s when I realised that I really liked the optimism this brought. Although my relationship was toxic and, naturally, it had to come to an end, it was nice to see that I led the characters to a healthier, safer place in the end.

Many years passed, nine to be exact, and here I am now, already having published two books, Guardian of the Auras and Demonic Debutantes, and I still rely on this reality-fantasy combo, every time I write. Partly because every good story has fragments of truth in it, and partly because my imagination is quite vivid sometimes and I really wonder what results I’ll get if I combine my personal experiences with my fantasies. Let me tell you that, some really intense real-life stories take place in the sequel of The Auras Chest series.

It’s like I’ve said before. When you write from your heart, and sometimes you’ve actually lived what you write about, the readers do get that. They can relate to that. And this is what makes everything even more… magical in the story.

What’s your opinion on the subject? Do you think writers get inspired from personal experience or from what they hope they’d experienced? Do you think there are authors who write what they think the readers would like to read?

Let me know all your thoughts and feelings regarding that in the comment section down below.

Thank you all so very much for being here once again. It means the world to me and I honestly want you to know that I don’t take your presence here for granted. I never will.

Have a wonderful weekend, dearies. Stay safe and stay positive.

Till next time… Toodles!

Books To Inspire You: What you should read when you’re feeling blue

Hello awesome nerds, happy Thursday everyone and welcome to a slightly different post today.

As I’ve mentioned multiple times these past couple of months, I am not in a really good place. That’s partly the reason why my content here seems to be repeating itself, with unboxings, a few rep posts and some book reviews here and there. Trust me, I’m not doing this on purpose, but I feel like I’ve lost my voice and I don’t know what to do in order to get it back.

Truth be told, I’ve thought about taking a break in April, since it’s a Camp NaNo month, as well, and I want to focus more on my WIPs, but we’ll see about that in a couple of weeks. I haven’t made my decision yet.

Still, here I am today with some book recommendations for those of you who’ve been feeling blue, as I’ve been feeling, lately. I’m not claiming that these books will have the same effect on you, as they had on me, but you can at least give them a try.

1. A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3.1), by Sarah J. Maas

First things first, I’m not saying this is a life-changing book, by any means. I’m simply saying that when I needed something sweet and cozy, something that felt like an escape, a heart-warming read, with familiar characters and situations, A Court of Frost and Starlight was there for me.

And that’s exactly what I need right now. A book that will feel familiar and it will remind me that, even in the darkest of nights, there’s always another dawn. And it will shine bright.

Also, I really want to reread this, probably for the third time, if I remember correctly, because I need to prepare myself for A Court of Silver Flames. And no, I haven’t read it yet and I have protected myself from incoming spoilers, so please, don’t ruin this for me.

“Because you’re the foundation, the one who lifts us. You always have been.”

~ A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3.1), by Sarah J. Maas

2. Chain of Gold (The Last Hours, #1), by Cassandra Clare

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to you that a Cassie Clare novel is in this list of inspiring books.

Cassandra Clare has proven to me over the years that her writing can make me feel so much better, regardless of how tough a certain situation may seem. Her books have been there for me countless times, through many difficult situations and heartbreaks (especially The Infernal Devices series) and I feel really lucky that this hasn’t changed over the years.

So, if you want to see things from a distance, get some perspective in your life, then I highly suggest you read Chain of Gold, if you haven’t done so already. I don’t know why it took me so very long to read this particular MASTERPIECE, but now I have, I love it with every fibre of my being. It reminds us that, even if we think that we know someone, there’s always a fine chance that this someone may surprise us in the most unexpected ways. It reminds us of friendship and family, love and sacrifice, honour and bravery.

You can bet your bottom dollar that I will DEVOUR Chain of Iron, once my copy arrives!

“We do not get to choose when in our lives we feel pain,” said Matthew. “It comes when it comes, and we try to remember, even though we cannot imagine a day when it will release its hold on us, that all pain fades. All misery passes. Humanity is drawn to light, not darkness.”

~ Chain of Gold (The Lat Hours, #1), by Cassandra Clare

3. Lore, by Alexandra Bracken

What can I say about this book that hasn’t been said and written in my review?

I love it! I adore it! And I think that you will adore it, too, for Lore is one of these books. The ones that have all these epic quotes that deliver grand messages in their simplicity. It is one of these books that help you feel focused and centred. It helps you remember that you’ve faced shitty situations in the past, and yet you persevered. You survived.

I know it’s funny for me to say this to you, when it’s kind of hard for me to truly remember that I will survive. It’s just that, when I boost you, somehow I feel like I’m boosting myself, too. And history has proven that together, we can achieve great things. So why not face difficult situations together, by motivating one another? Then again, if you’re one of those “suffering in silence” people, that’s also accepted and respected. Just know that I’m always here, whenever you want to talk. And do know that Lore will also be there for you, simply to remind you that…

“It’s really rare to find someone who accepts you completely.”

~ Lore, by Alexandra Bracken

So, when you do find that someone, don’t let them go away. Life’s too short for regrets and second guessing. Take that from me.

4. Red, White & Royal Blue, by Casey McQuiston

It’s totally fine to need something light and heart-warming sometimes. Something that will make you laugh and cry, and then laugh again, until you cry, simply because it feels so freaking accurate and you can relate 100% with what the characters are facing and dealing with.

Red, White & Royal Blue, by Casey McQuiston, is exactly that kind of book. It is modern and refreshing, yet somehow classic, as well. It is a book that will make you feel good about yourself. It will make you feel proud of yourself. And it will remind you that there’s still beauty out there, no matter how messy things may seem right now.

Besides, everything in life contains a certain amount of risk. I’ve said it before but I’m gonna say it again. It’s far better to make a wrong choice than to make no choice at all. It’s far better to try and fail, than to not try at all. At least, if you try, you’ll know. You won’t have to guess. And you won’t waste countless nights, sleepless, wondering how things would’ve been if you had made a certain decision.

“Sometimes you just jump and hope it’s not a cliff.”

~ Red, White & Royal Blue, by Casey McQuiston

5. The Love of Cavafy, by Constantine P. Cavafy

I know some of you may not recognise this particular book. But for my Greek friends all around the globe, if you haven’t read this poetry collection by Cavafy, you really need to.

It’s bittersweet and melancholic, but after reading and rereading it, you’ll feel… lighter, less blue. I know I did the first three times I read it. At the end of the day, this book reminds you what life’s for. Loving… Taking risks… Laughing… Traveling… Making mistakes… It’s all part of this grand circus called “life”. You just have to be bold enough to embrace it all. The good and the bad.

Some days may be harder than others. When you feel like you’re in a bad day, remember this:

“The future days stand before us 

like a row of candles all alight – 

golden, warm and lively candles.”

~ Candles, by Constantine P. Cavafy

It’s far better to have lived, loved and lost, than never to have loved at all. It means you haven’t met the beauties of life yet. So, keep looking. Not necessarily for a romantic love. But something, someone you feel passionate about. Something, someone that brings light and joy in your life.

Never give up! Everything will be all right in the end. And if it’s not all right, then it’s not the end yet!

I believe I can keep going on and on about inspiring and motivating books. Books like Heart of Thorns and Furyborn, Divine Comedy and Me Before You. Books like the first poetry tome, by Leivaditis, and Goblin Garden, by my dearest friend, my Darkling, Christine Bottas.

All of them will make you cry. Yet all of them will make you stronger in the end.

I know it’s hard sometimes to get up in the morning and just make it through the day. Trust me, that’s what I’ve been doing for the past couple of months. There are good and bad days for all of us. And I know that during the bad days, all you want to do is to turn it off, whatever it is inside you that hurts you, and for life to just give you a break.

I know it’s fucking hard to pretend like you are doing fine, when in fact you’re not. I do know it. But when things get really gloomy, just remind yourselves that brave characters like Dante and Cordelia Carstairs, Castor and Azriel, they made it in the end.

If they can do it, then so can we!

Thank you all so very much for being here once again. I know I say this every time, but it truly means the world to me and I want you to know that I most certainly don’t take your presence here for granted.

Have a wonderful rest of the week, dearies. Stay safe and stay positive. Well, as positive as you can be.

Till next time… Toodles!

BOOK REVIEW: Lore, by Alexandra Bracken ~ Utterly Magnificent! *SPOILER FREE*

“There is a lesson to be had in even this. Take my counsel on this matter: it is acceptable, even preferable, to be alone,” Athena told her, “when those around you would hold you back or deceive you. The exceptional among mortals will always stand alone, for no one in the world was made for their task. Take confidence in that, and let it be a poison to your fear.”

~ Lore, by Alexandra Bracken

Hello my dearest people, happy Monday everyone and welcome back to another book review, that’s gonna be packed with feels, intense reactions and tons of Greek myths.

Considering that I am Greek myself, I can assure you that this is going to be the case, while I share my thoughts and feelings about Lore, this masterpiece written by Alexandra Bracken, that I received in the January GREEK MYTHOLOGY FairyLoot box.

“From the #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Darkest Minds comes a sweepingly ambitious, high-octane tale of power, destiny, love and redemption.

Every seven years, the Agon begins. As punishment for a past rebellion, nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals, hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines, all eager to kill a god and seize their divine power and immortality.
Long ago, Lore Perseous fled that brutal world in the wake of her family’s sadistic murder by a rival line, turning her back on the hunt’s promises of eternal glory. For years she’s pushed away any thought of revenge against the man–now a god–responsible for their deaths.

Yet as the next hunt dawns over New York City, two participants seek out her help: Castor, a childhood friend of Lore believed long dead, and a gravely wounded Athena, among the last of the original gods.

The goddess offers an alliance against their mutual enemy and, at last, a way for Lore to leave the Agon behind forever. But Lore’s decision to bind her fate to Athena’s and rejoin the hunt will come at a deadly cost–and still may not be enough to stop the rise of a new god with the power to bring humanity to its knees.”

Straight from the blurb of this beauty, you can understand that this novel is going to change your world.

I mean it. It is well-written, with characters to love and hate, a plot that’s so well-crafted, with many ups and downs, plot twists and the research having been done, apparent in every single page. It is a book that will hook you from the very beginning and will keep you thinking about it, hours, even days after having finished it.

Even though it’s going to be really hard for me not to talk in full detail about certain characters and situations occurring throughout the book, because I do believe you need to read Lore ASAP, let me just tell you this: Lore, aside from being a combo of the Hunger Games and the Percy Jackson series, it also feels like a very, very intense game of chess. Every character, every situation, every little detail has a point and a meaning. And the strategy behind all this is simply going to blow your mind!

It did blow my mind, and y’all know how picky I’ve gotten over the years, on what comes to books that truly make me fall in love with them. Lore is one of them, and it is probably one of my top 5 books of 2021.

Speaking in more detail about the plot, but without spoiling anything at all, Lore is a book that talks about realisation of who we are. It talks about friendship, bravery, honour, principles, the distinction between right and wrong, the dawning of who we want to be and how we want to be remembered. It talks about the fact that dark periods of our life shape us, and they can either make us stronger or they can break us.

It was mesmerising for me to see that Lore, Athena, Castor, Van, Miles, Artemis and so many other characters were shaped because of what they faced, what was handed to them, but also, because of the choices they made themselves.

I’ve said it before, but I’m gonna say it again. Not everything in life is written in the stars or determined by the Moirae. It’s not only in Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos’s hands, what happens to us. It also has to do with the choices we make, the decisions we take. I do believe that.

There’s this Greek proverb I hold dear in my heart. “Η τύχη ευνοεί τους τολμηρούς” which means “Fortune favours the bold”. And let me tell you, Lore is a very, very brave character. And I do hope that somehow, someday, I will be able to become half as bold as she is.

But she’s not the only brave character of the book. So is Castor and Miles, Van and Iro. They all make choices and they all stand tall against the difficulties they face.

I can go on and on about these characters, and you know this means something. Because when the characters feel real, you do know you’ve read a good book. Combined with an amazing plot, such as the one of Lore, it makes the book… utterly magnificent!

And speaking of the plot, Lore is gonna make you question every single theory you’ll come up with. This says a lot about Alex’s writing abilities and talent. But what I truly want to highlight is that, Alex did a phenomenal job on what comes to research and she reminded me so many Greek myths. I’m grateful to her and happy that she hasn’t forgotten her Greek heritage and ancestry. The fact that she combined these myths with a very modern, contemporary setting, that’s also packed with all sorts of magic, powers and divine abilities, truly worked wonders.

If you haven’t figured it out already, I absolutely adored the book. Even if some of the revelations caught me off guard. Well, especially because some of the revelations caught me of guard.

I ended up rating it with 5 out of 5 stars, and I would rate it even higher, if that was possible. All the constellations of the night sky aren’t enough for me to express how brightly this novel shines inside my heart!

Thank you so much, Alex, for writing one of my favourite books!

And thank you all so very much, dearies, for stopping by once again. It honestly means the world to me and I want you to know that I most certainly don’t take your presence here for granted.

Have a wonderful week, awesome nerds, stay safe and stay positive!

Till next time… Toodles!

BOOK REVIEW: Splinters of Scarlet, by Emily Bain Murphy ~ A Brilliant Re-Imagined Version of Frozen *SPOILER FREE*

“Misery fights so hard to gain the upper hand, but there’s always something left in its gleanings: the seed of something good that ensures despair can never quite win.“

~ Splinters of Scarlet, by Emily Bain Murphy

I postponed writing this particular review for quite some time already. But since, once again, it feels as if a greater power is having so much fun observing my life, I decided that the time has come for me to share all my thoughts and feelings about one of the coolest books I’ve read so far this year; Splinters of Scarlet, by Emily Bain Murphy.

“A YA historical fantasy set in nineteenth-century Denmark, where secrets can kill and magic is a deadly gift.

For Marit Olsen, magic is all about strategy: it flows freely through her blood, but every use leaves behind a deadly, ice-like build-up within her veins called the Firn. Marit knows how dangerous it is to let too much Firn build up—after all, it killed her sister—and she has vowed never to use her thread magic. But when Eve, a fellow orphan whom Marit views like a little sister, is adopted by the wealthy Helene Vestergaard, Marit will do anything to stay by Eve’s side. She decides to risk the Firn and uses magic to secure a job as a seamstress in the Vestergaard household. 

But Marit has a second, hidden agenda: her father died while working in the Vestergaards’ jewel mines—and it might not have been an accident. The closer Marit gets to the truth about the Vestergaard family, the more she realizes she and everyone she’s come to love are in danger. When she finds herself in the middle of a treacherous deception that goes all the way up to the king of Denmark, magic may be the only thing that can save her—if it doesn’t kill her first.”

Starting with the technicalities of this book, I very much enjoyed straight from the beginning the writing style, the descriptions and the very vivid and well-written characters to whom I was introduced. Although it was a bit hard at first to remember everyone, because the characters were quite a few indeed, once I cleared everything out in my head, it was easier to focus on the plot and enjoy the flashbacks that built up the tension and mystery.

There were indeed times when I wanted the pacing to be faster, but the descriptions of Copenhagen, the magic system and the relationships between the characters compensated me for the sometimes slower pace. I mean, come on! How cool is it to be able to do certain things, from growing plants to painting, to dancing and sewing, because you’re gifted with that kind of magic? Then again, it can be frightening if you turn into ice, in a country that’s literally covered in snow for the better part of winter, if you go too far using your magic.

Moving on, and speaking of the relationships between the characters, I loved the fact that they slowly built up as the story progressed. There were characters that knew one another their whole life, and that was quite obvious in the way the interacted with one another. But there were also characters that got to know each other when the story started. It was nice to see that they slowly got to know and like and trust each other. It didn’t feel forced. It didn’t feel… intended.

Except perhaps for the romantic relationship, which was so freaking obvious straight from the beginning, that I wouldn’t mind if it didn’t exist at all.

“You should be more careful, and don’t play games with people’s hearts next time.”

~ Splinters of Scarlet, by Emily Bain Murphy

However, even though the love story wasn’t really what I expected it to be, and it was quite obvious who the “villain” was, still, the book as a whole was so very enjoyable, because, once again, the timing was right.

I felt as if I had experienced certain situations, I was thinking the exact same things the characters were, when facing certain dilemmas, and it was impossible not to relate or say “Tell me about it!” every other sentence, when I could relate 100% with certain quotes written throughout the book.

The revelation at the finale was very good and I loved that, somehow, all the bad things that had happened, turned into something positive, thanks to the characters’ decisions and actions.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this book, rating it with 4 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend you pick it up if you love Historical Fantasy, Frozen, Downton Abbey and Copenhagen. And if you want to read a standalone, instead of a series.

“Maybe, sometimes, the past provides just enough substance to push off from and reach higher.”

~ Splinters of Scarlet, by Emily Bain Murphy

Thank you all so very much for stopping by once again. It truly means the world to me and I want you to know that I most certainly don’t take your presence here for granted.

Let me know in the comment section down below if you have read this book, or if you’re planning on reading it, if you have any other similar recommendations, and which magic system is your favourite.

Have a wonderful weekend, dearies, stay safe and stay positive.

Till next time… Toodles!

🗡 Beacon Book Box ~ RETRIBUTION ~ April Theme Reveal 🗡

Hello awesome nerds, happy Thursday everyone and welcome back to another Beacon Book Box theme reveal.

For those of you who don’t know, Beacon Book Box is a YA monthly-subscription box, in which every month you receive a new release, as well as a bunch of bookish items, focusing on a specific theme.

The theme for the month of April, as you’ve already figured out thanks to the title of this post is RETRIBUTION.

The April box will celebrate and explore the worlds of all the YA books that are filled with payback, quests for revenge and that “thirst” for retribution.

The book of the month is going to transport you to a Jamaican-inspired fantasy debut where two enemy witches who must enter into a deadly alliance to take down a common enemy. Their common vengeance will take you on an incredible journey that you will become entranced by from page one. The book will come with a signed bookplate and a letter from the author, as per usual. This book is perfect for the fans of Furyborn, Killing Eve and An Ember in The Ashes.

The April box will include the fourth collectible picture frame of 2021, and the art print will be inspired by Aurora Rising.

The rest of the goodies featured in this box will be inspired by Bridgerton, Scythe and Percy Jackson.

A very limited amount of April boxes will become available today, at 12pm EST, for subscriptions and single purchases. You can follow the link provided above and, as always, you can use my rep code VICTORIOUS5 to save on your subscription or single purchase.

Thank you all so very much for stopping by once again. It truly means the world to me and I want you to know that I most certainly don’t take your presence here for granted.

Stay safe, dearies, and stay positive.

Till next time… Toodles!

A Vow so Bold and Deadly (Cursebreakers, #3), by Brigid Kemmerer ~ An Ending to An Epic Series

It’s no secret that I love anything related to Beauty and the Beast. So how could I not talk about the third and final instalment in the Cursebreakers series, by Brigid Kemmerer?

Hello awesome people, happy Monday everyone and happy International Women’s Day, y’all!

I hope you guys had a great weekend, you spent it exactly as you wanted to and you’re ready to embrace whatever it is this week has in store for you. I, once again, didn’t manage to do everything I wanted to, but I took a fair amount of pictures for my Instagram account, I read a bit and worked on the future boxes of bookbrewed, my new monthly-subscription book box.

I also got some book mail and one of the packages I got contained A Vow so Bold and Deadly, which is the third and final book in the Cursebreakers series, written by Brigid Kemmerer.

For those of you who’ve been following me for some time now, you know that A Curse so Dark and Lonely and A Heart so Fierce and Broken are two of my favourite books I’ve read in recent years, and I have already ranted about them a lot in previous posts. And even though I haven’t read the last book yet, only the fact that it’s written in four different POVs, one of the being Grey’s, promises that this third book in the series is going to be great!

*DISCLAIMER. THE FOLLOWING SYNOPSIS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS OF THE FIRST TWO BOOKS. PROCEED CAUTIOUSLY.*

“Face your fears, fight the battle.

Emberfall is crumbling fast, torn between those who believe Rhen is the rightful prince and those who are eager to begin a new era under Grey, the true heir. Grey has agreed to wait two months before attacking Emberfall, and in that time, Rhen has turned away from everyone—even Harper, as she desperately tries to help him find a path to peace. 

Fight the battle, save the kingdom.

Meanwhile, Lia Mara struggles to rule Syhl Shallow with a gentler hand than her mother. But after enjoying decades of peace once magic was driven out of their lands, some of her subjects are angry Lia Mara has an enchanted prince and a magical scraver by her side. As Grey’s deadline draws nearer, Lia Mara questions if she can be the queen her country needs.

As the two kingdoms come closer to conflict, loyalties are tested, love is threatened, and a dangerous enemy returns, in this stunning conclusion to bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer’s Cursebreakers series.”

I honestly can’t wait to read this book and you can bet there will be a quite detailed, full-length review coming up once I read it.

In the meantime, let me know if you have read the previous two books and which Beauty and the Beast retelling is your favourite, and why.

Thank you all so very much for stopping by once again. It truly means the world to me and I want you to know that I most certainly don’t take your presence here for granted.

Have a wonderful week, dearies, stay safe and stay positive!

Till next time… Toodles!

❤️ Beacon Book Box Unboxing ~ FAMILY SECRETS ~ December 2020

Hello awesome nerds, happy Saturday y’all and welcome back to another Beacon Book Box unboxing!

Although my plan for today was to post my review for Splinters of Scarlet, yesterday I finally received my December Beacon Book Box parcel, so I didn’t want to delay this unboxing any further. Even though pretty much everyone has seen was this box contained at this point. But what can I do? The post office and customs are testing my patience…

Still, here I am to share with you what this box featured, and let me tell you in advance that this was a really cool and festive box.

For those of you who don’t know, Beacon Book Box is a YA monthly subscription box, in which every month you receive a new release, as well as a bunch of bookish items, focusing on a specific theme.

I’ve been a rep for Beacon Book Box since January 2020 and if you like what you’re about to see, you can follow the link above to check their website. Plus, you can always use my rep code VICTORIOUS5 to save on your subscription or single purchase.

With all that being said, let’s get to the actual unboxing.

The theme for the month of December was Family Secrets and now that I think about it, every fandom featured in this box has some family secrets of its own.

THE GOODIES

Exclusive An Ember In The Ashes inspired trinket dish, designed by @catarinabookdesigns

Exclusive A Court of Thorns and Roses inspired enamel mug (collectible 4 of 4), designed by @dianadworak

Holiday Season Booksleeve, by Team Beacon

Exclusive Monthly Collectible Ornament (12 of 12), inspired by Crescent City and designed by @riddleandravens

#BakingWithTheBeacons Day’s White Bean Chicken Chilli recipe, inspired by Legend, with artwork designed by @riddleandravens

THE BOOK

The book of the month was Heiress Apparently, by Diana Ma. The book came with a signed bookplate and a letter from the author.

If you haven’t heard of this book before, here’s its summary:

“The first book in an epic and romantic YA series following the fictionalized descendants of the only officially recognized empress regent of China

Gemma Huang is a recent transplant to Los Angeles from Illinois, having abandoned plans for college to pursue a career in acting, much to the dismay of her parents. Now she’s living with three roommates in a two-bedroom hovel, auditioning for bit roles that hardly cover rent.

Gemma’s big break comes when she’s asked to play a lead role in an update of M. Butterfly filming for the summer in Beijing. When she arrives, she’s stopped by paparazzi at the airport. She quickly realizes she may as well be the twin of one of the most notorious young socialites in Beijing.

Thus kicks off a summer of revelations, in which Gemma uncovers a legacy her parents have spent their lives protecting her from—one her mother would conceal from her daughter at any cost.”

This looks like a really fun book and I can’t wait to read it.

Once again, huge thanks to Beacon Book Box for sending me their December box. I’m really glad that I’m working with all these amazing people and I feel truly blessed that I’m part of this team and family.

Thank you all so very much for stopping by once again. It honestly means the world to me and I want you to know that I most certainly don’t take your presence here for granted.

Let me know in the comment section down below if you have read the book of the month and what books you hope to read in March.

Have a wonderful weekend, dearies, stay safe and stay positive.

Till next time… Toodles!

🦉 FairyLoot Unboxing ~ GREEK MYTHOLOGY ~ January 2021 🦉

Hello awesome people, happy Thursday everyone and welcome back to another FairyLoot unboxing.

This is going to be a quite bittersweet post, because, first of all, the theme is so very dear to my heart, considering that I am Greek myself, and second of all, this is going to be my last FairyLoot box for a while. Due to Brexit, the shipping has increased a lot and now that I’m expanding my business, I wanna focus more on that, so it’ll be some time until a get another FairyLoot box.

Still, for those of you who can still get it, FairyLoot is a YA monthly-subscription box, in which every month you receive a new hardback release, as well as a bunch of bookish items, focusing on a specific theme.

The theme for the month of January was GREEK MYTHOLOGY, and you can bet I was instantly sold!

THE GOODIES

Exclusive trinket dish, featuring Eros and Psyche, designed by @taratjah

Exclusive booksleeve, inspired by Circe, by Madeline Miller, and designed by @chattynore

Exclusive enamel bookmark, featuring Athena, goddess of war and wisdom, and designed by @monolimeart

Exclusive wooden spatula, inspired by Lovely War, by Julie Berry, and designed by @kdpletters

Exclusive iron-on patch, inspired by the book of the month, featuring Medusa, and illustrated by @ alyesasworld

Exclusive art print, inspired by the Percy Jackson series, by Rick Riordan, and illustrated by @arz28

Three and Four of Wands tarot cards, inspired by The Wrath and the Dawn, by Renée Ahdieh

THE BOOK

The featured book of the month was, of course, Lore, by Alexandra Bracken. The exclusive FairyLoot edition had an exclusive cover, sprayed and stencil edges, artwork on the reverse of the dust jacket, by @lizzart_zardonicz, foil embossing on the front and back of the case, custom endpapers and a printed signature!

The book naturally came with a letter from the author and a beautiful character art print, designed by @runningquill_art on the other side.

If you haven’t heard of this beauty before, here’s the blurb for you to read:

“From the #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Darkest Minds comes a sweepingly ambitious, high-octane tale of power, destiny, love and redemption.

Every seven years, the Agon begins. As punishment for a past rebellion, nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals, hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines, all eager to kill a god and seize their divine power and immortality.
Long ago, Lore Perseous fled that brutal world in the wake of her family’s sadistic murder by a rival line, turning her back on the hunt’s promises of eternal glory. For years she’s pushed away any thought of revenge against the man–now a god–responsible for their deaths.

Yet as the next hunt dawns over New York City, two participants seek out her help: Castor, a childhood friend of Lore believed long dead, and a gravely wounded Athena, among the last of the original gods.

The goddess offers an alliance against their mutual enemy and, at last, a way for Lore to leave the Agon behind forever. But Lore’s decision to bind her fate to Athena’s and rejoin the hunt will come at a deadly cost–and still may not be enough to stop the rise of a new god with the power to bring humanity to its knees.”

I’m currently reading the book and absolutely LOVING it so far! I love the so on point use of Greek words, the knowledge of Greek mythology and the modern twist of it all. It is obvious that Alex has done her research and that she has Greek ancestry, as well. And yes, I’m a little bit biased, but I had great expectations about this book and, so far, it has not disappointed me.

Which is your favourite Greek mythology-inspired book? Have you read Lore?

I look forward to reading all your comments, thoughts and feelings in the comment section down below.

Thank you all so very much for stopping by once again. It honestly means the world to me and I want you to know that I most certainly don’t take your presence here for granted.

Love you all to Pluto and back, awesome nerds. Have a wonderful rest of the week, dearies, stay safe & stay positive.

Till next time… Toodles!

🔥 King of Scars Duology ~ Bitty Beacon Special Edition Box 🔥

Hello, hello Grisha and mere mortals, happy Monday everyone and happy 1st of March!

I hope y’all had a splendid weekend, you recharged your batteries and you’re ready to face the new week, and welcome spring (at last). I, for once, actually had the chance to relax, and for that I am extremely happy! Plus, my mood is much better than it was last month and I hope things will remain as such in the near future.

To be honest, how can I not be excited when I have such HUGE news to share with y’all?

The Beacons are on fire and they’re giving you the next Bitty Beacon Special Edition box, in collaboration with one Leigh Bardugo!

Oh, yeah! You read that right!

For those of you who don’t know, Beacon Book Box is a YA monthly-subscription box, in which every month you receive a new release, as well as a bunch of bookish items, focusing on a specific theme.

I’ve been a rep for Beacon Book Box since January 2020, and you can always use my code VICTORIOUS5 to save on your subscription or single purchase.

And trust me when I say, you won’t want to miss this particular special edition box!

The King of Scars Bitty Beacon Special Edition Box is going to feature both King of Scars and Rule of Wolves, by #1 New York Times bestselling author, Leigh Bardugo, both of them SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR and with CUSTOM SPRAYED EDGES! The books will also come with a letter from the author to accompany them.

And not only that but also, this bitty box will feature a booksleeve with a quote from the King of Scars duology, a Grishaverse beanie and Grishaverse stickers.

This is a must purchase for everyone who adores this fandom, so make sure you follow the link above today, at 3PM EST, to grab yours ASAP!

The boxes will retail for $49.99, but you can, once again, use VICTORIOUS5 to save some bucks.

This box is seriously going to blow your mind, if the Shadow & Bone trailer didn’t do that already!

Thank you all, dearies, for stopping by once again. It honestly means the world to me and I want you to know that I most certainly don’t take your presence here for granted.

Have a wonderful week, awesome creatures, stay safe & stay positive!

Till next time… Toodles!