Victoria Moschou's Blog, page 5

🌙 BookBrewed Sneak Peek ~ The Wrath and the Dawn ~ Design & Item Reveal 🌙

Hello awesome people, happy last day of June and welcome back to my humble blog.

I’m super excited about today’s post, as we’re gonna talk about an EXCLUSIVELY DESIGNED goodie, that’s gonna be featured in the July REALITIES IN WAITING BookBrewed box.

For those of you who are new here, BookBrewed is my little company, a YA book-subscription box, in which every month you receive a new release, as well as a bunch of bookish items, focusing on a specific theme.

Yesterday we revealed that each REALITIES IN WAITING box will be featuring a COOLER BAG, designed EXCLUSIVELY by BookBrewed team and inspired by THE WRATH AND THE DAWN.

I’m so freaking excited with how the design turned out and I can’t wait for you to see it on the actual product.

The cooler bag won’t be available outside of this box, so hurry up and order yours, as the stock is limited. Plus, today is the last day that you can place an order for the July box since, as of tomorrow, it will be the August box that will be available for single purchases and subscription activations available on the website.

It has also been revealed that each box will be featuring a set of goodies by @candleland_gr, inspired by THE RAVEN BOYS.

The book of the month is a new YA release, inspired by Hindu mythology and set in a dreamy, yet sometimes deadly, Royal Court of immortals. I am about to finish it and I have fallen in love with this whimsical world!

You can also expect items inspired by CINDERELLA IS DEAD, but also fandom-neutral goodies.

And since I know how crazy shipping has been lately, if you’re interested in purchasing your box, you’re always free to contact our team at info@bookbrewed.com and we’ll be happy to help you!

I cannot wait for you guys to see all the amazing things that we’ve been working on!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the love and support that you’ve been showing to me and BookBrewed over the past year. It truly means the world!

As it does that you’re once again here, reading my posts. I most certainly don’t take your presence for granted.

Have a great day everyone, stay safe and stay positive!

Till next time… Toodles!

Life Update: Work, Annual Dance & Reading Updates

“We might think we are nurturing our garden, but of course it’s our garden that is really nurturing us.”

~ Jenny Uglow

Hello awesome nerds and happy Monday everyone!

How was your weekend? Did you find some time for yourself?

Luckily, I did and this week has already started far better than the previous one.

Let’s not jinx it, universe, ok?

This past weekend was packed with work, both for BookBrewed and for our dance company, but also filled with beautiful moments with beloved friends and some serious reading updates!

For those of you who are new here, BookBrewed is my book-box subscription company, which celebrated its 1-year-anniversary this past April. With anticipated new releases and exclusively designed, officially licensed bookish goodies, inspired by beloved series, I have found my true calling and happy place. What can I say? It’s great waking up every day, excited to go to work.

The July box is currently available and HOLY MOLY! I just can’t wait for you guys to see what we’re working on!

Dreams… Emotions… Hopes… All of them combined and intertwining in this whimsical box.

The book of the month follows the story of a girl, freed of all emotions and memories, who collects the dreams of mortals, for the entertainment of the immortal court she serves. When she starts remembering her prior life, she turns to the only other mortal of the court, who might be able to help her; the person responsible for freeing the members of the ranks where she belongs from their mortal memories and feelings.

Inspired by Hindu mythology, this book is perfect for the fans of Holly Black, Roshani Chokshi and Margaret Rogerson.

The book will be in English, in HARDBACK EDITION, and accompanied by a LETTER FROM THE AUTHOR.

You can expect exclusively designed goodies inspired by THE WRATH AND THE DAWN, THE RAVEN BOYS and CINDERELLA IS DEAD, along with fandom-neutral items. We have already revealed that each box will have a set of amazing, fragrant goodies, inspired by The Raven Boys.

What we haven’t revealed yet are the item and designs that we were working on this past weekend! I assure you guys… You don’t want to miss this box. The product itself is super handy, especially during the summer, and our graphic designer did such a PHENOMENAL job!

Click this link to get yours today, as stock is quite limited. And, of course, as per usual, don’t hesitate to contact us at info@bookbrewed.com if you have anything to ask. Shipping has been crazy lately, so if we can help make things more affordable for you in terms of shipping, we’ll be happy to do so.

In other news, this past weekend was also our annual dance and it was a BLAST!

Good company, good food, good music, dancing, friends and pool. What else could we ask for? Plus, it had been two and a half years since our last dance, so I think everyone needed that!

And even though I was with only four hours of sleep on Saturday, I managed to make some serious progress on House of Sky and Breath, the second book in the Crescent City series, by Sarah J. Maas.

Yes, I’m still reading this one. But what can I say? My days are so long and hectic, and I’ve been feeling kinda down lately, that my reading progress has been really slow.

Still, Queen Maas did her magic thingies again and I have fallen completely in love with this book! I’m halfway through and if all this has happened in 400 pages, I seriously cannot wait to see what’s gonna happen next!

My friend Kalliopi told me the last line of the book and I SIMPLY NEED MORE ASAP! I even need the next ACOTAR book ASAP!

What about you dearies? How was your weekend? Are you reading anything fun? Let me know in the comment section down below.

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.

Love you all to Pluto and back, wonderful people.

Have an amazing week y’all, stay safe and stay positive!

Till next time… Toodles!

Weekend Book Recommendations

Hello awesome people, happy Saturday everyone and welcome back to Victorious Pages.

This past week was all over the place, but I am determined to relax this weekend. And that is because this coming week will be equally hectic.

Still, here I am today to share with you some cool, summer books that you can read over the weekend.

1. The Unhoneymooners, by Christina Lauren

“Olive is always unlucky: in her career, in love, in…well, everything. Her identical twin sister Ami, on the other hand, is probably the luckiest person in the world. Her meet-cute with her fiancé is something out of a romantic comedy (gag) and she’s managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a series of Internet contests (double gag). Worst of all, she’s forcing Olive to spend the day with her sworn enemy, Ethan, who just happens to be the best man.

Olive braces herself to get through 24 hours of wedding hell before she can return to her comfortable, unlucky life. But when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning from eating bad shellfish, the only people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. And now there’s an all-expenses-paid honeymoon in Hawaii up for grabs.

Putting their mutual hatred aside for the sake of a free vacation, Olive and Ethan head for paradise, determined to avoid each other at all costs. But when Olive runs into her future boss, the little white lie she tells him is suddenly at risk to become a whole lot bigger. She and Ethan now have to pretend to be loving newlyweds, and her luck seems worse than ever. But the weird thing is that she doesn’t mind playing pretend. In fact, she feels kind of… lucky.”

This beauty has been on my TBR for over a year now and I really want to read it this summer. Especially since I feel like I’ve fallen in a slump and I do hope this enemies-to-lovers contemporary RomCom will help me get out of it.

2. House of Hollow, by Krystal Sutherland

“Seventeen-year-old Iris Hollow has always been strange. Something happened to her and her two older sisters when they were children, something they can’t quite remember but that left each of them with an identical half-moon scar at the base of their throats. 

Iris has spent most of her teenage years trying to avoid the weirdness that sticks to her like tar. But when her eldest sister, Grey, goes missing under suspicious circumstances, Iris learns just how weird her life can get: horned men start shadowing her, a corpse falls out of her sister’s ceiling, and ugly, impossible memories start to twist their way to the forefront of her mind. 

As Iris retraces Grey’s last known footsteps and follows the increasingly bizarre trail of breadcrumbs she left behind, it becomes apparent that the only way to save her sister is to decipher the mystery of what happened to them as children. 

The closer Iris gets to the truth, the closer she comes to understanding that the answer is dark and dangerous – and that Grey has been keeping a terrible secret from her for years.”

Dark, spooky and with all the beloved elements of the Grimm’s tales, House of Hollow seems like the perfect read for the cool summer nights. Whether or not I’ll be able to read afterwards, well, that remains to be seen.

3. Midsummer Mysteries, by Agatha Christie

“An all-new collection of summer-themed mysteries from the master of the genre, just in time for the holiday season.
Summertime – as the temperature rises, so does the potential for evil. From Cornwall to the French Riviera, whether against a background of Delphic temples or English country houses, Agatha Christie’s most famous characters solve even the most devilish of conundrums as the summer sun beats down. Pull up a deckchair and enjoy plot twists and red herrings galore from the bestselling fiction writer of all time.

INCLUDES THE STORIES:
The Blood-Stained Pavement
The Double Clue
A Death on the Nile
Harlequin’s Lane
The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman
Jane in Search of a Job
The Disappearance of Mr Davenheim
The Idol House of Astarte
The Rajah’s Emerald
The Oracle at Delphi
The Adventure of the Sinister Stranger
The Incredible Theft”

I’ve been trying to read genres that are out of my comfort zone this year. The last mystery novel I read was absolutely EVERYTHING, so I’m dying to read this collection of stories, written by the Queen of Crime!

4. The Wicked Deep, by Shea Ernshaw

“Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…

Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.

Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.

Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.

Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.

But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.”

I read this amazing book back in 2018 (which seems and feels like a lifetime ago, yet only yesterday at the same time), but it always feels like the perfect summer to me. If you guys haven’t read it and you’re looking for something whimsical and spooky, then The Wicked Deep is the read for you.

So, these are some of the books I think would keep you great company over the weekend, and they are also some of the books I want to read in the next few weeks.

Have you guys read any of them? If so, did you enjoy them? Do you have any other, summer-ish recommendations for me?

Let me know all your 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. I never will.

Have a wonderful weekend, awesome people. Stay safe and stay positive.

Till next time… Toodles!

Love & Gelato

“What I really want is someone who will wake me up early so I don’t miss a sunrise.” 

~ Love & Gelato, by Jenna Evans Welch

I believe there’s a reason why every person is the way they are. Why my friend Jo is practical and pragmatic, and why Eleanna is a constant source of sunshine. Why some people choose hope over over pessimism, and why others choose to guard themselves instead of falling head over toes in love with someone.

As I’ve said multiple times already, the choices why make are the people we are. And no matter how hard I try sometimes, I can’t help but remain a hopeless romantic. Even though I’ve chosen to guard my heart for the time being. At least in real life…

But I can never say no to a good, old-school RomCom. Especially when there’s summer involved. And that’s exactly what Love & Gelato was: an old-school, summer love!

I don’t know why I haven’t read the book yet, but the movie was simply everything I wanted and needed right now. And more!

The movie was fun, romantic, refreshing, with great cinematography (although Italy doesn’t need much to look gorgeous) and with this beacon of hope towards the end of it. And well, I’m super glad I watched it, because I’ve been feeling truly down over the past couple of days.

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” 

~ Love & Gelato, by Jenna Evans Welch

With everything that’s been going on in my life lately, changes I wanted and changes I didn’t really want, I needed something sweet. Although some of the twists and turns throughout the movie were expected, I didn’t really mind. I just needed some… romance. And I got it.

So, for those of you who want to watch something sweet this weekend, I highly suggest you watch Love & Gelato.

And if you want to read a Contemporary RomCom, here is the blurb of the book:

““I made the wrong choice.”

Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is go back home.

But then she is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires her, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. It’s a secret that will change everything she knew about her mother, her father—and even herself.

People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more.”

Have you guys watched any good movies lately? If so, do you have any recommendations for me?

Let me know in the comment section down below.

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; I never will!

Love you all to Pluto and back, awesome people.

Stay safe and stay positive, y’all!

Till next time… Toodles!

Will You Miss Me?

“Some people go missing because they want to; some go missing because they’re taken. And then there are the others—those who go missing because they fall through a gap somewhere and can’t claw their way back.” 

~ House of Hollow, by Krystal Sutherland

It’s a remarkable thing how easily moods can change. How you’re happy, or at least cheerful, one day, and then another day comes and all you want to do is be left alone. Not because you don’t want to be around people, but because it feels exhausting to pretend that everything is fine when it’s not.

Let’s be honest, folks. When people ask “How are you?”, most of them expect you to say “Fine, thank you. And you?”. They don’t expect you to say that you feel as if you’re gone missing, because you can’t claw your way back into the light.

People expect you, need you to say you’re fine, because they can’t deal with the darkness you may have inside your soul. And that’s why…

It comes natural to some to tell you that they’ll always be there for you. The hardest part for them is to actually prove what they’ve said. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not judging them. They probably meant it when they first said it. But when the time comes to be true to their word, most people lack of courage. Because, it does need courage for someone to be able to deal, not only with their feelings, but with another person’s, as well.

Last week, my friend Tatiana had to deal with some unfounded rumours. Having dealt with something similar in the past, I simply knew what I had to tell her and what I had to do for her. And I was glad to do so. Because I knew, and I still do, that I wished someone had done the same for me when I needed them to.

And I’m talking about one person in particular… That very same person who’d said they’d always be there for me when I needed to talk. Well, what can I say? They’ve proven me wrong I guess.

That’s why, as the years pass, it gets harder and harder for me to open up to people; to let them in. It’s because, even the most seemingly trustworthy have proven that they did not deserve your trust. I’ve said it multiple times over the years, but I guess I need to repeat myself. For people forget. I rarely do.

Trust is earned; you can’t just magically hand it over.

When you let people see inside your soul, you give them the power to crush you. Most of them cannot deal with the real you; they only think they can. Many will take advantage of the power you handed them so freely.

You may say that, if you don’t take a chance, you may not know who actually deserves to be in your life. The thing though is that, when you have taken many risks, when you have trusted people and many of these people have left you, halfway through the wood, it is simply exhausting too wonder if others may deceive you, too.

So, you guard yourself. You protect yourself.

I think that’s what I need to do right now. Protect myself. Guard my soul. Go missing.

And maybe, just maybe, those who will actually miss me, they’ll come looking for me.

What do you guys think about all that? Have you ever felt as if you’ve so much to give and, when you offer it, it simply isn’t appreciated? Have you ever felt that you’ve gotten tired of only you showing empathy and, when you need someone to listen, people… vanish?

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

Thank you all so very much for stopping by once again. I know I say it every single time but, it 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, beautiful creatures. Stay safe and stay positive!

Till next time… Toodles!

Most Anticipated Releases For The Second Half Of 2022

Hello awesome people, happy Saturday everyone and welcome back to another Victorious Pages’ post.

Today I’m gonna share with you my most anticipated releases for the second half of 2022 and boy, there are plenty of them. My never-ending TBR isn’t going to be happy about it but I definitely am.

So, grab your notebooks, sit back and get read to write down some epic reads that will keep you company in the next six months.

1. Violet Made of Thorns (Violet Made of Thorns, #1), by Gina Chen

“A darkly enchanting fantasy debut about a morally gray witch, a cursed prince, and a prophecy that ignites their fate-twisted destinies—perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and Serpent & Dove.

Violet is a prophet and a liar, influencing the royal court with her cleverly phrased—and not always true—divinations. Honesty is for suckers, like the oh-so-not charming Prince Cyrus, who plans to strip Violet of her official role once he’s crowned at the end of the summer—unless Violet does something about it.

But when the king asks her to falsely prophesy Cyrus’s love story for an upcoming ball, Violet awakens a dreaded curse, one that will end in either damnation or salvation for the kingdom—all depending on the prince’s choice of future bride. Violet faces her own choice: Seize an opportunity to gain control of her own destiny, no matter the cost, or give in to the ill-fated attraction that’s growing between her and Cyrus.

Violet’s wits may protect her in the cutthroat court, but they can’t change her fate. And as the boundary between hatred and love grows ever thinner with the prince, Violet must untangle a wicked web of deceit in order to save herself and the kingdom—or doom them all.”

This one seems exactly like my cup of tea and it comes out on July 26th, so I cannot wait to read it.

2. Belladona (Belladona, #1), by Adalyn Grace

“New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace brings to life a highly romantic, Gothic-infused world of wealth, desire, and betrayal.

Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each more interested in her wealth than her well-being—and each has met an untimely end. Her remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy. Its patriarch mourns his late wife through wild parties, while his son grapples for control of the family’s waning reputation and his daughter suffers from a mysterious illness. But when their mother’s restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realizes that the family she depends on could be in grave danger and enlists the help of a surly stable boy to hunt down the killer.

However, Signa’s best chance of uncovering the murderer is an alliance with Death himself, a fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side. Though he’s made her life a living hell, Death shows Signa that their growing connection may be more powerful—and more irresistible—than she ever dared imagine.”

Can we please talk about how freaking awesome this premise seems? Part of the reason why I loved This Poison Heart so much was because of the plants mentioned in the book and somehow I know I’m gonna love Belladona just as much!

This one comes out on August 30th and it feels perfect for the end of summer.

3. Kingdom of the Feared (Kingdom of the Wicked, #3), by Kerri Maniscalco

“From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stalking the Jack the Ripper series comes the steamy conclusion to Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy.

Two curses.
One prophecy.
A reckoning all have feared.

And a love more powerful than fate. All hail the king and queen of Hell. 

Emilia is reeling from the shocking discovery that her twin sister, Vittoria, is alive. But before she faces the demons of her past, Emilia yearns to claim her king, the seductive Prince of Wrath, in the flesh. Emilia doesn’t simply desire his body, she wants his heart and soul—but that’s something the enigmatic demon can’t promise her.

When a high-ranking member of House Greed is assassinated, Emilia and Wrath are drawn to the rival demon court. Damning evidence points to Vittoria as the murderer and she’s quickly declared an enemy of the Seven Circles. Despite her betrayal, Emilia will do anything to solve this new mystery and find out who her sister really is.

Together Emilia and Wrath play a sin-fueled game of deception as they work to stop the unrest that’s brewing between witches, demons, shape-shifters and the most treacherous foes of all: the Feared.

Emilia was warned that when it came to the Wicked nothing was as it seemed. But, have the true villains been much closer all along? When the truth is finally revealed, it just might end up costing Emilia her heart.”

Probably my most anticipated release of the entire year, the third and final book in the Kingdom of the Wicked series is going to be EPIC! Or at least I hope it’s gonna be, especially after the finale of Kingdom of the Cursed and the first two chapters of the third instalment that I have already read.

This beauty comes out on September 27th and I simply must have the FairyLoot exclusive edition, to complete my collection!

4. Foul Lady Fortune (Foul Lady Fortune, #1), by Chloe Gong

“From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends comes the first book in a captivating new duology following an ill-matched pair of spies posing as a married couple to investigate a series of brutal murders in 1930s Shanghai.

It’s 1931 in Shanghai, and the stage is set for a new decade of intrigue.

Four years ago, Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death, but the strange experiment that saved her also stopped her from sleeping and aging—and allows her to heal from any wound. In short, Rosalind cannot die. Now, desperate for redemption from her traitorous past, she uses her abilities as an assassin for her country.

Code name: Fortune.

But when the Japanese Imperial Army begins its invasion march, Rosalind’s mission pivots. A series of murders is causing unrest in Shanghai, and the Japanese are under suspicion. Rosalind’s new orders are to infiltrate foreign society and identify the culprits behind the terror plot before more of her people are killed.

To reduce suspicion, however, she must pose as the wife of another Nationalist spy, Orion Hong, and though Rosalind finds Orion’s cavalier attitude and playboy demeanor infuriating, she is willing to work with him for the greater good. But Orion has an agenda of his own, and Rosalind has secrets that she wants to keep buried. As they both attempt to unravel the conspiracy, the two spies soon find that there are deeper and more horrifying layers to this mystery than they ever imagined.”

I know this is a risky one for me, as I didn’t like These Violent Delights AT ALL, but the premise (once again) seems amazing, so I wanna give this one a try. If Foul Lady Fortune is again a no-go for me, then I’ll come to the conclusion that Chloe Gong simply isn’t the author for me.

This one comes out on September 27th, as well, and it’ll hopefully be a very interesting autumn read.

5. A Wilderness of Stars, by Shea Ernshaw

“In this magical romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Wicked Deep, a mysterious illness cursing the land forces a teen girl astronomer to venture across the wilderness in search of the stars’ message that will, hopefully, save them all.

If magic lives anywhere, it’s in the stars…

​Vega has lived in the valley her whole life—forbidden by her mother to leave the safety of its borders because of the unknown threats waiting for her in the wilds beyond. But after her mother dies, Vega begins to see stars falling from the sky. It’s an omen she can no longer ignore, forcing her to leave the protective boundaries of the valley. But the outside world turns out to be much more terrifying than Vega could have imagined. People are gravely sick—they lose their eyesight and their hearing, just before they lose their lives. 

What Vega keeps to herself is that she is the Last Astronomer—a title carried from generation to generation—and she is the only one who carries the knowledge of the stars. Knowledge that could hold the key to the cure. And so when locals spot the tattoo on Vega’s neck in the shape of a constellation—the mark of an astronomer—chaos erupts as the threats her mother warned her about become all too real. 

Fearing for her life, Vega will be rescued by a girl named Cricket who will lead her to Noah, a boy marked by his own mysterious tattoos. On the run from the men who are hunting her, Vega, Cricket, and Noah will set out across the plains in search of the cure the stars speak of. But as the lines between friend and prisoner begin to blur, Vega must decide whether she will protect the sacred knowledge of an astronomer. Or if she will risk everything to try to save them all.”

Now, that’s what I’m talking about! None of Shea Ernshaw’s books has disappointed me till today so I feel that I’m gonna love this book, probably just as much, if not more than, The Wicked Deep.

This baby comes out on November 29th and I’m gonna get it as a birthday present from myself to… me!

These are my top five most anticipated releases for the second half of 2022.

Of course, as the months pass by, more books will be added to that list. Still, since my everyday schedule is getting more hectic by the hour, it’ll be a miracle if I manage to read all five of them before the end of the year.

What about you, dearies? Which are your most anticipated releases for the second half of 2022?

Let me know in the comment section down below.

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.

Love you all to Pluto and back, awesome nerds!

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

Till next time… Toodles!

Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag

How is it the middle of the year already? Wasn’t it yesterday when 2022 started?

Hello awesome nerds and happy Thursday everyone, and welcome back to Victorious Pages and another Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag.

I’ve been doing these for the past few years now and every year I get impressed by what I have accomplished in terms of reading in only six months.

So, sit back comfortably and get ready to grow your TBR pile… again!

1. Best Book I Have Read So Far

Maybe it has to do with the fact that I haven’t stopped ranting about it ever since I finished it, maybe it has to do with the fact that I feel as if I have fallen in a little slump ever since. For whatever reason though, the third book in the Manhattan series, written by my dear friend Tatiana Tzinioli, has been the BEST book I’ve read so far in 2022.

So, to every reader out there who knows Greek, you simply need to read this gem!

2. Best Sequel I Have Read So Far

One of the coolest books I read in 2021, a book that actually brightened that shitty year on so many levels, was Kingdom of the Wicked. I had so high expectations about the sequel and HOLY GUACAMOLE! Kingdom of the Cursed did not disappoint, not even in the slightest.

Then again, maybe the experience was even better because I buddy-read this book with my friends Eleanna, Kalliopi and Sofia-Maria.

All I know is that I need Kingdom of the Feared ASAP!

3. A New Release You Haven’t Read But Are Excited For

Another book that brightened 2021 was This Poison Heart, by Kalyn Bayron, a new-to-me author. The sequel, This Wicked Fate, is coming out next week and I simply cannot wait to read it!

Apothecaries, Greek mythology, LGBTQ+ characters and plant magic, all in one book. Do I need to say more?

4. Biggest Disappointment So Far

Master of One was the biggest on ONLY disappointment of the year, as the majority of the books I’ve read so far were either 4 or 5-star reads to me.

Maybe the timing wasn’t right, maybe the execution wasn’t good enough. Still, Master of One isn’t a book that I would recommend.

5. Biggest Surprise So Far

Reading mostly Fantasy, I didn’t except to adore Because of Miss Bridgerton, a Historical Romance novel, as much as I did.

It was so fun, the love story was simply amazing and it was actually refreshing to me to read something other than fantasy for a change.

You can read all my thoughts and feelings about this beauty by following this link.

6. Favourite New Author

And for this one, naturally, I’ll have to go with Marissa Meyer, because her books haven’t disappointed me so far. The Lunar Chronicles has been such a pleasant surprise and I’m still wondering why I hadn’t read this series sooner.

Did you guys know that we’re currently collaborating with Catarina, from @catarinabookdesigns, for a drinkware collectible line for BookBrewed. The first two items are absolutely stunning and the design for the third one is simply… celestial!

7. Favourite New Characters

Billie Bridgerton has probably been my absolute favourite new character so far this year, along with a few others that I cannot share. And that’s only because they are protagonists of upcoming BookBrewed boxes. I have to keep some mystery going, right?

8. A Book That Made You Cry

The third book in the Manhattan series had me crying for hours, especially towards the end of it.

It was heartbreakingly beautiful, a book I was glad to read in the dead of night, as nobody was around to see my ugly-cry. Thank the Lord above!

I have read plenty of Tatiana’s book but this one is her best one yet!

9. A Book That Made You Happy

Although I cannot share its title with you yet, I can say that it is the book that’s gonna be featured in the next couple BookBrewed boxes. It was so well-researched, the premise of it was absolutely amazing, the execution flawless and, to me, it is definitely a book that deserves all the recognition and love in the whole wide world!

10. The Most Beautiful Book You Have Received Or Bought This Year

A Forgery of Roses, the OwlCrate exclusive edition, has been the prettiest book I’ve received so far this year.

It’s so gothic and aristocratic at the same time, that it fits the story itself perfectly! Feel free to read my review about it by following that link.

That was my Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag. I have read approximately 25 books this year and not all of them have been counted on my Goodreads challenge precisely because some of them are future BookBrewed books.

Let me know in the comment section down below if you have read any of the books mentioned here, about which new release you’re most excited about and, of course, feel free to do your own tag.

Don’t forget to tag me so I can see your posts, as well.

Thank you all so very much for being here 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.

Love you all to Pluto and back, wonderful people! Stay safe and stay positive!

Till next time… Toodles!

🌿 BookBrewed ~ July Sneak Peek ~ CandleLand Greece 🌿

Hello wonderful people, happy Monday everyone and welcome back to Victorious Pages.

I hope you guys had a great weekend, you had the chance to relax and recharge your batteries.

It’s supposed to be a long weekend here in Greece, as it’s Holy Spirit Monday today and therefore a public holiday. But I’m working anyway, so I thought it would be fun to share with you all the very first sneak peek for the July BookBrewed box, REALITIES IN WAITING.

For those of you who are new here, BookBrewed is my company, which first launched back in April 2021. It is a monthly-subscription book box, in which every month you receive a new YA/NA release, as well as a bunch of exclusively designed items, focusing on a specific theme.

The July box will be featuring a brand new release in English, inspired by Hindu mythology, where the protagonist gathers the dreams of mortals, for the entertainment of the immortal court she serves. The book will be in hardback edition, and it will also be accompanied by a letter from the author themselves.

The first thing that I can share with you about this box is that each REALITIES IN WAITING July box will be featuring a set of goodies, designed by CandleLand Greece!

We have collaborated with CandleLand in the past and it was an unforgettable experience. Their products are super high quality and I simply cannot wait for you guys to see what we’re working on. Especially since the goodies will be inspired by The Raven Boys, plus it’s something that we’ve never featured in any of our boxes before.

The July boxes are currently available and you can definitely get yours, as BookBrewed ships internationally, by following this link.

You definitely don’t want to miss it, considering that all of the goodies are exclusively made, inspired by The Wrath and the Dawn and Cinderella is Dead, as well.

The mythology and culture of which country you’d like to see more in modern day literature?

I look forward to reading your thoughts and opinions in the comment section down below.

Thank you all so very much for being here 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!

Till next time… Toodles!

BOOK REVIEW: A Forgery of Roses, by Jessica S. Olson *SPOILER FREE*

“A love for books is the best indicator of a curious mind.”

~ A Forgery of Roses, by Jessica S. Olson

Hello awesome nerds, happy Saturday everyone and welcome back to another book review.

Today I’m gonna present to you A Forgery of Roses, by Jessica S. Olson. The book is loosely inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray, a classic I love and one which got a completely new meaning through this retelling.

“Myra Whitlock has a gift. One many would kill for.

She’s an artist whose portraits alter people’s real-life bodies, a talent she must hide from those who would kidnap, blackmail, and worse in order to control it. Guarding that secret is the only way to keep her younger sister safe now that their parents are gone. 

But one frigid night, the governor’s wife discovers the truth and threatens to expose Myra if she does not complete a special portrait that would resurrect the governor’s dead son. Desperate, Myra ventures to his legendary stone mansion. 

Once she arrives, however, it becomes clear the boy’s death was no accident. Someone dangerous lurks within these glittering halls. Someone harboring a disturbing obsession with portrait magic. 

Myra cannot do the painting until she knows what really happened, so she turns to the governor’s older son, a captivating redheaded poet. Together, they delve into the family’s most shadowed affairs, racing to uncover the truth before the secret Myra spent her life concealing makes her the killer’s next victim.

From Sing Me Forgotten author Jessica S. Olson comes a gothic fantasy murder mystery perfect for fans of Kerri Maniscalco and Erin A. Craig.”

Taking place in a seemingly historical era, where the church sometimes seems like the Law, Jessica S. Olson managed to captivate me straight from the beginning with her writing style.

Filled with beautiful descriptions, vivid pictures and intriguing characters, a plot that thickened by the page and a narration style I very much enjoy, A Forgery of Roses hooked me and became, probably, one of my favourite books of the year.

What truly made me fall in love with the book was its protagonist, Myra. Strong, protective and compelling, sh was the reason why I wanted to know more about the story and the rest of the characters, too.

Another aspect I truly appreciated was the representation in this book. The reader gets to know from the very first pages of the book that Myra’s sister suffers from a chronic illness, and it was truly fascinating to see with how much care the author dealt with that. Mental health issues are also presented and explored, and boy, how much I connected with a certain character and their anxiety, you have no idea.

With an intriguing magic system, a gothic setting, a lot of representation and a sweet love story, A Forgery of Roses is the book every Fantasy fan will enjoy.

Have you guys read the book? If so, did you enjoy it? If not, do you enjoy reading retellings and which is your favourite one?

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

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 do not take your presence here for granted.

Have a wonderful weekend, beautiful people. Stay safe and stay positive!

Till next time… Toodles!

🌒 BookBrewed ~ REALITIES IN WAITING ~ July 2022 🌒

Hello awesome nerds, happy Thursday everyone and welcome back to Victorious Pages.

Today I’m so very excited, as I can finally talk to you about the July BookBrewed theme, Realities in Waiting.

For those of you who don’t know, BookBrewed is the company I founded in February 2021, which shipped its first book-box in April 2021.

BookBrewed is the #1 book-subscription service in Greece, shipping internationally. Each month you receive a new YA/NA release, as well as a bunch of bookish items, focusing on a specific theme.

As mentioned above, the theme for the month of July is Realities in Waiting and… HOLY FREAKING GUACAMOLE!

I’m so excited about this box, you guys have no idea!

Dreams… Emotions… Hopes… All of them combined and intertwining in this whimsical box.

The book of the month follows the story of a girl, freed of all emotions and memories, who collects the dreams of mortals, for the entertainment of the immortal court she serves. When she starts remembering her prior life, she turns to the only other mortal of the court, who might be able to help her; the person responsible for freeing the members of the ranks where she belongs from their mortal memories and feelings.

Inspired by Hindu mythology, this book is perfect for the fans of Holly Black, Roshani Chokshi and Margaret Rogerson.

The book will be in English, in HARDBACK EDITION, and accompanied by a LETTER FROM THE AUTHOR.

You can expect exclusively designed goodies inspired by THE WRATH AND THE DAWN, THE RAVEN BOYS and CINDERELLA IS DEAD, along with fandom-neutral items.

We will be revealing items and collaborations for this box in the coming weeks. Make sure you turn on your notifications so you don’t miss out all the breaking news.

Start your BookBrewed subscription today or purchase a one-time box, and get ready to be enthralled.

Does this sound interesting to you? Do you have any guesses of which the book may be?

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

Thank you all so very much for being here 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, you wonderful creatures.

Till next time… Toodles!