Victoria Moschou's Blog, page 6

Monday Motivation: How To Start Your Week In The Best Way Possible

Some people say it’s hard to smile on a Monday morning. I disagree. And I’ll tell you exactly why.

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

After a well-needed, relaxing weekend, I am ready to embrace the new week and everything this world has to offer.

No, there was nothing funny in my coffee this morning. It’s just that optimism is one of the mindsets I’m working on truly making my second nature over the past couple of months.

So, here I am today with a list of all the things you can do to start your week in the best way possible.

1. Establish a Sleeping Routine

I know it’s hard sometimes to fall asleep. Especially during the summer, with the temperature rising, it may seem impossible to go to bed some nights. Postponing your bedtime though will only increase your snoozing percentage.

Establishing a sleeping routine will help you get the rest you need, with no breaks at all during the night, and it will help you terminate the snoozing pattern in the morning.

Extra tip for that: make sure you put your phone as far away from the bed as possible. This way, you’ll have to actually get up to turn your alarm off.

2. Make your Bed

Putting small, achievable tasks on your everyday to-do list will help you feel more motivated, productive and positive.

Yes, yes… You read that right. Positive!

From making your bed and preparing breakfast for you, to cleaning the house and taking care of yourself in the morning, all that adds to facing the beginning of the week -and every single day, to be honest- with much more enthusiasm and positivity.

3. Take a Few Minutes for Yourself

It may sound cliché, but doing the things that bring you joy before work, helps you to be more productive throughout the day.

Some people may think I’m crazy for getting up super early, cleaning my room, making breakfast, working on my daily plan and reading a bit before leaving for work. And yet, this really helps me to stay focused, organised and productive. By knowing that I have done something for me every single day, I feel calmer, stronger and more motivated to work even harder tomorrow – and every tomorrow.

4. Express Gratitude and Appreciation

It is important to express the things that you feel grateful for. By saying them, writing them down in a journal or typing them on your computer, you can actually hear, see and feel that life is not just everyday problems, bills that need to be paid, endless hours on the road and unsmiling people.

Life is so much more than that. It is the sun in the morning. The ten minutes of complete silence in the crack of dawn that you offer to yourself. Good coffee. A stranger’s smile. Flowers. Good friends. A quote in the book that you’re currently reading, that made you tear up and smile, at the same time.

Show your appreciation and express your gratitude for all these small, but at the same time great things. These are the things that make life beautiful.

How about you guys? Are there any tips and tricks you have, for starting your week with empowerment and optimism?

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 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; I never will.

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

Till next time… Toodles!

BookBrewed ~ June Collaboration ~ TJ Lubrano

Hello awesome nerds and happy Saturday everyone!

It was a long week but boy, I feel good! I worked hard, had some amazing news regarding some upcoming books and boxes, and I’m so ready to dive into the second year of BookBrewed!

For those of you who don’t know, BookBrewed is my small business – 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.

This past April we celebrate BookBrewed‘s 1-year-anniversary and I couldn’t be happier about that! It means a lot that so many people have embraced this new project and that they’re loving it just as much as I do.

I hope that you guys will embrace it, too. Especially since there are amazing things coming up in the next couple of months.

For the time being though, let’s talk about this month’s collaboration with the one and only TJ Lubrano.

In every MODERN FAIRYTALES June box, there will be an item designed by TJ herself. Her aesthetic is simply magical and it fits perfectly to this month’s theme. We’re celebrating the classic Grimm fairytales, but with a more modern, darker twist to them.

This item will also have a design exclusively made by our team, and it will remind you all of a very beloved musical.

Any guesses?

The book of the month is a new release in Greek, which will transport us through time and space. A dark, modern fairytale, where three siblings will realise that not everything is as it seems and that terrible things can happen, even to good people, in the dead of night.

You can expect items inspired by The Lunar Chronicles, Beastly and The Cruel Prince, as well as fandom-neutral goodies.

More specifically, The Lunar Chronicles-inspired item is going to be the second collectible drinkware item, inspired by Scarlet and exclusively designed for BookBrewed by @catarinabookdesigns.

I can assure you that you don’t want to miss this whimsical box. And so, you can get yours today, by following that link.

I’m so very excited for you guys to see everything that we’re currently working on!

I would also love to hear your thoughts, feelings and feedback about BookBrewed, in the comment section down below. It is because of you that we wanna get better and better each month.

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, dearies!

I hope y’all have a great weekend, you stay safe and positive.

Till next time… Toodles!

The Art of the Hemline: Part 1

“Are you sure we don’t look like some sort of occult?”

“Positive,” Horsekeeper says. “Why?”

“Well, I don’t know. Have you seen many people dressed like that on a Sunday morning, wandering around and drinking coffee like everything’s normal?” Torri hisses.

She looks around to see if people are still staring at them. She doesn’t blame them. Horsekeeper insisted they’d look as if they were mere dancers, entertainers of some sort. Instead, the entire coffee shop gawked at them, the moment their group entered the front yard.

Men dressed in black and blue, with black bandanas wrapped around their heads. Women in blue, red and white long skirts, wearing black and blue vests, along with kerchiefs in various colours, flowing in the wind.

They definitely looked like an occult.

“Relax,” the Captain, Horsekeeper’s father says. “From what I can see, you ladies over here are far more modestly dressed than any other woman in the shop.”

“It’s not modesty I’m worried about, Captain. But burning at the stake wasn’t on my to-do list today,” Torri snaps.

“Easy now,” Horsekeeper whispers near her ear. His unique scent, burned wood and cinnamon, mixes with the sweet scents of the rosebushes and the jasmines nearby. It’s funny how each and every time, the moment his scent wafts through her nostrils, she feels calmer, more focused. “We’re wondermakers, illusionists, enthrallers… Let’s help people see that. Besides, I wouldn’t want to get burned today either. I washed my hair this morning.”

Torri giggles. The Captain winks at his son. And the entire group of Danse de la Lune walks deeper in the front yard of the coffee shop and sits down at two rotunda tables, ready to have their brunch.

We’re wondermakers, illusionists, enthrallers…

Torri plays Horsekeeper’s words inside her head. She cracks her neck, her maroon kerchief, with its golden lace, caressing her neck. It reminds her of two nights prior.

She and Horsekeeper were the last to leave the stage, Horsekeeper twirling her around and around. And yet, she never got dizzy. Not once. The crowd was frantic. Applauding and cheering, as if they’d never seen two dancers getting lost in the music, the rhythm before. Torri twirled and twirled, and her long, white skirt twirled with her, like it had a conscious of its own.

The art of the hemline. That’s what her mother always called that. The moment when her feet were barely visible, looking as if they didn’t even touch the ground. And yet she kept dancing. Dancing her soul out. Right, left, left, lift, right, left, right at the back. Turn, left, right, turn, stop, poise… Left, left, right.

Then came the twirling. The moment the spotlight was at its brightest and the audience was craving for more. Horsekeeper knew that. Torri knew it, too. That’s when they walked at the edge of the stage and down the hidden staircase.

Then everything went black. The wonders had been made. The illusion had been lost. The enthralment had been placed.

Horsekeeper clicked his fingers, a blue flame flickering between them. His normally green eyes had turned copper, the way they always did after a show. The way Torri’s eyes had turned, too, the crowd’s joy and excitement, feeding her damned soul.

“You wanna go some place quiet?” Horsekeeper asked.

Torri… Torri…

“Torri! Blueberries or raspberries?”

Torri blinks and stares at Horsekeeper. His eyes are green. He’s smiling at her. She knows what he sees. White complexion. Brown eyes. Freckles. Bloody red lips.

“You’ve known me for an eternity and a half. What’s it gonna be?”

“Six pancakes with raspberries and chocolate syrup, one latte and one americano, please,” Horsekeeper says, locking his eyes with Torri’s.

“Coming right up,” the waitress smiles. Torri can see her from the corner of her eye. She knows how the enthralment works. She can feel it in her bones right now.

Too bad Horsekeeper doesn’t. And he probably doesn’t even care.

***

Hello, hello, awesome nerds, happy Thursday everyone and happy June!

I thought we should start this month with a different kind of post. A post I had a very long while to share with you: a writing piece of mine.

This is of course a draft and, truth be told, I don’t even know if it’s gonna turn into an actual story.

What I do know is that I feel like I need to write again, and the feeling is amazing!

Let me know what you thought in the comment section down below.

What kind of enthralment would you be willing to endure?

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.

Have a wonderful summer, amazing people. Stay safe and stay positive!

Till next time… Toodles!

Netflix & Chill: What To Watch on a Monday Night

Hello awesome nerds and happy Monday everyone!

I don’t know if it’s just me, but I feel like I need a vacation ASAP! My days are all super busy and stressful, it seems like I have limited spare time to do something for me and, when I have, I choose to be the typical me: either read a book, go out with my friends or just stay home and watch a movie or a TV show on Netflix.

And since this happens mostly on Mondays, here are the movies and shows I’m watching and planning on watching in the coming weeks.

1. The Good Doctor

I started watching the show last week and I’ve been enjoying it so very much. I love all the characters (although I know that, in real life, some of them would’ve been a serious pain in the ass) and I absolutely adore watching Shaun on call.

Just a quick reminder to y’all: we’re not shutting autistic people down, just because they’re too loud for some.

I admire these magical human beings. They see things from a completely different perspective. We should try and learn from them, instead of staring at them as if they are something weird.

If you haven’t watched the show, I highly suggest you do.

2. Surviving Summer

Y’all know how much I love watching movies set in Australia, especially during summer.

There’s something about this country that makes me feel like… it would be great to live there.

And even though Surviving Summer is the typical outlaw-girl-finding-her-call type of movie, I’m more than excited to watch it!

3. First Kill

It has been a while since I watched an LGBTQ+ movie (and, unpopular opinion here but, Heartstopper wasn’t really for me) so either I’m going to love or hate this one. I feel like there can’t be an in-between situation.

It’s the classic enemies-to-lovers/forbidden love story of a vampire and a vampire hunter, taking place in modern day, at a High School.

Many things can go wrong, as this idea has been done a gazillion times, but what can I say? I’m a sucker for these kind of stories.

4. Peaky Blinders

The time has FINALLY come!

After endless months of waiting, the sixth season of Peaky Blinders is being released on Netflix on June 10th. So, y’all know how I’m gonna spend that weekend: binge-watching the show. Plain and simple.

This show has been there for me through some dark times and it has taught me valuable lessons throughout the years. Something tells me this season won’t be any different.

Have you guys added any of these movies and shows on your to-watch list? Do you have any other recommendations for me?

I look forward to discussing everything with you in the comment section down below.

Thank you all 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, dearies. Stay safe and stay positive.

Have a wonderful week, amazing people!

Till next time… Toodles!

Keep Climbing The Mountain

All of us are climbing different mountains in our life. Some are higher than others. Some have steeper hills. Some have tops that seem pristine. What they all have in common is that we will climb them – one way or another.

Hello awesome nerds and happy Thursday everyone, and welcome to… Hospital Stories: the sequel.

Yes, you read that right. Here I am again, to share with you all my, once again, amazing hospital-based adventures.

Everything started this past Sunday, at the 8th Mountain Race, the autism organisation of our hometown hosts every year.

Last time I participated was back in 2019. Due to COVID, the event could not take place for the past two years, so I was super excited for this year’s one. I had signed up for the 5km race and, judging from previous years’ routes, I knew I had it.

“Piece of cake, Vic. You’ve got this,” I was telling to myself.

And yes, I can confirm that I still have it. The new route, though, was 6km+ long, with a 4.5km-long slope.

I saw people stopping under trees, people turning around and giving up. Trust me when I say, the only thing I was chiming inside my head was “Keep climbing the mountain!”.

It’s a metaphor, you know. That “climb the mountain” quote, by Sarah J. Maas. We see Nesta’s journey in A Court of Silver Flames and it’s beautiful. It’s empowering to see how, despite the difficulties, despite the bullishit life sometimes throws at your face, you keep fighting and you have the guts to say “I will keep climbing the mountain!”.

I was thrown that kind of bullshit -spectacularly I may add- on Monday.

I had just finished from a very demanding day at work, I had enjoyed my bath and I was ready to dive into House of Sky and Breath. I mean, come on… At this point y’all know that Sarah J. Maas emotional destruction is never enough.

I know that, after years and years of reading her books.

What I didn’t know was that I’d have to take my cousin to the health centre nearby. He felt a sharp pain in his leg, most specifically near his hip bone. And that would be normal, considering his job (he has an animals’ station). What wasn’t quite normal was that he had three to four drop foot effects, with his leg going completely numb.

After waiting two hours at the health centre, with a heart condition and an allergy shock having priority (Fun fact: the allergy shock seemed like the pox to me and HOLY MOLY, what is it with monkeypox virus now?), the doctor said we should go to the hospital ASAP. He said my cousin should have an ultrasound and we should check why his entire leg was going numb.

The time was 22:30, I hadn’t eaten anything, nor had I drunk coffee that afternoon. Splendid.

On the bright side of that, what seemed was going to be, a long night, my friend Lou, who’s doing her residency as a surgeon at the hospital we were told to go, was on call that night. Hallelujah!

I did a 23km route in almost 15 minutes, took my cousin to the A&E Department and, once again luckily for us, I stumbled on an old classmate of mine, who was also on call that night. Double hallelujah!

Lou came to the A&E and we started talking about some other friends of ours, who are also doctors. At some point, I mentioned something about Dad’s arthroscopy (boy, I’ve learned so much of medicine’s terminology over the past twelve years, it’s actually funny) and a passing by nurse asked if I needed some coffee.

Whoever you are, wherever you are, you are my new bestie!

We got our scan results at 2:30am, my cousin needs to visit a neurosurgeon soon and I need a good night’s sleep, because the previous couple of days were also hectic (story time some other time).

On the bright side though, I saw my friend Lou after a long time, made a new coffee-friend and saw some really cute doctors.

If I learnt anything over this tragicomic experience is that, no matter the situation, no matter how many lemons life throws at you, no matter the mountain, both literal and figurative, you just need to keep fighting, keep smiling and keep climbing!

Just a friendly advice for y’all, folks.

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.

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

Till next time… Toodles!

BOOK REVIEW: The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband (Rokesbys, #2), by Julia Quinn ~ Not the Historical Romance I Hoped It Would Be *SPOILERS & DISCUSSION*

“Change what you can, he’d once told her, and accept what you can’t.”

~ The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband (Rokesbys, #2), by Julia Quinn

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

It has been a while since the last time I posted a spoilery review here, but I feel like this particular novel demands some further discussion. So, for those of you who haven’t read the second book in the Rokesbys series and don’t want to be spoiled, I will warn you when the juicy stuff will begin.

For the rest of you, sit back and enjoy.

“While you were sleeping… 

With her brother Thomas injured on the battlefront in the Colonies, orphaned Cecilia Harcourt has two unbearable choices: move in with a maiden aunt or marry a scheming cousin. Instead, she chooses option three and travels across the Atlantic, determined to nurse her brother back to health. But after a week of searching, she finds not her brother but his best friend, the handsome officer Edward Rokesby. He’s unconscious and in desperate need of her care, and Cecilia vows that she will save this soldier’s life, even if staying by his side means telling one little lie…

I told everyone I was your wife 

When Edward comes to, he’s more than a little confused. The blow to his head knocked out six months of his memory, but surely he would recall getting married. He knows who Cecilia Harcourt is—even if he does not recall her face—and with everyone calling her his wife, he decides it must be true, even though he’d always assumed he’d marry his neighbor back in England.

If only it were true… 

Cecilia risks her entire future by giving herself—completely—to the man she loves. But when the truth comes out, Edward may have a few surprises of his own for the new Mrs. Rokesby.”

When you have started a series and it has literally blown your mind, irrevocably, you have expectations for the next books, too.

Unfortunately, though, I didn’t love the second book in the Rokesbys’ series, just as much as I loved Because of Miss Bridgerton, straight from the beginning.

It was hard for me at first to connect with Cecilia and Edward, and once I did, I did not appreciate the way they treated one another.

I felt as if the character development was strange, too, as they were both differently presented at the beginning. Meaning that what they said and promised came in complete contrast with what they did. (Which actually happens on a daily basis, but no matter…)

Compared to Because of Miss Bridgerton this one felt slower in terms of pacing. What’s more, I would have appreciated some more romance, as the main reason why I started it was because I needed something “light”.

The second half of the book, however, was far better and as for the finale… HOLY MOLY! I simply needed more.

*DISCLAIMER. SPOILERS AHEAD. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK.*

Ok… So… How do I even begin?

Cecilia had multiple opportunities to tell Edward the truth and yet she chose, time and again, not to do so. On the other hand, Edward was the typical hero stereotype and yet, when he found out the truth he turned all manipulative and this was so freaking triggering to me that I came THIS CLOSE to throwing the book out of the window.

I did not appreciate the way this relationship started, nor how it grew to be towards the middle of the book. But, from the second half of the book onwards the pacing became faster, the relationship between the two more passionate, reminding me at times of another beloved classic novel, and that’s how I managed to finish the book.

I’m not saying Cecilia poisoning herself was a mature, wise choice, just so she could avoid having a meaningful, HONEST conversation with Edward, but still… This was a very common thing for young women to do, back in the 18th century. Stupid, but still…

Overall, I ended up rating the book with 3.5 stars and I really want to continue reading the series now.

Have you guys read any Historical Romance novels lately? Do you appreciate the problematic behaviours presented in them? Do you find them educational in any way?

I look forward to discussing all this with you 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.

Till next time… Toodles!

Beacon Book Box: A Very Special Message

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

Today’s post is a bittersweet one for me, as it marks the beginning of a new era for a company, a family, with which I worked for the past two and a half years.

I’m talking of course about Beacon Book Box, the YA monthly-subscription box, in which, for the past 4 years, you could find a new release, as well as a bunch of bookish items, focusing on a specific theme.

The May Revel In Change box will be the last monthly box. The Beacon family decided to focus more on special editions boxes from now on, so the rest of 2022 will be packed with epic, one-of-a-kind boxes.

I hope you guys will continue to support Beacon Book Box. There’s a huge sale coming up and you will be able to use my rep code VICTORIOUS5 to save some extra money.

Also, I will definitely let you guys know of all the upcoming, special edition boxes, as I will remain on the team, helping the company to continue growing and thriving.

As a Scorpio, I don’t feel quite comfortable with change at the beginning. But I always feel intrigued to embrace it. I hope you do, too.

Thank you all so very much for being here once again. It means the world to me and I want you to remember that I will never take your presence here for granted.

Have a wonderful week, amazing people. Stay safe and stay positive.

Till next time… Toodles!

Wine, Mousse Chocolat and Life Lessons

Nothing, I repeat, NOTHING cannot be fixed with some good wine, a mousse au chocolat and some good, old inspirational, life speech.

Take that from me. Last week was a roller coaster of emotions, you have no idea. One minute I was feeling like the Queen of the world, the other like a complete and total failure. And all that because of copycats, unfinished conversations and that annoying voice inside my head, that sometimes has the nerve to tell me I haven’t achieve quite enough already.

But then it dawned to me, while watching A Perfect Pairing on Netflix. The truth is, I have.

I made a business of my own from scratch. BookBrewed has been growing and evolving for over a year now. I know there will always be people who will try to imitate what I have worked for. I will be honest: I don’t have the mental energy to care about what they do, so I honestly don’t mind. I don’t have the time to invest on people who, apparently, don’t have the guts to come up with something unique, something… pioneering.

So, I will continue to be me, bringing out the best version of myself, every single day. And just a piece of friendly advice, folks. Go big or go home.

I know I feel proud of BookBrewed every single day. Because I took a risk. I followed my gut feeling, my instinct. And time and again, it hasn’t proven me wrong.

I would do all of it again, in the blink of an eye!

But that’s not all of it. That’s not all of what I have achieved.

I got back into writing. And yes, this may seem small compared to the previous -grand, I may add- achievement, but it has been healing for me. I started running and dancing on a weekly basis again. I started saying “no” more (trust me, dearies, this was so freaking difficult for me to do in the past). I started making time for myself again, going out with my friends more, planning trips and dance festivals abroad.

What I realised was that, by taking care of myself more, I started being more motivated, more inspired, more productive on the things that matter to me the most.

There was this quote in A Perfect Pairing.

“Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.”

~ Sam Ewing

I try to fall in the first category. I work for this. And no matter how gloomy some days may be, no matter how many tricks my anxiety may play with my mind, I will always remember one thing.

Nothing, I repeat, NOTHING can’t be fixed with some good wine, a mousse au chocolat and some good, old inspirational, life speech.

I have, not only my friend Jo to thank for that, but myself, as well. Because, for the first time in a long time, I stared at my reflection in the mirror and I wasn’t afraid of the person who was staring back at me. Instead, I felt proud of her. I believed in her. I believe in me.

And I know that, in times of need, I will reread this post. I’ll have a glass of wine, some mousse au chocolat and everything will somehow regain its meaning and perspective. Just as it did for Lola in the movie. Just as it does for all of us eventually.

Thank you all so very much, dearies, 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. I never will.

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

Till next time… Toodles!

BOOK REVIEW: Circus of Wonders, by Elizabeth Macneal ~ The Book that made me see P. T. Barnum’s Story with a new Pair of Eyes! *SPOILER FREE*

“𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘵𝘰𝘰, 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘶𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭.”

~ 𝘊𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘣𝘺 𝘌𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘔𝘢𝘤𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘭

Hello, you wonderful creatures, happy Thursday everyone and welcome back to an old-school kind of review. Gosh! I’d missed those!

Today I’m gonna talk to you about Circus of Wonders, by Elizabeth Macneal, a book that was sent to me by Psichogios Publications, the publishing house that translated the book in Greek. So, let’s congratulate the company for their decision to do so, because the book was absolutely magical!

“1866. In a coastal village in southern England, Nell picks violets for a living. Set apart by her community because of the birthmarks that speckle her skin, Nell’s world is her beloved brother and devotion to the sea.

But when Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders arrives in the village, Nell is kidnapped. Her father has sold her, promising Jasper Jupiter his very own leopard girl. It is the greatest betrayal of Nell’s life, but as her fame grows, and she finds friendship with the other performers and Jasper’s gentle brother Toby, she begins to wonder if joining the show is the best thing that has ever happened to her.

In London, newspapers describe Nell as the eighth wonder of the world. Figurines are cast in her image, and crowds rush to watch her soar through the air. But who gets to tell Nell’s story? What happens when her fame threatens to eclipse that of the showman who bought her? And as she falls in love with Toby, can he detach himself from his past and the terrible secret that binds him to his brother?

Moving from the pleasure gardens of Victorian London to the battle-scarred plains of the Crimea, Circus of Wonders is an astonishing story about power and ownership, fame and the threat of invisibility.”

“All history is fiction.” 

~ Circus of Wonders, by Elizabeth Macneal

𝘊𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴, by Elizabeth Macneal, is the kind of book that makes you wonder how many kinds of people exist in the world. How easy it can be to be blinded by the extravagance and the sparkles some people show to the rest of the world, ignorant to who they truly are inside. How easy it can be sometimes to judge someone simply by how they look, without even making the slightest of effort to get to know them for real.

This mesmerising, heart-achingly beautiful book, took me to the Victorian Era, to a world full of freak shows and the longing for something bigger. It made me see, with a completely new pair of eyes, what P. T. Barnum did to all of his “wonders”, and how that story was so well-written and respectfully presented in this book.

I adored the complexity of the three main characters, how different they were from one another, yet at the same time, how very similar they were, as well. To be honest, though, if I had to choose my favourite one of the three, I’d have to go with Nell. I just wanted to protect her and maybe even save her from jasper at times. I wanted to tell her that she should be proud of herself and she should embrace her difference, not as something freaky, yet as something unique and original.

I loved the friendships and love story presented here, yet at the same time, they both left me with a bittersweet sensation in the end. Aren’t all freak shows stories bittersweet, though? At least, that’s what we discussed with my friend Eleanna, with whom -as per usual- I buddy-read the book.

If you love 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘭, 𝘈𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘴 and 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘊𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘴, then you should definitely give this book a go, too.

Have you guys read Circus of Wonders? Did you enjoy it? If not, which is your favourite circus-inspired novel? Do you have any 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, awesome nerds. 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! Stay safe and stay positive!

Till next time… Toodles!

Historical Romance: My New -not at all guilty- Pleasure

Hello awesome nerds, 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, and you’re now ready to embrace the new week that’s ahead of you.

I know for a fact I am, as, despite the whole hectic aspect called “busy and stressful days at work”, I have found myself a new, not at all guilty, pleasure. Historical Romance!

I know I’ve mentioned it in a previous post, how the Netflix show based on the Bridgerton book series made me start reading Historical Romance. What I didn’t know was how calming this particular genre would seem to me.

Which is why last week I got myself the second book in the Rokesbys series, the prequel to the Bridgerton book series.

“While you were sleeping… 

With her brother Thomas injured on the battlefront in the Colonies, orphaned Cecilia Harcourt has two unbearable choices: move in with a maiden aunt or marry a scheming cousin. Instead, she chooses option three and travels across the Atlantic, determined to nurse her brother back to health. But after a week of searching, she finds not her brother but his best friend, the handsome officer Edward Rokesby. He’s unconscious and in desperate need of her care, and Cecilia vows that she will save this soldier’s life, even if staying by his side means telling one little lie…

I told everyone I was your wife 

When Edward comes to, he’s more than a little confused. The blow to his head knocked out six months of his memory, but surely he would recall getting married. He knows who Cecilia Harcourt is—even if he does not recall her face—and with everyone calling her his wife, he decides it must be true, even though he’d always assumed he’d marry his neighbor back in England.

If only it were true… 

Cecilia risks her entire future by giving herself—completely—to the man she loves. But when the truth comes out, Edward may have a few surprises of his own for the new Mrs. Rokesby.”

I started reading the book this past weekend and, so far, although it’s not as funny as Because of Miss Bridgerton was, still it is exactly what I need right now: an space from reality. There’s romance and etiquette, daydreaming and longing. And it’s just everything! I hope I enjoy the second book in the series just as much as I enjoyed the first one, if not more.

Have you guys read the Rokesbys series? If so, which is your favourite book? In general, do you enjoy reading Historical Romance, and if so, why?

I look forward to seeing all your thoughts and feelings regarding this subject in the comment section down below.

Thank you all so very much for stopping by once again. 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!