Victoria Moschou's Blog, page 9

MOVIE RECOMMENDATION: Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Hello awesome nerds and happy Thursday everyone!

It’s been two freaking years since the last time I’ve been to the movies, so you can obviously imagine how excited I got when I went to watch Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings this past Tuesday!

When Apo asked if I wanted to go to the movies, I was “Sure, yeah. No problem,” and I didn’t even bother to ask him what we were going to watch. Initially, we had planned to go to the movies on Sunday, but our lives have always been surreal, so we ended up going to the movies, to actually watch the film, on Tuesday.

Guys, it didn’t disappoint us AT ALL!

Although over the years we’ve watched more DC films than Marvel ones, Marvel Studios worked wonders on this new movie.

Personally, I loved everything this movie had to offer. From the story and the cast, to the music and the action scenes, everything felt so balanced and beautiful that I’d gladly watch the movie again. That much I enjoyed the film, that I completely forgot all about my Doritos. (Don’t worry though… I had eaten plenty and Apo had the rest. )

If I had to highlight my top three favourite scenes, these were probably the flashback at the beginning of the movie, with Shang Chi’s mom, the scene where Chang Chi is going to see his sister (and holy moly, this scene has some serious martial arts things going on) and, of course, the last fight scene.

I’m definitely not gonna spoil things for you, because I think you should go and watch it, if you haven’t done so already. If you love action movies, Kung Fu and Chinese legends and myths, then you should definitely check this one out.

And just to give you a little taste of what Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is all about, here’s the trailer for you to watch.

Have you guys watched the movie yet? Are you planning on watching this one or any other superhero movies coming out this fall? Who is your favourite Marvel character?

Let me know all your thoughts and feelings about that 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.

Have a wonderful day, amazing people, stay safe and stay positive.

Till next time… Toodles!

🎃 Beacon Book Box ~ FOLKLORE FRIGHTS ~ October 2021 Theme Reveal 🎃

Is it Spooky Season yet?

Well, if there were any doubts about it, Beacon Book Box‘s got you covered!

Hello awesome nerds, happy Monday 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 post, in which every month you receive a YA release, as well as a bunch of bookish items, focusing on a specific theme.

I am a permanent rep for Beacon Book Box, and if what you’re about to see seems like your favourite cup of tea, you can use my code VICTORIOUS5 to save on your subscription or single purchase.

The theme for the month of October is FOLKLORE FRIGHTS because… Halloween, duh…

This box celebrates all our favourite books with legends and myths, but with a spooky touch to it, because October equals Halloween, and Halloween equals spooky vibes!

The featured book of the month will transport you to 1890s London and Japan, where a half-British Reaper and half-Japanese Shinigami, a soul collector, will seek her destiny in two worlds, where she’s not accepted in either.

Packed with suspenseful Japanese mythology and folklore, the book of the month will be SIGNED by the author, and it will also come with a letter from the author themselves.

The eBook of the month follows a descendant of powerful witches who cursed Macbeth, and if this doesn’t blow your mind, I don’t know what does! When she’s casted in her school’s production of the play, the centuries-old curse strikes again and she’s the only one who can actually save the day.

You can also expected goodies inspired by SMALL FAVORS, ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD and THE SCOPRIO RACES. Even if you don’t know any of these fandoms, the items will, as per usual, be super handy, so you’ll definitely enjoy them a lot!

The October boxes are currently available for new subscriptions and single purchases, and once again, you can use my rep code VICTORIOUS5 at checkout to save some money.

Are you guys excited for this year’s Spooky Season? Do you have anything special planned for Halloween?

Let me know all the details 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.

Have a wonderful week, dearies, stay safe & stay positive.

Till next time… Toodles!

Story Time: How To Stay Away From Toxic People & Other “Bubbly” Situations

*TRIGGER WARNING. THIS POST WILL CONTAIN REFERRENCES OF HARRY POTTER, BOTH QUOTES AND ART. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.*

It’s been almost a year and a half since the day the author’s views were publicly mentioned. Ever since, people have expressed their points of view, they’ve chosen not to refer to the series from that day forward or, like today’s story, they’ve chosen to verbally attack people who still enjoy reading the series and speaking about it.

Since the summer of 2020, I’ve been very careful on what comes to this particular series. I know that people have felt personally attacked by a certain author’s points of view. I know that people don’t want to support that author anymore. And I totally get that.

What I really don’t get is why, for the love of dear Lord, people need to verbally attack and bully others, who still feel nostalgic. I don’t understand why they need to act in such toxic ways, bullying people who may talk about a series, that is considered to be a classic after so many years, and post about it from time to time.

And please, don’t tell me they PROMOTE the author because I may IMPLODE!

Something like that happened to a friend of mine the other day, because she dared to post about Harry Potter. She, and her followers on Instagram, were accused of being transphobic and people who still support the author who wrote the books. We were all accused of promoting a very problematic series and we were accusing of not taking place on what the author has said.

This came as a shock to me. Firstly because the eternal 19-year-old inside me was, once again, surprised by how cruel people who don’t know you can be, just for the sake of acting bitchy. (This also has to do with the fact that, thanks to my friend Jo and my therapist, I’ve come to realise that I tend to blame myself sometimes and make others’ problems my very own. Or, as it is mentioned in the fifth book “You care so much you feel as though you will bleed to death with the pain of it.”. That’s me.) Secondly, it shocked me because my friend, who was accused of being transphobic, is nowhere near that spectrum. Or any of us for that matter.

So… were we judged just for loving a book series? Is this how we act nowadays?

I wanna believe that we all use our brains. I wanna believe that we judge people for who they truly are, not for what we believe we may know about them. It is one thing to know somebody and judge them because they were actually wrong. It’s a whole other thing to judge them because we think we know better. Or because we justify certain things the way we want to.

We don’t know better. And when we don’t know better, we keep a low profile, we educate ourselves, we get to know a person better, we discuss with them. Then, and only then, we have the right to talk.

I’m not gonna talk about how this particular series turned me to the avid reader I am today. I’m gonna talk about the lessons it taught me. It taught me courage and bravery. It taught me to never judge a “book” by its “cover”. It taught me that a Slytherin can be brave and a Gryffindor can turn into a traitor. It taught me that people may be charismatic but, they may also have views with which I don’t agree; and there’s a fine chance they don’t agree with some of mine either. But civilised people discuss. They don’t attack each other.

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

~ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

I choose to stick to the lessons of these books. I choose not to lose the bigger picture. And I most certainly choose to stay away from narcissists and toxic people, who simply want to drag me into all those “bubbly”, meaningless situations I tried years and years to get far away from!

I’m still trying to master that sometimes. And I feel grateful for having friends like Jo, who remind me that, acknowledging our flaws and using them to our advantage, is sometimes better that solely focusing on our strengths. Because, in times of need, these flaws can drown us if we haven’t learned to control them.

The world is not divided into good people and Death Eaters. We all have light and darkness inside us.

I simply think we should choose love, above everything. (Yes, I’m a romantic. This will never change.) Because, if there’s one thing the bookish community taught me, is that I can feel loved and safe among people who choose to leave the real world for a while and just travel through fairytales.

I honestly don’t wanna think that this has changed.

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.

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

Till next time… Toodles!

BOOK REVIEW: Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1), by Marissa Meyer ~ Why Didn’t You Tell Me I Should Have Read It Sooner? *SPOILER FREE*

“Even in the Future the Story Begins with Once Upon a Time.”

~ Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1), by Marissa Meyer

Some books barge into your life, at the exact right time, to help you see things from a whole new perspective. They help you get out of your slump and they also bring a touch of optimism in your everyday life.

That’s exactly what happened when I read Cinder, the first instalment in The Lunar Chronicles series, written by Marissa Meyer, last month.

“Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless Lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. 

She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.”

First of all… HOLY FREAKING GUACAMOLE!

Why didn’t you guys tell me I should’ve read this baby sooner?

Having already read Heartless, by Marissa Meyer, I pretty much knew what to expect in terms of writing style. Cinder though was ten times better, if not more, than Heartless.

Taking place in a futuristic world, where humans and androids live, more or less, in harmony, Cinder felt so very relevant to what we’ve been experiencing with COVID over the past couple of years. It was impossible not to feel for those people, who’ve been dealing with a pandemic nobody knew how to cure. It was also impossible not to connect with Cinder herself; a simple girl who just wanted to fit in, to be wanted.

It’s funny, you know… How even at the age of 28, sometimes I feel like a 16-year-old again. How insecurities and anxiousness, fears and dark thoughts amplify themselves, and all I wish is that I were able to be one of my favourite, kick-ass characters, and just deal with this sh*t. Just like Cinder deals with her toxic step-mother and her extremely insecure step-sister.

That’s probably what I loved the most about this novel; it’s characters. They felt real, approachable, relatable, people with whom you could actually have a meaningful conversation. Well, not all of them, of course, but the vast majority of them.

Naturally, there were the character who simply got on my nerves right from their very first appearance. And no, I’m not talking about the Lunars’ queen. I’m talking about her minion. Gosh! Sybil is the kind of person I always stay far, far away from!

I’m not gonna spoil anything for you, because I do believe you need to read this novel, if you haven’t done so already but, what makes this book unique, despite the many characters’ introductions and the world-building, is its effortless narration.

It’s quite clear that Marissa Meyer had a pretty good idea of where the story would go, when she started writing Cinder. I just loved that we got glimpses of what’s gonna happen next and the characters’ stories that we’ll follow in the next three instalments. I loved that I never got bored while reading the book and that the finale was just a major cliffhanger, that only made me want more.

What I didn’t really like was the sort-of insta-love and the fact that the biggest reveal of the book was kind of apparent to me, straight from the very beginning.

Nonetheless, Cinder was a really good read, probably the most original one i’ve read so far this year. Which is why I ended up rating it with 4 out of 5 stars, and now I can’t wait to read the sequel, Scarlet.

“We all have our weaknesses.”

“I know,” said Iko. “Mine is shoes.” 

~ Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1), by Marissa Meyer

Have you guys read Cinder? If so, what do you think of this book? Who is your favourite character 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 day, awesome nerds, stay safe & stay positive.

Till next time… Toodles!

💗 BookBrewed ~ LOVE IS THE ONLY GOLD ~ October 2021 Theme 💗

Hello awesome people and happy Monday everyone!

I hope y’all had a lovely weekend and you got the chance to recharge your batteries and do all the things you didn’t have the time to do during the week. For example, I managed to relax a bit and see some friends, which is always a great change, considering how busy my week days are.

I hope we manage to do this more, but again, nothing can be sure with this whole COVID situation.

What’s certain is that BookBrewed keeps me occupied for the better part of every day, so I can’t really complain. It’s going to be a very productive and creative fall –and winter, actually–, and I’m really happy about that.

I don’t think I’ve mentioned it before, but BookBrewed is being shipped internationally, and the theme for October is… LOVE IS THE ONLY GOLD!

With goodies inspired by A Court of Wings and Ruin, A Touch of Darkness, A Court of Silver Flames and Six of Crows, this box is going to give you all the feels!

What’s more, the October box is going to feature TWO BOOKS! Oh, yeah! More importantly, the second book of this box is gonna come with a signed bookplate and a letter from the author. If this isn’t great news, I don’t know what is.

Although last week was a bit weird, and I started questioning people and behaviours (once again), still I know that I will do whatever it takes to protect my business. I’m taking my work very, very seriously and I’m not gonna let anyone jeopardise that. I’ve worked really hard to build something of my own and come where I am today. I’m gonna fight to become even better!

If you guys want to give BookBrewed a go, you can follow this link and get yours today. And if you’re wondering “How will I be able to read a Greek book?”, rest assured that I’ve got your backs!

Are you guys subscribed to any book-boxes? If so, which are your favourites?

I look forward to reading all your thoughts 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 most certainly don’t take your presence here for granted.

Have a wonderful week, gorgeous people, stay safe & stay positive.

Till next time… Toodles!

Life Update: Work, Daily Schedule Until the End of The Year & Planning for TAC #2

Hello awesome nerds and happy Saturday everyone!

I’m so glad the weekend is finally here, you’ve no idea! Between work for our family business, work for BookBrewed, some more work for my rep duties and a little bit more work on what comes to my writing projects, I figured I had to come up with a very detailed schedule, if I wanted to survive this year and avoid a possible burnout. Seriously guys, I’ve experienced it before and I don’t want to experience something similar any time soon.

So, what I did yesterday is plan pretty much everything on what comes to work, schedule my writing, both for the blog, as well as for my upcoming books (NaNoWriMo is just around the corner y’all) and find hours throughout the day where I can basically do all the things I want for myself.

I’m actually pretty happy with how the annual schedule turned out, especially because this is going to give me a clearer picture and idea of what to do in case something goes wrong. Plus, it will give me the opportunity to feel more relaxed. Or at least try to…

On what comes to work, I decided to maintain a schedule of working from 9am to 5pm. This way, I will be able to finish all the invoices I have for our family business between 9am to 12pm, and then I will be able to fully focus on BookBrewed until the end of my working day.

Even though I have planned the boxes ahead until the end of 2021, I still need to plan the first three boxes of 2022 and come up with back-up plans, in case things go… well, not exactly the way I want them to.

So, this essentially leaves four more hours available for me to do stuff that have to do with my rep duties for Beacon Book Box, work on blog posts, take Instagram pictures, work on my writing projects and keep up with my reading schedule.

Honestly guys, now that I’m writing everything down again I even amaze myself with all the things I do every single day. And now, I’m not saying this to brag or anything, but it’s hard to do all that, plus do chores, clean the house, go to the groceries’ store, take the cars to the garage etc, etc.

Since I mentioned Beacon Book Box above, y’all know that I’ve been repping for them since January 2020. I was recently given some more responsibilities and so, I will be taking over the social media every Monday and Friday, posting pictures and updating the subscribing about all the latest news.

It’s really fun and I’m really excited about that, especially since the team is just EPIC! Papa B is super supportive and JD has been there for everyone since day one. Not to worry, Cam! We’ve got everything under control!

Figuring out how to approach my platforms was the easiest part, I think. I decided to have a day fully dedicated to taking pictures for Instagram and working on my weekly posts for the blog. This will essentially happen every Saturday, aka my day-off from our family business.

I miss the old days, back in 2017, when I used to plan my posts for the entire month in just a couple of days. I don’t have that luxury of time anymore, but I will try as best as possible to write five to six posts every Saturday, so I can have one Saturday off from that.

As for my writing projects… Now, that was the trickiest part of this whole annual schedule!

As you guys know, my debut novel, Guardian of the Auras, is currently available, both on paperback and on Kindle, and if you haven’t gotten yourself a copy yet, you can do so by following that link.

The thing though is that, I’ve been working on the second book for the past two and a half years, and with everything that happened lately, I have seriously neglected the sequel. But, I decided that I will seriously work on the Creator of Divine Mysteries this November, even if that means that I will read zero books that month and I will have to stay up all night to do so.

To just gives you guys an update, the book is currently 70k words long and I think it may take around 30k more before it’s officially ready for edits and beta-reading.

As my friend Christine says, the story will be finished when the characters allow it to be.

I do hope that everything will go as planned until the end of the year, because there’s another story I really want to work on to; a Greek NA Urban Fantasy/Romance story, which I hope I’ll be able to get published in the next three to four years. Fingers crossed.

I don’t know if you guys sticked around until the end of this post, but to those of you who did, thank you!

It feels liberating to be able to write about that stuff. It gives me new energy and it motivates me to actually do what I have written down.

Do you guys plan your week or even, like I do, your entire month? Does it help you stay focused? What do you guys do when things get really hectic in your everyday life?

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 do not take your presence here for granted.

Love you all to Pluto and back, wonderful people!

Have a wonderful weekend, y’all, stay safe and stay positive.

Till next time… Toodles!

Fall TBR: Books I Hope To Read This Autumn

Hello awesome nerds and happy September everyone!

I still cannot believe that the summer of 2021 is officially over and that there are only four months for this year to come to an end.

For real though… WHERE DID THIS YEAR GO?

Everything seems like a blur and all I can remember from my days is… work.

Which is why I decided to work on a schedule, at least until the end of 2021, so I can balance everything better.

One of the things I wanna pay more attention to is my reading challenge. I really want to stick to my initial plan and read 40 books this year. So far I’ve read 23, but I’m already behind. So, I do hope that planning my every day and having some more “me time” in the next few months, will help me accomplish this goal. It is the small wins after all that help us see things a little bit brighter.

Which is why I decided to try and plan my fall TBR. And yes, I say fall because I’m more of a mood reader and there is a fine chance that the books I will mention here may not be read in September. Still, I do hope I will manage to read them all by the end of November.

And, with all that being said, let’s get to the books I want to read this autumn.

1. These Witches Don’t Burn (These Witches Don’t Burn, #1), by Isabel Sterling

“Hannah’s a witch, but not the kind you’re thinking of. She’s the real deal, an Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air. But even though she lives in Salem, Massachusetts, her magic is a secret she has to keep to herself. If she’s ever caught using it in front of a Reg (read: non-witch), she could lose it. For good. So, Hannah spends most of her time avoiding her ex-girlfriend (and fellow Elemental Witch) Veronica, hanging out with her best friend, and working at the Fly by Night Cauldron selling candles and crystals to tourists, goths, and local Wiccans. 

But dealing with her ex is the least of Hannah’s concerns when a terrifying blood ritual interrupts the end-of-school-year bonfire. Evidence of dark magic begins to appear all over Salem, and Hannah’s sure it’s the work of a deadly Blood Witch. The issue is, her coven is less than convinced, forcing Hannah to team up with the last person she wants to see: Veronica.

While the pair attempt to smoke out the Blood Witch at a house party, Hannah meets Morgan, a cute new ballerina in town. But trying to date amid a supernatural crisis is easier said than done, and Hannah will have to test the limits of her power if she’s going to save her coven and get the girl, especially when the attacks on Salem’s witches become deadlier by the day.”

Autumn is traditionally considered to be the witches’ season, so, what better way to welcome this fall than to read a book that has been on my TBR since this past spring…? I think… Like I said, it all seems blurry to me.

2. Blade of Secrets (Bladesmith, #1), by Tricia Levenseller

“Eighteen-year-old Ziva prefers metal to people. She spends her days tucked away in her forge, safe from society and the anxiety it causes her, using her magical gift to craft unique weapons imbued with power.

Then Ziva receives a commission from a powerful warlord, and the result is a sword capable of stealing its victims’ secrets. A sword that can cut far deeper than the length of its blade. A sword with the strength to topple kingdoms. When Ziva learns of the warlord’s intentions to use the weapon to enslave all the world under her rule, she takes her sister and flees.

Joined by a distractingly handsome mercenary and a young scholar with extensive knowledge of the world’s known magics, Ziva and her sister set out on a quest to keep the sword safe until they can find a worthy wielder or a way to destroy it entirely.

A teenage blacksmith with social anxiety accepts a commission from the wrong person and is forced to go on the run to protect the world from the most powerful magical sword she’s ever made.“

I am always in when it comes to fantasy books featuring characters with mental health issues. For someone like me, who’s fighting depression and anxiety since 2018, ending the stigma is so freaking important.

It is completely normal having social anxiety as it is having the flu. Nobody should be stigmatised because they are facing a mental health problem and, most of the time, they kick its butt!

So, I’m super excited to read this babe and I hope it won’t disappoint.

3. Souls in Time, by Sylvia Macray

This is one of the two Greek books I really want to read this fall.

It tells the story of Gallateia Asne, a witch who lives in 16th century Scotland. Ever since she was a little girl, she was taught to suppress her powers. But when she rescues a man from the threshold of death, she realises she cannot hide who she is anymore.

I had started reading this in May, but things got really busy with work, so I put it on hold because this book is a BEAST! We’re talking about 728 pages! What can I say? I got intimidated for a second.

4. Soul of Cinder (Heart of Thorns, #3), by Bree Barton

“The Twisted Sisters are coming home.

Prince Quin has returned to the river kingdom, ready to spearhead a rebellion and reclaim the throne. He vows to destroy Mia, Pilar, and Angelyne if they oppose him—even if he must use his newfound magic to set the world aflame.

Across the four kingdoms, the elements have been tipped askew. Volcanoes erupt, glaciers collapse, and cities sink into the western sands. After losing Angie, Mia and Pilar journey to the glass kingdom to seek help, though soon their fragile bonds of sisterhood begin to fray. Mia’s sensations are creeping back, and with them, a deep and searing grief. Pilar, terrified of being broken, once again seeks comfort in her fists. But when they hear rumors of a misty island that promises to erase all pain, they suddenly find themselves with an answer—if they are willing to pay the cost.

As tensions mount, the sisters are drawn back to the river kingdom for a final reckoning with the boy they each loved.

The shattering conclusion to Bree Barton’s Heart of Thorns trilogy challenges why we grieve, whom we love—and how to mend a broken heart.”

At this point, I don’t really remember how many times since the beginning of 2021 I said I would read the third instalment in the Heart of Thorns series.

I feel like the time has finally come for me to read the conclusion of this amazing series that was there for me during some of my darkest hours. And it always, always, reminded me that the cracks we have as human beings let the light shine in.

5. A Vow so Bold and Deadly (Cursebreakers, #3), by Brigid Kemmerer

“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.”

Another series I want to finish this fall, and definitely before the end of the year, is the Cursebreakers series. I loved the first two books a lot and I really want to see what’s up in store for my two favourite characters, aka Grey and Lia Mara.

6. The Fall of Gondolin, by J. R. R. Tolkien

“In the Tale of The Fall of Gondolin are two of the greatest powers in the world. There is Morgoth of the uttermost evil, unseen in this story but ruling over a vast military power from his fortress of Angband. Deeply opposed to Morgoth is Ulmo, second in might only to Manwë, chief of the Valar: he is called the Lord of Waters, of all seas, lakes, and rivers under the sky. But he works in secret in Middle-earth to support the Noldor, the kindred of the Elves among whom were numbered Húrin and Túrin Turambar.
 
Central to this enmity of the gods is the city of Gondolin, beautiful but undiscoverable. It was built and peopled by Noldorin Elves who, when they dwelt in Valinor, the land of the gods, rebelled against their rule and fled to Middle-earth. Turgon King of Gondolin is hated and feared above all his enemies by Morgoth, who seeks in vain to discover the marvellously hidden city, while the gods in Valinor in heated debate largely refuse to intervene in support of Ulmo’s desires and designs.
 
Into this world comes Tuor, cousin of Túrin, the instrument of Ulmo’s designs. Guided unseen by him Tuor sets out from the land of his birth on the fearful journey to Gondolin, and in one of the most arresting moments in the history of Middle-earth the sea-god himself appears to him, rising out of the ocean in the midst of a storm. In Gondolin he becomes great; he is wedded to Idril, Turgon’s daughter, and their son is Eärendel, whose birth and profound importance in days to come is foreseen by Ulmo.
 
At last comes the terrible ending. Morgoth learns through an act of supreme treachery all that he needs to mount a devastating attack on the city, with Balrogs and dragons and numberless Orcs. After a minutely observed account of the fall of Gondolin, the tale ends with the escape of Túrin and Idril, with the child Eärendel, looking back from a cleft in the mountains as they flee southward, at the blazing wreckage of their city. They were journeying into a new story, the Tale of Eärendel, which Tolkien never wrote, but which is sketched out in this book from other sources.
 
Following his presentation of Beren and Lúthien Christopher Tolkien has used the same ‘history in sequence’ mode in the writing of this edition of The Fall of Gondolin. In the words of J.R.R. Tolkien, it was ‘the first real story of this imaginary world’ and, together with Beren and Lúthien and The Children of Húrin, he regarded it as one of the three ‘Great Tales’ of the Elder Days.”

For those of you who’ve been following me for some time now, you know that J. R. R. Tolkien is one of my absolute favourite authors and all those books that talk about the history of Middle Earth speak deep into my soul.

Which is why I decided to read The Fall of Gondolin this fall, simply to travel back to a world a adore.

Once again, there might be changes on what comes to this TBR pile, but I do hope I will manage to read all six of these books before the end of November. Fingers crossed!

How about you, dearies? Have you guys set your September TBR? Have you read any of the books mentioned here?

Let me know all your reading autumn plans 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.

Till next time… Toodles!

Monthly Wrap Up: August in a Nutshell

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”

~ A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens

This could literally sum up this August, a month which is always bittersweet, only this year it was a little bit… extra.

Hello awesome nerds and happy Monday everyone.

I hope you guys had a great weekend and you managed to recharge your batteries a little bit. I know I did and, to be honest, I’m really glad, as this is going to be a very demanding week in terms of work.

I’m slowly getting back to my normal routine, after that little break of mine towards the middle of the month, and I really want to organise everything for this coming fall and winter, because things are gonna be really hectic.

But, today’s post is all about the fun things I did in August. All those things that made me smile and all those things I really want to remember.

I told you I was going to write a Favourites of the Month post, so here we are, folks!

So, first things first, I’m really glad that I managed to finish five books this month. I may changed my TBR a bit but, I still read half of the books shown in the picture below.

So, in August, I managed to read A Court of Silver Flames, Heartside Bay: The New Girl, After Midnight (the second book from top to bottom), One Last Stop and Cinder.

To be honest, I expected to enjoy more books than I actually did. Still, overall, it was a quite good reading month, as I absolutely ADORED A Court of Silver Flames, and I very much enjoyed After Midnight and Cinder.

I also watched some really cute summer movies, like The Kissing Booth 3 and He’s All That, which is basically a remake of the classic She’s All That.

Slightly cheesy, the both of them, but truth be told, this is exactly what I needed.

I also continue watching Chesapeake Shores, which I absolutely love, and as we head closer to fall, I will start rewatching Gilmore Girls and, probably, Charmed. Still, if you have any new series recommendations, feel free to write them in the comment section down below.

Other than that, and aside from my “vacation”, my days were packed with work, mostly for my book subscription company, BookBrewed, but also for Beacon Book Box. Yesterday, we had a brief meeting, as some other amazing members of the Beacon family, along with me, will be taking over some new responsibilities, and I’m very excited about that.

You’re probably wondering why I haven’t mentioned anything about my personal life (or maybe you don’t, but anyway). The reason is because many things have changed over the past eight months and, in all honesty, I’m still processing EVERYTHING! Combined with the fact that this month we also had my dad’s twin’s memorial… well, it wasn’t exactly an ideal month let’s say.

I promise I will try to write a full-length life update post at some point, focusing on something other than work and books. However, these are the two things that kept me focused for the better part of 2021; a year I expected to be completely different.

All I can say for the time being is that I lost very special people from my life, depression came back to make my days darker and all that led to a very extended check-up, which wasn’t going to happen until next month.

But that’s how my life has been for the past 28 years. I shouldn’t expect things to change now, should I?

Thank you all for being here once again. I say this every time but I do mean it. It truly means the world to me that you keep coming back and I want you to know that I do not take your presence here for granted.

How was your August, awesome nerds? Did you enjoy your summer holidays? Are you ready for autumn? Did you read any good books? Watched any good movies?

Let me know everything in the comment section below.

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

Till next time… Toodles!

BOOK REVIEW: One Last Stop, by Casey McQuiston ~ Guess It Wasn’t The Book For Me… *SPOILER FREE*

And after a 5-star-read review, here comes another one. Only this time the only thing high about the book was my expectations. And boy, I feel really sad about that.

Hello awesome nerds and happy Saturday everyone.

If someone told me about a month ago that I would end up not loving One Last Stop, by Casey McQuiston, I’d have laughed; hard. But the truth is, no matter how much I ADORED, and still do, Red, White & Royal Blue, One Last Stop… well, let’s just put it that way, wasn’t really the book for me.

“From the New York Times bestselling author of Red, White & Royal Blue comes a new romantic comedy that puts a queer spin on Kate & Leopold.

A 23-year-old realises her subway crush is displaced from 1970’s Brooklyn, and she must do everything in her power to help her – and try not to fall in love with the girl lost in time – before it’s too late . . .”

Ok, so this is probably a quite unpopular opinion, considering that the book has an average of 4.20 out of 5 stars on Goodreads, but to me it felt like One Last Stop was written from a completely different author.

The pacing was really slow for no actual reason, the characters felt flat to me, especially the main protagonists, I didn’t manage to connect with any of the people in this story, and as for the attempt to put some sort of magic in a seemingly queer RomCom, well… it was unsuccessful to say the least. The romance itself left forced and just… such a bummer to begin with.

I had read 100 pages and nothing had actually happened. For real though. The story was taking place in modern-day NYC, so it could’ve moved way faster than it actually did. And yet… even on page 200 (I think), it still felt like nothing had happened.

Even after the “major reveal” in the book, everything felt tepid to me. From the characters’ reactions to their relationships to the final decisions they made.

The only thing I did like though was Myla’s character and her wisdom throughout the story. That and the fact that the novel took place in one of my favourite cities in the whole wide world: New York City!

Oh, and don’t forget that the cover of the book is so freaking aesthetically pleasing.

Overall, I ended up rating the book with 2 out of 5 stars, mostly because it was sort-of well-written, the secondary characters were slightly more interesting than the main two characters, and it was a stand-alone, so I wouldn’t have wasted my time over a series that I wouldn’t continue.

Have you guys read One Last Stop? If so, did you like it? Which Casey McQuiston book do you like more?

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 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 weekend, dearies. Stay safe and stay positive.

Till next time… Toodles!

BOOK REVIEW: A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #4), by Sarah J. Maas ~ Keep climbing that mountain! *SPOILERS & DISCUSSION*

Boy, it’s been a while since the last time I wrote a review about a book I felt so freaking passionate about!

To be honest, I did not expect A Court of Silver Flames to make me feel so… well, let’s just keep this PG-13 for a little bit longer, shall we?

Hello awesome nerds and happy Thursday everyone!

I still cannot believe that August (and basically summer) is coming to an end and that I have already read four books this month. Yay me! Especially considering how hectic things have been lately.

One of the books I read in August was, of course, A Court of Silver Flames, by Sarah J. Maas, the fourth book in the ACOTAR series (well, fifth if you count the novella, too). I buddy-read it with my friend Eleana and it was probably the highlight of this month. Well, not really, but it was a close second. And since this review has already become chaotic, I may do a Favourites of the Month post after what feels like an eternity, to tell you all about August. And let me just tell you this guys: it was probably the best month since January.

To begin with, let me tell you that this review will be divided into two parts: the spoiler-free and the spoilery section. I will of course warn you once the spoilers begin, but for the time being, sit back and read.

“Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she’s struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can’t seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.

The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre’s Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta’s orbit. But her temper isn’t the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.

Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.

Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other’s arms.”

For those of you who’ve been reading Sarah J. Maas’s books for quite some time now, you pretty much know what to expect in terms of world-building, characters and pacing. Considering though that this is practically yet another book in an ongoing series, there wasn’t that much world-building to be done, expect perhaps on what comes to the Illyrian mountains, and that was only at the beginning and towards the end of the book.

One of the reasons why I loved A Court of Silver Flames so much was probably because the better part of it took place in Velaris, my most beloved fictional city, and more specifically in the House of Wind. It brought back to memory sweet memories of the time when I was reading A Court of Mist and Fury, and how Feyre experienced everything there for the first time. Still, A Court of Silver Flames took things to another level; both literally and figuratively speaking, as there was a whole new community built under the house, deep inside the mountain. I’m talking of course about the library where the priestesses live. And though traumatic events brought them there, still that doesn’t make the place any less magical to me. We’re talking about SEVEN STOREYS OF BOOKS!

Also, the fact that other places and countries on the continent where mentioned throughout the book makes me believe that we will have novella’s and books taking place there. Or, at least, I hope they will.

Featuring the exclusive bookmark that can be found on the BookBrewed Apothecary

On what comes to the pacing of the book, once again, to me, it was quite obvious what I should expect. And based on the fact that A Court of Silver Flames is a 757-pages-long book, I knew there would be many plot points made, many ups and downs, and, naturally, many cliffhangers for the sequel of this NA (?) series.

My point is that I never felt bored during the book. It was a world I practically knew, a storyline that was easy to follow and it had to do with the lives of characters I already knew; or, at least, I knew most of them.

And so, with that being said, let’s start talking about my favourite element of A Court of Silver Flames: its characters.

If I loved Cassian before, now I absolutely ADORE him with a passion! If Nesta annoyed the crap out of me before, now she does so ten times more BUT… I see her and I feel for her. I know some people don’t want to accept that they need help or they probably don’t know how to ask for help.

So, if you have Nestas in your life, just keep reaching out your hand. And they will keep climbing that mountain; eventually.

Of course, there were appearances of our well-known and beloved characters, like Feyre and Rhys, Amren, Lucien, Vassan, Jurian (yeah, not so beloved, but still), Az, Elain and Mor. To be honest, I needed more of Mor in this one, but I still hope there will be a book fully dedicated to her. That or we will see more of Mor in the sequel of A Court of Silver Flames. If my theory is correct of course…

I was really happy not to see Tamlin a lot. The guy is a hot mess and he truly deserves what’s gonna happen to him, if he continues acting as such. But, I really wanted to see the other High Lords a little bit more and I hope that something like that will happen in the upcoming novels.

But what I truly, truly loved was the introduction of two new characters: Gwyneth and Emerie.

I loved the fact that they were so different yet at the same time so very much the same. They had inner strength, courage, compassion, incredible sense of humour and such a loyal heart, the both of them, that they made me cry multiple times throughout the book.

My friend Eleana reminds me so very much of Gwyn and I truly feel blessed for having such a rare source of light in my life. Because both Eleana and Gwyn are sources of light. They just barge into your life and you feel like they always belonged there because they bring such positivity and optimism, such light and kindness.

And while Eleana is more like Gwyn, I relate more to Emerie. A girl who always had to fight to prove what she was worth. A young woman who survived cruelty and hardship. A woman who, in the end, persevered and thrived, showing to all those who belittled her ever since she was born that she had a will of steel; and she wouldn’t, couldn’t be broken.

And now, with all the non-spoiler stuff being said, let’s get to the juicy part.

*DISCLAIMER. IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE BOOK AND YOU DON’T WANT TO BE SPOILED, I SUGGEST YOU LEAVE NOW AND COME BACK ONCE YOU’VE READ THE BOOK. THINGS ARE GOING TO GET PRETTY SPOILERY. YOU’VE BEEN WARNED.*

HOLY! FREACKING! GUACAMOLE!

Boy, this book is full of smut! Like actual, real smut.

I mean, I knew it was coming, I just didn’t know how much I should expect. There are so many erotic and sex scenes, and even though they’re quite graphic, still, they didn’t make the book look lewd or cheep at all. That or maybe I really needed something romantic and erotic to cheer me up.

This friends-with-benefits situation between Nesta and Cassian though got on my nerves at some point, because I knew what was coming.

THEY’RE F*&%# MATES DUDE!

Seriously now, Sarah? Wasn’t the bond supposed to be something extremely rare?

Now all three of the sisters have a mate, even though Elain doesn’t really want to have anything to do with Lucien.

I honestly wouldn’t mind if Nesta and Cassian weren’t mates and they were simply madly, deeply in love. To me, this would’ve made their relationship more special.

Just as special as Nesta’s friendship was with Gwyn and Em. My Valkyries…

The way their relationship flourished and evolved throughout the book made me realise that we should have such friendship goals in our lives. We should choose people who boost us up and are always there during our good and bad times.

And although most of you will say that those people who choose to stay with us during our darkest moments are keepers, I’m here to tell you that those who feel happy and proud of our achievements are also keepers. Because they’re not envious. They feel genuinely glad about us and what we’ve accomplished. I’ve seen this a lot these past few months and I feel truly happy I did some cleaning up in my life.

If I had to choose three favourite scenes from the entire novel, those would have to be the Winter Solstice, the night where the mating bond locked for good and the night when Nesta, Gwyn and Emerie made their bracelets. All three of them are so special to me, all for different reasons and I do get goosebumps when I think of these scenes.

All in all, I ended up rating A Court of Silver Flames with 5 out of 5 stars and I cannot wait to see what is going to happen in the next book of the series.

Have you guys read A Court of Silver Flames yet? If so, did you enjoy it? Which was your favourite scene and why?

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. Stay safe, stay positive and keep climbing your mountain!

Till next time… Toodles!