tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22962000644768647402024-03-05T03:02:24.809-08:00My Lovely SecretTâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.comBlogger589125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-57071200774457238192022-10-09T04:16:00.000-07:002022-12-30T09:06:09.848-08:00Sunday Post. Did I Buy Too Many Books?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2htzx0Cm8LHlergaSpxtNWqPb2cCcrEPPSO5LF3kYQyKwie0Zj1ETZIjhynsxFArxDcDFotvMeNGOvPfFA65EXrXCRvHyDzQQ9fkG0wQlMl3WT2y4sogARikLcNiREJ486C9yjuzQ4sK/s1600/Sunday+Post.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="330" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday Post is a meme hosted by <a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/">Caffeinated Book Reviews</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">When I wrote, "see you next Sunday," I was naive and had too much hope. 😋 I still have to perfect my blogging schedule. I just spent a long time without blogging, and I need to learn how to balance work, life, and blogging again. It might take me longer than I want to, but I will do it! 🤞<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u>What has been happening in my life:</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <b>Happy Halloween month!</b> Like last year, <b>I'm currently </b><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"><b>watching one spooky film per day until the end of the month</b>. 👻💀🎃🍂 So far, I've only watched two films that I had watched previously (<i>Corpse Bride</i> and <i>House of Wax</i>), and it had been such a long time since I last watched them that I could not remember most of the story. Now, what should I watch today?<br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <b>My PhD and other research activities are taking most of my time</b> (I'm writing this post while working on a paper). But it's okay when you do something you love (even if I constantly doubt myself -- you know, the famous impostor syndrome).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <b>I have read three books since the month began</b>. I'm currently reading <i>The Undead Truth of Us</i> -- I was expecting to love it a bit more. However, I really want to understand the "zombie mystery," so I cannot put it down.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <b>My Scribd subscription ends this month</b>. If you know someone who wants to subscribe to it, <a href="https://pt.scribd.com/g/8d8hu5" target="_blank">here's my link</a>. Although I'm more financially secure due to the researchship, books (and life in general) are more expensive than ever, so I use Scribd for research and blog purposes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuA-7_2Q0H7myzz6WPS9pDJboCoCVgvaoTSXUNzX_XtrnqyHI6RrAWQMdczywHegWtWhh9Ky1-XZBPuorWS4qn8v6mkMFSopCVECpwV_BNQBvwCFaYgfbQrVFKcaVPAL5oa4_KOnMPx0L/s1600/Pink+Divider.jpg" width="600" /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="32" data-original-width="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQHbFPFFraj4xhmZ2XvAuo4aYJ_HiZoNzK0lyaM1efaT1Sp0yYt7NKWt0qV-kgdfAcN_kqpKVLgD-jd-JYXfKRWy0Qhyphenhyphen8xEYlL5Rc5dTnZo5iZC0AfeHLe0h-NYpJc-jgxdqaMSx-r9e7/s1600/On+the+Blog.jpg" /></div><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul></ul>✨ I did not think I still had it in me to write discussion posts, but I did it! This week, <a href="https://mylovelysecret.blogspot.com/2022/09/favourite-books-comfort-books-all-same.html#.Y0Kgh0zMKSQ" target="_blank"><b>I wondered if my favourite book and my comfort book are all the same</b></a>.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><div style="text-align: center;"></div><ul></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuA-7_2Q0H7myzz6WPS9pDJboCoCVgvaoTSXUNzX_XtrnqyHI6RrAWQMdczywHegWtWhh9Ky1-XZBPuorWS4qn8v6mkMFSopCVECpwV_BNQBvwCFaYgfbQrVFKcaVPAL5oa4_KOnMPx0L/s1600/Pink+Divider.jpg" width="600" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="41" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEM-rFUHAKFJZPxVNy2KrdcpIaTS_uvL8gJY5kqYcFRTqK0TmMkZ1dWNiJkCOhGzdUS6TqiXGRLIbOdejy-BRNhyphenhyphen_Jx4WDHLLXl6pFitW97QWJUXt_1JYdHFBW9tZkcED17P10iGU3WeIZ/s1600/Book+Haul+II.jpg" /> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLahJ1rIbrb6wb-hpbxsdvqnnhGFhvRswrmgkcSXl4G99QjGPFsauMeSti1n0TFUZQY0BpqxIJ12fjNsR1xaRz1GnpTld3bbuJSJp94aelq8nnUFjv6GvnsqaFvf1pLa3-bVVnmqqgg-k472ga1pXm7QbNdepoif0cUxJVaeeEqbieLjrFgQtQHVGPg/s1734/Book%20Haul%20October.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="1734" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLahJ1rIbrb6wb-hpbxsdvqnnhGFhvRswrmgkcSXl4G99QjGPFsauMeSti1n0TFUZQY0BpqxIJ12fjNsR1xaRz1GnpTld3bbuJSJp94aelq8nnUFjv6GvnsqaFvf1pLa3-bVVnmqqgg-k472ga1pXm7QbNdepoif0cUxJVaeeEqbieLjrFgQtQHVGPg/s16000/Book%20Haul%20October.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Jeff Bezos is evil, and Amazon is a capitalist/consumerist hell. Nevertheless, when you do not have that many places to buy books from (there is not a single bookshop where I live, and an up-to-date library that harbours English books is non-existent), it's hard to resist their book sales. I got <b>Janella Angeles's When Night Breaks</b>, <b>Rose Szabo's What Big Teeth</b>, <b>Ryan Douglass's The Taking of Jake Livingston</b>, and <b>Sherri L. Smith's Orleans</b>. I will have to order from other places to redeem myself -- any bookshops with free European shipping that you can recommend besides Book Depository? </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">After a very nice e-mail from the publisher and me asking how I could request the book since NetGalley only let me "wish" for it, I received <b>Moniquill Blackgoose's To Shape a Dragon Breath.</b> It<b> </b>is my first 2023 ARC, and I can't wait to read it.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">How have you been? What have you been up to? What are you currently reading </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://tidd.ly/33Z2wNQ" target="_blank">Book Depository affiliate link</a>, my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a>, my<a href="https://perlego.mention-me.com/m/ol/ad9ac-f620338748"> Perlego referral</a>, or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>. You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>.</span> <br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div>Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-60384872142716187232022-09-27T11:30:00.000-07:002022-12-30T09:06:09.900-08:00Favourite Books & Comfort Books, All the Same?<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1Mh3YKwSFoMPU9oecqBowGa42s-tbCKXJuH_VAhYhMo9-3ktuJyqrUmKnY7pLU2QUCzGuNcKokx4suGXZacr9NdLAwcJ3tp5Iilh2aA6t_a9vP5IihDYs-Avuz0OIRZoTRZ0DikVIa6sSc2kfprjFhEHGmv_vQTSifWJhKNrnxk_DmWDzXRlT45w3w/s700/Favourite%20Books%20vs%20Comfort%20Books%20All%20the%20Same.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Discussion article alert! 😁 I confess, I did not think I still had the ability to write discussion posts -- okay, blog discussion posts because I think that what I do for a living can be described as a 10k to 200k words "discussion post." But inspiration comes from the strangest places -- okay, Twitter is not the most bizarre or odd place to find inspiration. I saw this tweet about one's favourite book and comfort book a thousand years ago, and it was the <span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">kick-off for this discussion. </span>So, <b>is my favourite book different from my comfort book</b>?</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="63" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLvCUyT1BoOiBNIaMIdQS3lM3eCYOWCmsf2NX1nSpAfc-qhP6fGyU0DIBo3byscPtO82c0HcqsxrorSk3vBN8UVfb5Ni5EMFtBjtJgot4xUP7HKHcLRT4JfQO7QvRtQG6GzwoJ1wL7xsp24E_JR1KQ8xoTLTaWsmVK8H9YSA0qLKZf8IghiDzG6Pb9nA=s16000" /></div><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"> 🌻 <b>Foremost, here is the tweet that inspired this discussion post:</b></h4><p style="background-color: #ffe7bf; border: 3px dashed rgb(68, 188, 179); color: #ffb233; padding: 2px 6px 4px; text-align: center;"> <span style="color: black;"> "i’m convinced there’s a difference between your favorite book and your comfort book" -- Twitter </span><a href="https://twitter.com/eveliaswaffle/status/1479289416291995648" target="_blank"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">@eveliaswaffle</span></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">I should begin by sharing my answer right away: <b>YES!</b> I do believe there is a difference between my favourite book and my comfort book.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">As many of you already know, I'm terrible at narrowing down my choices (as I'm also awful at remembering book titles, characters' names, towns' names, etc.). 😅 <b>Picking my favourite book is like looking for a needle in a haystack</b>, and it's simply impossible. I promise I will not digress, but for the sake of not making me plunge into a haystack looking for my favourite book ever, I shall change the question from "favourite book" to "favourite books." It's easier to pick an example without feeling I'm making a compromise -- I do not like making compromises with my books.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2HqKL22Af_NA-Sf5R9f7OjlgK5h0W5DvMXF56PDRO2ecQL7RHKEr-TL4nA3bsJSWZH3r1L_B2skSdIHrvwfEtOFuYU9UvBr_pPo1A790SzKIuZS5FWDQWo6Rv9W41S5XEk7LlJ-ncbCQvBoMRdp-q1qmoXpSwmjl3P6souEFu0CbgdYXrLORTwRGdA/s480/Love%20you%20all.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2HqKL22Af_NA-Sf5R9f7OjlgK5h0W5DvMXF56PDRO2ecQL7RHKEr-TL4nA3bsJSWZH3r1L_B2skSdIHrvwfEtOFuYU9UvBr_pPo1A790SzKIuZS5FWDQWo6Rv9W41S5XEk7LlJ-ncbCQvBoMRdp-q1qmoXpSwmjl3P6souEFu0CbgdYXrLORTwRGdA/s16000/Love%20you%20all.gif" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love all of my books. 💛 <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">Juliet Marillier's <i>Heart's Blood</i></span>, a Beauty and the Beast retelling, is one of my favourite books -- this was the book that a decade ago made me fall in love with reading all over again. Of course, I haven't read it since then. Why? I'm too scared that a second reading will disappoint me. <b>What if I hate the characters and the plot? What if it isn't as brilliant as I thought it was? What if I no longer cherish it?</b> I do not want to wonder why I loved the story so much. I also haven't finished Sabaa Tahir's <i>Ember Quartet</i> for that exact reason. I promised myself I would re-read the first three books, what seems like a century ago, before picking the last one. However, I have not been able to do so because I fear I might not love the series as much as I initially did. If you remember, I gushed so much about Laia (even though so many people "hated" her) and Elias and their deadly journey. I obsessed with these books for months! I STILL DO! I just do not want to lose <i>this feeling</i>.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">Re-reading old favourites, which I have very fond memories of, seems a daunting task -- one of those tasks you keep postponing because you are terrified of them. Like going through all your unread books and find something you want to unhaul. Or looking at your TBR pile and hear their judgemental whispers about when you will be reading them. And, if I fear reading these books, <b>none of my favourite books can be my comfort books</b>. No matter what, I cannot easily pick these books from my bookshelf, wrap myself in a warm blanket, and re-read them. <b>So, yes, this is why I'm very much</b></span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"><b> convinced there's a difference between my favourite book and my comfort book.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"><b></b></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubQ3XUCzVExxipHL7-qm7O0_uAYd2-Xy399q3cgEf_90lADC_2vvi8R4xGjgFvUskxQnK_aIsqoW5jfIf2TWJOlY065qXyDD9zTEDmjMpEPxm9bMHVfm8LURMwYizEUXc3xdTaTNUwNmxVvZMRhM6wiguKEkIggn8FcyaMASxX4AbnY_qAIrzXMtQ_A/s480/Cat%20Book%20Blanket.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubQ3XUCzVExxipHL7-qm7O0_uAYd2-Xy399q3cgEf_90lADC_2vvi8R4xGjgFvUskxQnK_aIsqoW5jfIf2TWJOlY065qXyDD9zTEDmjMpEPxm9bMHVfm8LURMwYizEUXc3xdTaTNUwNmxVvZMRhM6wiguKEkIggn8FcyaMASxX4AbnY_qAIrzXMtQ_A/s16000/Cat%20Book%20Blanket.gif" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most perfect reading kit.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">What can possibly be my comfort book, then? On the one hand, I can go back to my comfort books and re-read them over and over again without fearing or caring about not loving them. On the other hand, reading these books gives me warm feelings, and I'm not constantly worried that I might hate it. </span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">I do not dread that my experience will be ruined. As a matter o fact, <b>I find myself falling in love with these books more and more as I read them</b>. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">By the way, <b>we all have our definition of a comfort book</b>. When I write or say "comfort book," you might have thought that I was talking about some cute contemporary novels. But no. Darkness brings me comfort. Okay, clarification: not horror gore. </span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">Darkness does not mean horror/terror. Don't get me wrong. I love watching horror TV films and shows (I think it's time to re-watch <i>Malignant</i>, which is freaking brilliant), but I don't think I'm very fond of horror books -- apart from <i>Mexican Gothic</i>, but that is because of all the Gothic vibes. I always find something amiss.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfzvVTgHwAKmn6AdO-bASkbfkrlq-GHqJAQt9Yx988QtPjf1D2teJ9jJpkpnd7_acy5J78_8cShEB4XbYUENXKDgA9zaPbn0nsnZNVBookCFW4lTuaPVN-KFe3E99bmMUZ9ElPCKgrl62fCR9YmkhfOhzMZnjqVRsr1a5y_JtUd17ImGcK7HC6OYpUQ/s350/Spooky.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfzvVTgHwAKmn6AdO-bASkbfkrlq-GHqJAQt9Yx988QtPjf1D2teJ9jJpkpnd7_acy5J78_8cShEB4XbYUENXKDgA9zaPbn0nsnZNVBookCFW4lTuaPVN-KFe3E99bmMUZ9ElPCKgrl62fCR9YmkhfOhzMZnjqVRsr1a5y_JtUd17ImGcK7HC6OYpUQ/s16000/Spooky.gif" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The spooky season is upon us...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">I'm the happiest when reading about emotionally broken characters rebuilding their world, eerie settings and ruinous atmospheres, terrible secrets, monsters lurking in the shadows, and good and evil being nothing more than shades of grey. <b>I'm the happiest when I'm reading about all the creepy tropes you can imagine</b>. Some books in which I can find this comfort are <i>This Savage Song</i> (my precious August and my badass Kate), <i>The Archived</i> (Fine! Everything Schwab writes brings me comfort -- but some books are easier to get back to than others; I don't think I will ever go back to Shades because all those pages are daunting),<i> The Hunger Games</i> trilogy (Don't ask why. This book is just everything to me. Even with that ending -- I hated it so much the first time that I gave the book an awful rating, and now I'm like "all the stars"); the second time around, I loved it -- and I might have cried about the cat). </span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">As written above, </span><b style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">this statement also made me consider the genres that bring me comfort</span></b><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">. When I need some cheering up, </span>I find myself leaning towards YA dystopian novels -- <b>btw we need another dystopian boom</b>. And fantasy worlds. But not high fantasy with a hundred books in a series. Extensive world-building is awful for someone to whom, when you ask, "what's the plot about?" all that comes out of her mouth is a rambling mess. Many of my comfort books do not have what you would call a traditional happy ending, and since I don't want to spoil the plot, let me just say that there is a lot of hurt, but also hope -- and because the endings are so hopeful, I always get back to them. <b>Isn't hope what we all need?</b> No matter how old we are?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7Yxs84O9v864R99yttdaP9T5aPfLxM5b3scFhWJIyS7Zlmc0WUZjAZmJ2VTj729x3KWVzA40bol074UWu99GMKPBv60dAQe6KOXbsOuCg78VD74H-cv3VfRXUP6L2IEBFdjmDNPBDsssDnlWDhmoQRD3SCX6OGJrFQsibqncw4aQ_rLIIseJyNF3XQ/s500/Hope.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7Yxs84O9v864R99yttdaP9T5aPfLxM5b3scFhWJIyS7Zlmc0WUZjAZmJ2VTj729x3KWVzA40bol074UWu99GMKPBv60dAQe6KOXbsOuCg78VD74H-cv3VfRXUP6L2IEBFdjmDNPBDsssDnlWDhmoQRD3SCX6OGJrFQsibqncw4aQ_rLIIseJyNF3XQ/s16000/Hope.gif" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heimlich never gave up hope.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"> The darkest the story is, the more comforting I will find a book. Just give me heart-wrenching pain, and I will find some hope to light up the day. </span>As someone wrote, “<b>sometimes in the darkest places, we find the brightest light</b>” (no, I never read the book; I just quote it a lot -- maybe I should read it, but first, I must remember the title).</p><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">🌻 So, yes, my <b>favourite books and my comfort books (and genre, if I care to add) are far from the same</b>.<br /></h3><p style="text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="63" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLvCUyT1BoOiBNIaMIdQS3lM3eCYOWCmsf2NX1nSpAfc-qhP6fGyU0DIBo3byscPtO82c0HcqsxrorSk3vBN8UVfb5Ni5EMFtBjtJgot4xUP7HKHcLRT4JfQO7QvRtQG6GzwoJ1wL7xsp24E_JR1KQ8xoTLTaWsmVK8H9YSA0qLKZf8IghiDzG6Pb9nA=s16000" /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">Do you think your comfort book and your favourite book are the same? If not, what are your comfort books?</span></b></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://tidd.ly/33Z2wNQ" target="_blank">Book Depository affiliate link</a>, my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a>, my<a href="https://perlego.mention-me.com/m/ol/ad9ac-f620338748"> Perlego referral</a>, or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>.<br />You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></p><p></p><p></p>Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-86279386139570094972022-09-04T02:30:00.000-07:002022-12-30T09:06:09.957-08:00Sunday Post. One More Hiatus<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2htzx0Cm8LHlergaSpxtNWqPb2cCcrEPPSO5LF3kYQyKwie0Zj1ETZIjhynsxFArxDcDFotvMeNGOvPfFA65EXrXCRvHyDzQQ9fkG0wQlMl3WT2y4sogARikLcNiREJ486C9yjuzQ4sK/s1600/Sunday+Post.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="330" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday Post is a meme hosted by <a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/">Caffeinated Book Reviews</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Some days, you wake up thinking, "Blogging is no longer for me." Other days, you wake you with a thousand post ideas popping in your head and think, "There are so many book conversations I want to have." So, after another return followed by a hiatus, which I thought would end my blogging hobby, here I am, AGAIN! 😅 I'm not sure if "Sunday Post" is still an active meme, but this has always been the perfect spot to begin anew after a long time without writing.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u>What happened in the last months:</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 Last time I wrote, I was back doing research for my thesis. Now, I want to share that <b>I'm back at participating in academic conferences</b> -- I have joined four conferences since June (the last was just yesterday). These are always so much fun, and I learn a lot. However, I always end up feeling like an imposter, and whatever I do is never good enough *IMPOSTER SYNDROME ALERT*<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <b>I'm finally once again reading more often than not.</b> Now, it's time to try to read every single day. By the way, if you know someone who would like <a href="https://pt.scribd.com/g/8d8hu5" target="_blank">to subscribe to Scribd</a>, here's my link (my subscription is over, and that is how I read most books<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="emoji"> 🥺</span></span>).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 Okay, I don't think I have anything else to share. It seems like the last months have been all about reading, writing, researching, and academic conferences. And resting. <b>I'm starting to realize that "resting" and "being lazy" are not the same thing</b> -- I can't keep beating myself up constantly for not doing something I see as productive. Sometimes, your mind and body need an hour or two of doing nothing.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 Last but not least, Nina has passed away. This is actually the first time I'm writing anywhere that my Nina has crossed the rainbow. I miss her purring. I miss her blue eyes. I miss her mood swings. I miss how she bossed the other cats around. I miss her! She would be turning fifteen this month. ❤️</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><div style="text-align: center;"></div><ul></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuA-7_2Q0H7myzz6WPS9pDJboCoCVgvaoTSXUNzX_XtrnqyHI6RrAWQMdczywHegWtWhh9Ky1-XZBPuorWS4qn8v6mkMFSopCVECpwV_BNQBvwCFaYgfbQrVFKcaVPAL5oa4_KOnMPx0L/s1600/Pink+Divider.jpg" width="600" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="41" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEM-rFUHAKFJZPxVNy2KrdcpIaTS_uvL8gJY5kqYcFRTqK0TmMkZ1dWNiJkCOhGzdUS6TqiXGRLIbOdejy-BRNhyphenhyphen_Jx4WDHLLXl6pFitW97QWJUXt_1JYdHFBW9tZkcED17P10iGU3WeIZ/s1600/Book+Haul+II.jpg" /> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: center;"><img height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIcSwKT22QuXI_0PnzaPfGhk-NPjOdskKPz4VHcOJYwIsQCjju1o8agTFzC-Umya_DecVV9Q1hROWXAmqI_55er9seH6C6zvj5Mu4bcZBOfBrqviSUE3eP_Ai7o-xkvkZnBBi2FKCy-22X0fHbGCUgm-Tg5__K_5DQeoJcVT4sOpuZ3d22SItty_e9zQ/s320/DhillonIndigenous.jpg" width="175" /> <br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Did I get a lot more books in the past months? I did! Am I in the mood to search for the covers, put them all together in Photoshop, and then work on the HTML code to ensure the resolution is perfect? No, I'm not. But I really need to share with you some great books I got through NetGalley (did something happen to NetGalley? It's so empty these days!), whose reviews I need to share with you ASAP. Anyway, I'm just showing you a book I got this week from the Kobo store for free: <span><b>Indigenous Resurgence, Decolonization, and Movements for Environmental Justice</b>, edited by<b> </b>Jaskiran Dhillon. Yes, I got it for a future presentation -- that is, if my paper is accepted.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">How have you been? What are you reading? Are you excited about September's book releases? See you next Sunday! 🤞🏻</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://tidd.ly/33Z2wNQ" target="_blank">Book Depository affiliate link</a>, my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a> or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>.<br />You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>.</span></div> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div>Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-67551274844270756552022-05-17T10:46:00.000-07:002022-12-30T09:06:10.041-08:00TTT. 7 Books I Was SO EXCITED to Get, but Still Haven’t Read<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJdxT0ssPaMCdMGucWOdWQQDuc3E4quoQMRExt4MHvmT3sX7gkBJC4rMRhEYilzyFWWvhelwuBdfLIihT-e5Kro_0Mi4SgCyQ2Jv26CrC3J0_6BG5pHaPo8wgjZxewEZKbnaL-rF3vh7UfPO16DlZxReHTP_F3cbZbqs0UYnYB1TSC4apjkNr_tanCw/s700/Top%20Ten%20Tuesday%20Template%20Books%20I%20was%20Excited%20to%20Get.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/">The Artsy Reader Girl</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Top Ten Tuesday wants to shame us all this week. It's calling out our compulsive book-buying habits and exposing the happiness of finally getting the book we wanted only to put it on the TBR pile and never pick it ever again. Okay, "ever again" is too harsh. Let me replace it by "only picking it a thousand years later after cleaning the dust and some spiderwebs." Better, right? 😋 Now it's time to start my guilt trip with <b>seven books I wanted so freaking much, but I have yet to plunge into their worlds</b>.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="121" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOS9j2e0hzonj2FX-213HbaaUUKN7lGdSx1FtHQNYyo1EgWjj1WiowtQlLvQR12qy8PicHbyQjjbRNq13bQiapFEXhMwKSCM1orvfCCqiPGdmh88178awNO6pyXfVkPiG3SIL4fik3ffi/s1600/Book+Divider.jpg" /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-H_VOsvTaYRsAQ9NWD4xXCe7MJ2HmJzvSzBXsj-WPrOLJDsIYGo7K2Xt7o-mocNrxk7r3Bfw2rr2CwAD6HRAXSQ58_vIVPDi80Er7JtPOtXqKKFh-XIU9QXr8nfqq4WUaCZ8otzlLef1UeTl6gg5zoKacmzSC3c17Bquj07lkNtwcZxxMWn7FBYeUA/s1405/TTT%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="1405" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-H_VOsvTaYRsAQ9NWD4xXCe7MJ2HmJzvSzBXsj-WPrOLJDsIYGo7K2Xt7o-mocNrxk7r3Bfw2rr2CwAD6HRAXSQ58_vIVPDi80Er7JtPOtXqKKFh-XIU9QXr8nfqq4WUaCZ8otzlLef1UeTl6gg5zoKacmzSC3c17Bquj07lkNtwcZxxMWn7FBYeUA/s16000/TTT%201.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58064046-gallant" target="_blank">Gallant</a></b>, by V.E. Schwab | Bought on 02/03/2022<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53418394-for-the-wolf" target="_blank">For the Wolf,</a></b> by Hannah Whitten | Bought on 17/11/2021<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54860241-this-poison-heart" target="_blank">This Poison Heart,</a></b> by Kalynn Bayron | Bought on 17/11/2021<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54613751-house-of-hollow" target="_blank">House of Hollow</a></b>, by Kristen Sutherland | Bought on 18/10/2021<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelxFNTOYqXuYKYCZkZ45_nMiIuxCYim9XKbajB_QGj1O9oK1sAPkRkxlaH0cekgnxxMp-raLTfRUXs2kWwxhmO4F9kpBw9Xofp5W3caB8qpeNeDKmYKcXh_ozYXVih1AHUhT46C9pGl1VealajXk5abl-Jp3mqAzQAehpVhg9K7vLqvb0ssFkBKDOaw/s1061/TTT2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="1061" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelxFNTOYqXuYKYCZkZ45_nMiIuxCYim9XKbajB_QGj1O9oK1sAPkRkxlaH0cekgnxxMp-raLTfRUXs2kWwxhmO4F9kpBw9Xofp5W3caB8qpeNeDKmYKcXh_ozYXVih1AHUhT46C9pGl1VealajXk5abl-Jp3mqAzQAehpVhg9K7vLqvb0ssFkBKDOaw/s16000/TTT2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43562313-yolk" target="_blank"><b>Yolk</b></a>, by Mary H.K. Choi | Bought on 11/01/2022<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43887961-a-phoenix-first-must-burn" target="_blank">A Phoenix First Must Burn,</a></b> edited by Patrice Caldwell | Bought on 28/05/2021<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17672940-porcelain" target="_blank"><b>Porcelain: A Gothic Fairy Tale</b></a>, by Benjamin Read & Chris Wildgoose | Bought on 28/12/2021<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="121" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5CqejKXmDuzhiyjZ4w9pMESn0MgA7rtFSE8fgLMF0zu-Ozxs7uPeHLy9F-2vZJIaGvcU0ydT_Y4jyDI4lYrxx68B54MsvI960OclNkKmr5NWAEzXIZTC95yTdVbyn6hbIo9FwSX0LsfR/s1600/Book+Divider.jpg" /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you feeling as guilty as I'm after putting together this post? Have you read any of the books I mentioned? Or did you buy any of them only to add to your TBR pile?<br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://tidd.ly/33Z2wNQ" target="_blank">Book Depository affiliate link</a>, my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a>, or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>.<br />You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>.</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></div></div>Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-89153989487110606382022-05-15T04:21:00.000-07:002022-12-30T09:06:10.097-08:00Sunday Post. No More I'm Back<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2htzx0Cm8LHlergaSpxtNWqPb2cCcrEPPSO5LF3kYQyKwie0Zj1ETZIjhynsxFArxDcDFotvMeNGOvPfFA65EXrXCRvHyDzQQ9fkG0wQlMl3WT2y4sogARikLcNiREJ486C9yjuzQ4sK/s1600/Sunday+Post.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="330" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday Post is a meme hosted by <a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/">Caffeinated Book Reviews</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">HELLO! I think it is time to stop writing "I'm back!". 😅 The last few months have been pretty eventful -- I fear I have been on an unlucky strike -- and blogging just wasn't a priority. In fact, even reading was not a priority. After flying through the pages in January, I had trouble reading one book per month. But now that my PhD studentship has begun, I'll be back to the reading and writing world -- and hopefully, to the blogging world too. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u>What happened this week:</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <b>I'm back doing research for my thesis</b>, and I missed it so freaking much -- I missed doing research in general. Reading fiction and non-fiction, writing down my ideas on paper, looking for new books to add to my TBR pile with the excuse "it's for academic purposes." I missed it all!<b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <b>I finished reading a book</b> -- a massive accomplishment for someone who did not finish a single book the month before. By the way, if you know someone who would like <a href="https://pt.scribd.com/g/8d8hu5" target="_blank">to subscribe to Scribd</a>, here's my link (my subscription is over, and that is how I read most books<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="emoji"> 🥺</span></span>).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 Signed up for online seminars and conferences -- I need to get my groove back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <b>Looked for new books</b>, but I have no clue what has been released in the past five months. Any good recommendations?<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 Lots of crime shows & YouTube crime podcasts -- is that how we call them? <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="emoji">🤔</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <i>Kena: Bridge of Spirits</i> is so freaking cute! If you haven't played it yet, you should. Now, let's play some <i>Spyro.</i></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><div style="text-align: center;"></div><ul></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuA-7_2Q0H7myzz6WPS9pDJboCoCVgvaoTSXUNzX_XtrnqyHI6RrAWQMdczywHegWtWhh9Ky1-XZBPuorWS4qn8v6mkMFSopCVECpwV_BNQBvwCFaYgfbQrVFKcaVPAL5oa4_KOnMPx0L/s1600/Pink+Divider.jpg" width="600" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="41" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEM-rFUHAKFJZPxVNy2KrdcpIaTS_uvL8gJY5kqYcFRTqK0TmMkZ1dWNiJkCOhGzdUS6TqiXGRLIbOdejy-BRNhyphenhyphen_Jx4WDHLLXl6pFitW97QWJUXt_1JYdHFBW9tZkcED17P10iGU3WeIZ/s1600/Book+Haul+II.jpg" /> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: center;"><img height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZJly7iwVW1YWx1mSjjvh4x_sOBIAlTcP0UOa4uage8cjcVx1GxPalYEs-xCG2TqrLWDqrq68JLhiG3i-uflUXF9Ix87TxOli1VbiEWS54HNwot0wFcCfgtmHatYIdGtL87-gPjBmo1eTq54_UX-UrqGw1mKHQ8kBwqQW-Sjxre2zZ_H0nOLBuMbk6Q/s16000/Book%20Haul%20May%202022.jpg" width="350" /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The Gothic lover in me had to get her hands on <b>Anatomy: A Love Story</b> by Dana Schwartz (I probably misspelled the name and can't find it). And it was being sold almost half the price, so I really could not pass up the chance of having it. <b>Skin of the Sea</b> by Natasha Bowen had been under my radar since its release -- not only because of its beautiful cover, but also due to its alluring premise (<span id="freeText11862621998775811119">"Simi prayed to the gods, once. Now she serves them as Mami Wata--a mermaid--collecting the souls of those who die at sea and blessing their journeys back home" 😍).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">How have you been? Did you get new books this week?<br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://tidd.ly/33Z2wNQ" target="_blank">Book Depository affiliate link</a>, my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a> or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>.<br />You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>.</span></div> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div>Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-2304742186913004342022-02-06T06:44:00.000-08:002022-12-30T09:06:10.151-08:00Monthly Wrap-Up. January<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Uyo9Yr9WpOrzlpiozj55IUE8eyKEl5t2RPs065en_R0bPYjBEfqRsW0Q2WEN21Gl6HNYSW-rwNlhuH-n0ur6VGWLLC5GoiL03mWLlql-wvwFQldxpsMw5Gnf24qK-cMFSDMNBGV5xwDg/s1600/Monthly+Wrap+Up.jpg" width="330" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b>Goodbye, January!</b> 🥳 Usually, the first month of the new year goes very slowly, but I have got to say that January has gone by pretty quickly. Just yesterday, I was celebrating the arrival of the new year, and now it is February -- and I'm worried because I haven't finished a single book, nor completed a paper I will be presenting very soon, nor updated my blog regularly as I expected.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u>What I've been up in January:</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <b>I read six books</b>, and two of them were five-stars readings. Six books is a considerable number for someone who had not been able to read a book since November.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 Did I share with you that I finally won a PhD Research Studentship? Because I did! 🎉 And, this week, <b>I received my signed contract</b>. I will start in May. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 Regarding research, <b>I submitted two new abstract proposals</b> for events -- one will take place in Dublin, so I really hope my abstract is accepted. <b>Sadly, I had to withdraw from the Uncharted book project</b>. Many people were no longer going to submit their essays, and I would not be able to write a 10k words one. I still hope to write and publish my essay on Posthumanism in the franchise.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 I'm once again addicted to Sims 4. <b>I'm trying the Not So Berry challenge</b> -- not that I will be able to complete it because 1) I don't have the patience and 2) I do not have all the required expansions. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 Work, work, and more work...<br /></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"></span><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><div style="text-align: center;"></div><ul></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="32" data-original-width="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQHbFPFFraj4xhmZ2XvAuo4aYJ_HiZoNzK0lyaM1efaT1Sp0yYt7NKWt0qV-kgdfAcN_kqpKVLgD-jd-JYXfKRWy0Qhyphenhyphen8xEYlL5Rc5dTnZo5iZC0AfeHLe0h-NYpJc-jgxdqaMSx-r9e7/s1600/On+the+Blog.jpg" /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li>January was not a very productive month -- although I put some first drafts together. I only joined Top Ten Tuesday and <b><a href="https://mylovelysecret.blogspot.com/2022/01/ttt-cant-wait-books-of-2022.html#.Yf_TjVlUl8I" target="_blank">shared some of my can't wait for books of 2022</a></b>. See anything you also wish to read?</li></ul></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /> <br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJ_rHbCoQ3yk3gkmUr88u5OKdJjFOYgYpmE8VPI2ntHWglCmUNn2D-wZV5Jp5jtupDIVZjQfALQxaIZW9RAG1GAASP9SBdhvrec61lWUx8-EMDEs1ob-Hi1O6mPQUsVRbWt-f90o8x9CU/s300/Book+Haul+II.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="41" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJ_rHbCoQ3yk3gkmUr88u5OKdJjFOYgYpmE8VPI2ntHWglCmUNn2D-wZV5Jp5jtupDIVZjQfALQxaIZW9RAG1GAASP9SBdhvrec61lWUx8-EMDEs1ob-Hi1O6mPQUsVRbWt-f90o8x9CU/s0/Book+Haul+II.jpg" /></a> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjf5uklitl02ZiEK7LQ7Rpr0esuxkREWXE-1nJxWi61bnWf-dVimZQHYxuTVbCmSx9jd0XPFvFdGUtJ7W-erzM2cPHe6C4lfEBEcJrPW6P6_6-VGVZIWozuXNqjCpFQHM8RDbp311r2Mla2MVg4iHGzJfEpTbOwlrOuITOWXUDZPOBZimD5nZ2rRAgWWg=s2293" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="2293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjf5uklitl02ZiEK7LQ7Rpr0esuxkREWXE-1nJxWi61bnWf-dVimZQHYxuTVbCmSx9jd0XPFvFdGUtJ7W-erzM2cPHe6C4lfEBEcJrPW6P6_6-VGVZIWozuXNqjCpFQHM8RDbp311r2Mla2MVg4iHGzJfEpTbOwlrOuITOWXUDZPOBZimD5nZ2rRAgWWg=s16000" /></a></div></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">This is what happens when you get yourself a Kobo gift card. 😋 I got myself <b>Big Girl Small Town</b> by Michelle Gallen, <b>Queen</b> by Candice Carty-Williams, <b>Yolk</b> by Mary H. K. Choi, <b>The Watchers</b> by A.M. Shine, <b>The Snow Song</b> by Sally Gardner, and <b>The Thirteenth Tale</b> by Diane Setterfield. Most of these books are outside my comfort zone -- yes, some are spooky tales with Gothic vibes, but most are contemporary novels, which is not what I read. I'm really excited to give them a try.<br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">How was your January? How many news books made their way into your bookshelf?</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/?utm_source=Affiliate_Window&utm_medium=Affiliate_Marketing&utm_campaign=771267&utm_term=httpsmylovelysecretblogspotcom&awc=5478_1601230045_22ddcc3428dce863951a485d42192929" target="_blank">Book Depository</a> affiliate link, use </span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span><span>my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a>,</span> or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>. You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>. </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div>Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-40808460400370224692022-01-04T11:16:00.000-08:002022-12-30T09:06:10.205-08:00TTT. Can't Wait Books of 2022<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgG4QQkXYCnBrPiKQUICSvZEk2Ij13Xwv3Sj8A5_dq3AvUPOZPesDBvbVrf_WWf2lDeOxZTgZwg7tHGowyZT3JrqzydX2ANn_TNAiopEg5zvFPORiTBs1QPcXsMueU-iyjEcM0s0Tkyf394t95l_EVPMbbLTNe2eRdcCPnlQwyxrtrky4CpIukXLXkzsA=s854" width="420" /> <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My yearly can't wait books lists are usually much longer, but I've decided to take it slow since I'm returning from a long unwanted hiatus. I picked one book per month -- actually, I must confess, choosing one book was far from easy, with all the great books that are coming out this year. Anyway, shall we take a look at my list?<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="121" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluxNGErup5w1pPiZQFmghJ7beHKbHUyNqQ9fyK8j0SmDY3WAex-yvEWhOq6EzpL3FN2CS_Q_3h4ZNdEgv0XRrhUo-WKUl8S4K90Z1fmRLl4wOV6jinv6cMgLMbSGippMuphSulajKayzk/s1600/Book+Divider.jpg" /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="1018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbrFdeFTQP-6h_yGlDTqBXdDANaFxbwBx0XerxGuFJN8RuMcPdSb9GIXs37S_vbX-2lRSZUSNCitn1vvHzD5jxqnRW0TMDCAEc_xh-ZG70AlcLbIicA4fgUi1PEJV93iuA5z5Q6Ww6ZRmEASYZfI_UsBDFRVZEkSr_Z-BENNui-ZD-y3jR3uCvp6felQ=s16000" /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Daughter of the Moon Goddess</b> by Sue Lynn Tan. If you remember, I'm always up for a retelling. Also, I can't resist <span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer3404592972"><span id="freeText8023905494382590406">mythology and legendary creatures.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57789637" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> || <a href="https://tidd.ly/3JEEL1H" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea </b>by<b> </b>Axie Oh.<b> </b>I'm in love with the cover. It's beautiful! 😍 I'm too in love with the premise and dying to plunge into the Spirit Realm.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56978100" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> || <a href="https://tidd.ly/3pTdVes" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Gallant </b>by V.E. Schwab. Forever and always reading anything this woman writes. Although, I confess I'm a few books behind.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58064046" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> || <a href="https://tidd.ly/3qMLluC" target="_blank">Book Depository</a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmoPa4OShqwBLJOnb-9DvYBUxqN3CtMDaJ3yBPH191fzVftmbHRUVc9BpNyb_d0pM4mYDGHgRPejN-DXD9g-WsqO9YnsDqNOOXII38z5yhZuVdMHhQQhKCmUvnffYDRQkFhQ6X7Hqc5gPRQu3zbesKlHhuiX9k-F2_OcBiQAEakiCDl86reM16SYE9Sw=s1018" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="1018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmoPa4OShqwBLJOnb-9DvYBUxqN3CtMDaJ3yBPH191fzVftmbHRUVc9BpNyb_d0pM4mYDGHgRPejN-DXD9g-WsqO9YnsDqNOOXII38z5yhZuVdMHhQQhKCmUvnffYDRQkFhQ6X7Hqc5gPRQu3zbesKlHhuiX9k-F2_OcBiQAEakiCDl86reM16SYE9Sw=s16000" /></a></div><b>Queen of the Tiles</b> by Hanna Alkaf. I might be awful at playing Scrabble, but <i>The Weight of Our Sky</i> is one of my favourite books (and I'm waiting for my copy of <i>The Girl and the Ghost</i>). <br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54558756" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> || <a href="https://tidd.ly/3mUFpyg" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Not Good for Maidens</b> by Tori Bovalino. "Gothic" plus "Retelling" equals "Book that I must read". 😋 The cover is a bit terrifying, but I like it a lot.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56245683" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> || <a href="https://tidd.ly/32NDgha" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Dream Runners</b> by Shveta Thakrar. The blurb is super intriguing ("<span id="freeText2009896281989420180">harvesting mortal dreams for the consumption of the naga court")</span>, and the cover is just stunning. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42994623" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> || <a href="https://tidd.ly/3qMYnIu" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibPTqhv0s7qMgciS6sJIRPzquS6YAls-Eywx5s2CXNBSXCJn4tUduXWp9TsB1xeBGsekQHGTZguzoqZrLuTwYUzn2ILyOoB3892uSK6Z4NEBJhDzJCXRUaX9q2VeFnsbKqZAAFr2bW4SAYb53xfgkIUtnCgTlD0ZIAOPud2pmTtJKmsDphz0sjcZIZZg=s1018" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="1018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibPTqhv0s7qMgciS6sJIRPzquS6YAls-Eywx5s2CXNBSXCJn4tUduXWp9TsB1xeBGsekQHGTZguzoqZrLuTwYUzn2ILyOoB3892uSK6Z4NEBJhDzJCXRUaX9q2VeFnsbKqZAAFr2bW4SAYb53xfgkIUtnCgTlD0ZIAOPud2pmTtJKmsDphz0sjcZIZZg=s16000" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Darkening</b> by Sunya Mara. I was caught by the premise of a "<span id="freeText3827973099690809674">city trapped in the eye of a cursed storm."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58311976" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> || <a href="https://tidd.ly/3mSQQ9F" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Undead Truth of Us</b> by Britney S. Lewis. I fell in love with the cover (sunflowers are my favourites), but I stayed for the premise -- even though I think it will break my heart.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56651317" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> || <a href="https://tidd.ly/3EUdk0g" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Sunbearer Trials</b> by Aiden Thomas. I never read anything by Thomas, but a book that is being marketed as "Percy Jackson meets <i>The Hunger Games</i>" seems the perfect book to begin.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55878999" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> || <a href="https://tidd.ly/3FX74X4" target="_blank">Book Depository</a> <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbnJty6tr95qW0bF74PkQhz5z2GJuSTPqNvdp1yjMh3wfvhMpZse4mGe8W30dVrfFa6ucQh0pz43s4Xe7W5mCB7rTThw_HzgjzaxBF_dZ_NGEbn1qkuM9vlwq7ZUNSLBHAdOVaAz-HBqGY6MPivpzEr3PfaJZzYkID-EJE0A6mRPR3RmLqILF-k_ZosQ=s1018" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="1018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbnJty6tr95qW0bF74PkQhz5z2GJuSTPqNvdp1yjMh3wfvhMpZse4mGe8W30dVrfFa6ucQh0pz43s4Xe7W5mCB7rTThw_HzgjzaxBF_dZ_NGEbn1qkuM9vlwq7ZUNSLBHAdOVaAz-HBqGY6MPivpzEr3PfaJZzYkID-EJE0A6mRPR3RmLqILF-k_ZosQ=s16000" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>One Dark Window</b> by Rachel Gillig. <span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer3825932635"><span id="freeTextContainer8610841478021589028">A gothic fantasy where the main character has a monster trapped in her head? Count me in! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58340706" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> || <a href="https://tidd.ly/3FXqAmj" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Bloodmarked</b> by Tracy Deonn. I adored <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3898551742" target="_blank"><b>Legendborn</b></a> -- it tackled <span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3898551742">racial issues and intergenerational trauma --</span></span> and I cannot wait to know what happens next. I'm aware I'm on the wrong ship, but Bree and Sel are perfect. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59365195" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> || <a href="https://tidd.ly/3t5yDJU" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Scorched Earth</b> by Danielle L. Jensen. I haven't read any book in the series yet, but I love anything Jensen writes. How can I not be excited?<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52802010" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> || Book Depository <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="121" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluxNGErup5w1pPiZQFmghJ7beHKbHUyNqQ9fyK8j0SmDY3WAex-yvEWhOq6EzpL3FN2CS_Q_3h4ZNdEgv0XRrhUo-WKUl8S4K90Z1fmRLl4wOV6jinv6cMgLMbSGippMuphSulajKayzk/s1600/Book+Divider.jpg" /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Which 2022 book releases are you dying to read? </span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://tidd.ly/33Z2wNQ" target="_blank">Book Depository affiliate link</a>, my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a>, or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>.<br />You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-3485825692747292282022-01-02T04:17:00.000-08:002022-12-30T09:06:10.260-08:00Sunday Post. Happy New Year!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2htzx0Cm8LHlergaSpxtNWqPb2cCcrEPPSO5LF3kYQyKwie0Zj1ETZIjhynsxFArxDcDFotvMeNGOvPfFA65EXrXCRvHyDzQQ9fkG0wQlMl3WT2y4sogARikLcNiREJ486C9yjuzQ4sK/s1600/Sunday+Post.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="330" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday Post is a meme hosted by <a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/">Caffeinated Book Reviews</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">2021 was, without a doubt, not my blogging year. Nor my reading year. Every time I felt inspired to return, it only lasted a few days (not long enough for me to write and/or complete any new post). I will now keep on hoping 2022 is better because, as I have written a thousand times before, I love rambling about books, sharing my most anticipated releases, shamelessly showing all the books on my TBR pile, and being part of an open-hearted community. Let us hope 2022 will be a better year for <i>My Lovely Secret</i>. 🤞</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u>What happened this week:</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <b>I decided not to officially join any reading challenge</b>. I set my Goodreads goal (twenty-four books since 2021 was such a bad reading year), and that's all for now. Maybe if I find myself able to read, I may change my mind.<b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 To welcome the new year and my latest attempt to get back at blogging, <a href="https://twitter.com/mybookishsecret/status/1477215759092826112" target="_blank">I'm hosting a book giveaway over Twitter</a>.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <b>I created an account at <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/tania_mybookishsecret">The Storygraph</a></b> because I love all the graphs. However, I'm still learning how to use it. 😅</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><div style="text-align: center;"></div><ul></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuA-7_2Q0H7myzz6WPS9pDJboCoCVgvaoTSXUNzX_XtrnqyHI6RrAWQMdczywHegWtWhh9Ky1-XZBPuorWS4qn8v6mkMFSopCVECpwV_BNQBvwCFaYgfbQrVFKcaVPAL5oa4_KOnMPx0L/s1600/Pink+Divider.jpg" width="600" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="41" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEM-rFUHAKFJZPxVNy2KrdcpIaTS_uvL8gJY5kqYcFRTqK0TmMkZ1dWNiJkCOhGzdUS6TqiXGRLIbOdejy-BRNhyphenhyphen_Jx4WDHLLXl6pFitW97QWJUXt_1JYdHFBW9tZkcED17P10iGU3WeIZ/s1600/Book+Haul+II.jpg" /> <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><img height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEQGq7mBh2JU6SUz3EusASE0tT9GVFA6xyc2pSa1yaLYM5iBZKijtsn-7Zie9gmFpbwyMe4N1oWQ6I6B2zSy6cQ8aAzB0sAdCEJG6U6-97NqVcrAxxk2AD3uf0yWKRnjvNsPwdn1RKU8fb6TwqMeNzp37UzTN1ZREA9FwGuAZrPJ6FBC0GTUSzRk8vFA=s16000" width="525" /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b>This Poison Heart</b> by Kalynn Bayron and <b>For The Wolf</b> by Hannah Whitten were Christmas gifts from me to me. 😜 I read <i>Cinderella is Dead</i> back in August, and I immensely enjoyed it (it was my first five-stars book of the year), so I cannot wait to dive into Bayron's new story. I got <b>Bound by Firelight</b> by Dana White through Penguin's rep international program (I haven't been kicked out yet 😅), and I'm currently reading it -- so far, so good.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">How have you been? What are your reading plans for 2022?<br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://tidd.ly/33Z2wNQ" target="_blank">Book Depository affiliate link</a>, my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a>, or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>.<br />You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>.</span></div> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div>Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-26086802089095397912021-08-29T06:02:00.000-07:002022-12-30T09:06:10.347-08:00Sunday Post. Another Comeback<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2htzx0Cm8LHlergaSpxtNWqPb2cCcrEPPSO5LF3kYQyKwie0Zj1ETZIjhynsxFArxDcDFotvMeNGOvPfFA65EXrXCRvHyDzQQ9fkG0wQlMl3WT2y4sogARikLcNiREJ486C9yjuzQ4sK/s1600/Sunday+Post.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="330" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday Post is a meme hosted by <a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/">Caffeinated Book Reviews</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Long time, no see, right? 😅 This year just hasn't been my blogging year. From a reading slump to feeling less than inspired to share my bookish thoughts, 2021 was when I took a long hiatus without meaning to -- there were several attempts of to come back. Still, sadly, blogging was not a priority between a PhD thesis and job hunting (the latter took most of my time). Without any further delay, let me share with you what I've been up since whenever was the last time I joined this meme.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u>What has been happening in my life:</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 As of September, <b>I'm finally starting a new job</b> -- it's only temporary, and I will share more details about it with you soon (that if I don't vanish again). <b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 In other news, <b>I may have finally received a fellowship/research studentship</b>. I'm waiting for the finals results to be released, but if nothing changes, after so many failures, I got one. 😭</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 I've been attending conferences and sharing my research on young adult fiction. I've actually <b>published a paper on pandemics and young adult dystopias</b>. You can find it <a href="https://sfrareview.org/2021/04/22/pandemics-in-young-adult-dystopian-fiction-rethinking-the-posthuman/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 After a prolonged reading slump so far, <b>I've read 14 books this month</b>.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <b>I'm having some issues with Blogger</b>. I'm trying to figure out if it was once again updated or if it's my browser. Or maybe I no longer know how to work with it. 😅</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><div style="text-align: center;"></div><ul></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuA-7_2Q0H7myzz6WPS9pDJboCoCVgvaoTSXUNzX_XtrnqyHI6RrAWQMdczywHegWtWhh9Ky1-XZBPuorWS4qn8v6mkMFSopCVECpwV_BNQBvwCFaYgfbQrVFKcaVPAL5oa4_KOnMPx0L/s1600/Pink+Divider.jpg" width="600" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="41" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEM-rFUHAKFJZPxVNy2KrdcpIaTS_uvL8gJY5kqYcFRTqK0TmMkZ1dWNiJkCOhGzdUS6TqiXGRLIbOdejy-BRNhyphenhyphen_Jx4WDHLLXl6pFitW97QWJUXt_1JYdHFBW9tZkcED17P10iGU3WeIZ/s1600/Book+Haul+II.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="250" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1615238352l/54785481.jpg" width="170" /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>What's the first thing a book blogger does when they suddenly feel it is the perfect time to start blogging again? Yes, visit NetGalley and request new e-arcs. So far, most of my requests were denied -- no surprise, since I was away for so long. However, I need to point out that one of my requests was dismissed because it seems I now live in the USA. Does whoever is responsible takes the time to read our info correctly? Among all the denials, my request for <b>Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia</b> was accepted, and I could not be more excited since I adored <a href="https://mylovelysecret.blogspot.com/2020/06/arc-review-mexican-gothic.html#.YSuCZEDOV8I" target="_blank"><i>Mexican Gothic</i></a>. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">How have you been? Are you enjoying a lovely summer? Any new favourite book(s)?<br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://tidd.ly/33Z2wNQ" target="_blank">Book Depository affiliate link</a>, my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a>, or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>.<br />You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>.</span></div> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div>Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-10284173798553337132021-05-07T02:58:00.000-07:002022-12-30T09:06:10.400-08:00Can't Wait Books. May 2021<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I'm back! At least, I hope I'm back because I love blogging about books too much to give up. 💛 Since May just began and I wanted my comeback post to be something I could easily put together (there was nothing easy about putting this list together), here are all the May releases I can't wait to read. 😋 Suprisingly, I've come across several contemporary novels that I wish to read -- you know I'm a fantasy reader who rarely crosses the fence to adventure into cute/heartbreaking contemporary romances.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /></p><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1610382210l/55119872.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1610382210l/55119872.jpg" width="211" /></a><b> </b><br /><b>Title: </b><i>Black Water Sister</i> [<a href="https://tidd.ly/33KrWzf" target="_blank">book depository</a>]<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b>Zen Cho<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher: </b>Ace Books<br /><b>Published: </b>11th May 2021<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Why I Can't Wait: </b>The truth is I have yet to read any book written by Zen Cho. <i>Black Water Sister</i> seems the perfect novel to begin exploring Cho's writing since I am always in for tales about ghosts and mediums. Moreover, the blurb has definitely caught my eye -- <span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer3587485799"><span id="freeTextContainer12786806114192431187">"A stressed zillennial lesbian fights gods, ghosts, gangsters & grandmas in 21st century Penang."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText13473722395653077265"><b>A reluctant medium discovers the ties that bind can unleash a dangerous power in this compelling Malaysian-set contemporary fantasy.</b><br /><br />Jessamyn Teoh is closeted, broke and moving back to Malaysia, a country she left when she was a toddler. So when Jess starts hearing voices, she chalks it up to stress. But there's only one voice in her head, and it claims to be the ghost of her estranged grandmother, Ah Ma. In life Ah Ma was a spirit medium, the avatar of a mysterious deity called the Black Water Sister. Now she's determined to settle a score against a gang boss who has offended the god--and she's decided Jess is going to help her do it.<br /><br />Drawn into a world of gods, ghosts, and family secrets, Jess finds that making deals with capricious spirits is a dangerous business. As Jess fights for retribution for Ah Ma, she'll also need to regain control of her body and destiny. If she fails, the Black Water Sister may finish her off for good.</span></div><p style="text-align: center;"> <img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593088049l/49125661._SX318_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1599582263l/36152363._SY475_.jpg" width="211" /></a><b> </b><br /><b>Title: </b><i>Illusionary </i>[<a href="https://tidd.ly/3vZBbHY" target="_blank">book depository</a>]<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b><span id="freeTextContainer10575138293518308145">Zoraida Córdova</span><span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher: </b>Little, Brown Books for Young Readers <br /><b>Published: </b>11th May 2021<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><b>Why I Can't Wait: </b>Perhaps I can't wait to read <i>Illusionary</i> because I read <i>Incendiary</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(<a href="https://mylovelysecret.blogspot.com/2020/07/arc-review-incendiary.html#.YJe1oj_OWSQ" target="_blank">review</a>)</span> last year and I loved this re-imagining of the Spanish Inquisition and its main character, the fearless Renata Convida.? It is a pretty good reason, right?<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText12095635089585663960">Reeling from betrayal at the hands of the Whispers, Renata Convida is a girl on the run. With few options and fewer allies, she's reluctantly joined forces with none other than Prince Castian, her most infuriating and intriguing enemy. They're united by lofty goals: find the fabled Knife of Memory, kill the ruthless King Fernando, and bring peace to the nation. Together, Ren and Castian have a chance to save everything, if only they can set aside their complex and intense feelings for each other.<br /><br />With the king's forces on their heels at every turn, their quest across Puerto Leones and beyond leaves little room for mistakes. But the greatest danger is within Ren. The Gray, her fortress of stolen memories, has begun to crumble, threatening her grip on reality. She'll have to control her magics--and her mind--to unlock her power and protect the Moria people once and for all.<br /><br />For years, she was wielded as weapon. Now it's her time to fight back.</span> </div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /> <br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1605802049l/53961984._SY475_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1605802049l/53961984._SY475_.jpg" width="211" /></a><b> </b><br /><b>Title: </b><i>From Little Tokyo, With Love </i>[<a href="https://tidd.ly/3bt6938" target="_blank">book depository</a>]<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b>Sarah Kuhn<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher: </b>Viking Books for Young Readers <br /><b>Published: </b>11th May 2021<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><b>Why I Can't Wait: </b>Retellings and modern fairy tales, I just want to read all of them, okay? Also, the cover of <i>From Little Tokyo With Love</i> is absolutely adorable. 😍<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText3082508426298942788"><b>Celebrated author Sarah Kuhn reinvents the modern fairy tale in this intensely personal yet hilarious novel of a girl whose search for a storybook ending takes her to unexpected places in both her beloved LA neighborhood and her own guarded heart.</b><br /><br />If Rika’s life seems like the beginning of a familiar fairy tale–being an orphan with two bossy cousins and working away in her aunts’ business–she would be the first to reject that foolish notion. After all, she loves her family (even if her cousins were named after Disney characters), and with her biracial background, amazing judo skills and red-hot temper, she doesn’t quite fit the princess mold.<br /><br />All that changes the instant she locks eyes with Grace Kimura, America’s reigning rom-com sweetheart, during the Nikkei Week Festival. From there, Rika embarks on a madcap adventure of hope and happiness–searching for clues about her long-lost mother, exploring Little Tokyo’s hidden treasures with a cute actor, and maybe…finally finding a sense of belonging.<br /><br />But fairy tales are fiction and the real world isn’t so kind. Rika knows she’s setting herself up for disappointment, because happy endings don’t happen to girls like her. Should she walk away before she gets in even deeper, or let herself be swept away?</span> <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1601953281l/50718369._SY475_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1601953281l/50718369._SY475_.jpg" width="211" /></a><b> </b><br /><b>Title: </b><i>Son of the Storm</i><b><i> </i></b>[<a href="https://tidd.ly/3uPFXr7" target="_blank">book depository</a>]<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b>Suyi Davies Okungbowa<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher:</b> Orbit<br /><b>Published: </b>11th May 2021<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><b>Why I Can't Wait: </b>Who can resist a book about forbidden stories, dark secrets, and magic that should not exist? I know I can't! By the way, the book cover is just so fierce and gorgeous, and I love it so so much! 😍<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText8002365184451546641"><b>From one of the most exciting new storytellers in epic fantasy, <i>Son of the Storm</i> is a sweeping tale of violent conquest and forgotten magic set in a world inspired by the pre-colonial empires of West Africa.</b><br /><br />"Everything I love in a fantasy novel. Damn good stuff!" —Jenn Lyons, author of <i>The Ruin of Kings</i><br /><br />In the ancient city of Bassa, Danso is a clever scholar on the cusp of achieving greatness—only he doesn’t want it. Instead, he prefers to chase forbidden stories about what lies outside the city walls. The Bassai elite claim there is nothing of interest. The city’s immigrants are sworn to secrecy.<br /><br />But when Danso stumbles across a warrior wielding magic that shouldn’t exist, he’s put on a collision course with Bassa’s darkest secrets. Drawn into the city’s hidden history, he sets out on a journey beyond its borders. And the chaos left in the wake of his discovery threatens to destroy the empire.</span> <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1602519186l/55004056.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1602519186l/55004056.jpg" width="211" /></a><b> </b><br /><b>Title: </b><i>The Marvelous Mirza Girls </i>[<a href="https://tidd.ly/2RPI9jX" target="_blank">book depository</a>]<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b>Sheba Karim<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher: </b>Quill Tree Books <br /><b>Published: </b>18th May 2021<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><b>Why I Can't Wait: </b>I'm sure <span id="freeText17147768917364804651">Bollywood celebrities, fourteenth-century ruins, karaoke parties, and Sufi saints sums up why I can't wait to get my hands on <i>The Marvelous Mirza Girls</i>.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText17147768917364804651">To cure her post–senior year slump, made worse by the loss of her aunt Sonia, Noreen is ready to follow her mom on a gap year trip to New Delhi, hoping India can lessen her grief and bring her voice back.<br /><br />In the world’s most polluted city, Noreen soon meets kind, handsome Kabir, who introduces her to the wonders of this magical, complicated place. With Kabir’s help—plus Bollywood celebrities, fourteenth-century ruins, karaoke parties, and Sufi saints—Noreen begins to rediscover her joyful voice.<br /><br />But when a family scandal erupts, Noreen and Kabir must face complicated questions in their own relationship: What does it mean to truly stand by someone—and what are the boundaries of love?</span> <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1601695675l/54860605.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1601695675l/54860605.jpg" width="211" /></a><b> </b><br /><b>Title: </b><i>Tokyo Ever After </i>[<a href="https://tidd.ly/2QkVr7D" target="_blank">book depository</a>]<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b>Emiko Jean<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher: </b>Flatiron Books <br /><b>Published: </b>18th May 2021<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><b>Why I Can't Wait: </b>I was not fond of Emiko Jean's <i>Empress of All Seasons</i>, but <i>Tokyo Ever After</i> gives me <i>The Princess Diaries</i> vibes (I have only ever watched the films), thus becoming a must-read.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText12030180808777347179">Izumi Tanaka has never really felt like she fit in—it isn’t easy being Japanese American in her small, mostly white, northern California town. Raised by a single mother, it’s always been Izumi—or Izzy, because “It’s easier this way”—and her mom against the world. But then Izzy discovers a clue to her previously unknown father’s identity… and he’s none other than the Crown Prince of Japan. Which means outspoken, irreverent Izzy is <i>literally </i>a princess.<br /><br />In a whirlwind, Izzy travels to Japan to meet the father she never knew and discover the country she always dreamed of. But being a princess isn’t all ball gowns and tiaras. There are conniving cousins, a hungry press, a scowling but handsome bodyguard who just might be her soulmate, and thousands of years of tradition and customs to learn practically overnight.<br /><br />Izzy soon finds herself caught between worlds, and between versions of herself—back home, she was never “American” enough, and in Japan, she must prove she’s “Japanese” enough. Will Izumi crumble under the weight of the crown, or will she live out her fairytale, happily ever after?</span> <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /></div> <br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1603211256l/54017941.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1603211256l/54017941.jpg" width="211" /></a><b> </b><br /><b>Title: </b><i>In the Ravenous Dark</i><i> </i>[<a href="https://tidd.ly/2SJjJJg" target="_blank">book depository</a>] <div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b>A.M. Strickland<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher: </b>Hodder & Stoughton <br /><b>Published: </b>18th May 2021<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><b>Why I Can't Wait: </b>Bloodmages, spirits, Underworld. Bloodmages, spirits, Underworld. Bloodmages, spirits, Underworld. Bloodmages, spirits, Underworld!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText10440479052872534246"><i>A pansexual bloodmage reluctantly teams up with an undead spirit to start a rebellion among the living and the dead.</i><br /><br />In Thanopolis, those gifted with magic are assigned undead spirits to guard them—and control them. Ever since Rovan’s father died trying to keep her from this fate, she’s hidden her magic. But when she accidentally reveals her powers, she’s bound to a spirit and thrust into a world of palace intrigue and deception.<br /><br />Desperate to escape, Rovan finds herself falling for two people she can’t fully trust: Lydea, a beguiling, rebellious princess; and Ivrilos, the handsome spirit with the ability to control Rovan, body and soul.<br /><br />Together, they uncover a secret that will destroy Thanopolis. To save them all, Rovan will have to start a rebellion in both the mortal world and the underworld, and find a way to trust the princess and spirit battling for her heart—if she doesn’t betray them first.</span> <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1603286969l/50266871._SY475_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1603286969l/50266871._SY475_.jpg" width="211" /></a><b> </b><br /><b>Title: </b><i>Hani and Ishu's Guide fo Fake Dating </i>[<a href="https://tidd.ly/2RSvOvm" target="_blank">book depository</a>] <div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b>Adiba Jaigirdar<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher: </b>Page Street Kids <br /><b>Published: </b>25th May 2021<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><b>Why I Can't Wait: </b>I know I should talk less about the covers, but this cover is so cute! 😍 Contemporary romance novels have the cutest covers. If you have been following me/reading my blog, you know I love fake relationships. But more importantly, I love fake relationships that turn into something real. So, of course, I can't wait to get my hands on <i>Hani and Ishu's Guide for Fake Dating.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b></div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText16643879479430018563">Everyone likes Humaira "Hani" Khan—she’s easy going and one of the most popular girls at school. But when she comes out to her friends as bisexual, they invalidate her identity, saying she can’t be bi if she’s only dated guys. Panicked, Hani blurts out that she’s in a relationship…with a girl her friends absolutely hate—Ishita "Ishu" Dey. Ishu is the complete opposite of Hani. She’s an academic overachiever who hopes that becoming head girl will set her on the right track for college. But Ishita agrees to help Hani, if Hani will help her become more popular so that she stands a chance of being elected head girl.<br /><br />Despite their mutually beneficial pact, they start developing real feelings for each other. But relationships are complicated, and some people will do anything to stop two Bengali girls from achieving happily ever after.</span> <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600801376l/55422802.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600801376l/55422802.jpg" width="211" /></a><b> </b><br /><b>Title: </b><i>Spells Trouble </i>[<a href="https://tidd.ly/33MFA54" target="_blank">book depository</a>] <div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b>P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher: </b>Wednesday Books <br /><b>Published: </b>25th May 2021<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><b>Why I Can't Wait: </b>I love reading about the Salem Trials. I love reading books related to the Salem Trials. I love witches -- especially the wicked ones -- and I love strong sibling friendships. Makes perfect sense to have this book on my list.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText6309237891084888936"><b>Double double, twins spell trouble…</b><br /><br />Hunter and Mercy Goode are twin witches, direct descendants of the founder of their town of Goodeville. As their ancestors have done before them, it is now time for the twins to learn what it means to be Gatekeepers–the protectors of the Gates to different underworlds, ancient portals between their world and realms where mythology rules and nightmares come to life.<br /><br />When their mother becomes the first victim in a string of murders, the devastated sisters vow to avenge her death. But it will take more than magic to rein in the ancient mythological monsters who’ve infected their peaceful town.<br /><br />Now Hunter and Mercy must come together and accept their destiny or risk being separated for good.</span> <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What are you can't wait books of May?</b></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/?utm_source=Affiliate_Window&utm_medium=Affiliate_Marketing&utm_campaign=771267&utm_term=httpsmylovelysecretblogspotcom&awc=5478_1601230045_22ddcc3428dce863951a485d42192929" target="_blank">Book Depository</a>, use </span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span><span>my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a>,</span> or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>. You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span> </span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-74978911527001682122021-02-07T03:25:00.000-08:002022-12-30T09:06:10.457-08:00Can't Wait Books. February 2021<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqkJVvoiHkhj_g36-6kCD3_-ZpA-aby-_cMVbD7_pt1iaTz2dTNhE7Nis2ohVyzTQ5nXybgD5uJ6rf4xcgy6PCOcGwgNtwv7kkQCnd_p5Ooc2hm2yerAoNr1xB1lHzj3iYyd_zza4-4dY/s700/Can%2527t+Wait+Books+February+2021.jpg" width="300" /></div> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Let's pretend February has just begun, and I'm not a thousand years late to announce my can't wait books of the month. 😋 Yes, this is a new feature on the blog that many other content creators already do. Since I was not able to share my can't wait books of 2021 at a reasonable time, I decided <b>it would be better to fangirl about all the books I'm dying to read on a monthly basis</b>. Shall we take a look?<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /></p><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1590166168l/48560025._SY475_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1590166168l/48560025._SY475_.jpg" width="211" /></a><b> </b><br /><b>Title: </b><i>What Big Teeth</i> [<a href="https://tidd.ly/3dbqXOm" target="_blank">book depository</a>]<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b>Rose Szabo<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher: </b>Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Byr) <br /><b>Published: </b>2nd February 2021<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Why I Can't Wait:</b> I was not very fond of <i>Wilder Girls</i> (even though I did present a paper on it), so I'm a little worried about the comparison. Nevertheless, a Gothic retelling of <i>Red Riding Wood</i> is something I can't wait to read! You know how much I love retellings. ❤️</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText14534912333383832895"><b>Rose Szabo's thrilling debut is a dark and thrilling novel about a teen girl who returns home to her strange, wild family after years of estrangement, perfect for fans of <i>Wilder Girls</i>.</b><br /><br />Eleanor Zarrin has been estranged from her wild family for years. When she flees boarding school after a horrifying incident, she goes to the only place she thinks is safe: the home she left behind. But when she gets there, she struggles to fit in with her monstrous relatives, who prowl the woods around the family estate and read fortunes in the guts of birds.<br /><br />Eleanor finds herself desperately trying to hold the family together — in order to save them all, Eleanor must learn to embrace her family of monsters and tame the darkness inside her.<br /><br />Exquisitely terrifying, beautiful, and strange, this fierce gothic fantasy will sink its teeth into you and never let go.</span></div><p style="text-align: center;"> <img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593088049l/49125661._SX318_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593088049l/49125661._SX318_.jpg" width="211" /></a><b> </b><br /><b>Title: </b><i>Fat Chance Charlie Vega </i>[<a href="https://tidd.ly/3jZtFrX" target="_blank">book depository</a>]<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b>Crystal Maldonado<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher: </b>Holiday House<br /><b>Published: </b>2nd February 2021<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><b>Why I Can't Wait: </b>I got <i>Fat Chance Charlie Vega</i> from Edelweiss (download section since my requests are always ignored or declined), but I did not read it on time. Of course now I'm dying to read this coming of age story about love, friendship, and acceptance. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText14366786872101981030"><b> <b>Coming of age as a Fat brown girl in a white Connecticut suburb is hard. </b> <b>Harder when your whole life is on fire, though.</b></b><br /><br />Charlie Vega is a lot of things. Smart. Funny. Artistic. Ambitious. Fat.<br /><br />People sometimes have a problem with that last one. Especially her mom. Charlie wants a good relationship with her body, but it's hard, and her mom leaving a billion weight loss shakes on her dresser doesn't help. The world and everyone in it have ideas about what she should look like: thinner, lighter, slimmer-faced, straighter-haired. <i>Be smaller. Be whiter. Be quieter. </i><br /><br />But there's one person who's always in Charlie's corner: her best friend Amelia. Slim. Popular. Athletic. Totally dope. So when Charlie starts a tentative relationship with cute classmate Brian, the first worthwhile guy to notice her, everything is perfect until she learns one thing--he asked Amelia out first. So is she his second choice or what? Does he even really see her? UGHHH. Everything is now officially a MESS.<br /><br />A sensitive, funny, and painful coming-of-age story with a wry voice and tons of chisme, <i>Fat Chance, Charlie Vega</i> tackles our relationships to our parents, our bodies, our cultures, and ourselves.</span> </div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /> <br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1610911844l/52727554.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1610911844l/52727554.jpg" width="211" /></a><b> </b><br /><b>Title: </b><i>Rise of the Red Hand </i>[<a href="https://tidd.ly/3qjmAoo">book depository</a>]<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b>Olivia Chadha<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher: </b>Erewhon <br /><b>Published: </b>2nd February 2021<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><b>Why I Can't Wait: </b>I shall never resist an appealing (and appalling) dystopia. I love how dark <i>Rise of the Red Hand</i> sounds so terrifying and how it tackles major social issues, such as climate change and inequality.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText15432089172658258608"><b>A rare, searing portrayal of the future of climate change in South Asia. A streetrat turned revolutionary and the disillusioned hacker son of a politician try to take down a ruthlessly technocratic government that sacrifices its poorest citizens to build its utopia.</b><br /><br />The South Asian Province is split in two. Uplanders lead luxurious lives inside a climate-controlled biodome, dependent on technology and gene therapy to keep them healthy and youthful forever. Outside, the poor and forgotten scrape by with discarded black-market robotics, a society of poverty-stricken cyborgs struggling to survive in slums threatened by rising sea levels, unbreathable air, and deadly superbugs.<br /><br />Ashiva works for the Red Hand, an underground network of revolutionaries fighting the government, which is run by a merciless computer algorithm that dictates every citizen’s fate. She’s a smuggler with the best robotic arm and cybernetic enhancements the slums can offer, and her cargo includes the most vulnerable of the city’s abandoned children.<br /><br />When Ashiva crosses paths with the brilliant hacker Riz-Ali, a privileged Uplander who finds himself embroiled in the Red Hand’s dangerous activities, they uncover a horrifying conspiracy that the government will do anything to bury. From armed guardians kidnapping children to massive robots flattening the slums, to a pandemic that threatens to sweep through the city like wildfire, Ashiva and Riz-Ali will have to put aside their differences in order to fight the system and save the communities they love from destruction.</span> <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585578175l/40024121._SY475_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585578175l/40024121._SY475_.jpg" width="211" /></a><b> </b><br /><b>Title: </b><i>The Gilded Ones </i>[<a href="https://tidd.ly/3akwrEN">book depository</a>]<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b>Namina Forna<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher:</b> Delacorte<br /><b>Published: </b>9th February 2021<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><b>Why I Can't Wait: </b>Do you know for how long I've been waiting for <i>The Gilded Ones</i>?! I can't believe it will be finally out after its releasing date being pushed so many times! Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating, and it was only pushed one time. 😋 Anyway, I'm dying to finally meet Deka.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText5551740042132489668">Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.<br /><br />But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity--and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.<br /><br />Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki--near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire's greatest threat.<br /><br />Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she's ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be--not even Deka herself.</span> <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1613123818l/53317495._SY475_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1613123818l/53317495._SY475_.jpg" width="211" /></a><b> </b><br /><b>Title: </b><i>Fireheart Tiger </i>[<a href="https://tidd.ly/3tY72IY">book depository</a>]<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b>Aliette de Bodard<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher: </b>Tor.com<br /><b>Published: </b>9th February 2021<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><b>Why I Can't Wait: </b>Aliette de Bodard always creates enthralling settings and complex characters (I know, I know -- I have only read one of her books, but I have most of her books on my wishlist). <i>Fireheart Tiger</i> seems another amazing tale.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText15416761676658503302"><b> <i>Award-winning author Aliette de Bodard returns with a powerful romantic fantasy that reads like The Goblin Emperor meets Howl’s Moving Castle in a pre-colonial Vietnamese-esque world.</i></b><br /><br /><i>Fire burns bright and has a long memory….</i><br /><br />Quiet, thoughtful princess Thanh was sent away as a hostage to the powerful faraway country of Ephteria as a child. Now she’s returned to her mother’s imperial court, haunted not only by memories of her first romance, but by worrying magical echoes of a fire that devastated Ephteria’s royal palace.<br /><br />Thanh’s new role as a diplomat places her once again in the path of her first love, the powerful and magnetic Eldris of Ephteria, who knows exactly what she wants: romance from Thanh and much more from Thanh’s home. Eldris won’t take no for an answer, on either front. But the fire that burned down one palace is tempting Thanh with the possibility of making her own dangerous decisions.<br /><br />Can Thanh find the freedom to shape her country’s fate—and her own?</span> <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1594649917l/45011202._SY475_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1594649917l/45011202._SY475_.jpg" width="211" /></a><b> </b><br /><b>Title: </b><i>The Wide Startlight </i>[<a href="https://tidd.ly/37dnETa" target="_blank">book depository</a>]<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b>Nicole Lesperance<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher: </b>Razorbill<br /><b>Published: </b>16th February 2021<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><b>Why I Can't Wait: </b>The cover of <i>The Wide Starlight</i> is so beautiful! 😍 A beautiful cover for a heart-breaking and magical story. Right? I read some early readers reviews, which claim this novel has a fairy-tale touch, and I'm so excited about it!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText17116063176622243116"><b><i>The Hazel Wood</i> meets <i>The Astonishing Color of After</i> in this dreamy, atmospheric novel that follows sixteen-year-old Eli as she tries to remember what truly happened the night her mother disappeared off a glacier in Norway under the Northern Lights.</b><br /><br />Never whistle at the Northern Lights, the story goes, or they'll sweep down from the sky and carry you away.<br /><br />Sixteen-year-old Eline Davis knows it's true. She was there ten years ago, on a frozen fjord in Svalbard, Norway, the night her mother whistled at the lights and then vanished.<br /><br />Now Eli lives an ordinary life with her dad on Cape Cod. But when the Northern Lights are visible over the Cape for just one night, she can't resist the possibility of seeing her mother again. So she whistles—and it works. Her mother appears, with snowy hair, frosty fingertips and a hazy story of where she's been all these years. And she doesn't return alone.<br /><br />Along with Eli's mother's reappearance come strange, impossible things. Narwhals swimming in Cape Cod Bay, meteorites landing in Eli's yard, and three shadowy princesses with ominous messages. It's all too much, too fast, and Eli pushes her mother away. She disappears again—but this time, she leaves behind a note that will send Eli on a journey across continents, to the northern tip of the world:<br /><br /><i>Find me where I left you.</i></span> <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1595511224l/53301668._SY475_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1595511224l/53301668._SY475_.jpg" width="211" /></a><b> </b><br /><b>Title: </b><i>Playing Cupid</i><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b>S.C. Alban<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher: </b>The Parliament House Press<br /><b>Published: </b>23th February 2021<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><b>Why I Can't Wait: </b>So far, every book I've read published by The Parliament House Press has been a little disappointing. However, the premise of <i>Playing Cupid</i> sounds so intriguing (who wouldn't like to be the Cupid for a day?) that I'm giving it a chance.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText17116063176622243116"><span id="freeText15386715884256182843">For the past five years, seventeen-year-old Megan Cooper has built a wall around her heart with little room to experience true feelings. However, her entire world shifts the moment she hits Cupid with her car driving home from finals. With his shooting arm significantly injured, she has no choice but to take his place.<br /><br />Now, as Megan races to find Cupid’s final three love matches in order to meet his quota by the start of the new year, she comes face to face with the very emotions she’s been pushing away for so long.<br /><br />Caught between what her head is saying and what her heart longs for, Megan must face old wounds, find forgiveness, and track down the perfect match for the one boy she can’t stand.<br /><br />This YA debut is a touching and heartwarming shot through the heart for teen and adult readers alike!</span></span> <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What are you can't wait books of February?</b></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/?utm_source=Affiliate_Window&utm_medium=Affiliate_Marketing&utm_campaign=771267&utm_term=httpsmylovelysecretblogspotcom&awc=5478_1601230045_22ddcc3428dce863951a485d42192929" target="_blank">Book Depository</a>, use </span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span><span>my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a>,</span> or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>. You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>.</span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div>Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-68202114408041855962021-02-01T01:52:00.000-08:002022-12-30T09:06:10.512-08:00Reading & Blogging Challenges. Planning an Epic Year<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV_d4V-ofsL0TGDDT8HYUhyxB8nMc539caY2ptzzxUzpSwI7ivbDHG2VN8MOeiGT0X2MZzrTCdAjH7IPeo8hlQRt4qSHfpAMrC__akjtdeI3T3KYg4gf9vnfg8drMZnA_1Kc46NXTaABX/s590/2021+Reading+Challenges.jpg" width="370" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I know, I know: I am late! I should have begun organizing a new reading and blogging year before 2020 ended. The thing is, I was too scared to look at what I pledge last year because I am aware that I failed miserably at everything. Well, maybe I do not need to be that harsh on myself. I mean, these challenges did help me tackle down my ever-growing TBR pile -- even if I did not meet all of my goals. Anyway, <b>I am once again really excited about the challenges I am joining</b>, and I hope to do a lot better this year. 😊</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="713" height="77" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5a8cxQhDkyqHrRirc1eNUmp2R70KAKThVWBQticGXRBJzEHWBv3uFQv0xHESy73hfNCS_UobTPpape1R-62F_PntsLB4XLzlqxpsPZXYaUY8evVoYao_XwAip07T_joK2etPjVDq4ekAc/s320/Reading+Challenges.jpg" width="320" /></div><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><b>BEAT THE BACKLIST</b></span> hosted by <a href="https://www.novelknight.com/beat-the-backlist/" target="_blank">@ Novel Knight</a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02w19IMQVsECeWrqM1jy_mil_uJUJKz-9Ki8WIiX7dDmKebOsC4XfeuSZuGAA4KHoBSoZJQEwCUgbpCtRM3qJ99voVSzFIaCc4m5uP1P0o0r6tfctTWQt53m_T_upX5djxq-ROyP3E9R8/s16000/BTB-20201-twitter-banner.webp" width="310" /></a> It is the fourth year in a row that I am signing up to join Beat The Backlist. As always, this is one of my favourite reading challenges because it helps me read books that have been on my TBR pile for ages. In 2020, I surpassed my initial goal (twenty books), so in 2021 <b>I am hoping to read thirty backlist titles</b>. This year there will be no team challenge -- which might be a good thing since I always forget to update my stats halfway-through the challenge. However, I might join the bingo cards.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">These are some titles I picked to read in 2021 (I am keeping some titles from last year that I was not able to read)<i>:</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">📚 <i>Cinderella is Dead</i> by Kalynn Bayron;<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">📚<i> Creatures of Will & Temper </i>by Molly Tanzer;<i> <br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">📚<i> Legendborn</i> by Tracy Deonn;<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">📚<i> Lifestyles of Gods and Monsters </i>by Emily Roberson;<i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">📚<i> Partials</i> by Dan Wells;<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">📚<i> Orleans </i>by Sherry L. Smith;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">📚<i> Sherwood</i> by Meagan Spooner; <br /><i></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">📚<i> The Defiant Heir </i>by Melissa Caruso;<br /><i></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">📚<i> The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue</i> by V.E. Schwab;<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">📚<i> The Jewel</i> by Amy Ewing;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">📚<i> The Loneliest Girl in the Universe</i> by Lauren James;<i> </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">📚<i> The Raven Boys</i> by Maggie Stiefvater;<i> </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">📚<i> The Twisted Tree</i> by Rachel Burg. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><b>DYSTOPIA READING CHALLENGE</b></span> hosted by <a href="https://gamereadteach.blogspot.com/2020/12/2021-dystopia-reading-challenge-sign-ups.html" target="_blank">Brittani @Game, Read, Teach</a><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />In 2020, I think I read six to seven dystopias. "checks on Goodreads how many dystopias she read* 🙈 Yep, and they were all reviewed over there. Since 2021 will be another year of dystopias for me, I am officially joining this challenge again. <b>For the third year in a row, I am aiming for the Rebel badge</b>, in which I have to read and review 6 to 10 dystopian books.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><b>2021 MONTHLY KEY WORD READING CHALLENGE</b></span> &<span style="color: #c27ba0;"><b> 2021 MONTHLY MOTIF READING CHALLENGE </b></span>hosted by <a href="https://www.girlxoxo.com/2021-monthly-key-word-reading-challenge/" target="_blank">Kim & Tanya @girlxoxo</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I saw these challenges on <a href="http://www.weliveandbreathebooks.com" target="_blank">Sam @We Live and Breathe Words</a> and I immediately knew I had to join them -- especially since I was already reading <i>Winter</i> by Marissa Meyer, being "Winter" one of the keywords and "Once upon a time" January's motif.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="713" height="77" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5V6eSwyvi1gVXHOiu-XJMYbH0PflHj9zsop211oszJA1db0PIVFcNkY5Gs97UtHyNTIJgqwfYxoG8b5zT7OflxHYdK3DP7pTIPPdWa-KRDvrvbhyxjovEW1VeATC7Csd6TcEIRrmUie-n/s320/Blogging+Challenges.jpg" width="320" /></div><br /><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><b>2021 DISCUSSION CHALLENGE</b></span> hosted by <a href="https://feedyourfictionaddiction.com/">Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction</a><b> </b>and <a href="https://itstartsatmidnight.com/">Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight</a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-m74afJEUYcTVxmC1y8E87AMwUAUH_W8-IfxwqHV_TfBfDldMUD1dq9HJJD11fVgEc0651GMw3imT0upCCf3Q2jsOW_j9xrZH1JxltmgtK4okKYpiLEUqD6SxiEhCXg7_0tgCjOckeOUu/s1600/2020-Discussion-Challenge.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-m74afJEUYcTVxmC1y8E87AMwUAUH_W8-IfxwqHV_TfBfDldMUD1dq9HJJD11fVgEc0651GMw3imT0upCCf3Q2jsOW_j9xrZH1JxltmgtK4okKYpiLEUqD6SxiEhCXg7_0tgCjOckeOUu/s320/2020-Discussion-Challenge.png" width="320" /></a></div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">By the fourth year in a row (I think), I pledge to myself to share more discussion posts. 😊<br /><br />This Discussion Challenge always helps me write and share discussion posts about books and everything book-ish. Although, last year, I did not share as many discussion posts as I was expecting to -- writing research essays does take a lot of my free time. 😅<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you are interested in joining, this challenge is all about promoting discussions about whatever you want as long as it is related to books and/or book blogging. There are five levels, and I am once again hoping to reach the first one, <b>Discussion Dabbler</b>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br />You can use the hashtag <span style="color: #a20827;"><b>#LetsDiscuss2021</b></span> to share your progress and connect with other participants on Twitter (this is a great form to give some visibility to discussion posts and find some new interesting articles).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Which challenges will you be joining in 2021?</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/?utm_source=Affiliate_Window&utm_medium=Affiliate_Marketing&utm_campaign=771267&utm_term=httpsmylovelysecretblogspotcom&awc=5478_1601230045_22ddcc3428dce863951a485d42192929" target="_blank">Book Depository</a> or <a href="https://amzn.to/32T3VX7" target="_blank">Amazon</a> affiliate link, use </span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span><span>my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a>,</span> or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>. You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>.</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div></div>Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-30506617906209638452021-01-31T03:45:00.000-08:002022-12-30T09:06:10.564-08:00Monthly Recap. January<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Uyo9Yr9WpOrzlpiozj55IUE8eyKEl5t2RPs065en_R0bPYjBEfqRsW0Q2WEN21Gl6HNYSW-rwNlhuH-n0ur6VGWLLC5GoiL03mWLlql-wvwFQldxpsMw5Gnf24qK-cMFSDMNBGV5xwDg/s1600/Monthly+Wrap+Up.jpg" width="330" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b>Goodbye, January!</b> 🥳 January was a month filled with plans (so many to-do lists), but then something happened (you can read all about it below). I do have some very bad luck -- I've been wondering about who has jinxed me when I was born?! Anyway, I really hope February will be a better month and something good comes this way.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u>What I've been up since in January:</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 I tested positive for Covid -- <b>I'm part of that lucky bunch that caught it without leaving home</b> because I live with people who were not working from home and had to deal with irresponsible co-workers who go to work with symptoms (coughing and fever doesn't always have to be the first symptoms). <span style="font-size: x-small;">Ps. We have a good health care system, so that person could have missed working days. As a matter of fact, you received your full-salary while you are in quarantine.</span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <b>Remember me telling you about my first international conference of the year?</b> I presented my paper, but I did it while experiencing some Covid symptoms. It was not easy...<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 Due to getting sick, <b>all my plans for January were put on hold</b>. I'm dying to share with you all the books coming out in 2021 that I can't wait to read.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 Which also means I'm still very much broke. If you wish to help this PhD student to keep working on her thesis through these dark times, you can do it by using her <b><a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5" target="_blank">Scrib referral link</a></b>. Not having to spend one hundred euros on academic anthology does help a lot.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <b>I received my teaching certificate! </b>🥳 Now waiting for an opportunity to give it good use.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <b>I read five books this month<span style="font-size: x-small;">. </span></b><span style="font-size: small;">I'm hoping to finish another book before the day ends.</span><br /></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"></span><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><div style="text-align: center;"></div><ul></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="32" data-original-width="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQHbFPFFraj4xhmZ2XvAuo4aYJ_HiZoNzK0lyaM1efaT1Sp0yYt7NKWt0qV-kgdfAcN_kqpKVLgD-jd-JYXfKRWy0Qhyphenhyphen8xEYlL5Rc5dTnZo5iZC0AfeHLe0h-NYpJc-jgxdqaMSx-r9e7/s1600/On+the+Blog.jpg" /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li>I joined Top Ten Tuesday and shared <a href="https://mylovelysecret.blogspot.com/2021/01/ttt-13-amazing-2021-middle-grade.html#.YBaTsXlUl8I" target="_blank"><b>13 amazing middle grade adventures that I can't wait to read</b></a>. <br /></li></ul></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li>I read and <a href="https://mylovelysecret.blogspot.com/2021/01/arc-review-five-reasons-you-should-read.html#.YBaTtXlUl8I" target="_blank"><b>reviewed my first ever physical ARC, Cast in Firelight</b></a> by Dana Swift. Regarding the world-building, please, take my opinion with a grain of salt. Also, <u>please, read own-voices reviews to be sure that there is nothing wrong regarding representation.</u></li></ul></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /> <br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJ_rHbCoQ3yk3gkmUr88u5OKdJjFOYgYpmE8VPI2ntHWglCmUNn2D-wZV5Jp5jtupDIVZjQfALQxaIZW9RAG1GAASP9SBdhvrec61lWUx8-EMDEs1ob-Hi1O6mPQUsVRbWt-f90o8x9CU/s300/Book+Haul+II.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="41" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJ_rHbCoQ3yk3gkmUr88u5OKdJjFOYgYpmE8VPI2ntHWglCmUNn2D-wZV5Jp5jtupDIVZjQfALQxaIZW9RAG1GAASP9SBdhvrec61lWUx8-EMDEs1ob-Hi1O6mPQUsVRbWt-f90o8x9CU/s0/Book+Haul+II.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <img height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvibTwy-Ir8ZhLqIhFtp9IOJscvOrQHVTSb1WuvlEEeNfe_MI1fA4vv31gqCGhlrV9KEe7Zt_elqQoQiBIDWxuZGffYJpyXdWKwzltguN51AcwHpmlXb9wZqvIUezs7lLd2ZjJAe6Hah0Y/s475/13206900._SY475_.jpg" width="175" /><br /></div> I bought <b>Winter</b> by Marissa Meyer back in December (it was a Christmas present). Due to Covid and Brexit, the book only arrived at my mailbox this month. I already read it, loved it, and will without a doubt mention <i>The Lunar Chronicles</i> on my thesis.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">How was your January? Were you also jinxed when you were born?</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/?utm_source=Affiliate_Window&utm_medium=Affiliate_Marketing&utm_campaign=771267&utm_term=httpsmylovelysecretblogspotcom&awc=5478_1601230045_22ddcc3428dce863951a485d42192929" target="_blank">Book Depository</a> or <a href="https://amzn.to/32T3VX7" target="_blank">Amazon</a> affiliate link, use </span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span><span>my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a>,</span> or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>. You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>. </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div>Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-89134233718826949232021-01-17T03:28:00.000-08:002022-12-30T09:06:10.615-08:00ARC Review // Five Reasons You Should Read Cast in Firelight<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://images3.penguinrandomhouse.com/cover/700jpg/9780593124215" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="http://images3.penguinrandomhouse.com/cover/700jpg/9780593124215" width="211" /></a><b> </b><br /><b>Title: </b><i>Cast in Firelight</i> [<a href="https://tidd.ly/3qvvBu9">book depository</a> | <a href="https://amzn.to/2XRwLny">amazon</a>]<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b>Dana Swift<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher: </b>Delacorte Press<br /><b>Published: </b>19th January 2021<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Pages:</b> 448 pages<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText14110203657925187683"><b>The first book in an epic, heart-pounding fantasy duology about two royal heirs betrothed to be married, but whose loyalties are torn, and a ruthless enemy who threatens their world, perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir, Hafsah Faizal, and Renée Ahdieh.</b><br /><br /><b>Adraa</b> is the royal heir of Belwar, a talented witch on the cusp of taking her royal ceremony test, and a girl who just wants to prove her worth to her people.<br /><br /><b>Jatin</b> is the royal heir to Naupure, a competitive wizard who's mastered all nine colors of magic, and a boy anxious to return home for the first time since he was a child.<br /><br />Together, their arranged marriage will unite two of Wickery's most powerful kingdoms. But after years of rivalry from afar, Adraa and Jatin only agree on one thing: their reunion will be anything but sweet.<br /><br />Only, destiny has other plans and with the criminal underbelly of Belwar suddenly making a move for control, their paths cross...and neither realizes who the other is, adopting separate secret identities instead.<br /><br />Between dodging deathly spells and keeping their true selves hidden, the pair must learn to put their trust in the other if either is to uncover the real threat. Now Wickery's fate is in the hands of rivals..? Fiancées..? Partners..? Whatever they are, it's <i>complicated</i> and bound for greatness or destruction.</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><i>Cast in Firelight</i> comes out next this week, and I could not be more excited. If you haven't yet pre-ordered your copy of <i>Cast in Firelight</i>, <b>here are five reasons why you should cherish this book and add it to your bookshelf</b>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Cover lust.</b> ❤️ I'm pretty sure this is a very good reason to admire this book and want to have a copy of your own, right? RIGHT?!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>A perfect built romance.</b> <i>Cast in Firelight</i> brings together two of my favourite romance tropes: hate-to-love and arranged marriage. Adraa's and Jatin's first meeting does not go well -- there might have been a punch or a slap. It depends on whom tells the story. Since then, the two developed a very competitive relationship -- "whatever you can do, I can do it better." All in all, they pretty much push each other to be better -- as well as they push each other buttons. It was great to follow their rivalry and then see it blossoming into love.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Secret identities.</b> Who does not like a good deceiving game? After almost a decade without seeing each other, Adraa and Jatin have no clue of how each other looks. When their paths finally cross, they do not recognize each other. With no knowledge of their true identity, Adraa and Jatin start working together (and they start trusting each other) under a different identity to save Belwar from drug lords and thieves.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Wickery.</b> Before I ramble about what I enjoyed about the world-building, there are some pertinent issues, which have been raised, that must be addressed. Although <i>Cast in Firelight</i> is strongly inspired by Indian culture, Dana Swift isn't POC -- her husband is. As she wrote in a note, she wrote this story for their future children. Nevertheless, I'm not sure if there are <span class="aCOpRe"><span>inadequacies<wbr></wbr></span></span> regarding the world-building resulting from Orientalism (even though her husband and his family did seem to have had a saying on the story). <u>Please, read own-voices reviews to be sure that there is nothing wrong regarding representation</u> -- these reviewers will be able to point out if their culture is correctly depicted.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">All of this said, while I cannot discuss if the representation is done correctly, I want to say that I did enjoy this colour-based magic system. Every kind of magic and God/Goddess has a colour. Those who can do magic are marked -- they are marked with the "touch" by the Gods and Goddesses. Of course, in Adraa's situation, she is only marked by Erif, Goddess of Fire (and more I cannot say). Moreover, I was caught up by the criminal underworld of Belwater, the political intrigue and the royal trials.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The ending.</b> Do not worry that I will not be spoiling the end of <i>Cast in Firelight</i>. 😋 I absolutely loved how it <span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview3732937102">didn't break my heart. Also, I loved that there was not a major cliffhanger (there was still a cliffhanger), and yet I can't wait to read the next book in this duology. I must know what comes next in Adraa's and Jatin's journey!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview3732937102"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview3732937102"><i>Thanks for the free book [aka my first ever physical ARC] @PRHGlobal/@prhinternational in exchange for an honest review.</i></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview3732937102"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview3732937102"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview3732937102"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview3732937102"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Are you excited about <i>Cast in Firelight</i>?</b></span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview3732937102"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview3732937102"><i></i></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://tidd.ly/33Z2wNQ" target="_blank">Book Depository affiliate link</a>, my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a>, or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>.<br />You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> </div> Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-81429599199088814882021-01-05T05:46:00.000-08:002022-12-30T09:06:10.668-08:00TTT. 13 Amazing 2021 Middle Grade Adventures<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1J5terkJOS4drHaziB0gRCfXKT5IBEIdTaq_bYjFqpx9NwDO26odZXKK7nJmb4kjPn2iPa-grgHw2YL-2mucCrsblMP0sh8hi23IDaAfRtA1cZCuWn4Zi4qcYL5ISUXMSr7Ab5Xu8O97q/s700/Top+Ten+Tuesday+13+Amazing+2021+Middle+Grade+Adventures.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/">The Artsy Reader Girl</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Happy New Year! Wishing everyone a not-so-crazy 2021 and that all your delayed plans may come true. 😊 I wanted to share with you all the books I can't wait to be published in 2021, but there are so many new novels I want to gush about that I did complete my list for today's Top Ten Tuesday. Thus, I decided to share <b>thirteen middle grade novels coming out this year that I really want to read</b>. When will I ever restrain myself to ten books? 😇</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="121" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOS9j2e0hzonj2FX-213HbaaUUKN7lGdSx1FtHQNYyo1EgWjj1WiowtQlLvQR12qy8PicHbyQjjbRNq13bQiapFEXhMwKSCM1orvfCCqiPGdmh88178awNO6pyXfVkPiG3SIL4fik3ffi/s1600/Book+Divider.jpg" /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_yFM-2hYxy1CgLe5dQW3Erim1MgY4Ly4Sodg-bEpZ__AwZtsajejB8ubvX7cf6oQtbvnci9EUgD6bJOsvTQlwNUyM7mRU_B98CETnlZFt3T2wfRbBBKsgUQjPbI0dCmW4xWXDXiUnU4Q/s1031/Orange+Middle+Grade.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Of a Feather, Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls, The Magical Imperfect" border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="1031" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_yFM-2hYxy1CgLe5dQW3Erim1MgY4Ly4Sodg-bEpZ__AwZtsajejB8ubvX7cf6oQtbvnci9EUgD6bJOsvTQlwNUyM7mRU_B98CETnlZFt3T2wfRbBBKsgUQjPbI0dCmW4xWXDXiUnU4Q/s16000/Orange+Middle+Grade.jpg" /></a></div></b> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48946818-of-a-feather" target="_blank"><b>Of a Feather</b></a> by Dayna Lorentz. Why do I sense <i>Of a Feather</i> will break my heart? My heart just can't take stories about injured (or dying) animals -- however, I always seem to have a knack for picking them. Also, how adorable is this cover? 😍 <span style="font-size: x-small;">| <a href="https://amzn.to/3rPIFvX" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49613673-cece-rios-and-the-desert-of-souls" target="_blank"><b>Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls</b></a> by Kaela Rivera. I'm not sure what made me fall in love with this middle grade adventure first: the gorgeous cover with its orange and brown hues or the fact that <i>Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls</i> is inspired by Mexican Mythology! <span style="font-size: x-small;">| <a href="https://amzn.to/38flUtu" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54017845-the-magical-imperfect" target="_blank">The Magical Imperfect</a></b> by Chris Baron. This seems such a magical story. After learning <i>The Magical Imperfect</i> is a tale <span id="freeText12799782900064192511">of a boy who is selectively mute, a girl who won't leave her house because of a skin condition and magical Jewish clad, I could not stop thinking about it. <span style="font-size: x-small;">| <a href="https://amzn.to/3hJQH4F">Amazon</a></span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9N3ireJEVq6nAoGc3BvMqZY677WblF189BoTDK-NpZpOyvnSJ4oh51tIXZH8g0DmDOoPvpl-Q5ye_3p-RovvsoQumcDvyufgnEFaEcRzbfETIONtB9-tke9IN-d4nI0_SSJ1BljoU42Dr/s1031/Yellow+Middle+Grade.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="1031" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9N3ireJEVq6nAoGc3BvMqZY677WblF189BoTDK-NpZpOyvnSJ4oh51tIXZH8g0DmDOoPvpl-Q5ye_3p-RovvsoQumcDvyufgnEFaEcRzbfETIONtB9-tke9IN-d4nI0_SSJ1BljoU42Dr/s16000/Yellow+Middle+Grade.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49881705-that-thing-about-bollywood">That Thing About Bollywood</a></b> by Supriya Kelkar. This cover is so beautifully-vibrant! 😍 <i>That Thing About Bollywood</i> does seem a very cute story -- with a touch of mystery and magic. <span style="font-size: x-small;">| <a href="https://amzn.to/2XerHck" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54304163-amina-s-song" target="_blank">Amina's Song</a></b> by Hena Khan. I read the first book, <i>Amina's Voice</i>, last year, and <span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3473484050">it shared such a strong message about the importance of friendship, family, and community. <i>Amina's Song</i> sounds as powerful as <i>Amina's Voice</i>. <span style="font-size: x-small;">| <a href="https://amzn.to/3rYoID1" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45178637-bridge-of-soulshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45178637-bridge-of-souls"><b>Bridge of Souls</b></a> by Victoria Schwab. Do you truly need me to explain why <i>Bridge of Souls</i> made my list? I mean, I thought that by now you already knew of my love for everything Schwab writes.<b> </b><span style="font-size: x-small;">| <a href="https://amzn.to/3pO7A12" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxkTHEtLF1iu7la3b6xman263xw1WlcKiLyifNVIgk9A_c4PbkBQCxv1oi5rG2vK_Q5mfuzrdkjJfgyghU8KNXe8EgGIn63OCm40Yenta6_aXWINygQSuyInwrzacojY2kv7v1Iyyqn4Y/s1029/Greenish+Bluish+Middle+Grade.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="1029" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxkTHEtLF1iu7la3b6xman263xw1WlcKiLyifNVIgk9A_c4PbkBQCxv1oi5rG2vK_Q5mfuzrdkjJfgyghU8KNXe8EgGIn63OCm40Yenta6_aXWINygQSuyInwrzacojY2kv7v1Iyyqn4Y/s16000/Greenish+Bluish+Middle+Grade.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44540714-the-verdigris-pawn" target="_blank">The Verdigris Pawn</a></b> by Alysa Wishingrad. For some odd reason, everything about <i>The Verdigris Pawn</i> (how do you read "verdigris?" 🤔) screams old time fairytales/fantasy adventures. And, of course, I love it. <span style="font-size: x-small;">| <a href="https://amzn.to/391RoCH" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49202852-thanks-a-lot-universe" target="_blank"><b>Thanks a Lot, Universe</b></a> by Chad Lucas. There is so much about <i>Thanks a Lot, Universe</i> that caught my attention: it's a story about mental health, finding who you are, and first crushes. <span style="font-size: x-small;">| <a href="https://amzn.to/3rVQsZ6">Amazon</a></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53354405-the-last-shadow-warrior" target="_blank"><b>The Last Shadow Warrior</b></a> by Sam Subity. I think I might enjoy mythology a little bit too much. 😅 <i>The Last Shadow Warrior</i> is a middle grade adventure inspired by Norse mythology -- and it has been a while since I read a book about Norse mythology. <span style="font-size: x-small;">| <a href="https://amzn.to/3hIpI9I" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOtEzTbPhKVBg9uTx9gJLWVflvxe-ijXPQp94EeuUNUPXnbZM8U0xKJyELFgQEelJTIWujjiSWZtLFo60_wM6t12Rdy9osGYilDB2FKSkcHJW6vcdDdiqf7IFqPhVJJSvjggpMhktRcIB/s1364/Blue+Middle+Grade.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="1364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOtEzTbPhKVBg9uTx9gJLWVflvxe-ijXPQp94EeuUNUPXnbZM8U0xKJyELFgQEelJTIWujjiSWZtLFo60_wM6t12Rdy9osGYilDB2FKSkcHJW6vcdDdiqf7IFqPhVJJSvjggpMhktRcIB/s16000/Blue+Middle+Grade.jpg" /></a></div></b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55004097-ophie-s-ghosts"><b>Ophie's Ghosts</b></a> by Justina Ireland. Ghosts, ghosts, and more ghosts. 👻 Have I ever told you that I adore ghost stories? I cannot wait to unfold the secrets of <span id="freeText885944287879632219">Daffodil Manor in <i>Ophie's Ghosts</i>. <span style="font-size: x-small;">| <a href="https://amzn.to/2L10U0E" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></span><br /><b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53577212-ghost-girl" target="_blank">Ghost Girl</a></b> by Ally Malinenko. Spooky cover! 😍 <i>Ghost Girl</i> is another ghost story -- and like me, <span id="freeText5113728418468854186">Zee Puckett, the protagonist, loves ghost stories.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53327892-red-white-and-whole" target="_blank">Red, White, and Whole</a></b> by Rajani LaRocca. I first saw <i>Red, White, and Whole</i> on Twitter a very long time ago -- instantly knew I had t read it. I might be wrong, but this middle grade novel will most certainly shatter me. <span style="font-size: x-small;">| <a href="https://amzn.to/3biaE1c" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52501647-breathing-underwater" target="_blank">Breathing Underwater</a></b> by Sarah Allen. I can't resist to a tale about sisterly love (don't you get tired of all those stories about sibling rivalry?) and that focus on mental health -- the more we talk about depression, the sooner it will be normalized. <span style="font-size: x-small;">| <a href="https://amzn.to/2JMt2En" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Help!</b> I will be kicked out of Amazon's affiliate program very soon due to lack of sales. If my gushing made you fall in love with any of these books, and you wish to buy them, please, click on the links. THANK YOU! 💛</span><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="121" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5CqejKXmDuzhiyjZ4w9pMESn0MgA7rtFSE8fgLMF0zu-Ozxs7uPeHLy9F-2vZJIaGvcU0ydT_Y4jyDI4lYrxx68B54MsvI960OclNkKmr5NWAEzXIZTC95yTdVbyn6hbIo9FwSX0LsfR/s1600/Book+Divider.jpg" /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you enjoy middle grade adventures? What are your favourite middle grade novels? Are you excited about any of the books I mentioned?<br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/?utm_source=Affiliate_Window&utm_medium=Affiliate_Marketing&utm_campaign=771267&utm_term=httpsmylovelysecretblogspotcom&awc=5478_1601230045_22ddcc3428dce863951a485d42192929" target="_blank">Book Depository</a> or <a href="https://amzn.to/32T3VX7" target="_blank">Amazon</a> affiliate link, use </span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span><span>my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a>,</span> or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>. You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></div></div>Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-71616981779831368922020-12-31T04:36:00.000-08:002022-12-30T09:06:10.722-08:00Monthly (and Yearly) Wrap Up. December<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Uyo9Yr9WpOrzlpiozj55IUE8eyKEl5t2RPs065en_R0bPYjBEfqRsW0Q2WEN21Gl6HNYSW-rwNlhuH-n0ur6VGWLLC5GoiL03mWLlql-wvwFQldxpsMw5Gnf24qK-cMFSDMNBGV5xwDg/s1600/Monthly+Wrap+Up.jpg" width="330" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b>Happy New Year's Eve!</b> 🥳 Still remember me? No, I didn't give up on blogging after my 10th blogversary (although it might have seen like I did since I have not shared new content nor blog hooped in the last two months). Life was a bit busy, aka I began a course that took all of my free time, so I had to take a mini blogging break. I don't like taking breaks (I fear everyone will forget about me), but sometimes it's very hard to jumble my PhD / work and blogging together. Hopefully, 2021 will be a year filled with lots of new content.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u>What I've been up since I've been gone:</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 Job hunting, which is so much harder with COVID since no one seems to be hiring. I sent three applications in December,<b> so wish me good luck</b>.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <b>Lots and lots of drawing!</b> I'm no Picasso and after a ten-year break, I still have a lot to relearn.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 Talking about drawing. <b>I'm slowly putting together a new project</b> that I can't wait to share with you.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <b>I've been wondering about creating a Patreon account</b>. Do you have one? 🤔</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 About the course I mentioned above, I just sent my final paper and if everything goes well <b>I will be able to teach.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <b>I read 59 books this year.</b> Not the number I was aiming for, but 2021 will be better. <span style="font-size: x-small;">Ps. I will be talking about my reading year in another post.</span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 Now, onto the most exciting book-related thing of the year: <b>I RECEIVED MY FIRST EVER PHYSICAL ARC!</b> 😭 You can watch the unboxing <a href="https://twitter.com/mybookishsecret/status/1344333468801642497" target="_blank">here</a>. The recording is bad, but I was not okay, okay? After ten years and since I'm an international blogger, I had given up hope. But nice things do happen when you least expect.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 I received an acceptance e-mail for my first international conference of the year. I will be presenting a paper on YA dystopias, pandemics, and posthumanism. Since it is an online conference, I will be presenting from home, and a cat (or two) may make an appearance. <br /></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"></span><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><div style="text-align: center;"></div><ul></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJ_rHbCoQ3yk3gkmUr88u5OKdJjFOYgYpmE8VPI2ntHWglCmUNn2D-wZV5Jp5jtupDIVZjQfALQxaIZW9RAG1GAASP9SBdhvrec61lWUx8-EMDEs1ob-Hi1O6mPQUsVRbWt-f90o8x9CU/s300/Book+Haul+II.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="41" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJ_rHbCoQ3yk3gkmUr88u5OKdJjFOYgYpmE8VPI2ntHWglCmUNn2D-wZV5Jp5jtupDIVZjQfALQxaIZW9RAG1GAASP9SBdhvrec61lWUx8-EMDEs1ob-Hi1O6mPQUsVRbWt-f90o8x9CU/s0/Book+Haul+II.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSKNK91FrdjVvZ0zPD8jbaQ35jW6zssGBNhBceKUxHakEysv0L3Nbkrpln6VYYnngobTDXJuYxafJ6rvaCetCYXZ9DN_fysA96Icd2ZsyEkO3-XToUGJ2YatjX9w5z6e2FjZA7XFgegSc/s1018/December+Book+Haul.jpg" width="450" /></div> <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thank you to Penguin Random House International for sending me a physical ARC of <b>Cast in Firelight</b> by Dana Swift. I can't wait to read it -- maybe it will be my first read of the year. 🥰 I was surprised to find that my Netgalley request for <b>Dustborn</b> by Erin Bowman was accepted - I requested it more than three months ago!!! I finally got <b>Cress</b> by Marissa Meyer -- it was a Christmas gift, from me to me.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">How was your December? Did Santa leave any books under your chimney?</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/?utm_source=Affiliate_Window&utm_medium=Affiliate_Marketing&utm_campaign=771267&utm_term=httpsmylovelysecretblogspotcom&awc=5478_1601230045_22ddcc3428dce863951a485d42192929" target="_blank">Book Depository</a> or <a href="https://amzn.to/32T3VX7" target="_blank">Amazon</a> affiliate link, use </span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span><span>my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a>,</span> or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>. You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>. </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div>Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-90892038115240251492020-10-27T13:36:00.000-07:002022-12-30T09:06:10.776-08:00ARC Review // Five Reasons You Should Read Kingdom of the Wicked<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.hodder.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/hbg-title-9781529350463-11.jpg?fit=450%2C666" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://www.hodder.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/hbg-title-9781529350463-11.jpg?fit=450%2C666" width="211" /></a><b> </b><br /><b>Title: </b>Kingdom of the Wicked [<a href="https://tidd.ly/3mqDgYC" target="_blank">book depository</a> | <a href="https://amzn.to/3e1RZWO" target="_blank">amazon</a>]<br /><b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b>Kerri Maniscalco<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher: </b>Hodder & Stoughton<br /><b>Published: </b>27th October 2020<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Pages:</b> 448 [Hardcover]<br /><b></b><br /></div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText6023803098065192652">Two sisters.<br /><br />One brutal murder.<br /><br />A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself…<br /><br />And an intoxicating romance.<br /><br />Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe – witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family’s renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin…desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and to seek vengeance at any cost-even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden.<br /><br />Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked-princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia’s side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women’s murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems…</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div>Happy release day to <i>Kingdom of the Wicked</i>! 🥳 Shall we give this book all the love it deserves? After what happened in the last few weeks, <i>Kingdom of the Wicked</i> (and all the books from that imprint, which I refuse to name) deserve all the cuddles. 💛 Thus, if you love witchcraft, gloomy settings, and devilish princes, <i>Kingdom of the Wicked</i> is the perfect Halloween read for you.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>A deadly killer.</b> We all know that Kerri Maniscalco can write an enticing mystery packed up with unexpected twists. Now, throw demons and magic into the mix, and you have the perfect murder tale. In <i>Kingdom of the Wicked</i>, witches are being murdered, their hearts ripped out of their chests. After losing her sister, Emilia decides to unveil the mystery behind such a ghoulish death. Was it a human or a demon? In her pursuit of truth, Emilia discovers more than she bargained for -- not only did Vittoria keep secrets from her, but also shadows do have sharp teeth.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Ruthless demons & Wicked Prince.</b> Demons and the seven Wicked Princes <span style="font-size: x-small;">(each prince represents one of the seven deadly sins)</span> are just stories Nona tells. Right? That is what Emilia always believed in, but she couldn't be more mistaken. If magic is possible, then cruel and deadly beings can walk among the living. Of course, not all of them are as evil as stories portray them -- some are even crueller and deadlier. Emilia must learn to fend for herself, or she might end up dead. Or in love.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Mouthwatering food.</b> One of my literary weaknesses is books that heavily feature food dishes. Emily's family is the proud owner of a Sicilian restaurant. The description of the dishes, their confection, and the smells floating in the kitchen, would make anyone's belly rumble. Between demonic beings, murders, and haunting landscapes, this little family restaurant becomes a beacon of warmth. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>A haunting atmosphere.</b> Nothing is more important in a mystery novel with Gothic vibes than its atmosphere. Stormy nights, abbeys, witch hunters, underground mazes, and so on, made sure that nineteenth-century Italy has never been creepier. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Dark and forbidden witchcraft.</b> Blood spells are mostly forbidden, but when these are the only way to discover the truth behind her sister's brutal murder, Emilia does not think twice before wielding them to summon a hellish (and broody) Wicked Prince.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><i>Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.</i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Are you excited about <i>Kingdom of the Wicked</i></b></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://tidd.ly/33Z2wNQ" target="_blank">Book Depository affiliate link</a>, my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a>, or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>.<br />You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> </div> Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-48111753295486260872020-10-25T01:58:00.000-07:002022-12-30T09:06:10.828-08:00Sunday Post. Bustling Octobers<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2htzx0Cm8LHlergaSpxtNWqPb2cCcrEPPSO5LF3kYQyKwie0Zj1ETZIjhynsxFArxDcDFotvMeNGOvPfFA65EXrXCRvHyDzQQ9fkG0wQlMl3WT2y4sogARikLcNiREJ486C9yjuzQ4sK/s1600/Sunday+Post.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="330" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday Post is a meme hosted by <a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/">Caffeinated Book Reviews</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Hello, fellow bookworms! How are you doing? Can you believe spooky August is almost over?! 👻 I know it has been a long time since I've joined Sunday Post -- I've actually been keeping myself very busy, so there's a lot to share. Without any further delay, let me share with you what I've been up since my monthly recap.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u>What has been happening in my life:</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 Remember the other fellowship I told you I applied to? I also didn't get it. 😞 It will be hard to keep following this path. If you know of anyone who is looking <a href="https://mylovelysecret.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_29.html#.X5UyK-3gqSQ" target="_blank">for these services</a>, please, let me know.<b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 Sadly, <b>I haven't felt like reading</b>, which means I will not be reading 70 books this year.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 I'm currently watching <b>The Haunt of Bly</b> <b>Manor</b>. It's starting to get confusing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <b>I attended two online conferences</b> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I did not present my own research) <span style="font-size: small;">-- one about dystopias and another one about Digital Humanities and Children's Fiction</span></span>. I now want to start a thousand new projects. 😋 Also, due to the last conference, <b>I'm now a voluntary translator of children's books</b>.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 The post I want to share on my 10th blog-anniversary is so behind schedule! 🙈</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuA-7_2Q0H7myzz6WPS9pDJboCoCVgvaoTSXUNzX_XtrnqyHI6RrAWQMdczywHegWtWhh9Ky1-XZBPuorWS4qn8v6mkMFSopCVECpwV_BNQBvwCFaYgfbQrVFKcaVPAL5oa4_KOnMPx0L/s1600/Pink+Divider.jpg" width="600" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="32" data-original-width="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQHbFPFFraj4xhmZ2XvAuo4aYJ_HiZoNzK0lyaM1efaT1Sp0yYt7NKWt0qV-kgdfAcN_kqpKVLgD-jd-JYXfKRWy0Qhyphenhyphen8xEYlL5Rc5dTnZo5iZC0AfeHLe0h-NYpJc-jgxdqaMSx-r9e7/s1600/On+the+Blog.jpg" /></div><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul></ul><ul><li><a href="https://mylovelysecret.blogspot.com/2020/10/this-is-halloween-21-spooky-reads-2020.html#.X5UvHO3gqSQ" target="_blank"><b>I shared a list of twenty-one young adult spooky reads</b></a> to everyone who wishes to enjoy Halloween from the comfort of their own home.</li></ul><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul><li>I was invited to be part of <i>A Golden Fury</i> blog tour and <a href="https://mylovelysecret.blogspot.com/2020/10/review-blog-tour-golden-fury.html#.X5U2UO3gqSR" target="_blank"><b>shared my review of this tale of treason and terrible curses</b></a>.</li></ul><ul></ul></div><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><div style="text-align: center;"></div><ul></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuA-7_2Q0H7myzz6WPS9pDJboCoCVgvaoTSXUNzX_XtrnqyHI6RrAWQMdczywHegWtWhh9Ky1-XZBPuorWS4qn8v6mkMFSopCVECpwV_BNQBvwCFaYgfbQrVFKcaVPAL5oa4_KOnMPx0L/s1600/Pink+Divider.jpg" width="600" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="33" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sbcXD2-MvIKnpOq67sggV7AxnJ7L0RAlUgFhhhr6te-SRcBALCOnoLu301nt5WUsFzyhAuWdUjLiiajXvvgfTxDqnIXt7HrwLB_NbD3AbOLbSstF3P7j6im75J_9irz-y2oe4dcRxUnf/s1600/Around+the+Blogosphere.jpg" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Around the Blogosphere is once again back! 😄 Here are some discussion posts that called my attention, even though I've yet to comment.<br /></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li>Amber @ The Literary Phoenix <a href="https://theliteraryphoenix.com/2020/10/23/likable-monster/" target="_blank">talked about building likeable villains</a>.</li></ul></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li>Aiofe @ Pretty Purple Polka Dots <a href="https://prettypurplepolkadots.wordpress.com/2020/10/25/super-scary-book-characters/" target="_blank">shared a list of terrifying book characters</a>.</li></ul></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li>Lindsey @ A Rambling Reviewer <a href="https://aramblingreviewer.com/autumn-binge-worthy-series/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=autumn-binge-worthy-series" target="_blank">compiled a list of binge-worthy shows for Autumn</a>. </li></ul></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuA-7_2Q0H7myzz6WPS9pDJboCoCVgvaoTSXUNzX_XtrnqyHI6RrAWQMdczywHegWtWhh9Ky1-XZBPuorWS4qn8v6mkMFSopCVECpwV_BNQBvwCFaYgfbQrVFKcaVPAL5oa4_KOnMPx0L/s1600/Pink+Divider.jpg" width="600" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="41" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEM-rFUHAKFJZPxVNy2KrdcpIaTS_uvL8gJY5kqYcFRTqK0TmMkZ1dWNiJkCOhGzdUS6TqiXGRLIbOdejy-BRNhyphenhyphen_Jx4WDHLLXl6pFitW97QWJUXt_1JYdHFBW9tZkcED17P10iGU3WeIZ/s1600/Book+Haul+II.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXW97j6qFG_vmvGy7BL-YIEQYt8bPbAF4QF5gQ3qBTqrwpTX7DcAIu776eojkdQnOKWuGioRl2Ss_6wdQtro2-9kvsaB1LSXYZbuDevFTlzCSMhnMwmVTDNsfbqaZbHZcenB62Csydr3S/s16000/Ocotber+2020+Book+Haul+1.jpg" width="340" /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Since I received a 10% discount voucher from Book Depository, I decided to get myself some new physical books. I ordered three books -- one of them has yet to be published. Thus, <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38447.The_Handmaid_s_Tale" target="_blank">The Handmaid's Tale</a></b> by Margaret Attwood and <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13206760-scarlet" target="_blank">Scarlet</a></b> by Marissa Meyer arrived this week at my home.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Are you having a spooky October? Did you receive any new books this week?</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://tidd.ly/33Z2wNQ" target="_blank">Book Depository affiliate link</a>, my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a>, or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>.<br />You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>.</span></div> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div>Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-50403289047706580502020-10-17T01:40:00.000-07:002022-12-30T09:06:10.881-08:00Review & Blog Tour. A Golden Fury<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="244" data-original-width="640" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcYBXMsynsuUA-iy-kl680wYYNd-kHrsVVYjDnsVH5BctMwGlxXDr1pHE1CrcD2uEJ45o3qLuSlRHRckToaXM15wcO-xd5M17-IXQ9In5Om96bx_7Yr3IQtUxfM-r6JgY_vA_5W-Vbcjt/w640-h245/A+Golden+Fury_Blog+Tour+Banner.png" width="640" /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Welcome to<b> A Golden Fury Blog Tour</b> hosted by <a href="https://twitter.com/WednesdayBooks" target="_blank"><b>Wednesday Books</b></a>. Thank you to Meghan Harrington for inviting me to be part of this amazing tour. I'm really excited about being part of it. <span style="font-size: x-small;">Is it me, or this is my first blog tour of the year?</span> Anyway, today I bring you my review of this tale of a sinister curse and treacherous alchemists.<br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1579719843l/52243330._SX318_SY475_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1579719843l/52243330._SX318_SY475_.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Title: </b>A Golden Fury</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b><span id="freeText18098237793727447641">Samantha Cohoe</span><span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher: </b>Wednesday Books<br /><b>Published: </b>13th October 2020<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Pages:</b> 352 [Hardcover]<br /><b></b><br /></div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText5566855476212269075">Thea Hope longs to be an alchemist out of the shadow of her famous mother. The two of them are close to creating the legendary Philosopher’s Stone—whose properties include immortality and can turn any metal into gold—but just when the promise of the Stone’s riches is in their grasp, Thea’s mother destroys the Stone in a sudden fit of violent madness.<br /><br />While combing through her mother’s notes, Thea learns that there’s a curse on the Stone that causes anyone who tries to make it to lose their sanity. With the threat of the French Revolution looming, Thea is sent to Oxford for her safety, to live with the father who doesn’t know she exists. <br /><br />But in Oxford, there are alchemists after the Stone who don’t believe Thea’s warning about the curse—instead, they’ll stop at nothing to steal Thea’s knowledge of how to create the Stone. But Thea can only run for so long, and soon she will have to choose: create the Stone and sacrifice her sanity, or let the people she loves die.</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52243330-a-golden-fury" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>/ <a href="https://tidd.ly/3j7ILt0" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></span><span style="font-size: medium;">/ <a href="https://amzn.to/35ld5Mf" target="_blank">Amazon</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman" , serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17.33px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://amzn.to/35ld5Mf" target="_blank"> </a>/ </span><a href="https://www.kobo.com/pt/en/ebook/a-golden-fury-1" target="_blank">Kobo</a></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">In <i>A Golden Fury </i>by Samantha Cohen, every alchemist is after the Philosopher's Stone, hoping to be the first to unveil its secrets.<b> </b>Nevertheless, only one girl knows how to create it. Everyone wants her knowledge for themselves, and they do not care what they must do to get it. Will Thea Hope survive in this dangerous world of alchemy? Did this short introduction spark your interest? If so, here are five reasons why you should read <i>A Golden Fury</i>.<br /><b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Philosopher's stone myth.</b> <i>A Golden Fury</i> has as its premise the myth of the Philosopher's Stone. Every alchemist is trying to create this mythical stone, which is said to cure every illness and turn metal into gold. But power never comes free, and a terrible curse befalls upon everyone who attempts to create this legendary stone. Through a new take on the myth of the Philosopher's Stone, Samantha Cohen wove a plot of intrigue, treason, and madness. No matter how dangerous the process to achieve the Philosopher's stone is, every alchemist wants to become the first one to succeed doing it -- even if it means lying, deceiving, or losing your mind.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Women alchemists.</b> I will forever and always stan women that defy the conventions of their time. Although, the most powerful female alchemist in France can be a total *insert ugly word* to her only daughter.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Good-hearted Thea.</b> Thea is perceptive. She is loyal. She pursues her dreams fiercely. Her love for alchemy is inspiring -- even after all her mother attempts to make her feel talentless, Thea shows how brilliant she is in the great art of alchemy. Even with the stone's looming curse, Thea decides to use her talent to create it. She puts her sanity on the line -- she sacrifices her own well-being -- to save those she cares about the most and those who have treated her badly. I cannot remember the last time I came across a character as good-hearted and altruistic as Thea.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Historical tiny-bits.</b> This novel is set in England and France in the period of the French Revolution. Thea lives with her mother and her mother's patron, who is worried about what might happen now that the king has been overthrown -- in other others, he worries if more heads will roll and what might happen to his English guests. After an almost-deadly event, Thea travels to Oxford, where her father teaches, and I must say that I understood her fascination with its university. I enjoyed the historical details, which brought another layer to the story -- these details made the unbelievable believable.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Dubious characters.</b> Don't you love to be suspicious of a character's words and intentions? Don't you love to wonder about what their next step might be and if it will hurt the strong-willed heroine? <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i> </i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>ABOUT THE AUTHOR</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="294" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqB6Mri5mmrB2ojyrngqI9tuCzDIH1A3LFSgvtrkuMU-NyjyGGQKZYuaMR8Jf0jdsqmUYC8rQhf_0tsh9zsQxhS1hGUny-F45LdljKTX90tqVafdVVShv1d47tByLHFoIub42d_Y_Izl0/w133-h200/samantha-cohoe_credit-alison-mcquain-of-alison-mcquain-photography-1.webp" width="133" /></div><span id="freeText5763507756106727166"></span></div><span id="freeText5763507756106727166"><br />Samantha Cohoe writes historically-inspired young adult fantasy. She was raised in San Luis Obispo, California, where she enjoyed an idyllic childhood of beach trips, omnivorous reading, and writing stories brimming with adverbs. She currently lives in Denver with her family and divides her time among teaching Latin, mothering, writing, reading, and deleting adverbs. <i>A Golden Fury</i> is her debut novel.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18313531.Samantha_Cohoe" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/smcohoe" target="_blank">Twitter</a> / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/samanthacohoe/" target="_blank">Instagram</a></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://tidd.ly/33Z2wNQ" target="_blank">Book Depository affiliate link</a>, my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a>, or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>.<br />You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> </div></div></div></div>Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-65854251510865978112020-10-13T12:08:00.000-07:002022-12-30T09:06:10.932-08:00This is Halloween. 21 Spooky Reads (2020 Edition)<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21hxYuL-sbVXqZyPvn_bsv8zXXxaY9NENnQLd-NKvviGS9BjtbN7T3PVLXWytcqpMK41OgH1p3-i6J_imCPaWLitGr4J7_OmK5vVcwf2GmS_t61S341uEM-dP0OBTpDKGtdyBduuUgUnr/s16000/21+YA+Spooky+Reads+copiar.jpg" width="300" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Who is excited about Halloween?! I'm back with Spooky Reads recommendations and this time I'm sharing them with you before Halloween. <span class="emoji">🎃 If you are searching for books about wicked witches (and not-so-wicked witches), creepy haunted places inhabited by harrowing monsters and angry ghosts (and not-so-angry ghosts), or vampires that will suck you dry (or just take a bite), <b>here is a list of 21 spooky reads that will raise your excitement for Halloween</b>.</span><br /></div><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="584" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBY_pGslhFER-iJXH21V0qRrhDzAYrK829Z9CEJ8cmTDy0d3gns0NXNZAZ_C_zT73oVP9S-rkgkdbKUGrgPjLEr75Bp70D5n-cXCIPp6Y6ByumUrEX-hzliwH8Uiu9HfYB3HCdQSG8rTL1/s320/Halloween+Book+Recs+Dividers.jpg" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="1023" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLS7a57-D2HkB33qJAdfMw8XXDxm3r2nqnomYn-8yKfmaU1uf5NHzvwfpy5ytOp2SWroLAEF7u8BBJ3xxyrnXOTMU5LzTqb1ZfyU9NyBCLLjSZexDB1rTbLgccjBmbFXnOgg5BGnJfctt-/s16000/Black+and+Gold+Spooky+Books.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52735921" target="_blank">Kingdom of the Wicked</a></b>, Kerri Maniscalco. <i><span id="freeText1466916561597020411">Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe – witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family’s renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin…desecrated beyond belief. </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45554589" target="_blank">Forest of Souls</a></b>, Lori M. Lee. <i><span id="freeText3443612420691393355">Unveiled as the first soulguide in living memory, Sirscha is summoned to the domain of the Spider King. For centuries, he has used his influence over the Dead Wood—an ancient forest possessed by souls—to enforce peace between the kingdoms. </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50548197" target="_blank"><b>A Deadly Education</b></a>, Naomi Novik. <i><span id="freeText4226082930120569221">Survival is more important than any letter grade, for the school won’t allow its students to leave until they graduate… or die! The rules are deceptively simple: Don’t walk the halls alone. And beware of the monsters who lurk everywhere.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Related Blog Post:</b> <a href="https://mylovelysecret.blogspot.com/2019/11/this-is-halloween-27-ya-spooky-reads.html#.X5U1s-3gqSQ" target="_blank">This Is Halloween. 27 YA Spooky Reads</a> </span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="1361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPt27EW5FLCcrto-rAEXf1vLKcGOUpgvBhHagDqLotU8vTp4QQ-zoI0J6c1hOhYcqIkOp1-fB71eb2zDck8Vex1KW72Xbi86tLnhY_dXC6NbXtpISCAwlS39h5r7GmKBZVm7PGJoRwpn8/s16000/Gold+Grey+Spooky+Books.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49789629" target="_blank"><b>The Year of the Witching</b></a>, Alexis Henderson. <i><span id="freeText13834114432064068393">But a mishap lures her into the forbidden Darkwood surrounding Bethel, where the first prophet once chased and killed four powerful witches. Their spirits are still lurking there, and they bestow a gift on Immanuelle: the journal of her dead mother, who Immanuelle is shocked to learn once sought sanctuary in the wood.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50358142" target="_blank">Horrid</a></b>, Katrina Leno.<span id="freeText10441416003905041573"> <i>Then Jane discovers that the "storage room" her mom has kept locked isn't for storage at all--it's a little girl's bedroom, left untouched for years and not quite as empty of inhabitants as it appears....</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49183687">Harrow Lake</a></b>, Kat Ellis. <span id="freeText15152580235301437542"><i>Things I know about Harrow Lake: </i><i>1.It's where my father shot his most disturbing slasher film.</i><i> 2.There's something not right about this town.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52621303" target="_blank"><b>Hollow</b></a>, Rhonda Parrish. <i><span id="freeText15720615354181910515">Each time Morgan photographs one of her classmates they become corrupted versions of themselves. It's like the camera steals their goodness, their essence, and leaves them hollow.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="1020" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia684tVOQ1HuiT-GWNVCGj2LinUseTyDHWcdE3xMbXX7v9wfz_R-nwcARLnNYs6DnIV8fAGQ69hziJJEpLWvYiuUAXLyZb3IxU6FIknUtfR3BbJfaaNoaG2aab1GzaKUJVPlNSf0WQF9Jx/s16000/Green+Spooky+Books.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49247298" target="_blank"><b>Eventide</b></a>, Sarah Goodman. <span id="freeText13123105840521164006"> <i>Strange local superstitions abound, especially about the eerie old well at the center of the forest. The woods play tricks, unleashing heavy fog and bone-chilling cold…and sometimes visions of things that aren’t there.</i></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText13123105840521164006"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49291331" target="_blank"><b>The Game</b></a>, Linsey Miller. <i><span id="freeText14924665210463404002">Abby Ascher, Ben Barnard, and Cassidy Clarke have all turned up . . . dead. Can Lia stop the ABC killer before he reaches D?</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51906350" target="_blank"><b>The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker</b></a>, Lauren James.<span id="freeText15691333734196767182"> When <i>Harriet Stoker dies after falling from a balcony in a long-abandoned building, she discovers a group of ghosts, each with a special power.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="1358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1dL_0F9Vxrm9izqAk8ttMsHINt3dn2r8kNMgki7DUaMWAbuOY5fuGapUXT2nTSslk2kw_z9ZddDEMgSsCQjqSILaBVJI29gTHVykboHnKgurLjZNajd6y3MFeif7K48DwMV8fncAHLL3/s16000/Red+Black+Spooky+Books.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53098065" target="_blank">Ghost Wood Song</a></b>, Erica Waters. <i><span id="freeText5553702996859281903">Shady Grove inherited her father’s ability to call ghosts from the grave with his fiddle, but she also knows the fiddle’s tunes bring nothing but trouble and darkness.</span></i></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText5553702996859281903"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52383402" target="_blank"><b>Category Five</b></a>, Ann Dávila Cardinal. <i><span id="freeText14551643096674773522">Lupe, Javier, and Marisol are back to investigate a series of murders that follow in the wake of a hurricane and in the shadow of a new supernatural threat.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="freeText14551643096674773522"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49046268" target="_blank"><b>Clown in a Cornfield</b></a>, Adam Cesare. <i><span id="freeText14021770409000063418">Until Frendo, the Baypen mascot, a creepy clown in a pork-pie hat, goes homicidal and decides that the only way for Kettle Springs to grow back is to cull the rotten crop of kids who live there now.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43908877" target="_blank"><b>Blood Countess</b></a>, Lana Popovic. <i><span id="freeText5661420521943720643"> Isolated from her former friends, family, and fiancé, Anna realizes she’s not a friend but a prisoner of the increasingly cruel Elizabeth. Then come the murders, and Anna knows it’s only a matter of time before the Blood Countess turns on her, too.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="1020" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWutQ-AvXWpmQnfuuPCnCnnS47wHFNKz04YXwhb-9EIjEcoiiXzpEo4wUYkv2R-9S8Ya0tfPjKydwYnpVjWu0Lsxz8b4gpKsQGB5xQzYbe1fa5Qc7x-XhmhtEh4sjMzGMWtZne1TynBLl/s16000/Blue+Purple+Spooky+Books.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43822698" target="_blank"><b>Winterwood</b></a>, Shea Ernshaw. <span id="freeText9184639751553505275"><i>Be careful of the dark, dark wood…</i> <i>Especially the woods surrounding the town of Fir Haven. Some say these woods are magical. Haunted, even.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45441584" target="_blank"><b>Magic Dark and Strange</b></a>, Kelly Powell. <i><span id="freeText6855607830495357079">Catherine Daly has an unusual talent. By day she works for a printer. But by night, she awakens the dead for a few precious moments with loved ones seeking a final goodbye. But this magic comes with a price: for every hour that a ghost is brought back, Catherine loses an hour from her own life.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51885014" target="_blank"><b>The Scapegracers</b></a>, Hannah Abigail Clarke. <span id="freeText15417145669250024658"> <i>But when the three most popular girls pay her $40 to cast a spell at their Halloween party, Sideways gets swept into a new clique. The unholy trinity are dangerous angels, sugar-coated rattlesnakes, and now–unbelievably–Sideways’ best friends.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="1361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDEskpviSrNtVpL5lIn14P9drP-q-kPBf6X81JHOge1GYXmNvd7GvzYElvotTbUZKiM6Oo8JxWmnxNLrbKVpanZv9FDXH_Mkh_ebm_QEhUG0RI88njFUHZoNU5oVkTfZRia2hr7JIaI-v/s16000/Pink+Red+Orange+Spooky+Books.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52750517" target="_blank"><b>Vampires Never Get Old</b></a>. <i><span id="freeText16478047567644325558">In this delicious new collection, you’ll find stories about lurking vampires of social media, rebellious vampires hungry for more than just blood, eager vampires coming out -- and going out for their first kill -- and other bold, breathtaking, dangerous, dreamy, eerie, iconic, powerful creatures of the night.</span></i></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText16478047567644325558"> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49475423" target="_blank"><b>The Call of Death</b></a>, R.J. Garcia. <span id="freeText4400685240652856436"><i>Fourteen-year-old Hannah Priestly crashes into a terrifying future. She wakes up in her dorm room now knowing the name of an infamous serial killer, Norman Biggs.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52339313" target="_blank"><b>Cemetery Boys</b></a>, Aiden Thomas. <span id="freeText5163221795942132602"><i>However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school's resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death</i>. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span id="freeText5163221795942132602"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52748041" target="_blank"><b>Burn Our Bodies Down</b></a>, Rory Power. <i><span id="freeText1400005096274003195">The only thing Margot knows for sure is there’s poison in their family tree, and their roots are dug so deeply into Phalene that now that she’s there, she might never escape.</span></i></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="584" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBY_pGslhFER-iJXH21V0qRrhDzAYrK829Z9CEJ8cmTDy0d3gns0NXNZAZ_C_zT73oVP9S-rkgkdbKUGrgPjLEr75Bp70D5n-cXCIPp6Y6ByumUrEX-hzliwH8Uiu9HfYB3HCdQSG8rTL1/s320/Halloween+Book+Recs+Dividers.jpg" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="emoji" style="font-size: large;"><span><span>Have you read any of these? What are your favourite spooky books? </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="emoji" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">Any recommendations?</span> </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/?utm_source=Affiliate_Window&utm_medium=Affiliate_Marketing&utm_campaign=771267&utm_term=httpsmylovelysecretblogspotcom&awc=5478_1601230045_22ddcc3428dce863951a485d42192929" target="_blank">Book Depository</a> or <a href="https://amzn.to/32T3VX7" target="_blank">Amazon</a> affiliate link, use </span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span><span>my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a>,</span> or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>. You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span> </span></span></span></div> Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-90072345275529101652020-10-04T02:10:00.000-07:002022-12-30T09:06:10.986-08:00Monthly Wrap Up. September<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Uyo9Yr9WpOrzlpiozj55IUE8eyKEl5t2RPs065en_R0bPYjBEfqRsW0Q2WEN21Gl6HNYSW-rwNlhuH-n0ur6VGWLLC5GoiL03mWLlql-wvwFQldxpsMw5Gnf24qK-cMFSDMNBGV5xwDg/s1600/Monthly+Wrap+Up.jpg" width="330" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b>Happy October!</b> Who is ready for the spookiest month of all?! 😊 September was not a very nice month for me. Hence, the reason my wrap up post is so behind schedule. Hopefully, October will bring something nice. <span style="font-size: x-small;">I really need something extraordinary to happen to lift my spirits</span>. In other news, I will be celebrating my 10th blogversary at the end of the month. I do have some plans to mark the occasion, but if October goes like September, I don't think I will be in the mood to do it.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u>This month in my life:</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 Unfortunately, as some of you already know, I did not get the fellowship. I had little hope I was going to get it, but I still had a bit of hope. And then it was crushed in a matter of seconds. Now, I'm questioning everything I worked for and if it's worth all the trouble.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <b>I ended up applying to the fellowship</b> I told you about in early September. Thank you to everyone who encouraged me to do it -- I guess I still have a shot at following my dreams? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 Nevertheless, due to all the wait, my financial stability is not the best. <b>If you know anyone who needs their academic / research essays in the field of Humanities to be revised</b>, please let me know. I also proofread Portuguese European texts.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 The new blogger interface is getting on my nerves.<b> Is it me or does it bug out when you select images?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <b>I'm still part of the Book Depository affiliate program</b>. Since the interface was moved to Awin, my affiliate account closed and I had to make the jump. Now, I just need time to change my affiliate link in a hundred articles.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 I uploaded <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret/explore?asc=u&page=1&sortOrder=recent" target="_blank">new works on Redbubble</a>. I'm proud of my two Autumn designs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 I created a <a href="https://www.pinterest.pt/tania_073387/_created/" target="_blank">professional Pinterest account</a> for my blog! 😄</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">🌻 <b>I've been trying to reach 700 subscribers</b> before my 10th blog anniversary, but it isn't being easy.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="32" data-original-width="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQHbFPFFraj4xhmZ2XvAuo4aYJ_HiZoNzK0lyaM1efaT1Sp0yYt7NKWt0qV-kgdfAcN_kqpKVLgD-jd-JYXfKRWy0Qhyphenhyphen8xEYlL5Rc5dTnZo5iZC0AfeHLe0h-NYpJc-jgxdqaMSx-r9e7/s1600/On+the+Blog.jpg" /></div><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li>I shared my new feature, Teeny-Tiny Reviews. As part of it, <a href="https://mylovelysecret.blogspot.com/2020/09/teeny-tiny-reviews-midnight-witchcraft.html#.X3Rcae17mSQ" target="_blank">I talked about three magical middle-grade books</a> that are perfect Autumn (and Halloween) reads.</li></ul></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li>Don't you love when a weekly meme matches your love for book covers?! Top Ten Tuesday was all about book covers and <a href="https://mylovelysecret.blogspot.com/2020/09/ttt-prettiest-2021-book-covers-so-far.html#.X3mKq-17mSQ" target="_blank">I compiled a list of the prettiest book covers of 2021 (so far)</a>.</li></ul></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li>Thank you Penguin Random House for giving this partner a chance to read <i>A Deadly Education</i> by Naomi Novak. If you are wondering why you should add this gem to your book collection, <a href="https://mylovelysecret.blogspot.com/2020/09/arc-review-five-reasons-you-should-read.html#.X3mJ9-17mSQ" target="_blank">here's my review</a>.</li></ul></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li>Happy Autumn! 🍂🦉🍄 To celebrate the arrival of Autumn, <a href="https://mylovelysecret.blogspot.com/2020/09/book-tag-fall-book-tag.html#.X3mJ-e17mSQ" target="_blank">I joined The Fall book tag</a>. </li></ul></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"></span><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><ul></ul><ul></ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"></ul><div style="text-align: center;"></div><ul></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="41" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavsj60RcpSDD-RgIBus4iaoe_5KvBEz3cX0xsHBXP1iUjzoDpSPVi_2ea8J6bNhyphenhyphenilnW3729NkNSSQpwbniu5S4JB05L-7W5vwe2Tk9GOKXD9FOxOEBMYn9_f-Bp_l6Os2MqGP5xXZwyu/s1600/Book+Haul+II.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPUKY3l5pAbp_AFgzWwzc0JeY_DaSRsBbaNXkQpgBVd0Qzx839mn8vQ6XSCBkQWdxFYW4wuSC5ilGkxCa6qC5KZ9vjy6c72sUzCUzu0OpMfAb1_DhUbeWqAUoOOawR4uQ6lt2klQk7umJ/s1029/September+2020+Book+Haul.jpg" width="470" /></div>I'm really proud of my book haul, but at the same time I'm wondering "why haven't I got more physical books?" Oh right: must save money. Scribd and e-ARCS are lifesavers. In September I got <b>Kingdom of the Wicked</b> by Kerri Maniscalco, <b>The Witchling's Girl</b> by Helena Coggan, and <b>Winter, White and Wicked</b> by Shannon Dittemore. I already read <i>Kingdom of the Wicked</i> -- if you love demons and witches, you should definitely buy it.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">How was your September? How many books did you read? Any new favourites?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Are you excited about October?</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/?utm_source=Affiliate_Window&utm_medium=Affiliate_Marketing&utm_campaign=771267&utm_term=httpsmylovelysecretblogspotcom&awc=5478_1601230045_22ddcc3428dce863951a485d42192929" target="_blank">Book Depository</a> or <a href="https://amzn.to/32T3VX7" target="_blank">Amazon</a> affiliate link, use </span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span><span>my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a>,</span> or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>. You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>. </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div>Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-83787631482032021222020-09-27T11:12:00.000-07:002022-12-30T09:06:11.040-08:00Book Tag. The Fall Book Tag<div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtSWPx37mZlZ1MI3LruoSss5eJIiGEEZD8oTopMRCzSndTbxaDTNjEFv7787QmEJ93jPEI5woEHX7fIyuVPnllcq4alIyLYzKn_RiAnja0xz_e4qfNn0HccGT5UpZMaZG5jk5SY3qebCf/s700/The+Fall+Book+Tag.jpg" width="300" /></div> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Happy Autumn!</b> 🍂🦉🍄 Although I'm a Summer child, I could not wait to say goodbye to it. Autumn is one of my favourite seasons because the weather cools down, the nightfall comes sooner, and the leaves change colours. Moreover, it is the spookiest season of the year. <b>To celebrate Autumn's arrival, I'm joining The Fall Book Tag</b>, created by <a href="https://bionicbookwormblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/09/fall-book-tag/" target="_blank">Shanah @Bionic Book Worm</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(it was so difficult to pick an Autumn book tag among all those out there!)</span>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>The Rules:<p></p><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Please link back to <a href="https://bionicbookwormblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/09/fall-book-tag/">Bionic Book Worm</a>, as the creator of this tag; </li><li>Use the graphics – if you want <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I used my own because I created them before deciding which book tag I was going to join)</span>; </li><li>Have fun!</li></ul><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="63" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNILEDwtciqjBKTl_Hkt4j-M5rDWGwHmS_He7d0MHuuoz4RvK3YljuV_sf2jCRteQ4lFIyNi5pzlaFgDpwqMgSB8zp8Np9DjBzPPNjUO_u94WWHsUjQB4eY21Nmguv7VzgeahAvd1q2Knr/s16000/Autumn+Dividor.jpg" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Crisp Fall Air - A Book That Felt Refresh and New</b></span></span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575673549l/53152636._SX318_SY475_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575673549l/53152636._SX318_SY475_.jpg" width="135" /></a></div><br />I did it! I only picked just one book without having to narrow down a single list. I think this requires some sort of celebration. 🥳😋 For the first time, as soon as I read the prompt, I knew that my answer would be <b>Mexican Gothic</b> by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. <i>Mexican Gothic</i> was such a refreshing story within the Gothic genre. I simply loved how the author intertwined Gothic tropes (an isolated mansion in ruins, a decaying English family, ghosts and nightmarish visions, violence, grotesque bodies, madness, lust, and family secrets) with Mexican folk and history.<br /></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Related Blog Post: <a href="https://mylovelysecret.blogspot.com/2020/06/arc-review-mexican-gothic.html#.X3DJ4u17mSQ" target="_blank">ARC Review // Mexican Gothic</a></span> <br /></div><div><img border="0" data-original-height="63" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNILEDwtciqjBKTl_Hkt4j-M5rDWGwHmS_He7d0MHuuoz4RvK3YljuV_sf2jCRteQ4lFIyNi5pzlaFgDpwqMgSB8zp8Np9DjBzPPNjUO_u94WWHsUjQB4eY21Nmguv7VzgeahAvd1q2Knr/s16000/Autumn+Dividor.jpg" /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3310284845"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3310284845"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Howling Winds - An Ending that Blew you Away</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I may have been able to narrow down my answer to one on the previous prompt, but no such thing will happen now. 😋 I haven't recovered yet from how <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Where Dreams Descend</a> by Janella, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fable</a> by Adrienne Young, and <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">A Deadly Education</a> by Naomi Novak ended. I know this was not the ending, since all the books mentioned will have a sequel. Nevertheless, these ended in cliffhangers -- huge cliffhangers! -- and I don't know how I will survive a whole year without knowing the "why?!" or what comes next.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42Rxlimd6bIBm3QAqoMtHBmIFsUjLNGdeeA9pIg-J-CsiRoLlHVG4JQpV4OMWNIm6M-9RLNY_p2seGyIJDRLxsZUtj-s1MZX84syfBwQYbIgXcu-k_uJDce9y-MnbosaAcrUpgsdsIVow/s16000/Book+Ending.jpg" width="590" /></div></div></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="63" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykk1xJTUVE-zWoxki-rc3-azZmqKHC5Az8UuphmVgriDdiDlnEEvYy46irWfiluPioNcSSLHfNqOgLdg1gZOMrVMh3cZwWaEV9EyXIgPNTbZmRVAs_Lh8bDLJCo-_tnDClF8pNhcTLIZ1/s16000/Autumn+Dividor.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Comfy Sweaters - A Book That Gave You Warm and Fuzzy's</b></span></span> <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519866743l/29918993._SY475_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519866743l/29918993._SY475_.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><br />*The moment you realize you read too many dark and spooky books.*</span> I really don't want to share with you my usual answer aka <i>To All The Boys I've Loved Before</i> by Jenny Han. As I already explained before, contemporary books always give me warm and fuzzy's, but I rarely read them. <span style="font-size: x-small;">It has probably been a year and a half since I read a contemporary novel.</span> However, I read <b>A Dash of Trouble</b> by Anna Meriano this year and it is such a charming and heart-warming book that blends magic and baking. It fits this prompt perfectly.<br /></div><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Related Blog Post: <a href="https://mylovelysecret.blogspot.com/2020/09/teeny-tiny-reviews-midnight-witchcraft.html#.X3DJau17mSR" target="_blank">Teeny-Tiny Reviews. Midnight Witchcraft & Pesky Ghosts</a></span><br /> <img border="0" data-original-height="63" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykk1xJTUVE-zWoxki-rc3-azZmqKHC5Az8UuphmVgriDdiDlnEEvYy46irWfiluPioNcSSLHfNqOgLdg1gZOMrVMh3cZwWaEV9EyXIgPNTbZmRVAs_Lh8bDLJCo-_tnDClF8pNhcTLIZ1/s16000/Autumn+Dividor.jpg" /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Bright Colours - A Cover With Red, Orange, or Yellow</b></span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Why not several covers with red, orange, and yellow? 🤪 If you know me, you already know that I'm going to pick several book covers with red, orange, and yellow.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="2002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpKoCYhX_UTDNspIIjVKY90lEMEV0K579uOfSolK1szxv5aJo4kTMTFlkGTmmQa8qLjA1NON-TnyRo4YmiiGm8jYxntgiiW5HUMVITEHhJvzRktbfpPpnrMbOq6CF1mnx3_7BQbjDbjrB/s16000/Autumn+Colours.jpg" /></div><img border="0" data-original-height="63" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykk1xJTUVE-zWoxki-rc3-azZmqKHC5Az8UuphmVgriDdiDlnEEvYy46irWfiluPioNcSSLHfNqOgLdg1gZOMrVMh3cZwWaEV9EyXIgPNTbZmRVAs_Lh8bDLJCo-_tnDClF8pNhcTLIZ1/s16000/Autumn+Dividor.jpg" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span> </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span>Leaf Fight - A Book With No Stop Action</span></span></span> </b><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="301" height="200" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1527816046l/40276712._SY475_.jpg" width="127" /></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This was a difficult question. First, because I didn't want to mention the same books over and over again. Secondly, for some odd reason, my mind just goes blank when I'm faced with certain questions. I guess it's a bookworm thing -- when someone asks you a bookish question, all the books you love and gush about seem to vanish from your mind. Or at least that's what happens to me. 😋 I guess this is actually good when it comes to book tags since I will definitely only pick a book -- the first one that crosses my mind. Anyway, a book I wish I was talking more that has no stop action is <b>Dealing in Dreams</b> by Lilliam Rivera. <span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3332669417">The streets of Mega City are patrolled by female crews that will hit/brand anyone who crosses their path and enforce the law of their leader. These ruthless girls are always involved in fights and never have a moment's rest.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="63" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykk1xJTUVE-zWoxki-rc3-azZmqKHC5Az8UuphmVgriDdiDlnEEvYy46irWfiluPioNcSSLHfNqOgLdg1gZOMrVMh3cZwWaEV9EyXIgPNTbZmRVAs_Lh8bDLJCo-_tnDClF8pNhcTLIZ1/s16000/Autumn+Dividor.jpg" /><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>Pumpkin Spice - Your Most Anticipated Reads</b></span></span> <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm so excited to read like a thousand books. My to-be-read pile grows every single day (especially now that I'm a Scribd subscriber) and I'm always excited to read this and that book. Unfortunately, I just do not have the time to read every single book I'm excited about. 😭 After doing my best to narrow down my answer to one and failing, here are some of my most anticipated reads (some of these I can't believe I haven't read them yet):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="1994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIILVDAqAdQQ3pvlj5ufw62s9VzrOTqW8F5r7RU9rmjSONRz9cZ19E_DFzkp_xpOmzsDD4zjpqwV7EjeRhuguj40dH7fArQQX8vs7p8_iQhPPoyYFIA3JOAIIH8Ntc8kvnOhPhvS6yVSEq/s16000/Want+to+Read.jpg" /></div></div><img border="0" data-original-height="63" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykk1xJTUVE-zWoxki-rc3-azZmqKHC5Az8UuphmVgriDdiDlnEEvYy46irWfiluPioNcSSLHfNqOgLdg1gZOMrVMh3cZwWaEV9EyXIgPNTbZmRVAs_Lh8bDLJCo-_tnDClF8pNhcTLIZ1/s16000/Autumn+Dividor.jpg" /><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">What do you love the most about Autumn? What kind of books do you enjoy reading during this season?</span></b><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/?utm_source=Affiliate_Window&utm_medium=Affiliate_Marketing&utm_campaign=771267&utm_term=httpsmylovelysecretblogspotcom&awc=5478_1601230045_22ddcc3428dce863951a485d42192929" target="_blank">Book Depository</a> or <a href="https://amzn.to/32T3VX7" target="_blank">Amazon</a> affiliate link or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>.<br />You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>. <br /></span></p></div>Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-75013070964053381792020-09-17T07:50:00.000-07:002022-12-30T09:06:11.095-08:00ARC Review // Five Reasons You Should Read A Deadly Education<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://images3.penguinrandomhouse.com/cover/700jpg/9780593128480" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="http://images3.penguinrandomhouse.com/cover/700jpg/9780593128480" width="211" /></a><b> </b><br /><b>Title: </b>A Deadly Education [<a href="https://tidd.ly/3czyHrd">book depository</a> | <a href="https://amzn.to/32EI31D" target="_blank">amazon</a>]<br /><b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b><span id="freeText18098237793727447641">Naomi Novik</span><span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher: </b>Del Rey<br /><b>Published: </b>29th September 2020<b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Pages:</b> 336 [Hardcover]<br /><b></b><br /></div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText2859171910361235815"><b>Lesson One of the Scholomance</b><br /><br />Learning has never been this deadly<br /><br /><i>A Deadly Education</i> is set at Scholomance, a school for the magically gifted where failure means certain death (for real) — until one girl, El, begins to unlock its many secrets. There are no teachers, no holidays, and no friendships, save strategic ones. Survival is more important than any letter grade, for the school won’t allow its students to leave until they graduate… or die! The rules are deceptively simple: Don’t walk the halls alone. And beware of the monsters who lurk everywhere. El is uniquely prepared for the school’s dangers. She may be without allies, but she possesses a dark power strong enough to level mountains and wipe out millions. It would be easy enough for El to defeat the monsters that prowl the school. The problem? Her powerful dark magic might also kill all the other students</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Have you been crushing on <i>A Deadly Education</i> by Naomi Novik but aren't sure yet if this book is for you? As someone who loved this darkly entertaining novel, here are <b>five reasons you should read <i>A Deadly Education</i></b>, a story about dangerous magic spells, powerful alliances, and deadly monsters.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>A dangerous school of magic</b>. I would not mind being in Scholomance, a vicious magical school in which students learn by going to classes and receiving assignments that they must complete without a teacher to help. Unfortunately, not completing a task or failing a class means death, but those are just details. Right? 😋 Scholomance ends up being the most unsafe school I ever read about: walking alone in the school halls or being in a classroom all by yourself signifies being exposed to deadly attacks by mals, monsters lured by magic that will suck one's vitality and later feed on the corpse. Nonetheless, something was enticing about Scholomance and its darkness. I must say that I would love living in the library -- that is if the school didn't turn it into a mortal maze.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Spine-chilling and blood-curdling monsters.</b> Don't judge me, okay? I love monsters! Most mals are unnamed, notwithstanding, they are all unique, creepy, and most importantly deadly. These beings are actually things made of nightmares -- some have a spider-like appearance but double their size, others are shadow-like beings and can crawl under door cracks, and so on. Always hungry, these creatures can hide inside cupboards or among books and worksheets, patiently waiting for their human prey.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Galadriel (also known as El).</b> My grumpy and fierce, Galadriel <span style="font-size: x-small;">(yes, she shares the name with Galadriel from <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>)</span>, I just loved being inside your head. 💛 El is constantly thinking about her next step -- which class to take; what to trade; which language should learn next to get her hands on good spells to trade -- and alert not to become the next mal meal. Of course, sometimes one gets distracted and that is how Orion ends up saving her countless times, even though El can defend herself. As a matter of fact, she can destroy the whole world with her magic/affinity. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">There were a few moments I wanted to hug El. She was never welcomed by her peers, feeling lonely for most of her stay in Scholomance. She did have some people with whom she traded spells and materials and students who would let her join them while walking to and from classes because there is safety in numbers, but that's all. So when Orion, who belongs to the most powerful enclave in the whole world, decides to be her friend (which means walking with her to classes, seating at her table at lunch, following her to the library, and saving her from monstrous beings), things get awkward. El is not the most approachable person and attempts to keep her distance from Orion. Nevertheless, she can't! I simply loved her reactions to Orion (she refused to be nice to him just because he belonged to an enclave) and how she was never afraid to speak her mind or being blunt.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Galadriel is half-Indian, half-welsh. To learn if it is a good or bad rep, please, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50548197-a-deadly-education?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=z4jEKBxcGN&rank=1" target="_blank">read the opinion of own voices reviewers</a>. </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Strong friendships and dubious alliances.</b> When Orion bursts into her life (literally), El finds herself slowly building friendships and alliances. Although she was in uncharted waters, El was faithful to her convictions and wasn't easily charmed by the possibility of being part of an enclave. She was able to build not only alliances with people who would protect her but also friendships that I cannot wait to see how will blossom in the sequel -- especially after <i>that</i> ending. And that leads me to the last reason you should read <i>A Deadly Education</i>.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>A jaw-dropping cliffhanger!</b> How am I going to survive a whole year after how <i>A Deadly Education</i>? I don't know if my poor heart will be able to deal with so much anticipation.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><i>Thank you to Penguin Random House for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.</i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Are you excited about <i>A Deadly Education</i>? Do you love monsters as much as I do?</b></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://tidd.ly/33Z2wNQ" target="_blank">Book Depository affiliate link</a>, my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a>, or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>.<br />You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> </div></div></div>Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-88303797825205335842020-09-15T08:23:00.000-07:002022-12-30T09:06:11.216-08:00TTT. The Prettiest Book Covers of 2021 (So Far)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGppykF3zR9bF0PeCqo2YJMivsOX9vJL3gvBxEQ-rlLE5Ero2HBqRnC3KO2TPlTVovSmEfoBoPblwxgPzPnQfW4CeE1PNPOa-yrnfIVJVGZfy955LkyDBKVK6NrkB9xapMOHRl5liLS6C/s700/The+Prettiest+Book+Covers.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/">The Artsy Reader Girl</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Why am I super excited about this week's Top Ten Tuesday Topic? It is a cover freebie week! 😄 When have I ever not rambled about book covers? If one gives me the opportunity to talk about beautiful covers, I will gush about beautiful book covers. Of course, freebie means picking a theme (and that's hard). So, my indecisive self decided to share with you<b> the prettiest book covers of 2021 (so far)</b> aka seventeen books I need to adorn my bookshelf. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="121" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOS9j2e0hzonj2FX-213HbaaUUKN7lGdSx1FtHQNYyo1EgWjj1WiowtQlLvQR12qy8PicHbyQjjbRNq13bQiapFEXhMwKSCM1orvfCCqiPGdmh88178awNO6pyXfVkPiG3SIL4fik3ffi/s1600/Book+Divider.jpg" /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="1330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIxDiNBsO-HPDDOBZZHSjurQT69eTETLfxt1UvvKi-y4iavDxs2G1vNXKX2Lb6vGSkyQvI3mHGpP15eR7Mmc2bQUXy66WuT4pdhEGT3remEWt1z3DRIUnmr978gGq0NYXqfBz8KzIY4_A/s16000/2021+Purple+Pink+Book+Covers.jpg" /></div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46223364-we-free-the-stars" target="_blank"><b>We Free the Stars</b></a> by Hafsah Faizal. I'm guilty of not having read <i>We Hunt the Flame</i> yet, but that does not mean I can't be in love with the cover of <i>We Free the Stars</i>. I would never have expected orange and burgundy to match so perfectly.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40234952-the-infinity-courts" target="_blank"><b>The Infinite Courts</b></a> by Akemi Dawn Bowman. I love everything about the cover of <i>The Infinite Courts</i>. The hues are so alluring and the illustrations are beautiful.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54304072-wings-of-ebony" target="_blank"><b>Wings of Ebony</b></a> by J. Elle. I first saw the cover of <i>Wings of Ebony</i> on Twitter and it was love at first sight. I'm actually dying to meet Rue -- she looks so mighty!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43603890-rising-like-a-storm" target="_blank">Rising Like a Storm</a> </b>by Tanaz Bhathena. <i>The Wrath of Ambar</i> has some of the most beautiful covers I've ever laid my eyes on. I loved the cover of <i>Hunted by the Sky</i> and I'm in love with the cover of <i>Rising Like a Storm</i>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="1009" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtS5kWAOiKaMOSbXcIL82w7eHJLxqxF6SpG43hBZZFCphJhap3PlRXY7fQI5dLAwr1OtJ4N76TTVWQoV-fAvSpOXKPamTH93DIIWzcMwNYvpeYw459Cg0qbgFBeEDRxXjUxKJnpKiyCdC/s16000/2021+Beige+Book+Covers.jpg" /></div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53697329-a-trial-of-sorcerers" target="_blank"><b>A Trial of Sorcerers</b> </a>by Elise Kova. How is it possible that all books by Elise Kova have book covers so fascinating?! So far, I haven't come across a cover that I dislike.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53141419-the-dead-and-the-dark" target="_blank">The Dead and the Dark</a> </b>by Courtney Gould. The purple smoke effect is so pretty!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41974902-a-queen-of-gilded-horns" target="_blank">A Queen of Gilded Horns</a> </b>by Amanda Joy.<b> </b>Another book series whose first book I still have to read.<b> 🙈 </b>I quite like how different the hues are and how well the beige, grey, and gold match.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="1006" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1BO_LYAv8FAtEFijKmNUsfegQEIH8NsDqss2zpqa0o3rxy3rLZMyOtj_EGOlIH3KRiHTDzrM15gaMJbECODif5SotFUPqlHPPOSmv-crKqeyHT2xsGQKtug4Rvdg1Lxwfqf2g52k9Ohv/s16000/2021+Gold+Book+Covers.jpg" /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51940680-sing-me-forgotten" target="_blank"><b>Sing Me Forgotten</b></a> by Jessica S. Olson. Covers with gold hues are always so charming. 💛 Moreover, the design of <i>Sing Me Forgotten</i> is so different from everything I have seen for 2021 that I could not help but love it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51813582-witches-steeped-in-gold" target="_blank"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51813582-witches-steeped-in-gold" target="_blank"><b>Witches Steeped in Gold</b></a> by Ciannon Smart. Is it okay to say (well, to write) that the cover of <i>Witches Steeped in Gold</i> looks fierce? <span id="freeText11409518148399871627">Iraya and </span><span id="freeText11409518148399871627"><span id="freeText11409518148399871627">Jazmyne just look so fearless. <br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40024121-the-gilded-ones" target="_blank"><b>The Gilded Ones</b></a> by Namin<span style="font-size: small;">a Forna. I already told you about my love for the cover of <i>The Gilded Ones</i>. Something that I did not tell you was that I only figured out that its release was delayed to 2021 while researching for this post.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Related Blog Post: <a href="https://mylovelysecret.blogspot.com/2020/03/when-snakes-take-over.html#.X2Ca6It7l8I" target="_blank">When Snakes Take Cover</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="1011" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgwVoXb8JK69rB4ND8hhp_aPaRo2UFeE3gHeG_ZN29gYerEW-uA4VHq05otwF11FDGSdaVa5fVmKVDzvW7XYS7SJXcfPd3krlUgzB7p8Iq0fxjoproUgRaZ4WwfDq_uiEa4r0kKQjdKGx/s16000/2021+Blue+Book+Covers.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40174908-when-night-breaks" target="_blank"><b>When Night Breaks</b></a> by Janella Angeles. I am much more fond of red than blue, but that does not mean that the cover of <i>When Night Breaks</i> did not catch my eye. I love how the covers in this series always let the reader take a peek at the plot.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53138069-amelia-unabridged" target="_blank"><b>Amelia Unabridged</b></a> by Ashley Schumacher. The ocean. Cute whales. A bookshelf. The hues. Everything in this cover is so perfectly matched! And the story seems so much heartbreak.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50622133-bone-crier-s-dawn" target="_blank">Bone Crier's Dawn</a> </b>by Kathryn Purdie. Here's a book series whose book covers only get better and better. The cover of <i>Bone Crier's Dawn</i> has surpassed the cover of <i>Bone Crier's Moon</i>, something that I was not expecting to happen because I quite loved the cover of the first book in the series.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Related Blog Post: <a href="https://mylovelysecret.blogspot.com/2020/08/arc-review-where-dreams-descend.html#.X2C9Aot7l8I" target="_blank">ARC Review // Where Dreams Descend</a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="1332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJn9hPWm4KduvkPhCY9JyJ_2kVyKxhtBHjCseIPqkQKs3chpXA56kPWWB-CGVAX1bNd_Rts06nYc-QvC53SniEMbybh8pBqK_-A9p4ywC9cTrBHkuEXW4aCqGUdBwXcC4iWcNMm016wke/s16000/2021+Red+Book+Covers.jpg" /></b></div><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17317376-the-theft-of-sunlight" target="_blank">The Theft of Sunlight</a> </b>by Intisar Khanani. The drawing style of <i>The Theft of Sunlight</i> (and <a href="https://mylovelysecret.blogspot.com/2020/03/arc-review-thorn.html#.X2C_0Yt7l8J" target="_blank">Thorn</a>) is just beautiful. To tell the truth, I think <a href="http://www.seedlingsonline.com/">Jenny Zemanek</a><b> </b>is one of my favourite book cover artists.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40126656-red-tigress" target="_blank">Red Tigress</a> </b>by Amélie Wen Zhao. <span style="font-size: x-small;">*jaw drops*</span> There are no words to describe how freaking gorgeous this cover is! 😍 Ana looks ready to crush everyone who tried to ruin her.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53138025-namesake" target="_blank">Namesake</a> </b>by Adrienne Young. Is it possible for me to describe a book cover as lyrical? If so, the cover of <i>Namesake</i> is lyrical -- it as lyrical as the writing of <a href="https://mylovelysecret.blogspot.com/2020/08/arc-review-fable.html#.X2DLPIt7l8I" target="_blank">Fable</a>, the first book in the series.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43311447-cazadora" target="_blank">Cazadora</a> </b>by Romina Garbe<span style="font-size: small;">r.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Here is a book series whose covers have such a unique illustration. I adore the attention to the detail that the artist had and was able to create such a colourful cover for <i>Cazadora</i>.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Related Blog Post: <a href="https://mylovelysecret.blogspot.com/2020/04/arc-review-lobizona.html#.X2DLiot7l8I" target="_blank">ARC Review // Lobizona</a><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ps. This topic may or may have not reignited my wish of creating a monthly post discussing book cover trends. </span></span></h3></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="121" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5CqejKXmDuzhiyjZ4w9pMESn0MgA7rtFSE8fgLMF0zu-Ozxs7uPeHLy9F-2vZJIaGvcU0ydT_Y4jyDI4lYrxx68B54MsvI960OclNkKmr5NWAEzXIZTC95yTdVbyn6hbIo9FwSX0LsfR/s1600/Book+Divider.jpg" /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you judge a book by its cover? Are you in love as much as I am with these book covers? What are your favourite 2021 book covers so far?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=MyLovelySecret">Book Depository affiliate link</a>, my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a>, or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>.<br />You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></div></div>Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296200064476864740.post-15053108004645024012020-09-09T13:00:00.000-07:002022-12-30T09:06:11.338-08:00Teeny-Tiny Reviews. Midnight Witchcraft & Pesky Ghosts<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWkBiQtfi22-efa70y5QI35GJugWgIsWfNx7pkQ4rKHdMLuP2syd_c_z9rSpm0CDUDpOW2BL_81CLnt85GxV4wcGO7IhtfF500f4XPo2SOQQhbNdnu40Jcw7lWSK2IYu6ZIN9HRrRsBFE/s1600/Teeny+Tiny+Reviews+Witchcraft.jpg" width="300" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Welcome to Teeny-Tiny Reviews</b> in which, as blatantly expressed, I share my thoughts about books on a bunch of mini-reviews. <span style="font-size: x-small;">I thought it was time to create a feature to review other books than ARCs.</span> With Autumn fast approaching in this corner of the world, the days get darker and the nights colder. It is the perfect season for spooky and magical reads. <span style="font-size: x-small;">Okay, I'm in favour of spooky stories all year long, however, Autumn is simply too perfect to curl with a book about pesky ghosts and mischievous spells.</span> Thus, I'm sharing my thoughts on three middle-grade novels that are all about witchcraft and spine-chilling hauntings.</div><br /><a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1492711476l/32855257.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1492711476l/32855257.jpg" width="211" /></a><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Title:</b> <i>Spirit Hunters</i> [<a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Spirit-Hunters-Ellen-Oh/9780062430090/?a_aid=MyLovelySecret" target="_blank">book depository</a> | <a href="https://amzn.to/3bFOuo5" target="_blank">amazon</a>] <div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b>Ellen Oh<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher: </b>Haper Collins <br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText18218178513462530344">We Need Diverse Books founder Ellen Oh returns with <i>Spirit Hunters</i>, a high-stakes middle grade mystery series about Harper Raine, the new seventh grader in town who must face down the dangerous ghosts haunting her younger brother. A riveting ghost story and captivating adventure, this tale will have you guessing at every turn!<br /><br />Harper doesn’t trust her new home from the moment she steps inside, and the rumors are that the Raine family’s new house is haunted. Harper isn’t sure she believes those rumors, until her younger brother, Michael, starts acting strangely. The whole atmosphere gives Harper a sense of déjà vu, but she can’t remember why. She knows that the memories she’s blocking will help make sense of her brother’s behavior and the strange and threatening sensations she feels in this house, but will she be able to put the pieces together in time?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="readable reviewText"> <span id="freeTextContainerreview3314051614"><i></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Spirit Hunters</i> is so hauntingly-creepy. Ellen Oh has written a perfect spooky story! To tell the truth, I must say I thought <i>Spirit Hunters </i>terrifying for a middle-grade book. The scariness in <i>Spirit Hunters</i> was not toned down, slowly escalating until the very last page. You can feel something is terribly wrong in Harper's new family home from the very beginning.<br /><br />I loved Harper! After a strange incident, whose memories she blocked, Harper had to face her worse nightmares to be able to protect her little brother from a devious ghost. Although Harper is recovering from a dark moment in her life, she is brave and does not give up from finding the truth behind the hauntings and about whom she truly is -- even if it means fighting with her mother, who cut relationships with Harper's grandmother, the only person who can tell her who she is.<br /><br />The narrative, which incorporates passages from Harper's diary and focuses on Korean lore, myths, and beliefs about ghosts, is just so spookily-enticing. To tell the truth, it was impossible to put the book down. Even after nightfall, I was lost in this too scary haunted house.<br /><br />I'm really excited about the second book in the series, <i>The Island of Monsters</i>, to learn more about the ghost lore behind the world-building and about Harper, who has now unveiled secrets that were once forgotten.<br /></div> <br /><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /> </div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519866743l/29918993._SY475_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519866743l/29918993._SY475_.jpg" width="211" /></a><b> </b><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Title:</b> <i>A Dash of Trouble</i>[<a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Love-Sugar-Magic-Dash-Trouble-Anna-Meriano/9780062498472/?a_aid=MyLovelySecret" target="_blank">book depository</a> | <a href="https://amzn.to/3hcawQh" target="_blank">amazon</a>]<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b>Anna Meriano<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher: </b>Walden Pond Press <br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText1350978290957086242">Leonora Logroño’s family owns the most beloved bakery in Rose Hill, Texas, spending their days conjuring delicious cookies and cakes for any occasion. And no occasion is more important than the annual Dia de los Muertos festival.<br /><br />Leo hopes that this might be the year that she gets to help prepare for the big celebration—but, once again, she is told she’s too young. Sneaking out of school and down to the bakery, she discovers that her mother, aunt, and four older sisters have in fact been keeping a big secret: they’re brujas—witches of Mexican ancestry—who pour a little bit of sweet magic into everything that they bake. <br /><br />Leo knows that she has magical ability as well and is more determined than ever to join the family business—even if she can’t let her mama and hermanas know about it yet.<br /><br />And when her best friend, Caroline, has a problem that needs solving, Leo has the perfect opportunity to try out her craft. It’s just one little spell, after all…what could possibly go wrong?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><i>A Dash of Trouble</i> is such a charming and heart-warming book. No, it does not feature haunted settings nor annoying creepy ghosts but has <i>brujas</i> and lots of magical mayhem -- especially after Leo discovers she has magical abilities and starts learning how to use on her own.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">When Leo finds out that magic runs in her blood, she does not want to wait until she is old enough to be taught how to use it. She decides to learn how to use magic behind closed doors and tries to use it to help her closest friend, Caroline. Of course, this means a lot of mischief and chaos (and bad decisions from both Leo and her sisters). However, with the love of her mother and four older sisters, Leo ends up learning a valuable lesson about love, friendship, trusting, and how to be a great <i>bruja</i>. In the end, <i>A Dash of Trouble</i> is such a sweet story!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />What I loved the most about <i>A Dash of Trouble</i> was the blend of magic and food (all the sweet Mexican pastry you can imagine 🤤). Besides, I loved wholeheartedly this family of <i>brujas</i>. Leo's family owns a bakery in which they add magic to the delicacies they bake to make the person who eats it feel better. <span style="font-size: x-small;">I now must try the recipes that can be found at the end of the book. Flying pigs cookies do seem very yummy!</span><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1547150323l/39352771._SY475_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1547150323l/39352771._SY475_.jpg" width="211" /></a><b> </b><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Title: </b>Tunnel of Bones [<a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Tunnel-Bones-City-Ghosts-2-2-Victoria-Schwab/9781338111057/?a_aid=MyLovelySecret" target="_blank">book depository</a> | <a href="https://amzn.to/33bxeTD" target="_blank">amazon</a>]<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Author: </b>Victoria Schwab<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher: </b>Scholastic</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b> </div><div style="background-color: #f6f4fa; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 8px; text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText12152105729023890285">Trouble is haunting Cassidy Blake . . . even more than usual.<br /><br />She (plus her ghost best friend, Jacob, of course) are in Paris, where Cass's parents are filming their TV show about the world's most haunted cities. Sure, it's fun eating croissants and seeing the Eiffel Tower, but there's true ghostly danger lurking beneath Paris, in the creepy underground Catacombs.<br /><br />When Cass accidentally awakens a frighteningly strong spirit, she must rely on her still-growing skills as a ghosthunter -- and turn to friends both old and new to help her unravel a mystery. But time is running out, and the spirit is only growing stronger.<br /><br />And if Cass fails, the force she's unleashed could haunt the city forever.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3488986338"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3488986338">Before anything else, I must begin by shouting how much I missed the glorious writing of Victoria Schwab. It has been more than a year since I read anything written by her and I missed it so freaking much! Victoria Schwab</span><span id="freeTextreview3488986338"> could write a book about potatoes and I would certainly read it without second-guessing. Nevertheless, I much prefer her writing about ghost hunters, pesky poltergeists, and haunted cities.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3488986338">In <i>Tunnel of Bones</i>, after her adventures in Edinburgh, Cass has now travelled to Paris with her parents to record the second episode of their television series about the most haunted places in the world.</span> <span id="freeTextreview3488986338">Paris was indeed the perfect setting for <i>Tunnel of Bones</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(in my opinion, the Catacombs are one of the scariest places in the whole world and hopefully I will have the chance to visit them someday)</span>. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3488986338">Cass did not have a moment of rest sauntering through the Parisian streets and cemeteries. Now</span>, <span id="freeTextreview3488986338">that she has become a ghost hunter, it is her purpose to send ghosts to whenever they must go after dying.</span> <span id="freeTextreview3488986338">Of course, Cass's new calling means a lot of mischief, mayhem, and going into the Veil without no one noticing her prolonged absences.</span></span><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3488986338"> In one of her travels, she catches the attention of an irksome poltergeist that turns Paris upside down.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3488986338"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3488986338">I must say that I did not remember liking Jacob as much as did in <i>Tunnel of Bones</i>. He was Cass's conscience. Jacob was always putting some sense into her head when things got too ugly in the Veil (or even outside it).<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3488986338"><br />All in all, I really liked <i>Tunnel of Bones</i>. It's such a great middle-grade spooky book, with strong friendships. Moreover, it's about taking responsibility. After all, "with great power, comes great responsibility."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3488986338"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCts23l4mbgBQVfL3PIpwhSJcgeeLfe6rTaHT1tw6hIaIltNkS0li-0eVLzJ61AJFd-EgnY6EkG8ShmPO__ZHFTZ7-4QQmiU4DZ2en99id_GPgFaY7PZmI11L1Q3oiRU4GMCAcbnrrH07i/s1600/Pattern_07+copiar.jpg" width="600" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextreview3488986338">Do you read middle-grade spooky books? What are your favourite middle-grade stories featuring witches, ghosts, and/or haunted houses?</span></span></b></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">If you like my blog and would like to support it, you may use my <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=MyLovelySecret">Book Depository affiliate link</a>, my <a href="https://scribd.com/g/8d8hu5">Scribd referral</a>, or <a href="http://ko-fi.com/mybookishsecret">buy me a coffee</a>.<br />You may also buy some bookish items from my <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/tanyabooksecret">RedBubble store</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Tâniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06508258587910463090noreply@blogger.com2