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A Thousand Perfect Notes Book Review
A Thousand Perfect Notes by C.G. Drews From Goodreads: An emotionally charged story of music, abuse and, ultimately, hope. Beck hates his life. He hates his violent mother. He hates his home. Most of all, he hates the piano that his mother forces him to play hour after hour, day after day. He will never play as she did before illness ended her career and left her bitter and broken. But Beck is too scared to stand up to his mother, and tell her his true passion, which is composing his own music – because the least suggestion of rebellion on his part ends in violence. When Beck meets August, a girl…
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The Song Rising Book Review
The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon ‘You have risen from the ashes before. The only way to survive is to believe you always will.’ Paige Mahoney did everything in her power to rise as the Underqueen, leader of Scion London’s criminal underworld. In the process, she’s been bloodied and bruised, and she’s crossed a dozen lines– including betraying her own Mime-Lord, Jaxon, who promises revenge for Paige stealing his crown. Now, there are enemies on all sides, and they’re closing in. Jaxon has thrown his lot in with Scion and those who pull the strings of the government, and not even the criminals are entirely pleased with their new Queen. Worse…
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The Cruel Prince Book Review
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black From Goodreads: Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever. And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe. Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially…
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Orphan Monster Spy Review
Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen A lonely orphan with a dangerous secret. Not just another blonde-haired, blue-eyed little monster. Trapped inside a world full of lies, when does a schoolgirl become a spy. Set against the high-tension, pressure-cooker backdrop of Germany in the late 1930’s, Orphan Monster Spy follows Sarah, a young Jewish girl, who is forced to flee following the brutal death of her mother as they try to escape persecution. Trained in the art of the theatre by her mother, Sarah is cunning and quick, sly and intelligent. And she soon attracts the attention of a British spy. Her mission is simple, but it will turn her into the thing she…
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An Enchantment of Ravens Review
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson Goodreads synopsis: Isobel is a prodigy portrait artist with a dangerous set of clients: the sinister fair folk, immortal creatures who cannot bake bread, weave cloth, or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and Isobel’s paintings are highly prized among them. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—she makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes – a weakness that could cost him his life. Furious and devastated, Rook spirits her away to the autumnlands to stand trial for her crime. Waylaid by the Wild Hunt’s…
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September Book Box Club: Outlaws
So this particular Book Box Club box was very exciting, because it happened to be the first anniversary of the club 😀 How awesome is that? The box featured a really cute letter from Libby and Kate, and a specially made birthday shortbread cookie to say thanks, and I thought this was a brilliant touch. I definitely did not cry at all during this unboxing. Nope. I have pollen allergies haha. Anyhow, emotions aside, I really did love this box. I’ve just moved into uni accommodation again, so I thought it was really nice of the girls to delay my box for a week so I could make sure to…
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July Book Box Club: Spells and Remedies
July’s Book Box Club theme was ‘Spells and Remedies.’ I furrowed my brow for quite a while trying to figure out what the book could be, and I didn’t actually guess it, but I thought the premise of The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy sounded quite nice, and I liked the idea that it included lots of book quotes in the plot. Alongside the book, I also got a signed bookplate, Q and A pages from the author, and an invite to the unashamedly bookish Book Box Club book group. This box had a lot of cute merch in it. The first thing I saw was the Exclusive Raven Boys soap by…
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June Fairyloot: ‘Elementalists’
This was my first Fairyloot box. I had been wanting to try one for a while, but alas, finances, so I decided to wait for a big occasion. In June I finally handed in my undergraduate dissertation, so I decided that I deserved some Fairyloot in my life. And oh my. What a beautiful box. I didn’t actually manage to take an unboxing picture, I was so immersed in tearing paper and cooing over items, so I’m afraid this will have to do, but eek. So many items. Such pretty. Again, I managed to predict a book [mostly with some snooping on goodreads lists] but I was correct, this box…
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June Book Box Club: Schoolroom Scandals
June’s Book Box Club box was the first one I was a little unsure of, since I’d only just started to get into contemporary YA fiction again. I’m definitely more of a fantasy and sci-fi gal, and I’m pretty picky when it comes to contemporary fiction. But, just before they hinted at the book for June, I started reading Geekerella, and I really got into it, so I decided I would trust in Book Box Club to pick an excellent book. I sort of figured it would be One of Us is Lying before the box was sent out; just as well, since I almost almost bought this when it…
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May Book Box Club: ‘Wizards at War’
May’s Book Box Club box was themed ‘Wizards at War.’ I didn’t manage to guess what the book would be, but I did low-key fall in love with it and I recently snagged a copy of the follow up, Shadowblack on Netgalley to review. So the main thing in the box was a gift-wrapped copy of the magical Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell, along with a signed bookplate, Q and A with the author, and as always, an invite to the book box club book group chat. Alongside this was a Dumbledore pin, created by The Potter Emporium. I really liked this one, and my friends cooed over it A LOT when I wore…
