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heddas_bookgems's Reviews (490)
“'Nothing is free. Nothing is safe. Magic always comes at a cost.”
In Kingdom of Blunder magic is considered a dangerous disease. Because of that anyone infected with it is done for. Elspeth has been infected at a very young age and since then a monster, whom she calls nightmare, is trapped in her head. Trying her very best to keep her secret hidden things get complicated when she suddenly finds herself joining a dangerous quest. It’s up to her to fix the world from the curse by finding all existing Providence Cards.
This book really took me by surprise. One Dark Window had misty forests, dark magic, mystical providence cards (similar to tarot cards), gothic vibes, enemies to lovers, fake dating and an interesting monster. Gillig describes the monster in the accompanying message for Fairyloot October: “More than once, I’ve wished there was a monster in my head, telling me it was all right, breaking things, so I created one.”
And breaking the rules clearly delivers an enticing novel. Because it had all the elements for a good young adult. It was thrilling it had a lovely romance (quite spicy at some point so doubting the young adult classification) forests and a dangerous quest.
Some might say that this book has been done numerous of times. That it wasn’t that surprising or original. And while I get that this isn’t fairly new, I did really enjoy it. Sometimes a book don’t need to be new or original. I just needs to be enjoyable and nicely written. And in that this book really delivered.
In Kingdom of Blunder magic is considered a dangerous disease. Because of that anyone infected with it is done for. Elspeth has been infected at a very young age and since then a monster, whom she calls nightmare, is trapped in her head. Trying her very best to keep her secret hidden things get complicated when she suddenly finds herself joining a dangerous quest. It’s up to her to fix the world from the curse by finding all existing Providence Cards.
This book really took me by surprise. One Dark Window had misty forests, dark magic, mystical providence cards (similar to tarot cards), gothic vibes, enemies to lovers, fake dating and an interesting monster. Gillig describes the monster in the accompanying message for Fairyloot October: “More than once, I’ve wished there was a monster in my head, telling me it was all right, breaking things, so I created one.”
And breaking the rules clearly delivers an enticing novel. Because it had all the elements for a good young adult. It was thrilling it had a lovely romance (quite spicy at some point so doubting the young adult classification) forests and a dangerous quest.
Some might say that this book has been done numerous of times. That it wasn’t that surprising or original. And while I get that this isn’t fairly new, I did really enjoy it. Sometimes a book don’t need to be new or original. I just needs to be enjoyable and nicely written. And in that this book really delivered.
“In my old age, I see that life itself is often more fantastic and terrible than the stories we believed as children, and that perhaps there is no harm in finding magic among the trees.”
It’s 1920, Alaska. A harsh land where you need to work hard in order to survive. Jack and Mabel have just moved to start their life over. They are childless and because of grief drifting apart. When seasons first snowfall appears they carve a child out of snow. The next morning the snow girl is gone, but they see a young girl peaking out of the trees.
Snow Child is the debut by Eowyn Ivey. And holy smoke, did she made herself known by this wonderful retelling. It even made it into finalist of the Pulitzer Prize. And after reading this, I can understand why. It weaves the pain of grief so well together with the struggles of beginning a new life in a rough place like Alaska.
And no wonder, because Eowyn is born Alaskan. In the Guardian she mentions: It’s a little overwhelming as a place, even when you’ve grown up here as I have. […] The landscape is much bigger than civilisation here.“
That Alaska can be overwhelming, especially during winter, is so distinctly palpable in Snow Child. And choosing the 19th century retelling of a Slavic folktale, Snegurochka, to illustrate that, is so fitting. This tale is linked to snow and ice where a child appears to a childless couple in winter as a blessing.
I really enjoyed this retelling. It fabricated all the wonderful elements in a completely new, heartwarming and at times heart wrenching novel that made you feel warm and also so so cold. Highly recommend this for a cold winter night.
It’s 1920, Alaska. A harsh land where you need to work hard in order to survive. Jack and Mabel have just moved to start their life over. They are childless and because of grief drifting apart. When seasons first snowfall appears they carve a child out of snow. The next morning the snow girl is gone, but they see a young girl peaking out of the trees.
Snow Child is the debut by Eowyn Ivey. And holy smoke, did she made herself known by this wonderful retelling. It even made it into finalist of the Pulitzer Prize. And after reading this, I can understand why. It weaves the pain of grief so well together with the struggles of beginning a new life in a rough place like Alaska.
And no wonder, because Eowyn is born Alaskan. In the Guardian she mentions: It’s a little overwhelming as a place, even when you’ve grown up here as I have. […] The landscape is much bigger than civilisation here.“
That Alaska can be overwhelming, especially during winter, is so distinctly palpable in Snow Child. And choosing the 19th century retelling of a Slavic folktale, Snegurochka, to illustrate that, is so fitting. This tale is linked to snow and ice where a child appears to a childless couple in winter as a blessing.
I really enjoyed this retelling. It fabricated all the wonderful elements in a completely new, heartwarming and at times heart wrenching novel that made you feel warm and also so so cold. Highly recommend this for a cold winter night.
“'Déjà vu. Déjà su. Déjà vecu.”
Adeline LaRue, short Addie, is a girl almost of age to marry. But Addie doesn’t want to marry. 'I want a chance to live. I want to be free'. So she prays to the gods, but forgot the advice of a dear friend: never wish for gods after the dark.
It might be a crime, but can you believe I waited for almost two years to read this? And why? I can’t remember because I adored this little, almost fairytale like, novel. I was so pleased to read it together with the lovely @ginaluciareads, especially when the POV switched away from Addie, as I found that a little less interesting.
Books with strong female characters are one of my favorite tropes so I was excited to read about Addie and her progressive ideas. She felt almost like the first feminist.
Besides, it gave more insight in living life’s with repetition, but also about the question how to leave a mark in this world, mostly when people can’t capture your image or can’t seem to remember you. This book felt almost like a dream at times. It even occasionally felt like Alice in Wonderland but with a romantic twist.
And all the while this book felt overly structured with some hints about the key subject of every part by describing art works. Speaking of artworks, I read the anniversary edition which contained these amazing fan artworks. An absolute plus!
On the whole I really liked this almost feminist fantasy novel. And if Schwab might see this: I wouldn’t dislike a novella about Luc.
Adeline LaRue, short Addie, is a girl almost of age to marry. But Addie doesn’t want to marry. 'I want a chance to live. I want to be free'. So she prays to the gods, but forgot the advice of a dear friend: never wish for gods after the dark.
It might be a crime, but can you believe I waited for almost two years to read this? And why? I can’t remember because I adored this little, almost fairytale like, novel. I was so pleased to read it together with the lovely @ginaluciareads, especially when the POV switched away from Addie, as I found that a little less interesting.
Books with strong female characters are one of my favorite tropes so I was excited to read about Addie and her progressive ideas. She felt almost like the first feminist.
Besides, it gave more insight in living life’s with repetition, but also about the question how to leave a mark in this world, mostly when people can’t capture your image or can’t seem to remember you. This book felt almost like a dream at times. It even occasionally felt like Alice in Wonderland but with a romantic twist.
And all the while this book felt overly structured with some hints about the key subject of every part by describing art works. Speaking of artworks, I read the anniversary edition which contained these amazing fan artworks. An absolute plus!
On the whole I really liked this almost feminist fantasy novel. And if Schwab might see this: I wouldn’t dislike a novella about Luc.
“The murderer is with us - on the train now.”
Hercule Poroit is world most renowned private detective and because of it a busy man. When he is in Istanbul he receives a telegram summoning him to London immediately. His friend Bouc helps him to get there fast in giving him the last seat on the Orient Express. But then heavy snowfall strands the train and on top of it a murder has taken place. It’s up to Poirot to solve it before the train will be able to carry on his journey.
Agatha Christie, a British author of murder mysteries is also known as the Queen of Crime. She started her career around 1920 and wrote for more than 50 years a book a year, resulting in a whopping amount of 70 murder mysteries. Her most known are the novels about the Belgian private detective Hercule Poirot, including Murder on the Orient Express
Reading so many classics this year a book by the Queen of Crime cannot be missed. And so I started my first book ever by this well known murder mystery author. And it didn’t let me down one bit. It was a thrilling book with a classic who done it angle. It had loads of puzzles and suspicions, a lot of facts, but most of all funny and quirky characters. It were these characters with their funny and exiting dialogues that made this book a quick and easy read.
You won’t get very descriptive writing or much atmospheric sceneries from this book, but it was a nice read after all. I think that might just be the strength of a Christie novel: just a fun, puzzling and thrilling read that doesn’t ask much in return.
Hercule Poroit is world most renowned private detective and because of it a busy man. When he is in Istanbul he receives a telegram summoning him to London immediately. His friend Bouc helps him to get there fast in giving him the last seat on the Orient Express. But then heavy snowfall strands the train and on top of it a murder has taken place. It’s up to Poirot to solve it before the train will be able to carry on his journey.
Agatha Christie, a British author of murder mysteries is also known as the Queen of Crime. She started her career around 1920 and wrote for more than 50 years a book a year, resulting in a whopping amount of 70 murder mysteries. Her most known are the novels about the Belgian private detective Hercule Poirot, including Murder on the Orient Express
Reading so many classics this year a book by the Queen of Crime cannot be missed. And so I started my first book ever by this well known murder mystery author. And it didn’t let me down one bit. It was a thrilling book with a classic who done it angle. It had loads of puzzles and suspicions, a lot of facts, but most of all funny and quirky characters. It were these characters with their funny and exiting dialogues that made this book a quick and easy read.
You won’t get very descriptive writing or much atmospheric sceneries from this book, but it was a nice read after all. I think that might just be the strength of a Christie novel: just a fun, puzzling and thrilling read that doesn’t ask much in return.
“Life would be a lot better if we all spent a little more time staring at the stars.”
Elle, an astrologer for the popular “Oh My Stars” Twitter account, has agreed to go on a blind date with her business partners sister Darcy. When they meet, the chemistry is there, but the date ends up being a disaster. Although the date ended up in tragedy, both agree to fake date each other to be rid of their nosy relatives during the holidays.
When the holidays kick of, so rises the popularity of the holiday rom coms. And I get why. Its cozy, it’s soft like a fluffy blanket of white snow and it gives you a warm feeling inside. And that’s exactly what this book provided.
This slightly Pride and Prejudice inspired novel had a nice story, had funny characters, although at times obnoxious and pompous just as the Mr. Darcy in Jane Austens novel, was steamy and it had extremely hilarious dialogues.
It even dealt with some serious themes like being vulnerable after heartbreak, alcoholism and inferiority complex caused by family members.
Besides that it was a lovely novel about believing in one’s destiny, in true love and something beyond; signs of the stars. I loved how all these themes came together in a no nonsense, romantic and astrological read.
Elle, an astrologer for the popular “Oh My Stars” Twitter account, has agreed to go on a blind date with her business partners sister Darcy. When they meet, the chemistry is there, but the date ends up being a disaster. Although the date ended up in tragedy, both agree to fake date each other to be rid of their nosy relatives during the holidays.
When the holidays kick of, so rises the popularity of the holiday rom coms. And I get why. Its cozy, it’s soft like a fluffy blanket of white snow and it gives you a warm feeling inside. And that’s exactly what this book provided.
This slightly Pride and Prejudice inspired novel had a nice story, had funny characters, although at times obnoxious and pompous just as the Mr. Darcy in Jane Austens novel, was steamy and it had extremely hilarious dialogues.
It even dealt with some serious themes like being vulnerable after heartbreak, alcoholism and inferiority complex caused by family members.
Besides that it was a lovely novel about believing in one’s destiny, in true love and something beyond; signs of the stars. I loved how all these themes came together in a no nonsense, romantic and astrological read.
‘'All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”
Anna Karenina is a documentation of a couple families from high society in Russia mid 1870. A tragic story about an unhappy life, bad marriages, infidelity, destructive thoughts, miscommunication and the will to transform, to grow and to harvest what you have sown. Sometimes literally.
How do you begin a review about such a multilayered novel with so many metaphors? The same way I started this intimidating classic, just do it. And I’m glad I did, as this book left a mark.
Yes, it’s old and because of it, some values are outdated, sexist and even racist at times. Not brushing that away, as old fashioned isn’t an excuse for that, this book was still quite impressive. It let me think about life and the messiness of it, how we live it, about morality, gender roles, about how are own thoughts corrupt ourselves and about what it means to have a happy life.
Besides that it has food for thought, it’s also utterly prosaic and wonderfully written. It might have a incredible slow pacing, especially when it describes farming, but even these parts deliver some terribly good images about slow living and being aware of your surroundings. It tells the tale that ordinary life might be boring but it might be the happiest.
Many call this a romantic book. Although it does revolve a lot about falling in love and finding someone to marry and hopefully grow old with that particular someone, it also criticizes our way of perceiving love or the way we fall in love with the idea of love.
All in all this book was overly tragic especially after I felt connected with these families and grew to love them, but I still enjoyed reading it.
Anna Karenina is a documentation of a couple families from high society in Russia mid 1870. A tragic story about an unhappy life, bad marriages, infidelity, destructive thoughts, miscommunication and the will to transform, to grow and to harvest what you have sown. Sometimes literally.
How do you begin a review about such a multilayered novel with so many metaphors? The same way I started this intimidating classic, just do it. And I’m glad I did, as this book left a mark.
Yes, it’s old and because of it, some values are outdated, sexist and even racist at times. Not brushing that away, as old fashioned isn’t an excuse for that, this book was still quite impressive. It let me think about life and the messiness of it, how we live it, about morality, gender roles, about how are own thoughts corrupt ourselves and about what it means to have a happy life.
Besides that it has food for thought, it’s also utterly prosaic and wonderfully written. It might have a incredible slow pacing, especially when it describes farming, but even these parts deliver some terribly good images about slow living and being aware of your surroundings. It tells the tale that ordinary life might be boring but it might be the happiest.
Many call this a romantic book. Although it does revolve a lot about falling in love and finding someone to marry and hopefully grow old with that particular someone, it also criticizes our way of perceiving love or the way we fall in love with the idea of love.
All in all this book was overly tragic especially after I felt connected with these families and grew to love them, but I still enjoyed reading it.
‘“You’ve heard of the British nation and the French nation?” Susan nodded again. Well, this is the Imagination. And once you get there you can do almost anything you want. “’
Kris Kringle believes he is the real Santa Claus. But then Mr. Krinkle has to leave the retirement home because of his illusion. He winds up filling in for a Santa Claus in the department store the Macy’s. Befriending Mrs. Walker and her daughter Susan he sees his task to take care of this family as he sees fit. Stealing almost everybody’s heart Mr. Kringle finds out the hard way that not everybody find his illusions charming.
My mother and father never were big fans of Christmas and the main reason was the commercialization of an holiday. Valentine Davies, standing in line of department store had the same thoughts and came up with a story about a delusional Santa and true Christmas spirit. And if you are a real grinch, this book will even let your heart beat. Kris Kringle is such a sweet and soft old man with a wonderful personality and a wish to spread only joy. And this book, that was the inspiration of the movie with the same name, is just that. A small red book filled with Christmas sparkles of joy that will bring you in the festive spirit for sure. It’s not a lovey dovey one though. It even gives food for thought. Like how we perceive delusional people and how important imagination is for children.
Keep in mind, it’s a classic and because of it, it does have some old fashioned ideas that we frown upon now, but as long as you are aware of that, this novel is a Jolly read!
Kris Kringle believes he is the real Santa Claus. But then Mr. Krinkle has to leave the retirement home because of his illusion. He winds up filling in for a Santa Claus in the department store the Macy’s. Befriending Mrs. Walker and her daughter Susan he sees his task to take care of this family as he sees fit. Stealing almost everybody’s heart Mr. Kringle finds out the hard way that not everybody find his illusions charming.
My mother and father never were big fans of Christmas and the main reason was the commercialization of an holiday. Valentine Davies, standing in line of department store had the same thoughts and came up with a story about a delusional Santa and true Christmas spirit. And if you are a real grinch, this book will even let your heart beat. Kris Kringle is such a sweet and soft old man with a wonderful personality and a wish to spread only joy. And this book, that was the inspiration of the movie with the same name, is just that. A small red book filled with Christmas sparkles of joy that will bring you in the festive spirit for sure. It’s not a lovey dovey one though. It even gives food for thought. Like how we perceive delusional people and how important imagination is for children.
Keep in mind, it’s a classic and because of it, it does have some old fashioned ideas that we frown upon now, but as long as you are aware of that, this novel is a Jolly read!
Loved this short novella about Tori, Nick and Charlie during Christmas.
It was intense because of the heavy themes, and therefore would I recommend searching for TW’s before reading it. But besides that it felt like a cozy blanket because I was reunited with my favorite couple!
It was intense because of the heavy themes, and therefore would I recommend searching for TW’s before reading it. But besides that it felt like a cozy blanket because I was reunited with my favorite couple!
'I will render you as you really were, neither cast in pristine stained glass or unholy fire. I will make you into nothing more than a man, tender and brutal in equal measure, and perhaps in doing so I will justify myself to you. To my own haunted conscience.”
A Dowry of Blood is a darkly love letter or confession from Constanta, Dracula’s bride and tells the seductive tale of how she became to be.
My my, what a work of art! That’s just what this book is, both inside and out. Remember, me telling you about the joyeus feeling of reading one paragraph and knowing this is going to be a new favorite. It was about this one. Because these prosaic phrases, from one into another, just felt like a soft caress of the mind.
This book was what I want out of every vampire book, dark, mysterious, gothic, seductive and steamy. But not flashy but respectful and extremely sexy.
Besides that it was beautifully written it also gave a complete new perspective on the the beloved, the lord, the master or Count Dracula - although never named as such. It was almost a humanization of this epic character while on the same time keeping his mystery and danger. And because of these dangers this book came with quite the extensive list of trigger warnings; which I would highly recommend investigating if you want to read this too.
And believe me, if you are a vampire nerd just like me, you need to read this. Because this should be part of the obligatory curriculum for vampire lovers.
A Dowry of Blood is a darkly love letter or confession from Constanta, Dracula’s bride and tells the seductive tale of how she became to be.
My my, what a work of art! That’s just what this book is, both inside and out. Remember, me telling you about the joyeus feeling of reading one paragraph and knowing this is going to be a new favorite. It was about this one. Because these prosaic phrases, from one into another, just felt like a soft caress of the mind.
This book was what I want out of every vampire book, dark, mysterious, gothic, seductive and steamy. But not flashy but respectful and extremely sexy.
Besides that it was beautifully written it also gave a complete new perspective on the the beloved, the lord, the master or Count Dracula - although never named as such. It was almost a humanization of this epic character while on the same time keeping his mystery and danger. And because of these dangers this book came with quite the extensive list of trigger warnings; which I would highly recommend investigating if you want to read this too.
And believe me, if you are a vampire nerd just like me, you need to read this. Because this should be part of the obligatory curriculum for vampire lovers.