Sunday 24 April 2016

Tommy Vs Cancer

Yes, I know I am breaking my two week blog break! I KNOW!!! But, I had to break it because of this wonderful tour that is going to happen in July and everyone involved wanted to show our support to this tour!

The Tommy Vs Cancer Blog Tour is to show support to author Tommy Donbavand who was recently diagnosed with cancer (and hopefully help him kick cancer butt!) and raise awareness for this horrible disease that doesn't only affect the person themselves but their family, friends and loved ones.

If you want to know more about Tommy's fight, he is documenting his battle with the Big C. So check out:
https://twitter.com/tommydonbavand


This tour is taking place throughout July (starting on the first, of course) and, according to my info, there are still places if you want to get involved - whether you are an author, book blogger/vlogger. Every one involved will review a book written by Tommy (which look like a scream! Can't wait to read one myself... I wonder which one), as well as including money on how they can help Tommy. 

Anyone wishing to be involved should contact Viv (aka the lovely Serendipity Reviews or @Serendipity_Viv) at vivienne_dacosta [at] hotmail [dot] com, who will collate all the requests, working with Faye Rogers to organise a plan for the tour.

Cancer is a terrible and, at times, very lonely disease. If you want to know more about this, you can check out http://www.cancerresearchuk.org & http://www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/audience/just-diagnosed.html#162025

Hope you will join us on this special tour. 

Friday 15 April 2016

Next Month...

This month, am going to try something a little different. I usually try themed month/yea as way to get my NetGalley eARCs or because it's about time to reread THAT series again (because WHY NOT! - And yes, am planning this again later this year... maybe...)

Well, I had this idea for a themed month for the past year now, but I kept putting it off due to one reason or another. But I think this month is the perfect month to do it so, this month is Murder Month May (Or Murder Month... I like this month. Easier to hashtag, no?).

Murder May is going to be (hopefully) a themed month where I am going to read or reread books/ebooks/audiobooks that either fit in the crime/thriller genre or have elements of crime, thriller or mystery.

Next month can go one of a few ways. Either...


... or...


...or...


...or even...



It, I hope, won't end like this...


... or this...



(Sorry Not sorry. I HAD to find a way to put them in this post! HAD TO!!!) 

Anyway, let's read murder together next month, hence the next two weeks off. So, my lovely readers, I hope you enjoy these few days of blog quiet, because when I come back... Happy reading. And remember... 


Wednesday 13 April 2016

Books And Their Theme Songs - Volume 33

So, is this post of Books and Their Theme Songs gonna be longer than the last post back in February? Well, scroll down and have a look/listen to find out!

KINDRED SPIRITS by Rainbow Rowell
"I Do What I Like" by The Corrs


SPOT THE DIFFERENCE by Juno Dawson
"One Strike" by All Saints


FRAIL HUMAN HEART by Zoe Marriott
"Tidal" by Imogen Heap & "Minds Without Fear" by Imogen Heap & Vishal/Shekhar



HALF LOST by Sally Green
"Scars" by Tove Lo


THE CROWN AND THE ARROW by Renne Ahdieh
"The Sky Is Calling" by Kim Boekbinder

Monday 11 April 2016

#re3 - Mister Monday

This is going to be my last bookish post before my two week break and my themed month. And, of course, it's a reread.

Although, not really. I was reading something else. But, I got a good 150 pages in and I wasn't feeling it. Sometimes, you just don't click with a book at that moment. And I didn't click reading that book - though I do have plans to return to reading it in the future once everything has calmed a little down.

I had an itch to read Garth Nix. I was thinking of rereading books from his Old Kingdom series, to get myself ready for Goldenhand, out later this year. But after reading the prologue of Lirael, I changed my mind. Not sure why, but I picked up Mister Monday instead. I always had an itch to reread this series (though I have never read Drowned Wednesday).

On the first day, Arthur was meant to die of an asthma attack. Instead, Mister Monday and Sneezer appeared and changed all that. Now, Arthur can see a House that no one can see. Now, there are dog-faced men trying to catch him, trying to steal something Mister Monday gave to Arthur to protect himself from the Will, whatever that is.

Seven days. Seven keys. Seven sins. Seven virtues. One House. But is Arthur up to saving the House, but the his world as well...?

It's been a while since I had read this series, so I was going to back with a vague memory of this book. Not a complete memory, but I wasn't working in blind. But there were things in this that I read a went "Oh yeah! I forgot about you!"

This series is older middle-grade so it's very different from the Old Kingdom which is very much older YA. So little scenes that would be more graphic was much simpler (not a bad thing, mind). Plus, while I would class this as fantasy, it's a mix of genres - steampunk, for example, is dotted here and there.

And I forgot how nuts this series is. It really is mad on fantasy and magic. And this is book one. We get use to this as the series goes on, but in this first book, it's a little shocking and, for poor Arthur (and for us), overwhelming.

But I missed this world. I forgot how much I enjoy this! And I feel the itch to continue rereading this series. So, after my themed month is done and dusted, looks like am going to reread two series for the rest of the year. Brace yourselves, dear reader. It's going to be one weird ride!

Tuesday 5 April 2016

eNovella Review - The Crown and the Arrow

Ok, I only downloaded and read this eNovella because of two reasons. The first was that it's a prequel to The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh and I keep seeing this book online and people gushing over it. Plus, it sounds like something I think I would enjoy so decided to take the plunge and try this out.

The second was it's free. What better way to figure out if you are going to like a book series than trying out a prequel novella that is free?!

Seventy one days and nights have passed. Seventy one brides that Khalid has had killed. This dawn marks the arrival of Khalid's seventy second bride. But this bride is different. Not only did this bride volunteered but, when they first meet, Khalid is shocked by the look of hatred that he receives from his new bride...

Why does she hate him so much? And why isn't she afraid of dying, when everyone knows that she will be dead by next sunrise? Khalid has never entered his wife's chamber before... tonight is going to be different...

Ok, am going to say it. THIS IS VERY SHORT! I read it within 10 to 20 minutes, it's that short. Yes, I know it's free and I shouldn't complain but its length surprised me.

Plus, the eNovella is basically what you have read above, taken from Khalid's point of view. This is a scene from The Wrath and the Dawn, told not from the main character but from someone else in the room. If you have read the book, this would be very interesting for you.

But, if you haven't, as such as myself, it might come across confusing. All the questions asked weren't answered (because they are answered in the main story and the main character that this eNovella is told from knows all the answers already, but hate them so never reference/explain himself), and there were little hints. But it's very open ended. Like I said before, this is a scene from The Wrath and the Dawn, told from other character's point of view.

However, this does intrigue me. I liked the writing style and I am curious over why Khalid takes a bride, only to have them killed a few hours later.

I know this duology doesn't have a UK publisher, to my knowledge, but if I see The Wrath and the Dawn in bookshops, I might pick it up and find out more. Might being the word here. I'm not completely sold on it as of yet, so I await book bloggers/vloggers I trust opinions on it before I go any further...