Book Review: The Die of Death by Kenneth B. Andersen

Publisher: Joffe Books

Date: 2018

Genre: Fantasy/Young Adult

Plot: Philip’s adventures as the Devil’s apprentice have changed him—in a good way. Although he misses his friends in Hell, he has made new friends in life.
But when the future of the underworld is threatened once again, Philip’s help is needed. Death’s Die has been stolen and immortality is spreading across the globe.
Philip throws himself into the search—and discovers a horrible truth about his own life along the way.

The Die of Death is volume 2 in The Great Devil War-series and winner of the ORLA-Award.

The Great Devil War-series is a humorous and gripping tale about good and evil, filled with biblical and historical characters, such as Judas, Goliath, and Pontius Pilate, as well as modern figures such as Elvis Presley, Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, and many more.

Book Review: The Awful Truth about Sushing Prize by Marco Ocram

Publisher: Tiny Fox Press

Date: 2019

Genre: Humour

Plot: Should I tell him about Sushing or play dumb?

Sticking in my comfort zone, I played dumb.

Writer Marco Ocram has a secret superpower—whatever he writes actually happens, there and then. Hoping to win the million-dollar Sushing Prize, he uses his powers to write a true-crime thriller, quickly discovering a freakish murder. But Marco has a major problem—he’s a total idiot who can’t see beyond his next sentence. Losing control of his plot and his characters, and breaking all the rules of fiction, Marco writes himself into every kind of trouble, until only the world’s most incredible ending can save his bacon.

Fast, funny, and utterly different, welcome to the weird world of The Awful Truth.

5 benefits of starting yoga

I first tried yoga a few years ago. It didn’t end well. Despite the class being for beginnings, they didn’t cater to new starters. I told the instructor about problems I had – which was ignored, no alternatives given and I stopped when I was making thing worse.

I was too scared to try it again.

But I kept seeing it mentioned. Being an avid follower of Jenny in Neverland meant I couldn’t escape the positivity surrounding yoga.

When a flyer arrived introducing a new class to my local area, I figured it was time to try again.  I started last September. I haven’t looked back since.

Television Review: Thunderbirds Are Go

I’ve only reviewed a couple of series of Thunderbirds Are Go, despite having watched them all. It felt wrong reviewing it: I’m a die-hard fan of the originals and when I’ve mentioned fanfiction in previous posts, well… this is my fandom. A reboot of the show, specifically aimed at a much younger audience, was frustrating more often than not.

With the show coming to an end, however, I wanted to do a wrap-up of my thoughts.

Why I won’t stop blogging

It breaks my heart when book-blogging suddenly becomes negative.

Over recent months, there’s been the debate about tagging authors. Others seem to be under the assumption there’s a monetary value in reviewing books, or that our thoughts aren’t valid just because we’re bloggers.

This is not the first time that I’ve had overwhelming doubts about whether I should stay with it. I work hard to keep to a schedule, planning what to read and when, sometimes at the risk of losing my enjoyment of the actual reading.

It was almost too much this time. I’d lose my blog as a whole if I stopped reviewing. While wallowing in self-doubt though, I suddenly started thinking about why I do this…

Photo by Ella Jardim on Unsplash

Book Review: Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb

Author: Robin Hobb

Title: Ship of Destiny (The Liveship Traders #3)

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Date: 2000

Plot: The dragon, Tintaglia, released from her wizardwood coffin, flies high over the Rain Wild River. Below her, Reyn and Selden have been left to drown, while Malta and the Satrap attempt to navigate the acid flow of the river in a decomposing boat.

Althea and Brashen are sailing the liveship Paragon into pirate waters in a last-ditch attempt to rescue the Vestrit family liveship, Vivacia, who was stolen by the pirate king, Kennit; but there is mutiny brewing amongst their ragtag crew, and in the mind of the mad ship itself.

And all the while the waters around the Vivacia are seething with giant serpents, following the liveship as she sails to her destiny . . .

Book Review: Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto

Author: Nicki Pau Preto

Title: Crown of Feathers

Publisher: Black and White Publishing, Ink Road

Date: 2019

Plot: I had a sister, once…

In a world ruled by fierce warrior queens, a grand empire was built upon the backs of Phoenix Riders—legendary heroes who soared through the sky on wings of fire—until a war between two sisters ripped it all apart.

I promised her the throne would not come between us.

Sixteen years later, Veronyka is a war orphan who dreams of becoming a Phoenix Rider from the stories of old. After a shocking betrayal from her controlling sister, Veronyka strikes out alone to find the Riders—even if that means disguising herself as a boy to join their ranks.

But it is a fact of life that one must kill or be killed. Rule or be ruled.

Just as Veronyka finally feels like she belongs, her sister turns up and reveals a tangled web of lies between them that will change everything. And meanwhile, the new empire has learned of the Riders’ return and intends to destroy them once and for all.

Sometimes the title of queen is given. Sometimes it must be taken.

Crown of Feathers is an epic fantasy about love’s incredible power to save—or to destroy. Interspersed throughout is the story of Avalkyra Ashfire, the last Rider queen, who would rather see her empire burn than fall into her sister’s hands.

Monthly wrap up: February

January was a good start to the year. February let me down a little. I thought the monthly and weekly goals I was setting myself were realistic. But once I came down in a cold, gradually slipped behind and had a mini-burn-out trying to juggle everything, I realised that wasn’t the case.

I admit I gave up. I was pushing myself too hard and figured it was better to check in with myself, do what I needed and not worry about it. It’s frustrating: I hate giving up! But it was what I needed and – you know what? – that’s okay.

I’m going into March full of determination. I’m going to get myself organised: get posts planned, catch up on some reading and work towards some more realistic goals (I hope!).

Book Review: Magic Unleashed by Devri Walls

Author: Devri Walls

Title: Magic Unleashed (Venators #1)

Publisher: Brown Books Publishing Group

Date: 2016

Plot: Six years ago, Grey Malteer was attacked by creatures he thought couldn’t possibly exist. They repeated a word, calling him a name he’d never heard before…Venator. Since then, his life has been a hellhole of secrecy—hiding old pain alongside strange new abilities.

Rune Jenkins has an itch, as she calls it, but it’s more than that. It’s an anger that builds up like the inside of a boiler whenever she’s around anything remotely supernatural. The pressure is growing steadily worse and she can’t understand why. All she knows is—her control is slipping.

By order of an unknown council Grey and Rune are pulled through a portal in the St. Louis arch, landing them in an alternate dimension where creatures of myth and legend exist. A realm that calls them, Venators.

Made up of centuries old fae, vampires, werewolves, elves and succubi the council’s corrupt nature becomes obvious as they seek to wield the newly returned Venators as weapons. Wedged in an impossible position, Grey and Rune must decide their fate—do they go against the council’s wishes and help the innocents of this unforgiving land, or face the possibility of execution by the council. 

Television Review: The Witcher, Season 1

Show: The Witcher, Season 1

Company: Netflix

Date: 2019

It’s not like me to just jump on the bandwagon, but after hearing such good reports on The Witcher from every direction (including my sister, who I didn’t expect to enjoy it), there was no way I could resist.

I have to admit, to start with I couldn’t work out what all the fuss was about. The episodes were good, but I was getting confused over the timeline, how the plots fitted together and exactly what was supposed to be going on.