Author: AllieS.

January 2021 Wrap Up

On By AllieS.In Book Review, Movie Review, TV Review, Wrap UpLeave a comment

In January I read seven books including one comic and three manga. I also watched the Doctor Who New Years special and the LifeTime Mini Movie A Recipe in Seduction.

Books:

Beneath the Moon by Yoshi Yoshitani is a collection of retellings of different myths, legends, and stories from different culture that also come with beautiful illustrations. All of the art work was use for the Tarot of the Divine Deck. I loved the art and the stories but I wished some of them where a little longer.

Star Wars: Darth Vader Volume One is the fist volume in a comic book series following Darth Vader’s adventures working for the Empire and attempting to catch the Rebels while investigating the Emperor’s secrets following the events of A New Hope. I thought that I would like this comic series as I like most of the other Star Wars books that I’ve read. However, I like the premise of the story more then the story itself. Mostly I just found this boring.

Museum Mercenary: A Handbook for Independent Museum Professional by Rebecca Migdal is a nonfiction museum book focusing on how to be an independent professional/contractor in the museum field. I read museumology books to expand my know of the field and this would be a good resource for anyone in the field. This book contained plenty of useful information and made me realize that I don’t want to run my own business in this field.

Fullmetal Alchemist Fullmetal Edition Volumes 3 and 4 by Hiromu Arakawa. I’m collecting these editions and rereading the series at the same time. Volume 3 finishes off the Lab Five arc which ends in the death of one of my favorite characters but shows that there are bigger things at play then our main characters know. Volume 4 has the brothers going to see their teacher and confessing that they attempted to bring their mother back from the dead. Most of this volume is told in flashback but gives us more background on the Eric Brothers and why they did what they did.

Saiyuki Resurrected Edition volume one by Kazuya Minekura is the first volume of the collected editions of the Saiyuki manga. I’ve read all of the Saiyuki manga before but when I saw these editions I knew that I wanted them and decided to reread the series as I buy them. Saiyuki follows Sanzo, Goku, Gojyo, and Hakkai as they travel west to find out why the demons are attacking humans and to stop the resurrection of the demon king Gyumaoh. This story is based on the Chinese novel Journey to the West but as the author states “is the most ‘monkeyed’ around with” version. This first volume is mostly setting up the world and the characters through singular contained stories that only give hints to the larger plot and conflict the characters will encounter. I love this series and plan to continue rereading and collecting these editions.

Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff is the second book in the Nevernight Trilogy which follows Mia learning to become an assassin and getting revenge on those who destroyed her family. This only focused mainly on Mia learning how the Red Church was involved in the death of her father and becoming a gladiatorial combatant to kill one of the men responsible. Though this book took awhile for me to read I loved where the story went and the ending made me so glad that I don’t have to wait for the next book and plan to read it soon. I have a full review posted as well.

Movies/TV:

A Recipe for Seduction is a LifeTime Mini Movie that was sponsored by KFC where Mario Lopez stars as Colonel Sanders. This is only 16 minutes long but still contains all the drama of a LifeTime romance movie. Colonel Sanders is hired as the new chef to this rich family that is in debt and the daughter who doesn’t like her current boyfriend falls in love with the chef. I watched this because the idea and commercial was something that I never though would exist. Its not a bad movie though a little cheesy, the acting is good but the plot moves so fast that you end up going what did I watch. If it sounds interesting I would suggest watching just because its so short.

I also watched this month the Doctor Who New Years Special Revolution of the Daleks. The past several years I’ve not been the biggest fan of Doctor Who and while I think this special was better I still had some issues with it. I do love any time they bring back Captain Jack Harkness and I loved his interactions is all the companions specifically Yaz. I also loved how Ryan and Graham’s story and character arcs came full circle. However, my two biggest problems was the politics and the Dalek story itself. Personally, I use movies, TV, and books to not have to think about politics and what’s happening in the world so I’m just not a fan when its added in. Especially with characters that feel like many of the politicians in power or have been in power recently. However, my bigger problem was with the Dalek story. I get that not all characters in Doctor Who, especially side ones, would know what a Dalek is by name but how do people not recognize them when they been on Earth so many times not even counting times is Classic Who. Also I not a fan of the “they will help/be good for security story” when I personally have trouble that people would accept things that look like a Dalek doing that. Overall, not a bad episode but not great. I hope the new season will be better and I wonder where Doctor Who as there are rumors that Jodie Whittaker will be leaving and I hope they get new writers.

January 2021 OwlCrate

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Owl Crate is a young adult book subscription box where every month you receive one new hardcover book and an assortment of bookish goodies connected to the monthly theme. Some of these items are very practical and some are better suited as décor or for a pin/bulletin board. January’s theme is From Olympus with Love.

Each box includes different bookish goodies that fit the theme of the month and are connected to other books. This months items include a letter board with a zipper pouch for the letters, a Lunar Calendar Tapestry, a new pin banner, Nectar of the Gods loose leaf tea from Riddle’s Tea Shoppe, and a double sided wooden bookmark.

Every month Owl Crate has a new young adult hardback book that has an exclusive cover, is signed and comes with a letter from the author. The enamel pin that is in every box is also inspired by that months book. This months book is Lore by Alexandra Bracken. In Lore the Greek Gods are forced to walk the earth as mortal and are hunted down by the descendants of different blood lines.

February’s theme is Magic Unleashed.

Book Review: Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff (The Nevernight Chronicles #2)

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Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff is the second book in the Nevernight Trilogy. We follow Mia Corvere in the months after the ending of the first book where she became a Blade of the Red Church though many don’t think she has earned her place. When Mia hears that the men who destroyed her family will be at the last gladiatorial games held in Godsgrave she hatches a plan to kill them even though the Red Church has told her that Consul Scaeva is off limits.

For the first 100 pages or so of the book there are flashbacks to four months ago where Mia is working for the Red Church assassinating those she is order to and ends up running into Ash who tried to kill her in the last book. When Ash tells her that the Red Church was involved in the death of Mia’s father, they plan with Mercurio to kill Julius Scaeva behind the Churches back. Most of the story focuses on Mia working her way into the gladiatorial arena and becoming a champion to get a chance to kill those she wants revenge on. However, she is put into situations that question the lengths she will go to and is that changing her.

Though this book took me three months to finish I ended up loving it. Tough I really like Jay Kristoff’s writing and style the flashbacks happen at the begging of most of the chapters for first part of the book caused me to never feel an urge to pick the book up when I had put it down. However, about half way through this changed and I didn’t want to put the book down. I loved Mia interactions with the other gladiatorial combatants and the new information we gained about her family with the fact that what Mia knows might not be completely right.

The ending was amazing and I’m so glad that I don’t have to wait to finish the series if I don’t want to.

December 2020 FaeCrate

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Fae Crate is a primarily young adult fantasy subscription box with several box options each month. I’ve purchased from this box multiple times and I find the monthly boxes very hit or miss. However, their special edition boxes are generally very good and they sometimes have very beautiful exclusive book editions. Like most book boxes the items are a mix of useful and decorative items. Though I’ve found that Fae Crate often has more art and paper items then other boxes.

December’s theme was Hunted. The bookish items included were a house of night iron on patch, A Darker Shade of Magic enamel phone grip/pop socket, a Star Daughter inspired note pad, a Raybearer inspired candle, a Vortex Visions beanie, and the monthly polaroid.

The book included this month was A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova. In this world the Elves take a woman from Luella’s village to be their queen. She escaped this fate when she was younger but now the king has come to take her away. This edition has an exclusive design with foiling on the hardback, silver sprayed edges, and comes with a signed book plate. Also Fae Crate includes an ebook download of another book with each box. This months is Darkwind by R. Dugan.

December 2020 Fairyloot

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Fairyloot is a Young Adult book subscription box focusing on fantasy based out of the UK. Each month you receive a new Young Adult hardback book and 5-6 bookish goodies. Like most book boxes the hardback are special editions and the items are a combination of both practical things and more decorative items. December’s theme is Thick as Thieves.

The bookish items included this month are a Hobbit inspired beanie, a secret books to put things in, a Throne of Glass inspired letter opener shaped like a sword, a 2021 calendar with art from different fandoms, a Children of Blood and Bone notepad, and the art print is inspired by The Raven Cycle. The tarot card incuded in this are are have character art from House of Earth and Blood.

All Fairyloot books are signed by the author and have different details each month. The box also includes an author letter. This month’s book is Master of One by Jaida Jones and Dani Bennett which follows a thief that gets swept up in the dark plans of the court sorcerer and together with a ragtag group must stop his sinister plans. This edition also comes with red shimmery sprayed edges, foiling on the hardback, and artwork on the reverse of the dust jacket.

January’s theme is Greek Mythology.

December 2020 OwlCrate

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Owl Crate is a young adult book subscription box where every month you receive one new hardcover book and an assortment of bookish goodies connected to the monthly theme. Some of these items are very practical and some are better suited as décor or for a pin/bulletin board. December’s theme is Love is a Battlefield.

Each box includes different bookish goodies that fit the theme of the month and are connected to other books. This months items include as set of leg warmers, An Ember in the Ashes puzzle, a hand cream, a wooden ornament, and a small decorative rolling pin to add designs to cookies.

Every month Owl Crate has a new young adult hardback book that has an exclusive cover, is signed and comes with a letter from the author. The enamel pin that is in every box is also inspired by that months book. This months book is These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong which is a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai. This edition is a gold hardback with exclusive art on the reverse of the dust jacket.

January’s theme is From Olympus with Love.

December 2020 Wrap Up

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This month I read 5 books and watched 2 movies. Including a manga, an audio book, and two nonfiction books.

Books:

Final Fantasy VII Remake World Preview is an coffee table type book from Square Enix that focuses on the new Final Fantasy VII Remake. This book included a time line of events, screen shots from the game, character information, and an exclusive short story about Aerith’s past. I liked this book but it didn’t have much new information for fan of the series or the original game. The short story was well written but isn’t necessary to understand anything about the game. I would have like a few hints about where the next game would be headed but as a fan I was going to buy this good any ways regardless of what information was included.

Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand is a nonfiction book about Prince Harry and Meghan Markel. This book tells their story from before they met, through dating, marriage, and finally leave the royal institution. Its a very readable book and whether or not this is the real story or the true story I don’t know or care. I’ve never really followed the royal family but when Meghan joined I would occasionally read articles. I feel like this book gives one perspective on what happen and how you feel about that is up to you. The one thing I took away is that I don’t feel like the tabloids and press have been all that fair or kind to them.

How to Get a Museum Job by Steven Miller is a nonfiction book exactly about what the title says. This book is all about the different ways to get a museum job and getting your foot in the door. As someone who has had a museum job and is trying to get back into the field I felt like I knew most of this information but it would be a great resource for those entering the field. I personally liked the sections about interviewing and where the future of the profession is headed.

Sailor Moon Eternal Edition Vol. 2 by Naoko Takeuchi is the second volume in the Sailor Moon manga series. I’m rereading the series as I collect these editions and still love the series as a whole. This book continues the arc started in volume one but has more horror elements through out. If you are getting into Sailor Moon these are the editions that I would recommend.

The Boy Who Didn’t Come Home by Melissa Albert is a young adult short story in the world of the Hazel Wood that follows Ellery Finch after the gets into the Hazel Wood. This is set mainly during Alice’s time stuck in her story and tells us what Ellery was doing. I thought initially that this would be a story set between The Hazel Wood and The Night Country but its more events that happened to other characters at the end of The Hazel Wood. I didn’t love Ellery as the narrator but I really liked his interactions with the world and The Spinner. I listen to this as an audio book and its placed at the end of the Hazel Wood audio book for anyone looking for it.

Movies:

Man of Steel is the 2013 Superman movie that started the current DC Universe movies. This was a rewatch for me as I wanted to watch it again before seeing the rest of the movies that connect to it. Its an okay movie that I mainly found boring and though I like Henry Cavil as an actor I don’t like him as Superman. I do plan to watch the other DC movies but I don’t think that I’m going to love them.

The Croods: A New Age is the second Croods movie that follows a family of cavemen and their adventures surviving. I’ve never seen the first Croods movie and only watched this on because of an accident. I was helping my parents with Christmas dinner and my two year old nephew some how got the TV remote and ordered the movie before any of us realized what he had done. So as a family we ended up watching it. Its a very fun family friendly movie that made me want to see the first one.

Did Not Finish (DNF) #3

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I want to love every book I buy and read but that doesn’t always happen. I also don’t believe in forcing myself to finish things that I’m not enjoying so I routinely stop reading books and never finish them. These post are for me to talk about why I DNFed a book.

13260128Cleopatra Confesses by Carolyn Meyer is a young adult historical fiction novel about the life of Cleopatra. I originally read this back in Junior High and recently found a copy at a used book store and decided to reread it. Its much too young for me now and what little I read was very boring but I think someone who I the correct age would get more out of it.

48764258._SY475_Tsarina by Ellen Alpsten is a historical fiction novel about Catherine the Great from her life as a peasant to the Tsarina of Russia. Its well written and very detailed but I found it boring. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley but was only able to finish about 30 pages before I gave up. It would be a good read for those interested in this time period or these historical figures.

6124802Fairest of All by Serena Valentino is a young adult Snow White retelling that is from the perspective of the Evil Queen. Unlike some retellings this one is directly connected to the Disney movie version. I read this book initially when I was younger and really liked it. Earlier this year I received a free eBook version and decided to try to reread it. I like the concept of the story but I got about half way though and was very board. I feel like this book and series is good for younger readers but adults might not get much out of it.

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows is a fantasy historical young adult book about Lady Jane Grey. I knew that this was a comedic take on historical fiction but I didn’t know when starting the book that it would have so many fantastical elements. I’m a fan of historical fiction and I expected that when I pick this book up but I felt that what I read was more of a fantasy. If that’s what you want then this book would be great but I wanted something that read more historical so I don’t intend to finish this book.

Beach Read by Emily Henry is an adult romance book where a romance author and a literary fiction author who are both having trouble writing their next book end up living near each other and falling in love. I started this book as an audio book and I’m just not in the mood for an audio book right now. I like the premise but I wasn’t liking what I read of it. However, I do think that I will either come back to the audio at some point or try reading it as a physical book. So this is a not finishing for now but I can see myself reading it at some point.

OwlCrate Winter Wishes Box

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In December 2020 OwlCrate did a Winter Wishes box in celebration of A Universe of Wishes a new young adult fantasy anthology.

The items included in this box where a Spinning Sliver inspired mug, a stainless steel coffee/tea spoon that also is a bag clip, Wintersong inspired tea from Riddle’s Tea Shop, a set of reusable gift bags, a gel eye mask with a quote from The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and a Vanilla Buttercream scented candle.

The book included is A Universe of Wishes which is a new young adult fantasy anthology written by many different popular authors. This special edition has an exclusive cover, foiling on the hardcover, and exclusive end pages. As well as a ribbon book mark and a letter from the editor bound in the front of the book. The enamel pin that came with the box was also inspired by the book.

Illumicrate Collections: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

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Another Collectors edition that I bought in 2020 was the Illumicrate Collections: Daughter of Smoke and Bone box. Personally, I bought this box more of the book than any of the items but I did like most of the items included.

The items included in this box are all themed round Daughter of Smoke and Bone and the rest of the series with one items inspired by the Strange the Dreamer Duology. These items include a set of bookends, a replica soul thurible, a book sleeve, a metal book tin, an enamel pin and a foiled art print. The Strange the Dream item was a mug designed by Rosiethorns88. Overall, I liked the items though I feel like I have too many mugs at this point.

The book itself is an exclusive 10th Anniversary signed hardback copy. This edition also includes light blue sprayed edges, a foiled design and quote on the hardback, and art on the reverse of the dustjacket. This is a gorgeous edition of this book and Illumicrate due have matching editions of the rest of the series planned.