June 2023 Obsidian Moon Crate

On September 26, 2023September 26, 2023 By AllieS.In Book Box, Obsidian Moon CrateLeave a comment

Obsidian Moon Crate is a quarterly book box based in the US that focuses on adults with interest in the darker elements of life and books. Each box comes with a new hardcover book, one crystal, one candle, and four to six other items. June’s theme is Queer AF 3.0: The Gays of the Dead.

The items included in this box are a desk planner, a Cemetery Boys glass tumbler, an enamel pin, an art print inspired by The Coldest Touch, a bath soak, a tote bag, the wood-wick candle, and a coffin shaped obsidian for the crystal. Also the note book that was delayed from the March box was included.

The book included was a hardcover copy of The Court of Undying Seasons by A.M. Strickland and came with an exclusive dust jacket, sprayed edges and a signed book plate. We follow Fin who takes her loves place in the village finding where the chosen are taken to Castle Courtsheart, a Vampire school where if humans succeed they become vampires. However, Fin wants to forge a different path by finding out how to kill the undead and get revenge for her mother. When she comes across a string of murders Fin must uncover the truth and find the killer before she too end up dead.

September’s theme is Vengeance is Ours.

August 2023 Illumicrate

On September 22, 2023September 17, 2023 By AllieS.In Book Box, Illumicrate1 Comment

Illumicrate is a UK based fantasy and science fiction book box that has monthly boxes or just a monthly book only subscription. Each box also includes a selection of bookish goodies some more practical, others more decorative set around a monthly theme. August’s theme is Hidden Magic.

The items included in this box are a Priory of the Orange Tree inspired mug, a bookmark set featuring characters from the Mortal Instruments, a book tin inspired by Sorcery of Thornes, and a set of washi tape.

Illumicrate, like other book boxes, include a new hard cover. This months book is Zhara by S. Jae-Jones which is set in a world where magic is forbidden. Zhara, a young woman who is hiding her magical gifts while also taking care of her blind sister, meets Han she finds out about a secret magical liberation organization and Zhara must help bring peace and harmony to the world. This edition also has full color art on the hardback and digitally printed edges.

September’s theme is My Last Breath.

July 2023 Wrap Up

On September 18, 2023September 17, 2023 By AllieS.In Wrap UpLeave a comment

In July I read eight book most of them graphic novels and watched two movies.

Books:

First book I read in July was Secrets of the Vampire: A Supernatural Sourcebook of Our Legend and Lore by Julie Legere. This is a nonfiction book about vampires throughout history that I received as a review copy from Netgalley. This book focuses on historical and pop culture ideas about vampires and where these ideas come from while being “narrated” by a vampire. This is a great book from fan of vampires especially teenagers.

Witch King by Martha Wells is an adult fantasy novel following Kai who after being murdered and trapped finds a lesser mage trying to gain control of his powers. Kai, along with his friend Ziede, must figure out why they were imprisoned though they might not like the answers. I also have a full in-depth review already posted.

The last books that I read was all seven of the Monstress graphic novels that are currently out. I reread the was that I’ve read before and caught up to where the series is currently. I love this graphic novel series about Maika Halfwolf and her quest to find out more about her connection to this monster that also inhabits her body. I artwork is amazing and I can’t wait for the next volume.

Movies:

I watched two movies this month the first being Titanic 666. I sometimes see trailers for what is obviously going to be a bad Titanic movie but I want to see how bad it really is. This movie follows the voyage of the Titanic III, as this is a sequel to Titanic II, as they travel on the historical route of the original Titanic. A descendent of one of the Titanic’s passengers sneaks aboard to summon the spirits of the dead and kill everyone on board. I knew that this was a bad movie going in so I wasn’t expecting much but I do feel that the idea the the spirits of the captain and crew being the ones vengeful enough to kill these passengers and a deep mischaracterization of these real people who died while trying to save as many as they could no the Titanic.

The other movie I watched in July was 65 and was much better. 65 follows Mills a pilot on a two year journey from his home planet when the ship gets hit by an asteroid. Mills believes that he is the only survivor until he find a young girl name Koa but they don’t speak the same language. It turns out that they have crash landed on Earth 65 million years ago and together must try to get to the escape pod. Though their journey they are attacked by different dinosaurs and realize that another large asteroid is headed to earth. While I enjoyed this movie I feel like the marking focused more on the dinosaurs and because of that I wanted more action with them.

July 2023 Illumicrate

On September 15, 2023September 14, 2023 By AllieS.In Book Box, IllumicrateLeave a comment

The items included in this box are a towel with art work inspired by the Hunger Games, a guess the character card game, a set of stemless tea cups, and an embroidered pouch for playing cards or tarot cards.

Illumicrate, like other book boxes, include a new hard cover each month often with an exclusive cover. This months book is The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem. Ten years ago the kingdom of Jasad burned and Sylvia the lost heir never wants to be found. But when her magic is discovered she must make a deal with her greatest enemy and she will soon have to choose between the life she wants and the one she left behind. This edition also has foiling on the hardback, digitally printed edges, and is signed by the author.

August’s theme is Hidden Magic.

Book Review: Grimm Rose by Kasi Blake

On September 11, 2023October 4, 2023 By AllieS.In Book ReviewLeave a comment

Grimm Rose by Kasi Blake is the start young adult fantasy fairytale retelling series with some interesting twists. I received a review copy from the author and will be including the full blurb and a link to purchase at the end of this review.

We follow Shayne a half-ling servant of the Ivory Queen who inadvertently and by force is going to marry the Ivory Queen’s son unless she steals Cinderella’s glass slipper. However, the slipper is closely guarded by Cinderella’s son who is know to kill those who try to steel from him. When Shayne and him meet they hate each other but their fates may be intertwined. While this is a fairytale retelling in many ways the focus is on the children of the characters from the original stories and a magic system that is unique to this series. I loved how the different magic systems worked and who had different types of magic.

Shayne is a stubborn protagonist that doesn’t want to be saved but to find a way to save herself which she ultimately does with the help of friends new and old. Without spoiling anything I loved finding out Shayne’s past and how she is connected to the magic of this world. While I didn’t love the relationship with her father I did love how that relationship is affected by the plot and other characters. In comparison, the love interest Aric is a much colder and calculating character which when you find out his past makes so much since and at first I didn’t think I would enjoy the romance between these two but I like where it went.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and start to this new series. I feel like this is a great series for those who love fairytale retellings, young adult fantasy, and slow burn romance.

Blurb from Amazon:

Happy endings are optional.
If she steals Cinderella’s glass slipper, she gains her freedom.
If she fails, she loses her life.

At sixteen, Shayne should be attending parties and giggling over boys. But half-ling servants—half faerie and half mortal—aren’t allowed to have fun. Her destiny is to serve the royal family until she dies. It’s a bleak existence with no way out… or so she thinks.

When a runaway bride chooses death over marriage to the pudgy prince, the Ivory Queen shoves the cursed engagement ring onto Shayne’s hand and announces that she will take the dead girl’s place. Marriage to the Toad? She’d rather die.
Seeing her reluctance, the queen offers her a choice. She can marry the prince, or she can steal Cinderella’s glass slipper. Swiping a shoe from Cinderella’s last living relative sounds easy.

Then she meets Cinderella’s son. It’s hate-at-first-sight for both of them. He has magical powers, a bad attitude, and a deep thirst for vengeance that rivals her own. Stinking troll!

Aric refuses to let her have his mother’s glass slipper. She tries reasoning with him. That doesn’t work. She gives him a sob story about a fictional sister locked in the queen’s dungeon. He doesn’t even blink. By his own admission, he has a heart of stone. Nothing can sway him.

In what she sees as an act of cowardice, he spills sugar and orders her to count each crystal. Her knees buckle. She hits the floor hard. There isn’t anything she can do.

Their hatred for the queen is the only thing they have in common. Can they put their loathing for each other to the side long enough to destroy the Ivory Queen and save the faerie realm?

This is the first book in the Once Upon a Curse series. Revenge meets Once Upon a Time (tv shows), and will appeal to both fairytale retelling lovers and straight up fantasy fans.

A Beauty and the Beast/Cinderella retelling with elements of both exciting stories intertwined. Familiar favorites and interesting new characters you will fall in love with are cleverly woven together to make a story you won’t soon forget. Get ready for a tale of powerful magic with an enemies-to-lovers, slow burn romance, plenty of action, and surprising plot twists.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBHRYYFX/?coliid=I322D004VLRT57&colid=2UUXW5NNRX44U&psc=0&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Book Review: Witch King by Martha Wells

On August 11, 2023August 11, 2023 By AllieS.In Book ReviewLeave a comment

Witch King is an adult fantasy novel following Kai who after being murdered and trapped finds a lesser mage trying to gain control of his powers. Kai, along with his friend Ziede, must figure out why they were imprisoned though Kai might not like the answers.

The world created here is very different from other fantasies with a very unique magic system. The story goes back and forth between the present focusing on the mystery of what happened to Kai and his past and how he became know as the Witch King. Martha Wells does this so well that the reader learns what is going on in the present at the same time as the characters. The flash backs give enough information on the world and the past events to be informative while also leaving a mystery.

This is one of those books that is good on a first read but will be even better on a reread when you understand what is going on Witch King is currently a stand alone but is left open enough to have sequels in the future if the author wanted to.

June 2023 Wrap Up

On August 7, 2023August 6, 2023 By AllieS.In Book Review, Movie Review, Wrap UpLeave a comment

In June I read four books and watched two movies. My reading is starting to pick up again but some months are just better than others and that’s okay.

Books:

The first book I finished in June was Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas which is the fourth book in the Throne of Glass series. Though I haven’t read a Throne of Glass book in a while they are very easy to get back into and I love how fast paced they can be. I won’t give a full summary to avoid spoilers and due to the fact these books are so popular but I did enjoy how this one dealt with some plot points that the series started with while also paving the way for where the series is going.

The next book was It’s Jeff #1 by Kelly Thompson which is the collection of the Marvel Infinity comics about Jeff the Land Shark. There is very little to no text in these comics as they are short stories/panels of Jeff being cute and interacting with other Marvel characters. Though I don’t have much to say about it, it was very cute.

The Marionettes by Katie Wismer is the start of a New Adult urban fantasy series focusing on vampires and witches. Valerie is going to the academy to join the Marionettes, the group of witches that serve the vampires. During her final trials she get pair with the local Vampire Prince, Reid and many secrets start to come out. I loved Valerie and her friends but I did find her relationship with her current boy friend Connor and what ends up happening to him a little predictable. I would have liked to have seen a little more world building as it becomes clear that everyone knows that vampires and other creatures exist but I don’t know if this is how the world always been. Overall I greatly enjoyed this book and the ending has me wanting to continue.

The last book I read this month was Breach of Peace by Daniel B. Greene which is his first novella. In this dark world an imperial family has been murdered and the police know as Officers of God are called to investigate. When Inspector Khild starts finding evidence of a larger conspiracy she become involved in something that may destroy everything she knows. Well written for a first novella and I was pulled into this world. As this is a novella I would have liked a little more world building to better understand what Khild is truly up against but I enjoyed it overall. However, I was not expecting how brutal the ending was going to be and I need to see where the story goes next.

Movies:

I also watched two movies this month the first being Titanic 2. I had heard bout this movie existing but I figured that it would be a pretty bad Titanic movie distributed by The Asylum. This movie follows a fictional replica of the Titanic sailing on the 100th year anniversary but global warming and the forces of nature cause history to repeat itself. As this movie came out in 2010 it was rideing the wave of Titanic media leading up to the 100th year anniversary but its not good and copies some of the same story beets as the James Cameron movie.

The only other movie I watched in June was Resident Evil: Welcome to Racoon City. Which is the newest live action Resident Evil movie that claims to be more accurate to the video games. I wasn’t expecting this to be good but I find the other Resident Evil movies to be guilty pleasure action movies that are mildly fun so that’s all I wanted out of this. However, this movie is not only fairly boring (I ended up doing laundry while watching it) but it also takes the names of characters from the games and completely changes them so it is in no way accurate to the games. If you are a fan of any other Resident Evil property be that the games or other movies my recommendation is not to watch this.

June 2023 Illumicrate

On July 28, 2023July 22, 2023 By AllieS.In Book Box, IllumicrateLeave a comment

The items included in this box are a two-sided cushion cover, night and day shoe charms, a bowl set, and a set of coasters.

Illumicrate, like other book boxes, include a new hard cover each month and most months a letter from the author. This months book is The Sun and the Void by Gabriela Romero-Lacruz which is the first book in a new fantasy series inspired by South American history and folklore.

July’s theme is You Win or You Die.

June 2023 Fairyloot

On July 24, 2023July 22, 2023 By AllieS.In FairylootLeave a comment

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 several 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. June’s theme is From the Depths.

The bookish items included this month are a ceramic plate, a Daughter of the Pirate King inspired tea strainer, the next mythology bookmarks, reusable cotton face pads, and a cushion cover. The monthly tarot card have character art from Song of Achilles.

All Fairyloot books come with exclusive covers, generally signed by the author and include a letter from the author. This month the book is Sing Me To Sleep by Gabi Burton which is a dark fantasy where a siren must choose between following her heart or protecting her family. This edition also has digital sprayed edges, foiling on the hardcover, and art on the endpapers.

July’s theme is Cruel Intentions.

May 2023 Wrap Up

On July 21, 2023July 19, 2023 By AllieS.In Book Review, Video Games, Wrap Up1 Comment

May was a bit of a hectic month so I only read two books, both which were early copies from Netgalley. I did also finish playing Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion.

Books:

The first book I finished was Mister Magic by Kiersten White, which I also have a full review posted for. Mister Magic is a horror book were 30 years after an accident on the children’s TV show Mister Magic the cast is coming back together. However, Val doesn’t remember the show or what happened but weird things are going on and to save those she cares about she must remember. A little confusing at times but overall a very good horror. I you want to know my full thoughts please read the full review.

The only other book I read this month was The Exorcist Legacy: 50 Years of Fear by Nat Segaloff which is a nonfiction book about the creation of the Exorcist movie and the sequels that came after it. While I enjoyed this deep dive into the history of the Exorcist with a title like Exorcist Legacy I was expecting more discussion on the impact the Exorcist has had on the horror genre as a whole. I feel like this book is best for super fans of the movie but over might enjoy it as well.

Video Games:

The only game I finished was Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion which I also have a full review posted for. This game is the remastered edition of the 2007 PSP game Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII with updated graphics, voice acting, and controls. This is a prequal to the original Final Fantasy VII focusing on Zack Fair and the events leading up to the Nibelheim incident. I loved this game and anyone who has an interest in the Final Fantasy VII Remake Project I fell should play this.