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BLOG TOUR; Dreamer by Ja-Mel Vinson ft. Book Review & Book Aesthetic
Dreamer by Ja-Mel Vinson The day before moving into her new dorm, college freshman, Maya Lilac, has a haunting dream that ends with her coming face-to-face with a second version of herself. After being haunted by the dream during move-in day, she finally comes in contact with her double, nicknamed “Lucent”, and learns that she actually has powers and can – among other things – make her dreams come true. Maya’s heritage, however, runs deeper when she discovers that she’s the True Dreamer, a person reaching back as far as Joan of Arc that’s tasked with protecting her species, as well as the world, from any and all threats… including…
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instant to-read; the romance edition
I thought I was running out of ideas for this feature (which, um, there is so much scope, how did I think that?) but talking to a friend reminded me that I had not talked about genres! I thought I had, but apparently not? Which is probably a good thing, because a broad spectrum of what genres I read wouldn’t actually cover what I like about the genres. So instead, you get me breaking down the genres – like I’ve already done with the fairytale retelling editions. Romance is something I read when I need something a little lighter? I mean, of course, angst is well and good when it…
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review; wayfarer
Wayfarer by Lili St. Crow The Charmer’s Ball. Midnight. And one glass slipper… Newly orphaned, increasingly isolated from her friends, and terrified of her violent stepmother, Ellen Sinder still believes she’ll be okay. She has a plan for surviving and getting through high school, which includes keeping her head down and saving any credits she can earn or steal. But when a train arrives from over the Waste beyond New Haven, carrying a golden boy and a new stepsister, all of Ellie’s plans begin to unravel, one by one. Just when all hope is lost, Ellie meets an odd old woman with a warm hearth and a heavenly garden. Auntie’s…
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recipe; mushroom fried rice
I never thought I would enjoy cooking as much as I do now. Back when I first started, it was almost a chore. Yes, there was some satisfaction on a job well done when my family enjoyed my food, but that was it. Now, though? Now I understand flavour profiles a little better. I understand what our palates are like. I understand what works well together, at least to an extent. Now I actively look forward to cooking and adapting recipes to suit our tastes. This fried rice wasn’t an adaptation though. It was me realising that I needed lunch, there were a few vegetables at home that needed to…
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review; empress of all seasons
Empress Of All Seasons by Emiko Jean In a palace of illusions, nothing is what it seems. Each generation, a competition is held to find the next empress of Honoku. The rules are simple. Survive the palace’s enchanted seasonal rooms. Conquer Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Marry the prince. All are eligible to compete – all except yōkai, supernatural monsters and spirits whom the human emperor is determined to enslave and destroy. Mari has spent a lifetime training to become empress. Winning should be easy. And it would be, if she weren’t hiding a dangerous secret. Mari is a yōkai with the ability to transform into a terrifying monster. If…
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;the jane austen project
There might actually be a Thing online with this title, but hey, this is my version of a Jane Austen project! And by that I mean I’m attempting to make my way through all of her novels. A few years ago, I was given a collection of Jane Austen novels as a present. I was super excited about it! But somehow, I’ve still only read Pride & Prejudice, and that too, because it was one of my English Literature texts. I am currently reading Persuasion, slowly, but also I have read a lot of P&P fanfiction over the years, and today, I’m going to talk about some of my favourite…
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review; world after
World After by Susan Ee In this sequel to the bestselling fantasy thriller, Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what’s left of the modern world. When a group of people capture Penryn’s sister Paige, thinking she’s a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken. Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels’ secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to…
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;four books that should have been made into movies yesterday
The success of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (with sequel announced!) and Dumplin’ speak for themselves, really. We have a market for our favourite YA contemporaries being made into movies. Fun, diverse, cute romantic comedy movies. I think it works better that these movies have been made for a home screen rather than the cinema, honestly, and I hope that we get more of these movies over the course of 2019. Here are some contemporaries I would love to see adapted. Netflix, take my money! When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon. Honestly, do I even have to explain this one? It’s like this novel was written to…
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RACEBENT ROMCOMS; austenland
This movie is ADORABLE, and I love it a lot. I also want to read the book it is based on. (But also we need more diverse casts in period costumes, thanks.) Racebent Romcoms has me taking existing Hollywood romantic comedies (and romances), and recasting them for the modern day with a more diverse cast. Featuring Lindsey Morgan as Jane Hayes and Suraj Sharma as Henry Nobley. An Austen heroine gets engaged by the end of the book, so that is what I’m going to do.
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;the case of the imposter syndrome
I’ve been meaning to talk more about fanfiction. Last month, I wrote about reading and writing fanfiction. These points still stand, but there is a downside to my writing fanfiction. And my writing in general. When I write fanfiction, it is usually because I have Very Strong Feelings about the treatment of a character, or a pairing, or a storyline in a show. It’s not necessarily an opinion that other people agree with, though thankfully I’ve never gotten any hate anywhere I’ve posted my stories, but it’s something that I have to write to get it out of my system. Once I write the story and post it somewhere, however,…