All posts by skyebjenner

3rd Quarter Challenge

Duration: 1st July – 30th September 2019
Number of books: 8
Hosted by:Bookworm Bitches

Rules: 
~Books must be read during the selected time period. 
~Post a link to the book, date you finished and rating 
~All books read for challenges can be used for more than one challenge. 
~Books can be either Fiction or Non Fiction. Your choice. 
~If you don’t have a book that matches the option on the list, pick any book on your TBR. 
~Copy the blank template below and paste into a new comment to start your challenge. Update as necessary.

Completed 8/8 

1. Read the 6th oldest book on your TBR List – The Mammoth Book of Celtic Myths and Legends by Peter Berresford Ellis

2. Go to Random.org and type in the amount of books you have on your TBR List. Then read the book that matches the random number it gave you.  – Eragon by Christopher Paolini (12th)

3. Read a book published in the last 6 years – Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige

4. Sort your books by ratings and read a book in the top 10. – American Gods by Neil Gaiman

5. Read a book in the 10 lowest rated books on your TBR list – Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta

6. Read a book with the authors surname starting with a W – Love is Hell by Melissa Marr, Scott Westerfeld, Justine Larbalestier, Gabrielle Zevin & Laurie Faria Stolarz

7. Sort your books by position and read the 158th book on the list – Valkyrie by Kate O’Hearn

8. Catch up on a Bookworm Bitches selection or read a book you have been meaning to read for a long time. – Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne

Back to Basics

Duration: 1st August – 31st August 2019
Number of books: 3
Hosted by:Bookworm Bitches

There are 3 tasks, you only need to read three books to finish this challenge. Or pick one task and read 3 books for that one task. Thank you Keely for help with the ideas!

August

1. Read a book set in the past.
2. Read a book as old or older than you.
3. Read an award winning book or bestseller. – American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Lefties

Duration: 1st August – 31st August 2019
Number of books: 7
Hosted by:Crazy Challenge Connection

Let’s hear it for the Southpaws!! Read on to learn some interesting facts, theories, and trivia for this minority.

2/7 Complete

1. International Left-Handers Day is held annually every August 13th. It was founded by the Left-Handers Club in 1992, with the club itself having been founded in 1990.
🖐 Read a book that was originally published in the 1990’s; tell us when OR read a book that is 13th in a series; tell us the series name OR read a book whose author’s middle initial may be found in CLUB (the middle initial must be listed in GoodReads).

2. Left-handedness is far less common than right-handedness. Studies suggest that 10-15% of the world population is left-handed. Handedness does not appear to be a directly inherited trait such as eye or hair color but is associated with certain DNA sequences.
🤚 Read a book with “LEFT” or “RIGHT” in its title (does not have to stand alone) OR read a book between #10 – #15 on your TBR, sorted anyway you choose OR read a book in which a character inherits an obvious trait or illness from one of their ancestors (the book should make a point of stating “x” was inherited from “y”). – One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (Cat inherited her strength and abilities from her father)

3. There have been eight presidents who have been lefties, including James A. Garfield, Herbert Hoover, Harry S Truman, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama.
🖐 Read a book with an “8” in its total page count; tell us how many pages OR read a biography about any US President OR read a book by an author who has the same initials as any of the eight left-handed presidents (you may ignore middle initials, but first / last initials must be an exact match).

4. Ancient Romans are to thank for the placement of wedding bands on the left hand. They believed that a “lover’s vein” connected the fourth finger on the left hand to the heart.
🤚 Read a book in which a wedding occurs OR read a book marked romance OR read a book that takes place during the Roman Empire.

5. The term “southpaw” can be traced back to the 1880s when Chicago Daily Newssportsreporter Finley Peter Dunne used the term while covering the then-named Chicago White Stockings games. Dunne was known for giving colorful play-by-play and when a left-handed pitcher came on the field, he described him as a “southpaw.” Since the ballpark faced east and west, home plate was west and a left-hander would pitch from the south with his “paw.” 
🖐 Read a book featuring a reporter of any kind OR read a book in which characters attend a baseball game OR read a book that takes place in Chicago. 

6. The concept that lefties are more creative has been debunked. But newer studies show some advantages for left-handers. One of which is that left-handers perform tasks that involve the use of their hands better than right-handed people. Lefties also learn to be more ambidextrous than righties, often because they have to in order to function in a predominantly right-handed world.
🤚 Read a book in which the main character’s hands are absolutely essential to make a living (i.e. a pianist, a potter) OR read a book in which the first letter of each title word may be found in AMBIDEXTROUS (a, an, the DO count; 3 word minimum) OR read a book in which a character is specifically described as being left-handed; tell us who.

7. Studies found that left-handed people have a lower prevalence of arthritis and ulcers. Researchers believe it’s related to the underlying DNA that creates left-handedness. Another bonus for lefties in the medical arena is that they would recover faster if they were to suffer from a stroke or other brain-related injury. The cognitive functions are spread out in the brains of lefties, which means that in theory, when they have a stroke (which is typically concentrated to a small area of the brain), less of their cognitive functioning will be affected.
🖐 Read a book in which a character is suffering from any type of medical ailment; tell us what it is OR read a book featuring a medical professional OR read a book that requires quite a bit of cognitive functioning (i.e. heavy subject matter, difficult text). – Eragon by Christopher Paolini (it’s an intense story, and one that has a whole new language in it)

Cosplay Cuties – August 2019

Duration: 1st August – 31st August 2019
Number of books: 6
Hosted by:My Vampire Book Obsession

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Collect a Cosplay Cutie each month by completing at least 2 tasks out of a set of 6.
A new set of tasks with a new doll will be posted each month.

The dolls you collect will be in your Vampire Heart thread. Don’t have a thread? You can still do the challenge if you want 🙂

Rules 
One book per task.
No minimum page count.
Complete at least two tasks to get the doll.

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August 
1. Read a book that begins with a letter in PIRATE.
2. Read a book you find humorous or far-fetched. – American Gods by Neil Gaiman
3. Read a book with a shapeshifter in the story.
4. Read a book with a sea voyage in the story.
5. Read a book from a series with at least 5 books published. – One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
6. Read a book with blue on the cover. – Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Romance Awareness Month

Duration: 1st August – 31st August 2019
Number of books: 6
Hosted by:My Vampire Book Obsession

In honour of Romance Awareness month this August we decided to celebrate the classic romance book cover.

Duration
August 1st – 31st

Rules
Complete at least 2 tasks to get the vampire heart
All genres welcome
Rereads welcome
No minimum page count
You must read a different book for each task

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♥ Read a book with time travel or vikings – Valkyrie by Kate O’Hearn
♥ Read a book written by Sandra Hill or that begins with a letter from her name – American Gods by Neil Gaiman

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♥ Read a book tagged historical romance or set in New Orleans
♥ Read a book written by Caroline Bourne or that begins with a letter from her name – Bloody Valentine by James Patterson

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♥ Read a book with a Scottish character or with a blue cover – Eragon by Christopher Paolini
♥ Read a book written by Sara Bennett or that begins with a letter from her name

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♥ Read a book set in New York or with a naked chest on the cover
♥ Read a book written by Johanna Lindsey or that begins with a letter from her name – One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Monthly Challenge – August 2019

Duration: 1st August – 31st August 2019
Number of books: 11
Hosted by:My Vampire Book Obsession

◈ Duration 
Starts: August 1st
Ends: August 31st

• How It Works 
Ten books each month is a lot, so there will be 5 different levels. So pick which level you want to do and that’s how many items you will need to check off.

• Levels :
Transitional – 2 books
Fledgling – 4 books
Vampire – 6 books
Master – 8 books
Vampire King or Queen – 10 books

1. Lemonade
This month we celebrate national lemonade day. With it’s delicious and refreshing taste, it’s not hard to see why this drink has become such a summertime favorite.
Read a book with a drink on the cover, or with a sweet or tart character.

2. Another Dimension
The weather has gone topsy turvy and nothing is as it should be. People are bewildered and can’t make heads or tails of it. We have officially entered The Twilight Zone.
Read a Science Fiction book or a book that has a different dimension.

3. Beach Bum
It’s that time of year where we all head to the coast to sit back, relax, and enjoy a good book while lounging about on the beach. Yes, nothing quite says summer like getting sand in places where it shouldn’t be.
Read a book while your at the beach, that has water on the cover, or any other book that would be perfect to read while at the beach.Valkyrie by Kate O’Hearn

4. In the Glade
During the night when the moon shines bright, fae of the summer court come out to sing and dance and cause mischief. Have some fun and join them in their revelry. But whatever you do, don’t eat the food! 
Read a book that has fae in it, or a character who is hard to read.

5. Road Trip
Pack up your stuff and toss it in the car, it’s time for a road trip! Let’s see the sights, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and experience new things. Read a book where the characters go on an adventure, or if there is lots of driving in the story.American Gods by Neil Gaiman

6. The Shadows
For us pale folk the sun is our bane. It hurts our eyes, burns our skin and turns us into a vibrant shade of lobster. The only safe place to hide is in the dark. Stick to the shadows! 
Read a book about vampires or other creatures that are sensitive to daylight. One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

7. Wipe Out
With the sun blazing high in the sky it’s easy to feel exhausted and out of it. The warmth just leeches all your energy until ya got no oomph. To beat the heat, read a book when it’s really hot outside as a form of escapism, or read a book that takes place during the winter.

8. It’s Alive!
The ever famous author, Merry Shelley, was born on August 30th of 1797. To pay homage to such a legend, read a book with a monster in it, or read a book that begins with any letter in the word Frankenstein.Bloody Valentine by James Patterson

9. Smokin’
While the weather is hot and humid, scaled beasties come out to play for the warm air encourages dragons to journey forth and mingle with mortals. 
Read a book that has dragons in it, or a hot and steamy love affair.Eragon by Christopher Paolini

10. Berry Picking
Fresh sweet berries are aplenty in the warm summer months. Weather eaten fresh or put in a dessert, they are a delightfully scrumptious treat!
Read a book with fruit on the cover, with a berry colored cover, or with an especially fruity character.

11. – BONUS BOOK: SPF
With all the outdoor activities going on in August it’s imperative to wear a good sunscreen. Don’t leave the house without it ladies. You’ll regret it if you do! 
Read a book from a genre that begins with one of the letters in the word SPF.

June 2019

Image result for june

So I’m doing things a little differently from henceforth. The books that I’ve read the month before are being published (so a month’s delay from reading to publishing). Which means that there will be two Junes in the lists for this year, and then everything will even out in a weird way.

June was a month of very little reading (for me). I started a new job, I got flooded with things I want to do for my PhD, and I mostly just felt cold and lethargic. But here are the few reads that I did get around to…

Non-fiction

Standalone stories

Series

Short story collections

Image source: Time and Date

An Introduction to Jewish Myth and Mysticism by Steve Hockensmith

Overview
Image result for an apple for the creature book cover

Title: An Introduction to Jewish Myth and Mysticism
Author: Steve Hockensmith
In: An Apple for the Creature (Charlaine Harris & Toni L. P. Kelner)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Mythology, Tricksters
Dates read: 30th June 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Ace Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: I’ve known it all along.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide
Synopsis

This professor of Jewish myth and mysticism has a few secrets in his closet. And he’s about to use them to make the world a better place…

Thoughts

I know next to nothing about Jewish beliefs and practices. And by next to nothing, I mean nothing. Zip. Zero. Zilch. And that’s probably not going to change. But this short story made me seriously consider changing my outlook for about twenty minutes. It managed to bring to life an aspect of a belief system that (I’m assuming) is a slightly off kilter and different one to what is normally displayed on TV.

As soon as the little professor offered to “fix” the nice lady’s problem, I was kind of expecting a vampire story. I’ve been reading a lot of them lately and it seemed suitable that a vampire would lecture of Jewish myth and mysticism (I believe Judas is also tied up in vampires and Judaism and Christianity). Then I spent the rest of the story trying to figure out what the little man was… because he certainly wasn’t a vampire!

This was a fun, easy and enjoyable read. There was a great level of humour throughout. A nice departure from some of the more serious books I was reading at the time…

 <- Magic Tests ReviewVSI Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

The Fairy Enterprise by Jeffrey Ford

Overview
Image result for queen victoria's book of spells ellen datlow book cover

Title: The Fairy Enterprise
Author: Jeffrey Ford
In: Queen Victoria’s Book of Spells (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Fae, Gaslamp
Dates read: 28th June 2019
Pace: Slow, Medium, Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Tor
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: “Did you say fairies?”

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide
Synopsis

He wants to manufacture fairies and make a fortune. But when the wrong person hears about his plans, things will take a turn for the worse.

Thoughts

I really loved the industrialist spin of this story. The idea of taking the fae and mass producing them for some kind of gain. That in and of itself makes for an interesting story. The fact that someone with power finds out and seeks revenge on the perpetrator just makes it all that much better.

The story for this is a little convoluted and twisty, but I found that thoroughly enjoyable. Actually, the setting, the story-tale telling and the themes were all a little bit reminiscent of Jekyll & Hyde. There was an atmosphere of mystery, a sense of irony and a darkness about the tale that screamed Victorian England. Murders done in dark streets. And, eventually, wrongs being righted.

The Fairy Enterprise is a great short story that encompasses the needs and drives of industrialisation. It also helps to give a fantastical, fae spin to a story that is dark, twisty and more than a little fun.

 <- Queen Victoria’s Book of Spells Review From the Catalogue of the Pavilion of the Uncanny and Marvellous, Scheduled for Premiere at the Great Exhibition (Before the Fire) Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Dead Girls Don’t Dance by Mary Janice Davidson

Overview
cravings

Title: Dead Girls Don’t Dance
Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Series: Undead #1.5
In: Cravings (Laurell K. Hamilton, Mary Janice Davidson, Eileen Wilks & Rebecca York)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Vampires
Dates read: 28th June 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2004
5th sentence, 74th page: She coughed out more sand, cursing herself.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide
Synopsis

Vampire Andrea Mercer is literally dug up by an old crush, Daniel Harris, and during a trip to Minnesota to see the vampire queen, her desire for him reignites.

Thoughts

This was a funny, cute and easy read. It took me a little longer than most novellas because I was also trying to watch a cute little movie at the same time… but in general, this was just a nice little read. I especially liked that although I thought Andrea was going to be a sweet woman. One who meets her significant other and falls a little in love. I was kind of wrong. Although she does fall for Daniel, she’s not really sweet. She’s kind of a powerhouse. And she’s pushy. And she really refuses to take anyone’s crap.

I haven’t read the first book in this series, this is my first ever Mary Janice Davidson story for that matter. So I really didn’t know what to expect at the end of the story when Andrea finally meets the Queen. Within two sentences I fell completely in love with the woman. And, as always, had to fight the urge to go out and buy the books straight away. Actually, I’m still fighting that urge. Queen Betsy is totally different to any image of a vampire queen that I have ever carried in my head before. And I was completely obsessed with it.

For most people there’s always that “what if” person. That person that you constantly wonder what if something different had happened and we’d gone down that track? Daniel is that person for Andrea, and it’s kind of sweet how he manages to completely except all of the horrors in her new life and finds himself in love with her. The fact that he does so with a healthy dose of humour and a bit of stupidity had me smiling throughout, and clutching the book to my chest after I’d turned the final page.

 <- Blood Upon My Lips ReviewOriginally Human Review ->
Image source: Amazon