All posts by skyebjenner

Changes Challenge

Duration: 1st October – 31st October
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 to Valyssia and Lori for the challenge ideas.

October
1. Read a book where there is a change of location or time. – Fire Bound by Christine Feehan
2. Read a book in which the protagonist’s personal views are seriously altered. – To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
3. During the course of the book there is a change in seasons. – P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

Queen of the Damned

Duration: 1st October – 31st December

Number of books: 20

Hosted by: My Vampire Book Obsession

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Queen of the Damned

Welcome to my court brave visitor. Complete these challenges and I may let you leave with your life ♱

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Duration 

October 1st – December 31st

Levels 

Jester – 10 Books

Knight – 15 Books

Royal – 20 Books

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Challenge One

Prove your Courage. 

1. Read a book with a courageous character. – Fire Bound by Christine Feehan

2. Read a book over 400 pages long. – Judgment Road by Christine Feehan (426 pages)

3. Read a book without reading the synopsis beforehand. – P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

4. Read a book with a knight or warrior in the story. – Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan

5. Read a book a bold or striking cover (something that really stands out). – The Fish Ladder by Katharine Norbury

Challenge Two

Prove your Strength. 

1. Read a book with a physically strong character. – Demon Angel by Meljean Brook

2. Read a book with a battle or fight in the story. – Bound Together by Christine Feehan

3. Read a book with a shapeshifter or vampire. – Wild Thing by Marjorie M. Liu, Maggie Shayne, Alyssa Day & Meljean Brook

4. Read a book with a hardback cover. – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Illustrated Edition by J.K. Rowling & Jim Kay

5. Read a series with 10+ books published. – Spider’s Bite by Jennifer Estep (17 books so far)

Challenge Three

Prove your Ability. 

1. Read a new to you series. – To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

2. Read a book in a different format to usual (audio, ebook, print) – Reinventing Ruby by Deborah Blake

3. Read a book that will help with another challenge. – Death and Relaxation by Devon Monk

4. Read a book that is already on your TBR. – The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

5. Read a book with a seasonal theme (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas) – The Nutcracker by Alexandre Dumas

Challenge Four

Prove your Allegiance. 

1. Read a book by one of your favourite authors. – Escape from Wolfhaven Castle by Kate Forsyth

2. Read a book from the shelves of someone in the group. – Atlantis Rising by Alyssa Day

3. Read a book someone in the group has rated 4 or 5 stars. – Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Illustrated Edition by J.K. Rowling & Olivia Gill

4. Read a book that was mentioned anywhere in the group. – Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

5. Read a book with a title that begins with any letter in MY VAMPIRE BOOK OBSESSION. – Princess in Training by Meg Cabot

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Bleeding Edge Beauties October 2018

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

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Check out these gorgeous dolls!! Get one each month by completing at least 2 tasks out of a set of 6.

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 🙂

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October 

1. Read a book with a spooky cover. – Judgment Road by Christine Feehan
2. Read a book with a Halloween creature in the story. – Death and Relaxation by Devon Monk
3. Read a book tagged ‘horror’ or ‘paranormal’. – Fire Bound by Christine Feehan
4. Read a book with a character you’d like to dress up as for Halloween. – Spider’s Bite by Jennifer Estep
5. Read a book with a ghost or witch or vampire in the story. – Bound Together by Christine Feehan
6. Read a book that has been made into a movie or TV show. – To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

Masquerade Ball

Duration: 1st October – 31st October
Number of books: 14
Hosted by: My Vampire Book Obsession

Masquerade Ball
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Don your mask and join the party!
Duration
October 1st – 31st

Complete at least 2 tasks to attend the ball.

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♦ Read a book a cat or feline shapeshifter in the story.
♦ Read a book with a very old character. – Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan

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♦ Read a book with a mask on the cover.
♦ Read a book tagged historical. – The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

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♦ Read a book with a decorative cover. – The Fish Ladder by Katharine Norbury
♦ Read a book with a mostly black cover.

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♦ Read a book tagged steampunk. –
♦ Read a book with a character who is hiding something. – To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

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♦ Read a book with an evil character. – Bound Together by Jenny Han
♦ Read a book tagged fantasy. – Spider’s Bite by Jennifer Estep

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♦ Read a book that is part of a series with more than 5 books released. – Fire Bound by Christine Feehan
♦ Read a book with more than 3 colours on the cover. – P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

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♦ Read a book where a character attends a party. – Judgment Road by Christine Feehan
♦ Read a book with a Halloween theme. – Death and Relaxation by Devon Monk

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October 2018 Monthly Challenge

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

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October Monthly Challenge...

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

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Tasks: 
1. Read a book with a title, series name, or author that begins with any letter in OCTOBER. – To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

2. October’s birthstone is the Opal. It is said that the opal has magical properties including deceptive hopes, illusions, secret passions, and superstitions.
Read a book where a character possesses magical abilities. – Bound Together by Christine Feehan

3. October’s birth flower is the Calendula.
Read a book that has a flower or the color orange on the cover. – Princess in Training by Meg Cabot

4. On the old Roman calendar, October was the 8th month. It got it’s name from the Latin word “Octo” meaning eight.
Read a book that is 8th in the series or that has an 8 in the page count. – Escape from Wolfhaven Castle by Kate Forsyth (185 pages)

5. October ends on the same day of the week as February every year.
Read a book tagged either paranormal or romance. – P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

6. October was known by the Anglo – Saxons as Winterfylleth (Winter Full Moon) and Wyn Monath which means wine.
Read a book with a moon on the cover or where the characters share a drink. – Judgment Road by Christine Feehan

7. The Great Fire of Chicago began, and burned for 30 hours, on October 8, 1871.
Read a book set in Chicago or that has fire on the cover.

8. The First Model T Ford was put on the market, October 1, 1908.
Read a book that has a mode of transportation on the cover or that the characters go on a journey. – Fire Bound by Christine Feehan

9. Halloween is more Irish than St. Patrick’s Day! Halloween’s origins come from a Celtic festival for the dead called “Samhain”. Celts believed the ghosts of the dead roamed earth on this holiday, so people would dress in costumes and leave treats out on their front doorsteps to appease the roaming spirits.
Read a book that is set in Ireland or has ghosts in the story. – The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (ghosts of the past)

10. In some parts of Ireland, people celebrated Halloween by playing romantic fortune telling games to predict who they would marry and when.
Read a book from the Horror genre or has your book boyfriend in it. – Reinventing Ruby by Deborah Blake

11. October is National Dessert Month.
Read a book that you consider a special treat! – The Fish Ladder by Katharine Norbury

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October 2018 Recipe Challenge

Duration: 1st October – 31st October
Number of books: 4
Hosted by: Crazy Challenge Connection

* Read a book in which a witch plays an important role OR a book with a word in the title that ends in Y – Bound Together by Christine Feehan

recipe posted by Danielle Gypsy Soul

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* Read a book with a 1 in the total page count; tell us how many pages OR book #1 in a series; tell us the series – To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before)

2-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup whole almonds
1 (.75 ounce) tube red decorating gel
* Read a book with a 3-letter word in the title (do NOT count The, Are or And) OR a book with a predominantly red cover or with a title printed in red; post the cover – Fire Bound by Christine Feehan

DIRECTIONS:
Combine the butter, sugar, egg, almond extract, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. Beat together with an electric mixer; gradually add the flour, baking powder, and salt, continually beating; refrigerate 20 to 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 325°F. (165°C). Lightly grease baking sheets.
Remove dough from refrigerator in small amounts. Scoop 1 heaping teaspoon at a time onto a piece of waxed paper. Use the waxed paper to roll the dough into a thin finger-shaped cookie. Press one almond into one end of each cookie to give the appearance of a long fingernail. Squeeze cookie near the tip and again near the center of each to give the impression of knuckles. You can also cut into the dough with a sharp knife at the same points to help give a more finger-like appearance.
* Read a book with a hand showing individual fingers prominently displayed on the cover; post the cover OR a book by an author whose first or last initial can be found in FINGERS – P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

Arrange the shaped cookies on the baking sheets.
Bake in the preheated oven until the cookies are slightly golden in color, 20 to 25 minutes.
Remove the almond from the end of each cookie; squeeze a small amount of red decorating gel into the cavity; replace the almond to cause the gel to ooze out around the tip of the cookie.

Scavenger Challenge October 2018 – Pizza Pie

Duration: 1st October – 31st October
Number of books: 10
Hosted by: Crazy Challenge Connection

October is National Pizza Month! So let’s build our pizzas to enjoy while we read.

This challenge is slightly different than our usual monthly format. You may choose 6-10 tasks, depending how hungry you are. 🙂 One of your tasks must be for CRUST and one of your tasks must be for SAUCE. After that choose as many toppings as you desire! If you would like “extra” on any topping, you may choose to complete both options within one task. i.e. Extra Pepperoni – you would read a book that takes place in Italy AND a book that has a spicy character.

You must specify your pizza size and build (crust/sauce/toppings) before starting!!

Deep Dish Pizza with Pizza Sauce, Anchovies, Bacon, Banana Peppers, Goat Cheese, Green Pepper, Ham & Mozzarella Cheese

Small Pizza = 6 Tasks | Medium Pizza = 7 Tasks | Large Pizza = 8 Tasks | X-Large Pizza = 10 Tasks

CRUST: Choose 1 Task
▼ Thin: Read a “thin” book (150 – 250 pp.); tell us how many pages OR read a book in which a character is consistently described as thin.

▼ Hand Tossed: Read a book with a hand (or hands) clearly shown on the cover; post the cover OR read a book whose author’s first and last initial are in HAND TOSSED.

▼ Deep Dish: Read a book that makes you think about it for some time afterward OR read a book whose title contains only words that are four letters or less. – To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

▼ Whole Wheat: Read a book with a character concerned about their diet OR read a book whose location begins with a letter in WHOLE WHEAT; tell us the location.

SAUCE: Choose 1
▼ Alfredo Sauce: Read a book with a cream-colored cover; post the cover OR read a book whose main character’s first or last name ends with “O;” tell us the character’s name.

▼ BBQ Sauce: Read a book that takes place in North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, or Kansas OR read a book with any baking or cooking term in its title.

▼ Garlic Butter: Read a book about a vampire OR read a book where the first letter of each title word may be found in GARLIC BUTTER (A/An/The DO count; 3 word minimum).

▼ Pizza Sauce: Read a book whose title or author’s first or last name begin with a “Z” OR read a popular book (>10,000 ratings or on a best of list; tell us which list). – The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

TOPPINGS: Choose 4 – 8

▼ Anchovies – Read a book with a fish on its cover (post the cover) or FISH in the title OR read a book that is not very popular (<1,000 ratings); tell us how many ratings. – The Fish Ladder by Katharine Norbury

▼ Artichokes – Read a book that takes place in any European country; tell us where OR read a book whose author’s first and last initial may be found in ARTICHOKE. – Fire Bound by Christine Feehan (Italy, Germany and Russia)

▼ Bacon – Read a book with any breakfast food item on its cover; post the cover OR read a book where a character is cured of something; tell us what – i.e. an illness, addiction, broken heart. – P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han (breakfast food = tea, cure = jealousy)

▼ Banana Peppers – Read a book with a chartreuse cover; post the cover OR read a book whose title contains at least 3 “A”s and 2 “N”s.

▼ Basil – Read a book whose title contains the name of any spice or herb OR read a book that takes place in Asia (where basil originated).

▼ Chicken – Read a book that shows any type of barnyard animal on its cover; post the cover OR read a book whose title contains any word that starts with “CH.”

▼ Goat Cheese (chèvre) – Read a book with a kid (child less than 13 years old) as a main character OR read a book with a foreign word in its title. – Escape from Wolfhaven Castle by Kate Forsyth

▼ Green Pepper – Read a book with a green cover; post the cover OR read a book whose title or author’s name contain double consonants. – Spider’s Bite by Jennifer Estep

▼ Ham – Read a book with a pink cover; post the cover OR read a book with a character who likes to “ham it up” on occasion; tell us who. – Princess in Training by Meg Cabot (Mia and Lilly)

▼ Jalapenos – Read a book that takes place in Mexico OR read a book with a “hot” character; tell us who.

▼ Meatballs – Read a book with a plural word in its title OR read a book with any round object on its cover; post the cover.

▼ Mozzarella Cheese – Read a book whose title contains TWO sets of double consonants OR read a book with a title that is two words (A/an/the DO count). – Bound Together by Christine Feehan

▼ Mushrooms – Read a book whose author’s first and last initial may be found in MUSHROOM OR read a book with a beige or brown cover; post the cover.

▼ Olives – Read a book whose title starts with “O” (disregard a/an/the) OR read a book that takes place in any country that touches the Mediterrean Sea This list will help; tell us where.

▼ Parmesan Cheese – Read a book with a (physical) hard cover OR read a book with a pet whose name begins with a letter in PARMESAN; tell us the pet’s name.

▼ Pepperoni – Read a book that takes place in Italy OR read a book with a spicy character; tell us who.

▼ Pineapple – Read a book with a pale yellow cover; post the cover OR read a book that takes place in Hawaii.

▼ Sausage – Read a book that takes place in Germany or Poland OR read a book that is a blending of two or more genres; tell us the genres.

▼ Sesame Seeds – Read a book that takes place in a tropical location; tell us where OR read a book whose cover shows several very small items (i.e. rain drops, stars, beads); post the cover.

▼ Spinach – Read a book with a character renowned for their strength; tell us who OR read a book with dark green cover; post the cover.

▼ Sun-dried Tomatoes – Read a book with an obvious daytime scene on its cover; post the cover OR read a book with any hyphenated word in its title.

Sekret by Lindsay Smith

Overview

SekretTitle: Sekret
Author: Lindsay Smith
Series: Sekret #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Fantasy, History, Psychics
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Square Fish
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: I shove the framed picture and the notes back in the desk drawer and slam it shut.

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

Synopsis

AN EMPTY MIND IS A SAFE MIND.

Yulia knows she must hid her thoughts and control her emotions to survive in Communist Russia – especially because she is able to read the minds of the people she touches. But Yulia better watch out.

Russia’s powerful spy agency, the KGB, is recruiting young people with mind-reading capabilities for their psychic espionage team. Their mission: protect the Soviet space program from American spies. When Yulia is captured by the KGB and forced to work as a spy, she’s thrust into a world of suspicion, deceit, and horrifying power. It’s up to Yulia to survive on her own wits and abilities, because this is a world where no sekret can stay hidden for long.

Thoughts

I don’t know much about the history of Soviet Russia, the Cuban Missile Crisis. Or generally much European history at all. So it was really fun and interesting reading a tale based on this period in our global past. The fact that it had a strong, female protagonist and a psychic mystery to boot.

It took me a little while to sort out the names in this story. Luckily, Smith has a small introduction that explains Russian names – the formal and the informal which are used interchangeably throughout Sekret. Which meant that it took me a little longer than usual to sort the characters out in my mind. But it gave the entire story more of a genuine feeling. It made everything feel both more foreign and familiar. And makes me want to do a little more reading and research into Russian history and the Soviet Union.

I was expecting this story to be a much simpler read than it was – the short story, Krisis, that got me into this author and series certainly was. But there was a lot going on and it was quite intense. I even had to flick back a page or two a few times to check that I hadn’t missed anything. And mostly, I hadn’t. The storyline is fast paced and jumpy. And although things aren’t actually missed out, there is this feeling of time moving so fast that there could be aspects which are missing. Rather than bothering me, this technique made the entire story work all the better. It highlighted the fear and mayhem of the time in which this story is based. And it showed that although Yulia is slowly discovering herself, her powers and her past, there is still a lot missing and it brilliantly opens the doors to Skandal.

 <- Krisis Review Skandal Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

September 2018

September 2017

September has been crazy for me. I have had my major review, I’ve been doing fieldwork. And I’ve had a few social things on. Basically, I have been feeling exhausted, slightly mental, and incredibly productive.

 

Image source: Bibilm

Rowan and the Bukshah

Overview

Rowan of the BukshahTitle: Rowan of the Bukshah
Author: Emily Rodda
Series: Rowan of Rin #5
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Easy reading, Fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Omnibus Books
Year: 2003
5th sentence, 74th page: His own knife fell from his hand and spun away.

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

Synopsis

“Four must make their sacrifice.
In the realm twixt fire and ice . . .
The quest unites both life and death.”
The wise woman Sheba’s ominous words haunt Rowan. The bitter winter has lasted far too long and won’t loosen its deadly hold on the land. As food stores dwindle, the people of Rin flee to the warmer coast.

Rowan and two friends — and a shadow — journey up the mountain that towers over Rin to seek the source of the unending cold. Rowan knows from past experience that the mountain is unpredictable and harbors many dangers. But now waves of freezing air stream down its sides. And ferocious ice creepers — giant eyeless creatures with gaping jaws and teeth like shards of ice — slither from its shadow eager to devour any warm being.

Will Rowan and his friends somehow be able to bring spring — and life — back to the land? Can they survive the perils of the mountain and the attacks of the ice creepers?

Thoughts

The final tale in the saga of Rowan of Rin brings everything full circle. And I love it. it not only ends by giving you hope for the future, but it also completes the journey – not just Rowan’s, but also that of the Bukshah. And the Maris. And the Travelers. And the Zebak. And the people of the Valley of Gold. Which all worked in beautifully. And after closing the last page of this book, I was left with a great, big grin on my face.

This is Rowan’s last epic quest, and it is certainly a lot more intense than the others. Not only because there seems to be more at stake, and the past is coming to life. But because it not only affects one or two of the peoples’ of the land. It affects all of them. And the evil could potentially spread even further than just the Travelers, the Maris and the people of Rin.

As an ecologist, I love the idea that everything serves its place in the system. I thrive on the idea that every moment, every interaction, every creature has a purpose and that just by removing one thing from this, the equilibrium is completely destroyed. Rowan of the Bukshah really reminded me of that. It drives home the fact that everything and anything has a sense of importance and a place in the world. It also reassures me that I too, have a place in this world.

 <- Rowan and the Zebak Review Rowan of Rin Review ->
Image source: Book Depository