READING CHALLENGE. #ReadersCrossing

The #ReadersCrossing is a reading challenge hosted by @Read at Midnight and it will take place between Sunday 10th December to Sunday 31st December, 2017.

The holiday season is almost upon us, and around here that means another reading challenge! In keeping with tradition, this one is themed around my latest obsession: Animal Crossing Pocket Camp. You’ll be reading books, completing tasks, making friends, and be surrounded by adorable animals – just like the game itself.

Similar to #TheReadingQuest which I hosted earlier on this year, the challenge is based on a bingo board. You can either follow a specific path which is based on the Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp themes of Cute, Cool, Natural, and Sporty. Alternatively, you can do the challenges in whatever order you wish."

For my first path, I decided to choose the Natural. I'm not sure if I will be able to do the other paths, but with the Natural I'll be able to tackle down my ever-growing TBR pile.

"NATURAL – Five Across: Get in touch with nature with  books set in the wilderness, filled with animals, or your favourite classics, with this particular path."

How to Increase ExperiencePoints

For each finished book: +2 EXP
For each finished graphic novel/manga: +1 EXP
#OwnVoices novels: +3 EXP
Tweeting #ReadersCrossing: +1 EXP
Photos #ReadersCrossing: +1 EXP
  Level up: Every +10 EXP.

Books I'm Planning to Read:

A book set in my country:
A book that has a yellow cover: 
A book that is a classic:
A book with an animal on the cover:
A book set in the wilderness:

Extra:
Seasonally inspired:
Insect on the cover:
Fruit in the title:
Free space: A Madness so Discreet
Read a book in 24 hours:
Read a book picked by a friend from your TBR:
Set at seas/beach:
Comment on a post:
Shelfie:

My Bookish Life. Bookish Pet Peeves

As someone who has a little bit (or maybe not such a little bit) of OCD, my books are my precious. They must be perfect in every way! However, publishers and online bookshops, such as Book Depository, sometimes, seem to be conspiring against me. Thus, today, I decided to share with you some of my Book Pet Peeves. Ps. If you do any of the things mentioned below, I promise I won't judge you...much.

1. Same edition, different sizes. It's so freaking annoying! Someone needs to tell the printers that books that belong to the same edition should always have the same size. Even if it's only a few inches of difference, I'll notice it when I place them side by side on my bookshelf. However, I did find a solution (and it wasn't a threatening letter to the printers or publishers or a book buying strike until they listened to me because it would never work since publishers never listen to the readers): RAINBOW BOOKSHELVES. Organizing my books by colour means that I won't see the difference. And, my OCD doesn't annoy me so much because the book shelf looks so pretty.

Waiting on Wednesday. Reign the Earth

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week on WoW is Reign the Earth by A.C. Gaughen. This book gives me A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston vibes (marry a  tyrant to save her land) and since it was one of my favourite books of 2016, of course I can't wait to plunge into this world. And, the cover is so pretty. *.* The book will be released on January 30th 2018.

"Shalia is a proud daughter of the desert, but after years of devastating war with the adjoining kingdom, her people are desperate for peace. Willing to trade her freedom to ensure the safety of her family, Shalia becomes Queen of the Bonelands.

But she soon learns that her husband, Calix, is motivated only by his desire to exterminate the Elementae—mystical people who can control earth, wind, air, and fire. Even more unsettling are Shalia’s feelings for her husband’s brother, which unleash a power over the earth she never knew she possessed—a power that could get her killed. As rumors of a rebellion against Calix spread, Shalia must choose between the last chance for peace and her own future as an Elementae.

This intense, richly drawn high-fantasy by the author of Scarlet will hold readers spellbound."

From Goodreads

Monthly Recap. November 2017

Goodbye November. Hello December! It's unbelievable how another year flew by. Just a few days ago, I was planning my goals for 2017 (which I can already say that I miserably failed) and now a new year is just a few weeks ahead. Since I'm still recovering from a stomach bug (I think this is how you say it in English), this will be a short post. However, before jumping to the books I read and bought in November, there is something I would like to share with you. I participated on, for the first time, NaNoWriMo and wrote 53,405 words. I'm really proud of it because I never imagined to write so much in a month (I know it's probably the norm for many people, but not for me). 

In November, I only read three books. I must confess it was a really bad month since none of the books I read was very impressive and I found myself rating two of them with two stars.  

• Chosen, R.S. Broadhead
• The Night Realm, Annette Marie
• Hinder, Kristin Ping

I shared my review of The Night Realm and you can find it here.

I may or may have not got too many books this month. 🙈 Oh well, a bookworm will always be a book hoarder.

• The beautiful special edition of V. E. Shwab's A Darker Shade of Magic
• Shadow and Bone Trilogy box set 
• Artemis, Andy Weird [Illumicrate] 
• ARC of City of Brass, S.A. Chakraborty [Illumicrate]
• Ignited, A.M. Deese [thank you Netgalley]
• Shadow Rise, Audrey Grey [thank you Blaze Publishing]

Regarding the Shadow and Bone Trilogy box set (I already mentioned it here on the blog before), I ordered the old covers and received the new ones - in fact, I received the old box with the new covers. It was very strange... This is something that has never happened to me before. Does anyone know where I can get the old covers? Because now I'm afraid of ordering the books individually and also receive the new covers.

Which books did you get in November?

Waiting on Wednesday. Everless

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week on WoW is Everless by Sara Holland. I've been in love with this book premise since I first read it's synopsis: to extract blood to increase one's blood span? You can count me in! Am I happy about the love triangle? No! You know how much I hate those... But the cover is so pretty that I can't resist this novel. If you were lucky enough to receive an ARC, I'm jealous (all my attempts were failed). The book will be released on January 2nd 2018.

"In the kingdom of Sempera, time is currency—extracted from blood, bound to iron, and consumed to add time to one’s own lifespan. The rich aristocracy, like the Gerlings, tax the poor to the hilt, extending their own lives by centuries.

No one resents the Gerlings more than Jules Ember. A decade ago, she and her father were servants at Everless, the Gerlings’ palatial estate, until a fateful accident forced them to flee in the dead of night. When Jules discovers that her father is dying, she knows that she must return to Everless to earn more time for him before she loses him forever.

But going back to Everless brings more danger—and temptation—than Jules could have ever imagined. Soon she’s caught in a tangle of violent secrets and finds her heart torn between two people she thought she’d never see again. Her decisions have the power to change her fate—and the fate of time itself."

From Goodreads

Sunday Post. How to Embarrass Yourself

Sunday Post is a meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviews.

My poor blog is still suffering of lack of attention because of my chaotic life. I really wonder how busy people have the time to read so much and still write reviews and create fun content for their blogs. Any tips? Pwetty pwease? 😇

What happened in my life this week:

🌻 Chaotic life FOREVER!
🌻 But I did participate on a conference where I presented my essay that had as subject Victorian representations of drowned falling woman - Drowned Angels & Water Graves: Representations of Female Suicide in Victorian Art was the title.
🌻 Confession time. I've been staring at all the comments wondering how I'm going to reply to them all. Sorry for the delay! I promise I'll do it soon.
🌻 Blaze Publishing rep search alert! I received an e-mail asking me if there was someone I could recommend to be an ebook rep for them. If you would like to become and would like me to give them a word,just say it.
🌻 I've reached 43,493 words on my NaNoWriMo project. I'm going to share an excerpt with you - don't be too mean.

"Hot blood splattered her face. For a brief moment, she though it was her own blood, but the pain never came.
The monster hadn’t torn her neck apart.
Slowly, opening her eyelids, she realized the blood belonged to her assaulter. He didn’t look monstrous anymore. The all consuming blackness in his eyes was gone. They were human once again.
Black blood oozed from his slashed throat.
His fingers slipped away from her as he tried to stop the bleeding. There was nothing he could do. He was choking in his own blood.
Jack or Jackson-or whoever or whatever he was-hit with both his knees on the ground. Out of the blue, he was set on fire. Stunned, Perrin could not swerve her attention from the flames. In a matter of seconds, his body turned into ashes."

*hides in a corner embarrassed.*

 

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOG...

Another slow week...

• New The Nerdy Corner post. Do you collect Funkos? I must confess that I've addiction to Funkos - an obsession that isn't very good for my bank account. 😜

• A book that I can't wait to get my hands on is The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. So jealous of everyone who received a review copy. Anyway, I haven't read any of her books before. Any recommendation? Which books/series should I read while I'm impatiently waiting for this one? 

📚 MINI BOOK HAUL 📚

Thank you Blaze Publishing for sending me Shadow Rise by Audrey Grey. 💗 Two weeks and only one book that I didn't even had to pay for it? That must be some kind of record. So proud of myself! Of course, with Black Friday I got myself some new books that I can't wait to arrive at my doorstep. And, now with Cyber Monday I may spend some more money on books. 🙈 Well, dear bank account, it was good while it lasted... 

How was your week? Which books arrived at your bookshelf?

The Nerdy Corner. Funko Pop Addiction!

I don't think people will ever understand how time and money consuming being a nerd/geek is. You've to watch all the series, read all the books, play all the video games (who did just got Horizon Zero Dawn on the Black Friday for half the price? 🙋), and get all the FUNKOS! Yes, I've a very unhealthy addiction to Funko Pops! Vynil. But they are so cute! How can I resist them? *.*

Today, I'm going to share with you some of my favourite Funkos. I'm sorry for the photo quality, but Paint/Photoshop did something to it. All the photos are from my Instagram account.

NIFFLER! 💗 And all the cast from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. If you visit my Instagram account,  you will find Niffler all over the place. And where Niffler is, Newt is. And where Newt is, Tina is.  

The magic world of Harry Potter. I've too many Harry Funko Pops (and I'm still missing some). 🙈 I wish I had more Hermione Funkos since she is my favourite character of the series. 💗 So sad that I didn't buy San Diego Comic Con exclusive Luna. Ps.: Dear people who bought only God knows how many exclusive Funkos and are now selling them online for exorbitant prices: You're awful people. What you're doing is very disrespectful. You sold them out from the stores only to profit from fans who didn't have a chance to buy them. I wish people would stop thinking only of themselves...

Katniss from The Hunger Games. I'm still missing Katniss as Girl on Fire, but these Funkos are sooooooooo beautiful. I love how gorgeous Katniss's hairdos are.  Now, I just need to get Peeta and one of my OTP will be complete.  

Meeko & The Cheshire Cat. Before Niffler came along, these two were taking over my Instagram account. Meeko is the most adorable Funko I've ever seen. 💗 And the Cheshire Cat has such a devious look. 😈 Although, I don't feature them as much as I used to, you can still find them lurking (just take a look at the pic above).

Sadly, Funkos can be expensive. Well, shipping makes them very expensive... Also, those only-to-certain-stores Funkos and convention exclusive Funkos are really unfair. It makes me feel that international customers are seen as second rated buyers...

Anyway, do you collect Funko Pops? Which ones do you love the most?