BOOKS | Review: Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

Name: Serpent & Dove
Author: Shelby Mahurin
Publisher: HarperTeen
Date published: September 2019
Genre: Fiction, young adult, fantasy, romance
Pages: 519
Rating: 5/5

Bound as one to love, honor, or burn.
Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.
Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou's, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony.
The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou's most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made.
And love makes fools of us all.

- From Goodreads. 

One thing that made Serpent & Dove really enjoyable to read for me was the dual perspectives. Lou and Reid both had distinct voices and interesting points of view and I found myself looking forward to each character's perspective, what happened in their point of view, and what each character thought about what had happend in the other's point of view.
Something else that worked well in the story was how information about the world and about backstories of characters was fed to the reader gradually over time. There were no sudden large amounts of exposition all at once, while there was still enough information for me to not be lost or confused, and the dual perspective helped to slowly layer up information over time as each character knew slightly different levels of information to the other.
I also loved the magic system and how the rules of it worked. I found it easy to follow what was happening when magic was used and was also intrigued to learn more about it and the distinctions between the different kinds of witchcraft.
I really liked Lou and Reid, and even though they both had flaws and a lot to learn, I found them both really loveable and I enjoyed following along on their journey and seeing their character development over the course of the book. They both learnt a lot and it was great to see how they began to love and care for each other despite the difficulties between them. The chemistry and tension between them was written really well and the build up of the romance was really exciting and fun to read.
The climax of the action at the end of the book was very thrilling to read and I think the gradual reveal of plot twists were planned out very well and made for a great storyline that was very enjoyable to read. I am really excited to find out what will happen in the next book in the series, how Lou and Reid's story will continue and how their characters will continue to develop.

UNBOXING | FairyLoot: Rulebreakers - February 2020

When I read the description of the book that would be in FairyLoot's February Rulebreakers box, and saw that there would be a Serpent & Dove inspired item, I knew I had to get it, and I am really pleased I did. I thought this was a great collection of items and I have listed each below with a link to the creator.

Serpent & Dove mug, designed by Merwild and Taratjah.

Wicked Saints Malachiasz lip balm, created by Little Heart Gifts.

Nevernight bookmarks and sticker, designed by Noverantale.

Strange the Dreamer tarot cards, designed by Gabriella Bujdoso.

 We Hunt the Flame art print, created by Noverantale.

Sorcery of Thorns scarf, designed by Taratjah.

The Lord of the Rings luggage tag, designed by Bookmark'd Tattoos and Love You More Studios.

The Shadows Between Us art prints by Julia Gardiner and Diana Dworak.

Theme art print and bookmark by Taratjah, newsletter and art print by myvalenstyles with author's letter on the back.

Signed exclusive edition of The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller, with art on the dust jacket by Vague Enthusiast and an embossed design on the hard cover.

I think my favourite items from this box were the Serpent & Dove mug, which is just so pretty, and the Sorcery of Thorns scarf, which has such a beautiful design. I have already read The Shadows Between Us and had so much fun reading it, so that made me even happier that I got this box! Did you get this box and if so which items did you like the best? Have you read the book and did you like it? Let me know in the comments below, and keep an eye out for my review of The Shadows Between Us which should be posted soon!
If you'd like to find out more about FairyLoot you can visit their website here.

BOOKS | Review: Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

Name: Spin the Dawn
Author: Elizabeth Lim
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Date published: July 2019
Genre: Fiction, young adult, fantasy, romance
Pages: 392
Rating: 5/5

Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she'll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There's just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.
Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia's task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.
And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor's reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.

- From Goodreads.

Spin the Dawn had an interesting start, and for a while I was not sure how I felt about the prologue. It certainly got me intrigued but I also felt it gave me too much of an idea of what might happen later in the novel and even now I am still not sure whether that had a positive or negative effect on my enjoyment of the book. Despite my uncertainty about the very beginning, I still went on to really love the rest of the story, and the prologue did make the ending link well with the beginning and made the story come full circle before setting up to move forward for the sequel.
The descriptions in the book, especially when it came to the clothes and how they were made, were beautiful, and the author's writing style was really wonderful to read.
The relationship between Maia and Edan was so lovely and sweet and their feelings for each other really came through in the writing. I could really tell how much they cared for each other and the pain and angst they felt at certain points really got to my heart.
Maia was such a wonderful main character to root for. She cared so much for her family, wanted so badly to have friends, and managed to keep being brave and determined despite all the difficult obstacles that she came across. She loved so fiercely and was really willing to sacrifice everything for those that she loved, and I was just really happy to read her story.
The book took place in such a fascinating world and I found the world building to be so intriguing. The myths and legends of the world, and the way that Maia created the dresses and the materials that she made them out of, were all described and written so beautifully, it really was an enjoyment to read the book and I am so excited to see how that is built upon and extended in the sequel.

UNBOXING | Illumicrate: Mystery Box

 When I saw Illumicrate were selling mystery boxes again, I decided to get one considering how happy I had been with the last one that I bought, and I think again I can say that the price is definitely worth the risk of not knowing what you might get. Here's what I got in my mystery box!

Mulan silk scarf, designed by Feifei Ruan.

Nevernight Corvere Crest necklace, designed by Danielle.

Game of Thrones inspired phone ring, designed by Fable and Black.

Hermione Granger Harry Potter magnetic coin, designed by Monolime.

Monsters of Verity quote pouch, designed by Stella Bookish Art.

Nevernight art print, created by Nan Fe.

Wicked Saints triptych print, illustrated by Nicole Deal.

Throne of Glass quotes book tin, designed by Moledro Craft Co.

The Raven Cycle notebook duo, designed by BookMark'd Tattoos.

C.S. Lewis quote book sleeve designed by Sparrow + Wolf.

Witchlands pin banner, designed by Hey Atlas.

Although I already had three of the items from previous Illumicrate boxes, the Throne of Glass book tin, the Game of Thrones phone ring, and the Monsters of Verity pouch, I have a friend who is happy for me to send those to her so they will not go to to waste, and the rest of the items were all of high quality and I can find a use for them. I think my favourites were the silk scarf, which will look beautiful on display, the pin banner, because my other pin banner is filling up and I love displaying my pins, and the notebooks, because I just adore pretty notebooks and am always looking for something new to write in.
I would definitely recommend considering purchasing an Illumicrate mystery box if they go on sale again, although make sure to take the time to think about the risk of getting items you already have or might not like, and decide whether it might be worth it for you!
Have you ever bought a mystery box? What items did you get? Did you think it was worth it? Let me know in the comments below!
If you'd like to find out more about Illumicrate, you can visit their website here.

BOOKS | Review: The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

Name: The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air #3)
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Date published: 19th November 2019
Genre: Fiction, young adult, fantasy, romance
Pages: 320
Rating: 5/5
Note: This review contains very mild spoilers, for this book and the series as a whole.

After being pronounced Queen of Faerie and then abruptly exiled by the Wicked King Cardan, Jude finds herself unmoored, the queen of nothing. She spends her time with Vivi and Oak, watches her fair share of reality television, and does the odd job or two, including trying to convince a cannibalistic faerie from hunting her own in the mortal world.
When her twin sister Taryn shows up asking of a favour, Jude jumps at the chance to return to the Faerie world, even if it means facing Cardan, who she loves despite his betrayal.
When a dark curse is unveiled, Jude must become the first mortal Queen of Faerie and uncover how to break the curse, or risk upsetting the balance of the whole Faerie world.

- From Goodreads.

I completely adored The Queen of Nothing. Every moment I was absolutely enthralled and I thought it was a wonderful way to conclude the series. I thought it wrapped up all the story lines well in a satisfying way while also leaving a few things open-ended so you could imagine what might happen in the future for the characters. The plot was exciting and thrilling while leaving enough room for character development, and involved a really great twist that I do not think anyone saw coming. The plot kept me turning the pages because I really cared about the characters, especially Cardan and Jude, and I desperately needed to know what happened to them.
On the topic of Cardan and Jude, the development of their relationship and how their dynamic  evolved was incredible. They have definitely become some of my favourite characters in fiction and their relationship and the way it changes over the series is one of my favourites now too. I am really happy with the way their story ended and I was really happy reading all of their interactions throughout the book.
I also continued to enjoy the setting in this book, and how the magic worked and the use of legends and folk tales in the world building. There were so many little details that added to the story and really put me into the world and story and made it feel more real.
The writing was quite quick to read, but also used language in a very interesting and sometimes quite beautiful way. I especially enjoyed the writing during interactions between Jude and Cardan as they are both often very careful with what they say and yet have surprising moments of truthfulness between them.
I really liked how Jude was allowed to be angry at the people who had treated her badly, especially Taryn, and how she was able to express her feelings in general. It was really satisfying to see that she did not just let things go and made sure that other characters had earned it before she forgave them. In other books I often find things are not wrapped up well enough when the main character has been hurt, and they are not given the time to address how they feel, but I was glad this was not the case in this story.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and thought it was brilliant, and had a really great time reading the trilogy as a whole. There was a lot of intense action, fascinating settings and addictive romance, and I truly loved the main character, Jude. I think I will reread this series over and over and always find enjoyment in it.

UNBOXING | FairyLoot: Moon & Stars - January 2020

FairyLoot often create themes for their boxes that I feel fit what I love the most, and this box was definitely one of those themes! Moon & Stars definitely captured my attention and the box really lived up to my expectations.
Let's take a closer look at each item in the box!

 Oscar Wilde pillow case, art by Becky Thorns Designs

Moon & stars paper clips

 Even the Darkest Stars inspired dragon keychain, designed by Dust and Pages

 Moon phases necklace, designed by Noverantale

 Starry fairy lights

 Illuminae star notebook, design created by FairyLoot

 Ember in the Ashes tarot cards, designed by Gabriella Bujdoso

Moon trinket tray

 Character art print by katbdraws with author letter on the back, bookmark and theme art by taratjah, newsletter and stickers

Signed edition of Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibañez, with art on the dust jacket by the author

This box was so full of pretty and delightful items, it's so difficult to choose any favourites, but I do especially love the pillowcase and necklace, and the fairy lights will look so nice in my room. I'm certainly intrigued to make a start on the book!
If you got this box let me know what your favourite items were in the comments below, or if you've already read the book let me know what your thoughts were! If you'd like to find out more about FairyLoot, you can visit their website here.

BOOKS | Review: The Beholder by Anna Bright

Name: The Beholder
Author: Anna Bright
Publisher: Harper Teen
Date published: 4th June 2019
Genre: Fiction, young adult, retellings, fantasy, romance
Pages: 429
Rating: 3/5
Note: This review contains mild spoilers.

Selah has waited her whole life for a happily ever after.
As the only daughter of the leader of Potomac, she knows her duty is to find the perfect match, a partner who will help secure the future of her people. Now that day has finally come.
But when the night of Selah's engagement ends in an excruciatingly public rejection, her stepmother proposes the unthinkable: Selah must set sail across the Atlantic, where a series of potential suitors awaits—and if she doesn’t come home engaged, she shouldn’t come home at all.
From English castle gardens to the fjords of Norge, and even beyond borders of the dreaded Imperiya Yotne, Selah’s quest will be the journey of a lifetime. But as she searches for her future husband, she realizes that her stepmother’s schemes aren’t the only secrets hiding belowdecks… and the stakes of her voyage may be higher than any happy ending.

- From Goodreads.

 
The concept of The Beholder certainly had good potential. The alternative history setting was intriguing, but although some of the place names were the same and other countries had hints as to which countries they would be in our world, there were times when it felt confusing and it would have been nice to have a map at the front of the book to help situate myself in the story. It also could have been made clearer as to why some parts of the world and story seemed quite modern (for example Selah's school experiences and the uses of modern technology like radios and radio towers), while others seemed to be quite far in the past (like the ships and other transport, and the structure of some of the societies and cultures), and although there were some mentions of why it was this way, a little more explanation could have been useful and would have helped me understand the world more.
The pacing of the story seemed a little strange, even though the book basically set out what was going to happen, I still did not feel sure what the plot was leading up to. Her time with the princes was sweet and perhaps gave the chance for her character to develop a little but it did not feel enough for that time to be worthwhile. Especially since there seemed to be some hints that she would not end up with any of them no matter what happened.
On a related note, there seemed to be hints that Captain Lang is the true love interest, and if that is the case I think there could have been more groundwork laid for that potential relationship. He spent most of the book disappearing to mysterious places and whispering suspiciously with strangers. There were a couple of small moments between Selah and Lang, and since it is a series so there could be time to develop their relationship. As well as that, she was experiencing feelings for other characters at the time, but I think they needed a few more moments that lead to them meaning more to each other.
I also think Selah would have confronted Lang earlier than she did about the secrets he had been keeping and what everyone on the ship had been up to. It was so obvious something was going on and she did have other things to worry about too, but as the book kept going on it felt more and more ridiculous that she did not try to get involved and find out what was happening. She only confronted Lang at the very end of the book and while it made for a good climax, I still felt it should have happened earlier in the book.
There were other little things about Selah that kept coming up and frustrating me. Overall she was a sweet, kindhearted girl that I could root for, but there were some things that stopped me really loving her. I appreciated that she liked to go out and help the people of her country work, and I understood her frustration with Perrault, but I felt that with a role like the one she had as seneschal-elect she would, or should, understand that she had to go through lessons on more theoretical things and not just do all the practical jobs without going to any of the lessons she needed to. At the end she did seem to value Perrault a little more and perhaps had begun to learn a little more about why her political education was also important, and it is good that she had that character development. However there were points in the book where it became annoying that she would get angry about not knowing things and being left in the dark, while she threw away some of the opportunites actually given to her to learn. Overall, there were times when I quite liked her character, and then times when I did not understand her at all.
I am not sure yet whether I will pick up the next book. I am curious to see what will happen next in the story, but I am not sure if I am invested enough to continue. The concept of the story is really interesting but there was something about the execution of the idea that was a little disappointing.