We are waiting to see what the weather will be like before we decide if we’re going to the public fireworks display this weekend so tonight we will be having some sparklers in the garden with some hotdogs!
Stay safe!
Don’t know about Firework Night?
From Wikipedia: Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Firework Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in Great Britain. Its history begins with the events of 5 November 1605, when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding explosives the plotters had placed beneath the House of Lords. Celebrating the fact that King James I had survived the attempt on his life, people lit bonfires around London; and months later, the introduction of the Observance of 5th November Act enforced an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot’s failure.
Items inspired by month Kingdom of the Wicked, Witches Steeped in Gold, The Song of Achilles, Black Sun and Caraval!
💛 Deal with the Devil Mug – inspired by Kingdom of the Wicked with artwork by @rosiethorns88 💛 Made of Memories Book Organiser – designed by @rosdittir based on The Song of Achilles 💛 Revenge is Sweet Measuring Cups – with artwork from Caraval by @noonedesigns 💛 Convergence Candle made by @Ameliakitchencandles inspired by Black Sun 💛 Revenge of the Witches print with artwork from @toyin.ajetunmobi inspired by Witches Steeped in Gold 💛 Iron Widow pin designed by @stacey.mcevoy.caunt
FEATURED BOOK
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
Stencilled edges ✔ Art on reverse of dust jacket by @jhocaaa ✔ Signed bookplate ✔ Digital signature ✔
Long ago cursed by the god of lies, a poor miller’s daughter has developed a talent for spinning stories that are fantastical and spellbinding and entirely untrue.
Or so everyone believes.
When one of Serilda’s outlandish tales draws the attention of the sinister Erlking and his undead hunters, she finds herself swept away into a grim world where ghouls and phantoms prowl the earth and hollow-eyed ravens track her every move. The king orders Serilda to complete the impossible task of spinning straw into gold, or be killed for telling falsehoods. In her desperation, Serilda unwittingly summons a mysterious boy to her aid. He agrees to help her… for a price. Love isn’t meant to be part of the bargain.
Soon Serilda realizes that there is more than one secret hidden in the castle walls, including an ancient curse that must be broken if she hopes to end the tyranny of the king and his wild hunt forever.
The Queen of retellings is back….with a Rumplestiltskin retelling! Well sort of, let’s just say he is not the Rumplestiltskin from Shrek!!!!!!
And I couldn’t be happier!
I picked up this book with intentions to just read a few chapters before I commenced with adulting but then somehow all that went by the wayside and I read the book in a day! It was unputdownable and let me tell you why…..
Serilda, born of a wish to a God, with black and golden eyes, loves to spin a ‘story’…..and then a ‘story’ gets her into trouble with one person she shouldn’t have lied to! But this leads her to adventure and someone I am so glad she met!
‘So much for spinning straw into gold.’
I loved Serilda and her stories but I fell head over heels with Gild. I’m not really saying more about him but you can guess who he is!
This was a fast paced read, a bit dark which I loved and the romance was so cute. So cute in fact that I wanted to hug them both. Their vulnerability and innocence made my heart squeeze!
Add to this the fantastic world building, the great side characters and it was all finished off with a sprinkle of mystery!
But that ending!!! I didn’t know this was going to be more than 1 book…..and I need more, really soon!
Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
Theme: Books I Would Hand to Someone Who Claims to Not Like Reading
Ive split this in half because my son is one of ‘these’ people but he has to read for homework so the first 5 books are books we’ve chosen together abd have read or we will be reading and the last 5 are for everyone!
“Fear not November’s challenge bold— We’ve books and friends, And hearths that never can grow cold: These make amends!” — Alexander Louis Fraser, “November”
“Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons.” – Jim Bishop
Welcome to Closing the Chapter! I hope you had a great reading month?
Did you get any spooky reads in?
It’s been a month of colds, coughs and bronchitis for us but this week was school holidays and I had the week off work so we’ve carved pumpkins, put up our Halloween decorations and we also did some Christmas shopping!!!
I got in the spooky mood by reading some witchy, pnr and vampy reads this month! Some of them were quite chunky too so was happy with what I read!
Kiva trades one cage for another when she leaves behind a deadly prison for a deceptive palace in this dark and dangerous sequel to The Prison Healer, which Sarah J. Maas called “a must-read.”
Kiva Meridan is a survivor.
She survived not only Zalindov prison, but also the deadly Trial by Ordeal. Now Kiva’s purpose goes beyond survival to vengeance. For the past ten years, her only goal was to reunite with her family and destroy the people responsible for ruining their lives. But now that she has escaped Zalindov, her mission has become more complicated than ever.
As Kiva settles into her new life in the capital, she discovers she wasn’t the only one who suffered while she was in Zalindov—her siblings and their beliefs have changed too. Soon it’s not just her enemies she’s keeping secrets from, but her own family as well.
Outside the city walls, tensions are brewing from the rebels, along with whispers of a growing threat from the northern kingdoms. Kiva’s allegiances are more important than ever, but she’s beginning to question where they truly lie. To survive this time, she’ll have to navigate a complicated web of lies before both sides of the battle turn against her and she loses everything.
I opened this book with a sense of dread! Hear me out! I knew what was at stake here for Kiva and I really didn’t want her to go down the path she intended….but I knew this was going to get my stomach in a knot!
And it did. So badly! But I loved every minute of it!
We saw more of the world outside of the prison, in Evalon, where Kiva now lives in the palace with all the luxury and comforts she could want. We see the Royal family and we also are introduced to Kiva’s family and we hear about the politics of their world.
Jaren, Tipp and Naari are back and we also see more of Caldon and the Royal family dynamics which were actually very heartwarming for the most part. Talking of Jaren. I love him! I want him to be mine!
I really don’t want to say more about the plot but you can expect drama, family reunions, secrets that are revealed, twists and an ending that will make you want to scream!!!
CJRTB Books 