I wanted to try out a few book boxes to see if I want to subscribe to any others in 2019.

I saw it was Illumicrate’s 3rd year anniversary box so I expected great things! I looked at their past boxes and they were fab.

Theme = Clever Ruse

• Circus Banner inspired by The Night Circus and Caraval. These aren’t really my thing but my son had it!
• Stag Amulet Necklace designed by Fable and Black Not sure I’ll ever wear it but it’s pretty.
• Diner drink cosy to keep your drink warm, designed by @gicatam I might take this to work but not sure I will use it often.
• Mulan inspired scarf with artwork from Feifei Ruan I don’t wear scarfs but will give to my Mum!
• Warcross Woodmark with artwork by @chattynora Love this and I love Warcross so will defo use this.

Empress of all Seasons by Emiko Jean

Hardback ✔

Exclusive cover ✔

Sprayed edges ✔

Signed bookplate ✔

And a surprise book of Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce

So all in all, not great for me apart from the books. I need to have a serious think after Christmas as the past boxes looked so good.

Fairyloot – November

Theme -BATTLES & GALAXIES!

This theme is all about epic battles and galactic adventures!

THIS BOX WAS SO GOOD! I LOVE IT ALL (<– yes, shouty caps!!)

• A galaxy bath bomb by Little Heart Gifts. It smells so good, can’t wait to plop it in my bath!
• An exclusive passport cover by Fairyloot. I love this and will defo use it!
• A festive wooden ornament by Catarina’s Book Designs and features a quote from Shakespeare. This is going on my tree!!!
• A space coaster set designed by Miss Phi and has quotes based on The Lunar Chronicles (which I’ve just finished reading!)…you know I’m using them!!!
• Galaxy straws! They are metal so reusable and come with a brush to clean! Love it!
• An iron on patch designed by KDP Letters featuring a quote from Red Rising.
• A tote bag designed by Evie Bookish based on The Illuminae Files. To say I love it is an understatement!
• This box also came with a bonus item of a free ebook download of Atlas Fallen by Jessica Pierce. I’ve claimed my copy and can’t wait to dive in!

BOOK OF THE MONTH

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson

• Hardback ✔
• Has exclusive art illustrated by @morgana0anagrom ✔

I so wanted this book and now I have a beautiful copy, I couldn’t be happier

Novel Knight has posted her annual Beat the Backlist challenge (you can join in here).

This helped me so much in 2018 so it was a no brainer for me to join in again.

What is Beat the Backlist?

In short, this is a reading challenge where your goal is to read backlist books (published prior to the current year). For 2019, it means reading any book that was published in 2018 or earlier. You have the entire year to read as many books as you can/want. YOU set your own reading goal.

My challenge

I have 31 books I want to read for my challenge. I thought that was quite a realistic number to aim for and as it’s only 2 and a bit books a month, I still have the time to read all those lovely new releases!

I’m also going to do the Hogwarts House Mini Challenge and my House is Ravenclaw!

This is my list:

• Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
• Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
• Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
• Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
• Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
• Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor
• A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab
• A Gathering of Shadows by VE Schwab
• A Conjuring of Light by VE Schwab
• The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
• The Heart Forger by Rin Chupeco
• The Elite by Kiera Cass
• The One by Keira Cass
• The Heir by Keira Cass
• The Crown by Keira Cass
• First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones
• Darkest before Dawn by Amelia Hutchins
• King Hall by Scarlett Dawn
• Lifelike by Jay Kristoff
• The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
• Legend by Marie Lu
• Mirage by Somaiya Daud
• The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli
• The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
• Darkfever by Karen Marie Monig
• Trickery by Jaymin Eve
• The Gathering by LA Fiore
• My Favorite Half Night Stand by Christina Lauren
• Archenemies by Marissa Meyer

Are you joining in this year?

Link to your post in comments ❤📚

I’m back with another review regurge! <—- (every time I type that I get visions of a mama bird feeding her baby, you know beak right down the babies throat?!!!!)

Anyway, I was on holiday when I read this and I remember being so glued to it because it was beautiful.

It was my first book by this author and it won’t be my last. I saw her next book is called Echo North and is out on 15 January on Kindle so will defo be grabbing that!

BENEATH THE HAUNTING SEA BY JOANNA RUTH MEYER

You can find my original post here.

My review

I haven’t been this enthralled in a book for a while! Mystery and legend. Fave!

This was a holiday read and I had to grab chapters here and there, which saddened me as I wanted to gulp it all up at once! I found myself waking up before my family to snatch a few chapters!

It was just utterly beautiful and breath taking although I must admit the romance did irk me. A love square. <—- is that even a thing? A square? It is now! But in the end I loved them all!

The mystery of the story gripped me. It was so amazing. The questions and the ‘Oh god I can’t wait to read more’ is the mark of a fab book for me.

Happy Thanksgiving ❤

Fairyloot – October

Theme = Beautiful Deceptions

The theme is based on stories and characters that have been built around beautiful deceptions – twists and turns that you just didn’t expect!

• An exclusive Aelin Candle by Nerd Poured Candles. It smells all lemony and totally delish!
• Deceptive Queen Socks inspired by Victoria Aveyard’s, Red Queen. Love socks so I am sold!
• Faerie Deck of Cards featuring art by Emily Haynes in collab with FictionTea Designs. These cards are amazing and based on The Cruel Prince….these will be coming out on family card night!
• A Stories Keychain by KDP Letters based on The Winner’s Curse. I love a keyring so I’m sold again!!!
• A beanie! It’s by Fiction Tea Designs and inspired by Six of Crows. Now I look crap in a hat, think sticking a hat on the moon, but I might give this one a go!
• Wrens Secret peppermint green tea by The Tea Leaf Company. I don’t drink tea so this is going to my Mum!!!

There is also some Grishaverse badges and a bookmark!

Book of the month

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan

I was so excited to get this as it was on my ‘must buy’ list for November!

Exclusive cover ✔

Sprayed edges ✔

Signed by the author ✔

Happy Firework Night UK!

We went to a public fireworks display on the 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.

Welcome to The Weekly Epilogue! Hope you all had a good week?

What a week!

• School holidays ✔
• Spooky zoo trip ✔
• Cinema ✔
• Carving pumpkins ✔
• Halloween ✔
• Hosptial visit ✔
• Firework display ✔

AND READING!!!!

I only actually read 1 this week but it was HUGE!

BOOKS I READ

Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J Maas

980 pages. This is one big book! But it filled my heart with joy! I even cried which is so not like me! I’ll be posting my review soon.

I decided to scrap my ‘What I’m currently reading’ and ‘What I want to read next’ and put here what I want to read for the month.

• Nightblood by Elly Blake (left over from my October reads!)
• The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer (last 3 books from Beat the Backlist)
• Archenemies by Marissa Meyer
• Kennedy by Addison Jane (beta)
• Pucked Love by Helena Hunting (arc)
• Violent Desires Anthology (arc)

Pretty ambitious considering size of some of these books, wish me luck!!!

How was your reading week?

What books did you read?