Spellbinding From Start to Finish ~ Spellslinger Review

Now you see it...now you don't!

Magic has such an allure. Whether it's the kind of magic that involves wands and Nimbus 2000s...or the type that's entrenched in trickery and relies on sleight of hand. Magic and magic tricks are a world of wonder for the senses and the mind, encouraging us to second guess everything and question what is real and what is illusion.

Sebastien De Castell's Spellslinger weaves a tale centred around a protagonist who straddles the line between magic and con-artistery. Thanks to Allen and Unwin and Hot Key Books I was able to obtain a copy for review. And let me just say, it was not an easy book to put down!

*No kings, queens, or jokers were harmed during the taking of these photographs.

Read on to find out my thoughts on Spellslinger. And be sure to let me know which De Castell magic band you'd choose to belong to in the comments below!

Love & Loss ~ 3 Reads That Will Tug On The Heartstrings

Most bookworms have a love-hate relationship with heartstring-pullers.

Heartstring-pullers have a spot on every bookshelf (usually hidden behind intensely emotionally fan art, tissue boxes, and empty wine glasses!). They're the reads we're drawn to despite the potential heartbreak and tearjerking scenes to come.

But there is sense of catharsis that comes with reads like these - stories that get us to think about, or re-connect with, moments in our own lives. Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer, Lost for Words by Stephanie Butland, and Out Of Heart by Irfan Master, are three examples of reads that will have you shedding a tear or two or a flood of tears to rival Alice in Wonderland's tear-fest and learning some heartwarming lessons.

A big thank you to Allen and Unwin, Hot Key Books, and Bloomsbury for sending me these copies to review.

Read on to find out my thoughts on these books and be sure to let me know which reads tug at your heartstrings in the comments below!

Drink Your Way Through SJTR: Tea Edition (Hunting Prince Dracula Blog Tour)

There are few books I adore more than Stalking Jack The Ripper and I am so excited to be a part of tour for the latest book in the series Hunting Prince Dracula.

You know what goes well with a great book? Tea!

Today I've paired up Stalking Jack The Ripper characters with tea choices that I felt were destined to be their better half. I've also included a few Stalking Jack The Ripper (SJTR) Moments To Drink To for each character - moments that not only link well with the chosen tea, but that are just too awesome not to raise a teacup to!

A massive thank you to author Kerri Maniscalco and one of the amazing Knights of the Whitechapel Library Luv from Beyond the Book Reviews for organising this awesome event.

Also don't forget to enter the tour's giveaway for a chance to win an ARC of Hunting Prince Dracula (INTL)!

Quick Picks ~ This Week's Top 3 Reads

It's been awhile but Quick Picks is back!

A massive thank you to all of you guys for being patient with me over the last couple of months as I took a bit of a health hiatus from blogging and reviewing. Taking a break to focus on my health is a decision I am truly thankful I made, but I missed reviewing and am so, so happy to be back!

This past week I've indulged in some great reads. 

Today I'm bringing three of these to your attention: The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon, Nightstruck by Jenna Black, and The Trials of Apollo: The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan.

Each of these reads had something in common.

All three novels had plots whose unique concepts captured my imagination from the start. I hope they will intrigue you, entertain you, and above all have you falling in love with them just as much as I did.

A big thank you to Allen & Unwin, Bloomsbury, Pan Macmillan Australia, and Penguin Random House Australia for sending me these copies to review.

Let's get listing!

Here There Be Dragons ~ The Dragons of Nova by Elise Kova Review

Elise Kova breathes new life into the steampunk genre.

I've always adored steampunk. It's the perfect mix of technology ingenuity and magic, setting fire to our imaginations and testing reality's boundaries.

But after reading books from the genre for such a long time, one starts to develop a 'sixth sense' - an irksome feeling that you know all there is to know about a genre. You're no longer wowed by dirigibles or by goggles with cogs. You find patterns in use, authors borrowing from other authors. Nothing seems original anymore.

Elise Kova's steampunk world - Loom, Dragons, Guilds and all their magic - is such a refreshing change of pace. It's vivid, new, and filled with inventions and concepts that will have your mind whirring with possibilities. And it's latest addition, The Dragons of Nova, is just as utterly spellbinding as its predecessor.

A big thank you to Keymaster Press and Elise Kova for the chance to review this incredible book.

Read on for my thoughts on The Dragons of Nova (as well as my favourite quote from te book!).

Roar by Cora Carmack ~ Release Day Launch

        

From New York Times bestselling author Cora Carmack comes her debut young adult fantasy, ROAR!

Now available, Roar by Cora Carmack takes readers on an adventure filled with charismatic characters in an enthralling world sure to keep them turning the pages.

Read on to find out more!

The Alchemists of Loom by Elise Kova ~ Read Along Bonus Content

Today I have something epic to share with you guys.

Those who have been following the TAoL Read Along will know that many blogs are hosting a variety of features and bonus content (like my interview with Elise Kova here).

Today I have the first page of The Dragons of Nova to share with you! Trust me when I tell you it's bound to have you feeling all of the feels.

So without further ado...let's get reading!

And if you like what you see here be sure to check out the Official TAoL Read Along Group on Facebook. It's where all the action is - daily questions, activities, exclusive content and chats with Elise Kova herself!

May Library Haul ~ Hit or Miss

This month's library haul was an exciting line up.

As is the case with most public libraries, finding the books you're looking for is never an easy feat. So when I spotted several members of my TBR list, I just had to grab them up before they disappeared into the borrower void again!

All of these titles are ones that I've been meaning to read for awhile now, so I definitely approached each one with high hopes. Some lived up to the other bookworm's stellar reviews and my own expectations...whilst others unfortunately missed the mark.

Find out more about this month's hits and misses below!

Quick Picks ~ This Week's Top 3 Reads

This past week I've indulged in some great reads. 

Today I'm bringing three of these to your attention: The Silent Invasion by James Bradley, Wonderful Feels Like This by Sara Lövestam, and Defy The Stars by Claudia Gray.

Each of these reads had something in common.

All three novels had plots whose unique concepts captured my imagination from the start. I hope they will intrigue you, entertain you, and above all have you falling in love with them just as much as I did.

A big thank you to Allen & Unwin and Pan Macmillan Australia for sending me these copies to review.

Let's get listing!

Girl in Between by Anna Daniels ~ Blog Tour

In fiction authors often try to capture the essence of life.



They work on constructing the quirks and trials that make up the messy fabric of reality. Painting flawed portraits of multi-faceted characters, they create people who walk the line between being likeable and relatable.

If done well, this balancing act results in a book that is dear to the heart - an old friend whose story speaks to you on a deeper, realer level.

Anna Daniels' Girl in Between is a book that will light up your life.



From the very first page I couldn't stop smiling at Girl in Between's imaginative plot and its main character Lucy. Every second of this book was a delight and I'm so excited to be sharing my love of it with you guys today as a part of Allen and Unwin's blog tour.

Be sure to drop by the rest of the tour stops for more Girl in Between fun!