The Ocean At The End Of The Lane by Neil Gaiman

Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.

Forty years earlier, a man committed suicide in a stolen car at this farm at the end of the road. Like a fuse on a firework, his death lit a touchpaper and resonated in unimaginable ways. The darkness was unleashed, something scary and thoroughly incomprehensible to a little boy. And Lettie—magical, comforting, wise beyond her years—promised to protect him, no matter what.

A groundbreaking work from a master, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is told with a rare understanding of all that makes us human, and shows the power of stories to reveal and shelter us from the darkness inside and out. It is a stirring, terrifying, and elegiac fable as delicate as a butterfly's wing and as menacing as a knife in the dark. @goodreads 

This was a magical story both happy and dark. I loved it so much! And Neil Gaiman did a wonderful job of reading his own book ❤️



Once a boy befriended a girl named Lettie Hempstock, her mother and grandmother and nothing was ever the same again.....




There are beautiful and horrible things in this world and we find these things inside this book

A boy that is coming of age in a world we know nothing about and everything about....



It did make me sad but you have to read the book to understand it. I'm going to be adding this to my collection as I got this audio from the library Overdrive. I highly recommend it!

Adults follow paths. Children explore. Adults are content to walk the same way, hundreds of times, thousands; perhaps it never occurs to adults to step off the paths, to creep beneath rhododendrons, and find the spaces between fences.

I'm glad I still haven't grown up!

Mel ❤️

GOODREADS REVIEW:

 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1493559958

October 2017 Fairyloot Unboxing

The above picture is of all things together =)

We have the Exclusive edition of Leigh Bardugo's "The Language of Thorns" 

Look a this awesome inside cover! I love it so much ♥

 Look at the beautiful pages that are inside. They have different scenes.

 And this is the beautiful back cover! I love this book has no dust jacket! 

 We have our main book "Forest of a Thousand Lanterns" the note from the author and the signed bookplate 

 Here is the beautiful art piece with what's in the book on the back and a bookmark 

 Love these art pieces!

 A beautiful Maleficient candle by Meraki Candles. A super shiny and awesome coaster by the wonderful Evie (I buy a lot of her stuff on Society 6) and a freaking bad to the bone, Death Eater pin =) 

 Okay, it says we were supposed to have a mirror but we got these beautiful post card art prints. They are front and back and I didn't want to take them apart so the bottom picture is the other side =) 

I loved this box and I hope you enjoyed the pictures =) I might start doing videos of the boxes instead 

Enjoy! 

Mel ♥  

Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody

Sixteen-year-old Sorina has spent most of her life within the smoldering borders of the Gomorrah Festival. Yet even among the many unusual members of the traveling circus-city, Sorina stands apart as the only illusion-worker born in hundreds of years. This rare talent allows her to create illusions that others can see, feel and touch, with personalities all their own. Her creations are her family, and together they make up the cast of the Festival’s Freak Show.

But no matter how lifelike they may seem, her illusions are still just that—illusions, and not truly real. Or so she always believed…until one of them is murdered.

Desperate to protect her family, Sorina must track down the culprit and determine how they killed a person who doesn’t actually exist. Her search for answers leads her to the self-proclaimed gossip-worker Luca, and their investigation sends them through a haze of political turmoil and forbidden romance, and into the most sinister corners of the Festival. But as the killer continues murdering Sorina’s illusions one by one, she must unravel the horrifying truth before all of her loved ones disappear. @goodreads 

I loved this book soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much! ♥



I can't believe I have let it sit for so long without reading it! That's the way it goes.

The book is about Sorina who is the adopted daughter of the proprietor of the Gomorrah Festival. She runs her own freak show. She is an illusionist and she has created her own family, the freak show. I love them all! LOVE. THEM. ALL.

Then some jerk face starts killing some of them. It was horrible! So Sorina is out to find out who is doing this and put an end to it or them =) She is aided a bit by her father and a boy named, Luca.

I loved Luca too and holy crow, he had his own freak show with himself. I won't tell you but it's narly and dark! As in blood and guts and what not!

Sorina's father thinks it's some kind of political thing having to do with people after him. But Sorina is not so sure.

This was such a refreshing book that centers around the festival (carnival) that is a world within a world. And I loved this world. Well, not the killings but still. I loved everything else about this book.

Mel ♥

GOODREADS REVIEW: 

 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2072760049

The Creeps by Fran Krause

A follow-up to the New York Times best-selling Deep Dark Fears: a second volume of comics based on people’s quirky, spooky, hilarious, and terrifying fears.

Illustrator, animator, teacher, and comic artist Fran Krause has touched a collective nerve with his wildly popular web comic series–and subsequent New York Times best-selling book–Deep Dark Fears. Here he brings readers more of the creepy, funny, and idiosyncratic fears they love illustrated in comic form–such as the fear that your pets will tell other animals all your embarrassing secrets, or that someone uses your house while you’re not home–as well as two longer comic short-stories about ghosts. @goodreads 

I had no idea this was a second book of fears. I'm going to have to get the first one! I loved this little book. There are actually a lot of things that ring true for me in this book. I love how they are in little comic strips but there are some full pages as well. 

 

This one below is so true! I have always been scared if I have a limb hanging off the bed or couch, that something would grab it!

AND THIS ONE! Okay, so I don't have a cat but I always hated my dogs hair to get under the tape because I wanted to keep his hair with me. I know, I'm weird. I was also afraid someone would get my fingerprints or my DNA from my own hair that would get trapped and set me up in something or come and get me!!!!

This is a very enjoyable little book! I would like to thank BloggingForBooks for a print copy of this book. 

Happy Reading! 

Mel ♥

Turtles All The Way Down by John Green (mini)

Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis.

Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.

In his long-awaited return, John Green, the acclaimed, award-winning author of Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars, shares Aza’s story with shattering, unflinching clarity in this brilliant novel of love, resilience, and the power of lifelong friendship. @goodreads 

I thought I would fall in love with this book but I just didn't. 😕



Now I give all of the stars to Aza, Davis and Noah.

I loved Aza so much and as I have mental disorders I can totally relate to her. She's a wonderful character.

Davis is her boy ish friend and he's awesome too. Noah is his brother. They are totally rich and their father is missing. So this is about finding each other and finding a missing father. A few other things thrown into the mix.

I think what kept this from being a 5 star was Daisy. I just didn't like her at all. She was Aza's best friend. I just couldn't handle her.

So, on to the next!

Happy Reading!

Mel ❤️ 



 

October 2017 Owlcrate Box

I'm going to do a breakdown of the whole box. I hope you guys enjoy. I have to say, this is one of my favorite boxes! ♥

Here is the main picture with all of the goodies ♥

Here is the exclusive Owlcrate book. The color on the front of the book is different then the original. It's beautiful. And we have the note from the author and the signed book plate ♥

This has the Owlcrate newsletter full of goodies. The main card that has the information from the box on the back and the card for next months box. 

It's going to be: Castles ~ Courts & Kingdoms! 

I am absolutely in love with this beautiful print of Princess Mononoke! I love the movie and of course, I own it. ♥

A beautiful candle inspired by the books from The Raven Cycle (Raven Boys, etc). The usual Owlcrate pin, which is lovely. And a lovely packet of seeds ♥

We have some magnetic bookmarks inspired by Where The Wild Things Are. Some lovely tea and a wonderful coaster which I think is beautiful ♥

I LOVE this mug! It's an exclusive from Owlcrate and it came in a lovely box. I'm going to add the other side right under this one. It goes all the way around and it's inspired by: YES, Harry Potter ♥

So I had to put the mug on the coaster and put the tea in the mug to show how cute it all is together ♥



















I hope everyone has enjoyed the pictures and enjoys your box if you have a subscription to them! 

Mel ♥

There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

Scream meets YA in this hotly-anticipated new novel from the bestselling author of Anna and the French Kiss.

One-by-one, the students of Osborne High are dying in a series of gruesome murders, each with increasing and grotesque flair. As the terror grows closer and the hunt intensifies for the killer, the dark secrets among them must finally be confronted.

International bestselling author Stephanie Perkins returns with a fresh take on the classic teen slasher story that’s fun, quick-witted, and completely impossible to put down. @goodreads 

I know a good bit of people didn't like this book but I freaking loved it and that's all that matters =D



I loved Makani and Ollie! I thought they were awesome together. And well, they got me a little hot and bothered at times. It was fanfreakingtastic!

So this is a teen slasher type book. I'm not sure where anyone ever got off calling it a horror book. It's a mystery, suspense, young adult book. But, I digress.

We have some nutter going around killing classmates. And I thought I might know who the killer was but I was wrong again. I never would have gotten this one.

So, Makani moved to town from Hawaaii < -- did I spell that right? And she lives with her grandma, she takes care of her and watches out for her spells. Makani had some stuff happen to her over on the island so her parents sent her away. Let me take a moment to say what jerks her parents were.

Ollie lives with his brother Chris, who is a cop, because their parents died years ago. Ollie also works at the little grocery store.

I loved these two together, I can't say it enough. I also loved Makani's friends. But the main story is of Makani and Ollie. There is plenty of time for romance in between killings. Am i right? yes...

I enjoyed the story very much. I liked how it wasn't cheesy. I loved how it was played out. I just loved it okay? If you didn't love it then that's alright because we are not all clones! And I don't feel like writing a long review so here you have it! Peace & Love!

Happy Reading!

Mel ♥
 

GOODREADS REVIEW:

 https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/18915590-my-gifs

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

Isobel is a prodigy portrait artist with a dangerous set of clients: the sinister fair folk, immortal creatures who cannot bake bread, weave cloth, or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and Isobel’s paintings are highly prized among them. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—she makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes – a weakness that could cost him his life.

Furious and devastated, Rook spirits her away to the autumnlands to stand trial for her crime. Waylaid by the Wild Hunt’s ghostly hounds, the tainted influence of the Alder King, and hideous monsters risen from barrow mounds, Isobel and Rook depend on one another for survival. Their alliance blossoms into trust, then love, violating the fair folks’ ruthless Good Law. There's only one way to save both their lives, Isobel must drink from the Green Well, whose water will transform her into a fair one—at the cost of her Craft, for immortality is as stagnant as it is timeless.

Isobel has a choice: she can sacrifice her art for a future, or arm herself with paint and canvas against the ancient power of the fairy courts. Because secretly, her Craft represents a threat the fair folk have never faced in all the millennia of their unchanging lives: for the first time, her portraits have the power to make them feel. @goodreads 

I just read the most wonderful book! Oh, how fun it was to get my Fae on 😊



Isobel lives in Whimsy with Emma and the two adopted little girls.

Isobel is a most wonderful painter, this is her craft. She paints for the fae. Her most regular client over the years is Gadfly.

****Might be some spoilers ahead****

So one day, Gadfly tells Isobel she is to be visited by the autumn prince the next day to paint his portrait. Well, of course this freaks Isobel out. She rushes around trying to buy up all the paint she might need. On her way home she is attacked by an evilness from the fae world. BUT, the lovely autumn prince saves her.

This autumn prince is named Rook. I mean it's fitting because he can shapeshift but he mostly shifts into a raven. My heart, yes! I'm in love with him ❤️



While Isobel is painting his portrait they start to enjoy each other's company but Rook is whisked away to fight in the great hunt. He sends someone for the painting and is mad at what she drew. So he decides to drag her to fae land to have a reckoning of sorts.

They get into all kinds of trouble along the way and there are some funny moments with their banter. I loved it.

Anyway, they make it to the spring court where Gadfly is and after a day, all hell breaks loose! Isobel and Rook are fighting for their lives!

But let me just say, I got my happy ending 😊💕

Happy Reading.

Mel ❤️ 

GOODREADS REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2085053036