Reading Wrap Up | November 2019 +Blogmas Annoucement!

November 30, 2019November 30, 2019 Literary Leisha3 Comments

wrap-up-2019

Hey guys!
I cannot believe November is over and we’re going into the final month of the year… Crazy how time flies!
I have been in a huge reading slump, so didn’t get much reading done, unfortunately.
I am hoping to do better in December. Luckily, I hit my Goodreads goal a while ago.

Image result for crownbreaker audiobook

The first book I finished was the audiobook of Crownbreaker by Sebastien de Castell.
This was such a great conclusion to an amazing series. I am so sad this is the last Spellslinger book but I am looking forward to reading more from Sebastien de Castell.

Rating: 4 Stars
Review here!

Image result for emma by jane austen audiobook uk jenny
Next, I finished Emma by Jane Austen. I read and listened to this for uni. I have to say, I didn’t really enjoy this one. It was too long and boring.

Finally, after weeks of suffering,I finished Ivanhoe by Walter Scott. This is definitely something I would DNF if it wasn’t for uni. It was such a BORE. I can’t believe I even finished it, it was such a snoozefest!

Announcement!

blogmas-2019

This year I’ll be participating in Blogmas! I’ve always wanted to do it but never have made the plunge so I’m finally going to do it this year. I won’t be doing daily posts, I’ll probably post every other day. I’m excited to post some Christmasy themed posts and post more in general!
Make sure you follow my blog and stick around! There’s plenty of posts coming soon 🙂

Are you doing Blogmas?

Things To Use as Bookstagram Props! | Bookstagram 101

November 26, 2019November 26, 2019 Literary Leisha3 Comments

Hey guys!
I’m back with another Bookstagram tips post!
My first two: Bookstagram Tips for Beginners | Biggest Bookstagram Mistakes

Today I thought I’d share some prop ideas! Props are almost essential for upping the quality/aesthetic of your Bookstagram! I highly recommend having a few go-to items for your pictures.

1) Fairy Lights!

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Who doesn’t love pretty lights?
They’re easy and look so good with books! You likely already have them, so use them! Or buy some cheap ones. I’ve gotten mine from Poundland and Primark for dead cheap!

2) Clothes/Blankets

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Something you don’t need to buy: Clothes! Use them!
If you have a cute jumper/cardigan use it! Scarves also work too. Better yet, put your outfit into the picture! It adds something extra.

3) Flowers/Petals/Plants

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Fake or real: both work!
This is one of my favourite props ever. I love flowers and plants and I love seeing them with books! It’s such a pretty combo.

4) Book Merch!
(Bookmarks, pins, candles etc)

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Everyone has bookish merch, right? Utilise it!
Bookmarks, pins, candles etc all make amazing props! Play with angles and placement and you can get some really good merch shots.

5) YOU!

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If you’re not too camera shy, go ahead and put yourself in the picture!
It’s so fun to see the bookstagrammer in their pictures. It makes it a bit more personal!
I personally am a little camera shy, so it’s not something I post a lot of but I definitely like to include it occasionally!

Are you on Bookstagram?
Leave your username below 🙂

Books · WWW Wednesday

WWW Wednesday | 20/11/2019

November 20, 2019November 20, 2019 Literary Leisha6 Comments

WWW-Wednesday

Happy Wednesday! I haven’t done a WWW Wednesday for a few weeks so here I am back at it!
This tag/meme is hosted on Taking on a World of Words. It’s a super simple meme, you just answered the three W questions.

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

Recently Finished:

Emma by Jane Austen
Image result for emma by jane austen audiobook uk jenny

This is my least favourite Austen novel I’ve read so far (not sure anything will live up to Pride and Prejudice) but it wasn’t too bad.

Currently Reading:

Ivanhoe by Walter Scott

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Reading this for class. It’s taking an age. Boring.

Reading Next:

The Testaments by Margaret Attwood

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This audiobook just became available at my library so I’m excited to read it!
I have heard such mixed things about this book, I’m interested to see where I’ll stand.
I don’t really think THT needed a sequel but there we go.

What are you currently reading?

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Books · Tag

The Spotify Book Tag

November 18, 2019November 21, 2019 Literary LeishaLeave a comment

Hey guys, I’m back with another tag!
I’m not sure who created this tag but if you know please let me know!

Let’s begin:

1. Hit Rewind: a book you go back to again and again?

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

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My favourite book! This has always stuck with me and I could honestly keep reading it over and over.

2. Romantic Ballads: a book that gives you all those fluttery feels?

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas

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I’ve read this 3 times and it never fails to give me all the fluttery feels.
Such a swoon worth book.

3. Release Radar: a new release book you are excited for?

The Burning White by Brent Weeks

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I am both excited and terrified for the last book in the Lightbringer.

4. Discover Weekly: a book you haven’t read yet but want to discover?

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

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This year I’ve been getting into graphic novels and loving them. Everyone talks about how amazing and cute Heartstopper is so I definitely need to discover this series!

5. Alone Again: your fave book genre to read on your own?

All of them. I don’t really get this question, do people read with others?

6. Alternative: an indie book or author everyone should read!

I don’t read many indie books/authors but I read The Gilded King by Josie Jaffrey and enjoyed it. I really need to continue the series.

Image result for The Gilded King

7. Cheesy Hits: a book full of cheese that you just love?

I’m not a big fan of cheesy books. It will make me cringe.
However, The Kiss of Deception could be considered a tad cheesy but I absolutely loved it. Devoured it so fast.
Image result for the kiss of deception

8. Summer Hits: a book you re-read every summer?

None. I tend to re-read when I feel like it not specifically in the summer…
I did read Warbreaker two summers in a row before.

9. Power Hour: an empowering feminist book or character you adore?

I’ll go with character(s) – I can’t just say one so here are a few:
Aelin (ToG)
Lia (TRC)
Cinder (TLC)
Siri (Warbreaker)
Ferius Parfax (Spellslinger)

10. All Out 10’s: list ten banging books!

Warbreaker
The Final Empire
Spellslinger
Kingdom of Ash
The Kiss of Deception
The Flatshare
The Black Prism
Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Hold Back the Stars
Vicious

Find me over on Instagram//Twitter//Goodreads

Audiobooks · Books · Review

Audiobook Review: Crownbreaker by Sebastien de Castell | Spellslinger Finale (Spoiler free)

November 12, 2019November 11, 2019 Literary Leisha3 Comments

Image result for crownbreaker audiobook

Reviews for the others: Spellslinger | Shadowblack | Charmcaster | Soulbinder | Queenslayer

Synopsis:
Kellen and Reichis are settling into their new lives as protectors of the young queen and dealing with the constantly shifting threats to her reign and to her life. For the first time in his life, Kellen feels as if he’s becoming the kind of man that his mentor Ferius had wanted him to be. Even Reichis has come to appreciate having a noble purpose – so long as no one minds him committing the occasional act of theft from the royal treasury.

But what seems to be a simple card game between Kellen and an old man is soon revealed to be a deadly game of wits in which a powerful mage has trapped the queen’s spellslinger in order to kill him.

My Thoughts:

I have no idea where to begin.
I am SO SAD this series has ended. BOY has it been good though. Although not my favourite book in the series, this is a worthy conclusion to what has been an amazing series.

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Side note: the synopsis does not do this book any justice nor is it completely accurate. A lot of stuff goes on, which I won’t spoil, all of which completely surprising after reading the synopsis. It’s definitely a bit misleading but if anything, the book is way better than it sounds from that description.

This book picks up immediately after Queenslayer, as per, we see Kellen causing trouble and being hunted. He’s up to his usual shenanigans, narrowly escaping death constantly with help from Reichis, his murderous Squirrelcat business partner.

This being the last book there are some returns of character, which I loved!(!!!)
Some of my favourite side-characters appear and I was delighted. This book had me on edge, I was dying to know what happened constantly. I was very emotional (I didn’t fully cry but I was super close.) – it was an emotional rollercoaster.

The post-script was amazing.

I have loved watching Kellen grow as a character through all 6 books, it has been quite the journey! This series will forever stay in my heart and be one of my all-time favourites. These books seriously make me happy, they’re so much fun, the humour is amazing. I look forward to reading more from Sebastien de Castell in the future.

Rating: 4 Stars

*Purchase on Amazon UK: Kindle | Hardback

The audiobook is AMAZING. The narrator makes this story truly come to life, his voice is incredible. I highly, highly recommend the audiobooks. They really are an amazing experience.
*Free trial of Audible here.

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Books · Tag

End of the Year Book Tag!

November 10, 2019November 10, 2019 Literary Leisha5 Comments

end-of-the-year-book-tag

Hey guys, Happy Sunday! 🙂
Today I’m going to be doing the End of the Year Book Tag!
(Original Tag here)

I was tagged by the lovely Lucy (Lucyturnspages)

Onto the questions:

1. Are there any books you started this year you need to finish?

I usually finish books in the same month I start them, so there’s none I’ve been reading for months/ have already started that I won’t finish.

2. Do you have an autumnal book to transition to the end of the year?

Generally, I start reading more fantasy/darker books in the autumn. There’s nothing I read every year though.

3. Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?

Starsight by Brandon Sanderson!
Image result for starsight uk cover
I am so hyped for this! I might not even get to it this year (unfortunately) – uni is chaotic.
I am so behind with books, but I am hoping (praying) I get to this before the end of 2019!

4. What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?

The Burning White by Brent Weeks

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Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater
Image result for call down the hawk uk cover
Starsight by Brandon Sanderson
Image result for starsight uk cover

5. Is there a book that you think could still shock you and become your FAVORITE?

Potentially, TBW or CDTH? They’re both hugely anticipated books, one the last in a series and one the start of a new one, so hopefully, they’ll be new favourites!

6. Have you already made reading plans for 2020?

Yes! I’m already thinking about going on book buying bans and getting my physical TBR down as much as possible!

Consider yourself tagged if you want to do this tag!

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Books · WWW Wednesday