Pocket Review: Serafina and the Black Cloak

“Never go into the deep parts of the forest, for there are many dangers there, and they will ensnare your soul.”

Serafina has never had a reason to disobey her pa and venture beyond the grounds of the Biltmore estate. There’s plenty to explore in her grand home, although she must take care to never be seen. None of the rich folk upstairs know that Serafina exists; she and her pa, the estate’s maintenance man, have secretly lived in the basement for as long as Serafina can remember.

But when children at the estate start disappearing, only Serafina knows who the culprit is: a terrifying man in a black cloak who stalks Biltmore’s corridors at night. Following her own harrowing escape, Serafina risks everything by joining forces with Braeden Vanderbilt, the young nephew of the Biltmore’s owners. Braeden and Serafina must uncover the Man in the Black Cloak’s true identity . . . before all of the children vanish one by one.

Serafina’s hunt leads her into the very forest that she has been taught to fear. There she discovers a forgotten legacy of magic, one that is bound to her own identity. In order to save the children of Biltmore, Serafina must seek the answers that will unlock the puzzle of her past.

Author: Robert Beatty

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Publication Date: July 14th, 2016

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

I came across this book on YouTube actually, in a skit by Jesse The Reader. The video was about him freaking out and needing the sequel to this book. It was so funny and so relatable, that when I went to the bookstore the next day I knew I had to purchase it. I began reading the day after I got it, and decided that my first review on this blog would be for Serafina and The Black Cloak. This will be a no spoilers review.

The Readathon Process

As many of you may know, last weekend was the Dewey 24 Hour Readthon. The last one of this year, sadly. If any of you participated, then you know what joy (and frustration and exhaustion) they can bring.

So I have decided to bring to you the process and emotions I go through every readathon.

1. Excitement

Oh, heck yeah! Time to get some reading done, let's wreck this book! Not literally, of course. Books are to be cherished. Do not harm their precious pages.

This is the first emotion; you are fresh-eyed and innocent, usually this is when you're doing your first readathon and have no idea of what's to come. You have books ready, food stocked, playlists made, and your notifications turned off. It is time to get reading, my friend!

2. Contentment

Everything is going amazingly. You're reading, doing some challenges, making new friends on social media, everything is fine and dandy! You grab a snack from the kitchen, smile at the sun, life is good. You are ignorant to the strife that lies ahead.

3. Weariness

Oof. You've been reading for a while and people have begun to notice. Suddenly, your phone is blowing up with texts and emails and even calls from people you haven't talked to in years...as soon as you pick up your book. Everything is silent on that little device until you set a finger on that book, then people are blowing you up. Your mom comes into the room asking you to do stuff, your dog is sick, your favorite movie is on tv.,.The whole world is conspiring to get you away form that book.

4. Anger

Grr! Why won't people just let you read! Something so simple as sitting and opening a book should not come with so many interruptions! That was not in the fine print when you signed the bookworm contract!

5. Acceptance

Okay, no one will let you read. That's okay, you needed to take a break and rest your eyes anyway. Just lay your head on your pillow to calm your burning eyes...zzzz.....zz..

6. Panic

You wake up, nice and refreshed, only to realize that OH NO! You missed 4 whole hours of the readathon! You hop on your social media, wincing and cringing at all the amazing challenges you missed out on. Oh, what a world, what a world! A bookworm is even betrayed by their own body, who demands sleep over book pages.

7. Meh.

It's a challenge yes, but it's for fun! No need to stress over it and make yourself feel down if you don't complete it! A lot of people slept during it, and it's okay! All that matters is that you had fun!...

...And repeat for every readathon ever.

The Readathon Process

As many of you may know, last weekend was the Dewey 24 Hour Readthon. The last one of this year, sadly. If any of you participated, then you know what joy (and frustration and exhaustion) they can bring.

So I have decided to bring to you the process and emotions I go through every readathon.

1. Excitement

Oh, heck yeah! Time to get some reading done, let's wreck this book! Not literally, of course. Books are to be cherished. Do not harm their precious pages.

This is the first emotion; you are fresh-eyed and innocent, usually this is when you're doing your first readathon and have no idea of what's to come. You have books ready, food stocked, playlists made, and your notifications turned off. It is time to get reading, my friend!

2. Contentment

Everything is going amazingly. You're reading, doing some challenges, making new friends on social media, everything is fine and dandy! You grab a snack from the kitchen, smile at the sun, life is good. You are ignorant to the strife that lies ahead.

3. Weariness

Oof. You've been reading for a while and people have begun to notice. Suddenly, your phone is blowing up with texts and emails and even calls from people you haven't talked to in years...as soon as you pick up your book. Everything is silent on that little device until you set a finger on that book, then people are blowing you up. Your mom comes into the room asking you to do stuff, your dog is sick, your favorite movie is on tv.,.The whole world is conspiring to get you away form that book.

4. Anger

Grr! Why won't people just let you read! Something so simple as sitting and opening a book should not come with so many interruptions! That was not in the fine print when you signed the bookworm contract!

5. Acceptance

Okay, no one will let you read. That's okay, you needed to take a break and rest your eyes anyway. Just lay your head on your pillow to calm your burning eyes...zzzz.....zz..

6. Panic

You wake up, nice and refreshed, only to realize that OH NO! You missed 4 whole hours of the readathon! You hop on your social media, wincing and cringing at all the amazing challenges you missed out on. Oh, what a world, what a world! A bookworm is even betrayed by their own body, who demands sleep over book pages.

7. Meh.

It's a challenge yes, but it's for fun! No need to stress over it and make yourself feel down if you don't complete it! A lot of people slept during it, and it's okay! All that matters is that you had fun!...

...And repeat for every readathon ever.

How to Deal With Depression As A Bookworm (Do's and Dont's)

Hey, everyone!

I know I haven't been on in a long time, but if you read the title of this post, you know why. I'm back now, though, with some advice that I've gained over the past few months from other people and myself.

So without further ado, here's what to do and not do when when you have depression as a bookworm.

DONT'S

• Don't tell yourself to get over it. Despite what the stigma in today's age might tell you, depression is not something you can just 'get over'. It's a serious mental illness that can debilitate you and needs to be handled as such. Trying to force through it can be detrimental to yourself.
• Don't do things you normally wouldn't to try and buck up. By this I mean, don't force yourself to be outgoing and spontaneous when all you want to do is cry. Sometimes, a break in bed is something you need, and going against that could push you further in your rut.
• Don't force yourself to read anyway. Reading while your depressed is not fair to you, your time, or the book itself. It won't be fun, and you might even feel because you're guilty for not being able to enjoy the book. I know this is the last bullet point, but in my specific case, it was the most important.

DO'S

• Do take a break. Sometimes, reading isn't possible when you feel like this, and that's okay. There's no rush. Renew those library books, or put the newest purchase back on the shelf. Try to let go of the pressure. Easier said than done, I know. But if you can manage it, put the book down.
• Do nothing. Sometimes the best thing to do with depression is simply nothing. Doing nothing can give your brain a chance to relax.
• Do take your time. There's no time limit to how long you should be depressed. Take as long as you need to function once again. And if you get to that point and you still don't feel like reading, that's perfectly fine, too. Just keep taking it one minute at a time.

Reading Too Many Books At Once

Hopefully some of you know what I'm talking about. Maybe you've joined one too many read-alongs and have a pile of library books to read. Maybe you promised to have a certain number of books read and done with by a certain date, or you're trying to reread a series before the next book comes out in stores.

Next thing you know, you're overwhelmed and you have so many books to read and so little time. Well, the first thing you need to do is breathe. Put down the five books you're switching back and forth from.

Go get a drink.

Eat something.

Interact with family and answer your text messages so everyone knows you're still alive and can stop planning your funeral arrangements.

Now.

Let's get down to business.

(To defeat the huns books.)

1. Slow down.

There are a lot of things in life that require a deadline. Don't you think that books shouldn't have to fall in that category? I know you may want to finish so many books in a short amount of time, but maybe you should set smaller goals. Maybe one book in a week and a half, to give yourself a chance to relax and enjoy reading again like you're supposed to.

2. Set your priorities.

Look at all of the books you need to read, and also consider when you want them to be done. The one you want to be done sooner is read first, and so on. This helps me when I need to put things in perspective, or have a large mix of library books and books that I own to get through.

3. Reevaluate your current interests.

Take a look at every book you own that you need to read and pick ones that you are interested in right now. If it's a book that you don't have an interest in and haven't for a while, then maybe consider getting rid of it.

That's all for now! Please leave your tips in the comments.

-Books and Trust,

Pixie Dust~

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon Mid Way Survey

1. What are you reading right now?

Currently I am reading Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer.

2. How many books have you read so far?

I've only read The Hound of the Baskervilles before this, due to a bad headache that stopped me in my reading tracks.

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

Probably Throne of Glass by Sarah J Mass.

4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

As I mentioned above I had an awful headache, which was cured with some time away from the book and some medication. Today was also chore day, so that took up some of my time. No worries, I think I'm doing pretty well!

5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

How many people are participating! I knew many people did this, but the community is so large that updating my Twitter feed always brings something new for me! I love it!

Long Books and How To Get Through Them

Long books.

Everyone who likes to read know how difficult it can be to finish a particularly long novel. I'm currently reading Eldest, the second book in The Inheritance Cycle, which is 668 pages. To date, it will be the longest book I finish, and sometimes it begins to drag. Not because the book is bad, necessarily; there are a lot more variables than that. Let me explain.

1. You get tired of the plot.

Sometimes you may be ready to move onto something else, and if you're like me, you don't like reading more than one book at a time. I used to read up to 5 at a time, until I realized I wasn't getting the full effect of the book. This is my personal opinion, but I know a lot of people feel this way.

Advice: I would say a good thing to do is to put it down and do something with a change of pace. For example, I like to watch something educational like a documentary sometimes to balance out all of the fantasy I tend to indulge in, or vise versa. It's fun, trust me, and you may find something else you're interested in. Also, if you're afraid you might forget the plot, make a book journal! I have one that I made, that involves art and quotes, but yours can be a simple jolting of a few sentences to jog your memory when you come back to it. If you do.

2. Try not to read so much in a single sitting.

I know sometimes we all get that overwhelming urge to read until we drop, and there's nothing necessarily wrong with that. But sometimes you overload yourself with the plot and the characters and coming back to the book is a lot harder than it should be.

Advice: I found that reading maybe one chapter each day instead of going until my vision is blurry (like I usually do) helps me come back to the book easier after I put it down. When I'm ready to come back, I don't have that overload of information in the forefront of my mind from my previous reading session. It helps me to enjoy the book more and have something to look forward to when I decide to pick up the book again. You can increase the number of chapters if you want, of course.

3. Scope out some new books.

Sometimes it's the book itself you're tired of, and you need motivation. This happens to me a lot, especially if I have to take a long break from the book if life comes calling. I see the book in my bag or on my desk, but I just don't feel like I remember enough to continue. And with a big book like Eldest, I'm not too inclined to go back and reread much.

Advice: Go to your closest bookstore or goodreads account and scope out some new literature! I know it may feel like cheating on your current book, but I found that finding something I want to read next helps give me the motivation to finish my current book so I can move on. Be cautioned, sometimes this may urge you to just dump your current book altogether. There's nothing wrong with that, but just a warming.

Okay, and those are some of my tips and tricks to getting through long books. I wanted to add more but I have AIR testing to prepare for, and I don't know when I'll have more time to get back to this post until May, and I want to get this up sooner than that. Thanks for reading!

-Books and Trust,
Pixie Dust~