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~

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (Spoilers)

Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. Despite their difference, Achilles befriends the shamed prince, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of  Achilles' mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess.

But when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, Achilles must go to war in distant Troy and fulfill his destiny. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus goes with him, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.

Review:

This book, man. I finished it in five and a half hours, including breaks. I just...love it so much. I have so much to say and no idea how to put it into coherent sentences.

I thought the beginning of the story to the end was brilliant at showing character development most of all, in my opinion. The foreshadowing was pretty good at well. You could just tell that something was coming, even when you had no clue what it was. I thought it was amazing how the prose painted a perfect picture of what was going on in my head. I could almost see Achilles rage as Patroclus was slayed.

I didn't see the twists and turns coming, and I love how it wasn't instant love. The romance didn't overpower the action and the hardships, and the side characters were very well developed and all served a purpose.

The only thing I didn't like was how....yeah, I can't think of anything I didn't like. This book was amazing, please read it.

5/5 stars.

-Books and Trust,
Pixie Dust~

Book Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Mara Dyer believes life can't get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can. 

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her strangely unharmed. 

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love. 

She's wrong.

---

Spoilers.

Eh.

This book was...okay, I guess.

I really liked the premise, and the first few chapters were really interesting and I was excited. But then...Noah. Pompous boy who everyone wants, but the MC of course, and he wants her, for some reason. Noah is just so rude and arrogant and I really don't understand the appeal.

Another thing. Why is Anna automatically labelled a slut just because she's someone the MC doesn't like? Just because she may be an antagonist - a heavily cliched one at that - doesn't mean that it's okay to completely bash her. For example,

"The list of what you're missing, Anna, is longer than the South Beach Free Clinic's walk-in list," Jamie said, and I was surprised to hear his voice. "Though I'm sure your hookup resume includes the same names." 

And of course, since Anna was the bitch of the ball and no one liked her, it was automatically hilarious! No, not really.

On to Mara.

Man, what to say. I didn't really understand her character; she was all over the place. Not because of her trauma, I mean because she could never make up her mind. She'd be mad at Noah or  Daniel, but as soon as she went to confront them she'd either seem to forget the reason she came to them, or touch on it briefly and at the most get a bit huffy. Not to mention how she totally lets Noah get away with anything and everything just because he's so beautiful. And she takes the time to remind you how beautiful he is. Often. It just seemed that as long as Noah was with her, she cared about no one else. Like when Jamie got expelled, Mara thought about him maybe once, and that was when she wanted something from him. Then Jamie was never seen or heard from again.

Honestly, this book would've been better if they'd focused more on Mara's unique abilities instead of a cliched trope-sodden romance.

2/5 stars.

-Books and Trust,
Pixie Dust~

Book Review: Ink and Bone (The Great Library #1) by Rachel

"In an exhilarating new series, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine rewrites history, creating a dangerous world where the Great Library of Alexandria has survived the test of time.…

Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is now a presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses. Alchemy allows the Library to deliver the content of the greatest works of history instantly—but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden.

Jess Brightwell believes in the value of the Library, but the majority of his knowledge comes from illegal books obtained by his family, who are involved in the thriving black market. Jess has been sent to be his family’s spy, but his loyalties are tested in the final months of his training to enter the Library’s service.

When his friend inadvertently commits heresy by creating a device that could change the world, Jess discovers that those who control the Great Library believe that knowledge is more valuable than any human life—and soon both heretics and books will burn…"

---

'Vita hominis plus libro valet!'

Spoilers.
I stumbled across this book on my first trip to The Book Loft in German Village. I'd never heard of it before, but the premise seemed very intriguing, especially since the Library of Alexandria tragedy is something I am still not and will probably never be over. Seriously, I tear up just thinking about all of that lost knowledge.

First the good!

The intro, in my opinion, was the perfect set up for the story. you jump right into the action without making it seem abrupt or forced. I liked that, and it was the perfect way to draw a reader in. It kind of reminded me of Aladdin. The characters were amazing as well, and I am constantly praising the diversity of the cast. Jess, the main character, wasn't a flawless hero; he was just a normal kid with flaws and problems of his own thrust into problems that go way beyond what any kid should go through as they realize, rather harshly, that the world is nowhere near black and white.

The character development is nothing to scoff at as well, and I loved how seemingly minor characters end up playing such a big roll and become so lovable even when they're rarely seen. The world building was alright; there weren't any info dumps and I enjoyed how Ms. Caine incorporated some of the world building into Jess' emotions or past experiences with them, like the automatons in the beginning of the book that chased him. It helps me remember the landmarks and relate to the character.

The writing was very fluid, and Ms. Caine did an amazing job with making sure the reader could feel and envision everything that was going on around the characters; (SPOILERS) the awe they felt when they got to the Library, the pain and devastation of Thomas' death, and the constant wake up calls Jess is smacked in the face with. It's raw and powerful each time, and I find myself loving and dreading those moments simultaneously. I also loved how Jess came to see the light at the end, while also realizing that it's going to be a hard road ahead for him now.

Now the bad!

While the world building was indeed unique in it's portrayal, it was very difficult for me to determine the time period. I assumed it was sometime in the past, but I honestly could not pinpoint it. Also, I never understood why the Library was so resistant to change. Is it because they don't want to lose their control over the citizens? I assumed that but I was never sure.

Conclusion.

Despite the tiny, nitpicking comments, this book is amazing. It's not just a book about books, it's a book about how sometimes you have to go against everything you know to do what's right, and that there's always something more to learn about the people who rule you.

5/5 stars.

-Books and Trust,
Pixie Dust~

Changing Direction

So.

It's been a long time, hasn't it?

I was thinking about this blog earlier this week, and after a lot of contemplation I have decided to make this a book blog. I run one on tumblr, and I thought moving some of it over to Blogger would be a good way to make something out of my blog. This blog will be reviewing mostly YA and Children's Lit, since that's what I read most, but there might be some other genres as  I slowly expand my horizons. Another feature will be writing posts. I love writing, and the best thing I think would be to do is to put some of it up here for you all to see and give me feedback on.

I'm still going to be leaving the old posts up, not that there are many, because I honestly don't see a reason to take them down. They're not hurting anyone. Let's see, what else to say...I'm turning 15 tomorrow, or March 5th for anyone who's reading this later on. I'm kind of nervous because each new birthday comes with a shit ton of new responsibilities. But at least it's one year closer to getting my astrophysics degree.

Well that's about it, I will see all of you soon, and I hope you can all recommend me some books to read! YA or Children's Lit if able, nothing raunchy because ew and no.

-Books and Trust,
Pixie Dust~

Just Pray!: A Post On How Religion Isn't A Magic Solution

If you're like me, and have a mental or physical disability, and also have religious parents, then you know what I'm talking about.

"Just pray honey, and your [depression, anxiety, etc] will go away!"

So you try it, and surprise, it's not gone. It may lighten up if you're of the faith, but it;s not completely gone, and the response when you mention it?

"Well, you just didn't try hard enough!"

"Oh, you didn't believe it'd work, so of course it didn't!"

"You're just not trying hard enough."

I cannot even begin to explain how mad this makes me. I am a Christian who practices witchcraft; I'm bigender and pansexual, and I would easily date someone not of my own race. In my parents eyes, I'd be an abomination, which is why I haven't told them yet.

Religion is great, if you choose it. If you want to praise a God or Gods or Goddesses, that's great. But don't make it sound like just because you believe in a higher power, that said higher power is the answer to every problem.

In my opinion, God knows I have this illness, and he expects my parents, to give me the correct help to deal with it. That's not happening in my household, nope, and my parents would rather cover their ears and block themselves off in their little world of excessive pride and a holier than thou attitude instead of actually helping me with my problems. My mother doesn't even want me seeing my therapist anymore because,

"You don't need that; you just need to pray more!"

Tip: Don't say that. Please, you're not helping, and if you WANT to help, then educate yourself on the real ways to help and support someone with a physical and mental illness.