Fantasy with Friends is a weekly discussion meme hosted by Brianna & Krysta from Pages Unbound. I like reading these discussions, but this is my first time participating.
This Week’s Prompt: Do you enjoy dark academia fantasy novels? What are some themes you enjoy seeing discussed in dark academia (ex. ethics in academia, corruption, classism, etc?) Do you think the genre does a good job exploring such themes in general, or are many books focused mainly on the aesthetics?
I really like dark academia. I have a soft spot for books set in a magical school, so that is definitively a part of the reason why I love this subgenre. My own time at university was alright, but not particularly memorable. I liked studying and learning new things, but I was an average student. Reading books set in a magical school is a kind of wishful thinking for me; what could have been? I love the idea of learning magic, or something else that is secret and not commonly known. The academic part of dark academia actually appeals most to me. I do like how the dark part of dark academia often adds complexity to the story. But I’m not sure how “dark” a book has to be to count as dark academia. On Goodreads many people shelved The Starless Sea as dark academia, but this book isn’t dark at all, and also doesn’t really have an academic setting. I’m also not sure if I would count A Discovery of Witches as dark academia. I can think of three books I’ve read that are without doubt part of the subgenre.
My favourite dark academia fantasy book is Babel. It has a fascinating magic system, but what makes the book truly great is how colonialism and racism are explored in this story. I liked A Deadly Education mainly for the unique setting: this school is full of monsters and has no teachers. It’s dark in a very different way than Babel. A Deadly Education is dark due to the murderous monsters in the school. Babel is dark because the whole system appears to be morally corrupt. Both books are good reads, but Babel is more intriguing due to the themes it explores. The Atlas Six may have the dark academia aesthetics, but it doesn’t discuss any interesting themes. I disliked it, because it lacked a clear plot. For me the setting in a dark academia book is important, but it definitively also needs a complex plot and interesting characters.
Dark academia is a genre I plan to futher explore next month. Currently on my TBR-list are:
Halfway through July my summer holiday started. I spend a lot of free time reading. Of course I read books, but I also discovered Substack, and this became a temporary addiction. I will recommend some of my favourite essays below. Bookwise, I continued reading Victorian literature, and I now have read a book by each of the Brontë sisters. I also borrowed a non-fiction book from my mother about 19th century Japan and paired this with a novel with the same themes. I ended the month with some children’s literature.
Books I Read
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë – 4 stars In four words: gothic, dark, fascinating, complex I began this book expecting something like Jane Eyre. Although some themes are the same, Wuthering Heights is a very different experience: darker and wilder. I can imagine people giving up due to the cast of unlikable characters and the complicated character dynamics. However, the complex characters shown at their worst also make the book fascinating. The central character that drives this story is interestingly enough the villain, Heathcliff. But he isn’t the one telling the story, that is the housekeeper. From her we hear the compelling background story of Heathcliff. We read about his abusive childhood, his destructive love affair, his revenge and slowly find out how he became the monstrous man he is. I’m in awe of Emily Brontë for writing a character that is both extremely screwed-up and incredibly fascinating.
Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë – 4 stars In four words: quiet, realistic, partly autobiographical This novel realistically shows what it was like to be a governess in the 19th century. Due to the way Anne Brontë writes about children, it’s clear that she writes from personal experience. Since I work at an elementary school, I know that getting children to listen to you isn’t always easy. It’s especially hard if you’re a young, inexperienced governess like Agnes at the beginning of the book. She’s expected to teach spoiled children who never learned to control their temper. Their parents treat Agnes disrespectful and the children just follow their example. But Agnes is determined not to give up, and I admired her for her perseverance and patience. It’s a pity that this is such a short book; I would have loved to read more about her.
De Zwevende Wereld by Annejet van der Zijl – 3,5 stars In four words: well-researched, interesting, detailed, history This is a biography of both Franz von Siebold (1796 – 1866) and his Japanese daughter Kusomoto Ine (1827-1903). I knew about Siebold from the Japan Museum in Leiden. It was interesting to learn more about his tumultuous life as explorer, doctor and writer. I especially admired his daughter Ine, who became the first female doctor of Japan. Next to a biography, this book can also be seen as a history of Japan, from the arrival of Franz von Siebold in 1823 to the Second World War. It’s a lot of information for just 300 pages, maybe too much. Especially the last chapters, about all the children and the grandchildren, were a bit overwhelming. Overall this well-researched history is a great read, especially for people who like Japan. This Dutch book isn’t translated to English (yet)
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell – 3 stars In four words: slow-paced, engaging, complex, ambitious With little introduction the reader is dropped in Dejima, a small Japanese island that served as trading post for the Dutch from 1641 to 1853. There are a lot of names, but these names slowly start to feel like persons. Although none of them are particulay likable, each character has an interesting background story that gives him more substance. Our main character is Jacob de Zoet, a young bookkeeper who tries to restrain the illicit trade among the men. But after 200 pages, a new part starts with leading roles for some of the side characters. I usually like multiple different perspectives, but it’s a strange choice to abandon a main character halfway through the book. The second part almost seems like a different book, and actually doesn’t fit the first part. While the book starts as a realistic historical novel, the second part has dystopian vibes. The two parts maybe would have worked as separate stories, but together they are too much for one book. I hoped the stories would come together at the end. Although they sort of do, it wasn’t entirely satisfying for me. Trigger warnings for death of loved ones, rape and suicide
Briefjes voor Pelle by Marlies Slegers – 4,5 stars In four words: sad, comforting, heart-breaking, heart-warming A year ago the father of Pelle died. Now he has a box of notes with messages from his deceased father. Some notes allow Pelle to feel the sadness he tries to hide behind facts. Other notes help Pelle and his mother to pick up their life together. This is a sad story that makes the reader feel what it is to lose a loved one. At the same time the book feels like a warm hug that shows how Pelle learns to cope with the loss. This Dutch book isn’t translated to English (yet), but it can be read in German and Spanish
The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd – 4 stars In four words: thrilling, mysterious, middle-grade, page-turner Monday, 24 May, 11.32 a.m. Salim, cousin of Ted and Kat, gets in the London Eye. Half an hour later he does not get out. The disappearance of Salim causes all kinds of emotions Ted doesn’t understand, but the mystery intrigues him. Ted comes up with different theories, and with his older sister tries to find back their cousin. The book does a great job in showing that it isn’t easy for Ted that his brain functions different than that of other people. I loved how his autism plays a positive role in solving the mystery.
More Good Stuff
On his blog Allen Martin showed me a new way to organize quotes in a commonplace book. I especially like the idea to thread quotes and relate them to others.
The main reason I got Substack were the many interesting posts about self studying. I especially love the guide How I Self-Study New Subjects: The Modern Autodidact System by Sam Rinko. Here he explains in detail how he teaches himself new academic disciplines outside of school.
I enjoyed reading the series about collecting by anthropologist Lara Sabe. My favourite post from her is the insightful essay Collections III: Maps. I like how she observes that maps may seem objective, but actually are representations of places.
This month I dedicated to classics. My main focus was the Victorian era and I also read a classic Dutch children’s book. I don’t think classics are necessarily better than modern books, but there has to be a reason that some books are still well-loved more than 100 years after they were written. Next to the novels, I read a fascinating non-fiction book about the daily life of Victorian people.
Books I Read
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë – 4 stars Four words: beautiful, romance, gothic mystery I actually didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. There are many reasons to like Jane Eyre: it has a beautiful writing style, a well-developed romance, a mystery and some dark secrets. But what made me really love the book is the unexpected connection I felt with Jane. My life is very different from hers. I am not an orphan and didn’t grow up with an aunt who doesn’t like me. Mr Rochester is not someone I would ever have fallen in love with. I still could easily relate to Jane’s feelings and her perceptive insights. I liked seeing in Jane a character who is both kind-hearted and fierce, modest as well as out-spoken.
The King of the Copper Mountains by Paul Biegel – 3,5 stars In four words: imaginative, whimsical, melancholic, fairytale-like This book is framed like 1001 Nights. The heart of the thousand-year-old king Mansolain is slowing down. But it will take days for the Wonder Doctor to find the cure. To keep the heart of the king beating, every night a different animal tells him a story. Some stories are fun and whimsical, while others are a bit melancholic. I enjoyed reading these short stories, but I didn’t think they were especially memorable. At the end of every chapter we get an update from the Wonder Doctor. This keeps the book exciting, because he really needs to return before it’s too late. I like how everything comes together at the end, and the separate stories become one whole.
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell – 3,5 stars In four words: slow-paced, social commentary, romance The book starts slow; the story only really begins after a few chapters when Margaret and her family move from the South to the North of England. Margaret has an unusual position as an outsider who is not as poor as the workmen but also not as rich as the masters. Through her we learn how North differed from South and see the society from different perspectives. This book reminded me of Pride and Prejudice, because we also see a lot of prejudices among the characters. What made this book actually more interesting to me was the perspective of the male love interest, Mr Thornton, and that he is shown vulnerable. I think it’s quite rare to see so much emotion in a male character, especially for a book from the 1850s. I also think that the writer did a good job in showing what it was like to live during the Industrial Revolution. Trigger warnings for death of loved ones
How to Be a Victorian by Ruth Goodman – 4 stars In four words: fascinating, detailed, vivid, history This book describes in detail the daily life of a common person in the Victorian Period. It starts in the morning and moves through the day; from the moment people wake up to the moment they go to sleep again. The book is well-researched and full of fascinating facts. I learned for example that to wake up on time, people could use the service of a ‘knock-upper’; someone with a long cane and lantern who tapped on the windows of his clients. I especially liked that the writer isn’t only a historian, but also a historical recreator. She goes beyond the facts by also telling how it actually felt to live as a Victorian.
At The Orangutan Librarian there’s an interesting discussion about The Heroine Problem and I totally agree with her that I rather read about flawed women than perfect ones.
This year I follow a personal curriculum. It’s a learning plan you create yourself for subjects you’re interested in. You can structure it however you want. I chose five subjects for the year. This means I spend roughly two months on a subject, and also have some time left for unplanned reads that aren’t part of my personal curriculum. I also gave myself the freedom to add or remove titles from the book list I initially made. This blog post is about the first three subjects I’ve chosen. I will recommend books that were good resources and reflect on the books that didn’t work.
Egyptology
As child I already was fascinated by Ancient Egypt. I wanted to learn in more depth about this period in history. In January and February, I read nine books relating to this subject. I especially loved learning about the few female rulers. I also liked to read how Ancient Egypt changed over time. It’s easy to forget that Ancient Egypt is not a stagnant civilization. Traditions and territory drastically changed in thousands of years. For example: building pyramids was a custom among pharaohs during the Fourth Dynasty, but when Cleopatra became queen in 51 BC, the pyramids were already historic monuments.
The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt by Toby Wilkinson: a comprehensive history of Ancient Egypt. At some points a bit tedious, but it’s a good and readable resource.
Additional Reads
The Secrets of the Nile duology by Isabel Ibañez: YA historical fantasy mainly set in 19th century Egypt. Although I didn’t learn a lot, this adventurous story helped me to get immersed in the world of Egyptology.
Dreamblood Duology by N.K. Jemisin: high fantasy duology based on Ancient Egypt, but not in an obvious way. After looking into Ancient Egyptian history I can see how the religion and Egypt’s historical relationship with Kush (now Sudan) have inspired the writer.
Schaduw van Toet by Lida Dijkstra: a great example of an engaging story based on historical facts that is both fun and informative. It’s a pity that this book isn’t translated to English. A children’s book, but also recommended to adults who are able to read Dutch.
Off-topic, but Recommended
The Alamaxa Duology by Hadeer Elsbai: actually based on modern Egypt, and not on Ancient Egypt as I assumed. But recommended as a feminist fantasy with remarkable characters and a fascinating magic system.
Enivoronmental Activism
I chose this subject, because our environment deserves more care and attention. Climate change, deforestation and air pollution are serious problems for the environment and the people living in it. I already try to live sustainable, but I’m looking for more ways to help the environment. I hoped to get some new insights, but most books I read ended up not really fitting the subject.
Recommended
The Book of Hope by Jane Goodall & Douglas Adams: informative and inspiring memoir that encourages readers to take action against climate change, no matter how small. I already read this book twice and I’m a big fan of Jane Goodall.
Additional Read
Flight Behaviour by Barbara Kingsolver: shows how environmental changes influence people’s lives and how different people react on it. The central event in this book is the appearance of a colony of monarch butterflies in a conservative American village. It was interesting to read how different people perceive this phenomenon.
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton: exciting eco-thriller with morally grey characters. I expected the book to be more about guerrilla gardening, but it played just a minor role in the story.
Scotland
I chose Scotland for April and May, because I went there to hike the West Highland Way. I initially wanted to read about the history, but I ended up reading mostly fantasy books. With this subject I learned that at least one non-fiction book and a more specific topic help to get better learning results. Although I read five books set in Scotland, I don’t have the feeling that I’ve become more knowledgeable about Scotland. Three of these books were set in Edinburgh and I did learn something about the city through the books I read.
Recommended books set in Edinburgh:
Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz: YA gothic mystery that involves Victorian operating theaters, cross-dressing and grave-robbing.
Like a Charm by Elle McNicoll: a refreshing middle grade book about a girl with dyspraxia who can see magical creatures. The sequel is just as good.
The Library of the Dead by T.L. Huchu: supernatural, dark mystery set in a dystopian version of Edinburgh.
Currently studying
The next subject I planned was 19th century English literature. Since this period encompasses both Romantic and Victorian literature, it made more sense to choose one of these literary genres. I specified the subject and went for Victorian literature by female writers.
First of all, a big thanks to imyril (There’s Always Room For One More), Lisa (Dear Geek Place), Annemieke (A Dance With Books), Ariana (The Book Nook) and Jorie (Jorie Loves A Story) for hosting Wyrd & Wonder again. This year I was a bit late to the party, because of my journey to Scotland. After that I did post two Fantastic Fours, about Lunar Magic and Dark Magic. The fantasy books I read were quite diverse, from a book bought and set in Edinburgh to a 300-year-old classic. Below my thoughts about all the books I read and my favourite Wyrd & Wonder posts on other blogs.
Books I read
The Library of the Dead (Edinburgh Nights, #1) by T.L. Huchu – 4 stars In four words: exciting, supernatural, dark mystery I bought this book in Edinburgh and it’s also set in that city. At first, it felt like a modern-day version of Edinburgh, only with ghosts. But the story actually is set in a dystopian version of the city. Our main character Ropa is strong-willed and has quite an attitude, but she is also nice and caring for her little sister and grandma. Ropa is a ghost-talker. When she hears from the dead about someone bewitching children, she is determined to investigate. This exciting mystery turns out to be darker than expected and at some points quite creepy. Because Ropa always keeps her head cool, it never becomes too dark. In this first part Ropa is just learning magic. I like the scientific approach to magic and see lots of potential for the next parts. Trigger warnings for kidnapping and murder
Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift – 3 stars In four words: satirical, adventurous, travel story On his four voyages Gulliver encounters all kinds of strange people. In Lilliput everyone is small and Gulliver himself is a giant, while in Brobdingdang he is tiny among the gigantic habitants. His final journey to the land of the Houyhnhnms and Yahoos has a deep impact on him. But this isn’t just a fun travel story. Although the people Gulliver meets may be strange in some ways, they very much resemble humans. Through Gulliver’s experiences and satirical comments, the writer gives critic on human society at the time. Since I usually don’t read satire and probably missed things that were obvious 300 years ago, I’m not sure if I fully got this story. Everything seemed to have a double meaning. But it was interesting to experience fantasy in a very different way than I’m used to. Two demerits for me were the pessimistic view on humanity and the misogyny. I don’t think humans are as bad as they are portrayed in this book.
De Middernachtloper by Maren Stoffels – 3,5 stars In four words: fast-paced, thrilling, well-written YA One night a strange woman appears in the bakery from Sunny and her grandmother. She takes place on the cursed chair no one ever dares to sit in. Just like her, Sunny gets the chance to become a “midnight walker”, a messenger between our world and the world of the death. This is the beginning of a thrilling story. There are lots of interesting characters, dead or alive, who aren’t all trustworthy. This fast-paced story is exciting till the end. It was a pity the ending is a bit rushed. I hoped to read in more depth about some characters. Despite the ending I really enjoyed this beautiful, well-written book. This Dutch book is not translated to English (yet), other books from this writer can be read in English
Ink and Bone (The Great Library, #1) by Rachel Caine – reread In four words: fascinating, exciting, bookish fantasy This story is set in a fascinating alternative world. The Library of Alexandria still exists, but owning real books is illegal. The invention of the printing press has been detained and knowledge is strictly guarded. People do have blanks; a kind of e-readers filled only with books authorized by the Great Library. Jess is going to compete for a position as scholar at the library. Yet no one can find out that he comes from a family of book smugglers. Next to our main character, there are many other interesting and diverse characters we slowly get to know. I really enjoyed this reread, but I wasn’t as fond of the book as the first time. I liked all the characters, but none of them was especially memorable. I also wanted the story to elaborate more on the world and its history. That I was less impressed by the book than eight years ago says more about me than about the book. It’s still a well-written story about the love for books set in an amazing world. Trigger warnings for suicide, graphic violence and death of loved ones
I am always looking for recommendations for fantasy books that aren’t set in de US or UK, so I liked Heather’s post Fantasy Around the World at Based on a True Story.
Today’s prompt is ‘Dark side’. Although I don’t like horror, I do appreciate a good dark fantasy. What’s so appealing about the dark side of fantasy? Characters usually are morally complex. They don’t always do the right things and sometimes make bad choices. I think this results in more realistic characters and thought-provoking plots. So this Sunday I will recommend four book series with dark magic.
Nevernight chronicle by Jay Kristoff At the Red Church the deadliest assassins of Itreya are trained. Mia Corvere becomes one of them. Not only is she trained in fighting, poisons, manipulation and thievery, she also has a secret power: a mysterious cat-like shadow that feeds on her fears. Mia is one of my favourite morally grey characters: a cunning murderer, but also very determined and loyal.
The Poppy War series by R.F. Kuang The Poppy War is one of the darkest fantasy books I’ve read so far. It’s a military fantasy based on Chinese history. It becomes very dark when the characters have to fight in a horrific war. Rin’s shamanic powers are dangerous, but they may be the only way to save her people.
The Magister Trilogy by C.S. Friedman The intriguing Magisters are powerful and immortal, but at the sacrifice of human lives. This trilogy has a fascinating magic system and multiple interesting female characters. I especially liked the fearless Kamala, the first known female magister.
The Bone Witch Trilogy by Rin Chupeco A Bard encounters a seventeen year-old girl who has the power to kill monsters. It’s Tea, an exiled bone witch. In this trilogy she tells her fascinating story. As a young girl Tea unintentionally raises her brother from his grave. She’s taken to another country to learn to control her necromantic powers. I like how we keep switching between past and present and slowly find out what happened.
At the end of April my boyfriend and I went to Scotland to hike the West Highland Way. This is a long distance route of 96 miles/156 kilometres from Milngavie to Fort William. In 8 days we walked along beautiful lochs, through vast moorlands and climbed a couple of steep mountains. It was no easy route, especially the second and third day were particularly challenging, but it was an amazing experience! We were very lucky with the weather. Having almost no rain in Scotland for more than a week is probably quite rare. Along the route we found a couple of beautiful camping spots and met many nice people.
After our hike we spend a few days in Edinburgh. There we visited a couple of museums and bookshops. I especially loved the National Museum Scotland. It has a huge collection covering history, animals, science and culture. I could have stayed days in this museum! At Transreal Fiction, a small bookshop specialized in fantasy and science fiction, I bought The Library of the Dead. I just finished it (and will review it at the end of the month). We also spend multiple hours at the big Blackwell’s Bookshop. I found a book called Undreamed Shores about ‘the hidden heroines of British anthropology’.
I’m just back from Scotland, and later this month I will post about my journey. But first a Wyrd & Wonder themed post. The theme for today’s top five actually is lunar deities. But… I really wanted to post about books with lunar magic. Yet that prompt isn’t part of the challenge. Since lunar deities come most close, I chose today for this post.
Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle The magical ability of the characters in this book depends on the moon phase during their birth. Each moon phase produces different kinds of magic. The story is mainly set in and around the Aldryn College for Lunar Magics. Emory is a healer, but after a terrible incident, her magic does strange things.
Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibañez In this YA fantasy characters have different kinds of magic that come from the night sky. The gift of the main character, Ximena, is weaving moonlight. There’s a Goddess of the Moon in this book, but she doesn’t really play a role in the story.
Within the Heart of Wicked Creatures by Rima Orie In this world inspired by colonial Surinam a child born during the blood moon is cursed. But when Priya arrives at the military school in Kuwatta, her curse becomes her greatest power.
The Killing Moon by N.K. Jemisin The magic system in this intriguing story is integrated in the religion. Priests can use dream magic to heal and soothe people or give them a peaceful death. It’s not directly connected to the moon, but this magic usually is used at night just like lunar magic.
This post is a bit earlier than usual, because next week I’m going to walk the West Highland Way in Scotland! So this month I read some books about walking and a couple of novels set in Scotland. Especially the fantasy duology I read last week was unexpectedly good. As always, below the mini-reviews of the books I read.
Books I Read
The Salt Path by Raynor Winn – 3 stars In four words: engaging, hopeful, repetitious, hike This is a memoir, but the truthfulness of the book is a point of discussion. Either fact or fiction, it’s the story of two people who have lost everything: their money, their home and a future together. Out of desperation they decide to walk the South West Coast Path. I like how this book isn’t just about hiking. It’s about trying not to lose hope while feeling quite hopeless, about being homeless, about perseverance, and about the beauty of nature. The writing was a demerit for me. The story is a bit monotonous and repetitive. But it had enough interesting themes to keep me engaged.
Wanderlust: A History of Walking by Rebecca Solnit – 4 stars In four words: thoughtful, philosophical, meandering, fascinating This book is about walking in the broadest sense of the word. Its cultural history, the link to religion, literature about walking and many more aspects are discussed, alternated with personal reflections from the writer. I appreciated the thoroughness of the book, but I liked some parts more than others. I especially loved the reflections on the connection between thinking and walking, and the chapter about walking in the 18th century. The focus is mostly on the US, the UK and France. Although a bit limited, the walking culture in these countries is well-researched. Especially the writing style made this an enjoyable and mind-provoking read. It perfectly fits the topic: meandering with thoughtful insights, striking metaphors and beautiful quotes along the way.
The King’s Witches by Kate Foster – 4 stars In four words: historical, shocking, compelling, well-researched Of course I knew about witch hunts and witch trials. But while reading I still was shocked that this really happened. Innocent women accused of witchcraft did dubious confessions to stop being tortured. People did not only believe them, but actually feared these women. The Danish princess Anna is to wed King James VI, who strongly believes he is a victim of witchcraft. Anna’s lady’s maid Kirsten doesn’t believe in witches, but she does have a secret. Than there’s Jura practises healing charms, not realizing the danger of being seen as a witch. The characters didn’t immediately win me over. And yet in the end the three perspectives together tell a compelling story. Trigger warnings for torture and sexual assault
Anatomy: A Love Story (The Anatomy Duology, #1) by Dana Schwartz – 3,5 stars In four words: well-researched, fast-paced, gothic mystery Hazel wants to become a surgeon, but this seems impossible for a lady in 1817. Through medical textbooks, cross-dressing and grave-robbing she still hopes to pass the medical exam. Hazel is a determined, bold and a bit of naive young woman who is easy to like. Despite what the title suggests, this is not a romance. The story is rather about Hazel’s passion for medicine. Although more of a subplot, there is some sweet romance. The romantical parts felt truly YA, and younger readers than me will probably really love it. A small demerit was the rushed ending. But overall I enjoyed reading this book and appreciated the many interesting historical details. Trigger warnings for gore and dismemberment
Like a Charm (Like a Charm, #1) by Elle McNicoll – 4,5 stars In four words: magical, exciting, refreshing, encouraging I picked this up because I was looking for a middle grade book set in Scotland. The story exceeded all my expectations. Our main character Ramya hates school, because her parents and most of her teachers can’t see past the fact that she has dyspraxia. This is a developmental coordination disorder the writer has herself. It’s important to see more diverse book characters, especially because dyspraxia is quite unknown. I love how this story gives the message that people shouldn’t be defined by the “label” they were given. Ramya may struggle with her dyspraxia, but she can do so much more. After her grandfather dies, she learns that she has a special gift: she can see magical creatures. Ramya discovers that Edinburgh has all kinds of fascinating creatures that others can’t see. I liked how the writer re-imagined famous magical creatures like vampires and sirens. This is an easy read with great characters and an amazing setting.
Like a Curse (Like a Charm, #2) by Elle McNicoll – 4,5 stars In four words: mysterious, exciting, satisfying conclusion This sequel really is a great addition to the story. There are even more mysteries and secrets than in the first part. Ramya’s family seems to think that keeping her in the dark is the best way to protect her. To find answers, Ramya is far more reckless than is wisely. Although I didn’t always agree with her actions, I think Ramya is a very well-written and realistic character. She makes mistakes in this book, and actually learns from them. I loved to see her grow as character. We also learn more about Ramya’s family and some loose ends from the first book are tied up. This felt like a very satisfying conclusion of the story.
P.S. I will take part in Wyrd & Wonder, but may start a bit later.
On Earth Day we celebrate our planet. Humans depend on nature, but we don’t always take good care for it. Today is a great day to do something to improve the environment. This can take many different forms. Gardening is a small way, but no less important, to care for our planet. I love to sow all kinds of plants for our small garden. Currently I’m growing, among other plants, tomato, basil and mint. Even if you don’t have a garden, you can keep some herbs or flowers on your balcony or maybe there’s a community garden. For some green inspiration I listed my favourite fictional gardens.
The Secret Garden I recently reread The Secret Garden. It’s a perfect spring read that celebrates nature. The garden isn’t only a beautiful setting, but also plays an important role in the development of the characters.
The Garden of Delights The garden in this book has magical flowers. Citizens can ask the Caretaker for a “Delight”. He will find them the right flower which will give them temporary magical abilities. Due to the Garden of Delights all citizen can have a little magic to make their life easier or just more fun.
The Queen’s garden in Wonderland It’s a long time ago since I read Alice in Wonderland. Although I love the vibes, I remember finding the book a bit underwhelming. But for some reason I have always find the idea of painting roses red strangely fascinating.
Briseis’s garden in New York Briseis has the amazing ability to grow plants by touching them. She inherits a house with an old-school apothecary and walled garden filled with deadly plants. There she hopes to learn more about her magical gift and her ancestors.
Time for tales and tea 