Review: Winter by Marissa Meyer

Winter by Marissa Meyer (review copy) - WARNING! I cannot review this book without spoiling the others in the series. Read no further if you're planning on reading this series and don't want it spoilt for you.

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend—the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be and she’s been undermining her stepmother’s wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters? From Goodreads.

ETA: Since reading the book, I have discovered that Cinder is problematic when it comes to setting and the lack of or incorrect Asian culture through reading other posts, and therefore - although I haven't changed my review for the purposes of transparency - I can no longer recommend this book or series.

Do read these posts for more:
Review of Cinder on The Book Smugglers.
Review of Cinder on A Novel Toybox.
Posts reblogged on Fuck Your Racism.

Continue reading Review: Winter by Marissa Meyer

Is There Etiquette for Book Signings?

I've been thinking about book signings recently, as there are a few book events coming up that I'm going to, and because of reading Gracie of Almost Amazing Grace's post on book signings and signed books. Specifically, I've been wondering if there's some kind of etiquette when it comes to signing.

I've never really thought about if there's a problem bringing proofs to events to be signed. But I went to an event last year, and the author made it very clear that she wasn't impressed that I had brought proof copies to be signed, and not finished copies. It had never occured to me previously that authors might not like this.

I can understand how it might seem; they have written books they hope people will buy, and I've arrived with books I've not paid for, wanting them signed. But at the same time, I simply cannot afford to buy finished copies of every single book I've enjoyed. Yet, when I really love a book, I rave about it to everyone who'll listen, and, although it's nor part of being a book blogger, I also hand sell it at work. But still, it made me really nervous about the upcoming events where I have proofs of the books by the authors. I'm having financial difficulties right now, and I can't buy the finished copies before the event. Will I be insulting the authors if I ask to have the proofs signed?

Continue reading Is There Etiquette for Book Signings?

Review: Everyday Sexism by Laura Bates

Everyday Sexism by Laura Bates (bought) - Award-winning campaigner, groundbreaking writer and founder of the Everyday Sexism Project, Laura Bates writes a pioneering examination of sexism in modern society. From the blurb.

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The Importance Of #OwnVoices: An Interview With Corinne Duyvis

This was originally posted on The Olive Fox before the online magazine closed.

The Young Adult book community has been calling out for more diverse representation for years and, slowly but surely with sites like Diveristy in YA, Disability in Kidlit, Gay YA (now called YA Pride), and LGBTQ Reads, we have seen an increase in the number of marginalised groups with starring roles in the pages of YA. There’s still a long way to go, but progress is definitely being made.

It’s not just representation we’re after, but accurate representation meaning that authors writing about circumstances outside of their own experiences have to do their homework to make sure there are no glaring stereotypes or complete misconceptions. Some of my favourite diverse YA novels have been by authors who have done a ton of research to make sure they have written the people their characters are representing as accurate as they’re able. Unfortunately, though, authors can sometimes miss the mark a little. However, there is a sure-fire way to guarantee that the book you’re reading has the most accurate representation possible; read an #OwnVoices novel.

Continue reading The Importance Of #OwnVoices: An Interview With Corinne Duyvis

#ThisIsWhoIAm - My Time Capsule

To celebrate the launch of Harriet Reuter Hapgood’s debut novel The Square Root of Summer, published 5th May, MyKindaBook have very special global campaign - #ThisIsWhoIAm.

Inspired by the time capsule that Gottie and Thomas create in the book, MyKindaBook have asked us to think about what we would put in a time capsule that represents us, at this very moment in time. We were told to think about our favourite photographs, songs, books, films, memories – it could be absolutely anything, as long as it’s personal to us. Something to say This Is Who YOU Are, creating a snapshot in time to look back on and remember who we were the summer of 2016.

I thought this was such a fantastic idea! A fun and creative but also a personal post that allows us to get to know each other a little bit better. And I absolutely loved The Square Root of Summer, so I was all in.

Continue reading #ThisIsWhoIAm - My Time Capsule

Review: Fairest by Marissa Meyer

Fairest by Marissa Meyer (bought) - WARNING! I cannot review this book without spoiling the others in the series. Read no further if you're planning on reading this series and don't want it spoilt for you.

Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her glamour to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story—a story that has never been told... until now. From Goodreads.

ETA: Since reading the book, I have discovered that Cinder is problematic when it comes to setting and the lack of or incorrect Asian culture through reading other posts, and therefore - although I haven't changed my review for the purposes of transparency - I can no longer recommend this book or series.

Do read these posts for more:
Review of Cinder on The Book Smugglers.
Review of Cinder on A Novel Toybox.
Posts reblogged on Fuck Your Racism.

Continue reading Review: Fairest by Marissa Meyer

April's Monthly Recap

It's May already! How did that happen? Here's what happened at Once Upon a Bookcase in April.

Continue reading April's Monthly Recap

Retellings Reading Challenge 2016: Link to Your May Reviews

Welcome to the Retellings Reading Challenge 2016 May link-up! How are you getting on with the challenge? I'm still chugging on quite steadily, so I'm happy with my progress.

Please post the links to your reviews from May in the link-up below. But before you do...

• You must sign up for the challenge before you post links to your reviews. Links from people who haven't signed up will be deleted. Sign up for the challenge here.
• Make sure your links go directly to your reviews, not to your blog/Goodreads page/youtube channel. Those of the latter will be deleted.
• To count, books must be read in May. Only books read at the very end of April will count for May if posted at the very beginning of the month. Otherwise they won't count.
• When you link to your reviews, in the "Name" field, please include the title of the book, the author, and your blog name. For example: Wicked by Gregory Maguire @ Once Upon a Bookcase.

Continue reading Retellings Reading Challenge 2016: Link to Your May Reviews