Book Review: The Legend of Podkin One-Ear (The Five Realms #1) by Kieran Larwood

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Title: The Legend of Podkin One-Ear

Author: Kieran Larwood

Genre: Childrens Fantasy

Buy links: Book Depository - Waterstones - Amazon.co.uk - Amazon.com

The Witcher, The Name of the Wind and Game of Thrones meets rabbits.

In this book, the world is populated by rabbits who live in warrens with one person leading as the 'chieftain'. However, their peace is interrupted by an impossible enemy. We follow Podkin and his brother and sister through a tough journey filled with grief, hardships and love. 

This book is marketed as a children's book but let me tell you, I cried multiple times. This book represents grief, fear and hope so well. There are multiple quotes that had me sobbing. 

The characters felt so realistic and well-developed. The plot was incredible and I couldn't tell where it was going or what would happen. I loved how the book had little interludes where the person telling the story was asked questions and we found out more about the world and the lore. 

The illustrations sneaked in throughout were beautifully done, full of character and added to the story so well.

This book was such a lovely quick read. There was so much action which catapulted me through the story. There were paragraphs of description where needed which fleshed out the scenes but not too much as to lose my interest. There was always something happening or a goal to get to.

I absolutely loved this book. It was a perfect fantasy book filled with emotion and I can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series! I want everyone to read this book. If you like fantasy, read this!

My rating: 5/5 stars

Thank you to my Ko-Fi members!~

Jill Horton- check out her book! Amazon.com - Amazon.co.uk

Chronic Illness Guest Post by Tylluan Penry

I have lived with chronic illness for years now, but still it is not my friend. We tolerate each other and that is all. People often claim that all we need to defeat Covid is a ‘strong immune system.’ I could weep for them, I really could, because my problem is just that, I have a very strong immune system, it is doing its best to kill me. And the best treatment on offer is to suppress it, using the sort of drugs used to prevent transplants from being rejected.

The most interesting theory I can come up with for this state of affairs, is that stress has a lot to answer for. Almost everyone in a similar situation to myself has cited stress as a possible cause for the immune system going into overdrive. I can’t prove it of course and at the moment health professionals aren’t interested in exploring this idea. I’ve even suggested they should bottle whatever is wrong with me as a sort of ‘cure-all’ but I don’t think they will take me up on that.

There were clues that something was amiss long ago, but the most devastating and unexpected symptom was losing my sight. I’d driven about 50 miles to Hay on Wye, and suddenly, in a bookshop, I thought it looked very dark. It turned out that a wide horizontal band of vision in my left eye had disappeared. Just like that. Over the next few days it got worse and worse. It eventually returned, but with some colours, especially blue and yellow, so bleached that they were meaningless. I’d had optic neuritis, and I had more bouts of it in the ensuing years, each leaving its own, dirty, frightening mark.

Book Review: Kodi by Jared Cullum

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Title: Kodi

Author: Jared Cullum

Genre: Graphic Novel

Buy links: Book Depository - Waterstones - Amazon.co.uk - Amazon.com

Kodi is a graphic novel about a girl who finds a bear and it is a story of love and friendship and just how far will one being go to find their friend?

Kodi is an absolutely adorable book. The story is told in beautiful watercolour pictures and the emotions of the characters really bounce off the page. It felt like I was reading a script for a children's animated film, reminiscent of some Disney classics. I laughed and I felt sad. This book made me feel so many emotions. 

I loved the plot of the story, as well as the characters who felt well-developed and realistic. The story had multiple levels to it and I feel that the author did this really well.

The only issue I had with this book is that I wish that we had been given more insight into Katya's home life and family situation. It is hinted at within the book but we are never really told what has happened. 

I would highly recommend everyone to read this book! It's a short read but one that will leave your heart feeling warmed and your mind grateful that you read it.

My rating: 5/5 stars

Thank you to my Ko-Fi members!~

Jill Horton- check out her book! Amazon.com - Amazon.co.uk

Book Spotlight: The Fast Little Fox (The Fast Little Fox & Friends book #1) by Jill Horton

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Title: The Fast Little Fox (The Fast Little Fox & Friends book #1)

Author: Jill Horton

Genre: Children's picture book

Available on: Amazon.co.uk - Amazon.com in paperback and on kindle (Also free on Kindle Unlimited!)

Add it on Goodreads

Synopsis:

Have you ever wanted to go on an adventure through the forest? Follow the fast little fox as he discovers more than he can imagine along the way! What will he learn? Can he make it home in time for supper? Read on to find out!

Editorial review:

"Jill Horton's picture book story, The Fast Little Fox, is a sweet, charming story about a little fox with a little too much energy. Yes, Freddy has a lot to learn, and this story leads young readers through Freddy's riotous romp of discovery. The language is simple to appeal to young readers and the illustrations are spectacular and certainly help move the story along. Beautifully told and presented." -- Readers' Favorite

Author bio

Learn more about the author here: https://www.jill-horton.com

Jill is currently working on book 2 in the series, so stay tuned for updates on her social media/website!

You can also find Jill on:

Pinterest

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn

Ko-fi

Books on my Wish List: January 2022

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I love books. Reading allows me to escape from physical and mental symptoms and it makes me feel happy and relaxed. As people recommend me books, I am adding them to my wish list! I have set my Goodreads goal at 200 this year. I am eager to read as much as I can this year. I am getting books from Scribd and my library and using the books on my shelves too. But there are some books that I either can't get from Scribd or my library, or I would just really like a physical copy of. I am really preferring to read books physically, especially because I seem prone to migraines these days. I am listening to biology-based audiobooks though! So here are some of the books that are currently on my wish list:

The Afterlife of Holly Chase

The Secret Dragon

The Mapmakers