Keeping Track of the Books I Want to Read!

I recently discovered Book Depository's wishlist feature. I love Book Depository, they sell books typically at a discounted price and they provide free delivery, perfect for when you want to buy one or two books at a time. 

Book Depository is also a great place for getting books as presents. I was planning on asking for some books for my birthday and rather than creating a list, I have started adding books that I would like to my Book Depository wishlist. This means that I can send a link to my friends and family members and they can choose whatever book/s they would like. 

Mera: Tidebreaker Graphic Novel Book Review

Pokemon Clothing & Accessories Wishlist

Lately I have been wanting to get some new clothes for my wardrobe, including ones based on some of my favourite fandoms such as Pokemon. I had a look on Amazon and found several items that I find super cute and would love to add to my collection.

Socks

Who doesn't love a pair of socks? I wear trainer socks around the house and to sleep in. These Pokemon socks are absolutely adorable and I would love to have them in with my supply of socks.

Gloves

These gloves are so cute! They are fingerless so you can still use your phone etc. but they will also keep the rest of your hands and arms warm at the same time. 

Purses

I found two Eevee purses! For those who love pink, this pink Eevee purse is perfect. It is so cute! The comic strip themed Eevee purse is also sweet and I feel that both of these would reach a wide audience. However, if I had to choose one, it would definitely be the pink purse!

Current Reading, Gaming & Anime Plans!

Hi everyone! I wanted to do an update post with my current reading, gaming and anime plans. Let me know if you have read, played or watched any of these!

Reading

I am currently listening to the audiobook for Skyward by Brandon Sanderson. This is Brandon Sanderson's latest release. It is a YA sci-fi, following Spencer, a girl whose father was in the flight squad that protect the people from the enemy known as the Krell. He never returned from a mission and people deemed him a coward, leaving a stain on the family. Spencer wants to become a pilot like her father and at the beginning of the book she is to take the test for flight school. I'm about a quarter of the way through the audiobook. It is narrated well by Sophie Aldred. The story so far is interesting and very character-driven.



I was kindly sent a copy of Mera: Tidebreaker to review. It is written by Danielle Paige and illustrated by Stephen Byrne. I read Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige and quite enjoyed it. This graphic novel is a retelling of the DC ocean Princess, Mera which is so cool!

Bonus free book: Audible Spring Sale!

     

Amazon are currently running a Spring sale from 8th-15th April. This sale includes an offer for UK customers. As someone who loves audiobooks, this is a great offer. I tend to listen to a lot of audiobooks through Audible as they have a much larger selection of audiobooks than my local library does. There are also some audiobooks that are exclusive to Audible. A free trial of Audible is a great way to get a free audiobook, and now thanks to this offer, two free books. You can cancel the membership at any time so if you do not wish to pay anything, just cancel before the free trial ends.

The deal:

Audible UK are providing an additional free audiobook with a free trial of Audible from 8th-15th April. This means that instead of getting one free audiobook, you will get two whilst this deal lasts. Audible US already offer two free audiobooks with a free trial, so if you live in the United States, you can get your free two books here at any time.


Why I love audiobooks: 

I have been listening to audiobooks a lot recently. I am currently listening to the audiobook for Skyward by Brandon Sanderson. I typically listen to audiobooks on a faster speed that is suitable for me. I find them a great way to read a book whilst doing other things, such as blogging, travelling, cleaning and sewing.

Some of the audiobooks that I have listened to:

Do you DNF? Opinions on the movement of not finishing books

DNFing appears to be a relatively new term to describe when someone does not finish reading a particular book. It seems to have become more popular in the recent present. I wanted to look at the arguments for and against DNFing, so I asked people on Twitter for their views. Here is what they said:

What I have been reading, playing, watching & making

I haven’t been very well lately but I have managed to do some things which I wanted to talk about here!

Reading 

This week has been an odd week for reading. I finished a graphic novel I was sent to review, Pilu of the Woods. I also DNFed more than one book due to issues I had with the writing or character development. I feel like there is a mixed response to not finishing books but in my opinion if you are not enjoying a book there is no point in wasting your time just to say that you have completed it when you could be doing something else that you enjoy.

I currently have three books on the go. I have been reading Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson between review copies but yesterday I did not feel like reading a murder mystery so I picked up The Surface Breaks by Louise O' Neill. This is a little mermaid retelling and I instantly fell in love with it. The Little Mermaid was one of my favourite TV series' when I was younger and you can definitely see its influence in this book. However, in this book, the author also adds an additional dimension, a mystery that makes me want to keep reading; the main character's mother left to go to the world above. She is rarely mentioned and people say that she is dead but her daughter wishes to know the truth and intends to ascend to the surface in order to discover it.

I have recently picked up sewing again (more about that below) so I thought why don't I pick up an audiobook to listen to whilst I sew? I found Zenith by Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cummings, a book that has been on my shelf for a while. I have heard mixed reviews of this book but I have got to say that so far I am really enjoying it. I would really recommend the audiobook, I only had minimal issues with the way some things were said but other than that I have found the audiobook a great route to consume this book. Zenith follows a crew of three females, they are space pirates, each seemingly running away from their pasts. The main character, Andy is really fascinating. There is a *potential* love interest and I can't help but want to see what happens. Andy has an emotional background and she is offered a deal which relates to her past. This book so far has been fast paced and engaging and I can't wait to find out what happens next.

Pilu of the Woods Book Review

The Rules of Rebellion by Amity Hope Book Review

Three games that I am excited for in 2019

I feel like this year is a great year for games, maybe because all of my favourite game series' are seeing new entries this year! Here are the three games that I am most anticipating in 2019. (Minus Kingdom Hearts 3 which has already been released and I am currently playing)

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

My first introduction to the Fire Emblem series was Fire Emblem: Awakening. It felt fresh, it was fun, it had a great storyline and it sucked me in. The Fire Emblem games feature strong characters and you can build relationships between characters of your choice. This is mainly done through putting two characters to work together on the map. The gameplay features maps that progress the story. On each map, you have to use your characters strategically to defeat the enemies and reach your goal. Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the latest installment in the Fire Emblem series and it is the first main game to be released on Nintendo Switch. It looks amazing as always. In the build-up to the release of Three Houses, I am going to be restarting/ aiming to complete the other Fire Emblem games I own. These are: Fire Emblem: Conquest, Birthright and Revelation, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia and Fire Emblem: Warriors. Fire Emblem: Warriors is a blend of Fire Emblem and another series called Dynasty Warriors. Fire Emblem: Warriors features stories relating to characters throughout Fire Emblem history. However, instead of having a map and moving each character, you switch between characters in a first-person perspective and fight masses of enemies with each attack. I was surprised by how much I loved this game.