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Cursebreaker’s Breakfast: An event with Brigid Kemmerer

On Tuesday 9th October, I travelled from Glasgow down to London for my first exclusive blogger event. The Cursebreaker’s breakfast with Brigid Kemmerer and Bloomsbury YA.

It’s very unlike me to do something so “spontaneous” but after reading and loving ‘A Curse so Dark and Lonely’ earlier this year and the ‘A Heart so Fierce and Broken’ proof during Summer I knew I had to go when I received the invite.

I was accompanied by Beth from BooksNest. You may know her; she really likes yellow, sunflowers and nutella.

We attended the event first thing in the morning on October 9th and were immediately greeted with the most incredible room that looked like it was taken straight from the pages of Alice and Wonderland with it’s forest-y walls, mismatched and brightly coloured furniture and beautiful bar. It’s whimsical aesthetic completely transported you to a magical land. I was calling it an elegant rendition of the Mad Hatter’s tea party!

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5 Tips from 5 years on Bookstagram

I’ve officially been part of the bookstagram community for 5 years. In that time I’ve made wonderful friends, got a job that I love, and gained a following of over 65,000 followers.

I’ve compiled a short list of 5 tips from 5 years on Bookstagram that will hopefully help you grow your account or help you start one!

You don’t need a DSLR

Believe it or not, having a pricey camera is not essential in order to start a bookstagram. Quality is important, and yeah, having a DSLR will give you really lovely, crisp photos. But so do cameras on your smartphone. These days, phone cameras are so advanced they take photos that are just as nice as ones a DSLR would produce.

I personally started using a DSLR right from the get go on my account, but sometimes the thought of pulling it and it’s accompanying lenses out is exhausting and I will use my phone instead knowing I will get a similar quality. Your phone is absolutely capable of producing stunning pictures for your account, so don’t feel like you need a fancy camera to get more followers. I can promise you won’t see much of a difference in follower count because at the end of the day they are following you for your style of photos, and to hear about the books you’ve read.

Tip: If you take a picture on your phone and you’re not sure about it, edit it first before trashing it. Don’t forget, a simple filter can change the feel of your picture completely.

 

 

Themes are great, but they’re not everything

This one may shock you, but themes aren’t everything. Themes will absolutely make your account look cohesive and beautiful, and it will definitely bring you followers. But do not limit yourself. If you restrict yourself to a theme you will lose your excitement quickly, so don’t be afraid to change things up if you’re in a rut.

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26 Things I’ve learned in 26 years

Today is my 26th birthday, and so I’ve compiled a list of 26 things I’ve learned in my 26 years of existence on this earth. I wouldn’t exactly call these lessons wisdom, some may be a little silly, but some are also things I still remind myself of today.

Quick shoutout to my lovely friend Beth who inspired me to do this post. You can find hers here!

  1. Focus on the now and stop panicking about the future. It’s okay that you don’t have your life planned out. You will grow as a person and you’ll discover what you want to do.
  2. Don’t waste your time on toxic friendships.
  3. Embrace your style, everyone’s different. As long as you’re comfortable with your style, that’s what matters.
  4. Don’t allow others to make you feel insignificant or treat you like an idiot. You’re not one, and they’re not worth your time.
  5. See that idea you just had? Write it down, or you’ll forget it in ten minutes. You know you will.
  6. Your opinion matters. Shocking, I know!
  7. Everything happens for a reason.
  8. Do something crazy for yourself once and a while, you deserve it.
  9. Treat others the way you want to be treated.
  10. Don’t feel guilty for having a self care day. You don’t always have to be doing something productive.
  11. You and your friends don’t always have to agree on things, it’s perfectly normal. Embrace your own opinions.
  12. Breakfast is important, make time for it or you’ll regret it later.
  13. Always keep some of your savings aside for emergencies.
  14. It’s okay to say no. You don’t have to please everyone.
  15. You absolutely have the ability to fulfil your dreams. Just get off your ass and work to the best of your ability.
  16. Surround yourself with people who truly care about you, value your friendship and help you grow into the person you’re proud to be.
  17. Enjoy the little things, no matter how little.
  18. Be patient, things don’t happen overnight.
  19. Your opinions will grow and change as you do, and that’s okay.
  20. If in doubt, don’t! Trust your gut.
  21. Practice really does make perfect (or close to it), but keep going because there’s always room for improving your skills.
  22. If you’re not going to use/read it, don’t buy it. Save your money.
  23. Be more spontaneous, make as many memories as you can in the process.
  24. Travel whenever you get the opportunity, the world is literally at your feet.
  25. Don’t be overly critical or embarrassed to show your work. Show it to others, it will help you improve!
  26. It’s okay to put your happiness first, you’re taking care of yourself.

☾

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Book Tag | The Guilty Reader

I was tagged to do the Guilty Reader book tag (a long time ago now, sorry!) by the lovely Amy over at AmyJaneAlice! And, I’m not going to lie. I’m a bit reluctant to do this one, because it’s about to make me look like a very guilty reader.

Have you ever re-gifted a book that you’ve been given?

I have, but hear me out. I didn’t re-gift the book because I wasn’t interested in it. Unfortunately, I already had it and had read it so my copy was well loved you could say and I had no need for the second copy.

Have you ever said you’ve read a book when you haven’t?

Wow, this is a throwback. The one and only time I’ve ever done this is when I was in Primary school and I told my friends that I had read the Harry Potter books (the ones that were available at the time). I told them I had because I felt excluded when they were all talking about it. I went through a long phase between the ages of 8 – 15 where I just didn’t read so I never felt compelled to pick them up.

My best friend eventually found out I lied when we were in high school, and I’ve yet to live it down. Because, let’s be honest, it’s almost more rare to find someone who hasn’t read the Harry Potter books these days. And I promise guys, I’ll get to them!

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Book Review | ‘Escaping From Houdini’ by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Escaping From Houdini
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publisher: Little Brown / Jimmy Patterson
Release Date: 18th September 2018
Genre/Age Group: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery
Format: Hardcover (437 pages)
Source:  ARC / Advanced Proof (Sent by publisher in exchange for an honest review)
Rating: 

(Disclaimer: This review is spoiler free. However, may contain spoilers for previous books in the series!)

 

Synopsis

“Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her partner-in-crime-investigation, Thomas Cresswell, are en route to New York to help solve another blood-soaked mystery. Embarking on a week-long voyage across the Atlantic on the opulent RMS Etruria, they’re delighted to discover a traveling troupe of circus performers, fortune tellers, and a certain charismatic young escape artist entertaining the first-class passengers nightly.

But then, privileged young women begin to go missing without explanation, and a series of brutal slayings shocks the entire ship. The strange and disturbing influence of the Moonlight Carnival pervades the decks as the murders grow ever more freakish, with nowhere to escape except the unforgiving sea. It’s up to Audrey Rose and Thomas to piece together the gruesome investigation as even more passengers die before reaching their destination. But with clues to the next victim pointing to someone she loves, can Audrey Rose unravel the mystery before the killer’s horrifying finale?”

Review

We have joined Audrey Rose Wadsworth and Thomas Cresswell as they investigate and solve the Ripper murders, and as they discover the secrets of a Romanian forensic school said to be haunted by Vlad Dracula. Now we’re following them as they cross the Atlantic to the United States on the RMS Etruria where a number of passengers are being murdered one by one. Audrey Rose and Thomas, now open with their feelings for one another, find themselves stuck on a ship in the middle of the Atlantic with a murderer who is using morbid and magical acts to kill their victims. Whilst Audrey and Thomas are aboard the RMS Etruria, they meet the Moonlight Carnival, a group of performers hired to entertain the passengers throughout the journey. But, when the mysterious ringmaster Mephistopheles offers his assistance, Audrey Rose and Thomas’ companionship is put to the test.

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Book Review| ‘Hunting Prince Dracula’ by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Hunting Prince Dracula
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publisher: Little Brown / Jimmy Patterson
Release Date: 19th September 2017
Genre/Age Group: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery
Format: Hardcover (435 pages)
Source: Purchased
Rating: 

(Disclaimer: This review is spoiler free. However, contains spoilers for the first book in the series!)

 

Synopsis

“Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper’s true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe’s best schools of forensic medicine…and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend.

But her life’s dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school’s forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life once again.”

Review

There are very few books in the world I love that much, that I actually wish they had hundreds of more pages so the story would just keep going. ‘Hunting Prince Dracula‘ (HPD) is one of those books. This is book two in the ‘Stalking Jack the Ripper‘ (SJTR) series, which you can read my review for here. It picks up a couple of weeks after SJTR ends and begins with Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her ridiculously witty and handsome companion, Thomas Cresswell, heading to a top forensic school in Romania. The school is a magnificent dark castle with secrets of it’s very own. When strange murders start to befall the students and guests of the school, Audrey and Thomas are eager to investigate and find out if it’s really the infamous Vlad Dracula who’s committing these heinous crimes.

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Book Review| ‘Stalking Jack the Ripper’ by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Stalking Jack the Ripper
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publisher: Little Brown / Jimmy Patterson
Release Date: 20th September 2016
Genre/Age Group: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery
Format: Hardcover (416 pages)
Source: Purchased
Rating: 

(This review is spoiler free!)

 

Synopsis

“Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord’s daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father’s wishes and society’s expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle’s laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.”

Review

‘Stalking Jack the Ripper‘ was always one of those books that I had a feeling I’d enjoy. Nevertheless, it sat on my TBR shelf for almost a year before I finally decided to pick it up. And boy, I regretted waiting so long to dive into this one. This book is a fantastic historical fiction, mystery and thriller that will have your jaw dropping and chills crawling up your spine. It’s set in nineteenth century London, and as you can probably tell from the title, the infamous case of Jack the Ripper is worked into the gripping plot line. It really made the story feel more realistic and terrifying. It’s not constant blood and gore though. Our protagonist is Audrey Rose Wadsworth who is a high society lady, so there are definitely some lovely tea parties in there for us readers to enjoy (and drool over the foods described). But, Audrey has a secret. She has a passion for forensic science, which definitely isn’t a profession nineteenth century women would find themselves in. Luckily, her forensic scientist Uncle allows her to study under him.

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Book Review | ‘Serpent & Dove’ by Shelby Mahurin

Title: Serpent & Dove
Author: Shelby Mahurin
Publisher: Harper 360
Release Date: 3rd September 2019
Genre / Age Group: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Format: Hardcover (528 pages)
Source: ARC / Advanced Proof
Rating: 

(This review is spoiler free!)

 

Synopsis

“Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.

Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou’s, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony.

The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou’s most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made.”

Review

‘Serpent & Dove‘ by Shelby Mahurin is one of the most anticipated books of 2019, and for very good reason. This without a doubt one of the best books I’ve read this year, it completely took me by surprise. It follows Lou, a witch who has fled her coven to the the city of Cesarine. However, she’s not safe in a city filled with Chasseurs; men sworn to the church to hunt and burn Witches at the stake.

Reid Diggory is one of the finest Chasseurs in the city, until one day an ‘unfortunate incident’ leads him and Lou into the most unthinkable situation for them both. Marriage. Lou has no choice to keep her true nature hidden from her new husband, however this becomes harder for her when true feelings become involved.

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Five Books Being Released During the Virgo Season

Virgo season is here!

There are many reasons that the Virgo season is my favourite. However, I may be slightly bias, I’m a proud Virgo myself.

Not only is my birthday within the Virgo season, but I also celebrate my bookstagram anniversary (@FictionTea) which will be five years this year. It’s truly insane how fast time passes when you’re talking about books. But, this year there’s another reason I’m excited for Virgo season, the books that are releasing within the next couple of weeks are insane!

It’s going to be such a good month for book releases, and today I’m sharing my top five (in order of release) that I’m personally excited for.

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Book Review | ‘My Dark Vanessa’ by Kate Elizabeth Russell

Title: My Dark Vanessa
Author: Kate Elizabeth Russell
Publisher: 4th Estate
Release Date: January 23rd, 2020
Genre/Age Group:  Psychological Fiction, Contemporary, Adult Fiction
Format:  Paperback (400 pages)
Source: Proof copy (Sent by publisher in exchange for an honest review)
Rating:

(This review is spoiler free)

 

Synopsis

“Vanessa Wye was fifteen years old when she first had sex with her English teacher.

She is now thirty-two and the teacher, Jacob Strane, has just been accused of sexual abuse by another former student of his. Vanessa is horrified by this news, because she is quite certain that the relationship she had with Strane wasn’t abuse. It was love. She’s sure of that. But now, in 2017, in the midst of allegations against powerful men, she is being asked to redefine the great love story of her life – her great sexual awakening – as rape.

Nuanced, uncomfortable, bold and powerful, and as riveting as it is disturbing, My Dark Vanessa goes straight to the heart of some of the most complex issues our age is grappling with.”

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