Thursday 26 December 2019

Harry Potter: A Journey through... series (Review)



"The history of magic is as long as time and as wide as the world. In every culture, in every age, in every place and, probably, in every heart, there is magic."

In the summer of 2019 Pottermore Publishing released four non-fiction short-form eBooks featuring content which is adapted from the audiobook Harry Potter: A History of Magic – inspired by the British Library exhibition of the same name.
The four ebooks explored the real History of Magic through the Hogwarts classes. They are done really well and it's a good source for someone to learn a little bit about the History of Magic. 
So, Harry Potter: A Journey through... series was created.


Harry Potter: A journey Through Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts (Book 1)

This one focuses on Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts and how they relate to  the colourful characters and curious incidents of the real History of Magic. Spells and charms have captured the imagination for hundreds of years. Warding off evil is also something that has concerned people throughout history. From werewolves to all manner of snakes in the wizarding world, you’d learn how to face a number of strange and frightening forces in Defence Against the Dark Arts classes. It has interesting information and some behind the scenes of the books. I liked it and I was glad there were more of it. 

Rating: 4 Stars


Harry Potter: A Journey Through Potions and Herbology (Book 2)

This one focuses on Potions and Herbology and it's full with interesting facts about them. Potions have been made for thousands of years – associated with bubbling pots and mysterious ingredients, they have been brewed to make medicines, drugs and poisons. Harry Potter became much better at Potions with a little help from the Half-Blood Prince. Plants have also been important components of medicines as much as myth-making and magic. A source of danger as well as a means of overcoming obstacles, Herbology was a subject which had a major bearing on Harry’s key decisions and mistakes in the Wizarding World.

Rating: 4 Stars


Harry Potter: A Journey Through Divination and Astronomy (Book 3)

As the title suggests this is about Divination  and Astronomy.  Prediction and fortune-telling make up the subject of Divination in the real and Wizarding World. From the use of bones and shells thousands of years ago, to peering into teacups in the parlours of Victorian England, for millennia people have strived to see what fate and fortune holds. Trying to read our destinies, the study of the night sky has fascinated people for centuries, from the star atlases of ancient China to the celestial globes of 17th-century Venice. Astronomy holds a special place in the Wizarding World as a source of inspiration and identity for Harry Potter’s life at Hogwarts, and beyond.
This one was the least favorite of mine.

Rating: 4 Stars


Harry Potter : A Journey Through Care of Magical Creatures (Book 4)

This is the last one and focuses on the subject Care of Magical Creatures. It has a lot of information about our favorite magical creatures. Well-known folkloric creatures like giants, dragons and merpeople, and lesser-known beings such as Acromantula and Hippogriffs, all play a key role in Harry Potter’s journey. Nevertheless, it seems part of human nature to want to believe in the unbelievable: from the bestiaries and cabinets of curiosities of the medieval period onwards. We think that truth and myth are easily distinguished today, but magical creatures and the stories around them continue to fascinate us – and they are as central to the Harry Potter stories as Harry, Hermione and Ron.

Rating: 4 Stars


I think that all the ebooks are a very good dose of Harry Potter magic for everyone who misses the Wizarding World.
My favorites were the first two.

Do you know these books?
Have you read them?
If you are a Harry Potter fan (but even if you are not) , I think you should.

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

Wednesday 18 December 2019

End of the Year Book Tag - 2019

Hello everyone!!

Today we are doing something different. We are doing a book tag. It's a tag that I see a lot around the internet and it's the End of The Year Book Tag , which was created by Ariel Bisset
I think I am a little bit late to this but who cares... It's all about having fun and reading of course!!



Let's start with the questions...

Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?

We are in the last days of December and I think it's obvious that I want to finish the books that are on my monthly tbr. However, there is one book that I started way back and I want to try and finish it this year. 
The book in question is  The Writer's Map: An Atlas of Imaginary Lands by Huw Lewis-Jones (Editor) & Philip Pullman (Contributor).

The Writer’s Map is an atlas of the journeys that our most creative storytellers have made throughout their lives. This magnificent collection encompasses not only the maps that appear in their books but also the many maps that have inspired them, the sketches that they used while writing, and others that simply sparked their curiosity.

I started reading this book in May and I think it's time to finish it.


Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

No, I do not have a specific book. Any book will do.


Is there a new release you're still waiting for?

If I have done this tag earlier there would be a couple of new releases that I anticipated, like The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern. As we are now at the end of the year, I am looking forward to the new 2020 releases that are coming.


What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?

The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White is one book that I want to read before the end of the year and I will probably do as I am buddy reading it with the girls from  #booktalkwithwifey


It's a re-imagining of the Arthurian legend, set in the magical world of Camelot.

I do not think I have much time for more.


Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favourite book of the year?

As we are still in the middle of December, you never know what will happen.


Have you already started making reading plans for 2018?

Actually I have started looking into Reading Challenges for 2020. There are a couple interesting ones but I do not know for sure yet. 

That's it for this tag. 
I would love to see your answers to these questions!


See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

Wednesday 11 December 2019

SFF TV or Movie Adaptation News



There are a lot of Science Fiction and Fantasy books that are been adapted into TV series or into films and if you wanted to list them all it would take many pages. Recently I read an article about and I decided to select the ones that I am most interested and excited about.

So, in no particular order here they are...


The Witcher

This is adapted into a Netflix TV Series and it's going to air on December 20. 
It is adapted from  The Witcher Saga by Andrzej Sapkowski, which was originally published in 2008, from Orbit Books.



What it’s about: 
Based on the best-selling fantasy series, The Witcher is an epic tale of fate and family. Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill), a solitary monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts. But when destiny hurtles him toward a powerful sorceress, and a young princess with a dangerous secret, the three must learn to navigate the increasingly volatile Continent together (description from Netflix). The series also stars Anya Chalotra as enigmatic sorceress Yennefer and Freya Allan as pivotal princess Ciri.

Season 2 has already received a green light.


The Witches

It is adapted into a movie and it's going to premiere in October 2020. 
It's adapted from the book The Witches by Roald Dahl, which was originally published in 1983,  by Jonathan Cape

What it’s about:
 “Would you know a real witch if you saw one? They don’t ride on broomsticks. They don’t wear black capes or pointy hats. In fact, they don’t look like witches at all. But one thing is certain: A real witch is the most dangerous of all living creatures. So you’d better learn to know one when you see one! The young hero of this award-winning story learns that lesson in a hurry when he encounters a whole gruesome gang of them. He’ll need all his wits about him to foil their wicked scheme—a dastardly plot to rid the world of children forever!” 

The latest version of the movie will take place in 1960s Alabama rather than 1980s England, and the main character will be a Black American child instead of a white British boy.
The film will be directed by Robert Zemeckis, from a script by Zemeckis and Kenya Barris, and will star Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer, Stanley Tucci, and Chris Rock.


Dune

This is adapted into a film and it's going to premiere in December 2020.
It's adapted from  Dune by Frank Herbert, which was originally published in 1965, by Chilton Books


What it’s about: 
Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides, whose family accepts stewardship of the desert planet Arrakis, the only source of the coveted “spice” in the universe. After a betrayal, Paul leads a rebellion to restore his family’s control over Arrakis.

Legendary Entertainment has reached an agreement with the Frank Herbert estate in which it has acquired the film and television rights to Dune. The agreement calls for the development and production of possible film and TV projects for a global audience. Brian Herbert has confirmed that Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve will helm the project. The cast includes: Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto Atreides, Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck, Stellan Skarsgård as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban, Zendaya as Chani, David Dastmalchian as Piter De Vries, Charlotte Rampling as Gaius Helen Mohiam, Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, Javier Bardem as Stilgar, and Chang Chen as Dr. Wellington Yueh. 


Thor: Love and Thunder 

This is going to be a film from Marvel Studios and it will premiere on November 2021.
It is adapted from various Thor comics (character created by Stan Lee, Larry Leiber, and Jack Kirby, 1962)

What it’s about: 
No specific plot details available yet, but Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) will be taking over the role of Thor, weilding Mjolnir and everything. This may suggest an adaptation of the recent Thor comics run by Jason Aaron and artist Russell Dauterman.
Taika Waititi is back to direct. Waititi will also reprise his role as Korg, starring alongside Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Natalie Portman (Jane Foster) and Tessa Thompson (Valkyrie). 



Fantastic Beasts 3

It is going to be a film from Warner Bros and it will premiere in November 2021.
It is adapted from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling, which was originally published in 2001, by Bloomsbury (UK) / Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic (U.S.)

What it’s about: 
The next installment in the Fantastic Beasts franchise, following 2018’s Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
Production is expected to begin in spring 2020.



The Wheel of Time

This is going to be a TV series from Amazon Studios/Sony Pictures Television but the premiere is yet to be determined.
It is adapted from The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, which was originally published in 1990, by Tor Books

What it’s about: 
 “Set in a sprawling world where magic exists but can only be used by women, the story follows Moiraine, a member of the shadowy and influential all-female organization the Aes Sedai, as she embarks on a dangerous journey with five young men and women. Moiraine’s interest in these five lies in the fact that she believes one of them might be the reincarnation of an incredibly powerful individual who prophecies say will either save humanity or destroy it.” (The Hollywood Reporter ).

In 2017 came the announcement that Sony Pictures Television would adapt the epic fantasy series alongside Red Eagle Entertainment and Radar Pictures, with Rafe Judkins (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Hemlock Grove, Chuck) serving as showrunner. In mid-2018, Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke confirmed that the streaming service was developing the TV series; later that year, Amazon gave a full series order. Rosamund Pike’s casting as Moiraine was announced on June 19, 2019. More of the cast was announced later in the summer, and since then they’ve shared a group photo and short video of a table read! No word on an official premiere date, but Judkins indicated that the writers are already working on season two. 


Artemis

It is adapted into a film by 20th Century Fox.
It'sadapted from Artemis by Andy Weir, which was originally published in 2017, by Crown

What it’s about: 
Jasmine Bashara is an occasional smuggler on Artemis, the first and only city on the Moon. But when Jazz gets the chance to commit the perfect crime, she instead stumbles into the middle of a conspiracy for control of Artemis.

20th Century Fox acquired the movie rights to the novel months before publication. The Martian producers Simon Kinberg and Aditya Sood are onboard for the adaptation, with Phil Lord and Chris Miller directing. A script has been written by Geneva Robertson-Dworet (late of Captain Marvel and Tomb Raider), and in April 2019 The Observer quoted a casting notice for main character Jazz Bashara that was rumored to be circulating.


The Chronicles of Narnia

It is optioned for film and television by Netflix.
It is adapted from The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis and the first book The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe was originally published in 1950, by Geoffrey Bles.

What it’s about:
 Lewis’ beloved series follows the four Pevensie siblings as they step through an ordinary wardrobe into the magical land of Narnia.

The Mark Gordon Company, Entertainment One (eOne), The C.S. Lewis Company, and Netflix are partnering on various adaptations of all seven books in the series. Coco’s Matthew Aldrich will oversee the production of both series and feature-length adaptations.


Circe

It is optioned for television by HBO Max.
It is adapted from Circe by Madeline Miller, which was originally published in 2018, by Little, Brown and Company

What it’s about: 
This reimagining details the life of the witch Circe, a supporting character in The Odyssey, as she is banished to an island in the mortal world, where she harnesses her witchcraft and encounters Daedalus and Icarus, Medea, and of course Odysseus.

HBO Max gave an 8-episode, straight-to-series order for an adaptation from writers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, who co-wrote and produced 2015’s Jurassic World as well as the most recent Planet of the Apes trilogy.


City of Ghosts

 It is optioned for television by The CW.
It is adapted from City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab, which was originally published in 2018,  by Scholastic

What it’s about: 
After a near-death experience, college grad Cass discovers that she can pull back the Veil between the worlds of the living and the dead—and she’s not the only one with this gift.

I. Marlene King (Pretty Little Liars) will executive produce alongside Lauren Wagner (The Following, Time After Time), Karen Wyscarver, and Sanford Golden (Bones, Time After Time, Taken).


A Darker Shade of Magic

It is optioned for film by G-BASE.
It is adapted from A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab, which was originally published in 2015, byTor Books

What it’s about: 
Traveler-magician Kell’s official job is to deliver correspondence between the parallel Londons, but his unofficial job is smuggling visitors to see the flourishing magic of Red London, or the eerie control of White London (though no one is allowed in Black London). When a thief from boring Grey London robs, saves, and then joins Kell, he discovers the perilous magic at the root of everything.

While the original plans for the adaptation was a limited series along the lines of Game of Thrones, the project changed direction in 2017: Schwab will be a producer on the movie version of the first book, with the other two volumes serving as material for a potential franchise. John Wick screenwrite Derek Kolstad will adapt the books for G-BASE.


The Lord of the Rings

It is optioned for television by Warner Bros. Television/Amazon Studios.
It is adapted from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, which was originally published in 1954, by Allen & Unwin

What it’s about: 
According to the press release in late 2017, the series will also explore “new storylines” preceding The Fellowship of the Ring, making this a prequel series… possibly following young Aragorn?

Amazon Studios will adapt the trilogy into an epic fantasy TV series alongside the Tolkien Estate and Trust as well as New Line Cinema. Amazon has made a five-season commitment but must begin production by 2020 per the terms of the deal. Writing duo JD Payne and Patrick McKay (Star Trek 4, Jungle Cruise) will develop the series. In October Deadline reported that the show’s villain Oren, will be played by Joseph Mawle. Mawle will be familiar to fans of epic fantasy from his turn as Uncle Benjen in HBO’s Game of Thrones. And, as the road goes on and ever one, the show has already been renewed for a second season, years before its premiere.


Shadow and Bone

It is optioned for television by Netflix.
It is adapted from Shadow and Bone, from the Grishaverse novels by Leigh Bardugo, which were originally published in  2012, by Macmillan


What it’s about: 
Here’s how Deadline describes the series: “In a world cleaved in two by a massive barrier of perpetual darkness, where unnatural creatures feast on human flesh, a young soldier uncovers a power that might finally unite her country. But as she struggles to hone her power, dangerous forces plot against her. Thugs, thieves, assassins and saints are at war now, and it will take more than magic to survive.”

Shadow and Bone will combine both the Grisha Trilogy and the Six of Crows duology into one TV series. Eric Heisserer (Bird Box, Arrival) will serve as creator, writer, showrunner, and executive producer. Bardugo will also be an EP alongside Pouya Shahbazian (the Divergent series) and Shawn Levy (Stranger Things) of production company 21 Laps Entertainment. In October the first round of casting was announced with Jessie Mei Li as Alina Starkov, Archie Renaux as Malyen Oretsev, Amita Suman as Inej, Kit Young as Jesper Fahey, Freddy Carter as Kaz Brekker, and, Ben Barnes as the Darkling.

What do you think? Which one do you anticipate the most?
For me it The Darker Shades of Magic for sure!!

Athina

As a disclaimer the majority of the information is from Tor and if you want a bigger list of adaptations you can visit their site for it.


Wednesday 4 December 2019

November 2019 Wrap Up



It's time for another monthly wrap up and this one is, as the title suggests, for November 2019. It was a good reading month but I hope to do better in December as I am a little bit behind on my Goodreads Challenge.

Let's see together the books I read this month.

Serpent & Dove - Shelby Mahurin

This is a book that I wasn't expecting to like based on its synopsis, but I loved it and became one of my favorites.

Read my full review here







Help Wanted, Must Love Books - Janet Summer Johnson & Courtney Dawson (ill.)

This is a cute little picture book. It has beautiful illustrations and the story is so sweet. It's main theme is the special bond between a father and his daughter and the importance of family time.
I highly recommend this picture book.

It comes out in March 2020. - I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review



The Cruel Prince - Holly Black

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, the first book in The Folk of Air series is full of hype but let me tell you that the hype is real in this case.
Magic, fairies and politics all in one book. What else do you need?

Read my full review here






Aesop's Fables - Aesop

I have read a collection of Aesop's Fables before (as a child) and I found it very interesting. Reading it as an adult is still interesting but I think more suited for kids.However, there are very good messages coming through and some of them contain life lessons.This particular collection is very good as it contains a very good selection of the fables.






Where's Spot? - Eric Hill

I just love this book!!
It was one of my favorites when I was growing up and now it is time to pass it to my daughter. It's the first book from the Fun with Spot series that feature the little puppy Spot and his adventures. This is a board book version which is perfect for little hands.






 Shades of Magic, Vol 2 - The Night of Knives - V. E. Schwab

I love anything that Victoria writes and this is no exception. 
The story of Maxim Maresh and how he got the title of The Steel Prince is very very good and the illustrations are just gorgeous. 

A full review will follow soon. 





Antiracist Baby - Ibram X Kendi, Ashley Lukashevsky (ill.)

A beautiful board book that shows parents and children how to say no to racism. In the book there are nine easy steps that our little ones can take so we can have a more equitable world. It's the perfect gift and it will start many conversations between parents and children. Also the illustrations are bold and beautiful and they accompany perfectly the book.

It comes out in June 2020. - I received an ARC of this book via Edelweiss + in exchange for an honest review


Big Ideas for Little Philosophers: Truth with Socrates -  Duane Armitage, Maureen McQuerry, Robin Rosenthal (ill.)

This is a beautiful board book that introduces deep questions to small children with an accessible way. This particular one is about the philosopher Socrates and truth. The meaning of being honest and the importance of asking questions to learn more. Also, it has very pretty illustrations.

It comes out in July 2020 - I received an ARC of this book via Edelweiss + in exchange for an honest review


I also read a comic book with stories from Disney. It comes out every month and I try to buy it when I remember.

That's it for November!
Have you read any of these? What do you think?

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

You can buy these books from Book Depository using this link (affiliate link)

Wednesday 27 November 2019

Fantastic Beasts: The Original Screenplay Series by J. K. Rowling - A Review


Today we are talking about two very well known books set in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter but many years before his existence. Of course I am talking about Fantastic Beasts and Where to find them : The Original Screenplay and Fantastic Beasts - The Crimes of Grindelwald : The Original Screenplay both by J. K. Rowling.

These series expand on earlier events that helped to shape the Wizarding World, with some surprising nods to the Harry Potter stories that we all love.

Both of them have become movies by Warner Bros Studios and there is a third one on the making and due to be released in November 2021, if I am not mistaken.


Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them : The Original Screenplay
(Fantastic Beasts : The Original Screenplay #1)


In this book we follow Magizoologist Newt Scamander when he  arrives in New York. He intends his stay to be just a brief stopover. However, when his magical case is misplaced and some of Newt's fantastic beasts escape, it spells trouble for everyone. 

I liked the story and how fast-paced it was. It contained a cast of remarkable characters and it was an adventure-packed storytelling. Because it is a screenplay, it read much more quickly than a regular book which is not a bad thing in my opinion. This allowed you to create the scene in your head even if you haven't seen the movie. 

I gave it 4 stars.


Fantastic Beasts - The Crimes of Grindelwald : The Original Screenplay
(Fantastic Beasts : The Original Screenplay #2)



At the end of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald was captured in New York with the help of Newt Scamander. But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escapes custody and sets about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings.
In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore enlists Newt, his former Hogwarts student, who agrees to help once again, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.

I liked this one more than the first one. Maybe it was the plot or the characters, I don't know for sure, but I liked that it had more action and mystery in it. With this one I had seen the movie before reading the book and probably this added to my overall experience of the book. It was nice to see my favorite characters to come back and also to discover new ones. 

I gave it 4 stars also. 

What about you? Have you read these books? Have you seen the movies? What do you think? (I know! A lot of questions...)

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

You can buy these books from Book Depository using this link (affiliate link)

Wednesday 20 November 2019

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black - A Review


The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, the first book in The Folk of Air series is full of hype but let me tell you that the hype is real in this case. 
Magic, fairies and politics all in one book. What else do you need?

In this book we follow Jude in the fae world. Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.
To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.
In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

We have beautiful writing as always by Holly Black and a very good story with an excellent world building. 
The politics in this book are huge. It's like Game of Thrones but in the fae world. The book is full of intrigue, plotting, scheming and of course plot twists until the very end. 
There is a strong female main character (Jude), who manages to come through everything. There is also Prince Cardan who is  just beautifully cruel. 

The second book is The Wicked King and the third is The Queen of Nothing and came out yesterday (19/11). I am glad I already have book two and I will soon have the third one.

If you like stories with fae, politics and intrigues then this series is for you.

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

You can buy this book from Book Depository using this link (affiliate link)


Wednesday 13 November 2019

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin - A Review


I would not have read this book if it wasn't for the read-along with #booktalkwithwifey that Aleksandra (@drawingandreading) and Chiara (@_ckarys) organize every month. 

As you would have seen from the title, I am talking about the book Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin. It is a young adult fantasy debut novel and it is the first book in Serpent & Dove series. The next book is called Blood & Honey and it will be published on August 2020.

In the book we follow the story of Lou and Reid. 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.
Reid Diggory who is sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, 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.

Serpent & Dove is a book that I wasn't expecting to like based on its synopsis, but I loved it and became one of my favorites. 
The story, which has a great hate to love trope, is very good and the writing of it is beautiful and vivid. This is a not plot driven book but more of a character driven one. There is of course action but not so much, just what it is required. 
I loved Lou with her sassy and strong character and how her relationship with Reid evolved  throughout the book. Slowly but beautifully, as you would expect. 
The book has also an excellent world building and magic system.

August cannot come soon enough to read the next one. 

I highly recommend Serpent & Dove to everyone!!

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

You can buy this book from Book Depository using this link (affiliate link)




Wednesday 6 November 2019

The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff (Series Review)


The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff is a series I keep hearing about everywhere. I managed to read it at the beginning of this year and I can say that it is worth the hype. 
It consists of three books, Illuminae, Gemina and Obsidio. If you haven't guessed it is a scifi series and I think you should read them without knowing too much about them.

Let's see them one by one.


Illuminae

As I said before this book was in my tbr for a long time and the hype about it was big, and it still is. We watch the events that take place after an attack at Kerenza IV and  the efforts of Kady, Ezra and the rest of the survivors and rescuers to understand what is going on and to reach a safe place. 
During the book a lot happen. Some of them are good and some not so much. An important part in the story plays AIDAN the AI of the spaceship that wants to protect the fleet, but with any cost... 
There are a lot of twists  and turns in the plot that you do not expect and the fact that the book is written in a mix-media form makes it even better. 
I also really liked the characters, especially Kady. She is smart, brave and funny and I liked the way her relationship with Ezra developed through the whole series. 
One negative for me was the fact that it was a little slow at the beginning but that didn't last much. 

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the worst thing she'd ever been through. That was before her planet was invaded. Now, with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra are forced to fight their way onto one of the evacuating craft, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.
But the warship could be the least of their problems. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their biggest threat; and nobody in charge will say what's really going on. As Kady plunges into a web of data hacking to get to the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: Ezra.
Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents--including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more--Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.


Gemina

This is the second book in the series and in this one we follow the events that happened at Jump Station Heimdal through the adventures of two new characters, Hanna and Nik.
There were many twists here too, that sometimes they left you open-mouthed. 
I liked it a little bit more than the first one and made me to anticipate the last one even more.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.
The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault.
Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy’s most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.
When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station’s wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.
But relax. They’ve totally got this. They hope.


Obsidio

This is the last book  that concludes the trilogy. I liked this one as much as I liked the previous two but I found it a little bit slow at the beginning. When we got into action though...
Here we see the conclusion of the story through the POVs of our characters as they try to get back to Kerenza IV. We have also new characters to add to the mix that are a good addition to the story.
About the ending of the book I will say only one thing. It was a very satisfying ending.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Kady, Ezra, Hanna, and Nik narrowly escaped with their lives from the attacks on Heimdall station and now find themselves crammed with 2,000 refugees on the container ship, Mao. With the jump station destroyed and their resources scarce, the only option is to return to Kerenza—but who knows what they'll find seven months after the invasion?
Meanwhile, Kady's cousin, Asha, survived the initial BeiTech assault and has joined Kerenza's ragtag underground resistance. When Rhys—an old flame from Asha's past—reappears on Kerenza, the two find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict.
With time running out, a final battle will be waged on land and in space, heroes will fall, and hearts will be broken.

As a whole I really liked the Illuminae Files trilogy and I gave it 4 stars. The way it was written, through mix media, gave an extra positive thing for me.

Have you read this trilogy?

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

Thursday 31 October 2019

October 2019 Wrap up

I know that it sounds very cliche but I will say it. I cannot believe that we are already in November and that we are so close to the end of 2019. This year and especially the last four months are very special to me and have changed my whole life and despite what some people think it is difficult to combine the mum life with the reading life. Anyway, I think that I am in a good place now that the baby is almost five months old. 



But enough of my ramblings! Let's see  together the books that I read in October. There is a mix of middle grade, non-fiction and fantasy.

The Magical Pillows ( Τα μαγικά μαξιλάρια) -  Evgenios Trivizas (Ευγένιος Τριβιζάς) --Greek Book--

From an amazing storyteller comes an amazing story, which is funny but full of meaning too. 
This is a Greek children's book that I read now for the first time and really liked.





Broom, Broom (LRB Collections: 7) - Sam Kinchin- Smith (series editor)

This is a non-fiction book and its main theme is witches and the way they were hunted. 
It wasn't one of my favorites.






Harry Potter : A Journey through Divination and Astronomy (A Journey through... #3) - Pottermore Publishing

Another installment of A Journey through series that focuses on the lessons from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft in Harry Potter. This one was about Divination and Astronomy and as the previous ones I really liked it.






The Attic's ghosts ( Τα φαντάσματα της σοφίτας) - Manos Kontoleon (Μάνος Κοντολέων) --Greek Book--

Beautiful story with beautiful messages. I have read it before as a child and when I saw it I grabbed it immediately.  
This is a Greek children's book that I highly recommend.






Fantastic Beasts - The Crimes of Grindelwald: The original screenplay - J. K. Rowling

I liked this one more than the first book and I believed that it also helped the fact that I had seen the movie beforehand.







Professional Ham cutter ( Επαγγελματίας Ζαμπονοκόφτης) - Nikos Bovolos (Νίκος Μπόβολος) --Greek Book--

Small funny stories from a professional ham cutter while working on a supermarket for several years.







Greta and the Giants : inspired by Greta Thunberg's stand to save the world - Zoe Tucker, Zoe Persico  (Illustrations)

It's an inspiring picture book with great illustrations and a great message for everyone.It uses allegory to make the important topic of Climate change accessible to young children.

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley




These were all the books I read in October and I think I am slowly getting back on track with my reading.

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina