The Smell of Ink/Lukten av Trykksverte

Earlier this year, I read the novel Emma and the Vampires by Wayne Johnson and Jane Austen, and today I'll post my review of the book. Description from Goodreads What better place than pale England to hide a secret society of gentlemen vampires? In this hilarious retelling of Jane Austen's Emma , screenwriter Wayne Josephson casts Mr. Knightley as one of the most handsome and noble of the gentlemen village vampires. Blithely unaware of their presence, Emma, who imagines she has a special gift for matchmaking, attempts to arrange the affairs of her social circle with delightfully disastrous results. But when her dear friend Harriet Smith declares her love for Mr. Knightley, Emma realizes she's the one who wants to stay up all night with him. Fortunately, Mr. Knightley has been hiding a secret deep within his unbeating heart-his (literal) undying love for her... A brilliant mash-up of Jane Austen and the undead. My Thoughts on the Book While I love both classics and vampires...

A little while ago, I read the gothic novel Bluebeard's Castle by Anna Biller and today I'll post my review of the book. Description from Goodreads A subversive take on the famous French fairy tale from the acclaimed director of The Love Witch, and for fans of Jane Eyre When the successful British mystery writer Judith meets Gavin, a handsome and charming baron, at a birthday party on the Cornish coast, his love transforms her from a bitter, lonely young woman into a romance heroine overnight. After a whirlwind honeymoon in Paris, he whisks her away to a secluded Gothic castle. But soon she finds herself trapped in a nightmare, as her husband’s mysterious nature, and his alternation between charm and violence, become increasingly frightening. As Judith battles both internal and external demons, including sexual ambivalence, psychological self-torture, gaslighting, family neglect, alcoholism, and domestic abuse, she becomes increasingly addicted to her wild beast of a husband. ...

A little while ago, I read the retelling Carmilla and Laura by S. D. Simper, based on Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu, and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads In the late 19th century, Laura lives a lonely life in a schloss by the forest, Styria, with only her doting father and two governesses for company. A chance accident brings a new companion, however – the eccentric and beautiful Carmilla. With charm unparalleled and habits as mysterious as her history, Carmilla’s allure is undeniable, drawing Laura closer with every affectionate touch and word. Attraction blossoms into a temptation Laura fears to name, a tantalizing passion burning brighter than the fires of hell. But when a mysterious plague begins stealing the lives of young women in her home and the village beyond, Laura wrestles to reconcile the truth – that the gentle, fragile woman she loves may be a monster cast out of heaven. Carmilla, the classic vampire novella written by J Sheridan LeFanu, receives ...

As I've been fascinated by the whole Sleepy Hollow due to a certain Tim Burton movie from 1999, I couldn't resist reading the retelling Horseman by Christina Henry and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Everyone in Sleepy Hollow knows about the Horseman, but no one really believes in him. Not even Ben Van Brunt's grandfather, Brom Bones, who was there when it was said the Horseman chased the upstart Crane out of town. Brom says that's just legend, the village gossips talking. Twenty years after those storied events, the village is a quiet place. Fourteen-year-old Ben loves to play Sleepy Hollow boys, reenacting the events Brom once lived through. But then Ben and a friend stumble across the headless body of a child in the woods near the village, and the sinister discovery makes Ben question everything the adults in Sleepy Hollow have ever said. Could the Horseman be real after all? Or does something even more sinister stalk the woods? My Thought...

As I've heard so much about the book, I ended up reading Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads It’s 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. Teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom select wives based on a girl’s display of finery. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again. Sixteen-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. At the ball, Sophia makes the desperate decision to flee, and finds herself hiding in Cinderella’s mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all–and in the process, they learn that there’s more to Cinderella’s story than they ever knew . . . This fresh take on a classic story will make readers question the tales t...

Considering I've already read Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron, I couldn't resist reading This Poison Heart and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Darkness blooms in bestselling author Kalynn Bayron's new contemporary fantasy about a girl with a unique and deadly power. Briseis has a gift: she can grow plants from tiny seeds to rich blooms with a single touch. When Briseis's aunt dies and wills her a dilapidated estate in rural New York, Bri and her parents decide to leave Brooklyn behind for the summer. Hopefully there, surrounded by plants and flowers, Bri will finally learn to control her gift. But their new home is sinister in ways they could never have imagined--it comes with a specific set of instructions, an old-school apothecary, and a walled garden filled with the deadliest botanicals in the world that can only be entered by those who share Bri's unique family lineage. When strangers begin to arrive on their doorstep, asking for t...

A while ago I read the YA retelling Pride: A Pride and Prejudice Remix by Ibi Zoboi. Today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Pride and Prejudice gets remixed in this smart, funny, gorgeous retelling of the classic, starring all characters of color, from Ibi Zoboi, National Book Award finalist and author of American Street. This young adult novel is an excellent choice for accelerated tween readers in grades 7 to 8, especially during homeschooling. It’s a fun way to keep your child entertained and engaged while not in the classroom. Zuri Benitez has pride. Brooklyn pride, family pride, and pride in her Afro-Latino roots. But pride might not be enough to save her rapidly gentrifying neighborhood from becoming unrecognizable. When the wealthy Darcy family moves in across the street, Zuri wants nothing to do with their two teenage sons, even as her older sister, Janae, starts to fall for the charming Ainsley. She especially can’t stand the judgmental and arrogant Darius....

As I love both fantasy and Beauty and the Beast, I couldn't resist As Old as Time by Liz Braswell. I read it shortly after I purchased it and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads What if Belles mother cursed the Beast? As Old as Time is the third book in a new YA line that reimagines classic Disney stories in surprising new ways. When Belle touches the Beasts enchanted rose, memories flood through Belles mind. Memories of a mother she thought she would never see again. And, stranger still, she sees that her mother is none other than the beautiful enchantress who cursed the castle and all its inhabitants. Shocked and confused, Belle and the Beast will have to unravel a dark mystery about their families that is 21 years in the making. My Thoughts on the Book As Old As Time was a well written re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. It's fast-paced and enjoyable, with a smart and resourceful Belle. It also fills in on a couple of the plot-holes in the Disney movie...

Last year I recieved a press copy of the novel Pictures of Dorianna by Catherine Stine through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Internet followers, beauty, power. It all sounded good. Until it transformed into a terrifying reality she couldn’t stop When her father is jailed, her mother ships lonely, plain Dorianna to her aunt’s in Brooklyn, NY. There, Dorianna yearns to build a new identity, but the popular Lacey bullies her—mostly for getting attention from her ex, Ander. Ander takes Dorianna to Coney Island where Wilson, a videographer, creates a stunning compilation of her. She dreams of being an online sensation, as she’s never even had a birthday party, and vows she’d give anything to go viral. Wilson claims he’s the Prince of Darkness and offers her the beauty and fame, even love she’s dreamed of—warning her that a pledge has its downsides. Dorianna has no idea of how dire those consequences might be. She’s...

As I was keen on finding out what happened next with Vasya after reading The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden, I ended up reading The Girl in the Tower. Today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads For a young woman in medieval Russia, the choices are stark: marriage or a life in a convent. Vasya will choose a third way: magic... The court of the Grand Prince of Moscow is plagued by power struggles and rumours of unrest. Meanwhile bandits roam the countryside, burning the villages and kidnapping its daughters. Setting out to defeat the raiders, the Prince and his trusted companion come across a young man riding a magnificent horse. Only Sasha, a priest with a warrior's training, recognises this 'boy' as his younger sister, thought to be dead or a witch by her village. But when Vasya proves herself in battle, riding with remarkable skill and inexplicable power, Sasha realises he must keep her secret as she may be the only way to save the city fro...

Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to recieve a press copy of the novel The Legend of Decimus Croome: A Halloween Carol by Kevin Purdy through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Decimus Croome is a dastardly curmudgeon who hates all holidays but especially despises Halloween. He is content to live in his gloomy old house and avoid all human contact whenever possible. He even shuns his own daughter and grandson. But Croome's life changes one memorable Halloween when four ghastly spirits visit him to reveal the misery he has inflicted upon his friends, neighbors and family members. Based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, The Legend of Decimus Croome is bound to become a Halloween classic for readers of all ages. Follow old man Croome as he is visited by the lovely but disturbing spirit of his dearly departed wife. She warns him of three spirits yet to follow. And oh what spirits they are. Each one is...

I recieved a press copy of the retelling Carmilla by Kim Turrisi on Netgalley I few months ago. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads An adaptation of Shaftesbury's award-winning, groundbreaking queer vampire web series of the same name, Carmilla mixes the camp of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the snark of Veronica Mars, and the mysterious atmosphere of Welcome to Nightvale. Newly escaped from the stifling boredom of a small town, college freshman Laura is ready to make the most of her first year at Silas University. But when her roommate, Betty, vanishes and a sarcastic, nocturnal philosophy student named Carmilla moves into Betty's side of the room, Laura decides to play detective. Turns out Betty isn't the first girl to go missing ? she's just the first girl not to come back. All over campus, girls have been vanishing, and they are completely changed when (or if) they return. Even more disturbing are the strange...

A while ago I recieved an ARC of the YA novel Beau and Bett by Kathryn Berla through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads After Beau LeFrancois's mother wrecks Bett Diaz’s luxury SUV, his family faces an impossibly large bill—with no car insurance to help pay it. To pay off the debt, Beau spends his weekends working at the Diaz Ranch. Beau’s prepared to work, but he’s definitely not prepared for the infamous temper of Bett Diaz, also known as "The Beast" at school. As Beau learns the secrets behind Bett’s tough exterior, he finds himself falling for her . . . until he catches Bett in a lie. A contemporary twist on a classic fairy tale, Beau and Bett is a timely story of family, friendship, and the power of speaking out and standing up for yourself. My Thoughts on the Book This was a fun read and I loved the gender reversal on the Beauty and the Beast. I loved Beau as a character and his family,...

(This post contains affiliate links) As I am a fan of all things Phantom of the Opera, I basically could not resist  RoseBlood by A. G. Howard and today I'll post the review of this retelling. Description from Goodreads In this modern day spin on Leroux’s gothic tale of unrequited love turned to madness, seventeen-year-old Rune Germain has a mysterious affliction linked to her operatic talent, and a horrifying mistake she’s trying to hide. Hoping creative direction will help her, Rune’s mother sends her to a French arts conservatory for her senior year, located in an opera house rumored to have ties to The Phantom of the Opera.  At RoseBlood, Rune secretly befriends the masked Thorn—an elusive violinist who not only guides her musical transformation through dreams that seem more real than reality itself, but somehow knows who she is behind her own masks. As the two discover an otherworldly connection and a soul-deep romance blossoms, Thorn’s dark agenda comes to light...

With both Library Love Challenge and Platypire Diversity Challenge in the back of my mind, I ended up bororowing Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer at the library. Today I'll post the review. Description from Goodreads Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future. My Thoughts On The Book I really enjoyed reading this book, thou...

Da jeg så på Facebook-siden til forfatteren Dani Hoots at hun arrangerte en bokturne for Trapped in Wonderland (Wonderland Chronicles Book One), endte jeg opp med å melde meg på. Meredith Alice Hughes falt gjennom en portal ned til Wonderland, hvor hun finner noen fra klassen som tilfeldigvis viser seg å være noen av de fiktive karakterene i "Alice i eventyrland". og de gir henne noe for å glemme at alt skjedde. Vel og merke frem til den hvite kaninen prøver å drepe henne og hun befinner seg i Wonderland igjen. I henhold til en profeti, er Alice den eneste som kan redde Wonderland fra Cirque de Rêves, en gruppe som har en plan om å ødelegge og ta over verden. Ikke bare er Wonderland i fare, men den virkelige verdenen også, da alle innbyggerne i Wonderland representerer drømmene til hver enkelt person i den virkelige verdenen, og når drømmene forsvinner, så forsvinner håpet til menneskene i den virkelige verdenen. Klarer Alice å tro nok på seg selv til å bekjempe sirkuset,...