Review: Miss Mabel’s School for girls

Never underestimate the power of a determined witch.

Letum Wood is a forest of fog and deadfall, home to the quietly famous Miss Mabel’s School for Girls, a place where young witches learn the art of magic.

Sixteen-year-old Bianca Monroe has inherited a deadly curse. Determined to break free before it kills her, she enrolls in the respected school to confront the cunning witch who cast the curse: Miss Mabel.

Bianca finds herself faced with dark magic she didn’t expect, with lessons more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. Will Bianca have the courage to save herself from the curse, or will Miss Mabel’s sinister plan be too powerful?

Miss Mabel’s School for Girls is the first novel in The Network Series, an exciting new fantasy collection. A gripping tale about the struggle to survive, it will take you to a new place and time, one you’ll never want to leave.

I took me a while to get around to reading this book. Not sure why. It was amazing.

The setting was brilliant and the story even better. I was kept guessing the whole way through. I read it in a few days (quick for me just now). The magic was really clever and original. I was very unsure of Miss Mabel, was it all an act or was she truly like that. Bianca was a great lead character. She was strong and spunky.

All the different types of magic was engaging I was not bored even for a line. It’s frustrating that I cannot out into words how much I enjoyed this book. It was magical, enchanting and overall just a great read. I am very much looking forward to the next one.

5 out of 5 stars. (I wish I could give it more).

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Challenge Update: April and May

April was not a good month for this but May was. Click the pictures to take you to my reviews.

11 to be read books out 21-30 overall, so not too bad, on track 🙂

16 books out 50 is okay but not great, I can do better. Really need to get moving this month if I want to manage this.

So 1 out of 20, really not good. It is my favourite genre, so I should manage to get back on track.

0 out of 3, still got plenty of time.

How are all your challenges going?

Review: The Worst Witch

The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy

Mildred Hubble is a trainee witch at Miss Cackle’s Academy, and she’s making an awful mess of it. She’s always getting her spells wrong and she can’t even ride a broomstick without crashing it. Will she ever make a real witch?

I remember watching this everyday after school, I loved it. I did not realise it was a book series. I am so glad it is though. I asked for this via netgalley but they denied my request so I bought it  straight away. I read it in one sitting, well it is only 100pages long.

It transported me back to my child hood. I loved all of it. I was pleased to see all the characters I knew and loved were there. Especially Miss Bat, I love her, she is such a funny character. The pictures were good, I do not know whether they have been redone since the T.V. program, or if the people on the T.V. show did a great job of getting actors that look very like the characters. It really added to story.

The book is aimed at children, but I still loved it as an adult. I would definitely buy these for my future children.

5 out of 5 stars.

ARC Review: Stolen Songbird

Stolen Songbird by Danielle L Jensen

For those who have loved Seraphina and Graceling comes another truly fabulous fantasy…

For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.

Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.

But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.

As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

General Overview (No Spoilers)

I loved this book. I have never read a book with a main character being a Troll. I really enjoyed it. The world the author created was brilliant, I was a little confused at times, I was unsure whether or not it was in this world or a completely new one. Tristan was an amazing character, I fell in love straight away, he was witty and passionate about his friends and beliefs. Cecile was a firecracker, she never gave up, she always went for what she wanted. I am looking forward to the second one.

4.5 stars out of 5

Step by Step Overview (Spoilers)

0% –  Looks really good, full of action, adventure and magic. Really looking forward to it.

10%- So far I am loving it. The Troll Prince has wit and charm to him. Cecile seems like she will make a good interesting main character. She seems to be always looking for a way out, has faith in her family, that they will go searching for her.

20% – I am liking Tristan the best so far, he is funny, moody and has a sharp tongue. I hope that does not change. We are learning more about what’s going to happen. Will they manage to break the curse?

30% – Tristan is leading the rebellion but does not yet trust Cecile to tell her, he seems to care a lot about her though. Wondering where where her singing is going to come into though. I also really want them to fall in love. I am a romantic at heart (shh don’t tell anyone).

40% – So they are growing fond of each other, when are they going to realise that the other one feels the same. The twins are hilarious.

50%- The mines are horrible, and the quotas are just horrendous, I want them to hurry up and get out of the caves and break the spell then lock back up for the full bloods.

60% – So Cecile is a witch. What kind of magic will she be able to use other than her song magic?

70% – Go after her Tristan, go tell her how you feel.

80% – Chris is a muppet, he is only doing what he thinks but not going the correct way about it.

90% – I wondered if we were going to get to see an earthquake or earthshake as they are called in this book. And Roland on the loose, how is this going to end?

100% – How can Tristan leave? Has he already broken the spell but no-one knows? True names hold power, that much has been revealed but why?

I would recommend this to anyone who likes fantasy.

This is a spring release for bookish Bingo.

Challenge Update: February and March

So I have not been doing well with my challenges I have not even manged to do a post for February. Will try harder in April but the first week is going to be a right off. I am so busy at work and have decided to reread one of my favourite series, it’s easy reading and it’s calming my stress levels. In February I read 5 books and in March I read 4. Terrible I know. I am going to combine the books I read in the two months. Click the pictures to see my review.

Only two in two months- Hangs head in shame.

7 is not terrible but let’s be honest it is not very good either.

I still have not read any books for either of these challenges, since the France one is only 3 books that’s not too bad, but 20 for the witches and witchcraft challenge is going to be very difficult if I do not get a move on.

How are you going with all the challenges?

 

Challenge Update: January

I only read 8 books in January, I can do better and I will do better in the coming months. Here’s what I read for the each challenge and where you can find details for each challenge. Clicking the picture of the challenge will take you to it’s sign up post. 🙂

I am planning to read 50 books over the year, in January I read 5, so I am on track. I read:

  A great end to a fantastic series by a talented author. You can see my review here.

I did not enjoy this book, I am sorry to say. The best rating I have seen it given is 2 stars out of 5, I hate giving books bad reviews but there was no way around it. You can see my review here.

This a good exciting book, full of myths and legends. You read my review here.

I loved this book, it was everything I wanted and more. I would recommend it to everyone. You can see my review here.

It had bits that seemed a little too modern, but it was a really enjoyable read other than that. You can read my review here.

As many readers and bloggers, I have a huge to be read pile, and I am trying to tackle it. Yes I keep buying more, so it is growing but I am getting through some that have been on my shelf or kindle for years.

I am going for between 21-30 books in 2014, I managed 2 in January, so on track, not quite as good as I would like though. I read:

This had been sitting on my kindle since I bought it about 2 or 3 years ago, thought it was time to delve into it, so glad I did it was great. You can read my review here.

I loved this film and decided to read the book, glad I did as it was really enjoyable, I am looking forward to the next one in the series. You can see my review here.

I unfortunately not read any books for this challenge yet. I have set myself a goal of 3 for the whole year, so I still have plenty of time to do this.

I did not manage any books for this challenge either, it is my favourite genre so I am sure I will be able to reach my goal of 20 in a year.

I am trying my best not to use one book for more than one challenge, it may happen to a few but I would prefer not to.

Which challenges are you doing this year and how are they going?

Happy reading bookworms, Emma.

 

2014 Witches and Witchcraft Reading Challenge

I am already doing three challenges this year and was certain I would not do anymore, then I saw this one, it is right up my alley. I am convinced I could read 20 witchy books in a year, but I will play it safe to begin with and go with 11-15.

Level – Mother 11-15.

There a couple of books I would love to read this year but other than this few I will see what I feel like at the time.

This is going to be a great reading year for me I think 🙂

I forgot it was Sunday yesterday and have not yet done my showcase Sunday, but I will do it tomorrow when I can remember which books I bought, think there’s a lot.