Red Queen by Christina Henry review *Spoiler Free*

Hello everyone!
As you all may know I now have a YouTube channel: Sofieeloves10. Please check it out and subscribe!!!

Today I will be reviewing Red Queen by Christina Henry which Titan Books very kindly sent to me in exchange for an honest review. I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads.

Firstly, I thought it was very different from Alice (the first instalment in The Chronicles of Alice). The plot basis is that Hatcher is trying to find his long lost daughter. Although, the book doesn't feel like a continuation but more of Alice building as a character. We get more information about the characters Alice and Hatcher's relationship, with more romance involved. However, Hatcher disappears half way through the book so the focus is definitely more on Alice. The book allows the reader to learn more about and her background Alice, especially her being a 'Magician'. Alice learns how to depend on herself and is shown to be the 'brains' to Hatcher's 'brawn's'.

Whilst reading the book I sometimes was confused between the Red Queen and the White Queen. I thought the Red Queen would have more involvement and she didn't seen like a very significant character. Sorry!

Christina's character description was wonderful as usual and I particularly liked the goblin character, 'as if the whole skull had been pressed between two blocks and then a child had pulled the nose out long and chin down to chest'...'composed of patches sewn together, and Alice thought some of the patches looked like human skin.' (Page 70). The fingers Creeped. Me. Out! Similarly, the trolls were interesting characters too with the focus on their story within the plot. Cheshire is also in this book- guiding Alice on her journey. I quite liked that he broke up the story with quirks and advice.

The ending was very good and Christina left the story open for another instalment so I don't know how many there will be. However, I will be reading the next book!

'Off with their heads!'
Sofiee

Independent Book Shop Week 2016!

Hello lovely people!

I have been busy putting content up on YouTube: Sofieeloves10. Check it out please!
I now have a ELCAF haul and my Tome Topple wrap up on there.

So on Saturday I went to Colchester to visit Red Lion Books. There had some special things happening for Independent Book week. Firstly, they had a Lucky Dip giving out ARCs. I received Foxlowe by Eleanor Wasserberg and it looks super interesting!

The event that they were hosting was 'Book Therapy' by the lovely Eloise (shown below). Eloise asks you questions about what genres you enjoy, what books you read as a child and more. We had a lovely chat with coffee and cake. She suggested several books and gave me one, Not Forgetting The Whale by John Ironmonger. The other recommendations were: The Circle by Dave Eggers, Humans by Matt Haig, Golem and Djinni by Helen Wrecked, A Visit from Going Squad by Jennifer Egan and finally Bel Canto by Ann Pratchett.


Eloise does monthly book subscriptions and her information, if you wish to contact her, is...

Phone: 07769890607

Email: eloisebooksforyou@gmail.com


Later on that day we went to my local independent book shop, The Book Inn. My dad kindly bought me The Boy Who Sailed Across the Ocean in an Armchair by Lara Willianson which was nominated for #IBW awards.

Happy Independent Book Week!

Sofiee

Eloise's information

The cake and coffee!

I have a YouTube channel... and there's an ELCAF haul on it!

I am so very nervous right now.
I have wanted to redo my channel for years now and I have finally done it!
My channel is: Sofieeloves10

Please be nice! Damn I said 'nice' too many times in the video and 'urmm', sorry!

I still need an editing programme (as you can tell) so please let me know of any good ones :)

Much love,
Sofiee

#tometopple update

Hi all!
I hope your readathon is going well.
I have just finished The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. It was 'The Trilogy of Four' copy and I really enjoyed it! I gave it four stars on Goodreads as I felt some parts didn't make sense in the slightest which made me lose track of the plot a little bit. But as a whole it was really a funny and engaging story.

Soo for the tasks completed:
I have read an adult book... tick
I have read a book in a series (well the book is four books in one)
And I have read 765 pages in one week :)

I might dip into a graphic novel now and start the next tome tomorrow.

Happy reading fellow bookworms :)

Sofiee

SERIES: Alice in Wonderland book adaptations. #1 Alice by Christina Henry

This is the first review of Alice in Wonderland boom adaptions. Alice by Christina Henry *NO SPOILERS*.

Firstly, I really enjoyed this book and I gave it five stars on Goodreads.

The story starts with Alice trapped in an mental asylum. She can't remember why she's kept there, only flash backs of a tea party with her friend and a rabbit. However, the result of the 'party' is her friend missing and Alice covered in blood.

The asylum that Alice now lives in is situated in 'Old City' a place full of criminals, juxtapositioning 'New City'. Alice has an interesting relationship with a character called Hatcher who was in the cell next to hers. Hatcher, who has a thing for axes and bloodlust, takes Alice on a journey...

The adaption is very different from others I have read. It is very dark and kept me on the edge of my seat...Literally! I read this book in two sittings. The characters are portrayed in interesting ways, for example, the Cheshire Cat is a title for a character. Cheshire is portrayed as human with some cat aspects to make the character more believable in a real life. We stay in 'Old City' so all the magical things happen in a run down suburbs, not Wonderland. The journey reminded me of America McGee's Alice video game. It is a warped and twisted version of Wonderland, made scarier as it's set in real life.

I would recommend this book to anyone that is into thrillers, murder mysteries and science fiction. There is some graphic content just to let you all know!

Stay tuned for another Alice in Wonderland adaptation review!

Sofiee

June TBR

Hello, it is Summer now?
(We maybe not in England!)

This month has been very productive reading wise. I've had a few days off of work and now my TBR pile is looking a lot smaller.

So far I have read/ finished within the month of June:
A Thousand Nights by E.K.Johnston
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (audio book)
The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler
Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson (loved!)
Alice by Christina Henry (review will be up soon hopefully)

I am currently reading The Boy Who Lost Fairyland by Catherynne M. Valente. I'm hoping to finish this by midnight of 5th so I can start #tometopple. (I have just posted my TBR!)

My audible pick for this month is Armada  read by Will Wheaton... I love his voice a little bit.

Then, on my ambitious June TBR there is also A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler, Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson and finally The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.

Eeeep! Soo many books!!!!
Stay tuned for some more posts soon,
Sofiee

#tometopple readathon

Hello!
I hope you all had a wonderful May and welcome to June!
I had a good reading month in May but June has been even better :) (see my June TBR for more info).

I will be taking part in #tometopple readathon starting 5th June midnight to June 19th 11:59pm. I wanted to take park in this readathon to get some of my bigger books read!

So here are the challenges:
1) Read more than one tome
2) Take a graphic novel break
3) Read a tome that is park of a series
3) Read over 500 pages in a week
4) Read an adult novel

The books that I have picked are:
-Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare (part of a series)
-The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (adult novel)
- and my graphic novel is Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan
-if I'm super fast at reading I'll be picking up A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas... Excited!

"I like big books and I cannot lie!"
Happy reading,
Sofiee

May 2016 BOOK HAUL

So it happened... I broke the book ban, badly!

I was bought some of these books so I don't feel too bad. 

Without further ado here are the books I got this month:

Queen Of Hearts by Collen Oakes

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

Insanity by Cameron Jace

Fariest of All by by Serena Valentino 

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J.Mass

The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare

The Girl of Ink & Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

The Girl in 6E by A.R.Torre

It's Not Me It's You by Mhairi McFarlane 

Alice and the Fly by James Rice

Kingdom Series 1-3 by Marie Hall

Paper Girls Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan 

I received a date with a book about: ' Love vampires? Read this! Thrilling tale of vampire romance in high school. Hypnotic, dreamy prose, sexual tension + alienation. Wonderful love story...' We have a bet and I lost it's Twilight *sigh*. 

And for Comic Book Day:

Fairest Wide Awake Volume 1 by Bill Willingham 

Rat Queens Volume 3 by Kurtis J. Wiebe

I also got six free papers issues for Comic Book Day including work from the creators of Lumberjanes! All from Mega City Comics in Camden :)

All the books!

I hope your having a good month and I'll be back with more posts soon!

Sofiee

xoxo

Authorathon Wrap Up

All in all I think I've had a constructive week. I read ALL the books except for Shades Of Grey. I finished An Ember To Ashes last night and loved it- I gave it five stars on Goodreads! Another five star read was A Mad Zombie Party and I hope the series continues. I loved the character developments. Also, I read Saga #33 and #34 as well as the intended #32. I will be read #35 after writing this post :). Roses was another good read, I believe I gave it four stars. I do love a good fairytale retelling. And the last book I read this week was a short story book about  Venice which was cute and informative.

In total I read 7 books/ comics during this week... Good job!

Let me know how you got on.
Sofiee

Genrethon over and out

Hello,
I think I may have picked too many books for this week long readathon as I haven't read them all. Although both started - The Bazaar of Bad Dreams and The Labyrinth of Dreaming Books sorry... You'll have to sit on my TBR shelf for a little longer.

I have just finished How To Build A Girl which surprisingly really enjoyed! The other books I read this week follows: Dorothy Must Die, Mrs Pepperpot Stories, Why Not Me? And Noughts and Crosses. The latter was definitely my favourite of the month! It's the graphic novel of the book and I loved both. Five books in one week isn't bad ;)

I will now be starting Authorathon so stay tuned for a post!
Au revoir,
Sofiee

Another readathon you say? Authorathon TBR

I'm ambitiously starting this readathon with five books and one comic... Help!

My TBR case is too big! So I'll be doing more readathons to get through it. 

The questions for this readathons are:

A book by your favourite author 

-I've been loving The White Rabbit Chronicles so I thought I would continue with A Mad Zombie Party

A new to you author

-I picked Roses by a YouTuber I watch :)

Give an author another chance 

-Shades of Grey, I have started that book twice now... Maybe third time lucky?

A debut author 

-An Ember of Ashes (I want to see what a the hype was about ;) )

A book written by more than one author 

-Is it cheating to use a comic? I'm reading Saga #32 for this by two people.

An author from a different continent 

-I thought the story book I bought in Venice would be perfect for this one :)

Okay LET'S DO THIS!

Sofiee

Genrethon update (and final reading stints)

Hello my lovelies,
I hope you're all doing well in the readathon! So far I have finished Dorothy Must Die which I really enjoyed and Mrs Pepperpot Stories, they really remind me of my childhood... Last night I finished Why Not Me? By Mindy Kaling and I'm not sure how I feel about it. I don't usually like that genre of book but it was a quick entertaining read.

I am now reading Caitlin Moran's How To  Build a Girl and The Labyrinth of Dreaming Books. The latter is being left at home because it's too bulking to carry around! I've been trying to read as much as possible around work.

So we have two more days to go... Good luck! Eeeep!
Sofiee

Genrethon Late Start!

Hello!
Genrethon started yesterday so sorry for the late post! I am currently near the end of Dorothy Must Die which I am really enjoying. I'm not sure whether to carry on with the series... I probably shouldn't with the amount of books I have to read! This will be a book from the YA genre.

Then I have Mrs Pepperpot Stories for the children's genre. I also have a comic, a horror, a contemporary, memoir and a sci-fi book to read. Let's see how this week goes!

Let's get reading!!!
Sofiee

March reads :)

In March I read a total of 11 books :) and here they are:

Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl

Clockwork Prince and Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare (5 stars and I have a review posted)

Hate by Tristan Garcia

Alice Through the Zombie Glass and The Queen of Zombie Hearts by Gena Showalter (I will post a review soon when I finish all the books... 5 stars too)

Asking For It by Louise O'Neil

St. Nicholas and the Battle of the Nightmare King by William Joyce and Laura Geringer

Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson

Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell

The School of Good and Evil by Soman Chainani (I love how the evil character is called Sophie!)

Five Children and It by E. Nesbit

Sorry there's no reviews. I will be doing some soon... I'm very busy atm!
Please comment and like,
Sofiee

Intimidating TBR tag

I thought I would do this tag on my blog as I don't have a YouTube channel any more. Here is the original TAG → https://youtu.be/5UdCveZR5cI if anyone wants to watch the video and please feel free to use this tag :). 

The questions are...1) What book have you been unable to finish?
Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde

- I started this and gave up in the second chapter, however, I have heard some good things about this book so I'm going to try again!

What book have you yet to read because...2) ...you just haven't had the time?
You and Me by Delphine de Vigan

- My friend told me to buy this around two years ago and I still haven't read it... sorry.

3) ...it's a sequel?
A Gathering of Shadows by V.E.Shwab

- Eeeeeep!

4) ...it's brand new?
Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige 

- I love a good retelling, especially fairy tales. 

5) ...you read a book by the same author and didn't enjoy it?
How To Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran

- I started to read How To Be A Woman and gave up, I just didn't like it :(

6) ...you're just not in the mood for it?
My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me short stories by Various authors

- Another book I need to finish as I'm about halfway through the stories.

7) ...it's humongous? 
The Labyrinth of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers

- By one of my favourite authors and I don't want to run out of his books to read!

8) ...because it was a cover buy that turned out to have poor reviews? I changed this question to an author that gave me their book and I didn't know anything about it...
Nearly Almost Somebody by Caroline Batten

- Watch out for a review soon...

9) What is the most intimidating book in your TBR pile?
H Is For Hawk by Helen Macdonald 

- I don't usually read non-fiction so I'm intimidated.

I hope you enjoyed reading this tag, I want to read all these books mentioned ASAP (they're in a pile of my floor at the moment!),
Sofiee

Book Unhaul

I have a ridiculous TBR pile... Well its more like an overflowing bookcase! I already had a box of books that I knew I wasn't going to read and I decided to go through my bookcase to see if there was anything else that I wouldn't read. Here are the books I picked out plus Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, I don't really like historical fiction :(. I already own a copy of Vagina Monologues so I thought I would get rid of one copy. Its soo hard to part with books, but I need to keep books that I will actually read! 

What do you all do with your unwanted books? Sell or give to charity? 

Leave a comment :)

Sofiee

Update and The Infernal Devices series

Recently I've been in this I'll bubble where I can't stop catching bugs... Note to self need some more vitamin tablets!

Yesterday I spent the day in bed reading (which would have been nice except I felt like death with tissues suck up my nostrils). I finished book two of The Infernal Devices series: Clockwork Prince and wow. That stuff is addictive! I am currently on Clockwork Princess and can safely say that I understand the hype around Cassandra Clare. 

A week later and I have now finished the whole series. I gotta say I loved it! The characters work so well together and the plot turned a way I didn't guess (which is refreshing).

I am currently watching Shadowhunters and excited about the next episode tomorrow! Not sure if I'll be reading the books anytime soon...

Let me know if you're reading any if the series and what you think.

Sofiee :)

Our Endless Numbered Days by Claire Fuller: A Quick Review

This book left me with soo many unanswered questions... but I have to say that I absolutely LOVED it!

Firstly, who is Reuben? Please discuss!

The synopsis is based on an eight year old girl, Peggy and her survivalist father James. James' wife has an affair with his friend so he decides to take Peggy to Germany (where his wife is from) to become 'proper' survivalists together. They live in a bunker in the forest and live off the land. James tells Peggy that everyone in the world is dead except from them. However, every other chapter in the book is based years later in London with Peggy, her mother and brother.

The plot flowed really well and was captivating throughout. I loved the two intertwined plots and the language was always 'on point'. *Spoiler* I want a sequel to find how Peggy as re-adapted to London and how she copes being a mother to what must be her father's child. Now that is some Freudian mess!

This is a perfect read for international women's day as Peggy is a brilliant example of a strong female protagonist.

Five stars and would highly recommend :)
Sofiee

A mishmash of January and February read books

Another late one sorry! I'm putting the two months together because I've been so busy to write a blog post properly... my bad! February wasn't a particularly good reading month for me but I did read some four star books! 

Okay lets start with January:

-The Bloody Chamber

I finished the book as I hadn't read two of the stories.  

-Politically Correct Bedtime Stories

A bit of a weird read...

-After You

The second book after Me Before You. 

-Ship Of Magic

This was a chunky book! I want to read the other in the trilogy but maybe when my TBR bookcase is more in control.

-A Monster Calls

By Patrick Ness with illustrations... good read. 

-Ariel

Mixing it up with some poetry :)

-After Alice

By the author of Wicked... I love his imagination!

-Jessica Jones Comic- Alias

-This Shattered World

I've be delaying reading this sequel for so long but I quite enjoyed it.

-A Touch of Death

-Untamed

The much awaited companion novel to the Splintered series. I am really going to miss that series!

-Peter Pan

I read a sort of interactive book with bits you pull out ect. It felt really special to read.  

-The Fox and the Star

I loved this Waterstones winner, the pictures are just beautiful.

-The Beautiful and the Damned

I listened to this on my Kindle and I felt it I could imagine myself within the story more. 

February reads:

-Clockwork Angel

A 4 star read :) I have the other books in the series now too which I'm excited to get to.

-Hidden Bodies

4 star read. LOVED IT! (still love YOU better sorry)

-Edward Scissorhands comic volume one

-Grey

Surprised at how much I liked this and I think it's written a lot better than Fifty Shades. I even got my work colleague a copy ;)

-Matilda

Now I want to see the stage show!

(I have already blogged about these in a previous readathon...)

-Tuesdays with Morrie

-The Storied Life of A.J.Fikry

-Everything I Never Told You

-I'll Give You The Sun

I hope you've all had a good couple of months!

Sofiee

Wrap up #rainbowthon 2.0

Although it's been a busy week I have managed to read three and a bit out of the four books on my TBR. I am currently 100 or so pages into Give Me The Sun which I'm quite enjoying. I love the edition I have with the yellow pages too!

In #rainbowthon I started with Tuesdays With Morrie as it was the shortest book! I really enjoyed Albom's The Five People You Meet In Heaven, so I thought I would give this book a go as it's a more popular book of his. However, The Five People You Meet In Heaven is still my favourite!

Then I read Everything I Never Told You (the second shortest book) which is apparently comparable to The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I now might read the latter book as Everything I Never Told You was a intriguing read with lots plot twists. 

But my favourite book in the readathon was The Storied Life Of A.J. Fikry. The story begins in a bookshop with a grump owner who requires a baby so I knew it would be a good read!

Hope you read lots during #rainbowthon!

Sofiee

Rainbowthon 2.0 TBR

I will be taking part in #rainbowthon on the 7th to 14th Feb. Here are the books I am planning on reading that week:I'll keep you all updated! 

Haaaaappy reading,

Sofiee

My start to 2016 as a university graduate.

I'm sorry but this rant was inevitable (angry full stop).

Oh hi Sofie, you've just graduated right? What are you doing now?

..........

The dreaded question. My answer is always, 'I'm taking a year out and working. Then, I want to study a Master degree.' Is that the RIGHT answer? I always tell myself that it doesn't matter people judge you anyway.

The main idea behind this blog post was to discuss how hard it is for graduates to get into their desired career. I myself would like to work in the publishing industry so I've been applying for jobs at different companies. Their standard reply is always-You need work experience first. So I applied for work experience and then I still don't get anywhere *sigh*. My next step was to attend a Master degree in publishing but there aren't any universities that run that course near me. Then, there's getting the funding or how the hell am I supposed to live?!? So what's a girl to do?

Right now I have tabs up of different Publishing MAs and I'm still unsure what to do. Maybe rethink my career choice or hide my head in the sand and hope things turn out for the best?

Please comment and like my post :)
Sofiee

Top 15 books of 2015

This post took me a while to put together as I couldn't decide on the top 15. I cheated a little bit as I classed some series as one book, sorry! However, before I change my mind here are my top 15 books of 2015 listed...

1) The Lunar Chronicles by Marrisa Meyer

2) Mara Dyer trilogy by Michelle Hodkin

3) The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

4) Only Ever Yours by Louise O Neil

5) Splintered trilogy by A.G.Howard

6) Aristotle and Dante Discover the secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Bridegroom

7) The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M.Valente (and all of her books that I've read so far really)

8) YOU by Caroline Kepnes

9) The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

10) 5 to 1 by Holly Badger

11) The Boom of Lost Things by John Connolly

12) The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson

13) Grief is a Thing with Feathers by Max Porter

14) Nimona by Noelle Stevenson ( I'm classing this as a novel... If it doesn't count then I'll put Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell in its place!)

15) A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E.Schwab

If you would like to read my top 15 comics of 2015 please comment :)
Sofiee

#TBR Takedown 3.0 has finished :'(

Hello lovelies,

The time has come for a #TBR Takedown wrap up and I'm ashamed to write that I haven't read This Shattered World. Also, I am still reading Ship of Magic and The Bazaar of Bad Dreams...

However, I did read Ariel, Animal Farm, A Monster Calls and A Touch of Death. So not too bad for a weeks reading!

I'm over half way through Ship of Magic which I'm really enjoying even though it's a mammoth of a book! I think I'll get back to reading now and try and finish the three books.

I will be posting 15 favourite books for 2015 soon so stay tuned!
Sofiee

#TBRTakedown 3.0 update

Yesterday I manged to finish Ariel and A Touch of Death. I was really suprised that I enjoyed the latter! I consumed the book quickly and then decided to break up the books with some poetry. After that I started The Bazaar of Bad Dreams. I've decided to read a few of the short stories a day... Now I'm back to reading Ship of Magic and I'm enjoying it!

Back to the books,
Sofiee

#TBRTakedown 3.0

This is a bit late but I am currently taking part in #TBRTakedown 3.0. running from January 4th (12:00 AM) to January 10th (11:59 PM).

Here is all the information:

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/leaninglights
INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/leaninglights/
YOUTUBE: http://youtube.com/c/leaninglights
HASHTAG: #TBRTakedown

So the TBR Challenges are:

1. Read a book from your most recent book haul.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

2. Read a book on your TBR Shelf over a year (or longest).

A Touch of Death by Charlaine Harris

3. Read a book outside your comfort zone! (Genre, content, etc).

The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King

4. Read a first book in a series

Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb

5. Complete a series/Read a sequel in a series

This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

6. Read a FIRE color book (Fire colours such as shades of red, pink, purple, lilac, burgundy.) Lucky Colors for 2016

Animal Farm by Geaorge Orwell

7. Read a non-novel item: poem, verse, novella, short story, etc.

Ariel by Sylvia Plath

Now I'm going to start reading!!!
Sofiee