Greymist Fair

By Francesca Zappia

314 pages

Hardback first edition

YA Fantasy 

When the author announced this book I had to pre-order it. I have read her other books and loved them all. They all have made me cry in different ways. This one so gave me sniffles. 

The book is kind of different because the whole story us told through 7 mini novels, with two shorter pieces at the start and end. 

Table of contents: all the stories

Each story has its own chapter sequence and is centered on a different character . 

This book was so good that I'm going to forgive Blogger for randomly insisting that the rest of the post should be centered. Also, I've tried to fix it 3 times and I'm fed up with it, so that’s just how it's going to be. Not like anyone else reads these anyway. 😅

I really liked the shifting perspectives. All of the main characters were interesting and round - although some of the side characters weren't. Also, I longed to know more about some of the side characters: What happened to the friend of the prince? The boy's mother? Etc.

Also, becuase I pre-ordered the book, I got some special things:

Author info:

Back of the book:

Divine Rivals

By Rebecca Ross

362 pages

Hardback

Owlcrate first edition

Oh wow. I started reading this book around 8am today - it is not quite 3pm and I just finished it. 

This book was riveting. I didn't want to put it down- although I did take a little lunch break. 

This book had a little bit of everything: sass, humor, magic, romance...

It also had warfare, and soldiers, and infirmaries. And magical typrewriters.

I even cried at one point. 

No, I won't say when. It's not the above page...

It's also just a beautiful edition! Owlcrate really stepped it up. 

Stamped edges:

With a black ribbon bookmark.

Foiled Hardcover 

The front 

the back

Beautiful end papers:

The neat inside pages:

those typewriter key letters

bound in author letter

signature page

Not tension the art inside the dust jacket (above) or to neglect the back of the dust jacket:

Totally calls for at least a second book - I'm guessing duology because the author has written a couple of those - and I'm really looking forward to the next volume! 

The Ivory Key

By Akshaya Raman

372 pages

Hardback

YA Fantasy 

Owlcrate 

It's a beautiful book, and it was a good read. 

I'm kind of annoyed that it's not a stand alone novel.

Map! I do love a map. 

First page. The book rotates through the POVs of the 4 siblings. 

the inside of the cover includes art of the main characters 

pretty detail on the front lid

Signed first edition 

author letter

author info 

I don't think I'll keep it - it's destined either for a student or for my classroom library. I did enjoy it - I just don't think I care enough to hang onto it until the next one is out. 

The Circle

By Dave Eggers

My child was assigned this book in English class and was not feeling it. So she put it on my work desk and said: "Read this"

Thanks? 

It's a tech dystopia. 

I didn't like the main character. Neither did my child or her classmates. I don't think you're supposed to. 

It was fine. I was interested to finish reading it, but it also held no real surprises for me. 

I've been there!

This is very 1984. 

Honestly the whole thing reminded me of an updated 1984. Was that on purpose? Maybe.

It wasn't a terrible book. I'm not like mad that I read it or anything. I think maybe that people who grew up without the internet might read it in a different way than people who grew up on the internet. 

Silver in the Bone

By Alexandra Bracken 

467 pages

YA Fantasy 

Hardback

Owlcrate first edition 

It's a take on Arthurian Legend.

I did enjoy it. I didn't expect all of the plot twists, which is always nice. 

Not sure I care enough to get the second book, though. 

This book is gorgeous, though. And the pages made very satisfying noises as the gilt edging separated. 

author info

She also wrote Lore, which I enjoyed well enough. 

author letter

Witness the prettiness: