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My Anticipated October Book Releases


Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Illustrated Edition) by J.K Rowling  Oct. 3rd, 2017

For twelve long years, the dread fortress of Azkaban held an infamous prisoner named Sirius Black. Convicted of killing thirteen people with a single curse, he was said to be the heir apparent to the Dark Lord, Voldemort.

Now he has escaped, leaving only two clues as to where he might be headed: Harry Potter's defeat of You-Know-Who was Black's downfall as well. And the Azkaban guards heard Black muttering in his sleep, "He's at Hogwarts . . . he's at Hogwarts."

Harry Potter isn't safe, not even within the walls of his magical school, surrounded by his friends. Because on top of it all, there may well be a traitor in their midst.


Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 3 The Ship of the Dead by Rick Riordan Oct. 3rd, 2017

Magnus Chase, a once-homeless teen, is a resident of the Hotel Valhalla and one of Odin's chosen warriors. As the son of Frey, the god of summer, fertility, and health, Magnus isn't naturally inclined to fighting. But he has strong and steadfast friends, including Hearthstone the elf, Blitzen the dwarf, and Samirah the Valkyrie, and together they have achieved brave deeds, such as defeating Fenris Wolf and battling giants for Thor's hammer, Mjolnir. Now Magnus faces his most dangerous trial yet. His cousin, Annabeth, recruits her boyfriend, Percy Jackson, to give Magnus some pointers, but will his training be enough?

Loki is free from his chains. He's readying Naglfar, the Ship of the Dead, complete with a host of giants and zombies, to sail against the Asgardian gods and begin the final battle of Ragnarok. It's up to Magnus and his friends to stop him, but to do so they will have to sail across the oceans of Midgard, Jotunheim, and Niflheim in a desperate race to reach Naglfar before it's ready to sail. Along the way, they will face angry sea gods, hostile giants, and an evil fire-breathing dragon. Magnus's biggest challenge will be facing his own inner demons. Does he have what it takes to outwit the wily trickster god?


Turtles All The Way Down by John Green Oct. 10, 2017

Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis.
   
Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts. 
 
In his long-awaited return, John Green, the acclaimed, award-winning author of Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars, shares Aza’s story with shattering, unflinching clarity in this brilliant novel of love, resilience, and the power of lifelong friendship.

All The Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvader Oct. 10, 2017

Here is a thing everyone wants: 
A miracle.

Here is a thing everyone fears:
What it takes to get one.

Any visitor to Bicho Raro, Colorado, is likely to find a landscape of dark saints, forbidden love, scientific dreams, miracle-mad owls, estranged affections, one or two orphans, and a sky full of watchful desert stars. 

At the heart of this place you will find the Soria family, who all have the ability to perform unusual miracles. And at the heart of this family are three cousins longing to change its future: Beatriz, the girl without feelings, who wants only to be free to examine her thoughts; Daniel, the Saint of Bicho Raro, who performs miracles for everyone but himself; and Joaquin, who spends his nights running a renegade radio station under the name Diablo Diablo. 

They are all looking for a miracle. But the miracles of Bicho Raro are never quite what you expect.


It Devours! Welcome to Nightvale Novel by Joseph Fink & Jeffrey Cranor Oct. 17, 2017

From the authors of the New York Times bestselling novel Welcome to Night Vale and the creators of the #1 international podcast of the same name, comes a mystery exploring the intersections of faith and science, the growing relationship between two young people who want desperately to trust each other, and the terrifying, toothy power of the Smiling God.
Nilanjana Sikdar is an outsider to the town of Night Vale. Working for Carlos, the town’s top scientist, she relies on fact and logic as her guiding principles. But all of that is put into question when Carlos gives her a special assignment investigating a mysterious rumbling in the desert wasteland outside of town. This investigation leads her to the Joyous Congregation of the Smiling God, and to Darryl, one of its most committed members. Caught between her beliefs in the ultimate power of science and her growing attraction to Darryl, she begins to suspect the Congregation is planning a ritual that could threaten the lives of everyone in town. Nilanjana and Darryl must search for common ground between their very different world views as they are faced with the Congregation’s darkest and most terrible secret.

A Darker Shade of Magic Collector's Edition by V.E Schwab Oct. 31st 2017

A Darker Shade of Magic, the first book in V.E. Schwab's New York Timesbestselling Shades of Magic trilogy, is now available in a special collector's edition.
With a revamped, metallic ink detailed cover and reading ribbon, this edition will also feature the following bonus material:
*End papers featuring fan art
*A glossary of Arnesian and Antari terms
*An interview between author and editor
*Original (never before seen!) tales from within the Shades of Magic world
Kell is one of the last Antarimagicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black.
Kell was raised in ArnesRed Londonand officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see.
Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see. It's a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand.
After an exchange goes awry, Kell escapes to Grey London and runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.
Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive.





Warm Fuzzy Middle Grade Books

I am considered a super 100% legal adult, and I still read middle grade books. Even though I am expected to be moving from Young Adult to full fledge adult books I still find myself falling into the stories dedicated to middle grade readers. At first I felt a bit self-conscious, but now I have embraced it, because there amazing middle grade stories out there (better than some YA and adult books)



Take Harry Potter for example. The first half of the series is considered middle-grade and as Harry grows up (along side the reader) the books start containing more mature themes that the older audience will grasp quicker than a child.

Some of my favorite books are actually considered middle-grade books…what does that say about me? That I am a child..? You see, the reason I love middle grade stories is because most of the lead characters are selfless. Most of the time their goal is to help someone else out rather than accomplishing a personal goal. Sure you can argue “Percy Jackson went on an adventure to restore Zeus’ lighting bolt because he did not want to die!” And while I do agree with that statement, he also did it to save his mom. Then he realized he was not only saving his mom, but in part his dad, and saving his new friends.



It has to do with the concept of innocence and growth. As a child our worries were minuscule and we felt unbeatable, because the concept of death was still something that only happens in films. Middle grade stories are filled with characters who have a clean slates and do not carry so much baggage. You watch these characters obtain their baggage as you step into their world, and you see the beginning of their development.

Whenever we start a new book that is above the middle grade genre, you have to learn about the character’s baggage. You have to learn why a character behaves a certain way and makes decisions the way they do. While the mystery behind it may be exciting, the whole experience of it is different.



I am currently reading, The School of Good and Evil by Soman Chainani. It is the first middle grade I have read in a long while where the characters are below the age of sixteen. As I read the book it made me realize how clean the character’s slates are. Our two main characters’ current goals are so simple ( I know it will become more complex), but their starting goals are as easy as 2+2 = 4. Sophie want to go to magical school to learn how to become a princess, while Agatha (her best friend) does not want Sophie to be taken away because it means losing her only friend. 

How simple and clean is that. Of course, you will see that there is a lot more to the story as you read, but from the start you see how innocent their goals are. It takes me back to a time where my only goals were figuring out how to please my parents so they give me extra internet hours.

As a reader, I feel it is important to read children stories and remind ourselves that some things can be simple and clean. It is important because it reminds ourselves how to have fun on simple matters. It is important because it reminds ourselves to be a kid again. 

And as a parent, it reminds us that children are actually quite simple…until hormones kick in.

If you want to feel like a baggage free child that does not have a million and one things on their plate try checking out some of these middle grade stories.




My Fall Reads: Releases and TBR


Red and yellow leaves. Cool weather. Pumpkin spice everything. More importantly: new books.
Fall is upon us and so is a wave of books that being queued up on my bookshelf and my amazon cart.

September


On the 6th of September two books were released. Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs and Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Mass.

Tales of the Peculiar is supplemental material about the world of Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children. This book expands on who the peculiar ares and we are given background of famous peculiars that were mentioned in the trilogy. While I have not actually read the book yet, it’s currently one my favorite books, aesthetically. It does look like a true victorian book hold mysteries and dark beings. Very fairy tales like…also there are annotations by Milliard Nullings! Millard is my favorite character in Riggs’ peculiar world.

Empire of Storms is book five of the Throne of Glass series. The Throne of Glass series follows the story of a female assassin…and that is all I can say without given too much away. Anyways, book 5 continues the story of the assassin’s life, struggle, and adventure. 

On the 27th of September Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo shall be released. This is the second book of the Six of Crows duoelogy. Six of Crows follows the story of six different misfits has they attempt the most impossible heist of their lives. Crooked Kingdoms is obviously it’s sequel.

October


On the 4th of October Magnus Chase and the Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordian is released. Magnus Chase is the cousin of Annabeth Chase from Riordian’s Percy Jackson series and Magnus has a norse godly parent. I am s***t from anything written by Rick Riordian and when announced his new norse series I pre-ordered the first book without a second thought. And now in book two Magnus has to find Thor’s hammer before something goes bad…like most Riordian books go.

On the 6th of October Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets ( Illustrated Edition ) by J.K Rowling is released. I do not need to tell you what this book is about and if you have not read it you are missing a lot of magic from your life.

On the 18th of October Gemina ( The Illuminae Files ) by Jay Kristof and Amie Kaufman is released. This book two of The Illuminae Files aka the most amazing book I read on 2015. It is sorta the sequel to the previous book, but it has different main character. It still has to do with the BeiTech Assault the happened in the first book. The best part of this book is the way the story will be told. 


November


On the 8th of November Heartless by Marissa Meyer is released. Heartless is the untold story of the well-known Queen of Hearts before she was the Queen of Hearts. Marissa Meyer does an A-mazing job re-telling classing fairy tale stories and giving each story an unforgettable twist.

On the 18th of November Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Original Screenplay by J.K Rowling is released. This is the screenplay of the movie that will be released on the same day. And as a devoted Harry Potter fan…I need this book.


These are the books the will be calling my bookshelves home in the next few months. I am pretty excited for all these books, and all the worlds to re-enter and explore.

More Potter? | Book Talk

I am, like a good chunk of the reading community, a Harry Potter fan. While I personally did not get truly 100% into the Harry Potter fandom until after the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2007. I never really experienced a midnight release in my local bookstore Harry Potter style, but I have attended Harry Potter based conferences like Leakycon, Geekycon and Universal Studios Harry Potter Celebrations.

I consider myself a Harry Potter fan. A Potterhead. A Ravenclaw. 

I've devote myself a lot of time into this universe (along with a lot of money). I remember staying up till 4am, when Pottermore was a giant mystery, to solve the secret riddle to obtain the secret code in order to become one of the first BETA testers. I remember watching the live broadcast of the final Harry Potter red-carpet premiere in London. I remember going to the midnight release with my best friend at the time and crying my eyes out when the final credits rolled across the black screen. I remember begging my dad to take me to Universal Studios to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. 

When I read the last words, “All was well”. I was pretty upset because:
1) DEATHLY HALLOWS WAS PAINFUL 
2) No more Harry Potter. 
3) So many unanswered questions!

When Pottermore was announced I am pretty sure the whole fandom broke. Excited. Crying. All the feels. Legit Sorting Hat Test by the Queen herself! Wizards! Hogwarts! Duels!…and then we experienced a major disappointment. From not choosing our own user names, to lack of music, to house identity crisis, to a boring time. 

Thankfully all the new information the Queen uploaded satisfied this girl, and majority of the fandom. New canon information to give all of us, and allow us to expand our knowledge of the Wizarding World Universe. And brewing potions and earning house points was fun.

I sound like I am complaining, but I am not. I am happy, but I am also scared. Worried even. As more information is added there is more, aggravation? in the fandom…whether they don’t agree with a canon or if their headcanon was destroyed.

This brings me to the topic of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.



When it was first announced, the fandom rose and freaked out. WE WERE BACK IN BUSINESS!

8th story? YES!
Sequel to DH? YES!
Older Characters? YES!
Second Generation? YES!
Black Hermoine? YES!
Two parts? YES!
Only in West End London? wait…what.. NO!! That’s not fair.

Soon after the binding of the rehearsal scripts were announced and we were all screaming for joy! Midnight Harry Potter release once more….but most of us came to the realization that while The Queen, Ms. J.K Rowling, had her name in big bold letters on the book, she herself did not write the story.

Panic.

Is it canon? PANIC!

But even in this slight fear the Harry Potter fandom, along with myself, had our robes and wands ready for another adventure.

Fast forward to July 31st

Book is out.

I see the fandom split to: THIS WAS AMAZING to WTF IS THIS BS!

I personally was out of the country when it got released and seeing these two sides induced massive fear in me. Watching the fandom split into these two sides…even though they were both (well most of them) very nice about their opinions.

It got me thinking. When will it be too much Wizarding World? Maybe it is best to have unanswered questions in order to have thousands of fan theories and headcanons. Will it get to the point that I will start disliking HP because the way the world gets built? 

Now with the announcement of the three new e-books:


I am even more on edge. For I no longer know what to expect and I am scared to read them, along with Cursed Child. (Although knowing me I will purchase them release date.)

AAAAAH.

As much as I want to learn about the world, and other wizard schools. I want to keep the sense of what-ifs and mysteries of what is might be. I feel like it adds to our very own magic. It is what makes Harry Potter so unique I believe. BUT, at the same time I want to learn more about this world and I want J.K. Rowling to keep writing.

Also, I can't wait this Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them OMG!

Simply Me | Looks

Today I was very pleased with my outfit. It was kinda thrown together nice a quick as I rushed through my morning routine so I wouldn't be late to work. 

It felt very me. I bled my very essence in my clothes today. Which was a very nice feeling. I don't have a definite style or a definite fashion sense. Some days I'm chic, some days I'm hipster, some days I'm girly, some days I'm a hobo. But if I were to explain my fashion sense I tell them: a mixture of the hipster style with the Japanese girl aesthetic that lives for flowers.  It really doesn't make sense to be honest.

But today it yelled: Wanna be flower bookworm! (Queen).



A skater dress, jumper, knee highs and boots. 

The dress I purchased during my stay in Japan. I don't really remember the name of the store but it was a Japanese version of H&M and Cotton On. The dress was only 500 yen! (About 4.50 USD)



The jumper is from a Harry Potter themed store called Whimsic Alley. I came across this Quidditch jumper at Geekycon. And I had to have it...even though I am not a Gryffidor. I felt bad, a Ravenclaw purchasing a Gryffidor Quidditch jumper! (Don't tell JKR) in my defense! The Ravenclaw colours didn't look good on me because 1) it was movie colours and 2) it was light blue rather than navy blue. Red looks so much nice against my skin tone. 

The socks came from sock store in Japan. It was 350 yen which would be about 3 USD. These are also "slimming" socks, that helps your legs become slimmer. (Japan is strange). Now my boots I've owned since I was 14...so 6 years. I honestly don't remember where I got them. Could be Forever 21 or some other store with the same style. 


Now my favorite piece of the whole "I love Harry Potter, flowers and my style" outfit is the bracelet on my right wrist. It is a book quote, but a very important one. It is the last words written in the last book of the Harry Potter series. "As was well". This bracelet is hand-made and came from a cute little shop called Little Shop of Hodge Podge. They get old damage books and give them new purpose. I feel so delighted that now I can carry a bit of Harry Potter with me where I go. They all sorts of books as well as designs so I plan on purchasing more book jewelry from them soon!