In the Mail: Secreta Shop

I've been admiring this artist for a while and recently fell in love with a particular piece. Lucky for me I was at the computer right after it got listed on Etsy. A little while later it showed up at my door, in the most magical packaging!

Now I've seen Etsy sellers with very cute packaging, but I've never felt like I'd become part of a magical society before. One usually only dreams of wax seals and parchment notes. But it's a fantasy that comes to life with Secreta Shop!

Here is a glimpse of what Secreta Shop has to offer at the moment. There is art for your walls, hangings to put wherever you like, and tiny art work you can order either as a pendant or a brooch. Check out the shop for more!

Mixed Shelf #20

Still making my way through my library books. I finished two out of five, and am now busy reading the children's books I picked up. So far so good, but I have to admit I have many, many pages left to read before they're finished.

Wanting: Keeper of Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

This is a new series that is bound to get big soon. Lots of people have been raving about it, and it has a ridiculously high rating on Goodreads. Anyway, it's a magical middle grade book about two telepaths that need to work together. You know I love middle grade, and if a book is so well-received by adults as well, I really want to read it!

goodreads // available here

Reading: Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver

Sticking with middle grade... I just picked up Liesl and Po from the library. I read one Lauren Oliver ("Before I Fall") and though it was an ok read, I did not love it. However, this is off to quite a promising start. And one thing I love about books for younger audiences is that they cut out all the standard teen issues, and just leave the magic.

goodreads // available here

Waiting: Lockwood & Co. by Jonathan Stroud

I bought this at a book signing, and though I was so excited to buy it, I have to admit I haven't started it yet. And I won't have time to read it this year, but I might be able to still squeeze it into this winter. Can't say if it's good yet, but Jonathan Stroud was just wonderful. Really friendly and enthusiastic! So I almost recommend this in advance.

goodreads // available here

Have you picked up anything from the library recently? Or read any fun middle grade?

Mixed Shelf #19

I'm trying to finish all my library books before they are due. Thankfully they're all fun, and easy to read. And I didn't notice as I was picking them, but all books are quite magical as well. So I'm sticking with that theme today.

Wanting: Among Others by Jo Walton

A fifteen year-old girl tries to escape some things in her life, she finds solace in books. However, apparently there's quite a lot of magic in her world as well. And her very own mother uses it, though not for good… Anyway, I've heard many wonderful things about this and I'm pretty sure it's exactly my kind of book. Also, fairies! Need I say more?

goodreads // available here

Reading: Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen

Earlier this year I read my first Sarah Addison Allen. When I saw her latest one in the library I got really excited, and without even reading the back, I took it home. So far it's just as good as I was hoping. Not a lot of magic yet, but I'm pretty sure that will show up soon. And although I am looking forward to that, I'm currently not bored in the least.

goodreads // available here

Waiting: The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

This one has been waiting on my shelf for way too long. But I watched the movie this week and really enjoyed it. The extra dvd interviews made it clear they skipped some events from the actual book. And I look forward to finding out what those are exactly… So I guess that poor paperback won't have to wait much longer till I actually read it.

goodreads // available here

Are you reading something fun at the moment? Or do you have any magical recommendations?

Mixed Shelf #17

Rainy Fall days always get me in the mood for middle grade fantasy books. There's something extra cozy about that combination. Throw in a purring cat, a warm blanket and a good cup of tea and I am content for hours on end!

Wanting: Fire Spell by Laura Amy Schlitz

Was it the cover that drew me in? Absolutely! …but I am also curious about the story. It does sound quite sinister, but it's a children's book, so it might still be doable. It involves orphans, magic and an evil puppeteer that turns one of the protagonists into a marionette by controlling her body and mind. Creepy, right? Halloween read, maybe.

goodreads // available here

Reading: Wild Magic by Cat Weatherill

Where I live, we have "children's book week" each year. If you buy any children's books then, you also get a gift. I liked the gift book, so I browsed my favorite bookstore and happened upon Wild Magic. It seemed interesting, and the cover is gorgeous! It even has silver specks! Anyway, it's a retelling of the Pied Piper and I'm quite liking it so far.

goodreads // available here

Waiting: The Chronicles of the Chrestomanci Vol.1 by Diana Wynne Jones

This book has been sitting on my shelf for probably about a decade. I have read two other Diana Wynne Jones-books, and I did like them. They're not my favorite books, but quite enjoyable. I also got stuck in another one, twice. And I just never got round to reading this book, something else always distracted me. Perhaps I'll still squeeze it into 2014...

goodreads // available here in a different cover

How about you? What are your favorite Fall reads? Or can you recommend any good middle grade fantasy?

Mixed Shelf #5

Even though I'm still very much enjoying stories with at least a hint of magic, I did pick up a novel for grown-ups again. It's promising so far, so I'll dive back in right after I finish this post about it and two other interesting books.

Wanting: Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu

This is a retelling of The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen. Now I love fairytale retellings, or at least if they're done right. However, I have to admit I'm not that familiar with the original that inspired Breadcrumbs. Nevertheless I'd love to dive into the world both through this retelling as well as the classic that inspired it.

goodreads // available here

Reading: the Girl who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

I just got myself a library card and immediately searched the shelfs for a nice new read. The title caught my eye, the cover made me fall in love and the synopsis proved interesting enough for me to take it home. Just read a few chapters, but I'm loving it so far. It has wallpaper that changes to fit your mood, now isn't that interesting?

goodreads // available here

Waiting: the Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

This is a book I've been wanting for ages! Eventually I ordered it, but now that it's here I have to admit I haven't touched it yet. I'm still excited though! It probably fits best in the genre of Magical Realism. It's about a mysterious girl that appears in the woods right after a child built of snow by a childless woman has disappeared. Very intriguing!

goodreads // available here

What book is keeping you up reading at night? Or did you find anything recently that you're really excited about?

Lovely Movies: Cirque du Freak: the Vampire's Assistant

When I was younger the Darren Shan books were pretty popular with some kids in my class. I didn't read any at the time, nor have I since, but when the movie recently came on tv I decided to watch it.

Honestly it was pretty refreshing seeing a movie with vampires that sucked more blood than face. And as for the blood, there was actually very little too. It is more a movie about magic and a freak circus, than it is about vampires.

Also, does Salma Hayek rock a beard, or what?! She has very little screen time, and I thought her acting wasn't that great in this movie, but the sight of her hairy -yet stunning- face alone is worth watching this movie for.

Watch the trailer till 1:20!

As a kid of the early nineties, I grew up watching movies like Back to the Future and the Karate Kid. And though this is completely different -and has some stunning visual effects that are not of that time, at all- it still reminds me of it. It's one of those harmless adventure movies that still bring the suspense. And in this case, quite a lot of amazing creatures as well.

Amazing Art: Francisco Miranda

The art of Francisco Miranda is hard to describe. It's often not clear what he is showing you, yet you can't really call it abstract. It usually looks symmetrical, but a lot of pieces aren't.

  Either way, it's extraordinary colors and well-thought-of shading give this amazing imagery a very magical atmosphere. And if you take a closer look, you might find a proper story as well(especially visible in the 5th picture).

 

Great Reads

The Night Circus seems to be a hype in-the-making. I pops up everywhere I go and I'm guessing it'll be really BIG soon. I finished reading it a little while back and thought I'd share my thoughts on it.

The story and style of writing grabbed me from the start. I liked the air of mystery and the special world made by Erin Morgenstern.
You may already know that I love longer stories. And with it's 500+ pages, this was right up my alley.

I don't want to go into the storyline as you can easily find a synopsis elsewhere. I will say that it has some intriguing characters of all ages and personalities. I also loved that it wasn't as black and white (well apart from all the visual aspects, anyway) as fairy tales often are. No bad guys, no good guys, just ordinary people -with magical abilities- and a situation that took on a life of its own.

There's a love story in it, but it's not as prominent, which I found really refreshing. The downside of that is that I didn't connect with that part of the book much. The emotions didn't really get through to me, even though it was pretty much labeled an "epic" romance.

It is forgiven though, as I really loved the book as a whole. Even though I finished the book, I still think about the characters and the setting a lot. The story involved all senses and perhaps that's the secret to making it stick so well. Also, it had a very satisfactory ending. An ending I won't spoil for you.

Overall, a wonderful book and a very quick read. I suggest you read it in the Autumn/Winter though, as it has to be even better when enjoyed with some spicy hot chocolate and a few caramel coated/filled goodies.