Goodreads Monday #1

Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren @ Lauren’s Page Turners. To participate, choose a random book from your TBR and show it off! Don’t forget to link back to Lauren’s Page Turners and link up to the inlinkz so others can see what you picked!

There are 309 books on my Goodreads TBR. Oops. The thing is, I can't stop adding new titles, I think you fellow bookworms understand this urge...

Anyway, I have a wide range of books to choose from, but today this post will feature a retelling, because I was reading a fairy tale retelling in the second half of last week (The Lady and the Highlander by Lecia Cornwall) and I think it's a good idea to keep this theme going today.

I picked the following book because I'm extremely fond of Shakespeare and I have already read one Shakespeare retelling from this author that I loved dearly (read my review of Ophelia by Lisa Klein here).

So on to the book:

Lady Macbeth's Daughter

Lisa M. Klein

Synopsis:

Albia has grown up with no knowledge of her mother of her father, the powerful Macbeth. Instead she knows the dark lure of the Wychelm Wood and the moors, where she's been raised by three strange sisters. It's only when the ambitious Macbeth seeks out the sisters to foretell his fate that Albia's life becomes tangled with the man who leaves nothing but bloodshed in his wake. She even falls in love with Fleance, Macbeth's rival for the throne. Yet when Albia learns that she has the second sight, she must decide whether to ignore the terrible future she foresees—or to change it. Will she be able to save the man she loves from her murderous father? And can she forgive her parents their wrongs, or must she destroy them to save Scotland from tyranny?

Recently I had a few 'encounters' with Macbeth the play and the story; I was lucky enough to see a midnight performance of it in Shakespeare's Globe and I also saw the movie with Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, which I enjoyed a lot too. I can't wait to put my hands on this book!

Do you like retellings? Which one is your favourite?

Goodreads Monday #3

Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren @ Lauren’s Page Turners. To participate, choose a random book from your TBR and show it off! Don’t forget to link back to Lauren’s Page Turners and link up to the inlinkz so others can see what you picked!

This week I'm reading a YA fantasy novel, Bohermore by Jennifer Rose McMahon.  

Here's another YA fantasy I'm planning to read:

Finnikin of the Rock

(Lumatere Chronicles #1)

by Melina Marchetta

Synopsis:

At the age of nine, Finnikin is warned by the gods that he must sacrifice a pound of flesh to save his kingdom. He stands on the rock of the three wonders with his friend Prince Balthazar and Balthazar's cousin, Lucian, and together they mix their blood to safeguard Lumatere.

But all safety is shattered during the five days of the unspeakable, when the king and queen and their children are brutally murdered in the palace. An impostor seizes the throne, a curse binds all who remain inside Lumatere's walls, and those who escape are left to roam the land as exiles, dying by the thousands in fever camps.

Ten years later, Finnikin is summoned to another rock--to meet Evanjalin, a young novice with a startling claim: Balthazar, heir to the throne of Lumatere, is alive. This arrogant young woman claims she'll lead Finnikin and his mentor, Sir Topher, to the prince. Instead, her leadership points them perilously toward home. Does Finnikin dare believe that Lumatere might one day rise united? Evanjalin is not what she seems, and the startling truth will test Finnikin's faith not only in her but in all he knows to be true about himself and his destiny.

Which book did YOU feature in your GM post today?

Weekend Wrap-up #7

The Sunday post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It's a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things you have received.

I didn't sleep much last night because my friend's plane was late and so we all went to bed around 4 am. She had to leave very early in the morning too, I hope we'll have more time to spend together on Monday.

I was very lazy this week, it must have been because of the hot weather but it's no good anyway. I need my energy back!!

I'm currently reading Nothing But Sky by Amy Trueblood, which is very charming so far, I like spending time with it.

Recent posts on the blog:

Monday: Goodreads Monday #12 - Last Letter Home by Rachel Hore

Tuesday: April Wrap-Up, May TBR

Thursday: Review - The Last Sun (The Tarot Sequence #1) by K.D. Edwards

Friday: Book Beginnings and the Friday 56 # 13 - Nothing But Sky  by Amy Trueblood

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that makes it possible to share with other bookworms what books you added to your shelves – physical or virtual – during the week.

I received one eARC via NetGalley this week:

Title: Claire's Last Secret

Author: Marty Ambrose

Publication Date: September 1st, 2018

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads

I really shouldn't browse NetGalley after promising myself I wouldn't request more titles... But there is always that one book that finds you there...  I don't even like Claire Clairmont that much but any story that involves Lord Byron, the Shelleys and that famous night at Villa Diodati is a must read for me. Sorry not sorry.

Don't forget to leave a link to your weekend posts! Have a nice one!

Goodreads Monday #13

Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren @ Lauren’s Page Turners. To participate, choose a random book from your TBR and show it off! Don’t forget to link back to Lauren’s Page Turners and link up to the inlinkz so others can see what you picked!

I started watching Alias Grace on Netflix two days ago and I'm hooked. I'd like to read the book and soon. This won't be my first Atwood, I've read The Penelopiad before and loved it.

Alias Grace

by Margaret Atwood

Synopsis:

Grace Marks has been convicted for her involvement in the vicious murders of her employer, Thomas Kinnear, and Nancy Montgomery, his housekeeper and mistress. Some believe Grace is innocent; others think her evil or insane. Now serving a life sentence, Grace claims to have no memory of the murders.

Dr. Simon Jordan, an up-and-coming expert in the burgeoning field of mental illness, is engaged by a group of reformers and spiritualists who seek a pardon for Grace. He listens to her story while bringing her closer and closer to the day she cannot remember. What will he find in attempting to unlock her memories? Is Grace a female fiend? A bloodthirsty femme fatale? Or is she the victim of circumstances?

 Is there any book on your TBR that you are truly dying to read right now? Which one is that?

Goodreads Monday #9

Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren @ Lauren’s Page Turners. To participate, choose a random book from your TBR and show it off! Don’t forget to link back to Lauren’s Page Turners and link up to the inlinkz so others can see what you picked!

I've never been much of a short story reader, however lately I've started to put some short story collections on my reading list because, you know, sometimes you gotta read outside your comfort zone. Let me show you one such collection that sounds especially promising to me.

Death or Ice Cream?

by Gareth P. Jones

Synopsis:

Larkin Mills: The Birthplace of Death!

Larkin Mills is no ordinary town. It's a place of contradictions and enigma, of secrets and mysteries. A place with an exquisite ice cream parlour, and an awful lot of death.

An extraordinary mystery in Larkin Mills is beginning to take shape. First we meet the apparently healthy Albert Dance, although he's always been called a sickly child, and he's been booked into Larkin Mills' Hospital for Specially Ill Children. Then there's his neighbour Ivor, who observes strange goings-on, and begins his own investigations into why his uncle disappeared all those years ago. Next we meet Young Olive, who is given a battered accordion by her father, and unwittingly strikes a dreadful deal with an instrument repair man.

Make sure you keep an eye on Mr Morricone, the town ice-cream seller, who has queues snaking around the block for his legendary ice cream flavours Summer Fruits Suicide and The Christmas Massacre. And Mr Milkwell, the undertaker, who has some very dodgy secrets locked up in his hearse. Because if you can piece together what all these strange folks have to do with one another... well, you'll have begun to unlock the dark secrets that keep the little world of Larkin Mills spinning ...

I have a rather strong suspicion this book was inspired by Wallace Stevens's poem called  
The Emperor of Ice-Cream. 

Call the roller of big cigars, 
The muscular one, and bid him whip
 In kitchen cups concupiscent curds. 
Let the wenches dawdle in such dress
 As they are used to wear, and let the boys
 Bring flowers in last month’s newspapers.
 Let be be finale of seem.
 The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream.

 Take from the dresser of deal,
 Lacking the three glass knobs, that sheet
 On which she embroidered fantails once
 And spread it so as to cover her face.
 If her horny feet protrude, they come
 To show how cold she is, and dumb.
 Let the lamp affix its beam.
 The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream. 

Do you often read short stories? 
If you can recommend me some good collections, go ahead, please.

Weekend Wrap-up #9

The Sunday post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It's a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things you have received.

This was my first week at the new job. I didn't work yet actually, only observed what my colleagues were doing. I'll do that for another week, then my training will start on June 4th. 

I didn't think that sitting and watching would be as exhausting as it is but the thing is, time would go so much faster if I had active tasks too. Not that I'm complaining, I'm getting paid for showing up and doing virtually nothing for 8 hours so yeah... it's worth it, obviously. However, I'm looking forward to the real training process more and more.

My best friend moved home to Hungary at last and I'm looking forward to seeing her next week when she comes to my town to hang out with me. Good times ahead.

This week I finished Clowders by Vanessa Morgan. It was kind of a disappointment unfortunately. My review is coming next week. I've started reading Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman and can't wait to learn more about the Norse gods.

Recent posts on the blog:

Monday: Life Update and Goodreads Monday #14 

Tuesday: Tell Me Something Tuesday #2

Wednesday: WWW Wednesday #14

Friday: Book Beginnings and the Friday 56 #16

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that makes it possible to share with other bookworms what books you added to your shelves – physical or virtual – during the week.

I haven't added any books to my physical or virtual shelf in the past 7 days, however, there's a couple I haven't showed you guys yet due to missed weekend wrap-ups. Here they are:

Title: Succubus Lips (Succubus Sirens #1)

Author: Lina Jubilee

Publication Date: May 8th, 2018

Source: RockStar Book Tours

Goodreads

I won't lie to you: there are so many ways this book can go wrong or can trun out to be problematic and I'm very curious if the writer managed to do it well or the story trips on itself and its subject material. I haven't read erotica in a while so yeah, let's do this!

Title: Bring Me Their Hearts

Author: Sara Wolf

Publication Date: June 5th, 2018

Source: YA Bound Book Tours

Goodreads

I'll probably start reading this book pretty soon, as  my book tour review date is June 15th. You'll hear more about this title on the blog soon.

Don't forget to leave a link to your weekend posts! Have a nice one!

Weekend Wrap-up #6

The Sunday post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It's a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things you have received.

Hey there, Lovelies, here's what happened to me since my last wrap-up:

My mum's birthday was this week so I got her photos printed for her. She prefers photos on paper, she loves organizing them. Since we haven't had her pictures printed for some time, it was a long procedure to pick out the best ones and place the order for them. In the end we got 352 photos, the ones taken in Rome last year included.

I'm enjoying the sunshine a lot, suddenly it's summer and I can take long walks around the town. The blooming flowers are very pretty.

Reading has gone well too. We're getting closer to the end of the Red Queen read-along and I'm still on track, yay! I've picked up an urban fantasy this week too, The Last Sun by K. D. Edwards. It's pretty entertaining and it's full of strange creatures. 

Recent posts on the blog:

Monday: Goodreads Monday #11 – Promises to Keep by Genevieve Graham

Wednesday: WWW Wednesday #11

Thursday: Book Blitz - Wings of Flesh and Bones by Cathrina Constantine

Friday: Review - How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather

 

My Red Tent Giveaway is still running, you can participate until April 30th! 

Click on the picture to go to the giveaway post!

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that makes it possible to share with other bookworms what books you added to your shelves – physical or virtual – during the week.

 ARC:

Title: In Azgarth's Shadow

Author: Cassie Sweet

Publication Date: April 23th, 2018

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads

It seems like these days I come across many LGBTQ urban fantasies that I find appealing (The one I'm reading right now, The Last Sun, is the same genre). I'm excited for In Azgarth's Sahadow because there are fae in the story and also necromancy... They actually bring the MC back to life, wow!

  

Purchased ebook:

Title: The Women in the Walls  

Author: Amy Lukavics  

Publication Date: September 27th, 2016

Source: Amazon

Goodreads

I may have bad dreams after reading this and I'm sure I'll be afraid in the dark for some time like I was after watching Woman in Black in the theatre... but... it was a dollar and a half on amazon and I couldn't resist buying it. I read mixed reviews and I want to check the creep level out for myself. It's time to make my peace with evil spirits and haunted houses...

How was your week? Don't forget to leave your STS and Sunday post links below! I'm dying to know what's up with you, guys!

Weekend Wrap-up #10

The Sunday post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It's a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things you have received.

This was my last week of training at the workplace, so from Monday I'm on my own. Hopefully everything will go well.

Yesterday we went to the bath with my best friend. We swam so much, I was extremely tired by the end of the day, but it was so good to take advantage of the summer at last. We didn't expect we'd have nice weather but in the end I looked like a tomato because of the sunburn. I still do, I have to apply a thick layer of creme on my face, shoulders and chest to reduce the pain a bit.

Yesterday I finished reading Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf, my review is coming on June 27th.

I'm currently reading Mrs. Sherlock Holmes by Brad Ricca for the Timeless book club, The Lucy Preston Literary Society.

I'm planning to start Edward Albee's play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf next week.

I'd really like to put my review of Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman up on the blog next week too.

Recent posts on the blog:

Sunday: Review – Clowders by Vanessa Morgan

Wednesday: WWW Wednesday #16

Friday: Book Beginning and the Friday 56 #18 – featuring Mrs. Sherlock Holmes by Brad Ricca

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that makes it possible to share with other bookworms what books you added to your shelves – physical or virtual – during the week. 

Physical books:

Title: Ready Player One

Author: Ernest Cline

Goodreads

I know, I'm a little bit late to the game but I'm curious what the hype was about. I'll watch the movie after reading the book and will decide if I want to do a comparison post or will stick with a review. I'm glad I've got to own this book at last and that I have a chance to pick it up soon. 

Title: East of Eden

Author: John Steinbeck

Goodreads

I've been planning to read East of Eden for so long now. It's one of my mother's favourite books. I've read Of Mice and Men from Steinbeck, I know he was an incredibly talented writer and so I can't wait to start this epic family story of his.

Title: Hold Your Own

Author: Kate Tempest 

Goodreads

A poetry collection at last. A sequence of poems about the prophet Teiresias to be exact. The gender change that happens in this work interests me a lot, not to mention I've wanted to familiarize myself with Kate Tempest's poetry for some time know. It will be a wonderful ride I'm sure.

ARC:

Title: The Oddling Prince

Author: Nancy Springer

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads

I saw this book on many other blogs and the reviews usually say good things about it. My request on NetGalley got approved in 10 minutes which is a new record, haha. 

Please leave  link to your weekend post below so I can go and visit your blog. Enjoy the weekend!

Weekend Wrap-up #2

The Sunday post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It's a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things you have received.

This week went by very fast and relatively uneventful. The snow is melting at last which gives me hope that spring is knocking at our doors. I'd really love to go for more walks but only if it's not freezing cold outside.

My left eye was inflamed yesterday but luckily it got better fast (I dabbed at it with a cotton pad soaked in camomile tea – gosh, I hate the smell of camomile...). Now I'm allowed to strain my eyes again, yay! XD

I've finished one novel and one short story this week one of which I enjoyed, and one that wasn't very much to my liking. Reviews are on the way.

Posts this week:

• Goodreads Monday: Death or Ice-Cream?
• Tell Me Something Tuesday: Books I can't wait to share with my kids
• Words, words, words: NTLive Hamlet with Benedict Cumberbatch Review
• Book Beginnings and the Friday 56 - Hiding by Jenny Morton Potts
• Review – Oops, Caught by Alli Reshi

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that makes it possible to share with other bookworms what books you added to your shelves – physical or virtual – during the week.

I have only one new ARC to show you this week:

Title: Oops, Caught (Expanding Horizon #1)

Author: Alli Reshi

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads

Synopsis:

Mark Noland can’t figure out how he got into such a fix. How does an ex-mercenary (okay, an almost-reformed mercenary) get himself caught, stuck in a holding cell, on a hostile alien planet? Held captive by strange bug-like creatures who’d just as soon eat him as look at him. How can a simple mission go so awry? To make matters worse, Noland’s not alone. His fellow prisoner, a certain high-ranking, elite Stella officer holds him responsible for their failed plan. Yeah, it was supposed to be a quick in and quick out sort of mission. But no… Officer Gavnson just can’t let it go.

It’s not so easy trying to plan an escape when Noland keeps getting distracted by how his mission partner so very nicely fills out his uniform. And he suspects Gavnson is hiding something, too. As tensions run high, secrets are revealed that will change the both of them. There’s nothing like gunfights and running for your life to make that special bond.

It's a very short lgbtq sci-fi novella. My review will be up soon. 

I also have something else to share with you: a book-related DVD I've purchased recently:

I've seen this Onegin film adaptation ages ago and loved it a lot. It was around the time when in high school I had an Onegin phase and couldn't shut up about Pushkin's novel. Now that I'm gonna meet Toby Stephens in the summer at London Film and Comic Con, I've decided to revisit some of his older projects and this film is among them (he plays Lensky in it). Can't wait to discover if I'll still rate this movie as high as I would have done 10 years ago.

How was your week? What books did you add to your library? 

Leave your links down below, please!

Have a nice weekend!!

Weekend Wrap-up #8

The Sunday post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It's a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things you have received.

I've spent most of this week in Eger (a lovely little Hungarian town and hometown of my boyfriend). We had a good time – we visited his grandma, took long walks and binge-watched tv shows on Netflix (Timeless and Killjoys).

I'm living in constant anxiety these days because NBC hasn't renewed Timeless yet and that show has become soooo important to me I cannot even....... Seriously guys, if you feel like doing me a favour, please watch the two-hour season final this Sunday at 9/8 c live. My heart will surely break if the ratings won't be convincing enough and Timeless won't make it. (If you don't know what Timeless is, you can read my Timeless Showtime post here.)

 

This evening I'm planning to watch Eurovision, which will be fun, I'm sure. The Hungarian contestants seem to be popular this year so we have a good chance to end up close to the top. Fingers crossed.

My reading progress this week is a bit slower than usual and it's bugging me. I've started reading The Stolen Girl by Zia Wesley but I'm considering picking up something else as well and read more books simultaneously like I did last month because then I can do some mood-reading, which may lead to a more steady progress.

Recent posts on the blog:

Monday: Goodreads Monday #13

Wednesday: WWW Wednesday #13

Friday: Book Beginnings and the Friday 56 #14

I have no incoming books to show you this week. Actually I'm proud of myself for not giving in to the NetGalley pull in the past few days. 

I'd really like to post my Red Queen review tomorrow and my Nothing But Sky review next week, so you have those to look forward to.

Have a nice weekend, Lovelies!

March Wrap-Up, April TBR

Happy Easter, Folks!!!

 

One more month is gone and hopefully Easter will bring us the spring we deserve. 

I know I'm a bit late with this wrap-up post... my only excuse is that I've just got home from my trip to Romania and I didn't have much time to blog there.

I don't have any reason to complain, March was generally a good blogging month for me. I'm a bit behind with my reviews but I'll work on them in April and try to catch up with myself.

Here is a summary of March on Paradise Found:

I've finished six books:

Sawbones by Melissa Lenhardt – Review

Song of Blood & Stone by L. Penelope – Book Tour and Review is coming at the end of April.

Ain't He Precious by Juliette Poe – Review

Oops, Caught by Alli Reshi – Review

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant – Review is coming soon

Hiding by Jenny Morton Potts  – Book Tour and Review is coming on April 4th.

Other posts on the blog in the month of March:

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini – Review
 
For The Love of Fish! – Oscars 2018 + Book Adaptation Tag
 
Some quotes to brighten your day
 
Creating the atmosphere
 
Words, words, words – Review: Hamlet (National Theatre Live) with Benedict Cumberbatch
 
Book Blitz + Giveaway – The Dragon Raider by Ava Richardson

Weekly memes:  

Goodreads Monday (Mar 5, Mar 19, Mar 26) 

Tell Me Something Tuesday (Mar 20)

WWW Wednesday (Mar 7, Mar 14, Mar 28)

Book Beginnings and the Friday 56 (Mar 2, Mar 9, Mar 16, Mar 23, Mar 30)   

Stacking the Shelves (Mar 10)

Weekend Wrap-up (Mar 17, Mar 24, Mar 31)  

Plans for April:

I'd like to read the following books in April (in no particular order):

How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather

The Last Sun by K. D. Edwards 

Nothing But Sky by Amy Trueblood

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard  

How was your March? Did you have a satisfying reading month?

April Wrap-Up, May TBR

We made it to May, Lovelies! Well done us! I'm satisfied with April as a reading month, I hope I can keep the good work up in May too (however I seriously need to catch up with review writing!!)

I enjoyed my first read-along with Brittani from Hope, Faith & Books (thank you for hosting it!) and I managed to finish the first Percy Jackson book with my lil' brother by the end of the months (three cheers for us!).

I'm glad to announce that my Red Tent Giveaway has ended and the winner is... Kimberly from Caffeinated Book Reviewer!!! Congratulations! Today I'll get in touch with her via email and will make sure she gets her prize soon.

Here's a summary of April on Paradise Found:

I've finished five books:

The Shipbuilder by Salina B. Baker – Review

How to Hang a Witch (How to Hang a Witch #1) by Adriana Mather – Review

The Last Sun (The Tarot Sequence #1) by K. D. Edwards – Review is coming soon

Red Queen (Red Queen #1) by Victoria Aveyard – Review is coming soon

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1) by Rick Riordan

Other posts on the blog in the month of April: 

Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway - Hiding by Jenny Morton Potts 

Book Tour + Review + Q&A - Song of Blood & Stone by L. Penelope

Book Tour + Review - The Shipbuilder by Salina B. Baker

Review + Giveaway - The Red Tent by Anita Diamant 

My Trip to Oradea in Pictures

Book Blitz - Death Island by Kelsey Ketch

Book Blitz - Wings of Flesh and Bones by Cathrina Constantine

Red Queen Read-Along Update #1 

Red Queen Read-Along Update #2

Discussion - Confessions of a Slow Reader 

Weekly Memes:

Goodreads Monday (Apr 16, Apr 30)

WWW Wednesday (Apr 11, Apr 18, Apr 25) 

Book Beginnings on Friday and the Friday 56 (Apr 6, Apr 13)

Weekend Wrap-up (Apr 7, Apr 14, Apr 21)

Plans for May

I'd like to read the following books in May (in no particular order):

The Stolen Girl (The Veil and the Crown #1) by Zia Wesley

Clowders by Vanessa Morgan 

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

Winter Eternal (The River That Flows Two Ways #1) by E. Thomas Joseph

Was April a good month for you? I'd love to read your monthly wrap-up posts, so leave links for me please!!