As the title of this post (and video suggests), I’m talking about 5 books that I really need to reread!
Since I do love rereading books I have more that I could have included. I did decide to limit myself to five, because I didn’t want to go overboard. Also, these five are the priority since it’s been a very long time since I have read any of them. I don’t feel like I have anything more to say about this, so I shall leave it at this.
Disclaimer: I received this graphic novel from the publisher (through NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Title: The Secret Garden: A Graphic Novel
Authors: Mariah Marsden (adapted by) and Hanna Luechtefeld (illustrations)
Published: 15. June 2021
Edition: Andrews McMeel Publishing
ebook, 192 pages
Genre: Classics | Historical | Reimagining
Summary:
Green-growing secrets and magic await you at Misselthwaite Manor, now reimagined in this graphic novel adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s tale.
Ten-year-old Mary Lennox arrives at a secluded estate on the Yorkshire moors with a scowl and a chip on her shoulder. First, there’s Martha Sowerby: the too-cheery maid with bothersome questions who seems out of place in the dreary manor. Then there’s the elusive Uncle Craven, Mary’s only remaining family—whom she’s not permitted to see. And finally, there are the mysteries that seem to haunt the run-down place: rumors of a lost garden with a tragic past, and a midnight wail that echoes across the moors at night.
As Mary begins to explore this new world alongside her ragtag companions—a cocky robin redbreast, a sour-faced gardener, and a boy who can talk to animals—she learns that even the loneliest of hearts can grow roots in rocky soil.
I had previously read The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, so I was already familiar with the story of this graphic novel. Though I have to say that it’s been years and I don’t remember all the details about it. This graphic novel felt very nostalgic to me, due to it being a familial story. I had fun reading this story again, in a new format.
I feet like the message of the original novel was brought through in this, despite it’s short format. Though I also have to say that some of the story felt a bit abrupt. Some of the original story was left out as well, though that is understandable due to the format limitations. I did find the story a bit lacking, I just expected more from it. (I really can’t explain why without getting into spoilers.) Some of the characters were kinda annoying, but I remember thinking that of the original novel as well so this isn’t a fault of the graphic novel. I just felt like mentioning it as well, since it did impact my reading enjoyment.
The art wasn’t my favourite. Don’t get me wrong it’s pretty and enjoyable, but I would have preferred brighter colours. Especially once the garden is discovered. I guess I expected it to have a more magical feeling than it did and that might be my fault. Anyway, the art was good but not what I expected it to be.
The Secret Garden: A Graphic Novel was a fun and enjoyable read. It’s very accessible for younger readers who want to get into this story and might be intimidated by the novel. I would recommend checking this one out, if it sounds interesting to you.
I finally got around to posting my May wrap up (despite it already being the end of June 😅)
I ended up reading 10 things in May and I’m very happy about that. It’s also a very nice bonus that I enjoyed everything that I read. 😊 I’m glad that I decided to post this video despite it being very late, hopefully my future wrap ups are going to be more on time. I’ll post the covers of everything I read here, but if you want to know more of my thoughts on them be sure to watch the video! 🥰 (honestly I couldn’t be bothered to write everything down, when I had already talked about it 🙈)
I finally decided to join booktube! 😁
I have been thinking about doing this for a while now. And I’m so happy that I actually convinced myself to finally just do it. This is probably the first time you are seeing my face, so hello. 😊 I’m kinda nervous about putting myself out there in this way, but I’m also looking forward to posting on youtube. Hopefully everything will go well! 🤞🏻
I hope you will check my video out and support me in this new adventure! 💜
Disclaimer: I received this graphic novel from the publisher (through NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Title: The Weirn Books, Vol. 1: Be Wary of the Silent Woods
( The Weirn Books #1 )
Author: Svetlana Chmakova
Published: 16. June 2020
Edition: JY
ebook, 240 pages
Genre: Fantasy | Supernatural
Summary:
In the Night Realm, vampires, shifters, weirns, and other night things passing for human prowl the streets… but they still have to go to school! Ailis and Na’ya are pretty average students (NOT losers), but when a shadow starts looming and a classmate gets all weird, they are the first to notice. It gets personal, though, when Na’ya’s little brother D’esh disappears-It’s time to confront the secrets of the forbidden mansion in the Silent Woods!
This was such a cute and fun graphic novel! This was the first time that I have read anything by Svetlana Chmakova and I must say that I enjoyed myself. I definitely plan on checking out further volumes in this series. Anyway, onto more about Be Wary of the Silent Woods.
The first thing I would like to write about is the art style. As you can see by the cover it’s adorable, I also found it very fitting to the whole atmosphere of the story. By which I mean that it felt very whimsical. The characters were good, but I didn’t particularly fall in love with them. The dialogue between them felt a bit over the top, which is understandable since they are children. I think someone younger would enjoy this graphic novel a lot. I especially enjoyed seeing the familial relationships in this story, they were so sweet. The story was interesting, I enjoyed learning more about the school and the magic of the world. There were some things that I found predictable, but that was expected since this graphic novel is aimed towards a younger audience.
Overall I enjoyed The Weirn Books Vol. 1 quite a bit. The story and setting were fun, I enjoyed learning more about the characters and there were some very heartfelt moments. I would definitely recommend checking this graphic novel out.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher (through NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Title: The Empress of Salt and Fortune
( The Singing Hills Cycle #1 )
Author: Nghi Vo
Published: 24. March 2020
Edition: Tor.com
ebook, 112 pages
Genre: Fantasy | LGBT+
Summary:
A young royal from the far north is sent south for a political marriage. Alone and sometimes reviled, she has only her servants on her side. This evocative debut chronicles her rise to power through the eyes of her handmaiden, at once feminist high fantasy and a thrilling indictment of monarchy.
Before I started reading The Empress of Salt and Fortune I had heard nothing but amazing things about it. This novella also sounded like something that I would love, which made me even more exited to read it. I’m happy to say that I ended up loving this book! I now want to read everything that Nghi Vo writes.
I’m not the most eloquent when it comes to describing writing styles, I just know what works for me and what doesn’t. The writing style in The Empress of Salt and Fortune was beautiful and captivating. It was intricately woven and I couldn’t stop reading it. Which is another reason that I need to read everything else by Nghi Vo. I also loved how each chapter was a story within a story, how the past and present connected in a way. The story in itself was fascinating and I wanted to find out more, in both the present and the past one.
The characters in this novella were wonderful. The main character Chih was an amazing protagonist. They were more of an observer than a participant in the story. By that I mean that they are listening to the story that is told to them by Rabbit, an old woman who was the handmaiden to the Empress. Still, I enjoyed learning more about them and getting to know them through the glimpses we got. My two favourite characters in this story were Rabbit and the Empress. I loved learning more about them. Their story was fascinating and I always looked forward to learning more about what was going on with them.
Overall, The Empress of Salt and Fortune was a fantastic novella. The writing style is beautiful, the story and characters compelling. I definitely recommend this book to everyone! I can’t wait to read more by Nghi Vo in the future.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher (through NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Title: Across the Green Grass Fields
( Wayward Children #6 )
Author: Seanan McGuire
Published: 12. January 2021
Edition: Tordotcom
ebook, 176 pages
Genre: Fantasy | Portal Fantasy
Summary:
“Welcome to the Hooflands. We’re happy to have you, even if you being here means something’s coming.”
Regan loves, and is loved, though her school-friend situation has become complicated, of late.
When she suddenly finds herself thrust through a doorway that asks her to “Be Sure” before swallowing her whole, Regan must learn to live in a world filled with centaurs, kelpies, and other magical equines―a world that expects its human visitors to step up and be heroes.
But after embracing her time with the herd, Regan discovers that not all forms of heroism are equal, and not all quests are as they seem.
I have read the first three books in the Wayward Children series and I completely adored them! Obviously I was exited to get to Across the Green Grass Fields. Yes, I haven’t yet read the fourth or fifth book in this series but it didn’t matter as this story can stand on it’s own. (Though I do need to get around to the other books soon.)
Seanan McGuire’s writing in the Wayward Children series is gorgeous. I always end up pulled into it from a few sentences. I’m not great when it comes to describing writing styles, all I can say that I love the way McGuire writes and I need to read more books by them. An interesting aspect of this series is the fact that the worlds change with each book, which makes exploring these stories all the more fun. The world in Across the Green Grass Fields was very interesting, I adored how everything was “horse themed”. I was intrigued by all the different beings in this world and I wanted to learn more about everything.
Another interesting aspect of this novella is the fact that we get to see Regan, the main character, from when she was ten to sixteen (if I’m not mistaken with the numbers). It was amazing getting to see Regan’s thoughts and personality throughout the years, especially since she spends all that time in a fantasy setting. Regan’s new adopted family was interesting as well, I enjoyed learning more about them and their relationships with each other and the world that they inhabit. There were two characters that were introduced towards the end of the story that I was curious about, but we didn’t get all that much from them. Which is to be expected from such a short book.
The story was an interesting one. In some ways it felt like a quiet one, since a lot of it is focused on Regan growing up and learning about the new world. Not saying that nothing exiting happens, far from it. This story just felt like it didn’t have the highest stakes, which isn’t a negative it’s actually something I really enjoyed about it. The ending did leave me a bit unsatisfied. I just wanted a little more from it, I wish that McGuire wrote one more chapter for this story. Other than that I really have no complains about this story.
Overall, Across the Green Grass Fields was a fantastic book. The world is fantastic, the characters interesting and the writing gorgeous. What more could I ask for? Obviously I recommend this book to everyone. I’m so glad that this was the first book that I read in 2021.
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