Illumicrate Unboxing & Review!

Hi all!

A few days ago I received my Illumicrate box for August and - WOW. This box was so so good! It two books, as well as beautiful bookish extras that I can't wait to use or stick up on my wall!



*Note: This post will contain spoilers for the box, so if you haven't received yours yet wait to check it out!*




The Books:

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff - This book has been all over bookstagram recently! I was already planning on buying it soon, so when I found that a HARDCOVER version of it was included in this box I may have squealed a little bit. Everyone has raved about it and I loved Illuminae, which Kristoff co-wrote with Amie Kaufman, so I have high hopes. Plus the cover is gorgeous, and there are not one but two maps! What more could a bookworm want?

The Graces by Laura Eve - The Graces is actually out in a month, so this book feels extra special! The cover is, again, stunning, and as I read the summary I realised I had meant to remember to buy this a while ago. The letter from the author added a nice personal touch to the box, especially as it was in her handwriting, and has really intrigued me about the book.




The Bookish Goodies!

Of which there are many, so I think I'm going to list them all briefly. In no particular order, I received:

• 2 Harry Potter coasters (which are as amazing as they sound)
•  A Nevernight poster and Bookmark
• A bookplate for Nevernight and for The Graces
• Absolutely beautiful posters for Red Rising by Pierce Brown (which I unfortunately haven't read yet, but they are gorgeous)
• Grisha and Six of Crows themed COLOURING-IN QUOTES. This was a highlight for me, even though I haven't read Six of Crows or completed the Grisha trilogy!
• Strawberry tea - I'm not a tea drinker but I'm up for trying
  
  a new flavour
• A tote bag which is apparently Gilmore Girls related (I have been catching up with the other GG - Gossip Girl - instead so I haven't watched it yet)
• A discount code for Unboxed by Non Pratt
• A discount code for a bookmark from My Bookmark

This box was jam-packed with wonderful things, and I'm so happy with it!

Did anyone else receive and Illumicrate? What did you think of it? What was your favourite item?
Thanks for reading (:

Writerly Ramblings 3 - A Writing Playlist

Hi all!

Writing is - surprisingly - going well! I've passed the halfway point in the story, and it's so rewarding to see how everything is fitting together. Plots and subplots are coming together, relationships are being made - or broken, as I am an evil writer! -  and I feel comfortable in the world finally.

One of the hardest things about creating a fictional world, I think, is making up customs and a feeling that these are a normal thing in the characters' lives. I've had to sit down and focus on what different things my characters do in this world, and more importantly why; I don't just want to have a tradition just to have a tradition if that makes sense.

Character-wise I think they're what I intended them to be. For the first time in my writing I'm really thinking if a character would say what I want them to say, if their actions are typical for them or if they need justifying or changing. I'm writing from two different points of view - Esme's and Marisol's - and one thing I'm finding hard is trying to keep their voices distinct. They're both strong independent characters but in different ways, so it's a task to keep them in line!

I thought I would share some of the songs I listen to while writing! I have a playlist of about 30ish songs that I just put on a loop when I write, which mainly consist of Ruelle, Halsey, and Broods (Sidenote: I just discovered Broods and they are AMAZING!). Here are 10 songs that I find create an epic, let's-go-write-a-kickass-scene atmosphere.

1. Live Like Legends - Ruelle
2. Bridges - Broods
3. Is There Somewhere - Halsey
4. Alive - Sia
5. If You Leave Me Now - Foxes
6. Don't Let Me Down - The Chainsmokers
7. Bad Dream - Ruelle
8. Rise Up (Reprise) - Foxes
9. Figure 8 - Ellie Goulding
10. Conscious - Broods

All of these songs help me set the scene for a certain chapter, and most of them make my characters feel more badass. I believe that music can help you create emotions in your writing, and sometimes you'll stumble along a song that completely fits your novel. For my story, I think either Rise Up or Conscious work well.

Let me know if you like this playlist, and I'll make another! What are some of your favourite songs to write to? How is your writing going? I'd love to hear from fellow writers!
Thanks for reading (:

The Unexpected Everything - Review

Title: The Unexpected Everything
Author: Morgan Matson
Synopsis: Andie Walker has everything in her life planned out, until one event throws her entire summer schedule out the window. With a group of loyal friends, more than a few dogs, and a shy writer, Andie starts to learn that sometimes it's better to go with the flow, but at the end of the summer will she go back to her old ways?
Rating: 4 stars.

As always, Morgan Matson delivers a sunny summer contemporary perfect for long lazy days reading! Overall, I did enjoy this book, but I did have some problems with it, especially as I enjoyed Since You've Been Gone and Amy & Roger's Epic Detour so much. This review may have little spoilers in them, but I've tried to make it as spoiler-free as possible!

Andie's character development in this is something I really enjoyed reading about, and for the most part I liked her as our protagonist. However there was a DECISION - those of you who have read this will know what I'm talking about! - she made that infuriated me, and I didn't connect with her as much as I wanted to.

One of my favourite aspects of this novel was the friendship. I loved the texting conversations that were included as they felt like a real conversation a group of friends would have! Palmer, Andie, Toby and Bri really were close, and Morgan Matson has captured all of the little details of friendship very well.

And then there's Clark...oh how I love Clark! He has T-shirts with TV show references on them (I only got one!), a bonkers dog, and he writes! I like how he helped Andie relax and their relationship was so so cute. The sections from his books were another great addition.

Andie's relationship with her father was something that really sets this book apart. I like how they were working together to improve things, and the gradual change throughout summer was really sweet to read.

HOWEVER! I did have problems with this book. For one thing, I felt it was too long and in the beginning I felt myself get a bit distracted. As well as this, I was not a fan of the plot twist as it didn't feel very realistic to me and went against the values of friendship that ran throughout the rest of the book.

All in all, The Unexpected  Everything was a good summery read, but I would recommend Morgan Matson's other books if you've never read any of hers before. Especially Amy & Roger's Epic Detour - that is one of my favourite contemporary books!

Let me know what you thought of The Unexpected Everything in the comments!
Thanks for reading(: