Book blog – Portable Magic

Posted on January 20, 2022 by Hermione · 10 Comments

Wrap Up #December

Is it just me or did I just realize how obsessed I am over Shadow and Bone because this theory about Elsa being a Grisha Tidemaker has been stuck to my mind for the two whole month…she just doesn’t use water in its liquid form because she changes its state to ice…

Number of books read: 1

You Can Go Your Own Way by Erin Smith (Contemporary)

My Ratings: 3/5

I liked the book. The plot was pretty simple and easy to understand but at the end of the book, I was confused. The ending was quite confusing but I didn’t bother to read it again. The story is told in Adam’s and Whitney’s point of view which helped add a lot of sense and tension in the book. I wished the chemistry between Adam and Whitney was constantly there because at some point, it faded. Like, it was a little disappointing compared to the synopsis. I thought the time they were going to spend together was going to be more than one.single.night…but, I loved the rest of the story especially because it wasn’t only focused on the romance but also on the characters’ lives, friends, jobs and day-to-day things. Recommend this…because it’s sweet.

Other Posts:

BLANK SPACE…

What I Plan To Read Next:

THAT’S THE BLANK SPACE AGAIN…

Movies Watched:

Shadow and Bone (Season 1 – Netflix)

Okay, I think this is like my favourite movie because:

Milo
Jesper being hit by a book David threw at him
And Jesper being an absolute showoff
Whatever cute thing going on between Ivan and Feydor
KAZ AND INEJ—I can’t breathe…
The Darkling
Whatever scene with Alina or The Darkling using their powers
I love love love the books…*chokes*
That STAG?!! OHMEEGAWD
*me shipping the Darkling and Alina like if I don’t, I’ll drop dead on the spot*
shoo Mal but Malina is softening me a little…

Frozen 1 (Disney)

*cries in nostalgia* My favourite moviee! It was great to watch it again…the feels come onnn…I have nothing to say…just chef’s kiss

Frozen 2 (Disney)

Did Disney actually come up with such a brilliant plot? Like that’s amazing! I want a Frozen 3 as much as I want Jesper and Milo to reunite…I loved the new autumnal atmosphere in this movie especially watching it for the first time in forever…it is like not possible (according to the too-clever-fox ”when people say impossible, they usually mean improbable”) for me not to consider that as one of my favourite movies of all time.

Mulan 1 (Disney)

All I know is that the Captain acts a bit like a prick in this movie but the rest is P.E.R.F.E.C.T.I.O.N.

Mulan 2 (Disney)

Rapunzel (Disney)

Moral of the story: A frying pan is your greatest friend.

The Lion King (Disney)

Simba’s Pride (The Lion King 2 – Disney)

The Lion King 1 1/2 (Disney)

Tell me something…how come that this is way better than movie 1 and 2?

Life Update:

Like, I would care to sum up a chaotic month in bullet points…😂

Music I Listened To:

Look look, let’s just say that I listened to way too much Taylor Swift, created a sad songs playlist on Spotify, chilled to a classical piano and violin playlist and listened to a Taylor’s Version Six of Crows playlist….and just add Selena Gomez to that chaotic mix.

Lemme just add a few songs you have to listen to because I’m currently obsessed over them:

Midas by Skott (GO LISTEN TO THIS…..IT’S LIKE ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SONGS I’VE EVER HEARD)
Dancing With Your Ghost by Sasha Alex Sloan
IDK You Yet by Aleksander 23
Black Hole (Acoustic Version) by Griff
If The World Was Ending by JP Saxe and Julia Michaels
Love and War by Fleurie
Arcade (Acoustic Version) by Duncan Laurence
The Joker And The Queen by Ed Sheeran
Photograph by Ed Sheeran
Back To December by Taylor Swift
Where’s My Love (Piano and Viola Version) by SYML
Gone by Rosé
I’ll Be Okay by Shawn Mendes

December Goals Review:

Read one book and make sure it is good enough to finish off your Goodreads challenge of 50 books…that is an order.✅
Revise French.✅
Go do some Algebra.❌
Complete that art homework. It has been sitting around for nearly a month and if there is partial lockdown doesn’t mean you have to keep it to the last minute…❌
Go and drink a cup of coffee if you want to but make sure you aren’t caught.✅

January Goals:

Go and read some books.
Follow your online classes and don’t fool around.
COMPLETE THAT DAMN ART HOMEWORK!!!!!

Just imagine when my own self is so irresponsible that my own self has to discipline her. *huffs*

Other than that, hope you had a lovely December…yeah yeah…I’m waiting for you to say something down in the comments…How’s your January going btw?

Spelling is fun,

Hermione

Posted on December 12, 2021 by Hermione · 18 Comments

The GIF-Y-Love Tag!

~~Look here people…you have in mind tagging me the next time you do this tag. I awfully love this…~~

Well, since this is a gif tag, we might as well start it with a gif…

Shadow And Bone GIF by NETFLIX — Source: Giphy

So, I started watching the show on the 1st Dec (finished it already) and EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. JESPER. DOES. THAT. THING. WITH. HIS. GUNS….I just find myself muttering ‘show-off’…I just love Jesper. THAT HUGE SHOW OFF. When he says, ”Handsome decoy is not a Jesper talent…” I just love the show…🖤

So huge thanks to Inky@Sosooorna’s Boring Blog who tagged me for this awesome tag.🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤Go check out her blog and shower some love💛

Rules

Thank the person who tagged you and leave a link to their blog.
Mention the creators (Tiction and Nehal).
Make a post, do list the rules.
Use the tag #gif-y-love and choose a GIF you love for each of the provided prompts.
Tag at least 5 people.
That’s it! Make sure you laugh a lot in the process too.

The Prompts:

I’m Bored
Current Mood
Reading
Sarcastic
Spongebob
Angry
Scared
Laughing

My Response To The Promps: (shoutout to the creators…the prompts are amazing 🖤)

I’m Bored

Current Mood

I am almost never in a good mood. I am usually this sulky, serious, moody and grumpy person almost all the time…🙂

Grumpy Cat Annoyed Face GIF — Source: Giphy

Reading

Sarcastic

Spongebob

I don’t know why I picked this…

Angry

Am I the only one who is always calm when people argue with me? Like, I am just silent, staring at them with a straight face and thinking about the easiest and quickest ways to murder them on the spot…😂

Death Glare GIFs | Tenor — Source: Tenor

Scared

I need a vanishing potion because an invisibility cloak might be too expensive for me…

Tv Show Reaction GIF by The Daily Show with Trevor Noah — Source: Giphy

Laughing

Anybody else watched that Netflix TV Show below btw?? I don’t know but super dysfunctional families are always the best…look at Klaus with his sunglasses…😂 It was the blooper scene where they are in the elevator and Luther farted because he was nervous. And Klaus says the ”Oh my God. Luther,…”

Klaus after Luther's farting incident 😂 | Luther, David castañeda, Under my umbrella — Source: Giphy

Okay…now we have to tag some people…

Aayushi
Suhani
Betty
Rachel
Rabhya
(Do I have to type the word YOU over there…no I don’t…so just go do it if you want to…IT IS AN OPEN LIST COME ONNN)

Nobody’s obliged to do the tag, though I cannot deny that I’ll be awfully pleased to read your posts. It is a really fun tag. Okay…who doesn’t like gifs and memes?

Okay, I’d go now because I have to go do pROducTIVe things. I was creating a revision sheet for Biology for the first chapter. It isn’t like we are going to use it now but school might start in a month’s time when the lockdown will be lifted…I don’t know though…because I don’t particularly like being stuck at home.

Well, since this post is just crammed with gifs, we might as well finish it with a gif…

Super Bowl Ok GIF by Pepsi — Source: Giphy

I love this gif…it emphasizes the ‘bye’ to huge numbers…

Posted on December 9, 2021 by Hermione · 8 Comments

The Sunshine Blogger Award #4

Well, if you found yourself here…um…Hope your December is going great. Okay, that is a terrible introduction so I’ll just get on with what this post is supposed to be about…The Sunshine Blogger Award.

Great many thanks to Inky here who tagged me for this award. The blogger behind Sosoorna’s Boring Blog. Go spread some sunshine guys!

What is The Sunshine Blogger Award?

(yeah, I know you’ve all read it countless times…)

The Sunshine Blogger Award is given to those who are creative, positive and inspiring while spreading sunshine to the blogging community.

The Rules:

Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their blog.
Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you.
Nominate 11 new blogs and write them 11 new questions.
List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award in your post and/or in your blog.

Inky’s Questions:

1. Do you have a pet? What pet? Whats his/her name?

Actually…we have plenty of fish. 2 koi fish (2 died) and more than a dozen teeny guppies. I really have to give them a name…

2. If you could be one mythical creature(Like elf, demigod, witch, dragon..) which would you be?

Demigod looks way too grand for me so I’d settle for a witch. Probably a Grisha Heartrender? Or maybe an Etherialki??? Or a Tailor like Genya?? Oh I don’t mind as long as I am not a Sun Summoner, sunrays give me headaches by the way.

Or how about a time traveller?? I’ll be able to spook children with the day they are dying…

3. Describe your dream pet.

Wedding Cake GIF by Taylor Swift — Source: Giphy

For now, I’d rather eat some cake…because I don’t know yet…

4. How long have you been blogging?

I have had this blog since 2 years but only ACTUALLY started blogging since June of 2021.

5. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

Netflix Ben GIF by The Umbrella Academy — Source: Giphy

And don’t go do that…

Did you just ask that?? Well, the answer is my eyesight so I wouldn’t have to wear glasses.

6. What’s the last book you read?

Actually, it is You Can Go Your Own Way by Eric Smith. A very snowy contemporary with bestfriends-to-enemies-to-kinda friends-to-potential lovey dovey couple…I liked it.

7. What’s currently in your blog drafts?

Confused Harry Potter GIF — Source: Giphy

8. What is 2+2?

RikiBarker what math maths riki GIF — Source: Giphy

9. What did you last eat?

PASTAAAAA…

Lunch Child GIF by ShibuichiWaika — Source: Giphy

10. What is your favourite animal, why?

Volcra. To be honest…I find them interesting creatures.

It is all up to you to believe it or not…

11. Do you like my blog? What is your favourite thing about my blog? How did you find my blog?

I think I did mention that when Inky interviewed me :). And I found your blog when you followed me first I think?? I have a habit of checking all the blogs of bloggers who follow me and most of the time follow them back.

Now the people I nominate…god, I have two more awards to go and I have to save some people for the next so only 5 nominees for today…

My Questions:

What are your Top 3 Christmas movies and/or books?
Is there a song you used to love but now hate because of the insane amount of times you’ve listened to it?
What is that one book you will never get tired of reading over and over again?
What is a weird/unique talent you have?
Is there a VERY unpopular opinion you have on a very famous book ?
Is there any movie adaptation you found better than the book itself?
What is your least favourite time of the day?
Do you climb the stairs one at a time or two at the time? (or three?)
What is your second favourite animal?
According to you, when is the perfect time to drink coffee/tea or any hot drink?
Who is that book/movie character whose personality most affected your own personality?

Oh and yes, you don’t actually HAVE to do it if you don’t want to but just know that I’d love to read your answers! And anyone else who wants to do the tag…the gate is open you know…you just have to pass through…

Now, I’ve got to go complete the other awards and tags, and catch up on book reviews…I am awfully behind in posts already…*scoffs*

SO BYE! For now at least…I have many things I have to catch up on…

Girl, Bye! - Taylor Swift In Blank Space GIF - Taylor Swift Blank Space Girl Bye - Discover & Share GIFs — Source: Tenor

BTW, I am just currently obsessed with I Did Something Bad by Taylor Swift…the amount of energy and ”badassery” in this song…is just insane. The amazing amount of build-up before the iconic ‘I did something bad…’

Just amazing…

Posted on December 2, 2021 by Hermione · 15 Comments

Wrap Up #November2021

Oh, why does it feel like Christmas is coming way too fast. The thing I am worried about is that it will be 2022 already. I am in need of a time-turner….no, I need time travel powers…*cries*

Total number of books read: 4 (in which 2 are rereads)

The One Plus One by Jojo Moyes (Contemporary) (reread)

My Ratings: 4.3/5

Like…this book is so heartwarming. It made me cry, it made me laugh. There are just so many emotions packed up in this book…that is all I can say but it’s beautiful.

The Talisman by Stephen King (Fantasy) (reread)

The Talisman (The Talisman, #1) — Source: Goodreads

My Ratings: 4.5/5

The concept of other-worlds should be taken more often in fantasy books nowadays…I need books like this…

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo (Fantasy)

King of Scars (King of Scars, #1) — Source: Goodreads

My Ratings: 5/5

How the heck does Leigh Bardugo create masterpieces such as this? And after my huge breakdown after Ruin and Rising, I was pretty much hugging the imaginary book…

This is amazing…literally…and there are demons in this book…*cries*

~~NIKOLAI AND ZOYAAA!!!!!~~

Brain: Shut up now…..

Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo (Fantasy)

Rule of Wolves (King of Scars, #2) — Source: Goodreads

My Ratings: 5/5

The ending however. I never thought Leigh Bardugo was capable off such…um…kindness. I thought she wanted us to suffer? It is still suspicious though…I don’t trust her on the next book ending she will write. Surely it will be a heartbreaking one…if it isn’t then…something is wrong.

I still cannot believe we got a few Six of Crows characters and Shadow and Bone characters in this book…but Inej and I have to discuss her life choices over a cup of strong black coffee…

Other Posts:

My previous Wrap-Up for October here
My interview with Inky here
My review of Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
A post where I shared 13 random facts about me because I should do something special about my b-day but mainly because I was bored

What I Plan To Read Next:

I was thinking about You Can Go Your Own Way by Eric Smith…

Life Update:

Well, I (I put it up I mean) changed the curtains in my room (the thin one). It was a pale green that matched the other curtain (an emerald-olive green that blocks the light). Now, it is a pale golden. Green and golden…what a great combination! I mean, I like it but not love it…
Well, it was my birthday on the 5th of November.
Covid cases have risen drastically here in Mauritius so we are staying at home…-_-pfft…
We went to the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden and honestly, I never knew white lotuses existed until I went there…

Ignore my hand. This is also one o my favourite flowers. When they fall, they spin and it’s so beautiful. The colour…pretty beyond anything…

I watched a Netflix TV show (actually up till Season 2 and I am now waiting for Season 3). And guess what. I didn’t watch it on Netflix…hope it wasn’t illegal…I am not telling you what it is though…but I absolutely love it…like favourite movies of all time. It was a sci-fi movie btw. And I think I have a crush on A- (brain: Shut up! What do you think you are doing? Revealing things like that?!?)
I also watched the short move version of All Too Well…and boy…it was so good…You can literally create a movie out of this…

Music I Listened To:

Reputation by Taylor Swift (Full Album)
Lover by Taylor Swift (Full Album)
Evermore by Taylor Swift (Full Album)
Red (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift (Full Album)
SG by DJ Snake, Lisa (BLACKPINK), Megan Thee Stallion and Ozuna. (gah…the only good part was Megan’s rap) (honestly…it’s literally quite boring [in my opinion].)

I also made a playlist on Spotify for the K-Pop songs I love. And you have to like at least 3-5 of them in there🙂🔪)

And if you are wondering why it is written ‘Annia’ over there is because that is my real name. You never actually did think that ‘Hermione’ was my name right?😂 I was debating when I was going to use my real name here…when I first started this blog, I had this irrational fear that if by chance my friends had a blog, they would discover mine and…*shudders*

AND A LOT OF SELENA GOMEZ SONGS AS WELL…I listened to her full ”The Hits” playlist on Spotify. Lotta songs in there…

November Goals Review: (look at all of those lovely ticks…I’m hella proud…)

Hey you idiot, just breathe okay…I know you have got Bharatanatyam exam and Alliance Française and your second term exams are starting at the beginning of December…just breathe…oh and 2 presentations. ✅ Lockdown…didn’t even do any test…
Read more than 3 books.✅ Had the time to…
Catch up on book reviews.✅ Oh well, tis looking good…
Breathe.✅ Definitely 😉
Live.✅ Proud of myself

December Goals:

Read one book and make sure it is good enough to finish off your Goodreads challenge of 50 books…that is an order.
Revise French.
Go do some Algebra.
Complete that art homework. It has been sitting around for nearly a month and if there is partial lwsn doesn’t mean you have to keep it to the last minute…
Go and drink a cup of coffee if you want to but make sure you aren’t caught.

Well, that’s all. Unless you have somethin to say which I assume you don’t. WHICH I ASSUME YOU DO…which means you do…don’t forget to write something down in the comments…

The best blink memes :) Memedroid — memedroid.com

Oh well…*blinks*

Posted on November 14, 2021 by Hermione · 6 Comments

Ruin and Rising-A Book Review

*sniffs* *sniffs again*

Well, since the topic of me sniffing shouldn’t be of any of your concern…we will proceed..,*sni-

Title: Ruin and Rising
Series: Shadow and Bone #3
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Genre: Fantasy, Magic, Romance
Category: YA
Publication Date/Publisher: June 17^th 2014 by Henry Holt and Company

Ruin and Rising (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy, #3) — Source: Goodreads

The capital has fallen.

The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation’s fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova’s amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling’s secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

[Synopsis from Goodreads]

About the Author:

Leigh Bardugo is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of fantasy novels and the creator of the Grishaverse (now a Netflix original series) which spans the Shadow and Bone Trilogy, the Six of Crows Duology, the King of Scars Duology, and The Language of Thorns—with more to come. Her short stories can be found in multiple anthologies, including the Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy. Her other works include Wonder Woman: Warbringer and Ninth House (Goodreads Choice Winner for Best Fantasy 2019) which is being developed for television by Amazon Studios. Leigh grew up in Southern California and graduated from Yale University. These days she lives and writes in Los Angeles. For information on new releases and appearances, sign up for her newsletter.

She would be delighted if you visited her at LeighBardugo.com and fairly giddy if you liked her selfies on Instagram.

[Picture and text taken directly from Goodreads]

My Ratings: 5/5

My Thoughts:

Just thinking about the ending breaks my heart. I will never forgive Alina but what has to be done has to be done. Good thing she paid for it in some indirect way…I will never ever ever forgive Alina…but any other ending would have been absolutely horrible. And Leigh Bardugo gives bitter sweet ending…what to expect??

Those who haven’t yet read this, I would please ask you not to get any ideas and for the love of heaven and hell, the world and the universe, the moon and the stars, the dark matter and the space between atoms in the air, I would be polite to ask you to sincerely ~~yeet~~ erase that little paragraph above from your memories. I am asking you to do this because I have your best interests at the very bottom of my bottomless heart.

Well, this book was a real journey. The previous characters who weren’t that present in the previous books really shone in this one.

I loved getting to know more about Zoya (that girl’s got some real guts I tell you) Genya (I absolutely love that lady. She has got a fierce and tough heart filled with bravery under her beauty. And Nikolai (again) manages to steal to show with his charm.

There was a thing I didn’t expect at all around the end of the book that I didn’t see coming. I was like:

HOW Meme Generator Net | Meme on ME.ME — Meme Generator

on Earth…what…how on God’s green and blue Earth did that just happen. Never saw this coming…

One aspect of the book that I absolutely loved is that The Darkling’s backstory was revealed in there. I mean, it is nice to know more about hem hem, the villain and his background. And it was all in details and it served a lot in the plot so it didn’t feel like it was just thrown in there.

Zoya Nazyalensky was this girl who totally portrays the badass who makes no effort to be badass. One day, I’ll most probably name my child after her…I totally loved getting to know her more because she and Nikolai were both my second favourite characters in this trilogy. And to be honest, I think Zoya and Nikolai would make a great pair. The way they talk you know…they could make a calm argument for hours haha. I love the fact that she only agrees to help Alina because she is the key to make Ravka safe again not because she actually cares for Alina. *maniacal laugh here*. Oh and of course Alina knows but I love how they warm up a teeny bit after working together.

insert evil laugh here - Evil Plotting Raccoon | Make a Meme — makeameme.org

Mal was a lot better in this book but he is still annoying to be honest. Around the end of the book, I warmed up a lot to him. I think I always knew he loved Alina but in the two previous books, it was almost masked up to his 90% trashy attitude and 10% sweet attitude. But I guess Leigh Bardugo wanted us to ship Alina with the somebody else so that the ending shakes us and causes an earthquake. You know how Miss Leigh is with all her cunning ideas of torturing her readers…

Hem hem…well you’d better know that I never shipped Alina and Mal it was always Alina and The Darkling. The very first time I ever shipped a protagonist and the antagonist but you know Miss Leigh…she has got great ideas when it comes to character love interests…

I seriously liked the plot of the book. I have feeling that much more things happened in this last book…there was a lot more action and buildup in this one than in the others in my opinion. I loved how in this last book, the characters are all looked into deeply and we get to know them better.

The question I have to ask myself is, did Alina actually hate the Darkling or what?

Back to the main things. The ending was…not disappointing but I found it quite bitter (it all depends on you. How you bond with certain characters). For some it might be the perfect ending. The exact way an epic book should end but for me…it was heartbreaking. I was literally so lucky my parents weren’t home that day I finished that book. Spent around half an hour crying on the kitchen floor, had lunch and spent half an hour more crying on the kitchen floor while listening to Back To December by Taylor Swift. I cannot listen to that song now without tearing up. It is one of my favourite Taylor Swift songs. 😭. I hate Leigh Bardugo. I love Leigh Bardugo. She wrote one of the greatest books I have ever experienced. Despite breaking my heart, I’ll read this again. No book has ever made me cry like that.

This book is a great adventure and if you haven’t read this…you better do that soon. It was one hell of a story.

Okay bye bye bye now. Leave me alone. I think I have got to cry.

BTW, I have to tell you that I think I will be posting more often now because schools have closed again here in Mauritius and I am staying home. Like, I guess I’ll be reading more. I got out of my reading slump by reading a 500+ page book and a 750+ page book…figured out the way to get me out of a reading slump 🙂

I just have to pick any book that I have already read before and just get reading. I easily get into the reading flow then. Going to pick up a new book soon. I think I’ll pick up King of Scars next. I haven’t read this and I need to pay a visit to the Grisha world again. I need to go to Ravka or Ketterdam or some place like that.

¬Hermione

Posted on November 12, 2021November 12, 2021 by Hermione · 3 Comments

Interviewing Hermione (ME!)| Part One|

So hey all people! Well, the amazing Inky @ Sosooorna’s Boring Blog interviewed me! Well, do check it out because her questions were really fun to answer!

Sosooorna’s ✨Boring✨ Blog

hi leaves, welcome to the circus with only one clown. today is part one 1⃣ of me interviewing bloggers. today i’ll be interviewing heromine, from portable magic. she has a great blog with amazing book reviews and she’s a fun blogger.

introducing heromine-

i’ll be telling ya’ll what i found in her about page. she’s a 12 year old blogger, who loves reading. She’s also known as Annia, her fav genre is fanasty.

the interview

1. Why and when did you start blogging?

Wait…do I have to introduce myself? Oh well, you just need to know that I am Hermione and I run a blog called Portable Magic. And my actual name is Annia but I don’t want people I personally know, know that I have a blog…ooh…this is one introduction right.
My mother actually created my blog for me when I was eleven in November 2019 because she wanted…

View original post 467 more words

Posted on October 12, 2021 by Hermione · 9 Comments

Wrap Up #September2021

Welcome, welcome October! *cameras click as October walks on the red carpet*

We are so happy you came! We call September to step down and hand the crown to October!

*September does so quite happily (and grudgingly) as she steps down the throne and gives her crown and place to October* (who ever said September is a girl? IDK but the name itself gives feminine vibes. SePTemBeR!)

*October starts speaking*

”Well, to all the months of the year, thank you for all being here today! I am greatly honored to be part of you eleven and for having my own 31 days in a year to rule….”

Instead of writing October’s speech (which is very long), we will just proceed with the wrap up!😁. No offense October but your speech and my wrap up together will be a very long post indeed…

BTW, all links are the reviews I posted.

BTW, DON’T YOU DARE SHOUT AT ME FOR POSTING THIS THAT LATE!! I WAS EXTREMELY BUSY THIS MONTH…

Total number of books read: 7

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (Fiction)

My Ratings: 4/5

We will keep things short over here…well, I am jealous of Nora. She literally visited a magical library and I want to go there. But I really recommend this, it is really a book that gets you thinking. In a good way.

The Metal Heart by Caroline Lea (Historical Fiction)

The Metal Heart: A Novel of Love and Valor in World War II — Source: Goodreads

My Ratings: 4/5

This book is full of emotions and love and bravery and courage and the beautiful things we do for the people we love…recommend this if you like historical fiction.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo Shadow and Bone #1(Fantasy)

Shadow and Bone (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy, #1) — Source: Goodreads

My Ratings: 5/5

What do I have to say about this? Leigh Bardugo and her writing amazes me. I cannot believe that this book is a work created by her. Like the worldbuilding, the plot, the way she wrote the book, the way she explains the Grisha so well and the way she created the very first villain I (don’t insert fell in love here) ever took a liking for. This series is a masterpiece.

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo Shadow and Bone #2 (Fantasy)

Siege and Storm (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy, #2) — Source: Goodreads

My Ratings: 5/5

Can we say that I TOTALLY SHIP ALINA AND THE DARKLING TOGETHER!! THEY WERE DESTINED FOR EACH OTHER BEFORE THEY WERE EVEN BORN!!!!!

Miss Leigh…you CANNOT GIVE ME A PROTAGONIST WITH THE POWER OF LIGHT AND AN ANTAGONIST WITH THE POWER OF THE DARKNESS AND NOT EXPECT ME TO SHIP THEM!!!!!

The problem, I have a crush on The Darkling now and I totally ship him with Alina…cannot believe I just wrote that.

With btw, brings my total number of crushes to 3 (all of them fictional). We have one demon, another demon and a villain. I probably have good taste…😎😏😂

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo Shadow and Bone #3(Fantasy)

My Ratings: 5/5

Oh…Okay, I should probably hold on to my tears now. The ending killed me in such a way that I am still alive and suffering on earth because of those last pages…

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (Fantasy)

Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1) — Source: Goodreads

My Ratings: 5/5

Cannot believe the cover is like SiX DANgerouS OutCasTS ONe dEADly HeiST and the book is like…my ghost won’t associate with your ghost…Matthias wondered whether the sea air was rotting his brain…

Pretty sure it isn’t word for word but you get the idea…and Matthias I was wondering about that too…

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo (Fantasy)

Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows, #2) — Source: Goodreads

My Ratings: 5/5

Fine…the ending left me wanting more? Miss Leigh, for everyone’s sake, you could have written AT LEAST a page more. Like, I want to know what Kaz told them, how Inej acted, their reactions….I WANT TO KNOW but I guess it is part of you make-all-your-readers-suffer plan.

I NEED MORE OF THISSSSS.

Other Posts:

What I Plan To Read Next:.

Probably something spooky or some fantasy. I am feeling in that mood…

Life Update: Well, nothing interesting happened to be honest.

It was my sister’s birthday this month. So yeah, that’s basically it.
I read 5 books that became my favourite. So Miss Leigh ACTUALLY knows how to work magic on books. I suspect she is actually a Grisha herself. That wouldn’t be surprising if it was true.
My best friend and my other best friend (we are three) had a fight and AS USUAL I have to find myself between them. All of it is solved now.
Cried a lot because of Ruin and Rising but again, I think this is part of Miss Leigh’s, make-all-your-readers-suffer plan…*sighs* Of course, it isn’t like you can just turn a character into a bat and make it live in a cursed cave forever…
I fell because stupid me decided to try to ride my bike with my damned eyes closed. *shakes her head at herself for this insane stupidity* What the heck was I trying to do?

September Goals Review:

Read at least 8-10 books.❌
Complete that Design and Technology project (AND MAKE SURE YOU GET GOOD MARKS GURL. UNDER 90 ISN’T ACCEPTABLE) ✅
~~Don’t waste your time~~ Spend less time doing silly things (like secretly watching YouTube because you are bored) ❌
And do what makes you happy (even if this includes staring at the dark ceiling at night thinking of useless things or sending stupid texts to your best-friends like arguing whether the moon landing is fake or if Area 51 has aliens or if we are just aliens from another planet that have conquered the Earth and living on it for like 100 000 years. 🧐Not sure about that..

October Goals:

Read more than 5 books.
Find a miraculous way to balance life, school and blogging. THAT MEANS I HAVE TO POST AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK!
Don’t close my eyes while riding a bike the next time.

So, that is all!

Well, September was a lovely month.

Does anyone of you know how time-turners are made? That question just popped in my head and I really want to know?

BTW, how was your month? What did you read? Did you fall off your bike? No, of course not. I must be crazy.

Well, it is October now. *snorts* You already know that.

Finally I am posting this. I hate being late. See ya next time with another post!

And don’t forget to comment, I love talking to you guys!

x Hermione

Posted on October 7, 2021 by Hermione · 20 Comments

Shadow and Bone-A Book Review//I have never been so excited to write a review so far…weird🤔

I think I have a ~~big~~ tiny obsession with Mr. Grey Eyes and Black Kefta.

But just forget about that…

Okay, well, yesterday something wierd happened. I found a piece of paper under the bed and I found it so funny my heart almost fell off my chest into my hands…

Well, the review shouldn’t be ignored.

Title: Shadow and Bone
Series: Shadow and Bone #1
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Magic
Category: YA
Publishing Date/Publisher: June 5th 2012 by Henry Holt & Company

BTW!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE FONT IN THE TITLE!! *resolves to go and find that font one day*

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

[This synopsis is from Goodreads…usually I used to write my own but…I can barely even separate the main events from the three books]

About the Author:

She would be delighted if you visited her at LeighBardugo.com and fairly giddy if you liked her selfies on Instagram.

[Picture and text taken directly from Goodreads]

My Ratings: 5/5 (what were you expecting??😂)

My Thoughts:

To make this all easier…I am going to simply break down everything otherwise I myself will be all muddled up.

Let me start with the characters:

Alina Starkov (our protagonist): I love the way Leigh Bardugo wrote her. She managed to create a good relationship between our antagonist (The Darkling…aka the lov-no need to know the rest) and Alina…without making her turn into the villain in the process. And she was a little different from the other protagonists as well and the only other protagonist I could faintly compare her to is Harry Potter. They were both almost driven by power wanting the objects (Alina: The Morozova amplifiers and Harry: the Hallows). Her flaws were as beautiful as her good side and she was a person who could develop strong relationships with others.

Okay, can we move to The Darkling now. I am dying to tell you all about him.

The Darkling (the antagonist): I have to say this….HE IS THE BEST VILLAIN EVER TO HAVE BEEN WRITTEN [in my opinion but it is probably a fact too]. He is my favourite character and I absolutely love him🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤. I have never known a villain written this way. Can somebody explain to me, how on earth can an author have the superpower to write one of the most powerful Grisha to be alive, living human amplifier with the power of the darkness but still be the most human of all people. A human with the ability to love, to feel, to grieve and who still manages to love his mother, after all this time. I will cry…Okay, I am already crying because of Ruin and Rising…and I don’t intend on drowning myself in a mini ocean in our house…continuing about the Darkling, I think he was the most interesting character in the whole book. I wish all authors could create masterpieces out of villains the way Leigh Bardugo does. He was everything a proper villain should be, someone who is cruel but human and someone who has a heart but doesn’t have a heart; both at the same time.

Mal Oretsev (Alina’s childhood bestfriend): A sulky attitude that boy has but I love him all the same. I love the way he loved and cared for Alina even though he was often cold with her at times. He was this type of person who would always stand by the people he loves even if it means giving himself up. It is a trait I greatly admire in him not to mention he is a really sweet guy.

Well…we have got to keep some of the characters for the next two reviews right…remember…I have partly failed at separating the events from the trilogy…And I am pretending that I am reviewing the whole trilogy…

Well, we have to talk about the worldbuilding. *thanks the author for inserting maps in the book…the best. I love maps* I don’t know if everyone might relate but I found it really easy to immerse myself in the book and the setting as well. If there was any infodumping then I seriously don’t know about that since I could easily understand the world without getting lost. I love Ravka and especially the atmosphere. I am an absolute sucker when authors make the atmosphere of their books grey with a dash of forest and dark places. I absolutely loved the plot of the story and the way everything is explained in the book. I have never read a book like that before. Leihg Bardugo had a great imagination…I wish I could know HOW ON EARTH did Leigh Bardugo get the idea to write this book. When creating her world, she didn’t miss anything out. For example, the culture of the Ravkans, the Suli and the Shu and the Kerch were there. If I am not mistaken, I think Ravka is inspired from Russia and its culture but I may be mistaken of course. I also loved the way the charcters changed and progressed all throughout the book and it great watching them grow. They hold a special place in my heart. Why am I being sentimental?🧐

Like the Grisha who’s magic is also known as the Small Science and it was great getting to learn about those. Let’s say that Leigh Bardugo left nothing unexplained (except one thing…but that was quite small). It isn’t a very fast paced book and I found it easy to breathe between the lines. The scenes were neither too fast nor too slow for me. Bruh, Leigh Bardugo REALLY knows what she was doing when writing this book but I think she also enjoys making her readers suffer and smile at the same time. Complicated…

Okay, there we are and frankly speaking, there is a lot more to talk about…but I have to keep some of the characters for the other books.

Well, I think I have got to say thanks to Leigh Bardugo for writing this book..in fact the whole trilogy because it was such a great and heartbreaking adventure for sure but thanks.

Thanks for reading…AND SORRY NOT SORRY IF IT IS TOO LONG…couldn’t help myself👻

P.S. Oh, and I guess ghosts are cute. Especially the emoji.

Posted on September 26, 2021 by Hermione · 3 Comments

The Metal Heart-A Book Review

Oh. Well, I don’t know…no, actually I have no idea how to start this first paragraph but I am going to tell you something. I just finished the Shadow and Bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo in a while ago because I was just craving books for absolutely no reason…

And…and the last book broke my heart. Those who read the books, how did you even survive the ending? Because as much as I hate to admit that, I found myself randomly breaking into sobs all day and having to control my sudden breakdowns. I mean, whatever, I’ll be posting my review soon.

WHY THE HECK DO AUTHORS CREATE CHARACTER MASTERPIECES AND DESTROY THEM AT THE END?

I NEED AN ANSWER!

AND I RATE ALL OF THE BOOKS IN THE TRILOGY FIVE STARS?? AND HOW COME THEY BECAME A FAVOURITE OF MINE WHEN-

I need to calm down before my brain explodes…

*takes a deep breath in*

Title: The Metal Heart: A Novel of Love and Valor in World War II
Author: Caroline Lea
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, World War II, Fiction
Category: A
Publishing Date/Publisher: June 8th 2021 by Harper Perennial

All happens during World War II, in a small Scottish island. Dot and her twin sister, Con are orphans, living alone in an old bothy (sort of hut) in Selkie Holm, the small island only occupied by these two sisters.

All changes when it is decided that Italian prisoners will be brought in order to help with the war and the preparations and they will be lodged in Selkie Holm. Most people on the main island see prisoners, probably criminals or murderers but Dot and Con see humans with a heart, a life, a family who have come here to work. The are the ones who volunteer to help in nursing and caring for them when they are hurt.

Ever since, those prisoners came, Dot’s attention has been drawn to one. Cesare, a man whom she saved from drowning when he and the other prisoners came by boat to Selkie Holm. But her growing attraction to Cesare doesn’t make her life any brighter. Her bond with her sister, Con starts fraying like a cord and it looks inevitable. Her sister only wanting her to be safe and Dot trying to reassure Con that she will make sure old mistakes do not resurface again. But maybe it is just too late or old mistakes and the past just always find a way to come to the surface.

About the Author:

Caroline Lea grew up on the island of Jersey and gained a First from Warwick University. Her fiction and poetry have been shortlisted for the Bridport Prize and the BBC Short Story Prize. Her debut novel, The Glass Woman, a gothic thriller set during the Icelandic witch trials, was shortlisted for the HWA Debut Crown Award. Her next novel, The Metal Heart, was a powerful Second World War love story set on the island of Orkney.

[Picture and text taken directly from Goodreads]

My Ratings: 4/5

My Thoughts:

This book…was definitely what I hadn’t expected it to be. It didn’t actually happen where the war took place but a little corner of Scotland.

I read this book like two weeks ago I think so I have forgotten a little…but I’ll manage haha.

I found Dot and Con to be two interesting characters. They were so different from each other despite being twins and looking like two peas in the same pod…

WAIT! A pea from a pod and a pea from another pod still look very same. Just like red kidney beans and lentils right? What am I even doing right now discussing peas and lentils when this is a review?

Dot was the quiet one while Con was the one who was a little restless. I loved their backstories as well which were each so different especially Con’s backstory which is also the main reason why she is just so protective of her other sister and would do anything to stop Dot from making the same mistake as she did.

The thing I loved the most about those two sister is their sisterly bond. They look after each other backs and always so supportive of each other. The sacrifices they make for each other especially in the last few moments in the book.

My sister and I could never-

But my sister and I are great at is being partners when it comes to stealing or any other crime.😂 Or things like smuggling insects and beetles (insects are FASCINATING creatures…except cockroaches) or pretty stones stolen from I-don’t-know-where into the house. If there is also one other thing is that the sentence I say the most to my sister is, “Don’t touch me!”, because she has an annoying habit of hugging people. And I am not the person who likes hugs or any form of touchy things. Well not all the time haha.😂 Am I the one who makes a face when people hug me? Sometimes I like hugs but otherwise…*runs away*

The plot of the book was okay but I think it could have been much more interesting or more things could have been added. Like I think the book could have benefited with Cesare’s backstory and maybe chapters written in his point of view. Cesare was a prisoner and I would have really liked to know about what were his crimes and a lot more about his life back in Italy.

But otherwise I really enjoyed reading this book. The writing style was really beautiful and it had me tearing up at the end but it is a book with love and courage shining through! One that I greatly recommend for fans of historical fiction!

Now, I have to catch up with crying over Ruin and Rising, the whole series to be honest and plan my other reviews!

See you all later with another post!

~Hermione

Posted on September 18, 2021September 24, 2021 by Hermione · 15 Comments

A Letter To All The Fictional Characters (thanks so much lil’ dark corners for always being here…I’d better go hide now)

To all of those people who live inside books this letter is dedicated to you:

To,

Those fictional characters who have ~~ruined~~ changed my whole life.

First of all, you don’t know so many things.

And you are a nuisance but I hate to admit that I also love you all as well.

I would also like to thank all of you for changing me that I am not sure what is my pure self like anymore. Why? One day I just realized that I am just a collection of bits and pieces thrown here and there into my personality. Like I am all of my favourite characters blended into one person. Like I picked little parts of your personality traits that I loved best and took them to be my own.

It is actually very scary when I think how my mind would have worked/thought and how different my personality would have been if hadn’t done the above. I cannot imagine my own self before I started reading books. Like I never even existed at all. I cannot think of what I did during the day if I wasn’t making up funny scenes in my head of book characters; thinking about books; suddenly remembering a random quote or detail that I had never thought about…

Was I even alive? I should have been.

But I guess this is the pain of being a reader. But being a reader is much better than not being a reader.

Do you know how boring real life is? We don’t get the chance to go on interesting adventures, save the world from a Dark Lord, or steal back the lost treasure from a feared dragon, or go on a quest to destroy one of the most powerful rings, or even have to chance to go to magic school…

AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WHINING BECAUSE THEY DON’T WANT TO FINISH SNAPE’S ESSAY!

Are you serious Harry and Ron? Just try to ‘muggle homework’ and you’ll see how boring it is (except math). I would do ANYTHING to go to Hogwarts and I can’t believe how you take magic school for granted.

IF I WAS IN YOUR PLACE, I WOULD HAVE DONE ALL THE HOMEWORK, WOKE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING, NEVER FEEL BORED IN CLASS (even history of magic). Can you believe how lucky you are? We people have never got a chance to even go to Hogwarts. What you learn over there is a million times better than muggle school.

In some ways, I actually envy all of you and I don’t want all of you fictional characters to be real, I want to be fictional and join you in some mysterious adventure. Like, can you imagine what fun it will be? And weird? A twelve year old girl from the real world into your worlds? And in your worlds, there will be books and when we enter those books, we will be transported into another world, in that other world, there will be other books and we will enter other fictional worlds and it just continues…

…until we lose ourselves totally in books and when we reach the last chapter, we come back to the real world and it is like time hasn’t passed at all. Just imagine if this was possible.

If it was, then I could bring all of you into the real world and life would be interesting and then you could go back to your world when the book reaches the last sentence. (in the fictional worlds, there are books about our real world where we are the fictional characters inside and I guess the story of our lives is actually interesting to them…)

Just imagine how life would be not boring at all?

Thanks for all you did you me (includes suffering and breakdowns),

Hermione

What did I just write above? I mean, obviously, it is a very embarrassing letter to all those fictional characters.

Well, mom, if you are reading this, then let all be erased from your mind, this is definitely very embarrassing. LIKE REALLY EMBARASSING. Just don’t tell me you have read this, I will die from embarrassment. I am already dying from embarrassment right now.

And it feels like I just exposed my bare soul to all of you…I deeply regret this. I regret this very much. Now all of you know…what? Well, all of the above. I hate myself for writing this.

LIKE I JUST PULLED OUT MY BEATING HEART AND PUT IT UNDER THE SWORD FOR YOU TO CUT IT INTO TWO…

*dies from oversaturation and choking on thick embarrassment*

*Hermione’s ghost tries to put her soul back to her body and succeeds. Miracle really!*

Why did I even do this?

Well, so there is my letter to the characters who have much more interesting lives than my existence and if you have reached here…then thanks I guess *deeply embarrassed* for reading until here. At least you know now that I am an unhealthy overthinker and obsessed over books and fictional characters with a very high level of unusual weirdness.

*chokes again*

I have never felt so embarrassed in my whole life before. Not since the day I accidentally fell asleep in class dreaming and when I woke up, everybody was staring at me and the teacher…well…let us skip this part shall we. I was still very little at that time.

Since, I am filled with regrets, I should probably go and hide and come out an eternity later…I love you, darkness, my best friend. I won’t be able to live without you. You are my best-friend…🖤

BTW, GEORGE.R.R. MARTIN IF YOU EVER DARE KILL JON SNOW IN YOUR BOOKS…I WILL NEVER EVER EVER…FORGIVE YOU.😑

DON’T YOU DARE…😡🤬👿💀👾

Now, puh-lease, all of you who have reached here, forget everything. I mean, that is probably unnecessary

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Rules

The Prompts:

My Response To The Promps: (shoutout to the creators…the prompts are amazing 🖤)

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The Rules:

1. Do you have a pet? What pet? Whats his/her name?

2. If you could be one mythical creature(Like elf, demigod, witch, dragon..) which would you be?

3. Describe your dream pet.

4. How long have you been blogging?

5. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

6. What’s the last book you read?

7. What’s currently in your blog drafts?

8. What is 2+2?

9. What did you last eat?

10. What is your favourite animal, why?

11. Do you like my blog? What is your favourite thing about my blog? How did you find my blog?

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introducing heromine-

the interview

1. Why and when did you start blogging?

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