{Review} The Basque Dragon (The Unicorn Rescue Society #2) by Adam Gidwitz, Jesse Casey, Christopher Smith, and Hatem Aly

Page Count: 176

Published on: July10, 2018

Published by: Dutton Books for Young Readers

Genre(s): Children's, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fiction, Urban Fantasy
Source: Paperback ARC - provided by publisher

Age Rating: ages 8+

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

Book Depository: {click here}

My Rating: 4 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

Elliot and Uchenna have barely recovered from their first adventure with the Unicorn Rescue Society when the mysterious Professor Fauna approaches them with an all-new quest. And this time, they're going to have to cross the Atlantic Ocean to the Basque Country of northern Spain. Elliot and Uchenna, with Jersey in tow, soon wonder whether their newest, fire-breathing rescue might be more than they can handle. And why do the evil-doing Schmoke Brothers seem to be involved yet again?

~~~

Hey, guys!

    An advance reading copy was sent to me for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you Penguin/Dutton for sending me this adorable book.

    The Basque Dragon follows Elliot and Uchenna soon after their first adventure with the Unicorn Rescue Society. Professor Fauna approaches the kids with a whole new adventure! This time they are going to the Basque Country in Spain to save a dragon! How cool is that! However, their adventure gets even more mysterious when the Schmoke Brothers begin stirring their evil pot. 

     I really enjoyed this addition to the series. It's the same length as the first book but I felt like this little story had more substance than the first. I really enjoyed the information and cultural references that we readers got to experience. The Basque Country sounds so beautiful and intriguing. 

      Once again, I absolutely adore Uchenna and Elliot. I think they are lovely characters that show wonderful intellectual and character growth. I love their growing friendship with each other and Jersey. I'm excited to learn more about The Unicorn Rescue Society. This series is super fun and it's so great for all ages. I recommend this series if you like the Series of Unfortunate Events, the Sister's Grimm series, the Percy Jackson Series, or the Furthermore series; you'd really like this series. It's super light-hearted and fun and magical. 

~~~

AUTHORS

Adam Gidwitz is the author of the critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling Grimm trilogy. He spent six years researching and writing his Newbery Honor-winning The Inquisitor's Tale, including a year living in Europe. Adam lives with his family in Brooklyn, NY. Find Adam online at adamgidwitz.com or @AdamGidwitz. 

Chris Lenox Smith is the Creative Director and co-founder of Mixtape Club, an award-winning audiovisual creative studio. Mixtape works with a range of brands and artists, including Google, HBO, ESPN, Spotify, Primus, and They Might Be Giants, to create memorable, narrative-driven films. Chris is a two-time winner of the ADC Young Guns Award for animation and music composition, his work spans across media, from short films and commercial work to musical scores that marry influences from the pre-computer era with modern techniques. 

Jesse Casey is the Managing Director and co-founder of Mixtape Club, an award-winning audiovisual creative studio. Mixtape works with a range of brands and artists, including Google, HBO, ESPN, Spotify, Primus, and They Might Be Giants, to create memorable, narrative-driven films. Drawing from his twin backgrounds in computer programming and printmaking, Jesse's work embraces contemporary technology as a means to recreate the craft and artistry of classic film and animation.

ILLUSTRATOR

 

Hatem Aly is an Egyptian-born illustrator whose work has been featured on television and in multiple publications worldwide. He currently lives in New Brunswick, Canada, with his wife, son, and more pets than people. Find him online at metahatem.com or @metahatem.

The Basque Dragon comes out July 10!

Happy reading, guys!
Olivia

~LivTheBookNerd~

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{Read-A-Thon} TomeTopple TBR

Hey, guys! 

It's that time again! The Tome Topple read-a-thon is here! I know this is going up pretty late, but I have no regrets. I've already announced my TBR on Twitter and Instagram, so if you'd like more prompt updates, go on ahead and check those out! This year I'm keeping it pretty chill and reading books I've already started and books that I know I won't finish in the two weeks. 4 books with over 500 pages in two weeks is pretty ambitious. I already have so many books that I should be reading, so this should be fun. I'm definitely going to be reading more than just these books. I have too many books to get to. Here are the books I'm hoping to get to!

I originally planned to try to read 5 books for this readathon, but I've reduced it down to 4. I have quite a few books to get to in July, so I'm hoping to get through these beautiful books. 

1. Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass #6) by Sarah J. Maas
• 664 pages
• I went into the readathon with 100 pages read of this beautiful book. I'm not too worried about "cheating" my goal is to just finish these books. 
2. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
• 525 pages
• Alex is very excited about this. He loved CBB. 
3. Obsideo (The Illuminae Files #3) by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman
• 615 pages
• I might try to find the audiobook for this one. I loved listening and reading to Illuminae and Gemina.
4. Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) by Leigh Bardugo
• 546 pages 
• I'm actually 1/2 through this one. I just need to finish this book. I've feared finishing it for too long. I'm buddy reading CK with a bunch of lovely ladies on Instagram for the next week. 

Total Page Count: 2,350

# of Pages I Should Read Per Day: 168

Time Frame: June 29 - July 12

Challenges:

1. Read more than 1 tome ~ I have 4 books! 2. Read a graphic novel (still over 500 pages!) ~ not doing 3. Read a tome that is part of a series ~any of my books 4. Buddy read a tome ~Crooked Kingdom 5. Read an adult novel ~ not doing

Official Twitter Page: {click here}

Happy reading!

Olivia

~LivTheBookNerd~

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June 2018 Reading Wrap Up

Hey, guys!

This has been a pretty good reading month. I've read 13 books and graphic novels. Though the end of the month ended pretty slow, I'm pretty happy with what I've read this month. I'm excited to read all of the books on my TBR for July. Here are the books I read this month!

1. The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak
• Read in a grocery store in 5 minutes
• 3 stars
2. We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Nogozi Adichi
• borrowed from a friend - thanks, Martha!
• 5 stars
3. Saga Volume 5 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
• borrowed from a friend - thank you, Emmie!
• 5 stars
4. Plutona by Jeff Lemire, Emi Lenox, Jordie Bellaire, & Steve Wands
• borrowed from a friend - thank you, Emmie!
• 3 stars
5. Speak: The Graphic Novel by Laurie Halse Anderson and Emily Carroll
• borrowed from the library
• 3 stars
6. Confess by Colleen Hoover
• 3 stars
7. The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton
• book club book of the month
• 3 stars
8. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee
1. 3 stars
9. That Inevitable Victorian Thing by E.K. Johnston
1. 2.5 stars
10. Red Queen (Red Queen #1) by Victoria Aveyard ~ audio + physical
• reread via audiobook
• Review {click here}
• I will be reviewing this book again
• 3 stars
11. The Forest Queen by Betsy Cornwell
• ARC provided by HMH
• 5 stars
• A new favorite(!!!) book!
12. Algedonic by R.H. Sin
• borrowed from a friend - thank you, Maddie!
• 5 stars
13. Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
1. 3 stars

Overall, I read some pretty average books this month, but I also found some new favorites. I'm reading and planning on reading some pretty great books in July, so stay tuned!

Favorite Book of June: The Forest Queen by Betsy Cornwell

Least Favorite Book of June: That Inevitable Victorian Thing by E.K. Johnston

June Book Haul {click here}

Happy reading!

Olivia

~LivTheBookNerd~

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June 2018 Book Haul

Hey, guys!

     This past month I've managed to acquire some really really cool books! I'm super excited to read and check out these books. I've already read a few, but I'm really excited to read the ones I haven't. I've actually picked up some books that focus on Norse mythology and culture. I'm currently researching for a writing project that I'm hoping to do. I'm also collaborating with a bunch of publishers and they've sent me some exciting books to read soon. Stay tuned for those reviews! Here are the books I've picked up this month!

1. The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan 
2. Circe by Madeline Miller
3. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
4. Save the Date by Morgan Matson
5. Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf (not pictured - lent out to a friend)
6. The Creature of the Pines (The Unicorn Rescue Society #1) by Adam Gidwitz
7. The Basque Dragon (The Unicorn Rescue Society #2) by Adam Gidwitz
1. review coming soon!
8. Algedonic by R.H. Sin
1. review coming soon!
9. Myths of the Norseman by Roger Lancelyn Green
10. The Prose of Edda by Snorri Sturluson
11. Epic Norse Myths and Tales
12. The Bewitched Viking by Sandra Hill
13. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman 
14. Bonfire by Krysten Ritter
15. Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepherd
16. Wrong In All the Right Ways by Tiffany Brownlee

Thank You's!

• Thank you, Crown Publishing for sending me this copy of Bonfire by Krysten Ritter! I'm super excited to get to it. 
• Thank you, Penguin Kids for sending me the first two Unicorn Rescue Society books! My review for book 2 will be going up soon!
• Thank you, HMH for sending me a copy of Grim Lovelies! 
• Thank you, Tiffany Brownlee and Henry Holt for sending me Wrong In All the Right Ways!

Book of the Month Unboxing: {click here} 


Stay tuned for my June reading wrap up! 

Happy reading!

Olivia

~LivTheBookNerd~

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{Review || LivTheBookClub May 2018 BOTM} The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

Page Count: 288

Published on: February 13, 2017

Published by: First Second

Genre(s): Graphic Novel, YA, LGBTQAI+, Historical, Romance, Comics

Source: purchased for book club

Age Rating: all ages

Where to Find it: Amazon // Goodreads // Book Depository

My Rating: 5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

Paris, at the dawn of the modern age:

Prince Sebastian is looking for a bride―or rather, his parents are looking for one for him. Sebastian is too busy hiding his secret life from everyone. At night he puts on daring dresses and takes Paris by storm as the fabulous Lady Crystallia―the hottest fashion icon in the world capital of fashion!

Sebastian’s secret weapon (and best friend) is the brilliant dressmaker Frances―one of only two people who know the truth: sometimes this boy wears dresses. But Frances dreams of greatness, and being someone’s secret weapon means being a secret. Forever. How long can Frances defer her dreams to protect a friend? Jen Wang weaves an exuberantly romantic tale of identity, young love, art, and family. A fairy tale for any age, The Prince and the Dressmaker will steal your heart. 

~~~

Hey, guys!
    During the month of May, the Liv the Book Club chose The Prince and the Dressmaker as our book of the month. This is a full color graphic novel that takes place in Paris, France during the dawn of the modern age. The novel follows the young seamstress Frances. After creating a unique dress for a noblewoman, France's talent is noticed by the Crown Prince of Belgium: Sebastian. Sebastian hires Frances to become his personal seamstress and enlists her in aiding him in maintaining his secret identity as Lady Crystallia. The two grow close and soon are best friends. Though Frances adores being Sebastian's secret weapon, she longs to live her dream and become a famous fashion designer. 

     This novel was absolutely beautiful. I absolutely adored every bit of it. The characters were so well thought out, their stories were fantastic. The plot was so wonderful and the pace was so addicting. I didn't want it to end. The art style was beyond perfect for the vibe of this book. The writing was phenomenal and stirred up every emotion. The colors and line work were just stunning. I cannot stress the perfection of this book enough. 
      There was a fantastic focus on acceptance and unconditional love in this book. The discussion on gender norms was done so well. This story is going to be one of those influential stories that will brilliantly inform the uninformed reader. Often times, those who are considered different often are dehumanized and forced into a label that does not accurately portray or define who they are. There is a trend lately where people will just make assumptions about people, specific group of people, etc. I think this book has the capability to enable readers to begin to accept people for who they are or even just understand why people are who they are. 

     Overall, this graphic novel is an absolute treat. I highly recommend it to everyone. Happiness is imminent when reading this beautiful story. This is going to be one of my all time favorite books of the year and probably ever. Everyone needs to pick it up.

Happy reading!

Olivia

~LivTheBookNerd~

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[Try A Chapter #1] June 2018 Reading Slump

{Bookish Subscription Box} Book of the Month #5: June 2018

Hey, guys!

      This month I took advantage of the amazing $5 sale that the Book of the Month Club had and managed to cash in a few free books that I had from my friends using my referral link. Because of my referral link, I picked three books this month. I'm so excited to read these books. If I could have, I would have had 4 books this month, but I couldn't. Maybe someday I will get the book that got booted out of the box. 

Here are the books I picked for June!

What Is The Book Of The Month Club??

Book of the Month is a monthly book subscription box. Each month, 5 curators pick out their favorite new hardcover books, and you can choose which one you want to receive on the first of the month. You can also add up to 2 additional books for only $9.99 each.

How It Works:

1. New selections are chosen each month. On the 1st of the month, the site announces the 5 books that they chose for the month.

2. Choose your book! Choose by the 6th, or skip the month.

3. The boxes are shipped and you get a beautiful BOTM box and book!

Shipping: U.S. only (apologies to my international readers!)

Cost: $14.99/month (includes a book credit - after all credits are used each extra book is $9.99); Shipping is FREE

Overall Product: Subscribers will receive a hardcover book from the books that were selected that month. You can add up to 2 extra books for $9.99 each plus BOTM goodies for an additional fee.

~~~

June Picks

1. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

2. The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan

3. Circe by Madeline Miller

~~~

June Pick:

The Kissing Quotient by Helen Hoang

I'm super excited about this book. It looks so interesting, romantic, and sexy. I'm quite hesitant about the sexy bits, but I'm really excited about the autism rep that it has. There needs to be more books with characters that are on the autism spectrum! 

Goodreads synopsis: 

A heartwarming and refreshing debut novel that proves one thing: there's not enough data in the world to predict what will make your heart tick.

Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases--a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.

It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice--with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan--from foreplay to more-than-missionary position...

Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but to crave all the other things he's making her feel. Soon, their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic... 

~~~

Where to Purchase

Goodreads // Amazon // Book Depository // BOTM

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.24 stars (4,243 ratings)
Release Date: June 5, 2018
Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Adult
Page Count: 336

~~~

Extra: April 2018

Circe by Madeline Miller

I've been anticipating this book for quite a long time. However, the actual book is $27! I'm so excited to have acquired this book. I cannot wait to read it. It sounds so freaking good.

Goodreads synopsis:

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child—not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power—the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.

Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.

But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love. 

~~~

Where to Purchase

Goodreads // Amazon // Book Depository // BOTM

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.4 stars (17,228 ratings - 3,473 reviews)
Release Date: April 10, 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Fiction, Historical, Retelling
Page Count: 394

~~~

Extra: March 2018 

The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan

Goodreads synopsis:

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child—not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power—the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.

Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.

But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.

~~~

Where to Purchase

Goodreads // Amazon // Book Depository // BOTM

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.19 stars (3,643 ratings - 1,012 reviews_
Release Date: March 20, 2018
Genres: YA, Magical Realism, Contemporary, Fiction, Fantasy
Page Count: 462

My Other BOTM Club Blog Posts:

☆ March: {click here}

☆ April: {click here}

☆ May 2017: {click here}

Happy reading!

Olivia

~LivTheBookNerd~

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{Review} A Whisper in the Dark by Louisa May Alcott

Page Count: 48 

Published on: June 17, 2004 (first published in 1996)

Published by: Entangled Teen

Genre(s): Classics, Mystery, Gothic, Feminist
Source: borrowed from Mallory

Age Rating: adult

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

Book Depository: {click here}

My Rating: 3 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

I yearned to go, and when I willed the way so on appeared; so careless of bonnetless head and cambric gown, I stretched my hands to him, saying boldly, "Play young Lochinvar, Guy; I am little and light; take me up before you and show me the sea.."He liked the daring feat, held out his hand, I stepped on his boot toe, sprang up, and away we went over the wide moor, where the sun shone in a cloudless heaven, the lark soared singing from the green grass at our feet, and the September wind blew freshly from the sea. As we paused on the upland slope, that gave us a free view of the country for miles, Guy dismounted, and standing with his arm about the saddle to steady me in my precarious seat, began to talk. 

~~~

Hey, guys!

    I borrowed this short story from my friend Mallory. This is the only piece by Louisa May Alcott's that she has read and I had never read it, so of course I had to borrow it! I love LMA! 

    A Whisper in the Dark was an intriguing look into Alcott's darker prose. Like her character Jo (Little Women), Alcott wrote many "blood and thunder" stories in her earlier writing career for newspaper columns and magazines. Her earlier work often discussed rather dark and taboo subjects that the public often did not want to discuss. During this time, women were considered quite unhinged if they were to write openly. Many women were put into asylums and hospitals for exhibiting behaviors that were considered irregular or too masculine. 

   In this short story, the main character: a young girl is sent to live with her uncle and cousin. She finds out that she is to be betrothed to her cousin in the future. She hears that her uncle plans to take her fortune and squander it. She plans to lead both of the men on and ensure her financial standing. When her uncle does the unthinkable, she becomes terrified for her future and emotional. She is then put into a mental institution and labeled as hysterical, though her emotions were understandable. 

    In this short story, Alcott has managed to discuss the mistreatment of the female sex during the late 1800s and creatively display to the public of the horrors that women had to face when falsely imprisoned and hospitalized for standing up for what they believe in. I really enjoyed seeing Alcott's stance on these issues through her work. I've already known that I deeply admire her, but this just further solidified my opinion of her. She was a pioneer for women and writing women alike. I just love her so much. This wasn't my favorite of her work, but I really enjoyed it nonetheless. She's a masterful writer. 

Happy reading!

Olivia

~LivTheBookNerd~

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{Read-A-Thon} Cram-A-Thon 2018 Wrap Up

Hey, guys!

    This round of Cram-A-Thon was soooo ROUGH!!! I didn't really follow my TBR at all because I was just struggling to push through my reading slump. However, I did technically read four books. Granted, I did finish two books that I had already started, but I'm counting them! It took me a while to get through these books, so I'm pretty proud of my reading progress. Consider this a sneak peek into my June Reading Wrap Up! Here are the books that I finished and the challenges that they correspond with!

Challenge 1: 

A predicted 5-star book

I really wasn't sure what I would have rated these four books. I was hoping for higher ratings, but all four of these books ended up being 3 star-books for me. 

Challenge 2: 

A book that's out of your comfort zone

None of my four books were out of my comfort zone. I just read what I could because I was in such a terrible slump. 

If I were to stretch this challenge, I could maybe put The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue in here. I'm not a huge historical fiction fan, but I did really enjoy this. The only reason this book doesn't receive a 4-star rating is that I easily just put it down. It's been sitting on my currently reading pile for a couple months and I just didn't have any desire to finish it. 

Challenge 3: 

A book that has been on your TBR for a long time

None of these books have been on my TBR in a LOONG time, but I have been meaning to reread Red Queen to continue on with the series since Glass Sword came out in 2016.

Challenge 4: 

An LGBTQ+ Own Voices Book

That Inevitable Victorian Thing by E.K. Johnston

I'm not sure if this is an own voices novel, but it had some great LGBTQA+ rep. I cannot attest to its authenticity, but there was some great diversity throughout this novel. Though this book had a wonderful alternate world, I really did not enjoy it as much as I would have hoped. The characters, relationships, and the pacing just weren't up to par. The world, the diversity, and the alternate history were fantastic though. I really enjoyed those bits. 

I will have a review up for this book soon!

☆☆☆ I gave this book 2.75 stars ☆☆☆ 

Challenge 5: 

Something that is not a standard novel

Red Queen (Red Queen #1) by Victoria Aveyard

KIND OF FAILED!

I'm not sure if this counts, but I did read 90% of Red Queen via audiobook. That is not my usual means of reading, so it's not standard for me. 

Goodreads thoughts: {click here}

2015 Review: {click here}

This time around I gave 

☆☆☆ Red Queen 3 stars ☆☆☆

Challenge 6: A book with your favorite color on the cover

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

This is actually the book of the month pick for the Liv the Book Club. I really expected to enjoy this book, but it really fell flat for me. I wasn't that big of a fan. I'll have a full review coming soon.

☆☆☆ I gave The Belles 3 stars ☆☆☆

Challenge 7: 

Read 7 books

FAILED

I read 4 books. Ha. 

Happy reading!

Olivia

~LivTheBookNerd~

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