All the packages

I've pre-ordered quite a bit over the past few months, and for some reason they've all come out at roughly the same time as me expecting other deliveries. So the past couple of weeks have been present after present at my door. I'm not complaining. My bank account is but I'm going to ignore it's desperate screaming just as I always have. 

I had a little dilemma getting my hardback of Empire of Storms, I ended up having to order it online because of distributors and such, and I was worried about how long I waited before doing anything and if there would even be any hardbacks left. (In hindsight there's always hardbacks for Sarah J Maas' books so really I would have been fine.) I've not got far into the book yet, maybe 150 pages or so but I can already see things are starting to escalate, and I'm already loving the vibes between certain characters. hahahahahah

The new thin pages to accommodate for the sheer size of this book are super smooth. Like rub-your-face-against-it smooth. I'm somewhat terrified of touching it and ripping them, which is why I also have a paperback to use for the actual reading. Soon enough Sarah J Maas is going to have her own shelf in my room, she's taken over 90% of my top shelf already!

I have so many candles in my house, most of them are Yankee Candles. Fragrances like Apple Cinnamon Cider, Black Cherry, and French Lavender. But I keep seeing people on instagram with book themed candles which look amaaazing. I came across Castle of Fables on Etsy and ended up being in a high speed chase to buy some of her highly coveted soy candles. 

Ironteeth Clan is probably one of the prettiest candles I own. It has a strong fragrance of chocolate and vanilla. Whilst this is a little bit sweet for my tastes, I still love this candle and it's going to sit on my bookshelf in front of Empire of Storms. 

Rhysand is definitely something that I can see fits well with his character. Jasmine, obviously. Citrus for his sharp tongue (heuhhueehhhuehuhehueh), and Noir and Violets for his dark side. The pale lilac colour really goes nicely with the Jasmine scent. 

Rowan Whitethorn is perfect. Snow, Pine and Wind. Exactly as it is in the books. It smells so fresh and obviously pine and snow remind me of winter so of course I love it. The amber and spices in it as well suit me so well I just ugh. 

GIVE ME TEN. 

I missed out on getting The Night Court candle this time, but I'm desperate to get it the next time CastleofFables reopens their etsy shop. 

Apple Cinnamon Cider is basically Christmas in a jar. It smells so nice and it calms me down so much. Work got a very early copy of Gemina! I know I'm probably missing out on a very nice hardback, the hardback for Illuminae is gorgeous, but as I have a paperback for Illuminae I'm quite happy with the two matching. Plus I'm not actually sure if the hardback will be coming to the UK? I've only ever seen it in the US, like in Barnes and Noble. As much as I like books, I don't like overseas charges. And of course I had to pick up a copy of Crooked Kingdom. I also entered Books with a Bite's Crooked Kingdom pre-order giveaway! I didn't actually expect to win though! I'm the unluckiest person ever, my Goodreads giveaway list is just a long list of 'no'. The first 100 pre-orders get a tote bag and a signed bookplate! Lucky me! 

Forgive the crappy frame but look at the beauty within it. Charlie Bowater makes beautiful original artwork, this one The Court of Dreams is just absolutely gorgeous. Even more so in real life than it was on the website. I don't really buy artwork lightly, so when I do I'm essentially saying "I want to look at this for the rest of my life." The frame I bought is just a little bit too small for what I want, the signature is half covered and I think I want to get a frame with a white border to really centralize the print. The frame didn't come with the print, I bought it separately without thinking about it too much! Whoops!

All in all I probably need to stop spending money, maybe I will one day. But now that we're seeing more scarves, gloves, pumpkin spice, slipper socks and generally cosy things, I'm going to want to build a fort of books and stay there forever. So that whole 'saving money' thing might be a little bit tricky. 

Listen to the soundtrack of my life for the months of September and October:

Whoops.

I had intentions of uploading a few times over the past week, I really have. But between work and the insatiable need to read Sarah J Maas I have been a little preoccupied. 

Since I last updated there has been some bloody great booking news! Sarah J Maas released the fifth installment to the Throne of Glass series, Empire of Storms. I've only just started reading it today and I'm so excited. The series just keeps getting better and better, and I can't wait to see what happens to Manon and her Thirteen, Rowan and Aelin, and Dorian of course! AND- Throne of Glass is going to be a tv series! It's gonna be called Queen of Shadows and I think their aim is to have a 'Game of Thrones' like quality to it. Apparently it's going to start from book one too! If they manage to pull that off then holyshitwowomfgyesplease. I don't know how they're going to do some of the characters justice though, like Rowan, or Lysandra. Or even the Fae transformations. I might just have to ignore all of this until there's more news.

I also picked up a copy of A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir! I didn't think I was going to get the hardback, as my copy of An Ember in the Ashes is in paperback, but after seeing the pretty, shiny cover I gave into temptation. I think the people I work with are starting to understand that my flurry of buying lots of books when I first started at Waterstones is going to be a long term thing. 

(picture taken by http://penguinteen.tumblr.com/)

So many books are becoming tv series/movies! 

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas is going to be a Tv series called Queen of Shadows! I'm still freaking out about this! 

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman is going to be a BBC Tv series! Adapted by the same guy that brought you The Youngers, Levi David Addi, and Matthew Graham who has worked on things like Doctor who! 

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard is going to be a movie! Directed by Elizabeth Banks who you might also know as Effie Trinket. 

Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman is going to be a movie directed by Brad Pitt! I'm suuuper excited to see where this one goes as I loved the book. 

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline is going to be another Sci-Fi movie! Directed by none other than Steven Spielberg! 

And basically everything John Green writes is going to be made into something. 

Of course Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs comes out on September 30th! I already have plans to go and see it! 


It's too much. Too much excitement for me to deal with. All these things I want to do and buy and not an infinite bank account. -cries forever-

17 days left!

The Throne of Glass series. In my eyes, something everyone should read. From the author of my favourite book at the moment, A Court of Mist and Fury, Throne of Glass is the first in the series, there's also a prequel called The Assassins blade which personally I believe has the most badass cover.  

(picture taken by http://readthebloodybook.tumblr.com)

Goodreads synopsis for Throne of Glass: 

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for four years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her ... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead ... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.


Sarah J Maas has created a book that definitely bridges the gap between 'teen' fiction and general fiction. Her writing is flawless, her characters feel so real, and this series has become an addiction. From Throne of glass, The Assassins Blade, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire, and Queen of Shadows to Empire of storms, set to come out in just 17 days! This is the only series that I actually have two copies of every book in paperback and hardback. 

(picture taken by https://twitter.com/bloomsburykids/status/765531479032131584)

I would recommend Sarah J Maas to anyone who reads. And anyone who doesn't read. Basically you should be reading anything this woman writes because she is a Goddess.