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@prequelstosequels

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❤️ Haunting libraries since '97
⭐️ Reviews and recs
🗽 NYC transplant
📖 The Foxglove King ● Hannah Whitten

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Giveaways? Challenges? Both? Let me know! Alternatively, if you want me to stop tagging you, let me know that too! by @prequelstosequels

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💭 A true YA novel but still enjoyable. The world building in The Otherwhere Post has huge potential, and I did feel like it was utilized for the story. The magic system was different than what I had encountered before, and I think it was explained well.
Maeve makes some dumb, impulsive choices, but this is a YA novel so it's kind of expected. There were some plot conveniences that occurred a bit too frequently in the second half of the book that I wish had been dealt with differently.
I'm not sure why Nan is so determined to be Maeve's friend, considering how rude she is to her, but I like Nan so I'll let it slide. I didn't like how Maeve tricked the girl in the beginning (won't spill too many details) with the justification of "oh well, she can afford training and she'll be okay waiting a year." Girl, I get that you're desperate, but she worked really hard, you didn't (and you didn't do the research involved to know what you needed) and that's so not nice.
Maeve's character could've used a bit more fleshing out - I didn't really feel like I got to know her. I understood her feelings, but didn't know who she was. Tristan was very well developed; he had depth and dimension and not just "hot".
The romance felt a bit forced, I didn't really feel the chemistry between Maeve and her love interest. But! No insta-love, which is far worse.
I really did enjoy this book, and will miss this world. It was fun, whimsy and unique. Definitely an older YA than younger, in my opinion. Will be re-reading again!
Bonus points - this dark academia book (yes, the moodiness is there and I love it) actually has classroom scenes and Maeve is interacting in class.
Bonus bonus points - the glasses are remembered and not just mentioned and forgotten.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ by @prequelstosequels

🗨 The Killoran's front door changed color depending upon who knocked.
Sky blue for a charming acquaintance, heart red for a lover present, past or future. Clover green for a spiteful enemy, or a rich, jammy plum for an old friend. Mustard yellow for family and, due to a slight inaccuracy with the spellwork, traveling salesmen.

💭 Silvercloak started with so much potential. The whimsical front door? A magicians detective agency? Sign me up!
While for the most part I enjoyed the story, and certainly am planning to continue reading it, I felt this was more YA than adult (which is what it was marketed as). As soon as the MMC appeared I knew it was him, mostly because he was a tall, dark, insanely powerful mysterious man who was also a brooding poet - I mean bookworm. And somehow Saffron just couldn't keep away from him, despite the chemistry almost not being there.
Saffron was described as a listener and observer, quiet but clever. She didn't stop talking. She also made numerous increasingly questionable choices but somehow everything managed to turn out for the best.
There was just enough showing but also a bit too much telling, and just enough world building and descriptions but just not enough at the same time. I really want more.
The biggest part that bothered me was the secrecy. Of course you don't talk about secret missions, but for only one person to know? In an unofficial capacity? I had a really bad feeling about it - scapegoat anyone? But we'll have to wait and see what happens in book 2.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 by @prequelstosequels

🗨 I write the check and stick it under her saucer. "You better cash that or I'll come looking for you."
"Well, then I won't cash it and you will have to visit me."

💭 This is one of those books that I've heard of and knew there was a movie adaptation but just never got around to reading because so many other books spunded more interesting and also because I wasn't sure I even wanted to read it. But someone was giving away a copy so I thought I'd give it a shot.
First off, this book took me forever and a half to get through. I was so uninvested in the story, which was a shame because time traveling? Infertility? These are huge concepts and to be unmoved by either is a crime.
I think there was supposed to be an air of pretention, with Clare being an art student and Henry working in the library and being the son of musicians. But there was a lot of name dropping, a bit too much, and I felt like it turned me away.
Finally, the age gap. I'm not an age gap fan, in either direction, and the non-linear timeline here felt like it crossed a line. A six year old (I think she was six) seeing a fully naked man? Then knowing she would marry him? It felt a bit coercive, like she had no choice or didn't even try to form a real relationship with anyone else. And while she was 18 before crossing the line, she literally had just turned 18. That day. Legal? Yes, but . . . eww. It was reminiscent of the 18 internet countdown websites.
While I appreciated the 90's-2000's feel of the book - it felt like coming home in a weird way - the book was not for me. I truly believe there was potential here, but I also seem to be in the minority here. Oh well.

⭐️ by @prequelstosequels

🗨 Isla climbed onto the railing. Her feet kicked air, high above the churning sea. She looked up at him. "Don't let me fall in."
His eyes met hers. "Never."
Isla glared at him.
"Never again," he amended.

💭 Sometimes a book gets 5 stars for the way it makes you feel at that moment. I was coming off a bunch of books that just weren't doing it, and couldn't remember the last 4 or 5 star book I had read.
Lightlark pulled me in immediately, and didn't let me go. It took effort to pause reading to deal with real life things. I just wanted to race to the end and somehow savor it simultaneously.
Isla was young and naive, but she's supposed to be. It worked here. The curses were devastating to read about, and Oro has me rooting for him. Poor guy. And while some twists I saw coming, some caught me very off-guard.
It's not a perfect book. I know the characters are supposed to be suspicious of each other, but a little more characterization would have worked well. The Centennial seems to be there because of current trends. Also, even though Celeste is also young, the 19 girl with the ancient guy leader is old (no pun intended). Some of the names are a little on the nose, but since the target audience is YA that gets a pass. I'm mainly tired of shadowy guys with shadow powers and shadowy personalities being the endgame. It's so overdone. How about a nice, sunny man who actually communicates instead of kill now ask later?
I'm really happy I got this edition, because the artwork and beautiful made it so much fun to read. *sighs happily* I love pretty books.
Grievances aside, I really enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to book 2.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ by @prequelstosequels

Another "Bookstagram made me" read. Saw glowing reviews and while the premise was interesting, I ultimately decided it wasn't the book for me. My husband also read this book, and he said that he felt it was a bit pretentious. Personally, I think the author was doing more of a deep dive into the world of academia, showcasing all sides (pretension included) of a world she clearly loves.

❓️ What book did Bookstagram made you read? by @prequelstosequels

Look what I got in the mail! 💌 Aren't these so cute?

My birthday was a bit ago, but I've been under the weather and haven't been able to post until now. Thank you @authorkatsingleton for the birthday goodies! by @prequelstosequels

30 years old 🎂

It feels like crossing a threshold, with life just a bit different from now on. But I am so grateful to start a new decade and chapter.

My twenties were such a mix of wonderful experiences and the hardest (and worst) moments of my life. And while 29 ended on a rough note, maybe 30 is a clean slate.

Here's to love, laughter, family, perhaps new friendships, wonderful experiences, and of course, amazing books! 🥂 by @prequelstosequels

❤️🤍💙 Happy 250th Birthday to the US of A! ❤️🤍💙
Let freedom ring! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Happy 4th of July to everyone! by @prequelstosequels

📚 Nooks Gallery and Bookshop
📍Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Last week my toddler finished playgroup, and with a few days until the start of day camp we visited Lancaster. Of course, a bookstore was on the itinerary, and my husband found Nooks.

This store is adorable. First of all, there's a bookstore dog named Winnie (I didn't get a picture, but she's a beautiful golden Lab). I've seen bookstore cats, but never a dog. My toddler kept running back and forth between the dog, the books and the toys.

The store has different rooms targeting different ages. The children's room has books, toys, coloring and chairs for reading. There's even a reading nook with bean bags. I thought the selection of books was very well curated. I recognized many classics and some of my childhood favorites as well as newer books I'd never heard of. The adult section had classics sprinkled with new releases and bestsellers, so searching the shelves became a bit of a treasure hunt.

The owner was so sweet, and the store is absolutely charming. I wish it was closer to my location, but you can bet the next time I'm in Lancaster I will be going back! by @prequelstosequels

🌷 Mother's Day G!veaway 🌸 🛑 Closed 🛑

It's been a minute since I hosted a g!veaway, and with Mother's Day coming up I thought a small self-care package would be fun.

Everything pictured is included, plus 1 book (romance or suspense) and 1 ARC.

Rules:
1. Follow
2. Comment your favorite flower and tag a friend (same comment)
3. Share

That's it! Giveaway ends Sunday, May 10 at 11:59 PM EDT. US only. Must be willing to share address if win, no PO boxes. If no response in 24 hours, I'll pick a new winner

Not affiliated with anyone/anything by @prequelstosequels

With one of the most famous opening lines in literature, a timeless classic deserves a beautiful cover 💚

I picked this copy up at my local Barnes and Noble two days ago. I've been looking for a pretty copy with a specific requirement - my old Barnes and Noble copy has a glossary that is incredibly helpful, providing context and definitions, though the cover is kind of drab. I was hoping to find a new copy that was pretty and had a similar glossary. However, when I found this beautiful edition, I couldn't resist. So I guess I'll just be using both copies at once 😂

I'm long overdue for a reading, and I can't wait to start! by @prequelstosequels