Bookmarks Galore

Lately, I’ve actually been trying to not buy books. I broke my book-buying ban right after our vacation in June and have been sorta-kinda-not really trying to go back on it. Or at least show some restraint. However, this does mean I’ve acquired more bookish STUFF than ever before. OwlCrate has been pretty bad for this, with all the AMAZING stuff they pack in each box…as has bookstagram. Haha! But I wanted to show off some of my favorite new pretties!

I’m obsessed with Crafted Van’s adorable magnetic bookmarks (they also make magnets and notecards). They’re cute, and they’re the perfect thickness – they don’t stick up or hold the pages up in an odd way like a lot of bookmarks. They don’t fall out. They  make perfect kitty toys. Oh wait, that last part was a completely unintentional design feature, I’m sure. Haha. The royalty ones above came in the June OwlCrate box.

Yes, that is my one lonely Penguin Drop Caps book behind them. I bought Jane Eyre in hopes that starting my Drop Caps collection would motivate me to finally finish that book. So far it’s not working. 😛

Then I bought these kitty ones…an orange one for Sir Tristan, and a gray one for Alfred (he needs a title too…Assassin, maybe?). They have a TON of different cat designs, both big and small. In the close up pictures you can’t tell really, so I took another one to illustrate sizes of a bunch of different magnetic bookmarks, a few pictures down.

THEN, I just happened to catch a posting from the Crafted Van Instagram account that they were starting a brand-new monthly subscription! I was beyond excited and immediately signed up. Because I already loved their bookmarks, and it was only $12. Freaking fantabulous. I was not disappointed. I think the little reading octopus is my new favorite bookmark!! Aaaah!! How did they know I love octopi? Anyway, I’m really looking forward to adding to my Crafted Van collection each month. 😀

Next up is this beautifully adorable set from NerdyGrlDesigns. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m slightly obsessed with A Court of Mist and Fury. Despite being unable to write a review on it, but that’s a topic for another post. Haha. Anyway, these little caricatures of Rhysand’s Inner Circle are just…well, adorable. As soon as my SIGNED copy of ACOMAF arrives, I plan to sprinkle them throughout the book. Um…because why not? Why would I use them to mark my place in another, lesser book? Oh, I could always try to string them up across the bookshelf like I see so many lovely bookstagrammers doing…but I’m not that talented and mine would probably look like a redneck Christmas. These feel a little more fragile to me than the others, I think probably because of the arms and legs and other details.

Banking the shop photo because mine didn’t turn out and I’m too lazy to try to take another.

Then there is another – ahem, no, I do not have a problem – ACOMAF set, this time from Jane’s Little Things. I love her drawings. They definitely have their own very unique look! I adore the quotes she puts on the back. These feel thicker than either of the other ones here, and they’re glossy. They do hold the pages of a mid-weight book up slightly, but it doesn’t damage the book in any way!

Here’s the size comparison picture!

Then, I found the gorgeous Boookmarky shop. And promptly purchased ANOTHER pair of ACOTAR/ACOMAF themed bookmarks. I love the little charms on these. When I get my books arranged properly (i.e., all standing on end and not just stacked so they are on the shelf SOMEhow) I’ll take a picture of them properly in the books and adorning the spines. This one will have to do for now. However, since I still kind of want to buy out their entire store…this will not be the last of their bookmarks to grace my shelves, I hope!

Who are some of your favorite bookmark creators? Do you use them or just collect them? Do you make your own? As pretty as they are, I do actually use mine (which is why I currently can’t find the Tristan one, or the Queen – waaaaah) and take a lot of joy in watching them move through the pages. 😀

All products in this post were purchased by me and reviewed at my own discretion.

Looking Forwards and Back #1 – July/August

Everyone seems to be doing a monthly recap and projection type deal, so here is mine! I keep my lists in my traveler’s notebook bullet journal. It goes with me everywhere. I love using stamps for it as I think my print handwriting looks horrible.

The arrows are titles I moved to August.

Here is what July looked like at month’s end! Now I did read I think 2 books that aren’t on that list…it felt like cheating to add them on at the end, so I didn’t. Haha. I’m anal retentive, what can I say. Below is the list in picture form! Each cover is linked to my review on GoodReads, and the titles are linked to Book Depository. Which brings me to this small announcement: I’ve become a Book Depository affiliate! This just means that if you use a link from my site to buy a book, I’ll receive a small commission. I’d really like to switch my servers but that costs money! So I’m hoping to offset the cost a little…but even if it doesn’t, I’ll probably switch soon anyway…just because I love writing about this stuff and want my site to be a little more user friendly.

Oh! And before you get entirely bored reading my list – remember to enter the A Court of Thorns and Roses giveaway I have running right now! Have I mentioned how much I love this series yet? Yes? Let me reiterate. If you have even a shred of interest in fantasy, you need to go read them now. And don’t let some of the eye-rolling moments or unlikeable characters in the first one throw you off. It gets better. MUCH better. The second one gets an unreserved 5 stars from me. Anywho.

 

 

 

Rafflecopter Linky (because the widget doesn’t play nice on WP)

You can enter by commenting, following me on Twitter, Bloglovin, or WordPress, and by sharing the giveaway via Twitter. Just make sure to submit your entries via the Rafflecopter!

 

 

 

 

 

July Books Read and Reviewed – I’m kind of impressed that I managed 14 books this month! That’s a lot for me. A few of them didn’t get reviews, but that’s ok. Not every book is meant to be reviewed! 😀

Wild
A Killing in the Hills
The Falconer
The Graces
Jackaby
A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Court of Mist and Fury
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
The Cuckoo’s Calling
My Lady Jane
Vinegar Girl
When You Reach Me
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
The Blind Astronomer’s Daughter

Aaaaaaand – August! This is my projected list for this month. I think I’m probably attempting to overextend myself again (as it’s now August 4 and I have yet to finish a book), but oh well. If I didn’t have to sleep, this would be my list. We’ll see what falls off in the course of the month. All covers link to GoodReads.

So far I have started (yes, my monogamous book-reading ways seem to have fallen by the wayside this summer):

I am most excited about these right at the moment:

These are older, backlist books that have been recommended by different friends that I managed to find at my library:

I have ARCs of (I’m so excited about these! I haven’t had too many early review copies yet so even Netgalley copies are all still shiny and new to me):

The few that aren’t pictured are series continuations that I’ve slowly been working my way through. Also I’m tired of linking. 😛 So many books, so little time! I’ve really enjoyed seeing what the book blogging community has been up to and is looking forward to – hope you enjoyed my rundown!

Giveaway: A Court of Thorns and Roses

I am super excited to be hosting my first giveaway here on The Bent Bookworm! I’ve fallen so much in love with the ACOTAR series that I had to share it around. 😀 This is for a hardcover copy of A Court of Thorns and Roses, by Sarah J. Maas. I’m also including a little coloring booklet full of YA book covers, that was included in July’s OwlCrate! It’s adorable but I have lots of coloring books and not enough time for them as it is! You can enter by leaving a blog comment (make sure to add all your entries to the Rafflecopter), following me on Twitter, and a few other things.

 

Entries are open starting now until midnight, Tuesday, August 9, 2016 (Seoul time, which is about 13 hours ahead of EST). Winners will be contacted within 48 hours and if I don’t receive a response within 48 hours of attempting to contact, I’ll pick someone else. Have fun!! Click below for the Rafflecopter and let me know if there are any issues! 🙂 🙂

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book HANGOVER – A Court of Mist and Fury

Photo linked to appropriate Society6 store. I need this.

No, this is not a review. Not yet. This is just me…flailing. Because OMG all the feels. And because I stayed up until 2:30 a.m. to finish this 630 page beast (no pun intended) and was drinking wine so I feel a little bit actually hungover. I started reading at noon yesterday and only took a few breaks. You know, because eating. And picking the husband up from work.

Found this “Which Court Do You Belong In” quiz, which is OBVIOUSLY WRONG, because somehow it says I belong in the Spring Court. *sob*

Yes, I am showing my new bookmarks off everywhere. Because they’re that adorable.

My morning has been spent finding everything I possibly can on the next books. The next one of which will not be released until MAY 2017. WHAT DO I DO?!? There’s not even a title yet.
Also, ALL the Rhysand/Night Court candles. Because I need them, obviously. I need to be able to smell that sea/citrus/starlight scent. *hearteyes*

Specifically this one. Aaaah! Link to store.

Also this. And this. Because Evie Bookish’s store is awesome.

Real review forthcoming, some time this week. If I can become coherent again.

 

Book Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have soooooo many feelings about this book. I loved it, but I have issues with it. I loved the characters, but I want to throttle them. This is my cherry pop for Sarah J. Maas’ books, and I have to say I’m quite definitely hooked. I’ve already checked out A Court of Mist and Fury from the library (thank the stars they HAD it for once). Sadly it will probably be waiting until next weekend, when I can devote an entire day to devouring it all in one go. I’m a bit confused by the GoodReads page for the series, because it lists 8 (count them! 8!) books…while the FAQ on Maas’ author website clearly says “third and final book in the series is slated to be published in 2017.” SOMEONE HELP ME UNDERSTAND!!!! Ahem. Anywho, barring some unforgivable deviation in writing, I’m sure I will be biting my nails for the next release. I’m already waffling on my book buying ban.

ADDENDUM: Oops. A little more digging revealed this announcement! I am trying not to get my expectations too high as I haven’t read that much of her work yet, buuuuut…yeah. So much hope and potential.

My first impression, on page 7 (yes, page 7), was “holy shit does this woman know how to set the atmosphere!” As Fayre is stalking the wolf, my heart was pounding. I actually put the book down for a minute. I was startled at being that sucked in that fast. As the story continued, I continued to be impressed by the world building. Somehow she managed to do it without the massive info-dumps so many authors resort to using. Whoohoo! Mad props. And, I can feel the snow. I can see the poverty, and then the masked glittering court. Ooooh.

Characters. Ah, where do I even start. This could be a very long post. Fayre, we all love you. I do wish you didn’t have quite such a guilt complex though. About 1/5 of the way through the book, she has a dream about the wolf she killed – killed because all her life she was told that wolves were evil, as were the Fae, and would slaughter her and her family without pausing to think twice. And yet, after spending just a few days in the Spring Court, she is suddenly overwrought. Fayre dear, why so many guilty feels?

It was regret, and maybe shame, that coated my tongue, my bones. I shuddered as if I could fling it off, and kicked back the sheets to rise from the bed.

All very dramatic of course, but, um…knowing what she knew at that point in time, I think most of us with an ounce of backbone would have killed the wolf too. Just saying. I’m willing to chalk that up to her being 19 and impressionable. And horny.

Then there is the whole Tamrin Problem. Because while he has some great lines… (Um….possible SPOILERS? You’ve been warned…I tried to be vague but might not have been as vague as I thought)

Against slavery, against tyranny, I would gladly go to my death, no matter whose freedom I was defending.

…he’s a lying bastard who never even apologizes for his myriad deceptions! UGH! I actually kind of liked his over-flown, flowery, stilted mannerisms until his lies are all uncovered. And then even when Fayre is hit in the fucking FACE with them, she just accepts them and follows him to…er…some-indefinite-place-of-mortal-peril.

At least Fayre realizes, however briefly, that she’s caught a bad case of the hots.

I knew I was headed down a path that would likely end in my moral heart being left in pieces, and yet…and yet I couldn’t stop myself.

Well. Bravo to her for realizing it and consciously making the choice, at least. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. The key is personal responsibility, which Fayre seems to have in spades (albeit exhibiting itself most often as the aforementioned guilt complex).

Also, re: Tamrin – HOW, and WHY IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT’S HOLY, is it SEXY for your love interest to lose control and be a mindless beast? I get it, it’s Beauty and the Beast, yadda yadda. But. NOT COOL!! Thankfully that scene is short and not portrayed entirely positively…but it was still more sexy than horrific and it really disturbed me.

About halfway through I felt the story became really predictable. Maybe due to the Beauty and the Beast influence? Still a bit sad. However, Maas still has some lovely, lovely prose that actually stirred my little non-believing critic’s heart.

I was loosened, a top whirling around and around, and I didn’t know who I danced with or what they looked like, only that I had become the music and the fire and the night, and there was nothing that could slow me down.

Ahhhhh. Yes. Talk to me, baby. I kind of wished I was drunk while reading this, because I’m pretty sure I would have been spinning right along with Feyre.

Then we’re kind of back to the predictabilty. Boo. But then, a few interesting things happen. But then, there’s this riddle deal thrown in – was that supposed to be a big mystery? Because honestly. I hadn’t even finished reading it before I was mumbling the answer at the pages in front of me, and yet SOMEHOW it takes Fayre several more chapters to figure it out.

So, this is near the end. I was thinking this was a 3/5 star book. Then…Rhysand happened. Also there’s the little not-much-explained story of Lucien. And OMG Fayre. What happened to you, Love? She’s still Fayre and yet…her naivety and what innocence she had left gets wiped entirely clean. But there is still Rhysand…omg. What…what?? Dun-dun-dun, and it’s over.

Leaving me reeling in my chair and desperately checking the library catalog for the second one. Despite all the flaws. Despite my homicidal feelings toward Tamrin. Despite odd division of the story into 75% slow, sweet romance and then BAM! 25% knives and blood and confusion.

It was lovely, for all its flaws. I am going to be tearing my hair out until I get through A Court of Mist and Fury.

Oh, but…Fayre? Can you please, please get over your obsession with the “shell” of your ear?