the Book Burger tag

Dear Reader, 

So the object of this book tag is to build a burger using books you own, and it was created by booktuber RyanReads. However, I came across it on Sue Moro's channel, who shares my enthusiasm for fantasy, sci-fi and all things escapism. 

Burger building time!!!

1) First we need the bottom bun. Choose the first book of a series that you love.

Not including The Hobbit, this was the first ever dragon-book I read and have loved it since. Also (as mentioned previously) this book holds a very special place in my heart because it was key in bringing me and my best friend, Codename: Pixie, together; and we have been friends for 10 years now.    

2) Now we need the burger meat. Choose a meaty book that you've recently read and enjoyed (400+ pages).

With a grand total of 533 pages, The Invention of Hugo Cabret was an absolute delight to read. It's light on words, more than half of this book is actually full sided intricate sketches, made by the author, that tell the story as much as the narrative and are not just complimentary artistic drawings (like in the Leviathan Trilogy by Scott Westerfeld). Though you can't really understand the power of this until you read it yourself. Plus, the pages have this thick, beautiful texture that often I'd lift my fingers from the page to make sure I hadn't smudged the pencil drawing.  

3) Next we add a thin slice of cheese and lettuce. Choose two thin books: one you've read and enjoyed and one you want to read but haven't yet (200 pages or less).

With only 167 pages, this is my rather-blue but leafy lettuce. I read this one a year or two ago when I spent a winter reading ghost stories. 

A 153 paged very-read Leicester cheese. Though, I kind of cheated on this one; I'm actually in the process of reading The Sign of Four, as opposed to having never read it as the challenge requires. You can even see my beaded-bookmark hanging out of it.

4) Time for a nicely sliced tomato. Choose an average sized book you loved or hated (between 200 and 400 pages).

Fire has a total of 334 pages. But finding my tomato was a lot harder than I thought it would be since the majority of the books I own are 400 pages plus. It is plausible for me to work out the exact number of pages in an "average" sized book for me, but it'll take too long and honestly I'm not all that bothered to find out. 

5) Now you add a sauce that you've never tried before and you don't know if you'll love it or hate it. Choose a book that you thought you'd love but hated, or a book you thought you'd hate but, in the end, loved.

The Ringmaster's Daughter is one of those rare books that I thought I'd really like but ended up hating and not being able to finish it altogether. 

6) Finally, we need the bun on top to complete our burger. Choose the last book of a series that you are/were dreading the release of because you don't/didn't want the series to end.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows definitely fits that bill. I knew there would be a final battle, and doubt less people would die. But it was more than just that. The characters in this series had been a constant presence through out my adolescence, and reading the final book in the series truly felt like saying good-bye to old friends. Though it's not a permanent good-bye, as I can re-visit their world any time I wish.   

And finally, this is what my burger would look like put together: 

Quite a mouth full, if you ask me.

Nida 

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman: Review

Dear Reader,

Synopsis:

In the capital city of the country of Gorredd, the exceptionally talented 16-year-old Seraphina lands the coveted job of Assistant to the Court Composer, Viridius. Her role entails preparing for the week-long celebrations, that'll lead up to the 40th anniversary of the Peace-Treaty with the dragons, and giving music lessons to the Queen's grand-daughter and second heir, Princess Glisselda.   

But Seraphina has a secret: she is half-dragon, the evidence of which lies under her left sleeve, where silvery dragon scales grow instead of skin. Her mother was a dragon in human form, and though she had died of child birth, in Serphina's mind she left her a "pearl" of her memories; memories that will help Seraphina greatly when the fragile peace between humans and dragons is threatened after the death of the Queen's only son, the beloved and charming Prince Rufus.       

***

Rachel Hartman has created such a well developed world and characters. I especially like the maturity with which it ends, that sets it apart from the majority of other young adult (YA) books that I've read so far. Other than the dragons, the best thing about this book is Seraphina herself. She is intelligent, thinks on her feet, and is bold and brave, without being unlikable. She has quite a few vulnerabilities but also has her priorities in order, (i.e. save the royals family first, restore peace and order, then worry about falling in love with the wrong person).And in spite of all that happens and the self-loathing Seraphina feels at the beginning (a surprisingly common theme in many YA books), at no point did I get annoyed with her, or any of the characters in fact. I did not feel that Seraphina was ever being overly whiny/self-pitying (which was a major problem I've had with the Shatter Me, Divergent, The Mortal Instruments and The Hunger Games trilogies). There is also a wonderfully malicious villain (revealing the name of which would be a major spoiler) and a really nice ensemble of characters to support Seraphina. My favourites include:

• Orma - Seraphina's teacher, who also happens to be a mathematically-orientated dragon, 
• the lively and multifaceted, Princess Glisselda, 
• Prince Lucian Kiggs - Glisselda's fiance, the bastard-grandson of the Queen, captain of the Royal Guard and "possessor of too many titles", 
• and Fruit-Bat - the silent, orange-eating, tree-climbing, dark-skinned, curly-haired little boy that lives in Seraphina's mind.    

However, the plot can feel the tiniest bit slow at times, when there isn't actually a lot happening. But it does all build-up to the big finale, which does not disappoint. Furthermore, I felt that this book discussed prejudices, race, what it means to have humanity, religion and science in a very sophisticated way. And though it is the humans that originally invaded and settled into the dragons feeding/breeding grounds, this book goes far beyond the "Natives vs. Settlers" scenario, in discussing intermingling of cultures, the back-clash from those opposed to that "dilution", as well as what can be gained from peace and the price some will pay in order to protect it. I was also pleasantly surprised to find quite a bit of diversity in Seraphina which isn't often common in this type of book. To add to that, the light humor, the interspersed refrains of music and the dash of romance balance it out enough to make Seraphina a fun and greatly enjoyable read. 

Even several days after finishing the book, I still find myself thinking about Seraphina and the adventures she would have gone on and how young Princess Glisselda would prepare for the on-coming war. So much so that when I found out that there is actually a sequel planned for release next year, I was exceptionally excited. InshaAllah I'll be reviewing that too once it's out.

Nida

7 Deadly Sins (Book Tag)

Dear Reader,

This is quite an old book tag created by BookishlyMalyza. But I saw the video by youtuber, Bookables and found it interesting enough to do a blog post about. So here goes. 

Greed

What is your most expensive book? and what is your most inexpensive book?

Box-sets of books are really quite expensive (especially for hardcovers), but I love them and have several, as you can from this picture.

 But my single most expensive book (not counting university text books) is:

This was a birthday gift from friends who knew my love for both books and desserts. Rather sweet of them don't you think, (pun intended). 

My least expensive is:

I got this little discarded treasure for a mere 2p at a book sale.   

Wrath

Which author do you have a love-hate relationship with? 

I have quite an issues with Robin McKinley. I love her book Sunshine, she setup this amazing world with so much potential, not to mention all the loose ends. 

But she refuses, absolutely, 100% refuses to write a sequel, or even a spin off set in that world! Ugh!! So Frustrating!

Gluttony

What book have you deliciously devoured over and over with no shame whatsoever?

I would have to say it's a close call between Romancing Mr. Bridgerton and Brighter Than the Sun, both by Julia Quinn. 

Sloth

What book have you neglected reading due to laziness?

Insurgent and Allegiant by Veronica Roth. I don't even know why. Every time I tell myself that I'm going to read Insurgent now, I always end up reading something else. 

Pride

What book do you most talk about in order to sound like a very intellectual reader?

Idylls of the King by Lord Alfred Tennyson. (But generally I just talk about all the Classics I have read.)

Lust 

What attributes do you find most attractive in male/female characters?

I think that this goes for both male and female characters, that they be genuinely good people who care and always want to do what's good/right. Also, a good sense of humour doesn't hurt either. 

And just for a bit of fun, here's a list of my literary crushes:

Jem Carstairs from The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

Brigan from Fire by Kristin Cashore

Mr. Knightley from Emma by Jane Austen

Charles Darnay from A Tale of Two Cities by Charle Dickens

Remus Lupin from the Harry Potter series by J.K.Rowling 

(And to a lesser extent, I really like the character development that Mr. Thornton from North and South and Warner from the Shatter Me Trilogy, under went.)

Envy
What books would you most like to receive as a gift?

Hmm.... that would have to be the Collector's Library 6 book box-set of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series, (I'm very particular about edition/publishers and stuff). 

It's such a beautiful little collection but soooo expensive. I'd feel completely guilty if I bought it for myself.    

Until my next post, take care and keep reading.

Nida