2019 N.E.W.Ts - Magical Readathon

Normally the Magical Readthon O.W.Ls would be done in April and the Magical Readathon N.E.W.Ts done in August. But I'm behind, like usual, and I really want to do them this year instead of waiting for April 2020. I want to stick to the rules as much as possible - so I've decided I'd do my O.W.Ls in August and my N.E.W.Ts in September!

As we have finally hit September, so it begins!

If anyone else is in the same boat as me then feel free to join in with me!

Advanced warning: this post is going to be quite long as I'm not going with any specific career this year so I'm mainly just seeing what I do and don't complete therefore everything will be listed below.

Get comfy...



How It Works:

This month-long magical readathon was started by G from Book Roast (go check out her YouTube and Instagram if you haven't already!) This readathon is based on the exams that the Hogwarts students take in the Harry Potter books and movies - their O.W.Ls (Ordinay Wizarding Levels) and their N.E.W.Ts (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests).

All the extra documents, like the invitation letter (which includes reading prompts) and the careers guidebook are linked in the description section of the announcement video on G's YouTube channel too. They are absolutely free to download and check out!

After you select a career (although you don't have to if you don't want to), you can check out the prompt list which details the type of book you need to read to "pass" the subject. If you want to know more just check out G's YouTube channel!

In the O.W.Ls you only need to finish one book per subject, however in the N.E.W.Ts you may be required to read multiple books per subject to prove your skill.

Each subject in the N.E.W.Ts will contain three prompts -- each for a specified grade. If you check your career guide, under the N.E.W.Ts section of your chosen profession you will find your required subjects and also a required grade. Check the N.E.W.Ts study guide and find your required subject. Next to the subject it will have three prompts, one for each grade.

To get an Outstanding you have to complete the two prompts before it. This means you have to read three books, completing the prompt for Acceptable, Exceeded Expectations and Outstanding.

Important FAQs:

I copied these from one of the extra documents from the description in G's YouTube video just in case anyone else wanted to join in! I still recommend going and watching her YouTube video though where it's all explained much better than I could ever explain it, plus there's other FAQs you can read if you want too!

Are the prompts the same each time?
No! The prompts change each year to give us some variety.

Are rereads allowed?
Absolutely! Especially of the Harry Potter books ;)

Can I carry on reading a book I've already started?
Unless specified as one of our special prompts all reads must be started and finished within the readathon time frame.

Can I read one book for multiple prompts?
Unfortunately not, it's one exam per book.



Magical Careers:

I listed the 18 different magical careers you could choose from in my O.W.Ls post too, but here they are in case you missed it:

- Alchemist
- Astronomer
- Aurologist
- Auror
- Broom Maker
- Curse Breaker
- Healer
- Herbology
- Hogwarts Professor
- Journalist/Writer
- Librarian
- Magizoologist
- Metal Charmer
- Mind Witch/Wizard
- Ministry Worker
- Potioneer
- Seer
- Wandmaker



The Subjects:

ANCIENT RUNES
A: Ehwaz (partnership) - Read a book recommended by a friend
E: Book written in past tense
O: Book that has been on your TBR for ages

ARITHMANCY
A: Book that ends on an even page number
E: Read a standalone
O: Book that's longer than 350 pages

ASTRONOMY
A: Moon on the cover or anywhere in the title
E: Word "night" in the book title or series name
O: Read a sci-fi book (or book with stars on the cover)

CARE OF MAGICAL CREATURES
A: Follow the spiders! Why couldn't it be follow the butterflies! - Book title that starts with the letter A for Aragog!
E: Book under 300 pages
O: Grab onto Fawkes' tail - Read a book with a bird on the cover

CHARMS
A: Read a book that you think has a gorgeous cover
E: Read a comic/graphic novel/manga (or read a book under 150 pages)
O: Spongify (softening charm) - Read a paperback book

DEFENCE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS
A: Book that's black under the dust jacket
E: Gilderoy's memory charm (grab a pen!) - First book that you remembered just now from your TBR
O: Cornish pixie! - Swat it away with a book written by an English author or set in England

DIVINATION
A: Read a white book
E: Read a short story or collection of short stories
O: Read the last book you bought/took from the library

HERBOLOGY
A: Mandrake! Quick, put on your headphones! - Listen to an audiobook (if not, green cover)
E: Read a book between 350 - 390 pages
O: Read a book with a flower on the cover

HISTORY OF MAGIC
A: Read a fantasy
E: Read a book that includes a map
O: Tom Riddle's diary: fond memory - Reread a favourite (or a classic)

MUGGLE STUDIES
A: Cover that includes an actual photo element (person, item, place, etc.)
E: Book set in our real world
O: Book written by a person of colour

POTIONS
A: Polyjuice potion - Read your friend's favourite book
E: House ingredient - Book with a cover in your Hogwarts house colour
O: Book that starts with a prologue

TRANSFIGURATION
A: Read a book with LGBTA+ representation
E: Read a book that's not a first in the series
O: Mcgonagall does not mess around!- Read a book over 500 pages


My TBR:

ANCIENT RUNES
A: Cinder
E: Eleanor and Park
O: The Alpha Drive

ARITHMANCY
A: A Thousand Perfect Notes
E: Small Spaces
O: Emergency Contact

ASTRONOMY
A: Darkdawn
E: The Night Circus
O: Finding Wonders: Three Girls Who Changed Science

CARE OF MAGICAL CREATURES
A: An Abundance of Katherines
E: Super Lexi
O: The Last Falcon

CHARMS
A: Strange the Dreamer
E: Winter's Snow
O: Muse of Nightmares

DEFENCE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS
A: Four Dead Queens
E: Red Queen
O: When the Curtain Falls

DIVINATION
A: I Was Here
E: The Past and Other Lies
O: Fawkes

HERBOLOGY
A: A Court of Frost and Stralight
E: Off the Page
O: Frostblood

HISTORY OF MAGIC
A: A Court of Thorns and Roses
E: A Court of Mist and Fury
O: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

MUGGLE STUDIES
A: The Notebook
E: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
O: The Hate U Give

POTIONS
A: Daisy Jones and the Six
E: Glass Sword
O: Initiate

TRANSFIGURATION
A: They Both Die At The End
E: A Court of Wings and Ruin
O: The Priory of the Orange Tree



My Finished Exams:

ANCIENT RUNES
A: -
E: -
O: -

ARITHMANCY
A: The Quintland Sisters
E: Dare to Dream
O: The Little Paris Bookshop

ASTRONOMY
A: -
E: -
O: -

CARE OF MAGICAL CREATURES
A: Animal Farm
E: Super Lexi
O: -

CHARMS
A: Strange the Dreamer
E: Winter's Snow
O: Muse of Nightmares

DEFENCE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS
A: -
E: -
O: -

DIVINATION
A: The Near Witch
E: -
O: -

HERBOLOGY
A: A Court of Frost and Starlight
E: -
O: -

HISTORY OF MAGIC
A: A Court of Thorns and Roses
E: A Court of Mist and Fury
O: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

MUGGLE STUDIES
A: -
E: -
O: -

POTIONS
A: -
E: -
O: -

TRANSFIGURATION
A: They Both Die at the End
E: A Court of Wings and Ruin
O: -



Finished Exam Total:
A: 7/12
E: 5/12
O: 3/12

2019 O.W.Ls - Magical Readathon

I feel like I'm normally one of the last to find things out - this readathon being no exception. Unfortunately as I was already participating in two readathons in July I was already up to my eyeballs in my TBR pile!

Normally the Magical Readthon O.W.Ls would be done in April and the Magical Readathon N.E.W.Ts done in August. But as I'm behind, I really want to do them this year instead of waiting for April 2020 and I want to stick to the rules as much as possible - so I've decided to do my O.W.Ls in August and my N.E.W.Ts in September!

If anyone else is in the same boat as me then feel free to join in with me!



How It Works:

This month-long magical readathon was started by G from Book Roast (go check out her YouTube and Instagram if you haven't already!) This readathon is based on the exams that the Hogwarts students take in the Harry Potter books and movies - their O.W.Ls (Ordinay Wizarding Levels) and their N.E.W.Ts (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests).

All the extra documents, like the invitation letter (which includes reading prompts) and the careers guidebook are linked in the description section of the announcement video on G's YouTube channel too. They are absolutely free to download and check out!

After you select a career (although you don't have to if you don't want to), you can check out the prompt list which details the type of book you need to read to "pass" the subject. If you want to know more just check out G's YouTube channel!

If you don't wish to select any career, the following are the grades:

A: Acceptable = 2 exams complete
E: Exceeded Expectations = 6 exams complete
O: Outstanding = 9 exams complete




Important FAQs:

I copied these from one of the extra documents from the description in G's YouTube video just in case anyone else wanted to join in! I still recommend going and watching her YouTube video though where it's all explained much better than I could ever explain it, plus there's other FAQs you can read if you want too!

Are the prompts the same each time?
No! The prompts change each year to give us some variety.

Are rereads allowed?
Absolutely! Especially of the Harry Potter books ;)

Can I carry on reading a book I've already started?
Unless specified as one of our special prompts all reads must be started and finished within the readathon time frame.

Can I read one book for multiple prompts?
Unfortunately not, it's one exam per book.



Magical Careers:

I'm not sure what career I want to choose yet, so I thought up a TBR just in case and I figured I'd read what takes my fancy next and see how I go from there!

However the 18 different magical careers you could choose from are:

- Alchemist
- Astronomer
- Aurologist
- Auror
- Broom Maker
- Curse Breaker
- Healer
- Herbology
- Hogwarts Professor
- Journalist/Writer
- Librarian
- Magizoologist
- Metal Charmer
- Mind Witch/Wizard
- Ministry Worker
- Potioneer
- Seer
- Wandmaker



The Subjects:

Ancient Runes ------- Retelling

Arithmancy ------- Book written by more than one author

Astronomy ------- "Star" in the title

Care of Magical Creatures ------- Land animal on the cover

Charms ------- Age-line: Read an adult work

Defense Against the Dark Arts ------- Reducto: Title starts with an "R"

Divination ------- Set in the future

Herbology ------- Plant on the cover

History of Magic ------- Published at least 10 years ago

Muggle Studies ------- Contemporary

Potions ------- Next ingredient: Sequel

Transfiguration ------- Sprayed edges or red cover



My TBR:

Ancient Runes ------- The Looking Glass House - by Vanessa Tait

Arithmancy ------- Memento - by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Astronomy ------- The Fault in Our Stars - by John Green

Care of Magical Creatures ------- The Alpha Drive - by Kristen Martin

Charms ------- Godsgrave - by Jay Kristoff

Defense Against the Dark Arts ------- Red Queen - by Victoria Aveyard

Divination ------- Dev1at3 - by Jay Kristoff

Herbology ------- Frostblood - by Elly Blake

History of Magic ------- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - by J.K. Rowling

Muggle Studies ------- A Thousand Perfect Notes - by C.G. Drews

Potions ------- Heartstopper Vol. 2 - by Alice Oseman

Transfiguration ------- The Smoke Thieves - by Sally Green



My Finished Exams:

I swapped books for a few of the subjects so this list doesn't quite match my TBR above. But plans can easily be changed - nothing's set in stone.

Ancient Runes ------- N/A

Arithmancy ------- Memento - by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Astronomy ------- N/A

Care of Magical Creatures ------- It's Not What It Looks Like - by Molly Burke

Charms ------- Godsgrave - by Jay Kristoff

Defense Against the Dark Arts ------- Reign the Earth - by A.C. Gaughen

Divination ------- N/A

Herbology ------- In an Absent Dream - by Seanan McGuire

History of Magic ------- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - by J.K. Rowling

Muggle Studies ------- N/A

Potions ------- Heartstopper, Vol. 2 - by Alice Oseman

Transfiguration ------- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - by J.K. Rowling



Finished Exam Total: 8/12

The Flatshare - by Beth O'Leary

Title: The Flatshare

Author: Beth O'Leary

Published: 23 April 2019

Series: -

Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis:

Tiffy and Leon share a flat
Tiffy and Leon share a bed
Tiffy and Leon have never met…
Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash. Their friends think they’re crazy, but it’s the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy’s at work in the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time. 
But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly imprisoned brothers and, of course, the fact that they still haven’t met yet, they’re about to discover that if you want the perfect home you need to throw the rulebook out the window…

Trigger Warning: emotional abuse

I listened to this as an audiobook. These two narrators did a fantastic job reading this! I loved this book.

It did take me a bit to get into the swing of the story with Leon's chapters as I did wonder why he was speaking that way. It did make a little more sense after it was explained he tried to use the least amount of words possible.

I was definitely hoping Tiffy and Leon would get together though! The way that Tiffy knew things about Leon without ever having met him was great too - things like the way that he liked his coffee and how she knew when he had overslept his alarm by where he placed his coffee cup in the apartment.

Richie was also a great brother in my opinion as even thought it was difficult to see him and talk to him because of reasons (read the book to find out what I'm talking about!), Richie still tried to protect and take care of Leon. I'm also glad that Leon never stopped fighting for Richie!

One of my favourite parts would have to be all the Post-Its. Part of me was hoping that they would write all the little notes in a notebook or something so there'd be no having to clean up Post-Its and also so they'd be able to keep all the notes for later.

Another of my favourite parts would definitely have to be how they met! It was fun, cute and awkward all in one but well worth the wait to see them meet!

I did feel bad for Tiffy, but I'm glad that she was able to overcome all the obstacles in her way - I'm especially glad that her friends and the people she cares about were able to help her overcome them. The way that Beth O'Leary talked about the topic of Tiffy's emotional abuse was fantastic though.

Those final lines were my undoing! I'm not crying, you're crying!

Also it's cool that there's a bit of an interview between Carrie and Beth at the end of the audiobook after the final chapter.

I would definitely recommend this book to people who love a cutesy story!

Aurora Rising - by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff [Read 1]

Title: Aurora Rising

Author: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Published: 6 May 2019

Series: The Aurora Cycle #1

Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis:

The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the Academy would touch…

A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm
A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates
A smart-ass techwiz with the galaxy’s biggest chip on his shoulder
An alien warrior with anger management issues
A tomboy pilot who’s totally not into him, in case you were wondering
And Ty’s squad isn’t even his biggest problem—that’d be Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, the girl he’s just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler’s squad of losers, discipline-cases and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy.
Nobody panic.

Everyone panic.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher, Allen & Unwin, for winning their giveaway. Thank you so much for letting me read this one!

I don't think that I could sum up who this book is suited for any better than the dedication of this book did:

If your squad was hard to find, or you're still looking, then this one is for you.

I liked that after a bit of interesting story of Ty in space, we back up a little into the italics and find out what led up to that point. Aurora's chapters have the flashback italics too and I also like how the end of her present sentence is the beginning of her flashback.

Character-wise, I loved Scarlett's sass, humour and scarcasm plus Fin's sarcasm too! Finian may also be gay or bi, but it's never explicitly stated.

Also, did anyone else notice that all the Syldrathi cabals start with W? No? Just me?

The best swearing ever occurs within this book too! For example: Hole cake. Son of a biscuit. Mothercustard...

Oh, that's what be'shmai means... (If you want to find out what I'm on about with this part, then read the book.)

Every single damning way to protect something is being used all at once to protect things? Good luck, Squad 312! Side note:That star map is awesome and I want one!

What's Eshvaren? Is it going to get revealed and is it probably important? Yes and yes. I feel like I've heard that word somewhere before too but can't pick where.

I do wonder how everyone on the Hadfield ship died except for her. How was she the only one to survive? How did she even end up on the ship in the first place when the book ends like that?!

Doesn't the Illuminae Files trilogy also have "Foundation Day"? I know they're two different universes, but I’m still curious... I also like how there's info pages between every few chapters in this book though as it breaks it up a little and gives you a touch more info, plus the different font that they use for the texting they did with one another. It’s a similar style to the Illuminae Files, I think – but also very different.

Hold onto your undies, kids.

It's about to be a bumpy ride...

Spoilers!

What happened to Zila when she was 6? I'm worried for her.

Did Cat and Ty have a thing then broke up? I guessed that they may have because of the sort of matching tattoos.

Aurora said "I apologise" and "Forgive me" backwards?! What?! I didn't even notice that until Zila mentioned it!

Insulting their mothers. Just dont. -- I want to know the story behind that. Who insulted who's mother to make that a thing? Was there a brawl? Was the offender disowned and sent off world?

Human bodies squeezed out of their uniforms like toothpaste? WTF? Eww!

Side note: WHY WOULD YOU RUB YOUR HANDS AGAINST THE MOSS TO CLEAN THEM?! MORON! IT'S TRYING TO KILL YOU!

End Spoilers!

__________________________________________________

All books in this series:

    1 | Aurora Rising
    2 | Aurora Burning

Kingdom of Ash - by Sarah J. Maas

Title: Kingdom of Ash

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Published: 23 Oct 2018

Series: Throne of Glass #7

Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis:

Years in the making, Sarah J. Maas’s #1 New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series draws to an epic, unforgettable conclusion. Aelin Galathynius’s journey from slave to king’s assassin to the queen of a once-great kingdom reaches its heart-rending finale as war erupts across her world. . .
Aelin has risked everything to save her people―but at a tremendous cost. Locked within an iron coffin by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin must draw upon her fiery will as she endures months of torture. Aware that yielding to Maeve will doom those she loves keeps her from breaking, though her resolve begins to unravel with each passing day…
With Aelin captured, Aedion and Lysandra remain the last line of defense to protect Terrasen from utter destruction. Yet they soon realize that the many allies they’ve gathered to battle Erawan’s hordes might not be enough to save them. Scattered across the continent and racing against time, Chaol, Manon, and Dorian are forced to forge their own paths to meet their fates. Hanging in the balance is any hope of salvation―and a better world.
And across the sea, his companions unwavering beside him, Rowan hunts to find his captured wife and queen―before she is lost to him forever.
As the threads of fate weave together at last, all must fight, if they are to have a chance at a future. Some bonds will grow even deeper, while others will be severed forever in the explosive final chapter of the Throne of Glass series.

I listened to this as an audiobook.

This book was so gods damned good! However, there will also probably be a lot of spoiler-y content at the end of this review because of that.

I love that women getting their cycle is actually mentioned occasionally in this series and it's the first time I've read about women getting their cycles in a book. It's refreshing to read about, oddly enough. 

Women are sometimes the ones to get pushed down - to stand and look pretty and not fight back. but sometimes they're also the ones that are the strongest fighters - that will fight you to their last breath and protect what they love. This entire series has been mainly about of Aelin and Manon and Lysandra and Irene and Kaltain. The ones who held the world together when it was falling apart around them. The ones who were able to overcome their problems and protect what they loved and build a better future together.

I was sobbing my little heart out when Aelin was panicking and clawing at the mask and when all she was doing was sobbing and screaming "take it off, take it off, take it off"! I felt that in my heart - right down to the core. I'm sure we've all had at least one day within the span of our lives when we just want to curl up and be done with the world. To forget about what's happening in our lives and you just need a good cry to get all the pent up emotions out...

All in all, a very thick book - but definitely worth it. This entire series was one of the best series I've read!

Spoilers!

Aelin Whitethorn-Ashryver-Galathinius. Prince Rowan Whitethorn-Galathinius, consort, mate and husband of the queen of Terrasen. I love that their string of names and titles is mentioned.

I did guess that Irene was pregnant the second that her hand drifting across her abdomen was mentioned! I absolutely love this idea!

I'm pretty sure that I was in tears when Fenrys was fighting back against the blood bond and managed to get to his feet.

The fact that Fenrys and Aelin were able to create their own unspoken language while she was trapped and being tortured and that she was able to communicate with him too when he was so badly hurt when no one else could. Not even the cadre. Gods, my heart...

It was beautiful that Aelin finally managed to reclaim her throne and that Fleetfoot was able to join them in the kingdom.

That ending with the King's Flame flowers though. That was amazing. I think we almost need some of those flowers in the real world too.

After that mammoth of a book, I have important questions! Do Manon and Dorian get together? What is the name that Irene and Chaol gave to their child? Was it a girl or boy? Do Aedion and Lysandra have children? Who proposed to who? What was the wedding like? Do Aelin and Rowan manage to have a family together like in Rowan's hallucination?

End Spoilers!

__________________________________________________

All books in this series:

0.1 | The Assassin's Blade (The Assassin and the Pirate)

0.2 | The Assassin's Blade (The Assassin and the Healer)

0.3 | The Assassin's Blade (The Assassin and the Desert)

0.4 | The Assassin's Blade (The Assassin and the Underworld)

0.5 | The Assassin's Blade (The Assassin and the Empire)

    1 | Throne of Glass

    2 | Crown of Midnight

    3 | Heir of Fire

    4 | Queen of Shadows

    5 | Empire of Storms

    6 | Tower of Dawn

    7 | Kingdom of Ash

The Dark Unwinding - by Sharon Cameron

Title: The Dark Unwinding

Author: Sharon Cameron

Published: 27 Aug 2012

Series: The Dark Unwinding #1

Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis:

When Katharine Tulman's inheritance is called into question by the rumor that her eccentric uncle is squandering away the family fortune, she is sent to his estate to have him committed to an asylum. But instead of a lunatic, Katharine discovers a genius inventor with his own set of rules, who employs a village of nine hundred people rescued from the workhouses of London. Katharine is now torn between protecting her own inheritance and preserving the peculiar community she grows to care for deeply. And her choices are made even more complicated by a handsome apprentice, a secretive student, and fears for her own sanity. As the mysteries of the estate begin to unravel, it is clear that not only is her uncle's world at stake, but also the state of England as Katharine knows it. With twists and turns at every corner, this heart-racing adventure will captivate readers with its intrigue, thrills, and romance.

Lane: Do you want to quit?
Katharine: No.
Lane: Good. Because you haven't really tried yet. Come on

I listened to this as an audiobook.

This book was actually sort of a surprise to me as I did think I'd like this one, but I liked it even more than I thought. I liked how things looked like magic but were most definitely science and mechanisms, even if you didn't know the intricate details of how they worked.


Davey was my absolute favourite character (plus Bertram, of course). Plus Mariana even though she has been long since dead at the start of this book - just because of what she did. Lane seemed like a fairly nice guy though, apart from his temper.

I hate to be that person, but I still think that Lane and Katharine would make a cute couple, even thought they're not even a couple.


Neither does your uncle belong in a lunatic cell merely for the crime of being created differently from his fellows

I loved Katharine's strength, courage and confidence when she called all the men over for an emergency meeting. Especially when the doctor can't seem to meet her gaze.

It's good that Mr Tully finally learned to change a little bit, but still mostly within his comfort zone. Also when Lane and Katharine taught Mr Tully that when people 'go away' then sometimes they only want to remember them in their head, but they taught him in a way that he would understand.

I like that in the end Katharine became a little less strict about certain things in life. Reading about Aunt Alice breaking all the things inside while Katharine and Mr Babcock sat out on the front step was quite amusing though!


And as surely as I had understood not five minutes earlier that our game was over, I now knew with just as much certainty that Lane had never been playing game at all. he had not been pretending. And God help me, neither had I

Spoilers!

I loved that Davey could read and talk, just that he was unwilling to when other people were around. It took the entire book, but I also loved that we got to find out that the laughter at the start was probably Davey.

It was sad when Katharine and Lane were up at Davey's grave in his secret spot though. Davey held so many secrets about so many things that I felt bad for the little boy. Especially when he lost Bertram. But the way that Little Davey shows her that she's been being poisoned was sort of cute.

I'm interested to know if Mr Babcock loved Mariana when they were younger and when she was alive? That would have been kinda of cute, I think - to have seen them interacting and working together.

I had a guessing spree in the span of maybe one minute where I thought Mrs Jeffries, Mary Brown and Ben Aldridge could all be the poisoner. Turns out I was right about Ben in the end though - except that I didn't guess that he wanted to blow up the ships - I believed his lies too.

End Spoilers!

__________________________________________________

All books in this series:

    1 | The Dark Unwinding

    2 | A Spark Unseen

Beneath the Sugar Sky - by Seanan McGuire

Title: Beneath the sugar Sky

Author: Seanan McGuire

Published: 9 Jan 2018

Series: Wayward Children #3

Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis:

Beneath the Sugar Sky returns to Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children. At this magical boarding school, children who have experienced fantasy adventures are reintroduced to the "real" world.
Sumi died years before her prophesied daughter Rini could be born. Rini was born anyway, and now she’s trying to bring her mother back from a world without magic.

Sometimes that's all you can do. Just keep getting through until you don't have to do it anymore, however much time it takes, however difficult it is.

I listened to this as an audiobook.

In this book, we learn that in an alternate universe Sumi did have a child - but that child is slowly disappearing. In this book, if feels as if Rumi is definitely is Sumi's daughter and it's amusing - just how they're both so innocent and the way everyone reacts to the things they say (like when Rumi is in the duck pond!).

At the start, it is confusing to figure out what character the book is talking about as quite a few are mentioned, unlike the past books in the series. I think I finally decided that it's from the perspective of a girl named Cora, but about Sumi's daughter Rumi.

I kind of love Cora though. Like when she runs into Christopher on the porch and she stammers and blurts and seems nervous etc. It's a natural human reaction. I also loved that Kade simply looked up direction on Google Maps.

Cora: Why are you so happy? Everything here is dead people.
Christopher: That's why I'm so happy. Everything here is dead people.

My favourite thing about this book is probably that the kids at the school learned to be a little kinder to one another, or at least more careful about what they judge people on. I also like that it shows that fatter people can like to exercise and may just have health problems causing it, and that not every thin, lean person likes to exercise. Lots of learning in this book!

I still don't like Kade's parents from the previous books though. Simply because he wanted to change pronouns because he has gender dysmorphia (he was born a girl but he felt as if he was a boy) and his parents stopped wanting him because of that.

Worlds too and from info was vague, interesting but also confusing. However, I did like that the doors open for the utter need inter bones trying to get out. It's interesting that the only thing that they can bring back from their door world is something that has come out of their bodies like tears or bone or blood if you wanted some magic in the real world.

I did notice something though that I'm guessing was on purpose. The words that were on Jack and Jill's door from the previous book appears in this book too.

All she had to do was be sure.

Spoilers!

I was shocked when we found out that Sumi supposedly had a daughter. Especially after the previous book where she died!

I have questions about Kade driving though: How and why can he drive? When did he learn? Why is this the first time that we're hearing about the bus?

One downside of this book was that I basically forgot that Nadia only had one hand as it was only mentioned at the start of the book and at the very end.

End Spoilers!

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All books in this series:

    1 | Every Heart a Doorway
    2 | Down Among the Sticks and Bones
    3 | Beneath the Sugar Sky
    4 | In an Absent Dream

4.5 | Juice Like Wounds
    5 | Come Tumbling Down

    6 | Across the Green Grass Fields

    7 | Where the Drowned Girls Go