Candyfloss & Dreams

Tag: Books

  • Books I’d Love to Read This Month

    Books I’d Love to Read This Month

    Naturally, as expected, I am a day late already with this post however as an avid reader I couldn’t write up this post considering it’s bookish. Rather than just outright October Spoopy month books to read though I thought I would share some books I already have on my ever-growing to be read pile as ones I would actually love to get around to reading this month.

    The Wolf and The Woodsman by Ava Reid
    I’m actually very close to finishing this book although it’s been a while since I’ve picked it up. Here’s a little snippet of the blurb

    In her forest-veiled pagan village, Evike is the only woman without power, treated like an outcast due to her corrupted bloodline. So, when soldiers arrive from the Holy Order of Woodsmen to claim a girl for the king’s blood sacrifice, Evike is betrayed by her fellow villagers and surrendered.

    When monsters attack the Woodsmen and their captive en route to the capital, they slaughter everyone but Evike and the cold, one-eyed captain. But she soon learns he’s no ordinary Woodsman…

    The Wolf and The Woodsmans

    Verity by Colleen Hoover
    Books by Colleen Hoover have been all over Bookstagram for some time but this is a new to me author. I’ve read the first few pages and very intrigued in how this will go. I get a lot of Rebecca by vibes from this.

    Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.

    Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity’s notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn’t expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity’s recollection of the night her family was forever altered…

    Verity by Colleen Hoover

    Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone
    This book seems to incorporate a mix of magic, romance, mystery and fantasy with a darker spin and fairytale quality. I’ve had it for a while now and have to admit this seems like an ideal spooky read for the month.

    When Violeta Graceling and her younger brother Arien arrive at the haunted Lakesedge estate, they both expect to find a monster. Leta knows the terrifying rumours about Rowan Sylvanan, who drowned his entire family when he was a boy. But neither the estte nor the monster are what they seem.

    As Leta falls for Rowan, she discovers he is bound to the Lord Under, the sinister death god lurking in the black waters of the lake. A creature to whom Leta is inexplicably drawn…Now, to save Rowan – and herself – Leta must confront the darkness in her past, including unravelling the mystery of her connection to the Lord Under

    Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone

    The Devil Makes Three by Tori Bovalino
    Another one I’ve had for a while which sounds like my kind of read. I think this is a great time of year for these types of books. This one looks pretty small too. The tagline on the back is ‘The Devil seeks his due from two unsuspecting students…’ so I’m really intrigued by this one. I also have a very pretty special edition which has been nice to photograph.

    Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco

    I have been waiting to read this one for ages now as it’s the second book in a series and I have been unable to find the time to get into it. The third book has recently come out too which is what is pushing me to read it so I can find out the rest of what happens in this story. It’s set in Sicily so has lots of amazing food references so it’s one of those books that just makes you hungry. It’s got witches, a brooding prince of hell…everything you need in a fantasy romance really.

  • Introducing #BookChatwithKat

    Introducing #BookChatwithKat

    #BookChatwithKat is a new community hashtag I have created to use on bookstagram. This is to help share bookish realated content. If you use the hashtag bookchatwithkat on your IG posts I will regularly do shoutouts and share to my stories. I will create bookish photo challenges and templates to use. I want to use the #bookchatwithkat tag so that I can find more book reviews, bookish photos and connect with book lovers.

    Creating a Hashtag #BookChatwithKat

    So I’ve long been wanting to create my own little bookish community – a place to share books, reviews and enjoy the fandom together. My first step in this has been creating a community hashtag on Instagram. I would love it if you used this hashtag with any book reviews, book box unboxings and general bookish chat. I’ve also created a July Photo Challenge with a bookish theme and I’d love to see you use the prompts to create fun bookish photos.

    #bookchatwithchat July photo prompt challenge. An open book with a red box overlay and the text for the July photo challenge for my IG bookish community hashtag.
    the bookchatwithchat photo challenge for July

    I use photo challenges to inspire me to take new photos and showcase and talk about my favourite books. I want to grow this as a community so I’m excited to see what other content will be shared. I’d love to create an online bookclub to help arrange buddy reads, do reading sprints and challenges. Hopefully, I will be able to do giveaways in the future too.

    I feel like I’ve come into my own by changing to a bookish aesthetic and I’ve met some lovely people along the way. I’ve found some amazing small businesses that create bookish inspired goodies. Mostly, I love being able to geek out on my favourite fandoms and characters with others. It’s been a part of me I guess I haven’t really talked about much. Friends know I like to read but maybe don’t get quite how much I love the merch created from these amazing worlds.

    I’ve also created some IG story templates for people to use for reading progression and TBR lists. I hope you will join me!

  • unboxing the january illumicrate box – the strength within

    unboxing the january illumicrate box – the strength within

    using book box subscriptions to read more books

    i’ve started another reading challenge. i didn’t do it last year, i only managed about 26/52. i started reviewing the books on the blog, and i might do that again this year too however most of my bookish content can be found on instagram – you can follow me if you like @katcandyfloss where i’ll be doing a weekly bookish chat talking about what i’m reading and how i’m getting on with the reading challenge. you can also find and follow me on goodreads if you like!

    what is illumicrate book box subscription?

    so illumicrate is a book subscription service that offers you a chance to purchase a book box which features new books to read and some bookish merchandise. each month there is a different theme. i think its a great way to broaden your tastes, find new authors and have some gorgeous collectible books, some of which are signed or collectors editions. there are also special boxes available for book releases of favourited authors, limited edition books with stencil sprayed designs on the edges and unique covers. its the perfect subscription for book lovers.

    how much does illumicrate cost?

    the illumicrate book box costs £34 per month including uk standard postage. illumicrate also ship internationally. subscription spots are limited so once you’re subscribed, you’re renewed and can carry on but if you are new then you have to wait for spots to open up, usually at the start of each month. occasionally you might have the chance to buy past illumicrate boxes too however the retail store is not like a proper retail store, once stock is gone, it’s gone and the focus is absolutely on the book subscription spots. there’s also a collectible pin club that you can subscribe to which gives you a bookish pin each month. alternatively, if you don’t want all the stuff there are book only options too so there are plenty of options for book lovers.

    unboxing january illumicrate book box subscription with the strength within theme

    the theme for january was the strength within and i’ve done an unboxing video which you can watch her if you like

    i’ll be joining in with the january photo challenge in early february and posting more pictures on my instagram if you want to see how i’ve styled those then you’re welcome to follow me! please let me know if you’re joining in with the challenge too.

    what’s inside the box?

    inside the box were two books, one hardback and one paperback, a book mark, a collectible magentic coin, a hat, a coin purse, a bookmark, a holographic print, an authors letter and a reading light. i think my favourite item was the reading light because i know it’s going to come in handy and it’s really practical. all the items are really lovely in the box although i think the least used would be the gideon the ninth coin purse – just because i have a pretty hefty regular purse! however, it’s the perfect size to some of my smaller bags so can be put to use then. otherwise, my plan for book merch i wont use will be to gift it on, give it to my daughter or perhaps try and sell it. i really want more bookish items but i know not everything will be practical or to my taste, as is every subscription service where the items are a surprise.

    i am pretty excited about the two books. both books are signed but i particularly love the sisters grimm gold and black design and black sprayed edges. the book sounds really interesting too so i’m looking forward to reading it and travelling into this version of cambridge. it sounds like a really enjoyable read. the next book is infinity sons and from the blurb sounds quite interesting. it’s a paperback so it will be nice and easy to read and i imagine i will get through that one pretty quickly unless i join any readalongs of the book and pace myself a little bit!

    my reading challenge

    One of my goals for 2020 is to read 52 books or around one a week. Some might be new, some are ones I’ve had for a while or been meaning to read, some I haven’t quite finished yet and some will be recommendations from others. You can see all the books I’ve read so far on my Good Reads 2020 Reading Challenge.