When his cousin calls in the middle of the night from Transratania, Geronimo is certain that Trap is in danger and heās š§ Goats š§ to go save him. With no time to waste, Geronimo, his sister Thea and his nine year old nephew Benjamin travel to Transratania the next day.
The locals seem to be overly fond of garlic and arenāt keen on talking about Ratoff Castle, home of Count Vlad von Ratoff. It appears thereās something a bit š§ Off Kilter š§ about the rodents that live at the Castle.
Things arenāt what they seem and this story becomes a š§ Blenda š§ mystery, humour and the possibility of romance.
Thereās a ball, which everyone seems to enjoy. Well, with the possible exception of the Count, whoās š§ Moody Blue š§ for much of the story.
After a food disaster, an š§ Impromptu š§ decision means that pizza saves the day, but itās definitely not as š§ cheesy š§ as I would have liked.
With his aversion to blood, Geronimo isnāt impressed with the š§ Aboundance š§ of references to blood in this book.
While this was a š§ Gouda š§ book, it wasnāt my favourite of the Geronimo š§ Stilton š§ books Iāve read so far. I probably would have thought this series was the best thing since š§ sliced cheese š§ if Iād read it as a kid.
I love that Geronimo is reading a collection of ghost stories called The Haunted š§ Cheese š§ Shop and Other Tales to Make You Squeak!
I need the Countās clock.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sweet Cherry Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.
āāāā
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Geronimo sets off for Ratoff in spooky Transratania, a garlic-fuelled town full of mystery. Even the inhabitants of Ratoff Castle are strange. Maybe itās the way they sleep during the day, or the blood-red drink theyāre always sipping on, but thereās something not quite right about themā¦
Who are these mice? Will Geronimo survive the night?
When I a teenager Iād buy a new page a day calendar each year. You know the squarish desk ones that have an inspirational quote each day? This book reminds me of those, except this is Fun Facts: Geek Edition. And itās in book form so it doesnāt matter which day you start.
This is the book youāre looking for if the geek in your life is a sci fi and fantasy all rounder. It covers movies, TV shows, comics, games (computer and board) and books.
Because there are so many entries (365 because apparently nothing notable has ever happened in sci fi or fantasy on 29 February), Iām going to share one fun fact per month.
š¹ļø On 25 January 1947, a patent that described one of the earliest computer games was registered.
šæ On 28 February 1985, Terminatorās John Connor was born.
š§āāļø The first Comic-Con happened on 21 March, 1970.
While I would have preferred it if less births and deaths were mentioned, overall this was a fun read. I particularly liked the infographics. I donāt think Iām enough of an all rounder to want to consult this book each day but I did enjoy reading about the franchises I love.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Aurum Press, an imprint of Quarto Publishing Group, for the opportunity to read this book.
āāāā
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
The Year of the GeekĀ is a fascinating look into geek culture. Each day will tell a different story from the sci-fi universe, from famous franchises and figures such asĀ Star Wars,Ā The Matrix, Peter Jackson and Luc Besson, to lesser known stories, including the French cult classicĀ City of Lost Children, the Japanese animeĀ AkiraĀ and bestselling German novelist, Marcus Heitz. With text written by self-confessed geek James Clarke and accompanied by over 100 infographics that have been specially commissioned for this book,Ā The Year of the GeekĀ celebrates all things geek in a new and intriguing way.
Welcome to Gotham Newham, a city that can literally crawl with villains, where the authorities are more likely to bribe you than help you. Itās mouldy, itās smoggy, it smells like āurine and dust, barbecue and burnt coal.ā Itās also where youāll find the the cult that Nessa joined three years ago.
āItās not a cult.ā
Uh huhā¦ Itās called Friends of the Restful Soul. Tell me thatās not a cult!
Ness has been a coward (her words, not mine, but sheās not wrongā¦) for eight years, ever since her sister turned into a giant spider and started eating people.
See, this is a world where your nightmares become Nightmares. Donāt understand the difference? Well, a Nightmare is what happens when you donāt drink the tap water laced with Helomine or remember to down some Nightmare-prevention drugs and allow yourself to dream. Dreaming results in you waking up as your worst fear.
I had such high expectations for this book that I didnāt think it was possible for it to meet them. I wanted to hold onto my hope so much that I put off reading it for weeks. I neednāt have worried. I was hooked by the second page and I read nonstop until I finished.
Ness is living her best scared life. She runs away from any person, location or situation that could maybe, possibly be dangerous. Itās a good thing she has her badass best friend, Priya, to protect her and the brick box that she calls home (previously the janitorās closet), the only place she feels safe. Our Ness has trust issues.
I canāt get too close to anyone, you never know whoās already a Nightmare – or who will turn into one.
Badass Priya runs towards danger and is looking forward to the day when she gets paid to kill sea monsters and sky monsters. Basically, any monster will do. Just let Priya at āem!
āIf itās attacking me, I kill it. If itās attacking other people, I kill it. If itās not attacking anyone, I donāt kill it. I feel like itās a really simple distinction.ā
Then thereās Cy the sigher. Heās probably my favourite character. When you get to know him, youāll want to be his friend too.
The Nightmares are brilliant, the mayor has an attack pterodactyl and Ness is definitely a cult member.
āStill not a cult.ā
I urgently need the sequel!
Favourite no context quote:
āHe was still my husband. We just couldnāt communicate anymore because I donāt speak giant cockroach!ā
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read this book.
āāāāā
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Gotham meets Strange the Dreamer in this thrilling young adult fantasy about a cowardly girl who finds herself at the centre of a criminal syndicate conspiracy, in a city where crooked politicians and sinister cults reign and dreaming means waking up as your worst nightmare.
Ever since her sister became a man-eating spider and slaughtered her way through town, nineteen-year-old Ness has been terrified – terrified of some other Nightmare murdering her, and terrified of ending up like her sister. Because in Newham, the city that never sleeps, dreaming means waking up as your worst fear.
Whether that means becoming a Nightmare thatās monstrous only in appearance, to transforming into a twisted, unrecognisable creature that terrorises the city, no one is safe. Ness will do anything to avoid becoming another victim, even if that means lying low among the Friends of the Restful Soul, a questionable organisation that may or may not be a cult.
But being a member of maybe-cult has a price. In order to prove herself, Ness cons her way into whatās supposed to be a simple job for the organisation – only for it to blow up in her face. Literally. Tangled up in the aftermath of an explosive assassination, now Ness and the only other survivor – a Nightmare boy who Ness suspects is planning to eat her – must find their way back to Newham and uncover the sinister truth behind the attack, even as the horrors of her past loom ominously near.
One thing I love about Manga Classics is they introduce me to classics that Iāve never read and give me enough of the story that I feel like Iāve got a handle on the basics. They also give me a better idea of whether I want to go ahead and read the novel or not. Then thereās the fact that theyāre manga, a format I love more with each one I read.
Iāve picked up the general story of The Count of Monte Cristo over the years but couldnāt even tell you how. I havenāt read the book or watched the movie.
I think in this case it would have been helpful if I did know more about the story before I read the manga. There are so many characters that thereās a character relationship guide at the end of the story. Even with this, I was a bit lost at times. While I got the gist of the story, Iām sure I missed a lot. I am interested enough to try to tackle the book at some point.
I love manga illustrations. The characters are always expressive and Iām just a tad obsessed with doe eyes. This story is illustrated beautifully. I particularly liked the detail of the clothing and the backgrounds.
Iām definitely going to be reading more Manga Classics.
Thank you to NetGalley and UDON Entertainment for the opportunity to read this book.
āāāā
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
On the very day of his wedding to the beautiful Mercedes, a young merchant sailor named Edmond DantĆØs is falsely imprisoned for life, laying to waste his plans of marriage and hard-earned fortune. Following several long years in prison he has managed to escape and reinvent himself as the mysterious Count of Monte Christo. It is the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Count has been plotting his revenge on the three men who had him falsely imprisoned. With a new identity, an incredible education abroad and a vast fortune, has returned completely unrecognisable to those who had committed their crimes against him.
Michelle Obamaās authenticity and relatability make me want to just sit and listen to her talk about whatever she has on her mind.
Thereās a purity that shines through in Michelleās writing. Itās not naivety or toxic positivity. Thereās a self assurance that doesnāt ignore self doubt. Itās a hope thatās infused with kindness, yet thereās an honest discussion about the darkness.
Michelle brings the wisdom sheās earned from different roles in her life to this book: daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, former First Lady, role model. I love her openness and her tenacity. Iām obsessed with the concept of cultivating a kitchen table of friends.
I want to meet Michelleās mother and would definitely read a book written by her if she ever changes her mind.
I borrowed this book from the library so didnāt have the luxury of highlighting all of my favourite quotes like I do when I read ebooks. At this point, my ebook purchase is inevitable. Until then, I want to hold onto my current favourite quotes.
Small endeavours help to guard our happiness, to keep it from getting consumed by all thatās big. And when we feel good, it turns out we become less paralysed.
Iāve learned to recognise and appreciate balance when I feel it – to enjoy and make note of the moments when I feel the steadiest, most focused, most clear – and to think analytically about whatās helped me get to that place.
Our hurts become our fears. Our fears become our limits.
The unknown is where possibility glitters. If you donāt take the risk, if you donāt ride out a few jolts, you are taking away your opportunities to transform.
We only hurt ourselves when we hide our realness away.
Thereās power in knowing where you donāt want to go.
And then thereās also power in discovering where you want to head next.
Going high is like drawing a line in the sand, a boundary we can make visible and then take a moment to consider. Which side of this do I want to be on? Itās a reminder to pause and be thoughtful, a call to respond with both your heart and your head. Going high is always a test, as I see it.
What I want to say, then, is stay vigorous and faithful, humble and empathetic. Tell the truth, do your best by others, keep perspective, understand history and context. Stay prudent, stay tough, and stay outraged.
But more than anything, donāt forget to do the work.
āāāāā
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
In an inspiring follow-up to her critically acclaimed, #1 bestselling memoir Becoming, former First Lady Michelle Obama shares practical wisdom and powerful strategies for staying hopeful and balanced in todayās highly uncertain world.
There may be no tidy solutions or pithy answers to lifeās big challenges, but Michelle Obama believes that we can all locate and lean on a set of tools to help us better navigate change and remain steady within flux. In The Light We Carry, she opens a frank and honest dialogue with readers, considering the questions many of us wrestle with: How do we build enduring and honest relationships? How can we discover strength and community inside our differences? What tools do we use to address feelings of self-doubt or helplessness? What do we do when it all starts to feel like too much?
Michelle Obama offers readers a series of fresh stories and insightful reflections on change, challenge, and power, including her belief that when we light up for others, we can illuminate the richness and potential of the world around us, discovering deeper truths and new pathways for progress. Drawing from her experiences as a mother, daughter, spouse, friend, and First Lady, she shares the habits and principles she has developed to successfully adapt to change and overcome various obstacles – the earned wisdom that helps her continue to ābecome.ā She details her most valuable practices, like āstarting kind,ā āgoing high,ā and assembling a ākitchen tableā of trusted friends and mentors. With trademark humour, candour, and compassion, she also explores issues connected to race, gender, and visibility, encouraging readers to work through fear, find strength in community, and live with boldness.
āWhen we are able to recognise our own light, we become empowered to use it,ā writes Michelle Obama. A rewarding blend of powerful stories and profound advice that will ignite conversation, The Light We Carry inspires readers to examine their own lives, identify their sources of gladness, and connect meaningfully in a turbulent world.
Jesse had her hopes set on attending a fashion program this summer. Her parents had other ideas. Sheās just been dumped at fat camp for two whole months!
While this is Jesseās first fat camp experience, some of her fellow campers have endured multiple admissions. It seems that Camp Bloom doesnāt have the best success rate. Maybe someone should speak to the chefā¦
On campfire confession night, Jesse and Noah witness a murder. Thereās nothing like murder to inspire an impromptu cardio session.
To be fair, if someone told me I couldnāt eat chocolate for two months, I might get a bit stabby too.
Jesse, Noah, Tony and Kate take it upon themselves to solve the murder mystery.
This was an entertaining read. I loved the characters, the representation, the sleuthing and the lack of body shaming.
Throughout the story you discover why each of the main characters are at the camp. My favourite backstory was Kateās.
Matthew Seelyās illustrations complemented the story well, adding to the humour. The characters are expressive and I loved the colour palette.
Iād like to see Jesse, Noah, Tony and Kate solve another mystery together.
Welcome to Camp Bloom, where you can transform from a crying, fat caterpillar to a happy, skinny butterfly. If someone doesnāt kill you first.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Oni Press for the opportunity to read this graphic novel.
āāāāā
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Deep in the Oregon wilderness sits Camp Bloom, a weight-loss camp where “overweight” teens can “get in shape.” Jesse would rather be anywhere else, but her parents are forcing her to go. Noah isn’t sure if he wants to be there, but it’s too late to turn back. Tony is heartbroken at the thought of giving up his phone and internet. And Kate… well, she likes the hikes, at least. As far as these four teens are concerned, it’s just another boring summer.
Until one night, when Jesse and Noah witness a beloved counsellor’s murder. The body’s gone by the next morning, but a blurry photo leads to one clue – the murderer is one of the camp’s staff members!
But which one? As Jesse, Noah, Kate, and Tony investigate, they quickly discover that everyone’s got their secrets… and one of them would kill to keep theirs hidden.
A book town is simply a small town, usually rural and scenic, full of bookshops and book-related industries.
Iām in need of a round the world trip now that Iāve read about book towns in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, India, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA and Wales.
For each of the book towns explored in this book, youāll learn its history as well as some must browse bookstores and festivals, and websites so you can delve deeper. Thereās plenty of information to entice you to spend your book budget in each town.
Iām always on the lookout for fun facts. Here are my favouritesā¦
Hay-on-Wye, Wales was the first book town. Bookseller, Richard Booth, came up with the concept. He also crowned himself King of Hay in 1977 and declared his town an independent kingdom.
Book stalls in the grounds of Hay Castle
P.L. Travers was living in Bowral, Australia as a teenager when she created Mary Poppins. In 2011, 2,115 people created a very appropriate umbrella mosaic.
Fontenoy-La-JoĆ»te, France has a signpost in the village centre that points to other book towns around the world. It also points you to some other locations, including āAtlantis, and Edgar Rice Burroughās fictitious āhollow earthā, Pellucidar.ā
You need to be between ten and fifteen years old to use Biblio TĆøyen, a library in Oslo. It includes a Volvo truck with a kitchen in the back and reading sofa in the bonnet.
Livraria Bertrand in Lisbon, Portugal is the worldās oldest bookshop. It opened in 1732.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln, an imprint of Quarto Publishing Group, for the opportunity to read this book.
āāāā
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
The so-called āBook Townsā of the world are dedicated havens of literature, and the ultimate dream of book lovers everywhere.Ā Book Towns takes readers on a richly illustrated tour of the 40 semi-officially recognised literary towns around the world and outlines the history and development of each community, and offers practical travel advice.
Many Book Towns have emerged in areas of marked attraction, such as UreƱa in Spain or Fjaerland in Norway, where bookshops have been set up in buildings including former ferry waiting rooms and banks. While the UK has the best-known examples at Hay, Wigtown and Sedbergh, the book has a broad international appeal, featuring locations such as Jimbochu in Japan, College Street in Calcutta, and major unofficial ābook citiesā such as Buenos Aires.
When we first met Cassie, she was just about to run away from her boarding school. Itās a good thing she did, too, because that decision led to her meeting a talking cat named Montague (now her familiar) and finding the family she never knew she had in Hedgely. There she learned that the magic sheād previously only read about is real.
Hedgewitch, the first book in the series, gave loner Cassie somewhere to belong and introduced her to new friends and witchcraft. Thirteen year old Cassie is now a fledgling witch. She lives with her aunt Miranda, the Hedgewitch and Cassieās Coven Mistress.
Central to the story is Cassieās search for her mother, whoās been missing for seven and a half years. Aunt Miranda wonāt let Cassie go to Faerie to search for her mother until she becomes a fully qualified witch so Cassie is working hard to earn the badges that will allow her to take the final test.
Cassie has the support of her new best friends, Rue and Tabitha. When some people in Hedgely begin acting oddly, Cassie and her friends take it upon themselves to investigate. The Hedge may as well be magnetised given how frequently the girls find their way there when the wards are weakened.
Iām really enjoying this series and am keen to read the next book. The characters are interesting. The central story of each book is resolved, while the overall arc is advanced. I need to go on vacation to Hedgely so I can visit all of its amazing locations.
I need to spend days in Widdershinās bookshop, whose proprietor understands the value of first edition books. On the way, Iāll be visiting Marchpaneās, the bakery and sweet shop, and Brambleās, the tea room. I hope Aunt Miranda doesnāt mind company because Iām moving in to Hartwood Hall.
Favourite quote:
āBut books can change you, change the way you see the world, and then thereās no going back.ā
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Welbeck Flame, an imprint of Welbeck Childrenās Limited, for the opportunity to read this book.
āāāā
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Step into the magical worldĀ of Hedgewitch, where the land of Faerie lies just beyond our ownā¦
Cassie has settled into her new lifeĀ in the village of Hedgely, but as the nights grow longer, a dark shadow creeps out of the vast, magical forest of the Hedge.
When villagers start behaving strangely, possessed with the desire to find a mysterious object, Cassie, Rue and Tabitha decide to investigate and discover that whoever is controlling the villagers is seeking a faery relic: a dangerous enchanted weapon, hidden somewhere inĀ the village.
Their witchcraft training is put to the test as they venture deeper into the Hedge, encounter the ancient āWatchersā of the wood and race to find the faery treasure before it falls into the hands of the Erl King.
We meet Kellyn West in a graveyard. Sheās a social media influencer doing a livestream when Clay Coogan decides itās time for her viewers see what her insides look like.
Maybe if Clay wasnāt so verbose, he would have finished the job before Detective Olivia Hubbard arrived.
āI ā¦ Iām the dreaded creature, gliding beneath the water, hidden behind tints of azure.ā
Umā¦
āTheyāll put a box in a box in that box, and none of it will matter.ā
Oh, just die already, Clay!
End flashback.
Clay has been classified as a Sequel Killer because, you know, they never stay dead! Kellyn has been awarded a designation of E.V. (Endemic Victim) and a place in the Endemic Victim Protection Program. Sheās on her way to Sacred Lamb, not that that sounds ominous or anything.
There she meets such famous E.V.ās as Bambi Mondale and the Babysitter. Theyāre not all thrilled to be getting a new neighbour.
āYouāre weak. Youāll break. You may be safer here. But we arenāt safe from you.ā
To be fair, the bloodshed does begin fairly soon after Kellynās arrival.
In theory, having a bunch of E.V.ās living in the same town is supposed to keep everyone safe. In reality, if youāre planning on going on a final girl rampage, Sacred Lamb is the ideal destination. Iām only surprised it took forty years for the carnage to arrive at Sacred Lamb.
āā¦ Thereās nothing to see here.ā
I love slashers and was hoping for The Final Girl Support Group vibes. I really liked the concept and the story had a strong start.
I expected to get even more into the story once the blood started to spill but instead it lost me. Thanks to group therapy, we learn the backstories of some of the other final girls but I didnāt connect with anyone in particular.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and TKO Studios for the opportunity to read this graphic novel.
āāā
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
A meta-horror story about survival, obsession, men, women, and chainsaws.
Sacred Lamb is a secret town where the survivors of endemic slasher killers (think real-world Jason Vorhees, Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger) reside in a ‘witness protection’ to stop innocent people from being murdered when the inevitable ‘sequel’ occurs and the slasher returns from the dead.
Social media influencer Kellyn West, who just recently dispatched “her” own slasher killer Clay Coogan on a live stream, is the newest resident. Feeling more locked away than protected behind the barbed wire fenced-in town, where the government has hidden away these E.V.s (“Endemic Victims”) since the slasher spree started in the 1970s, Kellyn has to team with an old woman, and the original Survivor Girl, known only as “The Babysitter” to rally the EVes and survive as an army of slashers start showing up, seemingly back from the dead, and back for blood.
Lilaās mother, a famous artist, keeps her past a secret from her daughter.
Tell me. Tell me about before.
Thirteen year old Lila wants more freedom but her mother refuses to give it to her.
Caroline is haunted by her past. Sheās convinced that The Cur is back and wants to protect her daughter from experiencing what she has.
āThere are things that Iāve seen ā¦ Things I canāt ever forget.ā
Told by Lila in 2019 and Caroline in 2004, this is a story of fear, nightmares and accidental art. Itās the past intruding on the present, itās patronising men, itās equating being good with being safe, itās about what happens when we refuse to be silenced.
I was interested in the relationship between this mother and daughter. I wanted to find out what had happened in Carolineās past. Some of Carolineās art fascinated me.
As I read about Carolineās sculptures, I could see them. There was some repulsion attached to them due to some of their components but I could imagine myself finding treasures from nature, random leaves and branches (not some of the other objects Caroline uses), and attempting to create art from them.
I expect this will be a polarising read. I finished reading this book over a month ago and still donāt really know how I feel about it. Where this book lost me was the ending. After having me hooked until that point, I just didnāt buy the explanation. Maybe I missed something and a reread will fill in some blanks for me.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Titan Books for the opportunity to read this book.
āāāā
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Thereās something out there thatās killing. Known only as The Cur, he leaves no traces, save for the torn bodies of girls, on the verge of becoming women, who are known as trouble-makers; those who refuse to conform, to know their place. Girls who donāt know when to shut up.
2019: Thirteen year old Lila Sawyer has secrets she canāt share with anyone. Not the school psychologist sheās seeing. Not her father, who has a new wife, and a new baby. And not her mother – the infamous Caroline Sawyer, a unique artist whose eerie sculptures, made from bent twigs and crimped leaves, have made her a local celebrity. But soon Lila feels haunted from within, terrorised by a delicious evil that shows her how to find her voice – until she is punished for using it.
As past demons become a present threat, both Caroline and Lila must chase the source of this unrelenting, oppressive power to its malignant core. Brilliantly paced, unsettling to the bone, and unapologetically fierce, Such a Pretty Smile is a powerful allegory for what it can mean to be a woman, and an untamed rallying cry for anyone ever told to sit down, shut up, and smile pretty.
Schizanthus Nerd 