Top Ten Tuesday : Opening first lines #WyrdAndWonder
24 May 2022
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Opening sentences, Quotes, That Artsy Reader Girl, Top Ten Tuesday, Wyrd and Wonder
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme where every Tuesday we look at a particular topic for discussion and use various (or more to the point ten) bookish examples to demonstrate that particular topic. Top Ten Tuesday (created and hosted by The Broke and Bookish) is now being hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and future week’s topics can be found here. This week’s topic:
Book Quote Freebie
As it’s Wyrd and Wonder all the books I used for this week’s theme are fantasy and in lieu of it being a ‘freebie’ I’m going for first line quotes from recent fantasy – let’s see how I get on. These are all recent reads and the reviews are linked so if you are intrigued by the opening sentence then check out the review and see if the book calls to you.
Nettle and Bone by T Kingfisher – ‘The trees were full of crows and the woods were full of madmen.’
The Girl and the Moon (Book of the Ice #3) by Mark Lawrence – ‘Yaz had walked on water her entire life, and now in this place where it fell molten from the skies they planned to drown her in the stuff.’
The Hunger of the Gods (#2 of the Bloodsworn Saga) by John Gwynne – ‘Orka stood in a tempest of fire and smoke.’
The Justice of Kings (Empire of the Wolf #1) by Richard Swan – ‘It is a strange thing to think that the end of the Empire of the Wolf, and all the death and devastation that came with it, traced its long roots back to the tiny and insignificant village of Rill.’
This Charming Man (The Stranger Times #2) by CK McDonnell – ‘The Hunger. The damned hunger. Phillip had never felt anything like it.’
Echo by Thomas Olde Heuvelt – ‘Julia sees the people in the stairwell when she gets up at night to pee’
The Haunting of Las Lagrimas by WM Cleese – ‘Every night the same things happen.’
The Great Witch of Brittany by Louisa Morgan – ‘Thirteen-year-old Ursule Orchiere knelt in the shadow of the red caravan to watch her mother lie to people.’
A Witch in Time by Constance Sayers – ‘Just after my divorce was final, my friend set me up on a blind date.’
Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M Valente – ‘Welcome to a new world of luxury living in Arcadia Gardens, an exclusive, upscale gated community!’
Friday Face Off : A favourite book to film #WyrdAndWonder
13 May 2022
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books by Proxy, Favourite Book to Film, Friday Face off, Wyrd and Wonder
Here we are again with the Friday Face Off meme created by Books by Proxy . This is a great opportunity to feature some of your favourite book covers. The rules are fairly simple each week, following a predetermined theme (list below) choose a book (this doesn’t have to be a book that you’ve read), compare a couple of the different covers available for that particular book and choose your favourite. Future’s themes are listed below – if you have a cover in mind that you’re really wanting to share then feel free to leave a comment about a future suggested theme. I’ve also listed events that take place during the year, that I’m aware of, so you can link up your covers – if you’re aware of any events that you think I should include then give me a shout.
Wyrd & Wonder is a month long celebration of all things fantasy check out this post for everything you need to know. This month I will be posting predominantly about fantasy books in all it’s guises.
I’ve added themes in below. For information, I’m trying out some new ideas so along with coming up with particular items for book covers I thought we could also look for certain elements contained within the book or that play a large part in the story – this really broadens things out because I have plenty of more ideas with this – I’ve gone for a few of the Tough Travel Themes (so a book with that theme – just choose any book – the theme isn’t necessarily on the cover, then compare covers), also, I’ve thrown in some genres and some colours. Hopefully this will open things out a little and give us some more freedom to come up with new books.
Well, I didn’t totally catch up with my comments and blog hopping but I’ ve made a start in the right direction
This week’s theme:
A favourite book to film
This week I’ve chosen a book that will be obvious to those who know me. I couldn’t resist and it’s such a good adaptation. The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien. I had to go there didn’t I? Also I’ve used the first book and I’ve stuck to nine covers which seems to be in keeping with the whole idea of the Fellowship:
My favourite:
Well, it’s difficult to choose but I’m rather partial to this one:
Which one is your favourite?
If you’re taking part in this week’s theme feel free to leave your link in the comments below.
If you know of an event that’s coming up let me know and I’ll try and include covers that work for the event itself so that you can link up to the Friday Face Off and, as always, if you wish to submit an idea then leave me a comment – or if you’d like to host a week then simply let me know. Also, I would just mention that it’s very possible that some of these might be repeats from previous FFOs although I have tried to invent more ‘open ended’ prompt that can be interpreted differently and also prompts that relate to emotions. Finally, don’t struggle with any of these, this is meant to be a fun way of highlighting books. If you can’t come up with a book you think fits for a particular week use a freebie – perhaps a recent read for example:
Next Week’s Theme : Sunny and bright – a cover that is predominantly yellow
2022
Friday Face Off : The Top Hat #wyrdandwonder
21 May 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books by Proxy, Friday Face off, The Top Hat, Wyrd and Wonder
Here we are again with the Friday Face Off meme created by Books by Proxy . This is a great opportunity to feature some of your favourite book covers. The rules are fairly simple each week, following a predetermined theme (list below) choose a book (this doesn’t have to be a book that you’ve read), compare a couple of the different covers available for that particular book and choose your favourite. Future’s themes are listed below – if you have a cover in mind that you’re really wanting to share then feel free to leave a comment about a future suggested theme. I’ve also listed events that take place during the year, that I’m aware of, so you can link up your covers – if you’re aware of any events that you think I should include then give me a shout. This week’s theme:
The Top Hat
May is the month of Wyrd and Wonder so for the FFO themes I’m choosing fantasy books:
This week, I have no idea what I had in mind – whoops!. I think next week will be much easier. I’ve gone for a medley instead. See if you can spot the odd one out:
My favourite this week:
Do you have a favourite?
I’ve updated the list now to include themes for next year. If you know of an event that’s coming up let me know and I’ll try and include covers that work for the event itself so that you can link up to the Friday Face Off and, as always, if you wish to submit an idea then leave me a comment – or if you’d like to host a week then simply let me know. Also, I would just mention that it’s very possible that some of these might be repeats from previous FFOs although I have tried to invent more ‘open ended’ prompt that can be interpreted differently and also prompts that relate to emotions. Finally, don’t struggle with any of these, this is meant to be a fun way of highlighting books. If you can’t come up with a book you think fits for a particular week use a freebie – perhaps a recent read for example:
Next week – The start of Wyrd and Wonder. A month long celebration of fantasy : The Hood
2021
May
Month of Wyrd and Wonder
28th – The Hood
June
4th – The nose boop – any animal, or human, with a close up shot.
11th – A cover that annoyed you and why
18th – Out of Perspective, or make you feel a bit dizzy
25th – Upside down, back to front or topsy turvy
July
2nd – A book with a landscape you’d like to visit
9th – A Wicked Grin
16th – Books with ‘book’ in the title
23rd – A Black Hole – could be in the universe or going deep into the ground
30th – Chaos – maybe too much going on in this one
August
6th – “They cluck their thick tongues, and shake their heads and suggest, os so very delicately!” – The Motel
13th – A favourite holiday read
20th – Dressed to kill (could be literally someone dressed to kill, or someone dressed up for a big night out
27th – Sunbathing or on the beach
September (RIP event)
3rd – 1920s feel, noir detective
10th – I’m Henry the Eighth I am – let’s look at Kings or other Emperors/rulers
17th – Books with ‘Murder’ in the title
24th – A favourite thriller
October
1st – A Halloween read
8th – Chills – anything at all that almost makes you too scared to pick up the book (your own pet hate)
15th – Your favourite book of magic
22nd – Books with ‘Queen’ in the title
29th – Must be gothic
November – Sci Fi Month
5th – Your earliest sci-fi read or the first sci-fi you reviewed
12th – A book with ‘star’ in the title
19th – Futuristic vista
26th – A Black Hole – in the universe or going deep into the ground
December
3rd – Windswept, the classic figure, stood majestically, with wind blowing out in a fetching way
10th – A fairytale retold
17th – Winter Solstice approaching – anything cold and seasonal
24th – All things fire – red hair, red covers, fire breathing dragons, simply fire?
31st – What’s your catnip – if it’s on a cover you have to pick it up
Progress Update: Wyrd and Wonder reading #WyrdandWonder
We’re half way into May and so today I’m giving an update of the books I’ve read so far for Wyrd and Wonder – details here (but in short W&W is a fantastic month long celebration of all things fantasy) and also looking at those books I’d like to fit in for the second half of the month.
1 The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne – okay, this was brilliant. What a way to start the event. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. Please give it a go, I seriously.
2 Later by Stephen King – I listened to the audio version for this one. I haven’t read a King book for a while and although I haven’t written my review for this one yet I can say it will be favourable. I really liked this story and was thoroughly gripped.
3 Ikessar Falcon by KS Villoso – I started this book a while ago and put it down. Nothing to do with the book and all to do with my strange up and down reading mood. Anyway, I decided to start it again and part read/part listened to it. I really enjoyed it. It’s a winning combination of action and character focus. Review to follow soon.
4 The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman. My review for this will be up soon – I had so much fun with this book, literally laughed out loud on a number of occasions – much to the delight of the OH.
That’s my reading so far this month – and it’s been very good – so the second half has got a lot to live up to.
Well, firstly, this month I hope to complete the second Discworld book that I’m buddy reading with the lovely Louise at Lousbookstuff.
And, here’s a little medley of books. I probably won’t get to them all but maybe 5 or 6:
So, what you reading for the rest of the month.
Favourite Fantasy books – in a nutshell #wyrdandwonder

IMAGE CREDITS: Flaming phoenix by Sujono Sujono | Decorative phoenix by Tanantachai Sirival
Today I’m posting using a theme I’ve seen around the blogosphere as part of the Wyrd and Wonder event. Check out this and this post who have already tackled this topic in wonderful fashion. Basically, describe five of your favourite fantasy books in five words. Actually, this was tougher than I expected but here goes:
Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
– Aztec vampires feuding in Mexico
Red Sister (Book of the Ancestor #1) by Mark Lawrence
– Kickass assassin nuns in training
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
– Pirates? Princesses? True love? Inconceivable
Spoonbenders by Daryl Gregory
– Dysfunctional psychic family meets gangsters
Heartstone by Elle Katharine White
– Pride, Prejudice, Dragons… oh my!