shadow and bone

Books Netflix Need to Adapt ASAP

June 20, 2021

Dear Netflix, if you’d like to hire me to work on any of these potential shows/films, then please don’t hesitate and give me a call, I’ll be waiting! I will openly admit that I spend far too much time binge watching and rewatching some of my favourite Netflix shows, they’re the perfect escape and never fail to bring a smile to my face. After the success of recent book adaptations like To All The Boys, Bridgerton, and Shadow and Bone, this streaming giant has proven that it is capable of transporting these beloved storylines off the page and on-to the screen!

There’s always the worry when a studio announces that it’s adapting one of your favourite books, but now and then we are blessed with a visually beautiful and accurate adaptation that exceeds all of our expectations, a few of my favourites being the entire Harry Potter series, Catching Fire, and Game of Thrones. But then there’s the bad ones, I’m looking at you Allegiant and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters!

There are so many books on my shelf that I’d love to see adapted, so I thought I’d pitch a few to Netflix and hopefully if I manifest it enough something might happen…

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson – This delightfully cute, sappic romance made my heart melt, my eyes water and made my day that little bit brighter. You Should See Me in a Crown follows Liz, a Black queer girl with anxiety who must run for prom queen in order to win the money she needs to get into her dream college, but whilst doing this she has to figure out how to put herself out there and deal with the blossoming crush she has on her opponent. Doesn’t that just sound like the perfect Friday night film?

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston – WHY is this not a film yet? Joyful, honest and hands down one of the best romances I’ve ever read, Red, White and Blue will having you grinning from ear to ear!

Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers – A coming-of-age story for adults in their late 20s and for anyone lost in the void of expectation, this brilliantly fun and emotionally relatable story could easily become an iconic classic. With queer found families, sapphic love, a classic married in Vegas trope and discussions of mental health, this book is truly special and deserves to shine on screen!

Heartless by Marissa Meyer – A seriously underrated book and a villains story that finally deserves the spotlight. This prequel to Alice in Wonderland, focuses on the Cath and her path to becoming the wonderfully evil, Queen of Hearts. I’m thinking Once Upon a Time in Wonderland meets Disney’s Maleficent, that would give viewers a very different perspective of such an iconic villain. Plus I can imagine the costumes for this show would be EPIC!

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir – Netflix has proved that they can successfully adapt and create beautiful fantasy fictional worlds, and I think it’s about time that Tahir’s incredible adventure gets its turn. An Ember in the Ashes is an original and gripping storyline that is carefully filled with a wide cast of characters and page-turning moments that subverts the overused and cliched tropes whilst providing us with a wonderfully exhilarating read. This fast paced adventure would come to life on screen and would leave audiences on the edge of their seats!

We Were Liars E.Lockhart – This book has been getting a lot of attention on booktok/bookstagram, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see this adaptation on our screens soon. I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll just say that We Were Liars is the perfect fragmented suspense novel that will catch audiences by surprise…

Get A Life Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert – This trilogy needs the ‘To All The Boys’ treatment! I’ve just finished reading the first book in this series and I’m so in love with these characters and this storyline, and I’m even tempted to make my own mini ‘get a life’ list. Chloe is strong, smart and hilarious and then we have Red who is just so swoony and kind and loving, and I’d give anything to see these characters come to life!

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang – This sweet and steamy romance deserves all the hype and all the love, it’s brilliant. This gender reversed Pretty Woman scenario follows Stella, who has Asperger’s syndrome and is that convinced she needs lessons on how to be good at sex and relationships and ends up hiring Michael, an escort, to teach her. It’s no secret that we need more diverse and inclusive representation in the media and I can 100% see this book becoming a heartwarming favourite.

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren – I’m a sucker for Christina Lauren, her books never fail to make me smile and are all just super adorable! I’d give anything to see any of her books adapted but if I had to pick one it would have to be The Unhoneymooners. This light-heated, enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, bundle of joy sends me head over heels.

Amy and Rodger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson – When I was gazing lovingly at my bookshelf thinking about what books I wanted to include on this list this book instantly stood out. It’s been years since I’ve read a Morgan Matson book and it’s criminal that NONE of her books have been adapted yet! I love them all but Amy and Roger will always have a special place in my heart, plus who doesn’t love a road-trip trope!

May Wrap Up and June TBR

June 2, 2021

So much happened this month! Not only did I meet the cast of Shadow and Bone but I also got my first vaccine! I’m very fortunate to have a close friend working at my local surgery who rang me up and asked if I wanted one as they had plenty spare, um yes please! I’d fully accepted that I wasn’t going to get my vaccine for at least another couple of months but I’m very grateful that this opportunity arose.

More restriction have eased here in the UK and I can’t express how nice it was to give someone a HUG! I’m a hugger, so not being able to smother people in love with cuddles has been torture. It’s nice to see things going to back to a new normal but I’m conscious that we’ve still got a way to go, I’m just happy that I can wander around a bookshop, it’s the small things in life!

I slowly getting back into my reading and have started getting into a better routine than last month. You’ll still find me at my desk at 1am writing blog posts or job applications but things don’t feel as chaotic! Last month I got my sister to pick my TBR and it was lovely seeing her getting involved with one of my passions and she’s even persuaded my to try something new, so stay tuned for more.

I know I say this every month but I want to say thank you to all the wonderful people who continue to support me and this little blog, all your kind words makes me so emotional and it warms my heart to know that people enjoy what I create. I wish I could give you all one big giant hug! Anyway, I’ve got high hopes for June and I hope that you all have a wonderful month filled with love and sunshine.

What You Might Have Missed Last Month:

My Favourite Books With Purple Covers

This or That: Bookish Boyfriend Edition

The Last 10 Books Tag & The Vincent Ehindero Blogger Award

Meeting the Cast of Shadow and Bone (Netflix Virtual Fan Event)

May Wrap Up

Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard – It’s my own fault but I went into this book with extremely high expectations and I it breaks my heart to admit it but I was a little disappointed. The world building was so intense that I felt that sometimes it overshadowed the characters and the storyline, I ended up getting so caught up with place names and all the different kingdoms that I wasn’t able to connect enough with everything going on. Nevertheless, I am in love with this band of characters and I’m utterly obsessed with Erida, she is such a complex and unique character and I’m curious to see where the story takes her. Also please can we take a moment to appreciate the map of the Ward, its stunning and one of my favourite fictional maps EVER!

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare – It’s taken me five years and endless pestering from my sister but I’ve finally started the Clockwork series! I’ve been putting of reading Chain of Gold and Queen of Air and Darkness because I conscious that I would appreciate the little links and Easter eggs Clare hides in her novels and how this entire world connects. I was also very excited to meet the trio that is Tessa, Will and Jem, I’ve heard nothing but love and praise for these characters and they didn’t disappoint. I am fully obsessed with this series and I can see why my sister loves it so much!

TBR

Every month I set myself a TBR and I don’t think I’ve stuck to any of them this year, whoops! My problem is that my physical TBR is so big that I get distracted by all the wonderful books I want to read, I swear I spend more time planning my reading than actually reading! Which is why I want you to pick my TBR this month! Below is a list of unread books that have been on my TBR for way too long and I need your help to narrow down my choices! I don’t know why I had thought of this idea sooner, and I can’t wait to see which book you pick.

Meeting the Cast of Shadow and Bone (Netflix Virtual Fan Event)

May 16, 2021

I’m still a bit in shock, but last weekend I had the honour of attending a virtual fan meet & greet with the cast and creators of Shadow and Bone! WHAT?! It’s no secret that I’m utterly obsessed and head over heels for this show, so the chance to meet the cast was an experience like no other and one that I will cherish.

I was very fortunate enough to be one of the hundreds of lucky fans around the world who attended the exclusive Q&A, and it was lovely to interact with the cast and learn more about their filming experience. The love and enthusiasm this cast has for each other and this show is so wholesome and heartwarming, and I’d give anything to be a part of their little inner circle! So Netflix, if you want to fly me to Budapest to interview the cast for season 2 or hire me as an extra, then hit me up! I think I’d look good in a Kefta!

I don’t think I’ve ever smiled so much in my life, and I will openly admit that I fully fangirled when each cast member appeared on screen, so I was quite glad that there was a lot of us! And then, when Leigh and Eric joined us, I died. The Q&A was over zoom, and you were broken off into different rooms where you waited for the magic to happen and for your chance to submit questions to the cast. The first session was with the Crows (Freddie, Amita, Danielle, Kit and Calahan), and the energy these five brought with them to the call was contagious.

One of my favourite moments of the call was when the cast was asked what skills they had that would convince Kaz (Freddie) to hire them for a heist. If I was Kaz, then I’d hire Amita! She argued that her height would allow her to squeeze into small spaces, that her long hair could hide different things and that she could also speak lots of languages, I mean, what more could you want! Kit revealed that he had a great memory, and Danielle shared that she was an expert when it came to Instagram stalking and finding information about people!

The cast were also asked to share their characters favourite line, and I couldn’t agree more with their choices! Danielle’s favourite line was ‘Were you born a prick, or was it a choice?’, a quote that encapsulates Nina’s personality and relationship with Matthias. Freddie chose the line that I’m sure many fans were waiting for, ‘no mourners, no funerals’ and Amita picked the brilliant line that was ‘in that case, I’ll take my knife back.’ I agree with Kit when he said that Jesper has too many iconic lines to pick just one, and it surprised me to learn that Calahan’s favourite lines were when Matthias and Nina revealed their names to each other!

The second call was then with Ben, Jessie, Archie, Leigh and Eric and, it was here that we got to learn more about the cast and their antics outside of filming! The cast and crew are like one big happy family, and they revealed the cast regularly hosted game nights. One of their favourite games to play was the wine box game, and if you’ve never played the aim is to pick up a wine box with your teeth without putting your hands or knees on the floor. Each round you then cut off a piece until it’s just a bit of card on the floor. I don’t like to brag but I am a CHAMP at that game and would give anything to challenge the cast to a round!

I’ve been to a few meet-and-greets, but this one takes the win for a most unique one, so when it came to getting our ‘pictures’ I had to use a little bit of editing magic! This was such a fun experience that I’m very grateful to have been apart of so thank you again to Netflix and the incredible cast and crew of Shadow and Bone!

April Wrap Up and May TBR

May 6, 2021

I said this last month but what happened to April? This month has once again been a whirlwind and I feel like I’m constantly playing catch up! I had so many plans for April but in typical Amy fashion everything ended up being bit chaotic and pushed aside.

As many of you know already, I’m one of thousands of publishing hopefuls who are trying their hardest to break into a highly competitive industry and the constant rejection or lack of response is heartbreaking. I like to think of myself as an optimistic and positive person but recently it’s been a struggle trying to remain hopeful and confident in my abilities. It’s been almost two years now since I graduated from University with a degree in English Literature, and although this past year has had its set backs, I’m still at square one and just a little less optimistic than before. At this moment in time I’m fortunate enough to have a job working in retail with wonderful group of ladies who I absolutely adore, however I hoped for more. I don’t plan on giving up on my dreams anytime soon, and I hope that the universe has something epic in store for me soon!

Last month was emotionally, physically and mentally exhausting but I’ve started this month with a new mindset and goal orientated attitude and I’m confident that I’m going to make it a memorable one! My personal aim for May is to find a routine and get myself a little more organised. I’ve been juggling so many different things that I’ve lost track of what’s on my to-do list and what day it is, whoops!

April finally saw the re-opening of lots of non-essential shops including bookshops (I’d argue that books are essential) and I’ve never been so excited to experience a bit of retail-therapy. My poor bank account has taken a bit of a beating this month, but if you can’t treat yourself now, when can you?

The highlight of my month was hands-down the Shadow and Bone adaptation, IT WAS PERFECT! I’m currently on my third re-watch and I think I fall in love with it a little more every time I watch it! I’ve got a dedicated post going up next week where I gush about all of my feelings and how wonderful the entire show was, I can’t stop raving about it and if Netflix doesn’t renew it for more seasons then I quit!

What You Might Have Missed Last Month:

My Favourite Books With Pink Covers | Spring Edition

7 Thing I Want to See in the Shadow and Bone TV Show

Book Recommendations Based Off Your Star Sign

This or That: Book Lovers Edition

April Wrap Up

As for reading, it’s no surprise that I only managed to read ONE book this month! Luckily I’m on track with my reading goals and I hope to have a really productive May.

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo – Nikolai is one of my all-time favourite characters so the chance to spend more time with him and join him on another adventure with some other great characters was perfect! AND that ending, it’s a good thing that I’ve got Rule of Wolves ready and waiting on my bookshelf!

May TBR

When it comes to reading, I’m the bookworm of the family but occasionally my sister will fall into the magical world of reading and go into full-on reader mode! Seriously that girl can read, she managed to read the first two books in the Blood and Ash Series by Jennifer L Armentrout in TWO days and I’ve never been prouder! So I thought I’d take advantage of her whilst she’s on this reading sprint and get her to choose my TBR for next month! I’ve brought so many new books recently and I don’t know what to read next, so it’s been great getting an outsiders opinion!

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare – This is my sisters all time favourite series and I’ve lost track at how many times I’ve promised her that I’ll read. I really enjoy reading about the vast Shadowhunter world and I’m excited to see what all the fuss is about!

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L Armentrout – As I mentioned previously, my sister managed to read the first two books in two days and now she needs someone who she can talk about it with and I’m more than happy to fill that role. Everyone has been raving about this series and I feel little bit left out so it’s about time I jumped on the bandwagon!

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon – My sister knows me far too well and told me to pick the book that’s been sitting on my TBR pile for the longest! I received an excerpt of this book years ago and loved it so excited to continue with the rest of the story!

Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard – I’ve been going on about this book for weeks so there was no way that I wasn’t going to put this book on my TBR for May.

7 Things I Want to See in The Shadow and Bone TV Show

April 23, 2021

HAPPY SHADOW AND BONE RELEASE DAY!

If you haven’t guessed already, I’m pretty excited for the Shadow and Bone TV series! I can’t wait to see these wonderful characters come to life on screen and to experience the magic and wonder that’s threaded throughout its epic storyline. I have been waiting for this adaptation for so long and I don’t think I’m emotionally prepared for it, but I plan to spend my weekend watching the show over and over again and falling in love with everything!

And don’t get me started on the cast, they’re perfect. It honestly feels like these characters have just stepped off the page and words can’t describe how excited I am to see them all interact! But what makes this show special to me is the love and enthusiasm shared by all those involved, it’s clear that they care about these characters and that they are just as excited and passionate about this show as the fans.

Bardugo’s Grishaverse is a canvas of creativity and is a wonderfully imaginative world that is open to endless exploration and adventure. Transporting this world from page to screen isn’t a small feat but such responsibility has been embraced by executive producers Eric Heisserer (Arrival, Bird Box) and Shawn Levy (Stranger Things, Arrival), with Leigh Bardugo also on board as a producer. All the trailers, images and behind the scene snippets look incredible and it’s making my little heart flutter!

I have total and utter faith that this adaptation will stay true to the books and will successfully embody everything we as the fans cherish in this series as well as giving us something entirely new and thrilling. I can’t contain my excitement for much longer, so I thought I’d share my list of things that I want to see in the upcoming adaptation!

Character Interaction

The wonderful thing about combining the worlds and storylines of Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows is that these characters are finally going to meet and interact! This alternate timeline and clever twist in the story is the best of both worlds, as not only do we get to see our beloved characters come to life but we the fans also get something uniquely different and exciting. I could 100% see Kaz and Alina being best friends and getting on each other’s nerves, as well as Mal and Jesper bonding over their guns.

I know my fictional boyfriend Nikolai hasn’t been cast yet, but I will die if the show ends with Kaz handing over Alina and Mal to an extremely charming red-headed captain with a crooked nose!

Grisha Powers & Fight Scenes

This show looks epic, so I’m expecting some hard-core and intense fight scenes! We’ve seen snippets of Jesper’s gunslinging ways, Inej’s extensive collection of knives, Zoya’s powers and the special effects look amazingly detailed and magical. I’ve really enjoyed following along on the show and actors journey, and I’m utterly in love with Amita Suman and the behind the scenes of her stunt training on Instagram!

Now this may be an unpopular opinion, but I’m a little bit dubious towards Alina’s powers, the whole full-body glowing vibe feels cliche, but everything else looks perfect and I’m particularly looking forward to her lessons with Bagra.

Ravka and Kerch (The Crow Club, The Little Palace, The Shadow Fold)

There’s always the challenge with bringing a fictional world to life, there needs to be a balance between reality and fantasy.

The show was filmed in Budapest, a baroque city landscape that exhibits grandeur and dramatic beauty, all elements that we see mirrored throughout Bardugo’s Grishaverse. These places have become a second home to me and many other readers and I’m ready to be transported to the streets of Ketterdam and the beautiful halls of the Little Palace! Another place I’m excited to see more of it the Shadow Fold, from the trailer it looks terrifying and I’m curious to see more of the horrors within!

Character Relationships (Mal’s Redemption?)

Relationships and found families are a huge part of these series and I hope that we get to see more of our favourite couples/friendships! One relationship I’m buzzing to see on screen is the blossoming and tenuous relationship between Nina and Matthias.

This may be another controversial opinion but I’m starting to like Mal a little more? Could this be his redemption in the fandom? There’s just something about Archie in the trailer and the on screen chemistry between Mal and Alina that’s making me love him a little more…

Backstories (Kaz, Mattias, Nina, Darkling)

I’m also curious to see how or if they include any of the character’s backstories, as they’re an important part of who they are. I’m sure we’ll learning more about the Darkling but I really hope we dive into the Crows’ past and peel back those layers.

In an interview Bardugo also mentioned that the show will include some of her external material and I’m just so excited to explore this world even more!

Book Moments

Fans will always cling to the book when their favourite series is being adapted but sometimes we need to accept that not everything is going to make it into the show. Nevertheless, there are still some iconic moments and lines that I hope to see on screen, one of which being the brilliant banter between the Crows. Adapting a fantasy novel and bringing this unique world to life is a huge challenge but I have so much faith and love for the team behind the show and I’m confident is going to exceed all my expectations!

The Fashion

I’d kill to have my own Kefta and maybe one day I’ll finally find the courage and skill to make my own! Kefta’s are a HUGE part of Grisha culture and from what we’ve seen so far they’re exactly what I’d imagined they’d look like, regal, colourful and beautifully elegant. As expected Leigh has some say when it came to the costumes and the creative process and I’m confident that I’m going to be very envious of all of them.

And then we have the mysterious and dark palet of the Dregs, and I’m especially excited to see more of Inej and Nina’s costumes. However, I don’t know how I feel about Kaz and Jesper’s fedoras though?

March Wrap Up and April TBR

April 4, 2021

Well, this month has been a weird one, hasn’t it? On the one hand, I can’t believe it’s already April, but at the same time, I felt like March was never going to end! As I mentioned in my last wrap up, March was going to be a month dedicated to my mental health but this month had other plans! My work life has been chaotic, and I’m finally starting to find some progression within my chosen career. I’ve got all my fingers and toes crossed for other exciting job applications, and I’m sending all the good vibes out into the universe!

I’ve been a little quiet on the blogging scene recently, and I apologise for that. I can’t put my finger on it, but this month has just felt a little odd, and I think the mental impact of this lockdown is hitting me again. The 23rd of March marked a year since the UK started its first Covid-19 lockdown, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel! I’m trying my best to remain positive and to focus on all the things I want to do when this lockdown is over! I’m desperate to finally spend some time with my friends and travel around the UK! I’ve already got a trip to Hay-on-Wye planned, and I’m so excited to spend hours wandering around the literary labyrinths and forget about the world.

One massive thing that has been crushing me and my blogging spirit this month is spam blogs. I don’t know about you, but I always get so excited when I receive a notification from WordPress. It’s so heartwarming to know that someone has enjoyed my content and taken a moment out of their day to engage with me, but recently my notifications have been filled with spam, and it’s soul-crushing. The majority of my likes and follows have been from spam blogs that I know haven’t read or are even interested in my content, and it only fuels that horrible feeling of doubt and defeat. I end up focusing entirely on them rather than the wonderful group of people who continue to support me and it makes me question why I put my heart and soul into every post for it fall victim to an overwhelming amount of unwanted spam!

For me, blogging is the perfect creative outlet that helps me channel all my thoughts, ideas and opinions into fun and engaging posts. It’s not about likes or followers but being apart of such a welcoming and heartwarming community that shares the same interests and passions as me. For the last week of March, I took a little break from blogging to just clear my mind, and it really helped! So to all the spam blogs reading, I don’t want to learn how to make money online or any other financial wisdom, I just want to blog about all things books and have fun with my fellow book bloggers!

Anyway, I’m excited for April and ready to embrace everything it throws my way!

What You Might Have Missed Last Month:

The Book Recommendations Book Tag

Greek Myths that Need More Retellings

My Favourite Throwback Reads From My Teens

Meet the Blogger Book Tag

Favourite Books With Green Covers | St Patricks Day

How to Get Over a Book Hangover?

How I Stay Organised & Tips for New Bloggers

March Wrap Up

The Shadow and Bone Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo – I wanted to re-read the entire series before the new TV show and before I started King of Scars, and I’m so glad I did because I’d forgotten about a few things. I love this series and the incredible world Bardugo has created and I’ve once again fallen down the rabbit hole that is my Darkling and Nikolai obsession! Also please can we take a moment to freak out about THAT trailer! Everything looks perfect, and I love how they’ve combined the two storylines but I don’t think I’m emotionally prepared for all these characters to meet.

Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff – These books are SO good! Hannah Donnelly is one of my new favourite characters and I just wish that I’d read this series sooner! Thank you to everyone who recommended this series, I loved it.

Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff – This was probably my least favourite of the three books but nevertheless I still loved it! As expected this book was a fast-paced intense space adventure pocked with witty one liners and character interactions that had me grinning from ear to ear! I can’t praise this series enough and it deserves all the hype.

April TBR

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout – I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited for a monthly TBR before, there are so many amazing books on this list that I can’t wait to read! This book has been all over the blogging scene and it’s about time I see what all the hype is about!

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo – After finishing the Shadow and Bone trilogy, it’s clear that I need some more Nikolai in my life! I’ve already ordered Rule of Wolves as I’m fairly certain that I’m going to want to pick up the second book as soon as I finish this!

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo – I love these characters SO much! Six of Crows will always be a favourite of mine and I’m eager to experience this action-packed adventure again!

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong – Another book that I’ve been dying to read for ages! A Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, yes please! I’ve heard nothing but good things about this book, so it’s fair to say that I’ve got high expectations!

January Wrap Up and February TBR

February 2, 2021

So far 2021 is proving to be a good year for both of my reading and blogging goals, and I’m eager to see what the rest of the year has in store for me. My Goodreads goal for this year is a little ambitious at 52 books which is about one book a week, and so far I’m on schedule and I’m starting to feel quietly confident.

I’ve already managed to tick off one of my blogging goals for this year which was to invest in a domain name and to finally give this little blog a makeover! As many of you know, I’ve wanted to change the design of my blog for a while now, and it’s about time that put my words into action and I couldn’t be happier! So when you’re finished reading this, go and check it out!

I also want to take this opportunity to say a HUGE thank you for all your support recently, it’s so overwhelming and lovely to read everyones positive comments and it reminds me of just how lovely the blogging community is!

This month I also fell hard for Bridgerton and it’s really kickstarted a love for romance novels, so my plan is to go romance mad with my February TBR and embrace this wonderful thing we call love. I’m single, okay, and I need to live romantically and vicariously through fictional characters because my love life is somewhat non-existent!

Finally, I couldn’t write a January wrap up post without mentioning THOSE sneak-peak pictures from upcoming Shadow and Bone adaptation! Words can’t describe how excited I am about this adaptation, and I full-on fangirled when they were released and haven’t stopped studying them since. Everything looks perfect and I don’t know how I’m going to cope when they release the trailer, let alone the first episode! It truly looks like these characters have been plucked right off the page, and I can’t wait to see the Grishaverse come to life on our screens! April 23rd can’t come quick enough!

January Wrap Up

The Duke and I (Bridgerton’s #1) by Julia Quinn – Like I’ve mentioned previously I’ve fallen utterly in love with the Bridgerton series and there’s a group of us at work who have made a make-shift bookclub and are making our way through the entire series. As expected the book was SO much better than the TV series, the character interactions are wittier and more heartfelt and Quinn’s writing is so easy to read that I read this book in one sitting.

The Viscount Who Loved Me (Bridgerton’s #2) by Julia Quinn – I love Anthony Bridgerton so I knew that I was going to love this book, but I didn’t expect to love it that much! His developing relationship with Kate is exactly what I needed and I’m glad that he’s finally found his match. That Pall-mall scene is EVERYTHING and I’ve never related more to a book till then, as croquet is a very aggressive and competitive game in my family too.

An Offer From a Gentleman (Bridgerton’s #3) by Julia Quinn – I wasn’t planning on reading this book this month but I couldn’t help myself! I mentioned in a previous post that I wanted to read more fairytale retellings and this Cinderella romance was exactly what I needed.

Fable by Adrienne Young – I’ve really been craving a good-old-fashioned pirate adventure and Fable gave me just that and more. This fast-paced, swashbuckling tale filled with unexpected twists was such a wonderful read and I need to get my hands on the next book ASAP!

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson – I hate to say it, but I don’t think this book lived up to the hype…I did enjoy it but it’s my own fault for going into it with high expectations. The whole world built around Grimoires in ancient libraries, sorcerers and demons was so unique and I wish that this was a series rather than a stand-alone, so that we could explore more of this unique universe. I really like Elisabeth and Nathaniel (and Silas of course), but I wanted more character interaction as I felt like some things were rushed. Nevertheless this was a solid fantasy read that I did enjoy and I look forward to reading more of Rogerson’s work in the future.

February TBR

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff – I accidentally bought this entire series after I finished Aurora Rising last month because I’m so in love with Kaufman’s writing and have come to the decision that I need more sci-fi in my life. I just couldn’t resit. I’ve heard nothing but good things about this series so I’m eager to dive in and experience all of it’s brilliance.

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren – February is a month of romance, so I’m going to make it my mission to tick off a few romance books that are waiting patiently on my TBR. Last year, I fell head over heels for the lighthearted ease that was Christina Lauren’s writing and it’s another book that I’ve yet to read a bad review about!

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne – Another romance that has been on my TBR for years! This book is the ultimate enemies-to-lovers romance and I can’t wait for it’s adaptation, starring Lucy Hale and Robbie Amell.

Romancing Mr Bridgerton by Julia Quinn (Bridgerton #4) – I’m so in love with this series! They’re cheesy, romantic and wonderfully witty reads that I can easy read in one sitting!

Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote – I’ve planned another character read-a-thon for the end February and I thought I’d give you a sneak peak at my TBR! I was meant to read this book for one of my classes at university but something must have stopped me, so I thought what better time to read it than now!

And finally,

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas – I finally pre-ordered the Waterstones exclusive edition and I’m on countdown till 16th Feb! I already plan to drop everything when it arrives and spend the day completely enamoured by these characters and the incredible world Sarah has created!

Most Anticipated Adaptions of 2021

January 21, 2021

2021 is already proving to be an exciting year, as some of our beloved stories and adventures are finally being released on the big (and small) screen! When adapting books to movies there’s always the worry that the writers and directors are going to change elements and cut important and much-loved parts from the script but I’m quietly optimistic for this year’s releases. I don’t want to wish my life away but there’s a few shows this year I’d happily sell my soul to watch early, the excitement is killing me!

Always and Forever, Lara Jean (February 2021)

Always and Forever, Lara Jean, Volume 3 To All the Boys I've Loved Before: Amazon.co.uk: Han, Jenny: Books

The final instalment to what I consider to be one of the best YA adaptations EVER! Netflix has managed to capture the heartwarming and beautifully romantic journey that is Lara Jean’s love life and has successfully shared her story with the world. It’s great seeing all my friends fall in love with this story and I’ve even managed to get them to read the books as they’re desperate to find out what happens next. It’s fair to say that I’ve got high expectations for this final film and I just hope they give Lara and Peter the epic conclusion they deserve.

The Nightingale (December 2021)

The Nightingale: Amazon.co.uk: Hannah, Kristin: 9781509848621: Books

I’ve yet to read the book to this adaptation but it sounded so good that I couldn’t help but include it on my list. Starring both Dakota and Elle Fanning, this film follows the lives of two sisters living in France who are torn apart at the onset of World War II. I have a huge appreciation and love for films about both World Wars, with favourites such as Atonement, Dunkirk, Fury, and Jojo Rabbit, so I already know that I’m really going to love this one.

The Selection (TBA)

This adaptation has been going around the rumour mill for a while now, but we could be finally seeing this classic YA romance on our screens soon! Netflix has yet to announce anything about the cast or anything else for that matter but all we know is that author Kiera Cass is just as excited as us!

Nine Perfect Strangers (TBA)

Nine Perfect Strangers: The Number One Sunday Times bestseller from the author of Big Little Lies eBook: Moriarty, Liane: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

I absolutely loved Big Little Lies, so to see more of Liane Moriarty’s books being adapted is great! This book has been sat on my bookshelf for ages so I think it’s about time I finally dive into this thrilling mystery.

The Pursuit of Love (TBA)

The Pursuit of Love: Amazon.co.uk: Mitford, Nancy, Heller, Zoë: 9780241974681: Books

One of my favourite books ever is finally getting the BBC adaptation treatment and I’m beyond excited. Starring Lily James, Andrew Scott and Emily Mortimer, I’m quite confident that I’m going to absolutely adore it! The book follows an upper class English family during the war and focuses love, class and relationships, its a classic light-hearted storyline that audiences will love.

Conversations with Friends (TBA)

Conversations with Friends (181 POCHE): Amazon.co.uk: Rooney, Sally: 9780571333134: Books

After the huge success that was Normal People, I’m not surprised to see Rooney’s other book getting the adaptation treatment! And it’s good to hear that the same core team who made Normal People will once again be working together to bring Conversation with Friends to our screens!

Chaos Walking (March 2021)

Chaos Walking: The Complete Trilogy by Patrick Ness

Starring Tom Holland AND Daisy Ridley this film already looks epic! I’ve yet to read this series but the dystopian world Ness has created has certainly made me curious. Plus that trailer looks intense! Todd Hewitt has been raised to believe that a viral germ has killed all women and unleashed Noise, the special ability to read people’s and animals’ minds. Alone, he must face a planet erupting in war—that is, until he meets Viola, the source of the silence.

Shadow and Bone (TBA)

Shadow and Bone: Book 1 (THE GRISHA) eBook: Bardugo, Leigh: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

Word’s can’t describe how excited I am for this series to hit our screens, and for these characters and Bardugo’s wonderful Grishaverse to come to life. Transporting this world from page to screen isn’t a small feat but such responsibility has been embraced by executive producers Eric Heisserer and Shawn Levy, with Leigh Bardugo also on board as a producer. I have total and utter faith that this adaptation will stay true to the books and will successfully embody everything we as the fans cherish in this series.

The Last Letter from Your Lover (March 2021)

The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes | Vulpes Libris

Another Jojo Moyes adaptation? I’ll grab the tissues! Starring Felicity Jones, Shailene Woodley, Callum Turner and Joe Alwyn, the book focuses on a young journalist who becomes obsessed with a series of letters she discovers that recounts an intense star-crossed love affair from the 1960s.

There’s Someone Inside Your House (February 2021)

There's Someone Inside Your House: Amazon.co.uk: Perkins, Stephanie: 9780525426011: Books

If you’re a fan of Pretty Little Liars, then the chances are that you’re going to love this adaptation too. The graduating class at Osborne High is being targeted by a masked assailant, intent on exposing the darkest secret of each victim, and only a group of misfit outsiders can stop the killings. I read this book ages ago but I can’t remember a thing! Looks like I’m going to have to have a quick re-read before it’s release!

Death on the Nile (September 2021)

Death on the Nile (Poirot): Amazon.co.uk: Christie, Agatha: 9780007119325: Books

I’m a sucker for a good murder mystery, and there’s no one better than Agatha Christie. I really enjoyed the recent adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express and I’m equally excited to see this book get it’s own A-list adaptation! Starring Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Letitia Wright and other famous faces, this film is guaranteed to be a hit.

Dune (October 2021)

I need something to fill the sci-fi void in my heart and I think this adaptation will do just the trick. The cast looks incredible, and will star Oscar Isaac, Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa and more!

I was gutted that this film wasn’t released last year, but this film deserved to be experienced on the big screen rather than at home so I’ll happily wait a little bit longer. Plus that gives me more time to finally read the book!

‘Shadow and Bone’ (Netflix) Cast Reaction

September 13, 2020

This post was meant to be published a year ago, instead it’s been sitting all sad and forgotten in my ‘drafts’! My attitude towards this series however is the complete opposite. Words can’t describe how excited I am and I almost died when they released the cast photos! This is hands down my most anticipated TV show of the year so it’s only fitting that I finally share my reactions to all the casting and production news. Be prepared for lots of gushing and fawning.

Bardugo’s Grisha universe is a perfect example of stunning craftsmanship and unlimited imagination that is open to endless exploration and adventure. Transporting this world from page to screen isn’t a small feat but such responsibility has been embraced by executive producers Eric Heisserer (Arrival, Bird Box) and Shawn Levy (Stranger Things, Arrival), with Leigh Bardugo also on board as a producer. I have total and utter faith that this adaptation will stay true to the books and will successfully embody everything we as the fans cherish in this series. The show is being filmed in Budapest, a baroque city landscape that exhibits grandeur and dramatic beauty, all elements that we see mirrored throughout Bardugo’s Grishaverse. I look forward to witnessing the stunning architecture and filming locations when it is safe to do so, especially since my trip there was sadly cancelled this year.

When casting such a well-loved series there’s always a chance that some fans will be disappointed, but I don’t think this is the case for this show. The casting directors for this show have hit the nail on the head for every single character; it’s PERFECT.

Let’s start with the main man himself, The Darkling who is being played by Ben Barnes! *Swoon*. My love for him as Prince Caspian in Narnia has never died and now we get to fall for him all over again, but time as the villain! This is one my favourite castings, and to me he’s the perfect Darkling, he’s got that mysterious and cunning stare that would easily have me spilling all my secrets!

Alina Starkov: Jessie Mei Li. The decision in making Alina half-shu is brilliant and I love the fact that we are get to see a half-asian actress in a major role. I’m so excited to see what Jessie does with this character and I hope this encourages more biracial and multiracial characters to be represented in film and books. The more I look at her the more I see Alina, and I can’t praise this casting enough.

Mal Oretsev: Archie Renaux. Mal was never my favourite character in the series BUT I’m excited for this casting and maybe Archie might change my opinion on Mal? He’s another casting that I’m slowly falling in love with, I’ll happily be the first one to throw my hands up and admit that I was wrong to hate book Mal!

Genya Saffin: Dasiy Head. Another casting that I love and I’m eager to see how they transform and bring such a heartbreakingly loveable character to life. Sadly Genya’s casting has been getting a lot of hate but I want to say loud and clear that I think she is BEAUTIFUL!

Zoya Nazyalensky: Sujaya Dasgupta. Zoya is such a strong personality and renegade, so Sujaya has got some big boots to fill, but I’m quietly confident that she’s going to kill it.

Six of Crows

Kaz Breker: Freddy Carter. He’s got that chizzled, artful mastermind look about him, everything about him screams Kaz! This is probably my favourite casting of the entire series, Freddy Carter IS Kaz and I can’t wait to see him brought to life.

Inej Ghafa: Amita Suman. This cast is so diverse and I’m so excited to see all the different representation on screen and for others to fall in love with these characters and their story. Once again, another casting that I’m utterly in love with and plus I’m living for all the behind the scenes of her stunt training on instagram!

Jasper Fahey: Kit Young. He’s got that charming smile and cunning look and I’m just so excited to see one of my favourite characters come to life. I can’t wait to see his character on screen and all those epic fight scenes with his gunslinging skills.

Nina Zenik: Danielle Galligan. Just look at that headshot, if looks could kill! Another casting that sadly has been getting a lot of hate due to her not being ‘curvy’ or ‘big’ enough’. It’s evidently clear that the creators and actors of this show care a lot about these characters, so I’m choosing to focus on the positives and celebrate this incredible cast. Nina is such a strong and powerful character and I’m confident that Danielle will do her justice.

Matthias Helvar : Calahan Skogman. The longer I look at the cast pictures the more and more I see these characters come to life! Calahan you better look after my little Matthias!

Damn this is one good-looking cast! You can already see, how much thought, care and enthusiasm has been put into this show and I living for all of the cast behind the scene photos. Clearly they are just as excited and passionate about this shows and its characters as the fans.

Shadow and Bone will be hitting our screens on 23rd April 2021 and until then I’ll be re-reading all the books in preparation for an ultimate binge-sesh when it’s finally released!

Books We Want to be Made Into Movies

April 17, 2017

filmwish

Nowadays most of our favourite YA novels are being or already have been adapted for film including The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner and this Summer’s romance drama ‘Everything Everything’ which I am super excited for as the trailer looked amazing and I am a huge fan of the book. But there’s always that worry that directors and producers aren’t going to stick to the book which occasionally results in a crap movie *cough* Percy Jackson *cough*. Most of the book to movie adaptations I’ve seen recently though have been pretty good and the elements they’ve changed and added I felt have been beneficial. Anyway, this got me thinking about a few of my favourite books and which ones I’d love to see on the big screen, so here’s a few that I hope one day will successfully be made into movies!

The Queen of the Tearling – If you haven’t heard of ‘The Queen of the Tearling’, its a fantasy/sci-fi novel set in the distant future and sees Princess Kelsea battling the evil Red Queen in an attempt to claim her throne. From what I’ve heard this is a Warner Bros project and even has the backing of Emma Watson who apparently loved the book so much that she’s considering tying herself to another franchise for the sake of being involved. And to top it all off Harry Potter producer David Heyman is also on board so I have high hopes for this adaptation!

Shadow and Bone – One of my all time favourite series which follows an orphan girl in a fantasy world discovers her own magical abilities when her best friend is in danger –making her an in-demand monster hunter. The rights were snatched up by DreamWorks back in 2012 and once again Producer David Heyman, the man who saw the potential in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books, was attached to produce, along with Jeffrey Clifford of Heymaker Films.

Six of Crows – The Grisha world is definitely one of my favourites so there’s no surprise that another one of Leigh Bardugo’s books is on my list, I need to see this world on the big screen! I tried to look for info on a possible movie but I can’t find anything but I hope if the do decide to make this into a film then please let it be good, this is one of my favorite books, I don’t want them to ruin it with a bad adaptation!

Anna and the French Kiss – I thought I should include a contemporary on my list as the rest of them are all fantasy novels. But this is such a cute story about a girl called Anna who is sent to France for School and it’s here she meets Etienne St Clair who is just wonderful in my eyes!

Throne of Glass – Probably my favourite YA series because Sarah J Maas is such a legend who has a real gift for writing and creating amazing characters. It was announced a while ago that these books were going to be adapted for a TV Show which I have mixed feelings about as I love these books so much I’d want the TV Show to be perfect and I really don’t want it to turn out like Shadowhunters! Anyway, Hulu is developing Queen of Shadows, from the Mark Gordon Company, which will serve as a studio on the project and its series portfolio includes works like Criminal Minds and Grey Anatomy so fingers crossed its good!

I’ve got so many more books that I want to list but this list was getting a bit too long so if you guys enjoyed this then let me know and I’ll make a second post! Plus I’d love to know what books you’d like to see on the big screen, so leave us a comment!