Feeling Fictional

Saturday, 5 May 2018

Product Review: Harry Potter Hedwig Owl Kit and Sticker Book

Hedwig, the most resourceful of Snowy Owls, was a gift to Harry Potter and a constant companion. Now he can be yours! This deluxe keepsake includes:

2-1/2-inch polyresin figure of Hedwig in his cage
16-page book of vivid stickers that allows fans to relive the magic of a boy and his owl.

Harry Potter Series:
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: Illustrated Edition (Illustrated by Jim Kay)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: 20th Anniversary House Editions
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Illustrated Edition (Illustrated by Jim Kay)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Illustrated Edition (Illustrated by Jim Kay)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Illustrated Edition (Illustrated by Jim Kay)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Play Script written with John Tiffany & Jack Thorne)

Pottermore Presents:
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies (Short Story Collection)
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists (Short Story Collection)
Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide (Short Story Collection)

Incredibuilds:
IncrediBuilds: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Erumpent (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
IncrediBuilds: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Niffler (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
IncrediBuilds: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Swooping Evil (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
IncrediBuilds: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Thunderbird (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
IncrediBuilds: Harry Potter: Aragog (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
Incredibuilds: Harry Potter: Buckbeak (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
IncrediBuilds: Harry Potter: Hedwig (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
Incredibuilds: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Express (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
Incredibuilds: Harry Potter: House-Elves (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
Incredibuilds: Harry Potter: Quidditch (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
IncrediBuilds: Harry Potter: Sorting Hat (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
IncrediBuilds: Harry Potter: Stag Patronus (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
Incredibuilds: Harry Potter: Thestral (Deluxe Book and Model Set)

Other Harry Potter Books & Products:
Funko Pop 2019 Harry Potter Advent Calendar
Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Guide to Hogwarts - Matthew Reinhart
Harry Potter - Creatures: A Paper Scene Book
Harry Potter Hedwig Owl Kit and Sticker Book (Model & Sticker Book)
Harry Potter: Magical Film Projections: Patronus Charm (Activity Book)
Harry Potter Talking Sorting Hat and Sticker Book: Which House Are You? (Model & Sticker Book)
Harry Potter: The Character Vault - Jody Revenson
Harry Potter: The Marauder's Map Guide to Hogwarts - Erinn Pascal (Activity Book)
Harry Potter: Winter at Hogwarts: A Magical Colouring Set (Colouring Book, Gift Tags & a build your own 3D Firebolt in a Keepsake Box)
J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World: Magical Film Projections: Creatures (Activity Book)
Metal Earth: Harry Potter Gringotts Dragon (3D Puzzle)
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter: The Official Guide

Visit J.K. Rowling's website or the Pottermore website for more information

Review:
Anyone who knows me knows I'm a HUGE Harry Potter fan so naturally when birthdays or Christmas roll around you can guarantee there will be HP themed gifts in there (I'm definitely not complaining about that!). This year my friend bought me two of these model and sticker sets, Hedwig and the Sorting Hat, and I think they're great.

Like many HP fans I have a massive collection of merchandise, I have a whole display cabinet full but it's already overflowing so I'm running out of space. This kit includes a small model of Hedwig in her cage, it's the perfect size to display alongside the HP funkos or would just make a great bookcase decoration. I'm actually planning a HP themed Christmas tree for this year and because of the hanging loop at the top of the cage I think this will be a perfect addition to that.

The model isn't perfect, unfortunately the way the bars line up mean that if you look at it straight on Hedwig's face is hidden, and the glue used to hold the pieces together is clearly visible, but it's still a cute model and those things aren't noticeable at a distance.

I think it's slightly misleading that the product description says this comes with a 16-page book of stickers, while that's technically true it does give the impression you'll receive more than the 8 stickers that are actually included. They are pretty cute stickers though (see picture below) so I wasn't disappointed.

Hedwig shown at an angle so you can see her face

Hedwig straight on with her face hidden behind the bars

The eight stickers included in the booklet

The model on display with some of my other merchandise

Source: Birthday gift from a friend

Other reviews of this book:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Friday, 4 May 2018

Review: A Fistful of Flirtation - Rebecca Chastain

Order your copy of A Fistful of Frost between now on the release date on May 8, and you can receive a copy of the Madison Fox novelette, A Fistful of Flirtation.

Madison finally gets her date with Dr. Love—and if they had picked any other restaurant, she might have had a chance to enjoy it, too . . .

Receive your free gift with purchase here: https://www.rebeccachastain.com/current-giveaways/

Madison Fox Series:
A Fistful of Evil
A Fistful of Fire
A Fistful of Flirtation (Free Novella)
A Fistful of Frost

Visit Rebecca Chastain's website for more information

Review:
If you're familiar with the Madison Fox series you'll know that poor Madison is rather unlucky in love, mainly because things outside of her control keep preventing her from even going on a date with the handsome vet Dr Love. Well the big day is FINALLY happening and Madison is determined not to let anything stand in her way. Things get off to a great start but nothing is ever easy and the last person she wants to see across a crowded restaurant is fellow illuminant enforcer Niko. Now she just has to work out how to rid the restaurant from evil while not letting Alex in on the secret so she can get back to enjoying her date!

This was such a fun read (just like the rest of the series!) and I'm glad we got to see Madison and Alex FINALLY go on their date. Alex must really like Madison considering how many times he's let her postpone things!

In case you want to get your own copy of A Fistful of Flirtation here's how to grab your free copy:

Order your copy of A Fistful of Frost between now on the release date on May 8, and you can receive a copy of the Madison Fox novelette, A Fistful of Flirtation.

Madison finally gets her date with Dr. Love—and if they had picked any other restaurant, she might have had a chance to enjoy it, too . . .

Receive your free gift with purchase here: https://www.rebeccachastain.com/current-giveaways/

Source: Received from Rebecca Chastain for free as part of the preorder giveaway for A Fistful of Frost

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Thursday, 3 May 2018

Review: The Smoke Thieves - Sally Green

A princess, a traitor, a soldier, a hunter and a thief. Five teenagers with the fate of the world in their hands. Five nations destined for conflict.

In Brigant, Princess Catherine prepares for a political marriage arranged by her brutal and ambitious father, while her true love, Ambrose, faces the executioner's block.

In Calidor, downtrodden servant March seeks revenge on the prince who betrayed his people. In Pitoria, feckless Edyon steals cheap baubles for cheaper thrills as he drifts from town to town.

And in the barren northern territories, thirteen-year-old Tash is running for her life as she plays bait for the gruff demon hunter Gravell.

As alliances shift and shatter, and old certainties are overturned, our five heroes find their past lives transformed and their futures inextricably linked by the unpredictable tides of magic and war.

Who will rise and who will fall? And who will claim the ultimate prize?

The Smoke Thieves Trilogy:
The Smoke Thieves
The Demon World

Visit Sally Green's website for more information

Review:
The Smoke Thieves is the first book in what I think will be a brilliant fantasy series from Sally Green. The story introduces us to five main characters, all from very different backgrounds and each with an important role to play. Sometimes when you have so many different points of view it can be hard to keep track of all the main players but I never had that problem here, it helps that several characters are on the same journeys but by the end of the book all of the storylines have converged and I think the rest of the series is going to be even more fast paced.

Catherine is a princess who is currently getting ready for her marriage to the prince of a neighbouring country. The marriage has been arranged by her ruthless brother and father but she wants to make the best of things and is determined to win over the people of Pitoria. Ambrose is a member of the Royal Guard and one of Catherine's bodyguards but after the execution of his sister his family is now being targeted by the royals he has sworn to protect. He is trying to find out what secrets his sister could have discovered that led to her death but he also wants to protect Catherine and his family.

Tash is a young girl who is apprenticed to the demon hunter Gravell, she helps him trap and kill demons so they can collect the smoke that is released upon their deaths. It is highly illegal to hunt demons but the smoke is valuable and they can earn a good living selling it on the black market. March is one of the few remaining survivors of his people, he was rescued by a king but his people were slaughtered when they were caught between two warring countries and he has sworn to get revenge on the king he believes should have protected them. Then finally you have Edyon, a reckless young man who wastes his life stealing from others just for the thrill of it. Edyon believes he has no future but when he finds out the truth about his father a whole world of possibility opens up in front of him.

Each of these characters has their own journey to take and I enjoyed the character development we saw. The multiple POVs gave us a wide view of this world and the various conflicts between different countries and how it had affected the people living there which I really enjoyed. This is an expansive world so the story feels a little slow in the beginning because we're being introduced to lots of different characters and places but I was never bored and I devoured the story really quickly. Certain things like the use of demon smoke only really starts to get clarified towards the end of the story as lots of little hints and clues are put together and we realise what the big plan was all along and I can't wait for the next book to see where that leads.

Source: Received from Penguin in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
Vee @ Under the Mountain
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Hardback / Paperback / Kindle

Wednesday, 2 May 2018

Cover Reveal: King of Scars - Leigh Bardugo

So you've probably already seen this all over the internet but I'm so ridiculously excited for Leigh Bardugo's new duology in the Grishaverse that I just HAVE to share the cover for King of Scars even though it's not being published until January 2019 (and yes I do already have my copy preordered LOL).

So here's that cover in all it's golden glory:

Isn't it BEAUTIFUL! Just in case you're not already sold here's the blurb:

The much-anticipated first book in a brand-new duology by New York Times bestselling author, Leigh Bardugo.

Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country's bloody civil war - and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, the young king must find a way to refill Ravka's coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.

Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha Squaller, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren't meant to stay buried--and some wounds aren't meant to heal.

I know I already shared this trailer before but it's so fab I'm going to share it again for anyone who missed it the first time:

In case you hadn't already guessed I'm incredibly excited for this new duology and I can't wait to read it. I absolutely love the Grishaverse (even though I've still not forgiven Leigh Bardugo for things that happened at the end of Crooked Kingdom LOL) so this is sure to be a new favourite for me!

Tuesday, 1 May 2018

Review: Two To Love - Lexi Blake

Re-released in a second edition with new content.

Three lost souls

Growing up in the eclectic, small town of Bliss was wonderful for Callie Sheppard. She loved everything about it, except for the lack of potential romantic partners. She only went wild once in her life, sharing a perfect weekend in Dallas with two incredible men she never thought she would see again. When they parted, she was left with a hole in her heart she feared would never be filled.

One romantic weekend

DEA agents Nathan Wright and Zane Hollister were thrilled when Callie agreed to spend the weekend with them. Just days away from a long, undercover assignment, they considered this passionate affair to be an ideal way to spend their last days of freedom. They never expected to fall in love. Leaving her behind was the hardest decision of their lives.

An unexpected reunion

Six years later, Callie is preparing to break in a new sheriff after Rye Harper walked out on the job. Her heart skips a few beats when the man walking through the door is none other than Nate Wright. Nate and Zane have come to Bliss, but their time undercover has left them broken and scarred. The boys are determined to win back Callie’s heart. But when the criminals they took down come seeking revenge, Nate and Zane may have to save the strange little town of Bliss before they can reclaim the woman they love.

Nights in Bliss Series:
(Originally published under the pen name Sophie Oak)
Three to Ride
Two to Love
One to Keep
Lost in Bliss
Found in Bliss
Pure Bliss
Chasing Bliss
Once Upon a Time in Bliss
Back in Bliss
Sirens in Bliss (Crossover with the Texas Sirens Series)

Texas Sirens Series:
(Originally published under the pen name Sophie Oak)
Small Town Siren
Siren in the City
Siren Enslaved
Siren Beloved
Siren in Waiting
Siren in Bloom
Siren Unleashed
Sirens in Bliss (Crossover with the Nights in Bliss Series)
Siren Reborn

Visit Lexi Blake's website for more information

Review:
Callie spent a wild weekend with Zane and Nate years ago and never really got over them leaving her behind with no way to contact them. She never expected to see them again so she's totally shocked when she finds out that Nate is the new Sheriff in her hometown, Bliss, especially since that makes him her boss and impossible to avoid. Nate now is very different to the fun loving guy she remembers though, he's more closed off and makes it quite clear that he has no interest in picking things up where they left off. Nate and Zane have spent the last six years working undercover with a dangerous gang for the DEA, things went sideways when Zane's cover was blown and he suffered the consequences both physically and emotionally. Nate is determined to help Zane heal but he has no idea how to get through to him, until Callie walks back into their lives that is. They both always regretted walking away from Callie but with so much history between them Nate isn't sure they can find a way back to each other.

First I have to start off by saying how much I love Bliss, the town is full of fun and slightly kooky characters but it's a place where everyone brings their own brand of weird so nobody is judged by anyone else. There's a nudist colony, a guy who believes aliens are out to get to him and they already have one out and proud threesome so they think nothing of Callie being interested in two guys. As much as I'm also enjoying the Texas Sirens series I really like the openness in this series and the way the town stand together when any member is in need. Callie grew up in Bliss and she can't imagine living anywhere else. It's obvious how much everyone loves her and that they rely on her but unfortunately for her there aren't that many romantic prospects so she's been alone for a long time.

Nate is struggling to deal with his guilt over the torture that Zane suffered while he went to get backup, he's also very career focused and can't wait to get out of Bliss and back to his real life in the city - he just needs to heal Zane up a bit first. Out of the two guys Nate was the hardest to get to know because he always had one foot out of the door looking for better opportunities but it becomes clear that he's just trying to live up to his father's high expectations and he does eventually realise that success doesn't equal happiness and isn't always the most important thing on offer. Zane was totally my favourite though, on the outside he's bigger and badder but inside he's an absolute sweetheart. From the minute he sees Callie again he sets out to show her how much he cares and how much he wants to be a part of her life from here onwards. Both Callie and Zane are willing to fight for what they need and neither of them will accept anything less than total commitment from Nate.

As I've come to expect from Lexi Blake the chemistry was fantastic but the story wasn't all sex, there were some really sweet and romantic moments, a little action and a lot of humorous moments too. I'm loving these rereleases and can't wait for the next book!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Blog Tour: Two To Love - Lexi Blake

Re-released in a second edition with new content.

Three lost souls

Growing up in the eclectic, small town of Bliss was wonderful for Callie Sheppard. She loved everything about it, except for the lack of potential romantic partners. She only went wild once in her life, sharing a perfect weekend in Dallas with two incredible men she never thought she would see again. When they parted, she was left with a hole in her heart she feared would never be filled.

One romantic weekend

DEA agents Nathan Wright and Zane Hollister were thrilled when Callie agreed to spend the weekend with them. Just days away from a long, undercover assignment, they considered this passionate affair to be an ideal way to spend their last days of freedom. They never expected to fall in love. Leaving her behind was the hardest decision of their lives.

An unexpected reunion

Six years later, Callie is preparing to break in a new sheriff after Rye Harper walked out on the job. Her heart skips a few beats when the man walking through the door is none other than Nate Wright. Nate and Zane have come to Bliss, but their time undercover has left them broken and scarred. The boys are determined to win back Callie’s heart. But when the criminals they took down come seeking revenge, Nate and Zane may have to save the strange little town of Bliss before they can reclaim the woman they love.

AVAILABLE NOW

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | GooglePlay | Smashwords

Callie Sheppard was startled by the sound of the door opening. She sat straight up in bed and wondered what the hell she was doing. It had seemed like a great idea at the time, but now a tremor of trepidation ran through her system. She was naked in a notorious BDSM club, waiting for two men to walk in and take her virginity.

It wasn’t that she minded losing her virginity. She wasn’t doing anything interesting with it in the first place. It needed to go, but now she worried this wasn’t the way to do it. She wanted some affection and kindness. Would they give that to her? Oh, god, Stef had found her two guys for her birthday. She’d made him a loaf of zucchini bread and shared a bottle of cheap wine for his. What was she doing?

Could she run? She was naked. That didn’t really bother her, but it could confound a lot of people.

“Hello.” The deepest voice she’d ever heard pulled her from her panic.

She turned and hoped there wasn’t a line of drool running out of her mouth as she caught sight of them. Best birthday present ever. Stef might be straight, but he knew how to pick gorgeous men.

She climbed as gracefully as she could off the big bed and faced them. They were perfect. The one who had spoken was tall. She doubted she would reach his shoulders when she stood against him. He was at least six and a half feet, and his body was corded with muscle. Every piece of him seemed chiseled out of granite. He was male model perfection, with a strong jaw and piercing green eyes. His hair was inky black and curled sweetly over his ears.

His partner wasn’t quite as tall but still was no small man. He was a few inches shorter than the gorgeous monster, and his body held a lean strength. If the black-haired devil was a linebacker, this man was a swimmer. His eyes were a stark blue. His skin was sun kissed and smooth. Callie was fascinated with the idea of soft skin covering steel. His hair was cut in a military style. It was a rich brown. The intimate light of the room caught the gold and red streaks. He looked like a man who laughed often.

Everything inside her heated up at the sight of them, and she wasn’t so scared anymore. Why the hell would she run from all that hotness? And they were handpicked by a man who would never, ever hurt her. She was safe with them.

“Hello.” It seemed like a dumb thing to say to two glorious men when she was naked as the day she was born, but it was all she could think of.

“Hello, Callie.” The other man’s voice was deep, too, but there was an inherent friendliness to his Texas accent. It looked like Stef had found her a couple of cowboys. The blue-eyed man watched her. He gave her a small, calm smile, like he didn’t want to scare her. “Are you nervous, sweetheart? We don’t want you to be. Nothing happens here that you don’t want. All you have to do is say the word and everything stops.”

Their eyes were on her body. Callie had never thought much about her body before. It was a natural thing. She’d grown up in a household where nudity wasn’t frowned on. She was comfortable in her skin, only now she wasn’t. Now she was starting to feel hot and restless. They weren’t avoiding her private parts the way the nudists politely did back in Bliss. These men stared boldly at her breasts, and her breasts seemed to be staring right back. Her nipples were hard nubs.

“Do I get a safe word?” The question came out on a breathy sigh. She’d always wanted to know what it felt like to truly submit. Stefan’s subs always seemed satisfied.

The blue-eyed man’s mouth turned down. “Your safe word is no. We don’t have to play games. All you have to do is say no and we stop.”

“But we can play games if you want to.” That came from the big guy. His husky voice did all sorts of things to her libido. He walked boldly up to her and placed his hands on her hips. His touch lit up her skin. “Do you want to play, darlin’?”

Oh, yeah, she wanted to play.

About Lexi Blake:

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn't until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

April 2018 Recap

Books read in previous months but reviewed in April:

(Links will take you to my reviews)

The Cruel Prince - Holly Black (Read in January, reviewed in April)
Burn Bright - Patricia Briggs (Read Twice) (Read in January & March, review coming soon)
The Belles - Dhonielle Clayton (Read in February, reviewed in April)
Spare and Found Parts - Sarah Maria Griffin (Read in February, reviewed in April)
Hero at the Fall - Alwyn Hamilton (Read in February, review coming soon)
Unearthed - Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner (Read in February, review coming soon)
The Whispering Room - Dean Koontz (Read in February, review coming soon)
Society of Wishes - Elise Kova & Lynn Larsh (Read in February, reviewed in April)
Four Psychos - Kristy Cunning (Read in March, review coming soon)
Scythe - Neal Shusterman (Read in March, review coming soon)
The Queen's Gambit - Jessie Mihalik (Novella) (Read in March, review coming soon)
Small Magics - Ilona Andrews (Read in March, reviewed in April)
Tricks for Free - Seanan McGuire (Read in March, review coming soon)
Hollywood - Pearl Foxx (Novella) (Read in March, reviewed in April)
The Crossover - Kwame Alexander (Verse Novel) (Read in March, reviewed in April)
Aliens Abroad - Gini Koch (Read in March, review coming soon)