Going to Hogwarts \\ Back to School

Today is the 1st of September which means at 11 o’clock sharp the Hogwart’s express leaves platform 9 3\4 on King’s Cross to begin a new term in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. So for today’s post, I decided to gather some bits of advice and fun facts about Hogwarts that all first years should know!

Going back a little bit before classes start, the place to go for supplies and textbooks and all wizardly things is Diagon Alley – Just off Charing Cross Road, London, behind a pub called the Leaky Cauldron (Pottermore) – where you can find literally anything since wands and robes to cauldrons and pets! And once you collect everything from your list you’re ready to go! But make sure you have all your stuff before boarding or like some, you will probably receive a howler from your angry grandma yelling at you because you forgot a textbook or an authorization! 

Once you arrive at Hogwarts you will be welcomed with the Great Feast which is the traditional dinner of the first night at Hogwarts that welcomes all students to a new school year. It’s also when all first years are sorted into one out of four houses – Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin and Hufflepuff – by the Sorting Hat! 

After that, the term starts and then all you can think of is Christmas break and how much homework you have so I recommend you to keep track of all your subjects and don’t leave anything behind.

In terms of subjects, ‘all first-years at Hogwarts must take seven subjects: Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, History of Magic, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Astronomy and Herbology. Flying lessons (on broomsticks) are also compulsory. At the end of their second year at Hogwarts, students are required to choose a minimum of two more subjects from the following list: Arithmancy, Muggle Studies, Divination, Study of Ancient Runes and Care of Magical Creatures.‘ As for myself, I chose Arithmancy and Care of Magical Creatures because there was no way I was going to take Divination and the other two seemed pretty boring…

But not everything spins around school and homework in Hogwarts because there’s also Quidditch season which is so much fun. The four houses will play against each other in order to win the magnificent Quidditch cup. It’s always amazing to go and support your house’s matches and also see the other houses play! #GORAVENCLAW
If you’re good you can even play for your house as a Seeker –  whose aim is to catch the snitch and if you succeed your team receives 150 points which most times mean you win the match -, Beater – their job is to keep bludgers away from their field and aim it towards the opposite team -, Chaser –three per team and they are the ones who score – or Keeper – if you’re a Keeper your job is to guard the three goals post and stop the Chaser‘s from scoring.

Besides Quidditch, once you reach your third year you’re allowed (with parent permission- like I said don’t forget your authorization kids) to visit Hogsmeade on the weekends. Hogsmeade is the only non-Muggle city in England where you are for sure going to have loads of fun. Starting on Honeydukes which have the BEST candies ever to a hot butterbeer on The Three Broomsticks! I cannot tell you how much fun it is….

Then when June comes so do exams and you have to pass them all in order to level up! It’s tough and hard but you can do it! Just remember you are not the only one with a few hours sleep or that spent the all night pretending to study in the library – everyone has gone through that and so will you. Just remember to not let everything for last minute and start revising ahead! You can do it!

 

real footage of me going through platform 9 3/4

 

I wish you the best year of wizardly school at Hogwarts!!

Inês xx

Disclaimer: if you are a muggle you won’t be able to understand any of this and even say it’s all fictional… well I’m not going to let ya muggle get me down! 

Ways to Overcome a Reading Slump

hello! Reading slumps are the number one enemy of every avid reader. They are the worst and unnecessary and they can take forever to get it through. And if you don’t know what a reading slump is, it’s basically not being able to pick up a book and/or read with no apparent reason … you just can’t.

I became the book nerd I am today around when I was twelve and my Portuguese teacher introduced our class to a new YA book series that our school was promoting – Cherub by Robert Muchamore and my very first fandom – so within this past seven years I have had a few reading slumps myself, therefore, I decided to share some tips that help me and so might help you overcome your reading slump.

tip no. one: give it time
I know literally, everyone says this ‘give it time‘ whether you’re heartbroken or sad or with a headache but the truth is that giving time the time really helps. Give time to enjoy other hobbies than reading like croché or painting or playing tennis and don’t force yourself to read.

tip no. two: novellas or fanfics are a great way to start
Once you think it’s time and you want to read again start with something softer than a six hundred historical fiction novel, perhaps try to read some novella from one of your favourite series or even a fanfic.

tip no. three: re read your favourite book
If you’re someone you don’t really like novellas or fanfics you can always re read you favourite book(s) as it’s guaranteed you will enjoy it.

tip no. four: go to the bookstore/ library
Going to your near bookstore/ library can evoke your reading bug and browsing around to try to find some new and exciting book is always fun and a good idea.

tip no. five: buddie read
This buddie read concept was only familiar to me when I started bookstagram, and it’s when two or more people decide to read one book at the exact time in order to change ideas and thoughts about it. It’s really good if you’ve been in a reading slump and you need some boost to get you on reading mode.

these are usually what I do when I’m in a reading slump BUT there are times when I try all five and I still can’t get around to read so here’s my radical tip that contradicts everything I said before

radical tip: force yourself to read
When you just got enough of your reading slump and you have tried everything to overcome it and it still doesn’t go away you can try to force you on reading. You can do this by making small goals per day such as ‘read two chapters a day’ or ‘ read twenty pages’ or even ‘read this two hundred page book’ because by achieving these goals you set for yourself, you are going to be motivated and sooner or later you are going to be back to you ‘normal’ book nerd mode.

But again these tips are some of a few that work with me, for instance, right now I’m in an awful book hangover on which you basically feel like you do in a reading slump but the reason why you are unable to pick up another book is that you’re still living your last book. And to overcome that I do the same thing, I would do if I was in a reading slump. I already tried four of the five tips I wrote ahead but none of them helped so I’m planning one day of this week (or what is left of it) to read Uprooted by Naomi Novik in one sitting. This always works for me and it really puts me into reading mode again and that’s exactly what I need.

What are your ways to get out of a reading slump? New ways are always welcomed because we all bookworms have been through it and we know how much it s*cks.

Inês xx

My Goodreads challenge…so far

hello! It’s July already which means we’re half way of our Goodreads challenges and I thought I would write a post to update you guys on mine.

Earlier this year I set a goal of 30 books to read in 2017. Last year was a frightful year and my reading did not escape that with 13 books read – yup you read just right thirteen books read in 2016. So to offset last year’s horrible reading I established my goal for 30 books but later on as my reading was increasing and I was ahead of schedule I changed for 45 which is my currently reading challenge for 2017 – to read 45 books!

These past weeks have been a complete mess with exams and applying to college and all that jazz so I’m 3 books behind which I believe can be fixed once all these worries go away in the next week or two.

Starting on New Year I read The Retribution of Mara Dyer (4,5 stars) which I read in one sitting wrapping that way The Mara Dyer series – the first series finished in 2017. Later one I also read the last two books on The Raven Cycle – bittersweet ’cause I did not want it to end – Blue Lily, Lily Blue & The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater and the last 2 books & ‘novella’ – Lux Series Extras – on The Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout – Origin and Opposition. On the mood, to finish series I also wrap on The Caster Chronicles by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, finally reading the last three books which were amazing – Beautiful Darkness Beautiful Chaos & Beautiful Redemption.
My favourite books so far were Cress by Marissa Meyer, Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare and The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. My least favourite book with a 1-star rating is A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab which you can check my review over on Goodreads here.
For the first time this year, I also re-read City of Bones by Cassandra Clare in order to re-live all the feels.

As for other books than fantasy, I only read one contemporary – Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe which I rated with 4 stars and recommend everyone to read it.
At the moment I’m reading Uprooted by Naomi Novik which everyone says it’s fantastic so I definitely have high expectations for this one ups…

And here’s my little wrap up from January 1st until now and I would like to know which goals did you set for yourself and how is it going so far?

Inês xx

 

Feminism & GRL POWER

Hello!! Viktoria from Seelie Knight wrote a post called ‘Bare: Feminism in Literature‘ which is absolutely inspiring and I think everyone should read it, so if you haven’t already click here. I was motivated by her words and more importantly her message – support female authors/ stop discrimination/ stand for your rights!

More times than I wished, people assume feminism is the same as hating men, which is not true, at all. Feminism, in my opinion, is equality among genders and with that, I mean establishing the same political, economic, social rights for women that are for men. It should be simple, I mean, it’s not like our purpose is to extinguish men out of the earth surface or to undervalue them, we simply are fighting for equality. FEMINISM=EQUALITY

“I’ve never been angry to have been born a woman. There have been times I’ve been angry at how the world treats us, but I see being a woman as a challenge I must fight. Like being born under a stormy sky. Some people are lucky enough to be born on a bright summer’s day. Maybe we were born under clouds. No wind. No rain. Just a mountain of clouds we must climb each morning so that we may see the sun.” (Flame in the Mist by Renée Ahdieh) 

Among others, literature lacks on female representation in the world rankings and it’s definitely not because they are less talented but because it’s the way it is and it’s our job to contradict it. Here are some of my favourite books /female authors:

I. Cassandra Clare
Cassandra Clare’s books were one of my very first series I read when I got into reading. I received City of Bones on Christmas 2013 and I’ve been a loyal reader of hers since then. I’ve read TMI, TDI, and I’m now waiting for my book depository order of Lord of Shadows (second book in TDA).

II. The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater
I was introduced to The Raven Cycle last year and it quickly became one of my favourite series. Maggie’s writing is something I wasn’t very familiar with but soon I fell in love and her characters – Gansey and Blue and Ronan and Adam and Noah -will eventually become a part of you.

III. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The Night Circus is one of my favourite books of 2017 and if I can say it, one of my favourite reads ever. This book is like nothing else I’ve ever read. All I can say without rambling for an hour is that it’s absolutely phenomenal.

IV. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
Kick ass female protagonists who don’t wait around for a prince charming in a white horse to get stuff done??? Hell yes! This series is about fighting for what you believe and never let anyone put labels on you because of no matter if you’re a girl or a boy, human or cyborg you can do whatever you set your mind to!

but these ladies are not alone: Sarah J. Maas, Renée Ahdieh; J.K.Rowling; Tahere Mafi; Victoria Aveyard; Leigh Bardugo; V. E. Schwab; Harper Lee; Sabaa Tahir; Samantha Shannon, among many others talented authors deserve every bit of acclamation because it’s not easy being a woman in a men’s world!

Inês xx

book haul no.1

hello, today I’m bringing you my very first book haul.

I have been gathering quite a few books this past month – April   – which is not necessarily very good for my wallet but  “As book collectors know all too well: We only regret our economies, never our extravagances.” 

Before diving into the haul please be aware that some synopsis might contain spoilers from previous instalments of that book series.

1. Lord of Shadows (pre-order) by Cassandra Clare

The second instalment of Cassandra’s Clare newest series – The Dark Artifices – is out on the 23rd of May and of course, I had to pre-ordered to make sure I have it as soon as possible because I need answers………

Goodreads synopsis:

Emma Carstairs has finally avenged her parents. She thought she’d be at peace. But she is anything but calm. Torn between her desire for her parabatai Julian and her desire to protect him from the brutal consequences of parabatai relationships, she has begun dating his brother, Mark. But Mark has spent the past five years trapped in Faerie; can he ever truly be a Shadowhunter again?

2. Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare

In preparation for the second book in TDA series, I decided to pick up Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy in which we follow Simon Lewis in his latest adventure – joining the Shadowhunter Academy – and that can be tricky for a former vampire. And let’s not forget that he has been stripped of his memories in the end of CoHF so I want to know what he has to do to remember Isabelle (#sizzy) and Clary (I fight anyone who considers #climon a romantic ship ).  

Goodreads synopsis:

Join Simon on his journey to become a Shadowhunter, and learn about the Academy’s illustrious history along the way, through guest lecturers such as Jace Herondale, Tessa Gray, and Magnus Bane. These ten short stories give an epilogue to the Mortal Instruments series and provide glimpses of what’s in store in the Dark Artifices.

3. Winter by Marissa Meyer 

Cress ( The Lunar Chronicles, #3) was my absolute favourite read of April and I was not okay until I laid my hands on the fourth and last book in TLC series. It was amazing. Let’s just say it was everything I wanted and more…much more!!

Goodreads synopsis:

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mark her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.
Winter despises her stepmother and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend – the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be.
Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?

status: read
my rating: 5/5 stars

4. Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

The enchantment continues….with 9 short stories, being the 9th a beautiful epilogue to Winter, where the gang comes together once again for the wedding of the century….

Goodreads synopsis:

The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories—and secrets—that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realise their destinies?

5. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

 ‘what kind of circus is only open at night?’

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it, no paper notices plastered on lampposts and billboards. It is simply there when yesterday it was not.

OPENS AT NIGHTFALL
 CLOSES AT DAWN

As dusk shifts to twilight, tiny lights begin to flicker all over the tents, as though the whole circus is covered in fireflies. When the tents are aglow, sparkling against the night sky, a sign lights up:

LE CIRQUE DES RÊVES
THE CIRCUS OF DREAMS

The gates shudder and unlock, seemingly by their own volition. They swing outward, inviting the crowd inside:

NOW THE CIRCUS IS OPEN
NOW YOU MAY ENTER

(I don’t think any explanation is needed….)

status: currently reading

6. A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab 

Every now and then, whilst scrolling through my bookstagram feed I find myself reading amazing reviews from this book and although I wanted to first finish all my series before starting a new one I caved in a bought this beauty. 

Goodreads synopsis:

Kell is one of the last travellers – magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes connected by one magical city.

There’s Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, and with one mad King–George III. Red London, where life and magic are revered–and where Kell was raised alongside Rhy Maresh, the roguish heir to a flourishing empire. White London–a place where people fight to control magic and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. And once upon a time, there was Black London. But no one speaks of that now.

7. Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Lastly but not the least, I bought myself the last book on The Caster Chronicles – Beautiful Redemption, because after Beautiful Chaos and all that sobbing I need some answers and I need them now…

Goodreads synopsis:

Ethan Wate has spent most of his life longing to escape the stiflingly small Southern town of Gatlin. He never thought he would meet the girl of his dreams, Lena Duchannes, who unveiled a secretive, powerful, and cursed side of Gatlin, hidden in plain sight. And he never could have expected that he would be forced to leave behind everyone and everything he cares about. So when Ethan awakes after the chilling events of the Eighteenth Moon, he has only one goal: to find a way to return to Lena and the ones he loves.

Here’s my book haul from April, hope you like it,
Inês xx

New Year, More Books

Hello!! And welcome to my first blog post of 2017 (dammit! totally wrote 2016 first). If you like a very brief summary of 2016 here it goes – shitty year! But of course amazing things happened as well – I went to London with my best friends, I turned 18 among others…

But here we are in 2017, and as people say, new year, new opportunities. For me is more New Year, More Books. And with that, I mean to read 30 ( or more) books this year. Last year was above all, an awful reading year…I didn’t even manage to read my Goodreads goal which was 20 books, however, this year I want to challenge myself and have a goal of 30 reads!

With that being said I made a list with some book I want to read during 2017, in which I include new releases and “old” releases…

~Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare ( March 23rd, 2017)
~Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard
~King’s Cage by Victoria Aveyard (February 7th, 2017)
~ Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout
~A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
~A Court of Mist and Fury  by Sarah J. Maas

To keep track on what I’ve been reading follow me on Goodreads on in the social medias linked bellow.

Hope you’ve had a lovely start to 2017 and don’t forget New Year, New Opportunities…

Inês xx

  

It’s Christmas Time 🎄

Hello!!! 10 days left until Christmas and I cannot wait. Christmasy Playlist on repeat – check, cool and fuzzy snowman socks – check, a good cup of Hot Chocolate – check and a wonderful book – check….what a perfect holiday moment. 

But If you aren’t already in the X-mas mood here’s my two favourite books for the season:

~ Let it Snow by John Green Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle ~

This book has three different stories – The Jubilee Express by Maureen Johnson, A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle by John Green & The Patron Saint of Pigs by Lauren Myracle and they’re all about love and Christmas and family and friends. Of all stories The Jubilee Express is definitely my favourite. Jubilee’s train gets stuck in the snow after visiting her grandparents and she has to find a way to get home in time for Christmas.  

~ Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K.Rowling ~

Which bookworm hasn’t dream of  Christmas at Hogwarts? I mean…

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In the first book of Harry Potter series we experience for the first time, the Hogwarts Christmas just like Harry and that moment is so amazing and special and magical. As I’m reading I can imagine the enormous wood tables filled with food and the magical snow falling from the ceiling like a winter wonderland. And if that doesn’t convince you I’m sure Mrs Weasly matching jumpers will…

Hope you have a great holiday

Inês xx

 

Books To Read This Halloween 🎃

Hello!! Next Monday is Halloween and what better time than Halloween to read spooky books about ghosts and paranormal activity?!

I speak for myself when I say I’m not a very Halloweeny person as I don’t like scary stuff but I’m all about the candy! As I know there are people like me I compiled a list with kind-of-scary-kind-of-not-scary-books for Halloween!

Books I Read  & Recommend 

 ~ The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #1) by Michelle Hodkin

 ~ The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater 

 ~  Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles #1) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl 

Books Goodreads Recommend

 ~  Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children #1) by Ransom Riggs

~  The Casquette Girls (The Casquette Girls #1) by Alys Arden 

 ~  The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

What is your book recommendation for Halloween? Do you like scary books?

Inês xx

 

Books Coming This Fall 🍂

Hello! A lot has changed in this blog, as you might or might not notice – new categories, new style – but one thing will never do – my passion for books and neither my constant will to talk about them or blog about them as well.

So today, I bring you the most exciting Fall releases of 2016:

An exciting release wouldn’t be that exciting without some Hogwarts world involved so last September 6th, Pottermore Limited released 3 ebooks with short stories about Hogwarts written by the Queen herself – J.K.Rowling! Among Rowling, Cassandra Clare and the bestseller Lunar Chronicles author join these amazing autumn’s release.

     September 6th 

~ Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies #1

~ Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists #2 

~ Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide #3 

     September 27th

 ~ The Fever Code by James Dashner

      October 4th   

 ~  Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven

 ~  The Hammer of Thor ( Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #2) by Rick Riordan

     November 8th 

 ~ Heartless by Marissa Meyer

 ~ The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer

     November 15th

 ~ Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare 

     November 17th

 ~ Girl Online Going Solo (Girl Online #3)

Here are some Fall releases…What are your favourites? xx

Inês