Author: theblindscribe

Book Reviews

Book Review – The Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine

theblindscribe

Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a good day today.

Today I am bringing you my book review for the middle grade mystery, The Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine.

In this book review I will give star ratings to four categories and I will write a little bit about each one. I will do my best to not reveal any spoilers in this review.

The Clockwork Sparrow Plot:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This middle grade mystery follows Sophie, a store girl at the newly opened Sinclairs department store who becomes involved in solving the mystery after there is a break in. The first half of this book spends a good deal of time setting up the characters and the store and the way their lives are and the relationships between them which I did find a bit boring to begin with. However, once the mystery began to take place I became hooked in the story, and each chapter ups the stakes in a delightful way for mystery lovers.

The Clockwork Sparrow Characters:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

There are three key characters that you get introduced to early on. Sophie, the shop girl who I found to be a very likeable character, there are a lot of secrets surrounding her background that I am hoping the rest of the books in the series will explore. Then there is Lil, who wears clothes and works in shows and is employed by the store for this. Lil is a very bright, excitable character with fun ideas. Then there is a young boy who is a porter at the store who joins Sophie and Lil to help solve the mystery. Each of these characters work so well with each other, the story wouldn’t work without them.

The Clockwork Sparrow Writing and Dialogue:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Although this book is middle grade I felt that the writing felt challenging for this age range and mature which I thought was what this story needed.

The Clockwork Sparrow Overall:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I gave this book four stars overall because it sets up characters brilliantly and I am looking forward to continuing the series.

Blurb/Synopsis:

You are cordially invited to attend the Grand Opening of Sinclair’s department store!

Enter a world of bonbons, hats, perfumes and MYSTERIES around every corner. WONDER at the daring theft of the priceless CLOCKWORK SPARROW! TREMBLE as the most DASTARDLY criminals in London enact their wicked plans! GASP as our bold heroines, Miss Sophie Taylor and Miss Lilian Rose, CRACK CODES, DEVOUR ICED BUNS and vow to bring the villians to justice…

Book Reviews

Book Review – A Taste of poison by Neil Bradbury

theblindscribe

Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a good day today.

Today I am bringing you my book review of the non-fiction book A Taste of Poison by Neil Bradbury. Usually I write reviews in four sections but that wouldn’t work with this book so instead I am going to write a paragraph about my overall thoughts of this book.

A Taste of Poison is a non-fiction book detailing 11 of the world’s deadliest poisons and pages of information about each one. As a researcher of crime fiction and a writer myself I found this book very useful and interesting because it was broken down into different sections. There would be information about the poison itself, where it came from what it was and then it talked about the uses of each poison and I found this part the most interesting because it didn’t focus entirely on the negative uses of each poison but also the ways that scientists and doctors throughout the years have found positive uses for them, for example insulin can be used in good and bad ways. After the information section the book details real life cases where the different poisons had been used, some of them I had read about before but most of them I hadn’t. Then finally each chapter ended with a description of what each poison would do to the body, what symptoms it would cause and that sort of thing. For me this book was a fascinating read.

Blurb/Synopsis:

A brilliant blend of science and crime, ‘A TASTE FOR POISON’ reveals how eleven notorious poisons affect the body – through the murders in which they were used.

As any listener or reader of murder mysteries can tell you, poison is one of the most enduring – and popular – weapons of choice for a scheming murderer. It can be slipped into a drink, smeared onto the tip of an arrow or the handle of a door, even filtered through the air we breathe. But how exactly do these poisons work to break our bodies down, and what can we learn from the damage they inflict?

In a fascinating blend of popular science, medical history, and true crime, Dr. Neil Bradbury explores this most morbidly captivating method of murder from a cellular level. Alongside real-life accounts of murderers and their crimes – some notorious, some forgotten, some still unsolved – are the equally compelling stories of the poisons involved: eleven molecules of death that work their way through the human body and, paradoxically, illuminate the way in which our bodies function.

Drawn from historical records and current news headlines, A Taste for Poison weaves together the tales of spurned lovers, shady scientists, medical professionals and political assassins to show how the precise systems of the body can be impaired to lethal effect through the use of poison. From the deadly origins of the gin and tonic cocktail to the arsenic-laced wallpaper in Napoleon’s bedroom, ‘A TASTE FOR POISON’ leads listeners on a riveting tour of the intricate, complex systems that keep us alive – or don’t.

Uncategorized

MCM Comic Con London Accessibility Review

theblindscribe

Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you are all having a good day today.

One May 26th 2023 I went to MCM London Comic con, I went originally because they announced Sebastien de Castell would be there however they didn’t reveal the timetable until really late and it was too late for me to cancel but he was only going to be there 4-5 and I already had to be on the train home by the because Plymouth is far away from London so that was annoying but while I was at the Comic Con I realised that the accessibility was something that definitely needed to be addressed.

First of all, once you get to the site there is a long tunnel way you have to walk through and there are no clear signs telling you where you need to go and which direction so there were people walking every which way which is horrible to navigate for me as a disabled person.

Then once we did finally find the accessible queue to get in it got even worse. The disabled queue was the same queue as press and content creators and the organization was terrible. Once you had your bag checked you had to queue to get your disabled stickers and passes and there were no clear lines for queues or where you had to go, the staff were shouting at people because they didn’t know where they had to go, but worst of all is these queues were barely moving, it took over an hour and a half to get our passes and this is not good for a disabled person who cannot be standing for long. I saw so many people struggling to stand and nobody would help them.

After I got into the venue halls it became clear that in the corridor by the Costa there were no disabled toilets, there were male and female ones which were down sets of stairs but no disabled ones, so I asked a staff member where they were and they directed me towards the stairs. This is ridiculous because I am visually Impaired and I can’t use the stairs. So, I go in the main room of the comic con, there looks to be two disabled toilets along the back wall, good that is where we head first, in the first one there was a toilet luckily but the size was tiny, I didn’t take my guide dog with me but I might have dine and there would not have been room in this toilet for her and it definitely wasn’t big enough to fit a wheelchair in it. so later we decided to try the other toilet and see if it had enough space, only to find that to reach the toilet you had to use the lift or the stairs and the lift wasn’t even working! Another person at the con told me later that none of the lifts were working which is unacceptable.

I can’t discuss any of the ‘priority’ options that are there for disabled because by this point I was already angry and exhausted so we left early and only really looked around some of the stalls. I would not attend this event again because you don’t feel like you get treated as a human, you are treated as an inconveniance.

Have you experienced this or anything else?

Book Reviews

Book Review – In The Shadow of Queens by Alison Weir

theblindscribe

Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you are all having a good day today.

Today I am bringing you my review for the Historical Fiction short story collection, In The Shadow of Queens, by Alison Weir.

In this book review I will give star ratings to four categories and I will write a little bit about each one. I will do my best to not include spoilers in my reviews.

In The Shadow of Queens Plot:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

If you have seen more of my book reviews you will know that short stories are not usually my favourite thing, because they don’t give you very long to become immersed in the story and the characters in my opinion. However, this collection is split into sections each of them depicting the time period of one of Henry VIII’s wives. For example the first two short stories are in the time Catherine of Aragon was Queen and so on for all six wives. I enjoyed how each story was showing you something different, about the queens and about the state of England in general. My personal favourite was the short story that was written from the point of view of a young Anne Boleyn, while she was at the French court and her engagement to a young man. This story wove such a complex, emotional story that brought to life how a young woman had to learn that life wouldn’t be romantic or kind and showed how women had to learn to keep their hearts and not give them away freely.

In The Shadow of Queens Characters:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The most fascinating part of this collection was definitely the characters, there were stories told from the points of view of people within the court that you may never have known existed and although Alison Weir uses artistic license to create a brilliant story you can see how much research went into each story to give you a glimpse into people’s lives.

In The Shadow of Queens Writing and Dialogue:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I haven’t yet read her tudor queens series, although I di have the books, but after reading the short stories I am excited to get into the main novels because I know they will have depth and her wonderful writing style draws you right into the centre of the Tudor court.

In The Shadow of Queens Overall:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I gave this book four stars because I loved getting a peak into so many different areas of this period but short stories still don’t hook me enough to give this book five stars.

Blurb/Synopsis:

Behind every great king stands a queen. And behind every queen, the whole court watches on…

Over the years of his reign, six different women took their place beside King Henry VIII of England as his wife and queen.

But the real stories of the six Tudor queens belong to those who lived among them. Played out in glittering palaces and whispering courts, these are tales of the people who loved and served these women, and those who lied and betrayed them.

Collected together for the first time, In the Shadow of Queens reveals thirteen startling stories from the Tudor court, told by those at the very heart of that world.

Book Spotlight Posts

Book Spotlight: Baby Bandage Dr Laurie Zelinger

theblindscribe

Happy Saturday bookish people! I hope you are all having a good day today. I am bringing you a book spotlight on the ‘BreakevenBooks book tour for Baby Bandage by Dr Laurie Zelinger.

Blurb/Synopsis:

Baby Bandage and the First Aid Healing little Hurts and Booboos is an adorable, colorful, engaging, educational and universal book that captures the interest of young children, while using clever language that also appeals to adults. Children “Dr Zelinger’s Baby Bandage is another must-have for parents, health professionals, educators, and all who love or care for children. Her endearing characters, engaging and age-appropriate story, and accompanying parent notes help to alleviate the anxiety and fear often associated with childhood injuries while reinforcing the family values of love, empathy, and resiliency.” — Darlene Glasser, RN, MSED, Retired school nurse “I absolutely loved Baby Bandage! Dr. Zelinger’s characters and fun illustrations take the fear out of ‘booboos’ and all the things associated with them. In addition, her skillful storytelling weaves in essential lessons on confidence, patience, and recognizing the important roles we all play in this world. Baby Bandage is a wonderful resource for parents and educators alike. — Linda Abraham MLS, Peninsula Public Library “Dr. Zelinger creates a make-believe world where first aid remedies are personified. Through story and illustration, children enter this world and discover that bandages come in all sizes, colors, and shapes and have different and important roles. Young children love covering their ouchies; this story will hold their attention and teach them valuable lessons. As an early childhood educator and a grandma, I recommend Baby Bandage to encourage dialogue about little hurts and booboos.” — Barbara Alster, MS, early childhood education teacher.

Author Bio:

Dr. Laurie Zelinger’s passion for helping children is reflected in her work and numerous booksthat tackle issues of concern to children and their families. She is a board-certified psychologist and credentialed play therapist with over 45 years’ experience working in schools, developmental centers and private agencies, as well as in her busy private practice, devoted exclusively to children. Her passion for writing began when she discovered journaling in third grade, and which was then fortified in fourth grade when she wrote a play that was performed by students in her public school. As an adult, she has successfully blended her love of helping children with her writing talent, creating topical, educational books that appeal to kids and their parents.

Dr. Zelinger’s books for Loving Healing Press include: Please Explain Anxiety to Me: Simple Biology and Solutions for Children and Parents, Please Explain “Time Out” to Me: A Story for Children and Do-It-Yourself Manual for Parents, Please Explain Vaccines to Me Because I Hate Shots!”, Please Explain Alzheimer’s Disease to Me: A Children’s Story and Parent Handbook About Dementia”, Please Explain Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy to Me: A Complete Guide to Preparing Your Child for Surgery and Please Explain Terrorism to Me: A Story for Children and P-E-A-R-L-S of Wisdom for Their Parents! Dr. Zelinger has also worked with American Girl where she wrote A Smart Girl’s Guide to Liking Herself Even On The Bad Days and is credited with being a consultant for their Bitty Baby book series, where she assisted in the development of the “For Parents” sections. In addition, Dr. Zelinger has written for Play Therapy magazine, as well as for therapeutic books, where her chapters offer strategies that can be used with fearful children. Dr. Zelinger’s additional credentials include media referral specialist for the American Psychological Association, four years as director on the executive board of the New York Association of Play Therapy and an elected position as officer in the American Academy of School Psychology. As a sought-after expert on children’s behavior, Dr. Zelinger has contributed to nearly 200 venues regarding child development. She and her psychologist husband, Dr. Fred, are both certified Red Cross Disaster Mental Health volunteers. They have been happily married for over 40 years, have raised four children and relish their roles as grandparents.

If you would like to see more content from this tour check out the rest of the schedule here:

Elizabeth
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/museumgrack/
July 2nd, 2023
Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon
The Shaggy Shepherd
Blog: https://theshaggyshepherd.wordpress.com/
July 3rd, 2023
Blog, Goodreads, Amazon
Shawn
Blog: https://treatyoshelf.blog/
July 4th, 2023
Blog, Goodreads, Amazon
Adobo Queen
Blog: https://thebookwormscorner.home.blog/
July 5th, 2023
Blog, Goodreads, Amazon
Amanda
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheReadingandWritingLife
July 6th, 2023
Youtube, Goodreads, Amazon
Ashlee
Blog: https://booksare42.com/
July 6th, 2023
Blog, Goodreads, Amazon
Mel
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyforbooksandcoffee/
July 7th, 2023
Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon
Mel
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWDo2Yq2Y0GcmMsmnBYr9IQ
July 8th, 2023
Youtube, Goodreads, Amazon

Monthly TBRs

July TBR!

theblindscribe

Happy Friday bookish people! How are you all doing so far this year? I can’t believe it is July already. Over halfway through the year. I am really looking forward to the chances I have to read this month, I will be travelling a bit so lots of time for these books!

Way of the Argosi by Sebastien de Castell

Arsenic for Tea by Robin Stevens

Library of the Dead

London Seance Society by Sarah Penner

Mrs Death Misses Death

Your Turn to Die

Murder of Graham Catton by Katie Lowe

People of Abandoned Character

NIghtshade by E S Thompson

The Art of the Dying by Ambrose Parry

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourne

The Good Thieves

blog tours

Book Spotlight: Sealed Empire by Norbert Zsivicz

theblindscribe

Happy Thursday bookish people! I hope you are all having a good day today. Today I am bringing you a book spotlight of Sealed Empire by Norbert Zsivicz as part of @BreakevenBooks book tour.

The cover of Sealed Empire is a stormy sky over a rough sea where a robot is chasing a small ship.

Synopsis:

First published: 01. Sept. 2021, Budapest.

English translation digital release: 22. Nov. 2022, London.

385 pages (Kindle edition)

-Norbert Zsivicz first book, the Hungarian Literary Award winner Sealed Empire now available in English by the famous translator Tamás Pétersz (Game of Thrones).

Blurb

Ser Edward, an experienced sailor, embarks on perhaps the most daring expedition of the Kingdom of Esenworth so far. His mission is to try to earn the blessing of the Reverend Sven, who is none other than his love’s father, probably the most influential man in the realm. But on his journey beset by fierce storms, he and his men encounter something that could shake to the core not only their faith, but their very concept of the world as well. Meanwhile, far from the oceans, his love, Emma, is trying to disentangle herself from the spider’s web of intrigue and scheming, into which she is being drawn ever deeper by Erick the new king.

And the dark clouds just keep gathering above – ancient beasts, stranger than ever, appear at sea, on land and even in the skies more and more frequently. They roar with a metallic screech, their eyes glow with an unnatural light, their skin hard and rigid as armor.

Can order be upheld in this age blind to divine prophecy, in the largest kingdom of the North, where the monarch’s mind is coming undone just like reality itself?

Our heroes must struggle ceaselessly to understand the hidden secrets of their world and their own origins. But what are they going to do once they have the answers?

Author Bio:

The book you will be reading is the fruit of many years of work and was, strangely enough, finished during the pandemic. Let me offer you a behind-the-scenes glimpse into my Sealed Empire so that you can get to know me a little bit better.

My name is Norbert Zsivicz, I was born in 1992, Szeged, Hungary. Now I live in London.

Ever since childhood, fantasy/science-fiction literature has had a huge impact on me. I used to pore over various comics in my parents’ grocery shop even before I could read. Thanks to my father, during my primary school years I probably saw more science fiction films than all my group mates combined. Add to this, there was a video rental shop next door, where I loved passing the time.

As soon as I learned to read, I started devouring books indiscriminately – fantasy, western, history but also romantic novels. I could perhaps be best described as a geek, since I keep up with the latest video games and films as much as I enjoy retreating with a good book. On the other hand, I love the outdoors and socializing, getting to know new people, places, cultures and flavours.

The concept of the Sealed Empire was born in my head about six years ago, shortly after I moved to London. I had experimented with several versions before finding the ideal style and the appropriate age for the novel. In the next five years expanded this mysterious world of mine with many characters and subplots.

I am determined to finish each of the five planned volumes of this series as soon as possible, while also aiming to keep them all equally compelling. Even a film adaptation is not inconceivable in the future. For all this, I will need your opinion, help and inspiring power. So, jump in, enjoy reading, and have fun in the World of Sealed Empire!

If you would like to see more content about this book check out this schedule:

B.A. Bellec Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGTeYZEBPBWScWXkqBnZrQQ June 25th, 2023
Shawn Blog: https://treatyoshelf.blog/ June 26th, 2023
Infinity’s Bookshelf Blog: https://infinitysbookshelf.wordpress.com/ June 27th, 2023
Elizabeth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/museumgrack/ June 28th, 2023
The Blind Scribe Blog: https://theblindscribe.com/ June 29th, 2023
The Shaggy Sheppard Blog: https://theshaggyshepherd.wordpress.com/ June 30th, 2023
Amanda Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheReadingandWritingLife June 30th, 2023
Mel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyforbooksandcoffee/ July 1st, 2023
S.Anny Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_obstinate_owlbear/ July 1st, 2023

blog tours, Uncategorized

The Dreams That Bind Us Book Spotlight

theblindscribe

Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you are all having a good day today. I am here today doing a book spotlight for The Dreams That Bind Us by Maximillian Lopez as part of @BreakevenBooks book tour.

Synopsis:

This sci-fi thriller explores the possibility that when we dream, we’re merely glimpsing into an alternate reality. Three strangers bound together by a shared dream fight against the current of fate. Can they come to terms with the truth? Are we the only versions of ourselves? Are you the best version of you to exist? They must find each other without losing themselves. Two universes hang in the balance as external forces vie for control of their ability to peer into an alternate reality. Will Corey, Selene, and Joseph find answers to the mystery placed before them? Or will the search for an answer lead them toward a darker fate?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dreams-That-Bind-Us-Etherium-ebook/dp/B09PGTPRHB/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1660245232&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dreams-that-bind-us-maximilian-lopez/1140832794?ean=9798201820398

Apple store: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1602841625

Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=DCVXEAAAQBAJ

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Dreams-That-Bind-Us-Audiobook/B0B8476YN8?asin=B0B8476YN8

Author Bio:

Maximilian Lopez

Max grew up dreaming impossible dreams of an alternate life other than the one he had in a small town outside of San Antonio, Texas. Shortly after high school, he joined the Marine Corps where he traveled to Foreign Lands. Throughout his budding Marine Corps career, he studied military radar technology and decided to leave the Marine Corps after a memorable eight years to work in the civilian Radar Technical Community at Saab Defense Inc. in Syracuse, NY. During the following eight years, he met his beautiful and intelligent wife, Shirley. Eventually, Max and his growing family wanted to move away from the snow so he accepted a position working as a Government civilian for the US Navy specifying in emerging naval radar technology. Currently, Max resides with his wife, two handsome boys, and a small white Lhasa Apso named Tesla in Virginia Beach, Va.

If you would like to see more content from other bookish people about The Dreams That Bind Us check out this timetable:

B.A. Bellec Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGTeYZEBPBWScWXkqBnZrQQ June 18th, 2023
Shawn Blog: https://treatyoshelf.blog/ June 19th, 2023
Elizabeth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/museumgrack/ June 20th, 2023
Infinity’s Bookshelf Blog: https://infinitysbookshelf.wordpress.com/ June 21st, 2023
The Shaggy Sheppard Blog: https://theshaggyshepherd.wordpress.com/ June 22nd, 2023
The Blind Scribe Blog: https://theblindscribe.com/ June 23rd, 2023
Amanda Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheReadingandWritingLife June 23rd, 2023
Mel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyforbooksandcoffee/ June 24th, 2023
S.Anny Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_obstinate_owlbear/ June 24th, 2023

Book Reviews

Northranger Book Review

theblindscribe

Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you are all having a good day today!

Today I am bringing you a book review for Northranger, a graphic novel by Rey Terciero and illustrated by Bre Indigo. I do not usually review graphic novels so, usually I give star ratings to four categories but instead I am going to write a little bit about my overall thoughts.

First, thank you to Harper 360 for sending me a copy of this graphic novel, I enjoyed pushing myself out of my comfort zone to read this in May. It is something I never would have bought for myself.

Northranger is a graphic novel about a young man who goes with his father to work on a farm/ranch for the summer and they realise that things might not be quite as they seem, the family there have a lot of secrets. It also has LGBTQ+ representation.

Firstly, I thought the illustrations in this graphic novel were gorgeous and captured all the expressions that were needed for the story to feel very real. In terms of the plot, I was hooked in by the mystery aspect and without saying too much and spoiling everything I will say I was overall disappointed with the way the mystery panned out, it could have been more and I just think there was something, I am not entirely sure what, missing.

Blurb/Synopsis:

In this swoony and spooky teen summer romance graphic novel set on a Texas ranch, sixteen-year-old Cade Muñoz finds himself falling for the ranch owner’s mysterious and handsome son, only to discover that he may be harboring a dangerous secret.

Cade has always loved to escape into the world of a good horror movie. After all, horror movies are scary–but to Cade, a closeted queer Latino teen growing up in rural Texas–real life can be way scarier.

When Cade is sent to spend the summer working as a ranch hand to help earn extra money for his family, he is horrified. Cade hates everything about the ranch, from the early mornings to the mountains of horse poop he has to clean up. The only silver lining is the company of the two teens who live there–in particular, the ruggedly handsome and enigmatic Henry.

But as unexpected sparks begin to fly between Cade and Henry, things get… complicated. Henry is reluctant to share the details of his mother’s death, and Cade begins to wonder what else he might be hiding. Inspired by the gothic romance of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey and perfect for fans of Heartstopper and Bloom comes a modern love story so romantic it’s scary.

Book Tags

Summer book recommendations!

theblindscribe

Happy Friday bookish people! Today I thought it would be fun to share with you some of the books I have read that I would recommend that gives me the feeling of summer, let me know if you agree or disagree with this books!

Death and Croissants by Ian Moore

Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson

Lying About Last Summer by Sue Wallman

Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan

The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton

The Maid by Nita Prose

Dead Man’s Folly by Agatha Christie

The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood

The Three Dahlias by Katy Watson

Take A Hint Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert