New Start - Alice HaED!!!

It's finally time!!!
My new EPIC project is started.
This one is: endorsed by my husband, going to be kept for us(!!!), and absolutely huge (it's bigger than Dragons)!

So what is it? 
Title: My Wonderland (here forth known as 'Alice')
Artist: Enys Guerrero
Designer: Heaven and Earth Designs

Being done up with: 
- 28ct Lugana in Ivory
- 1 over 1 thread
- DMC colours as per chart

Sizing: 
- 450 wide X 651 high
- On 28ct final stitched size will be: 17" x 24"

I did get a chance to get a teeny tiny amount of stitches into her this past weekend... 

The beginning of what will likely take many years... 

In other crazy news: 

My husband won a trip to Seattle for one night and to see a rock band called the Japandroids last week!!! So on Saturday we are leaving for Seattle. Never been there so we moved flights and are paying our own hotel for two nights so that we can spend more than one day there. 

If anyone knows of stitching shops that are must see in Seattle (especially if in downtown area) please let me know and I'll see if I can manage to squeeze some visits in!  :) 

So next update might be with travel photos! I know it's been so long since we travelled I think I've forgotten how. Here's hoping we get across the border no problem (lol)! 

The Blood Key

Title : The Blood Key

Author: Vaun Murphrey

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

This could have been so much more. The Blood Key is bogged down with too much history, lore, paranormal happenings, secrets run amuck and liars who lie about lying that it's nearly impossible to follow the main story. Or even decide what is the main story. 

Each time I thought I had a handle on things some other weird, crazy, unnecessary wrench was thrown in the mix. I'm all for fast paced books but this was ridiculous. I think a whole trilogy exists in plot within this one 250pg book. 

The part that is most frustrating about the over extended plot and cast of characters is that the writing is pretty darn good. Vaun Murphrey has a clear, concise voice but just can't seem to focus enough on any one thing long enough for it to stick. 

I felt there was so much that could have been done with the story before any major paranormal happenings occurred. It would have been nice to get to know our characters a little better and feel like we have a solid foundation before everything goes crazy. 

Overall a disappointment for me. Maybe a future series when Murphrey has evolved and matured as an author I'd try her out again; but for now I won't continue this series. 

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review. Don't believe me? Check out the other books I've had eARCs for that I gave great reviews to. I always give my opinion whether good or bad. :) 

Sleeping Giants

 

Title: Sleeping Giants (Themis, Book 1)

Author: Sylvain Neuval

Genre: Science Fiction

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 

I can see why this was the top science fiction book of 2016. I can see exactly why it's been described as The Martian meets World War Z (both books I thoroughly enjoyed). 

It was probably more of a 4.5/5 stars for me as at the halfway point I loved every word I read; and then I was suddenly really upset and frustrated with the story. It's obvious to me now that this is because I was still allowing the story to centre on characters instead of what I should have been focused on which is the technology that had been discovered and what that means for humanity. 

And yet I was feeling more and more disenchanted as I approached the end of Sleeping Giants... right up until a huge cliffhanger left me dying for the second book. Figures. 

The second half is still as well written and intriguing as the first half. Additionally it's likely very close to what would happen in real life given the events leading up to the major halfway turning point. Thinking back on that I realize the last half was obviously needed in order for our story to carry forward on a grander scale. 

And so this is why I still keep my rating above a four star; because obviously Nyvain is much smarter than me and knew exactly what needed to happen; as opposed to writing what many would want to happen. 

As always with books where I have to be vague to avoid spoilers I will say this; read this book. It's awesome! Even if science fiction isn't your thing there is still a lot of excitement in this book and like the Martian it's realistic enough, set on Earth in what could be current day; and so most readers will find it easy to get into. 

Now to count down the days until book 2, Waking Gods, comes out.