Welcome to Litsy!

It's no ordinary castle. It has favorites. It rearranges itself. And someone's trying to map it.
If your entertainment tastes run more to smiling, you'll like this one.

My kids and I were completely sucked into the story on a recent road trip. The castle randomly adds or takes away rooms when it wants. The siblings are creative and supportive of each other. Even though they are defending themselves against a siege and someone trying to steal the crown, it never gets too scary. A wonderful adventure story!

Yes to both and my favorite gift to give aside from a book is themed items. Example: if someone really liked throne of glass I might send them a necklace or peace of jewelry similar to one described in the books. Otherwise bookmarks are an easy go to. #two4tuesday

This book holds a lot of nostalgia for me. It was on a Battle of the Books reading list and I read it upwards of ten times. I am happy to say it holds up. The ending was dumb and disappointing though. Definitely didn‘t remember that. 4.5⭐️

I kind of enjoyed this, but at the same time, it was missing something to make it compelling. Certain things weren't explored enough, but that might come in later books. Overall, it was a cute children's book and a nice beginning to a series.

The Boyfriend made Queso and I ate a whole bowl full with tortilla chips before I thought about taking a pic, so here's a pic of my current read and my fave beer because I*always* have Shiner when the Boyfriend makes Queso. #Readathon

I've finished How to Be a Pirate and The Return of the Indian. Next up is the tagged book. #readathon

1. No traveling for us.
2. It‘s not expected to snow on Christmas Day, but we‘re supposed to get snow on Thursday, followed by frigid temperatures, so the snow will stick around until Christmas. ❄️🎄
#TwoforTuesday

1. Peppermint mocha
2. I‘m not sure I can pick just one. I love Christmas music! Some favorites are Winter Wonderland (Andrews Sisters version), O Come O Come Emmanuel, & Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
#Two4Tuesday
@TheSpineView

A fun middle grade read about a princess and her family who live in a magical castle. Lots of hijinks ensue when there is an attempted coup.
Definitely picking up the second book in the series.
Read this as part of my #doublespin
@TheAromaofBooks

1. Yes! I love them because I‘ve discovered books I love through them ❤️ and I love interacting on litsy because of them.
2. I do not have a favorite, more that I‘m learning what I love and what I do not in terms of reading. There are more challenges I would do if I had more time. Thanks for the tag @wanderinglynn #two4tuesday

I would love to see what you think @bthegood @dandy.punk @Catsandbooks

#Talkaboutittuesday

Currently Reading - Raybearer - thank goodness it's over. It was long. 😊
CR - Poppy War - I like it so far far. 😁

@Bayougirl

Latest readaloud with the kiddo is a revisit of this favorite series. A great fantasy series with a believably tough girl protagonist.

An enjoyable reading week in my #bookreport for @Cinfhen 😘

The 5 star Wallace Stegner, 4 star Margaret Atwood and the 9yo and I finished listening to Tuesdays at the Castle which was fun. Just out of interest look at 2 of the different covers for this MG book - the one on the right looks like a much younger, lighter and brighter read - my 9yo would never have picked it up! Amazing what a difference a cover makes.

#Marchwrapup.
It feels like I read some of these books 1000 years ago. But in a month that lasted 1000 years, why did I only read 8 books? Time moves strangely during a pandemic.
Several from my real-life and virtual shelves. 👍 Highlights were my #bookspin pick Love in a Cold Climate and Elizabeth and her German Garden.

I won a giveaway hosted by @TheSpineView 😍💀!

I‘m fairly certain I have this fancy bracelet to thank. A kindly old woman gifted it to me yesterday, explaining in stumbling, earnest English that it‘s a springtime tradition from Bulgaria. She tied it on my wrist & instructed me to keep it on until I see the first tree blossom, at which time I should affix it to an eager branch. This, she said, would bring me luck (& good health). So far, so lucky!

This was a subtle cover change. Most of it was in the way the title was styled, but I also think they changed illustrators twice.

MG
#bbrc
#coverchanges

Children‘s, fantasy

Similar to the ‘Ascendance Trilogy‘ which I‘ve just completed in that they both have young protagonists, there is a question of succession and the threat of invasion by neighbouring countries. This, however, is fantasy where the Castle is aware and is taking a part in the proceedings - although how much is not known, even by the characters who have grown up within its walls.

Yesterday‘s #homeschoolbookclub for this book went great! We debated which cover we liked best (it was about half and half hardcover vs paperback) and our most surprising characters, then built our own castles. Hedgehog Hall here (complete with working drawbridge and Princess Hedge in the tower) was graciously left in the library for others to play with... definitely not because it wouldn‘t fit in anyone‘s car 😉 🏰 👑 🦔📚

All right, enough fun reading. My next meeting of #homeschoolbookclub is tomorrow so I‘d better get to rereading the book!

This was delightful and I'll definitely be reading more by this author!

1. I don't really like either, but if I have to pick, thriller.
2. Pumpkin pie
3. both!!!
4. Hayride
5. pass on both.
6. @LoverofLit
@JenlovesJT47 #tuesdaytidbits

1. Tome
2. Harry Potter
3. Either! No preference at all
4. Tea
5. Neither...but if I have to pick Agatha Christie.
6. @loveroflit

@JenlovesJT47 #tuesdaytidbits

#TuesdayTidbits

📖 Fav. nostalgic read?: Bridge to Terabithia
🎞Fav. movie from your birth year?: Ferris Bueller‘s Day Off
🎵 Song that reminds you of childhood?: TLC‘s “Waterfalls” (it‘s the 1st (& maybe only 😅) rap I‘ve ever learned by heart). Alternate answer: Sublime‘s “Caress Me Down” 😂. You should (read: no one should ever) see the dance my friends & I made up to it; we didn‘t *quite* understand the lyrics.
👋🏻 Tagging @whippoorwill815

1. So many but first one that came to mind "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live" Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter
2. "If I wanted them to be sissies, I would have named them Doctor Quinn and Medicine Woman" Talladega Nights...I can quote the whole movie!
3. Specific...I always say Pacific.
4. @LoverofLit
#tuesdaytidbits @JenlovesJT47

1. Always!
2. Yes! We go weekly with the kids and I use libby/overdrive too
3. Love them!

@silverreviews #tuesdaytidbits

1. Lounging on the couch at home 🛋
2. I never read only one book at a time so right now I‘m reading...Sharp Objects, and Tyler Johnson Was Here, and The Immortalists 📚
3. I usually choose my next read when my holds become available at the library!
#TuesdayTidbits @SilversReviews

1. At home
2. Audio of The Astonishing Color of After, and print of both Smoke and Iron, and Six of Crows. And yes working on all of them today.
3. Depends on next library due date, what just came out, and what ARCs I've just received.
#TuesdayTidbits @SilversReviews

1. At Papa Murphy's waiting on pizza
2. My phone. Book is in the car (Children of Blood and Bone)
3. What looks interesting and opposite of what I just read. I have a fast pick pile in the living room but that doesn't always work.

#tuesdaytidbits

@SilversReviews

Work 😕
Duchess by Chance - Wendy Vella
I have several lists and I go with whatever's available and/or due next

@SilversReviews
#Tuesdaytidbits

#tuesdaytidbits @SilversReviews
💜 in my kitchen finishing lunch
💙 ready to start a new book
💛 I do that completely whimsically. I have a sequel or 2 to read. But I'm drawn also to mysteries this week.
Fun questions!

@SilversReviews
#TuesdayTidbits

1. I am on my back porch. 😊

2. I am reading DAY OF THE DEAD by Nicci French.

3. I choose from my stack of books for review and read by publication date.

Thanks for playing. Hope you have fun.

My view on this Tuesday evening. What‘s missing? Yeah ... no book. Got to get this work done first 😒

But how about a check in for the #ShortStorySwap? Just 2 weeks until opening day. Are you getting your boxes mailed? Mine is going out tomorrow!

I almost never feel guilty about what I watch or read. That being said, these answers are as close as I get to guilty pleasures.
1. A Harlequin romance. I haven‘t read one in ages but one in my purse saved my sanity at an awful workplace.
2. I‘m actually going to go with a TV series on this one - 90 Day Fiancee: Happily Ever After? It‘s Sunday night escape TV.
3. Chex Mix Muddy Buddies.
4. Anyone who want to play!
#TuesdayTidBits @JenlovesJT47

1. Elinor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. I know it‘s received a lot of love but it just wasn‘t for me.
2. Cookies! I also have water or tea on hand.
3. Infamous Scribblers by Eric Burns. It‘s all about colonial journalism and the role Ben Franklin played.
#TuesdayTidbits @JenlovesJT47 Thanks for tagging me @Anxious.Canadian

@DHill said I'm it, here goes.

1. So many but let's start with Illuminae.
2. Rice Krispie treats.
3. The West Wing or Defiance.
4. @Bookzombie tag your it.

👠 Dorothy from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz- I‘m a sucker for red shoes!
👩‍🏫 “Son of the Mob” by Gordon Korman...part of my 8th grade curriculum- I could recite it in my sleep!
😊Summer Vacation
@Jess7 @guinsgirlreads @MaleficentBookDragon
#TuesdayTidbits @JenlovesJT47

Part 2 of my lovely book haul/bookstore adventures today! Found a great bookstore that specializes in children's literature. A teacher's dream! #middlegrade

This was a fun and fast middle-grade fantasy. The castle takes care of the royals who live inside and tends to create new rooms on Tuesdays. I liked the siblings and their relationships as well as their relationship with the castle.

I needed something a little lighter for my next pick!
#readathon

The more I reflect, the less I like this. The overall idea castle creating rooms and changing it's layout randomly was fun, but the rest faltered. I think I would have liked this as a nine-year-old, but it was way too simplistic to enjoy. Then again, even young Zelma would have been annoyed with the weak caricatures, silly plot, and deus-ex-machina ending. Books for young children can still be smart. Meh.

After being disappointed with Conversion, I decided on a light middle-grade fantasy. Those are usually the perfect palate cleansers. Paired with my Dewey Decimal coffee mug, all is well in my world right now.