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How I Feel About Book Adaptations

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Being fans of books you would think that when we hear the word adaptation uttered, we would suddenly get giddy with excitement, right? No. Most book-lovers, myself included, cringe and the most prominent thought that enters the mind? I really hope they don’t ruin that story. We have all been there when our beloved stories and characters have been massacred. For me it happened when I was still a kid and had fallen in love with Phillip Pullman’s series His Dark Material. I was barely containable when I found out that they were making it into a movie, and my childlike excitement got a hard reality check. The movie was terrible, and left little Book Steff feeling very disappointed.

Okay, so maybe they aren’t all that bad, and maybe the younger me was just feeling bitter about one of my childhood favourite book being turned into a mess. Truth is, it can be done well. We all know that. Harry Potter for example is a book series I loved as a kid, and I adored all the movies. In fact, I religiously went to the cinema every time a new one released, but the difference? It was true to the feel of Hogwarts, the cast was spot on, and everything I visually needed from it was given to me. The problem I mainly have with adaptations, no it isn’t the subtle changes of character developement or plot, it is that most don’t achieve the correct sense of feeling I get when I read the book. There isn’t that immersive feeling when you sink into the pages of a new world, and it can be done!…Hello Game of Thrones anyone?

I suppose I’m ranting a bit and I must confess it may or may not have something to do with the fact Netflix are adapting Andrzej Sapkowski’s Witcher series this year. Might be something to do with that…maybe…okay a lot to do with that. I’m scared people! I’m terrified they are going to ruin such a magical world, and amazing characters. I am open to changes, but I need to feel as though I am in that world, surrounded by all the wonders and chaos etc. I need it to have a sense of itself in there.

How do you feel when movies/ TV series come from your favourite books? Are you apprehensive, and a pent up ball of nerves like me? Or are you excited at the prospect of what could be? Let me know in the comments, I would love to hear what you think.

Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb Review

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Hello Booklovers! Time to review the beauty that is Robin Hobb’s Assassin’s Apprentice, as I mentioned on my tbr this is the first of many that I am trying to read this year by Robin Hobb (The plan is to read as much of her work in this world as I can).

Without further delay, let’s get to the review!

  • Title: Assassin’s Apprentice
  • Author: Robin Hobb
  • Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: HarperVoyager (27 Mar. 2014)
  • Genre: Fantasy/ Epic Fantasy
  • ISBN-10: 000756225X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007562251
  • My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟. 5

Synopsis 

The kingdom of the Six Duchies is on the brink of civil war when news breaks that the crown prince has fathered a bastard son and is shamed into abdication. The child’s name is Fitz, and he is despised.

Raised in the castle stables, only the company of the king’s fool, the ragged children of the lower city and his unusual affinity with animals provide Fitz with any comfort.

To be useful to the crown, Fitz is trained as an assassin; and to use the traditional magic of the farseer family. But his tutor, allied to another political faction, is determined to discredit, even kill him. Fitz must survive: for he may be destined to save the kingdom.

My review 

☆ This is a non-spoiler review ☆

This story was slow to start, I have to admit, but that did not hinder my overall enjoyment, which is why I still rated it highly.
We follow Fitz through his many trials and tribulations as he tries to navigate life as the bastard born son of the crown prince, getting himself into some sticky situations here and there as can be imagined.

The first real thing I have to say about this book is that the writing was great. Robin Hobb really is a great writer. One who gives us simplicity and style, and doesn’t comprise on character development. I thoroughly enjoyed her world, and characters. There was plenty of action, and intrigue to keep me on the edge of my seat. There was beautifully constructed twists and turns that I personally just didn’t see coming (at least not all of them). You quickly start to cheer on Fitz, hoping he will prevail through all, and your heart is clenching during the time of tension and turmoil in this book. I honestly really enjoyed this book. As I said, it is a bit of a slow burner and that trait alone, I know, isn’t for everyone….but once you’re in there, the story unfolds and takes hold of you.

I can’t wait to read the next installment in this trilogy! Definitely recommend to those who love fantasy and intrigue.

Book Blogger Confessions Tag

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I thought it would be fun, to add some Bookish Tags into my life, and hopefully by extension yours too. I was tagged for these on my Bookstagram account, which you can access at the top of my page or here > https://www.instagram.com/booksteff

I thought I would do these tags on here and invite anyone who’s interested to try them out too! I’d love to see what your responses are, and if you have any bookish tags that you think I might be interested in let me know.

Here we go! #Bookbloggerconfessionstag !

  • Which book most recently did you not finish? Sadly this was Dangerous to Know by K. T. Davies Book 1 in The Chronicles of Breed. It was a buddy read with my friend Kat over at @katsreadingcorner on instagram, and we both ended up DNFing!
  • Which book is your guilty pleasure? Hmm that’s a difficult one. I would have to say The Selection by Kiera Cass. I know it’s not great, and let’s be honest…nothing really happens, but I devoured it! Despite being a fantasy type of girl, I love a bit of cheeky drama every now and then.
  • Which book would you throw into the sea? There are a few! Fifty Shades of Gray Series by E. L. James, Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer, Damsel by Elana K. Arnold, Everless by Sara Holland, and Fury Born by Claire Legrand just to name a few – Take your pick people!
  • Which book have you read the most? Harry Potter or The Hobbit most likely as I like to do nostalgic re-reads!
  • Which book would you hate to receive as a present? Hmm, again, a difficult one! I wouldn’t hate any bookish present really, however I would perhaps be disappointed if someone bought me something I had already read and disliked.
  • Which book could you not live without? The Hobbit, or Lord of the Rings series! I just love that world so much, and couldn’t deal without it!
  • Which book made you cry the most? The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith. It is a topic which is close to my heart, and was a very difficult read for me, but I would 1000% recommend it.
  • Which book cover do you hate the most? I’m really not a fan of actors/actresses/models on covers – not art but actual people. It just bothers me so much, so anything with that I guess. Also when they plaster stickers on books, gosh that annoys me! Especially the ones you can’t physically take off because they made it a part of a reprinted cover etc.

Please feel free to participate in this tag, whether it be on your own blog, or Instagram account etc. If you have done this previously or perhaps want to do it, let me know so I can check it out, and follow you!!

February TBR

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Below is my predicted, and hopeful TBR for the month of February. I have to admit that whilst I do try to stick to my monthly TBR, when left without deadlines etc, I do tend to wander! Be advised this is what I want to read in this month, but perhaps I won’t achieve reading them all, and may detour for a bit. Hey, that’s what wrap ups are for!

  1. Master of Sorrows: The Silent Gods Book 1 by Justin Call
Releases 21 Feb 2019

I requested this as an ARC through NetGalley, and was approved by Orion Publishing Group, so I have to give a huge thank you to the lovely people at Orion. I have the privilege to be currently reading this before it releases towards the end of the month, and so far so good. Look out for this book in my Wrap Up

2. Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

I was supposed to finish this book in the month of January, but well…I didn’t. So, this is a rollover, but one that I will definitely finish. It is also part of a readalong with Elliot Brooks over at https://www.instagram.com/ebnovels/?hl=en You may be more familair with her over on her Youtube Channel – I’ll link her 2019 Readalong video if you want to check out, and join in on the Sanderson/ Sapkowski fun! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmjIQEChIvI

3. Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb

This is part of my year long reading ambition to read all the Robin Hobb books. I know a lot of people start with this series and enjoy it, so I am excited!

4. Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski

This is part of the Witcher, and Sanderson Readalong I mentioned above.

5. China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan

This is just for fun, I recently read Crazy Rich Asians and really enjoyed it, so wanted to continue on with the series to see where it goes.

6. Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

Again part of the Readalong, but this is the Sanderson book of February…the one I was supposed to be on!

There you have it my official TBR for the month of February, hopefully I can manage it! What are you reading this month? Let me know in the comments.

Reading Update #1

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I thought I would take the time to do an update on what I am currently reading, so you all know where I’m at.

I am currently about a quarter of the way through Master of Sorrows by Justin Call, and really enjoying it. It has such a beautiful fantasy feel, and I just love being told background information about history, and tradition of dissent etc within my fantasy books – which this has given me so far. That being said it has not once felt like an info dump, so don’t worry if your not someone who likes that kind of thing. I won’t reveal too much about this just yet as I plan to do a full review and will, of course, include it in my wrap up.

I have just finished Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb and adored it! 4.5* from me. I will be adding my review to Goodreads, but keep an eye out for my wrap up where I plan to talk more about it, and tell you all my thoughts.

And…last but by no means least, I am about a quarter of the way through Elantris by Brandon Sanderson. This one is a slow burner so far, and I keep meaning to pick it back up. It definitely has the power to peak my interests, and I am intrigued, but since my Robin Hobb read is smaller I wanted to get that finished first, and because Master of Sorrows is releasing in only 15 days! I have made that a priority.