The Dollmaker of Krakow by R. M. Romero

“No one is ever really lost as long as their story still exists.”

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Karolina is a living seamstress doll who lives in the Land of Dolls. When the rat army attack the Land of Dolls and overthrown the king and queen, a kind wind spirit carry Karolina to the human world. Karolina then landed at Krakow, Poland. There Karolina met with the Dollmaker with a dark past, who just finds out that he has magic inside him. Karolina who believes that the Dollmaker might hold the key to save Land of Dolls from the rat decided to help the Dollmaker masters his magic and get over his dark past and reconnect with other humans. While she lives with the Dollmaker, Karolina’s nature pushes the Dollmaker to befriends a Jewish violinist who happens to be a single father and his daughter. Karolina noticed that the Dollmaker life slowly turns into a more positive direction, he smiles more often than before. But then the Nazi invades Poland, and threaten the lives of their friends. And as things getting worse, Karolina and the Dollmaker determine to save their friends, no matter what the risks.

The Creeps by Fran Krause

“If I need to get out of bed late at night, I sing a little song to myself.

That way, I won’t accidentally say any magic words and summon spirits

from inside my mirror.”

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Creeps is a charming collection of 97 short comics by Fran Krause. It’s also a follow-up to Krause’s NYT Best Selling book: Deep Dark Fears. Both books tell fears–both logical and illogical–that humans face in their life.

The Chaos of Longing by K. Y. Robinson

“this voyage—

the chaos

of longing

is no longer

anchored at sea.

i’ve sailed

the desolate shore

of your heart

and got swept away

by your arctic current.

i floated to the surface

with my heart’s

message in a bottle.

i survived you.”

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Chaos of Longing is a prose and poem collection by K. Y. Robinson. It explores love, heartbreak, trauma, and the aftermath of it all. This book divided into four sections: “Inceptions”, “Chaos”, “Longing” and “Epiphany.” Each section has it owns respective theme and stages of romantic relationship. Starting from the times of yearning and falling for someone, lusting, being in love, falling out of love and learn how to love yourself once again.

Warriors of Love by Jalaluddin Rumi and James Cowan

“Rumi and Shams teach us not only the importance of friendship as a civilizing conduct in the affairs of men, but also how important it is to identify friendship with a power that is not of ourselves.”

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The life of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi—One of Islam’s most celebrated poet, scholar, theologian and Sufi mystic—change when he met a man named Shams of Tabriz who visited Konya in 1226. Shams of Tabriz search for a man who could understand his connection and views of God, and he finally found it in Rumi. They become some kind of soul-bonded friends, both Rumi and Shams find the love for God in their mutual love as friends. Warriors of Love contains new interpretation by James Cowan of some poems that Rumi created for his dearest friend, Shams of Tabriz, as well as his love of God.

The Painting by Charis Cotter

“It was a painting, set in a heavy wooden frame carved into thick swirls. A grassy foreground, a road leading through rocky hills to a lighthouse, and a vast ocean beyond. Something about it seemed familiar.”

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Annie loves painting, her mother wants her to read more books and do better in school. It’s suffice to say that Annie and her mother don’t really see eye to eye. One day Annie finds an old painting of a lighthouse in the attic. She’s instantly drawn to it so she takes it to her room. Her mother on the other hand, wish that painting never leave the attic. Not long after that, Annie’s mother slips into a coma after a car crash accident. Since then strange things begin to happen to Annie. One night, she got sucked into the old painting she found in the attic. Inside that painting she meet a girl who lives in the lighthouse named Claire. Claire relationship with her mother, Maisie, is fraught, just like Annie and her mom. Annie then try to help them mending their relationship while also hoping that somehow it could also help her relationship with her mom and revives her mother from coma, and bring an answer as to why she could travel into the painting and why she is destined to meet Claire.

August 2017 Reading Recap

It’s time for another monthly reading recap. This month I managed to reach my target of reading more than four books. I also managed to find another 5 stars book which actually is an ARC and has not been published yet, which is quite unfortunate for me because I really want to fangirling talk about it with someone.  I’ll talk about it more later, but now without further ado, let’s get on with the recap.