#uk literature

[cheftulips]

The last three books I read were all orange. 🍊

[ismahanescorner]

A Dowry of Blood | Book Review

Author: S.T. Gibson

Genre: Historical Paranormal, Gothic Fantasy, Horror

Publisher: Nyx Publishing

Release Date: 31/01/2021

Rating: 4.25/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis:

A lyrical and dreamy reimagining of Dracula’s brides, A Dowry of Blood is a story of desire, obsession, and emancipation. Saved from the brink of death by a mysterious stranger, Constanta is transformed from a medieval peasant into a bride fit for an undying king. But when Dracula draws a cunning aristocrat and a starving artist into his web of passion and deceit, Constanta realizes that her beloved is capable of terrible things. Finding comfort in the arms of her rival consorts, she begins to unravel their husband’s dark secrets. With the lives of everyone she loves on the line, Constanta will have to choose between her own freedom and her love for her husband. But bonds forged by blood can only be broken by death.

Review:

tw//: murder, abuse (physical/psychological) mental illness.

so let me sum up this book, in a short and wonky way… umm!! it’s a retelling of dracula’s three brides story. the novel is told from constanta’s pov and is divided to three parts, no chapters, and each part about one of the brides! part one is about her life with dracula. part two sees the addition of magdalena to the family, and part three is when alexie joins the foray!!

while reading the book, at first, i was like “hmm, it’s prolly just all the hyped books” then i found myself entranced throughout part two, speeding through part three devouring every word of the page! i honestly had no idea i would actually like it this much! the trio are precious to me!

definitely recommend listening to the audiobook as well!!

[peacefulandcozy]

Instagram credit: acalmwalk

[escapismsworld]

📍London, UK

📸: @aleks_london_diary [IG]

[joytri]

summer in a haze

[mymercyprevailss]

it's you and me, babe.

[nostalgicacademia]

Romantic Academia

By: danielapardor

My articles on Dark Academia:

Dark Academia aesthetic

The imaginary of Dead Poets Society

The Secret History a key fandom

[vox-anglosphere]

Oscar Wilde was full of witticisms until the very end..

[she-posts-nerdy-stuff]

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to study English literature A-level in an all girls sixth form with a young teacher then just know that once (and this is a few years ago now) my teacher played the “If the men find out we can shapeshift they’re going to tell the Church!!” video and then asked us what about the video we could apply to studying The Handmaid’s Tale

[disabled-dragoon]

"Why are children's literacy levels dropping? Kids just don't want to read books anymore."

Books can be pretty expensive and we're in the throws of a cost of living crisis

Theres been a steady increase in the policing of children's and young adult literature

Theres been a steady decline in public libraries

It's not a statutory requirement for schools to have a library

Even if schools do have a library, kids don't always have easy access to it/aren't allowed in it

Kids can be cruel. If they're taught to shame reading, they might see fit to shame other kids for reading and continue the cycle.

Shaming or ignoring kids who struggle to or can't read physical books instead of showing them alternatives or helping them find ways to make it easier doesn't help the situation

The problem isn't just the kids. Don't put this all on their shoulders.

[ismahanescorner]

Heartstopper (Vol. 4) | Book Review

Author: Alice Oseman

Genre: Graphic Novel, Young Adult, Queer Romance

Publisher: Hachette Children’s Group

Release Date: 06/05/2021

Rating: 4/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis:

Charlie didn’t think Nick could ever like him back, but now they’re officially boyfriends. Charlie’s beginning to feel ready to say those three little words: I love you. Nick’s been feeling the same, but he’s got a lot on his mind – not least coming out to his dad, and the fact that Charlie might have an eating disorder. As summer turns to autumn and a new school year begins, Charlie and Nick are about to learn a lot about what love means.

Review:

tw//: mental illness, eating disorder, mentions of self-harm.

this series holds a special place in my heart!! i really loved the commentary on mental illness in this volume. i appreciate that the author/illustrator found a way to tell/show Charlie’s struggles without including depictions of self-harm and disordered eating! really excited to see where the series goes in the next volume!

[peacefulandcozy]

Instagram credit: polly.florence

[escapismsworld]

Angels descending and climbing the Jacob's ladder.

Built in 1611

📍Bath Abbey, Bath, UK.

[starstrider-productions]

Starstrider Productions presents...

The year is 2004. Flip-phones are in vogue, MySpace has just been launched, and Britney Spears’ Toxic is top of the charts. And Castle Dracula is about to receive a young guest for dinner…

Armed with only his dictaphone, newly-minted solicitor Jonathan Harker has taken the Eurostar out of Britain and travelled to the depths of Romania, where phone service and peace of mind have become a thing of the past. But Jonathan isn’t the only one in the toils: he’s just unwittingly given a bloodsucking monster unfettered access to London’s teeming millions, and he, his friends and Mina, the love of his life, are in grave danger.

A found-footage extravaganza, Dracula: 2004 dares to ask what happens when you combine vampires and dial-up internet. Join Jonathan as he survives the work trip from hell; gossip with Mina and Lucy over Lucy’s three suitors; and meet the eccentric Van Helsing and her vampire-hunting armoury. This is a new millennium, a new age of technology, and a version of Dracula that you have never experienced before.

Care to take a bite?

[mymercyprevailss]

chris - skins uk, gen 1.

[nostalgicacademia]

Cottagecore

By: deerly_dreamer

PS: Here you can download my Dark Academia article in PDF "link".