Double #Review: RED SISTER and GREY SISTER by Mark Lawrence

Today I have a double review for you of the first two books in a series,

RED SISTER and GREY SISTER by Mark Lawrence!

I absolutely loved this series so far and I can't wait to share my thoughts with you. Be sure to check back next year when I review the final book in the Book of the Ancestor series, HOLY SISTER. I am on the list to get a review copy so I cannot wait! So let's start at the beginning...

RED SISTER

Author: Mark Lawrence
Series: Book of the Ancestor #1
Source: Finished copy via Publisher
Publisher: Ace
Publication Date: April 4, 2017
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary:
I was born for killing – the gods made me to ruin.

At the Convent of Sweet Mercy young girls are raised to be killers. In a few the old bloods show, gifting talents rarely seen since the tribes beached their ships on Abeth. Sweet Mercy hones its novices’ skills to deadly effect: it takes ten years to educate a Red Sister in the ways of blade and fist.

But even the mistresses of sword and shadow don’t truly understand what they have purchased when Nona Grey is brought to their halls as a bloodstained child of eight, falsely accused of murder: guilty of worse.

Stolen from the shadow of the noose, Nona is sought by powerful enemies, and for good reason. Despite the security and isolation of the convent her secret and violent past will find her out. Beneath a dying sun that shines upon a crumbling empire, Nona Grey must come to terms with her demons and learn to become a deadly assassin if she is to survive…

Purchase:

Amazon | Chapters | TBD

Disclaimer: I received a finish copy from the publisher, but then bought a copy from Audible and listened to the audiobook. This in no way impacts my opinion.

I followed because I thought that if I turned back then I would keep turning back, turning away from every other fear, from every new thin, and that I would never leave that place to which my father had brought me. I would live, toil, grow old, and die, all within sight of my mother's hut, and the ice would remain forever a line glimpsed in the distance, and I wouldn't matter to the world nor would it matter to me.

- page 432

This was one of the best Adult fantasy books I've read in a very long time. I have so many positive things and thoughts about this one. I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a good magic system, badass nuns, and women who know being vulnerable can be strong as well.

#Discussion: Posting on Instagram // #Instagram101

There have been a lot of articles written about the pros and cons of Instagram, how to "hack" the new Instagram algorithm, and anything else you can think of regarding the largest photo sharing social media platform. Whether you're using Instagram for business or personal, here are some tips for creating a feed that everyone wants to follow - and have "post notifications" for.

We've discussed planning out your feed and your photos! Today we are focusing on determining when and what to post on Instagram.

Read the whole series to upgrade and maintain your instagram feed by clicking on the different links below!

Planning Your Feed | Taking The "Perfect" Pictures | Posting On Instagram | Caption Writing 101

Timing

If you have an Instagram Business Account (as you should since you are an Influencer), you can see the hours your audience is most active on each day. You can try to post during these hours or post consistently at a specific time. I post consistently at the same times every day (9:30am and 2:00pm).

It's up to you to choose what you want to do! 

Photo

Now that you took the perfect photo, you need to post it! That's key to Instagram. But you could also use a handmade graphic (maybe from Canva) that discusses a new feature, an event that you're going to, or anything else you need words for or that you want your audience to read.

Caption

Sometimes people don't read captions - just see the photo, like it, and move on. But it is important to have the caption for the people (like me!) that read every single caption. Describe the scene, explain whatever the object your featuring is, say where to get it (maybe there is a link in your bio!), and then ask a question to engage your audience. This one is essential - you need to action your audience to interact with them.

#BlogTour: PSYCHOLOGY OF TIME TRAVEL by Kate Mascarenhas // #Spotligh

Hello and welcome to my blog tour post for

PSYCHOLOGY OF TIME TRAVEL by Kate Mascarenhas!

I have a spotlight of the book for you today, so let's start by learning more about the novel!

PSYCHOLOGY OF TIME TRAVEL

Author: Kate Mascarenhas
Series: N/A
Source: eARC via Publisher
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Publication Date: August 9, 2018

Summary:
1967: Four female scientists invent a time-travel machine. They are on the cusp of fame: the pioneers who opened the world to new possibilities. But then one of them suffers a breakdown and puts the whole project in peril.

Subscription Box #Review: July 2018 #OwlCrate!

I love surprises and subscription boxes so I decided to buy a few different ones and then review them for you guys because why not! So you will get to see a few different subscription box reviews!

Just so everyone knows, I live in Canada, so the prices and such that I am going to talk about are in Canadian Dollars and shipping times are Canadian since they ship it out of Vancouver, British Columbia.

The OwlCrate website!

Every month. They also offer an OwlCrate Jr. box for MG and younger books if you don't get enough with the regular OwlCrate box.

Monthly: $29.99 USD
Every Three Months: $86.98 USD
Every Six Months: $167.94 USD

Plus shipping, which for me, cost $10.59 USD. 

I just looked at my bank statement and it cost me $53.54 Canadian. Which is a BIT expensive for me but I am making money now so it's all good.