The Postman Knock #31

Hello, everyone!

We are having couple of days of glorious sunshine, which we're using for barbeques... and it's sooo lovely....

How is the weather where you are?

I also had a very busy reading week.

I'VE READ:

A SHADE OF VAMPIRE I pretty much skimmed through. It's full of cliches and silly inconsistencies in its world-building, and frankly I think it's just a very poorly written imitation of The Isle of Night by Veronica Wolff, so I won't even consider reviewing it. It's simply bad. I also didn't like THE RED PLAGUE AFFAIR  as much as I did the first book, but it's nothing to do with the quality of the book, and everything to do with my inability to like Emma, the main character. She is very harsh, and sometimes it gets to be too much. DREAMWIELDER had a lovely concept for a great fantasy book and didn't shy away from describing violence towards its main characters. Overall, I really liked it. VAMPIRE MIAMI was so good, it made me think of a gutsier version of The Immortal Rules and I immediately went and bought book #2, VAMPIRE L.A. I really recommend it, peeps! DEVIL'S HONOUR was a very decent read, and I'll definitely continue with this series about underground fighters in New York. TRAPPED I enjoyed very much, because it's Kevin-freaking-Hearne! Tons of fun guaranteed, although I wish Atticus caught some break already, because he is running out of enemies. Virtually everyone is after him! At last, BITTERBLUE was quirky and lovely. A bit too long, but a great big puzzle which I couldn't solve until the very end.

FOR REVIEW:

Thanks to Gollanz Geeks!

BOUGHT:

I still had a bit of money left on a gift card from Waterstones, and I bought it as an ebook.

I also bought Vampire L.A. straight after finishing Vampire Miami, it was that addictive!

I promised myself this year that I'll read more Russian fantasy (which is excellent) and bought Golden Fires by Alexey Pehov, whose writing I adore.

I also popped in The Works and made use of their fab offer of 3 books for £5! I'm always happy when that happens to me (and it happens not very often, believe me!)

KINDLE FREEBIE:

The kindle offer is finished already, but I was really glad to pick up the last Marta's book I haven't read, because I adore her writing.

This is it.

I hope you enjoy these pics of Portugal I promised you last week. Some of them are mine and some of them are courtesy of our friend, Ben, who is a talented photographer.

High in the mountains of Sierra D'Estrela, it's +2 and snowing...

Breakfast in Castelo Branco - very strong coffee and Pasteis de Nata (creme cakes).

Car on the streets of Castelo Branco.

Castelo Branco

Somewhere near Proenca-a-Velha, private land.

Same location.

Largo de Relva, square on the bottom of Monsanto village.

Walking through nature reserve...

At the lake.

Typical view in Central Portugal

Drinkable water straight from the spring - something you see in every village in Portugal.

Sunday market in Tabua. The owner of the cafe tries to converse in a mix of Spanish and Portuguese.

Village of Monsanto

In nature reserve. Mayfly drying its wings on Alex's shoulder.

Happy Sunday! Ciao!