163. The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic by Leigh Bardugo

BOOK REVIEW: The Language of Thorns - Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic by Leigh Bardugo; preview sampler courtesy of Pansing Malaysia

We all grew up with fairy tales, of wily foxes tricking crows into giving dropping grapes from trees, Goldilocks and the Three Bears. All of these stories mesmerized us and held our rapt attention with its sheer imaginary worlds and the possibility of talking animals and other flora and fauna. What if these stories were given a whole new sinister light, a grown-up light that we never imagined could lurk in an innocent fairy tale?

Since this is just a preview copy, it contained three out of six short stories from the original. Just these three kept me rooted to my seat. The first short story, The Too-Clever Fox, has influences from Red Riding Hood as well as the fairy tale I mentioned earlier about the wily foxes wanting grapes. An ugly but intelligent fox tries to find out the reason that a hunter and his sister are able to hunt down his friends without leaving a trail or even letting out a sound. The fox comes upon the sister of the hunter crying in the woods and takes pity on her. The fox even gives a plan to steal away the spell that is kept by the hunter that helps in his hunting. Little does the fox know that the sister is about to turn the tables on him and the fox almost loses its life.

The Witch of Duva is the second story in this preview with influences from Hansel and Gretel. Nadya, her father, Maxim, brother, Havel, and Nadya's mother are living together happily until a famine leads to starvation and the death of Nadya's mother. Karina weds Maxim soon after that and she becomes Nadya's and Havel's stepmother. Havel leaves for military service so Nadya is left behind with a wicked stepmother, or so she thinks, without realizing that Karina is trying to safe her from a dark secret. Nadya takes refuge in an old witch's house and after a few days, Nadya wants to return home. She finds out that her father is behind the disappearance of many young girls and that he has been raping and killing them. This short story ends morbidly with the gruesome death of her father. Nadya return to the old witch and learns the ropes of magic.

The last story in this preview is Little Knife. This story tells about how a duke tries to find a suitor for his daughter who is unnaturally beautiful and is the apple of every man's eye. A water magician (who is able to control water) commands the river to do his bidding in order to complete all the tasks set by the duke to marry his daughter. However, the magician incurs the wrath of the water spirit who then magically convinces the duke's daughter to marry it and it whisks her off to a far away shoreline.

Inspired by myth, fairy tales and folklore, the author has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice and love. I personally would give this book a 9/10 even after reading just 3 stories out of it. Highly recommended for those who want a taste of childhood with an injection of darkness.....

162. The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell

BOOK REVIEW: The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell (GRAB IT IN A BOOKSTORE NEAR YOU)

As a teenager and even through my young adult years, I get perpetually fascinated with the world of magic and the unknown. Let it be the Harry Potter Saga or even the Hunger Games, magic has a certain way ofkeeping you gripped in your seat no matter how old you are. If you are one for magic, this book is going to bring you far, far away....

What happens when the world of magic and the human world collide? Obviously, all hell breaks loose! In this story, the humans who deem themselves the Warriors view all those who practice magic to be evil and are intent on bringing them down. The magical people on the other hand feel that it's injustice as except for Witches, all other magic is pure and harmless.

Xar happens to be the son of Encanzo the Enchanter, a great magician. However, Magic hasn't come to him yet although he has passed the age. This makes him a laughing stock among his family and an embarrassment to his father. To hide his disappointment, Xar turns to mischief to prove that he can do just as well without Magic. This time, he intends to capture an 'extinct' Witch to derive Magic for his own use.

Wish is a Warrior Princess but just like Xar, she is deemed as an uncouth Warrior by her own mother, Queen Sychorax, Queen of the Warriors. What makes it even worse is that Wish's personal bodyguard, Bodkin, knows she has an even bigger secret. Wish has stolen her mother's witch-killing sword and has her own pet spoon (enchanted of course)!

When she goes in search of her run-away pet spoon one day, she gets caught in a witch trap set up by Xar. What happens when two like sides of a magnet see each other? That's right, they instantly dislike each other. But as they go through adventure after adventure, they begin to become thick friends and as all magical stories go (for this first book at least), all's well that ends well.

I love this young reader book for it's simple yet interesting story line that had me gripping the edges of the book. I especially liked Wish as she reminded me of myself when I was younger, odd but loveable at the same time. Highly recommended, I'd give this book a 10/10!

161. Amelia Fang and The Barbaric Ball by Laura Ellen Anderson (TO HIT BOOKSHELVES SOON)

BOOK REVIEW: Amelia Fang and The Barbaric Ball by Laura Ellen Anderson (TO HIT BOOKSHELVES SOON)

Nowadays, more and more exciting books for young readers are being published which are both wholesome and make for a good read. One such book is Amelia Fang and The Barbaric Ball written by Laura Ellen Anderson.

The Fang Family (a vampire family) consisting of Countess FrivoleetaFang, Count Drake and Amelia Fang are about to organize the annualBarbaric Ball. Amelia disapproves of the ball as she has nobody her age to hang out with. They invite the King of Nocturnia, King Vladimir and his son, Prince Tangine to the ball. The only situation is that the king has been morose on the disappearance of his wife where citizens of Nocturnia have been saying has been eaten by a fairy.

Amelia and her friends Florence (a yeti) and Grimaldi (a Grim Reaper) meet Prince Tangine (he enrolls in the same school as them) who happens to be around their age. However, he seems to be a stuck up spoilt brat who ends up being on the wrong side of Amelia and her friends.

Countess Frivoleeta then invites the king and prince to a pre-ball dinner. Being the spoilt brat that he is, he just takes away Amelia's pet pumpkin, Squashy and even the Fang family's heirlooms. Absolutely enraged,Amelia and her friends hatch plan after plan to get Squashy back.

Along the way, Amelia finds out that Prince Tangine is part fairy (a Creature of the Light, highly misunderstood and feared by the Nocturnians) and part vampire. She soon understands that Creatures of the Light do no harm andthat Prince Tangine behaves the way he does because he feels lonely.Amelia makes her friends and family understand about the royal family's predicament. All of them join forces to go find Queen Fairyweather in Glitteropolis.

My favorite chapter was Chapter 14: King Vladimir's Secret when Ameliafinds out that Prince Tangine is a half-blood. It portrays pity and concern of a kind person like Amelia for lonely Prince Tangine. Kids can take a leaf out of this book for good examples.

Even as an adult reader, I found this book highly imaginative and lots of fun with the many creative names that had references to vampires and other creatures that go bump in the night. Highly recommended for younger readers between the ages of 7 - 12 and easy to read, do look out for this book on shelves soon! Happy reading werewolves! Awooooooooooooooooooooooo.......

160. Get Laid or Die Trying: The Field Reports by Jeff Allen

BOOK REVIEW: Get Laid or Die Trying - The Field Reports by Jeff Allen

WARNING! Women with strong heart read ahead or just stop after reading the cover. To me, this book is highly controversial as it leans on the side of men more than the fairer sex. It also serves as a warning beacon to women when it comes to men and their wily ways.

What you're holding in your hands is a detailed and highly instructional manifesto on how a dude from Northern California went from being a lonely, angst-ridden maniac to making love (I actually had to make it sound less offensive, but this book was really on THE OFFENSIVE!!) with nearly two hundred women. Is Jeffy the coolest guy ever or an immature self-pitying idiot, who indulges in a half decade sex rampage at the expense of all other areas of his life?

Being that this book records a period before 2009, some of the external pickup techniques would be considered old school compared to what's out there today. The ideas in the pickup community are constantly evolving, and so it's obvious that the methods popular 6 or 7 years ago have been updated and improved.

You're about to read a story, a graphic account and manifesto, by one of the most lethally effective players to ever "pick up a chick". A dude who at times is so good at what he does it's scary. It teaches men how to walk like a pimp and talk like a mack, rock the karaoke mike like a belligerent Japanese tourist, kick ass like Van Damme and take names like a two dollar MySpace participant. 

I had reservations with most guys but after reading this book it has made my reservations into a heightened sense of wariness. Every word or move a guy makes now seems to be a hidden motive for something sinister. Great for women who are wanting to unravel the mysterious minds of crafty men and terrible for men who are already that way, it's a book that can either make you or break you.

159. Ripley's Believe It or Not! Eye-Popping Oddities 2016

BOOK REVIEW: Ripley's Believe It or Not! Eye-Popping Oddities 2016

Sideshows were once famous across Europe and America. Acrobatic performances entertained the masses, a form of entertainment was born. These weren't the only things on show. Odd people as they were known were showcased, 'werewolf people' (now clinically known as hypertrichosis), midgets (dwarfs), contortionists and many more weird and wonderful individuals.

If you thought eye-poppers and human cannonballs were a blast from the past, then think again! There are brothers in USA who are eye-poppers since small and a guy who creates masterpieces of art out of bubble wrap! 

This 2016 compilation by Ripley's reveals thousands of special and wonderful individuals, animals, objects, places and many more issues that will blow your mind. This issue of Ripley's has exclusive colored photos of the man himself, Robert Ripley, founder of Ripley's Odditorium (there's one in Genting Highlands if you want to have a peek).

The odditoriums highlight the many odd subjects from around the world which have left scientists nibbling on their pencils and people fainting in disbelief. For a taste of the mind-boggling events and people, dive into this book which will leave you hanging from a beam in surprise.

Suitable for both younger and older readers, this family-friendly book may even have one of you discovering a weird talent that you wouldn't have imagined in your wildest dreams! Dazzle your friends with facts that can only come from the Ripley's archive of oddities. 

158. The World's Best Spicy Food by Lonely Planet

BOOK REVIEW: The World's Best Spicy Food by Lonely Planet

As Malaysians, our tongues are accustomed to the spiciness of our food. From devilish Devil's Curry to Assam Laksa, to Fish Head Curry and even Nasi Kandar, our taste buds hanker for that warm hug and a pinch on the cheek by these spicy dishes. But do you know that it isn't only Malaysia that has its fair share of spicy goodies?

Take a taste-bud-tingling- tour of the world's spiciest cuisines. Explore the culture behind dishes from Sichuan hotpots and Malaysian laksas to Mexican salsas and eye-wateringly hot curries. 100 classic recipes in this book will enable you to bring the world's spiciest foods to your home.

There is also a glossary of exotic ingredients with suggestions for easy-to-find alternatives. For example, if you don't have Gula Melaka in your pantry, don't fret! Use regular brown sugar instead.

Evocative profiles of each dish show you where to find the best examples when you're on the road. Written by acclaimed food writers from around the globe, this book is an indispensable guide to find your hot fix anywhere anytime.

After reading this, it sure set me on a culinary trail whenever I went travelling. So if you are one for the spice trail and want to try authentic dishes on its homeland, this book is definitely the one for you.

157. Personal Demons by Stacia Kane

BOOK REVIEW: Personal Demons by Stacia Kane

We girls love a good romance. With our ever increasing demands for something fresh, authors exposed us to the mystical and supernatural side of it with human zombie acquaintances (Warm Bodies), teenage schoolgirl and vampire (Twilight) and so many others. How about humans and demons?

Demons have been humans arch nemesis for decades. Even in the Bible, the devil and demons have been known to cause only trouble, mischief and other negative vibes. But what happens when a demon falls in love with a girl he is sworn to protect against the cryptic owner of Hell itself? Be prepared for one helluva romance that is bound to have you holding on to your seats.

Megan promises listeners to her new radio call-in show that she'll "slay their personal demons", and they believe her. So do the personal demons. Although she doesn't know it, Megan is the only human without a personal demon on her shoulder. This, coupled with her psychic abilities, makes her a valuable weapon for any demon "family" that can gain her allegiance. It also makes her a serious threat - not just to the personal demons, but to a soul-sucker known as The Accuser who has an old score to settle.

Megan and her allies - a demon lover who both protects and seduces her with devilish intensity, a witch with poor social skills, and three cockney guard demons - have to deal not only with The Accuser, the personal demons, and the ghosts of Megan's past, but with a reporter who threatens to destroy Megan's career.

I'm sure those of you who have read this review can't wait to get a hand on your very own copy. Megan's quick anger flashes reminds us that feelings are uncontrollable but can even help you in times of trouble. So pick up a copy now and snuggle into your favorite reading nook.