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SNEAK PEEKS:

Throwing caution to the wind, I slipped my feet into a pair of runners and walked down the road, telling myself it was to clear my mind. But really, I was on the prowl for fresh meat. Someone vulnerable—easy prey. I had to be smart about it; it was broad daylight after all.

Every person who walked past became a possible target. In my mind’s eye, I pictured a computer log for each one, listing their attributes. Having limited knowledge on the ins and outs of cannibalism, I had no idea what the perfect body type was for consumption. Would it matter if they were male or female? Was it better if they were lean and muscular, or was a layer of padding more flavourful? How was I to choose?

Turns out, I didn’t need to think about it at all. On my walk back home, I was knocked off my feet by a man out for a jog. He’d been too busy flicking through the playlist on his phone to see me, and by the time we’d both looked up, it was too late. We collided, my forehead into his chin and mouth. My hands automatically went up, pressing against his chest and sending us both bouncing off each other, landing on our behinds. Apologising profusely, he offered me his hand and pulled me to my feet. The impact had left a red egg on my head and skinned my palms raw. He, however, came across a little worse for wear, sporting a newly chipped tooth, and fat, bleeding lip. As soon as I got a whiff of the blood on his breath, I knew, he was the one.

I pointed to my house across the street, inviting him in to clean up while he called the emergency dentist. It was the least I could do.

Ushering him into the bathroom, I had him perch on the edge of the bath while I rummaged through the cabinet for the first aid kit. I needed to knock him out somehow. There was no way I could do this without it… unless…

Do you remember Jamey? Has a tattoo of a whale on his right arm, wears a red and white striped tank top—Sound familiar?”

Mora nodded. “He juggled knives and guns.”

“That’s right. Jamey is my boyfriend and we’re very happy, only… He has this crazy idea that he should give up the troop, join the army instead. He thinks it would provide a better life for us, but he’s wrong. This is the only life I want and I don’t want it to change. I need you to change his mind.”

“What?” She took a step away from Dare. “I… I can’t do that!”

“You don’t realize it, but you can. I saw it in you. The ability to endow magic. You just needed a jumpstart, and yesterday…” she pointed to the feather, “I gave it to you.”

Mora stared at the feather, still crumpled in her hand.

“Tell the feather that Jamey’s place is with me. In the troop. Tell the feather it needs to change Jamey’s mind. Go on.”

Mora lifted the feather halfway to her face, then paused. This would never work. Clearly circus life had taken its toll on Dare’s mental health. Or perhaps unstable people were attracted to the quirky life the troop seemed to lead. It was silly to give in to Dare’s demands. Then again, if she didn’t do it, perhaps Dare would become so angry, she’d bust out of her purple corset and become a rage-fueled She-Hulk. Perhaps the simplest way out of this situation was to tell the feather to become a mind-changer and then get the hell out of there.

“Fine, whatever.” She brought the feather to her lips and blew words into it. “Change Jamey’s mind. Make him stay. Oh!” She jumped as a tingling sensation moved through her body, from the soles of her feet up her legs and spine, then out to the tips of her fingers and into the feather. “What… what just happened.”

Dare’s face went back to its friendly older sister mode. “Exactly what I thought would. Thank you, Mora.” She took the feather back from Mora and pinned it into her dark, shimmering hair. “Wiser people than me would tell you to be careful with this gift of yours. Magic can be used for good or for evil. It doesn’t care which, most of the time.”

Confused, Mora toyed with a stray thread from the hem of her t-shirt. “But you’re… not telling me to be careful?”

Dare grasped Mora’s chin and tilted it so their eyes met. “We don’t find out what we’re capable of through advice.” She gave Mora’s face a tiny squeeze and then let her go. “Trial and error, darlin’.

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This year in my university course I decided to enrol in a class that is called "Cultura Clássica", which roughly translates to "Classical Culture". In this class, we learn about the classical world (Minoans, Mycenaeans, Greeks, and others) and our main support for that study is the literature of that time. This means that for the first time in my life I had to start reading Homer, Aeschylus, Virgil and many other authours. I knew from the start that this was going to be a though journey what I did not expect was that my fear of the classical texts would become love. 

The first book I picked up was The Iliad by Homer. I am not going to lie, this book contains a lot of violence and blood and things that might shock you but it was a great read. I took my time with it and actually needed a month to finish it but that made it so much more enjoyable. Better than the Iliad is The Odyssey, also by Homer,  it has so many more fantastical elements and is so much less bloody. Both these reads will certainly draw you in.

This story is only the starting point of what I have to tell you, it is how I learned to love these specific books but there are so many more classics that people are afraid to read. Take Jane Austen as an example. My favourite book of hers is Northanger Abbey, it is a story that has been able to draw me in from a very young age and I really enjoy rereading it. When I tell people that I enjoy reading Jane Austen's books I get a lot of side glances and weird comments. That does not mean that I am not in the right to love them all the same. The same happens when I talk about enjoying The City and the Mountains by Eça de Queiroz, a Portuguese writer.

What I do when first picking up classics has a certain method to it. That method allows me to only pick the best reads, which means, the ones I might actually enjoy. I start by perusing my book recommendations, whether they come from a friend, a book or a professor, I keep a list and, when I want something new to read I sometimes go back to it. I choose the book that seems the most interesting, if it is a mandatory read I have no choice but to read what I have to read. After that, I start looking for the best edition possible. That are many factors included in this step: the publishing house, the editor, the type of edition... If the book you are picking up is a translation, whether it is from Latin, Greek or a more modern language, you have to be very picky about the translator you choose. You should search for reviews and such in order to better make an informed decision. The final step is to choose a buying platform (every store counts).

After you have the book in your hands I have three words for you: write on it. When you start reading it keep a pad of paper, a pen, a highlighter and a pencil by your side and annotate! You can highlight different things in different colours and write the meaning of things you did not know.  Annotating will not ruin your book, it will make it more yours. Of course, I understand that you will not annotate your fancy hardback edition of any book, I also would not, so we are in the same boat.

Every time you pick up that classic you are trying to read make sure you are in a quiet environment, with snacks and beverages on hand, so you can completely immerse yourself in reading. Believe me, if you do are not in a quiet environment you will end up not understanding what you are reading and being confused, what will only discourage you.

Do not be scared by the size or the fame of a book, just pick it up and slowly read it. In the start it may seem hard and scary but, with a little effort, you might even enjoy it! Also, remember that if you are reading a book about a time or a culture that you do not know well there may be mentions of things you do not know. If this happens to you, you should not be afraid to ask someone or search the internet, remember: context is important!

I hope this post motivated you a little to try to read more challenging books and that the classics aren't big scary masses of pages. They are simple, delicate beauties that need your love as much as any other book.

Love, Ana

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Publisher: Text Publishing
Source: ebook (given by Netgalley)
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Summary:

Tuscany, 1096 AD. Luca, young heir to the title of Conte de Falconi, sees demons. Since no one else can see them, Luca must keep quiet about what he sees.
Luca also has dreams—dreams that sometimes predict the future. Luca sees his father murdered in one such dream and vows to stop it coming true. Even if he has to go against his father’s wishes and follow him on the great pilgrimage to capture the Holy Lands.
When Luca is given an ancient book that holds some inscrutable power, he knows he’s been thrown into an adventure that will lead to places beyond his understanding. But with the help of Suzan, the beautiful girl he rescues from the desert, he will realise his true quest: to defeat the forces of man and demon that wish to destroy the world

Publisher: Oftomes Publishing
Source: ebook (given by the publisher)
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Summary:

Courage comes from a shadowed place in our hearts; a blurred line that straddles love and sheer stupidity.
To seventeen-year-old Ava, wild woodcats, hungry stragglers, and simple-minded townsfolk are the evils she’s grown accustomed to. But when Ethan, an unusual man with eyes of smoke and fire opal, enters her world she quickly understands that there are worse things out there than drunken men and carnivorous forest creatures. She’s a specialised liar and a hell of a fighter, but against a group of animalistic men called Berserkers she struggles to survive the encounter as the desperate swing of a dagger is all it takes to change her life for good.
Half-dead and hunted by the Berserker’s leader when he forms a monstrous obsession with her, Ava escapes his pursuit in an unfamiliar land full of impossible creatures, unlikely allies, and the man she doesn’t know whether to kiss or kill.
But after dreadful news of her missing brother surfaces, Ava becomes more involved in the centuries-long war and begins to unravel the reasons behind her relentless nightmares, discovering truths long-buried in a violent history of love, loss and betrayal.