Monday, 1 January 2018

Enchanting Editions ~ 2017 Picks


I'm so excited to welcome you back to the Enchanting Editions tag!

The Enchanting Editions tag covers some of the treasured and special books that have a home on my bookshelves - books which stand out, either due to their outsides or their insides.

I've really been having so much fun with this tag. It's gotten me to view my bookshelf in a whole new light, and I've stumbled across some treasures that have given me so many great memories...especially when it comes to today's picks!

Today's featured books are all from 2017.

There were so many eye-catching, show-stopping books in 2017 that I had the pleasure of adding to my bookshelves, that I thought I'd feature some of them on the tag! From the City of Bones 10th Anniversary Edition, to Norma by Sofia Oksanen, 2017 produced some beautiful gems that would brighten up any bookshelf.

A big thank you to Allen and UnwinWalker Books Australia, and Bloomsbury for sending me copies to review.






#1: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (10th Anniversary Edition)

Picture: artwork of Clary on book's inner front cover (x)

Picture: artwork of Jace on book's inner back cover (x)

Picture: artworks of Simon and Isabelle (x)


TitleCity of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare
Genre(s): Fantasy, YA, Paranormal, Romance
Publisher: Walker Books Australia
Pub Date: November 2017
Page(s): 512
Price: $29.99 (AUD)

The edition: This edition of City of Bones is by far the prettiest one I've seen! The hardcover copy boasts a luxurious looking front, spine, and back, decorated with silver symbols and designs set around the book title. The back reads "All the stories are true" which is one of my favourite City of Bones quotes!

Inside the book are several pieces of art by artist (and goddess!) Cassandra Jean Piedra. Her art is always next-level - and these are no exception! My personal favourites are the large artworks of Jace and Clary that grace the inner back and inner front covers of the book.

Extra content is featured throughout City of Bones, from the 'Official Clave Files' and chapter illustrations, to some of the cutest maps I've ever seen. Loving City of Bones and The Mortal Instruments series as much as I do, it was wonderful to see how much effort was put into celebrating the 10th year of this winsome piece of literature.

For all you Shadowhunters, Downworlders, and plain old mortals out there looking for a copy of City of Bones to buy and love, I highly recommend this treasure for your collection.

Find out more about the book & add it to your Goodreads bookshelf today!








#2: Norma by Sofi Oksanen


Picture: Norma's front cover (placed in this adorable antique wine box I found!) (x)


Picture: Details (front cover)


TitleNorma by Sofi Oksanen
Genre(s): Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, European Lit
Imprint: Atlantic
Pub Date: December 2017
Page(s): 304

The edition: The colours! Reminiscent of the Greek islands, or some ancient palace's colour scheme of jade and golds, this copy of Norma had me spellbound from the moment it arrived on my doorstep.

This book is a wonder, before you even get to the amazing story within. Sofi's storytelling is unlike anything I've read in awhile, and I was in awe of the world and characters she's created. I love, love, love the concept of supernatural hair that changes with a person's mood! Your own personal mood ring haha. A web of secrets and paranormal intrigue is woven in a book you are not going to want to put down.

The gold detailing on the front, pairing with the sprinkling of leaves and wheat sprigs, make for an almost legendary or mythological frame for the book's title. From its front cover to its back cover, Norma is a treat for the senses and for the mind.

Find out more about the book & add it to your Goodreads bookshelf today!









#3: The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell


Picture: the gorgeous front cover + some of the matches that came with the book! (x)


TitleThe Silent Companions by Laura Purcell 
Genre(s): Horror, Historical, Gothic, Mystery
Imprint: Raven Books
Pub Date: October 2017
Page(s): 384

The edition: The Halloween vibes are strong with this one! I cannot stop gushing over the cover and the attention to detail. It has a historical, vintage feel with its black motifs and the single break away from the theme being the eye looking through the keyhole. The fact that the book came with a matchbox (which also featured the cover image!) was just the icing on the cake - after all what better way to read such a spooky novel than by candlelight?!

The inner book cover features a picture of a woman's portrait painting - below which are the words 'Its eyes moved'. You haven't even started the book yet and you've already begun your immersion into Laura's enticingly dark world!

The story gripped me from start to finish. The wording was often haunting, and phrased in a way that made you want to keep on reading, to uncover every hidden secret the book had. One of my favourite quotes was "Now she had begun to tell her story, there was no hiding at all." That eerie feel never quite leaves you as you continue through the book. The more you read, the more you begin to second-guess whether or not that portrait was actually looking at you...!

One of the most unique and hair-raising reads of 2017, The Silent Companions is as enthralling as it is beautiful.

Find out more about the book & add it to your Goodreads bookshelf today!







#4: Poe: Stories and Poems (Graphic Novel by Gareth Hinds)



Picture: a snippet from "The Tell-Tale Heart"



Picture: the shiny, alluring front cover of the book



Picture: the inner front cover (and inner back cover) art


TitlePoe: Stories and Poems: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Gareth Hinds
Genre(s): Graphic Novels, Horror, Poetry, Classics, YA
Imprint: Candlewick
Pub Date: August 2017
Page(s): 120

The edition: When I was in high school, in English class, we once covered the horror genre and what made for the more frightening reads. Poe was my favourite example that we covered, because of his ingenuity and ability to bring the horror to life on the page - not so that it frightened you purely within the realm of your mind, but so that it made you all too aware of your vulnerability in real life.

Gareth Hinds has done a brilliant job of further bringing Poe's stories and characters to life in this graphic novel. The art style is dark, yet classic - warm colour tones intermingled with deep shadows and attention to the placement of light sources.

My favourite art has to be the inner front and back covers - I just adore the raven, lock, skull, saw, coffin, bottle, lantern, bell, mask, knife, cameo pin, and rat sketches that look almost chalk-like against the black. Honestly it'd make for a stunning (if not somewhat terrifying!) wallpaper.

The graphic novel features some of Poe's best work, including: The Masque of the Red Death, The Cask of Amontillado, Annabel Lee, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Bells, and The Raven. The one that had me fangirling the most has to be The Tell-Tale Heart, which has always been one of my favourite Poe pieces.

For those who love revisiting the classics, or who have an interest in graphic novels and the incredible art they contain, Poe: Stories and Poems is a enjoyable addition to any shelf.

Find out more about the book & add it to your Goodreads bookshelf today!










Which book will you be adding to your TBR? What was the most enchanting edition you came across in 2017?

Let me know in the comments below!


















Although I was provided with a review copy by the author and/or publisher, all opinions expressed in the this post are purely my own. To find out more, please visit my disclaimer page.



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