Review: King Arthur: A Life From Beginning to End by Hourly History

Title: King Arthur: A Life From Beginning to End
Author: Hourly History
Publication: September 19th 2017
Genre: Nonfiction, History
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Rating: 4/5★

Dating back to the fifth century, the legend of King Arthur, his Queen Guinevere, and the Knights of the Round Table is an integral part of British national mythology. From its beginning as a few lines of Latin text written in a sixth-century monk’s hand, Arthurian legend has blossomed over the years into a unique universe built on the real foundations of Britain’s Dark Ages and the principles of ancient chivalry.

Liberally expanded over the years to include romantic entanglements, an imaginary ancient empire, and the threat of the supernatural, the legend of King Arthur remains as engaging today as it was in medieval times. King Arthur’s life, whether it happened or not, cuts to the core of the Matter of Britain and reveals the heart of Britain’s fanciful idea of its origin.

I actually really liked this short book about King Arthur and where his myth came from. It doesn't go into deep about it all but it's only 37 pages so it's to be expected. 

The story of king Arthur and the knights of the round table has been a favorite of mine for ages so I really liked learning more about where it supposedly all started, which is around the time that the Romans left Great Britain and the remaining people needed a hero. 

The book also goes into the different stories that surround the legend of Arthur and maybe it's just me but I couldn't help but notice how some of these stories, though not all of them, were very similar to some Greek myths that we all know very well. For example, I couldn't help but draw parallels between King Arthur and Hercules. It was striking actually.

For a free book, King Arthus: A Life From Beginning to End was a pretty good one. It was a really quick read as all Hourly History books are since they can be read in way less than an hour and can be read in one sitting even. 

Check out my other Hourly History reviews:

The Black Death: A History From Beginning To End

Mayan Civilization: A History From Beginning To End

Vlad the Impaler: A Life From Beginning To End

Leonardo da Vinci: A Life From Beginning To End

Napoleon: A Life From Beginning To End

Titanic: The Story of the Unsinkable Ship

Caligula: A Life From Beginning To End

More Hourly History reviews to come soon!

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Little Mermaid and Other Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. It's based on Waiting On Wednesday hosted at Breaking the Spine.

The Little Mermaid and Other Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen
Expected publication: March 6th 2018 by Harper Design

Featuring beloved characters such as the Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, and the Snow Queen, a deluxe full-color edition of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairytales, illustrated with stunning drawings and interactive artwork from MinaLima, the award-winning design studio behind the graphics for the Harry Potter film franchise—the perfect companion for fans of the Disney live-action film The Little Mermaid which will include a mix of songs from Hamilton‘s Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alan Menken.

Nearly two hundred years after its publication in 1837, Hans Christian Andersen’s timeless fairytales continue to inspire young imaginations. This beautiful unabridged edition brings together many of the Danish writer’s favorite stories that have become literary classics, including "The Little Mermaid", "Thumbelina", "The Snow Queen", "The Princess and the Pea", "The Ugly Duckling", "The Emperor’s New Clothes", and more.

The thirteen stories in The Little Mermaid and Other Fairy Tales are illustrated with specially commissioned artwork and ten exclusive interactive features including:

A dial with six mermaids
A Duckling transforming into a swan
Mattresses that pull away to reveal a pea
The Snow Queen’s palace
Gorgeously designed, this keepsake illustrated edition—the fourth book in Harper Design’s series of reimagined children’s classics—will be treasured by readers of all ages for generations to come.

Review: To the Ends of the Earth by Skye Warren

Title: To the Ends of the Earth
Author: Skye Warren
Series: Stripped #5
Publication: November 14th 2016
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | Kobo
Rating: 4/5★

A story about the lengths we go for love...

"What happens when a girl from a cult catches the eye of a strong, dangerous fighter? I loved this passionate story of a woman on the run and a man who is totally freaking obsessed with her." – Annika Martin, New York Times bestselling author

Another rundown apartment. Another job that pays cash. Every new city it becomes harder to hide but I can't stop running.

There are two men after me...
One wants to save my soul. The other wants to claim my body.

Part of me wants Luca to catch me, even knowing what he's capable of. An enforcer. A fighter. The only language he speaks is violence.

How far will he go to find me?
What will he do once he does?

A wild glance over my shoulder. The shadows are moving.
I'm about to find out.

TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH can be read as a standalone! It includes characters introduced in the Stripped series, so if you strongly prefer to read from the beginning, you can one-click Tough Love for free!

I don't know how it's even possible but for some reason I didn't know there was a fifth book in the Stripped series so I didn't get around to buying and reading it until recently. This is my favorite series by Skye Warren and this book confirms it yet again. 

I really enjoyed To the Ends of the Earth. It was a very quick read and it had just the right tempo for me. It wasn't rushed like some shorter books tend to be and the romance was so amazing. And gosh, how I loved Beth and Luca. They're my second favorite couple from the series (the first being Ivan and Candy).

This is the story of Beth formerly known as Sarah Elizabeth who grew up living in a cult. Now she's on the run with her one-year-old daughter from two men. One wants to save her soul, the other wants to claim her body, like the synopsis says. 

The scenes between Beth and Luca we're pretty heavy with chemistry but nothing actually happened until 70% of the book. I guess there could've been a little more sexy scenes but considering what happened to Beth in the cult I thought it was all written pretty well. Luca definitely didn't want to rush into things with Beth, no matter how much he wanted her and I liked him for that. And I loved how sweet Luca was with Beth's daughter. There definitely was the 'awww' factor with them.

Overall, To the Ends of the Earth by Skye Warren was a sweet and sexy story. It can be read as a standalone but as always I would recommend you to start from the beginning, starting with Tough Love. 

Author bio:
Skye Warren is the New York Times bestselling author of dangerous romance such as the Endgame trilogy. Her books have been featured in Jezebel, Buzzfeed, USA Today Happily Ever After, Glamour, and Elle Magazine. She makes her home in Texas with her loving family, sweet dogs, and evil cat.
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My other reviews in the Stripped series:

#0.5: Tough Love — 3/5★

#1: Love the Way You Lie — 4/5★

#2: Better When It Hurts — 3/5★

#2.5: Even Better — 3.5/5★

#3: Pretty When You Cry — 5/5★

#3.5: Caught For Christmas — 4/5★

#4: Hold You Against Me — 4/5★