Someone’s been leaving painted rocks around town. The first I spotted was a slightly terrifying hippo-creature:

Is someone trying to send a message? It is some pagan ritual? Are they worshipping the hippo gods? Maybe it’s to raise awareness of the potential hippo cull in Columbia…

But later that day, a cheery bee appeared:

Josh pointed out that Prince Charles has suggested painting rocks as something to do. Maybe there’s a fan in town.

Then the real message appeared under a poo bin:

Bin your doggy poo!

Well, yes, I do. I like the dog’s little pot-belly, a nice touch. I look forward to seeing what other rocks appear.

In more bookish news, I’ve been keeping up with London Bookshop Crawl online and bought a modest pile of books.

I’ve also finished a bunch of books, even if some of them were short. The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna  was great, some quite gruesome bits for YA, but at its heart is a story about a patriarchy that does horrible things to keep control. Highly recommend this and it’s in my queue to write a proper review.

 

Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard about two princesses in love and an elemental spirit, I always enjoy her world building. This was short and sweet.

I kinda liked Fangirl, Vol. 1: The Manga more than the original novel, as it spent a lot less time telling the fanfic stories which I just didn’t click with. Love the manga style art and I’ll keep my eye out for volume two.

Courtney Summers’ The Project was a disappointment after Sadie, I think it was marketed as one thing, then the story spent ages trying to convince you it wasn’t that thing and then, oh it was after all. I listened on audio because the Sadie production was so good, but the narrators felt miscast, which didn’t help.

I’ve been enjoying doing Top Ten Tuesdays again and hopping round blogs, which I haven’t done in ages. If I haven’t stopped by your blog in a while please leave a link in the comments. Tomorrow is the last day to enter my National Book Token giveaway.

Top Ten Purple Covers

Review: The Sad Ghost Club by Lize Meddings

New books acquired:

Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard (ebook)
When I Arrived at the Castle by Emily Carroll
After the Rain by Nnedi Okorafor + David Brame
The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey
The Swallowed Man by Edward Carey
You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
The Edge by James Smythe
Kill Joy by Holly Jackson (ebook)