Blog Tour Review: Blades of Furry, Vol. 1 by Deya Muniz & Emily Erdos

May 15, 2025May 15, 2025 Dini @ dinipandareads15 Comments

Hi friends, I’m back for another blog tour today! I’m excited to share my thoughts as part of the blog tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Tours for Blades of Furry by Deya Muniz & Emily Erdos.

Thanks to Little, Brown Ink for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Click the banner above or here to check out the other incredible bloggers on the blog tour!

Blades of Furry, Vol. 1
Publisher: Little, Brown Ink
Publication Date: 13 May 2025
Genre: Young Adult Graphic Novel

Rating:

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📖 SYNOPSIS

Enter the high stakes world of battle skating in this rivals-to-lovers romance based on the spectacularly popular webcomic.

Emile is an up-and-coming rookie in battle skating, a sport that combines the grace of figure skating with the high impact sparring of martial arts. Just as he is gearing up to fight in his next duel at the championships, there’s a change in the lineup! To his horror, he’ll have to face off against reigning champion Radu, the best battle skater in the world (and Emile’s longtime skating idol). There’s no way he can win!

During a pivotal moment in their match, however, Emile discovers Radu’s most closely guarded secret…and it’s a bloody one. This could destroy Radu’s career for good, but when feelings start to develop between them both on and off the rink, will this rivalry turn into something more…?

Based on the WEBTOON hit comic with over forty million views and half a million subscribers, this irresistible story full of heart-pounding romance, breathtaking skate battles, and secrets both good and bad is now available in a gorgeous print edition that includes never-before-seen content!

📚 BUY A COPY

TL;DR: Inject this into my veins because I want to live and breathe this 24/7. Holy granola, I don’t have the words for how much I enjoyed this and I’m so glad it came on my radar. Not to exaggerate or anything, but if I could give it a million stars I would. It might even be one of my favourite reads of the year and I know that sounds wild but honestly, I had the best time reading it. I laughed, cried, squee-d and even raged in frustration. Not only did it make me feel all the things but it left me feeling so full of happy, and I can’t remember the last time a book left me feeling this satisfied. 🥹 I came to love these characters and got so invested in their arcs that I may have gone to finish what’s available of the Webtoon series because I’m not going to put myself through the torture of waiting any longer than I have to. Sorry, not sorry! 🤭 Needless to say, this has easily slotted itself into my favourite graphic novels/webcomics of all time and I would urge you to check it out asap. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed, even if you don’t consider yourself to be a furry (cos neither was I)! 😉

#WWWWednesday: 14 May 2025

May 14, 2025 Dini @ dinipandareads21 Comments

Hello, hello and welcome back to another episode of WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be answering these questions:

What did you read last?
What are you currently reading?
What will you read next?

#TopTenTuesday: Changes in Review Style Over Time

May 13, 2025 Dini @ dinipandareads38 Comments

We’re back with another Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week’s topic is: Ways in Which My Blogging/Review Style Has Changed Over Time (submitted by Susan @ Bloggin’ ’bout Books)

Ultimate Blog Tour Review: The Thief of Farrowfell by Ravena Guron

May 12, 2025May 12, 2025 Dini @ dinipandareads10 Comments

Hello friends, I hope the dreaded Monday is treating you well! I’m excited to be taking part in the Ultimate Blog Tour hosted by The Write Reads for The Thief of Farrowfell by Ravena Guron.

Special thanks to Faber and Faber Ltd. for providing a digital copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review! Be sure to check out the other bloggers on tour! ⇣

The Thief of Farrowfell (The Thief of Farrowfell #1)
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Publication Date: 4 May 2023
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Panda Rating:

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📖 SYNOPSIS

Welcome to a fantasy world where edible magic is the hottest commodity, traded between those who can pay or – in the case of Jude Ripon, the youngest thief in Farrowfell – those who can steal it!

Twelve-year-old Jude Ripon has never been taken seriously by her family of magic-stealing masterminds. To them, she’s just the youngest, only good for keeping watch while they carry out daring heists.

Desperate to prove her worth, Jude decides to steal valuable magic from the fanciest house in town…

But Jude’s stolen prize was protected by a curse which threatens to wreak havoc on the family business.

While attempting to untangle the mess she’s made (and wondering why anyone would want to curse an honest thief trying to earn a living), Jude discovers just how far her family will go to stay at the top of the criminal world.

Suddenly, her quest to become a true Ripon isn’t straightforward any more…

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Kidnapping (recounted), violence, blood (minor), consumption of magic likened to drug use/addiction

📚 BUY A COPY

TL;DR: The Thief of Farrowfell is a solid first book in this new middle-grade fantasy series. With a unique magic system and compelling characters who will easily have you rooting for them, this is an action-packed adventure-filled novel that I think many young readers will find joy reading! While it does get somewhat dark and sinister at times, Jude is a great main character who keeps it real but also, continues to feel hope throughout the read that doesn’t let the story get bogged down. Despite the triumphs, I wouldn’t say this book has a happy ending exactly; however, it was a very hopeful one and I look forward to continuing the series and seeing where Jude’s story goes next.

Sundays in Bed With… #MyWeeklyWrapUp [282]

May 11, 2025 Dini @ dinipandareads7 Comments

We’re back with another Sundays in Bed With… meme! This meme dares to ask you what book has been in your bed this morning and is hosted by Midnight Book Girl. Come share what book you’ve spent your time reading in bed or wish you had time to read today.

I’ll spend my Sunday night finishing The Thief of Farrowfell by Ravena Guron. I’m reading this MG fantasy for a blog tour (my spot is tomorrow!) and I’m enjoying it quite a bit. It’s an action-packed fantasy with an interesting magic concept. It’s a bit darker than I expected but I’m curious to see where this series will go. Also, I love the chapter illustrations so much! 😍

Let’s Talk Bookish: The Motivation to Read

May 9, 2025May 13, 2025 Dini @ dinipandareads28 Comments

✨ Welcome back to another week of LTB! ✨

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme created by Rukky @Eternity Books and co-hosted by Aria @Book Nook Bits and myself! In this discussion meme, participants get to talk about certain topics, share opinions, and spread the love by visiting each other’s posts! Learn more about LTB, past topics and future topics HERE.

This week’s topic is:

Motivation to Read

Suggested by: Jillian @ Jillian the Bookish Butterfly
Prompts: How do you motivate yourself to sit down and concentrate on reading? Do you have a set reading time/schedule that works best for you to focus? Do you have tips/tricks that you would recommend others try?

Monthly Wrap-Up: April 2025

May 8, 2025May 8, 2025 Dini @ dinipandareads18 Comments

I feel like I just posted my March wrap-up so how is it already time to post my April wrap-up!? 🫣 I honestly don’t have much to say about how April was because I really didn’t do anything. Coming back from Japan was rough and of course, getting back to work was diving straight into the deep end with no time to slowly sink back in (I’m pretty sure my office doesn’t know how to do that, lol)! It was tough but we managed. From my trip to Japan, I think I’ve developed a minor obsession with Pop Mart—the toy company that makes the popular Labubu dolls. I didn’t think I’d be into Labubu but after getting one in Japan, I’m finding them oddly adorable and hard to resist, lol. I’ve also developed a fascination with Hirono figurines! Please indulge me as I share photos of my small toy collection. 🥹

#WWWWednesday: 7 May 2025

May 7, 2025 Dini @ dinipandareads21 Comments

Hello, hello and welcome back to another episode of WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be answering these questions:

What did you read last?
What are you currently reading?
What will you read next?

#TopTenTuesday: Fancy These ‘F’-ine Titles?

May 6, 2025 Dini @ dinipandareads57 Comments

We’re back with another Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week’s topic is: Authors (or books by authors) Who Live In My State/Country (submitted by Jennifer @ Funk-N-Fiction) but I’m going rogue!

ARC Review: Sliding Home Jaqueline Snowe

May 5, 2025May 4, 2025 Dini @ dinipandareads7 Comments

Special thanks to Jaqueline Snowe for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Sliding Home (Out of the Park #2)
Publication Date: 6 May 2025
Genre: Adult Contemporary Sports Romance

Panda Rating:

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📖 SYNOPSIS

Two years ago, she pushed him away. Now, he’s back… and he’s not giving up.

Michelle Benning has no time for distractions—not when she’s juggling school, two jobs, and a past she refuses to look back on. Love? It’s never been part of her plan. So when Brooks Madsen, the rising baseball star she once almost let in, walks back into her life, she’s determined to keep him at arm’s length.

Brooks never understood why Michelle ran, but he’s never forgotten her. Their connection was real—fiery, intense, and impossible to ignore. And now that he’s back in town, he wants answers. But for every step closer he gets, Michelle puts up another wall.

She thinks she’s protecting herself. He knows she’s running. And when the past she’s been hiding from comes crashing back, Michelle has to decide: keep running… or finally let Brooks be the one person she trusts to stay.

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Child abuse (recounted, minor detail), substance abuse/addiction (secondary character, mentioned), extortion/black mail, stalking, parent with dementia (on page, detailed)

TL;DR: Sliding Home is a great second-chance romance featuring two tough MCs who are easy to like and whom you almost immediately want to root for! Michelle and Brooks were great characters individually but together, their romance gave angst and a whole lot of (delightful) tension! I loved their “will-they-won’t-they” dance and found myself fully invested in their HEA. While this is very character driven, there was also a mini-suspenseful plot that made sense to the story, but I found the reasoning behind the third-act to be a bit frustrating, even if I did understand how it fit into their story. Overall, this had the character depth I feel I have been missing in a lot of the (indie) romances I read these days, and I loved it! If you’re looking for a non-sports heavy “sports romance”, a second-chance romance where the characters work to reach a good place, and plenty of open communicative moments, then I would recommend checking this out.