Day 28. Thank YOU. RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh

Thank you guys so, so much for keeping up with the 28 Days of Reckless: The Petrified Flesh. Even though work has been crazy (and I've gotten a little behind on a day or two), I've had a lot of fun doing this. So, to everyone who read my posts, retweeted them, and <3'd them on Twitter -  Thank you. You are great. Hopefully I was able to convince at least one person to read the books. If you haven't read the book, you were probably confused while reading some of these. So, go read the book and be un-confused!  I love you all. As always I'll post the links under the cover to the places you can learn about the Reckless Series and purchase the first book on Amazon.

<3

Breathing Books Website    Cornelia Funke's Website    Reckless Series Twitter Page

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Day 27. Z is for Zealous. RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh

Z is for Zealous

These last 3 letters have been seriously difficult. So, I decided to talk about my zealousness for this series. I know that I can be a bit overbearing with my love for the books, but guys... this series has been such a happy place for me. It's gotten me through so much, and I'm so grateful for the world that Cornelia Funke created. So I most definitely can be overzealous about it. I'd like to take this sentence and thank Nikki for listening to all of the Hentzau chapters in the audio books.(Even if Nikki is a John Reckless fan. :P) Anyway. I'll save me thank you for the rest of you who have been keeping up with these posts of the last month. 

<3

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Day 26. Y is for Yesterday. RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh.

Y is for Yesterday

I literally have nothing for this post. I decided to drop off one of the most popular highlights in the first book, though. I'd talk about the chapter labeled "DREAMS" because it's gorgeous, but you guys already know that I love the Dark Fairy and Kami'en and that they're my OTP FOREEEEEVER. So, I'll drop this lovely line from "Dreams" aka chapter 22 in TPF

"Neither Goyl nor men lived long enough to understand that yesterday was born of tomorrow, just as tomorrow was born of yesterday." -  Cornelia Funke, RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh.

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Day 25. X. RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh.

Sorry I'm late on my posts. I work retail so weekends are super crazy for me. Plus, I've been sick, so I just haven't gotten around to posting these.

 X

X is a seriously hard letter to fin a word to go with. So, I decided to do it like Roman Numerals kind of thing and talk about Chapter 10 in the book. In chapter 10, the reader really gets to see the relationship/closeness of the two main characters in the series and also learn their backstory. Fox and Jacob have such good chemistry in the Reckless series, and for the first time, you get to see Fox in her human skin instead of the fur of the vixen. In this chapter, Jacob makes a decision to go seek help from the one person he swore he'd never go back to and it sets a lot of things into motion.

Breathing Books Website   Cornelia Funke's Website   Reckless Series Twitter Page

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Day 24. W is for Will Reckless. RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh

W is for Will Reckless

Will Reckless is one of our main characters and Jacob's brother. Where Jacob is more hard and lives up to his last name, Will is calm and gentle. That is until the Jade takes over his skin. The calmness and kindness that makes Will who he is becomes shadowed by the rage that lurks under every Goyl's stone skin. He's the fiercest Goyl/Man-Goyl and lives up to the myth that every Goyl child grows up hearing.

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Day 23. V is for Valiant. RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh

Evenaugh Valiant is the character I see most vividly in my head from the Reckless Series. I hate that I actually like him because you can't trust him - at all. His allegiance is strictly to himself and what's going to benefit him. Dwarves in general aren't very fond of humans, but Jacob and Valiant have a very tense history, and their dislike for each other is very present in TPF, I'm really curious to see if he'll be more of a friend or foe for the rest of the series.

Breathing Books Website   Cornelia Funke's Website   Reckless Series Twitter Page

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Day 22. U is for Underground. RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh

U is for Underground

I'm sure it won't surprise any of you, but if I could live anywhere in the MirrorWorld, it would be underground in a Goyl city. In my opinion, the underground world of the Goyl is the most beautiful place in all the MirrorWorld. Imagine frozen waterfalls, crystal flowers blossoming, mosaics made by some of the greatest artisans in the world (I just figure they have to be. Growing up surrounded by so much color and beauty has to have created amazing artists underground.) 

"Houses, towers and palaces grew from the bottom of the cave and up its walls, like wasps' nests." - RECKLESS, Cornelia Funke. (the city around the Goyl palace.)

"Higher up, above the houses and the web of bridges that looked as if it had been woven by a steel-spinning spider, hung a series of gigantic stalactites. The largest one was dotted with metal towers pointing downward like spears, and the whole structure glowed as if its walls had been saturated with the moonlight of the world above." - Reckless, Cornelia Funke (about the Goyl palace)

Guys, I would move there TODAY. As a bonus, there's no Donald Trump there! That's a win by itself!

Breathing Books Website   Cornelia Funke's Website   Reckless Series Twitter Page

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Day 21. T is for the Tailor. RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh

T is for the Tailor

The Tailor, to me, is the most horrifying creature we've met behind the mirror so far. I could tell you about him,or you could just watch his story for yourself! You'll also see that villains aren't so clear cut in the MirrorWorld. It's easy to sympathize with them.

So, click the link below, and find out about the Tailor!

How the Tailor Came to the Hungry Forest

Breathing Books Website  Cornelia Funke's Website  Reckless Series Twitter Page

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Day 20. S is for Scorpions. RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh

S is for Scorpions

If you find yourself in a Goyl prison, you should probably consider telling them what they want to hear. You, more than likely, won't make it out alive, but you don't want to make your stay in the cell any worse than it has to be. They will find ways to loosen your tongue. It's well known behind the mirror that the Goyl like to use scorpions on their human prisoners to get information from them.

To quote Hentzau -"There's not much they can do to our skin...but yours is so much softer."

So, hopefully you won't be foolish enough to end up in the underground prison, but if you are that foolish, you may have to endure the venom of scorpions.

Breathing Books Website  Cornelia Funke's Website  Reckless Series Twitter Page

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Day 19. R is for Rose. RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh

R is for Rose

Magic comes disguised in many forms behind the mirror. Things that we wouldn't think twice about here could hold something dangerous or it could hold something miraculous. Not far from the Fairies Island, is a Unicorn Graveyard. Growing among the corpses of the majestic animals are roses that are a very special kind of magic. The Thorn Curse. It's the same kind of curse that was put on Sleeping Beauty. It makes you fall into a sleep that only true love can wake you from. If true love doesn't find you, however, your body will stay young, but your soul will wither away and turn to dust beneath your skin. You know what all is going on around you, but you are powerless to move, to speak, or "live" in any way. So, you may want to stay away from roses behind the Mirror.

Breathing Books Website   Cornelia Funke's Website   Reckless Series Twitter Page 

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Day 18. Q is for Quotes. RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh

Q is for Quotes

So, there are some very beautiful lines in TPF. Not surprising, though. Cornelia Funke has one of the prettiest writing voices in the world. While the Reckless series is a bit darker and grittier than some of her other books, the words are still magical and just gorgeous. So, here are some of my favorites from The Petrified Flesh (some of them are really random, but whatever.)

"What kind of world is this? If fur turns to skin, and skin to stone, what remains?"

"Clara looked at the dust-covered lamp above her. The white porcelain looked so normal. It's ordinariness made the terror of the house even more palpable for Clara."

"The pale green stone ran through his skin like a promise."

"...he had learned that the world made no sense and their were no happy endings."

"She had indeed dreamed the truth. 

Or spun the truth from a dream."

"Where did love come from? What was it made of? Stone, like Kami'en? Water, like her and her sisters?"

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Day 17. P is for Petrified Flesh and Page 81. RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh

P is for Petrified Flesh and Page 81

Like all fairies, the Dark Fairy can not have children, so to give Kami'en "children", she placed a curse on all of his soldiers' claws that whenever they strike a human with them, the human will begin to grow a skin of stone like the Goyl. In TPF, Hentzau states that there are already thousands of them. You can find Man-Goyl in many different colors behind the Mirror, but until now, there has never been a Goyl or Man-Goyl with a Jade skin. The legend of the Jade Goyl is that he will make the king he serves invincible - even to death. So, it is very important for Hentzau to find the Jade Goyl for his king, but he doesn't realize that the Jade Goyl has a brother (Jacob) who is just as stubborn fighting his hardest to purge the Jade from his brother Will.

As a bonus guys, I want to talk about Page 81 in the original US version of the book. There was a certain paragraph (that I can quote from memory...) that made this book my all time favorite. I was going through a rough patch the first time I read this book, and I felt like no one in the entire world knew how I felt.... But then on Page 81 there was this quote - "...he had learned that the world made no sense and that there were no happy endings."

And that line alone is what made me so attached to this book and the Jasper Goyl who thought it.

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Day 16. O is for Ogre. RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh

O is for Ogre

One of the many inhabitants behind the Mirror is the Ogre. There are many different breeds of Ogres lurking and hunting for human prey, so if you find yourself behind the Mirror, please do be careful. If you do happen to get snatched by one, pray they're the kind that kill you quickly. Not only will you be their meal, but your bones may be turned into a coat rack or even a bowl.

Also, if you happen to be visiting Schwanstein, stop by Albert Chanute's tavern - The Ogre. If Chanute is in a good mood, he may even tell you the tale of how he lost his arm to an Ogre. However, I have a feeling his story would be rather different from the truth. Also, if you look closely, you'll find that very Ogre's right arm hanging on the tavern's wall.

Also, if you go to the Reckless Series Twitter Page, they have a lot more MirrorWorld inhabitants and the different kind of plants you should keep and eye out for,

Breathing Books Website   Cornelia Funke's Website   Reckless Series Twitter Page

RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh on Amazon

Day 15. N is for Nesser. RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh

N is for Nesser

Nesser is, if I'm remembering correctly, the only She-Goyl we've met in the Reckless Series (though, obviously there are many others LOL.) She is a Jasper Goyl like Hentzau and is the only female in his search squad (who are out looking for the Jade Goyl). In the Petrified Flesh, she is only thirteen, but Goyl are considered to be adults at the age of nine. She basically despises all humans because it was humans who murdered her sister, and I'm sure that played a large role in her joining the army. I can't say I blame her. I'd take up arms to avenge my sister's death. Speaking of my sister, Nesser happens to be Nikki's favorite Reckless character! I must say, Nesser's grown on me a lot since re-reading TPF and the Golden Yarn.

Breathing Books Website   Cornelia Funke's Website   Reckless Series Twitter Page

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Day 14. M is for MirrorWorld. RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh

M is for MirrorWorld

Image discovering a doorway to another world that was similar but also very different to our own. A world where fairy-tales come true - even if they don't end how we've been told they do. That's what the MirrorWorld is. It's this insanely beautiful place where you can find adventure pretty much anywhere. It's a little bit farther behind on technology than we are, and its women haven't banded together for their rights yet, but I assure you it'll happen. There are too many strong-willed women behind the mirror for it not to. 

The MirrorWorld is a place for new beginnings where you can be whoever you want to be. It's a place where a 12-year-old boy went looking for his father and ended up becoming the best treasure hunter alive. It's a place where a Carnelian Goyl decided he wanted to be a King, and he fought to become one. It's a place where fur turns to skin and skin turns to stone. 

And it's all just magically beautiful and I want to live there! Anyone want to go looking for the Mirror with me ? ;)

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Day 13. L is for Lark's Water. RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh

L is for Lark's Water

Lark's water is the MirrorWorld's version of a love potion. It's not a clear cut as that, though. If you drink Lark's Water, you suddenly lust after the first living thing you see. It can make the ugliest person look as beautiful as a fairy. You can't bottle it and use it on who you want because it doesn't keep. Let's hope if any of you stumble upon Lark's Water, you're with someone you like!

Breathing Books Website   Cornelia Funke's Website  Reckless Series Twitter Page

RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh on Amazon

Day 12. K is for King Kami'en. RECKLESS: the Petrified Flesh

K is for King Kami'en

If I hadn't taken such a liking to Hentzau in book one, King Kami'en would be my favorite in the MirrorWorld series. He's mentioned and seen a few times throughout the Petrified Flesh, but he really shined in The Golden Yarn. He is seriously the most charming character in the series in my opinion. He and the Dark Fairy are my OTP foreeeeever. I love them. He, like Jacob, makes some not so great decisions, and I want to smack him in the head really, really hard. I do think he had good intentions with his bad decisions, though he also had very selfish motives as well. 

He's just great. 

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Day 11. J is for Jacob Reckless. RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh

J is for Jacob Reckless

Jacob Reckless is the main character in the Reckless Series, and he definitely lives up to his last name. If you ask anyone behind the mirror who the best treasure hunter is, they'll all tell you the same thing - Jacob Reckless. He is stubborn and driven by emotion most of the time. The only place he feels at home is wherever Fox is. 

He's more complex than most MCs I've read lately, and even though I want to knock him in the head sometimes, I still worry about him and hope that everything works out in a good way for him. He's already been through a lot of hell in the first three books, and I know he's going to have to go through a lot more. I think he'd be quite disappointed if he had it easy, though!

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I is for Island.

There are two islands talked about behind the Mirror, but we're going to talk about my favorite one. The fairies island. Unicorns are the fierce protectors of the fairies and their island and very few people know how to get past them to see the fairies (if you're trying to get past the unicorns, get a dwarf on your side. It's rumored they know the secret.) Surrounding the island is a lake covered with white lilies that are known to make the most unattractive woman (by social standards. Because aren't all women beautiful queens in their own way?) to be stunningly beautiful. One known person to have gained her beauty from a fairy lily is the Princess of Austry, Amalie.

The fairy island doesn't know death. It's always alive and beautiful - like its residents. Willows line the shore and dark nets pun from the fairies moth's make tents for the fairies to sleep in. It is rumored by mortals that the Fairy Island is actually the realm of the dead. The only mortal to ever leave the Fairy Island with his life and without permission is Jacob Reckless.  

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Day 9. H is for Hentzau. RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh.

H is for Hentzau.

*Deep breath* Okay, I've promised myself that I will be chill about this post....but seriously guys, for the past 5 years, Hentzau has been my 'book boyfriend'. Like he is my legit book husband. So, I'm a little ecstatic that I'm getting to post about him.

Commander Hentzau is a jasper Goyl and the right hand man of the king of the Goyl - Kami'en. Many years (probably more than a decade) before when The Petrified Flesh takes place, he and Kami'en challenged the chiefs and for two years worked to kill them off so Kami'en could become the first king the Goyl had ever had. 

Hentzau is extremely loyal the king because of their long friendship, and is the only one who can be a smartass to the king without losing his life (Hentzau's just a smartass in general...and I love it.) In TPF, he is sent out by the King's fairy lover to find the Jade Goyl (we'll talk about him later) who, until now, has just been a fairytale. Hentzau has been ground for six years and his sight and hearing has dulled to that of a human - if not a little worse. Reading between the lines from all third book, I'm pretty much convinced Hentzau will not get a happy ending. Fortunately for him, he doesn't believe in happy endings. Which is one reason I'm totally in love with his character. He's just the best. 

Allllllso, my loves, I was the first Hentzau fan that Cornelia Funke had ever heard of....and that just makes me the happiest ever. E.V.E.R. As much as I love him in the first book, he has some of the best dialogue in third book. It just reinforced that I picked the right favorite character for me. 

"...he had learned that the world made no sense and there were no happy endings." - Cornelia Funke, Reckless: The Petrified Flesh. Chapter 11. Hentzau.

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Day 8. G is for Goyl. RECKLESS: the Petrified Flesh.

G is for Goyl

The Goyl are a humanoid race made of stone. Will describes them as angry, calm, and strong. "..darkness. And heat." The Goyl have lived underground in intricate cave cities for centuries, and their palace is underground in the form of a giant stalactite (which I would LOVE to see with my own eyes. Sadly, not many humans get to see it and live.) 

All of my favorites are Goyl (except the Dark Fairy), and I would love nothing more than to sit down and have an interview with a Goyl. To learn their history and see things through golden eyes. I also, would ask completely random questions that don't mean anything to anyone like - So, the Goyl place the heads of their heroes in the walls and leave their bodies to become part of the earth, but what do you do with the dead who AREN'T heroes? Do you just leave them in the streets underground? Do you bury them? Do you freakin' DISPLAY them? Also, do Goyl get engravings like humans get tattoos? If not, they should. I think the Goyl are probably very artistic people. I mean they're surrounded by so many colors and beautiful things, so I bet they're very creative. Also, stone animals...are they a thing? *sigh* Like I said, none of this is important, but they're the things that keep me awake at 5 AM.

A few colors of Goyl skin are: Carnelian (the color of the king), Jasper (for those of you who know my love for Hentzau, the King's right-hand man, probably know that he is brown Jasper), Malachite, Moonstone, Garnet, and Onyx (the color of the former ruling class of the Goyl.) I don't know if there are Alexandrite Goyl, but I would seriously want to be an Alexandrite she-Goyl. Honestly, I'd be happy to be ANY Goyl because they're just kind of badass.

Breathing Books Website   Cornelia Funke's Website   Reckless Series Twitter Page

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Day 7. Fox and Fur. RECKLESS: the Petrified Flesh

F is for Fox and fur

From everything I've seen, Celeste Auger, better known as "Fox", is the most beloved character in the MirrorWorld fandom. She's a teenage girl with a feisty personality and the ability to shape-shift into a fox. She's stubborn and isn't afraid to tell you what's on her mind. She's fiercely protective of Jacob not only for saving her life many years ago but because she's in love with him. I don't know how much she realized it in the beginning of the book, but we definitely see it near the end after an incident with Clara (Will's girlfriend who I was going to blog about on C, but totally forgot lol.) Without Fox, I'm not sure Jacob would do very well in most of the situations he gets himself into behind the Mirror. I would seriously love to have the dress that gives her shape-shifting abilities. It would so much easier to deal with some of the craziness in the world with a fox’s perspective.

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Day 6. Empress Therese of Austry. RECKLESS: the Petrified Flesh

E is for Empress

Therese of Austry is the Empress who is at war with the Goyl in The Petrified Flesh. She's cunning, smart, ambitious, and a damn good actress. All of that together is never a good mix to have in one person. She has an addiction to power, and she will do anything to keep that power. No matter the cost. 

I feel like she's a very complex character, and in many ways is more of a villain than any of the others we've seen in this series. I feel like she had good intentions, but we all know that some very terrible things have happened with good intentions. I'm very curious to see what her character will do in the last few books of the series.

Breathing Books Website  Cornelia Funke's Website  Reckless Series Twitter Page  

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Day 5. the Dark Fairy. RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh

The Dark Fairy

The Dark Fairy is my absolute favorite female character in the Reckless series and, quite possibly, my favorite female character ever. I think why I like her so much is because she doesn't do what's expected of her. She doesn't just stand around and look pretty even though she is the most beautiful creature in all of the MirrorWorld. She left her home to seek out a man she saw in a dream and made sure that everyone behind the Mirror knew who she was despite the fact that none of them know her name.  Even though she is the darkest fairy to ever live, she has a certain calmness and gentleness that makes her even more intense and frightening to humans in my opinion.

Breathing Books Website   Cornelia Funke's Website   Reckless Series Twitter Page

RECKLESS: The Petrified Flesh on Amazon