Category: All Things Books

October Wrap Up 2019

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I went into October really wanting to get into the spooky vibe. I am not the biggest celebrator of Halloween as it just wasn’t something my family really celebrated but I wanted to get into the spooky spirit and I felt that the best way to do that was by reading some good spooky books. I read books with ghosts, with witches, books that had murder occur. Overall, a very successful month in terms of theme. Not so successful when it came to ratings.

A Spell for Murder by Kennedy Kerr (2.5 stars)

A fun and unique murder mystery set in Scotland where our sleuth is a witch with the power to be able to see the history of whatever object she touches. This book was average to me. The writing was not for me, it was the main reason I struggled with the book as certain things written down pulled me out of the story. A lot of potential with this series though.

A House of Ghosts by W.C. Ryan (5 stars)

A WW1 murder mystery set in an isolated manor during a stormy night. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The atmosphere was really chilling, the POV’s were really engaging and it had me questioning until the very end.

Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu (3 stars)

A very cute graphic novel. I loved the art style and the abundance of representation and diversity but sadly I wasn’t the biggest fan of the structuring of this story. Certain things felt rushed or underdeveloped so I didn’t connect to the characters as much as I had hoped.

The Allingham Minibus by Margery Allingham (2.5 stars)

Another disappointing read for me. I don’t read many short story collections so going into it I was super excited. While there were some really good stories sadly, they were few and far between.

Mooncakes Review

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A lovely, cosy, fantasy romance.

Nova Huang knows more about magic than your average teen witch. She works at her grandmothers’ bookshop, where she helps them loan out spell books and investigate any supernatural occurrences in their New England town. One fateful night, she follows reports of a white wolf into the woods, and she comes across the unexpected: her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods. As a werewolf, Tam has been wandering from place to place for years, unable to call any town home. Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help. Their latent feelings are rekindled against the backdrop of witchcraft, untested magic, occult rituals, and family ties both new and old in this enchanting tale of self-discovery.

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A House of Ghosts Review

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A perfect read for a spooky season.

Winter 1917. As the First World War enters its most brutal phase, back home in England, everyone is seeking answers to the darkness that has seeped into their lives. At Blackwater Abbey, on an island off the Devon coast, Lord Highmount has arranged a spiritualist gathering to contact his two sons who were lost in the conflict. But as his guests begin to arrive, it gradually becomes clear that each has something they would rather keep hidden. Then, when a storm descends on the island, the guests will find themselves trapped. Soon one of their number will die. For Blackwater Abbey is haunted in more ways than one…

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A Spell for Murder Review

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Another review this fine Thursday afternoon.

This is a very fitting read for the month we are in with Witches, Occult themes and a murder mystery.

Down a quiet lane in town sits a little shop full of oddities you’d probably miss if you weren’t looking for it. This is Love’s Curiosities Inc., and its owner, Temerity Love, is sought by experts all over the world for her rare and magical gift: the ability to find lost things and learn their stories. When Lost Maidens’ pretty local school teacher is found murdered by a poisoned cup of tea, a strange antique hand mirror is discovered nearby. Temerity – with the help of witchy sister Tilda, their cats Scylla and Charybdis and the lovingly eccentric local townspeople – is determined to divine the story behind the mirror and its part in Miss Molly Bayliss’ untimely death. If only grumpy out-of-towner Angus Harley of Lost Maidens Police wasn’t on the scene. Temerity can’t solve the crime without him, but he’s distracting, and in more ways than one. Can this unconventional duo solve the most mysterious murder ever to blight Lost Maidens Loch before the killer strikes again?

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September Wrap Up 2019

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Here are all the books I read in September of 2019.

Titans of History by Simon Sebag Montefiore (2 stars)

So, this book is a biography about many famous people of history and it started off pretty great. I was loving all the people included and was finding out some pretty interesting facts and then… I just got bored. The writing was boring, the closer you get to the present the more boring the “titans” chosen were and I just lost momentum with this massive book. So, I was not a fan by the end.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (5 stars)

Personally, I am a bit biased when it comes to this book. I read this series when I was younger and absolutely adored it. A couple of years later, nothing has changed. I loved Percy’s POV and his witty sense of humour and I loved just being able to be apart of this world again.

Mort by Terry Pratchett (4 stars)

I was a bit worried after reading Equal Rites as I was quite disappointed with that book. So, going into this one I was apprehensive as I didn’t want to be disappointed again. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. This was so much fun. The world building was immaculate, I wanted to explore every facet of this part of the series and I was very sad when the book ended.

The Body on the Train by Frances Brody (4 stars)

My first ever Netgalley review! I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, the main character was an amazing female character, the plot was enticing but nothing beat the amazing atmosphere she conjured up. I felt on the edge of my seat all the way through this book.