Category: Book Reviews

October 2021 Wrap Up

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So Halloween is over for another year and now we are into what I call pre-Halloween. Now this month was probably one of my best reading month probably ever! I read loads of spooky books this month and had a great time. I also managed to finally get back into Netgalley and started reading ARCs again which was super fun.

  • I read 6 books this month.
  • I read 1 ARC this month.
  • Genre: 4 fantasy, 1 horror and 1 non-fiction.
  • Gender of authors: 6 women and 1 man.
  • Race of authors: 3 white authors, 2 black authors, 1 south asian author and 1 pacific islander author
  • Age range: 2 middle grade, 2 YA, 1 children’s and 1 adult
  • Format: 3 paperback, 2 hardcover and 1 eBook.

If you want to read more in-depth versions of my thoughts click the the titles for my reviews.

Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria (4.5 stars)

Going into this novel I didn’t have many expectations but what I got was a story about friendship and trust. I loved the structure of the novel flicking between the past and present. I loved the the characters and the different relationship dynamics between the core group. This novel was just super fun and exciting to read.

The Monsters of Rookhaven by Padraig Kenny (4 stars)

This book is the perfect mix of The Addams Family meets Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children! So much heart, so much excitement and so much adventure. I loved the huge variety of characters and the multiple POVs introduced. This was a perfect Halloween read!

All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman (5 stars)

The Hunger Games if it was set in a fantasy world. I loved the world/lore of this novel, the characters and all their varying and complex dynamics, the exploration of family and the exciting yet incredibly tense plot. I read this as an ARC but I am definitely buying the book when it comes out physically I enjoyed it that much!

Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls: 100 Tales of Black Girl Magic edited by Lilly Workneh (4 stars)

I really enjoyed being able to learn about loads of women I had never heard of before and being to learn about their contributions to the world from science to music. I loved the championing of black women/non-binary people in both the illustrations and as well as the individuals mentioned within the novel.

Gustavo, the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago (4 stars)

I just picked this up randomly after being enticed by the beautiful cover. This was a super cute story celebrating the introverts of the world and the beauty of friendship.

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson (5 stars)

Probably my favourite book of the month. I really enjoy books where we see new beliefs and old beliefs clash. Witches vs God essentially and this book was it! I loved the setting, the female protagonist, the writing was so beautiful and structured incredibly well, the messaging within this novel just hit every mark for me.

Year of the Reaper ARC Review

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The past never forgets . . .

Before an ambush by enemy soldiers, Lord Cassia was an engineer’s apprentice on a mission entrusted by the king. But when plague sweeps over the land, leaving countless dead and devastating the kingdom, even Cas’ title cannot save him from a rotting prison cell and a merciless sickness.

Three years later, Cas wants only to return to his home in the mountains and forget past horrors. But home is not what he remembers. His castle has become a refuge for the royal court. And they have brought their enemies with them.

When an assassin targets those closest to the queen, Cas is drawn into a search for a killer…one that leads him to form an unexpected bond with a brilliant young historian named Lena. Cas and Lena soon realize that who is behind the attacks is far less important than why. They must look to the past, following the trail of a terrible secret—one that could threaten the kingdom’s newfound peace and plunge it back into war.

The Monsters of Rookhaven Review

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Mirabelle has always known she is a monster. When the glamour protecting her unusual family from the human world is torn and an orphaned brother and sister stumble upon Rookhaven, Mirabelle soon discovers that friendship can be found in the outside world. But as something far more sinister comes to threaten them all, it quickly becomes clear that the true monsters aren’t necessarily the ones you can see.

Beneath the Citadel Review

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n the city of Eldra, people are ruled by ancient prophecies. For centuries, the high council has stayed in power by virtue of the prophecies of the elder seers. After the last infallible prophecy came to pass, growing unrest led to murders and an eventual rebellion that raged for more than a decade.
 


In the present day, Cassa, the orphaned daughter of rebels, is determined to fight back against the high council, which governs Eldra from behind the walls of the citadel. Her only allies are no-nonsense Alys, easygoing Evander, and perpetually underestimated Newt, and Cassa struggles to come to terms with the legacy of rebellion her dead parents have left her — and the fear that she may be inadequate to shoulder the burden. But by the time Cassa and her friends uncover the mystery of the final infallible prophecy, it may be too late to save the city — or themselves.

The Whistling Review

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Author: Rebecca Netley Series: Standalone Genre: Horror No. of pages: 400 Dates read: 20.09.21 – 21.09.21 Star Rating: 2 stars ARC Publisher: Michael Joesph Date Published: 14.10.21 Plot: Alone in the world, Elspeth Swansome takes the position of nanny to a family on the remote Scottish island of Skelthsea. Her charge, Mary, hasn’t uttered a […]

September 2021 Wrap Up

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September was a very interesting mix of books this month. It started off strong and started teetering by the end but the books that I did enjoy will stay with me for a long time. I also started my new job as a BOOKSELLER this month which is monumental. So far, it has been great and I am super excited for what’s to come. Let’s jump in!

  • I read 6 books this month.
  • I read 1 ARC this month.
  • I DNFed 1 book this month, that’s 6 so far for the year.
  • Genre: 3 fantasy, 1 contemporary, 1 horror and 1 non-fiction.
  • Gender of authors: 4 women and 2 men.
  • Race of authors: 3 white authors, 1 asian author, 1 black author and 1 Middle Eastern author.
  • Age range: 3 adult and 3 YA
  • Format: 4 paperback, 1 eBook, 1 hardcover.

If you want to read more in-depth versions of my thoughts click the the titles for my reviews.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir (4 stars)

This was an YA I had heard loads about and I finally managed to get round to read it. I loved the world building, loved the characters (especially the variety of female characters) and the plot was INTENSE! I completely understand the reason why this book got the hype.

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (5 stars)

Another YA book that I picked up due to the hype on social media and another YA book that DID NOT DISAPPOINT! This novel was super impactful, it was intense and I loved exploring the characters and watching them grow over the course of the book. I had to pick my jaw up from the ground.

The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir (4 stars)

I am not a massive non-fiction reader but having grown up learning all about the Tudors I really wanted to continue that learning and expand on my knowledge. I really enjoyed this book and I got lost in the history and the past of the country I live in. There was so much I didn’t know and it was super fun to learn so much more.

The Whistling by Rebecca Netley (2 stars)

This was a book that I read as an ARC. So, thank you Netgalley and Micheal Joseph for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review. The review in question will be out this week so stay tuned.

The Child Thief by Brom (DNF)

This was a book that had been on my TBR since 2015! So I am super sad to say that I didn’t love it. I personally didn’t connect to the story or characters and it was also too dark for my personal preference. I also didn’t love how the women were portrayed.

One Piece Omnibus Vol. 1 by Eiichiro Oda (3 stars)

I have heard so much about this series both as the manga and as the anime. I thought the anime might be a bit hard to tackle so I decided to give the manga a go. My thoughts are mainly that it was super fun but I didn’t connect to the story too much. The characters were cool and I enjoyed the funny moments but I am personally not running to buy the next volume.

Ace of Spades Review

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Welcome to Niveus Private Academy, where money paves the hallways, and the students are never less than perfect. Until now. Because anonymous texter, Aces, is bringing two students’ dark secrets to light. Talented musician Devon buries himself in rehearsals, but he can’t escape the spotlight when his private photos go public. Head girl Chiamaka isn’t afraid to get what she wants, but soon everyone will know the price she has paid for power.  Someone is out to get them both. Someone who holds all the aces. And they’re planning much more than a high-school game…

An Ember in the Ashes Review

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Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death.

When Laia’s grandparents are brutally murdered and her brother arrested for treason by the empire, the only people she has left to turn to are the rebels.

But in exchange for their help in saving her brother, they demand that Laia spy on the ruthless Commandant of Blackcliff, the Empire’s greatest military academy. Should she fail it’s more than her brother’s freedom at risk . . . Laia’s very life is at stake.

There, she meets Elias, the academy’s finest soldier. But Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined – and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

August Wrap Up 2021

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So, a bit of a rocky month last month. I basically didn’t read any books for the last 2 weeks of the month as I was celebrating birthdays. I still managed to read some books but I could have read more.

  • I read 6 books this month.
  • I DNFed 2 book this month, that’s 5 so far for the year.
  • Genre: 2 fantasy, 2 contemporary, 1 murder mystery and 1 romance
  • Gender of authors: 4 women and 2 men.
  • Race of authors: 4 white and 2 asian
  • Age range: 3 adult and 3 YA
  • Format: 2 paperback, 2 webtoon, 1 manga and 1 ebook

Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett (DNF)

I think it is time to say goodbye to Mr Pratchett. Sadly, while I enjoyed some of his books I just don’t love them enough. They are either good or bad and no book has ever really impressed me. Because of that I have decided to not continue reading the Discworld series.

The Appeal by Janice Hallett (5 stars)

OMG! What a book! This will be a book that I will forever be screaming from the mountain tops that people should read it. What makes this book so unique is that it is written in the form of emails, text messages, newspaper clippings and it make for such an exciting and fresh reading experience. The characters were written so well, the mystery had me on the edge of my seat and the ending was just perfect. A must read!

The Binding by Bridget Collins (DNF)

There was nothing majorly wrong with this novel, I just could not connect to it in the slightest. Then about 25% in some changes happened which I just didn’t personally like and I just decided not to continue.

Always Human by Ari North (3 stars)

This webtoon was beautiful! The colours, the character design, the music was all perfect. This story is more character focused than plot focused which isn’t something I normally go for and, especially at the beginning of the novel, I struggled a little bit with the relationship as it felt quite rushed and the mis-communication trope was very strong but by the end of the comic I found myself really enjoying the characters and their love story.

Your Letter by Hyeon A Cho (4 stars)

This was a really beautiful mystery comic with an amazing art style, really interesting characters and I wish it was longer than it was!

Komi Can’t Communicate Vol. 1 by Tomohito Oda (2 stars)

This was a bit disappointing. The art style and the premise of the manga was good but it fell short with overly stereotyped characters which at times were borderline harmful representation. This manga had a lot of potential and obviously I am only commenting on the first volume but I just felt the author relied more on harmful stereotypes.