Category: Book Reviews

November 2024 Wrap Up

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I can’t believe that we are officially in the last month of 2024. It’s so crazy. But before we get to that, let’s talk about November.

  • I read 12 books this month
  • I DNFd 1 book this month
  • Genre: 4 fantasy, 3 murder mystery, 1 romance, 1 thriller, 1 horror, 1 non-fiction and 1 sci-fi
  • Gender of authors: 7 women and 5 men
  • Race of authors: 8 white authors and 4 asian authors
  • Age range: 7 adult, 4 YA and 1 middle grade
  • Format: 9 paperback and 3 hardback
  • 3.9 stars average rating for the month

A Very Lively Murder – Katy Watson (DNF)

While I loved the main trio of Dahlias and the setting unfortunately I couldn’t get past the really slow pacing and the not that very interesting side characters!

The Wood at Midwinter – Susanna Clarke (1 star)

Yeah… I wasn’t big fan of this. While I can’t deny that Susanna Clarke has a beautiful writing style this book lacked a lot of things. Character, substance, a plot. It made no sense and ended way too soon for anything to make sense.

The Wizard of Oz – Frank L. Baum (2.5 stars)

This was such an interesting reading experience as I have watched the original 1930’s movie and I very recently watched the Wicked movie as well as the whole musical. But I have never read the original story. What I took from it was how imaginative the world was which I loved but the writing style was underwhelming.

Night Side of the River – Jeanette Winterson (4 stars)

Wow. I have not been this impressed by a short story collection in a long time. Soul-bearing, spooky and very black mirror esque. This book had a bit of everything and I was drawn in with every story I read. It is very hard to master the art of writing short stories, not everyone can do it. Smaller word count, tighter plot structure while still needing your reader to connect with your characters and Winterson managed to achieve this so well! My favourites stories were App-arition, Boots, The Door,No Ghost Ghost Story

Murder at Holly House – Denzil Meyrick (4.5 stars)

Going into this book I wasn’t if this was going to be for me. I was trying to figure out if I liked the main character and the narrative voice, I also found the plot to be a bit all over the place at the start but something just would not let me put the book down and as I slowly endeared to Grasby’s idiosyncrasies and the plot starting slowing piecing itself together I found myself needing to pick it back up and find out what happened next. I would be disappointed if my bus turned up at my stop or my break ended and I found myself thoroughly enjoying this book and not wanting it to stop!

Everyone On This Train is a Suspect – Benjamin Stevenson (5 stars)

I think I have found my new favourite crime writer! I love this feeling of loving a book so much, reading the sequel, and then loving that book just as much if not more! Knowing you have a brand new series and author to follow along is an amazing feeling. Going into this book I was not nervous. Normally, when I love the first book in a series I worry I won’t love the next one as much but this time around I just knew I would love it. The writing style is just as hilarious and witty, the narrative structure is just as engaging, and the side characters are just as interesting. I found myself invested very easily and loved following along with Ernest. Stevenson has such a great way of writing first-person dialogue, I am normally a 3rd POV girlie but this is my favourite 1st POV book. The storyline this time is a lot easier to follow and I found it to be structured more clearly than in the first book which made the reading experience flow a bit more. The ending shocked me which is amazing as I am normally super good at guessing who the murderer is in crime novels. I also respect Stevenson’s desire to be fair to the reader and give you all the information you need to solve it in the novel. There is no weird out-of-no-where plot twist or anything. Everything is on the page.

Winter Recommendations 2024

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Another season is upon us. I love winter until January 2nd. After that I want Spring to arrive straight away. Once Christmas and the hype of the new year has died away then I want Spring to sweep me up and away from the cold and the damp. But to make the winter time a bit easier here are some recommendations that I think work well with the season.

  • Title: Murder at Holly House
  • Author: Denzil Meyrick
  • Series: Inspector Frank Grasby #1
  • Format: Paperback
  • Age Rating: Adult
  • Genre: Historical Mystery


Plot: A village of secrets. It’s December 1952, and a dead stranger has been found lodged up the chimney of Holly House in the remote town of Elderby. Is he a simple thief, or a would-be killer? Either way, he wasn’t on anyone’s Christmas wish list. A mystery that can’t be solved. Inspector Frank Grasby is ordered to investigate. The victim of some unfortunate misunderstandings, he hopes this case will help clear his name. But as is often the way for Grasby, things most certainly don’t go according to plan. A Christmas to remember. Soon blizzards hit the North York Moors, cutting off the village from help, and the local doctor’s husband is found murdered. Grasby begins to realise that everyone in Elderby is hiding something – and if he can’t uncover the truth soon, the whole country will pay a dreadful price…

  • Title: Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone
  • Author: Benjamin Stevenson
  • Series: Ernest Cunningham #1
  • Format: Paperback
  • Age Rating: Adult
  • Genre: Murder Mystery


Plot: I was dreading the Cunningham family reunion even before the first murder. Before the storm stranded us at the mountain resort, snow and bodies piling up. The thing is, us Cunninghams don’t really get along. We’ve only got one thing in common- we’ve all killed someone. My brother, my step-sister, my wife, my father, my mother, my sister-in-law, my uncle, my step-father, my aunt. Even me. When they find the first body in the snow, it’s clear that only a Cunningham could have committed the crime – and it’s up to me to prove it.

  • Title: The Bear and the Nightingale
  • Author: Katherine Arden
  • Series: The Winternight Trilogy #1
  • Format: Paperback
  • Age Rating: Adult
  • Genre: Historical Fantasy


Plot: At the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses. But Vasilisa doesn’t mind–she spends the winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings, listening to her nurse’s fairy tales. Above all, she loves the chilling story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon, who appears in the frigid night to claim unwary souls. Wise Russians fear him, her nurse says, and honor the spirits of house and yard and forest that protect their homes from evil. After Vasilisa’s mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa’s new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows. And indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. All the while, Vasilisa’s stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent. As danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed–this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse’s most frightening tales.

  • Title: The Christmas Swap
  • Author: Talia Samuels
  • Series: Standalone
  • Format: Paperback
  • Age Rating: Adult
  • Genre: Romance


Plot: Margot Murray is a newly single, high-flying businesswoman with no interest in a cutesy seasonal romance. Ben Gibson is an unlucky-in-love sweetheart in need of a woman to bring home for the holidays. Together, they make a pact: Margot gets two blissful weeks away from London in a picture-perfect manor, in exchange for posing as Ben’s girlfriend. The story can only go one way. Margot is sure to fall in love for real. And she does. With Ben’s sister, Ellie.

September 2024 Wrap Up

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  • I read 9 books this month
  • I DNFd 1 book this month
  • Genre: 3 horror, 2 non-fiction, 2 fantasy, 1 historical fiction and 1 sci-fi
  • Gender of authors: 5 women and 4 men
  • Race of authors: 6 white authors, 1 asian author, 1 Latina author and 1 black author
  • Age range: 6 adult and 3 YA
  • Format: 6 paperback, 2 hardback, 1 eBook
  • 3.9 stars average rating for the month

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent – Judi Dench (3 stars)

This was interesting but not exactly what I expected. It felt more of a beat for beat analysis of the characters Dench played and her thoughts on each scene. I expected more of a memoir with Dench reflecting on her time in the theatre, funny moments, things she had learnt, wisdom to pass on but I think all of that got lost by Dench just walking you through every single scene which got super repetitive. Which was a shame as she is so funny and incredibly smart and I wanted more personal anecdotes.

Dearest – Jacquie Walters (3.75 stars)

Now I have written a whole blog post towards this book so please check it out >>>

I rarely post full book reviews so please give it some love! x

The Lie of the Land – Guy Shrubsole (4 stars)

I have never read a nature writing book in my life and I have only read a small amount of current affairs books. I am frankly very new to reading non-fiction but this book was incredibly accessible, engaging, and emotive. I learned so much from these pages and it makes me want to go out and pick litter and go out and take in the countryside. I loved as well the action plan at the end of the book which left you feeling more hopeful than you probably felt when first reading the book as you realise how depleted and destroyed our countryside truly is.

Hell Followed With Us – Andrew Joseph White (4 stars)

I read this as per request by my friend Morgan and for the second month of my brand new SFF book group at work. This was such a visceral and vulnerable read with great characters, a juicy plot and an ending that just was the cherry on top of a very gory book. I love a book that tackles cult elements of christianity and I dare say this is one of the best post-apocalyptic YA books in the last 5 years!

Harrow the Ninth – Tamsyn Muir (4 stars)

Now if I wasn’t told ahead of reading this that the book actively lies and gaslights you I would have DNFd. While I enjoyed the book 100%, and I loved what it was doing, the first 2 thirds were a slog to get through. I keep having to remind myself that this was all on purpose but my god. I really like Harrow but she is character that needs a more charismatic side character to bounce off of. Watching Harrow walk around for like 300 pages was a bit of a drag. The last third though made it all worth it. I am never the kind of person to suggest sticking a book out and waiting for it to get better but this one is an exception.

The Hacienda – Isabel Cañas (4.5 stars)

To whoever comped this book as Mexican Gothic meets Rebecca I hope both sides of your pillow are cold at night. While definitely leaning more into the Rebecca side this beautiful and haunting tale set in rural Mexico took my breath away. Great atmosphere, intriguing plot and great chemistry between our two main characters. I will always recommend this book.

Escaping Mr. Rochester – L.L. McKinney (5 stars)

I have personally never read Jane Eyre but knew enough about the story to understand what was going on though I don’t feel that you need to know the story to enjoy this book. The stand-out elements from this novel are the two main characters, Jane and Bertha, and the way McKinney creates such a tense and unsettling atmosphere. Jane and Bertha are such realised and thought-out characters with multiple layers. They were kind-hearted, they STRESSED ME OUT, – specifically Jane and they had determination which I loved. The tension and atmosphere around Thornfield Hall were expected. Upon reading the blurb I knew what I was getting myself into… or so I thought. At times I found my heart racing, like I was watching a horror movie waiting for the killer to jump out, and I literally couldn’t take my eyes of the page. I felt the cold seeping in and I felt as a reader I was constantly ‘reading’ on eggshells. Perfect for this time of the year!

August 2024 Wrap Up

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Ok, so this was a big month and I will not be reviewing all of what I read as that will be too long and too boring. So here are the highlights.

  • I read 34 books this month
  • I DNFd 3 books this month
  • Genre: 23 fantasy, 3 contemporary fiction, 2 historical fiction, 1 romance, 1 murder mystery,1 thriller, 1 literary fiction, 1 horror and 1 sci-fi
  • Gender of authors: 13 women, 7 men and 1 non-binary author
  • Race of authors: 18 asian authors, 4 white authors, 1 Latina author
  • Age range: 23 YA, 8 adult, 2 new adult and 1 middle grade
  • Format: 34 paperback
  • 4.1 stars average rating for the month

Fang Si-Chi’s First Love Paradise – Lin Yi-Han (DNF)

This DNF is purely down to the content in the book being to distressing for me. I wanted to give it a go and read some impactful translated fiction but it just got too much. Check trigger warnings for this book.

Silver Spoon, Vol. 1 – Hiromu Arakawa (DNF)

Not even the mastermind that is Hiromu Arakawa could make me interested in an agricultural slice of life story. Love the art and the comedy but the pacing was super slow and the content was boring.

Claymore, Vol.2 – Norihiro Yagi (3 stars)

I flew through this volume but I wouldn’t say I was super invested in this story. It’s early days so I am going to give it up to volume 4, as that is all I can get hold of, and if I don’t love it I will DNF the series. I do think this is because I know the story due to the anime and the adaptation of that volume was very good.

Young Hag – Isabel Greenberg (3 stars)

This was an interesting take on Arthurian which I enjoyed but I HATED the art-style. I was hoping I would get used to it but I struggled with it the further the novel went on.

Usotoki Rhetoric Vol.2 – Ritsu Miyako (3.5 stars)

Love the characters and 1920s Japan setting but I am getting a bit bored of the short story format. I am hoping that with the next couple of volumes we will get some longer form stories!

Snow White with the Red Hair, Vol. 2-4 – Sorata Akiduki (AVG: 3.5)

Volume 2 ended incredibly strongly but I am not sure how much this story is for me. I love the romance elements but there is something missing for me in this series. I am going to give it one more volume and if I don’t love that volume I will probably DNF this series.

Orange, Vol.6 – Ichigo Tanako (4 stars)

Now before I read this volume, which follows my favourite character Suwa, I had heard that it ruins his character and was a disappointing addition to the series. I personally, loved it, to me it added to Suwa’s character who I felt was reduced a bit to being the gracious friend zoned character. For me, this added so much more depth and nuance.

Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 2-4 – Ryoko Kui (AVG: 4.3)

This is what I am talking about when I call for the end of the short story format and focusing more on a long form story. The plot, the characters, the food. All amazing! The ending of volume 4 literally turned it up a notch and I am so excited to see where the rest of this story goes. Now I just have to convince my boyfriend to watch the anime.

The Hills of Estrella Rosa – Ashley Robin Franklin (4.5 stars)

A perfect queer folklore, horror story set in Texas. I enjoyed the plot line, the mystery, the podcast elements. All so good.

Yona of the Dawn, Vol. 3-5 – Mizuho Kusanagi (4.5 stars)

Probably my favourite series this year. Each year, I have a new fave series and I think it’s between Yona of the Dawn and Children of the Whales. Yona of the Dawn has the perfect balance of emotion, comedy, romance and action. I have been loving the development of this story and especially Yona’s development as a character.

What A Way To Go! – Bella Mackie (5 stars)

What a whirlwind! I had such a fun time reading this book with its unreliable narrators, the most frustrating cast of side characters that you love to hate, and a plot where you think to yourself “this can’t get worse” well it actually can! I loved the use of multiple POVs and mixed media. This was such an exciting, engaging, and fun read that I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read about complicated families, complicated relationships, and wanting to hate on the top 5%!

Lightfall, Vol. 1 – Tim Probert (5 stars)

Such a jaw-dropingly beautiful story. Incredible pieces of art, hilarious characters, heart-rending yet hopeful story. I instantly got the following 2 volumes to keep up with the story I loved it that much.

North Woods – Daniel Mason (5 stars)

Thank you to authors like Daniel Mason who have made me realise I actually am a literary fiction reader. After reading this book I am firmly in Autumn. This book whisked me up in a tornado of apples, golden leaves, and poetic tragedy. Following centuries on one specific piece of land in America we watch various inhabitants and characters live, breathe, and die among the apple trees and ghosts of North Woods. This book is a feat unto itself spanning various years, giving voice to characters vastly different from one that came before them and the one that will succeed them, and giving you a sense of tragedy and beauty in one whole gust of wind. I was lost in this book and lost in these stories, I loved how despite the years between are characters they all have something in common which is curiosity and love for humanity, and how this was their best asset and their undoing. An epic autumnal novel that you will rarely see on the shelves.

July 2024 Wrap Up

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For more information on the books click the title.

  • I read 11 books this month
  • I DNFd 0 books this month
  • Genre: 3 fantasy, 2 contemporary fiction, 2 thriller, 2 romance,1 murder mystery and 1 sci-fi
  • Gender of authors: 10 women and 1 man
  • Race of authors: 5 white authors, 4 asian authors and 1 black author
  • Age range: 6 adult and 5 ya
  • Format: 6 paperback, 4 ebook and 1 hardback
  • 4.3 stars average rating for the month

The Restaurant of Lost Recipes – Hisashi Kashiwai (3.5 stars)

Another beautiful and delicious installment to this series. This book series really feels like coming home and allowing yourself to get lost in the memories of the past. I enjoyed the shorter nature of these stories and their simplicity. This book is a great one to read when you need a break from the world and the intensity of some books out there. Truly a palette cleanser in book form!

What You Are Looking For is in the Library – Michiko Aoyama (4 stars)

Maybe it’s because I am a bookseller but I just love books about books. This is the perfect book to read when you want something uplifting but not unrealistic. If you want to read a book about hope, second chances and life without feeling like it unobtainable then read this book! There will 100% be one character in this book that you can relate to!

I See Your Face, Turned Away – Rumi Ichinohe (4 stars)

I flew through this volume wholly invested in the characters and the complicated romantic dynamics that exist in this story. I love the blossoming relationships of romance alongside the steadfast relationships of friendship we see with our 4 main characters. I found myself quickly changing the page as we uncovered more and more of Hikari’s true feelings towards her classmate Ohtani and wondered how this would change the group dynamic. I felt a strong bittersweet feeling as I want everyone to be happy but I know this is a story where heartbreak is imminent but I can’t look away. I need to know how this series ends.

Death on the Nile – Agatha Christie (4 stars)

I DNFd this years a go after I tried to read it after watching the Ustinov film and I was too confused. Gave it some time and came back hoping to love it and I did. Definitely way too many characters and slightly too many sub plots but the tension and atmosphere was great.

The Au Pair Affair – Tessa Bailey (4 stars)

Tessa Bailey is just unstoppable at the moment and The Au Pair Affair is evidence of that. Just like Fangirl Down this is a super fun, passionate and exciting romance novel in the world of hockey and penguins! Following characters from the book Fangirl Down we watch the love story of Burgess and Tallulah and this book was just so much fun. The one thing I did want to shout out is that Tessa Bailey’s characterisation is getting better and better with each book she writes and her writing Tallulah’s back story was handled with a lot of care and nuance which I thought was great. I normally associate Bailey as being the Queen of the RomCom but it was great to see her tackle more serious themes in her novels as of late!

The Maid and the Crocodile – Jordan Ifueko (4.5 stars)

Now this is set after the event of the Raybearer series but you do not need to read that series before you read this one to understand what’s happening. The world-building was great, the characters realistic and incredibly likeable, the magic so interesting. The conversations surrounding disability were great and it was great to have it be written realistically and not have toxic positivity surrounding it. The romance was EVERYTHING AND MORE!

Gentlest of Wild Things – Sarah Underwood (4.5 stars)

I had super high expectations going into this due to how much I loved Lies We Sing to the Sea and this book proves that Underwood is not a one book wonder. Smashed it yet again! The plot, the characters, the atmosphere were curated so beautifully in a very unsettling way. I loved the nods to the Eros and Psyche myth. It is so refreshing to see Greek Myth retellings done in this way rather than just making it a carbon copy. Underwood is creating something fresh and exciting without losing the appeal of the original myth.

DallerGut Dream Department Store – Lee Mi-ye (4.5 stars)

The book was just a wonder to read. I lost myself in this vibrant, bustling, and incredibly unique world that blends retail work with fantastical elements. I love how imaginative this realm of dreams is from dreams being treated like movies to Santa Claus being a literal character to the ups and downs of customer service. It was genuinely so much fun to lose myself in this story. The pacing for me moved fast with each chapter being quite short and snappy and focusing on a variety of different characters and scenarios. This book balances humour and fun with heart-felt emotional moments that had me tearing up in the staff room. If you want a short and sweet speculative novel about dreams and how they influence our lives for good. Read this.

Little White Lies and Deadly Little Scandals – (5/4.5 stars)

Rarely do I read the sequel straight after the first book. Normally I wait a year or so before reading the next one but this book was sooo good that I needed to know how it ended ASAP. Such an intricate plot, characters you love to hate, honestly you might need to draw a family tree. EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED!

Strange the Dreamer – Laini Taylor (5 stars)

Words cannot explain the mastery at work in this book. Back when it first came out it was all over BookTube but it has since become an underrated gem. This is currently in the running for my no.1 place on my Top 20 books of the year!

The Thief and the Wild Review

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New Alms is a city of sin and vice, populated by all manner of criminals. The ruling Cerenite priests can barely keep order; not that they—or anyone else for that matter—ever try too hard. It’s a den of cutthroats and thieves, and there ain’t many thieves out there as talented or as skilled as Jackson Balor. When Jackson’s hired by a priest to steal an old mask, he thinks it’s just another job. But that’s before he sees the blasphemous shrine it’s housed in, before he starts getting followed around by bugs and birds and three-eyed cats, before he finds out that the mask was a vessel for the Wild God Ferengris, and that by filching it, he’s invited the Enemy of Civilization to take up residence inside his head. Now to save his own mind, Jackson’s gonna have to team up with the very Wild cult he stole the mask from and take it back from the Cerenite Temple. But the priests have their own plans for the Wild God’s artifact. They have their own ambitions for New Alms—and Jackson’s about to learn that there ain’t no room in their design for no-good criminal scum like him.

June 2024 Wrap Up

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For more information on the books click the title.

  • I read 10 books this month
  • I DNFd 1 books this month
  • Genre: 6 fantasy, 2 non-fiction,1 romance,1 murder mystery and 1 historical fiction
  • Gender of authors: 10 women and 1 man
  • Race of authors: 7 white authors and 4 asian authors
  • Age range:10 adult and 1 middle grade
  • Format: 7 paperback, 3 ebook and 1 hardback
  • 4.3 stars average rating for the month

A Letter to the Luminous Deep – Sylvie Cathrall (DNF)

This was actually super embarrassing as I said that this was going to be MY romantasy of 2024. I had posted it all over TikTok and then I got 50% of the way through the book and the pacing got so slow that I DNFd it. On paper this is my kind of book but as I said the pacing was super slow, the author focused on a lot of extra character lore/backstory but to the detriment of the plot. The writing was also super flowery which didn’t help the pacing issue.

Beyond the Clouds, Vol.1 – Nicke (3 stars)

The illustrations in this volume are absolutely stunning. Genuinely I was blown away by how beautiful this volume is. That being said the story at times felt a bit lacking and I didn’t feel a big pull to continue the series.

Quarterlife – Satya Nicole Byock (4 stars)

I am not always sure on whether self-help books are for me but I did enjoy this book explaining other peoples experiences of Quarterlife crises and what might cause them. I related to a lot of what was in this book and I thought it was a good starting point to handle questioning your life choices.

The Thief and the Wild – Seann Barbour (4 stars)

Review coming on Thursday.

Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 1 – Ryoko Kui (4 stars)

This book came at the perfect time for me as I just got back into playing D&D! This was a super fun and inventive series that perfectly sets up the characters and the plot. I am intrigued by the mystery of the dungeon and I am excited to see what new food will get created.

Holy Island – L.J. Ross (4 stars)

This book has everything I want in murder mysteries. Small tight-knit community, cult themes, plot twists I can’t see coming and great setting. I have been wanting to read this series for ages and I was very happy that after years of waiting it did in fact meet the hype. I will say though that the romance element should have been expanded on or just had more development it felt too rushed for me.

The Game of Hearts – Felicity Day (5 stars)

A super accessible and informative book all about real lives and experiences of marriages in Regency Britain. A great book for fans of Bridgerton who was to learn more about the time period and the reality of the lives their favourite characters lead. I was immersed in this book and while there were things I expected, I was amazed by some of the exciting facts and tidbits the author gives us. We really follow these characters from debuting in the ton until after their marriage when kids are involved and war arrives. Sometimes it did feel that I was reading the gossip scandal sheet myself with all the juicy details compiled.

Fangirl Down – Tessa Bailey (5 stars)

This book is probably my favourite Tessa Bailey story to date. I found the plot devices and structure to be super fast-paced and incredibly engaging. I love a good competition/tournament for a foundation of a story. I enjoyed our main characters both together and separately. Josephine’s search for body autonomy and to be scene as capable and independent in a world that reduces her to just her diabetes was incredibly poignant and I loved how Bailey maintained her independence throughout the novel even with the love interest seeking to help. Wells story about letting people in after a series of betrayals was done so well and handled in a way that perfectly fits the character that Bailey had created. All these personal storylines just made them getting together so much for fulfilling and satisfying to read.

Babylonia – Costanza Casati (5 stars)

If you love complicated female characters, complicated male friendship dynamics, and political storylines similar to Game of Thrones and Ancient Civilisations/Mythology this book is for you! I never considered myself a character-focused reader or a reader who enjoys political storylines but Miss Casati had me eating my hat. I loved being nervous every time there was a council meeting or any time Semiramis didn’t honestly literally everything. I was on the edge of my seat for this entire book and despite this book being nearly 500 pages – you don’t feel it. Every word, every paragraph, every page is intentional and time flies by as you get lost in this gory, powerful, and intense world of Assyria. The characters in this story are so dynamic, tortured, and complicated. Not one interaction in this book is without intention, emotion, or poignancy. The power dynamics shift and change on a six pence and when you think you have figured these characters out Casati will through you a massive curveball that has you questioning the last 100 pages you have read. I could not put this book down. I was enveloped in it and had book blues after finishing it.

Other Books I Read:

  • Children of the Whales, Vol. 2 – Abi Umeda
  • Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Vol. 1 – Kanehito Yamada (Re Read)

May 2024 Wrap Up

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  • I read 19 books this month
  • I DNFd 4 books this month
  • Genre: 6 fantasy, 3 romance, 3 thriller, 2 murder mystery, 2 sci-fi, 2 non-fiction and 1 gothic
  • Gender of authors: 14 women and 5 men
  • Race of authors: 11 white authors, 6 asian authors, 1 black author and 1 Egyptian-Canadian author
  • Age range: 14 adult and 5 YA
  • Format: 10 ebook, 8 paperback and 1 hardback
  • 4 stars average rating for the month

DNFS

  • The Stars Too Fondly – Emily Hamilton
  • Rouge – Mona Awad
  • The Mermaid of Black Conch – Monique Roffey
  • The Duke and I – Julia Quinn

Fake Flame – Adele Buck (3 stars)

A super fun and engaging romance that took me not time at all to finish. We had characters that had incredible chemistry off the bat, engaging side plots discussing important topics, brilliant supporting cast, great use of communication. This was just such an enjoyable read and I would recommend it to any contemporary romance fan. And shoutout to the 40 year old FMC. I want to see more characters like Eva in romance fiction!

The Secret Adversary – Agatha Christie (3 stars)

I haven’t read many Christie thrillers apart from 2 many years ago. So I was excited to jump into this story and read about characters I have never met before. This was a good jumping off point for a fresh new series and brand new characters. The characters were engaging, witty and I enjoyed following them around on their escapades. The plot kept me guessing and I enjoyed how intense it was. I wasn’t expecting myself to fear for the life of a Christie protagonist. I had to pure satisfaction of guessing the elusive Secret Adversary which was a fulfilling moment. I will say I prefer her murder mysteries over her thrillers. I can only suspend so much disbelief and I find her murder mysteries to be more structured and therefore more enjoyable for me.

You Must Be This Tall to Propose, Vol. 1 – Fumi Mimifyu (3.5 stars)

A super sweet and funny YA rom com that puts my gorgeous tall girlies on a pedestal. We love to see it. With funny comedy of error moments, this manga is beautiful coming of age tale about a young man trying to grow in order to propose to his childhood crush. I devoured this volume and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the series has in store. I am too invested in these characters now.

Good Girl, Bad Blood – Holly Jackson (3.5 stars)

Compared to the previous book in this series, I was underwhelmed. I found the interpersonal relationships and Pip’s character arc to be incredibly engaging and compelling. I am very interested in how Pip’s character is developing especially after the events of this book. But the plot was just not on the same level as the first book and I guessed a lot of key elements. And the elements that I didn’t guess kind of came out of left field too much for me. Hopefully, I will enjoy the last book more.

Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun Vol. 1 – Osamu Nishi (4 stars)

This volume genuinely had me laughing on my commute home. A perfect comedy of errors story about a boy who gets sold to a demon and has to attend Demon School. I love how the author uses very on-the-nose plot armor and coincidence to allow Iruma to get through this first initial volume. It is done with so much nuance and is incredibly hilarious. I love the message about kindness and avoiding violence. I cannot wait to see what the rest of the series has to offer.

Covenant – LySandra Vuong (4 stars)

A friend of mine had read this WebToon and for ages was raving about how incredible it was. I knew I had to try the series out for myself. This was an exhilarating, action-packed series about angels and demons and saving humanity. I feel that this volume gave us a really solid look into our key characters and the main plot points we need to understand the series going forward. How the magic system works, the politics surrounding the different churches as well as the interpersonal dynamics between our core characters. I am looking forward to seeing all of this expanded upon in future volumes!

The Devil’s Flute Murders – Seishi Yokomizo (4.5 stars)

Probably my favourite book in this series since the very first book, The Honjin Murders! I really feel that this book is Yokomizo on top form. Eerie atmosphere that builds with each chapter, complex characters that have you guessing even yourself and a plot that is liking walking through a labyrinth it has so many twists and turns. I really enjoyed every second of reading this book and read it in 2 days.

The Worst Ronin – Maggie Tokuda-Hall (4.5 stars)

This graphic novel was a great showcase in balance. Tokuda-Hall did a great job of giving you laughs and moments of sadness. She delivered you moments of outrage and moments of calm. I felt every emotion under the sun reading this story – it was amazing. The characters are complete opposites of each other and therefore balanced each other out. Watching them bicker and fight was hilarious but I did enjoy their more tender moments towards one another. The art-style was amazing. The fights scenes were great and Schaffer knows how to make me laugh with a single illustration. I hope we will see more books from these two and this world!

Before the Fact – Francis Iles (4.5 stars)

This book is such a compelling and thrilling read from start to finish. Diving head first into the intricacies and toxicity of a marriage based on lies and betrayal I found myself enraged for the whole 300 pages towards the main character’s husband. Looking at this book through a modern lens the way that Iles constructs a slowly growing suspenseful and harrowing narrative where each turn of a page makes you feel even more anxiety-induced is astounding. I loved the way you could watch the problem get bigger and bigger when it started off small and you get to the end and you can and cannot believe you have got to this moment.

Other books I read

  • Griz Grobus – Simon Roy (3 stars)
  • Mortal Monarchs – Suzie Edge (4 stars)
  • The Examiner – Janice Hallett (4 stars)
  • Burning Roses – S.L. Huang (4.5 stars)
  • Sorcery of Thorns – Margaret Rogerson (5 stars)
  • Unlikeable Female Characters – Anna Bogutskaya (5 stars)

April 2024 Wrap Up

IndiaReadsALotLeave a comment
  • I read 14 books this month
  • I DNFd 3 books this month
  • Genre: 3 sci-fi, 3 memoir, 2 fantasy, 2 romance, 2 murder mystery, 1 thriller, 1 non-fiction
  • Gender of authors: 7 women and 4 men, 2 not stated, 1 non-binary author
  • Race of authors: 8 white authors, 4 asian authors, 1 black author and 1 Indo-Caribbean author
  • Age range: 12 adult, 3 new adult and 2 YA
  • Format: 6 paperback, 6 ebook and 2 hardback
  • 4.4 stars average rating for the month

DNFS

  • The Two Deaths of Ruth Lyle – Nick Louth
  • Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea – Rebecca Thorne
  • Eve – Cat Bohannon

The Butcher of the Forest – Preemee Mohamed (3.5 stars)

This is a super short horror fantasy about a haunted forest and the dangerous journey a woman goes on to free children from the forest’s clutches. Loved all the folklore and horror elements but despite this book being under 200 pages I found the pacing to be quite slow.

A-DO, Vol. 1 – Amano Jaku (4 stars)

This was a vibrant, action-packed and tense start to what I think will be a highly praised and exhilarating series. Fans of Akira will love this! The illustrations were so well done and perfectly represented the pace and chaos in this series. The characters are intriguing and I am excited to learn more about them and especially more about their powers. I am excited to see where the rest of the series goes.

My Love Story with Yamada-kun, Vol.1 – Mashiro (4 stars)

This was a super sweet and engaging contemporary romance in the era of modern gaming. The first volumes of manga series I take super seriously as they are make or break. We all know I am a solid DNFer so if I don’t enjoy them straight away it’s a no-go. This was easy reading, with a super engaging main character who I just want to see good things happen to and hilarious illustrations. I am excited to see more development in the romance as it’s very early days in their story but I did want a bit more from our love interest. I loved all the gaming references and all the scenes set in the world of the game. It was probably my favourite part of the volume.

A Magical Girl Retires – Park Seolyeon (4 stars)

For Sailor Moon fans who want a more realistic look at what being a magical girl is like. This book is for you! Satirical, witty, and fast-paced this book just captured me from the first chapter. I loved following our main character’s journey as she learns all about 21st-century magical girls and threats to the world as we know it. Our MC is super relatable and reflects modern issues and I felt like I would honestly react so similarly to her in most of her situations. I loved the illustrations in this book – they just paired so beautifully with the story and the vibe of the novel. That being said I do wish it was longer as I wanted the story to be drawn out and a bit more developed.

The Spook’s Apprentice – Joseph Delaney (4 stars)

This seemed like a book that I thought might just not be for me. This was purely due to the fact that I am not the target age or audience for this book so going into this young YA novel I was expecting to maybe not love it. I WAS WRONG. A perfect balance of fantasy and horror with a protagonist that you just want to see succeed and overcome every obstacle in his way.

Night Shift – Annie Crown (4.5 stars)

I picked this up after a very long and busy day at work looking for an easy and fun read and boy did I get that. I ended up reading over 200 pages in one setting on my day off as I just couldn’t put it down. For all my girlies who love romance novels, and poetry and just love to romanticise their life this book is for you! This was just a super engaging read with two great characters who you just want to see succeed.

The Trees – Percival Everett (4.5 stars)

If you have ever watched the movie Blackkklansman by Spike Lee and loved it, you would love this book. This satirical thriller following the investigation into multiple interconnected deaths in Mississippi was a book I flew through. I literally could not put it down. Percival Everett’s writing style is perfect for me. Too the point, doesn’t waste a single word, incredibly punchy dialogue, exciting plot. Ugh loved it.

Homebody – Theo Parish (5 stars)

This is a vibrant, accepting and reassuring graphic memoir about Theo’s journey into accepting themselves and their non-binary identity and the journey they took to get there and feel at home within their body. The illustrations in this GN are some of the most beautiful and engaging pieces of artwork I have seen in a graphic novel. Not only was I engaged in the story but the imagination that went into visualising this story was phenomenal. My favourite has to be the D&D section. Since this memoir is being published for the younger generation I feel that this book documents the journey so beautifully and clearly for young people who may be navigating a similar path. Even myself, who thought I knew quite bit about what it’s like being trans and non-binary, due my friends, learnt a lot! A book I would highly recommend!

It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth – Zoe Thorogood (5 stars)

Words cannot begin to adequately describe the genius, the heart and the baring of the soul that went into the creation of this graphic memoir. The creativity of the use of multiple forms, the loose time structure, varying art style just puts this above many visual stories I had read over the past couple of years. I have not seen anyone do something so raw and vast both emotionally but creatively. I was completely blown away by the book!

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone – Benjamin Stevenson (5 stars)

This book feels as if The Gentleman and Knives Out had a baby. A meta-narrative, family saga, murder mystery, and criminal dealings all rolled into a snowstorm on a ski resort! I had so much fun reading this book – probably the most fun I have ever had reading a crime book. The writing style in this book is wholly unique, for all my books about books fans you will love this, I loved the narrative voice of Ernest as a character but also as an author. I loved how the story was structured adhering to Ronald Knox’s 10 Commandments for crime writing. The constant referring to the text as a text with jokes about editors and chapter/page numbers. It was just such a refreshing read.

Reading Lessons – Carol Atherton (5 stars)

As someone who had complicated feelings about school and English, I was intrigued to see how I would feel reading a book about all the boring books I read and studied in school. Will this change my thoughts about any of the books? Will it make me appreciate my English classes more? Overall, yes. I thoroughly enjoyed dissecting these stories and learning that we can still learn something from these texts even today many years/decades/centuries later. While in school I hated analysing texts, now as an adult and a bookseller who reviews and promotes books for a living, I love diving in and seeing what I can take away or notice from a story. I liked looking at these texts from different lenses and I enjoyed hearing all the anecdotes that Atherton shared about her time in the classroom both when she was a student and as a teacher. My favourite section had to be the one on A Kestral for a Knave. It nearly had me crying on my commute home!

The Ferryman – Justin Cronin (5 stars)

Now this is my kind of sci-fi. I feel this book has a mass appeal to many audiences. The sci-fi fans, the thriller fans, the character-focused fans, and people who love to focus on the nitty-gritty of interpersonal relationships. This book has it all. I flew through this book at what felt like lightspeed. It’s a great sign that a book is phenomenal if all I can think about is getting back to reading it. Working? Thinking about the book. Food shop? Thinking about this book. Part of this is down to how easily this story flows. We follow two characters in this novel, one in first person and the other POV in 3rd person, and the way Cronin seamlessly weaves his way around these differing POVs and narrative styles is amazing. You just get so lost in the story that so much time has passed and the sun is setting.

March 2024 Wrap Up

IndiaReadsALotLeave a comment
  • I read 14 books this month
  • I DNFd 1 books this month
  • Genre: 3 fantasy, 2 non-fiction, 2 thriller, 1 gothic, 1 sci-fi, 1 dystopian, 1 murder mystery, 1 contemporary, 1 romance, 1 classic
  • Gender of authors: 10 women and 4 men
  • Race of authors: 7 white authors, 5 asian authors, 1 black author and 1 Iranian author
  • Age range: 7 adult and 7 YA
  • Format: 8 paperback, 4 ebook, 1 audiobook and 1 hardback

DNFS

  • Freakslaw – Jane Flett

Heracles and Other Plays – Euripides (2.5 stars)

This collection started off so strong with Alcestis – that play was funny and poignant. Heracles was boring up until Heracles then it got interesting. Heracles’ Children was boring and Cyclops was a painful read.

BFFS – Anahit Behrooz (3 stars)

This was talking all about the ‘radical potential in female friendships’ but it just felt like an analysis of female friendship in media. I didn’t really feel the author actually tackled the topic she set out to do.

Fragile Animals – Genevieve Jagger (3 stars)

People need to stop telling me there are vampires in stories but then make the book focus on literally everything BUT THE VAMPIRES. Most of the introspective self-reflection was just boring except for the moments she talks about her mum’s affair and all the vampire stuff. Which all makes up about 30% of the book.

Miss Miyazen, Would Like to Get Closer to You, Vol.1 – Akitaka (4 stars)

This was such a super cute and wholesome slow-burn romance manga. Consisting of only 4 volumes I am expecting the slowest of slow burns. I really liked the characters and found their interactions to be sweet and at times hilariously awkward but not in a way that makes you cringe on the inside. The snapshot way of showing their blossoming relationships was done really well and I could dip in and out of this volume with ease.

The Reappearance of Rachel Price – Holly Jackson (4.5 stars)

Having read AGGTM first and then following up with this afterward you can see the immense development and progression in Jackson’s prose. I flew through this story reading 150 pages per sitting because not only was this easy to follow but the pacing was so quick and exciting that I just couldn’t stop myself from turning the page. The words flowed so seamlessly and I would blink another 20 mins had passed and I had been absorbed in this novel. While this is a YA book I do believe this has universal appeal for thriller fans out there and I will be recommending this to anyone who loves true crime docs, complicated family dynamics, and a realistic angsty main character.

Abroad in Japan – Chris Broad (4.5 stars)

I have been slowly getting more and more into non-fiction and this is defo a top one on my list. This was a really funny, heartfelt tale of a man’s 10 year experience living in Japan. I had such a fun time reading this and learning so much about Japanese culture and lifestyle. I really enjoyed reading this from a British persons’ point of view as most travel content I see are from American people so having the references and comparison from a culture I understand made for a great reading experience.

Is Love the Answer? – Uta Isaac (5 stars)

This was beautiful coming of age story discussing sexuality, romance and attraction. I was super invested in our main character’s story and her coming to terms with who she is. I was a big fan of the message of things changing over time and giving yourself the space to change and grow as you get older. I loved the asexuality representation and I feel that manga should be read by everyone!

Blue Lock, Vol. 1 – Muneyuki Kaneshiro (5 stars)

Going into this I assumed it was going to be an easy-going but highly competitive football tournament. What I was not expecting was a slightly dystopian, highly tense and highly exhilarating competition in which a whole footballer’s life could be ruined if they lose if they don’t make it to the top. This made a sport that I don’t really understand, easy to digest and something to be invested in. The characters are super interesting and I kind of like the fact that the stakes are so high. I will 100% continuing this series. I NEED to know how it ends!

The Potting Shed Murder – Paula Sutton (5 stars)

This book just solidified for me that the cosy murder mystery subgenre is the best crime subgenre that exists in our universe. It just ticks all the boxes for me. I do actually have a whole review dedicated to this book so check it out!

The Cruel Prince – Holly Black (5 stars)

I’m going to be honest here… a lot of people compared this book to ACOTAR which I thought was very average and because of that I waited forever and a day to pick this book up. I didn’t want another ACOTAR experience. But this was a SO GOOD. The characters, the political writing, the gorgeous and vibrant world-building, the angst. UGhhhhh I do genuinely highly recommend this book.