Category: Book Reviews

The Maidens Review

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Edward Fosca is a murderer. Of this Mariana is certain. But Fosca is untouchable. A handsome and charismatic Greek Tragedy professor at Cambridge University, Fosca is adored by staff and students alike—particularly by the members of a secret society of female students known as The Maidens. Mariana Andros is a brilliant but troubled group therapist who becomes fixated on The Maidens when one member, a friend of Mariana’s niece Zoe, is found murdered in Cambridge. Mariana, who was once herself a student at the university, quickly suspects that behind the idyllic beauty of the spires and turrets, and beneath the ancient traditions, lies something sinister. And she becomes convinced that, despite his alibi, Edward Fosca is guilty of the murder. But why would the professor target one of his students? And why does he keep returning to the rites of Persephone, the maiden, and her journey to the underworld? When another body is found, Mariana’s obsession with proving Fosca’s guilt spirals out of control, threatening to destroy her credibility as well as her closest relationships. But Mariana is determined to stop this killer, even if it costs her everything—including her own life. 

The Three Dahlias Review

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In attendance: the VIP fans, staying at Aldermere; the fan club president turned convention organizer; the team behind the newest movie adaptation of Davenport’s books; the Davenport family themselves – and the three actresses famous for portraying Lettice’s 1930s detective, Dahlia Lively. National treasure Rosalind King, from the original movies. TV Dahlia for thirteen seasons, Caro Hooper. And ex-child star Posy Starling, fresh out of the fame wilderness (and rehab) to take on the Dahlia mantle for the new movie. Each actress has her own interpretation of the character – but this English summer weekend they will have to put aside their differences, as the crimes at Aldermere turns anything but cosy.

The Dragon Republic Review

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SPOILERS FOR THE DRAGON REPUBLIC

In the aftermath of the Third Poppy War, shaman and warrior Rin is on the run: haunted by the atrocity she committed to end the war, addicted to opium, and hiding from the murderous commands of her vengeful god, the fiery Phoenix. Her only reason for living is to get revenge on the traitorous Empress who sold out Nikan to their enemies. With no other options, Rin joins forces with the powerful Dragon Warlord, who has a plan to conquer Nikan, unseat the Empress, and create a new Republic. Rin throws herself into his war. After all, making war is all she knows how to do. But the Empress is a more powerful foe than she appears, and the Dragon Warlord’s motivations are not as democratic as they seem. The more Rin learns, the more she fears her love for Nikan will drive her away from every ally and lead her to rely more and more on the Phoenix’s deadly power. Because there is nothing she won’t sacrifice for her country and her vengeance.

June 2022 Wrap Up

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A bit of a quieter one this month. Still read some great books though!

  • I read 9 books this month
  • Genre: 3 fantasy, 2 horror, 2 mystery, 1 romance and 1 non-fiction
  • Gender of authors: 5 women, 2 men and 1 book by multiple of authors
  • Race of authors: 4 white authors, 2 asian authors, 1 middle eastern author and 1 book by multiple authors
  • Age range: 7 adult, 1 YA and 1 middle grade
  • Format: 5 paperback, 3 ebook and 1 audiobook

Summertime Rendering Vol. 1 by Yasuki Tanaka (2 stars)

This was a series that really intrigued me. A super cool time loop story. Unfortunately, this volume (and I am also guessing will be the case for the other volumes) had some cases of fan service. I personally find that fan service just objectifies and over-sexualises female characters and this can make or break a good series for me. Because of these instances of fan service, and also finding out later that one of the characters used for the moments of fan service was 15!!!!!, I have decided to not continue this series.

Nura and the Immortal Palace by M.T. Khan (3 stars)

This book was really good. It follows a young girl who falls into the realm of Jinn and gets tricked into working at this hotel for Jinns. Very Spirited Away. I loved the main character, I loved the creativity of the setting (I need to go to this hotel!) and I felt that the plot was super engaging.

The Perfect Crime by Multiple Authors (3 stars)

This was a very middle of the road book for me. Some stories I loved and others not so much. The stories I loved included:

  • Clout Chaser
  • The Beautiful Game
  • The Yellow Line

Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie (3 stars)

Enjoyable but not as memorable as some of her other stories. I sort of guessed the ending but enjoyed it nonetheless. I just wish that their was more Poirot in this story as my enjoyment sky rocketed when he finally came into the fray.

A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum by Emma Southon (3.5 stars)

A really funny and informative look at a part of history I didn’t know to much about. I did prefer some sections over others and I felt the structuring of the audiobook I was listening too made the experience a bit confusing. But the narration and the comedic writing were amazing!

The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke (4 stars)

The first physical ARC I was ever sent by a publisher. This was a really good and suspenseful story. The characters were a massive strong point and I loved the use of the multiple POV and short chapter combo which just kept me reading page after page.

The Promised Neverland Vol. 5 by Kaiu Shirai (4 stars)

Another solid installment. The narrative has dramatically shifted from where we were the last 4 volumes so it was setting up a lot of new things but I am excited to see where the rest of the series goes.

One Foot in the Fade by Luke Arnold (4 stars)

Another great installment. Worth the wait. The world-building is amazing, the message and themeing of this series is being delivered really well and the characters are as good as ever. I am super excited to read the next book, whenever that comes out, and continue watching Fetch’s journey.

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (5 stars)

And finally, the main event! Back on my romcom shit! Just a super fun time. The chemistry is amazing, I loved both members of the couple both in and out of the relationship and I really enjoyed seeing the neurodivergent representation in this novel.

The Lighthouse Witches Review

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Upon the cliffs of a remote Scottish island, Lòn Haven, stands a lighthouse. A lighthouse that has weathered more than storms. Mysterious and terrible events have happened on this island. It started with a witch hunt. Now, centuries later, islanders are vanishing without explanation. Coincidence? Or curse? Liv Stay flees to the island with her three daughters, in search of a home. She doesn’t believe in witches, or dark omens, or hauntings. But within months, her daughter Luna will be the only one of them left. Twenty years later, Luna is drawn back to the place her family vanished. As the last sister left, it’s up to her to find out the truth . . .

May 2022 Wrap Up

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May was a solid reading month. I gave out loads of 5 stars this month so I was super happy!

  • I read 11 books this month
  • I DNFd 1 book this month
  • Genre: 5 fantasy, 2 historical fiction, 1 romance, 1 non-fiction, 1 sci-fi and 1 poetry collection
  • Gender of authors: 7 women and 3 men
  • Race of authors: 5 white authors, 4 asian authors and 1 black author
  • Age range: 5 adult, 5 YA and 1 middle grade
  • Format: 5 ebook, 4 paperback, 1 hardback and 1 audiobook

Set in Stone by Stela Brinzeanu (DNF)

I was super excited to read this book as it seemed super intriguing. Unfortuantly the cracks started showing quite quickly. This book is marketed as a romance but the romance felt incredibly under-developed. I liked both characters as individuals and their own individual journeys but I was not sold on the romance. I didn’t feel like they had any chemistry and I personally felt that it was more one-sided than the author intended.

The Kids by Hannah Lowe (2 stars)

Every once in a while I try to go back to poetry to see whether it is my thing and every single time I come to the same conclusion that poetry and I just don’t gel. This was the case with this collection. There was some really good poems in there and I loved the ones focused on her experience as a teacher. But overall, poetry is just not for me.

The Leviathan by Rosie Andrews (3.5 stars)

This was a book that I grew to love more once I finished it. The first half was a bit slow for my liking and I felt that I thought I had caught the plot twist very early on but the author completely subverted my expectations. The second and the third acts were really good.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Vol. 2 by Ryosuke Takeuchi (4 stars)

Another solid installment. I don’t have much extra to say about this volume other than it was clearly setting up bigger narrative plot points which I am excited to read more about in the future.

Attack on Titan Vol. 33 & 34 by Hajime Isayama (4/5 stars)

I decided that I was not waiting until next year to learn how this series ends. I decided I was going to read those last two volumes instead. Overall, I feel like a series that became as complicated and grand-scale as this one did is really hard to finish. I did wonder where Isayama was going to go with this series ending and I loved some elements and didn’t care for some others. My 5 star rating was more about all the strong emotions I felt when reading it. I was expecting the ending to be way worse and I was satisfied on the most part.

Agatha Christie’s Poirot: The Greatest Detective in the World by Mark Aldridge (5 stars)

A look into the history behind the character and all his various adaptations. Such an informative book which I thoroughly enjoyed listening to in audiobook. Not much more to say.

The Promised Neverland Vol. 4 by Kaiu Shiraii (5 stars)

I honeslty, at the moment, cannot find a flaw with this series. Not one! Each volume packs a punch with way to many twists and turns for me to keep track of.

Fullmetal Alchemist Vol. 7 by Hiromu Arakawa (5 stars)

We are on the home stretch now. I am so close to finishing this series and I am so sad it will be over soon. But I am also super excited to read all the spin off books I just learnt existed.

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tọlá Okogwu (5 stars)

One of my favourite middle grade books I have read in a very very long time. Up there with the Percy Jackson series! Full of action, amazing superpowers, great female role models. The last 25% of this book secured it that 5 star rating as it’s so so smart. Literally if Black Panther met X-Men. No flaws.

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey (5 stars)

My first ever contemporary romance and what a ride it was! I was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. I literally absorbed this book I read it in like 2 days and all I did on those 2 days was read it nothing else at all. I literally bought the sequel the day after I finished it. It was such a refreshing read after reading loads of intense fantasy books. This was super fun and easy-reading with amazing lovable characters and funny as hell dialogue.

Attack on Titan Whole Series Review

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For the past century, what’s left of mankind has hidden in a giant, three-walled city, trapped in fear of the bizarre, giant humanoids known as the Titans. Little is known about where they came from or why they are bent on consuming humankind, but the sudden appearance of an enormous Titan is about to change everything…

Let’s a take a bit of a dive into my thoughts on this monumental series!

It Happened One Summer Review

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Piper Bellinger is fashionable, influential, and her reputation as a wild child means the paparazzi are constantly on her heels. When too much champagne and an out-of-control rooftop party lands Piper in the slammer, her stepfather decides enough is enough. So he cuts her off, and sends Piper and her sister to learn some responsibility running their late father’s dive bar… in Washington. Piper hasn’t even been in Westport for five minutes when she meets big, bearded sea captain Brendan, who thinks she won’t last a week outside of Beverly Hills. So what if Piper can’t do math, and the idea of sleeping in a shabby apartment with bunk beds gives her hives. How bad could it really be? She’s determined to show her stepfather—and the hot, grumpy local—that she’s more than a pretty face. Except it’s a small town and everywhere she turns, she bumps into Brendan. The fun-loving socialite and the gruff fisherman are polar opposites, but there’s an undeniable attraction simmering between them. Piper doesn’t want any distractions, especially feelings for a man who sails off into the sunset for weeks at a time. Yet as she reconnects with her past and begins to feel at home in Westport, Piper starts to wonder if the cold, glamorous life she knew is what she truly wants. LA is calling her name, but Brendan—and this town full of memories—may have already caught her heart. 

The Leviathan Review

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Norfolk, 1643. With civil war tearing England apart, reluctant soldier Thomas Treadwater is summoned home by his sister, who accuses a new servant of improper conduct with their widowed father. By the time Thomas returns home, his father is insensible, felled by a stroke, and their new servant is in prison, facing charges of witchcraft. Thomas prides himself on being a rational, modern man, but as he unravels the mystery of what has happened, he uncovers not a tale of superstition but something dark and ancient, linked to a shipwreck years before. Something has awoken, and now it will not rest.