Tag: bookwrapup

February 2021 Wrap Up

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Well, this was a very successful month for me. I didn’t read as many books as last month but I really enjoyed the ones I did read. I also read my first 5 star novel this month which was amazing.

  • I read 5 books this month.
  • I continued with all my challenges.
  • Genre: I read 2 classic murder mysteries, 1 sci-fi and 2 fantasy.
  • Gender of authors: 4 by women and 1 was by a variety of authors.
  • Race of authors: 2 white, 2 asian and 1 was by a variety of authors.
  • Age range: I read 4 adult and 1 I was not sure of the age range.
  • Format: I read 2 paperbacks, 1 ebooks and 1 manga.

Death Going Down – Maria Angelica Bosco (2.5 stars)

So, this was my first step into Argentinian Literature, I read this novel as part of the ONTD Reading Challenge. I found it to be a really easy read. The novel didn’t blow me away but I still enjoyed reading it and I would consider reading more of Bosco’s novels.

Lord Edgware Dies – Agatha Christie (4 stars)

This was a solid addition to her series. While it wasn’t as good as some of her other work I still had a great time reading it. I read this book as part of my sequels challenge and I do hope to read the next book in her series before the end of the year. I found that I enjoyed Hastings the most in this book out of all the others books he’s been in. He felt like a great sidekick to Poirot where in other books he’s been a liability to him.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Manga – Akira Himekawa (4 stars)

I have read some mangas before but they had all be apart of the same series. So, this was the first time I had tried a completely different author. I felt that this was a solid adaptation from a video game which had so much content and I really enjoyed the art style. I did wish that some of the dungeons are expanded upon in the manga and I found that some of the pages were too busy but it didn’t ruin my enjoyment.

Star Wars: From A Certain Point of View – Various Authors (3 stars)

I don’t read many short story anthologies but I was really interested in reading these stories set in the Star Wars universe. I decided to rate each story out of 5 and then average out the scores for my overall rating. Overall, I loved how creative and imaginative the authors were and how they could get me invested in this new characters in just a handful of pages!!!

The Poppy War – R.F. Kuang – (5 stars)

This was the book I was most anxious for! I had seen such great things from this trilogy and I desperately wanted to enjoy as much as everyone else did. Thankfully, I loved it! Such amazing world-building, I was super invested in the main character Rin and I was just so connected to the story. I believe this book to be a must read if you want to read more fantasy!

September Wrap Up 2020

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Definitely a better reading month this month. While I did have my first 1 star of the year… all the other books I read were enjoyable. I also have planned all the books I am going to read for the rest of the year plus I have planned more or less all the posts I want to post until Feb next year! December and January is planned with end of the year wrap up kind of posts so it’s quite easy to plan and definitely my fave part of the year book blogging wise!

  • I read 6 books this month.
  • I dnfed 1 book this month.
  • I read 2 books for my sequel challenge and 2 books for my ONTD challenge.
  • I completed my sequel challenge.
  • For genre: I read most fantasy. All with different subgenres; portal, high, urban etc. One book was also a murder mystery in a fantasy setting.
  • For age range: 3 were adult, 2 were young adult and 1 I am not sure of the age range (a cross between YA and adult)
  • I read 4 paperbacks (1 was a manga) and 2 ebooks

Crowning Soul by Sahira Javaid (DNF)

I was super excited to get into this book. I haven’t read many books inspired by Morocco and I was excited to read a book with a Muslim character in the center of the story. But sadly it was a slog to get through. The pacing was weird as we switched through the scenes quite quickly but it felt really slow to read. The dialogue felt very cringey and unrealistic and I just struggled to find the desire to pick up the book.

The Last Wish by Andrezj Sapkowski (4 stars)

I wanted to read this book after I watched the Netflix adaptation at the beginning of the year. I then managed to fit it into my ONTD challenge for September which was read a book with a grumpy character and there are a lot of those kinds of characters in this book. Overall, all the short stories in this collection were really strong and I loved exploring the world through these stories rather than a linear narrative!

Dead Man in a Ditch by Luke Arnold (4 stars)

I wasn’t expecting that a book I read and reviewed as an ARC in February of this year would already have a sequel before the year was out but Mr Arnold seems to be working hard! I thoroughly enjoyed this book more so than the first one and I am super excited to see what this series has to hold!

The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden (5 stars)

Now I was nervous going into this book. I have spent about 3 years making my way through this trilogy and the journey was a rollercoaster of emotions so knowing I was going into the last book made me very apprehensive to read it as I did not want to be disappointed. And let me tell you… I was not disappointed in the slightest! Everyone must read this trilogy!

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (3 stars)

I think that my time with Gaiman has come to an end. I have read 3 of his books now and none of them left me feeling like I wanted to read more. While this book was definitely the better of the 3, the others being Coraline and Stardust, it sadly didn’t wow me enough. I don’t think I will continue to read Gaiman’s work anymore sadly.

Fullmetal Alchemist Vol.3 (7-9) by Hiromu Arakawa (5 stars)

Just expect me to give this entire series 5 stars throughout! All the volumes were great but now the ball is really rolling in regards to the wider plotline so I am super excited to read more!

Murder at the Playhouse Review

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Late Summer, 1933. After a quarrel with too-plucky-for-her-own-good amateur sleuth Kitty Underhay, dashing ex-army captain Matthew Bryant is nursing his wounds, and a tumbler of brandy, when there’s a heavy knock at the door and he finds himself arrested for murder. The body of aspiring actress Pearl Bright has been found, strangled with one of Matt’s own bootlaces, and the evidence seems to be stacked against him. The local constabulary might have locked Matt up, but before they can throw away the key, Kitty hears the news and hies to his aid, determined to prove his innocence. And when her investigations lead her to the home of retired theatre impresario Stanley Davenport, and the local amateur dramatics society, Kitty uncovers a web of deceit that stretches far beyond the stage make-up.

February Wrap Up 2020

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February was an interesting month for me. I am trying a new format with my wrap ups. If you would like to read my reviews in more detail please click the title of the book.

  • I had my first DNF of the year!
  • I continued with my challenges and read a 2nd chance book, 2 books for my ONTD challenge and I read a sequel!
  • I read 7 books, 2 of which were DNFs.
  • In terms of genre I read an two urban fantasies, a short story collection, two thrillers and three murder mysteries.
  • I read three ARCs, one library book, two were re-reads and one was a backlist book I owned.

The Last Smile in Sunder City – Luke Arnold (4 stars)

This was an ARC that I was super excited to pick up. In my opinion, it was a brilliant debut. I really enjoyed the world and loved exploring the idea of magical creatures having to survive in a world without magic. The plot was really interesting but I did at times struggle with writing style. At times it did make me cringe.

The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm – Brothers Grimm (DNF)

This was a re-read for me as well as a book for my second chance challenge. Sadly, like last time, I couldn’t get through it. Quite a lot of the stories I read I already knew so I got quite bored reading through it and I felt myself called to other books so I DNFed it.

My Sister, the Serial Killer – Oyinkan Braithwaite (3 stars)

I had mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the short chapters, I was intrigued about Ayoola as well as the bond between the two sisters. But I felt the story could have been deeper, I felt we only really scraped the surface. It needed more depth.

I read this book for my ONTD challenge, the theme was “Read a book set in Nigeria or a book written by a Nigerian author.”

In the Crypt with a Candlestick – Daisy Waugh (DNF)

I don’t have much to say regarding this story apart from I struggled to connect with the story or characters.

Tears of the Giraffe – Alexander McCall Smith (3 stars)

I really enjoyed the multiple narratives that weaved its way through this book. It really kept pace up and the novel engaging. I enjoyed Mma Ramotswe, she is such a strong character but my criticisms fell under the lack of actual detective work and a lot of important themes that were raised but never really explored.

Murder at Enderley Hall – Helena Dixon (3 stars)

This was another ARC that I read. This was another solid book in the Miss Underhay series, I think it held up really well against the first novel which was equally just as good. I felt the pacing of this story was done really well, the “romance” in this story has me really invested which rarely happens and I felt a strong sense of Dixon maintaining a solid series-arcing plot.

The Sea of Monsters – Rick Riordan (4 stars)

Another solid sequel, while in my opinion, not as good as the first story. This one was too short and a lot of convenient things happened to push the plot forward. But it was super fun, action-packed, we were introduced to some amazing characters. But what Riordan did, that was my favourite, was building up the series-arcing plot really well which makes you want to read the next book.

Murder at Enderley Hall Review

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Summer 1933. Fresh from the discovery that she has family living nearby, Kitty Underhay has packed her carpet bag, commandeered a chambermaid and set off on a visit to stately Enderley Hall. She’s looking forward to getting to know her relatives, as well as the assembled group of house guests. But when elderly Nanny Thoms is found dead at the bottom of the stairs after papers of national importance are stolen, Kitty quickly learns that Muffy the dog’s muddy paws on her hemline are the least of her problems. Calling on ex-army captain Matthew Bryant for assistance, Kitty begins to puzzle out the mystery. And when more shocking murders follow, the stakes are raised for the daring duo as never before. Which of the guests stand to gain from the theft of the documents? And which, as the week progresses, stand to lose their lives?

Click the title to read my thoughts.

December Wrap Up 2019

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So, this is my final wrap up for 2019 and I didn’t read as many books this month as I had hoped but I did read one massive book!

Murder at the Dolphin Hotel – Helena Dixon (3 stars)

This was an ARC I received from Bookouture and I was worried that maybe I had over-saturated myself with murder mysteries by the time I got to this book but thankfully this wasn’t the case. This book kept me wanting and with each chapter ending it drew me into the story more and more. That being said I don’t really think the main female protagonist was really framed as the main character and that author spent more time on our secondary male protagonist which was a bit disappointing.

The Eye of the World – Robert Jordan (5 stars)

This was a book that I put down to focus on the ARCs that I had been approved to read. Going into it I was worried that it was too out of my comfort zone, I had heard it compared to The Lord of the Rings which was not my favourite series so I was worried I would feel the same way which to be frank was boredom! But thankfully, that was not the case at all. What I found was an intricate world, layered characters and exciting plot that made me start theorising everything.

Spinning Silver – Naomi Novik (3 stars)

A loose re-telling of Rumpelstiltskin that drew me in with it’s beautiful imagery and varied female characters. While it drew me in from the beginning I can’t say that it remained that way, the writing was beautiful yet slow paced and the momentum I had gained at the beginning just fell away about 3/4 in. But I can’t deny that the female characters were amazing!

Hills Like White Elephants – Ernest Hemingway (3 stars)

I went for an average rating here as I have to be honest. I had no idea what this story was about. It was 4 pages of confusion! A weird way to end the year!