Blog Tour: A Mighty Dawn

Today's post is a book review/blog tour and if you didn't know, a blog tour consists of various book bloggers reviewing the same book in a tour of sorts within a set period of time. I have taken part in at least two so far with this one being my third and my favourite! Today's book tour is with the lovely people over at Corvus for a review of Theodore Brun's debut fantasy, adventure read, A Mighty Dawn.

*A Mighty Dawn by Theodore Brun (608 pages) ★★★ (3.75...so so close)

Some of my favourite book genres include fantasty, historical fiction, magical realism and anything related of fairytales or folklore and this one includes quite a few of these genres so I knew I would like it but there were elements that I loved even more than I thought I would and then there were a couple of issues, for me personally.

We follow Hakan, son of the Lord of the Northern Jutes, who experiences a life changing tragedy which forces him to find himself, reevaluate his life and find his purpose. This section is the first part of the book and equates to maybe the first 15% to 20% and to me, it felt quite different to the rest of the book and I wasn't very happy with the rape in this section of the book; however the rest of the story follows his journey, the people he meets on the way and his hardships which I utterly adored!

The novel is set in a viking age world, similar to our own at that time; however it also has elements of folklore, norse myths and demonic, underworld like creatures which to be honest, was one of my favourite things about the book. During December I read a book all about norse myths and the norse gods such as Odin and Loki so I was familiar with the gods in the book and their backstories, relationships and the norse view of their gods which definitely helped in my understanding of the book so I think it would be useful to have a slight understanding of norse myths and their gods before going into this book.

It has a classic adventure storyline which I loved and at times it did remind me a little of the Seeds Of Destiny series by Andrew Livingstone (which I also loved). Another aspect of the book that was so endearing was the friendship between Kai and Hakan which I loved and the adventures they go on - the fight scenes were also amazing! So after it's slightly rocky and unpredictable start, it became such a wonderful, intriguing and fantastic adventure of a book with norse gods, demonic creatures and a fast paced journey with Hakan, Kai and some pretty vicious vikings!

Thanks so much to Corvus for putting together this blog tour and for kindly sending me an early copy of the book! This debut book was so incredibly close to being a solid four star read so I cannot wait to read the second book in the series, A Sacred Storm, which is being released on the 7th June 2018.

Will you be picking up this book? Are you a adventure and fantasy fan?

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Book Tour: Those Who Lie

Todays post is quite exciting as it's not only a thriller review but it's also the first book tour that I'm part of! If you've read my other book reviews then you'll know that I love thrillers as they are usually  quick, easy and entertaining reads and this one is no different - despite the difficult, sensitive topics. I have a kindle copy of *Those Who Lie by Dianne Jeffrey which is categorised as a thriller, mystery and crime novel. It was published by HQ Digital back in January and it is approx. 233 pages. 

Emily Klein doesn’t know she has killed her husband until the day of his funeral. At first, signs point to a tragic accident. Yet, as Emily pieces together the events before his death – events which led to her own memory loss – she begins to suspect that her husband’s death may have been the result of more than a terrible twist of fate… But the accident is only the beginning. Because while Emily’s physical scars will heal, the trauma of the accident has awakened old ghosts. She hears strange sounds, catches things that can’t possibly be there in the corner of her eye. Before long, everywhere she looks, she seems to see her husband. And suddenly, Emily finds herself asking the most dangerous question of all.

Let's start with the writing style, for me was very quick and easy to read even though the main topics are quite sensitive and potentially trigging such as rape, family issues, murder, mental illness and more so if you don't want to read about any of those topics for whatever reason then maybe don't read this book. The rape within the book as well as other issues and points that develop and reveal themselves throughout the book were a surprise to me and I think they will be for other readers so I just wanted to warn potential readers. I think books that involve triggering topics such as self harm, mental illness and rape, for example, need to be mentioned on the back of the book or the beginning of an e-book. 

Now onto the storyline, I liked the mystery elements of finding out what happened in the accident, who is responsible, what happening in Emilys past and her relationships, it was the most compelling part of the book. The revelations throughout the book kept me guess for the most part and allows you to try and figure out what is happening for yourself. I kind of predicted some of the revelations so you weren't as impactful for me but it was still an entertaining (if very disturbing at times) journey. 

There are a few unlikeable characters and a lot of characters you don't know whether to trust or believe. I liked the main character and her friends although the parents are another story...The unreliable characters/main character as well as the 'looking over your shoulder', mystery element of this book reminded me a little bit of Nightwalker by Sebastian Fitez but Nightwalker is much darker although both have that mystery and disturbing qualities to them. 

Overall, despite the difficult and disturbing elements, unreliable characters and air of mystery and looking over your shoulder, I did enjoy this book. It's a very quick and easy book to get through and I think if you are into your crime, thriller and mystery novels then you'll like this but do be aware of the sensitive and potentially trigging topics throughout the book! Overall rating: ★★★☆☆, 3.5/ 5. 

Have you read this book (it's only 99p as a kindle/e-book copy)? Do you like thrillers/crime novels? 

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Book Tour: A Burning Sea by Theodore Brun

 
It has been a while since I've wanted to take part in a book tour as I never want to feel pressured to finish a book by a certain date or feel compelled to finish a book I'd rather not as I'm very much a mood reader. However, I was very excited to take part in the book tour with Corvus for a review of the third book in The Wanderer Chronicles by Theodore Brun. I reviewed the previous books in the series back in 2018 (which seems like a lifetime ago) and loved both, giving them a rating of 3.75 each! 

*A Burning Sea by Theodore Brun (475 pages) ★★★ (3.75, yet again!)

I was very kindly sent a hardback copy which has one of the most striking book covers of the series; although I think my favourite cover and story overall has to be the first book. As this is the third book in the series, I wouldn't want to give away any spoilers to those who haven't read the previous two books. However, within the first book, A Mighty Dawn, we follow Hakan, son of the Lord of the Northern Jutes as he is faced with life changing truths and tragedy which forces him to find his own way in the world and change his identity. 

Both the first and second books in the series are filled with adventure, conflict, blood shed, oaths and battles, all of which I adore in fantasy and historical fiction! The third book is no different in the level of conflict and fighting, although we have a new setting to explore of Byzantium which was vivid and atmospheric, especially with the lies, mystery and subterfuge surrounding the characters. I love the character of Erlan as he's the typical humble hero and a character you'll want to root for. I've been following his perilous, adventure filled journey which encounters more of a few near death experiences, injury, heartbreaking loss and a little hope and I finally wanted him to have a happy ending within this third book. 

There are so many aspects of this book that I enjoyed such as a quick and easy writing style, the camaraderie between a number of the characters, the page turning battle scenes and the dark humour throughout. Although I think my favourite aspect of the series as a whole is the classic adventure feel of the books as they are all reminiscent of age old tales of villains, monsters, battle-hardened heroes and a hopefully happily ever after. 

I do have to a mention a few topics which may be uncomfortable for some such as rape and torture within the book. Additionally I did have a couple of issues, hence the rating, such as potentially unnecessary sex scenes and the way some the physical characteristics of some characters are described (also can every writer on the planet stop describing breasts as 'orbs' please) but I would still highly recommend this series if you are looking for a fast paced, adventure filled read with elements of norse mythology and viking culture.

I'm currently reading a short story by Theodore Brun, A Winter's Night, which is free on Amazon. Also, if you have a Kindle Unlimited subscription or a free trial then you can read the first two books for free. 

Make sure you follow me on GoodReads for more book ratings and to stay up to date with my current TBR. 

Have you read this series? Do you read any historical fiction or fantasy? 

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June Reading Wrap-up 2019

2019 has been great in terms of my reading so I wanted to keep up the momentum and continue the streak of great books. Thankfully June was another fantastic reading month with an overall higher than average number of pages read and quite a few amazing books. I managed to read 18 books in the month of June which included a good number of non-fiction reads. I'm very happy with the amount of non-fiction I've been picking up this year! My favourite books of the month include: Good Omens, From Here To Eternity and Lady Killers.

*Gather The Fortunes by Bryan Camp (599 pages) ★★★

I was very kindly sent this book to review from the lovely people at Titan Books - just look at how beautiful that cover is! I will admit that the cover was part of the reason I wanted to request a copy of this book but the blurb was also very intriguing as it involves formidable magic, mythology and supernatural creatures.

We follow Renai, a psychopomp who has been brought back from the dead to ferry the recently deceased into the underworld. One day she is presented with a deal to find someone who has escaped death and it takes her on an adventure into the underworld to not only uncover the mystery of the missing boy but to find her missing memories as well.

I'll start with the positives and the main one for me (along with the stunningly beautiful cover) is the setting of New Orleans which is a location I haven't read about before. I adored the atmosphere and description of the setting as well as the mythical gods, magic and the underworld aspects of this book.  While it was a long book, one of the longest I've read for a while, it didn't fully feel like a 600 page read. Overall, I found it to be entertaining and I liked the character of Sal, however...

I did feel as though the story was massively drawn out and I think it definitely could have been shortened as it felt like a slog at the mid point! Also I didn't like the repetitive nature of the book and the repetition of a certain phrase 'Renai kissed her teeth' which occurred so often and frustrated me more than it should have, if I'm honest. Sadly I was a little disappointed but I would recommend it if it sounds like something you'd like.

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman (416 pages) ★★★★ 

One book I have had on my shelves for a while is Good Omens which is co-written by two of my favourite authors and I think that was the reason I was putting off reading it for so long as I didn't want to be disappointed. However, I didn't need to worry as naturally I adored this book which I should have guessed would happen as Terry Pratchett in particular is one of my all time favourite authors - I cannot recommend his Discworld series enough.

We follow Crowley (a demon) and Aziraphale (an angel) on opposing sides as the world is about to end and the antichrist has been...misplaced. Although in true Terry Pratchett style, we follow numerous storylines at the same time (including a descendant of a witch finder, a Stranger Things style gang of children and the four horsemen of the apocalypse) so if you aren't used to his writing then you might find the switching storylines/timelines a little confusing but I am very familiar with his writing and love it!

Some of the same positives I loved about this book were the same as the positives I attributed to Gaiman's and Pratchett's previous books in terms of the darkly comic and sarcastic writing, magical elements, vivid characters and intelligent humour with a throughly eccentric feel to it. It felt at times (up to the 25-30% mark) that so many characters were being introduced and there were too many lines to follow but naturally everything comes cleverly together in the end. However, despite a couple of negatives, I adored this read and I equally adored the TV show.

*The True History Of Chocolate by Sophie D. Coe and Michael D. Coe (280 pages)
★★★ (3.5) 

We all know by now how much I love the publisher Thames and Hudson for their niche and quirky as well as beautifully published non-fiction reads and this one is no different. I was kindly sent it to include within my previous Easter Gift Guide but I'm finally getting round to it now. As the title would suggest, it's all about the history of chocolate from its South American origins to the mass produced luxury we all enjoy today.

Can we take a moment to appreciate the stunningly beautiful cover and how I should always match my nails to my books. Despite the in-depth information within this book, it was an easy to follow read and contained so much information that was completely new to me! I personally liked the latter half of the book the most, I loved the illustrations/photographs throughout and overall, it was an interesting niche non-fiction read that I think many will find fascinating. My only negative is that it seems to focus on the mesoamerican history, conflicts and politics more than I wanted/expected and it was a teeny bit bogged down at times, especially the first third or so of the book. However, if you love chocolate or food history then I cannot recommend this beautifully designed and well researched book enough.

*The Forgotten Past by Andrew Vinken (232 pages) ★★★ 

The first book I finished in June was an e-arc which was released recently and focuses on aspects of history that are often forgotten such as the true inventor of flight (years before the Wright brothers), an audacious conman and Hermann Goring's brother who was such an incredible person (unlike his brother) to the most decorated solider of the first world war who was an extremely brave stretcher bearer, strange coincidences throughout history, the practice of grave robbing royal tombs and much more.

If you've read my previous book reviews and wrap-ups then you might know that history centric non-fiction reads that focus on a very specific or niche topic are some of my favourite books to read and this one from Andrew Vinken ticks so many boxes. I loved the quick, short chapters each looking at a different event/individual/topic and the easy writing style, although I think it was a little too casual at times. I thought it would be a little more academic or formal in it's tone which was disappointing but I would recommend it as an easy and unusual non-fiction read.

*Speed Read Tour de France by Wilcockson (160 pages) ★★★ (3.5)

You might not know this about me but I love watching the Tour de France, especially over the past four or five years as I've watched it religiously. I adore the scenery and I am in awe of the physical abilities of the riders so I naturally had to request this e-book on Netgalley. The book is split up into tiny sections with various facts about individual riders, the origin of the Tour de France, the technology involved, crashes and more, all of which was very interesting and had me screenshotting facts to read to others. It explained terms well (even if you aren't very familiar with the tour) and provides so many interesting facts that I had no idea about. If you're looking for an easy but comprehensive book about the largest cycling race in the world then definitely pick up this book, especially as the tour starts soon.

Ricochet Joe by Dean Koontz (95 pages) ★★ 

Yet another Kindle In Motion ebook and it's a short novella by Dean Koontz in which we follow a rather bizarre young man who has a strange experience and his intuition causes him to stop numerous crimes around his small town. He is followed by a newly found friend, Portia, who explains that there's another reality involving a cosmic entity that controls humans. It definitely isn't my usual read and if I'm honest, I didn't love this book but what I did love were the moving illustrations throughout it. Thankfully the ebook was very short at less than 100 pages but sadly the story was just too bizarre and abstract for me to enjoy it. I think that if you like sci-fi/alternative reality stories then you might like this but it definitely wasn't for me.

From Here To Eternity by Caitlin Doughty (238 pages) ★★★★ 

My favourite non-fiction book of last year was Smoke Gets In Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty so I had to purchase her second book which focuses on death and burial practices around the world. Firstly, I love the cover as well as all of the illustrations throughout the book! As with her first book, this one has her unique personality throughout it which I love and she always manages to discuss difficult or darker topics with humour and an academic interest but also respect.

I personally didn't really know about different burial, cremation or death practices around the world so it was a very interesting and eye opening read that managed to combine an explanation of a certain cultural or societal practices with facts, interest and as little bias as anyone could. I found so many sections of this book to be moving, especially the way the Indonesian people cared for their dead and the Japanese view of suicide and death.

I'm not one to cry at books but certain aspects and sentences within this read definitely struck a cord with me and had me close to tears. I adore all of the books she has published, as well as her Youtube videos and I will continue to buy her books in the future as they're very well written with the perfect blend of compassion, information and personality. I cannot recommend this read enough, along with her first book, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes which was one of my favourite books of last year. Each book I read about this industry, the more I want to work within it, which might be another post for another day.

*A Garden Miscellany by Suzanne Staubach (220 pages) ★★★ 

Yet another non-fiction read for the month of June and it's an A-Z guide to all things garden related, from the structures you find in gardens to gardening terms and more. I am personally not the best gardener but I do have numerous houseplants and I'm starting to care for them as well as I can so I thought this book would be ideal for a beginner.

Firstly, the cover is beautiful but somehow the interior illustrations aren't quite so - perhaps that's because it is an ARC copy rather than the finished book. I found the information within the book to be interesting and quite specific but at times it was a little repetitive. I would definitely recommend it for gardening beginners as there is so much useful information and I think it is something I'll need to keep going back to.

Consorting With Dragons by Sera Trevor (306 pages) ★★★

My favourite book genre is definitely fantasy and it's even better if it contains LGBT characters, magic, dragons and an easy storyline which is exactly what I got with Consorting With Dragons. We follow Lord Jansen as he's taken to the capital city to take part in the annual courtly ritual of finding a wife/husband. What follows is a very sweet romance with the king, court intrigue, power play and best of all, dragons. I need to read more books with dragons! I loved this book, it's the book equivalent of candy as it's sweet and quick with an easy, entertaining (if a little cheesy) story. Books like this are a bit of a guilty pleasure for me, it is just thoroughly entertaining, quick and escapist.

Lady Killers by Tori Teller (327 pages) ★★★★

Another non-fiction read I finished in June is one that I've been meaning to read for a while and how could I not want it read it with a title like that! The book focuses on various women throughout history and the brutal crimes and murders they committed or had others commit for them. Historic figures such as the infamous Erzbsebet Bathory to more modern day female serial killers are explored, most of which I hadn't heard of before.

The author doesn't just look at each individual and their crimes but also how they were perceived, how they are viewed now and the general view of female killers in the media. I loved the writing style as it was engaging, comprehensive and interesting without being bogged down in details or repetitive. I finished it in record speed and found pretty much every second of it to be throughly interesting, entertaining and well written as well as disturbing and shocking. I'd heard of a couple of women within this book but most of them were new to me and I also liked the discussion around how female killers are viewed as sexual, evil or are given excuses for their behaviour because of their gender. I cannot recommend this book enough!

*The Colorado Kid by Stephen King (208 pages) ★★★ 

Another book I was sent to review is a newly illustrated edition of a previously published short story from Stephen King. We follow a couple of reporters and a forensic student as they are trying to piece together the mystery of a body washed up on the coast of Maine. From that premise, I expected a gritty detective/crime focused short story but it's actually a retelling of the crime from two older journals to their protege. It wasn't what I expected at all but it was an extremely quick read with full page illustrations throughout. While there are aspects about this republished short story that I loved such as the cover, illustrations, quick and easy writing and the overall story...it was just boring, in my opinion. I loved Stephen King's Carrie but this one just wasn't as amazing as I'd hoped it would be. I would recommend it overall but it doesn't seem to be one of his best books. I cannot wait to read his more famous novels though!

Widdershins by Jordan Hawk (224 pages) ★★★ 

Another ebook I finished in June was a supernatural, slightly Frankensteinesque novel with LGBT characters. We follow Whyborne, a reclusive and awkward archeologist and Griffin, an ex-detective as they try to uncover the mystery behind a series of robberies from the museum, a cult-like group and mysterious resurrected creatures. I loved the Frankenstein and Egyptian archaeology aspects of this book along with the darker topics, the easy writing and adventure. However, there were numerous cringy sections of dialogue, I can't stand insta-love and it was more than a little cheesy at times. I enjoyed it overall but I won't carry on with the series.

The Pied Piper by Harold Schechter (69 pages) ★★★ 

Within June I started Amazon Prime so I thought I'd check out some of the non-fiction books on Prime Reading and there are so many of these short non-fiction true crime books from Harold Schechter available. Each book within his series focuses on a series of crimes and their famous perpetrators. I haven't read many books at all concerning true crime so I think these short reads are a great introduction to the genre.

The Pied Piper follows the crimes of Charlie Schmid in the US during the 1960s in which he killed three women. I personally hadn't ever heard of these crimes or of Charlie Schmid so it was interesting to read about that time period within an easy to follow, illustrated and quick read. It's part of the 'kindle in motion' series so the cover illustrations move which is something I haven't come across before and I think it looks amazing. I'd definitely recommend this super short non-fiction true crime read for fans of the genre.

The Pirate by Harold Schechter (54 pages) ★★★ 

Another Harold Schechter true crime ebook I read follows the crimes of Albert Hicks (which happens to be the name of one of my ancestors...) who looted and murdered during the 1800's. As with the previous book, it's a Kindle In Motion read so the cover moves and it contains numerous photographs. It's a very quick, easy read about a rather horrific crime and an individual that I had never heard of! Again, if you like true crime then check out these super short ebooks.

Cloaked In Shadow by Ben Alderson (330 pages) ★★★ (3.5)

One of the quickest 'average length' books I read in June was the very enjoyable Cloaked In Shadow by Ben Alderson. It was another ebook from the Kindle Unlimited/Prime Reading free selection and it sounded fantastic so I had to check it out for pride month. We follow Zac as along with other elves from his village are taken to the capital for royal celebrations but what happens involves royal subterfuge, attacks, military training, an uncovering of magical abilities and an unexpected romance with the prince.

I read it in record speed, the writing was very quick and easy and the story moved at a great pace. I loved the magical fantasy world, the relationship between Zac and Hadrien and I always love the trope of a character discovering their magical abilities! It was an entertaining, very quick fantasy read with a M/M romance. It's the first book in a series and all three are free to read on Kindle Unlimited so I might carry on with the other two books.

*Crowfall by Ed McDonald (464 pages) ★★★ 

Next up is the third book in the Raven's Mark series, the first two of which I read last year. I rated Blackwing four stars and Ravensmark three stars. Crowfall follows on from the events of the previous book and we find Ryhalt in a bit of a dire situation in Misery. I don't really want to say more than that as I don't want to spoil the first two books but I'll say that it has the same gritty, grimdark and unusual content as the others...however, it's on another level!

I personally love the world that Ed McDonald has created as it's incredibly vivid, wonderfully dark, grotesquely unique and unlike any other series I've read! I like the writing, the setting and various characters, in particular, Ryhalt and Maldon but I didn't love this third book nearly as much as the others sadly. The first book will forever be my favourite in the series, closely followed by the second and Crowfall comes in last unfortunately. Compared to the other books in the series, it felt very abstract and repetitive which isn't a style I'm a fan of. Overall, I cannot recommend the first book enough and if you like it then maybe carry on with the series.

The Sleep Tight Motel by Lisa Unger (48 pages) ★★★ 

A couple of years ago I read Ink and Bone by this author and liked it so when I came across this Amazon Original novella by her, I had to read it, especially as it's incredibly short. We follow Eve, a women trying to escape a violent lover, as she arrives at an empty motel. I did enjoy the quick pace, easy writing and the eerie (almost claustrophobic) tone of the book but it felt very rushed and a little throwaway sadly. If you have Amazon Prime then maybe check it out as it is free to read.

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them: Illustrated Edition (160 pages) ★★★ 

Another Kindle in Motion book I read was one that I have wanted to read for a while as it's all about the magical creatures within the Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find them world. I loved the first film and I love anything Harry Potter related so I read this in one day. I thoroughly enjoyed this very short and easy read which was massively enhanced by the amazing moving illustrations throughout the book. Unlike the previous Kindle in Motion ebooks I've read this month, the moving illustrations aren't just on the cover but on every few pages of the book. I think the Kindle in Motion books are amazing and I cannot recommend them enough.

Have you read any of these books? Are you following me on GoodReads? 

*Gifted

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Book Tour: The Last Namsara

This is only the second book blog tour that I've taken part in, the first was Those Who Lie by Diane Jeffrey which was a great mystery thriller. However, the book I'm focusing on in todays post is an incredible YA fantasy book that was very kindly sent to me from the lovely people over at Gollancz so thank you!

*The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli (415 pages, available TODAY) - ★★★★★

I was sent this book at the end of September and I was planning to read it closer to the release date of today but I just couldn't as the cover is so gorgeous and I've heard nothing but incredible things about this book so I had to read it sooner rather than later.

The book is set in an almost Game Of Thrones type world with the main character of Asha who is...a dragon slayer! Asha was attacked by a dragon as a child and as a result she has a large, visible scar which means that even as the daughter of he dragon king, she is viewed with caution and fear. The dragon that attacked her also destroyed homes, lives and caused rifts within her fathers fractured kingdom and she has to put it right by killing the First Dragon, Kozu.

Firstly, I was a little cautious going into this book as when you've heard nothing but amazing things, you don't want to be potentially let down and it is a little on the longer side but it was such an amazing YA read. I adored the characters of Dax, Torwin, Safia and Asha as well as the dragons, Shadow and Kozu. The relationships between the lovely main characters I've mentioned was so endearing and I loved the romance, even if it was a little predictable. Although to be honest, the dragons were the best part!

The writing was a dream, I managed to read it in just less than two days as I couldn't put it down - I wanted to know what would happen to the kingdom, if a certain two people would get together and want would become of the dragons. The more you read, the more invested you become in the characters and the better the book becomes.

It's one of the few five star YA reads so far this year but there were some negatives, for example, it was a little predictable and it did have some typical YA tropes within it but the mystery, action and romance as well as the dragons more than made up for it. If a YA book filled with action, intrigue, forbidden romance and dragons, set in an almost Game Of Thrones type world, is something you'd be interested in then definitely pick up The Last Namsara and you won't want to put it down! Now I cannot wait for the next book!

Will you be picking up this book? What are you currently reading? What has been your favourite book so far this year? 

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January Reading Wrap-up 2018

It's time for my first reading wrap-up of 2018! I had a fairly ambitious TBR for the month of January (although I always have ambitious TBR lists for every month!) but thankfully I was able to finish everything I wanted to in January and more which included 3 audiobooks, 3 e-books and 10 physical books! I think I managed to read much more than usual this month as a few of the books were a little shorter than average, the audiobooks were very short and I've been ill on and off in January so I managed to get even more reading done than usual. However, hopefully I can keep up this pace and read just as much in February! 

*Zenith by Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cummings (511 pages - 11th January)  ★★★

Out of all the books I read this month, I was cautious about this one the most as it's written by a youtuber and I typically stay well away from youtuber/blogger books but this one subverted my exceptions. We follow a misfit all girl space ship crew as they take risky jobs to survive in a cut throat universe but some of the girls have secrets from their past that come to haunt them and take them on a rip roaring adventure filled with action, revenge, loss and unrequited love. 

I love the crew as they were so unique, spunky and vivid, even if they were quite cliche and very YA at times. I loved the adventures, the relationships between the crew. Despite being over 500 pages, it was such an easy, entertaining and quick read with very short chapters, every one of which focused on one characters perspective/thoughts. 

I'm not really a Star Wars fan but I have watched a couple of the films and this book definitely gave me Star Wars vibes, albeit on a very YA level. However it did have the typical sci-fi elements as well as spaceships, 'aliens' and much more. If you like sci-fi books then I'd recommend this one but just be aware of the YA genre and the tendencies towards tropes and cliches. 

*Beautiful Star & Other Stories by Andrew Swanston (256 pages - 11th January)
★★★

I'm not going to talk about this book too much as I've already published a full book blog tour post on it which you can read for more information. I was initially drawn to this short story collection as the cover is amazing and the synopsis sounded like something I'd absolutely love as it's historical fiction with what seemed to be quirky elements which I'm all for! 

There are seven short stories, all of which are historical fiction and focus on time periods that I'm interested in. My favourite stories from this collection include: Beautiful Star, The Tree, The Flying Monk and A Witch and A Bitch. If you like historical fiction then check out this interesting, entertaining short story collection! 

*Women of the Raj by Margaret Macmillan (320 pages - 25th January)
★★★★

Thames and Hudson kindly sent me a few stunningly beautiful books last month that I adored and I was sent a few more (thank you!) which the first being Women of the Raj. It's a non-fiction book with a gorgeous cover and a topic that I know nothing about!

It starts with the horrendous journey to India for both men and women in the 1800s and early 1900s which is something I would not want to experience! It also looks at the travellers first impressions of India and it's people as well as how they perceive this foreign exotic country, cultural clashes and how the Europeans try to carry on with their own version of society in a country that is very different to their own. 

Throughout the book the author not only describes the experiences, history and culture concisely and in a way that isn't dry, dusty or dreary but it's also accurate as the author draws on individual accounts from that time. I personally didn't know too much about the raj, the individual experiences of europeans in India or the caste system in India so it was definitely informative! I wasn't taught anything throughout my schooling about India or the British empire so this book in it's accurate, informative and surprisingly easy way definitely helped fill in the blanks in my knowledge. I'd definitely recommend it as a unique, interesting and very niche non-fiction read. It's great to see a book focusing on women's experiences as so much of history is focused on men! 

*The Child Finder by Rene Denfield (288 pages - 11th January) ★★★

I love reading thrillers during the autumn and winter months so I was excited to receive this book for review. I managed to read this book in one day as it's super a quick, page turning thriller. 

We follow Naomi, the child finder, who has been hired by the Culvers to find their missing daughter who disappeared during a winter trip to Oregon. Throughout the book we not only find out Maisons story but also the main characters past which has surprising parallels to the missing girl she's been hired to find.

Let's start with the positives, I loved the setting, the wintery landscape and the tension filled, sinister atmosphere of the book. I also like the main character, the fairytale elements and the writing style which was very quick and easy but also compelling. The story on the whole was interesting and a page turner but it was also thoroughly disturbing with dark, awful topics, mainly around child abuse which made for very uncomfortable reading. If you think that you had handle those kinds of themes then definitely check out this book! 

*My Sweet Orange Tree by José Mauro de Vasconcelos (192 pages - available now) ★★★

How cute is this cover! I was sent this book from the amazing people at Pushkin Press and I was interested to read it as it's very different to any of the other books I've read because it is a semi-autobiographical almost modern classic from the Brazilian author, José Mauro de Vasconcelos. The book has been in print since it's publication in 1968 but it has been republished in this gorgeous edition by Pushkin Press.

We follow the author's childhood in Rio De Janeiro but don't be fooled by the adorable, colourful cover as this book will break your heart! The main character of Zeze has to endure so much at such a young age and the saddest part of the story is that it's based on the authors life. It manages to covey an emotional, heart wrenching story in under 200 pages. 

*The Wages Of Sin by Kaite Welsh (308 pages - available now) ★★★

I noticed this book on BookBridgr in December and I knew, not just from the cover, that I had to request it and I was so excited when it arrived at the very end of December - I had to read it immediately, although I didn't finish it until the first of January. We follow Sarah, one of the new female medical students at the University of Edinburgh as she struggles with her past, her studies and the negativity she experiences because of her gender within the medical profession and academia. 

I adored the setting of the book, it was one of my favourite things about the book as well as the medical side, the mystery and the hate to love almost romance within the book. The main characters felt feel and vivid, I liked the writing and how quick of a read it was. However, I didn't like the constant mentions to the main characters 'stained' past as I think it undermined the rest of the book which is very much a girl power and equality focused book. I also think the book was far too slow at times which made me skim read a fair few paragraphs within the middle of the book. I would 

recommend it as it was entertaining and enjoyable but not quite as amazing as I'd hoped it would be. 

*Thief Of Time by Terry Pratchett (316 pages - available now) ★★★

I hoped to finish this book last year but sadly I couldn't! It's the final book in the death series within Terry Pratchett's huge Discworld series. I love this series on the whole with Hogfather being my favourite but there are a couple that I haven't liked quite as much as the others including Soul Music and annoyingly, this book too. 

We follow an acclaimed clockmaker as he is commissioned to create the most accurate clock in existence by a mysterious benefactor, Susan (who we met in the previous two books in the series which I reviewed last month) and the monks of history. The book started, for me, like a book that wasn't written by Terry Pratchett at all but thankfully it regained it's unique Terry Pratchett charm and wit. 

The start wasn't very compelling but it definitely picked up and I read the rest of the book quite quickly as I wanted to find out what was going to happen. Also Susan is definitely my favourite Terry Pratchett character so I'm glad she was in this book. Terry Pratchett is such an intelligent writer and his books are always filled with dark humour, witty remarks and sarcasm. From a rocky start, I finished the book feeling so glad that I read this series. If you haven't read any of his books then you need to start with Mort (or Equal Rights which is the first book in the witches series). 

*The Intruder by P.S Hogan (288 pages - e-book available now) ★★★

This is another read that I won't talk too much about as I've already published my full blog tour book review for the e-book release. The e-book is available now but the paperback will be released in May. We follow William Henning, an estate agent who happens to keep the keys to all of the houses he has sold and visits the residents without them knowing...we also look back on his life and childhood to try to understand him. 

It was fairly creepy from the beginning, especially as we just focus on the main character and it feels like we are in his head (it's not a comfortable place to be). The writing was quick, very easy to read and as entertaining as you would expect from a thriller so I would recommend it as a quick thriller or halloween recommendation. However, the ending for me was a little anticlimactic especially compared to the rest of the book. 

*Dear Ijeawele by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie via BookBeat ★★★

I listened to the audiobook of We Should All Be Feminists last year and loved it as a simple, straightforward introduction to feminism and this one was no different. If you are like me and haven't read or listened to much feminist literature or work in general then the audiobooks from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie are great starting points. 

I agreed with so much of this book about subverting gender roles, gender equality, how parenting should be an equal task rather than being viewed as something for women to manage, how girls and boys should be treated more similarly and that women shouldn't feel guilty to be themselves rather than just a mother. It's such a short, no-nonsense audiobook that I'd definitely recommend to everyone - I just wasn't a fan of the narrator. 

*Art In The Blood by Bonnie Macbird via BookBeat ★★★

I have had a hit or miss experience with audiobooks recently as I've had to DNF a couple (including To Catch A King and Pretty Honest) but thankfully this one was great! It's a reimagining of a classic Sherlock Holmes story which I'm all for as I love the Sherlock Holmes series but sadly, while it was entertaining, it didn't have the classic, unsolvable or intricate feel of the originals for me. 

I liked the narrator on the whole, although his voice for Sherlock was very high and a little creepy, it was a fairly quick audiobook and it was entertaining and enjoyable but for me it is quite forgettable and it missed that Sherlock Holmes feel or spark that we are all familiar with. I would recommend listening to it but don't have your expectations too high! 

*Shadow Show edited by Sam Weller via BookBeat ★★★★

Ray Bradbury is one of my favourite authors as his way with words is so unique and magical so I had to listen to this anthology of short stories created by various famous authors who loved or were influenced by Ray Bradbury.

The stories range in their influence and similarities to Ray Bradbury's stories. The stories I loved the most were from the following authors: Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood and David Morrell as well many others. I liked the vast majority of the stories, the narrators and the Ray Bradbury themes or inspiration in each story but within the middle there were a few that weren't as interesting or as unique as the rest. 

*The Beginning Of The World In The Middle Of The Night by Jen Campbell (288 pages) ★★★

Jen Campbell is an author and youtuber that I follow so I had to read her last book (with the longest book title ever) especially as she has such an amazing knowledge of fairytales and folktales which definitely shows in this short story collection! The cover is stunning and for me it such was a quick, easy and poetic read. 

I think that I had built this short story collection up a little too much before reading it as I wasn't as impressed or as in love within it nearly as much as I thought I would be. Out of the twelve short stories, my favourites include: animals, little deaths, human satellites and bright white hearts. I would recommend it if you like fairytales, folktales and bizarre stories but it could be quite polarising. 

*The Coffin Path by Katherine Clements (384 pages - 8th February) ★★★

We follow Mercy and her family who reside in a decaying country home in a rural region filled with folktales and haunting stories passed down from generation to generation. With the changing seasons, farmhands travel from farm to farm for work and Ellis joins Mercy at Scarcross Hall. Suspisions fly when items start to disappear, eerie sightings and gruesome discoveries are made. 

The premise of the book sounded incredible, however the first 20 to 25% was so slow, especially compared to the super quick reads I've been reading recently. Although thankfully the pace did pick up and become even more atmospheric, eerie and mysterious. I did enjoy this book but I feel a little let down by it, maybe I had built it up too much before reading it. I found it entertaining, genuinely creepy and eerie at times but it was also a little too slow and the end/reveals were predictable for me. I think you'd like it if you like the film Crimson Peak as it did have those vibes, especially towards the end or The Silent Companions but I was personally a little bit disappointed by this book. 

*The Wicked Cometh by Laura Carlin (352 pages - 1st February) ★★★

I requested this book a while ago via Netgalley but I have been receiving so many physical arcs (I'm not complaining) that my netgalley books have been neglected however I'm trying to catch up with my Netgalley reading and reviews, including The Wicked Cometh. I adore the cover so I might have to buy a physical copy!

It's a historical fiction novel partly set in the grimy backstreets of London in the 1800's and it's also partly set in a grand house in the country - both of those settings tick my reading preferences boxes. We follow Hester, a teenage girl living in poverty after a series of tragedies that have taken her away from her rural, idilic upbringing. Her fate turns around after an unfortunate encounter after which she meets the intriguing Rebekah Brock. 

I adored the writing style as it was rich but concise and extremely quick to read, so much so that I managed to read 66% of the e-book in one day! I also loved the characters of Hester and Rebekah as well as their somewhat tension filled relationship which possibly turns into something more...I loved the twists and turns as well as the LGBT, Burke/Hare and slightly Frankenstein vibes; however it was just a little too slow at times. 

I did read a whopping 13 books (including physical books and e-books) as well as 3 audiobooks via BookBeat this month but I haven't included all of the books in this post as it would just be too long! The books I read in January but haven't reviewed here include: The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton and The Owl Always Hunts At Night by Samuel Bjork but I am reviewing each individually as part of blog tours in collaboration with the publisher in February instead so you'll still get reviews of those two books! 

Have you read any of these books or audiobooks? What are you currently reading?

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February Reading Wrap-up

February has been a fantastic reading month, especially compared to last month! I've read one cookbook, one novella and six books and two short story collections. All of these books were very kindly sent to me either via the publisher as a physical book or via Netgalley as an e-book.

*Someone Is Watching by Joy Fielding - ★★★☆☆, 3/5

Some of my favourite book genres are: mysteries, historical fiction, unique short non-fiction and magical books as well as thrillers and crime novels. This book is a mixture of contemporary, thriller, crime and mystery genres which I love! Let's start with the basics, the cover is very simple and I'm not a massive fan of it; it's published my Bonnier Zaffre and it is approx. 364 pages.

The book starts out very dark as we are introduced to Bailey, her job and the horrendous crime that happened to her. Usually I would go into detail however I'm not going to as I don't want to give anything away but I feel like I need to warn potential readers about the topics of this book as it was a surprise to me - the book contains crime, family drama, revenge of sorts and potentially the most triggering aspect, rape. There's a lot of mentions, flashbacks and descriptions of the rape that occurred in this book so if you don't want to read that then don't pick this book up.

The rape came as a shock to me and it did make for very uncomfortable reading for the most part and it is throughout the book as well as various sexual incidences so I'd say that maybe it should have an age guidance on the book, in my opinion.

Anyway, the book was very compelling throughout, I wanted to know what happens next and to figure out the mystery of Bailey's unusual family situation and to find out who raped her. The writing was very easy and quick to get through and I managed to finish this over 350 page book in two days - it was definitely the quickest read of the year so far! Despite the uncomfortable topic, I did love the characters of Bailey and Jade but there were a lot of unlikeable characters too. I was disappointed with the ending, it wasn't as shocking as I think the author wanted it to be but I did enjoy the book (maybe enjoy is the wrong word but you know what I mean!). I would recommend this book as a very quick mystery crime thriller but be aware of the constant mentions and inclusion of rape within this book.

*Happy Ending NOT Guaranteed by Liam Hogan - ★★★★☆, 4/5

First of all, I adore the cover! I haven't read a short story collection before so I didn't know if I'd like the style but I loved it; the writing style is a wonderful mix of witty, sarcastic contemporary language and fairytale/folktale connotations and themes - yes, yes, yes!

Some of the stories in this collection were VERY short and I mean a few pages long which I'm not used to so it was a little strange and for some of the stories I just wanted more and more rather than a few short pages. For quite a lot of the short stories, there were strong magical, fairytale and folktale vibes which I loved such as the stories: Snow-White, Whiteclaw and Blaxley and The Painted Platform but then there were some mediocre ones, in my opinion. There was only one negative and it's not about the actual book but the formatting on my Kindle app - throughout the book some of the beginnings of sentences had mouse head emojis and on other pages a group of words were smushed together rather than being separate - it was very distracting! Overall, I really liked this short, quick and magical short story collection that left me wanting more!

- Hygge by Charlotte Abrahams - ★★☆☆☆, 2/5 (I'm being very generous with my rating)

This is at least the third book about hygge that I've read and I adore the previous two so I thought I would love this...but I was very wrong! The cover is quite uninspiring, the photos weren't particularly striking (most of them in the e-book version via Netgalley were missing) and the first third of the book is so focused on interior design, specific designers and furniture that for me, someone who is interested in design but not incredibly passionate about, it became quite boring and tedious.

Now, there are some interesting bits about Danish life, the Danish view of hygge and a slightly more balanced view of hygge (there were quite a few negatives about hygge mentioned) but the rest seemed to be a combination of the authors rants about her disjointed family, her life choices and divorce or sections that were just copied and pasted studies/wikipedia entries. At the beginning the author states that she isn't an expert or Danish...so why is she writing this book. I did not enjoy this book and towards the end I was frequently just flicking through; sadly I would NOT recommend. Buy the Little Book of Hygge instead; also it's far prettier, more interesting and composed by not only a Dane but an 'expert' too!

- United States of Absurdity by Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds - ★★★★★, 5/5

One of my reading goals for 2017 was to read more non-fiction and unusual, historical and unique non-fiction are my preferred genres so when I noticed this non-fiction on Netgalley I had to request it immediately and I'm SO glad I did as this non-fiction read was very quick and enjoyable, unusual and eye opening read...sometimes in a disturbing way.

The book features unusual people and events during Americas unique *I think it's safe to say that* history and I found it thoroughly fascinating and disturbing in equal measure. There were a couple of people and stories that I already knew of but most were new and delightfully OMG and 'what the hell' that I had to tell the nearest person, albeit omitting the swearing. The only section I wasn't as interested in was the sports section as I have no interest in reading about anything to do with sport but the rest was so entertaining. If you like dark, sarcastic humour and tales of amazement, uniqueness, freak shows and yes, a lot of absurdity then this is for you! However, if you're squeamish or are uncomfortable with the dead bodies, vampires, mistreatment of humans and animals and all round grossness then...read it anyway!

*The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden - ★★★★☆, 4/5

Firstly, how stunning is this cover and secondly the main themes in this book are magic, fairytales, family and Russian folktales - yes, yes, yes! The book follows Vasya, her family and the community her father lords over as well as the magical 'old' gods throughout the wonderfully atmospheric and beautiful Russian forrest setting.

I love the writing style, it was quick to get through and I loved the story as a whole as well as the characters of Vasya, Dunya, Alyosha, the gods and the magical folktale characters but there is one thing I didn't like about this books, well two, the first is the christian themes and the second is the character names which for a non-russian are difficult anyway but every character seems to have at least two names, sometimes three so it can be a little tricky to know who is who on occasion. However, I adored Vasya as she is such a memorable, magical and endearing character (the story as a whole, even though it is quite bleak, is endearing).

The ending was a little bittersweet and I wish it was a little different but overall it was such an enjoyable, magical and endearing story about adversity, family, old religions and gods and to an extent, breaking the stereotype of women. I'd definitely recommend this book!

*Is Canada Even Real? by - ★★☆☆☆, 2/5

I've been loving the non-fiction I've read recently so I couldn't wait to start this book as it seemed like a fun, quirky non-fiction about Canada but sadly for me it turned out to be 60% boring, unrelatable and unusually formatted (although I think that's just because of the e-book format) and only 40% of the book was genuinely interesting and informative - I think Canadians would find it more interesting and nostalgic compared to non-Canadians such as myself. Also the photographs were unusual, blank or a little amateurish. I did however find the sections about Canadian prime ministers and mascots interesting but that's not enough to save the rest of the book from a low rating!

*The Lost Child of Lychford by Paul Cornell - ★★☆☆☆, 2/5

I have seen the first book in this series everywhere when I am casually browsing for books on a Saturday night *wild* but I've read that you don't have to read the first book before this one so I started with this second book in the series/world. I love the cover, the themes of the book which are of witchcraft, ghosts *kind of* and friendship as well as the English country village style setting.

I love the writing style, it's so quick and easy to follow and I finished this novella in a day or so; it is such an easy story but it does have a bit of an atmospheric feel in some parts but for most of the book it has a contemporary vibe which isn't usually what I go for. Even though there were aspects that I loved such as the writing style, the relationship between the three main characters, the setting and how easy to was to get through; I found that I wasn't really interested in what happened, it wasn't as interesting or as creepy, atmospheric or horror filled as I thought it would be sadly. I would recommend it as it's so quick and I definitely want to read more by this author however it just isn't as good, interesting or as witchy as I thought it would be.

*Dark Tales by Shirley Jackson - ★★★☆☆, 3/5

I have wanted to read Shirley Jacksons work for months and I have bought 'the haunting of hill house' but I haven't read it yet however now I can't wait to. This is my second short story collection of the month and I'm starting to get into them although I personally find short story collections quite jarring but I love how quickly I can get through them and the variety of stories. I wasn't as impressed with this one as I was with Happy Ending NOT Guaranteed earlier in the month but I'd still recommend it.

The theme of all of the stories, as the title would suggest, is dark, atmospheric and usually family, marriage or relationship orientated which I liked as I find that any horror or darker stories related to family are really creepy. Some of the stories were very short but most where long enough to really get into the story and get to know the characters and the settings. I would say that 60% of the stories were darkly entertaining and interesting but for me about 40% of the stories were a little boring. I love Shirley Jackson's writing style and I definitely want to read more from her but this wasn't quite for me, probably only because my expectations were so high going into it.

*Those Who Lie by Diane Jeffrey - ★★★☆☆, 3/5

I'm part of the blog tour for this book so I can't really say anything about it now but it follows Emily after she has been part of a tragic accident and all that follows as well as her disturbing past. I liked the writing style, it was very quick to get through but there are difficult and sensitive topics of rape, family issues, stalking and much more. My full review will be live later this month!

I'm currently reading Earth by Jeffrey Jerome Cohen and Linda Elkins-Tanton (I'm finding it quite boring) as well as Heretics! by Steven Nadler and Ben Nadler and The Spy of Venice by Benet Brandreth.

Have you read any of these titles? What are you currently reading? Are we friends on GoodReads? 

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June Reading Wrap-up 2018

June has been a bit of a busy month for me with birthdays, my dads retirement, a wedding rehearsal and I was a bridesmaid at my friends wedding! However, I still managed to read the books I wanted to this month while we've been having an insane heatwave. I did read quite a few huge books last month with my longest book being 688 pages with the other long books being 512 and 560 pages so I'm more than on track with my book goals for 2018! As well as the 10 physical books I read, I was also able to listen to a couple of audiobooks in June.

*A Sacred Storm by Theodore Brun (688 pages) ★★★ (3.75)

I won't write too much about this book for two reasons, the first is that it's the final book in a duology and the second reason is that I've already published an in-depth review of this book on my blog which you can read for more information. This second and final book follows on from the previous and contains viking warriors, power play between kingdoms, forbidden love, battles, revenge and much more. It would make an amazing TV show and I can't recommend it enough but be prepared for torture, blood, sex scenes and battles as well as a slightly unresolved world (if that makes sense) - I wanted more from this book!

*Genesis by Brendan Reichs (512 pages) ★★★ (3.75)

I can't write too much about this book either as again it's the second in a duology. I read the first book, Nemesis, last year and really liked it so I couldn't wait to read the next book. This book follows on from the events of the first but if the action, peril and mystery of Nemesis was a 5/10, this book ramps it up to a 10/10! To me, the book feels like a dystopian world in the vein of the hunger games so if you liked that series then I think you'll love this duology, especially the second book which was very action filled - the second book was my favourite of the two by far.
                                                       
The book is much longer compared to most YA reads but don't be put off by that as it reads very quickly, the writing style is simplistic (not in a bad way, maybe because it's told through the eyes of teenagers?) and easy to follow. I loved the world and deadly consequences, most of the characters and the action; however the only thing I didn't like was that it felt a little too long in places and I didn't like the 'love' interest Noah. Additionally the second book doesn't have sprayed edges as the first does; all books should have sprayed edges! Despite a couple of negatives, it was a fantastic YA read that I'd definitely recommend of fans of action, mystery and dystopian/sci-fi reads.

*Sentinels of the Sea: A Miscellany of Lighthouses Past by R. G. Grant (160 pages) ★★★ (3.5)

Onto a book that I included within my Father's Day gift guide; I was very kindly sent this gorgeous hardback book from the super lovely people over at Thames and Hudson. It's loosely part of a series of similar books and I love it - I received one of the other books last year which was all about dentistry and I bought a couple myself about the history of surgery and also about the history of 'madness'.

I adore the style of these books, they're so beautifully designed, published and well put together so naturally they'd make lovely gifts! This read focused on the history of lighthouses which I knew very little about and I was surprised to find out that Robert Louis Stevenson's family was closely related to the history of lighthouses. Additionally, I didn't know that some poorer coastal communities in England didn't welcome the construction of lighthouses as it lessened the chance of shipwrecks from which they profited (this point is related to a book I finished in July). It's an unusual and quirky non-fiction book but it's a quick, easy and informative read that I cannot recommend enough! Thanks again Thames and Hudson, your books are so beautiful!

*City of Lies by Sam Hawke (560 pages) ★★★ (3.75)

The vast majority of the books within this wrap-up were sent to me by lovely publishers so thank you! One of the most exciting books I was sent last month includes City of Lies which is categorised as an epic fantasy read and is on the longer side but the setting is fantastic, I loved the vivid fantasy world and the mysteries, secrets and poisonings along the way...

We follow Tain, Jovan and his sister, Kalina as their uncle and the powerful counsellor are both poisoned by an unknown substance. Jovan was an apprentice to his uncle as a poison taster to prevent the death of the consellor so now the family's reputation and power in the country is in jeopardy. What follows is an investigation into the poisoning, a siege, warfare and an exploration of forgotten gods.

The whole premise of a war involving poisoners was very intriguing to me and I love the little sections about various plants/poisons between chapters. I loved the world as it was very rich, vivd and had a historical fiction feel to it (with magic though...). I really enjoyed the storyline, the main characters, the rich writing style and the mysteries. I did have a couple of minor issues such as the actions of some of the characters (eg: having a conversation about the past with a love interest in the middle of an evacuation) came across to me as a little ridiculous; I personally wasn't a fan of the love interest, I think it could have jus focused on family and the importance of friendship. Additionally I wasn't as interested or invested in the ending of the book, if that makes sense, as it just seemed a little out of left field (I can't fully explain how I feel about the ending of this read).

Overall, I really enjoyed this read from the characters and setting to the politics, magic and poisons (the poison aspect was my favourite part of the book as it's so unique). It is definitely a hefty book but it read relatively quickly for the size and I adore the cover. I would definitely recommend it for fantasy fans, don't be put off by the page number!

*The Trilogy Of Two by Juman Malouf (416 pages) ★★★ (3.75)

Thanks so much to the lovely people over at Pushkin Press for sending me this beautiful childrens book to read and review - Pushkin books are always so gorgeously and meticulously designed! We follow two identical twins who are musical prodigies with unusual powers that joined the circus after being abandoned on the doorstep of the circus's tattooed lady.

What follows is an adventure involving magical kingdoms, mysteries, friendship, special talents and more as well as lovely illustrations throughout the entire book (which I loved!). I also adored the tone and atmosphere of the book which gave me feels similar to The Night Circus, A Series of Unfortunate Events and Heap House, all of which I loved reading so if you liked any of those three, then I think you'll love this read.

The authors imagination is fantastic, the story/characters are magical and whimsical; the world is filled with unusual creatures, magical abilities, villains and love between friends, guardians and sisters. I loved the process of reading the story as secrets are uncovered and as we explore so many wonderful worlds with more and more mystical characters. As I was reading this book it definitely gave me the same feeling I had when I read Heap House and it has a similar feeling as A Series of Unfortunate Events so I think would would make an amazing film if directed by Tim Burton!

*The King's Spy by Andrew Swanston (464 pages) ★★★

I was lucky enough to be sent all three novels in Andrew's Thomas Hill novels by the author himself (thanks again). I adore historical fiction so I couldn't wait to read this trilogy, starting with The King's Spy which is set during the time of the King Charles I and we all know how his story ends (with a rather gruesome weightloss from the neck up...).

In the novel we follow Thomas Hill, a bookseller, who is summoned by the king on the recommendation of his ageing college professor and friend, to decode parliamentary messages in his old haunt of Oxford. The story unfolds slowly to reveal treachery, secrets, ciphers, codes and a couple of rather gruesome murders! I loved the writing style, it was quick and easy but descriptive and vivd. I also loved the setting, the characters of Thomas Hill, Silas and Simon and the mysteries along the way. I did have a couple of issues as I thought it was a little too long and while I loved the code breaking and ciphers, I thought the explanations were slightly too detailed.

This is the third book I've read by Andrew Swanston, I've read his short story collection (Beautiful Star) and Incendium, both of which I've reviewed on my blog already and I think that out of the three, Incendium was definitely my favourite! If you like historical fiction then I cannot recommend Swanston's books enough. I'll be carrying on with this trilogy in July!

*The King's Witch by Tracy Borman (448 pages) ★★★ (3.5)

I am a huge fan of historical fiction and I also find anything related to witches very interesting so naturally I had to request this book from Hodder & Stoughton. In this historical fiction read (written by a historian I recognised from a few documentaries I've watched) we follow Frances Gorge and her family as Queen Elizabeth I dies and her rein is passed to King James VI of Scotland, who became King James I of England.

I didn't study this time period in school but I have watched a fair few documentaries about it particularly because of the witch hunts of this time and the book Daemonologie written by King James (basically a manual on how to find witches). In this novel Frances is in danger as she is a healer and can recognise the medicinal uses of plants which means that they're under suspicion of witchcraft but the kings witch hunt is derailed by a more volatile and radical plot that threatens parliament and the royal family.

The author Alison Weir, whose latest read I finished in May, described this book as 'dark intrigues, a poignant love story...a shattering and shocking climax', I would definitely agree with the dark themes and tone of the book (which I loved) and the sweet romance but I didn't find the revelation or ending very shocking as it's an event in English history (that I'm not going to mention or spoil) that most are familiar with so we already knew the ending before it happened. I hoped that it wouldn't follow the course of history as it did make for a predictable latter half of the book - that's my only negative about historical fiction in general as most seem to follow history which makes for a less shocking and predictable course/ending. However, I adored the setting, I liked the general story and the sweet romance as well as the historical figures and events mentioned. For me, it was a quick, easy and entertaining read that I would recommend to historical fiction fans. Also look at that gorgeous cover!

*The Sacco Gang by Andrea Camilleri (128 pages) ★★★

Thanks to Europa Editions for this early copy! In this short read we follow the history of the Sacco family from humble beginnings to outlaws with death, revenge and criminal trials along the way. I loved the very short chapters, quick and easy writing style and the setting. It's based on a completely true story which is baffling to me as to how any society could be controlled as Sicily and other areas of Italy were under various mafia gangs. I personally don't know much about the mafia, beyond what I know from popular culture so I found this book to be an interesting, shocking and very quick read. I would definitely recommend it!

Blackwing by Ed Mcdonald (384 pages) ★★★★

I have had this book on my TBR for months so when I received the second book in the series, I decided it was time to read the first in the Raven's Mark series and I was so excited to start it as I knew I'd love this read! This month's reading has been amazing with so many of the books being very very close to four star reads (most books get a three star from me which isn't bad by any means, a three star book in my mind is a really good read that is worth reading with just a couple of flaws).

This first book is categorised within the grimdark genre which is a subcategory within the fantasy genre and it's one of my favourites! I adore the cover of this book and the second in the series which I was kindly sent by the lovely people at Gollancz. You'll have to bear with me for this description of the plot as it isn't easy to explain and it's very bizarre but the book itself is easy to follow, throughly entertaining and compelling, as was the second.

In Blackwing by Ed McDonald we are introduced to the rugged, foul mouthed but kind hearted (deep down) killer, soldier and bounty hunter, Ryhalt Galharrow who is one of the most unique and vivid characters I've met. Ryhalt Galharrow is a Blackwing captain in command of a ragtag group of killers and soldiers who kill whoever they're ordered to by his master, Crowfoot who is one of the Nameless, powerful sorcerers who held back the Deep Kings long ago. In that conflict an engine was created to protect the cities along the eastern empire from the Deep Kings and a disturbing, harrowing place called Misery was also created in the process.

The premise instantly intrigued me even though it sounded a little complicated initially (it isn't, don't worry) I thought I'd love this book....and I did. I liked the sarcastic writing, dark humour and the relationship between the main characters including Ryhalt and Nenn. I've read fantasy before but nothing as bizarre, unusual and sometimes fairly gruesome as this and enjoyed it from the first to the last page. I did like the romance that reignites in this book but thankfully it doesn't fully take over the story. There are so many unique aspects to this book including ravens ripping themselves from flesh, disturbing nightmarish creatures and magic! If you're a fan of dark fantasy then check out this award winning read!

*Ravencry by Ed McDonald (432 pages) ★★★ (3.75)

Following on from the first book, Blackwing, I had to continue with the second book, Ravencry. We follow on from the main events of the first book but four years later and if the first book was disturbing and gruesome, it's nothing compared to the second! I can't say too much about the plot of this second book as I don't want to spoil the first but I will say that it is filled with the same sassy Ryhalt and Nenn, it's just as action packed and contains so many bizarre, Frankensteinesque creatures that you'll probably have nightmares about. You can check out my full blog tour review post for more information.

*Charmed Life by Dianna Wynne Jones via BookBeat ★★★

I listened to Howls Moving Castle a few months ago so I wanted to listen to another book by the author as she has such a wonderful, whimsical imagination and this one was no different. It's a short childrens/YA audiobook with witches and magic. The style and tone of the audiobook reminded me of Howls Moving Castle so if you liked that audiobook then you'll probably like this one despite the simpler storyline. It's the first in the Chrestomanci novels so I might carry on with the others on BookBeat as I did enjoy this audiobook.

*The Ashes Of London by Andrew Taylor via BookBeat ★★★

I've read quite a lot of historical fiction over the past three or so months so why not carry on with an audiobook I've been wanting to listen to for a while, The Ashes of London which is set during the great fire of London in 1666. I listened to the audiobook on BookBeat and the narrator was great, it was an easy to follow audiobook (which isn't always the case) and it was entertaining.

We follow James Marwood, who is the son of a traitor as he is investigating the deaths of a couple of murdered individuals throughout London while the fire rages and during a chance encounter outside the burning silhouette of St Pauls, he stumbles into our second main character, Catherine Lovett who is an heiress and daughter of a royalist traitor. We follow both of their lives during the background the devasting fire as a cat and mouse game unfolds and for the main characters to meet again with murder, secrets, rape and evasion along the way.

The synopsis of the book on Amazon made it seem more like a murder mystery but it was mainly focused on the two main characters, if they would meet again and if Catherine would be found. I did like this historical fiction audiobook, the setting/time period and the mysteries along the way so I definitely want to carry onto the second book. I listened to the Gothic Fireside audiobook in May and loved it too so if you like historical fiction with a gothic tone then check out Andrew Taylor's books.

Are we friends on GoodReads? Have you read any of these books?

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Blog Tour: The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths

I haven't taken part in a blog tour for a little while but today's is a brand new thriller blog tour which was hosted by Quercus (thank you). I was very kindly sent the gorgeous hardback edition (the cover is so pretty!) which was published on the 1st November and it's available as a hardback edition or kindle book.

*The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths (408 pages) ★★★ (3.5)

I personally love thrillers but I haven't actually read that many over the past few months so I was very excited to read this. I started it on halloween and it was a great option for my halloween read this year. It's a little longer than the typical thrillers I've read but it was a very quick read for me thanks to the intriguing mystery and the short chapters - yes to short chapters!

In The Stranger Diaries we follow Clare, a high school English teacher with a teenage daughter as one of her friends and fellow English teachers is found murdered. The police think that it's someone close to them that could have committed the crime and someone who is related to the school or the English teachers as there is a note with the body which relates to an author who once lived at the school.

This is my first thriller for a while and it reminded me why I love thrillers so much, as it was such a quick, compelling and easy read with a mystery that I didn't guess the ending of. I loved the quick pace, easy writing, the short chapters which kept me reading and the mystery which was a little creepy towards the end of the book. I didn't guess the ending or who the murderer was which is what I want in a thriller!

As I've said, I liked how short the chapters were and I also liked how each section of the book was from the perspective of a particular person, whether it was Clare, her daughter Georgie or the police officer, Harbinder. I found some of the characters perspectives, especially Harbinder to be quite judgmental and slightly annoying at times but overall, I did enjoy getting the numerous perspectives as they offer the characters opinions on the same events and their views on each other.

The only aspect of the book that I didn't love was the excerpts from the fictional author RM Holland throughout the book although it is a main point of the book in terms of the connection to the main character and the link to the school but I probably would have liked the book just as much without the excerpts, if I'm honest. I also didn't find the secondary mystery relating to the author to be interesting. Additionally, I thought that the motives of the murderer were a little tenuous, in my opinion.

Overall, it was definitely a compelling, fast paced and quick thriller that had me guessing until the ending. It had some creepy and eerie scenes, I liked the various perspectives and the short chapters which made for a quick, easy to follow read. I enjoyed reading about the numerous character perspectives, I liked the school setting and the variety of characters included in the book. However, I didn't like the focus on the fictional author, I realise that it made the book more unique and it did tie into the story but I think the book could have been equally as enjoyable and intriguing without the excerpts, in my opinion.

Do you like reading thrillers? Will you be picking up this book? 

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