February Wrap Up

Hello Everybody.

Today I am going to show you all the book I read during February.

The First book I read was Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo.

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart. (Goodreads)

I gave this book 5 stars.

The second book I read was Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo.

Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her—or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

I gave this 4.25 stars.

The Third book I read was Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

From the acclaimed author of Forever, Interrupted and After I Docomes a breathtaking new novel about a young woman whose fate hinges on the choice she makes after bumping into an old flame; in alternating chapters, we see two possible scenarios unfold—with stunningly different results.

At the age of twenty-nine, Hannah Martin still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has lived in six different cities and held countless meaningless jobs since graduating college. On the heels of leaving yet another city, Hannah moves back to her hometown of Los Angeles and takes up residence in her best friend Gabby’s guestroom. Shortly after getting back to town, Hannah goes out to a bar one night with Gabby and meets up with her high school boyfriend, Ethan.

Just after midnight, Gabby asks Hannah if she’s ready to go. A moment later, Ethan offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay. Hannah hesitates. What happens if she leaves with Gabby? What happens if she leaves with Ethan?

In concurrent storylines, Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. Quickly, these parallel universes develop into radically different stories with large-scale consequences for Hannah, as well as the people around her. As the two alternate realities run their course, Maybe in Another Life raises questions about fate and true love: Is anything meant to be? How much in our life is determined by chance? And perhaps, most compellingly: Is there such a thing as a soul mate?

Hannah believes there is. And, in both worlds, she believes she’s found him.

I gave this 5 stars.

The fourth book I read was On the Come Up by Angie Thomas.

Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least make it out of her neighborhood one day. As the daughter of an underground rap legend who died before he hit big, Bri’s got big shoes to fill. But now that her mom has unexpectedly lost her job, food banks and shutoff notices are as much a part of Bri’s life as beats and rhymes. With bills piling up and homelessness staring her family down, Bri no longer just wants to make it—she has to make it.

On the Come Up is Angie Thomas’s homage to hip-hop, the art that sparked her passion for storytelling and continues to inspire her to this day. It is the story of fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you; of the struggle to become who you are and not who everyone expects you to be; and of the desperate realities of poor and working-class black families.

I gave this 4.5 stars.

The next book I read was a graphic novel called Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

Charlie, a highly-strung, openly gay over-thinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player, meet at a British all-boys grammar school. Friendship blooms quickly, but could there be something more…?

Charlie Spring is in Year 10 at Truham Grammar School for Boys. The past year hasn’t been too great, but at least he’s not being bullied anymore, and he’s sort of got a boyfriend, even if he’s kind of mean and only wants to meet up in secret.

Nick Nelson is in Year 11 and on the school rugby team. He’s heard a little about Charlie – the kid who was outed last year and bullied for a few months – but he’s never had the opportunity to talk to him. That is, until the start of January, in which Nick and Charlie are placed in the same form group and made to sit together.

They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn’t think he has a chance. But love works in surprising ways, and sometimes good things are waiting just around the corner…

I gave this 4 stars.

The sixth book I read was Fatal Throne by Six different Authors.

Fatal Throne, a book about Henry VIII and his six wives, coordinated by Candace Fleming. Fleming and six other authors will each contribute a story from different points of view: M.T. Anderson, Jennifer Donnelly, Stephanie Hemphill, Deborah Hopkinson, Linda Sue Park, and Lisa Ann Sandell.

I gave this 2.75 stars.

The next book I read was The Wicker King by K. Ancrum.

When August learns that his best friend, Jack, shows signs of degenerative hallucinatory disorder, he is determined to help Jack cope. Jack’s vivid and long-term visions take the form of an elaborate fantasy world layered over our own—a world ruled by the Wicker King. As Jack leads them on a quest to fulfill a dark prophecy in this alternate world, even August begins to question what is real or not.

August and Jack struggle to keep afloat as they teeter between fantasy and their own emotions. In the end, each must choose his own truth.

I gave this 4.5 Stars.

I read The Manga Classics Edition of Jane Eyre.

As an orphaned child, Jane Eyre is first cruelly abused by her aunt, then cast out and sent to a charity school. Though she meets with further abuse, she receives an education, and eventually takes a job as a governess at the estate of Edward Rochester. Jane and Rochester begin to bond, but his dark moods trouble her. When Jane uncovers the terrible secret Rochester has been hiding, she flees and finds temporary refuge at the home of St. John Rivers.

I gave this 4 stars.

And lastly I read The Secret Diary of Anne Bolyn.

When the young Queen Elizabeth I is entrusted with Anne Boleyn’s secret diary, she discovers a great deal about the much-maligned mother she never knew. And on learning the truth about her lascivious and despotic father, Henry VIII, she vows never to relinquish control to any man. But this avowal doesn’t prevent Elizabeth from pursuing a torrid love affair with her horsemaster, Robin Dudley — described with near-shocking candor — as too are Anne’s graphic trysts with a very persistent and lustful Henry. Blending a historian’s attention to accuracy with a novelist’s artful rendering, Maxwell weaves compelling descriptions of court life and devastating portraits of actual people into her naughty, page-turning tale. The result is a masterpiece of historical fiction — so prophetic of our time that one would think it were ripped from today’s headlines.

I gave this 2 stars.

I had a really good reading month.

Happy Reading.

Thanks Bookworms.

Book Review: The Wicker King by K. Ancrum

Hello Everybody!!

Today I am going to be doing a book review of The Wicker King by K. Ancrum.

I really loved this book, and I can’t wait to talk about it more.

August and Jack struggle to keep afloat as they teeter between fantasy and their own emotions. In the end, each must choose his own truth. (Goodreads)

This book gave me so many emotions, I was all over the place, it was sad, depressing, and sometimes painful to read, but at the same time I really enjoyed it.

The way the book starts on white pages, and gets darker and darker with the mental health issues get worse within the book, I thought that this added to the story and made illness seem more intense.

August, bless him, he always looks after Jack and needs him in his life so much that he would do anything for him. Anything. Jack I’m still a bit confused about, I felt so sorry for him with the illness he suffered mostly. The fact the boys had basically no parental love, made them cling to each other. The feelings they had for each other were really intense and the way it was written made it seem as if the boys would die without the other. their relationship seemed really toxic but at the same time you routed for them.

The only thing I didn’t really like about it was the introduction of this girl character, which really didn’t add to the story much. She just seemed to be there.

I do recommend this book, but be warned it is a heavy book and deals with a load of difficult subjects.

Happy Reading.

Thanks Bookworms

NonFiction TBR 2019

Hello everybody.

Today I am going to show you the nonfiction books I plan to read in 2019. I’m hoping to read one every 2 months. All the synopsis’s will be from Goodreads.

At twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother’s death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life. With no experience or training, driven only by blind will, she would hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State — and she would do it alone.
Told with suspense and style, sparkling with warmth and humor, Wild powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her.

Shaun Bythell owns The Bookshop, Wigtown – Scotland’s largest second-hand bookshop. It contains 100,000 books, spread over a mile of shelving, with twisting corridors and roaring fires, and all set in a beautiful, rural town by the edge of the sea. A book-lover’s paradise? Well, almost … In these wry and hilarious diaries, Shaun provides an inside look at the trials and tribulations of life in the book trade, from struggles with eccentric customers to wrangles with his own staff, who include the ski-suit-wearing, bin-foraging Nicky. He takes us with him on buying trips to old estates and auction houses, recommends books (both lost classics and new discoveries), introduces us to the thrill of the unexpected find, and evokes the rhythms and charms of small-town life, always with a sharp and sympathetic eye.

A celebrated writer’s irresistible, candid, and eloquent account of her pursuit of worldly pleasure, spiritual devotion, and what she really wanted out of life.

Around the time Elizabeth Gilbert turned thirty, she went through an early-onslaught midlife crisis. She had everything an educated, ambitious American woman was supposed to want—a husband, a house, a successful career. But instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she was consumed with panic, grief, and confusion. She went through a divorce, a crushing depression, another failed love, and the eradication of everything she ever thought she was supposed to be.

To recover from all this, Gilbert took a radical step. In order to give herself the time and space to find out who she really was and what she really wanted, she got rid of her belongings, quit her job, and undertook a yearlong journey around the world—all alone. Eat, Pray, Love is the absorbing chronicle of that year. Her aim was to visit three places where she could examine one aspect of her own nature set against the backdrop of a culture that has traditionally done that one thing very well. In Rome, she studied the art of pleasure, learning to speak Italian and gaining the twenty-three happiest pounds of her life. India was for the art of devotion, and with the help of a native guru and a surprisingly wise cowboy from Texas, she embarked on four uninterrupted months of spiritual exploration. In Bali, she studied the art of balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence. She became the pupil of an elderly medicine man and also fell in love the best way—unexpectedly.

An intensely articulate and moving memoir of self-discovery, Eat, Pray, Love is about what can happen when you claim responsibility for your own contentment and stop trying to live in imitation of society’s ideals. It is certain to touch anyone who has ever woken up to the unrelenting need for change.

Obsession, madness, memory, myth, and history combine to achieve a distinctive blend of nature writing and memoir from an outstanding literary innovator.

When Helen Macdonald’s father died suddenly on a London street, she was devastated. An experienced falconer—Helen had been captivated by hawks since childhood—she’d never before been tempted to train one of the most vicious predators, the goshawk. But in her grief, she saw that the goshawk’s fierce and feral temperament mirrored her own. Resolving to purchase and raise the deadly creature as a means to cope with her loss, she adopted Mabel, and turned to the guidance of The Once and Future King author T.H. White’s chronicle The Goshawk to begin her challenging endeavor. Projecting herself “in the hawk’s wild mind to tame her” tested the limits of Macdonald’s humanity and changed her life.

Heart-wrenching and humorous, this book is an unflinching account of bereavement and a unique look at the magnetism of an extraordinary beast, with a parallel examination of a legendary writer’s eccentric falconry. Obsession, madness, memory, myth, and history combine to achieve a distinctive blend of nature writing and memoir from an outstanding literary innovator.

On the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s death, historian Lucy Worsley leads us into the rooms from which our best-loved novelist quietly changed the world.

This new telling of the story of Jane’s life shows us how and why she lived as she did, examining the places and spaces that mattered to her. It wasn’t all country houses and ballrooms, but a life that was often a painful struggle. Jane famously lived a ‘life without incident’, but with new research and insights, Lucy Worsley reveals a passionate woman who fought for her freedom. A woman who far from being a lonely spinster, in fact, had at least five marriage prospects, but who in the end refused to settle for anything less than Mr Darcy.

Tara Westover was 17 the first time she set foot in a classroom. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, she prepared for the end of the world by stockpiling home-canned peaches and sleeping with her “head-for-the-hills bag”. In the summer she stewed herbs for her mother, a midwife and healer, and in the winter she salvaged in her father’s junkyard.

Her father forbade hospitals, so Tara never saw a doctor or nurse. Gashes and concussions, even burns from explosions, were all treated at home with herbalism. The family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent.

Then, lacking any formal education, Tara began to educate herself. She taught herself enough mathematics and grammar to be admitted to Brigham Young University, where she studied history, learning for the first time about important world events like the Holocaust and the civil rights movement. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home.

Educated is an account of the struggle for self-invention. It is a tale of fierce family loyalty and of the grief that comes with severing the closest of ties. With the acute insight that distinguishes all great writers, Westover has crafted a universal coming-of-age story that gets to the heart of what an education is and what it offers: the perspective to see one’s life through new eyes and the will to change it.

So this my Nonfiction TBR for 2019, wish me luck!

Happy Reading.

Thanks Bookworms.

Book Tag: 20 Questions Book Tag

Hello everyone,

Today I am coming to you with a book tag, I found this book tag from Perfectly Tolerable. The book tag I am going to do is the 20 questions book tag.

I wasn’t tagged to do this, I just fancied trying it. I’m not going to tag anyone, but if anyone wants to do it, consider yourself tagged.

1. How many books is too many books in a series?

I think some series do go on for longer than needed, but I think it all depends on the writing and if all the books are needed. My usual limit is 7 books, if there is anymore than that, then the writing has to be excellent for me to carry on reading it.

2. How do you feel about cliffhangers?

I love a good cliffhanger. If its part of a series, then it gets me excited to read the next book.

3. Hardback or Paperback?

I always tend to buy paperback because they are easy to take with you, but I do like some hardback books.

4. Favourite Book?

Okay this is a really difficult question to answer. For this I will go with Anne Of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.

5. Least Favourite Book?

My least favourite book is Damsel by Elana K. Arnold, this book was hot garbage.

6. Love triangle, yes or no?

I don’t mind a love triangle to be honest.

7. The most recent book you couldn’t finish?

Sadly I couldn’t finish Thrawn by Timothy Zahn.

8. A book you are currently reading?

The book I am currently reading is Skyward by Brandon Sanderson.

9. Last book you recommended to someone?

The last book I recommended was The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

10. Oldest book you have read?

Macbeth by Shakespeare.

11. Newest book you have read?

Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

12. Favourite author?

It’s going to sound really odd, but I have realised that I don’t have a favourite author. I have authors who I will automatically buy, but I just can’t pick out one.

13. Buying book or borrowing?

Buying.

14. A book you dislike that everyone seems to like?

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black.

15. Bookmarks or dogears?

Bookmarks all the way.

16. A book you can always reread?

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell and Harry Potter.

17. Can you read while hearing music?

Yes, as long as its quiet or classical music.

18. One POV or multiple POVs?

I don’t really mind as long as the story is good and you can follow it.

19. Do you read a book in one sitting, or over multiple days?

It all depends on the book, genre, how into the book I am and how long the book is.

20. A book you read because of the cover?

Before the Surface Breaks by Louise O’Neill, this book was awful!!!!

So there you have the 20 questions book tag.

Happy Reading.

Thanks Bookworms.

Book Box Club Unboxing

Hello Bookworms,

Today my Book Box Club box came, and I am going to show you what came in the box with an unboxing.

The theme for this months box was Fantasy Lands. If you are interested in this book subscription, then click here.

The box is always filled with crinkle crap, it gets absolutely everywhere, but I understand the need for it.

The first thing I pulled out was this Narnia beanie, this was made by Book Box Club.

Then this awesome tote bag, based on The Darker Shade Of Magic books. Made by Briana Mora and Liana Kangas.

This awesome cookie based on Coraline. This was so good, it was super tasty. this was made by Gardeners Cookies.

This amazing Alice in Wonderland tea made by Tea People.

This awesome soap based on The Lord of the Rings. Made by Pretty Suds UK.

The book we got was:

I really enjoyed this box.

Happy Reading.

Thanks Bookworms.

Book slump!!!

Hi guys!!

Sorry I haven’t posted anything in a while, I have been in the most epic book slump!! So I honestly have no motivation at the moment.

I am hoping this will end soon, and I will be posting again.

Happy Reading.

Thanks Bookworms

Harry Potter Book Tag

Hello Everybody.

Today I am going to do another book tag post, I am going to be doing the Harry Potter Book Tag. I got this tag from Bookidote.com.

Now lets get on to the questions.

Flagrate – Writing Charm

A Book you found the theme interesting, but you would like to rewrite it.

Okay I am by no means a writer, and I really admire people who can write, but if I could re-write a book it would be The Surface Breaks by Louise O’ Neill. This was a retelling of The Little Mermaid, I just found the main character to be boring and just plain annoying, the only character I found interesting was the sea witch.

Alohomora – Unlocking Charm

The first book in a series, that got you hooked?

For this I have to go with The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. The first book had me hooked after the first chapter.

Accio – Summoning Charm

A book you wish you could have right now.

THE WINDS OF WINTER!!!!!! by George RR Martin. I just wish he would bring this damn book out!!

Avada Kedavra – Killing Curse

A killer book, both senses. Take it as you like.

For this I am going to chose The Stand by Stephen King. This book is massive and it could kill someone if used as a weapon. But also it might kill me trying to read that book, because of the size.

Confundo – Confusing Charm

A book you found really confusing.

For this I have to go with Game Of Thrones By George RR Martin. I now absoulty love these books, but when I first starting reading them, it was so confusing following all the characters and timelines.

Expecto Patronum

Your spirit animal book.

I think my spirit animal would be a dormouse. The only book I can think of now is Alice in Wonderland.

Sectumsempra – Dark Charm

A dark twisted book.

For this I am going to go with The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison. This book is so creepy, with a serial killer and women he keeps in his “garden”.

Aparecium – Revealing Charm.

A book that surprised you in a great way, revels more than it is.

For this I have to go with Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. It just surprised me with how good the story was.

So there you have the Harry Potter Book Tag. If you fancy doing this tag, then consider yourself tagged.

Happy Reading.

Thanks Bookworms

The Inside Out Book Tag

Hello Everybody.

Today I am going to be doing the Inside Out book tag. I got this from Jennyinneverland.com

So lets get on with the tag!

Joy

Which book brings you the most joy?

Not surprising really, but I am going to have to go with Harry Potter. I feel so happy whenever I read this series, it just makes me think of my first time reading them, and the happiness I had in discovering the magical world at Hogwarts.

Fear

The book that scared you more than anything?

For this I am going to go with The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison. This book just really creeped me out. This is a story about a serial killer who kidnaps woman and keeps them in a Garden, and each woman is tattooed with a butterfly on their back, and he is just seriously messed up, but one woman finds out a way to survive in the garden. Its just super creepy and gross.

Disgust

Which book grossed you out the most?

For this I am going to have to go with The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang, there is a lot of things in this book that really had me grossed out, but at the same time I really loved this book.

Sadness

Which book made you cry the most?

For this I am going to go with The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I loved this book so much and Evelyn is such an interesting character, with an amazing life story.

Anger

Which book pissed you off the most?

For this I am going to go with Damsel by Elana K. Arnold. The characters, the plot the ending, all of it just pissed me off.

So there you have the Inside Out book tag. Is you fancy doing this tag then consider yourself tagged.

Happy Reading.

Thanks Bookworms.

September Wrap Up

Hello everybody.

Today I am going to be doing my wrap up for September. All together in September I read 11 books, which is insane. Most of them I really enjoyed, and a couple I didn’t.

Stats

8 physical books
2 Kindle books
1 audio/kindle book
3971 pages read.

Goodreads

4 – 5 star books
5 – 4 star books
2 – 1 Star books

Books I Read

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

I have a review of this book, if you would like to check it out go here.

Great Britain circa 1985: time travel is routine, cloning is a reality (dodos are the resurrected pet of choice), and literature is taken very, very seriously. Baconians are trying to convince the world that Francis Bacon really wrote Shakespeare, there are riots between the Surrealists and Impressionists, and thousands of men are named John Milton, an homage to the real Milton and a very confusing situation for the police. Amidst all this, Acheron Hades, Third Most Wanted Man In the World, steals the original manuscript of Martin Chuzzlewit and kills a minor character, who then disappears from every volume of the novel ever printed! But that’s just a prelude . . .

Hades’ real target is the beloved Jane Eyre, and it’s not long before he plucks her from the pages of Bronte’s novel. Enter Thursday Next. She’s the Special Operative’s renowned literary detective, and she drives a Porsche. With the help of her uncle Mycroft’s Prose Portal, Thursday enters the novel to rescue Jane Eyre from this heinous act of literary homicide. It’s tricky business, all these interlopers running about Thornfield, and deceptions run rampant as their paths cross with Jane, Rochester, and Miss Fairfax. Can Thursday save Jane Eyre and Bronte’s masterpiece? And what of the Crimean War? Will it ever end? And what about those annoying black holes that pop up now and again, sucking things into time-space voids . . . (Goodreads)

Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas

I also have a review of this book. Click here.

When the Bat’s away, the Cat will play. It’s time to see how many lives this cat really has. . .

Two years after escaping Gotham City’s slums, Selina Kyle returns as the mysterious and wealthy Holly Vanderhees. She quickly discovers that with Batman off on a vital mission, Batwing is left to hold back the tide of notorious criminals. Gotham City is ripe for the taking.

Meanwhile, Luke Fox wants to prove he has what it takes to help people in his role as Batwing. He targets a new thief on the prowl who seems cleverer than most. She has teamed up with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, and together they are wreaking havoc. This Catwoman may be Batwing’s undoing. (Goodreads)

Warcross by Marie Lu

I also reviewed this book. Click here.

For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. Needing to make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.

Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire. (Goodreads)

Contagion by Erin Bowman

Also reviewed this book. Click here.

It got in us

After receiving an urgent SOS from a work detail on a distant planet, a skeleton crew is dispatched to perform a standard search-and-rescue mission.

Most are dead.

But when the crew arrives, they find an abandoned site, littered with rotten food, discarded weapons…and dead bodies.

Don’t set foot here again.

As they try to piece together who—or what—could have decimated an entire operation, they discover that some things are best left buried—and some monsters are only too ready to awaken. (Goodreads)

The Surface Breaks by Louise O’Neill

Deep beneath the sea, off the cold Irish coast, Gaia is a young mermaid who dreams of freedom from her controlling father. On her first swim to the surface, she is drawn towards a human boy. She longs to join his carefree world, but how much will she have to sacrifice? What will it take for the little mermaid to find her voice? Hans Christian Andersen’s original fairy tale is reimagined through a searing feminist lens, with the stunning, scalpel-sharp writing and world building that has won Louise her legions of devoted fans. A book with the darkest of undercurrents, full of rage and rallying cries: storytelling at its most spellbinding. Goodreads.

I really did not like this book, it was just a painful read, I almost DNFd it. I gave this book 1 Star. I didn’t like the characters and the only person who was interesting was the sea witch.

City Of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

I have also done a review for this book, Click here.

Cassidy Blake’s parents are The Inspectres, a (somewhat inept) ghost-hunting team. But Cass herself can REALLY see ghosts. In fact, her best friend, Jacob, just happens to be one.

When The Inspectres head to ultra-haunted Edinburgh, Scotland, for their new TV show, Cass—and Jacob—come along. In Scotland, Cass is surrounded by ghosts, not all of them friendly. Then she meets Lara, a girl who can also see the dead. But Lara tells Cassidy that as an In-betweener, their job is to send ghosts permanently beyond the Veil. Cass isn’t sure about her new mission, but she does know the sinister Red Raven haunting the city doesn’t belong in her world. Cassidy’s powers will draw her into an epic fight that stretches through the worlds of the living and the dead, in order to save herself. (Goodreads)

Damsel by Elana K. Arnold

Also have reviewed this book. Click here, to see how much I didn’t like this book.

The rite has existed for as long as anyone can remember: when the prince-who-will-be-king comes of age, he must venture out into the gray lands, slay a fierce dragon, and rescue a damsel to be his bride. This is the way things have always been.

When Ama wakes in the arms of Prince Emory, however, she knows none of this. She has no memory of what came before she was captured by the dragon, or what horrors she has faced in its lair. She knows only this handsome prince, the story he tells of her rescue, and her destiny to sit on the throne beside him. Ama comes with Emory back to the kingdom of Harding, hailed as the new princess, welcomed to the court.

However, as soon as her first night falls, she begins to realize that not all is as it seems, that there is more to the legends of the dragons and the damsels than anyone knows–and that the greatest threats to her life may not be behind her, but here, in front of her.(Goodreads)

The Other Side Of Lost by Jessi Kirby

Girl Online meets Wild in this emotionally charged story of girl who takes to the wilderness to rediscover herself and escape the superficial persona she created on social media.

Mari Turner’s life is perfect. That is, at least to her thousands of followers who have helped her become an internet starlet. But when she breaks down and posts a video confessing she’s been living a lie—that she isn’t the happy, in-love, inspirational online personality she’s been trying so hard to portray—it goes viral and she receives major backlash. To get away from it all, she makes an impulsive decision: to hike the entire John Muir trail. Mari and her late cousin, Bri, were supposed to do it together, to celebrate their shared eighteenth birthday. But that was before Mari got so wrapped up in her online world that she shut anyone out who questioned its worth—like Bri.

With Bri’s boots and trail diary, a heart full of regret, and a group of strangers that she meets along the way, Mari tries to navigate the difficult terrain of the hike. But the true challenge lies within, as she searches for the way back to the girl she fears may be too lost to find: herself. Goodreads

I really enjoyed this book, I recommend this book, I loved that it looked at the bad side of social media and the need to disconnect sometimes. I gave this 4 stars.

Escaping From Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco

In this third installment in the #1 bestselling Stalking Jack the Ripper series, a luxurious ocean liner becomes a floating prison of scandal, madness, and horror when passengers are murdered one by one…with nowhere to run from the killer. .

Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her partner-in-crime-investigation, Thomas Cresswell, are en route to New York to help solve another blood-soaked mystery. Embarking on a week-long voyage across the Atlantic on the opulent RMS Etruria, they’re delighted to discover a traveling troupe of circus performers, fortune tellers, and a certain charismatic young escape artist entertaining the first-class passengers nightly.

But then, privileged young women begin to go missing without explanation, and a series of brutal slayings shocks the entire ship. The strange and disturbing influence of the Moonlight Carnival pervades the decks as the murders grow ever more freakish, with nowhere to escape except the unforgiving sea. It’s up to Audrey Rose and Thomas to piece together the gruesome investigation as even more passengers die before reaching their destination. But with clues to the next victim pointing to someone she loves, can Audrey Rose unravel the mystery before the killer’s horrifying finale? Goodreads

I love this series so much, I absolutely love Thomas so much, and how much he loves Audrey. I listened to this on Audio and read it on my Kindle. I gave this 4.5 Stars on Goodreads.

The Picture of Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde

Written in his distinctively dazzling manner, Oscar Wilde’s story of a fashionable young man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty is the author’s most popular work. The tale of Dorian Gray’s moral disintegration caused a scandal when it ﬁrst appeared in 1890, but though Wilde was attacked for the novel’s corrupting inﬂuence, he responded that there is, in fact, “a terrible moral in Dorian Gray.” Just a few years later, the book and the aesthetic/moral dilemma it presented became issues in the trials occasioned by Wilde’s homosexual liaisons, which resulted in his imprisonment. Of Dorian Gray’s relationship to autobiography, Wilde noted in a letter, “Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks me: Dorian what I would like to be—in other ages, perhaps.” Goodreads

This was a reread for me, I still absolutely love this book, still 4 stars.

Tilly and the Bookwanderers by Anna James

I have a review for this already, Click here.

A magical adventure to delight the imagination. A curl-up-on-the-sofa debut from a uniquely talented author.

One day Tilly realises that classic children’s characters are appearing in the shop through the magic of `book wandering’ – crossing over from the page into real life.

With the help of Anne of Green Gables and Alice in Wonderland. Tilly is determined to solve the mystery of what happened to her mother all those years ago, so she bravely steps into the unknown, unsure of what adventure lies ahead and what dangers she may face. Goodreads.

So there you have my wrap up for this month. I think it was success!

Lets Chat!

How many books have you got through this month? Did you enjoy the books you read? Is there any books you would recommend?

Happy Reading.

Thanks Bookworms.

Mini Book Review: Tilly and the Bookwanderers by Anna James

Hello Everyone.

Today I am going to do a book review of Tilly and the Bookwanderers by Anna James. As I said before on my City of Bones post, I haven’t read much middle grade, so I picked this book up on a whim, and I absolutely adored it.

A magical adventure to delight the imagination. A curl-up-on-the-sofa debut from a uniquely talented author.

Eleven year-old Tilly has lived above her grandparents’ bookshop ever since her mother disappeared shortly after she was born. Like the rest of her family, Tilly loves nothing more than to escape into the pages of her favourite stories.

One day Tilly realises that classic children’s characters are appearing in the shop through the magic of `book wandering’ – crossing over from the page into real life.

This book was so good. It was heartwarming, funny, nostalgic, interesting and just really filled my heart with joy.

Tilly is named after one of my favourite books Matilda. She lives with her grandparents and one day in the shop she bumps into a girl, she feels like she knows the girl, but can’t place her, then it hits her that its Anne from Anne of Green Gables. The author really captured Anne so well, and I was so jealous of Tilly, I want to meet Anne.

Tilly then finds out that she can travel into books with the characters, she goes in many beloved children’s classics, Alice In Wonderland, Treasure island and The Little Princess. Then adventures ensue.

This is a wonderful debut book from the author, I cant wait to read the second book.

There is also representation of dyslexia, Tilly’s bestfriend is dyslexic, who also ends up going on adventures with her. Also a lot of it is about Tilly trying to find out about her parents, and it deals with the subject of loss as well.

I wish the book had been around when I was a child, I would have loved it even more.

Goodreads: 5 stars

Happy Reading.

Thanks Bookworms.