Monthly Wrap Up/What’s On My Plate September/October

I’m trying to post a wrap up for the end of each month, mainly to help me to keep track of my reading and at the same time look at what I’m intending to read during the month ahead (inspired by Books Bones and Buffy’s What’s on My Plate.

In this post I shall be looking at the reading I completed for September and what I’m hoping to read during October.  I hit a bit of a shady patch this month and didn’t quite finish all my planned books – and looking at October, well, I seem to have turned into a raging maniac requesting ALL the books and literally I don’t know what I was thinking.  Well, I do.  I just wanted them all, they all looked so lovely and they were calling to me.  Anyway.  This month I have two review books that I’ve not managed to complete but I’m still aiming to pick them up when I have a quieter month (November/December).  I have two reviews to catch up with at the moment and then onwards to my October books.

Here’s what I read during September:

  1. Fortitude’s Prize by Ceril N Domace (SPFBOX)
  2. The First Assignment by Billy Kramer (SPFBOX)
  3. River of Crows by NP Thompson (SPFBOX)
  4. This Girl’s a Killer by Emma C Wells
  5. So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison
  6. Lucy Undying by Kiersten White
  7. Touched by Magic by Celine Jeanjean (SPFBOX)
  8. Smile and Be A Villain by Yves Donlon (SPFBOX)
  9. Gorse by Sam K Horton
  10. The Ravening by Daniel Church
  11. The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier – review to follow
  12. The Wilding by Ian McDonald – review to follow

This month I had nine review books and five SPFBO books.  I have two review books to complete, I started both but put them down temporarily as I don’t think I was in the right headspace.  So, twelve books all together.

What I’m hoping to read during October(with links to Goodreads) (although I realise this is a tall order and probably unlikely – but I can roll some books over to November).

  1. The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister
  2. The Coven by Harper L. Woods
  3. The House at Watch Hill by Karen Marie Moning
  4. Candle & Crow by Kevin Hearne
  5. The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
  6. The Book of Witching by C.J. Cooke
  7. Run by Blake Crouch
  8. Cold Snap by Lindy Ryan
  9. Hear Him Calling by Carly Reagon
  10. Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris
  11. The Fury of the Gods by John Gwynne
  12. Here One Minute by Alex Lake
  13. The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door by H. G. Parry
  14. The Queen by Nick Cutter
  15. Magic by Sarah Pinborough

I also have a couple of books sent to me directly by the authors and three potential SPFBOX Semi Finalists.  So, realistically, there’s no way I’m going to complete them all. But, in my defence some of these were requests that came in late.  Oh, who am I kidding – there are some great books on here so I couldn’t resist.  And, just look how lovely they all look:

BTB

This month I read no Backlist Books -boo (I am still reading The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie – which is very good but I simply keep forgetting to listen to the audio version).

Bookforager‘s Picture Prompt book bingo

PPBBC

This month I’m ticking off the ‘clouds’ prompt from my Picture Prompt bingo card. 

I’m using Fortitude’s Prize by Ceril N Domace – a story that predominantly takes place in the sky so seems quite appropriate.

Friday Face Off: The Book of Gothel by Mary McMyne

FFO

Today I’m returning to the  Friday Face Off, originally created by Books by Proxy).  I’ve missed these for the past few months and so would like to get back to comparing covers (and hopefully I will be updating this page with a new banner.  This is an opportunity to look at a book of your choice and shine the spotlight on the covers.  Of course this only works for those books that have alternative covers (although sometimes I use this to look at a series of books to choose a favourite). . So, if you have a book that has alternative covers, highlight them and choose your favourite.  If you’re taking part it would be great if you leave a link so I can take a look at what you’ve chosen.

This week I’ve chosen a book that is from my backlist: The Book of Gothel by Mary McMyne, has anyone read this one – what do you think?  Here are the covers:

My favourite this week:

I quite like the middle cover with the blue but I’m not keen on the title.  Which is your favourite?

Join me next week in highlighting one of your reads with different covers.

Friday Face Off : Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

FFO

Today I’m returning to the  Friday Face Off, originally created by Books by Proxy).  I’ve missed these for the past few months and so would like to get back to comparing covers (and hopefully I will be updating this page with a new banner.  This is an opportunity to look at a book of your choice and shine the spotlight on the covers.  Of course this only works for those books that have alternative covers (although sometimes I use this to look at a series of books to choose a favourite). . So, if you have a book that has alternative covers, highlight them and choose your favourite.  If you’re taking part it would be great if you leave a link so I can take a look at what you’ve chosen.

This week I’ve chosen a book that I’m really excited about due for release in 2025, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix.  Here are the covers

My favourite this week:

I like both covers but they feel very different.  I’ve gone for the one that takes me back to old style horror movies. Which is your favourite?

Join me next week in highlighting one of your reads with different covers.

The Friday Face Off : The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak

FFO

Today I’m returning to the  Friday Face Off, originally created by Books by Proxy).  I’ve missed these for the past few months and so would like to get back to comparing covers (and hopefully I will be updating this page with a new banner.  This is an opportunity to look at a book of your choice and shine the spotlight on the covers.  Of course this only works for those books that have alternative covers (although sometimes I use this to look at a series of books to choose a favourite). . So, if you have a book that has alternative covers, highlight them and choose your favourite.  If you’re taking part it would be great if you leave a link so I can take a look at what you’ve chosen.

This week I’ve chosen a book that I’m really pleased to have a review copy for.  The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak.  Here are the covers:

My favourite this week:

I actually like both covers, the orange cover is very striking but the other cover feels ominous.

Which is your favourite?

Join me next week in highlighting one of your reads with different covers.

Beat the Backlist: The Girl With No Face by MH Boroson The Daoshi Chronicles #2 Review

BTB

My Five Word TL:DR Review : This Series is Seriously Good

TGWNF

TGWNF is a book that I’ve been wanting to read for quite some time. I loved The Girl With Ghost Eyes and was so desperate to read the next instalment but then in the way of a lot of great books this one seemed to get left behind in the ever mounting furore of deadlines. So, this year I’ve been taking a look back at my TBR and trying to read at least one book a month to make a small dint in my backlist books

The first book in the series was wonderful. Please check out my review here. And. I’m pleased to say that the second instalment is equally breathtaking. What a wonderfully unique storyteller Boroson is. I can’t remember reading a series before with such attention to detail. Clearly the author has taken research to the next level and this is reflected in the story. 

Once again we return to the world of Li-lin. She is an amazing character. Beset with prejudices and inequalities she is a woman unafraid to take chances to help others and stand by what she feels is the right way to behave. 

I’m not going to over elaborate on the plot – especially as I’m so late to the party there are already some excellent reviews available that tell you everything you need to know. Suffice to say that we pick up not long after the first instalment.  Li-lin has been disowned by her father. She is working for a local gangster. Her life is undoubtedly a struggle, she is grieving for her husband and she now finds herself with a new mystery to ponder. A young girl has died in the most unusual circumstances and dark magic is suspected. 

What I really loved about this. 

Once again Li-lin is an amazing character to read about. I love this character and I think in this instalment, she goes through an incredible story arc, particularly where the relationship with her father is concerned. 

I mean, the imagination here is incredible. I could go into great detail about spirit trains and tiger priests but to be fair if I get started there’s little hope that I’ll be able to stop. Instead take my word for it, this is a fascinating world. I seriously don’t think I’ve read anything quite like this before with the depth of world building, which isn’t to say such books don’t exist of course, just this feels like such a great exploration of culture, tradition, folklore and superstition. 

Overall, I had a really good time reading the next instalment in Li-lin’s journey and whilst the mystery here was wrapped up nicely I hope that we will return to this world again. 

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion. 

My rating 4.5 of 5 stars 

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