Top Ten Tuesday: Newest (aka latest Books On My TBR)
19 November 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: book-blog, book-blogger, Books, reading, TBR, Ten Newest Books on my TBR, That Artsy Reader Girl, Top Ten Tuesday
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme where every Tuesday we look at a particular topic for discussion and use various (or more to the point ten) bookish examples to demonstrate that particular topic. Top Ten Tuesday (created and hosted by The Broke and Bookish) is now being hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and future week’s topics can be found here. This week I’ve done the exact opposite of the prompt – which was earliest published books on my TBR. Instead I’ve chosen:
Newest (aka latest Books On My TBR)
For this week’s prompt I’ve chosen ten books that are not yet published that I am excited to start reading in the new year:
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
Grave Empire by Richard Swan
Black Woods. Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey
The Crimson Road by AG Slatter
Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett
Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis
Once Was Willem by MR Carey
Senseless by Ronald Malfi
The Devils by Joe Abercrombie
Review: Blood by Sarah Pinborough (Tales from the Kingdom #5)
18 November 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Beauty, Blood, Book Reviews, Books, Charm, Fairytales retold, Fantasy, Magic, Poison, Romance, Sarah Pinborough
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Don’t Miss This Wonderful Series
Blood reads like a conclusion to the series but I’m not absolutely sure if that’s the case, it certainly has a fairytale style ending. That being said I would happily, nay ecstatically, pick up more books from the Kingdom. If anybody can give me the lowdown then feel free to update me in the comments. I’d actually love to be wrong.
I have to say first and foremost that this series is wonderful. I’ve absolutely loved reading these fairytales reimagined. They’re well written, they’re sassy, they have such twisted characters, everything is on it’s head and you can’t make any assumptions. Disney characters these are not. At the same time there are good characters where you least expect, plenty of magic, castles, dragons and thorny hedges.
If you love fairytales and you enjoy retellings then this series is for you and with a new first book in series (Magic) and this new conclusion it feels like the stories are now complete. Pinborough has pulled the rabbit out of the hat by tying all the stories together, bringing in mysterious characters just barely hinted at previously and giving them all the ending they deserve.
I can’t really say too much more without giving away spoilers so this review will be necessarily short and sweet (much like these little gems).
In conclusion. I’m sad to have read the final book. I’d love to go back and reread the whole collection one by one. These stories fulfil my fairytale need whilst putting a smile on my face. They’re a breath of fresh air filled with creativity, great writing and a little sexy punch.
Highly recommended.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating – 5 of 5 stars for a fantastic series
Now, here are all five books in order, their covers and my reviews:
Book 1: MAGIC
Book 2: BEAUTY
Book 3: POISON
Book 4: CHARM
Book 5: BLOOD
Booking Ahead/Weekly Wrap Up
17 November 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Review, Booking Ahead, Books, currently-reading, reading, Sunday Post, the-caffeinated-book-reviewer, Weekly wrap up
Books read this week:
I’ve struggled a bit this week. Although I’ve made really good progress on blog hopping and catching up with comments. I’ve read and loved one of my review books, the conclusion to Sarah Pinborough’s Tales From the Kingdoms series (I think it’s the conclusion, it certainly reads like a traditional fairytale ending). I adore this series of fairytales reimagined, they’re wickedly good fun. On the other hand I’m reading the Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E Pearson. I was really hooked to this when it started. The writing is so lovely. But, I can’t deny that my progress is very slow, there’s something about it that feels over indulgent and drawn out, and it just feels so familiar. Plus, the fae, they’ve morphed into normal everyday humans. It doesn’t feel like a fae world, it feels more like a training academy with a bit of magic. Anyway, that probably sounds very negative which isn’t my intention but I am on the verge of DNF’ing this – the only thing atm that’s keeping me going is that I’ve already read 50% which feels like such a commitment that I really ought to finish – I’ll just have to read this little by little and pick up other books at the same time.
Next Week’s Reads:
I didn’t really make progress with Fury of the Gods – mainly because I was trying to plough through Bristol Keats. I’ll hopefully be getting back to that this week. Also I still have The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso to start, and, I was approved for Jen Williams Titanchild – which is the conclusion to her talon duology. I’m really looking forward to that.
Reviews Posted:
- Run by Blake Crouch
- You All Die Tonight by Simon Kernick
Outstanding Reviews
- The September House by Carissa Orlando
- Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
- Blood by Sarah Pinborough
- Ink Ribbon Red by Alex Pavesi
That’s it for me this week, what have you been up to, any good books to shout out about. Let me know.
Countdown to 2025
16 November 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, book-blog, Books, Countdown to 2025, highlight-of-2024, new-year, reading
A short and sweet post to let you all know that once again I am doing my December Countdown where I tick off the days to the new year by spotlighting a book from the present one. This is a one per day prompt where I will literally post the prompt and the book I think fits the prompt. I’m hoping to use books read during 2024 where possible and use this as an opportunity to shine the light on some good reads. Books will be linked to reviews where possible or Goodreads. If you fancy joining me feel free to dip in and out. This is just a little fun and isn’t meant to be hard work. Starts on 1st December and concludes on 31st.
Here are the prompts: 31 days of December and 31 opportunities to give a very quick shout out to a book you’ve loved or are highly anticipating.
Prompts:
- Snow – a book set in a cold or wintry climate
- Shopping – the last book added to your wishlist
- Wrapping paper – a lovely cover
- Gifts – a book you enjoyed more than you expected to
- Chocolates – a book that was simply delicious
- Christmas stocking – stocking fillers – a novella or short story
- Christmas Tree – a winter read
- Baubles – these add some colour, a very colourful and striking cover
- Fairy Lights – something magical
- Under the Tree – a book you forgot you owned
- Mistletoe – a little bit of romance
- Holly and Ivy – a book with great world building
- Feast – a book that was magnificent
- Christmas pudding – if you could squeeze in just one more book for 2020
- Mince pies – a little sweet something
- Turkey Dinner– eye’s too big for your belly? A chunkster
- Glitter – A book that you simply have to have
- Christmas Cards – a book with a message
- Christmas Carols – a book with musicians, song or instruments
- Eggnog – a book that was out of your comfort zone
- Santa’s Snack – a book that was a ‘light read’ between heavier books
- Reindeers – a book with memorable critters
- Sleigh bells – a series that you want to ring out the praise for
- Christmas Eve – One of your most anticipated books for 2025
- Christmas Day – a book you received as a gift
- Boxing Day – feeling bloated, a palate cleanser
- Christmas Crackers – Ended with a bang
- Candlelight – a book that kept you up into the early hours
- A roaring fire – a book that was heartwarming
- Family and Friends – a book with great characters
- Bottle of Bubbly – your first read for 2025
Friday Face Off: The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E Pearson
15 November 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Review, book-blog, Books, fiction, Friday Face off, reading
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 another book that is on my shelf waiting to be read. The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E Pearson is one of my current reads and I’m enjoying it very much. Only two covers, take a look:
My favourite this week:
Have you read this book already? What did you think and which is your favourite?
Join me next week in highlighting one of your reads with different covers.
Books and travelling with Lynn 