White rabbits everyone.

We’re in to the fifth month of the year already – I can hardly believe it.  Hope you all had a great April.  Here’s my month in review (boy oh boy do I have a few reviews to catch up with):

Books read: (with links to reviews)

1. Borrowed Souls by Chelsea Mueller – review to follow
2. Path of Flames by Phil Tucker
3. Skullsworn by Brian Staveley
4. The Moonlight War by SKS Perry – review to follow
5. Avengers of the Moon by Allen Steele – review to follow
6. Assassin’s Charge by Claire Frank – review to follow
7. Damnation by Peter McLean – review to follow
8. The White Road by Sarah Lotz – review to follow

Some very good reading this month – I particularly enjoyed Tucker/Staveley and Lotz.  My month in covers is here.

Backlist books

None this month – I”m not saying anything about plans and blah de blah just because!

Unfinished series completed:

None this month – however, this month saw the completion of the Self Published Fantasy Blog Off.

Books Bought: 

1. The Exiled Heir by Jonathan French – I enjoyed his Grey Bastards so much that I thought I’d check his other work
2. Within the Sanctuary of Wings by Marie Brennan (this is the last of the series – which means I can now read the last two back to back.  Happy days.

Review Books:

1. Rotherweird by Andrew Caldecott

2. The White Road by Sarah Lotz

3. The Space Between the Stars by Anne Corlett

4. Owl and the Electric Samurai by Kristi Charish

5. The Prey of Gods by Nicky Drayden

6. Swarm and Steel by Michael R Fletcher

7. Godblind by Anna Stephens

My Cover highlight this month has to be the Lady Trent series which are such gorgeous books:

Events:

Backlist Backburn is an end of month event organised by Lisa at Tenacious Reader. If you’ve caught up on any of your backlist then call over and link up.   I find this a good incentive to dust off some of my books.

Top Ten Tuesday at The Broke and Bookish (every Tuesday)

Waiting on Wednesday is an event where every week we get to shine the spotlight on a book that we’re looking forward to.

The Friday Face off by Books by Proxy

Friday Firsts is a weekly event hosted by Lisa at Tenacious Reader. which is a great way to let everyone know the first sentence and first impressions for your current read.

SPFBO  – Now complete – wrap up post to follow shortly.

Tough Travels – a meme that takes place on the 1st of every month.  This month Assassins.  Plenty of time to create your own list and add it to the Fantasy Faction link up page.

Readalongs:

1. None this month

Classic Clubs read:

Unfortunately none this month.

A book and the Dude.  Looks like a quiet Sunday morning doesn’t it – not many of those going on at the moment.

March hares – they ran off didn’t they?  In fact, they galloped – if hares can gallop.  And there the month was, gone, in a puff of hare’s feet and dust.  So, it was a good month, if speedy, I only seem to have read 8 books which actually was a surprise and I’m still a few reviews behind but overall feel like I’m getting on top of things now. We’ve been, and in fact still are, decorating – it’s hard work and everything is in uproar – I suppose it will all work out in the end but it seems to affect every room. Anyway, moving swiftly on!

Books read: (with links to reviews)

1. Hunted by Meagan Spooner – loved this!  Loved.  It.  Of course Beauty and the Beast just so happens to be my favourite fairytale – but, this is such a good retelling.
2. Fionn by Brian O’Sullivan – this was great to be honest, really impressive and totally gripping.
3. Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi – who knew I liked sci fi so much – I don’t usually but Scalzi clearly works for me.
4. Heart of Stone  by Ben Galley – a great story of redemption.  All about the character development this one.
5. The Music Box Girl by K A Stewart – review to follow – still need to write a review for this one but I liked it – it was a bit cheesy in places but it just kept me entertained, to quote one of my blogger buddies I would say this is a good ‘popcorn’ read.
6. Red Sister by Mark Lawrence – review to follow – I love this guy!  Three series, all different, one very dark, one old school, one coming of age – honestly how does he do it!
7. Island of Exiles by Erica Cameron – again, on the recommendation of Danya – very entertaining read, good world building and set up.  Slow building romance.
8. The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan – review to follow – OMG – I just finished this book.  It was saccharine sweet and totally cheesy  and I absolutely loved the life out of it!

What is going on – I think I’ve loved all my books this month – maybe I’ve got an excess of happy hormones (I know, TMI) but March is going to be a difficult act to follow.  That is all.

Backlist books

None this month – next month I have plans… of course you know what the saying is, the best laid plans, etc, etc.

Unfinished series completed:

None this month – boo.

Books Bought: 

1. The Waking Fire: Book One of Draconis Memoria (The Draconis Memoria 1) by Anthony Ryan
2. A Red-Rose Chain (Toby Daye Book 9)
   Seanan McGuire
3. Shades of Milk and Honey (Glamourist Histories Series Book 1)
   Mary Robinette Kowal

Review Books: – I realise that this doesn’t look very restrained but, actually, I’ve spread these books out over the months.  I’m trying to not end up with 12/15 review books in one month because that just = disaster.  These all look so awesome:

1. Borrowed Souls: A Soul Charmer Novel by Chelsea Mueller – currently reading

2. The Fallen Kingdom: Book Three of the Falconer Trilogy by Elizabeth May – final in series – CAN’T WAIT

3. A Kiss Before Doomsday: A Dru Jasper Novel by Laurence MacNaughton – such good fun + riders of the Apocalypse and possessed cars.  I loved the first and this one sounds even better.

4. The Only Child by Andrew Pyper.   Check out the description for this one.  I had to have it.  Gothic.  Frankenstine, Jekyll and Hyde and Dracula – hello and welcome to my life.

5. The Bones of the Earth: A Bound Gods Novel by Rachel Dunne – second in a very readable series and a new voice in fantasy

6. Empress of the Fall by David Hair – only just started this one and I confess I’m a little late but I intend to catch up soon.

7. Avengers of the Moon by Allen Steele – a trio of guardians, an unexpected hero and pulp fiction means me likey!

8. Blackwing by Ed McDonald – OMFG, I am so excited for this one.  First: gritty and dark, secondly, post apocalyptic frontier – is that even a thing (and do I even care because it sounds great), thirdly THE COVER.  That is all.

9. The Curious Affair of the Somnambulist & the Psychic Thief by Lisa Tuttle – I confess that title just hooked me, then puzzles, mysteries, crimes and psychics – colour me happy people.

10. Damnation by Peter McLean.  This is the third instalment of a series that I’m really enjoying so obviously I had to snatch this one up.

11. All Good Things by Emma Newman.  No 5 in a series I’m fully invested in, a split world with fae/humans and the nether.  Plus gargoyles.  Mmmm.

My Cover Compare this month.

My favourite:

A tough choice to be honest but the darkness of this just won me over.

Events:

Backlist Backburn is an end of month event organised by Lisa at Tenacious Reader. If you’ve caught up on any of your backlist then call over and link up.   I find this a good incentive to dust off some of my books.

Top Ten Tuesday at The Broke and Bookish (every Tuesday)

Waiting on Wednesday is an event where every week we get to shine the spotlight on a book that we’re looking forward to.

The Friday Face off by Books by Proxy

Friday Firsts is a weekly event hosted by Lisa at Tenacious Reader. which is a great way to let everyone know the first sentence and first impressions for your current read.

SPFBO  – Ten finalists (details here).  Books read: Outpost, Shadow Soul and Paternus review of The Grey Bastards.  Review of Larcourt and Fionn.  Review of The Music Box Girl to follow.  Three more books left to complete.

Readalongs:

1. None this month

Classic Clubs read:

Unfortunately none this month.

Prague – Christmas Market

That’s it folks – 2016 is all wrapped up and December was a lovely month – we went on a short trip to Prague which is a beautiful city.  I hope you all had a good year and if you celebrate Christmas I hope you had a great time.  Here’s to 2017 and a Happy New Year.

Books read: (with links to reviews)

1. Morning Star by Pierce Brown- review to follow
2. The Burning Page by Genevieve Cogman
3. A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers- review to follow
4. Roseblood by A G Howard
5. The Sleep Walker by Chris Bohjalian
6. The Watcher by Ross Armstrong
7. Freeks by Amanda Hocking – review to follow
8. Gilded Cage by Vic James – review to follow
9. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden – review to follow
10. Paternus by Dark Ashton

Last month’s covers are here.

Backlist books

None this month.

Unfinished series completed:

Morning Star by Pierce Brown – review to follow

Books Bought: okay – so I might have gone a little bit crazy this month but I had vouchers so it’s all good…

1. A Closed and Common Orbit (Wayfarers Book 2) by Becky Chambers
2. Moriarty (Sherlock Holmes Novel Book 2) by Anthony Horowitz
3. Wake of Vultures: The Shadow: Book One by Lila Bowen
4. Conspiracy of Ravens: The Shadow: Book Two by Lila Bowen
5. Crooked Kingdom: Book 2 (Six of Crows) by Leigh Bardugo
6. The Shotgun Arcana by R. S. Belcher
7. Doomsday Book (S.F. MASTERWORKS) by Connie Willis
8. Den of Wolves (Blackthorn & Grim) by Juliet Marillier
9. The Lesser Dead by Christopher Buehlman
10. Chimes at Midnight (Toby Daye Book 7) by Seanan McGuire
11. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë, 

Review Books: (with links to Goodreads)

1. Game of Shadows by Erika Lewis
2. Skullsworn by Brian Staveley
3. Dawn Study by Maria V Snyder
4. Miranda and Caliban by Jacqueline Carey
5. Freeks by Amanda Hocking
6. Defender by GX Todd
7. Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero

My Cover Compare this month.

It’s a tie for me between the blue and the red.

Events:

Backlist Backburn is an end of month event organised by Lisa at Tenacious Reader. If you’ve caught up on any of your backlist then call over and link up.   I find this a good incentive to dust off some of my books.

Top Ten Tuesday at The Broke and Bookish (every Tuesday)

Waiting on Wednesday is an event hosted by Breaking the Spine where every week we get to shine the spotlight on a book that we’re looking forward to.

The Friday Face off by Books by Proxy

Friday Firsts is a weekly event hosted by Lisa at Tenacious Reader. which is a great way to let everyone know the first sentence and first impressions for your current read.

SPFBO  – Ten finalists (details here).  Books read: Outpost, Shadow Soul and Paternus

Readalongs:

1. Readalong for Naamah’s Kiss by Jacqueline Carey
2. Readalong for A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers – now complete
3. Readalong for Chimes at Midnight (Toby Daye Book 7) by Seanan McGuire – due to start January

Classic Clubs read:

Unfortunately none this month but I’ve bought a copy of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall which I’m really looking forward to.

Previous months in review:

• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November