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.

This month’s wrap up post will be a bit messy again like last month’s because I’m combining it with my weekly wrap up.

Weekly Update

The weather has been glorious and with the summer comes more socialising.  That being said my weekly reading the past week has been good.  I did indeed finish A Far Better Thing by HG Parry and not only loved it but have already posted my review – a Dickens inspired world with wicked fae.  I then picked up Paved With Good Intentions by Peter McLean which I also absolutely loved.  I also finished listening to Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry.  I struggled with this one for at least two thirds of the read but I confess the final chapters definitely piqued my interest and the ending in particular.  I then picked up and practically inhaled The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.  A bewitching tale, a mystery and witches that feel almost akin to vampires.

Next Week’s reads

I’m happy to say that I’ve also started two new books, both of which I’m enjoying very much so far.  The Enchanted Greenhouse which I’m about a third into and The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig which is my current audio book.

Reviews Posted:

1. A Far Better Thing by HG Parry

Outstanding Reviews

My Monthly Wrap Up:

Books read in June:

1. The Countdown Killer by Sam Holland
2. The Rush by Beth Lewis
3. The Bodies by Sam Lloyd
4. Swordheart by T Kingfisher
5. A Far Better Thing by HG Parry
6. Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry

I’ve had a slow reading month for sure and looking back at my last monthly review I had 11 books queued up to read – The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater was unfortunately a DNF.  I also picked up and started With A Vengeance by Riley Sager but it wasn’t working it’s magic – which was a surprise as I’ve been really enjoying this author’s work recently.  From the rest of the list I’d already picked up and reviewed We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough which was great, the Shield and the Moth by Rachel Gillig I’m now listening to and Paved with Good Intentions by Peter McLean is now complete (I just didn’t manage to fit it into June).

Here’s what I’m hoping to read in July, in fact I’ve already made good progress as I’ve read The Bewitching and started The Enchanted Greenhouse.  I’ve carried over The Knight and the Moth and I’m going to try and squeeze in a couple of backlist books if I can:

1. Fateless by Julie Kagawa
2. The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst – current read
3. The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia  – read and waiting to be reviewed
4. Another Fine Mess by Lindy Ryan
5. It Was Her First House by Cherie Priest
6. The Library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw

This month I’m hoping to go back to a couple of books from last October that I really wanted to read but didn’t have the time to fit them in.  Let’s see how that goes.

Bookforager‘s Picture Prompt book bingo.

and the text version:

PICTURE PROMPT BOOK BINGO 2025 (TEXT VERSION)

Today, I’m ticking off another of the prompts.  No. 11 – the old mechanical typewriter – I’m using The Bewitching for this one as one of the characters is a writer and is actually gifted a typewriter in the story.  The book she writes features prominently in the story so I think it’s a good fit.

The prompts I’ve crossed off so far:

No.8 – The ruins of a temple-like structure – I’m using Daughter of Chaos by A S Webb

No. 12 – A cluster of four mushrooms – I’m using Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett

No. 13 – A fringed umbrella/parasol – I’m using A Fortune Most Fatal by Jessica Bull

No.14 – A chemistry set-up of bottles and tubes – I’m using Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis

No.9 – A Crab – I’m using The Devils by Joe Abercrombie – if you’ve read this already you’ll be able to guess why.  There are some very unusual creatures in this story.

No.6 – A Human Skull – I’m using The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North – because this is about a serial killer and there are definite human remains included in this one.

Number of books read this year: 44