Special edition unhaul

Hey, everyone! It’s been a while since I posted an unhaul but recently I have been working my way through some of my special editions (namely Illumicrate but I also have a few from other companies), and I’ve either not enjoyed them or just decided I no longer want to own a physical copy or this specific edition so I’m unhauling them. Let’s get into it!

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross: I read this and I enjoyed it, but not enough for me to want to keep this edition and also buy the sequel. I thought it was too long and I found parts of it boring. I’m not sure if I will read the sequel. I originally wanted to because I liked the ending and wanted to see what happened next but I’m not sure now. If I found the sequel in a charity shop or it was cheap to buy on Kindle, I might consider reading it. I don’t think I’ll actively go out and buy it though.

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean: This was on my January wrap-up. I enjoyed it but it did leave me feeling disappointed and I’m not sure whether that was due to the hype surrounding it or because I was expecting something more unique. Overall, it felt very rushed and I think it would have worked better as a series rather than a standalone. I love this edition, especially the stencilled edges but I’m never going to reread it and I’d rather it go to someone who will appreciate it more than me.

January 2023 wrap-up!

Hey, everyone! I’m sharing my January wrap-up with you today and I wish I could say that I’ve had a great start to the year but that is sadly not the case. I’ve had a lot going on in my personal life that’s prevented me from reading as much, so I only read three books in January and I’ve already had my first DNF. The positive side is that I mostly liked the books I read so I guess it was successful in terms of enjoyment. Here’s what I read:

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman: I’ve had a copy of this since the paperback was released and I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to read it. I thought it was a really fun read and the characters were still just as loveable. The mystery was even better than the first book and I loved that we got to find out more about Elizabeth and her mysterious past. The only thing that annoyed me was Joyce’s diary entries. I noticed that when a particular scene happened, for example, all the characters are gathered together discussing their theories, Joyce’s diary would then repeat everything that happened in that scene. It really annoyed me. When I eventually get round to reading the third book, I think I’ll take a break before reading her diary entries and treat them as a recap of what’s just happened. Hopefully that will avoid me getting annoyed with Joyce because I do really like her quirky personality.

BLOG TOUR: The Beast Hunters Dark Sovereign by Christer Lende

Title: The Beast Hunters Dark Sovereign by Christer Lende
Published by: Independently Published
Publication date: 15th November 2022
Genre: Fantasy
Amazon UK – Amazon US

Synopsis:

A mysterious corpse, beastly assassins, and a basement full of cadavers dissolving in acid lead the beast hunters towards an enigmatic candidate, favourite to claim the throne of Ashbourn.

Despite not wanting to get involved in the coming coronation, Ara and the two beast hunters cannot deny the beastly nature of the clues they discover. Ara must adopt fake personas, infiltrate political galas, and pursue shadowy assassins. Still, the candidate’s monstrous nature eludes her. With the future of Ashbourn at stake, Ara has to solve the mystery before the new king is crowned.

Strangely, Ara’s abilities from Cornstead seem connected with the incidents that transpire during their investigation. Whispers in her mind foretell of sinister events, which she slowly sees come to life. The venom that grants her powers, seems to intertwine her fate with the dark creature threatening to be crowned king.

The second book in The Beast Hunter of Ashbourn series, Dark Sovereign offers a grand conspiracy, building on the events from the first book. Can Ara escape her connection to the ominous entity manipulating the Capital?

Favourite Books of 2022!

Hey, everyone! It’s a little late but I’m sharing my favourite books of 2022 today and I’m so excited to share these amazing books with you. I discovered a lot of these through book tours or being sent an ARC and I’m so grateful to the authors and publishers for gifting me these copies as I’ve discovered some fantastic authors because of it! Here’s my picks for 2022:

Run, Rose, Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson: Easily the best thriller I’ve read this year. There’s so many thrillers now that are very similar but this is on a whole new level. A country singer on the run from her dark past? Actual songs written into the story and then a real album to go with it? Give it to me! I loved the plot, the characters and the music they create together. AnnieLee, Ethan and Ruthanna breathe so much life into this story and develop so much by the end of the story. I also really enjoyed the insight into the music industry and the sobering reality that it’s not as glamarous as it appears. It’s a very compelling and thought-provoking story.

November and December 2022 wrap-up!

Hi everyone! Apologies for my lack of positing but I’ve been in a horrible reading and blogging slump. I’m hoping I can get back into it this year and I’m starting with sharing my November and December wrap-up. My reading was pretty rubbish in November but I managed to pick it up again in December. Here’s what I read:

November wrap-up

The Child Left in the Dark by J.M. Briscoe: This is such a great sequel and really builds on the characters. You find out a lot more about Bella and her past when she fled the ARC. It also delves deeper into Ariana, her emotional state and how she’s coping with everything that has happened. It’s a very thrilling read and I can’t wait to find out how this trilogy ends!

The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber: I did enjoy this and thought it was a magical read, however, it’s not captured my attention as much as the Caraval trilogy did. I expect Jacks and Evangeline will end up together by the end of the series but I just can’t root for them. Jacks treats Evangeline so horribly and it felt abusive at times. Evangeline deserves so much better. I’ll still read the third book but, sadly, this is not one of my favourites.

Books I’ve Read Recently!

Hey, everyone! Sorry for disappearing for a couple of months. I felt like I needed a break from blogging and reviewing because I was feeling a bit burnt out from it all. I have actually been reading though, so I’ll just go through everything I’ve read over the past few months. Hope you enjoy!

July wrap-up

The Binding Room by Nadine Matheson: What an incredible sequel! The murders in this story were even more chilling than the ones in The Jigsaw Man and made for a very disturbing read. The urgency of the case and the race against the clock to catch the killer had me on the edge of my seat throughout. Matheson is a fantastic writer and I’m really looking forward to the next book in this series.

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber: I’m sad to say that I didn’t love this as much as the Caraval trilogy but I still fell in love with the world and the characters. Garber writes beautifully and I was completely swept away by the magic. Also, I was actually surprised by how much I liked Jacks because I wasn’t a fan of his in Caraval. It kind of ends on a cliffhanger, so I’ll definitely be picking up the second book as I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

June 2022 wrap-up!

Hey guys! Today I’m sharing my June wrap-up. I’ve been in a fantasy mood recently so I read a lot of fantasy books this month. Also, if you weren’t aware, one of my reading goals this year is to read all of my Illumicrate books so you’ll see a couple of those on the list. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Breaking Time by Sasha Alsberg: I’ve been eagerly awaiting this book ever since Sasha first announced she was working on it. I was a bit hesitant going into it after how much I disliked Zenith, but I was curious to see how she’d do on her own and it did sound interesting. I needn’t have worried because I thoroughly enjoyed it and I’m glad Sasha took her time with it. It was easy to see how much research she had done and it didn’t feel rushed at all. It ends on a jaw-dropping cliffhanger and now I’m going to be impatiently waiting for the second book!

ARC REVIEW: Breaking Time by Sasha Alsberg

Title: Breaking Time by Sasha Alsberg
Published by: Inkyard Press
Genre: Fantasy
Format: eARC
Amazon UK

Synopsis:

Fate brought them together. Time will tear them apart.

When a mysterious Scotsman suddenly appears in the middle of the road, Klara thinks the biggest problem is whether she hit him with her car. But, as impossible as it sounds, Callum has stepped out of another time, and it’s just the beginning of a deadly adventure.

Klara will soon learn that she is the last Pillar of Time—an anchor point in the timeline of the world and a hiding place for a rogue goddess’s magic. Callum believes he’s fated to protect her at all costs after being unable to protect the previous Pillar, his best friend, Thomas. A dark force is hunting the Pillars to claim the power of the goddess—and Klara and Callum are the only two people standing in the way. Thrown together by fate, the two have to learn to trust each other and work together…but they’ll need to protect their hearts from one another if they’re going to survive.

BLOG TOUR: Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid

Title: Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid
Published by: Del Rey
Genre: Fantasy/Horror
Format: Hardback
Amazon UK

Synopsis:

As the last true witches living in a city shifting from magic to industry, Marlinchen and her two sisters are little more than tourist traps as they treat their clients with archaic remedies and beguile them with nostalgic charm. Marlinchen spends her days divining secrets in exchange for rubles and trying to placate their tyrannical, xenophobic wizard father, who keeps his daughters sequestered from the outside world. While at night, she and her sisters sneak out to enjoy the city’s amenities and revel in its thrills, particularly the recently established ballet theatre, where Marlinchen meets a dancer who quickly captures her heart.

But as Marlinchen’s late-night trysts grow more fervent and frequent, so does the threat of her father’s rage and magic. And while the city flourishes with culture and bustles with enterprise, a monster lurks in its midst, borne of intolerance and resentment and suffused with old-world power. Caught between history and progress and blood and desire, Marlinchen must draw upon her own magic to keep her city safe and find her place within it.