May TBR | 2023

Hello and welcome to another TBR! May has come around so quickly. This month I won't be participating in any readathons, however, I'm still hoping to read a fair few books. My TBR is shorter this month so I can get to a few chunky fantasies that I didn't get to last month, and to give me some breathing room, because my job is about to get extremely busy and I'm going to have less time for reading, sadly! My main plan is to read at least one series to completion this month and to then read some books that have been on my TBR a while.

So, without further ado, here's my May TBR:

1. An Echo of Things to Come by James Islington

2. The Light of All That Falls by James Islington

3. Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire

4. Pet Sematary by Stephen King

5. Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles

6. Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Julie Smith

7. Light Years by Kass Morgan

8. Supernova by Kass Morgan

9. Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman

10. Anna K by Jenny Lee

11. Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

So that's my TBR for May! Let me know what you're reading and if you've read any of these books. Also, are you participating in any readathons this month? Let me know if you are!

March Wrap-Up | 2023

Welcome to my March Wrap-Up! It's been a while, but I'm hoping to post more in the next couple of months. As I'm writing this, I'm actually travelling for work again, and will hopefully get some reading done on the journey. I'm pretty happy with how much I read this month; I got through quite a few backlist books too. Overall, I read 18 books which totalled 6588 pages. So, without further ado, here are my reviews and ratings for the month!

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1. Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager ★★★★

This is the fifth Riley Sager book I've read and he is definitely one of the adult thriller writers I enjoy the most, although my favourite is still easily Home Before Dark. This book however, starts fifteen years ago, where summer camper Emma Davis watched sleepily as her three cabin mates snuck out of their cabin in the dead of night. The last she (and anyone) saw of them was  - vian closing the cabin door behind her, hushing Emma with a finger pressed to her lips. Now a rising star in the NYC art scene, Emma turns her past into paintings. They catch the attention of Francesca Harris-White, the socialite and wealthy owner of the very same Camp Nightingale - and when Francesca implores Emma to return to the camp as a painting counsellor, Emma sees an opportunity to find closure and move on. Yet, it is immediately clear that all is not right at Camp Nightingale. Already haunted by surfacing memories, Emma is suddenly plagued by a security camera pointed directly at her cabin, mounting mistrust from Francesca, and, most disturbing of all, cryptic clues Vivian apparently left behind about the camp's twisted origins. And as history begins to repeat itself and three girls go missing again, Emma must face threats from both man and nature in order to uncover all the buried secrets - including what really happened all those years ago.

I have some mixed feelings about this book, but overall I did really enjoy it. I adored the final twist at the very end and it definitely brought it up from a 3 star to a 4 star. Although I loved the twist, I do think the pacing was a bit off and I think it came too late. I loved the flashback scenes and the diary, but the rest of the present day moments were a little boring and I felt like Sager stacked up all the red herrings to happen one after the other, right at the end of the story. If things had been more spread out, it might have felt more interesting from earlier on. Although the final twist was amazing (and just what I wanted), because it was at the very end, I felt like we didn't get quite enough time to process it and it left me with some bigger questions that never got answered. One of the things that Sager did well though was the characters; they were all very interesting and he made sure I didn't trust anyone at all. Overall, not my favourite Sager book, but definitely up there as a brilliantly written thriller.

2. An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green (re-read) ★★★★.5

For those who don't know, I am a huge Vlogbrothers fan, and have been since I saw one of their videos in 2009/2010. I've read all of John Green's books and I first read this book by Hank when it was originally released. I decided it was time to re-read it so I could finally finish off this duology. This is Hank Green's debut novel and it's an Adult/New Adult sci-fi following twenty-three-year-old April May and the day the Carls appeared. Roaming through New York City at three AM, she stumbles across a giant sculpture. Delighted by its appearance and craftsmanship - like a ten-foot-tall Transformer wearing a suit of samurai armour - April and her best friend, Andy, make a video with it, which Andy uploads to YouTube. The next day, April wakes up to a viral video and a new life. News quickly spreads that there are Carls in dozens of cities around the world - from Beijing to Buenos Aires - and April, as their first documentarian, finds herself at the centre of an intense international media spotlight. Seizing the opportunity to make her mark on the world, April now has to deal with the consequences her new particular brand of fame has on her relationships, her safety, and her own identity. And all eyes are on April to figure out not just what the Carls are, but what they want from us.

I gave this book a 4 star when I first read it, but on re-read I've decided to raise the star rating. Hank Green is a brilliant writer. This book is like another Ready Player One, with the clues and easter eggs, but it's also such an interesting commentary on fame and how social media is used to change both people and ideas. April May is an unlikable character and, weirdly, I like that about her. She's very up front about making bad decisions and making good decisions for all the wrong reasons. Her friends are incredible and I love the characters of Robin, Andy, and Miranda; it's strange though because we only ever see them from the perspective of April and she's so focused on herself that it's amazing we see much of how interesting these side characters are (which I think is testament to Hank Green's writing). I love the puzzles and clues within the Dream, and I like that the mystery of the Carls isn't something easy and wrapped up. The fact that the Carls themselves are present, but not really the focus of the story really emphasises the books focus on humanity rather than aliens.  It's also worth saying that Hank Green is also not afraid to go there with his characters (see Chapter Twenty-Three). I appreciated the diversity the book included too.

In the final 100 pages, I couldn't put the book down because so much was happening. The pacing was amazing, and the scenes that showed the videos and livestreams made me feel as though I was really there. Overall, this is a brilliant addition to the sci-fi genre and I highly recommend it for fans of Ready Player One.

3. The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager ★.5

This was the only book I had left by Riley Sager that I hadn't read yet so I thought I'd finish off his backlist and catch-up. However, I'm sad to say that I was sorely disappointed by this one. In this adult thriller, we follow Casey Fletcher, a recently widowed actress trying to escape a streak of bad press, who has retreated to the peace and quiet of her family’s lake house in Vermont. Armed with a pair of binoculars and several bottles of liquor, she passes the time watching Tom and Katherine Royce, the glamorous couple who live in the house across the lake. They make for good viewing - a tech innovator, Tom is rich; and a former model, Katherine is gorgeous. One day on the lake, Casey saves Katherine from drowning, and the two strike up a budding friendship. But the more they get to know each other - and the longer Casey watches - it becomes clear that Katherine and Tom’s marriage is not as perfect and placid as it appears. When Katherine suddenly vanishes, Casey becomes consumed with finding out what happened to her. 

Okay, where to start with this one? The first thing I'll say is that the writing is still good despite the plot. I like Sager's writing a lot, although I've only ever loved two of his books. I also liked the isolated lake setting and the descriptions of the area. However, that's probably the only good thing I do have to say. The majority of the plot in this one was quite boring; it was just a lot of Casey sitting, drinking, spying (very Woman in the Window vibes), and not really anything else. Casey herself is quite an unlikable, but equally boring character, and her unreliable narration wasn't really handled in the best way (especially because it linked to one of the major plot points of the book that I guessed quite early on). However, the thing that really dragged this book down for me was the supernatural aspect. One of the most interesting parts of reading a thriller is the guessing as a reader, but can you really guess literally anything if something supernatural comes in out of nowhere? It completely changed the genre of the book and it absolutely isn't what I read Sager's books for. In fact, his toying with the supernatural is one of the reasons I loved Home Before Dark so much, but in this book, it felt a bit cheap and very unrealistic. Disregarding that aspect, the twists weren't great and I would've been much more interested if it had gone in a more realistic direction. Unfortunately, this wasn't for me, but if you're looking for a more supernatural thriller then you could always try this one. I'll be picking up Sager's next book, but only after reading the reviews this time.

4. Buffy, Volume 3: From Beneath You by Jordie Bellaire ★★★

This is the third volume in the Buffy reboot comic series by Jordie Bellaire. If you read my reviews of the first two volumes, you'll know that I adored the art in the first volume, but then they changed artist for the second volume and I didn't like it at all. Unfortunately, this still has the same art problems I had with the second volume, so that really dragged it down for me. The character's expressions all looked goofy (even in serious scenes), and it was sometimes impossible to tell which character was meant to be who. When Anya turned up, I didn't even recognise her. The story itself is a bit weird and jarring, but I'm not mad about the direction it's going in. One thing this series was always going to struggle with is re-imagining characters that we know so well from the show, so it's hard to tell when someone does something out of characters, if it's intentional or a mistake. I'm going to read the Hellmouth crossover with Angel, but I'm not 100% sure that I'm going to continue this series overall sadly. I adore Buffy, but this series just doesn't have the same vibes as the show that I know and love.

5. Angel, Volume 2: City of Demons by Bryan Edward Hill ★★★★

I'm happy and surprised to say that I'm really enjoying the Angel reboot series far more than the Buffy one. Although not a whole lot happened in this volume, it was still very enjoyable. I really like seeing Gunn and Fred's characters and how they interest with Spike. Gunn's backstory is actually more interesting than it was in the original show. I also really like the role Wolfram & Hart are playing. And, oh my god, we get to see my favourite character of all time from Angel, which is of course, Lorne. Overall, this was a nice addition to the series and I much prefer the artists in this one.

6. Buffy & Angel: Hellmouth by Jordie Bellaire ★★

This is a crossover event in the Buffy/Angel reboot series and oh boy did this fall flat. Not only did a whole lot of this not make any sense at all, we had the same art problem as previous issues where I couldn't tell who anyone was in the final fight. The Big Bad was a completely random two-dimensional evil and nothing like the Big Bad's of the TV show; there was no depth and no overall motive or point. Also, nothing really happened in this volume, it was just Buffy and Angel travelling through the Hellmouth and then a few pages of fighting. Also, starting a multiverse when you haven't even established the current characters and universe yet - just why? Is Bellaire already bored with the wealth of characters and new backstories she has to play with already? Honestly, the whole thing was kind of a mess and it's actually put me off continuing this series, which I'm really disappointed about.

7. The Greek Myths by Robert Graves ★★★.5

The Greek Myths was originally written by Robert Graves in 1955 and his version and commentary on the Greek Myths still holds up to this day. This is a compendium of short stories of the Greek Myths and each myth is presented in the voice of a narrator writing under the Antonines with citations of the classical sources, making it a very easy read for someone new to the myths.

While I knew a lot of the myths thanks to popular culture and retellings, it was very interesting to read Graves' tellings of the original stories. It was very easy to read and enjoyable to learn about so many of the myths that I hadn't really heard about. My main issue with the Greek Myths themselves is how confusing they often are, with names being used interchangeably and the timeline not being obvious. However, I think this a good introduction to the stories, but I probably wouldn't recommend reading them all back-to-back as I did, because it did become confusing and slightly repetitive at times. It also doesn't have many details in the narrative itself. The main takeaway from this book is that Zeus was a terrible being and so many of the stories you think you know probably have different endings than you expect. Overall, an enjoyable read, and I'd like to read more versions of the myths that have more detail and narrative flow. .

8. A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green ★★★★.5

This is the sequel and final book in sci-fi duology called The Carls. As you know, I re-read the first book earlier this month and adored it again on re-read. I'm happy to say that the sequel also lived up to the hype. I won't talk about the blurb as it would definitely spoil the first book. However, we do pick up a few months after the previous book ended and we get to follow multiple characters' points of view. I loved how much more we got to see of previous side characters in this one. Miranda's point-of-view was especially interesting and I always wanted to get back to her story, especially when we got some epic plot twists that I didn't see coming. Andy's development was also incredible, and the psychology behind him and Carl's influence was very well done. Hank Green is so good at writing a story that actually means something and resonates with the world and people who reads his books without sounding like he's only doing it to sound good; you can tell he actually cares about the topics he writes about, whether it's race, the impact of social media, or global warming. The ending and climax were epic and I couldn't stop reading when I reached the final 100 pages. This was heartbreaking yet heart-warming, and a beautifully written novel that deserves the love it gets. I do think I preferred the first one in some respects, but honestly they're on pretty even footing with which one I prefer overall. Definitely pick this up if you enjoyed the first book.

 9. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr ★★★★

I remember when this book was incredibly popular on Booktube in about 2015 and everyone was raving about it. This is an historical fiction set during the Second World War, following a blind French girl named Marie-Laure, and an orphan German boy called Werner who joins the Hitler Youth. Marie-Laure lives in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where her father works as the master of the locks. Her father builds a perfect miniature of their Paris neighbourhood so she can memorise it by touch and navigate the real streets with her feet and cane. When she is twelve, the German Nazis occupy Paris and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo on the Brittany coast, where Marie-Laure’s agoraphobic reclusive great-uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel. In a mining town in Germany, the orphan Werner Pfennig grows up with his younger sister, Jutta, both enchanted by a crude radio they find that brings them news and stories from places they have never seen or imagined. Werner becomes an master at building and fixing these crucial new radios, a talent that wins him a place at an elite and brutal military academy and, ultimately, makes him a highly specialised tracker of the Resistance. The story Illuminates the ways, against all odds, that people try to be good to one another.

This was a haunting yet beautifully written story. I thought this would end up reading very slowly, but it was quite a quick read and my intrigue was always high throughout. I love the puzzle boxes that Marie-Laure's father always left her, and I adored her uncle and their relationship. I also felt like the representation of her blindness was very well done. Not once was it viewed as something that needed to be fixed or changed; she was able to navigate the world in such clever ways. Meanwhile, Werner's story was fascinating. You can see how young German boys were taught and brutalised to believe their way was the right way. Seeing young children speaking out and seeing that certain things were just wrong was amazing to see and Frederick's story was absolutely heartbreaking. The alternating chapters also really kept me hooked and I was constantly wanting to go to the past or the future to find out what would happen next. Given that this is a World War II story, I knew the ending would be sad and, while it was, it was also poignant and heartwarming to see what happens to these characters even after the war itself. This was probably one of the best historical fiction books I've read in a long time, especially because it felt like the war wasn't the main focus of the story - the main focus was the characters and how the impacted different parts of their lives.  

10. The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham ★★★

This is a classic sci-fi/dystopian that I've been meaning to read for so many years. When a freak cosmic event renders most of the Earth's population blind, Bill Masen - one of the lucky few to keep his sight - finds himself trapped in a London jammed with sightless mobs who prey on those who can still see. But another menace stalks blind and sighted alike. With nobody to stop them, the Triffids - walking carnivorous plants with lethal stingers - rise up as humanity stumbles and falls.

I definitely enjoyed the first half of this book far more than the latter. The first 100 pages or so really sets the scene and draws the reader in with so many questions. The notion of most of the world becoming blind is terrifying and Wyndham doesn't shy away from the brutal reality of what could happen. The triffids themselves interested me the most though, which is also why I enjoyed the first half of the book where we were finding out so much more about them. I will say that this book is incredible for its' time; this is truly one of the first dystopian/apocalyptic books that shows not just the disaster, but also the aftermath and how people have to live with the new world. I was pretty disappointed with the amount of sexism throughout, but given that it was written in the 1950's, it's not altogether surprising, sadly. The ending was also a little anticlimactic for me, but overall, it's a well written classic that I'd recommend to sci-fi fans.

11. Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton ★★★★

When I heard Tom Felton had brought our an autobiography, I really wanted to pick it up. I always find the lives of child actors interesting because it's so drastically different from my own life. From Borrower to wizard, Tom Felton's adolescence was anything but ordinary. His early rise to fame saw him catapulted into the limelight aged just twelve when he landed the iconic role of Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films. Speaking with candour and his own trademark humour, Tom shares his experience of growing up on screen and as part of the wizarding world for the very first time. He tells all about his big break, what filming was really like and the lasting friendships he made during ten years as part of the franchise, as well as the highs and lows of fame and the reality of navigating adult life after filming finished. 

I really appreciated the honesty that came through in this book. Felton doesn't shy away from the more serious and darker moments, nor the ones that might not paint him in the best light. He has some wonderful messages about mental health, healing from substance abuse, feminism, and dealing with fame at a young age. He talks about everyone with such respect and his early acting career was incredibly interesting to read about. I particularly enjoyed hearing about how so many adult actors helped the child actors throughout the films (liked Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, and Maggie Smith). I do wish we could've heard more stories from his tie acting, but I appreciate that Felton can only share so much. Overall, this was wonderfully heartwarming book and well worth a read if you're a fan of this actor.

12. Havenfall by Sara Holland ★★★★

I am happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised by this YA fantasy. In all honesty, I hadn't heard much about it, but I have read Everless by the same author and just found it okay. This book is set deep in the mountains of Colorado where the Inn at Havenfall, a sanctuary that connects ancient worlds - each with their own magic - together. For generations, the inn has protected all who seek refuge within its walls, and any who disrupt the peace can never return. For Maddie Morrow, summers at the inn are more than a chance to experience this magic first-hand. Havenfall is an escape from reality, where her mother sits on death row accused of murdering Maddie's brother. It's where Maddie fell in love with handsome Fiorden soldier Brekken. And it's where one day she hopes to inherit the role of Innkeeper from her beloved uncle. But this summer, the impossible happens - a dead body is found, shattering everything the inn stands for. With Brekken missing, her uncle gravely injured, and a dangerous creature on the loose, Maddie suddenly finds herself responsible for the safety of everyone in Havenfall. She'll do anything to uncover the truth, even if it means working together with an alluring new staffer Taya, who seems to know more than she's letting on. As dark secrets are revealed about the inn itself, one thing becomes clear to Maddie - no one can be trusted, and no one is safe.

I was hesitant at the start of the book because it begins with a textbook-like description of the 4 realms that felt a little bit like info-dumping. However, the worlds were fascinating enough that and the writing was compelling from the first proper chapter that I was happy to forgive that. The worldbuilding throughout the book was beautifully done. We don't even go to these worlds, yet I feel like I can picture them all clearly. The inn itself as a setting was also described perfectly and every time I picked up the book to read it, I felt the cosiness and atmosphere that made me feel at home. Also the whodunnit mystery aspect of the book worked well with the small location. Maddie herself was only a slightly frustrating teenage character; the majority of her choices made sense, and the ones that didn't felt more like a teenager messing up than the sometimes heavy-handed mistakes we see a of of YA characters making. I did see the twist coming about 150 pages into the book, but the ending was so well done that I didn't mind at all. I loved Graylin and Willow, it felt like I'd known them for years by the end of the book. One thing that did frustrate me a little was that we heard about all these wonderful fantasy worlds, but we didn't get to see any of them. I know that's kind of the point, but it also felt a bit teasing to describe them all and never see them. This was definitely a book I didn't expect much from, but I'm probably going to buy the sequel immediately and read it. A fantastic and very unique YA fantasy with believable situations and characters, and a beautiful atmosphere.

13. The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker ★★★★

I'm happy to say that this book took me by surprise. I'd heard relatively good things about it, but I wasn't sure if the genre would be for me. This historical fantasy primarily follows two characters: Chava and Ahmad. Chava is a golem, a creature made of clay, brought to life by a disgraced rabbi who dabbles in dark Kabbalistic magic. When her master, the husband who commissioned her, dies at sea on the voyage from Poland, she is unmoored and adrift as the ship arrives in New York in 1899. Ahmad is a djinni, a being of fire, born in the ancient Syrian desert. Trapped in an old copper flask by a Bedouin wizard centuries ago, he is released accidentally by a tinsmith in a Lower Manhattan shop. Though he is no longer imprisoned, Ahmad is not entirely free – an unbreakable band of iron binds him to the physical world. The Golem and the Djinni become unlikely friends whose tenuous attachment challenges their opposing natures.

Helene Wecker is a fantastic writer and weaves a complicated and beautiful story; it's a very gentle, thoughtful book focused on people and their natures. Because of this it's a very character-driven story, so if you enjoy that then definitely look into this book. The way Wecker explores Chava's nature and understanding of herself, with the contract to Ahmad's self-assured almost arrogance works incredibly well. I adored the backstory we got from multiple characters that slowly interweaved their stories together. The side characters were just as interesting and well-developed as the two main characters and I found myself loving and hating many of them in equal measure. I also loved Wecker's exploration of historic New York and the lives of immigrants (especially the Jewish and Syrian people) at the turn of the twentieth century and how their cultures lived. I will say that the ending was slightly weaker than the rest of the book, but it was still good overall. Honestly, this book just surprised me so much and I'm really happy I ended up picking it up this month. 

14. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller ★★★

This is definitely one of the most beloved books in the online book community and, while I did enjoy it, I think I actually preferred Circe by the same author. The Song of Achilles is the retelling of the Greek myth of Achilles, but particularly relating to relationship with Patroclus. Patroclus is an awkward young prince that has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. Despite their differences, Achilles befriends the shamed prince, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles's mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, Achilles must go to war in distant Troy and fulfil his destiny. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus goes with him, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.

This mostly follows the romance between these two characters and I will say that I was invested in the relationship and loved seeing how it was built over time. This is probably why I enjoyed the first 200 pages of this a lot more than the latter part of the book; seeing the relationship build was a lot more interesting to me than the fighting and war scenes which I found became slightly repetitive. It was wonderful to see Miller actually show the relationship to be romantic, as it's occasionally depicted. Patroclus was such an awkward yet sweet character, and that definitely make it hard to read near the end of the book where we see Achilles start to change. I especially loved how they saved the women during the war and their friendships. Honestly, not a lot happens throughout this story, but I kind of enjoyed the slow pace and learning about the Gods of the past. I think one reason this didn't get a very high rating from me was because everyone always says they sobbed at the end of the book, but because I already knew the ending, it really didn't hit me as hard as other people. The ending is, of course, heartbreaking, but I still found it to be the weakest part of the book as a whole, and I feel like it was banking on the heartbreak to pull it up. Overall, a well-written and beautiful tale, but I think I just enjoyed the story of Circe more.

15. Final Girls by Mira Grant ★★★

I adored Mira Grant's Into the Drowning Deep, and I also love all of Seanan McGuire's other works (if you didn't know, Mira Grant is Seanan McGuire's pen name for her horror books). This adult horror novella sounded so like Black Mirror that I had to pick it up. Dr. Jennifer Webb has invented proprietary virtual reality technology that purports to heal psychological wounds by running clients through scenarios straight out of horror movies and nightmares. In a carefully controlled environment, with a medical cocktail running through their veins, sisters might develop a bond they’ve been missing their whole lives—while running from the bogeyman through a simulated forest. But…can real change come so easily? Esther Hoffman doubts it. Esther has spent her entire journalism career debunking pseudoscience, after phoney regression therapy ruined her father’s life. She’s determined to unearth the truth about Dr. Webb’s budding company. Dr. Webb’s willing to let her, of course, for reasons of her own. What better advertisement could she get than that of a convinced sceptic? But Esther’s not the only one curious about how this technology works. Enter real-world threats just as frightening as those created in the lab. Dr. Webb and Esther are at odds, but they may also be each other’s only hope of survival.

I ended up giving this 3 stars but it's probably closer to 2.5. As always, Grant's writing was brilliant and I do think she excels at showing snapshots of people's lives so clearly. I really loved the concept and I enjoyed where the story was going, however, I really feel like this would've benefited from being a whole novel rather than a novella. It felt like a huge section was missing from the middle, with them going from virtual reality back into the real world very quickly. I also wished we'd seen more of Jennifer and Esther's friendship growing. The zombie aspect was a little bit boring to me too; unfortunately it's just not something that really interests me in media as much as it used to. I also felt like the 'villain' was equal parts stereotypical and unbelievable. I don't want to say too much more with it being such a short book, but if you're a fan of Black Mirror and zombie horror then you'd probably enjoy this one.

16. Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie ★★★★★

I am happy to say that I enjoyed this much just as much, if not more than the first book in the series. This is the sequel to The Blade Itself and the second book in the First Law series, primarily following Glokta, Jezal, and Logen. However, in this book we get more time with a few other characters as well. I won't go too much into the plot of this one as I don't want to spoil anything. I still love Glokta's sarcastic yet intelligent commentary and the fact that he was so separate from the other characters in this one made his chapters very interesting. I particularly enjoyed seeing his scheming pay off. West became even more intriguing in this one and seeing all the battles from his perspective was equal parts fascinating and frustrating. I hated Prince Ladisla throughout and I agreed with everything West felt on him. 

I will say that Bayaz's group was definitely the slowest plot-wise and not that much happened altogether except for character development, which definitely made their journey worth it. I'm very interested to see if that character development actually sticks after this book too after what happened near the end. I will say that I really distrust Bayaz and I'm really interested to see what his story really is. One thing I missed in this book was Ardee - we just didn't see enough of her! I'm hoping that'll change in the sequel though. A character that really surprised me in this book was Dogman; he's genuinely become one of my favourite characters.

Abercrombie does a brilliant job of showing the intricacies of the politics in his world and how people interest with one another. I particularly like that we don't get the perspective of the people in charge, but rather those alongside it. And, similar to the first book, he also doesn't shy away from the brutalities and moral greyness of his 'heroes'. He's also great at worldbuilding overall without bogging down the book in description. Overall, this was an incredible addition to this world and I'm already very excited to pick up the final book in this trilogy. Abercrombie is fast becoming a favourite author..  

17. Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers ★★★

I've had this book on my TBR for years; it was so popular on Booktube in 2012. I'm happy to say that I did enjoy it overall, but it was a very middle-of-the-road YA fantasy for me and I think it suffers from me reading it after reading so many other YA books from this era. In this one, we follow seventeen-year-old Ismae who escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts - and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others. Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany - where she finds herself woefully under prepared - not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

To be fair, I think this book is actually fantastic for its time and it thankfully doesn't have a lot of the tropes that 2012 YA fantasy were abundant in (i.e., love triangle). However, the storyline itself was quite predictable in every way. I knew exactly how the romance would go, who was behind the plot with the Duchess, and even some of the things about Mortain about halfway through the book. The two main characters were interesting. The main love interest was actually done very well, but I wish him and Ismae could have spent more time together talking about things other than politics to get to know each other better. The romance itself was well done though and definitely didn't feel like insta-love, which I always appreciate. Ismae herself was a good character, although I wish she didn't withhold information as often as she did, because it just caused inconveniences in the plot that could have been obviously avoided. The worldbuilding was probably the weakest part of the book as a whole; I struggled to get a good picture of where things were in the world and who certain people were in relation to each other. As I said above, this book mostly suffers from me having read a lot of similar YA fantasy books, so it just didn't feel like anything new; however, I think it's a great book for anyone new to YA fantasy or someone who wants a fun read in the genre without expecting anything too groundbreaking.

18. Phoenix Flame by Sara Holland ★★.5

This is the sequel to Havenfall, that I read earlier this month, and the final book in the duology. After finishing Havenfall I knew I needed to pick up the sequel relatively quickly because I really enjoyed the story and wanted to tie up the short series. However, as you can tell by my star rating, I was a bit disappointed in this one. As normal, I won't say too much about the synopsis as it would spoil the first book. Unfortunately, I feel like this book really suffered from being too short. There were so many characters that we barely got to spend time with and I felt like we just skipped from one plot point to the next with very little breathing room. I wanted to see so much more of Taya and especially Marcus since he was so absent in the first book. Also, we have so little time with Maddie's parents that all their relationships just felt very weird. I loved that we got to see another world, but then the magic systems never felt fully explained - how did they recreate a whole suit of armour? And the book ended with a ton of unanswered questions - what happened in Solaria with Taya? What happened to Brekken? Where was SP keeping her mom if humans can't go to other worlds? And the romance just ended up feeling pointless because it kind of went nowhere? The book would've been pretty much the same without it. Overall, this duology is such a promising concept and I really enjoyed the first book. However, it probably would've either been better as a standalone, or a more extended series where the world was gradually built up over time. Sad to say I didn't enjoy this one more. 

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And those were the books I read in March! Let me know if you've read any of these books and what you thought of them. Hope you all have a good April.

April TBR | 2023 Feat. Orilium Magical Readathon

You'll notice that I didn't make a March TBR because I was travelling for work and then got COVID, but I'm very excited to get back to TBRs and show you what I want to read in April. Unfortunately, I will once again be travelling for work so that will definitely interrupt my reading in the first week. However, as most of you will know, April also means it's time for the Magical Readathon (hosted by G from BookRoast) which is back again, and one of my favourite readathons. I will be trying to fulfil all 14 prompts so this is a bit of a longer TBR and we'll just hope I manage it. I've been reading a lot this year so I'm hoping I'll be able to get to all of these books. My main plan is to read some series to completion this month and knock off some books that have been on my TBR a while.

So, without further ado, here's my April TBR and the prompts they fulfil:

1. Kill Joy by Holly Jackson (Art of Illusion - Match clothes to a book colour)

2. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (Inscription - A book from your highest shelf) 

3. Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson (Restoration - Cover your eyes, shuffle, and point)

4. As Good as Dead by Holly Jackson (Artificery - Start with a snack)

5. The Bridge by Bill Konigsberg (Spells & Incantations - Target book length of 389-415 pages)

6. Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust (Elemental Studies - Flowers on the cover)

7. Only on the Weekends by Dean Atta (Conjuration - A book recommended by a friend)

8. Elder Race by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Psionics & Divination - Clouds on the cover)

9. Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie (Animal Studies - Flip a coin for a fiction or non-fiction book)

10. A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas (Alchemy - A book with a metal in the name)

11. Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers (Shapeshifting - Wolf on the cover, title or author name)

12. The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington (Demonology - A book compared to your favourite)

13. The Echo of Things to Come by James Islington (Astronomy - Two letter Es in the title)

14. The Light of All That Falls by James Islington (Lore - A book with a map)

So that's my TBR for April! Let me know what you're reading and if you've read any of these books. Also, are you participating in any readathons this month? Let me know if you are!

February Wrap-Up | 2023

Welcome to my slightly late February Wrap-Up! As I'm writing this, I just got back from a work trip to Montreal (which was both unexpected and exciting). However, that means I haven't read much in the last week. I've also come back with COVID, so I sadly won't be making my usual March TBR post this month since I'm not really well enough to commit to anything. I might make a short TBR later in the month though if people want me to. I will say that I'm incredibly happy with how much I read in February despite it being a shorter month. Overall, I read 18 books which totalled 6969 pages. So, without further ado, here are my reviews and ratings for the month!

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1. Murder on the Christmas Express by Alexandra Benedict ★★★

I know it's not Christmas, but my mum lent me this adult mystery/crime book recently so I thought I'd better read it before next Christmas. This book has: Eighteen passengers. Seven stops. One killer. In the early hours of Christmas Eve, the sleeper train to the Highlands is derailed, along with the festive plans of its travellers. With the train stuck in snow in the middle of nowhere, a killer stalks its carriages, picking off passengers one by one. Those who sleep on the sleeper train may never wake again. Can former Met detective Roz Parker find the killer before they kill again?

So, this book was an incredibly quick read. I read it in one evening and it was compelling enough that I wanted to find out who the killer was. I will say that the cover and description of the book are slightly misleading, as I expected this to be far more of a cosy mystery with Agatha Christie vibes. While it partially was that, it also covered some very difficult topics unexpectedly and I didn't expect some of the graphic descriptions; they felt a bit jarring and out-of-place with the rest of the story. To add to that I will say huge trigger warnings for rape, sexual assault, PTSD flashbacks, difficult childbirth, and death of a parent. For me, the sheer amount of modern-day references also pulled me out of the story - maybe that's just a me thing, but when TikTok and brand names are mentioned on every other page, I find it harder to immerse myself in the story.

The characters were quite interesting. Roz was a good detective, but I found her snappy retorts occasionally irritating, even when I understood where they were coming from. The rest of the characters weren't really developed enough and I sometimes struggled to remember who was related to who in moments when everyone was talking. I did enjoy seeing Roz's relationship with her daughter and daughter-in-law, and when she met someone on the train, it definitely became more interesting and I liked their relationship. Another great thing about this book is that I absolutely did not see the multiple twists coming at all and I'm very happy with how the book ended in that way. I really appreciated that even the red herrings were played out to have their own mysteries attached to them as well. Overall, this was a fun murder mystery and I'd definitely read more from this author, but I'd tread cautiously if any of the trigger warnings apply to you!

2. The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting by Evanna Lynch ★★★★

For those who don't know, Evanna Lynch has long been viewed as a role model for people recovering from anorexia, as the story of her casting as Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films grew to almost mythic proportions - a tale of how she faced disordered eating as a young girl, found solace in a beloved book series, and several years later landed the part of her favourite character. But that is not the whole story. This is a non-fiction memoir about Evanna's life and her journey with anorexia and how it affected her life. Evanna confronts all the complexities and contradictions within herself and reveals how she began to conquer her self-hate while facing her fear of leaving the neatness and safety of girlhood for the unpredictable journey of being a woman.

I always find it hard to review memoirs as I feel like I'm reviewing someone's life, and I didn't really know what to expect going into it, but Lynch has such a wonderful voice that comes through her writing, making the entire book incredibly interesting to read. She tells the truthful and gritty aspects of having anorexia, how it affected her own mental health and her family, and how people are treated that suffer with the disorder. If you've heard of Lynch's tale before, she clarifies in this book that her recovery hasn't been a miracle that was cured by Harry Potter, far from it; it's been a journey that she's undertaken every day of her life. She also handles the delicate subject matter incredibly well, never mentioning numbers and only talking about habits when their pertinent to the story itself. I will say that if you've ever struggled with anorexia or a similar eating disorder then maybe give this book a miss if you think you might find it triggering (Lynch even says this early on in the book). However, I think this was a very well written and brave memoir to publish and if you enjoy that genre then I recommend picking this up.

3. The History of Bees by Maja Lunde ★★★.5

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would. This is a mixture of historical, contemporary, and dystopian fiction. We follow three generations of beekeepers from the past, present, and future, weaving a spellbinding story of their relationship to the bees - and to their children and one another - against the backdrop of an urgent, global crisis. England, 1851. William is a biologist and seed merchant, who sets out to build a new type of beehive-one that will give both him and his children honour and fame; United States, 2007. George is a beekeeper and fights an uphill battle against modern farming, but hopes that his son can be their salvation; and China, 2098. Tao hand paints pollen onto the fruit trees now that the bees have long since disappeared. When Tao's young son is taken away by the authorities after a tragic accident - and is kept in the dark about his whereabouts and condition - she sets out on a gruelling journey to find out what happened to him.

This book is translated so it's often difficult to talk about the language used in translated works as I know the author's intention might not be the same; however, I found the writing to be beautiful and so many descriptions stuck with me. I especially liked hearing about the world of 2098. I've also discovered that I love dystopian books that explain and show the mystery of how the world got to where it is in the future, and this book did the same thing. Following three different beekeepers from different time periods and laying the mystery of  how they are all connected really kept me interested throughout. However, the biggest issue with this book was that some of the storylines and characters were far more interesting than others to me. While that meant I was intrigued to keep reading so I would get to a character I enjoyed, it also meant some chapters (however short) still dragged. Tao's story was easily the most interesting, while William and George's only had small moments that I enjoyed. Overall this book is very reminiscent of Station Eleven; less about the disaster and more about how people live now that things have changed. As I said, I really liked this book, but I wish I'd enjoyed all the characters equally as that would've pulled up the rating. 

4. The Secret Diary of Sarah Thomas by Sarah Thomas ★★★

This was an unexpected book that I didn't actually buy for myself. My brother bought me this for Christmas last year so I thought I'd pick it up. It's a non-fiction diary that was found from 1860-1865 and it follows the life of Sarah Thomas - a woman living in a Cotswold Market Town.

As this is a diary, it's again, difficult to rate, but the social commentary the diary provided was incredibly interesting. It was fascinating seeing how people of Sarah's class lived in this period of time in England, and how it diverges from things we think we knew about the time period. I found it amazing to see how people struggled with their morality, religion, social life, and surprisingly, how they were aware of many situations abroad (which I didn't expect). Sarah's older brothers even emigrated to Australia, which I hadn't expected in this time period. This is a snapshot of someone's life in a small period of history and if you're interested in learning more about life in this time, then pick this up.

5. Trial by Fire by Scott James ★★★★

I decided to pick up this True Crime book after seeing it on Books of Amber's channel. This book follows the tragedy of the Station Nightclub fire that happened in 2003. In only 90 seconds, a fire in the Station nightclub killed 100 people and injured hundreds more. It would take nearly 20 years to find out why and who was really at fault. All it took for a hundred people to die during a show by the hair metal band Great White was a sudden burst from two giant sparklers that ignited the acoustical foam lining the Station nightclub. But who was at fault? And who would pay? This being Rhode Island, the two questions wouldn't necessarily have the same answer.

In this book Scott James investigates all the central figures, including the band's manager and lead singer, the fire inspector, the maker of the acoustical foam, as well as the brothers. Drawing on firsthand accounts, interviews with many involved, and court documents, James explores the rush to judgement about what happened that left the victims and their families, whose stories he also tells, desperate for justice.

As you can imagine, this was an incredibly difficult read and heartbreaking read. However, James covers the story so well and with a lot of compassion. He also delves into every area of the story, revealing things that were previously unknown and shed more light on who was responsible. I will warn that this book talks in great detail about the fire, the injuries, and the deaths that occurred, so if you don't feel like you can read that, then maybe skip this book. It also references a video that was taken at the time of the fire, which is still viewable on YouTube; the video is graphic and I recommend viewing with caution. Overall, this book was incredibly well researched and written, but it was also a very difficult read.

6. Angel Volume 1: Being Human by Bryan Edward Hill ★★★★

This is the first volume in the Buffy Reboot spin-off graphic novel series, Angel. I had pretty low expectations of this after reading the second volume of Buffy last year and rating it very low. However, I'm happy to say that this was actually really interesting. I liked seeing a different side to Angel's backstory, and I absolutely love that Fred has already entered the story this early on. I'm excited to see where this series is going to go after that ending too. Honestly, I was going to give up on this series if this hadn't been good, so I'm happy to say I'm going to continue now.

7. Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree ★★★★★

You've all probably heard of this book by now. It was a self-published cosy fantasy that got picked up by a publisher last year. Similar to what Becky Chambers does for sci-fi, Travis Baldree does for fantasy; sweet, cost, and heartwarming slice-of-life in a different world. Viv, the orc barbarian is worn out after decades of packing steel and raising hell, so she cashes out of the warrior’s life with one final score. A forgotten legend, a fabled artifact, and an unreasonable amount of hope lead her to the streets of Thune, where she plans to open the first coffee shop the city has ever seen. However, her dreams of a fresh start pulling shots instead of swinging swords are hardly a sure bet. Old frenemies and Thune’s shady underbelly may just upset her plans. To finally build something that will last, Viv will need some new partners and a different kind of resolve.

This book was adorable and the low stakes were exactly what I needed after reading some darker and heavier books this month. The characters were all so unique; I loved how the different races were portrayed and how they weren't all stereotypes and what we'd normally expect to see. For such a short book, I could also picture the world so well; Baldree did a great job with the worldbuilding. The small village was adorable and I loved everyone that lived there. It was great seeing how these characters built a coffee shop in a fantasy world, and the modern-day ideas they had to think of to get it up and running like marketing. The LGBTQ+ rep was also lovely to see and the romance was incredibly cute. And of course I couldn't write this review without mentioning the wonderful Amity. Overall, this was adorable and if you're a fan of Becky Chambers or just wanted a low stakes, cute book, then pick this up.

8. Arcanum Unbounded by Brandon Sanderson ★★★★★

I am so nearly caught up with all of Brandon Sanderson's book! This is a collection of short stories set in the Cosmere (NOTE: Each short story has a warning at the start as to which other Brandon Sanderson book you should read first. Do listen to them or they will spoil entire series for you). I loved this far more than I thought I would. I became so invested in the new worlds, and I fell back in love with some older characters. Sanderson will always be a favourite author and I love seeing the Cosmere come together.

There are nine stories in this collection so I won't talk about them in detail or this review would be huge and I also won't talk about plot as some of these stories are so short it would spoil them. However, I loved The Emperor's Soul and all of the characters in that - especially Shai and Gaotona. The magic was so interesting and was very reminiscent of some of the magic in The Stormlight Archives. I can't believe I hadn't read Mistborn: Secret History until now; it blew my mind and makes me want to re-read the first era of Mistborn all over again. White Sand was a lot more interesting that I initially thought it would be, so I'll need to pick up those graphic novels when I can. Overall, these were brilliant additions to the universe of the Cosmere, and definitely must-reads if you want to know all the connecting details of Sanderson's books.

9. Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes? by Holly Bourne ★★

If you've been following me for a while, you'll know that I love Holly Bourne's books (both YA and Adult). Unfortunately, this was the first book by this author that I didn't really enjoy. In this one, we're welcomed to Camp Reset, a summer camp with a difference. A place offering a shot at “normality” for Olive, a girl on the edge, and for the new friends she never expected to make – who each have their own reasons for being there. Luckily Olive has a plan to solve all their problems. But how do you fix the world when you can’t fix yourself?

So, firstly I want to say that, as always with Holly Bourne, the writing was great. Absolutely no problems with that. She also tackles big mental health issues in a careful and realistic way, and no-one is ever magically 'cured' by the end of the book, which I really appreciate. The biggest issue I had with this book was the main character. I understand that she has a mental health condition that means she does terrible things, but honestly I really struggled to ever see her do something good because she was thinking of others. Even by the end of the book, although she has a breakthrough about herself, she doesn't seem to really care about anyone. The other issue (that is most likely a me problem) I had was that I found Olive to be very unrelatable. Normally, I find Bourne's main characters to be so realistic and down-to-earth, but hearing a girl complain that every boy falls in love with her because she's so beautiful gets boring very quickly. Similarly, I am very over the trope of 'no girls like me. I only get on with boys'. Even though Olive did make some female friends, she did also burn some of those bridges pretty quickly. Also, her treatment of Lewis was absolutely awful and I wished we'd seen more of him in the aftermath of what happened. Mostly, I think this book and this character weren't for me; I'm sure others will get more out of it than I did, but it's definitely not my favourite Holly Bourne book.

10. A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers ★★★★★

I love Becky Chamber's books in the Wayfarers series, so I decided to try the first book in her sci-fi novella duology. Centuries before, robots of Panga gained self-awareness, laid down their tools, wandered, en masse into the wilderness, never to be seen again. They faded into myth and urban legend. Now the life of the tea monk who tells this story is upended by the arrival of a robot, there to honour the old promise of checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of "what do people need?" is answered. But the answer to that question depends on who you ask, and how. They will need to ask it a lot. 

As with all Becky Chambers' books, this was like a warm hug. It's a cosy sci-fi that explores some of the big questions with heartwarming answers. I can't get over how small, simple sentences can stick with me for days after reading her books. The writing was beautiful and I adored the notion of a tea monk and what they do for people. Even in a novella, Chambers' somehow manages intricate worldbuilding that answers all the questions I have, while simultaneously making me want twelve more books exploring the world. Dex, a non-binary monk, and Mosscap, a forever curious robot, are such contrasting characters that compliment each other so well. Mosscap was adorable and their relationship with Dex was so sweet. If you're looking for an entry into Becky Chambers' books or just want a short, sci-fi to try, then definitely pick this up. 

11. Dread Nation by Justina Ireland ★★★★

I'd heard very mixed things about this book so I was nervous, but hopeful I would like it going in. Thankfully, I really enjoyed this book. In this YA alternate history, we follow Jane McKeene who was born two days before the dead began to walk the battlefields of Gettysburg and Chancellorsville - derailing the War Between the States and changing America forever. In this new nation, safety for all depends on the work of a few, and laws like the Native and Negro Re-education Act require certain children attend combat schools to learn to put down the dead. But there are also opportunities - and Jane is studying to become an Attendant, trained in both weaponry and etiquette to protect the well-to-do. It’s a chance for a better life for Negro girls like Jane. After all, not even being the daughter of a wealthy white Southern woman could save her from society’s expectations. But when families around Baltimore County begin to go missing, Jane is caught in the middle of a conspiracy, one that finds her in a desperate fight for her life against some powerful enemies. And the restless dead, it would seem, are the least of her problems.

After a shaky start, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. To begin with, Jane could be an irritating main character for her spur-of-the-moment decisions to speak before she thinks; however, this is definitely a problem I have with a lot of YA books, and at least in this book, her actions made a lot of sense. I also found the tone of the writing difficult to get into at the start, but I soon became used to it. The world was incredibly interesting and I found it really interesting to see zombies from the historical point of view of people that had never had never even thought about zombies previously (unlike our current culture). I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Jane and Katherine develop; it was absolutely amazing to see them towards the end of the book and how far they'd come. Gideon and the Duchess were also among some of my favourite characters. I also really liked the past chapters that show where Jane came from and her mother and Aunt Aggie. Oh, and the letters at the start of each chapter were heartbreaking and such a great addition to the book to develop a relationship that we don't see much of throughout. I will say, I 100% did not see any of the twists coming; they were incredible and added so much more emotional impact to the story. The other weirdly great thing this book had was the amount of characters that I hated: The Sheriff, the Preacher, and Miss Anderson are now all on my top worst character lists. Overall, this was a great and surprising YA book, and I'm very excited to read the sequel.

12. The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson ★★★★

And we did it. We are finally caught up with the Cosmere (excluding secret projects). This is the fourth book in Mistborn Era Two and the seventh book in the Mistborn series overall. The first book is set three hundred years after the events of the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial is now on the verge of modernity, with railroads to supplement the canals, electric lighting in the streets and the homes of the wealthy, and the first steel-framed skyscrapers racing for the clouds. Kelsier, Vin, Elend, Sazed, Spook, and the rest are now part of history - or religion. Yet even as science and technology are reaching new heights, the old magics of Allomancy and Feruchemy continue to play a role in this reborn world. Out in the frontier lands known as the Roughs, they are crucial tools for the brave men and women attempting to establish order and justice. After twenty years in the Roughs, Wax has been forced by family tragedy to return to the metropolis of Elendel. Now he must reluctantly put away his guns and assume the duties and dignity incumbent upon the head of a noble house. Or so he thinks, until he learns the hard way that the mansions and elegant tree-lined streets of the city can be even more dangerous than the dusty plains of the Roughs.

This book was very close to being another five star Brandon Sanderson. Unfortunately, I did feel like the beginning and part of the middle of the book were slower than normal and not a whole lot happened. That's literally the only thing that brought it down for me. Overall though, I adored this series. This book had a perfect ending and I'm so intrigued to see how it's going to connect to the whole Cosmere in the later series. We see so many ways in which this series connects to The Stormlight Archives and The Emperor's Soul; the Ghostbloods alone were a huge addition, especially when you see who's leading them. Character-wise, I found Wax to be more dull in this book, but I loved Marasi and Steris and their growth. And oh my god, Wayne - I loved everything about his character. Although the start of this book didn't have a whole lot happening, the ending was so impactful and made me cry. A fantastic addition to this world and I can't wait to read Mistborn Era Three when it comes out!

13. The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley ★★★

This is an adult thriller by the same author as The Guest List (which I really enjoyed) and The Hunting Party (which I gave 3 stars). This book follows Jess and she needs a fresh start. She’s broke and alone, and she’s just left her job under less than ideal circumstances. She asks her half-brother Ben if she could crash with him in his Paris apartment for a bit, and he didn’t say no. Only when she shows up – to find a very nice apartment that Ben shouldn't be able to afford – he’s not there. The longer Ben stays missing, the more Jess starts to dig into her brother’s situation, and the more questions she has. Ben’s neighbours are an eclectic bunch, and not particularly friendly. Jess may have come to Paris to escape her past, but it’s starting to look like it’s Ben’s future that’s in question.

Firstly, I just want to warn people to not read the blurb of this book on Scribd because it spoils a reveal that happens around 50% into the book, and that really annoyed me. As mentioned above, I've read a couple of Lucy Foley books before and I found this to probably be on the same level as The Hunting Party. The story itself was interesting and cleverly put together. I loved the writing and the Paris setting. I did guess a lot of plot points well before they happened though and I feel like her books would probably benefit from fewer points of view for that reason. I didn't really like the main character, but then none of the characters were particularly likeable (and I don't feel like any of them were meant to be). My main issue with this book was that I didn't feel the same edge-of-my seat tension/need to know that I had with The Guest List, and none of the reveals came as a huge shock. It was a quick to read and decent thriller, but nothing extraordinary for me.

14. A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers

This is the sequel to A Psalm for the Wild-Built and the final book in the Monk and the Robot duology. After touring the rural areas of Panga, Sibling Dex (a Tea Monk of some renown) and Mosscap (a robot sent on a quest to determine what humanity really needs) turn their attention to the villages and cities of the little moon they call home. They hope to find the answers they seek, while making new friends, learning new concepts, and experiencing the entropic nature of the universe. 

While I found this as delightful and heart-warming as the first book, it didn't feel like it added too much which is why it didn't get 5 stars; I do almost wish it had just been one larger book. Having said that, it was so charming to see Dex and Mosscap's relationship grow further while delving into the philosophy of the world. It was just lovely to read knowing the stakes were low and the ending was incredibly beautiful. I won't say too much else about the plot, since it is such a short novella, but I highly recommend this short duology to any reader.

15. Battle Royale by Koushun Takami ★★★★★ (re-read)

I first read this book in 2012 and gave it 5 stars then; I also read it in a single day because of how incredibly well-written and intense it is. You've probably heard of this book before but it's an Adult dystopian set in an alternate version of Japan, where every year a class of junior high school students are taken to a deserted island as part of a ruthless authoritarian program. They are provided arms and forced to kill one another until only one survivor is left standing. The class we follow has 42 students but we do follow some characters more than others.

Firstly, I want to say that the translator has done a fantastic job of keeping this book as tense and action-packed as the original author intended. There were definitely a few lines that felt a bit clunky, but they were few and far between. The characters are so well written. I don't think I'll hate many characters as much as I do Sakamochi and Mitsuko Souma. And I loved so many of them as well; it's amazing how Takami manages to turn these characters into real people with solid backgrounds, even when you've only known them a couple of paragraphs. It's also pretty incredibly to have 42 uniquely defined characters and ensure that the reader doesn't get them mixed up.

Because this is such a tense, thriller-type book, I don't want to say too much about the plot except that it's non-stop and amazing. There are no moments of real downtime and it means you want to constantly pick the book up again. It says I lot that I first read the book 11 years ago and yet still remembered so many moments and plot points because they stuck with me so clearly. I'll just mention that the ones that stayed with me include the early house scene, the lighthouse, and the vest. It might go without saying, but the book doesn't shy away from gore or horror so that puts you off, but the story still interests you, then you'd be better off with The Hunger Games. This will forever be a 5 star to me and easily one of my favourite books of all time.

16. Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland ★★★★.5

This is the sequel to Dread Nation and the final book in the duology. I won't say much about the plot overall since this is a sequel, but we start at pretty much the exact moment the first book ended. The second book is very different to the first, both in plot and also in the narrative. In this book we get the perspective of Katherine as well as Jane, and we lose the letters at the start of each chapter. When I realised both of those things, I honestly thought I wouldn't like this book as much, but I'm happy to say I was wrong there; I really enjoyed this book and the duology as a whole.

Justina Ireland doesn't shy away from hurting her characters and showing the trauma and the effects it has on the them. The moment with Jack and the Duchess was especially hard. Jane struggles so much throughout the book and although her choices are questionable, her decisions always made sense to me. I adored her relationship with Katherine, and it was great seeing Katherine come into her own in this book. I loved seeing her friendship with Carolina too. It's worth saying there is also so much diversity, not just with race but also with gay, asexual, and bisexual characters. She simultaneously has this diversity while not making romance a main plot point, and I really appreciated that. The action scenes with the Shamblers are incredibly well written; this is genuinely one of the first zombie books I've ever read and enjoyed.

I will say the time jump that happened was a little jarring in terms of when it happened, but it made a lot of sense to the overall story by the end. The ending was so bittersweet too, and Ireland was so clever in not making it a generic happy ending (which would've been all too easy to do). My only big issue with the book was that I still had quite a lot of unanswered questions by the ending: what happened to Rosamund? Do we ever find out the why? How much of the world is actually left? I know not all of these could've been answered, but I especially wish the first question had been. Overall, this is brilliant duology; so quick to read and very action-packed. The characters come so, so far from the start to the end, and I've loved journeying with them. 

17. Sex Cult Nun by Faith Jones ★★★★

Sex Cult Nun is a non-fiction memoir following Faith Jones, who was raised to be part an elite army preparing for the End Times. Growing up on an isolated farm in Macau, she prayed for hours every day and read letters of prophecy written by her grandfather, the founder of the Children of God. Tens of thousands of members strong, the cult followers looked to Faith’s grandfather as their guiding light. As such, Faith was celebrated as special and then punished doubly to remind her that she was not. Over decades, the Children of God grew into an international organisation that became notorious for its alarming sex practices and allegations of abuse and exploitation. But with indomitable grit, Faith survived, creating a world of her own - pilfering books and teaching herself high school curriculum. Finally, at age twenty-three, thirsting for knowledge and freedom, she broke away, leaving behind everything she knew to forge her own path in America.

This was an incredibly difficult read. Huge trigger warnings for sexual abuse and rape, especially involving children. It's always hard to rate memoirs, but I do feel like this one was very well written; the structure was cohesive and she handles difficult topics with such delicacy and really portrays her emotions well. The life that Faith has led is incredibly impressive given her upbringing and the abuse she went through. Although difficult to read about, it's also so important to show what can happen in these cults and how easily people can be lured in. In this book we see someone grow up under the indoctrination of  a religious cult and how it affects them; it's baffling yet totally understandable too that they believe everything they're told. It was also interesting seeing Faith travel to so many different countries and see how different the cultures were from one another. This was a fascinating memoir and I'd recommend it to people who are interested in cults or people that enjoyed Educated by Tara Westover, because they have very similar themes. 

18. Dark Lover by J.R. Ward ★★★

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other – six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Among them, none relishes killing their enemies more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood. The only pure-bred vampire left on the planet, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But when one of his most trusted fighters is killed – orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate – Wrath must usher the beautiful female into the world of the undead. Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn't there before, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes to her at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of brotherhood and blood frighten her. But his touch ignites a dawning hunger that threatens to consume them both.

This was definitely better than a lot of paranormal romances that I've read, but it still wasn't a favourite for me. The worldbuilding was a bit lacking for me; it took me so long to realise that vampires weren't common knowledge in this world, and what a Lesser, etc. actually was. I did enjoy the different subplots we had throughout the story: the police, the vampire hunters, and the vampires themselves. The Vampire Hunters were incredibly interesting and the author is very good at writing bad people that you're meant to hate. However, the pacing of the romance was so off for me. If you're looking for a slow-burn romance then this won't be for you. The main character and love interest are pretty much together in the first 100 pages. They also both fall deeply in love with each other so quickly. Even when Wrath is cold towards her and she gets mad, they both instantly switch feelings within a few pages without any conflict resolution. Overall, this book probably took place over the course of a week and by the end of it, she's pretty much with Wrath forever - like what?? This is a 15 book series and the romance feels wrapped up in book one? I did like the friendship between the brothers though, and that's probably the only thing that would make me pick up the next book in the series. The book was well-written and good for someone that enjoys a paranormal romance, but it wasn't for me unfortunately.

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And those were the books I read in February! I had a really good reading month despite not being able to read much at the end of the month. Let me know if you've read any of these books and what you thought of them. Hope you all have a good March!