Review: The Fault in Our Stars (19/04/20)

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If anyone is unfamiliar with this book, where have you been for decade? I admit I had not read this book. But I did understand the basic story line. The story follows Hazel as she navigates later stages of terminal cancer. She goes about her days muddling through as best she can. Her mum who worries about her mental state encourages her to go to group therapy session once a week. It is there she meets Augustus. They form a friendship full of witty banter and love of reading.

No more summary as its basically all tears from there…

It’s hard to say what I liked about this book. All of it? None of it? How can I like a book that so completely broke my emotional well-being? But I did.

The characters were brilliant. They were funny, so funny. Which was needed in a book that was dealing with the issue of childhood cancer. It was written beautifully and having never read a book by John Green before. I did not know what I was missing. I am ready (almost) to take on any of his other books if they are even half as good as this.

There was nothing I didn’t like about this book honestly. Except all of it. But not really. I guess you only understand if you have read it.

A solid 4 stars. If you want to weep like a baby and are ready to be emotionally distraught. This is the book for you.


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Review: Married to the Rake (20/04/20)

Married to the Rake by Samantha Holt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So on a whim I downloaded this as an eBook to my kindle as part of my unlimited subscription.
As the name and picture imply this is a historical romance. Which follows a very typical enemies to lovers’ format. The main character Chole Larkin is a typical bookish type of heroine. She lives with her family in a typical regency estate happily gallivanting away her days with books and meeting her two close friends. Enter the ‘rake’. Mr Brook Waverly. The son of a neighbouring family, of which the Larkins are sworn enemies. The families share a boundary line which for generations the two families are argued over about 20ft of land, constantly moving the line back and forth.
Can you see where this story is heading?
Chloe and Brook team up to try and stop the constant argument about the line once and for all, so that their aging fathers can finally rest. Obviously, a budding romance begin from this otherwise it would be an extremely poor romance.

I liked the characters. Nothing was too cheesy, as these types of books can sometimes get. It was a quick easy, sweet kind of book. I genuinely want to know about the characters and the sub plot. Her friends were also interesting, and it seems the other 2 books in this series focus on their love lives.

I was a bit disappointed it wasn’t as ‘steamy’ as I would have liked. That was the only thing that for me, would have bumped up the rating. It kind of left me feeling a little bit short changed, but I think that is just my personal taste for these types of books. If you like your romance on the cleaner side, this would probably be right up your street.

Overall a nice, sweet, easy read. A solid 3 stars.

Will this book win awards, no sorry it won’t. But, did I enjoy it? Yes. Will I read the other two in the series? Yes, definitely!


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The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoshi (11/04/20)

So I am going to level with you all before I begin the review. I went into this book basically knowing nothing. I pre ordered this book on a whim from Fairyloot when they announced the beautiful exclusive hardback edition they would be offering. I saw it. Thought the book looked stunning. Bought it....

Anyway my initial thoughts on the book and the writing in particularly were the writing was that it was a bit flowery for my liking. However, but the book as a whole was surprisingly easy to read. I wasn't a fan of Erin Morgenstern's writing in 'The Night Circus', and I was worried this would be like that. Thankfully it wasn't.

The writing was actually beautiful, it felt similar to how Laini Taylor would write (not concern over coping of stories by the way). And I loved all the books I have so far read by Laini Taylor. Soooo at this point I was happy to start sinking into the world and story. There is a nice simple introduction to the caste system within this world and the 3 girls who are living and working almost like sisters at a Tavern within the 'Ward'. Our main character is a young woman called Nirrim who is part of the 'Half Kith' caste. Along with Morah and Annin they have all been adopted/taken in by a woman we know only as Raven who is technically part of the 'Middling' caste. All lower castes have to follow laws and rules and work to basically please the upper casts the 'High Kith'

When the story properly begins there is a magical bird that basically can make everything better. Nirrim ends up capturing the bird, and from there everything kicks off and she ends in in prison have to pay a 'tithe' for breaking a law.

In prison she meets a flirtatious character going bby the name of Sid... I felt a romance coming. I felt like there was going to be more to this character than meets the eye. And I have no idea why but most romantic leads in books basically give sultry 'come to bed eyes' like Damon from the vampire diaries series, just with hair colour/eye colour replaced in my head. But the basic bone structure rarely changes. And this book is no exception...

Nirrim can see things others can't, she has learnt to hide this from others so as not to appear different and stand out. Sid has explained there is magic in the 'High Kith', Nirrim knows nothing of this because the 'Half Kith' have no access to history of their world. They remain behind the wall in the 'Ward' their whole life. I knew I loved this book when a scene resembled that of something out of a classic favourite of mine, Jane Eyre....

Sid's character development..... without going into spoiler territory I loved it. I was not expecting it, having gone into this book blind. I will instead leave this picture to sum up my feelings at the end of chapter 16....

If you know, then you know....

This books is amazingly written. I have taken my time reading it, like I haven't in a very long time. Normally I try and just get through a book as fast as possible. But I didn't want to with this one. I could see the pages slipping away and I wanted it to slow down. I found myself in a constant battle of wanted to find of the secrets of the 'Ward' and the 'High Kith' (which I had guess by this point) but always wanting to savor my time in this world with Nirrim and Sid. 

The end of chapter 39, for me seemed very important. I could feel the shift in Nirrim, the spark that will drive into the next book I think at this stage. And I think Sid felt it too.

It seems my guessing about the plot were 100% correct. I don't do spoilers so I won't disclose the guesses at all. But I was right and even though I was right and it seemed to me to be obvious I was not disappointed. I never tend to be disappointed if I guess a plot point early on. I enjoy seeing the journey the characters take to that realisation.

I loved this book, it is 100% on my favorites of the year. I will be anxiously awaiting the next book because that ending was crazy.

Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco (05/04/2020)

So I received this book as an ARC in my December Fairyloot book subscription box.

As the release date wasn't until March 2020, I hadn't really seen or heard anything about this book to know if I wanted to read it or not. After reading the summary, I was pleasently optimistic. It was put across as a kind of Snow Queen re-telling.

This made me very interested!



 I'm not sure anyone I have ever met has seen the cartoon I had on video as a child, but it was 'The Snow Queen' and I loved it so much. It was really dark and absure, likely made from one of those cheap animation studios, but none the less I loved the story of Gerda venturing off on a perilous journey to save her childhood friend Kay.

After a bit of digging on google it turns out the version I loved was the 1957 version of the story.... animated in Soviet Russia....

I'm not overly surprised. As I was primarily raised by my grandparents so tended to end up watching random old films.


 Anyway, this film gave me a good understadning of the orginal story, so long story short, I had high hope for this book.

I like the orginal story, I have liked many other re-tellings, and this book seems to have lots of other fairytales woven into it.

So far so good.

And don't get me wrong, I ended up in the long run enjoying this story. BUT....

The beginning was so confusing and I didn't really see the point in the main character having Philippine heritage. I know, I know... it's likely to be an unpopular opinion but I found it made the world building really confusing. The world was like the 'real' world. Some countries the same and not much changed about them other than the addition of a magic system... But then there was random 'mythical' countries all over the place. The book didn't have map which made it really hard to place things, I ended up spending a lot on time confused about where the hell everything was in connection to countries I knew.

The other confusing bit was there were so many characters introduced so early, that didn't really have actual parts. But they kept talking. I had to re-read so many pages because I just had no idea who was saying what, or who they were talking to. It was very slow starting book which I actually started reading way back in February. I could not get past the first hundred pages easily. A couple of times I was close to DNFing it.

However, I pushed through it and really knuckled down to get it done this month and I am glad I did. I'm not saying it was the best fantasy re-telling, by a long shot. It is such a shame the last 50% of the book was actually paced well and had interesting character development. I particularity likes the 'Banders', the group selected by the Cheshire Cat (yes from Alice in Wonderland) to assist getting the Lost Prince of Avalon, our heroines best friend, Alex, back to his sealed off Kingdom of Avalon. I liked those characters much more initially than I did Tala and Alex the 'main characters'.

There was a tiny element of romance, but it seemed thrown in and not a main plot point in this book. This is the start of a series. Will I continue?

I would have liked to give the ending of this book a better rating but the slow start really pulled it down. It was nearly a 2* book, had the ending and character development not picked up.

Batman: Year One by Frank Miller (03/04/20)

So following the success that was reading the Locke & Key graphic novels, I thought I would try some more graphic novels available on Kindle Unlimited. So I picked up Batman Year One by Frank Miller. I was recommended this years ago by an old friend. This friend  read a lot more graphic novels that I do, so I thought I would finally take him up on the recommendation.

I'm not quite sure what I expected from this but it wasn't quite what I ended up getting. I didn't realise going into this that is had in fact been written in the 80's. Had I known that I think my expetations would have been different.

This graphic novel basically follows the standard origin/start up of Batman. However it is without the development of his skills or emotional story centered on the loss of his parents. The whole thing to me felt very, without emotion. There also wasn't even really that much from Batman's point of view. It seemed to be more following Jim Gordon, who I generally like as a character. But not so much in this rendition.

Overall I felt a little let down and just kind of, like, meh...

It wasn't bad, the art work was solid. It just wasn't really what I wanted. Maybe I need to try a more current version and then make a judgement on superhero graphic novels.

That being said I couldn't honestly give this less than 3 stars.

April TBR List 2020

So I have been thoroughly inspired by watching a range of book tubers! If I had that kind of time I would love to take up vloging rather than blogging. However with my work and having a 3 year old it just isn't practical right now.

However since we are all currently in lock-down and having the extra time at home since my school is closed, I thought this may be a good time to once again try and revitalise my blog.

Soooo, this month I have a number of reading prompts to meet, which has been inspired by Codie's Wheel of TBR. If you haven't already, check her out I love her vlogs and she now works for Fairyloot, who I subscribe to. Also part of my very ambitious TBR list this month will be the inclusion of some elements of the O.W.L.s read-a-thon this month, which is organised by another booktuber I follow, who also works for Fairyloot....

I wish I worked for Fairyloot....

Anyways, here is a my VERY ambitious list and the prompts needed to meet them. I'm not super strict so over the month I may change some of these books is i get hold of others that meet the prompt. At the end of the month I will do a 'wrap up' and say what I managed to read.


1. Read a book you received from Fairyloot.

Wicked As You Wish - Rin Chupeco
 


This is a prompt I will have every month, as I (well my husband) pay a lot for the subscription I don't want to leave the books just sitting on my shelf to long. This prompt allows me to focus on getting this book in every month.
This month the Fairyloot book I am hoping to read is;

This book was sent in the December Fairyloot box as an ARC..... I started reading it in February, but it was very slow to get started, and so I kept picking up other books. I plan to knuckle down and get this book done!









2. Listen to an audiobook.

Angel Mage - Garth Nix

Another book I've been reading for a long time. I'm completely new to audiobooks. This is in fact the first audiobook I've ever attempted to listen to. And I've been listening to it since November.....

I just don't know if its the book, the audiobook , the narrator or just me that is the problem. I intend to get this finished as well this month and try another audiobook to try and find what I like in this new for me format.











3. Read a book by your favourite author.

The Assassin's Blade - Sarah J Mass

So this may be a dividing opinion but currently one of my favorite authors is Sarah J Mass. I have yet to read a book she has written that I dislike.

I binge read ACOTAR and ToG last year and am currently waiting to see is Goldsboro books can honor the signed edition of House of Blood and Bone before I give up and buy the eBook. That being said I have had this in my TBR list on my kindle for a while and it will, I imagine be a lovely quick read that will likely make me want to re-read ToG.










4. Read a book that has won or been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Awards.

Six of Crows - Leigh Bardugo

This book has been on my radar to read for at least a year. It's been on my kindle since my birthday last July so I final made a push and have decided to focus on it now. I was actually on my TBR last month but I ended up with a couple of changes due to 'Mood reads' so I moved it to this month.

I have already read Leigh Bardugo's first trilogy, the Grisha Trilogy and I enjoyed them but, didn't madly love them. I have seen a lot of reviews and vlogs saying this is the better story from the Grishaverse so I have my fingers crossed.







5.  Read a self-published book.

Angelfall - Susan Ee

This is the first book that I can honestly say may get changed by a mood book during the month. Especially if I can make it hit both the prompt for April and an O.W.L. But for the sake of the blog post the main contender for this prompt it....

Now again this is another book I have had on my Kindle TBR for years! When I started using eBooks, I went a little crazy and have a ridiculous amount of ebook that still need to read in addition to my physical TBR shelf.










6. Read a second-hand book.

Black Maria - Diana Wynne Jones

Now, I have a big confession to make. I don't really do second hand books. I don't like books that get dog eared or have broken spines. I take a lot of care to keep my physical books in very good conditions.

That being said I have a very old copy of a favorite book that is nearly as old as I am. I 'acquired' it from primary school when I was in year 5 I believe and I just never returned it.... it isn't in the best condition now as it was printed in 1991 and was a school's copy of book. I have read it so many times but I cant bare to part with it as I really dislike the new covers for this book.

I will put both covers so you can see what I mean. The new cover is just a bit garish for me.


7.  Read a book with food on the cover.

Mirror, Mirror - Jen Calonita

This was surprising hard to find! I tend to ready Fantasy or romance books, which apparently don't tend to have food on the covers.... or at least the ones I read don't.

However I managed to find one on my physical TBR shelf so it has finally managed to make to the reading pile!












8. Read a book by an author who is now deceased. 

Mort - Terry Pratchett

This one perfectly allows me to continue working my way through Terry Pratchett's back catalogue of Discworld novels. I have enjoyed the 3 I have read so far. So it seems reasonable to assume I will like this one as well.
















9. Read a new to me author.

The Haven - Simon Lelic

This book and author are completely new to me and came from Goldsboro Books as my free book for signing up to their 'Book of the Month' subscription... I know I am just throwing my money at books. I have a problem but I love it!

I don't really know anything about this book or the author. It seems to be some kind of early teen action adventure book. That used to be my favorite kind of book so fingers crossed its a good one. My edition is a Goldsboro exclusive and has bright orange sprayed edges and is numbers and signed by the author. It also has an embossed stamp on the signed page which is very cool. Overall it seems a very nice edition to have received for free.







10. Read a Young Adult Fantasy or Science Fiction.

Illuminae - Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Another books I have heard a lot about and managed to get fairly recently on my kindle when the price dropped to 99p! I don't really know much about the story but feel it hits the prompt and gives me and excuse to read it sooner rather than later.















11. Read a book with the same title as a film or TV show but is unrelated to it.

Red Queen - Victoria Aveyard

This was another surprisingly tricky one to find. I didn't want to have to specifically by a book for this prompt. The whole idea of doing these prompts is to get me to read as many of the books I already have as possibly. Again a book I picked up for 99p on my kindle and has been sitting there unread for quite a while.













12. Read a book about a book club.

The Bromance Book Club - Lyssa Kay Adams

Now this is the only book I so far don't own a book that meets the prompt. If i cant find one from another book I already own I will have to buy one. And if that is the case this is the book I will likely buy....

This is not my normal style of book that I read. When I read romances they tend to be 'trashy' quick steamy reads. I don't feel that this will be that but the premise sounds fun and interesting











13. Read a book with a pun in the title.

Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft - Joe Hill

There were a few option for this one, from books I already owned. Most of them were from part of a series, but it would have meant reading previous books first and I couldn't quite fit them into the other reading prompts.

Then I remembered a friend had told me that some good graphic novels had been put on Kindle Unlimited. this particular series I had always intended to read as I love Joe Hill as an author, I have liked all the books of his I have read and the premise for this graphic series seemed right up my street.










So this wraps up my Wheel of TBR April list.... I normally read between 8 and 11 books a month at the moment and I had factored in that I will have more opportunity to read so added in an extra couple of books to really challenge myself.

Now begins what I intend to read for the O.W.L Read-a-thon, I intend for this books to be for the most part in addition to the April list (I Know I'm Crazy!!!). If however I am unable to read the entire TBR lists I may double up some books on prompts they meet both for. But I have so many books to read that I would really prefer to get through them!


O.W.L's April 2020: Career Path - Care of Magical Children.



14. Arithmancy - Magical qualities of number 2: Read something out of your comfort zone.

 Look Who's Back - Timur Vermes

So this is book from my physical TBR shelf. I have had it for at least 6 years and started it, liked it, but never finished it. It's, I guess, kind of controversial. Just because of the nature of the subject content. Now seems like as good a time as any to finish this book!















15. Charms - Lumos Maxima: White cover. 

Garden of Thorns - Amber Mitchell

This could be meet by a couple of book I own but as I am trying to get through as many books as possible, I decided that I would choose another book on my eBook TBR list.

I can't at this point remember much about this I just know I would have read the summary thought it sounded interesting and, boom, bought it.













16. Defence Against The Dark Arts - Grindylow: Book set at the sea/coast.

Crown of Coral and Pearl - Mara Rutherford


This is one of the prompts I feel I could meet with another book. But again I will try to read a different book for each rpompt and only double up if I need to.

This book caught my eye as there seems to have been an increase int he amount of sea/mermaid themed books in the YA fantasy genre. It is something I would like to read more of.










17. Mimnulus Mimbletonia: Title starts with an 'M'.

The Midnight Lie - Marie Rutkoshi

I am choosing not to count 'the' as part of title. Again this is a prompt I could use another book for and double up. But if I manage not to need to do that this will be the book used for this prompt...

This edition I bought as an extra from Fairyloot and my edition is absolutely stunning. It is a gorgeous turquoise colour with rose gold foiling all over. The edges are stencil sprayed and it is a signed edition. I didn't really know to much about this book, and I am not going to lie I primarily pre-ordered this book because it just looked so good.
 

18.  Muggle studies: Book from a perspective of a muggle (contemporary).

The Fault In Our Stars - John Green

This is another I could possibly double up depending on what I end up reading for the main April prompts. But in the same way I have listed individual books for each prompt I will continue to do the same.

This is another book I have intended to read for such a long time and is from back when I first got my kindle and went crazy for eBooks.












19. Shrinking Solution: Book under 150 pages.

Batman: Year One - Frank Miller


This book was chosen for a couple of reasons.

1. I want to read more graphic novels.
2. It was included in my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
3. I like superheros, Batman has always been one that I particularly like.
4. It met the page number.
5. I knew it would be a fast read!












20. Transfiguration - Animagus lectures: Book/series that includes shape-shifting. 

Alpha Knight - Renee Rose

This book was chosen as a quick read that I knew I could get as part of my kindle unlimited subscription. Something quick and trashy (and hopefully hot and steamy!).


















 So, that's it. That is the list. It's soooo big. Wish me luck!