Welcome to Litsy!

I'm going to give the #bookreport / #weeklyforecast thing another whirl, see how long I can keep it up.

Finished Persephone in Bloom and loved it! Had a blast spotting all the myth references. I'm currently reading and loving A Restless Truth and Carry On, Jeeves and should finish both soon. Next ebook will be a sci-fi novella, An Unnatural Life. Next audio... Not sure!

Soooo how is my plan of reading only owned books in January going? Well my first book was A Marvellous Light which I loved so much I immediately put book 2 on hold, not expecting it to come in for a while. But it did, and of course I'm going to start it next... Let's go with *mostly* only owned books in January 🙃

My first book is the tagged, second book in The Last Binding trilogy. I finished the series today (book #7 for the year!) and give the series 5 stars overall. I think this was the weakest of the series, but still really good. If you like spicy historic fantasy check this one out!

#SundayFunday @BookmarkTavern

#weirdwordswednesday #weirdwords
The word liminal was way overused in the tagged book, but it did make me remember I love it
liminal
adj
1. occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold.
"I was in the liminal space between past and present"
2. relating to a transitional or initial stage of a process.
"that liminal period when a child is old enough to begin following basic rules but is still too young to do so consistently"

Low pick. A sweet charming listen. There were definitely moments when this failed to hold my attention. My favorite thing about this was the way it continued to explore the system of magic in this world and deepen the reader‘s understanding of that in a more comprehensive way. The mystery and the romance were both fun, but neither are driving me to read the third book when it‘s released.

Started listening to this one yesterday. I‘ve heard great things, and so far I‘m enjoying it just as much as the first one in the series…BUT this is definitely not the first queer fantasy period romance series I‘ve read recently where each subsequent book is based on siblings from the same family…and when the authors are writing about societies with incredibly small, underground queer populations, I‘m not sure that‘s a trope I like.

Sheer luck that they sing a sea shanty in this! #BookSpinBingo This would also work for the #URC prompt involving tickling.

I didn't enjoy it as much as the first book, but the set up for the third is intriguing.

This is the second book in Marske‘s magical mystery romance series. It takes place on a ship bound from America to England, and begins with a mysterious death. The main character is Maud, sister to the main character of the first book. She is traveling with the woman who dies, and sets out to discover if she was murdered and by who. Seeking helpers, she meets Violet, and things get pretty spicy.

Fun books, I like the magic. Look forward to #3.

4.5/5

As much as I loved the first book in this series, I somehow loved this more. Part romance, part closed door murder on a ship sailing from America to England, part romance, this was a great read that further developed the world of magicians that this takes place in. I loved Maude and Violet as the main characters, and I look forward to more Lord Hawthorn and Alan Ross after this book.

Audiobook: A Restless Truth by Freya Marske
ebook: Mr. & Mrs. Witch by Gwenda Bond

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

Just as much a delight as the first book, maybe more! Maud adventures across the ocean to retrieve another keeper of the artifact, only for the old woman to be killed on their first night of a six-night voyage. She has only Robin‘s visions and her own considerable charm and wit to rely on as she recruits assistance to solve the murder and retrieve the second piece of the contract. Also lots of hot f/f sex, oh my. 🥵☺️

I typically can‘t stand the middle book of planned trilogies…. But this was better than expected. It follows Maud as she tracks down a piece of the final contract, and it all goes down on a transatlantic voyage back to England. There is one other familiar face from the first book, and a bunch of new ones (including love interest Violet) and now I‘m looking forward to the finale this fall.

July Fiction #ReadingBracket2023
The second book in this trilogy earned top spot last month. Murder mystery, magical hijinks, slow burn romance, character banter - what more could you want?

⭐️⭐️⭐️I liked the mystery, especially it all being contained on a ship, and the story begun in book 1 carried over well, but something about the main characters, I just did not connect to at all.
Partly I think the humor of book 1 was missing in this one. As if when it‘s female main characters, they can‘t have that same wit?
I am very much looking forward to the conclusion when it comes out this fall…and moving on to different main characters.

Ugh so glad I finally read this anticipated follow up! Initially sad bc no Robin and Edwin but loved following Maud's adventures across the ocean to safeguard the second piece of the Last Contract. Her plucky attitude regardless of not being magical was so endearing and her leadership of their hesitant band of investigators was admirable. And the lovely, guarded Violet was a great character. Even more excited for the third book later this year! 😍

Maud is off to protect the second rice of the contract when she‘s thrown into a mix of murder, jewel theft, & a charming young actress. Whatever is a well bred lady to do?

Just as charming as the first! & not nearly as slow to start. Delightful characters all around, & a mystery to be solved. & more information on magic & anchors! This one also had a much more satisfying ending. I cannot wait for the last one in the series! 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

My hotel room has this adorable little window seat! So I had to get some early morning reading in before the last long drive to Atlanta.

Yeah I‘m not so sure how Victorian style porn comes across on audiobook and the cat and mouse tension of the first book is not coming across in this one. 😐

Been a long while since I posted. Glad to be back. 🌸

I accidentally read 2 boat books in a row! This book is the 2nd in a trilogy. Maud is Robin‘s sister (from the first book). Maud is working to save the 2nd artifact. We learn more about the history of them. She has to gather a crew to help her solve the mystery and deal with magic and magicians. This book was so good! And I can‘t wait for the next one!

Casey thinks the day started too damned early, but I was glad to get enough extra morning reading time to make it fifty pages into A RESTLESS TRUTH. It‘s great so far, even if I‘ve discovered I remember the vibe A MARVELLOUS LIGHT gave off more than the plot‘s details. Thank goodness Marske works enough backstory in to catch up people in my situation.

Well, this was a blast! Excited to be able to just chomp into the end of the trilogy this fall!

Hawthorne being bothered:👍🏻
Hawthorne agreeing to buy all that pornography:👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

I greatly enjoy this series and would love to live in this magical Victorian England. The covers are stunning, can't wait for the next one!
#booked2023
#Pop23
#52bookclub23
#Serieslove2023

I almost forgot to post this! I hope it's not too late. Congratulations @MatchlessMarie on an amazing accomplishment! And thanks for hosting this giveaway!
My most wishes for books for next year are:
A Restless Truth by Freya Marske
Bonds of Brass by Emily Skrutskie
Scattered Showers by Rainbow Rowell
#YearEnd100k

I never preorder (this is only the second I've ever preordered), which really says something about how much I enjoyed A Marvelous Light. I am really looking forward to reading this.