I loved the premise, but it failed to deliver for me. I actually felt quite detached whilst reading it and although finished it, do not have any strong feelings either way. I also was left with a lot of questions.

First V.E. Schwab book that hasn‘t been a 4 star or above 😕

Ok - I fricken loved this! It had absolutely every thing I want from a fantasy book. It was pure escapism and I read the whole thing in 4 days.

Characters with good development ✅
A badass female lead ✅
Excellent representation of living with a disability ✅
Dragons ✅
A good romance element ✅
Interesting world building ✅

I‘m strongly considering re-reading it already.

I‘m so sorry Brandon Sanderson - but I‘ve had to bail! I‘m so bored!

The plot seemed like an exciting one, and I like the characters but neither of them are keeping me engaged. I‘m 300 pages in and I‘m done. I don‘t know if there‘s something wrong with me because everyone else loves this, but I don‘t want to have to wade through the rest.

Historical fiction with a twist of the unknown. It was ok.

There were a few things that I didn‘t like, such as the main character having “contemporary views” that didn‘t fit in with the time period. The ending also felt rushed and forced…

This is quite a hard book to explain without giving the plot away. Which is also another mark against it. I give it 2.5.

It‘s the weekend 🎉🎉

Well, it‘s my weekend. And after working 12 days in a row, hosting two book clubs and one story time, I‘m having a glass of wine while I read 📚🍷

This weeks read.

Anyone read it? Thoughts?

This wasn‘t for me. I know lots of people loved it, but I was put off from the first short story. The other three were better. I didn‘t like the writing style and noticed a translation error, which I struggled to get past.

Ok - I‘m really struggling with this one!

This is the third time I‘ve tried to read it, and decided an audio book would be better. And it was - at first. But I just don‘t care enough about Locke to carry on. We didn‘t really get to know him in the longest prologue in the world, so I‘m not invested.

Do I carry on? Is it worth it?

This was awesome!

People compare it to Sarah J Maas, but I thought it was better.

A human trying to survive in a world run by vampires enters a tournament to get her wish. So much world building, some romance and spice, lots of fighting and blood. Some content warnings though - talk of rape although it doesn‘t actually happen.

N.B picture from google.

This book comes highly recommended from Booktok - so thought I‘d give it a go. Love this kind of humour!

Next book club read. I‘m so excited to start this because I loved the Aurora Rising and Nevernight series.

A new take on vampires, from an author I really like - I should breeze through this 720 page book 🤣😬

Unpopular opinion, but I didn‘t enjoy it! Maybe if I‘d read it as a child/ young person it‘d be different. The premise is good, but I often found my mind wandering and would have to re-read sections. Don‘t even get me started on all the songs!

I‘ve tried to read it a few times but struggled so tried the audio book. Which I managed. I appreciate what Tolkien did, and the foundations this book created for the fantasy genre, but it wasn‘t for me.

Making note for the first time for my next book club book. There are some wonderful sentences so far, I highly recommend this for any sci-fi, mystery fans!

“She spoke so eloquently of how the patriarchy, above all else, fears women coming together, so internal female division only succeed in greasing that machine.”

On a little mini break in Wales and re-reading this for my new book club. I‘m so jealous of people who get to read by an open fire all the time! Its so cosy.

The perks of owning a bookshop is that I get proofs! I loved S.A Chakraborty‘s Daevabad Trilogy and I‘m excited to see what this one is like.

Filled with magic, mayhem, pirates and sorcerers it‘s right up my street.

Its not released until March 2023 in U.K.

This is a short book, but goddam does it make an impact. The connection between two women who live hundreds of years apart, but are bonded by the patriarchy is powerful. And sad. And rage inducing.

“Well, shit. Milky bean water. I‘ll be damned.”

Has anyone started this yet? I can‘t remember what happened in the first one, I just know that I read it in about 3 days!

#tbr #sarahjmaas #sequel

I almost didn‘t finish this. The writing felt a bit scatty, I guess to replicate train of thought but it was disorientating.

The MC was a little annoying too, and the love interest predictable. The MC is meant to be a funny writer, but the funniest quips came from other characters. I just didn‘t buy it.

Still, I preserved and it was ok. I did like some elements of the plot, and there were a few funny moments.

#tbr

I bought this on a whim because of its sprayed edge, but it looks fantastic and I‘m super excited to read it!

Not my usual genre, I found this a fun, unpredictable read. It‘s full of sass, character development and space. Lots of space.

Kaufman and Kristoff are quite clever in how they address some aspects that are plot holes and ignored in other stories I‘ve read - like how everyone seems to speak English.

At points each of the characters annoyed me, and then I realised it was a clever ploy for development.

Highly recommend!