I‘ll be in Lofoten next month and I was excited to read a book set there. Sadly I found this disappointing, probably me but I just didn‘t “get” it and struggled to understand quite what was going on or why. Really really sad as I so wanted to like it.

Bailing as this is definitely not what I was expecting. It is not about running. It is not a memoir. It is a non-fiction introduction to mental health (mainly anxiety) full of a lot of facts and references. Useful if that‘s what you‘re after!

Overall I was content with the conclusion of this duology and glad I read it. One thing annoyed me but I'll add it as a spoiler in the comments. In general though I was impressed with the magic and world that the author had managed to create.

I really enjoyed this and understand why I‘ve been seeing recommendations for it. I loved the world building, the magic cards are really intriguing. The relationship between Elspeth and Ravyn is just sufficient to call this a fantasy romance.

Available on kindle unlimited too! (And the sequel is out, guess what I‘m reading next…)

Definitely felt appropriate to finish reading this on the beach on holiday. Such a sweet book, I loved Marcellus‘ musings on human life - I would have enjoyed more of these. Tova sounds a formidable lady.

Thank you for the recommendation @Bookbuyingaddict

This is weird but funny and so endearing. An intriguing premise, but the story is about so much more than the kids spontaneously combusting! I found myself really making time to read it.

When work was taking over my life this has provided some much needed respite.
Jen de Luca hasn‘t lost her touch with a magical renaissance faire adventure. I love getting to know the mystics in this one and hope they make a reappearance in future books!

A comfort re-read (or re-listen) for me. Appropriate for cricket season!
I do just love this series, I love the humour and the twists. It‘s so creative and never fails to make me happy.

I was so drawn in to this story. I thought the author did an excellent job of portraying the minutiae of suburban life in the 1950s, whilst adding all the mystery drama. Very enjoyable read.

I am absolutely devastated to finish this series. Every single one of these books has been so different and I feel as if I‘ve learnt something about myself through reading each one. They are abstract but clever and subtle. This one was particularly uplifting and I enjoyed the ending.

Ms Chambers I want more!

I feel like Romantasy is really running low on ideas with this synopsis! I kinda feel like I need to read it now though…
Quick poll, to read or not to read?

Read the TW before reading.

This drew me in. The weaving of the story is clever and very well done. I enjoyed the use of nature to add atmosphere and could imagine being there on the pond with the characters.

Library win when you‘re the first to get the book and it‘s still pristine!!!
Not sure what this says about the book though…

This is definitely much darker than I had expected based on the cover. Set in 1600 Norway, and based on real events this is about grief and love. I felt like I was on the island with Maren and Ursa, willing them to survive. Intimately and powerfully written.

I always enjoy an Asimov book and this was no exception. I love the way Asimov builds a futuristic world, and I thought this was a clever murder mystery story.

Minus points though for only having one very weak female stereotypical “wife” character. I know it was written a long while ago, but still sad.

Gosh I enjoyed this - far more than I expected to. The audiobook is “marvellous” (I‘ve found I now say marvellous all the time since listening to this 🫣). Jennifer Saunders is justifiably a comic great, and her stories and anecdotes are laugh out loud funny. Highly recommend the audio to appreciate her expression and comic timing!

This is how a nearby village is advertising its May Day duck race! So cute 🦆 🦆 🦆

A love letter to the Shetlands and Shetland ponies. On the whole a very pleasant diary of a year of life in the Shetlands. Over the year Munro suffers a personal loss and talks of how the islands rhythms and life help her heal. Slow paced and just a nice book.

This was not the light happy book I was expecting. This is a call to arms. This is an honest, and quite scary at times, account of what it's like to work in a hugely underfunded public library in Scotland. It is a plea to use your public libraries - and that they are so much more than just books. As Morgan says they “level the playing field“. Morgan brings the characters from the library to life, and is very honest in her opinion of management!

This book is Stern‘s debut from 2010 and is a collection of short stories. The characters are reckless but each story left me wanting to know more. Several of the stories touch on deaf people feeling isolated and struggling to communicate. The writing is good, and I got the impression of a writer feeling their way towards being a great one.

Absolutely loving reading this series. I got very grumpy with anything which took me away from reading this. Manon is probably one of the highlights of this book - such a great character with amazing development. Need the next one ASAP!

Two weeks until Dracula Daily starts!

Last year I kept up for about two months, not sure if I can do better this year…

https://draculadaily.substack.com/about if anyone is interested!

When Shaun Bythell in “The diary of a bookseller” mentioned meeting this author and her book I knew it was going on the list. I‘ve been keeping an eye out for books about deaf culture as I learn BSL and was delighted to come across a new one. Although I have to say inside another book wasn‘t how I expected to!

I somehow missed this when it was released. I‘m a big fan of cogman‘s invisible library series. Anyway it‘s 99p on kindle at the minute!

I have to say we‘re enjoying the Netflix show of this series. I haven‘t read the books, but now I‘m thinking I should! If only as I will want to know what happens after series one.
Although I will be thinking differently about getting on a cruise ship this summer…

I really enjoyed this, I thought it worked really well as an audiobook. Shaun is grumpy but loveable bookseller, who did make me feel guilty for owning a kindle. And not so guilty about my hoard of books. He paints vivid images of his customers and staff - not always favourable but usually very humorous.

Absolutely loved it. I gave up waiting for my library request and just bought it. 🤫
I especially enjoyed reading Celaena learn and learn embrace her magic. Super good baddies - lots of evil beings to fight.
Now to go straight on to Queen of Shadows.

SHUT YOUR MOUTH (new motto)
This was fascinating. It‘s well written - Nestor really gets the balance between research and anecdotes - and packs a powerful punch. I‘m definitely going to incorporate some new habits into my daily life - resolved to only breathe through my nose. Now excuse me while I go tape my mouth shut…

I was really nervous to read this having seen some mixed reviews, and knowing how much I adore Hazelwood‘s other books. But I absolutely devoured it and could not put it down!!! I loved the humour mixed in with the drama. Considering this was her first book into the fantasy genre I was very impressed. Also so happy that the end looks as though she‘s setting up for a sequel. Yay!

Geez this was a slow story, I reckon you could cut out at least a third of the book. I very nearly gave up on it several times. Quite a predictable conclusion. At least it‘s off the shelf.

I went to a used book barn and with over 100 000 books! I came home with quite a haul, but I loved this mills & boons section - shelves absolutely full of them! I was good and only chose one (which I sped through).
Mills & Boon have a special place in my heart. They‘re never going to win awards, but they‘re such a comfort read - guaranteed a happy ending!

I really loved the premise of this book, I loved the feminist stance and I loved how the main character was starting conversations about women‘s bodies and sexism in the workplace. But the story felt a bit contrived and the writing really needed some polishing. Maybe I‘m just too old to be reading about TikTok, Tinder and Instagram!!!

Loved this continuation of Throne of Glass, lots of character development and I enjoyed getting to know the main players.
Now to anxiously await my hold to come in at the library for the next in the series…

And so my journey through this series begins, I can already tell I‘m going to love it. Sneaky hints of magic, sinister baddies, and of course the romance! It‘s going to be a ride. Sarah J Maas knows how to build a world.

This is almost a Robin Hood tale. Dona really grew on me, and I loved her wit, courage and joie de vivre. There was humour in the dialogue that had me chuckling.
I got a bit tired of the “women are only good for having children” attitude, and hoped this would be challenged more but sadly wasn‘t. I don‘t know if it‘s just indicative of the time period, but I did roll my eyes!

“There was silence between them for a moment, and she wondered if all women, when in love, were torn between two impulses, a longing to throw modesty and reserve to the winds and confess everything, and an equal determination to conceal the love forever, to be cool, aloof, utterly detached, to die rather than admit a thing so personal, so intimate.“

Thank you so much to @Megabooks for this recommendation.

My journey to learn more about deaf culture continues and this was an excellent addition. I was horrified by the stories of how difficult it was to find early education in an accessible language. I definitely have more insight into the challenges deaf people face and how difficult it is to advocate for access.

If anyone knows of any other books around deaf culture please let me know!

I talked my way in to a “fantasy” exhibit at the British Library a few weeks ago and I was delighted to find that they had borrowed Susannah Clarke‘s original drawings of the halls in Piranesi. Absolutely fascinating how she planned it all out!

Now THAT is a genius idea.

Thank you so much #jolabokaflod !!!
I am super excited to read this book - it‘s been on my Amazon wish list forEVER! Excellent choice!

And thank you @MaleficentBookDragon for your super organisation, as always.

Wow what a clever book. An incredible story, very passionately written. And an excellent insight into deaf culture and deaf history. I learnt so much and thoroughly enjoyed it. I wish there were more like it, if anyone has any other recommendations then let me know!

Thank you very much to @Megabooks @fredthemoose and @Bookwormjillk for the recommendation and advice.

My #jolabokaflod is here!!!
Yayyyy!!!

@MaleficentBookDragon

I feel like I‘ve been seeing this book everywhere recently, and so when I wanted a spicy romance I thought I‘d give it a go.
Conclusion: it‘s okay. It did not have that “can‘t put it down” factor for me, which I usually get with this genre! Spoilers in comments of plot things which bothered me.
I suspect that the rest of this series is better as Huang‘s writing improves.

So good to be back with the gang in Coopers Chase. A bittersweet ending, but as always very well written by Mr Osman. Joyce takes a much more prominent role in this book which was lovely, and it seems the cast is expanding!

Definitely the best in the trilogy, although I wanted more of LaLa! Very satisfying ending. I have closure.

I am currently taking a course trying to learn British Sign Language and I would like to learn more about deaf culture and I was wondering if anyone knew of any novels which have this included? I‘d be very grateful! Thank you

It was the part of herself that loved to hope. She‘d forgotten how Hope could make colours brighter and feelings warmer. How it could shift thoughts from what wasn‘t to what was possible.

And it‘s on the way! It‘s prettier on the inside I promise, but forgot a photo of that bit… (Recipient please feel free to remove horrible brown packaging and reveal prettier sub Christmas tree appropriate parcel!)
#jolabokaflod #jolabokaflodswap
@MaleficentBookDragon

I thoroughly enjoyed this. I adore all Ali Hazelwood‘s books and this is no exception. She has a talent for taking on sexism issues in typically male-dominated sciences, or chess in this case, in a serious but fun way. Plus a good romance story!

I went to get Christmas Cards. I did not buy Christmas Cards. But I have no regrets.