Book Review: Blood Countess – Lana Popovic

January 9, 2020 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 2 Comments

Release Date: January 28th 2020
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Pages: 320
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review.
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis

A historical YA horror novel based on the infamous real-life inspiration for Countess Dracula

In 17th century Hungary, Anna Darvulia has just begun working as a scullery maid for the young and glamorous Countess Elizabeth Báthory. When Elizabeth takes a liking to Anna, she’s vaulted to the dream role of chambermaid, a far cry from the filthy servants’ quarters below. She receives wages generous enough to provide for her family, and the Countess begins to groom Anna as her friend and confidante. It’s not long before Anna falls completely under the Countess’s spell—and the Countess takes full advantage. Isolated from her former friends, family, and fiancé, Anna realizes she’s not a friend but a prisoner of the increasingly cruel Elizabeth. Then come the murders, and Anna knows it’s only a matter of time before the Blood Countess turns on her, too.

Review

As soon as I heard the premise of this book I was dying to read it. A YA historical novel about Elizabeth Bathory? Where do I sign up!? Blood Countess is the gripping tale of a young girl named Anna Darvulia, who’s life becomes tangled with that of infamous Countess Elizabeth Bathory. Starting out as a scullery maid in the castle, Anna quickly becomes her chambermaid and friend and as they spend more and more time together Anna finds herself completely under the spell of the countess – but how much of what Anna sees is an act and Anna soon learns Elizabeth will stop at nothing to get what she wants.

This dark, addictive story is one that I completely flew through. It’s a very compelling story one of love, friendship, murder and revenge. Popovic sets quite a quick pace and the story definitely ramps up the tension as the plot thickens. I loved the vivid 17th Century setting, Popovic’s writing really brought the time period to life and I fell in love with the isolated castles and ornate ballrooms of this story.

The thing that really made this story for me is the characters. Anna is a fascinating protagonist, she’s a kind and loyal girl – she’s trying to provide and protect her family and it’s so interesting watching her fall under the spell of the Countess, attempting to justify her actions and understand who she is under the surface. Similarly Elizabeth is a brilliant character, she’s deeply flawed, manipulative and power hungry. Blood Countess really gives you the opportunity to delve deep into the two characters and get to know them. It made for a truly addictive and exciting read, and one I enjoyed from beginning to end.

Blood Countess is a gripping, bloody tale with brilliant characters and plenty of atmosphere. If you’re looking for a binge-worthy story you won’t be able to put down, this is definitely one to pick up.

Waiting on Wednesday: One of Us Is Next – Karen M. McManus

January 8, 2020January 7, 2020 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 2 Comments

Synopsis

Come on, Bayview, you know you’ve missed this.

A ton of copycat gossip apps have popped up since Simon died, but in the year since the Bayview four were cleared of his shocking death, no one’s been able to fill the gossip void quite like he could. The problem is no one has the facts.

Until now.

This time it’s not an app, though—it’s a game.

Truth or Dare.

Phoebe’s the first target. If you choose not to play, it’s a truth. And hers is dark.

Then comes Maeve and she should know better—always choose the dare.

But by the time Knox is about to be tagged, things have gotten dangerous. The dares have become deadly, and if Maeve learned anything from Bronwyn last year, it’s that they can’t count on the police for help. Or protection.

Simon’s gone, but someone’s determined to keep his legacy at Bayview High alive. And this time, there’s a whole new set of rules.

Thoughts

Welcome to another Waiting on Wednesday! This week I’m talking about the newest release by Karen M. McManus. One of Us Is Next is the sequel to One of Us Is Lying, the YA thriller that so many people loved. I’ve read both One of Us Is Lying and her other thriller Two Can Keep A Secret and while they weren’t my favourite reads of all time, I found them both to be quite addictive page turners. One of Us Is Lying isn’t the sort of book I would have thought would have a sequel, so I’m quite looking forward to reading it and finding out what direction she takes the story in. If you enjoy twisty turny stories with big shock endings, her books are definitely worth a read. One of Us Is Next was actually published yesterday on January 7th, so the book is out now from Penguin Books!

2020 Reading Resolutions!

January 7, 2020 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 6 Comments

I did a post rounding up the resolutions I put in place for last year and thought it might be fun to do it again this year. I didn’t manage to complete all my resolutions last year but I’m hopeful 2020 will be better!

1. Read 120 books
In 2018 I managed 142 books so I thought for 2019 I would up it to 150 – I ended up only reading 108, a new job and less commuting time meant I wasn’t getting as much reading time each day. I’m setting my Goodreads Challenge at 120 which I’m hoping is doable and maybe I’ll even manage to read a few more than that.

2. Read more backlist books
Being a book blogger it often feels like you are always focused on the new and upcoming releases and my current TBR is massive so I would really love to read more of my backlist titles and get to some of those titles I just haven’t gotten around to yet. I’d love to really focus on finishing some series that I’ve started and just haven’t finished yet.

3. Catalogue and reduce my TBR
This was partly a resolution for last year but I would love to have a spreadsheet tracking all the books I currently own and work out how many I have that are unread and reduce that number by the end of the year. I know it will be in the hundreds so I would love to maybe bring in a few less books this year and really knock that number down. I’m midway though cataloguing at the moment, so completing the first part is definitely achievable!

4. Improve my Netgalley Ratio
I think I’m always going to struggle with getting my Netgalley ratio higher – it’s currently sitting at 46% and I have three reviews to submit for books I’ve read. I would love to end 2020 with it at least about 60%, if not at that sought after 80%.

5. Revamp my blog and post more frequently
This isn’t so much a reading as blogging resolution but I would love to give my blog a spring clean, maybe create some new logos and work on making sure to post at least a few times every week as I often find if things get hectic my amount of posts drop and I’m determined that won’t happen this year. I would also love to get better at posting more frequently on Instagram too.

6. A pound a book
I saw a few people talking about this on Twitter but I’m thinking of having a money jar and putting £1 in every time I read a book and this would be money put aside to buy new titles, instead of me buying books whenever, I could only get a book when I had enough in the jar. I’d love to stick to this but I know it probably won’t happen. I might even let the money accumulate and then go on a shopping spree in December!

So those are my 2020 reading resolutions. If you’ve set any resolutions I’d love to know what they are and if you have tips for achieving any of these I’d love to know that too!

Blog Tour: The God Game – Danny Tobey

January 6, 2020January 20, 2020 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 5 Comments

Release Date: January 9th 2020
Publisher: Gollancz
Pages: 464
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis

You are invited!
COme inside and play with G.O.D.
Bring your friends!
It;’s fun!
But remember the rules. Win and ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE.™ Lose, you die!

With those words, Charlie and his friends enter the G.O.D. Game, a video game run by underground hackers and controlled by a mysterious AI that believes it’s God. Through their phone-screens and high-tech glasses, the teens’ realities blur with a virtual world of creeping vines, smoldering torches, runes, glyphs, gods, and mythical creatures. When they accomplish a mission, the game rewards them with expensive tech, revenge on high-school tormentors, and cash flowing from ATMs. Slaying a hydra and drawing a bloody pentagram as payment to a Greek god seem harmless at first. Fun even.

But then the threatening messages start. Worship me. Obey me. Complete a mission, however cruel, or the game reveals their secrets and crushes their dreams. Tasks that seemed harmless at first take on deadly consequences. Mysterious packages show up at their homes. Shadowy figures start following them, appearing around corners, attacking them in parking garages. Who else is playing this game, and how far will they go to win?

And what of the game’s first promise: win, win big, lose, you die? Dying in a virtual world doesn’t really mean death in real life—does it?

As Charlie and his friends try to find a way out of the game, they realize they’ve been manipulated into a bigger web they can’t escape: an AI that learned its cruelty from watching us.

God is always watching, and He says when the game is done.

Review

The God Game is the story of Charlie Lake and his friends who enter into a mysterious online game known only as the G.O.D Game. The rules are simple – if you win you win big but if you lose? You die. As the group of friends find themselves getting wrapped up in the dark mysteries of the game, they begin to wonder if they’ll ever be able to escape.

This book had me HOOKED. I picked it up expecting to read the first couple of chapters and before I knew it I was 120 pages in and I was running late. This is a fast paced wild ride and I definitely didn’t want the story to end. It’s a clever tale that blends virtual reality and real life. It’s Black Mirror meets Stranger Things and honestly I couldn’t get enough.

I loved everything about this book, the way the atmosphere starts off quite light hearted and becomes much more sinister, the misfit video game nerds that have to use everything they’ve got to survive. It’s a compelling tale which really kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters are particularly well executed and I loved the explorations of friendship, love and grief that were displayed in the story. I loved watching the characters growing and it was so interesting watching the group dynamics change as they delve deeper into the game. The science and technology is also really fascinating, and I loved the use of augmented reality.

If you’re looking for a dark and mesmerising tale that will suck you in deeper and deeper, The God Game is the perfect binge read, be warned though – you definitely won’t be able to put this one down.

January TBR!

January 5, 2020 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 6 Comments

Since I became a blogger I have never really done TBRs, I’m such a mood reader that generally I don’t think I will stick to them. I thought seeing as it was a new year and I really want to make a conscious effort to make my TBR smaller, I might attempt setting myself a TBR. Going for a mix of new releases and backlist books I still need to get to I’m trying to aim for 10 books a month so I thought if I selected 8 titles that would give me room for two mood reads – so let’s dive in!

1. The God Game – Danny Tobey
You are invited!
COme inside and play with G.O.D.
Bring your friends!
It;’s fun!
But remember the rules. Win and ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE.™ Lose, you die!

And what of the game’s first promise: win, win big, lose, you die? Dying in a virtual world doesn’t really mean death in real life—does it?

As Charlie and his friends try to find a way out of the game, they realize they’ve been manipulated into a bigger web they can’t escape: an AI that learned its cruelty from watching us.

God is always watching, and He says when the game is done.

2. Loki: Where Mischef Lies – Mackenzi Lee
Before the days of going toe-to-toe with the Avengers, a younger Loki is desperate to prove himself heroic and capable, while it seems everyone around him suspects him of inevitable villainy and depravity . . . except for Amora. Asgard’s resident sorceress-in-training feels like a kindred spirit-someone who values magic and knowledge, who might even see the best in him.

But when Loki and Amora cause the destruction of one of Asgard’s most prized possessions, Amora is banished to Earth, where her powers will slowly and excruciatingly fade to nothing. Without the only person who ever looked at his magic as a gift instead of a threat, Loki slips further into anguish and the shadow of his universally adored brother, Thor.

When Asgardian magic is detected in relation to a string of mysterious murders on Earth, Odin sends Loki to investigate. As he descends upon nineteenth-century London, Loki embarks on a journey that leads him to more than just a murder suspect, putting him on a path to discover the source of his power-and who he’s meant to be.

3. All the Rage – Cara Hunter
A teenage girl is found wandering the outskirts of Oxford, dazed and distressed. The story she tells is terrifying. Grabbed off the street, a plastic bag pulled over her face, then driven to an isolated location where she was subjected to what sounds like an assault. Yet she refuses to press charges.

DI Fawley investigates, but there’s little he can do without the girl’s co-operation. Is she hiding something, and if so, what? And why does Fawley keep getting the feeling he’s seen a case like this before?

And then another girl disappears, and Adam no longer has a choice: he has to face up to his past. Because unless he does, this victim may not be coming back . . .

4. Spellhacker – M. K. England
In Kyrkarta, magic—known as maz—was once a freely available natural resource. Then an earthquake released a magical plague, killing thousands and opening the door for a greedy corporation to make maz a commodity that’s tightly controlled—and, of course, outrageously expensive.

Which is why Diz and her three best friends run a highly lucrative, highly illegal maz siphoning gig on the side. Their next job is supposed to be their last heist ever.

But when their plan turns up a powerful new strain of maz that (literally) blows up in their faces, they’re driven to unravel a conspiracy at the very center of the spellplague—and possibly save the world.

No pressure.

5. The Memory Wood – Sam Lloyd
Elijah has lived in the Memory Wood for as long as he can remember. It’s the only home he’s ever known.

Elissa has only just arrived. And she’ll do everything she can to escape.

When Elijah stumbles across thirteen-year-old Elissa, in the woods where her abductor is hiding her, he refuses to alert the police. Because in his twelve years, Elijah has never had a proper friend. And he doesn’t want Elissa to leave.

Not only that, Elijah knows how this can end. After all, Elissa isn’t the first girl he’s found inside the Memory Wood.

As her abductor’s behaviour grows more erratic, Elissa realises that outwitting strange, lonely Elijah is her only hope of survival. Their cat-and-mouse game of deception and betrayal will determine both their fates, and whether either of them will ever leave the Memory Wood . . .

6. The Unspoken Name – A. K. Larkwood
What if you knew how and when you will die?

Csorwe does — she will climb the mountain, enter the Shrine of the Unspoken, and gain the most honored title: sacrifice.

But on the day of her foretold death, a powerful mage offers her a new fate. Leave with him, and live. Turn away from her destiny and her god to become a thief, a spy, an assassin—the wizard’s loyal sword. Topple an empire, and help him reclaim his seat of power.

But Csorwe will soon learn – gods remember, and if you live long enough, all debts come due.

7. Serpent & Dove – Shelby Mahurin
Bound as one to love, honor, or burn.

Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.

Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou’s, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony.

The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou’s most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made.

And love makes fools of us all.

8. All the Wandering Light – Heather Fawcett
After the terrifying events on Mount Raksha, the witches have returned, and River has betrayed Kamzin to regain his dark powers. The witches’ next step: march on the Three Cities and take over the Empire—led by River’s brother, Esha.

If Kamzin is to save Azmiri and prevent the fall of the Empire, she must find a star that fell in the Ash Mountains to the north. Fallen stars have immense power, and if Kamzin and Lusha can find the star, they can use its magic to protect the Empire. To get there, Kamzin has allied with Azar-at, the dangerous and deceptive fire demon, who can grant her great power—in exchange for pieces of her soul. But River wants the star too, and as their paths collide in dangerous and unexpected ways, Kamzin must wrestle with both her guilt and her conflicted feelings for the person who betrayed her.

Facing dark magic, a perilous journey, and a standoff against the witches, can Kamzin, Lusha, and Tem find the star and save their Empire?

So those are my January TBR choices! If you have any tips for sticking to a TBR I’d love to hear them, and if you’ve read any of these I’d love to know what you thought!

Most Anticipated 2020 Releases!

January 4, 2020 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 6 Comments

The Girl and the Stars – Mark Lawrence
In the ice, east of the Black Rock, there is a hole into which broken children are thrown.

On Abeth the vastness of the ice holds no room for individuals. Survival together is barely possible. No one survives alone.

To resist the cold, to endure the months of night when even the air itself begins to freeze, requires a special breed. Variation is dangerous, difference is fatal. And Yaz is not the same.

Yaz is torn from the only life she’s ever known, away from her family, from the boy she thought she would spend her days with, and has to carve out a new path for herself in a world whose existence she never suspected. A world full of difference and mystery and danger.

Yaz learns that Abeth is older and stranger than she had ever imagined. She learns that her weaknesses are another kind of strength. And she learns to challenge the cruel arithmetic of survival that has always governed her people.

Only when it’s darkest you can see the stars.

Release Date: April 30th 2020

A Conjuring of Assassins – Cate Glass
A Conjuring of Assassins is Cate Class’s second adventure with the Chimera team, a ragtag crew who use their forbidden magic for the good of the kingdom.

Romy and her three partners in crime—a sword master, a silversmith, and her thieving brother—have embraced their roles as the Shadow Lord’s agents, using their forbidden magic to accomplish tasks his other spies cannot.

Now, they’ve been tasked with locating a list of powerful men and women pledged to assassinate the tyrant Protector of Mercediare, Cantagna’s most dangerous enemy. Then, they must destroy the list before it falls into the Protector’s hands, where it could plunge the entire Costa Drago into a rampage of murderous vengeance.

But when Placidio and Romy infiltrate the ambassador’s household by impersonating a cloth merchant and an aspiring diviner, they discover that the ambassador’s oddities and the prisoner’s identity signal dangers far more explosive than exposing the Assassins List.

Release Date: February 4th 2020

Ruthless Gods – Emily A. Duncan
Darkness never works alone…

Nadya doesn’t trust her magic anymore. Serefin is fighting off a voice in his head that doesn’t belong to him. Malachiasz is at war with who–and what–he’s become.

As their group is continually torn apart, the girl, the prince, and the monster find their fates irrevocably intertwined. They’re pieces on a board, being orchestrated by someone… or something. The voices that Serefin hears in the darkness, the ones that Nadya believes are her gods, the ones that Malachiasz is desperate to meet—those voices want a stake in the world, and they refuse to stay quiet any longer.

In her dramatic follow-up to Wicked Saints, the first book in her Something Dark and Holy trilogy, Emily A. Duncan paints a Gothic, icy world where shadows whisper, and no one is who they seem, with a shocking ending that will leave you breathless.

Release Date: April 7th 2020

Deep – Alma Katsu
Someone, or something, is haunting the Titanic.

This is the only way to explain the series of misfortunes that have plagued the passengers of the ship from the moment they set sail: mysterious disappearances, sudden deaths. Now suspended in an eerie, unsettling twilight zone during the four days of the liner’s illustrious maiden voyage, a number of the passengers – including millionaires Madeleine Astor and Benjamin Guggenheim, the maid Annie Hebbley and Mark Fletcher – are convinced that something sinister is going on . . . And then, as the world knows, disaster strikes.

Years later and the world is at war. And a survivor of that fateful night, Annie, is working as a nurse on the sixth voyage of the Titanic’s sister ship, the Britannic, now refitted as a hospital ship. Plagued by the demons of her doomed first and near fatal journey across the Atlantic, Annie comes across an unconscious soldier she recognises while doing her rounds. It is the young man Mark. And she is convinced that he did not – could not – have survived the sinking of the Titanic . . .

Brilliantly combining fact and fiction, the historical and the horrific, The Deep reveals a chilling truth in an unputdownable narrative full of unnerving moments and with a growing, inexorable sense of foreboding.

Release Date: March 10th 2020

Queen in Hiding – Sarah Kozloff
Debut author Sarah Kozloff offers a breathtaking and cinematic epic fantasy of a ruler coming of age in A Queen in Hiding, and all four books will be published within a month of each other, so you can binge your favorite new fantasy series.

Orphaned, exiled and hunted, Cérulia, Princess of Weirandale, must master the magic that is her birthright, become a ruthless guerilla fighter, and transform into the queen she is destined to be.

But to do it she must win the favor of the spirits who play in mortal affairs, assemble an unlikely group of rebels, and wrest the throne from a corrupt aristocracy whose rot has spread throughout her kingdom.

Release Date: January 21st 2020

Aurora Burning – Ami Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Our heroes are back… kind of. From the bestselling co-authors of the Illuminae Files comes the second book in the epic series about a squad of misfits, losers, and discipline cases who just might be the galaxy’s best hope for survival.

First, the bad news: an ancient evil—you know, your standard consume-all-life-in-the-galaxy deal—is about to be unleashed. The good news? Squad 312 is standing by to save the day. They’ve just got to take care of a few small distractions first.

Like the clan of gremps who’d like to rearrange their favorite faces.

And the cadre of illegit GIA agents with creepy flowers where their eyes used to be, who’ll stop at nothing to get their hands on Auri.

Then there’s Kal’s long-lost sister, who’s not exactly happy to see her baby brother, and has a Syldrathi army at her back. With half the known galaxy on their tails, Squad 312 has never felt so wanted.

When they learn the Hadfield has been found, it’s time to come out of hiding. Two centuries ago, the colony ship vanished, leaving Auri as its sole survivor. Now, its black box might be what saves them. But time is short, and if Auri can’t learn to master her powers as a Trigger, the squad and all their admirers are going to be deader than the Great Ultrasaur of Abraaxis IV.

Shocking revelations, bank heists, mysterious gifts, inappropriately tight bodysuits, and an epic firefight will determine the fate of the Aurora Legion’s most unforgettable heroes—and maybe the rest of the galaxy as well.

Release Date: May 5th 2020

Spellhacker – M. K. England
In Kyrkarta, magic—known as maz—was once a freely available natural resource. Then an earthquake released a magical plague, killing thousands and opening the door for a greedy corporation to make maz a commodity that’s tightly controlled—and, of course, outrageously expensive.

Which is why Diz and her three best friends run a highly lucrative, highly illegal maz siphoning gig on the side. Their next job is supposed to be their last heist ever.

No pressure.

Release Date: January 21st 2020

The Unspoken Name – A. K. Larkwood
What if you knew how and when you will die?

Csorwe does — she will climb the mountain, enter the Shrine of the Unspoken, and gain the most honored title: sacrifice.

But Csorwe will soon learn – gods remember, and if you live long enough, all debts come due.

Release Date: February 11th 2020

So those are some 2020 releases I’m really excited about! What are your most anticipated releases for the new year? Let me know below!

20 Books I Want to Read in 2020!

January 3, 2020 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 4 Comments

I thought it would be fun to do a post of 20 of the books on my TBR that I really want to get to this year. As always my TBR is overflowing and these are some books that have been on there for a bit and I am really excited to get to them. Hopefully I can make a post at the end of the year and I’ll have ticked them all off – so here goes!

1. Sorcery of Thorns – Margaret Rogerson
2. Finale – Stephanie Garber
3. Bloodchild – Anna Stephens
4. Blood Heir – Amelia Wen Zhao

5. Stalking Jack the Ripper – Kerri Maniscalco
6. Priory of the Orange Tree – Samantha Shannon
7. Dispel Illusion – Mark Lawrence
8. Deviate – Jay Kristoff

9. Serpent & Dove – Shelby Mahurin
10. Girls of Paper and Fire – Natasha Ngan
11. A Curse So Dark and Lonely – Brigid Kemmerer
12. The Deathless – Peter Newman

13. Scythe – Neal Shusterman
14. The Queens of Innis Lear – Tessa Gratton
15. The Dragon Republic – R. F. Kuang
16. The Demon World – Sally Green

17. King of Fools – Amanda Foody
18. Empress of All Seasons – Emiko Jean
19. All the Wandering Light – Heather Fawcett
20. Truthwitch – Susan Dennard

So those are 20 books I hope to read in 2020! If you’ve read any I’d love to know what you thought and if you think there’s any I should prioritise, definitely let me know!

2019 Reading Resolutions: Results

January 2, 2020 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Last year I made a post with some resolutions for my reading in 2019. I thought it would be fun to do a little follow up post just to see if I managed to reach my goals (spoiler: I did not) – so let’s dive in!

Resolution #1: Read 150 Books
My original Goodreads goal for 2019 was to read 150 books. I read 142 in 2018 and thought this was a pretty reasonable goal. Near the end of the year I had to lower it to 100 books and I ended up reading a total of 108. I started a new job and started driving to work rather than getting the train so I ended up reading less. I’m still pleased with reading 108 and hope I can read even more in 2020.

Resolution #2: Catalogue my TBR and make it smaller
So this is a sort of completed goal. I have begun the process of cataloguing my TBR. I find it quite painstaking to sit and collate everything but I’ve done two bookcases and I’m working on the others. I’ve gotten a lot better at unhauling and it has made a massive difference to both my TBR and the amount of books in my house. I’m definitely hoping to continue this into the new year and get rid of the books I won’t read again or am no longer interested in.

Resolution #3: Get better at scheduling posts
I mentioned this already but I started a new job in 2019, a complete change of job that I found quite hectic and it meant I didn’t have as much spare time for blogging and reading. It has meant my scheduling has gotten better, but I’ve been posting less frequently. Hoping to be a bit more consistent in 2020!

Resolution #4: Improve my Netgalley score
I think this is going to be my eternal struggle. When I did the original post my score was sitting at 40%. For a while I was doing really well and it was increasing but it has once again fallen by the wayside and I am sitting at 46%. This is definitely one I’m really going to try and work on this year.

Resolution #5: Read outside my comfort zone
I think I’ve done quite well at reading outside my comfort zone last year. My predominant reads were still fantasy and science fiction but I also read quite a few crime novels as well as some historical and literary fiction. I would like to try and incorporate more non-fiction, so if you have any recommendations I’d love to hear them.

Resolution #6: Participate in more readathons
This was definitely a success for me. I find readathons really help me to challenge myself, participate in something fun and also read things I might not consider picking up. I participated in tons of readathons last year and I definitely want to continue that this year as well.

So those are the results of my 2019 reading resolutions! A pretty mixed bag, but I’m hoping I can improve this year. How did you fare with your reading resolutions? Let me know below!

Favourite Books of 2019!

January 1, 2020January 1, 2020 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 2 Comments

Today I’m back with my favourite books of 2019. I always find it quite hard to whittle it down to only 10 books, but after some deliberation I’ve managed to pick them. I managed to read 108 books in 2019, so in no particular order here are my favourites!

1. The Queen of Nothing – Holly Black
The third and final instalment in The Folk of the Air trilogy, I couldn’t put this book down. I loved every second of this magic series.

2. The Poppy War – R. F. Kuang
I’m a bit late to the party with The Poppy War. I know the sequel The Dragon Republic is already out but I finally got around to picking up book one and I completely loved it. Book two is one of my top priority reads for 2020.

3. Sanctuary – V. V. James
This supernatural mystery/thriller had me hooked from the very beginning and I never wanted this story to end. I definitely had a few sleepless nights while I stayed up late reading this one.

4. The Furies – Katie Lowe
This dark and eerie tale of obsession, revenge and murder was so brilliant I still think about it even though I read it months ago. I’ve been recommending this book to pretty much everyone I know and it’s definitely going in my all time favourites.

5. Night Film – Marisha Pessl
I picked this up on the recommendation of someone else and it was genuinely one of the creepiest, most spine tingling books I’ve ever read. This was my first book by Marisha Peshl, but I can’t wait to read more from her.

6. An Illusion of Thieves – Cate Glass
An Illusion of Thieves was a book that completely took me by surprise. I expected to enjoy the story but I didn’t expect to get completely wrapped up in this vivid tale of magic and survival. Book two is definitely one my most anticipated releases for 2020.

7. Limited Wish – Mark Lawrence
The second instalment of Mark Lawrence’s Impossible Times series is just as action packed and exciting as book one and some of the twists completely blew me away. The third and final book Dispel Illusion is going to be one of my first reads in January.

8. Wicked Saints – Emily A. Duncan
I know this book received some mix reactions but I really enjoyed the unique magic system and the exciting plot. I’m really intrigued to see where the series will go next.

9. Aurora Rising – Ami Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
For some reason I didn’t get around to reading that many science fiction books in 2019 but Aurora Rising was one of the stand out ones. I loved this action packed space adventure with unique characters and witty banter.

10. Ninth House – Leigh Bardugo
Last but certainly not least, Leigh Bardugo’s newest book about secret magical societies at Yale was definitely one of my favourite reads in the last half of the year. I can’t wait for the sequel to this one and I’m sure it’s going to be just as intense and unputdownable.

So those are my favourite reads of 2019! Which books were your favourite reads this year? And if you’ve read any of these I’d love to know what you thought!

Blog Tour: Storm of Ash – Michelle Kenney

December 14, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Series: Book of Fire #3

Release Date: December 11th 2019

Publisher: HQ Digital

Pages: 384

Find it on: Goodreads. Amazon.

Source: The publisher kindly sent me an E-ARC via Netgalley.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Synopsis

The brand new novel from Michelle Kenney, author of the Book of Fire and City of Dust! As Talia treks back through the treacherous North Mountains, she knows only three things: Pantheon has stolen nearly everyone she loves; Her blood is the only control over the Voynich’s oldest secret; And Cassius won’t stop hunting Arafel until every last outsider is destroyed. Will Talia finally face her legacy and defeat Cassius before it is too late?

Review

The Book of Fire series is fast becoming one of my favourite series of all time. I fell in love with the world and the characters in Book of Fire and I absolutely adored City of Dust. I was so excited to pick up the third instalment in the series and had incredibly high expectations. I of course loved every second of this fast paced and exhilarating story that I didn’t want to end.

As this is the third and final instalment in the series I won’t say too much about the plot of the book as I really don’t want to spoil this brilliant series for anyone. Storm of Ash probably could be read as a standalone but you’re definitely better off catching up on the first two books before setting off.

Talia is a fantastic protagonist, she’s such an interesting character and I’ve loved seeing her on this adventure, growing as a character as she battles Cassius and the pantheon. She’s a strong and determined character and you’ll be rooting for her right to the very end.

I really love Michelle Kenney’s writing style. It’s vivid and addictive and it’s so easy just to get swept along in this epic tale of good versus evil. The world building is also exceptional, everything is well fleshed out and you’re given plenty of opportunity to understand the world.

The Book of Fire series is everything I love about YA fantasy. It’s a strong compelling series that I can’t recommend highly enough and I’m so looking forward to read more from Michelle Kenney.

The Bibliophile Chronicles

Author: Nicole Sweeney

Book Review: Blood Countess – Lana Popovic

Synopsis

Review

Waiting on Wednesday: One of Us Is Next – Karen M. McManus

Synopsis

Thoughts

2020 Reading Resolutions!

Blog Tour: The God Game – Danny Tobey

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Review

January TBR!

Most Anticipated 2020 Releases!

20 Books I Want to Read in 2020!

2019 Reading Resolutions: Results

Favourite Books of 2019!

Blog Tour: Storm of Ash – Michelle Kenney

Synopsis

Review