Magical Readathon Charms Extra Credit TBR

October 7, 2018October 7, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 13 Comments

The Magical Readathon: Charms Extra Credit is a readthon that was created by BookRoast over on Youtube. This readathon is Harry Potter related and allows you to sit exams based on the classes at Hogwarts. I didn’t manage to participate in them this year, but they’re running again in 2019 so I thought starting off with this extra credit was the perfect way to start. Doing the extra credit now will give me a head start for the OWLs when they come around next year. I really enjoy participating in readthons, and challenging myself. This readthon is running 8-13th of October and has five challenges. I don’t know if I’ll manage to read them all but they’re all books I’ve been dying to read so I’m hoping that makes a difference!

Spell #1: Alohamora – read a book that’s first in a series.
For this I’ve decided to go with Mirage by Somaiya Daud. This is the first in a new science fiction fantasy series, featuring a young slave girl who is used as the body double for a princess in case she is assassinated. I bought a copy of this recently and have been dying to pick it up. I’m hoping it will be an exciting and intense read!

Spell #2: Accio – read a book that’s top of your TBR.
I deliberated on this one for ages because there are so many books on my TBR that I am desperate to read. I eventually decided on Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller. I read the first book in the series earlier in the year and absolutely loved it. It was such a fun and quick read. I got a beautiful hardback copy of this for my birthday so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to pick it up.

Spell #3: Incendio – a book with the words ‘fire’ or ‘flame’ in the title/series name, or a flame picture on the cover.
For this I’ve gone with The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden. It’s quite a big book but I have been dying to read it for so long and it has flames on the cover, making it the perfect excuse to read the conclusion to what is one of my favourite trilogies ever.

Spell #4: Rictusempra – book that ‘tickles you the right way’ (exciting trope/theme/genre)
One of my favourite themes in books is witches. October is the perfect time of year for witchy books and I have so many of them to read this Halloween. With that in mind I decided for this challenge to go for The Wicked Deep by Shea Earnshaw. This was another book I got for my birthday and I have been hoping to pick up ASAP.

Spell #5: Lumos – book with a light cover.
It took me ages to find a book on my shelves with a white cover. I narrowed it down to a few but most didn’t fit the kind of book I was looking for for a readathon (literary fiction/non-fiction), but I finally found One Of Us Is Lying by Karen MacManus and I thought this would go so well. It has a white cover and is a perfect twisty turny thriller for the readathon.

So there we have my Magical Readathon Charms Extra Credit TBR. Are you participating in the readthon? If you are what are you reading? and if you’ve read any of these let me know what you thought of them!

September Wrap Up!

October 7, 2018December 12, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 11 Comments

October is here! October is definitely my favourite reading month, I love reading a dark and spooky read with a cup of tea and a warm fuzzy blanket. I’m hoping to get through quite a few books in October but for September I managed to read twelve books and one short story. So without further rambling here are the books I read in September!

1. Ruin and Rising – Leigh Bardugo
I FINALLY READ IT. Even though I loved the first two books in the series and have read them more than once I had never read Ruin and Rising. I finally read it in September and it was amazing. I’ve grown so attached to these characters and I thought it was the perfect ending to the series. I’m so excited to continue on with reading Leigh Bardugo’s books because she does such an amazing job of creating these complex characters you can’t help but love. (5/5 stars)

2. Snapshot – Brandon Sanderson
This short little book is a science fiction story in which snapshots of an event are taken and police officers can enter the snapshot to find out exactly what happened and help to solve a case. The book does a lot in such a short amount of pages and the ending completely blew my mind. This is definitely a must read for Brandon Sanderson fans. (3/5 stars)

3. P.S. I Still Love You – Jenny Han
I picked up the next instalment of the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series and I enjoyed this one just as much as the first. Sweet and cute, this is the perfect light and fun read. I raced through it and really liked the introduction of John. (4/5 stars)

4. Fight Club – Chuck Palahniuk
This is one of those well known books I’ve been meaning to read for a long time and honestly, I’m not really sure I got it. I didn’t like the writing style at all and I didn’t connect with any of the characters. Fight Club definitely wasn’t a book for me. (2/5 stars)

5. What If It’s Us – Becky Albertalli & Adam Silveria
THIS BOOK IS SO CUTE AND ADORABLE. I love Arthur and Ben so much. This story is so fun and enjoyable and I raced through it because I loved the characters so much. I did feel the plot was a little on the predictable side, but overall this is a gorgeous contemporary story that fans of these authors will absolutely adore. (4/5 stars)

6. Another Place – Matthew Crow
This was the first book I read for Contemporary-AThon and I really enjoyed it. The story is a mystery following the disappearance of a young girl and I enjoyed the twisty turny parts of the story. I won’t go into much detail because you can get more of my thoughts from my Contemporary-AThon wrap up here! (4/5 stars)

7. A Thousand Perfect Notes – C. G. Drews
This was another read for Contemporary-AThon. It was a really beautiful, emotional read and I’m so glad I picked it up after sitting on my shelves for a few months. It’s definitely stayed with me even after finishing it. (4/5 stars)

8. Easy Prey – Catherine Lo
I hadn’t expected to love this book as much as I did. This story follows three students blamed for releasing racy pictures of a teacher online and all three claim they are not responsible. The story jumps between time and character until the perpetrator is revealed and it was such a fantastic read. (5/5 stars)

9. Always and Forever Lara Jean – Jenny Han
I used the Contemporary-AThon to read the last book in this lovely series. It was bitter sweet and I enjoyed it so much. I’m definitely going to be picking up more Jenny Han books in the future. (4/5 stars)

10. The Gilded King – Josie Jaffrey
This fantasy novel blends so many different elements, from immortal vampires to a post apocalyptic world with zombies like beings. Told in alternating points of view it was such an intense, gripping read and I enjoyed it from start to finish. (4/5 stars)

11. The Sisters of the Winter Wood – Rena Rossner
This has got to be my favourite book that I read in September. The tale of two sisters who can shape shift – one into a swan and the other a bear – and what happens when they are left on their own while they parents visit a dying relative. It was dark, creepy and fairy tale like and I absolutely loved it. You can read my full review of this book here! (5/5 stars)
12. The Demon in the Wood – Leigh Bardugo
This is a very short story following the Darkling before the events of the Grisha trilogy. It was really fascinating to see another side to his character and learn more about his life with Baghra. My only complaint is that it was too short and I would love a whole novel about him and how he became the Darkling. (5/5 stars)

13. Slade House – David Mitchell
This is another book that has been on my shelves for ages. It follows a brother and sister who lure people into their house in order to use their souls to give them ever-lasting life. I listened to this on audiobook and while I enjoyed the story I think perhaps I might have enjoyed it more if I had read it rather than listened to it. (3/5 stars)

So that’s my wrap up for September! What did you read in September and have you read any of these? If you have let me know what you thought!

Blog Tour: The Caged Queen – Kirsten Ciccarelli

October 5, 2018December 12, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 4 Comments

Series: Iskari #2
Release Date: 25th September 2018
Publisher: Gollancz
Pages: 400
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.

Synopsis

Once there were two sisters born with a bond so strong that it forged them together forever. When they were angry, mirrors shattered, and when they were happy, flowers bloomed. It was a magic they cherished—until the day a terrible accident took Essie’s life and trapped her soul in this world.

Dax—the heir to Firgaard’s throne—was responsible for the accident. Roa swore to hate him forever. But eight years later he returned, begging for her help. He was determined to dethrone his cruel father, under whose oppressive reign Roa’s people had suffered. Roa made him a deal: she’d give him the army he needed if he made her queen.

Together with Dax and his sister, Asha, Roa and her people waged war and deposed a tyrant. But now Asha is on the run, hiding from the price on her head. And Roa is an outlander queen, far from home and married to her enemy. Worst of all: Dax’s promises go unfulfilled. Roa’s people continue to suffer.

Then a chance to right every wrong arises—an opportunity for Roa to rid herself of this enemy king and rescue her beloved sister. During the Reliquishing, when the spirits of the dead are said to return, Roa can reclaim her sister for good.

All she has to do is kill the king.

Review

I was so excited for the release of The Caged Queen. I absolutely adored the world Ciccarelli created in The Last Namsara and this second instalment definitely didn’t disappoint.

Fast paced and action packed, The Caged Queen follows a different point of view character this time around. We also get to stay characters from the previous instalment and it was great to revisit the characters I’ve grown attached to. They are well developed and it’s great to see them grow and develop as the story continues on. One of the things I love about this story is that the characters are scheming, looking to take power or advance their cause. It makes for a really interesting set of dynamics and something that Ciccarelli does incredibly well. It was also great to get more history about Roa and the other characters from the series.

The Caged Queen has plenty of political intrigue and mixing this with the history and backstory for the world and the character makes for a really engrossing tapestry. The Last Namsara was more action based, with dragons and fighting whilst this instalment was much more politics focused, bringing in the trials and schemes of court life. I really love the author’s writing style and think that this is a really fantastic new fantasy series. Ciccarelli has done a magnificent job with this second instalment and I’m so excited to see how the story is going to continue in The Sky Weaver.

Blog Tour: A Blade So Black – L. L. McKinney

October 4, 2018October 4, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 4 Comments

Synopsis

The first time the Nightmares came, it nearly cost Alice her life. Now she’s trained to battle monstrous creatures in the dark dream realm known as Wonderland with magic weapons and hardcore fighting skills. Yet even warriors have a curfew.

Life in real-world Atlanta isn’t always so simple, as Alice juggles an overprotective mom, a high-maintenance best friend, and a slipping GPA. Keeping the Nightmares at bay is turning into a full-time job. But when Alice’s handsome and mysterious mentor is poisoned, she has to find the antidote by venturing deeper into Wonderland than she’s ever gone before. And she’ll need to use everything she’s learned in both worlds to keep from losing her head . . . literally.

Excerpt

Now check out an exclusive excerpt from this beautiful book!

“Hatta”. Louder this time, but not enough. Leaves and branches slapped at her as she ran blind through the forest. Twigs stung her face and tugged at her hair. She lifted her hands to guard her head as her legs pumped and her heart hammered. A sudden drop into a ditch took her feet out from under her. She cried out when she hit the ground and tumbled down the incline. She dropped off a short overhang and landed in a trench on her side. Agony spiked through her torso. Something hard dug into her hip. Her injured leg felt like little more than wrenched nerves and torn flesh engulfed in hot hurt, but she forced it and her other one under herself. They barely held her weight.
The Nightmare bellowed as it slammed into the ditch behind her. Branches snapped. Rocks tumbled. Alice’s heart jackknifed between her lungs. The monster flailed, trying to regain its feet.

Her lips pursed, locked between her teeth. Blood coated her tongue, copper sweet. Her scream welled up from her gut, scorched her throat, and nearly knocked her teeth loose as it tore free. “Hatta!” His name echoed through gunk and mud, her mind frantic with terror. He couldn’t hear her. She was too far away from the Gateway.

She tried to run, but her now-useless leg gave completely. She fell against a boulder lodged in the dirt, barely pushing away in time to avoid being impaled as talons raked along stone with a shriek. Sparks flew.

Scrambling, she rolled in under the Nightmare’s arm and hurled herself at its body. Inky fur stuck wet to her skin as she drove the knife into its belly. The beast howled but couldn’t get at her, not with its movements restricted by the high, close trench walls.

What looked like tar and smelled like rotting flesh spilled over her hands and forearms as she gritted her teeth, pushing, trying to reach the core with her blade. The Nightmare twisted and turned, finally able to get a swing in. The swipe caught her across the face. Stars exploded against the backs of her eyes. Her teeth rattled. She staggered away, her weapon still lodged in the beast. It slapped at the hilt with massive paws.

Alice’s vision speckled. She dropped to the ground, her ears ringing. Blinking did little to clear the haze over her eyes. Somehow, she saw the knife, saw how it caused the beast pain.

Hauling herself upright, nearly losing her head to another swipe in the process, Alice gripped a root jutting out from a wall of dirt overhead with both hands and flung her good leg out. Her heel caught the dagger’s hilt like a hammer on a nail and drove it into the beast.

It loosed a wail, tearing at its flesh with one arm, the other trapped by the trench. The knife was too deep and couldn’t be pulled out. The monster bucked and thrashed, putrid pus pouring to the mud beneath it.

I’m currently reading A Blade So Black now and it’s a fantastic action packed read. A Blade So Black is available now from Titan Books so you can pick up a copy now!

Waiting on Wednesday #3 – A Curse so Dark and Lonely – Brigid Kemmerer

October 3, 2018October 3, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 2 Comments

Synopsis

Fall in love, break the curse.

It once seemed so easy to Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall. Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over, he knew he could be saved if a girl fell for him. But that was before he learned that at the end of each autumn, he would turn into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. That was before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper Lacy. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother barely holding their family together while constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, she learned to be tough enough to survive. But when she tries to save someone else on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s instead somehow sucked into Rhen’s cursed world.

Break the curse, save the kingdom.

A prince? A monster? A curse? Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. But as she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.

Thoughts

I am so excited for the release of A Curse So Dark and Lonely in 2019. I absolutely adore retellings and I don’t think I’ve read very many Beauty and the Beast retellings. It sounds like it’s going to be a fast-paced and beautiful read. I’ve read a few books by Brigid Kemmerer – Letters To the Lost and More Than We Can Tell. I loved them both so I’m really excited to see what she does with this dark fairy tale. I also think the cover is absolutely stunning and I’m so desperate to read it. A Curse So Dark and Lonely is coming January 29th 2019 from Bloomsbury Children’s.

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I’d Love to Meet

October 2, 2018September 30, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 4 Comments

Today’s Top 10 Tuesday is all about authors I would love to meet. I love going to signings and events so there are loads of authors I would love to meet and chat about their wonderful books!

1. Maria V. Snyder
Maria V. Snyder is one of my favourite authors. I love her Poison Study series and I would love the chance to get my copies signed. She did an event in Edinburgh a few years ago and I didn’t manage to get to it, so I keep my fingers crossed that she might do one again in the future.

2. Cate Tiernan
I absolutely adored Cate Tiernan’s books growing up. Her Sweep series was my favourite and I would love to get the chance to meet her. She hasn’t released any books recently (that I know of) so I’m sure I’ll ever get the chance.

3. Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Carlos Ruiz Zafon writes masterpieces and I would love to go to an event and get my copies signed because they are some of my favourite books of all time.

4. Amanda Foody
Amanda Foody is a recent author to add to my list. I loved Ace of Shades so much and I would love to get my copy signed and tell her how much I loved it.

5. Stephanie Garber
I have a signed edition of Legandary already but I’d love to meet Stephanie Garber and get my copies of Caraval signed because it’s such a beautifully written story.

6. J. K. Rowling
Like so many people I grew up with Harry Potter and would love to get my battered and loved copies signed because Harry Potter was one of the reasons I loved reading so much.

7. Neil Gaiman
I’m a massive Neil Gaiman fan and I’m steadily trying to read all the books in his catalogue. I’d love to go to an event and hear him talk about the inspiration and writing process for his books.

8. Laura Purcell
Laura Purcell’s books have genuinely scared the living daylights out of me. I loved The Silent Companions and I’m reading The Corset and loving it. Hopefully I can get my copies signed soon!

9. Heather Fawcett
Even the Darkest Stars was one of my favourite books of 2017. I’m so excited to read the sequel and I would love to meet the creator of this gorgeous series.

10. Katherine Arden
I rant about how much I love Katherine Arden’s books all the time so it’s probably no surprise that I would love to meet her because The Winternight Trilogy will forever be one of my most loved series.

So that’s my top ten authors I would love to meet. Have you met any of these authors? And which authors are on your list?

Book Review: The Sisters of the Winter Wood – Rena Rossner

October 1, 2018September 30, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 10 Comments

Release Date: 27th September 2018
Publisher: Orbit Books
Pages: 464
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review.

Synopsis

A magical tale of secrets, family ties and fairy tales weaving through history.

Raised in a small village surrounded by vast forests, Liba and Laya have lived a peaceful sheltered life – even if they’ve heard of troubling times for Jews elsewhere. When their parents travel to visit their dying grandfather, the sisters are left behind in their home in the woods.

But before they leave, Liba discovers the secret that their Tati can transform into a bear, and their Mami into a swan. Perhaps, Liba realizes, the old fairy tales are true. She must guard this secret carefully, even from her beloved sister.

Soon a troupe of mysterious men appear in town and Laya falls under their spell-despite their mother’s warning to be wary of strangers. And these are not the only dangers lurking in the woods…

The sisters will need each other if they are to become the women they need to be – and save their people from the dark forces that draw closer.

Review

The Sisters of the Winter Wood captured my attention from the very beginning and absolutely did not let me go. This is a stunning fairy tale style story that will definitely be on my list of favourite books of 2018.

The story follows two sisters – Liba and Laya – who live on the outskirts of a forest. When their parents leave to travel to their father’s home town, the girls must fend for themselves as well as deal with the secrets that they have learned – that Liba can transform into a bear, and Laya into a swan. But not everything in the forest is friendly and with people in nearby towns spouting anti-Semitic views, the sisters must fight to save each other.

I loved everything about this book. The writing style is gorgeous, and the chapters alternate between the two sisters. Liba’s chapters are told in a traditional format and Laya’s are told in short prose like sentences. I loved the difference between the two and it really brought to life the difference between the practical sister and the dreamlike one.

The plot is exciting and beautifully paced. I raced through this book in two days because I could not put it down. I adored the wealth of detail in the magic and the way Rossner weaved all the magical elements into the story.

The story isn’t just a reimagining of the classic fairy tale. Woven into the tale is a life in a small village and how the seeds of hatred can spread through a nation. As bad things happen and people are discovered dead, the townspeople look to blame the Jewish for their bad luck. I thought this was a really fascinating element to the story and was even more intrigued to discover that this was inspired by true events that occurred in the authors ancestry. It definitely added another fascinating layer to this brilliant story.

The story deals with so many topics, friendship, family, sister love and loss. It’s a stunning debut and fans of books like The Bear and the Nightingale will absolutely adore this one. For me it was the perfect autumn read, full of gorgeous depictions of the forest and plenty of dark and creepy moments. The Sisters of the Winter Wood is a magnificent, engrossing read that you definitely need to add to your wish list.

Book Review: The Testament of Loki – Joanne M. Harris

September 30, 2018December 12, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Series: Loki #2
Release Date: 17th May 2018
Publisher: Gollancz
Pages: 320
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy to review.

Synopsis

Ragnarok was the End of Worlds.

Asgard fell, centuries ago, and the old gods have been defeated. Some are dead, while others have been consigned to eternal torment in the netherworld – among them, the legendary trickster, Loki. A god who betrayed every side and still lost everything, who has lain forgotten as time passed and the world of humans moved on to new beliefs, new idol and new deities . . .

But now mankind dreams of the Norse Gods once again, the river Dream is but a stone’s throw from their dark prison, and Loki is the first to escape into a new reality.

The first, but not the only one to. Other, darker, things have escaped with him, who seek to destroy everything that he covets. If he is to reclaim what has been lost, Loki will need allies, a plan, and plenty of tricks . . .

Review

This is the second of Joanne Harris’s books featuring the trickster God Loki. I absolutely loved The Gospel of Loki so I was really excited to return to this series. In this instalment Ragnarok has occurred, Asgard has fallen and Loki has very few options. By chance he escapes eternal torment only to end up sharing the body of a young teenage girl.

One of the things I really adored about this book is the way that Joanne Harris writes this series. Loki is of course a trickster, he’s mischievous and scheming and that really comes across in the narrative. It’s very much like you’re sitting down with Loki and he’s regaling you with his greatest feats. I loved seeing things from his perspective and watching as he managed to worm his way out of every situation.

The Testament of Loki really was an emotional read. There were bits I was laughing (Loki attempting to understand the modern world of mobile phones and pizza) to the sadder moments as Loki grows as a person and learns to care about people other than himself. I really liked Jumps, (Loki’s host) she was a fascinating character and she had a terrific amount of character development as she dealt with her problems and became who she wanted to be.

The story is fun and fast paced, with plenty of Loki’s schemes leaving you wondering what on Earth he’s going to do next. These books are such a fun and accessible way to learn about Norse mythology and I can’t recommend them highly enough.

Book Review: The Way Past Winter – Kiran Milwood Hargrave

September 29, 2018December 12, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Release Date: 4th October 2018
Pages: 256
Publisher: Chicken House Books
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: I won an ARC of this book at YALC.

Synopsis

Mila and her sisters live with their brother Oskar in a small forest cabin in the snow. One night, a fur-clad stranger arrives seeking shelter for himself and his men. But by the next morning, they’ve gone – taking Oskar with them. Fearful for his safety, Mila and her sisters set out to bring Oskar back – even it means going north, crossing frozen wild-lands to find a way past an eternal winter.

Review

This is the eagerly anticipated new book from Kiran Milwood Hargrave, author of the stunning The Girl of Ink and Stars. I started reading this as soon as I received a copy and I read it in a single train journey, it’s a magical absorbing tale and one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read.

The story follows a family who live in an everlasting winter. The scene is set beautifully and the icy landscape is lushly described in the book. I could almost feel the icy winds and see the frozen forest that Mila and her family live. The story definitely felt reminiscent of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and if anything that made me love this book even more.

Much like her previous books, this world is full of magic and Mila and her sister Sanna go on an adventure in search of their brother Oskar. They are inherently different but they do what they must in order to protect their family. The plot is imaginative and exciting and I honestly loved every second of it.

At its heart The Way Past Winter is about family and in particular the relationship between sisters – one brave and determined to find her brother and the other desperate to protect the only family she has left. This really is an imaginative tale that is at times both heart warming and at times bittersweet. This book is definitely the perfect book to cuddle up with on a cold winter night. This magical tale is absolutely worth the wait and fans of The Girl of Ink and Stars are going to adore this spectacular book.

Contemporary-AThon Wrap Up!

September 28, 2018September 24, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 1 Comment

So last week I joined in with the Contemporary-AThon readathon. The goal was to read seven books in the seven days. I pretty much knew I wouldn’t manage all seven but I figured it would be fun to pick a TBR and give it a shot. I managed five and a bit books which I’m really pleased about, so here’s my readthon wrap up!

Challenge 1: Read a book with orange on the cover
For this challenge I read Another Place by Matthew Crow. This book was a really interesting blend of mystery and exploration of mental health. The story follows Claudette, a young teenager dealing with depression. On her release from a mental health facility she learns that her friend Sarah has disappeared. Desperate to know what happened to her Claudette delves into the seedier parts of town to discover the truth behind Sarah’s disappearance. This book was fast paced and intense and I really really enjoyed it. I ended up rating it 3.75 out of 5.
Total Pages: 288

Challenge 2: Read a book by a new to you author
For this I read A Thousand Perfect Notes by C. G. Drews. This is definitely an emotional and hard hitting book. The story follows Beck, a young boy forced to play piano by his physically and emotionally abusive mother. He is incredibly unhappy, but when he’s paired with August to work on a school project, he glimpses the chance of something better. This book will definitely stay with me for a while and I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars.
Total Pages: 570

Challenge 3: Read a book that is dark/spooky/taboo
For this I read Easy Prey by Catherine Lo which I absolutely loved. After a teachers nude pictures are leaked online, three students are deemed responsible. But each student swears they are not responsible, so who did it? I honestly couldn’t put this one down. It was such a twisty, turny read – jumping time and perspective. I gave this one 5 out of 5 stars and it was definitely my favourite read of the readathon.
Total Pages: 970

Challenge 4: Read a diverse book
I decided I would for once in my life complete a series and read the last book in the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series. I really enjoyed Always and Forever Lara Jean, it was just as sweet and lovely as the other books and it really was a great end to the series. I’m definitely going to try and pick up more books from Jenny Han in the future. This one got a 4 out of 5 stars.
Total Pages: 1247

Challenge 5: Read a book in a non-traditional format
Now I had originally planned to read Valley Girls by Sarah Nicole Lemon on my Kindle but I didn’t get the chance to read it. Instead I decided to pick up a mystery graphic novel instead. The Woods Vol 1: The Arrow is a dark mystery story in which 437 students, 52 teachers and 24 additional staff all disappear without a trace. What happened to them and where are they now? This was dark and creepy and I loved it! It turned out to be less of a contemporary and more of a horror/science fiction but I’m still counting it because I read it for the readathon. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
Total Pages: 1375

Challenge 6: Read a book with your initials on the cover
This is the challenge that I haven’t finished yet which is why I only completed five and a half challenges. For this challenge I picked The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente. The story follows a comic book artist who is framed for a murder at comic con. I found the story a little difficult to get into and I’m just over 100 pages in, so I’m hoping the rest of the book picks up.
Total Pages: 1475

Overall I’m pretty pleased with my ContemporaryAThon reading. If I hadn’t been at Bloody Scotland and doing some other bits and pieces I might have completed all the challenges but it was still really fun! Did you participate in the readathon? What books did you read? And if you’ve read any of these let me know what you thought!

The Bibliophile Chronicles

Author: Nicole Sweeney

Magical Readathon Charms Extra Credit TBR

September Wrap Up!

Blog Tour: The Caged Queen – Kirsten Ciccarelli

Synopsis

Review

Blog Tour: A Blade So Black – L. L. McKinney

Synopsis

Excerpt

Waiting on Wednesday #3 – A Curse so Dark and Lonely – Brigid Kemmerer

Synopsis

Thoughts

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I’d Love to Meet

Book Review: The Sisters of the Winter Wood – Rena Rossner

Synopsis

Review

Book Review: The Testament of Loki – Joanne M. Harris

Synopsis

Review

Book Review: The Way Past Winter – Kiran Milwood Hargrave

Synopsis

Review

Contemporary-AThon Wrap Up!