March Wrap Up!

April 21, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 4 Comments

Continuing the tradition of waiting till the very last minute to post my monthly wrap ups, lets dive into what I read in March!

1. One Word Kill – Mark Lawrence
This is the first in an all new science fiction series from Mark Lawrence – one of my all time favourite authors. It was such a fun and exciting read, full of time travel, crazy plot twists and brilliant characters. It gave me serious Stranger Things vibes and I’m honestly so excited to read the next book in the series. You can read my full review of this one here! (5/5 stars)

2. Monsters in the Mirror – A. J. Hartley
Monsters in the Mirror was such an exciting middle grade story. It was full to the brim with adventure and magic and I raced through it. I really loved the plot and I’m so looking forward to reading more from this author. I participated in the blog tour for this one so if you fancy reading my full thoughts you can take a look here. (4/5 stars)

3. Changeling – Cate Tiernan
Continuing my reread of one of my all time favourite series, I hit book number eight in the Sweep/Wicca series. This series is like my go to easy read, I completely adore the characters I definitely think it’s an underrated YA series. I’ve basically been reading one of these a month and I’m not sure what I’m going to do when I get to book fifteen – start all over again? (4.5/5 stars)

4. The Near Witch – V. E. Schwab
This is the recently republished debut by V. E. Schwab and I was really interested in reading it. I went to an event where she explained that she hadn’t edited it since it’s original publication, it was published exactly as it was back then. I really enjoyed the atmospheric setting and the witchy plot. It’s not my favourite Victoria Schwab book but I had a fun time reading it. Full review for this one is here! (3.75/5 stars)

5. Notes on a Nervous Planet – Matt Haig
Non-Fiction is something I would really like to get into more so I thought I would give Notes on a Nervous Planet a go. I really like Matt Haig’s fiction books so I figured this was a perfect opportunity. I opted for the audiobook which is read by the author so it was a really interesting listen. It was a fascinating read and I’m probably going to pick up a physical copy of this and Reasons To Stay Alive. (3/5 stars)

6. Other Words For Smoke – Sarah Maria Griffin
This was such a strange and unusual read. It’s a witchy story about a family living in a very odd house with things in the walls, dark powers and all sorts of mysterious goings on. It gave me Shirley Jackson vibes and I honestly couldn’t stop thinking about it once I’d finished reading. If you’re looking for something a bit different – I definitely recommend this one. (5/5 stars)

7. Burn For Burn – Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivan
I started to feel a bit slumpy after reading Other Words For Smoke so I opted for this fast paced and fun contemporary story about three girls getting revenge on the people that have made their lives hell. It was dramatic and a bit unrealistic but I got swept up in the plot and I’m eager to continue into book two. (3.5/5 stars)

So those are the seven books I read in March! It was a bit less than I would normally read in a month due to the reading slump hit but I’m hoping it will pick up a bit more towards the end of April! If you’ve read any of these definitely let me know what you thought, as well as the books you’ve been reading recently!

2018 Reading Survey!

January 26, 2019January 27, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 11 Comments

I saw this tag over at TV Addicted Bookworm and thought it looked really fun so here’s my 2018 reading survey!

Reading Stats

Number of books read: 142
Number of rereads: 18
Pages Read: 44,112
Genre you read most: Fantasy

Questions

1. Best book you read in 2018?
This is such a difficult question! I read so many wonderful books in 2018 but the book that really sticks with me is The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden. It was a beautiful conclusion to one of my favourite series of all time, it made me cry a couple of times and I’m honestly still trying to process it enough to write a full review.
2. Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love more but didn’t?This was probably Glass Town Wars by Celia Rees. I loved her books growing up so I was really excited to dive back into her writing but this one didn’t really click with me. It was a solid 3 star read but I was expecting something more.

3. Most surprising book you read (in a good or bad way)?
It definitely has to be Mirage by Somaya Daud. I expected to really enjoy this fantasy/science fiction story with doppelgangers and danger but I didn’t expect to completely fall in love with the story and characters. I need book two now!!

4. Book you “pushed” the most people to read (and they did)?
I’m not sure I really pushed anyone to read any particular book but I did talk a lot and post lots of pictures of The Sisters of the Winter Wood and a few people said they were going to pick it up. It’s such a beautiful story I couldn’t help but shout about it.

5. Best series you started in 2018?
This one is cheating slightly but it probably has to be The Folk of the Air by Holly Black. Technically I read The Wicked King in 2019 but can I started the series in 2018 and can confirm it’s the best thing ever.

Best Sequel?
This is definitely Darksoul by Anna Stephens. I’m a bit obsessed with the Godblind trilogy so this was an eagerly awaited release. I couldn’t put it down and it was a brilliant addition to the series. I just wish I didn’t have to wait for the next one.

Best Series Ender?
I shamefully didn’t finish that many series in 2018. I did finally finish the Grisha trilogy by Leigh Bardugo and I thought Ruin and Rising was the perfect ending to a series that has absolutely become one of my favourites.
6. Favourite new author you discovered in 2018?
That would definitely be Jay Kristoff/Ami Kaufman. 2018 saw me finally pick up The Illuminae Files as well as Likelik3 and honestly why did I not read these brilliant books earlier. I’ve since ordered the Nevernight books and I’m already really excited to dive into them.

5. Favourite cover of 2018?
It’s got to go to Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman. This book is gorgeous both inside and out and if you haven’t read it it’s definitely worth getting your hands on a copy because it was a big highlight for me in 2018.

6. A book you can’t believe it took you so long to pick up?
Vicious by V. E. Schwab. 2018 was also my introduction to V. E. Schwab but I can’t believe I’d never read Vicious before. It was so dark and addictive and an instant five star read. I really need to get around to reading Vengeful.

7. Which book made you cry in 2018?
The Letters to the Lost series made me sob in both instalments. I tend not to read books that make you cry but I actually read a few that made me shed a few tears. This heartbreaking series that deals with grief and family and dealing with abuse was impossible not to cry at.

8. Most action packed/unputdownable book you read in 2018?
The second instalment in the Raven’s Mark series was an unputdownable book for me. Ravencry was everything I wanted from the next book in the series. It was fast paced, tons of action and adventure and I raced through it because it was so so good.

9. Book you read in 2018 you’re likely to re-read in 2019?
I read Katherine Arden’s spooky Halloween middle grade Small Spaces this year and thought it was the perfect October read. It’s pretty short so I think I might make it a tradition to read it every Halloween because it’s a lovely creepy story.

10. Best book from outside your comfort zone?
I don’t read much contemporary fiction and 2018 was the year I wanted to push myself outside my comfort zone and read more contemporaries. I read quite a few that I absolutely loved but one surprise was the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series. I’d never had any intention of picking them up because they seemed too romance heavy for me but I binged the entire series and I thought they were brilliant.

11. Most memorable character from 2018?
I totally fell in love with Alosa from Tricia Levenseller’s Daughter of the Pirate King. I read both books in this duology and I loved the headstrong and brazen pirate princess. This series is so addictive and I really wanted another instalment of Alosa’s adventures!

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2018?
A Sky Painted Gold by Laura Wood really sticks out as one of the most beautifully written books of 2018. I completely fell in love with this dreamy historical fiction that brings to life a Gatsby-era romance.

13. Most thought provoking/life changing book of 2018?
The Feed by Nick Clark Windo was definitely a thought provoking read. An end of the world story after technology goes wrong it really made me think about society and our reliance on technology as well as how addicted we are to our phones. It’s a brilliant story and definitely one that’s stuck with me through 2018.

14. Favourite passage/quote from a book you read in 2018?
I don’t really do favourite quotes or anything like that but this one from My Sister, the Serial Killer definitely stuck out:

“The most loving parents and relatives commit murder with smiles on their faces. They force us to destroy the person we really are: a subtle kind of murder.”

15. Shortest and longest book you read in 2018?
My shortest was Warm Up by V. E. Schwab – a short story set in the world of Vicious at just 15 pages. The longest book I read was my reread of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix at 744 pages.

16. Book that shocked you most?
Resin by Ane Riel. I have no idea what I was expecting with this book but it definitely wasn’t the twisted and spine tingling story that I read.

17. Best book you read based on someone else’s recommendation/peer pressure?
The Surface Breaks by Louise O’Neil was recommended to me by a friend and I was a bit unsure but I’m so glad I picked it up because it’s a beautifully written reimagining of The Little Mermaid where she lives in a brutal patriarchal society.

18. Best debut you read?
This one has got to be A Blade So Black by L. L. McKinney. This kick ass Alice in Wonderland retelling is so full of action and adventure that it definitely became one of my favourites of the year.

19. Most vivid world building/setting?
For me Out of the Blue by Sophie Cameron really stuck out. Set in Edinburgh the story really captured the heart of a city I love so it was brilliant to fall into this book.

20. Book that put a smile on your face/was the most fun to read?
I laughed so much at The Exact Opposite of Okay. It was a hilarious story and I’m so excited to see what Laura Steven brings out next!

21. Hidden Gem of the year?
I really loved Harley Quinn: Mad Love. This is an all new novel version of Harley’s origin story and it was brilliant to dive into a full length tale of how she becomes one of my favourite comic book characters.

22. Book that crushed your soul?
I’m probably starting to sound like a broken record but The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden. I’m probably never going to get over it.

23. Most unique read?
It took me so long to pick up Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Ami Kaufman but I’m so glad I did because the format is completely unlike anything I’ve ever read and I loved ever second of it.

Looking Ahead

1. One book you didn’t get to in 2018 that is first priority in 2019?
Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom. I’ve put them off long enough and I really want to get to them before King of Scars comes out because I believe there are potential spoilers!

2. Book you are most anticipating (non-debut)?
My most anticipated release was The Wicked King by Holly Black. This post went up a little late so I’ve already read it but it was definitely worth the wait. Other than that I’m excited about A Curse so Dark and Lonely and All the Wandering Light!

3. Series ending/sequel you are most anticipating in 2019?
Bloodchild by Anna Stephens. This is the concluding book in the Godblind trilogy and INEEDITNOWW.

4. One thing you hope to accomplish in 2019?
Blog more consistently and try to post at least a few times a week instead of sporadically.

5. A 2019 release you’ve read already and recommend?
Stain by A. G. Howard. A gothic fairytale fantasy story, this book is really beautifully written and I think fans of her work are going to absolutely adore this one.

So that’s my 2018 reading survey! If you did a similar post I’d love to see your bookish stats for the year so send me a link!

2018 Wrap Up!

January 2, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 5 Comments

Now that January is here and I’ve finally managed to pick my favourite books of 2018. You can check that post out here, if you want to know what made the top fifteen. After deciding I thought it would be fun to do a little wrap up just to look at my reading over the last twelve months.

So in 2018 I read 142 books.

One of my reading goals for this year was to read more books. In 2017 I read 91 books so I was hoping to up it to 100. I’m so pleased I managed to completely blitz this challenge and read way more than I expected.

Breaking down what I read:

Review copy/ARC: 66
Backlist: 20
Newly Purchased: 37
Re-read: 19
I’m not particularly surprised about this as I tend to reach more for review copies and the titles I’ve most recently bought. I’m definitely going to aim in 2019 to read more of the backlist books on my shelves. (We’ll see how that goes!)

In terms of genre I read:

Non-Fiction: 3
Graphic Novels: 4
Poetry: 1
Science Fiction: 14
Crime/Thriller: 13
Classics: 7
Historical Fiction: 10
Contemporary: 19
Horror: 10
Fantasy: 61

There’s no surprises that fantasy was by far the most popular. I did plan to read more contemporary books in 2018 so I’m pleased by the 19 on the list and that’s definitely something I want to continue in the new year.

My average length of book was 345 pages with the shortest book being Warm Up by V. E. Schwab (15 pages) and the longest Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (744 pages).

My average rating was 4.0, which definitely shows how many amazing books I’ve read this year that the average rating is so high.

2018 was a brilliant year for books and I’m so excited to read and review more brilliant stories in 2019!

Readathon Wrap Ups!

December 15, 2018December 15, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 5 Comments

I participated in two readathons recently so I thought I would do a quick wrap up post for them both just to see how I got on with the challenges!

Tome Topple

The first readathon was Tome Topple, which is a readathon focusing on reading books over 500 pages. For this I had planned to try and read four books, including The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue and Illuminae. You can see my TBR post for the readathon here.

In the end I didn’t really read any of the books I had planned to read. I read Illuminae and loved it so much that I ended up diving straight into Gemina. I read the majority of Gemina but didn’t manage to finish it before the readathon ended. The challenges were:

Read more than one tome: Technically I did that though I didn’t finish the second.
Read a tome that is part of a series: Both books are part of the Illuminae files series.
Buddy read a tome: My boyfriend read Illuminae with me.
Read an adult novel: This is the one challenge I didn’t fulfil.

So although it didn’t go quite how I expected I’m so glad I participated because I’ve found a new series that I absolutely adore.

Falling Into Fantasy Readathon

This readathon focused on reading those fantasy books that have been on your TBR for a while. There were eight challenges and I knew I wouldn’t finish all of them but in the end I completed four books and I really loved quite a few of them. If you want to see my full TBR you can take a look here!

The challenges completed were:

1. Read the first book in a series: I read Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart and really enjoyed this fast paced dystopian story.

2. Read a book that’s been on your TBR too long: I FINALLY read The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo. These short stories set in the Grishaverse are so beautiful and a perfect read for this time of year.

3. Read a diverse fantasy: For this I picked up Mirage by Somaiya Daud and honestly this is one of my favourite new books. I loved everything about it and I’m desperate for more.

4. Read a book with multiple POVs: Grace and Fury fulfilled this challenge too, it has alternating POVs of two sisters.

5. Read a new fantasy: I read Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa for this one. This imaginative adventure is a brilliant read and I have a full review posted if you’d like to know more you can take a look here!

6. Read a booktube recommended book: I’ve seen pretty much each of the books I read recommended on booktube but particularly Shadow of the Fox has been getting lots of recommendations there recently so that luckily fulfilled this challenge too!

So those are the wrap ups for the recent readathons I participated in. Are you taking part in any festive readathons? If you are let me know which ones and what you’re planning to read!

November Wrap Up!

December 7, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 8 Comments

November was another great reading month and I read some really terrific books. Now that December is here I’m hoping to squeeze in another bundle of books before the end of the year and make my Goodreads Challenge. In November I read 11 books so let’s dive into what they were!

Harley Quinn: Mad Love – Paul Dini & Pat Cadigan
This is a new novel which describes Harley Quinn’s origin story and really dives into the famous Batman villain. Harley Quinn is one of my favourite characters from the DC Universe so I jumped at the opportunity to read a book written by Harley’s co-creator Paul Dini. It was everything I hoped it would be and more. (5/5 stars)

Dracula – Bram Stoker
I started rereading this around Halloween but didn’t finish it until the first week in November. (It’s huge!). Dracula is one of my favourite classics and I find I enjoy it even more each time I reread it. It has that sense of nostalgia and familiarity that I love. Beautifully written with a compelling story, I couldn’t give Dracula anything less than 5/5 stars.

Skyward – Brandon Sanderson
Skyward was my first real outing in a Brandon Sanderson book (I read Snapshot a few months ago but it was only a novella). This was another magnificent read that I just couldn’t put down. I’m definitely now itching to read more from Brandon Sanderson. I participated in the blog tour for this book so if you want to know more of my thoughts you can take a look at that here! (5/5 stars)

Shadow of the Fox – Julie Kagawa
Shadow of the Fox was another book that was my first time reading a book by a much loved author. This story is so exciting and engaging and again I’m definitely excited to read more from Julie Kagawa. I also participated in the blog tour for this one so the full review for Shadow of the Fox is here if you want to know more!

Glass Town Wars – Celia Rees
The lovely Andrew over at The Pewter Wolf ran a giveaway for this book and I was lucky enough to win one. This is the newest book from Celia Rees, an author that I completely loved growing up. I enjoyed this one though I found it a little slow in the middle and it didn’t grip me in the same way that Witch Child or Pirates did. (3.5/5 stars)

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – J. K. Rowling
This old thing. I love J. K. Rowling and I love the Harry Potter world and everything that goes along with it. I did enjoy this book, it was quick paced and it was nice to be back in the world of magic and adventure but honestly this book felt like it was filler. I read it in one sitting but I’m now not even sure I can remember what happened it in and it’s definitely my least favourite of Rowling’s books so far. (3/5 stars)

The Haunting of Hill House – Shirley Jackson
My time reading books by Shirley Jackson has been a bit of a mixed bag. I read We Have Always Lived in the Castle and I gave it 3.5 stars. I read The Missing Girl and gave it 3. I really want to love her work because she writes these strange creepy stories but I hadn’t found one I loved yet. I picked up The Haunting of Hill House after watching the Netflix show and I loved this one. It was everything I was hoping for. It was completely different from the TV show and it is my favourite Shirley Jackson book by far. (4/5 stars)

Illuminae – Ami Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING. Illuminae was one of the books I listed on my five star predictions post. Was I right? ABSOLUTELY. I loved the way this was told, it was gripping, a fresh perspective and had the best kick ass characters. I ran out to buy Gemina and immediately started it (I finished it in December but it was brilliant). I can’t believe it took me so long to pick it up because it is definitely a new favourite. (5/5 stars)

Mirage – Somaiya Daud
Another book that I adored! (Told you November was an excellent reading month!) I raced through this fresh mix of science fiction and fantasy. I loved the characters and the complex layer of the story. I still find myself thinking about this book and I’ve recommended loads. I’m desperate to read book two and if you fancy reading my full rather rambling review of Mirage, you can check that out here. (5/5 stars)

Girl Squads – Sam Maggs
This was a surprise piece of book post that arrived from Quirk Books which tells the story of twenty female friendships from around the world. The stories were really fascinating and it was lovely to read stories of women building each other up and reaching their goals. I did find the narrator a little on the annoying side but overall this was an enjoyable read. (3/5 stars)

Grace and Fury – Tracy Banghart
My last read of the month was a quick and fast paced story in which women are treated like second class citizens. The story follows two sisters and it has very Handmaid’s Tale esque vibes. I read it really faced and I enjoyed the differing POV’s between each sister. Some of the plot points felt a little too convenient, but overall it was a fun and interesting read. (4/5 stars)

November was such an excellent reading month! So many of the books I read were 5 star reads and honestly what more could I ask for? If you’ve read any of these let me know yours thoughts and if you had any favourite books in November definitely let me know what they were!

October Wrap Up!

November 11, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 3 Comments

October is one of my favourite reading months. So many spooky books come out and it’s dark and cold outside and all I want to do is huddle under a blanket with my cat and a good book. Somehow in the month of October I managed to read sixteen books and one short story – I’m not even sure how that happened. I participated in a readathon which I think really helped and also quite a few of theses were on the shorter side. I’m going to keep it brief about each book because quite a few of them have featured in readathon wrap up posts or have full review posts up already.

1. A Blade So Black – L. L. McKinney
This Alice in Wonderland retelling was quick paced, action packed and so much fun. I raced through it and it’s definitely one of my favourite Alice retellings that I’ve ever encountered. I participated in the blog tour for this and you can check out my extract from the book here. (Rating: 4/5 stars)

2. The Woods Vol 1 – James Tynion IV
This is the first instalment in a graphic novel series about a school that disappears into another realm. Full of strange monsters and dark and creepy sequences I thought this was an interesting start, although it didn’t grip me as much as I hoped that it would. (Rating: 3.5/5 stars)

3. The Wicked Deep – Shea Earnshaw
This was the biggest surprise of my October reading. I adored this book. Dark and creepy, this story was so atmospheric and unfolded in such a clever way. It was the perfect Halloween read and it is definitely going on my favourites list. (Rating: 5/5 stars)

4. Vicious – Victoria Schwab
I finally read Vicious and it was so amazing. Victoria Schwab is pretty much the Queen of books, everything I’ve read by her is magnificent and it just makes me want to read everything that she’s ever written. (Rating: 5/5 stars)

5. Warm Up – Victoria Schwab
In the back of my edition of Vicious there was a short story entitled Warm Up, which shows another EO and his encounter with Eli. It was pretty short but I enjoyed the chance to see Eli from another perspective and of course to read more of Victoria’s writing. (Rating: 4/5 stars)

6. Daughter of the Siren Queen – Tricia Levenseller
I absolutely loved the first book in this duology and was really excited to dive back in. This one is a bit darker than the previous book and definitely felt a lot more intense and high stakes. It was a brilliant read and I highly recommend these books. (Rating: 4/5 stars)

7. One Of Us Is Lying – Karen McManus
This YA thriller is incredibly popular so I was looking forward to picking it up and seeing what all the fuss is about. The story is quick paced and enjoyable and there were more than a few twists that I didn’t see coming. I fell the ending was a little unbelievable but it was still a really fun read. (Rating: 3.75/5 stars)

8. Small Spaces – Katherine Arden
Katherine Arden is one of my favourite authors so I was really excited to see how she writes a Middle Grade novel. Honestly I absolutely loved this. Ollie is a brilliant protagonist. The story is dark and creepy with plenty of adventure. It’s a perfect autumn read and I’m so glad I picked it up. (Rating: 5/5 stars)

9. The Price Guide to the Occult – Leslye Walton
I haven’t read The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender but I know lots of people adore that book. This is the authors newest release and honestly I was a bit disappointed. I was expecting a very atmospheric magical read but I didn’t really connect with the characters and the story fell a bit flat for me. (Rating: 3/5 stars)

10. The Murders in the Rue Morgue – Edgar Allan Poe
It wouldn’t be Halloween without reading some Edgar Allan Poe! This is a set of three stories featuring Dupin, one of the earliest detectives who uses logic and reasoning to discover who did the crime. The stories were interesting and I enjoyed the big reveal of how the crime was committed but I definitely prefer his more Gothic and creepy tales. (Rating: 3/5 stars)

11. The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein – Kiersten White
This is my first book by Kiersten White and certainly not my last. I love Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein so to read this reimagining from the point of view of Elizabeth was just a dream. I loved the characters and I think White did a brilliant job. (Rating: 5/5 stars)

12. Strange Ink – Gary Kemble
This has got to be one of the most original concepts I’ve ever read. The story follows a man who wakes up one morning with a tattoo he has no memory of getting. He chalks it up to too much alcohol but as more and more tattoos keep appearing and he becomes wrapped up in their mystery, he discovers he’s actually part of a much bigger plot. This book was so fascinating and I couldn’t put it down. (Rating: 4/5 stars)

13. The Missing Girl – Shirley Jackson
Shirley Jackson is relatively new to me, I read We Have Always Lived in the Castle earlier in the year. I thought I would try my hand at some of her short stories. This little Penguin Modern Classic features three of her tales full of eeriness and that unsettling feeling. This is another one that is definitely perfect for Halloween. (Rating: 3/5 stars)

14. Spellbound – Cate Tiernan
This is the sixth instalment of the Sweep series by Cate Tiernan. I loved these books as a teenager and so I am revisiting them slowly. I love the blend of magic in these books and the sense of nostalgia reading them again. These books are pretty short and really quick so they’re perfect for reading in a single sitting. (Rating: 5/5 stars)

15. The Last Namsara – Kirsten Ciccarelli
This is the first book in a YA fantasy featuring a whole host of magic, folklore and DRAGONS. It’s a really exciting book and I loved the blend of action and romance that this story has. (Rating: 4/5 stars)

16. The Caged Queen – Kirsten Ciccarelli
The Caged Queen is the second book in the Iskari series. This book follows a different character – one we meet briefly in The Last Namsara. This book was much more focused on politics and intrigue and I ended up loving it even more than the first book in the series. You can see my stop on the blog tour here! (Rating: 5/5 stars)

17. Sleeper: The Red Storm – J. D. Fennell
Sleeper: The Red Storm is the second in the series that features Sleeper agent Will Starling. I loved the first book in the series so I was so excited to dive back into this mixture of historical fiction and spy thriller. Bursting to the seams with action, explosions and fighting, The Red Storm is a fantastic new instalment to the series and I’m already dying to find out what happens next. You can take a look at my full review here! (Rating: 4/5 stars)

So that’s all the books I read in October! What did you read in October? And if you read any of these let me know what you thought!

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!

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?

Top Ten Tuesday: Books On My Autumn TBR

September 18, 2018September 16, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 6 Comments

It’s time for another Top Ten Tuesday! This week we’re talking about books that are on your autumn TBR. I’m terrible at sticking to a specific TBR but there’s a fair few books I want to get to over the next few months, so let’s dive in!

1. The Winter of the Witch – Katherine Arden
This appeared in the post the other day and is pretty much my most anticipated book of 2019. I love The Winternight Trilogy and I’m dying to know how it ends so this is definitely going to be on my TBR over the autumn. The Winter of the Witch is coming January 9th 2019.

2. Damsel – Elana K. Arnold
I was lucky to recieve a copy of this at this year’s YALC and it sounds like such a magnificent read. The story follows a young woman who wakes up in the arms of a prince. She has no memory of what has happened previously, but she is told she has been rescued from a dragon, and she will sit on throne beside this handsome prince. She soon learns however, that not everything is as it seems… Damsel is coming out October 2nd and sounds so so good!

3. The Girl King – Mimi Yu
This intense fantasy story follows two sisters as they become rivals in a war to become Emperor – ‘All hail the girl King.’ It’s being compared to the likes of Alwyn Hamilton’s Rebel of the Sands and Sabaa Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes. I’m super excited to read it. This was another ARC that I received at YALC and I have been itching to read it. The Girl King is publishing 10th January 2019 from Orion Books.

4. Sawkill Girls – Claire LeGrand
Sawkill Girls sounds like such a good book and I’ve heard really amazing things about Furyborn too (I have a copy but haven’t gotten around to reading it yet.) “Beware of the woods and the dark, dank deep. He’ll follow you home, and he won’t let you sleep.” I’m dying to read this one too so will hopefully get to it soon because it is definitely eyeing me on the shelf! Sawkill Girls is publishing 2nd October 2018 from HarperCollins.

5. Beneath the Citadel – Destiny Soria
This was another YALC book that I haven’t had the chance to pick up yet. The cover is stunning and a dark fantasy is definitely what I want to read when it’s dark and cold outside. I’ve seen a few really positive reviews of this already and I’m already predicting that it’s going to be a five star read. Beneath the Citadel is publishing 9th October 2018 from Amulet Books.

6. The Corset – Laura Purcell
I read The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell last year and adored it. It was the perfect Halloween read and genuinely scared the life out of me. The Corset sounds like it’s going to be just as dark and eerie and although it doesn’t publish until 20th of September, my local Waterstones already had it on the shelves. I picked it up straight away and I’m not I’ll manage to wait till Halloween to read it.

7. The Familiars – Stacey Halls
The autumn is always my favourite time of year to read witchy stories so I think it’s the perfect time to pick up The Familiars by Stacey Halls. This gorgeous book is a historical fiction about two women accused of witchcraft and looks like it’s going to be a stunning read. The Familiars is publishing 7th February 2019 from Bonnier Zaffre.

8. The Sisters of the Winter Wood – Rena Rossner
This is another one that I think will be a perfect autumn read. When it arrived in the post I couldn’t stop staring at that stunning cover. It’s described as ‘filled with magic, folklore and the dangers of the woods’ so I think saving it for autumn is the right choice. The Sisters of the Winter Wood is publishing 27th of September from Orbit Books.

9. Vicious – V. E. Schwab
This is on my TBR because Vengeful is coming out and I still haven’t read Vicious yet. I know so many people love this book and I’m desperate to read it and see if it lives up to the hype. I haven’t read any of Victoria’s other books apart from City of Ghosts so I’m really looking forward to trying this one out.
10. We Sold Our Souls – Grady Hendrix
Grady Hendrix writes the perfect Halloween books (if you haven’t read My Best Friend’s Exorcism get on it!), and We Sold Our Souls is no exception. The story follows a lead singer who sells his soul for stardom. When the band he left behind finds this out they embark upon an epic journey to confront the man who ruined their lives. This sounds dark and intense and such an amazing read. We Sold Our Souls is publishing 18th September 2018 from Quirk Books.

So that’s the top ten books on my autumn TBR. I’m dying to read all of them but I’m so bad at sticking to TBRs so honestly if I manage to read half of them I’ll be pleased. What books are you dying to get to during the autumn?

Book Review: The Humans – Matt Haig

September 16, 2018December 12, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Release Date: 23rd April 2014
Publisher: Canongate Books
Pages: 304
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones
Source: I picked a copy of this up from a second hand bookshop.

Synopsis

After an ‘incident’ one wet Friday night where Professor Andrew Martin is found walking naked through the streets of Cambridge, he is not feeling quite himself. Food sickens him. Clothes confound him. Even his loving wife and teenage son are repulsive to him. He feels lost amongst a crazy alien species and hates everyone on the planet. Everyone, that is, except Newton, and he’s a dog.

Who is he really? And what could make someone change their mind about the human race. . . ?

Review

I read How To Stop Time by Matt Haig and absolutely loved it. I’ve heard amazing things about The Humans so picked it up as soon as I saw it in a local bookshop. Our narrator is an alien sent to planet Earth to erase any mention of a mathematic equation that will far advance the human race. What follows is a set of awkward encounters as the alien attempts to navigate life on Earth.

This book was completely different to what I expected. There were plenty of really funny moments as the alien attempts to understand why we do the things we do and I really enjoyed this unusual concept, however the main focus of this story is what it means to be human. It read like an in depth study into human nature.

This is a really profound and original novel and one that will stick with you. It’s quite a short book and I read it very quickly, but I was still talking about it a few days afterwards. So many people love this book and have rated it really highly however I had a few minor issues that made me rate this book a bit lower. I in no way think this is a bad book, I was felt really put off by the incredibly short chapters – some are only a page. It felt a bit jarring to the story and that lessened my enjoyment. My second issue was the vague ending which I didn’t really like. I won’t say too much about that because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone but it definitely wasn’t how I wanted things to end.

The Humans is an interesting look into human nature with a fun and humorous twist. If you’re a fan of science fiction novels this is definitely one to be on your wishlist.

The Bibliophile Chronicles

Tag: reading