1RuneFirestar
Hello Dragonners!
This is where I will share my reading journey for the year with all of you! My reading goal for this year is going to be 100 books :) See you soon!
Happy New Year and brightest blessings to one and all!
This is where I will share my reading journey for the year with all of you! My reading goal for this year is going to be 100 books :) See you soon!
Happy New Year and brightest blessings to one and all!
2clamairy
>1 RuneFirestar: Happy New Thread, Happy New Year and the Brightest Blessings back at you.
3RuneFirestar
Thanks Clam!
4Karlstar
>1 RuneFirestar: Happy new thread! Way to get an early start.
5RuneFirestar
Karlstar thanks!
7RuneFirestar
1. Hunt on Dark Waters
( Crimson Sails #1)
By Katee Robert
Blurb
Evelyn is a witch with a perfect storm of impulses: terrible taste in bed partners, sticky fingers, and a lust for danger. After she steals from her vampire ex and falls through a portal to another realm, she’s fished out of the waters by a band of seafarers and their telekinetic captain. She’s immediately given a choice—join their group or die.
Bowen has no memory of his life before he became one of the Cŵn Annwn. He and his pirate crew are bound by vow to patrol through Threshold, the magical sea in between realms, keeping the portals to other worlds safe. When he rescues Evelyn, he doesn’t expect to be attracted to the unflappably brassy pickpocket. The longer he spends in her presence, the more he begins to question if his heart is the next thing she’ll steal.
But as tension heats up between Bowen and Evelyn, danger escalates as well. Because Evelyn has no intention of keeping her vows to the Cŵn Annwn, and if she betrays the crew, both she and Bowen will pay the ultimate price....
My thoughts
Evelyn is a witch , she can fight and use magick and is an excellent thief. However she also has a pension for dangerous habits and making poor choices.
This becomes very clear when she finds herself on a pirate ship and is told take the vow or die! She takes the vow but decides that there must be a work around.
Bowen is the Captain bound to the ship and his crew to hunt monsters where ever they may be found.
This is a fast paced , sexy tale that reminds us that not everything is as it seems and sometimes the most honourable thing you can do is question the rules and make your own choices. The characters are well rounded and there's something in each to like. Fantastic world, great sexy times ! I love it.
( Crimson Sails #1)
By Katee Robert
Blurb
Evelyn is a witch with a perfect storm of impulses: terrible taste in bed partners, sticky fingers, and a lust for danger. After she steals from her vampire ex and falls through a portal to another realm, she’s fished out of the waters by a band of seafarers and their telekinetic captain. She’s immediately given a choice—join their group or die.
Bowen has no memory of his life before he became one of the Cŵn Annwn. He and his pirate crew are bound by vow to patrol through Threshold, the magical sea in between realms, keeping the portals to other worlds safe. When he rescues Evelyn, he doesn’t expect to be attracted to the unflappably brassy pickpocket. The longer he spends in her presence, the more he begins to question if his heart is the next thing she’ll steal.
But as tension heats up between Bowen and Evelyn, danger escalates as well. Because Evelyn has no intention of keeping her vows to the Cŵn Annwn, and if she betrays the crew, both she and Bowen will pay the ultimate price....
My thoughts
Evelyn is a witch , she can fight and use magick and is an excellent thief. However she also has a pension for dangerous habits and making poor choices.
This becomes very clear when she finds herself on a pirate ship and is told take the vow or die! She takes the vow but decides that there must be a work around.
Bowen is the Captain bound to the ship and his crew to hunt monsters where ever they may be found.
This is a fast paced , sexy tale that reminds us that not everything is as it seems and sometimes the most honourable thing you can do is question the rules and make your own choices. The characters are well rounded and there's something in each to like. Fantastic world, great sexy times ! I love it.
8RuneFirestar
2.A Dawn of Onyx
The Sacred Stones Trilogy #1
By Kate Golden
Blurb
Captured by a king of darkness. Forced to find the light within.
Arwen Valondale never expected to be the brave one, offering her life to save her brother’s. Now she’s been taken prisoner by the most dangerous kingdom on the continent, and made to use her rare magical abilities to heal the soldiers of the vicious Onyx King.
Arwen knows better than to face the ancient, wicked woods that surround the castle on her own, which means working with a fellow prisoner might be her only path to freedom. Unfortunately, he’s as infuriating as he is cunning—and seems to take twisted pleasure in playing on Arwen’s deepest fears.
But here in Onyx Kingdom, trust is a luxury she can’t afford.
To make it out of enemy territory, she'll have to navigate back-stabbing royals, dark magic, and dangerous beasts. But untold power lies inside Arwen, dormant and waiting for a spark. If she can harness it, she just might be able to escape with her life—and hopefully, her heart.
My thoughts
I recieved an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This book is high fantasy and romance all wrapped up in a very awesome story. It took me awhile to settle with it but once I
got to know Arwen I was sold. She was scared but she didn't let that fear rule her. She was kind, fun and very bold of heart.
I had to know if she would find her her family how the story would end . It was completely wonderful!
I look forward to seeing what happens next.
The Sacred Stones Trilogy #1
By Kate Golden
Blurb
Captured by a king of darkness. Forced to find the light within.
Arwen Valondale never expected to be the brave one, offering her life to save her brother’s. Now she’s been taken prisoner by the most dangerous kingdom on the continent, and made to use her rare magical abilities to heal the soldiers of the vicious Onyx King.
Arwen knows better than to face the ancient, wicked woods that surround the castle on her own, which means working with a fellow prisoner might be her only path to freedom. Unfortunately, he’s as infuriating as he is cunning—and seems to take twisted pleasure in playing on Arwen’s deepest fears.
But here in Onyx Kingdom, trust is a luxury she can’t afford.
To make it out of enemy territory, she'll have to navigate back-stabbing royals, dark magic, and dangerous beasts. But untold power lies inside Arwen, dormant and waiting for a spark. If she can harness it, she just might be able to escape with her life—and hopefully, her heart.
My thoughts
I recieved an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This book is high fantasy and romance all wrapped up in a very awesome story. It took me awhile to settle with it but once I
got to know Arwen I was sold. She was scared but she didn't let that fear rule her. She was kind, fun and very bold of heart.
I had to know if she would find her her family how the story would end . It was completely wonderful!
I look forward to seeing what happens next.
9RuneFirestar
3.The Gilded Crown ( The Raven's Trade #1)
Marianne Gordon
Blurb
The first time Hellevir visited Death, she was ten years old…
Since she was a little girl, Hellevir has been able to raise the dead. Every creature can be saved for a price, a price demanded by the shrouded figure who rules the afterlife, who takes a little more from Hellevir with each soul she resurrects.
Such a gift can rarely remain a secret. When Princess Sullivain, sole heir to the kingdom’s throne, is assassinated, the Queen summons Hellevir to demand she bring her granddaughter back to life. But once is not enough; the killers might strike again. The Princess’ death would cause a civil war, so the Queen commands that Hellevir remain by her side.
But Sullivain is no easy woman to be bound to, even as Hellevir begins to fall in love with her. With the threat of war looming, Hellevir must trade more and more of herself to keep the princess alive.
But Death will always take what he is owed.
My thoughts
I was provided with an arc copy of this book in return for an honest review.
The imagery of the place where the gate keeper waits is beautiful and deeply haunting. I don't think any book has described it so well or in such a wonderful way. The conversations Hellevir has with Death are thought provoking and make the reader question just as Hellevir does herself.
Hellevir is a wonderful character filled with a light that the world desperately needs. She has a gift and she uses where she feels it is right without counting the cost.
The direct counter to her selflessness is the Crown Princess who doesn't understand . Who can't be selfless because she has far to much to guard against.
The author has built a history, rich and detailed world. I have loved spending time in it's crown city and it's small simple villages. I can't wait to see what this weaver of story will create next.
Marianne Gordon
Blurb
The first time Hellevir visited Death, she was ten years old…
Since she was a little girl, Hellevir has been able to raise the dead. Every creature can be saved for a price, a price demanded by the shrouded figure who rules the afterlife, who takes a little more from Hellevir with each soul she resurrects.
Such a gift can rarely remain a secret. When Princess Sullivain, sole heir to the kingdom’s throne, is assassinated, the Queen summons Hellevir to demand she bring her granddaughter back to life. But once is not enough; the killers might strike again. The Princess’ death would cause a civil war, so the Queen commands that Hellevir remain by her side.
But Sullivain is no easy woman to be bound to, even as Hellevir begins to fall in love with her. With the threat of war looming, Hellevir must trade more and more of herself to keep the princess alive.
But Death will always take what he is owed.
My thoughts
I was provided with an arc copy of this book in return for an honest review.
The imagery of the place where the gate keeper waits is beautiful and deeply haunting. I don't think any book has described it so well or in such a wonderful way. The conversations Hellevir has with Death are thought provoking and make the reader question just as Hellevir does herself.
Hellevir is a wonderful character filled with a light that the world desperately needs. She has a gift and she uses where she feels it is right without counting the cost.
The direct counter to her selflessness is the Crown Princess who doesn't understand . Who can't be selfless because she has far to much to guard against.
The author has built a history, rich and detailed world. I have loved spending time in it's crown city and it's small simple villages. I can't wait to see what this weaver of story will create next.
10RuneFirestar
4.A Hunger of Thorns
( A Hunger of Thorns #1 )
Lili Wilkinson
Blurb
Maude is the daughter of witches. She spent her childhood running wild with her best friend, Odette, weaving stories of girls who slayed dragons and saved princes. Then Maude grew up and lost her magic—and her best friend.
These days, magic is toothless, reduced to glamour patches and psychic energy drinks found in supermarkets and shopping malls. Odette has always hungered for forbidden, dangerous magic, and two weeks ago she went searching for it. Now she’s missing, and everyone says she’s dead. Everyone except Maude.
Storytelling has always been Maude’s gift, so she knows all about girls who get lost in the woods. She’s sure she can find Odette inside the ruins of Sicklehurst, an abandoned power plant built over an ancient magical forest—a place nobody else seems to remember is there. The danger is, no one knows what remains inside Sicklehurst, either. And every good story is sure to have a monster.
My thoughts
I was given an advanced reader audio book copy of this story in return for an honest review. The narration was perfect
This is a story for witches, for those dangerous wild lost girls. It has no place for good , kind ,sweet natured girls.
It weaves together different bits of fairytales and folklore. I loved each every moment of this tale. At its center is the theme of lost friendship. Its incredibly beautiful, dark and more magical then I have words for.
So if you are a wild girl, a lost girl, if you ever wanted to take the less traveled path this is the book for you.
( A Hunger of Thorns #1 )
Lili Wilkinson
Blurb
Maude is the daughter of witches. She spent her childhood running wild with her best friend, Odette, weaving stories of girls who slayed dragons and saved princes. Then Maude grew up and lost her magic—and her best friend.
These days, magic is toothless, reduced to glamour patches and psychic energy drinks found in supermarkets and shopping malls. Odette has always hungered for forbidden, dangerous magic, and two weeks ago she went searching for it. Now she’s missing, and everyone says she’s dead. Everyone except Maude.
Storytelling has always been Maude’s gift, so she knows all about girls who get lost in the woods. She’s sure she can find Odette inside the ruins of Sicklehurst, an abandoned power plant built over an ancient magical forest—a place nobody else seems to remember is there. The danger is, no one knows what remains inside Sicklehurst, either. And every good story is sure to have a monster.
My thoughts
I was given an advanced reader audio book copy of this story in return for an honest review. The narration was perfect
This is a story for witches, for those dangerous wild lost girls. It has no place for good , kind ,sweet natured girls.
It weaves together different bits of fairytales and folklore. I loved each every moment of this tale. At its center is the theme of lost friendship. Its incredibly beautiful, dark and more magical then I have words for.
So if you are a wild girl, a lost girl, if you ever wanted to take the less traveled path this is the book for you.
11RuneFirestar
5.Good Girl, Bad Blood
( A Good Girl's Guide to Murder #2)
Holly Jackson
Blurb
Pip is not a detective anymore.
With the help of Ravi Singh, she released a true-crime podcast about the murder case they solved together last year. The podcast has gone viral, yet Pip insists her investigating days are behind her.
But she will have to break that promise when someone she knows goes missing. Jamie Reynolds has disappeared, on the very same night the town hosted a memorial for the sixth-year anniversary of the deaths of Andie Bell and Sal Singh.
The police won't do anything about it. And if they won't look for Jamie then Pip will, uncovering more of her town's dark secrets along the way... and this time everyone is listening. But will she find him before it's too late?
My thoughts
Oh this was just sooo good! Loved every moment of it!
( A Good Girl's Guide to Murder #2)
Holly Jackson
Blurb
Pip is not a detective anymore.
With the help of Ravi Singh, she released a true-crime podcast about the murder case they solved together last year. The podcast has gone viral, yet Pip insists her investigating days are behind her.
But she will have to break that promise when someone she knows goes missing. Jamie Reynolds has disappeared, on the very same night the town hosted a memorial for the sixth-year anniversary of the deaths of Andie Bell and Sal Singh.
The police won't do anything about it. And if they won't look for Jamie then Pip will, uncovering more of her town's dark secrets along the way... and this time everyone is listening. But will she find him before it's too late?
My thoughts
Oh this was just sooo good! Loved every moment of it!
12RuneFirestar
6.Letters from Father Christmas
Written byJ.R.R. Tolkien
Derek Jacobi
(Narrator)
John Moffatt
(Narrator)
Christian Rodska
(Narrator)
Blurb
Can you imagine writing to Father Christmas and actually getting a reply?
For more than twenty years, the children of J.R.R. Tolkien received letters from the North Pole, from Father Christmas himself! They told wonderful stories of mischief and disaster, adventures and battles: how the reindeer got loose and scattered presents all over the place, how the accident-prone Polar Bear climbed the North Pole and fell through the roof of Father Christmas's house, and many others.
My thoughts
Beautiful and magical
Written byJ.R.R. Tolkien
Derek Jacobi
(Narrator)
John Moffatt
(Narrator)
Christian Rodska
(Narrator)
Blurb
Can you imagine writing to Father Christmas and actually getting a reply?
For more than twenty years, the children of J.R.R. Tolkien received letters from the North Pole, from Father Christmas himself! They told wonderful stories of mischief and disaster, adventures and battles: how the reindeer got loose and scattered presents all over the place, how the accident-prone Polar Bear climbed the North Pole and fell through the roof of Father Christmas's house, and many others.
My thoughts
Beautiful and magical
13haydninvienna
Happy new year, and happy new thread!
14RuneFirestar
haydninvienna thank you and happy New year!
7. Tiffany Aching's Guide to Being A Witch
By Rhianna Pratchett & Gabrielle Kent
Paul Kidby (Illustrator)
Blurb
"They say you don't find witchcraft, it finds you . . ."
An illustrated and practical guide to being a witch in Discworld, covering everything you've ever wanted to know from telling the bees to magical cheese, from dealing with elves to making deals with demons, from tending flocks to fending off forces from other worlds. This beautiful and practical guide has been compiled by Tiffany Aching herself, including snippets of remembered wisdom from Granny Aching alongside notes from Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, Miss Tick, and Rob Anybody who offer their own unique perspectives on all things witchcraft. Whether you're a herbologist or a headologist, this book will inspire and empower new witches and seasoned practitioners alike.
With colourful illustrations from Paul Kidby throughout, this brilliant in-world guide is the perfect addition to any Discworld collection.
My thoughts
This is an amazing read that will have you laughing out loud and smiling. There are no words for how truely wonderful this book is.
7. Tiffany Aching's Guide to Being A Witch
By Rhianna Pratchett & Gabrielle Kent
Paul Kidby (Illustrator)
Blurb
"They say you don't find witchcraft, it finds you . . ."
An illustrated and practical guide to being a witch in Discworld, covering everything you've ever wanted to know from telling the bees to magical cheese, from dealing with elves to making deals with demons, from tending flocks to fending off forces from other worlds. This beautiful and practical guide has been compiled by Tiffany Aching herself, including snippets of remembered wisdom from Granny Aching alongside notes from Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, Miss Tick, and Rob Anybody who offer their own unique perspectives on all things witchcraft. Whether you're a herbologist or a headologist, this book will inspire and empower new witches and seasoned practitioners alike.
With colourful illustrations from Paul Kidby throughout, this brilliant in-world guide is the perfect addition to any Discworld collection.
My thoughts
This is an amazing read that will have you laughing out loud and smiling. There are no words for how truely wonderful this book is.
15RuneFirestar
8. Death in the Spotlight
( Murder Most Unladylike #7 )
Robin Stevens
Blurb
The whole theatre seemed on edge. There was a feverish atmosphere seeping into every corner of the Rue, as though the whole cast was sickening. Daisy and I both knew that something was brewing.'
Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are off to the beautiful Rue Theatre in London, where they will face an entirely new challenge: acting. But behind the theatre's glittering facade, the girls soon realise that there is trouble at the Rue. Jealousy, threats and horrible pranks quickly spiral out of control - and then one of the cast is found dead.
As opening night looms closer, Hazel and Daisy must take centre stage and solve the crime . . . before the murderer strikes again
( Murder Most Unladylike #7 )
Robin Stevens
Blurb
The whole theatre seemed on edge. There was a feverish atmosphere seeping into every corner of the Rue, as though the whole cast was sickening. Daisy and I both knew that something was brewing.'
Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are off to the beautiful Rue Theatre in London, where they will face an entirely new challenge: acting. But behind the theatre's glittering facade, the girls soon realise that there is trouble at the Rue. Jealousy, threats and horrible pranks quickly spiral out of control - and then one of the cast is found dead.
As opening night looms closer, Hazel and Daisy must take centre stage and solve the crime . . . before the murderer strikes again
16RuneFirestar
9.Top Marks for Murder
( Murder Most Unladylike #8 )
Robin Stevens
Blurb
Daisy and Hazel are finally back at Deepdean, and the school is preparing for a most exciting event: the fiftieth Anniversary.
Plans for a weekend of celebrations are in full swing. But all is not well, for in the detectives' long absence, Deepdean has changed. Daisy has lost her crown to a fascinating new girl - and many of the Detective Society's old allies are now their sworn enemies.
Then the girls witness a shocking incident in the woods close by - a crime that they're sure is linked to the Anniversary. As parents descend upon Deepdean, decades-old grudges, rivalries and secrets begin to surface, and soon Deepdean's future is at stake.
Can the girls solve the case - and save their home?
( Murder Most Unladylike #8 )
Robin Stevens
Blurb
Daisy and Hazel are finally back at Deepdean, and the school is preparing for a most exciting event: the fiftieth Anniversary.
Plans for a weekend of celebrations are in full swing. But all is not well, for in the detectives' long absence, Deepdean has changed. Daisy has lost her crown to a fascinating new girl - and many of the Detective Society's old allies are now their sworn enemies.
Then the girls witness a shocking incident in the woods close by - a crime that they're sure is linked to the Anniversary. As parents descend upon Deepdean, decades-old grudges, rivalries and secrets begin to surface, and soon Deepdean's future is at stake.
Can the girls solve the case - and save their home?
17hfglen
>14 RuneFirestar: That is one to look out for! I'm delighted to see Rhianna Pratchett is now adding to her father's world.
By the way, over the last 2 weeks she has been presenting a series of 15-minue programmes on Mythical Creatures on BBC Radio 4.
By the way, over the last 2 weeks she has been presenting a series of 15-minue programmes on Mythical Creatures on BBC Radio 4.
18RuneFirestar
hfglen iits amazing and I will check that out on sounds !
20littlegeek
Happy New Year, although you could hardly tell from just how many books are already reviewed! 100 titles seems very doable.
21RuneFirestar
MrsLee littlegeek Happy New Year to you both! So far so good :) i have alot of deadlines and projects going on but I will belooking to continue my progress here :)
22clamairy
Happy New Year and Happy New Thread >1 RuneFirestar:!
23RuneFirestar
>22 clamairy: thanks Clam! You too!
10.The Griffin's Egg
Cole Poindexter
Blurb
Lost in a wild West Virginia forest, Phoebe Gray's world is upended when she finds an irritable goblin named Gnish-Gnash. She’s stumbled into Lerch Hollow, a place of magic and mystery where trolls lurk in shadows and mermaids sway with the tide.
The young adventurer soon finds herself caught up in a race against time; the Dark Mistress Lucinda is on the hunt for the last Griffin's egg, for its power will make her unstoppable. It is up to Phoebe to protect the egg while discovering the secrets of her own magical connection to the mysterious wizard Thatcher.
With Gnish at her side and her grandfather’s old cloak on her back, Phoebe must protect this enchanted world from destruction.
My thoughts
I will start my review by saying I was given an advanced reader copy of the book in return for an honest review.
This is a wonderful story filled with magic, danger and adventure. Well written and fast paced read. Perfect if your looking for something fun and have a love of creatures.
10.The Griffin's Egg
Cole Poindexter
Blurb
Lost in a wild West Virginia forest, Phoebe Gray's world is upended when she finds an irritable goblin named Gnish-Gnash. She’s stumbled into Lerch Hollow, a place of magic and mystery where trolls lurk in shadows and mermaids sway with the tide.
The young adventurer soon finds herself caught up in a race against time; the Dark Mistress Lucinda is on the hunt for the last Griffin's egg, for its power will make her unstoppable. It is up to Phoebe to protect the egg while discovering the secrets of her own magical connection to the mysterious wizard Thatcher.
With Gnish at her side and her grandfather’s old cloak on her back, Phoebe must protect this enchanted world from destruction.
My thoughts
I will start my review by saying I was given an advanced reader copy of the book in return for an honest review.
This is a wonderful story filled with magic, danger and adventure. Well written and fast paced read. Perfect if your looking for something fun and have a love of creatures.
24Narilka
>14 RuneFirestar: I had no idea Pratchett's daughter was writing Discworld books. I must check this out. Thanks! Happy reading in 2024 :)
25Marissa_Doyle
Happy reading and Happy New Year!
26RuneFirestar
>24 Narilka: it's about the witches but it's soooo lovely. The dedication at the start. The art the annotations by different characters it's brilliant. I thoroughly loved the read.
27Sakerfalcon
Happy New Year! I will be looking out for the Tiffany Aching book, it sounds wonderful! And you've reminded me that I need to get back to the Wells & Wong books.
28RuneFirestar
11.Voyage of the Damned
Frances White
Blurb
For a thousand years, Concordia has been able to maintain peace between its provinces, protected by a wall known as the Bandage. To mark this incredible feat, the emperor's ship embarks upon a twelve-day voyage to the Goddess's mountain.
Aboard are the heirs of the twelve provinces of Concordia, each graced with a unique and secret magical ability known as a Blessing.
Except one: Ganymedes Piscero - class clown, slacker, and all-round disappointment.
When a beloved heir is murdered, everyone is a suspect. Stuck at sea and surrounded by powerful people without a Blessing to protect him, odds of survival are slim.
But as the bodies pile higher, Ganymedes must become the hero he was not born to be. Can he unmask the killer and their Blessing before this bloody crusade reaches the shores of Concordia? Or will the empire as he knows it fall?
My thoughts
I will start by saying I was given an advanced reader copy in return for an honest review
I was drawn to the book for the cover art and hooked by the blurb.
I wanted to know more about Concordia. I especially wanted to know more a about These so called chosen ones or The Blessed and their powers. Who were they ? Why did they have these powers ?
Then I met Ganymedes Piscero . He wants nothing to do with being blessed. He wants nothing to do with anything accept eating and drinking. So when he fails to escape being on the ship bound for the blessed mountain with all the other Blessed he comes up with a cunning plan. Make them all dispise him and see him as incompetent. That done he will be stripped of his position. That done he will be free to live his life....then the murders start.
Now he has to gather his friends and his wits and hope he can survive .
The story is amazing , the history of the world is deep and beautiful. I found in each of the characters something that I could identify with that made them more real for me.
This is a fast paced read with some moments that make you want to cry and some that will make you laugh out loud. This was a perfect read for a raining Saturday afternoon.
Frances White
Blurb
For a thousand years, Concordia has been able to maintain peace between its provinces, protected by a wall known as the Bandage. To mark this incredible feat, the emperor's ship embarks upon a twelve-day voyage to the Goddess's mountain.
Aboard are the heirs of the twelve provinces of Concordia, each graced with a unique and secret magical ability known as a Blessing.
Except one: Ganymedes Piscero - class clown, slacker, and all-round disappointment.
When a beloved heir is murdered, everyone is a suspect. Stuck at sea and surrounded by powerful people without a Blessing to protect him, odds of survival are slim.
But as the bodies pile higher, Ganymedes must become the hero he was not born to be. Can he unmask the killer and their Blessing before this bloody crusade reaches the shores of Concordia? Or will the empire as he knows it fall?
My thoughts
I will start by saying I was given an advanced reader copy in return for an honest review
I was drawn to the book for the cover art and hooked by the blurb.
I wanted to know more about Concordia. I especially wanted to know more a about These so called chosen ones or The Blessed and their powers. Who were they ? Why did they have these powers ?
Then I met Ganymedes Piscero . He wants nothing to do with being blessed. He wants nothing to do with anything accept eating and drinking. So when he fails to escape being on the ship bound for the blessed mountain with all the other Blessed he comes up with a cunning plan. Make them all dispise him and see him as incompetent. That done he will be stripped of his position. That done he will be free to live his life....then the murders start.
Now he has to gather his friends and his wits and hope he can survive .
The story is amazing , the history of the world is deep and beautiful. I found in each of the characters something that I could identify with that made them more real for me.
This is a fast paced read with some moments that make you want to cry and some that will make you laugh out loud. This was a perfect read for a raining Saturday afternoon.
29RuneFirestar
12. Death Sets Sail ( Murder Most Unladylike #9)
Robin Stevens
Blurb
The final novel in the number-one bestselling, award-winning Murder Most Unladylike series.
Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are in Egypt, where they are taking a cruise along the Nile. They are hoping to see some ancient temples and a mummy or two; what they get, instead, is murder.
Also travelling on the SS Hatshepsut is a mysterious society called the Breath of Life: a group of genteel English ladies and gentlemen, who believe themselves to be reincarnations of the ancient pharaohs. Three days into the cruise their leader, Theodora Miller, is found dead in her cabin, stabbed during the night. It soon becomes clear to Daisy and Hazel that Theodora's timid daughter Hephzibah, who is prone to sleepwalking, is being framed. And within the society, everyone has a reason to want Theodora dead...
Daisy and Hazel leap into action and begin to investigate their most difficult case yet. But there is danger all around, and only one of the Detective Society will make it home alive...
My thoughts
Oh I have loved going on adventures and solving mysteries with these two amazing young ladies. This Serries will have a special place in my heart for awhile to come.
Robin Stevens
Blurb
The final novel in the number-one bestselling, award-winning Murder Most Unladylike series.
Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are in Egypt, where they are taking a cruise along the Nile. They are hoping to see some ancient temples and a mummy or two; what they get, instead, is murder.
Also travelling on the SS Hatshepsut is a mysterious society called the Breath of Life: a group of genteel English ladies and gentlemen, who believe themselves to be reincarnations of the ancient pharaohs. Three days into the cruise their leader, Theodora Miller, is found dead in her cabin, stabbed during the night. It soon becomes clear to Daisy and Hazel that Theodora's timid daughter Hephzibah, who is prone to sleepwalking, is being framed. And within the society, everyone has a reason to want Theodora dead...
Daisy and Hazel leap into action and begin to investigate their most difficult case yet. But there is danger all around, and only one of the Detective Society will make it home alive...
My thoughts
Oh I have loved going on adventures and solving mysteries with these two amazing young ladies. This Serries will have a special place in my heart for awhile to come.
30Sakerfalcon
>29 RuneFirestar: There's a new series, with Hazel's sister May as the lead! The first book is The Ministry of Unladylike Activity.
31RuneFirestar
Sakerfalcon I have started them as I have the arc of the second book . So far it's awesome
32RuneFirestar
13.Helle and Death
Oskar Jensen
Blurb
A snowstorm. A country house. Old friends reunited.It's going to be murder...Torben Helle - art historian, Danish ex-pat and owner of several excellent Scandinavian jumpers - finds himself dragged to a remote snowbound Northumbrian mansion for a ten-year reunion with old university friends. At the dinner table their host, a reclusive and irritating tech entrepreneur, makes some shocking revelations. And when these are followed by an apparent suicide, the group faces a test of their wits... and their trust.Snowed in and cut off, surrounded by enigmatic housekeepers and off-duty police inspectors, not to mention a peculiar last will and testament, suspicion and sarcasm quickly turn to panic. Kept afloat by strong drink and stronger women, Torben must draw upon the skills of his training and all the tricks of Golden Age detectives past. As the temperature drops and the tension mounts, it is up to him to work out how much money it would take to turn one of his old friends into a murderer - before someone else ends up dead.This witty murder mystery puts a modern spin on the classic country house whodunnit. A must-read for fans of Agatha Christie, Richard Osman and Janice Hallett
My thoughts
This read was amazing. It was everything that I look for in an amazing murder mystery. It kept me guessing right up til the very end.
Oskar Jensen
Blurb
A snowstorm. A country house. Old friends reunited.It's going to be murder...Torben Helle - art historian, Danish ex-pat and owner of several excellent Scandinavian jumpers - finds himself dragged to a remote snowbound Northumbrian mansion for a ten-year reunion with old university friends. At the dinner table their host, a reclusive and irritating tech entrepreneur, makes some shocking revelations. And when these are followed by an apparent suicide, the group faces a test of their wits... and their trust.Snowed in and cut off, surrounded by enigmatic housekeepers and off-duty police inspectors, not to mention a peculiar last will and testament, suspicion and sarcasm quickly turn to panic. Kept afloat by strong drink and stronger women, Torben must draw upon the skills of his training and all the tricks of Golden Age detectives past. As the temperature drops and the tension mounts, it is up to him to work out how much money it would take to turn one of his old friends into a murderer - before someone else ends up dead.This witty murder mystery puts a modern spin on the classic country house whodunnit. A must-read for fans of Agatha Christie, Richard Osman and Janice Hallett
My thoughts
This read was amazing. It was everything that I look for in an amazing murder mystery. It kept me guessing right up til the very end.
33RuneFirestar
14.The Sunlit Ruins: An Old Gods Story
( The Archives of the Forgotten #1)
Andrea Septién
Antoine Bandele (Editor)
Callan Brown (Editor)
Blurb
Ada and Miry didn’t mean to start a city-wide catastrophe.
Really, they didn’t.
But when a family trip goes awry, the two Mexican-American cousins from opposite sides of the border accidentally unleash an evil spirit from centuries past. The incident unlocks latent magical powers within the girls, who now have to figure out what’s going on.
Easier said than done.
The only things Ada and Miry know are that the spirit is tied to the pyramids of Teotihuacán, an ancient and abandoned civilization, and that there is only one organization that can help them. The Archivists of Teotihuacán.
With only a scant trail of clues to guide them, Ada and Miry must journey across Mexico City, uncover the origin of their powers, and try to reseal the spirit they’ve awoken.
But the hardest challenge of all?
Getting along with family.
Follow Ada and Miry on their adventure through Mexico and a hidden, fantastical world of magic based on the philosophy of the city of Teotihuacán.
My thoughts
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book exchange for an honest review.
I was drawn to the cover and spotted the name Antoine Bandele who I knew from The TJ young books. Was this a collaboration? The idea of that was amazing. I couldn't wait.
Then I found myself with Miry and Ada one very mexican and one Mexican American and both feeling out of place . Both feeling that they aren't enough for their families or places of birth. But when a vist to Mexicos pyramids they find themselves chosen of the gods and on a quest to learn about the gods their powers and the fact that only they can save the Mexico.
This is a fantastically engaging read and I love the history of Mexico and about it's gods.The girls are brilliantly written and fantastic characters who the readers can identify with . I love that they are flawed and get jealous but also that they can talk things out and reach resolution.
I can't wait for the next book!
( The Archives of the Forgotten #1)
Andrea Septién
Antoine Bandele (Editor)
Callan Brown (Editor)
Blurb
Ada and Miry didn’t mean to start a city-wide catastrophe.
Really, they didn’t.
But when a family trip goes awry, the two Mexican-American cousins from opposite sides of the border accidentally unleash an evil spirit from centuries past. The incident unlocks latent magical powers within the girls, who now have to figure out what’s going on.
Easier said than done.
The only things Ada and Miry know are that the spirit is tied to the pyramids of Teotihuacán, an ancient and abandoned civilization, and that there is only one organization that can help them. The Archivists of Teotihuacán.
With only a scant trail of clues to guide them, Ada and Miry must journey across Mexico City, uncover the origin of their powers, and try to reseal the spirit they’ve awoken.
But the hardest challenge of all?
Getting along with family.
Follow Ada and Miry on their adventure through Mexico and a hidden, fantastical world of magic based on the philosophy of the city of Teotihuacán.
My thoughts
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book exchange for an honest review.
I was drawn to the cover and spotted the name Antoine Bandele who I knew from The TJ young books. Was this a collaboration? The idea of that was amazing. I couldn't wait.
Then I found myself with Miry and Ada one very mexican and one Mexican American and both feeling out of place . Both feeling that they aren't enough for their families or places of birth. But when a vist to Mexicos pyramids they find themselves chosen of the gods and on a quest to learn about the gods their powers and the fact that only they can save the Mexico.
This is a fantastically engaging read and I love the history of Mexico and about it's gods.The girls are brilliantly written and fantastic characters who the readers can identify with . I love that they are flawed and get jealous but also that they can talk things out and reach resolution.
I can't wait for the next book!
34Sakerfalcon
>33 RuneFirestar: This sounds great! Have you read Gods of jade and shadow by Silvia Moreno Garcia? Also a fantasy involving Latin American mythology.
35RuneFirestar
15. Shadows of Wren by Jeb Bliton
Blurb
May the Valiant Prevail
After decades of peace within the lands of Caldumn ruled by the Red Kingdom, the southern towns have come under attack. Their libraries burned and ancient texts stolen by an ominous force. An unlikely alliance between two magic kinds is formed when Wren, a nineteen-year-old Mage, finds herself in the middle of a conflict that will take her outside of the peaceful life she’s known.
Along her journey, she meets Tyran, whose Necromancer magic is not widely trusted, and learns they share a deeper ancient magic that has long since disappeared.
Together with the help of all magic kinds, they must unite the towns to save their lands, and themselves, while the threat of the Red Kingdom looms.
My thoughts
I will start by saying I was provided with an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review
This is a sweeping fantasy adventure. The history and depth of world building is wonderful to see.
The characters are believable, well written and dynamic. You can look at them and find something of yourself in them.
The book took awhile to get into and was a bit slow to start but once I was reading I had to know how it would end and how the relationship between Wren and Tryan would go.
Throughly loved this adventure.
Blurb
May the Valiant Prevail
After decades of peace within the lands of Caldumn ruled by the Red Kingdom, the southern towns have come under attack. Their libraries burned and ancient texts stolen by an ominous force. An unlikely alliance between two magic kinds is formed when Wren, a nineteen-year-old Mage, finds herself in the middle of a conflict that will take her outside of the peaceful life she’s known.
Along her journey, she meets Tyran, whose Necromancer magic is not widely trusted, and learns they share a deeper ancient magic that has long since disappeared.
Together with the help of all magic kinds, they must unite the towns to save their lands, and themselves, while the threat of the Red Kingdom looms.
My thoughts
I will start by saying I was provided with an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review
This is a sweeping fantasy adventure. The history and depth of world building is wonderful to see.
The characters are believable, well written and dynamic. You can look at them and find something of yourself in them.
The book took awhile to get into and was a bit slow to start but once I was reading I had to know how it would end and how the relationship between Wren and Tryan would go.
Throughly loved this adventure.
36RuneFirestar
>34 Sakerfalcon: @kakerfalcon no I havent but when I have some spare time I will Indeed look it up :) sounds like my kinda read.
37RuneFirestar
16.Lose You to Find Me
By Erik J. Brown
Blurb
Tommy Dees is in the weeds - restaurant speak for beyond overwhelmed. He's been working at Sunset Estates Retirement Community to get the experience he needs to attend one of the best culinary schools in the world. And he also needs a letter of recommendation from his sadistic manager. In exchange for the letter, Tommy has to meet three conditions - including train new-hire Gabriel.
Gabe, with the dimples and kind heart, who Tommy crushed on during summer camp at age ten and then never saw again. Unfortunately, Gabe doesn't remember Tommy at all. The training proves distracting as old feelings resurface, and the universe seems to be conspiring against them.
With the application deadline looming and Gabe on his mind, can Tommy keep it all together or is it a recipe for disaster?
My thoughts
This one had been on my tbr pile for sometime. It was gifted to me by the publisher after I had reviewed another book for them. I wasn't sure what to think of it so it stayed on the stack until the start of the year when my friend said so what are we reading then ? I showed them the cover and did the summary and the rest was history.
This was a brilliant read. It was the perfect sweet romance but also it had lots to say about friends and how to be a good one. It truely was an unexpected pleasure .I really enjoyed getting to know Tommy and Gabe and friends as well as the folks at Sunset estates.
Very sweet and full of moments that made me laugh and even some that made me cry.
By Erik J. Brown
Blurb
Tommy Dees is in the weeds - restaurant speak for beyond overwhelmed. He's been working at Sunset Estates Retirement Community to get the experience he needs to attend one of the best culinary schools in the world. And he also needs a letter of recommendation from his sadistic manager. In exchange for the letter, Tommy has to meet three conditions - including train new-hire Gabriel.
Gabe, with the dimples and kind heart, who Tommy crushed on during summer camp at age ten and then never saw again. Unfortunately, Gabe doesn't remember Tommy at all. The training proves distracting as old feelings resurface, and the universe seems to be conspiring against them.
With the application deadline looming and Gabe on his mind, can Tommy keep it all together or is it a recipe for disaster?
My thoughts
This one had been on my tbr pile for sometime. It was gifted to me by the publisher after I had reviewed another book for them. I wasn't sure what to think of it so it stayed on the stack until the start of the year when my friend said so what are we reading then ? I showed them the cover and did the summary and the rest was history.
This was a brilliant read. It was the perfect sweet romance but also it had lots to say about friends and how to be a good one. It truely was an unexpected pleasure .I really enjoyed getting to know Tommy and Gabe and friends as well as the folks at Sunset estates.
Very sweet and full of moments that made me laugh and even some that made me cry.
38Alexandra_book_life
>37 RuneFirestar: Books that are an unexpected pleasure are very precious. I liked your description!
39RuneFirestar
17. The Ministry of Unladylike Activity
(The Ministry of Unladylike Activity #1)
Robin Stevens
Blurb
Britain is at war and a secret arm of the British government called the Ministry of Unladylike Activity is training up spies. And who better to become a spy than a child? A child can go places, see things and listen in on conversations in a way that no adult ever can.
Enter May Wong and her friends.
Trained up at the Ministry, they soon embark upon their first mission: masquerading as evacuees, they are sent to a wealthy manor house to spy on the owner, who is suspected of working for the enemy.
And then the murder happens....
My thoughts
I loved getting to watch Hazel and Daisy grow and learn. When I finished Thier story I was sad to leave them behind.
But in my sadness I was so pleased to discover that Hazel's sisters May and Ross would be at Deepdean and we're set to have Their very own adventure..well at least May would. This was the perfect start to a new chapter of The Detective Society. I
(The Ministry of Unladylike Activity #1)
Robin Stevens
Blurb
Britain is at war and a secret arm of the British government called the Ministry of Unladylike Activity is training up spies. And who better to become a spy than a child? A child can go places, see things and listen in on conversations in a way that no adult ever can.
Enter May Wong and her friends.
Trained up at the Ministry, they soon embark upon their first mission: masquerading as evacuees, they are sent to a wealthy manor house to spy on the owner, who is suspected of working for the enemy.
And then the murder happens....
My thoughts
I loved getting to watch Hazel and Daisy grow and learn. When I finished Thier story I was sad to leave them behind.
But in my sadness I was so pleased to discover that Hazel's sisters May and Ross would be at Deepdean and we're set to have Their very own adventure..well at least May would. This was the perfect start to a new chapter of The Detective Society. I
40RuneFirestar
18. Paper Dragons: The Fight for the Hidden Realm ( paper dragons book 1)
by Siobhan McDermott
Blurb
An extraordinary destiny unfolds . . .
Twelve-year-old Zhi Ging has always been an outcast. Until she receives an invitation to Hok Woh, an underwater school that offers her the chance to become immortal, and to finally belong.
There, she battles in hair-raising boat races, meets age-shifting tutors and competes in thrilling trials.
But there are rumours of a growing dark force . . . and students who fail the trials are disappearing. Can Zhi Ging uncover the truth before it's too late?
My thoughts
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review
I was drawn to the book by it's cover. The amazing dragon who looked half like a ghost and half as if he was made of gold ...and the girl he was wrapped around as she stood high in the mountain surrounded by mists.
I had to know and then I read the blurb here we are . We meet that young woman, Zhi Ging, trying to do something she knows she shouldn't.
But as an outcaste in the village she calls home she only wants to be accepted. To finally find her place and maybe learn about her past. To do this she is desperate to become a Silhouette.
But even as she gets her wish things are not easy and not all is as it seems in the beautiful underwater city Hok Woh.
This story is a hero's journey. It's filled with wonder and magic and lore. I have truely adored this read and can't wait to see what happens next. This is one to watch!
by Siobhan McDermott
Blurb
An extraordinary destiny unfolds . . .
Twelve-year-old Zhi Ging has always been an outcast. Until she receives an invitation to Hok Woh, an underwater school that offers her the chance to become immortal, and to finally belong.
There, she battles in hair-raising boat races, meets age-shifting tutors and competes in thrilling trials.
But there are rumours of a growing dark force . . . and students who fail the trials are disappearing. Can Zhi Ging uncover the truth before it's too late?
My thoughts
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review
I was drawn to the book by it's cover. The amazing dragon who looked half like a ghost and half as if he was made of gold ...and the girl he was wrapped around as she stood high in the mountain surrounded by mists.
I had to know and then I read the blurb here we are . We meet that young woman, Zhi Ging, trying to do something she knows she shouldn't.
But as an outcaste in the village she calls home she only wants to be accepted. To finally find her place and maybe learn about her past. To do this she is desperate to become a Silhouette.
But even as she gets her wish things are not easy and not all is as it seems in the beautiful underwater city Hok Woh.
This story is a hero's journey. It's filled with wonder and magic and lore. I have truely adored this read and can't wait to see what happens next. This is one to watch!
41Alexandra_book_life
>40 RuneFirestar: It sounds like a really nice read! I'll keep this book in mind, thanks!
42RuneFirestar
19. Relight My Fire ( Stranger Times #4 )
C.K. McDonnell
Blurb
Some comebacks can be murder . . .
Stella is enjoying life as an almost student, or at least she is until a man falls from the sky right in front of her, leaving a big old hole in the pavement for Manchester Council to fill. The obvious question of how he ended up in the sky in the first place has no obvious answers, which is where The Stranger Times come in. This isn't just the hunt for another story though. Dark powers think Stella might have been involved and the only way she and the team can prove her innocence is to find out what the hell is really going on. What have dodgy gear, disturbed graves and a decommissioned rock star got to do with all this?
Vincent Banecroft has problems of his own in the form of a tall, dark but-definitely-not-handsome man dressed like a one-man funeral who has been sent to make the paper's editor atone for his sins. Once he finds out exactly what that entails, Banecroft is not keen. Being banished to a Hellscape for all eternity looks like being no fun at all, not least because he has that pale Irish skin that burns really easily . . .
All that plus territorial ghouls, homicidal felines, eternal (and seemingly unstoppable) gnomes and a celebrity 'Who's Who' that'd put a royal wedding to shame, and you're looking at a wild few days for The Stranger Times .
My thoughts
I recieved an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I have been following the stranger times and it's staff since the beginning. I said it then and I will say it again this is one newspaper that will never be called dull.
Each book has had moments where I am laughing out loud and even some moments where I have to re read because I wasn't sure I had read that right.
They are brilliant unbelievable books with just the right amount of "normality" to make you wonder if maybe there is something to the strange and wonderful stories they report on.
This Serries continues to go from strength to strength. I adored every single word of these books. I can't wait to see what turns up next in the pages of The Stranger Times.
C.K. McDonnell
Blurb
Some comebacks can be murder . . .
Stella is enjoying life as an almost student, or at least she is until a man falls from the sky right in front of her, leaving a big old hole in the pavement for Manchester Council to fill. The obvious question of how he ended up in the sky in the first place has no obvious answers, which is where The Stranger Times come in. This isn't just the hunt for another story though. Dark powers think Stella might have been involved and the only way she and the team can prove her innocence is to find out what the hell is really going on. What have dodgy gear, disturbed graves and a decommissioned rock star got to do with all this?
Vincent Banecroft has problems of his own in the form of a tall, dark but-definitely-not-handsome man dressed like a one-man funeral who has been sent to make the paper's editor atone for his sins. Once he finds out exactly what that entails, Banecroft is not keen. Being banished to a Hellscape for all eternity looks like being no fun at all, not least because he has that pale Irish skin that burns really easily . . .
All that plus territorial ghouls, homicidal felines, eternal (and seemingly unstoppable) gnomes and a celebrity 'Who's Who' that'd put a royal wedding to shame, and you're looking at a wild few days for The Stranger Times .
My thoughts
I recieved an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I have been following the stranger times and it's staff since the beginning. I said it then and I will say it again this is one newspaper that will never be called dull.
Each book has had moments where I am laughing out loud and even some moments where I have to re read because I wasn't sure I had read that right.
They are brilliant unbelievable books with just the right amount of "normality" to make you wonder if maybe there is something to the strange and wonderful stories they report on.
This Serries continues to go from strength to strength. I adored every single word of these books. I can't wait to see what turns up next in the pages of The Stranger Times.
43RuneFirestar
>41 Alexandra_book_life: it was brilliant! I really loved getting to know the characters and getting lost in the story and lore of the world that the author created. Brilliant from Start to finish
44MrsLee
>42 RuneFirestar: I will be starting this today. Glad to hear your thoughts. :)
45RuneFirestar
20.The Market of 100 Fortunes
Marie Brennan
Blurb
Enthralling fantasy mystery from the world of Legend of the Five Rings as two samurai risk everything to rescue an old friend from the clutches of a shadowy trickster
Having vanquished demons and halted invasions of devious creatures from the Spirit Realms, Asako Sekken and Agasha no Isao Ryotora are finally going to be married. But when a note from their old ally Sayashi arrives unexpectedly, the samurai find themselves dragged into another supernatural mystery.
Their investigation leads them to Crane lands and an ancient market ruled by a mysterious being. Now Sekken and Ryotora must use all their wit and charm to save Sayashi from a hundred year bargain before they find themselves embroiled in a conflict with a forgotten deity of unimaginable power.
My thoughts
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I was as happens so many times enchanted by the cover art and then hooked by the blurb. I am not a player of L5R so I don't know very much about the world of Rokugan.
That was a bit daunting and I had to consult with friends who knew more every now and again but the story was no less captivating and breath taking for that.
I loved getting to know this amazing world a little better. To hear about it's clans and samurai as well as it's spirits . It was amazing
Marie Brennan
Blurb
Enthralling fantasy mystery from the world of Legend of the Five Rings as two samurai risk everything to rescue an old friend from the clutches of a shadowy trickster
Having vanquished demons and halted invasions of devious creatures from the Spirit Realms, Asako Sekken and Agasha no Isao Ryotora are finally going to be married. But when a note from their old ally Sayashi arrives unexpectedly, the samurai find themselves dragged into another supernatural mystery.
Their investigation leads them to Crane lands and an ancient market ruled by a mysterious being. Now Sekken and Ryotora must use all their wit and charm to save Sayashi from a hundred year bargain before they find themselves embroiled in a conflict with a forgotten deity of unimaginable power.
My thoughts
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I was as happens so many times enchanted by the cover art and then hooked by the blurb. I am not a player of L5R so I don't know very much about the world of Rokugan.
That was a bit daunting and I had to consult with friends who knew more every now and again but the story was no less captivating and breath taking for that.
I loved getting to know this amazing world a little better. To hear about it's clans and samurai as well as it's spirits . It was amazing
46RuneFirestar
MrsLee I have been reading stranger times since the 1st book I really really love it. It's absolutely brilliant!
47RuneFirestar
21.The Book of Doors
Gareth Brown
The Blurb
If you could open a door to anywhere, where would you go?
In New York City, bookseller Cassie Andrews is living an unassuming life when she is given a gift by a favourite customer. It's a book - an unusual book, full of strange writing and mysterious drawings. And at the very front there is a handwritten message to Cassie, telling her that this is the Book of Doors, and that any door is every door .
What Cassie is about to discover is that the Book of Doors is a special book that bestows an extraordinary powers on whoever possesses it, and soon she and her best friend Izzy are exploring all that the Book of Doors can do, swept away from their quiet lives by the possibilities of travelling to anywhere they want.
But the Book of Doors is not the only magical book in the world. There are other books that can do wondrous and dreadful things when wielded by dangerous and ruthless individuals - individuals who crave what Cassie now possesses.
Suddenly Cassie and Izzy are confronted by violence and danger, and the only person who can help them is, it seems, Drummond Fox. He is a man fleeing his own demons - a man with his own secret library of magical books that he has hidden away in the shadows for safekeeping. Because there is a nameless evil out there that is hunting them all . . .
Because some doors should never be opened.
My thoughts
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.
The book of doors is like no other read I have ever experienced. It's the story of several lives and how they all interact and yet don't. Times that pass in a flash and yet happen all over again. There are moments of absolute violence and some of profound sadness.
There are also moments that will make you laugh out loud.
Gareth Brown
The Blurb
If you could open a door to anywhere, where would you go?
In New York City, bookseller Cassie Andrews is living an unassuming life when she is given a gift by a favourite customer. It's a book - an unusual book, full of strange writing and mysterious drawings. And at the very front there is a handwritten message to Cassie, telling her that this is the Book of Doors, and that any door is every door .
What Cassie is about to discover is that the Book of Doors is a special book that bestows an extraordinary powers on whoever possesses it, and soon she and her best friend Izzy are exploring all that the Book of Doors can do, swept away from their quiet lives by the possibilities of travelling to anywhere they want.
But the Book of Doors is not the only magical book in the world. There are other books that can do wondrous and dreadful things when wielded by dangerous and ruthless individuals - individuals who crave what Cassie now possesses.
Suddenly Cassie and Izzy are confronted by violence and danger, and the only person who can help them is, it seems, Drummond Fox. He is a man fleeing his own demons - a man with his own secret library of magical books that he has hidden away in the shadows for safekeeping. Because there is a nameless evil out there that is hunting them all . . .
Because some doors should never be opened.
My thoughts
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.
The book of doors is like no other read I have ever experienced. It's the story of several lives and how they all interact and yet don't. Times that pass in a flash and yet happen all over again. There are moments of absolute violence and some of profound sadness.
There are also moments that will make you laugh out loud.
48Sakerfalcon
>47 RuneFirestar: This sounds great! I'd seen it on some Forthcoming books lists but yours is the first detailed review I've seen. Definitely one to add to my wish list!
49RuneFirestar
22.A Fate Inked in Blood
( Saga of the Unfated #1)
By Danielle L. Jensen
Blurb
A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king—while also fighting her growing desire for his fiery son—in this Norse-inspired fantasy romance from the bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series.
Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband’s back.
Freya’s dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region’s jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son, Bjorn. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: She possesses a drop of a goddess’s blood, which makes her a shield maiden with magic capable of repelling any attack. It was foretold such a magic would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath the one who controls the shield maiden’s fate.
Believing he’s destined to rule Skaland as king, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders Bjorn to protect her from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. The greatest test of all, however, may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.
My thoughts
I was provided with an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This book is rich in Norse mythology and legends. Of children bearing the blood of the Gods. It truely makes for an awesome ly powerful story .
Within it's pages we meet Freya named after The Goddess of love and Beauty. Freya however dreams of being more than just a pretty face . She dreams of a warriors life. However when she reveals her power and gets exactly what she thought she wanted she learns that maybe it wasn't what she thought it would be.
This is a sweeping epic tale of finding ones place in the world and figuring out where your ment to be. I look forward to the next part of Freya's journey
( Saga of the Unfated #1)
By Danielle L. Jensen
Blurb
A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king—while also fighting her growing desire for his fiery son—in this Norse-inspired fantasy romance from the bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series.
Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband’s back.
Freya’s dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region’s jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son, Bjorn. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: She possesses a drop of a goddess’s blood, which makes her a shield maiden with magic capable of repelling any attack. It was foretold such a magic would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath the one who controls the shield maiden’s fate.
Believing he’s destined to rule Skaland as king, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders Bjorn to protect her from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. The greatest test of all, however, may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.
My thoughts
I was provided with an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This book is rich in Norse mythology and legends. Of children bearing the blood of the Gods. It truely makes for an awesome ly powerful story .
Within it's pages we meet Freya named after The Goddess of love and Beauty. Freya however dreams of being more than just a pretty face . She dreams of a warriors life. However when she reveals her power and gets exactly what she thought she wanted she learns that maybe it wasn't what she thought it would be.
This is a sweeping epic tale of finding ones place in the world and figuring out where your ment to be. I look forward to the next part of Freya's journey
50RuneFirestar
23.The Bride of Death
F.M. Aden
Blurb
As a young child, Zerryn grew up on tales of the Lord of Death, Erlik Khan, and his penchant for stealing wild girls. In her small village, she keeps to herself and tends to the temple gardens, spending her days with her best friend Çelik. But when Çelik begins to act strangely and removes himself to live on a crumbling estate atop Mount Ida, the rumors of him becoming possessed by a demon begin to swiftly arise. Each month that passes the demon within him grows stronger, his demands of the villagers growing oddly disjointed and nonsensical.
Her chances of saving him become all but impossible once Zerryn learns that it is no lesser demon that has a hold of him but Erlik Khan—a demon of untold power who lords over the dead. It isn’t long before word spreads that he is in search of a bride, and creatures of untold power come before him to rule by his side. Zerryn knows that she cannot take down Erlik without power and she cannot gain power without becoming his bride.
But becoming Erlik’s wife is nothing as simple as an offer for his hand. To become the queen of the Underworld, she must complete three impossible tasks or risk losing everything she holds dear.
My thoughts
I was provided with an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.
As so often happens I was drawn to the story first by it's cover art a tangle if flower covered vines that wrap around swords with blood coloured jewels in their hilts, beasts, serpents and bones and skulls. Then hidden in the background is a black palace behind which is a darken night sky strewn with a handful of stars. The longer I stared at the art more I had to know what the story was.
So that is how I met Zerryn, a young girl who was raised on stories and fairy tales of the old gods and Erlik Khan, lord death or some say The Devil, and his penchant for stealing away young ladies .
Along with an odd up bringing she also has no fear of wild things. The woods and it's creatures seem to welcome her. As She grows and spends her time tending her garden , going to temple and with her best friend a boy named Çelik.
Then Celik starts to act strangely and disappears. Things in the village start to go wrong crops fail, and other terrible things happen. Zerryn is determined to save Celik and her village.
But then she finds herself as a contestant to be The Devil's wife. Will she win the day ? Can she remain true to herself or will she be changed by her time in the underworld?
This story weaves together several mythologies and it is hauntingly brilliant. I enjoyed this read very much
F.M. Aden
Blurb
As a young child, Zerryn grew up on tales of the Lord of Death, Erlik Khan, and his penchant for stealing wild girls. In her small village, she keeps to herself and tends to the temple gardens, spending her days with her best friend Çelik. But when Çelik begins to act strangely and removes himself to live on a crumbling estate atop Mount Ida, the rumors of him becoming possessed by a demon begin to swiftly arise. Each month that passes the demon within him grows stronger, his demands of the villagers growing oddly disjointed and nonsensical.
Her chances of saving him become all but impossible once Zerryn learns that it is no lesser demon that has a hold of him but Erlik Khan—a demon of untold power who lords over the dead. It isn’t long before word spreads that he is in search of a bride, and creatures of untold power come before him to rule by his side. Zerryn knows that she cannot take down Erlik without power and she cannot gain power without becoming his bride.
But becoming Erlik’s wife is nothing as simple as an offer for his hand. To become the queen of the Underworld, she must complete three impossible tasks or risk losing everything she holds dear.
My thoughts
I was provided with an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.
As so often happens I was drawn to the story first by it's cover art a tangle if flower covered vines that wrap around swords with blood coloured jewels in their hilts, beasts, serpents and bones and skulls. Then hidden in the background is a black palace behind which is a darken night sky strewn with a handful of stars. The longer I stared at the art more I had to know what the story was.
So that is how I met Zerryn, a young girl who was raised on stories and fairy tales of the old gods and Erlik Khan, lord death or some say The Devil, and his penchant for stealing away young ladies .
Along with an odd up bringing she also has no fear of wild things. The woods and it's creatures seem to welcome her. As She grows and spends her time tending her garden , going to temple and with her best friend a boy named Çelik.
Then Celik starts to act strangely and disappears. Things in the village start to go wrong crops fail, and other terrible things happen. Zerryn is determined to save Celik and her village.
But then she finds herself as a contestant to be The Devil's wife. Will she win the day ? Can she remain true to herself or will she be changed by her time in the underworld?
This story weaves together several mythologies and it is hauntingly brilliant. I enjoyed this read very much
51RuneFirestar
24.The Highgate Cemetery Murder
( Tate and Bell Mystery #1)
By Irina Shapiro
Blurb
His heart pounding, the man scribbles the words in his notebook as fast as he can:0⁰ ki “Woman dead in Highgate. Man in caped coat. Milky way and red streaks. I’m being followed.”
Hours later, the man’s cold body lies in tq0he city mortuary, alongside the woman he couldn’t save. And his sister, unconventional nurse Gemma Tate, tracks down troubled police inspector Sebastian Bell to unravel the truth.
Sebastian has enough pressure to solve the murder of an aristocratic heiress without Gemma meddling in his case. But the cryptic sentences she brings him from her brother’s notebook could be a crucial lead. If only they knew what “milky way” meant. But as the trail of clues takes them away from the gilded drawing rooms of the nobility and into the dangerous slums of London, how far will their partnership be tested on the quest for justice, and will they both emerge unscathed?
My thoughts
I was provided with an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I was drawn to the cover art and title and hooked by the blurb. This is a beautifully told historical murder mystery.
The tale is intercately woven to draw the reader in and immersed in Victorian London and does so brilliantly. It kept me guessing right up til the very end and even then I only managed to guess at half the story.
I loved getting to know both Gemma and Inspector Sebastian Bell. They were both wonderful characters. It was refreshing to see that they each had their own strengths and weaknesses. They complimented one another nicely.
I look forward to the next Tate and Bell mystery eagerly. A perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon.
( Tate and Bell Mystery #1)
By Irina Shapiro
Blurb
His heart pounding, the man scribbles the words in his notebook as fast as he can:0⁰ ki “Woman dead in Highgate. Man in caped coat. Milky way and red streaks. I’m being followed.”
Hours later, the man’s cold body lies in tq0he city mortuary, alongside the woman he couldn’t save. And his sister, unconventional nurse Gemma Tate, tracks down troubled police inspector Sebastian Bell to unravel the truth.
Sebastian has enough pressure to solve the murder of an aristocratic heiress without Gemma meddling in his case. But the cryptic sentences she brings him from her brother’s notebook could be a crucial lead. If only they knew what “milky way” meant. But as the trail of clues takes them away from the gilded drawing rooms of the nobility and into the dangerous slums of London, how far will their partnership be tested on the quest for justice, and will they both emerge unscathed?
My thoughts
I was provided with an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I was drawn to the cover art and title and hooked by the blurb. This is a beautifully told historical murder mystery.
The tale is intercately woven to draw the reader in and immersed in Victorian London and does so brilliantly. It kept me guessing right up til the very end and even then I only managed to guess at half the story.
I loved getting to know both Gemma and Inspector Sebastian Bell. They were both wonderful characters. It was refreshing to see that they each had their own strengths and weaknesses. They complimented one another nicely.
I look forward to the next Tate and Bell mystery eagerly. A perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon.
52RuneFirestar
25. The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder
C.L. Miller
Blurb
In this irresistible and thrilling debut novel, a former antique hunter investigates a suspicious death at an isolated English manor, embroiling her back in the dangerous world of tracking stolen artifacts.
What antique would you kill for?
Freya Lockwood is shocked when she learns that Arthur Crockleford, antiques dealer and her estranged mentor, has died under mysterious circumstances. She has spent the last twenty years avoiding her quaint English hometown, but when she receives a letter from Arthur asking her to investigate—sent just days before his death—Freya has no choice but to return to a life she had sworn to leave behind.
Joining forces with her eccentric Aunt Carole, Freya follows clues and her instincts to an old manor house for an advertised antiques enthusiast’s weekend. But not all is as it seems. It’s clear to Freya that the antiques are all just poor reproductions and her fellow guests are secretive and menacing. What is going on at this estate and how was Arthur involved? More importantly, can Freya and Carole discover the truth before the killer strikes again?
My thoughts
I was provided with an advanced reader copy of this book in both ebook and audio formats in return for an honest review
The narration for the audio book is brilliant and very well done.
Each character is amazingly well done and has their own voice.
My one and only complaint is Freya keeps referring to " The Cairo incident" Like the reader should know what happened. This does get explained but it really feels like it should be it's own story
That aside its a wonderfully written mystery. The characters are fun and well developed . I adore Aunt Carole she is a brilliant character and so over the top you can't help but smile . Freya took me awhile to warm up too but she too is brilliant and resourceful.
All in all this is the perfect cozy mystery. I loved it from start to finish. I look forward to the next adventure with Carole and Fraya Lockwood.
C.L. Miller
Blurb
In this irresistible and thrilling debut novel, a former antique hunter investigates a suspicious death at an isolated English manor, embroiling her back in the dangerous world of tracking stolen artifacts.
What antique would you kill for?
Freya Lockwood is shocked when she learns that Arthur Crockleford, antiques dealer and her estranged mentor, has died under mysterious circumstances. She has spent the last twenty years avoiding her quaint English hometown, but when she receives a letter from Arthur asking her to investigate—sent just days before his death—Freya has no choice but to return to a life she had sworn to leave behind.
Joining forces with her eccentric Aunt Carole, Freya follows clues and her instincts to an old manor house for an advertised antiques enthusiast’s weekend. But not all is as it seems. It’s clear to Freya that the antiques are all just poor reproductions and her fellow guests are secretive and menacing. What is going on at this estate and how was Arthur involved? More importantly, can Freya and Carole discover the truth before the killer strikes again?
My thoughts
I was provided with an advanced reader copy of this book in both ebook and audio formats in return for an honest review
The narration for the audio book is brilliant and very well done.
Each character is amazingly well done and has their own voice.
My one and only complaint is Freya keeps referring to " The Cairo incident" Like the reader should know what happened. This does get explained but it really feels like it should be it's own story
That aside its a wonderfully written mystery. The characters are fun and well developed . I adore Aunt Carole she is a brilliant character and so over the top you can't help but smile . Freya took me awhile to warm up too but she too is brilliant and resourceful.
All in all this is the perfect cozy mystery. I loved it from start to finish. I look forward to the next adventure with Carole and Fraya Lockwood.
53RuneFirestar
26. The Stolen Heir
( The Stolen Heir Duology #1)
Holly Black
Blurb
A runaway queen. A reluctant prince. And a quest that may destroy them both.
Eight years have passed since the Battle of the Serpent. But in the icy north, Lady Nore of the Court of Teeth has reclaimed the Ice Needle Citadel. There, she is using an ancient relic to create monsters of stick and snow who will do her bidding and exact her revenge.
Suren, child queen of the Court of Teeth, and the one person with power over her mother, fled to the human world. There, she lives feral in the woods. Lonely, and still haunted by the merciless torments she endured in the Court of Teeth, she bides her time by releasing mortals from foolish bargains. She believes herself forgotten until the storm hag, Bogdana chases her through the night streets. Suren is saved by none other than Prince Oak, heir to Elfhame, to whom she was once promised in marriage and who she has resented for years.
Now seventeen, Oak is charming, beautiful, and manipulative. He’s on a mission that will lead him into the north, and he wants Suren’s help. But if she agrees, it will mean guarding her heart against the boy she once knew and a prince she cannot trust, as well as confronting all the horrors she thought she left behind.
My thoughts
I had forgotten how well Holly Black had written the Fae . This book is a wonder, truely beautiful dark wonderfully told story . There are so many many things I could say but to say them would be to give away it's secrets.
I thoroughly loved getting to know Wren and Oak. It was a fantastic and wonderful read .
( The Stolen Heir Duology #1)
Holly Black
Blurb
A runaway queen. A reluctant prince. And a quest that may destroy them both.
Eight years have passed since the Battle of the Serpent. But in the icy north, Lady Nore of the Court of Teeth has reclaimed the Ice Needle Citadel. There, she is using an ancient relic to create monsters of stick and snow who will do her bidding and exact her revenge.
Suren, child queen of the Court of Teeth, and the one person with power over her mother, fled to the human world. There, she lives feral in the woods. Lonely, and still haunted by the merciless torments she endured in the Court of Teeth, she bides her time by releasing mortals from foolish bargains. She believes herself forgotten until the storm hag, Bogdana chases her through the night streets. Suren is saved by none other than Prince Oak, heir to Elfhame, to whom she was once promised in marriage and who she has resented for years.
Now seventeen, Oak is charming, beautiful, and manipulative. He’s on a mission that will lead him into the north, and he wants Suren’s help. But if she agrees, it will mean guarding her heart against the boy she once knew and a prince she cannot trust, as well as confronting all the horrors she thought she left behind.
My thoughts
I had forgotten how well Holly Black had written the Fae . This book is a wonder, truely beautiful dark wonderfully told story . There are so many many things I could say but to say them would be to give away it's secrets.
I thoroughly loved getting to know Wren and Oak. It was a fantastic and wonderful read .
54RuneFirestar
27.To Cage a God
( These Monstrous Gods #1)
Elizabeth May
Blurb
Join the rebellion to burn down a cruel tyrant in this heartracing new fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone and The Wolf and the Woodsman. To cage a god is divine. To be divine is to rule. To rule is to destroy.
Using ancient secrets, Galina and Sera's mother grafted gods into their bones. Bound to brutal deities and granted forbidden power no commoner has held in a millennia, the sisters have grown up to become living weapons. Raised to overthrow an empire—no matter the cost.
With their mother gone and their country on the brink of war, it falls to the sisters to take the helm of the rebellion and end the cruel reign of a royal family possessed by destructive gods. Because when the ruling alurea invade, they conquer with fire and blood. And when they clash, common folk burn.
While Sera reunites with her estranged lover who now leads the rebellion, Galina infiltrates the palace. In this world of deception and danger, her only refuge is an isolated princess, whose whip-smart tongue and sharp gaze threaten to uncover Galina's secret. Torn between desire and duty, Galina must make a work together to expose the lies of the empire—or bring it all down.
My thoughts
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I really loved the narration for the book. The narrator gave each character her own voice . That makes each character come to life for the reader and makes it easier to loose one's self in the world the author has created for us.
As usual I was drawn to the cover art. What looked like a young dragon or lizard of some held behind a human chest cavity made of metal and behind that was a stained glass window with Fire burning beyond. I was captivated, I wanted to know the story behind that imprisoned beast. Then I read the blurb and I was sold.
The world that has been created for the reader seems old and ancient . Those of the ruling classes are marked by having a god-dragons bound to their bones. Ancient, powerful and destructive.
The nobles seem to have everything and the common folk seem to have little. With the death of the Emperor the threat of war is looming. And among the common folk rebellion is growing.
And in this powder keg are two sisters. They are special. Their mother used ancient secrets to force a god- dragon to bond and graft to their bones. She had hoped that by doing so she would give the people something to fight back with.
She created in them powerful weapons and taught them to fight meaning to over throw the empire no matter what the cost.
Then she died.
The sisters then find themselves at the head of the rebellion. They hatch a dangerous plan. One sister will go to the palace after revealing her God power and work to bring it down from within. The other will gather the people.
Will they succeed ?
This is the start of a sweeping fantasy epic . The characters are human and flawed which makes them easy to identify with and understand. The reader can find things about each of them to like and dislike. There's alot to like about this read.
I can't wait to see what happens next.
( These Monstrous Gods #1)
Elizabeth May
Blurb
Join the rebellion to burn down a cruel tyrant in this heartracing new fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone and The Wolf and the Woodsman. To cage a god is divine. To be divine is to rule. To rule is to destroy.
Using ancient secrets, Galina and Sera's mother grafted gods into their bones. Bound to brutal deities and granted forbidden power no commoner has held in a millennia, the sisters have grown up to become living weapons. Raised to overthrow an empire—no matter the cost.
With their mother gone and their country on the brink of war, it falls to the sisters to take the helm of the rebellion and end the cruel reign of a royal family possessed by destructive gods. Because when the ruling alurea invade, they conquer with fire and blood. And when they clash, common folk burn.
While Sera reunites with her estranged lover who now leads the rebellion, Galina infiltrates the palace. In this world of deception and danger, her only refuge is an isolated princess, whose whip-smart tongue and sharp gaze threaten to uncover Galina's secret. Torn between desire and duty, Galina must make a work together to expose the lies of the empire—or bring it all down.
My thoughts
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I really loved the narration for the book. The narrator gave each character her own voice . That makes each character come to life for the reader and makes it easier to loose one's self in the world the author has created for us.
As usual I was drawn to the cover art. What looked like a young dragon or lizard of some held behind a human chest cavity made of metal and behind that was a stained glass window with Fire burning beyond. I was captivated, I wanted to know the story behind that imprisoned beast. Then I read the blurb and I was sold.
The world that has been created for the reader seems old and ancient . Those of the ruling classes are marked by having a god-dragons bound to their bones. Ancient, powerful and destructive.
The nobles seem to have everything and the common folk seem to have little. With the death of the Emperor the threat of war is looming. And among the common folk rebellion is growing.
And in this powder keg are two sisters. They are special. Their mother used ancient secrets to force a god- dragon to bond and graft to their bones. She had hoped that by doing so she would give the people something to fight back with.
She created in them powerful weapons and taught them to fight meaning to over throw the empire no matter what the cost.
Then she died.
The sisters then find themselves at the head of the rebellion. They hatch a dangerous plan. One sister will go to the palace after revealing her God power and work to bring it down from within. The other will gather the people.
Will they succeed ?
This is the start of a sweeping fantasy epic . The characters are human and flawed which makes them easy to identify with and understand. The reader can find things about each of them to like and dislike. There's alot to like about this read.
I can't wait to see what happens next.
55RuneFirestar
28.The Secret of the Moonshard
Struan Murray
Blurb
Domino has lived her whole life believing that just one drop of magic could kill her.Held in a floating laboratory by scheming Science Barons, she has never known a single day of freedom.When Domino discovers that everything she's been told by the Barons is a lie, she escapes to Abzalaymon, a wondrous city filled with scientific marvels, hulking thunder lizards and hidden magic.But the Barons are soon on Domino's trail. Because a war is brewing between science and magic. A war that could destroy the world. And Domino might just be the key to saving everyone . .
My Thoughts
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.
As usual I was drawn to the cover. A girl with wild dark hair and a patched but dirty dress, bright eyes and a devil may care grin on her face with a swirl of magic at her fingertips, a boy and a dinosaur...
And then the line " A Little Magic never hurt anyone "
I had to know the story . I needed to know who this girl was and how she was connected to the boy and the rather impressive dinosaur.
That is how I found myself in Abzalaymon at the scientarium. And when I bumped into Domino she had just finished blowing up a teddy bear that belonged to her school bully.
Oh and the shard of the moon had crashed into the roof and very nearly killed Domino.
This story is amazingly well written . It's a tale filled with magic, wizards and even spirits! At its heart is the story of a young girl trying to find out who she is and how she fits as well as finding out how to make friends and most importantly finding out who is a real friend.
I loved this story from start to finish. It's pure magic
Struan Murray
Blurb
Domino has lived her whole life believing that just one drop of magic could kill her.Held in a floating laboratory by scheming Science Barons, she has never known a single day of freedom.When Domino discovers that everything she's been told by the Barons is a lie, she escapes to Abzalaymon, a wondrous city filled with scientific marvels, hulking thunder lizards and hidden magic.But the Barons are soon on Domino's trail. Because a war is brewing between science and magic. A war that could destroy the world. And Domino might just be the key to saving everyone . .
My Thoughts
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.
As usual I was drawn to the cover. A girl with wild dark hair and a patched but dirty dress, bright eyes and a devil may care grin on her face with a swirl of magic at her fingertips, a boy and a dinosaur...
And then the line " A Little Magic never hurt anyone "
I had to know the story . I needed to know who this girl was and how she was connected to the boy and the rather impressive dinosaur.
That is how I found myself in Abzalaymon at the scientarium. And when I bumped into Domino she had just finished blowing up a teddy bear that belonged to her school bully.
Oh and the shard of the moon had crashed into the roof and very nearly killed Domino.
This story is amazingly well written . It's a tale filled with magic, wizards and even spirits! At its heart is the story of a young girl trying to find out who she is and how she fits as well as finding out how to make friends and most importantly finding out who is a real friend.
I loved this story from start to finish. It's pure magic
56RuneFirestar
29.The Midnight Rose
by Catalina Paris
Blurb
The Alchemyst
The Faerie
The Witch
The Warlock
Leo is a sixteen-year-old apprentice at the Alchemical Court until one night changes everything. When the castle is attacked and Leo is told to flee, he creates a new portal using the strange runes left behind in his missing master's notebook. Arriving in the mysterious Realm of the Fey, a place long forgotten by mortals and Alchemysts alike, Leo meets the enchanting Lady Lisandre, a young faerie in need of his help. Together they quickly learn both their worlds are under threat from the elusive Dark Alchemyst; unless they find the mythical Talismans of Atlantica before he does. . Along the way they encounter Flora, a charming witch on a search for the truth of her family, as well as Leo’s former classmate, a warlock with questionable intentions, Lucien. The four of them are soon drawn together as they face numerous dangers and challenges to find and retrieve the talismans. Set in an alternative magical renaissance, The Midnight Rose is a spell-binding fantasy adventure unlike any other.
My thoughts
I really was enchanted with this books blurb and the beautiful cover art. I thought that it would be a wonderful fairytale like adventure.
Sadly the book is not what I thought it would be. The characters although well written don't really change or develop through the story. They swap and change between views and view points leaving the reader feeling lost and just wondering what the point of things was.
It was only twelve chapters long and I felt that that was to much. I didn't enjoy this read at all
by Catalina Paris
Blurb
The Alchemyst
The Faerie
The Witch
The Warlock
Leo is a sixteen-year-old apprentice at the Alchemical Court until one night changes everything. When the castle is attacked and Leo is told to flee, he creates a new portal using the strange runes left behind in his missing master's notebook. Arriving in the mysterious Realm of the Fey, a place long forgotten by mortals and Alchemysts alike, Leo meets the enchanting Lady Lisandre, a young faerie in need of his help. Together they quickly learn both their worlds are under threat from the elusive Dark Alchemyst; unless they find the mythical Talismans of Atlantica before he does. . Along the way they encounter Flora, a charming witch on a search for the truth of her family, as well as Leo’s former classmate, a warlock with questionable intentions, Lucien. The four of them are soon drawn together as they face numerous dangers and challenges to find and retrieve the talismans. Set in an alternative magical renaissance, The Midnight Rose is a spell-binding fantasy adventure unlike any other.
My thoughts
I really was enchanted with this books blurb and the beautiful cover art. I thought that it would be a wonderful fairytale like adventure.
Sadly the book is not what I thought it would be. The characters although well written don't really change or develop through the story. They swap and change between views and view points leaving the reader feeling lost and just wondering what the point of things was.
It was only twelve chapters long and I felt that that was to much. I didn't enjoy this read at all
57RuneFirestar
30.The Crimson Moth
( The Crimson Moth #1)
Kristen Ciccarelli
Blurb
On the night Rune’s life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is.
Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe – a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution – who she can't help but find herself falling for.
Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?
My thoughts
I was provided with an advanced reader copy of this book in hopes that i would provide an honest review.
From the moment saw the cover art and read the blurb I was hooked. The world created by the author is one where witches are purged and the pratice of magic is outlawed.
Enter Rune Winters socialite and darling of the New Republic by day. The Crimson Moth by night rescuing witches from the hands of the Bloodguard and helping them reach places where they can live without fear.
Rune also hides a deadly secret she too is a witch.
When she fails to save a powerful witch she and her friends hatch a plan. She will set out to seduce The Captain of The guard, Gideon Sharpe and hopefully find out where the witch is.
Can she play the game without loosing her heart and her life ?
This is truely a whirlwind fast paced story. I truely adored Rune and all the others that i met within its pages. I cant wait for the next book to see what happens next.
( The Crimson Moth #1)
Kristen Ciccarelli
Blurb
On the night Rune’s life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is.
Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe – a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution – who she can't help but find herself falling for.
Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?
My thoughts
I was provided with an advanced reader copy of this book in hopes that i would provide an honest review.
From the moment saw the cover art and read the blurb I was hooked. The world created by the author is one where witches are purged and the pratice of magic is outlawed.
Enter Rune Winters socialite and darling of the New Republic by day. The Crimson Moth by night rescuing witches from the hands of the Bloodguard and helping them reach places where they can live without fear.
Rune also hides a deadly secret she too is a witch.
When she fails to save a powerful witch she and her friends hatch a plan. She will set out to seduce The Captain of The guard, Gideon Sharpe and hopefully find out where the witch is.
Can she play the game without loosing her heart and her life ?
This is truely a whirlwind fast paced story. I truely adored Rune and all the others that i met within its pages. I cant wait for the next book to see what happens next.
58RuneFirestar
31. A Cursed Son
Day Leitao
Blurb
In her dreams, he envelops her in love—in real life, he imprisons her in ice.
Assassin, liar, impersonator—dreamer.
As a decoy princess, trained to replace Her Highness even in a political marriage, Astra’s life is not her own. With a duty like that, how can she dream about love?
And yet she knows she has a kindred soul. She can feel his presence every night, holding her in his arms, surrounding her with his warmth. But ice-cold reality crashes in when Astra’s carriage is attacked by the Crystal Court’s disgraced prince.
Exiled for horrific crimes, not only he’s a wielder of powerful magic, he can also penetrate minds.
It turns out that he is the man in her dreams.
And this is about to get very, very awkward…
My thoughts
I was provided with an advanced reader copy of this book in hopes that i would write an honest review.
In this story we meet Astra a girl with no family , but from a race of people who have been hunted and killed. A race that is said to have magic in their blood and murder and evil in their hearts. An orphan raised as an eliet guard disguised all her life to be a body double as the Princess of her Kingdom she has never had much in the way of freedom or choice.
And yet she dreams at night of a Kindred soul. Her perfect match. How can she ever hope to find him if her life is not her own ?
And yet she knows her duty will always come first.
On a mission to vist a minor noble to celebrate the impending marriage of his daughter , her carriage is attacked by the Exiled Fae Prince Marlak.
He attacks them but doesnt take anything and a few weeks later he turns up demanding Astras hand in marriage. He is harsh and unkind and takes her far far away deep into fae territory.
He tells Astra that enimes are everywhere and she is a means to an end. She learns that he can control water and ice but hes full of secrets. It feels like shes left one trap for another. Will she ever learn the truth?
This story is wonderfully written and has so many twists and turns it will keep you up long past your bedtime. Look out for the next book in the serries A Traitor Sister.
Day Leitao
Blurb
In her dreams, he envelops her in love—in real life, he imprisons her in ice.
Assassin, liar, impersonator—dreamer.
As a decoy princess, trained to replace Her Highness even in a political marriage, Astra’s life is not her own. With a duty like that, how can she dream about love?
And yet she knows she has a kindred soul. She can feel his presence every night, holding her in his arms, surrounding her with his warmth. But ice-cold reality crashes in when Astra’s carriage is attacked by the Crystal Court’s disgraced prince.
Exiled for horrific crimes, not only he’s a wielder of powerful magic, he can also penetrate minds.
It turns out that he is the man in her dreams.
And this is about to get very, very awkward…
My thoughts
I was provided with an advanced reader copy of this book in hopes that i would write an honest review.
In this story we meet Astra a girl with no family , but from a race of people who have been hunted and killed. A race that is said to have magic in their blood and murder and evil in their hearts. An orphan raised as an eliet guard disguised all her life to be a body double as the Princess of her Kingdom she has never had much in the way of freedom or choice.
And yet she dreams at night of a Kindred soul. Her perfect match. How can she ever hope to find him if her life is not her own ?
And yet she knows her duty will always come first.
On a mission to vist a minor noble to celebrate the impending marriage of his daughter , her carriage is attacked by the Exiled Fae Prince Marlak.
He attacks them but doesnt take anything and a few weeks later he turns up demanding Astras hand in marriage. He is harsh and unkind and takes her far far away deep into fae territory.
He tells Astra that enimes are everywhere and she is a means to an end. She learns that he can control water and ice but hes full of secrets. It feels like shes left one trap for another. Will she ever learn the truth?
This story is wonderfully written and has so many twists and turns it will keep you up long past your bedtime. Look out for the next book in the serries A Traitor Sister.
59RuneFirestar
32.A Story Spun in Scarlet
( Tales of Wonder and Woe #1)
Renee Dugan
Blurb
LET ME TELL YOU A STORY…
AUDRA JASHOWIN is a storyteller without a purpose.
When all the tales in the land of Mithra-Sha lost their endings, Audra fled from her family’s rejection and the only home she ever knew. Now, with a sense of veiled danger haunting her heels and her life as devoid of direction as her stories, she arrives at long last in a city of fresh starts and second chances.
There, she finds an adventure greater than she ever dreamed.
JAIK GRISSOM might be the key to bringing back the power of all stories.
A simple farmhand with a way around weapons, Jaik possesses more than a sharp wit that sets Audra’s soul aflame. He’s a natural amplifier with the talent to breathe life into her tales…into all the tales in Mithra-Sha.
Chased from their comfortable lives by a stroke of ill luck on a fateful night, Audra and Jaik embark on a journey for answers—through the wilderness and over the raging sea, to the heart of storytelling itself. Along the way, the strange bond between them deepens as they begin to uncover a mystery that lurks beneath all the broken tales, written in the shroud of their own unlikely pasts.
To mend the fractured stories in Mithra-Sha, Audra and Jaik must learn to embrace what lives at the core of their own the bravery and brilliance, the loyalty and love, and the purpose and power they both harness—together and apart.
And they must face a terrible truth penned between the pages of their quest…a tragedy that will change the course of history and rewrite the ending of their tale forever.
My thoughts
I was provided with an advanced reader copy this book in return for an honest review .
I think the words Let me tell you a story will forever stay with me. This read has been an amazing emotional rollercoaster of a story.
I have laughed, waited with baited breath as the story turned dark and uncertain. It broke my heart and made me cry ugly tears and then mended it once more.
Its storytelling and storycraft at its best. It has humor, romance and adventure. To pick this book up is to find pure magic.
( Tales of Wonder and Woe #1)
Renee Dugan
Blurb
LET ME TELL YOU A STORY…
AUDRA JASHOWIN is a storyteller without a purpose.
When all the tales in the land of Mithra-Sha lost their endings, Audra fled from her family’s rejection and the only home she ever knew. Now, with a sense of veiled danger haunting her heels and her life as devoid of direction as her stories, she arrives at long last in a city of fresh starts and second chances.
There, she finds an adventure greater than she ever dreamed.
JAIK GRISSOM might be the key to bringing back the power of all stories.
A simple farmhand with a way around weapons, Jaik possesses more than a sharp wit that sets Audra’s soul aflame. He’s a natural amplifier with the talent to breathe life into her tales…into all the tales in Mithra-Sha.
Chased from their comfortable lives by a stroke of ill luck on a fateful night, Audra and Jaik embark on a journey for answers—through the wilderness and over the raging sea, to the heart of storytelling itself. Along the way, the strange bond between them deepens as they begin to uncover a mystery that lurks beneath all the broken tales, written in the shroud of their own unlikely pasts.
To mend the fractured stories in Mithra-Sha, Audra and Jaik must learn to embrace what lives at the core of their own the bravery and brilliance, the loyalty and love, and the purpose and power they both harness—together and apart.
And they must face a terrible truth penned between the pages of their quest…a tragedy that will change the course of history and rewrite the ending of their tale forever.
My thoughts
I was provided with an advanced reader copy this book in return for an honest review .
I think the words Let me tell you a story will forever stay with me. This read has been an amazing emotional rollercoaster of a story.
I have laughed, waited with baited breath as the story turned dark and uncertain. It broke my heart and made me cry ugly tears and then mended it once more.
Its storytelling and storycraft at its best. It has humor, romance and adventure. To pick this book up is to find pure magic.
60RuneFirestar
33. Eliza Mace Mysteries
Eliza Mace #1
Sarah Burton
Blurb
Enola Holmes meets the novels of Laura Purcell in this Victorian mystery featuring quick-witted would-be detective Eliza Mace
The Welsh borders, 1870s : on the cusp of adulthood, Eliza Mace is battling for her independence. Stuck in a crumbling manor house on the fringe of a small town, she is thwarted by powers that conspire to protect, control and deceive her. But when her father goes missing in mysterious circumstances, Eliza’s determination to uncover the truth is unstoppable.
Joining forces with the charismatic new police constable, Dafydd Pritchard, she sets out to solve the case, but that’s no easy task. Her father has run up debts in town and beyond, and there are many who bear him a grudge. As she searches for evidence, Eliza exposes dark secrets that threaten to tear her world apart...
Eliza Mace #1
Sarah Burton
Blurb
Enola Holmes meets the novels of Laura Purcell in this Victorian mystery featuring quick-witted would-be detective Eliza Mace
The Welsh borders, 1870s : on the cusp of adulthood, Eliza Mace is battling for her independence. Stuck in a crumbling manor house on the fringe of a small town, she is thwarted by powers that conspire to protect, control and deceive her. But when her father goes missing in mysterious circumstances, Eliza’s determination to uncover the truth is unstoppable.
Joining forces with the charismatic new police constable, Dafydd Pritchard, she sets out to solve the case, but that’s no easy task. Her father has run up debts in town and beyond, and there are many who bear him a grudge. As she searches for evidence, Eliza exposes dark secrets that threaten to tear her world apart...
61RuneFirestar
34. Play of Shadows
( Court of Shadows #1 )
Sebastien de Castell
Blurb
Damelas Shademantaigne picked a poor night to flee a judicial duel.
He has precious little hope of escaping the wrath of the Vixen, the most feared duellist in the entire city, until he stumbles through the stage doors of the magnificent Operato Belleza and tricks his way into the company of actors. An archaic law provides a temporary respite from his troubles - until one night a ghostly voice in his head causes Damelas to fumble his lines, inadvertently blurting out a dreadful truth: the city's most legendary hero may actually be a traitor and a brutal murderer.
With only the help of his boisterous and lusty friend Bereto, a beautiful assassin whose target may well be Damelas himself, and a company of misfit actors who'd just as soon see him dead, this failed son of two Greatcoats must somehow find within himself the courage to dig up long-buried truths before a ruthless band of bravos known as the Iron Orchids come for his head.
Oh, and there's still that matter of the Vixen waiting to duel him . . .
My thoughts
I was given an advanced reader copy in audio book form in return for an honest review.
This book was amazing. Its full of its own unique magic, swordplay and wonderfully courageous friendship. It is full of heartwarming and heartbreaking moments Its wonderful and grand. Our tale finds us in the great and grand city of Durest A city of secrets, poltical intrigues and of a large cast of players or actors. Where acting is considered a scared art.
And in our large and varried cast we meet our principal Damelas Shademantaigne. Having fled an honour duel and hiding among The Actors of The Knights of the Curtain and being greatful for the protection it affords him. Little does he know a hidden talent, and a ghost of a villan from history are going to drag him from the chours and into a staring role.
Changing history and causing an uproar . Can he surrive his gift ? Or will he find death waiting for him in the wings ?
I loved this story from start to finish all its twists and turns. I cant wait for the next installment of this amazing tale .
( Court of Shadows #1 )
Sebastien de Castell
Blurb
Damelas Shademantaigne picked a poor night to flee a judicial duel.
He has precious little hope of escaping the wrath of the Vixen, the most feared duellist in the entire city, until he stumbles through the stage doors of the magnificent Operato Belleza and tricks his way into the company of actors. An archaic law provides a temporary respite from his troubles - until one night a ghostly voice in his head causes Damelas to fumble his lines, inadvertently blurting out a dreadful truth: the city's most legendary hero may actually be a traitor and a brutal murderer.
With only the help of his boisterous and lusty friend Bereto, a beautiful assassin whose target may well be Damelas himself, and a company of misfit actors who'd just as soon see him dead, this failed son of two Greatcoats must somehow find within himself the courage to dig up long-buried truths before a ruthless band of bravos known as the Iron Orchids come for his head.
Oh, and there's still that matter of the Vixen waiting to duel him . . .
My thoughts
I was given an advanced reader copy in audio book form in return for an honest review.
This book was amazing. Its full of its own unique magic, swordplay and wonderfully courageous friendship. It is full of heartwarming and heartbreaking moments Its wonderful and grand. Our tale finds us in the great and grand city of Durest A city of secrets, poltical intrigues and of a large cast of players or actors. Where acting is considered a scared art.
And in our large and varried cast we meet our principal Damelas Shademantaigne. Having fled an honour duel and hiding among The Actors of The Knights of the Curtain and being greatful for the protection it affords him. Little does he know a hidden talent, and a ghost of a villan from history are going to drag him from the chours and into a staring role.
Changing history and causing an uproar . Can he surrive his gift ? Or will he find death waiting for him in the wings ?
I loved this story from start to finish all its twists and turns. I cant wait for the next installment of this amazing tale .
62RuneFirestar
35. Skulduggery Pleasant #15.5
Bad Magic: A Skulduggery Pleasant Graphic Novel
Blurb
Experience Skulduggery Pleasant as never before – in this fully original graphic novel brought vibrantly to life in full colour ‘A real cracker. Fun, thrilling, smartly scripted and powerfully making a stand for diversity and inclusion in the face of intimidation and ignorance. Even if this is your first encounter with the worlds of Skulduggery Pleasant, it’s one you will adore and never forget’
Win Wiacek, Now Read This! A small town in the middle of Ireland, a string of unexplained deaths and a monster on the loose. Better call in the experts. When Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain drive into Termoncara, they discover a town with a dark past and a people haunted by their own secrets. There is a creature stalking the streets – a creature who delights in cruelty, who feeds off the little hatreds, who grows stronger with every drop of blood spilled. Horror and mystery collide in an original graphic novel by Derek Landy, P. J. Holden, Matt Soffe, Rob Jones
Bad Magic: A Skulduggery Pleasant Graphic Novel
Blurb
Experience Skulduggery Pleasant as never before – in this fully original graphic novel brought vibrantly to life in full colour ‘A real cracker. Fun, thrilling, smartly scripted and powerfully making a stand for diversity and inclusion in the face of intimidation and ignorance. Even if this is your first encounter with the worlds of Skulduggery Pleasant, it’s one you will adore and never forget’
Win Wiacek, Now Read This! A small town in the middle of Ireland, a string of unexplained deaths and a monster on the loose. Better call in the experts. When Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain drive into Termoncara, they discover a town with a dark past and a people haunted by their own secrets. There is a creature stalking the streets – a creature who delights in cruelty, who feeds off the little hatreds, who grows stronger with every drop of blood spilled. Horror and mystery collide in an original graphic novel by Derek Landy, P. J. Holden, Matt Soffe, Rob Jones
63RuneFirestar
36.
The Silverblood Promise
by James Logan
Blurb
Lukan Gardova is a cardsharp, academy dropout, and―thanks to a duel that ended badly―the disgraced heir to an ancient noble house. His days consist of cheap wine, rigged card games, and wondering how he might win back the life he threw away.
When Lukan discovers that his estranged father has been murdered in strange circumstances, he finds fresh purpose. Deprived of his chance to make amends for his mistakes, he vows to unravel the mystery behind his father's death.
His search for answers leads him to Saphrona, fabled city of merchant princes, where anything can be bought if one has the coin. Lukan only seeks the truth, but instead he finds danger and secrets in every shadow.
For in Saphrona, everything has a price―and the price of truth is the deadliest of all.Less
My thoughts
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book in audio format in return for an honest review.
When the book started I wasn't sure what to think. It is a whirlwind adventure. The characters are well written and develop through out the story.
The setting seems very blood thirsty but so rich abd detailed. If your looking for an adventure that will keep you guessing and wondering what will happen next this is the book for you.
The Silverblood Promise
by James Logan
Blurb
Lukan Gardova is a cardsharp, academy dropout, and―thanks to a duel that ended badly―the disgraced heir to an ancient noble house. His days consist of cheap wine, rigged card games, and wondering how he might win back the life he threw away.
When Lukan discovers that his estranged father has been murdered in strange circumstances, he finds fresh purpose. Deprived of his chance to make amends for his mistakes, he vows to unravel the mystery behind his father's death.
His search for answers leads him to Saphrona, fabled city of merchant princes, where anything can be bought if one has the coin. Lukan only seeks the truth, but instead he finds danger and secrets in every shadow.
For in Saphrona, everything has a price―and the price of truth is the deadliest of all.Less
My thoughts
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book in audio format in return for an honest review.
When the book started I wasn't sure what to think. It is a whirlwind adventure. The characters are well written and develop through out the story.
The setting seems very blood thirsty but so rich abd detailed. If your looking for an adventure that will keep you guessing and wondering what will happen next this is the book for you.
64RuneFirestar
37. Book of Night
( Book of Night #1 )
Holly Black
Blurb
Holly Black makes her adult debut with Book of Night, a modern dark fantasy of shadowy thieves and secret societies.
In Charlie Hall’s world, shadows can be altered, for entertainment and cosmetic preferences—but also to increase power and influence. You can alter someone’s feelings—and memories—but manipulating shadows has a cost, with the potential to take hours or days from your life. Your shadow holds all the parts of you that you want to keep hidden—a second self, standing just to your left, walking behind you into lit rooms. And sometimes, it has a life of its own.
Charlie is a low-level con artist, working as a bartender while trying to distance herself from the powerful and dangerous underground world of shadow trading. She gets by doing odd jobs for her patrons and the naive new money in her town at the edge of the Berkshires. But when a terrible figure from her past returns, Charlie’s present life is thrown into chaos, and her future seems at best, unclear—and at worst, non-existent. Determined to survive, Charlie throws herself into a maelstrom of secrets and murder, setting her against a cast of doppelgängers, mercurial billionaires, shadow thieves, and her own sister—all desperate to control the magic of the shadows.
( Book of Night #1 )
Holly Black
Blurb
Holly Black makes her adult debut with Book of Night, a modern dark fantasy of shadowy thieves and secret societies.
In Charlie Hall’s world, shadows can be altered, for entertainment and cosmetic preferences—but also to increase power and influence. You can alter someone’s feelings—and memories—but manipulating shadows has a cost, with the potential to take hours or days from your life. Your shadow holds all the parts of you that you want to keep hidden—a second self, standing just to your left, walking behind you into lit rooms. And sometimes, it has a life of its own.
Charlie is a low-level con artist, working as a bartender while trying to distance herself from the powerful and dangerous underground world of shadow trading. She gets by doing odd jobs for her patrons and the naive new money in her town at the edge of the Berkshires. But when a terrible figure from her past returns, Charlie’s present life is thrown into chaos, and her future seems at best, unclear—and at worst, non-existent. Determined to survive, Charlie throws herself into a maelstrom of secrets and murder, setting her against a cast of doppelgängers, mercurial billionaires, shadow thieves, and her own sister—all desperate to control the magic of the shadows.
65RuneFirestar
38. Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone
( Death by Chocolate Mystery #7)
By Sarah Graves
Blurb
Summer guests are eager to sink their teeth into the tantalizing desserts Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree and Ellie White serve at their bakeshop in the island village of Eastport, Maine. But attracting the wrong kind of attention can be deadly . . .
With the August heat strong enough to melt solid chocolate into syrup, Jake and Ellie crave a break from the bakery ovens, despite tourist season promising a sweet payday. But they never envisioned spending the last weeks of summer drifting around Passamaquoddy Bay searching for pirate’s treasure—and a dead body.
Sally Coates believes her husband was murdered off the coast, and begs Ellie, a trusted childhood friend, to locate his remains. It’s unusual that a skilled fisherman would vanish along with the gold doubloon he inherited from his grandfather. And Sally isn’t the only one coveting the valuable heirloom for her own.
As Jake and Ellie’s island-hop for answers, they find themselves caught between hungry sharks and hungrier suspects. Can the duo tempt fate and dodge danger before there’s blood in the water—or are they destined to fall into the jaws of a killer’s trap?
My thoughts
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book in audiobook format. I really enjoyed it. The narration was excellent!
If your looking for something cozy with slices of life in between your mystery action this is definitely the book for
I really enjoyed getting to know Jack and Ellie.
Also who can resist Chocolate!
( Death by Chocolate Mystery #7)
By Sarah Graves
Blurb
Summer guests are eager to sink their teeth into the tantalizing desserts Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree and Ellie White serve at their bakeshop in the island village of Eastport, Maine. But attracting the wrong kind of attention can be deadly . . .
With the August heat strong enough to melt solid chocolate into syrup, Jake and Ellie crave a break from the bakery ovens, despite tourist season promising a sweet payday. But they never envisioned spending the last weeks of summer drifting around Passamaquoddy Bay searching for pirate’s treasure—and a dead body.
Sally Coates believes her husband was murdered off the coast, and begs Ellie, a trusted childhood friend, to locate his remains. It’s unusual that a skilled fisherman would vanish along with the gold doubloon he inherited from his grandfather. And Sally isn’t the only one coveting the valuable heirloom for her own.
As Jake and Ellie’s island-hop for answers, they find themselves caught between hungry sharks and hungrier suspects. Can the duo tempt fate and dodge danger before there’s blood in the water—or are they destined to fall into the jaws of a killer’s trap?
My thoughts
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book in audiobook format. I really enjoyed it. The narration was excellent!
If your looking for something cozy with slices of life in between your mystery action this is definitely the book for
I really enjoyed getting to know Jack and Ellie.
Also who can resist Chocolate!
