What’s On My Netgalley Shelf?

What’s On My Netgalley Shelf?

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Welcome to a new feature on The Bibliophile Chronicles! One of my reading goals for 2018 was to try and get my Netgalley ratio in a better state as currently I’m not anywhere near the recommended 80%. I struggle with ebooks as I sometimes get migraines when reading from screens but that doesn’t stop me from seeing books I’m dying to review and requesting them.

I thought I could do a feature every few months about what’s on my Netgalley shelf and hopefully hold myself accountable a bit more. My current feedback ratio is 48% so the next instalment of this feature should be an improvement on that. I’m just going to mention some of the books on my shelf and if anyone has read any of them definitely let me know what you thought so I can get reading them!

Current Stats:
Feedback Ratio – 48% 
Approved – 90
Feedback Sent – 41
To Read – 43

1. Ash Princess & Lady Smoke – Laura Sebastian
Yes I have requested both Ash Princess and Lady Smoke and I haven’t gotten around to either of them yet. I even now have a physical copy of Ash Princess and still haven’t read it yet so please if you’ve read it let me know if I should make this a priority!

book cover - 2019-03-11T210645.722Theodosia was six when her country was invaded and her mother, the Fire Queen, was murdered before her eyes. On that day, the Kaiser took Theodosia’s family, her land, and her name. Theo was crowned Ash Princess–a title of shame to bear in her new life as a prisoner.

For ten years Theo has been a captive in her own palace. She’s endured the relentless abuse and ridicule of the Kaiser and his court. She is powerless, surviving in her new world only by burying the girl she was deep inside.

Then, one night, the Kaiser forces her to do the unthinkable. With blood on her hands and all hope of reclaiming her throne lost, she realizes that surviving is no longer enough. But she does have a weapon: her mind is sharper than any sword. And power isn’t always won on the battlefield.

For ten years, the Ash Princess has seen her land pillaged and her people enslaved. That all ends here.

2. Last Bus To Everland – Sophie Cameron
I read Sophie Cameron’s Out of the Blue and gave it five stars so when this popped up I immediately requested a copy. If it’s anything like her first book I know I’m going to love it.

book cover - 2019-03-11T210746.085Brody Fair feels like nobody gets him: not his overworked parents, not his genius older brother, and definitely not the girls in the projects set on making his life miserable. Then he meets Nico, an art student who takes Brody to Everland, a “knock-off Narnia” that opens its door at 11:21pm each Thursday for Nico and his band of present-day misfits and miscreants.

Here Brody finds his tribe and a weekly respite from a world where he feels out of place. But when the doors to Everland begin to disappear, Brody is forced to make a decision: He can say goodbye to Everland and to Nico, or stay there and risk never seeing his family again. 

3. Stepsister – Jennifer Donnelly
I absolutely love retellings so this really drew my attention. It also has such a stunning cover!

book cover - 2019-03-11T210836.240Isabelle should be blissfully happy – she’s about to win the handsome prince. Except Isabelle isn’t the beautiful girl who lost the glass slipper and captured the prince’s heart. She’s the ugly stepsister who’s cut off her toes to fit into Cinderella’s shoe … which is now filling with blood.

When the prince discovers Isabelle’s deception, she is turned away in shame. It’s no more than she deserves: she is a plain girl in a world that values beauty; a feisty girl in a world that wants her to be pliant.

Isabelle has tried to fit in. To live up to her mother’s expectations. To be like her stepsister. To be sweet. To be pretty. One by one, she has cut away pieces of herself in order to survive a world that doesn’t appreciate a girl like her. And that has made her mean, jealous, and hollow.

Until she gets a chance to alter her destiny and prove what ugly stepsisters have always known: it takes more than heartache to break a girl.

Evoking the darker, older versions of the Cinderella story, bestselling author Jennifer Donnelly shows us that ugly is in the eye of the beholder, and uses her trademark wit and wisdom to send an overlooked character on a journey toward empowerment, redemption, and a new definition of beauty.

4. The Furies – Katie Lowe
This was getting lots of attention on Twitter and I love books with culty/witchy vibes so I was really excited to read this but I just haven’t gotten around to picking it up yet.

book cover - 2019-03-11T211035.250In 1998, a sixteen-year-old girl is found dead on school property, dressed in white and posed on a swing, with no known cause of death. The novel opens with this image, as related to us by the narrator, Violet, looking back on the night it happened from the present day, before returning to relate the series of events leading up to the girl’s murder.

After an accident involving her Dad and sister, Violet joins Elm Hollow Academy, a private girls school in a quiet coastal town, which has an unpleasant history as the site of famous 17th century witch trials. Violet quickly finds herself invited to become the fourth member of an advanced study group, alongside Robin, Grace, and Alex – led by their charismatic art teacher, Annabel.

While Annabel claims her classes aren’t related to ancient rites and rituals – warning the girls off the topic, describing it as little more than mythology – the girls start to believe that magic is real, and that they can harness it. But when the body of a former member of the society – Robin’s best friend, with whom Violet shares an uncanny resemblance – is found dead on campus nine months after she disappeared, Violet begins to wonder whether she can trust her friends, teachers, or even herself.

5. Dracul – Darce Stoker and J. D. Barker
Dracula is one of my all time favourite books so anything relating to Bram Stoker’s classic is pretty much a must read for me. I was really fascinated with the idea of this book but haven’t really heard much about it so far.

book cover - 2019-03-11T211247.937Dracul reveals not only the true origins of Dracula himself, but also of his creator, Bram Stoker . . . and of the elusive, enigmatic woman who connects them.

It is 1868, and a 22-year-old Bram Stoker has locked himself inside an abbey’s tower to face off against a vile and ungodly beast. He is armed with mirrors and crucifixes and holy water and a gun – and is kept company by a bottle of plum brandy. His fervent prayer is that he will survive this one night – a night that will prove to be the longest of his life.

Desperate to leave a record of what he has witnessed, the young man scribbles out the events that brought him to this point – and tells an extraordinary tale of childhood illness, a mysterious nanny, and stories once thought to be fables now proven true.

So those are some of the books currently on my Netgalley shelf. Let me know which ones I should be getting to and what your Netgalley feedback ratio is like!

TBR Tag!

TBR Tag!

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I saw this tag over at Bookish Coffee Blog and thought it looked really fun! As always my TBR is pretty much out of control so I know there’s plenty of books for me to talk about!

How do you keep track of your TBR?
I use a spreadsheet created by Kaleena from Reader Voracious (it’s brilliant you should try it) and it keeps try of all the review books I have and when they’re due. The books I’ve bought just live on my shelf until I feel the notion to pick them up. I keep thinking about making a proper TBR shelf on Goodreads but I’m not sure if the amount of books will overwhelm me a little.

Is your TBR mostly print books or e-books?
Mostly print. I do read ebooks occasionally and I occasionally I use Netgalley but I struggle with reading electronic books because I get headaches.

How do you decide which book on your TBR to read next?
It’s usually whichever book is next in terms of reviewing obligations but if I don’t have any review books it will usually just be whatever I’m in the mood for or maybe something that I’ve seen on getting good reviews on other blogs and Goodreads.

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A book that’s been on your TBR the longest
Heartless by Marissa Meyer has definitely been on there a while. I’m definitely still interested in reading it but for some reason I just haven’t picked it up yet.

book cover - 2019-03-01T142202.525A book that you recently added to your TBR
The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman arrived in the post this morning so that’s definitely the most recent addition to my TBR.

book cover (82)A book on your TBR strictly because of the beautiful cover
A Winter’s Promise by Christelle Dabos isn’t on there only because of the cover but I was certainly drawn into buying it for the cover.

book cover - 2019-03-01T142437.038A book on your TBR you never actually plan on reading
I mean I hope that I get to all the books on my TBR one day but there are probably some intimidating classics on there that I realistically won’t get to – maybe Dubliners or War and Peace.

book cover - 2019-03-01T143051.847An unpublished book on your TBR you are excited for
One Word Kill by Mark Lawrence! I’m so excited for the release of this book.

book cover (2)A book on your TBR that everyone else has read but you
Nevernight. I’m not even going to say anything else because I know how much I need to read this book.

book cover (85)A book on your TBR that everyone recommends to you.
Definitely Night Film by Marisha Peshl, everyone says this book is brilliant.

Untitled design (80)A book on your TBR you’re dying to read
Holy Sister by Mark Lawrence. It arrived last week and I’m so excited to dive back into this story.

The number of books on your TBR
I’ve never actually counted because I think it would make me cry, definitely in the hundreds!

So that’s my version of the TBR tag! I’d love to know how many books are currently on your TBR, hopefully I’m not the only one with a crazy amount!

January Book Haul!

January Book Haul!

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Today I’m bringing you my January Book Haul! I’m trying to make a concerted effort to buy less books in 2019 – I’m also tracking how much I spend on books over the year so that will be interesting to see what the total is in December. I was lucky enough to get quite a few books from publishers (thank you so much!), so as usual I’ve split them into two lots. Let’s dive in!

Books I Bought:

1. The Wicked King – Holly Black
The sequel to The Cruel Prince obviously had to be the first book I bought in 2019. I’ve read this already and it was brilliant.

book cover (13)You must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without tiring.

The first lesson is to make yourself strong.

After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her younger brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.

When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.

2. The Witch Doesn’t Burn in This One – Amanda Lovelace
ssdI really loved the first book in this series so I just had to pick up the second instalment of Amdanda Lovelace’s inspiring poetry. I’ve also read this one too and loved it as well.

The witch: supernaturally powerful, inscrutably independent, and now—indestructible. These moving, relatable poems encourage resilience and embolden women to take control of their own stories. Enemies try to judge, oppress, and marginalize her, but the witch doesn’t burn in this one.

3. The Witch of Willow Hall – Hester Fox
I have an e-ARC from Netgalley for this book that I still haven’t read so when I saw it in the bookshop I decided to pick it up.

Two centuries after the Salem witch trials, there’s still one witch left in Massachusetts. But she doesn’t even know it.

halTake this as a warning: if you are not able or willing to control yourself, it will not only be you who suffers the consequences but those around you, as well.

New Oldbury, 1821

In the wake of a scandal, the Montrose family and their three daughters—Catherine, Lydia, and Emeline—flee Boston for their new country home, Willow Hall. The estate seems sleepy and idyllic. But a subtle menace creeps into the atmosphere, remnants of a dark history that call to Lydia, and to the youngest, Emeline.

All three daughters will be irrevocably changed by what follows, but none more than Lydia, who must draw on a power she never knew she possessed if she wants to protect those she loves. For Willow Hall’s secrets will rise, in the end… 

4. A Curse So Dark and Lonely – Brigid Kemmerer
I really love Brigid Kemmerer’s books so I’m so looking forward to reading this Beauty and the Beast retelling.

book cover (46)Fall in love, break the curse. 

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

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

Break the curse, save the kingdom.

5. King of Scars – Leigh Bardugo
Favourite author has a new book about one of my all time favourite characters, need I say more?

book cover (47)Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war—and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, the young king must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.

Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha Squaller, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried—and some wounds aren’t meant to heal.

Books From Publishers:

6. The Puppet Show – M. W. Craven
This dark and twisted thriller completely hooked me and I can’t wait for the next book in the series (check out my full review here)

book cover (98)A serial killer is burning people alive in the Lake District’s prehistoric stone circles. He leaves no clues and the police are helpless.

When his name is found carved into the charred remains of the third victim, disgraced detective Washington Poe is brought back from suspension and into an investigation he wants no part of.

Reluctantly partnered with the brilliant but socially awkward civilian analyst, Tilly Bradshaw, the mismatched pair uncover a trail that only he is meant to see. The elusive killer has a plan and for some reason Poe is part of it.

As the body count rises, Poe discovers he has far more invested in the case than he could have possibly imagined. And in a shocking finale that will shatter everything he’s ever believed about himself, Poe will learn that there are things far worse than being burned alive…

7. Dark Forge – Miles Cameron
The continuation to the Master and Mages series was another brilliant read and you can check out my stop on the blog tour here.

book cover (99)Only fools think war is simple.
Or glorious.

Some are warriors, some captains; others tend to the fallen or feed the living.

But on the magic-drenched battlefield, information is the lifeblood of victory, and Aranthur is about to discover that carrying messages, scouting the enemy, keeping his nerve, and passing on orders is more dangerous, and more essential, then an inexperienced soldier could imagine . . . especially when everything starts to go wrong.

Battle has been joined – on the field, in the magical sphere, and in the ever-shifting political arena . . .

8. We Are Blood and Thunder – Kesia Lupo
This honestly sounds like such a stunning book and comes out in April from Bloomsbury Books.

bldthIn a sealed-off city, it begins with a hunt. A young woman, Lena, running for her life, convicted of being a mage and sentenced to death. Her only way to survive is to trust those she has been brought up to fear – those with magic.

On the other side of the locked gates is a masked lady, Constance, determined to find a way back in. She knows only too well how the people of Duke’s Forest loathe magic. Years ago she escaped before her powers were discovered. But now she won’t hide who she is any longer.

A powerful and terrifying storm cloud unites them. It descends over the dukedom and devastates much in its wake. But this is more than a thunderstorm. This is a spell, and the truth behind why it has been cast is more sinister than anyone can imagine … Only Lena and Constance hold the key to destroying the spell. Though neither of them realise it, they need each other. They are the blood and they have the thunder within.

9. Five Feet Apart – Rachel Lippencott
This kind of reminded me of a Fault in Our Stars kind of story and I know there’s a movie coming out soon so I’m definitely going to have to get to it before that comes out!

book covlhkjgerCan you love someone you can never touch?

Stella Grant likes to be in control—even though her totally out of control lungs have sent her in and out of the hospital most of her life. At this point, what Stella needs to control most is keeping herself away from anyone or anything that might pass along an infection and jeopardize the possibility of a lung transplant. Six feet apart. No exceptions.

The only thing Will Newman wants to be in control of is getting out of this hospital. He couldn’t care less about his treatments, or a fancy new clinical drug trial. Soon, he’ll turn eighteen and then he’ll be able to unplug all these machines and actually go see the world, not just its hospitals.

Will’s exactly what Stella needs to stay away from. If he so much as breathes on Stella she could lose her spot on the transplant list. Either one of them could die. The only way to stay alive is to stay apart. But suddenly six feet doesn’t feel like safety. It feels like punishment.

What if they could steal back just a little bit of the space their broken lungs have stolen from them? Would five feet apart really be so dangerous if it stops their hearts from breaking too?

10. The Killing Joke – Christa Faust
I loved the Harley Quinn novel in this series and Titan books kindly sent me copies of book one and three!

killing jokeA tragic, unnamed engineer-turned-criminal is immersed in chemicals that disfigure him bizarrely, driving him mad and thus giving birth to the Joker. While the insane criminal is imprisoned, Batman and Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) patrol Gotham City together, taking down perps such as the crime boss Maxie Zeus. Simultaneously Detective Harvey Bullock works with Commissioner James Gordon to take down a drug factory. Back in Arkham Asylum, Joker learns of a new technology he wants to acquire and escapes, setting out on a mission designed to break the Commissioner, forcing him to abandon his ideals as a police officer. In a violent home invasion he shoots and cripples Barbara, then takes Gordon hostage. Batman races to rescue Gordon, ultimately confronting his arch-foe in an amusement park fun house. This edgy adaptation by Hard Case Crime novelist Christa Faust expands upon the cast and adds intricate layers to the events of the graphic novel, further examining the nature of morality.

11. The Court of Owls – Greg Cox
This is the third instalment in the DC comics novels!

bojhghgBeware the Court of Owls, that watches all the time
Ruling Gotham from a shadowed perch, behind granite and lime
They watch you at your hearth, they watch you in your bed
Speak not a whispered word about them, or they’ll send the Talon for your head.
–a nursery rhyme

The Court of Owls is a criminal secret society that has existed in Gotham City since the 1600s, led by some of the city’s wealthiest and most influential families. They employ deadly trained assassins known as Talons, taken as children from circuses such as the one where Dick Grayson’s parents were killed. These children are trained to become the assassins known as Talons. Bruce Wayne came to the Court’s attention when he announced plans to reinvigorate Gotham, threatening their control. They sentenced him to death, bringing themselves to the attention of Batman. Though they suffer defeats, the Court continues to fight to retake control of the city’s underworld – a fight that has gone on for centuries.

12. Shadow Captain – Alastair Reynolds
This is the second book in the Revenger series, it’s been a while since I read book one so I’m definitely going to have to binge read them both.

bjhk coverAdrana and Fura Ness have finally been reunited, but both have changed beyond recognition. Once desperate for adventure, now Adrana is haunted by her enslavement on the feared pirate Bosa Sennen’s ship. And rumors of Bosa Sennen’s hidden cache of treasure have ensnared her sister, Fura, into single-minded obsession.

Neither is safe; because the galaxy wants Bosa Sennen dead and they don’t care if she’s already been killed. They’ll happily take whoever is flying her ship.

Shadow Captain is a desperate story of cursed ships, vengeful corporations, and alien artifacts, of daring escapes and wealth beyond imagining … and of betrayal.

13. Dread Nation – Justina Ireland
This has long been on my wishlist so I was super excited to be sent a copy to coincide with the publication in the UK.

book cove4rJane McKeene was born two days before the dead began to walk the battlefields of Gettysburg and Chancellorsville—derailing the War Between the States and changing America forever. In this new nation, safety for all depends on the work of a few, and laws like the Native and Negro Reeducation Act require certain children attend combat schools to learn to put down the dead. But there are also opportunities—and Jane is studying to become an Attendant, trained in both weaponry and etiquette to protect the well-to-do. It’s a chance for a better life for Negro girls like Jane. After all, not even being the daughter of a wealthy white Southern woman could save her from society’s expectations.

But that’s not a life Jane wants. Almost finished with her education at Miss Preston’s School of Combat in Baltimore, Jane is set on returning to her Kentucky home and doesn’t pay much mind to the politics of the eastern cities, with their talk of returning America to the glory of its days before the dead rose. But when families around Baltimore County begin to go missing, Jane is caught in the middle of a conspiracy, one that finds her in a desperate fight for her life against some powerful enemies. And the restless dead, it would seem, are the least of her problems.

14. Sky In the Deep – Adrienne Young
I’m so excited about this Viking/Fantasy story and I’ll be participating in the blog tour so make sure you check that out.

grhwoigwRaised to be a warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her Aska clansmen in an ancient rivalry against the Riki clan. Her life is brutal but simple: fight and survive. Until the day she sees the impossible on the battlefield—her brother, fighting with the enemy—the brother she watched die five years ago.

Faced with her brother’s betrayal, she must survive the winter in the mountains with the Riki, in a village where every neighbor is an enemy, every battle scar possibly one she delivered. But when the Riki village is raided by a ruthless clan thought to be a legend, Eelyn is even more desperate to get back to her beloved family.

She is given no choice but to trust Fiske, her brother’s friend, who sees her as a threat. They must do the impossible: unite the clans to fight together, or risk being slaughtered one by one. Driven by a love for her clan and her growing love for Fiske, Eelyn must confront her own definition of loyalty and family while daring to put her faith in the people she’s spent her life hating.

15. Stronger, Faster & More Beautiful – Arwen Elys Dayton
This sounds like such a unique and fascinating read so it’s very high up on my priority list.

jjjjjSet in our world, spanning the near to distant futures, Stronger, Faster, and More Beautiful is a novel made up of six interconnected stories that ask how far we will go to remake ourselves into the perfect human specimens, and how hard that will push the definition of “human.”

This extraordinary work explores the amazing possibilities of genetic manipulation and life extension, as well as the ethical quandaries that will arise with these advances. The results range from the heavenly to the monstrous. Deeply thoughtful, poignant, horrifying, and action-packed, Arwen Elys Dayton’s Stronger, Faster, and More Beautiful is groundbreaking in both form and substance.

16. Monsters in the Mirror – A. J. Hartley
This sounds like such a fun and exciting middle grade story and this is another one that I’m participating in the blog tour for!

hjDarwen Arkwright’s world is turned upside down when he is forced to move from a small English town to Atlanta in the United States of America. Feeling out of place and struggling to fit in at school, Darwen seeks solace in a mysterious shop full of mirrors. It’s there that he discovers the ability to step through mirrors into different worlds – worlds beyond his wildest imagination. Darwen befriends creatures including Moth, a tiny being with mechanical wings, but he soon learns that there is a terrible darkness threatening this new world . . . and only he can save it.

The problem with doors is that they open both ways. There are monsters inside, and some of them are trying to get out . . .

17. End of Magic – Mark Stay
Mark kindly reached out and asked if I’d be interested in reviewing his new fantasy novel and of course I immediately said yes. This sounds amazing and it’s definitely going to be my next read!

endThere are epic fantasies where magic is a thing of the past, spoken of in hushed tones until some kid pulls a sword from a stone and it all kicks off again… This is not one of those stories. The End of Magic will take you back to a time when magic collapsed, when the world went mad, chaos reigned, and we’ll get to see it through the eyes of three people who have everything to lose… Sander Bree is a royal mage. The personification of privilege, he lives a cushy life advising the king on matters of court and politics, yet still finds plenty of time to complain that he’s stuck in a rut.

Rosheen Katell is an immigrant freelancer and, with Anzu her griffin, she’s worked hard to build a reputation as a trustworthy truth seer. She never lies, never kills. Oskar is Rosheen’s younger brother. Mute from birth he is a moonchild. Alone and vulnerable, he will endure more change than anyone. Both Sander and Rosheen are entirely dependent on magic. The source of their power is the Lapis Moon in orbit above. Very soon, that magic will be gone, changing their lives and their world forever. Sander must keep a promise that would have been difficult enough with magic, but is a suicide mission without it. Rosheen is forced to side with a murderous warlord, and her once-solid principles are tested and found wanting. Oskar needs to survive unthinkable terror and find his sister. All are set against one another in a war unlike anything the world has seen before.

So those are the books I picked up in January! If you’ve read any of these definitely let me know which ones to prioritise!

September Book Haul!

September Book Haul!

The Bibliophile Chronicles (9)
I’m back today with my September book haul! Now this book haul is actually going to be split into two because my birthday was also in September and I got quite a few gift cards so I thought I would do a separate birthday book haul showing what goodies I picked up. So let’s dive in to (some of) the books I got in September!
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1. Snapshot – Brandon Sanderson

This kindly came in the post from Gollancz and is actually the first book by Brandon Sanderson I’ve ever read. It was a really interesting science fiction mystery and the ending completely blew my mind. I’ll have a review up for this one very soon!
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2. Rosewater – Tade Thompson
I was so excited when this came through the door from Orbit Books because I’m so excited to read it. The parcel also came with the cutest Rosewater enamel pin badge which now sits pride of place on my work bag.
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3. A Blade So Black – L. L. McKinney
A Blade So Black is a new Alice In Wonderland retelling from Titan Books. It was such a fun read and I’ll have a review up really soon. If you’re interested to know more, I participated in the blog tour with an exclusive extract from the book – you can check that out here!

37854049 (1)4. Sisters of the Winter Wood – Rena Rossner
This was a total surprise when it came through the door and I read it immediately. I really enjoyed this creepy fairy tale like story and you can read my full review here. I gave it 5/5 stars and it will definitely be on my favourites of 2018.
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5. Dark Age – James Wilde
This King Arthur retelling sounds amazing and totally up my street. Transworld kindly sent me a copy of Dark Age and I ordered the first book Pendragon online. I’m so excited for it to arrive so I can binge read both of them.
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6. The Caged Queen – Kirsten Ciccarelli
This is the second instalment in the Iskari series and I was ecstatic to recieve a copy. I raced through this and it was another five star read. If you want to check out my review and stop on the blog tour, you can check that out here!

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7. The Winter of the Witch – Katherine Arden
Katherine Arden has become one of my favourite authors with her Winternight Trilogy. I actually screamed when this came in the post because I’m so excited/scared to read it. I definitely don’t want this series to end, but I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

400318068. Soulbinder – Sebastien de Castell
When I saw Soulbinder go up on ReadersFirst I was desperate to be picked to review it. This series is such a fun, fast paced fantasy series and I’ve been racing through the books. I can’t wait to find out what’s going to happen in this latest instalment.

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9. The Taste of Blue Light – Lydia Ruffles
Lydia ran a competition to win copies of her book on Twitter and I won! (I never win anything!) Thank you so much Lydia! She very kindly signed it and I’m really looking forward to reading it because I’ve heard so many amazing things.

3951027110. Hallowdene – George Mann
Titan Books very kindly sent me a parcel with some spooky Halloween reads and this was one of them. I am definitely a mood reader and look reading dark and spooky books in October so this is perfect.
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11. Strange Ink – Gary Kemble

This was also in the same parcel as Hallowdene. This is a spooky story about a man who wakes up with a tattoo and more and more keep appearing as the story progresses. I’m on the blog tour for this one too, so check that out on October 16th!

2069853012. P. S. I Still Love You & Always and Forever Lara Jean – Jenny Han
I read To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and loved it so I ended up clicking and collecting the rest of the series. I’ve since read them both and they were sweet and cute and everything you need for a perfect contemporary read.
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14. Mirage – Somaiya Daud
I’ve heard quite a few people talking about this book already and it sounds like such a fascinating read so I couldn’t resist ordering a copy online. The story follows a young woman who is forced to be the body double for a princess in case of assassination attempts. I’m hooked already!

39098246 (2)15. The Corset – Laura Purcell
I pre-ordered The Corset by Laura Purcell because I absolutely adored The Silent Companions so I have to have a new book to scare myself silly with. If you haven’t read The Silent Companions yet I highly recommend it. Hoping The Corset will be just as dark and creepy!
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16. The Traitor God – Cameron Johnston
I went to a fantasy author event at Waterstones and Cameron Johnston was the only author who I hadn’t read a book by. After hearing him talk about it I knew it would be right up my alley. He kindly signed it and I’m very much looking forward to reading it.

4049909817. The Boneless Mercies – April Genevieve Tucholke
This book is a feminist fantasy standalone and I’m so excited to read it. Simon and Schuster very kindly sent me a review copy and I’m making it a priority to get to during my Halloween readathon. The story follows death traders in search of glory so what could be more appropriate for Halloween?
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18. Scrublands – Chris Hammer
This was a surprise piece of post from Headline books. A dark crime mystery due for release in 2019, I’m really excited to sink my teeth into this story! The book has been on the bestseller list for weeks in Australia so I’m definitely looking forward to picking this one up.

So that’s my September book haul! Which books did you pick up in September? And if you’ve read any of these I’d love to know your thoughts!

September Wrap Up!

September Wrap Up!

BOOK REVIEW (55).png
October is here! October is definitely my favourite reading month, I love reading a dark and spooky read with a cup of tea and a warm fuzzy blanket. I’m hoping to get through quite a few books in October but for September I managed to read twelve books and one short story. So without further rambling here are the books I read in September!

1. Ruin and Rising – Leigh Bardugo14061957
I FINALLY READ IT. Even though I loved the first two books in the series and have read them more than once I had never read Ruin and Rising. I finally read it in September and it was amazing. I’ve grown so attached to these characters and I thought it was the perfect ending to the series. I’m so excited to continue on with reading Leigh Bardugo’s books because she does such an amazing job of creating these complex characters you can’t help but love. (5/5 stars)

401893842. Snapshot – Brandon Sanderson
This short little book is a science fiction story in which snapshots of an event are taken and police officers can enter the snapshot to find out exactly what happened and help to solve a case. The book does a lot in such a short amount of pages and the ending completely blew my mind. This is definitely a must read for Brandon Sanderson fans. (3/5 stars)

3. P.S. I Still Love You – Jenny Han20698530
I picked up the next instalment of the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series and I enjoyed this one just as much as the first. Sweet and cute, this is the perfect light and fun read. I raced through it and really liked the introduction of John. (4/5 stars)

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

5. What If It’s Us – Becky Albertalli & Adam Silveria39704614 (1)
THIS BOOK IS SO CUTE AND ADORABLE. I love Arthur and Ben so much. This story is so fun and enjoyable and I raced through it because I loved the characters so much. I did feel the plot was a little on the predictable side, but overall this is a gorgeous contemporary story that fans of these authors will absolutely adore. (4/5 stars)

34220480 (2)6. Another Place – Matthew Crow 
This was the first book I read for Contemporary-AThon and I really enjoyed it. The story is a mystery following the disappearance of a young girl and I enjoyed the twisty turny parts of the story. I won’t go into much detail because you can get more of my thoughts from my Contemporary-AThon wrap up here! (4/5 stars)

7. A Thousand Perfect Notes – C. G. Drews36389267 (1)
This was another read for Contemporary-AThon. It was a really beautiful, emotional read and I’m so glad I picked it up after sitting on my shelves for a few months. It’s definitely stayed with me even after finishing it. (4/5 stars)

39018329 (1)8. Easy Prey – Catherine Lo
I hadn’t expected to love this book as much as I did. This story follows three students blamed for releasing racy pictures of a teacher online and all three claim they are not responsible. The story jumps between time and character until the perpetrator is revealed and it was such a fantastic read. (5/5 stars)

9. Always and Forever Lara Jean – Jenny Han35247769 (1)
I used the Contemporary-AThon to read the last book in this lovely series. It was bitter sweet and I enjoyed it so much. I’m definitely going to be picking up more Jenny Han books in the future. (4/5 stars)

40127369 (1)10. The Gilded King – Josie Jaffrey
This fantasy novel blends so many different elements, from immortal vampires to a post apocalyptic world with zombies like beings. Told in alternating points of view it was such an intense, gripping read and I enjoyed it from start to finish. (4/5 stars)

37854049 (1)11. The Sisters of the Winter Wood – Rena Rossner
This has got to be my favourite book that I read in September. The tale of two sisters who can shape shift – one into a swan and the other a bear – and what happens when they are left on their own while they parents visit a dying relative. It was dark, creepy and fairy tale like and I absolutely loved it. You can read my full review of this book here! (5/5 stars)
2464180012. The Demon in the Wood – Leigh Bardugo
This is a very short story following the Darkling before the events of the Grisha trilogy. It was really fascinating to see another side to his character and learn more about his life with Baghra. My only complaint is that it was too short and I would love a whole novel about him and how he became the Darkling. (5/5 stars)

13. Slade House – David Mitchell24500887
This is another book that has been on my shelves for ages. It follows a brother and sister who lure people into their house in order to use their souls to give them ever-lasting life. I listened to this on audiobook and while I enjoyed the story I think perhaps I might have enjoyed it more if I had read it rather than listened to it. (3/5 stars)

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

Contemporary-athon TBR!

Contemporary-athon TBR!

Book Review (7)
So last month I managed to read thirteen books. This month has been pretty busy and I was ill for a week so I haven’t gotten through that many books yet (current tally is 5 books). I’ve also been really enjoying reading contemporary books recently which is absolutely not my usual genre. I figured the perfect solution then was to join in with the contemporary-athon, which is happening from the 17th to the 23rd of September and is hosted by @BookHangover_ on Twitter and Youtubers Page and Pens, Chelseadolling and MyReadingIsOdd.

There are seven challenges and I doubt I’m going to manage all seven but I will try and see where we end up!

342204801. Read a book with orange on the cover
I toyed with a few different books – my first instinct was to go with I Was Born For This by Alice Oseman but I spied Another Place by Matthew Crow on my shelves and I have been meaning to read it forever. I tried to go with shorter books so I can get through all seven, but this sounds like a really gripping read and it has orange on the cover!

2. Read a book that is dark/taboo/spooky
39018329I found it difficult to pick just one book for this because I have quite a few spooky books I’m dying to read. I decided to go with Easy Prey by Catherine Lo as it’s coming out in October and means I can get a review up when I’m done. Easy Prey is a mystery following three high school students who are suspected or releasing racy pictures of a teacher online. Each of them has a motive, but which one is guilty? This sounds so intriguing and I can’t wait to read it!

352477693. Read a diverse book
I first picked up The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas because I still haven’t read that yet (I know I’m terrible), but I’ve really been loving the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before books so I thought I could round off the series with Always and Forever Lara Jean. I really enjoyed the first two and I raced through them so hopefully that will help with reading seven books in such a short time period!

4. Read a book in a non-traditional format34613312
I was a bit unsure about what this meant but the description says it can be anything whether that’s a graphic novel, an audiobook or a ebook. I had a look at my audiobooks and I didn’t have anything that fit the bill but I do have a ebook of Sarah Nicole Lemon’s Valley Girls, so I picked this. I loved Done Dirt Cheap so I’m hoping this is just as good! I’m not a big ebook person as they tend to give me headaches, but I do also have a physical copy and can cheat a little!

38185855 (1)5. Read a book with your initials on the cover
For this I’m going with The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente. I was sent this by the lovely folks at Quirk Books a couple of months ago but I haven’t had the chance to pick it up. It looks so cute and fun that I thought it would be the perfect choice. My initials are NLS so they all appeared on the cover too.

6. Read a book by a new to you author36389267
Pretty much every book I picked up for this readathon fitted this category. I’m hopeful that if I don’t get all seven read I can double up with this challenge as well. In case I manage to fly through them all I’ve gone for A Thousand Perfect Notes by C. G. Drews. I got this in an Illumicrate and have been meaning to read it ever since.

359608147. Read a predicted five star read
This was another that I had loads of choice for but I ended up going with The Accidental Bad Girl by Maxine Kaplan. I’ve been meaning to read this for ages and it sounds so good. After getting caught hooking up with her best friend’s ex boyfriend, Kendall just wants to keep her head down and graduate but she is drawn into a web of drug dealing after her online identity is hacked and used to steal from a dealer. It sounds so intense and gripping and I really hope it will be a five star read!

So that’s my Contemporary-AThon TBR. Are you participating in the readathon? If you are what are you reading? And if you’ve read any of these let me know if you enjoyed them or I should swap them for something else!
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