Tag: fantasy books

Every New Release I Want-April 2021

Lauren1 Comment

Another month, another spate of new releases to add to the ever growing TBR that I’m not supposed to buy any books for.

Like that’s actually going to happen.

On to the list!

Hummingbird Salamander by Jeff VanderMeer-April 6th

Security consultant “Jane Smith” receives an envelope with a key to a storage unit that holds a taxidermied hummingbird and clues leading her to a taxidermied salamander. Silvina, the dead woman who left the note, is a reputed ecoterrorist and the daughter of an Argentine industrialist. By taking the hummingbird from the storage unit, Jane sets in motion a series of events that quickly spin beyond her control.

Soon, Jane and her family are in danger, with few allies to help her make sense of the true scope of the peril. Is the only way to safety to follow in Silvina’s footsteps? Is it too late to stop? As she desperately seeks answers about why Silvina contacted her, time is running out—for her and possibly for the world.

I’m not usually drawn to big tech thrillers, but this one sounds good.

Broken (in the best possible way) by Jenny Lawson-April 6th

As Jenny Lawson’s hundreds of thousands of fans know, she suffers from depression. In Broken, Jenny brings readers along on her mental and physical health journey, offering heartbreaking and hilarious anecdotes along the way.

With people experiencing anxiety and depression now more than ever, Jenny humanizes what we all face in an all-too-real way, reassuring us that we’re not alone and making us laugh while doing it. From the business ideas that she wants to pitch to Shark Tank to the reason why Jenny can never go back to the post office, Broken leaves nothing to the imagination in the most satisfying way. And of course, Jenny’s long-suffering husband Victor―the Ricky to Jenny’s Lucille Ball―is present throughout.

I love Jenny Lawson and have all of her books, even the coloring book! I pre-ordered this one the day it was announced. I have much excite!

Malice: A Novel by Heather Walter-April 13th

Once upon a time, there was a wicked fairy who, in an act of vengeance, cursed a line of princesses to die. A curse that could only be broken by true love’s kiss.

You’ve heard this before, haven’t you? The handsome prince. The happily ever after.

Utter nonsense.

Let me tell you, no one in Briar actually cares about what happens to its princesses. Not the way they care about their jewels and elaborate parties and charm-granting elixirs. I thought I didn’t care, either.

Until I met her.

Princess Aurora. The last heir to Briar’s throne. Kind. Gracious. The future queen her realm needs. One who isn’t bothered that I am Alyce, the Dark Grace, abhorred and feared for the mysterious dark magic that runs in my veins. Humiliated and shamed by the same nobles who pay me to bottle hexes and then brand me a monster. Aurora says I should be proud of my gifts. That she . . . cares for me. Even though a power like mine was responsible for her curse.

But with less than a year until that curse will kill her, any future I might see with Aurora is swiftly disintegrating—and she can’t stand to kiss yet another insipid prince. I want to help her. If my power began her curse, perhaps it’s what can lift it. Perhaps together we could forge a new world.

Nonsense again. Because we all know how this story ends, don’t we? Aurora is the beautiful princess. And I—

I am the villain.

Well this sounds utterly delightful.

The Beautiful Ones by Silivia Moreno-Garcia-April 27th

They are the Beautiful Ones, Loisail’s most notable socialites, and this spring is Nina’s chance to join their ranks, courtesy of her well-connected cousin and his calculating wife. But the Grand Season has just begun, and already Nina’s debut has gone disastrously awry. She has always struggled to control her telekinesis—neighbors call her the Witch of Oldhouse—and the haphazard manifestations of her powers make her the subject of malicious gossip.

When entertainer Hector Auvray arrives to town, Nina is dazzled. A telekinetic like her, he has traveled the world performing his talents for admiring audiences. He sees Nina not as a witch, but ripe with potential to master her power under his tutelage. With Hector’s help, Nina’s talent blossoms, as does her love for him.

But great romances are for fairytales, and Hector is hiding a truth from Nina — and himself—that threatens to end their courtship before it truly begins.

I’m sorry, but a love story about two telekinetics? I’m in!

Meet Me In Another Life by Catriona Silvey-April 20th

Thora and Santi are strangers in a foreign city when a chance encounter intertwines their fates. At once, they recognize in each other a kindred spirit—someone who shares their insatiable curiosity, who is longing for more in life than the cards they’ve been dealt. Only days later, though, a tragic accident cuts their story short.

But this is only one of the many connections they share. Like satellites trapped in orbit around each other, Thora and Santi are destined to meet again: as a teacher and brilliant student; a caretaker and dying patient; a cynic and believer. In numerous lives they become friends, colleagues, lovers, and enemies. As blurred memories and strange patterns compound, Thora and Santi come to a shocking revelation—they must discover the truth of their mysterious attachment before their many lives come to one, final end.

Aww, a reincarnation love story! I’ll read that.

The Cleveland Heights LGBTQ Sci-Fi and Fantasy Role Playing Club by Doug Henderson-April 15th

On Thursday nights, the players assemble in the back of Readmore Comix and Games. Celeste is the dungeon master; Valerie, who works at the store, was roped in by default; Mooneyham, the banker, likes to argue; and Ben, sensitive, unemployed, and living at home, is still recovering from an unrequited love. In the real world they go about their days falling in love, coming out at work, and dealing with their family lives all with varying degrees of success. But in the world of their fantasy game, they are heroes and wizards fighting to stop an evil cult from waking a sleeping god.

But then a sexy new guy, Albert, joins the club, Ben’s character is killed, and Mooneyham’s boyfriend is accosted on the street. The connections and parallels between the real world and the fantasy one become stronger and more important than ever as Ben struggles to bring his character back to life and win Albert’s affection, and the group unites to organize a protest at a neighborhood bar. All the while the slighted and competing vampire role playing club, working secretly in the shadows, begins to make its move.

Just based on the title this book is a yes for me. Cause yeah, nerd things.

And there you have it, the six books I am looking forward to this month. What books are you most looking forward to?

Book Haul March 2021

Lauren1 Comment

Well, I may not have read anything in March, but I did buy some books! Cause I’m me and that’s how I roll.

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

An eighteenth century apothecary who makes poisons to help women with the men in their lives and a modern woman who stumbles across a mysterious bottle that unlocks the mystery of said apothecary. This was my Book of the Month pick in March.

Once & Future by Cori McCarthy and Ami Rose Capetta

Ari crash lands on old Earth and pulls an old sword from it’s resting place. This reveals her to be the newest reincarnation of the legendary king, Arthur. Y’all know I love my King Arthur retellings, so I had to pick this one up.

A Peculiar Peril by Jeff VanderMeer

Jonathan looks to inherit his grandfathers sprawling estate, once he and his friends catalog all of the curiosities that lie within. They soon discover it holds the way to an alt earth were a once deceased villain now lives. I’ve had this in my Amazon cart for months, so when I found it on Book Outlet I had to snatch it up.

The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guinn

This heartwarming story is exactly what it says on the cover, the story of Santa. I reviewed it last year and absolutely loved it. Of course, I already own an e-book version of this, but when I saw the paperback was only $4 on Book Outlet I snatched it up.

30 Second Mythology by Robert A. Segal

This little book contains 50 of the most interesting Greek and Roman myths told in very short snip-its. I love the 30-Second series and am always excited to add new titles to my collection.

The Sign of Seven Trilogy by Nora Roberts

In the town of Hawkins Hollow, it’s called The Seven. Every seven years, on the seventh day of the seventh month, strange things happen. It began when three young boys—Caleb, Fox, and Gage—went on a camping trip to The Pagan Stone…

I love the books Nora Roberts writes as J.D. Robb, so i thought I would give some of her fantasy novels a chance. I have heard good things!

Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas

This modern day retelling of the Peter Pan story sounded very interesting. Also, I loved Cemetery Boys, so I had to pick this one up!

Wild Sign by Patricia Briggs

An entire town has disappeared, and it’s up to werewolves Charles and Anna to uncover what happened. This is book six set in this universe and what a great universe it is.

Also, I know I said I wasn’t going to buy more than three books, but I was weak. It happens. I mean, 10 isn’t a lot, is it?

Every New Release I Want-March 2021

Lauren1 Comment

I love new releases. Upside- new books! Downside- expensive new books! So sometimes I wait until these baby’s are out in paperback, or I buy them on the Kindle machine for a cheaper price. But books!

So here are the new releases from March 2021 that I want to pick up, but probably won’t, because I am on a book buying ban.

The things I do to myself.

Wild Sign by Patricia Briggs-March 16th

In the wilds of the Northern California mountains, all the inhabitants of a small town have gone missing. It’s as if the people picked up and left their possessions behind. With a mystery on their hands and no jurisdiction on private property, the FBI dumps the whole problem in the lap of the land owner, Aspen Creek, Inc.–aka the business organization of the Marrok’s pack.

Somehow, the pack of the Wolf Who Rules is connected to a group of vanished people. Werewolves Charles Cornick and Anna Latham are tasked with investigating, and soon find that a deserted town is the least of the challenges they face.

Death sings in the forest, and when it calls, Charles and Anna must answer. Something has awakened in the heart of the California mountains, something old and dangerous–and it has met werewolves before.

I love everything set in the Mercy Thompson world, and the Alpha and Omega series is no exception. I pre-ordered this one the minute I learned it existed. And, just so you know, this is book number 6 in the series. It would also help if you read the Mercy Thompson series first. Just sayin.

Breach Of Peace by Daniel B Green-March 30th

An imperial family is found butchered. Officers of God are called to investigate. Evidence points to a rebel group trying to seed fear into the very heart of the empire itself. Inspector Khlid takes the case and begins a harrowing hunt for those responsible. But when a larger conspiracy comes to light, will Inspector Khlid be able to trust those working within her own precinct?

I’m not usually one to buy things that YouTubers make, but apparently I will want to buy their books. This novella actually sounds pretty good, and at 140 pages, I will probably be purchasing this. Also, that’s a great self publication cover!

The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers-March 23rd

Paris, 1925: To enter the Secret Circus is to enter a world of wonder—a world where women weave illusions of magnificent beasts, carousels take you back in time, and trapeze artists float across the sky. Bound to her family’s circus, it’s the only world Cecile Cabot knows until she meets a charismatic young painter and embarks on a passionate affair that could cost her everything.

Virginia, 2004:Lara Barnes is on top of the world, until her fiancé disappears on their wedding day. When her desperate search for answers unexpectedly leads to her great-grandmother’s journals, Lara is swept into a story of a dark circus and ill-fated love.

Soon secrets about Lara’s family history begin to come to light, revealing a curse that has been claiming payment from the women in her family for generations. A curse that might be tied to her fiancé’s mysterious disappearance.

I like books that bounce through various timelines. They make me happy.

The Unbroken by C.L. Clark-March 23rd

Touraine is a soldier. Stolen as a child and raised to kill and die for the empire, her only loyalty is to her fellow conscripts. But now, her company has been sent back to her homeland to stop a rebellion, and the ties of blood may be stronger than she thought. 

Luca needs a turncoat. Someone desperate enough to tiptoe the bayonet’s edge between treason and orders. Someone who can sway the rebels toward peace, while Luca focuses on what really matters: getting her uncle off her throne. 

Through assassinations and massacres, in bedrooms and war rooms, Touraine and Luca will haggle over the price of a nation. But some things aren’t for sale.

I will take assassinations and massacres. This book sounds both dark and fun all at the same time. Or maybe that’s just me.

The Bone Maker by Sarah Beth Durst-March 9th

Twenty-five years ago, five heroes risked their lives to defeat the bone maker Eklor—a corrupt magician who created an inhuman army using animal bones. But victory came at a tragic price. Only four of the heroes survived. 

Since then, Kreya, the group’s leader, has exiled herself to a remote tower and devoted herself to one purpose: resurrecting her dead husband. But such a task requires both a cache of human bones and a sacrifice—for each day he lives, she will live one less.

She’d rather live one year with her husband than a hundred without him, but using human bones for magic is illegal in Vos. The dead are burned—as are any bone workers who violate the law. Yet Kreya knows where she can find the bones she needs: the battlefield where her husband and countless others lost their lives.

But defying the laws of the land exposes a terrible possibility. Maybe the dead don’t rest in peace after all.  

Five warriors—one broken, one gone soft, one pursuing a simple life, one stuck in the past, and one who should dead. Their story should have been finished. But evil doesn’t stop just because someone once said, “the end.”

You had me at “resurrect dead husband”.

The Shadow in the Glass by JJA Harwood-March 18th (kindle only)

Once upon a time Ella had wished for more than her life as a lowly maid.

Now forced to work hard under the unforgiving, lecherous gaze of the man she once called stepfather, Ella’s only refuge is in the books she reads by candlelight, secreted away in the library she isn’t permitted to enter.

One night, among her beloved books of far-off lands, Ella’s wishes are answered. At the stroke of midnight, a fairy godmother makes her an offer that will change her life: seven wishes, hers to make as she pleases. But each wish comes at a price and Ella must decide whether it’s one she’s willing to pay…

I love Cinderella retellings…sometimes. This one sounds great!

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner-March 2nd

Hidden in the depths of eighteenth-century London, a secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual kind of clientele. Women across the city whisper of a mysterious figure named Nella who sells well-disguised poisons to use against the oppressive men in their lives. But the apothecary’s fate is jeopardized when her newest patron, a precocious twelve-year-old, makes a fatal mistake, sparking a string of consequences that echo through the centuries.

Meanwhile in present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, running from her own demons. When she stumbles upon a clue to the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London two hundred years ago, her life collides with the apothecary’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive.

And we are hopping through timelines again! Whoo hoo! Full disclosure, I also bought this book. It was a Book of the Month pick this month and the description brought me joy!

Machinehood by S.B. Divya-March 2nd

Welga Ramirez, executive bodyguard and ex-special forces, is about to retire early when her client is killed in front of her. It’s 2095 and people don’t usually die from violence. Humanity is entirely dependent on pills that not only help them stay alive, but allow them to compete with artificial intelligence in an increasingly competitive gig economy. Daily doses protect against designer diseases, flow enhances focus, zips and buffs enhance physical strength and speed, and speeds the healing process.

All that changes when Welga’s client is killed by The Machinehood, a new and mysterious terrorist group that has simultaneously attacked several major pill funders. The Machinehood operatives seem to be part human, part machine, something the world has never seen. They issue an ultimatum: stop all pill production in one week.

Global panic ensues as pill production slows and many become ill. Thousands destroy their bots in fear of a strong AI takeover. But the US government believes the Machinehood is a cover for an old enemy. One that Welga is uniquely qualified to fight.

Welga, determined to take down the Machinehood, is pulled back into intelligence work by the government that betrayed her. But who are the Machinehood and what do they really want?

Terroist cyborgs? I’ll take some of that.

Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas-March 23rd

It’s been five years since Wendy and her two brothers went missing in the woods, but when the town’s children start to disappear, the questions surrounding her brothers’ mysterious circumstances are brought back into the light. Attempting to flee her past, Wendy almost runs over an unconscious boy lying in the middle of the road…

Peter, a boy she thought lived only in her stories, asks for Wendy’s help to rescue the missing kids. But, in order to find them, Wendy must confront what’s waiting for her in the woods.

This is a Peter pan retelling by the author of Cemetery Boys, a book I loved. Yes, I have it pre-ordered.

And just like that, there are all the books I am looking forward to in March. What books are you looking forward to?

Book Unhaul 2021

Lauren1 Comment

Well, wasn’t that a week? If you don’t know, I live in Texas, the Dallas area, to be more specific. There was a small winter storm last week. It knocked out our power for a few days, then we were on the rolling blackout schedule. Ruined everything in our fridge. Luckily we were able to put all of our frozen items outside on the back patio to stay frozen for those few days without power.

Huzzah.

Alas, I was not able to post last week, cause no power means no internet. We didn’t even have internet on our phones. We suffered so.

Still, we were lucky compared to some. We did get power back eventually, and we live in a newer house so we have better insulation on our house, plus gas logs in the fireplace and a gas stove top to cook on. Oh, and I was still able to make the all important cup of tea on that same stove. I can’t go without my tea!

But on with the regularly scheduled blog post!

The time has come, my book shelves say, to get rid of some books!

Now, we don’t get rid of books haphazardly. Members of this household are scarred from the last time they got rid of books. So we do it sparingly.

But, I’ve been saving a few books to unhaul, and I don’t want to keep something I know I’m not going to read again. That’s just a waste of space that could be better put towards storing books that I like. Which would mean I get to buy more books.

Huzzah!

Plus, I’m going to take them to a Half Priced Books, which is a book re-sale shop here in Texas (and all over the country if I’m honest) where I can get store credit to buy more books. So yeah.

Look. I’m not saying I have a problem buying books. Well, I am, but that’s not the point. The point of this post is the unhauling of books! Let’s get to it!

The Road Not Taken by Susan Rubin

This story about a woman who meets her doppelgänger who just happens to be part of an alien race seemed promising but fell short for me. Very, very short. I DNF’d this book last year after only 25 pages. Which stinks, because I wanted to like it.

Kill the Farm Boy by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne

The story about an unlikely chosen one. I wanted to like this one. I heard it was really funny, but, it just… wasn’t. My husband, who read it first, didn’t like it either.

How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse by K. Eason

The story about a girl who gets thirteen fairy blessings and then uses them to help her get out of a sticky situation. This one wasn’t terrible. I gave it two stars. I just don’t see myself reaching for it to re-read it.

The Anita Blake Series by Laurell K. Hamilton

I only have the series up to book 13. That’s right after they took a turn from books with plot to, well, books with a lot less plot. I like plot. Plot is important. Now, the author may have improved this since I stopped reading the books, but I’m not going to buy more books to figure it out. Off they go to the used book store!

A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore

A book about a guy that gets a new job as death. Sounds like it would be right up my alley. I was wrong, and so I will cart this book off to somewhere else so someone else can give it a good home.

I have a few books that I DNF’d last year that I am telling myself I am going to try and read again, like The Four Profound Weaves and Dune, because for some reason I just can’t give up on that book.

February 2021 New Releases I Want!

Lauren1 Comment

Another month, another set of new releases. And since I’m not buying new books right now, I’ll have to wait on these for a while.

Anyway, on to the books!

The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec-Feb 9th

Angrboda’s story begins where most witches’ tales end: with a burning. A punishment from Odin for refusing to provide him with knowledge of the future, the fire leaves Angrboda injured and powerless, and she flees into the farthest reaches of a remote forest. There she is found by a man who reveals himself to be Loki, and her initial distrust of him transforms into a deep and abiding love.
 
Their union produces three unusual children, each with a secret destiny, who Angrboda is keen to raise at the edge of the world, safely hidden from Odin’s all-seeing eye. But as Angrboda slowly recovers her prophetic powers, she learns that her blissful life—and possibly all of existence—is in danger.
 
With help from the fierce huntress Skadi, with whom she shares a growing bond, Angrboda must choose whether she’ll accept the fate that she’s foreseen for her beloved family…or rise to remake their future. From the most ancient of tales this novel forges a story of love, loss, and hope for the modern age.

I’ve never really read a lot about Norse mythology. This book has me intrigued.

The Children of D’Hara by Terry Goodkind-Feb 4th

The further adventures of Richard and Kahlan from the Sword of Truth series. I haven’t finished reading the other books in the series, and I should probably do that. Doesn’t stop me from wanting this one though. It seems to be a collection of shorter works. Also, I feel I should point out that this will probably be the last one in the series, as Terry Goodkind passed away last year.

The Absolute Book by Elizabeth Knox-Feb 9th

Taryn Cornick believes that the past–her sister’s violent death, and her own ill-conceived revenge–is behind her, and she can get on with her life. She has written a successful book about the things that threaten libraries: insects, damp, light, fire, carelessness and uncaring . . . but not all of the attention it brings her is good.

A policeman, Jacob Berger, questions her about a cold case. Then there are questions about a fire in the library at her grandparents’ house and an ancient scroll box known as the Firestarter, as well as threatening phone calls and a mysterious illness. Finally a shadowy young man named Shift appears, forcing Taryn and Jacob toward a reckoning felt in more than one world.

Sold! Seriously. I barely managed to stop myself from pre-ordering this book it sounds so much up my alley.

Muse by Brittany Cavallaro-Feb 2nd

The year is 1893,and war is brewing in the First American Kingdom. But Claire Emerson has a bigger problem. Claire’s father is a sought-after inventor, but he believes his genius is a gift granted to him by his daughter’s touch, so he keeps Claire under his control.

As their province prepares for war, Claire plans to escape, even as her best friend, Beatrix, tries to convince her to stay and help with the growing resistance movement that wants to see a woman on the throne.

When her father’s weapon fails to fire on the World’s Fair’s opening day, Claire is taken captive by Governor Remy Duchamp, St. Cloud’s young, untried ruler. Remy believes that Claire’s touch bestows graces he’s never had, and with political rivals planning his demise, Claire might be his only ally.

The last thing that Claire has ever wanted is to be someone else’s muse, but she finally has a choice: Will she quietly remake her world from the shadows—or bring it down in flames?

This sounds amazing.

The Black Coast by Mike Brooks-Feb 16th

War Dragons. Fearsome Raiders. A Daemonic Warlord on the Rise.


When the citizens of Black Keep see ships on the horizon, terror takes them because they know who is coming: for generations, the keep has been raided by the fearsome clanspeople of Tjakorsha. Saddling their war dragons, Black Keep’s warriors rush to defend their home only to discover that the clanspeople have not come to pillage at all. Driven from their own land by a daemonic despot who prophesises the end of the world, the raiders come in search of a new home . . .


Meanwhile the wider continent of Narida is lurching toward war. Black Keep is about to be caught in the crossfire – if only its new mismatched society can survive.

I feel like this book hits all the right notes. Let’s hope so.

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna-Feb 9th

Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.

But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity–and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.

Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki–near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire’s greatest threat.

Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she’s ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be–not even Deka herself.

Golden blood? Sound interesting.

Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell-Feb 2nd

A famously disappointing minor royal and the Emperor’s least favorite grandchild, Prince Kiem is summoned before the Emperor and commanded to renew the empire’s bonds with its newest vassal planet. The prince must marry Count Jainan, the recent widower of another royal prince of the empire.

But Jainan suspects his late husband’s death was no accident. And Prince Kiem discovers Jainan is a suspect himself. But broken bonds between the Empire and its vassal planets leaves the entire empire vulnerable, so together they must prove that their union is strong while uncovering a possible conspiracy.

Their successful marriage will align conflicting worlds.

Their failure will be the end of the empire.

This sounds great! Queer space opera! Bring it on!

What books are you looking forward to this month?

Everything I Read in January 2021

Lauren1 Comment

Hooray! The first month of the year is past us! Huzzah! We have survived another month of winter. Not that winter in Texas is cold, really.

But alas, a weather report is not why you are here. You want to know about what I read during the month of January. Onward!

Outlawed by Anna North

A book about a woman who runs away from a potential hanging to join an outlaw gang? I thought I was going to love this book. Alas, it just didn’t resonate with me in any way. Which can sometimes happen. Sorry book. Into the DNF pile you go. 1 Star.

This Place: 150 Years Retold by Various

A graphic novel with the stories of 150 years of Canadian Indigenous history. It was hard to read, and in places I might have cried. No really. I did tear up. There was some terrible stuff happening to these people, and still is happening. And it’s not so different here in America, either. 5 stars.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

A witch finds a magic book and a vampire wants said book. That’s a really terrible description of a really great book. I did write a review of all three books in the series. If you want to read that it’s here. Be aware, there are mild spoilers in it. And yes, I do love this book. 5 stars.

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

The sequel to A Discovery of Witches. It’s also my favorite book in the series. Big shocker if you read that review I was talking about. 5 stars.

The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness

Yes I read the whole All Souls Trilogy. No I’m not sorry I did it. See said review. Writing said review made me want to read the books again, and I just finish reading them! I have a problem. 5 stars.

The House in the Cerulean in Sea by TJ Klune

This book about a human case worker who goes to check on a house full of magical children is super heart warming. I loved this book. How many times can I say that in this post? I mean really? Did I love every book I read this month? Almost. 5 stars.

And now it’s time for stats!

5 out of 6 books were adventurous. That’s what happens when you read mostly fantasy.

3 slow books? I’ll take it, since I know it’s true.

Yes for longer books! I read a lot of shorter books when I, well, read. But I love longer books too.

Starting off the new year right with one non-fiction book.

Me, read romance? Yes, yes I did. The All Souls trilogy is a fantasy romance series, so these stats make sense.

I 5 starred a lot of books in January. Oops. Well, not oops, because I don’t regret it. You can’t help what you enjoy. And since I read for the enjoyment of it, well, 5 stars all around! Except you Outlawed, you don’t get 5 stars.

What did you read this month that you would give 5 stars to?

January 2021 Book Haul

Lauren3 Comments

Does anyone else go to write 2021 and still write 2020 first? Or have you adapted yet? Cause I’m still doing it. It’s annoying and I would like it to stop now.

And I know I said I wasn’t going to buy anymore books. But hear me out. My logic is sound.

I still had room on my TBR cart.

And Book Outlet was having a sale.

I know, I know. You don’t have to tell me. I’m weak.

The Angel of Crows by Katherine Addison

A story set in 1880’s London about angels, vampires, and werewolves. Plus Jack the ripper? Yes please. I’ll happily read this one.

A Blade so Black by L.L. McKinney

Urban fantasy meets Alice in Wonderland. Consider me sold!

Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto

A girl disguising herself as a boy to ride a phoenix, which happens to be my favorite mythical creature. Like I’m gonna say no to that.

The Hike by Drew Magary

A simple hike takes a turn for the fantastical in this book by Drew Magary. I’m not gonna lie, I bought this one cause I enjoyed his book The Postmortal so much.

The Nightjar by Deborah Hewitt

A woman dreams of birds her whole life. Turns out those birds guard human souls, go figure. I needed this book!

Perelandra by C.S.Lewis

This is the second book in the indomitable C.S. Lewis’ The Space Trilogy. I didn’t look at the description before I bought it because I haven’t read the first book yet. What? It’s on my TBR cart.

These Rebel Waves by Sara Raasch

Soldiers, pirates, heretics, missing countrymen! This book claims to have everything. I have to see for myself.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

A Man does a good deed and plunges headfirst into a world he never dreamed existed. I’m pretty sure, based on the votes, that this is going to be one of my book clubs picks for February. So I was really stoked to see the Kindle version on sale for $2. That’s right, $2! Of course I picked it up.

Year One by Nora Roberts

A plague sweeps the land, and the world as we have come to know it crumbles. Umm…anyways. This was picked by one of my books clubs as the book for January. Didn’t hurt that it had been sitting in my Shopping Cart for the better part of 4 months.

Outlawed by Anna North

A barren woman risks being labeled a witch and hung, so she runs for her life to a group of outlaws. This was my Book of the Month pick.

The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

She has the unique ability to travel through universes, but someone is killing all her doppelgangers. Sounds like a Sci-Fi epic I needed to own! So I bought it!

And hey, would you look at that! I only bought 11 books this month! That’s actually worse than I thought. Next month I vow to only buy three.

Maybe.

Hopefully.

January 2021 Wrap Up

LaurenLeave a comment

Well would you look at that. It’s the first wrap up of the new year. How exciting!

This month started off strong right out of the gate because I was doing my year end wrap ups!

My Favorite Reads of 2020: I assembled all my 5 star reads for the year into one convenient post for you to peruse.

2020 Reading Stats: Ever since I discovered The Storygraph I have been obsessed with keep track of my stats for the month. This time I did it for the year!

Everything I Read in December 2020: This month included one of the cutest books I read all year. Plus, more The Storygraph stats!

Skipping the TBR: I confessed to wanting to skip the TBR for now. I’ll keep you updated on that.

Blogging and Reading Goals for 2021: I went over my, well, blogging and reading goals for the year.

Martha and Marley Spoon-a Break Up: We parted ways with our meal delivery service. Spoiler alert, we left Hello Fresh too.

My First Experience with Book Outlet: I decided to try using Book Outlet since I had heard so much about it. It was a pretty good time to be had.

The House in the Cerulean Sea-A Book Review: I reviewed a book. And in a surprise twist to absolutely no one who has read this book, I loved it.

January 2020 New Releases I Want: Here are some of the books that were being released that I wanted.

All Souls Trilogy-A Book Review: I reviewed one of my favorite book trilogies, the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness.

And there are all the posts I wrote for the month of January. Hope you enjoyed them!

The All Souls Trilogy-A Book Series Review

Lauren6 Comments

Why is it, when we love something, we just don’t want to be critical of it?  Take, for example, Baked Ruffles.  I love them very much.  They are just the right thickness for dips, so they rarely break, they taste good, they aren’t as salty as regular ruffles, and I like the texture.  

But, and this is hard for me to admit, I hate the way they are sometimes so dang wide.  I have to break them in half to make them work for me.  

That’s the way I feel right now.  Because I’m about to review the All Souls Trilogy, or the A Discovery of Witches book series.

I’ll try to keep this as spoiler-free as possible, but given that the first book is 10 years old (Really, only 10?  Zeesh) some spoilers may leak out.   And given that I am reviewing three books, yes, there may be spoilers. 

Have I mentioned the spoilers?

The story of A Discovery of Witches begins with Dr. Diana Bishop, our female protagonist, finding a book, Ashmole 782, a magical alchemical manuscript.  Diana, wanting nothing to do with magic, sends the book back to whence it came.  But her calling the book forth has caught the notice of other creatures (witches, daemons, vampires), most notably Dr. Matthew Clairmont, a vampire.  

In Shadow of Night, the second book of the series, we find our intrepid (really, Lauren?  That’s the word you’re going with?) heroes thrust back in time into 1590s England by way of Diana’s witchy ability called Time Walking.  Here they meet such historical notables as Sir Walter Raleigh, Christopher Marlow, and Queen Elizabeth! Rotting teeth included!   In this book, Diana is seeking out teachers for her burgeoning magical abilities and both she and Matthew are searching for Ashmole 782.  You know, before it became called Ashmole 782. 

In The Book of Life, we find Diana and Matthew returned to the present, with Diana having learned control over her magic, and they have renewed purpose in finding the book.  Also, they are married now!  Huzzah!!  They face many hurdles, though, in seeking the book.  Most of the members of the Congregation don’t want them together and members of their own vampiric family might be against them. 

So what did I think of these books?  Well, let us start at the beginning.

A Discovery of Witches is an exquisite book.  It’s almost lyrical in it’s writing style.  Not words I say often.  In fact, I don’t think I’ve said them at all before.  It’s pacing is spot on, though, as with most romance style books, I think Matthew and Diana fell in love a little too quickly.  But hey, when you know, you know. Ya know? 

But that’s not really a pacing issue, is it?  That’s a plot choice.  

Speaking of plot, I like how DNA is important to the story. The world of science being such a large portion of a vampire’s life is both funny and thought-provoking at the same time.  But that’s a small part of the first book, it’s a bigger part of the third book, though.  The plot moves along quite nicely.  No part of it feels like your rushing to get to the end of the book, which I appreciate.

The characters are rich, fully realized versions of themselves.  They never feel anything less than at their best, even when it’s just side characters, like Emily, Sarah, Hamish, or Miriam.  Our villains, on the other hand, feel a little less fleshed out.  We don’t spend enough time with Satu, Peter Knox, or Gerbert for them to be fully actualized, but more time with them would have been nice.  

There aren’t really any big plot twists to this book.  There might be one if you squint hard enough, but the author hasn’t written these books that way.  Everything flows seamlessly from one moment to the next.  Okay, fine, there is one.  And it does have ramifications for each of the following books.  But it’s not like a plot twist where you are left going “OMG, why did that happen”, it’s more like “well, that’s interesting information”.  

I really liked how this book ended.  It left me wanting the second book to read almost immediately.  And given that I got this book on Kindle when it was first released, I had to wait a minute.  Stupid waiting.  

Ah well.  Patience is a virtue.

On to my favorite book, Shadow of Night!  Deborah Harkness (the author) is a historian, and it really shows here.  In my personal opinion, this book is where the writing and research really shine.  And I love her writing style.  It just seems to flow effortlessly, and I’m sure that took quite a bit of effort.  

This book is set in 1590s Elizabethan England, France, and Bohemia.  I love how the time period really comes alive through the storytelling.  All the characters are compelling, though I hate Kit.  He really bothered me.  Which, I suppose, was the author’s point.  I also love Mary Sidney  You gotta love positive female friendships!

Again, the plot and pacing are on point.  Honestly I found no faults with this book.  Of course I didn’t, it’s my favorite.  And how many times can I say something is my favorite before I am tempted to use that gif from Elf? 

The Book of Life is the third, but not final, book in this universe.  This, in my opinion, is the weakest of the three books.  Now don’t get me wrong, it’s still a great book in own right. It’s just not as strong as the other two books.  The pacing was a little messy.  Not terribly messy, mind you, just a little bit messy.  The plot was great.  I really enjoyed how that important detail of DNA came back into play big time in this book.  

The ending of this book felt a little, well, not rushed, but it didn’t flow as well I would have liked. It seemed like the author had so many ideas she wasn’t quite sure how to get them all out. Was it still well done? Mostly yes. Will I read it again constantly? Absolutely.

I really loved the addition of Chris, he’s a fantastic new character. And oh boy Benjamin.  Does he make an excellent villain. Disturbing, but excellent. And we can’t forget the loss of that character. If you’ve read the books, you know the one. That one hurt a little bit.  

So what do I think of the trilogy overall?  I think it’s fantastic!  Everyone should read it!  5 Stars all around! Too enthusiastic for you? Try this instead: I find these pages to be full of the most wondrous adventures to be told of witch and vampire.  You think I’m kidding? Turns out, I read these books this time two years ago too. How do I know this? Check out this photo of my cat sitting on one of the books. Silly KoKo.

No, but seriously.  I love all three of these books.  I read through them in about 9 days.  And there is still the 4th one, Time’s Convert, to read.  And (huzzah!) according to Deborah Harkness’ own Instagram account, she is working on a 5th book.  So I’m good.  

What do you think of the All Souls Trilogy?

January 2021 New Releases I Want

Lauren1 Comment

So I skipped last month’s new releases. I just didn’t want anything last month. Go figure.

It happens.

This month I found a few books.

Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor, January 19

The day Fatima forgot her name, Death paid a visit. From hereon in she would be known as Sankofa­­―a name that meant nothing to anyone but her, the only tie to her family and her past.

Her touch is death, and with a glance a town can fall. And she walks―alone, except for her fox companion―searching for the object that came from the sky and gave itself to her when the meteors fell and when she was yet unchanged; searching for answers.

But is there a greater purpose for Sankofa, now that Death is her constant companion?

I loved Binti and am excited to read another short story by this author. Lets do this!

The Mask Of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick, January 19

This is your past, the good and the ill of it, and that which is neither . . .
Arenza Lenskaya is a liar and a thief, a pattern-reader and a daughter of no clan. Raised in the slums of Nadezra, she fled that world to save her sister.

This is your present, the good and the ill of it, and that which is neither . . .
Renata Viraudax is a con artist recently arrived in Nadezra. She has one goal: to trick her way into a noble house and secure her fortune.

This is your future, the good and the ill of it, and that which is neither . . .
As corrupt nightmare magic begins to weave its way through the city of dreams, the poisonous feuds of its aristocrats and the shadowy dangers of its impoverished underbelly become tangled—with Ren at their heart. And if she cannot sort the truth from the lies, it will mean the destruction of all her worlds.

A fantasy book with female protagonists? Yup, sounds like my kind of book. Also “corrupt magic”!

The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry by C.M. Waggoner, January 12

Dellaria Wells, petty con artist, occasional thief, and partly educated fire witch, is behind on her rent in the city of Leiscourt—again. Then she sees the “wanted” sign, seeking Female Persons, of Martial or Magical ability, to guard a Lady of some Importance, prior to the celebration of her Marriage. Delly fast-talks her way into the job and joins a team of highly peculiar women tasked with protecting their wealthy charge from unknown assassins.
 
Delly quickly sets her sights on one of her companions, the confident and well-bred Winn Cynallum. The job looks like nothing but romance and easy money until things take a deadly (and undead) turn. With the help of a bird-loving necromancer, a shapeshifting schoolgirl, and an ill-tempered reanimated mouse named Buttons, Delly and Winn are determined to get the best of an adversary who wields a twisted magic and has friends in the highest of places.

This sounds great! I love the idea of bad girl turning to the good guys, however reluctantly.

Outlawed by Anna North, January 5

In the year of our Lord 1894, I became an outlaw.

The day of her wedding, 17 year old Ada’s life looks good; she loves her husband, and she loves working as an apprentice to her mother, a respected midwife. But after a year of marriage and no pregnancy, in a town where barren women are routinely hanged as witches, her survival depends on leaving behind everything she knows.

She joins up with the notorious Hole in the Wall Gang, a band of outlaws led by a preacher-turned-robber known to all as the Kid. Charismatic, grandiose, and mercurial, the Kid is determined to create a safe haven for outcast women. But to make this dream a reality, the Gang hatches a treacherous plan that may get them all killed. And Ada must decide whether she’s willing to risk her life for the possibility of a new kind of future for them all.

This is more of an alternate history, historical sci-fi book than fantasy. But the premise of a woman running away before she can get hanged and joining up with a gang of outlaws? Yes please. Also, this is my Book of the Month pick this month. So, happy me, I already get this book! Hooray!

Lore by Alexandra Bracken

Every seven years, the Agon begins. As punishment for a past rebellion, nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals. They are hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines, all eager to kill a god and seize their divine power and immortality.

Long ago, Lore Perseous fled that brutal world, turning her back on the hunt’s promises of eternal glory after her family was murdered by a rival line. For years she’s pushed away any thought of revenge against the man—now a god—responsible for their deaths.

Yet as the next hunt dawns over New York City, two participants seek her out: Castor, a childhood friend Lore believed to be dead, and Athena, one of the last of the original gods, now gravely wounded.

The goddess offers an alliance against their mutual enemy and a way to leave the Agon behind forever. But Lore’s decision to rejoin the hunt, binding her fate to Athena’s, will come at a deadly cost—and it may not be enough to stop the rise of a new god with the power to bring humanity to its knees.

Greek mythology stories make me happy. So this is one that I am looking to pick up.

And there you have it, the 5 books I am looking forward to for January. I may not pick them up in January, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting them.