Closing the Chapter: April 2020

Welcome to Closing the Chapter! I hope you had a great reading month?

So firstly I want to apologise for not being round that much in April reading posts and commenting! April is a big work month so have found myself with very little time to get to everything but I hopefully will start getting more time to myself now!

April also saw Easter at the start of the month, we had a few eggs, a nice roast and we did a family Zoom call seeing as we all still can’t meet.

Reading wise I finally recognised that I can’t make a reading list at the mo because I am even more of a mood reader than ever! 6 books read this month!

Physical/E-book


City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
See my review here

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
See my review soon!

All the Tides of Fate by Adalyn Grace
See my review here

Bridge of Souls by Victoria Schwab
See my review here

Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L Armentrout
See my review soon!

Audio


Pause by Kylie Scott
See my review here

What did you read in April?

My Haul – April 21 (I’m in a dilemma!)

Haul
So it appears I haven’t been much better not buying all the books but what’s a bookworm to do?!

The issue I have now is space. I need more space for my books or I need to *gasp* unhaul some 😭 I’m still debating what to do! Any ideas anyone?

📚 Physical/E-book

crave
Crave by Tracy Wolff


5
Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo


Vulture by Bex Hogan


rose
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn


🧚‍♀️Fairyloot

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The Bright and the Pale by Jessica Rubinkowski


What did you haul in April?

TTT – Animals from Books!

 

Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.


Theme: Animals from Books (these could be mythical, real, main characters, sidekicks, companions/pets, shifters, etc.)

Mr Kindly – I loved that sarcastic not-cat!


Abraxos – say no more!



Hedwig – I’d love a pet owl!


Doomslug – just look at him!!!


Grimalkin – love the way he disappears at any signs of trouble!


 

weia
Callum (werewolf) – Kristen Ashley


Kieran – again, say no more!



Luke – I love him!


Wolf (him and Scarlett are ❤)



Tamlin – do you love him or hate him? Personally I love him and want him to have a happy ending!

Fairyloot Unboxing: March 21 – Frozen Fables

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Theme = FROZEN FABLES!

‘Have you ever noticed how peaceful the world seems after snowfall? How a hush falls over the landscape whenever it snows? And as beautiful as it may be, do you ever wonder which monsters may be hiding or perhaps resting in the silence…?’

Items inspired by The Bear and the Nightingale, Wintersong, Spinning Silver, Winterwood and Even The Darkest Stars.


🖤 Mug inspired by The Winternight Trilogy with artwork by @monolimeart

🖤 Ring Phone Holder inspired by Winterwood designed by @ironandinkdesigns

🖤 Socks! Inspired by Even the Darkest Stars designed by @jezhawk

🖤 Notebook inspired by Wintersong, illustrated by @taratjah

🖤 Foiled Art Print inspired by Spinning Silver with artwork from @warickaart

🖤 Headband designed by @catarinabookdesigns

🖤 Tarot cards designed by @arz28 inspired by The Winternight Trilogy

📚 BOOK OF THE MONTH 📚

The Bright and the Pale by Jessica Rubinkowski

✔ Exclusive cover

✔ Signed

✔ Foil embossing on naked cover

✔ Shimmery sprayed edges

✔ Foil embossing on the naked cover

✔ Artwork on reverse of dust jacket by @gabsternaut

Shadow and Bone…something surprising!

I am a massive fan of the Grishaverse, I’ve read all the books and was waiting for the show with bated breath!

I binged watched Shadow and Bone Friday and yesterday with my son. I did wonder what it was going to be like, 2 series set in the same world, mushed together.

My verdict was that it was different from the books but there were scenes and lines that I remember (and loved) and I lived for those (and basically shouted them in my sons face when they happened!!!)

So I liked it. It was powerful, had that watchability and I couldn’t wait to queue up the next episode!

But there were some things I found surprising……

In the books I didn’t really warm to Kaz. But the actor who played Kaz in the show did a flamin wonderful job. He was excellent and I really liked him.

Jesper in the books, I didn’t not like him, I just really didn’t pay him much attention but in the TV show he made my day, shining star for me!

Same with Inej. I didn’t not like her in the book but didn’t love her either but because of the TV show, I now have a new found respect for the character.

Mal in the book I didn’t like him not at all, he was boring. But in the tv show, loved him loads!

And the biggest surprise of all……I am the biggest Darkling fan ever. The books made me fall in love with him in all his evilness. But in the show, I found he gave me the creeps and not in a good way (!) so that was a massive disappointment for me!!!!

Something the same though was those Nina and Matthias moments. In the book and the show, I lived for them! Those 2 make my heart warm!

So I guess there will be more? Will they bring the Apparate in? I want more Nina and Matthias but I want that to deviate from the book! I want more Kaz. I want Nikolai! I want it all and I want it soon!!!!

Have you watched yet?

The Anonymous Bookaholics Book Tag!


I saw this book tag on Books are only the Beginning, go check Lauren out!


Do you have a favorite bookshop?

Several! Waterstones, Blackwells, Forbidden Planet and I also love looking in charity shops for 2nd hand books to give some love to!

There is nothing like browsing round an actual shop with actual books in it! This pandemic has certainly messed with my book browsing, I haven’t been for a year!


Do you pre-order books?
Only if I want a special/signed edition. I got caught out a few years ago when I used to preorder ALL the books when one month I didn’t have hardly any money left and a girls got to eat!!!


Do you have a monthly buying limit?
Pahahaaaaahaaaaa! Yes. But also no!
I don’t seem to have much control when it comes to book buying! If I say only 3 books it’s like a red rag to a bull and I get all the books! But I’m actually in the middle of a book merch buying ban and I’m actually doing it. So I might try and see if I can do a variation for books next!


How big is your wish list?

27 books which really isn’t that bad (is it?!) Most of these are physical copies where I’ve read the ebook and loved it so much that I need it on my shelf!


What three books from your wish list do you wish to own right now?

Red Tigress by Amelie Wen Zhao
Wolfsong by TJ Klune
Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

Review: Bridge of Souls by Victoria Schwab

Title: Bridge of Souls

Series: Cassidy Blake #3

Author: Victoria Schwab

Where there are ghosts, Cassidy Blake follows … unless it’s the other way around?

Cass thinks she might have this ghost-hunting thing down. After all, she and her ghost best friend, Jacob, have survived two haunted cities while travelling for her parents’ TV show.

But nothing can prepare Cass for New Orleans, which wears all of its hauntings on its sleeve. In a city of ghost tours and tombs, raucous music and all kinds of magic, Cass could get lost in all the colourful, grisly local legends. And the city’s biggest surprise is a foe Cass never expected to face: a servant of Death itself.

Cass takes on her most dangerous challenge yet…

‘Look and listen.
See and know.
This is what you are.’

Back in the world of Cassidy Blake and this time we are in New Orleans but someone, or something, is hot on the heels of Cass.

‘You cannot win without losing too.’

I know the books in this series are MG reads but I admit I was spooked! But I couldn’t stop reading. It has that same pull as Percy Jackson and Harry Potter!

Mystery, death, ghosts, an emissary and the Society of the Black Cat. This book has it all. And as a side note the Thread and Bone is somewhere I want to visit!

I’m wondering if this this end to the series? I really hope not because I love it!!!

🎧 Review: Pause by Kylie Scott

Review1

pause

Title: Pause

Author: Kylie Scott

When Anna wakes up from a coma after a car crash, she discovers life has gone on without her. Her husband has been unfaithful—with her best friend—and she’s been long since replaced at work. While her old life is a distant memory, her new life feels like an empty shell. Then she meets the stranger who saved her life during the crash, and he changes everything.

Leif Larsen—tattooist, joker, and player—has his own scars thanks to the crash that put Anna in a coma. Helping her move on from her failed marriage, and create a new life, sounds like a perfect distraction. So when he needs a new roommate, he invites Anna to begin her new life with him.

Although their lives may have been put on pause, together they just might find a way to heal.

Review2

This book warmed my heart!

Anna has a terrible accident, has been betrayed by not only one person but 2 and is at a crossroads in her life.

Leif was also in the accident and is there after to make sure she is ok.

Leif is a constant support for Anna and man, I had a visual in my head of him and it was glorious!

Loved the narrator,
Loved the story,
Loved Anna,
Especially loved Leif,
100% recommend!

And Anna is correct, taking your bra off is the best moment of the day!!!!!

TTT – Colourful Book Covers

Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Theme: Colourful Book Covers

Books are beautiful, there is no doubt about it!

Archenemies by Marissa Meyer


Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas


Aurora Burning by Jay Kristoff


Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas


Skyhunter by Marie Lu


The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna


Taunting Destiny by Amelia Hutchins



Viper by Bex Hogan



Lore by Alexandra Bracken