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 – Book Titles That are Questions

I went through the 1387 books that I’ve ever read and I haven’t read 1 with a question in the title! It took flipping ages to go through!!!

So instead of a weak entry I’ve swapped it round to books with 1 word in the title! And I’ve gone for a mix of romance, sci-fi and ya fantasy!

Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa

Supernova by Marissa Meyer

Illuminae by Jay Kristoff

Deviate by Jay Kristoff

Shielded by Kaylynn Flanders

Skyhunter by Marie Lu

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson

Fake by Kylie Scott

Raw by Belle Aurora

Assumption Aurora Rose Reynolds

My tbr pile is getting way beyond a joke so I really need to do something about it….but have no idea what! Bans don’t seem to work on me (hello, no will power here!) and I’m not reading as many books as I used to so I thought I’d cut down on books I actually want to get.

My new plan is to maybe just pick 2 and any others go on my wishlist….but we shall see!

So these are the 2 that I want to get releasing in August…..

Cazadora by Romina Garber

Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko

What about you – what books do you want that are releasing in August (but please don’t make me want more!!!)

Title: City of Heavenly Fire

Series: The Mortal Instruments #6

Author: Cassandra Clare

In this dazzling and long-awaited conclusion to the acclaimed Mortal Instruments series, Clary and her friends fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary’s own brother.

Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell.

The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris – but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons?

When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee – even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned…

Love will be sacrificed and lives lost in the terrible battle for the fate of the word in the thrilling final installment of the classic urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments!

‘Ghosts are memories, and we carry them because those we love do not leave the world.’

Ok what a conclusion to a series! I flew through this book and it is chuuuuunky coming in at over 700 pages!

So this is it. The potential end of the world and only a group of young Shadowhunters and a vamp to stop it.

Talking of vamps. I take back everything I said about Simon! I warmed up to him in the last book but in this book I adored him!

But Jace is still my boy, still looking like Draco Malfoy in my head and Alec still looking like a young, dark haired Tim Burgess from the Charlatans!

I’m not going to say much apart from the grief these people feel must be overwhelming!!

But the ending. Oh jeez the ending. It was emosh! The past and the present colliding, well not colliding. I was being melodramatic. Past and present meeting doesn’t sound as good! But this was!

Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn will be the next stars of the show? I certainly hope so! And I hope Brother Zacariah is there every step of the way!

Firstly….please don’t hate me! We are self isolating so I need some joy!!!

CHRISTMAS IN JULY!!

I’m a certified Christmas nut! I mean it’s the most magical time of the year and whilst I don’t put deccies up or swap gifts etc in July, I want to remember the magic…..but put a Summer twist on it!

I wanted to kick it off today but the majority of my posts will be towards the end of the month for ultimate celebrating!!!

And let’s be honest, after the year we had last year and dripping into 2021, we need some joy in our lives!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS IN JULY!!!

So really this is to announce my Christmas in July intention and tell you what will be coming up at the end of the month:

Christmas in July – Food and drink edition!

Christmas in July – activities edition!

Look out for my posts on the 24th and 25th July!!!

I didn’t think I’d be able to participate in this as I had stuff planned on the weekend but then low and behold all our plans have to be cancelled!

My sons year group in school has had to close because of positive covid cases so he needs to self isolate for 10 days so we are now stuck inside!

So bring the readathon on!

You can see full details here but basically the goal here is to practice reading without distractions. You’ll be surprised to see what you can accomplish with only a few minutes of reading time when you’re not checking your phone or watching Netflix! There are no sign ups or complications. If you want to participate then please do!

I’m going to try for 2 books! Look at me being all daring!

I’m such a mood reader so don’t want to name books but I maybe a couple of these:

I thought I’d have a go at a Disney themed tag and saw this on Golden Books Girl – go check her out!

“Tale A Old As Time” – a popular theme, trope, or setting you will never get bored of reading.

Enemies to lovers, hands down!

Read so many great ones, The Cruel Prince, Serpent and Dove to name a couple.

Belle – a book you bought for a beautiful cover, that’s just as beautiful inside. 

Threadneedle! This was a cover buy, I didn’t even read the blurb!!!!

Beast – a book you didn’t expect much from by pleasantly surprised you. 

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare but now I am in total love with this series and all the interconnecting ones!

Gaston – a book everyone loves but you don’t.
Ninth House. I hated myself but it was a dnf for me.

Lefou – a loyal sidekick you can’t help but love more than their counterpart.

• 

Mr Kindly!

Mrs Potts, Chip, Lumier, and Cogsworth – a book that helped you through a difficult time or that taught you something valuable. 

• 

“Something There” – a book or series that you weren’t into at first but picked up towards the end. 

I actually can’t think of anything for this! Help me out, what we would yours be?

“Be Our Guest” – a fictional character you’d love to have over for dinner. 

• 

Manon Blackbeak without a doubt. I mean she might actually kill me when I ask to look at her Iron teeth but hey, at least I would’ve met her!

Title: City of Lost Souls

Series: The Mortal Instruments #5

Author: Cassandra Clare

What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

Here we are again with the shenanigans of the ‘this era’ Shadowhunters (you know I think I said this in the last review!)

So what do we know? Without spoilers this is hard! So basically evil is back getting ready to loose demons on the earth. Or is it? What is going on?!

Sebastian aka Jonathan is back and has Jace under his control who in turn sort of has Clary under control because of luuuuuurve….

‘There never has been any going back. Not with you.’

And what happens is just bigger, dangerous and more hairbrained than ever!

Here are a few of my thoughts …..

I really didn’t like Simon in the 1st 3 books but now I want to mummy cuddle him and I want to sit and cry with him! Honestly he is the most real, human person in this book, even though he isnt!

I also wanted to boot Alec right in his private parts, what an idiot! For several reasons. He is like a 12 year old.

And Clary, oh jeez. A teenager in love is sickening!!! First of all I enjoyed all the declarations of love….but there were eventually so many, I got a bit sick of it!!!!!!

As in the last book loved Isabelle even more. Her character growth has been amazing….and she better get her act together and fess up to Simon!!

Magnus, I love him so much! Him getting Simons name wrong every time had me laughing! Reminded me of Colonel K in Dangermouse getting Penfolds name wrong all the time!

Anyway….next book please! 

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 = Reasons Why I Love Reading

This is a fab topic but one I found really hard to express! I mean I love reading but putting those feelings as to why was hard for me (that’s why there is only 8!!)

Always been a reader
Since I can remember I’ve always loved reading and having a book in my hand!

Escapism
To escape the normalities of the day and dive into a fictional world/life!

To relax
I normally read in the evening when my ‘adulting’ is done. It helps me relax!

Community
The wonderful book community, I love it here!

Feeling
There is nothing like getting lost in a book!

Experience
You can visit different worlds and see the places through the characters eyes!!

Learning
You can learn something new by reading books!

Entertainment
There is nothing like a great read!

Title: Once Upon a Broken Heart

Author: Stephanie Garber

Release Date: 30th September

Evangeline Fox was raised in her beloved father’s curiosity shop, where she grew up on legends about immortals, like the tragic Prince of Hearts. She knows his powers are mythic, his kiss is worth dying for, and that bargains with him rarely end well.

But when Evangeline learns that the love of her life is about to marry another, she becomes desperate enough to offer the Prince of Hearts whatever he wants in exchange for his help to stop the wedding. The prince only asks for three kisses. But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’s pledged. And he has plans for Evangeline that will either end in the greatest happily ever after, or the most exquisite tragedy…

So…….I inhaled this book. Like inhaled. I don’t often say this but if I could give this book a million stars, I would!

Evangeline makes a bargain with a fate……and what happens is…..just magical!

‘It didn’t just feel like the start of something, it felt like the start of everything.’

And as a Jacks lover I can tell you that he is everything!

This book is filled with magic, intrigue, suspense and gives you all the feels! The angst I felt about Evangeline and Jacks was off the charts! 

I really can’t say more at this time about the plot but I impore you all to preorder, buy and read the heck out of this because you will not regret it!