I’m actually stealing this idea (with permission!) from Bookworm Blogger! Go check out her blog, Lucy is amazing!)
I always hope that I read new-to-me authors every month and getting book box subscriptions really helps with that so thought it would be nice to look back and see what new authors I’d read this month.
In January I read 5 new-to-me authors!
Have you read any new to you authors this month?
No this isn’t as it seems, it’s not a book called Romancing the Radiant but a book I loved that had a romance in it where one of them was a radiant (you’ll see what I’ve done here!)
As it’s February I thought I’d do some posts about books with romances that I loved……
Auren and Commander Rip
Plated Prisoner series by Raven Kennedy
Gild
Glint
Gleam
Gold.
Gold floors, gold walls, gold furniture, gold clothes. In Highbell, in the castle built into the frozen mountains, everything is made of gold.
Even me.
King Midas rescued me. Dug me out of the slums and placed me on a pedestal. I’m called his precious. His favored. I’m the woman he Gold-Touched to show everyone that I belong to him.
I read Gild in December 2021 after a recommendation from a friend. I ended up reading all 3 books in 2 days because I couldn’t get enough and now I’m on the countdown to book 4, Glow, which comes out here on 19th May. Commander Rip is just delish and he has fallen head over heels for Auren…..
“I’m glad you’re choosing you,” he says quietly.
“You are?”
“Yes, Goldfinch. Because I’m choosing you, too.”
You can get the candles and art prints from the pictures above from Flickerwix
Title: Year of the Reaper
Author: Makiia Lucier
The past never forgets…
Before an ambush by enemy soldiers, Lord Cassia was an engineer’s apprentice on a mission entrusted by the king. But when plague sweeps over the land, leaving countless dead and devastating the kingdom, even Cas’ title cannot save him from a rotting prison cell and a merciless sickness.
Three years later, Cas wants only to return to his home in the mountains and forget past horrors. But home is not what he remembers. His castle has become a refuge for the royal court. And they have brought their enemies with them.
When an assassin targets those closest to the queen, Cas is drawn into a search for a killer… one that leads him to form an unexpected bond with a brilliant young historian named Lena. Cas and Lena soon realize that who is behind the attacks is far less important than why. They must look to the past, following the trail of a terrible secret—one that could threaten the kingdom’s newfound peace and plunge it back into war.
I joined in with the Fairyloot readalong and can say I really enjoyed this read!
Cas returns home after being a prisoner in an enemy countries land and he is not the person he used to be. He finds his brother and some other guests in their home!
And this is where our journey begins and we find out who Cassia really is. There’s secrets, twists, history, fantastic characters and world building and the writing was fab, it flowed so well!
As I said before, this was a great standalone and I really wouldn’t say no to more in this world!
No this isn’t as it seems, it’s not a book called Romancing the Rascal but a book I loved that had a romance in it where one of them was a rascal (but in a good way!!)
As it’s February I thought I’d do some posts about books with romances that I loved……
Will Herondale and Tessa Gray
The Infernal Devices
Clockwork Angel
Clockwork Prince
Clockwork Princess
I read these books in early 2021 and I fell head over heels in love with Will! He is just so affectionate, so cheeky and up for adventure. He, Jem and Tessa made my heart swell but Will and Tessa officially own my heart.
And I am – I am catastrophically in love with you – Will to Tessa
Life is a book, and there are a thousand pages I have not yet read. I would read them together with you, as many as I can, before I die—Will to Tessa
Title: Daughters of Nri
Series: The Return of the Earth Mother #1
Author: Reni K Amayo
A gruesome war results in the old gods’ departure from earth. The only remnants of their existence lie in two girls. Twins, separated at birth. Goddesses who grow up believing that they are human. Daughters Of Nri explores their epic journey of self-discovery as they embark on a path back to one another.
Strong-willed Naala grows up seeking adventure in her quiet and small village. While the more reserved Sinai resides in the cold and political palace of Nri. Though miles apart, both girls share an indestructible bond: they share the same blood, the same face, and possess the same unspoken magic, thought to have vanished with the lost gods.
The twin girls were separated at birth, a price paid to ensure their survival from Eze Ochichiri, the man who rules the Kingdom of Nri. Both girls are tested in ways that awaken a mystical, formidable power deep within themselves. Eventually, their paths both lead back to the mighty Eze.
But can they defeat the man who brought the gods themselves to their knees?
Firstly can we talk about this absolutely beautiful cover? I fell in love with it!
I listened to the audio and the narrator was amazing.
Twins, Naala and Sinai were separated at birth due to what they are and put in separate lives. They grow up thinking they are human and this story is their journey to their task to defeat Eze, the evil ruler of the Kingdom of Nri.
The writing was beautiful and just descriptive enough. I loved the world that was created and I also loved the twins, they were so strong after all they have been through.
I really could’ve done with a bit of a faster plot for the first three quarters of the book but I did appreciate the detail and also the little romance there, it made my heart sing and want more of it!!!
I just found out the next book is out so I’m diving straight in!
Title: The Iron Sword
Series: The Iron Fey, Evenfall #2
Author: Julie Kagawa
As Evenfall nears, the stakes grow ever higher for those in Faery…
Banished from the Winter Court for daring to fall in love, Prince Ash achieved the impossible and journeyed to the End of the World to earn a soul and keep his vow to always stand beside Queen Meghan of the Iron Fey.
Now he faces even more incomprehensible odds. Their son, King Keirran of the Forgotten, is missing. Something more ancient than the courts of Faery and more evil than anything Ash has faced in a millennium is rising as Evenfall approaches. And if Ash and his allies cannot stop it, the chaos that has begun to divide the world will shatter it for eternity.
‘A shadow had fallen over Faery, the echo of a new prophecy hovering over it like a storm. The end has begun. Evenfall is coming. Faery and every living creature that exists under the sun are doomed.’
Me wanting to read this was a no brainer because of 1 word……Ash. (My love for him is strong!!)
Kierran is missing and something big is brewing so the crew set off to find him, Ash, Meghan, Grim, Nyx and Puck.
What follows are a series of adventures, a lot of meetings and action, creepy, dark monsters and a new foe, The Nightmare King.
Although I loved being back in this world, I did find the plot a bit slow in places but I loved seeing Meghan and Ash, Kierran, Puck and Nyx….I love them and they are close to my heart.
Another thing I loved was how this book captured a part of what SM is doing to society in a small way in real life: ‘Welcome to the internet, manufactured outrage is all the rage these days.’
I especially loved the idea of Evenfall, why didn’t I think of this before? But I won’t say anymore about that here as I don’t want to give anything away!
The ending was superb, can’t wait to see what happens next!
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.
Topic – Books with Character Names In the Titles
So books with characters names in the book title, a nice little mix of genres too!
❤ Until Talon by Aurora Rose Reynolds
❤ Amari and the Night Brothers by BB Alston
❤ Lev and Vik by Belle Aurora
❤ War by Laura Thalassa
❤ Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
❤ Cash’s Fight by Jamie Begley
❤ Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren
❤ Vicious by LJ Shen
❤ Raze by Tillie Cole
Happy February!
‘Though, February is short, it is filled with lots of love and sweet surprises.’ —Charmaine J Forde
‘In the coldest February, as in every other month in every other year, the best thing to hold on to in this world is each other.’ — Linda Ellerbee
CJRTB Books 