Don’t you just love those posts where you give a reading list for the month.

Well I do….but unforts as I am more of a mood reader now, I don’t always read what I said I wanted to!!!

But then I thought seasons are long, like 3 months so surely I could do that?

I posted a Top 10 Tuesday post in March with books I wanted to read in Spring so thought it would be fun to look back (note – probably not fun for me!!!)

My post from March is here. I did swap a couple of the books about (See mood read comment above!!!)

Books

Venom by Bex Hogan

See my review soon!

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Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

See my review here.

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The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni

See my review here.

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Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo

See my review here.

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The Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L Armentrout

See my review here.

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Wild Wind by Kristen Ashley
See my review here.

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Chase the Dark by Annette Marie
See my review here.

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Ironside by Holly Black

See my review here.

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I made 2 mistakes with books I chose!

Namesake by Adrienne Young doesn’t come out in the UK until 22 June so there was no way I would be able to read before this post so I had to remove this one!

Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart – I was waiting for this in a book box I get but the box was delayed due to the issues in the Suez Canal so I have only just receiv But I am reading this now!

But I have read lots of other books as well as these so I count that as a win!

Title: A Queen of Gilded Horns

Series: A River of Royal Blood #2

Author: Amanda Joy

Now on the run, Eva is desperate for answers about her transformation and her true heritage. Along with Aketo, a small contingent of guards, and the sister she could not kill, Eva flees Ternain in hopes of finding friends and allies to the north–not to mention Baccha–to help her decide what to do next. Princess Isa is a difficult, unremorseful captive, and Eva knows better than to trust her sister, but she wants to. Despite their history, Eva is convinced that to survive the growing unrest in the queendom, she and her sister must make peace. Since the Entwining ceremony, Eva’s and Isa’s lives have been bonded, and each can only die by the other’s hand. This perhaps provides an opening for a truce and a more hopeful future for both the sisters and the queendom, if only Isa would see reason and give up the battle for the throne.

With the two princesses on the run, the Queendom of Myre is on the brink of a revolution. And without Baccha to guide and train her magick, Eva must find a way not only to survive her own metamorphosis, but to unite all the people of Myre, including her sister, by finally taking the Ivory Throne.

I loved A River of Royal Blood so couldn’t wait to read this.

And I did really enjoy it. Maybe a tiny little bit slow in parts but loved the old history that came out and all the secrets that were revealed.

The cast of characters in this duology were just amazing! Baddies written with just the right amount of evil and the goodies weren’t portrayed as angels either which I really liked.

Aketo is still my main dude and him and Eva made my heart sing although I would’ve loved to feel their connection a bit more.

I liked the different povs in this book, especially Isa’s.

But there was one character who I did not like, Ysai. I won’t say anymore but if you read, you’ll see!

I really hope there is more from this world, especially featuring Baccha!!!

Title: For the Wolf

Series: Wilderwood #1

Author: Hannah F Whitten

As the only Second Daughter born in centuries, Red has one purpose-to be sacrificed to the Wolf in the Wood in the hope he’ll return the world’s captured gods.

Red is almost relieved to go. Plagued by a dangerous power she can’t control, at least she knows that in the Wilderwood, she can’t hurt those she loves. Again.

But the legends lie. The Wolf is a man, not a monster. Her magic is a calling, not a curse. And if she doesn’t learn how to use it, the monsters the gods have become will swallow the Wilderwood-and her world-whole.

I loved the premise of this book and it was set with these words:

The First Daughter is for the throne.
The Second Daughter is for the Wolf.
And the Wolves are for the Wilderwood.

Thanks to Orbit Books UK for providing me with an advanced copy.

As the blurb says, 2nd Daughter, Red has to be given to the Wilderwood and the Wolf….but all is not as it seems and Neve isn’t willing to lose her sister for good.

Redarys, Red I loved her! She was so strong, determined to accept her fate but was willing to control her own destiny rather than sit by and let it all play out. The fact she loved to read was a bonus!

I loved how Neve fought for her sister, that family bond shining through and loved her point of view chapters.

Eammon has been through so much and I just found him incredibly sweet!

I loved this slow burn romance that was a tale that mixed Red Riding Hood, Beauty and the Beast and maybe a bit of Sleeping Beauty. The writing was beautiful and descriptive and I just inhaled this book!

I need book 2!

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 = Books On My Summer 2021 TBR

I’m tying this in with the books from I choose for the 20 Books of Summer as I am feeling very lazy today (most days really!!!)

1 Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
2 City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
3 City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
4 Untethered Kaylynn Flanders
5 Lore by Alexandra Bracken
6 A Queen of Gilded Horns by Amanda Joy
7 Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart
8 Namesake by Adrienne Young
9 Becoming his Monster by Amelia Hutchins
10 Hood by Jenny Elder Moke

May 2021
Theme is… SPELLCRAFT!

‘Isn’t it so interesting how in stories there are different types of magic and different ways for spells to be cast? Casting spells and magic almost always comes at a price and depending on the toll… what would you be willing to sacrifice?’

Items inspired by Serpent & Dove, Throne of Glass, Raybearer, Crave and an item that is not inspired by any fandoms.

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Tumbler inspired by Throne of Glass designed by @chattynora

Wooden phone stand with lettering by @ladychubbletters based on Raybearer.

Foiled coasters with artwork by @arz28 featuring characters from Serpent and Dove.

TBR game!

Art print from the Crave series illustrated by @gracezhuart

Tarot Cards designed by @morgana0anagrom featuring Serpent and Dove

BOOK OF THE MONTH

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Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart

✔ Exclusive redesigned cover
✔ Stencilled edges
✔ Artwork on RDJ by @eunicify.art
✔ Foil embossing
✔ Ribbon bookmark
✔ Signed

Title: Days of Blood and Starlight

Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2

Author: Laini Taylor

Same as book 1, this was a buddy read with Sophie from Beware of the Reader and Trisy from Bobo’s Book Bank!

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.

This is not that world.

Art student and monster’s apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she’ll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

‘Once upon a time, an angel and a devil held a wishbone between them. And its snap split the world in 2.’

I was so glad to be back in this world to see what happens next!

I was going to split this review up in the quotes like above, like I did for my review of DOSAB but I didn’t think I should.

I’m being honest now and saying I really struggled with the first half of this book.  The first few chapters I found really choppy and then the rest of the first half was strung out and honestly, dull. I hated myself for feeling like that too because of my love for book 1.

But.

I am glad I persevered because then it got better.

My fears for Karou losing herself got better.
My hope for Akiva that was always there amplified.
My hope for a future for them was somewhat restored.

So to sum it up….I had a hard time rating this! How does one rate something they half didn’t think much of but then the other half loved?  Im going to with 3.5 leaning to 4. Why? Akiva of course!!!!

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Summer is defo here in England and it’s a time where people take to their gardens or parks or wherever to read and go on adventures….

Do you find that you read less in Summer? I do. I’m not even sure why, maybe I’m a seasonal reader?

Anyway…..some fab books coming out in July that I need (not want, need!!!)

These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan

Untethered by Kaylynn Flanders

Gods and Monsters by Shelby Mahurin

Luckily I have an arc of These Hollow Vows to read and I have pre-ordered the other 2…can’t wait to get stuck in to them!

What books have you got your eye on?

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 I Loved that Made Me Want More 

I probably could’ve picked a lot here but…….

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L Armentrout

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Angelfall Trilogy by Susan Ee

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Illuminae by Jay Kristoff

Lifelike by Jay Kristoff

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

Warcross by Marie Lu

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

Hi everyone!

Welcome to the ‘Life in Books’ Tag! I got this from Hannah’s bookshelf – go check her out here.

Lets jump straight in!

1.) Find a book for each of your initials.

Craving Constellations by Nicole Jacquelyn
Ride Steady by Kristen Ashley

2.) Count your age along your bookshelf – what book is it?

Only Work, No Play by Cora Reilly

3.)Name a book set in your city/country.

Clockwork Angel/Prince/Princess

4.) Name a book that represents a destination you’d love to travel to.

Totally fictional but Velaris (A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas)

5.) Name your favourite childhood book.

Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton

6.) Name a book that’s your favourite colour

Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff (ok not the colour but the art!!!)

7.) Which book do you have the fondest memories of?

Harry Potter – it came at a time when I needed some comfort in my life and I found it here 

8.) Which book did you have the most difficulty reading?
A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole. It was hard to read through all those tears!!!

9.) Which book in your TBR pile will give you the biggest accomplishment when you finish it?
Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson because it’s huge!!!!

I’m not tagging anyone but feel free to join in!