Title: Cursed

Series: Gilded #2

Author: Marissa Meyer

Be still now, and I will tell you a tale.

Adalheid Castle is in chaos.

Following a shocking turn of events, Serilda finds herself ensnared in a deadly game of make-believe with the Erlking, who is determined to propel her deeper into the castle’s lies. Meanwhile, Serilda is determined to work with Gild to help him solve the mystery of his forgotten name and past.

But soon it becomes clear that the Erlking doesn’t only want to use Serilda to bring back his one true love. He also seeks vengeance against the seven gods who have long trapped the Dark Ones behind the veil. If the Erlking succeeds, it could change the mortal realm forever.

Can Serilda find a way to use her storytelling gifts for good—once and for all? And can Serilda and Gild break the spells that tether their spirits to the castle before the Endless Moon finds them truly cursed?

I was so happy to get this as I absolutely loved Gilded.

So we’re back in Adalheid with Serilda, Gild, The Erlking and the 5 ghost children and Serilda is to be a bride!

However all Serilda wants is to get herself, Gild and the kids free from their curses but the Erlking is planning something much bigger!!!

The world imagined here was rich, haunting but beautiful, the plot was detailed and interesting and kept me hooked (although maybe a bit too strung out in places) and side characters had their own energy and were written so well but Serilda and Gild………oh how I loved them, they made my heart ache!

But Gild stole the show for me again! I mean….
‘Are you sure that’s me? said Gild, I look like a pompous asshat.’

I couldn’t not mention the Erlking! I actually liked him in parts and I thought we were in for a love triangle first of all!!!

The second half of the book was defo darker (and I’m here for that!) and the ending was explosive and totally emotional!

Overall a great conclusion with drama and tension that had me on the edge of my seat!

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer It’s a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.

Hi everyone, hope you’ve had a good week?

It’s been quite a busy week this week:

– Back to work and school (ugh)
– Halloween
– I’m in a reading slump 🥺
– My aunty and uncle had their 70th wedding anniversary party
– Had fireworks for Guy Fawkes at a friends
– We are off to a public fireworks display later!

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What I’ve Read

The Ones We Burn by Rebecca Mix
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
See my review here.

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New arrivals

Demon in the Wood by Leigh Bardugo
The Fine Print by Lauren Asher
Happy Place by Emily Henry (arc)

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You might have missed…..

Review – Strike the Zither by Joan He
Feature – New-to-me authors: October

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What have you read lately?

Happy Firework Night UK!

We are waiting to see what the weather will be like before we decide if we’re going to the public fireworks display tomorrow so tonight we will be having some sparklers in the garden with some hotdogs!

Stay safe!

Don’t know about Firework Night?

From Wikipedia: Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Firework Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in Great Britain. Its history begins with the events of 5 November 1605, when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding explosives the plotters had placed beneath the House of Lords. Celebrating the fact that King James I had survived the attempt on his life, people lit bonfires around London; and months later, the introduction of the Observance of 5th November Act enforced an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot’s failure.

Title: The Ones We Burn

Author: Rebecca Mix

Monster. Butcher. Bloodwinn.

Ranka is tired of death. All she wants now is to be left alone, living out her days in Witchik’s wild north with the coven that raised her, attempting to forget the horrors of her past. But when she is named Bloodwinn, the next treaty bride to the human kingdom of Isodal, her coven sends her south with a single directive: kill him. Easy enough, for a blood-witch whose magic compels her to kill.

Except the prince is gentle, kind, and terrified of her. He doesn’t want to marry Ranka; he doesn’t want to be king at all. And it’s his sister—the wickedly smart, infuriatingly beautiful Princess Aramis—who seems to be the real threat.

But when witches start turning up dead, murdered by a mysterious, magical plague, Aramis makes Ranka an offer: help her develop a cure, and in return, she’ll help Ranka learn to contain her deadly magic. As the coup draws nearer and the plague spreads, Ranka is forced to question everything she thought she knew about her power, her past, and who she’s meant to fight for. Soon, she will have to decide between the coven that raised her and the princess who sees beyond the monster they shaped her to be.

But as the bodies pile up, a monster may be exactly what they need.

Firstly apologies if I have spelt names incorrectly. I listened to the audiobook but *think* I have them right!

Ranka, a blood witch whose magic compels her to kill, infiltrates the home of Prince Galen due to being promised in marriage and fully intending not to like him, his sister Aramis or his friends. Her mission is to end them.

But the problem is she does like them and wants to help them in their mission to cure a plague. Ranka begins to question what she’s always been told and battles with herself about what is right.

This was a good fantasy read with a little bit of romance, found family trope and some jaw dropping revelations. My only complaint is that it dragged in places and I found myself becoming a bit disinterested so was a stop and start book for me but the writing was beautiful.

I would say that this book could be classed as older YA but it is quite dark and gory so prepare!

I grabbed this idea from Lucy (with permission!) from Bookworm Blogger! Go check out her blog!

I always hope that I read new-to-me authors every month and getting book box subscriptions, access to library borrows, Netgalley and also KU really helps with that so thought it would be nice to look back and see what new authors I’d read this month.

By the end of September I’d read 38 new-to-me authors and now I’ve read 44 so far this year!

Lenny Henry
Joan He
Dianna Wynne Jones
Catherine Doyle/Katherine Webber
Travis Baldree

Have you read any new to you authors this month?

Title: Strike the Zither

Series: Kingdom of Three #1

Author: Joan He

The year is 414 of the Xin Dynasty, and chaos abounds. A puppet empress is on the throne. The realm has fractured into three factions and three warlordesses hoping to claim the continent for themselves.

But Zephyr knows it’s no contest.

Orphaned at a young age, Zephyr took control of her fate by becoming the best strategist of the land and serving under Xin Ren, a warlordess whose loyalty to the empress is double-edged—while Ren’s honor draws Zephyr to her cause, it also jeopardizes their survival in a war where one must betray or be betrayed. When Zephyr is forced to infiltrate an enemy camp to keep Ren’s followers from being slaughtered, she encounters the enigmatic Crow, an opposing strategist who is finally her match. But there are more enemies than one—and not all of them are human.

Stop what you are doing and go and buy this book! It was so good and is one of my best books of 2022 – all the stars!

Let me start off by saying that I didn’t know what a zither was so I looked it up before I started reading and when the significance entered the story I was in awe!!!! It was beautiful, utterly beautiful!

Zephyr is a strategist for a warlordess, Ren and she’s good at what she does. When her plans take her on the wrong side of the war she puts her plans into action. There she also meets fellow strategist, Crow and sparks fly……

There was war, politics, found family, schemes, women working together (and against each other!). It was an action packed masterpiece!

‘May we meet in another life.’

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: Unlikable Characters You Can’t Help but Love!

I mean I always go for the evil bad boy so making this list wasn’t a stretch for me!!!!

Celestial Heirs – Zodiac Academy
Serapio – Black Sun
Andrew Minyard – All for the Game
The Darkling – Grishaverse
Jacks – Once Upon a Broken Heart

Lord Sorcier (Elias Wilder) – Half a Soul
Wrath – Kingdom of the Wicked
Ryder – Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac
Rhysand – ACOTAR
Kieran Kingson – Shadowhunters

Who would you have picked?

Happy November – have a great month!

“Fear not November’s challenge bold—
We’ve books and friends,
And hearths that never can grow cold:
These make amends!”
— Alexander Louis Fraser, “November”

“Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons.” – Jim Bishop

Happy Halloween!

‘When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam, may luck be yours on Halloween.’

‘When witches go riding, and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers, ‘tis near Halloween.’

— Unknown