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 = My Ten Most Recent Reads (maybe share a quote)

Bridge of Souls by Victoria Schwab
‘You cannot win without losing too.’
This sort of sealed her fate!

All the Tides of Fate by Adalyn Grace
‘I’ve tried so hard to be there for you, and to give you time, but . . . I need someone to be there for me.’
Bastian I love you!!!

 

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
Not a quote but a bit from my review ‘My ongoing obsession with Magnus and Alec continued and chapter 11 made my heart soar!’

Angelfall by Susan Ee
‘Men with wings. Angels of the Apocalypse. Supernatural beings who’ve pulverized the modern world and killed millions, maybe even billions, of people.’

Skyhunter by Marie Lu
‘We are legendary bringers of death, assassins of monsters. And the only thing standing between our home and annihilation.’

The Iron Raven by Julie Kagawa
‘She was absolutely beautiful. And I didn’t deserve her. Not for a second.’

Here are some others that I didn’t get quotes on:
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Set Fire to the Gods by Sarah Raasch

I’ve done a few posts over the years to honor teachers, especially this time of year. As I have such wonderful memories of my own school-age experiences, as well as of the wonderful mentoring I received while getting my undergraduate degree in early childhood education, I didn’t think I could possibly have more admiration for […]

📚Teacher Appreciation Week🍎

Do you use Instagram?

I’ve slowly but surely been getting used to it and find I am absolutely loving it!

I love taking the pictures, showing off books, getting props that I think go with the book, discovering where to place everything so it looks good – sometimes I fail though but its a learning curve!

Another great thing about Bookstagram I have found is the community.  I love looking at other people’s pictures and commenting on their photos, talking about books, getting book reccies and generally making some friends!

My IG is @cjrtb_books if you want to follow me (I would greatly appreciate it!) and here are a few of the pics I have taken and posted lately:

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?

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 by Tracy Wolff

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Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo

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Vulture by Bex Hogan

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The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

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🧚‍♀️Fairyloot

The Bright and the Pale by Jessica Rubinkowski

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What did you haul in April?

 

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!

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Abraxos – say no more!

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Hedwig – I’d love a pet owl!

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Doomslug – just look at him!!!

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

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Callum (werewolf) – Kristen Ashley

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Kieran – again, say no more!

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Luke – I love him!

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Wolf (him and Scarlett are ❤)

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

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

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?

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

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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!

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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!!!

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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!

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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!

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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