Title: Mirage

Series: Mirage #1

Author: Somaiya Daud

In a star system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she, too, will have adventure, and travel beyond her isolated moon.

But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects: she is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place.

As Amani is forced into her new role, she can’t help but enjoy the palace’s beauty—and her time with the princess’ fiancé, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear. If Amani ever wishes to see her family again, she must play the princess to perfection…because one wrong move could lead to her death.

‘There is no escape from what they want. Only survival.’

Loved it! This was such a great read. I was so interested in the characters, their pull, the way they were and why, just everything! I am literally kicking myself for not reading this when I first got it at release!

Amani is taken from her family and world because she looks uncannily like the hated Vathek, Princess Maram who is being targeted by a rebel group and the cruel Vathek want to use Amani to impersonate Maram.

The writing was a joy to read, I really enjoyed the world, it sort of reminded me of the world in the Lunar Chronicles, so good.

But what I really loved were the relationships. The author did a top job here. The relationship between Amani and Maram fascinated me and tore at my heart. Then there was Tala. And then Idris. Oh Idris, how I loved thee! Now I’m not a cutsey, warm girl but Idris and Amani together were so cute together I thought I might combust!

It was perfect. So good. I really need book 2!

In the spirit of me not making a reading list, I’m not making one, well not really!

I’ve decided that August is going to be a theme month for me…….Fairyloot reads month!

I am behind on 9 books (how did that happen?!) I’m under no illusion that I’ll be able to read them all in a month….but I’m going to have a good go!

Without further ado these are the books I have…….

 

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust

 

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The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli

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Incendiary by Zoraida Cordova

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The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh

 

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Bone Criers Moon by Kathryn Purdie

 

 

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Forest of Souls by Lori M Lee

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The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

 

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Viper by Bex Hogan

 

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Mirage by Somaiya Daud

 

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Have you read any of these?

Which would you recommend to read first?

Welcome to Closing the Chapter! I hope you had a great reading month?

Firstly, can you believe July is nearly over? Here things have started to open up again but it just feels really strange being out the house. Does anyone else feel like that? It sort of feels like another world. So strange and so surreal.

After my slump at the end of June I had to have a word with myself and pull myself together…..and I did just that with the help of some great books!

I knew I wasn’t going to hit the dizzy heights of reading 12 books like I did in May and June but I did manage 6 and a dnf!

 

Ride Steady by Kristen Ashley (reread to kick out my slump and I won’t bore you with yet another reread review for this!)

A Lie for a Lie by Helena Hunting

See my review here.

A Favor for a Favor by Helena Hunting

See my review here.

The Beginning of Everything by Kristen Ashley

See my review here.

The Plan Commences by Kristen Ashley

See my review here.

Audio

Elementals: Ice Wolves by Amie Kaufman

See my review here.

 

Unfortunately The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson was a DNF for me.

What did you read in July?

I have been very bad. Very. Very. Bad.

I set myself a goal.

To buy 3 books a month only.

I’ve trampled all over that.

Trampled until my goal was a mere memory.

And then I got 3 months free Kindle Unlimited……..(my tbr is sobbing)…..

📚

 

The Beginning of Everything by Kristen Ashley

The Plan Commences by Kristen Ashley

The Dawn of the End by Kristen Ashley

The Rising by Kristen Ashley

 

Nightfall by Penelope Douglas

 

🎧 Audio

Stain by AG Howard

Final Empire: Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

 

City of Brass by SA Chakraborty

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

 

 

🧚‍♀️ Fairyloot

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust

The Forest of Souls by Lori M Lee

Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

 

Pray for me and my tbr……

What books did you haul in July?

With Shanah being super busy and taking a well deserved blog break, there is no Top 5 Tuesday for July so I thought I’d have a go at doing my own (not all the time, I struggled to come up with this!!!)

So this week I thought I’d share with you books by my favourite authors I still have to read on my tbr and why!

Becoming his Monster by Amelia Hutchins

I’ve put this off. Purposefully put this off. I loved the first book so much and the 2nd book broke my heart and I know this one is going to rip it out. One day. One day I’ll pull my big girl pants up. But today is not that day!

 

Three Wishes by Kristen Ashley

This is one of my fave authors, probably right there at the top but I haven’t read this. I bought it because of the blurb and the fact that the great KA wrote it but just haven’t got round to it. (Seriously, read that blurb!)

 

Obsidio by Jay Kristoff

Loved Illuminae and Gemina when I listened to them but couldn’t find this on audio yet here in the UK so I bought the ebook. But I really, really want it on audio so have put off reading it! Isn’t it weird these quirks we have!

 

My Maddie by Tillie Cole

Souls Unfractured stomped all over my heart and made me nearly blub so knowing this is going to be emosh, I need to be in the proper headspace!

 

Gavin’s Song p1 by Jamie Begley

This is going to be a trilogy so I’m doing something I’ve never done before…I’m waiting for all 3 books to come out so I can devour all 3 in a row!

Title: The Plan Commences

Series: The Rising #2

Author: Kristen Ashley

Once upon a time, in a parallel universe, there existed the continent of Triton. The land was filled with beauty, but it was also splintered by war. Out of the chaos grew a conspiracy to reawaken the Beast, a fearsome creature who wrought only tragedy and devastation. The only way to stop him was to fulfill an ancient prophecy: Triton’s four strongest warriors must wed its four most powerful witches, binding all nations together and finally bringing peace to the land.

This is the story of their unions: the quiet maiden Silence and the savage king Mars. The cold warrior Cassius and the fiery witch Elena. The steadfast soldier True and the banished beauty Farah. And the pirate king Aramus and the mysterious queen Ha-Lah. Their unions will not be easy, but each couple must succeed, for the fate of their world is at stake….

This book was just captivating. I was hooked, blinkin hooked and I didn’t want it to end!

I fell in love with the characters more and more. The couples, them getting to know each other, accept each other and the feelings that are brimming.

But my gosh it infuriated me that some of these girls cannot say what is actually on their minds! It drove me crazy in some parts! And that is the mark of a great read. Pulling those extreme emotions from me and left me wanting more and more!

Elena is still my fave! And to see the fab 4 (well 8!) from the Fantastical series again rallying to the cause made my heart leap!

This is a big book but my gawd, I can’t wait for the next installment!

I’ve been nominated for the Mystery Blogger Award and as I haven’t done a tag in a while I thought, why not!

“Mystery Blogger Award” is an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging; and they do it with so much love and passion.
– Okoto Enigma

I would like to start off by thanking Lucy the Bookworm Blogger for nominating me. I first came across Lucy’s blog through 20 Books of Summer, go check her out!

RULES

Put the award logo on your blog

Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog

Mention the creator of the award. The creator of this award is Okoto Enigma

Answer the five questions you were asked

Tell the readers three things about yourself

Nominate ten to twenty bloggers

Notify the bloggers that you nominated them by commenting on one of their posts

Ask your nominees five questions with one weird or funny one.

3 things about me

✔ I have celiac disease and a crumb of bread cripples me!

✔ I can’t touch velvet. Ugh just thinking about it makes me cringe!

✔ I ask a lot of questions. About everything!

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Here are the questions that Lucy gave to answer:

What is your ultimate comfort food?

My Mum’s chilli con carne without a doubt! I have the recipe but it doesn’t taste the same if I make it!!!

Which book format do you prefer to read (physical, eBoook, audio etc) or do you like to mix it up? If you had to choose one format which would you go for?

I read physical and ebooks and also listen to audio books but I think my favourite is an ebook! I read on my phone so I find myself snatching bits of my current read wherever I go!

Name a book or books that have had a big impact on you or changed your views?

This is hard and I really don’t know an answer! I deliberated over this question for ages. Then I felt really guilty and shallow for not being able to think of anything (but I bet as soon as this goes live I’ll think of one!)

What was a TV show or film that you loved as a child?

Don’t laugh but Knightrider. What’s better than an intelligent, talking car?!

What are your favourite type of blogs to do?

Wrap ups. I love to see how many books I’ve read in that month (or give myself a kick up the bum to do better the next month!!)

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Here are my 5 questions:

1) Do you participate in blogmas?

2) What book format do you prefer to read?

3) Your favourite read this year so far is….

4) Would you rather be covered in fur or covered in scales?

5) Do you take part in wrap up posts?

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I haven’t nominated anyone but please feel free to take part.

With Shanah being super busy and taking a well deserved blog break, there is no Top 5 Tuesday for July so I thought I’d have a go at doing my own (not all the time, I struggled to come up with this!!!)

Ok its not top 5 it’s top 4!!!

I love a bookmark as much as I love a bookish candle so here are my faves!

My Skyward magnetic bookmarks, we have Spensa, Doomslug and M-Bot!

 

My Wicked King bookmark with Cardan looking all tortured and schmexy with the famous, fab quote on the reverse!

 

I mean who doesn’t love Jay Kristoff? You all should because the man is a genius. This also reminded me that I don’t have enough bookish merch from Jay’s series so I am off to Etsy to look for more!

 

No ACO fans should be without their bookmarks and I have Rhys and Feyre flitting around my room in the shape of these magnetic bookmarks!

How about you, what bookmarks do you treasure?

Just a short one today and I hope this doesn’t come across as a rant!

I have a tbr of probably 150 books and deciding which one to read next is hard!

I agonised last night about what to pick up next and also again this morning when I got up, crazy right?!!

I have an old skool notebook of my tbr, I looked through them a few times, read blurbs, looked at covers, made a shortlist. But still I wavered.

So here I am now and still haven’t got a book that I’m going to read.

Its driving me crazy!

Apart from arcs, what’s your process?

Send help and tips, I need this!