Title: Mindbreaker

Series: Mindwalker #2

Author: Kate Dylan

They saved her life. But at what cost?

Born into a religious cult on the fringe of society, Indra Dyer lives a simple, tech-free existence. But when an illicit trip to the city leaves her with a debilitating – and terminal – condition, Indra must make a choice: die faithful or betray her Order and accept the cure Glindell Technologies is offering.

Forced to sign over full ownership of her life, Indra is horrified to learn the true nature of Glindell’s plans. Instead of saving her body, they upload her mind to a first of its kind MindDrive, housed in a fully robotic shell.

On the outside, Indra still looks the same; on the inside, she’s not so sure. More than once, she finds herself in places she really shouldn’t be, with no memory of how she got there, and dangerous abilities she can’t explain. So when news breaks of an attack against Glindell’s biggest rival, Indra begins to suspect the worst.

With help from her one friend at the company, Tian — a research assistant with questionable morals and a smile that won’t quit — Indra must uncover the truth behind the procedure that saved her life, before Glindell can use it to change the face of technology, and what it means to be human, forever.

Loved this sequel so much!

Indra is dangerously ill but is actually bought and paid for by Glindell Technologies and turned into….something else but all is not well inside Indra and she breaks free, meets up with an old friend and a new friend from Glindell, Tian. And it all comes out what has been happening – none of it good!!

This was fast paced and full of action and drama! I love this world so much! Also a couple of familiar faces pop up in the form of Sil, Ryder and the AA – so happy!!!

Indra ran into everything headlong and was totally reckless but Nyx tried to be her anchor, the voice of reason. Talking of Nyx, it was refreshing to get a friendship that didn’t turn into a romance as they’re both queer!

This book, as well as book 1, has just shown me not to trust tech!!! I really hope there’s more in this world!

Title: Fall of Ruin and Wrath

Series: Awakening #1

Author: Jennifer L Armentrout

SHE LIVES BY HER INTUITION. HE FEEDS ON HER PLEASURE.

Long ago, the world was destroyed by gods. Only nine cities were spared. Separated by vast wilderness teeming with monsters and unimaginable dangers, each city is now ruled by a guardian―royalty who feed on mortal pleasure.

Born with an intuition that never fails, Calista knows her talents are of great value to the power-hungry of the world, so she lives hidden as a courtesan of the Baron of Archwood. In exchange for his protection, she grants him information.

When her intuition leads her to save a traveling prince in dire trouble, the voice inside her blazes with warning―and promise. Today he’ll bring her joy. One day he’ll be her doom.

When the Baron takes an interest in the traveling prince and the prince takes an interest in Calista, she becomes the prince’s temporary companion. But the city simmers with rebellion, and with knights and monsters at her city gates and a hungry prince in her bed, intuition may not be enough to keep her safe.

Calista must follow her intuition to safety or follow her heart to her downfall.

‘But as with most things that are beautiful on the outside, there is nothing but ruin and wrath on the inside.’

Oh wow! It’s not often that I get totally obsessed with a book, but this is one of them! I was captivated, bewitched and infatuated. Mainly by Thorne! Yes, me! Infatuated by a leading man!

Lis, a mind reader, is an orphan who grew up on the streets with her childhood friend Grady, but gets lucky when she meets the Baron of Archwood, Claude. He gives them employment and board and helps Lis keep her abilities hidden from the world.

When some Hyborn guests arrive in Archwood, the story really begins. And it was explosive! The chemistry between Thorne and Lis was absolutely off the charts and I was here for it!

At page 287 my jaw dropped and then several other places, I was so invested! I do love an enchanting romantasy read!

That last 10% was absolutely crazy. It kicked OFF! And that ending! I need to know when book 2 is coming out!!!!

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: Favourite Character Relationships

One of my favourite tropes is found family so I’ve chosen that for this topic!

All for the Game by Nora Sakavic
House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Strike the Zither by Joan He
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
The Blood Traitor by Lynette Noni
The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare
Aurora Cycle by Jay Kristoff

What’s on your list?

Here’s what’s tantalising me that’s releasing in October (that I’ll probably buy!!)

My hopes of a small buying month have completely gone out the window!!!!

Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey
Throne of the Fallen by Kerri Maniscalco
Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker

What Sleeps within the Cove by Harper L Woods
Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber
A Fire in the Flesh by JLA

Will you be getting any of these?

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?

A heatwave, back to school for my son and my last month working in my current job!

My calm and non-stressful time has come to an end with back to school, now begins the rushing about trying to get everything together and being places on time!

My reading has been good this week so I’m happy!

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New Arrivals

Nothing!

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What I’ve Read

🎧 Namesake – Adrienne Young
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Court of Mist and Fury – Sarah J Maas (reread)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 Foxglove by Adalyn Grace
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Homogeny by Alek Cristea
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Look out for my reviews soon!

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You might have missed…..

Unboxing – Fairyloot YA: August
Unboxing – Fairyloot Adult: August
Review – Happyhead by Josh Silver
Unboxing – Illumicrate: August
ARC Review – Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree

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What have you read lately?

Title: Bookshops and Bonedust

Series: Legends and Lattes #0

Author: Travis Baldree

Viv’s career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam’s Ravens isn’t going as planned.

Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she’s packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk—so far from the action that she worries she’ll never be able to return to it.

What’s a thwarted soldier of fortune to do?

Spending her hours at a beleaguered bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted, but it may be both exactly what she needs and the seed of changes she couldn’t possibly imagine.

Still, adventure isn’t all that far away. A suspicious traveler in gray, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling, and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected.

If you loved Legends and Lattes then you will 100% want to read this, I promise you!

We are back with Viv but this time it’s before Thune and coffee but in the sea city of Murk where Viv is convalescing. In her recovery she stumbles across a bookshop and a bakery and some new faces….

What ensues is:

~ Found family,
~ A cozy read,
~ A charming but slightly dangerous town,
~ A foul mouthed shop owner,
~ A cute, odd animal,
~ Viv in all her glory,
~ A fabulous use of the word moist,
~ A skeleton who you’ll love,
~ A small summer fling,
~ A book lover/advocate.

All of this will make you want to jump into this book headfirst so you can live in this world!

In the acknowledgements the author says he had a cozy, fun, mystery in his head set in Thune (and I’m hoping featuring Viv and Tandri) but this book came to pass instead. With the events at the end of B&B, I’m hoping we will now get the original too, preferably with Satchel (IYKYK),  because I want to get this warm, fuzzy feeling again from this authors work!

‘Sometimes, it’ll never be the right time.
And sometimes, we aren’t the right people yet.’

August theme – Hidden Magic

If you look around, you’ll find magic hidden in the most unexpected of places.

Items inspired by Priory of the Orange Tree, The Mortal Instruments, Sorcery of Thorns and The House in the Cerulean Sea.

💛 Banked Fire Mug with artwork by@rosiethorns88 inspired by PotOT
💛 All the Stories Are True bookmark set – characters from The Mortal Instruments with artwork from @merwildandco
💛 The Book of Eyes Book Tin – artwork by @coverdungeonrabbit with the book from Sorcery of Thorns
💛 Found Family Washi tape – inspired by House in the Cerulean Sea, designed by @juliesofieart

💛 FEATURED BOOK 💛

Zhara by S Jae Jones

Signed
Exclusive hardback of the UK paperback
Full colour hardback @kira_yukishiro_
Digitally printed edges @chattynora
Endpaper art @ rosdottir

Title: Happyhead

Author: Josh Silver

We are in an epidemic. An epidemic of unhappiness. 
…

Friends, here is the good news: HappyHead has the answer.

When Seb is offered a place on a radical retreat designed to solve the national crisis of teenage unhappiness, he is determined to change how people see him and make his parents proud. But as he finds himself drawn to the enigmatic Finn, Seb starts to question the true nature of the challenges they must undergo. The deeper into the programme the boys get, the more disturbing the assessments become, until it’s clear there may be no escape…

This was a totally different read for me, I don’t really know how to review this but can tell you that I really, really enjoyed it!

I listened to the audio and the narrator was fabulous!

Seb is at the compulsory retreat, Happyhead, a place for unhappy teens. Here he gets ‘therapy’ and meets a group of people….one who he is fascinated with more than the others!

I was hooked from the 1st chapter and I knew something wasn’t quite right!

I’m going to be absolutely vague about the plot because you need to experience it!

Here are some things I loved:

~ The writing and pacing were perfect.
~ Loved the names Seb had for the councillors!!
~ Fin – ice eyes!
~ Sebs take on obedience was eye opening!
~ Fin, just him!

You are totally kidding me with that ending! Whaaaaaaat! I need more! Immediately!

Fairyloot Adult – August 2023

Powerful Bloodlines

An epic, fast-paced adventure inspired by Nigerian mythology. A thrilling tale of rebellion and redemption, love and betrayal.

Forged by Blood by Ehigbar Okosun

Exclusive cover
Digitally sprayed edges
Cover design by @blanca.design
Reversible dust jacket @rosalynnarts
Foiled endpaper art @rosalynnarts
Bonus content
Digital signature