Illumicrate Unboxing: Sept 21 – To the Bitter End!

September To The Bitter End


Items inspired by Percy Jackson, Throne of Glass, Strange the Dreamer, These Violent Delights and An Ember in the Ashes!

– Riptide Sword Replica (Percy Jackson) designed by @stacey.mcrvoy.caunt

– Manon and Abraxos Pouch with artwork by @winterofherdiscontent

– Shoe Charms designed by @blissfullybookishtees inspired by Strange the Dreamer

– Always Victorious Magnets depicting characters from An Ember in the Ashes with artwork from @jhocaaa

– White Flower and Scarlet Chain Pin Set inspired by These Violent Delights designed by @novemberandmay.shop

– Collectors Pin – EotV – inspired by Gabriel’s sword, Ashdrinker designed by @stacey.mcevoy.caunt

FEATURED BOOK

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff

✔ Exclusive cover
✔ Foil embossing on back and front
✔ Digitally printed edge
✔ Signed

🎃 Spooky Review – Threadneedle by Cari Thomas

Title: Threadneedle

Series: Language of Magic #1

Author: Cari Thomas

Within the boroughs of London, nestled among its streets, hides another city, filled with magic.

Magic is the first sin. It must be bound.

Ever since Anna can remember, her aunt has warned her of the dangers of magic. She has taught her to fear how it twists and knots and turns into something dark and deadly.

It was, after all, magic that killed her parents and left her in her aunt’s care. It’s why she has been protected from the magical world and, in one year’s time, what little magic she has will be bound. She will join her aunt alongside the other Binders who believe magic is a sin not to be used, but denied. Only one more year and she will be free of the curse of magic, her aunt’s teachings and the disappointment of the little she is capable of.

Nothing – and no one – could change her mind before then. Could it?

Anna, who lives with her Aunt after the death of her parents, is basically a downtrodden mouse who is losing herself bit by bit in her Aunts quest to make her a Binder, to suppress the little magic she has.

Anna’s life starts to change after a visit from her mums old friend, Selene, her daughter Effie and her charge, Attis. I won’t say anymore as you won’t experience the story of this book!

Once I got into this I really loved the story, the magic system and all the characters, they were so well written. Rowan was my absolute favourite, she was the light in this story for me.

It was also so compelling. This is a big book and every time I took a break, it was pulling me back! I think it was the magic at work!!!

The beginning was a bit slow I must admit but once I got into it  I was captivated!

The ending was such a twist, I never saw it coming! Can’t wait to see what happens next!!!

TTT – Bookish Pet Peeves

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 – Bookish Pet Peeves

Ooooooo I do love to moan so this was perfect for me!!!! Let’s begin!

Stickers on the cover
Why? Why? And worse, the ones that are printed on and you can’t take off!

Changing covers when the whole series isn’t out
Again, why? I guess it’s something to do with rights but it’s soul destroying!

Movie covers
No!

When books in a series are different sizes
A thousand times, no!

Spoilers
This goes for books and also book boxes. I get that people are excited to show their stuff/review but for gawd sake wait or don’t put spoilers!

Don’t talk to me when reading
My son must hear me rustle the page of my book and its like a red rag to a bull and he’s there, talking!

Folding down pages
Please no. Just no!

When someone judges a book….and hasn’t even read it
Haven’t read it? No opinion!

What are your bookish pet peeves?

Halloween Book Tag!

I saw this tag on Anna’s Book Nook and wanted to do it….because Halloween! 👻


🎃 Carving Pumpkins- What book would you carve up and light on fire?

I hate to trash a book, I just don’t have it in me so I will politely decline to answer (but you can see my DNF’s on Goodreads)!!!


🎃 Trick or Treat- What character is a treat? What character is a trick?

Wrath from Kingdom of the Wicked/Cursed is just delish and is a total treat (for me!)

A Trick? The only thing that pops in my head is Tric from Nevernight but totally not in a bad way. Tric is also my treat!!!!


🎃 Candy Corn- What book is always sweet?

Until November by Aurora Rose Reynolds. I read this when it came out in 2013 and still reread it now! You can read the blurb here.


🎃 Ghosts- What character would you love to visit you as a ghost?

Jacob from City of Ghosts/Tunnel of Bones by VE Schwab. I just loved him, I felt for him and wanted to give him a motherly hug (or 3!)


🎃 Dressing Up in a Costume- What character would you want to be for a day?

Manon Blackbeak. Although those iron teeth might sting a bit!


🎃 Wizard and Witches- What is your favorite Harry Potter moment?

Sirius asking Harry to live with him. Waaaaah, don’t make me relive it 😔


🎃 Blood and Gore- What book was so creepy that you had to take a break from it?

Not creepy as such but just mind blowing….The Nocte Trilogy by Courtney Cole. See the blurb for book 1, Nocte, here.

I wasn’t tagged so am not tagging anyone but please feel free to do!

Closing the Chapter – September 2021

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

I was struck down with the curse of the trapped nerve again! It was just getting better and sitting in an office chair at work did me in again so I was battling that this month yet again so I wasn’t around much, my apologies!

I did manage to read some books beforehand so all is not lost! I’m currently listening to Empire of the Vampire (27 hours long!) but haven’t finished yet so haven’t included!

Books Read


Gilded by Marissa Meyer

See my review here.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

See my review here.

Lev by Belle Aurora

See my review here.

Vik by Belle Aurora

See my review here.

Aurora’s End by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman


Review coming soon!

What did you read in September

Arc Review: Aurora’s End by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

Title: Aurora’s End

Series: The Aurora Cycle #3

Authors: Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

The squad you love is out of time. Prepare for the thrilling finale in the epic, best-selling Aurora Cycle series about a band of unlikely heroes who just might be the galaxy’s last hope for survival.

Is this the end?
What happens when you ask a bunch of losers, discipline cases, and misfits to save the galaxy from an ancient evil? The ancient evil wins, of course.
Wait. . . . Not. So. Fast.


When we last saw Squad 312, they working together seamlessly (aka, freaking out) as an intergalactic battle raged and an ancient superweapon threatened to obliterate Earth. Everything went horribly wrong, naturally.


But as it turns out, not all endings are endings, and the te4am has one last chance to rewrite thirs. Maybe two. It’s complicated.


Cue Zila, Fin, and Scarlett (and MAGELLAN!): making friends, making enemies, and making history? Sure, no problem
Cue Tyler, Kal, and Auri: uniting with two of the galaxy’s most hated villains? Um, okay. That, too.
Actually saving the galaxy, though?
Now that will take a miracle.

Back with my be’shmai, Kal!!!

Let me get this out the way first. I need to get this off my chest! I know there was a big event at the end of Burning but all I could think of was Aurora and what she did to Kal so going into this, I knew I wasn’t going to forgive her easily!

And then I forgot all about that with this line….
‘I still have riches beyond counting, because I have her.’ I do marvel about how fickle I  sometimes!

Anyway…..so now the war is on. On like Kong with the Ra’haam………’How bright the last fire may flare before it is snuffed out entirely.’ But Squad 312 are here and they want to get the job done!

We see the past, the present and we get action, drama and a whole dollop of my fave characters ever.

~ Oh course my Kal.
~ Magellan, the sassy hero.
~ Tyler and Saedii – my actual dark heart. ‘I will see you in the stars’……
~ And Zila will always be my Queen in everything and especially this moment:
‘Are you two spending precious minutes in the middle of a heretofore unheard-of temporal paradox engaging in frivolous presexual activity?’

The last few chapters had me sitting on the edge of my seat, had me tearing up, had me smiling big. It was utterly beautiful.

I’m so sad to say goodbye to Squad 312 but what a great series this was!

TTT – Freebie (books featured on my IG!)

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 Featured On My Instagram!

I thought I would add a selection of pictures from my IG and hope that you like!

In case any of you want to drop me a follow, my IG handle is @CJRTB_Books

3rd Quarter Update – Beat the Backlist Challenge

Beat the Backlist Challenge!

Here we are with my 3rd update of 2021 for Beat the Backlist Challenge!

You can see my original post here, my 1st update post here and my 2nd update post here.


On my last post I had upped my total to 40 books as I had read 21 by the end of June.

I’m happy to say that in this quarter I read 13 backlist books which brings my running total up to 34! You can see I was on a Cassandra Clare mission which certainly helped with this challenge!

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare – see my review here

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare – see my review here

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare – see my review here

The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare – see my review here

Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare – see my review here

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer – see my review here

Captive of the Horde King by Zoey Draven

Claimed by the Horde King by Zoey Draven

Madness of the Horde King by Zoey Draven

See my series review here

Because You’re Mine by Clare Contreas – see my review here

Rejected by Jaymin Eve – see my review here

Dark Prince by Michelle Hercules – see my review here

Lev by Belle Aurora – see my review here