Title: Raybearer

Series: Raybearer #1

Author: Jordan Ifueko

Nothing is more important than loyalty. But what if you’ve sworn to protect the one you were born to destroy?

Tarisai has always longed for the warmth of a family. She was raised in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as The Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital of the global empire of Aritsar to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the Crown Prince’s Council of 11. If she’s picked, she’ll be joined with the other Council members through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood. That closeness is irresistible to Tarisai, who has always wanted to belong somewhere. But The Lady has other ideas, including a magical wish that Tarisai is compelled to obey: Kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won’t stand by and become someone’s pawn—but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself?

Oh my gawd what a breathe of fresh air and a ‘ray’ of sunshine this was <—– see what I did there?!

Anyway I’ll stop with that and just get down to it!

Tarisai was born and bought up with a purpose, train, join the Crown Prince’s Council….and then kill him. But there is more at work here than being that simple and as it unwound I was speechless!

‘My adventure had confirmed their most sinister suspicions. My mother was the devil, and I, her puppet demon.’

I’m not really going to say much, well nothing, about the plot because anymore than what you know already will spoil it….so characters….

Tarisai, oh jeez I just wanted to give her a full on Mumma cuddle (that my son won’t allow anymore, damn those pre teen years!)

The Crown Prince, Dayo was so loveable but I did find him a bit of a drip in some places.

Jeet and Kirah were the ones that stood out for me and stole my heart. You have the fierce friend in Kirah, always standing by Tarisai’s side and then the scary Jeet who was actually a softy (well for Tarisai and Dayo anyway!)

‘I’m so happy you’re in my story, Kirah. And I’m happy you’re in mine.’

This book has it all, Revenge, betrayal, bonds, love and twists. It reminded me of the saying, family are the friends you choose. Oh and BTW that ending had my jaw dropping!

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 – Anticipated Releases: First Half of 2021

I have so many releases on my countdown app that I have just picked out some or I’ll be here all day listing them (and I really want a coffee!!) ☕

Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer

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A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer

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Cast in Firelight by Dana Swift

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Still Standing by Kristen Ashley

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A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas

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Bridge of Souls by Victoria Schwab

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Wild Wind by Kristen Ashley

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Namesake by Adrienne Young

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Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo

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Are you looking forward to any of these?

Title: Famine

Series: The Four Horsemen #3

Author: Laura Thalassa

They came to earth–Pestilence, War, Famine, Death–four horsemen riding their screaming steeds, racing to the corners of the world. Four horsemen with the power to destroy all of humanity. They came to earth, and they came to end us all.

Ana da Silva always assumed she’d die young, she just never expected it to be at the hands of Famine, the haunting immortal who once spared her life so many years ago. But if the horseman remembers her at all, he must not care, for when she comes face to face with him for the second time in her life, she’s stabbed and left for dead.

Only, she doesn’t quite die.

If there’s one thing Famine is good at, it’s cruelty. And how these blighted bastards deserve it. Try as he might, he can’t forget what they once did to him. But when Ana, a ghost from his past, corners him and promises pain for what he so recently did to her, she and her empty threats captivate him, and he decides to keep her around.

In spite of themselves, Ana and Famine are drawn to each other. But at the end of the day, the two are enemies. Nothing changes that. Not one kind act, not two. And definitely not a few steamy nights. But enemies or reluctant lovers, if they don’t stop themselves soon, heaven will.

‘I’m Famine, the third horseman of the apocalypse, and I’m here to kill you all.’

How is it that this author can write stone cold killers but make me think they are vulnerable virtuous and make me love them in at least 3 seconds?

So here we have Famine doing his part of the work but he has an extra flaw, its personal.

Ana ‘saved’ him as a teen and showed him kindness when no one else did. And Famine hasn’t forgotten.

I loved Ana. The way she riles Famine made me laugh…and his reactions were even better! The way she goes on about his supposed virginity made me laugh. Her spirit drives me!

‘It’s suicide,” he calls out to my back. I don’t turn around. It’s revenge.’

I mean Famine is defo no angel, the way he kills and actually loves it! But oh my gawd, that man….

‘Because you are human and I imagine you like compliments far more than I do. And for whatever insufferable reason I want to give you many.’

This is a plan in action from a higher power most defs. Get his little ‘spirits’ set up with women who teach them to show empathy compassion, love and go against their basic instincts.

I can’t wait for Death. He is going to be just delish!

I’m hoping to start the year off with a bang and as January is the dullest, most depressing month of the year, I’m really going to push myself with my reading list!

Weirdly enough, all these are e-books that I own. I normally read the e-book first and if I love, then I get the physical book as well as space is at a premium on my shelves and house! Also these will knock some off my Beat the Backlist Challenge which makes me happy!!!

I’m not sure if I am going to make lists every month because it seems sometimes they work for me and other times they don’t….but start off how you mean to go on and all that jazz!!!

So my (very ambitious for me) list is:

🎧 The Bear and The Nightingale by Katherine Arden

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🎧 The House on the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

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🎧 Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

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Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (buddy read with Sophie @BewareoftheReader)

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Fire Night by Penelope Douglas

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The Night Country by Melissa Albert

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Tales from Hinterland by Melissa Albert (arc)

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Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa

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The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones

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Skyhunter by Marie Lu

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From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L Armentrout

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Have you read any of these?

What’s on your tbr for January?

Happy New Year!

Wishing you health and happiness in the New Year ahead. And, of course loads of fab books!

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

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and are getting ready for the arrival of 2021? We had a lovely Christmas only marred slightly by the dreaded c word and held our family gatherings on Zoom instead of in person and we went back into Tier 3 because of the new strain.  When will this ever end?  

My reading month started off strong and although I did veer off my tbr list slightly, it was such a great reading month (apart from the 2 dnf’s!)

📚 Physical/e-books

How The King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black
See my review here.

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
See my review here.

Bound by Blood Anthology by Cora Reilly
See my review here.

The Charmed Wife by Olga Grushin
See my review here.

Depends on Who’s Asking by Lani Lynn Vale
See my review here.

Famine by Laura Thalassa
See my review soon!

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
See my review soon!

🎧 Audio

Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer
See my review soon!

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and Truthwitch by Susan Dennard were both unforts dnf’s for me.

What did you read in December?

Grab your earbuds and join hosts Caffeinated Reviewer and That’s What I’m Talking About for the 2021 Audiobook Challenge! Choose your level and rock your ears off!

I did this challenge for 2020 and it really started me on my audio journey so I’m hoping for 2021 that I can listen the hell out of some great books!

This year I’m starting out cautiously and going for the achievement of Socially Awkward which is 15-20 listens (but secretly hoping I can best that and go for Binge Listener but we shall see!)

Anyway, the details are:

Challenge Details

Achievement Levels

Ooo December I thought, I won’t be getting many books in December. I can make a head start on my tbr and get the total down before 2021 hits.

Well. It didn’t quite pan out like that. Does it ever?

I did get some money for Christmas and I am going to get some books with it but….I need to sit down and see what I want first, you know, strategically plan so there are no Christmas books here….yet!

📚 Physical/e-books

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Depends on Who’s Asking by Lani Lynn Vale

The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness

City of Fallen Angels and City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

📑 Arcs

Tales from the Hinterland by Melissa Albert

🎧 Audio

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

🧚‍♀️Fairyloot

Master of One by Jaida Jones and Dani Bennett

So tell me what you hauled in December and what you got for Christmas!

It’s that time of year when we are stuck between Christmas and New Year and because this years been such a stinker, I thought we needed some laughs….in the form of meme’s!

So here you go!!!