Review: Romanov by Nadine Brandes

I’ve always been interested in the tale of Anastasia. A whole Royal family gets assassinated and Anastasia refused to stay dead.  The families tragic turn of events has turned into a modern myth……….

 

The history books say I died.

They don’t know the half of it.

Anastasia “Nastya” Romanov was given a single mission: to smuggle an ancient spell into her suitcase on her way to exile in Siberia. It might be her family’s only salvation. But the leader of the Bolshevik army is after them . . . and he’s hunted Romanov before.

Nastya’s only chances of survival are to either release the spell, and deal with the consequences, or enlist help from Zash, the handsome soldier who doesn’t act like the average Bolshevik. Nastya’s never dabbled in magic before, but it doesn’t frighten her as much as her growing attraction for Zash. She likes him. She thinks he might even like her . . .

That is, until she’s on one side of a firing squad . . . and he’s on the other.

Like many people I am enamoured with the tale of Anastasia so when I saw this, I knew I had to read.

‘We are Romanovs. The bond of our hearts spans miles, memory, and time.’

 

But this time, a twist! Magic, spells and all the good stuff (and sometimes not!) That comes with it! I have no idea if it is factually correct but I loved it!

 

Nastya is a breath of fresh air, sweet, smart and sassy and I adored her!

 

But omg the heartbreak.

The spells.
The family bond.
The tradegy (I knew it was coming!)
The twist.
The ending.
The promise of more.

TBR Thursday….a new to me author!

 

TBR Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly Faye Reads, where you post a title from your shelf or e-reader and find out what others think about it.

My pick this week is King Hall by Scarlett Dawn.

I have had this for a while and it was recommended to me by a book friend.  Unforts its been sat on my tbr for a loooooooong time!

This is a new to me author and I’m going to read it for the June Ultimate Reading Challenge prompt, new to me author……

King Hall — where the Mysticals go to learn their craft, get their degrees, and transition into adulthood. And where four new Rulers will rise and meet their destinies.

Lily Ruckler is adept at one thing: survival. Born a Mystical hybrid, her mere existence is forbidden, but her nightmare is only about to start. Fluke, happenstance, and a deep personal loss finds Lily deeply entrenched with those who would destroy her simply for existing — The Mystical Kings. Being named future Queen of the Shifters shoves Lily into the spotlight, making her one of the most visible Mysticals in the world. But with risk comes a certain solace — her burgeoning friendships with the other three Prodigies: a wicked Vampire, a wild-child Mage, and a playboy Elemental. Backed by their faith and trust, Lily begins to relax into her new life.

Then chaos erupts as the fragile peace between Commoners and Mysticals is broken, and suddenly Lily realises the greatest threat was never from within, and her fear takes on a new name: the revolution.

 

Have you read it?

What were your thoughts?

What are you drinking Wednesday?

It’s the middle of the working week so I thought it would be nice to have a night to kick back with a beverage and talk all things books!

This week…..reading lists.

When I first started blogging I didn’t make any reading lists, I just read whatever I fancied…….

……but then my tbr was creeping up and up and I knew I needed to get organised so I started to make monthly reading lists, seasonal reading lists and joined readathons with lists!

And it was great…..for about a year…..

Then I found the joy was being sucked out of my reading because I felt I HAD to read what was on whatever list I had and when I started to not complete them, I felt like a failure.

I’m not doing monthly lists now but just seasonal ones to see if it makes it less pressure……and I can safely say it isn’t at the moment 😂😂😂

Do you make reading lists?

Do you stick to them?

Any advice to offer me?!

Books I want in June…..

The life of a bookworm is hard.

So hard!!

There are so many books I want in June that I really had to be hard on myself! I had to remind my brain that I’m not made of money!!!

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

The Modern Faerie Tales by Holly Black

Storm and Fury by Jennifer L Armentrout

The Evil Queen by Gena Showalter

 

What books are you looking forward to in June?

All the seasons in 1 weekly wrap up???!!!!

Welcome to The Weekly Epilogue!

Hope you all had a good week?

I have a confession….and you will all probably want to stone me…..I bought some Christmas presents! In my defense it was Lego and it was a BIG sale! I just couldn’t leave them!

Anyway, onto the here and now….Spring! The weather has been all over the place here1 minute wintery and the next summery so I’ve made the most of reading indoors! Can’t wait for those sunny days where I can sit in the garden with a good book!

Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller – I mean it was ok….but not great!

Eli’s Triumph by Joanna Wylde – fab read!

 

You can find all my reviews here on Goodreads!

Legend by Marie Lu

I haven’t made that much of a dent in my Spring reading list but these are the ones I still haven’t read……

  • The Fever King by Victoria Lee
  • Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
  • Archenemies by Marissa Meyer
  • The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson
  • Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
  • I Dare You by Shantel Tessier
  • Darkest before Dawn by Amelia Hutchins
  • One Word Kill by Mark Lawrence

 

How was your reading week?

What books did you read?

Try a Chapter Challenge…I’m at it again!

Firstly, thanks to Destiny at Howling Libraries for letting me join in!

If you’re not familiar with the Try a Chapter tag, it’s a tag common on booktube (and sometimes blogs) where the participant reads the first chapter of five books and chooses one of those books to read, based on the results!

These are a couple of books left from my Spring reading list and I am hoping to get to these in June….but which to read first??!!

  • One Word Kill by Mark Lawrence
  • Legend by Marie Lu

 

My thoughts on the first chapters of……

Legend by Marie Lu

I’ve had this paperback for so long. I read The Young Elites and I was hooked on this author but for some reason I haven’t read this yet. The first chapter told me all about the lead male character….and I want more!

One Word Kill by Mark Lawrence

I got this from Kindle First as I want to read this author…..the blurb was intriguing and with this first chapter I was hooked. Cancer is a horrible, nasty disease and this made me want to cry…

‘The Oxford English Dictionary tells us that cancer is a noun and advises on pronunciation before declaring it a disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells within the body. Put like that it doesn’t sound too scary.’

 

And the winner is….

One Word Kill by Mark Lawrence

I will be reading the bad boy the first chance I get!

What are you drinking Wednesday?

It’s the middle of the working week so I thought it would be nice to have a night to kick back with a beverage and talk all things books!

My first question is…..what is your favourite type of book format?

  • Hardback
  • Paperback
  • Ebook
  • Audio book

For me it would be ebook.

I know it’s probably not the popular choice but I find I can read it better, take more in…and plus there is the fact that I don’t have to hold a heavy book (yes I know, I’m lazy!!!)

I read hardback and paperbacks, I buy all my favourite books in this format but only once I’ve read the ebook!!!!

I tried audio twice….I just can’t seem to get on with it. Added to the fact that the price here for an audiobook is like taking out a mortgage!

So tell me….what’s your favourite format?

Top 5 Tuesday – Books I reread!

 

Top 5 Tuesday is bought to you by Shanah at the Bionic Bookworm – you can find her post and join in here.

Today’s topic is – Books I reread!

After making this list, it stood out to me that I seem to gravitate towards romance reads for rereads….and I dont know why that is!

 

Golden Dynasty by Kristen Ashley

This book always jumps starts me after a slump (or The Three Series – see below!) Its like it’s my book slump medicine!

 

Reapers Legacy by Joanna Wylde

An MC read used to be my genre of choice and in that time this book stood out to me and I’ve reread it about 9 times since it came out. I recently reread it for a challenge and it’s still one fabulous read!

 

Fighting Destiny by Amelia Hutchins

Ryder….sigh! Yes I really am a fictional book boyfriend lover…..and Ryder fits the bill to a tea. So I reread to get my pnr fix and bbf fix!!!

 

The Three Series by Kristen Ashley

See above about book slumps and this being my medicine!!

 

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas

My favourite book of series….because we get Rhysand in all his glory!!!

 

What books do you reread?

2 Viking reads….that are worlds apart!

I did chuckle as I thought of this idea for my reviews!

2 Viking reads.

2 worlds apart!

A YA and a hot and heavy romance read!

Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller

Rasmira is a warrior, leaders daughter….with the worst parents ever, I actually hated her mum!

But it all goes wrong for Rasmira and she finds herself wronged, banished and alone.

‘Welcome to the wild.’

I like this book, it was totally readable, it flowed, but I did find it rather long and dragged out in some places.

The world building was odd! If you are expecting the Viking world in this book to be like the actual Viking habitat then you’ll be surprised!

There was a lot I found strange in this book, yes it took some adjusting to what I thought it should be but this is the writers world…..and I liked it!

But I more than liked Soren!

Vikings Claim by Madison Faye

You know sometimes you just need something quick and dirty?

I read the synopsis for this and knew, right in that moment, I needed this!

I’ve just read a Viking YA book and let me tell you they couldn’t be further apart!!!

Oh Tor……

‘Soon, little bird. Soon, I will come for you.

‘I’ll set the world on fire to keep her right here with me.’