Title: The Winter of the Witch

Series: Winternight Trilogy #3

Author: Katherine Arden

Now Moscow has been struck by disaster. Its people are searching for answers—and for someone to blame. Vasya finds herself alone, beset on all sides. The Grand Prince is in a rage, choosing allies that will lead him on a path to war and ruin. A wicked demon returns, stronger than ever and determined to spread chaos. Caught at the center of the conflict is Vasya, who finds the fate of two worlds resting on her shoulders. Her destiny uncertain, Vasya will uncover surprising truths about herself and her history as she desperately tries to save Russia, Morozko, and the magical world she treasures. But she may not be able to save them all.

It’s over and I don’t want it to be!

The conclusion, the journey and the battle. What will Vasya pull out of her sleeve now?

She’s really put through the wringer in this book and I really felt for her and her family.

But….my fave….Morozko! I love him!

I also love how this series has a romance but the main focus isn’t romance! But Vasya and Morozko make my life! I even warmed up to Medved!

The ending made me tear up! But this was the perfect conclusion to this amazing story.

‘Love is for those who knows the griefs of time, for it goes hand in hand with loss. An eternity, so burdened, would be a torment. Yet what else to call it, this terror and this joy?’

Title: Fourth Wing

Series: The Empyrean #1

Author: Rebecca Yarros

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away…because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.

Holy moly, what a ride! I haven’t been that invested in a book for ages! Where do I even start?!!!

Violet has been training to be a Scribe her whole life but gets thrown into something different and a whole lot more dangerous by, of all people, her Mum.

There she meets an old friend, makes new friends, a whole lot of enemies and is pushed to her limits. She also meets Xaden Riorson who does not like Violet one bit. Oh and did I mention dragons? There are dragons and they are fiesty (and Tairn is so sarcastic, I loved him!)

I’m not going to say anymore about the plot but prepare yourselves for all the emotions, fantastic character growth, enemies to lovers done in the most delish way and an ending that will make your jaw drop!!

I honestly want to gush about this book more but I’ll go on for hours so I’ll save you!

Also (and I’m hope I’m right with this) but I think that this is the authors first foray into the fantasy world and she has NAILED IT. Perfection.

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: The First 10 Books I Randomly Grabbed from My Shelf (close your eyes and touch/grab/point to 10 random titles and tell us what they are! And tell us what you thought if you’ve read them!)

This was fun! Stumbling round my bookshelves with my eyes closed!!!!!

The Dead Romantics – different but good!
A Witches Guide to Fake Dating a Demon – 🌶
Last Tale of the Flowerbride – not read yet
Ninth House – fabulous
The Fine Print – not read yet

A Dowry Of Blood – absolutely excellent
A Darkness at the Door – loved
Book Eaters – dnf
Heartless – broke my heart
Foxhole Court – obsessed

Happy May!

‘May, more than any other month of the year, wants us to feel most alive.’ ~ Fennel Hudson

‘You are as welcome as the flowers in May.’ ~ Charles Macklin

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?

Last day of the month! I feel like I blinked and missed most of April!!!

It’s been a busy week with working, a teachers strike, still running round after my parents because of the old ‘vid and I also had my booster yesterday (and feel like death today!!!)

I’m still gearing up for the coronation and the menu is set (after a family vote!) Chicken skewers (chilli, cajun and normal) with waffle fries followed by cheesecake (homemade). We are also making scones to eat at lunch!!!!

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What I’ve Read

Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe by Emma Torzs
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Happy Place by Emily Henry
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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New arrivals

Swordcatcher by Cassandra Clare
(I actually screamed!)

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You might have missed…..

Review – In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune
Review – Reputation by Lex Croucher
Review – Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton

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What have you read lately?

Title: Beyond the Wand

Author: Tom Felton

From Borrower to wizard, Tom Felton’s adolescence was anything but ordinary. His early rise to fame saw him catapulted into the limelight aged just twelve when he landed the iconic role of Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films.

Speaking with candour and his own trademark humour, Tom shares his experience of growing up on screen and as part of the wizarding world for the very first time. He tells all about his big break, what filming was really like and the lasting friendships he made during ten years as part of the franchise, as well as the highs and lows of fame and the reality of navigating adult life after filming finished.

Prepare to meet a real-life wizard.

What an incredibly nice, down to earth guy Tom Felton is! I feel like I could meet him and have a decent, humorous conversation with him!

I loved listening to this, the honesty, his time before and during Harry Potter, the actors, his home life and the friends he made.

It was completely honest, unbiased and a delight to listen to.

Title: Reputation

Author: Lex Croucher

Abandoned by her parents, middle-class Georgiana Ellers has moved to a new town to live with her dreary aunt and uncle. At a particularly dull party, she meets the enigmatic Frances Campbell, a wealthy member of the in-crowd who lives a life Georgiana couldn’t have imagined in her wildest dreams.

Lonely and vulnerable, Georgiana falls in with Frances and her unfathomably rich, deeply improper friends. Georgiana is introduced to a new world: drunken debauchery, mysterious young men with strangely arresting hands, and the upper echelons of Regency society.

But the price of entry to high society might just be higher than Georgiana is willing to pay …

This had a total mean girls vibe and I was here for it!

Georgiana, left by her loveless parents with her Aunty, desperate for friends, falls in with a bad crowd, Frances, Jane, Christopher, Cecily (although she wasn’t too bad!)

However her eye is immediately captured by Thomas Hawksley…..and he has a story……

This was really quite a dark read for the time period it was meant to be in and was full of drunken parties and debauchery!

I listened to this in one day, really enjoyed it so will be getting the authors other books now!

Title: Happy Place

Author: Emily Henry

Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college—they go together like salt and pepper, honey and tea, lobster and rolls. Except, now—for reasons they’re still not discussing—they don’t.

They broke up six months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends.

Which is how they find themselves sharing the largest bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group’s yearly getaway for the last decade. Their annual respite from the world, where for one vibrant, blue week they leave behind their daily lives; have copious amounts of cheese, wine, and seafood; and soak up the salty coastal air with the people who understand them most.

Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth while trying not to notice how desperately they still want each other. Because the cottage is for sale and this is the last week they’ll all have together in this place. They can’t stand to break their friends’ hearts, and so they’ll play their parts. Harriet will be the driven surgical resident who never starts a fight, and Wyn will be the laid-back charmer who never lets the cracks show. It’s a flawless plan (if you look at it from a great distance and through a pair of sunscreen-smeared sunglasses). After years of being in love, how hard can it be to fake it for one week… in front of those who know you best?

Oh this was delish!

Wyn and Harriet go to their annual meet up/holiday with their friends……but no one knows they have broken up…..and it’s……awkward!

But what it also is, is glorious! I ate this book up in 1 sitting because I couldn’t put it down!

This book has it all, unbreakable friendships, happiness, angst, personal growth and, of course, a true love that’s a bit broken.

If you are a romance lover then this book is for you!

One thing about me is that I love a reread. I fell in love with this author and now Happy Place is my reread happy place!

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 Audiobook Narrators

I rarely know who is narrating an audiobook (yes, I’m rubbish!), so I am just saying my favourite audiobooks!

Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim
Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Heartless by Marissa Meyer
Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
The Extraordinaires by TJ Klune
Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Wolfsong by TJ Klune
Illuminae Files by Jay Kristoff
Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

Who would you have picked?