Tag: anna james

Monthly Wrap Ups

October Wrap Up!

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Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you all had a great October! If you have seen my November TBR that I posted on Friday then you will know that my October was so busy, with my sister getting married, working towards my RDC2 and meeting a potential guide dog match (I will be posting about this on Friday if you are interested in knowing more about it).

So, my reading month in October was much better than it has been recently so that has made the month a lot more enjoyable. And now I am going to share with you which books I managed to read this month. Let me know in the comments if you have read any of these, what you thought of them and what you read in October!

October Wrap-Up!

  • Beach Read by Emily Henry – I did not read this
  • Devil Makes Three by Tori Bovelino – I did not read this one
  • Nothing more to tell by Karen M McManus – I was so excited to read this one but I didn’t manage to get around to it this month
  • Pages and Co 3 by Anna James – I did read this one and as with the rest of the series, I really enjoyed it.
  • Finale by Stephanie Garber – I did not read this
  • Belladonna by Adalyn Grace – another book I was so looking forward to reading but I didn’t get to this month
  • The Three Dahlias by Katy Watson – I did read this book and loved it
  • Miss Marple short stories collection – I read this one too
  • Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber – I did not read this either
  • A Fatal Crossing by Tom Hindle – I did not read this
  • Your Turn to die by sue wallman – I did not read this one either
  • European Travels for the Monstrous Gentlewoman by Theodora Goss – This book is huge, so I did not read it this month
  • Devil’s Advocate by Steve Cavanaugh – I did not read this either

outside of my October TBR I also read The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett which I also really enjoyed.

So, this month I read four books which is a great amount for me at the moment.

That’s it for my October Wrap-Up, I hope you enjoyed reading it!

Monthly TBRs

October TBR

theblindscribe

Happy Friday bookish people! I am happy today to be bringing you my TBR for october!

October is a busy month for me, I have my RDC2 Assessment coming up in December so a lot of work needed for that and also – my sister is getting married this month! Which is so exciting. While she is on her honeymoon I get to stay at her house and look after her cat so that will also be interesting.

I am also going to London this month for the Billy Idol concert, and while there I have been invited to a book event with Orion publishing and excited doesn’t even begin to cover my feelings for that. After the event I am getting the sleeper train home and that will be an experience I am sure.

Anyway, to do all this I am going to need some good books so here is my October TBR!

Beach Read by Emily Henry

I am quite excited to read this book, I currently have the ebook on loan from my local library.

Devil Makes Three by Tori Bovelino

This book is set in a library or school and is full of spooky plot ideas perfect for October reading.

Nothing More to tell by Karen M McManus

I have just bought this book and I am very excited to read it, I love her books and this one is perfect for my PhD.

Pages and Co by Anna James

The third book, I can’t remember right now what the title is but I enjoyed the first two and this could be a nice light read for me.

Finale by Stephanie Garber

I have read the first two books in the Caraval series and loved them but I have heard mixed things about this final book so I have been putting off reading it, maybe this month is the month.

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

This books sounds so good and I just got this book in last month’s fairyloot box.

Three Dahlias by Katy Watson

This book has all the elements I love, an old manor house, a small cast of characters, a murder mystery I cannot wait to read it.

Marple

The new anthology of Marple short stories is another book that is right up my street, I always loved Poirot more but honestly I will take any Agatha Christie I can get.

Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

I really love Stephanie Garber’s books and this one has such a beautiful cover that I can’t wait to read it.

A Fatal Crossing by Tom Hindle

A murder mystery, set on a boat. It sounds amazing.

Your Turn To Die by Sue Wallman

Her books are always so tense and psychological so I am very excited to read it in October.

European Travels for the Monstrous Gentlewomen by Theodora Goss

This book is big but I am loving historical settings at the moment.

Devil’s Advocate by Steve Cavanaugh

After reading the synopsis of this book I love the idea of a law setting in a thriller.

That’s it for my October TBR, I hope you all enjoyed it. What books are you reading in October? Have you read any of these?

Book Tags

Spring has sprung book tag!

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Happy Friday bookish people! I am excited to be bringing you another book tag today, the spring has sprung book tag!

Flowers – Look on your bookshelf, what is the most beautiful book inside and out: A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross the Illumicrate edition

This cover is just stunning, I haven’t read it yet but I’m sure that the story is just as beautiful

Grass – what is a book that you find others like way more than you did: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

I have a review post up of this book but I did not like this book very much yet I hear so many people talking about how good this series is

Rain – what is a great book that lifts your spirits when you’re down: Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Dew – what’s a book that made you feel alive: Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

this mystery book had my heart beating very fast and that’s why I chose it as my answer for a book that made me feel alive

Storms – what’s a book that you found unpredictable: Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz

Rainbow – what was a book you struggled with but you were glad you finished it: Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Chilly weather – a book you couldn’t finish or didn’t enjoy: Lily by Rose Tremain

Warm weather – a book you loved and you wanted more of: any books by Kerri Maniscalco!

The stalking Jack the Ripper books series and the Kingdom of the Wicked series, I love all of them!

Green – a book you haven’t read yet but really want to: Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments

Pink – a book in which you felt a strong connection to the characters: Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Purple – what’s a book that when you read it made you feel safe: I don’t have an answer for this one unfortunately.

Orange – what book do you feel is intelligently written: any Agatha Christie book

Yellow – what book puts a smile on your face: the Pages and Co series by Anna James

That’s the end of this book tag, I hope you all enjoyed it! How would you have answered these questions?

Book Reviews

Book Review – Pages and Co: Tilly and the Lost Fairytales by Anna James

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Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you are all having a good day so far. Today I am bringing you a book review for the second book in the Pages and Co series by Anna James.

In this book review I will give star ratings to four categories and I will write a little bit about each one. I will try to keep it as spoiler free as possible. I hope you enjoy my book review.

Tilly and the Lost Fairytales Plot:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This book picks up from where the first book finished or very close to it at least. The idea of fairytales and fairy tale characters disappearing was what really caught my attention in this book, I felt drawn into the mystery of what was happening to them and I was invested in what the outcome would be. I liked that this book developed on plot points from the first book and that some of the things in the first book turned out to not be quite as they seemed. The world was also something that I loved being able to discover more of it, in terms of its rules and the politics surrounding everything, it added a lot of needed tension. At some points I felt that the mystery was too vague in a way and that there were a few things that needed to be explained more but I am hoping they will be in future books.

Tilly and the Lost Fairytales Characters:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Tilly is a great main character. She is headstrong and somehow finds trouble no matter what she is doing. I felt for her in a lot of ways, the first book left her with a lot of questions and this impacted her a lot throughout this book. The other main character is her best friend Oscar, and I love their relationship. They work great together but they also have differing opinions which keeps their friendship realistic.

Tilly and the Lost Fairytales Writing and Dialogue:

Anna James’ writing is a style that I enjoy because it doesn’t feel like it has been simplified for its intended audience of middle grade readers, some books I have read in the past have done this.

Tilly and the Lost Fairytales Overall:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I gave this book four stars overall because its a very comforting series to dive into and I am excited to pick up the third book.

Blurb/Synopsis:

A magical adventure to delight the imagination. The curl-up-on-the-sofa snuggle of a series from a uniquely talented author.

Tilly Pages is a bookwanderer; she can travel inside books, and even talk to the characters she meets there. But Tilly’s powers are put to the test when fairytales start leaking book magic and causing havoc . . . 

On a wintery visit to Paris, Tilly and her best friend Oskar bravely bookwander into the land of fairytales to find that characters are getting lost, stories are all mixed-up, and mysterious plot holes are opening without warning. Can Tilly work out who, or what, is behind the chaos so everyone gets their happily-ever-after?

That’s it for this book review, I hope you all enjoyed it!

Monthly Wrap Ups

January Wrap Up!

theblindscribe

Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you all had a lovely January. If you have seen any of my recent posts here on my Instagram posts (@the_blind_scribe) you will know that my January has been full of ups and downs, honestly mostly downs. After being unwell for most of it and then my partner and I breaking up and having to move back in with my parents I barely read anything in January.

So, onto my January Wrap-up!

  • Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte – I did not read
  • A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik – I did not read
  • Act Your Age Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert – I did read!
  • Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare – I did not read
  • Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody – I did not read
  • Daughters of Night by Laura Shepard Robinson – I have recently started to read this, I won’t finish it by the end of the month but I am really enjoying the atmosphere and the lead female character so far.
  • The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton – I have not read
  • Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff – I did not get around to reading
  • European Travels for the Monstrous Gentlewoman by Theodora Goss – I have read the first 20 pages or so of this book and I am enjoying it but I wasn’t in the right mood for it this month because of everything happening.
  • Finale by Stephanie Garber – I did not read
  • Furyborn by Claire Legrand – I did not read
  • The Killings at Kingfisher Hill by Sophie Hannah – I did read this!
  • Nevernight by Jay Kristoff – I did not read this
  • Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty – I did not read this
  • Pages and Co Tilly and the Lost Fairytales – I did read this!
  • Queenslayer by Sebastien De Castell – I did not read this
  • Shadowscent by P M Freestone – I did not read this
  • The Burning Page by Genevieve Cogman – I did not read
  • The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi – I did not read
  • The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley – I did not read
  • The Plague Letters by V L Valentine – I did not read
  • Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas – I did not read

I also read The Enchanted Wood, The Magic Faraway Tree and The Folk of the Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton which wasn’t on my TBR. So that means I read six books and I started two more so I am actually really happy with the amount that I ended up reading this month.

That’s it for this wrap up I hope you all enjoyed it!

Book Reviews

Book Review: Pages and Co by Anna James

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Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a good day today. I am all tucked up in bed not feeling too great but with a lovely stack of books next to me just waiting to be read. Today I am bringing you a book review of Pages and Co by Anna James.

In this book review I will give star ratings to four categories and I will write a little about each one. I will try to keep it as spoiler free as possible. I hope you enjoy my book review.

Pages and Co Plot:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Pages and Co is a story that focuses on Tilly, a young girl who lives with her Grandparents in their bookshop, who finds that there is a lot more magic in books than she thought possible. I loved the magic in this story, it embodies the wonder that children feel when reading and living the enchantment of books. It also carries a childlike innocence throughout that gives the whole story a lighter tone despite the serious moments. The plot of this book was so unique and it drew me in from the very first chapter

Pages and Co Characters:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Tilly is the main character in this book, she is headstrong and adventurous. I loved following her as she discovers where her life is going. I felt that Tilly had a great character arc in this story but also I think her character still has a lot of room for growth in the rest of the series. Something else I loved about the characters in this book is the friendship between Tilly and Oskar.

Pages and Co Writing and Dialogue:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

There’s not a lot that I can say about this other than it was clear and smooth and I felt that the writing helped to carry the plot on.

Pages and Co Overall:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I gave this book four stars overall because I really enjoyed the story and I am excited to continue reading the series (at the time of reading this I have already read the second book in the series).

Blurb/Synopsis:

A magical adventure to delight the imagination. A curl-up-on-the-sofa debut from a uniquely talented author.

Eleven year-old Tilly has lived above her grandparents’ bookshop ever since her mother disappeared shortly after she was born. Like the rest of her family, Tilly loves nothing more than to escape into the pages of her favourite stories.

One day Tilly realises that classic children’s characters are appearing in the shop through the magic of `book wandering’ – crossing over from the page into real life.

With the help of Anne of Green Gables and Alice in Wonderland. Tilly is determined to solve the mystery of what happened to her mother all those years ago, so she bravely steps into the unknown, unsure of what adventure lies ahead and what dangers she may face.

That’s it for this book review, I hope you all enjoyed it!

Monthly TBRs

January TBR!

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Happy Tuesday bookish people! It’s the first month of the new year and it is time to share what I hope to be reading this month. I feel like I want to read a lot this month so far, I am hoping this will continue throughout the month and I’ll have a great month to start the year.

My January TBR:

  • The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi – I am really excited to read this book, I bought it with some vouchers I got for Christmas and it should be arriving today.
  • Furyborn by Claire Legrand – I’m not sure what I will think of this book but I want to read more outside of my comfort zone this year
  • Queenslayer by Sebastien de Castell – I am so close to finishing this series and I think this book will be another great one just like the rest of the series.
  • Act Your Age Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert – I will say at the time of writing this that I have actually finished reading this book and completed the Brown Sisters trilogy!
  • Daughters of Night by Laura Shepard-Robinson – A good Victorian mystery, that’s just what I want to read right now.
  • Shadowscent by P M Freestone – this is another book that I am not sure what to make of it yet but I hope I will enjoy it.
  • The Plague Letters by V L Valentine – a historical murder mystery, it sounds so different and intriguing and I am excited to get into it.
  • Nevernight by Jay Kristoff – I am hoping that I will be able to get into this book easily.
  • Killings at Kingfisher Hill by Sophie Hannah – I read one of the books in her Poirot series and enjoyed it so hopefully the rest of the series will be the same.
  • The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton – I loved his other book and a murder mystery set on a boat sounds intriguing.
  • Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas – It is time I got around to reading this book.
  • Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody – I love any book to do with a circus or carnival so I have high hopes.
  • European Travels for the Monstrous Gentlewoman by Theodora Goss – I have already started this one and just like the first book in the series, I am already immersed in the world.
  • Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte – I don’t actually know much about this book.
  • Hunting Party by Lucy Foley – I started reading her other book and ended up putting it down so I hope I will have better luck with this book.
  • Pages and Co 2 by Anna James – this is a lovely series of books that I am excited to continue.
  • The Burning Page by Genevieve Cogman – another series that has a brilliant world that I want to get back to.
  • Finale by Stephanie Garber – finally I am hoping to finish up the caraval series!
  • A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik – I’ve heard mixed things about this book but I am still interested in reading it.
  • Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare – this is an intimidating book but I am excited to get around to it
  • Empire of the Vampire – another book I’m not sure about but I have heard great things.
  • Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty – I am excited to read more mysteries this month.

That’s it for my January TBR, I hope you all enjoyed it! Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them?

Monthly Wrap Ups

November Wrap-Up!

theblindscribe

Happy Monday bookish people! It is getting to the end of November and it is time to share my November wrap-up with you all. This month has gone by so quickly because I’ve had so much to do. This month has been for getting everything ready for Christmas and at last it is all done, prepared, ready. I’ve also been making all my posts for December because as I announced last week I will be trying to post every day in December, it has been fun but a lot of work. I haven’t finished them yet but I’ve done most and I am attempting to finish them today. On top of that I’ve been unwell for at least half of November and that has left very little time to read.

So, let’s talk about what I did and didn’t read and what I thought of the books!

  • A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas – I did not read this book this month, I wasn’t in the mood for a long fantasy book but I have moved this book to my December TBR
  • Vampire Brat by Angie Sage – one of the books in the Araminta Spook series and I did read this book. I liked it but it isn’t my favourite of the series.
  • Truthwitch by Susan Dennard – I did not read this book but I have moved this one to my December TBR
  • Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas – I did not read this book
  • These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan – I did not read this book, it’s another fantasy that I just wasn’t in the mood for this month
  • The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson – I didn’t read this book
  • The Howling Hag Mystery by Nicki Thornton – I did read this book, it was interesting but not all that enjoyable for me
  • The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White – I did not read this book
  • The Devil Makes Three by Tori Bovalino – I did not read this book
  • The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon – I didn’t read this book either
  • Take A Hint Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert – I did read this book! and it surprised me, I have posted a book review for this book if you are interested in my full thoughts
  • The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson – I did not read this book
  • Shadowscent The Darkest Bloom by P M Freestone – I did not read
  • Rose by Holly Webb – I wanted to get around to this book but in the end there wasn’t enough time
  • Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch – I am currently reading this book and I will finish it before the end of the month and I am enjoying it a lot.
  • Pages and Co by Anna James – I did read this book and I enjoyed it so much I want to get the rest of the series.
  • Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T A Willberg – this is another book I wanted to get to but in the end I didn’t
  • Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey – I did not read this book
  • Ghostsitters by Angie Sage – another book from the Araminta Spook series and I did read this
  • Fable by Adrienne Young – I did not read this book
  • Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody – I did not read this
  • Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare – I did not read this
  • By the Book by Amanda Sellett – I did not read this book
  • Act Your Age Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert – I did not read this book either

So I ended up reading five books off my TBR and I am in the middle of a sixth book from my TBR, outside of my TBR I read You’ll Be The Death of Me by Karen M McManus for a book tour so that makes my overall total for the month 7 books which I’m pretty pleased with.

I hope you enjoyed reading my November Wrap-up!

Monthly TBRs

November TBR

theblindscribe

Happy Tuesday bookish people! I was meant to be putting this post up yesterday but I ran out of time because my partner and I were visiting his parents. So I’m putting it up today instead!

This month I have used the prompts for Believathon round 4: Escape from the Jungle – hosted by Gavin from How To Train Your Gavin on YouTube, but I am twisting the rules just a little bit…

The premise of the Readathon is to read middle grade books that fit the prompts – there are thirty prompts in total. I don’t own that many middle grade books so I am just going to use any books I have to fit the prompts and get some of the middle grade I own in there as well.

Onto my TBR for November!

November TBR:

  • Take A Hint Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert – This is from my October TBR but I still want to read it so I have moved it to this month
  • Rivers of London by ben Aaronovitch – another book taken from my October TBR
  • Act Your Age Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert – and another brought from October
  • Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas – it is about time I read this book, I have had the whole series for ages now
  • The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson – have read one or two of her books before and really enjoyed them so I am looking forward to this one.
  • The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon – this is a series I have seen a lot of good things about
  • The Howling Hag Mystery by Nicki Thornton – this is the first middle grade book on my TBR so I’m excited to get this one on there
  • Rose by Holly Webb – this is a book that was a favourite of mine when I was a child and I am looking forward to trying it again now
  • Fable by Adrienne Young – I love books that feature water so I have high hopes for this one
  • Shadowscent by P M Freestone – I’m not sure how I will find this one but hopefully I enjoy it
  • A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas – I’m so excited to finally get around to reading this one and to be back with Feyre and Rhysand
  • Pages and Co by Anna James – another middle grade that sounds like it will be really good
  • Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T A Willberg – this was on my October TBR but now I am really in the mood to read it
  • The Devil Makes Three by Tori Bovalino – I’m scared to read this one
  • Ghostsitters by Angie sage
  • Vampire Brat by Angie Sage
  • Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey – a book about a book shop, I’m definitely excited about it
  • Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare – I am excited but scared to read this book
  • The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson – I love the cover of this book
  • By the Book by Amanda Sellet – I really want to read this book immediately
  • These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan – I love books with fae in them
  • Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
  • The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White
  • Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody

That’s it for my October TBR I hope you enjoyed it and let me know in the comments if you have read any of these and what you thought of them!