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Nostalgic Books

April 7, 2023March 20, 2023 theblindscribe

Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you are all doing well today!

Today’s post was brought on because my Sister, who has moved out, and her Daughter came over and wanted to see if there were any books in the loft from her childhood, and my childhood, that would be suitable reading for her daughter. I was not ready for how many memories this brought back, the amount of books up there was crazy! Obviously, I am a big reader even when I was very young so most of the books were mine and I thought it would be fun if I shared some of the books that were the most nostalgic for me.

Lets start off with a good one:

The Rainbow Magic Fairies series

I LOVED these books when I was younger, to be honest I loved anything to do with fairies but these were one of my favourite series’. I have to say I kept a few of these books back for myself and my memories rather than giving them to my sister’s daughter, which I felt bad about and then I realised I had actually drawn all over the books anyway. OOPS!

Stardust by Linda Chapman

This was a seven books series which I also really loved. It is about a girl called Lucy who finds out she is a stardust spirit and has magic powers. I learnt a lot about nature and animals from this series and to be honest it is still enjoyable to read even now I am in my 20’s.

The Pony Mad princess Series

I had these books when I was young and I have to say they are very nostalgic because a few months ago, before we even thought about going into the loft, I kept remembering a scene from this book where the horse gets into trouble and she sees another girl in the bushes and I learnt that to keep a horse warm you need to rub its ears.

and finally…

The Lady in the Tower by Marie Louise Jennison

If you have been on any of my other blog posts you probably know I love this book, I talk about it a lot. It was the first book that really showed me that I love historical fiction, especially around the Tudors which is my favourite historical era.

What books are nostalgic for you?

Monthly TBRs

April TBR

April 3, 2023March 20, 2023 theblindscribe

Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a good day today. It is April already and this month is busy, busy, busy for me. There’s so much to do. I have a table at Liverpool Comic Con (as you are seeing this, it will have already happened so fingers crossed it will have gone well). Then two days later I am heading to Bath to see Garth Nix which is very exciting, and that’s only the first week of April! So, with such a busy month I needed a big TBR for April.

Onto the TBR!

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas

Crescent City: House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J Maas

Crownbreaker by Sebastien De Castell

The Girl In the Tower by Katherine Arden

An Ember In The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Capturing The Devil by Kerri Maniscalco

Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

Sadie by Courtney Summers

Once and Future Witches by Alix E Harrow

European Travels for the Monstrous Gentlewoman

Sense and Second Degree Murder by Tirzah Price

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano

A Little Bit Country

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Assassins Apprentice by Robin Hobb

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

What are you all reading in April?

Have you read any of the books on my TBR? What did you think of them?

Monthly Wrap Ups

March Wrap Up!

March 29, 2023 theblindscribe

Happy Wednesday everyone! I hope you are all having a good day today. I am bringing you my March wrap up today, a little early just because I am travelling to Liverpool on Friday to be a trader at Comic Con which is exciting.

Anyway, I did a lot better with my reading this month and I have finally gotten back into reading fantasy after reading a lot of mysteries.

The Good Thieves – I did not read
Your Turn To Die by Sue Wallman – I did not read
Gwen and Art Are Not In Love by Lex Croucher – I DID read and a review will be coming very soon, I was sent a proof copy of this book to read and review.
The Plague Letters by V L Valentine – I did not read
Pandora by Susan Stokes Chapman – I did not read
A little bit country – I did not read
Finale by Stephanie Garber – I did not read, I am scared to read this as it is the final book in the series!
Murder on the christmas express by Alexandra benedict – I did not read
Blood and Honey – I did not read
The Bingo Hall Detectives – I DID read
Paris Dallencourt is about to crumble – I did not read
The bullet that missed – I did not read
The Hunting Party – I did not read
Kingdom of the cursed – I did not read however, I will be taking this on the car journey to Liverpool

So, I read two books off my actual TBR but I also read books outside of my TBR which were the seven Stardust books by Linda Chapman, Crownbreaker by Sebastien de Castell which is actually on my April TBR but I read it in one day- oops!, and 11 of the Rainbow Magic fairies books which means overall I read 21 books this month which is great!

What did you all read in March?

Book Tags

March Madness Book Tag

March 24, 2023February 24, 2023 theblindscribe

Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you are all having a good day. Today, I am bringing you my answers to the March Madness book tag. Note: I did not invent this tag.

Selection Sunday: Upcoming release that you are looking forward to

The new book in the Priory of the Orange series by Samantha Shannon, that book is beautiful

Sweet 16: a teen protagonist that you love

I would have to go with my first thought, which is Vasilissa Dragomir in the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead

Final 4: top four books you think of

Sorcery of thorns – Margaret Rogerson
Caraval – Stephanie Garber
By The Book
Stalking Jack the Ripper – Kerri Maniscalco

Championship Fame: a book that has a competition or dual

I actually couldn’t think of one but I am sure that there must be one somewhere in the A Darker Shade of Magic.

16 seed: an underrated book or series that deserves love

Cecily by Annie Garthwaite

Top #1 Seed: a good but overhyped book

The Love Hypothesis. I know people love it and I thought it was okay but definitely not amazing.

Buzzer beater: a book that surprised you in a good or bad way

Love in the time of serial killers – in a bad way.

Mascot: Favourite animal sidekick

Reichus in the Spellslinger series

Bracket Buster: a book that hurt you

Dangerous Remedy – That ending! I can’t even say anything else about ti without spoiling it.

Sports bar: A book with a great setting

Any and every book set in France!

I hope you enjoyed it, did you agree with my answers? How would you have answered them?

Book Reviews

Book Review: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

March 20, 2023February 24, 2023 theblindscribe

Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you all enjoy my book review of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

I will give star ratings to four categories and I will write a little bit about each one. I will do my best to not give any spoilers in this review.

The very Secret Society of Irregular Witches Plot:

Cosy fantasy is a new genre, to me and in general really, but I loved it in this novel. It follows Mika Moon, a witch who has always been told to keep her magic a secret, as she takes up a new job as a witch tutor to three young girls. The job comes with two eccentric men, an emotional woman called Lucy, and Jamie the handsome but brooding librarian. This novel really engaged me, I loved every second of it.

The Very Secret Society of irregular Witches Characters:

It is really hard to say anything in this category without spoiling anything! What I will say is that Mika grows as character in a really brilliant way throughout the novel and I think she helps the other characters grow a bit as well which is a nice theme to see in fantasy novels.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches Writing and Dialogue:

As I said, this novel fits in the cosy fantasy style and I really think it worked well. It is light even in the dark, tense moments and that made it so much easier to breeze through when reading it.

The very Secret Society of Irregular Witches Overall:

I loved this book, I truly did. It was more fun than I thought it would be but the reason I didn’t give it five stars is because it just didn’t feel like a five star. I didn’t get that feeling while reading it.

Blurb/Synopsis:

A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family–and a new love–changes the course of her life.

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she’s used to being alone and she follows the rules…with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.

But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and…Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he’s concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn’t the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn’t know she was looking for….

Book Tags

Mothers Day Book Tag

March 17, 2023February 24, 2023 theblindscribe

Happy Friday bookish people! This Sunday is Mother’s Day and this time last year I did the mother’s day book tag, what I thought would be interesting would be to do the same tag again this year and see if my answers were at all similar to what I said last year or not.

I hope you all enjoy my book tag!

Best friend: pick characters in a book whose friendship you admire most

I would have to say Judith, Suzie and Becks in the Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood

Comfort: what’s a book that always puts you in a better mood

this answer still has to be the lady in the Tower by Marie Louise Jenson – I LOVE this book!

Doesn’t give up: What’s a book you were tempted to DNF but instead finished

Actually that would be the book I am reading now, the Accidental Medium by Tracy Whitwell, the beginning was very boring and I didn’t get on with the writing style. Now I am more into the story so I am glad I continued reading.

Selfless: What’s a book you had to sacrifice for

The very secret society of irregular witches, I had to put down a signed version of this book because it was on my christmas list but luckily my mum got it for me.

Love: What’s your favourite love story

Currently it is Emma by Jane Austen – you’ve got to love a classic

Homemaker: If you could live with a fictional family where would you go?

Thorn Manor in the margaret roegerson books definitely.

Forgiving: Name a character you hate but you would eventually have to forgive

my answer is the same as last year, Eli Ever from Vicious by V E Schwab

Teacher: A book that has taught you things that will stay with you forever

Still the same as last year, Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Dedication: What is a book that you would dedicate to your Mum

Haven’t they grown – isn’t that what a mother thinks every year looking at their children

Book Reviews

Book Review: Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens

March 13, 2023February 24, 2023 theblindscribe

Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you all enjoy my book review of Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens.

I will give star ratings to four categories and I will write a little bit about each one. I will try to keep this review as spoiler free as possible.

Murder Most Unladylike Plot:

This book follows Daisy and Hazel at Deepdean school, they are friends (who definitely have small arguments) who end up embroiled in a murder mystery when they find the body of their teacher, but then it suddenly disappears. I enjoyed the slightly cosy mystery feel that this book had, it was nice to see it from a younger child’s perspective than all the adult murder mysteries I read. It was still complex and a great mystery though which made it even better.

Murder Most Unladylike Character:

The novel is written from Hazel’s perspective. I liked her because she had an organised and investigative mind, she always looked for every avenue that could be and needed to be explored. Even though she is afraid she knows what she is doing is important. In this first book in the series I did not like Daisy, she is bossy and full of herself and it really grated on me throughout the novel. I know that is her character flaw but she barely listened to Hazel’s ideas and for a whole series I think I would find that hard to continue reading.

Murder Most Unladylike Writing and Dialogue:

I think generally the writing in this book is pretty good, it feels young but that is the age range it is catered to. Otherwise I don’t have a lot to say about the writing.

Murder Most Unladylike Overall:

I gave this book four stars overall because it was an enjoyable mystery, and I am interested in reading more of the series.

Blurb/Synopsis:

1934. When Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong set up a secret detective agency at Deepdean School for Girls, they struggle to find a truly exciting mystery to investigate. (Unless you count the case of Lavinia’s missing tie. Which they don’t.)

But then Hazel discovers the body of the Science Mistress, Miss Bell – but when she and Daisy return five minutes later, the body has disappeared. Now the girls have to solve a murder, and prove a murder has happened in the first place before the killer strikes again (and before the police can get there first, naturally),

But will they succeed?

And can their friendship stand the test?

I hope you enjoyed my book review!

Book Tags

Medieval Queens Book Tag

March 10, 2023February 24, 2023 theblindscribe

Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you are all having a lovely day today, I am bringing you a book tag – the Medieval Queens Book Tag! I found this tag on onebookmore.com

1. Empress Matilda: choose a book with a protagonist who stands their ground

2. Eleanor of Aquitane: choose a book or series in which the heroine has more than one romantic relationship

3. Eleanor of Castille: choose a bittersweet book

4. Isabella of France: Choose a book where the romance overtook the plot

5. Philippa of Hainault: choose a book set at a University

6. Joan of Navarre: choose a book about witches

Book Reviews

Book Review: Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson

March 6, 2023February 24, 2023 theblindscribe

Happy Monday bookish people! Today, I am bringing you my book review for the new novella set in the world of Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson.

As usual, I will give star ratings to four categories and I will write a little bit about each one. I will try to keep this review as spoiler free as possible.

Mysteries of Thorn Manor Plot:

This short book is a follow up to the novel, Sorcery of Thorns, it follows Elisabeth and Nathaniel as they embark on their relationship together. In this new story the gardens and house of Thorn Manor have turned against the residents and are magically keeping them locked inside the house. I found this story extremely fun and engaging, I loved being back with the sorcery of thorns characters, it is one of my favourite books and this book still had that mystery element but in a much cosier way.

Mysteries of Thorn Manor Character:

In this follow up you get to know the characters on a deeper level, they reveal more of their pasts. Especially Nathaniel who was very secretive in Sorcery of Thorns, it was also nice to see a lighter side to him. Elisabeth was her usual hot headed and interesting self which was great.

Mysteries of Thorn Manor Writing and Dialogue:

There’s not much more I can say here, Margaret Rogerson is one of my favourite writers, her style of writing is engaging and magical and everything I would want in a fantasy novel.

Mysteries of Thorn Manor Overall:

I gave this book four stars overall, simply because I wanted more! Give me all the sorcery of thorns novellas, I would read them all.

Synopsis:

All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.

Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire. Elisabeth’s desperate intervention implicates her in the crime, and she is torn from her home to face justice in the capital. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.

As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she’s been taught—about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.

I hope you all enjoyed my book review!

Monthly TBRs

March TBR

March 3, 2023February 24, 2023 theblindscribe

Happy Friday bookish people! It is March, the BEST month. Of course, I am biased, it is my birthday month and my Guide Dog’s birthday month – which makes it the best.

I have a variety of books on my TBR for this month and a lot that I am very excited about.