Tag: cecily

Book Tags

Astrological Book Tag

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Happy Friday bookish people! I found this Astrological Book Tag from Peace Love Veggies, I hope you all enjoy it!

Aries: Name a book that is full of fire, desire and passion

This is my star sign and there is one book I think of instantly..

Taurus: Name a book you have read that was beautifully written

Gemini: Name a book you have read featuring twins

What a difficult question! I don’t think I have read any books that have twins in them, if you know of one then let me know down below!

Cancer: Name a book you read that was a real tear jerker

I am not really the person that cries at books but Gwen and Art are not in love did actually make me cry, I am not even sure why because it was not an overly emotional book

Leo: Name a book you’ve read with courageous characters

Virgo: Name a book you’ve read which was pure perfection

Libra: Name a book you’ve read that was neither good nor bad

Scorpio: Name a book you’ve read that was dark and mysterious

Sagittarius: Name a book that is full of adventure

Capricorn: Name a book that made you think

I am cheating here a little bit, every book makes me think in a different way.

Aquarius: Name a book that is really quirky

Pisces: Name a book you’ve read which was very imaginative

Monthly Wrap Ups, Uncategorized

2022 Wrap Up!

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Happy Friday bookish people! My goodness the end of the year has arrived very quickly and it is time to do my yearly wrap up. For this year I am going to show a picture of the book cover of every book I have read this year all broken down into categories determined by the star rating I gave the book.

overall, this year I have only managed to read 49 books, compared to over 100 last year.

2 star

This year I read no books that I disliked so much that I gave them one star, it was close but I eventually decided the books in the two star category are:

In my 3 star category are:

4 star ratings

and finally… my two books I read this year that I rated five stars are…..

Book Tags

Folklore Book Tag

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Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you are all having a good day today. The book tag I am doing today is the Folklore Book Tag which I found on laurensboookshelf.com but was created by lisa @A Whisper of Ink. It looks like it will be a very fun tag so I am looking forward to sharing my choices here.

The 1: A book with an ending that left you speechless

Ooh that’s starting with a difficult one… I think I am going to go with Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell because the first book in the series ends in a way I wasn’t expecting but obviously I can’t say how it ends here because of spoilers

Cardigan: A book that makes you feel happy and sad all at once

I am going to go with The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner, there’s two different timelines within this book and both of them constantly made me feel happy and sad when I read it.

The last Great American Dynasty: A book with a fascinating and well-told story

I have to choose Cecily by Annie Garthwaite for this one, it is one of my favourite books of 2022 so far and it is haunting and just overall brilliant.

Exile: A book you wish you hadn’t read

I am afraid this has to be The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, I just did not enjoy it and I still own the rest of the series.

My tears ricochet: A book that made you cry uncontrollably

Books don’t make me cry like that, I might tear up but not cry uncontrollably so I don’t really have an answer for this one.

Mirrorball: A book that feels like it was written just for you

This is definitely The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, I love the magic of this book and it feels like it was the perfect book for me.

Seven: A childhood book that makes you feel nostalgic

The Faraway Tree series by Enid Blyton, I always loved this series as a child and I still love to reread them now.

August: A book that reminds you of summer

I honestly can’t think of a book that makes me think of summer, I am sure that as soon as I post this book tag three of them will come to my mind but right now I have no answer.

This is me trying: A book that deals with loneliness and sadness

the first book that comes to mind is Holding Up The Universe and I read that when I was in secondary school a while ago and I can’t remember it all that well.

Illicit Affairs: A book that gave you a book hangover

most recently Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan, I’m not sure why other than I didn’t love the book but I didn’t read for nearly two weeks after that book.

Invisible String: A book that came into your life at the exact right time

Caraval by Stephanie Garber definitely, I read it at a time when I was searching for a really great book about magic, fates and sisters.

Mad Woman: A book with a female character you adore

I know I have just used it but I have to go with Scarlett from Caraval, she is a headstrong yet caring female character.

Epiphany: A book that was haunting

Ooh another one I don’t have an immediate answer for… I think I have to choose City of ghosts by Victoria Schwab

Betty: A book couple that fills you with yearning

Audrey Rose Wadsworth and Thomas Cresswell from the Stalking Jack the Ripper series by Kerri Maniscalco

Peace: A book character you’d die for because you love them so much

I think I would have to say Elisabeth from Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Hoax: A book that you thought you were going to love but didn’t

A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz. I loved Moonflower Murders by the same author but this one just didn’t have the same enjoyment unfortunately.

That’s it for the Folklore Book Tag, I hope you all enjoyed it!

Book Reviews

Book Review: Cecily by Annie Garthwaite

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Happy Monday bookish people! Today I am bringing you my book review for Cecily by Annie Garthwaite.

In this book review 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 include spoilers. I hope you enjoy my book review.

Cecily Plot:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I am a huge fan of history from the 1300s to the 1600s and this book was the perfect read for historical fiction of this period. I originally didn’t know much about Cecily Neville, but now I feel like I know every heartache and every victory that she experienced. This book is about a powerful, ambitious and intelligent woman who broke tradition in so many ways, she took risks to protect and advance her family and I was absolutely sucked into this book from the very first page.

Cecily Characters:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

This book obviously is characters that were real people and this relied on extensive research by the author. What I liked is that these characters felt real, they didn’t feel like the author took the shell of the person from the research and turned them into what they needed for the book, it felt like you had fallen into a history book and you were watching every moment of the court take place.

Cecily Writing and Dialogue:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

With the way this book is written, the way it had to be written because of the historical timeline, it could have felt more like non-fiction or like a letter in some cases but it didn’t, it was engaging and fluid.

Cecily Overall:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

This is my first five star book of this year and I can’t recommend it enough, I thought it was fantastic, a book I can read over and over again.

Blurb/Synopsis:

“Rebellion?”
The word is a spark. They can start a fire with it, or smother it in their fingertips.
She chooses to start a fire.

You are born high, but marry a traitor’s son. You bear him twelve children, carry his cause and bury his past.

You play the game, against enemies who wish you ashes. Slowly, you rise.

You are Cecily.

But when the King who governs you proves unfit, what then?

Loyalty or treason – death may follow both. The board is set. Time to make your first move.

Told through the eyes of its greatest unseen protagonist, this astonishing debut plunges you into the blood and exhilaration of the first days of the Wars of the Roses, a war as women fight it.

That’s it for this book review, I hope you all enjoyed it! Have you read this book? Did you enjoy it?

Book Tags

The Summer Bucket List Book Tag

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Happy Friday bookish people! I thought it would be fun to do a summer book tag today, even though it’s technically not summer yet I don’t think, but it’s close! I found this book tag on parchmentpages.co.uk

Hit The Beach: A Book Set By The Sea

Watch Fireworks: A Book That Had A Fiery Romance

Go For A Road Trip: A Book That Involves A Journey

Camp Under The Stars: A Book That Had You Starstruck

I’m not sure on this one, I literally can’t think of any book that made me feel starstruck

Marathon Some Movies: A Book You Couldn’t Put Down

Go Out For Ice Cream: A Book With A Sweet Romance

Picnic In The Park: A Book That Was A Breath Of Fresh Air

Go For A Hike: A Character Who Conquered An Obstacle

Grill Some BBQ: A Book Featuring Delicious Food

Watch The Sunrise: A Book That Inspired You

That’s it for this book tag, if you see this then consider yourselves tagged!

Monthly Wrap Ups

May Wrap Up!

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Happy Thursday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a good day today. I know this is a couple of days late but I haven’t been very well. But finally I can put up my May wrap up! I had a much better reading month, part of this was because I took part in the 48 hour readathon hosted by Becca and the Books on YouTube for which I ended up reading seven books over a weekend.

So, let’s see what I managed to read this month from my TBR:

  • The Crooked Sixpence by Jennifer Bell – I did read this! It was one of the seven books I read for the readathon, a review will be coming soon
  • The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling – another book I read as part of the readathon, review coming soon
  • Graceling by Kristen Cashore – I did not read this
  • Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare – I did not read this
  • Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey – I did not read this
  • Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao – I did not read this
  • A Three Dog Problem by S J Bennett – I did not read this
  • The Crowns Game by Evelyn Skye – I did not read this
  • A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross – I did not read this
  • The Final Girls Support Group by Grady Hendrix – I did read this for the spooky book prompt of the readathon
  • A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske – I read this while on the drive up to Cardiff for a concert this month
  • The Key in the Lock by Beth Underdown – I did not read this
  • Dangerous Women by Hope Adams – I started this book in May and I am currently finishing it now
  • A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz – I did read this
  • Cecily by Annie Garthwaite – I also read this
  • Queenslayer by Sebastien de Castell – and I read this

Outside of my TBR I also read Turtles All The Way Down by John Green, Newts Emerald by Garth Nix and Love Him To Death by Tanya Landman

I think I read 11 books this month which is really great and a lot better than the past few months.

That’s it for my May Wrap up, I hope you all had a good reading month. My reviews of the books that I read will be going up soon!

Monthly TBRs

May TBR!

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Happy Sunday bookish people! Today is the 1st of May and I am very excited to share with you all my plans for May.

So this month is going to be another busy one I think, lots of meetings, lots of classes and a trip to Cardiff which will be fun – and will give me the travel time for reading! There is also the 48 hour bookopolothan hosted by becca and the books on youtube which I will be taking part in, last year it meant I read eight books in two days so that was fun and I’d love to try and do that again.

My books for May:

  • The Crooked Sixpence by Jennifer Bell – this is a very cute sounding middle grade that I am hoping to read early in the month
  • The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling – I love anything witchy so this already appeals to me
  • Graceling by Kristen Cashore
  • Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
  • Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey
  • Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
  • A Three Dog Problem by S J Bennett
  • The Crowns Game
  • A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross
  • The Final Girls Support Group by Grady Hendrix
  • A Marvelous Light by Freya Marske
  • The Key In The Lock by Beth Underdown – I will be reading this for the short book prompt for the 48 hour challenge
  • Dangerous Women by Hope Adams
  • A Line To Kill by Anthony Horowitz
  • Cecily by Annie Garthwaite – I will be using this for the gods prompt for the 48 hour challenge because of the amount of religion in historical fiction of this period
  • Queenslayer by Sebastien de Castell – I have already started reading this one and I am loving it

I am really looking forward to getting started with these books (well technically I already have). Have you read any of these books? what did you think of them?

Monthly TBRs

April Wrap Up!

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Happy Sunday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a good day. Today I am bringing you my April wrap up and I’m so glad to say that my reading has been a little bit better this month, not amazing to the extent that I was at this time last year but so much better than March and February. So I’m going to get straight into which books I did and didn’t read in April!

  • Small Favours by Erin A Craig – I did not read this book – I just wasn’t in the mood for this style of plot this month
  • Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas – I finally managed to read this book, my review for it will be up soon but I really enjoyed it
  • Daughters of Night by Laura Shepard-Robinson – I have started this book but I haven’t finished it yet, it’s a pretty big book so it might take me some time
  • Rose by Holly Webb – I did read this book
  • there was a non-bookish prompt and for this I had a nice warm bath and I watched some videos
  • Lily by Rose Tremain – I did read this book too so a review of this book will also be up soon
  • The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros – I did not read this book
  • The Mapmakers by Tamzin Merchant – I read this book too!
  • Down Comes the Night by Alison Saft – I did not read this book
  • Nine Lives by Peter Swanson – I did not read this book and I’m sad about that because I am really excited for it
  • Queenslayer by Sebastien de Castell – I am currently 3/4 of the way through this book and it is also on my May tbr so I will be finishing it in the next few days
  • An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir – I did not read this book
  • The Five – I did not read this book
  • A Marvelous Light by Freya Marske – I did not read this book but it is on my May tbr
  • Cecily by Annie Garthwaite – Again I didn’t read this book but it is on my May tbr
  • Only A Monster by Vanessa Len – I didn’t read this book
  • Assassins Apprentice by Robin Hobb – I did not read this book
  • Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore – I did read this book!
  • An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson – I did not read this book
  • Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody – I did not read this book – I did take it all the way to London with me and then still didn’t read it
  • House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J Maas – I did not read this

So that was what I did and didn’t read in April. I ended up reading 5 books and started two others, one of which I will finish in a few days so I am really happy with that.

Monthly TBRs

April TBR!

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Happy Friday bookish people! Today I am bringing you my April TBR which includes what books I will be reading for the prompts of the Easter readathon I am co-hosting this month.

Once again, my TBR game gave me a lot of rolls so there are quite a few books to read this month, I am hoping that my reading will improve this month.

So, onto my TBR!

  • Flower – first book you look at: Small Favours by Erin A Craig – I read her first book, House of Salt and Sorrows and really enjoyed it so I am looking forward to this one
  • Chocolate – Plot twist: Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas – this is a book that I have been putting off but I am looking forward to reading it
  • Cake – Multiple POV: Daughters of Night by Laura Shepard-Robinson – I think this book has multiple points of view but also, it is a haunting, dark victorian mystery so it sounds right up my alley
  • Bunny – a short read: Rose by Holly Webb – I read this book when I was younger but I love this story
  • The sun – a non-book, self care prompt: I am not sure what I will do for this, probably watch some bookish videos and have a warm bath
  • Moon – a mystery: Lily by Rose Tremain – I am so excited to read this book
  • Carrot – a title starts with a c: The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros
  • The Mapmakers by Tamzen Merchant – I loved the hatmakers so I am very excited to continue this series
  • Down comes the night by Alison Saft – I love Victorian, gothic themed novels
  • Nine Lives by Peter Swanson – I love his books and the premise of this book sounds really good
  • Queenslayer by Sebastien de Castell – I am two books away from finishing this series so I would love to read this one soon
  • An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir – this is another book that has been on my TBR for a long time
  • The Five: the untold story of the victims of Jack the ripper – I love anything about the jack the ripper mystery and I think it is great to see the women he killed as women
  • A Marvelous Light by Freya Marske – I got this in my Illumicrate box and it sounds very interesting
  • Cecily by Anne Garthwaite – I am looking forward to reading historical fiction again
  • Only A Monster by Vanessa Len – this sounds very dark and fantastical
  • Assassins Apprentice by Robin Hobb – I am excited to start reading the Hobb books
  • Bringing down the duke by Evie Dunmore – this will be interesting to try and read another genre outside of my comfort zone
  • An enchantment of ravens by Margaret Rogerson – the cover is beautiful and I love this author’s writing
  • Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody – this book looks like it has a morally grey male lead that I think i will like
  • House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J Maas – carrying on over from March TBR

That’s it for my April TBR!