Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a good day today. I have been doing something a bit different this year. In my reading journal there is a space to put your favourite and least favourite read of each month and I thought today I would share my least favourite reads this year.
January – An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
This book had a stronger romantic element rather than plot element, compared to margaret rogerson’s other books – both Vespertine and Sorcery of Thorns are some of my favourite books. I enjoyed Isobel, the main character and I liked how the story and the romance progressed but as I say, compared to the author’s other books I went into it with higher expectations.
February – This Is Not A Game by Kelly Mullen
I used this book for a chapter in my PhD, however I did not enjoy it. I felt it was trying to take elements of the cosy and the traditional mysteries but did not mesh them well.
March – The Village Library Demon Hunting Society
This book has to be one of my least favoruite of the year, even now in November of the same year I read it I can’t remember much of it, all I remember is how much I disliked reading it, I remember being both frustrated and confused and thinking there was no plot.
April – The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
Having seen the TV show for this book and loving it, I had high expectations for this book and this author who I have read and enjoyed previously. However, I did not love it, I thought it was okay but a little but clumpy and dragged put in places.
May – The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
This is probably my least favourite Agatha Christie book, there’s not much I can say other than I found it a little bit boring.
June – How to Sway A Bard
This book was too short. The premise was excellent, but it wasn’t given enough time and attention to make it amazing.
July – The Mystery of the Painted Dragon
This is a young, middle grade mystery series and it is the third book in that series. I enjoyed the series but I decided to not continue with the fourth book after this one.
August – A Novel Murder
Honestly, I didn’t even reach 100 pages into this book, I did not like the self-pitying main character and I couldn’t imagine growing to like them so this was easily one of my least favourite books of the year.
September – I Hope You’re Listening by Tom Ryan
I finished more than half of this book but I struggled with getting into the story, it just didn’t hold my interest.
October – The Coven by Harper L Woods
This book had a very intriguing premise, it lacked substance for me and felt very rushed but it was still quite enjoyable.
November – The Ripper of Whitechapel by Yvette Fielding
This was a short, engaging, middle grade book which I found good but maybe only a three star read while everything else I read in November was a four or above.
I do not have an answer for December yet as I am still reading for this month, but this is the least favourite books for each month so far this year.
Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a lovely day today. It is December and so it is time to share some of the books that are being released this month. As always, I am nowhere near a complete list, most of the time I have only seen a couple but I am glad to share any that I can.
Tailored Realities by Brandon Sanderson – 9th December
Spanning the genres of fantasy and science fiction, this collection features stories from beyond the bounds of Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere universe.
Along with the never-before-seen novella ‘Moment Zero’, Tailored Realities will include ‘Snapshot’, ‘Perfect State’, ‘Defending Elysium’ (a novella set within the world of Skyward), and five other stories that were originally published individually elsewhere – never before collected into one volume, and many never before available in print.
In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams – 30th December
🥕 Chef x Farmer 🥕 Brother’s Best Friend 🥕 He Fell First 🥕 Friends to Lovers 🥕 Meddling Townsfolk
Madison Walker was determined to make it in the culinary world of New York. But with her dreams shattered, she returns home to Rome, Kentucky, where an unexpected chance to rebuild her life awaits her – a head chef position at a new farm-to-table restaurant.
Better In Black by Cassandra Clare – 4th December
Ten couples. United by love. Divided by danger.
Jace and Clary seek out an exiled Shadowhunter and learn that love can save the world – or destroy it. Will and Tessa are enjoying their honeymoon in Paris when a séance sends them down an unexpected path. Simon and Izzy are together in New York when they observe increased demonic activity.
These are just a few of the beloved couples whose romantic escapades will have you on the edge of your seat across time and storylines from Cassandra Clare’s expansive Shadowhunters series. Don’t miss a chance to reunite with:
Anna and Ari Emma and Julian Kieran, Mark, and Cristina James and Cordelia Thomas and Alastair Sebastian and the Seelie Queen Jocelyn andLuke
A love letter to every Shadowhunter fan, and perfect for any romantasy lover, this riveting story collection also includes a sneak peek at The Wicked Powers, the majestic trilogy that will be the grand finale of the entire series.
Relive the love stories that started it all or begin your Shadowhunters obsession with the first in each series: City of Bones, Clockwork Angel or Chain of Gold.
Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a lovely day today. It is now December and that means it is time to talk about what books we will be reading this month.
What books do you hope to read in December and before the end of 2025?
December TBR
Murder at the Orpheus Theatre by Irina Shapiro
Pages and Co: Tilly and the Map of Stories by Anna James
Dog Sitter Detective Christmas Tails by Antony Johnston
Miss Beetons Murder Agency by Josie Lloyd
Traitors Legacy by S J Parris
Fearful by Lauren Roberts
Death and the Harlot by Georgina Clarke
Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards
Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you are all having a lovely day. It is the end of the month and that means it is time to discuss the books that I did and did not read in November.
What books did you read this month? Did you enjoy them?
From my November TBR:
Immortality by Dana Schwartz – I did not get around to reading it this month
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead – I decided, after putting two on my November TBR, not to do any rereads this month so I did not read this one
The Guest List by Lucy Foley – I did read this book. I have been putting it off for a long time but I have finally read it and I thought it was good, not amazing but good enough.
The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrews – I did read this.
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco – this was the second book that I put on my November TBR as a reread, so I did not read this.
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Fairies – I did read this.
Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft – I did not read this
To Steal From Thieves by M K Lobb – I did not read this.
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna – I did read this.
Agency of Scandal by Laura Wood – I did read this.
Fate of the Argosi by Sebastien de Castell – I did read this.
Tower of Dawn by Sarah J Maas – I am writing this a little early, I have a week left of November and in that time I plan on finishing Queen of Shadows, Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn.
Outside of my TBR I also read The Ripper of Whitechapel by Yvette Fielding and A Quiet Life in the Country by TE Kinsey.
That means in November, I read a total of 8 books so far this month, but I might be able to add three more to this if I manage to read the three Sarah J Maas books.
Happy Monday bookish people! How are you all doing today?
It is a new month which means it it time to share some of the books being releases this month. As usual, the dates I use are those for the UK which is where I live.
The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer – 6th November
The ghost of Bluebeard. A handsome count. A con artist in over her head.
Mallory Fontaine is a fraud. Though she comes from a long line of witches, the only magic she possesses is the ability to see ghosts. She and her sister eke out a living by selling fraudulent spells to gullible buyers and conducting tours of the mansion of Count Bastien Saphir – who killed three of his wives more than a century ago. But she never expected to meet his great-grandson and heir to the Saphir estate. Armand is handsome, wealthy and when he offers Mallory a large sum of money to rid his home of Bastien’s ghost, she can’t resist.
But when murder returns to the House Saphir, Mallory is almost certain the killer is mortal. If she has any hope of payment, she’ll have to solve the murder and banish the ghost, all while upholding the illusion of witchcraft.
Still that all sounds easy compared to her biggest challenge: learning to trust her heart. Especially when her heart’s desire might be the murderer himself.
‘Will steal the beating heart right out of your chest!’ – Rosie Talbot, bestselling author of Sixteen Souls, ‘The TikTok made me buy it’ sensation. ‘Thrilling!’ – Rachel Greenlaw, bestselling author of One Christmas Morning ‘I devoured every moment!’ – Alexandra Christo, the international bestselling author of To Kill A Kingdom
Witchlight by Susan Dennard – 12th November
The highly-anticipated finale in Susan Dennard’s New York Times bestselling Witchlands series.
Paths converge and prophecies unfold as Safi and Iseult – the legendary Cahr Awen – fight their way across the Witchlands to heal the final Origin Well. With ancient figures rising from the past, the Raider King’s armies gathering for war, and the magic at the heart of everything dying too fast, the entire world is now on the brink of collapse.
But, when Safi and Iseult reach the Air Well with the Bloodwitch Aeduan at their side, they discover too late that Eridysi’s Lament is not the prophecy they thought it was – and their journeys are only just beginning . . .
The Last Wish of Bristol Keats by Mary Pearson – 13th November
Everyone needs something to hold onto, even if it’s a lie.
Discover the stunning second book in the Bristol Keats fantasy duology, filled with swoon-worthy romantasy, faeries and non-stop action, from Sunday Times bestselling author Mary E. Pearson.
After Bristol nearly loses Tyghan to the monsters her mother unleashed, their love deepens to a whole new level. Together, Bristol and Tyghan work to understand and reconcile their differences, moving forward with their common goal of saving Elphame. But, when a daring rescue attempt turns disastrous and a beloved knight dies, Bristol is forced to confront the fact that her mother is more powerful than she could ever have imagined – and more dangerous, too.
Meanwhile, Tyghan’s heart is laid bare when he re-encounters his betrayer, Kierus, and must wrestle with a new secret that throws everything he thought he knew about his past into question. Bristol is Elphame’s last chance for survival, but where do her loyalties truly lie? If she embraces the magic that has always been her birthright, she could become a monster just like her mother. Is she willing to risk losing the people she loves most if it means keeping them safe?
Brigands and Breadknives by Travis Baldree – 13th November
Return to the cosy fantasy world of the No. 1 New York Times bestselling Legends & Lattes series with Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree, a freshly baked adventure featuring fan-favorite, foul-mouthed bookseller Fern.
Fern has weathered the stillness and storms of a bookseller’s life for decades, but now, in the face of crippling ennui, transplants herself to the city of Thune to hang out her shingle beside a long-absent friend’s coffee shop. What could be a better pairing? Surely a charming renovation montage will cure what ails her!
If only things were so simple . . .
It turns out that fixing your life isn’t a one-time prospect, nor as easy as a change of scenery and a lick of paint.
A drunken and desperate night sees the rattkin waking far from home in the company of a legendary warrior surviving on inertia, an imprisoned chaos-goblin with a fondness for silverware, and an absolutely thumping hangover.
As together they fend off a rogue’s gallery of ne’er-do-wells trying to claim the bounty the goblin represents, Fern may finally reconnect with the person she actually is when anything is possible . . .
Brimstone by Callie Hart – 18th November
Prepare for the breath-taking sequel to the runaway bestseller and global phenomenon Quicksilver from Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author Callie Hart.
Duty. Blood. Honour. Power.
Saeris Fane doesn’t want power. The very last thing she needs is her name whispered on an entire court’s lips, but now that she’s been crowned queen of the Blood Court, she’s discovering that a queen’s life is not her own. A heavy weight rests upon her shoulders.
Her ward – and her brother – need her back in her homeland . . . but the changes that have strengthened Saeris have also made her weak. Born under blazing suns, Saeris will surely die if she makes her way home through the Quicksilver. Which means that, once again, she must send someone else in her stead . . .
‘Keep your mouth shut. Stick to the shadows. And for the love of all seven Gods, do NOT crack any jokes.’
Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate has defeated armies and survived all manner of horrors, but traveling back to Zilvaren with Carrion Swift might just be the death of him. The male just will not shut up. Hidden dangers await them down the narrow alleyways of the Silver City. Unfolding secrets pose impossible threats. Fisher must wrangle the smuggler and accomplish his goals quickly if he wants to see his mate again.
A darkness falls across Yvelia. The realm and their friends are in danger. Together, Saeris and Fisher will pass through fire and brimstone to save them.
The Bookshop Below by Georgia Summers – 20th November
THE BOOKSHOP MUST HAVE AN OWNER . . .
If you want a story that will change your life, Chiron’s bookshop is where you go. For those lucky enough to grace its doors, it’s a glimpse into a world of deadly bargains and powerful, magical books.
For Cassandra Fairfax, it’s a reminder of everything she lost, when Chiron kicked her out and all but shuttered the shop. Since then, she’s used her skills in less . . . ethical ways, trading stolen books and magical readings to wealthy playboys looking for power money can’t buy.
Then Chiron dies. And if Cassandra knows anything, it’s this: the bookshop must always have an owner.
To restore the shop, she’ll need the help of Lowell Sharpe, a rival bookseller who is everything Cassandra is not – and knows it, too.
But as she is plunged into a world of unscrupulous collectors, deadly ink magic and shady societies, a dark force threatens to unravel the bookshops entirely . . .
Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a lovely day today. It is November and now that I am free from my PhD work (at least until January), I have a lot more time to read and that makes me very excited – so many options!
What are you all planning on reading this month?
Fate of the Argosi by Sebastien de Castell
Agency of Scandal by Laura Wood
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
To Steal From Thieves by M K Lobb
Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Fairies by Heather Fawcett
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrew
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Immortality by Dana Schwarz
Tower of Dawn by Sarah J Maas
Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them?
Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you are all doing well today. As it is getting so close to Halloween and October/Autumn is when we all start reading the spooky/atmospheric books I thought I would share some of my favourites with you all.
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Mansicalco
This novel follows Audrey Rose Wadsworth, an upper-class woman in Victorian London and her desire to train as a surgeon in a time when women were not allowed to, alongside this it features the murders of Stalking Jack the Ripper and Audrey Rose teams up with Thomas Cresswell to solve the mystery. This is one of my favourite books of all time, I love the mystery and I love the romance. The time period provides a spooky, dangerous atmosphere that keeps you reading.
Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
This novel follows Emilia, a witch and when her Twin Sister Vittoria is murdered she summons a prince of sin to find out what happened. It is dark, brooding, enchanting, just overall incredible.
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
I have seen that a lot of people are divided on this book, some like it and some don’t. For me personally I loved the isolating feeling of the location and the mental confusion of whether there was something fantastical and at the same time sinister going on or whether Effie is imagining it. I devoured this book in one day.
Library of Shadows by Rachel Moore
I believe this book is listed as a YA read but it is still sufficiently spooky. It follows a girl who enrolls in a prestigious school to find out more about her father and she gets dragged into a mystery concerning the school library, a curse, and an annoyingly handsome ghost.
Murder by Candlelight by Faith Martin
This novel is somewhere between cosy crime and historical crime. It follows Arbie and Val as they team up to solve mysteries. I absolutely loved this series. Arbie is a writer whose books send him to locations to explore ghost hunting, even though he doesn’t believe in ghosts, and due to this keeps accidentally running into val and running into crime scenes. These two characters are the epitome of chalk and cheese and yet they work together so well. I can’t wait for the next book coming in 2026.
Murder at Highgate Cemetery by Irina Shapiro
This novel opens with the body of a young girl who has been murdered, suspended from an angel grave in the cemetery. It goes from there to be told from two perspectives, Gemma Tate a crimean war nurse who has returned to London and found herself in trouble when her brother dies, and Sebastien Bell a Police Detective who is strugglign in his own personal life. They keep running into each other and although Sebastien keeps telling Gemma to stay away from the crime for her own safety, they end up working together anyway.
The Vanished Bride by Bella Ellis
This series follows the Bronte sisters as they solve various mysteries. For me this is the spookiest in the series. The sisters end up investigating a woman who it seems has vanished into thin air and there are constant references to dark, gothic manors and ghostly occurrences. Very creepy but very good. I have just read the last in this series and I loved them all.
The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner
Graveyard Shift by M L Rio
This is only a short novel but I loved how it all came together, how slowly we learnt things about the group of people who accidentally ended up together in the wrong place at the wrong time and witness something they shouldn’t have.
Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
City of Ghosts by V E Schwab
Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them?
Happy Monday bookish people! How are you all doing today?
I am bringing you my review of Us In Ruins by Rachel Moore. Have any of you read this book? If you have, what did you think of it?
Blurb/Synopsis:
Margot is on the quest to uncover and reassemble an ancient—and cursed—vase, with the help of a boy who went missing in 1932, because it’s the only way to put back together her broken heart in this stand-alone adventure rom-com, perfect for fans of What the River Knows and The Lost City.
The mythical Vase of Venus Aurelia hasn’t been seen since 1932, but Margot Rhodes is determined to change that.
Drawn by the vase’s supposed magical properties, Margot embarks on her school’s archaeological trip to Pompeii. Sure, it’s her first time holding a shovel, but she’s got something no one else does: lost teenage explorer Van Keane’s journal.
Poring over the poetic entries that serve as a map to the vase’s missing shards, Margot finds herself falling in love with the boy who wrote it a century ago. She’s shocked when her search leads her to a statue that looks exactly like Van, and then the statue comes to life.
Catapulted into the present, Van is nothing like the wordsmith Margot imagined. He’s all sharp edges, intent on retrieving the relic for all the wrong reasons. But it takes two to survive Venus’s death-defying challenges, and, together, Margot and Van must excavate the treasure—and their buried pasts—before their story ends in ruins.
With a blend of humor, magic, and love, Rachel Moore crafts another stand-alone adventure rom-com full of double- and triple-crosses, hilarious shenanigans, and frustration-fueled banter, where the best treasure is true love.
My Review:
I went into this book after reading Rachel Moore’s other book, Library of Shadows, which I enjoyed but I didn’t love it so I was already hesitant about reading this one. I will be honest, the first half was not my cup of tea. It took a while to get into the action and the main girl, Margot, isn’t that likeable. But, in the second half of the book Margot gets a lot of character growth, and so does Van – who I spent the whole novel, up to the last moment, questioning his motives and not fully trusting him which I think was the author’s intent. Overall, I liked the mystery of the book and I especially liked the atmosphere of being surrounded by classic architecture and the locations they visited, the mythology that everything centered on, that was all great. I did not love the ending, it was very sudden and I almost wish it had ended one or two chapters before it did, I think that would have been more poignant as an ending.
Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you are all well today. September has been and gone in a whirlwind and that means it is time to share my wrap up for the month.
In terms of reading, it has been a mixed month. Good, when thinking about the amount of reading I managed to get through which I was surprised, though pleased, about. Not so good because I had a couple of DNF’s this month, they were books I had thought potential DNF’s but it was still a shame that I didn’t manage to get through them.
How was your reading this month? Any new favourite books?
My Wrap Up!
From my TBR:
The Killer Question by Janice Hallett – I did read this. I have read, and loved, all of her books so far and this one was no exception. I felt that the build up took a little while to get going but around a third in you do get hooked into the action. It was interesting to have it all centred around a pub quiz as I love a quiz myself. The end had a twist I did not see coming at all.
Murder In The Countryside by Helena Dixon – I did read this. Another quick, fun, cosy mystery.
Us In Ruins by Rachel Moore – I did read this. I will share my thoughts in a review coming on the 13th October.
Listen For The Lie by Amy Tintera – I did read this and if you’d like to see my review that will be coming on the 20th October.
I Hope You’re Listening by Tom Ryan – Unfortunately, I did DNF this one, it took me seven days and I only got through 118 pages of it and I was not engaged in the story or the mystery of the missing girl.
The Wolf And The Woodsman by Ava Reid – Again, unfortunately, I couldn’t get into this book and I ended up deciding to DNF it.
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard – I am currently reading this book and I plan to finish it before the end of the month.
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J Maas – I am also halfway through this book currently and I plan to finish this book also by the end of the month.
Outside my TBR:
A Gift of Poison by Bella Ellis
Murder In New York by Helena Dixon
Murder On The Cornish Coast by Helena Dixon
Murder At The English Manor by Helena Dixon
Murder In Paris by Helena Dixon
So, in September I read 11 books and I did DNF 2.
Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them?
Happy Friday Bookish people! I hope you’re all having a good day today! It is September and that means children are going back to school. So, I thought it would be fun to do a back to school themed book tag challenge. I found this one on monstrumology.com
English – name your favourite authors (or books) writing style: Erin Morgenstern
Particularly the whimsical, lyrical writing from The Starless Sea. One of my favourite books ever.
Maths – a book that made you frustrated: Ulysses by James Joyce
Parts of this book have no punctuation. Need I say more.
Social Studies/History – your favourite book from a different time period: A Little Princess
I have always loved this book, reading it is a very nostalgic experience for me. It is sad and heartwarming in equal measure.
Art – your favourite book with pictures: The Hatmakers by Tamzin Merchant.
This book follows Cordelia Hatmaker and her friends as they discover the secrets of their world and this is complimented by beautiful illustrations in the book and on the cover. It is stunning.
Drama – a book you would love to turn into a movie: the Stalking Jack the Ripper series by Kerri Maniscalco
It is so gothic and atmospheric, Victorian London, a bit of murder and mystery and romance. I would be front of the queue to see this as a film.
Music – name a character you think would have the same musical taste as you: Evangeline Fox from Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
I think she is quite whimsical and would like songs from musicals and disney, maybe a bit of country all of which I like.
Lunch – a food you would love to try: castle banquets
Honestly, I don’t mind which one, but definitely castle banquets. They are always described as lavish and covered in gravy. Anyone who knows me knows how much I enjoy gravy. I would have it on everything.
Bus ride home – a book or author that is relaxing: Spellslinger series by Sebastien de Castell.
I don’t know what it is about these books, there’s magic, rebels, high stakes, murder, secrets and yet the whole tone is soft and comedic and just every time I think of it I feel calm and relaxed.
Extra credit – a book someone else told you to read and wound up enjoying: Lireal by Garth Nix.
It was suggested I read this, although they did not tell me it was not the first book in a series, because they had read it and liked it but they thought I would love it. Honestly to begin with I didn’t believe them, the synopsis didn’t hook me, but once I started reading I loved it.
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