Tag: Fantasy

Book Reviews

Book Review: Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson

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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:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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

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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.

The Good Thieves by Katherine Rundell

Your Turn To Die by Sue Wallman

Gwen and Art Are Not In Love by Lex Croucher

The Plague Letters by V L Valentine

Pandora by Susan Stokes Chapman

A Little Bit Country by Brian D Kennedy

Finale by Stephanie Garber

Murder on the Christmas Express by Alexandra Benedict

Blood and Honey by Shelby Mahurin

Bingo Hall Detectives by Jonathan Whitelaw

Paris Dallencourt is about to crumble by Alexis Hall

The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman

Hunting Party by Lucy Foley

Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco

What are you all planning on reading in March?

Monthly Wrap Ups

February Wrap Up!

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Happy Tuesday bookish people! It is already the end of February so of course it is time to do this month’s wrap up.

I had a much better reading month than in January, I have been finding that I am enjoying it more. Whether that is because of the books I have been reading or just because February was a relaxed month (in comparison to January that is).

So, onto the wrap up!

Sense and Second Degree Murder by Tirzah Price – I did not read this one – it is one of those books where I really want to read it too much that I am scared to read it

Murder at the house on the hill by Victoria Walters – I did not read this book

Winterhouse by Ben Guterson – I did not read this

The Accidental Medium by Tracy Whitwell – I did read this well, currently I am reading this but it will be finished by the end of the month

Everyone in my family has killed someone by Benjamin Stevenson – I did not read this

Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson – I did read this and spoiler alert, LOVED it.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor – I did not read this

Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens – I did read this

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black – I did not read this

Book Lovers by Emily Henry – I did not read this

The Agency of Scandal by Laura Wood – I did not read this

Murder on the Christmas Express by Alexandra Benedict – I did not read this

The very secret society of irregular witches – I did read this (my favourite book this month)

Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey – I did not read this

So, from my TBR I read 4 books and I also read A Study In Charlotte by Brittany Cavalaro which means I read five books this month!

What did you all read in February, did you enjoy them?

Book Tags

Valentine’s Day Book Tag!

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Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you all enjoy my valentines day book tag!

Stand Alone book you love

The starless sea by Erin Morgenstern

Dystopian book you love

I am not really into the dystopian genre but I like the scythe series which I think fits this genre.

A book that you love but nobody talks about

The left handed booksellers of london by Garth Nix

Favourite book couple

Scarlett and Julian from Caraval, Thomas Cresswell and Audrey rose Wadsworth from stalking jack the ripper and Emilia and wrath from kingdom of the wicked, I can’t decide between the three of them.

A book other people love but you haven’t read yet

Most of the Sarah J Maas collection, specifically a court of mist and fury

A book with red on the cover

The first one that comes to mind is From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L Armentrout.

A book with pink on the cover

Love on the brain by Ali Hazelwood

You were given a box of chocolate what boyfriend or girlfriend would have given them to you?

Thomas Cresswell from the stalking Jack the Ripper series

You are single on valentines day what book would you read? what tv show and movie would you watch?

Ooh okay, book: Book Lovers by Emily Henry, Tv show: Friends, Movie: almost definitely something Disney related

You are in the book store. All of a sudden you get shot with an arrow what new release will you love?

Finlay Donovan Jumps the gun by Elle Cosimano

That is it for this book review, I hope you all have enjoyed it! What answers would you have given?

Book Tags

Cupid Book tag!

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Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a good day today. As it is February I thought it would be fun to do some Valentine’s themed book tags, starting with the Cupid Book Tag I am doing today – which I found on rootingbranches.com.

What’s the perfect sweets to eat while reading?

I don’t usually eat while reading but if I did I would be more partial to a biscuit then to sweets.

What is a song that reminds you of your favourite romance or your favourite romantic song?

Hmm… my favourite romance book would be Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell but I don’t really know a song that could link to it but my favourite romance song is probably So Good it hurts by Olivia Lane.

If you were to go on a perfect reading date where would it be?

That is a very good question, I think it would be somewhere overlooking water, a river or something but it would only work in the spring because I hate bugs, anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I will not be outside in a field when there are bugs around.

What’s the best friendship you have read in a book?

Another very difficult question, I think I would have to choose Kellen and Reichus in the Spellslinger series be Sebastien de Castell.

Create the perfect bouquet for your favourite book or character

I would have to choose Sorcery of thorns by margaret rogerson, Nathaniel would bring Elizabeth a bouquet of roses made form pages of books that he would have haphazardly glued together.

What romance do you not necessarily need a whole sequel for you just want to check in on them and make sure everything is okay?

By the book definitely, I adored that book and I would love to know what has happened between the characters since the book ended.

What date in a book or movie do you wish you could go on yourself?

Strangely I have read this question and every book/movie date I know of has left my mind. Instead why don;t you all answer this question in the comments, what date would you want to go on?

What is your favourite nickname from a romance?

I can’t think of an answer for this one either!

Most anticipated romances of 2023?

The secret service of tea and treason by India Holton which is being published in April of this year.

That is it for this book atg, I hope you have all enjoyed it!

Monthly TBRs

February TBR

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Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a good day today. I am excited about everything that will be going on this month, and the books I have chosen to read. First of all there is the February Valentine’s edition of the Chopped Readathon that I host with my friend @plaid_reader. There will be more information coming soon about this so let me know if you are interested in taking part!

My February TBR!

Sense and Second Degree Murder by Tirzah Price

Murder in the House on the Hill by Victoria Walters

Winterhouse by Ben Gutterson

The Accidental Medium by Tracy Whitwell

Everyone in my family has killed someone by Benjamin Stevenson

Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson

Daughter of smoke and bone by laini Taylor

Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Agency of Scandal

Murder on the Christmas Express by Alexandra Benedict

The secret society of irregular witches

Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey

Monthly Wrap Ups

January Wrap Up!

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Happy Monday bookish people! I am back with my January wrap up. This month has really been a rollercoaster for me, I had a huge assessment – my RDC2 exam for my PhD which was a written essay and a presentation, incredibly stressful but I passed which is great and I got offered a research assistant job, I also applied for another job but I haven’t heard back yet. Anyway, January was a good month for my reading. At the end of last year I was reading maybe one book a month but with a few days left to go I have done so much better to start this year.

Onto the wrap up!

  • Dance of Thieves by Mary E Pearson – I did not read this, I haven’t been in the mood for much fantasy with all the stress I have turned to lighter reads – and of course murder mysteries
  • A Gathering of Shadows by V E Schwab – I did not read
  • Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T A Willberg – I did not read this
  • A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross – I did not read
  • The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake – I did not read this
  • The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi – I did not read
  • Hunting Party by Lucy Foley – I did not read
  • House in the Cerulean Sea by T J Klune – I did not read
  • Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel – I did not read
  • The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson – I did not read
  • Love in the time of serial killers – I did read!

So, from my TBR I only read one of the books but other than the TBR I read: Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood, A Million to one by Adiba Jagirdar and A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro. That means I have read 4 books this month which is really great for me.

Book Tags

Read or Unhaul 2023

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Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a good day today.

I have seen a lot of different videos on youtube of people choosing books to try and make themselves read them that year and if they don’t then they have to unhaul them. This sounds like a great idea to me because it might help with getting me to read the books that I have been putting off.

these books are going to be:

  • The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon – I have the whole series and it still interests me so I hope to get around to it in 2023
  • The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros because I see it on my shelves but I can’t remember anything from the story or what it is about
  • Set Fire to the Gods by Sara Raasch and Kristen Simmons – this is another book that I have the two books from the series and I have put it in my TBRs all the time but never gotten around to reading it so maybe this will make me read it.
  • The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater – the second book in the raven boys series, I read the first one and I didn’t love it so I either need to continue the series or give them to someone else who would enjoy them.
  • Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor because it is another book I have had for years and wanted to read and just never gotten to it.
  • Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, the longer it takes me to read this series the more things I see about it that make me put it off more.
  • Where Dreams Descend – I love the cover of this book and it is all about the circus so I am pretty sure I will love it but I just need to read it to find out for sure.
  • The Damned by Renee Ahdieh, I liked the first book in the series but the ending ruined it for me so I haven’t wanted to keep reading but I own the series so I think I should.
  • The Sisters Grimm by Menna Van Praag – I started to read this book but I couldn’t get into it so I am hoping if I come back to it I will enjoy it more.
  • Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo – I definitely need to continue this series with the second season of the show coming.

So, that’s it, that is the ten books I either need to read or unhaul by the end of next year.

Book Reviews, Uncategorized

Book Review: The Magic Faraway Tree by Jacqueline Wilson

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happy Monday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a good day today. Today I am bringing you the book review for The Magic Far-away Tree by Jacquline Wilson.

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.

The magic faraway tree plot:

Rating: 3 out of 5.

This is a modern take on Enid Blyton’ original series, following a similar plot of a family moving to the cottage and discovering the faraway tree and the lands that appear at the top. For me there was too much that just didn’t work about this story, it comes down to the feeling and it didn’t give me the same feeling as the original series did.

The magic faraway tree characters:

Rating: 3 out of 5.

the characters follow the same idea as the original series, one older boy and two younger sisters but I felt that in this book they could have been made into more shapely characters, they felt very 2D. Silky, moon face and the people at the faraway tree were just as great as they were in the original series.

The magic faraway tree writing and dialogue:

Rating: 3 out of 5.

The writing was great in this book, it was full of the same kind of magic that you expect in childrens fantasy stories.

The magic faraway tree overall:

Rating: 3 out of 5.

overall I thought this book was fine but not as good as the original series was better.

Discover the Magic Faraway Tree and explore the amazing lands it can lead to! An irresistible new story by bestselling author Jacqueline Wilson, set in a much-loved world.

Three kids, Milo, Mia and Birdy, are on a countryside holiday when they wander into an Enchanted Wood. Among the whispering leaves, there is a beautiful tree that stands high above the rest. The Magic Faraway Tree is home to remarkable creatures including a fairy called Silky, her best friend Moonface and more. Birdy is delighted to find that fairies are real. Even her older brother and sister are soon won over by the magic of the Faraway Tree and the extraordinary places they discover above it, including the Land of Unicorns. But not every land is so much fun. Danger looms in the Land of Dragons. Will Moonface’s magic work in time to save the children?

The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton was Jacqueline Wilson’s own favourite book as a young child. Now Britain’s favourite contemporary children’s author, creator of Hetty Feather and Tracy Beaker, revisits this glorious magical world, weaving a brand-new story perfect for the next generation of young readers. Discover the magic!

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

Book Tags

10 reasons you love books

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Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a good day today. I thought I’d do a fun short post today with a few of the reasons I like books, and maybe some of you will agree with me about these. Let me know what your favourite things about books are.

  • They have beautiful covers
  • You can snuggle in a blanket with a hot drink and a book and be all cosy
  • the smell of new books
  • and of course the smell of old books
  • I find they are a good sense of escapism from everything going on in life
  • I can read and pretend it is research for my PhD
  • they take me to historical places I wish I could visit
  • men in books – reality doesn’t live up to them
  • women in books, fighting for themselves
  • characters in books, fighting for justice
  • did I mention they are beautiful!