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January Book Releases!

Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you are all having a wonderful day today. Today, I will be sharing some of the book releases in January. Are there any books you are excited for their release this month?

The Storm by Rachel Hawkins – 6th

St. Medard’s Bay, Alabama is famous for three things: the deadly hurricanes that regularly sweep into town, the Rosalie Inn, a century-old hotel that’s survived every one of those storms, and Lo Bailey, the local girl infamously accused of the murder of her lover, political scion Landon Fitzroy, during Hurricane Marie in 1984.

When Geneva Corliss, the current owner of the Rosalie Inn, hears a writer is coming to town to research the crime that put St. Medard’s Bay on the map, she’s less interested in solving a whodunnit than in how a successful true crime book might help the struggling inn’s bottom line. But to her surprise, August Fletcher doesn’t come to St. Medard’s Bay alone. With him is none other than Lo Bailey herself. Lo says she’s returned to her hometown to clear her name once and for all, but the closer Geneva gets to both Lo and August, the more she wonders if Lo is actually back to settle old scores.

As the summer heats up and another monster storm begins twisting its way towards St. Medard’s Bay, Geneva learns that some people can be just as destructive—and as deadly—as any hurricane, and that the truth of what happened to Landon Fitzroy may not be the only secret Lo is keeping…

The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi – 8th

In this lush and romantic novel from New York Times bestselling author Roshani Chokshi, a prince is only as good as his beating heart and a maiden is only as good as her honest word. But when love and the truth become impossibly tangled, the two must figure out how to survive together, or fall completely apart.

To find love is a curse …

Prince Arris knows that marriage means murder. Thanks to a poorly worded wish to a sea witch, all one needs to rule the Isle of Malys is the heart and hand of the kingdom’s heir. Historically, this has been construed quite literally.

Thus, Arris expects that the day after his marriage and murder he will wake up as a sentient tree alongside the rest of his predecessors. His only chance at a long life is finding true and lasting love. When Arris’s parents announce a tournament of brides to compete for his hand and heart, a slew of eligible, lovely and (possibly murderous) bachelorettes make their way to Rathe Castle. Amidst glittering balls in ozorald caves, strolls through menageries of daydream trees and pearl crocodiles, tea time on glass boats and kisses that leave his head spinning, Arris cannot tell who is here out of love for him…or lust for power.

Until he meets Demelza.

As a veritas swan, Demelza’s song wrings out the truth. Forced into hiding, Demelza strikes a deal. Arris will provide her with safekeeping in exchange for her truth-telling song to sort through his potential brides.

While Arris is used to dodging death threats and Demelza is accustomed to fighting for her voice to be heard, to survive the tournament of brides requires a different kind of bravery. And perhaps the bravest thing one can do is not merely protect one’s life, but find the courage to chase a life worth living.

Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibanez – 15th

In 15th-century Volterra, sculptress Ravenna Maffei enters a competition hosted by a secretive, immortal family who offer an invaluable boon to the victor. Desperate to win so she can save her brother, Ravenna reveals a rare magical talent–a dangerous act in a city where magic is forbidden. Her revelation makes her a target, and she is kidnapped by the Luni family and taken to Florence, a city of breathtaking beauty and cutthroat ambition.

There, Ravenna is forced into an impossible task where failure means certain death at the hands of Saturnino dei Luni, the family’s enigmatic and merciless heir. But under his cold reserve hides a vulnerability that draws her closer than she ever intended.

Meanwhile, Ravenna’s forbidden magic does not go unnoticed. The Pope, waging war against Florence, the Medici, and magic itself, has his own interest in her abilities, seeing her as a potential weapon in his ruthless campaign.

As alliances shift and war brews on the horizon, Ravenna must navigate the treacherous line between survival and betrayal, between love and duty. With time running out and her every move watched, the choices she makes will determine the fate of not just her own life, but the fragile balance of magic and power that could unravel Florence itself.

Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston – 20th

Everyone at Chantilly’s Bar noticed out-of-towner Camille Bayliss. Red lips, designer heels, sipping a Negroni. But that woman wasn’t Camille Bayliss. It was Aubrey Price.

Camille Bayliss appears to have the picture-perfect life; she’s married to hotshot lawyer Ben and is the daughter of a wealthy Louisiana family. Only nothing is as it seems: Camille believes Ben has been hiding dirty secrets for years, but she can’t find proof because he tracks her every move.

Aubrey Price has been haunted by the terrible night that changed her life a decade ago, and she’s convinced Benjamin Bayliss knows something about it. Living in a house full of criminals, Aubrey understands there’s more than one way to get to the truth—and she may have found the best way in.

Aubrey and Camille hatch a plan. It sounds simple: For twelve hours, Aubrey will take Camille’s place. Camille will spy on Ben, and the two women will get the answers they desperately seek.

Except the next morning, Ben is found murdered. Both women need an airtight alibi, but only one of them has it. And one false step is all it takes for everything to come undone.

Half His Age by Jeannette McCurdy – 20th

Waldo is ravenous. Horny. Blunt. Naive. Wise. Impulsive. Lonely. Angry. Forceful. Hurting. Perceptive. Endlessly wanting. And the thing she wants most of all: Mr. Korgy, her creative writing teacher with the wife and the kid and the mortgage and the bills, with the dead dreams and the atrophied looks and the growing paunch. She doesn’t know why she wants him. Is it his passion? His life experience? The fact that he knows books and films and things that she doesn’t? Or is it purer than that, rooted in their unlikely connection, their kindred spirits, the similar filter with which they each take in the world around them? Or, perhaps, it’s just enough that he sees her when no one else does.

Startlingly perceptive, mordantly funny, and keenly poignant, Half His Age is a rich character study of a yearning seventeen-year-old who disregards all obstacles—or attempts to overcome them—in her effort to be seen, to be desired, to be loved.

A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St James – 22nd

Siblings return to the house they fled eighteen years before, called back by the ghost of their long-missing brother and his haunting request to come home.

Strange things happen in Fell, New York: A mysterious drowning at the town’s roadside motel. The unexplained death of a young girl whose body is left by the railroad tracks. For Violet, Vail, and Dodie Esmie the final straw was their little brother’s shocking disappearance, which started as a normal game of hide-and-seek.

As their parents grew increasingly distant, the sisters were each haunted by visions and frightening events, leading them to leave town and never look back. Violet still sees dead people—spirits who remind her of Sister, the menacing presence that terrorized her for years. Now after nearly two decades it’s time for a homecoming—because Ben is back, and he’s ready to lead them to the answers they’ve longed for and long feared.

Dear Debbie by Frieda McFadden -27th

Sometimes, enough is enough…

Debbie Mullen is losing it. For years, she has compiled all of her best advice into her column, Dear Debbie, where the wives of New England come for sympathy and neighborly advice. Through her work, Debbie has heard from countless women who are ignored, belittled, or even abused by their husbands. And Debbie does her best to guide them in the right direction.

Or at least, she did.

These days, Debbie’s life seems to be spiraling out of control. She just lost her job. Something strange is happening with her teenage daughters. And her husband is keeping secrets, according to the tracking app she installed on his phone. Now, Debbie’s done being the bigger person. She’s done being reasonable and practical. It’s time to take her own advice.

And now it’s time for payback against all the people in her life who deserve it the most.

My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney – 27th

Eden Fox, an artist on the brink of her big break, sets off for a run before her first exhibition. When she returns to the home she recently moved into, Spyglass, an enchanting old house in Hope Falls, nothing is as it should be. Her key doesn’t fit. A woman, eerily similar to her, answers the door. And her husband insists that the stranger is his wife.

One house. One husband. Two women. Someone is lying.

Six months earlier, a reclusive Londoner called Birdy, reeling from a life-changing diagnosis, inherits Spyglass. This unexpected gift from a long-lost grandmother brings her to the pretty seaside village of Hope Falls. But then Birdy stumbles upon a shadowy London clinic that claims to be able to predict a person’s date of death, including her own. Secrets start to unravel, and as the line between truth and lies blurs, Birdy feels compelled to right some old wrongs.

My Husband’s Wife is a tangled web of deception, obsession, and mystery that will keep you guessing until the last page. Prepare yourself for the ultimate mind-bending marriage thriller and step inside Spyglass – if you dare – to experience a story where nothing is as it seems.

Dragon Cursed by Elise Kova – 29th

The moment you see a dragon is usually your last…

Since the dragons emerged–along with the scourge that ravaged our lands and people–there’s only one human city that remains standing: Vingard.

But the hellfire from above is nothing compared to the threat from within. For there is no worse fate than being dragon cursed. Slowly and excruciatingly, you’ll be transformed into a mindless beast who destroys everything–and everyone–you love.

Any of us could be tainted. Any of us could be lying. Any of us could be caught and killed by the authorities.

And I’m terrified that I might be next.

There’s only one other person who might suspect my secret. He’s like my shadow, following me wherever I go. Part protector, part tormentor, fully annoying. Sometimes I think I am just one of the million unfathomable secrets he keeps hidden.

Because Lucan definitely knows something.

And if I’m dragon cursed, death might be the only mercy I get.

Monthly TBRs

October TBR

Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you are all doing well. Today I am bringing you my TBR for October, I am hoping that this month I will be able to find time to read and enjoy them as much as I did in September.

Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

Kingdom of the Feared by Kerri Maniscalco

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L Armentrout

Assistant to the Villain

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Mrs Death Misses Death

Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

Devil Makes Three by Tori Bovilino

Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller

Have you read any of these books?

What are your reading plans for October?

Monthly TBRs

June TBR!

Happy Thursday bookish people! Today I am bringing you my TBR for June. This month there is a month long readathon created by Maddie at BookBrowsingBlogs on Youtube, the readathon is called whateveryouwantathon and there are four different teams with dome different prompts. I am following the prompts of the Sunset Scholars.

My June TBR:

  • A book featuring dragons: I chose Uprooted by Naomi Novik, I don’t think I have any books with actual dragons in – except for Lord of the Rings – but from what I remember of the synopsis this book has a character called the dragon.
  • Red on the cover: I chose Mad Woman by Louisa Treger
  • Host Fave: I chose The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
  • Less Read genre: I chose Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan
  • Shiny Cover – I chose Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
  • Previous TBR: Nine Lives by Peter Swanson
  • The/An/Of/A/And: Lockwood and Co by Jonathan Stroud
  • Under 300 pages: I chose the first graphic novel for A Darker Shade of Magic
  • Continue a series: Finlay Donovan Knocks ’em Dead by Elle Cosimano
  • Academia: A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee
  • 2021 release: I chose The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex
  • A different format: I chose the second A Darker Shade of Magic graphic novel
  • Book about Books: I chose Book Lovers by Emily Henry
  • Recently Hauled: I chose Beggars Abbey by V L Valentine
  • Favourite Genre (Fantasy!): I chose The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
  • One word title: I chose Lore by Alexandra Bracken
  • S’s on cover: I chose Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian

There are also a few prompts that are things like cozy reading time and complete a personal reading goal which I didn’t put in the list because they can be completed with any of the books.

That’s it for my June TBR, I hope you all enjoyed it! What are you reading in June?

Monthly TBRs

March TBR

Happy Tuesday bookish people! I am happy to be bringing you my March TBR today. I have a good feeling about March, I am hoping to get a lot of reading done, there’s so many good books on my TBR that I desperately want to pick up. Also, it’s my birthday on the 25th of March! I’ll be 23 and I had actually forgotten how close it was, I hadn’t made a list and so I was trying to think of the books I wanted and put them on an Amazon wishlist here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/3H1PW8BGD9KF7/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1

Anyway, onto the TBR!

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

I have heard so many good things about this book and even though I am not usually the biggest fan of romance novels, I am willing to give each one a try though so we shall see if I enjoy this one or not.

Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey

Again, another contemporary romance book but I mean it has books on the front so at least I will enjoy the setting, also it has enemies to lovers from what I have read and I do enjoy that trope.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I loved The Starless Sea by the same author, it’s my favourite book and this seems to have the same magical realism so I am hopeful that I will really enjoy this book.

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton

A historical murder mystery set on a boat. Of course I want to read this book.

Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco

I am so excited to continue this series, Emilia is one of my favourite female protagonists and Wrath is such a good morally grey character. I love it!

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas

This is a book that I have been putting off for ages, well ever since I finished A Court of Thorns and Roses but I am excited to read it because I have heard it is the best book in the series.

City of Brass by S A Chakraborty

I have already started this book a year ago but I put it down for some reason and I haven’t thought about picking it up again until now.

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

This is another book that I have heard really good things about so I am excited to read this one.

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E Harrow

Witches in a historical setting, I am very excited about this book.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T J Klune

This books kind of reminds me of the Umbrella Academy but a bit more peaceful so that’s why I was drawn to this book to start with.

The Girl in the Tower by katherine Arden

this is the second book in the bear and the nightingale series and I absolutely loved the first book so I am really excited to continue this dark and wintery series.

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

I have recently been enjoying books with an academic setting so hopefully I will enjoy this book.

Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder

This books sounds very interesting to me and a friend has read it and enjoyed it which makes me want to read it even more.

Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell

This looks like a very cute middle grade book. Plus I love the cover, it is very inviting.

The Burning Page by Genevieve Cogman

This is the third book in the Invisible Library series, I really love Irene and Kai from this series and I can’t wait to see what adventures they are going to go on next.

House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J Maas

This is one of my most anticipated books of this year so I am nervous to read it, it is also huge so it might take me a while but I am very excited, I am trying my hardest to not see any spoilers for it.

That’s it for my march TBR, I hope you all enjoyed it! What are you planning on reading this month?

Monthly Wrap Ups

January Wrap Up!

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!

Monthly TBRs

January TBR!

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?

Bookmas 2021

Merry Bookmas Day 12 – 12th December – The Christmas Song Book Tag

Happy Sunday bookish people! And Merry Bookmas day 12! I thought it would be really fun to do another book tag today. I found the questions over at thesassygeek.wordpress.com.

Let’s get into the book tag!

You’re A Mean One Mr Grinch – Name A Villainous Character You Can’t Help But Love

For this one I had to choose Victor Vale from Vicious by V E Schwab because he’s a morally grey character and as a reader you’re never really sure if he’s a good guy or a bad guy and I really liked that. I also really liked his dialogue and his interaction with other characters – he is what made the book enjoyable for me.

All I Want For Christmas Is You – Which book do you want to see under the tree this year?

I have quite a few different books on my wishlist but one of the books I really want is The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi.

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer – Name a character that overcomes major obstacles and learns to believe in themselves

There are so many characters I could choose for this but I eventually chose Zaf from Take A Hint Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert because at the beginning of the book Zaf has so much anxiety and he has ideas of what he wants to do but there are things holding him back and by the end his character has really grown and I loved that.

Santa Clause is Coming To Town – Which character is on the naughty list and which character is on the nice list?

I’d put Tamlin from A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas on the naughty list and Elizabeth Scrivener from Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson.

Frosty The Snowman – Melts your heart?

For this I thought of Cath and Levi from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell because I felt there were lots of similarities between Cath and myself and it was nice to see the romance in this book even though usually I don’t like romance at all.

Feliz Navidad – Choose A book that takes place in a country other than your own

Again, there were so many books I could choose for this one. I settled on The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden because it is one of my favourite books that I have read.

It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year – Which holiday themed book do you use to spread Christmas joy?

I’ve struggled to think of an answer to this question because I haven’t read any holiday themed books yet.

Sleigh Ride – A fictional character to spend the holidays with?

I haven’t got a reason for this choice but my mind instantly went to Rhysand from A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas

Baby It’s Cold Outside – A book you didn’t like and that you would sacrifice to a fire to keep yourself warm?

First of all, I wouldn’t put any books into a fire but a book that I didn’t like is a good question. I would say We Are Blood and Thunder by Kesia Lupo because I just did not like that book at all, I actually gave it to my best friend and they enjoyed it so I’m glad I gave it to her.

Do You Hear What I Hear – Which book do you think everyone should read?

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco!

That’s it for this Christmas Song book tag, I hope you all enjoyed reading my answers. What would you all have put for your answers, let me know in the comments!