Tag: sebastien de castell

Monthly Wrap Ups

June Wrap Up!

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Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you’re all doing well. It is now July which means it is time to talk about what we read in the month of June.

I think June may be my worst month for reading so far this year. The books haven’t been bad, actually some of them have been excellent, but I have had better books in other months and I have read more in other months.

How was everyone else’s reading in June? Any new favourite books or authors?

From my TBR:

  • A Map of Days by Ransom Riggs: I did read this! Actually this was a five star read for me. This book is the fourth book in the Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and I read the third book in this series about four, maybe even five, years ago, so it has been a while and I was worried that I wouldn’t find it interesting anymore. I was very wrong about that. Reading this book reignited my love for the series and I have put the fifth book on my July TBR.
  • Malevolent Seven by Sebastien de Castell – I did not read this. I wanted to but I just didn’t gravitate to it at all in June. Some point this year I will definitely get to this book, just not yet.
  • How To Cheat Your Own Death by Kristen Perrin – I did read this and I am conflicted. This series is very up and down for me. I hated the first book and I wasn’t sure I would continue the series but I gave the second book a try and loved it. So, I was nervous for this one. Honestly, the mystery element was good. Not mindblowing, but good. However, the end ruined this book for me. The way the relationships between the characters changed, I didn’t like it at all and I personally feel the writer threw this twist in there to create unnecessary drama. I am not sure if I will read the next book or not.
  • The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig – I did not read this. I was hoping to get to it before the sequel comes out but unfortunately this month I didn’t have enough time for it.
  • Murder at the Palace by N R Daws – I did read this and I will be sharing a full review for it on the 13th July.
  • The Bookshop Below by Georgia Summers – I did sort of read this. I started it but I did unfortunately DNF this book around 100 pages. I am thinking I might go back later in the year and try and finish this book but as it stands I just was not engrossed, actually I was a little bored and I couldn’t get behind the main character.
  • Sabriel by Garth Nix — I did read this. I read Lireal a long time ago and I have been waiting for the time where I want to pick this book up so I am glad I finally got to this book.
  • Assassins Apprentice by Robin Hobb – I did not read this. I just didn’t have the energy to start this series right now but hopefully I will get to it later in the year.
  • King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo – Again I did not read this, generally I haven’t been reading much fantasy at the moment and this book did not get read because of this.
  • The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer – I am currently reading this book and I should have it finished by the end of the month.
  • A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft – I did not read this.

Outside of my TBR I also read: The Antique Hunter’s Death on the Red Sea by C L Miller, Murder on the Rocks by T E Kinsey and The Defence by Rob Rinder

That means in June I read: 9 books which is pretty good, less than other months this year as I said but still pretty good – and I had two five star reads this month so I should not complain about that.

Has anyone else read any of these books? If you have, let me know what you thought of them!

Monthly TBRs

June TBR!

theblindscribe

Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you’re all doing well today. It is now June, which means it is time to talk about what I will be reading this month. I have noticed this year that I have been reading mainly mystery books and not much fantasy so I tried to make my TBR for this month a bit more fantasy heavy.

What are you planning on reading in June?

Map of Days by Ransom Riggs

Malevolent Seven by Sebastien de Castell

How to Cheat Your Own Death by Kristen Perrin

The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig

Murder at the Palace by N R Daws

The Bookshop Below by Georgia Summers

Sabriel by Garth Nix

Assassins Apprentice by Robin Hobb

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft

Have you read any of these? What did you think of them?

Monthly Wrap Ups

May Wrap Up!

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Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you are all having a wonderful day. It is time to go over what I managed yo read in May.

May was definitely a busy month, I’ve had some health things going on and also I was finishing up my PhD thesis – which I have now sent in, so I should officially have my Doctorate very soon. Fingers crossed. In between all of this, I was enjoying my reading for this month. So far this year I have had amazing luck, most of the books I have got to I have loved or at least liked, there have been some disappointments and a few DNF’s but overall my reading is going well. I have noticed that although fantasy is my favourite genre, out of the nearly 60 books I have read so far this year, less then 10 have been fantasy. Which is a surprise.

How was your reading in May? Did you find any new favourite books?

First I will mention the books from my May TBR:

  • A Case of Life and Limb by Sally Smith – I did read this and I enjoyed it. This is the second book in the Gabriel Ward series, following Lawyer Gabriel Ward as he ends up tasked to solve different mysteries. Gabriel as a character is very endearing to follow. I am excited to continue this series when book three comes out.
  • It’s Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh – I did read this. I was recommended it while I was in a bookshop browsing and I thought the premise sounded interesting, but this was actually my least favourite read this month. As the book goes on it becomes heavily political and I did not enjoy that.
  • Manslaughter Park by Tirzah Price – I did read this. I am glad to finally have read the last book in the Jane Austen Murder Mystery series. In my opinion this was my least favourite of the trilogy but I still thought it was a nice read.
  • Tea and Alchemy by Sharon Lynn-Fisher – I did read this. I bought this on a bit of a whim, I loved the cover and when I read the premise I was intrigued by the idea of a tea leaf reader. I will be sharing a full review of this later in the month but I loved this book.
  • The Corpse Played Dead by Georgina Clarke – I am currently reading this and I plan on finishing it today so this one also counts. This is the second book in the Death and the Harlot series.
  • The Beast of Littleton Woods by T E Kinsey – I did read this and that brings me up to date with the Lady Hardcastle series until the next one comes out.
  • Traitors Blade by Sebastien de Castell – I did read this also. I had been putting off starting this series because I loved his other books and I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy this one as much but I loved the travelling/adventuring style of this novel.

So, from my TBR I read all the books I had and outside my TBR I also read three nonfiction books (a surprise for me as I don’t read much nonfiction): The Waiting Game, The Five by Hallie Rubenhold and Life Inside by Linda Calvey. I also read: An Archive of Romance by Ava Reid, and The Ending Writes Itself. This means I read 12 books this month. My favourite was Tea and Alchemy and my least favourite was It’s Not What You Think.

Have you read any of these books, what did you think of them?

Uncategorized

May Book Releases

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Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you are all well today. I am going to be sharing with you just a few of the books being released in May. Just a few things to say to start: first, the dates I give are the UK release dates that I can find and I do not show a full list of releases, I only share a few of the ones that I have heard a lot about or that I know about because I am interested in buying them.

Bloodbound by Ellis Hunter – 7th May

You duel or you die.

Astrid has always known she is destined to die. She is the last Nachstern witch and heir to the Queendom of Arturea, cursed by a centuries-old covenant to duel the heir to the Kingdom of Vatra for the source of all magic: the Heart. And now Astrid’s time is up. She is heading into enemy territory to face Prince Zryan, the most powerful dragon rider in eons, with only her familiar, her potions, and her wits to aid her. She is going to die, and any chance her queendom has of curing the Blight that’s ravaging the lands and killing her people will die with her.

Meanwhile, deep in dragon country, Skylar and her travelling troupe arrive in Vatra’s capital, ready to profit off the legions of spectators swarming to the city ahead of the duel. She despises the royals and all they stand for, especially as the King’s guard murdered her mother. But when her best friend disappears, suspected to have been taken in the conscription, her search takes her closer to the royals than she ever could have imagined.

As the duel looms over the kingdom, Skylar and Astrid’s fates intertwine. They must battle a growing rebellion, their inner demons, and ultimately, those they love most, to determine if together they will save—or doom—their world.

Our Lady of Blades by Sebastien de Castell – 14th May

Blood Week may have been banned in Rijou, but the streets still run red – and now murder is being sanctioned by the courts. Only a reckless fool would believe they can beat the system. But then, the Greatcoats have always been more than a little reckless . . .

Rijou’s notorious Court of Blades is as corrupt as it is cutthroat, destroying lives with impunity. Now the city’s all-powerful Ascendant Houses have started buying and selling verdicts to enslave and even execute those who oppose them.

Into this depraved world of licensed death comes a mysterious duellist who dares to foil the intrigues of the city’s elite. They call her Lady Consequence, but years ago she had a different name, until her family was slaughtered and she was consigned to the hellish prison known as the House of Tears.

Lady Consequence means to rescue her idealistic younger brother, restore their House and wreak vengeance upon those who betrayed them. But a far more dangerous game is unfolding in the shadows, one which threatens the freedom of the entire nation.

The Ballad of Falling Dragons by Sarah A Parker – 19th May

“Moonbeam. A moonfall is coming.”

Raeve’s thirst for vengeance continues to burn, as does her love for Kaan Vaegor—a staunch beacon from a past she’s yet to face. With Rekk’s blood still fresh on her hands, she learns the world will face its most devastating moonfall yet, forcing her to pick a

Chase death.

Or life.

Desperate to save his kingdom from ruin, Kaan’s crown has never felt so heavy. His many larks to scattered friends and family remain unanswered, and time is running out.

As allies merge and enemies surge with bloodlusting agendas of their own, secrets brew hot enough to burn, but none so mighty as the truth nesting within the icy depths of Raeve’s long forgotten past.

Something … Other.

Something with the knowledge to change it all.

A Dark and Wild Wood by Sarah Nicole Lemon – 21st May

Ever since she was a child, Salomé has been plagued by visions of spirits and dangerous powers she can’t control. After watching her foster mother burn as a witch, she and her beloved sister Rochelle are raised together in a convent, a grim and dreary existence. Until one day, Rochelle vanishes.

Determined to find a way to save her, Salomé runs: first to a brothel, and then, after a terrible accident, away from the village and into the woods. Deep amongst the trees of the wild Black Forest, she comes face-to-face with Lord Death.

Rather than taking her life, he brings her to his home at the heart of the woods, a strange manor full of locked rooms and mysterious corridors, crumbling one moment, magnificent the next. He promises to make her his apprentice and teach her how to harness her mind and magic. His words are as seductive as his presence—but should one trust Death?

A swirling mirage of dark fairy tale, gothic romance, and historical fantasy, A Dark and Wild Wood is a novel best devoured all at once. But proceed with caution, as everything is not what it seems…

Murder on the Rocks by T E Kinsey – 26th May

February 1913. Lady Hardcastle and her diminutive but mettlesome lady’s maid, Flo, have been invited by their friend JB McIntyre to spend the weekend at his recently renovated Tudor fort on a remote island off the Devonshire coast. But the holiday quickly turns sinister when first a number of valuable jewels go missing—and then a fellow guest is murdered with a most unusual weapon.

Asked by JB to investigate, the stakes are raised for the sleuthing duo when a violent storm traps the group on the island and cuts them off from help. Is the murderer in their midst? With everyone claiming to have an alibi—but each also having a skeleton in their closet—can Lady Hardcastle and Flo unravel this complex web of secrets and deception before the killer strikes again?

Monthly TBRs

May TBR!

theblindscribe

Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you are all doing well today. It is May and that means it is time to talk about what books I hope to read this month.

What books are you all thinking of reading in May?

MAY TBR:

A Case of Life and Limb by Sally Smith

The Beast of Littleton Woods by T E Kinsey

Tea and Alchemy by Sharon Lynn Fisher

Traitor’s Blade by Sebastien de Castell

Manslaughter Park by Tirzah Price

It’s Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh

The Corpse Played Dead by Georgina Clarke

Uncategorized

My Favourite Books of 2025

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Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a lovely day today. As you will have seen last week I shared my least favourite books of the year so far, excluding December as that month has not finished yet, and now I am sharing my favourite books of each month so far this year.

January – Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

This year started off with a bang. I had been putting this book off since it came out, I wasn’t sure I was going to like it and now, I think about it every day. It also started a dragon obsession, I now own over ten dragon teddies.

February – Murder by Candlelight by Faith Martin

I read this book one night while I was in the hospital as it was a deal on my kindle and I ended up absolutely loving it. I can’t wait for the third book to be released in January.

March – Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano

Another book I had been putting off, I liked the first two but I didn’t love them but this one I must have read it at just the right time because I loved this one. It was fun and action packed.

April – Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco

This year is definitely the time for reading the books I have been putting off, this is another one. It is the final one in the Stalking Jack the Ripper series. I loved getting to see the end of this story though I love the characters and would want to spend every day with them, currently this is up there as my favourite book of the year.

May – In Want of a Suspect by Tirzah Price

This book follows Lizzie and Darcy as they solve mysteries together, I adore this series and while there are some things I would change about the two characters I will read any book by this author.

June – The Protest by Rob Rinder

The third in his series, following a lawyer who gets more involved in solving cases than a usual lawyer. I love this series, I have so far read every book the day it came out. The mysteries are great but I just love Adam and can’t wait to see what happens to him next.

July – A Deadly Night at the Theatre by Katy Watson

The fifth? I think, in the three dahlias series. Even though this was my favourite read this month, this was my least favourite of this series so far. I felt that the relationship between the three lead characters was different and not as good as usual. But I still loved it.

August – Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

Oh the nostalgia. The emotion. This book has my heart definitely. It was beautifully told and made me understand Hyamitch’s character a lot better.

September – The Killer Question by Janice Hallett

A great mystery, as usual from Janice Hallett. I love the way these stories are told through mixed media, it makes it much more interesting.

October – Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman

I loved this book. It had both a gothic and a historical feel about it. It was much darker than I expected it to be but I really enjoyed it, I loved the character of Dora.

November – Fate of the Argosi by Sebastien de Castell

The third in the Way of the Argosi series, a spin off of the Spellslinger series. I have loved following Ferrius Parfax and seeing how her character became what it is in the Spellslinger series. This series is all about adventure and the unlikely hero. I love it.

What are some of your favourite books of this year?

Monthly Wrap Ups

November Wrap Up!

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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.

Monthly TBRs

November TBR!

theblindscribe

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?

Book Tags

Halloween Book Tag

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Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you are all having a good day today. I am bringing you my answers to a Halloween Book Tag, I found it last year and I was curious to see if any of my answers would have changed between now and then.

1. carving pumpkins: what book would you carve up and light on fire – A Novel Murder by E C Nevin

I did not enjoy this book, actually I DNF’d it after only a couple of chapters, honestly I could not do a cosy crime novel with a main character who is so self deprecating, I couldn’t continue.

2. trick or treat: a character who is a treat and one who is a trick – Adena in Powerless, Eli from Vicious

Adena is one of the sweetest characters in any books I have read and she did not deserve her ending, on the other hand Eli from vicious started my obsession with morally grey characters and he did deserve the ending he got.

3. candy corn: what book is always sweet – What Would Jane Austen Do?

This book is one of few romance novels that I have actually enjoyed. It merged classic romance of Jane Austen with a light, fluffy, funny, romance plot.

4. ghosts: a character you would like to visit you as a ghost – Ferrius Parfax from Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell

She takes no nonsense and she will give you the harsh truths that you need to hear.

5. Dressing in costume: a character you would want to be for a day – Violet Sorrengail from Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

I had a stall at London Film and Comic Con July 2025, and I dressed as Violet Sorrengail for that. First time ever wearing leather trousers – they’re not the easiest to wear! But I thought it was great fun to dress as a favourite character for a day or two.

6. blood and gore: a book so creepy you had to take a break – A Gift of Poison by Bella Ellis

This book has a big focus on the dead coming back to take revenge on the living and I made the mistake of reading it at night, I thought the book was excellent but it was creepy.

Book Tags

Back To School Book Tag!

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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.