King’s Cage by Victoria AveyardMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Another enjoyable installment in the Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard. I found it a little bit wordy in places but the character development and world building are incredible and it builds to a truly epic conclusion that had me on the edge of my seat.
I can’t wait for the fourth and final book in the series.
Warning: This review may contain spoilers for earlier books in the seriesRead More »
The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.
To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:
I was on holiday last week so didn’t post so this week I’m doing a bit of a catch up of everything I read over the last two weeks.
As I was on holiday and have a week off work at the moment I’m currently reading some of those books that have been on my TBR pile for a while but haven’t had a chance to read. I was looking for something light yesterday so finally made a start on Paper Princess by Erin Watt (aka duo Jen Frederick and Elle Kennedy).
I enjoyed it so much I somehow managed to finish the whole thing by lunch time so now I’ve moved on to the second book in the series Broken Prince and as of writing this am 75% through. 
On audio I’m currently doing a re listen (is that a thing?) of Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost. I originally listened to this (and the other two books in the series) in August last year but with the fourth and final book in the series, Into the Fire, out last month I decided to start from the beginning again to refresh my memory. It also helped make a three and a bit hour flight that little more enjoyable. I do have to be careful though as Jeaniene Frost books do have a bit of a tendency to make me laugh out loud.
As I’m covering two weeks worth of reading there are quite a few books on my recently finished list this time. First up is King’s Cage, the third book in Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen series. This was probably one of my most anticipated books of this year and I think I had maybe built it up too much in my head. I did like it a lot and there is some great writing and truly epic scenes but I didn’t love as much as I hoped I would. I’m planning to post a full review this week.
The second book finished was audio boo
k Storm Siren by Mary Weber. It does have a lot of the common YA sci-fi/fantasy tropes (love triangle, special snow flake destined to save the world etc) but it’s a lot darker than a lot of the others and has enough unique aspects to it to make it worth a read (although I’m not happy about the ending). It also deserves special props for using the words “man treasures” to describe a certain anatomical area that gets kneed.
One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus, an ARC I received from NetGalley was the next book finished. It’s a YA thriller 
which is kind of like a mixture of The Breakfast Club and a murder mystery. Five very different teens end up in detention together but within 15 minutes one of them is dead and the other four are suspects.
As a huge fan of The Breakfast Club this was right up my street. I did guess fairly early on who did it but it didn’t really diminish my enjoyment of the story and there are enough reveals to keep you questioning. The highlight for me was the four characters and how they develop over the course of the story. It’s not out for a couple of month’s so I’m holding off on a full review until closer to publication date.
The next book finished, Sweetpea by C.J. Skuse, was also an ARC from NetGalley (I will get my shelf down). I’ve loved Skuse’s previous YA books so was excited to see what she would do with her first adult read and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s probably not one for the easily offended or the squeamish but I found it very funny.
It’s like a combination of Bridget Jones and Dexter, as the story follows Rhiannon, your average woman who just happens to be a bit of a psychopath. Like Bridget she keeps a journal but rather than recording her weight etc each entry begins with a list of the people she wants to kill, from the cashier at her local supermarket to co workers and even boyfriend Craig. It did worry me how often I kind of agreed with Rhiannon’s thoughts and it often made me laugh out loud. My main criticism was that it was maybe a little too long and lacked direction at times.
Next up, was the Upside of Unrequited by Becky Abertalli, author of Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda (another NetGalley ARC). It’s kind of similar to Simon vs in that it’s a diverse coming of age story about a girl called Molly but while I was decidedly underwhelmed by Simon vs I really liked this one. This seems to be contrary to all of the other reviews I’ve read but I suspect it’s due to expectations. I went into this with much lower expectations and consequently enjoyed it a lot more. Again this isn’t out till next month so I’m holding off on a review till nearer the time.
My next book was Angel’s Blood by Nalini Singh. I can’t remember where I heard about this author but I bought this, the first in the Guild Hunters series a while ago and only just got around to reading. I wasn’t too sure about it at the start. First thought was “argh, not another paranormal romance” but within a few chapters I was completely hooked which is always good until you realize there are like 11 books in the series and you’re going to end up reading them all 🙂
After Angel’s Blood I decided I needed a thriller so picked up Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney (another ARC). It begins with 
main character Amber Reynolds realizing she’s in a coma but with no memory of how she ended up there other than the feeling that it wasn’t an accident. I absolutely loved this book. Completely gripping and addictive reading I finished the whole thing in a day. It’s probably my favourite thriller of the year so far and definitely a book I would recommend.
The final book finished (and started) yesterday was Paper Princess by Erin Watt, which as I’ve already mentioned above I won’t go into detail about.
Based on the number of books read over the past couple of weeks and lack of reviews I should probably take a break from reading to get caught up. I think I will however finally make a start on A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab. Despite being desperate to read it I’ve been kind of putting it off due to a combination of fear that it won’t live up to expectations and just not wanting it to be over.
Have you read any of the books above or have any other book you’d recommend? Leave comments and links below and I’ll respond when I can.
Happy Wednesday everyone.
Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purple Booker. If you want to join in grab your current read, flick to a random page, select two sentences (without spoilers) and share them in a blog post or in the comments of The Purple Booker.
I’ve read so many good books over the past week or so I struggled to decide which one to use for my teaser but have finally settled on psychological thriller Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney. This was an ARC I received from NetGalley and honestly I can’t remember when I’ve enjoyed a thriller quite so much. I read the whole thing in the space of a day, I literally couldn’t put it down. Definitely one I’d recommend.
My Teaser
Little girls are different from little boys, they’re made of sugar and spice and scar for life. I’ve still got my scars, just because they’re on the inside doesn’t mean they’re not there.
~ 79% Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney
BlurbMy name is Amber Reynolds. There are three things you should know about me:
1. I’m in a coma.
2. My husband doesn’t love me anymore.
3. Sometimes I lie.
Happy Reading Everyone
The Girl Before by J.P. DelaneyMy rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Enjoyable story with some aspects that were fascinating but I didn’t connect to any of the characters and as a result the whole thing left me a little bit cold.
It’s well written however with plenty of twists and turns and reminded me a lot of The Girl on the Train. I think this is a book a lot of people will really love. It just unfortunately didn’t quite work for me.
Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purple Booker. If you want to join in grab your current read, flick to a random page, select two sentences (without spoilers) and share them in a blog post or in the comments of The Purple Booker.
This week my teaser comes from King’s Cage by Victoria Aveyard, the third book in the Red Queen series. I received this from NetGalley but was planning to buy it regardless as I’ve been looking forward to it since I read the previous book in the series at the end of last year. It’s a series that gets mixed reviews but I’ve been really enjoying despite it’s similarities to other YA sci fi books.
My Teaser
For a prince, he really lets himself go in times of crisis. Right now he looks like he needs a shower and a shave, not to mention a few well aimed slaps to wake him out of his stupor.
~ 9% The King’s Cage by Victoria Aveyard
In this breathless third installment to Victoria Aveyard’s bestselling Red Queen series, allegiances are tested on every side. And when the Lightning Girl’s spark is gone, who will light the way for the rebellion?
Mare Barrow is a prisoner, powerless without her lightning, tormented by her lethal mistakes. She lives at the mercy of a boy she once loved, a boy made of lies and betrayal. Now a king, Maven Calore continues weaving his dead mother’s web in an attempt to maintain control over his country—and his prisoner.
As Mare bears the weight of Silent Stone in the palace, her once-ragtag band of newbloods and Reds continue organizing, training, and expanding. They prepare for war, no longer able to linger in the shadows. And Cal, the exiled prince with his own claim on Mare’s heart, will stop at nothing to bring her back.
When blood turns on blood, and ability on ability, there may be no one left to put out the fire—leaving Norta as Mare knows it to burn all the way down.
I’m on holiday this week so may be a little slow in responding to comments but I promise I’ll get there eventually.
Happy Reading Everyone
The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.
To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:
Here’s this weeks WWW.
I’m still working my way through King’s Cage, the third book in Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen series. It seems to be taking me a lot longer than I expected to read. I am enjoying it but I think I have that slight wariness that it won’t live up to my expectations so have been taking it slow.
I also have this horrible feeling that something really bad is going to happen and it’s going to upset me.
I’m also still listening to Storm Siren by Mary Weber on audio. Currently almost 2 thirds of the way through and liking it a lot. It does have a lot of the common YA sci-fi/fantasy tropes (love triangle, special snow flake destined to save the world etc) but it’s also kind of dark (horses which keep trying to eat their riders) which makes a little bit different from the norm. Kind of curious to see where it goes.
It’s been a bit of a strange reading week for me as I’m doing another GoodReads team challenge and part of that challenge is to pick books from another team’s read list. It’s definitely resulted in some different from the norm choices in books but I’m enjoying 
venturing into new territory.
The first book finished, The Ocean at the End of
the Lane by Neil Gaiman, definitely falls into new territory for me as, terrible as it is to admit, this was the first book of his I’ve read. I suspect given so many people love his books so much I was a little bit nervous I would be the exception.
Thankfully that was not the case as I absolutely loved this story and Gaiman’s writing. There’s something just instantly likeable about it and it completely sucked me in.
My second book, A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle, was also new to me although obviously, as the first Sherlock Holmes story, old to a lot of people. I always feel like I can’t really comment on classic literature as let’s face it it’s classic for a reason but for the most part I loved it.
I’m a big fan of the TV show (the Benedict Cumberbatch one) so was curious about how true the show was to the book and honestly was completely shocked by the similarities. The “meet cute” between Holmes and Watson was almost identical as were many of the other scenes. I find it so impressive that Conan Doyle wrote this when he did and the fact that it
still pretty much works in a current day setting is a testament to the quality of his writing.
The one bit that slightly threw me was around the halfway point when it ventures into the motives of the murderer. It takes such a sudden shift I actually wondered if I was reading the same book. If you’ve read it you’ll know what I mean.
The third book finished this week was a re read of Evermore by Alyson Noel. It’s the first in her Immortals and series and while being a bit Twilighty I have to confess I do kinda enjoy it. It’s probably one of those guilty pleasure reads, you know it’s wrong to like it but you just can’t help it.
Sooo, I’m off on holiday to Spain on Sunday morning so I’m not going to post a reading next list. I want to leave it open and read whatever the heck I fancy although let’s face it I’m almost guaranteed to fancy A Conjuring of Light.
Have you read any of the books above or have any other book you’d recommend? Leave comments and links below and I’ll respond when I can.
Happy Wednesday everyone.
Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purple Booker. If you want to join in grab your current read, flick to a random page, select two sentences (without spoilers) and share them in a blog post or in the comments of The Purple Booker.
This week my teaser comes from The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. Shocking as it is to admit this is my first ever Gaiman but I very much doubt it will be my last as I’ve fallen in love with his writing. There’s just something magical about it.
My Teaser
The dread had not left my soul.
But there was a kitten on my pillow, and it was purring in my face and vibrating gently with every purr, and very soon, I slept
~ pg 143 The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE is a fable that reshapes modern fantasy: moving, terrifying and elegiac – as pure as a dream, as delicate as a butterfly’s wing, as dangerous as a knife in the dark – from storytelling genius Neil Gaiman.
It began for our narrator forty years ago when the family lodger stole their car and committed suicide in it, stirring up ancient powers best left undisturbed. Dark creatures from beyond this world are on the loose, and it will take everything our narrator has just to stay alive: there is primal horror here, and menace unleashed – within his family and from the forces that have gathered to destroy it.
His only defence is three women, on a farm at the end of the lane. The youngest of them claims that her duckpond is an ocean. The oldest can remember the Big Bang.
Happy Reading Everyone
Sunbolt by Intisar Khanani
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
After seeing so many wonderful reviews of this, and Khanani’s other books, I couldn’t resist buying this introduction to the Sunbolt chronicles and it doesn’t disappoint.
Fast paced and full of action, with a fiery heroine it hooks you from the very first page and doesn’t let go. I loved the authors writing style and the book as a whole reminded me of a lot of my other favourite YA fantasy reads (in the best possible ways).
My one complaint is that it’s just too short. At only around 130 pages it feels rushed and a little lacking in depth and explanations. The author has created an incredible world but doesn’t give us the chance to become fully immersed in it. I just wish it was that little bit longer with a bit more detail.
It is a great start however so I will definitely be reading the next book soon.
The winding streets and narrow alleys of Karolene hide many secrets, and Hitomi is one of them. Orphaned at a young age, Hitomi has learned to hide her magical aptitude and who her parents really were. Most of all, she must conceal her role in the Shadow League, an underground movement working to undermine the powerful and corrupt Arch Mage Wilhelm Blackflame.
When the League gets word that Blackflame intends to detain—and execute—a leading political family, Hitomi volunteers to help the family escape. But there are more secrets at play than Hitomi’s, and much worse fates than execution. When Hitomi finds herself captured along with her charges, it will take everything she can summon to escape with her life.
The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.
To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:
Here’s this weeks WWW.
I just started King’s Cage, the third book in Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen series, yesterday. I was planning to buy this but it popped up on NetGalley and I couldn’t resist requesting on the off chance I was approved and luckily I was. Thank you Orion Publishing 🙂
I read the first two books in the series towards the end of last year and absolutely loved them and, as Glass Sword finished with a big cliffhanger, I’ve been anxiously awaiting this book. Early days but so far so good.
I’ve kind of parked The Ninth Rain by Jen Williams for the moment as I just couldn’t get into it. I am around 40% in but I’ve been so busy at work I just didn’t have the concentration needed to follow what’s going on and really appreciate it. I will go back to it but will probably wait till later in the month when I’m on holiday.
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins is also on hold for the moment as it returned itself to the library and someone else has borrowed it. It’s looking like it might be a good few weeks before I get it back. In the meantime, I’ve started Storm Siren by Mary Weber on audio. I’ve listened to a couple of hours so far and quite enjoying it.
The first book finished this week was Mystery at Maplemead Castle by Kitty French. It’s the second book in the Chapelwick Mysteries series which is about Melody Bittersweet who runs the Girl’s Ghostbusting Agency. This time Melody and the gang are called in to get rid of some ghosts causing trouble in a castle.
I love Kitty French books and couldn’t resist requesting this from NetGalley. I liked it a lot. It’s quirky, funny and also had me a bit teary at times. It’s out at the beginning of March so I’ll post a review closer to then.
The second book read was Sleeping Beauty by K.M. Shea. It’s the 8th book in her Timeless Fairy Tales series and like the others is a really enjoyable and easy read. What I love about Shea’s books is that they always have feisty and independent heroines who don’t wait around for Prince Charming to save them (although Sleeping Beauty kind of has to).
The third and final book finished was Sunbolt by Intisar Khanani. This was a novella I bought from Amazon a while back but hadn’t gotten around to reading. It did however fit a challenge this week and was a quick read so I managed to sneak it in.
It is short but it’s a great story and I really want to read more by this author (edit: I’ve just bought the sequel).
I’m doing a team challenge again so it seems likely that I will be wandering from my reading plan again to find some books that fit. I do still plan on reading NetGalley ARCs Sweetpea by C.J. Skuse and The Best of Adam Sharp by Graeme Simsion but I think I’m also going to try and fit in The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. This will be my first Gaiman book so I’m really looking forward to it.
Have you read any of the books above or have any other book you’d recommend? Leave comments and links below and I’ll respond when I can.
Happy Wednesday everyone.
Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purple Booker. If you want to join in grab your current read, flick to a random page, select two sentences (without spoilers) and share them in a blog post or in the comments of The Purple Booker.
Happy Valentines Day everyone!!! Or if you’re like me Happy Singles Awareness Day (I’m totally offended the acronym for that is SAD). Anyway, this week my teaser comes from Mystery at Maplemead Castle by Kitty French, a title I received from NetGalley on Friday evening and had finished by Saturday morning. It’s such a fun read and has just the right amount of romance and mystery.
My Teaser
‘I’m not sure that knowing the colour of my underwear is a compliment, it’s more of a letchy observation.’ I frown. ‘And as for my ass…’ I look down. ‘It’s the dead woman’s shoes. They make my legs look longer.’
~ 40% Mystery at Maplemead Castle by Kitty French
Welcome to Chapelwick, a leafy English town in the hills of Shropshire, where chocolate pecan cookies come with a helping of sabotage.
Maplemead Castle is crawling with ghosts, and the new owners need them gone. When Melody Bittersweet and the Girls’ Ghostbusting Agency arrive on scene, they quickly identify the troublemakers swinging from the chandeliers… literally.
A century ago, stunning trapeze artist Britannia Lovell plunged to her death, and has done every night since. But did she really just fall, or was there something more to her demise?
Forced to work with Leo Dark, her scoundrel ex, and infuriating, irresistible reporter Fletcher Gunn, Melody’s investigative powers are under strain (i.e. lost in a pink mist of lust and confusion). She needs her team on top form, but best friend Marina’s cake pipeline goes AWOL, assistant Artie’s distracted by a giant sausage roll, and the pug is scared witless by a lion.
Somewhere, hidden in the castle, is a heart-breaking secret, but what will it take to find it? And is there a chance it could set Britannia free, or is she doomed to repeat her last fateful act forever?
An utterly hilarious, gripping, spooktastic read for fans of HY Hanna, MC Beaton, Gina LaManna and Jana DeLeon.
Happy Reading Everyone
A Bookish Life 