WWW Wednesday: 6th April 2016

It’s WWW Wednesday time.

The WWW Wednesdays 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.

WWW Wednesday

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you’ll read next?

So here’s my W’s for the week.


The Sign Of OneCurrently Reading

I’m continuing on my mission to get my list of ARC’s down so at the moment I’m reading The Sign of One by Eugene Lambert. I’m around the 20% mark and so far not too sure about it. It’s a young adult dystopian so should be right up my street but there is something about it that’s a little off and I can’t put my finger on it just yet. It kind of seems a little bit similar to the first book in the Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness but isn’t quite doing it as well.Storm Front (The Dresden Files, #1)

I also have a new audio book this week, Storm Front by Jim Butcher (I couldn’t get the next Harry Potter book). I’ve heard a few people recommend it as the narration is supposed to be very good (James Marsters aka Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Worryingly I still haven’t actually read the synopsis but it seems to be about a wizard in Chicago who consults for the police and finds missing objects. So far it’s ok but it’s very early days.


Recently Finished

I feel like I haven’t read as much as usual this week but despite that I have managed to finish three books.

Jane SteeleThe first of these was Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye which I had literally just started last Wednesday. I’d requested this from NetGalley as soon as I heard it was a retelling of one of my favourite books, Jane Eyre. I wouldn’t say it’s exactly a retelling as the main character refers to the novel regularly but the stories are fairly similar. The big exception to this is that Ms Steele seems to end up killing quite a few people.

The language is pretty similar to that in Jane Eyre which is why I think it took me a bit longer to read but I have to say that I absolutely loved this book. So much so that I think I’m going to have to go out and buy a physical copy to keep. I’m struggling a little to write a suitably glowing review but hopefully should have one up this week.

In addition to Jane Steele, I also finished the audio book of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling. I had said I wasn’t in any rush to finish as I was loving the narration so much but it turns out I should have been as I’d gotten it from the library and it returned itself with still an hour left to go. I ended up having to switch to the e book.The Heir (The Selection, #4)

The final book of the week, and which I read most of on Monday night, was The Heir by Kiera Cass. This is the fourth in the Selection series but is set some 20 years after the original trilogy. This time it’s daughter and future Queen Eadlyn who has the task of finding a husband from 35 potential candidates. I’ve always been very critical of the first three books and had decided I wasn’t going to continue with the series but when I saw this in the library I couldn’t resist.

I will admit I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected. The main character is still quite annoying but so far there isn’t the awful love triangle and endless indecision that drove me crazy in the first three. The biggest problem is it ended on a cliffhanger so now I’ll need to get my hands on the next one in May.


Reading Next

Believe it or not I actually made a list a few nights ago of what I’m planning to read over the next few weeks. I have a pile of library books and a lot of ARC’s to read by certain dates so I really thought I should get organised. Whether I stick to the plan is a whole other question.

RiverkeepWho’s That Girl?Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices #1)

In terms of ARCs I think my next read will be chick lit novel Who’s That Girl by Mhairi McFarlane. I’ve previously read a couple of books by this author so couldn’t resist this when I saw it on NetGalley. After that I have Riverkeep by Martin Stewart which is a young adult fantasy and sounds like a bit of a road trip, self discovery type story so should be good.

On the library book side I’m hoping to get stuck into Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare this weekend. It’s due back next week so it’s now or never. I’ve seen a lot of good reviews for it so I’m looking forward to it.

All in all I’m hoping for a good week. Have you read any of these? What would you recommend? Let me know in the comment box below (and feel free to leave links to your WWW) 🙂

Teaser Tuesday: 5th April 2016

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Books and a Beat 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 Books and a Beat.

Teaser

This week my teaser comes from Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye which is kind of a gothic re telling of Jane Eyre. I say kind of because the main character refers to the literary heroine quite regularly and compares their lives and circumstances. Their lives are fairly similar, both are orphaned, sent off to the worst possible boarding school and end up working as governesses but Ms Steele has slightly more flexible morals and beliefs than Ms Eyre.

This has been one of my favourite reads this year and definitely one I’d recommend.

Jane SteeleMy Teaser

Some cities bustle, some meander, I have read; London blazes, and it incinerates. London is the wolf’s maw. From the instant I arrived there, I loved every smouldering inch of it.

~ Location 1299

Happy reading everyone.

WWW Wednesday: 30th March 2016

It’s WWW Wednesday time.

The WWW Wednesdays 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.

WWW Wednesday

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you’ll read next?

So here’s my W’s for the week.


Currently ReadingJane Steele

Normal service has resumed this week so I only have two books on the go, an audio and an e-book.

I literally just finished a book at around 7pm last night so at the point of writing this post (around 2 hours later) I’d only read the first few pages of my next book,  Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye. I received it from NetGalley and am so excited to be reading it. Jane Eyre has always been one of my favorite stories so it’s great to find a book with a link to it. In this case, Jane Steele is a contemporary of Miss Eyre and has led a very similar life. However, she’s not really taking things lying down and has become a bit of a serial killer. It’s very early days but so far so good.

In addition to Jane Steele, I’m also still working my way through the audio book of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling. I think I have around 2.5-3 hours left but I’m not in any rush to finish as I’m loving Stephen Fry’s narration.


Recently FinishedFlawed (Flawed, #1)

Easter weekend meant more time off work and more reading time so finished a few books this week.

First up was Flawed by Cecelia Ahern which I’d also received from NetGalley. There are some very mixed reviews around of this but despite some minor issues with the main character I absolutely loved it. I literally couldn’t put it down and for once I’ve actually managed to get a review up which you can find here.

A Gathering of Shadows (Shades of Magic, #2)The second book finished was A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab. This was the second book in the series and a story I’d been anxiously awaiting. I was reading as part of a GoodReads discussion so I’m waiting till that’s finished to post a review but I will say that I really, really liked it. Possibly not quite as good as the first book in the series but definitely worth the wait. I’m just not sure now how I’m supposed to wait till the next one.

Also finished this week was 3.34am by Nick Pirog. It’s the 4th book in the Henry Bins series and is about a guy (Henry Bins) who has a condition called Henry Bins (it’s named after him). This condition means that he’s only awake for 1 hour out of every 24 from 3am in the morning until 4am. As soon as the clock hits 4am he’s out for the count regardless of where he is or what he’s doing. I absolutely love this series, it really has some great characters with my favorite being Lassie the cat. I did think however that this book was pNever Never (Never Never, #1)ossibly the weakest in the series so far but it may just be that I wasn’t in the right frame of mind.

The final book (or 3 books) was the Never, Never series by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher. This was my third attempt at a Colleen Hoover after reading Ugly Love and Hopeless over the last few months. So far I’ve had mixed views, I like the writing but not necessarily the story but have to admit this is probably my favorite so far. It’s about a girl and boy, Charlie and Silas who are sitting in class one day and suddenly realize they have no idea who they are, where they are or what’s happened. I have a bit of a thing for stories about amnesia (don’t know why, I just find them fascinating) so this was right up my street. Hopefully I’ll get a review up soon.


Reading Next

Again I don’t have any definite plans for what I’m going to read next. I still have Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare which I got from the library last week but I was at a different library today returning books and picked up another couple while I was there, The Heir by Kiera Cass and Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton. I’ve had both on my Amazon wishlist for a while so I was very happy to find them at the library.

I also went on a bit of a NetGalley request spree yesterday and requested around 5 books I think (I may have a problem). Still waiting to hear on most of them but my plea for Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty has been approved. I have to admit I chose mostly based on the cover (how pretty is it?) but I’ve heard good things about it too.

The Heir (The Selection, #4)Rebel of the Sands (Rebel of the Sands, #1)Serafina and the Black Cloak (Serafina, #1)

So it’s looking like I have a childrens/YA book week coming up which is no bad thing. Have you read any of these? Which do you think I should start with?

Let me know in the comment box below (and feel free to leave links to your WWW) 🙂

Teaser Tuesday: 29th March 2016

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Books and a Beat 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 Books and a Beat.

Teaser

As I’m currently between books I’m being a bit of a cheat again this week and using one I recently finished, Flawed by Cecelia Ahern. I’ve always been a big fan of Cecelia Ahern and while this book marks a move into a new genre for her (YA dystopian) I still loved it. You can find my full review here.

Flawed (Flawed, #1)My Teaser

When you see something, it can’t be unseen. When you hear a sound, it can’t be unheard. I know, deep down, that this evening I have learned something that can never be unlearned. And the part of my world that is altered will never be the same.

~ Location 151

Happy reading everyone.

WWW Wednesday: 23rd March 2016

It’s WWW Wednesday time.

The WWW Wednesdays 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.

WWW Wednesday

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you’ll read next?

So here’s my W’s for the week.


Currently Reading

A Gathering of Shadows (Shades of Magic, #2)Unusually for me I actually have three books on the go at the moment. I usually prefer to focus on one book at a time (I tend to get fully absorbed and find it difficult to switch) but I have a book of the month, an ARC and an audio that I’m trying to juggle.

For my GoodReads group book of the month I’ve just started A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab. I’ve been very excited about this pretty much since I finished the previous book in the series (you may have noticed this from my previous WWW’s) but only started it yesterday so it’s still early days. I’m vaguely trying to stick to a reading schedule (that will definitely never happen) so it should take me the next couple of weeks to finish (I’ll be finished by Saturday, maybe Friday).

Flawed (Flawed, #1)As well as AGOS, I’m also reading Flawed by Cecelia Ahern which is an ARC I received from NetGalley. I’ve loved most of Cecelia Ahern’s previous books but this is the first YA dystopian she’s written so I was a little bit nervous as the reviews are mixed. I’m only around halfway through but I’m definitely in the loving it category.

The final book I’m listening to is Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling. I read Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone last week and a few people recommended the audios which are narrated by Stephen Fry. You were so right so thanks. I’ve discovered I can get the Overdrive app on my phone and my library has all of the Potter audiobooks available so it looks like I’m sorted for the next couple of months 🙂


Fool Me OnceRecently Finished

I’m back at work this week so it’s been a slightly slower reading week, only three books finished.

The first book was  Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben which I also received as an ARC via NetGalley. It’s a thriller about a Former special ops pilot, Maya, who spots her husband on the nanny cam playing with their 2 year old daughter. The only problem, her husband was murdered in front of her eyes two weeks ago. I’m still not sure what to think of this book. For the majority of the time I was a bit meh and then the ending happened. I can’t decide if it’s brilliant or awful. Hopefully I’ll make my mind up soon and post a review.

A Monster CallsSecond book was Forever in my Heart by Maria K. Alexander but I’ll just gloss over this quickly with a “not for me”.

The final, and by far best book of the week (month and possibly year/decade/ever), was A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. It’s a young adult book about a boy, Connor, whose mother has cancer and who is visited by a monster. It’s kind of like a modern day fairytale. It’s sad, it’s uplifting, it’s completely beautiful and totally heartbreaking. Loved it.


Reading NextJane Steele

Don’t have a definite plan of what’s next on the reading list although I’m thinking maybe Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye which is a dark, gothic tale based on Jane Eyre (if Jane Eyre was a serial killer). Jane Eyre was always my favourite of the classics and so far I haven’t come across many books based on it (other than a dodgy sequel I forget the name of) so when I saw it on someone else’s blog I couldn’t resist.

Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices #1)I also just picked up a copy of Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare from the library. I’d totally forgotten I’d put in a request for it so got way too excited to get an email saying it was in. I really enjoyed the Mortal Instruments series and I find Cassandra Clare’s writing style very readable so I’m really looking forward to it.

Other than that I’m not sure so if you have any suggestions or recommendations let me know in the comments below.

Happy reading everyone and enjoy the Easter weekend if you’re celebrating it.

WWW Wednesday: 16th March 2016

It’s WWW Wednesday time.

The WWW Wednesdays 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.

WWW Wednesday

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you’ll read next?

So here’s my W’s for the week.


Fool Me OnceCurrently Reading

I’m continuing in my mission to reduce my ARCs at the moment so I’m currently reading Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben which I received from NetGalley. It’s quite early days (I’ve only read the first chapter) but what I have read I’m liking. I have read a few of his books in the past and enjoyed them so looking forward to it. If nothing else it makes a nice change from my usual YA sci fi and fantasy.


Recently Finished

The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden, #1)I was on holiday from work last week so I had a bit of a reading binge and finished five books. First up was The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa. It’s a young adult dystopian with vampires but despite my initial doubts I have to admit I really enjoyed it. Unfortunately it is the first in a trilogy, so I’m fighting hard to resist buying the rest of the series. I really need to finish some of the books I already have before buying more.

The second book I finished was Gone Astray by Michelle Davies. It was another pleasant surprise as I’ve been a little disappointed with the thriller/crime books I’ve been reading recently. It’s the first book in a new series where the main character is a police family liaison officer. Ink and Bone (The Great Library, #1)It definitely gives it a unique and interesting twist. You can read my full review here.

The next book finished was  Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine (yes for once I actually read something from my reading next list). It was a book of the month read in one of my GoodReads groups and the discussion is still going so I’m waiting to post a review. I would definitely recommend it though as it’s a very good read. I’m just not sure I can wait for the next one.

Coco Pinchard's Must-Have Toy Story (Coco Pinchard, #4)Book number four of the week was the short novel, Coco Pinchard’s Must Have Toy Story by Robert Bryndza. I do love Coco Pinchard books as they always make me laugh. This time it was back to the 90’s and the hunt for that must have Christmas Toy, Tracy Island.

The final book of the week was a re read of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling.  It’s been many years since I’ve read it (I estimate at least 10) so it was a little strange but definitely enjoyable re reading it now.


Reading NextA Gathering of Shadows (Shades of Magic, #2)

Drum roll please…..at long, long last I can finally start A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab. It’s been sitting on my kindle for a few weeks but the Group read starts next week so I can finally start. I’m completely stunned I managed to hold out. I just hope I haven’t built it up too much 🙂

Other than that I’m not too sure so have decided not to even try to guess. I should probably be slowing my reading anyway and trying to get some reviews up instead.

So that’s my week in books, what have you been reading? Do you have any recommendations? All comments or links welcome below 🙂

Teaser Tuesday: 15th March 2016

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Books and a Beat 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 Books and a Beat.

Teaser

This week I’m in the middle of a re read of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (aka Sorcerer’s Stone). I can’t imagine anyone hasn’t heard of it but if you haven’t read it you really should. It’s been a while since I read it, probably more than 10 years, so it’s a little bit strange picking it up after all this time.

For my teaser I couldn’t resist a bit of Severus Snape. Just reading this I can’t help but picture Alan Rickman giving a variation of this speech in the film. He really was perfectly cast.

My TeaserHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter, #1)

“I don’t expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with it’s shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses … I can teach you to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death – if you aren’t as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach.”

~ Page 137

Happy reading everyone.

WWW Wednesday: 9th March 2016

It’s WWW Wednesday time.

The WWW Wednesdays 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.

WWW Wednesday

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you’ll read next?

So here’s my W’s for the week.


The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden, #1)Currently Reading

I’m currently reading The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa and am around 85% through so I think it will probably be finished by the end of the day. I’d previously read The Iron King and while I didn’t hate it I didn’t particularly love it either so didn’t read any further in the series.

This book seems a lot better though. It is a little disjointed in my opinion but it’s an easy read which is a mix of vampire story and dystopian. It’s an unusual combination but seems to kind of work. The main character Allison is definitely more likeable than the main character in the Iron King series.


Recently FinishedGolden Son (Red Rising, #2)

I’ve started another team reading challenge this week and have had a few days off work so I’ve been on a bit of a reading binge. As a result I’ve managed to finish four books.

The first two were books two and three in the Red Rising trilogy by Pierce Brown, Golden Son and Morning Star. I couldn’t resist carrying on to the end of the series when I finished Golden Son, particularly considering the ending. It really is an epic series and has a lot of nods to other stories including Hunger Games, Game of Thrones and even Star Wars but it’s still pretty unique and Pierce Brown’s writing is incredible. I’m hoping I will manage to get reviews up at some point. (Does anyone else struggle to write reviews for books they love or is it just me?)Heart of Ice (The Snow Queen, #1)

As well as finishing the Red Rising Trilogy I also managed to sneak in the two books of K.M. Shea’s Snow Queen series, Heart of Ice and Sacrifice. They are prequels to her Timeless Fairytales series which I loved but can be read on their own. I had a few issues with the start of the first book, it seemed like too much background was just stated, but once I got further into it I enjoyed it a lot more. It had all of the elements I love from K.M. Shea, the strong female characters, plenty of action and a bit of romance. I also think her books tend to have the right messages which are so often missing in YA books.


Reading Next

So I went to the library this week, which is always dangerous for me, and got a couple of new books that I may or may not read (I give up trying to guess what I’ll read next).

The first one is The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett. I’ve never actually read a Terry Pratchett before which seems ridiculous and haven’t watched any of the TV series so I have to admit I have my doubts. Particularly as someone told my not to start from book 1 of the Discworld series which this is. I just couldn’t resist the pretty cover. The second library book was 22 Dead Little Bodies and Other Stories by Stuart MacBride. It’s a collection of short stories so hopefully I can fit it in around some other books.

The only book I have definitely planned for this week is Ink and Bone by Rachelle Caine. It’s another book of the month read and is a story about a library so how could I resist 🙂

The Colour of Magic (Discworld, #1)22 Dead Little Bodies and Other StoriesInk and Bone (The Great Library, #1)

So that’s my week in books. Have you read any of them? Particularly curious on the Terry Pratchett. Should I read it or will it put me off?

Teaser Tuesday: 8th March 2016

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Books and a Beat 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 Books and a Beat.

Teaser

This week my teaser comes from Morning Star by Pierce Brown. It’s the final book in the Red Rising Trilogy which after a bit of a shaky start I have to say I’m absolutely loving. I’ve reached that stage where I want to know how it will end but I don’t want it to be over (and I’m slightly worried that not everyone will make it). Anyway…

My TeaserMorning Star (Red Rising, #3)

I see a man trying his best in a world that doesn’t give a shit. It breaks my heart.

Yet I don’t move, because I know I’m not witnessing the death of a friend as much as I’m seeing the rebirth of another.

~ Page 426

Happy reading everyone.

WWW Wednesday: 2nd March 2016

It’s WWW Wednesday time.

The WWW Wednesdays 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.

WWW Wednesday

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you’ll read next?

So here’s my W’s for the week.


Golden Son (Red Rising, #2)Currently Reading

At the moment I’m still working my way through Golden Son by Pierce Brown which is the second book in the Red Rising trilogy. I have to admit I was finding it a bit of a struggle to start with but I  reached around the 40% mark and since then I haven’t been able to put it down. It’s starting to feel a lot like Game of Thrones with different factions fighting for power, looking for alliances and stabbing each other in the back. It’s pretty brutal at times but I love that in a book 🙂


Recently Finished

Sleepless In ManhattanDue to my difficulties in getting into Golden Son I haven’t really read as much as I usually do this week. I don’t know if this is just a me thing but I was doing pretty much anything to avoid reading it because I couldn’t quite connect but didn’t want to actually give up. I almost never give up on a book.

I did however take a bit of a break from it at the weekend to read a couple of ARC’s I received from NetGalley. The first was Sleepless in Manhattan by Sarah Morgan which I think has been on my reading next list for at least the last month. It’s the first in a new series set in New York (the title is a bit of a hint). I do really like Sarah Morgan. They are completely predictable however there is always The Glittering Court (The Glittering Court, #1)plenty of chemistry between the leads and they are an easy and enjoyable way to spend a lazy afternoon.

The second ARC wasn’t actually a whole book but a sneak peek at the upcoming Richelle Mead book The Glittering Court. I’ve never actually read any Richelle Mead books before (despite desperately wanting to get my hands on Vampire Academy) so was interested to see what her style was like and have to say I was quite impressed. The story is similar in some ways to The Selection but the main character is a lot less annoying. As is typical of sneak peek’s it finished on a bit of a cliffhanger so I’ve been forced to add it to my Amazon wishlist and wait till it’s released in April.


Reading Next

So this week I will be continuing in my attempt to not read A Gathering of Shadows by VE Schwab despite some of my fellow bloggers raving over how good it is (you know who you are). I will hold out until it’s time for the group read (well, maybe)

I think there’s actually a fair chance that I will move on to the final part of the Red Rising trilogy, Morning Star, seeing as I have a nice shiny and signed hardback. It’s not the easiest series to pick up and set down (too many characters to keep track of) so it would be sensible to keep going. I’ve also started a new team challenge on GoodReads so will be looking for a few quick reads to get some points on the board. I’m thinking K.M Shea’s new series, the latest books in Nick Pirog’s 3am series and The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa.

A Gathering of Shadows (Shades of Magic, #2)Morning Star (Red Rising, #3)3:34 a.m. (Henry Bins #4)The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden, #1)

Who knows though, I have a week off work and they’re forecasting snow so there is a strong possibility I’ll read something completely different.

Have you read any of the books above? Do you have any recommendations?