Photo Credits: Barbara A Lane (pixabay), Edited by Vaishali |
I can't possibly begin this review without commenting on the exquisitely elegant, the shining showpiece that is the cover art for An Enchantment of Ravens. Colour me (predictably) enchanted, and also fully unsurprised that this Charlie Bowater creation won the adulation of Goodreads' 2017 Best YA Book Cover. If Charlie Bowater's graphic murals were sighted by this particular batch of fair folk, I imagine they'd trade enchantments within seconds. Whatever the cause, I've been answering the YA call, fully feeling that it's the place I need to be right now. Isobel's an honoured Crafter; all fair folk commission her to have themselves vainly immortalised in yet another way, and that's to have themselves captured on canvas by her portraiture art. Her Craft. |
- 3 S T A R S to An Enchantment of Ravens
2) Lullaby Scars by Hollee Mands - Rating ★ ★ ★ ★ 4
I kick off this review with easy recognition because who knew prequel novels could complete the trifecta of applied imagination, interesting storytelling components and locational adventure? Or perhaps I should dub this a 'quad-fecta' because it effectively frames a setting for a larger standalone series so well too? If the job of a series beginner is to gather notice and garner appeal, consider Lullaby Scars a notice caller and appeal establisher. Hollee Mands imagines up a world of crime, savagery, thrall, bias, iniquity and arrant injustice. But one with magic too. Whether ranked with privilege or not, as is the case with both Mailin and Killian, the world is safe for no one. |
- 4 S T A R S to Lullaby Scars
3) Breathe by Isabel Jolie - Rating ★ ★ ★ 3
I was so generously gifted (signed!) paperbacks of both Crushed and Breathe by this wonderful writer of romance, and despite Breathe being second-in-series I was so very lured downstream by the idea of a wounded heroine (beautifully captured on her lonesome walk by the cover) who returns to her roots not quite the same as the loved-up teenage girl she'd been. So as it was, Breathe easily became my priority pick from the Twisted Vines series. A heartbreak later, no foreigner to death and danger, and with the gauntlet of grief now hers to claim, Kairi reconnects with what was once her mountaintop home where all that once mattered was her and a boy she loved. Kairi and her black ops team have made temporary base in her mother's vineyard, and although they've found provisional respite in hiding, there is no guaranteed safety in a world of cyberspace that hosts a network of criminality. |
- 3 S T A R S to Breathe
4) New Orleans Rush by Kelly Siskind - Rating ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
This story opens up finding bubbly Beatrice Baker drinking barside in a proud city made just for her, but without a boyfriend who promised them a great minute-by-minute adventure. Bea's having a very unlucky day, and hell hath no very un-Bea-like fury like a woman dumped, ditched and homeless in New Orleans. Bea usually lives a long-suffering life with longer smiles, but today? It's harder for Bea to break one. After meeting a magical man with a magical cape, a characteristically cheery-tempered, conflict-averse gal finds herself out of character, juiced on a belly full of margaritas and medicine as she follows in Carrie Underwood style and keys her ex's automobile. Who also owns a prized Mustang so similar to he ex? Her cape-clad stranger. |
- 5 S T A R S to New Orleans Rush
5) Heartstopper Vol 3 by Alice Oseman - Rating
The day to day of everyday continues with Nick and Charlie in the Heartstopper chronicles. They're still getting to know each other, still growing as a couple, still smitten in each other's company. And it even happens that the big 'L' word is drawing ever nearer. But smooth sailing it is not because it turns out that being a couple is half the battle. It's exam period before school breaks, and they're soon to become sixth formers. And Nick might've come out to his mum but it becomes a different matter altogether in coming out to his friends. Charlie, ever the understanding boyfriend is never one to push, but still haunted by the memories of his own choiceless outing coupled with sitting exams for exam season and he's not sure he can face the scrutiny for a second time returning. |
- 3.5 S T A R S to Heartstopper Volume 3
I hope you've enjoyed my September and October reads, but more than that, I truly hope you've enjoyed your own. Stay safe and well reader friends.
I love interacting with fellow readers and hearing about reader opinion, so if you'd like to talk books or about your own recent reads, get in touch and comment below!
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M Y R A T I N G S Y S T E M:
★ - 1 star: I did not like the book
★★ - 2 stars: The book was okay
★★★ - 3 stars: It was a good, solid read
★★★★ - 4 stars: A great book
★★★★★ - 5: A phenomenal read
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R E L A T E D P O S T S:
● July/August Reading Wrap Up 2022
● May/June Reading Wrap Up 2022
● March/April Reading Wrap Up 2022
● January/February Reading Wrap Up 2022
● November/December Reading Wrap Up 2021
● September/October Reading Wrap Up 2021
● July/August Reading Wrap Up 2021
● May/June Reading Wrap Up 2021
● March/April Reading Wrap Up 2021
● January/February Reading Wrap Up 2021
● November/December Reading Wrap Up 2020
● September Reading Wrap Up 2020
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Vaishali
Born in the UK
Raised in the UK
But whose truest homeland lies between the pages of a book.
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