Monthly Favourites: January

Oh thank god that January has come to an end. It felt like this last month was never going to end. Today I'm back with my first monthly favourites of 2020 which I nearly didn't post as for half the month I only one favourite to share with you. Yet things have picked up since then and whilst I have more non beauty favourites to share than anything, there's a good selection here.

My first favourite of January is one that I'm pretty sure my neighbours are sick of hearing. Halsey released her new song You Should Be Sad sometime during the middle of January and I was obsessesed before I'd even finished listening to it the first time. I'm not usually a fan of Halsey, I'll hum along if one of her songs plays at work but she's not an artist I actively listen to.Yet You Should Be Sad is all I've wanted to listen to this month. Girl was spilling some tea and it makes for some very catchy listening. I knew I was going to like it when I heard the slight country tone to it but I didn't realise just how much I was going to love it. Plus the music video is amazing and pays homage to some of the most amazing female artists in the industry including my idol Carrie Underwood.

The second series of Sex Education finally dropped this month and I binged it in two sittings (would have been one but needed sleep). I didn't know how they were going to top the first series but they really did and I loved every single episode. Episode 7 actually made cry and whilst I'd love to blame it on hormones, it was truly because the storyline following the girls in detention made me pay attention to the kind of horrid shit that we women have to put up with. It was beautifully played by all the actresses and really spread a sense of unity to anyone who's ever been made to feel uncomfortable or sexually harrassed by anyone. Fingers crossed they renew it for a third season as I've watched a series so quickly as I've watched this one.

And with it being January, it can only mean one thing. It's Silent Witness season. I adore Silent Witness, it's well written, tackles true and deep hitting subjects and has one of the most amazing casts on TV. The series hasn't ended yet but I've adored every episode so far. Liz Carr and Emilia Fox are my biggest stand outs so far this season with their ability to be witty and humorous yet still being able to give me all the feels with the emotional moments and storylines. Yet a little spoiler makes me believe that David Caves is going to steal the season finale with his performance. I'm sad that we're already over halfway done with the season but I also have them all on DVD so I can just binge watch them when I get withdrawal symptoms.

Back last August I finally bit the bullet and got my first tattoo and this weekend just gone I managed to stay upright long enough to get my second. And I say stay upright because I was suffering from the worst migraine I've had in a long time. Now before any of you say why didn't you reschedule, I couldn't because I was in fact getting a matching tattoo with my mum. Which sure a lot of people don't think is cool but is something that she's wanted for the longest time and made sense since we're so close, me being an only child and all that. We got matching lavender sprig tattoos except hers is on her right middle finger and mine is on my left middle fingers. Considering the amount of pain I was in already that day I was surprised that this didn't actually hurt. Sure it was uncomfortable around the knuckle area but it was nothing compared to the pounding in my head. It's healing nicely and I'm trying my hardest not to bash it but it's only now I'm realising just how much I use my middle finger for. And I'm not just on about flipping people the bird.

Now shall we talk about my beauty favourites for the month. I only two, the first being a cleanser I've been using since before Christmas but never got round to talking about. The Sanctuary AHA Cleansing Mousse doesn't sound like it's going to be good for your skin but it's amazing. It's a mix between a chemical exfoliant and a physical exfoliant in cleanser form. This is best used on bare skin, it's gritty mousse texture breaking down quickly to retexturise and deeply cleanse skin. I always find my skin feels it's best after I've used it, even compared to the Estee Lauder Micro Cleansing Foam which I've also been trying this month.

And my last favourite both for this post and for beauty is one that shouldn't really be in here as I've only had it for a week at most but I just adore it. The Origins Original Skin Matte Moisturiser has completely changed my morning skincare routine. I brought it to replace my Liz Earle Superskin Moisturiser and I'm so glad I did. It's a lightweight gel formula that helps to ease redness, moisturise and even tone whilst giving skin a semi matte finish that creates the perfect base under make up. I was up until now tempted to also try the IT Cosmetics moisturiser that everyone raves about but Origins have really knocked it out the park and saved me some dollar at the same time. 

Book Haul: January

One of my favourite things to do is browse Waterstones. I'm always looking for the next book to add to my collection and I often find myself leaving there with a book or three. And so today I'm sharing the first of my monthly book hauls that hopefully I'll keep up with as the year goes on.

The Toll- Neal Shusterman 
The first book I picked up this month was just one of a four new release binge I did once I'd been paid. The Toll is the third and final book in the Arc Of A Sycthe trilogy by Neal Shusterman. There is nothing I can tell you about this book without spoiling Thunderhead but if you haven't already picked up this finale or any of this series at all, I highly recommend you do. It has an amazing cast of characters, so many twists and turns and Thunderhead ends on a shocking cliffhanger that'll have you eagerly reaching for The Toll.

A Heart So Fierce And Broken- Brigid Kemmerer 
The next in that little book binge is the second in the Cursebreakers series. AHSFAB follows on from A Curse So Dark And Lonely, an amazing Beauty And The Beast retelling I adored when I read it last year. Where the first book followed Harper, Rhen and Grey, this second book follows Grey and delves deeper into him as a main character as well as introducing a host of new characters which all work in tandem to create the shock ending that this book had. If you haven't picked up this series, I highly suggest adding it to your 2020 reading list.

The Vanishing Stair- Maureen Johnson 
Another sequel I picked up (sensing a theme yet?) was The Vanishing Stair. This is the second book in the Truly Devious, which follows True Crime enthusiast Stevie as she attends the esteemed Ellingham Academy to further herself in her goal of working for the FBI. And whilst she's there she takes it upon herself to solve the infamous Ellingham kidnap/murder case from 1936. Yet things starting hitting a little close to home when classmates start dying and the elusive Truly Devious starts leaving Stevie ominous riddles and clues. This series is a little slow to start but when it picks up, this has more twists than a twister board.

The Trouble With Perfect- Helena Duggan 
A middle grade series I picked up the sequel to this month was The Trouble With Perfect by Helena Duggan. This follows on from A Place Called Perfect which I read in a day back last year. It's an amazingly complexly written middle grade series with a kick ass female main character who doesn't need adult or boys to help her achieve her goal. Plus I adore the artwork on the covers of these books and know they're going to look amazing on my shelf.  

The Night Country- Melissa Albert 
The penultimate sequel I picked up this month was The Night Country by Melissa Albert. This is the second book in The Hazel Wood Series. It follows Alice as she comes to terms with the events of her time spent in the Hinterland. And when fellow ex-Stories start being killed, it starts to hit a little close to home for Alice. The Hazel Wood was one I enjoyed overall but found the ending lacking but so far as I delve deeper into it's sequel, it's a lot better. A think a lot of it is Albert's writing style maturing as The Hazel Wood was her debut novel.

One Of Us Is Next- Karen M. McManus 
And the final sequel I brought this month is one that I haven't even read the first book for. One Of Us Is Next is the sequel to One Of Us Is Next which I actually brought early on last year and never got round to reading. I've heard mixed reviews about this series which is advertised as Pretty Little Liars meets the Breakfast Club. It's a YA thriller than upon reading a sample had the promise of being better than a couple I read in 2019. I plan on marathoning both of the books back to back.

Daisy Jones And The Six- Taylor Jenkins Reid 
I've finally gotten round to picking up the highly acclaimed Daisy Jones And The Six. I'm going to put it out there now, I hate the cover. I love the white boho inspired that everyone else seems to own but this is the UK paperback edition, it's only redeeming quality being the gorgeous ombre sprayed edges. And yes I know that the cover isn't going to change what I think of the story itself. if you've lived under a rock for the last year and don't know what this book is about, this book follows the rise, the fame and the break up of the fictional 70s' band Daisy Jones And The Six. This is told through various multi media sources, predominately interviews which gives it an interesting twist on the tale. Fingers crossed I love it as much as everyone else does.

Three Dark Crowns- Kendare Blake 
Another highly hyped book series comes from Kendare Blake. Three Dark Crowns is the first in the series and follows three sisters who are all born with equal claims to the throne but only one can be crowned Queen and that means a battle to the death against her sisters. The premise of this book had me hooked the moment I read it and then I saw a load of amazing reviews on BookTube and I knew I just had to bite the bullet and buy it. I shouldn't be starting another series when I have so many to finish but I just can't help myself.

Skyward- Brandon Sanderson 
Which is why I also picked up Skyward by Brandon Sanderson. Again I've heard nothing but good things about this series and I thought it was time I picked it up. This follows Spensa who's life's ambition is to be a pilot, the most esteemed of jobs in her world. But with her family name tainted and her planet being attacked by mysterious alien starfighters, Spensa's got her work cut out for her. I'm really looking forward to reading this, I've never read a Brandon Sanderson book but I've heard nothing but good things about his writing so I'm really hoping Skyward lives up to the expectation.

A Throne Of Swans- Katherine & Elizabeth Corr
And the final book I brought this month was A Throne Of Swans by Katherine And Elizabeth Corr. This follows seventeen year old Aderyn who suddenly finds herself the Protector of Atratys, a dominion of the kingdom where nobles can turn themselves into birds. Yet Aderyn hasn't been able to transform since witnessing the horrific murder of her mother when she was young. However if she's going to go up against her uncle the King and his royal court, she's going to have to learn how to push past her fear and dive right into the heart of it all. This book caught my attention as soon I read the first sentence of the synopsis and I'm looking forward to diving right into this complex yet fascinating world. 

20 Books I Want To Read In 2020

 

Yesterday I shared with you my Top 19 Books from last year and today I'm back to share with you the 20 books I want to read the most in the next twelve months. You'll notice there are a lot of sequels or final books in this list but they are ones I've been putting off reading for ages and it's about time I got round to it.

1- By the end of this month you'll be sick of hearing me talk about this book. This is one of two eagerly awaited sequels on this list and it's taunting me to finish my current book quicker so I can finally read it. A Heart So Fierce And Broken is the second book in The Cursebreakers series from Brigid Kemmerer. Following on from the events of A Curse So Dark And Lonely, this follows Harper and Rhen as they try and live their happily ever after but with Grey missing and the kingdom under threat once more, their happiness is short lived. If you've read my post from yesterday then you'll know how much I love this series and how excited I am to once again delve into this world.

2- Again if you read yesterday's post you'll know I adored Holly Jackson's debut novel A Good Girl's Guide To Murder. So to say I was excited to see it was getting a sequel was an understatment. The second book in this brilliant series follows Pippa who started her own true crime podcast after investigating that cold case. And whilst it's gone viral, she insists her days of playing detective are over. Or so she thought.When Jamie Reynolds disappears and the police insist on doing nothing it's left up to Pippa to search for the missing boy but as she does, she unearths some of her town's darkest secrets, that somebody would love to keep secret. This comes out in April and whilst the wait seems ridiculously long I know it'll all be worth it.

3- Now the rest of these books don't go in any particular order or pattern but this next one is my current read and so far I'm loving it. The Toll is the final book in the Arc Of A Scythe Trilogy by Neal Shusterman. It follows Citra and Rowan as they become Scythe apprentices and learn the true meaning of what it means to be a scythe. I can't even tell you what's happening in this book as it'll spoil Thunderhead and I ain't about to do that to you all. All I am going to say is that this book is truly going to be an amazing way to end a brilliant trilogy. I really hope that Neal Shusterman brings out another series in this world because I so desperately need more.

4- Another book that'll wrap up a favourite series of mine is The Queen Of Nothing by Holly Black. This is the third and final book in the Folk Of The Air series which follows Jude a human girl who's trying stake a claim in the Fae Court. I've seen many a review that say this is a disappointing end to an amazing series but I'm still eager to read it, especially after the way The Wicked King ended. Plus how stunning is this cover.

5- This next book was highly reviewed and recommened throughout last year that I knew I had to read it in 2020. Daisy Jones & The Six is a historical fiction that follows the coming together, success and break up of the ficitous 70s' rock band Daisy Jones And The Six. This is told through an interview format that for some may not be how they want to read this narrative but I'm looking forward to delving in and discovering this highly hyped book for myself. I'm just a little bummed out that it's so hard to get this cover here in the UK.

6- The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh was a book that recieved a lot of attention when it was first released. It was hailed as being the book to bring Vampires back in literature but I've read many a mixed review on this book. Set in 1872 New Orleans, this books follows Celine as she arrives in her new home after fleeing from Paris. Taken in by a convent, Celine is quickly attracted to everything New Orleans has to offer from the music to the food but mostly to the danger. There may be many a mixed review about this book but I'm still looking forward to reading it, especially now I know it's the first of a series, with the second book being released sometime this year.

7- Up next is the first of two Erin Morgenstern novels that I need to read. The first is her latest release The Starless Sea. I've not really read the synopsis of this book like I originally did with The Night Circus but I know it follows a young man who works in a library. I don't plan on reading the synopsis of this book before I start it as I'd like to go into this knowing as little as possible.

8- Just like I how I want to go into her other novel, The Night Circus. This follows a travelling circus that only ever appears at night, of which two of it's performers are at loggerheads. Yet as the duel between them comes to a head, their feelings change and they must decide if their love is worth risking everything for. I brought this at the beginning of last year and never got round to reading it, so this year it's one book I definitely want to finish.

9- A sequel I'm looking forward to getting my teeth into is The Night Country by Melissa Albert. This is the sequel to The Hazel Wood which I read last year and I enjoyed it but found the ending a little disappointing. However I'm intrigued to see where Melissa Albert takes this series. The Night Country follows Alice after she's escaped the Hinterland and attempting to live a normal life. But when her fellow survivors from the first book start dying, she realises that escaping the Hinterland is harder than she thought and going back may be the only way to save everyone.

10- A book I was kindly gifted in 2019 that I didn't get round to reading was Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. I've never read a Leigh Bardugo book before but I've heard nothing but good things about her first foray into Adult Fantasy. This follows Alex as she attends Yale University and becomes a member of the Ninth House, the house that watches over all of the other secret societies and houses on campus. I can't wait to start reading this and even though the hardback is intimidating, I'm really looking forward to reading my first Leigh Bardugo book.

11- This next book I didn't even know I wanted to read until I heard PeruseProject talking about it on BookTube. The Merciful Crow follows a world that has a very strict class system with Crows being the lowest of the low. They are the ones who are sent to clear away dead bodies and all the other gruesome jobs that nobody else wants to or will do. That is until one day a Crow called Fie realises she has a fugitive on her hands in the form of Crown Prince Jasmir. And that's all I know but I know that I'm going to enjoy reading this when I get my hands on it as it's world and class system seem extremely complex and interesting.

12- Last year I read The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave and I absolutely adored it. So when I saw that she was releasing another book this year I knew I had to add it to this list. The Mercies which is due for release later this year, is a another reimagining of what it was like during the 1620 Witch Trials. It follows two women who are struggling to recover after a wicked storm kills off all the island's men. Throw in a group of men who arrive to eradicate of the alleged witchcraft that is running rampant through the island. I adore how Hargrave writes and how easily she can paint a picture in the reader's head. I know that whilst it may take a couple of chapters to really get into this book, I know once I'm hooked that I'm going to adore it.

13- Another book I've been dying to read since I heard PeruseProject talk about is The Bear And The Nightingale by Katherine Arden. This follows the life of Vasilia who has to get used to her new step mother and the ban on worshipping the household spirits. Yet when the crops begin to fail and misfortune stalks their small village, Vasilia must call on the dangerous gifts that she has had to conceal for all her life to protect the ones she loves. This is the first in what is claimed to be an amazing trilogy and I'm looking forward to delving into this year.

14- I meant to read this book last year but just never got round to it. Romanov by Nadine Brandes is a historical fiction that follows the last surviving Romanov as she attempts to smuggle an ancient spell to Siberia. It may be her family's only hope at surviving but with the leader of the Bolshevik Army hunting down the Romanov bloodline. she must decide whether to release the spell and deal with the aftermath or trust a solider who's nothing like the rest of his army. This sounds like it's going to have so many twists and turns and once I pluck up the courag to finally pay out for the hardback, I know I'm going to adore this.

15- A book I just recently brought and I can't wait to read is Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake. I read a sample of this on iBooks and I adored it so I can't wait to read the rest of this book. It follows three sisters who are destined by birth to be enemies until their sixteenth birthday when they face off til the death and the survivor takes the crown. I suck at explaining books, especially ones I'm excited to read but this has an amazing premise and I know this is going to be the start of another series I love.

16- The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell was a book that I only intially wanted to read because I liked the cover but when I looked into to it more, I realised this book had an amazing premise. In modern day New York magic is all but extinct. The remaining few who have magic are in hiding, afraid of being trapped by the Brink, a barrier that confines them to Manhatten. Yet one talented Mageus wants to bring down the Order that created the Brink and the only way to do that is to travel back to 1902 New York and steal the one remaining artefact that could stop the Order. An ancient book that can stop and destroy the Brink. Yet old New York is a lot more dangerous than one could believe and Esta has to make the hardest decision of her life.

17- Another sequel that I seriously need to read is The Last Of August by Brittany Cavallaro. This is the second book in the Charlotte Holmes series. Continuing on from the events of the first book, this follows Holmes and Watson as they attempt to find somewhere to take a Winter Break. Yet Charlotte isn't the only Holmes that has a secret and the tension at the Holmes estate is palpable at best. So when Holmes' uncle goes missing from the estate, another mystery is afoot. I love this series, it's fast paced, intriguing and will have you guessing at every page.

18- Five kids enter detention one day, only four leave. That is all I needed to read to know that I needed to read One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M McManus. I am such a bad book blogger, I again brought this book at the beginning of last year and I still haven't read it. I've also just brought it's sequel One Of Us Is Next. This is a Young Adult thriller that has slight Breakfast Club vibes with a hint of murder. I'm looking forward to reading both the books in this series and her other stand alone novel Two Can Keep A Secret.

19- The penultimate book I want to read in 2020 is yet another book I brought last year and just never got round to reading. Caraval by Stephanie Garber is a beautiful mystery that follows two sisters who have never left the island they live on and with one being proposed with marriage, she believes her chances to see the mysterious and invite only performance Caraval are over. Yet her chances are back when she's invited to Caraval but things go south very quickly once they arrive. With her twin sister kidnapped by the organizer's mastermind, Scarlett must find her sister first to win but it's never as simple as it looks. I know people have mixed feelings about this series but I'm really intrigued by how it'll all play out.

20- And the last book I want to talk about today is a book I've heard talked about recently on BookTube. Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte follows Keralie and Varin, one who is a upstanding citizen whilst the other is a skilled thief. Yet when Varin runs afoul of Keralie after a botched theft, the two must team up together to untangle the mystery and bring down the killer of their country's four queens. This gives me Three Dark Crown vibes and I've spent a good amount of time getting the two confused but I'm really looking forward to delving into this and getting lost in what sounds like a rich and intriguing world.

Top 19 Books Of 2019

 

Hello there lovelies and welcome to the first of many book related posts this year. 2019 was one of my best years for reading and creating content based around the books I'd read, the one's I wanted to read and the ones I'd happily stay away from. I didn't hit my GoodReads goal of reading sixty books in the year but I did manage to double the amount of books I read than that of 2018. And there were a lot of good books in that range. Which brings me to today's post, today I'll be sharing with you my Top 19 books from the last year.

I'm going to kick things off with my least favourite book of the year and work my way up to my favourite. The first is The Hazel Wood By Melissa Albert. I read this relatively early on in the year after hearing mixed reviews for it. It follows Alice and her mother as they move from city to city trying to lose the bad luck that's forever following them. Yet when Alice's mother is taken, she must dive into the land of her grandmother's infamous fairy tales called Into The Hinterland which are all of a sudden coming to live. The premise of this book is fantastic as is the first two thirds of of it but the ending felt extremely rushed and lacking in surprise from the build up it was given. It wasn't the worst book I read in 2019 and I'll happily be purchasing it's sequel when it's released but it didn't bowl me over like I hoped it would.

The Thousandth Floor was a book I read last January and at the time I enjoyed but discovered many more better written books later in the year. The Thousandth Floor is a futuristic version of Gossip Girl with the Blair Waldorf's of this world living at the top or highest depths of the tower whilst the Dan Humphries live down on the lower or ground floors. It follows a group of teens who's lifes all intercross at some point be it romantically, friendly or with a bit of bad blood. The story starts with the death of one of these teens and then takes you back to where it all began and what lead to the untimely and sad death of one of the many characters. It was a good book, I read it fairly quickly because I wanted to see where the twists and turns would take it but I wouldn't carry on this series now. After reading a preview of Book Two, it seems like it takes a slight nosedive and makes this book more of a standalone read than that of a trilogy.

This next book I couldn't tell you a thing I remember about the plot but I can tell you that I enjoyed it's very twisty nature, the ending a real plot twist. Twisted is a physcological thriller that'll have you thinking from the get go. I found it very hard to follow at points but the ever constant plot twists had me reading on, even if it took me longer than most books. It was the first book of Steve Cavanagh's that I'd read, I have to say I'd happily pick another on of his up. It had twists, turns and shocks galore but is definitely more of a thinking book than one that you can just breeze through.

2018 was the year I discovered the bestselling crime author Chris Carter. And 2019 was the year I read not one but two of his latest releases. The first is Gallery Of The Dead, the ninth installment in the Robert Hunter Series. This series follows LAPD Detective Robert Hunter as he and the Ultra Violent Crimes Unit work to solve the most gruesome of cases. Gallery Of The Dead follows them as they work to stop a mass murderer who's killing people at random but leaving them for the UVC to find as if they're works of art in a gallery. Between this, The Caller and Hunting Evil the next book in the series, this wasn't my favourite of his. It seemed a little laboured and it took longer for the clues to come together in the hunt for the killer. As always the crimes and the deaths were gruesome but it lacked the shock value slightly that his previous novel The Caller did.

Circe by Madeline Miller was one of 2019's most raved about books and whilst I'm not usually a fan of historical style fiction, I had to give it a go. Another longer read but highly entertaining, each chapter hooking you in more. I adore everything about Greek Mythology in general but this was a deeper, older style mythology that gave a nice change to what you'd usually be reading about. It's definitely a book I'd recommend checking out in 2020 if you haven't already and I'm looking forward to picking up Madeline Miller's other novel The Song Of Achilles this year.

A middle grade series I started and loved in 2019 was A Place Called Perfect by Helena Duggan. I read this in a day, I was hooked. Following Violet and her parents as they move into the seemingly quaint town of Perfect, this follows as they learn to adhere to the strange obessession the townspeople has with wearing glasses every second of every day. That's until Violet meets Boy who shows her the deadly secret that Perfect is hiding. I adored this book, it was such a quick read but not because it was rushed, because I needed to know what was going to happen next. In fact I just picked up the second book in this series so I can continue and hopefully finish it in 2020.

 A book I picked up, put down, picked back up and very nearly put back down was The Dreadful Tale Of Prosper Redding. Another middle grade series, this book follows the story of Prosper who believes himself to be the only unremarkable member of his extraordinary family. That's until he becomes the host to a malevonent spirit who's intent on destroying his family's good luck. I'd heard really good things about this book but after reading a third of it, I was very tempted to put it down and leave it be but I'm so glad I pushed on through. This book had a really good plot twist at the end and set up for it's sequel perfectly. I'm dying to get my hands on the next book even though I know it means I'll be saying goodbye to this dsyfunctional bunch of characters.

Up next we have one of two Holly Black books I read and loved in 2019. The first is The Wicked King. This is the second installment in her Folk Of The Air series and I absolutely adored this book. It had backstabbing plot twists, the classic hate to love trope and a whole intriguing mystery that left me hooked. I'm so looking forward to finishing this series in 2020 even though I've heard that Queen Of Nothing is the most disappointing of the three books.

And then we have The Cruel Prince. The first in the Folk Of The Air series, this book tells the tale of Jude as she and her twin sister Taryn learn what it's like to grow up in the land of Fae. And unlike their counterparts the twins are decidly human which makes them lower than low in the opinions of the Fae Court. Yet the worst of them is Prince Cardan who makes it's personal quest to cause Jude as much humiliation as possible. That is until Jude decides to fight back and things take a surprising turn. Holly Black has created the most divine world in this trilogy. I didn't think anyone could write Fae better than Cassandra Clare but Holly Black has knocked it out of the park. I would love to read her other novels centred around this world but I've heard that they're not as good as this trilogy.

Another book that I took me a while to get into but that I thoroughly loved by the end of was Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson. This follows two different timelines in the same setting, Ellingham Academy. You have a modern timeline that follows Stevie as she attends the academy to study her love of true crime as well as to try and solve the infamous Truly Devious case that happened at the academy in 1936. Which is what the second timelines follows as it tells the tale of the founder of Ellingham Academy as him and the police work to find out who kidnapped and killed his wife and daughter. I found that the first two thirds of this book were a little dull, it was mainly painting the picture and setting the scene but once it picked up in pace and more relevant story arcs started to appear, I adored it. I've recently brought myself the second in the series so I can continue and hopefully be all caught up by the time the third book comes out this year.

I read a second Chris Carter book in 2019 and this one was amazing. Hunting Evil is the tenth book in the Robert Hunter series and followed as Hunter and his partner Garcia hunted for an escaped convict who had a connection to Hunter's past. Oh I adored this book, Chris Carter is an amazing author but he surpassed himself with this one. It had so many twists and turns I was never sure if I was coming or going and the ending had me hooked/ The cover doesn't lie when it says these are as addictive as a box set. I felt like I'd watched an entire series of this show by the time I finished this book and I'm really looking forward to seeing where Chris Carter takes this series next.

Up next we have House Of Salt And Sorrow by Erin A. Craig. I read this back in October and whilst it was one I definitely had to concentrate on, I thoroughly adored. This is a Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling that follows a family who are constantly grieving as four of their twelve daughters have died in a series of gruesome manners. Yet when a handsome stranger enters the picture and the girls discover a world of hidden balls, things start to take a creepy and somewhat deadly turn. This had a creepiness to it that could easily send a shiver down my spine but wouldn't put it firmly in the horror genre of book. If you're looking for a really good atmospheric read then I highly recommend you check it out.

A Study In Charlotte was a book I picked up on a whim back in the Summer and whilst it took me a while to warm up to it, I'm now thoroughly engrossed in what the rest of the series holds for Charlotte Holmes and her partner in crime Jamie Watson. If you didn't already know this is a genderbent Sherlock Holmes, following his great granddaughter as she attempts to live a peaceful live, well until she met Jamie Watson that is. Now the pair of recreating that camaradrie of their ancestors but there's a hint of romance that I was egging on throughout the whole book. It did take me a while to really get my teeth into it but I loved how this book played on the character of Sherlock Holmes and what it would be like to be a future generation of his family. The second book in this series is sat waiting for me in my Amazon basket and I definitely plan on attempting to finish this series this year.

I didn't plan on reading this book in 2019 as it was only available in hardback but I just couldn't wait any longer and I'm so glad I gave into my impatience. The Deathless Girls is a retelling of Dracula's Brides and it is intriguing. It follows a pair of twins as they go through countless horrors all to be thrown to the mercy of Dracul himself, eventually giving up their lives to become his undead brides. I knew I was going to love this as soon as I read the synopsis but I loved even more than I could believe. It has a female/female romance which breaks your heart, our main protagonist is such a defiant badass until she can no longer take it and the journey that these twins take is one that will have you hooked until the last page. This is the first book of Kiran Millwood Hargrave's that I've read but I've definitely found myself a new favourite author and I'm eagerly awaiting the release of her next book The Mercies later this year.

We've gotten to the Top Five Books Of 2019. In fifth place we have The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg. This follows a fantasist called Ana, a synthetic hybrid who works in the fantasy theme park called The Kingdom. Essentially she's the epitome of perfect but when she's arrested and put on trial for the murder of one of the park workers, we get to watch as it all builds up to that fateful day and the consequences of the ruling afterwards. I do warn you this book has a couple of trigger warnings including animal cruelty, sexual harrassment and implied sexual assault but that aside, this book kept me up until the early hours, I just couldn't put it down. I was a little bit wary going into this book, it didn't seem like the plot would hold up but I was so damn wrong and I highly recommend reading it in 2020 if you haven't read it already.

In fourth place we have a book I didn't get to until November but I'm not marathoning books Two and Three. Scythe by Neal Shusterman is the first book in his highly acclaimed Arc Of A Scythe Trilogy. It follows two scythe apprentices Citra and Rowan as they not only learn the skills they'll need to become a sycthe but also how the scythedom is disarayed and that the politics are slowly turning the way of the scythes. This trilogy is an acclaimed trilogy for a reason. It's fast paced, it's full of twists and turns, it's got a good mixture of humour and tension that'll have you staying late to read just one more chapter. I've already finished the second book Thunderhead and I'm currently devouring The Toll but I already know that I'll be more than a little forlorn when I finally finish this trilogy.

I found it extremely hard to order this last three books but looking back on my mini reviews of them, I think I'm finally happy with it. In third place we have The Seven Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle. I brought this on a whim way back in January of last year and it was the first book I read in 2019. It's extremely hard to describe without giving too much away but it's an amazing multi perspective crime/thriller than you certainly have to concentrate on or you'll easily get thrown off track. This was my first five star read of 2019 and I like to believe that it helped me set up for what was a good reading year.

I'm not even going to say this book came in second place because really it was a joint first book for me. When I first heard about this book I was like meh, it's not going to be much because it's a retelling but I still brought it and boy was I wrong. If you don't know, A Curse So Dark And Lonely is a Beauty And The Beast retelling. It follows Harper who is one night kidnapped from her hometown in Washington and ends in Emberfall where she meets cursed Prince Rhen and his Guard In Arms Grey. I didn't think I could love a book as much as I love this book. It has amazing representation of both disability and LGBT+, Harper our herorine is a badass who doesn't let her disability define her and it's a mixture of humurous and awestriking to read as she battles against being belitted by Rhen and Grey. I didn't think I could love a trio of characters like this as much as I do but they now hold a special place in my heart and I'm dying to read the recently released sequel which is sitting and staring at me from my bookcase. This is an amazing series and I highly recommend checking it out, even if you think it's not for you. I didn't believe I was going to enjoy it and I absolutely loved it.

And in joint first place alongside A Curse So Dark And Lonely is A Good Girl's Guide To Murder by Holly Jackson. I knew I wanted to read this book when I brought it but I didn't realise how much I was going to love it. I took it with me to Sheffield when I went up for Naomi's wedding only because Hunting Evil was too bulky to pack with me. I read the first couple of chapters whilst I was away and whilst I enjoyed it I wasn't immediately hooked. It was only when I picked it back up when I got home did I get thoroughly engrossed into it and can't stop recommending it. This follows schoolgirl Pippa who decides to look at a murder cold case from fives years ago for a school project. She believes it will be a simple project but as she starts to look deeper into the case, more and more secrets begin to reveal themselves and soon enough she discovers herself deep in a game of cat and mouse with the killer. This book had me hooked, I even took it to work and I never read when I'm at work, I needed answers. And I got them and this book has got to be one of the best books I read last year. And my favourite part, apart from that it has a sequel coming out this year. This was Holly Jackson's debut novel. She had never published anything before this and this is a YA masterpiece. If you read two books this year please make them A Curse So Dark And Lonely and A Good Girl's Guide To Murder, both are incredible and take pride of place on my bookshelves.