What I Read: April

How are we already in May? Like honestly, 2021 is just flying past without much to show for it. I mean I’ve got a new desperately needed bookcase to rave about but that’s about it. But we not here to bemoan life, we’re here to discuss the four books I read and the two I started during the month of April. I know I’ve been quiet here for a while but I’ve been slumping reading wise and trying to stay as mentally sound as possible whilst working all the hours under the sun and not catching Miss Rona. However I seem to be coming out of my slump which right now is the important part, so let’s get on with it. 

I kicked off April with a contemporary, yes you read that right a contemporary. After a slumpy Middle Grade March I wanted something light hearted that I could read relatively quickly without having to remember much about the world or the characters. And Wedding Season by Katie Fforde was perfect for that. Following three women who work together during wedding season and strike up a friendship, this book follows their ups and downs from family woes to relationships to jobs, all whilst trying to pull off the wedding of the year. And I liked this book, it didn’t blow me away but it did leave me feeling nice and cosy inside, it had me rooting for the romances, the prospects that these three women were given and how their friendship blossomed throughout the book. It’s a good choice if you need a little cheery pick me up or need something light hearted to get you out of a slump. It wasn’t a five star read for me but got a solid four stars on Goodreads. 

Next I read a book from another genre I don’t tend to read a lot of anymore. Cold Hearted by Beverly Barton is a crime thriller novel with a sprinkling of romance. Centred around recently widowed Jordan Price, this follows the independent investigation into Jordan’s late husband’s apparent suicide, one which could prove that Jordan is the cold hearted black widow they all think she is. I’m going to start off by saying the plot of this book was good, it kept you on your toes and left you guessing about the killer after each chapter but that was pretty much the only good thing about this book. I despised the writing style and the authors obsession with over sexualising the descriptions of the female characters as if they were only added to the plot to be used as love interests or sexual interests of the male characters. There was also a LGBT character in the book and the way the author wrote descriptions of him and the names she wrote the other characters calling him was disgusting. You’re probably wondering why I finished this book if I hated as much as it sounds I do but I really wanted to see who the killer was and if I’d guessed right at the start of the book. It just managed to scrape a three out of five stars for the plot twist at the killers reveal. 

Next I read another Katie Fforde contemporary. I know who am I at this point. This one was called Summer Of Love and followed the story of single mum Sian who had just moved to quaint country village with her young son. It’s like she’s gotten everything she could want, a beautiful cottage with a picturesque garden, a beautiful son and a thriving business and no need or time for romance. That is until rough and tumble explorer Gus comes back into town, who catches Sian’s eye. But she’s not going to fall for Gus’ charms a second time after having briefly met him six years prior. This book was cute, it had a nice plot line that had you egging Sian and Gus to get together but there was nothing that truly stood out plot wise. I liked the setting, the quaint village giving me stone walls, climbing ivy and small thatched cottages vibes but again nothing truly stood out and wowed me. Again if you’re looking for a cute read that might help you out of a slump then I recommend this book. A solid three out of five from me. 

And the final book I completed this month was another Beverly Barton book. Close Enough To Kill is yet another crime thriller romance but following a different set of characters in a new town. The ladies of Adams County have for themselves a secret admirer, one who likes to woo and shower his chosen beloved with gifts and love letters. Yet once he’s got them in his grasp he kills them and sends Adams County into panic as a serial killer walks amongst them. I liked this book more than I liked Cold Hearted, the characters were better (still poorly written though), the plot more substantial and the crimes even more gruesome. However it still lacked something that authors such as Chris Carter and Karen Rose never fail to bring to each book. I’m glad I read both Cold Hearted and Close Enough To Kill as I can now say I’ve read them and if I choose to unhaul them later I know it’s because they just weren’t for me over being sacrificial lambs that I get rid of to make space for more books. 

And I did actually start two more books in April but just didn’t get round to finishing them. The first was Vanity Fair my chosen classic for the month. Vanity Fair tells the story of two young women who could not be more different, one is Becky Sharp; an orphan who’s willing to do anything to get to where she wants in life. The second is Amelia Sedley, a naive young thing who’s never understood Becky and her ambitious nature, due to being the only daughter in a well off family. When I ordered it I didn’t look at the page count and was surprised when it arrived to be a thicc queen, standing at over 800 pages. Yet I dove headfirst into it and whilst I didn’t get far and obviously didn’t finish it, I haven’t found it as boring as some of the other classics I’ve attempted to read this year. Maybe if I have time this month I’ll go back and try to read some more. 

And the second book I started reading but didn’t finish was The Murder Game by Beverly Barton. PI Griffin Powell and FBI agent Nicole Baxter know a thing or two about serial killers, they’ve managed to bring one down together. However one slipped the net and is back with a game even more sadistic than before. And it leave Griff playing for the biggest stakes of his life. What I read of this book I found interesting, it did have a sadistic twist to it right from the start but I didn’t manage to get that far into it to see just how gruesome the crimes and the case got. If I get time this month, it’s another book I’ll definitely go back and try to finish but I am attempting to read the entirety of the Middle Earth series in May as well as my chosen classic so we’ll have to see how it goes. 

Author Q&A: Jemma Robinson

Today’s post is another post I’m really excited to share with you. Back in December I reviewed the first book of an incredible up and coming author, Jemma Robinson. Since that review she has released her debut novel The Stars That Guide You Home on kindle and is gearing up to release it in paperback from May 1st. 

If you haven’t heard about The Stars That Guide You Home where have you been?! An incredibly written historical romance that follows Sophia and Tom who have everything they could ever want in their small town of Lowshore but one day they’re cruelly torn apart when Sophia’s past catches up with her. With Sophia trapped in the Capital under the cruel rein of King Edmund, Sophia dreams of being reunited with her beloved Tom. And when James, a doctor arrives to tend to Sophia, she sees her chance of freedom. But Edmund doesn’t lose and everything is at stake for the trio as they try and escape his evil clutches, to reunite Sophia with Tom and go back to their quaint cottage and life in Lowshore. 

Now I’m biased because Jemma is one of my best friends but it isn’t a lie when I say this book is incredible. Beautifully written, it’ll take you on an emotional journey that’ll see you rage, laugh and cry, sometimes all in the space of a few pages. And with the paperback release rapidly approaching I wanted to help her promote this book as much as possible. So a little while ago I shot her a quick Whatsapp asking if she fancied doing a Q&A not only so readers could learn a little more about her book but also a little bit more about herself. 

1. Does writing energize or exhaust you? It depends. If I’ve got a really exciting scene in my head that I need to get down on paper then it definitely energises me. But I suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (M.E) so sometimes it exhausts me, especially if it’s a part that needs a lot of concentration to get the details right.
2. What was your hardest scene to write? Definitely the one & only chapter from Edmund’s POV. He isn’t a nice character so being inside his head was particularly tough, especially as it is such a traumatic scene to try and envision anyway - having to see it from his POV made it doubly tough.
3. Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find? Not so much in this book but definitely in another book I’ve written. Hopefully you’ll see what I mean if I get to publish it! 
4. How do you select the names of your characters? I like to look at the meanings of names and match characters to them. Sophia means ‘wisdom’ which I think she gains a lot of during the novel, and Tom means ‘twin’ which works quite well when you start to read and see where his story goes! Edmund actually was a name that came about during a walk with my best friend Cassie. I needed a kingly name but one that you would instantly dislike or think was arrogant. And she actually came up with Edmund which works perfectly I think!
5. What did you edit out of this book?” My original manuscript was long haha, so I had to take quite a bit out, some emotional monologues which are my favourite to write but moving forward didn’t necessarily add anything to the story. Despite this I’m incredibly happy with how the story reads and I think it maintains the emotion without those parts, even though it killed me to remove them! 
6. What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book? This is the first historical novel that I’ve written so it definitely needed a lot more research than say the fantasy genre I’ve written before. I researched heavily into Tudor times as (even though it’s a fictional place) that’s where I felt the majority of the settings would take place. I had to do some heavy research into old medical remedies and torture methods as I wanted it to read right - my internet history was very interesting put it that way!
7. How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have? I have one full unpublished fantasy novel which I’m hoping will be the next to be released (more than likely as a 2 parter) and one unfinished manuscript which I’ve written bits & pieces of but really needs pulling together properly.
8. What celebrity would you like to meet at Starbucks for a cup of coffee? The actor Jamie Bamber. He’s a huge inspiration to me (& to my writing) and I’d love the chance to properly tell him just how much he’s helped me and talk about his epic career in detail.
9. What three items would you take with you on a deserted island? Oooh this is hard! Can a notebook & pen count as one? So that I can write down my musings. Some coloured string so I could make little bracelets with the shells I find, and a good book, nothing too heavy though, maybe a Sophie Kinsella novel that I can read 100x over and never get bored. 
10. What would you sing at Karaoke night? I get embarrassed at karaoke but people always get me up there as they say I’ve got a good voice. My go to songs are ‘Somewhere Only We Know’ by Keane and ‘White Flag’ by Dido.
11. If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to? I’m obsessed with history so this is a toughie! I’d love to explore the Tudor period as that fascinates me more than any (though I’d stay clear of Henry VIII!) and I would have loved to experience Freddie Mercury & Queen live at Live Aid so I’d probably take a quick trip there too!
12. If you could share a meal with any 4 individuals, living or dead, who would they be? Freddie Mercury (because I’ve been a fan since I was 17 and he was such a larger than life character) my grandma who passed away when I was 6 so I didn’t really get a chance to know her (and by all accounts she was a bit of a party animal so I think her & Freddie would get on!) and my two favourite actors Sam Claflin & Jamie Bamber. I think we’d have a great time! 
13. Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life? When I was younger & had longer hair I was always told I looked like Reese Witherspoon and I can *kind of* see it so I’d have to say her. She’s a great actress so I’d be happy.
14. What song would you say best sums you up?  My friend Cassie once sent me a song because she said it was so me and as soon as I listened I had to agree. It’s not a well known song or a well known artist but I love it. It’s called ‘Different’ by James TW. One of the lyrics is “The colour of your hair changes every week, you know you’ve got a voice but your scared to speak; life just seems like a riddle, you’re torn down the middle. You don’t have to play a part, just be who you are.” Cassie has always said that she loves my quirkiness but my anxiety holds me back sometimes which is true. And I love that she heard this beautiful song & thought of me.

The Stars That Guide You Home is available now on Kindle and will be released in paperback May 1st. Want to grab your own copy, just head over to jemmarobinsonwrites.co.uk to grab your own copy and keep up to date with Jemma’s writing. 

Books I Want To Read In 2021

At the beginning of every year I always have a plethora of books that I want to try and read in the next twelve months and this year it’s even longer than normal. However I’ve managed to narrow it down to the 12 books I want to read the most this year and today I’m sharing them all with you. Most of these are sequels to series I’ve already started and loved and some are definitely starts to new series that I hope to love. A lot of these aren’t new releases and some are but as a paperback reader I tend to always be a little behind other readers when it comes to more recent and popular releases. 

The first will come as now surprise as its predecessor was the top of my 2020 TBR list last year and came out on top of my favourites reads from last year. A Vow So Bold And Deadly is the final book in the Cursebreakers trilogy and I’m so not ready for this series to end. With the shock ending of book two still fresh in my mind, I can’t wait to jump back into the world of Emberfall and follow my favourite characters in their final adventure. I’ve had this on preorder since October and am really hoping Amazon are joking when they say I might not receive until late February. I need it like now! 

The second book I’ve already read but know I’ll be rereading it multiple times in 2021. The Stars That Guide You Home is a beautifully written historical romance and the debut novel of one of my best friends Jemma. With characters you’ll be attached too from the get go and a plot that’ll break your heart constantly, this book is one that should be on everyone’s TBR’s this year. I have a spoiler free review up already so if you need anymore convincing then go read that. It’ll make you want to read Sophia and Tom’s journey over and over again. 

This next book is a book that I’ve been hoping would be released since I started reading this series in 2019.  Tales From The Hinterland is a novella/companion to Melissa Albert’s series The Hazel Wood. This book contains twelve disturbing, twisted and captivating fairy tales that The Hazel Wood features in its duology. This is something I’ve been wanting to read ever since they were first mentioned in the first book and now two years after reading it, I can now actually read the enticing tales that Melissa Albert built her world and story around. 

Up next is a book I would have never been interested in reading this year if I hadn’t read it’s companion last year and absolutely adored it. A Throne Of Swans was one of my most surprising reads in 2020 and when I heard there was to be a sequel I knew I had to read it. Picking up straight from where the first book left off, this sees Aderyn struggle to adjust to her new role whilst trying to ease the unrest which is on the uprise in the country. So excited to see where this book goes but am sad that this is the final part of what could be an amazing three/four book series. 

How could The House In The Cerulean Sea not appear on this list. It was so hyped during 2020 that I knew I just had to read it this year. A cute middle grade that follows a man lost in life who meets some very peculiar but loveable characters when he’s sent to a orphanage for children who are different to others. It sounds heartbreaking, heartwarming and entrancing all at once and I can’t wait to finally get my hands on this and read one of 2020’s most loved books. 

Another book that’s been raved about and now has me dying to read it is The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue. I’ve only read one book by V. E. Schwab and honestly didn’t think I was in a rush to read another but after reading the reviews and hearing every booktuber raving about it, it was quickly added to my TBR list. I’m even contemplating buying it in hardback purely so I don’t have to wait any longer to read it. And for someone who only buys paperbacks that says a lot. 

When I heard that Maureen Johnson was releasing a fourth Truly Devious novel this year I just knew I had to read it. In fact I’ve already got it on pre order as Truly Devious is one of my favourite series and I know this next book is going to be just as good as the previous three. I believe this follows Stevie as she solves her first case away from the Ellingham Academy and I can’t wait to see how this picks up from the original trilogy. Plus the cover is going to look amazing on my shelves with the rest of them. 

Bone Crier’s Moon is a book that I’ve been on the fence about reading after hearing mixed reviews but I’ve decided that it’s definitely one I want to get to in 2021. It’s cover is gorgeous and I’m intrigued to see how they work the killing of ones soulmate to complete their training with a few hi jinxes thrown in. I’m going to be going into this like I did The Hazel Wood, apprehensive because of mixed reviews but also with a clear head so I can make my own mind up as I read. 

Last year saw me read my first book by Kerri Maniscalco and now I’d happily read anything she writes. So when everyone started raving about Kingdom Of The Wicked when it was released I just knew I had to read it. With dark magic, a prince of Hell and a murder to solve, this sounds like it could be right up my street, especially considering how much I love Maniscalco‘s writing. 

Last year I treated myself to a Collector’s First Edition of Chain Of Gold and this year I’ll be doing the same for Chain Of Iron. I’m a sucker for a Cassie Clare book but definitely find myself leaning more towards the Infernal Devices and this series than I do The Mortal Instruments or Dark Artifices. I think it’s the writing style alongside incredible casts of characters and a setting that I can’t get enough of. I haven’t read Chain Of Gold yet but think I may just binge both back to back once Chain Of Iron arrives. 

And the last book I want to talk about today is another sequel (see a theme with this post) and that is a The Damned by Renee Ahdieh. This is the follow up to The Beautiful, a book I read last year and loved. It was hyped up as the resurrection of the sexy vampire and whilst it was very limited on the vampire it was still sexy with an incredible backdrop and easily left me wanting more. This was originally supposed to be released back in the Autumn but was pushed back to March, something rather frustrating for someone eagerly awaiting a sequel. 

Top 20 Books Of 2020

 2020 is a year that everyone will remember for different reasons, for me it meant cementing beautiful friendships that now mean the world to me and also reading more than I’d ever managed to read before. And today I thought I’d share my Top 20 books from the 49 books I managed to read in the last twelve months. 

The Night Country by Melissa Albert is coming in at 20. This is the sequel to The Hazel Wood which I read last year. This follows Alice as she attempts to have a normal life after the events of the first book. Which is all well and dandy until fellow Stories start being murdered and she’s the prime suspect. I liked this book, more than I liked the first book but as a duology, I still wasn’t wowed. The build up, the murders and Alice losing grip on her life and her sense of reality were well written and had great premise however the ending much like The Hazel Wood was a little out of whack and felt rushed. It was a shame as it had so much potential and I really wanted to love the ending of this duology. Here’s hoping the companion Tales From The Hinterland isn’t as much of a let down.

Coming in at 19 we’ve got Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman. This is the second book in the Arc Of A Scythe trilogy and picks up right where the events of the first book left off. With Rowan gone rogue and acting As a  vigilante, it’s up to Citra to try and end the corruption from within. Under the tutelage of Scythe Curie, Citra attempts every trick in the book but has to take a unpredictable leap of faith to get it to work. Oh how I loved Thunderhead. Well written, fast paced and packed full of twists and turns that you never see coming, this was the perfect follow on from Scythe. 

Number 18 is The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson. The second book in the Truly Devious trilogy, this carries on where Truly Devious left off. With a classmate dead and another missing, Stevie thinks she’s finally found the pivotal clue to solve the infamous Ellingham case from the 30’s when her parents pull her from the academy. But not for long, for one day slimy politician Edward King offers to help Stevie return in turn for her to play nice with his son David, someone who Stevie wishes desperately to avoid. This was the perfect continuation from the series. I’d waited months to read this book and i easily found myself lost in the world once again, not once struggling to pick the plot back up. I have the final book in the trilogy on my TBR for January and I’m excited to see how this trilogy ends. 

Number 17 is The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh. This was a Halloween read for me and I couldn’t get enough of it. It wasn’t bringing vampires back like i thought it was but damn it was good. It follows Celine who’s moved to New Orleans to start afresh and leave her past back in Paris. Generously taken in by the Ursuline Convent with six other girls, Celine soon finds herself enamoured with the city and with the underworlds most sought after gentleman, Sébastien Saint Germain. There’s sexual tension aplenty alongside murder and sprinkle of supernatural goodness. This book was slow to get off the mark but when it did it was incredible. The ending alone has me wanting The Damned to be released sooner rather than later and i can guarantee that it’ll be one of my favourite reads of 2021.

16 is The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen’s spot. The first in a series this follows Fie a crow who’s job it is to ferry the dead to their final resting place. However that goes awry when her and her family go to retrieve the newly deceased Prince and his guard. Turns out their not dead, just using it as a ploy to escape the castle and work on saving their lands. This whole story is a journey, for the crew, for the prince but mostly for Fie as she learns to harness her magic and use it to save and protect the people she loves. This was a great book, I initially struggled to get into it but once i did i was lost in the world, hoping the best for the characters and screaming for the sexual tension to overflow. I honestly cant wait to read the sequel and see where Owen’s takes this series. 

15 goes to Skyward by Brandon Sanderson. This follows Spensa who’s only dream is to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a pilot. There’s only one problem, a father is considered a coward and nobody is willing to give his daughter a chance. Yet there’s more to her fathers past than people are letting on and with Krell attacks on the rise, Spensa is even more adamant about following her dream and acing pilot school. This was my first Brandon Sanderson book and I was a little wary to begin with. I wasn’t sure if it would be my cup of tea but after the first few chapters, I was hooked and flew through this book. The world is beautifully fleshed out, the characters rag tag and flawed and the plot whilst slow in the beginning really gets going as soon as Spensa joins pilot school. Starsight, it’s sequel has been sat on my shelf since October and it’s safe to say it’s a sure one for my January TBR. 

14 is The Doll Factory be Elizabeth Macneal. Set in late 18th Century London, this follows Iris who dreams of being a painter but is found as a doll maker alongside her twin Rose. Yet one day she catches the eye of Louis a painter who offers her a job as his model and muse. She agrees only if he teaches her to paint in his spare time. Yet becoming Louis model garners her the attention of Silas, a weird fellow who’s shop of abnormalities is his pride and joy. Silas soon becomes obsessed with Iris and things soon take a terrifying turn for her. This gave me major The Miniaturist vibes, with its slightly darker, almost creepy undertone. 

13 belongs to Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte. This standalone YA fantasy novel follows Keralie, a thief and Varin a messenger who find themselves caught in a conspiracy that sees all four Queens of their land dead. This is a great standalone book, the world is built brilliantly without being too info dumpy and the characters are easy to like or dislike in some parts. The twist at the end when the killer is revealed is one a more seasoned reader would see coming a mile away but I still found shocking. I’d probably have liked to see this as a series, see the solving of each murder be a book alone but that’s just purely because I’d love to see more of where Keralie and Varin’s relationship could go. 

2020 saw me read my first V.E. Schwab book which comes into this list at number 12. Vicious follows Victor and Eli; once college roommates and best friends now sworn enemies, after one fateful night at college saw Victor sent to prison for the next decade. But now he’s out and he wants revenge. If you’ve ever wanted to read the Renegades series by Marissa Meyer I’d say skip it and read this instead. This does superheroes, villains and superhumans in a gritty way that will have you hooked from the get go. Told in two different time periods, this gives you both a look into the past and what turned these boys against each other and how both are moving forward without being too confusing or hard to follow. And the way it sets up at the end means that I should probably read Vengeful before too much time passes. 

Just short of making the Top Ten is Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake. Number 11 tells the story of three princesses in training to take over the throne when they ascend at 16. However in order to claim their place on the throne, they must kill their two fellow sisters. This was well paced and easily developed each of the sisters without losing the general plot. The slight twists the kept coming towards the end and had me itching to pick up the second book, something I’ve still yet to do. 

Number 10 is a bit of cheat because it’s both books in a duology but I loved it in its entirety I just had to feature them both in this countdown. The One Of Us Duology by Karen M. McManus is a YA thriller that will have you reading until the small hours. One Of Us Is Lying follows the murder case of a much hated student who dies under suspicious circumstances one detention, the four remaining students are the prime suspects and with secrets and lies being uncovered at every corner, it’s hard to decipher who the true killer is. One Of Us Is Next is set eighteen months after the first book and again follows the murder of a student who just happened to know too much about some of their fellow students. Both books had plot twists a plenty and were dripping in that stereotypical teen drama and revelation that most books and shows have. However in this case, it didn’t take away from the books, it just added a little something more to these twisty, fast paced thrillers. I highly recommend them to anyone who’s looking for a thriller, but one that isn’t as hardcore as some of the adult ones can be. 

Another cheat comes in at No9. The Perfect Trilogy by Helena Duggan is just too darn perfect to feature just one book in this countdown. An incredible middle grade trilogy, I binged in a week follows Violet who moves to the small town of Perfect. From the outside it looks like the most welcoming place to live but after a few days, things start to change and it’s down to Violet and her newly acquired friend Boy to set the town free. I first read the first book in the trilogy back in 2019 and loved it so thought it’d be easy to read it again before I started on books two and three. I didn’t know then though that I’d be bingeing the whole series in a week and that it would one of my favourite series of the year. If you’re looking for some more middle grade books to read, I highly recommend this series, you won’t regret it. 

Number 8 is a book that I should have read sooner but I’m glad I picked it up during the clusterfuck of year that was 2020. Ace Of Shades by Amanda Foody is the first in an incredible YA fantasy series set in the seedy city of New Reynes. Enne is looking for her missing mother and all she has is a name. Levi Glaisyer, an Iron Lord and a con man. Upon meeting Enne is thrown into the seedy lifestyle of New a Reynes and soon finds out more about her mother than she ever though possible. Throw in Levi’s debts and lies catching up for him and this first book is a rip roar ride that has you saying “saying just one more chapter”. I felt this was a little slow to start but soon picked up and before you know it the end is nigh and you’re desperate to read the sequel. I really should have read the sequel sooner but it’s definitely on my soon to read list. 

Number 7 goes to Stalking Jack The Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco. I honestly don’t know why it took so long for me to read this. Set in 18th century London, and follows young Audrey Rose who wants nothing more to follow in her uncles footsteps in forensic science. Yet being a young lady of society, it’s heavily frowned upon until the infamous Jack The Ripper starts stalking the streets of London. From there it’s down to Audrey Rose and the extremely dashing Thomas to find the culprit before more people fall victim to the Ripper. I read this book so quickly, it just flew by. Each chapter had me hooked, each plot twist kept me reading and the reveal of the killer had me shocked. Between the suspense of the crimes and the chemistry between Audrey and Thomas, this was a sure fire win for appearing in this list. 

There were two books in 2020 that shocked me with how much I enjoyed them, both I’d picked up on the whim and didn’t expect to love them as much as I actually did. The first of these is To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Christo. Lyra is a siren and has seventeen hearts buried in the sand under her bed. The eighteenth that she’s soon to collect will seal her fate as the most revered siren in the sea until she accidentally kills one of her own and is banished to live as a human. Things take a twist though when she meets Elian, a prince and the most feared siren killer to ever sail the ocean. Saved from drowning by Elian, Lyra soon finds herself sailing the ocean with the infamous siren killer and his rag tag crew as they hunt down the Prince’s Bane. But what they don’t know is that she’s closer than they think. I honestly didn’t think I was going to love this as much as I did. But I flew through it, the chemistry and the giant elephant in the room between Lyra and Elian, keeping me reading until it was way too late and I should have been in bed. I’d have loved to see this as a series but alas it’s a standalone with a ton of promise and an open ending. 

We’ve reached the final five! Coming in at number five is Song Of Achilles by Madeleine Miller. This is an incredible retelling of the legend of Achilles, a infamous Greek hero with a tragic ending. However instead of being told from his POV, it’s told from the perspective of Patroclus, his long time friend and lover. As a fan of Greek mythology and history, this was everything I could ask for and more. Sure it was heavy on world building, battles and lengthy strategy meetings but it was also fast paced and dulled the shine of the hero worship an Achilles perspective would have given. Between this and Circe which I read back in 2019, this is definitely my favourite Madeline Miller book.  

My second surprise of the year is probably the biggest reading surprise I’ve ever had. A Throne Of Swans tells the story of Aderyn who’s thrust into the role of Protector once her father dies. She’s expected to go to court and showcase her ancestral power of turning into a swan but she’s not been able to do so since she saw her mother murdered. With power hungry relatives looking to take over her kingdom, Aderyn must do everything in her power to change, to transform into a swan and prove herself the rightful leader of her kingdom. I honestly didn’t think I was going to even finish this book, let alone love it as much as I did. Yet I finished it in a mere three days and was over the moon to find out it had a sequel due to release this month. If you pick up a book from this list, I highly recommend it be this one. 

I read a Cassandra Clare trilogy this year and it destroyed me. Book three to precise which coincidently comes in at number three on this list. Clockwork Princess is the third and final book in the Infernal Devices trilogy. The trilogy follows Tessa who comes to London in hopes of finding her brother but in fact finds herself caught up in the Shadowhunter world and torn between the charming Will and dashing Jem. This book made me cry, it made me shout, it made me throw it down in anger and surprise. I do not understand why it took me so long to read and finish this series. It’s my favourite of all Cassandra Clare’s series and if you were looking at reading a Cassie Clare series, this would be the one I’d advise starting with, you won’t be disappointed. 

Number 2 is going to be a controversial choice but i don’t care as I absolutely adored it and think it closed the series off perfectly. Queen Of Nothing is the third and final book in Holly Black’s Folk 

Of The Air trilogy. This closes off Jude and Cardan’s story perfectly. Sure it’s short and it may seem rushed but so much was built up in the first two books, it doesn’t require a thick, over written finale to tie it up nicely. I know I’m probably on my own loving it but I couldn’t care less, it was incredible and this cover is just breathtaking. 

And finally in at Number One is one that shouldn’t surprise long time readers of this blog. Back in January of 2020 this book was all I could rave about. And now a year later, I’m still raving about it. A Heart So Fierce And Broken is the second book in the Cursebreakers trilogy. Set from Grey’s perspective, this follows his journey as he distances himself from Rhen and Harper, learning more about his birthright as his journey continues. This was even better than the first book, Grey is now my favourite character in this series and I can’t wait to see where book three takes him. I’m sad to think that A Vow So Bold And Deadly is the last in the series but I’m just grateful I brought and read A a Curse So Dark And Lonely in the first place.