What I Read: August

 

Wow, August felt like it was never going to end. I started off the reading month really strong and had flown through four books by the middle of the month. And then I took a few days off to wait for my copy of The Wicked King to arrive and then I lost my reading mojo. I really wanted to complete The Wicked King by the end of August but for some reason I had no desire to binge read it like I had done with the other books I've read this month. 

  

The first book I read in August was A Study In Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro. This is a modern reimagination of Holmes and Watson with a genderbent Holmes. The first of four books follows Holmes and Watson as they meet and team up to solve the mystery of multiple deaths and attacks on their school campus. I flew through this book and am eager to pick up the next in the series. This doesn't just give you a new perspective on Holmes and Watson but it also deals with a lot of very real life problems that people suffer with day to day. However it doesn't make this a heavy read and there is in fact a lot of lighthearted moments that also represent the younger generations of this day and age. This is extremely hard to get ahold of in the UK so if you want to read this, check out Amazon, they have the entire series. I already have the next book in my Amazon basket. 

                                           

The next book I read in August was City Of Ashes by Cassandra Clare. This is the second book in the Mortal Instruments Series and follows Clary Fray as she continues her journey in the Shadowhunter world. Following on from City Of Bones, City Of Ashes follows as Clary, Alec, Jace and Izzy as they work to keep the remaining Mortal Instruments out of Valentine's hands. Clary also has to deal with the bomb Valentine dropped on her in the first book whilst waiting for her mum to come out of her self induced magical coma. Throw in some general teenage angst and you have me hooked. There is literally no other way to talk about this book without spoiling both books and ruining the series for anyone who hasn't read it. This I binged as part of my Mortal Instruments reread but I'm currently putting off picking up City Of Glass as I know the hurt that it's going to bring me. If you haven't read the Mortal Insturments Series, I highly recommend checking it out as well as it's movie adaptation which whilst trashy has the most perfectly cast cast ever. 

  

The penultimate book I read in August was The Cruel Prince By Holly Black. I have had this in my TBR pile since the beginning of the year but was holding out until this month to read it so I didn't forget too much for when The Wicked King comes out. The Cruel Prince follows Jude Duarte and her twin sister Taryn who were stolen from the mortal world by high powered fey called Madoc when they were children. Having grown up in Fey, it's very obvious they don't fit in and when Jude catches the attention of Prince Cardon, things get very messy very quickly. I always believed the Cassandra Clare was the best when it came to writing the world of Fey but Holly Black just takes it to another level. The amount of detail she provides makes it so easy to picture this picturesque yet somewhat horrific land to live in. I enjoyed this book and did eagerly pick up The Wicked King but some of the characters just fell flat for me. I understand Jude's desire to stand up for herself and make herself know in a world where she's been downtrodden most of her life but whilst she's written well and is a very complex character, she doesn't leave you rooting for her to be the victor. 

 

 

And the last book I read in August was one I didn't actually plan on reading but needed something to bridge the gap between finishing The Cruel Prince and starting The Wicked King. And after seeing so many BookTubers reading the illustrated versions, I was once again inspired to continue my reread of the Harry Potter series. The Prisoner of Azkaban is one of my favourite books and movies of the series but as I reread this, I did notice the differences between the two. And yet I still managed to picture the movie in my head as this played out. This took me next to no time to read and I'm looking forward to picking up The Goblet Of Fire when I get through the rest of my gigantic TBR pile.

What I Read: February

Happy Thursday! I said this in my monthly favourites but I'll say it again. How on earth is it the end of February already? It's almost like I've blinked and missed the entire month but I think it's more like I've had my head buried so deep in my books, the month has passed without me realising.

Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets- J.K. Rowling
The first book I read this month was Harry Potter and The Chamber Of Secrets. This year I'm planning on rereading the entire Harry Potter series and last month I made a good start with The Philosphers Stone. I found I enjoyed Chamber of Secrets more as there were more details in the book that the movie doesn't show and that I'd originally forgotten about. I read this in a day as I get so easily lost in the magical world and everytime I finish one I always have the overwhelming urge to start the next. Yet I have to restrain myself as I had other books that I wanted to read this month.

Rogue- Rachel Vincent
The next book I read was another sequel to one I'd read in January. Rogue is the follow up to Stray from Rachel Vincent. It continues right after Stray finished, exploring a couple of plot bunnies that it started towards the end of Stray. Following Faythe and her pride as they tracked down a killer who's hunting tom-cats, Rogue is a good second book but lacked the suspense that Stray had. I felt it ran slow in a lot of parts and the action, especially towards the end was rushed and tied up nicely without there being a full explanation or solution. I'm still going to carry on with the series and plan on reading Pride in March but I thought Rogue was a little bit of a dip in the road that hopefully Pride will pull it out of.

Gallery Of The Dead- Chris Carter 
Last year I read a book called The Caller. It was singlehandly one of my favourite books of the year so when I saw Chris Carter has released another book, I was eager to read it. Gallery Of The Dead is the ninth Robert Hunter novel and follows the Violent Crimes Unit. This particular book follows Hunter and his partner Garcia as they hunt for a serial killer that's leaving mysterious Latin messages engraved into his victims. I was so eager to get my teeth into this but finished it a little deflated. The Caller was a gruesome, physcological thriller that had me hooked and whilst Gallery Of The Dead had that exact same format, I felt it was a little long winded and parts were either drawn out or rushed which made binge reading this harder than I wanted it to be. Carter does have another book coming out this year and after reading the excert in the back of this book, I'm dying to read what will hopefully be another gripping tale.

Evermore- Alyson Noel 
My penultimate book this month was one I picked up on a whim, finished in a day and whilst I was a little disappointed in it, I'm also eager to read the next one. Evermore follows Ever, a physic who has been able to read the thoughts of her peers since a devastating car crash of which she is the sole survivor. Then enter Damen, a mysterious new student who Ever can't get a read on yet she's inexplicably drawn to. The premise of Evermore was promising but it read more like another version of Twilight. A young woman who spent the entire time following the mysterious hot guy round like a lost puppy, until the very end when she realises her own strength and becomes a kick ass warrior. With all that being said, I did in fact read it in a day and even though I couldn't say it was my favourite read of the month, it was one that I needed to know what happened next and that alone stopped me from putting it down for more than two minutes to pee.

The Thousandth Floor- Katharine McGee
And the last one book I read in February was one I finished the same day as I write this post (27th). The Thousandth Floor is one that's been on my TBR since the end of last year and this month I finally got round to reading it. Following six teens from different walks of life, The Thousandth Floor is a futuristic YA novel that reads a lot like Gossip Girl with many intertwining twists and turns that interlink each of our characters. This is the one book that took me the longest to read as there were days when I could only read a few pages before putting down again. However as the end drew near and the secrets and lies started to unravel and become common knowledges between the characters, I couldn't put it down. Especially the last few chapters that threw a massive curveball at me and left me desperate to read the second book in the series. 

Haul: Books, Books, Books

At the beginning of the year I made a promise to myself that I would start reading a little everyday which would hopefully help me read more. Yet as I looked through my book collection, there weren't many that were jumping out at me. So over the last few weeks, I may or may not (see former) brought a few new books to add to my collection to help me continue on this reading kick I've been on.

Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince- J.K. Rowling
I've read The Half Blood Prince as a child but this year I want to reread the entire Harry Potter series and as I was digging them out, I sadly discovered I didn't own The Half-Blood Prince. Thank god for Amazon, where a lot of these came from, for helping a girl out. Now I have the entire collection and I can continue on with my reread.

Gallery Of The Dead- Chris Carter 
Last year I accidentally discovered Chris Carter. I picked up his novel The Caller cheap in a supermarket and was instantly hooked when I started reading it. It was one of my favourite reads of 2018 so when I saw he had a new one out, I just had to get it. I don't really know much about the plot apart from the fact it follows a series of gruesome crimes that one Detective Robert Hunter has to solve. I read a chapter of this on iBooks and knew instantly that this was going to be a hit without needing to read the synopsis or any more chapters.

The Night Circus- Erin Morgenstern 
The Night Circus is a book I've been saying I'm going to read/buy for the last couple of years but never gotten round to. Well this year that changed and now it's sitting happily in my TBR pile, waiting for me to finally get round to it. I don't know what it is about The Night Circus that drew my attention but from reading the synopsis, the mystery, intrigue and romantic aspects definitely have me intrigued. I am kind of saving this one, what for I don't know but I do know I keep putting to the bottom of the pile for some bizarre reason.

The Cruel Prince- Holly Black 
When I was looking for new books to read, I watched a lot of Booktubers and quite a few of the ones I've brought are because I've seen them spoken about by a lot of the Booktubers I've watched. The Cruel Prince is one of the most talked about books from the last year so I felt like I just had to get it to see what the hype was all about. Featured around sisters who were stolen from the mortal world and made to live in the Fey world, The Cruel Prince follows the journey of one sisters' dream to win a place in the High Court of Faerie. From the reviews I've read and watched, this book will simultaneously have me hooked whilst giving me all the feels. Holly Black has also just released the sequel, The Wicked King but I'm going to wait until it's released in paperback before I buy as I much prefer paperbacks over hardbacks.

Caraval- Stephanie Garber
Caraval is another I heard a lot about when I was looking for new books and from reading an excert, I think could be a winner for me. Featured around two sisters who dream of nothing more than escaping their father and seeing the once a year Caraval performance. They are finally granted their wish as an invitation falls into their hands but once they arrive, the sisters are split up and the true nature of Caraval evolves. I'm hooked just from the synopsis of this book and am very tempted to put this to the top of my February TBR pile.

The Thousandth Floor- Katharine McGee
Another book I read an excert of and just knew I needed in my collection is The Thousandth Floor. Set in the future, The Thousandth Floor is set around a thousand story tower and it's many occupants from the ridiculously rich to the barely scraping by poor. Featuring five teenagers with intertwining plots, this book gives off major Gossip Girl vibes and is the first of a trilogy that I'm aiming to finish this year.

The Hazel Wood- Melissa Albert
The Hazel Wood is one I've heard mixed reviews on, some loved it whilst some found it boring and lacking. I again have read a preview and liked what I read so decided to give the whole book a go. Centred around Alice a seventeen year old girl who's spent most of her life moving to city to city with a dark cloud hanging over her and her mom's head. When she finally thinks her bad luck has gone, her reclusive yet famour grandmother dies leaving behind her estate The Hazel Wood. And when Alice's mom is stolen, Alice has to enter The Hazel Wood to learn of the fictional world her grandmother created and what may lay in wait for her there. I'm looking forward to reading both this and it's sequel when it's released, keeping my mind up open even though I've seen many a mixed review.

This Lie Will Kill You- Chelase Pitcher 
One of the eighty three books I'd like to read this year is One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus so when I saw this advertised as one for fans of One Of Us Is Lying, I knew I just had to pick it up. This Lie Will Kill You centres around five teens who played a part in the death of one of their fellow partygoers. One year later, they're invited to an isolated mansion to compete a competition with a $50,000 prize. Advertised as Clue meets Riverdale, the premise of this book had me hooked as soon as I read it. Again this could potentially be one of my February reads if I stop scrolling aimlessly through Twitter.

The Puppet Show- M.W. Craven 
And last but not least is the latest book to my collection. The Puppet Show is a crime/thriller that sees disgraced detective Washington Poe brought back from suspension to help solve the case of serial killer burning people alive. I love a good crime novel and whilst this isn' the normal style I go for, it has a lot of potential and could be extremely good if the author's put enough thought into it. If I do finish it then this and all the others will all be featured in a What I Read post throughout the year. 

What I Read: January

Last year I started a new monthly series where I shared with you what I'd read in the last month. I started off really well but then let it fall as I lost an interest in reading and for the last couple of months I didn't share this post at all. However 2019 is the year I get back into reading and January has already been a successful and productive reading month. I haven't set myself a target goal to read each month but I'm extremely happy to say that I managed to read four books this month, a fantastic way to kick off my GoodReads challenge.

The Seven Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle- Stuart Turton
Evelyn Hardcastle will die. Every day until Aiden Bishop can identify her killer and break the cycle. But everytime the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest. He has eight days and eight witnesses to inhabit and can only escape once he's given the name of the killer. 
The Seven Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle was my first book of both January and of the year. I picked it up on a whim, unsure of whether I was going to like it or not. And I loved it. Sure it was slow to start off with but once it hit it's stride and found it's rhythm, it was an amazing, twisty, suspensful read that I binged I was that hooked. There's a brilliant plot twist towards the end that I certainly didn't see coming and each chapter not only gave you a different perspective but also kept you guessing and second guessing your aim to work out who the killer is. If you're looking for a good crime/thriller to read this year, I highly recommend you check this one out.

Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone- J.K. Rowling 
Harry Potter thinks he is an ordinary boy- until he is rescued by a beetle-eyed giant of a man, enrols at Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry, learns to play Quidditch and does battle in a deadly duel. The Reason: HARRY POTTER IS A WIZARD 
2019 was the year that I want to reread the entire Harry Potter series. It's not the only series I want to reread this year but it's the one I started first. I literally flew threw the Philosopher's Stone, finishing it in a day and I'm already hooked back on the amazing world of witchcraft and wizardry that J.K. Rowling has created. I did find myself comparing certain parts to their film scene counterparts but it didn't take away from the magic of reading it and in fact strengthened the image I had in my mind when I read it. I'm going to be reading one of the Harry Potter books a month to try and prolong the magic that little bit longer.

Stray- Rachel Vincent 
Faythe Sanders looks like an ordinary student, but she's hiding a dark secret; she's a werecat, a powerful supernatural predator. Yet headstrong, independent Faythe resents her power, heading to college to escape her family and her overprotective ex, Marc. That is until a stray catches her scent and with two werecat girls already missing, Faythe is summoned home for her own protection. However Faythe will do whatver it takes to find her kidnapped kin. 
Stray is the first of a series I started to read as a teenager but never finished. It's again one of a few series I want to reread and I am dying to read the next in this series. A little different to what people expect me to read, this supernatural fantasy novel had me up into the early hours as I devoured it, already remembering a link from the end of this book that connects to book two. Rogue (book two) is on my reading list for February and I can guarantee I'll fly through it as well.

The Haunting Of James Hastings- Christopher Ransom 
James Hastings' wife is dead- her life snubbed out in a horrific accident that leaves her husband shattered. Dizzy with grief and guilt, James withdraws into his sprawling mansion, losing himself in liquour and memories of Stacey. Until the day two women enter his life. One is Annette, a gorgeous stranger with a dark past. The other is not a stranger and her past is all too familiar. 
I found this when I was going through my books and decided to give it a read. It's not my usual kind of book, I'm not really a fan of the more ghost based supenatural stories but this one had me intrigued. And too a point I was obsessed, wanting to read more of what was unfolding before me, even though some parts gave me the heebie jeebies. However the ending was extremely hard to focus on and I lost track of where the story was going and what was going on between the characters. It is a good read though and if you can keep a track of the ending and how it plays out then I think you'll thoroughly enjoy this book. I am intrigued to see what Ransom's novels are like and if I like them, I'm sure they'll appear in a future What I Read post.

What I Got For My Birthday

 

On Tuesday I shared with you a GRWM that I created for my birthday and today I'm back with what I'd say is my final birthday post but I do have another birthday centered one coming on Saturday. Today I'm doing my What I Got For My Birthday. And before I go any further, this is by no means a way for me to show off. I just want to share with you thoughtful gifts that I have recieved and maybe it'll give you some gift ideas for any upcoming birthdays you might have.

From my mum this year I didn't recieve a lot as she kindly gave me £200 towards buying a new iPad back in the Summer. However she wanted me to have something to open other than just a card. So she brought me this beautiful Nightmare Before Christmas travel mug. It's not just the multitude of Jack Skellington faces I love so much about this mug, it's the intricate barely there pattern underneath them that's remniscent of a design from the film itself. I already had a perfectly good travel mug but the lip on it was really deep and hard to drink from so this new mug will certainly become my new go to tea mug when I take a cuppa into work.

My stepdad never knows what to buy me so he usually goes halves with my mum on a present. This year however they've decided to do that with one of my Christmas presents instead so for my birthday he ever so kindly got me a Primark voucher. Now some may turn their noses up at that but I bloody love a stroll round Primark and can easily spend a good thirty quid or more when I'm in there. So of course while I was out on my birthday I just had to spend it. I did get one more item that isn't pictured here but that's because it's got to go back as I didn't like it when I got it home. I also got some underwear with it but didn't think you would want to see my knickers so I didn't add them to the picture. When I saw the Mary Poppins range had arrived I just had to get something and what better item to get than the snuggly fleece. I'm mad for a Primark fleece, I have tons from their Harry Potter and Disney collections and can't resist buying another when I see them. I can't wait to snuggle under this with a hot chocolate and a Christmas film. Lately I've been really enjoying wearing necklaces either on their own or layered up over a basic knit or t-shirt. And Primark is the best place to pick up on point, inexpensive necklaces that aren't a waste of money if you don't get a lot of wear out of them. I got three in total, two in the same design but just one in gold and the other in silver. They're very similar to another necklace I own with it's flipping coin design. These kinda give me Harry Potter vibes so I have a feeling that I'll be wearing one when I visit the Harry Potter Studios (TODAY!). And the third resembles a pressed penny with a gold bird design pressed into it. I think this will look great layered with other necklaces and a chunky knit. And the final thing I brought was yet more Christmas earrings. I already have a ton but just couldn't resist picking up another set. These have the most adorable stockings and beanie hats and I just couldn't help myself.

And the most exciting of all my gifts, some of which I haven't shared is from my best friend Jasmin. She has ever so kindly paid for the pair of us to visit the Harry Potter Studio Tour. That happened yesterday and I still can't get over how amazing, magical and breathtaking it was. I took so many photos and could have probably taken more but it was quite busy so I think I may have missed a few details. I was in awe over the Great Hall, Forbidden Forest, Hogwarts Express and Diagon Alley. I can't even put into words how much I loved it and I'd happily go again and again and again. There was also a Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them section as you leave and it was brilliant to see all the costumes from the two films. I also met a lovely worker there called Luisa who bumped into me and Jasmin in the Gift Shop and then stopped us again as we were leaving to ask us what we thought of the tour and gave us some amazing extra tidbits about the costumes and the films. I treated myself to Hermione Granger's wand (even though I'm a Slytherin), a Time Turner keyring and a poseable Bowtruckle who I'm absolutely in love with.

And Jasmin also brought me a couple of other little Harry Potter bits to coincide with our visit to the Studio Tour. She ever so kindly brought me a Slytherin Bath Bomb. It has hints of Juniper and Bergamot and I can't wait to use this. She also brought me a Princess Jasmine sheet mask. It's printed to look like her face and I actually can't wait to wear this and take about a dozen selfies with it on. And both of them came in this stunning Slytherin make up bag. It's green, it's Slytherin, it's shiny, what's not to love. This is literally going to go everywhere with me, it's so soft; something I found intriguing for a metallic finish, it's a decent size and it's just the perfect gift for my Harry Potter heart.

Overall I'm feeling extremely lucky and grateful for all my gifts and the time spent with the ones I love. And to top it all off, me and my work bestie Lauren who is now on maternity leave for the next year are going for dinner tomorrow. She only left last Friday but I already miss her like crazy and can't wait to see her and bump tomorrow.