Hey everyone!
Today I will be sharing the books I managed to read in January. I read a total of 8 books and they were:
A Spot Of Trouble by Teri Wilson
Adorable dogs, hilarious hijinks, and true love are in store in this brand-new romantic comedy from USA Today bestselling author Teri Wilson!
Violet March and Sam Nash are as different as night and day and have been enemies ever since Violet accused Sam of dognapping her beloved Dalmatian. Sam knows that's impossible—for one thing, Cinder is a well-trained fire safety demonstration dog who never steps out of line for serious firefighter Sam. Sprinkles, on the other hand, has never met a command that she didn't ignore completely, much like her bubbly owner. Against a backdrop of canine hijinks and a summertime softball league, the two Dalmatian owners constantly butt heads, but by the time the 4th of July Fireman's Ball rolls around, they begin to realize that sometimes love isn't so clear-cut, and a little puppy love might be just the thing they've been missing...
I read this as part of the book club I’ve started with my friends. I didn’t really like this book. I found it to be highly unrealistic and the characters did not seem like the age they were. It was an adult book but read like a YA book and I did not not enjoy it.
2/5
Sisters of the Lost Marsh
On a poor farm surrounded by marshlands, six sisters - Grace, Willa, Freya, and triplets Deedee, Darcy, and Dolly - live in fear of their father. Their beloved grandmother tries to protect them, but the future seems bleak.
When the Full Moon Fayre makes a rare visit to Hollow-in-the-Marsh, the girls slip out to see the famous Shadow Man, an enigmatic puppeteer. Afterwards, oldest sister Grace is missing. Can Willa save her sister from one fate, and yet outrun her own?
I really liked this book. It was a fun read and it kept me interested. It was great to read about the mystery.
4/5
Dokkaebi: Vicious Spirits by Kat Cho
As Vicious Spirits begins, Miyoung and Jihoon are picking up the pieces of their broken lives following the deaths of Miyoung's mother, Yena, and Jihoon's grandmother. With the support of their friend Somin, and their frenemy, Junu, they might just have a shot at normalcy. But Miyoung is getting sicker and sicker by the day and her friends don't know how to save her. With few options remaining, Junu has an idea but it might require the ultimate sacrifice and, let's be honest, Junu isn't known for his "generosity." Meanwhile, the events at the end of Wicked Fox have upended the forces that govern life and death and there are supernatural entities lurking in the background that will stop at nothing to right their world.
I LOVED this book. It was such an interesting read and I was hooked all the way through. It was great to see more into the world and see from new perspectives as well as also getting an insight into the characters from the first book.
5/5
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
A mesmerising retelling of the ancient Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. Perfect for fans of CIRCE, A SONG OF ACHILLES, and THE SILENCE OF THE GIRLS.
As Princesses of Crete and daughters of the fearsome King Minos, Ariadne and her sister Phaedra grow up hearing the hoofbeats and bellows of the Minotaur echo from the Labyrinth beneath the palace. The Minotaur – Minos's greatest shame and Ariadne's brother – demands blood every year.
When Theseus, Prince of Athens, arrives in Crete as a sacrifice to the beast, Ariadne falls in love with him. But helping Theseus kill the monster means betraying her family and country, and Ariadne knows only too well that in a world ruled by mercurial gods – drawing their attention can cost you everything.
In a world where women are nothing more than the pawns of powerful men, will Ariadne's decision to betray Crete for Theseus ensure her happy ending? Or will she find herself sacrificed for her lover's ambition?
Ariadne gives a voice to the forgotten women of one of the most famous Greek myths, and speaks to their strength in the face of angry, petulant Gods. Beautifully written and completely immersive, this is an exceptional debut novel
This book was such an interesting read. I loved reading the book as I love mythology. This book gave me much to think about and I’m looking forward to reading more books from this author.
4.5/5
The Heart of Betryal by Mary E. Pearson
Second Installment of The Remnant Chronicles.
Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape . . . and even less of being together.
Desperate to save her life, Lia’s erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komisar that she has a magical gift, and the Komisar's interest in Lia is greater than either Kaden or Lia foresaw.
Meanwhile, the foundations of Lia's deeply-held beliefs are crumbling beneath her. Nothing is straightforward: there's Rafe, who lied to her, but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom she always believed to be barbarians but whom she now realizes are people who have been terribly brutalized by the kingdoms of Dalbreck and Morrighan. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her very sense of self, Lia will have to make powerful choices that affect her country, her people . . . and her own destiny.
This book was very fast paced and I really liked it. It was a very fast read and it was great to learn more about the world with the characters.
4/5
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Paulo Coelho's masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different, and far more satisfying, listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.
I’ve heard many people talk about this book and how great it is. I didn’t like the writing and found myself getting confused but that’s probably cause it’s a translation. I did like the book and I think it does have a deep meaning behind it but I probably couldn’t grasp it fully. It was an interesting read overall.
3/5
June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic - and each other - and now their country is on the brink of a new peaceful existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government's elite circles while Day has been assigned a high level military position.
This was a very exciting and fun read. I wanted to know more about what happened and I think it had a satisfying ending but also an open minded ending.
4/5
The City of Brass by S.A Chakraborty
Among the bustling markets of eighteenth century Cairo, the city’s outcasts eke out a living swindling rich Ottoman nobles and foreign invaders alike.
But alongside this new world the old stories linger. Tales of djinn and spirits. Of cities hidden among the swirling sands of the desert, full of enchantment, desire and riches. Where magic pours down every street, hanging in the air like dust.
Many wish their lives could be filled with such wonder, but not Nahri. She knows the trades she uses to get by are just tricks and sleights of hand: there’s nothing magical about them. She only wishes to one day leave Cairo, but as the saying goes…
Be careful what you wish for.
I loved being back in the Daevabad world and being able to see connections that I couldn’t before and foreshadowing. I love being able to see how the characters would change and I’m looking forward to seeing them mature and grow in the next books.
5/5
Which books did you read? Any new favourites?
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