More November reads

 Hiya Bookworms,

Today few books I read this month.

The Winter Folly  by Lulu Taylor - heavier book, with interesting story, where love helps to find a truth about family story. Strong 4* here.

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron - dark retelling of Cinderella story, kinda scary in some points, still hopeful, good read. Strong 3.5* here.

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood - light book, romance with science in background. 4* for idea and light writing style.

Pages to Fill by Travis Baldree - short story with Viv's adventure. I enjoyed it. 4* here.

More books soon.

Still Alice

 Hi Bookworms,

Still Alice by Lisa Genova was on my TBR list for years. I added physical copy of it to my piles few weeks ago and decided to read soon.

And I did between first and second week of this month.

What I can say about this book?

Beautiful... Emotional... Absolutely devastating.

Main character Alice is in her top of career as professor of psychology on Harvard, has three grown up children and successful husband when she's receiving tragic diagnosis. Their life changes for ever.

We are shadowing Alice in her struggle to stay, to be herself; seeing her family trying to hold on to the Alice they know cause she is still Alice somewhere deep down.

This book is not easy read from emotional point of view, took me few days to finish it and after more then week since I did read it I still think about it. Books like this one staying with readers for long time I think.

5* rating from me.

The Keeper Origins

 Hiya Bookworms,

Did you ever read books by J.A. Andrews?

I did. In March 2020 I grab The Keeper Chronicles - full trilogy on Amazon for my Kindle. All together around 1500 pages and I absolutely loved it. Rated it 5*.

The Keeper Origins I grab for my Kindle Unlimited in 2023 and... forgot - busy reading other books. Shame on me.

As I decided to clean a bit my Kindle this year I started to read one by one books which 'sitting' there for years and this month I finally read whole trilogy (over 2300 pages).

In Book 1 - Dragon's Reach - we are meeting Sable - young woman, orphan and thief who wants to be free from gang boss she's indebted to. Escape is not easy and freedom not long, but Sable met new friends and that change her life. Enemy is Kalesh Empire - our group of friends have to convince everyone, including prioresses of Immusmala. Will they?

Book 2 - Raven's Ruin - group is separated, Sable and her sisters are in power of Vivaine - Dragon Prioress. Life is not easy for girls, but thanks to Purn - blue kobold (saved by Sable in book 1) Sable has a chance for contact with her friends. Rebellion is brewing on the north and Vivaine is ready to use information from her spies if Sable will not work for her. 

Book 3 - Phoenix Rising - adding more to background story of Sable's family, showing the truth behind Kalesh invasion, creation of Keepers and first days of Queensland.

Whole trilogy is enjoyable read, easy to follow storytelling with likeable characters. As a whole I'm rating it solid 4* even 4.5*. 

Ghost of the White Wood - is about 50 pages long short story mentioned somewhere in the middle of Raven's Ruin which is great extras to read before reading book 2 or between book 2 and 3. To be honest I read it after starting book 2. We are shadowing here Melia and her elven friend Evay in their fight against Emperor, also meeting young captain Bastian. Who they are? How they are connected to Sable and her friends? I'm not telling more :) Nice 4* read.

A forgery of fate

 Hi Bookworms,

I started November with: A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim.

It is one of my Netgalley reads, one of little few left on my virtual shelf. What I should/can tell about it?

Hmmm...

1. Nice storytelling

2. Likeable characters

3. Easy to follow writing style

4. Fast read

...

Right

It is romantasy and I enjoyed reading it.

What you can find in it?

Truyan - girl who paints a future and Elang - cursed half dragon prince. These two are bound together by fate, by love, by plot to bring down Elang's grandfather - Dragon King. 

Story is inspired by Beauty and the Beast, has a bit of Asian influence in it. 

Strong 4 stars from me.

Brigands and Breadknives

 Hi Bookworms,

Today a sequel to Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. I had a chance to read it thanks to Netgalley.

Straight to the point - I like it, I enjoyed it. Why? Simply because is not whole about Viv. If you had a chance to read Bookshops & Bonedust (prequel) then you met Fern. And now you know LOL! Here we have a story with Fern as main character. Yes, we know she is foul-mouthed girl - her defense pose against everything and everyone she's worry about, afraid of etc (at least that's what I think).

So.. Fern selling her bookshop/home and moving to town where Viv has her Cafe and... story starts...

You can expect elves, goblins, dwarves, lots of troubles, lots of travelling, sort of growing up and... apologizing :)

I love it!

Straight 5 stars.

Other October reads part 2

 Hi Bookworms!

Here few more books I read in October

Madly, Deeply: The Alan Rickman Diaries

I wanted to read this diaries for quite a bit, I know parts are edited / not published, but still I wasn't disappointed at all. All them diary entries showing very busy, loving, sometimes angry human being, a man who take his job and his family and friends very seriously. Solid 4.5*.

The Width of the World

Next installment in Vega Jane series, enjoyable read for young readers. Hope one day I'll find last book and find out how all this finish. Solid 4 *.

The Ghost Tree

Here we have sort of mix of horror, crime story, fantasy, young adult read. I like the story line and writing style. Easy to follow read. 4* from me.

Everyday Chocolate

I'm chocolate addict, so any cooking, backing book with chocolate is at least ok for me LOL. 4* as had nice amount yummy looking recipes.

Michelangelo's Notebook

I did read Paul Christopher books before, so I know his writing style. This book is first in Finn Ryan series and is strong 3.5* read. I hope main character develop more with each new book.

The Witchlands part 3

 Hiya Bookworms,

Today Bloodwitch book 3 of The Witchlands series written by Susan Dennard.

I read it by the end of October. Lots of things were happening in this one, lots of story line twists. Characters were learning to trust one another, were bring together, separated from each other, still fighting for what they thought is right and worth a fight. Totally solid read, 4.5*.