The Thursday Murder Club

 Hello Bookworms,

Tonight - crime series.

The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman became social media sensation and when our group decided to buddy read it I joined. I wanted to know what is all this hype for.

Main characters in series are: Elizabeth (a founder of the Thursday Murder Club), Joyce (former nurse, member of the Club), Ibrahim (psychiatrist, member of the Club) and Ron (retired Labour activist and member of the Club). We are meeting here also: Donna (police officer), Chris (detective chief inspector) and Bogdan (Polish guy who... knows and sometimes works for and with some not nice people) and many more likeable or not characters.

I'll be honest with you...

Book 1 was slow, almost boring, in some point I thought to DNF it... I didn't tho. Gave it a rather generous 3.75*. No idea why really...

Book 2 was faster, more intense if I can write that way. Characters developed nicely or rather we find out more about them, they became more... human... realistic...

Book 3 and 4 kept the speed.. sort of... and I could truthfully gave them three books 4 stars each.

Hmmm... Book 5 is expected in September this year. Will it be as good as last one? Will see.

Till next post!

Dragon Rider

 Hi Bookworms, 

Today another book I read last year thanks to Netgalley Dragon Rider by Taran Matharu - author of Summoner and Contender series (which are on my TBR list).

It's book 1 of The Soulbound Saga and is classed as epic/high fantasy/romantasy. 

In this book we are meeting Jai - royal hostage and orphaned son of leader of the Steppefolk executed by the Sabine Court emperor, and Winter, his dragon and... few more characters :)

I read it late last year (long after publication date) and in my netgalley review I wrote: 'Solid story. I did enjoyed main characters and their interactions and the way they were growing up, learn new skills. Ending was open enough to think what can happen next. Overall easy to follow book, nicely written, great for young fantasy readers and older ones too'. 

On Goodreads I gave this book 4 stars (same as Netgalley) with note: Solid 4*. Nicely written start of series, likeable characters.

Book 2 is expected by the end of this month and is called The Tainted Khan. I hope I'll grab it into my hands sometime this year to find out what is awaiting for Jai and his dragon :)

Till next post peeps!

Iron Widow

 Hi Bookworms,

Today I'm writing about Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao.

This book is classed as young/new adult science fantasy. If you search net you will find that this book is 'a futuristic reinterpretation of Medieval China'. Sort of is... Main character Wu Zetian was first and only China's Empress, but this book is not historical or biographical, it's partially fantasy/partially sci-fi and it's great read. I read it in January, start of January to be precise and my Goodreads review was: Just wow! and 5 stars. 

So far I didn't have a chance to read the next book in a series Heavenly Tyrant, but I heard it is also great read.

Did you read them? What you can tell about them?

Till next post!

The Dark Tower series part 1

 Hi Bookworms,

Today I'm writing about The Dark Tower series by Stephen King.

My reading of this series is rather hectic and totally not chronological... depending which book I could find in library. 

1. The Gunslinger

I read this one sometimes before 2019 and I liked it, gave it 5 stars and hoped to read the rest soon.

2. The Drawing of the Three

This one I had in my hands sometimes between 2019 and 2022 and rated it only 3 stars. From some reason I wasn't impressed in this one as in first one.

3. The Waste Lands

I finished this one today and gave it 3.5 stars. Generally good one, but gave me some mixed feelings. 

4. Wizard and Glass

This one I read sometime around 2022 and rated it 3 stars.

4.5 The Wind through the Keyhole

Another one I read before 2022 and rated 3 stars. 

5. Wolves of the Calla 

Didn't read this one yet.

6. Song of Susannah

Didn't read this one yet.

7. The Dark Tower

This one I read few years ago and rated 3 stars. Seems like story of Roland not exactly impressed me, I do want to read missing two and I will this year for sure. Overall I think it is not bad series just... not exactly my type of read.

Did you read it? What are your thoughts about this series?

Till next post!

Red Rising saga part 1

 Hiya Bookworms,

Today I'm starting writing about my thoughts about Red Rising Saga by Pierce Brown.

So far saga contains 7 books:

1. Red Rising

2. Golden Son

3. Morning Star

4. Iron Gold

5. Dark Age

6. Light Bringer

7. Red God (not published yet - possibly Summer 2026)

We started reading it as Buddy Reads in January this year, I was bit behind with book 2 as had to wait for copy from library week longer then timing given.

Red Rising made me think back about Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. Main characters in both books seemed sort of similar in so many ways. Maybe I wrote it before... I'm not massive fan of sci-fi, but I do like Orson Scott Card and Pierce Brown styles of writing and the way they build their stories.

I rated Red Rising with 4 stars as it is solid read. Golden Son is another intense read (4 stars here too) with many twists and great cliffhanger by the end of book.

I'm reading Morning Star at the moment and I like the way the story going, I'm trying my best to not read spoilers on the group chat as every one of us has his/her own opinions about situation in the certain moments of the book and basically I don't want to know what happen before I reach them moments LOL!

I'll back to you with more about these series soon :)

Did you read this series? What do you think about it?

Till next post!

The Seventh Tower

 Hi Bookworms,

Sorry for this break in writing, bit busy with work, house, appointments etc.

Today I'm back to Garth Nix. 

The seventh Tower is fantasy series for children, which not stopped me from reading it :)

1. The Fall

2. Castle

3. Aenir

4. Above the Veil

5. Into Battle

6. The Violet Keystone

The series is telling us story about Tal, Chosen who lived in castle with seven towers, a boy who thought he is safe in his small world, but... one day everything changed and he had to fight. His unlikely partner in this fight is Milla, an Icecarl from the Ice. They are from two totally different societies and now bond up to safe their world. What they'll do? Will they find helpers in their quest?

Whole series received solid 4* rating from me. I think it is brill read for young readers.

Till next post peeps!

TOG-mania part 1

 Hi Bookworms,

I think you know what about I will write today. 

Yep! Sarah J. Maas and her Throne of Glass series. I mean she wrote more then this one and possibly I should write about A Court of Thorns and Roses or Crescent City series first as I already read ACOTAR and also book 1 of Crescent City, but I decided TOG first cause I'm buddy reading this series currently. 

We started with Throne of Glass (book 1) in September last year, which I rated 4 stars

followed by The Assassin's Blade (book 0.1 - 0.5) in December, which I rated 4 stars

and then

Crown of Midnight in January this year, another 4 stars,

Heir of Fire last month, also 4 stars,

Queen of Shadows this month, with 4 stars from me,

Empire of Storms planned for April

Tower of Dawn for May

and Kingdom of Ash for June.

It is enjoyable series to read, more young adult romantasy kind a thing. Main character is a girl who is doing all what's possible to survive in her world which is not exactly a walk through the garden full of beautiful flowers. We are finding out more and more about her with every book, we see consequences of all her decisions - good or bad, all mistakes she deep down regrets.

Will the rest of series be as solid for me as books I read so far? We'll see.

If you read it, tell me what you think about series as whole.

Till next post!