Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Green Creek series by TJ Klune part 2

 Hi Bookworms,

All 4 books from Green Creek series behind me now. I wrote about books 1 and 2 few posts ago. Today my thoughts about books 3 and 4.



Book 3 - Heartsong telling us further story of Kelly Bennet and Robbie Fontaine. We met Robbie in book 2. As previous books also this one is emotional rollercoaster, because up front story seems sort of wrong, like chronology is messed up or something else, then whole truth hits and is... hard, real hard.





Book 4 - Brothersong telling us about further struggles of Bennet's pack. More about tangled connections between them and Livingstones. Here on front line we have Carter, Gavin and partially Gordo. If you read previous books you know who I'm talking about. 

What an amazing wrap-up of the series!!!

I can truthfully say, this series made me cry and laugh in every single book. Beautifully written (mostly) with very likeable characters and really bad boys/girls too.

That's all for today from me :)


Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Tracy Deonn and her Legendborn Cycle part 1

 Hello Bookworms,

I did finish reading of Legendborn (book 1) by Tracy Deonn yesterday, so writing on so called 'fresh'.




We met here Briana (Bree) Matthews, 16 years old Afro American who after her mother death sort of escapes from her hometown. She and her best friend Alice Chan are accepted into residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC. 
And so called normality stops here... because then we have magic, demons, romance plus Arthurian legend not only in the background.

What I can say about this book?

I do like the story, characters development, author has interesting writing/storytelling style. It's solid 4* book for me, maybe even bit more than that. 

Book 2 next month (waiting on my TBR pile) and hopefully I'll find book 3 soon (maybe in library).



Something bit different

 Hi Bookworms!

Today about... graphic novel/book I read just few days ago. 

As early teen I loved Thorgal series and Asterix and Obelix :) 

Thanks to my son sometimes I read manga/anime. 

So... Orange: The complete collection vol.1 by Ichigo Takano Japanese manga artist from Nagano.




Story is classed as young adult, contemporary, sci-fi, romance manga. 

We meet here group of friends: Nahu, Azu, Hagita, Takako and Suwa who adding to their group Kakeru, student transferred to their class from Tokio. Starting point of the story is a letter received by Nahu from her future self, asking her to watch over Kakeru and save him from terrible future... Prank or truth? 

What I can tell about it? Beautiful, emotional, I hope to find next volume which supposed to tell the rest of the story. 

I gave it 5* on Goodreads.

That's all from me today :)



Tuesday, April 15, 2025

What we read...

 Hi Bookworms,

Do you write down titles of books you liked the most during the months/years? Do you have reading targets? Are you like so called stand-alones or series?

I read both book series and stand-alones. My target is 200 books a year. I'm trying to read at least one non-fiction a month. After having app where I scanned all my not read books piling around the house I can truthfully say I could open a small bookshop LOL! I have over 500 books to read - and I'm still buying!!!

I know some could say it's madness, but can any real bookworm say 500 books is too much?

So far this year I read 68 books.

January - 22 read, from which 3 received 5 stars - Agatha Christie books because I love her storytelling.


    



February - 20 read, from which 2 received 5 stars - Abandoned in Death by J.D.Robb and The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

  


March - 16 read, from which 4 received 5 stars - Six wild crowns from new fantasy series by Holly Race (my first meeting with this author) and trilogy All Souls by Deborah Harkness - because I have total soft spot for them books :)



April - 10 read so far, with 1 which grab 5 stars - Empire of Storms from TOG series by Sarah J. Maas.



What are your favourite reads so far this year? What you can recommend to add to my TBR list?


Sunday, April 13, 2025

Garth Nix and his Abhorsen series part 2

 Hi Bookworms,

Today my thoughts about two last books from Abhorsen/The Old Kingdom series.



I did enjoyed Goldenhand, I gave this book 4 stars and my review on Goodreads is as follow:

'Solid, fast paced read. I like cameo with Clariel. I'm curious what we can find in book 6, which taking chronology of storyline in consideration will be a prequel to Clariel (book 4) if I'm not wrong. One good storytelling here Mr Nix!'

I was bit wrong with chronology regards book 6 LOL!




Terciel and Elinor - beautiful read, 4 stars from me here. Prequel which is telling us a love-story of Sabriel's parents. We're also finding out how they were growing up and how they met... I'll not tell any more here :)

Just read the book peeps!


Thursday, April 10, 2025

Susanna Gregory's detective fiction part 1

 Hi Bookworms,

Susanna Gregory is a pseudonym of British writer Elizabeth Cruwys.

I did read few of her books, totally random I have to admit, from two different detective series, but decided to pile up them series (books I did not read) and read them in chronological order.

Thomas Chaloner series which is set in London after the Restoration of Charles II and contains 15 books from which I read 5 and I can say they are solid read between 3.5 to 4 stars.




Main character of Thomas Chaloner series is sort of fictional. If you check the name you will find few historical personas with this name blood related to each other, but non of them was spy like character in Susanna Gregory book. Real Chaloners history gave great background to fictional man and placed him in 17th century London with all madness of this time. 




Matthew Bartolomew series is set in 14th century Cambridge - Black Death time and straight after and contains 25 books in, from which I read 4 so far with strong 3.5 to 4 stars rating.
Main character of Matthew Bartolomew series is purely fictional, physician and teacher of medicine at the University of Cambridge.

Did you read any of Susanna Gregory books? What you think about them?




Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Melissa McTernan/ Laurie Gilmore

 Hiya Bookworms!

I'm kinda all around reader, reading most of genres, mainly writing style pushing me out of reading some authors. I like to read light, contemporary, romance bits from time to time.

Laurie Gilmore is pen name of Melissa McTernan who's book I had reviewing for Netgalley in 2023.

One author really, but two different writing styles... Or at least that how this looks for me. 




I had mixed feelings about A curse of blood and wolves by Melissa McTernan - 2.5 stars - too much and in the same time not enough in story, concept was ok, storytelling not bad, but... I didn't like language used in it (as per my Goodreads review).



The Pumpkin Spice Cafe first book from Dream Harbor series is different 'cup of tea' - I enjoyed it, gave it 4 stars and will read the rest of series for sure. This one was 'light read', book you can read in 'one sit' if I can say/write that :)

I think sometimes writers have amazing book/story ideas, but the way they are using language can make it less or crash whole thing if you know what I mean.

Did you were in similar situation? 



Sunday, April 6, 2025

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!



Saturday, April 5, 2025

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!



Friday, April 4, 2025

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!