This Week in Books | 30/05/18

This week I'm joining in with Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found to talk about the books I've been reading recently!

Now: I've been bitten by the Bardugo bug. This year I finally read and ADORED the Six of Crows duology, it's now easily one of my favourite series of all time, and even though I'm still not as interested in the Grisha trilogy I think Bardugo's world-building is superb and I'd like to read the trilogy so I have all the background information when the first book in her next duology is released next year.

Then: Crooked Kingdom made me laugh and it made me cry. I didn't love it as much as I loved Six of Crows, because Six of Crows is such a fun heist story, but the entire duology is masterfully done in terms of the world-bulding, the characters (and their development), and the fantastic, intricate plotting. It's been so long since I've finished a series I'd forgotten how bereft I can feel when I don't have a new adventure waiting for me with characters I love, so I'm feeling a bit lost right now. I know I'm not going to love the Grisha trilogy as much as I loved this duology, but I'll gobble up anything else I can set in this world.

Next: I'm hoping I'll be able to power through the whole trilogy once I start it. This year feels like the year I'm returning to fantasy and Six of Crows has cemented my love of the genre. I want to consume all the fantasy I can. Because of when it was published I have a feeling this trilogy is going to fall into some of the tropes that a lot of YA trilogies fell into a few years ago, but as I've mentioned I'm fascinated by Bardugo's world-building and I'd like to explore Ravka.

What have you been reading recently?

This Week in Books | 14/03/18

This week I'm joining in with Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found to talk about the books I've been reading recently!

Now | Considering I only gave the first two books in the Mistress of the Art of Death series two stars, it's a wonder I'm reading another book in the series. Usually if I don't love a series I won't bother with the rest of the books, but this particular series is a really easy read and, while I don't think Franklin was the best writer around, I do enjoy her characters and I'm never going to let the chance of reading books centred around women in the 12th century pass me by. I'm actually really enjoying Relics of the Dead so far, especially as this book is set in parts of the UK that I'm familiar with and includes legends I'm familiar with, so it's strangely comforting for a book about potential murder...

Then | For the first time in years I read some Middle Grade and I loved the experience of it. I need to read more children's books and now I have a small selection waiting for me to make my way through this spring. Gaslight was another one that was comforting and familiar, being a Victorian era novel set in Cardiff, the city where I used to work. Look out for my review!

Next | Carrying on with the historical theme - because let's face it, when am I not reading historical fiction ? - I'm feeling myself drawn towards Mistress Firebrand at the moment. Sometimes I like to indulge in a bit of historical romance, and this novel, set during the American Revolutionary War, follows a playwright who once wrote comedies and now writes plays for the Rebels under a pseudonym that have landed her on a British hanging list.

What have you been reading recently?

This Week in Books | 27/09/17

This week I'm joining in with Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found to talk about the books I've been reading recently!

Now: If you saw my Autumn TBR you'll know autumn always puts me in the mood for books set in the 19th century, the gloomier the better, so I'm about to start this 2017 release based on the murder of Charlotte Dymond in Cornwall in 1844. I'm also planning to pick up Gail Carriger's Heartless and Sarah Schmidt's See What I Have Done very soon, and to continue reading Miranda Kaufmann's Black Tudors which I began at the end of last week.

Then: I recently re-read Jane Austen's Persuasion, the book that first introduced me to Austen when I was 18 and subsequently made me hate her, but now that I'm older and my tastes have changed (and my appreciation for Austen has grown) I decided to give it another try and, this time around, I really enjoyed it. I know Natalie @ A Sea Change will be proud. Look out for my review coming soon!

Next: I'm so behind on my NetGalley reads this year and Silvia Moreno-Garcia's third novel, The Beautiful Ones, is one of my most anticipated reads of 2017, so I want to get to it soon and hopefully read and review it before its release. I'm also planning to pick up The Tenant of Wildfell Hall soon to get started on this year's Victober!

What have you been reading recently?

This Week in Books | 14/06/17

This week I'm joining in with Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found to talk about the books I've been reading recently!

Now: Considering I loved The Fifth Season earlier this year and the final book in this trilogy, The Stone Sky, is due to be released in August, I figured it was about time I finished The Obelisk Gate which I started a while ago. I am really enjoying it and the only reason I seemed to stop reading it is because I'm so terrible at finishing series, but I'm determined to finish this one this year!

Then: As promised, last week I did go home and start Stay With Me and I ended up finishing it in one sitting. I absolutely devoured this book, I loved it, and I can't wait to see what Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ writes next. Look out for my review soon!

Next: Once I finish The Obelisk Gate I really am going to read The Beautiful Ones - I'm looking forward to it!

What are you reading?

This Week in Books | 07/06/17

This week I'm joining in with Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found to talk about the books I've been reading recently!

Now: I'm in one of those moods at the moment where there's so much I want to read and so little time (work's very busy at the moment, so I'm not finding much time to just read one book) but as the winner of the Baileys Prize is being announced today and Stay With Me is on the shortlist, I'm really in the mood to pick it up when I get home this evening. I've heard amazing things about it and I know it's a lot of people's favourite to win the Baileys Prize, but whether it wins or not I'll be starting it tonight.

Then: I finished My Cousin Rachel at the weekend in anticipation of the new adaptation, starring Rachel Weisz and Sam Claflin, which I'm going to see on Friday. Sadly it's probably the du Maurier novel I've enjoyed the least so far, but I did still like it. I reviewed it here if you'd like to know my thoughts on it!

Next: This book is proof of how busy I've been, as I received this via NetGalley around a week ago now and I still haven't started it, which is ridiculous considering I love Silvia Moreno-Garcia's work. To me The Beautiful Ones sounds like a Jane Austen novel with magic set in Mexico. What's not to love? I'll definitely be getting to this one soon, but I'd like to read Stay With Me first.

What are you reading?

This Week in Books | 10/05/17

This week I'm joining in with Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found to talk about the books I've been reading recently!

Now: I've returned to one of my favourite authors, Daphne du Maurier, to read My Cousin Rachel ahead of the film adaptation starring Rachel Weisz and Sam Claflin which is due to be released next month. I'm enjoying it so far, but that's no surprise - du Maurier's work is always a treat.

Then: I picked up The Doll's Alphabet after receiving it from Moth Box, and after recently reading Diving Belles (reviewed here) I was in the mood to read more short story collections. I read a little bit from this to get the feel for what it was like and then couldn't put it down, but I can't say I loved it. Camilla Grudova writes beautifully, her stories read like weird, grotesque dreams and there were some stories I don't think I quite 'got'. I did like it, though - look out for my review soon!

Next: Natalie @ A Sea Change and I are taking part in our own version of Elena @ Elena Read Books' BookBuddyAthon - check out my TBR here! - and this is the book Nat chose for me out of three options I gave her, all of which I've received to review from NetGalley. See What I Have Done is a novelisation of the story of Lizzie Borden, and as I recently watched a documentary about murder in the 19th century I'm definitely in the mood to pick this up. However, The Doll's Alphabet was very dark and My Cousin Rachel is quite gloomy so far, so I might opt for something more cheerful once I've finished My Cousin Rachel.

What are you reading?

This Week in Books | 08/03/17

This week I'm joining in with Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found to talk about the books I've been reading recently!

Now: I'm trying to catch up on the eARCs I've managed to accumulate recently, so after an accidental break to read other stuff I'm currently continuing with Mark Lawrence's Red Sister. It's okay so far, though it feels like it still hasn't really got going yet, but I'm all for a story with assassin nuns.

Then: Another eARC that I was very lucky to receive after I loved Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda a couple of years ago. I got home from work yesterday, sat down, and read Becky Albertalli's second novel in one sitting. I loved it. Look out for my review soon!

Next: And another eARC! I'm hoping I'll be able to speed through Our Own Private Universe as quickly as I did The Upside of Unrequited; one of the things I really like about YA Contemporary when I find myself reading it is how easy it is to read. I haven't enjoyed any of Talley's novels as much as her debut, Lies We Tell Ourselves, so I'm interested to see what I think of this one.

What are you reading?

This Week in Books | 22/02/17

This week I'm joining in with Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found to talk about the books I've been reading recently!

Now: I'm in the middle of the second book in the Mistress of the Art of Death series, The Death Maze, and I'm enjoying it so far. It's so refreshing to read historical crime with a female protagonist and I don't tend to read much historical fiction set during the Middle Ages so I've enjoyed pushing myself out of my comfort zone. These books aren't masterpieces and sometimes the romance overtakes the plot, but I'm finding them really fun to read and I like the characters a lot.

Then: I finally read the first book in the series, Mistress of the Art of Death, after trying to read it a few years ago and being unable to get into it. I considered getting rid of my copy for a while but something told me to keep it and now I'm glad I did. I didn't love it, but I enjoyed it enough to continue with the series and I'm hoping the books will continue to get better and better.

Next: I was planning to dedicate February to the ARCs I've managed to accumulate recently but I haven't gotten to any yet. Oops. I do want to read The Bear and the Nightingale this month, though, as I feel like it's going to be a particularly wintery read and I'd rather not read it in the spring.

What have you been reading?

This Week in Books | 01/02/2017

This week I'm joining in with Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found to talk about the books I've been reading recently!

Now: I'm still reading The Obelisk Gate after I took a break from it to get ahead on a couple of ARCs I'd been sent, but now I intend to finish it! I'm really enjoying it so far and I'd like to finish it soon so I can try and dedicate most of February to reading some of the review copies waiting for me on my kindle.

Then: Every Heart a Doorway is the second novella I've read by Seanan McGuire (who also writes under the name Mira Grant, and is therefore the author of one of my all-time favourite books, Feed) and unfortunately I didn't enjoy this one as much as I hoped I would. Look out for my review later this month!

Next: Once I have The Obelisk Gate under my belt I'm aiming to finish Red Sister, which is due to be released in April, and then get ahead on my other ARCs. I've liked what I've read so far, though I'm still waiting for it to really get going - I'm happy to be patient for a novel that promises assassin nuns, though.

What are you reading?

This Week in Books | 25/01/2017

This week I'm joining in with Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found to talk about the books I've been reading recently!

Now: I really, really enjoyed The Fifth Season, so much so that I immediately bought a copy of The Obelisk Gate and I think I might be enjoying this one even more. It's frustrating to know that once I finish this I'm going to have to wait until August for The Stone Sky.

Then: Unfortunately I had to DNF The Winter Witch. I got bored and I wasn't keen on the characters; the heroine was irritating and the villains were stereotypical.

Next: I'm planning to continue with my DiverseAThon reading and finish The Other Half of Happiness once I finish The Obelisk Gate, as I was very kindly sent an ARC by the publisher. I'd like to get on top of my ARCs this year!

What have you been reading recently?

This Week in Books | 18/01/2017

This week I'm joining in with Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found to talk about the books I've been reading recently!

Now: I received an eARC of Mark Lawrence's latest novel, Red Sister, from NetGalley and I'm starting it today - I want to get to it in plenty of time ahead of its release in April because I can be quite bad at reading the books I get on NetGalley. I haven't read any Mark Lawrence yet but I'm all for a story about assassin nuns, so I'm hoping to enjoy this one.

Then: I read The Fifth Season and I don't think I've recovered yet. What an adventure! I got myself  a copy of The Obelisk Gate after I finished this, but I'm going to give myself a little break before I dive into that one. Look out for my review of The Fifth Season in the next couple of weeks!

Next: After two fantasy books in a row I think I'm going to be in the mood to read something completely different, so I think I'm going to pick up some non-fiction and read Samantha Ellis's new book, Take Courage.. I loved her memoir, How to Be a Heroine (reviewed here), and I love Anne Brontë, so I've been looking forward to this one. I'll see what I'm in the mood to pick up, though, because I still need to read A Closed and Common Orbit and I'd like to read Homegoing soon, too.

What are you reading?

This Week in Books | 11/01/2017

This week I'm joining in with Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found to talk about the books I've been reading recently!

Now: I'm just over half-way through Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's short story collection, The Thing Around Your Neck, and I'm enjoying it so far. It's so refreshing to read about a place I know very little about and to read about it from the point of view of someone who actually knows what it's like. It's whetting my appetite for Adichie's novels.

Then: I was very kindly sent a review copy of McTavish Manor by the author, who I met at uni, and read this chilling novella over the weekend. Look out for my review later this month!

Next: I was planning to read one of my Netgalley reads next, and I would like to read one of them this month if I can, but then Natalie @ A Sea Change recommended N. K. Jemisin to me. I looked her up and ended up scouring through so many five star reviews of The Fifth Season that I couldn't not pick it up, so it's now waiting patiently for me on my kindle. I've actually read the prologue already and loved the way it's written and I'm so bloody intrigued, but I had to put it down so I can finish The Thing Around Your Neck first.

What are you reading?

This Week in Books | 04/01/2017

This week I'm joining in with Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found to talk about the books I've been reading recently!

Now: I'm in the middle of Deborah Moggach's Tulip Fever in anticipation of the forthcoming film adaptation starring Alicia Vikander and Holliday Grainger. Unfortunately I'm not loving the book - I'll be reviewing it once I finish it so you can find out all my thoughts and feelings on it then - but I'd like to finish it before I see the film, which still looks great!

Then: My final read of 2016 saw me finally read some Nnedi Okorafor when I picked up her award-winning novella, Binti. I'll be reviewing this title soon and I'm looking forward to the sequel, Home, which is being released at the end of this month.

Next: I've been lucky enough to receive an eARC of Mark Lawrence's Red Sister from NetGalley, so I'm planning to pick it up soon - I've been in the mood for some new high fantasy lately and I'm always going to be drawn towards stories of killer nuns.

What are you reading?

This Week in Books | 10/08/16

This week I'm joining in with Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found to talk about the books I've been reading recently!

Now: I'm actually in the middle of several books right now, as I have been all year so far, but right now I'm most actively reading Sarah Perry's The Essex Serpent, which explores the relationship between religion, science and folklore. The cover's beautiful and it's written wonderfully - I'm enjoying it so far!

Then: I finally introduced myself to Muriel Spark with her most famous piece of work, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. I read it in one sitting and while it's not usually the kind of thing I'd read, and a few years ago I probably wouldn't have liked it at all, I did enjoy it; in fact this is the first book I've read where I can genuinely say I enjoyed the way it was written, the structure of the story, more than the story itself, but that didn't make me enjoy it any less which is unusual for me simply because I prefer story to writing technique. It's made me want to read more of Spark's work!

Next: I recently received an eARC of Robin Talley's As I Descended, a modern day lesbian retelling of Macbeth, and I can't wait to get to it. Talley's one of the few YA authors I actively follow, I've read both of her previous novels, and I'm looking forward to seeing how she's adapted my favourite Shakespeare play.

What have you been reading recently?

This Week in Books | 29/06/16

This week I'm joining in with Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found to talk about the books I've been reading recently!

Now: I'm slowly getting back into the reading zone. I managed to read three books last week, which is the most I've read in a week in a long while, and it feels wonderful to be enjoying stories again. I've been trying to get ahead on my eARCs - in fact two of the books I finished last week were NetGalley reads - and now I'd like to challenge myself to finish the books which I've listed as 'Currently Reading' on Goodreads before I pick up anything new. Now considering I'm coming out of the biggest reading slump I've ever had I'm not going to be too strict with myself - if something calls to me, I'm going to read it - but I know I'd really feel like I've accomplished something if I get those books under my belt. One of those books just happens to be Longbow Girl, and I think it's going to be a lot of fun. I'm trying to read more books which feature time travel, and considering I currently live in Wales I haven't read much set in Wales.

Then: Over the weekend I crossed two eARCs off my TBR: Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Certain Dark Things, which I loved, and Anne Tyler's Vinegar Girl, which I didn't. Right now my blog pretty much consists solely of book reviews as I'm catching up on my reading and reviewing, so look out for my review of Vinegar Girl next week to find out why I didn't like it!

Next: Continuing with the theme of finishing books I've started, I'd like to cross The Geek Feminist Revolution off my TBR. I've enjoyed the little I've read so far and heard amazing things about the rest of it, so I'm hoping to really love this one - plus I'd like to read more 2016 releases in 2016!

What are you reading this week?

This Week in Books | 22/06/16

This week I'm joining in with Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found to talk about the books I've been reading recently!

Now: I was thrilled to receive an eARC of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's new novel, Certain Dark Things, from NetGalley. If you've been following my blog for a while you'll know I adored her debut, Signal to Noise, and with Certain Dark Things not being published until October I'm so excited to have the chance to read it early. I've only read the first few chapters as I wanted to finish another book first, but I'm aiming to read it this week. Look out for my review nearer the publication date!

Then: I've now officially read some Gail Carriger, an author whose work has been on my TBR for a long time, and I really enjoyed Soulless. More than anything it's just a lot of fun; it was an easy, enjoyable read, just what I needed, and I'm looking forward to continuing on with the series. Look out for my review of Soulless next week!

Next: Unfortunately Longbow Girl has fallen to the wayside now that I have Certain Dark Things in my life. I'm really looking forward to carrying on with it, I want to read more time travel books, I just want to read Certain Dark Things first.

What are you reading right now?

This Week in Books | 15/06/16

This week I'm joining in with Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found to talk about the books I've been reading recently!

NOW: 2016 hasn't been a great reading year for me so far, I don't know why; I've been slumpy and uninspired for way too long and I've been waiting for something to come along and that will pull me out of my slump. I don't know if Soulless is going to do it, but one thing I do know is that so far it's a lot of fun. It's so tongue-in-cheek and wonderfully cheesy. I've been meaning to read some Gail Carriger for a very long time, so I'm glad I've finally made a start!

THEN: Last month I finally read Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane, and I'm still not 100% sure what I thought about it. As with all of Gaiman's work it was very well-written, it just didn't capture me like some of his other work has. Hopefully I'll be able to gather my thoughts into a review soon.

NEXT: Technically I've already started Longbow Girl, I read the first chapter last night on my kindle after buying it on a whim, but I'd like to try and finish Soulless first. Considering I currently live in Wales I've read very little set in Wales, and after enjoying The Girl From Everywhere earlier this year I'm eager to check out more time travel stories.

What are you reading?

This Week in Books | 11/05/16

This week I'm joining in with Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found to talk about the books I've been reading recently!

NOW: Right now I'm in the middle of Jo Walton's Among Others, which I've heard nothing but good things about and have been meaning to read for years. I'm enjoying it, but it's not quite what I expected - the main character was revealed to be older than I'd been reading her when I was already about a quarter of the way through the book so that was a bit jarring. I'm looking forward to seeing how the story progresses, though!

THEN: I decided to re-read The Goblin Emperor, which might very well be my favourite book. Period. I read it for the first time last year and adored it, and re-reading it reminded me how much I love it. If you haven't read this book yet I can't recommend it enough.

NEXT: The Ocean at the End of the Lane, like Among Others, is one of the books on my #BookBuddyAthon TBR. Neil Gaiman's one of my favourite authors but I still haven't read this, so I'm looking forward to finally sinking my teeth into it.

What are you reading?

This Week in Books | 20/04/16

This week I'm joining in with Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found to talk about the books I've been reading recently!

NOW: I've picked up Jamaica Inn and so far I'm enjoying it. I love Daphne du Maurier, she's well on her way to being one of my favourite writers, and I think I might be going to the real Jamaica Inn in the summer so I'm looking forward to getting this book under my belt!

THEN: I recently read Karen Russell's debut collection, St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves, and unfortunately I didn't like it as much as I hoped I would. Look out for my review next week!

NEXT: Tomorrow is the release day of Julia Ember's debut, Unicorn Tracks, which I'm very excited to read. I've pre-ordered a copy and I'll be diving into it as soon as it arrives!

What have you been reading recently?

This Week in Books | 06/04/16

This week I'm joining in with Lipsy @ Lipsyy Lost & Found to talk about the books I've been reading recently!

I'm slowly getting back into the swing of reading after a couple of months in which I didn't read much at all. Hopefully I'll be reading like a nutter again very soon!

NOW: I received an eARC of Desolation, the second book in Derek Landy's Demon Road trilogy, from NetGalley, and as the book is officially released tomorrow I thought I'd try and read it and review it as soon as possible. You can check out my review of the first book in the trilogy here!

THEN: Yesterday I finally finished Heidi Heilig's The Girl From Everywhere, another book I received through NetGalley, and I don't know why it took me so long to finish. I loved it, and yet it took me two months to finish it, which just goes to show how much of a slump I've been in. Read my review here!

NEXT: Alias Grace has been sitting, unread, on my shelf for far too long, alongside a whole host of other books, but lately it's really been calling to me. Once I get a few eARCs under my belt I think I'm finally going to delve into this one.

What have you been reading recently?