Magical Readathon 2024 – April TBR!

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Hi Bibliofriends!

A few years ago, my friends and I stumbled on this amazing Harry Potter readathon hosted by G @book_roast which centred around a 2-part challenge with the aims of earning your OWLs and NEWTs. Fast forward a few years and G has created her very own Magical Readathon complete with worlds, callings and guilds! I’m finally in the headspace where I’ve watched all of the videos and am ready to embark on my Novice Path on the way to Orilium!

What is the Magical Readathon?

If you’re brand new to Book Roast’s Magical Readathon, the best place to head to is G’s channel over on YouTube. There, you will find a beginner video to tell you all you need to know to begin your quest and the link to the G Drive containing all of the important files and information. It can be a little daunting to start off with, but after watching a couple of videos, the rest of the way is pretty easy and incredibly fun!

My Character

I’m not sure I have enough creative energies to pick my own character so I have very much gone with the ‘pick one thing’ from each list option!

I used a couple of different elvish name generators to come up with the name. I think it means ‘Fire Friend’. I chose the wildling and providence based on what I’ve been used to growing up (we live in a very green part of the country thankfully!).

I purposefully left my Calling blank at the moment. I shortlisted a number of different callings which I wanted to try and pursue and I think I’ll see which one I end up with based on my reads that I achieve during the month. Shortlisted callings are: Aeldia Excavationist, Star Whisperer, Abjurer, Craftsmage, Master of Elements and Archmage.

My Magical Readathon TBR

With my indecisiveness around which Calling I wanted to pursue, I decided to create a list of all the prompts needed for those particular choices and created my TBR list from that. The number next to each one refers to how many of the Callings feature that School of Magic as a required skill. I’ve purposely left Psionics and Divination blank at the minute as I couldn’t work out how to do a prediction bingo prompt and the likelihood of me ticking all of these off my list by the end of April is quite slim! 😂

That’s my Magical Readathon TBR and April Reading Goals all wrapped up into one! Are you taking part in the Magical Readathon? Do any of my April book choices make your monthly TBR too? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

The Wrap – March 2024

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Howdy Bibliofriends!

March is over, it’s the middle of the Easter holidays, Spring is finally here! There seem to be lots of good things to celebrate in this month’s wrap post… and plenty to look forward to too!

Life Update

Life in March has been busy…! There’s quite a bit going on at work. We took my year group of 30 8-9 year olds away to the Peak District for a Residential which was super fun, but also took up lots of time and energy reserves. I have spent the first week of the holidays catching up with life admin, adulting things and lots of reading!

This month’s sports calendar has also been hectic! There have been horseracing and rugby events on throughout the month. The absolute highlight being my team winning the Premiership Rugby Cup! That victory was such a special night – I think I needed lots of time for my voice to recover from all of the pitchside screaming!

The rest of this Wrap Post follows my usual format (Past Reads, Current Reads, Films/TV, Music) so feel free to skip any irrelevant parts!

What I’ve Been Reading in March

With the busyness of March, I didn’t really read as much as I wanted to, however I am still ahead of schedule on my Goodreads Reading Challenge. I had been waiting for the Easter holidays to dive into Crescent City 3 – House of Flame and Shadow and boy was I glad that I did!!! I felt like I entered a black hole until I’d finished it, and even then I would have to walk around my house at the end of certain chapters with ‘omg omg omg’ going round and round in my head like a public service announcement. It’s definitely been a fun reading month!

This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved the mix of Ancient Greece and technical, A.I. automatons. You can check out my spoiler-free review for This Golden Flame here.

Yellowface by R. F. Kuang ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Well if this novel didn’t pack a punch! Savage satire poking a big ‘take-a-look-at-yourself’ finger to the publishing industry… this book absolutely slices and I loved it!! You can read my spoiler-free review here.

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I haven’t quite digested my feelings on this book yet… I know that I liked elements of it, I just can’t quite verbalise or even put into words which bits those are at the minute – a review will come!

A Feast For Crows [A Song of Ice and Fire #4] by George R. R. Martin ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
These audiobooks have given me a newfound love for this series and I’m desperate to read A Dance with Dragons just so I can actually finish watching the TV Show – I know that Martin hasn’t actually finished writing the book series yet – but I’m trying desperately not to get spoiled by anything!

House of Flame and Shadow [Crescent City #3] by Sarah J. Maas ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There are no words… yet! Again review incoming, and when I say review I actually mean a longwinded, rambling post where all my inner-thoughts and feelings just fall onto the electronic page! 🤯

#CurrentlyReading

My April TBR is a little packed as I’m attempting to take part in the Magical Readathon hosted by @book_roast! I loved this challenge back when it was related to the OWLs and NEWTs from the Harry Potter series, but now G has intricately designed her own readathon with maps, guilds and different paths and side quests! I’ll be posting more about that tomorrow so stay tuned!

What I’ve Been Watching

As part of a Film Club, we’re often at the Cinema at least once a week so I watch a lot of movies. I’ve been using the app Letterboxd to track what I’ve seen and give them rating. If you’re on the app and want a new follower be sure to add me! My profile name is: tillyj

March has been pretty jam-packed with movies and TV shows!

Movies/TV, I’ve seen:

  • Lisa Frankenstein (Cinema) – When I found out that Isabella Summers (the Machine part of Florence + the Machine) had created the score for this movie, I immediately added it to my watch list. It’s a quirky, whimsical film which I enjoyed a lot!
  • The Royal Tenenbaums (Disney +) – I’d heard a lot about how great this Wes Anderson film is, the cast is pretty outstanding… however, I still fell asleep partway through.
  • Dune (Rewatch) – I am so glad that I rewatched this to refresh my brain before Dune 2. I’ve read the book so I already know what happens but it really got me in the Arrakis zone!
  • Dune 2 (Cinema – IMAX) – This was even better than the first movie and made me love the whole Dune series even more. I immediately left the cinema, went to Waterstones and bought the book sequel! 🙈
  • Damsel (Netflic) – Loved Millie Bobby-Brown, loved the costumes and the setting, landscapes etc… but seriously, the story is entirely predictable and top tip: when you’re trying to hide from a dragon, please stop screaming!!! 🤷🏻‍♀️
  • Past Lives (Netflix) – Some of my friends highly rated this film and I’d heard that it had a few nods during awards season. I loved the shifts between the characters’ childhoods and their adult lives. I genuinely had no idea where that ending was going, and even still… I’m not sure it was entirely what I wanted!
  • Drive-Away Dolls (Cinema) – I’m taking a leaf out of Thumper’s book here in that if I can’t say anything nice, I’m not saying anything at all. Drive-Away Dolls is really not my kind of movie. One of my friends loved it though…
  • Irish Wish (Netflix) – I’m not sure if I’m a closet Lindsay Lohan fan or if it was just the Irish vibes that made me watch this. You can guess what happens in the whole story just by watching the trailer. The acting was ok. The costumes and scenes of Ireland were magical and now I feel the need to visit the Cliffs of Moher too.
  • Freelance (Netflix) – John Cena, action film, lots of guns – pretty much your average action film!
  • Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire(Cinema) – The opening action scene is by far the best ‘ghosthunters’ bit of the whole film. I loved the ideas for the storyline but felt like the mythology of the characters could have been expanded a little. It’s quite slow after the awesomeness of the opening but overall very nostalgic and satisfying.
  • Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (Netflix) – Whilst I haven’t read the Bridgerton books, I am a huge fan of the TV show and this spin-off was no exception. I loved the parallels between the young and old(er) characters from the TV show. Again, costumes and scenery were on point, particularly as I could recognise the shots of Blenheim Palace which is not very far away from me at all and I’ve been lucky to visit many times.
  • Beef (Netflix) – The opening couple of episodes of this were so good, then I felt like it got a little eccentric and lost its way – I still haven’t quite finished it yet so maybe it’ll have a spectacular ending. A super-fun concept though.

Music

Asides from all of the Taylor Swift music on my phone, I was so excited to finally download Beyoncé’s COWBOY CARTER album! 🤠 For about 18 years whilst I was growing up, I went to Line Dancing classes and even choreographed and taught some of my own – therefore I grew up with this huge love of country music. I love that so many legacy artists within the genre have come out in support of this record and helped contribute to it. Is this pure or typical country, for whatever pure/typical country actually is…? Perhaps not, it takes inspiration from a melting pot of musical genres but the influences are undeniably there within the soul of every track. Beyoncé’s rendition of Jolene keeps the spirit at the heart of an incredibly beloved song whilst turning it completely on its head. No longer is the lead singer begging for Jolene not to mess with her man in a politely assertive way, they are now upfront declaring their authority and calling out Jolene’s crap like an apex predator – it’s so brilliant! This album will definitely be on repeat for the foreseeable – at least until The Tortured Poets Department comes out next month!

And that’s a wrap! How was your March? Did you have a productive month? I’m totally looking forward to the Magical Readathon starting and compiling my book list from the prompts! What are you all looking forward to reading in April?

As always, drop me a comment to chat! ☺️

T xx

Biblioshelf Musings – Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

The Biblioshelf3 Comments

Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about Yellowface by R.F. Kuang. I remember reading Babel as soon as it was released, and although the story wasn’t quite my usual vibe, it was incredibly clear that R.F. Kuang was a master at depicting important messages about people and their judgements and interactions with one another into her narratives. Yellowface was no exception to this and packed an incredible punch right from the first chapter! Read on to find out more in my spoiler-free review!

Book: Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
Genre: Fiction (Contemporary)
Publication Date: May 2023
Publisher: William Morrow / Harper Collins
Pages: 336
Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Athena Liu is a literary darling and June Hayward is literally nobody.

White lies
When Athena dies in a freak accident, June steals her unpublished manuscript and publishes it as her own under the ambiguous name Juniper Song.

Dark humour
But as evidence threatens June’s stolen success, she will discover exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.

Deadly consequences…
What happens next is entirely everyone else’s fault.

With its totally immersive first-person voice, Yellowface grapples with questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation, as well as the terrifying alienation of social media. R.F. Kuang’s novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable.

My Musings

Wow, oh wow did Yellowface pique my curisoities with every single chapter! After the historical academia tones from Babel, this contemporary, memoir-like tale was so incredibly refreshing! Through its portrayal of the publishing industry, this book has everything – drama, twists and turns, an unpredictable main character, comedy and sinisterness – yet at its heart it tells the story of a writer and the true nature of the person that lies underneath that career-driven persona. This book is so witty and intelligently crafted that it blew my mind and made me reevaluate my own perspectives.

June/Juniper is a spectacularly written character! I didn’t know whether to sympathise with her, defend her, champion her or just completely abandon her. She is so morally grey, that the twists and turns in this story have your feelings towards her shift more rapidly than waves in a storm. There are obviously moments within this plot where you just want to point blank question her actions and her motives – I mean, what did she think would happen after plagiarising someone else’s story? But then, the treatment of her afterwards… some of it is wholly unjustified and wrong. Here is Kuang again making a point that some people have to go through this treatment and these accusations from the outside world every single day – and not all of them are deserved or come from a place of actual facts and knowledge. [Take the recent reactions to the Fairyloot special editions of the Throne of Glass series into account and you’ll see this first hand.]

The depiction of the publishing industry is a strong one with heroes and villains on both sides. I really enjoyed reading the viewpoints and flip-flopping around diversity – is it right to have someone who isn’t Chinese writing about Chinese Labour Corps? Is it right to try and disguise the heritage of the person writing the book to make people think that it has been written by a person with Chinese ancestry? Does it matter about a person’s ethnicity if they have done the appropriate, in-depth research…? At what point does cultural appropriation become a gatekeeper for someone’s voice or story? Where is the line in the sand between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation…? This entire story makes you question your own views about real-world issues and think about what you stand for. And it’s purely Kuang’s clever writing that has done that.

Throughout my reading, some parts of this novel felt like fictionalised accounts of Kuang’s own journey through the publishing industry (without the manuscript stealing obviously!). There were times I had to check myself with a reminder that this is not an autobiography (and hope that Kuang’s experience’s were far better than Juniper’s!). The stark parallel stuck out in my mind that I was reading about the publication of a novel within a novel which had likely had to go through an incredibly similar process – almost like the play within a play in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It really hit the ‘nerd-level coolness’ spot in my bookish heart!

Although Kuang is hitting weighty themes head-on by tackling racism, diversity, cultural appropriation, the darkside of social media etc, it didn’t leave this overwhelming sense of doom and gloom or preachiness in its wake. Yellowface does not stand on a grandiose soapbox blaring its message out to you, until you wholeheartedly accept it whether you wanted to or not. Yellowface gently guides you and opens your eyes to all of these difficult topics. It encourages you to truly think about what elements are right or wrong in each of Juniper’s situations, or whether such a reaction can be entirely black or white, rather than a shade of grey somewhere in-between.

If I had just one word to sum up this book, it would be CLEVER. This is an exceptionally astute piece of writing which manages to provide the humour and escapism that we seek in a fiction story, yet balance it with an incredibly thought-provoking message and outlook which will resonate with you long after closing that final page.

Have you read Yellowface or is it on your TBR list? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

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#Top Ten Tuesday – Movies/TV Shows that would have made amazing books!

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Hey Bibliofriends,

Happy Tuesday! I had intended on posting a couple of things within the past week to mark Tolkien Day and World Poetry Day but being away on a school residential has sapped actual life out of me! Thankfully it’s the now Easter break so it’s time to catch up with some reading and blogging! 🥳

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is the Top Ten Movies/TV Shows that would make amazing books. The prompt was submitted by Sabrina @ Notes From a Paper Plane Nomad and I had so much fun putting this list together! I often watch things on TV and wish that I could also have experienced it in all of its literary glory – it must be the bookwyrm in me! If you don’t already know, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly, list-themed book prompt hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

National Treasure

I adore the entire National Treasure franchise and I was so happy when they brought a new spin-off show to Disney Plus last year. I’m a sucker for a historical treasure hunt and I would devour the novels that came out if these movies were turned into literary form!

Outer Banks

Spot the running treasure hunt theme here! Outer Banks is a major guilty pleasure of mine and I have binged every season of these as soon as they get released on Netflix. I can’t wait for Season 4!! Now whilst this started off as a TV series, I did spy a paperback novel in a bookshop which was released as a bit of a spin-off… I had no idea these even existed! I haven’t taken the plunge to buy it yet, but you can bet if I come across it a second time, it may very well be coming home with me to my shelf!

Emily in Paris

Another favourite show of mine! Imagine the descriptions of the clothing, fashion and food, the snarkiness of Sylvie and the cliffhangers and plot twists! Whilst Mindy’s musical talents and those divine French accents may not translate from screen to page, this series is just so dreamy that I’d be all over a novelisation of it!

Pirates of the Caribbean

I’m a sucker for a swashbuckling adventure and Pirates of the Caribbean is no exception. Whilst some of the plot lines in these films take inspiration from pirate folklore, I still think the level of detail in these movies would make for excellent literary world-building!

Moana

The themed picks continue with Moana! Again, another film based on pre-existing legends and mythology, however I would love a YA / adult twist on this Polynesian tale – if there’s one already out there, please point me in the direction of it!

Thir13en Ghosts

I remember watching this film as a teen and it scared the absolute you-know-what out of me! The reason I would love to see this in literary format is for the house element. Parts of this film are so twisted and terrifying, that it’d make a brilliantly chilling horror novel.

Fool’s Gold

Spanish shipwrecks, diving for treasure, all the tension and feels between Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey, the Bahamas scenery… I don’t care that this film only got an audience score of 48% on Rotten Tomatoes, I absolutely love it and need it in book version!

Godzilla

Ok, so this is another one of those ‘may already exist in book form’ picks but… I love the most recent Legendary Pictures versions which form as a new Reiwa Era for this iconic Japanese monster; particularly when King Kong joins in along with a whole plethora of other Monarch monsters from the second film in this particular part of the franchise. The scope they could make with these films in book format is huge, particularly if they dug deep and went into the origins of all of the monsters – they would definitely be making my TBR list! We are off the see Godzilla x Kong in IMAX this Friday and I am so excited!!

Most Haunted

Most Haunted was one of my favourite TV shows as a kid. I was blown away by some of the footage they captured, especially the Live event when they went to Pendle Hill. Then there was the whole ‘Rik Eedles’ fiasco. I would love it if there was a novel that was all about ghosthunters filming a reality TV show, just like this!

Indiana Jones

Who doesn’t love an adventure story? I had a really hard time picking this final option. I was almost going to pick Money Heist from Netflix, but then went with Indiana Jones at the final minute. Part of me loves a good temple hunting adventure novel, but I’m not too sure if these films are just so iconic that a novel version wouldn’t fully cut it!

That’s it! My Top Ten Movies/TV Shows that would make amazing book. Have you seen any of these selections? What film or series are you desperate for a literary version of? Feel free to leave me your link so I can visit your own TTT post! As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

#Top Ten Tuesday – Books on my Spring TBR

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Hey Bibliofriends,

Happy Tuesday! How is your week going so far? This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is the Top Ten Books on my Spring TBR. I was so excited to make this list! Spring i the ultimate time of rebirth and it always gives me a renewed sense of motivation. The days are getting lighter, birdsong is getting louder and flowers are blooming all around us. The 10 selections I have chosen here are a complete mixture of books I already own, books I’m hoping to purchase/acquire soon and some highly anticipated books that are being released this season! All plot summaries below are from Goodreads. If you don’t already know, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly, list-themed book prompt hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

In a shabby house, on a shabby street, in the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil as a scullion. But when her scheming mistress discovers the lump of a servant cowering in the kitchen is actually hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to better the family’s social position.

What begins as simple amusement for the bored nobility takes a perilous turn when Luzia garners the notice of Antonio Pérez, the disgraced secretary to Spain’s king. Still reeling from the defeat of his armada, the king is desperate for any advantage in the war against England’s heretic queen—and Pérez will stop at nothing to regain the king’s favor.

Determined to seize this one chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of seers and alchemists, holy men and hucksters, where the line between magic, science, and fraud is never certain. But as her notoriety grows, so does the danger that her Jewish blood will doom her to the Inquisition’s wrath. She will have to use every bit of her wit and will to survive—even if that means enlisting the help of Guillén Santangel, an embittered immortal familiar whose own secrets could prove deadly for them both.

House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J Maas

Bryce Quinlan never expected to see a world other than Midgard, but now that she has, all she wants is to get back. Everything she loves is in Midgard: her family, her friends, her mate. Stranded in a strange new world, she’s going to need all her wits about her to get home again. And that’s no easy feat when she has no idea who to trust.

Hunt Athalar has found himself in some deep holes in his life, but this one might be the deepest of all. After a few brief months with everything he ever wanted, he’s in the Asteri’s dungeons again, stripped of his freedom and without a clue as to Bryce’s fate. He’s desperate to help her, but until he can escape the Asteri’s leash, his hands are quite literally tied.

In this sexy, breathtaking sequel to the #1 bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath, Sarah J. Maas’s Crescent City series reaches new heights as Bryce and Hunt’s world is brought to the brink of collapse-with its future resting on their shoulders.

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

On the streets of White Roaring, Arthie Casimir is a criminal mastermind and collector of secrets. Her prestigious tearoom transforms into an illegal bloodhouse by dark, catering to the vampires feared by society. But when her establishment is threatened, Arthie is forced to strike an unlikely deal with an alluring adversary to save it—and she can’t do the job alone.

Calling upon a band of misfits, Arthie formulates a plan to infiltrate the dark and glittering vampire society known as the Athereum. But not every member of her crew is on her side, and as the truth behind the heist unfolds, Arthie finds herself in the midst of a conspiracy that will threaten the world as she knows it. Dark, action-packed, and swoonworthy, this is Hafsah Faizal better than ever.

A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall

A beautiful discovery outside the window of her underwater home prompts the reclusive E. to begin a correspondence with renowned scholar Henerey Clel. The letters they share are filled with passion, at first for their mutual interests, and then, inevitably, for each other.

Together, they uncover a mystery from the unknown depths, destined to transform the underwater world they both equally fear and love. But by no mere coincidence, a seaquake destroys E.’s home, and she and Henerey vanish.

A year later, E.’s sister Sophy, and Henerey’s brother Vyerin, are left to solve the mystery of their siblings’ disappearances with the letters, sketches and field notes left behind. As they uncover the wondrous love their siblings shared, Sophy and Vyerin learn the key to their disappearance – and what it could mean for life as they know it.

Tune in Tomorrow: The Curious, Calamitous, Cockamamie Story Of Starr Weatherby And The Greatest Mythic Reality Show Ever by Randee Dawn

She’s just a small town girl, with big mythic dreams.

Starr Weatherby came to New York to become… well, a star. But after ten years and no luck, she’s offered a big role – on a show no one has ever heard of. And there’s a reason for that. It’s a ‘reality’ show beyond the Veil, human drama, performed for the entertainment of the Fae.

But as Starr shifts from astounded newcomer to rising fan favorite, she learns about the show’s dark underbelly – and mysterious disappearance of her predecessor. She’ll do whatever it takes to keep her dream job – though she might just bring down the show in the process.

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.

Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.

Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.

But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.

Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.

Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura

Archaeologist Dr. Socorro “Corrie” Mejía has a bone to pick. Literally. 

It’s been Corrie’s life goal to lead an expedition deep into the Mexican jungle in search of the long-lost remains of her ancestor, Chimalli, an ancient warrior of the Aztec empire. But when she is invited to join an all-expenses-paid dig to do just that, Corrie is sure it’s too good to be true…and she’s right.

As the world-renowned expert on Chimalli, by rights Corrie should be leading the expedition, not sharing the glory with her disgustingly handsome nemesis. But Dr. Ford Matthews has been finding new ways to best her since they were in grad school. Ford certainly isn’t thrilled either—with his life in shambles, the last thing he needs is a reminder of their rocky past.

But as the dig begins, it becomes clear they’ll need to work together when they realize a thief is lurking around their campsite, forcing the pair to keep their discoveries—and lingering attraction—under wraps. With money-hungry artifact smugglers, the Mexican authorities, and the lies between them closing in, there’s only one way this all ends—explosively.

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera belongs to the glittering upper society of nineteenth century Buenos Aires, and like the rest of the world, the town is steeped in old world magic that’s been largely left behind or forgotten. Inez has everything a girl might want, except for the one thing she yearns the most: her globetrotting parents—who frequently leave her behind.

When she receives word of their tragic deaths, Inez inherits their massive fortune and a mysterious guardian, an archeologist in partnership with his Egyptian brother-in-law. Yearning for answers, Inez sails to Cairo, bringing her sketch pads and an ancient golden ring her father sent to her for safekeeping before he died. But upon her arrival, the old world magic tethered to the ring pulls her down a path where she soon discovers there’s more to her parent’s disappearance than what her guardian led her to believe.

With her guardian’s infuriatingly handsome assistant thwarting her at every turn, Inez must rely on ancient magic to uncover the truth about her parent’s disappearance—or risk becoming a pawn in a larger game that will kill her.

The Empire of Gold by S. A. Chakraborty

Daevabad has fallen.

After a brutal conquest stripped the city of its magic, Nahid leader Banu Manizheh and her resurrected commander, Dara, must try to repair their fraying alliance and stabilize a fractious, warring people.

But the bloodletting and loss of his beloved Nahri have unleashed the worst demons of Dara’s dark past. To vanquish them, he must face some ugly truths about his history and put himself at the mercy of those he once considered enemies.

Having narrowly escaped their murderous families and Daevabad’s deadly politics, Nahri and Ali, now safe in Cairo, face difficult choices of their own. While Nahri finds peace in the old rhythms and familiar comforts of her human home, she is haunted by the knowledge that the loved ones she left behind and the people who considered her a savior are at the mercy of a new tyrant. Ali, too, cannot help but look back, and is determined to return to rescue his city and the family that remains. Seeking support in his mother’s homeland, he discovers that his connection to the marid goes far deeper than expected and threatens not only his relationship with Nahri, but his very faith.

As peace grows more elusive and old players return, Nahri, Ali, and Dara come to understand that in order to remake the world, they may need to fight those they once loved . . . and take a stand for those they once hurt.

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. She’s had no choice. Since childhood, she’s been haunted by visions of the Fairy King. She’s found solace only in the pages of Angharad – author Emrys Myrddin’s beloved epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, and then destroys him.

Effy’s tattered, dog-eared copy is all that’s keeping her afloat through her stifling first term at Llyr’s prestigious architecture college. So when Myrddin’s family announces a contest to design the late author’s house, Effy feels certain this is her destiny.

But Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task: a musty, decrepit estate on the brink of crumbling into a hungry sea. And when Effy arrives, she finds she isn’t the only one who’s made a temporary home there. Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar, is studying Myrddin’s papers and is determined to prove her favorite author is a fraud.

As the two rival students investigate the reclusive author’s legacy, piecing together clues through his letters, books, and diaries, they discover that the house’s foundation isn’t the only thing that can’t be trusted. There are dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspiring against them – and the truth may bring them both to ruin.

That’s it! My Top Ten books on my Spring TBR. Have you read any of these selections? Are you excited for any of these anticipated releases? What makes it onto your own Spring TBR? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

St. Patrick’s Day Book Day

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day Bibliofriends!

Big thanks to Alex at Mybookworld24 for tagging me in this book tag! The original tag creator is Taylor and you can find their post over on YouTube.

I’m not Irish, nor do I live in Ireland, but St. Patrick’s Day is a bit of a celebration where we are for reasons that I’ll explain in one of the tag prompts below!

END OF THE RAINBOW – WHAT BOOK DID YOU HAVE A HARD TIME TRACKING DOWN A COPY OF?

With modern wonders such as eBay and the benefits of global shipping, it’s quite easy to grab a copy of anything nowadays. I’ve had to import several books from America because they haven’t been published in the UK (American Royals books 3 & 4 for example). One book that I’m desperate to find, is the original edition of The Secret by Byron Preiss. It’s about a global treasure hunt which is still unsolved to this day. First editions are available online but they will set you back about £400!

POT OF GOLD – WHEN YOU FOUND THAT BOOK, WAS IT WORTH THE QUEST?

Obviously I haven’t got a copy of The Secret yet, I may have to cave in and buy a reprinting! On the American Royals front – YES, it was definitely worth the quest! I love that series so much!

CELEBRATING A RICH HERITAGE – NAME A BOOK THAT CONTAINS A WELL-DEVELOPED CULTURE.

The City of Brass or Daevabad trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty is a seres which I feel transports me to a whole other world. It is so rich and vibrant in world-building and character-development that you cannot help but soak up the atmosphere and culture of this other land.

SHAMROCK SHAKES – WHAT’S YOUR FAVOuRITE FOOD TO SNACK ON WHILE READING?

I find it so difficult to snack whilst reading. It has to be something which doesn’t get mess all over the pages, therefore crisps and anything fruit related are out. Perhaps Maltesers or Haribo Starmix 😋

FOUR LEAF CLOVER – NAME A BOOK YOU THOUGHT WOULD BE ‘JUST ANOTHER GENERIC BOOK’, BUT TURNED OUT TO BE SOMETHING GREAT.

Back in 2017, I received a copy of Roar by Cora Carmack in a Fairyloot box. I fell in love with the storms and magic within the book. It’s a series which I’m desperate to reread and then finish one day!

IRISH WHISKEY – WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE TRADITION OF ST. PATTY’S DAY?

Where I live near Cheltenham in the UK, we have a massive horse racing festival for the Gold Cup every March at Cheltenham Racecourse (aka the home of jumps racing). This year, we have just finished Race Week which ran from 12th-15th March. It is a HUGE deal and people come from all across the UK and Ireland to be here. The Irish contingent and representation during this week is massive and due to the proximity of the event being close to the 17th March, the Thursday of the meeting is always known as St. Patrick’s Thursday! There’s always a lot of Guinness hats floating around and the atmosphere in town is buzzing! To add to this, the Saturday after the Gold Cup (i.e. yesterday!) is usually always the final day of the Rugby Union Six Nations tournament and is known as Super Saturday where all 6 teams (one being Ireland) play in three back-to-back matches. It literally takes up the whole afternoon and evening.

So I always associate St. Patrick’s Day with my two favourite sports! It’s quite a bust time with lots of atmosphere and excitement around the area I live in!

Do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? What traditions do you normally participate in? If you feel like having your own go at this fun tag then consider yourself tagged!! As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

Biblioshelf Musings – If I Have To Be Haunted by Miranda Sun

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Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about If I Have To Be Haunted by Miranda Sun. I’ve been chugging through a few standalones recently and this YA fantasy was both spooky and sweet. If you love a straightforward, linear plot with wide-ranging yet descriptive world-building, then If I Have To Be Haunted may be right up your street. Read on to find out more in my spoiler-free review!

Book: If I Have To Be Haunted by Miranda Sun
Genre: YA / Fantasy
Publication Date: September 2023
Publisher: HarperTeen / Magpie
Pages: 371
Rating: 📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Your first love will always haunt you…

The most haunting, heartwarming debut of 2023. Perfect for fans of strong female leads and supernatural stakes in Buffy, with all the sweetness and romance of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.

Cara’s just trying to stay on top of all her classes, excel at her extracurriculars, and prepare for college – which means not speaking to the dead, an ability she inherited from her grandmother. Ghosts are trouble, and Cara doesn’t need to add their problems to her own.

But then she stumbles upon the body of Zach – the super popular but very newly dead high school golden boy – in the woods, and guess what? He wants her to resurrect him.

Cue trouble.

Miranda Sun’s debut touches on the power and conflicts in a mother-daughter love, first romance – and finding your place in the world while honouring your culture. Full of heart, humour and thrills, If I Have to be Haunted will put a spell on you.

My Musings

If I Have To Be Haunted centres around ghost-speaker Cara, who attempts to resurrect her high school enemy Zach who has been turned into a ghost. Their mission, much like the entirety of the plot, is pretty linear and straightforward. The quest they embark upon plays out almost like a video game. Each stage of their journey through the liminal world is like a gaming level with a mini-boss at the end to either defeat or escape. They pick up a sidekick along the way whose assistance is integral to the overall outcome of the plot and when they reach the culmination of their journey, sacrifices must be made and truths come out.

On the one hand this overarching plot is quite simplistic – our characters mainly have the one goal to achieve. However, due to the number of different settings and locations they visit, the whole story ended up feeling a bit choppy and jumpy. This did enable me to read through each chapter fairly quickly, but personally I don’t think I ever really got my teeth stuck into the novel.

What I did love about all of these hoppy sections, was that it felt like we were getting a tiny glimpse into Miranda Sun’s amazingly creative brain. Each setting is described in wondrously vivid details. She creates exceptional atmospheres to match each of the liminal thresholds she has designed, whether these are tropical rainforest-style settings with a multitude of flora and fauna, or whether they are ghostly fogs pits with creatures who have the ability to make you see the thing you desire most in the world. Transporting the reader to the various settings of her novel is definitely one of Miranda Sun’s strengths and it was by far my favourite aspect of the whole book.

The mother/daughter relationship was well executed for a YA novel. We got to feel the tension and strain in the relationship between Cara and her mother. As a Chinese American, Cara had to strike the right balance between her mother’s high expectations, her destiny as a ghost-speaker and her own sense of self-identity being a young girl still in high school.

The romance element was fairly light and predictable. Although it came across as quite saccharine at times, I couldn’t help but have a smile on my face during Zach’s scenes. His personality is endearing and grew on me more and more with each chapter. It also brought an air of comedy to the story.

On the whole, I enjoyed my read of If I Have To Be Haunted. Several times, I had to remind myself that this was a YA book. It definitely fits within that genre due to the linear style of the plot and the PG romance and horror vibes. There’s no doubt that Miranda Sun is a tremendously talented writer. She created so many dreamy worldscapes within the one novel, that I’m actually a little jealous that we didn’t get to explore them in more depth. If you’re after a rather light, ghostly fantasy with a charming little hint of enemies to lovers on the side, then If I Have To Be Haunted may be your perfect TBR pick!

Connect with me here:

Twitter | Goodreads | Book Sloth: @thebiblioshelf |Email: thebiblioshelf@gmail.com

Happy Pi Day! STEM Representations in Books!

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Happy Pi Day Bibliofriends,

March 14th is Pi Day (3.14) – a day to celebrate all things Mathematics! At the school I teach at, we are celebrating by merging Mathematics and Literacy together by holding our inaugural Pi Poetry Competition. This merging together of two fairly opposing subjects got me thinking about the importance of Maths and STEM representations in books. This week is also British Science Week across the UK so I thought this was the perfect time to share some of my favourite books which have STEM representations! [Book synopses taken from Goodreads]

To Best the Boys by Mary Weber

From the patriarchy to the science representations and medicinal references, this was a YA fantasy which really made me champion Rhen’s character!

The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart

I loved how Andrea Stewart created such a motivated and intelligent protagonist in Lin. The bone shard magic interwoven in the pages of this story was so brilliantly crafted and explained that it gave me a real buzz whilst reading. You can read my review of The Bone Shard Emperor here.

This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria

Ancient Greece meets Artificial Intelligence in This Golden Flame. I loved Alix’s character and although I’m not a huge fan of a.i. related things, I really grew to love his character and the way his sense of conscience was portrayed throughout the story. Check out my review for it here!

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

I have so much love for this series! I found it really interesting how Michael Crichton blended coding and genetics with dinosaurs and an eccentric man who thought it would be a brilliant idea to bring them back to life! Crichton breaks down the technical aspects behind the science and translates it in a way which is easy for a wide range of readers to enjoy!

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

This book ventures into the physiology of women actually turning into dragons and I absolutely fell in love with it when I first listened to the audiobook last year! We hear snippets and extracts from a Professor who is studying the morphology of women into dragons with adds a slightly educational feel to this brilliant work of fiction.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Where the Crawdads Sing was one of those books that I picked up purely for the hype, but ended up loving with every bit of my bookish soul. The descriptions of the marsh and references to the habits and survival instincts of the creatures that dwell within really showcased the legacy and work of Delia Owens. It’s a must read for any nature lover!

Do you have any STEM based book recommendations? Will you be celebrating Pi Day with your favourite book and pie combo? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

Biblioshelf Musings – This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria

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Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria. If I’m being perfectly honest, the reason I picked up this book was because it has been sat on my TBR shelf for so long and I needed to clear out a bit of space. Also, being a YA SFF standalone was a bonus as it meant I wasn’t in danger of adding any sequels to my ever-expanding TBR. Read on to find out more in my spoiler-free review!

Book: This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria
Genre: Science Fiction / Fantasy / YA
Publication Date: February 2021
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Pages: 383
Rating: 📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Orphaned and forced to serve her country’s ruling group of scribes, Karis wants nothing more than to find her brother, long ago shipped away. But family bonds don’t matter to the Scriptorium, whose sole focus is unlocking the magic of an ancient automaton army.

In her search for her brother, Karis does the seemingly impossible—she awakens a hidden automaton. Intelligent, with a conscience of his own, Alix has no idea why he was made. Or why his father—their nation’s greatest traitor—once tried to destroy the automatons.

Suddenly, the Scriptorium isn’t just trying to control Karis; it’s hunting her. Together with Alix, Karis must find her brother…and the secret that’s held her country in its power for centuries.

My Musings

This Golden Flame blends Ancient Greece history with Artificial Intelligence exceptionally well. The story is told is told through the split narratives of Karis and Alix and each of their viewpoints offer differing glimpses to the world around them.

Karis is practically enslaved as a member of the Scriptorium – classical Greek architecture and columns surround her and references to her himation really put you in the mindset of Ancient Greece. Whilst her values and motives come across quite strongly, I found her to be a little nondescript throughout the first half to two thirds of the story. She seems to be a character that despite being driven to find her long lost brother, seems to have lost her way herself. I found her quite difficult to warm to until she had forged relationships with other characters in the story.

Alix on the other hand was a brilliant character. Without stereotyping Automatons, I couldn’t help but see him as a cross between C-3PO and David from the film A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Emotions pour out him, all over his dialogue which I found incredibly intriguing considering he is meant to be programmed and without conscience. I loved seeing his perspective on the world and the vulnerabilities he exuded made him an endearing character.

When we first come across Karis (who is on a mission to discover the whereabouts of her long lost brother), we see her attempting to wield runic magic. The introduction of this plot device, paves the way for the central themes of manipulation and control which are integral to the whole story. Runes are used to unlock buildings, automatons are carved with runes which feature as their main operating instructions and they are even used as a way to try and control the rebels within society. The idea of authority and having power over people or automatons is driven by the usage of runes and this compelling and poignant convention was really hammered home through the voices of the characters and the overarching plot. Bear in mind, this being YA fiction, we don’t delve too far into the nitty-gritty of sentient rights and politics, however Emily Victoria balances these points really well with the whole tone of her story.

The pace was pretty steady throughout. There was enough action to keep pushing the story forwards and character relationships were driven at an appropriate rate and in enough detail. By the ending of the story, things become a gradually more tense as we head towards the final showdown. All-in-all, events were concluded satisfactorily with no major twists or surprises. The resolution gives enough closure over the futures of the characters which is exactly what I need from a YA standalone. Overall, the main enjoyment factor for me in This Golden Flame was the balance of the ancient and the futuristic. It’s quite a unique concept that I haven’t yet come across in the rest of my readings and made for an entertaining read.

Connect with me here:

Twitter | Goodreads | Book Sloth: @thebiblioshelf |Email: thebiblioshelf@gmail.com

#Top Ten Tuesday – Books I’m Worried I Won’t Love As Much The Second Time Around

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Hey Bibliofriends,

Happy Tuesday! How is your week going so far? This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is the Top Ten Books I’m Worried I Won’t Love As Much The Second Time Around. To sort out this list, I decided to start with my 5* rated books on Goodreads and consider if I read it again, would I still give it that same rating… I primarily chose books that I looked at and went, “I gave that 5 stars?!” After that, I considered books whose plots I couldn’t fully remember, or ones when all of the ending and suspense has been ruined because I already know what’s coming next!

If you don’t already know, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly, list-themed book prompt hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

  1. Enduring Love by Ian McEwan – For some reason, I must have been so swept up in the sadness of this story to give in 5*. However, I’m not totally sure I could actually tell you what happens in it if you asked me to summarise the plot…
  2. Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks – I remember reading this as part of our A-Level English coursework. At the time, I think I was carried away with the sadness of it amongst all of the other war literature we were reading at the time. I wonder if I’d feel the same way about it all these years later after reading so many other precious books.
  3. American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis – I can’t for the life of me wonder why I gave this 5*, perhaps because it was so brutal and it shocked me into it? I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s one of those cheerful, enjoying reads! 😂
  4. The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo – I have no memory of this book which makes me quite sad as I love Leigh Bardugo’s writing so much!
  5. The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles – Another tragic story?! Maybe I was just going through a particular phase in my life when reading some of these books and giving them 5* ratings – or maybe it was the Meryl Streep factor!
  6. The Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth – In my introduction to YA lit, I was hyped over this trilogy, I’m not sure if I’d still feel the same way about revisiting it now, especially after the release of the films as well.
  7. Labyrinth by Kate Mosse – Remembering back to my first read of this book, I think I had to get to around p.400 of 700 just to get hooked into it. I wonder if I did a reread whether I’d have the patience to stick it out for that long again or whether it would be a rare DNF!
  8. Lethal White by Robert Galbraith – If I read this again, I’m not sure I’d give it a full 5* rating – and I already know whodunnit so it won’t come as too much of a shock.
  9. Everless by Sara Holland – I was so bowled over by the concept of blood relating to time in this novel. I remember feeling a little let down by the sequel so perhaps I wouldn’t love this first book so much knowing that the follow-up isn’t as great.
  10. How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black – Another book that I’m a little sad to add to this list. I love The Folk of the Air trilogy so much and I can’t fully remember what happened in this.

That’s it! My Top Ten books which I’m worried I might not love as much the second time round. Have you read any of these selections? Which books are you a little daunted to read again for fear that you may not love it as much? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx