Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday! Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, this week is Books With [ ] On The Cover. I have decided to choose main characters. I like it when the main characters are on the front cover in the middle of a scene. I think it helps to bring the blurb of the book to life.
“book blog”, “don’t miss out”, “entertaining”, “top 10 books with characters on the cover”, “book reviews”,”popular books of 2022″, “romance”, “thriller”, “mystery”, “fantasy”, “dystopian”, “humour”, “popular books on social media”, “what book is everyone reading”, “what books do you recommend”, “what book should I read next”
It’s Six For Sunday! Hosted by A Little But A Lot, this week’s prompt is books to get people out of reading slumps. Whilst I have done one of these posts in the past (What Books Should I Read To Get Me Out Of A Reading Slump), I have since read some more excellent books so here is my updated version:
“book”, “read”, “book review”, “book blog”,”recommended”, “easy read”, “don’t miss out”, “fiction”, “entertaining”, “what should I read to get out of my reading slump”
“Seattle was full of monsters. I’m not talking about the petty criminals, drug dealers, and other miscellaneous jerks that flooded the streets every day. No, I’m talking about real-life, stuff-of-nightmares monsters – but these weren’t confined to the midnight recesses of the mind”
Genre: Y/A Fantasy
Number of Pages: 234
Date of Publication:4 March 2022
Publisher:Riverside Press LLC
Rated:5/5
My Review Summary: A gripping tale full of action and magic.
📖PLOT SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS📖
Seattle is full of monsters, and I’m the only one who can see them.
I’ve spent the last 17 years (AKA my whole life) pretending I can’t see the monsters who disguise themselves as humans. I may not have a place to live and my best friend may be moments away from getting in too deep with the city’s most dangerous drug lord, but I’m rolling with the status quo.
That is, until I save my arch enemy’s stupid life and find myself in a warehouse full of monsters.
Next thing I know, I’m in Monster Land (AKA not Seattle) and up to my ears in monsters, magic, and inevitable mayhem. If I want to get home, I have to join a band of revolutionaries and stay alive long enough to get back through the portal before war breaks out.
This’ll be a cinch.
Sparks and Shadow is a modern, action-packed YA portal fantasy featuring Fae mythology, magic, and slow-burn romance. This is the first book in the Rising Elements series.
💭THOUGHTS💭
I saw this come up on Random Things Blog Tour and I had to put my name down. I have recently got back into fantasy and I am pleased to say that it didn’t disappoint. It was a gripping fantasy tale and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
The writing was clear and engaging and I struggled to put it down! The story was told from the main character’s point of view. You were privy to her thoughts and feelings throughout and were taken on the journey through her eyes.
The description was excellent, you could really feel yourself there in Faery land. There was a good mix of description and conversation between the characters to give the story depth and a good pace. Nothing felt rushed and it gave you a chance to explore the surroundings with the main character.
The individual characters were gradually introduced at the beginning of the story. You got to know them through cleverly placed conversations and interactions with the main character. I loved the friendships that grew throughout the story and felt that whilst they were a side line to what was going on, it added some warmth to the story. All the characters clearly had their own sad stories to tell, so it was nice to see the bonds of friendship that had occurred after their experiences.
The characters themselves were complex and together made for interesting reading. I enjoyed being on the journey with the main character and seeing the relationships between them all. Some relationships were better than others, but there was positivity and happiness that was nice to read. There were some emotional scenes and every character had obviously had some trauma in their life which made you feel sorry for them and hope that they had a happy ending.
I enjoyed reading about the main character Everly, and Shadow, and want to see where their relationship ends up. It was quite up and down in the book and made for tense reading at times!
The chapters were a decent length and were often split into sections. This meant that you were given a good chunk of the story before moving onto another part. There were little cliff hangers at the end of the chapters which made me want to carry on reading. There was a good pace to the story with lots of different things being weaved in and brought together to keep the reader’s interest.
Even though the story wasn’t overly long, a lot of detail, action and emotion was packed in. It was written in such a way though that I didn’t at any point feel overwhelmed with everything.
Lastly the settings. There were some lovely descriptions – who doesn’t want to be transported to a Faery land once in a while?! There was a good mix of description and conversation, however towards the end the description grew less and we were more focussed on the characters and what they were trying to achieve. This made sure that the right bits were being focussed on by the reader, yet still giving the story depth.
The book was cleverly left open for the next one in the series. There were some questions left unanswered, but not enough that you felt short changed. It makes you want to read the next one in the series.
Overall an enjoyable read and one that I would recommend to fantasy fans!
⭐Rated 5/5⭐
About the Author
“Seattle is full of monsters, and I’m the only one who can see them.
I’ve spent the last 17 years (AKA my whole life) pretending I can’t see the monsters who disguise themselves as humans. I may not have a place to live and my best friend may be moments away from getting in too deep with the city’s most dangerous drug lord, but I’m rolling with the status quo.
That is, until I save my arch enemy’s stupid life and find myself in a warehouse full of monsters.
Next thing I know, I’m in Monster Land (AKA not Seattle) and up to my ears in monsters, magic, and inevitable mayhem. If I want to get home, I have to join a band of revolutionaries and stay alive long enough to get back through the portal before war breaks out.
This’ll be a cinch. Sparks and Shadow is a modern, action-packed YA portal fantasy featuring Fae mythology, magic, and slow-burn romance. This is the first book in the Rising Elements series.”
Ceara Nobles is a Utah-based author of romantic suspense and fantasy novels. She graduated from the University of Utah in 2016 with a B.A. in Computer Animation, then realized she hated it. Now she spends her days juggling her side hustle as a line editor and her true love of authorship. When she’s not busy writing, you can find her chasing her toddler, road tripping with her hubby, or hiding in bed with a chai and a good book.
“Seattle is full of monsters, and I’m the only one who can see them.
I’ve spent the last 17 years (AKA my whole life) pretending I can’t see the monsters who disguise themselves as humans. I may not have a place to live and my best friend may be moments away from getting in too deep with the city’s most dangerous drug lord, but I’m rolling with the status quo.
That is, until I save my arch enemy’s stupid life and find myself in a warehouse full of monsters.
Next thing I know, I’m in Monster Land (AKA not Seattle) and up to my ears in monsters, magic, and inevitable mayhem. If I want to get home, I have to join a band of revolutionaries and stay alive long enough to get back through the portal before war breaks out.
This’ll be a cinch.
Sparks and Shadow is a modern, action-packed YA portal fantasy featuring Fae mythology, magic, and slow-burn romance. This is the first book in the Rising Elements series.”
I am on the Blog Tour for this book on 9 March so keep your eyes peeled for my review on here, Goodreads, Amazon, Instgram, Facebook and Twitter!
“In a new World War II-set story from the bestselling author of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir, four women compete for a spot hosting a wartime cookery program called The Kitchen Front – based on the actual BBC program of the same name – as well as a chance to better their lives.
Two years into WW2, Britain is feeling her losses; the Nazis have won battles, the Blitz has destroyed cities, and U-boats have cut off the supply of food. In an effort to help housewives with food rationing, a BBC radio program called The Kitchen Front is putting on a cooking contest–and the grand prize is a job as the program’s first-ever female co-host. For four very different women, winning the contest presents a crucial chance to change their lives.
For a young widow, it’s a chance to pay off her husband’s debts and keep a roof over her children’s heads. For a kitchen maid, it’s a chance to leave servitude and find freedom. For the lady of the manor, it’s a chance to escape her wealthy husband’s increasingly hostile behavior. And for a trained chef, it’s a chance to challenge the men at the top of her profession.
These four women are giving the competition their all–evebn if that sometimes means bending the rules. But with so much at stake, will the contest that aims to bring the community together serve only to break it apart?”
I am on the Blog Tour for this book on 7 March so keep your eyes peeled for my review on here, Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
A Gallery of Mothers by J S Latshaw
Yes, I am still on this book. There was an issue with Blog Tour books arriving, which has resulted in a backlog and therefore slower progress with this book. I am still enjoying this book though and am looking forward to carrying on with it this weekend!
The Maid by Nita Prose
Book Description From Goodreads:
“Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by.
Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life’s complexities all by herself. No matter—she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection.
But Molly’s orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows what’s happening, Molly’s unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black—but will they be able to find the real killer before it’s too late?
A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and a heartwarming journey of the spirit, The Maid explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different—and reveals that all mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart.”
I have been looking forward to reading this one for ages and am hoping that this weekend I will finally get to make a start on it!
It’s Time Travel Thursday! This is where I take a look back at what I was reading this time last year (or the year before or the year before that…) and compare it to what I am reading now.
This day in 2021 I was reading:
The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe
Book Description From Goodreads:
“.. Rue Morgue” is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe first published in “Graham’s Magazine” in 1841. It has been recognized as the first modern detective story; Poe referred to it as one of his tales of “ratiocination,” his concept of analyzing a fictional crime to find the resolution. Brand new idea in its day.
Poe’s amateur detective, C. Auguste Dupin, takes an interest in the murder in Paris of two women. It was terribly brutal but difficult to categorize; there appeared to be no robbery or sexual assault, no obvious reason for the crimes. The newspapers carried sensational headlines. Dupin gets involved because the man arrested for the crimes, Monsieur Le Bon, had previously done him a favour. It becomes a challenge to Dupin.
Get set for a step back in the history of detective fiction that leaves the impression that it was written just a short while ago.”
My review from Goodreads:
I read this as part of a Future Learn course. It is seen as the original murder mystery story with the super intelligent detective. Whilst it is a short story it kept my interest with little bits of information being added throughout. It has a Holmes, Watson vibe, however the ‘answer’ at the end is surprising and not something that I would expect from a modern day murder mystery. It was interesting to read a murder mystery written by an early 19th Century author.
Rated 4/5
Fast Forward To Today:
A Gallery of Mothers by J S Latshaw
I was asked by the Author to read this second book in the series. I am enjoying it so far!
Crow Court by Andy Charman (click for Goodreads)
I am on the Blog Tour for this book on 1 March 2022 so keep your eyes peeled for my review on here, Amazon, Goodreads, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!
As you can see very different genres. From Classic Murder Mystery to Fantasy/Dystopian and Historical Fiction! I have enjoyed reading a wide range of genres since starting my blog back in June last year.
What were you reading this time last year or the year before (or the year before!)?
This weekend I will be reading more of A Gallery of Mothers by J S Latshaw. I am currently 23% of the way through. I had hoped to be nearly finished, but it isn’t to be. I didn’t get a chance to read it yesterday as the storm knocked out our power (and I am reading this on my phone!). I hope to make a bigger dent in it over the weekend.
Books can transport us anywhere and not just to one place. In my January monthly wrap up I named the main places where my books took me, but what about all those places in-between? This ad hoc post is all about highlighting those little places.
I am currently reading A Gallery of Mothers by J S Latshaw and I am in a city hundreds of years before what was left of humanity had to escape from the Threat Below. I am currently reading from the point of view of the daughter of the man who ‘made’ the Threat Below as she is fleeing the city.
Based on what you are currently reading where are you?
My Review Summary: A gripping Christmas read which is full of suspense.
📖PLOT SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS📖
A long-dead child.An artist who paints the fae.An ancient estate on a blood-filled land. The commission was close to Amelia’s dream: a cosy cottage in Donegal over Christmas and the chance to paint the beautiful Glenveagh estate. But when the weather closes in and the country shuts down, a ritual begins – one that traps Amelia in its circles of magic.
Stranded in a place where iron is power, her heart can no longer be trusted and the land itself is a weapon, Amelia’s survival depends on unravelling the truth of a decades-old death. Even if it draws the same ancient danger to herself.
💭THOUGHTS💭
I loved this book. I was after something Christmassy to read, but not the typical romance/see the error of your ways type storyline, and this book popped up on Random Things Tours as a December Tour. I jumped at the chance to read it and I am glad that I did.
The writing had me gripped right from the start. It was easy to read and pulled me in straight away. It was quite a scary read at times, full of suspense and with cliff hangers at the end of every chapter!
The chapters interestingly had titles which gave you an idea of what the next part of the story was going to entail. I think that this added to the suspense and the tension as whilst you were forewarned, you still didn’t quite know where the chapter was going to take you!
Each chapter was short and focussed on either an individual character or a couple of characters to get their view on what was happening to them in that moment. It was an excellent way to gradually piece together the story, whilst creating the little cliff hangers which eventually all came together at the end of the book. It made you want to keep reading and I was constantly on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next!
I liked the characters and the way that you couldn’t quite trust any of them. At some points during the book you were on their side then something happened to make you question them! All of them had their own secrets, which as they gradually unfolded you weren’t sure who to trust. At the end of the book I was still left puzzled over Robert and his true intentions.
The settings in this book were brilliant, Christmassy and scary all at the same time. I loved the way that the weather echoed what was going on and really added to the fear that the characters (and subsequently you as the reader) felt! What was also clever was that the settings were only lightly described, and it was actually the conversation and actions of the characters in that setting that truly immersed you and really brought the story to life.
At the end of the story was an epilogue so you got to have a sneak peek into what their future held. I sometimes feel that a story isn’t quite finished without one so this was a nice bonus to end the story on.
Overall I loved the suspense, the characters, the settings and the way that it was written. I highly recommend reading this book especially if you are a fan of fantasy and thriller.
“book”, “read”, “book review”, “book blog”,”recommended”, “easy read”, “don’t miss out”, “christmas”,”thriller”, “fantasy”, “reading slump”, “what should I read next”, “what book do you recommend”
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