Books Read: 12
Pages Read: 3876
Average Rating: 4.25/5
Night Study – Maria V Snyder 5/5
Dawn Study – Maria V Snyder 4/5
I first heard of the Study/Soulfinder series through Regan over on booktube. These final books were great, but I don’t want to give any of the plot away! It contains lots of magic, politics and unique characters.
Autumn – Ali Smith 4/5
This is the first in a seasonal quartet, and the first I have read of Ali Smith. It is literary fiction, which really is all about the words and phrases. It follows Daniel, an elderly man, and Elizabeth, a young woman, who first met during her childhood. Through flashbacks and perspectives of both characters their story unfolds. But it’s hard to explain what this book is about. It speaks of art, politics, family, time etc. I enjoyed it for the words, and it was a welcome change in genre!
The Hate U Give – Angie Thomas 4/5
This book has been highly praised, yet I wasn’t planning on reading it until I noticed it at the library. It focuses on America’s Black Lives Matter movement, as the main character (sixteen-year-old, African-American Starr) sees a friend shot by police seemingly on the basis of his skin colour. It was insightful and heart-breaking, opening my eyes to the reality of racism in the modern day. The characters are fictional, but they tell a real story that needs to be heard.
The Remnant Chronicles – Mary E Pearson 5/5
I loved this YA fantasy trilogy, giving each of the books 5 stars. In The Kiss of Deception, we meet Princess Lia who runs away from an arranged marriage. She is then pursued by the man she was intended to marry and an assassin. Lia and the reader are left in the dark about who is who, until two-thirds of the way through. It’s full of mystery, with hints of magic and romance. Books 2 and 3 contain conflict between characters and kingdoms, where motives are concealed and Lia seeks to bring peace no matter the cost. It’s a wonderfully engrossing series told from multiple perspectives. I loved that Lia is your not-so-typical Princess.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane – Neil Gaiman 3/5
This short book was bizarre, yet Gaiman drew me in with his words. A middle-aged man reflects on certain events from his childhood, with the story being told from his seven-year-old point of view. The experiences are set in our world, yet there were themes of magic woven in, though within quite a dark context. I didn’t love the plot, as it was quite odd, but I loved reading from the child’s perspective and thought this was really well done.
The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender – Leslye Walton 4/5
Another short magical realism novel which had beautiful writing! This story covers a few generations of Ava’s family, telling of the odd things that happened during their lives, and then in hers, from Ava’s point of view. Ava is born with wings. The book explores themes of freedom, death and love as the stories of Ava’s ancestors are told. She lives with her mother and grandmother and we see how the present is shaped by the past, and how there might be hope for change in the future.
Eliza and her Monsters – Francesca Zappia 5/5
Ah, this book was amazing!! Favourite of the month for sure. Eliza anonymously writes one of the most popular web comics, yet in her real life is socially isolated and a bit awkward. She meets Wallace, who writes fanfiction based on her comic, and is also pretty awkward. I love that this book celebrates geekiness, awkwardness and creativity. Eliza’s character is beautiful. I love her passion and self-awareness and that she grows in her ability to relate to others through her experiences.
Geekerella – Ashley Poston 3/5
This Cinderella retelling is set in the modern day, revolving around the Starfield fandom. Told from the perspectives of both Elle (a Starfield fan who lives with her stepmother and stepsisters) and Darien (an actor in the reboot of Starfield) we see their individual lives and then how they intertwine. It was an enjoyable and well-adapted retelling, but not one that has made a lasting impression.
Shadow and Bone – Leigh Bardugo 3/5
I am reading the Grisha trilogy mainly because I want to get to the Six of Crows duology, which is set in the same fantasy world. So I wasn’t expecting to be blown away this book. And I wasn’t, but it was different and more interesting than I had expected. The book focuses on Alina, who has grown up being nothing special, until it is revealed that she has a power which was unknown to her. She is now a Grisha with great expectations on her shoulders. A book of magic, darkness and romance.
Hoping you enjoyed your own September reading and find some gems in October!
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