Tag: rapid reviews

Hi everyone,

I’m back with some more reviews today, and I’ve actually almost caught up, can you believe it?!

The Devouring Gray

I really liked the sound of TDG and was looking forward to getting stuck into this one. It’s got witches and magic, a fairly prevalent theme in books this year as I’ve read a few witchy-type books in recent months. I enjoyed The Devouring Gray, it was a fairly quick read too. Recommended if you like YA-ish witchy kinda books!

Throne of Glass

Throne of Glass had been on my kindle for months, if not years, and I was in dire need of some sort of fantasy book that would grab my attention. ToG definitely managed to do the job. I really like the characters, and it’s a decent start to a series for sure. Calaena Sardothien vies to become the King’s Champion while there are darker forces working against her in this one. I really enjoyed this book. It’s got just enough to keep you reading, while dropping enough hints so that you have to continue on with the series. I’m moving onto book four now, and my husband is on book six! Definitely recommended!

Dark Shores

I’m a sucker for all things nautical, so when you add in fantasy I can’t really say no. Dark Shores had so much promise for me, and while it’s good, I didn’t love it like I had hoped I would when I started reading it. Interesting premise, good characters, but there wasn’t enough to hold my interest completely. That being said, I would still recommend it, because there are elements there that definitely work.

Extinction Trials: Rebel

I really liked this series of books. To be fair, I was gutted knowing that this was going to be the last one I would read. It really is a cross between The Hunger Games and Jurassic Park, just a really fun read. It’s bittersweet reading Rebel, but I absolutely loved the world building for this series. The characters are fantastic, and the premise is such a unique one that makes it really hard to tear yourself away. I’d definitely recommend this book, this whole series actually!

Wolfhunter River

These books are the equivalent of a bag of crisps for me! Once I start, I can’t stop, and Wolfhunter River kept me reading from the very start. I have enjoyed all three books in this series. The character development is great and I like how each book keeps the threads from the previous books going. Wolfhunter River is a compulsive and engaging thriller, and I can’t wait to see what Rachel Caine brings us next!

Truthwitch

I had Truthwitch on my TBR for far too long, so I had to bump it up the pile earlier this year. It was SO GOOD. I have been meaning to get to the next two, but alas, time hasn’t been my friend. I absolutely loved this book. The premise was so interesting, and the characters were just brilliant. LOVED IT!

Heart of Mist

Heart of Mist is another book I’ve had on my TBR for a while and I finally got to it this year. Its a solid start to a series. An interesting premise and good characters kept me reading. While I wasn’t blown away by it, I was still intrigued and I’ve grabbed the next in the series because I need to know what happens next!

The Priory of the Orange Tree

This was a tome, a freaking TOME of a book and not one single page of this book was wasted. I absolutely loved The Priory of the Orange Tree. It is a truly epic fantasy, rich in imagery and with brilliantly drawn characters. The story is captivating, beautiful, dark, it is EVERYTHING. One of the best fantasy novels I have read in a long time. Cannot recommend it highly enough.

The Truth About Keeping Secrets

The Truth About Keeping Secrets is one of those multi-layered books, the kind that just pull you in until you realise you’ve nearly finished the book. I enjoyed it, and it kept my interest the whole way through. An intriguing book and definitely one to add to your list if secrets and lies are your bookish bread and butter!

Killman Creek

Following on from the events of Stillhouse Lake, Killman Creek picks up in the aftermath. I binge read this series because it was so utterly compelling. I had to keep reading, I had to find out what was going on, I JUST NEEDED TO KNOW!!!! I’m a huge lover of US-based crime thrillers and this series satisfies that need. Thoroughly enjoyed this one!

The True Queen

The True Queen is a beautifully-imagined fantasy, rich in detail and imagery and with a really diverse cast of characters. Its an absorbing and engaging read, and it almost reminds me of The Invisible Library series of books by Genevieve Cogman. If you enjoy fantasy with stunning desccriptive writing, then definitely add The True Queen to your TBR.

The Ruin

I don’t tend to read much Irish crime fiction, but being a Galway girl, I just had to bump The Ruin up my TBR. I ended up blasting through this book. The setting was really well used, and I found myself nodding along with places I recognised. This is the first in a series, and it is a cracking start. I really enjoyed it. Clever plot, good characters and pacing made this book a great read. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Recommended for sure!

Don’t You Forget About Me

Don’t You Forget About Me is another fabulously relatable book from Mhairi McFarlane and I couldn’t put it down once I started reading it. It’s got all of the ingredients for rom-com gold. Endearing characters, a will they/won’t they scenario, laughs and some emotional bits too. It was a really easy read. It was warm, funny but completely down to earth too. Highly recommend this one!

Girls of Paper and Fire

I had seen Girls of Paper and Fire all over social media, so I requested it from my library to read. After a bit of a wait, I got stuck in and I was hooked. At times dark and brutal, Girls of Paper and Fire is a thoroughly absorbing book. Excellent characters, a dastardly feel in there too, and a gripping plot. I really enjoyed this one, and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

This Cruel Design

I loved This Mortal Coil so it’s safe to say I was looking forward to catching up with the characters in This Cruel Design. While it took me a bit of time to get into it, once the story really got going I couldn’t put it down. This series is brilliantly dystopian, with real scientific edge. Definitely recommended!

Stillhouse Lake

I had seen the hype around this series when it was first released, so naturally I grabbed a copy for myself. Fast forward to this year (when book THREE) came out, that’s when I decided to pick up Stillhouse Lake. Talk about a thrill ride. I was hooked from the very beginning, caught up in the drama, absorbed in the characters. I loved it so much that I went on to read the following two books in the series in quick succession. If you enjoy fast paced thrillers, then I would definitely suggest adding these books to your TBR!

Wildcard

After reading Warcross and really enjoying it, I was eager to get my hands on the follow up. Wildcard was as good as I was hoping for. It continues on from the events at the end of Warcross (I won’t say what happens, just that you should read it before you pick up this one) and we catch up with Emika and her crew. There is lots going on, and there is a definite Ready Player One vibe here. I really like the world that Wildcard is set in, and the characters are excellent. If you’re a fan of techo/gaming thrillers, then you need to add these books to your TBR!

Every Day

I loved the concept of Every Day. Imagine waking up every day in a different body, having to acclimatise to that particular person’s life. No two days are the same, and its up to you how you go through the day. I haven’t read a book like this before, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The premise is unique, and I found myself really rooting for the main character, A. A quirky and unusual read, Every Day was a great departure from my usual books. Definitely recommended!

Holding Up The Universe

I had this on my TBR for a while and then Liz from Liz Loves Books said I should bump it up. I am so glad I did. This was a gem of a book, full of heart and emotion. It is quietly hopeful and it has a beautiful story. I’m still thinking about it months later. Highly recommended!

Caraval

I had tried to read Caraval before, but I just couldn’t get into it. I picked it up again this year, and obviously I was ready for it this time. Once I started it, I was hooked. I liked the magic, the characters, the story. I found it really easy to get into it and I got lost in the story. I hadn’t even finished it before I requested Legendary from the library. Always a good sign!

The Alchemist’s Secret

I have quite a few of these on my kindle to read, so I picked up the first in the series earlier this year. It introduces Ben Hope, an ex-SAS soldier still reeling from tragedy in his past. Hope gets called in to search for an old manuscript that contains the recipe for the elixir of life. You have to suspend your belief a little for these, but it fun. Almost Dan Brown-esque in its capers. A promising start to a series, recommended for sure!

The Queen’s Wing

I had been looking for something fantasy-related and The Queen’s Wing seemed like a great place to start. Part space-opera, part fantasy, it was a really interesting mix. I liked the space fighter pilot idea and it meshed well with the fantasy world-building. The Queen’s Wing was a nice, easy read. It had a decent plot and I liked the characters.

The Lost Plot

The Invisible Library series is such a great series of books to get lost in. The world-building is exceptional, and the characters are brilliant. I have really enjoyed following Irene and Kai as they navigate different worlds and try to save priceless library volumes. This one is set in Prohibition era New York and it was packed with action. Dragaons aplenty made this one a super fun read. Can’t recommend this series enough!

The Bear and The Nightingale

I had been dying to read The Bear and the Nightingale for ages so I was delighted when the library were able to get a copy for me. This was a really magical and atmospheric read. Rich in visual imagery, gorgeous prose and a really intricate story made this one a great read. Highly recommended for sure.

The One Who’s Not The One

Keris Stainton’s books are highly relatable, and The One Who’s Not The One is another great read. I found this one really funny, heartwarming and a really easy read. I’ve enjoyed all of her books, but I think this one was my favourite. It was relevant, witty and full of characters with real heart. Definitely recommended!

Hey everyone,

I had great plans for getting in some blogging time recently, but as I’ve learned, it doesn’t always work out the way you planned it. I have a MASSIVE backlog of reviews to catch up on. At last count, it was 51… Yes, FIFTY ONE. Some of these are my own books, and of course, there are ARC reviews in here too. SO re-instating the RR posts is definitely necessary to get through them all.

I’ve just checked when I read these four books, and I am ashamed to say these are languishing in my drafts since January. That is 6 whole months ago. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!

The Cow Book by John Connell

I would never have seen this were it not for the Rick O’Shea Book Club on Facebook! I don’t tend to read books set in Ireland, but I liked the idea of this one. It’s the story of John’s life as he returns home to take care of his family farm. It details the usual daily grind, but John also discusses his mental health and I found that to be the most poignant take away from The Cow Book. It is a quiet exploration of his life, but it speaks volumes. Recommended for sure.

55 by James Delargy

I read the premise for 55 and thought it sounded like it would be a really great crime story. It follows the events after a man presents himself to a police station saying he’s escaped from a serial killer. A killer who has apparently had 54 victims prior to him. When another man appears and says the exact same thing, but that the first man is the killer, it becomes a game of cat and mouse to find the truth. 55 has a clever plot, and if you like twisty crime thrillers, the this is definitely one to add to your list!

One In A Million by Lindsey Kelk

One in a Million is definitely a book geared towards current social media trends. It’s basically about making a complete unknown become Insta-famous in thirty days. I really enjoyed this one. It’s funny, romantic and very relevant.

The Invitation by Keris Stainton

I was muchly in need of some light-hearted and fun reads earlier this year, and it’s safe to say Keris Stainton’s books where exactly what I needed. The characters in this book are great, relatable, warm, funny. It was a really easy story to read and connect with, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

It Had To Be You by Keris Stainton

This one is more quirky than The Invitation. The main character, Bea, has a recurring dream about (literally) the man of her dreams. When she ends up meeting him in real life, they end up dating. Things don’t always go the way we planned though, and It Had To Be You shows how different things can be. I didn’t love this one as much as her others, but it was a good read!

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That’s it for this group of reviews! But rest assured, seeing as how I have 50+ reviews to do, there will be more coming!

Until next time 🙂