This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books they’ve read and share what they have got up to during the last week.
It’s been a tough week. February is my least favourite month, anyway – it tends to be cold and gloomy, with the sense that the winter has dragged on forever. Add the fact that I’m now coping with the grief of losing my sister right at the end of 2023 and still being very run down after recently going down with covid again – it’s been grim.
No photos this week, I’m afraid. I simply haven’t been out of the house except for the school run and a couple of shopping trips. And even then, I’ve found it difficult to actually get out. I’m hoping that once the weather brightens up, so will my mood.
On the plus side – thank you so much for all your kind comments and sympathy. It’s been much appreciated – I keep hearing about the toxic effect of social media on the News, but I’m blessed to be part of a lovely community of kindly, caring people who are linked by our love of books. I’ve even received a wonderful care package of pens, bookmarks and a lovely uplifting little cross with a very comforting message by a fabulous blogging friend. It has provided a beacon of light at a dark time for me and my family.
I’ve also had a lovely reading week – and as you can see below, I’ve been doing a great deal of listening and reading as it has provided a much-needed escape. I simply don’t know how non-readers cope when Life doesn’t play fair – thank goodness for books and their lovely readers!
Books I’ve read this last week:
Wanderer’s Escape – Book 1 of the Wanderer’s Odyssey boxed set by Simon Goodson
Jess was born a prisoner, grew up a prisoner and at sixteen knew he would die a prisoner. When his turn comes to try to break through the traps protecting a spaceship it seems his day to die has come. The ship, and others like it, have already claimed the lives of hundreds of prisoners.
Instead he manages to avoid the traps and gain access to the ship with two other prisoners, beginning a frantic flight to freedom. Soon Jess finds himself loose in a brutal universe ruled by the Empire and riddled with pirates, slave traders and worse. Can Jess manage to learn the rules of the universe and the capabilities of the ship he has stolen in time to stay alive?
I quite enjoyed this one. While the characters aren’t particularly complex, the plot provides plenty of twists and the pace is fast with plenty of action. I bonded sufficiently with the main protagonists that I’m going to continue reading this series. 7/10
AUDIOBOOK – Don’t Stop Believing – Book 3 of the Midlife Mulligan series by Eve Langlais
I had it all. Awesome, blossoming business. A cute boyfriend who gave me butterflies. My kids living at home and reconnecting with me. Plus, I was a witch. There, I said it out loud. I’m a sorceress who can do magic. Not bad for a woman my age. I should have known better to get so cocky.
The other shoe dropped, bounced, and hit me in the face, then bounced again and whacked me in the shin. It proceeded to ricochet once more and— What should have been the most amazing night turns into a disaster. I’m crushed, in more ways than one.
When I recover, it’s to find my reality has shifted. My cat can speak. Some of the townsfolk appear to be possessed by demons, and I’m supposed to be sacrificed to free magic. Seriously? I just wanted my damned happily ever after. And I will fight to get it.
I’ll be honest, there were times during this series when I wanted to shake Naomi until her teeth rattled. But when it came to the crunch and everything turned upside down, she develops a spine and really fights for what she wants. The plot twist is a doozy – rarely has a long-running story been so completely turned on its head. It seems that readers fall into two camps – those that simply cannot accept it, or those that love it. I happen to fall into the latter camp and this is my favourite book of the series by far.
10/10
AUDIOBOOK – Dragon Tear – Book 5 of The Agents of the Crown series by Lindsay Buroker
Now that Jev is no longer obligated to marry a manipulative noblewoman, Zenia can finally pursue a relationship with him. But there’s something else she must deal with first. She’s learned that the magical dragon-tear gem she wears around her neck is linked to a living dragon, one that is being held prisoner and tortured.
Zenia owes her life several times over to the creature. She must set aside personal desires and lead a team to the distant and dangerous continent where the dragon is imprisoned. But it took someone – or something – very powerful to capture such a great creature in the first place. Zenia, Jev, and their friends may not have the magic or might necessary to free their scaled ally. If they fail, the dragon will be enslaved forever by a cruel master, and Zenia and Jev may never see their homeland again.
A real sense of menace pervades the quest to free the dragon in the final instalment of this entertaining series. As a result, I tore through it to ensure that Zenia manages to survive to live the life she so richly deserves. Once again, a pleasing balance of action and banter with plenty of plot twists in this swords and sorcery adventure that makes Buroker’s writing so very readable and morish. 9/10
AUDIOBOOK – Illuminations by T. Kingfisher
Rosa Mandolini knows in her heart that her family are the greatest painters of magical illuminations in the city. But the eccentric Studio Mandolini has fallen on hard times and the future is no longer certain.
While trying to help her family, Rosa discovers a strange magical box protected by a painted crow. But when she finds a way to open the box, she accidentally releases the Scarling, a vicious monster determined to destroy the Mandolini family at any cost.
With the aid of her former best friend and a painted crow named Payne, it’s up to Rosa to stop the Scarling before it unmakes the magical paintings that keep the city running, and hopefully save her family in the process!
This is apparently a middle-grade read. But Kingfisher’s adventures are far too good to be devoured by only the youngsters among us. This story was a thumping good listen and had me staying up far later than I should to hear the outcome. Very highly recommended. 10/10
Echoes of the Past – Book 2 of the Wanderer’s Odyssey boxed set by Simon Goodson
Freedom was only the start. The crew of the Wanderer face ever greater challenges as their journey continues. Knowing the Empire will hunt them down Jess and the others must seek help from another source.
Turning to the criminal underworld seems like their only option, but it soon threatens to end in disaster. Especially when past events return to haunt the present.
Will even the incredible Wanderer be enough to keep Jess, and those he cares about, safe?
This is the second book in this boxed set that I read this week to vary my rather urban fantasy-rich diet. I enjoyed this adventure even more than the first book – Goodson is nifty at throwing in unexpected plot twists and this time around there is a bit more depth to the characterisation. 8/10
AUDIOBOOK – Cetaganda – Book 9 of the Miles Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold
When the Cetagandan empress dies, Miles Vorkosigan and his cousin Ivan are sent to Cetaganda for her funeral as diplomatic representatives of Barrayar. Upon arrival, the two men are inexplicably attacked by a servant of the late empress. When the same servant turns up dead the next day, Miles and Ivan find themselves in the middle of a mystery.
Miles tries to play detective in a strange, complicated, and deceptively alien culture, while lascivious Ivan manages to get himself involved with several noble females at the same time, a diplomatic no-no of the first order. As the plot thickens, it becomes clear that it’s up to Miles to save the empire.
This one popped up on the Audible Catalogue Plus listings and as anything Lois writes is worth listening to, I snapped it up and thoroughly enjoyed listening to disaster-magnet Miles getting entangled in this diplomatic murder mystery. 9/10
Magic Bites – Book 1 of the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews
When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it arose, leaving all kinds of paranormal problems in its wake.
Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up these magical problems. But when Kate’s guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta’s magic circles.
The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each other for a series of bizarre killings—and the death of Kate’s guardian may be part of the same mystery. Pressured by both sides to find the killer, Kate realizes she’s way out of her league—but she wouldn’t have it any other way…
I’d read this one way back in 2020 – but I thoroughly enjoyed the reread and have now got hold of the second book in the series. Just as well as it ends on something of a cliffhanger. 9/10
AUDIOBOOK – Witch Way Home – Book 4 of the Beechwood Harbor Magic Mystery Boxed set by Danielle Garrett
Life on magical parole can be a real witch… I’ve got a final shot at freedom, but when my strongest ally is found murdered, everything is on the line—including my own life.
With my rag-tag band of supernatural friends in tow, I have to launch my biggest—and most dangerous—investigation yet. I’ve got to stop the killer without setting off the SPA’s alarms or else I can kiss my last chance goodbye.
This adventure, featuring impulsive and strong-minded Holly Bolt, had me thoroughly rooting for her. And when she suffers a major setback at the hands of a very unfair system, I was highly indignant on her behalf – I’ve also got a soft spot for her tabby cat Boots. So I’m delighted to have the next two books in this entertaining series. 9/10
The Holy Terrors – Book 1 of the Holy Terrors series by Simon R Green
Welcome to Spooky Time, the hit TV ghost-hunting show where the horror is scripted . . . and the ratings are declining rapidly. What better way to up the stakes – and boost the viewership – than by locking a select group of Z-list celebrities up for the night in The Most Haunted Hall in England (TM) and live-streaming the ‘terrifying’ results?
Soon Alistair, a newly appointed Bishop, actress Diana, medium Leslie, comedian Toby and celebrity chef Indira are trapped inside Stonehaven town hall, along with June, the host and producer of the show. The group tries to settle in and put on a good show, but then strange things start happening in their hall of horrors.
What is it about this place – and why is the TV crew outside not responding? Are they even on air? Logical Alistair attempts to keep the group’s fears at bay and rationalise the odd events, but there are things that just can’t be explained within reason . . . Can he stop a cold-blooded would-be killer – even if it’s come from beyond the grave?
I’m a solid fan of this author and his mix of humour and creepiness, so was delighted to get hold of this arc of a new series. Review to follow.
Funny Girl by Nick Hornby
Make them laugh, and they’re yours forever . . .
Barbara Parker is Miss Blackpool of 1964, but she doesn’t want to be a beauty queen. She wants to make people laugh.
So she leaves her hometown behind, takes herself to London, and overnight she becomes the lead in a new BBC comedy, Sophie Straw: charming, gorgeous, destined to win the nation’s hearts.
I’ll be honest – this one would never have been a book that I’d have picked up. But Himself got hold of it. If you’ve ever been nostalgic for the era that produced such TV sitcoms as The Likely Lads and Til Death Us Do Part, then this is recommended reading. Both funny and poignant, I loved it. 9/10
My posts last week:
Castellan the Black and His Wise, Draconic Sayings
Sunday Post – 18th February 2024
Hope you, too, had some brilliant books to tuck into and wishing you all a happy, healthy start to the New Year😊.
Brainfluff 