Another Top Tuesday and another Top Ten- this week is about things That Make Me Instantly Not Want to Read a Book
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
Another Top Tuesday and another Top Ten- This week it is Things That Make Me Instantly Not want to Read a Book. I feel I must add a disclaimer, these are my own personal dislikes and quirks and some my be irrational!
Here is my review of The Malevolent Seven by Sebastien de Castiel- fantasy featuring the most unlikely group of people who have to save the world.
Picture a wizard. Go ahead, close your eyes. There he is, see? Skinny old guy with a long straggly beard. No doubt he’s wearing iridescent silk robes that couldn’t protect his frail body from a light breeze. The hat’s a must, too, right? Big, floppy thing, covered in esoteric symbols that would instantly show every other mage where this one gets his magic? Wouldn’t want a simple steel helmet or something that might, you know, protect the part of him most needed for conjuring magical forces from being bashed in with a mace (or pretty much any household object). Now open your eyes and let me show you what a real war mage looks like . . . but be warned: you’re probably not going to like it, because we’re violent, angry, dangerously broken people who sell our skills to the highest bidder and be damned to any moral or ethical considerations.At least, until such irritating concepts as friendship and the end of the world get in the way. My name is Cade Ombra, and though I currently make my living as a mercenary wonderist, I used to have a far more noble-sounding job title – until I discovered the people I worked for weren’t quite as noble as I’d believed. Now I’m on the run and my only friend, a homicidal thunder mage, has invited me to join him on a suicide mission against the seven deadliest mages on the continent. Time to recruit some very bad people to help us on this job . . .
Review
I enjoyed most of The Malevolent Seven by Sebastien de Castiel featuring the most unlikely antiheroes who have to save the world led by Cade Ombra ( who has once of the best first point of view voice I’ve come across). But there was one aspect of this dark fantasy I didn’t like.
Here is my review of Perilous Times by Thomas Lee- a modern and different take on those tales of King Arthur and his Knights.
Being reborn as an immortal defender of the realm gets awfully tiring over the years—or at least that’s what Sir Kay’s thinking as he claws his way up from beneath the earth yet again. Kay once rode alongside his brother, King Arthur, as a Knight of the Round Table. Since then, he has fought at Hastings and at Waterloo and in both World Wars. But now he finds himself in a strange new world where oceans have risen, the army’s been privatized, and half of Britain’s been sold to foreign powers. The dragon that’s running amok—that he can handle. The rest? He’s not so sure. Mariam’s spent her life fighting what’s wrong with her country. But she’s just one ordinary person, up against a hopelessly broken system. So when she meets Kay, she dares to hope that the world has finally found the savior it needs. Yet as the two travel through this bizarre and dangerous land, they discover that a magical plot of apocalyptic proportions is underway. And Kay’s too busy hunting dragons—and exchanging blows with his old enemy Lancelot—to figure out what to do about it. In perilous times like these, the realm doesn’t just need a knight. It needs a true leader. Luckily, Excalibur lies within reach. But who will be fit to wield it?
Review
I saw a tweet about Perilous Times by Thomas Lee and I knew I had to read this book with a modern twist on King Arthur and his Knights.
Here is my review of March’s End by Daniel Polansky- a portal fantasy.
The Harrows are a typical suburban family who, since time immemorial, have borne a sacred and terrible charge. In the daylight they are teachers, doctors, bartenders and vagrants, but at night they are the rulers and protectors of the March, a fantastical secondary world populated with animate antiquated toys and sentient lichen, a panorama of the impossible where cities are carried on the backs of giant snails, and thunderstorms can be subdued with song. But beneath this dreamlike exterior lie dark secrets, and for generation after generation the Harrows have defended the March from the perils that wait outside its borders – when they are not consumed in their own bitter internecine quarrels.In the modern day the Harrow clan are composed of Sophia, the High Queen of the March, a brilliant, calculating matriarch, and her three children – noble Constance, visionary, rebellious Mary Ann, and clever, amoral Will. Moving back and forth between their youth, adolescence, and adulthood, we watch as this family fractures, then reconciles in the face of a conflict endangering not only the existence of the March, but of the ‘real world’ itself.
Review
March’s End by Daniel Polansky isn’t just a portal fantasy but a book about intergenerational conflict and the impact of childhood trauma. There was so much I really loved in this book but there were a few things I struggled with.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
The author brings to life the world of the March in vivid technicolour. This is a world inhabited by living toys who torture, sentient plant beings that don’t hesitate to kill and talk, rebelling animals. The sense of impending danger and doom is present from the start and infests the book both in March and the real world. I loved the tower- a building that seems to go on forever.
The complicated lives of the Harrows, the conquerors and protectors of the March take centre stage in both worlds. The Harrows have had their role over generations and seem stuck with continuing this for generations more no matter what the trauma.
The family drama between the siblings feels realistic and I like how they are not neatly resolved by the end of the book. The pace is fast with plenty of action and magic with plenty of creepiness. Mary Ann and Sophia’s brother bring in the discussion around whether colonisation is right or wrong concerning the March even though the Harrows are protectors which isn’t usually present in these types of fantasies.
I had a lot of ‘how’s’, How do the Harrows travel to the March and why Mary- Ann can travel there differently? Why was it only the Harrows that could travel? How did Hank end up living next door to the Harrows and why? But hopefully this will be addressed in the next book!
Content Warning
References to suicide, drug misuse, and domestic violence.
Perfect for Fans of
Portal fantasies as well as epic fantasies, Son of Shadow ( review here), The Magicians ( review here), Witherward ( review here), and An Accident of Stars. Through Dreams So Dark by Angela Boord ( review here)
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
There are so many Things That Make Me Instantly want to Read a Book ( it doesn’t take much) but here are the top ten
Here is my review of the The Book That Wouldn’t Burn( Book 1 of the Library Trilogy) by Mark Lawrence- epic fantasy that will appeal to anyone who love libraries and books.
A boy has lived his whole life trapped within a vast library, older than empires and larger than cities. A girl has spent hers in a tiny settlement out on the Dust where nightmares stalk and no one goes. The world has never even noticed them. That’s about to change. Their stories spiral around each other, across worlds and time. This is a tale of truth and lies and hearts, and the blurring of one into another. A journey on which knowledge erodes certainty, and on which, though the pen may be mightier than the sword, blood will be spilled and cities burned.
Review
The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence will appeal to anyone who loves books. This epic fantasy is the book in The Library Trilogy.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
This book has so much to love- strong and interesting characters, lush world-building, and libraries with magical doors leading to other worlds. Liviria is a young girl and outcast who lives in the dust but whose life is destroyed by the Sabbers. She ends up being moved to a city and allocated to the free-thinking Yute to learn and work with books. One day in the depths of the library, she meets Evar who is looking for someone.
The world Liviria lives is alien and yet relatable- we have leaders who spin the truth and discriminate against people who look different but a world with automated librarians and magical portals.
I found the book a little slow at times and struggled with the length of the book, it does pick up towards the middle with some really amazing plot reveals. But I imagine that many readers will love the attention to description and the atmosphere.
Content warning
Death of children
Perfect for Fans of
The Starless Sea, or anyone who loves books about books and libraries.
I’m pleased to be part of the blog tour for The Medici Murders by David Hewson- murder mystery set in Venice.
When a well-known British TV historian, Marmaduke Godolphin, is found murdered in the canals of Venice during carnival, stabbed by a stiletto blade, the Venetian police are eager to have the case solved and cleared up within a day – murder is bad for tourism! The police recruit the help of retired archivist, Arnold Clover. Godolphin had hired his services on arriving in Venice to help sort through some historical papers of note. These dusty documents may contain previously unknown information about the assassination of the murderer, Lorenzino de’ Medici, 500 years previously. How coincidental that Godolphin meets his death in the same place as the Medici murderer, Lorenzino, on a cold, dark, bloody night. Can Arnold use his powers of perception to establish a link and solve the murder of Godolphin?
Review
This atmospheric murder mystery was a joy to read and The Medici Murders, the first book in the Venetian Mysteries, by David Hewson may be my favourite murder mystery of the year so far.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
The book packs a lot in 284 pages. Venice was never a place I fancied visiting but that has changed after reading the descriptions of little side streets, cafes, canals and beautiful buildings in this book. The author also weaves little historical titbits about Venice and its famous people which I loved.
Arnold Clover, the first-person narrator, historian, widower and reluctant amateur detective is pleasant, unassuming man-the perfect foil for a cast of colourful suspects. But Valentina Fabbri, the Captiano, has to be my favourite female detective. She is part Poirot, Miss Marple and a lover of good food but best of confident.
This is a clever book enriched with historical details including the complicated life of Michelangelo and his friends, his enemies, and his lovers. There are plenty of suspects and motives, but the ending took me by surprise.
Content Warning
References to sexual assault, suicide.
Perfect for Fans of
Clever, murder mysteries set in exotic locales with colourful characters.
I’m pleased to be part of the blog tour for The Stolen Crown by Carole McGarth- historical fiction featuring Empress Matilda.
When Princess Matilda is eighteen years old, tragedy strikes the royal family, and she becomes the only child of the king of England – the de facto heir to the throne. As her dying father persuades the barons to pledge allegiance to her, Matilda returns to England – but the lords and clergy do not like an independent woman. And Matilda is nothing if not headstrong . . . When the old king dies, the country is plunged into instant chaos. So begins a fierce battle between cousins that will go down in history as a time called ‘The Anarchy’. And Matilda must race across England, evading capture until she can demand the crown . . .
Review
The Stolen Crown by Carole McGarth will appeal to historical fiction fans especially those who enjoy non-Tudor stories. The book tells the story of Empress Matilda’s fight for the English crown from her Cousin King Stephen leading to civil war.
I received a copy of the book for a free and unbiased opinion.
The book is rich with historical details and vivid descriptions of clothes, foods and customs which adds richness to the story. As always, history can almost feel like fiction and The Stolen Crown has plenty of drama, action, deception, politics and romance. The plot is fast-paced and even though I knew what was going to happen, I still couldn’t put the book down.
Matilda, Robert her half-brother and Alice a fictional character with a complicated background are the point-of-view characters. Matilda’s nature comes through as does the difficulty of being a strong and ambitious woman in the 1100s. Robert and Alice add balance as two people caught up in the drama and politics trying to right by their Queen and families.
Strangely enough, I read this book over the coronation weekend, and I wondered if the rituals and rites are the same as the ones that would have crowned Empress Matilda as Queen of England. But if you know your English history this isn’t as straightforward as it should be.
Perfect for fans of
I would recommend this book to any fan of historical fiction and strong women.
Another Top Tuesday and another Top Ten- this week is about things getting in the way of my reading.
#toptentuesday
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
Another Top Tuesday and another Top Ten- this week is about things getting in the way of my reading. So apart from the usual work, daily chores and routines Here are the things in the way of my reading.
Amazing TV programmes
There are so many great TV shows that I can’t stop watching and with streaming they are all episodes are available at any time- so The Last Kingdom, The Mandalorian, The Diplomat and Queen Charlotte are now officially the top thing getting in my way of reading right now.
I love booktwitter and not normal angry twitter but once I start scrolling I cant stop
Baking
I enjoy the smell and relaxing feel of baking but it stops me reading, maybe I need to invest in a few audiobooks.
Singing
I’ve joined a local singing group, an new activity I enjoy but it stops me reading
Running
I’ve tried to run,once, listening to audiobook but got so caught up in the story that I forgot to run.
My blog
The there are so positives in being a book blogger but the reviews must be written, linked, formatted, shared etc.
Podcasts
There are so many amazing podcasts out there that I do tend to listen to these instead of perhaps an audiobook
Acquiring new books
Or just looking at lists of books on Kindle, looking at books in a bookshop, looking at books in a library or books on NetGalley- you get the drift.
Other people’s blogs
I enjoy reading other bloggers review but there are so many of them- then I have to add the books to be to read list or wish list that leads back to the point above.
Top Ten Tuesdays
I really enjoy TTT but by the time I’ve had a think about the prompt,written the post and then read everyone else’s TTT (and added more books to my TBR list) , there isn’ts much time on a Tuesday to read.
I’m pleased to be part of the Random Things Tours Blog tour for Henry VIII: The Heart and the Crown by Alison- historical fiction from Henry VIII point of view.
—
A second son, not born to rule, becomes a man, and a king… In grand royal palaces, Prince Harry grows up dreaming of knights and chivalry – and the golden age of kings that awaits his older brother. But Arthur’s untimely death sees Harry crowned King Henry of England. As his power and influence extends, so commences a lifelong battle between head and heart, love and duty. Henry rules by divine right, yet his prayers for a son go unanswered. The great future of the Tudor dynasty depends on an heir. And the crown weighs heavy on a king with all but his one true desire. HENRY VIII. HIS STORY. Six wives. One King. You know their stories. Now it’s time to hear his.
Review
I love reading historical fiction especially those set in the Tudor period, so I was excited to read Henry VIII: The Heart and The Crown by Alison Weir particularly as this book is told from Henry’s point of view. I really wanted to see if Henry could be portrayed as a man I could root for, given everything I have read about him.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
The book is from Henry’s perspective about his life- starting when he learns about his mother’s death till his own death, covering a time in English history that led to changes that still shape the country to this day.
The author skilfully weaves the impact of Henry’s childhood trauma having a critical and overprotective father after his mother’s death, and stepping into a role he was never meant to have throughout the book. This makes Henry less of a tyrant and more of a man who had to deal with his losses as the King. But she doesn’t shy away from the negative aspects including his arrogance, fickleness, sense of entitlement and cruelty to the people he once loved.
Henry in this book is a man who also mourns the loss of his children with Katharine of Aragon, a man who wants to find someone perfect to love him but is influenced by the court around him, a conflicted father and man dealing with his past. But he is also a man with unlimited power, as well the power of life and death over his subjects including his wives and friends.
The book is rich with historical detail, not just about his complicated quest to find the perfect wife, but about the religious and political issues which still mark the landscape of England today. Sometimes literally- the ruins of once grand monasteries are still visible.
Content warning
References to miscarriages, stillbirths and sexual coercion
Perfect for Fans of
Historical fiction set in the Tudor period, fans of Alison Weir, Phillipa Gregory .
Series Book Lover 