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nclcaitlin's reviews
1731 reviews
Reel by Kennedy Ryan
3.5
Director Canon Holt's six-month search for the woman to star in his biopic of a forgotten Black musical legend comes to an end when he sees Neevah Saint take the stage as a Broadway understudy. He doesn’t care that she’s an unknown. It’s Neevah, he tells the studio, or it’s nobody.
Not wanting to ruin his chances, he can absolutely not get involved with Neevah. No matter how much he wants to.
Neevah almost gave up performing to marry her high school sweetheart – until she found out that he was cheating on her with her sister.
This casting offer is a dream come true and she will not ruin it by getting involved with Canon. No matter how much she wants to.
This book is a homage to telling stories in all forms. Sharing creativity to pass on knowledge and culture and memories.
Winston Churchill said history is written by the victors, but I would amend that to say it’s often written by liars. History is fact. You can’t change what happened, but you can edit it. People lie and leave out the truth, bend it to suit their needs.
Ryan’s books always consider wider and tougher topics through her books. Not only does this bring up spotlighting lost Black stories, but Neevah is also diagnosed with discoid lupus. Her treatments, stress, and appointments are included to add depth and authenticity!
The romance isn’t the main focus for the first half of the book… and that’s what I LOVE! Your life doesn’t become your crush, life continues on and your ambitions and problems don’t get to be sidelined!
However, there were a lot of steamy scenes. A LOT.
And then when the romance took over, I found my attention drifting. They definitely had chemistry, but it also added drama and I kept getting frustrated.
I know, I know I signed up for this… it’s a romance book! That’s why I always say to take my romance reviews with a grain of salt!
I definitely recommend the AUDIOBOOK! There is two narrators for Neevah and Canon. They sing the songs. The voices are so seductive and really transports you into the feeling of a shooting scene.
Not wanting to ruin his chances, he can absolutely not get involved with Neevah. No matter how much he wants to.
Neevah almost gave up performing to marry her high school sweetheart – until she found out that he was cheating on her with her sister.
This casting offer is a dream come true and she will not ruin it by getting involved with Canon. No matter how much she wants to.
This book is a homage to telling stories in all forms. Sharing creativity to pass on knowledge and culture and memories.
Winston Churchill said history is written by the victors, but I would amend that to say it’s often written by liars. History is fact. You can’t change what happened, but you can edit it. People lie and leave out the truth, bend it to suit their needs.
Ryan’s books always consider wider and tougher topics through her books. Not only does this bring up spotlighting lost Black stories, but Neevah is also diagnosed with discoid lupus. Her treatments, stress, and appointments are included to add depth and authenticity!
The romance isn’t the main focus for the first half of the book… and that’s what I LOVE! Your life doesn’t become your crush, life continues on and your ambitions and problems don’t get to be sidelined!
However, there were a lot of steamy scenes. A LOT.
And then when the romance took over, I found my attention drifting. They definitely had chemistry, but it also added drama and I kept getting frustrated.
I know, I know I signed up for this… it’s a romance book! That’s why I always say to take my romance reviews with a grain of salt!
I definitely recommend the AUDIOBOOK! There is two narrators for Neevah and Canon. They sing the songs. The voices are so seductive and really transports you into the feeling of a shooting scene.
Stone & Sky by Z.S. Diamanti
2.5
This book saddles many different marketing targets and for this reason will appeal to a range of fantasy readers!
Orin is a member of the Griffin Guard whose squadron is attacked and presumed dead. At first, Orin – is sure he is dead too, but he is saved by a lovely family and ventures on a quest to inform his kingdom of the powerful weapon the enemy plans to use.
This book borders between a late middle-grade, early YA tone with some great world building reminiscent of Middle-Earth, albeit more simple and less painstakingly detailed.
I think it will appeal to fans of The Belgariad!
The story is told through told through several POV’s which gives you a broad scope of the world and the different sides and even ranks of individuals.
Who is to say who are the monsters? Who gets to decide which side is good or bad?
Life doesn’t always give us what we expect, but what we do with the unexpected tells the tale of who we are.
The orc Karnak was my favourite! Orcs are not normally considered the good guys and his perspective really makes you question these pre-conceptions of archetypes. Karnak is incredibly loyal and honourable and his love for his family is very compelling!
Personally, I struggled to connect to most of the other characters and I think I would have wanted more time getting to know the characters with slower moments.
To be fair, I am not a huge fan of constant battles, so perhaps that’s why I struggled to stay invested.
However, the battle scenes were fast-paced and will definitely propel readers along!
I couldn’t keep focus on the plot or characters, and I wonder if I should tried the ebook rather than the audiobook.
However, the narrator was fantastic and really made me chuckle with some of the voices and effects!
If you want epic fantasy bundled with a dose of cozy and nostalgia, this might be for you!
I am definitely recommending it to my younger brothers!
I think this just wasn’t the book for me sadly!!
Thank you to the author for providing me the audiobook!
Orin is a member of the Griffin Guard whose squadron is attacked and presumed dead. At first, Orin – is sure he is dead too, but he is saved by a lovely family and ventures on a quest to inform his kingdom of the powerful weapon the enemy plans to use.
This book borders between a late middle-grade, early YA tone with some great world building reminiscent of Middle-Earth, albeit more simple and less painstakingly detailed.
I think it will appeal to fans of The Belgariad!
The story is told through told through several POV’s which gives you a broad scope of the world and the different sides and even ranks of individuals.
Who is to say who are the monsters? Who gets to decide which side is good or bad?
Life doesn’t always give us what we expect, but what we do with the unexpected tells the tale of who we are.
The orc Karnak was my favourite! Orcs are not normally considered the good guys and his perspective really makes you question these pre-conceptions of archetypes. Karnak is incredibly loyal and honourable and his love for his family is very compelling!
Personally, I struggled to connect to most of the other characters and I think I would have wanted more time getting to know the characters with slower moments.
To be fair, I am not a huge fan of constant battles, so perhaps that’s why I struggled to stay invested.
However, the battle scenes were fast-paced and will definitely propel readers along!
I couldn’t keep focus on the plot or characters, and I wonder if I should tried the ebook rather than the audiobook.
However, the narrator was fantastic and really made me chuckle with some of the voices and effects!
If you want epic fantasy bundled with a dose of cozy and nostalgia, this might be for you!
I am definitely recommending it to my younger brothers!
I think this just wasn’t the book for me sadly!!
Thank you to the author for providing me the audiobook!
The Shadow Glass by Josh Winning
2.5
This is like How to Sell a Haunted House meets Five Nights at Freddie’s meets Spiderwick.
”Jack, didn’t you hear Brol’s story? The Shadow Glass was stolen from the kettu castle, Nebfet was enchanting it when Zavanna found her…none of that happened in the movie. We’re in new territory. We’re in a real-life sequel to The Shadow Glass! I always wanted to find out what happened next, and now we’re living it!”
What happens when fiction and reality collide?
This isn’t a book that gets a lot of attention, but those who have read it have raved about it.
I think this was another case of me having very didn’t expectations.
This book is a homage to the 80s and 90s that shows love for cult 1980s films like The Dark Crystal, The NeverEnding Story and Labyrinth.
Considering I have never watched those, and I was born in 2003, so I couldn’t tap into that nostalgia.
I feel like this book is made for a very specific audience and unfortunately that wasn’t me.
”Jack, didn’t you hear Brol’s story? The Shadow Glass was stolen from the kettu castle, Nebfet was enchanting it when Zavanna found her…none of that happened in the movie. We’re in new territory. We’re in a real-life sequel to The Shadow Glass! I always wanted to find out what happened next, and now we’re living it!”
What happens when fiction and reality collide?
This isn’t a book that gets a lot of attention, but those who have read it have raved about it.
I think this was another case of me having very didn’t expectations.
This book is a homage to the 80s and 90s that shows love for cult 1980s films like The Dark Crystal, The NeverEnding Story and Labyrinth.
Considering I have never watched those, and I was born in 2003, so I couldn’t tap into that nostalgia.
I feel like this book is made for a very specific audience and unfortunately that wasn’t me.
Dreams of Fire by Shauna Lawless
4.0
I don’t normally like novellas. I was tempted to skip this one. Yet the reviews were all full of praise. Boy, am I glad I did!!
This was one of the best novellas I have ever read!
Whilst you could read this before reading book one, I would recommend reading The Children of Gods and Fighting Men first otherwise I feel you would miss the impact and not feel the connection to the characters or pick up on things that will link to the rest of the series!
This tells the story of Rónnat who is fiercely protective of her younger sister Fódla before all the Descendants agreed to live in the safety of the Fortress.
Their father had let the two young girls father let run wild in the north. They grew up swimming, climbing mountains, hunting, and getting into fights with mortal boys.
However, they return to the Fortress for the Gathering where the Council talks about the increasing danger and Rónnat becomes more aware of the politics and rising figures.
A few of the older members had already started to speak of their memories, and soon the tears became mingled with laughter. Not all sorrow, not all joy, but a reflection of life itself. A weave. Threads moving around each other, sometimes pulled low, sometimes high
How Lawless manages to make your heart ache in just 100 pages is incredible. Despite the short length, her characterisations are rich and profound and her descriptions don’t even seem to suffer!
It also adds depth to the world, fleshing out the past and the characters who set the current events in motion. It also lies foreshadowing for the future.
”Death and fire are coming, child. Death and fire. A war within a war. There is a way to change it. A way to save your sister. Will you listen?"
This series is definitely one I will be recommending!!
This was one of the best novellas I have ever read!
Whilst you could read this before reading book one, I would recommend reading The Children of Gods and Fighting Men first otherwise I feel you would miss the impact and not feel the connection to the characters or pick up on things that will link to the rest of the series!
This tells the story of Rónnat who is fiercely protective of her younger sister Fódla before all the Descendants agreed to live in the safety of the Fortress.
Their father had let the two young girls father let run wild in the north. They grew up swimming, climbing mountains, hunting, and getting into fights with mortal boys.
However, they return to the Fortress for the Gathering where the Council talks about the increasing danger and Rónnat becomes more aware of the politics and rising figures.
A few of the older members had already started to speak of their memories, and soon the tears became mingled with laughter. Not all sorrow, not all joy, but a reflection of life itself. A weave. Threads moving around each other, sometimes pulled low, sometimes high
How Lawless manages to make your heart ache in just 100 pages is incredible. Despite the short length, her characterisations are rich and profound and her descriptions don’t even seem to suffer!
It also adds depth to the world, fleshing out the past and the characters who set the current events in motion. It also lies foreshadowing for the future.
”Death and fire are coming, child. Death and fire. A war within a war. There is a way to change it. A way to save your sister. Will you listen?"
This series is definitely one I will be recommending!!
A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher
4.0
Regency meets sorcery. Cozy meets horrifying. T Kingfisher and her traumatic past with horses.
Cordelia’s mother plans to marry a rich Squire and marry Cordelia off to someone even richer. Only thing is, her mother is an evil sorceress and extremely controlling and manipulative.
When Cordelia moves to the estate of her mother’s newest target, she finds a place that makes her feel safer and a wonderful friend in Hester, the Squire’s older sister.
Hester is amazing! A fifty-one year old shrewd, witty woman who has a heart of gold, immediately takes Cordelia under her wing, and is extremely suspicious of Cordelia’s mother (nicknamed Doom) and her ambitions.
“Eh?" Hester realized that her brother had been speaking. "What was that? You have to speak up, my hearing's not what it was." (This was entirely untrue, but she had found that it was a very good excuse when she had simply been ignoring a dull conversation.)
T Kingfisher tackles some heavy topics with a drop of cozy and heartwarming protagonists.
Her mother can make Cordelia be obedient which made her akin to a puppet- controlling her body but Cordelia is still inside looking out helpless.
When we first meet her, and for most of the book, Cordelia is extremely meek and scared and unsure. Closing the door when she was home alone was as much rebellion as she initially dared. Living on an estate where she can suddenly close doors, keep secrets, and have a lovely maid is novelty to her.
Her mother's good moods had once been more difficult to live with than the bad ones. Cordelia had dared to hope that things would change, that all would be better, that there would be no more obedience, and the weight of her hope had crushed her beneath it. Now she no longer had such illusions.
Expect tensely fraught dinner conversations, delightful dinner guests, knitting, card games, but also grizzly murders.
This is a <b>comedic book of Jane Austen-esque manners</b>, but there is also a grisly, headless, glowing horse that roams the grounds at night.
T Kingfisher has definitely become an auto-read author for me and her range is INSANE!
Thank you to Tor for providing the physical arc in exchange for a review!
Cordelia’s mother plans to marry a rich Squire and marry Cordelia off to someone even richer. Only thing is, her mother is an evil sorceress and extremely controlling and manipulative.
When Cordelia moves to the estate of her mother’s newest target, she finds a place that makes her feel safer and a wonderful friend in Hester, the Squire’s older sister.
Hester is amazing! A fifty-one year old shrewd, witty woman who has a heart of gold, immediately takes Cordelia under her wing, and is extremely suspicious of Cordelia’s mother (nicknamed Doom) and her ambitions.
“Eh?" Hester realized that her brother had been speaking. "What was that? You have to speak up, my hearing's not what it was." (This was entirely untrue, but she had found that it was a very good excuse when she had simply been ignoring a dull conversation.)
T Kingfisher tackles some heavy topics with a drop of cozy and heartwarming protagonists.
Her mother can make Cordelia be obedient which made her akin to a puppet- controlling her body but Cordelia is still inside looking out helpless.
When we first meet her, and for most of the book, Cordelia is extremely meek and scared and unsure. Closing the door when she was home alone was as much rebellion as she initially dared. Living on an estate where she can suddenly close doors, keep secrets, and have a lovely maid is novelty to her.
Her mother's good moods had once been more difficult to live with than the bad ones. Cordelia had dared to hope that things would change, that all would be better, that there would be no more obedience, and the weight of her hope had crushed her beneath it. Now she no longer had such illusions.
Expect tensely fraught dinner conversations, delightful dinner guests, knitting, card games, but also grizzly murders.
This is a <b>comedic book of Jane Austen-esque manners</b>, but there is also a grisly, headless, glowing horse that roams the grounds at night.
T Kingfisher has definitely become an auto-read author for me and her range is INSANE!
Thank you to Tor for providing the physical arc in exchange for a review!
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
4.25
A Storm of Selfish, Savvy, Stabby Souls!
My review is split up by the different characters and their arcs!
Tyrion thought he was victorious after a bloody battle, but then Cersei swept in and now his hirelings have betrayed him, and his friends have been scourged and shamed. Not to mention, he is rotting from an attempted assassination he is sure his sweet sister is behind.
Tyrion’s dry wit, humour, and shrewd intelligence makes this series keep a lighter tone amongst such darkness and always keeps me on my toes.
I can’t believe that GRRM managed to make me feel pity for Jamie. JAMIE LANNISTER. That is talent.
Joffrey and Margaery are set to marry on the first day of the new year, also the first day of the new century. The ceremony will herald the dawn of a new era. A new Lannister era where Sansa is merely a scared pawn.
Sansa still frustrates me as a character, yet I loved the court Margaret brings with her, especially her Grandmother, the Queen of Thorns who seems to know more than anyone else dares say.
“The gods made the earth for all men t' share. Only when the kings come with their crowns and steel swords, they claimed it was all theirs. My trees, they said, you can't eat them apples. My stream, you can't fish here. My wood, you're not t' hunt. My earth, my water, my castle, my daughter, keep your hands away or I'll chop 'em off, but maybe if you kneel t' me I'll let you have a sniff. You call us thieves, but at least a thief has t' be brave and clever and quick. A kneeler only has t' kneel."
Arya is only ten years old, a skinny girl on a stolen horse with a dark forest ahead of her and men behind her who would gladly kill her.
Arya is one of my favourite characters - a scrappy, brave girl against the world who would die for her friends? The only thing that makes me go ummm, is her age. I just can’t believe any ten year old would be capable of what she does.
”What do you like to do?"
She scuffed a toe amongst the rushes. "Needlework."
"Very restful, isn't it?"
"Well," said Arya, "not the way I do it."
"No? I have always found it so. Do you work at it every day?"
"I did till I lost Needle. My new one's not as good."
I'm not a lady, Arya wanted to tell her, I'm a wolf.
Bran was taken in by the wildlings - an oathbreaker and the killer of Qhorin Halfhand. But in his heart he was still a man of the Night's Watch, doing the last duty laid on him.
Bran’s story was interesting as he sees the wildings and their community and different way of life. You can’t help but like the people around him, yet Bran must constantly remind himself his loyalties lie beyond The Wall.
Daenerys is strengthening forces in the East as her three dragons, her treasured children, are growing and learning.
Daenerys always suffers from being a girl. She constantly needs to prove herself. She is constantly seen as an object of beauty rather than admired for her absolute intellect, planning, and resilience which she proves over and over.
“A queen must listen to all," she reminded him. "The highborn and the low, the strong and the weak, the noble and the venal. One voice may speak you false, but in many there is always truth to be found." She had read that in a book.
Overall, volume one of this huge tome is probably my favourite of all the books in Game of Thrones!!!
My review is split up by the different characters and their arcs!
Tyrion thought he was victorious after a bloody battle, but then Cersei swept in and now his hirelings have betrayed him, and his friends have been scourged and shamed. Not to mention, he is rotting from an attempted assassination he is sure his sweet sister is behind.
Tyrion’s dry wit, humour, and shrewd intelligence makes this series keep a lighter tone amongst such darkness and always keeps me on my toes.
I can’t believe that GRRM managed to make me feel pity for Jamie. JAMIE LANNISTER. That is talent.
Joffrey and Margaery are set to marry on the first day of the new year, also the first day of the new century. The ceremony will herald the dawn of a new era. A new Lannister era where Sansa is merely a scared pawn.
Sansa still frustrates me as a character, yet I loved the court Margaret brings with her, especially her Grandmother, the Queen of Thorns who seems to know more than anyone else dares say.
“The gods made the earth for all men t' share. Only when the kings come with their crowns and steel swords, they claimed it was all theirs. My trees, they said, you can't eat them apples. My stream, you can't fish here. My wood, you're not t' hunt. My earth, my water, my castle, my daughter, keep your hands away or I'll chop 'em off, but maybe if you kneel t' me I'll let you have a sniff. You call us thieves, but at least a thief has t' be brave and clever and quick. A kneeler only has t' kneel."
Arya is only ten years old, a skinny girl on a stolen horse with a dark forest ahead of her and men behind her who would gladly kill her.
Arya is one of my favourite characters - a scrappy, brave girl against the world who would die for her friends? The only thing that makes me go ummm, is her age. I just can’t believe any ten year old would be capable of what she does.
”What do you like to do?"
She scuffed a toe amongst the rushes. "Needlework."
"Very restful, isn't it?"
"Well," said Arya, "not the way I do it."
"No? I have always found it so. Do you work at it every day?"
"I did till I lost Needle. My new one's not as good."
I'm not a lady, Arya wanted to tell her, I'm a wolf.
Bran was taken in by the wildlings - an oathbreaker and the killer of Qhorin Halfhand. But in his heart he was still a man of the Night's Watch, doing the last duty laid on him.
Bran’s story was interesting as he sees the wildings and their community and different way of life. You can’t help but like the people around him, yet Bran must constantly remind himself his loyalties lie beyond The Wall.
Daenerys is strengthening forces in the East as her three dragons, her treasured children, are growing and learning.
Daenerys always suffers from being a girl. She constantly needs to prove herself. She is constantly seen as an object of beauty rather than admired for her absolute intellect, planning, and resilience which she proves over and over.
“A queen must listen to all," she reminded him. "The highborn and the low, the strong and the weak, the noble and the venal. One voice may speak you false, but in many there is always truth to be found." She had read that in a book.
Overall, volume one of this huge tome is probably my favourite of all the books in Game of Thrones!!!
Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
2.75
In an effort to save the Christmas tree farm she's loved since she was a child, Stella enters a contest with an influencer for the publicity and the huge cash prize.
She has a great idea: to make the farm seem like a romantic destination for the holidays, Stella lied and said that she owns Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend. Only. . .there is no boyfriend.
Enter best friend Luka Peters.
He just came home for some hot chocolate and snarky comments, and somehow got a farm and a serious relationship in the process.
Let it be known that telling a woman to relax has never once resulted in said relaxation.
This is a wholesome rom-com featuring a handsome, freckled data analyst and a messy, optimistic Christmas tree farm owner, backdropped by a small town with the best hazelnut lattes on the east coast.
This wasn’t overpowered by spicy scenes, the relationship was slow burn, and the friends to lovers was sweet and naive.
It’s nothing profound, but I loved the side characters and I could definitely see this making a great Christmas movie.
Leaning on other people doesn't make your achievements any less yours, La La. You can trust me to help you carry the load. You don't have to do all of this alone. I know you can take of yourself. You've been doing that as long as I've known you. But let me hold your hand while you do it, okay?
There’s also a slight mystery behind why the Farm seems to be failing. It felt like this was added in to add tension, but it felt pretty rushed over, as expected from a light romance book!
I think I would have liked more exploration of the grief and more exploration about the small Gilmore-like town.
Also, the main plot (the influencer competition) barely features which I think would have been cool!
Minor spoilers:
I did not like the third act break up - can it even be called that if it’s in the last 9%?! It felt added in just to add last minute drama when the ending was so obvious.
But maybe that’s just me being too harsh on a romance book where there must be a happily ever after.
This is more like a high two stars!
She has a great idea: to make the farm seem like a romantic destination for the holidays, Stella lied and said that she owns Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend. Only. . .there is no boyfriend.
Enter best friend Luka Peters.
He just came home for some hot chocolate and snarky comments, and somehow got a farm and a serious relationship in the process.
Let it be known that telling a woman to relax has never once resulted in said relaxation.
This is a wholesome rom-com featuring a handsome, freckled data analyst and a messy, optimistic Christmas tree farm owner, backdropped by a small town with the best hazelnut lattes on the east coast.
This wasn’t overpowered by spicy scenes, the relationship was slow burn, and the friends to lovers was sweet and naive.
It’s nothing profound, but I loved the side characters and I could definitely see this making a great Christmas movie.
Leaning on other people doesn't make your achievements any less yours, La La. You can trust me to help you carry the load. You don't have to do all of this alone. I know you can take of yourself. You've been doing that as long as I've known you. But let me hold your hand while you do it, okay?
There’s also a slight mystery behind why the Farm seems to be failing. It felt like this was added in to add tension, but it felt pretty rushed over, as expected from a light romance book!
I think I would have liked more exploration of the grief and more exploration about the small Gilmore-like town.
Also, the main plot (the influencer competition) barely features which I think would have been cool!
Minor spoilers:
I did not like the third act break up - can it even be called that if it’s in the last 9%?! It felt added in just to add last minute drama when the ending was so obvious.
But maybe that’s just me being too harsh on a romance book where there must be a happily ever after.
This is more like a high two stars!
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann
2.25
Lord of the Flies meets Robinson Crusoe but it is non-fiction.
No exit. Limited supplies. Deteriorating mental and physical health. Ammunition.
This kind of reminded me of Shogun… is that weird?
Unfortunately, I think the blurb was more interesting than the book itself. I kept waiting for something really shocking to happen, to make me riveted, yet I could not keep attention to the audiobook. It was just full of facts and job roles and lists.
I know this a non-fiction so it isn’t made to have an engaging narrative with a driving plot, but I have enjoyed non-fiction with less interesting premises before. It was just very dry.
No exit. Limited supplies. Deteriorating mental and physical health. Ammunition.
This kind of reminded me of Shogun… is that weird?
Unfortunately, I think the blurb was more interesting than the book itself. I kept waiting for something really shocking to happen, to make me riveted, yet I could not keep attention to the audiobook. It was just full of facts and job roles and lists.
I know this a non-fiction so it isn’t made to have an engaging narrative with a driving plot, but I have enjoyed non-fiction with less interesting premises before. It was just very dry.
The Children of Gods and Fighting Men by Shauna Lawless
4.25
Damn it, but I was sick of being nothing, a woman beholden to male plans.
Gormflaith is the recently widowed Queen of Dublin and has great plans for her son - and herself - but she must play a game reserved for men to see her son become King. Gormflaith is also from the Fomorian line - an immortal race who can do fire-magic.
Opposing the Fomorians are the Descendants of the Tuatha Dé Danann who believe they have wiped out the last of the Fomorians. They live according to the New Agreement, removed from the mortals but keeping a close eye.
Fódla has been taught mortal men are dangerous, only good for blood-thirst and pillage, however she always sees the good in everything and recently has started questioning the council and their decisions.
“But if you don't do something counter to expectations, nothing will ever change, right?"
This seemed daunting to start - opening with a huge list of character names and places, however ignore this and just get reading the story!
Gormflaith is a mother who must come to grips with wanting more for her son and realising he cannot be the little boy she wants and remembers him to be if he, and she, is to succeed.
She is extremely devious and manipulative and seems five steps ahead of every other character.
I let him tease me. It was all I could do. But as I gazed at the top table full of warriors, all I saw was a group of little boys, longing for words of praise and lingering glances from the women serving them.
This seamlessly weaves Irish mythology, history, with a hint of magical beliefs to create a riveting story about Irish history, unmarked by rose-tinted characters.
If you like strong women characters, older characters who are the main features, and complicated relationships with children and sibling, read this!
Gormflaith is the recently widowed Queen of Dublin and has great plans for her son - and herself - but she must play a game reserved for men to see her son become King. Gormflaith is also from the Fomorian line - an immortal race who can do fire-magic.
Opposing the Fomorians are the Descendants of the Tuatha Dé Danann who believe they have wiped out the last of the Fomorians. They live according to the New Agreement, removed from the mortals but keeping a close eye.
Fódla has been taught mortal men are dangerous, only good for blood-thirst and pillage, however she always sees the good in everything and recently has started questioning the council and their decisions.
“But if you don't do something counter to expectations, nothing will ever change, right?"
This seemed daunting to start - opening with a huge list of character names and places, however ignore this and just get reading the story!
Gormflaith is a mother who must come to grips with wanting more for her son and realising he cannot be the little boy she wants and remembers him to be if he, and she, is to succeed.
She is extremely devious and manipulative and seems five steps ahead of every other character.
I let him tease me. It was all I could do. But as I gazed at the top table full of warriors, all I saw was a group of little boys, longing for words of praise and lingering glances from the women serving them.
This seamlessly weaves Irish mythology, history, with a hint of magical beliefs to create a riveting story about Irish history, unmarked by rose-tinted characters.
If you like strong women characters, older characters who are the main features, and complicated relationships with children and sibling, read this!
Funny Story by Emily Henry
3.5
Emily Henry settling the debate whether audiobooks count or not!
Daphne and Miles choose to move in together after their childhood-best-friend ex-fiancés decide to dump them and marry each other instead.
Daphne is a children's librarian who moved to Michigan to live with her now-ex fiancé, but now, she's stuck in a place that’s not home, not familiar with and where she has no close friends around.
Trust people's actions, not their words. Don't love anyone who isn't ready to love you back. Let go of the people who don't hold on to you. Don't wait on anyone who's in no rush to get to you.
Seeing Daphne break out of her shell and start to experience the world around her and indulge in her own interests was so refreshing to read! We can see how her past relationship might not have actually been that healthy (Peter you selfish, self-absorbed jerk!), and even if she’s grieving and in shock, her slow enlightenment and ‘developing butterfly wings’ was lovely to see!
Emily Henry’s characters are always extremely complicated and don’t always make the right decisions. Even the protagonist you’re rooting for. This is way more realistic than cliche fall-hard and fast rom-coms.
I don’t want to hurt him, but I also don’t want to let him hurt me.
Ranking:
1. Funny Story
2. Happy Place
3. Beach Read
4. Book Lovers
Daphne and Miles choose to move in together after their childhood-best-friend ex-fiancés decide to dump them and marry each other instead.
Daphne is a children's librarian who moved to Michigan to live with her now-ex fiancé, but now, she's stuck in a place that’s not home, not familiar with and where she has no close friends around.
Trust people's actions, not their words. Don't love anyone who isn't ready to love you back. Let go of the people who don't hold on to you. Don't wait on anyone who's in no rush to get to you.
Seeing Daphne break out of her shell and start to experience the world around her and indulge in her own interests was so refreshing to read! We can see how her past relationship might not have actually been that healthy (Peter you selfish, self-absorbed jerk!), and even if she’s grieving and in shock, her slow enlightenment and ‘developing butterfly wings’ was lovely to see!
Emily Henry’s characters are always extremely complicated and don’t always make the right decisions. Even the protagonist you’re rooting for. This is way more realistic than cliche fall-hard and fast rom-coms.
I don’t want to hurt him, but I also don’t want to let him hurt me.
Ranking:
1. Funny Story
2. Happy Place
3. Beach Read
4. Book Lovers