April Reading Round Up

 Hi friends! It's the first of the month so you know what that means! Time to go through our reading round up! I'm going to be sharing with you the books that I read in the month of April and what I rated them and why! There will be the Goodreads synopsis in this (and sometimes it can contain spoilers, so please be aware whilst reading!) as well as the Goodreads average rating. If you want to see the full review for the book I will leave the hyperlink of the post in the name of the book (if I have one!). I read 4 books in April so let's get into them!

Where The World Turns Wild | Nicola Penfold

"Juniper Greene lives in a walled city from which nature has been banished, following the outbreak of a deadly man - made disease many years earlier. While most people seem content to live in such a cage, she and her little brother Bear have always known about their resistance to the disease, and dream of escaping into the wild. To the one place humans have survived outside of cities. To where their mother is.

When scientists discover that the siblings provide the key to fighting the disease, the pair must flee for their lives. As they cross the barren Buffer Zone and journey into the unknown, Juniper and Bear can only guess at the dangers that lie ahead, Nature can be cruel as well as kind... Will they ever find the home they've been searching for?"

My Rating: 4/5 stars

Goodreads Rating: 4.23/5 stars

I'm really glad that I picked this book up because it meant I got to find out everything that I had missed out on in the second one. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a good dystopian to read.

Good Girl, Bad Blood | Holly Jackson

"Pip is not a detective anymore.

With the help of Ravi Singh, she released a true - crime podcast about the murder case they solved together last year. The podcast has gone viral, yet Pip insists her investigating days are behind her.

But she will have to break that promise when someone she knows goes missing. Jamie Reynolds has disappeared, on the very same night the town hosted a memorial for the sixth - year anniversary of the deaths of Andie Bell and Sal Singh.

The police won't do anything about it. And if they won't look for Jamie then Pip will, uncovering more of her town's dark secrets along the way... and this time everyone is listening. But will she find him before it's too late?"

My Rating: 5/5 stars

Goodreads Rating: 4.31/5 stars

I really have been enjoying this series and I found the first book to be just as good as the second. I'm really excited to pick up the third book but I'm also not excited for this series to end.

If Only I Had Told Her | Laura Nowlin

"If only I'd told her that I loved her years ago, then I wouldn't be here now.

Finn has always loved Autumn. She's not just the girl next door or his mother's best friend's daughter, she is his everything. But she's not his girlfriend. That's Sylvie, and Finn would never hurt her, so there's no way Autumn could know how he truly feels.

Jack, Finn's best friend, isn't so sure. He's seen Finn and Autumn together. How could she not know? And how is he supposed to support and protect Finn when heartache seems inevitable?

Autumn surrounds herself with books and wants to write her own destiny - but one doesn't always get a new chapter and fate can be cruel to those in love.

Told through three different perspectives, If Only I Had Told Her is a love story brimming with truth, tragedy, and unexpected bonds that heal us."

My Rating: 3/5 stars

Goodreads Rating: 4/5 stars

I'm not gonna lie friends, I was actually kind of disappointed with this book and genuinely felt like we didn't really need to have this perspective. It changed a lot of my feelings for most of the characters (some for the worst, some for the better) and I didn't really like this book as much as I wish I did.

ARC | Walk The Web Lightly | Mary Pascual

"Naya's family is all about their art, their traditions, their secret ability to see time. They expect her to follow in their footsteps, creating art and keeping their powers concealed. But she wants to be a doctor - and you can't do that if you're hiding all the time! When a chance to go to a medical science camp comes up, her family disapproves, but Grandmother challenges her to a if she can weave her soul wrap before the camp begins, she can go; if she fails, she has to say good - bye to her science dreams for good. With all the knowledge of time at her fingertips, Naya is sure she can win. But someone is rigging events to learn her family's secrets - and it turns out that what she doesn't know could jeopardize everyone she loves."

My Rating: 3/5 stars

Goodreads Rating: 4/5 stars

So for me half of this book was a little boring and tedious to get through and I just didn't find myself wanting to pick it up (I probably would have DNF'd it if it wasn't an ARC), but the second half was actually really enjoyable and fast paced. So I'd say I'm definitely 50/50 about this book!

And that is everything I read in the month of April! I can't wait to see what we dive into in May!

What did you read in April? What's on your TBR for May? What would you recommend for me to read in May? Let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

What I Read Last Week - 22nd - 28th April

Hi friends, so today we're going to be getting into what I read last week and how much of the book I read each day! This will include the Goodreads synopsis (which can sometimes contain spoilers) and my overall rating if I've finished them during the week!

ARC | Shadowclad | Maxie Jove

"Perfect for fans of the Dance of Thieves and An Ember in the Ashes series looking for their next slow - burn, enemies - to - lovers romance fantasy, this action - packed debut follows the entwined fates of the kingdom's most wanted assassin and a secret soldier. Shadowclad is the first book in the Shadowclad series.

As magic dwindles and corruption runs New Kingdom, a rising Syndicate is making waves and inspiring people to question their allegiance to their tyrannical monarch.

Cera, their leader of assassins, is willing to take lives but not another Shadow. After losing her trusted partner on an assignment, she only wants to keep her remaining family safe, but her intentions are jeopardized when Zack - the dashing, new recruit with a hidden agenda - is thrust under her wind.

Resolute on infiltrating Syndicate, Zack plans on gaining the trust of the Reaper; however, risking his life is not enough - he must gamble with her heart and maybe even his."

Monday: 20 pages - DNF

(Please note I DNF this because the author is rewriting the book, otherwise I would have finished this, I was really enjoying it)

Butcher & Blackbird | Brynne Weaver

"Every serial killer needs a friend.

Every game must have a winner.

When a chance encounter sparks an unlikely bond between rival murderers Sloane and Rowan, the two find something elusive - the friendship of a like  minded, pitch black soul. From small town West Virginia to upscale California, from downtown Boston to rural Texas, the two hunters collide in an annual game of blood and suffering, one that pits them against the most dangerous monsters in the country. But as their friendship develops into something more, the restless ghosts left in their wake are only a few steps behind, ready to claim more than just their newfound love. Can Rowan and Sloane dig themselves out of a game of graves? Or have they finally met their match?

Butcher & Blackbird is the first book in the Ruinous Love Dark Romance trilogy of interconnected stand - alone dark romantic comedies. This dual POV novel ends on a HEA."

Tuesday: 0 pages

Wednesday: 0 pages

Thursday: 50 pages

Friday: 0 pages

Saturday: 0 pages

Sunday: 128 pages

And that is everything that I ended up reading last week! Have you read any of these books? How quickly did you get through them? What are your thoughts and feelings about them? Let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

Short AF Book Review | Where The World Turns Wild

Hi friends! So today I'm going to be doing a review on "Where The World Turns Wild" by Nicola Penfold. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers so please keep that in mind!)

"Juniper Greene lives in a walled city from which nature has been banished, following the outbreak of a deadly man - made disease many years earlier. While most people seem content to live in such a cage, she and her little brother Bear have always known about their resistance to the disease, and dream of escaping into the wild. To the one place humans have survived outside of cities. To where their mother is.

When scientists discover that the siblings provide the key to fighting the disease, the pair must flee for their lives. As they cross the barren Buffer Zone and journey into the unknown, Juniper and Bear can only guess at the dangers that lie ahead. Nature can be cruel as well as kind... Will they ever find the home they've been searching for?"

So the reason I wanted to read this book is because I accidentally read the second book in this series first. I loved the second one so I thought I'd read the first one to see if it was just as good. Friends this book was even better. It gave us more insight into the virus and everything that has happened to Juniper and Bear. This one also definitely felt like there was a lot more adventure within too. I once again spent the whole time reading on the edge of my seat hoping they'll get to where they need to go (Even though I knew the end result from the second book) I loved seeing more of Bear's personality shine through this book and getting to know more about him as well as Juniper. I also loved getting to learn so much more about the side characters such as Hester and Cam. However, when seeing them, there was one word that was used to describe them that I don't think is socially acceptable to say anymore so please keep that in mind when you're reading this book. There was so many moments in this book where I audibly gasped at what they were going through and just was not expecting. I also think this book can be enjoyed very easily by anyone considering that it's written for middle grade. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend this to anyone who just wants a nice dystopian to read.

My Favourite Characters:

Juniper: Juniper truly was a badass throughout this book and I'm so glad we got to see more of that side to her.

Hester: I loved Hester so much, she definitely gave Juniper and Bear the maternal figure they so truly needed at that point and I couldn't of asked for a better character

Annie Rose: We got to see more of Annie Rose in this book and I really fell in love with her character. She'd do anything for her family and it truly shows.

My Least Favourite Characters:

Abbot: Abbot is just a piece of shit and I hate the way he treats literal children.

Violet: I feel like the author wanted us to have some sort of empathy for Violet and why she did what she did but I honestly could not excuse that behaviour. She was awful.

I gave this book a 4/5 star rating on Goodreads!

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

What I Read Last Week | 15th April - 21st April

 

Hi friends, so today we're going to be getting into what I read last week and how much of the book I read each day! This will include the Goodreads synopsis (which can sometimes contain spoilers) and my overall rating if I've finished them during the week!

ARC | Walk The Web Lightly | Mary Pascual

"Naya's family is all about their art, their traditions, their secret ability to see time. They expect her to follow in their footsteps, creating art and keeping their powers concealed. But she wants to be a doctor - and you can't do that if you're hiding all the time! When a chance to go to medical science camp comes up, her family disapproves, but Grandmother challenges her to a if she can weave her soul wrap before the camp begins, she can go; if she fails, she has to say good - bye to her science dreams for good. With all the knowledge of time at her fingertips, Naya is sure she can win. But someone is rigging events to learn her family's secrets - and it turns out that what she doesn't know could jeopardize everyone she loves."

Monday: 0 pages

Tuesday: 14 pages

Wednesday: 63 pages

Thursday: 79 pages

Friday: 15 pages - finished

My Goodreads Rating: 3/5 stars

ARC | Shadowclad | Maxie Jove

"Perfect for fans of the Dance of Thieves and An Ember in the Ashes series looking for their next slow - burn, enemies - to - lovers romance fantasy, this action - packed debut follows the entwined fates of the kingdom's most wanted assassin and a secret soldier. Shadowclad is the first book in the Shadowclad series.

As magic dwindles and corruption runs New Kingdom, a rising Syndicate is making waves and inspiring people to question their allegiance to their tyrannical monarch.

Cera, their leader of assassins, is willing to take lives but not another Shadow. After losing her trusted partner on an assignment, she only wants to keep her remaining family safe, but her intentions are jeopardized when Zack - the dashing, new recruit with a hidden agenda - is thrust under her wind.

Resolute on infiltrating Syndicate, Zack plans on gaining the trust of the Reaper; however, risking his life is not enough - he must gamble with her heart and maybe even his."

Friday: 19 pages

Saturday: 71 pages

Sunday: 9 pages

And that is everything that I ended up reading last week! Have you read any of these books? How quickly did you get through them? What are your thoughts and feelings about them? Let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

Short AF Book Review | Walk The Web Lightly | ARC Received By Netgalley

Hi friends! So today I'm going to be doing a review on "Walk The Web Lightly" by Mary Pascual. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers so please keep that in mind!)

"Naya's family is all about their art, their traditions, their secret ability to see time. They expected her to follow in their footsteps, creating art and keeping their powers concealed. But she wants to be a doctor - and you can't do that if you're hiding all the time! When a chance to go to medical science camp comes up, her family disapproves, but Grandmother challenges her to a if she can weave her soul wrap before the camp begins, she can go; if she fails, she has to say good - bye to her science dreams for good. With all the knowledge of time at her fingertips, Naya is sure she can win. But someone is rigging events to learn her family's secrets - and it turns out that what she doesn't know could jeopardize everyone she loves."

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley, however all opinions are my own

So the reason I wanted to read this is because I saw the description on Netgalley and it genuinely looked like such a cool concept and was something that really intrigued me. Unfortunately, I ended up being a little disappointed by this book. I'd first like to start off by saying the idea of this book and their magic was really cool, and I found it really interesting to read about their magic and how it works. However, the whole first half of the book was just talking about how their magic works, and then the various mundane tasks they do throughout their day with a small dual perspective of our secondary character keeping tabs on our main character. There wasn't a lot of excitement that happened within the first part out of describing their magic system and I really felt like it could have been condensed down to less than the 150 pages it took. I found this really difficult to read until we got to part 2 of the book. Part 2 was where everything that was exciting happened. It definitely made me want to the pick up more but then I had the opposite issue of feeling rushed through all of the information I got at once, I was left feeling wanting to know more about what we had learned about characters, and not getting the satisfaction of finding out. Overall, I enjoyed this book enough to have finished it, but will I pick it up again? Probably not. I just don't think this book was for me.

My Favourite Characters:

Isabella (Short Shorts): I honestly loved Isabella's character even though we didn't get too much of her in the book. She really went to bat for Naya and I loved her for it.

Mamma: I loved Naya's mum so much. You could truly tell she cared for her daughter so much and I love seeing those type of familial figures within stories.

My Least Favourite Characters:

Mr. Lindy: Mr. Lindy honestly grossed me out so much, he can actually get in the bin.

Sylvia: Honestly, for Sylvia's age she was a horrible, horrible character. I'm glad there wasn't a lot of her in the story.

I gave this book a 3/5 star rating on Goodreads!

This book is going to be released 7th May 2024!

 What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

Short AF Book Review | The Cruel Prince

Hi friends! So today I'm going to be doing a review on "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers so please keep that in mind!)

"Of Course I want to be like them. They're beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardon is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him - and face the consequences.

In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself."

So the reason I wanted to read this book is because it was a book club I'm ins book of the month. I went into this knowing barely anything about the book other than the author co - wrote "The Spiderwick Chronicles" and that it is loved on booktok. So I downloaded it on Kindle Unlimited not knowing what to expect. Friends, I know I need to stop saying this but this book was truly a ride. I loved this book so much! I can very much see why this book is loved so much because it's just so captivating and keeps us on the edge of our seat throughout. I loved meeting all of the characters (good and bad) throughout and learning more about all of their stories. I loved the mixture between being in the human world and being in the fae realm and seeing the stark differences. I loved how much detail the author goes into when describing each of the characters or their surroundings. It was just the perfect amount to get a clear vision in my head without over describing. I love that the author also kept Jude's plan away from everyone (including the reader) until she enacted it. Honestly this book could not be more perfect and I would recommend this to anyone who just wants to read a really good fantasy. I can't wait to see what happens with the rest of the series and I will 100% be picking up the second book the moment I get the chance to.

My Favourite Characters:

Vivienne: So Vivi is Jude's older sister and I adored her. She had that "fuck you" energy from the very start and was as supportive towards Jude as she could possibly be. I hope we get to see more of her throughout the rest of the series.

Oriana: Oriana actually really grew on me throughout the book. You could tell that she did actually care for their family but Oak's safety was priority. I think she's a bad ass in her own right and I loved her.

Jude: Listen, there were times where my faith was waning in Jude throughout the book, but she kept on coming back stronger and had the most amount of character development in the book. I can't wait to see what she'll do next.

My Least Favourite Characters:

Valerian: When you read the book you will 100% see why he is on this list. I hated him so much.

Locke: Locke was another character where I kept gaining faith in him then losing it, I just really didn't like him throughout this book. I hope he has some more character development in the next couple of books

I gave this book a 5/5 star rating on Goodreads.

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

What I Read Last Week | 8th April - 14th April

Hi friends, so today we're going to be getting into what I read last week and how much of the book I read each day! This will include the Goodreads synopsis (which can sometimes contain spoilers) and my overall rating if I've finished them during the week!

If Only I Had Told Her | Laura Nowlin

"If only I'd told her that I loved her years ago, then I wouldn't be here now.

Finn has always loved Autumn. She's not just the girl next door or his mother's best friend's daughter, she is his everything. But she's not his girlfriend. That's Sylvie, and Finn would never hurt her, so there's no way Autumn could know how he truly feels.

Jack, Finn's best friend, isn't so sure. He's seen Finn and Autumn together. How could she not know? And how is he supposed to support and protect Finn when heartache seems inevitable?

Autumn surrounds herself with books and wants to write her own destiny - but one doesn't always get a new chapter and fate can be cruel to those in love.

Told through three different perspectives, If Only I Had Told Her is a love story brimming with truth, tragedy, and unexpected bonds that heal us."

Monday: 0 pages

Tuesday: 0 pages

Wednesday: 366 pages - finished

My Goodreads Rating: 3/5 stars

ARC | Walk The Web Lightly | Mary Pascual

"Naya's family is all about their art, their traditions, their secret ability to see time. They expect her to follow in their footsteps, creating art and keeping their powers concealed. But she wants to be a doctor - and you can't do that if you're hiding all the time! When a chance to go to medical science camp comes up, her family disapproves, but Grandmother challenges her to a if she can weave her soul wrap before the camp begins, she can go; if she fails, she has to say good - bye to her science dreams for good. With all the knowledge of time at her fingertips, Naya is sure she can win. But someone is rigging events to learn her family's secrets - and it turns out that what she doesn't know could jeopardize everyone she loves."

Thursday: 33 pages

Friday: 6 pages

Saturday: 27 pages

Sunday: 59 pages

And that is everything that I ended up reading last week! Have you read any of these books? How quickly did you get through them? What are your thoughts and feelings about them? Let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!