Friday, December 24, 2021

DNF Review - The Unbroken (Magic of the Lost, #1) by C.L. Clark

 

 


 Title: The Unbroken (Magic of the Lost, #1)

Author: C.L. Clark

Release Date: 23rd March 2021

Pages: 528

Publisher: Orbit

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 Touraine is a soldier. Stolen as a child and raised to kill and die for the empire, her only loyalty is to her fellow conscripts. But now, her company has been sent back to her homeland to stop a rebellion, and the ties of blood may be stronger than she thought.

Luca needs a turncoat. Someone desperate enough to tiptoe the bayonet's edge between treason and orders. Someone who can sway the rebels toward peace, while Luca focuses on what really matters: getting her uncle off her throne.

Through assassinations and massacres, in bedrooms and war rooms, Touraine and Luca will haggle over the price of a nation. But some things aren't for sale. 

 

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop

 

 

 

 

 My Review:

 *I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group and NetGalley*


-DNF @62% -




Touraine was one of many children taken from their homeland and trained as soldiers for the empire. Now a lieutenant, Touraine and her company are being sent back home to quell the rising rebellion.

Luca needs to convince her uncle that she is ready to take her rightful place as queen. She is determined to make peace with the rebels and needs someone to act as an intermediary.

Luca's intentions may be good, but can she bring peace when tensions are rising?

Will being back in her homeland make Touraine question where her loyalty should lie?


This is one of the fantasy novels that I have seen around a lot this year, and as a fantasy fan I was excited to read it. However, it ended up being not for me.

Touraine and Luca were protagonists that I felt sorry for, but I didn't feel that I really connected with them properly, which meant that I wasn't invested in what happened to them.

The setting was interesting, as was one of the main themes of colonialism, which we got to see from both points of view.

The plot was enjoyable to begin with, but rather slow, which after a while, led to me becoming bored. It got to the point where I didn't want to pick the book back up and I decided to DNF.

I'm really disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more as the diversity appealed to me.


Overall, this unfortunately wasn't for me.



 


Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Top Ten Tuesday - Books on My Winter 2021 To-Read List

 

 Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.



This week the topic is 
Books on My Winter 2021 To-Read List
 
 
 
Here are my picks . . .
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 

 


 
 
What books do you want to read?
 
 

Saturday, December 11, 2021

Review - You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry


 


Title: You and Me on Vacation

Author: Emily Henry

Pages: 368

Publisher: Penguin UK

Release Date: 11th May 2021

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

TWO FRIENDS
TEN SUMMER TRIPS
THEIR LAST CHANCE TO FALL IN LOVE

12 SUMMERS AGO: Poppy and Alex meet. They hate each other, and are pretty confident they'll never speak again.

11 SUMMERS AGO: They're forced to share a ride home from college and by the end of it a friendship is formed. And a pact: every year, one vacation together.

10 SUMMERS AGO: Alex discovers his fear of flying on the way to Vancouver.
Poppy holds his hand the whole way.

7 SUMMERS AGO: They get far too drunk and narrowly avoid getting matching tattoos in New Orleans.

2 SUMMERS AGO: It all goes wrong.

THIS SUMMER: Poppy asks Alex to join her on one last trip. A trip that will determine the rest of their lives.

You and Me on Vacation is a love story for fans of When Harry Met Sally and One Day. Get ready to travel the world, snort with laughter and - most of all - lose your heart to Poppy and Alex.


Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop





My Review:

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Penguin General UK and NetGalley*



When Poppy met Alex twelve years ago, she was sure that they'd never speak to each other again, but one year later the two find themselves driving home together. A drive that would lead to the duo becoming friends and going on holiday together every summer.

Until two years ago when everything went wrong.

This summer, Poppy is determined to give Alex the best holiday yet in order to rekindle their friendship.

Can Poppy and Alex's friendship return to the way it was?

What happened two years ago?


While contemporary/romance novels are not usually among my favourites, I liked the sound of this book and decided to give it a go.

I found both Poppy and Alex to be likeable and relatable protagonists. The duo were complete opposites personality-wise, but they got on really well and I enjoyed reading as their friendship developed. I liked that neither Poppy nor Alex were perfect - they both had past experiences that still affected them and they needed to work through.

The plot was enjoyable and held my attention, but I wasn't gripped and nothing happened that shocked or surprised me. However, I did find myself smiling several times while reading this and I liked Poppy and Alex's banter.

The writing style was easy to follow and at one point I thought the plot was going to go in a direction that I didn't want it to, but luckily it didn't.

I am a little disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more, but I would still recommend it.


Overall, this was an enjoyable read.


Tuesday, December 7, 2021

December TBR


 

 Here are the books I'm hoping to read in December . . .

 

 

Antigoddess (Goddess War, #1) by Kendare Blake

You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry



The Unbroken (Magic of the Lost, #1) by C.L. Clark



What are you planning to read in December?



Sunday, December 5, 2021

November Wrap-Up

*Contains spoilers for the October FairyLoot book*


 

WHAT I READ

 

 

This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria - eARC - 2.5/5 stars - read my review here.

Knife Edge by Simon Mayo - hardback - DNF (1/5 stars).

 

She Who Became the Sun (The Radiant Emperor, #1) by Shelley Parker-Chan - eARC - 2.5/5 stars - read my review here.

Godsgrave (The Nevernight Chronicles, #2) by Jay Kristoff - audiobook - 4/5 stars.

 

 


 Hawkeye, Volume 1: My Life as a Weapon by Matt Fraction - paperback - 3/5 stars.

Hawkeye, Volume 2: Little Hits - paperback - 2.5/5 stars.


The Sandman, Volume 1: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman - paperback - 3/5 stars.




HAULED BOOKS

 

Physical books:



NetGalley ARCs:

My thanks to the publishers!




CURRENTLY READING



You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry 

Darkdawn (The Nevernight Chronicles, #3) by Jay Kristoff