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My October wrap up! 📚✨ So September and October have been fantasy/YA reads for me. I don’t know if it’s seasons changing or just life lately, but I’ve been wanting to get lost in magical worlds. Annnd boy did I explore worlds, and was sort of deflated with most? If that’s fair to say? Here’s what I rated my October reads: Shadow and Bone (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) . Siege and Storm (⭐️⭐️⭐️) . Ruin and Rising (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) . Serpent & Dove (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) . Stalking Jack the Ripper (⭐️⭐️⭐️) . Illuminae (⭐️⭐️⭐️) ... Illuminae was my first ever audiobook and I did enjoy the story... I just wasn’t too keen on how the story unfolded. I felt the narration style hindered deeper connections and there was a lot of stuff that felt purposefully left out (I suspect this is to be explored in the sequel, but it definitely could have been explored in Illuminae imo). I also did Stalking Jack the Ripper as an audiobook and LOVED IT. The narrator was fantastic. It was just a little disappointing that the story was really predictable, and the prose was disappointing. I picked up the Shadow and Bone series because of the Netflix news, and really, really loved the first book. It delivered one heck of a story full of action, an intriguing world and interesting characters! I was jumping for joy I’d found such an unexpected hit (for me)... let me say, Leigh Bardugo’s writing style is amazing. I loved it, and that love continued through the second and third book as well... it was just a shame that they didn’t deliver an awesome read like Shadow and Bone. I felt Siege and Storm had little plot progression and disappointing character development... I nearly rated it 2 stars 🙈 but thankfully Ruin and Rising mostly recovered the series. And last but not least, I initially started out with Serpent & Dove’s audiobook because I couldn’t get into the book reading my hardback. I actually shelved it until I switched to the audiobook. Buuuuut once the I felt the story really got going, maybe 80-100 pages in, I really liked it and I’m now excited for the sequel! ☺️✨ ... I hope everyone had a great reading month! I’m now currently reading Wicked Saints, which has pleasantly surprised me! 🖤

Hey #bookstagram long time no posting! 👋🏼 But better late than never, right? In honour of Unravel the Dusk’s cover reveal, here’s a late post of my July #Owlcrate which included Spin the Dawn! I’m yet to read this series, but it’s on my list before 2019 ends. My favourite item in July’s box was undoubtedly Cara Kozik’s Harry Potter Year 4 (Goblet of Fire) mug because the artwork was just stunning ☺️ and I loved the fact a jigsaw was included too! ... On a serious note, I want to say something about my absence on here and blogging etc. I have been reading over the past few months... I’ve just not been posting about it, and other stuff, because of how exhausted I’ve been. Someone in my family had surgery, my dog wasn’t well, and I was really unwell with a bug for weeks on end last month too. It’s just been a pretty tiring few months - which put all my posting on the back burner, until weeks/months passed. Anyway, I’m hoping that all of that is now behind us, and I’ll be back to posting regularly ☺️ I just want to say a thank you to everybody who’s stuck around, even in my silence - I really appreciate it 💜 and I hope everybody had a spooktacular Happy Halloween! 🎃👻 ... #spinthedawn #unravelthedusk #carakozik #bookish #bookworm #booksbooksbooks #booklover #ilovebooks #readersofinstagram #instabooks #youngadultbooks #bookaddict #bookaholic #booknerd #bookhoarder

✨📚 My July wrap up! 📚✨ I read 6 books this month, and sadly none were five stars. But I did enjoy most of them! I’m hoping my August TBR pile will bring a five star read, which I’ve got my hopes up with my current read, Kingdom of Souls. It’s had a strong beginning, and I feel the pace and tone has been pretty consistent. Anyway, here’s my ratings for my July reads... Lock Every Door by Riley Sager (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) ... Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) ... The Possession by Michael Rutger (⭐️⭐️⭐️) ... Whisper Network by Chandler Baker (⭐️⭐️⭐️💫) ... Daisy Jone & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (⭐️⭐️⭐️) ... Bone China by Laura Purcell (⭐️⭐️⭐️) ... I’m still in disbelief that it’s August tomorrow. That’s one month left of summertime. I don’t think I’m ready for the end of somewhat nicer weather 😅😩 ... #lockeverydoor #thepossession #beforesheknewhim #daisyjonesandthesix #whispernetwork #bonechina #julywrapup #bookstack #bookpile #bookstagram #goodreads #bookreview #booksbooksbooks #bookshelf #bookish #bookcommunity #bookstagrammer #bookblogger #bookworm #instaread #readersofinsta

(Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) The Silent Companions unfolds across three narration periods; the diary of Anne Bainbridge in 1635, the events at The Bridge in 1885 with recently widowed Elsie Bainbridge and the most recent developments at St Joesph’s Hospital. All three narrative periods are interconnected to cultivate one-heck-of-a gripping climax. ... Thiiiiiis book! If you want something gothic, haunting, chilling… read this book. There are one or two moments of graphic horror, fair warning. ... Purcell's style of writing drew me in from the first couple of pages. As the story progressed, I consistently had a burning need to know more and more with every turn of the page – every chapter left me theorising and trying to work out what was happening. ... The plot is mainly based at The Bridge, a manor in the English countryside that oozes history and eeriness. I could easily imagine the grounds, the hallways, the rooms... All of this was extremely effectual in transporting me into the book's world, which made it all the more spooky when things started going south. ... The majority of the characters are an ensemble of women, illustrated in their social strata. I felt the characters were well developed and easily liked or loathed when relevant. ... The ending of this book exemplifies this as a horror. I was horror-struck. And describing myself as that is no exaggeration. Sometimes when reading a book, we desperately want our heroes/heroines to have a happy ending, and it can be of great disappointment when that doesn't happen. We’ve invested 300+ pages caring about them. So that's why I feel I can say this as a prelude to prospective readers: there is no happy ending here. If you can stomach that, then carry on with your plans to read this. ... Overall, I’m rating it 4 stars. I did feel there were some unresolved matters as I still had questions by the end. I suspect some of the lingering questions by the end are intentional, for each and every reader to conclude their own opinions. However, I personally would have liked a clean cut ending. Nonetheless, I absolutely loved this gothic and creepy horror, and recommend it for its gothic atmosphere and complex characters.

My recent bookmail stacked 📚✨ I am ABSOLUTELY thrilled #LockEveryDoor is finally here! I feel like I’ve been waiting forever for it’s publication. Safe to say, everything has been put on pause to read it. I’m only 100 pages in, and I’m already trying to predict how it’s going to end 🧐😂 After I’ve read that, I’ll either read #WhisperNetwork as I got an ARC of it in the mail yesterday, or the much anticipated September release, #KingdomofSouls 💛 So many books to try and wade through this summer 🥰 Middlegame, Silence of the Girls and Mrs. Everything are just some others that I’m desperate to read! Naturally, the TBR goes on and on, and I can’t help but keep adding to it! My bookcases are filling up quite quickly! 😅📚💗 ... #middlegame #silenceofthegirls #mrseverything #rileysager #reesewitherspoonbookclub #reesesbookclubxhellosunshine #bookstack #bookmail #bookstagram #bookshelf #booksbooksbooks #summerreading #summerreads #goodreads #bookobsessed #bookhoarder #bookishlove

(Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) City of Girls is a coming-of-age story across one woman’s lifespan, detailed through a memoir-like narration, which is filled with delight and grief, to make a wonderous and emotional read. You know when you’ve read a good book; when you close the boards having just finished the last page, and let out a sigh of contentment, joy and whatever else someone can feel. That’s what I had here. This was truly a pleasure to read. For me, this is one of those rare gems that is quite special. I felt like I was sitting down to hear my grandmother’s life story – and I simply couldn’t get enough. As the book read like an endearing swansong, it was easy to connect with both the story and its narrator, Vivian. The reader goes on her journeys of first love, questionable choices and influences, great successes and profound mistakes and regrets (to name a few). I really can't express the poignancy Elizabeth Gilbert has captured, of someone looking retrospectively at their life. Vivian didn't see what or where she was going wrong at 19, but with the benefit (and tragic beauty) of hindsight, she saw all of these faults in her old age. And faults of other people. City of Girls is perfect for fans of theatre and musicals, as it takes the reader through the joys and perils of what being a showman or show woman, backstage crew etc., is all about. But most importantly, my favourite part of the overall story is what the power of something can do to one’s life. The power of hindsight, unpredictability, regrets, knowing oneself and so on. The extent of how all of these occurrences influence and shape a person was my favourite theme of this book. Overall, I think this is an essential book in helping young ladies know their worth is what they define it, and that life is worth living to the fullest potential by whatever means bring us as much happiness as possible. My full review of #CityofGirls is up on my blog (link is available in bio!)

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