Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Totally Meant to Read in 2018 and Failed to

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by the fabulous Jana at The Artsy Reader Girl. You can join in with future topics here!

Sure, 2018 was a year of me finally climbing (slowly) out of my reading slump, but there were a whole load of books that sat forlornly on my to read pile as I kept promising I'd get to them and (repeatedly) failed to. This year, books, I promise...

Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman
I loved Seraphina and then loathed Shadow Scale. So I both desperately want to read and don't want to read this latest from Hartman. I'm working up to it slowly. I'll start it when it least expects me to and take it by surprise.

Onyx & Ivory by Mindee Arnett
I totally meant to read this one over the festive break but never quite got to it. It's another one that I'm super excited to read though, so it won't be long before I get there. And I totally haven't been saying that since I bought it in July...

Hunted by Meagan Spooner
So many good things have been floating around about this, and I've picked it up to start it several times, only to get side-tracked by other things. I'm probably mostly just afraid it won't live up to my high hopes.

A Treacherous Curse by Deanna Raybourn
I seem to be a year behind on these... I read book two as book three was coming out, and now I'm getting to the third book just as the fourth book is released. One day I'll catch up!

The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
I adore Julia Quinn's books so I have no idea why I've failed so terribly at getting on to this one. Maybe I'm just saving it for a rainy day when I really need a burst of sunshine and happy romance.

Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon
I'd hoped to read this one before the fourth season came out, but I think I missed that window of opportunity. Alas, it will wait and tide me over when the season is over and I'm missing Claire and Jamie.

Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor
I've finally caught up with Strange the Dreamer in the first few weeks of this year, but I still haven't caught up with everyone else and read the sequel to the dark and beautiful tale from Laini Taylor. I wasn't quite sure what to expect with the first book, and going into the second I still don't really know, but I'm excited. 

Prudence by Gail Carriger
Following the completion of The Parasol Protectorate series, I've managed to miss all of Gail's new novels. They're stacking up nicely on my to read pile for an excellent binge session soon.

The Fate of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
I really loved the first book, I found the second one really weird and thoroughly baffling, and as a result the third book has just sat in perpetual anticipation for me finally finishing this trilogy.

Two Dark Reigns by Kendare Blake
I adored the first two books, yet something didn't quite work when I picked up this third one. I think I must have been in the wrong frame of mind, so I'm waiting for the right moment to go back to it.

Now over to you, tell me some of the books you wanted to get to and didn't quite make it to in time last year!

Top Ten Tuesday: New to me Authors in 2018

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by the fabulous Jana at The Artsy Reader Girl. You can join in with future topics here!

2018 was a bit more of a return to my old reading habits, and I tried to mix up favourite authors with some new discoveries. Some of these worked out better than others, so I've got a few new favourites to add to my auto-buy list, and a few that I probably won't try again.

Naomi Novik
Read: Uprooted
A really fantastic standalone and a great introduction to Novik's writing, I'm now really excited to find more by her and see what I've been missing over the last few years.

Deborah Harkness
Read: The All Souls Trilogy
I'm late to the party, I know, but with the arrival of the TV series these books cropped up on my radar again. I finally gave them a go, and whilst there was a bit of a wobble mid way through the trilogy, on the whole I loved these and they proved to be a highlight of my reading year.

Rebecca Ross
Read: The Queen's Rising
A truly gorgeous book, this one shot straight onto my list of favourites and I am desperately waiting for the second book in the series this spring.

McKelle George
Read: Speak Easy, Speak Love
A curious and gorgeous 1920s retelling of Much Ado About Nothing, this book just worked for me. I loved it, and I'm really curious to read more from George now.

Sandhya Menon
Read: When Dimple Met Rishi
A bright, light, wonderful young adult romance. I absolutely adored this one and I am so excited to read Menon's next novel. This just perfectly captured first love, with a really great cast of characters.

Shea Ernshaw
Read: The Wicked Deep
Lyrical, haunting, with a glorious heart to it, I adored this novel from Ernshaw. It was one of my favourite reads of 2018, and I'm really excited to see what she write's next.

Amanda Bouchet
Read: The Kingmaker Chronicles
These books had been calling to me ever since the first book came out and I read the first few pages and was suitably intrigued. I never got round to actually reading them until last year, and suddenly I couldn't get enough. I stormed through the trilogy in a matter of days, but I think the first book, "A Promise of Fire" remains my favourite.

Becky Albertalli
Read: Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda
A fresh and wonderful story, I read this around the same time the film came out and loved both. I finally know why everyone has been raving about this one, and I'm not sure why it took me so long to catch up...

Tahereh Mafi
Read: Shatter Me
I'd heard so much about this series, yet I never really caught the spark. It was enough to keep me entertained for a few hours, but not enough to make me go out and buy the rest of the series.

Kevin Kwan
Read: Crazy Rich Asians
Another instance of 'oh the trailer looks good I should really read the book!' I felt mixed about this book. It got a little bit heavy towards the end, and I've resisted picking up book two, but after really enjoying the film adaptation I think I've re-found my impetus to keep reading.

There you have ten new discoveries for me - are any of these new for you? Or are you shaking your head at how long it took me to pick some of these up?

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books I've read in 2018

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by the fabulous Jana at The Artsy Reader Girl. You can join in with future topics here!

2018 was a pretty good year for books. It marked the end of one of my longest periods of not reading, and I really loved getting back into the swing of things and making headway on my truly ridiculous to read pile (it was threatening to crush me in my sleep).
In my attempts to catch up I've skipped all over the place - some fantasy, some contemporary, a good heap of romance - and it has been great.
So here you have ten of my favourite reads from the last year.

Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J Maas
How is the series over? How is that even possible? What do I do with this giant Throne of Glass shaped hole? I really enjoyed the final book in the series. It was a (mostly) satisfying conclusion to a really incredible saga. I admit I did find myself becoming a little bit frustrated with turns of events about three quarters of the way through, but I'm willing to overlook those because the rest of it was so good.
You can read my review here.


Speak Easy, Speak Love by McKelle George

This was a surprise that appeared from nowhere. I'd not come across this one anywhere, and then suddenly Angie wrote a review of it, and I was feverish with excitement to read it. Thankfully, as is so often the case with books I read due to Angie, it absolutely lived up to expectations and I loved it. A truly glorious twist on 'Much Ado About Nothing', it's been given to a few number of people for Christmas to share the love.
You can read my review here.

The Queen's Rising by Rebecca Ross
This was another surprise that I completely fell in love with. There was something about the writing, the plot, and the character's that just filled me with joy. I really adored this book and I can't wait to read the sequel next spring. If you're looking for an engaging fantasy with some of the same feelings as "The Queen of the Tearling" then look no further!

You can read my review here.

Children of Blood & Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
There was so much buzz surrounding this one, that I put off reading it for ages for fear that it couldn't possibly live up to my expectations. Luckily it did, and I'm now desperately hankering after the second book to see what happens.

You can read my review here.

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
Diverse fiction? Check! Great love story with fresh and fun romance? Check. Science minded lady and artsy guy? Check! This book was exactly what I needed. Great writing, an engaging pairing with some wonderful characters, and a really fun plot. I thoroughly enjoyed this and can't wait to read Sandhya's next book!

The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw
Thrilling, filled with suspense and intrigue, and with a similar vibe to "The Brides of Rollrock Island", I was thoroughly captivated by this one. Atmospheric, chilling, and really engaging, I stormed through this one. Once I'd started I found it really difficult to put it down, and it's a story that's stayed with me ever since. I'm really excited to see what Shea writes next!


A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Spurred on by the appearance of the tv show for this, I finally got on with reading the book, and boy did I love it. Sure it had some Twilight-esq feelings about it, but I really did enjoy it. A great plot, fantastic world building, and some really enjoyable characters to follow, this was a great start to the trilogy and left me desperate for more.
You can read my review here.


Tower of Dawn by Sarah J Maas
I'd put off reading this one, not because of any of the usual reasons involving it not involving Aelin, but just because I wasn't managing to read. I didn't want to start reading it only to put it down a few pages later thanks to my own inability to concentrate. So I waited, and I eyed it, and as soon as I'd managed a couple of books at the start of the year, I kept my fingers crossed that the streak was broken and got stuck in. And I loved it. It's up there as one of my favourite of the series. It's different, it explores so much more of the world and the history of this world, and it's an absolute joy to read.
You can read my review here.


Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Handed to me in the last few weeks of the year, I was told by my sister in law that I needed to read this one stat. So I started it, and I got sucked in, and I completely adored it. Sometimes it's refreshing to have a standalone to cleanse the palette, and this one certainly did that. It skipped all over the place - every time I thought I had a handle on what kind of story it would be, it changed. It kept me on my toes, and I loved it. Expect a review in the new year!

A Thousand Perfect Notes by C G Drews
A heart-breaking first debut, Cait truly cemented herself as a writer to watch. Lyrical prose, a curious cast of characters, and a wonderful (read SOUL DESTROYING) plot that draws you in and plays on your emotions. It's a stunning debut, and I'm so excited for her second book next Spring. 
You can read my review here.

There are my ten best books from 2018, now share some of yours! Let me know which ones you agree with, and others you think I should get reading in the comments below!

Taking Stock

The last year (and a bit) has been a rollercoaster, and a lot of it the not fun kind.
Towards the end of 2017 I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, and left my place of work due to my manager's response to that fact - both within a few short weeks. It was a truly awful time, added to by starting antidepressants, which whilst ultimately a saving grace, provided an additional challenge during the first few weeks as I tried to find some sort of equilibrium.

Part of my depression manifested in not being able to read. I couldn't settle to anything for more than a page or two at a time, and having that support system of books taken away at a time when I needed it most was really difficult.

However, at the start of this year, as I took some much needed time out to try and piece myself back together again, and the tablets started to do what they were meant to, I found a little corner of myself I recognised - the one that wanted to read again.

Whilst I've not read with the usual speed and intensity as I used to, having that piece of myself back has been a huge relief. Something that I now take less for granted. One that I've then been able to branch out into actually reviewing books again - this site had gone unused for far too long.

So whilst this time last year I was an absolute mess, over the last twelve months the good has outweighed the bad, and the to read pile has slowly been tackled.

I want to thank you, dear reader, for sticking through the quiet patches where this space wasn't used, and for coming back to hear my thoughts on books and TV and films in the last few months. It means a lot to me.

I also want to open up a line of communication for anyone who is struggling with mental health. I'm trying to talk more about mine, to try and remove some of the taboo around it, and part of what really helped me was having people around me who had been through similar things and could offer me understanding and support. So if you need someone to talk to, use any of the listed ways to contact me - I will always be here.

Happy new year everyone, I hope the next 12 months bring you wonderful books to read and happiness, even when it may not feel like that is possible.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I hope are under my Christmas tree!

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by the fabulous Jana at The Artsy Reader Girl. You can join in with future topics here!
My family know that books are a guaranteed way to a) keep me quiet and b) make me happy - both key things around Christmas.
So here you have ten books I'm hoping I've dropped enough hints about to end up with over the holiday!

A Devil in Scotland by Suzanne Enoch
A brash and bold Scot follows few rules. But falling in love with his brother's fiancee?That's a rule not meant to be broken... Reckless and wild, Callum MacCreath is everything his brother Ian is not. And when Ian gets to marry the beautiful Rebecca Sanderson, Callum is the one who has to stand by in watch. In love with Rebecca, Callum races off to America to pursue his own destiny. But even the most daring Scot can't escape true love's fate... Once a wife, now a widow, Rebecca needs to accept a marriage offer from a Duke in order to keep her daughter cared for and fed. But when Callum comes back from America with a blaze of desire in his eyes that reawakens her instantly, Rebecca knows that this time, she'll marry the right MacCreath.

Historical romance novels have become somewhat of a Christmas staple for me. I usually find at lest one in my stocking, and it keeps me quiet and happy for a couple of hours Christmas afternoon...

The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

She was in the wrong place...
Fiercely independent and adventurous, Poppy Bridgerton will only wed a suitor whose keen intellect and interests match her own. Sadly, none of the fools from her London season qualify. While visiting a friend on the Dorset coast, Poppy is pleasantly surprised to discover a smugglers' hideaway tucked inside a cave. But her delight turns to dismay when two pirates kidnap her and take her aboard a ship, leaving her bound and gagged on the captain's bed...
He found her at the wrong time...
Known to society as a rascal and reckless privateer, Captain Andrew James Rokesby actually transports essential goods and documents for the British government. Setting sail on a time-sensitive voyage to Portugal, he's stunned to find a woman waiting for him in his cabin. Surely, his imagination is getting the better of him. But no, she is very real-and his duty to the Crown means he's stuck with her.
Can two wrongs make the most perfect right?

When Andrew learns that she is a Bridgerton, he knows he will likely have to wed her to avert a scandal-though Poppy has no idea that he is the son of an earl and neighbor to her aristocratic cousins in Kent. On the high seas, their war of words soon gives way to an intoxicating passion. But when Andrew's secret is revealed, will his declaration of love be enough to capture her heart...?

I've been harping on about this one for an absolute age, and I'm really hoping the hint will have stuck...

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (collectors edition)
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price–and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone…
A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.
Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first. 

Such a fabulous book, and such a gorgeous new edition. I really want this one on my shelves, and I'm hoping they release a special edition of the second book next year too.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas (collectors edition)

Throne of Glass begins the sweeping saga of assassin Celaena Sardothien, who is serving a life sentence in the mines of Endovier - until a young captain of the guard offers her a deal. She will have her freedom, on one condition: she must fight to win a deadly competition to serve as the champion of the king. The king who rules his kingdom with a cruel and merciless hand.

Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, her destiny will claim her.
Now available in this gorgeous new package, the Throne of Glass Collector's Edition features unique foil-stamped cover art, a ribbon marker, beautiful new interior page designs, colour endpapers and a new map of Erilea.

I've been so good this year. Please let me have this one, it's so beautiful. Also, make the rest of the series match now, thanks.

Reign the Earth by A C Guaghen

Shalia is a proud daughter of the desert, but after years of devastating war with the adjoining kingdom, her people are desperate for peace. Willing to trade her freedom to ensure the safety of her family, Shalia becomes Queen of the Bonelands.

But she soon learns that her husband, Calix, is motivated only by his desire to exterminate the Elementae—mystical people who can control earth, wind, air, and fire. Even more unsettling are Shalia’s feelings for her husband’s brother, which unleash a power over the earth she never knew she possessed—a power that could get her killed. As rumours of a rebellion against Calix spread, Shalia must choose between the last chance for peace and her own future as an Elementae.

I've been eyeing this one for so long, and actually having some time to make my way through a stack of books over the Christmas break is exactly the perfect time to read this. Now I just hope I get a copy.

Fire and Blood by George R R Martin

With all the fire and fury fans have come to expect from internationally bestselling author George R. R. Martin, this is the first volume of the definitive two-part history of the Targaryens in Westeros.
Centuries before the events of A Game of Thrones, House Targaryen—the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria—took up residence on Dragonstone. Fire and Blood begins their tale with the legendary Aegon the Conqueror, creator of the Iron Throne, and goes on to recount the generations of Targaryens who fought to hold that iconic seat, all the way up to the civil war that nearly tore their dynasty apart.

What really happened during the Dance of the Dragons? Why did it become so deadly to visit Valyria after the Doom? What is the origin of Daenerys’s three dragon eggs? These are but a few of the questions answered in this essential chronicle, as related by a learned maester of the Citadel and featuring more than eighty all-new black-and-white illustrations by artist Doug Wheatley. Readers have glimpsed small parts of this narrative in such volumes as The World of Ice & Fire, but now, for the first time, the full tapestry of Targaryen history is revealed.

I'm super excited to immerse myself further in the history of Westeros. I love historical reads anyway, so this seems like a bit of a match made in heaven.

Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare
What if damnation is the price of true love?
Innocent blood has been spilled on the steps of the Council Hall, the sacred stronghold of the Shadowhunters. In the wake of the tragic death of Livia Blackthorn, the Clave teeters on the brink of civil war. One fragment of the Blackthorn family flees to Los Angeles, seeking to discover the source of the blight that is destroying the race of warlocks. 

Meanwhile, Julian and Emma take desperate measures to put their forbidden love aside and undertake a perilous mission to Faerie to retrieve the Black Volume of the Dead. What they find in the Courts is a secret that may tear the Shadow World asunder and open a dark path into a future they could never have imagined. Caught in a race against time, Emma and Julian must save the world of Shadowhunters before the deadly power of the parabatai curse destroys them and everyone they love. 

I've got the first two books in the series sat on my bookcase waiting for me to spend a couple of days back with the Shadowhunters over Christmas, and I really want the third book now to complete the set and allow me to thoroughly binge my way through this series.

Seven Minutes in Heaven by Eloisa James

Witty and elusive Eugenia Snowe has all society begging for one of her premiere governesses - except the powerful Edward Reeve, who bursts into her office with his arrogant demands.
He promises her heaven.
No question that Eugenia enjoys crossing wits with the brilliant inventor, but soon it becomes clear that Ward wants far more than a governess. He wants Eugenia, and he'll stop at nothing to have her - including kidnapping.
Will Eugenia lose her heart in the most reckless gamble of her life, or will she discover the sweetest pleasure she's ever known? 

She gives him seven minutes.

See the above excitement about how Christmas is the time for historical romances, add in how much I love Eloisa James and the fact that I've failed to catch up on her latest releases for a little while, and you have this gorgeous book that I really hope is under the Christmas tree for me.

Wilde in Love by Eloisa James
Lord Alaric Wilde, son of the Duke of Lindow, is the most celebrated man in England, revered for his dangerous adventures and rakish good looks. Arriving home from years abroad, he has no idea of his own celebrity until his boat is met by mobs of screaming ladies. Alaric escapes to his father's castle, but just as he grasps that he's not only famous but notorious, he encounters the very private, very witty, Miss Willa Ffynche.
Willa presents the façade of a serene young lady to the world. Her love of books and bawdy jokes is purely for the delight of her intimate friends. She wants nothing to do with a man whose private life is splashed over every newspaper.
Alaric has never met a woman he wanted for his own... until he meets Willa. He's never lost a battle.

But a spirited woman like Willa isn't going to make it easy.

Yes please, see the above reasoning. More Eloisa James makes me a happy bunny.

Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman
The stakes are high in this chilling sci-fi thriller, in which professional scythes control who dies. Everything else is out of human control, managed by the Thunderhead. It's a perfect system – until it isn't.
It’s been a year since Rowan went off-grid. Hunted by the Scythedom, he has become an urban legend, a vigilante snuffing out corrupt scythes in a trial by fire. Citra, meanwhile, is forging her path as Scythe Anastasia, gleaning with compassion. However, conflict within the Scythedom is growing by the day, and when Citra’s life is threatened, it becomes clear that there is a truly terrifying plot afoot.
The Thunderhead observes everything, and it does not like what it sees. Will it intervene?

Or will it simply watch as this perfect world begins to unravel?

I really loved reading Scythe earlier this year. It was fresh and exciting, and really different from anything else I'd picked up. Now I can't wait to read the sequel and see what happens next.

There are ten books that I'm really hoping are under my Christmas tree. Let me know some of your hoped for Christmas reads in the comments, and have a lovely day!