Book Haul| February 2019 (#Gifted)

I technically didn't buy any books this month (the good news), but it sure as hell grew more than I was anticipating (semi-bad news; I guess it depends how I look at this one). 

Due to the nature of how I received many of these wonderful and exciting new but stipulating that these were copies #gifted in exchange for an honest review. I'm just making sure to share these in a hall so you're aware of them before I have a chance to read them.

The Migration
Helen Marshall

Goodreads

**Received from the publisher as a gift in exchange for an honest and truthful review**

UK Publisher: Titan Books
UK Release Date: March 5th, 2019

The City in the Middle of the Night
Charlie Jane Anders

Goodreads

**Received from the publisher as a gift in exchange for an honest and truthful review**

UK Publisher: Titan Books
UK Release Date: February 12th, 2019

The Near Witch
V.E.Schwab

Goodreads

**Received from the publisher as a gift in exchange for an honest and truthful review**

UK Publisher: Titan Books
UK Release Date: March 12th, 2019

Master of Sorrows (The Silent Gods #1)
Justin Call

Goodreads

**Received from the publisher as a gift in exchange for an honest and truthful review**

UK Publisher: Gollancz
UK Release Date: February 21st, 2019

The Priory of the Orange Tree
Samantha Shannon

Goodreads

**Bought as part of a year-long pre-order**

UK Publisher: Bloomsbury Books
UK Release Date: February 26th, 2019

Wrap-Up| Jan-Feb 2019

I feel like the only thing I even have time to do recently is writing TBRs, Book Hauls, and then Wrap-Ups at the end of the month.

All the Lonely People
David Owen
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads

BLOG TOUR| REVIEW

Really loved this one and how it explored the concept of loneliness and friendship. Check out my review to know more!

The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air #1)
Holly Black
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads

Oh fine, the hype got me in the end. I'm hoping to write a review this week, or soonish, but this was the kind of faerie book I have always wanted to read growing up. Dark, brutal and full of deceit. YUM!

Wide Sargasso Sea
Jean Rhys
⭐⭐

Goodreads

The only book on my Neo-Victorianism reading list I have managed to finish this month (although, I haven't started Sea of Poppies yet). I'm not 100% sure on what I read, nor did I enjoy the writing style. 

Neverwhere (London Below #1)
Neil Gaiman
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads

The first of a minor Neil Gaiman binge this month. I love love love Neil Gaiman's stories. And with the addition of illustrations from Chris Riddell, these worked to create a magical touch to an already fantastical story. Neverwhere remains still one of my favourites. 

How the Marquis Got His Coat Back (London Below #1.5)
Neil Gaiman
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads

This was a little novella that was published in an anthology, in 2013. And has since been added as bonus material in my addition of Neverwhere. I really enjoyed it, and think you could enjoy it without the world building of London Below. 

Coraline
Written by Neil Gaiman; Read by Neil Gaiman
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads

Another reread, but this time I listened to it via audiobook. Do we need to reiterate how much I love Neil Gaiman reading his own writing. He's voice is so soothing! 
Coraline is creepy and eery and not one to listen to on your own. 

Top 5 Wednesday| "But I love you!"

Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly blog group that comes together to discuss that week's topic. The idea was first curated by the wonderful Lainey at GingerReadLainey and is now run by Samantha over on ThoughtsonTomes. 

If you wish to participate, either on your Blog or Booktube channel then, please, join the group on Goodreads for all the relevant topics.

"But I love You!" 

"...Dude?" 

Taken from a snippet of dialogue in the song 'I Say No' (Heathers the Musical, 2019), I thought that it was interesting that this track dropped the same week as this Top 5 Wednesday.  A song where the main protagonist, Veronica Sawyer, ultimately deciedes to pull the plug on her relationship with JD.

And with that little trivia, I'm starting with:

Jason Dean
Heathers the Musical

This is a strange one. It's between choosing Film JD and Musical JD, and have decieded on Jamie Muscato's portrayal of JD in the West End production of Heathers the Musical. That got confusing. 
Showing some rather psychotic behaviors, it would be wrong of me to assume that I would pick up and escape earlier on.  But, girl, what you doin'? Run. 

Mal
Shadow and Bone

Goodreads

I don't really have a problem with Mal. I think my 'issue' stems from wanting Dark Alina, which wasn't really ever to happen, and that Mal somehow is the closest I've come across to an actual teenage boy. 

Peter Kavinsky
P.S. I Still Love You

Goodreads

Don't get me wrong, I still love Peter K, however, I rather disliked the way his character developed in the second book of the To All the Boys I Loved Before trilogy.  He kept hiding stuff and sneaking about during his relationship with Lara Jean. That's just a big no-no. Sorry, not sorry. 

Locke
The Cruel Prince

Goodreads

Yeah, wouldn't trust him as far as I could spit. Especially what he did with my homegirl, Jude.  

Wolf
Scarlet

Goodreads

I barely remember Scarlet, due to reading it so long ago, however, from what I remember Scarlet and Wolf's relationship made me rather uncomfortable. I understand Wolf was... you know, part wolf, but he was rather too predatory and over-bearing for my liking. Then again, we're all different. 

Top 5 Wednesday| *Insert Destiny Child Lyrics Here*

Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly blog group that comes together to discuss that week's topic. The idea was first curated by the wonderful Lainey at GingerReadLainey and is now run by Samantha over on ThoughtsonTomes. 

If you wish to participate, either on your Blog or Booktube channel then, please, join the group on Goodreads for all the relevant topics.

This week we are looking at independent ladies! This doesn't mean that these characters don't have romantic sub-plots in the stories, but ladies that don't need a romantic counterpart to make them interesting or bad-ass.

Kate Harker
This Savage Song

As much as this could be argued, there is no romantic plot in the Monsters of Verity duology. Kate and August kiss at a moment of high tension and incomprehension of what keeps pulling them together. And that's platonic. At best.

Irene de Winters
The Invisible Library

Irene de Winters may have two possible love interests, but that doesn't stop her getting in her way as she delves between variant worlds as a junior library. Proof that you can still have love and still do the things you want and need to do in order to protect the worlds.

Jude Duarte
The Cruel Prince

This one is a newly finished book, and I'm so glad I read it before this topic came up for Top 5 Wednesday. Although there are elements of romance in Jude's story, it's her ferocity and wants to fit into a society that drives her and makes her an incredibly independent woman. I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy of The Wicked King and see where her journey progresses from here.

Felicity Montague
Gentlemen's Guide to Vice and Virtue/A Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy

If I could sum up Felicity in one single quote, this would be it: "You deserve to be here. You deserve to exist. You deserve to take up space in this world."

Lady Vincenza de Grazon (A.K.A Vintage)
The Ninth Rain

To think I almost left out one of my favourite characters. I just bloody love Vintage so much. 





I don't normally do this but I wanted to include someone else, but due to the nature of being a TV show character (and last week was a particularly TV heavy T5W), I thought I would make an honourable mention.

Vanessa Ives
Penny Dreadful

I still haven't finished the second series, due to no longer being able to access the boxsets, but I have every intention of going back. Vanessa is a woman who is troubled, but is able to stand on her own ground and doesn't need a romance plot to make her interesting. 

TBR| February 2019

This year hasn't got off to the greatest start where my reading is concerned. I feel like I have so much going on and nothing, all at the same time - and it's setting my anxiety off. My inability to sleep longer than two-four hours at a time isn't helping me, either.

A lot of my time is spent on work for my final semester, as well as making some amazing memories with people I am really going to miss when I graduate. That being said I have a few books I'm hoping to make time for some of these, as well as all the neo-victorian texts that I am going to have to read this semester (send help). 

The French Lieutenant's Woman
John Fowles

Goodreads

First one on the list and the first one I need to read for my class. 

The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air #1)
Holly Black

Goodreads

As mentioned in my book haul, I can no longer hold off from finding out about all the hype. It has been a year, and it still hasn't died off. And all the gorgeous artwork isn't helping my case. 

Wide Sargasso Sea
Jean Rhys

Goodreads

One of the shorter novels I have to read for class (thankfully). I feel like I haven't heard of this, but still seems familiar? I'm just as confused as you are at that statement. 

Bloodwitch (The Witchlands #3)
Susan Dennard

Goodreads

Bloodwitch was on my top 5 most anticipated books for 2019, so obviously I will be diving in as soon as my copy arrives. I'm so excited about being back into this world, but might have to read some story synopsizes beforehand.

Midnight Never Come (Onyx Court #1)
Marie Brennan

Goodreads

I'm low-key participating in Sarah-Jane's Faeburary. Even though I'm just in the mood for Fae books at the moment. Like how I always crave high fantasy and dragons in December.

The Poison Song (The Winnowing Flame Trilogy #3)
Jen Williams

Goodreads

I got approved of an early ARC of this one at the end of January, and if you read the blog post I mentioned Bloodwitch in, you will also know how excited I am for this one. I don't think I'll be able to read the entire book, but I would love to at least start it this month.

Sea of Poppies (Ibis Trilogy #1)
Amitav Ghosh

Goodreads

This is going to be one of the more challenging reads that I have to read for my Neo-Victorianism class this month. He's a corker coming in at over 500 pages, but I've heard the writing itself is rather challenging. Fingers crossed, aye?

Wrap-Up| Dec'18

I don't know how I did, or what possessed me but I somehow read 70 books in the year 2018. I am so proud of myself. Reading has come back into being that escapism that I used to have as a kid, and has reinforced itself as a weight (I mean, have you tried to carry 60 books across the country via trains) that I won't ever shake; whether or not I remain in the blogging communities is another thought but there it is.

For every month of 2018, I wrote one of these posts. And thought that it wouldn't be right if I didn't do a final wrap up to finish off 2018 in a nice clean way.

A Sucky Love Story
Brittani Louise Taylor
No Rating

Goodreads

Dumplin'
Julie Murphy
⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads

25 Days til Christmas
Poppy Alexander
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads

The Punk Factor (This Beats Perfect #3)
Rebecca Denton
⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads

Doctor Who: The Last Voyage
Written by Dan Abnett ; Read by David Tennant
⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads







Doctor Who: Dead Air
Written by James Goss; Read by David Tennant
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads

The Dark Vault: The Archived
V.E. Schwab
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads

Mort
Terry Pratchett
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads








Black Venus
Angela Carter
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads







Shadowplay
Laura Lam
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads

Book Haul| November 2018 - January 2019 (#Gifted)

When looking back at my blog posts from the last couple of months of 2018, I came across the realization that I had not done a book haul since October. Yikes!

This post does include books gifted to me, from the publisher in exchange for honest reviews (but with my schedule, some of these I haven't managed yet). I can't remember when I got them so I couldn't divide them into monthly order, but take it as oldest - newest.

Empress of All Seasons

Emiko Jean

Goodreads

**Received from the publisher as a gift in exchange for an honest and truthful review**
UK Publisher: Gollancz
UK Release Date: November 8th, 2018

Tony Hogan Bought Me an Ice-Cream Float Before he Stole My Ma

Kerry Hudson

Goodreads

**I originally read this on Kindle, ended up loving it and picked up a copy at a talk with Kerry Hudson. She signed it!**
UK Publisher: Vintage
UK Release Date: July 12th, 2012

Dumplin'

Julie Murphy

Goodreads

**Received from the publisher as a gift in exchange for an honest and truthful review** UK Publisher: Balzar + Bray
UK Release Date: November 28th, 2018 (This Edition)

All the Lonely People
David Owen

Goodreads

**Received from the publisher as a gift in exchange for an honest and truthful review**
UK Publisher: Atom Books
UK Release Date: January 11th, 2019

BLOG TOUR

Dignity

Alys Conran

Goodreads

**Received from the publisher as a gift in exchange for an honest and truthful review**
UK Publisher: W&N
UK Release Date: April 4th, 2019

Queen of Air and Darkness (The Dark Artifices #3)
Cassandra Clare

Goodreads

**I felt sorry for myself over Christmas and grabbed a copy for £7 in Asda - bargain!** UK Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
UK Release Date: December 4th, 2018

Midnight Never Come (The Onyx Court #1)
Marie Brennan

Goodreads

** I went into central London and picked this up in Forbidden Planet. Been eyeing this one up for ages though. Can't wait to satisfy my craving for the Fae folk.** UK Publisher: Titan Books
UK Release Date: November 13th, 2015

The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air #1)
Holly Black

Goodreads

**I got curious, okay? I want to know the hype! So I treated myself after my final deadline in January. I deserved it.** UK Publisher: Hot Key Books
UK Release Date: July 26th, 2018

The Migration
Helen Marshall

Goodreads

**Received from the publisher as a gift in exchange for an honest and truthful review** UK Publisher: Titan Books
UK Release Date: March 5th, 2019

Top 5 Wednesday| Nostalgic Ships

Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly blog group that comes together to discuss that week's topic. The idea was first curated by the wonderful Lainey at GingerReadLainey and is now run by Samantha over on ThoughtsonTomes. 

If you wish to participate, either on your Blog or Booktube channel then, please, join the group on Goodreads for all the relevant topics.

5. Rose x Dimitri
Vampire Academy

Goodreads

These books are definitely a product of their time (although, I still think fondly of them). Rose and Dimitri were one of the first ships I remember enjoying because of their taboo - the teacher/student relationship that played out throughout the books. They're still one of my favourite pairings - to the point where I still read through fanfiction when I need comfort.

4. Dorian x Celaena
Throne of Glass

Goodreads

This was when the book first came out in 2012 and so none of us knew who Celaena would become. I have no idea why I shipped them? But I remember holding onto this one during Crown of Midnight. 

3. Peeta x Katniss
The Hunger Games

Goodreads

The first book that I was part of fandom with, and my first proper array into the world of fanfiction (did you know Cato and Katniss used to be a semi-popular pairing?) I still really like this pairing, more so than Gale and Katniss. 

2. Rich x Grace
Skins

If you were a teen in the UK during 2007-2011, you might be familiar with this show.
I will always fight that the first generation characters are the superior generation and that the final (and third) generation just didn't have the same shine as the first two. However, my favourite pairing comes from the final generation. I'm still bitter about what happens during S6 - but spoilers. 

1. Nine/Ten x Rose
Doctor Who

Oh, come on! You KNEW this was coming. This is the first ship I ever remember. EVER. Even fourteen years on, they still get my heart fluttering and filtering through thousands of fanfic just to satisfy my craving of this pairing. I don't think I will ever forgive Russell T Davies for the beach scene in Doomsday.