2020 ~ Book Notes by Athina

Wednesday, 30 December 2020

December 2020 - Wrap up

Hello everyone!

2020 is finally over! Can you believe it? With everything that happed it felt endless.

Before moving on to a better 2021 let's see the books that I managed to read in December. I read 7 books in total (5 ebooks & 2 physical books).

A Heart So Fierce And Broken (Cursebreakers #2) - Brigid Kemmerer

I liked this one more than the first. It was more fast-paced, there was more action and that ending was everything...

In a few words: I loved it!

Rating: 5 Stars

Review to come pretty soon

Crown of Bones (Crown of Bones #1) - A. K. Wilder

It's synopsis doesn't reveal much but had me intrigued and after finishing it I can certainly say that it very very good. Check it out when it comes out on January 5th.

Rating: 4 Stars

I received an eARC from the publisher through Netgalley.

Review to come pretty soon

Good Wives (Little Women Part 2) - Louisa May Alcott

In this part of Little Women we follow the four March sisters as they grow older and try to find where they belong in the world. It was nice to see how the girls transformed to young women and lived their lives and their characters developed.

I really enjoyed reading it but I prefer the first part when the sisters where still little girls.

Rating : 4 Stars

Kingdom of the Wicked (Kingdom of the Wicked #1) - Kerri Maniscalco

Well, this was a highly anticipated book and thankfully it didn't disappoint. I loved the writing style, the story, the pacing and I really liked the characters.

Rating: 4 Stars

Review to come pretty soon

Rebel Girls Lead : 25 Tales of Powerful Women - Rebel Girls

I have previously read books by Rebel Girls like the Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls and had loved everyone of them. This one focuses more on leadership and it was no exception. It releases on January 26th.

Rating: 5 Stars

I received an eARC from the publisher through Netgalley.

Review to come pretty soon

The Maiden Ship (The Maiden Ship #1) - Micheline Ryckman

I finally read The Maiden Ship and I am in love with it. The story, the characters, the world-building everything. I cannot wait to read the next book. Thank fully I have an eARC so I can read it asap.

Rating: 5 Stars

Review to come pretty soon.

Nightshade Forest (Eleanor Mason's Literary Adventures #1) by Nikki Mitchell

This is a small middle grade book about Eleanor Mason's adventures. I really enjoyed it as it has a beautiful story and it is beautifully written.

Rating:4 Stars

Review to come pretty soon.

That's it for this year.

Let's see what 2021 will bring us reading-wise at least.

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman - A Review

By Athina 08:00 // No comments

Hello everyone!!

Today we are reviewing Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman which is a fantasy book first published in 1990. I have read the Greek translation by Selini (Thanos Karagiannopoulos is the translator).

I have heard so many things about this book and thankfully it didn't disappoint. It follows an angel and demon who have been friends for centuries and recounts their experiences in the days leading up to the apocalypse. I loved the story of the end of the world and how it was executed by the authors. It is well-written, clever and funny. The characters are lovely and funny.

I am curious to see how the TV adaptation has interpreted the story.

Rating: 4 Stars

Synopsis from Goodreads:

‘Armageddon only happens once, you know. They don’t let you go around again until you get it right.’

People have been predicting the end of the world almost from its very beginning, so it’s only natural to be sceptical when a new date is set for Judgement Day. But what if, for once, the predictions are right, and the apocalypse really is due to arrive next Saturday, just after tea?

You could spend the time left drowning your sorrows, giving away all your possessions in preparation for the rapture, or laughing it off as (hopefully) just another hoax. Or you could just try to do something about it.

It’s a predicament that Aziraphale, a somewhat fussy angel, and Crowley, a fast-living demon now finds themselves in. They’ve been living amongst Earth’s mortals since The Beginning and, truth be told, have grown rather fond of the lifestyle and, in all honesty, are not actually looking forward to the coming Apocalypse.

And then there’s the small matter that someone appears to have misplaced the Antichrist…

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

The Road by Cormac McCarthy - A Review

By Athina 08:00 // No comments

Hello everyone!!

Today we are reviewing The Road by Cormac McCarthy which was originally published in 2006.

I don't know what to say about this book. One thing that is certain is that I liked it.

It's a post apocalyptic novel where we follow a father and his son as they walk down the road towards the south. We don't know what caused the apocalypse or where exactly they are. We only know that they need to survive and go to the coast.

We get to observe their relationship developing through time and through the problems they face. It is well written and in a different kind of way.

Rating: 4 Stars

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The searing, post-apocalyptic novel about a father and son’s fight to survive.

A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don’t know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food—and each other.

The Road is the profoundly moving story of a journey. It boldly imagines a future in which no hope remains, but in which the father and his son, “each the other’s world entire,” are sustained by love. Awesome in the totality of its vision, it is an unflinching meditation on the worst and the best that we are capable of: ultimate destructiveness, desperate tenacity, and the tenderness that keeps two people alive in the face of total devastation

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

Vengeful (Villains #2) by V. E. Schwab - A Review

By Athina 08:00 // No comments

Hello everyone!!

Today we are reviewing Vengeful by V. E. Schwab which is the second book in the Villains duology.

I have previously reviewed the first book, Vicious and you can find my review here.

I found Vengeful to be more fascinating than Vicious. I loved the plot and how everything unraveled. By now it is not a secret that I love Victoria's writing. She tells us the story using time as a way to increase our suspense about the plot and the "heroes". I really liked the new characters that were introduced in this book, especially Marcela, but I was still rooting for Victor and his friends.

The ending didn't disappoint me and I would like to see more in this world of EOs. My wish is getting granted as V. E. Schwab writes a comic based on this world called Extraordinary (coming out in 2021 by Titan Comics).

Rating : 5 Stars

Synopsis form Goodreads

Eli Ever and Victor Vale were only medical students when their mutual discovery that near-death experiences can, under the right conditions, manifest extraordinary abilities.

They were best friends, and rivals, and then enemies. They were dead, then alive, and then---Eli killed Victor, once and for all.

Or so he thought---but Sydney Clarke felt otherwise, and used her own superpower to tip the scales. Now, a trio hides in the shadows, while another takes advantages of post-death life to take over the city of Merit.

If there can be life after death—will there be calm after vengeance, or will chaos rule?

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

Finale (Caraval #3) by Stephanie Garber - A Review

By Athina 07:52 // No comments

Hello everyone!!

Today we are reviewing Finale by Stephanie Garber which is the third book in her Caraval series. It is a YA fantasy book with romance, published by Hodder & Stoughton (Flatiron Books in the US) in May 2019.

Well, this is one of my favourite series and I loved this book and of course I need more!

It was nice to get back to this magical world and see again my favourite characters. You do not need any words here. I love Stephanie's writing and her world building.

Finale had all the elements I wanted from a story, it was full of twists and turns and unexpected surprises.

Tella and Legend continue to be my favourites and I want to read more stories about them.

Rating: 5 Stars

You can read my reviews on Caraval here and on Legendary here.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Welcome, welcome to Caraval...all games must come to an end.

It’s been two months since the last Caraval concluded, two months since the Fates have been freed from an enchanted deck of cards, two months since Tella has seen Legend, and two months since Legend claimed the empire’s throne as his own. Now, Legend is preparing for his official coronation and Tella is determined to stop it. She believes her own mother, who still remains in an enchanted sleep, is the rightful heir to the throne.

Meanwhile, Scarlett has started a game of her own. She’s challenged Julian and her former fiancé, Count Nicolas d’Arcy, to a competition where the winner will receive her hand in marriage. Finally, Scarlett feels as if she is in complete control over her life and future. She is unaware that her mother’s past has put her in the greatest danger of all.

Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun―with lives, empires, and hearts all at stake. There are no spectators this time: only those who will win...and those who will lose everything.

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

New Releases - December 2020

By Athina 08:00 // No comments

Well, it's time for the December new releases post. This month there are a lot of books that are in my most anticipated list.

As I said before this list is of course incomplete as it includes only books that I am interested in and the majority of them are in the Fantasy genre. This month though we have more diverse genres.

Don't forget that the titles of the books link to Goodreads if you want to check the synopsis.

December 1st

A Sky Beyond the Storm (An Ember in the Ashes #4) by Sabaa Tahir

Genre: YA Fantasy

Sequel to: An Ember in the Ashes

A Torch Against the Night

A Reaper at the Gates

Publisher: Razorbill

Pirate Stew by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author), Chris Riddell Illustrations)

Genre: Children Picture Book

Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books

Wonder Women of History by Laurie Halse Anderson

Genre: Non-Fiction

Publisher: DC Comics

A Curse of Roses by Diana Pinguicha

Genre: YA Fantasy / LGBTQ+

Publisher: Entangled Teen

King of the Rising (Islands of Blood and Storm #2) by Kacen Callender

Genre: Fantasy

Sequel to: Queen of the Conquered

Publisher: Orbit

December 8th

A Universe of Wishes: A We Need Diverse Books Anthology by Dhonielle Clayton (Editor)

Genre: Fantasy / Short stories anthology

Publisher: Random House Children's Books

When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain (The Singing Hills Cycle #2) by Nghi Vo

Genre: Fantasy Novella

Sequel to: The Empress of Salt and Fortune

Pubisher: TorDotCom

December 15th

Oculta (A Forgery of Magic #2) by Maya Motayne

Genre: YA Fantasy

Sequel to : Nocturna

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Adventure Stories for Daring Girls by Samantha Newman, Khoa Le (Illustrations)

Genre: Fairytales

Publisher: Arcturus Publishing

These are some of the new releases of December 2020.

Are you excited about them?

Do you have other ones on your radar that I should know of?

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

November 2020 - Wrap up

By Athina 07:53 // No comments

Hello everyone!!

Well, November is gone and we are full on Christmas mood!! But first let's see how my month went regarding my reading. In November I read 5 books and all of them were physical books.

Without further ado let's get to the books.

Fable (Fable #1) - Adrienne Young

Usually I don't like books with a sea setting but this one was an exception.

I enjoyed reading it and after this cliffhanger of an ending, I want to read the sequel, Namesake ASAP. Unfortunately it comes out on March 2021.

Rating: 4 Stars

Read my full review here

Hunting Prince Dracula (Stalking Jack the Ripper #2) - Kerri Maniscalco

I liked this one more than SJTR. I found it more fascinating and I like the story better.

Rating: 5 Stars

Read my full review here

50 Ideas you really should know - Ben Dupre

It is an introduction to many important ideas that you definitely need to know about but it could have been better.

Rating: 2 Stars

Read my review on Goodreads here.

I read in its greek translation by Dioptra Publications

The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air #2) - Holly Black

I liked it more than The Cruel Prince and the ending was very unexpected and "Wicked". I need to read book 3 asap.

Rating: 5 Stars

Read my full review here

Life Love Books: Advice you wish your parents had given you - Mark Manson

Well, this book isn't my cup of tea. It's kind of a self-help book and these aren't for me.

Rating: 2 Stars

Read my review on Goodreads here

That's it for this month. Let's see what December will bring.

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!

Athina

The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air #2) by Holly Black - A Review

By Athina 08:00 // No comments

Hello everyone!!

Today we are reviewing The Wicked King by Holly Black which is the 2nd book in The Folk of the Air trilogy, with The Cruel Prince being book 1 and The Queen of Nothing book 3.

Last year I read The Cruel Prince and really enjoyed it. You can read my review by clicking here. Now it was about time to continue with the series.

In The Wicked King we see Jude as she navigates the constantly shifting political alliances in Faerie, while at the same time she has to deal with Cardan as well. I liked this one more than the previous one. In fact I loved it! It has more intrigues and twists and is full of surprises. It has hooked me from the beginning until the very end. The world-building and the characters evolved perfectly since book one. Cardan and Jude just got better for me.

The ending of the book is everything. It is wicked as the title of the book suggests. It made me angry and left me full of questions.

Now I need to read book three asap.

Rating : 5 Stars

Synopsis from Goodreads

You must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without tiring.

The first lesson is to make yourself that strong.

Jude has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were biddable. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her, even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.

When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a faerie world.

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

Hunting Prince Dracula (Stalking Jack the Ripper #2) by Kerri Maniscalco - A Review

By Athina 08:02 // No comments

Hello everyone!!

Today we reviewing Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco whish is the second book in the Stalking Jack the Ripper series and was published by Jimmy Paterson Books in 2017.

In Hunting Prince Dracula we continue with the adventures of Audrey Rose and Thomas but this time we are in Romania. I liked this one more than Stalking Jack the Ripper as I found it more fascinating and I liked the story more. The fact that I currently live in Romania and I know the places they were talking about was an extra bonus.

Kerri Maniscalco writes excellent historical fiction and I really enjoy her writing. This book had everything I wanted from it. It had mystery, strong characters and romance. But most of all it had plot twists that I wasn't expecting. I was very surprised by who the murderer was at the end.

I loved how Audrey Rose and Thomas relationship had evolved since book 1 and was even deeper.

I cannot wait to read book 3, Escaping from Houdini and get more Thomas Cresswell in my life. Thankfully it's already on my shelves.

Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In this New York Times bestselling sequel to Kerri Maniscalco's haunting #1 debut Stalking Jack the Ripper, bizarre murders are discovered in the castle of Prince Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Dracula. Could it be a copycat killer...or has the depraved prince been brought back to life?

Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper's true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe's best schools of forensic medicine...and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend.

But her life's dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school's forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life once again

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab - A Review

By Athina 07:59 // No comments

Hello everyone!!

Today we are talking about my most anticipated book of 2020. It is of course The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab that was 10 years in the making and was published on October 6th by Tor Books.

First of all, V. E. Schwab is one of my favourite authors and I had high hopes for her latest book.

Well, I have no words!! I loved Addie LaRue. This book was everything I was expecting and more.

It is very different from everything Victoria has written and it is incredible. I loved every aspect of it.

I liked that we experience Addie's life both in the past, throughout the centuries, and in the present day in New York.

Addie is a strong and independent woman and despite all the difficulties that she faces she goes on and gathers new experiences every day. I also liked Henry but not as much as Addie and his chapters were the least favourites of mine. My favourites though were the ones that took place in the past and involved Luc.

I think you should definitely read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. I will certainly reread it some time soon .

Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis from Goodreads:

France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever-and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.

Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.

But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore, and he remembers her name.

In the vein of The Time Traveler's Wife and Life After Life, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is New York Times bestselling author V. E. Schwab's #1 New York Times Bestselling Author genre-defying tour de force.

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

Fable (Fable #1) by Adrienne Young - A Review

By Athina 07:41 // No comments

Hello everyone!!

Today we are talking about Fable by Adrienne Young which is the first book in a duology and it was published on September 2020 by Titan Books. I have the exclusive Fairyloot edition and the cover it's just stunning.

Fable is a YA fantasy book that takes place in the sea. Usually I don't like books with a sea setting but this one was an exception.

I enjoyed reading it and after this cliffhanger of an ending, I want to read the sequel, Namesake ASAP. Unfortunately it comes out on March 2021.

Fable is a strong and intelligent character who went through a lot to survive and I really liked her. I also liked the crew of the Marigold. I liked the whole story and how it was written. It's the first book I read from Adrienne Young and I liked her writing style.

One thing I want to know more about is the story between Saint and Isolde (Fable's parents) as it sounds fascinating from the little we learned.

I would love it more if the romance aspect of the story had more build up and not be so sudden as it did.

Rating: 4 Stars

Synopsis from Goodreads

Welcome to a world made dangerous by the sea and by those who wish to profit from it. Where a young girl must find her place and her family while trying to survive in a world built for men.

As the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows, the sea is the only home seventeen-year-old Fable has ever known. It’s been four years since the night she watched her mother drown during an unforgiving storm. The next day her father abandoned her on a legendary island filled with thieves and little food. To survive she must keep to herself, learn to trust no one and rely on the unique skills her mother taught her. The only thing that keeps her going is the goal of getting off the island, finding her father and demanding her rightful place beside him and his crew. To do so Fable enlists the help of a young trader named West to get her off the island and across the Narrows to her father.

But her father’s rivalries and the dangers of his trading enterprise have only multiplied since she last saw him and Fable soon finds that West isn't who he seems. Together, they will have to survive more than the treacherous storms that haunt the Narrows if they're going to stay alive.

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

New Releases - November 2020

By Athina 08:30 // No comments

Well, it's time for the November 2020 new releases post. This month there are a lot of books that are in my most anticipated list and also there are a lot of books releasing in November.

As I said before this list is of course incomplete as it includes only books that I am interested in and the majority of them are in the Fantasy genre.

Don't forget that the titles of the books link to Goodreads if you want to check the synopsis.