tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419489592913430642024-03-15T09:30:31.283+02:00Book Notes by AthinaAthinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.comBlogger716125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-5281859226101748802024-03-15T09:30:00.026+02:002024-03-15T09:30:00.133+02:00Gogmagog: The First Chronicle of Ludwich by Jeff Noon & Steve Beard - A review<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> Hello everyone & Happy Friday!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Today I have a small book review to share with you. It is about <b>Gogmagog by Jeff Noon & Steve Beard</b>, which is a fantasy book & the <b>First Chronicle of Ludwich</b>. It was recently released by <u>Angry Robot Books. </u></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xPtzfbdJBGpTm72Ho-IZA_IOs6thM6jB68LZPfSkzZEcdrozVfWAKFy3lkogSylVD8fvloBC5v1gsaWc1TaFdAuresjl-PYyrZfdv4gJBnQeeolfTQjBfWkFKbbjudNU6zXNwKvR-kC4C30_nyVfLHCnlihcimXl3Ov1FwhVsH_9hrbVwO-g3YAJ6MOz/s3472/IMG_20240225_175643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="3472" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xPtzfbdJBGpTm72Ho-IZA_IOs6thM6jB68LZPfSkzZEcdrozVfWAKFy3lkogSylVD8fvloBC5v1gsaWc1TaFdAuresjl-PYyrZfdv4gJBnQeeolfTQjBfWkFKbbjudNU6zXNwKvR-kC4C30_nyVfLHCnlihcimXl3Ov1FwhVsH_9hrbVwO-g3YAJ6MOz/w640-h640/IMG_20240225_175643.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>To be honest, I requested an arc of this book because of its title. The synopsis of course was also very interesting. Gogmagog tells the story of an epic journey through the sixty-mile long ghost of a dragon. That sentence alone made me so intrigued that I read the book as soon as I got it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />We follow our MCs along their journey on a ship called Juniper as they try to get to Ludwich. Their journey lasts only one day.Throughout this journey they experience many different things that affects them. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />The main theme of the book is that of found family. It is adventurous with a very good character development and a diverse cast of characters. Gogmagog has a really interesting setting, which is contemporary but at the same time very bizarre.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b><i>Rating: 4 Stars</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><u>About the book:</u></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Gogmagog tells the story of an epic journey through the sixty-mile long ghost of a dragon. Travel is by boat, a rickety steam launch captained by veteran taxi pilot Cady Meade, on the river Nysis. In her heyday Cady carried people and goods from the thriving seaports of the estuary into Ludwich, the capital city. Now she’s drunk, holed up in a rundown seaside resort, telling her bawdy tales for shots of rum. All that’s about to change, when two strangers seek her out, asking for transport, one of whom – a young girl – is very ill, and in great danger. The other, an artificial being of singular character, has secrets hidden inside his crystal skull. So begins the voyage of the Juniper.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Nysis is unlike any other river. Mysteries unfold with each port of call. Not many can navigate these channels, not many know of its whirlpools and sandbanks, and of the ravenous creatures that lurk beneath the surface. Cady used to have the necessary knowledge, and the powers of spectral navigation. But her glory days are well behind her now.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This might well be her final journey.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div></div></div>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-49418484794581418612024-02-29T09:30:00.069+02:002024-02-29T09:30:00.149+02:00February 2024 Reading Wrap up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"> Hello everyone & Happy Thursday!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;">Today is the last day of February and I want to share with you the books that I read this month. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHviXcSOTLBYn2e0UPzSCs9i1v1uSQYnZehgrg95R-BiwuJ_BKawRYBCUIbCcPIDMOidieeJVvzT30_ic3XLLVN6LIywIRo_q8AsRF1ko8iZdN-dJWLNQVOiWWDD61MlcvOWu_TR0-Cg5JoB9VUH3KpmBzzrUMncZFhogxkuMdCV6SHKAZB6b5GxU7iyfG/s3472/IMG_20240225_131817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="3472" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHviXcSOTLBYn2e0UPzSCs9i1v1uSQYnZehgrg95R-BiwuJ_BKawRYBCUIbCcPIDMOidieeJVvzT30_ic3XLLVN6LIywIRo_q8AsRF1ko8iZdN-dJWLNQVOiWWDD61MlcvOWu_TR0-Cg5JoB9VUH3KpmBzzrUMncZFhogxkuMdCV6SHKAZB6b5GxU7iyfG/w640-h640/IMG_20240225_131817.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br />In total I read 5 books & 1 magazine and among them there is one 5 Star read.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />This year I want to read as many as possible from the Little Black Classics & Modern Classics Collections from Penguin. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This month I read 3 of them:</div><div style="text-align: left;">- <b>A Hippo Banquet by Mary Kingsley </b>(LBC 32) - 1 Star<br />- <b>The nightingales are drunk by Hafez</b> (LBC 37) - 2 Stars<br />- <b>I Have More Souls Than One by Fernando Pessoa</b> (MC 19) - 3 Stars</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEga-mZLW4QvY-0XzIiDcMVybFA7mtRpMFBINOqcyc3-qTF7qvAhRcFzqbynI_y2CYrYN5BkyYQWK5bSyw99Yi-DWkjOhF_caUK1L6u-ImmwGVv_fGa4ltCY-EAIbJVGPoBM2m6SJNwmWsMKOcWqvmvwHJVIekJUZku-erDmxYhE945DC9p7tBmfrjUYULgv" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEga-mZLW4QvY-0XzIiDcMVybFA7mtRpMFBINOqcyc3-qTF7qvAhRcFzqbynI_y2CYrYN5BkyYQWK5bSyw99Yi-DWkjOhF_caUK1L6u-ImmwGVv_fGa4ltCY-EAIbJVGPoBM2m6SJNwmWsMKOcWqvmvwHJVIekJUZku-erDmxYhE945DC9p7tBmfrjUYULgv=w138-h200" width="138" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoyTZgWOrM-0U0Iq-P7msdRfyjYRlLK6RWL5G37YXPPvxcXNd_7m-69XHuC6VEMDoQoSfermv-qAoJ9qMMXogJZvUZiBVx7DYkbc7en8wN60x2cAMGCAAT7oljrW8BxKdnB5-rM3A1m1YaPjH__Cp219_U8EG7S5fpLGyIoBZBIr96hm0AIlVTK1W7sJka" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoyTZgWOrM-0U0Iq-P7msdRfyjYRlLK6RWL5G37YXPPvxcXNd_7m-69XHuC6VEMDoQoSfermv-qAoJ9qMMXogJZvUZiBVx7DYkbc7en8wN60x2cAMGCAAT7oljrW8BxKdnB5-rM3A1m1YaPjH__Cp219_U8EG7S5fpLGyIoBZBIr96hm0AIlVTK1W7sJka=w138-h200" width="138" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxUeBQ3ldjESg_BBpYdv08HMz1-sGpPkduFHfZNT85IHtURrUAsUQsB7Ypx_5AEzqCcNFh1f61KuSTLqDqxGotap1ZwLA2plPCbScpI--_RoAk5jKF_ORisQK0CmjCFEcaTXP9tlpUQZ9gHAJR9EdYWbmUkFXHQDOsXHhw8ZiTkQxnulA0VBedzNYwuU8S" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="460" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxUeBQ3ldjESg_BBpYdv08HMz1-sGpPkduFHfZNT85IHtURrUAsUQsB7Ypx_5AEzqCcNFh1f61KuSTLqDqxGotap1ZwLA2plPCbScpI--_RoAk5jKF_ORisQK0CmjCFEcaTXP9tlpUQZ9gHAJR9EdYWbmUkFXHQDOsXHhw8ZiTkQxnulA0VBedzNYwuU8S=w138-h200" width="138" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I finished two books:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBaQdwHmuneo2ydX4WYSb4nWU25_q4Qoz8XgsXMt-XAOF8_FK9cog9Im_HD9gXnDa8Puw0V2yXxYrken15dpZsWjh5q0zf0FU9tMyVEETs5vx6ocGa3QcRf0h2yM7L_dll8_kbBBDUAyXXSnMbs4arPSCN-0CxnzqaVJvc0D2sPhJq1FjeR_MvGsLxfWp/s3745/202943439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3745" data-original-width="2488" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBaQdwHmuneo2ydX4WYSb4nWU25_q4Qoz8XgsXMt-XAOF8_FK9cog9Im_HD9gXnDa8Puw0V2yXxYrken15dpZsWjh5q0zf0FU9tMyVEETs5vx6ocGa3QcRf0h2yM7L_dll8_kbBBDUAyXXSnMbs4arPSCN-0CxnzqaVJvc0D2sPhJq1FjeR_MvGsLxfWp/w133-h200/202943439.jpg" width="133" /></a><b>The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I just adored this book and of course I gave it 5 Stars.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Check out my full review <a href="https://booknotesbyathina.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-sword-of-kaigen-by-ml-wang-review.html" target="_blank">here</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuJoAYNJRPzCKUSim8z2I6BQQ_lE0HT9h0fowpEHjiPHBcOrTZI-B0A7GCHiW9qTISqYYG_qDJKRshZgXR5-3GjBf6gMnxIYT_himKnS21V1tLntsIENPHV2ntRfH9qUi1hKbLCMMFYnJuVOHnvM2Vujj3Kn4pot6JbFHd0iwfP7ybTEUTwUrnbiqPKsO/s2327/154433984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2327" data-original-width="1535" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuJoAYNJRPzCKUSim8z2I6BQQ_lE0HT9h0fowpEHjiPHBcOrTZI-B0A7GCHiW9qTISqYYG_qDJKRshZgXR5-3GjBf6gMnxIYT_himKnS21V1tLntsIENPHV2ntRfH9qUi1hKbLCMMFYnJuVOHnvM2Vujj3Kn4pot6JbFHd0iwfP7ybTEUTwUrnbiqPKsO/w132-h200/154433984.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> Gogmagog: The First Chronicle of Ludwich by Jeff Noon & Steve Beard </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> I really liked it and I found it interesting & weird at the same time.</div><div style="text-align: left;">I gave it 4 Stars and I will post my full review really soon.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Lastly I read a Greek magazine about geography which is called Geography is really Cool. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-84317321834081537022024-02-25T09:30:00.021+02:002024-02-25T09:30:00.132+02:00The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang - A Review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9-sCRmlq48Q3OrOnUU7u1UQbMj-OLSVXTTmUtru26qkhQd8BLLhw5KX2z1qUlM5Z-yxjghV-vcwQHiI7DyYTcpetZbRoHycRFjUtgyNkEULEXepFaVt0WJFOkNVGf0REI6B7rAovYg_NA_3gEZvkIqwjqa7vogUkKtMW0IO2VJGixnN18Jcs5-myClnb/s3472/IMG_20240222_142429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="3472" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9-sCRmlq48Q3OrOnUU7u1UQbMj-OLSVXTTmUtru26qkhQd8BLLhw5KX2z1qUlM5Z-yxjghV-vcwQHiI7DyYTcpetZbRoHycRFjUtgyNkEULEXepFaVt0WJFOkNVGf0REI6B7rAovYg_NA_3gEZvkIqwjqa7vogUkKtMW0IO2VJGixnN18Jcs5-myClnb/w640-h640/IMG_20240222_142429.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>“I’ve never needed a sword to protect you—to raise you the way your father wanted. Caring for my family meant putting away the fighter, so I did.”</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>― M.L. Wang, The Sword of Kaigen</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>This book is magnificent in very aspect of it and if you haven't read it yet, you should go and read it now.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Sword of Kaigen is a japanese-inspired military fantasy standalone and it explores the complexities of family dynamics, the weight of honor and tradition, all set against the backdrop of an impending war. The book is adventurous but at the same time emotional, with strong character development and amazing world building.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our main charcters, Misaki and Mamoru, are perfectly written but they are not perfect. They have their flaws and that makes them better. </div><div>The world and the setting feel very unique. The author has done a great research and everything is spot on. </div><div>Lastly, the ending of the book was very satisfying and everything wrapped up nicely.</div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i>Rating: 5 Stars</i></b></div><div><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div><div><i><u>About the book:</u></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div>A mother struggling to repress her violent past,</div><div>A son struggling to grasp his violent future,</div><div>A father blind to the danger that threatens them all.</div><div><br /></div><div>When the winds of war reach their peninsula, will the Matsuda family have the strength to defend their empire? Or will they tear each other apart before the true enemies even reach their shores?</div><div><br /></div><div>High on a mountainside at the edge of the Kaigenese Empire live the most powerful warriors in the world, superhumans capable of raising the sea and wielding blades of ice. For hundreds of years, the fighters of the Kusanagi Peninsula have held the Empire’s enemies at bay, earning their frozen spit of land the name ‘The Sword of Kaigen.’</div><div><br /></div><div>Born into Kusanagi’s legendary Matsuda family, fourteen-year-old Mamoru has always known his purpose: to master his family’s fighting techniques and defend his homeland. But when an outsider arrives and pulls back the curtain on Kaigen’s alleged age of peace, Mamoru realizes that he might not have much time to become the fighter he was bred to be. Worse, the empire he was bred to defend may stand on a foundation of lies.</div><div><br /></div><div>Misaki told herself that she left the passions of her youth behind when she married into the Matsuda house. Determined to be a good housewife and mother, she hid away her sword, along with everything from her days as a fighter in a faraway country. But with her growing son asking questions about the outside world, the threat of an impending invasion looming across the sea, and her frigid husband grating on her nerves, Misaki finds the fighter in her clawing its way back to <i>the surface.</i></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!</div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;">Athina</div></div></div>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-61919120392487251172024-02-09T13:05:00.001+02:002024-02-09T13:05:19.909+02:00The Forgotten Beasts f Eld by Patricia A. McKillip - A Review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-RFT_5ItRH26R53okcpr4n1FIjBkv-Yi1IQFwpK-uHdqMfiszYc_R0L_iFcNCkBw0eBSjkDDpd1HD5852JfLHC6WQC0K0A4NMP4cqJ4XmSQZLTczOhYqGkPsU6Gvng5MvKT-cNwpKhuhwVUwv9O5gEqjajwYYQNFEYQoF-m0M52GJLcPZCVmM56AYzL6/s1080/the%20forgottrn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-RFT_5ItRH26R53okcpr4n1FIjBkv-Yi1IQFwpK-uHdqMfiszYc_R0L_iFcNCkBw0eBSjkDDpd1HD5852JfLHC6WQC0K0A4NMP4cqJ4XmSQZLTczOhYqGkPsU6Gvng5MvKT-cNwpKhuhwVUwv9O5gEqjajwYYQNFEYQoF-m0M52GJLcPZCVmM56AYzL6/w640-h640/the%20forgottrn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"You can weave your life so long -- only so long, and then a thing in the world out of your control will tug at one vital thread and leave you patternless and subdued.”</i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>― Patricia A. McKillip, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld</i></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">To celebrate its 50th anniversary of <b>The Forgotten Beasts of Elm</b> the publisher (Tachyon Publications) are releasing a special edition of the book with many beautiful illustrations by Stephanie Law. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I haven't read anything by Patricia A. McKillip before and this book intrigued so much that I will definitely read more of her works. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">This book was really magical and with very beautiful and powerful writing. It feels like you are reading a fairytale but a modern one. There is no much world building but that does not matter. We have magical talking animals and powerful wizards. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">It is an atmospheric and character-driven story, a story of love, revenge and forgiveness.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This edition will be published on February 29th & you do not want to miss it!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Rating: 4 Stars</i></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><u><i>About the book:</i></u></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>Fifty years ago, the soon-to-be celebrated young author Patricia A. McKillip (the Riddle-Master trilogy) penned the tale of an iron-willed young sorceress. Brought vividly to life by McKillip's gorgeously lush prose, Sybel, living with her captivating menagerie, is powerful and resourceful, yet headstrong and flawed. Sybel and The Forgotten Beasts of Eld continue to enrapture new generations of readers, and they continue to inspire generations of new fantasy writers. This lovely 50th anniversary hardcover special edition features cover art by World Fantasy Award-winner Thomas Canty and a brand new introduction by bestselling fantasy author Marjorie Liu (The Tangleroot Palace).</div><div><br /></div><div>Sybel, the heiress of powerful wizards, needs the company of no-one outside her gates. In her exquisite stone mansion, she is attended by exotic, magical Riddle-master Cyrin the boar; the treasure-starved dragon Gyld; Gules the Lyon, tawny master of the Southern Deserts; Ter, the fiercely vengeful falcon; Moriah, feline Lady of the Night. Sybel only lacks the exquisite and mysterious Liralen, which continues to elude her most powerful enchantments.</div><div><br /></div><div>But when a soldier bearing an infant arrives, Sybel discovers that the world of man and magic is full of both love and deceit, and the possibility of more power than she can possibly imagine.</div><div><br /></div></div><p style="text-align: justify;">See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></p>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-69997642727855078852024-02-08T18:00:00.026+02:002024-02-08T18:00:00.128+02:00The Hurricane Wars (The Hurricane Wars #1) by Thea Guanzon - A Review<p style="text-align: left;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJU1DtfDSkmYI9z7lhTroczjzOjxsQC0eqsyWPDOguANJL7qxnXqFz5IBBE2D2VgY2UeX2cLiOOaDdliwn9eomq4UUXLDgsN0FAPzowVbg9saGYFUaG-k__GN15uv3UBob7q8MjrIID7JXEEJKJe2MPVimS4pERsNC277x-d5eiF_W50U_xVMeQOeQ7dm/s3472/IMG_20240204_134547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="3472" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJU1DtfDSkmYI9z7lhTroczjzOjxsQC0eqsyWPDOguANJL7qxnXqFz5IBBE2D2VgY2UeX2cLiOOaDdliwn9eomq4UUXLDgsN0FAPzowVbg9saGYFUaG-k__GN15uv3UBob7q8MjrIID7JXEEJKJe2MPVimS4pERsNC277x-d5eiF_W50U_xVMeQOeQ7dm/w640-h640/IMG_20240204_134547.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>“You've been fighting all your life, Your instinct is to strike first, before anyone can hurt you. But, sometimes it's the blow the molds us. Taking it. Letting it ring against our defenses, until we are assured in the knowledge that, when it's over, we will still be standing.”</i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>― Thea Guanzon, The Hurricane Wars</i></b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Hurricane Wars</b> is a fantasy romance and the 1st book in a series. I have heard many conflicting reviews but I really enjoyed reading this one last month and I cannot wait for a sequel.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The book has a very intricate political backdrop and magic system that makes it even more interesting. I hope we get to see more of that in the sequels.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The author takes inspiration from the mythology and lore of her native Philippines that I really enjoyed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There is a lot of information in the first part of the book that is necessary to the story but makes it a little bit slow paced.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The writing of the author is very beautiful. It is very expressive and flowery.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We follow the story through two POVs from our main characters and the author can seamlessly transition from one POV to the other. The main trope here (and one of my favourites) is enemies to lovers. I really liked the dynamic between Talasyn and Alaric, their chemistry was vey clear. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Rating: 4 Stars</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><u><br /></u></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><u>About the book:</u></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>The Night Empire will rule all.</div><div>Nothing can stand in the way of its might and power.</div><div>Little by little, year by year, the Hurricane Wars take more and more from those who resists the empire’s supremacy.</div><div>And yet, there is hope in the darkness.</div><div>One lone light stands against the empire.</div><div><br /></div><div>Talasyn was left on the steps of a Sardovian orphanage as a baby. All she has ever known are the Hurricane Wars, as her people fight for freedom from the tyranny of the Night Emperor Gaheris. But are they her people? Talasyn dreams of one day finding where she comes from – her true place, family, and the source of the Lightweave magic that flows through her veins like sunlight.</div><div><br /></div><div>Alaric of House Ossinast, Master of the Shadowforged Legion and Gaheris’s only son and heir has been forged into a weapon by his father. Tasked with obliterating the Sardovian Allford alliance with the strength of his armies and mighty Shadow magic, all Alaric can see is their goal: extinguish all threats to the empire.</div><div><br /></div><div>That is until he sees Talasyn burning brightly on the battlefield with the magic that killed his grandfather, turned his father into a monster, and ignited the Hurricane Wars. He tries and fails to kill her, his now greatest enemy slipping through his fingers.</div><div><br /></div><div>But a greater threat is coming. One that will overshadow the Hurricane Wars.</div><div><br /></div><div>Will these mortal enemies be able to come together to confront it or is everything that has been fought over for so long about to be destroyed?</div><div><br /></div><div><div>See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-37253156627320827962024-01-31T18:00:00.103+02:002024-01-31T18:00:00.132+02:00January 2024 Reading Wrap up<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> Hello everyone & Happy Wednesday!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>I cannot believe that we are already at the end of January. This month felt like it flew by. <br />Anyway, as it is the last day of the month , it is only appropriate to share my <b>monthly reading wrap up.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-k04h4LiWej8k3_qskI-__0FxeDb8YWP_o0WyQ9comeZWuTOR5cj_c7Sb8pzjz-VCgdoIYhJbQQVmY4VE_D7Kreq1rcrZhG0BgqzZnPyc_XIDizaLP3IPkkE9C6baB2DisaQ0hVbbKr362lLYgorkAU1DbD2DmU7k0Sz2GIosTmE0MhdtEN4UPXvdb8o/s3472/IMG_20240131_170533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="3472" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-k04h4LiWej8k3_qskI-__0FxeDb8YWP_o0WyQ9comeZWuTOR5cj_c7Sb8pzjz-VCgdoIYhJbQQVmY4VE_D7Kreq1rcrZhG0BgqzZnPyc_XIDizaLP3IPkkE9C6baB2DisaQ0hVbbKr362lLYgorkAU1DbD2DmU7k0Sz2GIosTmE0MhdtEN4UPXvdb8o/w640-h640/IMG_20240131_170533.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />January was a really good reading month as I managed to read <u>7 books </u> (2 ebooks & 5 physical books) and among then was my first 5 star read of the year.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />In more detail, I read:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5koNMCLHIU73rUPRHUPHVha1hYwXDqTdoQe8QOkawP_Gxz29fAzqPbXZerxahaewXiznuPQ49zrxo1RKO6kQcwHjU9sUjXIcF9VH8p0F2hYf4fYXDB9QMitQmo0H-ItXhAzxk0kQXROHrsiHoqrgVB0SsZtOlP7QtkHWF-JK1CXvfKxhOnevINA2jcVvo" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="98" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5koNMCLHIU73rUPRHUPHVha1hYwXDqTdoQe8QOkawP_Gxz29fAzqPbXZerxahaewXiznuPQ49zrxo1RKO6kQcwHjU9sUjXIcF9VH8p0F2hYf4fYXDB9QMitQmo0H-ItXhAzxk0kQXROHrsiHoqrgVB0SsZtOlP7QtkHWF-JK1CXvfKxhOnevINA2jcVvo=w127-h200" width="127" /></a></div><b> The Darkness Before Them by Matthew Ward</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Darkness Before Them by Matthew Ward is the first book in The Soulfire Saga and it is an epic fantasy book and the beginning if a new series by the author.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Rating: 3 Stars</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Read my full review <a href="https://booknotesbyathina.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-darkness-before-them-by-matthew.html" target="_blank">here</a></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEsFgUOiFwyvzETjGTrjaVWO9G8TrwP02AtQS1L20tsV9TAAzJO_nEZ8BKl9QDzHBBUnIrAvmntXSzSlV1OKIBbSlFVo3mdvJsgr79AvQwh9h-aHZEs5QQyXmh0hd0TJlU55Lwu7XZd9atyeE1BCEp23zCsdjqXzpvmxgHVypvchifnX2QiHwjF4OwaGdr" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="142" data-original-width="98" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEsFgUOiFwyvzETjGTrjaVWO9G8TrwP02AtQS1L20tsV9TAAzJO_nEZ8BKl9QDzHBBUnIrAvmntXSzSlV1OKIBbSlFVo3mdvJsgr79AvQwh9h-aHZEs5QQyXmh0hd0TJlU55Lwu7XZd9atyeE1BCEp23zCsdjqXzpvmxgHVypvchifnX2QiHwjF4OwaGdr=w138-h200" width="138" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"> <b>The Old Man of the Moon by Shen Fu (Penguin LBC #60) </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">This is a very interesting story of a man who loved his wife very very much.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is a true portrayal of enduring love and the challenges of marriage in 18th-century China It focuses on the couple's emotional journey and the power of their relationship.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><b>Rating: 3 Stars</b></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3-8iv5kMZ76qiWDgXP7y0ju96yGT8fBUuKcEwv6wXRK6_wnDZTt8TEhGAZfjg-D4SQ0I6BzPjg8MIfpWWGAo1Yuy60VjYOdH3YuCOY2qm7VVTdwyxErxwCqcRpCA7M5fL-MRkKXLD5yfjTy3OiUzGVd7UgkJFohbvrbhdo1sKVStlz0ZOGN8AnIj6XR0m" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="151" data-original-width="98" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3-8iv5kMZ76qiWDgXP7y0ju96yGT8fBUuKcEwv6wXRK6_wnDZTt8TEhGAZfjg-D4SQ0I6BzPjg8MIfpWWGAo1Yuy60VjYOdH3YuCOY2qm7VVTdwyxErxwCqcRpCA7M5fL-MRkKXLD5yfjTy3OiUzGVd7UgkJFohbvrbhdo1sKVStlz0ZOGN8AnIj6XR0m=w130-h200" width="130" /></a></div><span style="text-align: left;"><b> Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Ink Blood Sister Scribe follows a family tasked with guarding a trove of magical but deadly books, and the shadowy organization that will do anything to get them back...even murder.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Rating: 5 Stars</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Read my full review <a href="https://booknotesbyathina.blogspot.com/2024/01/ink-blood-sister-scribe-by-emma-torzs.html" target="_blank">here</a></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAFIMdk63dMZFqjzv-NBxV1idBJlmc5x6xb-Qh2BaUQu72XgBpYU3ggu4NWUwzcI9vf8C1AhFvLgi0kYg1ilDnC_kaJEagOWZH88fij15XRv0Sn_7lv6_YPZlyLtyndNPvo7aEsfC3i5jHcJIB0nzi45zftDQQ3S2EEEKyiugx3rad6cgD4aXaJ4w0mYf0" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="142" data-original-width="98" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAFIMdk63dMZFqjzv-NBxV1idBJlmc5x6xb-Qh2BaUQu72XgBpYU3ggu4NWUwzcI9vf8C1AhFvLgi0kYg1ilDnC_kaJEagOWZH88fij15XRv0Sn_7lv6_YPZlyLtyndNPvo7aEsfC3i5jHcJIB0nzi45zftDQQ3S2EEEKyiugx3rad6cgD4aXaJ4w0mYf0=w138-h200" width="138" /></a></div><b>Trimalchio's Feast by Petronius (Penguin LBC #21) </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">This book contains a selection of The Satyricon by Petronius.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I do not know if it is the translation or the book itself but this one was not for me.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Rating: 1 Star</b></i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFUUslbg2jVLufqxzq7gtsUrXyR53Ugb2EQen2vqwtbXM2iaiMWYb0tDSA0IdPLTVclZtRNu3yZAyBcIePLiA-CcMRRzG_xylTvTIWamRTlPntN6iTN-AwtZuirii8j2wSDky5PXJhj1Ret_Jh3NQEkwOcFEsj34fGckVfrBtS3VzLSJY5ek1RY67a_eqz" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="151" data-original-width="98" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFUUslbg2jVLufqxzq7gtsUrXyR53Ugb2EQen2vqwtbXM2iaiMWYb0tDSA0IdPLTVclZtRNu3yZAyBcIePLiA-CcMRRzG_xylTvTIWamRTlPntN6iTN-AwtZuirii8j2wSDky5PXJhj1Ret_Jh3NQEkwOcFEsj34fGckVfrBtS3VzLSJY5ek1RY67a_eqz=w130-h200" width="130" /></a></div><b>The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon </b></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Night Empire will rule all. Nothing can stand in the way of its might and power. Little by little, year by year, the Hurricane Wars take more and more from those who resists the empire’s supremacy. And yet, there is hope in the darkness. One lone light stands against the empire.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Rating: 4 Stars</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Review to come soon</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZ-nWllV8sxYVxbqrR5wLOTUeIo86Q3grbGvj7lb4AY4OZ77GsYFMBX4kVif5OhePKkDUo2nTEUM_al9f_XrSpW9SVfaRrGYNn0u_Gs1rcBvm3qHLYmvmma0by0KJjyw0dfDG-O8n67Eu_H0Bl1geOFEJkkTj7hbf5UtGy0Nxcfg_ClnoJfBTgSNaSEsPX" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="142" data-original-width="98" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZ-nWllV8sxYVxbqrR5wLOTUeIo86Q3grbGvj7lb4AY4OZ77GsYFMBX4kVif5OhePKkDUo2nTEUM_al9f_XrSpW9SVfaRrGYNn0u_Gs1rcBvm3qHLYmvmma0by0KJjyw0dfDG-O8n67Eu_H0Bl1geOFEJkkTj7hbf5UtGy0Nxcfg_ClnoJfBTgSNaSEsPX=w138-h200" width="138" /></a></div><b>Come Close by Sappho (Penguin LBC #74) </b></div><div><br /></div><div>I enjoyed reading this collection</div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Rating: 3 Stars</b></i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCyYx5NLZqcPpPj-LVTjaPeXt5A4jgxOOho-2LGM1rJ5u5BjOxU-mJXEjO69KouWiGEhBfnaTa949Bif-h-eG02Cpo8v3GMUmJCV4jxPCRERdvVSPiE1PWqs9kH9iJsox7nuiertybgM5U6-Q6_RmpKu6bpJtRvO-3GOT09yuTXlzqlzNnO6-nrR5Om-bA" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="131" data-original-width="98" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCyYx5NLZqcPpPj-LVTjaPeXt5A4jgxOOho-2LGM1rJ5u5BjOxU-mJXEjO69KouWiGEhBfnaTa949Bif-h-eG02Cpo8v3GMUmJCV4jxPCRERdvVSPiE1PWqs9kH9iJsox7nuiertybgM5U6-Q6_RmpKu6bpJtRvO-3GOT09yuTXlzqlzNnO6-nrR5Om-bA=w150-h200" width="150" /></a></div> <b>The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip </b></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A classic tale of an iron-willed young sorceress and her captivating menagerie.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I really liked reading this classic fantasy book and now I am intrigued to read more of the author's work.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Rating: 4 Stars</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Review to come soon</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">How many books did you read in January?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div></div>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-38911761013256277972024-01-28T18:00:00.021+02:002024-01-28T18:00:00.137+02:00Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs - A Review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzE5GFeFC5YiUNfGjYVeLo17VvxtC0UgCBH_HEmR8gVcUQ7ZRao8zI6-Vk7ZAsq3puMhF7FQ2MHHKXIxk7zfgHAB42JmYIwtpkJNa90PPNU44jKxOfVzfpQpE6L8EpPBws9rJhgS54iIJU_wxmJ-rnqB_5YZar6DXAFuthQ-dTzls5GgK6A-F5gJvUnR8/s3472/IMG_20240121_125225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="3472" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzE5GFeFC5YiUNfGjYVeLo17VvxtC0UgCBH_HEmR8gVcUQ7ZRao8zI6-Vk7ZAsq3puMhF7FQ2MHHKXIxk7zfgHAB42JmYIwtpkJNa90PPNU44jKxOfVzfpQpE6L8EpPBws9rJhgS54iIJU_wxmJ-rnqB_5YZar6DXAFuthQ-dTzls5GgK6A-F5gJvUnR8/w640-h640/IMG_20240121_125225.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i> "Some books should never be opened."</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Ink Blood Sister Scribe</b> follows a family tasked with guarding a trove of magical but deadly books, and the shadowy organization that will do anything to get them back...even murder.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That brief synopsis was all I wanted to know before reading this book. I knew that I would love it from that sentence alone and I did. Ink Blood Sister Scribe is my first 5 Star read of 2024 and I think that if you are looking for a captivating and atmospheric tale of family, magic, and mystery, you should check this out.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I loved everything about it. The book is mysterious and adventurous and definitely a page-turner. I really liked the writing style and the storyline with all of its revelations and plot twists. It had my guessing all the time. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I usually don't like that much contemporary fantasy but this book was so good that I hardly even noticed that. Finally, I really liked the magic system but I would prefer it if we learned more about it or if it was more present.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Rating: 5 Stars</i></b></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><u>About the book:</u></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><u><br /></u></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Joanna Kalotay lives alone in the woods of Vermont, the sole protector of a collection of rare books; books that will allow someone to walk through walls or turn water into wine. Books of magic.</div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>Her estranged older sister Esther moves between countries and jobs, constantly changing, never staying anywhere longer than a year, desperate to avoid the deadly magic that killed her mother. Currently working on a research base in Antarctica, she has found love and perhaps a sort of happiness.</div><div><br /></div><div>But when she finds spots of blood on the mirrors in the research base, she knows someone is coming for her, and that Joanna and her collection are in danger.</div><div><br /></div><div>If they are to survive, she and Joanna must unravel the secrets their parents kept hidden from them - secrets that span centuries and continents, and could cost them their lives...</div><div><br /></div><div><div>See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div></div></div>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-54980615461980305632024-01-17T18:00:00.024+02:002024-01-17T18:00:00.156+02:00The Darkness Before Them by Matthew Ward (The Soulfire Saga #1) - A Review<p style="text-align: left;">Hello everyone & Happy Wednesday!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><p style="text-align: left;">We are in the middle of the week and so I thought that it would be nice to share with you a book review. </p></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnaUm33MLzTY-KFJcp0oLsnTfCsaWAj2SEFjBfgdsHPkit9pp-yaePn2tCaqBpVLHrQ0aEg7Qt189Y1efwSH8gSs8agY58RubXWgS6pou-Aabp2iUsy_QBXAl2ulxBLYCvZsAbdymtkWFE8dtDHyi7boiwtKiNF2bMEYNNTXkiRhDYcZh4-cfgdgERSBm/s1080/the%20darkness%20before%20them.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnaUm33MLzTY-KFJcp0oLsnTfCsaWAj2SEFjBfgdsHPkit9pp-yaePn2tCaqBpVLHrQ0aEg7Qt189Y1efwSH8gSs8agY58RubXWgS6pou-Aabp2iUsy_QBXAl2ulxBLYCvZsAbdymtkWFE8dtDHyi7boiwtKiNF2bMEYNNTXkiRhDYcZh4-cfgdgERSBm/w640-h640/the%20darkness%20before%20them.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Darkness Before Them by Matthew Ward</b> is the first book in <b>The Soulfire Sag</b>a and it is an epic fantasy book and the beginning if a new series by the author.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />It introduces readers to a world ruled by a dangerous immortal king, where souls fuel magic, and a supernatural mist known as the Veil threatens to engulf the land. It is a book set in a dark fantasy world and it has a lot of action. Set in a world of ancient myth and dangerous magic, The Darkness Before Them begins a heart-pounding adventure where a thief dares to seek vengeance - and finds herself on the path to war.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />I really liked the writing style and how intricate the world building and the magic system was. I enjoyed the story despite finding it a little bit slow paced and complicated at the beginning. There are many twists and turns that make the book really engaging. There is a lot of political intrigue and many betrayals that you do not anticipate.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><b><i>Rating: 3 Stars</i></b><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><u>About the book:</u></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>The start of a new epic fantasy series packed with intrigue, magic and adventure</div><div><br /></div><div>These are dark times for the Kingdom of Khalad. As the magical mists of the Veil devour the land, the populace struggles beneath the rule of ruthless noble houses and their uncaring immortal king.</div><div><br /></div><div>Kat doesn't care about any of that. A talented thief, she's pursuing one big score that will settle the debt that destroyed her family. No easy feat in a realm where indentured spirits hold vigil over every vault and treasure room. However, Kat has a unique she can speak to those spirits, and even command them. She'll need every advantage she can get.</div><div><br /></div><div>Kat's not a hero. She just wants to be free. To have her old life back. But as rebellion rekindles and the war for Khalad's future begins, everyone - Kat included - will have to pick a side.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div></div></div>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-21325243270214330082024-01-04T18:00:00.027+02:002024-01-04T18:00:00.375+02:00Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood - A Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8INF6jHRu4Z0UzVTEn_Jj3_WS1n7FBj90SgVXxhfFegZNevERfv2tKlFfy6GzGAlDfDY5PyXTJls3wHGnSm6FftcCslQN-MKgQEfyJ5FY20cUeCG74KhCKh3Q8H0I_iVKQ1l2kWJCF2CJWtA1DqcioPgSV5KGStb2wpMbgUt_uyhNpGHEA6uRjHeTFZo/s3472/IMG_20240104_123436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="3472" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8INF6jHRu4Z0UzVTEn_Jj3_WS1n7FBj90SgVXxhfFegZNevERfv2tKlFfy6GzGAlDfDY5PyXTJls3wHGnSm6FftcCslQN-MKgQEfyJ5FY20cUeCG74KhCKh3Q8H0I_iVKQ1l2kWJCF2CJWtA1DqcioPgSV5KGStb2wpMbgUt_uyhNpGHEA6uRjHeTFZo/w640-h640/IMG_20240104_123436.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"> <b><i>“He told me once that sometimes, with some people, it's not about winning or losing, That with some people, it's just about playing. Though for the longest time, I didn't really believe him.”</i></b></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>― Ali Hazelwood, Check & Mate</i></b></div></b></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Check & Mate was the first Ali Hazelwood book I read and it was a 5-Star read for me! I loved her writing style and now I need to read her other books too.</div><div><br />Check & Mate is a clever and sweet YA romance book, where we follow our two main characters Mallory and Nolan through their journey as rival chess players. I loved the tension and the banter between our main characters. It's actually an enemies-to-lovers book but not only that. I also really liked the story, it is heartwarming and engaging.</div><div><br />One of the main themes of the book is how male dominated is the chess space and I really like her approach on that matter. </div><div><br /><b><i>Rating: 5 Stars</i></b><br /><br /><u>About the book:</u></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Every move counts nowadays; after the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Mallory's focus is on her mom, her sisters, and the dead-end job that keeps the lights on. That is, until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with notorious "Kingkiller" Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning Bad Boy of chess.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nolan's loss to an unknown rook-ie shocks everyone. What's even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory's victory opens the door to sorely needed cash-prizes and despite everything, she can't help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As she rockets up the ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family safely separated from the game that wrecked it in the first place. And as her love for the sport she so desperately wanted to hate begins to rekindle, Mallory quickly realizes that the games aren't only on the board, the spotlight is brighter than she imagined, and the competition can be fierce (-ly attractive. And intelligent...and infuriating...)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-54947970401873241782023-12-31T18:00:00.129+02:002023-12-31T19:46:57.661+02:00Favourite Books of 2023 (Blogmas 2023 - Day 31)<div style="text-align: justify;"> Hello everyone!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today is the last day of the year and I thought it would be appropriate to end my attempt at Blogmas with my <b>favourite books of 2023</b>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZuq4XJsiKVRTPRrhaXvzlFnq2ygDlwdRaqHGgWjlgLo7vl3asxSHLQaqusvCuhA9EwcoImmR67BqNyREbXLAO33NMT6T98LE94BFcSoS269em3XVwcIwjWNsjdcQrfKdPpoDU8FTTf8nY7eyOOjrbpUlIpdfPwYuYB5Rchst5bifmMuPcixu9XNLRgto/s3472/IMG_20231231_194337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="3472" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZuq4XJsiKVRTPRrhaXvzlFnq2ygDlwdRaqHGgWjlgLo7vl3asxSHLQaqusvCuhA9EwcoImmR67BqNyREbXLAO33NMT6T98LE94BFcSoS269em3XVwcIwjWNsjdcQrfKdPpoDU8FTTf8nY7eyOOjrbpUlIpdfPwYuYB5Rchst5bifmMuPcixu9XNLRgto/w640-h640/IMG_20231231_194337.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here are my 12 favourite books of the year. One book for every month of 2023.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_K13myi2s5j1sB3zwjar_18Mdz8IT4641ZK6mkxjNPFUM1TTCWeJAkYWx_XWvEdWOlf63sao2RWmf7VWcahqUz3mlrtZuImPcSFlXQuASftbCuPxyj24GEXbZM6SVTv-T-d9FoYj3_CWj6j5U0GcLgKuVnqRWFcACY01cRRCIhubycu2YGksMzhoIjn2t/s400/58340706.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_K13myi2s5j1sB3zwjar_18Mdz8IT4641ZK6mkxjNPFUM1TTCWeJAkYWx_XWvEdWOlf63sao2RWmf7VWcahqUz3mlrtZuImPcSFlXQuASftbCuPxyj24GEXbZM6SVTv-T-d9FoYj3_CWj6j5U0GcLgKuVnqRWFcACY01cRRCIhubycu2YGksMzhoIjn2t/w134-h200/58340706.jpg" width="134" /></a></div><u>January 2023</u><div><br /></div><div><b>One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The 1st book in The Shepherd King duology</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Rating: 5 Stars</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Check my review <a href="https://booknotesbyathina.blogspot.com/2023/12/favourite-book-of-january-2023-review.html" target="_blank">here</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOKWQzf_4j_mq9e5Wzc3tYnXqucXRSPpFecoiq94L1B15E0s8J6HG3OKnDnu1dI9ueWCyDD5ojx9S_BiLFYJzz5vE2wOp26MGTuZAU_j-sEU2wHsH191X3BVn0f8JiQu8GAiuJBM9z8I8-y_5bn1nStF8uTrgqT_cjM4secGm09drmX7h2YCTrUNrcp8m/s1270/65639661.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1270" data-original-width="820" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOKWQzf_4j_mq9e5Wzc3tYnXqucXRSPpFecoiq94L1B15E0s8J6HG3OKnDnu1dI9ueWCyDD5ojx9S_BiLFYJzz5vE2wOp26MGTuZAU_j-sEU2wHsH191X3BVn0f8JiQu8GAiuJBM9z8I8-y_5bn1nStF8uTrgqT_cjM4secGm09drmX7h2YCTrUNrcp8m/w129-h200/65639661.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><u>February 2023</u><div><br /></div><div><b>The Luminaries by Susan Dennard</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The 1st book in The Luminaries series</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Rating: 5 Stars</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Check my review <a href="https://booknotesbyathina.blogspot.com/2023/12/favourite-book-of-february-2023-review.html" target="_blank">here</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_t29tgTxRIkRmSFmktc3OvSIg-EnVlcKbPLfO0RzLtVV6jQ6HBDbKxwKMiKiqXioRRrutgIlqWFCUJ6M-Cvr6M77YjuTOr8veTtBWRivVfT9ink4RytTJ_xqul-sQat7EiCLLDUTVETZ_ktyjiT2_rqv6Oh4w5b8AFk2eJCxL3r9oimJoWIPHcBFjfEhx/s475/9790778.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="308" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_t29tgTxRIkRmSFmktc3OvSIg-EnVlcKbPLfO0RzLtVV6jQ6HBDbKxwKMiKiqXioRRrutgIlqWFCUJ6M-Cvr6M77YjuTOr8veTtBWRivVfT9ink4RytTJ_xqul-sQat7EiCLLDUTVETZ_ktyjiT2_rqv6Oh4w5b8AFk2eJCxL3r9oimJoWIPHcBFjfEhx/w129-h200/9790778.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><u>March 2023</u><div><br /><div><b>The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The 1st book in the Niebla trilogy.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Rating: 5 Stars</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Check my review <a href="https://booknotesbyathina.blogspot.com/2023/12/favourite-book-of-march-2023-review.html" target="_blank">here</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpK0WLLH1Riw1O2H6ipl86XymnucDgZtzhYsXevXZwuW-PXALJEcm3GLoODYXJTbIWUosN0sfw7xUdCM6hqbNOAiLTlcRRFZorJeX3B6oyCTZBGWfluimc3ji1Tph1dbTE9CMWGGqFYSuIG8izu2NAiNZIoDbLPyqvx6ZGzCbmFagpQDdP9RKWKREjcck/s600/44421460.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="396" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpK0WLLH1Riw1O2H6ipl86XymnucDgZtzhYsXevXZwuW-PXALJEcm3GLoODYXJTbIWUosN0sfw7xUdCM6hqbNOAiLTlcRRFZorJeX3B6oyCTZBGWfluimc3ji1Tph1dbTE9CMWGGqFYSuIG8izu2NAiNZIoDbLPyqvx6ZGzCbmFagpQDdP9RKWKREjcck/w132-h200/44421460.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><u>April 2023</u></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The 1st book in the Before The Tales from the Café series</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Rating: 5 Stars</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Check my review <a href="https://booknotesbyathina.blogspot.com/2023/12/favourite-book-of-april-2023-review.html" target="_blank">here</a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinO3ZMXVEiQ-LkEtRWPZmoY1hEXK7P9t3G9AfK2cdxlo8M3PtXU946DGcj1nQCYiS-WAm6P679i0gXN20WxI_62pd7DaaYdvyRDbd1FAnZOp8gKCYHPsxOsHO6esTQrZUqGU_B4RYdtldEjVWnv7URhhq4tNJ1syuplFesPjjBoX7m8tK5-9MQAKHEGm0d/s4769/60714999.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4769" data-original-width="3336" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinO3ZMXVEiQ-LkEtRWPZmoY1hEXK7P9t3G9AfK2cdxlo8M3PtXU946DGcj1nQCYiS-WAm6P679i0gXN20WxI_62pd7DaaYdvyRDbd1FAnZOp8gKCYHPsxOsHO6esTQrZUqGU_B4RYdtldEjVWnv7URhhq4tNJ1syuplFesPjjBoX7m8tK5-9MQAKHEGm0d/w140-h200/60714999.jpg" width="140" /></a></div><u>May 2023</u></div><div><br /><div><b>The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The 1st book in the Crowns of Nyaxia series.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Rating: 5 Stars</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Check my review <a href="https://booknotesbyathina.blogspot.com/2023/12/favourite-book-of-may-2023-review.html" target="_blank">here</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJBpK9P06JiyNuVt6sLdYyd37olNx97jb1fymGYt9cWNeRagCSKXVPr7nyL0xX5tgyNKO4PByitZnol9BHsCec7DH9uzK5oxtbXdBmdRV9A_QDqqTxOC-Ki2Q8lLTDHTi4UvdC97Haxs2h0r64wjPMUtynYRg7qJa-b501JWXgfE9Zslijl_hrcYunLzl/s500/62335396.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="350" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJBpK9P06JiyNuVt6sLdYyd37olNx97jb1fymGYt9cWNeRagCSKXVPr7nyL0xX5tgyNKO4PByitZnol9BHsCec7DH9uzK5oxtbXdBmdRV9A_QDqqTxOC-Ki2Q8lLTDHTi4UvdC97Haxs2h0r64wjPMUtynYRg7qJa-b501JWXgfE9Zslijl_hrcYunLzl/w140-h200/62335396.jpg" width="140" /></a></div><u>June 2023</u></div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The 2nd book in the Crowns of Nyaxia series.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Rating: 4 Stars</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Check my review <a href="https://booknotesbyathina.blogspot.com/2023/12/favourite-book-of-june-2023-review.html" target="_blank">here</a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWh2CDqTHDn3T3txa1wOgkB0e8bqbYre77QuAbsRRs_yv6iUBnMBsIrkhNuP_jgqiACHuEJLBNV9legLoc7h0Ugz-SKzJ_BSsXq-fOxb-MNCoarhgLzic_yRA08op36MewpubqtVjM8e5gCDkKyGFEM-wvUrxX2EhIkioAbK_OIwRNH01zthjqa608UYc/s764/90585526.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWh2CDqTHDn3T3txa1wOgkB0e8bqbYre77QuAbsRRs_yv6iUBnMBsIrkhNuP_jgqiACHuEJLBNV9legLoc7h0Ugz-SKzJ_BSsXq-fOxb-MNCoarhgLzic_yRA08op36MewpubqtVjM8e5gCDkKyGFEM-wvUrxX2EhIkioAbK_OIwRNH01zthjqa608UYc/w131-h200/90585526.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><u>July 2023</u></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The 1st book in The Empyrean trilogy.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Rating: 5 Stars</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Check my review <a href="https://booknotesbyathina.blogspot.com/2023/12/favourite-book-of-july-2023-review.html" target="_blank">here</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidA-UmZgK_gey67YXnIWJpe8DdHLBN6ekYcjlSryWTc0SRbW_IhxVyyFzhlv0i7iThuZ7lzV6msNq94wKqNjsRTz7p6Wx31KDxX_C4zdcAlw-Lb-kKl2HZuNkcel8kTim2FsKkoKooBvQQ5Jrm6_2Kwb373RzoiiSrXHpsqlcGs0zNdq66LRuTAKAAc8c2/s2600/58832801.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2600" data-original-width="1714" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidA-UmZgK_gey67YXnIWJpe8DdHLBN6ekYcjlSryWTc0SRbW_IhxVyyFzhlv0i7iThuZ7lzV6msNq94wKqNjsRTz7p6Wx31KDxX_C4zdcAlw-Lb-kKl2HZuNkcel8kTim2FsKkoKooBvQQ5Jrm6_2Kwb373RzoiiSrXHpsqlcGs0zNdq66LRuTAKAAc8c2/w132-h200/58832801.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><u>August 2023</u><div><br /></div><div><b>The Martyr by Anthony Ryan</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The 2nd book in The Covenant of Steel trilogy.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Rating: 4 Stars</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Check my review <a href="https://booknotesbyathina.blogspot.com/2023/09/the-martyr-covenant-of-steel-2-by.html" target="_blank">here</a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeAwQi3HrN4-bIRnmmgBMgDT_wSRBTB8GqsiXFy9MQYrbc0hmvJCCBna2L9JQgP3GV2ljk4oS2DTFbea26ZohLDIQyvxtcii_zg19hjPTwG9rbMDgBWNcTrYVRxO7y0ic0UX2muyg9UBZg6FZUI0_sTDy09lqmk-eWnMaTwHtx2sUwUCupBuXVy6Bwmxk/s400/40893782.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="279" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeAwQi3HrN4-bIRnmmgBMgDT_wSRBTB8GqsiXFy9MQYrbc0hmvJCCBna2L9JQgP3GV2ljk4oS2DTFbea26ZohLDIQyvxtcii_zg19hjPTwG9rbMDgBWNcTrYVRxO7y0ic0UX2muyg9UBZg6FZUI0_sTDy09lqmk-eWnMaTwHtx2sUwUCupBuXVy6Bwmxk/w139-h200/40893782.jpg" width="139" /></a></div><u>September 2023</u></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Witch Hat Atelier, vol 1 by Kamome Shirahama</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Rating: 5 Stars</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Check my review <a href="https://booknotesbyathina.blogspot.com/2023/10/witch-hat-atelier-vol-1-by-kamome.html" target="_blank">here</a><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkojA_l3Sfw3-in-3L4lAcbcqIHe-wKtlR9j6cRyf6oKnLKBiIXz2L8BWy6Hq5lcrF193TwWU7lORly4y7a1RZ5-QMLSh4cEu2D_RQKOnh3onCskVC1XL0RlKAqnaq61TVB-1gOGzvr8jvZ4wppN1E2VJ4VaUfzm4FQBcnXG52ANwNbfrTLG7tcpr6EA2I/s1536/83780487.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="990" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkojA_l3Sfw3-in-3L4lAcbcqIHe-wKtlR9j6cRyf6oKnLKBiIXz2L8BWy6Hq5lcrF193TwWU7lORly4y7a1RZ5-QMLSh4cEu2D_RQKOnh3onCskVC1XL0RlKAqnaq61TVB-1gOGzvr8jvZ4wppN1E2VJ4VaUfzm4FQBcnXG52ANwNbfrTLG7tcpr6EA2I/w129-h200/83780487.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><u>October 2023</u></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Foxglove by Adalyn Grace</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The 2nd book in the Belladonna trilogy.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Rating: 4 Stars</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Check my review <a href="https://booknotesbyathina.blogspot.com/2023/10/foxglove-belladonna-2-by-adalyn-grace.html" target="_blank">here</a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGemwSc3tdrlLUOVjWDb_htC05jCGWJW_ZM3AbocVSLRF2n7FKgRxyVYJse87lN0voEKot0U-saJQRDwLLH7Urlo82Z1f6HsiQOJCkHUDouPWYJKwSTEe04_0D4R0tA91HvinYpefhDGBeHFZzmkfveRZdLnRyMnxcqQkLU8nqwt_HLKLjkre8qbX9twHO/s2835/123206890.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2835" data-original-width="1843" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGemwSc3tdrlLUOVjWDb_htC05jCGWJW_ZM3AbocVSLRF2n7FKgRxyVYJse87lN0voEKot0U-saJQRDwLLH7Urlo82Z1f6HsiQOJCkHUDouPWYJKwSTEe04_0D4R0tA91HvinYpefhDGBeHFZzmkfveRZdLnRyMnxcqQkLU8nqwt_HLKLjkre8qbX9twHO/w130-h200/123206890.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><u>November 2023</u></div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Fragile Threads of Power by V. E. Schwab</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The 1st book in the Threads of Power series</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Rating: 5 Stars</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Check my review <a href="https://booknotesbyathina.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-fragile-threads-of-power-threads-of.html" target="_blank">here</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaA7xGbH_cYa8ZKrS_A6AOYblM-uJXe0UyYs8Y5CjVSXX3-1_JGC2c1BPb55KwGjQBhB7RqemZUI2zOlmMJBPoO0-YS2ABufuT4Ap3fNCYb3bc0bjyU0ZKrwO7kPWpJ2MSvAzWsx8lAbWaq2rB5jotg50jD2O-pNE9b4hRE704MnL61q2MlECpLT8KB5NA/s1000/123510179.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaA7xGbH_cYa8ZKrS_A6AOYblM-uJXe0UyYs8Y5CjVSXX3-1_JGC2c1BPb55KwGjQBhB7RqemZUI2zOlmMJBPoO0-YS2ABufuT4Ap3fNCYb3bc0bjyU0ZKrwO7kPWpJ2MSvAzWsx8lAbWaq2rB5jotg50jD2O-pNE9b4hRE704MnL61q2MlECpLT8KB5NA/w133-h200/123510179.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div><u>December 2023</u></div><div><br /></div><b>Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood<br /></b><div><br /><div><i>Rating: 5 Stars</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Review to come soon</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Among all these books <b>my favourite of the year is The Fragile Threads of Power by V. E. Schwab</b>. I do not think that this was a surprise. Victoria is my favourite author and I love anything she writes. This book was my most anticipated release of the whole year.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-83213989002081703422023-12-29T14:26:00.004+02:002023-12-29T14:26:14.847+02:00My Priority TBR of 2024 (Blogmas 2023 - Day 29)<div style="text-align: justify;"> Hello everyone!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Only three days are left until the end of the year and I thought that it would be nice to share with you my<b> priority TBR for the next year.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In no particular order here are the books that I want to read in 2024.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7DDGQCdVdiggmvmpImbS3jWy593NiUYLJKbc7S9nC3HN9M9CECW3ujldHWqyK8AL9uErhIjyRofJycG3KNZYC2fp_qh4ilYe8ScFJGQ_VgXaGmX2r9kBU_EY_6k5qXmnDmFbnNd7xI2sVjflM0g30pgjsJ8gZ2bya6m8woy0DLDQS0UMiAJlSIaekERK/s1080/Priority.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7DDGQCdVdiggmvmpImbS3jWy593NiUYLJKbc7S9nC3HN9M9CECW3ujldHWqyK8AL9uErhIjyRofJycG3KNZYC2fp_qh4ilYe8ScFJGQ_VgXaGmX2r9kBU_EY_6k5qXmnDmFbnNd7xI2sVjflM0g30pgjsJ8gZ2bya6m8woy0DLDQS0UMiAJlSIaekERK/w640-h640/Priority.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC7fT3y7qM2cHJdLNO4NWx55ipUDo6qk-_pf7QBVuwg0dXk5_PiHYYqfLDzmsJB4O9NrM1d13Br3Rkg7F60XH5FvaEkJ0Ix6nDAqVMt6wQKtJqsw4EyGYjWfMjDVmHYY6ko7DLD93pYf582WOBsZSPCHduAZ-fN-nD7vHvIzUqgipVnJbMg8fRrq2UctVh/s400/60784489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC7fT3y7qM2cHJdLNO4NWx55ipUDo6qk-_pf7QBVuwg0dXk5_PiHYYqfLDzmsJB4O9NrM1d13Br3Rkg7F60XH5FvaEkJ0Ix6nDAqVMt6wQKtJqsw4EyGYjWfMjDVmHYY6ko7DLD93pYf582WOBsZSPCHduAZ-fN-nD7vHvIzUqgipVnJbMg8fRrq2UctVh/w133-h200/60784489.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I think that it is time to finally read a Brandon Sanderson book. I cannot call myself a fantasy reader without having read a Brandon Sanderson book.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcjNiOSnaZPRi47dLT3zM3bRFtSOMZ6zRSId1KmMHpZ0vXKoXm-TFRayI60znTa8Wyf1OFxgc4NvtSsTLW6SNN0YfWfl5Hqx67_-YxYqPEZkSaDolX_POHpwjbohZpCv_4Ej1KpdwpgdzOPxOzjwcE9Nd4p5AJe_h23qTZWsVzdqMR-GlY31lULxvq6Su/s475/15750692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcjNiOSnaZPRi47dLT3zM3bRFtSOMZ6zRSId1KmMHpZ0vXKoXm-TFRayI60znTa8Wyf1OFxgc4NvtSsTLW6SNN0YfWfl5Hqx67_-YxYqPEZkSaDolX_POHpwjbohZpCv_4Ej1KpdwpgdzOPxOzjwcE9Nd4p5AJe_h23qTZWsVzdqMR-GlY31lULxvq6Su/w130-h200/15750692.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><b><i>Malice by John Gwynne</i></b><div><br /></div><div>I have read The Bloodsworn Saga (book1 & 2) from him and I loved them and i think I should read The Faithful and the Fallen series in 2024.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJItEJgp1JWJEC8USj01hX0oGfZXbv8kLZPGU1iMB6WVOmIkZ3r5YSObAxVJxJ8kaSlHjON3tdNgdN5XxJgdEf8_t98nP4qLJFK6PKNYTlO2FiBajz8qOheG2lRj3nkhgiT5mpqxt7VyZaHSOcvH7LSrM2lqeMxuJ9o14O8Da8GEsMTwAv2TE4NBZIewp/s420/944073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="276" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJItEJgp1JWJEC8USj01hX0oGfZXbv8kLZPGU1iMB6WVOmIkZ3r5YSObAxVJxJ8kaSlHjON3tdNgdN5XxJgdEf8_t98nP4qLJFK6PKNYTlO2FiBajz8qOheG2lRj3nkhgiT5mpqxt7VyZaHSOcvH7LSrM2lqeMxuJ9o14O8Da8GEsMTwAv2TE4NBZIewp/w131-h200/944073.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><b><i>The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie</i></b><div><br /></div><div>The first book in his First Law series. I have heard great things and now that I have physical & beautiful copies of the books I have no excuse.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2I3lCYlv8lc9EW9xGmLhAnIgg6fDnXXiu6pqUpmdTwfxfdD97Fxcy1Lsg0pb1if6zfTX2_-M4R-g9eKhZanZU3WREjgB77t0aH7msJzfWGYh35HzVXcjblcCOIjODlfBOkgzpnGBkYi9nA2j3_TIegxpUVBssCEiWCEU-5X7PWvZFbKf9EvFThLeQzTXC/s2339/59122160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2339" data-original-width="1488" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2I3lCYlv8lc9EW9xGmLhAnIgg6fDnXXiu6pqUpmdTwfxfdD97Fxcy1Lsg0pb1if6zfTX2_-M4R-g9eKhZanZU3WREjgB77t0aH7msJzfWGYh35HzVXcjblcCOIjODlfBOkgzpnGBkYi9nA2j3_TIegxpUVBssCEiWCEU-5X7PWvZFbKf9EvFThLeQzTXC/w127-h200/59122160.jpg" width="127" /></a></div><b><i>The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan</i></b><div><br /></div><div>I want to continue reading The Wheel of Time series and I have only read the first two books. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I also want in 2024 to finish some series that I am in the middle of or there is only one book left. Here are some of them..</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCqD5oIdEH92Pg1A7BFUJtyD0a1aOJqPzhvczFTV0Ip_wMZIW5WMpCc5iU03uXlvwPi76HhUPgAmO3L-uLmXAcGLt6QFM9uYOTdQ8_QIfcBKgbIPRLJzaEHr1hunNMCyixb6GwwXyKjRC-f1uy38JzmeWRliEoLs_v6LuNW9jACECrm7mpwNasy6kzufM/s500/55644228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="325" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCqD5oIdEH92Pg1A7BFUJtyD0a1aOJqPzhvczFTV0Ip_wMZIW5WMpCc5iU03uXlvwPi76HhUPgAmO3L-uLmXAcGLt6QFM9uYOTdQ8_QIfcBKgbIPRLJzaEHr1hunNMCyixb6GwwXyKjRC-f1uy38JzmeWRliEoLs_v6LuNW9jACECrm7mpwNasy6kzufM/w130-h200/55644228.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNU_0HZBxJKRhzYf6prm5-yG9QlfYVvd5aY-ixEl08AKRs2FinhyphenhyphenT_iDY6QWWffRzUBXBJr1iZgpbE9KrCrRbWMjjGeOUNbipWjNlwDp1B-VLl9nmKGI1eHTY6CVeSzhuOWYULLcfOvoaEQVoLGDjui0klf8aiENGjY1bd7H3kOtx-LLx58F7anfMrpXi/s497/38204046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdWfQgxzde2SA2M-8HJQKoT-M8V9_Vme4Yx9ZtIwsis8JvWpEWBD6CdPksYGXIlL0ERXHroRPm2pdqq0i4K2_Xd-Pwpcv6ExbsNVFL5egNByAX-Oxy7WKyXfp4xtAt1JYoxoKMT9QTr1haNTiPuhQBnE-K12Uh3mhBPr1m7WERweJ5QmMiAJ-oDNFqoXj/s2475/61242426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1613" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdWfQgxzde2SA2M-8HJQKoT-M8V9_Vme4Yx9ZtIwsis8JvWpEWBD6CdPksYGXIlL0ERXHroRPm2pdqq0i4K2_Xd-Pwpcv6ExbsNVFL5egNByAX-Oxy7WKyXfp4xtAt1JYoxoKMT9QTr1haNTiPuhQBnE-K12Uh3mhBPr1m7WERweJ5QmMiAJ-oDNFqoXj/w131-h200/61242426.jpg" width="131" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="308" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNU_0HZBxJKRhzYf6prm5-yG9QlfYVvd5aY-ixEl08AKRs2FinhyphenhyphenT_iDY6QWWffRzUBXBJr1iZgpbE9KrCrRbWMjjGeOUNbipWjNlwDp1B-VLl9nmKGI1eHTY6CVeSzhuOWYULLcfOvoaEQVoLGDjui0klf8aiENGjY1bd7H3kOtx-LLx58F7anfMrpXi/w124-h200/38204046.jpg" width="124" /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcYXsiuZhOz6ZASuUym13pVzxC29k722O8vrh68Pk0nMMpEwIY119e6RF7RyUOGWhepMEghhBnl678h6vjD3FOELXxih_UPWoQMhuOQH7ZQimenu4mFkxOAn7kO0nNaO__IGPsZGs7BkOYDpJiOJNNZM-NuHlWqVy_FOSJtM5y-irkUhCDBCXggVq1yzK/s400/60461898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcYXsiuZhOz6ZASuUym13pVzxC29k722O8vrh68Pk0nMMpEwIY119e6RF7RyUOGWhepMEghhBnl678h6vjD3FOELXxih_UPWoQMhuOQH7ZQimenu4mFkxOAn7kO0nNaO__IGPsZGs7BkOYDpJiOJNNZM-NuHlWqVy_FOSJtM5y-irkUhCDBCXggVq1yzK/w133-h200/60461898.jpg" width="133" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jGkBiuX2MlXakAiQjnHrPqEawKjHCBi_UlSQ4X3hU2MaSCu4rrdi8ENSyzA4zU0naZYTT_qJAt7M9H0tozl0kV0xUceg4GDB-7ky1_FGh3sVYyLhunpq5N7bxA8xDcCHvt-zidkMNsd-mLBj8Xi8XnNvvvgxhdWHaYKbricTyTk8GIT-uKtWDrI-F_2m/s2560/26032912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1710" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jGkBiuX2MlXakAiQjnHrPqEawKjHCBi_UlSQ4X3hU2MaSCu4rrdi8ENSyzA4zU0naZYTT_qJAt7M9H0tozl0kV0xUceg4GDB-7ky1_FGh3sVYyLhunpq5N7bxA8xDcCHvt-zidkMNsd-mLBj8Xi8XnNvvvgxhdWHaYKbricTyTk8GIT-uKtWDrI-F_2m/w134-h200/26032912.jpg" width="134" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoffuvnXxEsc6thUiqui54R28cKW9pFI4Zw1tGZQQV7i7OtckHWh5qrLR2RBFVzwxGFsnHx58bPanAwSy0Q5lrbU_hqQ6QUV63AX7DbFNlhiGWWWfULQGajYmE1LneIzs3AQzh1_mhZrAHRVH-dtwCwXkV3zUQw511-1hA53XH7pcen1eDrDTv_daKGjW/s1048/52772417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoffuvnXxEsc6thUiqui54R28cKW9pFI4Zw1tGZQQV7i7OtckHWh5qrLR2RBFVzwxGFsnHx58bPanAwSy0Q5lrbU_hqQ6QUV63AX7DbFNlhiGWWWfULQGajYmE1LneIzs3AQzh1_mhZrAHRVH-dtwCwXkV3zUQw511-1hA53XH7pcen1eDrDTv_daKGjW/w138-h200/52772417.jpg" width="138" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div>See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcYXsiuZhOz6ZASuUym13pVzxC29k722O8vrh68Pk0nMMpEwIY119e6RF7RyUOGWhepMEghhBnl678h6vjD3FOELXxih_UPWoQMhuOQH7ZQimenu4mFkxOAn7kO0nNaO__IGPsZGs7BkOYDpJiOJNNZM-NuHlWqVy_FOSJtM5y-irkUhCDBCXggVq1yzK/s400/60461898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcYXsiuZhOz6ZASuUym13pVzxC29k722O8vrh68Pk0nMMpEwIY119e6RF7RyUOGWhepMEghhBnl678h6vjD3FOELXxih_UPWoQMhuOQH7ZQimenu4mFkxOAn7kO0nNaO__IGPsZGs7BkOYDpJiOJNNZM-NuHlWqVy_FOSJtM5y-irkUhCDBCXggVq1yzK/s400/60461898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div></div>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-85301209656095545192023-12-28T18:51:00.000+02:002023-12-28T18:51:12.352+02:00Anticipated Releases for 2024 (Blogmas 2023 - Day 28)<div style="text-align: justify;"> Hello everyone!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, after a couple of days away I am back with some of my <b>most anticipated releases of 2024</b>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Let's see them together...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLgQI74H9npH_YnPv2i4X-d5NgCMTngzP-ZhFRofeNqiDcMyFnXt5-Yglx-q6Qk4_wE_7l7a4WuiJZam2hES7by3jagj0_RAcnEY115od9_GNwTz0_JC9yes9WK1pzPUffZCgL7WU4Uh_aKPEGy3zW_MzJqJQWVOOTM8nJCyuynVdJJRCp9Ajhk44SvLO/s1080/2024%20Anticipated%20releases.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLgQI74H9npH_YnPv2i4X-d5NgCMTngzP-ZhFRofeNqiDcMyFnXt5-Yglx-q6Qk4_wE_7l7a4WuiJZam2hES7by3jagj0_RAcnEY115od9_GNwTz0_JC9yes9WK1pzPUffZCgL7WU4Uh_aKPEGy3zW_MzJqJQWVOOTM8nJCyuynVdJJRCp9Ajhk44SvLO/w640-h640/2024%20Anticipated%20releases.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">In <i>January</i> I am looking forward to</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5R1N7P0-6gcUxW6292EQwKCm9n4-w1p-IT_AupDrwd_AUfHAdNQJAg2TJzCsASGYRIvsvk5mXzHehfceRr6DoyYqZqX5y35wgBy8Ciz2Qb1yZ3YLKYlGGywNSMn-k9Eq3JRMw1qD-qXtfpGzGNtU7mtSc1aAHC59epRX8Ugg0FkY9nBOe9DgxCMKuELO/s984/63104676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="638" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5R1N7P0-6gcUxW6292EQwKCm9n4-w1p-IT_AupDrwd_AUfHAdNQJAg2TJzCsASGYRIvsvk5mXzHehfceRr6DoyYqZqX5y35wgBy8Ciz2Qb1yZ3YLKYlGGywNSMn-k9Eq3JRMw1qD-qXtfpGzGNtU7mtSc1aAHC59epRX8Ugg0FkY9nBOe9DgxCMKuELO/w129-h200/63104676.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><b><i><u>The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake</u></i></b><div><br /></div><div>"Only the extraordinary are chosen. Only the cunning survive."</div><div><br /></div><div>This is book 3 in The Atlas series and it will be released on January 9th.</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9lvaC6LW_OeXqJibB-N2JpR-zMPzKcWYIn4SrYStdxIOhQ0UuPHE8DKZesgltoGdId6P66GfUi695k5jCyc7c6z0IYC32TAZGcskYU8tv8y8JUh0LrUTJU9wLo3bZ9D8f4UOytS5TMJC3lJ4Fb2vIC7lqYIzr3dXK4w_tIM78RJwApEDhh5gOvCVQ9jH/s1500/123268671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="974" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9lvaC6LW_OeXqJibB-N2JpR-zMPzKcWYIn4SrYStdxIOhQ0UuPHE8DKZesgltoGdId6P66GfUi695k5jCyc7c6z0IYC32TAZGcskYU8tv8y8JUh0LrUTJU9wLo3bZ9D8f4UOytS5TMJC3lJ4Fb2vIC7lqYIzr3dXK4w_tIM78RJwApEDhh5gOvCVQ9jH/w130-h200/123268671.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><b><i><u>Faebound by Saara El-Arifi</u></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Divided by blood.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Imprisoned by fate.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bound by desire.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Welcome to the intoxicating world of the fae."</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">From the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Final Strife, comes an enchanting new trilogy. It will be published on January 18th.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsbLR4dWhCyUK0MQNqWOAXbH2c3NMx2WJixmNdzTNcHq039uZegzcqt_51qbYRDGMOUAYy-75U14aByF8FGDLcfaWo0EJXNeqAbyZX8ri9JdDzGa-MRIWchvC1NGuT3iErlks4nrOvKJbcjufiul1I-PooJ8sG5Gw1TRjl8w5YQet__P6H_IeR4pMxb8l/s905/133939087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsbLR4dWhCyUK0MQNqWOAXbH2c3NMx2WJixmNdzTNcHq039uZegzcqt_51qbYRDGMOUAYy-75U14aByF8FGDLcfaWo0EJXNeqAbyZX8ri9JdDzGa-MRIWchvC1NGuT3iErlks4nrOvKJbcjufiul1I-PooJ8sG5Gw1TRjl8w5YQet__P6H_IeR4pMxb8l/w133-h200/133939087.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><b><i><u>Destroy the Day by Brigid Kemmerer</u></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the thrilling conclusion to the Defy the Night series, Brigid Kemmerer crafts heartrending twists and devastating turns that will keep readers breathless to the very end.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The book will be released on January 23rd</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In <i>February</i>...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7mO0cmZzBnBml4kMID4UWNLp0o70iQ7kmqB2yfMwX80c4w5W6DOMNG5c6Xvs2Qn4nauvwhgpKuYudkOtXOBLS-WUpMuOdawtQXFnguOaALGKyMuihoTh-2qYCQTuhJNTMMk5_GnRix50KYv3I3XO3I1X_8ZeKt3EUIGwajSuBUt_UTIbIZl4MBzagruf/s500/181344829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7mO0cmZzBnBml4kMID4UWNLp0o70iQ7kmqB2yfMwX80c4w5W6DOMNG5c6Xvs2Qn4nauvwhgpKuYudkOtXOBLS-WUpMuOdawtQXFnguOaALGKyMuihoTh-2qYCQTuhJNTMMk5_GnRix50KYv3I3XO3I1X_8ZeKt3EUIGwajSuBUt_UTIbIZl4MBzagruf/w133-h200/181344829.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><b><i><u>Bride by Ali Hazelwood</u></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love, Theoretically and The Love Hypothesis.</div><div><br /></div><div>Releases on February 6th</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQS178TOqr1PuC62l0DyDiXAj0-IJwEUXAkR_mxVVJhBgpHjTGty6SR0F0BlvEhAifTqYG1r35nSbHKhlSgeObP1wgiVtblzKgTVYHOlfZcbkPnVD4-uQ8JbC7zlGrerurdli0c_P224d6SbD_fPJj2Y6SuguAXTUQ0Ve0CsaXUI604hLfGgJmr23ro8o/s2327/154433984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2327" data-original-width="1535" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQS178TOqr1PuC62l0DyDiXAj0-IJwEUXAkR_mxVVJhBgpHjTGty6SR0F0BlvEhAifTqYG1r35nSbHKhlSgeObP1wgiVtblzKgTVYHOlfZcbkPnVD4-uQ8JbC7zlGrerurdli0c_P224d6SbD_fPJj2Y6SuguAXTUQ0Ve0CsaXUI604hLfGgJmr23ro8o/w132-h200/154433984.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div><b><i><u>Gogmagog: The First Chronicle of Ludwich by Jeff Noon & </u></i></b></div><div><b><i><u>Steve Beard</u></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Gogmagog tells the story of an epic journey through the sixty-mile long ghost of a dragon. </div><div><br /></div><div>Releases on February 13th</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfoUVmzQOsLAAUN69PP42I_Nt_VzoAQTAiDhQFmPt2Qtd84S6NEvR7M3xFFsi6zaSCV2W-LmMzuZ3thbdiDdv-h3BFG73QvNufbTbeVPV2L6rrM5X_yVF2JA_BHiAcDBiRJcppBJcAKD4J3WGv1XqrQ0kZHJJpCsBxD_jAVSUhokww7xghDD1PRwA6NTa/s750/173404001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="498" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfoUVmzQOsLAAUN69PP42I_Nt_VzoAQTAiDhQFmPt2Qtd84S6NEvR7M3xFFsi6zaSCV2W-LmMzuZ3thbdiDdv-h3BFG73QvNufbTbeVPV2L6rrM5X_yVF2JA_BHiAcDBiRJcppBJcAKD4J3WGv1XqrQ0kZHJJpCsBxD_jAVSUhokww7xghDD1PRwA6NTa/w133-h200/173404001.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><b><i><u>Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan</u></i></b><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">From one of fantasy’s most exciting new voices Eliza Chan comes a modern, myth-inflected story of revolution and magic set against the glittering, semi-submerged city of Tiankawi, perfect for fans of Jade City and The Bone Shard Daughter . Welcome to Tiankawi – shining pearl of human civilization and a safe haven for those fleeing civil unrest. Or at least, that’s how it first appears.</div><div><br /></div><div>Releases on February 27th</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmXxQu3WwN8gIx4csPfxqWdCQgX1ZLBvBrn-agX5gn6ool4Xs2sTKxSIlQxns7uhaWP3dfhennrGcB7CyOqMlB5ylmuI55lTFkaelKYZ89cgEBnZAVCIohuiUqO0yWfI-zW3cY9E9rBu8nKovc6K9OElJnqwZZIcERL_4AM-F_4k2C9_uFI-8s6Ttbv9w/s2294/123200829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2294" data-original-width="1500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmXxQu3WwN8gIx4csPfxqWdCQgX1ZLBvBrn-agX5gn6ool4Xs2sTKxSIlQxns7uhaWP3dfhennrGcB7CyOqMlB5ylmuI55lTFkaelKYZ89cgEBnZAVCIohuiUqO0yWfI-zW3cY9E9rBu8nKovc6K9OElJnqwZZIcERL_4AM-F_4k2C9_uFI-8s6Ttbv9w/w131-h200/123200829.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><b><i><u>Empire of the Damned by Jay Kristoff</u></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>The sequel to Empire of the Vampire releases on February 29th</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkEJ3UR4Wtk8TEW1Jv7rA1YQStezEo9IZ7pAFtdcqJNYPSjSbW3uqGuKKY7wd97ZnwN1yeJ4CAINmWqy0atvvR0ZdKDSFpZ9HfOB1oCNpPaTdeKBJfSz4R7uqk4GCR-UoQnoLLYtZBpkrg9uV0dst6MRkEaB41WFoHtS9mZRiWyj8sGzZnebmUfynJ6Ii/s499/150247395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkEJ3UR4Wtk8TEW1Jv7rA1YQStezEo9IZ7pAFtdcqJNYPSjSbW3uqGuKKY7wd97ZnwN1yeJ4CAINmWqy0atvvR0ZdKDSFpZ9HfOB1oCNpPaTdeKBJfSz4R7uqk4GCR-UoQnoLLYtZBpkrg9uV0dst6MRkEaB41WFoHtS9mZRiWyj8sGzZnebmUfynJ6Ii/w133-h200/150247395.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><b><i><u>The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson-Bennett</u></i></b><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Featuring an unforgettable Holmes-and-Watson style pairing, a gloriously labyrinthine plot, and a haunting and wholly original fantasy world, The Tainted Cup brilliantly reinvents the classic mystery tale.</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The 1st book in The Shadow of Leviathan releases on February 6th</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_ynW30JkNTy1CpUQzon2HVrmCop_2zI7FXXz80dY7k_vUWaAdXkGHcB4_LAOXVm3ypiWn-CXfWzC5fJVSyOnjavjfCCfof-I3atzPqpEHeXPQjCPBU7lLxliyVJMCpc-97-zaLf-94-HGheQ0kfAp6xtjHqppFcsxU3ZqrLQ1HOim1G66bEwG9snGgyd/s1000/150351878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="659" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_ynW30JkNTy1CpUQzon2HVrmCop_2zI7FXXz80dY7k_vUWaAdXkGHcB4_LAOXVm3ypiWn-CXfWzC5fJVSyOnjavjfCCfof-I3atzPqpEHeXPQjCPBU7lLxliyVJMCpc-97-zaLf-94-HGheQ0kfAp6xtjHqppFcsxU3ZqrLQ1HOim1G66bEwG9snGgyd/w132-h200/150351878.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><b><i><u>Tales of the Celestial Kingdom by Sue Lynn Tan</u></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Sue Lynn Tan’s highly acclaimed, bestselling Celestial Kingdom duology is expanded with this new compilation of stories from before, during, and after the events in Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Heart of the Sun Warrior, all from the perspectives of beloved characters and illustrated by Kelly Chong.</div><div><br /></div><div>Releases on February 6th</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In <i>March</i>...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCB1W_mQMrL5l1IOgzzKZ8LFWPeQuJkL7pd9pYSRVpEZB5suZgDy4HRingVR0iwFnfgwSNya-FmFQetUnmD6r_GepLoAu8nGBOfElHWuWc7IJVuzk5IZbqtT_CiHx7KStqMqFVR_y2xxmjYQqCVcg7HS11BiTKqCXJ9EZEF3iJQXmq6NEek2KS_1jssXBi/s601/124941442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="399" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCB1W_mQMrL5l1IOgzzKZ8LFWPeQuJkL7pd9pYSRVpEZB5suZgDy4HRingVR0iwFnfgwSNya-FmFQetUnmD6r_GepLoAu8nGBOfElHWuWc7IJVuzk5IZbqtT_CiHx7KStqMqFVR_y2xxmjYQqCVcg7HS11BiTKqCXJ9EZEF3iJQXmq6NEek2KS_1jssXBi/w133-h200/124941442.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><b><i><u>Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner</u></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Return to the world of Godkiller in this thrilling sequel to the #1 internationally bestselling fantasy debut, where Kissen and her companions must navigate lands of gods and demons to unravel a dark truth at the heart of their world.</div><div><br /></div><div>Releases on March 12th</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In <i>April</i>...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXJBDR91f9dhR68uSt8KvRej7hlosLA_V-ra8s83HGS7hdycYIp3Dc9Wq1-HA9OUR1mHIWHB9R_O3EN9-w92Cgxvh7rJ_oKt2lNy6OKdU_pmfWPLRiQTmsNQT0HrvUwWx59EQL95NrHQ0D-27Wz7SIwuiYJAjdCWdE3IXyb4Nt1osFzQIUHtjzWIAMT1G/s457/133286777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXJBDR91f9dhR68uSt8KvRej7hlosLA_V-ra8s83HGS7hdycYIp3Dc9Wq1-HA9OUR1mHIWHB9R_O3EN9-w92Cgxvh7rJ_oKt2lNy6OKdU_pmfWPLRiQTmsNQT0HrvUwWx59EQL95NrHQ0D-27Wz7SIwuiYJAjdCWdE3IXyb4Nt1osFzQIUHtjzWIAMT1G/w131-h200/133286777.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><div><b><i><u>The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo</u></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>From the New York Times bestselling author of Ninth House, Hell Bent, and creator of the Grishaverse series comes a highly anticipated historical fantasy set during the Spanish Golden Age</div><div><br /></div><div>Releases on April 9th</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In <i>May</i>...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujqK8w8gjurA_wajCknnYsCm7KrM2ojmYXSF2EoB_1vjoZargeLorJMZQgxOh4GLG_UTunD1X2tVF1gg5Ja4EJGJlgnqnYjbdviYpuYr5XoCx2raS4XJT21JZzVb6lfb3SuHweZKZ1DZaM9JB9YgyEO0PEPhnKi2qm-fiMXIFloR9xkq3pHic1Wzm22Ks/s4050/144736989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4050" data-original-width="2700" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujqK8w8gjurA_wajCknnYsCm7KrM2ojmYXSF2EoB_1vjoZargeLorJMZQgxOh4GLG_UTunD1X2tVF1gg5Ja4EJGJlgnqnYjbdviYpuYr5XoCx2raS4XJT21JZzVb6lfb3SuHweZKZ1DZaM9JB9YgyEO0PEPhnKi2qm-fiMXIFloR9xkq3pHic1Wzm22Ks/w133-h200/144736989.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><b><i><u>The Silverblood Promise by James Logan</u></i></b><div><br /></div><div>Set in a city of traders and thieves, monsters and murderers, this fast-paced epic fantasy debut is a must-read for fans of Joe Abercrombie, Nicholas Eames, and Scott Lynch.</div><div><br /></div><div>Releases on May 7th<br /><div><br /><div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In <i>September</i>...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHVG7HPkQDGddSY8B8JJpm60tdfoHma1Seire4p3OKdJZGpHgqvBeuCIzdn_0xhX50hZZuvyZQvc0hilpGD63qAb-VTYNppdKXSwXs6G8eB6k_3sUfmQCQeRRsQCZUwEZc1XuXYxwUP0WL5lTXDrR4Bcf682s_OXlKulkwUXJmlDAzC6FLUR8LBaRLsQs/s582/199347538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="375" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHVG7HPkQDGddSY8B8JJpm60tdfoHma1Seire4p3OKdJZGpHgqvBeuCIzdn_0xhX50hZZuvyZQvc0hilpGD63qAb-VTYNppdKXSwXs6G8eB6k_3sUfmQCQeRRsQCZUwEZc1XuXYxwUP0WL5lTXDrR4Bcf682s_OXlKulkwUXJmlDAzC6FLUR8LBaRLsQs/w129-h200/199347538.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><b><i><u>Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune</u></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Somewhere Beyond the Sea is the hugely anticipated sequel to TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea, one of the best-loved and best-selling fantasy novels of the past decade</div><div><br /></div><div>Releases on September 10th</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-60020683494866875482023-12-24T17:11:00.026+02:002023-12-24T17:11:00.133+02:00 Favourite book of November 2023 - Review (Blogmas 2023 - Day 24)<div style="text-align: justify;"> Hello everyone!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We are ending this countdown with my favourite book of <b>November </b>, which was no other than <b>The Fragile Threads of Power.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKHwv2weYKVoWI70RUSW2qKGBLYwbpcWlUorrRZTy16xSTMlEmFOW18bzLkF3FoeyjiMT-3U0-sT4eCiyIwM4eaXlctPEvEx8Z7khdMjZzHLrsQ4i16jyKY67Oyic_ApBct87SY5tpGzOfo2w_-CrZRfwoecGTmi8CQspu5BeFJp3w7FE0Wd8ETFbdixb/s1080/November%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKHwv2weYKVoWI70RUSW2qKGBLYwbpcWlUorrRZTy16xSTMlEmFOW18bzLkF3FoeyjiMT-3U0-sT4eCiyIwM4eaXlctPEvEx8Z7khdMjZzHLrsQ4i16jyKY67Oyic_ApBct87SY5tpGzOfo2w_-CrZRfwoecGTmi8CQspu5BeFJp3w7FE0Wd8ETFbdixb/w640-h640/November%202023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>“She sighed in relief. "You came."</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Kell stepped into the room, the black ring's cord swinging from his fingers. "You called.”</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>― V.E. Schwab, The Fragile Threads of Power</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>It is so good to be back in this world!! I have missed it!!</div><div>The Fragile Threads of Power is the 1st book in the new Threads of Power trilogy by my favourite V.E. Schwab. It is set in the same world as her Shades of Magic series but it takes place 7 years after the end of the last book.</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, I don't have many words to say only three: I LOVED IT!!</div><div>The world building is excellent and the same is true for Victoria's writing. I just love her writing style. The magic system was always my favourite.</div><div>It was really good to see again old and loved characters but I also really liked the new ones, especially Tes, and I cannot wait to learn more about them in the next books.</div><div>The plot in this book was excellent and it was full of adventure and action.</div><div><br /></div><div>I cannot wit for the next book!</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Rating: 5 Stars</i></b></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><u>About the book:</u></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>Seven years have passed since the doors between the worlds were sealed. Seven years since Kell, Lila and Holland stood against Osaron, a desperate battle that saved the worlds of Red, Grey and White London. Seven years since Kell’s magic was shattered, and Holland lost his life.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now Rhy Maresh rules Red London with his new family – his queen, Nadiya, their daughter Ren, and his consort, Alucard. But his city boils with conspiracy and rebellion, fuelled by rumours he is causing magic to fade from the word.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now Kosika, a child Antari, sits on the throne of White London. The new queen leads her people in new rituals of sacrifice and blood in devotion to the altar of Holland Vosijk, summoning vast power she may not be able to control.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now Lila and Kell, living free on the waves, are charged by the captain of the Floating Market to retrieve an immensely powerful artefact, stolen by secretive forces.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now Tes, a young woman with a knack for fixing broken things, is thrust into the affairs of Antari and kings, traitors and thieves. And only her unique powers can weave the threads of power together.</div><div><br /></div><div>A triumphant return to the worlds of The Shades of Magic, The Fragile Threads of Power continues the stories of fan-favourite characters Kell, Lila, Rhy and Alucard, and introduces a new generation of magic, shadows and embers in the dark.</div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div></div>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-91115909002781738942023-12-23T17:06:00.020+02:002023-12-23T17:06:00.141+02:00Favourite book of October 2023 - Review (Blogmas 2023 - Day 23)<div style="text-align: justify;"> Hello everyone!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We are almost at the end. My favourite book in <b>October </b>was <b>Foxglove</b>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVO7FLhQrXayzoX_WyFxpBcCEEceSV-d_GiZ3ycrUFav8Z07R78wXZk0brQ-eSc5r7NHhvmWU3X9as-rCnQhEEsAtnL7kInHK673BZTSTfUYoocUoPEY6iCwUc79Ts8UZZxUT-KwcSTwNm1XKxHdDH-qOgulwhowcNloro3IgkdS_X3ffbxzKBgD8ibm3/s1080/October%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVO7FLhQrXayzoX_WyFxpBcCEEceSV-d_GiZ3ycrUFav8Z07R78wXZk0brQ-eSc5r7NHhvmWU3X9as-rCnQhEEsAtnL7kInHK673BZTSTfUYoocUoPEY6iCwUc79Ts8UZZxUT-KwcSTwNm1XKxHdDH-qOgulwhowcNloro3IgkdS_X3ffbxzKBgD8ibm3/w640-h640/October%202023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>“She didn’t care to be a sunflower, unfurling her petals in the daylight for all to see. She would rather be an adorable little mushroom, thriving in the dark crevices where few ventured to look.”</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>― Adalyn Grace, Foxglove</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Foxglove by Adalyn Grace is the captivating sequel to the Gothic-infused Belladonna, in which Signa and Death face a supernatural foe determined to tear them apart.</div><div><br /></div><div>I really liked Foxglove but to be honest Belladonna is still my favourite. I loved being back in this world and reading about Signa and Death. I really enjoyed the chapters with Blythe's POV as it made the book more interesting and I also liked the interactions between Blythe and Fate. Signa and Death are still my favourites but I am really curious about Wisteria (the 3rd book) where I believe that Blythe will be the focus of the story.</div><div><br /></div><div>The events and revelations of the last part of the book were incredible and they made me want to read the sequel as soon as possible.</div><div><br /></div><div>Foxglove was mysterious and dark, with a strong character development.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am looking forward to the third and final book, Wisteria, to come out next year.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Rating: 4 Stars</i></b></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><u>About the book:</u></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>A duke has been murdered. The lord of Thorn Grove has been framed. And Fate, the elusive brother of Death, has taken up residence in a sumptuous estate nearby. He's hellbent on revenge after Death took the life of the woman he loved many years ago...and now he's determined to have Signa for himself, no matter the cost.</div><div><br /></div><div>Signa and her cousin Blythe are certain that Fate can save Elijah Hawthorne from prison if they will entertain his presence. But the more time the girls spend with Fate, the more frightening their reality becomes as Signa exhibits dramatic new powers that link her to Fate's past. With mysteries and danger around every corner, the cousins must decide if they can trust one another as they navigate their futures in high society, unravel the murders that haunt their family, and play Fate's unexpected games-all with their destinies hanging in the balance.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dangerous, suspenseful, and seductive, this sequel to the story of Signa and Death is as utterly romantic as it is perfectly deadly.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div></div></div>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-2616924937575528692023-12-22T18:00:00.024+02:002023-12-22T18:00:00.134+02:00Maskerade (Discworld #18 , Witches #5) by Terry Pratchett - A Review<div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b> “Nanny's philosophy of life was to do what seemed like a good idea at the time, and do it as hard as possible. It had never let her down.”</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>― Terry Pratchett, Maskerade</b></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0nIcXEmokVbHDHDEFNOabzG3YkBmrXdWS3dzMypGEmYhdCuNiIPlJzvu25px1SD7Kq7CniKBSmH027E8IRHnBtWsm3_zHAVgAJHk5i4OToz97ZznzwF3ScEKOH1yZdbxg6GBf0gIREkaxirLiqF7dShaKSUqayRl0mtdUb-QsFO2wyxJxtMwUMjGWeu3/s1080/maskerade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0nIcXEmokVbHDHDEFNOabzG3YkBmrXdWS3dzMypGEmYhdCuNiIPlJzvu25px1SD7Kq7CniKBSmH027E8IRHnBtWsm3_zHAVgAJHk5i4OToz97ZznzwF3ScEKOH1yZdbxg6GBf0gIREkaxirLiqF7dShaKSUqayRl0mtdUb-QsFO2wyxJxtMwUMjGWeu3/w640-h640/maskerade.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am listening the Discworld books on audio and so far I really like them. I have started with the Witches series and Maskerade is the 5th installment in this sub-series. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This book is actually a parody of The Phantom of the Opera story and our witches are travelling to Ankh-Morpork and visit the opera house. They want to convince Agnes to join their coven and not become an opera singer but while they are there some mysterious murders are starting to happen.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I think that Maskerade was the funniest of the Witches' books that I have red so far . The book is a humorous and adventurous tale with a touch of satire in it. It is fast-paced with lovable characters.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have the rest of the series on audio, so I will definitely continue.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Rating: 4 Stars</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><u>About the book:</u></i></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>'There's a kind of magic in masks. Masks conceal one face, but they reveal another. The one that only comes out in darkness....'</div><div><br /></div><div>The Opera House in Ankh-Morpork is home to music, theatrics and a harmless masked Ghost who lurks behind the scenes. But now a set of mysterious backstage murders may just stop the show.</div><div><br /></div><div>Agnes Nitt has left her rural home of Lancre in the hopes of launching a successful singing career in the big city. The only problem is, she doesn't quite look the part. And there are two witches who would much rather she return home to join their coven.</div><div><br /></div><div>Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg have travelled to Ankh-Morpork to convince Agnes that life as a witch is much better than one on the stage. Only now they're caught up in a murder mystery featuring masks and maniacal laughter.</div><div><br /></div><div>And the show MUST go on....</div><div><br /></div><div><div>See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div></div></div>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-25637925772957758052023-12-22T16:23:00.026+02:002023-12-22T16:23:00.143+02:00Favourite book of September 2023 - Review (Blogmas 2023 - Day 22)<div style="text-align: justify;"> Hello everyone!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My favourite book of <b>September </b>was actually a manga. <b>Witch Hat Atelier</b> is the first manga that I read and I loved it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80B0_26IZzFw2ReYA3jd-ax-E6HWX-QQldeHGbxEvpah0gD9lNAhuFTkVgRjF6U6W5Hh9-jgUbN9zQMrDR1pgfFMYq_FjQMCcLRqOvagoGNwzhgMhlq58c13HntsIGLJ4F-WTOvic0YuRjR3si7DzS9lq2BIKMQzTpeoOZwV2DJ4ZyH4d9vsyjZVSopJz/s1080/September%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80B0_26IZzFw2ReYA3jd-ax-E6HWX-QQldeHGbxEvpah0gD9lNAhuFTkVgRjF6U6W5Hh9-jgUbN9zQMrDR1pgfFMYq_FjQMCcLRqOvagoGNwzhgMhlq58c13HntsIGLJ4F-WTOvic0YuRjR3si7DzS9lq2BIKMQzTpeoOZwV2DJ4ZyH4d9vsyjZVSopJz/w640-h640/September%202023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>“Is an athlete always an athlete, even from mere birth? What about astronauts? Or pop stars? You can’t know what you’re going to be until you grow up, right? What about witches? Is it the same for them?”</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>― Kamome Shirahama, Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 1</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama</b> is the first manga that I read and I must say that I am impressed. I have already bought the next two volumes.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is a fantasy manga full of magic. We follow Coco, who dreams to become a witch. However, everyone tells her that witches are born an not made. She believes that until she comes across a traveling magician and everything changes.</div><div><br /></div><div>I loved it from the beginning. The plot and teh characters are really good with a lot of potential. The art style is beautiful and really cute and I also really liked the magic system.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, let's move to the next volume...</div></div></div><p><b><i>Rating: 5 Stars</i></b></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><u>About the book:</u></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In a world where everyone takes wonders like magic spells and dragons for granted, Coco is a girl with a simple dream: She wants to be a witch. But everybody knows magicians are born, not made, and Coco was not born with a gift for magic. Resigned to her un-magical life, Coco is about to give up on her dream to become a witch…until the day she meets Qifrey, a mysterious, traveling magician. After secretly seeing Qifrey perform magic in a way she’s never seen before, Coco soon learns what everybody “knows” might not be the truth, and discovers that her magical dream may not be as far away as it may seem…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div></div>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-74724990746700951892023-12-21T16:16:00.000+02:002023-12-21T16:16:24.713+02:00Favourite book of August 2023 - Review (Blogmas 2023 - Day 21)<div style="text-align: justify;"> Hello everyone!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We have reached the heart of summer and my favourite book of <b>August </b>was <b>The Martyr</b>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPno2E7PCIXAEdGYjOYom8pNNqz0t0J4J80FVzVT_h4BgWYY3f3NOyt_-j27zIr9V02xuPtdonxO7wm-ZktifdqhgKR39mZ6Cfu__PnGTNx1MZxTUF4cFW7L7f7rW6TbTODZ20omfBa6RG0yjwgME7dmERYvlGolwlcmGBVnV2I5NIIYJ0LhIRMRTJYAs9/s1080/August%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPno2E7PCIXAEdGYjOYom8pNNqz0t0J4J80FVzVT_h4BgWYY3f3NOyt_-j27zIr9V02xuPtdonxO7wm-ZktifdqhgKR39mZ6Cfu__PnGTNx1MZxTUF4cFW7L7f7rW6TbTODZ20omfBa6RG0yjwgME7dmERYvlGolwlcmGBVnV2I5NIIYJ0LhIRMRTJYAs9/w640-h640/August%202023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><b>The Martyr by Anthony Ryan</b> is the second book in the Covenant of Steel trilogy and as the first one The Pariah, it is full of action, intrigue and magic.</div><div>The book picks up where book one ended and Alwyn Scribe is still at Lady Evadine's side as her advisor and protector.</div><div><br /></div><div>I found the first half of the book to be a little slow for me but then it picked up and it was really good.</div><div>Anthony Ryan knows how to write good characters and good battle scenes. The Martyr is medium -paced , adventurous, dark and tense.</div><div><br /></div><div>I will definitely be reading book three The Traitor to find out how Alwyn's story continues.</div></div><p><b><i>Rating: 4 Stars</i></b></p><p><i><u>About the book:</u></i></p><p>Times have changed for Alwyn Scribe. Once an outlaw, he’s now a spymaster and sworn protector of Lady Evadine Courlain, whose visions of a demonic apocalypse have earned her the fanatical devotion of the faithful.</p><p>Yet Evadine’s growing fame has put her at odds with both Crown and Covenant. As trouble brews in the kingdom, both seek to exploit her position for their own ends.</p><p>Sent to the Duchy of Alundia to put down a rebellion, Alwyn must rely on old instincts to fight for his new cause. Deadly feuds and ancient secrets are laid bare as war erupts, a war that will decide the fate of the Kingdom of Albermaine and, perhaps, prevent the coming of the prophesied Second Scourge.</p><div style="text-align: left;">See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div></div>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-25248681392779106902023-12-20T13:29:00.000+02:002023-12-20T13:29:44.641+02:00Favourite book of July 2023 - Review (Blogmas 2023 - Day 20)<div style="text-align: justify;"> Hello everyone!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In <b>July </b>I cave in to the hype and read the <b>Fourth Wing</b> and it became my favourite book of the month.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2MzLehju7kcR_Nt7oHzvqScOPhrtRnpHmZ-Nn6c9Ugkk5f65FateS8YK6iNesLHQDMH5vMb7btcLfB9xK3h9lKShgguJ1xqGUZOFowECqdgx2jEC2RPwfmcwnZFBfLsPk7CG9BhizpMCqlkzBUm4kicAnUWq5xdsUorbGody2GskoaptnCQ8no0fl9fH/s1080/July%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2MzLehju7kcR_Nt7oHzvqScOPhrtRnpHmZ-Nn6c9Ugkk5f65FateS8YK6iNesLHQDMH5vMb7btcLfB9xK3h9lKShgguJ1xqGUZOFowECqdgx2jEC2RPwfmcwnZFBfLsPk7CG9BhizpMCqlkzBUm4kicAnUWq5xdsUorbGody2GskoaptnCQ8no0fl9fH/w640-h640/July%202023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>“Hope is a fickle, dangerous thing. It steals your focus and aims it toward the possibilities instead of keeping it where it belongs—on the probabilities.”</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>― Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><div>The <b>Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros</b> is the first book in The Empyrean trilogy and it is a fantasy romance. </div><div>This book has gathered a lot of hype around it, so it was obvious that I would check it out.</div><div>After reading the first pages, I couldn't put it down and I understood the hype completely. This book is very addictive. It's fast-paced and full of tension.</div><div>I really loved the world-building with the dragons and the magic system. Rebecca Yarros does the enemies-to-lovers trope perfectly and the main characters Xaden & Violet were exactly what I needed.</div><div>This book left me with a book hangover , that took me awhile to get over it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I highly recommend it and I cannot wait to read book 2, Iron Flame.</div></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i>Rating: 5 Stars</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><i><u>About the book:</u></i></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Welcome to the brutal and elite world of Basgiath War College, where everyone has an agenda, and every night could be your last . . .</div><div><br /></div><div>Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general-also known as her tough-as-talons mother-has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.</div><div><br /></div><div>But when you're smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away . . . because dragons don't bond to "fragile" humans. They incinerate them.</div><div><br /></div><div>With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother's daughter-like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.</div><div><br /></div><div>She'll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.</div><div><br /></div><div>Alliances will be forged. Lives will be lost. Traitors will become allies . . . or even lovers. But sleep with one eye open because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.</div><div> </div></div><div><div>See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div></div></div>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-77179919821320491252023-12-19T16:26:00.000+02:002023-12-19T16:26:14.158+02:00The Ballad Of Never After (Once Upon A Broken Heart #2) by Stephanie Garber - A Review<p style="text-align: center;"> <b><i>“In the morning, you can forget it. You can go back to pretending you don't like me, and I can pretend that I don't care. But for tonight, let me pretend you're mine.”</i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>― Stephanie Garber, The Ballad of Never After</i></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsSioOP5LFv5qnk-9H06zeWdUK7IIu0qpZD2uZhQRNDv0BKGNQQaHft1n8nvq9e8rcL35fC_6U9c_rl_Z5i9PicgJqUcAH2mv6j1fOuCICxMIyXWiLghYfKLCJSAneQ96FzI4RcbhO9WK_RcuEqNpBV8yiURzDjqZRsTmOp7uhuCOz5HgHH-bzG_VE5bbI/s3472/IMG_20231219_162102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="3472" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsSioOP5LFv5qnk-9H06zeWdUK7IIu0qpZD2uZhQRNDv0BKGNQQaHft1n8nvq9e8rcL35fC_6U9c_rl_Z5i9PicgJqUcAH2mv6j1fOuCICxMIyXWiLghYfKLCJSAneQ96FzI4RcbhO9WK_RcuEqNpBV8yiURzDjqZRsTmOp7uhuCOz5HgHH-bzG_VE5bbI/w640-h640/IMG_20231219_162102.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I love the stories that Stephanie Garber writes. They are so whimsical and magical and The Ballad Of Never After was no exception. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">It had been over a year since I had read Once Upon A Broken Heart and I have missed Jacks...</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Jacks and Evangeline are working again together to break another curse and I couldn't get enough of them. Their banter, their fights and the fact that they cannot admit their feelings for each other... I don't have words.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In this book we got to know more about the characters and the world and I really liked that. The ending of the book was both excellent and very frustrating at the same time. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I must start reading book 3, A Curse for True Love immediately.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Rating: 5 Stars</i></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><u>About the book:</u></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Not every love is meant to be.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">After Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, betrays her, Evangeline Fox swears she'll never trust him again. Now that she’s discovered her own magic, Evangeline believes she can use it to restore the chance at happily ever after that Jacks stole away.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But when a new terrifying curse is revealed, Evangeline finds herself entering into a tenuous partnership with the Prince of Hearts again. Only this time, the rules have changed. Jacks isn’t the only force Evangeline needs to be wary of. In fact, he might be the only one she can trust, despite her desire to despise him.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Instead of a love spell wreaking havoc on Evangeline’s life, a murderous spell has been cast. To break it, Evangeline and Jacks will have to do battle with old friends, new foes, and a magic that plays with heads and hearts. Evangeline has always trusted her heart, but this time she’s not sure she can. . . .</p><div style="text-align: justify;">See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div></div>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-33634601632444835542023-12-19T16:05:00.025+02:002023-12-19T16:13:58.653+02:00Favourite book of June 2023 - Review (Blogmad 2023 - Day 19)<div style="text-align: justify;"> Hello everyone!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another post with another favourite book of the year. In <b>June </b>I continued reading the Crowns of Nyaxia books and of course <b>The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King</b> became my favourite of the month.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKYXpK9Zvu-hFMqPMuEYbRJX5wcWBq4DYmPSQZO2W4nYj79IiHpaGCcwf8GEgBsf4U9LUojoiqY6a6HD_0GIG1APn5LZ5BundI1vyP2NYPbVl7LoeYdPhzBZPWzNN07Hoj29-AqWVREXuJHHnIuKqRh1SSoHafvYaga2jvp7d4S1q3UDesIJu_Iw9BO7M/s1080/June%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKYXpK9Zvu-hFMqPMuEYbRJX5wcWBq4DYmPSQZO2W4nYj79IiHpaGCcwf8GEgBsf4U9LUojoiqY6a6HD_0GIG1APn5LZ5BundI1vyP2NYPbVl7LoeYdPhzBZPWzNN07Hoj29-AqWVREXuJHHnIuKqRh1SSoHafvYaga2jvp7d4S1q3UDesIJu_Iw9BO7M/w640-h640/June%202023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>“Your soul is my soul. Your blood is my blood. Your heart is my heart.”</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>― Carissa Broadbent, The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><div>The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King is the second book in the Crowns of Nyaxia series by Carissa Broadbent and it was as exciting as the first one. I read it after the Six Scorched Roses novella and I really liked it.</div><div><br /></div><div>It focuses on what happens after the Kejari and it is still full of action and political intrigues. I really liked how Oraya and Raihn evolved as characters in this book and how we got to see and learn more about the world.</div><div>It had many surprising twists and turns but in the end everything wrapped up really good.</div><div><br /></div><div>I cannot wait for the next installment.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Rating: 4 Stars</i></b></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><u>About the book:</u></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>Love is a sacrifice at the altar of power.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the wake of the Kejari, everything Oraya once thought to be true has been destroyed. A prisoner in her own kingdom, grieving the only family she ever had, and reeling from a gutting betrayal, she no longer even knows the truth of her own blood. She’s left only with one certainty: she cannot trust anyone, least of all Raihn.</div><div><br /></div><div>The House of Night, too, is surrounded by enemies. Raihn’s own nobles are none too eager to accept a Turned king, especially one who was once a slave. And the House of Blood digs their claws into the kingdom, threatening to tear it apart from the inside.</div><div><br /></div><div>When Raihn offers Oraya a secret alliance, taking the deal is her only chance at reclaiming her kingdom–and gaining her vengeance against the lover who betrayed her. But to do so, she’ll need to harness a devastating ancient power, intertwined with her father’s greatest secrets.</div><div><br /></div><div>But with enemies closing in on all sides, nothing is as it seems. As she unravels her past and faces her future, Oraya finds herself forced to choose between the bloody reality of seizing power – and the devastating love that could be her downfall.</div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div></div>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-20575813433572334932023-12-18T15:13:00.001+02:002023-12-18T15:13:50.741+02:00Favourite book of May 2023 - Review (Blogmas 2023 - Day 18)<div style="text-align: justify;"> Hello everyone!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today we are talking about my <b>May </b>favourite book. In the month of May my favourite book was <b>The Serpent and the Wings of Night.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNh-fe_bHyHqJ8_7gMnHKrLwiVnIsrUmPbE5X7gNlrBRC_V17_8exY903t4XzfsxMxObY1-tNSCvyihQnOLiwu_1psRcm7CJXVcgl8jPWUn-WkZ18hUoqEc27IqJ2drlrA5qMOVS4D3jf-9nTw0P-nV2W5DXlTWQp_VuPNkwZe44q1QdBVLAJZMlRgLVa5/s1080/May%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNh-fe_bHyHqJ8_7gMnHKrLwiVnIsrUmPbE5X7gNlrBRC_V17_8exY903t4XzfsxMxObY1-tNSCvyihQnOLiwu_1psRcm7CJXVcgl8jPWUn-WkZ18hUoqEc27IqJ2drlrA5qMOVS4D3jf-9nTw0P-nV2W5DXlTWQp_VuPNkwZe44q1QdBVLAJZMlRgLVa5/w640-h640/May%202023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>“I would beg,” he murmured. “For you, I would. You have fucking destroyed me, Oraya. Do you know that?”</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>― Carissa Broadbent, The Serpent and the Wings of Night</i></b></div></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbemt</b> is a Romantasy (Fantasy Romance) book and it is the 1st in the Crowns of Nyaxia duology. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Serpent and The Wings of Night is a book that I had heard many great things about and I was very intrigued. When I got the chance to read it, I didn't hesitate and thankfully because I loved it.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">First of all this book is really addicting and you can easily binge it. I loved the world-building, the setting and of course the characters and the great dynamics between them. The book is action packed with a lot of banter, tension and spice. It has a slow burn rivals-to-friends-to-lovers romance that I loved and very complicated family dynamics.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The ending was unexpected and you will definitely need to have book 2 ready to continue. Thankfully I had.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you didn't guess, I loved this book and It became a new favourite.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Rating: 5 Stars</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><i><u>About the book:</u></i></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Human or vampire, the rules of survival are the same: never trust, never yield, and always – always – guard your heart.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, Oraya carved her place in a world designed to kill her. Her only chance to become something more than prey is entering the Kejari: a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But winning won’t be easy amongst the most vicious warriors from all three vampire houses. To survive, Oraya is forced to make an alliance with a mysterious rival.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Everything about Raihn is dangerous. He is a ruthless vampire, an efficient killer, an enemy to her father’s crown… and her greatest competition. Yet, what terrifies Oraya most of all is that she finds herself oddly drawn to him.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But there’s no room for compassion in the Kejari. War for the House of Night brews, shattering everything that Oraya thought she knew about her home. And Raihn may understand her more than anyone – but their blossoming attraction could be her downfall, in a kingdom where nothing is more deadly than love.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div></div></div>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-34097931819330265412023-12-17T18:00:00.034+02:002023-12-17T18:00:00.138+02:00Favourite book of April 2023 - Review (Blogmas 2023 - Day 17)<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> Hello everyone!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Let's continue with April's favourite book. In <b>April </b>my favourite book was <b>Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi </b>(translated by Geoffrey Trousselot).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWa5W7vUb_NWV8H9tCGGiWNUy5agqTRzL9EcYh2CxKOy5PqaniZAPPm0a5Jv0Pudu3bFafBu-fQaSEC74pwpbEgjHEJ-cUrCV8Go0mMf76NuZss9G4KoWGp1lLQR7EuDl_2vsipTL9nMj1EytBa5LhqWqwFu1I3fjSm3Ou4ZFMTl0RAJhGpA82sqND3fv_/s1080/April%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWa5W7vUb_NWV8H9tCGGiWNUy5agqTRzL9EcYh2CxKOy5PqaniZAPPm0a5Jv0Pudu3bFafBu-fQaSEC74pwpbEgjHEJ-cUrCV8Go0mMf76NuZss9G4KoWGp1lLQR7EuDl_2vsipTL9nMj1EytBa5LhqWqwFu1I3fjSm3Ou4ZFMTl0RAJhGpA82sqND3fv_/w640-h640/April%202023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>“At the end of the day, whether one returns to the past or travels to the future, the present doesn't change.”</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>― Toshikazu Kawaguchi, Before the Coffee Gets Cold</i></b></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a contemporary book with magical realism elements and it is the first book in the series.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's been awhile since I read something like this and I just loved it.</div><div>It is a beautiful, moving story that explores the age-old question of what would you change if you could travel back in time.</div><div>The writing is simple but beautiful and all of the stories were really good and left me with a hopeful thought despite their tough subjects.</div><div>This book is really inspiring and after finishing it I couldn't stop thinking it for some time.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Rating: 5 Stars</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At the moment there are four books in the series that are translated in English:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li>Before the coffee gets cold</li><li>Tales from the cafe</li><li>Before your memory fades</li><li>Before we say goodbye</li></ul><div>I believe that there is one more book that is not translated yet.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><u>About the book:</u></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>What would you change if you could go back in time?</div><div><br /></div><div>In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time.</div><div><br /></div><div>In Before the Coffee Gets Cold, we meet four visitors, each of whom is hoping to make use of the café’s time-travelling offer, in order to: confront the man who left them, receive a letter from their husband whose memory has been taken by early onset Alzheimer's, to see their sister one last time, and to meet the daughter they never got the chance to know.</div><div><br /></div><div>But the journey into the past does not come without risks: customers must sit in a particular seat, they cannot leave the café, and finally, they must return to the present before the coffee gets cold . . .</div><div><br /></div><div>Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s beautiful, moving story explores the age-old question: what would you change if you could travel back in time? More importantly, who would you want to meet, maybe for one last time?</div><div><br /></div><div><div>See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div></div></div></div>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-53123127823637933402023-12-16T18:00:00.035+02:002023-12-16T18:00:00.130+02:00 Favourite book of March 2023 - Review (Blogmas 2023 - Day 16)<div style="text-align: left;"> Hello everyone!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Today we are talking about my <b>March </b>favourite book, which was no other than <b>The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Zu2ZiXNluhZGsS2G-fkcT4Mo3BR7u_VUaQpF1r_L4fDfC_1a69Ci36fxk6fndNGBLg_124kH6lzpKjG-xGS6RbsvguVUItfg81u38dvAahzVIzyyuyUFQ-P7LIv0oqSt-xFbEKtRz8Z0L6fqe891tt6sWXugwddpxERfyJhGyqQeti3mnAo0OTSLTqgN/s1080/March%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Zu2ZiXNluhZGsS2G-fkcT4Mo3BR7u_VUaQpF1r_L4fDfC_1a69Ci36fxk6fndNGBLg_124kH6lzpKjG-xGS6RbsvguVUItfg81u38dvAahzVIzyyuyUFQ-P7LIv0oqSt-xFbEKtRz8Z0L6fqe891tt6sWXugwddpxERfyJhGyqQeti3mnAo0OTSLTqgN/w640-h640/March%202023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>“He lost himself in the words and images conjured in his mind and for a while forgot ... He found himself flying among stars and planets ...”</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>― Carlos Ruiz Zafón, The Prince of Mist</i></b></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Prince of Mist, from the bestselling author of The Shadow of The Wind, is a haunting story of a ghostly ship and an age-old curse. It's the first book in the Niebla trilogy (The Fog Trilogy) which is not exactly a series but a collection of the first books Zafon wrote for a younger audience.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I love everything that I have read from Carlos Ruiz Zafon and The Prince of Mist was no exception. This is his debut and is a middle grade novel that can be enjoyed by anyone.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As always I loved the writing style and the setting, which was really atmospheric.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The book is a quick read and it has also creepy and mystery elements. It is a page turner for sure.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Rating: 5 Stars</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><u>About the book:</u></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>In 1943, Max Carver's father - a watchmaker and inventor - decides to move his family to a small town on the coast, to an abandoned house that holds many secrets and stories of its own. Behind the house Max discovers an overgrown garden surrounded by a metal fence topped with a six-pointed star. In the centre is a large statue of a clown set in another six-pointed star.</div><div><br /></div><div>As the family settles in they grow increasingly uneasy: Max’s sister Alicia has disturbing dreams while his other sister, Irina, hears voices whispering to her from an old wardrobe. With his new friend Roland, Max also discovers the wreck of a boat that sank many years ago in a terrible storm. Everyone on board perished except for one man - an engineer who built the lighthouse at the end of the beach.</div><div><br /></div><div>As they learn more about the wreck, the chilling story of a legendary figure called the Prince of Mist begins to emerge...</div><div><br /></div><div><div>See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div></div></div></div>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-27937622743896078812023-12-15T18:00:00.032+02:002023-12-15T18:00:00.139+02:00Short Books To Read If You Need To Catch Up On Your Reading Goal (Blogmas 2023 - Day 15)<div>Hello everyone !!</div><div><br />Have you reached your Goodreads goal for the year or your reading goal in general?<br />I have, but in case you haven't and you still want to, here are some <b>short book recommendations </b>to help you with that.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKUDtTy5d9UQicwuQ-Ii9h5GoU2XCzv4QT8TmsYzB57nDG8AheA5nMcFj1TjWAL0H_T5mnvDZ_KQEwP2Jl-Bto1tv3StzS3Eik-HsgusMuSpPncDUsUjnm_AlThaFYJ0b8cpRmoBO0lDCgbxdLgvFbIumJCwrHy-32VkvsB5kYsUQ75Ui9B7sXZKuVI3H/s1080/short%20books%20to%20read....jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKUDtTy5d9UQicwuQ-Ii9h5GoU2XCzv4QT8TmsYzB57nDG8AheA5nMcFj1TjWAL0H_T5mnvDZ_KQEwP2Jl-Bto1tv3StzS3Eik-HsgusMuSpPncDUsUjnm_AlThaFYJ0b8cpRmoBO0lDCgbxdLgvFbIumJCwrHy-32VkvsB5kYsUQ75Ui9B7sXZKuVI3H/w640-h640/short%20books%20to%20read....jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Let's start...<br /><div><br /><b><i>1. Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood</i></b></div><div><br />This is a YA romance book which is around 350 pages but very quick to read and really really good too.</div><div><br /><b><i>2. Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi </i></b></div><div><br />These are around 200 pages and they have magical realism elements. Currently there are 4 books in this series translated in English</div><div><br /><b><i>3. Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama</i></b></div><div><br />This is a manga and it's the 1st one that I read and I really liked it. <br />You can also read any manga or comic/graphic novel series that you like as they are usually short in length.</div><div><br /><b><i>4. Middle Grade books</i></b> are also a good idea since they are usually short and easy reads. Some of my favourites are Neil Gaiman's Coraline & The Graveyard Book as well as the Roald Dahl books. </div><div><br /><b><i>5. Christmas or Holiday themed books</i></b> in general that are usually quick reads and heartwarming as well.</div><div><br /><b><i>6. Novellas</i></b> are also a good choice. Some recommendations are The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells or A Monk and Robot series by Becky Chambers</div><div><br /><b><i>7.</i></b> Lastly, you can read some <b><i>classics </i></b>such as Animal Farm , The Great Gatsby, Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde or A Christmas Carol.<br /><br /><br /><div>See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-841948959291343064.post-65592191608779122932023-12-14T18:00:00.023+02:002023-12-14T18:00:00.139+02:00Defy the Night (Defy the Night #1) by Brigid Kemmerer - A review<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i> “A spark of rebellion is all it takes to defy the night.”</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>― Brigid Kemmerer, Defy the Night</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lJ9JxzTvyBnP-jeCTtBvyT-tLovEP4Xt9syb4SzNDuQmIHOwj2ZBgllgmgyqnOQ0Amz74BPS9OLRQ8_ES1wh9-iL2N1MqCp3O3tOjWZ8490A78I98h7m0EfKt7-03F5xp5rEzm2rBLr7_9KEn3LlzVtq6iYD4fsIv__Qe2xCxZ5gFcOpzDlNzdubcSsH/s3472/IMG_20230925_132925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="3472" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lJ9JxzTvyBnP-jeCTtBvyT-tLovEP4Xt9syb4SzNDuQmIHOwj2ZBgllgmgyqnOQ0Amz74BPS9OLRQ8_ES1wh9-iL2N1MqCp3O3tOjWZ8490A78I98h7m0EfKt7-03F5xp5rEzm2rBLr7_9KEn3LlzVtq6iYD4fsIv__Qe2xCxZ5gFcOpzDlNzdubcSsH/w640-h640/IMG_20230925_132925.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer</b> is a YA Fantasy book and a 1st book in a series.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This book was on my shelves since its publication and this year I finally managed to read it and I am glad I did.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I like the writing style of the author and the way she writes her characters and world - building. The plot of the book was really interesting too.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We follow Tess and Wes as they try to help their neighbors from the sickness that began ravaging the land, and how they risk their lives to steal Moonflower petals and distribute the elixir to those who need it most--but it's still not enough.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The story is told through two POVs, Tessa's and Prince Corrick's and we see that everyone is just trying to do what they think is right, even though that means different methods that don't always seem right.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The book has many twists and turns that make this book a fast paced read despite its length. Also, the ending was really good.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All in all, it was an adventurous book, with strong character development and lovable characters. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I will definitely continue with the rest of the series, Defend the Dawn and Destroy the Day (releases on January 23rd). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Rating: 4 Stars</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><u>About the book:</u></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>The kingdom of Kandala is on the brink of disaster. Rifts between sectors have only worsened since a sickness began ravaging the land, and within the Royal Palace, the king holds a tenuous peace with a ruthless hand.</div><div><br /></div><div>King Harristan was thrust into power after his parents' shocking assassination, leaving the younger Prince Corrick to take on the brutal role of the King's Justice. The brothers have learned to react mercilessly to any sign of rebellion--it's the only way to maintain order when the sickness can strike anywhere, and the only known cure, an elixir made from delicate Moonflower petals, is severely limited.</div><div><br /></div><div>Out in the Wilds, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade is tired of seeing her neighbors die, their suffering ignored by the unyielding royals. Every night, she and her best friend Wes risk their lives to steal Moonflower petals and distribute the elixir to those who need it most--but it's still not enough.</div><div><br /></div><div>As rumors spread that the cure no longer works and sparks of rebellion begin to flare, a particularly cruel act from the King's Justice makes Tessa desperate enough to try the impossible: sneaking into the palace. But what she finds upon her arrival makes her wonder if it's even possible to fix Kandala without destroying it first.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Athina</i></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Athinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140960800853300671noreply@blogger.com0