Promo: The Fate We Make by Simone Warren

 Publication Date: July 16, 2023

"This is my memoir - a very personal story of families and fate"

The Fate We Make: Heartbreak, is the first volume of a remarkable, occasionally tragic, but ultimately redemptive coming-of-age story. From an early age, Simone Warren recognised that she was caught between her family's expectations and her need to find her own path and voice. Born into a Singaporean Chinese family and a life rooted in tradition, her story is a stunning tale of survival and an inspiring look at how we can learn to move beyond trauma to forge a path toward finding hapiness.

Raised in a family populated with strong women but laced with the strife of the generations that preceded her, Simone's life story reads like an inter-continental odyssey that follows her from an exceptional childhood, through her tumultuous teens and toward young womanhood - as she endeavours to make peace with a decision that she will love with forever. 

Recounting in beautiful detail the lives of the powerful women who shaped her family and how their stories informed her place in the world. this first instalment in a trilogy of deeply personal memoirs is an unflinching look at finding oneself in the midst of crushing expectation and unexpected tragedy. Journeying beyond survival to success.

I've never read a memoir before but I have read quite a few coming-of-age stories and this was definitely of the most heartfelt but tragic so far.

There were lots of aspects that I felt readers could connect too, especially those who grew up religious or  didn't have english as their first language. Revisiting the past and learning so much, as well as a lot of self-healing. It makes us as a reader step. back and look at our past and how we should reflect on both good and bad actions we may have taken and where they may have lead. Hearing how Simone's story was made me go through many different emotions. 

This memoir shed light on who we could be and how that arises from the various situations we are potentially put in. How can we learn from making the wrong decision? Religion? Heartbreak? Self-Love? Growth? What do we choose and when is it the right time. 

If you like listening to music whilst reading then you should be happy to know that throughout this book there are QR Codes which you can scan to listen to the right song at the right time. 

There's pictures, graphs, family tree. Everything to help you understand Simone's story even better as well as feeling the emotion she felt. It was definitely not a memoir that made me bored. It was very engaging and even full of dialogue. This was my first memoir but it will not be my last.

This is Book One: Heartbreak and I can't wait to read more of Simone's story. 

Thank you so much for the physical arc

TW: Depression

(check for more TW's on Goodreads)

Links to this Memoir below:

GoodReads

Amazon UK

Amazon US

The Wrong Wife by L. Steele

 Publication Date: July 25, 2023

 GoodReads | Amazon UK | Amazon US 

He's my best friend's brother.

My new boss.

And now my fake husband.

Knight Warren. The country's most sought-after heartthrob, and retired military vet, is my complete opposite.

He's confident when I'm collaborative. Grumpy when I'm sunshine. Surely where I'm... happy go lucky. He's the hardened ex-soldier.

I'm still trying to find my calling. The only thing we have in common is that we both love his sister... who's also my best friend. So when she asks me to help Knight find a wife I can't say no. 

Turns out he'll inherit the father's empire as long as he gets marries within the next month. I agree to work as his assistant and interview the women who apply for the position. But Knight hates every one of them.

With the deadline drawing close, he proposes I marry him -with conditions.

One year of a fake marriage. One year of living together. One year of pretending I belong to him. 

In return, he'll pay off my debts and take care of my mother's medical treatment. 

But stipulations are never that simple. Especially when the chemistry between us detonates. Forces to live under his roof I know I'm falling for him. As the days pass I begin to think he reciprocates my feelings. Until he introduces me to his real wife...

This is a billionaire, forced proximity, one-bed, fake marriage of convenience, and a best friend's brother novel. It is a complete standalone. 

EVERYTHING I needed was in this book.  It pulled me out of my bookish slump that we all surely had after Fourth Wing. I could not find a single book that fully helped me recover from such an amazing book but here we are with The Wrong Wife. Knight Warren gave me major Xaden Riorson vibes. Both have this iron steel front but the second they're with the right person you just know. That wall is slowly and slowly crumbling and as much as they don't like it happening, it still does.

However, with Knight he was never this harsh, cold ex marine. No, he was warm, kind-hearted...and cared. Who would believe that? Right? After going through hell and back and hell again he was blessed with a second chance that he thinks he doesn't deserve. He dealt with torturours behaviour and witnessed worse. Yet, here he is. Standing in-front of the only girl who gives his body any sort of reaction. He hates it. 

I love how Knight's sister was the biggest cheerleader, she was the little matchmaker. She knew. There wasn't a single character I hated. I even loved Tiny... although we can all debate about this name. If you read the book then you know why. 

One of my favourite bits about this book was the constant reminder that we all read smut romance books. Also how AMAZING is this guy. You'll find out why he is all bookish smut readers dream bf once you've read the book. BUT SERIOUSLY I was so jealous. 

One thing I could not wrap my head around what that this was in London. I am from London myself however most romance books i've read are set in the states so imagining a British accent was strange for me but at least I knew what everything in the book looked like. St James Park being mentioned felt surreal. Amazing park if you decide to come to London for a trip. Other than that, I absolutely adored this book.

Put it on all your TBR's. 

Thank you Valentine PR for the digital arc of The Wrong Wife!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

BLOG TOUR: The First by Frances Fleur

Publication Date: March 17, 2023

GoodReads | Amazon UK | Amazon US 

 

Whoever said falling in love was easy, lied.

Turning 18, Cora never envisaged her world would fall apart. After an abrupt return to her childhood town, she is thrust back into a life she had so desperately tried to escape. An unexpected meeting, with a handsome stranger, leads to the first kiss of her dreams The attraction is undeniable. As their lives unexpectedly intertwine, it makes her question everything. Cora tries to navigate this romantic twist of fate. Falling in love for the first time, wasn't anything she like she had ever imagined.

The first love is always the most memorable and this forbidden love story will leave you wanting more...

Book 1 of 3. Purple Hearted Series. 

Dual POV. Inner thoughts. Enough Tension to have to put the book down to take a few breathes to then pick it up and STILL be shocked. 

Cora's dad lost her job. Returning home and newly 18 she decided a drink...or maybe a few would be the best solution to fix all her problems. Instead of solving her problems she caused more to herself when she found herself under a gorgeous, godly-sculpted man. They are complete strangers. It's just a one time hook up right? Wrong. He is her A-Level music teacher. That's it. She's screwed. 

How can she face him now? Does she pretend it never happened? 

Tropes: Forbidden Love/ Teacher x Student

The book ends on a cliff-hanger. I am too invested into Cora and Zach's love story. I need the next book. 

I loved the story and I enjoyed the growing romance as well as the tension. I am not a fan of teacher x student tropes, just because I think it is morally wrong. However, knowing this isn't real I enjoyed it as well as seeing the character development throughout the book. 

Character-wise it was very easy to distinguish the likeable characters and the not so likeable ones. However, the story from the beginning was not explained enough. I had to ignore the questions in my head to enjoy the rest of this book. I wish the background was explained better. Saying that, the book did get a whole lot better after. 

Definitely an enjoyable read. 

Thank you for having me on this tour. Check out everyone else's tours!

BLOG TOUR: Craving Beauty by Jennifer Silverwood

Release date: 14th July, 2023

Waterstones | Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Barnes & Noble

VYNASHA'S NOT LIKE THE OTHER GIRLS IN THE VILLAGE.

The people say she's a witch, that the fire that took her family was no accident. They say the little boy she cares for is a monster, but they still crave her magic roses.

All Vynasha wants is to keep her nephew alive, and her missing brother to come home. When a mysterious brother to come home. When a mysterious man appears, telling her Ceddrych is alive, Vynasha will brave anything to reach him. Even if it costs her life. 

The trap has been set for the girl with magical blood, the one destined to save a cursed kingdom of ghosts and demons. AND A HUNGRY BEAST WAITS, READY TO DEVOUR HER SOUL.

This book gave me majorly Beauty and the Beast vibes.

A dark fantasy perfect for fans of Margaret Rogerson and Holly Black. 

It did not disappoint. It was definitely a book that took time to get into but the chapter art and the general aesthetic of the book was what drew me in. 

This book essentially was about a Vynasha who seeks aid to help find her nephew but discovers something worse. Trouble upon more trouble hits Vynasha on her journey but the main question is ... does it eventually lead to something good? 

I felt like a lot of it just didn't make complete sense until I get my hands on the second book. I have a lot of questions left unanswered.

Warning: This book ends on a cliff-hanger. 

This is Volume One of many Volumes to come. I am excited to see more of Jennifer Silverwood's work. Her world-building really grew on me and got to understand the world Vynasha was in. A fantasy filled book with twists and surprises. 

Thank you for joining me on my stop for the blog tour! 

Check out the other tours here: Blog Tours

Thank you Lola Blog Tours :)

TOP 5 REASONS YOU SHOULD READ THE THIRD DAUGHTER

 Check out my review: The Third Daughter 

☆ reason one: ☆

It is the perfect book for all slow-burn lovers. The tension build-up is so intense my eyes were glued to my screen the entire time. I was clutching onto my kindle to find out what happened next. To top off the heart-aching slow-burn, there is also LGBTQ romance. Slow-Burn and Queer book lover. I am a sucker for queer rep. There was the perfect balance in this book. Can't wait to see where this goes...

☆ reason two: ☆

From reason one, i'm sure you can tell. This book is not a standalone. There will be more! If you like series, or built-up tension then this book is just down your alley with an amazing cliff-hanger ending.

☆ reason three: ☆

Such a diverse book with topics such as; socioeconomic divide, emotions, complex family dynamics, trust and betrayal, and religion and power. There is so much that can be discussed among other readers. Definitely buddy-read worthy. I know from the beginning of this book there was so much I could've discussed with a fellow reader to calm me down or to take the excitement so I can read more. 

☆ reason four: ☆

Adrienne Tooley has a writing style that just captivates you. This book had made me feel so many emotions. The ways that Tooley talks about sadness and the embracing of our emotions. I knew this book was amazing. The way we see how society used to look at our emotions and depression. Showing us how important it is too feel these emotions. 

☆ reason five: ☆

There's magic. I mean- is there more that needs to be said? Nope, not really but I shall carry on. Fantasy is a genre that naturally draws you in, makes your mind run wild thinking of the endless possibilities of what could exist. In this case, magical tears. Sounds lame? wait until you see how much power they hold. These tears are what sets of this entire adventure. The twists and turns no one expects to see in this book. 

These are my five reasons as to why you should read The Third Daughter. Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tours for letting me on this tour. 

Please do check out everyone else's tours. 

Tour Schedule

Thank you for joining my stop on the tour!!

The Dark Lies by Yasmin Fazli

 Publication Date: July 21, 2023

GoodReads | Amazon (KV)

Keena Mills lost everything that ever mattered to her last summer: the boy she loved and her closest friends. Now, she's about to start her final year of college, and there's nothing she wants more than to reunite with her old group of friends, but to do that, she must bury the past. 

While she's looking for the perfect getaway to go on, a video pops up on her social media feed. Thick spruce trees, soaring birds, mighty elk, magical rock formations, and a powerful waterfall to end it all. It is perfect.

After convincing everyone, they arrive at a cabin in the middle of nowhere, and things start falling apart. Keena notices that not everyone has come on this hike for the same reasons. Old rivalries die hard and as they trek deeper into the woods, painful truths from the past year slip out. 

Tensions run high and when things seem like they can't get worse, Kenna and her friends are convinced someone is following them. They are not aline. 

What they don't realise is they aren't the first group to answer the call, and the woods are misleading.

First of all, I AM SO PROUD OF MY FRIEND. She has worked so hard for this book and it is finally being released for everyone to devour. I also want to make it clear, even if this was written by my friend I will be nothing but honest about how I found this book. With that being said, 

I COULD NOT TAKE MY EYES OFF THE SCREEN. I just kept reading and reading and reading. As most of you know, I keep all my bookish thoughts in my notes page. This is the first book I have been fully transparent about my thoughts. I was so attached.

There were times I was skimming the page just to find out what happened to the characters. I had moments where I held my breath hoping everyone and everything was okay.

This story follows a group of friends who hike together up mountains and even alongside waterfalls. Sadly, a tragic incident happens. Their once vibrant, fun relationship all breaks apart. What happens when they meet each other again? Is the woods the same woods they thought they all knew? Is there more than they lead on? What is hiding? As secrets and lies slowly unveil themselves, we dig deeper into the woods and the past. Can they rekindle their lost friendship? or was it gone...for good. 

If I had to pick some of the best aspects of this book (my personal opinion) it would be the writing style. Yasmin has this writing style that just hooks you in. Grips you enough that you can't get your head out of the book. You're constantly searching for answers. Another aspect I really enjoyed was the scienc-y word choices. As an aspiring STEM student I was getting very giddy every time I saw a terminology I knew off. Yasmin Fazli is also a doctor therefore she decided to put two of her favourite things, as well as it being a strength, and incorporated it into her writing. Perfect for all science-y readers out here!!

I also did a Q & A with Yasmin to ask her about her own book. 

1. What first inspired you to write this book?

I spent eight months binge watching thrillers and horror is with my dad. I started reading mystery thrillers as well during this time. Yes, I loved the thrill. But more importantly, it was something I got to do with my dad. We bonded coming up with stories and twists and turns. It inspired me to wanna create one of my own. My dad also was inspired. So we both ended up writing our own separate thrillers during this time.

2. Are you someone who spends your time climbing in your free time or was it purely hours of research?

I have never gone outdoor climbing before, but U enjoy indoor bouldering a lot! I used to spend a lot of my free time at indoor climbing locations. All of the rock climbing outdoors was purely research. I don't know anybody who climbs.

3. How do you deal with Writer's Block?

By picking out some of my favourite books and reading favourite books and reading favourite sections of those books. Since I was writing a thriller, I ended up picking up James Rollins frequently and reading some of my favourite passages. I would also end up watching some of my favourite movies such as the descent. And if none of this worked, I would bounce ideas of my dad. I would tell him where I was stuck, and we were just talking though until I was inspired again. 

4. Describe your book in 3 words.

This question is definitely difficult! But I will do my best. Three words I would use to describe my book would be: suspenseful, dark and mistakes. 

5. Final Q, What book would you recommend reading after TDL?

This is a really interesting question! It's funny, because when I was done writing this book, I ended up reading my dad's newest book. But that's not out yet, so I can't recommend it. Oddly enough, I haven't read many books similar to TDL. It's probably why I wrote this type of story. However, I would probably recommend Amazonia by James Rollins. It is one of my favourite books. Not entirely because it is scary. but because it is an adventure with twists and turns, I didn't see coming and a lot of scientific research to back it up. It is also written very eloquently.

You can see Yasmin talk more on her debut book via her TikTok page.

June-Reading Wrap Up

Disclaimer: I had exams this month so everything I read was crammed after I finished exams.

       

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross: (audible) YES! YES! YES! The most heart pining love story I have read. I need the second book right now! On my Goodreads you can see how desperate I am for the second book. Goodreads review of Divine Rivals. Blog Review!!

If my month couldn't get better. I then read Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.

(audible) If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would. AND WE ARE GETTING FOUR MORE BOOKS AFTER THIS ONE. I've never been this excited to go broke. Goodreads review!!

        

(arc-digital) Sing me to Sleep was the perfect way to get down from the high of fourth wing. I was in a Fantasy mood this month but needed a break from dragons after Fourth Wing. Luckily Sing me to Sleep had every other fantasy creature but dragons! Perfect! Goodreads review :)

Finally, this was the last book I read. Yes we are back to dragons. However, Writers of the Future is full of short stories, not just about dragons but about aliens, humans, demons and more. It was very interesting and made my head turn a few times as well as staring into space. Like I said...interesting. Definitely worth a look into! Goodreads review! Blog Promotion!!

Notes:

This month didn't have a lot. I crammed the audibles in within a few days because I was just so obsessed. Sing me to Sleep hit that perfect spot after Fourth Wing. It saved me from a reading slump. 

This was a very VERY last minute Wrap Up. Sorry. Next time I will do this post a little earlier. Just have been so busy the past few days enjoying my exam free life. 

If you are still doing exams then GOODLUCK! 

Writers of the Future (Vol 39)

 Release Date: May 16, 2023

Waterstones | Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Barnes & Noble

In the world of speculative fiction...your favourite authors...have selected the best new voices of the year.

24 Award-Winning Authors and Illustrators. 3 Bonus Short Storues by Kevin J. Anderson - L. Ron Hubbard - S. M. Stirling. Art and Writing Tips by Lazarus Chernik - L. Ron Hubbard - Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Edited by Dean Weasley Smith - Jody Lynn Nye. 16-page colour gallery of artwork - Cover art by Tom Wood.

Check out the stories Brandon Sanderson, Orson Scott Card, Nnedi Okorafor, Robery J. Swayer, Kevin J. Anderson, Jody Lynn Nye and others chose as the best of the best. Be amazed. Be amused. Be transported ... by stories that take you by surprise and take you further and deeper into new worlds and new ideas than you've ever gone before...Twelve captivating tales from the most exciting new voices in science fiction and fantasy accompanies by three from masters of the genre.

Contents:

-Kitsune// Devon Bohm: A miracle? An omen? Or something else? One day, they arrived in droves - the foxes of the desert, the field, the imagination... Illustrated by Alaya Knowlton. 

-Moonlight and Funk// Marianne Xenos: When a vampire, a dragon and a shape-shifting Chihuahua meet on a beach in Key West, fireworks go off! But that's just the background. Illustrated by April Solomon.

-Fire in the Hole// Kevin J. Anderson: Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I., faces one of his funniest and most perplexing cases ever- an enlighteded ogre, a salamander with low self-esteem, and a raging fire dragon terrorixing the Unnatural Quarter!

-Death and Taxman// David Hankins: The Grim Reaper, trapped in an IRS agent's dying body, must regain his powers before he dies and faces judgement for his original sin. Illustrated by Sarah Morrison.

-Under My Cypresses// Jason Palmatier: In a metaverse future, a women who exposes falseness in others must decide what is real to her, the love she lost or the love she may have found. Illustrated by Helen Yi.

-The Unwilling Hero// L. Ron Hubbard: Vic Harden wasn't lured by glory on a daring mission into the reaches of outer space, he was ordered out there by his editor. Illustrated by Bruce Brenneise. 

-White Elephant// David K. Henrickson: Dangerous opportunites present themselves when an alien ship arrives in the soloar system seeking repairs. Illustrated by Kritsen Hadaway.

-Piracy for Beginners/ J. R. Johnson: With her spaceship at the wrong end of a pirate's guns, a former war hero must face down her enemies and demons to save Earth's last best chance for peace. Illustrated by Chris Binns.

-A Trickle in History// Elaine Midcoh: Years after the Second Holocaust, the last surviving Jews on earth attempt to rewrite the past. Illustrated by Jose Sánchez.

-The Withering Sky// Arthur H. Manner: When I said I'd do anything to pay off my debts and get back home to Earth, I didn't mean survey a derelict spaceship at the edge of the solar system, but here I am. Illustrated by Ximing Luo.

-The Fall of Crodendra M. / T. J. Knight: High-powered telescopes bring galactic life to our TVs, and network tuner Hank Enos figures he's seen everything, until the day an alien boy stares back. Illustrated bt Chris Arias.

-Constant Never// S. M. Stirling: Kights, damsels and dragons, curses and fates foretold, the stuff of legens and stories, but unexpectedly perverse. Illustrated by Nick Jizba.

-The Children of Desolation// Spenser Sekulin: Determined to save his wife, Tumelo takes an unlikely client through South Africa's ruins to the heart of the Desolation, a journey that will cost or save everything. Illustrated by Alexandra Albu

-Timelines and Bloodlines// L. H. Davis: When a terrorist smuggles a nuclear weapon into London, a team regresses in time to AD 1093 to assassinate a knight on the battlefield, thereby eliminating the terrorist a millennia before his birth. Illustrated by Clarence Bateman.

-The Last History// Samuel Parr: The Grand Exam, a gateway to power for one, likely death for all others, its entrants include ambitious nobles, desperate peasants, and Quiet Gate, an old woman with nothing left to lose. Illustrated by Dao Vi.

My thoughts in the most chaotic way possible:

Honestly such an enjoyable read. I would be lying if I said I read it all in one go. Although it was an easy read, there was moments I had to drop my kindle out of pure shock and then go back to it. 

As always with short stories, you aren't going to find every single one enjoyable but to my surprise I enjoyed different aspects of different stories. I put my kindle down after every story to full digest the world and the area I was put in. Each world was different and each story was a unique experience.

This had been such an enjoyable read!

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

 Release date: April 04, 2023

         Amazon UK | Waterstones | Amazon US | Goodreads | Barnes & Noble

NO GOD

NO CREATURE

NO WAR

CAN COME BETWEEN THEM

When two young rivals journalists find love through a magical connection, their fate depends on their facing the depths of hell...together.

After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again...

All eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow wants to do is hold her family together. With a brother on the frontline forced to fight on behalf of the Gods now missing from the frontline and a mother drowning her sorrows, Iris's best bet is winning the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette. 

But when Iris's letters to her brother fall into the wrong hands- that of the handsome but cold Roman Kitt, her rival at the paper - an unlikely magical connection forms.

Expelled into the middle of a mystical war, magical typewriters in tow, can their bond withstand the fight for the fate of mankind and, most importantly, love?

An epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy novel filled with hope and heartbreak, and the unparalleled power of love.

This book has taken over BookTok so much that you knew I also had to find out what the excitement was for. 

Trope: Enemies-to-Lovers

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars 

hate each other, hate each other, hate each other, "lets work together." screaming!

This book follows the story of a girl who write stories to her missing brother. A guy who reads them. Who are they to each other? oh, they are just two rival journalists working at the same firm trying to get the same promotion.

When he writes back to tell her that her letters aren't going to her brother, he also doesn't tell her who he is. Even though he knows who she is. 

The two start talking over letters and he slowly falls in love with her. 

This is the classic, "he falls first, she falls harder." 

Then you get the most heart-aching moments when he wants to tell her who he is but it just is not the right time. She thinks she is falling in love with someone, but she doesn't know it is him. 

Iris and Roman were both great characters. Iris, someone who came from a poorer family background, became the sole provider for her family. She had her heart set out to find out what has happened to her brother. He hasn't wrote back for such a long time. She was worried. She needed Oath Gazette. Her only chance. She is portrayed as a very desperate but feisty character with no preparation for what she will expect of the front lines. Roman, however, comes from the wealthier side of town. Roman was set out as a cold, heartless character with his set goals in life. He wanted nothing more than to win. Seeing Iris at the frontline only turns on the emotion switch in his brain. He doesn't need money, or family. He needs her. Someone to love him. 

As much as I loved this book, I think the world-building wasn't that well done. I was still struggling to understand what was happening around me or imaging how the front line actually looked. I just needed more world-building for me to understand fully. Where were the gods from? What is the actual reason behind this war? How is there magic in this world? I had quite a lot of questions, so I would've loved to see more time spent on the history of it all. Apart from that, the rest of the world-building was amazing! I absolutely loved the Dual-POV to help with the world-building. 

Overall, I absolutely adored this book. Everyone needs their hands on this book!

If you like OUABH series then READ THIS

May-Reading Wrap Up

Hi guys! I thought i'd do my first reading wrap up! I've seen so many people do this on other social media platforms and wanted to join in on the fun.

Total books read this month: 6 books 

Lets go through them!

 

Fablehouse by E. L. Norry My Goodreads Review ARC

In short, I found this book too fast paced. I prefer a slow start to understand the world and the surrounding that the characters are put in however understanding this world was very hard. I understood the plot, but the world building was hard for me to understand. 

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garver 

I was full of regret after this book. It was sitting there on my shelves for so long. I missed out on this amazing world of Stephanie Garber. She had me hooked from one book. I need to get the Caraval Series and the next book to this trilogy.

 

The Third Daughter by Adrienne Tooley My Goodreads Review ARC

There was never a book that has made me feel so much rage and justice for the main protagonist like this book. If you like to feel constant tension, anger as well as a rollercoaster of emotions then I highly recommend The Third Daughter by Adrienne Tooley. 

Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma My Goodreads Review Gifted

I was very close to DNF this book because of the slow start. I was just not able to understand the characters but 100 pages in I really connected to them. Overall, i'm glad I gave this book a second chance it was worth every second of my time and worth every tear drop that fell from my eyes. I want my dr. dil. 

     

Shanghai Immortal by A. Y. Chao My Goodreads review ARC

I've not read a book with Chinese mythology, but I enjoyed this book. I also has a moment of realisation at the fact I have recently been missing out on a lot. It's better now than never... right? Her book comes out in a week! I can not wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book. I NEED it on my book shelf.

Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber Tiktok Review

When I tell you I fell in love with the characters, I mean it. These amazing authors have rebuilt my personality and I love every second of it. I will do EVERYTHING and ANYTHING for book three of the trilogy. 

My official request to be on street team to get the third book and talk about it for the entire year because this book has now taken over me. 

RUN DONT WALK to get this book. 

I will do more reading wrap ups in the future, maybe across all my social media platforms, for now it is primarily on here :)

I hope you enjoyed this months wrap up!

Announcment:

Next month is my A Levels, if you are not from the UK then it is like finals. Very important exams. So my reading will be next to nothing until 23rd June. The monthly wrap up for next month will be small!!

To anyone who also has exams, 

Goodluck! You got this!!

Ivani.

Shanghai Immortal by A. Y. Chao

Review: Shanghai Immortal by A. Y. Chao

Publication date: June 1st, 2023

Waterstones | Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Barnes & Noble

Half vampire. Half fox-spirit. All trouble.

Pawned by her mother to the King of Hell as a child, Lady Jing is half-vampire, half-hulijing fox-spirit and all sasshole. As for the King;s ward, she has spent the past ninety years running errands, dodging the taunts of the spiteful hulijing courtiers, and trying to control her explosive temper - with varying level of success. 

So when Jing overhears the courtiers plotting to steal a priceless dragon pearl from the King, she seizes her chance to expose them, once and for all.

With the help of a gentle mortal tasked with setting up the Central Bank of Hell, Jing embarks on a wild chase for intel, first through Hell and then mortal Shanghai. But when he hijinks put the mortal in danger, she must decided which is more important: avenging her loss of face, or letting go of her half-empty approach to life for a change to experience tenderness- and maybe even love.

I'm a sucker for fantasy. Pun intended

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5 stars

My favourite character hands down was Lady Jing. The sassy personailty. The random outburst of laughter during this book was the reason I found this such an enjoyable read.

I'm all for Romance so the sub-plot was very intriguing to read. The amount of times I looked into space whilst imagining the tiniest moves they would make! There was so much tension and I was here for it all.  When you see Romance you expect a cheesy scene, but you do not have to worry about it here! There is no scene where you want to poke your eyes out for reading it. 

The world-building was great. We get to see both the mortal and immortal Shanghai. As i'm writing this a funny conversation between Mr Lee and Lady Jing pops up into my head.

"I am astounded at how similar Hell looks to Shanghai."

"This is Shanghai." My voice is flat.

Every new location we were put into was well described allowing us to map out the locations in our head. Along the way of this journey we are introduced to many new characters and learn so many new traditional Chinese language, which was great considering I know next to nothing. We meet Jiangshi(Vampires), Hulijing(Fox spirits) and even Dragon! All translations were next to the traditional way of writing which made it much easier to understand. 

This book is for readers who love:

- Fast-pace

- Chinese Mythology

- Adult Fantasy

Shanghai Immortal was one of my best reads so far. A.Y. Chao has now become one of my go-to authors. If you love Chinese Mythology then you NEED this book. 

Thank you Hodderscape for providing a digital Netgalley ARC

Gifted: Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma

Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma
Release Date: 14 April 2022

Waterstones | The Works | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US

Kareena Mann dreams of having a love story like her parents', but she prefers restoring her classic car to swiping right on dating apps. When her father announces he's selling her late mother's home, Kareena makes a deal with him: he'll gift her the house if she can get engaged in four months. But her search for a soul mate becomes impossible when her argument with Dr. Prem Verma, host of The Dr. Dil Show, goes viral. Now the only man in her life is the one she doesn't want. 

Dr. Prem Verma is dedicated to building a local community health center, but he needs to get donors with deep pockets. The Dr, Dil Show was doing just that until his argument with Kareena went viral, and he was left shortchanged. That's when Kareena's meddlinh aunties present Prem with a solution: convince Kareena he's her soul mate and he'll regain funding for his clinic. 

Even though his views on love matches and arranged matches conflict with hers, Prem finds the more he's with Kareena, the more he beings to believe she's the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with. But for Prem and Kareena to find their happily ever after, they must admit that hate has turned into fate. 

Anger. Crying. Laughing. Squealing. Back to crying. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars

Trope: Enemies-to-Lovers/Fake-Dating

Two people with completely different meanings of love come together with a plan. A plan that will benefit them both whilst also satisfying their Asian families.

Kareena has always believed in love. She believed that what her parents showed her when she was younger was true love. She wanted what most girls wanted, a happily ever after. Yet, not having a motherly figure there to guide her anymore she can not freely go ask for advice. 

Prem (aka Dr. Dil) does not believe in love. He believes love is an illusion, the feeling that may exist is simply connection between two souls. Having this set view may not be every girls dream, and it definitely was not Kareena's ideal type.

From their hatred only grew a burning desire to love one another. 

This book had a very slow beginning and was quite hard to get into. However, the writing style was very easy to follow through and they talked about TIKTOK! 

I loved Prem's friends, the banter between them all was hilarious to read. I was giggling non stop by their behaviour. 

As an Indian, this book was very relatable in more ways than one. I understood the language used in typical Indian culture to respect family. It may be hard for readers who were not bought up within asian culture to understand this book, but it does state this english meanings to phases and understanding it is pretty straightforward. I'm constantly reminded at my age about marriage so I felt the pain from both characters about the stress aunties bring to the topic of marriage. 

This book felt so immersive and made me incredibly emotional. If I could read this book again and agin like it was my first time reading it, I would.

I need this book to be made into a movie! 

A character I did not like AT ALL and since the beginning was Rina's sister. No more needs to be said. You would all understand once you've read it. She was a trouble maker from the start and I could spot it from a mile away. 

How did I read till the whole book only to find Prem & Rina's Taylor Swift Playlist at the end of it:

1. 22

2. Look What You Made Me Do

3. Blank Space

4. Delicate

5. I Knew You Were Trouble

6. New Romantics

7. Don't Blame Me

8. I Know Places

9. Willow

10. Call It What You Will

11. Wildest Dreams

12. Cruel Summer

13. State of Grace

14. Cardigan

15. You Belong With Me

If this won't convince you to read this book then I don't know what will.

There was so many quotes that had me in tears, but nothing will top the last line of the book.

"We're a team, Rina, honey. We have been from the start, but it just took a bit of time to figure things out. Now we have a lifetime together."

Thank you @dishapatel.x for gifting me this book to review

ps. Kareena's taste in books is perfection. She is me. I am her.

Review: The Third Daughter by Adrienne Tooley

The Third Daughter by Adrienne Tooley

Release date: July 18, 2023

         Amazon UK | Waterstones | Amazon US | Goodreads | Barnes & Noble

Book 1 in a sweeping YA duology about legacy, betrayal, sisterhood, and politicizing emotion in the quest for power- all balanced by a slow burn LGBTQ romance.

For centuries, the citizens of Velle have waited for their New Maiden to return. The prophecy states she will appear as the third daughter of a third daughter. When the fabled child is finally born to Velle's reigning queen all rejoice except for Elodie, the queen's eldest child, who has lost her claim to the crown. The only way for Elodie to protect Velle is retake the throne. To do so, she must debilitate the Third Daughter- her youngest sister, Brianna.

Desperate, Elodie purchases a sleeping potion from Sabine, who sells sadness. But the apothecary mistakenly sends the princess away with a vial of tears instead of a harmless sleeping brew. Sabine's sadness is dangerously powerful, and Brianne slips into a slumber from which she will not wake. With the fates is dangerously powerful and country hanging in the balance, Sabine and Elodie hurry to revive the Third Daughter while a slow-burning attraction between the two girls erupts in full force.

LGBTQ. Slow Burn. Sapphic Romance. Sign me up! I told you in the last queer read, I WANT MORE.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars

The eldest daughter, Elodie, must stay silent as her youngest sister the prophesied Third Daughter gets crowned in front of her. At the mere age of four Elodie was cast aside as it became more apparent, she was longer of importance now that Brianne would be the holder of the crown. 

Now seventeen she knows what consequences comes from Brianne being crowned and the power being put into her father's hand. As he is the head of church his views of society are fixed, which will only lead to the downfall of the nation. Brianne, only thirteen, was a mere pawn in his game. A game that will not end well. 

With such prophecy comes fear, Elodie recalled her mother's words. The New Maiden will live in danger - from political rivals to warring religions, there will always be those who do not wish for her to grow old. She will spend most of her time protecting her own life. That means it is up to you to protect our country.

Elodie took this as a warning sign. Whilst everyone else was celebrating the New Maiden and the rise of the nation, no one realised who was truly in power. She knew what she had to do...but was it the correct actions to take?

"Anything for my favourite daughter."

"I'm your only daughter," she reminded him.

I loved seeing the father-daughter relationship between Elodie and her real father. There was funny moments and banter passed around. 

A book has never single handedly given me so much rage like this one. The first few chapters made me want to jump into the book and scream at Chaplain, Brianne's real father. The "advice" he gives Brianne is only to deceive her. 

When there is so much hatred you can only expect someone to strike. In comes Sabrine, her tears are said to hold magic. Coming from a poor background, she wants to make ends meet even if she has to be in pain. Elodie so desperate for anything goes to Sabine by fate. 

Trying to save herself and her nation, she makes it worse. Now not only has her sister been put under a deep sleep but now Chaplain is in control. Now the fate of the nation is doomed. 

This book goes through many twists and turns. Watch out for the cliff hanger ending! I can't wait for book two to come out!

Thank you Hodderscape for providing a digital Netgalley ARC

A must-read for fans of the BookTok sensations Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson, and These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong.

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

Release date: Sep 28, 2021

         Amazon UK | Waterstones | Amazon US | Goodreads | Barnes & Noble

For as long as she can remember, Evangeline Fox has believed in happily ever after. Until she learns that love of her life is about to marry another, and her dreams are shattered. 

Desperate to stop the wedding, and heal her wounded heart, Evangeline strikes a deal with the charismatic, but wicked, Prince of Hearts. In exchange for his help, he asks for three kisses, to be given at the time and place of his choosing.

But after Evangeline's first promised kiss, she learns that bargaining with an immortal is a dangerous game - and that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she pledged. He has plans for Evangeline, plans that will either end in the greatest happily ever after, or the most exquisite tragedy...

I did it. I read the book that has been sitting on my tbr for months collecting dust. A book that has made me feel pain.

Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5 stars

Reading this straight after finishing Queen Charlotte on Netflix was a good choice. I was already emotional and I needed more. 

Evangeline finds out her sister is to marry her boyfriend. Jealous, she goes to a fate to solve all her problems. That fate is the one and only Jacks. Yet he does not care to solve her problems not until he realises what a valuable piece she is in his game. That's when he strikes a deal. A deal Evangeline does not know the full cost off. 

The beginning was very confusing; understanding magic, fates and what Evangeline's life was like. This is where some readers DNF the book. I decided to go for it and read more. Clearly it was a good choice cause now I have an undeniable love for Jacks. He may be deceitful but he is Jacks. 

Evangeline's character development throughout the book was interesting to see. She went from someone seeking for help to now wanting to find answers and do it herself. She is the key. 

"You're the one who said I needed a distraction." His fingers drifted lower, trailing down her chest to the sensitive stretch of skin right above the lacy line of her corset. "Isn't this better than talking?"

I could not breathe. My eyes were glued to the pages. 

I can not believe I have missed out on the universe of Stephanie Garber. I'm glad I picked this book up because I was loving every second of it. The Ballard of Never After is already waiting in my shopping cart. As soon as A curse for True Love comes out, I will be buying that too. She's got me hooked and I do not feel sorry if I have done the same to you. 

This is a MUST read.

Cliff hanger ending. It left me with so many questions. 

TW's Murder.

Review: Fablehouse by E. L. Norry

Fablehouse by E. L. Norry

Release date: June 8, 2023

Amazon UK | Waterstones | Amazon US | Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Bloomsbury

Unlock the legends. Unleash the magic. Save your home.

Fablehouse is a children's home like no other. Housed in a crumbling mansion that perches on a cliff and backs on to ancient mysterious woodland, this is the home for many of Britain's Brown Babies, a children born to African-American GIs and white British women following the Second World War.

Heather has already been through several children's homes and is wary of Fablehouse and its unusual head teacher, Miss Isolde. But when children started acting strangely, Heather discovers a plot from a fae realm to infiltrate and overthrow the human world.

With the help of Palamedes - the Black Knight from King Arthur's Round Table who has been guarding the magical doorway to fae world - and three friends, Heather sets off on a quest to rescue the children who have been replaced by changelings. No child will be forgotten or discarded on her watch.

Discovering extraordinary powers and a fire inside herself, Heather will battle to save the first place that has felt like home for years...

The description. Fantasy. You know I was going to read this book. 

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐ out of 5 stars

This book is full of historical features that more people need to be engaged with! 

There was so much from this book that I have learnt. The stories, life as a "brown babies" (born to white British mothers after their black fathers have left to serve their country during the War)

My favourite characters from this book was Heather, Arlene, Nat, Lloyd and the Roamers. Their bravery to stay loyal to their home whilst having the courage to venture out was amusing to see throughout the book. 

It is a fast-paced book, however Emma Norry's writing style was simple and straightforward allowing this book to be an easy read.

It was truly a spell-binding book. I can not wait to pick up the second book when it comes out!

Other Reviews left for this book:

"I absolutely loved Fablehouse, the forthcoming middle grade fantasy novel by E.L Norry, kicking off a series of remixed Arthurian tales"

"A spellbinding adventure, action packed, full of heart and a new twist on Arthurian lore."

"Fablehouse is a gorgeously magical and heartfelt adventure in a richly detailed historical setting that more people need to know about."

Thank you Bloomsbury for providing a digital Netgalley ARC

 TW's Racism.

Review: Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee

Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee

Release date: May 25, 2023

         Amazon UK | Waterstones | Amazon US | Goodreads | Barnes & Noble

Fake-dates, mooncakes and rich people problems, But love wasn't meant to be on the menu...

Meet Dylan Tang: he juggles school and delivery runs for his aunt's struggling Chinese takeout in Brooklyn. Winning a mooncake competition could bring the publicity they needed to stay afloat.

Enter Theo Somers: a charming, wealthy customer who convinces Dylan to be his fake date to a family wedding full of crazy rich drama. Their romance is supposed to be just for show...but soon Dylan's falling for Theo. For real.

With the mooncake contest looming, Dylan can't risk being distracted by rich-people problems. Can he save his family's business and follow his heart - or will he fail to do both?

This was my first queer read EVER! All I can say is why haven't I read more books like this before. 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5 stars

Trope: Fake Dating

This book is about two boys from very different backgrounds going through their own family drama. There is the classic rich protagonist who needs a fake date to bring along to accompany him in the family feud so he isn't enduring it by himself. In comes Dylan who comes from a poorer family background and tries to make ends meet by helping his aunt out in their takeout, whilst also struggling to find what he wants to pursue in the future. 

All while they help each other out with their problems. An undeniable love starts to form between the two. One falls first, but the other falls harder.

Books like this you expect to be cheesy, however, you do not have to dread that here! It held so much tension whilst Dylan held a lot of self-conscious thoughts about his own actions. You can expect the one bed scene though. wink. There is a ridiculously sweet romance, it had me yelling at the book multiple times. The romance in this book was executed so well.

One of my favourite characters from the book was Dylan's cousin Megan, who was Dylan's wingwomen throughout the book. Constantly being there for him and making sure he showed only his true self to Theo. Her interests were similar to mine. Dylan can share right? Megan is now my friend too. I loved seeing the effect Megan had on Dylan and Theo, truly think nothing would have progressed without her.

Another aspect of the book I loved was how it included a character who was Indian. I don't usually see many representations of Hinduism or Indian characters so it was a pleasant surprise to read. Even if it was short, it was appreciated. It really made the book feel more immersive. 

The characters in the book weren't the only ones learning how diverse Dylan's cultural background is. The symbolism of the many sayings have stuck with me, and will forever be ingrained in my head. 

The character development I enjoyed the most was Malcom, aka Theo's dad, someone I disliked strongly for most of the book. Up until the end, where everything fell into place. Still I am not fully content with liking him, but I know I don't hate him anymore.

Fake Dates and Mooncakes is now my current favourite read of all time. If you want a cross between Fake-Dating, Kpop, the one bed scene, awkward situations, asian culture then you NEED this book. I will not stop talking about this book till all my bookish friends have read it.

Thank you Macmillan for providing a digital Netgalley ARC

I am definitely going to buy a physical copy!

Twisted Lies by Ana Huang

Release date: June 30, 2022

Amazon UK | Amazon US | Goodreads | Waterstones

Discover the addictive world of the Twisted series...

Charming, deadly and smart enough to hide it, CHRISTIAN HARPER is a monster dressed in the perfectly tailored suits of a gentleman. 

He has little use for morals and even less use for love, but he can't deny the strange pull he feels towards the woman living just one floor below him. 

She's the object of his darkest desires, the only puzzle he can't solve. And when the opportunity to get closer to her arises, he breaks his own rules to offer a deal she can't refuse.

Every monster has their weakness. She's his. His obsession. His addiction. His only exception. 

***

Sweet, shy and introverted, despite her social media frame, STELLA ALONSO is a romantic who keeps her heart in a cage.

Between her two jobs, she has little time or desire for a relationship. But when a threat from her past drives her into the arms -  and house - of the most dangerous man she's ever met, she's tempted to let herself feel something for the first time in a long time.

Because despite Christian's cold nature, he makes her feel everything when she's with him.

Passionate. Protected. Truly wanted.

Theirs is a love twisted with secrets and tainted by lies... and when the truths are finally revealed, they could shatter everything.

The final book of the twisted series. It was heartbreaking to see this much anticipated series come to an end. But alas, all good things must come to an end.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/ out of 5 stars

Trope: Steamy Fake-Dating

The slow-burn was killing me in this book. It had me yelling at the characters.

Stella was one of my favourite characters out of the whole series. She has this relatable personality. Her instincts would be what my first thoughts would have been in the same situation. I adored her character growth throughout the series. 

There is no reason to talk about Christian. At this point I have fallen for every single male in the series. (Josh will always be my favourite though)

Some of the spice seasons have be on my knees. 18+ definitely needed for not only this book but for the series. 

The epilogue was my favourite bit. It was definitely needed and the perfect way to end of an amazing seres.

A few of my favourite quotes to end the review:

"You'll always be my first, last and only love."

"Despite what I'd said about love being a drug, Stella was my greatest high."

"Butterfly?" "Beautiful. Elusive. Hard to catch."

TW's: possessive violence/ explicit sexual context/ profanity.

Recommended: 18+