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.