So I was an absolute reading beast in May. I powered through 10 books in a month. I was a reading machine.
And then June came and went without me turning a single page. How did that happen? I blame the television - I spent too many hours watching the Euros, or eagerly catching up on Game of Thrones (how good has this series been, as a whole? Still hoping for Winds of Winter to be released soon though!). Thankfully I got through so many in May that I can actually build a post around them, although I'm very conscious that I must improve this month! So, in no particular order, I've been reading...
The Taming of the Queen
I have an inexplicable obsession with Philippa Gregory's historical novels - I just cannot get enough of them. I gobble up each new release regardless of how little fact is in them, regardless of their soap-opera vibe. I actually really enjoyed The Taming of the Queen, as the heroine is Katherine Parr and I knew relatively little about her life save for the fact she survived marriage to Henry VIII.
Cruel Beauty
Following my brightly declared adoration for Uprooted in my last round-up, I looked up recommendations for similar tales on Goodreads and Cruel Beauty was touted as being just as good - I would have to disagree here as I didn't find it as intriguing (a little predictable in parts) but it was a quick and enjoyable retelling of the Beauty and the Beast trope. It hasn't stayed with me in the same way Uprooted has though, so I'd only recommend as a holiday read, perhaps!
A Court of Thorns & Roses (reread)
A Court of Mist & Fury
I can't believe I only discovered Sarah J Maas' work last year, how out of touch am I? Whilst I enjoyed her Throne of Glass series, I was more emotionally invested in the world-building she has cooked up in her A Court of... series. I enjoyed ACOTAR as a story, but didn't particularly like one of the main characters (Tamlin), so it was a nice surprise to find he was not considered a main character as such in the sequel. I much, much preferred ACOMAF - the characters feel more developed and you become a little more embroiled in the story as a result. The love story is also a little more believable and I've found myself eager to re-read mere weeks after finishing it! My only criticism of Maas' writing is that her characters are all so really really ridiculously good-looking, it can become tiresome hearing how astonishingly beautiful they are... But it's not enough to take away from the enjoyment of the story. I happily gobble up each new release in hours.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
This was...okay. The film is far superior and some of the best and funniest moments on screen just did not translate on the page. I read this hoping for possible spoilers or to catch anything I might have missed, but alas my efforts to uncover secret happenings were in vain. It's a quick read though - I read it in mere hours.
A Court of Mist & Fury
I can't believe I only discovered Sarah J Maas' work last year, how out of touch am I? Whilst I enjoyed her Throne of Glass series, I was more emotionally invested in the world-building she has cooked up in her A Court of... series. I enjoyed ACOTAR as a story, but didn't particularly like one of the main characters (Tamlin), so it was a nice surprise to find he was not considered a main character as such in the sequel. I much, much preferred ACOMAF - the characters feel more developed and you become a little more embroiled in the story as a result. The love story is also a little more believable and I've found myself eager to re-read mere weeks after finishing it! My only criticism of Maas' writing is that her characters are all so really really ridiculously good-looking, it can become tiresome hearing how astonishingly beautiful they are... But it's not enough to take away from the enjoyment of the story. I happily gobble up each new release in hours.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
This was...okay. The film is far superior and some of the best and funniest moments on screen just did not translate on the page. I read this hoping for possible spoilers or to catch anything I might have missed, but alas my efforts to uncover secret happenings were in vain. It's a quick read though - I read it in mere hours.
Me Before You (reread)
After You
Inspired by the recent film release (I have such a girl crush on Emilia Clarke, it's not even funny...) I picked up Jojo Moyes' Me Before You again before delving into the sequel. I remember laughing and sobbing at this simultaneously when I first read it a couple of years ago. After You, however, just fell short of delivering any emotional punches and it hasn't stayed with me in the same way; that said, it was an enjoyable read and perfect for curling up with while the rain beats against the windows (we've had far too much of this for summer 2016...).
Blue Lily, Lily Blue & The Raven King
I discovered the Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater some 3 years ago and really enjoyed them! Stiefvater has such a dreamy style of writing, terribly evocative and emotional at the same time. I did have to google the plots of the first two books after reading 20 pages of Blue Lily, Lily Blue as I'd forgotten half the events, but once my memory had been refreshed I sped through both books and felt a little empty once I'd turned the final page! It's hard to sum up the plot for this quartet without giving too much away, but it revolves around the modern-day search for a hidden Welsh King, weaving magic, psychics, and school troubles into a beautifully drawn Virginia landscape. It's a beautifully written quartet - my own ramblings can't really do it justice, I'd recommend picking up The Raven Boys and losing yourself in it instead!
What have you been reading recently? What should I be taking on holiday with me in 2 weeks??
Love Dani
xoxo
Inspired by the recent film release (I have such a girl crush on Emilia Clarke, it's not even funny...) I picked up Jojo Moyes' Me Before You again before delving into the sequel. I remember laughing and sobbing at this simultaneously when I first read it a couple of years ago. After You, however, just fell short of delivering any emotional punches and it hasn't stayed with me in the same way; that said, it was an enjoyable read and perfect for curling up with while the rain beats against the windows (we've had far too much of this for summer 2016...).
Blue Lily, Lily Blue & The Raven King
I discovered the Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater some 3 years ago and really enjoyed them! Stiefvater has such a dreamy style of writing, terribly evocative and emotional at the same time. I did have to google the plots of the first two books after reading 20 pages of Blue Lily, Lily Blue as I'd forgotten half the events, but once my memory had been refreshed I sped through both books and felt a little empty once I'd turned the final page! It's hard to sum up the plot for this quartet without giving too much away, but it revolves around the modern-day search for a hidden Welsh King, weaving magic, psychics, and school troubles into a beautifully drawn Virginia landscape. It's a beautifully written quartet - my own ramblings can't really do it justice, I'd recommend picking up The Raven Boys and losing yourself in it instead!
What have you been reading recently? What should I be taking on holiday with me in 2 weeks??
Love Dani
xoxo
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