Welcome to Litsy!

This was a surprise pick for me, the author made a predictable story fun to read by weaving together different narratives. Also, I love a good vengeance tale.
A woman agrees to be a wise woman in a different kingdom in exchange for her freedom and the possibility of vengeance. Her prison friend escapes with her, and they meet the bargain given and help the locals and the Prince with mysteries.
3/5 read for mystery, politics, and deep magic

Very highly praised, very well written characters and the writer herself really got me intrigued. Check out our discussion about it on he Mind Duck Books podcast episode 45: https://bit.ly/45YaZA3

Really loved this one. I was disappointed by the last Marillier book I read, so i was excited to really love the characters in this book.

#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

Soup and a good book is where it's at, what's your favorite soups? Mine in potatoe and cream of chicken and rice.

This is my #DoubleSpin pick and I had previously tried to read it once before but thought the mystery was too easy and put it aside. Pushing through I was able to see that there was somewhat more to the solution and I ended up enjoying how it played out in the end. I like Blackthorn and Grim and look forward to their future adventures.
#BuriedAliveChallenge
@TheAromaofBooks

It‘s an all girls club for reading time today. Sierra and Callie are hanging out with me while I read on my bed.
#CatsOfLitsy

#BookReport
I managed to finish three books this week including my first #CalibreRoulette pick and my first #BookSpin.
#WeeklyForecast
I'm now working on my #DoubleSpin book, Dreamer's Pool, and up next will be Red Seas Under Red Skies as part of my #BookSpinBonanza list.

1. If we‘re going by what book I‘ve added to my TBR that I physically own then it would be the tagged book. But if we‘re going off of what I‘ve added to Litsy I think the most recent one is The Unspoken Name.
2. Oh so many 🙈 First one(s) that come to mind are Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce and Inkheart by Cornelia Funke.
3. I‘ve only heard the version by Jim Dale so...
#sundayfunday @ozma.of.oz

This is the giveaway box, where I chuck all the books that are heading out. Actually getting them out of the house seems to be the problem!! However thanks to #MarchUnshelving I was inspired to visit some local LFLs and let go of five more titles - so I have gotten rid of 6/15 for my goal!!

And, bonus, I only picked up one book (tagged) so not too bad overall!!

@Clwojick

Bingo! #TBRBingo #WyrdandWonder

Surprisingly, I remembered pretty much everything from reading this a couple of years ago! I love the way Blackthorn and Grim depend on each other in a way that is not romantic or sexual at all. There's a bit of authorial projection in Oran's character/opinions, I think.

I hope the situation with the dog (keeping it vague for spoilers!) is resolved. The resolution here feels unfair.

I got back to this a bit last night, but it turns out I'm now aboooout to run behind on my 22 books for the #WyrdandWonder reading list which I bet someone I could finish, so I really need to step it up tonight! I do wish I'd stop reading a billion and one books at once... but then, I don't really wish that, do I?

I'm being kind of slow about reading this because I don't like Oran's part of the story that much -- I get kind of second hand embarrassment for the stuff that happens -- but darn I do appreciate the way Grim and Blackthorn support and trust one another; a relationship that's deeply important to both and entirely not about sex or romantic love. I do hope that remains true through the whole trilogy.

A new set of books by one of my favorite authors. A great combination of historical fiction and fantasy. I can‘t wait to read them

This was pretty slow to start, I got it about a year ago and kept putting it down. But once it sped up a little bit, Grim was enough to keep me going. The prince reminded me of the character from Monty Python who requests rescuing from Lancelot, so he was generally terrible. But Grim is devoted and adorable and SHE COULD JUST BE NICE TO HIM FOR GOODNESS SAKE but it was a cute middle fantasy mystery that I enjoyed.

I really wanted to give this a thumbs up, but unfortunately I've got whiplash from presentation of female characters: A strong female character who experiences trauma and doesn't immediately bounce back? ? Same character has "sense talked into her" by a man? ? A female character who makes horrible mistakes but is written with thoughtfulness and nuance? ? Same character treated as other because she's sexually forward? ? ⬇️

When you've finished seven books this week but not your #backpackEurope one. 🤦‍♀️ Maybe I'm lost in this forest in Ireland. 🤷‍♀️

Continuing my (book) tour of Europe and I'm headed to the land of my ancestors: Ireland. Here's hoping that despite my love for and the island's propensity for rain, that there are clear skies while I'm touring the sites. #backpackEurope

If you like fairy tales you will love this book. I did! There are a few fey people, a little magic, some mystery and a powerful bad guy all in a wonderful fairy tale setting with a mysterious forest and, of course, a magical pond. Best of all, there are two sequels already out!

Sometimes I just can't even with this sweet, adorable boy. I know you love books too, Chaplin, but how is this even comfortable?! 😸❤ #catsoflitsy #littenkitten

I don't know why, but Spring always makes me ling for fantasy novels. Picked this series up, because I couldn't resist the covers, and it has a strong female protagonist!

🌟🌟🌟🌟 An atmospheric, Celtic fairy tale. I loved the names used and the descriptions of the setting. It provided a good escape fantasy/mystery.

November reads. New Year's resolution: Stop forcing yourself to finish books you don't like. It's not like you have to turn in a book report.

The Blackthorn and Grim series is good for some escapism. Cozy mysteries combined with Irish folk tales and a dab of romance. You'll figure it out before they do but they're good for some easy reading (or listening in my case) down time. Plus there's a well done theme of injustice towards women.

Mystery & fantasy combine in entertaining story about a healer & her erstwhile companion/bodyguard. Sentenced to death for defying the wrong man, healer Blackthorn is given an opportunity to escape if she promises to help anyone who asks for it. Blackthorn agrees & along with Grim, who escaped along with her, finds herself in Dalriada. Prince Oran asks for help & pulling them into a royal mystery. Marillier‘s writing never disappoints. Enjoyable.

Picked up some new books today but told myself I needed to make more headway into my “in-progress” book pile before starting one of them. Started Dreamer‘s Pool on a long flight and enjoyed it. Don‘t know why I haven‘t finished it. Marillier is a great writer and I‘m ready to step back into this world.

Current read.

This is good so far. I have started like 3 books already this month that haven't held my attention but this is decent. I need a man like Grim in my life 😬 don't tell my husband I said that lol.
I'm sending out my #beachinbookswap package tomorrow. I hope my match likes everything 😊

I loved this book, it was simple and had such a feel of an ancient fairy tale. She's one of my favorite authors. I always suggest picking her up if you like historical fiction if you do I suggest starting with: The Daughter of forest. Warning: in this universe there is a bit of magic but not enough to make it pure fantasy!

My current read, by my favorite author! ❤️❤️❤️ But I'm catching a few minutes secretly reading at work shhhhh.... 😂😂😂 #stealthreading #readingwhileyouwork #justonemorepage

The writing, the world and the characters were so well constructed. It felt like I was being told a fairy tale.

I did find it frustrating though that the characters took AGES to figure out what I guessed in the first 100 pages or so. Still really liked it though and it was just the whimsical mysterious read I wanted.

Two former prisoners(one a magical healer) travel to Dalriada in Northern Ireland to live near a forest. There they are caught up in a mystery involving the prince of Dalriada and his betrothed who was poetic and sweet in her letters, but brutal and manipulative when she arrives to marry him. Great series by a favorite author. #ruralsetting #aprilbookshowers

Deal Alert!!! #kindledeal
I loved Dreamer's Pool all of Juliet Marillier's work and this is a great deal for anyone who'd like to try her out!

New word for me! "To be a dreamer at the age of ten was acceptable. At fifteen one might almost get away with it. In a man of two-and-twenty it was starting to verge on risible." Pg 27

The first book of 2017! It was more engrossing than I originally thought. It combines my most favorite genres: mystery and fantasy. Blackthorn, Grim, and Oran are very realistic for fictional characters.

Books on the last day of vacation! 📖

Testing out a new fantasy series 📖

Well my slump ended with this book! I enjoyed it thoroughly even though it was a little slow and I knew what had happened pretty early. I do feel like the characters were a bit flat until the very end when they all gained a bit more depth and understanding. I am looking forward to reading the next one.

I loved every page of this book. Marillier's books always have such a dreamlike quality and this one was really well done.

I loved every page of this book. Marillier's books always have such a dreamlike quality and this one was really well done.

This is reminding me so much of her Sevenwaters series, and I'm loving it.

Lane is at his first sleepover with grandma, we just had the roof on the porch off our bedroom repaired, it's a rainy Sunday morning and I have a good book to read.

Got to work early so I'm sitting in my car with this- only on chapter 4 but it's already living up to my expectations

These covers are as beautiful as the books inside. 1 sentence summary: Blackthorn and Grim are Sherlock and Watson for fairy tales mysteries. However the best part is the characters. I can't even describe how much I love Blackthorn and Grim as individuals and how much their friendship means to me.These two are so damaged and yet so strong. I'm excited to read these again. I preordered the 3rd book and look forward to the conclusion of this trilogy