I have always been a fan of Anita Blake series since I was a teenager. Re-reading it now I can see a lot of flaws in terms of writing style: repetitive use of words, simple sentences and basic vocabulary. If you are willing to overlook that, the book still offers a lot of fun if you love vampires, zombies etc. On the plus side, the simple expressive ability of the writer makes for a quick enjoyable read.

You can't save everybody. Each person has to save himself first, then you can move in and help.

BOOKS I READ IN OCTOBER

Finally I had time to get back into reading more!

FAVOURITES: The Empire of Ashes and Blood Song both by Anthony Ryan who has become one of my favourite authors!

LEAST FAVOURITE: Restore Me. It broke my heart not loving this book as I enjoyed the previous instalments in this series tremendously.

I always enjoy re-reading the Famous Five books as they were one of my favourites as a child. Joining the Five in their adventures always puts me in good mood and makes me feel like a child again.

Fun read, I enjoyed discovering the new universes the main characters travelled through; even though I wished they were a bit more elaborately built. It made me look forward to read the last book in the trilogy and see how it ends (even though I am afraid the plot will be quite predictable).

Genius isn't just intelligence... It's the ability to see further than anyone around you, to put together different concepts in a way no one else has imagined.

Bloody amazing! Pun intended. I have fallen in love with the brilliant story-telling ability of the writer. The way he captures your attention, the way he makes you lost in the deeply and well-thought through world... I cannot express how much I enjoyed Vaelin's coming of age story and cannot wait to see how it continues. The battle scenes are epic, the friendships strong and the deaths heart-breaking. It couldn't get any better!

'Master Smentil's such a dear. Been teaching me to sign, look.' She made a series of signs with her plump but nimble hands that roughly translated as: I am a bothersome sow. 'It means "My name is Gilma."'

I enjoyed the book but at the same time it felt as if nothing really happened. I would say (and hope) it was intended as a preparation for what comes next. The ending was great and made me want to read the next instalment in this series. The depth of the feelings of the main characters remains well throught through even if somewhat annoying at times.

Loneliness is a bitter, wretched companion.
Sometimes it just won't let go.

A magnificent, splending and breathtaking finale to the trilogy. I couldn't have hoped for a more amazing and action packed ending. I was at the edge of my seat for the last 200 pages, unable to put the book down. The only flaw the story has that it ended as I will miss the world and the characters dearly.

A weapon only has value if you have the knowledge and intent to use it.

BOOKS I READ IN SEPTEMBER

I haven't had much time to read lately but I managed at least two.

Both were pretty amazing, The Book Thief in a tragically catching setting of WWII while The Children of Blood and Bone was a beautiful story from an African-like kingdom where magic has been forced to disappear. I do recommend both pieces.

The start of the story was a bit slow for me, it felt like any other YA book I read in the last year. Yet the more pages I turned the quicker I fell in love with the characters; their feelings relatable, their motivation pure and their actions derived from their past experience. The story is set in a beautiful world that I had fun discovering and am looking forward to dive into more in the sequel.

'The Lady Malynda', Loriabeth read the name on the steam-launch's hull in finely executed letters of red and black. 'Couldn't we call her something a sight more fierce?'
'It's my former wife's name,' Chief Bozware responded. 'And be assured, miss, she was plenty fierce enough, even after the divorce.'

A memorable read full of beautiful moments. All in all I loved the story and the characters. The fate of Liesel, Hans and Max broke my heart in a tragic finale. Yet there were a few things that bugged me; mainly the incorrect German grammar. I was also not keen on how the ending and major events had been spoilt before they happened. In a way it was understandable as the narrator was death itself but still it took away from the excitement.

Can a person steal happiness?

I am in love with the thrilling world where all the tiny bread crumbs lead you to amazing discoveries. The history of the world is well thought through. The characters always make logical decisions amd stay true to themselves; yet their development as people never feels forced. It is a perfect continuation of a perfect story. I only have to hope that the final installment lives up to the level of greatness set up in this book.

BOOKS I READ IN JULY

Favourite: The Waking Fire. It was one of the best books I've read this year. I loved every page of it, it is truly a masterpiece.

Least favourite: Kingdom of Ash. I felt that if the book was half as long and packed with action, it would have been much better. It dragged too much for my liking.

I love the Famous Five and this book is no exception. I like that the story is short and there's always something going on. Great for children as well as adults who want to return to being kids for a bit. These books always make me smile.

The Famous Five was one of my favourite series when I was a kid. My mum didn't have much money to buy me books so I only owned four from this series but I read each and one of them at least twenty times. Reading the book today brings so many good memories and feelings and Famous Five is an equivalent of summer to me. I recommend this to everyone who wants to go back to feeling like a child again, when secrets and treasure hunts are real.

I think the last book in this series provides the ending everyone hoped for and expected.
Personally I had a few issues with the book. Repetitive writing and uniformity of the characters. All the males and females act in the same predictable way, following the same love story with only minimal variation. Even the plot twists have lost their power. In the end the book would have been better off with 400 pages rather than a thousand.

I finally have enough time to read this 1000 page long beast. Hope to finish before I have to go back home!

One opportunity leads directly to another, just as risk leads to more risk, life to more life, and death to more death.

World War I. meets Indiana Jones in a world where dragon blood is the most valued commodity. The world is so perfectly built it makes you crave more, find out all the subtly delivered secrets it contains. There are so many questions, notions and discoveries leading to a mind blowing finale. This gem quickly found its way into my top three books I've read this year.

People observe the colours of a day only at its beginnings and ends, but to me it's quite clear that a day merges through a multitude of shades and intonations, with each passing moment.

Please help me pick two books I should take with me on holiday! I just can't decide 🤔

I enjoyed this book the most in the whole series. The story picked up the pace and was fun to read. It is a good old fantasy and I would recommend it to any fans of Lord of the Rings / Hobbit books.

It's always best in the long run to be what you are. It isn't proper to behave as if you were more, but it isn't good to behave as if you were less, either.

BOOKS I READ IN JUNE

Finally a month where I was really happy with my choices. I loved The Wicked King the most but all the books I read were pretty amazing!

You can also check my individual reviews for each book 😊

I loved the second book possibly even more than the first one. What I loved the most was how the story flowed and didn't feel forced. It was well thought through and beautifully written. I love how there are no "good" or "bad" characters, just like in real life. All of them have their motives and reasons why they are who they are and reading the book you never know what's going to happen next. I can't wait for the next one!

I loved returning to Grim Batol. The story is quick paced, there is always lots happening and it never gets dull or boring. The new characters were great, fun and heroic, just what I came to expect from the writer. I love WoW in general and this is a great addition to the collection for all the fans out there.

This week's little haul, can't wait to start The Wicked King!

Recently I learnt my lesson with ordering all the books from a series at once. If I don't like the first book I feel like I've wasted my money. With this book I should have bought the second book though. I finished it and immediately crave more. The story twists are surprising and half of the time I had no idea which way the book will go which doesn't happen very often. I thought all the characters well well written. Totally recommend this!

This book got me out of my reading slump. I fell in love with the different dimensions the story jumps through and each time looked forward to what the new world brings. I liked the main characters and can't wait to see what's next for them. It is a quick fun read even though sometimes the science behind the travelling among the dimensions does not exactly make sense.

BOOKS I READ IN MAY

Favourite: The Clockwork Princess - I felt it was the perfect end to a fun and thrilling story.

Least favourite: A Discovery of Witches - I don't even know how I managed to get through and didn't bail!

I loved the book from start to end. It is a must-read for those who love the world of Warcraft. Even though anyone can enjoy the book without knowing much about the story of WoW.
I liked the writing sty and how easy to read it was, thw words flowed effortlesly and the story progress was fast paced and never dragged. I was never bored or wanted to skip a part of the book which sometimes happens to me. I will definitely read more from the author!

I have to say I have quite mixed feelings about this book. I loved the first half but at the end it got too Twiglight-y for me. The potential of what the book started as was not fulfilled for me and the story came out very mediocre. There were also some inconsistencies and the time travel aspect that did not seem right. I don't have any desire to start the second book to see how the story continues.

Every chapter in this book made me cry. It is so beautifully written and being a huge animal lover, the stories touched me deeply.

As far as I can tell, there are only two emotions that keep the world spinning, year after year. One is fear. The other is desire.

I loved the book from the first till the last word. It gave me all I hoped for and more. The Will & Tessa & Jem love triangle was beautiful and the way their feelings for each other developed was heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. The ending though! It felt like a cherry on top or my favourite ice cream.

Every meeting lead to a parting, and so it would, as long as life was mortal. In every meeting there was some of the sorrow of parting, but in every parting there was some of the joy of meeting as well.

BOOKS I READ IN APRIL

I didn't have much time to read this month, therefore there are only three books on the list. But I loved all of them the same (the Infernal Devices a tad more).

You asked me how I, being immortal, survive so many deaths. There is no great secret. You endure what is unbearable, and you bear it. That is all.

A great continuation to a great story. I enjoyed seeing how the main character Garion evolves, grows up and becomes less stubborn and more the person he's destined to be. Even though all the books from this series are basically full of walking, strolling, hiking and riding across the Kingdoms of the West, the story is very enjoyable and thirlling.

I really enjoyed reading more from the 19th century shadowhunter world. The plot was good and I enjoyed the love triangle of Will, Tessa and Jem. In most books I always ship a certain couple but in this book I just could not decide who I want Tessa to end up with. I love both Will and Jem as they are special in their own way.

I love the setting of the book in 19th century London. It was fast paced and fun to read, it reminded me a bit of the steampunk genre dressed in the Shadowhunter disguise. Honestly speaking, I enjoyed it more than Mortal Instruments.

"So you're a shadowhunter," Nate said. "De Quincey told me that you lot were monsters."
"Was that before or after he tried to eat you?" Will inquired.

Gotta love Will ?

BOOKS READ IN MARCH

Favourite: Obsidio. I just loved the conclusion to the Illumimae Files and the whole series became a favourite of mine. I know I will re-read it over and over again.

Least favourite: The Fork, the Witch and the Worm. It's still a nice book but I expected much more from it. Not much happens.

Honourable mention: Unravel Me and Ignite Me. I just freaking love this!!

I liked the writing style and the two intertwining time lines but ("there is always a but") it didn't do enough for me. I was expecting it to be more thrilling, more dramatic and gripping. I didn't appreciate how a mention of an event was dropped almost carelessly, spoiling the story for me, only to return to it a hundred pages later. The ending was good and made up for the issues I had with the book.