I'm so glad I took my own advice and got the Audiobook for the second installment of D.O.D.O
This felt like a totally different book from the first. All the characters I came to care for were either not there at all, or pushed aside so much that they became inconsequential.
I didn't like the new character, and it felt like we only ever travelled to one place - one I didn't care for.
And the ending was such a disappointment I can't even...

My #BookSpin list for July

@TheAromaofBooks

An excellent combination of modern - psychological - and old school horror.

The most unique "monster" I've read in a while.

#LitsyAtoZ #J @Texreader
#Pantone2025 #MistedMarigold @Lauredhel

Val is always a solid 4 star read for me.
I love her characters, their relationships and the very realistic growth they show.

Karen and her cold cases are quickly becoming my most favourite. The way Val structure these stories makes it page turners even knowing there's no life to save at the end.

This installment had a very intriguing plot and is set during COVID, so every normal thing had to be done slightly differently.

This started out with real promise, but quickly derailed.
The multiple POV and the 3 different time lines with the first person voices sounding so much alike made this too much work for the mediocre end.

#LitsyAtoZ #S @Texreader
#Pantone2025 #Hibiscus @Lauredhel
#BookChain2025 #WithIn20Pages @TheAromaofBooks

He really believed it was a madcap game. A joke. A dare, played out between old friends.

#FirstLineFriday @ShyBookOwl

Honestly I got this book because of #CoverLove

But I found the story lacking. It reads like a YA, the characters feel childish and absolutely nothing happens for the biggest part of the book.

#LitsyAtoZ #I @Texreader
#Pantone2025 #DejaVuBlue @Lauredhel

These books are never what I expect, but it always blows my mind.
A very satisfying end to a very heart-rending journey.

Hob weaves true magic with her writing. Her poetic, imaginative prose takes you places you've never dreamt of; contiplating situation you'll never face, but truly do though her stories

👇🏼 continued 👇🏼

Both these Audio holds came in today. So guess I'm Audiobooking through this week and finishing Assassin's Quest #RealmOfElderlings 🤷🏼‍♀️

So much for trying to plan my reading for the month.

Lewis truly had a gift to break down complex issues into bit-size understandable chunks.

Looking into the what, the how and the Who behind some questions everyone asks themselves at one point in their lives; and explaining in a sensible manner the why behind Christianity

#LitsyAtoZ #M @Texreader
#Pantone2025 #LimpetShell @Lauredhel
#NonFiction
#Classic

I've never liked this conclusion Collins chose for the series. It always felt a bit forced and then patched up with a very unbelievable epilogue.

Re-reading it just confirmed my dislike.
It's like Collins has a comfort zone of writing, and this was way out of it.
The pacing felt wrong, the tension was non-existing and the urgency the other 2 books held fell flat where I would have wanted it to be pivotal.
Now I'm ready for the prequels!

June
#BookSpin - Past Lying (Val McDermid)
#DoubleSpin - Master of Revels (Nicole Galland)

@TheAromaofBooks

May #WrapUp

2 #OffTheShelf2025
1 #FictionalTraveler
1 #SeriesLove2025
5 #BookChain2025
4 #LitsyAtoZ
#BookSpin in progress
#DoubleSpin
2 #Pantone2025
1 #Classic
1 #NonFiction

This one was not for me.
I found it very unbelievable, tedious, dull and repetitive.


#FictionalTraveler #SpanishSpeaking @julieclair
#BookChain2025 #DifferentPOV @TheAromaofBooks
#LitsyAtoZ #M @Texreader
#Pantone2025 #GardenGreen @Lauredhel

My #BookSpin list for June

@TheAromaofBooks

Captivating, engrossing tale of how seemingly simple choice and secrets can shape lives so different that they don't seem to be connected at all.

#BookChain2025 #CoverClashes @TheAromaofBooks
#LitsyAtoZ #V @Texreader
#Pantone2025 #Crocus @Lauredhel

4½ ✨

Reading very much like a work of Fiction, this brutal account of the Clutter Murders is bone chilling.

Not only is Capote a masterful writer, but his dedication to obtaining all the information needed for this recounting amazes me - especially taking into account the when. No quick Google searches to check facts, or see photos of places. Just feet on the ground investigation.

I awake every morning with ink on my hands.

#FirstLineFriday @ShyBookOwl

3½✨
I couldn't find a copy to read, but I found the audio book; and now I want to listen to all of them. Mark Deakins did a superb job!

I read these books in publications order, so this was the last one for me.
I've finally got all my questions answered and enjoyed learning how everything started.
This book and the Original is in my opinion the best. Both have riveting plots and are quick paced; with a lot of information.

At first I thought, cool a brother and sister duo hunting ghosts - a bit of a Supernatural vibe.
I truly tried to like this.
The main issue was I did not like Harper at all, she's whiny, self-scented and so needy.
The other thing is the story felt forced, and abnormal. Focusing on unnecessary details, while leaving important issues behind for no real reason other than to prolong the book.

At least it's off my shelf now. #donation

I truly enjoyed this one.

I realized that I really like stories like this, where a hiker must battle not only their own inner self but also the harsh surroundings of the trails and all that it entails.

Even though I figured out the mystery early on, the writing was so captivating that I just had to keep listening.
The audio was extremely well-done.

The silent witnesses lie everywhere, passing from one form of matter to another, gradually becoming unrecognizable to their nearest and dearest.

#FirstLineFriday @ShyBookOwl

May
#BookSpin - Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb
#DoubleSpin - In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

@TheAromaofBooks

I've seen the movie many years ago, so I knew what was to come.
But even knowing the big twist, I still found this very enticing and entertaining. All the subtle foreshadowing throughout the book, the tiny details one would miss on a first read.
All done masterfully.

#FictionalTraveler #Island @julieclair
#LitsyAtoZ #S @Texreader
#Pantone2025 #MistedMarigold @Lauredhel

A super quick, gripping story.
Hill inherited his father's knack for eerie topics that makes you wonder if just maybe all of this could be real.

Also #CoverLove 😍.

#LitsyAtoZ #U @Texreader

April #WrapUp

6 #OffTheShelf2025
2 #Chunkster
#FictionalTraveler in progress
4 #SeriesLove2025
4 #BookChain2025
3 #LitsyAtoZ
#BookSpin
#DoubleSpin
3 #Pantone2025
1 #Classic
3 #NonFiction

4½ ✨

I believed I was better prepared for what to expect from the second installment of the Farseer Trilogy.

In a sense, I was, but I still got absolutely nothing I expected—in the very best possible way.

My #BookSpin list for May

@TheAromaofBooks

"Why is it forbidden to write down specific knowledge of the magics?"

#FirstLineFriday @ShyBookOwl
#RealmOfElderlings @PuddleJumper

I can't remember that Katniss was this irritating the first time I read Catching Fire. She was like a whiny child, only seeing what she wanted.

The story however was expertly executed, and gripping as ever.

#OffTheShelf2025 @Librariana
#SeriesLove2025 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView
#LitsyAtoZ #C @Texreader
#Pantone2025 #Orangeade @Lauredhel

4½✨

Sanderson did it again.
This installment is much slower and less action packed than the previous two, but still ending on a high that leaves me wanting more.

#OffTheShelf2025 @Librariana
#ChunksterChallenge2025 #ColossalChunkster @Amiable
#AllergicToChunksters @julieclair
#BookChain2025 #DifferentWorld #SameItem @TheAromaofBooks
#LitsyAtoZ #O @Texreader
#Pantone2025 #SecretSpaces @Lauredhel
#DoubleSpin (March) @TheAromaofBooks

I love stories about the ancient gods and their lives. So this tale about the Gaelic Goddess of Winter sounded right up my alley.
But I found it a little repetitive, and the lack of character growth in the first majority of the book got on my nerves.
The ending did somewhat compensate for the beginning and left me satisfied.

Back in 2011 I also jumped on the Hunger Games hype and read all 3 books in a matter of days.

I've decided to re-read them before jumping on the prequel bandwagon, just to have all these events fresh in my mind going into the lives of Snow and Haymitch.

These books are hyped for a reason, even though I knew exactly what would happen, I still couldn't put the book down.

I found this one excruciatingly slow and pleonastic.
I still appreciate the story and morals, but feel there's better adaptations out today.

#Classic
#OffTheShelf2025 @Librariana
#LitsyAtoZ #S @Texreader
#Pantone2025 #Cocoa @Lauredhel

Surprisingly accurate.
I've read both Orange 75% and Red 70% and both feel so like me.

It bothers me a bit that the bottom 2 say A orange instead of AN. (I see the coding error there 😕)

Thanks @TheLudicReader for the link 🔗

https://www.readyourcolor.com/

Partly Informative, mostly unhelpful.

Yes I've learned a few things, but overall there's nothing here that I could actively add to reduce my problems.
I'm very happy for Hill that she can arrange her whole life around her period, but very few of us actually have this luxury.

#NonFiction
#LitsyAtoZ #P @Texreader
#Pantone2025 #PearSorbet @Lauredhel

2½
Lacked the action and thrill of the trilogy.
It did however answer some of the questions I had, but still not all of them. I'm hopeful that Fever code will answer my last questions.

#OffTheShelf2025 @Librariana
#SeriesLove2025 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView
#LitsyAtoZ #K @Texreader
#Pantone2025 #YellowJasper @Lauredhel

My edition of Oathbringer is split into two books, last night I finished part one.
I don't feel like reviewing only this part is fair as it's not even half the story... but so far it's a pick

This is my #DoubleSpin for March, hopefully I'll finish it in April @TheAromaofBooks
Also this is 1391 pages in total so #AllergicToChunksters @julieclair
#ChunksterChallenge2025 #CollosalChunkster @Amiable

April
#BookSpin - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
#DoubleSpin - The Winter Goddess by Megan Barnard

 @TheAromaofBooks

Michelle is such an inspiration!

Hopefull, informative and inspiring.

Not only did she offer a look at the Lady behind Michelle Obama, sharing her hopes, dreams and fears.
But she also encourages and inspire to do more, be more.

#NonFiction
#LitsyAtoZ #B @Texreader
#Pantone2025 #LimpetShell @Lauredhel

March #WrapUp

3 #OffTheShelf2025
1 #Chunkster
1 #FictionalTraveler
5 #SeriesLove2025
2 #BookChain2025
2 #LitsyAtoZ
#BookSpin
#DoubleSpin in progress
5 #Pantone2025
1 #Classic
1 #NonFiction

My April #BookSpin list

 @TheAromaofBooks

Fast paced, action packed, dark and tense; but the ending was a real disappointment.
And still so many unanswered questions...
I guess I need to read the other 2 books to get those answers.

#OffTheShelf2025 @Librariana
#SeriesLove2025 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView
#LitsyAtoZ #D @Texreader
#Pantone2025 #AiryBlue @Lauredhel

I couldn't find a second hand copy of Royal Assassin for our #RealmOfElderlings read along, so I got an illustrated e-book
And I'm so impressed with the illustrations 🤩
The map, 🗺️ so I don't spoil anything.

 @PuddleJumper

3½ ✨

I always feel bad rating memoirs low, because how do you judge someone's life story?
But there was just too much in this one that worked on my nerves, to name a few things:
There's so much mundane details, begin repeated over and over again. Eating habits for one.
Another thing was the duel narration, while I appreciate why Cher decided on doing it this way, the changeover always caught my ear and it broke the flow in my opinion.

Another #Afrikaans read for me...
I struggled a bit with the writing style and pacing of this one. At times nothing seems to happen, and the everything happens all at once.
I would however be interested in reading more of Venter's work, as it was so different form the usual Mystery/Romance I'm used to.

#OffTheShelf2025 @Librariana
#SeriesLove2025 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView
#LitsyAtoZ #S @Texreader
#Pantone2025 #Kashmir @Lauredhel

What an interesting, engaging story.
I enjoyed the amateur sleuthing and unraveling the mystery.
I do however feel that some relationships were a bit awkward; as in the switch from dislike, distrust and loath to "You're the only one" just didn't quite work.

#LitsyAtoZ #B @Texreader
#Pantone2025 #PassionFlower @Lauredhel

IT STARTED WITH THE CRY OF A BABY

Belladonna
Adalyn Grace

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

4½✨

Such beautiful, elegant writing.
Such a sad and heartbreaking tale.

Poor Gatsby, I feel he deserved better.

#OffTheShelf2025 @Librariana
#FictionalTraveler #BigCity @julieclair
#LitsyAtoZ #G @Texreader
#Pantone2025 #AntiqueWhite @Lauredhel
#Classic

Absolutely superb!

What a conclusion. Never in a million years would I have guessed at the ending of this series. But that's been the theme through all these books... the most unexpected, unnerving twist and turns unfolding into the most exceptional story that will live in my heart forever.
Characters crafted with such emotional depth and complexity that I can't help but think of them as real.