In April 2019 I managed to read a total of 13 books.
Audiobooks -
Navigating the Stars by Maria V. Snyder
Narrated by Gabra Zackman
Length - 10h 52m
Star rating - 4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. I found it lent itself to the audio really well, the narrator was great. Lyra was a strong main character, resilient and flawed meaning she came across as believable. The plot was really smart and I actually didn't guess the plot until it was revealed to our main character. The overarching plot is really interesting and I am very much looking forward to the next one.
Red Sister by Mark Lawrence
Narrated by Helen Duff
Length - 19h 36m
Star rating - 5 stars
This was a dark gritty violent novel but one with a heart. Nona is a brilliant character and I enjoyed getting to know her throughout the book. In fact each of the girls - and indeed some of the teachers too - were all fascinating characters who I very much enjoyed reading about. I like Nona's strength and how she kept true to herself while still learning and opening up a little. Looking forward to the next one.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Schaffer
Narrated by Charlie Norfolk
Length - 6h 41m
Star Rating - 4 stars
I listened to this on audio having already seen the film and thought it was a great way to absorb the story. I really liked the narrator, she made the voices very easily distinguishable which was important since this book is made up of letters. I liked the differences to the film and understood why they changed it. A really nice easy read.
Solitaire by Alice Oseman
Narrated by Holly Gibbs
Length - 7h 15m
Star Rating - 3 stars
Now, I don't read many contemporary books but decided to give this a go after finding out the main characters in Heartstopper were background characters in this one. I actually enjoyed this to start with but the main character soon got on my nerves and overall I found the plot to be pretty weak. Charlie and Nick from Heartstopper were definitely the highlights of this novel for me.
Navigating the Stars by Maria V. Snyder
Narrated by Gabra Zackman
Length - 10h 52m
Star rating - 4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. I found it lent itself to the audio really well, the narrator was great. Lyra was a strong main character, resilient and flawed meaning she came across as believable. The plot was really smart and I actually didn't guess the plot until it was revealed to our main character. The overarching plot is really interesting and I am very much looking forward to the next one.
Red Sister by Mark Lawrence
Narrated by Helen Duff
Length - 19h 36m
Star rating - 5 stars
This was a dark gritty violent novel but one with a heart. Nona is a brilliant character and I enjoyed getting to know her throughout the book. In fact each of the girls - and indeed some of the teachers too - were all fascinating characters who I very much enjoyed reading about. I like Nona's strength and how she kept true to herself while still learning and opening up a little. Looking forward to the next one.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Schaffer
Narrated by Charlie Norfolk
Length - 6h 41m
Star Rating - 4 stars
I listened to this on audio having already seen the film and thought it was a great way to absorb the story. I really liked the narrator, she made the voices very easily distinguishable which was important since this book is made up of letters. I liked the differences to the film and understood why they changed it. A really nice easy read.
Solitaire by Alice Oseman
Narrated by Holly Gibbs
Length - 7h 15m
Star Rating - 3 stars
Now, I don't read many contemporary books but decided to give this a go after finding out the main characters in Heartstopper were background characters in this one. I actually enjoyed this to start with but the main character soon got on my nerves and overall I found the plot to be pretty weak. Charlie and Nick from Heartstopper were definitely the highlights of this novel for me.
Novels -
Once and Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy
Length - pages
Star Rating - 3 stars
I was really anticipating this book, I am a huge fan of the Arthurian legend and couldn't wait to read this 're-telling'. But it sadly fell a little short for me. The representation was great to see and definitely needs to be in more books but I did feel that it got a little too much after a while, like other than their sexual orientation and pronoun preference I didn't feel we got to know the characters that well. Merlin I did enjoy, he was one of the stronger characters and there were some great moments but overall it was lacking for me.
The Binding by Bridget Collins
Length - 437 pages
Star Rating - 2.5 stars
This is the most beautiful hardback I have ever seen, not only is the dustjacket stunning but the naked book is embossed and it had sprayed purple edges. Sadly what is inside is boring, slow and dragged out. There were parts which should have been really interesting but they weren't explored instead it was a very predictable story which took an age to get anywhere. Very disappointing.
Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare
Length - 368 pages
Star Rating - 5 stars
This is a new series set in the Shadowhunter World which focuses on Magnus and Alec. Now I was always going to love this as they are two of my favourite characters from this series and it did not disappoint. I really liked seeing them at the start of their relationship knowing how far they have to go and to see how they interact together without the others around with them. The plot was also pretty strong too and I really had a fun time reading.
To Best the Boys by Mary Weber
Sherwood by Meagan Spooner
Graphic Novels/Manga -
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra vol 1 by Kieron Gillen
Hortense and the Shadow by Natalia and Lauren O'Hara
Length - pages
Star Rating - 3 stars
I was really anticipating this book, I am a huge fan of the Arthurian legend and couldn't wait to read this 're-telling'. But it sadly fell a little short for me. The representation was great to see and definitely needs to be in more books but I did feel that it got a little too much after a while, like other than their sexual orientation and pronoun preference I didn't feel we got to know the characters that well. Merlin I did enjoy, he was one of the stronger characters and there were some great moments but overall it was lacking for me.
Length - 437 pages
Star Rating - 2.5 stars
This is the most beautiful hardback I have ever seen, not only is the dustjacket stunning but the naked book is embossed and it had sprayed purple edges. Sadly what is inside is boring, slow and dragged out. There were parts which should have been really interesting but they weren't explored instead it was a very predictable story which took an age to get anywhere. Very disappointing.
Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare
Length - 368 pages
Star Rating - 5 stars
This is a new series set in the Shadowhunter World which focuses on Magnus and Alec. Now I was always going to love this as they are two of my favourite characters from this series and it did not disappoint. I really liked seeing them at the start of their relationship knowing how far they have to go and to see how they interact together without the others around with them. The plot was also pretty strong too and I really had a fun time reading.
To Best the Boys by Mary Weber
Length - 321 pages
Star Rating - 4 stars
This was in a Fairyloot box and for once I actually joined in the readalong for it (though I did cheat and finish it a day early as I got so into it). I loved the main characters attitude and personality and I found all of the characters actually had distinct and unique things about them. It is perhaps a little simplified with the world not deeply explored but for a fun quick read it was spot on.
After Atlas by Emma Newman
Length - 369 pages
Star Rating - 4.5 stars
This had mystery, drama, science fiction and intrigue. It seemlessly merged these genres and created a unique and clever story. Emma Newman really writes interesting characters well and yet it never detracts from the tight and well thought out plot. I am really enjoying the Planetfall books and am looking forward to the next one.
Length - 470 pages
Star Rating - 3 stars
I had such high hopes for this book. I loved Hunted which was Meagan Spooner's Beauty and the Beast retelling and as a Robin Hood fan I was excited for this. But it really let me down. I found Marion really boring and crap at what she was trying to do - how nobody discovered her is a miracle. Guy was confusing and it seemed like after killing off Robin (literally how the book starts) it seems she decided there had to be a romance so this would do. There was no chemistry in their scenes together and they are actually both rather horrid to each other. It really took enemies to lovers to a whole new level. Very disappointed and very sad.
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra vol 1 by Kieron Gillen
Length - 144 pages
Star Rating - 3.5 stars
This was fun and a little silly but I've come to expect that from the Star Wars comics now. I knew nothing about Aphra before I began this comic but I don't think that was too much of a hindrance, you go the gist of it all from the exposition. I'll continue on with the series I think, I like Aphra and the droids are hilarious.
Lumberjanes vol 1 by Noelle Stevenson
Lumberjanes vol 1 by Noelle Stevenson
Length - 128 pages
Star Rating - 3 stars
I found that not a lot happened in this volume, we didn't get to know the girls very well and none of them really stood out. I will give volume 2 a go but on the initial reading it hasn't grabbed me.
Hortense and the Shadow by Natalia and Lauren O'Hara
Length - 32 pages
Star Rating - 3.75 stars
This was a cute children's book with a nice little moral story and some incredibly beautiful drawings. Worth a look especially if you have young children.
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