March Wrap Up (2021)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And tonight I'm back with my March Wrap Up! 

After only reading 4 books (even though they were significantly larger than usual) I'd like to say I definitely redeemed myself this month, because I read a total of 10 books! 

Enjoy! 

1. The FlatShare, by Beth O' Leary 

I was gifted this for Valentine's Day and unfortunately wasn't able to get to in February. Naturally it was rolled over to this month. This book is about two people that share a flat- but have never met. Leon is a nurse, taking the night shifts, which means that Tiffany has the run of the flat in the evenings. But between crazy exes, about a million notes and wrongly imprisoned brothers, they have plenty to be getting on with. I honestly didn't enjoy reading from one perspective other the other. Both were engaging, entertaining and enthralling by themselves, but together they told an amazing tale of two people sharing a flat, finally meeting, (which was exciting in itself) and eventually turning into something else. This was a book that was sweet, funny at times, realistic tale and I can't wait to read more of Beth's books in the future. 

2. The Switch, by Beth O' Leary 

This is a high-wired, extremely energetic book about a twenty-something girl, completely switching lives with her pushing-eightees grandmother. They switch phones, houses, responsibilities, everything, and this book genuinely makes me want to try something similar. It's such a breath of fresh air, because I honestly don't think many people my age would be able to attempt something like this today. I loved how the two women switched lives, but still seemed presently there by the people around them. The book did have some more serious subjects, as most fiction novels do, and although they weren't the main focus, they certainly contributed towards the story. The Switch was a well-balanced, enjoyable read that I'd love to read again soon. 

3. My Dark Vanessa, by Kate Elizabeth Russell

I have a review for this if you want to see my in-depth thoughts, but here's my general impression. 

For a debut novel, this sure was ambitious, complicated, brilliant, hard to decipher. You name it, it was everything a good book can be. Though is it wrong to call it good when it's main theme is abuse? Even I'm trying to figure that out. My Dark Vanessa follows, well Vanessa, from two points in her life: when she's 15, and decades later, when the teacher she had a secret relationship is accused of sexually assaulting a student. This is incescently graphic, so I recommend taking a think about whether this book is for you before picking it up if you have any triggers about rape, abuse, manipulation, just to name a few. Such a raw book. 

4. The Falling in Love Montage, by Ciara Smyth 

This has been the best YA romance/contemporary I've read this year. Although it isn't the best of all time, I'm glad I read it when I did. It was the relief I needed after My Dark Vanessa, and although I wish the characters had been more in-depth, I got enough of their characters, to love them as a couple and want this book to have a happy ending for them. Aside from that, it was the source I needed to want to seek out all the greatest rom-coms! 

5. We Are Okay, by Nina LaCour 

Short and heartfelt, I knew I needed to be in the right mindset to pick this up. I didn't know if I was, to tell the truth, but I wanted to pick this up, and I did. Honestly, the length was the best part for me. It didn't feel too long or too short, it felt just right. This felt like a theraputic book for me to read, it's about a girl called Marin who ran away to college following the death of her grandfather, processing everything she's supressed in the three months since she left home. There are some sensitive themes surrounding this book, but if you feel you can handle those kinds of themes, I'd recommend giving this a try. 

6. Girl A. by Abigail Dean 

Unfortunately, this just didn't gel well with me. It if had been any longer, I most likely would have been in danger of DNF'ing it. I was expecting something similar to My Dark Vanessa, and although it was similar in a lot of ways to that book, I failed to be drawn in by the characters' inner monologues. The font was large, the page count was short, and although I relatively liked some of the characters, I just didn't feel engaged at all, for a good portion of the novel. I hate to post a negative review, especially as most people who read this tend to take away so much from it, but I just wasn't able to take away the same. This will undoubtedly be on my unhaul pile soon.

7. Romanov, by Nadine Brandes

I do have a review linked to the title, so if you want to, you can see all my in-depth thoughts there. But in short, I thoroughly enjoyed this. A little clasp of magic sprinkled in; violence, hardship, the love a family can have for eachother, romance, and war, are just a few of the themes that are included in this tale about the Romanov family- this is a retelling of Anastacia, the Pixar classic. I love these kinds of books, the ones that make me curious enough to go and research the actual historical events, to find out 1) how accurate the story is, and 2) what kind of history would eventually lead to a book this magic. After devouring this book in approximately 3 days, I'm eager for more books about the Romanov family and/or any other books that have been written by Nadine Brandes. Anybody know of any? Comment down below.

8. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson #1), by Rick Riorda. 

9. Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson #2), by Rick Riordan 

10. Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson #3), by Rick Riordan 

When I had a week left in the month and having finished what I'd put on my monthly TBR, I knew I wanted to start what would be the second series on my 2021 TBR. The Percy Jackson series. Because, if I wanted to get caught up with all the Rick Riordan series', I knew I'd have to start at the beginning. Now, with only one book standing before me until the finale, I'm so glad I did. Amazing, fleshed out characters, tempremental gods, fast-paced adventures and friendships that I think will last a lifetime (if they don't die fighting some huge uprising), I'm thoroughly enjoying this series so far. I'm severely anxious for these characters, especially as they're all so young, they seem like babies to me, but I'm rooting for them so much, I can't believe how attached I've become to these characters! Loving this series so far! 

Okay! That's my March Wrap Up (2021)! I hope you enjoyed it, and feel free to comment what you read in the comments, so we can talk about it! 

I hope you have a wonderful evening, and I'll see you all soon with my April TBR (2021)! 

Byeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx

Romanov, by Nadine Brandes

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And today I'm back with a review of Romanov, by Nadine Brandes. 

I finished this a few days ago, and I an very excited to share my thoughts on this book with you all! 

Enjoy! 

Title: Romanov 

Author: Nadine Brandes 

Genre: Historical fiction, fantasy. 

Status: Standalone

Pages: 338

Blurb: "The history books say I died. They don't know the half of it. 

Anastacia "Nastya" Romanov was given a single mission: to smuggle an ancient spell into her

suitcase on her way to exile in Siberia. It might be her family's only salvation. But the leader of 

the Bolshevik army is after them, and he's hunted Romanov before. 

Nastya's only chances of saving herself and her family are either to release the spell and deal 

with the consequences, or to enlist help from Zash, the handsome soldier who doesn't act like 

the average Bolshevik. Nsstya has only dabbled in magic, but it doesn't frighten her half as 

much as her growing attraction with Zash. She likes him, She thinks he might even like her. 

That is, until she's on one side of the firing squad... and he's on the other." 

My Thoughts 

I have so many points for this, I'm wondering where to start. 

...Okay. 

I was hesitant, going into this. Romanov had been a book that had been on my radar, ever since I heard about it, I don't know, a few years back. It was only when I re-watched Anastasia that I finally bit the bullet and ordered it. But anyway, after reading a few of the non-spoiler reviews on Goodreads, I wasn't sure what I was going to think. Some people that had read this thought that because it was centred around the Romanov family, about their family dynamics and their relationships, that not much happened plot wise. I was very cautious in the opening chapters of this book, checking so much for any disinterest, any reason why I might want to put the book down, but thankfully, there was none. 

Honestly, those people are exactly right. The Romanov family is the foundation of this story. The love that they have for one another sells the story, and it's really refreshing to see, as so many of the books I read never seem to have a complete family at it's core. The pacing is a little slower than most fantasy novels, but it was just perfect for a historical fiction fantasy, in my opinion. 

Of course, I completely disagree with the opinion that not much happened. A lot did happen, it just took a bit for it to get going. But there was never a time when I considered DNF'ing. 

Romanov appealed to me because I heard it was an Anastasia retelling, and I loved the film so much, (and I've always been fascinated by Russian history). But when I started reading I realised that it's actually more based on their actual historical events that surrounded the family during their part of history, as opposed to the classic Pixar film. Romanov takes place around the time of the family's exile sentencing, and then at the Ipatiev House- so it is pretty accurate (though there are more aspects to the story- romance, friendship, magic etc). 

Speaking of, I really liked the way magic was woven into the story. It would have been easy just to have written a historical fiction novel about the Romanov family, but the fantasy elements were written in just enough for them to be noticeable, but never be the most driving theme. Nastya was mostly trying to 1) smuggle out the spell that could potentially be her family's salvation and 2) trying to figure it out and trying not to be caught with it by the harsh Bolshevik guards. 

The best part of the novel, however, was the characters, and the bond that the Romanov family have, as well as with a few others. They felt so realistic, they felt like real people. From a writer's perspective, it would have been hard to create characters off of people that genuinely existed. But Brandes actually does a really good job of it. 

Some of my favourite relationships are: 

-Nastya and her father- the love and trust that they share, even when Nastya has no idea what her father is planning- unrelenting trust. 

-Nastya and Alexei- the bond between these two is so endearing and caring, I fell in love with this duo as soon as I read about them. 

Nastya and Maria- two sisters! It was wonderful to read a story where two sisters get along (all the Romanov siblings did, but these two just stood out amongst all the Romanov sisters.)  

Maria and Ivan- these two genuinely made me cry- I had a sneaky suspicion what was going to happen, but I really hoped it wouldn't be the case. 

Nastya and Zash- Thank Iisus. 

Another part I absolutely loved- was the cover! 

I can't not mention the cover. Such a gorgeous design- regal colours: red and gold that basically shimmered, the cover was unlike nothing I've seen before- it was the reason why I couldn't let it go from the back of my mind until I had finished it. 

All in all, Romanov was a wonderful story about hope, family love and dynamics, romance, magic, and Russian history. It wasn't all perfume and roses, the Romanov went through so much during their exile, but it was the love for eachother that made this such a wonderful story. Their family was their hope. They believed that if they stayed united, never gave up, that one day, they would see happiness again. 

Okay! That's my review of Romanov, by Nadine Brandes. I hope you enjoyed it, I certainly did, and I had a lot more thoughts than I thought I was going to have! 

I hope you have a wonderful day, and I'll see you next week for my wrap up! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxx

Anticipated Releases (April-June 2021)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And today I'm back with my Anticipated Releases for the next three months! I look forward to talking about all my anticipated every three months and somehow I never end up reading them! 

I swear, one month, all I'll be reading will be some of my past anticipated releases, because it's embarrasing how little I pick them up after they've been released! 

Hopefully these will be different, though at this point, I'm not very confident. 

Anyway, I hope you enjoy. 

April Releases

1. Dead or Alive (Skulduggery Pleasant #14), by Derek Landy (1/4/21)

I've been following the Skulduggery Pleasant series for at least ten years now, so it should be a given that I will be anticipating this from the moment that it was announced. I am actually fairly nervous about this book being released though, because there will only be one other book after this in the Skulduggery Pleasant universe, so Derek Landy is sure to have started setting up what is going to happen in the final book. I've loved this series since I was a tiny 11 year old at secondary school and that hasn't changed over the years. I can't wait to jump back into this world. 

2. Between the Bliss and Me, by Lizzy Mason ((6/4/21) 

Between the Bliss and Me follows Syndey, when she decides to attend NYU, leaving her overprotective Mother devastated. She was hoping she could transfer to Rutgers, instead of off to the Big City, where guitar prodigy (and definitely not single) Grayson is attending Julliard. But while dreams of NYU fill her head, Syndey discovers a truth that blows her world apart: that her father- who left when she was little due to a drug addiction- that he has Schizophrenia and is currently living off the streets in New York. She seizes the chance to get to know him, to understand more about who he is, and what might be in store for her too, if she is diagnosed. But a question is still unanswered: should she stay close to her mother and the life she knows, or leave for NYU for a chance to discover who she is? 

This book feels like so many good themes thrown together that I wonder what it is I'm getting into with this. I don't think I've read any books that discuss Schizophrenia and I'm truly excited that there are books that are going to be released that discuss these kinds of themes. I don't know when I'll get my hands on a copy of this as it might just be out on Hardback at first, but I'm very excited about picking it up. 

3. House of Hollow, by Krystal Sutherland (6/4/21) 

If this cover isn't enough to draw my attention to this book, the blurb certainly is. House of Hollows follows the third Hollow sisters, Grey, Vivy and Iris, who went mysteriously missing as children, and couldn't remember a thing when they returned home a month later, with nothing to show for it but a scar across each of their faces. They've since gone their seperate ways, but when Grey goes missing, the two remaining Hollow sisters go off in search of her, even if it means stepping back into the terrifying past that could expose the truth of what happened to them, once and for all. 

Although this comes out next month, this sounds very much like a Halloween-ish book, kind of like The Call and The Chronicles of Alice duology. I'll most likely save it for October, but it certainly sounds like a book that will be a hit for readers. 

4. Between Perfect and Real, by Ray Stoeve (13/4/21) 

I'm kind of anxiously anticipating the release of this and also bursting at the seams to read it too because it feels like it's going to make me cry both happy and sad tears. Between Perfect and Real follows Dean Foster, who everyone thinks is a lesbian, but is actually Trans. Even his girlfriend and his thatre director, who has cast him as a "nontraditional Romeo". He wonders as for whether it'll be easier to come out when he's in college, but as he plays Romeo everyday in rehearsals, Dean starts to want everyone to know the person he is now- not just on stage, whilst playing a part. Dean knows what he needs to do. Can playing a part help Dean to show his true self? 

This sounds like such a simple concept, but it sounds like such an incredible novel, which really packs an emotional punch. Looking forward to reading this. 

5. Malice, by Heather Walter (13/4/21) 

A Sleeping Beauty retelling! If you've been following my blog for the past year, you know that these are my kryptonite. I read a Sleeping Beauty retelling late last year, and this is my second one to go on these anticipated releases post this year. From the blurb, this looks like a romance between a descentdant of Malificent and Princess Aurora. It sounds dark and creepy, and the cover looks simple and angelic. I'm certainly intrigued for this mystical release. 

6. She Drives Me Crazy, by Kelly Quindlen (20/4/21)

I've already heard a couple of Booktubers talking about this, so I know this'll be high on a lot of people anticipated releases list. After losing spectacularly to her toxic ex-girlfriend at their first head-to-head on the Basketball court, Scottie runs into the worst possible person: her nemesis and completely beautiful/mean Irene Abraham. After a fender bender leaves her without a car, things get a lot worse. Their nosey, do-gooders mothers force them to carpool together until it's fixed. Things slowly get worse, until an opportunity arised for Scottie to get back at her ex, and she ropes Irene into helping her out. Long story short, She Drives Me Crazy has hijinks, heartbreaks, and a gay fake-dating scheme for the ages. This kind of reminds me of The Falling Love Montage and I'm eager for another of these to read. Should be a fast and engaging read. 

May Releases

1. Take Me Home Tonight, by Morgan Matson (4/5/21) 

Another book my Morgan Matson! Although I've only ever read the one book (Since You've Been Gone- read it in one day, I enjoyed it that much) it's been a while since I've seen her release anything. This sounds amazing though. It sounds like a whirlwind book that takes place in one evening, following two best friends, theatre kids, that sneak out for a night in the city that never sleeps. What could go wrong? A lot, it turns out. As soon as they step out of the trains, they're dealing with broken phones, family dramas, unhelpful cab drivers, the lot. I've been meaning to pick up a Morgan Matson book recently, and this could be the perfect one. 

2. Meet Cute Diary, by Emery Lord (4/5/21) 

I love how many trans books are coming out in the next few months! Combine that and the fact that this story is written by Emery Lord and I am sold! 

Meet Cute Diary follows Noah Ramirez- love expert. He has to be, for his popular blog, the Meet Cute Diary, a collection of trans happily ever after. There's one problem though- all the stories are fake. What started as the fantasies of a trans boy who was afraid to come out, because a beacon of hope for the trans community worldwide. That is, until a troll outs his blog as completely made up. As Noah's world unravels, his only chance is to convince the world that in fact, the stories aren't fake. Enter Drew, who agrees to fake date Noah, to save the Meet Cute Diary. What Noah will grow to realise is that real love isn't quite the same as finding it on the page. 

3. Heartstopper: Volume Four (Heartstopper #4), by Alice Oseman (13/5/21)

If you've been following this blog for the last couple of years, you'll know that I am a huge fan of the Heartstopper series, by Alice Oseman. I genuinely don't even need to read the blurb to know that I'm going to love the fourth installment of this fantastic series! From what I've seen, there's a certain phrase that will turn out to be a theme in this volume, as well as a very scary theme to do with Charlie that worries me deeply. But, Heartstopper is a mere couple of months away, and I know I'm going to love it as much as the rest of them! 

4. Tokyo Ever After, by Emiko Jean (18/5/21) 

Izumi has never felt like she's fully fit in at school. Raised by a single mother, in a mostly white, small town in California. she goes by Izzy, because "It's easier this way." But then Izzy discovers a clue about her unknown father, that he's none other but the Crown Prince of Japan. Thrown into a life of royalty, she finds that it isn't just gowns and glamour, it's having to learn a lifetime of rules and regulations, seemingly overnight, conniving cousins, and a bodyguard that might just be her soulmate. Izzy soon finds herself caught between worlds- back home, she was never "American" enough, and in Japan, she has to prove she's "Japanese" enough. Will Izumi crumble under the crown, or will she live her own fairytale, happily ever after? 

I love everything about this book. I love these new and exciting themes that remind me of Crazy Rich Asians, I love the cover, and the premise. This sounds new and exciting and unique and I can't wait to sink my teeth into this. 

5. Off the Record, by Camryn Garrett (18/5/21) 

Ever since Josie can remember, writing has been her identity, the thing that keeps her grounded when everything turns horrid. So when she wins an exclusive competition to write a celebrity profile for Deep Focus magazine, she's both scared and excited, but she knows she's got this. Soon Josie is setting off to a multi city tour, meeting sparkly celebrities, fenetic handlers, stone-faced producers and eccentric stylists. She even finds herself somewhat falling for the subject of her profile, dazzling young newcomer Marius Canet. At first, she feels like she's in a whirlwind, not sure whether she's falling or flying, but when a young actress tells her something in confidence, she knows one thing for sure: she's in way over her head. As more women start to come forward, Josie worries whether she's the right person to tell this story. But if she doesn't, the question remains: Who will? 

This story sounds as ground-breaking to me as THUG did when I first read it. It sounds as enthralling as Grown did, and I finished that in one day. To say I'm excited for this would be an understatement. I really hope I manage to get to this soon because I'll be disappointed in myself if I don't. 

6. May the Best Man Win (18/5/21) 

The opening for the blurb on this book is "A trans boy enters a throw-down battle for the title of Homecoming King with the boy he dumped last summer" and so on. Although I like the premise for this, it paints the trans character as the bad guy in this face-off, and I don't know if I'm okay with that, especially as the dumpee is still coming to terms with the fact that his ex-girlfriend is now a boy. But, I'm interested in where this is going to go, what direction, so I'm anticipating it's release. 

June Releases

1. The Nature of Witches, by Rachel Griffin (1/6/21) 

In all honesty, it was the cover that drew me to this novel. It honestly didn't reveal itself as a fantasy novel, purely from the cover so, I started to turn away from it, once I realised it wasn't a contemporary fiction. But after reading the blurb, I knew I would have to give it a shot. 

The Nature of Witches tells a story of witches that have maintained the climate for centuries, whose power is strongest in the season they were born in. But as the weather becomes more erratic, the only person they can rely on is Clara, who is the only witch alive to have an affinity with every season.

 In Autumn, Clara wants nothing to do with her power. Wild and undistructable, and the price of her magic- losing the ones she loves, is too high. In Winter, Clara accepts that she is the only one that can put a stop to all this chaotic weather, as storms surge around her. In Spring, she falls for the witch that has been training her, and she worries that she will be next. In Summer, Clara must choose between happiness and power, her duty and the people she loves, before she thrusts the world into chaos. 

2. We Are Inevitable, by Gayle Forman (1/6/21) 

Even if I wasn't super interested in the synopsis, when I see that Gayle Forman has written it, on it goes to my anticipated releases list. I don't think I've read any Gayle Forman novels since 2015, or 2016 at the latest, so when I saw that she was releasing another YA contemporary, I was so excited. We Are Inevitable follows Aaron, who works in a failing bookshop with his father after he missed his chance to go to college. Just when he realises he needs a lucky break, in comes Hannah. Funny, incredible, musical Hannah. Could she be the answer? And could they- their relationship, their friendship- possibly be the inevitable he's been waiting for? 

3. Down With This Ship, by Katie Kingman (1/6/21) 

Kole has one thing she excels at: writing on her fanfiction blog for her favourite show: The Space Game. Everything else makes her anxious: crushes, plans for after high school, the whole lot. So when Kole's fanfic, Spacer, wins a major fanfiction competition, her traffic soars. With a new and large fanbase comes a lot of criticism too, including the heat that comes with shipping characters within the show. And then, comes an invitation to speak at The Space Game convention arrives in her inbox. 

When some of her most competitive Creative Writing classmates find out Kole's writing Spacer, her blog is taken hostage and she risks them hitting ctrl+A+del on Spacer. To win it back, Kole must face both her inner demons and the ones at Crystal Lake High before they make the drama not just about her beloved fanfiction, but about Kole herself. 

This gives me the same vibes as Eliza and Her Monsters did, and I am totally here for it. Also, other than Fangirl, I don't think I've read another book about fanfiction, and I'm eager to change that, especially as it's been Donkey's years since I've picked that one up. 

4. Instructions for Dancing, by Nicola Yoon (1/6/21) 

Another book that I stuck on this list, because of who has written it. I've loved both of Nicola Yoon's works, and I'm excited to pick this one up, because I know her books are fun and easy to read quickly, and they're always different to other contemporary stories. 

Evie doesn't believe in love anymore. Especially as a surreal moment happens on an otherwise ordinary afternoon. When she sees a couple kissing, and is overcome with a vision of how it started... and how it ended. 

Completely and totally overwhelmed, she finds herself at the Dance Studio, learning to walts, foxtrot and tango with a boy named X. X is everything that Evie isn't: adventurous, passionate and daring. He is so much of these things in fact, that the pair find themselves entered in a ballroom dance competition with a person they've only just met. 

Falling for X certainly wasn't the plan, because if there's something Evie has learnt by her visions, is that no-one survives love unscathed. But as she and X dance around and towards eachother, Evie is forced to question all she thinks she knows about love. In the end, is love worth the risk? 

I haven't read many books about dance, and I definitely haven't read any about ballroom dancing, so I'm excited to read about something fresh and new by Nicola Yoon. I hope I love it as much as the other two, but I know that's nearly an inevitability. 

5. Trouble Girls, by Julia Lynn Rubin (1/6/21) 

When Trixie picks up her best friend Lux for a weekend getaway, she's looking to escape for a little while, to not have to think about the despair of being trapped in their dead end home and the eventual reality of caring for her ailing mother. She packs light: a supply of Diet Coke for Lux, her '89 Canon to help frame the world in a sunnier light, half a pack of cigarretts that Lux never uses, and a knife she's holding for a friend. 

When a night of violence leaves their trip derailed and forever changes the course of their lives forever, the girls are forced to run as they go from ordinary high-schoolers to wanted fugitives. Now trying to outrun the police and a hellscape of media attention, the girls are forced to make decisions in disasterous situations, whilst juggling fastly diminishing supplies. As they are transformed by the media as the face of the #MeToo movement they didn't ask to lead and the road ahead of them begins to run out, Trixie and Lux realise that the only people they can rely on is each-other, and that the love they share is the only thing that truly makes them free. 

This sounds so amazing. It's also giving me The End of the F-ing World vibes too, because of how similar the premise is to that. Like, to a tea. I love these kind of books, that take place in such a short space of times, but stay with you long after you finish the last page. 

6. The Ghosts We Keep, by Mason Deaver (1/6/21) 

This has such a simple premise, and that's definitely a good thing, because the subject matter is so sensitive, that it doesn't need to fill to the top with themes, it sounds amazing without a ton of events and characters. 

When Liam Cooper's brother Ethan is killed in a hit-and-run, Liam not only has to try and navigate the world without one of the people he loves the most, but also face his fading relationships with his two best friends. Feeling more alone and isolated than ever, Liam finds himself sharing more and more time with Ethan's best friend Marcus, and through him, Liam finds the one person that seems to be know exactly what they're going through, for better, for worse. 

This book is about grief. But it's also about why we live, why we have to keep moving on, why we Daufhshould. 

This book sounds like one that's going to rip my heart to pieces. And I'm ready for it. 

7. Daughter of Sparta, by Claire M. Andrews (8/6/21) 

I added this to the list because I wanted to read something different from the contemporaries I usually anticipate whenever I post one of these. That, and the cover is captivating and grabbed my attention as soon as I laid eyes on it. 

Daughter of Sparta follows Daphne, a warrior of seventeen, trained in body and mind, who has always hoped to be accepted to the unyielding people of ancient Sparta. But after an enexpected encounter with none other but the goddess Artemis- who holds Daphne's brother's fate in her hands- upends the life she's worked so hard for. Nine mysterious items have been snatched from Mount Olympus, and if Daphne fails to retrieve them, then the Mortal World will descent into chaos and Daphne's brother will be lost forever. 

With the help of Artemis' brother Apollo (entirely too-self-assured), Daphne's journey will take her from the labyrinth of the Minotaur, to the riddle-spinning Sphinx of Thebes, team her up with mythical legends such as Theseus and Hippoltya of the Amazons, and pit her against the Gods themselves. 

This sounds like just the type of epic mythological story I need to pick up this year. It'll be a nice change from all the Rick Riordan's novels I've pitted myself to read this year (though I've loved what I've read so far of his and can't wait to pick up where I read to a few years back.) 

This sounds incredibly fast paced and I can't wait to read it, Simple as that. 

Okay! That's all that I have for you all today! I hope you enjoyed it, and if there's anything on this list that you're looking forward to, share them in the comments! 

Although this post is long winded, I do love to talk about what I'm looking forward to being released! 

I hope you have a wonderful evening, and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx 

Spring Cleaning Book Tag

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And today I'm back with the Spring Cleaning book tag! 

I did one version of this a few days back but the questions were way too hard, and I wasn't enjoying it! If there's one thing about doing a tag, it's that you should enjoy it! 

So, I'm trying this version instead, because the questions look easier. 

Enjoy! 

~Getting started: A book series you've been meaning to read~

I have a post of all the series I want to read this year, which you can check out here. My next series is on that list, unsurprisingly, though I was tempted to read something else. The Percy Jackson series has been around for years and it's horrendous that I have yet to finish it. As far as I remember, I read books 1-3, but I can remember little to nothing. I'm looking forward to jumping back into Rick Riordan's novels again. 

~Cleaning/ organising the wardrobe: The best way to organise books~

There isn't really a best way to organise your bookshelves, everyone has a way they like to display their books. I like to display them by genre/ author, although there are a few exceptions. If I think a certain series would fit better somewhere else, I'll put it on a different shelf. Or if certain books look beautiful together, I'll put them next to eachother. 

I've tried to do a rainbow, but it never seems to work!

~Getting rid of unnecessary things: Book/series you no longer need~

I've actually got a pile of books I need to put online, they're literally across the room from me right now. There is one series however, that I will be looking forward to no longer owning, and that's the Arc of A Scythe trilogy. With the exception of Thunderhead, I really didn't like the series at all. I don't regret reading it, because I'd have always wondered whether I'd like it or not. But I know now that the series just wasn't for me. 

~Get some air: Your favourite light-hearted read~

I read this last year and even now, when I think of these characters, their whirlwind romance, the DEH references and how well-crafted this story feels, I can't help but smile. What's even better is that there's going to be a sequel sometime in the future, so there's more to come! I can't wait to jump back into this story, and meet some amazing characters once more. 

~Clean out the kitchen cupboards: Favourite food themed read~

Although baking isn't the very centre of these books, I love reading about books that include baking! I was surprised to find that 2/3 books that include baking are actually fairytale retellings, but that doesn't mean I won't include them in this list! It's been a while since I've read any of these, so let me know if you have any recommendations for books with baking! 

~Dust the shelves: What's the fifth book on your bookshelves~

The one in front of me at least. 

~Wishing for the end: A 2021 release you're really excited about~

The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks was the first book I thought of. The release date is 16th November, so it's certainly a long wait. Kind of fitting, because this starts about a decade after books 1 & 2 in the Montague Sbilings' trilogy (The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue and The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy). The third and final book to this phenomenal trilogy follows Adrian, the sole heir to the Montague estate. He was diagnosed with hysteria at a young age and although it was always a secret, a breakdown at an engagement party reveals his deepest fears: that he might not be fit to run the estate. He's given a second chance: to find the lost artifacts of his deceased mother, who the Montague family still mourn over. Whilst on his travels he discovers that he was not the only Montague child: he has two siblings who disappeared a decade ago. What else is hidden in the Montague estate? 

~Long but satisfying: The longest book series you've ever read~ 

In terms of numbers, it'll be the Series of Unfortunate Events, by Lemony Snicket, which has a total of 13 books. 

If we're talking pages, it'll be the series I finished less than a month ago, which is the Throne of Glass series, by Sarah J Maas. Total number of pages was over 4000 if I remember correctly. 

Okay! That is The Spring Cleaning Book Tag! I hope you enjoyed it, and feel free to comment your thoughts below! 

I hope you have a wonderful day and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxx

My Dark Vanessa, by Kate Elizabeth Russell

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And today I'm posting my first review of 2021! 

It's a slightly controversial book, too. 

To say I'm nervous about writing this is an understatement. 

If you've seen the title, you already know the book. 

It's My Dark Vanessa. 

Enjoy. 

Title: My Dark Vanessa

Author: Kate Elizabeth Russell 

Genre: Fiction/crime 

Status: Standalone 

Pages: 369

Blurb: "Vanessa Wye was fifteen years old when she first had

sex with her English teacher. 

Now the teacher, Jacob Strane, has been accused of 

sexual abuse by another former student, and a journalist 

has asked Vanessa to contribute to a story about him. 

But no one seems to understand that what Vanessa and 

Strane had together wasn't abuse. It was love. 

Wasn't it?" 

My Thoughts

I'm so nervous about approaching this book. Not only is it a controversial choice but, if I write one wrong statement, I'm going to get nailed to the wall. It's also why I'm confused as for what to rate this book. I'll get into that in a bit. 

But, nervous or not, this is a book that needs to be talked about- because I have a lot of thoughts on it. 

First off, I want to say that My Dark Vanessa was a heavy, heavy book, with some very difficult scenes in it. Trigger warnings include sexual abuse, child pornography, rape, grooming, emotional manipulation, pedaphilia, and the only reason why I was able to get through this is because I have no personal experience with those themes myself, so if any of those are trigger warnings for you then I would steer clear of this book. 

In some of the scenes throughout this book, I had to close it for a moment to take a breath because some of what I read was so plainly grooming and manipulation. Some of the lines in this had me biting my lip, let me tell you that, because they hit hard. 

My Dark Vanessa takes place at two different points in Vanessa's life, and it jumps from each of them, chapter to chapter. One part is Vanessa at the age of fifteen, going back to Browick after the summer, the other part takes place when Vanessa is thirty-two, when the accusations begin against Strane. I thought a chapter per POV was perfect, because each chapter was enough of a relief from the other part, a change of pacing. I never felt like I was getting too much from either perspective. Also, it made it incredibly easy to remember where each chapter had left off. 

Vanessa was an incredibly fleshed out and realistic protagonist to follow. She was written so well that she felt like a real person, she didn't feel rushed at all. She was self-aware enough to recognise the after-effects of what had happened to her, years later, yet naive enough as a fifteen-year-old, to get swept up in what she thought was a romantic love affair with her English teacher. 

Through her, we as readers are able to see what the relationship looks like and what's blatant grooming from the hands of Strane. 

Despite the difficult topic subject, Kate Russell did a phenomenal job in the writing of this novel. If I hadn't already found out during my research of this book, there's no way I would have thought that this was her debut novel. Perfectly written. Gritty and hard to read, but not too graphic that the book bordered on cruel, I'm intrigued as to what she'll choose to write about with her next release, if Russell can pull this off for her debut. 

One final note, before I wrap this up. I liked how the book didn't just centre around Vanessa and Strane. I feel like it might have been a bit too much if it had been. Although the other characters were just side characters, they were fleshed out enough that they were remorable. They played their part in moving the story along. 

All in all, I'm still unsure as for what rating I should give this. Extremely well-written, realistic characters, nothing felt rushed, everything included felt deliberate and important (as hard as it was to read about), but to rate it 5 stars would be to say that I liked it. We'll have to see what I stick with. 

Okay, that puts my review to an end. Let me know your thoughts in the comment, if there's a book I would like to discuss, it would certainly be this one. 

I hope you have a wonderful evening and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx 

March TBR (2021)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm posting this today because I won't be able to include one of my books in this post if I don't! 

The pacing of this month will be very different to last month, because the books I'll be reading won't be half as long. 

Here's what I plan to read this month. 

Enjoy! 

1. The FlatShare, by Beth O' Leary 

I had to get this posted today because I'm likely to finish this today- I have approx. 100 pages left and it's only my third day reading this! I was meant to get to this last month, but I didn't have the time, due to needing to prioritise the Throne of Glass series. I've thoroughly enjoyed this so far, and although I don't want it to end, I'm more desperate to find out how it all wraps up! This is my first book by Beth O' Leary and although I had no idea whether I was going to like this or not, but I had an idea that I would, and I was absoluetly right. 

2. The Switch, by Beth O' Leary 

Yeah, I'm attempting to read both of my Beth O' Leary books in one week. I was drawn to the swift because it appears different to other fiction books I've read (though that number isn't high). I don't think I've ever read a book where an 80 year old and a young woman switch places. It's a simple premise, but it sounds very interesting. I'm very much looking forward to seeing what happens in this, and it's short enough that I should be able to fly through it in a few days. 

3. My Dark Vanessa, by Kate Elizabeth Russell 

I'm a little bit worried about going into this. It's been mentioned a fair bit in the Booktube community recently and although I was vaguelly interested in it, I didn't think too much about it. Then when I saw a copy for sale in town, and I couldn't resist. If you don't know about this, the blurb starts with the sentence "Vanessa Wye was fifteen years old when she first had sex with her English teacher." This book takes place when she is thirty-two, and that same English teacher is being accused by another former student, of sexual abuse. That's all it takes to sum up the premise of this book. I've heard this is a tough book, so we'll see what I think. 

4. The Falling in Love Montage, by Ciara Smyth 

Another book I wanted to read last month, but didn't have the time to get to. So, it's been moved over to this month. To put it shortly, all I know about this book is that The Falling in Love Montage is an f/f summer romance that takes place in the summer before both girls start university. This feels like the book version of that film Emma Roberts was in, Holidate, but set in the summer, because these two girls have set a rule for themselves: the perfect summer romance, but they can't fall in love. Because at the end of the summer, they will go their seperate ways. This book has gotten amazing reviews, and I'm looking forward to a fun change of pacing after My Dark Vanessa, so I'm excited to get to this. 

5. Girl A, by Abigail Dean 

I heard about this for the first time a couple of months ago, and because it was a book of the month (subscription box online) I decided to order it. It now seems to follow me everywhere I go. I see it on YouTube, in book hauls. I see it daily in Instagram posts. I get it. There are enough signs that I need to read this. As much as I prefer the American cover, the UK version is certainly striking. Lex Gracie is Girl A, the girl who escaped the House of Horrors, freeing her older brother and four younger siblings when she was just fifteen. When her mother dies in prison, leaving her and her siblings the house, Lex can no longer run from the memories that have been haunting her since she escaped. I've heard this story is intense and dark, very much like the other thriller I've listed above, so it'll be interesting to see which one I prefer more. 

6. We Are Okay, by Nina LaCour

I put this on my Graphic Novel TBR list back in September. I've since found out, it's not a graphic novel. But that doesn't mean I no longer want to read it. Even if it doesn't belong on that list. It's a very simple premise, and follows Marin, a girl who left behind everything, except her phone, her wallet, and a picture of her mother. But even though she left most of her things behind her while she travelled as far as she could, New York, to go to college, she can't escape the tragedy she tries so hard to outrun. Now, her friend is coming, and Marin is forced to face everything that's been left unsaid and finally confront the loneliness she's been living with for so long. This seems like a very emotional and sad book, one you have to be in the right mood for, but it's been ordered, and I'll be reading it soon. 

7. Romanov, by Nadine Brandes 

This one was admittedly, quite random. I'd been debating when to order this, mulling it over for some time, before I finally pre-ordered it a few days ago. One of my favourite animated movies as a kid was Anastasia, and it literally only took a re-watch for me to do it. The only thing I know about this is that Romanov is that it's an Anastasia retelling, and that's all I need to know about it. I've never read an Anastasia retelling before, so it's certainly a standout for me. Plus the cover is gorgeous. Excited to see what all the hype surrounding it is about. 

Okay! That's my TBR for the month! I'm hoping to start more, but at the moment I have no idea what those books will be, so that will be all for today!

As always, feel free to comment down below! 

I hope you have a wonderful day, and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxx