The Last Wish by Andrezej Sapkowski

April 8, 2018 RineLeave a comment

So I fell in love again – his name is Geralt.

Warning: it is an adult book.

So the Last Wish follows a Witcher (badass monsterslayer) named Geralt. He has had a long life slaying monsters and being paid to do so. The book feels like his memoir. It sort of feels like you have a story throughout about what’s happened to him in the present and then he talks about various situations and encounters that he has faced over his life. It is kind of a unique format and takes a while to get into it.

So it is quite a unique fantasy series and it is very focused on the magical creatures element but at the heart of it it is more about the people living in this type of world and it’s struggles. It just bring something quite new to it and seems like the author is perhaps commenting on medieval society and the presence of magic and the problems that it brings.

The characters are not entirely likable – they all do things that you don’t like (including my one true love Geralt). However, that’s sort of the charm of this book. I just think that it’s refreshing to have flawed characters (I say refreshing but this book is older than me…. just saying).

I did like most of the stories in this but the ones less focused around the magical creatures were my least favourite. Because of this mythology it is just so interesting and very different to things that I have ever read before. I sort of want more of this type of story. I will say that the non-creature stories do tell you more about Geralt’s characteristics.

The hardest part of the story and world is how the wider scope lacks some explanation. A lot of things are sort of taken for granted and names of different types of creatures are jsut flung around. I did find this much easier to deal with because I have played and loved the games that are based on these books. You may need some googling but luckily because of the games there’s quite a lot out there.

I would recommend maybe taking your time reading through this book but I so strongly recommend it. I cannot wait to dive into the other books in this series.

‘What’s for ye will ne’er go past ye’

If you like this then…. #1

January 28, 2018January 28, 2018 RineLeave a comment

So I’ve just read a book that reminds me so much of His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet.

His Bloody Project

So for those of you who don’t know His Bloody Project is a fiction but feels very real story about a young man who brutally murdered three people. It speaks to you from the murderers perspective that causes you to question if he did it. It then turns to an external view of the investigation which puts more doubt into your mind.

It’s really quite twisted but causes you to really question poeple’s motives for things. The perspective also really reminded me of Albert Camus’s The Stranger. You know that both of these books end badly but you still get kind of blindsided when it does.

Chickenfeed by Minette Walters

So this is a historical fiction novel inspired by true events. It takes a ‘murder’ from 1924 England where doubt remains as to Norman Thorne’s guilt. It takes a look at the events surrounding the murder and perhaps how it came to be or not to be.

Something I found really interesting at the end was that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle took an interest in the case at the time.

Like to a wiki about the murder

Similarities

So why do I think you should read one or the other?

Well one is complete fiction and the other is based on true events so it would seem like they aren’t the same thing. However the style they’re both written in and how much they both feel real makes me think that fans of one would enjoy the other.

They are both pretty grim in all honesty and plain speaking to the point of dull. It isn’t the writing that keeps you captivated but the dreadful end and plot that you know is coming. It’s like a train wreck, you know it will end horribly but you just can’t look away.

I honestly am surprised that His Bloody Project isn’t real. I believe it was based sort of on a true story but not as documented as Chickenfeed.

The historical element is also interesting to see how the law treats things and how criminals are convicted. They are 50 years apart and different countries but it is similar enough to stand up.

They is also a view on mental health and mental illness in both of these and it’s interesting to see how people with these issues are treated because it’s appalling.

So I just wanted to share this with you because these are pretty different stories that aren’t well publicised and I just wanted to talk about them. If you have read either I would love to chat with you. I would also recommend:

The Stranger by Albert Camus

Traitors of the Tower by Alison Weir

I would say these are also good similarities but in completely different ways but I still wanted to give them a mention.

Top Ten Tuesday – 16th January

January 16, 2018December 31, 2017 RineLeave a comment

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

So I normally have one main bookish resolutions/Goals but this year it isn’t really as prevalent.

Balance reading with work and studying

So I started a new job and as part of it I will be starting to study for my professional qualification. This bring with it a challenge to my reading so we shall see how it goes.

Allow myself to read new releases

While I still want to focus on ebooks then I will balance this by buying physical copies of new releases. I think that’s probably one of the best ways to manage my book buying.

Reread more books

I think this is the year of rereading for me. So many series are finishing up so I’m trying to read one of the series books previously to the month in order to catch up in time for the last book being released.

Finish series

I think this is always in everyone’s view. A lot of series finish up this year so that’s a good focus but I’ve also got some unfinished series that I could get to. I do also want to continue on with my series as well (especially the big books).

So I can’t come up with 10 but having a good focus I think is key. Let me know your reading goals in the comments.

Top Ten Tuesday – 9th January

January 9, 2018December 31, 2017 RineLeave a comment

These are the books I wanted to get to in 2017 but couldn’t so they’re on my 2018 TBR.

Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab

I had planned on reading this straight after This Savage Song but as is all too common I got distracted by something else. I do plan on getting to it.

Kiss of Deception Mary E. Pearson

There is so much hype around it and as I do love fantasy then I am kind of interested but it has been for quite a few years I’ve been looking at it.

The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid

So I think this was sold to me wrong. I have been really enjoying dark books along the line of Dark Days Club and And I Darken so I hope this can join it. I like really dark, gritty books but I just don’t have an interest in thrillers.

Wonder Woman by Leigh Bardugo

I have to read this because of my love of comics but I’m so nervous that it will be awful.

Renegades by Marissa Meyer

This came out at the end of the year and there was just so many books that it made it hard to get around to.

Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman

This is more important as I just want to get to the Book of Dust. It will eventually happen.

A Hero for WondLa by Tony

I loved a Search for WondLa so this just fell by the wayside as I struggled to get a hold of a copy.

Eon by Alison Goodman

As I love The Dark Days Club, I want to check out some of her other work.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

I don’t think I read a single Rainbow Rowell book this year which is quite sad. I love fantasy and people rave about this but I have my reservations.

The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan

WHY HAVEN’T I READ THIS!

There we go. Another one down. Enjoy the rest of your reading adventure.

New Year’s Resolution Book Tag

January 5, 2018January 1, 2018 RineLeave a comment

So I seen this over on Books Amino so that’s what has inspired this.

An author you’d like to read (that you’ve never read before)?

Mark Lawrence

I’ve been into super dark twisted books and Mark Lawrence’s work seems like something I need to be reading.

A Book you’d like to read?

I can’t really explain to you why I have a need to read this but it just seems cool.

A book you’d like to reread?

I hope this series finishes up this year but it’s not looking good. You’ll notice a theme of dark books…..

A book you’ve had for ages and want to read?

Illustrated Harry Potter’s

I’ve been collecting these but I haven’t read them after the first because I am very much a read on the go type of person…. and you can’t really carry these in my handbag.

A big book you’d like to read?

The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

This is a big book and I’m hoping to read more audiobooks this year now that I have finally caved to audible. I have the audiobook of this and hoping I can convince myself to listen to this in the car. It’s like a spoken memoir so should work well?

An author you’ve previously read and want to read more of?

Terry Pratchett – it will always be Terry Pratchett.

You’re probably going to notice that I think Pratchett is a God and will be one of my favourite authors of all time.

A book you got for Christmas and would like to read?

I don’t normally get specific books for Christmas but spotted the two of these at a super cheap price just after I heard a really good synopsis of the book. Again dark books please!

A series you want to read (start and finish)?

Libba Bray could have been a new author I want to read so I would like to get to either of these series, but want to tell myself to only focus on one first so a recommendation would be great.

A series you want to finish (that you’ve already started)?

The last book comes out in February!!!!! How did I have that so wrong! I need to get to the rest of the series pronto!

How many books do you want to read in 2018?

So I’ve put my goal at 40 books due to starting a new job and studying alongside it in order to gain my Chartered Accounting Qualification. I usually wanted to read a book a week but that’s just not possible at the moment.

Top Ten Tuesday – 2nd January

January 2, 2018December 30, 2017 RineLeave a comment

So this isn’t an extensive list of all the new authors I read in 2017 but it’s pretty close. I edited this list down to authors I really enjoyed and did/would read from again.

Lee MacKenzi – Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue

So I heard about all the hype for months but it wasn’t in paperback and I just can’t justify hardback prices. I also kept hearing about the audio-book and it appeared at my library I diced I may as well. I think I flew through it in two days which is pretty much unheard of for me. I’ve got quite a difficult relationship with audio-books. I’m really looking forward to the sequel but I can’t guarantee that I’ll pay the hardback prices.

Victoria Schwab – This Savage Song

I read this as a buddy read and did enjoy it. I wasn’t blown away but Victoria Schwab if I’m honest but I will read the sequel.

Sandhya Menon – When Dimple Met Rishi

This was a lovely contemporary and gave me a really nice insight into a cultural view similar to what one of my best friends goes through (her family is Pakistani but her mum is still trying to set her up).

Ryan Graudin – Wolf by Wolf

I loved this first book and the writing style but wasn’t entirely convinced by the second. I am looking forward to some of her other books but I am questioning her latest release as it hasn’t had the best buzz around it.

Becky Albertalli – Simon vs the Homosapiens Agenda

Was sorta of meh. I did enjoy it but contemporaries are kind of forgettable for me. I suppose I’ll read the upside of unrequited because I did enjoy the flow but I’m not clamoring for it.

Elizabeth Wein – Code Name Verity

Oh was this so good! I just kept thinking about this and it took me ages to finish because I just knew it wasn’t going to end happily. But I enjoyed this so much! I constantly recite the names of the planes. I do want to read her other work but just not got to it yet.

Ruta Sepetys – Salt to the Sea

One of my new auto-buy authors. I want to read anything she writes, I think I’ve gotten through most of her collection of works already.

Diana Gabaldon – Outlander

I am very proud of myself for finally getting to this. I do have the second book and SO want to read it but man is it big. Maybe over the summer. That’s big book territory.

Patrick Rothfuss – The Name of the Wind

Again, incredible but man are these books big! His writing is phenomenal and his story building is some of my favourite. I have the audio-book to this and if i can convince myself to listen to it while driving I think that would be really good.

Terry Pratchett – The Colour of Magic

A new god! I get so upset to remember he sadly passed away and in my lifetime I want to read all of Discworld. It’s a task but my Dad and I are getting there together.

Well I finally wrote a blog. Who knows if it will continue.

2017 New Releases That I Read

January 1, 2018 RineLeave a comment

Flying Lessons and Other Stories

A List of Cages by Robin Roe

The Dark Days Pact by Alison Goodman

Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza

Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas

Release by Patrick Ness

Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Now I Rise by Kiersten White

Because you Love to Hate Me by Ameriie

Traitor to the Throne by Sarah J Maas

The Ship of the Dead by Rick Riordan

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (10th Anniversary edition)

I didn’t want to write my full opinion on these but I am pretty selective about new books so I normally love them. Most of these are also from authors I’ve previously read or part of an ongoing series.