Charlotte

Percy is the only man that deserves rights /s

But for real, I am so mad at the ending. How could you do that to us Rick. Little me would have been devastated so maybe it's a good thing that I'm reading them now.

Really excited to see how this will all end and rip my bank account because I'm gonna have to buy the next series now

“To be alone is never to have been loved”

I had the pleasure of meeting Michael at an LGBT+ book festival last year and was lucky enough to get a signed edition of this. I heard him speak about his journey through politics and his journey with Paul and I knew I had to read it. To be honest, I put this off for a while because I've never been great with biographies but it has exceeded my every expectation.

I'm honestly a little lost for words after finishing this. The way it is narrated keeps you hooked for the entire book, something that is really difficult to do in memoirs. I was horrified at some of the events that Michael has had to go through and amazed at what an incredible man he his, both in his experiences, his education, and his career. This book is beautifully written and I am unashamed to say I absolutely cried at the ending. I knew it was coming yet it didn't soften the blow at all.

He should be proud of all the things he has achieved because despite everything the world has thrown at him, he has managed to make a real difference in the world and generations to come will thank him for it.

“I'm the end, I guess we're all just doing our best for the people we care about. Even if our actions aren't always rational.”

Once again Dylan manages to create a Sci fi world filled with the cultural and political discourse we all know too well. This time religion is on the stage.

This time big tech corporations have managed neural transcendence aka, moving ones consciousness into a new body - a cybot. Religion is at the forefront of the debate as the main character has been raised in a religious (anti tech) cult where God is their leader and not technology. It's filled with the main character battling her faith as she's forced to be a part of this tech world

Whilst it is a standalone book, I do recommend reading Mindwalker first as it gives you a lot of context that make the read a little less confusing. Despite this, it is once again a fast paced, action packed read that will leave you thinking about our future in technology

so many plot twists in this one and that vision scene made me pissed. One of my theories is coming true hahahaha but there were some things that was completely unexpected. Its so cute to see the kings get along and Leo is so damn cute when he gets all excited over it. Really curious to see how this is going to end

“All I ask of you” (hah) is that you read this book whilst listening to the 25th celebration recording of phantom of the opera, played at the royal albert hall. It has no impact on the story but I just want you to listen to it anyways as it is one of my favourites.

This book was both amazing and sometimes confusing. It was a really enticing read but also confusing at some points. It was written as if someone 50 years later was retelling a historical story but we have no idea who the narrator is. This made it all very confusing when trying to understand who was speaking as sometimes they used “we” and other times “I” and then there was excerpts from character's memoirs scattered about. This was especially apparent towards the end when I had no idea what the setting even looked like nor what was going on. Perhaps this is due to being translated from French but it made it a little hard to follow.

I found myself wanting to side with Erik only because Raoul was the most egotistical and misogynistic man I have ever had the displeasure of meeting. It was all in all a bit dramatic when he said he would rather die if Christine could not love him and that Christine couldn't possibly have her own feelings towards other people and that she must remain pure and innocent. I guess that is the product of the early 1900s but it still didn't sit well with me.

As a note, a 3 star rating means I did enjoy the book and I wanted to rate it a 4 star right up until the end so it's really a 3.5 rating. This is probably my only classic for the year and I am glad it was as phantom is my all time favourite musical and it means I can appreciate the few retellings I own that I plan on reading this year! I, like all, am enchanted by the angel of music

“I think maybe people need stories to survive”

This is the sequal to the authors' book “All of Us Villains” and it did not disappoint. It is full of morally grey characters, magic and mystery, what is not to love? One of the things I loved most about this series is that the characters remained interesting through the it the two books. I also loved how none of them were perfect “heros” either. It gave a certain realism to an unrealistic world - although the deceit shown through their families and those who help them is all too real.

One thing I must mention is do not eat while you're reading this book as there were certain moments described in a little too much detail

“Wishes are the dangerous mind games we play with ourselves. The only way to win is not to play”

I think after this book I need to read a happy book again. It is filled with so many twists and turns I honestly had a hard time keeping up sometimes. However, this world building is truly incredible and don't even get me started on the magic system. Deonn has clearly thought long and hard about every tiny aspect in the world and it makes for an engaging read.

The characters are amazing and they all have very unique personalities that come across through their words. I absolutely love some of the new characters such as Valec - I definitely want to see more of them - and also the old characters from Legendborn. Bree, of course, is an absolute badass. Nick I wish we'd seen more of. William is one of my favourite characters and I love him to pieces. Selwyn, Selwyn the demon boy has my entire heart and can do no wrong (despite the fact that he has definitely done lots of things wrong). I really love his personality and although he does have issues, I love how he can have a soft spot for the people he cares about.

All in all, an amazing book that I highly recommend getting your teeth stuck into if you love fast paced, action packed, fantasy books with a hint of romance <3

I'm not an avid reader of non-fiction, purely because I find myself disengaged from the content. However, Francis manages to provide knowledge and history through stories and I could not put it down. It may be because I have a huge passion for medicine anyways but I found myself gripped throughout. My friend even said I was reacting to it as if it was fiction.

The book goes through head to toe, sharing patient stories, providing historical context for medical advancements as well as how culture has had an impact on it. There were moments I found myself happy because the patients had recovered, sad because of the devastating journey to death, and angry because of the life patients had been robbed of throughout history.

This really is a wonderful insight into the medical field and I am so happy I got to read it

I enjoyed this one very much, lots of plot twists and the pacing was really good. Also Poseidon seems like a cool dad, can I have him please?

Nico seems like a really cool character and I hope we get to see more of his development. Tyson is as always a badass and I love his character so much. I wish Percy and Annabeth would just be truthful with each other, it would solve a lot of things xD

I'm scared to read the next one as I don't want it to end :(

I have had the privilege to be an early reader for this book and oh boy was it amazing.

Alex has included so many different representations in this book that I am sure you will feel seen one way or another. As someone with a disability, being able to see yourself in the main character is something that rarely, if ever happens.

The main characters, Wynnie and Quintzy are both loveable in their own unique ways. They are very different from each other and that is what makes their relationship so special. They both help each other develop as characters, with Wynnie accommodating Quintzy's disability and Quintzy doing the same. The side characters add their own special flavour to the mix, with Torin being one of my absolute favs. The “villain” per say is unlikeable which is nice - no falling for the morally grey villain in this one. I assume this is a standalone but I would never say no to a sequal to see Wynnie and Quintzy on their next adventure.

This is a cozy fantasy, which is my all time favourite genre, and has the right balance of cozyness and high stakes so that you want to keep reading. The plot is unique and easy to follow along which makes for a lovely read that will guarantee you feeling warm and cozy at the end.

“What flames could not consume, never shall be extinguished”

Cosy fantasy is one of my all time favourite genres and this is the book that supposedly started the hype. I'm glad to say that it did not disappoint. If you're looking for a low stake, character driven, cosy fantasy then this is the right book for you.

Despite it's low stake title, because I felt so invested in the characters I was deeply hooked about every little thing that happened. All the characters are so likeable which made for a very enjoyable read. What I did not expect is for my heart to be torn into pieces both through sadness and happiness towards the end. It really did wrap the book up nicely. I wish I could put all the characters in a bubble because they're just so cool (especially Thimble, Thimble owns my heart)

I do wish there was more backstory wise so we could understand where the character's actions come from rather than guessing - I assume that's why there is a prequal coming out. I would love to know more about Viv, Tandri, Cal, Thimble and also the Madrigal. Their character is so intriguing I really need more!

“Maybe that was love: knowing those negative emotions would linger... and choosing to focus on the positive ones instead.”

First of all... the puns did not disappoint. One of the only things I wanted to continue in the sequal and they were abso-loot-ley (ha get it?) perfect. It was the puns and the dynamic between Reyna and Kianthe. I laughed multiple times at the flirting between those two, I honestly could not get enough.

The new characters were unique and intriguing and I absolutely loved all the pirates (one pirate in particular but that would spoil it xD). This one was a lot more high stakes than the first, which I absolutely loved, but I'm not sure it can completely be classed as a “cosy” fantasy. The ending definitely was, but everything else was not so much.

Despite that, I loved reading it a lot and wish Bobbie would crochet me my very own Pondie too. I can't wait for the third book to eventually come out and I will definitely be reading it :)

[ARC review - thank you Rebecca!]

An enlightening account of the history of the bisexual label, what it means for individuals, how it came to be and it's influences from the animal kingdom and human history. I listened to the audiobook version, read by the author herself and highlight recommend if you're looking for a more scientific approach to bisexual history

“I feared our gods every bit as much as I loved them. Through their potential for destruction, they have earned our worship”

I am on the fence with this book. I saw someone mention this as a “high sci fi” and I couldn't agree more. I think however it lacked a lot of explanation for some things and even through finishing the book I did not understand how the world was laid out nor how the politics exactly worked

Despite this I did really enjoy the actual story and the narration was unique and engaging. I'd be interested to read more into the entire world with a little bit more information about everything especially in regards to the gods. The characters I loved, Frieda being our main character and then the side characters such as Joshua, Nadi, and Nergui. Ignoring the stupidly long chapters, I enjoyed how the story was told as a story so to speak - you'll have to read it to find out why :p

“We can play battles and knights and kings, but in the end, we just want to exist”

I'm so annoyed at this book because I really liked it but there was just one plotline from it that I absolutely hated. But to start off with what makes it so great:

Arthur retellings are one of my favourite retellings of all time purely because I was (still am) absolutely obsessed with the tv show merlin. So finding a queer and sci fi version of this was just so amazing. Not to mention this book is funny, light hearted and filled with action as well as vulnerable moments, flawed characters and easy to understand politics

However, if you were not familiar with the story I feel like the book would be a little too confusing. It's a YA/children's book so it's not overly complicated which you might love but you might also hate, so it definitely depends on the reader. The most annoying thing about the book though is the writer's plot choices:

Because who decides "oh my former partner is dead so let me make a baby with her adoptive brother because he was the closest thing to her"

Maybe it's just me but I was kinda horrified when it was revealed

Regardless the majority of the book I really enjoyed and am looking forward to reading the sequel soon

“History isn't a remade tapestry that we've got to suffer, a closed world with no exit. We can form it. Make it. We just have to chose to make it.”

I have a lot of complex thoughts about this book. This was definitely a slow burn book, one of my favourite styles to read, purely because it forces you to take in every word that is on the page - and this was definitely a book that required you to take in every word on the page. I found myself constantly conflicted on who to believe, what to think and how to feel. Who wouldn't want that in a book?

The story touches upon many important topics such as slavery, colonialism, striking, racism, death and so much more. The magic system was unique and amazingly written, I absolutely loved learning about all the different etymologies of words and how words were linked in surprising and unseemly ways. It showed how important the power of language is but also how potent the greed for power can be.

It read similarly to Kuang's other book, The Poppy War, which had be equally as hooked and as equally hungry for more. Unfortunately, as far as I am aware this is a standalone novel.

I saw a quote where someone called this a “love-hate letter to academia” and I couldn't agree more. It really makes you think how much of British “culture” and “academia” is something that has been stolen by those who don't have the power to fight back. It shows the importance of the ongoing strikes that are happening in the UK at the moment and sheds light onto the corruption that has infested our roots. As for what the future will entail? This book has made me believe that something drastic has to happen before we see true change, and that is only the beginning.

“Being sick meant, at any moment, the people I cared about could decide I wasn't worth the trouble I put them through”

This book means more to me than I can put into words. Is it perfect? No - Is it perfect for me? Absolutely yes.

The whole concept of the musketeers is new to me, I've never read much on it so I was going in blind. Saying this, I absolutely loved it. The book is filled with mystery, suspense and plot twists that had me on the edge of my seat. There's even some minor subplots of romance that were so much fun to read.

The representation in this book is amazing. It's not often you see chronically ill characters in books, and definitely not as the main character. You can tell that the character's experience with POTS comes from the own author's experiences because it feels so real. Tania's dizziness and symptoms are not just a convenient plot point but affect her everyday experiences. God they even managed to fit compression clothes into the story, which is harder than it seems as it was set in 17th France

Not only did it show the physical symptoms of chronic illness so well, but also the psychological issues. How even on the “good” days you're tormented with the fact that it could go bad at any moment. It even showed Tania dealing with grief in a way I think a lot of people can relate in one way or another.

This book is so important and will be one I treasure for a long time. Thank you to the author for writing this, it will make a lot of readers feel seen and heard in ways most people cannot even begin to imagine

“Un pour tous et tous pour un!”

“Truths are for those who can afford to live it, not for those struggling to find any bright spot of light in a world that casts them into darkness.”

I have sat here for 10 minutes struggling to put into words how I feel about this book. And even now I don't think these words will ever truly describe the impression this book has left on me.

Peaches & Honey follows Anna, a character who's heart is so big I am surprised it even fits in her body. She is gifted an immortal peach by a shapeshifting god and if that doesn't immediately make you want to read it, I don't know what will. It is a historical romance mostly, filled with magic and the more harrowing slow burn I have every experienced. The burn really does burn. The author gives us fragments of this growing relationship throughout each chapter that made me yearn for more each time. It spans across 8 centuries and Raeta does an amazing job of highlighting the horrors of humanity throughout time - “Time touches everything”

There is so much thought and precision into each word that it forces you to reflect and oh boy does it hurt. I don't think a book has ever made me cry as early as chapter 7. Anna as a character is the most selfless and human characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading, I cannot wait to experience more of her. As for Khiran, he is such a complex character that it is impossible not to fall in love with him. Despite the fact that the book mostly focuses on Anna, like for her, he is a constant throughout the book.

I am just in awe of the way this book is written. The thought that is put into this is truly commendable, as it's filled with so much culture and understanding. It reminds me of Doctor Who, forever both blessed and cursed with immortality and spending that time saving everyone else but never saving themselves.

This book is a love letter to those who give their entire beings to help others:

“For the givers, may the next person you save, be yourself.”