All posts by skyebjenner

2018 Popsugar Reading Challenge

Duration: 1st January – 31st December 2018
Number of books: 40 (+12 advanced)
Hosted by: Pop Sugar

A book made into a movie you’ve already seen Lucinda’s Secret by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black

True crime Monday Mourning by Kathy Reichs

The next book in a series you started The Girl with the Windup Heart by Kady Cross

A book involving a heist The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Nordic noir Hard Cheese by Ulf Durling

A novel based on a real person Rejected Princesses by Jason Porath

A book set in a country that fascinates you Dangerously Charming by Deborah Blake

A book with a time of day in the title After Midnight by Fiona Brand

A book about a villain or antihero The Demigod Diaries by Rick Riordan

A book about death or grief Mort by Terry Pratchett

A book with your favorite color in the title The Red Queen by Isobelle Carmody

A book with alliteration in the title The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

A book about time travel Once Upon a Curse by E.D. Baker

A book with a weather element in the title Ill Wind by Rachel Caine

A book set at sea Dangerously Fierce by Deborah Blake

A book with an animal in the title Mastiff by Tamora Pierce

A book set on a different planet The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett

A book with song lyrics in the title Magic Flutes by Eva Ibbotson

A book about or set on Halloween Halloween in Atlantis by Alyssa Day

A book with characters who are twins Allegiance of Honour by Nalini Singh

A book with a female author who uses a male pseudonym The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith

A book with an LGBTQ+ protagonist Small Shen by Kylie Chan & Queenie Chan

A book that is also a stage play or musical Wicked by Gregory Maguire

A book by an author of a different ethnicity than you Shards of Hope by Nalini Singh

A book about feminism Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett

A book about mental health The Heart is a Burial Ground by Tamara Colchester

A book you borrowed or that was given to you as a gift A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson

A book by two authors The Field Guide by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black

A book about or involving sport White Tiger by Kylie Chan

A book by a local author The Sending by Isobelle Carmody

A book mentioned in another book Shutter by Courtney Alameda

A book from a celebrity book club Wild: A Journey from Lost to Found by Cheryl Strayed

A childhood classic you’ve never read The Wrath of Mulgarath by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black

A book that’s published in 2018 Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce

A past Goodreads Choice Awards winner Beastly by Alex Flinn

A book set in the decade you were born The Alchemist’s Key by Traci Harding

A book you meant to read in 2017 but didn’t get to Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterley

A book with an ugly cover The Seeing Stone by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black

A book that involves a bookstore or library Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs

Your favorite prompt from the 2015, 2016, or 2017 POPSUGAR Reading Challenges (Steampunk novel) Cinder by Marissa Meyer

ADVANCED

A bestseller from the year you graduated high school Inked by Karen Chance, Marjorie Liu, Yasmine Galenorn and Eileen Wilks

A cyberpunk book Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan

A book that was being read by a stranger in a public space Angels’ Blood by Nalini Singh

A book tied to your ancestry Stardust by Neil Gaiman

A book with a fruit or vegetable in the title Cress by Marissa Meyer

An allegory Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll

A book by an author with the same first or last name as you Falling for Anthony by Meljean Brook (alright, Brook is actually my middle name, but I still identify with it very strongly, and I think that makes it count…)

A microhistory Jodie’s Journey by Colin Thiele

A book about a problem facing society today Dangerously Divine by Deborah Blake

A book recommended by someone else taking the POPSUGAR Reading Challenge Silver Silence by Nalini Singh

2018 A – Z Challenge – Titles

Duration: 1st January – 31st December 2018

Number of books: 26

A Allegiance of Honour by Nalini Singh
B Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs
C
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
D
Dangerously Charming by Deborah Blake
Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett
F
Fair Game by Patricia Briggs
G
The Girl with the Windup Heart by Kady Cross
H
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
I
Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs
J
Jodie’s Journey by Colin Thiele
K
Kisses and Curses edited by Lauren Burniac
L
The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett
M
Mastiff by Tamora Pierce
N
North Child by Edith Pattou
O
Once Upon a Curse by E.D. Baker
P
Percy Jackson and the Greek Heroes by Rick Riordan

R
Rejected Princesses by Jason Porath
S
The Sending by Isobelle Carmody
T
Tortall: A Spy’s Guide by Tamora Pierce

V
Veiled Menace by Deborah Blake
W
Wickedly Spirited by Deborah Blake
X

Z

Across a Dark Plain by Derek Landy

Overview

Armageddon Outta HereTitle: Across a Dark Plain
Author: Derek Landy
In: Armageddon Outta Here (Derek Landy)
Series: Skulduggery Pleasant #0.25
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Crime, Dark fantasy, Easy reading, Paranormal fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Harper Collins
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: The kind only fire or a bullet to the brainpan could put down.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

150 years before the events of the series, the Dead Men are on a mission to hunt down Nefarian Serpine in the Wild West.

Thoughts

Western meets Skulduggery. Brilliant. And funny. And just… fun. It wasn’t even remotely what I would have expected of a pre-Valkyrie era, but that’s probably because I thought it was even better!

Skulduggery’s history with Serpine and his desire to wreak vengeance on him are drivers that were well publicised in Skulduggery Pleasant. But, this drive, the lengths to which he is willing to travel are shown a little more in Across a Dark Plain. There isn’t the wit and humour that marks his words throughout the first novel, just a single-minded drive and desire to gain his revenge.

His companions are introduced beautifully though, and even though this isn’t a story full of wit and humour as I was kind of expecting, it is one that helps to show the drivers of the main character in a different light. I love the different ways in which Landy is able to explore his character. It adds even more layers to an already well-loved, multi-dimensional character.

 <- Armageddon Outta Here Review The Horror Writers’ Halloween Ball Review ->
Image souce: Skulduggery Pleasant Wiki

December 2017

December 2017

Christmas is about working way too much, reading every moment I get and missing my family. This is the second Christmas that I haven’t been with them, and the first time that I’ve been in the same country as them… It’s been nice though, lots of money, lots of free time, which basically for me just means lots more books.

Image source: Wes Ayranto

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Overview

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr HydeTitle: The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
In: Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde and Other Strange Tales (Robert Louis Stevenson) & Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde & Other Stories (Robert Louis Stevenson)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Classics, Fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Kingsford Editions
Year: 1886
5th sentence, 74th page: And still the figure had no face, or one that baffled him and melted before his eyes; and thus it was that there sprang up and grew apace in the lawyer’s mind a singularly strong, almost an inordinate, curiosity to behold the features of the real Mr Hyde.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

In this harrowing tale of good and evil, the mild-mannered Dr. Jekyll develops a potion that unleashes his secret, inner persona—the loathsome, twisted Mr. Hyde.

Thoughts

This is one of those classics that I know the rough outline for, the message and the idea. I’ve just never before had a chance to read it. And, after reading multiple mentions of it in The Girl in the Steel Corset, I decided that enough was enough and I needed to open this story. And, yes, there’s a reason that it’s a well-known classic.

Although I knew the general gist of Dr Jekyll’s affliction, the way in which the story unfolded still had me wondering what was going to happen next. The entirety of the tale is written from the outside perspective, there is fear and confusion about what is happening in Jekyll’s hidden world, but his friends are still clueless as to the extent of his affliction.

We all have a secret, dark side. One that is impulsive and not quite socially acceptable. However, most people tend to keep this aspect of themselves hidden and under control. After all, we can’t just succumb to our inner desires and whims. In the case of Dr Jekyll, his wish to find and embrace this side of himself leads to a split personality – literally.

 <- Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde & Other Stories Review The Suicide Club Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Touch the Dark by Karen Chance

Overview
Touch the Dark

Title: Touch the Dark
Author: Karen Chance
Series: Cassandra Palmer #1Cassandra Palmer World #3
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasyParanormal romance
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Roc Fantasy
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: Staring at me from the mirror was Louis-Cesar’s face, white with shock.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Cassandra Palmer can see the future and communicate with spirits – talents that make her attractive to the dead and the undead. The ghosts of the dead aren’t usually dangerous; they just like to talk… a lot.

The undead are another matter.

Like any sensible girl, Cassie tries to avoid vampires. But when the bloodsucking mafioso she escaped three years ago finds Cassie again with vengeance on his mind, she’s forced to turn to the vampire Senate for protection.

The undead senators won’t help her for nothing, and Cassie finds herself working with one of their most powerful members, a dangerously seductive master vampire – and the price he demands may be more than Cassie is willing to pay…

Thoughts

It’s been years since I last picked up this novel – back when I first read it, I thought it was a standalone story with an off-kilter ending. Now that I’ve found out it’s just the beginning of a series, I thought that I’d pick it up again. See if it was as good as I remember and help me to become reintroduced to the world of Cassandra Palmer. And, if anything, I think that this was a little better than last time. Maybe because I’ve grown older, or maybe I just was in a more appreciative headspace… regardless of the reasoning, I loved this novel and am now keenly waiting for Claimed by Shadow to arrive.

One of the things that I loved about this storyline is the way that Chance approached virginity. I’ve found that very few of my favourite storylines have a virgin as the main character. And, the few stories when there are key characters who are also virgins, this takes up a lot of their characterisation. Most stories I read don’t focus on somebody’s sex life to define them, so it always annoys me when there is a focus on the inexperience levels as well. It puts too much emphasis on the idea that we should be or shouldn’t be… or whichever way, too much pressure. Chance doesn’t do this though. It’s just an aspect of Cassie’s existence, and although it is an important plot driver and point, it doesn’t create the character.

Ever since the Twilight fiasco, I’ve been a little hesitant to pick up any books that directly mention vampires. I’m sorry, but vampires shouldn’t be considered a romantic, sexy creature that you can have a happily ever after with. Their entire mythos is built around the fact that they are supposed to be predators… I know that their overwhelming presence in this story was something that made me pick it up, put it down, and so on for months. But, I was pleasantly surprised – yes, there is a sexual factor about the vampires, and Cassie spends a lot of time with them and lusting for them. BUT, there is no moment in which they are not considered as, and treated like, predators! Which really, is all I want out of a good vampire character…

<- The Queen’s WitchClaimed by Shadow ->

Image source: Wikipedia

The Queen’s Witch by Karen Chance

Overview
The Queen's Witch

Title: The Queen’s Witch
Author: Karen Chance
Series: Cassandra Palmer #0.6Cassandra Palmer World #2
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasyParanormal romance
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Karen Chance Online
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: But Trevelyan seemed pleased.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

“The Queen’s Witch” is a short story connected to the New York Times bestselling Cassandra Palmer and Dorina Basarab series of urban fantasy novels. It features Kit Marlowe in a supernatural thriller set in Elizabethan England.

It’s a companion novel to The Gauntlet.

Thoughts

I loved the setting location for The Queen’s Witch. Following on Gillian and Kit from The Gauntlet, they travel through Victorian England and try to find a way to save the queen. The semi-historical setting gave the story a unique feeling from the main Cassandra Palmer series, and (I’m assuming) context for the later storylines within the series.

Having said that, I’m not actually sure where this miniseries fit into the storyline, but it feels like there is a lot of context here that is going to become useful later. The idea of coven witches and circle witches is fascinating, and the constant war that they are at is a constantly recurring battle. That of the old system vs. the new – modern vs. natural.

Kit Marlowe and Gillian have a tensely sexual relationship, and I like the way that they play off of one another throughout the story. Although this isn’t resolved at the conclusion of the story, it added a nice layer throughout the storyline.

 <- The GauntletTouch the Dark ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Stone Witch by Isobelle Carmody

Overview

Under My HatTitle: The Stone Witch
Author: Isobelle Carmody
In: Under My Hat (Jonathan Strahan)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Easy reading, Fantasy, Witches
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: We were, however, tilted heavily to one side.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

A woman who doesn’t like kids sits on an aircraft, preparing to go on a journey. The flight attendant brings a child traveling alone to take the seat beside her. The woman is none too happy about this turn of events and studiously tries to ignore the little girl. For the most part it seems to be working until the plane hits some major turbulence. Just as it seems the plane is about to crash, the woman is transported into a world that she has dreamed about many times before. The little girl along with another older woman named Rose and her dog are there as well. Rose sends the woman and girl on a fantastical journey to find a stolen amethyst egg. Whether or not they succeed in their mission will ultimately determine their fate and may also teach them a few things about themselves in the process.

Thoughts

Planes, children and death, three things that kind of freak me out, all combined into one very enjoyable short story. But honestly, I didn’t expect anything less from one of my favourite authors!

There always seems to be an underlying story of fate and quests in Carmody’s work, and this story is no different. After Hester’s worst fears seem to be realised, she is sent on a quest with a small child to a potentially glorious future. Ultimately, she is forced to face a decision that makes her face up to her own future, or that of another human being’s.

The vividness of Carmody’s writing stays with me long after I have finished the final page of her stories. The Stone Witch is no different, and I can’t get those final moments of the story out of my mind.

 <- Burning Castles Review Andersen’s Witch Review ->
Image source: Frances Hardinge

Otherworld Nights by Kelley Armstrong

Overview
otherworld-nights

Title: Otherworld Nights
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld Companion
In: Otherworld Nights (Kelley Armstrong)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasyParanormal fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Collection
Publisher: Orbit
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: But he wasn’t the one I was worried about.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

A suspenseful, sexy new collection of stories and novellas, both original and curated by the author from her short fiction.

Sunday Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong captivated readers with her Women of the Otherworld series of supernatural thrillers. In this new anthology, favourite characters return in stories of drama, danger and desire. Legendary werewolf partners Elena and Clay stalk the pages of this book, along with vampires, witches, half-demons and sorcerers. Filled with fan favourites and rarities, Otherworld nights concludes with a brand-new novella, ‘Vanishing Act’. This thrilling longer story is set after the events of series finale 13, and features much-loved characters Savannah and Adam as they being a new life – and a mysterious new case – together.

Thoughts

I loved, loved, loved this collection of Women of the Otherworld short stories. In between some of the stories, it was nice to revisit favourite characters. This collection also provided a greater backstory to Adam’s childhood and Aaron and Cassandra’s relationship. Both aspects of the characters which I hadn’t quite had a chance to enjoy or understand.

I love that although there are only thirteen primary works in this series, there are a number of short stories and novellas which help to flesh out the world. Otherworld Nights had a feeling of the things that go bump in the night, and the cold, dark, Russian winter. It was a great collection that left me smiling when I finally finished it.

<- Tales of the OtherworldOtherworld Secrets ->

Image source: Goodreads