The Thief on the Winged Horse intrigued me pretty quickly on reading the synopsis. How could I not be drawn in by a magical doll making family?! It seemed unlike anything I'd ever read before and as someone who's always on the hunt for something completely different in the fantasy world, it was pretty much all I needed for it to reel me in. Although a quick, agreeable read, it ended up not being my kind of book.
ARC Review: The Thief on the Winged Horse
The Thief on the Winged Horse intrigued me pretty quickly on reading the synopsis. How could I not be drawn in by a magical doll making family?! It seemed unlike anything I'd ever read before and as someone who's always on the hunt for something completely different in the fantasy world, it was pretty much all I needed for it to reel me in. Although a quick, agreeable read, it ended up not being my kind of book.
Hey guys! Today on the blog, I've got my blog tour stop for A Golden Fury by Samantha Cohoe. I recently read this gem of a book and absolutely adored it - it was so much fun and I flew through it! Scroll down to my last post to see my full review of it! I've got an excerpt to share with you all today and hope it'll intrigue you to pick up the book on it's release on October 13th! First though, let's find out some more about the book and the author...
While combing through her mother’s notes, Thea learns that there’s a curse on the Stone that causes anyone who tries to make it to lose their sanity. With the threat of the French Revolution looming, Thea is sent to Oxford for her safety, to live with the father who doesn’t know she exists.
But in Oxford, there are alchemists after the Stone who don’t believe Thea’s warning about the curse—instead, they’ll stop at nothing to steal Thea’s knowledge of how to create the Stone. But Thea can only run for so long, and soon she will have to choose: create the Stone and sacrifice her sanity, or let the people she loves die.
About the author
While combing through her mother’s notes, Thea learns that there’s a curse on the Stone that causes anyone who tries to make it to lose their sanity. With the threat of the French Revolution looming, Thea is sent to Oxford for her safety, to live with the father who doesn’t know she exists.
But in Oxford, there are alchemists after the Stone who don’t believe Thea’s warning about the curse—instead, they’ll stop at nothing to steal Thea’s knowledge of how to create the Stone. But Thea can only run for so long, and soon she will have to choose: create the Stone and sacrifice her sanity, or let the people she loves die.
Wow, this was one exhilarating and fun book. Right from the go, Thea's story intrigued me and hooked me in - I flew through this book. The premise was so interesting and the mystery and desire surrounding the Philosopher's Stone was so enthralling. I really enjoyed the plot line of this novel and the way themes of desire and power were explored. I also loved the lighter themes of womanhood - particularly because of the time the book is set in; 1792. It brings up discussion surrounding the nature of a woman's 'role' at the time and where women stood in relation to science. Although not extensively explored, I still enjoyed the theme's presence in the different women characters we meet in this novel.
Edition: Del Rey e-ARC
Releasing: 29th September 2020
Series: Scholomance #1
Pages: 336 pages approx.
Links: Author's Website | Goodreads | Pre-order the book now!
**Huge thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC (Netgalley) of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
Enter a school of magic unlike any you have ever encountered.
There are no teachers, no holidays, friendships are purely strategic, and the odds of survival are never equal.
Once you’re inside, there are only two ways out: you graduate or you die.
El Higgins is uniquely prepared for the school’s many dangers. She may be without allies, but she possesses a dark power strong enough to level mountains and wipe out untold millions – never mind easily destroy the countless monsters that prowl the school.
Except, she might accidentally kill all the other students, too. So El is trying her hardest not to use it... that is, unless she has no other choice.
I LOVED this book. Whole-heartedly and completely, every minute of it. I can't even begin to describe my excitement when I first started reading this novel. I'd previously read and loved Novik's other books, Uprooted and Spinning Silver but, honestly, nothing prepared me for the blast I was going to have reading this book. I think this is my new favourite book of hers now and, sure enough, she has now become one of my staple authors.
But her father’s rivalries and the dangers of his trading enterprise have only multiplied since she last saw him and Fable soon finds that West isn't who he seems. Together, they will have to survive more than the treacherous storms that haunt the Narrows if they're going to stay alive.
Welcome to a world made dangerous by the sea and by those who wish to profit from it. Where a young girl must find her place and her family while trying to survive in a world built for men.
I adored this book. I should start this review by saying I'm pretty obsessed with the sea and pirate-esque stories. I don't know where this obsession comes from but ever since I was little, I've just loved the water. One of my favourite memories is from when I was on holiday and I was just swimming and floating about in crystal blue water so clear, I could see all the way down to the white sand below on the sea floor (we were out at sea on a boat trip for the day). I just loved the feeling of how boundless the sea felt around me, water stretching out below and away on either side of me. So pretty much from Fable's first dive, this book hooked me in.
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Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.
It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.
But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.
There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.
An Ember in the Ashes has been skirting around in my periphery for a very loong time. I'm not sure why I put it off or didn't think to pick it up earlier. I knew a lot of people had read and loved it and I knew it sounded exactly like my kind of book. But for whatever reason, I just never found myself picking it up. Maybe the hype just made me a bit nervous. However, this all changed when I retweeted a tweet about needing to finally get on to reading it a couple weeks ago and my lovely friend, Finn, suggested a buddy read. And if it hadn't been for Finn finally giving me the nudge I so desperately needed, well I wouldn't have discovered a new favourite.
- Marie's post Is book bloggers' work really valued? on her blog, Drizzle & Hurricane Books.
- Cielo's post Are Book Bloggers underappreciated? (+ see how much a book blogger earns) on her blog, Bellerose Reads.
Edition: Jo Fletcher Books Paperback
Released: 21st August 2018
Series: The Founders Trilogy #1
Pages: 503 approx.
Links: Goodreads | Author's Website | Buy the book!
So when she is offered a lucrative job to steal an ancient artefact from a heavily guarded warehouse, she leaps at the chance.
But instead of a way out of Tevanne, she finds herself the target of a murderous conspiracy. Someone powerful wants the artefact, and Sancia dead.
To survive, Sancia will need every ally and every ounce of wits at her disposal – because if her unknown enemy unlocks the artefact’s secrets, the world – and reality – will never be the same.
I first came to hear about this book through Regan's booktube channel, PeruseProject. You've probably heard of her, she's pretty popular in the booktubing community, and also a pretty big fantasy nerd like myself. Out of all the booktube channels I watch, I've always found my taste in books to be the most aligned with Regan's so whenever she raves about a book and the blurb catches my attention, I tend to want to pick it up pretty quickly. Bennett's Foundryside was one of those books.
In the month of June, I have somehow managed to put myself forward for not one, but TWO readathons. I think I've only ever taken part in one other readathon previously (and a good few years ago now *smiles nervously*), so going from that to two in one month?? Pfft! Easy!!
Okay, so not easy but both of these readathons just sounded so good. It's all about having fun anyways and I really want to see what all this readathon hype is about... Wish me luck! (I'm gonna need it, let's be real here!)
No need for an introduction here...
Okay, I'M SORRY! I told myself I wasn't going to do it; told myself I really, really, really didn't need to include Harry Potter (because everyone knows your love for it already, Rachel, so enough!!) but I JUST COULDN'T DO IT! I owe a lot to these books for many (MANY) different reasons but one is most assuredly for opening my heart up to the fantasy/magical genre. I mean, just looking for this gif and thinking about these books nearly made me cry and then want to re-read them (for the MILLIONTH time!!) so if that doesn't show you the extent of my love for this series, I don't know what will. But okay, okay, I'm done, let's move on!
Edition: HarperVoyager eBook
Released: 14th November 2017
Series: The Daevabad Trilogy #1
Pages: 521 approx.
Links: Goodreads | Author's Website | Buy the book!
But alongside this new world the old stories linger. Tales of djinn and spirits. Of cities hidden among the swirling sands of the desert, full of enchantment, desire and riches. Where magic pours down every street, hanging in the air like dust.
Many wish their lives could be filled with such wonder, but not Nahri. She knows the trades she uses to get by are just tricks and sleights of hand: there’s nothing magical about them. She only wishes to one day leave Cairo, but as the saying goes…
Be careful what you wish for.
I ADORED this book! Honestly, I'd brace yourselves for a gushy, nonsensical post instead of a review because SULEIMAN'S EYE, I have a lot of feelings!!
Edition: Independently-published eBook
Released: 30th October 2019
Series: When Wishes Bleed #1
Pages: 462 approx.
Links: Goodreads | Author's Website | Buy the book!
Hearing me suck in a shocked breath, he asked what it meant. Such an ominous omen could only mean one thing: his death was imminent. Fate revealed that he wouldn’t die of natural causes. Someone wanted him dead. Stunned by the revelation, the man I now knew as Prince Tauren disappeared into a night I feared he wouldn’t survive. The following day, I received an invitation to the castle. While it seemed the prince believed I could intervene and uncover who was plotting his death, his motives didn’t stop there. I was being summoned to join twelve other women in vying for the opportunity to be his wife and future queen.
Going could mean jeopardizing my plans to reclaim my heritage and resurrect the House of Fate. But staying would guarantee Tauren’s death, and the blood of his wish would be on my hands.
Okay, so in true quarantine style, I finally bought myself a kindle. And, honestly? I love it. I really can't believe it took me this long to get one... Anyway, whilst setting up my new, snazzy kindle, I discovered kindle unlimited. Immediately reeled in by the prospect of a free kindle unlimited subscription for two months (for being a student), I signed up. This title I came across not long after and the synopsis just drew me in. So began my first kindle unlimited experience.
I would introduce myself but as it is, I'm the same Rachel who started this blog ten years ago... Oh hell, I'll reintroduce myself anyway. HI AGAIN! I'm Rachel and I'M BACK!! You may or may not remember this blog. After all, I have changed the name and the whole layout etc. Once upon a time, this was a preteen/YA book blog called Booktastic Reviews. Well *ahem* now it's had a whole, snazzy makeover (which I have spent DAYS fretting over because I am now SO FAR BEHIND on how this modern blogging and book blogosphere work!!) *cries* So please feel free to tell me I'm doing okay for being the archaic blogger I now have to admit to myself I am! Also, whilst on the topic of archaic, I am now no longer 11 or 16 or even 18. I'm now 22 whole years old, some say a fully fledged adult - I'm not quite sure I would agree but, yes, I am now a whole lot older.