I wanted to share a few mini reviews from some of my favourite books I read over the winter. These are four of my favourite books I read recently. I would love to hear your thoughts on these books or if I have inspired you to read any of these books. If you are unaware of my rating system, it is ☕ I didn’t like it. ☕☕ It was okay. ☕☕☕ I enjoyed it. ☕☕☕☕ I liked it, and ☕☕☕☕☕ I loved it.
Fire and Blood
Fire and Blood is the first volume of the two-part story of the Targaryen family. Taking place centuries before the events of A Game of Thrones, when the Targaryens arrive in Westeros. This definitive history starts with the tale of the legendary Aegon the Conqueror, the creator of the Iron Throne. The follows the generations of Targaryens who fought to hold that iconic seat, including the famed Targaryen civil war, known as the Dances of the Dragons.
Rating: ☕☕☕☕☕/5
I put off reading Fire and Blood for the longest time because I was upset it was not Winds of Winter. I decided the next George R.R. Martin book I wanted to read should be in the next in the Song of Ice and Fire series. However, with the release of The House of The Dragon tv show last year, I thought I would delve into this book. I am so glad I did!
This book is a hugely different style of writing from the Game of Thrones books, it feels different, yet the environment is very familiar. Whilst the Song of Ice and Fire books, each chapter is told from a person’s point of view. This book reads more like a historical book, recounting tales from those who were there. The cities and locations are the same, but this is Westeros in its early years when King’s Landing is a small town, not a sprawling city. Here the Wall was fully manned. But most importantly there are numerous Dragons!
Marple: Twelve New Mysteries
To introduce Jane Marple to a new generation of fans. Marple takes twelve contemporary, acclaimed authors, allowing each of them to give their twist on Agatha Christie’s famous supersleuth. A collection of twelve short stories featuring Marple and other popular characters from Christie’s work.
Rating: ☕☕☕☕/5
As this is a collection of short stories, obviously, I preferred some stories to others. In fact, I even found some storylines predictable. But overall, I loved this book. I am a fan of Jane Marple, having read all the original books, so I was excited about the release of this new collection. Highlights of me included introducing Marple’s great-great niece Nicole (in Karen McManus’ The Murdering Sort). Jane’s adventure on the boat in Jade Empress (Jean Kwok’s story). And the friendship between Miss Marple and Miss Bella in A Deadly Wedding Day, by Dreda Say Mitchell.
This is a book for new and old fans alike. It will serve as an introduction to Jane Marple for new fans. For exsisting fans like me, the stories are packed with easter eggs to Christie’s original work in the form of familiar characters, locations, and even past mysteries. That old fans will love. Whilst this book did not introduce me to the world of Jane Marple, it did introduce me to several new authors!
The Bullet the Missed
Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron are the Thursday Murder Club, a group of pensioners who spend their free-time solving old crimes. Back again for their third adventure, The Bullet That Missed. Assisted by their unlikely friends, TV stars, money launderers and ex-KGB colonels. The gang are investigating the cold case of a missing TV reporter and links to a tax scandal.
Rating: ☕☕☕☕/5
I love revisiting with the members of The Thursday Murder Club. I think these books are perfect autumnal, cosy reading. Yet again, Richard Osman delivers another book filled with twists, turns and tons of English pop-cultural references!
The Dead Romantics
Florence Day is a ghostwriter who can see ghosts! She is on a deadline to finish ghostwriting a romance novel. The problem is after a horrendous break-up, she no longer believes in love. After her new handsome editor, Ben refused to give her an extension. Florence believes her writing career is over. Then she receives a devastating phone call that her father is dead.
Florence returns to her hometown, a place she never felt understood. Expecting to see her father’s ghost, she is surprised to find the ghost of Ben following her. Whilst Florence deals with the aftermath of her father’s death, she reconnects with her family and tries to finish the novel. She also must work out why Ben is there and if she will ever find love again.
Rating: ☕☕☕☕/5
My toxic trait is reading One-Star reviews for books on my TBR list to see if the reviewer can prove me wrong. After seeing someone call this “a Crappy Reylo Fanfic” on GoodReads, this book moved to the top of my TBR! For the record, yes, the leading man is described as Adam Driver. Yes, his name is an amalgamation of two Star Wars characters. Maybe the connection between Ben and Florence is like the Dyad. But that is where the comparison ends!
For me, its a cute love story with a twist because the romance is between a human and a ghost. At first, I loved reading about their connection, and in the book’s second half, I just wanted to see if or how they could get their happy ending.
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I received some of the books featured in the post from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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