Review: The City & The City by China Miéville

Inspector Tyador Borlú of the Extreme Crime Squad finds deadly conspiracies beneath a seemingly routine murder. From the decaying Beszel, he joins detective Qussim Dhatt in rich vibrant Ul Qoma, and both are enmeshed in a sordid underworld. Rabid nationalists are intent on destroying their neighboring city, and unificationists dream of dissolving the two into one.

Reading Format: Kindle eBook
Year Read: 2014
Star Rating: 5 stars

I have thoroughly enjoyed all the Miéville books I have read so far and I had started to feel a withdrawal from his writing but wanted to read one of his shorter books so thought I’d give The City and The City a go. It seems that every Miéville book has a different writing style while at the same time still being recognisable as being by him. This book is a crime mystery, more speculative fiction than science fiction I would say but still elements of the unusual. This book is more political which I really got in to.

At the beginning, I wasn't sure exactly what was going on with the two cities: Ul Qoma and Beszel. I was very intrigued and I had to keep reading and things then started to fall in to place. It’s hard for me to give a rundown on this book without giving too much away but basically a woman is found dead in the back of a van and a Detective from Beszel's Extreme Crime Squad is sent to investigate it but he quickly finds himself wrapped up in red tape and politics as it’s not a straightforward murder.

This story is complex! It needs your undivided attention at all times but it’s worth it! Such a creative idea for a setting and the way it was written, the two cities almost became characters all of their own. The last quarter of the book was tense and I couldn't put the book down.

I think I would have enjoyed it more if I could have read it consistently but part way through the book I had to take part in a reading challenge so I put it aside to read another two books then came back to this one. Still a 5 star read though!

The City & The City: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

Related Posts:
Review: Perdido Street Station
Review: The Scar

WWW Wednesday (3)

The book meme WWW Wednesdays is hosted by Should Be Reading.

The aim of WWW Wednesday is to answer the following three questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

In my last WWW Wednesday post, I listed a couple of books that I was thinking of reading next. Everyone who commented suggested I choose Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. And so I did! I have read all of her other books and I really like her writing style. I like books which have interesting characters and that cover the darker side of life. I've been holding off reading this book because once I'm done, I won't have anything else by her to read and will have to join the group of many other people waiting for her next masterpiece! I'm about 70% in and I'm finding it very difficult to put down.

In September, a book group I'm a member of will be reading Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov which I have wanted to read for quite some time. I don't have a good track record with books deemed to be classics and so I wasn't sure whether to participate or not even though I really want to read it. So, I decided to download the kindle sample so I could see what the writing style was like. Well, I read it and it hooked me in so I bought the full version. I've only read about 10% of it so far and I think I will hold off reading any more until the beginning of the month so I can join in the discussion.

Wow! Not one fantasy book on the go at the moment! That has to be a first!

What did you recently finish reading?

I finished reading Storm Front by Jim Butcher which was the first in the Dresden Files series. I thought it was a great start to the series and I can't wait to read more about Harry Dresden, the hopeless Wizard Detective. Check out Storm Front's First Lines & Teasers as well as my Review.

I also finished listening to Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. If you haven't read this, I would recommend you read the print version as opposed to the audiobook version - I don't think it suits the format. Check out Miss Peregrine's First Lines & Teasers as well as my Review.

Another abandoned book this week - The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, 2014 Edition which is an anthology of short stories. I hadn't heard of any of the authors except Brandon Sanderson and Neil Gaiman, two of my favourite authors. I read a couple stories in the book but short stories just aren't for me so I skipped straight to the Sanderson and Gaiman stories and then abandoned the book after that. I may come back to it at some point in the future. It was worth it for the stories I read though.

What do you think you’ll read next?

I am going to be reading Rose of Sarajevo by Ayşe Kulin from the 29th August for a buddy read. My buddy and I both visited the Balkan region over the Summer and were struck by how little we knew of the war that occurred there back in the 90s. We wanted to know more but to learn from fiction because it's much more enjoyable. And then I say that this book was due to be released this month and we were able to get a copy through NetGalley.

I need another fantasy book to start too but not sure which one. I featured I, Morgana in my Tuesday Intro & Teasers post so I could read that one especially as I need to review it for NetGalley but it really isn't screaming "Read Me!" So, other books I'm planning to read during September include The Daylight War by Peter V Brett, Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde, Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence.


Which do you think I should tackle first?

Tuesday Intro & Teasers: I, Morgana

First Paragraph - First Chapter - Tuesday Intro is hosted by Bibliophile By the Sea. So for this book meme, I just have to post the first paragraph of the first chapter of either a book I am currently reading or about to start.

I'm going to be focusing on a book which I am planning to start soon - I, Morgana by Felicity Pulman. I received the book through NetGalley in return for an honest review. A couple of my Goodreads friends read it and didn't think much of it so I'm not sure what my experience will be with it. Only time will tell! At least it's a pretty short book.

"I am an old woman now. My bones creak and scrape together like bare branches in a winter wind. I ache with longing for my youth. When I notice my reflection, I am aghast at the vision of the hag who looks back at me. I mourn the passing of who I was, and everything I could have been. More than anything, I long to reverse time. Throughout the years I have tried and tried to do this, without success. Now, even my most potent spells and incantations cannot transform me into the young woman I once was, with all my life still to live. With age, my magical powers have all but deserted me. Once I was desired by men; now I am disregarded by all and loved by none."

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading. So for this book meme, I have to randomly turn to a page (or two) and choose a sentence to post here to tease you all with. I'm combining the two book memes and using the same book for both.

My teasers:

"It is a surprise to be summoned by the Prioress and told that an envoy has arrived with a message from the king demanding to see me." ~ 19% (chapter 3)

"The castle is quite small by Camelot's standards, but with extensive grounds that, in a high tide, are severed from the mainland so that we live almost on an enchanted isle of your own." ~ 28% (chapter 5)

I, Morgana: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

What do you think? Would you keep reading?

Mailbox Monday (7)

Mailbox Monday is a book meme which is hosted by Marcia at Mailbox Monday blog.

Basically, we have to make a post featuring the books which we bought, received for review, or loaned this past week. Here is what made it in to my house:

Personal Purchases:


I bought these two dead tree books from the local charity shop because they were a real bargain - only £1.40 for the two. Shattered is book 7 in a series and I've only read the first one but I couldn't pass it by at this price. Now I need to get books 2-6!

Shattered: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads
Bag of Bones: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

Books for Review on NetGalley:


I was invited to read and review Cosmocopia which is the first time this has happened on NetGalley - normally it is me requesting.

Cosmocopia: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads
Red Rising: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

Library Books:


Spell Bound: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

Have you read any of these? Is so, what did you think? If not, do any of them take your fancy?

Review: Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

Reading Format: Audiobook
Year Read: 2014
Star Rating: 3.5 stars

I really liked the front cover of the book. It was one of the driving factors which made me read the book. That and the fact that my library's audio app had it available for free.

I listened to this on audio but when I got to the parts where it mentions the photographs and I discovered that the print version actually had those pictures in it, I decided to download the ebook to go with it so that I could refer to the pictures as and when I needed to. I am so pleased that I did as the pictures were a real highlight of this book. Unfortunately, I only had access to this through for the first part of the book as I had to return it due to their being holds on it.

I was blown away by the first two chapters of the book and I was thinking it was going to be a 5 star read for me then it just dumped me at chapter 3 and I spent the rest of the book trying to like it again. It is simplistic in language and is definitely marketed for the YA audience.

The audio was done well on the whole although the narrator's “Welsh” accent left a lot to be desired. It had American pronounced words in an accent of Cockney meets Scottish – there was not even a vague hint of Welsh in there! When I've heard bad accents before it generally makes me laugh but these were so bad it just made me cringe and almost shake my head at it.

The book did pick up again and I thought the ending was fantastic but I kind of lost my enthusiasm for it and I spent the last half of the book just waiting for it to finish. I really don't think the book lends well to the audio format. Because I enjoyed the ending, it did make me start thinking that I might read the sequel at some point.

Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

Related Posts:
Miss Peregrine's First Lines

Review: The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson

A heretic thief is the empire’s only hope in this fascinating tale that inhabits the same world as the popular novel, Elantris.

Shai is a Forger, a foreigner who can flawlessly copy and re-create any item by rewriting its history with skillful magic. Condemned to death after trying to steal the emperor’s scepter, she is given one opportunity to save herself. Though her skill as a Forger is considered an abomination by her captors, Shai will attempt to create a new soul for the emperor, who is almost dead.

Probing deeply into his life, she discovers Emperor Ashravan’s truest nature—and the opportunity to exploit it. Her only possible ally is one who is truly loyal to the emperor, but councilor Gaotona must overcome his prejudices to understand that Shai’s forgery is as much artistry as it is deception.

Brimming with magic and political intrigue, this deftly woven fantasy delves into the essence of a living spirit.

Reading Format: Paperback
Year Read: 2014
Star Rating: 5 stars

As the synopsis mentions above, this novella is set in the same world that Elantris was set. That said, there were no characters or cities or story lines carried over so it can be read as a stand alone. While short, it packed a punch and I absolutely loved it. I can see why it was a winner of the Hugo Award, despite it's length.

This tells the story of Shai, a Forger who has been captured after breaking in to the Emperor's Palace to steal two very prized possessions. Meanwhile, someone else attempts to assassinate the Emperor, fails but leaves him in a comatose state without his soul. So those left in charge while the Emperor is “out of action”, make Shai forge a set of Soulstones to create a replica of the Emperor's soul so that he can return to ruling the empire.

I loved the magic system in this and how Forgers can change the history of an object which in turn changes the object itself. It is different to the main magic system in Elantris but I think that's because this book is set in a different region to that which was focused upon in Elantris. This gave off a more oriental and exotic feel. I loved it!

I've heard that Sanderson will be writing another book set in Elantris which I will look forward to as it was a very interesting world with great characters.

The Emperor's Soul: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

Review: The Painted Man by Peter V Brett

As darkness falls, demon corelings rise — multitudes and giants, from fire, wood, and rock, hungry for human flesh. After centuries, humans dwindle, protective wards forgotten. Three young survivors of demon attacks, Arlen, Leesha, and Rojer, dare to fight back.

Reading Format: Kindle eBook
Year Read: 2013
Star Rating: 5 stars

This is another book with a different title for different countries; The Painted Man is also known as The Warded Man. Not a huge difference and both factually correct but I think I prefer The Warded Man.

When I read this book in 2013, it was my favourite book of the year. It is the first book in Brett's Demon Cycle series. As I am writing this post now, I would have to say that The Demon Cycle series is my all time favourite Fantasy series. I just love all the demons!

There was loads of action in this book making it a very entertaining read which gripped me from the get go.

At night fall, demons rise from the earth burning crops and houses, killing people and animals, but most of all putting fear in to people which keeps them prisoners in the own homes and villages. The only thing that keeps them safe is magic - they ward their houses to stop the demons entering. There are different types of demons; fire, wind, wood, sand, water and stone.

This book tells the story of three people living in these scary times; Arlen, Leesha and Rojer. All three have found themselves in difficult circumstances and all have survived a coreling (demon) attack as a child. They are all three children at the start of the book, coming of age and are middling their twenties as the book closes. I really liked Arlen and Leesha as characters but my favourite of all was Hag Bruna, Leesha's mentor, who had me laugh out loud on several occasions.

The third person narrative moves from one character to the next telling their story until the three characters cross paths.

I honestly can't believe this is Peter V. Brett's first book! I devoured this book and loved everything about it. I have since read the second book, The Desert Spear, which was fantastic and I have the third book, The Daylight War, to read in the next month or so.

The Painted Man: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

WWW Wednesday (2)

Wow Wednesday has come round fast! The book meme WWW Wednesdays is hosted by Should Be Reading.

The aim of WWW Wednesday is to answer the following three questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

I started Storm Front by Jim Butcher yesterday and I'm really enjoying it so far. It's the first in the series.

I also started The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, 2014 Edition last week as I received it through NetGalley for review but once I finish the story I am currently on, I think I am going to stop reading. Short stories are just not for me. What tends to happen is that I am just starting to get to know the characters and what is going on and then the story ends. I find it rather frustrating. Short stories are just too short for me.

What did you recently finish reading?

I finished reading Inferno by Dan Brown at the beginning of the week which I really enjoyed. It feels good to be able to tick another finished and/or up to date series of my list.

From a great reading experience to a failed one with MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood. I just couldn't carry on with it unfortunately. I was so looking forward to the final installment in the trilogy but a couple aspects of the story (characters mainly) really started to grate on me, although I never had that with the first two books.

What do you think you’ll read next?
Depending on how quickly I get through Storm Front depends on what my next read will be as I have a buddy read coming up at the end of the month. I am flying through it at the moment though. If I finish it in the next couple of days then I might try to squeeze in one of the following: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence or Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.


Related Posts:
Storm Front First Lines & Teaser

Tuesday Into & Teaser: Storm Front

First Paragraph - First Chapter - Tuesday Intro is hosted by Bibliophile By the Sea. So for this book meme, I just have to post the first paragraph of the first chapter of either a book I am currently reading or about to start.

I'm going to be focusing on my current read Storm Front by Jim Butcher, which is the first book in The Dresden Files series.

"I heard the mailman approach my office door, half an hour earlier than usual. He didn't sound right. His footsteps fell more heavily, jauntily, and he whistled. A new guy. He whistled his way to my office door, then fell silent for a moment. Then he laughed.

Then he knocked.

I winced. My mail comes through the mail slot unless it's registered. I get a really limited selection of registered mail, and it's never good news. I got up out of my office chair and opened the door."

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading. So for this book meme, I have to randomly turn to a page (or two) and choose a sentence to post here to tease you all with. I'm combining the two book memes and using the same book for both.

My teasers:

"Paranoid? Probably. But just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face." ~ pg8

"No wonder she had recovered from her terror enough to come back up the stairs and fire my gun at the demon." ~ pg 169

Storm Front: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

What do you think? Would you keep reading?

Monday Mailbox (6)

Mailbox Monday is a book meme which is hosted by Marcia at Mailbox Monday blog.

Basically, we have to make a post featuring the books which we bought, received for review, or loaned this past week. Here is what made it in to my house:

Personal Purchases:


Stephen King is one of my favourite authors so I am looking forward to reading this one.

Firestarter: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads
Before They Are Hanged: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

Books for Review on NetGalley:


I don't usually go for anthologies or short stories but this Dark Fantasy & Horror one took my fancy mainly because Brandson Sanderson and Neil Gaiman have contributed to it. When I got this book I was in such a dilemma - whether to go straight for their stories first or work my way through the book from start to finish. How do you tackle compilations of short stories?

As for the second book, I may not have gone for it if it hadn't been focused on the Balkan region during the Yugoslavian War in the 90s. I visited the region for a holiday a few months back and wanted to find out more about it and the war in particular.

The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, 2014 Edition: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads
Rose of Sarajevo: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

Review: Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Coraline's often wondered what's behind the locked door in the drawing room. It reveals only a brick wall when she finally opens it, but when she tries again later, a passageway mysteriously appears. Coraline is surprised to find a flat decorated exactly like her own, but strangely different. And when she finds her "other" parents in this alternate world, they are much more interesting despite their creepy black button eyes. When they make it clear, however, that they want to make her theirs forever, Coraline begins a nightmarish game to rescue her real parents and three children imprisoned in a mirror. With only a bored-through stone and an aloof cat to help, Coraline confronts this harrowing task of escaping these monstrous creatures.

Gaiman has delivered a wonderfully chilling novel, subtle yet intense on many levels. The line between pleasant and horrible is often blurred until what's what becomes suddenly clear, and like Coraline, we resist leaving this strange world until we're hooked. Unnerving drawings also cast a dark shadow over the book's eerie atmosphere, which is only heightened by simple, hair-raising text. Coraline is otherworldly storytelling at its best.

This was a simple story which made for a quick read. It's also pretty short. You could tell it was aimed at young readers as the language was much more straight forward compared to Gaiman's adult focused books. It had the usual Gaiman darkness to the story which, among other things, have made me a fan of his. I like how he doesn't shy away from the darker side of life even with his children's books. Even though it's dark in places, it's not particularly scary. That said, I did find a couple bits gave me the heebie-jeebies, but I think it's just me. I have a thing about eyes and Coraline's other parents had black buttons sown on where their eyes should be and combined with my over-active imagination it made me shiver and cringe.

I don't really need to explain what the story is about as the synopsis above pretty much covers the whole story. I think whoever compiled the book blurb on the back could have revealed less of what was to happen especially as it's a pretty short book - they've not really left anything to surprise! I loved the eerie drawings at the beginning of each chapter too. Another fantastic read by Neil Gaiman.

I read this for a "Name that Tune" themed read-a-thon in which I had to choose a song and change it's lyrics to relate to the book in some way. You can read my Coraline song here.

Coraline: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

Related Posts:
Coraline First Lines
Coraline Name That Tune Song

Review: Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

Mercedes "Mercy" Thompson is a talented Volkswagen mechanic living in the Tri-Cities area of Washington. She also happens to be a walker, a magical being with the power to shift into a coyote at will. Mercy's next-door neighbor is a werewolf. Her former boss is a gremlin. And she's fixing a bus for a vampire. This is the world of Mercy Thompson, one that looks a lot like ours but is populated by those things that go bump in the night. And Mercy's connection to those things is about to get her into some serious hot water...

Reading Format: Kindle eBook
Year Read: 2014
Star Rating: 5 stars

This book was so much fun! Mercy is a fantastic character. She isn't the stereotypical female which I love: she's strong, knows what she wants, doesn't take shit from anyone, she is a mechanic, and she is a purple belt in karate. All this does mean that she sometimes gets herself in to a spot of bother.

Mercy is a shape shifter, with Native American roots, and she shifts in to a coyote. I really liked that the author chose something different other than the usual vampire and werewolf supernaturals. Don't get me wrong, I love both, but it makes for a refreshing change to have something different as the main character. There are both vampires and werewolves featured heavily in the book though with some really interesting characters. Oh and there are Fae and Witches in it too.

So a lone, newly made teenage werewolf turns up at Mercy's garage looking for work. One day, she finds him being held at gun point and coerced to go with another newbie werewolf and a human. Mercy shifts and intervenes, killing the werewolf in the process. The Alpha of the local pack comes to help clear up the mess and takes the new werewolf in. But then things go a bit tits up. Adam, the Alpha of the pack, is attacked in his own home and left to die and his daughter is kidnapped. Mercy saves Adam and then the hunt is on to discover what happened, who has taken his daughter and to get her back.

So when I read most Urban Fantasy books, I'm wondering when the obligatory romance will start. However with this book, there was nothing until the last chapter, maybe even just the last 5 pages, which was a blessing in my opinion. I have got nothing against romance in books as long as it is not the main focus. Women do not need to be in a relationship to be complete. That's one of the reasons I like Mercy!

The front cover put me off reading the book for a while. I really can't work out who the cover is trying to attract. I think the readership of this series is predominantly female because Mercy is a strong female character but then why the scantily clad Mercy on the front cover?!? To encourage men to read the series? Who knows what the publishers think!

I will definitely be reading the rest of the series. I've added them all to my ever growing wishlist!

Moon Called: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

Related Posts:
Moon Called First Lines & Teasers

WWW Wednesdays (1)

So I've decided to start with another book meme. This one is called WWW Wednesdays and is hosted by Should Be Reading.

The aim of WWW Wednesday is to answer the following three questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

Now I'm not sure how easy this will be to me as I quite often read a number of books at the same time. I almost always have one audiobook on the go while also reading a print book of some kind, whether that's a kindle ebook or a dead tree book. I don't want these posts to be never ending so I may be selective in how many I choose to list for each question. So here goes...

What are you currently reading?

I am currently listening to (still) Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. It started off really well but it started to drag so I put it to one side while I listen to the first Harry Potter book. Now I've finished that, I'm back to Miss Peregrine's. I generally only listen to my audiobooks while I'm on the bus going to work or doing household chores so I don't get through them as quickly as my print books.

I am reading a review copy of MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood. I've enjoyed the other books in the series so I am looking forward to finding out how everything comes together in this book. I just don't seem to have the motivation to read it though. I keep picking it up and putting it down.

What did you recently finish reading?

Ooh! So this is more interesting question to answer for this week. Over the weekend, I finished two short novellas which were both fantastic: Coraline by Neil Gaiman and The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson, two of my favourite authors. I read these books for a challenge and I had to write songs about them which you can read here.

Another notable book I have finished was Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling. I must be the last person to have actually read this book. It was an audiobook, narrated by Stephen Fry, and I thought it was fantastic. I'm not going to review it on here as nobody needs to read another Potter review especially one which is seven years late!

I will say however, that I really wish that I had read this book as a child as I would have appreciated it more. That said, I still did really enjoy it and will be listening to the rest of the series.

Yesterday I had a huge gap between clients (3 hours to be precise) so I took myself off down to the local cafe, bought myself a nice cappuccino and settled myself down to read. So I managed to finish Moon Called in that time. A great start to a new series for me. I'm looking forward to hearing more about Mercy Thompson.

Reviews to follow shortly.

What do you think you’ll read next?
Decisions, decisions! Well, I am a member of a couple of book groups on Goodreads so I have some books to read for challenges and group reads already planned out. Two I need to read this month are Inferno by Dan Brown and Snowblind by Christopher Godden. I think I'm more inclined to read Inferno so that I can mark another series complete (until Dan Brown releases another book)! Neither of these choices are fantasy or science fiction so whatever I do decide to read out of those two, I won't be reviewing on here, just on Goodreads.



Related Posts:
Coraline First Lines
Miss Peregrine's First Lines
Name That Tune
Moon Called First Lines

Tuesday Intro and Teasers: Moon Called

First Paragraph - First Chapter - Tuesday Intro is hosted by Bibliophile By the Sea.

I'm going to be focusing on my current read Moon Called by Patricia Briggs which is the first book in the Mercy Thompson series. I've heard so many good things about this series so I couldn't wait to get started with it.

"I didn't realize he was a werewolf at first. My nose isn't at its best when surrounded by axle grease and burnt oil - and it's not like there are a lot of stray werewolves running around. So when someone made a polite noise near my feet to get my attention I thought he was a customer.

I was burrowed under the engine compartment of a Jetta, settling a rebuilt transmission into its new home. One of the drawbacks in running a one-woman garage was that I had to stop and start every time the phone rang or a customer stopped by. It made me grumpy - which isn't a good way to deal with customers. My faithful office boy and tool rustler had gone off to college, and I hadn't replaced him yet - it's hard to find someone who will do all the jobs I don't want to."

In addition to the Tuesday Intro, I have decided to take part in Teaser Tuesdays, which is hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading. I'm going to combine the two book memes and use the same book for both to make things a bit easier for myself.

My teasers from pg 214:

"The pack is coming," I told Samuel, as we cruised slowly by Warren's house for a look-see.

"I don't know how much you remember from while you were changing, but Warren called for help."

Moon Called: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

What do you think? Would you keep reading?

I did keep reading and I'm about 65% done with it and I am thoroughly enjoying it. Watch out for the review once I'm done!

Mailbox Monday (5)

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at Mailbox Monday blog.

So I knew I wouldn't be able to refrain from buying books for two weeks in a row! And the two books I did buy are not Fantasy or Science Fiction. I thought I'd list them in my Mailbox Monday post but I won't be reviewing them on here, only on Goodreads. So my personal kindle purchases weren't fantasy, but my NetGalley book has made up for that.

Here is what made it in to my house this week:

Personal Kindle Purchases:


The Dark Monk: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads
Pope Joan: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

The Dark Monk is the second book in a series. I've taken a risk buying this one as I haven't actually read the first book in the series yet, The Hangman's Daughter, but it was only £1 on Amazon UK this week. I have heard a lot of good things about the series though, so fingers crossed!

Books for Review on NetGalley:


Divinity: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads