What have I read this week? Nothing, and it’s late, sorry!

© bardofupton 2023

What have I read this week?

The Route of Ice and Salt by José Luis Zárate

This is a horror novel retelling the journey of the Demeter, the ship which brings Dracula to England, from the point of view of its captain. I found it really interesting, and it was definitely a different take on the Dracula mythos. I would probably read more by this author.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

This is a fantasy novel about a teenage girl named Bree, who discovers a secret society of magicians when she goes to college. I didn’t like this; I wasn’t interested in the characters or the plot, so I didn’t finish it. I probably won’t read more by this author.

Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell

This is a fantasy novel about Kellen, a teenage boy who is approaching his last chance to become a mage. It is the first book in the Spellslinger series. I really enjoyed this; I found the characters interesting and the world was really interesting. I will definitely read more by this author.

© bardofupton 2023

What have I read this week?

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

This is a romance novel about a young woman named August, who meets an attractive woman on the train. I enjoyed this; it was a lot of fun and I liked the characters. I would probably read more by this author.

I Am Behind You by John Ajvide Lindqvist

This is a novel about four families who wake up to find that everything around them and their caravans has disappeared. I liked this, although I’m still not totally sure exactly what happened in the end. I would probably read more by this author.

The Conference of the Birds and The Desolations of Devil’s Acre by Ransom Riggs

These are fantasy novels, numbers 5 and 6 in the Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children series, about Jacob, a teenage boy who learns he has peculiar abilities. I really enjoyed these; I love the world and the characters, and I thought it was a good conclusion to the series. I would definitely read more by this author.

© bardofupton 2023

What have I read this week?

Something Is Killing The Children Volumes Two and Three by James Tynion IV, Werther Dell’Edera and Miquel Muerto

This is a graphic novel about Erica Slaughter, a woman who is killing monsters who kill children. I liked this; I like the style of the art, and I found the characters and the story really interesting. I would definitely read more by this author.

Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor

This is a novel about Paul,a young gay man who is able to transform himself from male to female at will. I found this interesting as a concept, but couldn’t really relate to the story or the characters. I might read more by this author.

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters

This is a novel about a trans woman, her detransitioned ex, and the ex’s cis girlfriend. I found this interesting but it was quite heavy going emotionally. I would probably read more by this author.

The Lesson by Cadwell Turnbull

This is a science fiction novel about an alien spacecraft which arrives in the US Virgin Islands, and the effects of that on the people living there. I enjoyed this; it was an interesting take on alien invasion and I liked the setting and the characters. I would definitely read more by this author.

© bardofupton 2023

What have I read this week?

Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola

This is a romance novel about a young woman named Kiki who is at university in England. I couldn’t really get into this as I didn’t find the characters interesting so I didn’t finish it. I probably won’t read more by this author.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

This is a novel about the life of Achilles, told from the point of view of his friend and lover, Patroclus. I really enjoyed this; it was a different take on the story of the fall of Troy and I liked the characters and the setting. I would definitely read more by this author.

A Burst of Light and Other Essays by Audre Lorde

This is a book of essays about various topics. I found them interesting although I didn’t agree with her position on everything. I would definitely read more by this author.

© bardofupton 2023

What have I read this week? It’s late, sorry!

Black Water Sister by Zen Cho

This is a novel about a young woman named Jess who moves from America back to Malaysia with her parents and has to deal with her grandmother’s ghost. I enjoyed this; I liked Jess as a character and I found the story and the setting really fascinating. I would definitely read more by this author.

© bardofupton 2023

What have I read this week?

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

This is a science fiction novel about Wu Zetian, a teenager in a futuristic China which is regularly attacked by monsters. I loved this; I liked the characters and the story, and I found the world really interesting. I will definitely read more by this author.

The Golden Enclaves: Lesson Three of the Scholomance by Naomi Novik

This is a fantasy novel about El, a young woman attending a deadly magic school. I really liked this; it was a satisfying end to the trilogy and I really liked the characters and the world. I would definitely read more by this author.

Something Is Killing The Children Volume One by James Tynion IV, Werther Dell’Edera and Miquel Muerto

This is a graphic novel about Erica Slaughter, a woman who is killing monsters who kill children. I liked this; I like the style of the art, and I found the characters and the story really interesting. I would definitely read more by this author.

Blindsight by Peter Watts

This is a science fiction novel about a man named Siri, who is on a mission out of the solar system to find the source of an alien signal. I quite enjoyed this; it was a different take on first contact. I would probably read more by this author.

© bardofupton 2023

What have I read this week? It’s late, sorry!

They by Kay Dick

This is a dystopian novel about a future England where being an artist or writer is penalised. I liked this; it was interesting. I might read more by this author.

Disobedience by Naomi Alderman

This is a novel about a Jewish woman returning to her community for her father’s funeral and the effects of that on her and her two closest friends in the community. I liked this; it was a view into a world I don’t know anything about. I would read more by this author.

© bardofupton 2023

What have I read this week?

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

This is a fantasy novel about a world divided between those who fear the rising of their ancient enemy and those who welcome it. I really enjoyed this; I loved the world, the plot was satisfying and I really liked the characters. I would definitely read more by this author.

Unlocked: An Oral History of Haden’s Syndrome by John Scalzi

This is a science fiction novella set in the same world as Lock In, about a viral pandemic that sweeps the globe. I enjoyed this; it was interesting to see other aspects of this world. I would definitely read more by this author.

The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo

This is a fantasy novel about an exiled empress and how she finds her way back to power. I really loved this; the world was fascinating and I loved the characters. I would definitely read more by this author.

Masquerade in Lodi by Lois McMaster Bujold

This is a fantasy novel about the cleric Penric and his demon Desdemona. I enjoyed this; I liked the world and the characters. I would definitely read more by this author.

The Last Graduate: Lesson Two of the Scholomance by Naomi Novik

This is a fantasy novel about El, a teenager in a deadly magical school. I enjoyed this; it was very readable and exciting, and I love the world and the characters. I didn’t love the cliffhanger ending though! I would definitely read more by this author.

Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs

This is a collection of short stories from the same world as Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children. I enjoyed this; it fleshed out some aspects of the world of the books. I would definitely read more by this author.

© bardofupton 2023

What have I read this week? It’s late, sorry.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

This is a fantasy novel, a prequel to the Hunger Games trilogy, about a young man named Coriolanus Snow, who is just graduating from school and dealing with the change in his family’s circumstances. I enjoyed this; it was an interesting look at some of the characters from the Hunger Games books and how they became who they are. I would definitely read more by this author.

© bardofupton 2022