Honestly, I picked this one up for a bit of a fun, silly read. Unfortunately, for me, it was a lot more contrived teenage angst and trashy plot than I was prepared for ...

I normally think of myself as being pretty generous with reviews If it's a middling book but I didn't hate it, it's 3 stars, 4 stars is enjoyed it, 5 stars is loved it. Things occasionally make it to 2 stars, and rarely 1 star. But I'll make an exception for this. And that sounds really mean and I hate leaving negative reviews, but this was really not the one for me.

I was expecting light-hearted teenage banter, some funny and fabulous vampires and a smart girl out-witting the undead. Instead, I got uncomfortable and repetitive teenage angst, Eastern European vampire stereotypes and a Vampire King that starts off Bowie and ends up confusing himself. We also have Mo as the 'Chosen One' for completely unclear and unanswerable reasons. And a bully whose main tactic seems to be 'what are you doing on my bus'.

Not to mention the whole vampire monarchy/hierarchy sounded like complete nonsense. The thing I most enjoyed was when Mo started receiving correspondence from isolated vampire groups across the country. But even this grade A student couldn't write a decent letter back, and definitely didn't come up with a plan that would pass in any other scenario.

Mo's sudden and dramatic love interest was a hormone surge that had previously been directed to mini battenbergs and GCSE revision. And a love interest that she would apparently do anything for, including attempting to trick vampires just so she could spend another moment with him.

I made it through, but quite honestly I found it uncomfortable reading. It felt like the way teen fiction used to be written 10 or 15 years ago and it doesn't stand up in comparison to what else is out there now.

Fun, entertaining, quick and also kind of silly.

Was definitely aimed at a younger age group but can see how it’s be perfect for those YA readers.

Covers first crush, friendships and other teen drama.

This was a laugh out loud comedy
Mainly aimed at YA but I still loved it as an adult - Even though it seemed far fetched in places, it was hilarious and the characters were lovable - if you are a Hotel Transylvania fan you will love this
#netgalley #reluctantvampirequeen

This book was meh. I neither loved nor hated it. I liked the premise but the book was just lacking in its execution.

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Rune's Bookish Wanderings 2022
TalkThe Green Dragon
52 Messages
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1RuneFirestarDec 3, 2021, 4:23am
Just setting this up ready for new year.
2KarlstarDec 8, 2021, 11:21pm
That's early!
3libraryperilousDec 9, 2021, 11:16am
Looking forward to your 2022 thread!
4RuneFirestarDec 31, 2021, 7:17pm
I will be reading 120 books :)
5haydninviennaDec 31, 2021, 9:30pm
Best of luck! Have a great reading year!
6RuneFirestarJan 6, 12:32am
1. Blood of Elves
(The Witcher #1)
by Andrzej Sapkowski, Danusia Stok (Translator)

Blurb

Geralt, the witcher of Rivia, is back - and this time he holds the fate of the whole land in his hands ...For more than a hundred years, humans, dwarves, gnomes and elves lived together in relative peace. But times have changed, the uneasy peace is over and now the races once again fight each other - and themselves: dwarves are killing their kinsmen, and elves are murdering humans and elves, at least those elves who are friendly to humans ...Into this tumultuous time is born a child for whom the witchers of the world have been waiting. Ciri, the granddaughter of Queen Calanthe, the Lioness of Cintra, has strange powers and a stranger destiny, for prophecy names her the Flame, one with the power to change the world - for good, or for evil ...Geralt, the witcher of Rivia, has taken Ciri to the relative safety of the Witchers' Settlement, but it soon becomes clear that Ciri isn't like the other witchers. As the political situation grows ever dimmer and the threat of war hangs almost palpably over the land, Geralt searches for someone to train Ciri's unique powers. But someone else has an eye on the young girl, someone who understand exactly what the prophecy means - and exactly what Ciri's power can do. This time Geralt may have met his match.

My Thoughts

Wow how awesome the adventure begins
7majkiaJan 7, 11:31am
Off to a great start. Happy New Year.
8RuneFirestarEdited: Jan 12, 12:05am
2.Reputation by Lex Croucher

Blurb

The hilarious debut novel from Lex Croucher. A classic romcom with a Regency-era twist, for fans of Mean Girls and/or Jane Austen.

Abandoned by her parents, middle-class Georgiana Ellers has moved to a new town to live with her dreary aunt and uncle. At a particularly dull party, she meets the enigmatic Frances Campbell, a wealthy member of the in-crowd who lives a life Georgiana couldn't have imagined in her wildest dreams.

Lonely and vulnerable, Georgiana falls in with Frances and her unfathomably rich, deeply improper friends. Georgiana is introduced to a new world: drunken debauchery, mysterious young men with strangely arresting hands, and the upper echelons of Regency society.

But the price of entry to high society might just be higher than Georgiana is willing to pay ...

My Thoughts

This truly is wonderful multiracial regency romp. I found things to love and laugh outloud at in this book along side characters I hugely disliked. Brilliant well crafted story I had to know if right boy and the girl found one another in the end. A splendid way to spend a week or so.
9RuneFirestarJan 14, 7:41pm
3. Her Royal Spyness (Her Royal Spyness #1)
by Rhys Bowen

Blurb
Georgie, aka Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, cousin of King George V of England, is penniless and trying to survive on her own as an ordinary person in London in 1932.

So far she has managed to light a fire and boil an egg... She's gate-crashed a wedding... She's making money by secretly cleaning houses... And she's been asked to spy for Her Majesty the Queen.

Everything seems to be going swimmingly until she finds a body in her bathtub... and someone is definitely trying to kill her.

My Thoughts

NOTE :Please no debate over the time line or whatever. Its Historical fiction .

This is a guilty pleasure and a re read for myself. I throughly enjoy spending time with Georgie , the handsome Darcey and her friends.
10RuneFirestarJan 15, 9:23pm
4. Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1)
by Marissa Meyer

Blurb

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless Lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg.

She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

My Thoughts

This puts one firmly in mind of a fairy tale. A fairy tale with a hidden Princess at its heart.
A perfect reworking of Cindrella but with a plague and cyborgs.

Meyer proves that she is indeed a master of her art creating a well woven reworking of this very old story and giving it a new twist but still keeping that wonderful ball gown.
This will keep you long pasr your bed time with the need to know what will happen next.
11Jim53Jan 16, 1:26pm
>9 RuneFirestar: Thanks for reminding me of this series. I read the first couple a long time ago and enjoyed them, but the series fell by the wayside as newer and shinier things kept popping up. Time to go back to it.
12RuneFirestarJan 22, 1:41pm
5.Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2)
by Marissa Meyer

Blurb
Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles.

She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive. Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life.

When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own. As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.

My Thoughts

Wow! This is awesome!
13RuneFirestarFeb 8, 9:11pm
6. A Spoonful Of Murder by J.M. Hall

Blurb

Retirement can be murder…

Every Thursday, three retired school teachers have their ‘coffee o’clock’ sessions at the Thirsk Garden Centre café.

But one fateful week, as they are catching up with a slice of cake, they bump into their ex-colleague, Topsy.

By the next Thursday, Topsy’s dead.

The last thing Liz, Thelma and Pat imagined was that they would become involved in a murder.

But they know there’s more to Topsy’s death than meets the eye – and it’s down to them to prove it…

Sit down with a cup of tea, a slice of cake and this perfectly witty, page-turning cosy crime novel. Fans of The Thursday Murder Club, Death in Paradise and Midsomer Murders will be hooked from the very first page.

My Thoughts

I love a cozy mystery. This is a beautiful and wonderful story. I loved the snap shots of life and the stories of Jacob and his troubles at school. I adored this sooo very much.

Wonderful read!
14RuneFirestarFeb 18, 3:18am
7. The Beekeeper's Apprentice
(Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes #1)
by Laurie R. King

Blurb

Long retired, Sherlock Holmes quietly pursues his study of honeybee behavior on the Sussex Downs. He never imagines he would encounter anyone whose intellect matched his own, much less an audacious teenage girl with a penchant for detection. Miss Mary Russell becomes Holmes's pupil and quickly hones her talent for deduction, disguises and danger. But when an elusive villain enters the picture, their partnership is put to a real test.

My Thoughts

This was a brilliant read . I didn't know how to feel about it going in but Mary soon found a way into my confidences and I loved it.
15MrsLeeFeb 18, 9:08am
>14 RuneFirestar: If you have not read any Mary Russell stories before, you have many happy reading days ahead of you!
16RuneFirestarFeb 18, 7:37pm
MrsLee I have only just started to get to know Miss Russell and her Holmes. I am enjoying them both very much. I just bought the second book.
17RuneFirestarFeb 18, 7:39pm
8. The Undead Day One
(The Undead #1)
by R.R. Haywood (Goodreads Author)

Blurb

My name is Howie. I was named after my father Howard, but it became too confusing to have two Howards, so I became Howie. I am 27 years old and I work as a night's manager in a supermarket.
I will tell you what happened...

The undead have risen. Within hours all communication has gone and a frantic struggle for survival begins.

Day One: Friday: the world falls apart. A zombie infestation is ravaging Europe. Howie is at home and quickly has to learn this new world as he battles through hordes of undead, desperately trying to reach his family...The Undead Day One, a thrilling new series of zombie horror

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed the frist book iy was awesome!
18RuneFirestarFeb 18, 7:43pm
9. The Undead Day Two (The Undead #2)
by R.R. Haywood

Blurb
My name is Howie. I was named after my father Howard, but it became too confusing to have two Howards, so I became Howie. I am 27 years old and I work as a night's manager in a supermarket.
I will tell you what happened.

On Friday the world fell apart. A zombie infestation has ravaged Europe. Howie was at home and quickly had to learn to fight and survive as he battles through hordes of undead, desperately trying to reach his family.

Now it's Saturday and Howie has to go back to his town. More adventures await him. A Zombie stripper. A Psychotic club owner and a chance encounter with an old work mate who changes everything...The Undead Day Two.

My Thoughts

Still brilliant!
19RuneFirestarFeb 18, 7:49pm
10. The Undead Day Three (The Undead #3)
by R.R. Haywood

Blurb
My name is Howie. I was named after my father Howard, but it became too confusing to have two Howards, so I became Howie. I am 27 years old and I work as a night's manager in a supermarket.
I will tell you what happened.

On Friday the world fell apart. A zombie infestation has ravaged Europe. Howie was at home and quickly had to learn to fight and survive in this new world as he battled through hordes of undead, desperately trying to reach his family...The Undead Day One.

On Saturday he went back to his town but an undead stripper and her psychotic boyfriend awaited him. Then he met Dave and everything changed as they went to war on the undead...The Undead Day Two.

Now it's Sunday, Howie and Dave have to travel across country still searching for Howies family. Their travels bring them into contact with many strange people as they battle with zombies and other survivors...The Undead Day Three
20RuneFirestarEdited: Feb 24, 12:33pm
11. This Charming Man (Stranger Times #2)
by C.K. McDonnell

Blurb
Vampires do not exist. Everyone knows this. So it's particularly annoying when they start popping up around Manchester . . .

Nobody is pleased about it. Not the Founders, the secret organisation for whom vampires were invented as an allegory, nor the Folk, the magical people hidden in plain sight who only want a quiet life. And definitely not the people of Manchester, because there is nothing more irksome than being murdered by an allegory run amok. Somebody needs to sort this out fast before all Hell really breaks loose - step forward the staff of The Stranger Times.

It's not like they don't have enough to be dealing with. Assistant Editor Hannah has come back from getting messily divorced to discover that someone is trying to kidnap a member of their staff and while editor Vincent Banecroft would be delighted to see the back of any of his team, he doesn't like people touching his stuff - it's the principle of the thing.

Throw in a precarious plumbing situation, gambling debts, an entirely new way of swearing, and a certain detective inspector with what could be kindly referred to as 'a lot of baggage' and it all adds up to another hectic week in the life of the newspaper committed to reporting the truth that nobody else will touch.

My Thoughts

I said when I first found The Stranger Times that it was one newspaper that no one would ever accuse of being dull. The same holds true for its Newest installment.

Hannah having survived her frist adventure took a break to sort out her messy love life and work on self improvement. Three weeks later she's finally devoriced and re thinking the need for exercise. She returns to work to find the builders who were hired to build a decent bathroom with showering facilities decided to include a trapdoor to ,kidnap the youngest member of the stranger Times staff, which they left off the building plans....

On top of that there seems to ve a rash if deaths that have all the hallmarks of Vampire kills...and yet She and her Manger are all told the same thing Vampires don't exist!

So with bodys turning up and a desire to know why someone wants The newest and youngest staffer to themselves it's time to figure this out as well as make sure they put out an issue this week!

21tardisFeb 24, 2:14pm
>20 RuneFirestar: Well, I took a hit on the Stranger Times series, but my library doesn't have it. Off to hit the "request this book" button!
22AHS-WolfyFeb 25, 8:37am
>20 RuneFirestar: Urban fantasy set in Manchester sounds right up my street (pun intended). Might be the introduction to Mr. McDonnell that I've been looking for.
23MrsLeeFeb 27, 1:40pm
>20 RuneFirestar: I just started this, will come back and read your review when I've finished. I really enjoyed the first book.
24-pilgrim-Feb 27, 2:10pm
>23 MrsLee: I have read by most of Caimh McDonnell's books set in Ireland, and all his books set in the US. I admit I have been saving these two for a really rainy day.
25RuneFirestarMar 9, 8:33pm
12. The Crossing Gate
(A Waltz of Sin and Fire #1) by Asiel R. Lavie

Blurb

She can’t grow up. Literally.

In the kingdom of Elpax, juveniles must walk through the mysterious Crossing Gate to become adults—and seventeen-year-old Lenora is determined that her third attempt at crossing to adulthood will be successful. Even though adulthood means facing horrible realities, such as sin-spots appearing on her body whenever she commits a sin, it also means being able to have a job. And Lenora needs to work to support her struggling family.

But Lenora's Crossing Day goes horribly wrong.

Accused of trying to start a revolution, Lenora must obey the kingdom's laws to the letter if she wants to take suspicion off herself. But following the rules isn't as easy as it sounds. Especially when she meets a mysterious and handsome stranger who makes her feel emotions she's never experienced before—even though juveniles in Elpax aren't supposed to be capable of falling in love.

With the long arm of the law looming over her and her family, Lenora must walk a tightrope between following the rules and investigating why she's unable to cross. Not to mention discovering where her new adult emotions are coming from. But as Lenora uncovers more of Elpax's terrible secrets, she realizes that fighting the system might be the only way to save her family, her country, and her first love.

My thoughts

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was drawn to this title by the amazing cover art. The innocent looking girl with a crown of flowers almost in an almost manga type style.

Then the quote in Red letters Curiosity is a Sin it was sooo jarring. What could those words possiblely have to do with this innocent girl. I had to know.

That was how I found myself in the Kingdom of Elpax.
Society here is separated by age. Child, Juvenile, and Adult. In order to pass from one stage to the other, you walk through the crossing gate. You go from Juvenile to Adult you must cross for the final time. And you must cross before your 20th birthday. Education in the Kingdom is strictly regulated between the age groups. Only adults can know about things like love and all the things that come along with it.

Our main character is Lenora . Her family is small and consists of her mom , her twin sisters and her the eldest. She works as an artist painting and drawing portraits to boost her families income. Lenora is also fast approaching her Crossing Day when she will move from Juvenile to become an Adult.

Lenora is on her third attempt to make her crossing. She is desperate to be successful. Even though adulthood means facing horrible realities, such as sin-spots appearing on her body whenever she commits a sin.

Will she make it? Join me in this whirlwind of a story to find out

worldbuilding and use of Greek mythology is wonderful and refreshing in young adult dystopian fantasy. I could really identity with Lenora her inability to understand what she was experiencing and her need to have answers.

This is perfect for readers who love Victoria Aveyard's Red Queen.
26RuneFirestarMar 11, 3:15pm
13. The Vampire Knitting Club
(Vampire Knitting Club #1)
by Nancy Warren

Blurb
Vampires who knit
A troublemaking witch
Who killed Granny — and is she really dead?

At a crossroads between a cringe-worthy past (Todd the Toad) and an uncertain future (she's not exactly homeless, but it's close), Lucy Swift travels to Oxford to visit her grandmother. With Gran's undying love to count on and Cardinal Woolsey's, Gran's knitting shop, to keep her busy, Lucy can catch her breath and figure out what she's going to do.

Except it turns out that Gran is the undying. Or at least, the undead. But there's a death certificate. And a will, leaving the knitting shop to Lucy. And a lot of people going in and out who never use the door—including Gran, who is just as loving as ever, and prone to knitting sweaters at warp speed, late at night. What exactly is going on?

When Lucy discovers that Gran did not die peacefully in her sleep, but was murdered, she has to bring the killer to justice without tipping off the law that there's no body in the grave. Between a hot 600-year-old vampire and a dishy detective inspector, both of whom always seem to be there for her, Lucy finds her life getting more complicated than a triple cable cardigan.
The only one who seems to know what's going on is her cat ... or is it ... her familiar?

My Thoughts

When I was gifted this title I wasn't sure it was going to be for me. It sounded silly. I mean can you picture a Vampire wanting to knit? Let alone actually Knitting ? No I couldn't.

I am very glad however to be proven wrong abd I find myself very much enjoying getting to know Lucy her grandmother and all her Vampire friends.
A brilliant start to this serries! I look forward to my next vist to Oxford and cardinal Woolseys
27SakerfalconMar 14, 7:14am
>26 RuneFirestar: This sounds like great fun!
28RuneFirestarMar 15, 12:16pm
Sakerfalcon it really was:)
29RuneFirestarMar 15, 12:44pm
14. Penelope Banks Murder Mysteries #1
A Murder in Long Island

Blurb
A death in a locked room and a house full of suspects…
New York, 1925

Penelope “Pen” Banks has a knack for puzzling things out and the uncanny ability to remember everything she sees. Two talents that have helped her make ends meet, playing cards in clubs and speakeasies. Now, they might just help her discover the true cause of death for a dear old family friend.

Agnes Sterling has been found dead in her Long Island mansion. The official cause of death is ruled a suicide. After all, she was found in her locked bedroom with both the bottle of poison and a final handwritten note on the bed next to her.

Penelope is certain Agnes Sterling’s death was not by her own hand. She’s been summoned to Long Island for the reading of the will along with the other beneficiaries. While there, she plans on doing a little sleuthing to discover what really happened to Agnes.

The surprising terms of the will and a secret letter have Pen all the more certain that foul play was at hand.

A Murder in Long Island is the first book in the Penelope Banks Murder Mysteries set in 1920s New York, with a spirited heroine, witty banter, and twists and turns that will leave you guessing. Perfect for readers who enjoy the feel of a cozy mystery with the excitement and daring of Prohibition and the Jazz Age.

My Thoughts

If you liked Chagicos Roxy Heart and Velma Kelly you will fall in love with Penelope Banks.
Is a throughly modern gal enjoying life to its fullest including playing cards and drinking in local speakeasies.

Just when she thinks life is staring to look a bit blue and her finances grim she is told that her mothers dear friend and has passed away and she's named in the will.

She I'd very dismayed at the loss and soon finds herself in her very own real life locked room mystery.

I love getting to know Pen she is a fantastic character! A perfect way to start out a writer's career!
30RuneFirestarMar 19, 2:24am
14.The Diviners ( The Diviners #1)
Libba Bray

Blurb

SOMETHING DARK AND EVIL HAS AWAKENED… Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult. Evie worries her uncle will discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer. As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho is hiding a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened…
31RuneFirestarMar 19, 2:28am
15. Lair of Dreams (The Diviners #2)
Libba Bray

Blurb

The longing of dreams draws the dead, and this city holds many dreams.

After a supernatural showdown with a serial killer, Evie O’Neill has outed herself as a Diviner. With her uncanny ability to read people’s secrets, she’s become a media darling, earning the title “America’s Sweetheart Seer.” Everyone’s in love with the city’s newest It Girl…everyone except the other Diviners.

Piano-playing Henry DuBois and Chinatown resident Ling Chan are two Diviners struggling to keep their powers a secret—for they can walk in dreams. And while Evie is living the high life, victims of a mysterious sleeping sickness are turning up across New York City.

As Henry searches for a lost love and Ling strives to succeed in a world that shuns her, a malevolent force infects their dreams. And at the edges of it all lurks a man in a stovepipe hat who has plans that extend farther than anyone can guess…As the sickness spreads, can the Diviners descend into the dreamworld to save the city?
32RuneFirestarEdited: Apr 4, 8:36am
16. Star Daughter
By Shveta Thakrar

Blurb

If the night sky holds many secrets, it holds Sheetal Mistry's secret the closest. A secret that explains why her hair is the silver of starlight, or why some nights the stars call Sheetal by name.

Stars like her mother, who returned to her place in the constellation Pushya years ago. Since that day, Sheetal has been forced to hide.

But as her seventeenth birthday draws near, the pull from the sky is growing stronger. So strong that Sheetal loses control, and a flare of starfire burns her human father—an injury only a full star's blood can heal.

Sheetal has no choice but to answer the starsong and ascend to the sky. But her celestial family has summoned her for a reason: to act as their human champion in a competition to decide the next ruling house of heavens.

Desperate to save her father, Sheetal agrees. But nothing could have prepared Sheetal to face the stars' dark history—or the forces that are working to shut the gate between the realms for good.

My Thoughts

Frist I was drawn instantly to the cover art . Its just sooo pretty! The title is done in Golden Metalic so is shines and Sparkles as the lights hit it. There's accents of that sake metallic used on sheetals jewelry , dress and even the lotus she holds. Its shine draws you in.

The story is beautifully told and is essentially about a young girl learning about herself. It explores themes such as duty to family, self discovery , love and friendship. Through it all there is the mythology of India and giving us a whole new host of Mythological creatures that I don't really know all that much about. It made it exciting and new

It's a fantastic story. I look forward to reading more of Shveta Thakrar.
33RuneFirestarApr 10, 8:50am
17.Rose Petal Graves
(The Lost Clan #1)
By Olivia Wildenstein

Blurb

I wasn't the type of girl who believed in fairytales, much less tales about faeries, but that changed the day the fae walked into my life.

Staying away from my lakeside hometown was the plan, but Mom died suddenly. Dad said she suffered a stroke after she dug up one of the ancient Native American graves in our backyard.

Creepy, I know. Creepier still, there was no corpse inside the old coffin, only fresh rose petals.

As we made preparations for her burial, unnervingly odd and beautiful newcomers poured into my small town. A coroner with emerald eyes and black hair, much too young for the job. An arrogant blond socialite, who lived to get under my skin. And a tattooed Native man, who wasn’t supposed to be alive.

By dying, my mother had inadvertently revived an age-old feud between the fae and the tribe that hunted them.

A feud that was about to tear my world apart.

My Thoughts

Frist I received this audio book via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I am left with mixed feelings about this book. I don't know if I really liked it or not.

The things I really liked were Catori and the picture the Author created of her home town.

A small place with good people and a sense of community where everyone can for the most part trust their neighbours.

The Native America folk lore and vocabulary were really awesome. However it did seem to get sidelined for no real reason.

The pacing was good but all in all I am left feeling like I missed large parts of the main story. I might look out for the second one but I won't be sad if I miss it.

34Jim53Apr 12, 10:04pm
>29 RuneFirestar: I took a hit on this one. Great description!
35RuneFirestarMay 6, 4:54pm
18 . The Good Turn
by Sharna Jackson

Blurb

A sharp, funny middle grade adventure with themes of real-life activism and how to help others for fans of The Goonies and The London Eye Mystery.

Josephine Williams is a future-focused, internet-loving eleven-year-old who is desperate to explore the world beyond her cul-de-sac - and her browser.

When she learns about Josephine Holloway - a woman who started the first Girl Scout Troop for Black girls in America - she's certain she must start her own.

Enlisting her friends Margot Anderson and Wesley Evans, the trio begin their quest for their Camping Badge. Drawn to an abandoned factory nearby, they stumble across something strange. A square, ancient television and two tatty armchairs. Beside it, a wooden sideboard with an old photograph of a young, happy couple.

My Thoughts

I recieved this from Netgalley in return for a honest review.

I appiled for a spot for the review team because it was listed as a middle school mystery.

I have a soft spot for mysteries so that had me hooked.
I also liked the cover art.

What I got wasnt quiet what i expected. The story centered on three pre teens. One was an over ogranized , enthusastic life planner type, the other was kinda the main non adult of his house and the lasr was a new commer who fell in with them just because?

I liked the slices of life , but it didnt add anything tp the story and after they find out the mystery is two older adults with immigration issues which force them to live like squatters it seems like a let down

I have come away from this read not feeling anything and that doesnt make me feel good.
36RuneFirestarMay 6, 9:38pm
19. The Silver Pigs
(Marcus Didius Falco #1)
by Lindsey Davis

Blurb

When Marcus Didius Falco, a Roman "informer" who has a nose for trouble that's sharper than most, encounters Sosia Camillina in the Forum, he senses immediately all is not right with the pretty girl. She confesses to him that she is fleeing for her life, and Falco makes the rash decision to rescue her—a decision he will come to regret. For Sosia bears a heavy burden: as heavy as a pile of stolen Imperial ingots, in fact. Matters just get more complicated when Falco meets Helena Justina, a Senator's daughter who is connected to the very same traitors he has sworn to expose. Soon Falco finds himself swept from the perilous back alleys of Ancient Rome to the silver mines of distant Britain—and up against a cabal of traitors with blood on their hands and no compunction whatsoever to do away with a snooping plebe like Falco….

The Silver Pigs is Lindsey Davis' classic novel which introduced readers around the world to Marcus Didius Falco, a private informer with a knack for trouble, a tendency for bad luck, and a frequently inconvenient drive for justice.
37RuneFirestarMay 6, 9:40pm
20. Shadows in Bronze
(Marcus Didius Falco #2)
by Lindsey Davis

Blurb

Can the hero of Silver Pigs satisfy the emperor he works for and the woman he pines for without getting himself killed? With readers and critics hungry for his further adventures, Ancient Roman gumshoe Marcus Didius Falco really has no choice.
38RuneFirestarMay 6, 9:43pm
21. Venus in Copper
(Marcus Didius Falco #3)
by Lindsey Davis

Blurb

Marcus Didius Falco, Imperial Rome's answer to Columbo, is hired by relatives of a wealthy real estate developer, Hortensius, to find his murderer. What Falco uncovers is a hotbed of crime in the unscrupulous business dealings of Hortensius. The third book in the series of amusing, romantic detective thrillers set in ancient Rome.
39RuneFirestarMay 6, 9:45pm
22. The Iron Hand of Mars
(Marcus Didius Falco #4)
by Lindsey Davis

Blurb

Imperial Rome's answer to Columbo stars in his fourth adventure in this series of detective thrillers set in ancient Rome. Falco is sent on an undercover mission to Roman Germany to locate a high-ranking Roman officer, who was sent as a "present" to a sinister tribal prophetess. Maps.
40RuneFirestarMay 6, 10:00pm
23. The Undead Day Four
(The Undead #4)
by R.R. Haywood

Blurb

My name is Howie. I was named after my father Howard, but it became too confusing to have two Howards, so I became Howie. I am 27 years old and I work as a night’s manager in a supermarket.
I will tell you what happened.

On Friday the world fell apart. A zombie infestation has ravaged Europe. Howie was at home and quickly had to learn to fight and survive in this new world as he battled through hordes of undead, desperately trying to reach his family...The Undead Day One.

On Saturday he went back to his town but an undead stripper and her psychotic boyfriend awaited him. Then he met Dave and everything changed as they went to war on the undead...The Undead Day Two.

On Sunday, Howie and Dave have to travel across country still searching for Howies family. Their travels bring them into contact with many strange people as they battle with zombies and other survivors...The Undead Day Three.

Monday. Day Four. Howie and Dave have to battle their way out of the police station and make a disturbing discovery. They finally reach Salisbury Army Training Centre and find a massive army of undead soldier zombies, new recruits, an arrogant and cowardly officer and more battles. Meanwhile the infection is learning to control new species…The Undead Day Four.
41RuneFirestarJul 1, 7:01pm
24.Supermums And So It Begins
by Meg Grace

Blurb

A trio of ordinary mothers have their lives turned upside down when they suddenly develop superpowers.

Jessica James is a hard-working single mum about to turn 41 who, while dealing with bake sales and ballet competitions for her twelve-year-old daughter, discovers a strange portal in her back yard.

The energy from the portal starts giving Jess and her friends some exciting side effects, such as super-pep to get things done, a convenient garbage disposal and improving their yoga skills out of sight. Portal baking becomes a regular activity for the friends (while drinking Margaritas), but soon their bodies start to morph with animal like super skills, sending tidal waves of chaos through their lives.

With a professional career, a blossoming teen, and a persistent ex-husband who wants her back, Jess is barely coping. Add an otherworldly beau who is not all he seems, an evil developer who has his sights set on the portal, a blackmailing boss and gigantic wings that have sprouted overnight – well – being late for work is a certainty.

My thoughts

Fristly I loved the cover. It was super neat.

Secondly from the moment I walked into to Fernvale I knew I was going to enjoy spending time there. It has real Middleton vibes to it.

After getting to know Jess and her family and friends I am pretty sure I know exactly where i would fit in.

I am pretty sure Wanda and I would be drinking buddies. Bree and myself would be the arts and crafts type moms and Jess would just be glad that the mess wasn't at her house.

add in a magic portal that give everyone their own special gifts with a side of sexy man candy and you have something that is amazingly fun and easy to read.

Loved every page!
42RuneFirestarJul 1, 7:25pm
Well my fellow book dragons I have a confession. I am 29 books behind on achieving my reading goals for this year.

Its just been hugely busy and hugely challenging so reading hasnt been easy. I'm not giving up! But I am gonna state for record that i dont think it will happen this year.

Kinda sad but not gonna beat myself up about it either. :)
43MrsLeeJul 1, 8:28pm
>42 RuneFirestar: You seem to be enjoying what you read when you get time to read, that is the important part. :)
44libraryperilousJul 5, 12:49pm
>42 RuneFirestar: Better to read fewer good books than lots of bad ones. But I hope you pull through!
45RuneFirestarEdited: Jul 8, 7:25pm
25.Harrow the Ninth
(The Locked Tomb #2)
by Tamsyn Muir

Blurb
Harrow the Ninth, the sequel to Gideon the Ninth, turns a galaxy inside out as one necromancer struggles to survive the wreckage of herself aboard the Emperor's haunted space station.

She answered the Emperor's call.

She arrived with her arts, her wits, and her only friend.

In victory, her world has turned to ash.

After rocking the cosmos with her deathly debut, Tamsyn Muir continues the story of the penumbral Ninth House in Harrow the Ninth, a mind-twisting puzzle box of mystery, murder, magic, and mayhem. Nothing is as it seems in the halls of the Emperor, and the fate of the galaxy rests on one woman's shoulders.

Harrowhark Nonagesimus, last necromancer of the Ninth House, has been drafted by her Emperor to fight an unwinnable war. Side-by-side with a detested rival, Harrow must perfect her skills and become an angel of undeath — but her health is failing, her sword makes her nauseous, and even her mind is threatening to betray her.

Sealed in the gothic gloom of the Emperor's Mithraeum with three unfriendly teachers, hunted by the mad ghost of a murdered planet, Harrow must confront two unwelcome questions: is somebody trying to kill her? And if they succeeded, would the universe be better off?

My Thoughts

Note: before reading this read the frist one. Gideon The Ninth

There are soo many things to say about this book. But to say them betrays the story. It made me rage for days, at one point I archived the book and refused to go any further because I just couldn't believe the nonsense I was being subjected to. But after awhile I came back settled and read and admittedly reread chapters . It's one hell of a trip! But oh my god its soooo worth it!

46RuneFirestarJul 19, 7:18am
26.This Place is Still Beautiful
by XiXi Tian

Blurb
Two sisters. A shocking racist incident. The summer that will change both of their lives forever.

Despite having had near-identical upbringings, sisters Annalie and Margaret agree on only one thing: that they have nothing in common. Nineteen-year-old Margaret is driven, ambitious, and keenly aware of social justice issues. She couldn't wait to leave their oppressive small-town home and take flight in New York. Meanwhile sweet, popular, seventeen-year-old Annalie couldn't think of anything worse - she loves their town, and feels safe coasting along in its confines.

That is, until she arrives home one day to find a gut-punching racial slur painted on their garage door.

Outraged, Margaret flies home, expecting to find her family up in arms. Instead, she's amazed to hear they want to forget about it. Their mom is worried about what it might stir up, and Annalie just wants to have a 'normal' summer - which Margaret is determined to ruin, apparently.

Back under each other's skins, things between Margaret and Annalie get steadily worse - and not even the distraction of first love (for Annalie), or lost love (for Margaret) can bring them together.

Until finally, a crushing secret threatens to tear them apart forever.

A beautiful and powerful story about race, family, and the secrets we keep.

My Thoughts

I was given this book by Netgalley in return for a fair and honest review.
I was frist drawn in by the cover. The two girls so alike and yet very diffrent and the town below them. I couldn't stop studying it.

Then I read the Blurb and I was hooked yet again. This is at its heart about learning to be a family and yet also being an individual and figuring out how to mesh the two.

Interwoven you have romances, friendships, and social issues like how the two sisters deal with the hate crime that rocked their family, as well as cultural responsibility. And how they are a mix of Chinese and non Chinese.

It's beautiful and poetic and very powerful. It leaves a lasting impression.

47RuneFirestarJul 21, 2:45pm
28. Whispers Under Ground
by Ben Aaronovitch

Blurb

In Tufnell Park, North London, a set of railway tracks run under a school playground, leading to and from King's Cross. Wet, filthy, dangerous. Lovely place. And one Sunday before Christmas, Abigail Kamara, one of my endless brood of cousins, dragged me and my long-suffering colleague Lesley May down there to look for a ghost.

We found one.

And that was that, I thought come Monday. First case of the day: Person Unknown has been stabbed to death on the tracks at Baker Street Underground. Magic may have been involved. Sure enough, the weapon turns out to be saturated in the tell-tale traces left by magic.

But Person Unknown turns out to be the son of a US senator, so before you can say "international incident", FBI agent Kimberley Reynolds and her firmly held religious beliefs are on my case.

And down in the dark, in the Tube tunnels of London, along with the buried rivers and remnants of Victorian sewer systems, I'm hearing some really strange things..
48RuneFirestarJul 21, 2:46pm
Don't know what happened to 27 I think I clicked the last book twice but we are just gonna go with it. :)
49RuneFirestarJul 21, 2:54pm
29.Broken Homes
(Rivers of London #4)
by Ben Aaronovitch

Blurb

A mutilated body in Crawley. Another killer on the loose. The prime suspect is one Robert Weil; an associate of the twisted magician known as the Faceless Man? Or just a common or garden serial killer?

Before PC Peter Grant can get his head round the case a town planner going under a tube train and a stolen grimoire are adding to his case-load.

So far so London.

But then Peter gets word of something very odd happening in Elephant and Castle, on a housing estate designed by a nutter, built by charlatans and inhabited by the truly desperate.

Is there a connection?

And if there is, why oh why did it have to be South of the River?
50RuneFirestarJul 21, 2:57pm
30.Foxglove Summer
by Ben Aaronovitch
Rivers of London #5

Blurb

In the fifth of his bestselling series Ben Aaronovitch takes Peter Grant out of whatever comfort zone he might have found and takes him out of London - to a small village in Herefordshire where the local police are reluctant to admit that there might be a supernatural element to the disappearance of some local children. But while you can take the London copper out of London you can't take the London out of the copper.

Travelling west with Beverley Brook, Peter soon finds himself caught up in a deep mystery and having to tackle local cops and local gods. And what's more all the shops are closed by 4pm ..
51RuneFirestarJul 21, 7:04pm
31.The Furthest Station
(Rivers of London #5.5)
by Ben Aaronovitch

Blurb
There have been ghosts on the London Underground, sad, harmless spectres whose presence does little more than give a frisson to travelling and boost tourism. But now there's a rash of sightings on the Metropolitan Line and these ghosts are frightening, aggressive and seem to be looking for something.

Enter PC Peter Grant junior member of the Metropolitan Police's Special Assessment unit AKA The Folly AKA the only police officers whose official duties include ghost hunting. Together with Jaget Kumar, his counterpart at the British Transport Police, he must brave the terrifying the crush of London's rush hour to find the source of the ghosts.

Joined by Peter's wannabe wizard cousin, a preschool river god and Toby the ghost hunting dog their investigation takes a darker tone as they realise that a real person's life might just be on the line.

And time is running out to save them.

With this new novella, bestselling author Ben Aaronovitch has crafted yet another wickedly funny and surprisingly affecting chapter in his beloved Rivers of London series.
52RuneFirestarJul 23, 10:00pm
32.The Hanging Tree
(Rivers of London #6)
by Ben Aaronovitch

Blurb

The Hanging Tree was the Tyburn gallows which stood where Marble Arch stands today. Oxford Street was the last trip of the condemned. Some things don't change. The place has a bloody and haunted legacy and now blood has returned to the empty Mayfair mansions of the world's super-rich. And blood mixed with magic is a job for Peter Grant.

Peter Grant is back as are Nightingale et al. at the Folly and the various river gods, ghosts and spirits who attach themselves to England's last wizard and the Met's reluctant investigator of all things supernatural.
53RuneFirestarToday, 10:15am
33.The Reluctant Vampire Queen
by Jo Simmons

Blurb

Meet Mo Merrydrew - independent young woman, Mini Battenberg fan, president of the debating society - and reluctant vampire queen ...
Fifteen-year-old Mo Merrydrew isn't exactly expecting to be asked to be Vampire Queen of Great Britain when she's cycling home from school one wet Tuesday evening. Apparently, she is 'the Chosen One'. Aside from being uncomfortable with the idea of unelected power (not very democratic), there's the blood drinking to consider (Mo is a vegetarian), and frankly it's just not really the sort of role Mo's looking for (she wants to aim for a real job in politics). But - if you're Vampire Queen, you probably don't have to do PE any more, and when the dreamy Luca, a vampire familiar, turns up, it all suddenly starts to look a bit more appealing ...

My Thoughts

I was given this book by Netgalley in return for a honest review.

It was the title that caught my attention more than anything else. The Relucant Vampire Queen... I had to wonder what would make a vampire hesitate to take a position of power.

Enter Mo Merrydrew an over achiving life planner. She has a best friend who eats mini Battenbergs with her and is there in general.

They also get bullied by your typical mean girl who acts like she owns everything.

One Day a 600 year old Vampire tells her shes The Chosen One and its her destiny to become The Vampire Queen.

Mo is certain this isnt for her and tells said vamp thanks but I gotta pass.. being a Vamp cramps my style and interfears with my life plan .... until a cute boy enters the picture...

This book has been discribed as Geek girl meets Buffy. This is an insult to both.

It has some moments but I just dont feel like it was worth it.

The interplay between the characters is brilliantly funny; the scenes between Bogdan - a 600 year old vampire - and Mo are so witty that I found myself going back and reading some of them again and the banter between Mo and her best friend Lou is incredibly realistic. Younger ones will love it!

This book is not your typical vampire story at all but don't let that put you off. Its a wonderful take on teenage angst, growing up & everything in between. Think buffy meets Georgia Nicholson from angus thongs and full frontal snogging.
Thank you to netgalley & Hot Key Books for providing this ARC for review.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a super cute and fun YA vampire book. I liked how Mo seemed believable as a character and you really went on a journey with her as a reader. The writing was done in a way that the pace never felt weird or off, and i think this helped tell the story as well as it did. I feel like the big drama and threats were good but there were certain places where the tension could've been ramped up a bit more.

Fifteen-year-old, Mo Merrydew, is minding her own business when Bogdan, a vampire king accosts her and tells her that she is the chosen one and be a Vampire Queen.

This is a fun story with some lovely touches throughout and plays on familiar vampire tropes. Mo is an enjoyable main character who is engaging and reminded me a little of Georgia Nicolson but with Buffy vibes.

I’d recommend this for younger teens, but also any fans of light hearted and fun stories, and mini Battenberg!

If you like young YA then this book is for you, I loved the premise of this book, but it’s more high school romcom with vampires thrown in rather than a true vampire book.
A very quick easy read, but I wanted more, but for a young reader then this book will do the job nicely

This is a vampire book like no other! I laughed the whole way through, craved mini battenbergs the entire time I was reading it, and will never look at sheep the same way again!

The Reluctant Vampire Queen introduces Mo, a proud feminist, vegetarian, democracy advocate, potential politician and mini battenberg enthusiast. For those not familiar with mini battenbergs, they are miniature cakes covered in a layer of marzipan. When we meet Mo first, she doesn't appear to have time for anything apart from her studies, her best friend Lou and Mr Kipling's tastiest treats.



Mo and Lou experience all the typical teen trials including embarrassing parents and being terrorised by local bullies. But Mo is entirely focused on 'The Plan' she has devised for future success and won't be sidetracked by anything, not even romance. That all changes when a vampire called Bogdan decides she is 'The Chosen One' and pronounces her the next Vampire Queen.
As her world turns upside down (and many worms are turned inside out), Mo has some important and life-changing choices to make. Her decisions will have far-reaching consequences. Can Mo stay true to herself and make a positive impact as a prominent ruler in the world of the undead? Is it possible to juggle being a teenage girl with the demands of being a queen? And will Mo manage to remain human throughout the whole process? You'll have to read the book to find out! I loved all the dialogue and often found myself laughing out loud at the exchanges, especially where Bogdan was concerned. Despite all the humour and the many surreal aspects, it explores important issues such as consent, bullying, the pressures of school and the challenges of friendship. Best suited to age 12 and upwards, this is a fun summer read that's full of surprises!

📚 r e v i e w 📚
the reluctant vampire queen - jo simmons
fun fact: i love a vampire novel. 🧛🏻‍♂️
seriously, the trashier, the better and this struck that balance between trash, cheese and lols.
i mean, when you have revision to do, plans to become prime minister and bullies to deal with, the last thing you need is for a 600 year old vampire and his super hot familiar to turn up and declare that you are the “chosen” one who must rule over britain’s vampire community, which is precisely what happens to mo on her way home from school one day.
this book is simply ridiculous but in the most entertaining way, it’s almost buffy like in its campy humour and it doesnt take itself too seriously, which honestly was exactly what i needed in this hot weather. i was melting, so no extra brain cells to spare on complicated books!
this wont win any awards and it doesnt add anything to the genre but it is a great summer read for the teens in your life - thank you @netgalley for the early copy!


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I struggled with this one because it was a bit weird! I liked the plot but it was just a bit bizarre. I couldn't understand why the main character was chosen, this was not explained at all. I thought it was quite funny but not really my kind of thing

Thank you to Bonnier Books UK and NetGalley for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This would be the perfect vampire book for a 9-12 year old. Truly, it would. The story is fun and lighthearted, with just the right amount of comedy and drama for that readership. Unfortunately it is marketed as a Teen/YA novel with comparisons to Buffy.

Main character Mo is described as being 15/16 however she - and her classmates - read as much younger making expectations for the characters difficult to gauge.

The premise itself is fun, well paced and comical and it really is a new twist on the typical vampire story. But unfortunately I feel it is far better suited to a younger reader and this is why I struggled with the title so much.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I would say this book is more aimed at ages 10-14 than the later teenage years, as I found it quite tame in its themes. But it was a fun read and girls particularly should enjoy it. I'm not sure the comparison to Buffy does it any favours, as the tone is completely different. But I did like the emphasis on friendship and honesty and think those are good messages for a book of this type.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was well written, entertaining and was overall just a very good story. I loved the feminist energy of the main character and how their story developed and was resolved.

It was easy to read but also very enjoyable and so I cannot recommend it enough!

This was a really interesting plot - I haven’t seen a vampire story done this way before so I was intrigued from the outset. I’m sure this will be a big hit with teens and younger readers, although I thought the narrative was a little stilted at times and designed for a far younger audience than it could appeal to but this improved as the book progressed.
It would have been great to see a bit more character interaction so we could better know the side characters as it was very much focused on Mo and a lot on her telling of the story so it was hard to connect with any other characters.
I like the humour and the strength and determination in Mo’s character, as well as her friendship with Lou.
The parenting seemed very disinterested throughout though and perhaps as an adult I notice this more than a younger reader would but there were some serious warning signs at multiple points in the book that Mo’s mum doesn’t engage with.

I received The Reluctant Vampire Queen for free in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much for my advanced copy!

This was a very sweet read. It was fast-paced and very engaging - I finished it in two days! I really liked our main character Mo - she was fierce, passionate and a true believer of standing up for the little guy. Some parts were definitely a little cheesy but it added to the charm of the story. I'd say that this is more of a younger YA or even middle grade type of story but that didn't affect my enjoyment of it! It is a great way to get younger readers into the vampire genre.

This book had an exciting premise and I really thought that I would enjoy it but unfortunately it wasn't for me. It was advertised as a YA story but it felt more middle grade and was just too basically written. The characters were also a bit boring and the plot seemed to get more ridiculous as the story went on. Unfortunately this book wasn't for me but it would be a great book for younger children who enjoy unconventional vampire characters with a bit of humour.

Mo is a hardworking teenager with a plan. She’s going to study and make something of herself. She’s not expecting to meet a 600 year old vampire while walking home one night who frees her the chance to become a vampire queen. A funny and light hearted YA read that I enjoyed,