The Hand on the Wall Review

45240918The Hand on the Wall continues straight off where The Vanishing Stair finished off.  Stevie has solved the case and she now knows who Truly Devious is and who was behind Iris and Alice’s disappearance. At least, she thinks she has. After the latest tragedy with Dr Fenton it’s hard to concentrate on the past but she has a feeling that everything that is happening in the present has a connection to the past.

I liked that Stevie really maintains her curiosity and conviction throughout the series. Her commitment to the school and the mystery over the deaths both past and present really kept me engaged in the story line. 

Some of David’s actions came across a little strange. After his beat down at the end of the last book and his subsequent disappearance felt a little off and weird. When we are given an explanation I didn’t quite find it believable in a way. His dad was always this imposing figure in the background during the course of the series and I’m not quite sure what his purpose was. He isn’t really present for a lot of the book and I don’t really think that whole plot line was necessary.

Once again I really enjoyed the camaraderie between all of the other students at the school, especially between Janene and Stevie. Their friendship I thought was quite special; Janene is so supportive of Stevie and understands her limits and Stevie even though she is all wrapped up in the mystery and unravelling the clues she will still always show up when Janene needs her. 

The almost manic nature of Stevie’s thoughts mixed with the building anticipation over the course of the plot kept the pace quite fast.  I was definitely surprised when Stevie explained who was behind everything and I was very much satisfied with  the conclusion.

⭐️4/5  a solid ending to a very entertaining series!!

Stay Home Reading Rush TBR

Soooo I have made the last minute decision to participate in the Stay Home Reading Rush which started today and finishes on Sunday 19th April. I participated in the Reading Rush last year and had a lot of fun, so I figured why not encourage people to stay home, socially isolate yourself and read all weekend!!! 

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Read a book with a house on the cover!

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

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Read a book in the same room the whole time!

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

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Read a book set somewhere you wish you could go!

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

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Read a book that will make you smile!

You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

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Books I Enjoyed but rarely talk about

This weeks Top Ten Tuesday prompt is the perfect opportunity to showcase 10 books I really loved but haven’t had a chance to talk about in a while. I find usually I will post a review for a book and then won’t really bring it back up again. I highly recommend all of these books and their series!

aUndead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson

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Tower of Dawn by Sarah J Maas

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Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

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Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

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Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh

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To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

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The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

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The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

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Dance of Thieves by Mary E Pearson

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The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

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House of Earth and Blood Review

*SPOILERS BELOW*

44778083This book killed me! Sarah J Maas really got me invested in Danika and the Pack of Devils right from the start and to then rip them away really hit me in the feels. Especially Connor, oh my poor heart!

Bryce is a half elf half human who works as an antiquity assistant to a sorceress by day and loves to party and with her friends at night, until one fateful night when everything changes and her life is never the same again.

I absolutely loved Bryce as our main protagonist. She has had to deal with so much over the course of the storyline and even though she keeps secrets from those around her she stayed true to herself. She doesn’t compromise and is unapologetically living her life regardless of what people think about her. The overall situation with Danika was heartbreaking and the fact that all the blame was placed on Bryce and we see how it has affected her was an emotional rollercoaster.

I think it was destined for me to love Hunt, a broody, sexy angel who is a slave to the Arch Angel Governor of the city after a failed rebellion (uh duh). I like that even though he is portrayed as an alphahole he still expresses his emotions to Bryce and communicates with her about how he is feeling, albeit a little harsh at times. Their romance was obvious right from the start but I liked that even though it was apparent they were attracted to each other they didn’t give in right away. Bryce had to accept what happened in the past and come to terms with the guilt she felt over Connor and Hunt needed to realize he is able to love someone else.

It was a little info dumpy at the start of the book, especially when the world is established. It just jumps straight into the political system of Lunathion and breaks down all the different houses and factions within the houses. It was a little hard to get settled into the story, but after the first 100 or pages I was very much invested!

All of the characters were distinct and diverse and all had a part to play in the overall plot. Fury I was a little unsure of after learning how she ghosted Bryce for the two years after the murder and I felt she never really apologized for it. I would love to get more perspectives from her in the future as she interests me!

From that first twist at the start I wasn’t able to predict anything that was going to happen next. The forced partnership between Bryce and Hunt, the investigation, the revelations, everything came together perfectly for me and even though it was over 800 pages I flew through this book!

⭐️5/5 Through love, all is possible.