book blogger – Page 188 – Amy Leigh Reads

June Wrap Up

July 1, 2020July 1, 2020by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment

I’ve had a pretty average reading month in June. No outstanding new favourites unfortunately but I did really like everything I did end up picking up, which is always a bonus! I’ve started a couple of new series which excites me and even though it was predominately fantsay I felt like I had a good variety of books.

Storm Front by Jim Butcher – ⭐️4/5 stars

House of Hades by Rick Riordan – ⭐️4/5 stars

Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw – ⭐️4/5 stars

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell – ⭐️3/5 stars

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon – ⭐️3/5 stars

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman – ⭐️4/5 stars

The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White – ⭐️3/5 stars

Fool Moon by Jim Butcher – ⭐️4/5 stars

Furyborn by Claire Legrand – ⭐️4/5 stars

The Secrets We Hide by Becca Steele – ⭐️3/5 stars

The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo – ⭐️3/5 stars

City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty – ⭐️4/5 stars

Top Ten Tuesdays

Anticipated Releases 2020 Update

June 30, 2020July 11, 2020by amyleighreads24 Comments

This week’s Top 10 Tuesday prompt is my most anticipated releases for the second half of 2020. These are all books that are either sequels or continuations of series that I am loving or it has a blurb that has sucked me in and I can’t wait to read it!

The Damned by Renee Ahdieh (expected publication: July 7th 2020)

53131137

Burn our Bodies Down by Rory Power (expected publication: July 7th 2020)

52748041._SX318_SY475_

Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townshend (expected publication: August 18th 2020)

46113778._SX318_

Blood and Honey by Shelby Mahurin (expected publication: September 1st 2020)

40550366

The Memory of Babel by Christelle Dabos (expected publication: September 8th 2020)

51184571._SX318_

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik (expected publication: September 29th 2020)

50548197

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab (expected publication: October 6th 2020)

50623864

Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson (expected publication: November 17th 2020)

17250966._SY475_

A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir (expected publication: December 1st 2020)

31520883._SY475_

Reviews

Furyborn Review

June 29, 2020June 29, 2020by amyleighreads1 Comment

34323570 Furyborn is a dual perspective novel about Eliana and Rielle; two young women set 1000 years apart that are the focus of an ancient prophecy

Rielle I am a bit ambivalent towards to be completely honest. I wasn’t all that invested in her character even though she was one of the main protagonists. She just came across a little too arrogant and conceited. Yes she has had to overcome a lot of obstacle hiding her powers for so many years and having to deal with the guilt of her mother’s death, but there was just something about her that rubbed me the wrong way. I think it has to do with letting Corien into her mind so easily, especially after finding out what he was and still perpetuating his attachment to her.

Eliana was frustrating at times as well. Again I can understand why she chose to be the assassin of the empire for so many years but when she tried to betray the resistance and almost murder those 300ish people for her own selfish reasons it really soured her for me. She does redeem herself though and sees the error of her ways, but I just wish she was a little more open to those around her and wasn’t so closed off and snappish all the time.

Simon definitely intrigues me the most! What happened when he let go of the thread at the start and how did he come to be under the employ of the emperor? Broody, secretive, sullen male protagonists are a crutch for me, I guess I give them a bit more leeway than female protagonists who have the same characteristics but that’s just me…

Even though our two female protagonists got on my nerves it didn’t take away from the story at all. Every character really has that morally grey, ambiguous nature where you don’t really know what side they are truly on. It raises the stakes consistently and maintains a level of unpredictability throughout the course of the story line.

I loved the dual timeline and seeing how the world differs between the two. I am very much invested in the story and want to find out more about what happened during that two year window between Rielle, Audric and Corien. The world building was wonderful, the juxtaposition between the two countries and how the perception of magic has changed over time.

⭐️4/5 stars I was invested from the start!

Reviews

Fool Moon Review

June 26, 2020June 26, 2020by amyleighreads2 Comments

91477 Fool Moon is the second book in the Dresden Files; it takes place around 6 months after the first book finished. Harry’s relationship with Detective Murphy has been fractured and he has to gain back her trust, whilst in the middle of a murder investigation involving werewolves.

I liked the fact that Harry has remained pretty consistent throughout the series so far. He openly acknowledges his inadequacies and his fears and is actively trying to remedy them. His leap without looking characteristic is still very much prevalent and again keeps me highly entertained! I think his attitude towards woman can do with a little work but it’s nothing that outwardly offends me. I’m still highly intrigued with his background, especially since we are given just a little more information during the book, just enough to keep me engaged and wanting to know more!

I’m starting to see a pattern of Harry pushing himself to his breaking point, running out of magic or magical weapons and still being able to come back and save the day. Hopefully the narrative evolves a little more and we get a different structure as the series continues, as I can see myself getting a little bored of the predictability of it all.

Again, all of the characters in the book serve a purpose and even if they seem insignificant at the start can become quite integral in the end. We are introduced to a lot of new characters that was a little difficult to keep track of at the start, even towards the end I was struggling to remember who was who and which gang they belonged to. Because the pacing is so fast we aren’t given a lot of time on character development, it’s pretty much just all about Harry and the couple of other regular characters in the plot.

As the time frame is so short and it was so action packed I was always entertained and eager to read on to see what would happen next. These books are also quite dark and macabre; Jim Butcher has no qualms about blood and gore and really goes into detail about the murders, which definitely raises the stakes! Harry is such an enigmatic character that has me willing to just enjoy all of the action and not really have to focus.

⭐️4/5 A thoroughly entertaining read!