Tag: August

Posted in C.G. Drews, Emily Lloyd-Jones, Reading, Review

Best Reads of the Year (So Far)

Posted on by Tegan Anderson

I’ve been reflecting on what I’ve read so far this year, and I’ve been making reviews for the advanced copies and did the Mid-Year Book Tag for YouTube, but I wanted to spend a little more time talking about my favourite reads of the year so far and collect those thoughts in one place. I did a video version of this last year for what I believed to be the best books of the year (so far), but since then I’ve accepted that some of the books I love to read may not necessarily be the best of books. This list will be in no particular order, just vaguely chronological, so let’s begin!

Continue reading “Best Reads of the Year (So Far)” →
Posted in Review

Unraveller by Frances Hardinge | ARC REVIEW

Posted on by Tegan Anderson

This is the first book this year that I’ve rated five stars and not had a single doubt about that rating. I finally dipped into reading Frances Hardinge this year after years of having her on my shelves and I regret that I didn’t start sooner. I received an advanced ebook copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, but I already preordered a copy of this and I will be rereading it the second it arrives.

In a world where anyone can create a life-destroying curse, Kellen has the power to unravel them. He doesn’t fully understand his talent but helps those transformed maliciously – including Nettle, who recovered from entrapment in bird form and is now his constant companion and closest ally. But Kellen has also been cursed, and unless he and Nettle can remove his curse, Kellen is in danger of unravelling everything – and everyone – around him.

Continue reading “Unraveller by Frances Hardinge | ARC REVIEW” →
Posted in Emily Lloyd-Jones, Review

The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones [ARC REVIEW]

Posted on by Tegan Anderson

She could not slay her own fears. But as for the men who’d made her afraid – they could bleed.

The Drowned Woods is another book that I’ve fallen completely in love with due to it hitting so many of my niche interests. A water diviner girl (the last of her kind), a fae-cursed boy, a chaotic-good heir to a thieves guild, and a corgi who may or may not be a spy. Along with three other characters, they’re on a quest to destroy a magical well that keeps the prince’s lands safe. It’s a story about folklores and magic and heists. It’s wonderful.

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Posted in Review

The Hollow Heart [ARC REVIEW]

Posted on by Tegan Anderson

An eARC of this book was received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Hollow Heart was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, even though I only found out about and read the first book a week before requesting the ARC. This book is narrated by Nirrim, Sid, and a third narrator, so I’m going to split this review into each of their perspectives. This review will also contain spoilers for The Midnight Lie, but all The Hollow Heart spoilers will be removed.

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Posted in Review

Take Me With You When You Go [ARC REVIEW]

Posted on by Tegan Anderson

I wanted to take some time to sit with this book before writing this review, but I received an eARC in exchange for a review and the book is released at the end of the month so I am pressed for time. So, as a disclaimer, I will say that these are my fresh undeveloped thoughts, written an hour or so after finishing reading.

Take Me With You When You Go is described as a story of hope, siblinghood, and finding your home in the people who matter most, so I think I will break this review down into those categories.

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Posted in Review, Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas [REVIEW]

Posted on by Tegan Anderson

After many months of my friend peer-pressuring me to read this and finally finding it in my local library, I finally read Throne of Glass.

This book started with an incredible premise: the most notorious assassin in the land is now a slave and is being offered to win back her freedom in a ‘to-the-death’ tournament (although this becomes ‘almost-to-the-death). For me, it went downhill from there. Continue reading “Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas [REVIEW]” →

Posted in Review, Uncategorized

Aphrodite Made Me Do It by Trisha Mateer [REVIEW]

Posted on by Tegan Anderson

I received this book as an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a poetry and prose collection about selfcare, retelling Aphrodite’s empowering story through the past and present. I think this is the best poetry collection I’ve ever read. It’s a beautiful story about forgiveness, dealing with past trauma, and accepting yourself just the way you are. Continue reading “Aphrodite Made Me Do It by Trisha Mateer [REVIEW]” →

Posted in Kendare Blake, Reading, Review

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake [Review]

Posted on by Tegan Anderson

Unrelated to the rest of this review: I don’t know why I didn’t connect Kendare Blake, author of Three Dark Crowns, to Kendare Blake, author of Anna Dressed in Blood (one of my favourite books) until now. I think it’s because the book themes and plots and her writing style seems to be completely different in both. And that’s sad because I loved Anna and Girl of Nightmares but didn’t really like this book.

I don’t really have much to say on the book as a whole, so I’m just going to focus on the characters and their individual storylines.

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Posted in Reading, Review, Stephanie Garber

Legendary by Stephanie Garber [Review]

Posted on by Tegan Anderson

This is one of those books where I originally didn’t want it. As much as I loved Caraval and wanted more of that magical world, I kind of felt that it was good enough to standalone, and I was afraid that a sequel would be a let-down. But this is also one of those rare books where I loved the sequel so much more than the first book.

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Posted in Madeline Miller, Reading, Review

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller [Review]

Posted on by Tegan Anderson

I’m currently trying to review every single book I’ve read this year but months after I read them, so I apologise in advance if half the stuff I write is a) inaccurate, or b) potentially not even about this book. My brain doesn’t work sometimes.

I got this book because reading Rick Riordan’s books gave me an obsession with Greek mythology and this is a new take on the Iliad, an epic poem about some of the significant events of the Trojan War. As this is arguably one of the most important/iconic events in Greek history, learning more about it felt like a good place to start.

Spoiler alert: this book broke me.

Continue reading “The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller [Review]” →