Announcing the #Hallowreadathon!

As autumn approaches, so too does Halloween – one of my favourite times of the year! And even though we probably won’t be able to get out and party in person, Imogen’s Typewriter and I have got you covered for a fun bookish time with the seventh annual Hallowreadathon, running from 30th October – 1st November! This is my second year helping the lovely Imogen host her brilliant readathon, and I’m so excited to show you the prompts we’ve cooked up for you in our cauldrons, so read on to find out what’s on the cards for this year…

Review: The Humans

This huge, stunningly illustrated hardback book is definitely one to put on Christmas lists for history-loving kids!

Review: A Deadly Education

Do you ever have a book that you suspect you’re going to love so much that you can’t bring yourself to read it? I’ve been putting off reading A Deadly Education for ages, because the hype was just too much, but I’m so glad I finally bit the bullet, because I think this might be the best book I’ve read all year.

Review: Museum Kittens – The Pharaoh’s Curse

Cats and history in one story? There was no way this wasn’t going to be on my radar!

Review: The Scapegracers

When I saw this gorgeous cover pop up on my Twitter feed, I was instantly intrigued by this book, and the blurb only sold me more – a queer, witchy story about supportive friends hexing rude guys sounded perfect! The Scapegracers ended up being not quite what I expected, but I think it’s a brilliant, and much needed, addition to the YA shelves. 

Review: Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch

I knew the moment I first set eyes on the description for Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch that it was going to be exactly my kind of book – a young witch’s journey of self-discovery is something I’m always looking for, and this one is perfect!

Blog Tour: Grave Secrets

It’s my stop on the Grave Secrets blog tour today, and I’m thrilled to introduce you to this funny mystery full of sexy vampires, dark humour, and croquet!

TBR Check In: September 2020

August felt like it flew by, and I certainly haven’t had much time for reading!

Goodreads Reading Challenge

Another 12 books down in August – I think this might be the new normal, at least until I can get a more consistent nap schedule going for the baby! I’m up to 227 overall (that June book still doesn’t have a listing, and another unlisted book has joined it!), so on track for 250 books by the end of the year.

My Owned TBR

My owned TBR is, um, having a bit of a crisis… There are just too many great sounding books, okay! I’m all the way up to 476, higher than it’s been since April, so I really need to stop buying and requesting books – I’m still doing that at my usual rate, even though my reading rate has slowed. I may have to close to review requests again, and get someone else to change my NetGalley password, if I have any hope of getting it under 450 by Christmas!

NetGalley

I have 10 books awaiting review on NetGalley – so much for ‘not letting it creep any higher’… One is already read, and awaiting review, but I do need to crack on with the others! I did receive my first audiobook through NetGalley this month, Dragon Mountain, which is getting listened to in small, useful chunks when I have my hands busy! I have a couple of big coffee tables books that I’ll need to read on my iPad to make the most of, so I must find time to do that.

Finish Series

I might have to ditch this section – it’s so embarrassing to keep having to write ‘no progress’!

• the Flavia Albia series by Lindsey Davis. 1/7 (with the 8th coming in July 2020).
• The Chronicles of St Mary’s by Jodi Taylor. 6/11 are read, plus bucketloads of short stories and a spin-off series that already has one book out.
• The Invisible Library series by Genevieve Cogman. 4/6 are read, and 7 and 8 are coming but don’t currently have publication dates.
• The Spellslinger series by Sebastien de Castell. 4/6

Overall

My reading’s at least consistent, even if I’d like it to be more impressive. One thing I did note though was that I was a bit over-ambitious in setting my planned TBR, as I’ve been reaching for comfort reads; middle grade, chapter books, and romance are always what I want to read when I’m tired, so my huge adult fantasy TBR doesn’t get much of a look in. I think I’ll make a much smaller TBR this month so I’m more likely to tick off a few must-reads than a lot of would-like-to-reads! How’s your August been, reading-wise?

Review: Dawn With A Duke

I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of the last four books in Erica Ridley’s 12 Dukes of Christmas series – she’s released four a year for the last two years in September, October, November and December. It’s finally time for this year’s set to begin, and Dawn with a Duke is an adorable instalment!

Review: Marshmallow Pie The Cat Superstar, and Marshmallow Pie The Cat Superstar on TV

Marshmallow Pie The Cat Superstar was already on my radar, because I’m always looking for new cat books, but what made me absolutely determined to get my paws on it was this illustration that Clara Vulliamy tweeted: 

Now, I know I don’t share as many pictures over here as I do on Twitter, so in case you don’t know what my cat Tomte and I look like… here we are:

I shared this picture with Clara and, incredibly sweetly, she offered to send me copies of both Marshmallow Pie books so we could meet our doppelgangers! And having read them, I can tell you that any cat lover, or reader of joyously funny chapter books, needs to order both immediately!