Beyond the Broken Shore - Rebecca Marsh

Book: Beyond the Broken Shore 

Author: Rebecca Marsh

Releasedate: July 2024

Book 3 in the Princess Island series and it was such a gorgeous read to do yet again for Rebecca! Her writing style is so easy going and yet you get sucked into the story. What I like is that she sort of helps us remind what happened in the previous books, even so that you don’t necessarily need to read the previous books, but it would be great if you did nonetheless.

What I love about this story is the openness of the struggling with addiction. And the effects it has on the surrounding people. It’s raw, vulnerable and brutally honest and I really love that about her. Rebecca doesn’t shy away from the harder topics and it’s clear to see that she is doing a great job at it.

What I like is that she takes different characters from the previous stories and elevates them in their own right and it’s great to see how she does it. You can really feel for the characters in the story what is happening to them and you really hope it all turns out for the best.

So, if you need a raw, open, and eventually feelgood story, this is your go to! 

 

Her Majesty’s Dragon - Naomi Novik (Temeraire #1)

Book: Her Majesty’s Dragon/Temeraire (UK)

Author: Naomi Novik

Releasedate: 28th of March, 2006

I already owned the UK version of Temeraire in my bookcase, but I hadn’t gotten around it yet to read it when a coworker offered me the whole series for my bookcase. So I am the proud owner of the first book in the UK version as well as the regular, lol. So it was for me quite confusing when I found out that there were two titles for the same first book. 

Anyway! 

I do love books with dragons! So when I found out that this particular story sets place in the time of Napoleon, I was definitely intrigued. Usually you find them in fantasy stories and definitely fantasy settings, but to create a world in a time we are familiar with, that is quite something. Because how would you shape the world when you have dragons around?

I really like that take she used for it and the fact that dragons have their own intelligence and manners! It’s really cool! I kept being hyped through the book and kept telling my husband (who adores dragons more than I do) that he should really read it too! 

I’ve read several books of Naomi by now and as always, her writing style is amazing. The amount of work she put into the details and worldbuilding is absolutely great! 

So if you love dragons and historical stories, you definitely should start reading this series! 

Lost in Snowy Valley - Heather Trim

Book: Lost in Snowy Valley 

Author: Heather Trim

Releasedate: 9th of November, 2023

Twelve-year-old Via has been diagnosed with severe scoliosis and forced to wear a back brace and seeks comfort in her family's ceramic Christmas village. But she notices something is missing—her favorite figurine. 
Either by miracle or magic, Via and her mother are suddenly transported into the Victorian Christmas village on a journey of self-discovery. Along the way, she realizes that it's not only the figurine that was lost, but a part of herself that can only be found in the enchanting world of Snowy Valley. 

Oh boy. If you want to get in the mood for Christmas with a heartwarming and heartfelt story, then this is your go to this Christmas. 

The story is very suitable to read with younger children as well, but it’s also entertaining for the teens and older if you like a feelgood story.

Heathers writing style is easy going and she paints the picture just perfectly. You almost feel like you’re there in the story with Via and her mother. I love the tiny details she has put in the story for the Victorian time. I do have a soft spot for Victorian stories, so she had me there. Heather does have the talent to make people feel what the main character is feeling and you get why Via thinks how she thinks. 

It’s not a superlong story, so you can easily read it with an afternoon, a cup of tea and a blanket!

Uprooted - Naomi Novik

Book: Uprooted

Author: Naomi Novik

Releasedate: May 19, 2015

“Our Dragon doesn’t eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley. We hear them sometimes, from travelers passing through. They talk as though we were doing human sacrifice, and he were a real dragon. Of course that’s not true: he may be a wizard and immortal, but he’s still a man, and our fathers would band together and kill him if he wanted to eat one of us every ten years. He protects us against the Wood, and we’re grateful, but not that grateful.”

Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.

Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.

The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her.

But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose.

———

Having read the Scholomance series by Naomi, I just know her writing style is amazeballs, so I knew this had to be good. Let’s say that this book is definitely not what you think it will be, because you keep waiting for something else to happen and it doesn’t happen, lol. Instead it takes you unto this really gorgeous and horrifying storyline. Everything is not what it seems to be and that’s okay. You think you know everything when you start reading, but you don’t, because there is so much more at play and I really love the way the story unfolds on itself and Naomi did a splendid job taking you along her path with this story. I do love a good standalone book from time to time and she did an amazing job at it! 

5/5 

Once Upon a Broken Heart - Stephanie Garber

Book: Once Upon a Broken Heart

Author: Stephanie Garber 

Releasedate: September 28, 2021

For as long as she can remember, Evangeline Fox has believed in true love and happy endings... until she learns that the love of her life will marry another.

Desperate to stop the wedding and to heal her wounded heart, Evangeline strikes a deal with the charismatic but wicked Prince of Hearts. In exchange for his help, he asks for three kisses, to be given at the time and place of his choosing. 

But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that bargaining with an immortal is a dangerous game—and that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’d pledged. He has plans for Evangeline, plans that will either end in the greatest happily ever after or the most exquisite tragedy...

When I picked up this book I was like ‘This looks really pink and very cheesy, so it must be cheesy’.

Never judge a book by it’s cover, because I totally loved this one. Every time when you think ‘This must be happening now’ it doesn’t. In a good way, so the entire story is not predictable! And I find that a true artform if you are able to surprise your reader with your story.

I’m sad that it has a sequel, because I only found that out when I was finished reading and my TBR is way too big at the moment, so I can’t wait when I can read the next book. I want it on paperback, because books that deserve to be this good, get a spot in my bookcase. 

5/5! 

A Game of Thrones - G.R.R. Martin

Book: A Game of Thrones (a Song of Ice and Fire #1)

Author: George R.R. Martin

Releasedate: August 6, 1996

It was about time that I started reading this series. I’ve been very hesitant, knowing that there are still some books that need to come out. I mean, I’ve seen the tv-series. You immediately notice when the books aren’t there anymore to support the storyline. I totally get it why people are extremely miffed with the last two seasons. 

But we’re not talking about the tv-series. *inhale, exhale* Lol.

But I tried reading the first book a while ago before I saw the tv-series and I got totally lost with all the characters and their storylines. There are SO many! 

So I decided to watch the tv-series first and that totally helped me visualize the setting within the book. Yes, there are some differences with the story in the book and in the tv-series, but that’s logical. It happens. 

Not everyone’s storyline I found interesting to read, but I loved the Daenerys storyline and it made me realize so much more for her in her situation, that was really cool to discover. The book gives so much more depth to the situation (as it mostly always does), but it was good to read nonetheless. 

I disliked the storyline with Robb the most, because I don’t care much for warfare. I found it rather tedious. 

I really think they did a great job in casting said characters in the book. I could totally picture most of them in their respective roles. Sansa’s haircolor being totally different though. But that’s fine.

George’s writing style does tend to paint a pretty picture once you get the hang of the storyline. I was quite frankly quite intimidated the first time. I got scared out of reading it. 

So, despite me taking my sweet time starting to read it, I liked it nonetheless.

So a 4/5 score for me!

Book: Summer’s Runaway 

Author: Rebecca L. Marsh

Releasedate: April 2023

Once again Rebecca managed to get inside my head. I love the way she’s able to make this book feel like a stand alone. It’s technically the next book after Where Hope Is Found, but you can easily read it without reading the first book. For me it helped to know what characters were being portrayed in the book, but no worries if you haven’t read it!

Rebecca’s writing style is easygoing and it doesn’t take much effort to get into the story. It really isn’t hard to imagine where the main character is and after a while, what’s she’s been through. 

I experienced all sorts of emotions again, I mean, Rebecca has a knack for it to make you feel things you don’t want to, haha. But she manages it nevertheless. I was absolutely able to picture the situations happening on the island and I felt miffed, sad, enraged, happy for what happened there. It’s quite a thing to get inside a teenager’s head. Heck, if I’m looking at my teenagers I’m like ‘What dustball has settled in your brain? I have no idea’. Teenagers do stupid things and Rebecca mastered the ability to let you share in those teenager feelings. As a grown-up you can poke through those feelings, because we see them for what they are. I almost felt as if I was jammering against my own teenager. “Whyyyyy would you do that…” 

And that’s quite a feat not everyone can master. 

Summer’s Runaway isn’t your standard happy go lucky book, but if you stick until the end, you will be rewarded!