Monday, January 20, 2020

Book Review: Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas

Punk 57Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. 

You can buy this book here.

I have heard great things about Penelope Douglas. Pretty much everyone seems to know her and her books have amazing ratings on Goodreads, so I should definitely join the party, I thought. And I'm very glad I did.


What's the story?

Punk 57 is centred on a boy and a girl who start out as pen pals. They grow up, life catches up and boy meets girl, but the girl doesn't know he is her pen pal! Sounds twisty enough yet? Believe me, the story gets 'mind-blowingly twistier' as the story progresses. Be warned, this is a dark romance, so things get pretty NSFW into the story.
What did I like about the story?

I really loved the characters. Not just Misha and Ryen, but the rest of the ensemble too. Misha is a heartthrob honestly; a tattoo-sporting, future rockstar with dark family secrets. Ryen is the cheerleader Mean Girl who is more than what she seems. Both protagonists had an amazing depth to their characters, and I very much bonded with them. I am craving to see more of them, and I'm praying for more of their story!

Then there's the rest of the ensemble. My personal favourite? J.D.! His character had so much potential and, keeping with the theme of the story, I didn't spot it till the last few chapters. Ten! Manny! Man, I need more story on these great characters!
I loved the twists in this story, too. There were some obvious ones that I suspected, but it's always great to have your half-ass guesses validated by the author! 

What did I not like about this book?

I'll admit that I was frustrated at Ryen in the initial chapters. I didn't think I'll like her at all, but she totally grew on me. So, I guess that's not really a negative point. One legit negative is that this is standalone! I have spoilt myself on the Devil's Night series, so I totally recognised Misha's cousin and his hot friends (I pretty much frothed at the mouth when they made an appearance), but I need more of just Misha and Ryen! They're just amazing characters! So realistic and raw!

My final verdict? 

Absolutely loved it! I can't wait to read the spin-off! I'm so ready for more Thunder Bay boys! 

View all my reviews



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Thursday, January 16, 2020

Book Review: Also Human by Caroline Elton

Also Human: The Inner Lives of DoctorsAlso Human: The Inner Lives of Doctors by Caroline Elton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

DisclosureThis post contains affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.  

You can buy this book here.

I picked this book up during one of the student placements in Melbourne at Readings, Carlton. I was drawn to it because it discusses problems faced by junior doctors, which is what I will be soon. So, it felt like a good way to prepare me.

What I liked about this book, is that though the author is speaking about a UK environment, I find these issues are quite universal. There were chapters that spoke of difficulties that arise in transitioning to medical school, or to clinical studies, or to a whole new country.

My favourite chapter was "Leaky Pipes", which looked at sexism in the medical workplace, especially in the surgical field. I found this chapter inspiring; Elton talks about the issues clients of hers faced, the facts of these issues and how her clients fared against these odds.

What I didn't like was the cover. Honestly, I felt that a much more creative approach could have been taken. It is just too plain and uninspiring to me. The next factor I didn't like is that it ended! I just wanted more of Elton's experience when I kept reading, and it's a damn shame that the book had to end!

At the end of this book, I felt motivated, inspired and apprehensive. This book brought a lot of obvious and not so obvious workplace issues to my attention. A part of me is scared about how progressing into my internship years would play out, but the rest of me is excited to take the approaches Elton discussed in this book.


Have any of you read any great medical memoirs? I haven't read enough so let me know some recommendations in the comments below!





Saturday, January 11, 2020

Jan' 2020 TBR Pile

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.  

Happy new year, everyone! 2019 has been an amazing year but all good things must end for a better one to take their place! There is a lot that I'm planning on getting done this new year, starting with this month's TBR pile.

My last month's TBR pile did not go so well. I had four books that I wanted to finish up in December but I'm only halfway through the third book. Anyone else had better luck with their last TBR? 😅 

I don't usually do well when I carry on TBR books from month to month, so I pretty much refresh my pile each month. What I have got this month are four more books that I would like to finish up!

Without further ado, here are my TBR books for January 2020:


1. Brain Rules by John Medina

I love a good non-fiction book as much as the next guy, and this one was recommended to me by a lecturer of mine. I'm at like the 20% mark with this book right now, and I can see why people enjoy it; Medina has a writing style that can weave neurons and hormones into a grand story.

Buy Brain Rules here.


2. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

I am 100% reading this book because of how highly recommended it is. Funnily enough, I got this book at a discounted price at a sale, and it's a large edition with a few blemishes here and there. I am very excited to discuss this book once I start reading it!

Buy The Goldfinch here.


3. Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer

One of my friends raved about how much she loves Archer's writing, so I picked this up at a discounted price. I don't think this is one of his more popular books but I'm gonna give it a chance and see how it goes.

Buy Only Time Will Tell here.


4. The Lady in the Van by Alan Bennett

Another discounted book! I'm starting to see a trend here! 😉 When I saw Dame Maggie Smith on the cover, I just picked it up, no matter how good or bad it is. To be honest, I didn't know anything about this book when I picked it up. Hopefully, it's a good read and I have a good time.

Buy The Lady in the Van here.


Have you guys read any of these yet? None of these are new books, so I'm sure quite a few of you have. Let me know in the comments below!

Monday, December 16, 2019

Cover Reveal: Kiss of Vengeance by S. Young

AVAILABLE MARCH 3, 2020

I have been a huge fan of Samantha Young since I read On Dublin Street. I loved the unique, clever, addictive series, and I'm honoured to team up with her to reveal the cover of her latest book: KISS OF VENGEANCE, releasing March 3rd, 2020.

This is my first time officially hosting a cover reveal, and I'm thrilled my first cover reveal is a Samantha Young book! On Dublin Street mesmerised me and I have been dying to see Scotland ever since, and now with Kiss of Vengeance, the story is centred on magical Ireland.

I couldn't be more excited to introduce you guys to Kiss of Vengeance, the latest book in the TRUE IMMORTALITY series. In today's blog post, you can take a look at the cover, learn more about the story and pre-order the book, should you choose to do so. 

Many thanks to Samantha Young and her team for facilitating this cover reveal! Note: this blog post contains Amazon Affiliate links.

KISS OF VENGEANCE (A TRUE IMMORTALITY NOVEL) BY S. YOUNG
Coming March 3rd, 2020


Photo: Wander Aguiar

Cover Design: By Hang Le

About the book:

A standalone paranormal romance from New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young,
writing as S. Young.

Fionn Mór was once a high king of Ireland; a fierce warrior who led his tribes against the
invading fae. It was a war he couldn’t win and to save his family he turned consort for the
Fae Queen. Fionn escaped as the thing he once despised, and the people he loved betrayed
him for it. Now, centuries later, it’s time to reopen the gates to Faerie to take his revenge
against the Faerie Queen.

At sixteen Rose Kelly discovered family secrets that changed her forever. Years after, she’s
still lost, traveling across Europe in search of that elusive missing ‘something’. When she’s
attacked by a vampire, not only is she wrenched into a supernatural underworld she never
knew existed, a knock on the head releases a spell on her mind and unlocks powers beyond
her wildest imaginings. And with them more questions. Questions Fionn Mór claims to have
answers to.

Following the powerful and enigmatic Fionn to Ireland, Rose quickly realizes she’s a pawn in
his plan for vengeance. What begins as a passionate battle of wills leads to an inexplicable
but undeniable connection. One that will force them to face an impossible choice between the
deepest love… and the darkest revenge.


Preorder Now:
  • Add it Goodreads – http://bit.ly/2pjjKF2 
  • Apple Books – https://apple.co/2MFzUAC 
  • Kindle US – https://amzn.to/2M8JjSq 
  • Kindle Worldwide – mybook.to/KissOfVengeance 
  • Nook – http://bit.ly/35v8I04 
  • Kobo US – http://bit.ly/2B6AMsP 

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Most Anticipated Book Releases of 2020

2019 is almost at an end and I'm pretty much dying for the new books that are coming up next year! Most of my anticipated releases are continuation pieces, which I'm the most excited for!

1. Twisted Hearts by Cora Reilly


Twisted Hearts (The Camorra Chronicles #5)Twisted Hearts by Cora Reilly




View all my reviews

Expected date of publication:7th January 2020

Why I'm excited: 

This is the fifth book in The Camorra Chronicles, a mafia romance written by Cora Reilly that ties on to the Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles. This particular book is based on Savio Falcone, one of the four infamous Falcone brothers. 

I read the first few books of the Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles and skimmed through the rest, but this series is what I consider the gold standard of mafia romances. It's got this raw love in it that I find very adorable I guess and its writing is genius. The highlight on family and romance in this series is very well done, and I'm very much rooting for all the mafia men in this series to get their own HEA!

2. Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare


Expected date of publication: 3rd March 2020


Why I'm excited:


I read City of Bones several years back, and I am pretty sure I read it at least twice. I have been a fan of The Shadowhunter Chronicles since then, and I have tried a little successfully to keep up to date. I loved The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices, but I couldn't really keep up with the saga once I started med school five years ago. 

I haven't read The Dark Artifices yet, though I've got the first two books in the trilogy. Hopefully, I'll get a chance next year to get back on track with this saga, so I'm going to keep collecting the books as they come.

And honestly, with these gorgeous covers, who can not buy these books?

3. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games, #0)The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins




View all my reviews

Expected date of publication: 19th May 2020



Why I'm excited: 


I read The Hunger Games ages ago, around the time when the movie was a big deal and everything was about THG. I remember loving the series but not the movies so much. But, I'm very excited about this instalment in the series.

However, all I know about this book is that it will be set sixty-four years before events of THG, focussing on the Tenth Hunger Games. I don't know if I'm missing anything, but that's all I know about this book. 

The cover looks gorgeous and I'm excited to have this on my shelves!

4. Rage and Ruin by Jennifer L. Armentrout






Expected date of publication: 9th June 2020


Why I'm excited: 


I started The Dark Elementals series this year, after procrastinating for an epic amount of time, and I loved it. Not as much as A Wicked Trilogy, but enough to read the trilogy in a matter of days. I loved its main characters: Layla, Roth, and Zayne. But the trilogy's ending left much unsaid about Zayne and his future.

So, when Zayne's story came out, I was so invested in The Harbinger series. It picked up a few months after the predecessor series ended and basically everyone goes on a new world-saving adventure involving Heaven and Hell. There were many new characters introduced (my personal favourite is Trinity), and, after reading Storm and Fury, I honestly believe this series is doing a lot better than The Dark Elementals.

5. The Queen by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Queen (A Wicked Trilogy #3.7)The Queen by Jennifer L. Armentrout




View all my reviews

Expected date of publication: 20th July 2020


Why I'm excited: 


I have been a huge fan of JLA's A Wicked Trilogy since I read the first book, which was last year I think. It focuses on a world where the Fae cohabit the human world after coming through Portals from the Otherworld. I am pretty much in love with all the characters in it, including the Bad Guys because everyone is pretty much hot as hell. 

The spin-off series is based on The Summer Prince, Caden, and the human Brighton Jussier. The Prince has been a hot enigma since he got introduced in the main storyline and this is the story that everyone has been dying for. The spin-off is, I think, three novellas in total, and The Queen is the last one.

This book is hands-down THE most anticipated 2020 release for me. It is part of an amazing series that I have been invested in for more than a year and I'm rooting for all its characters to get their own spin-offs, to be honest.

6. Nightfall by Penelope Douglas

Nightfall (Devil's Night, #4)Nightfall by Penelope Douglas




View all my reviews

Expected date of publication: TBA


Why I'm excited:  


I have this terrible habit of skimming through books when I'm really excited but can't find the time to properly invest in it. It is the dumbest habit of mine since I don't really understand the whole story but I read all the steamy scenes and I love it.

The Devil's Night series is one of those. I never considered it as a 'read' book on Goodreads because I'm not happy with how I skimmed over it, buuuuuut I'm hella excited for this series. It is hot, dark, mysterious and can be taboo at times, but I love it!

This book is Will's story and he's been sort of a quiet character over what little I have read, so this book is much anticipated right now. 

7. Bound by the Past by Cora Reilly


Expected date of publication: TBA


Why I'm excited: 


And here it is! The next milestone in the Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles. I have read only the first book in this series and skimmed the rest, but it's an amazing bunch of characters and lots of kinky stuff. 

Bound by the Past revisits Dante and Valentina, who we have not properly seen since their story in Book 2. I'm very excited about these two, but also for the rest of the characters too. Definitely excited to see more Dante and Luca confrontations because those two have this rival mafia boss roles down pat.



So, that's it for my list! I can't wait for next year's releases, but honestly, I'm not sure if I'll end up buying all these releases or not. I certainly didn't buy some of the anticipated releases for this year, so who knows... I do have a few of these pre-ordered, so I'm excited!

How about you guys? Any book releases you are excited for next year? Let me know in the comments below and I might just add those to my list too!

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Book Review: Storm and Fury (The Harbinger, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Storm and Fury (The Harbinger, #1)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

DisclosureThis post contains affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.  

To buy the book click here.

I took a break after the Dark Elementals series before I moved on to this, hence me reading it almost a month later.

The story is basically the start of Zayne's "second chance". We get to meet Trinity, this badass Trueborn, who grew up protected in this community that ends up attacked. Zayne's clan has their own troubles in DC, and well, trouble attracts trouble, so these two end up meeting each other. Then on, it's Trin weaving her way through a treacherous and demonic journey to find her kidnapped Protector, and we get a whole lot of Zayne!

First, the plot.

Basically this book starts off around 7 months after Every Last Breath. I've been a sucker for the gargoyle Warden concept since I read the Dark Elementals, so I loved seeing it coming back for another series. I think the whole heavenly plot might be getting stretched a bit thin with the whole Trueborn and her Protector concept, but I'm still loving the development since we're getting a badass heroine from it. And the plot twists? Too good! I loved it! I gotta commend this book for it majorly twisty plot twists because I'm a sucker for emotional turmoil!
via GIPHY

Then, the characters.

We've got Trinity, this badass Trueborn with human flaws and superhuman fire in her blood. Maybe I'm biased by my experiences this year, but I found her independence as sexy as hell. She's got this strength and unapologetic confidence that had me loving her from the beginning of this book.

Then there's Zayne, our resident good guy Warden who's been through hell in the last few books. I definitely got a better look at him in this book as compared to the previous books. I saw more of his personality, his flaws, his inner turmoil and his goodness in this. To be honest, I was very surprised by some of his actions in this whole book. And somehow, he was a lot hotter in this book compared to before.

Then, there were the cameos of the characters everyone loves. It was so good when the original characters started actively getting involved in the plot, and I had many moments where I squealed in delight at characters that popped up along the way.
via GIPHY

So, the new characters? Pretty damn good ones too. Including the villains. I loved Matthew & Thierry; they're just too precious. They're pretty much Trinity's parent figures, and I think they're doing a damn great job! Peanut the ghost is basically the typical comedian that brings all the humour by just being themselves; it was snorting-laughing goodness with him. Misha was basically a very interesting guy, who has this incredibly faceted personality you only see parts of throughout the book.

Then, the chemistry...

Trinity & Zayne are meant to be. I'm gunning for them so hard, especially after the developments at the end of the book. Their banter is pure art. And their chemistry makes me blush. Trin & Zayne have a lot more depth to their relationship, as compared to when Zayne dated Layla, and that's glaringly obvious to me.

Trinity has very strong relationships with the people she grew up with, and that warms my heart. She has this genuine selflessness that I find very charming, and some insecurities that are relatable. I found her friendships and family very inspiring and downright good people. I pretty much want to meet them in person after this book.
Zayne's bond with his clan is definitely different after what he's been through, and this is something we hardly saw in Every Last Breath. He has many walls up that he has to break through and deep waters to wade through to heal. But, I like that he isn't being douchy about it; he's pretty much got supportive relationships all around him, but Trinity brings that extra push he needs to work through what he experienced.

My overall impression is that this story is going in a very different tangent to what its predecessor did but in the same premise. So, it's a very welcome chapter to the Warden story, in my opinion. We saw and learnt more of Hell's mysteries in the Dark Elementals, and now its Heaven's turn to spill some beans. I'm also very excited to see more of what Zayne & Trinity are gonna bring to the table; they're two very strong people with very different personalities coming together in an interesting way, so I foresee more amazing stuff for these two.

What did you think of this book? Did it meet your expectations? Exceed them? Anything you guys were irked by? Let me know in the comments below!

Monday, December 2, 2019

Dec '19 TBR Pile

Hi everyone! How's December going so far? I don't really celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas but I saw loads of great photos on Instagram!


I'm planning on getting some reading done! Since I will be at my grandma's place for a while, my TBR pile is mostly my Kindle books. I'm currently reading Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout (simply amazing!) so I plan on finishing that up this month -- I'm already 66% done! 

The rest of my TBR is gonna focus on lots of new adult and adult books this time around. So, these books made the cut:

So, I whizzed through the first two books in the Off-Campus series, and they were amazing! But then I had this impulse to read something different, so I totally fell out of this series. I need to basically pull back into this series, and hope I haven't forgotten too much from the first two books.


This is one book that I have heard great reviews on! It's all steamy criminal romance, and I haven't read these in a while so all the more reason to pick this up. 


If I'm being completely honest, this is the book I'm most excited for this month! This will be my first Penelope Douglas book and from what I know, this author is great! I wish I had a physical copy of this book though because that cover is so fantastically colourful! There's certainly a charm to this book.


I came across El Diablo during my mafia romance phase, and this book has got some great reviews. This came out in 2016 and it's the first book in its series, The Devil. There weren't anymore books published in this series but I'm hoping I'll enjoy as much as I enjoy Cora Reilly's books. Cora Reilly is like my gold standard for mafia romances, so at this point I compare every relevant book to her writing!

That's it for my planned TBR. I've got a whole bunch on my Kindle app but I've got commitment issues when it comes to Kindle books; most of my DNF books are Kindle copies.

What's on your December TBR pile? Have you read any of these books on my pile? Let me know in the comments below!

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Book Review: American Gods by Neil Gaiman


Read from June 02 to 21, 2019
If you are to survive, you must believe.
Shadow Moon has served his time. But hours before his release from prison, his beloved wife is killed in a freak accident. Dazed, he boards a plane home where he meets the enigmatic Mr Wednesday, who professes both to know Shadow and to be king of America.
Together they embark on a profoundly strange road trip across the USA, encountering a kaleidoscopic cast of characters along the way. Yet all around them a storm threatens to break.
The war has already begun, an epic struggle for the very soul of America, and Shadow is standing squarely in its path.

This is my second Neil Gaiman novel and I was so hyped to read it. I heard great things about the STARZ series, so I started watching it right after I finished this book and I'm loving it!

I was wary at the beginning of the story because it was a huuuuge book - 736 pages, to be exact, and that's insane and scary at the same time. However, I was too excited to drop it, and I ended up devouring the whole book. The plot concept is uniquely different; I'm pretty sure I have never seen this storyline being explored on such a grand scale as this before. It was sort of fun to try to guess all the gods that kept popping up, and I'm very motivated to start reading old folklore and history books after this read. 

I loved the characters! Even the gods were so human and mortal in their characterisation, and that appealed so much to me. It was also so relatable in my head because it left me feeling like there could be gods living among us. Imagine the possibilities! Gods aside, the human characters were just as appealing, alive or dead. 

This is one of the only books where the plot appealed to me more than the characters did; I was more engrossed in how the story would unfold, rather than on a character or more. There were very twisty plot twists that I absolutely loved! And honestly, I'm ready for a sequel if it ever comes out. 

Friday, June 28, 2019

It's been a while...

Greetings, humans!

I have been MIA for so long I actually forgot how far back my last post was! Maintaining a blog is hard work and juggling that with medical school is crazy hard. Fortunately, it's 2019 and I am in my final year as a medical student, meaning the hardest bits are behind me and I am pretty much drifting around in my honeymoon year before internship.

Making a comeback without a revamp felt wrong; my blog should grow the same way I do, right? However, since med school has been a huge part of me these last few years, I'm considering the possibility of posting med school posts in addition to my bibliophile posts. Try a bit of that "increasing my audience pool" concept, I guess.

Here's to a great comeback! Hopefully I manage to maintain a streak and not disappear again when life gets hard!


Friday, July 15, 2016

Book Review: Eon: Rise of the Dragoneye (Eon #1) by Alison Goodman


Read from July 06 to 12, 2016
Twelve-year old Eon has been studying the ancient art of the Dragoneyes for two years. But he is playing a dangerous game: Eon is actually Eona, 16 years old and a girl. Her true identity must remain hidden at all costs: it is forbidden for women to practise the Art, and to be discovered would be punishable by death. 
Let down by her injured leg, it seems that Eon is destined to fail in her quest, until a spectacular twist in events catapults her into the opulent but treacherous world of the Imperial court. Without a master to guide her, Eon must learn to harness her unprecedented natural power, while protecting the secret that could cost her everything . . .
Set against a rich backdrop of Ancient Chinese myths and traditions and fraught with tension, this is a classic page-turner.
This book has been on my shelf for so long and I didn't even realize that I've been postponing reading such an amazing, epic story! Haha!

How do I even describe my feelings on this book? It hooked me in right from the beginning, and I would sometimes have to close the book and take a breather 'cause everything just got so intense!

Alison's writing is amazing! I love the detail, the elegance of her words. They just slipped me into her fantasy world and I loved what I saw! Everything was so fantastical and epic, just what this story excelled at!

The characters themselves were amazing! Their complexity surprised me and I loved how politics played such an immense role in character-shaping. I find it very difficult to just name a few of my favourite characters when it comes to this book. I literally fell in love with all the main characters, good and bad. They weren't just characters in this book, they were real people in my head!

And them dragons! Woah! I love the concept Alison has used here! It's just amazing! Whenever the dragons make an appearance I am just blown away by the power behind the writing!

And that ending! Who can not fangirl over that ending??? Haha! I had to take a breather before reading the last paragraph 'cause it was so damn intense! Totally blew me away with how good it was! And that cliffhanger? Dude, I'm so ready for Eona it's not even funny!

my Goodreads review

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Book Review: Déjà Dead (Temperance Brennan #1) by Kathy Reichs


Read from July 01 to 06, 2016
The meticulously dismembered body of a woman is discovered in the grounds of an abandoned monastery.
'Too decomposed for standard autopsy. Request anthropologic expertise.'
Enter Dr Temperance Brennan, Director of Forensic Anthropology for the province of Quebec, who has been researching recent disappearances in the city.
Despite the cynicism of Detective Claudel who heads the investigation, Brennan is convinced that a serial killer is at work. Her forensic expertise finally convinces Claudel, but only after the body count has risen...
Tempe takes matters into her own hands, but her determined probing places those closest to her in mortal danger. Can Tempe make her crucial breakthrough before the killer strikes again?
I loved loved loved this so much! I picked up this book thinking I'm in for a lengthy boring mystery but ended up loving it in the end!

First I love Tempe! I loved her character since I first read her name was Temperance Brennan coz dude, that's one heck of a cool name! Haha! I loved everything about her character and something about her really appeals to me! Haha!

And then I loved the rest of characters, and the whole team working with Tempe were awesome! I loved their dynamics, no matter whatever disagreements popped up!

And that ending had my heart pounding so fast, I had to keep the book away and take a breather! Haha!

Anyway, amazing book, totally recommend it to everyone out there! I'm dying to get my hands on the rest of series! Haha!

my Goodreads review

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Book Review: The Cairo Diary by Maxime Chattam


Read from June 21 to July 01, 2016
"British-occupied Cairo, 1928: " Several young children have disappeared and were then found, horribly mutilated, in the tombs just outside the city. Panic is spreading among the locals after a cloaked giant is sighted. Has a ghoul from "One Thousand and One Nights" been brought to life? British inspector Jeremy Matheson follows the trail of the monster, which takes him into the depths of underground Cairo as well as deep into his own tortured past.
"Mont-Saint-Michel, 2005: " Marion has taken refuge in the wind-swept and remote monastery located on a spit of land on the west coast of France. In the wake of a scandal, caused by her own revelations, that is now reverberating through the French capital, she has been spirited away from Paris and brought here by the Secret Service for her own protection. When she finds a diary dating from 1928 in the monastery library, penned by Jeremy Matheson and hidden inside the jacket of an Edgar Allen Poe book, she is inexorably pulled into the past as she is being watched, and taunting notes and riddles urge her to give back what is not hers. . .
The Cairo Diary had an interesting plot behind it and I was truly caught up in the mystery of the moment. But at the same time not everything made sense to me.

I'm not a big fan of Marion since I found her actions too frustrating at times. I wasn't interested in her story at all really and I feel the author drew out her part of the story for too long.

I found 1920s Cairo more interesting than the Mount Saint Michel time period. The ghul was very interesting honestly and the whole noma thing intrigued me a lot! Haha! The ghul was the star of the story for me! Haha!

Overall, I'm not a big fan of this story. I found it too messy when it comes to details and I found it really hard to finish off reading it!

my Goodreads review

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Book Review: You Belong To Me by Mary Higgins Clark


Read from June 18 to 21, 2016
When Dr. Susan Chandler decides to use her daily radio talk show to explore the phenomenon of women who disappear and are later found to have become victims of killers who prey on the lonely and insecure, she has no idea that she is exposing herself—and those closest to her—to the very terror that she hopes to warn others against.Susan sets out to determine who is responsible for an attempt on the life of a woman who called in to the show offering information on the mysterious disappearance from a cruise ship, years before, of Regina Clausen, a wealthy investment advisor. Soon Susan finds herself in a race against time, for not only does the killer stalk these lonely women, but he seems intent on eliminating anyone who can possibly further Susan’s investigation.As her search intensifies, Susan finds herself confronted with the realization that one of the men who have become important figures in her life might actually be the killer. And as she gets closer to uncovering his identity, she realizes almost too late that the hunter has become the hunted. Is she the next one marked for murder?
Picking up this book, I had high hopes since Mary Higgins Clark is a name I've heard and seen oftentimes in bookstores. I was thrilled at the mystery that boggled the characters in this story and I loved the psychological aspect of it but there were a few things that threw me off a bit.

First of all, I found the beginning of the story to be a bit of a bore. I loved the plot line and such but there was so much happening and hardly enough scenes with the main characters taking place.

I think Don Richards should have had more scenes. He seemed like a pretty important character to warrant some. Susan should have had more background. It's like there was a lot of plot-focus but maybe not enough character-focus.

I didn't feel the excitement that usually comes with reading a good mystery until I was past the first half of this story. Only then did I "eat up" the pages trying to make it to the end.

However, I loved Clark's plot line here and the plot twists were amazing! I would definitely pick up more of her books from now on!

my Goodreads review

Book Review: Liars, Inc. by Paula Stokes


Read from June 13 to 18, 2016
Max Cantrell has never been a big fan of the truth, so when the opportunity arises to sell forged permission slips and cover stories to his classmates, it sounds like a good way to make a little money. So with the help of his friend Preston and his girlfriend, Parvati, Max starts Liars, Inc. Suddenly everybody needs something, and the cash starts pouring in. Who knew lying could be so lucrative?When Preston wants his own cover story to go visit a girl he met online, Max doesn't think twice about it. But then Preston never comes home. And the evidence starts to pile up—terrifying clues that lead to Preston's body.Terrifying clues that point to Max as the killer…
Honestly, I didn't think I'll love this book as much as I did once I was done with it! It felt really good to read a pretty awesome mystery thriller after so long.

I loved everything about this book except for a few loopholes that I found very confusing and unbelievable, but the end result had me loving it anyway! I loved the character and I loved the plot. I loved Stokes' writing as well. I'm definitely picking up more of her books the next time I visit a bookstore! :D

my Goodreads review

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Book Review: The Tuesday Blade by Bob Ottuman


Read from February 18 to 21, 2016
"The handles were eggshell-white pearl and the days of the week were hand-lettered on each one. She lifted out the Tuesday razor and snapped the case closed.."Glory-Ann had the kind of body that men wanted badly. That made her a highly saleable commodity.She still bore the scars of the time that young hoodlum charged the hometown guys a nickel each for her in the back of a car.When she came to New York City in search of the swinging singles scene, the pimps marked her down as a natural. But Glory-Ann had a razor in her lovely hand and she was through with being anybody's victim...
So, The Tuesday Blade had a good plot line. I liked how Gloria's past influenced and I loved the character of Sergeant DeMario.

But there were some stuff that I did not like at all too. First, the writing style is pretty confusing most of the time. There was too much dialogue with not enough description. Sometimes it was like reading a character's lines in a play.

Also, the ending seemed to lack something. There was no climatic moment in any part of the book and the end of the book just sort of petered out.

I wish there had been more DeMario in the story and that there'd been more of a connection between characters and reader. The only way I can briefly describe is that it was an okay book but it lacked that 'boom!'

my Goodreads review

Book Review: The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman & Chris Riddell


Read on February 21, 2016
A thrillingly reimagined fairy tale from the truly magical combination of author Neil Gaiman and illustrator Chris Riddell – weaving together a sort-of Snow White and an almost Sleeping Beauty with a thread of dark magic, which will hold readers spellbound from start to finish. On the eve of her wedding, a young queen sets out to rescue a princess from an enchantment. She casts aside her fine wedding clothes, takes her chain mail and her sword and follows her brave dwarf retainers into the tunnels under the mountain towards the sleeping kingdom. This queen will decide her own future – and the princess who needs rescuing is not quite what she seems. Twisting together the familiar and the new, this perfectly delicious, captivating and darkly funny tale shows its creators at the peak of their talents.
The Sleeper and the Spindle has got to be one of the most gorgeous books on my shelves! Riddell's illustrations are just absolute perfection and beauty! Can't get enough of them!

I loved this fairytale retelling! Gaiman flawlessly twined the two fairytales into one and I'm very satisfied with what it's turned up to be.

The only reason why this book ended up with 4 stars and not 5 is because I'm not too happy with the ending. It sort of just ended too abrupt for me. I feel like there should have been a bit more there!

my Goodreads review

Book Review: World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks


Read from February 03 to 18, 2016
It began with rumors from China about another pandemic. Then the cases started to multiply and what had looked like the stirrings of a criminal underclass, even the beginnings of a revolution, soon revealed itself to be much, much worse. Faced with a future of mindless, man-eating horror, humanity was forced to accept the logic of world government and face events that tested our sanity and our sense of reality.Based on extensive interviews with survivors and key players in the 10-year fight-back against the horde, World War Z brings the very finest traditions of American journalism to bear on what is surely the most incredible story in the history of civilisation.

First of all, I'm gonna have to admit I was traumatized by the time I was done with this. Like I've gone through World War Z! Haha!

The writing style was huge plus point for this book. It made it all the more realistic rather than reading the story of how a few characters escaped World War Z.

The multiple witness accounts made way for the real gore and brutality behind this war. I'm gonna have to admit that I did not think I'll be as into the story as I was when I flipped to the first page, but it was addictive!

I took a hell of a lot of time to finish this off too, and I felt like I really lived in this war by the end! I was horrified, inspired, saddened and shocked by all that I read, and the realism was so on-point.

World War Z was an addictive read, and I'm most probably gonna be haunted by everything I read, but it was worth it!

my Goodreads review

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Book Review: The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson & Sarah Rees Brennan


Read from January 25 to February 02, 2016
It's not easy being Magnus Bane. As a warlock, he's often called upon to fix the problems of others. His life has been long, and his loves have been many. And Magnus has a way of making sure he's at the right at the right - or perhaps wrong - time. The French Revolution, Prohibition, the first great battle between Valentine and the New York Institute... Magnus was there. But smuggling Marie Antoinette out of France is nothing compared to having a first date with Alec Lightwood.Though Magnus's tale is far from over, these stories shed a little light on his often inscrutable character. What happens when an immortal warlock goes mad? Are all Herondales as problematic as Will? (Answer: yes.) And why was Magnus banned from Peru?Magnus will never be able to tell all of his tales. No one would believe him. But here are eleven stories that fill in some of the blanks - stories he probably wishes had never gotten out.

I'm gonna have to admit that I wasn't really into it when I started reading The Bane Chronicles.

What Really Happened in Peru and The Runaway Queen were too mundane for me. The two of those stories are my least favourite.

Then I started reading Vampires, Scones, and Edmund Herondale and I really got into it. I started getting that vibe that I get when reading Cassie's work; this mix of harsh realism and wonderful magic. It was addictive.

From then on, I was sucked into this series of short stories. It thrilled me to see so many characters I could recognise and to once again "meet up" with my old "book pals"! I was thrilled reading this! I was giggling and sighing and laughing and sobbing!

The impact that seeing these well-known characters had on me took my breath away. I was so reluctant to finish reading the last story but I just couldn't stop myself.

I'm so glad I got this book when I did; I so wish I'd read this sooner! *sigh*



my Goodreads review 
© bibliosini
Maira Gall