#WWWWednesday: 10 November 2021

Hello, hello and welcome back to another episode of WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be answering these questions:

  1. What did you read last?
  2. What are you currently reading?
  3. What will you read next?

Post divider: What did you just finish reading?

Since last week I’ve managed to read a little and finished 3 books. It’s been difficult to focus on reads lately so I’ve been sticking with some romances and well, most of them didn’t ‘wow’ me but at least I’m reading something? That said, I haven’t written reviews for any of these books yet but I think I’ll write mini-reviews for them (soon)!

A Lesson in Thorns (Thornchapel #1) by Sierra Simone ★★☆☆☆
There was so much hype around this book and so I was curious enough to pick it up when it was on KU. Turns out it just wasn’t my cuppa. It did have a few interesting discussions on sex positivity, virginity as a social construct and the queer rep was great! Sadly, the kink wasn’t my thing but I was also just really bored… I didn’t connect with the characters at all, so I didn’t care about the mysterious manor and chapel, or the ritual they had to do! 🤷🏻‍♀️

Games We Play (One Night #1) by Dana Isaly ★★★★☆
This was another popular title I’ve seen a lot over the last few weeks and I’m glad I picked it up! Some of the kink was not for me but overall, it was undoubtedly steamy AF. 🥵 It’s a novella so obviously, I didn’t expect much in the way of character or plot dev but I really liked Quin and Jack and thought their chemistry was H-O-T. I also thought it was interesting that it was all through Jack’s POV! I can’t wait to continue the series and learn more about these men!

Follow by Tessa Bailey ★★★½
So, I think it was Nick who said “this book is horny” and well, yeah. That’s basically it 😂 Will Caruso is probably the filthiest hero I’ve ever had the pleasure to read and I mean, go off, sir! Tessa Bailey once again absolutely slays in delivering these filthy mouthed alpha heroes who want nothing more than to spoil their women in every. single. way. This is a book where sex is a big part of the plot so you definitely read it for the smut, though the characters weren’t awful and there was a really adorable doggo too! 😉

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#TopTenTuesday: Memorable Quotes from Recent Favourites

So, we’re back with another Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s prompt is: Memorable Things Characters Have Said (quotes from book characters that have stuck with you).

I’m very bad at remembering quotes and I’m even worse at remembering to make note of those quotes while I’m reading but I decided to look at some recent favourites and share quotes from them! Some of them are more serious than others but one thing is for sure, I immediately wanted to pick up these books again because these quotes reminded me how much I loved these stories. 😍 I hope you enjoy these quotes, too!

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ARC Review: Intolerable by Darcy Burke

Special thanks to Zealous Quill Press for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Goodreads: Intolerable (The Phoenix Club #3)
Publisher: Zealous Quill Press
Published: 19 October 2021
Genre: Historical/Regency Romance

Panda Rating:

(3.5 pandas)

Every three years, like clockwork, Ruark Hannigan, Earl of Wexford loses his heart. Alas, he promised his father he wouldn’t marry until the age of thirty so that he’d be certain in his choice. When his best friend’s sister needs him to pose as a potential suitor to garner attention on the Marriage Mart, he’s the perfect candidate—if only he hadn’t kissed her in secret.

Lady Cassandra Westbrook can’t forget the incident between her and Wexford, and she’s having a devil of a time focusing on finding a husband. The fact that her father intimidates every gentleman has made her quest intolerable, and her two brothers who could help are proving completely worthless. But if she doesn’t settle on someone, her father will arrange an “acceptable” marriage by the end of the Season.

Finally, Cassandra has a chance at courtship, but, frustratingly, it’s not with the impulsive and irresistible Irishman her father detests and she desires. However, when Ruark sees the woman he passionately wants—despite his better judgment—swept into the arms of another man, the prospect of losing her becomes intolerable.

TL;DR: Intolerable was another very enjoyable addition to the Phoenix Club series! I was excited for Cass and Ruark’s story after we see a brief interaction between them in the previous book and I wasn’t disappointed by this forbidden older brother’s best friend romance! 😍 This was a sweet (although sometimes frustrating) love story between two tender-hearted characters. There was cheeky banter, sizzling chemistry and side characters you will also come to love!

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Blog Tour Review: Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen

Today is my stop on the TBR & Beyond Tours for Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen. Special thanks to Random House Children’s for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Click here or on the banner above to check out the rest of the amazing bloggers on tour!

Goodreads: Skin of the Sea
Publisher: Random House Children’s
Publication Date: 02 November 2021
Genre: YA Fantasy

Panda Rating:

(4.5 pandas)

An unforgettable fantasy debut inspired by West African mythology, this is Children of Blood and Bone meets The Little Mermaid, in which a mermaid takes on the gods themselves.

A way to survive.
A way to serve.
A way to save.

Simi prayed to the gods, once. Now she serves them as Mami Wata–a mermaid–collecting the souls of those who die at sea and blessing their journeys back home. But when a living boy is thrown overboard, Simi does the unthinkable–she saves his life, going against an ancient decree. And punishment awaits those who dare to defy it.

To protect the other Mami Wata, Simi must journey to the Supreme Creator to make amends. But all is not as it seems. There’s the boy she rescued, who knows more than he should. And something is shadowing Simi, something that would rather see her fail… Danger lurks at every turn, and as Simi draws closer, she must brave vengeful gods, treacherous lands, and legendary creatures. Because if she doesn’t, then she risks not only the fate of all Mami Wata, but also the world as she knows it.

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Blog Tour Review: Creation by Bjørn Larssen

I’m back with another blog tour with The Storytellers on Tour for Creation (Why Odin Drinks #1) by Bjørn Larssen. Thanks to the SoT for organising and to the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review!

Be sure to click on the banner below to check out the rest of the bloggers on tour!

Goodreads: Creation (Why Odin Drinks #1)
Publisher: josephtailor
Publication Date: 18 August 2021
Genre: Humorous Fantasy, Norse Mythology Retelling
CW: Contains the word “ass-thetics”

Panda Rating:

(3.5 pandas)

In the beginning there was confusion.

Ever woken up being a God, but not knowing how to God properly? Your brothers keep creating mosquitoes and celery and other, more threatening weapons. What can your ultimate answer be – the one that will make you THE All-Father and them, at best, the All-Those-Uncles-We-All-Have-But-Don’t-Talk-About?

“FML! The answer’s why I drink!” – Odin

Perfect for fans of Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, and Mrs Brown’s Boys.

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#WWWWednesday: 03 November 2021

Hello, hello and welcome back to another episode of WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be answering these questions:

  1. What did you read last?
  2. What are you currently reading?
  3. What will you read next?

Post divider: What did you just finish reading?

Since last week I’ve managed to read five books. I don’t know why it feels like I haven’t been reading anything but I guess compared to how much time I’m spending on gaming, it really feels like nothing! 😂

Pighearted by Alex Perry ★★★½
This was a surprisingly humorous and adventurous tale about a young boy with a heart condition and his brother, the pig, who has the heart that’s built to save him. I laughed quite a lot reading this and ultimately, it’s a feel-good story about family and how far you’d go to save someone you love! Check out my review.

Intolerable (The Phoenix Club #3) by Darcy Burke ★★★½
Cass and Ruark were such a wonderful couple! There were defo some moments where I wanted to give Ruark a good ol’ shake but I shouldn’t have worried cos Cass was such a wonderful heroine! She’s lonely, kind-hearted and although she’s hopelessly in love with Ruark, she definitely knows what she’s worth and can fight her own battles. RTC!

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#TopTenTuesday: Last 10 eBooks I Bought for 99p!

So, we’re back with another Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s prompt is: Books I Would Hand to Someone Who Claims to Not Like Reading.

I’m going rogue this week because I am the worst at recommending books to people. I’m always terrified to recommend something I love because what if they hate it and never want to listen to a recommendation from me again?! Fair do. So I decided to share the last 10 eBooks I bought that were all 99p! I mean, that’s a steal to me and some of these I’ve been wanting to read for a very long time so I’m happy I snagged them! 😉 I bought them on Amazon UK and they might still be going for 99p so if they’re also on your TBR, and you feel like having a cheeky slightly-less-guilty book shopping spree, I’d definitely recommend checking it out!

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October 2021 Monthly Wrap Up

Wow, why does it feel like I just wrote my September wrap up… Yesterday? Anyone else or is it just me? 😂

This month has passed by so quickly that I’m not even sure what happened this month! Here are some highlights (hopefully I’m not thinking of a different month though lol):

  • I’ve been playing some great games on Switch and PS4: Unravel 2, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Detroit.
  • I got exciting book mail: Leslie’s bday books from May (lol) finally delivered, the final two books of the ADSOM Illumicrate SE!
  • I got a lovely new bed that feels like I’m sinking into a cloud whenever I lie down!
  • I reorganised my bookshelf and it looks *SPECTACULAR!* I even managed to unhaul some books that I no longer want to read or no longer want to keep, and have made space for more books (duh)!
  • I decided to make the move to a Digital Passion Planner and I’m obsessed. I still enjoy writing things down physically but it’s so convenient

Achievement Unlocked: Goodreads Reading Challenge! 🔓

Screenshot of Goodreads Reading Challenge: You have read 150 of 150 books.

Pretty chuffed about completing the challenge considering I was pretty behind not two months ago! 🙈 I’ve been reading my share of novellas and plenty of romances though and I always have fun bingeing those quickly. I actually had no idea how many books I’d read in October until I counted just now and I surprised myself by reading 21 books! I guess October didn’t start out too badly but then I really slowed down in the latter half of the month because I was feeling a bit slump-ish. Hopefully, it’s an October thing and I’ll get back to reading regularly in November.

The majority of my reads (as you’ll see below) were around the 3½ to 4-star range. I’ve enjoyed most of them but I thought only a few were memorable or stood out to me in any way. My favourite book was The Goddess of Nothing at All by Cat Rector. It’s also one of my favourite 2021 reads and I can’t recommend it enough if you love: Norse mythology told from a new perspective and unapologetically queer characters that will have you wailing in your emotions because this story will pummel them hard—y’know, only the good stuff! 😅

Perhaps you know the myths.
Furious, benevolent Gods.
A tree that binds nine realms.
A hammer stronger than any weapon.
And someday, the end of everything.
But few have heard of me.


Looking back, it’s easy to know what choices I might have made differently. At least it feels that way. I might have given up on my title. Told my father he was useless, king of Gods or no, and left Asgard. Made a life somewhere else.

Maybe I would never have let Loki cross my path. Never have fallen in love. But there’s no going back. We were happy once.
And the price for that happiness was the end of everything.

MY REVIEW

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Sundays in Bed With… #MyWeeklyWrapUp

We’re back with another Sundays in Bed With… meme! This meme dares to ask you what book has been in your bed this morning and is hosted by Midnight Book Girl. Come share what book you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed with, or which book you wish you had time to read today!

I’ve hit a bit of a reading bump this week and that’s mostly cos my focus has been on gaming, but I’ve also had quite a bit of trouble focusing lately! I’ve got two blog tours coming up though so I’m spending my Sunday night in bed with Creation by Bjørn Larssen. This is a novella that puts a humorous spin on Norse mythology (y’know, the beginning of it all) and I’m hoping it’ll be a fun and fast read!

In the beginning there was confusion.

Ever woken up being a God, but not knowing how to God properly? Your brothers keep creating mosquitoes and celery and other, more threatening weapons. What can your ultimate answer be – the one that will make you THE All-Father and them, at best, the All-Those-Uncles-We-All-Have-But-Don’t-Talk-About?

“FML! The answer’s why I drink!” – Odin

Perfect for fans of Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, and Mrs Brown’s Boys.

What are you currently reading?

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ARC Review: Once More Upon a Time by Roshani Chokshi

Special thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Goodreads: Once More Upon a Time
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Published: 05 October 2021
Genre: Romance Fantasy

Panda Rating:

(4 pandas)

Once upon a dream, there was a prince named Ambrose
and a princess named Imelda who loved each other…
But alas, no more.
“What a witch takes, a witch does not give back!”
their friends and family warn.
They resign themselves to this loveless fate…
A year and a day pass.
And then their story truly begins…

Embark on a perilous journey with Imelda and Ambrose as they brave magical landscapes and enchanted creatures on their quest to reclaim their heart’s desire… But first they must remember what that is..

This was another wonderful (and super fast) buddy read with Julie @ One Book More! 😍 Chokshi is an author I’ve been meaning to check out for a while now and this small taste has convinced me I’ll enjoy her work!


TL;DR: Once More Upon a Time was a great novella that has great fairytale vibes! Despite being so short, it feels like a fully formed story with a fantastical setting, a journey full of magical creatures and adventure, and a good dose of romance. This has a sweet HEA that brings the story around full circle and I loved it! 😍

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