Top Five Tuesday – Top five sequels I need to get to

A new Top Five Tuesday, the prompts are created by Bionic Book Worm. Sometimes I’m really good at reading sequels fairly close together, other times not so much. Here are my top five that I know I have to read asap!

1. Saturday Requiem by Nicci French

I’ve waited way too long to read this, it’s the sixth book in the Frieda Klein series and it’s next on my TBR list! This series is always so interesting and gripping. This time Frieda agrees to do a psychological assessment on a young woman who was convicted of murder when she was eighteen.

2. The Virgin’s Spy by Laura Andersen

This is the second book in the Tudor Legacy series, the first was excellent. The characters were really compelling and I love alternate histories.

3. The Shadow Sister by Lucinda Riley

This is the third book in The Seven Sisters series. I only just finished the second book but I’m already looking forward to this one. In this book we find out more about Star and go with her on her journey to discover her roots.

4. Children of Ruin by Adrian Tchaikovsky

I didn’t know this book existed until the Top Five Tuesday Space week! It’s the sequel to Children in Time, it’s set in space still but thousands of years after the original book, the humans and spiders are living together harmoniously and have made a spaceship of their own.

5. No Tomorrow by Luke Jennings

This is the sequel to Killing Eve, I wish the first book had been longer so I’m excited to read more about what Villanelle gets up to.

What sequels are you eager to get to? Or have you read any of the ones on my list? Let me know what you think!

Quotes of the Week

I hope everyone has had a lovely week, my favourite quotes this week are:

“I guess that’s what death is isn’t it? Forgetting, or rather, being forgotten.” Samell Tarly, Game lf Thrones 8×02 A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

This quote was so powerful. The whole episode was brilliant but that line really hit me.

“Riding with her were a number of swarthy men that will certainly be killed before too long anyway, so a description is probably not essential.” – Terry Pratchett, The Light Fantastic

The humour in this book is brilliant, this made me laugh. I love Pratchett’s style of writing.

Have a good Sunday everyone!

The Storm Sister Review

“In moments of weakness, you will find your greatest strength.”

This is the second book in the Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley. This time we follow Ally and her story. She’s a strong sailor and before he father’s death she was training with a group for a race around the Greek islands. There she meets Theo, a very talented sailor with a good reputation. The two of them click and Theo asks Ally to join him on his private yacht for a long weekend break just before the race. Their romance blossoms, they make a really sweet couple. Unfortunately Ally turned her phone off over the trip so was the last to find out about her father’s death. She immediately makes plans to get home and see her sisters.

Ally felt like she had to be strong for her sisters which was so sad, she couldn’t share her true pain at her father’s death. The girls are told about their father’s will and the clues he left them all about where he adopted them. Ally decides to head back for the race and spends the next month with Theo, although she lost her father she’s so happy to have found the love of her life.

Ally goes on quite a rollercoaster of emotions and eventually she decides to follow her father’s clues. She ends up in Norway, he also left her a book, a biography of Anna Horsten, a Norwegian singer in the 19th Century. Anna gets swept from her life in the country by a man scouting talented singers.

The writing is so wonderful and descriptive I felt as if I had been transported to Norway when we followed Anna’s story. She’s such a sweet girl, I’m really glad she got to follow her dreams of singing, I wish I could hear her voice! The characters feel so real, you feel their joy and excitement, their sorrow and fears with them. I really enjoyed the book, I can’t wait to read Star’s story next.

Top Five Tuesday- Mystery/Thriller Books

A new Top Five Tuesday, the promts are created by Bionic Book Worm. I love a good thriller or mystery story. The best ones keep you guessing all the way through, thinking about it when you’re not even reading the book. This list is a good one:

1. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

This book is so incredible, it’s written from the points of view of three women. Rachel who is divorced and an alcoholic, she stalks her ex-husband and his new wife. Everyday on her way into London the train stops outside the back of her old street. She always sees a couple there, she makes up stories for them but one day the woman goes missing. The book is tense, gripping and even frustrating as we watch Rachel sink deeper into her alcohol fueled delusions.

2. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

The whole Millennium series is brilliant but I think this one is my favourite. Mikael Blomkvist is a determined journalist who doesn’t cower away from taking on big companies. Unfortunately he is about to spend some time in prison for slander. Until a mysterious businessman comes to him with a proposal, if Mikael investigates the disappearance of his granddaughter he will get the proof he needs to take down the company that are sending him to prison. We also of course meet Lisbeth whose entire life is one mad event after another, can everyone just leave her alone! I couldn’t put this book down, it kept me thinking about it while I was at work or commuting. It’s a work of genius.

3. Blue Monday by Nicci French

This is the first in the Frieda Klein series. Frieda is a psychologist and therapist. She sees private clients but she also consults with the police. One of her patients is having psychotic episodes in which he sees himself kidnapping and harming a young boy. Recently a young boy has gone missing in London, the patient probably saw the story and it triggered something. But Frieda feels something isn’t right. I really enjoy the psychological angle this book takes and the characters, especially Frieda are so well written.

4. Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson

This book is so chilling. Christine suffered an accident and since then her long term memory has gone, everytime she wakes up she knows nothing about her life. Her husband has set up pictures and notes all around the house to remind her. Christine’s doctor has also suggested that she writes a diary at the end of each day. But her last few entries are disturbing and strange. She doesn’t know what’s real and who can be trusted. This book is quite scary and very clever.

5. The Bed I Made by Lucie Whitehouse

Kate flees from an abusive and vile boyfriend to the calm and quiet of the Isle of Wight. But while she is staying on the island someone goes missing, possible suicide. We flashback through Kate’s memories and present time as she learns about the missing woman, Alice, and why she would take her own life. All the while her past shadows loom, waiting to catch her. This book is set really close to where I live so bonus! But it’s really good and it keeps you guessing all the way through.

That’s my list, what are some of your favourite mysteries or thrillers?

Quotes of the Week

It’s finally sunny! I’ve had a lovely start to the weekend with my family, I hope your Easter weekend is just as lovely. Here are my favourite quotes this week:

Time was a thief, he stole your life away from you and the only way you could get it back was to outwit him and snatch it back.” – Kate Atkinson, Case Histories

This quote is so chilling, I love the way it refers to time as a person.

“I used to think you were the cleverest man alive.” Sansa Stark, Game of Thrones 8×01 Winterfell

Sansa is talking to Tyrion, I think we all thought he was one of the cleverest, but when it comes to his family he’s way too trusting. I loved Sansa’s sass and confidence in last weeks episode.

“I’m waiting for an old friend.” – Bran Stark, Game of Thrones 8×01 Winterfell

This line was one of the best of the whole episode, he’s waiting patiently in the freezing cold for the man that threw him out of a window. Bran may be really weird at the moment but he’s still got a sense of humour!

Have a great Easter weekend everyone!

Top Five Tuesday – Books I Predict Will Be Five Stars

A new Top Five Tuesday, the promts are created by Bionic Book Worm. It takes a lot for me to rate a book five stars, I’m British, we’ve always got something to moan about, five stars has to be pretty much perfect. I want to be completely transported and involved with the story. Here are my predictions:

1. Transcription by Kate Atkinson

I love all of her books so I have a lot of confidence that this will be five stars. It’s set in Britain throughout WWII and onwards through the Cold War. I’m really excited to read it.

2. The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton

Again this author never fails to deliver, all of her books are incredible so I expect this one will be too!

3. The Winds of Winter by George R.R. Martin

Whenever it arrives I’m sure I will love this book as much as I have loved the rest of the series.

4. The Shadow Sister by Lucinda Riley

I’m loving this series so far and Star who’s story we follow in this book fascinates me. We don’t know a lot about her as she is often overshadowed by her slightly younger sister.

5. Making History by Stephen Fry

I found this book the other day, I was looking for alternative history books. This is about what would have happened if Hitler had never been born. Stephen is a complete genius so I can’t wait to see what happens!!

And that’s it, I’m pretty confident with the whole list. Have a good day!

Quotes of the Week

It’s almost Game of Thrones season 8 time! That’s all I’ve really been thinking about this week! I’m very excited but also terrified…

“This one’s been killed six times you don’t hear him bitching about it.” – Sandor Clegane, Game of Thrones 7×06 North of the Wall

I have a love hate relationship with the Hound but this line makes me laugh so much. Gendry was whining that the Band of Brothers had betrayed him and Sandor just came out with this. It’s quite a serious episode so it’s nice to have the light moments in there.

“The lone wolf dies but the pack survives.” Sansa Stark, Game of Thrones 7×07 The Dragon and the Wolf

I love this quote so much in the book and the show. The Starks are finally back together, I just want them all to be safe, send help!

Hope you have a great weekend!

Quotes of the Week

It’s been very gloomy weather this week and the clock change was horrible but I started reading The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley this week and I can barely put it down!

“I don’t think you know many girls like her.” – Brienne of Tarth, Game of Thrones 6×08 No One

Brienne is talking about Sansa, Jaime presumed that Sansa wouldn’t have survived when she ran from the capital. But Brienne shuts him down, Sansa found her inner strength long before she had to flee. You know nothing Jaime.

“In moments of weakness, you will find your greatest strength.” – The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley

A lovely quote to remember in times of distress.

“Tell them the North remembers. Tell them winter came for House Frey.” – Arya Stark, Game of Thrones 7×01 Dragonstone

So badass, Arya is my hero in this moment, revenge is sweet!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Of Gods and Globes Review

The book is an anthology of short stories about space, mythical beings and gods. It’s a wonderful collection of stories, they’re all really well written, gripping and clever.

Perpetual Silence by LJ Cohen

A group of scientists have created a satellite that can send instant messages into space and receive replies. They have spend years on the project and a ton of money. But one of the lead scientists can’t help thinking there’s something wrong with the satellite, have they gone too far? Should we be shouting messages at the universe…probably not.

An Incomplete Assignment by Anne Greenwood Brown

In 1846 two French soldiers see someone drowning in a lake, one swims out to save them and is never seen again. The other gets accused of murder and sentenced to death. His family that are left behind and for generations to come have a different version of the story, there were creatures in the lake that lured the men into its depths. A college student determined to clear her families name of madness goes to investigate the mysterious creatures.

Celestines by Emily Munro

We join a group of humans on their way to humanity’s base over Uranus. We’ve been mining the planet for diamonds but the Captain of the base is in trouble, someone is stealing some of the haul for themselves. The base is such an interesting place, there are fairy-like creatures that pollinate the plants on the base and a fancy dress bar which changes theme every year, the crew can dress up from different eras of human history. I want to go there just for that it sounds like so much fun! This story is creative, clever and paints the picture of humanity’s current existence in the stars perfectly.

The Bells Are Ringing by Anthony G. Cirilla

An old man recalls his trip to Saturn, he’s not the first to go there, far from it. Humanity has spread out to live on Mars and he is on a PR trip to Saturn to take pictures and advertise the work people are doing there.

Four Umbrellas by F.C. Shultz

In this story we follow Fox, a cynical pilot on a mission to mine into Jupiter and collect a substance that can save humanity. It’s incredibly dangerous but it’s our only hope of survival.

Army Men by Juliet Marril

We follow the God of War on a journey of discovery, he’s done his job of giving soilders strength and courage for so long he’s become complacent. So her travels to Earth to live amoung a group of soilders to see what war is really like. This story is so clever and so emotional, if I had to pick a favourite this would be mine.

00:08:23 by Lancelot Schaubert

An astrologist finds herself homeless and pregnant on the streets of New York. For yearsshe used to study the sun and it’s surface. One day while still on the streets, she notices something wrong, the sun is going out. There’s no flares coming off the surface. There’s only 8 minutes left until the light goes out. Panic ensues. The world is ending but no one will believe her. This is such a genius story but really sad as well, I loved it.

As I said a great collection of stories, I’m really glad I read them they were so interesting.

Shouldn’t You Be In School? Review

“If you have a bruise you do not want it touched, but everyone who cares about you will want to touch it, in the hope of somehow making it better.”

This is the third book in the All The Wrong Questions series by Lemony Snicket, it follows a young Lemony and his friends as they try to take down a horrible criminal and save Stained by the Sea which is a tiny, very odd, town on the brink of ruin as their main source of income has dried up. Quite literally, they used to farm ink from squids in their sea and the sea has gone.

Snicket doesn’t go to school, he’s an apprentice with VFD (Volunteer Fire Department) his supervisor is an imbecile so he has to solve the arson case pretty much on his own. There are a group of other young teenagers who don’t go to school and work instead whom Snicket has befriended. Nothing makes sense in the strange town, it’s an odd read, but a fun one. Snicket’s quirky style of writing never fails to make me smile. It’s very witty and really confusing at the same time! I did enjoy the book, not as much as a Series of Unfortunate Events, but it still has similar themes running through it.

“Imagining the worst doesn’t keep it from happening.”