July Books | What I’ve read this month 2020
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July proved to be a month of really good books to be honest. I had a book hangover, and fell in love with different worlds with the perfect escapism. No it isn’t the biggest list, but all these books were big on old building, and long novels (my favourite kind to be honest).
1 | Children of Blood and Bone | Tomi Adeyemi
4.5/5 stars | Absolutely loved this book, though it took me a little while to get through. An epic fantasy (though definitely not as long as Priory which was helpful as I think it would have been too overwhelming). Interesting use of magic with this story but what really makes it is the relationships and character development that twists and turns constantly keeping you guessing. There’s a great hate/love trope, plenty of betrayal and a little bit of chemistry in the perfect combinations. The cliffhanger ending is honestly one of the best endings I’ve read recently. I’m writing this about a week after finishing the book, and I’m still thinking about it, and really need to get the sequel to be honest. I also found the authors note at the end really profound and after reading Why I’m no longer talking about race, a really interesting read. The characters in this book are Black, and the author an Own Voice author, and her parallels between her fiction and real life are thought provoking and harrowing. I highly recommend this book.
2 | Ninth House | Leigh Bardugo
4/5 stars | I read this book as part of a bookclub I’ve wanted to join for ages on IG. Because I’m really picky about what books I spend my money on, I hadn’t joined in, but when they announced Ninth House was the book of the month I was overjoyed. This has been a book on my wishlist since the day it was announced. And it was worth the wait. I thoroughly loved it. It’s an adult fantasy, and Bardugo’s first in the genre. As a general fantasy and young adult/new adult fan, I knew this would rank highly for me. It mixes fantasy with crime investigation, so reads like crime fiction with magical realism. To be hones this hit the spot for me, but I know a few people weren’t as keen. If you’re a big fan of the genres then this is for you. I enjoyed the characters, though this is very much plot driven over character driven, with a slow build start for the world building, despite being set in Yale University. Alex is hard to like, but an interesting character. Dawes is brilliant and sassy and I kind of wish we’d had more of her, as well as more Darlington. From about 200 pages the plot picks up pace and this is where you really sink into this book, if you’re not used to slow pacing, the first half can feel a bit of a slog, but persevere! The ending was good, with a mix of great twists and unexpected plot points as well as one that I sort of guessed in advance, but I try not to analyse too much whilst reading. However the cliffhanger ending is perfect, and will ensure every reader wants to get the sequel whether you loved the book or not. There are a few hard hitting topics, some dealt with well, and some, with hindsight and discussion, not really needed or relevant but felt more like a shock tactic and to create more of a backstory for Alex. Overall, I loved the book and had a bit of a book hangover from it, which is always a sign of a good book.
3 | Chain of Gold | Cassandra Clare
4/5 stars | I have to admit, it was touch and go whether I would finish this book in time for this round up, but I managed it, and I’m pretty pleased. This book is a big one with 589 pages that are packed with action. Because of Cassandra Clare’s other books, also under the Shadowhunters World, there is less world building required, despite the setting being 1901, so set before the Mortal Instruments series. A lot happens throughout the book which meant I never really got bored of the plot, especially with the multiple viewpoints and subplots. I really enjoyed the writing of this book, and I think the biggest selling point for this is the friendship building and connections that are created. I loved Cordelia a lot and James, though I think there is more to him than meets the eye, and I got some definite Jace vibes from him. The relationships are great throughout, both friendship and love, with a mix of diverse relationships. Anna might be one of my favourite characters to be honest. I didn’t love Cordelia’s ending if I’m honest, but I did love the Epilogue which is almost guaranteed to make you want to read the sequel in March 2021. I know I do!
Read my previous reading lists for 2020 here:
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