September 2021 | What I’ve been reading
Post contains Affiliate Links, marked as AFF*
A pretty good reading month in September with seven books, including two audiobooks. It’s been a proper mix of genre’s too, with fantasy, historical fiction, science-fiction, non-fiction and thriller all mixed in throughout the month. I think it has to be one of my most diverse genre months ever. It’s been very enjoyable.
This is also my last month of using Kindle Unlimited as I have a huge backlog of Kindle books to work through and my three month free trial has come to an end. I have to say, I’ve enjoyed using KU the last few months, there is a great stock of books there, and if you’re into fantasy and thrillers there is a huge selection of books to choose from. If you’re quite a fast reader, its a good call. They often do deals of 3 months of £7.99 instead of £7.99 per month which is excellent value of money.
1 | Cruel Prince | Holly Black
3.5/5 stars | A reread because it came up on my Kindle Unlimited, and I just can’t resist a faerie story. This series doesn’t really compare to the fae stories from SJM or Jennifer L.Armentrout etc, but it is a decent story, with a good enemies to lovers trope. I think I like Jude (MC) more in this reread than I did the first time. But I do think that once you’ve read this book once, its plot isn’t complicated enough to make a second read through all that entertaining. Enjoyable, but I knew really well what was going to happen which for me is quite rare as I usually forget at least a few elements of a plot between reads as I read so much.
Jude is a human, living in a faerie realm, after her stepfather killed her parents and brought her and her sister to live with him. She dreams of being more than just a human, wanting to be a guard so she can gain some sort of power in a world where humans are seen as servants at best. A coup forces Jude into making a decision that will not just impact her, but also her entire family, and the realm she lives in.
Good for a fae fix, but not the most enthralling fantasy novel.
2 | The Catch | T.M. Logan
3.5/5 stars | This was September’s Bookclub pick for @thatmamaclub and another book that I likely wouldn’t have picked up otherwise, but enjoyed.
This thriller follows husband and father, Ed as he meets his daughter’s fiance and gets the typical dad “bad vibes”. To be honest, I found Ed quite a difficult character for the first half of the book, following all the usual thriller tropes with him following the fiance and lying to his family, turning obsessive and dropping all the other elements of his life. However, the second half of the book really changes in pace and dynamic, introducing new POV chapters. Without being too spoilery, the ending is somewhat predictable, but also has some unexpected developments which I liked and stopped the book from becoming too “happily ever after” which lent a nice feel of realism.
I liked the writing style and multi viewpoint chapters and the second half really turned the book around for me.
TW for child loss within the story which acts as a backstory
3 | The Wolf Den | Elodie Harper
4/5 stars | This book has been all over social media recently and for good reason, and when it came up on Kindle Unlimited I knew I had to read it. Again this isn’t my usual type of book being historical fiction, but I really enjoyed pushing my book genre comfort zone.
This book follows Amara, a Greek born brothel worker living in Pompeii in the 1800’s as she lives her life, trying to earn her freedom. The book has themes of friendship and love, slavery and hardship. The pacing is slow and steady like life, with beautiful prose and just feels like a window into a life lived with all the normal trials and tribulations of life. There are a few twists in the plot, unexpected for the most part that all develop Amara as a character and build her story. As a character, I liked her, and Elodie Harper has created a number of characters that all work well together, being unique and together all at once.
If you’re new to historical fiction, I think this is a beautiful book to get you started, being not too long, but having the pacing just right for a slow read.
TW for implied rape, baby loss, murder, sex working, slavery
4 | The Gentle Discipline Book | Sarah Ockwell-Smith [AFF]
5/5 stars | I listened to this non-fiction parenting book as I like listening to non-fiction. It feels like a lesson, and this book came recommended across the mama bloggers of Instagram.
I’ve come across Sarah Ockwell-Smith a number of times but never dived into her books until now, but have absolutely fallen in love with her techniques and parenting lessons.
This book discusses parenting in terms of discipline and bringing up children with the types of behaviour you like, and how to deal with difficult behaviours. The focus is on gentle parenting, and ensuring that how a parent discipline meets the needs of both the child and parent, taking into account brain development, understanding and abilities. All the techniques are underpinned by scientific backing and wanting to encourage child independence and growth in a calm environment, allowing children to learn about themselves and their emotions.
Each section covers the science and techniques, the reasons behind behaviours, including across age groups, and then how to work with children to adjust behaviour, identify triggers and gives specific examples of how to deal with behaviours.
I really recommend this book for anyone looking to work on their parenting and implement more gentle parenting techniques. The guidance is easy to follow, and although Sarah never recommends immediate results, she does stress that following the techniques over time will have an impact.
5 | The Magi Menagerie | Kale Lawrence [AFF]
4/5 stars | AD PR Book Tour Copy | I really enjoyed this debut from Kale that I was gifted by @pridebooktours. The story follows Ezra Newport after a train incident where his mother dies and his father is missing presumed dead. He is introduced to the world of the Magi after they save him from deadly and evil forces trying to capture or kill him. The story also follows the point of view of Magi Jonas van de Camp who is trying to help Ezra whilst keeping his job and Order safe.
I loved the weaving of magic into this fantasy, combining astrology, zodiac and time travel into the events. Incorporating real life history into the story made it feel more real and enjoyable. The characters are diverse and mixed, making them quite likeable with unique stories and backgrounds to tell.
The plot is pacey and exciting, and I really enjoyed the ending and the twists along the way, many I would never have guessed at. An excellent ending for this series, and I can’t wait for more.
6 | Artemis | Andy Weir [AFF]
4/5 stars | I listened to this as an audiobook and found myself wanting to find more time to listen. It took a little while to get used to Rosario Dawson’s voice, but she narration worked really well with the character she voices, and I think a lot of the difficulty, in hindsight, was the words she had to say, rather than her actual voice.
Artemis is set in the City of Artemis, on the moon, following Jazz Bashara, a porter and smuggler as she lives her life and gets caught up in a conspiracy for control over the workings on the moon.
I loved the science fiction elements of this story, and being my first proper sci-fi read, it’s really turned my attention to this genre. I have no idea how accurate the science is, but it all made logical sense and enjoyed it. I enjoyed the plot and thought the pacing was good, keeping me on edge to see what happened next.
My biggest problem with the book, which, after seeing other reviews, is a shared one, was how Jazz is portrayed. I don’t mind her being a petty criminal, or even that her pretty much soul focus in money and making more of it, particularly in the beginning (though this section of her character development is good as this becomes less of an issue) but how she’s quite annoying. She’s very focused on her looks, and although I am so her for self positivity it doesn’t come across right in this book. Many of the jokes and sarcasm just don’t hit right either. She’s meant to be a 26 year old Saudi woman and just does not read that way at all, with vulgar language and innuendo all over the place, that just doesn’t work with the story. I did however enjoy some of the other characters, and I liked Jazz’s intelligence, which wasn’t to the point of infallible.
So it’s a low 4 stars from me. I think it this had been written by a woman, this book could have been a 5 star so easily.
7 | A Lair of Bones | Helen Scheurer [AFF]
4/5 stars | I really enjoyed this take on Sirens, with the story very reminiscent of Throne of Glass meets the Goblet of Fire. Rohesia is a Cyren, and cheats her way to a place in the Queen’s Tournament. A deadly trial of three tasks that promises any victor left at the end, the throne of the Cyren Kingdom. No one has won in 600 years.
Rohesia is given a human, Odi, as a ward that she must keep alive in the Cyren Lair, or lose her place, as well as take on the three tasks.
I thought it was a well thought out plot, with clever trials that I enjoyed a lot. I really enjoyed the character development of Roh and the relationship between her and Odi. I thought the ending was good if a little unfair, though that is definitely the point, and I liked some of the bigger twists toward the end of the book too. There are some parts still left unanswered, and I really want to know more about Roh’s mother and her history. It seems there is more there than it seems.
Looking forward to book two very much, which has had its cover reveal.
Links marked with AFF are an affiliate link. This means I earn a very small commission for any purchase made via the link. This does not affect your buying experience or rights.