Tag: Book Blog

The Black Mountain by Kate Mosse (Review)

The Black Mountain by Kate Mosse

Blurb

It is May, 1706. Ana, a young Spanish woman, lives in a small town on the north-west coast of Tenerife with her mother and twin younger brothers. The town is in the shadow of a mighty volcano, which legend says has the devil living inside it. However, there has been no eruption for thousands of years and no one believes it is a threat.

One day, Ana notices that the air feels strange and heavy, that the birds have stopped singing. Tending the family vineyard, a sudden strange tremor in the earth frightens her. Very soon it will be a race against time for Ana to help persuade the town that they are in danger and should flee before the volcano erupts and destroys their world. Will they listen? And Ana herself faces another danger . . .

Review

I will be honest I have a quite a collection of unread Kate Mosse books. I see one of her books and think that looks good and buy it but never read it. However, after reading this book I will be rectifying that situation. This is definitely my favourite Quick Reads book that I have read so far. 

The story is fast paced and although predictable I still really enjoyed it. The main character Ana has a lot on her shoulders for someone so young, she tends the family vineyard, tries to keep an eye on her younger twin brothers and helps and looks after her mom. If life wasn’t hard enough for Ana now there are strange things happening with the mountain her family’s vineyard and home is on but that is not the only danger. 

Thankfully, Ana has some remarkable friends in the form of Widow Silva, Antonio and Rudi. Antonio is a mysterious man who nobody knows much about but Ana knows she can trust him because her father trusted him. Widow Silva makes her living smoking fish on the beach but she also keeps an eye on Rudi who is a young boy sadly crippled because he was born too early. Rudi is my favourite character and is truly adorable, he starts off so shy and vulnerable but slowly you see his true nature and you can’t help but smile every time he is mentioned. 

I loved this book and read it one sitting and yes I know there could have been more character development but it is deliberately a short novel so lacks the space for the extra development. In a way I think that helped because it kept the novel fast paced. I loved Kate Mosse’s writing and will definitely be reading more of her books soon, although I realise a lot of her books are a lot longer than this one which is only 136 pages. I give this book 5 out of 5 Dragons. 

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Purchase Links

Book Depository | Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones | Wordery

(All purchases made using one of the above affiliate links gives a small percentage of money to myself with no extra cost to yourself. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of this blog. Thank you ever so much, your support is gratefully received.)

About the author

Kate Mosse is an international bestselling author with sales of more than five million copies in 42 languages. Her fiction includes the novels Labyrinth (2005), Sepulchre (2007), The Winter Ghosts (2009), and Citadel (2012), as well as an acclaimed collection of short stories, The Mistletoe Bride & Other Haunting Tales (2013). Kate’s new novel, The Taxidermist’s Daughter is out now.

Kate is the Co-Founder and Chair of the Board of the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction (previously the Orange Prize) and in June 2013, was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to literature. She lives in Sussex.

Etsy

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Friday Poetry: George Herbert

Happy Friday!

I hope everyone has had a good week so far.

My chosen poem this week is by the Welsh poet, orator and priest George Herbert (1593-1633).

Prayer (I)

Prayer the Church's banquet, angels' age,
God's breath in man returning to his birth,
The soul in paraphrase, heart in pilgrimage,
The Christian plummet sounding heav'n and earth;
Engine against th' Almighty, sinners' tow'r,
Reversed thunder, Christ-side-piercing spear,
The six-days' world transposing in an hour,
A kind of tune, which all things hear and fear;
Softness, and peace, and joy, and love, and bliss,
Exalted manna, gladness of the best,
Heaven in ordinary, man well drest,
The milky way, the bird of Paradise,
Church-bells beyond the stars heard, the soul'd blood,
The land of spices; something understood. 

George Herbert

Happy Reading

Etsy

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WWW Wednesday: 24/08/2022

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.

The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you will read next?

Hello!
I hope everyone is having a good week so far. I have been busy teaching and reading but I have some adventures planned for tomorrow that I am looking forward to.

What I am Currently Reading

I am still really enjoying this book but I must admit I want more Perrin as his storyline is my favourite.

What I have Recently Finished Reading

I took a little break from The Dragon Reborn this read because I needed a nice short read. When reading a large book I quite often like a little break with a short read.

What I Think I will Read Next

As usual I am never sure what I will read next but I might choose one of these. 

Please drop me a comment with your WWW Wednesday and I will head over for a visit.

Happy Reading

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Lyra’s Pawsome Books

Hello!

So a little while ago I mentioned that I was planning a new bookish venture. Well, finally I have created an Etsy account and released my first two bookish products.

My bossy calico Lyra decided she wanted in on the act so she chose the name. Apart from the name and posing for some photos she has been very good at avoiding any of the actual work but she is so cute I have forgiven her. My husband has been very good and helped when Lyra has been missing.

So far I have a Mystery Book Box that includes a brand new paperback book of a genre of your choice and lots of treats to enjoy whilst reading your new book. Obviously I have sampled all these treats so I can confirm that they are very yummy. My husband highly recommends the hot chocolate.

The next product is a Mystery Book which is a brand new paperback book of a genre of your choice, with a beverage of your choice, some biscuits and a bookmark.

I am only delivering within the UK at the moment but I am hoping to despatch further a field eventually.

I have further products in the pipeline which I will update you all with next week.

Thank you for taking a look at my little start up.

Happy Reading

Goodreads Monday: 22/08/2022

Goodreads Monday is now hosted by Budget Tales Book Club.  All you have to do is show off a book from your TBR that you’re looking forward to reading.

Hello!

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone has had a good start to the week so far.

My chosen book this week is one I have wanted to read since I heard it mentioned on Downton Abbey. I actually found a copy a couple of weeks ago at my local church so plan to read it soon.

Set in 17th-century Puritan Boston, Massachusetts, during the years 1642 to 1649, it tells the story of Hester Prynne, who conceives a daughter through an affair and will not reveal her lover’s identity. The scarlet letter A (for adultery) she has to wear on her clothes, along with her public shaming, is her punishment for her sin and her secrecy. She struggles to create a new life of repentance and dignity. Throughout the book, Hawthorne explores themes of legalism, sin, and guilt.

Purchase Links

Book Depository | Bookshop | Foyles | Waterstones | Wordery

(All purchases made using one of the above affiliate links gives a small percentage of money to myself with no extra cost to yourself. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of this blog. Thank you ever so much, your support is gratefully received.)

Please drop me a comment if you have taken part in Goodreads Monday and I will head over for a visit.

Happy Reading

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

The Weekly Brief

Hello!

I hope everyone has had a good weekend. I have had a lovely Sunday off which is very unusual for me. Another good week of reading and blogging has also taken place.

Posts this Week

Currently Reading

I haven’t been able to put this down so far. I think it is the best in the series so far.

Happy Reading

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Gallant by V. E. Schwab (Review)

Gallant by V. E. Schwab

Blub

Sixteen-year-old Olivia Prior is missing three things: a mother, a father, and a voice. Her mother vanished all at once, and her father by degrees, and her voice was a thing she never had to start with. 

She grew up at Merilance School for Girls. Now, nearing the end of her time there, Olivia receives a letter from an uncle she’s never met, her father’s older brother, summoning her to his estate, a place called Gallant. But when she arrives, she discovers that the letter she received was several years old. Her uncle is dead. The estate is empty, save for the servants. Olivia is permitted to remain, but must follow two rules: don’t go out after dusk, and always stay on the right side of a wall that runs along the estate’s western edge. 

Beyond it is another realm, ancient and magical, which calls to Olivia through her blood…

Review

This book was purchased because of all the hype I saw on Bookstagram about it and I couldn’t resist any longer. I was intrigued by the blurb of this book and was looking forward to reading it. 

I loved the beginning of this book and it hooked me in straight away. Olivia Prior is such an intriguing character and one I wanted to know more about especially her parents. Olivia has not had an easy life she has never known her father and can’t remember her mother. Olivia has spent her life at Merilance School for Girls and it has not been easy but she is a survivor and she has found ways to make life a little more comfortable for herself. 

Then Olivia has an opportunity to escape the school and hopefully find her family. Gallant is a mysterious place but Olivia’s family home and one she would like to stay in. Within Gallant there lives Olivia’s cousin, and two servants who are also more like family. 

I loved the character of Olivia, she is resourceful, brave, stubborn and has a never-ending thirst for knowledge. In fact it was only because of Olivia that I stuck with this book because quite frankly once Olivia got to Gallant the story got very boring and seemed never-ending. Nothing really happened which is such a shame as Olivia is such an excellent character and the descriptions in the book were beautiful, especially the description of Gallant. It was because of this that I decided to give the book 3 out of 5 Dragons instead of a lower rating. 

🐲🐲🐲

Purchase Links

Book Depository | Bookshop | Foyles | Waterstones | Wordery

(All purchases made using one of the above affiliate links gives a small percentage of money to myself with no extra cost to yourself. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of this blog. Thank you ever so much, your support is gratefully received.)

About the author

Victoria Elizabeth Schwab (1987) is an American writer. She publishes children’s, young adults and adult fiction books. 

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Friday Poetry: Elizabeth Bishop

Happy Friday!

I hope everyone has had a good week so far and have good plans for the weekend.

My chosen poem this week is by the American poet and short story writer Elizabeth Bishop (1911-1979). 

Thunder

And suddenly the giants tired of play. -
With huge, rough hands they flung the gods' gold balls
And silver harps and mirrors at the walls
Of Heaven, and trod, ashamed, where lay
The loveliness of flowers. Frightened Day
On white feet ran from out the temple halls,
The blundering dark was filled with great war-calls,
And Beauty, shamed, slunk silently away.

Be quiet, little wind among the leaves
That turn pale faces to the coming storm.
Be quiet, little foxes in your lairs,
And birds and mice be still - a giant grieves
For his forgotten might. Hark now the warm
And heavy stumbling down the leaden stairs!

Elizabeth Bishop

Happy Reading

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Afternoon Tea Book Tag

Hello!

Tomorrow I am going out for afternoon tea as one of our Summer treats so I thought I would do the Afternoon Tea Book Tag that I have been seeing on different blogs.

Finger Sandwiches – A Book You Savoured Every Minute Of

Firstly, who loves finger sandwiches? They are my favourite part of an afternoon tea.

Anyway, I adored this book and loved every minute of it. It got me hooked on Alison Weir and this series.

Here is my Review

Scones – A Book Everyone Should Own

Plain or fruit? I much prefer a plain scone but I know a lot of people prefer a fruit scone. I also don’t like cream so I only have jam on my scones.

I love this book and I think it is one everyone should read because it could be the story of so many people.

Review

Biscuits – A Book That Can Be Finished In One Sitting

I could not put this book down and it is easy to read in one sitting. I am completely addicted to this series and have read each book so far in one sitting.

Review

Patisserie – A Book That Is Light and Easy to Read

This was a super easy read and very funny. I know it involves a murder but it isn’t dark and the story and humour really make it a fantastic read.

Review

Showstopper – A Book That Blew You Away

I could not put this book down and absolutely loved it. I have read The Martian and Project Hail Mary and both have blown me away.

Review

Tea – A Heart Warming Classic

Tea, I love tea and the fact you usually get to try loads of different teas is even better.

I love this book and have read it many times and will read it many more times.

If you have enjoyed this tag consider yourself tagged.

Happy Reading

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