The Witch Elm by Tana French

Title: The Witch Elm

Author: Tana French

Pub Date: October 2018

My Rating: ★★☆☆☆

View on Goodreads

Buy on Book Depository | Wordery

---

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Toby is a happy-go-lucky charmer who’s dodged a scrape at work and is celebrating with friends when the night takes a turn that will change his life – he surprises two burglars who beat him and leave him for dead. Struggling to recover from his injuries, beginning to understand that he might never be the same man again, he takes refuge at his family’s ancestral home to care for his dying uncle Hugo. Then a skull is found in the trunk of an elm tree in the garden – and as detectives close in, Toby is forced to face the possibility that his past may not be what he has always believed.

A spellbinding standalone from one of the best suspense writers working today, The Witch Elm asks what we become, and what we’re capable of, when we no longer know who we are.

Advertisements

Unknown books I read – the recommended list

Looking at my read shelf on Goodreads, I ventured to the settings and added ‘Number of ratings’ to my list to see how many people rated the books I read. There is quite a number of books I read, that beside me were rated on Goodreads by less than 200 people. And there are cases where I just cannot believe that those books weren’t rated by more people!

You haven’t heard about them but they’re good!

Tears in the Grass by Lynda A. Archer 

My Rating: ★★★★★ | Goodreads rating: 4.07 | 123 ratings

This is such a beautiful story. I absolutely loved it. The writing is amazing, descriptions of nature were mystical and brilliant. Among other subjects, it’s about the lives of Native people in 70s, how non-Native people were treating them and destroying their spirits and culture. If you are not sure on which side you stand when it comes to rights of minorities, read this book. It will give you something to think about.

Damsel by Elana K. Arnold

Title: Damsel

Author: Elana K. Arnold

Pub Date: October 2018

My Rating: ★★★★☆

View on Goodreads

Buy on Book Depository | Wordery

---

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The rite has existed for as long as anyone can remember: when the prince-who-will-be-king comes of age, he must venture out into the gray lands, slay a fierce dragon, and rescue a damsel to be his bride. This is the way things have always been.

When Ama wakes in the arms of Prince Emory, however, she knows none of this. She has no memory of what came before she was captured by the dragon, or what horrors she has faced in its lair. She knows only this handsome prince, the story he tells of her rescue, and her destiny to sit on the throne beside him. Ama comes with Emory back to the kingdom of Harding, hailed as the new princess, welcomed to the court.

However, as soon as her first night falls, she begins to realize that not all is as it seems, that there is more to the legends of the dragons and the damsels than anyone knows–and that the greatest threats to her life may not be behind her, but here, in front of her.

Unknown books I read – the not recommended list

Looking at my read shelf on Goodreads, I ventured to the settings and added ‘Number of ratings’ to my list to see how many people rated the books I read. There is quite a number of books I read, that beside me were rated on Goodreads by less than 200 people. And in most cases, I’m happy to see such a low number of ratings…

I read those, but you don’t have to make the same mistake

Never Marry a Politician by Sarah Waights

My Rating: ★★☆☆☆ | Goodreads rating: 3.57 | 53 ratings

Typical rom-com with one-dimensional characters, where well known romantic set up is dumped in a political world. It is a light read, and sure, you could read it, but why? There are better romantic books out there that will actually make you feel something, and stay with you. I do not remember anything about this particular book, I’m writing this opinion only thanks to my old-self leaving a short review on Goodreads.

NetGalley Says NO! My saddest book rejections

Most of the book bloggers use and love NetGalley, it gives us amazing opportunities to read books for free before they are even released. Some of us are reserved with requesting books on there and some (me…) are very click happy and request all of the books that look just slightly interesting. But sometimes I’m requesting a book that I really, really want to read. But I’m getting rejected…

I sow this post idea first on The Belgian Reviewer site and I just needed to make my own post about it.

---

A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne

I loved The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne I read last year, so when I’ve seen this book on NetGalley I couldn’t click fast enough to request Boyne’s new book. But I didn’t get it… I bought physical copy not long after I was rejected for the galley though.

My Favourite Podcasts

Lately I’m obsessed with podcasts. They are great for work breaks, commute, or just laying in bed, resting and listening to some amazing people telling us stories. They are just like audiobooks, but with low commitment level. When you start podcast episode you’ll be done with it in next hours or two. Audiobooks are much longer and require more focus from me. Here’s a list of audiobooks I’m currently obsessed with.

SMALL TOWN MURDER

Each week I’m eagerly waiting for Thursday to come, and not because weekend is almost here. Each Thursday James Pietragallo and Jimmie Whisman give us over 2 hours worth of true crime story with a funny twist. I love their humour, how they interact with each other, and James’ research skills are on point. You won’t find better told story about murder that will not make you depressed.

The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee

Title: The Thousandth Floor

Series: The Thousandth Floor

Author: Katharine McGee

Pub Date: 2016

My Rating:★★★★☆

View on Goodreads

Buy on Book Depository | Wordery

---

Synopsis from Goodreads:

NEW YORK CITY AS YOU’VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE.

A thousand-story tower stretching into the sky. A glittering vision of the future where anything is possible—if you want it enough.

WELCOME TO MANHATTAN, 2118.

A hundred years in the future, New York is a city of innovation and dreams. Everyone there wants something…and everyone has something to lose.

LEDA COLE’s flawless exterior belies a secret addiction—to a drug she never should have tried and a boy she never should have touched.

ERIS DODD-RADSON’s beautiful, carefree life falls to pieces when a heartbreaking betrayal tears her family apart.

RYLIN MYERS’s job on one of the highest floors sweeps her into a world—and a romance—she never imagined…but will this new life cost Rylin her old one?

WATT BAKRADI is a tech genius with a secret: he knows everything about everyone. But when he’s hired to spy for an upper-floor girl, he finds himself caught up in a complicated web of lies.

And living above everyone else on the thousandth floor is AVERY FULLER, the girl genetically designed to be perfect. The girl who seems to have it all—yet is tormented by the one thing she can never have.

Amid breathtaking advancement and high-tech luxury, five teenagers struggle to find their place at the top of the world. But when you’re this high up, there’s nowhere to go but down….