I hope you guys are well!
I've been very scarce this past month. I have been in a severe blogging slump and a mini reading slump (I'm finally getting over that!). I don't like forcing myself to blog or read when I don't feel like it, so I took a step back from blogging. I'm hoping I'll be more motivated in November!
November is also a super exciting month for me, as one of my best friends from South Africa is visiting for 3 weeks! I'M SO EXCITED. I haven't seen her in 3 years; I'm so, so excited. đŸ’— I've also been applying for jobs. I had my first interview in a cafe today and I've been called in for a trial shift! The only problem is that the job is during my friend's visit and the shifts are long, so I won't be able to take it. I wish it was at a different time, as it seems like a lovely place to work! I've also been applying for part-time babysitting jobs, which I would love to do! I'll just pray about it and see what happens.
I'm also going to get maths textbooks on Monday, which I'm excited to start working through (yes, I'm that level of nerdy). I MISS using my brain, so I'm excited to start doing that!
Far From the Tree - ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 | Black Holes and Baby Universes - ⭐⭐⭐.5 | Ink - ⭐⭐⭐.5 | The Sleeping Prince - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | The Scarecrow Queen - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Grace and Fury - ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 | Captivating - ⭐⭐⭐
I didn't read as much as I wanted to this past month, but I read some REALLY good books, so I can't complain! Far From the Tree was GORGEOUS. It was heartbreaking, hopeful, funny, sentimental...I loved it. Ink was a very unique concept and I started really enjoying it towards the end. I want to read the next book! The Sleeping Prince and The Scarecrow Queen were SO GOOD. Brutal, heartbreaking, jaw-dropping...it was such a brilliant trilogy. Grace and Fury was SO GOOD too. It was an extraordinary feminist novel. It was filled with courage, determination and excellent character development. I NEED THE SECOND BOOK NOW. I also read two non-fiction books, which we fairly good!
I'm currently reading The Belles and Legendary and LOVING them! I can't believe I'm loving Legendary. I didn't like Caraval at all, but I'm flying through the sequel.
I'm so excited to read Beyond a Darkened Shore. It's a fantasy steeped in Norse mythology which sounds super intriguing. Spinning Thorns is a Sleeping Beauty retelling which sounds super good! Olivia Twist and The Inevitable Victorian Thing sound so good, especially the former. I haven't heard good things about The Inevitable Victorian Thing, so maybe I won't read it...we'll see!
Light Years sounds SO GOOD. I really want to start reading more sci-fi, and I love the premise of this. It has quite good reviews, so I'm hoping I love it too!
The Queen's Rising sounds AMAZING!!! I love the premise:
When her seventeenth summer solstice arrives, Brienna desires only two things: to master her passion and to be chosen by a patron.
Growing up in the southern Kingdom of Valenia at the renowned Magnalia House should have prepared her for such a life. While some are born with an innate talent for one of the five passions—art, music, dramatics, wit, and knowledge—Brienna struggled to find hers until she belatedly chose to study knowledge. However, despite all her preparations, Brienna’s greatest fear comes true—the solstice does not go according to plan and she is left without a patron.
Months later, her life takes an unexpected turn when a disgraced lord offers her patronage. Suspicious of his intent, and with no other choices, she accepts. But there is much more to his story, and Brienna soon discovers that he has sought her out for his own vengeful gain. For there is a dangerous plot being planned to overthrow the king of Maevana—the archrival kingdom of Valenia—and restore the rightful queen, and her magic, to the northern throne. And others are involved—some closer to Brienna than she realizes.
With war brewing between the two lands, Brienna must choose whose side she will remain loyal to—passion or blood. Because a queen is destined to rise and lead the battle to reclaim the crown. The ultimate decision Brienna must determine is: Who will be that queen
DOES THAT NOT SOUND AMAZING?!
Agent Without License also sounds SO GOOD. It sounds like an Alex Rider book. I NEED MORE ALEX RIDER TYPE BOOKS IN MY LIFE. I love spy books. I'm so ready for this.
I'm so excited to read these! Have you read any of these? What was your favourite book you read in October? Have you got any exciting things planned for November?