Here are four books that I’ve read lately that you might enjoy!
- Ayeesha At Last by Jalaluddin Uzma:
“Just remember to pack light. Dreams tend to shatter if you’re carrying other people’s hopes around with you.”
This is a Pride and Prejudice retelling set in a muslim community in Canada. Ayeesha is a smart, liberal muslim woman who is trying to navigate the complexities of her religion, love and family. Khalid is nothing if not devout and he’s super judgemental about everything he thinks is a transgression and super outspoken about it too. They meet, they hate each other and drama ensues. This book had everything that could have made it great but I thought it was overwritten and the characters were stereotypical caricatures. The villains were super villains, the author hit us over the head with it. Nothing was subtle, she told us everything she wanted us to feel. And oh my God, the drama! So much drama and twists that were not useful at all. I gave this book 2 stars on good reads.
2. The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan:
“Because every day with a book is slightly better than one without, and I wish you nothing but the happiest of days.”
Nina Redmond just got laid off from her librarian job because libraries have been shutting down all over the UK. She decides to buy a van and start a mobile library in a sleepy village many miles from where she lives. She gets to have a lot of adventure and experience a new culture while discovering herself, falling in love and doing something she loves. I really enjoyed this one, I thought it was cute and a great coming into yourself story. What I did not like about this book is the love story. I didn’t understand why the author wrote the male love interest’s character like that- he was married, a grump and just plain ridiculous. I ended up giving this book 3 stars because the love story just wasn’t for me but it was a super sweet book with a likable heroine that I continually rooted for.
3. Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan:
“The age of kings is dead, Adamat, and I have killed it.”
This is the first book in Powder Mage series. Field Marshal Tamas’ coup against his king sent corrupt aristocrats to the guillotine and liberated the common man. But it also provoked war with the Nine Nations, internal attacks by royalist fanatics, and the greedy to scramble for money and power by Tamas’s supposed allies: the Church, workers unions, and mercenary forces. Also, on the dying lips of mages killed during the coup is a promise of disaster to come because the gods promised the king’s family that they would rule forever but no one believes in silly legends do they? I really enjoyed this one. I gave it 4 stars on good reads. McClellan is a fantastic story teller and I loved this book. I’m going to continue and finish the entire series. Totally recommend this one.
4. The 71/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton:
“How lost do you have to be to let the devil lead you home?”
This book was a mind turner. Evelyn Hardcastle will die tonight at Blackheath, that much we know, and she’ll die every night until Aiden can figure out who killed her. Aiden gets 7 days and 24 hours in 7 different bodies to figure it out. And if he doesn’t at the end of the 7 days, the clock starts all over again without any of the knowledge he gained in the past cycles. He’ll start on a clean slate every 7 days and he’s stuck at Blackheath until he figures out the answer. I quite enjoyed this book, I thought the premise was fantastic and the execution was good even though I think the author lost a hold on it a little bit towards the end. I enjoyed trying to figure out who killed Evelyn, I love a good whodunnit. I gave this one 3 stars on good reads.
I hope you enjoyed these quick fire reviews. Let me know if you’ve read or intend to read any of these books in the comments. Have a great reading week everyone!
Leggy
TwoNightStands 