July Book Round-Up

Another month, another batch of books finished. Not so many this month, but still a few more under the belt, and another 5/5 book in there too!

RATINGS:
Dire – don’t waste your time
OK, but nothing to write home about
Very good – worth a read
Excellent
Superb – read it immediately!

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BOOKS FINISHED:
42. Maria V Snyder – Magic Study (Study 2)
A little slower and not quite as exciting as the first book in the trilogy, but still pretty good. This continues Yelena’s story as she returns to her family and begins studying to bring her magical abilities under control. It’s filled with intrigue and adventure, and was certainly interesting enough to warrant me completing the trilogy, so expect to hear from me about the last installment some time soon!

43. Barbara Ewing – The Mesmerist
I picked this one up for £1 (I’m a sucker for a bargain!) and loved the cover, so it found its way into the shopping trolley. Well, can you blame me? I figured it would bridge the gap till I could get to the library again and get the next in the several series I’m currently reading. It started quite slowly then picked up a little and held my interest to the very end.

44. Julia Golding – Den of Thieves (Cat Royal 3)
This series just keeps getting better and better! In the earlier books, we’ve touched on political activism, freedom of speech and slavery; this time it’s the French Revolution! Cat Royal is really growing and improving over the course of the series and I have high hopes for the rest of them!

45. Philip Pullman – The Tiger in the Well (Sally Lockhart 3)
This third installment and it is the best so far, but also the most harrowing to read – Harriet (Sally’s daughter) is of a similar age to my son, and someone is trying to take her away from her mother, so it’s a terrifying thought for a mother reading this book! I actually had nightmares because of it. However, it did not deter me from continuing with the novel. It also focuses on subjects of socialism, equality of the sexes (or lack thereof) and persecution of minorities and immigrants, so it’s got some very serious issues thrown in there, making this a very interesting read!

46. Cody Young – American Smile
Full review HERE.

47. Douglas Carlton Abrams – The Lost Diary of Don Juan
This was another £1 bargain from the pound shop – double the bargain because it’s a hardback book! I picked it up simply because I thought the cover looked elegant and I’m pleased to report that the writing reflects that elegance. It has a little titillation, but nothing graphic or sordid, and it’s rather a joy to read.

48. James Long – Ferney
The £1 bargains are turning out to be wonderful lately! This one really intrigued me. The writing is compelling and the characters warm. It’s also rather eerie as the relationship between Gally and Ferney grows. Utterly spellbinding from start to finish, this is one of those novels that grabs hold of you and just won’t ever let you go. Throughout reading Ferney, I kept experiencing the strongest sense of deja vu, so much so that I almost became convinced I had read it before, although I know for certain I hadn’t. It really is a stunning book and since I finished it I’ve kept thinking and thinking about it!

BOOKS STARTED (carrying over to August):
F E Higgins – The Black Book of Secrets (Sinister City 1)
Another young adult series I’ve started. So far, so good!