Hello!

These are the books I got through during #TheReadingQuest, which took place between Sunday 13 August to Sunday 10 September.

#TheReadingQuest is an awesome four week reading challenge based on video games that was hosted by Read at Midnight. The challenge runs from Sunday 13 August to Sunday 10 August. The challenge runs like a bingo board with each title representing a stage (reading prompt) you must complete. The difference is that you’re starting point on the grid depends on the character class you chose.

I chose the Mage and I was able to get through 4 of the mage quest and 1 side quest. I would’ve liked to have got through more books but a reading slump hit week 3.

★★★

Difficult Women by Roxane Gay – Open World 

I have done a full review for this one if you want to know more of my thoughts. This collection is filled with  hard hitting and dark theme. It’s not one I can say I enjoyed reading, in the tradition sense on the word. These stories opened my eyes to worlds I’m lucky enough to not have experienced—sexual assault, abortions, losing a child, mental and physical abuse. This collection with tear out your heart, make your skin crawl but ultimately leave you more empathic.

The Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley – A Book Based on Mythology 

I am looking forward to reading The Mists of Avalon but my love of the Trojan War myth made me pick this one up first. The Friebrand looks at Kassandra and the people of Troy from her brith to the horrific fall of the city. I did enjoy this, but I think having read a few Trojan War retellings in quick succession meant that this isn’t a favourite of mine. I adore how Bradley portrays her female characters, Helen in particular. I also loved the female friendships in this books. I wasn’t a big of fan of her portrayal of Hector, but I understand why she chose to show him as less of a hero. The narrative sticks quite close to the original myth but nothing felt forced. If you’re a fan of myth retellings, in particular retellings of Troy I would highly recommend.

Windwitch by Susan Dennard – A Book With Magic 

I have mixed feeling on this book, most of which I won’t go into as it is the second book of the series. I still adore Safiya and Iseult’s friendship and I love that we got to see more of the world and the different cultures. For me it was a bit of let down. The first book ending on such as high that I immediately pick Windwitch up. However, I found it really hard to get into. It took about 100 pages for me to want to keep reading I think there was one narrative, Merik’s, I didn’t gel with and wished got less page time. I do still love this world and these character so I will continue this series.

★★★★

Loki’s Wolves by K.L. Armstrong & M.A. Marr – First Book in a Series 

This book was a lot of fun and I’m excited to get to the other two in this trilogy. In modern day South Dakota there is a town, Blackwell, where all the people are direct descendants of Norse Gods, Thor and Loki, including our three protagonists Matt Thorsen, Fen and Laurie Brekke. The adventure beings when rune readers reveal that Ragnarok is coming and the kids, led by Matt, must stand in for the gods. I adore these characters and love that they each have their own voice. I didn’t want to skip over any. The addition of the illustrations worked really well. These pages are filled with all the humour, confusion and fear of having to stop the end of the world at 13. I highly highly recommend for fans of Rick Riodran

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard – A Book Set in a Different World 

This wasn’t a series I was really excited about when it first came out. I picked up the books because a friend one mine really loved it and I trust her judgement when it comes to YA Fantasy.

I love this world and magic system, it is nothing like anything I’ve read and Dennard has done a really fantastic job at making this world visceral and fully formed. I adore that the main relationship in this book is a female friendship. I was getting so sick of girls competing against each other for a boy. Safiya and Iseult are amazing. I love that their differences aren’t stereotyped. For example just because Safiya’s outgoing that means Iseult has to be more reserved. There personalities are so well developed and complex that I feel like I know these girls and at times I relate to both of them. This is a fantastic start to the series, I didn’t give it 5 stars because I felt a little lost about the magic system, it took 100 pages or so for me to feel like I knew what was going on but at the same time I enjoyed that there was no info dump.

The Quest Board artwork has been created by the wonderful CW of Read, Think, Ponder.

That’s it for me. Comment down below and let me know how your reading challenge went.
Until next time, happy reading!
Dearna