Hello!

I have been in the biggest reading slump. I recently got a promotion at work which is exciting but also means I’ve been working extra hours and that when I get home I do not have the mental energy to read. I am hoping that this tag will help me find a book which will pull me out of my reading slump

I first saw this tag over on Mercedes from MercysBookishMusings channel but it was first created by Malia from BookParadise. This is the perfect tag to help me figure out what to read next!

The tag guidelines are:

• Choose 5+ books you’ve been meaning to read.
• Read up to the first chapter, prologue included.
• Decide if you’ll complete it or set it aside.

Now onto the books!

So I picked six books instead of the standard five because for the life of me I couldn’t narrow the list down anymore. The books I will be trying are:

• Archangel’s Heart by Nalini Singh
• One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
• Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
• The Emporium of Imagination by Tabitha bird
• The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
• A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

These are all books I’ve been dying to get to but for one reason or another I haven’t actually picked up yet.

Archangel’s Heart (Guild Hunters #9) by Nalini Singh

Synopsis

One of the most vicious archangels in the world has disappeared. No one knows if Lijuan is dead or has chosen to Sleep the long sleep of an immortal. But with her lands falling into chaos under a rising tide of vampiric bloodlust, a mysterious and ancient order of angels known as the Luminata calls the entire Cadre together to discuss the fate of her territory.

Accompanying her archangelic lover Raphael to the Luminata compound, guild hunter-turned-angel Elena senses that all is not as it seems. Secrets echo from within the stone walls of the compound, and the deeper Elena goes, the uglier the darkness. But neither Raphael nor Elena is ready for the brutal truths hidden within—truths that will change everything Elena thinks she knows about who she is. Nothing will ever be the same again. 

Thoughts

I enjoyed being back in this world. I also I just loved reading another Nalini Singh book. In Archangel’s Heart we are back focusing on Raphael and Elena after spending the last few books focusing on Raphael’s Seven. I am intrigued by the wider plot of the Guild Hunter series — what is happening with the Cascade? And Lujian? For what two chapters I read, it looks like there will be an expansion to the world building with the introduction of the ancient order of angles called the Luminata. I am interested to see what their role in the hierarchy of angles will be.

One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London

Synopsis

Bea Schumacher is a devastatingly stylish plus-size fashion blogger who has amazing friends, a devoted family, legions of Insta followers–and a massively broken heart. Like the rest of America, Bea indulges in her weekly obsession: the hit reality show Main Squeeze. The fantasy dates! The kiss-off rejections! The surprising amount of guys named Chad! But Bea is sick and tired of the lack of body diversity on the show. Since when is being a size zero a prerequisite for getting engaged on television?

Just when Bea has sworn off dating altogether, she gets an intriguing call: Main Squeeze wants her to be its next star, surrounded by men vying for her affections. Bea agrees, on one condition–under no circumstances will she actually fall in love. She’s in this to supercharge her career, subvert harmful anti-fat beauty standards, inspire women across America, and get a free hot air balloon ride. That’s it.

But when the cameras start rolling, Bea realizes things are more complicated than she anticipated. She’s in a whirlwind of sumptuous couture, Internet culture wars, sexy suitors, and an opportunity (or two, or five) to find messy, real-life love in the midst of a made-for-TV fairy tale.

Thoughts

I adored meeting Bea. What drew me to this book was that fact we have a plus size main character. I related to her mixed feeling of clothes and the disappointment of going thrift shopping since there is hardly anything in your size when buying new clothes, let alone second hand clothes. I am excited to see how Bea winds up on the reality TV show, Main Squeeze. I am also hoping that we can to see a development in Bea’s confidence and throughs about her body. I had a flick through and it looks like the story is segmented in pre-production and episodes of the show and includes social media posts.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Synopsis

First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing to a prince this side of the Atlantic. With his intrepid sister and the Veep’s genius granddaughter, they’re the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. International socialite duties do have downsides—namely, when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations. The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince.

As President Claremont kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. What is worth the sacrifice? How do you do all the good you can do? And, most importantly, how will history remember you?

Thoughts

I am utterly enchanted by this story. I have been meaning to read Red, White & Royal Blue for ages but, I will admit, the hype scared me off. I love the dynamic between Alex and his sister June. I really hope she will be a main feature of the story. I am a sucker for the enemies to lover trope so when you add in a modern day royal I think I am going to love this. I wanted to dive into the next chapter right away.

The Emporium of Imagination by Tabitha Bird

Synopsis

Welcome to The Emporium of Imagination, a most unusual shop that travels the world offering vintage gifts to repair broken dreams and extraordinary phones to contact lost loved ones.

But, on arrival in the tiny township of Boonah, the store’s long-time custodian, Earlatidge Hubert Umbray, makes a shocking realisation. He is dying . . .

The clock is now ticking to find his replacement, because the people of Boonah are clearly in need of some restorative magic.

Like Enoch Rayne – a heartbroken ten-year-old boy mourning the loss of his father, while nurturing a guilty secret.

Like Ann Harlow, who has come to the town to be close to her dying grandmother. Though it’s Enoch’s father who dominates her thoughts – and regrets . . .

Even Earlatidge in his final days will experience the store as never before – and have the chance to face up to his own tragedy.

Thoughts

I was captivate from that open line — “A little bit of magic is about to appear.”. I am getting The Night Circus vibes from the Emporium since the store appear without notice or warning. I’m not sure it will be exactly the same but I makes me excited to dive into this story. This is the first book of Tabitha Bird’s I’ve read and I am loving her writing style. There is a slight omniscient narration which is reminding me of Minne Dark’s Star-Crossed.

The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichce

Synopsis

Angrboda’s story begins where most witches’ tales end: with a burning. A punishment from Odin for refusing to provide him with knowledge of the future, the fire leaves Angrboda injured and powerless, and she flees into the farthest reaches of a remote forest. There she is found by a man who reveals himself to be Loki, and her initial distrust of him transforms into a deep and abiding love.

Their union produces three unusual children, each with a secret destiny, who Angrboda is keen to raise at the edge of the world, safely hidden from Odin’s all-seeing eye. But as Angrboda slowly recovers her prophetic powers, she learns that her blissful life—and possibly all of existence—is in danger.

With help from the fierce huntress Skadi, with whom she shares a growing bond, Angrboda must choose whether she’ll accept the fate that she’s foreseen for her beloved family…or rise to remake their future. 

Thoughts

I don’t know all the much about Norse Mythology but I am intrigued to learn more. I had to buy this when I learnt that Loki was the love interest. I was engrossed from the beginning. I loved the setting, it feels lush and magical. The writing style has that feel of a fairy tale or myth which I love. I feel like this story is going to highlight the importance of the relatively unknown Angrboda, much like Madeline Miller did with Circe. I had a flick through to find where the chapter ends and it appears this narrative is broken into connected vignettes and scenes like interconnecting myths. I cannot wait to learn more about Angrboda, Loki and the rest of the Asgardan Gods.

A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses #4) by Sarah J. Maas

Synopsis

Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she’s struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can’t seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.

The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre’s Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta’s orbit. But her temper isn’t the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.

Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.

Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other’s arms.

Thoughts

I love being back in Prythian. This is one of my favourite fantasy worlds and it feels like coming home. I enjoyed how we got to see what it was like for Netsa being thrown into the cauldron and having being turned into the very thing she hated. Nesta is a fiery character. It does feel like she’s going through a bit of a self-destructive period. She’s partying and sleeping around to keep the darkness away. I love how unapologetic about it. I cannot wait to sink into the story and see how the relationship between Nesta and Cassian unfolds.

And the next book I’m reading is …

AND …

Soooo yes I cheated and pick two books but honestly it was so hard to pick just one! I enjoyed all of these books. I feel like I will get to all these titles in the next month. Hopefully this will help to relieve my reading slump.

That’s it for me. Comment down below and let me know if you’ve read any of these and what were your thoughts. Also if you like this tag *voila* I tag you!

Until next time, happy reading!
Dearna