YVO’S SHORTIES #165 – The Queen And The Cure & The Accidental Further Adventures Of The Hundred-Year-Old Man

Time for another round of Yvo’s Shorties! This time around two sequels of two completely different genres. One, The Queen And The Cure, turned out to be a more than solid read, while the other, The Accidental Further Adventures Of The Hundred-Year-Old Man, failed to blow me away…

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Title: The Queen And The Cure
(The Bird And The Sword Chronicles #2)
Author: Amy Harmon
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance
First published: May 9th 2017
Publisher: CreateSpace
Finished reading: May 22nd 2020
Pages: 342

“Most of the time the obvious blinds us to the hidden.”

After enjoying the first book The Bird And The Sword and falling in love with main characters Tiras and Lark, I decided to read the sequel while memories of this high fantasy world were still fresh. I had been looking forward to spend more time with both characters, so I was a bit disappointed when I discovered The Queen And The Cure is mostly focusing on Tiras’ brother Kjell instead. It’s not that I didn’t like his character in the first book, but I liked both Tiras and Lark more… That said, both Kjell and new character Sasha grew on me quickly and I enjoyed seeing their dynamics as well as the characters themselves develop. The writing is just beautiful, but then again I didn’t expect any less of Amy Harmon of course. I loved the new details about the magical elements and it definitely enriched the plot. The whole love triangle vibe was a bit of a let down for me though, and some of the reveals around Kjell and Sasha were just a tad too farfetched as well as too convenient. BUT. I still very much enjoyed this story despite a few misses, and while I do prefer the first book, The Queen And The Cure is still a solid YA high fantasy read.

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Title: The Accidental Further Adventures Of The Hundred-Year-Old Man
(The Hundred-Year-Old Man #2)
Author: Jonas Jonasson
Genre: Fiction, Contemporary
First published: August 2018
Publisher: Fourth Estate
Finished reading: May 26th 2020
Pages: 448
(Originally written in Swedish: ‘Hundraettåringen som tänkte att han tänkte för mycket’)

“The hundred-and-one-year-old certainly had his issues, but if there was anything he was good at, it was surviving.”

The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out Of The Window And Disappeared is one of my all time favorites, and as soon as I learned that Allan Karlsson would have a second adventure I knew I just HAD to read it. I’m still not sure why it took me this long to finally pick up the sequel, but in a way I’m glad as I would surely have felt even more disappointed if I had read it straight after the release in 2018. Oh yes, I feel that The Accidental Further Adventures Of The Hundred-Year-Old Man by no means lives up to the first book,,. In fact, if it weren’t for the Allan-Julius duo and their dry humor, I don’t think I would have made it to the last page. Why? Well, this sequel is just way too political for me. The story is basically a constant critique on and satire of the recent political situation in the world, including characters such as Trump, Merkel, Kim Jong-Un and Putin… And it was all just too much for me. Don’t get me wrong, I still love the dry and sarcastic humor and Allan and Julius are once again brilliant, but they were kind of buried under a huge pile of political comments that distracted instead of entertain. I wasn’t too impressed by new character Sabine either… And sadly what was one of my most anticipated releases in 2018 simply fell flat for me.

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WWW Wednesdays #270 – May 27th

WWW WEDNESDAYS is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World Of Words and is all about answering the three questions below.

• WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

I’m currently reading You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen; I’ve heard mixed things about this one so I’m definitely curious to see how I will react. I’ve also picked up a new physical copy: The Child by Sebastian Fitzek, which has an absolutely fascinating blurb and I’ve been meaning to read it for a while now.

• WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

1. Fifty Fifty by Steve Cavanagh (4,5/5 stars) REVIEW 15/06
There is a lot to love in Fifty Fifty and while I do think Thirteen is my absolute favorite of the series so far, Fifty Fifty comes a close second. This is without doubt one of the most exhilarating legal thriller series I’ve read to this date and I definitely can’t wait to find out what Steve Cavanagh has in store for Eddie Flynn next.

2. The House Guest by Mark Edwards (4,5/5 stars) REVIEW
The holy guacamole is back! Oh yes, The House Guest turned out to be one of those reads that left me completely mindblown and gulping for air… I literally finished reading it in one sitting, unable to stop before reaching that final page. Unputdownable indeed! My first experience with Mark Edwards’ work last year, Here To Stay, made me an instant fan, and this story only reconfirms my love for his writing.There is no doubt whatsoever that The House Guest is an absolute must-read for fans of intense psychological thrillers!

3. The Queen And The Cure by Amy Harmon (4/5 stars) REVIEW 31/05
I loved the first book and I had been looking forward to spend more time with Tiras and Lark… So I was a bit disappointed initially that the focus in The Queen And The Cure was on Kjell and a new character instead. The writing is beautiful though and I loved the new magical elements introduced in the sequel. The love triangle was a bit of a let down and some things a bit convenient, but all in all it was still a solid YA fantasy read.

4. The Catch by T.M. Logan (4,5/5 stars) REVIEW 29/05
I had an excellent first impression with T.M. Logan’s writing last year in 29 Seconds, and I have been looking forward to pick up more of his work ever since. I admit that I was sold as soon as I read the blurb of The Catch, and my instincts were not wrong. This newest story turned out to be another scorcher! Trust me, psychological thriller fans will be in for a treat with this one… Because holy smokes, T.M. Logan has done it again!

5. Moederkruid by Carry Slee (1/5 stars) NO REVIEW
I won’t be writing a full review for this one… I honestly should have DNFed this one, because I REALLY struggled with it. I know I’m not a big fan reading in Dutch in the first place and it always means I struggle a little, but I think the problem here was mostly the book itself and not me. Horrible characters, didn’t like the tone or writing, events as described are basically child abuse, weak plot… I sadly couldn’t find one positive point about this story and I confess that I ended up skimreading most of it as I just couldn’t take it anymore. Such a shame, because I remember liking her children books when I was little.

6. Stranger In The Lake by Kimberly Belle (4,5/5 stars) BLOG TOUR REVIEW 08/06
Look out for my review during my stop of the blog tour!

7. The Accidental Further Adventures Of The Hundred-Year-Old Man by Jonas Jonasson (3/5 stars) REVIEW 31/05
This author has been a bit of a hit and miss for me… I LOVED the first book though, so I had high hopes my second meeting with Allan would be a successful one too. I think the Allan-Julius duo and their dry humor is the only reason I made it to the final page. This sequel was just way too political for me and fell mostly flat after initial high expectations.

• WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL READ NEXT?

My next read depends on how much time I have left before June arrives after I finish my current reads… I’ve been wanting to read more MG, so I’ll probably pick up my ARC of The Republic Of Birds by Jessica Miller even though it’s not due yet. Afterwards, depending on time and what genre I’m in the mood for, I might pick up either Dead Wrong by Noelle Holten or Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts. My latest TBR jar pick is still Evil At Heart by Chelsea Cain…

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YVO’S SHORTIES #164 – Tweet Cute & The Bird And The Sword

Time for another round of Yvo’s Shorties! This time a YA version, although two different genres… But both turned out to be excellent reads. Tweet Cute by Emma Lord turned out to be the dose of contemporary cuteness I was craving, and The Bird And The Sword by Amy Harmon was a wonderful mix of high fantasy and romance.

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Title: Tweet Cute
Author: Emma Lord
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance
First published: January 21st 2020
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Finished reading: May 9th 2020
Pages: 362

“It’s weird, how you have no idea how far you’ve come until suddenly you can’t find the way back.”

After a few misses with recent romcoms, I was really putting all my hopes on Tweet Cute for one last try… And it looks like I finally hit the jackpot: what an absolutely adorable adorable read this was! Trust me, this book is gold if you are looking for a supercute YA contemporary romance read, and it’s without doubt a debut to keep your eyes on. While not without cliches and even a dose of teen angst, those were mostly forgiven thanks to the sheer cute factor of Tweet Cute as a whole. Both Pepper and Jack are extremely easy to connect to and I loved both the Twitter and the food elements in the story. Warning: this story will make you crave grilled cheese and all kinds of delicious sounding desserts though… Although for me that wasn’t a bad thing. The friends to lovers trope is a bit cliche, but Pepper and Jack make it worth it and I can even forgive the hint at a possible love triangle. There is some teen angst and drama going on at points, but overall I had an excellent time with this supercute read and any fan of fluffy and adorable romcoms should give Tweet Cute a try.

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Title: The Bird And The Sword
(The Bird And The Sword Chronicles #1)
Author: Amy Harmon
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance
First published: May 6th 2016
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
Finished reading: May 19th 2020
Pages: 352

“You are what you are. I am what I am. It matters little what we want.”

I think that it’s no secret that Amy Harmon is one of my absolute favorite authors and I basically adore anything she writes. One of the things that stands out in her work is just how diverse and unique each story is, spanning different genres and even age groups. The Bird And The Sword is the first book of a YA high fantasy duology which has both a high dose of romance and magic. And while I’m normally not a big fan of too much romance in my fantasy reads, Amy Harmon is one of the few authors who can make it work for me. Of course it’s always a blessing not having to deal with a love triangle… I loved the worldbuilding and the descriptions of Jeru; the main focus is mostly on the magical aspects of the high fantasy world, but this was more than enough for me. The writing is simply wonderful and managed to enchant me from the very first chapter. The main stars of this story are Lark and Tiras though, who basically run the whole show. They are both extremely easy to like, excellently developed and make it almost impossible not to fall in love with this story. I loved every single minute of my time with The Bird And The Sword, and while the ending is close and the book can be considered as a stand-alone, I’m already excited to return to Jeru and meet up with the characters again in the sequel. Recommended to anyone who enjoys a well balanced YA high fantasy with thoroughly developed characters, magic and a dose of romance as well as danger.

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WWW Wednesdays #269 – May 20th

WWW WEDNESDAYS is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World Of Words and is all about answering the three questions below.

• WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

I’m currently reading an ARC of the fifth Eddie Flynn book Fifty Fifty by Steve Cavanagh… I know it’s not due a couple of months yet, but I just couldn’t resist picking it up after binge-reading the first four books… I’m also starting another ARC: The House Guest by Mark Edwards, which I’ve been looking forward to. And I’ve decided to start my Dutch read of the year as well: Moederkruid by Carry Slee. I’m not sure how long it will take to actually read it (depends on how much I like the story I guess), but at least it’s a short read either way. xD

• WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

1. The Plea by Steve Cavanagh (4/5 stars) REVIEW
After an excellent experience with The Defence, I was more than ready for more Eddie Flynn with The Plea. And while I do have to say that I might have enjoyed my second round a tiny bit less, there is also no doubt that The Plea is still a more than excellent read. We are in for another action-packed and thrilling ride, and I’m not joking when I say that this series is hands down one of the most exhilarating legal thriller series I’ve read to this date.

2. Can I Give My Husband Back? by Kristen Bailey (3/5 stars) REVIEW 11/06
I was desperate for a funny read, and the blurb of this story seemed to tick all the right boxes. I had high hopes, but somehow the author’s humor and me are definitely not on the same page. Because guess what? I didn’t laugh once. Nope, not even a snort, not even a giggle… And this was a major letdown for me. I know from the few first reviews popping up that I’m an exception though… But still, what I thought was going to be a funny ride, turned out to be as fun as a trip to the dentist. Ouch?

3. The Liar by Steve Cavanagh (4/5 stars) REVIEW 
Eddie Flynn; round number three… And without doubt another successful and thrilling ride! While I think book number one and four are my absolute favorites of the series so far, The Liar by no means disappoints. Once again I can repeat that The Liar is hands down one of the most exhilarating legal thrillers I’ve read to this date! And it’s all on Eddie Flynn. He is such a powerful character and his charms won me over as soon as I first met him last year.

4. Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh (4,5/5 stars) REREAD (OLD REVIEW)
Thirteen was my first meeting with Eddie Flynn last year, and I’ve been a fan ever since. The reread has confirmed to me that this is hands down my favorite book of the series so far, and I definitely had an excellent time the second time around.

5. The Bird And The Sword by Amy Harmon (4,5/5 stars) REVIEW 21/05
I think it’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of anything Amy Harmon writes, and I still can’t believe it took me this long to read The Bird And The Sword. I’m not surprised that I ended up loving my time with this story! The magic, the world of Jeru, the characters, the writing… Oh yes, this was definitely a winner for me.

• WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL READ NEXT?

I’ll probably read The Queen And The Cure by Amy Harmon next as I loved the first book and want to read the sequel while memories are still fresh… Afterwards, it’s back to ARCs with Stranger In The Lake (June blog tour) by Kimberly Belle and a The Catch by T.M. Logan. My latest TBR jar pick is still Evil At Heart by Chelsea Cain, which I probably won’t be able to read this month as I have a pile of thriller ARCs I should read first.

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WWW Wednesdays #267 – May 6th

WWW WEDNESDAYS is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World Of Words and is all about answering the three questions below.

• WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

I need to get cracking on my May blog tour reads, and I’m currently flying through Ash Mountain by Helen Fitzgerald. I really hope to finish it today! I’m also starting Tweet Cute by Emma Lord as I still seem to be in the mood for cute contemporaries.

• WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

1. The One-In-A-Million Boy by Monica Wood (3/5 stars) REVIEW 08/05
I’ve been curious about The One-In-A-Million Boy ever since I first heard about it a few years back, and both the cover and blurb had me convinced I was going to enjoy my time with this story. Sadly, I somehow ended up having mixed thoughts instead… I’m not sure if it’s just the wrong time for me to read this story, as my reading taste has been all over the place in these strange times, but the fact is that I somehow expected more of this story.

2. Pet Sematary by Stephen King (4/5 stars) REVIEW 14/05
I’m planning on slowly making my way through Stephen King‘s backlist and as I’ve been wanting to watch the new movie adaption I decided to pick up Pet Sematary first… And I ended up having an excellent time reading this story. While I expected the story to be more creepy and full-scale horror than it turned out to be, as a paranormal thriller with psychological horror elements Pet Sematary still aimed to please.

3. Swipe Right by Stephie Chapman (3/5 stars) REVIEW 11/05
I’ve been in the mood for a good romcom and I thought that I had hit the nail on the head with Swipe Right… It’s by no means a bad read and I think romance fans will have a great time with this one, but there were a few things that bothered me enough to end up having mixed feelings about this one. And yes, that includes having more than one love triangle in the mix and basically an overload of cliches…

4. Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight (3/5 stars) REVIEW 14/05
I’m not sure if the unpopular opinion curse has struck again, but the fact is that somehow Reconstructing Amelia and me didn’t get along as well as I thought we would. My reading mood has been all over the place lately, so this might just not have been the best time for me to read this story… But the fact is that I ended up having mixed thoughts about Reconstructing Amelia.

• WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL READ NEXT?

I have one May blog tour read left: This Is How I Lied by Heather Gudenkauf. Afterwards, I will probably either start my Eddie Flynn series binge-read with The Defence by Steve Cavanagh or read Running Barefoot by Amy Harmon depending on what genre I’m in the mood for. I also have a new TBR jar pick: Evil At Heart by Chelsea Cain. I already wanted to continue this series some time soon, so I guess my TBR jar selecting this title is a sign I should do so! Probably not until after I finish the Eddie Flynn binge-read though.

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ARC REVIEW: Where The Lost Wander – by Amy Harmon

Title: Where The Lost Wander
Author: Amy Harmon
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
First published: April 28th 2020
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Finished reading: February 22nd 2020
Pages: 348

“That’s what hope feels like: the best air you’ve ever breathed after the worst fall you’ve ever taken. It hurts.”

*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***

I think that most people will know by now that I’m a huge fan of Amy Harmon‘s work and I’ve been eagerly anticipating her newest title Where The Lost Wander ever since I first heard about it. I was absolutely stoked when I was given the chance to read this story early, and it was without doubt another excellent story. While not my absolute favorite title to date, this is still a beautifully written story that is most definitely able to provoke strong emotions. Without doubt of the same high quality I’ve come to expect of Amy Harmon‘s books!

There is a lot to love in Where The Lost Wander. First up is the historical setting in 19th century United States. Not only is this historical setting wonderfully and exhaustively described, but these same descriptions really made the setting come alive and made it feel as if you were right back in the 19th century. Both the social conflicts, the Native Americans and their culture as well as the racism and struggles are realistically described and added a lot of dept to the story. I personally loved getting a little more insight in the daily life of Native Americans from that era and John was without doubt the perfect character to show us both ‘worlds’.

The plot itself is simply intriguing. The whole ‘looking for a better life in California’ and braving a 1000+ mile trip to get there with only a wagon and some oxes and mules is most definitely not something we could imagine ourselves doing today… It’s a long road filled with dangers, sickness and hardship, but also hope and the promise of a new life and new possibilities for those who reach their final destination. The journey of this particular cast of characters is again thoroughly and realistically described, without leaving out the blunt and sometimes heartbreaking moments along the way. Likewise, the Native American angle and what happened to Naomi are used to give us more insight in both cultures, with the help of John’s character as a tentative connection between both.

Both the writing and the development of the characters are simply wonderful, but that is what I’ve come to expect of anything Amy Harmon writes to be honest. There is a reason she is one of my absolute favorite authors! There are quite a few characters in Where The Lost Wander, but the main focus is on both Naomi and John. The story is told with the help of a dual POV structure, alternating between Naomi and John to help us show both sides especially when they are not together. It is extremely easy to warm up to and grow to love both characters, root for them and keep fingers and toes crossed for a happy ending… And yes, this includes a lot of both heartwarming and hearbreaking moments along the way.

I think the only thing that nagged me a bit was the slow pace. Where The Lost Wander is considerably slow going and at times it was just too slow for me… Although with a story that is mostly focused on the characters, this slower pace shouldn’t come as a total surprise. In short, while this wasn’t my absolute favorite Amy Harmon, I might just have set my expectations too high to begin with. Where The Lost Wander is still an excellent read and if you love slower and character-driven historical fiction with a wonderful cast of characters, a love story and a social conflict angle, you will find yourself falling hopelessly in love with this story.

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WWW Wednesdays #257- February 26th

WWW WEDNESDAYS is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World Of Words and is all about answering the three questions below.

• WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

I’m currently on another series mini binge-read and I’ll be reading Blue Night and Beton Rouge by Simone Buchholz one after the other in preparation for the blog tour next month. I’ll probably take a little break before reading the third one so I can get those shorties reviews written before I have tot think about the blog tour review. 😉

WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

1. Where The Lost Wander by Amy Harmon (4/5 stars) REVIEW 06/04
I think most people will know by now that I’m a huge fan of Amy Harmon’s work and I have been eagerly anticipating her newest title Where The Lost Wander. I was stoked when I was able to get a chance to read this story early, and it was without doubt a wonderful experience. While not my absolute favorite title, this is still a beautifully written story that is definitely able to provoke emotions. I found the pace to be a tad slow, but the characters are well developed and it was a fascinating portrayal of 19th century US.

2. The Boy From The Woods by Harlan Coben (4/5 stars) REVIEW 16/03
I admit I was sold as soon as I read the blurb! I never would have guessed my request for such a popular title would actually be approved, but I’m definitely happy I had the chance to read this one early. Such a fascinating read! While certain aspects of the plot might be a tad farfetched, it has a high entertainment factor and I literally flew through the pages. This makes me want to give priority to more of his titles this year! I had forgotten how much I enjoyed his writing in the past.

3. I’ll Be Gone In The Dark by Michelle McNamara (4/5 stars) REVIEW
I’ve been wanting this true crime title for so long now, and I’m still not sure what held me back… I’m happy I finally did take the time to read it, because it turned out to be a fascinating (and terrifying) read.

• WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL READ NEXT?

With a possible trip happening in the second half of March, I need to step up my ARC game for a bit and read a bunch that are due soon… First up is Strangers by C.L. Taylor, which I’ve been dying to read anyway. Then I’ll probably read The Body In The Garden by Katherine Schellman, and I need to read Mexico Street by Simone Buchholz for the upcoming blog tour too. My latest TBR jar pick is still The Way Back To You by Michelle Andreani & Mindi Scott, which I’m not sure I’ll end up having time for soon…

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WWW Wednesdays #256 – February 19th

WWW WEDNESDAYS is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World Of Words and is all about answering the three questions below.

• WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

I’m currently reading two pending ARCs… I love anything Amy Harmon writes and I’ve been highly anticipating Where The Lost Wander; even though I have a pile of other ARCs that are due first, I just couldn’t wait any longer to pick it up. I’m also starting The Boy From The Woods by Harlan Coben, a title I’m still surprised I was actually approved for although it might just have been an early birthday present as it publishes on my birthday next month. 😉

WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

1. The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce (4/5 stars) REVIEW
There was just something about the blurb and main character Harold Fry that made me think it would be my kind of book, and I thought his character was giving off seriously A Man Called Ove vibes too… My instincts turned out to be right on both counts, and Harold Fry is without doubt the reason this story worked so well for me. The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry is both a heartwarming and heartbreaking journey and a character-driven story with a wide cast of quirky characters… Recommended if you enjoy slower fiction reads!

2. Deep Down Dead by Steph Broadribb (4,5/5 stars) REVIEW 24/02
Deep Down Dead is thrilling, exhilarating and simply explosive from the very beginning until that final page. It was fascinating to learn more about where Lori came from and how she turned out to be the kickass bounty hunter she is today… What a powerful and shocking transformation! Your heart will beat miles a minute as you keep turning those pages, both learning more about the past as well trying to keep up with the action-packed and highly flammable present.

3. Deep Blue Trouble by Steph Broadribb (4,5/5 stars) REREAD (2018 REVIEW)
This one was just as good the second time around! A little snippet of my 2018 review: “If you like refreshing, fast-paced, suspenseful and action-packed thrillers with a strong female lead, you are in for a real treat with Deep Blue Trouble. Bounty hunter Lori Anderson seriously kicks ass and isn’t afraid to step on a few toes to get the results she is after. The writing is strong, filled with plot twists and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page… Trust me, you will want to know what happens to Lori and you will enjoy every single step along the way. Thriller fans will love this one!”

4. Deep Dirty Truth by Steph Broadribb (4,5/5 stars) REVIEW 24/02
Oh boy, binge-reading the first three Lori Anderson books has sure left me breathless! My heart is still beating like a maniac and I definitely need a dose of sugar to come to my senses again… What an explosive, action-packed and absolutely thrilling ride! Deep Dirty Truth is already the third book of this series and of the same high quality and entertainment level as the first two books.

5. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie (2/5 stars) REVIEW 28/02
I loved watching the Peter Pan adaptations when I was little, so I fully expected to love the original story and classic as well… But I guess it wasn’t ment to be. I wasn’t a fan of the writing at all and except for a few entertaining moments I found the story mostly dull and rather slowpaced… I even started skimreading at one point and that is never a good sign. The story was also a lot darker than expected. The original Peter Pan definitely wasn’t my cup of tea, and turned out to be quite a disappointing experience to be honest. I’ll stick with the adaptations this time around!

• WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL READ NEXT?

I’ll probably read I’ll Be Gone In The Dark by Michelle McNamara next as I’ve been meaning to for ages now and I really need to step up my non fiction game this year. Afterwards, it’s another series mini binge with Blue Night and Beton Rouge by Simone Buchholz in preparation for my blog tour stop of the third book next month. My latest TBR jar pick is still The Way Back To You by Michelle Andreani & Mindi Scott, which I’m not sure I’ll end up having time for this month…

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WWW Wednesdays #255 – February 12th

WWW WEDNESDAYS is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World Of Words and is all about answering the three questions below.

• WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

I’m currently reading The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce, and basically the only reason I haven’t finished it yet is that we went on an impromtu camping trip these last few days and I didn’t have much time to read. I fully expect to finish it today though! Afterwards I’m finally starting my first series binge-read with Deep Down Dead by Steph Broadribb. I loved my first encounter with Lori and I definitely can’t wait to (re)read all books in order!

WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

1. Perfume by Patrick Süskind (4/5 stars) REVIEW 28/02
This story had intrigued me ever since I first watched the movie years back, but somehow it took me a long time to finally make time for the original story. I’m definitely glad I finally did read the book! Patrick Süskind has a way with his words that really makes the descriptions come alive and Grenouille’s story is both horrifying and absolutely fascinating at the same time. I already knew what was going to come as I’ve seen the movie muliple times, but even so I highly enjoyed reading this modern classic.

2. Death Deserved by Jørn Lier Horst & Thomas Enger (4,5/5 stars) BLOG TOUR REVIEW 20/02
Look out for my full review during my stop of the blog tour!

3. Things In Jars by Jess Kidd (4,5/5 stars) REVIEW 17/02
I won a gorgeous hardback copy of Things In Jars in a giveaway last year, but somehow it took me way longer than expected to actually read it… I’m kicking myself now, because it was an absolutely brilliant read. The wonderful prose only enhances that Victorian London feel of the plot, I loved the hint of the surreal and the Irish folklore and this is definitely magical realism and Gothic mystery at its best. The unique and diverse cast of characters, the folklore, the plot, the writing, the suspense… There is so much to love!

• WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL READ NEXT?

After finishing my current reads, I’ll continue my series binge-read with book two and three of the Lori Anderson series: Deep Blue Trouble and Deep Dirty Truth. I might even read the fourth book too depending on if I feel like writing a blog tour review haha. I also can’t wait to finally pick up my ARC of Amy Harmon‘s newest story Where The Lost Wander. I absolutely love her work and I fully expect this one to be another favorite! My latest TBR jar pick is still The Way Back To You by Michelle Andreani & Mindi Scott, which I’ll probably pick up soon as I love roadtrip stories and it would be a perfect break in between my thriller series binges. 😉

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YVO’S SHORTIES #128 – Infinity + One & Thin Air

Time for another round of Yvo’s Shorties! This time around two backlist titles I’ve been looking forward to read, and both ended up being excellent reads. Amy Harmon is one of my favorite authors and Infinity + One was without doubt another great read. And I’ve been looking forward to pick up my beautiful copy of Thin Air ever since I bought it, and it was just the right story for the time of the year.

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Title: Infinity + One
Author: Amy Harmon
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Music
First published: June 8th 2014
Finished reading: October 14th 2019
Pages: 350

“We weren’t so different, Finn and I. Cages come in lots of colors and shapes. Some are gilded, while others have a slamming door. But golden handcuffs are still handcuffs.”

I think most will be aware of the fact that I adore Amy Harmon‘s books by now… I’ve decided to make the wait for her next story Where The Lost Wander a little less painful by tackling some of her backlist titles I still had pending. I was going to finally pick up The Bird And The Sword, but my heart screamed for a dose of contemporary romance and Infinity + One sounded perfect for the job. As soon as I realized this story was going to have references to the infamous Bonnie and Clyde couple, I was sold. I’m a huge sucker for historical crime references, and who hasn’t heard about the story of Bonnie and Clyde?! This element was definitely a huge bonus for me, and I loved how it played a role through the whole story in multiple ways. Bonnie and Finn are in many way opposites, but I loved how well their characters worked together in this story. The thorough development of both characters, giving them flaws and having them making mistakes, really makes them come alive for me and I was soon addicted to their story despite the fact it kind of has that insta-love vibe going on. But between the road trip feel of the plot, the dangerous angle, the Bonnie and Clyde references, the music and the spark between Bonnie and Finn among other things, there were many elements to make you forget about those few cliches. The writing is just as wonderful as I’ve come to expect of her work, and while Infinity + One isn’t my absolute favorite of her work, it’s undeniably an excellent read fans of the genre will love.

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Title: Thin Air
Author: Michelle Paver
Genre: Historical Fiction, Paranormal
First published: October 6th 2016
Publisher: Orion
Finished reading: October 16th 2019
Pages: 240

“Up and up my eye climbs, past sweeping, dark-red precipices and glaring white ice, to those immaculate peaks, the highest trailing a banner of wind-blown snow across a sky so intensely blue that it’s almost black.

Kangchenjunga.”

I admit this was initially a cover love buy for me, although as soon as I read the blurb I was convinced I made the right choice. Partly a historical adventure story set in the 1935 Himalayas, partly a ghost story, Thin Air turned out to have a very interesting mix of different elements and it’s a story perfect for this Halloween month. First up we have the historical fiction aspect, as this story is set in 1935… I think the author did a great job describing the historical elements and it gives us a good idea what it would have been like joining such a expedition back then. That brings us to the next element: the international setting in the Himalayas (India, Nepal), with the mountain Kangchenjunga being almost like another character. The descriptions of the setting really made the mountains come alive for me, and it’s part of the reason I enjoyed the story. Another thing that stands out is the paranormal aspect of this story. We learn about a past failed expedition and its tragic end… And with strange things happening to the main character Stephen, you definitely get that spooky vibe. But this story also almost reads like an adventure journal where you learn more about mountain climbing, what happens during this expedition as well as the other characters as Stephen sees them. Some are definitely not that likeable, but it was very interesting what the extreme experience and weather conditions do to a person. I had a great time reading this story and definitely didn’t see that ending coming! Thin Air is without doubt a great Halloween as well as a proper Winter read. It definitely makes you want to bundle up in a pile of blankets with a steaming mug of your favorite beverage closeby!

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