2019 READING CHALLENGE UPDATE

JANUARY AND FEBRUARY (HALF-SORTA)

2019 has been an alright start to the reading year for me. I say that like I'm not doing well towards my goal - I am. By all accounts, I'm ahead of where I need to be to achieve my goal of reading 52 books. I've also read some great books too. I just think that following on from 2018, my best reading year ever, that this year was going to be hard to live up to it. We shall see.

In January I read six books - four were physical books and two were audiobooks.

1- Bird Box by Josh Malerman - I mean I'm pretty sure everyone has heard about this by now thanks to Netflix. But, this story follows a woman in a post-apocolyptic setting where you can't go outside without a blindfold. For some unknown reason, when people see outside - they are compelled to kill themselves. She is trying to get across to a new safe haven with Boy and Girl, two young children who have never seen the world.

2 - The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstien by Kristen White - this story is an imagining of the Frankenstien tale from the perspective of Elizabeth. I listened to the audiobook version of this. It was an okay read for me, but not one I would rush out to by a physical copy of for my shelves.

3- Howl's Moving Castle by Diane Wynne Jones - the other audiobook I listened to. This is the novel that the Studio Ghibli film was based on - owhich I never knew the book exsisted until now. The story follows Sophie, who is transformed into an old woman by a witch. To be honest, it's a hard premise to describe it's a bit all over the place but I did enjoy the audiobook of it. It is a bit more grounded than the film which helped give it nice context.

4 - Fire and Heist by Sarah Beth Durst. This is a story about were-dragons. Part human, part dragon - except they can't turn into dragons any more. They just liked to steal from others and hoarde treasure. The story follows a young girl who's mother went missing following a Heist and her journey to find out more.

5 - The Wicked King by Holly Black. The follow up to The Cruel Prince - I don't want to say anything to spoil it except that I need the third book now please.

6 - Legendary by Stephanie Garber. The follow up to Caraval - again I don't want to say anything to spoil it except - GIVE ME THE THIRD BOOK NOW - please.

In fact, all of these books were read before the middle of the month. After back to back reading The Wicked King by Holly Black and Legendary by Stephanie Garber - I was a little broken. These (along with Bird Box by Josh Malerman) were my favourite reads. My least favourite was Fire and Heist by Sarah Beth Durst - I felt like it was a bit rushed. I'm going to do reviews for BB and F+H later on where I can go into it in a little bit more spoilery detail.

In February so far, I have read six books also - one ebook, one audiobook and four physical books.

1- The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton - Agatha Christie meets Inception. This book is a whirlwind ride of a mystery novel that will leave you, mouth open, clutching for the next pages. A full spoilery review will follow soon.

2- An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson. The story follows a young girl who is a gifted artist. She is coveted by Fae people for her talent, but when she paints a portrait of a Fae Prince showing human emotions - he steals her away to stand trial. It felt a bit rushed, a bit tropey and a bit copied from other books in the genre. I've read much better Fae stories.

3 - Marly's Ghost by David Levithan. A reimagining of A Christmas Carol set at Valentine's Day. I've had the book on my shelf for years and I finally got to it. I read it in one sitting. A cute little seasonal read.

4 - Our House by Louise Candlish. A woman comes home one day to find people moving into her house...what the - I mean that's all I went into this story knowing and I'm leaving it for you to find out the rest. A wild thriller ride that kept me guessing and reguessing at every chapter.

5 - Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater. The third book in The Raven Boys series which I started last year. This is the audiobook I have read so far this month. I have really enjoyed these books. It follows a group of characters searching for a mysterious King who if awaken will grant a wish.

6 - Circle of Shadows by Evelyn Skye. Magical ninja school adventure. I mean - need I say more. This is the first book in a duology I believe. It was unputdownable - a full spoilery review will follow.

I've enjoyed all of these so far to a degree. I think my favourite has been The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton - which lived up to all the hype. My least favourite has been An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson.

Unlike last month I seem to be making momentum with my reading, I'm currently a good chunk of the way through Dumplin' by Julie Murphy and have started listening to The Raven King audio by Maggie Stiefvater - the final Raven Boys book. I'm pretty sure I'll have both of these and maybe some more finished by the end of this month.