Check out my free ecourse Ignite Your Passion for Reading: Fall in Love With Books!
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Better Than Dreams

  • About Me
  • Archives
  • Courses
  • Newsletter
  • YouTube
  • Unlucky in Lockdown
  • Christmas Book Finder
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • Vimeo
    • YouTube
You are here: Home / Archives for Reviews

Reviews

June 2018 Wrap-Up: Dragons, Mermaids, and Clothes

16th July 2018 By Julianne Leave a Comment

The thumbnail is a lie! I finished seven books in August, but two were ebooks and two audiobooks.

Books mentioned:

Blood and Sand, by C. V. Wyk

An intriguing story about a girl captured by the Roman army and sold as a slave. Desperate to escape but finding herself with new loyalties, she becomes…Spartacus?

The Electrical Venus, by Julie Mayhew

A circus girl is lured into taking on a new role by a mysterious stranger, but will he break her heart? I found the style tricky to get used to, but the story was charming and I loved the ending.

Talon, by Julie Kagawa

This was somehow exactly what I expected it to be and surprising! I anticipated the slightly corny enemies-to-lovers plot, enjoyed the mysterious evil dragon corporation, but did not expect the surfing! I don’t think this series is what I’m into right now.

The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock, by Imogen Hermes Gowar

I loved this until the last 100 pages, during which the plot lost me. I did like the ending though, and it was a fantastic book to discuss at my work book club because it explores class and gender so beautifully.

The Last Namsara, by Kristen Ciccarelli

My favourite book this month, I think! Twisty plot + determined yet kind heroine + dragons who love stories = genius.

The WORN Archive, edited by Serah-Marie McMahon

I loved this and hope to find a way to get hold of the remaining issues of WORN – it was my breakfast book for a couple of months and I really enjoyed starting the day with its thoughtful articles about clothes and fashion.

Shadow Scale, by Rachel Hartman

This didn’t grab my heart like Seraphina did but I still thoroughly enjoyed it and the ending was brilliant. I hope Rachel Hartman writes many, many more books set in this world.

Filed Under: Book Chat, Reviews, YouTube

May 2018 Wrap-Up: Educated, Moral Disorder, Seraphina

12th June 2018 By Julianne Leave a Comment

After last month’s boasting about having finished twelve books, I only completed three in May!

Books mentioned:

Educated, by Tara Westover

A powerful pacy memoir about the author’s childhood as a Mormon survivalist and her decision to pursue education despite her father’s disapproval and the abuse she suffered at the hands of her brother. Despite the title, the bulk of the book is about her life before leaving to go to university – this surprised me but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Moral Disorder, by Margaret Atwood

I thought that I would try this collection of interconnected short stories and see if I preferred it to Atwood’s novels. I didn’t really – I found it easier to get into because it was an audiobook but ultimately I struggled to see what the stories were trying to say and found them very forgetable.

Seraphina, by Rachel Hartman

I fell in love with everything about this! It tells the story of a young woman working at the royal castle in the run up to a national celebration of the 40-year treaty between humans and dragons. Seraphina’s mother was a dragon, and she struggles to keep the truth of her parentage under wraps and protect herself and her father from those who would persecute them, all while trying to stop a treasonous plot.

Filed Under: Book Chat, Reviews, YouTube

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 22
  • Page 23
  • Page 24
  • Page 25
  • Page 26
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 106
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Hi! I'm Julianne and this is my book blog. Click my picture to read more about me.

Explore By Category

Explore By Date

Search

Footer

Privacy Notice
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2025 · Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in