Click to listen!
|
Hello Hello! How are you?
Iβm writing this on the 29th of April and Iβm praying to all the book gods out there that Iβm going to be able to finish Shadow of Night and The Third Sun before the 30th at midnight so I can complete my O.W.L.s for the Magical Readathon! Please cross your fingers, say a prayer, do a boogie, I really hope I can do it aha!
I canβt believe how fast April went past. My fiancΓ© and I are soon going to be trying to get home to France and Iβm trying to get through a tonne of books. Iβve got quite a few very exciting books on the May TBR and Iβm so happy to be doing this post to show you all what Iβll be reading in May!
Iβm sure you can probably already guess (because you know Iβm a lost cause) that Iβve got another million books on my TBR. As Iβm writing this, I still havenβt finished reading all my April books, Iβm not going to beat myself up about not finishing all the Hype-A-Thon Readathon books and I think both Noly and I are going to work our way through the backlog once we read the May BOTMs for both the Hype-A-Thon and Middle Grade Marvels. Iβm going to be participating in the Medieval-athon this month, itβs my first time and Iβm quite excited. Keep reading to find out what beauties Iβll be picking up in May!
On to the May TBR!
I really liked how I set my April TBR up into mini reading categories or mini TBRs, so Iβm going to be doing the same thing this time. It was also a really great way to keep track of the books I needed to read and in which order for blog tours and author requests!
Buddy Read
Promises Forged (#2) by Devri Walls

I read Magic Unleashed, the first book in the Venators series in March and I really enjoyed it, so when El from Papertea and Book Flowers and I both realised that we wanted to continue the series quite soon, we decided to jump at the chance and pick it up straight away. I really loved book one and I NEED TO KNOW what happens between Rune and a certain character in book 2.
Author Requests and Blog Tours
The Girl and the Stars by Mark Lawrence

This is my first #RandomThingsTours books of May and Iβm insanely excited about it. Iβve had Mark Lawrence books on my TBR for a few years and the blurb and the cover just totally drew me in. Itβs been a while since Anne sent me the email with all the info so I think Iβve forgotten quite a bit about this book, but Iβm going to leave it at that so I’ll be hopefully pleasantly surprised!
The Summoned Ones by Darryl A. Woods

My first author request for the month, and again, Iβm really excited! Darryl sent me a physical copy of this book and itβs not very long so Iβm sure Iβm going to get through this one quite quickly. Iβve seen a few other reviews of this book on Twitter, but I intentionally didnβt read them so I didnβt get spoiled, and again I canβt recall what this book is about, but I do remember reading the blurb and really liking what I saw.
Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis

Yay!! We have another The Write Reads tour this month and I couldnβt be happier. The last tour I did with Dave was in March I think, so Iβm happy to be back on the bandwagon. My review for this book is due in the next few days and Iβm yet to start it. The reviews Iβve read of this book so far have been really varied, but Iβm still hopeful Iβm going to enjoy it. Iβve been surprised lately that Iβve read a few horror books and not been scaredβ¦ so Iβm curious about this one and canβt wait to dive in.
The Carer by Deborah Moggach

Another #RandomThingsTours book! I remember thinking that this wasnβt a very Ellie book when I read the blurb, but I decided to give it a shot because I thought the same thing about the Away With the Penguins blurb, and it ended up being my favourite book of February and actually my favourite book of the year so far. The cover is just divine and Iβm really intrigued about reading this one, the premise sounds so cute and I canβt wait.
Ash Mountain by Helen Fitzgerald

For this book and another one later on in the month, Iβm going to be participating in my first ever Orenda Book Tour, hosted by Anne Cater. Iβve never read a book set in Australia so Iβm really intrigued about this one (I say that about all the books donβt I?). I really enjoyed Hold Your Tongue by Deborah Masson this month so Iβm trying to branch out more and read some genres that I usually shy away from and I think that this will be the push I need.
Dagmar of the Northlands by John C. Adams

When I received the pitch from the author a few months ago, I immediately thought that the book had the potential to sound cool but there was just so much info and the blurb and it totally swamped out the actual plot. The blurb is like 6 paragraphs long and is nearly a run-down of the whole book but, my sad fantasy-loving heart couldnβt say no and Iβm very curious as to what this book will be!
In Two Minds by K.T. Findlay

Iβm also going to be participating in a Rachelβs Random Resources tour for the first time this month and Iβm so glad that Iβm kicking it off with this book! I couldnβt help but say yes when I saw that it was fantasy, saw the cover and read the blurb, Iβm really looking forward to it and hopefully finding another great fantasy author.
When We Fall by Carolyn Kirby

Another #RandomThingsTours YAY!!! And, itβs another WWII historical fiction novel, high five please! I just love historical fiction, you already know this and Iβve read some really good ones this year already, Iβm really looking forward to this one and Anne said that she was really enjoying it a few days ago on Twitter, so I have quite high expectations!
Camelot by Giles Kristian

Happy Ellie! Happy HAPPY Ellie! Okay, Iβll calm down now lol! So, first things first, itβs another #RandomThingsTours *smiling forcefully*, I just canβt believe the number of amazing book tours that Anne hosts and Iβm so privileged to be on her reviewer list. When I saw the title in my inbox and then the cover I was instantly won over. Iβve not read much about the legend of Arthur, but it has always been one that I want to get to. This is the second book in The Arthurian Tales series, I have the first one on my Kindle and Iβm going to try to get to it before my tour date! Iβm really excited though!
Escape to the French Farmhouse by Jo Thomas

Another #RandomThingsTours book and youβre all going to laugh at me but what pulled me towards this book was the fact that I really want to go home to France and Iβm hoping this will tide me over until I can get there. Iβve always wanted to read more books set in France, but I donβt read many books written in French because it just β¦ I donβt know, something about the French language in novels is a bit meh mostly and Iβm just not a fan. But, Iβm really looking forward to this book, Iβm expecting all the feels, I think itβs going to be cute, nostalgic and just what I need right now!
Reckless by Gemma Rogers

For this other Rachelβs Random Resources tour, I decided to branch out and try another thriller as I have already said. Iβve not been in a thriller mood for quite a few years, but this blurb drew me in and Hold Your Tongue reignited that mood, so now Iβm looking forward to getting to this one, and Iβm not going to say much more because I still have a million books to talk about urgh!
Marked by Time by Victoria Basnuevo

Oooh YAY! You may already know that I joined the YABS Facebook group a few months ago and thatβs where I found the author’s request for Rangerβs Oath by Blake Peel, also known as one of my fave fantasy discoveries of the year. So when I saw this wowowow beautiful cover and that blurb I was like βyep, thatβs for meβ. I was so glad when Victoria told me that she still had some ARCs to give out, so here we are. Iβm a sucker for fantasy and I love me some magic, so Iβm looking forward to this.
One? by Jennifer L. Cahill

This author’s request has been on my TBR for months, but Iβm finally getting to it in May! Iβm not going to go over the synopsis in much detail, but the reason I was drawn to this one was because it sounded unique, it discusses the βoneβ as in the βone true loveβ and I thought that it sounded kind of cool.
The Fall of Jack Edgerton by Robert C. Lee

Another author request and another really unique sounding book! I thought that the blurb sounded like nothing Iβd ever read before so I decided to give it a try. Robert was kind enough to send me a physical copy before the lockdown madness and it really isnβt a very long book!
Along Came a Soldier by Brenda Davies

We have yet again, another Rachelβs Random Resources tour and once again, youβve guessed it, a book Ellie couldnβt say no to. From what I remember of the blurb, itβs a historical fiction, fantasy, thriller? I could be totally wrong but I remember that it is about a forbidden love and thatβs all I need to know!
Catalyst by Tracy Richardson

Another The Write Reads Tour youhou! Iβm actually really happy about all these tours Iβve been doing over the past months and am going to do for the next few months because I would NEVER have heard of any of these books, let alone picked them up without them, so thatβs already a win in my books. I remember Dave being really excited about this tour when he announced it a few months back and when I read the blurb I was right there with him. Itβs the second one in the series and I have the first one as well, I believe Dave said that you didnβt have to read the first one before the second one, which is good in case I run out of time aha!
Behind Blue Eyes by Anna Mocikat

Iβll also be doing a Booktamins tour this month and this book isnβt on Goodreads yet, which is strange, so I canβt remember the blurb for the life of me and Iβm too far down the TBR hole to go and find it in my emails, but I know itβs about a bot or someone with enhanced AI, and itβs a science fiction book, thatβs all I know, but I do remember thinking that the blurb sounded so cool and Iβm quite excited to be reading another science fiction this year.
The Secret of Hawthorne House by Donald Firesmith

This is the first time on my blog that Iβll be talking about Voracious Readers Only. I apparently decided I wanted to read loads of the books they were offering and around the time I requested and got approved for this book, my old computer died and stole the book (my heart is breaking). So it was only when the author reached out again last month that I remembered it, sorry! Iβm really looking forward to this one though, I remember being so excited for it the first time around and itβs a Middle Grade book, so thatβs perfect for our kick-off of MGM, Iβm hoping to be able to add it to the Recs list.
Winter’s Gift by Florence Keeling

Another Rachelβs Random Resources tour! I donβt usually do womenβs fiction/ chick lit/ romance, but I thought that the blurb sounded really interesting and I am still trying to branch out and read more out of my comfort zone! I love bookish books, so Iβm excited to experience it!
A Good Demon is Hard to Find by Kate Moseman

I promise you, we are nearly at the end of this first list, I know Iβm crazy aha! And itβs yet again another Rachelβs Random Resources tour, I canβt help it if loads of her May tours appealed to me can I? Iβm not a fan of the cover, I have to say, but this book is described as paranormal romantic comedy and that sounds fab, donβt you think?
The Creak on the Stairs by Eva BjΓΆrg ΓgisdΓ³ttir

Firstly, thank god for Goodreads so I could copy and paste the authorβs name because Iβve been dreading having to write it aha! This is the second Orenda Book tour that Anne is hosting this month and when I read the blurb, I just couldnβt pass up this chance! Iβve never read a Nordic Noir before and I am so so so so looking forward to it. Iβve definitely fallen back into a thriller β murder mystery mood and I think this is going to be a really great book!
Beyond the Moon by Catherine Taylor

My last author request of the month is this beauty and Iβll tell you something Iβm sure you already know, I am so EXCITED to read this book. I love historical fiction (I wonder how many times I can say that in one post) and this one just really appealed to me when I read the blurb. Catherine sent me a physical copy and itβs quite a hefty book, but Iβm expecting it to be quite good. Iβve read a recent review by another blogger about this book and it sounded like she really enjoyed it, so Iβm optimistic.
Coffee Break Book Club
The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead

Iβm only going to read one of the two picks from the May BOTMs for my Goodreads book club (or should I say, one of my Goodreads book clubs, wink wink). I already read the second pick, Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibanez in February, Iβm still going to be one of the discussion leaders but Iβm not going to be reading or rereading it. However, Iβm very excited to read The Glittering Court and I have to admit that I hadnβt a clue what it was about until a few minutes ago. This synopsis gave me The Remnant Chronicles and The Selection vibes so Iβm really curious about starting it now.Β
Hype-A-Thon Readathon and Middle Grade Marvels
A Darker Shade of Magic (#1) by V.E. Schwab

Noly and I decided to play it cool this month and not give ourselves too much to do so, after about a million polls and some crossed fingers behind the scenes, and a few screams when we saw the result, we will be reading ADSOM for #MagicalMay. Iβm insanely happy about this, so many people love this book and Iβve wanted to read it for such a long time, so I hope itβs going to be amazing.
Tilly and the Book Wanderers (#1) by Anna James

You may have seen our announcement, or not, so Iβm going to gush about it again aha: Holly, Noly, and I have created a book club focusing on Middle Grade books and starting in May, our first BOTM is this one. We had loads of books to choose from, and we eventually picked this one, Iβm so excited about it and I know the general gist of this plot but intentionally havenβt reread the blurb so itβs more of a surprise. Iβm so excited that we are kicking things off in a matter of days and Iβm really looking forward to seeing people join and discuss Middle Grade with us. If you were wondering, the MGM Twitter is live, we are still working on the various lists and the Goodreads but it should all be done this week!
Medieval-Athon
Iβve got many many many books on this May TBR, so Iβm not going to try to kill myself by making another 7-book TBR specifically for this, and Fiona from Fiβs Bibliofiles kindly pointed out that if I went for the 7 books I didnβt need to do any prompts, but you know me, I canβt say no. Iβm going to try to wrangle a few books from my TBR into these prompts, itβs probably cheating but oh well aha. This is what Iβve got so far!
Iβm going to go for Emperess because why the hell not! Also, I was super happy to see a little sword emoji, so Iβm rolling with it!
βοΈ A Pristine Book β A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
βοΈ Start or Finish a Duology β The Arthurian Tales: Lancelot and Camelot by Giles Kristian
βοΈ A Book High on Your Bookshelf β The Summoned Ones by Darryl A. Woods
βοΈ Under 300 Pages β The Fall of Jack Edgerton by Robert C. Lee
βοΈ A Book Title that Begins with a βCβ β Catalyst by Tracy Richardson
βοΈ A Book You Have High Expectations For β Promises Forged (#2) by Devri Walls
Okay, Iβll admit, maybe I cheated, but at least I have managed to get 7 of my May TBR books into the Medieval-athon prompts, so thatβs not too bad, right?
I think I have 26 books on this TBR? I honestly feel like Iβve forgotten something but I just canβt put my finger on what, itβs probably my self-conscious telling me to add one of the many books I have on my shelves here to the TBR. As Iβm writing this I have read 28 books this month, I had an essay to write at the start of the month so I couldnβt read for a few days, so I feel quite confident about this monthβs TBR. I have some challenge TBRs that I really, REALLY ned to get to, so I might try to tackle one or two if I have some extra time on my hands!
Iβm really excited for all of these books and I canβt wait to start reading them all. What books do you have on your May TBR? Are you going to be participating in any Readathons this month? Or are you part of a book club? Tell me all about it in the comments!
Ohhhh, I nearly forgot, Iβve also seen a few people on Twitter and their blogs saying that they are taking part in the Hype-A-Thon this month and I just canβt begin to tell you how happy Noly and I are about this. Whenever I see someone talk about it, I send it to her and we have a little screaming session aha! Thank you so much also to all the wonderful people who said they wanted to join our book club, we are so happy to welcome you, and even though May is our little test run, we are so excited, but please bear with us, because we have no idea what we are doing aha!
Thatβs all for now (you could say itβs already quite a lot aha), I hope you enjoyed this overambition post. See you soon, stay safe,
Ellie xx
You definitely have a large TBR, but by the looks of it some amazing books. I can’t wait to see what you think of them!
Mouaha! I know! I’m feeling it though you know? π€£ Thank you hun!
Great tbr! I hope you enjoy all of the books!π looking forward to seeing what you think of the Shades of Magic trilogy!π
Thank you! I’m so excited for all the books but I think I’m looking forward to ADSOM the most! π₯°π
Great titles awaiting you! Enjoy π
Thank you!!!! I’m really looking forward to them! π
Ooh, I hope you enjoy A Darker Shade of Magic β Iβve read it twice now and loved it both times!
Thank you!!! I’m so excited π₯°
Wow! Awesome TBR. Glad you managed to work some of the medievalaton prompts in there (I knew you would!) its such a chill readathon but a lot of fun in the end.
Aww thank you!!! I’m really excited for this month, it looks like a really nice mix but some awesome sounding and looking books! Yessss, I’m so glad you told me about it, it’s going to be so fun!!
Looks like you have some really good books on your TBR! Looking forward to what you think of A Darker Shade of Magic. π
Thank youuu! I’m really looking forward to it! π
It’s awesome to run a Book Club! This will be my second month running ours. We voted on reading historical fiction this month and we are reading In a Field of Blue by Gemma Liviero for May. Good luck with all of your reading!
I’m really looking forward to it starting! Oh that sounds so great! Good luck, I hope you like the book, and thank you!
So many books!! I hope you love them all and I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Thank you so much!
Love your TBR, I haven’t read anything from Mead since The Vampire Academy, but maybe I’ll give some of her other series a chance. Thanks for the recommendation!
β₯ Mae
Oh, I totally forgot she wrote that series!!! I’m really looking forward to this one! You’re welcome and thank you ππ
Escape to the French Farmhouse looks so freaking cute. I need to own that book! When I read it I need to make a bunch of French desserts!
I know it looks so cute and nostalgic! I need that in my life right nowwww! OMG yesssss
OMG this is a mighty TBR! The only book on it that Iβve read is A Darker Shade of Magic which I enjoyed well enough, but I just struggle with Schwabβs writing style in general so that is a me thing. Happy reading!
Ahaha yes! I really need to concentrate to get through them all, the first one is 480 pages and the review is due tomorrow so I need to get my reading mojo on! I’ve heard that a lot about her writing, I’m excited to see what I think! Thank you!
I love the idea of the medieval-athon, and I love your list! I haven’t heard of most of these, it’s really unique!
Thank you! I’m so surprised how diverse my TBR is every month but I’m living for it!
Omg this is a huge TBR! All the books in it seem so interesting though (specially ADSOM that it’s also on my tbr this month!) I hope you can read them all! β¨
I know…. ooops!!! I hope so too ahah!! Thsnk you hun β€
Hope your reading went well π
I surprised myself so much and read loads! π