Alyce's bookshelf: all en-US Sun, 13 Apr 2025 04:06:11 -0700 60 Alyce's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Antigone (Student Editions) 2433710
Desperate to gain control over a city ravaged by civil war, Creon refuses to bury the body of Antigone's rebellious brother. Outraged, she defies his edict. Creon condemns the young woman, his niece, to be buried alive. The people daren't object but the prophet Teiresias warns that this tyranny will anger the the rotting corpse is polluting the city. Creon hesitates and his fate is sealed.

Sophocles' great tragic play dramatises the clash between the family and the city and, with high poetry and deep tragedy, presents an irreconcilable but equally balanced conflict. Sophoclean heroine Antigone has become a cultural archetype, the symbol of personal integrity and an icon of political freedom, whilst her coprotagonist Creon can be interpreted as either a civic saviour or a ruthless tyrant.

This translation by Don Taylor, accurate yet poetic, was made for a BBC TV production of the Theban Plays in 1986, which he directed.]]> 128 Sophocles 0413776042 Alyce 0 read-with-sean 3.88 -441 Antigone (Student Editions)
author: Sophocles
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.88
book published: -441
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/02
date added: 2025/04/13
shelves: read-with-sean
review:
No rating because I’m honestly not sure how to rate this, but I’ll reflect and return to it. Read as part of A111.
]]> <![CDATA[The First Sister (The First Sister Trilogy, #1)]]> 52378525
Lito val Lucius climbed his way out of the slums to become an elite soldier of Venus, but was defeated in combat by none other than Saito Ren, resulting in the disappearance of his partner, Hiro. When Lito learns that Hiro is both alive and a traitor to the cause, he now has a shot at redemption: track down and kill his former partner. But when he discovers recordings that Hiro secretly made, Lito’s own allegiances are put to the test. Ultimately, he must decide between following orders and following his heart.]]> 352 Linden A. Lewis 198212699X Alyce 0 to-read, 2020-releases 3.83 2020 The First Sister (The First Sister Trilogy, #1)
author: Linden A. Lewis
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/13
shelves: to-read, 2020-releases
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Rachel West and the Fallen Starlet]]> 219516997 Emma Mills Alyce 0 to-read, adult-fiction 0.0 2026 Rachel West and the Fallen Starlet
author: Emma Mills
name: Alyce
average rating: 0.0
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/05
shelves: to-read, adult-fiction
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia, #1)]]> 60714999 Human or vampire, the rules of survival are the same: never trust, never yield, and always � always � guard your heart.

The adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, Oraya carved her place in a world designed to kill her. Her only chance to become something more than prey is entering the Kejari: a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself.

But winning won’t be easy amongst the most vicious warriors from all three vampire houses. To survive, Oraya is forced to make an alliance with a mysterious rival.

Everything about Raihn is dangerous. He is a ruthless vampire, an efficient killer, an enemy to her father’s crown� and her greatest competition. Yet, what terrifies Oraya most of all is that she finds herself oddly drawn to him.

But there’s no room for compassion in the Kejari. War for the House of Night brews, shattering everything that Oraya thought she knew about her home. And Raihn may understand her more than anyone � but their blossoming attraction could be her downfall, in a kingdom where nothing is more deadly than love.

The Serpent and the Wings of Night is the first book in a new series of heart-wrenching romance, dark magic, and bloodthirsty intrigue, perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and A Court of Thorns and Roses.]]> 504 Carissa Broadbent Alyce 0 4.30 2022 The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia, #1)
author: Carissa Broadbent
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/26
shelves: to-read, 2022-releases, adult-fiction, book-club-recs, owlcrate
review:

]]> All the Other Mothers Hate Me 214537763 "The missing boy is 10-year-old Alfie Risby, and to be perfectly honest with you, he's a little shit."

Florence Grimes, age thirty-one, always takes the easy way out. Single, broke and unfulfilled after the humiliating end to her girl-band career, she has only one reason to get out of bed each day: her ten-year-old son Dylan. But then Alfie Risby, her son’s bully and the heir to a vast frozen-food empire, mysteriously vanishes during a class trip, and Dylan becomes the prime suspect.

Florence, for once, is faced with a task she can’t quit: She’s got to find Alfie and clear her son’s name or risk losing Dylan forever—never mind that she has no useful skills (let alone investigative ones) and that all the other school moms hate her. Oh, and she has a reason to suspect Dylan might not be as innocent as she’d like to believe.]]> 384 Sarah Harman 0593851463 Alyce 0 3.59 2025 All the Other Mothers Hate Me
author: Sarah Harman
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/26
shelves: to-read, 2025-releases, adult-fiction, book-club-recs, debuts
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Thou Savage Woman: The gripping new true crime history book of female killers in early modern Britain]]> 216455868 'Popular history at its best' Spectator

'Boisterous� replete with stabbings, bashing and thumping' Daily Mail

'A cocktail of brutal, tragic, and fascinating true crime from the era of the Tudors and Stuarts. This dark history at its best, narrated with empathy and precision' Gareth Russell

LADY KILLERS AND FEMME FATALES � STORIES OF MURDER MOST FOUL � HAVE GRIPPED PUBLIC IMAGINATION FOR CENTURIES

Early Modern Britain was awash with pamphlets, ballads, woodcuts broadcasting bloodthirsty tales of traitorous wives, greedy mistresses, cunning female poisoning lacing the supper with deadly substances; of child killers and spiteful witches, stories of women wholly and unnaturally wicked. These were printed or sung, tacked the walls of alehouses, sold in the streets for pennies and read voraciously to thrill all. But why? When the vast majority of murders then (and now) are committed by men.

In this bold, page-turning new history, former police officer and historian Blessin Adams tells stories of women whose violent crimes shattered the narrow confines of their gender � and whose notoriety revealed a society that was at once repulsed by and attracted to murderous female rebellion. Based on detailed research in court archives, each chapter explores murders that thrilled and terrified the British public; the crimes that caused the most concern and provoked the most debate. Women in this period killed rarely, and when they did it was usually within the context of extreme provocation or domestic violence. Adams has the ability of the best crime novelists in recreating the setting in which each case occurred as well as the motivations of each perpetrator.

Thou Savage Woman reminds us that women in the past had voices, that they sought to control their bodies and their environments and that they also had the capacity for committing acts of unspeakable violence.]]> 240 Blessin Adams 0008500193 Alyce 0 3.63 Thou Savage Woman: The gripping new true crime history book of female killers in early modern Britain
author: Blessin Adams
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.63
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/26
shelves: to-read, 2025-releases, book-club-recs, non-fiction
review:

]]> Babel 57945316 From award-winning author R. F. Kuang comes Babel, a historical fantasy epic that grapples with student revolutions, colonial resistance, and the use of language and translation as the dominating tool of the British Empire

Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.

1828. Robin Swift, orphaned by cholera in Canton, is brought to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell. There, he trains for years in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, all in preparation for the day he’ll enroll in Oxford University’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation—also known as Babel. The tower and its students are the world's center for translation and, more importantly, magic. Silver-working—the art of manifesting the meaning lost in translation using enchanted silver bars—has made the British unparalleled in power, as the arcane craft serves the Empire's quest for colonization.

For Robin, Oxford is a utopia dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. But knowledge obeys power, and as a Chinese boy raised in Britain, Robin realizes serving Babel means betraying his motherland. As his studies progress, Robin finds himself caught between Babel and the shadowy Hermes Society, an organization dedicated to stopping imperial expansion. When Britain pursues an unjust war with China over silver and opium, Robin must decide . . .

Can powerful institutions be changed from within, or does revolution always require violence?]]> 544 R.F. Kuang 0063021420 Alyce 0 4.17 2022 Babel
author: R.F. Kuang
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/25
shelves: currently-reading, 2022-releases, adult-fiction, fairyloot, illumicrate, read-with-sean
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1)]]> 206014643 Welcome to the brutal and elite world of Basgiath War College ...

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general - also known as her tough-as-talons mother - has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you're smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away . . . because dragons don't bond to 'fragile' humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother's daughter - like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She'll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Everyone at Basgiath has an agenda, and every night could be your last. So, sleep with one eye open because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die .]]> 561 Rebecca Yarros 0349437017 Alyce 5 4.53 2023 Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1)
author: Rebecca Yarros
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.53
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/25
date added: 2025/03/25
shelves: 2023-releases, adult-fiction, book-club-recs, read-with-sean
review:
twenty one pilots were wrong, I DO believe the hype
]]> The House of Eve 61273858 From the award-winning author of Yellow Wife, a daring and redemptive novel set in 1950s Philadelphia and Washington, DC, that explores what it means to be a woman and a mother, and how much one is willing to sacrifice to achieve her greatest goal.

1950s Philadelphia: fifteen-year-old Ruby Pearsall is on track to becoming the first in her family to attend college, in spite of having a mother more interested in keeping a man than raising a daughter. But a taboo love affair threatens to pull her back down into the poverty and desperation that has been passed on to her like a birthright.

Eleanor Quarles arrives in Washington, DC, with ambition and secrets. When she meets the handsome William Pride at Howard University, they fall madly in love. But William hails from one of DC’s elite wealthy Black families, and his par­ents don’t let just anyone into their fold. Eleanor hopes that a baby will make her finally feel at home in William’s family and grant her the life she’s been searching for. But having a baby—and fitting in—is easier said than done.

With their stories colliding in the most unexpected of ways, Ruby and Eleanor will both make decisions that shape the trajectory of their lives.]]> 384 Sadeqa Johnson 1982197366 Alyce 0 4.23 2023 The House of Eve
author: Sadeqa Johnson
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/25
shelves: 2023-releases, adult-fiction, currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Prisoner’s Throne (The Stolen Heir Duology, #2)]]> 61250159 An imprisoned prince. A vengeful queen. And a battle that will determine the future of Elfhame.

Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned in the icy north and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive. With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude willing to use any means necessary to retrieve their stolen heir, Oak will have to decide whether to attempt regaining the trust of the girl he’s always loved or to remain loyal to Elfhame and hand over the means to end her reign—even if it means ending Wren, too.
�

With a new war looming on the horizon and treachery lurking in every corner, neither Oak’s guile nor his wit will be enough to keep everyone he loves alive. It’s just a question of whom he will doom.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black comes the stunning blood-soaked conclusion to the Stolen Heir duology.
]]> 359 Holly Black 0316592730 Alyce 3
It feels like the main point of this duology was to set up another series of adventures for Jude and Cardan, and I feel as though the events of these two books could have easily been fitted into a standalone. That being said, I’m the sucker that keeps reading these even though I don’t particularly care for the writing style or the characters. ]]> 3.89 2024 The Prisoner’s Throne (The Stolen Heir Duology, #2)
author: Holly Black
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/25
date added: 2025/03/25
shelves: 2024-releases, library-borrowed, young-adult
review:
Nothing happens for the first half of this book, but surprisingly the second half redeems it quite well. Predictable plot twists which I could see coming from a mile away, but it’s enjoyable if you don’t expect too much from it.

It feels like the main point of this duology was to set up another series of adventures for Jude and Cardan, and I feel as though the events of these two books could have easily been fitted into a standalone. That being said, I’m the sucker that keeps reading these even though I don’t particularly care for the writing style or the characters.
]]> <![CDATA[The Moonlight Mystery Agency 1 � The Birthday Cake Thief]]> 214661128 Hana joins the Moonlight Mystery Agency to help Spark the bionic unicorn find her missing birthday cake in the first of an exciting new series from bestseller Vashti Hardy.

Hana has always longed to have a pet of her own. So when a cat turns up at her bedroom window one night, she thinks her dream has come true. But Ace is no ordinary cat. He’s a detective cat who has come to invite Hana to join the Moonlight Mystery Agency, and that’s when the magical adventures begin!

Join Hana and Ace on their first mission to solve the mystery of Spark the bionic unicorn’s missing birthday cake!]]> 104 Vashti Hardy 0008732574 Alyce 5 4.25 The Moonlight Mystery Agency 1 – The Birthday Cake Thief
author: Vashti Hardy
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/23
date added: 2025/03/23
shelves: 2025-releases, childrens-fiction, library-borrowed
review:
With a rating of 20 from Zophia and 58 (no, 60!) from Ezra, this story has gone down very well with the kids! A lovely twist to the mystery tale, with a great moral. Looking forward to more Moonlight Mystery Agency books being released.
]]> Cleopatra and Rome 552029 352 Diana E.E. Kleiner 0674019059 Alyce 0 library-borrowed, non-fiction 3.63 2005 Cleopatra and Rome
author: Diana E.E. Kleiner
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2005
rating: 0
read at: 2024/11/10
date added: 2025/03/23
shelves: library-borrowed, non-fiction
review:
Read the first two chapters and the prologue as part of TMA01 for A111. Hoping to read the rest later in my studies, so no rating at present.
]]> <![CDATA[Delphi: A History of the Center of the Ancient World]]> 18730603
In this richly illustrated account, Michael Scott covers the history and nature of Delphi, from the literary and archaeological evidence surrounding the site, to its rise as a center of worship, to the constant appeal of the oracle despite her cryptic prophecies. He describes how Delphi became a contested sacred site for Greeks and Romans and a storehouse for the treasures of rival city-states and foreign kings. He also examines the eventual decline of the site and how its meaning and importance have continued to be reshaped.

A unique window into the center of the ancient world, Delphi will appeal to general readers, tourists, students, and specialists.]]> 440 Michael Scott 0691150818 Alyce 0 2014-releases, non-fiction 3.99 2014 Delphi: A History of the Center of the Ancient World
author: Michael Scott
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at: 2025/03/23
date added: 2025/03/23
shelves: 2014-releases, non-fiction
review:
Read ‘Renewal� chapter as part of studying A112. Hoping to read the rest of the text later in my studies, so no rating at present.
]]> <![CDATA[Pablo and Splash: Frozen in Time: The hilarious kids' graphic novel series about time-travelling penguins]]> 212301777 Time-travelling penguins Pablo and Splash must rescue their friend from the Ice Age in this brilliantly funny, full-colour graphic novel for young readers.

Pablo and Splash go to visit Professor O'Brain in her lab, only to find that their friend has been left behind in the Ice Age by her misbehaving time machine. The brave penguin buddies set out on a rescue mission � destination 68,000 years ago! When a Neanderthal man accidentally wanders into their time machine, it's not just the professor who is stuck in the wrong time period. But luckily a scientific breakthrough for Pablo and Splash's endlessly upbeat approach to life's challenges helps save the day!

The race against time � several times over! � makes this pacey and hilarious graphic novel irresistible. It'll be a huge hit for fans of Bunny vs Monkey, Bumble and Snug, funny animal stories and light-hearted ancient history.]]> 0 Sheena Dempsey 1526662817 Alyce 5 5.00 Pablo and Splash: Frozen in Time: The hilarious kids' graphic novel series about time-travelling penguins
author: Sheena Dempsey
name: Alyce
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/18
date added: 2025/03/22
shelves: 2024-releases, graphic-novels, library-borrowed, childrens-fiction
review:

]]> Flight to Eternity 24876768 In a story which mixes reality with fantasy they embark on a time travelling journey which will take them to exotic lands such as Prusania and Maya and ultimately to the Holy Lands where the true meaning behind their journey will be revealed.
But it is no easy Josh and Sara will have to find out who they can trust, they will have to survive battles and attacks, and, in the end, they will have to decide their future.]]> 127 J.R. Harrison Alyce 2 'Flight To Eternity' is filled to the brim with tension (even if that was just me, nervously awaiting the next unnecessary use of a question mark or apostrophe). If you're looking for a book that will allow you to adventure with both Jesus and Hitler, look no further - I'm not quite sure why you would be trying to find that book, but here it is!
I always feel a bit dubious about a book when it has two 5-star ratings and both of are from the author himself: I genuinely question how this got published. The only reason this book receives a second star is because of chapter 7: the only chapter which slows down the pace, containing a rather nice description of the Wiltshire countryside and not featuring rampant, crazy time-jumping that's impossible to keep track of.
Next time J. R. Harrison releases a book I'd strongly suggest he didn't choose the sci-fi genre: he has a nice way of describing settings, and writes rather humorous dialogue, but I feel as though his ideas were just too grand. They do lend themselves well to visual media, though - 'Flight To Eternity' would definitely work as a TV show or a film, but it's just too big to be contained on a page.

Merged review:

I don't even know what to say.
'Flight To Eternity' is filled to the brim with tension (even if that was just me, nervously awaiting the next unnecessary use of a question mark or apostrophe). If you're looking for a book that will allow you to adventure with both Jesus and Hitler, look no further - I'm not quite sure why you would be trying to find that book, but here it is!
I always feel a bit dubious about a book when it has two 5-star ratings and both of are from the author himself: I genuinely question how this got published. The only reason this book receives a second star is because of chapter 7: the only chapter which slows down the pace, containing a rather nice description of the Wiltshire countryside and not featuring rampant, crazy time-jumping that's impossible to keep track of.
Next time J. R. Harrison releases a book I'd strongly suggest he didn't choose the sci-fi genre: he has a nice way of describing settings, and writes rather humorous dialogue, but I feel as though his ideas were just too grand. They do lend themselves well to visual media, though - 'Flight To Eternity' would definitely work as a TV show or a film, but it's just too big to be contained on a page.]]> 0.0 2015 Flight to Eternity
author: J.R. Harrison
name: Alyce
average rating: 0.0
book published: 2015
rating: 2
read at: 2016/03/19
date added: 2025/03/22
shelves: 2015-releases, adult-fiction, library-borrowed
review:
I don't even know what to say.
'Flight To Eternity' is filled to the brim with tension (even if that was just me, nervously awaiting the next unnecessary use of a question mark or apostrophe). If you're looking for a book that will allow you to adventure with both Jesus and Hitler, look no further - I'm not quite sure why you would be trying to find that book, but here it is!
I always feel a bit dubious about a book when it has two 5-star ratings and both of are from the author himself: I genuinely question how this got published. The only reason this book receives a second star is because of chapter 7: the only chapter which slows down the pace, containing a rather nice description of the Wiltshire countryside and not featuring rampant, crazy time-jumping that's impossible to keep track of.
Next time J. R. Harrison releases a book I'd strongly suggest he didn't choose the sci-fi genre: he has a nice way of describing settings, and writes rather humorous dialogue, but I feel as though his ideas were just too grand. They do lend themselves well to visual media, though - 'Flight To Eternity' would definitely work as a TV show or a film, but it's just too big to be contained on a page.

Merged review:

I don't even know what to say.
'Flight To Eternity' is filled to the brim with tension (even if that was just me, nervously awaiting the next unnecessary use of a question mark or apostrophe). If you're looking for a book that will allow you to adventure with both Jesus and Hitler, look no further - I'm not quite sure why you would be trying to find that book, but here it is!
I always feel a bit dubious about a book when it has two 5-star ratings and both of are from the author himself: I genuinely question how this got published. The only reason this book receives a second star is because of chapter 7: the only chapter which slows down the pace, containing a rather nice description of the Wiltshire countryside and not featuring rampant, crazy time-jumping that's impossible to keep track of.
Next time J. R. Harrison releases a book I'd strongly suggest he didn't choose the sci-fi genre: he has a nice way of describing settings, and writes rather humorous dialogue, but I feel as though his ideas were just too grand. They do lend themselves well to visual media, though - 'Flight To Eternity' would definitely work as a TV show or a film, but it's just too big to be contained on a page.
]]> Crafting for Sinners 223363578 A queer woman must fight her way out of a big-box craft store run by a diabolical religious cult in this gripping survival horror novel by Jenny Kiefer, author of This Wretched Valley

The ratcheting tension and gut-churning terror will appeal to fans of The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay and The Ritual by Adam Nevill

Ruth is trapped. She’s stuck in her small, religious hometown of Kill Devil, Kentucky, stuck in the closet, and stuck living paycheck to paycheck. After her manager finds out that she lives with her girlfriend, Ruth is fired from her job as a cashier at New Creations—a craft store owned by the church that dominates life in the town.

In an act of revenge, Ruth attempts to shoplift some yarn but is caught red-handed by a New Creations cashier. Instead of calling the police, the employees lock her in the store—and attack her. When Ruth is forced to stab out one of their eyes with a knitting needle, she realizes she's facing far bigger trouble than a simple shoplifting charge. As Ruth fights for her life, she plunges deeper into the tangled web of the New Creationists, who are hiding a terrible secret that threatens not only her, but the entire town.

This relentless horror novel will have youon the edge of your seat as it hurtles towards a breathtaking conclusion. Will Ruth escape? Or will the shocking secret at the heart of the cult die with her?]]> 304 Jenny Kiefer 1683694708 Alyce 0 4.00 Crafting for Sinners
author: Jenny Kiefer
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/21
shelves: to-read, 2025-releases, adult-fiction
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Starry Skies, Stolen Kisses, and My Best Friend's Brother: Sweet Small Town Romantic Comedy (Whisper Springs)]]> 210675600
But he lived right next door.

And so when a date ended badly, I found myself at his house after midnight ranting about it.

“Is it too much to ask for a guy to kiss me when I clearly want him too?�

Out of nowhere, he had me pressed against the wall. “You shouldn’t have come here tonight. My self-control goes out the window after midnight. And when a beautiful girl comes into my house whining that she didn’t get a proper kiss, I feel obligated to rectify that.”]]> 256 Kimmy Loth Alyce 0 3.82 Starry Skies, Stolen Kisses, and My Best Friend's Brother: Sweet Small Town Romantic Comedy (Whisper Springs)
author: Kimmy Loth
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.82
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/20
shelves: to-read, adult-fiction, 2024-releases
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom]]> 214151420 From eldest daughter Shari Franke, the shocking true story behind the viral 8 Passengers family vlog and the hidden abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother, and how, in the face of unimaginable pain, she found freedom and healing.

Shari Franke’s childhood was a constant battle for survival. Her mother, Ruby Franke, enforced a severe moral code while maintaining a façade of a picture-perfect family for their wildly popular YouTube channel 8 Passengers, which documented the day-to-day life of raising six children for a staggering 2.5 million subscribers. But a darker truth lurked beneath the surface—Ruby’s wholesome online persona masked a more tyrannical parenting style than anyone could have imagined.

As the family’s YouTube notoriety grew, so too did Ruby’s delusions of righteousness. Fueled by the sadistic influence of relationship coach Jodi Hildebrandt, together they implemented an inhumane and merciless disciplinary regime.

Ruby and Jodi were arrested in Utah in 2023 on multiple charges of aggravated child abuse. On that fateful day, Shari shared a photo online of a police car outside their home. Her caption had one word: “Finally.�

For the first time, Shari will reveal the disturbing truth behind 8 Passengers and her family’s devastating involvement with Jodi Hildebrandt’s cultish life coaching program, “ConneXions.� No stone is left unturned as Shari exposes the perils of influencer culture and shares for the first time her battle for truth and survival in the face of her mother’s cruelty.]]> 320 Shari Franke 1668065398 Alyce 0 4.44 2025 The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom
author: Shari Franke
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/15
shelves: to-read, 2025-releases, non-fiction
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Traditions (A111 Discovering the arts and humanities)]]> 52874422 425 Jessica Hughes 1473024633 Alyce 4 non-fiction 4.32 Traditions (A111 Discovering the arts and humanities)
author: Jessica Hughes
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.32
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/10
date added: 2025/03/10
shelves: non-fiction
review:
Read as part of A111. I didn’t enjoy the second book as much as the first because a lot of the subjects weren’t to my taste, but I’ve survived!
]]> <![CDATA[Bonded by Thorns (Beasts of the Briar, #1)]]> 200121869
I’ve always loved fairytales. I never imagined I'd actually be in one.

When my father wanders into the enchanted realm of the fae, I know I have to go after him. And when he gets imprisoned, I'll do anything to save him... Even trade my freedom for his. I had no idea I'd end up imprisoned by four sexy fae who turn into beasts at night.

I have to win my freedom, and that means making a bargain with them. They must find their mates in order to break the curse. If I can help them do that, they'll set me free. Sounds simple, right?

It's not. Because against my better judgment, I'm starting to fall for these beastly princes. One is smart and sweet, the other mysterious and deadly, another flirty and confident, and the last prince... He's handsome, strong, has a wicked temper, and is dead-set against breaking the curse. Why does he want to keep me here forever?

But it's not just my freedom on the line. If I don't break the princes' curse soon, all the magic in the Enchanted Vale will be stolen by the evil—and stupidly hot—Prince of Thorns. And I'm not letting my princes stay cursed.

Not after I've fallen in love with them.

BONDED BY THORNS is a steamy adult Beauty and the Beast retelling set in a fantasy fae realm. In this version, our beautiful bookworm doesn't have to choose between the four sexy fae princes. It is a full-length novel that ends on a cliffhanger. It includes MF and MM content. It is intended for mature readers only.]]> 382 Elizabeth Helen 0008670552 Alyce 0 3.83 2023 Bonded by Thorns (Beasts of the Briar, #1)
author: Elizabeth Helen
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/07
shelves: currently-reading, adult-fiction, fairyloot, 2023-releases
review:

]]> When We Were Monsters 223854632 A simmering psychological thriller about a dead teacher at an elite boarding school, the students who had every reason to want her gone, and the tangled web of rivalry and romance concealing the truth—from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of All the Bright Places.

At an elite boarding school, 8 students are selected for an exclusive program, but only one will walk away with a lifechanging opportunity to realize their creative dreams.

Effy is piecing together a story about the tragic betrayal that led to her mother's death. Arlo hopes to publish a novel—but he's also trying to start a new chapter with Effy after he broke her heart and ghosted 3 years earlier. Everyone has a compelling reason to be there—they all want a big break—but only the most ambitious will prevail as the students are eliminated one by one.

Their mentor is the one and only Meredith Graffam, an enigmatic writer, director and actress, whose unorthodox teaching methods push them past the breaking point. Under Graffam's tutelage, the students reveal their darkest secrets, take unthinkable risks, and slowly start to turn on one another. But Graffam never expected they would turn on her . . .

"A standout dark academia thriller.� � E. Lockhart, #1 New York Times bestselling author of We Were Liars and Genuine Fraud ]]> 400 Jennifer Niven 1524713023 Alyce 0 4.50 When We Were Monsters
author: Jennifer Niven
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.50
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/06
shelves: to-read, 2025-releases, young-adult
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Denton Little's Still Not Dead (Denton Little, #2)]]> 25397720 You only live once—unless you're Denton Little!

This amazingly funny YA novel is for fans of John Green, Andrew Smith, and Matthew Quick

The good Denton Little has lived through his deathdate. Yay! The bad He's being chased by the DIA (Death Investigation Agency), he can never see his family again, and he may now die any time. Huh. Cheating death isn't quite as awesome as Denton would have thought...
Lance Rubin's debut novel, Denton Little's Deathdate, showed readers just how funny and poignant imminent death could be. Now in this sequel, he takes on the big questions about life. How do we cope, knowing we could die at any time? Would you save someone from dying even if they were a horrible person? Is it wrong to kiss the girl your best friend is crushing on if she's really into you instead? What if she's wearing bacon lip gloss?]]> 352 Lance Rubin 0553497022 Alyce 0 to-read, 2016-releases 3.79 Denton Little's Still Not Dead (Denton Little, #2)
author: Lance Rubin
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.79
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/02
shelves: to-read, 2016-releases
review:

]]> Monkey Puzzle 11203714 26 Julia Donaldson 0230748090 Alyce 4 childrens-fiction 4.31 Monkey Puzzle
author: Julia Donaldson
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.31
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2019/10/13
date added: 2025/03/02
shelves: childrens-fiction
review:
A clever way of teaching children that sometimes the most effective descriptions are the most simple. Monkey is looking for their mum, but no matter how they describe her they keep getting pointed in the wrong direction towards other creatures who fit the description perfectly! Illustrations are superb (as usual for Axel Scheffler).
]]> Blood Orange 50368041 Alison has it all. A doting husband, adorable daughter, and a career on the rise - she's just been given her first murder case to defend. But all is never as it seems...

Just one more night. Then I'll end it.

Alison drinks too much. She's neglecting her family. And she's having an affair with a colleague whose taste for pushing boundaries may be more than she can handle.

I did it. I killed him. I should be locked up.

Alison's client doesn't deny that she stabbed her husband - she wants to plead guilty. And yet something about her story is deeply amiss. Saving this woman may be the first step to Alison saving herself.

I'm watching you. I know what you're doing.

But someone knows Alison's secrets. Someone who wants to make her pay for what she's done, and who won't stop until she's lost everything....

]]> 353 Harriet Tyce 1472252772 Alyce 0 4.12 2019 Blood Orange
author: Harriet Tyce
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/27
shelves: to-read, adult-fiction, book-club-recs, 2019-releases
review:

]]> So Thrilled For You 214868013 A terrible heatwave. A very tense baby shower. It will all end in tears...

Nicki, Lauren, Charlotte and Steffi have been friends since university. Now in their thirties, life is pulling them in different directions - but when Charlotte organises the baby shower of hell for pregnant Nicki, the girls are reunited.

Under a sweltering hot summer day, tensions rise - and by the end of the evening, nothing will ever be the same. Someone started a fire at the house - and everyone's a suspect... Is it Steffi, happily child-free but feeling judged by her friends? Is it Charlotte, desperate to conceive and jealous of those who have? Is it Lauren, who is finding motherhood far, far worse than she imagined? Or is it Nicki herself, who never wanted a baby shower anyway?

In the aftermath, the police put together the facts - but the truth will shock everyone. Even you.

BIG LITTLE LIES meets REALLY GOOD, ACTUALLY in the incredible new novel from Holly Bourne - it's the book you'll want to read three times, then give to every woman in your life.]]> 423 Holly Bourne 1529301645 Alyce 0 4.01 2025 So Thrilled For You
author: Holly Bourne
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/27
shelves: to-read, 2025-releases, adult-fiction, book-club-recs
review:

]]> Tress of the Emerald Sea 60531406 #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson expands his Cosmere universe shared by The Stormlight Archive and Mistborn with a new standalone novel for everyone who loved The Princess Bride.

The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?]]> 443 Brandon Sanderson Alyce 0 4.35 2023 Tress of the Emerald Sea
author: Brandon Sanderson
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/27
shelves: to-read, adult-fiction, book-club-recs
review:

]]> Vanishing World 219300660 From the author of the bestselling literary sensations Convenience Store Woman and Earthlings comes a surprising and highly imaginative story set in a version of Japan where sex between married couples has vanished and all children are born by artificial insemination.

Sayaka Murata has proven herself to be one of the most exciting chroniclers of the strangeness of society, x-raying our contemporary world to bizarre and troubling effect. Her depictions of a happily unmarried retail worker in Convenience Store Woman and a young woman convinced she is an alien in Earthlings have endeared her to millions of readers worldwide. Vanishing World takes Murata’s universe to a bold new level, imagining an alternative Japan where attitudes to sex and procreation are wildly different to our own.

As a girl, Amane realizes with horror that her parents “copulated� in order to bring her into the world, rather than using artificial insemination, which became the norm in the mid-twentieth century. Amane strives to get away from what she considers an indoctrination in this strange “system� by her mother, but her infatuations with both anime characters and real people have a sexual force that is undeniable. As an adult in an appropriately sexless marriage—sex between married couples is now considered as taboo as incest—Amane and her husband Saku decide to go and live in a mysterious new town called Experiment City or Paradise-Eden, where all children are raised communally, and every person is considered a Mother to all children. Men are beginning to become pregnant using artificial wombs that sit outside of their bodies like balloons, and children are nameless, called only “Kodomo-chan.� Is this the new world that will purify Amane of her strangeness once and for all?]]> 240 Sayaka Murata 0802164668 Alyce 0 3.53 2015 Vanishing World
author: Sayaka Murata
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/27
shelves: to-read, 2025-releases, adult-fiction, book-club-recs
review:

]]> Girl, Woman, Other 41081373
Girl, Woman, Other follows the lives and struggles of twelve very different characters. Mostly women, black and British, they tell the stories of their families, friends and lovers, across the country and through the years.

Joyfully polyphonic and vibrantly contemporary, this is a gloriously new kind of history, a novel of our times: celebratory, ever-dynamic and utterly irresistible.]]> 453 Bernardine Evaristo 0241364906 Alyce 0 4.27 2019 Girl, Woman, Other
author: Bernardine Evaristo
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/27
shelves: to-read, adult-fiction, book-club-recs
review:

]]> Blonde Roots 4045950 288 Bernardine Evaristo 1594488630 Alyce 0 3.58 2008 Blonde Roots
author: Bernardine Evaristo
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/27
shelves: to-read, adult-fiction, book-club-recs
review:

]]> Goodlord: An Email 213837942 ]]> 229 Ella Frears 1914236440 Alyce 0 4.11 Goodlord: An Email
author: Ella Frears
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.11
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/27
shelves: to-read, 2024-releases, adult-fiction, book-club-recs
review:

]]> Convenience Store Woman 36739755 Convenience Store Woman is the heartwarming and surprising story of thirty-six-year-old Tokyo resident Keiko Furukura.

Keiko has never fit in, neither in her family, nor in school, but when at the age of eighteen she begins working at the Hiiromachi branch of “Smile Mart,� she finds peace and purpose in her life. In the store, unlike anywhere else, she understands the rules of social interaction―many are laid out line by line in the store’s manual―and she does her best to copy the dress, mannerisms, and speech of her colleagues, playing the part of a “normal� person excellently, more or less. Keiko is very happy, but the people close to her, from her family to her coworkers, increasingly pressure her to find a husband, and to start a proper career, prompting her to take desperate action�

A brilliant depiction of a world hidden from view, Convenience Store Woman is an ironic and sharp-eyed look at contemporary work culture and the pressures we all feel to conform, as well as a charming and completely fresh portrait of an unforgettable heroine.]]> 163 Sayaka Murata 0802128254 Alyce 0 3.65 2016 Convenience Store Woman
author: Sayaka Murata
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/27
shelves: to-read, adult-fiction, book-club-recs, 2018-releases
review:

]]> Blue Sisters 206174140 Three estranged siblings return to their family home in New York after their beloved sister's death in this unforgettable story of grief, identity, and the complexities of family.

The three Blue sisters are exceptional—and exceptionally different. Avery, the eldest and a recovering heroin addict turned strait-laced lawyer, lives with her wife in London; Bonnie, a former boxer, works as a bouncer in Los Angeles following a devastating defeat; and Lucky, the youngest, models in Paris while trying to outrun her hard-partying ways. They also had a fourth sister, Nicky, whose unexpected death left Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky reeling. A year later, as they each navigate grief, addiction, and ambition, they find they must return to New York to stop the sale of the apartment they were raised in.

But coming home is never as easy as it seems. As the sisters reckon with the disappointments of their childhood and the loss of the only person who held them together, they realize the greatest secrets they've been keeping might not have been from each other, but from themselves.]]> 354 Coco Mellors 0008623015 Alyce 5 4.14 2024 Blue Sisters
author: Coco Mellors
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/25
date added: 2025/02/27
shelves: 2024-releases, adult-fiction, book-club-recs
review:

]]> Want 207006355 What do you want, when no one is watching?
What do you want, when the lights are off?
What do you want, when you are anonymous?

When we talk about sex, we talk about womanhood and motherhood, infidelity and exploitation, consent and respect, fairness and egalitarianism, love and hate, pleasure and pain. And yet for many reasons � some complicated, some not � so many of us don't talk about it. Our deepest, most intimate fears and fantasies remain locked away inside of us, until someone comes along with the key. Here's the key. In this generation-defining book, Gillian Anderson collects and introduces the anonymous letters of hundreds of women from around the world (along with her own anonymous letter). Want reveals how women feel about sex when they have the freedom to be totally anonymous.]]> 372 Gillian Anderson 1419777297 Alyce 3 3.44 2024 Want
author: Gillian Anderson
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.44
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/23
date added: 2025/02/27
shelves: 2024-releases, non-fiction, book-club-recs
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music]]> 202246100
As Taylor Swift’s preferred and most trusted music journalist, Rob Sheffield has enjoyed closer access to the mega-star than any other writer working today. His unique insight has afforded him a singular perspective of Taylor’s world and her impact on the world. Inspired by his years of this exclusive access, and the Swiftie response his commentary on their beloved Taylor, Sheffield merges reportage and criticism in a way that only he can.

At once one of the most beloved music figures of the past two decades and one of the most criticized, Taylor Swift is known as much for her life beyond her music as she is for her constant stream of hits—and most of all, how she uses the former to not only create the latter, but market and brand herself throughout the many “eras� of her career. At once both approachable and enigmatic, Taylor Swift has become a master of controlling the narrative surrounding her life and career while keeping fans eager to learn of her every next step.

In the tradition of Sheffield’s award-winning Dreaming the Beatles, Heartbreak Is the National Anthem will inform and delight a legion of fans who hang on every word from Taylor and ever word Rob writes on her.]]> 208 Rob Sheffield 0063351315 Alyce 3
This book doesn’t flow well, for a variety of reasons. Sheffield goes off on many tangents, making it seem almost like an autobiography of how Taylor Swift has impacted upon his life, but also tries to give a brief history of seemingly the entire spectrum of pop music.

Unlike the tag line claims, I wouldn’t say that this focuses at all on how Taylor has reinvented pop music, but more about how she pays homage to established artists and follows in their footsteps. I don’t feel as though I learnt anything about Taylor, but I sure know a lot more about Duran Duran now.

I’d recommend this if you’re interested in learning more about Taylor’s place in musical history amongst other greats. However, if you’re looking for a book intensely focused upon Taylor - or don’t like reading music reviews - then this can be missed. ]]> 3.59 2024 Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music
author: Rob Sheffield
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/24
date added: 2025/02/24
shelves: 2024-releases, library-borrowed, non-fiction
review:
I love Taylor Swift. I enjoy Rob Sheffield’s work for Rolling Stone. This should have been a match in heaven, but it ended up being a disappointment.

This book doesn’t flow well, for a variety of reasons. Sheffield goes off on many tangents, making it seem almost like an autobiography of how Taylor Swift has impacted upon his life, but also tries to give a brief history of seemingly the entire spectrum of pop music.

Unlike the tag line claims, I wouldn’t say that this focuses at all on how Taylor has reinvented pop music, but more about how she pays homage to established artists and follows in their footsteps. I don’t feel as though I learnt anything about Taylor, but I sure know a lot more about Duran Duran now.

I’d recommend this if you’re interested in learning more about Taylor’s place in musical history amongst other greats. However, if you’re looking for a book intensely focused upon Taylor - or don’t like reading music reviews - then this can be missed.
]]> Magicalia: Thief of Shadows 223897731 "Up there with Skandar and Impossible Creatures. An absolute triumph!" Mel Taylor-Bessent

Bitsy and Kosh are on the run in the second page-turning adventure in the spectacular fantasy series from bestseller Jennifer Bell, bursting with incredible magicores and amazing science! Perfect for 8+ fans of Skandar, Impossible Creatures and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

FEEL THE MAGIC. CONJURE THE IMPOSSIBLE.

When Kosh is accused of being the notorious thief the Shadowsmith, he and Bitsy must go into hiding before Kosh is arrested. Determined to prove his innocence, Bitsy, Mateo and Kosh set out to find the real villain. But they have something the Shadowsmith desperately wants, something the conservatoire also needs for protection. Can Bitsy, Kosh and Mateo figure out the true culprit before time runs out and someone catches them?

Don't miss the first book in this outstanding fantasy series, Race of Wonders!

PRAISE FOR

"Fun, fast and ferociously readable. Pokémon meets Diana Wynne Jones in this outstanding start to a fantastic series. Already one of my favourite books of 2024!" Elle McNicoll

"Spectacular! A world-beating feat of imagination, as enthralling as it is exciting. Climb on board your ozoz, and hold on tight!" Sinéad O'Hart

"Jennifer Bell makes the impossible seem possible in this fantastical, pacy and hugely impressive story that’s filled with around-the-world adventure, intricate world building and magical creatures that are conjured from different emotions. It’s an absolute triumph!" Mel Taylor-Bessent

�Magicalia had me gripped from chapter one, with thrilling twists and magical creatures at every turn. A spellbinding 𲹻.� Rachel Chivers Khoo

�Magicalia is a thrilling story with brilliant, loveable characters. Bell’s storytelling is wonderful and the world she creates bursts with technicolour � I absolutely raced through it.� Jasbinder Bilan]]> 320 Jennifer Bell 1529507456 Alyce 0 4.25 Magicalia: Thief of Shadows
author: Jennifer Bell
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/24
shelves: currently-reading, 2025-releases, childrens-fiction, library-borrowed
review:

]]> The Last Bear 58837413 An instant classic with a bear-sized heart, Hannah Gold’s debut novel is a touching story of kindness, adventure, and forging your own path—perfect for fans of Pax and A Wolf Called Wander.

There are no polar bears left on Bear Island. At least, that’s what April’s father tells her when his scientific research takes them to a faraway Arctic outpost.

But one night, April catches a glimpse of something distinctly bear shaped loping across the horizon. A polar bear who shouldn’t be there—who is hungry, lonely and a long way from home.

An excellent choice for readers in grades 3 to 7, this fierce celebration of friendship includes full-page black-and-white illustrations throughout, as well as information about the real Bear Island and the plight of the polar bears.]]> 320 Hannah Gold 000841131X Alyce 0 4.31 2021 The Last Bear
author: Hannah Gold
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/23
shelves: currently-reading, 2022-releases, childrens-fiction, debuts
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Race of Wonders (Magicalia, #1)]]> 202184838
From the internationally bestselling author of Wonderscape and The Uncommoners, comes a spectacular new fantasy series set in a world of magical creatures, ancient meteorites and secret organizations, irresistible to fans of Pokémon, Skandar and the Unicorn Thief and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

When her dad is kidnapped by a woman with a giant hamstoceros, Bitsy and best friend Kosh are swept into a secret world of ancient meteorites and strange beasts called magicores, each conjured using a different emotion. Using a powerful beastiary called Magicalia, the friends must quickly become conjurors themselves, before following a trail of clues that will take them from London to India to Paris, in a race to rescue Bitsy’s dad from a mysterious villain�

"ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING WRITERS" Elle McNicoll
"The very definition of a BLOCKBUSTER!" Phil Earle on Legendarium]]> 352 Jennifer Bell 152950614X Alyce 4
It’s taken us nearly a year to get through this as I’ve been reading it to my children at bedtime until they fall asleep, but we’ve finally finished at the perfect time to move straight on to book two! ]]> 4.27 2024 Race of Wonders (Magicalia, #1)
author: Jennifer Bell
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/23
date added: 2025/02/23
shelves: 2024-releases, childrens-fiction, netgalley
review:
A hugely successful start to a new middle-grade series.

It’s taken us nearly a year to get through this as I’ve been reading it to my children at bedtime until they fall asleep, but we’ve finally finished at the perfect time to move straight on to book two!
]]> Priest (Priest, #1) 25507389
I've always been good at following rules.Until she came.My name is Tyler Anselm Bell. I'm twenty-nine years old. Six months ago, I broke my vow of celibacy on the altar of my own church, and God help me, I would do it again.I am a priest and this is my confession.

Priest is a standalone, full-length novel with an HEA. For mature audiences only]]> 354 Sierra Simone Alyce 0 3.59 2015 Priest (Priest, #1)
author: Sierra Simone
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/20
shelves: to-read, adult-fiction, 2015-releases
review:

]]> HappyHead (HappyHead, #1) 62881326
Friends, here is the good news: HappyHead has the answer.

When Seb is offered a place on a radical retreat designed to solve the national crisis of teenage unhappiness, he is determined to change how people see him and make his parents proud. But as he finds himself drawn to the enigmatic Finn, Seb starts to question the true nature of the challenges they must undergo. The deeper into the programme the boys get, the more disturbing the assessments become, until it’s clear there may be no escape...]]> 383 Josh Silver 0861545532 Alyce 4 4.01 2023 HappyHead (HappyHead, #1)
author: Josh Silver
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/16
date added: 2025/02/16
shelves: 2023-releases, library-borrowed, read-with-sean, young-adult
review:
I didn’t get on with the writing style in the first chapter when I started this last year. I was still determined to finish the 2024 YA Book Prize shortlist, so decided to give it another go, and I ended up enjoying it so much that I can’t wait to read the sequel.
]]> <![CDATA[Daisy and the Trouble with Christmas (Daisy Fiction)]]> 20872977 256 Kes Gray 178295421X Alyce 3
The illustrations are great, as are the activities in the back, but I think it would be great to see Daisy either receiving some kind of repercussions for her actions or redeeming herself to teach kids that naughtiness is not okay! This is only my first experience with the Daisy series though, so I’ll see how I feel if we read more in the future. ]]> 4.37 2009 Daisy and the Trouble with Christmas (Daisy Fiction)
author: Kes Gray
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/13
date added: 2025/02/13
shelves: 2014-releases, childrens-fiction, library-borrowed
review:
Ezra wants to give this “a thousand, million, hundred� stars, but I decided to go with three.

The illustrations are great, as are the activities in the back, but I think it would be great to see Daisy either receiving some kind of repercussions for her actions or redeeming herself to teach kids that naughtiness is not okay! This is only my first experience with the Daisy series though, so I’ll see how I feel if we read more in the future.
]]> Turtle Moon 209297025
Silver Trevelon’s parents aren’t happy. They haven’t been happy since the nursery they decorated started gathering cobwebs, waiting for the baby brother or sister that never came. So when Silver’s dad is invited to paint at a turtle rescue centre in Costa Rica, she hopes it’ll be just the adventure the family needs.

Under the hot tropical sun, Silver settles into life at the animal centre. She even witnesses a rare sighting of a leatherback turtle nesting on the beach. But when the turtle’s eggs are stolen, events take a dark and dangerous turn. Can Silver and her new friends track them down before it's too late? It’ll mean journeying into the heart of the jungle and uncovering long-buried secrets . . .]]> 337 Hannah Gold 0008582068 Alyce 5 4.42 2024 Turtle Moon
author: Hannah Gold
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/11
date added: 2025/02/11
shelves: 2024-releases, library-borrowed, young-adult
review:
My first read by Hannah Gold, and definitely not my last. Perfect for bedtime reading to my daughter, and brought tears to both of our eyes at different points. Flawless.
]]> <![CDATA[Influencers (Cat Kid Comic Club #5)]]> 123495843 The newest graphic novel in the #1 bestselling series by Dav Pilkey, the author and illustrator of Dog Man!

The Cat Kid Comic Club is in crisis! After learning that one of their comics will be published, the baby frogs are filled with anxiety and doubt. How will they get their creative groove back? Will Naomi or Melvin emerge as a leader? Will Flippy convince them to finally straighten up and fly right?

The story is hysterical, thought-provoking, and full of action-packed "Frogzilla vs. Mechafrogzilla," "I Am Dr. Fredric Wertham," "Two Birds," and "RoboChubbs." Bestselling author-illustrator Dav Pilkey shows the reader that the best way to influence people is to be open, gentle, and kind. The variety of art styles, paired with Pilkey's trademark storytelling and humor, inspires imagination and innovation for readers of all ages.

For more hilarity and heart, dive into the newest graphic novel in the Dog Man Dog Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea. And don't forget the series that started it Captain Underpants! A new edition of The Adventures of Captain Underpants includes a brand new Dog Man comic!]]> 224 Dav Pilkey 1338896407 Alyce 5 4.59 2023 Influencers (Cat Kid Comic Club #5)
author: Dav Pilkey
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.59
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/10
date added: 2025/02/11
shelves:
review:
What do you do when your daughter brings the 5th book in a series home? Read it anyway, and enjoy it much more than you thought you would! The ‘Two Birds� comic within the comic is absolutely beautiful, and I’d highly recommend it to readers of all ages.
]]> For She Is Wrath 61070523 A sweeping, Pakistani romantic fantasy retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, where one girl seeks revenge against those who betrayed her—including the boy she used to love.

Three hundred and sixty-four days.
Framed for a crime she didn't commit, Dania counts down her days in prison until she can exact revenge on Mazin, the boy responsible for her downfall, the boy she once loved—and still can't forget. When she discovers a fellow prisoner may have the key to exacting that vengeance--a stolen djinn treasure--they execute a daring escape together and search for the hidden treasure.

Armed with dark magic and a new identity, Dania enacts a plan to bring down those who betrayed her and her family, even though Mazin stands in her way. But seeking revenge becomes a complicated game of cat and mouse, especially when an undeniable fire still burns between them, and the power to destroy her enemies has a price. As Dania falls deeper into her web of traps and lies, she risks losing her humanity to her fight for vengeance--and her heart to the only boy she's ever loved.]]> 439 Emily Varga 1250877385 Alyce 3 ]]> 3.68 2024 For She Is Wrath
author: Emily Varga
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/08
date added: 2025/02/08
shelves: 2024-releases, debuts, fairyloot, owlcrate, young-adult
review:
Actual rating: 3.5 stars.

]]> To Brixton Beach 56616846 6 Stella Duffy Alyce 4 read-with-sean 3.67 To Brixton Beach
author: Stella Duffy
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.67
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/27
date added: 2025/02/08
shelves: read-with-sean
review:

]]> Gwen & Art Are Not in Love 94168019 423 Lex Croucher 1526651793 Alyce 4 4.10 2023 Gwen & Art Are Not in Love
author: Lex Croucher
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/27
date added: 2025/01/27
shelves: 2023-releases, read-with-sean, young-adult
review:

]]> Vanish (Firelight, #2) 9436632 An impossible romance.
Bitter rivalries.
Deadly choices.

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?]]> 294 Sophie Jordan 0061935107 Alyce 3 young-adult 3.91 2014 Vanish (Firelight, #2)
author: Sophie Jordan
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2014
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/11
date added: 2025/01/11
shelves: young-adult
review:
Suffers from much the same pacing issues as the first book, but I’m glad that the weird placing of the chapter breaks vanished between books one and two. Ends on a mighty cliffhanger, but the majority of this book drags.
]]> Unicornia: Learning to Fly 209457806 Do you believe in unicorns? School, friendship, and a certain magical beast will enchant beginning readers in this first of a series.

Welcome to Unicornia, the most wonderful place ever! Claudia is about to start her first day at the Unicornia Academy of Magic, where she’ll learn all about spells, potions, and most importantly, unicorns! But she will need to ace her first unicorn flying test at the end of the week if she hopes to advance. With the help of her new friends, will Claudia learn to ride in record time? Get ready for unicorns, glitter, and magic galore in this shimmering story of friendship and fun. Originally published in Spain, the popular series, with sweet illustrations and a simple, humorous text, is poised to charm young unicorn fans everywhere.]]> 128 Ana Punset 1536241008 Alyce 4 Set in the magical world of Unicornia, this book went down a treat with both of my children and I’m looking forward to reading book 2.]]> 4.07 Unicornia: Learning to Fly
author: Ana Punset
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.07
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/08
date added: 2025/01/08
shelves: 2024-releases, childrens-fiction, library-borrowed
review:
An adorable chapter book which teaches children that no matter how scared you are to do something, it’s always worth having a go.
Set in the magical world of Unicornia, this book went down a treat with both of my children and I’m looking forward to reading book 2.
]]> In the Time We Lost 42424329 The BRAND NEW NOVEL from Sunday Times bestselling author Carrie Hope Fletcher, coming October 2019.

'Reminded me so much of Cecelia Ahern' Ali McNamara
'Our go-to for spellbinding stories with a magical edge' Heat


Luna Lark used to love her name, but that was before people started saying it differently .

I'm so sorry, Luna.
Are you alright, Luna?
Everything will be okay, Luna.

Now Luna is taking back control by starting again in the most remote place she could find: Ondingside, a magical little town with barely a hundred and fifty people in the middle of nowhere important. She'll finally finish her latest novel, get herself back to normal, maybe even find love (and continue being a hopeless romantic).

But on her first night in Ondingside a freak July snow fall freezes the town. Snowed in, the town stands still. Can Luna break out of the monotony and do what she came to do?


Available to PRE-ORDER now in hardback and ebook!

]]> 400 Carrie Hope Fletcher Alyce 1
The editing? Nonexistent.
Any amount of logic? Completely absent.
A satisfying conclusion? Absolutely not.

What a great start to my 2025 reading year. ]]> 3.29 2019 In the Time We Lost
author: Carrie Hope Fletcher
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.29
book published: 2019
rating: 1
read at: 2025/01/08
date added: 2025/01/08
shelves: 2019-releases, adult-fiction, read-with-sean
review:
This is the worst book I’ve ever read. The pinnacle of 1 star books. I feel bad for ever giving 1 star to any other book.

The editing? Nonexistent.
Any amount of logic? Completely absent.
A satisfying conclusion? Absolutely not.

What a great start to my 2025 reading year.
]]> <![CDATA[A Natural History of Dragons (The Memoirs of Lady Trent, #1)]]> 12974372 You, dear reader, continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart—no more so than the study of dragons itself. But such study offers rewards beyond compare: to stand in a dragon's presence, even for the briefest of moments—even at the risk of one's life—is a delight that, once experienced, can never be forgotten. . . .

All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world's preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and, yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day.

Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever.]]> 334 Marie Brennan 0765331969 Alyce 0 3.83 2013 A Natural History of Dragons (The Memoirs of Lady Trent, #1)
author: Marie Brennan
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/01
shelves: to-read, 2013-releases, adult-fiction
review:

]]> The Baby is Mine 55354736
At night Bambi is kept awake by the baby's cries, and during the days he is disturbed by a cockerel that stalks the garden. There is sand in the rice. A blood stain appears on the wall. Someone scores tribal markings into the baby's cheeks. Who is lying and who is telling the truth?]]> 128 Oyinkan Braithwaite 1838952578 Alyce 2 3.26 2020 The Baby is Mine
author: Oyinkan Braithwaite
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.26
book published: 2020
rating: 2
read at: 2024/12/31
date added: 2024/12/31
shelves: 2021-releases, adult-fiction, read-with-sean
review:

]]> Firelight (Firelight, #1) 6448470 A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki, a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away;if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

]]> 323 Sophie Jordan 0061935085 Alyce 2 young-adult
So many things about this one really infuriated me. The writing is filled with extremely choppy sentences that break up the flow of the story, the majority of the drama happens within the first and last chapters, and I just found myself struggling to care about what would happen next. The reckless decisions made by Jacinda were over-the-top impulsive, even for YA, and the book definitely shows its age. I’m going to carry on with the series because the ending gives the next book a lot of potential, but my hopes are not high.]]> 3.85 2010 Firelight (Firelight, #1)
author: Sophie Jordan
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2010
rating: 2
read at: 2024/12/07
date added: 2024/12/07
shelves: young-adult
review:
Actual rating: 2.5 stars.

So many things about this one really infuriated me. The writing is filled with extremely choppy sentences that break up the flow of the story, the majority of the drama happens within the first and last chapters, and I just found myself struggling to care about what would happen next. The reckless decisions made by Jacinda were over-the-top impulsive, even for YA, and the book definitely shows its age. I’m going to carry on with the series because the ending gives the next book a lot of potential, but my hopes are not high.
]]> Reputations 60762128 372 The Open University Alyce 5 non-fiction 3.86 Reputations
author: The Open University
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.86
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/06
date added: 2024/12/06
shelves: non-fiction
review:
A great introduction to A111. Excited to be studying with the OU!
]]> <![CDATA[A Christmas Carol, and Other Christmas Books]]> 4839866 A Christmas Carol has gripped the public imagination since it was first published in 1843, and it is now as much a part of the holiday season as is mistletoe or Santa's reindeer. Here is a wonderful collection of Dickens' Christmas stories, graced with many of the original drawings that appeared in the first edition. Pride of place goes to A Christmas Carol, of course, but the book also includes four other marvelous tales: The Chimes, The Cricket on the Hearth, The Battle of Life, and The Haunted Man. All five stories show Dickens at his unpredictable best, jumbling together comedy and melodrama, genial romance and urgent social satire. The volume also features an excellent introduction by Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, who offers invaluable background to the Christmas stories, illuminating the social questions they address, outlining their reception and the enduring popularity of A Christmas Carol and highlighting how their style and themes resonate in more complex ways in his major fictions. In addition, the book includes two appendices containing Dickens's article, What Christmas Is As We Grow Older and facsimile pages from Dickens's reading version of A Christmas Carol.]]> 496 Charles Dickens 0199536309 Alyce 0 currently-reading 3.88 1848 A Christmas Carol, and Other Christmas Books
author: Charles Dickens
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.88
book published: 1848
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/28
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Only Santas in the Building (Under the Mistletoe Collection, #5)]]> 220389090
All Evie Cruz wants for Christmas is a nap. And maybe some ornaments for her naked Christmas tree. And while she’s making a list, she wouldn’t mind unwrapping her sexy upstairs neighbor like a present. Luckily, the building’s Santa-themed party and a surprise sprig of mistletoe give her just the opening she needs to make all her wishes come true.

Alexis Daria’s Only Santas in the Building is part of Under the Mistletoe, a stirring collection of December romances that thrill and tingle all the way. They can be read or listened to in one swoony sitting.]]> 65 Alexis Daria 1662529376 Alyce 4 3.36 2024 Only Santas in the Building (Under the Mistletoe Collection, #5)
author: Alexis Daria
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.36
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/28
date added: 2024/11/28
shelves: 2024-releases, adult-fiction, read-with-sean
review:
Second favourite in the collection, and a great end to the series. Some hits, some misses, but overall a set of fun short stories which are easily digestible.
]]> <![CDATA[Merriment and Mayhem (Under the Mistletoe Collection, #4)]]> 220389457
When Everleigh Dangerfield’s baking disaster necessitates a call to 911, firefighter Griffin Brantley douses the flames in the kitchen, but the ones he stokes in Everleigh are an entirely different story. Unfortunately, Everleigh’s only visiting and doesn’t do casual hookups, no matter how smoldering the temptation. But Everleigh’s holiday mishaps have just begun. And Griffin is seemingly always on call. If Everleigh is game for a change of plans, he can give her the merriest Christmas of her life.

Alexandria Bellefleur’s Merriment and Mayhem is part of Under the Mistletoe, a stirring collection of December romances that thrill and tingle all the way. They can be read or listened to in one swoony sitting.]]> 58 Alexandria Bellefleur 1662529341 Alyce 3 A concerning amount of mayhem, even considering the title, and ended a bit too suddenly for me to feel satisfied. ]]> 3.28 2024 Merriment and Mayhem (Under the Mistletoe Collection, #4)
author: Alexandria Bellefleur
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.28
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/11/28
date added: 2024/11/28
shelves:
review:
Actual rating: 3.5 stars.
A concerning amount of mayhem, even considering the title, and ended a bit too suddenly for me to feel satisfied.
]]> <![CDATA[All by My Elf (Under the Mistletoe Collection, #3)]]> 220389455
Nina and William are underpaid adjunct professors at the same university, where winter break is no break at all: ’tis the season to make extra money. When their holiday side hustle has them stranded by a blinding blizzard in the middle of nowhere, there’s nothing to do but cuddle up for warmth and play a game of Never Have I Ever to pass the time. But in the game of love, secrets never stay secret for long�

Olivia Dade’s All by My Elf is part of Under the Mistletoe, a stirring collection of December romances that thrill and tingle all the way. They can be read or listened to in one swoony sitting.]]> 55 Olivia Dade 166252823X Alyce 4
I can’t understand why the average rating of this one is the lowest of these Christmas novellas, because it’s by far the best of the three I’ve read so far. Great characters, fun concept, and definitely memorable! ]]> 2.58 2024 All by My Elf (Under the Mistletoe Collection, #3)
author: Olivia Dade
name: Alyce
average rating: 2.58
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/28
date added: 2024/11/27
shelves: 2024-releases, adult-fiction, read-with-sean
review:
Actual rating: 4.5 stars.

I can’t understand why the average rating of this one is the lowest of these Christmas novellas, because it’s by far the best of the three I’ve read so far. Great characters, fun concept, and definitely memorable!
]]> Mansfield Park 45032 488 Jane Austen Alyce 3 adult-fiction, ebooks-i-own I would have rated this book higher, but it looks as though it's going one way and then at the very end of the novel Austen turns things around to make it into a very stereotypical happy ending. It just didn't seem feasible, and after all of the events she'd put into the book that would have been completely outrageous at the time, I wish she'd been brave and written the ending differently. She didn't need to appease her readers, because they would have been happy either way with this well-developed exploration of the intricacies of family life, class and relationships. ]]> 3.86 1814 Mansfield Park
author: Jane Austen
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.86
book published: 1814
rating: 3
read at: 2017/05/06
date added: 2024/11/27
shelves: adult-fiction, ebooks-i-own
review:
What to say about this novel? Well, as Austen herself says in the last few pages, it's a novel about 'the advantages of early hardship and discipline, and the consciousness of being born to struggle and endure'. Basically, the rich, privileged upper class suck, and those raised in poverty are far more grateful for what they've been given.
I would have rated this book higher, but it looks as though it's going one way and then at the very end of the novel Austen turns things around to make it into a very stereotypical happy ending. It just didn't seem feasible, and after all of the events she'd put into the book that would have been completely outrageous at the time, I wish she'd been brave and written the ending differently. She didn't need to appease her readers, because they would have been happy either way with this well-developed exploration of the intricacies of family life, class and relationships.
]]> <![CDATA[Merry Ever After (Under the Mistletoe Collection, #2)]]> 220389465 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey.

Evie Crowe is starting over in a strange town with her newborn, and men are the furthest thing from her mind. If only the quiet, hulking farmer, Luke Ward, would stop coming into the thrift shop and piquing her reluctant interest. Evie wants to stay single all the way—she can’t trust anything more than friends-with-holiday-benefits. But Luke is in it for the long haul. He’s fixed on making this a Christmas Evie will remember forever. If she gives him a chance.

Tessa Bailey’s Merry Ever After is part of Under the Mistletoe, a stirring collection of December romances that thrill and tingle all the way. They can be read or listened to in one swoony sitting.]]> 59 Tessa Bailey 1662528736 Alyce 1 Oh dear Lord that was not the best introduction to Tessa Bailey’s writing.]]> 2.79 2024 Merry Ever After (Under the Mistletoe Collection, #2)
author: Tessa Bailey
name: Alyce
average rating: 2.79
book published: 2024
rating: 1
read at: 2024/11/25
date added: 2024/11/25
shelves: 2024-releases, adult-fiction, read-with-sean
review:
Actual rating: 1.5 stars.
Oh dear Lord that was not the best introduction to Tessa Bailey’s writing.
]]> <![CDATA[Cruel Winter with You (Under the Mistletoe Collection, #1)]]> 220389458 New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood.

All newly minted pediatrician Jamie Malek wants is to borrow a roasting pan for Christmas dinner. Unfortunately, that requires her to interact with Marc—her best friend’s troublemaking brother, who’s now a tech billionaire. He’s the one who got away. She’s the one who broke his heart. Outside, a howling blizzard. Inside, a crackling fire. Suddenly, being snowbound with the man she never expected to see again might not be such a bad way to spend a winter’s night.

Ali Hazelwood’s Cruel Winter with You is part of Under the Mistletoe, a stirring collection of December romances that thrill and tingle all the way. They can be read or listened to in one swoony sitting.]]> 73 Ali Hazelwood 1662528396 Alyce 3 Enjoyed more than The Love Hypothesis and found myself caring quite a lot about the characters. ]]> 3.68 2024 Cruel Winter with You (Under the Mistletoe Collection, #1)
author: Ali Hazelwood
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/11/23
date added: 2024/11/23
shelves: 2024-releases, adult-fiction, read-with-sean
review:
Actual rating: 3.5 stars.
Enjoyed more than The Love Hypothesis and found myself caring quite a lot about the characters.
]]> <![CDATA[World's Best Greatest Ever Inventor (Dex Dingo #1)]]> 203914703 After a school assignment challenges Dex to be whatever he wants, Dex decides he wants to be the WORLD’S BEST GREATEST EVER…at something. Filled with clever humor and touching insight, this chapter book graphic novel series follows Dex’s misadventures as his attempts at the “coolest jobs� go awry.

Dex Dingo isn’t the BEST at anything. He’s not the SMARTEST, the FUNNIEST, the STRONGEST, or the NICEST. But he wants to be the WORLD’S BEST GREATEST EVER…at something. So when Dex’s teacher asks, “If you could be anything when you grow up, what would you be,� Dex decides that he’s going to be the best at one of the “best jobs ever.�

First on his an inventor! Dex is able to create an awesome lab and an amazing team of nanobots, but things immediately go wrong when the nanobots start to multiply and form a gray goo that threatens to take over his neighborhood. It’ll take some quick thinking and a rogue nanobot named Nono for Dex to stop the nanobots, save his best friend, and become the WORLD’S BEST GREATEST INVENTOR.]]> 160 Greg Foley 1368096913 Alyce 5 Favourite bit? ‘It was when the little guy, Nono the nanobot, actually kind of spitted it out at the city junkyard!�
Definitely a new favourite character for us to follow - looking forward to the next adventure. ]]> 4.18 World's Best Greatest Ever Inventor (Dex Dingo #1)
author: Greg Foley
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.18
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/10
date added: 2024/11/10
shelves: 2024-releases, childrens-fiction, library-borrowed
review:
Ezra would give this 55,000 stars if ŷ could go that high.
Favourite bit? ‘It was when the little guy, Nono the nanobot, actually kind of spitted it out at the city junkyard!�
Definitely a new favourite character for us to follow - looking forward to the next adventure.
]]> Uglies (Uglies, #1) 24770
But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world—and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally's choice will change her world forever....]]> 425 Scott Westerfeld 0689865384 Alyce 0 young-adult, library-borrowed 3.85 2005 Uglies (Uglies, #1)
author: Scott Westerfeld
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2005
rating: 0
read at: 2013/05/13
date added: 2024/11/07
shelves: young-adult, library-borrowed
review:
Removing my 4 star rating from 2013 because I’ve attempted to reread and have DNFed. What was I thinking?!
]]> Marked (House of Night, #1) 30183 Also see: Alternate Cover Editions for this ISBN [ACE]
ACE #1

After a Vampire Tracker Marks her with a crescent moon on her forehead, 16-year-old Zoey Redbird enters the House of Night and learns that she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess Nyx and has affinities for all five elements: Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Spirit. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school’s most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny—with a little help from her new vampyre friends (or Nerd Herd, as Aphrodite calls them).]]> 306 P.C. Cast 0312360266 Alyce 0 3.82 2007 Marked (House of Night, #1)
author: P.C. Cast
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/02
shelves:
review:
Decided to pick this up again and finally carry on with the series, and after the first chapter I don’t think it’s a good idea. Why did I give this four stars back in the day?
]]> <![CDATA[Half Wild (The Half Bad Trilogy, #2)]]> 22429853 402 Sally Green 0141350881 Alyce 0 3.93 2015 Half Wild (The Half Bad Trilogy, #2)
author: Sally Green
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: to-read, 2015-releases, young-adult
review:

]]> The Woman in the Window 40389527
Then the Russells move into the house across the way: a father, a mother and their teenage son. The perfect family. But when Anna, gazing out her window one night, sees something she shouldn’t, her world begins to crumble and its shocking secrets are laid bare.

What is real? What is imagined? Who is in danger? Who is in control? In this diabolically gripping thriller, no one—and nothing—is what it seems.]]> 455 A.J. Finn Alyce 0 3.95 2018 The Woman in the Window
author: A.J. Finn
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves: 2018-releases, adult-fiction, netgalley, currently-reading, read-with-sean
review:

]]> Every Exquisite Thing 110069098 326 Laura Steven 0008627371 Alyce 3 2023-releases, young-adult I adored all of the discussions surrounding the beauty industry, the patriarchy and eating disorders, as well as the representation of a character with alopecia (which I can’t ever recall seeing in YA before) and a character with diabetes.
The plot is the thing which lets the story down. The idea is outstanding, but the execution lacks. There are quite a lot of plot holes which are simply glossed over, while the eventual resolution doesn’t feel satisfying. I also found the pacing to be abysmal, particularly because the flash forward in the prologue gives away a lot of the plot and doesn’t happen until fairly late in the book.
This is a book of two halves, I only wish it had been pulled back together to make a cohesive whole. ]]> 3.80 2023 Every Exquisite Thing
author: Laura Steven
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/26
date added: 2024/10/26
shelves: 2023-releases, young-adult
review:
I loved half of this book and hated the other half. It kills me because The Exact Opposite of Okay is one of my favourite books of all time, but Laura Steven’s dark academias just don’t do it for me.
I adored all of the discussions surrounding the beauty industry, the patriarchy and eating disorders, as well as the representation of a character with alopecia (which I can’t ever recall seeing in YA before) and a character with diabetes.
The plot is the thing which lets the story down. The idea is outstanding, but the execution lacks. There are quite a lot of plot holes which are simply glossed over, while the eventual resolution doesn’t feel satisfying. I also found the pacing to be abysmal, particularly because the flash forward in the prologue gives away a lot of the plot and doesn’t happen until fairly late in the book.
This is a book of two halves, I only wish it had been pulled back together to make a cohesive whole.
]]> <![CDATA[Invisible Strings: 113 Poets Respond to the Songs of Taylor Swift]]> 215593326 An anthology of brand-new poems inspired by Taylor Swift songs, from a powerhouse group of contemporary poets, including Kate Baer, Maggie Smith, and Joy Harjo.

Let the decoding begin!

With a record-breaking four Grammy awards for Album of the Year, Taylor Swift stands alone in the world of pop music. One of the most talented lyricists of all time, her music captivates millions of fans throughout the globe with the narrative depth and emotional resonance of her songwriting.

In Invisible Strings, poet, professor, and dedicated Swiftie Kristie Frederick-Daugherty has brought together 113 contemporary poets, each contributing an original poem that responds to a specific Taylor Swift song.

In a spirit of celebration and collaboration, poets have taken a cue from Swift’s love of dropping clues and puzzles for her fandom to decode, as each poem alludes to a song without using direct lyrics.

The collection showcases a diverse and accomplished array of writers including the 23rd US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, Pulitzer Prize winners Diane Seuss, Yusef Komunyakaa, Carl Phillips, Rae Armantrout, and Gregory Pardlo, National Book Critics Circle Award winners Mary Jo Bang and Laura Kasischke, and bestselling poets Maggie Smith, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Kate Baer, Amanda Lovelace, Tyler Knott Gregson, and Jane Hirshfield.

Swifties will experience the profundity and nuance of Swift’s lyrics through these poems, while having fun matching the poems to songs from all of her eras—vault tracks included! For poetry lovers, this one-of-a-kind anthology is an unparalleled collection of new work from today’s most lauded and revered poets.]]> 304 Kristie Frederick Daugherty 059398241X Alyce 0 3.79 2024 Invisible Strings: 113 Poets Respond to the Songs of Taylor Swift
author: Kristie Frederick Daugherty
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/14
shelves: currently-reading, 2024-releases, netgalley
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Two O'Clock Boy (DI Ray Drake, #1)]]> 31674177
One detective. One killer. One shared secret.

Connor Laird frightens he's intense, he's fearless, and he seems to be willing to do anything to protect himself and those he loves. When he arrives in the Longacre Children's Home, seemingly from nowhere, he instantly becomes hero and villain to every other child there.

But thirty years later, someone is killing all of those who grew up in the Longacre with Connor. Each of them has secrets, not least investigating cop DI Ray Drake. One by one, the mysteries of the past are revealed, and Drake finds himself in a race against time before the killer gets to him.

Who would kill to hide their secrets?

Can YOU guess the ending?]]> 432 Mark Hill 0751563226 Alyce 4 The Two O’Clock Boy (also known as His First Lie), introduces us to D.I. Ray Drake. Drake is an enigma. He has a murky past which he refuses to talk about, his wife has recently passed away, and his relationship with his daughter has become increasingly estranged following the loss of her mother.

When figures from Drake’s past being turning up dead, murdered by a mysterious culprit nicknamed Two O’Clock Boy, Drake will go to whatever lengths necessary to conceal his past. Even if those lengths involve putting his job (and his family) at risk�

The Two O’Clock Boy is utterly brilliant. The slippery slope of corruption which Drake finds himself sliding down is gripping, and it was impossible to resist reading just one more chapter to see how much further Drake would go. The extended cast of characters is interesting too � particularly Flick, a fellow police officer who has a lot of family drama going on behind the scenes. This book follows multiple characters to craft a detailed and immersive crime story which views the case from all angles, and each viewpoint is equally interesting. Often with crime novels which switch from person to person, I find myself struggling to stay connected to the story and desperate to get back to one or two of the key players. The Two O’Clock Boy was the complete opposite, and the switching of viewpoints kept the pace driving forward at an irresistible rate.

There are a lot of flashbacks and these break the story up nicely. However, it was a bit of a shock to the system when we first travelled back in time, as I haven’t read too many crime novels which utilise non-chronological timelines, and it took me a little while to get my head around it.

My only issue with this novel is that it feels as though there’s a bit too much going on at points. The first chapter features some very important foreshadowing (I’m warning you of that now so you remember to keep it in mind throughout your reading of the story!), but by the time it became relevant I’d completely forgotten that it had happened because so much had gone on.

I gave The Two O’Clock Boy four stars, and I was very excited to carry on with the second book in the D.I. Ray Drake series.

]]> 3.87 2016 The Two O'Clock Boy (DI Ray Drake, #1)
author: Mark Hill
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2020/12/05
date added: 2024/09/28
shelves: 2016-releases, adult-fiction, netgalley
review:
The Two O’Clock Boy (also known as His First Lie), introduces us to D.I. Ray Drake. Drake is an enigma. He has a murky past which he refuses to talk about, his wife has recently passed away, and his relationship with his daughter has become increasingly estranged following the loss of her mother.

When figures from Drake’s past being turning up dead, murdered by a mysterious culprit nicknamed Two O’Clock Boy, Drake will go to whatever lengths necessary to conceal his past. Even if those lengths involve putting his job (and his family) at risk�

The Two O’Clock Boy is utterly brilliant. The slippery slope of corruption which Drake finds himself sliding down is gripping, and it was impossible to resist reading just one more chapter to see how much further Drake would go. The extended cast of characters is interesting too � particularly Flick, a fellow police officer who has a lot of family drama going on behind the scenes. This book follows multiple characters to craft a detailed and immersive crime story which views the case from all angles, and each viewpoint is equally interesting. Often with crime novels which switch from person to person, I find myself struggling to stay connected to the story and desperate to get back to one or two of the key players. The Two O’Clock Boy was the complete opposite, and the switching of viewpoints kept the pace driving forward at an irresistible rate.

There are a lot of flashbacks and these break the story up nicely. However, it was a bit of a shock to the system when we first travelled back in time, as I haven’t read too many crime novels which utilise non-chronological timelines, and it took me a little while to get my head around it.

My only issue with this novel is that it feels as though there’s a bit too much going on at points. The first chapter features some very important foreshadowing (I’m warning you of that now so you remember to keep it in mind throughout your reading of the story!), but by the time it became relevant I’d completely forgotten that it had happened because so much had gone on.

I gave The Two O’Clock Boy four stars, and I was very excited to carry on with the second book in the D.I. Ray Drake series.


]]> <![CDATA[Essential Public Affairs for Journalists]]> 121450300
The book guides readers through the constitutional framework and the governing institutions of the United Kingdom before considering the electoral system and the principal political parties. A number of key topics are discussed, including COVID-19 and healthcare, Brexit, education, housing, transport, and social security. James Morrison seamlessly depicts how these services operate while educating readers on how informative news stories are generated in the public eye.

Every chapter ends with a helpful summary of 'take-home points', allowing students to recap on areas that are likely to be examined. 'Current issues' are also offered as thinking points for students in considering how governance of the UK interacts with public and cultural affairs.

Digital formats and resources
The seventh edition is available for students and institutions to purchase in a variety of formats, and is supported by online resources.
The e-book offers a mobile experience and convenient access along with functionality tools, navigation features and links that offer extra learning ]]> 536 James Morrison 0192640011 Alyce 0 to-read, non-fiction 0.0 Essential Public Affairs for Journalists
author: James Morrison
name: Alyce
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/27
shelves: to-read, non-fiction
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Where the Dead Fall (DI Ridpath #2)]]> 44166895 Manchester has been at peace for twenty years. Not any more.

DI Ridpath is in the process of getting his life back together when everything goes wrong.

Driving to meet his daughter, he his caught in a horrific motorway accident, in which a near-naked man is rundown by a lorry, while fleeing from a lone gunman. As Ridpath closes Manchester’s road network in search of the assailant, one question remains: why did nobody else see him?

Ridpath’s investigations, which at first seem to follow protocol, soon unearth a number of inconsistencies, which pulls the police force itself into question, and hint at something sinister to come...

For Manchester is on the brink of a fresh surge of violence unlike anything it has seen in decades. As Ridpath battles this unprecedented conflict, he must battle his own demons. One thing is for sure. There will be blood on the streets�

The nail-biting sequel to Where the Truth Lies, M J Lee’s Where the Dead Fall is an absolute must read, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Faith Martin and Peter James]]> 344 M.J. Lee 1788633172 Alyce 0 4.34 2019 Where the Dead Fall (DI Ridpath #2)
author: M.J. Lee
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/26
shelves: to-read, 2019-releases, netgalley, adult-fiction
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Silvercloak (Silvercloak Saga #1)]]> 209935639 In this addictive new fantasy series set in a world where magic is fueled by pleasure and pain, an obsessive detective infiltrates a brutal gang of dark mages—knowing that one wrong move will get her killed. . . .

Two decades ago, the Bloodmoons ruthlessly murdered Saffron Killoran’s parents, destroying her idyllic childhood. Hell-bent on revenge, she lies her way into Silvercloak Academy—the training ground for her city’s elite order of detectives—with a single goal: to bring the Bloodmoons to justice.

But when Saff’s deception is exposed, rather than being cast out, she’s given a rare opportunity: to go undercover and tear the Bloodmoons down from the inside.

Descending into a world where pleasure and pain are the most powerful currencies, Saff must commit some truly heinous deeds to keep her cover—and her life. Not only are there rival gangs and sinister smuggling rings to contend with, but there’s also her growing feelings for the kingpin’s tortured son, with his vicious pet fallowwolf, his dark past, and the curious prophecy foretelling his death at Saffron’s hand.

With each day testing her loyalties further, Saff finds her web of lies becoming harder to spin. And when one false step could destroy everything and everyone she’s ever loved . . . the detective who’s dedicated her life to vengeance just might die for it.

Book One of the Silvercloak Saga]]> 496 Laura Steven Alyce 0 4.44 2025 Silvercloak (Silvercloak Saga #1)
author: Laura Steven
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/25
shelves: to-read, 2025-releases, adult-fiction
review:

]]> The First Move 62016602
Ronan is the new kid: good looking, smart, a bad boy plagued by guilt over what happened to his brother Ciaran. Chesslife is his escape; there, he's not just 'the boy with the brother'.

Juliet thinks Ronan thinks someone like Ronan could never be interested in someone like her - and she wouldn't want him to be anyway because he always acts like he's cooler than everyone else. Whereas, Ronan thinks life is already too complicated for dating and just wants to keep his head down at school.

Little do they know they've already discovered each other online, and have more in common than they think . . .]]> 448 Jenny Ireland 0241591821 Alyce 2 3.78 2023 The First Move
author: Jenny Ireland
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2023
rating: 2
read at: 2024/09/25
date added: 2024/09/25
shelves: 2023-releases, netgalley, young-adult, debuts
review:
This is the kind of book which makes me think that there might be truth to the idea that you can outgrow YA novels.
]]> If He Wakes 39208718
Meanwhile, Rachel’s friend and business partner Suzie is increasingly worried about her fiancé, who’s not been in touch for days. When Suzie learns of huge debts racked up in her name she fears he has run out on her, but then the threatening calls start and she thinks something terrible has happened.

Rachel and Suzie are both about to learn shocking things about the men they love, worse than they could ever imagine� Can their friendship survive?

Praise for If He

'A tense, pulse-quickening tale. If you read the first chapter, you can’t help but read the second. I flew throughthis perfect summer read of best friends in turmoil in one feverish session.' Paula Daly

'I loved this book. So well written. I found this book unputdownable!!' Reader review

�Fan Flipping tastic thriller! I was completely hooked from page 1 and could not put this book down!� 4* Reader review

�What can I say about this book?!!!!� it was so good. I read it in one day� I couldn't put it down.� Reader review

�Amazing book!!!!� Reader review

�I raced through this book in a desperate attempt to discover the answers which became darker and more horrific than I could imagine� Reader review

'I really enjoyed this book from the off!� A real page turner with a twist that will keep you hooked.' Reader review

�12 stars is possible� This was a brilliant debut novel that had be shocked, surprised, and dumbfounded page after page� Reader review

‘It was a great storyline and I loved the way that it developed, it was fast flowing and I soon discovered that I was at the end. Well worth a read� My Love of Reading

�What a great debut novel and totally great main characters� 4* Reader review

�This book needs to be read� BRMaycock Blog]]> 257 Zoe Lea 178863098X Alyce 0 3.94 2018 If He Wakes
author: Zoe Lea
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/22
shelves: to-read, 2018-releases, adult-fiction, netgalley
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Body in the Marsh (DCI Craig Gillard #1)]]> 36228143 When a woman goes missing, it gets personal for DCI Craig Gillard. But he could never imagine what happens next.

Criminologist Martin Knight lives a gilded life and is a thorn in the side of the police. But then his wife Liz goes missing. There is no good explanation and no sign of Martin�

To make things worse, Liz is the ex-girlfriend of DCI Craig Gillard who is drawn into the investigation. Is it just a missing person or something worse? And what relevance do the events around the shocking Girl F case, so taken up by Knight, have to do with the present?

The truth is darker than you could ever have imagined.
Utterly gripping and full of twists, this is a compulsive thriller from master Nick Louth for fans of Robert Bryndza, Patricia Gibney and Carole Wyer. ]]> 360 Nick Louth 1911591770 Alyce 0 4.21 2017 The Body in the Marsh (DCI Craig Gillard #1)
author: Nick Louth
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/21
shelves: to-read, 2017-releases, adult-fiction, netgalley
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Altered (Altered Sequence, #1)]]> 15757224 220 A.D. Croucher 0985669306 Alyce 4 3.88 2012 Altered (Altered Sequence, #1)
author: A.D. Croucher
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/09
date added: 2024/09/11
shelves:
review:

]]> This Is How You Fall in Love 62711249
Zara loves love in all forms: 90s romcoms and romance novels and grand sweeping gestures. And she's desperate to have her own great love story. Crucially, a real one. So when her best friend Adnan begs her to pretend to date him to cover up his new top-secret relationship, Zara is hesitant. This isn't the kind of thing she had in mind. But there's something in it for Zara too: making her parents, who love Adnan, happy might just stop them arguing for a while. She may not be getting her own love story, but she could save theirs.

So Zara agrees and the act begins: after all, how different can pretending to be in a relationship with your best friend be to just hanging around with them like usual? Turns out, a lot. With fake dating comes fake hand-holding and fake kissing and real feelings... And when a new boy turns up in Zara's life, things get more confusing than ever.

The course of true love never did run smooth, but Zara's love story is messier than most...

A hilarious and heartfelt romcom, told with a light touch, perfect for fans of TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE, EXCUSE ME WHILE I UGLY CRY and HANI AND ISHU'S GUIDE TO FAKE DATING.]]> 352 Anika Hussain 1471412806 Alyce 4
This was heading towards 5 star territory for me, until the third act. Unlike some reviews I appreciated the ending, but the damage had been done. Not what I expected at all, and I’m glad it subverted all of the tropes I’d been sure it was going to rely on! ]]> 3.43 2024 This Is How You Fall in Love
author: Anika Hussain
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.43
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/01
date added: 2024/09/02
shelves: 2023-releases, young-adult, debuts
review:
Actual rating: 3.5 stars.

This was heading towards 5 star territory for me, until the third act. Unlike some reviews I appreciated the ending, but the damage had been done. Not what I expected at all, and I’m glad it subverted all of the tropes I’d been sure it was going to rely on!
]]> Yours From the Tower 64999045 368 Sally Nicholls 1839133198 Alyce 4 Enjoyed this far more than I thought I would. It’s a bit too sweet for my usual tastes, but this was the perfect palate cleanser, and a lovely break from the heavier books I’ve been reading recently (which have been pushing me increasingly closer to a reading slump). ]]> 4.10 2023 Yours From the Tower
author: Sally Nicholls
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/23
date added: 2024/08/23
shelves: 2023-releases, young-adult, library-borrowed
review:
Actual rating: 4.5 stars.
Enjoyed this far more than I thought I would. It’s a bit too sweet for my usual tastes, but this was the perfect palate cleanser, and a lovely break from the heavier books I’ve been reading recently (which have been pushing me increasingly closer to a reading slump).
]]> How to Die Famous 195934097 A budding teen celebrity secretly investigates his brother's suspicious death while navigating the highs and lows of fame.

Rising star Abel Miller just landed a role in one of the hottest reboots on the Omni Channel, Sunset High. It looks like he’ll be yet another budding celebrity plucked from obscurity, but he has a problem: His brother, Adam, a production associate, died during the filming of the last attempt at Sunset High, and no one knows how or why. Abel is going to find out, but when he meets the other stars of the show—Lucky, Ryan, Ella, and creator Lake Carter—he realizes there’s darkness beneath the shimmer of fame. They all have secrets, and one of them is willing to kill to keep it that way. ]]> 384 Benjamin Dean 1472633687 Alyce 4 3.65 2023 How to Die Famous
author: Benjamin Dean
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/22
date added: 2024/08/22
shelves: 2023-releases, read-with-sean, young-adult
review:

]]> Murder on a School Night 75531798 Sixth formers Kerry and Annie are nerdy, horny, hilarious, and exceptionally uncool.

They’re never invited to parties, picked for sports teams or included in jokes, yet together they form a unit so great that they don’t need anyone else.

But, when they’re approached by the popular Heather and invited to one of the coolest parties in town to help her find out who’s been trolling her from an account claiming to be her dead dad, their investigations take a turn.

Heather’s best friend is found murdered. Suffocated with a mooncup.

Uncovering eye watering secrets, Kerry and Annie learn that everyone’s got dirty secrets to hide, no matter their popularity…]]> 392 Kate Weston 0008540969 Alyce 2 2023-releases, young-adult 3.55 2023 Murder on a School Night
author: Kate Weston
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2023
rating: 2
read at: 2024/08/14
date added: 2024/08/15
shelves: 2023-releases, young-adult
review:
Possibly closer to 2.5 stars. I didn’t enjoy this book. The characters felt like caricatures, it was trying to hard to be funny, and the Dirty Den-esque reveal of the (predictable) murderer was the final straw. I’m interested in trying the second book because I’m hoping it’ll be less period-focused, but I just don’t understand why this was shortlisted for the YA Book Prize.
]]> <![CDATA[Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism (Molly Moon, #1)]]> 807968
Molly Moon is no ordinary orphan. When she finds a mysterious old book on hypnotism, she discovers she can make people do whatever she wants. But a sinister stranger is watching her every move and he'll do anything to steal her hypnotic secret...]]> 371 Georgia Byng 0060514094 Alyce 3 I was talking to one of my best friend's about this series, and how much I loved it when I was younger. I started off really enjoying this reread, but I quickly grew disenchanted with Molly's abuse of her hypnotic powers.
Based on the character development she goes through during this first installment, I think I'm going to enjoy the other books in the series far more. Sadly, at the moment I'm feeling a little disappointed.
Maybe I should stop rereading my favourite children's books, because it never seems to end well... ]]> 3.92 2002 Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism (Molly Moon, #1)
author: Georgia Byng
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2002
rating: 3
read at: 2017/03/12
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves: childrens-fiction, library-borrowed
review:
Hm.
I was talking to one of my best friend's about this series, and how much I loved it when I was younger. I started off really enjoying this reread, but I quickly grew disenchanted with Molly's abuse of her hypnotic powers.
Based on the character development she goes through during this first installment, I think I'm going to enjoy the other books in the series far more. Sadly, at the moment I'm feeling a little disappointed.
Maybe I should stop rereading my favourite children's books, because it never seems to end well...
]]> Remix 21472663
Kaz is still reeling from being dumped by the love of her life... Ruby is bored of hearing about it. Time to change the record.

Three days. Two best mates. One music festival. Zero chance of everything working out.]]> 304 Non Pratt Alyce 0 3.58 2015 Remix
author: Non Pratt
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves: to-read, 2015-releases, young-adult
review:

]]> The Call of Cthulhu 15730101 The Call of Cthulhu is a harrowing tale of the weakness of the human mind when confronted by powers and intelligences from beyond our world.]]> 43 H.P. Lovecraft Alyce 3 adult-fiction I've always meant to read more H.P. Lovecraft, so when I spotted this short story on Serial Reader I thought it was perfect timing. However it's really just a conglomeration of notes and journals that researchers around the world have made about the mysterious and deadly Cthulhu, with our narrator having no encounter with the beast himself.
There's not really much plot, even if the descriptions are spine-tingling at points.]]> 3.97 1928 The Call of Cthulhu
author: H.P. Lovecraft
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.97
book published: 1928
rating: 3
read at: 2016/10/09
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves: adult-fiction
review:
'Who knows the end? What has risen may sink, and what has sunk may rise.'
I've always meant to read more H.P. Lovecraft, so when I spotted this short story on Serial Reader I thought it was perfect timing. However it's really just a conglomeration of notes and journals that researchers around the world have made about the mysterious and deadly Cthulhu, with our narrator having no encounter with the beast himself.
There's not really much plot, even if the descriptions are spine-tingling at points.
]]> <![CDATA[Daniel Taylor and the Dark Legacy (Daniel Taylor, #1)]]> 25395195
DANIEL TAYLOR is a contemporary young-adult fantasy trilogy. The story - packed with exciting adventure, emotional drama, and a momentous decision - takes place in Little Peak, a typical small town in California.

For fans of Twilight, True Blood and the Vampire Diaries.

Monica Davis is one of the pen names of the German writer Monika Dennerlein. Born in 1976 in Berchtesgaden, she moved to Munich after high school, where she worked for a few years as a dental technician. But she never lost her passion for writing. Since she completely devoted her time to writing, she has published 40 books and numerous e-books that regularly appear among the ranks of online bestsellers.]]> 135 Monica Davis 3732505448 Alyce 1 Daniel Taylor and the Dark Legacy, it's just an unfortunate combination of basically all of the things that I hate in one book.

The prologue is a painful info dump giving us all the information we could possibly need about the Guild the Watchers and the Demons, such an impressive act of exposition that I fell asleep within the first few pages because I was so bored. There's also an amazing amount of exclamation marks used throughout: if I could be bothered to go back and count them I think there would be vastly more than there are pages in this remarkably short first part to a trilogy.

It doesn't get better from there. None of the characters are interesting, and the lack of emotion throughout the entire book is startling. It's all just so bland. Vanessa and Daniel's relationship could be interesting if there was an aspect of will-they-won't-they tension, but because we jump from viewpoint to viewpoint we know they're both obsessed with each other and it just makes their scenes together drag out until their feelings are finally revealed.

Daniel being the heir to the Underworld and the only kid in school who's obsessed with black and wears long sleeves in summer is so overdone. The added fact of him being an outcast and in love with one of the most popular girls in school - who, of course, loves him back - makes things even more painfully cliched. It's a good thing this book is just over 100 pages (and I was reading it for The Reading Rush) or I don't think I would have been able to drag myself through it, no matter how short it is.

I'm tempted to carry on with the other two installments of the Demon Heart series, just to see whether things improve, but it just doesn't seem worth the time. I do wonder whether I would have liked this if I'd read it back in 2015 when it was first released, but my reading tastes have matured and I'm definitely over demons. ]]> 3.00 2013 Daniel Taylor and the Dark Legacy (Daniel Taylor, #1)
author: Monica Davis
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.00
book published: 2013
rating: 1
read at: 2019/07/30
date added: 2024/07/25
shelves: 2015-releases, netgalley, young-adult
review:
There isn't necessarily anything wrong with Daniel Taylor and the Dark Legacy, it's just an unfortunate combination of basically all of the things that I hate in one book.

The prologue is a painful info dump giving us all the information we could possibly need about the Guild the Watchers and the Demons, such an impressive act of exposition that I fell asleep within the first few pages because I was so bored. There's also an amazing amount of exclamation marks used throughout: if I could be bothered to go back and count them I think there would be vastly more than there are pages in this remarkably short first part to a trilogy.

It doesn't get better from there. None of the characters are interesting, and the lack of emotion throughout the entire book is startling. It's all just so bland. Vanessa and Daniel's relationship could be interesting if there was an aspect of will-they-won't-they tension, but because we jump from viewpoint to viewpoint we know they're both obsessed with each other and it just makes their scenes together drag out until their feelings are finally revealed.

Daniel being the heir to the Underworld and the only kid in school who's obsessed with black and wears long sleeves in summer is so overdone. The added fact of him being an outcast and in love with one of the most popular girls in school - who, of course, loves him back - makes things even more painfully cliched. It's a good thing this book is just over 100 pages (and I was reading it for The Reading Rush) or I don't think I would have been able to drag myself through it, no matter how short it is.

I'm tempted to carry on with the other two installments of the Demon Heart series, just to see whether things improve, but it just doesn't seem worth the time. I do wonder whether I would have liked this if I'd read it back in 2015 when it was first released, but my reading tastes have matured and I'm definitely over demons.
]]> <![CDATA[House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City, #3)]]> 52857700
Bryce Quinlan never expected to see a world other than Midgard, but now that she has, all she wants is to get back. Everything she loves is in Midgard: her family, her friends, her mate. Stranded in a strange new world, she's going to need all her wits about her to get home again. And that's no easy feat when she has no idea who to trust.

Hunt Athalar has found himself in some deep holes in his life, but this one might be the deepest of all. After a few brief months with everything he ever wanted, he's in the Asteri's dungeons again, stripped of his freedom and without a clue as to Bryce's fate. He's desperate to help her, but until he can escape the Asteri's leash, his hands are quite literally tied.

In this sexy, breathtaking sequel to the #1 bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath, Sarah J. Maas's Crescent City series reaches new heights as Bryce and Hunt's world is brought to the brink of collapse-with its future resting on their shoulders.]]> 835 Sarah J. Maas 1681193094 Alyce 4
FOUR MONTHS OF READING AND I’VE FINALLY FINISHED IT!!! My least favourite Crescent City book, which I disliked for most of the reasons I disliked ACOWAR - maybe SJM series “endings� are just not for me. I will definitely reread the entire trilogy in a couple of years and see if I enjoy this more if I dive straight in after finishing HOSAB. ]]> 4.15 2024 House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City, #3)
author: Sarah J. Maas
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/19
date added: 2024/07/19
shelves: 2024-releases, adult-fiction, library-borrowed, read-with-sean
review:
3.5 stars rounded up.

FOUR MONTHS OF READING AND I’VE FINALLY FINISHED IT!!! My least favourite Crescent City book, which I disliked for most of the reasons I disliked ACOWAR - maybe SJM series “endings� are just not for me. I will definitely reread the entire trilogy in a couple of years and see if I enjoy this more if I dive straight in after finishing HOSAB.
]]> Girl, Goddess, Queen 63057457 To hell with love, this goddess has other plans...

Thousands of years ago, the gods told a lie: how Persephone was a pawn in the politics of other gods. How Hades kidnapped Persephone to be his bride. How her mother, Demeter, was so distraught she caused the Earth to start dying.

The real story is much more interesting.

Persephone wasn't taken to hell: she jumped. There was no way she was going to be married off to some smug god more in love with himself than her.

Now all she has to do is convince the Underworld's annoyingly sexy, arrogant and frankly rude ruler, Hades, to fall in line with her plan. A plan that will shake Mount Olympus to its very core.

But consequences can be deadly, especially when you're already in hell . . .

A fierce, fresh and enormously fun YA fantasy re-imagining from a growing TikTok superstar.]]> 496 Bea Fitzgerald 0241627907 Alyce 4 3.99 2023 Girl, Goddess, Queen
author: Bea Fitzgerald
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/18
date added: 2024/07/18
shelves: debuts, netgalley, young-adult, 2023-releases
review:
Read as part of the YA Book Prize 2024 shortlist.
]]> Rex, Dinosaur in Disguise 61127440 Rex RULES the prehistoric world, until he finds himself frozen solid in an Ice Age. When he wakes up, 65 million years later, everything has changed. if he’s going to get by in the human world, he’s going to need a good disguise, the help of a few new friends and� A JOB!]]> 238 Elys Dolan Alyce 0 4.49 Rex, Dinosaur in Disguise
author: Elys Dolan
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.49
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/06
shelves: to-read, 2022-releases, childrens-fiction
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Rex Dinosaur in Disguise: Undercover Alien (Rex, Dinosaur in Disguise)]]> 203306878 Rex goes on an intergalactic guinea pig rescue mission in his next adventure in the hilarious series for 7+ readers, from Lollies Prize winning author-illustrator Elys Dolan.

Life is going well for Rex until the school's guinea pigs suddenly vanish from the pet show. As a dinosaur-turned-PE teacher, Rex immediately gets the blame.

Determined to prove he hasn't eaten any beloved pets, Rex � along with his friends Sandra, Anish and Bigfoot � set out to solve the guinea pig mystery.

First they have to face up to the shifty city mayor, Jimmy Prigg, and then Rex must go undercover on a daring intergalactic rescue mission.

Highly illustrated throughout and laugh-out-loud funny, this hilarious series is perfect for fans of The Bolds, Dogman and Bunny & Monkey.]]> 150 Elys Dolan 1529520541 Alyce 5 4.33 Rex Dinosaur in Disguise: Undercover Alien (Rex, Dinosaur in Disguise)
author: Elys Dolan
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/07/06
date added: 2024/07/06
shelves: 2024-releases, childrens-fiction, library-borrowed
review:
Rated 2000 - sorry, one “climbing� (which is apparently a number with 180 zeroes) - stars! Safe to say my son really loved this one. I didn’t discover this was a sequel until halfway through the book, so I’ll try to read book one with him soon.
]]> <![CDATA[Human Rites (Her Majesty's Royal Coven, #3)]]> 214648400 Pre-order now!]]> 0 Juno Dawson 0008478627 Alyce 0 4.28 2025 Human Rites (Her Majesty's Royal Coven, #3)
author: Juno Dawson
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/25
shelves: to-read, 2025-releases, adult-fiction
review:

]]> Frostbite 34218326
As Rainor makes his deliveries, the two slowly become friends, and Rainor finds in the Dragon all the things he never found in his little village. But on his way to make his latest delivery, the unthinkable happens, and Rainor fears that if he asks for the cure he needs to live, he'll lose the man he's coming to love...]]> 60 Alexandria Bellefleur 162004997X Alyce 4 2017-releases, adult-fiction 3.59 2017 Frostbite
author: Alexandria Bellefleur
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/24
date added: 2024/06/24
shelves: 2017-releases, adult-fiction
review:
Really enjoyed this short story! There was potential for a longer story here, but it was a nice palate cleanser to dip into something full of action and easily digestible.
]]> <![CDATA[Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets (Captain Underpants, #2)]]> 153865 144 Dav Pilkey 0439995442 Alyce 5 childrens-fiction 4.09 1999 Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets (Captain Underpants, #2)
author: Dav Pilkey
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.09
book published: 1999
rating: 5
read at: 2024/06/23
date added: 2024/06/23
shelves: childrens-fiction
review:
188 stars from Ezra! It’s a shame ŷ ratings only go up to 5.
]]> <![CDATA[Five Minute Mum: Time For School: Easy, fun five-minute games to support Reception and Key Stage 1 children through their first years at school]]> 54546070 288 Daisy Upton 0241503809 Alyce 5 4.61 Five Minute Mum: Time For School: Easy, fun five-minute games to support Reception and Key Stage 1 children through their first years at school
author: Daisy Upton
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.61
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/06/22
date added: 2024/06/22
shelves: 2021-releases, library-borrowed, non-fiction
review:
Absolutely loved this from start to finish. So many ideas for things to do with the kids, and I’ll definitely be getting hold of a physical copy to enjoy throughout the summer holidays.
]]> <![CDATA[Taylor Swift: Era by Era: The Unauthorized Biography]]> 204334248 Celebrate the incredible career of pop music’s biggest star in this sparkling biography.

We’re all living in the Taylor Swift Era. Since her 2006 debut album she’s sold more than 200 million records, sold out countless arenas and become one of the most influential artists of her generation. Her Eras Tour is on track to gross more than $1 billion by the time it concludes in December 2024, and her most recent studio album hit No. 1 in more than 25 countries.

In this revealing and entertaining biography, author and music journalist Caroline Sullivan charts Taylor’s journey from budding country starlet to pop music phenomenon, encompassing her evolution as an artist, her high-profile relationships and the stories behind her songs. Each of Taylor’s Eras is explored in depth, detailing her influences, her collaborators and the aesthetics that have become such a crucial part of her performance.

Featuring a stunning photographic section with pictures spanning her entire career, this is the most complete portrait yet of one of the most popular artists on the planet.]]> 272 Caroline Sullivan 1789296889 Alyce 3
Actual rating: 3.5 stars.

I got a lot of enjoyment from reading about the first few Eras focused on in this biography, as I didn’t know too much about Taylor Swift’s career pre-Big Machine.
Unfortunately, it feels like the wrong time to release this book. I can imagine it must have been to capitalise on the Eras tour finally making its way to UK shores, but recent release ‘The Tortured Poets Department� feels like an afterthought (while it’s still currently at no. 1 in the UK and has been there for seven weeks, making a new personal best for her).
It may have been better to release this towards the start of next year to fill the void created by the Eras tour ending, and so that the impact of TTPD could have been explored a little more, including its appearance in what is now being branded the Eras II Tour.]]> 3.69 Taylor Swift: Era by Era: The Unauthorized Biography
author: Caroline Sullivan
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.69
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2024/06/22
date added: 2024/06/22
shelves: 2024-releases, netgalley, non-fiction
review:
Huge thank you to Michael O’Mara for accepting my NetGalley request to read this book.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars.

I got a lot of enjoyment from reading about the first few Eras focused on in this biography, as I didn’t know too much about Taylor Swift’s career pre-Big Machine.
Unfortunately, it feels like the wrong time to release this book. I can imagine it must have been to capitalise on the Eras tour finally making its way to UK shores, but recent release ‘The Tortured Poets Department� feels like an afterthought (while it’s still currently at no. 1 in the UK and has been there for seven weeks, making a new personal best for her).
It may have been better to release this towards the start of next year to fill the void created by the Eras tour ending, and so that the impact of TTPD could have been explored a little more, including its appearance in what is now being branded the Eras II Tour.
]]> <![CDATA[More Than a Best Friend (Mischief & Matchmaking, #1)]]> 199628431 Love is more than just a game for two.

It’s 1857, and anxious debutante Beth has just one season to snag a wealthy husband, or she and her mother will be out on the street.

Gwen, on the other hand, is on her fourth season and counting, with absolutely no intention of finding a husband, possibly ever. She has plenty of security as the only daughter of a rakish earl, from whom she’s inherited her penchant for drinking too much and dancing ‘til dawn.

Beth and Gwen are enchanted with each other on sight. And it doesn’t take long for Gwen to hatch her latest scheme: rather than join the husband hunt, they should set up Gwen’s father and Beth’s newly-widowed mother.

They had a fling years ago, after all�

A swoon-worthy debut queer Victorian romance in which two debutantes distract themselves from having to seek husbands by setting up their widowed parents, and instead find their perfect match in each other—the lesbian Bridgerton you never knew you needed!]]> 370 Emma R. Alban 1405966122 Alyce 4 3.81 2024 More Than a Best Friend (Mischief & Matchmaking, #1)
author: Emma R. Alban
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/12
date added: 2024/06/12
shelves: 2024-releases, library-borrowed, debuts, adult-fiction
review:
So close to a 5 star, but I had issues with the pacing in a couple of different sections which really threw me out of the story. Loved the amount of Taylor Swift references sprinkled subtly throughout, and really looking forward to the sequel.
]]> Spin 61273098 The Song of Achilles and Circe get a sapphic, young adult twist in this gorgeously lush, feminist retelling of the myth of Arachne spun in moving verse.

Sixteen-year-old Arachne is ostracized by all but her family and closest friend, Celandine. Turning to her loom for solace, Arachne learns to weave, finding her voice and her strength through the craft. After the tragic loss of her family, Arachne and Celandine flee to the city of Colophon, where Arachne’s skills are put to the test. Word of her talent spreads quickly, leading to a confrontation with the goddess Athena, who demands that Arachne repent.

But Arachne will not be silenced. She challenges Athena, and a fateful weaving contest ensues, resulting in an exposé of divine misdeeds, a shocking transformation, and unexpected redemption.]]> 400 Rebecca Caprara 1665906197 Alyce 0 4.25 2023 Spin
author: Rebecca Caprara
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/06/07
shelves: currently-reading, 2023-releases, young-adult
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Grime and Punishment (Dog Man #9)]]> 49090957 240 Dav Pilkey 1338535633 Alyce 5 4.50 2020 Grime and Punishment (Dog Man #9)
author: Dav Pilkey
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at: 2024/06/01
date added: 2024/06/07
shelves: 2020-releases, childrens-fiction, graphic-novels
review:
Somehow managed to start this series on book nine, so we’ll be going back and filling in the gaps over the next few months. A fun read for adults and children alike with some great opportunities for further conversations on important topics. My kids really loved this one.
]]> The Leftovers 13148787
Following the sudden disappearance of thousands of citizens, Kevin Garvey, Mapleton’s new mayor, wants to bring a sense of hope to his traumatised community, but his family has fallen apart in the wake of disaster. Kevin’s wife has joined a homegrown cult, and his son is a disciple of the prophet Holy Wayne. Only Jill, Kevin’s daughter, remains, and she’s no longer the sweet student she once was.

Written with a rare ability to illuminate our everyday struggles, ‘The Leftovers� is a startling novel about love, connection and loss.]]> 370 Tom Perrotta 0007453108 Alyce 3 adult-fiction, ebooks-i-own If you’re interested in reading a book about a Rapture-like event which somehow manages to make you forget anything even happened, then this is the one for you. ]]> 3.56 2011 The Leftovers
author: Tom Perrotta
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at: 2024/06/07
date added: 2024/06/07
shelves: adult-fiction, ebooks-i-own
review:
I’m lumping this with a three star rating because I honestly have no idea how I felt about it. The first half was intriguing, the last half made me wish I’d never read the book. The wrong plot lines are intensely focused upon, while the gripping stories are left in the background for so long that they end up having little to no impact when they eventually take the centre stage.
If you’re interested in reading a book about a Rapture-like event which somehow manages to make you forget anything even happened, then this is the one for you.
]]> <![CDATA[The Adventures of Captain Underpants (Captain Underpants, #1)]]> 207266 125 Dav Pilkey 0439014573 Alyce 4 4.01 1997 The Adventures of Captain Underpants (Captain Underpants, #1)
author: Dav Pilkey
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.01
book published: 1997
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/17
date added: 2024/05/21
shelves: childrens-fiction, library-borrowed
review:
My kids recently discovered Dog Man, so we’re going to be picking up a lot of Dav Pilkey books over the next few weeks. I definitely read Captain Underpants when I was little, but I had forgotten that it wasn’t solely told in comic strip format - a pleasant surprise, as it makes it much more effective as a bedtime story! Looking forward to continuing this series and getting more giggling fits out of my little ones.
]]> <![CDATA[The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby (Super Diaper Baby #1)]]> 239418
Oh, no! It's not enough that George and Harold have invented Captain Underpants, the greatest superhero of all time, and that they've also saved the world FIVE times! They defeated Dr. Diaper! They punished Professor Poopypants! And they whacked the wicked Wedgie Woman! What task could be worse?!!?
This one: As punishment, the boys have to write a 100-page report on "good citizenship," and they have been specifically ordered NOT to write another comic about Captain Underpants. So what do they do?
Aha! Meet Super Diaper Baby--the most powerful peewee to pack a punch. With Pilkey's typical over-the-edge humor, Super Diaper Baby will have kids laughing until soda comes out their noses.]]> 128 Dav Pilkey 0439376068 Alyce 4 4.23 2002 The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby (Super Diaper Baby #1)
author: Dav Pilkey
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2002
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/21
date added: 2024/05/21
shelves: childrens-fiction, library-borrowed
review:
I had never heard of Super Diaper Baby before spotting this on my library app, but I’m definitely not going to forget him after watching him do battle with a giant radioactive piece of poo. My kids absolutely loved this story - my little boy is going through a “poo is the funniest thing in the world� phase, so I’m really glad we chose to read this now.
]]> <![CDATA[The Year I Met My Brain: A travel companion for adults who have just found out they have ADHD]]> 178125057
Twelve months of confusion later, journalist Matilda embarked on an epic voyage to figure out what’s really happening in the stormy seas of the ADHD brain and write the guide she wished she’d had.

The Year I Met My Brain is the ultimate travel companion for navigating and enjoying life as an ADHD adult,

- what adult ADHD symptoms look like
- why so many ADHDers (especially females) are missed as kids
- how the disorder impacts our relationships, careers and self-esteem
- why we unfairly treat ourselves like failures � and how to find self-forgiveness and healing
- practical tips for social and organisational wins
- and, most importantly, how to make our lives work to fit our brains rather than trying to force our brains to fit our lives.

Uplifting, empowering, deeply researched and sparkling with 'a-ha' moments, The Year I Met My Brain is an invaluable resource for ADHDers and those who love them.]]> 433 Matilda Boseley 1760146463 Alyce 5 4.39 2023 The Year I Met My Brain: A travel companion for adults who have just found out they have ADHD
author: Matilda Boseley
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2024/05/14
date added: 2024/05/14
shelves: 2023-releases, library-borrowed, non-fiction, debuts
review:
I absolutely loved this! I was nervous going in because it’s quite long for a non-fiction book, but Matilda Boseley’s writing style is accessible and easy to digest. A great starting point for anyone who is trying to learn more about ADHD, and a book which leaves you with plenty to think about.
]]> <![CDATA[SEND Strategies for the Primary Years: Practical ideas and expert advice to use pre-diagnosis]]> 212301908 now. SEND Strategies for the Primary Years is the solution you've been looking for!

The book gives teachers (and parents!) practical strategies that they can put in place while they wait for diagnoses, assessment or support. The strategies are practical, easy to implement and resource. Relevant to children who may be impacted by a range of SEND including autism, PDA, ADHD, dyslexia, DCD, dyscalculia, sensory processing differences, speech, language and communication needs and more. The book is split into seven areas of difficulties and provides the relevant support
� Speech, language and communication
� Literacy
� Numeracy
� Motor skills
� Emotional regulation
� Sensory differences
� Concentration and organisation.
Each chapter contains simple, effective actions to differentiate and improve learning outcomes for pupils who need more support in the classroom as well as at home. Each activity is supported by a demonstrative video, accessible via QR code. This book and the strategies can be used by any teacher or parent, not just SEND specialists.

Georgina Durrant is a former teacher and SENDCO and the founder of The SEN Resources Blog, a leading SEND website in the UK, and this book features her trademark neuro-affirmative, supportive approach throughout.]]> 188 Georgina Durrant 1801993645 Alyce 0 4.46 SEND Strategies for the Primary Years: Practical ideas and expert advice to use pre-diagnosis
author: Georgina Durrant
name: Alyce
average rating: 4.46
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/05/14
shelves: currently-reading, 2024-releases, netgalley, non-fiction
review:

]]> The Jewel (The Lone City, #1) 23173517 A shocking and compelling new YA series from debut author, Amy Ewing; The Handmaid's Tale meets The Other Boleyn Girl in a world where beauty and brutality collide.Violet Lasting is no longer a human being. Tomorrow she becomes Lot 197, auctioned to the highest royal bidder in the Jewel of the Lone City. Tomorrow she becomes the Surrogate of the House of the Lake, her sole purpose to produce a healthy heir for the Duchess. Imprisoned in the opulent cage of the palace, Violet learns the brutal ways of the Jewel, where the royal women compete to secure their bloodline and the surrogates are treated as disposable commodities. Destined to carry the child of a woman she despises, Violet enters a living death of captivity � until she sets eyes on Ash Lockwood, the royal Companion. Compelled towards each other by a reckless, clandestine passion, Violet and Ash dance like puppets in a deadly game of court politics, until they become each other’s jeopardy � and salvation.]]> 368 Amy Ewing 1406354651 Alyce 0 3.98 2014 The Jewel (The Lone City, #1)
author: Amy Ewing
name: Alyce
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/05/12
shelves: young-adult, 2014-releases, ebooks-i-own, debuts, currently-reading
review:

]]>