Category: Bookish Stuff

April 2023 Wrap Up

M.T.Wilson @ The Last Book on the Left2 Comments

I’ve been feeling really rough with a bad cold the last couple of weeks but I’m slowly starting to feel a bit better. I’m listening to A Gathering of Shadows by V. E. Schwab and am really enjoying it so that is providing something to look forward to while I sit at home feeling ill!

A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Historical romance isn’t my usual reading genre but I love watching a good period drama film or show so decided to give this one a go. I’m glad I did as it’s a fun and enjoyable read with great characters, humour and, of course, romance.

Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen ⭐⭐ – I was really excited for this one so was disappointed to find it wasn’t for me. I didn’t enjoy the writing style, which had a conversationalist first person narration and excessive inner monologue. The descent to darkness, thematically and for the characters, could have worked really well but there wasn’t enough atmosphere. I listened to the audiobook and the narration may have influenced my enjoyment of this one as I didn’t like the narrator’s style or voice. I’ll be posting a full review soon.   

Progress has been a little slow lately thanks to the aforementioned cold, but I’m still feeling optimistic about the progress I’ve made on my WIP this year. Hopefully I can get back into it soon.

What books have you enjoyed this month? Chat with me in the comments!

March 2023 Wrap Up

M.T.Wilson @ The Last Book on the LeftLeave a comment

We’re over halfway through April and I’m only just posting my March wrap up. I don’t know where the time has gone! The last few weeks have been quite busy so I haven’t had much time for reading or blogging. Although I didn’t read loads in March, I did read the best book I’ve read so far this year and a new favourite, so from that perspective it was a very good reading month!

Legendborn by Tracey Deonn ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – This book is phenomenal. I loved it so, so much. I had a feeling right from the start it would be a 5 star read and I was right. The writing, world, magic, characters, everything was just so good. Legendborn is an amazing debut and I am so excited to read the next book!  

Broken Web by Lori M. Lee ⭐⭐⭐.5 – I loved the first book in this series, Forest of Souls, and think its quite an underrated gem. The sequel suffered a little bit from middle book syndrome unfortunately. It just didn’t grip me as much as the first book did. However, I still enjoyed it and will definitely read the next book.

I have been getting back into writing again this year and progress on my current WIP is continuing steadily which is great! I’m around a quarter of the way through the book which is really exciting.

What books have you enjoyed this month? Chat with me in the comments!

February 2023 Wrap Up

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January was a slow reading month and I didn’t actually finish any books, but in February I finished two! February was also an exciting month because I went to my first book event since before the pandemic! I went to the Norwich event on Samantha Shannon’s A Day of Fallen Night tour. It was amazing to hear her talk about her writing and world building and I came away feeling so inspired. I also got my copy of A Priory of the Orange Tree signed!

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri ⭐⭐⭐.5 – I struggled to get through this one as I found the pacing too slow for me. There was so much I loved about this book, but the pacing just held back my enjoyment and it did take me quite a while to read it. It’s a fantastic book so would still definitely recommend it, I just didn’t click with it sadly.

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – I decided it was time to take a break from fantasy and read something totally different. I’ve read a few Agatha Christie novels before but not in any order. So this time I decided to read the very first Poirot novel. I was hooked all the way through and there were so many twists and turns!

While in Norwich I popped into a couple of independent bookshops and as soon as I spotted the UK paperback edition of One For All by Lillie Lainoff on the shelf, I just knew I had to pick up a copy!

After writing a lot in January, February wasn’t so good. I’ve been struggling with my current project, which is essentially a completely refreshed version of an old project I’m writing again from scratch, but although I’m writing on a clean document, I am essentially editing/redrafting what came before. I’m someone who loves first drafts and struggles with redrafting and editing, so I’m finding it challenging! But hopefully I will learn a lot from it.

What books have you enjoyed this month? Chat with me in the comments!

January 2023 Wrap Up

M.T.Wilson @ The Last Book on the Left2 Comments

I am very late with my January wrap up. The last few weeks just seem to have been very busy. I didn’t manage to finish any books in January! I’ve been listening to the audiobook of The Jasmine Throne and I’ve been finding the pacing a bit slow so it’s been taking me a while to get through it. I’m also halfway through reading Broken Web.

In January I had two exciting Fairyloot parcels. The Atlas Paradox, which matches the first book excellently. And the Daughter of the Pirate King set which I ordered months ago. It was worth the wait though as they are such gorgeous editions.

Although I didn’t do so much reading in January, it was a great month for writing. I wrote the most words I’ve written in one month in a long time, so I’m feeling very happy about that.

What books have you enjoyed this month? Chat with me in the comments!

December 2022 Wrap Up

M.T.Wilson @ The Last Book on the LeftLeave a comment

The last wrap up of 2022! In the last month of the year, I finished two books, both of which I loved, so it was a pretty good month.

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo (audiobook) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – I just loved being back in the world of the Grishaverse, and Leigh Bardugo always writes a great story.

Make You Mine This Christmas by Lizzie Huxley-Jones (audiobook) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – I rounded off the year with a Christmassy read! This book was super fun and entertaining, and hit the emotional beats really well too.

I got Master of Iron, the sequel to Blade of Secrets, for Christmas and I’m really excited to read this one.

I finally, finally, got back into writing in December. I’m working on a new version of an old project, and I’m 13,000 words in now, so slowly but surely making progress.

What books have you enjoyed this month? Chat with me in the comments!

Wrap Up: 2022 in Books

M.T.Wilson @ The Last Book on the Left2 Comments

It’s the last day of 2022! So I’m looking back on all the books I read this year. I read 22 books in total so didn’t quite reach my goal of 25 but I’m not surprised since it’s been a bad year health-wise and I was in a reading slump for a couple of months. I’m glad to have managed to read 22 though.

I love the stats that come with Storygraph, so here are a few of my charts for 2022. I read more audiobooks than I ever have before due to chronic pain making reading physical books difficult. I am so happy to be able to read audiobooks as it’s enabled me to keep reading.

How was your reading year? Did you achieve your goals?

Happy New Year! I hope 2023 brings you joy – and lots of books!  

Best and Worst Series of 2022

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This tag was originally created by Mara from Bookslikewhoa and seemed like a fun way to look back at the series I’ve read this year!

What is the best series that you caught up with this year that is still a work in progress?

I didn’t actually manage to catch up with any series this year – I’m always behind!

What is the best work in progress series that you are still catching up with? OR What is the best completed series that you are still catching up with?

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon. I loved the first book and the prequel novella and will definitely be catching up on the rest next year.

What was your favourite first book in a series this year?

The Councillor by E. J. Beaton. I absolutely loved this book. There’s no word yet on when the sequel will come out though.

What is a first book in a series you read this year that you think should have just been a standalone, not a series?

I don’t think I’ve read any books this year that fit this.

What is your most over-hyped series of the year?

Not got any of these this year either.

What is a series that you DNFed this year?

The Bone Witch series by Rin Chupeco. I read the first book last year and was considering continuing this year but I didn’t get round to it and I think I will probably not be continuing this series.

What was your favourite series finale of the year? OR What was your least favourite series finale of the year?

My favourite series finale of the year was Thronebreakers by Rebecca Coffindaffer.

What was the biggest cliffhanger you had in a series this year?

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo ended with some pretty dramatic twists!

What is your favourite spinoff series you read this year?

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim, which is set in the same world as the Spin the Dawn duology.

What is your most anticipated next book in a series that you read this year that will come out next year?

I’ve not read any that are out next year.

What is your most anticipated series to catch up with next year based on what you read in that series this year? OR What is the series you’re most excited to stay caught up with next year based on what you read in the series this year?

I really want to finish the Bladesmith duology by Tricia Levenseller.

What is your favourite series that you finished this year?

The Aurora Cycle. I didn’t enjoy the last book as much as the previous two but overall, it was a great series.

What is your favourite episodic series of the year?

I’ve not read any.

What is a series that you finally bailed on after holding onto it for a long time?

I hold onto series for eons and I don’t think there’s any I’ve given up on this year. They sit on my TBR for eternity.

What is the series you were most surprised that you liked this year?

The Atlas Six. I wasn’t sure it would be for me but loved it.

What is the series that you meant to catch up with or finish this year that you didn’t?

So. Many. Series. Shades of Magic, to name one.

What is a series you finished this year that you think is greater than the sum of its parts? OR What is the series you caught up with this year that you think is greater than the sum of its parts?

This is an interesting question but I don’t think I have any that fit.  

What series have you enjoyed this year? Chat with me in the comments!

End of Year Book Tag 2022

M.T.Wilson @ The Last Book on the LeftLeave a comment

I can’t believe 2022 is nearly over. December seems to have flown by! Today I’m doing the End of Year Book Tag. The tag was created by booktuber Ariel Bissett.

Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?

I’m currently reading Make You Mine This Christmas and definitely want to finish it by the end of the year. I’m halfway through The Wolf of Oren-Yaro but I think that may end up being a DNF as I just don’t think the book was for me. I also still need to finish Harrow the Ninth but I think I may pick that up again in the new year.

Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

No but I am reading a Christmas book which feels very seasonal.

Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?

I don’t think there are anymore releases on my radar to come out this year.

What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?

I’m not that fast a reader so I won’t manage three. I want to finish Make You Mine This Christmas and I’m hoping to fit in The Last Tale of the Flower Bride which I have an audio ARC for.

Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favourite book of the year?

I’m really intrigued by The Last Tale of the Flower Bride. It’s the kind of book that I’ll love or I won’t, so I hope it becomes a surprise favourite.

Have you already started making reading plans for 2023?

Yes, but I’m a mood reader so I rarely manage to stick to those plans! I’m terrible at finishing series so the series I have in progress are high up on my list for next year.

Have you done the End of Year Book Tag? Feel free to share your post in the comments.

November 2022 Wrap Up

M.T.Wilson @ The Last Book on the LeftLeave a comment

Hello everyone! It’s been a while since I last posted. I have been in such a bad reading slump. I’ve picked up and put down so many books and been really struggling to get into reading and blogging. I started reading King of Scars recently though, hoping that a book by one of my favourite authors would help bring me out of the slump, and it has worked! I am enjoying reading again and hopefully that will continue.

The Pale Dreamer by Samantha Shannon (audiobook) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – The only thing I managed to finish in November was a novella in the Bone Season series. I don’t always enjoy short stories and novellas but this one was great. I love Samantha Shannon’s writing and the narrator for this series is fantastic.

Illumicrate’s October book came a little late and didn’t arrive until November. It was The Whispering Dark and I’m really excited to read this book.

Just a short post today as things have been pretty quiet for me on the reading front, but I am hoping to get back into blogging more again!

What books have you enjoyed this month? Chat with me in the comments!

October 2022 Wrap Up

M.T.Wilson @ The Last Book on the LeftLeave a comment

This month was super busy at work so I’ve been really tired and not had much energy for blogging, but I have managed to do some reading and finished three books this month!

Thronebreakers by Rebecca Coffindaffer ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – The sequel to Crownchasers was just as good as the first book. There were some lighter moments, but also heavier aspects like grief, which I think the author balanced really well. I liked seeing how Alyssa grew over the duology and was satisfied by the ending. If you’re looking for a quick and fun YA space opera, I’d definitely recommend this series.

The League of Gentlewomen Witches by India Holton (audiobook) ⭐⭐⭐ – I was a little disappointed by this one since the first book was so good. There was a lot I did like about the sequel, but I just found it too slow and not as engaging as the first book.

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson (audiobook) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Sorcery of Thorns was such a delight to read that I was excited to pick up Margaret Rogerson’s next book. As soon as I started listening, I was drawn into the story. I just love Rogerson’s writing style, it flows so smoothly and paints such a vivid picture, making me really feel immersed in the world.

I was so excited to get my Illumicrate set of the Locked Tomb series and I was not disappointed! Their editions are just stunning. I also got the Illumicrate edition of Demon in the Wood and the Goldsboro edition of Mindwalker.

What books have you enjoyed this month? Chat with me in the comments!