When I was a kid I loved to read, until around 14 I would read constantly. However, once I went into High School and then University I spent so much time reading books that were required for my course, I really lost interest in reading for pleasure.
I've now been out of University for a year (how the hell did that happen...) I can finally read simply for the joy of it, again. So in this post, I will show you what I currently want to read. Even though this is technically my list for April 2023, it will likely take me many months if not the rest of the year to make it through all these books. Yes, I'm a very slow reader, what can I say I like to take my time. I do also have Adhd, so that might have something to do with it.
Without further ado here is my 'To Read List -April 2023'
The Scratch Daughters – Hannah Abigail Clarke.
Description: Sideways Pike is desperate. It turns out that Madeline Kline didn't want to make out with her; infinitely worse, she was only flirting to get access to Sideways' specter. Madeline has ripped the magical soul out of Sideways' throat, and with it, everything that makes a witch feel whole. Madeline would know: the Chantry boys took hers, and she's going to use Sideways' specter to hunt them down and get it back.
Sideways Pike, lesbian witch extraordinaire, isn't going to let little things like a treacherous crush or a brutal family of creepy witch hunters stop her, even if it means tracking down Madeline without the Scapegracers--her best friends, her coven, the girls she's come to love ferociously above all else. But Sideways and her trusty bike are in for a bumpy ride . . .
Key Words: Witches, Queer, Found Family
My Thoughts: I absolutely adored H. A. Clarke's first novel The Scapegracers, I could not put it down. I made sure to Order The Scratch Sisters in advance so I could move straight from one to the next. With full transparency, I have started this one already, but it is too good not to put it here. If you are looking for a new book and queer witches is your thing (it most certainly is mine) I could not recommend it enough.
Ariadne – Jennifer Saint.
Description: Ariadne, Princess of Crete, grows up greeting the dawn from her beautiful dancing floor and listening to her nursemaid’s stories of gods and heroes. But beneath her golden palace echo the ever-present hoofbeats of her brother, the Minotaur, a monster who demands blood sacrifice.
When Theseus, Prince of Athens, arrives to vanquish the beast, Ariadne sees in his green eyes not a threat but an escape. Defying the gods, betraying her family and country, and risking everything for love, Ariadne helps Theseus kill the Minotaur. But will Ariadne’s decision ensure her happy ending? And what of Phaedra, the beloved younger sister she leaves behind?
Hypnotic, propulsive, and utterly transporting, Jennifer Saint's Ariadne forges a new epic, one that puts the forgotten women of Greek mythology back at the heart of the story, as they strive for a better world.
Key Words: Greek Myth, Strong Female Lead
My Thoughts: I have always loved Mythology, in particular Greek and Norse. I am very excited to start this one to read a different take on a myth I know well. Especially since it places women at the center of the story.
When We Were Magic – Sarah Gailey.
Description: Alexis has always been able to rely on two things: her best friends, and the magic powers they all share. Their secret is what brought them together, and their love for each other is unshakeable—even when that love is complicated. Complicated by problems like jealousy, or insecurity, or lust. Or love.
That unshakeable, complicated love is one of the only things that doesn't change on prom night.
When accidental magic goes sideways and a boy winds up dead, Alexis and her friends come together to try to right a terrible wrong. Their first attempt fails—and their second attempt fails even harder. Left with the remains of their failed spells and more consequences than anyone could have predicted, each of them must find a way to live with their part of the story.
Key Words: Fantasy, Witches, Found Family, Queer
My Thoughts: I'm sure by now you are seeing a pattern. Yes, I am very into queer witches at the moment. I have 3 other books all bout queer witches that didn't even make it onto the list this time round. I have read the first chapter of this one and all I can say is I am gripped. If I hadn't started The Scratch Daughters I would have kept reading, but I didn't want to get too into it while I had another book on the go. I'm a one-book-at-a-time kinda gal. Even so, I am very excited to pick this one up again once I'm done with the other book!
From Bad to Cursed – Lana Harper.
Description: Wild child Isidora Avramov is a thrill chaser, adept demon summoner, and—despite the whole sexy-evil-sorceress vibe—also a cuddly animal lover. When she’s not designing costumes and new storylines for the Arcane Emporium’s haunted house, Issa's nursing a secret, conflicted dream of ditching her family’s witchy business to become an indie fashion designer in her own right.
But when someone starts sabotaging the celebrations leading up to this year’s Beltane festival with dark, dangerous magic, a member of the rival Thorn family gets badly hurt—throwing immediate suspicion on the Avramovs. To clear the Avramov name and step up for her family when they need her the most, Issa agrees to serve as a co-investigator, helping none other than Rowan Thorn get to the bottom of things.
Rowan is the very definition of lawful good, so tragically noble and by-the-book he makes Issa’s teeth hurt. In accordance with their families’ complicated history, he and Issa have been archenemies for years and have grown to heartily loathe each other. But as the unlikely duo follow a perplexing trail of clues to a stunning conclusion, Issa and Rowan discover how little they really know each other… and stumble upon a maddening attraction that becomes harder to ignore by the day.
Key Words: Witches, Romance, Strong Female Lead
My Thoughts: I read Lana Harper's first book 'Pay Back's a Witch' last year and was obsessed. It was the first book in a long time I actually finished. It was perfectly paced and the relationship between Taila and Emmy was to die for. Anyways I am equally as excited about 'From Bad to Cursed' we meet both Isidora and Rowan in the first book and I really enjoyed them as characters.
Madly, Deeply the diaries of Alan Rickman – Alan Rickman.
Description: Madly, Deeply is a rare invitation into the mind of Alan Rickman—one of the most magnetic, beloved performers of our time.
From his breakout role in Die Hard to his outstanding, multifaceted performances in the Harry Potter films, Galaxy Quest, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and more, Alan Rickman cemented his legacy as a world-class actor. His air of dignity, his sonorous voice, and the knowing wit he brought to each role continue to captivate audiences today.
But Rickman’s ability to breathe life into projects wasn't confined to just his performances. As you'll find, Rickman's diaries detail the extraordinary and the ordinary, flitting between worldly and witty and gossipy, while remaining utterly candid throughout. He takes us inside his home, on trips with friends across the globe, and on the sets of films and plays ranging from Sense and Sensibility, to Noël Coward's Private Lives, to the final film he directed, A Little Chaos.
Running from 1993 to his death in 2016, the diaries provide singular insight into Rickman's public and private life. Reading them is like listening to Rickman chatting to a close companion. Meet Rickman the consummate professional actor, but also the friend, the traveler, the fan, the director, the enthusiast; in short, the man beyond the icon.
Key Words: Biography, Performing Arts, Actor.
My Thoughts: This one was a gift, but I'm still very excited about it. I am planning to attend Drama School in London Uk starting this September. So this book is right up my alley, even if it's not about queer witches. I love the idea of a rare glimpse into the personal life of someone you have seen on the big screen so many times.
The Little Book of World Mythology – Hannah Bowstead.
Description: Throughout history, mythologies have been fundamental to societies and cultures across the world. They are the collected stories of a people - the fascinating folk tales and the epic legends that shape the history and the beliefs of whole civilizations.
This pocket guide offers readers an engaging and accessible introduction to the major world mythologies, exploring their origins, foundational stories and key mythological figures. Learn how the Greeks won the ten-year Trojan war, how the Norse god Thor got his mighty hammer, and why the Aztecs made a daily human sacrifice to the sun god, Huitzilopochtli.
If you're looking to enrich and expand on your understanding of world history, religion and culture, then this book is an ideal starting point to fill your mind with stories of wisdom and wonder. Discover the captivating stories behind the following mythologies: Aboriginal, Aztec, Celtic, Chinese, Egyptian, Greek, Hindu, Incan, Japanese, Maori, Mayan, Mesopotamian, Norse, and Roman.
Key Words: Mythology, Education, Simple
My Thoughts: Finally I have had this book for quite a while but never actually read it. Like I said before I am very interested in mythology. Thus I am very excited to learn about more than just Norse and Greek and it's perfect because it is simplified. So I can learn the basics and then do further research on what interests me the most.
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