January / February / March Part 1 / March Part 2 / April Part 1 / April Part 2/ May Part 1 / May Part 2
In the Before Times, I would have been really happy with having read 8 books in a month. Now, I’m happy I ‘only’ read 8, because after hitting double digits for a few months in a row, I hit a sort of mini reading slump at the start of June. But I did hit 75 books total for 2020, so now I’ve increased my Goodreads 2020 Goal to 100. So not too bad all round.
A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians
I really liked this book, and would absolutely love to read more Historical Fantasy. It was a fascinating look at the revolution in France, the slave uprisings in the Caribbean and the growing abolitionist movement in England, all with the added bonus of magic, and the way its used to keep down different groups of people.
Penny Dreadful, Volume 1
It’s rare I don’t like a graphic novel, but this definitely was lacking in something. The art is fantastic, for sure, but the actual story felt weak. Maybe because it doesn’t really add much to the overall Penny Dreadful story. Prequels are difficult, but prequels done in another format have a lot of different directions they can go in, and this didn’t seem to take advantage of that.
The Ringmaster’s Daughter
Historical Fiction. The cover and description made me think they’d be a touch more ‘magic’ to this, of the kind that can be found in delightful places during dark times, not the sort of magic in A Declaration. Unfortunately, the book was lacking in the magic department, and the love story wasn’t as gripping as I’d thought it’d be.
The Darkwater Bride
Another Historical. This one leaning more towards horror. I enjoyed this. It’s a full cast production of the story, and I think if it had been a single narrator I would have got frustrated, but I honestly really am enjoying a lot of what I’m listening to on Audible.
Hell in the Heartland
Review Coming Soon on Dead Head Reviews
True Crime, a fascinating, heart-breaking account of a community struggling with drugs, murder, arson, kidnapping and grief. Jax Miller takes us right into the events surrounding the disappearance of two teenage girls, while exploring the other issues affecting this area. I strongly recommend this one.
Hold For Release Until the End of the World
Review Coming Soon on Dead Head Reviews
Bizarro Horror, a genre I’ve not had any experience with before. I really enjoyed this, a little more than C.V. Hunt’s Zombieville. If you’re a fan of strange horror, definitely check this one out. I listened to it on Audible too, and the narration was perfect.
The Only Good Indians
Review Coming Soon on Dead Head Reviews
Horror, man versus nature, a brutal tale I really couldn’t put down. Jones creates vivid, intriguing characters who really draw you along with the story and make you deeply care about what happens to them.
The Never Tilting World
A brilliant, wonderful fantasy that had me hooked right from the start. This book is engaging and beautiful and honestly I could go on and on about how good it is. It feels different and fresh, and I am super excited by the prospect of a second book.
So there we have it. The books I read in June. I’m going to have less free time going forward, so I don’t expect the numbers to jump much up from this now. But I do have a lot of books I want to try and get read this month, as they come out either in July or August. But we’ll see.
Unwrapping Words 