It took me way longer to finish this book then I wanted to - I attribute it to the absolute fatigue I had and how miserable I've been feeling since my oral surgery but at least now I've finished it.  This is the second book in the All Souls Trilogy and Diana and Matthew, a witch and vampire, have travelled back to Elizabethan England in their search for Ashmole 782. They are also there to hide from the Congregation (a governing group consisting of Witches,  Demons and Vampires), who seek to punish the couple and to hopefully find a witch (or witches) to help teach Diana about her abilities. Matthew's past and secrets, as well as Diana's status as a witch during the witch trials of the era are placing the couple in danger. 

Not only was this book hard to get through, but I felt moved very slowly at times and I felt like I was reading a gossip magazine about Elizabethan England as opposed to the story of Matthew and Diana. There is a lot of historical detail (kudos to Harkness for the research she did, which seems like a LOT), but I'm not sure how much of that detail was absolutely necessary to moving the story forward. I was happy to see them leave that era, if so only because I hoped the story would move more quickly. 

I did love the characters. We meet a number of new characters that are quite memorable and well written, including Matthew's Father Phillippe - I could hear and see him whenever he was written about.  This, to me, means that the author did a fantastic job writing and developing the character. The dialogue between characters is believable and lifelike. I also liked her development of a world where the real and fantasy are seamlessly interwoven. It's believable that this could have all been going on. 

I'd definitely suggest reading this book if your goals are like mine - to move on to book three and to also watch the series  on Amazon Prime.

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I do have a couple of shameless plugs:

• Book of the Month referral link.  If you like fiction, non fiction, whatever - BOOKS - I'd highly suggest going here.  Pretty good selection. I do get a credit for each referral.
• I sell used books on Pangobooks.  My link for $5.00 off your first order is here. I earn Pangobooks dollars to spend on books if you join.

I'm currently reading The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis.  It's a much quicker and shorter book so I'll hopefully have a review in the next week. :) 

Links I love

 

I hope that everyone had a good week. I had multiple dental appointments this week, trying to get to the bottom of things.  I'm hoping to have a review for this book this week.

• Why we cry during arguments.
• Pope Francis has passed away.
• The value of interjections.
• The cleanest cities around the world.
• Best Disney Amazon finds.
• Incarcerated women in fiction.
• WW II novels that are worth your time.
• Ten best book gifts for high school and college grads.
• Top trending national parks for camping. I love the outdoors!
• The best novels by Spanish authors.
• 15 essential books for the resistance!

Check out Book of the Month Club (this is a referral link so I get a credit) and Pangobooks.

Links I love

 

I'm a little over one week post oral surgery.  I am having some other issues that means I'm going to the dentist on Monday.  UGGGGGG. Take care of your teeth. 

1. How to maximize your walks.
2. The best Dunks iced coffee combinations.
3. Ten best fantasy novels with romance component.
4. Eight things you might now know about Jurassic Park.
5. Why is Easter called Easter?
6. The worst state for job scams.
7. the 2025 women's fiction prize - top five picks.
8. A brief history of Coachella. I grew up with Lollapalooza so this was interesting. 
9. Butterfly migrations - in photos.
10. Five best mystery books of 2025, so far.

I have rejoined Book of the Month Club.  I highly recommend them - its a pretty affordable way to get books.  If you're interested, please use this referral link. I do get credit for that. 

Links I love

 

This week has been rough - I had oral surgery on Friday and am recovering. I'm hoping that it isn't too bad! If anyone has any soft food recipes, please hit me up in the comments. 

1. These three zodiac signs have the longest TBR lists.  Guilty as charged.
2. Why did Ronald McDonald disappear?
3. Ten best states for art.
4. 2025 Hugo award finalists
5. Most Americans want to read more but don't. 
6. This nutrient is more important to preventing osteoporosis?
7. Easter basket ideas for older kids.
8. Dire wolves are the first non extinct animals. Let's keep dinosaurs extinct.
9. Booker shortlist announced.
10. What you need to know about fluoride.
11. Top ten movies turning 50 this year: yay for Monty Python and Jaws!!
12. Movie theaters aren't just for movies.
13. AMC hiker tries to help people feel safer on the trails.
14. Espresso maker or coffee maker?
15. PEN award finalists
16. Five best travel books of 2025. The slow trains to Istanbul looks fascinating. 
17. This sounds divine.  Something to plan for.

I'm about halfway through Shadow of Night.  Given the plethora of free time I'm likely to have coming up, I might actually finish it sooner than later. 

REVIEW - The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

 

This debut novel is set in  the 2020's London. The UK Government has figured out a way to time travel. In this novel, it's now working towards whether people they bring from the past can survive the travel and live in the time that they have travelled to. Each "expat" is assigned to a person called a "bridge" who they will live with and attempt to learn how to live in the modern world with. Gore, a real Arctic explorer lost on a mission to find the Northwest Passage in the 1840s, is one of the expats and our narrator is his bridge.

I enjoyed reading this novel very much. It's a mashup between romance, science fiction, action and cultural commentary.  There are sometimes a lot of ideas that try to come out at once, but Bradley seems to manage to balance everything very well.  There is often a lot of comedy - the plague survivor from the 17th century loves selfies and The Simpsons, while the WWI Commander loves disco.  But there are other themes that are just as touching - Gore is very, very lonely and has tremendous survivor's guilt even as he manages to connect with his fellow expats. Bradley's strength seems to truly be in telling us about the  quirks and details of the expats and their bridges. 

I loved this novel and cannot wait to read it again to see what I've missed.  Definitely one to add to your library.

Links I love

 

This has been a very rainy week.  I really just want the sun back. I've been watching Downtown Abbey, still and it's lovely. I am reading The Ministry of Time and Shadow of Night. My partner and I have started Twin Peaks: the Return and I LOVE it so far.  I'm a huge Twin Peaks fangirl. 

• I'm always looking for easy recipes for the week.
• Does Collagen count as a protein?
• Ten best fantasy series of all times. 
• Notable non fiction of early 2025.
• 5 Hugo Award winners written by women.
• Do you know your Disney Couples?
• The best place to get a Dole Whip in WDW
• The best books of the century (so far!).
• Page turners to help you out of a slump

I hope that you guys have a good week! I p romise a review next  week!