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My Month in Books: May 2026
Can you believe it is the end of May? I had a pretty great reading month this month! It will definitely slow down next month, as my additional job I take on every summer is happening for the next 3 weeks. However, I’m still super excited to see what books I do manage to finish. Here’s my bookish goings on this month. Book Haul Physical Books Audiobooks / E-Books / eARCs Books Read in May 2026 Fallen Stars (Heavenly Bodies #2) by Imani Erriu – 4.5 Stars Unearthly (Unearthly #1) by Cynthia Hand – 4 Stars The Queen’s Rising (The Queen’s Rising #1) by Rebecca Ross – 5 Stars The…
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Review: The Queens Resistance (The Queen’s Rising #2)
The Queen’s Resistance, Book 2 in The Queens Rising Duology by Rebecca Ross Published By: Harper Collins Publication Date: March 7, 2019 Date Read: May 17, 2026 Genre: YA – Fantasy / Romantasy Source: Bought Format: Audiobook Pages: 352 Add to Goodreads | Add to Storygraph The epic sequel to THE QUEEN’S RISING: a tale of love, rebellion, alliance and betrayal, from the extraordinary Sunday Times and New York Times number-one-bestselling author of DIVINE RIVALS. Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Sarah J Maas and Shelby Mahurin. Brienna and her new family have restored the rightful queen to the throne of Maevana. Now begins the difficult task of uniting the…
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How The Term ‘Romantasy’ Is Misleading Readers
We’ve all heard it… X is the new ‘romantasy’ release of the year. If there’s a supernatural creature and romance, surely that means it’s Romantasy… especially if it has been written by a female author. But I beg to differ! Sometimes it’s just an epic fantasy book with a bit of romance… sometimes it’s a paranormal romance. As someone who started this blog way back in the golden age of YA Paranormal Romance, I think these genres are vastly different. I know the term ‘Paranormal Romance’ isn’t used in marketing anymore but I personally think it is just as relevant today as when Twilight released in the 2000s. Romantasy seems…
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Review: The Queens’ Rising (The Queens’ Rising #1)
The Queens Rising, Book 1 in The Queens Rising Duology by Rebecca Ross Published By: Harper Collins Publication Date: February 6, 2018 Date Read: May 11, 2026 Genre: YA – Fantasy / Romantasy Source: Bought Format: Audiobook Pages: 464 Add to Goodreads | Add to Storygraph Born out of wedlock, Brienna is cast off by her noble family and sent to Magnolia House – a boarding house for those looking to study the passions: art, music, dramatics, wit and knowledge. Brienna must discover her passion and train hard to perfect her skill, in the hope that she will one day graduate and be chosen by a wealthy patron, looking to…
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First Person, Second Person or Third Person – Which Do You Like Best?
It’s not really something I’ve ever consciously thought about, but always a discussion in bookish spaces. What do you prefer when reading, a book told in first, second or third person. This topic came back to mind after I started reading a book told in second person, and it made me realise that I haven’t really read many books at all told in this narrative. It got me thinking about preferences, and how everyone loves something different. So here’s my personal thoughts on narrative, and some recommendations of my favourite books written in each. First Person If I’d have write this post 10 years ago, I would definitely be sat…
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Review: Unearthly (Unearthly #1)
Unearthly, Book 1 in the Unearthly Trilogy by Cynthia Hand Published By: Electric Monkey Publication Date: January 4, 2011 Date Read: May 9, 2026 Genre: YA – Paranormal Romance / Romantasy Source: Bought Format: Paperback Pages: 448 Add to Goodreads | Add to Storygraph The heart-wrenching, deeply romantic, angelic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author of the My Lady Jane series, Cynthia Hand. With brand new gorgeous covers for 2025. Angelic powers, forbidden romance, and the choice between fulfilling your destiny or following your heart’s desire. Clara has known she is part-angel since she turned fourteen two years ago. But only now, through fragmented visions of a terrifying bush fire, is…
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Happy Birthday To Me… 35 Favourite Book Recommendations
It’s my 35th Birthday today! It’s going to be a rough one for me as it is the first birthday I’ve had since losing my Dad earlier this year. So to celebrate, and to lift my spirits, I’m sharing with you 35 books that I absolutely adore and would love for you to pick up and give a read! Let me know if you’ve read any of them, or which ones you’re hoping to pick up soon. My Favourite Contemporary / Romance Books My Favourite Epic Fantasy Reads My Favourite Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Books My Favourite Retellings My Favourite Dystopia / Sci-fi Books So if you would like…
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Review: Fallen Stars (Heavenly Bodies #2)
Fallen Stars, Book 2 in the Heavenly Bodies Series by Imani Erriu Published By: Random House Publication Date: November 25, 2025 Date Read: May 4, 2026 Genre: Adult – Epic Fantasy / Romantasy Source: Bought Format: Audiobook Pages: 544 Add to Goodreads | Add to Storygraph “Stars will fall.” Elara is vengeful. Her love is in a deep sleep, trapped between the realms of life and death. Her enemy has vanished, Enzo’s only connection to the waking world with him. And a life that Elara has never wanted has been thrust upon her, along with a new power she can not control. Now a disgraced queen, Elara must go on…
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Non-Review: Yesteryear
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke Published By: Fourth Estate Publication Date: April 7, 2026 Date Stopped: May 3, 2026 @ Page 120 Genre: Literary Fiction Source: Bought Format: Hardback Pages: 400 Add to Goodreads | Add to Storygraph ‘My name is Natalie Heller Mills, and I was perfect at being alive…’ Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle – and has the social media accounts to prove it. Her charming farmhouse on her working ranch is artfully cluttered, her husband is a handsome cowboy, her homemade sourdough boules are each more beautiful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers and industrial-grade ovens behind the scenes? What Natalie’s followers…
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5 Angel Book Recommendations
I shared earlier this week that me and Han are starting our buddy read of the Unearthly Series by Cynthia Hand. It got me thinking about all of the angel related books I read back in the early 2010s. I really feel like nephilim books had a significant influence in the ‘old skool’ YA books. So here are some of my favourite books with angels and/or nephilim. These were some of my favourite angel/nephilim books back in the day. Click on the cover to be taken to my spoiler free reviews.