NOTE: I wrote this post in the middle of May and forgot to post it. Oops.

At the beginning of the year I decided that I wouldn’t worry about finishing books, and just focus on reading what I felt like reading. This has meant that I’ve ended up starting seven books which I’m currently nowhere near finishing.

The books:

• The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
• Truly Devious
• Keeper of the Lost Cities: Exile
• Royal Assassin
• 1984
• Catching Fire
• Caraval

I know that there is nothing wrong with reading multiple books at any one time. Loads of people do it. And for some people, having seven books on the go probably doesn’t even sound like that much. But for me, the most I’ve ever had going at a time is three books (one for at home, one for the commute, and an audiobook).

I was actually thinking recently that I might try getting back into audiobooks, but that’s a post for another day.

I don’t want to talk too much about these books. I’ve talked about most of them on here recently anyway. But I started 1984, Royal Assassin, and Catching Fire within the past couple of weeks. I’m barely 20 pages into any of them. But the main idea with my plan to read whatever whenever was that I wouldn’t start a book with the plan to finish it ASAP. I’m starting books that I’m excited to read to maintain my joy of reading as a hobby.

I think I’m about half way through Truly Devious and Caraval, both of which I started fairly early in the year. I think I’m about a quarter of the way through Exile, and about 60 pages into The Very Secret Society.

Brief Reviews of Each Book So Far:

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches – I’m really enjoying it even though I’m still quite early in the book. I don’t even know the characters too well yet. But I’m enjoying the humour and the magic. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. I’m definitely getting similar vibes to The House in the Cerulean Sea, which I read back in 2020.

Truly Devious – I think this book is good. I’m not sure if I’m the right age group for it, as it follows teenage characters (and I was always told that the age of the main character tends to determine the age of the target audience). I am enjoying the mystery of the school, I can definitely sense that there is more going on than we can see in the story. I’m really looking forward to following the detective story to the end (although I reckon we won’t get proper answers until the end of the series).

Keeper of the Lost Cities: Exile – This is technically a re-read for me, but I have very little memory of the story. I listened to the audiobook before, so it’s fun to be reading it from a physical book now. I enjoy the charaters and the magic. It’s a relaxing story because it’s a middle grade book, so it’s a bit of easy reading, but it means that the plot isn’t too complex. I really want to continue this series, even though I know it’s a long series. I think it will be a lot of fun to watch these characters growing up.

Royal Assassin – I first started reading this book a few years ago, but only got about 175 pages into it. So I’ve started it fresh (after reading a summary of the first book). I’m excited to get to see the characters again, and finally finish this book. I’ve heard that, from half way through this book,the whole series get so much better and Robin Hobbs’ writing really improves. I’m excited to read the second trilogy in this expansive series. I think the concept of the live ships is really cool, so I’m looking forward to getting to that part of the story in the future.

1984 – I’m only about 10 to 20 pages into this book. I bought it back in 2013, and I have trie reading it once before, but didn’t get too far. I don’t really have muh of an opinion about this book yet. It’s a ‘modern classic’ so I’m interested to read it because it’s a ‘must read’ book. IMy mum told me she didn’t like it, so I’m trying not to think about that, because often other people’s opinions sway me. I want to enjoy it, but I’m not going to force myself to read it too quickly. I think the writing will slow me down a bit, because it’s not a particularly modern style.

Catching Fire – I’m only a few pages into this book, but I read this book once or twice before, years ago. I’m looking forward to continuing my re-read of the series. I think I’ll take it with me when I go on holiday in a few weeks. It will be a nice easy read while I’m travelling. It’s not an amazing series, I don’t think it’s written particularly well, but it has some elemnt of comfort in that I know what to expect, thus it won’t be a strtessful read.

Caraval – Another re-read! I really want to finish this book in the next month or two. Ideally I’d finish the trilogy by the end of the year. I’m only re-reading this so I can read the third book which I’ve never read before. I’m hoping I like the ending. the writing isn’t the best, but it’s a debut, so perhaps it gets better throughout the series. The characters are okay, the mystery of the event is fun, and the magic helps to draw me into the story. Again, it’s aimed at a younger audience than me, so it’s quite easy to read.

I like books that don’t require pressure. Which is a large reason why I don’t tend to go for thrillers or horror. I don’t like suspense.. Haha.

Anyway, in addition to having all these books left to read, I did finish reading a book this weekend. I read Cress, by Marissa Meyer, the third book in The Lunar Chronicles series. I think this is probably one of my favourite series ever. And Cress is definitely my favourite book in the series (althoiugh I might change my mind when I get to Winter in a few weeks time).

This series is a re-read for me, and I have loved every minute of it. It is a sci-fi retelling of classic fairytales. Cinderella is a cyborg, Red Riding Hood is a spacecraft pilot, Rapunzel is an alien from the moo who is trapped in a satelite because she doesn’t have telepathic powers, and Snow White is also an alien and she does have telepathic powers, but she refuses to use them and it’s making her insane. There’s an evil queen from the mood who uses mind-control to take over Earth, I just find this series so much fun. I’d like to read a lot more sci-fi, but I’m not sure how much I’d enjoy it.

This post is a bit longer than I had planned. That’s the trouble with having so many books to talk about. Lol.

Do you read one book at a time, or do you have multiple books on the go? I’d love to hear what you’re reading at the moment as well.

Until next time,

Love, Bobbi. Xx.