stitchsaddiction's reviews
1142 reviews

Absolutely incredible, I highly recommend this book for anybody wishing to expand their knowledge of Tudor & Stuart England (and Europe to be honest).

Daisy T-Rex Is Dyslexic is a beautifully and brightly illustrated book about a young T-Rex who is struggling in school. 

I think it's both incredible and important that representation of conditions such as Dyslexia (and as a parent of a child with Dyscalculia who has seen how difficult it is to seen how isolating it can be) in books from an early age. 

Daisy the T-Rex is adorable, and I think many children will love her and sweet nature as well as relate to how she struggles with her letters as they move and 'squiggle' when she does well in other subjects.

I was in awe if I'm honest of how well Sarah Moore not only has given children a sweet character in Daisy but also informative in explaining what Dyslexia is and how even at a young age, a child can learn how to overcome the frustrations it causes.

Daisy T-Rex is Dyslexic needs to be found in every public library and primary school. It's a brilliant book to read with your child whether they have Dyslexia or not.

I'm still in shock at how this ended.

Olivie Blake has been a favourite writer since I discovered her Dramione fanfiction a lifetime ago and I have known since then that she loves to put the reader through every emotion possible. The Atlas Complex is no exception and I knew without doubt I would devour the book and then sit in shock over everything.

I was, of course, right.

The Atlas Complex draws the series to its inevitable end and I was left shaken. There are deaths I wasn't ready for and I know without doubt; that people will be livid - the problem is, they make sense. I despised Atlas just as much as I have since encountering him in The Atlas Six and we were introduced to The Alexandrian Society.

The book is very philosophical and makes you think as you go, I do think this is a genre of writing and thought. It may not be a book that gels with you, but if you do? Without a doubt, The Atlas Complex will have you thinking, and questioning not only what you read but the parallels to the world we're currently living in. 

The character arcs are ones that, especially in this book, are fast-paced and I was morbidly curious as to just how bad some of the supposedly good characters would go. Characters I grew to hate showed me just why that hatred was justified and I wished a certain former good girl turned into the epitome of evil, those I adored died and I had to stop and process that once again, Olivie Blake owed me a new heart and a fresh box of tissues for the tears.

Why do you keep doing this to me - why do I let you? Please can you give us a HEA tale soon that won't turn me into a crying mess halfway through? 

I didn't want this to end, the book nearly broke me and yet I couldn't put it down. I can after reading Olivie's author note understand exactly what brought it all together and I think if you're even a little angry at the world we're living in? You will end up fascinated by the fictional world we were thrust into. Everything about The Atlas Complex was so well done, I liked each person's perspective, and how each and everyone showed their emotions, reactions etcetera as everything unfolds.

Foxglove is the second book in the Belladonna series and wow! This is a phenomenal sequel and once again, I was captivated by the story and unwilling to stop reading because I just needed to know what would happen when chaos once more fell all around Signa.

‘Your shoulders were not meant to bear the weight of their expectations Signa. You were not made to please others.’

I love the way Death speaks to Signa, and how, as the time they've spent around one another has gone past, as well as Signa's acceptance that he's not the enemy; their rapport has evolved. The two may not be able to be around one another as much as they'd like but they're the balance the other needs and I love how Adalyn Grace has written the two of them. 

Foxglove introduced me to new characters who bring new drama alongside old faces who have evolved like Signa has done and I liked how once again, how their presence is always valid whether for the good or the bad side of the story. The drama begins virtually straight away with the arrival of Fate to the mix and despite him being this perfect looking man? I wanted to delve into the book and tell him to leave Signa and Death alone… Fate is, however, perfectly written to be both charming and utterly infuriating and I do like his troublesome self because of it.

Foxglove gives us a murder mystery set in a world mixed with familiar aristocracy and the realm of fantasy. Everything is once more on the line for Signa and her cousin as a conspiracy to destroy the family is woven around them.. but by who? Everything is perfectly written from the creepiness of the ghosts who linger, to the beauty of the world Foxglove is set to the romance between Death and Signa. It's as wonderfully woven together as Fate's tapestries of people's lives - each golden thread perfectly placed for the reader to be balanced precariously on the edge of their seat. 

This series just gets better and better, with Foxglove bringing some answers to the questions in Belladonna and putting the reader (and Signa) through a plethora of emotions.

I loved it.

I had wanted to read the Belladonna series for ages, and I'm not sure why I hadn't done so before now; but I'm so glad I decided to do so as Belladonna was incredible. I couldn't put the book down and was fully immersed in the world that Adalyn Grace had created in this dark fantasy.

The world building is really well done as you're drawn into the life of Signa, a girl whose life seems to have Death dancing in the shadows and leaving her cast from family member to family member. We’re in a world of aristocracy, with arrogance, secrets, and the disguise of indifference, and I loved it.

Belladonna is a beautifully written mystery that's unique and imaginative, and as I said, I didn't want to put it down. I needed to know if Signa would be safe finally, and wanted to know just what was it about her that had Death lingering… is he a friend or a foe?

Each character gives something to the story, from questioning whether they're going to make Signa's newfound sanctuary be endangered or to see her be joyful. There's nothing worse to me than having a character appear who seems to be important initially and then *poof* they're gone, and that never happens. Each background character is there for a reason and breathes life into Belladonna so that it's an engaging read that has you wondering if you could slip on an exquisite outfit and wander around this world.

What's also wonderfully done is the way there's a lingering sinister atmosphere that is somehow tangible from the page. There's all this elegance and beauty going on but it almost feels like you're looking at it through a fractured window so it's just not quite as perfect a world as you'd like it to be. Darkness hides alongside Death. There's a fear of whether Signa will lose another home, a person who finally seems to care for her, and that tension is excellently done.

This was an incredible sequel to Queen of Roses that has the enemies to lovers trope at the front and centre of Morgan and Draven's journey together. They're like fire and ice twisting and turning as one gains power over the other momentarily, and I loved it.

This book has continued the journey away from Camelot and all that remains of what the Arthurian legends spoke of and into more unfamiliar territory. 

The Fae.

Briar Boleyn's description and ability to bring in their own uniqueness to the world we're in was excellently done in the first book; however, it is here in Court of Umbral Flames or Court of Claws that she excels in giving us a fantasy world that is a mix of seductive beauty and unsettling darkness with fae creatures who are a far cry from the familiar ones you may have encountered in Tolkien etcetera. These fae mean what they say and aren't afraid to show their violent tendencies and barbaric nature of survival and dominance in their search of power. I do love the twists in the familiarity and how it's very clear that whilst we've started to see the cruelty from Arthur; it's very apparent we're far from Camelot.

This book is fast paced, and action-packed with moments of violence and bloodshed and whilst there are moments that made me angry that there was cruelty it does demonstrate that this is a very different world with very different rules. I'd liked Draven in Queen of Roses, but this is his book really - his true self shines through both to see him in his fae form and how we learn more both about who and what he is. Morgan and Draven clash and then from moments of curiosity and attraction to one another that they'd both deny. In Court of Claws, they set the pages alight.

I am loving this series, I'm so curious as to why Arthur is insistent on one upping Uther in being the ultimate cruel king and to see Morgan Pendragon embrace her true fae self because she's incredible. Briar Boleyn has let her fae self come forward in such a clever way, and I could easily see her come to light as her writing is just that good. Again, I'm so glad I added to my tbr pile and then began to read or rather devour them.

Sam Time isn't just a book; it's a doorway that nudges history buffs into the heart of the nineteenth century. Imagine being a history professor like Samantha Hunter, whisked away to a time where you stand shoulder to shoulder with the legendary Ulysses S. Grant. That's the magic Donna Baron masterfully weaves into her narrative.

Admittedly, my knowledge of America's eighteenth president was virtually non-existent. American history wasn't on my school syllabus, and my personal reading never veered that way. But here's where Baron's genius shines through. Her meticulous research and vivid storytelling don't just fill in the gaps; they ignite a spark of curiosity that makes you want to dive into the annals of history yourself. The time-travel sequences are so rich in detail that they envelop you completely, making the past feel as real as the present.

The time-traveling escapades are, without a doubt, the soul of this tale. They're where history leaps off the pages and dances before your eyes. In contrast, the contemporary segments of the story didn't quite capture my imagination as intensely. The world-building in the present day could have been more enveloping, as it didn't fully pull me into Samantha's modern life. However, there was a notable exception: Samantha's blind date in the park with Aaron. Their encounter was beautifully crafted, brimming with the excitement and nervous energy of a genuine first date, as they tried to outwit Samantha's sister and her fiancé's matchmaking efforts.

As the story unfolds, Samantha and Aaron's relationship lacks the vibrancy that would have me rooting for their happily ever after. Aaron's character, in particular, seems a little lacklustre and his actions somewhat overbearing. His sporadic appearances and controlling tendencies left me secretly cheering for Samantha to forsake the present and stay lost in the annals of history, where her happiness truly blossomed.

The mechanics of Samantha's time travel are a breath of fresh air, an innovative twist that binds a nineteenth-century enigma with the present, wrapping up the narrative in a full, satisfying circle. I'll refrain from divulging any spoilers here, but rest assured, the emotional depth and humanity of the historical characters are sure to tug at your heartstrings. Prepare yourself for some tear-jerking moments; tissues will be in high demand.

In conclusion, Sam Time is a heartfelt ode to history lovers, seamlessly blending the realms of fiction and fact. The portrayal of Grant, a titan of the American Civil War, is fascinating, even through the lens of fiction, leaving me yearning for even more glimpses into his storied life.

Queen of Roses is the first in the Blood of a Fae series, which I'd wanted to read for some time and as part of wanting to work through my tbr list? I began to read this Arthurian tale eagerly.

In every tale I've ever read, Morgan Pendragon/le Fay is written in a dark and often cruel manner. This isn't the case with Briar Boleyn, who treats this legendary Arthurian character with respect and humanity. 

Morgan's role as the older sister of Arthur is once again cast aside in favour of her younger half-brother for the role of monarch. However, there's so much more to her than being this evil mage driven to destruction. Instead, in Queen of Roses, Morgan has been training alongside warriors, and the world building even when she's on the training ground brings the Arthurian Wales or England (depending on which of the theories are correct) to life. Everything about this world feels not only magical but real; as though you could train alongside Morgan, or join Merlin (who is female in this tale and somehow that makes more sense) as she prays in a temple. I'd strongly suggest not wanting to spend time with Arthur, however, as he's the cruel and barbaric character in this book - seemingly more like Uther in the legends with his distrust of everything.

Queen of Roses is the beginning of Morgan's journey of self-discovery discovery as she's sent away from all she's known with two soldiers who're strangers to her to find something that will protect Camelot. The journey is fraught with danger and the unknown, and again, the world building and Briar Boleyn's description of fictional creatures brings this magical tale to life. I was so glad I had first added this series to my tbr list and then read it.

Queen of Roses is a wonderful tale of magic, a mystery with creatures that are fierce and dangerous, with wonderful characters that are both strong and vividly written. This is an Arthurian legend with a fresh and interesting look at that world, which has held the fascination of many for so many years. Morgan le Fay is incredible in this book, and I loved her fierceness and how she grows in strength and courageousness as her journey unfolds.

I knew from the moment I read the blurb about The Spice Maker's Secret, it would be a book that would have me enraptured and lost to the two generations of a family living in 1930s Suryanagar (a village in the Palghar district of Maharashtra) and 1980s England.

Renita D'Silva has brought these two worlds to life in such a manner that everything feels tangible whether it be the heat in Suryanagar on your skin, or the way the spices would tickle your nose as their scents caught on the breeze when cooking. Or the noise of traffic in a busy English town, and the emptiness you feel in a house that was once noisy but is now permanently silent. 

D'Silva has ensured by her world-building that both Bindu and Eve's stories are guaranteed to come not only alive but have the reader loathed to put The Spice Maker's Secret down.

Bindu's story had me so emotional and torn between pride for her sheer determination and the sorrow that life wouldn't be kind to her. She's bright, and filled with a fire that few women would be allowed to possess in the ‘30s, and she's so hopeful for more. I loved her relationship with her grandmother, Ajji as they create the most delicious sounding dishes together that are written about in such a manner that you'll be wishing for the recipes to recreate them! Ajji is everything to Bindu and the way she's written has her larger than life personality step out from the page.

It's Ajji however that has changed everything for Bindu and my heart broke. From the freedom of having nothing to the cage of having everything with a man whose love for her is worse than a prison sentence.. I wanted to step into the book and pull this wonderful woman whose light dims so much thanks to the weight being something she's not. To remind her that she's more than what she's made to feel.

This is D'Silva's talent. I'd never read any of her work before but The Spice Maker's Secret is one of the greatest books I've ever read.

Eve's story is one of tragedy too, and the sorrow she feels is one ypu cannot help but experience second hand as she grieves for the most unimaginable loss of her husband and child. (I don't normally put such spoilers in but this is an important one. You don't witness it as a reader, this story is set after the event but it is an incredibly important part of her journey.)

Whilst there are moments of extreme tragedy, this is a story of a woman's strength to be more than herself. Bindu is wonderful and her story had me sobbing at times, I wished she had been given every dream she'd wanted… She only gets one though sadly. Eve's journey of self-discovery and healing, and I loved (albeit whilst being again emotional) how her strength grows as she learns more about herself as a person and her family.

This is a phenomenal story, I can't actually do it justice in my review but strongly suggest you read it but bring a box of tissues along for the journey.