In A Book Nook

Book reviews, book rants, book related anything. Currently Reading:  One L by Scott Turow     

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Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser

This story tells of the fairytale of Cinderella, but from the stepmother's side. However, it is not all that one would expect, as it is more deep and multi faceted than one would expect. The writing is amazing, the characters are so much more interesting than I would have previously though. If you have enjoyed fairytale retellings, this is NOT one to miss, as it sheds a whole new light on a story we thought we all knew.

This ebook was provided in exchange for an honest review.

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Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi

Cleopatra was such a beautiful travel through Egypt during the Ptolemaic era [obviously, because Cleopatra]. The story was an interesting and cool take on the historical fiction genre, through the eyes of the pharoah herself. The book was very meticulously researched, with everything being so wonderfully described and transporting. I loved this book and didn't want to put it down, but as we well know, at some point, the story ends, and tragically so. The conclusion was so well done and such a unique take. I would recommend this to any wannabe Egyptologists like myself, or anyone who loves a well-done historical fiction,

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Canticle by Judith Rich Edwards

This book was so interestingly put together and I could not put it down at all! The story follows a young woman in the middle ages in Bruges who finds herself with a religious calling, which ultimately leads her to becoming and Anchoress. The story was so rich in description, I felt myself reading it in snippets whenever I could, and I am so glad to have had the opportunity to do so. The story was beautiful, touching, interesting, and seemed to be extremely well researched. I would highly recommend this book if you enjoy very well done historical fiction.

This ebook was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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Queen Esther by John Irving

I will read pretty much anything John Irving writes because it is always so well written, the characters always jump out of the book and the storyline is always something you would never expects, fresh, and new. This book follows the Winslow family from grandfather to grandson, through before the second World War to nearly present day. The story of Honor, Jimmy, Esther, and all of the others is so richly pulled together, with a very intricately woven and seriously researched history of the Middle East. I learned many new things, not least of which how well written a book could be. This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Hazelthorn by C.G. Drews

What an amazing and interesting premise. I know when I read something by C.G. Drews, it will never disappoint. Their descriptions are always so wonderfully vibrant, and evoke a very gothic horror vibe without fail. This book is fantastic, and so fresh and new in the storyline. So especially beautiful in the descriptions of plants, this stunning Dark Academia/Horror book twists and turns through the travails of Laurie and Evander following the death of Evander's benefactor. I would absolutely highly recommend this book if you want something spooky, beautiful, engaging, and unable to be put down.

This ebook was provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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The Atlas of Unknowable Things by McCormick Templeman

What an interesting and cool premise. This book follows an academic who is doing research regarding possible witches, and stumbles into a beautiful, remote, college. This book hit all the right chords for me - secrets? witches? secret societies? conspiracies? The writing was compelling and there were no slow parts and the story seemed to pull you along the entire time, leading you on a twisting and turning ride to the culmination of the book - just prior to the end. At every point, you will never guess where the story was going next. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves interesting and unguessable stories like this.

This ebook was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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The Women of Artemis by Hannah Lynn

What a beautiful book. The story follows the creation of the "Amazons" in mythology, focusing on Otrera, the queen of the Amazons. I was unfamiliar with the storyline but as I had read and loved previous releases from Hannah Lynn, I knew this would be no different. The characters were so well written, the story was so engaging, and the writing was fantastic. I felt as though I were there. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a wonderful book like, but somehow surpassing the beauty of Song of Achilles.

This ebook was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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The Graceview Patient by Caitlin Starling

This book was so good! Unlike some of the previous books I have read by this author, this was such and interesting premise and took me on a wild ride from start to finish. The story follows Meg, who has a rare autoimmune disease, and is chosen to take part in a paid trial in order to better treat her illness. The book was at time compelling, exciting, scary, and engrossing. I absolutely tore my way through this book and highly recommend this to anyone who loves a good horror/thriller book and is looking for something interest and new that you haven't seen anything like before.

This ebook was provided by NetGalley and the author in exchange for an honest review.

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The Killer Question by Janice Hallett

Once again an engaging and fun read by Janice Hallett! I, as always, love an epistolary novel, of which this was a great representation. The story revolves around pub quizzes that take place at a number of pubs that are in the same area, with owners who have become acquaintances by way of their pubs being owned by the same company. However, all is not as it seems. The overview is of the pub quiz having led to some great mystery, which our main character is pitching this pub quiz story as a possible true crime documentary.

The book, as is always by Hallett, is fun, interesting, and due to the different styles [text, email, and other] makes the story come to life! This ebook was kindly provided by the Maudee Genao at the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

I am not even remotely overstating it when I say this book was fantastic. The story is fresh and new, following a gentleman, named Nick, who is in for a very different kind of ride. The characters were so interesting and different from anything I was used to in a thriller, and the story was so well thought out and far more twisty and turny than I had originally expected. I absolutely adored this book, and that is not easy for me to say by any stretch of the imagination.

Lisa Jewell is an unrivalled thriller genius, she always provides something new, interesting, fresh and well worth waiting for. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an amazing escape, a true page-turner in every sense of the word, and something that will absolutely grip you and not let you go until the very last page.

This ebook was provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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Selkie by Nataly Gruender

This was such a lovely story. Following the story of a young selkie who is turned, not by choice, into a woman, the parallels for women throughout history really rang close to home. I loved the mythology, character development, and beautiful painting of the scenery in this story. It felt so cozy at times, but also being able to feel the cold and windy loneliness felt by the main character as well. I highly recommend this to someone who has enjoyed mythological books for more well-known story genres.

I highly recommend this book to people who have enjoyed Madeline Miller's well-crafted works.

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The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

This was such a unique and interesting book, but not unlike her prior writings, this book had all sorts of different cultures intertwining. The story follows three separate individuals who are dealing with supernatural occurrences. One in turn of the century Mexico, one in New England, and one in 1998. The story wove three stories together in an interesting way combining both new england and Latin american folklore and supernatural culture in a very compelling way. I am not the most well-versed in horror, but this book was so fun and interesting to read but also provided some very cool insight into the differences and similarities in cultural differences in these areas. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has read Moreno-Garcia's work before, but also those looking for something new, interesting, different, and compelling!

This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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The Bachelorette Party by Camilla Sten

This is definitely a fun summer thriller. Though it was not the most surprising twists and turns [maybe I read way too many thrillers! LOL. However, this had a great vibe to it, you definitely felt as though you were in Scandinavia, and the darkness and cold was present. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a fun fast and creepy read. The story was engaging, the characters were interesting and different, and the writing was very well done.

This ebook was provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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The Cardinal by Alison Weir

I am always the first to jump on an Alison Weir historical fiction for obvious reasons. This was no difference. This book takes a close look at the life of Thomas Wolsey, who is often a secondary character in historical fiction books from the Tudor era. However, this takes a hard look at him head on, and provides an amazingly well-researched and compelling story following his life and providing a sympathetic look at his actions. In so many books he is painted as manipulative, overreaching, and worldly. However, this book takes a different approach and sees him through the lens of attempting to save his own skin in a very tenuous situation at the court of Henry VIII.

Not only does the book look at his life, it provides an interesting insight to the usual main characters and looks at them through the eyes of someone essentially "outside" the court intrigue. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for fresh insight into the Tudor era, fans of Weir's other works, and those who loved Wolf Hall.

I would absolutely highly recommend this book. This ebook was provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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My Friends by Fredrik Backman

I thought this was such a beautiful book. A young artist, in an effort to see her favorite painting, ends up going on a lifechanging journey. This story was peak Fredrik Backman, providing a stunning and touching story that tells a tale of friendship, love, meaning, and beauty. The writing, as always, is illustrative and transports you. I have read a number of his books and every time, there is new meaning, or new stories to tell. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for something beautiful and uplifting.

This ebook was providing by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang

This was such an amazing book. The story follows Julie, who was separated from her twin after their birth parents were killed, and are adopted into different families. Julie's twin has become an influencer. But then, her sister dies, and chaos ensues.

This was such a captivating and engrossing book for me. It hit all the right thriller buttons but at the same time was relevant and interesting, and the characters were so fun. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for something you can binge read.

This ebook was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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The Sirens by Emilia Hart

This book was such a captivating and atmospheric book. With differing lush, mysterious landscapes from Ireland in the 1800s, to Australia in the 2000's as well as a daunting boat journey, the novel follows the lives of three women linked by a haunting and dangerous myth. This book provides eerie vibes and beautiful storytelling.

With a folklore/myth bent, this book is right up my alley because of the beautiful backgrounds it relates to.

This book was captivating, engrossing, hauntingly beautiful, and thought-provoking novel that kept me awake to finish it.

This ebook was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.