Goodbye 2021, Hello 2022

January 4, 2022

2021 seemed to go on forever, and then was suddenly over. It’s strange how that can happen. This time though, I know that I tried to live in the moment and enjoy the now as much as possible. There was a combination of good and bad this year, but one absolute good was the amount of time I got to spend reading, writing about books, talking about books and making friends through this new community.

I launched this blog at the beginning of the year on a completely different platform, then I did a 180 and redid it. I am so glad I did because I am thrilled with how this little blog has grown and developed throughout the year. I have so enjoyed writing my reviews and recommendations and I hope you have enjoyed reading them. I appreciate every single one of you that has read my reviews, engaged with my content either here on on instagram and I am so humbled that people have actually trusted me and my recommendations, and purchased books based on my opinions. I truly hope that I have helped you find your next favourite read. Now, let’s get into what my 2021 looked like in books!

2021 reading

I used Notion to track my reading this year (along with Goodreads and I tried to use Literal and Storygraph but I just couldn’t be consistent with them all!) I loved using Notion for a personal and private way to track my reading, and it’s made it really easy to see my reading habits for the year!

My favourite reads of 2021 (not pictured is the Medoran Chronicles by Lynette Noni).

I read a total of 56 books this year which I am absolutely chuffed with! I was hoping to read 30 this year and I feel so great to have had so much time to read this year. I always like to make my reading goal something achievable, but even if I don’t reach it, if I only read a handful of books in a year I will still feel great that I got to read at all. For the first time, I really got into audiobooks, with 13 of my reads being audiobooks, and another 13 of my total being re-reads (I love rereading so much). Fantasy was definitely my most reached for genre this year with 37 of my reads being fantasy. I loved delving into historical fiction for the first time with 9 of my reads being historical fiction (I am planning on this number being much higher in 2022), and I also got to a few books I have been wanting to read for years, most notably the Iliad, the Odyssey, the Aeneid, Theogony and Works and Days and The Night Circus. I also surprised myself by reading 7 non-fiction reads, and I can see this number growing in 2022.

There were definitely many books I wanted to read but didn’t get around to (Stephen Fry’s Mythos, Heroes and Troy), and I bought so many new and exciting books that I have something for every mood. It’s hard to plan monthly tbrs when you’re a mood reader, but hopefully I’m in the mood to read lots of the books on my shelf this year!

2021 was also an incredible year in that I got the chance to talk to some amazing authors including Wendy Orr (technically December 2020 but I got to meet her in person in 2021 so it counts), Elodie Harper, Jennifer Saint, Garry Shaw, and Greg Woolf. Not to mention I made some phenomenal friends through this community from Melbourne and all around the world.

2022 goals

I have a couple of things in mind that I’d like to achieve / follow through with in this new year. One of them is limiting my book purchases. Unless its a highly anticipated release like Elodie Harper’s The House with the Golden Door or Jennifer Saint’s Elektra, or a book in a series I have already started reading, I am not planning on buying many books this year. I have so many amazing books on my shelf that I haven’t read, there really isn’t much excuse for me to spend more of my money on more books that I probably won’t read for a long time!

This year I want to tackle some of the books that have been sitting unread on my shelves for a long time, and I want to read much more non-fiction and historical fiction! 2021 was such a wonderful year for new historical fiction and mythology non-fiction releases, so 2022 will be the year that I actually read them. There are a few books I absolutely have to read including Metamorphoses, Stephen Fry’s Mythos, Heroes and Troy, The Starless Sea all of Natalie Hayne’s books, Divine, and The Trials of Apollo series just to name a few.

What is a book or author you really want to read in 2022? Let me know in the comments or find me over on instagram @kell_read ✨

December Wrap up 2021

January 3, 2022

The very last month of the year was a bit of a weird one for me, and you can tell I needed some comfort reads! I really ended 2021 with a bang, finishing both Vardaesia and the Aeneid, and then reading another eight books and one novella. It helps that the weather was beautiful and I was on holidays for the last week and a half of the month. Also, I always read the Percy Jackson books really quickly because they’re so easy and hard to put down. So, without further ado, here is my final wrap up post for 2021!

I finished off the Medoran Chronicles series by Lynette Noni this month, which was a bitter sweet moment for me. It let this melancholic feeling in my chest, and the book hangover feeling was strong. I can’t say much about Vardaesia or A Very Medoran Kaldoras: Part One without spoiling the entire series but what I can say is that it was a brilliant ending to one of the best Young Adult series I have ever read. It was heartbreaking and uplifting and I felt so many emotions listening to Vardaesia, I was completely encapsulated. A Very Medoran Kaldoras: Part One is a bonus novella that is set a year after the ending of Vardaesia, and it was just this bonus glimpse into the lives of our favourite characters which I absolutely adored. It ended on a cliffhanger by Lynette has since blessed us with a part two, and that is truly a Christmas miracle. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, please read this series!!! Vardaesia ★★★★★ // A Very Medoran Kaldoras: Part One ★★★★☆.

After buddy reading The Aeneid with Lorna over at unexpectedlearningjourney it was really wonderful to finally finish it! Reading it with Lorna was such a great experience, since she really brought her Latin expertise to the buddy read, and went so far as to translate some passages herself. Although I had a couple of issues with my translation, it was really cool to compare translation choices between my edition and Lorna’s, which really highlighted the challenges of translation. It was really enlightening, and of course the epic poem itself was really fascinating. The links to Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey throughout were always interesting to find, and the tale as a founding myth of Rome is such a great insight into the way the Romans viewed themselves and their connection to the Greeks at the beginning of their Empire.

Next up this month was my re-read of the entire Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan. The Percy Jackson series is a five book middle grade series the focusses on Percy Jackson, the son of the Greek god Poseidon and his other half-blood (also known as demigod) friends. In the first book, Percy is a 12 year old boy who finds out his father is a Greek god, he is introduced to camp half-blood where other kids of greek gods live and learn to fight and harness their powers. This series is very much a coming of age story that ends after Percy has turned 16, and during his often dangerous adventures with his friends, he turns into a courageous hero. This whole series is all about, friendship, loyalty, adventure and courage. Not only is it a heartwarming and epic tale, it also teaches you a lot of Greek mythology. Reading this series is a really wonderful way to become familiar with many of the myths and monsters of greek mythology, but it is also a lot of fun to read if you’re already familiar. The number of myths, creatures and stories from mythology that Rick Riordan has added to this series is mind-blowing and I feel like every time I read this series I notice more.

In preparation for something very fun coming soon with my good friend Erica over at Moaninc, I re-read one of my favourite William Shakespeare plays of all time, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A Midsummer Night’s Dream was written between 1594-1596 and was first published in 1600. It’s one of Shakespeare’s shorter plays and is classified as a comedy. The play has three distinctive groups of characters in the story with the Athenians, the fairies and the workers. The play is based around the marriage of Theseus the Greek hero to the Amazonian woman Hippolyta, and contains unrequited love, the meddling of fairies and a parody play of Pyramus and Thisbe at the conclusion to the play. It is such an enjoyable play, and definitely one of his easier plays to read and follow. It’s a really great play to begin you Shakespeare journey with, and for those lovers of mythology, Shakespeare drew a lot of inspiration from the writings of Ovid in many of his plays including A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

I continued on my Percy Jackson re-read with The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan, the first book in the Heroes of Olympus spin-off series that has your favourite characters but also introduces a whole heap of new characters too! I remember not enjoying this one quite as much as the the following books in the series because none of my favourite characters were in it (cough Percy and Annabeth cough), but I definitely enjoyed this one a lot more in this re-read. Maybe it’s because I am already familiar with the story, not sure. But the introduction of new characters like Jason, Piper, Leo and Coach Hedge just adds a new dynamic to the series, and the world of Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher and the enemy is even more dangerous, with old monsters returning to the living world that have been slumbering for thousands of years. Rick Riordan continues to add many new myths and monsters from Greek mythology into his books, but this time, he starts introducing the Roman names.

My final read for 2021 was The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan, the second book in the Heroes of Olympus series, and as you can tell from the title, there’s something a bit different about this book. Neptune is the Roman name for the god Poseidon, which right from the beginning suggests something different is going on. In this book, we get introduced to a new camp for half-bloods, Camp Jupiter, but these demigods are children of the Roman form of the gods which were similar but different. I absolutely LOVE the incorporation of a Roman camp and the Roman versions of the gods. It adds a whole other layer to the series, and the fact that Percy remembers Annabeth the entire time makes my heart all happy. More new additions to the story with Frank and Hazel with their cute friendship with Percy once again just adds more depth to this story. Every new character is so unique, and adds something new and specific to the story, if anyone is tossing up whether they are going to read this series after finishing Percy Jackson, you definitely should! It only gets better and better! I’m keeping these reviews short and sweet, because I don’t want to ruin anything for the earlier books. If you ever want a spoiler review of any of these books just let me know on my instagram or in the comments! As always, you can find me on Instagram @kell_read where I post lots of pics, videos and reviews ✨

November Wrap Up 2021

December 5, 2021

Goodbye Spring, Hello Summer and December! The final month of 2021 has terrifyingly arrived, but with constant stress brought on by the fact that it’s almost 2022, it is also a festive time for love, laughter and general merriment. So, lets have a look at what I read during the second last month of 2021!

The first book I finished this month was Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb, the second booking the Farseer Trilogy (find my review for Assassin’s Apprentice here). Royal Assassin follows on from the end of Assassins Apprentice in the eyes of Fitz, a bastard son to one of the late kings-in-waiting to the throne of the Six Duchies. This second instalment of the series was not only a lot longer, but quite a lot more brutal too. Just when you think Fitz has been through enough for a boy so young, yet another event puts him in the thick of things. As the Six Duchies continue to be ravaged by the Red Ships, it is also being poisoned from within which makes Fitz even less safe than before. I loved the addition of Nighteyes the wolf, and getting to know more about the Wit, and the way it is received in the community. A wonderful continuation to the series and I am looking forward to seeing how this trilogy will end!

Book two for November was the audiobook of Graevale by Lynette Noni. Graevale is book 4 of the Medoran Chronicles, a YA fantasy series that just keeps getting better with each book. To think that some people had to wait between the end of this book and the beginning of the next stresses me out - I love having every single book available for me to devour as quickly as possible. This series is like a combination of Harry Potter, Covenant and something else I can’t put my finger on in the absolute best way possible, and this one really hit me in the feels. Graevale introduces us to a number of other mortal races in Medora and gives more time to some of the teachers which I loved. The ended absolutely ripped out my heart and I genuinely had no idea what to do with myself. If this series continues to be this wonderful, it will definitely become one on my favourite YA series, and most likely a comfort series that I will read over and over again.

The next book I finished in November was Lore Olympus (volume one) by Rachel Smythe. If you’re not already familiar with Lore Olympus, it’s a webtoon that is updated weekly by Rachel and can be found for free online. This graphic novel only covers the first 25 episodes or so of the ongoing tale, but it hooked me in so quick I then couldn’t help but binge read the rest of the story for the few days following my finishing volume one. Lore Olympus is a reimagining/retelling of the Greek myth of Hades and Persephone which has unique artistic style and doesn't shy away from sensitive topics. This is a brilliant amalgamation of ancient and modern, with Olympus being a modern world, and the real world set in Ancient Greece. The graphic novel introduces all of your major Olympians (although some only feature later in the webtoon), and incorporates a number of myths and aspects of Greek mythology into the story, whilst still feeling like a brand new tale. It is truly wonderful, and I would recommend it for all lovers of Greek mythology.

The final book I finished this month was another audiobook, and that was We Three Heroes by Lynette Noni. This book is actually three novellas, one from D.C.’s point of view, one from Jordan’s perspective and one from Bear’s. It doesn’t follow on from Graevale but there were a few really important aspects from these novellas that you probably want to know about before jumping into Vardaesia (I know it’s hard but it’s worth it). I wasn’t as much of a fan of the three narrators for these stories, and D.C.’s novella was a bit repetitive and slow, but it was really redeemed with Jordan and Bear’s stories. Both of them had a lot of grief to work through, and being able to read some scenes from previous books but from their perspectives was truly wonderful, and it would be remiss of me to mention that there are SO MANY heartfelt scenes in these novellas. I literally couldn’t handle it sometimes, my emotions were all over the place! This book really got me ready for the final instalment of this series (even though I’m gonna be so sad when it’s over).

It was a tie between Lore Olympus and Graevale for my favourite read of this year, let me know what your favourite read of the month was in the comments or on my wrap up post on Instagram! ✨

October Wrap Up 2021

November 4, 2021

What a month! The spooky season is over for another year, and I know I’ve said it already multiple times this year, but this was the quickest month I’ve ever experienced. I was thinking about maybe reading some spooky books, but I knew deep down that wasn’t going to happen due to how I am 100% a mood reader.

I finished five books this month; two audiobooks, two non fiction and one re-read and it was such a wonderful month of reading! The fact that I read two non-fictions in one month (again!) astounds me, but I guess since one of them was all about Greek pottery and was half images helps understand it better.

The first book I finished in October was Raelia by Lynette Noni. Raelia is the second book in the Medoran Chronicles which follows Alex, a teenage girl from Earth (Freya), who finds herself in a completely different world. This world, Medora, is full of gifted humans and other races of mortals, but most notable, the mysterious immortal race of the Meyarins and their lost city of Meya. I listened to the audiobook of Raelia and it was fantastic! It’s getting more intense, the stakes are getting higher, and the Stealth and Subterfuge part of this book was such a highlight!

The second book I read this month was To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. This was a re read and a buddy read with my lovely friend Myrthe over at SunflowerWinters, and it was truly a lovely time. To Kill a Mockingbird is one of those books I read for the first time when I was younger, about 13, and I have re read it multiple times since then (with one of those times being to study it in school). Although I definitely got more out of it in this re read, and there are subtle nuances that definitely went over my head in previous readings, the nostalgia that is connected to this book will always be there. I adore Scout as the narrator, and Atticus is one of the best father figures I have ever encountered in a piece of literary work. This will always be a favourite book, and a huge comfort read for me.

Book number three for October was The Greek Vase: Art of the Story Teller by John H. Oakley, and it was my first non-fiction read of the month. This richly illustrated book takes you on a journey through the history, creation, use and decoration of vessels from Ancient Greece from c. 800 BCE through to the Classical Period. Oakley takes you through the changes in designs throughout the years and reasons for fluctuation in subject choice, he takes you through the specific functions of each different type of vessel, and how often, the form, function and design are all interrelated. There were sections that delved into depictions of the gods and deities of Greek mythology, daily life of the ancient Greeks, and one of my favourite sections, the discussion around the makers of the vessels. I loved learning about how we have attributed some potters and painters to particular vessels, even if they didn't sign them. It’s all so fascinating, and if you haven’t noticed by now, I absolutely LOVE learning about pottery.

Coming to book number four is my favourite book of the month, and thats Draekora by Lynette Noni, the third book in the Medoran Chronicles. Once again I listened to the audiobook, and if I haven’t been clear thus far - I would highly recommend listening to the audiobook. The narrator is fantastic and you get so immersed into the story it’s hard to stop listening (I’m pretty sure I finished this book at 2am because I just couldn’t stop listening, the suspense was too much). In this instalment, you get a lot more Meya, and you get to learn a lot more about the Meyarins that you’re already familiar with, plus the brand new Draekora, and a couple of new characters (one of which has become my absolute favourite in the series). These books just keep getting more and more intense, and whenever I think Alex is in the clear and things are going her way, the plot does a 180 and I’m left completely stunned. If I had to wait for each of these books as they were released, I would have gone crazy. I am SO glad I get to just binge listen to this series. Read these books!!!!

The final book I finished in October is a book I’ve been reading since September, and that’s The Celtic Myths That Shape the Way We Think by Mark Williams. I was kindly gifted a copy of this stunning book from Thames & Hudson to review both for my blog but also for World History Encyclopedia, so thankyou again Thames & Hudson! This book was a huge undertaking by Williams, who not only summaries the myths and legends in question, but also went into the language, the sources we know them from and their presence in modern literature and pop culture. I really enjoyed it but you would definitely get more out of it if you’re already familiar with the characters and myths, and even just the language of Celtic folklore. This quote really encapsulates the book perfectly.

Once again we are reminded that what we call ‘Celtic mythology’ is not a pure substance handed down from the pagan past, but a rich amalgam that developed over centuries.’ (213)

So that’s it for my October wrap up, hope you enjoyed reading this rundown of the books I read this month! Come and let me know over on Instagram (@kell_read) what genre you read the most this month on my wrap up reel!

September Wrap up 2021

October 1, 2021

This was the quickest month of the year so far, I blinked and I missed it.

September Reads

I didn’t finish anything in the first 3 weeks of September, and then suddenly I finished four. I can thank the return of audiobooks for that. I am loving that the blooms are out and the weather is slowly warming. This is one of my favourite times of year.

The first book I finished this month was the audiobook of A Touch of Malice by Scarlett St. Clair. I have listened to this whole series plus the first book in Hades POV, and I could not recommend the audiobook enough! This instalment is definitely my favourite from the series so far. It was heavy on the character development (love!), and the three main storylines hooked me in. This book really shows how much Persephone and Hades (among other characters) have grown, and I absolutely loved it. So much happened in this book, lots of little things either falling in to place, or hinting towards bigger things to come in the final book of the series, and I am so excited for the conclusion of this series.

The second book for September was Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb. This is the first book of the Farseer Trilogy, and I wish I’d picked this up a long time ago! Full of political tension, this book is essentially a coming of age story for our main character, Fitz, who lives on the cusp of both the top and bottom of the social hierarchy. His liminality added a whole other dimension to the story that was unfolding; a story full of politics, magic and secret assassinations. Honestly, I adored this book and I am thrilled that I can just get straight in to book number two. ★★★★☆.5

Book number three was Egyptian Mythology: A Travelers Guide from Aswan to Alexandria by Garry Shaw, which I was generously given by Thames and Hudson for a review. This non-fiction combining travel and Ancient Egypt was a wonderfully unique read, which takes you on a journey up the Nile, stopping at the fourteen main sites and delving into their mythologies and historical past. Not only do you get the local variations of well known stories, but you are given both a glimpse into the site at its prime and evocative descriptions that makes it feel like you could be standing at the site. Brilliant for travel lovers and Egyptian mythology enthusiasts alike, I absolutely loved this read! ★★★★☆

The final book I finished this month was Akarnae by Lynette Noni, a Young Adult audiobook by an Australian author (yay!) This was such a fun listen, and I would definitely recommend the audiobook (although I have a feeling I’ll be buying the paperbacks to add to my collection at some point). As a combination of Narnia and Harry Potter (kind of), Alex finds herself in another world with incredible technological advancements, strange and wonderful creatures, a magic library and kids who all have special gifts. This book follows Alex at Akarnae, a boarding school in Medora as she makes new friends, learns about this new world and uncovers a sinister plot that has something to do with a mysterious man that keeps appearing. I thought this book was so much fun, and I really enjoyed it!

What was your favourite read in September? Let me know in the comments or over on my Instagram @kell_read ✨

August Wrap Up and September Hopefuls 2021

September 5, 2021

And suddenly winter ends and spring begins. I welcome the sun and the warmth and the new blooms 🌻

August Wrap Up

What a wonderful week of reading August has been! I don’t usually read this many books in a month but when I have to get some read for NetGalley or for work, it really ups the number. Even better, I enjoyed every book I read this month. It was a mixed bag of fantasy, retellings, sci-fi and non-fiction and I think that helped keep me reading.

The first book I finished in August was Red Rising by Pierce Brown. Red Rising is a book that I have had on my shelf for yours (actually, the whole original trilogy has been on my shelf for years), and I am kicking myself that I didn’t pick it up sooner! Darrow is a sixteen-year-old Helldriver of his mining colony of Mars. As a Red, Darrow is of the lowest caste in his society which is not only colour coded, but has expanded throughout space to live on the Moon, Venus, Mercury and Mars. When Darrow and his wife (they marry young and die young in the mines of Mars) stumble upon a secret, Darrow’s life alters completely and he is sent on a mission to infiltrate the highest of their society, the Golds. It’s a brilliant sci-fi novel, and the way I’ve been describing it is, think the Roman Empire on Mars but throw in The Hunger Games. Brilliantly written and so unique, this book surprised me and was my favourite read of the month! The whole incorporation of Ancient Roman values, customs and social hierarchy reimagined in a science fiction landscape blew my mind.

★★★★☆ (I was provided this ARC for a review from St. Martin’s Press)

My second read was The Real Valkyrie: The Hidden History of Viking Warrior Women by Nancy Marie Brown. This was such a great read because not only was it really well written, but it was a mix of archaeological and literary evidence and historical fiction. For hundreds of years, a particular burial found in Birka has been called the ultimate Viking warrior burial due to its placement close to the Warriors Hall, and large stone left atop it and the grave goods deposited with the body. However, in 2017, DNA testing on the body in burial Bj581 declared that this ultimate Viking warrior is actually a woman, and it sent shockwaves through the Viking scholars. How could it possibly be a woman when everyone knows Viking warriors were men? In Nancy’s book, she battles against the misogyny and bias prevalent in Viking studies since the Victorian Age, when they changed the history of the Vikings to emulate their social beliefs, that is, they put the Viking women in the household where they thought they belonged. Nancy’s book delves into the ample archaeological and literary record for female Vikings and Valkyries, and sheds light onto the many Viking warrior women in history that have been forgotten, using the body of burial Bj581 (who she names Hervor) as a basis for her book. I would recommend this read to anyone looking to learn about the Viking Age, and anyone who likes disrupting the patriarchy. If this sounds like something you want to read, then be sure to keep your eyes out for my interview with Nancy Marie Brown, coming to World History Encyclopedia very soon!

★★★★☆ (I was provided with this ARC for a review from Netgalley)

Book number three was another non-fiction (I know, two non-fiction reads in a row!? How unlike me!) Sex and Sexuality in Ancient Rome by LJ Trafford travels through the intricate and somewhat scandalous history of sex in Ancient Rome from the perfect virtuous man and the ideal chaste woman, to how to find a woman and who you are and are not meant to be seen fondling in the forum. This whistlestop tour of sexuality in Rome is an incredibly entertaining read, and Trafford uses colloquial language and brilliant case studies from Ancient Rome as examples of the debauchery taking place 2,000 years ago. Not to mention, Trafford takes it upon herself to tell us all about the sexual exploits of the most well-known figures from Ancient Rome, and she does all this with ample evidence (both textual and archaeological). In short, Trafford answers everything you have ever wanted (and really not wanted) to know about sex and sexuality in Ancient Rome! So, if you’re a lover of Ancient Rome, or you want to read about all of the scandalous things the rulers of this great empire got up to in their spare time, then this is the book for you! I adored it, and I think it was the quickest I have ever read a non-fiction book.

The fourth book I read this month was the YA Fantasy These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan. I read this book and annotated it for a book swap with Lumé and I ended up really enjoying it. The best way I can describe it is A Court of Thorns and Roses, crossed with Twilight crossed The Mortal Instruments crossed with the Bachelor which I know sounds insane but it was a really enjoyable read. Abriella and her sister Jaslyn are mortals who pretty much live as slaves to her cousins after the death of their mother, and the only light in Brie’s life is her sister and the hottie Sebastian who is training under the Mage who lives next door. When Jas is sold to the Unseelie King, Brie has to head into the land of the Fae to try and get her back. Prince Ronan of the Seelie Court is looking for a mortal bride, so the only way to get to her sister is to pretend to be interested in being Prince Ronan’s wife. She ends up in the middle of an Unseelie band of misfits who have their own agenda and reasons for helping Brie, not to mention their attractive Fae leader Finn. Stuck between the Seelie and Unseelie courts with a power she doesn’t really understand, Brie must stay alive and steel her heart against what needs to be done to save her sister. Out of this book, you’re going to get an easy, enjoyable read with a love triangle, magic, beasts, rival fae courts and a bit of fae politics in the middle of all that. I wouldn’t say it’s anything entirely unique but it’s definitely an enjoyable read!

My final read for the month was The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood. This short novel is a retelling of The Odyssey from the point of view of Penelope (the wife of Odysseus) and the twelve maids who are hung in book 22. The story is told by Penelope who is dead, and in Asphodel in the modern-day. She retells her life from her childhood and her parents, to her marriage and the 20 lonely years while Odysseus was fighting in the Trojan War and making his long way home. Interjected into her tale is commentary by the twelve maids, who acted like a tragic theatre chorus. Their sections were written in many different forms like poetry, amock trial and an essay. It was a fascinating read, and Atwood has written it in such a way that there are so many layers to unravel. Penelope isn’t the subservient wife like she was in life, and she aims criticism as Odysseus, Telemachus and Helen primarily (although I didn’t much care for the way she talked about her cousin). My thoughts on this book are very conflicting, and chatting to some lovely people over on my Instagram about the choices Atwood made in this retelling proved just how nuanced and layered it is. Although it doesn’t add much to the overall story of Penelope, it is an interesting take on her character, as she reflects over two thousand years after her death.

September Hopefuls

August was a bit of an anomaly for me, I am a slow reader and I often only read on the weekends. I can’t see myself reading five books again this month, but these are the books I hope to either finish, or at least make a good dent in. First is Egyptian Mythology: A Traveler's Guide from Aswan to Alexandria: A Traveler's Guide from Aswan to Alexandria by Garry Shaw. This is non-fiction and I am really enjoying it. I’m about three chapters in and I really hope I can finish it this month. Next, I’d like to finish Assassins Apprentice by Robin Hobb which I neglected this month. I’m about halfway through so I can definitely see myself finishing it this month! I have reinstated my audible subscription (yay!) because I was really missing audiobooks, and what I was so excited to see available was A Touch of Malice by Scarlett St. Clair. I know I’ll finish it this month, because those books are SO addictive! I think I might try and pick up The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows as part of @crestfallenpages book club! I also have a non-fiction sitting on my NetGalley shelf The Greeks: A Global History by Roderick Beaton which I should really read, so maybe I’ll get cracking on that one too this month. Who knows! So many books, so little time. What are you most excited to read this month? Let me know in the comments!

July Wrap up and August Hopefuls 2021

August 1, 2021

Happy August ✨ It was a slow month of reading for me, with one paper back and one audio book finished. However, I enjoyed them both so I still count it as a good reading month!

July Wrap Up

The first book I read this month was A Game of Fate by Scarlett St. Clair which I read via audiobook. It took me a while to get used to the narrator for this one, and I wouldn’t say he’s my favourite narrator but I got used to him. A Game of Fate is essentially the same story as A Touch of Darkness but from Hades point of view. If you’re worried that you’re going to find it too similar to Persephone’s point of view, don’t! Listening to this book, although you obviously recognise the course of the events and the interactions between the two gods, but you get so much more insight into the world of the gods through Hades point of view. Hades gets up to a lot in his spare time away from Persephone, he interacts with a number of different mortals and gods, and it really opens up the politics and the wider world of the novels. It also gives the reader an invaluable opportunity to know what Hades is thinking in every interaction he has with Persephone, and how she affects him which I absolutely adored. So, if you loved A Touch of Darkness, definitely read this one!

The second and final book I finished this month was Venus & Aphrodite: History of a Goddess by Bettany Hughes. This surprising light and easy to read non-fiction takes you from the beginning of the goddess Aphrodite with her early influences in Mesopotamia, to the modern-day reception of the goddess. The book reads as if Bettany is just chatting to you, which made it easy to read and accessible for anyone wanting to learn about the goddess. The connections to the early war goddesses of Mesopotamia (Inanna, Ishtar and Astarte) were fascinating, and Bettany supported her claims with archaeological evidence and images in the book. I absolutely loved reading the changes in the goddess both through time and region, and how the depictions of her, and the connotations towards her morphed. I definitely feel like the goddess Aphrodite/Venus has been simplified into the goddess of sex and desire with little substance, and this book is out here to remind the world that she is so much more.

August Hopefuls

This month I continued to read The Real Valkyrie: The Hidden History of Viking Warrior Women by Nancy Marie Brown. I’ve been really enjoying the intertwining of fact and fiction, and hopefully, I’ll get it finished this month! I am also half way through Red Rising by Pierce Brown which I started on a whim for a buddy read and I am ABSOLUTELY loving it! I’ve also just found out that it isn’t a trilogy anymore, and that is very exciting! I also started Assassins Apprentice by Robin Hobb which I have been really enjoying, but I’ve been neglecting it since I started Red Rising so hopefully I can pick it back up again this month. But of course, I am a true mood reader at heart, and it is truly impossible to plan my reading. I definitely need to finish The Real Valkyrie and I will HAVE to finish Red Rising because it’s so addicting. The final book on my radar for August it Egyptian Mythology by Garry Shaw, which I am so stocked to have an early release copy of because I’m going to have the opportunity to interview Garry about it and I’m SO EXCITED! But, other than that, we’ll just have to see what I feel like picking up. Maybe I’ll join another spontaneous buddy read, who knows. What are you most looking forward to reading this month? Lemme know down in the comments or find me over on Instagram @kell_read!

June Wrap Up and July Hopefuls 2021

June 30, 2021

I cannot believe I am actually writing this right now, I swear I still have two more weeks left of June?? Honestly, this month has passed me by so fast, I thought I had more time to get things done. Sorry it’s been a bit quiet over here, apparently, I was really busy in June? With all that being said, I still read some books this month (yay!) so let’s get into the wrap up for this month, and what I am hoping to read in July.

June Wrap Up

*Audiobook not pictured, it doesn’t deserve to be in the company of these two beauties*

This month I finished 3 books (yay me!) and started about 10 AHAH. So, standard Kelly reading habits pretty much. The first book I finished was the audiobook of The Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L Armentrout, and boy was it a letdown. This book simply was not good. It was too long, the plot (if you can find it), was poorly executed, and I am literally only invested in, like, one character. Apparently, Jennifer didn't have a proper editor work on this book, and boy can you tell! There was so much repetition in this book, it honestly felt like I was listening to the same page over and over again. The audiobook went for over 25 hours which is TOO LONG for a book that is a part of a 6 book series. And, if it had to be that long, why couldn’t something exciting actually happen? There was definitely not enough action and interesting events in this book to keep me interested. Poppy was actually less annoying in this book, but in saying that, I literally could not care less about what happens to any of these characters (apart from Kieran, ily). I usually get VERY attached to the main character and especially the main couple of books, but BOY do I simply not care about Poppy and Casteel. Anyway, I wouldn't be wasting my time with this series, and would recommend you pick up JLA’s Covenant Series. THAT is an MC and main couple I will stan for the rest of my days. I gave The Crown of Gilded Bones ★★☆☆☆.

The next book I finished was Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, which I am pretty sure I read in less than 2 days. This book was exquisitely written, and so unique I couldn't put it down. Once you get used to the layout of this book (it’s in journal entries), it absolutely draws you into the story and doesn’t let you go until the last page. From the beginning of this book, you get the weirdest sensation that there is something off about the House, which is the world that Piranesi and the Other live in. The story progresses, and as it does, the sense of eeriness increases. It was honestly, one of the best books I have read this year. The whole concept of the book was fascinating, and the underlying whisper of cultures, people and beliefs long past is subtle yet essential to the entire aesthetic of the story. Honestly, do yourself a favour and read this book (and I would recommend sitting down and reading the whole thing in one sitting, to get the full effect).

The final book that I have finished this month was another brilliant read, and the was The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Another spellbinding read, but in a completely different way. The entire time you’re reading it, you know that Evelyn Hugo is going to drop a bomb that will turn Monique against her. You find this out in, like, the first 5% of the book. And so, as Evelyn is telling Monique every detail of her life from her first husband to her seventh, you’re equally enthralled, fascinated and slightly judgmental about the life Evelyn has led, and you just want to know the secret she has been hiding. I never wanted to put it down, and the way you get to hear about her life as she is telling it after the fact, you get both the story, and Evelyn’s thoughts and feelings in the current moment which added another layer of complexity to her character. Honestly, it was a bit of a surprise that I loved it so much, but I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone.

July Hopefuls (and books I started in June)

As I mentioned, I started a BUNCH of books in June that I am taking my time with. These include The Poems of Catullus, Tragedy, the Greeks and Us by Simon Critchley, Venus & Aphrodite: History of a Goddess by Bettany Hughes, A Game of Fate (audiobook) by Scarlett St. Clair and an uncorrected early edition of THE REAL VALKYRIE: The Hidden History of Viking Warrior Women by Nancy Marie Brown. I am slowly taking my time with The Poems of Catullus as well as Tragedy, the Greeks and Us. I am picking up The Poems of Catullus and reading a couple alongside a guide whenever I feel like it, and Tragedy, the Greeks and Us is an incredibly dense read, so I have a feeling I’ll be reading it for a while. I’m loving Venus & Aphrodite: History of a Goddess, it is a much lighter read than I was anticipating. Bettany has started at the very beginning of the development of the goddess that is probably best known today as Venus, and she is moving through time and using archaeological evidence, as well as literature from antiquity to track the goddesses development and movement through the ancient world. I am really, really enjoying it. A Game of Fate has been a really enjoyable read so far (although it took me a while to get used to the narrator. The story is the same as A Touch of Darkness which is the first in Scarletts Persephone x Hades series, except this one, is from Hades point of view. I love that we are getting SO much more information on the way the gods live in this urban world, and we get to see a lot more of the gods in this one which has been wonderful. I also love getting to know what was going through his head. Would definitely recommend to anyone who has read Persephone’s point of view but not Hades’ to definitely pick this one up! Finally, I have started reading THE REAL VALKYRIE: The Hidden History of Viking Warrior Women which I am reading for work, and will be reviewing here and over on World History Encyclopedia, as well as hopefully interviewing the author which will be wonderful! Another book I have popped onto my hopefuls (since I’d like to finish a couple of these this month) is House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland. I have a feeling I will probably pick up if not this book (which sounds so intriguing), but another fiction or two books to break up the non-fiction!. What has been your favourite read of June? What are you most excited to read in July? Let me know down below or find me over on Instagram @kell_read ✨

April Wrap-Up 2021

May 2, 2021

May 1st! It’s the last month of Autumn in Australia already, how absolutely bonkers. What a whirlwind April was! I feel like I was so busy for the entire month, I blinked on April 1st and found myself at May 1st. It was a great month for me, life-wise and reading-wise. Here’s the thing with me, if I read just one book, or I start a book that’s been on my tbr for a while, or I read a book I really like, that’s a good reading month for me. It isn’t about how many books I read but about how much I enjoy the time I have spent reading. With that in mind, let’s get on to my wrap-up for April 2021! This month was all about Greek Mythology reimaginings, and I was all for it! I read a total of four books this month, two of them audiobooks, one hardback and one paperback.

The first book I finished was the audiobook of A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair. A Touch of Darkness is a retelling of the Greek myth of Hades and Persephone, but Scarlett has brought it into an urban setting. This book was steamy and binge-worthy and I was absolutely hooked the moment I started listening to it (although the narrator was much more bearable once I got it on 1.2x speed). At its heart, this book is the story of the abduction of Persephone (the goddess of spring) by Hades (the god of the underworld), but Scarlett imbued it with a new life. She has created an alternative world that is so unique, and she has depicted the gods and their stories in new and interesting ways. Persephone annoyed me a lot whilst reading this (and the next one too), but after watching Scarlett’s interview with Erica from MoanInc, I understand her thought processes and motivations better now. This book was like a reality TV show in book form, with roots in Greek myth and legend and I really enjoyed it! I would recommend this (very raunchy series) to all lovers of Greek mythology who are looking for something a bit different! You can read my full spoiler-free review here!

My second read of the month was The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi and translated by William Scott Wilson. This was a bit of a different read for me, as it’s a manifesto written by the undefeated samurai Musashi, at the end of his life. The Book of Five Rings goes through the Ways needed to learn and master in order to become the best samurai possible, but some of the lessons can definitely be transferred to everyday life. It was a fascinating read, written by an incredibly interesting person from Japanese history, and I thought the translation by William Scott Wilson was easy to read. Find my full review of this book here!

My third read for the month was A Touch of Ruin by Scarlett St. Clair which was, again, in audiobook format. I actually enjoyed this one more than the first one, even though we definitely didn’t get enough Hecate. We did get more Hermes (my ultimate favourite character), and some new gods took more of the spotlight than the first book, namely Apollo. I’ve heard that I need to read A Game of Fate, which is the first book from Hades’ point of view, to understand more about his motives and perspective, and I’m really excited to read it, especially because he was sort of absent in this book? Understanding more about Scarlett and her choices when writing the perspective of Persephone has caused me to warm a bit more to her POV, but I’m sure I’ll enjoy Hades’ perspective more 😂 Anyway, my opinions on this series are sort of chaotic but it’s safe to say they are still VERY steamy, unique and overall, enjoyable reads!

The final book I read for the month of April was Lore by Alexandra Bracken. Similar to A Touch of Darkness, Bracken brought Greek Mythology into an urban setting, but most notably, Bracken brought them into our world. I have NEVER read a book quite like this before. For a week every seven years, 9 of the 12 Olympians are sent to earth and turned mortal, and the bloodlines of many greek heroes such as Perseus, Kadmos and Heracles hunt down the gods and if you kill them, you become the new god and assume their power. This book only covers one week, and it was a wild ride from start to finish. I really enjoyed this book, and I had A LOT of opinions and thoughts about it, which you can read all about here! Lore was definitely my favourite read of the month!

This month I also posted a couple of different blog posts, one on the Mycenaeans and one on Greek Mythology and where to begin if you want to start learning about it. I decided to write the ‘So you Want to Learn About Greek Mythology’ post after chatting to some friends about what a good place to start would be if you’re just beginning to learn about Greek myths, and also because I FINALLY started reading the Odyssey. You guys really seemed to enjoy those posts, so thank you so much for reading them and engaging with my posts on Instagram, really means a lot! Let me know in the comments (or on my insta) what your favourite book of April was, and if you have any requests for guides like my Greek mythology post, or topics for bite-sized ancient history!