book recs — Blog — Kell-Read

Hello lovely readers and welcome to 2025. It is so wonderful to have you here in my little corner of the internet. I hope that 2024 treated you well and that your 2025 has begun smoothly.

I must first acknowledge my absence over here, and to a certain extent over on Instagram as well, in 2024. I spent the year completing my masters degree in archaeology and writing my thesis which, unsurprisingly, left little room for reviewing books. However, I am looking forward to getting back to my book reviews and recommendation posts this year. I have started work as a full time archaeologist, which means outside of working hours I am blissfully free of responsibilities.

2024 reading highlights

Before getting into 2025, it’s time for a little 2024 reading wrap up. Last year I read 82 books and 36,889 pages which I am stoked about. I do like to set a reading goal for myself each year, but it’s more that I hope I get the chance to read that much, rather than something I feel I need to complete each year. I would certainly prefer to read less books but all of them be books I really enjoy than read a heap that are average. In saying that, I have set my goal for this year to 100 books in the hopes that I find lots of time this year to relax and read! I have never read that many books in a year so who knows how it will go.

I primarily used fable last year to track my books, although I did use Goodreads as well, and I love the reading wrapped you get each year! In 2024 my average rating was 3.6 stars which isn’t too bad and my most read genre was fantasy / romantasy. My favourite books of the year were Pride and Prejudice, The Bone Season, Ancestors, Buried, Queen Macbeth., The Missing of Clairdelune and One Dark Window. I truly had such a great reading year with lots of different genres and authors.

The Year ahead

I personally don’t subscribe to the New Year New Me schtick, I am planning on being just as insufferable this year as I was last, but I do also feel like January 1st is like, the 9am Monday morning of the year. Translation: it makes sense in my brain as a good day to start some new habits. In 2025 I would like to prioritise my physical tbr, be more selective with buying new books, drink more water, write more reviews and read my horoscope each day. Do you make New Years resolutions? What are some habits or skills you want to pick up (or drop) this year?

I am currently working on a little series review for you guys (and if you follow me on Instagram, or Fable, or Goodreads you will have an inkling as to which series I am talking about)!

I also wanted to take this time to shamelessly self promote Whims & Fables, a bookclub that myself and two friends are hosting! Make sure to check out the dedicated page on here for the bookclub if you are interested in reading a fantasy book each month, and discussing it with a group of likeminded people!

Hello lovelies!

Not only is today International Women’s Day, but its Women’s History Month — it’s a time dedicated to highlighting the contributions and achievements women have made in history and around the world, and to remember that there is so much further to go when it comes to women’s safety and gender equality. I am lucky to be surrounded by women who are driven, motivated and work hard to achieve their goals and every day I am proud and honoured to be a part of their lives.

This year’s International Women’s Day Theme is #breakthebias —

Imagine a gender equal world.
A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.
A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
A world where difference is valued and celebrated.
Together we can forge women's equality.
Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias.

Thank you to all of the women before me that broke down barriers and thankyou to those women around me who inspire me and challenge me. May we keep rising, supporting one another and challenging each other to reach greater heights.

In honour of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, here are some books recommendations that feature strong female characters and that I personally loved ✨

The Covenant Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout is a young adult fantasy-esq series that follows the incredibly badass Alex, a half blood (half descended from the Greek Gods) in a world full of daimons, politics, and hunky guys. A must read!

The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper is a book I can’t stop raving about and you should all definitely read! The Wolf Den follows Amara, a girl brown to a middle class Greek family who finds herself as a prostitute in the brothel of Pompeii. This book is full of female friendships and women supporting women, as well as a look into the lives of women in Ancient Rome.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a story loosely based off the life of Elizabeth Taylor, and recounts the life of Evelyn Hugo and her seven marriages. Hugo is such a strong, determined protagonist, this book really took me by surprise with how much I enjoyed it.

Swallow’s Dance by Wendy Orr is a middle grace novel set during the volcanic eruption of Thera in the Bronze Age Aegean. The story follows Leira who was beginning her Learnings to become a woman before her life was thrown into chaos. This is truly a coming of age story, and an incredibly heartwarming one set during my favourite time period!

The Darker Shade of Magic series by V.E. Schawb is one of my favourite series, and a lot of that is to do with Delilah Bard, one of the main protagonists of the series — an aspiring pirate and professional pick pocket. Her growth throughout the series is a pleasure to read, and hearing that this series is getting more books makes me so happy!

As you all should know by now, the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan is one of my all time favourite series and is genuinely an important part of my personality. Much of my love for the series has something to do with Annabeth Chase, one of my favourite female literary characters of all time — working hard to inspire young girls to be incredible badasses every. damn. day.

The last female character I want to highlight in this post is Alex Jennings from Lynette Noni’s Akarnae series. Alex is thrust into a brand new world and faces all sorts of challenges both physical and emotional, and honestly, she growth throughout this series makes me so proud. Such an enjoyable young adult series that I cannot recommend enough!

So, that’s probably enough from me! Let me know your favourite female literary characters in the comments below, or on my International Women’s Day post over on Instagram ✨✨