Review: Lore Olympus Volume One by Rachel Smythe

★★★★★ - if you haven’t read this, take this as your sign to start the webtoon (for free!) right now!

Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe is different to my usual reads, and yet it is very VERY on brand as well. Lore Olympus is a graphic novel that was initially published on WEBTOON and is now being published in physical format. Volume One only includes episodes 1-25 but Rachel is continuously uploading new episodes online (and is currently at episode 181). Lore Olympus is a contemporary retelling of the myth of Hades and Persephone from Greek Mythology, in a stunning and unique graphic novel format. Let me tell you, it is absolutely wonderful.

Okay, lets start with a recap on the myth of Persephone and Hades (remember, there are a bunch of different sources all with contradictory information, this is just a quick rundown of the general myth). Persephone (initially known as Kore) is the daughter of the Olympian goddess of Agriculture, Demeter. Persephone is the goddess of spring, but one day she is abducted by Hades (the god of the underworld) who has fallen in love with her when he saw her picking flowers in a meadow, and eventually becomes the queen of the underworld and wife of Hades. In some versions, Zeus gives permission for the abduction… During her abduction, Demeter is going crazy looking for her, and enlists the help of a number of gods (including Helios, sometimes Hermes and Hecate who gives her torches to help find Persephone). Demeter finds her daughter, but Persephone has eaten a pomegranate seed from the underworld and the rule is once you eat something from the realm of the underworld, you can’t leave. So, Hades and Demeter strike up a deal that Persephone will spend either a half or a third of the year (depending on your source material) in the underworld, and the other portion in the upper world. It is widely accepted that this myth was the explanation of the changing of the seasons - with the time Persephone as in the underworld as the time of Autumn and Winter when the crops die.

Okay, back to Lore Olympus. Rachel Smythe has put the Ancient Greek gods into a semi-contemporary world, with Olympus being very modern, and the mortal realm (Earth) being very Ancient-Greek-esq in style. This first volume follows Persephone and Hades meeting for the first time, and introduces many central events, relationships and characters like Minthe, Demeter, Hecate, Hermes, Artemis, Apollo, Zeus and Hera. The art style is absolutely breathtaking, each god/goddess has it’s own colour, with Persephone being pink, Hades as blue and Artemis (and her twin brother Apollo) as purple etc. It is a really distinctive style, and is a really unique way to differentiate characters (and I can only assume would make it easier for readers who aren’t familiar with Greek mythology to keep the characters straight). The story is a wonderful combination of the Ancient Greek myth in a modern setting which includes scandal, gossip and wild parties but also facets of Ancient Greek myth and culture. There is some potentially triggering content in this first volume which continues through the WEBTOON, by Smythe has added a content warning tp the beginning of the book ad adds content warnings prior to potentially triggering episodes online which is really great to see.

So basically, I love this graphic novel. It is such a wonderful combination of old and new in a really beautiful art style - once you start reading you will not be able to stop. I literally cannot believe it took me so long to start reading this, but you can best believe I’ve been reading it whenever I’ve had the chance since finishing this book.

Review: Graevale by Lynette Noni

★★★★★ this book was just SO good, I am struggling to deal with my emotions. If you haven’t read the first three books of the Medoran Chronicles, read no further! This is a non-spoiler review of Graevale but it will ruin things from the previous books!

What is the book about?

Graevale is the fourth book in the Medoran Chronicles by Lynette Noni, which follows Alexandra Jennings, a girl from Earth (Freya) who finds herself in a new world, similar yet so different from her home. Akarnae, Raelia and Draekora (the first three books in the series) has introduced us to the school for gifted humans, Akarnae, Meya the home of the immortal race and Draekora, the home of the dragon-esq creatures known as Draekons, but Graevale introduces us to more mortal realms as the stakes increase between Aven dal Marta and his claimed Meyarins, and the humans. Aven sits on the throne of Meya, and Alex has to continue to do everything in her power to keep her friends and the rest of the mortals out of his merciless grip. Alex takes on the seemingly impossible challenge of warning the other mortal races and getting them on board to face Aven all while spending every bit of her free time honing her fighting skills, and her mental ones with her mysterious new tutor.

Light or dark, only one can win. This world cannot survive in shades of grey.

Thoughts and Feelings

It has been a long, long time since I have shed a tear because of a book, but let me tell you - this one had me weeping. I also think it was because I was listening to the audiobook and the raw emotion in the narrators’ voice, absolutely brilliantly written and narrated. Ever since the first book, things have just gotten steadily more intense but the books haven’t lost their fun edge. Alex is still so sassy, and now that we get more Niyx and more Kaiden, the sass and the banter just keep going and we love to see it. Once again, we don’t really see that much of Jordan, Bear or DC which was a bummer because I love the vibe between the four of them - but I understand the need for Alex to interact with new people. I really enjoyed reading more about the other mortals that live in Medora, and the way that their homes are so different to the humans - whose world is pretty similar to Freya. Underwater cities that give off an Atlantis feel, humid jungle towns and opposites living in separate halves of the same city. The addition of these new locations with more insight into the races that live there was such a highlight for me, that and the cute, furry new friend Alex makes (which I guess is a way to fill the void of the absent Xira).

To those who can no longer see any light.
Resist the shadows.

Plus, getting to know more about other teachers like Caspar Lennox (the slightly vampiric teacher) and Maggie the archery instructor really cemented the fact that although Alex is still only seventeen, she is in the middle of something that will affect everyone. The stress I felt, the sadness, the humour, this book really had it all. I keep saying this, but this series just keeps getting better and better. Graevale has definitely been my favourite so far, but I have very high hopes for the final instalment. Anyway, I'll just be sobbing in the corner.

Review: Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb

★★★★☆ This review will spoil the first book in the series - you’ve been warned!!

What is the book about?

Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb is the second book in the Farseer Trilogy that focusses on the life of Fitz, a bastard son of the former King-in-Waiting to the Farseer Throne of the Six Duchies. As a boy who was brought to Buckkeep, and spent much of his time in the stables before beginning his training as a member of the Farseer family, he holds a unique position of power - one that can be wielded as a weapon if forged correctly. He quickly becomes an assassin for the royal family under the tutelage of Chade, as well as a boy with skill in the Skill, and the taboo’d Wit. After his near death experience at the Mountain Kingdom, and wanting nothing more than to stay there to live the rest of his life in peace, he returns to Buckkeep after being drawn by both his burgeoning love, and his oath to King Shrewd. He returns to Buckkeep as it continues to be threatened by Red Ship raiding, as well as a threat much closer to home that threatens the throne held by the ailing king. Fitz’s position and role at the keep and in the royal family means that the fate of the Six Duchies may fall to his hands, and just what he may need to sacrifice is yet to be seen.

History is what we do in our lives. We create it as we go along… The future is another kind of history. (287)

Thoughts and feelings

For a story about an assassin for the Farseer family, the royal family of the Six Duchies, this book is a slow paced read with very minimal action. This book is very character centred and is a character driven book versus a plot driven book. It is a story full of political intrigue and subtle nuances between characters. It is an ever growing web of secret interactions, alliances and betrayals that keeps you on the edge of your seat even if nothing is really happening. Our main character Fitz continues to mature and grow in this second instalment as his position at Buckkeep is questioned and challenged after his time in the Mountain Kingdoms leaves him in a less than desired physical and mental state. My love of character driven books and intricate political-fantasy stories really made me get lost in this book, so much so that I stopped annotating almost immediately, and simply let myself get immersed into Buckkeep and it’s ever-growing concerns of the Red-Ships, and a threat even closer to home. If you’re expecting an action packed, battle filled story you will be sorely disappointed - although you definitely do get a bit more of that than in the first book. Fitz really goes through a lot in this book, and I don’t think I have ever felt so much empathy towards a main character as I do to Fitz, and his new wolf friend is such a joy in this book full of ever growing treachery.

October Wrap Up 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.

★★★★☆.5

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.

★★★★☆.5

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!!!!

★★★☆☆.75

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!

Review: The Celtic Myths That Shape the Way We Think by Mark Williams

★★★☆☆.75 I was provided a copy of The Celtic Myths That Shape the Way We Think by Thames and Hudson.

What is the book about?

The Celtic Myths That Shape the Way We Think by Mark Williams is a new look at the history and development of the tales at the centre of Celtic Mythology. Not only that, but he highlights the issues surrounding them, and ways in which they have been retold and reimagined for millennia. By the time the ‘Celtic myths’ were written down in the Middle Ages, not only were they already hundreds of years old, but were written after the influence of the Catholic Church. Williams works from the roots of these tales, he interrogates the sources in which we have drawn these legends and stories from, and unpacks the multiple meanings of, and the cultural impacts made by these legends.

Irish saga is remarkable for the richness and agency of its female characters. (171)

Thoughts and feelings

It is clear that this book has been researched, developed and written by someone with an incredible depth of knowledge and understanding both of the languages he is working with, and the entire corpus of source material. One of the highlights of this book is the times in which Williams includes his own translations to the tales in focus, which will definitely help the lay reader (me). It is these times that it becomes clear that you are reading a book written by a person who could not be more qualified to do so, not to mentioned the translated snippets were so helpful for someone like me who isn’t familiar with the tales focussed on in the book. Williams takes you on a journey through Celtic mythology, with first introducing what Celtic mythology is (which is especially important given that the writings of Celtic mythology all come from the medieval ages, and the term ‘Celtic’ is a very broad term), and then dives into well known figures like Arthur and Merlin, and perhaps less well known figures like Branwen, Cú Chulainn and Blodeuwedd. As William puts it in his introduction to The Nature of Celtic Mythology:

…for us, as for many heroes in Welsh and Irish tales, there is a fall of mist, and we find we have to enter an unfamiliar world with different rules. (7)

I’m torn with this book, because on the one hand I really enjoyed reading it, but on the other, I wish I knew more about the general history of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales and their development of mythology and literature before jumping into this book. You can definitely enjoy it and get a lot out of it without any preexisting knowledge on Celtic literature and mythology, but Williams truly deep dives into the cultural history and impact of these legends as well as the development of the tales that you would definitely get more out of it if you were already at least familiar with the characters and stories he explores. Even just having some sort of familiarity with the Celtic/Irish/Welsh languages you will have an easier time reading it for the pure fact that you won’t get all the names and characters mixed up like I did. There is a pronunciation guide at the back though, which was so incredibly helpful though, a good touch and very appreciated! Every now and then Williams made some really fascinating comparisons to other ancient literature, like the parallels between The Aeneid and Rome’s founding story and Britains founding story in Chapter Four titled ‘Brutus,’ as well as the comparison between the tale of Deirdriu in Chapter Nine (‘The Celtic Love Triangle’) and the structure and features of Greek tragedy.

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)

This quote really encapsulates the essence of William’s book - he is both introducing stories and characters that may or may not have been developed in the ‘pagan past,’ and aims to reconcile what we do know about it, how we know it, and how we came to think about these particular tales and characters in the modern day. Truly, this is a monumental task, and the sheer amount of information in this book is unfathomable.

The book itself is beautiful, with green foiling on the naked hardback and a beautifully designed dusk cover and end pages. It is also gotten with images, both coloured and black and white which is always a plus for me! There were a few grammatical errors in this book, and it’s not like, one time a word is misspelled which happens in most books - but at one point a character had her name spelt three different ways on one page. A couple of times it felt like words were missing, and there were sentences that seemed to be cut off and unfinished. These were scattered throughout the book and although overall it didn't affect my ability to understand what was going on, it just feels like it might have needed one more edit to pick up on these errors prior to publication.

We must remember that these stories are not myths, though there is definite myth in them: they are medieval tales, written in medieval Irish for a medieval audience. (252)

The Celtic Myths That Shape the Way We Think is now available to purchase, and I would recommend this book to those who are looking to really sink their teeth into the intricate and layered history of Celtic Mythology, it’s development, history and prevalence in modern day pop culture.

Review: Draekora by Lynette Noni

★★★★☆.5 - definitely my favourite from the series so far! This will spoil things from the previous two books in the series so proceed with caution!

What is the book about?

Draekora by Lynette Noni is the third book in the Medoran chronicles which follows Alex, a teenage girl who finds herself in the word of Medora, and not only that, has a special gift that makes her essential for the saving of her new home, and everyone in it. Aven Dalmarta has made his way into Meya, and he has taken Jordan with him, which means the stakes are even higher for Alex, Bear and DC - and it’s even more important that Alex taps in to her Meyan powers and learns to fight like one. But when her first day of training with her Meyarin friends Roka, Kyia and Zain takes a turn for the weird, Alex finds herself where she never thought she’d be, and with a new Draekoran friend. With powerful new friends and even more pressure on her shoulders, Alex faces her most important challenges yet.

Thoughts and Feelings

Holy moly, this book was fantastic! I once again listened to the audiobook, and I loved the narration. I definitely think I’ll have to pick up physical editions of this series, because I am officially obsessed. The plot to this one is so completely different to the previous two, that it had me hooked from chapter one. To say that my heart felt like it was going to beat out of my heart from the absolute STRESS and ANTICIPATION of this book is an understatement. This book gives us a lot more Meya, a lot more Meyarins and we get to learn a lot more about the history of their city, their people, and specifically, how Aven turned out the way her did. With the addition of the Drakons of Draekora, I was expecting to get more of them from this book - given the title - and to say that I am absolutely obsessed with Xiraxus is an understatement. Plus, the addition of Niyx (officially my favourite character), made this book even better! Snarky, sarcastic, flirty, fun, he’s everything you could want in a favourite character. Alex really grows in this book, but her quick wit and her clumsiness doesn’t change. This story keeps evolving and developing in ways I don’t expect, and I am absolutely loving it. I have a feeling I’ll be re-reading this series many times in the coming years. If you haven’t picked this one up yet, what are ya doing!? If I say anymore I will definitely start spoiling it, but suffice to say I am enjoying this series SO MUCH! Lynette Noni really knows how to keep her readers hooked.

Review: The Greek Vase - The Art of the Storyteller by John H. Oakley

★★★★☆.5 - more than just a coffee table book!

The Greek Vase: The Art of the Storyteller by John H.Oakley is a richly illustrated guide to everything you need to know about Ancient Greek Pottery. This book has images on every single page of pottery from Ancient Greece, beautifully photographed and well described. This book has six main sections; Fabric, Form and Function, Potters and Painters, Depicting the Divine, Meeting the Myth Makers, A Life Well-Lived and Seducing the Senses. These sections take you through the different forms of pottery and in what contexts they would be used. They explain in detail the main decorative forms including red-figure, black-figure and white-ground, and the changes in preference for each of the design types. I absolutely loved the section ‘Potters and Painters’ which takes you through how some potters and painters have been identified and how analysing drawing styles isn’t as easy as it sounds. Pottery has been traced back to the workshop in which they were manufactured, and in some instances, pottery has been inscribed with names which makes it clear it was a family skill, passed from father to son. Honestly, the detail that was put into the designs of ancient pottery, and the fact that so many have survived so well for so long absolutely blows me away. I never thought I would love ancient pottery quite this much.

One of the most fascinating points made in ‘Meeting the Myth Makers’ is the fluctuation in preference for pottery designs, with the political changes in Athens which is clear in the decline of vases decorated Herakles and his labours (which were very popular prior to 508/7 BCE), and the increase in the depiction of Theseus during democratic Athens. The detail in which Oakley analysed the depiction of gods, goddesses and other deities was fascinating, and he posed the issue multiple times that most of the divine were depicted as humans, so pottery without the names of the figures depicted can often be analysed in multiple ways. From mythology to everyday life like sports and theatre, to weddings and funerals, the greek vase was present in every aspect of Ancient Greek life, and so much of life was depicted on them. We know so much about the daily life of the Greeks, and the Athenians specifically, from the decorative designs on pottery. The detail this book went into was an unexpected surprise, but a very happy surprise nonetheless. It truly broadened my knowledge of artistic features, function, development and ways in which to analyse Ancient Greek Pottery, and the sheer number of images accompanying the text elevates it that much more. I would recommend this book to any and all lovers of Ancient Greece, pottery, or ancient art in general!

Review: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (Re-Read)

★★★★★ TW this review mentions r*pe.

To Kill a Mockingbird, written in 1960 by Harper Lee follows Scout, a young girl who lives in the sleepy town of Maycomb, Alabama. We follow the lives of six-year-old Scout, her older brother Jem and their widowed father Atticus, a lawyer. The plot of the book works its way from Scout, Jem and their friend Dill’s fascination with Arthur ‘Boo’ Radley, the towns recluse, to the alleged rape of a white woman, Mayella Ewell by the “coloured” man Tom Robinson. This book is a powerful discussion of discrimination and racial inequality, but it’s swathed in the warmth and comfort of the point of view of a young girl who doesn’t quite understand everything that happens around her. This coming of age story is an easy read, yet imbued with deeper importance.

“Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.”

This book is such a comfort read for me, and honestly, comfort is what I wanted and needed when I picked this up again. Perhaps the fourth reading of this book, it has such a nostalgia to it that I have to be honest, my thoughts and feelings about this book are deeply embedded in my nostalgic comfort I get from this book. Scout (Jean-Louise) Finch is such a wonderful point of view to read from, she brings an innocence and a completely unbiased view of the world to the reader, which makes this book an easy read, despite the seriousness of its content.

“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.

I find it hard to write reviews for books I’ve re-read. My thoughts and feelings are ones that have been developed over years, and having read this as a young teenager, again as an older teenager and again now, there’s a lot of history between me and this book. Things that I still think, years after my first read - I love Atticus, he is a wonderful role model for his kids and honestly, he is one of my favourite literary characters. I still find it so strange that his kids call him ‘Atticus’ and ‘sir.’ I couldn’t imagine calling my dad anything other than Dad.

“I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks.”

I loved re-reading this book and chatting to the lovely Myrthe at @sunflowerwinters, and honestly, picking this book up again was like claiming into a cosy blanket. Do you have any books that are your ultimate comfort read? Let me know in the comments, or find me over on Instagram @kell_read! ✨

Review: Raelia by Lynette Noni

★★★★☆ absolutely loving this series! This review will spoil things for the first book in the series!

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Raelia by Lynette Noni is the second book in her Medoran Chronicles (check out my review for the first in the series here). Alex returns to Medora for her second year at Akarnae, and honestly, everything is taken up a notch in this one! Starting her second year, this time with her close friend group including DC as well (yay!), you know from the beginning that nothing is quite as it seems in. With the fourth years able to try out for Hunter’s class Stealth and Subterfuge (SAS for short), and the introduction of some new characters, it all gets a bit more intense!

Not only do you get more heartwarming scenes with Alex, Bear, Jordan and DC, but you also get to see Alex really start to come to her own in this world. Her close friendships and banter with her friends is honestly one of my favourite aspects of this book. She really embraces the classes, and she's put in so much effort over the summer with her combat training that she’s finally included in her classes as a real member. I love the growing comradeship and genuine friendship between Alex and all of the boys in her combat class, and the slow burn angsty relationship between Kaiden and Alex is keeping me so invested in their growing friendship (by why am I also stressed that somethings gonna happen???). With Alex and her friends stepping foot in the lost city of Meya, and meeting some new friends (Roka, Kyia and Zain), you just know that everything is getting more complicated and intense. It’s this slow build of anticipation and angst to something (and what that is I have no idea, but I just feel like nothing is what it seems).

Overall, this book delves deep into the magic, into the wider world of Medora, the political landscape and the characters. We get introduced to some new characters, and a whole new city, and honestly, I am enjoying the ride. I love that Lynette is just slowly adding things to the world, bit by bit, but giving absolutely nothing away. The introduction of SAS, and having the characters leave the school (apparently unsupervised), and having them in the outside world for parts of this book was a great way to add something new to this story. I once again listened to the audiobook, and I would definitely recommend it! It’s been narrated brilliantly and really brings the story to life. I feel like I can’t say any more without potentially spooling things, so just read this series please!!!!!!

September Wrap up 2021

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

September Reads

★★★★☆.5

★★★★☆.5

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.

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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 ✨

Review: Akarnae by Lynette Noni

★★★★☆ I was surprsed with how much I enjoyed this! If you’re looking for an easy yet entertaining and really heartwarming book, this is the one for for you!

Whats the book about?

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After her parents accept a job opportunity in another country and without cell reception, Alexandra Jennings is shipped off to a boarding school full of snotty, horrible teens. But, on her way to the administrations office of her new school for the next eight months, Alex walks through a door to Medora, a different world entirely. This brand new world is one full of new opportunities, and advancements in technology that her world doesn’t have. At her new boarding school, Akarnae, and with her new friends Jordan and Bear (plus a mysterious stranger who she keeps bumping in to who promises only sinister things to come), Alex is met with a whole new life, new adventures and higher stakes.

Thoughts and feelings

I think I am really glad that I listened to this as an audiobook. This book caught me by surprise with how quickly I got hooked. This is a young adult book, I would say bordering on middle grade but with the main character at sixteen years old, I have a feeling the next ones will feel more solidly in the YA genre. It is like a combo of Narnia and Harry Potter, but with the world combining technological and medical advancements with more medieval activities and skills like equestrian and combat. Basically, Medora felt like a completely new world, yet obviously one that had started off similar to that of Freya (Earth) since there are humans (albeit humans with powers). For sixteen, Alex initially sounded a bit young but I very quickly got used to it and just began enjoying the story.

This isn’t a profound book, but it’s a really fun book. I just accepted the fact the Alex, Jordan and Bear all became friends really quick (which is something that isn’t completely unbelievable, especially since Alex was alone in a new world and they were so nice), and honestly, their blossoming friendship was one of my favourite parts of the book. You know that this is just an introduction to what will be a much larger story, so I really enjoyed reading about Alex in her new school, learning about Medora and just how different it was to Freya. The whole time though, you know that there is something larger at play, and definitely something more sinister than a boarding school for gifted Medorans. Although at the end of the book you get a better idea about the threats and Alex’s part in the whole main ARC of the story, it’s still shrouded in mystery and I am SO glad that all of the books are out and I can just get right into the second one! It was really focussed on Alex and her growth, since at the beginning she was overwhelmed and had literally just made the first friends she had ever had. You really get to see her blossom and grow into who she was meant to be and it was honestly so heartwarming. This book is fun, the world is unique and it’s an easy story to follow and simply enjoy. If you’re looking for an easy read with promise of more to come, then this is definitely something I would recommend, and the audiobook was a really great listen! Have you read this book or this series? What did you think of it? Let me know in the comments or over on my Instagram @kell_read ✨