What I read in July

July has been a funny month for my reading challenge, well not funny, just not very accomplished, not cause I haven't been reading, cause I have, just that one of the books I read was a bloody whopper, meaning I only managed to complete three books in July.

I may only of read three books, but that have been hugely diverse, and all of them have made me think, in some way or another, which I think makes a good book.

The Priory of the Orange tree - Samantha Shannon ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is the aforementioned whopper, I must admit I did at times struggle with reading such a big book, I'm used to breezing through books in 2/3 days. This took me 3 weeks !!!

The Priory of the Orange Tree, is an epic tale, its true fantasy with a feminist twist. The story is set in in a divided land, where East and West refuse to parley. In the Queendom of Inys, Queen Sabran is reluctant to meet the expectation of marrying and producing a female air, but must fulfil her duties to keep peace in the land and to keep the Nameless one from rising. While in the East, dragon riders train for the day when the fire breathers will rise again. Both East and West have a common enemy, yet are divided by religion and hearsay.

Read my full review here

The Light Keeper - Cole Moreton ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gifted in exchange for a review, Trigger warning suicide.

The Light Keeper, follows the story of Sarah and Jack, a couple devastated by infertility, Sarah needs to get away and goes to the coast, beachy head to get away, to think. Jack followers her expecting the worst. Gabe is the light keeper and lives alone and wrapped in grief after the loss of Ri. Somehow Sarah and Gabe find each other, and there personal stories unravel, bringing them to the point they are at now. We learn about the loss both have endured in their lives, and that Jack isn't all that he seems, all with the backdrop of the desperate that come to beachy head and those who try to "save them" 

A compelling and emotional read, that really made me think.

The Beekeeper's Promise - Fiona Valpy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I absolutely adored this book, being historical its my favourite genre. I love stories set in the past, and learning what life was like.

The Beekeeper's promise, travels between Elaine in 1940's France during the German occupation, with the courageous stories of resistance, and 2017 and Abi, who travels to France to a yoga retreat and ends up helping at at a wedding business at the very Chateaux the same war story takes place. Abi is recovering from a dreadful accident and the trauma of losing her husband, whom we discover as the story goes on, was an abusive man. She finds strength in the stories of the past, of Elaine and her family and the events that shaped their lives during those terrible war years, and the courage and bravery of the young women, back in those darks times.

A beautifully written story, I really cared about the characters and learnt a lot about France in the war years, 100% recommend.

I hope you enjoyed my reading roundup, if you have missed any of my other book posts, just click on my reading category at the top of the page.

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