After the disastrous reading month in April I am hoping that May will be a better month. I have chosen to re-read an entire series, as well as reading my first non fiction book of the year. The books I have chosen to read are relatively short so hopefully I find them easier to work my way through them and not fall into another reading slump like last month.
______________________________
Caraval, Legendary and Finale by Stephanie Garber
Scarlett has never left the tiny isle of Trisda, pining from afar for the wonder of Caraval, a once-a-year week-long performance where the audience participates in the show. Caraval is Magic. Mystery. Adventure. And for Scarlett and her beloved sister Tella it represents freedom and an escape from their ruthless, abusive father. When the 
sisters’ long-awaited invitations to Caraval finally arrive, it seems
their dreams have come true. But no sooner have they arrived than Tella vanishes, kidnapped by the show’s mastermind organiser, Legend. Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But nonetheless she quickly becomes enmeshed in a dangerous game of love, magic and heartbreak. And real or not, she 
must find Tella before the game is over, and her sister disappears forever.
Caraval is one of my favourite series and I’m both excited and a little sad that the series is ending this month with the release of Finale. I plan on reading all three books in the series so I can enjoy the entire series from start to finish. I love getting lost in this magical world and cant wait to see how the series will end. I have no idea on how the series is going to finish but I know its going to be an exciting and intriguing adventure with loads of twists and turns.
______________________________
A Time of Blood by John Gwynne
The Ben-Elim, a race of warrior angels, once vanquished a mighty demon horde. Now they rule the Banished lands. But their dominion is brutally enforced and their ancient enemy may not be as crushed as they thought. In the snowbound north, Drem, a trapper, finds mutilated corpses in the forests – a sign of demonic black magic. In the south, Riv, a young, tempestuous soldier, discovers a deadly rift within the Ben-Elim themselves. Two individuals with two world-changing secrets. But where will they lead? And what role will Drem and Riv play in the Banished Land’s fate? Difficult choices need to be made. Because in the shadows, demons are gathering, waiting for their time to rise. . .
I was offered this book for review and after reading the synopsis I immediately wanted to give it a read. I love an epic fantasy read and A Time of Blood looks like its going to be the perfect book. Last year I listened to the first book, A Time of Dread, on audiobook and I loved every minute and judging by recent reviews this book is going to be even better. I haven’t heard too much about this series in the book community but hopefully with all the high praise this book has been receiving will make more people give this series a read.
______________________________
Suicide Club by Rachel Heng
In a near-future world, medical technology has progressed far enough that immortality is now within grasp -but only to those who show themselves to be deserving of it. These people are the lifers: the exercisers, yogacisers, green juicers and early nighters. Genetically perfect, healthy and wholesome, one hundred-year-old Lea is the poster girl for lifers, until the day she catches a glimpse of her father in the street, eighty-eight years after their last encounter. While pursuing him, Lea has a brush with death which sparks suspicions. If Lea could be so careless, is she worthy of immortality? Suicide Club wasn’t always an activist group. It began as a set of disillusioned lifers, gathering to indulge in forbidden activities: performances of live music, artery-clogging meals, irresponsible orgies. But now they have been branded terrorists and are hunted by the state.
After buying this a couple of months back because it sounded different and very intriguing, I am now finally getting round to reading it. I have read a few reviews about Suicide Club and most have been very positive and it has got me even more excited to start reading it. Hopefully I will enjoy reading this just as much as other people because it sounds highly original and thought provoking and the sort of book that I will probably read in just a couple of sittings.
______________________________
The Five by Hallie Rubenhold
Polly, Annie, Elizabeth, Catherine and Mary-Jane are famous for the same thing, though they never met. They came from Fleet Street, Knightsbridge, Wolverhampton, Sweden and Wales. They wrote ballads, ran coffee houses, lived on country estates, they breathed ink-dust from printing presses and escaped people-traffickers.
What they had in common was the year of their murders: 1888.
Their murderer was never identified, but the name created for him by the press has become far more famous than any of these five women.
Now, in this devastating narrative of five lives, historian Hallie Rubenhold finally sets the record straight, and gives these women back their stories.
The Five is a complete change to what I normally read because its a non fiction book detailing the lives of the victims of Jack the Ripper. I have always been interested and intrigued by the Jack the Ripper events and The Five looks like its going to be something entirely new because rather than focusing on the murder instead this book is focusing on the innocent women he murdered. There has been some very positives reviews for this book and I have very high hopes and expectations.
______________________________
Have you read any of the books on my TBR?
What do you plan on reading this month?
______________________________
Mike Reads 