Avondale College

117,165 pages read and 3,395 team points

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Clemmie

23,550 pts

(14,198 pages read)

Such a Perfect Family

By Nalini Singh

4 stars

skilfully done. Would give a 3.5 rounded to 4. I think I needed to enjoy the narrator character more and there was a lot of shifting to past and back again especially in the beginning which I found a little jarring. Still a great read.
A Crown this Cold and Heavy

By Stacia Stark

3 stars

Still keen to read the final installment and see how Stark resolves this story, but found this one a much harder slog than the previous two. The pace was frenetic and more characters were brought in but often they felt very similar to each other. I didn't find this book's storyline as captivating or well plotted.
A Kingdom this Cursed and Empty

By Stacia Stark

4 stars

This second book in the series develops the worldbuilding and the story races on. Enjoying it, with some minor quibbles. Read 27 Jan
A Court This Cruel and Lovely

By Stacia Stark

4 stars

A great premise - a world where the 'gods' take people's magic at birth as tribute so they can hold back the fae, returning a small amount back when the person reaches 25. A world where those whose magic cannot be taken are hunted as threats. I really enjoyed Stark's 'We Who Will Die' and this was also a strong story, but the writing is definitely weaker, which makes sense as this is a much earlier book and less assured. I got swept up in the characters and the story despite some plot contrivances and character behaviours that didn't ring quite true. Read 25-26 Jan
The Lord of Stariel

By A.J. Lancaster

5 stars

A lovely almost 1920s influenced cosy fantasy by a New Zealand author I have just discovered. Sentient land and complex family relationships, and danger. Very enjoyable read and well written. Read 21 Jan
The Austen Playbook

By Lucy Parker

5 stars

I really loved this. I met Lucy Parker at a conference years ago and picked up one of her books to support (as you do) but wasn't a big contemporary romance reader so never got round to reading. Big Mistake. Parker writes so well, with such a strong voice and with such relateable and authentic characters. The premise was great fun and I'm very keen to read more of this series. Read 18-19 Jan
Iron and Embers

By Helen Scheuerer

4 stars

An enjoyable start to a fantasy series by a Queenstown based author. Action packed and with some good worldbuilding. I did feel at times like it was very reminisicent of The Witcher in particular, and that sometimes pulled me out of the world she was creating, but I did enjoy it and look forward to the next in the series, and will probably go back and read her previous series as well. Read 17 Jan
Uncharted

By Anna Hackett

3 stars

A fun read. I didn't love it as much as the first in the series - the archaeology side of it was not as strong as in the first one and it overall felt a little rushed and not as developed. That said, I enjoyed the read - quick and easy and entertaining. Read 17 Jan
There Should Have Been Eight

By Nalini Singh

5 stars

An intense thriller that had me on the edge of my seat and turning pages well into the night. Seven old friends have a reunion in a remote gothic house, heavy with old sins and so many secrets, when accidents and deaths start happening and a snowstorm cuts them off from help. I had no idea who was going to survive, who was to blame, and how it was all going to play out. Very satisfying, although I wish I had read it during the day and not finished it after midnight when I'm a big ol fraidy cat. Read 15-16 Jan
We Who Will Die

By Stacia Stark

5 stars

I really enjoyed this fantasy inspired by ancient rome. Gladiator contests and a cruel emperor and a very complex magic system. The world felt lived in and rich, and the characters were well rounded and fun to hang out with. Looking forward to the next one in the series! Read 11-12 Jan
A Year At Hawkswood

By Frances Caverhill

5 stars

This is part two of an 1865 diary by Frances Caverhill, recounting her life on a Station north of Christchurch. I picked it up from a second hand book store the other day and am excited to share it with students this year. A fascinating glimpse into colonial life in Aotearoa New Zealand. Each entry starts with a brief description of the weather. The Station appears to function as one of the mail points so there are many people dropping in every day to collect or deposit mail. Frances was 31 in 1865 and had several children. She appears to suffer from very bad toothache frequently and there are often mentions of everyone in the station being ill at some point or another. The doctor was very busy. She was also given a demonstration of the new telegraph and marveled at the instant form of communication. There is also an ongoing very amusing interaction with Jane (her maid, not her sister Jane or a third Jane who is mentioned) who is extremly reluctant to use the new washing machine and defies Frances by secretly getting up before dawn to start the washing the old fashioned way, much to Frances' annoyance. A truly great little find. Read 11 Jan
Assorted Poems

By Alfred, Lord Tennyson

5 stars

Didn't read all the poems, but picked up an old copy of one of his collections (not the one shown here, it's an 1899 edition I bought in my 20s) and read several - Lady of Shallot is always a big favourite of mine, and I also really liked 'Mariana in the South' which i have not read before. I was particularly struck by The Two Voices which is a lengthy dialogue between a man and his inner melancholy which ultimately ends when he chooses to listen to a voice of joy and hope instead. Read 11 Jan
South of Justice

By S.K. Muskat

4 stars

this is an Advanced Reader Copy of a soon to be released novel by a New Zealand author. Deadline to read and review fits neatly in with this challenge! Read and finished 11 Jan - it's a tightly plotted and fast paced action thriller romance. Likeable characters and the female main character saves herself and gets her own revenge - always a bonus. Very enjoyable and easy read.
Undiscovered

By Anna Hackett

4 stars

a fun adventure and action filled book by an Australian author I met at a conference last year. Archaeologists and bodyguards, lost treasure and a cruel opponent to outwit. Very enjoyable. Read 8 Jan
Jade City

By Fonda Lee

0 stars

Slow going with this, even though it is so well written and such a cool world. I think it's just not the 'flavour' I'm in the mood for. I will come back to it. Started 8 Jan
Blood in the Water

By Jack Flynn

4 stars

A solid thriller about crime and gangs and terrorism set in Boston. 3.5 stars rounded to 4. This was published in 2020 and given the way the current US administration has demonised South Americans and weaponised the use of ICE, at times I felt a little uncomfortable with the villains of the piece being the MS-13 and the heroes the Irish mafia in control of Boston Harbour. The author did, however, create a backstory for the villain which included the American imperialist endeavours in El Salvador which enabled conflict and harm to be commited against the people there - very resonant reading this at a time the US has invaded Venezuela. Overall a pretty good read, but interesting to see how quickly current events can change the lens through which you read a story. Read 5-6 Jan
Fool the Demon

By Stacia Stark

3 stars

A novella by a New Zealand author I have just discovered. Very much in the mid-2000s style of urban fantasy. Not really a novella - more of a taster consisting of a few chapters to convince readers to get the actual series. It worked because I'm kind of interested and keen to see if it picks up depth in a longer form. Read 3/1
The Starless Sea

By Erin Morgenstern

5 stars

A stunning book about stories and fate and choices. This, I feel, is what the Absolute Book wanted to be and what I did not find there I found in this one. Beautifully written with fairytale whimsy and truth. I loved her first book, The Night Circus, and this was different yet similar and I loved it too. Read 2-4 Jan
Murder at Mykenai

By Catherine Mayo

3 stars

about half way through - so far a solid three star read. Unsure if i'm going to push on just yet. It's not a bad read, just not super engaging and I have more enticing ones on my list. Also struggling with the changes to the actual history - I know they should be fun, but the departure from actual events and relationships between people is kind of bugging me a bit. Plus I had thought it was going to be a murder mystery but it's more assassinations and battles of succession. Started 30/12 Finished on 1st Jan. Glad I finished it, but i did think the pacing and plot points could have been developed to give it a more satisfying energy and finish.
The Cosy Coffee Shop of Promises

By Kellie Hailes

4 stars

A very sweet cosy small town romance. I do prefer bigger stakes as cosy isn't usually my jam in reading, but I really liked both main characters and became invested in their happy ever after. Read 30 December
The Boys Own Annual

By The Boys Own Periodical

5 stars

This is a book from 1885 that my son was given for Christmas by my parents. It's a fascinating glimpse into the late nineteenth century. He's very protective of it (even with his historian mum!) but he did let me look through and read some things. I read an interesting article on why boys should learn to sew and how important and valued a skill it is. There are also stories set in Viking times, in native North American lands (as noble savage as you might expect, sadly), and a long series on mischievous adventuring lads solving mysteries. A genuine treasure trove.
The Belles

By Dhonielle Clayton

5 stars

Really enjoyed this unique fantasy based around a critique of beauty and what people will do to be and control the ideal of beauty. I don't usually read YA or books from a first present POV, but I really liked the writing style and the worldbuilding in this one. Read 29 December
Angels of Darkness

By Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Meljean Brook, Shannon Shinn

4 stars

four short novellas in this anthology. and two of the authors rank in my favourites. Really loved the Nalini Singh short, set in her Guildhunter universe. The Ilona Andrews one was different from her usual, and the very complex worldbuilding struggled in such a short form. Really enjoyed the Shannon Shinn and will be looking out for more of her work. The Meljean Brook one was a good read, but again I think without knowing the full world it lost something. Overall a very enjoyable collection. Read 28 December
Bloodlust and Bonnets

By Emily McGovern

3 stars

A fun graphic novel about vampire hunters and Lord Byron and an eagle called Napoleon, by the creator of the comic strip 'My life as a background Slytherin'. Read 27 Dec
A Forbidden Alchemy

By Stacey McEwan

5 stars

A fast paced and original story meshing fantasy and a critique of the class structure and industrial control. Loved the characters. Sad it ended on a cliffhanger and I have to wait until June to find out what happens next! An Australian author I'll be reading more of. Read 27 Dec
Aue

By Becky Manawatu

5 stars

just wow. A beautifully written book that broke my heart on so many pages. So much emotion. So many extraordinary moments. A brilliant book. Hard to read at times when i could see some people I loved in the experiences that Taukiri, in particular, goes through. Loved it. Highly recommend. Read 26 Dec
Nuku: Stories of 100 Indigenous Women

By Qiane Matata-Sipu

0 stars

A very enjoyable coffee table read - each woman's story is a couple of pages and it's a great one to pick up and read about a few fascinating women at a time.
A Tempest of Tea

By Hafsah Faizal

4 stars

A very enjoyable heist novel, with a nice take on vampires. I particularly enjoyed the discussion of colonisation and the mirroring of our world in the 19th C. A little more YA than I usually read, but a good book very reminiscent of Six of Crows with its found family and youthful rogues. Read 19-26 December
Hogfather

By Terry Pratchett

5 stars

I read this every Christmas. I love Terry Pratchett and his humour and humanity. The combination of comic sillyness and insightful commentary on philosophy, society, and what it means to be human is a continual delight. Read 21 December
Quiet in Her Bones

By Nalini Singh

5 stars

loved this thriller set in West Auckland! It's so fun reading about a community with a dark secret just off Scenic Drive - a road I drive down regularly. I loved trying to figure out what was going on and who the killer was, and I'm a sucker for memory loss and ghost hallucinations. Read 18/12
Misfits and Mistletoe

By Brittany Kelley

5 stars

What a delight! A truly funny and heartwarming Christmas romp. Kelley has such a genuine warmth come through in her characters. They are intensely relateable and when they make you laugh you feel like you're laughing with friends. Read 18/12
Fangs for Nothing

By Steffanie Holmes

4 stars

Really enjoyed this. A light cozy paranormal with a lot of humour and a lot of heart. Steffanie Holmes has built a great series in her Nevermore bookshop series and this is a great side addition to that world. Read 17-18 December
Kiss of Snow

By Nalini Singh

5 stars

The underlying story of the series ramps up the tension in this book, and more secrets are revealed. Sienna and Hawke are one of my favourite duos. The dynamic between them, and how they navigate their different damage and hopes in the midst of escalating conflict and chaos is captivating. Read 16/12
Bonds of Justice

By Nalini SIngh

5 stars

Clearly I'm in a binge reading hyper-fixation oops. Fourth Psy-Changeling in as many days. I love the characters so much and the wider world that Nalini creates. The hints of mysteries that will be resolved further in the series, the ways some unexpected characters grow and change. It's a good world to lose yourself in. Read 15/12
Blaze of Memory

By Nalini Singh

5 stars

Nalini's crafting of conflict and tension is so skilled which meant that I genuinely didn't know how the Happy Ever After was going to happen - kept the danger ramping up right until the end. Read 15/12
Caressed by Ice

By Nalini Singh

5 stars

I love this book. The growth and shared journey of the main characters is so relateable even when set in this paranormal shifter and psy landscape. Superb. Read 14/12
Visions of Heat

By Nalini Singh

5 stars

Ended up super busy and dropped off the reading challenge so decided on a re-read of one of my faves to get me back in the zone. Nalini's worldbuilding is superb. The underlying threat coming from the world of the Psy is threaded in so well into the romantic conflict. Her themes of found family resonate strongly in this one. Read 13-14 Dec
The Absolute Book

By Elizabeth Knox

3 stars

An interesting and overall good book. I liked the synthesis of myths and fairy tales and modern day concerns. Not enough emotion and interiority for me. I liked the characters but it was hard to get that obsessive investment in them or the story as the writing style is very distant and telling, rather than from deep POV. Glad I read it, but unlikely to ever read it again. Started 7 December then stopped for a bit. Finally Read 19-21 December
The Shadow Weaver

By Ivy Cliffwater

4 stars

3.5 stars rounded to 4. A fun, easy read. The plot and characterisation picked up in the last third of the book and even at the more plodding parts I definitely wanted to keep reading. Will read the second book when it comes out. Read 7 December
The Burning Library

By Gilly Macmillan

0 stars

not super hooked by this so far. I'm curious to know what happens, but the characterisation and some plot devices are not engaging me. Leaving it to one side for now and might come back to it later. (started 6 Dec)
Hiwa: Contemporary Maori Short Stories

By edited by Paula Morris

4 stars

so far have very much enjoyed 'The Bargain and the Putorino' by Shelley Burne-Field, and loved Jack Remiel Cottrell's flash fictions. 23/12 read The Ether of 1939' by Anthony Lapwood. Enjoyed it but an abrubt end - I would have continued reading for some time.
I Am Made of Death

By Kelly Andrew

5 stars

Another stunning story from Kelly Andrew. The way she uses eldritch horrors to explore themes of isolation and rejection is superb. I won't look at mirrors the same way ever again. Read 6 December
Your Blood, My Bones

By Kelly Andrew

5 stars

Kelly Andrew is a master wordsmith. She crafts haunting worlds and gruesome horrors and then makes you pause at the beauty of her prose. One of my favourite authors. Read 1-6 Dec

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Avondale College

117,165 pages read and 3,395 team points

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