Category: yafantasy

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May Wrap Up

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After such a brilliant reading month in April, I think it’s fair to say May went down hill.

I only managed to read nine books, which is still a good amount we all know it doesn’t matter if you read one or a hundred a month, but I just wanted to keep the momentum going.

Let’s talk about the books shall we?

First up I read Raven Smith’s Men. This was a really interesting nonfiction book that looks at the men, and men in general, of Ravens life. It’s funny, it’s poignant and covers some really interesting subjects. Thanks to the publishers for my copy, this one is out now.

Secondly I read Only on the Weekends by Dean Atta. I hugely anticipated novel for me that didn’t disappoint. Beautifully written, with some gorgeous poetry, and it feels really mature for a young adult book. It’s tender, it’s touching and it feels like a love letter to queer people. Thanks to the publishers for my copy, it’s out now.

Next I read You Made A Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi. A good book, with some great representation and spicy scenes, but I have to say it made me laugh when I don’t think that was it’s intention. It just felt a little silly at times, but I know many people loved this one. Thanks to the publishers for my copy, it’s out now.

Then I read An Exciting and Vivid Inner Life by Paul Dalla Rosa.This is a collection of short stories which I found really interesting, I like how so many of had a sadness to them and that’s something I love to read about. There’s was one about a cat I didn’t get at all! Thanks to the publishers for my copy, it’s out now.

Fifth up this month was A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall. I bloody loved this book, a great queer historical romance that I’ve been looking for. It’s steamy, it’s romantic, it’s got a trans main character. I could read a whole series of these characters. It’s out now, thanks to the publishers for my copy.

Up next was If You Change Your Mind by Robby Weber. I loved this sweet, romantic mlm young adult book. It’s the perfect summer read that was full of queer joy. One of the best queer ya books I’ve read this year. Thanks to the publishers for copy, it’s out now.

Then I read Just By Looking At Him by Ryan O’Connell. I really enjoyed this book and it’s one that just gets better as it continues. Great characters, once again very steamy. It’s got brilliant things to say on disability and queerness. Highly recommend. You can check out my full review here. Thanks to the publishers for my copy, it’s out now.

Eight this month I read Tiepolo Blue by James Cahill. One of my favourites of the year. The more I think about this book, the more I love it. It’s atmospheric, it’s haunting, it’s got a fantastic main character. I just adore it. Utterly gripping. You can check out my full review here. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. It’s out now.

Lastly I read Out of the Blue by Jason June. This one wasn’t my favourite. I liked what it had to say about gender and that the main character was realistic. But I felt the second half became to trope heavy and a little bit tedious. Certainly not a terrible book but I’ve read better young adult books this year. Thanks to the publishers for my copy, it’s out now.

So that’s month. Have you read any? Or do you plan to? Let me know.

Until the next review…

Jthbooks

author, blog, book blog, book blogger, book bloggers, book review, books, bookstagram, fantasy, fiction, gay, literary ficton, review, Uncategorised, ya, yafantasy, young adult

February Wrap Up

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Well!! Didn’t February fly by? I’ve only just managed to get my January wrap up live on the blog!

I managed to read 8 books this month. I’m just really enjoying spending my time with a book. It was strange month. I either thought the book was unique or I didn’t like it. We have those months don’t we sometimes?

So let’s talk about it the books shall we?

First up this month was Mothers Boy by Patrick Gale. Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. I had high hopes of it being wonderfully queer but it wasn’t and I just found it dull. There was nothing new or exciting about this book. I didn’t feel like I got to know the characters. It was good. Thanks to the publisher for my copy. It’s out now.

Then I read Slaughterhouse by Kurt Vonnegut. This was leant to me by my best friends boyfriend as it’s his favourite book and I’m surprised to say I loved it. I thought it was really unique and different and I love what it had to say. Yeah I really enjoyed it.

Thirdly I read Booth by Karen Joy Fowler. Now this definitely wasn’t a bad book, I’m not saying it is but I’m struggle to see the point as to why it was written. Maybe it’s because I don’t live in America and not that familiar with this family but it didn’t add anything. Yeah, it was a strange one for me! Thanks to the publishers for my copy. It’s out now.

Next was Vagabonds by Eloghosa Osunde. This was the second book to make cry this year. They way it talks about queer love and queer lives in Nigeria is brilliant! Absolutely brilliant. I never do this but I dog-eared some pages so I can go back and read the beautiful passages. There’s some really stunning elements to this book! Took me a while to get into though. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. It’s out March 31st.

Then I read Life As A Unicorn by Amrou Al-Kadhi. This queer memoir was absolutely glorious. Amrous personality shines through on every page and I loved it. They had a great story to tell and every queer person needs to read this book! It’s out now.

Sixth I read Out Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield. Glorious. Absolutely glorious! Unlike anything I’ve ever read. It’s romantic, creepy and atmospheric. And it’s ending was brilliant. The kid of ending that only works in a book. I can’t recommend this one to you enough. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. It’s out now.

Penultimately I read Maps of our Spectacular Bodies by Maddie Mortimer. I’m in two minds about this one. It’s a book about a mother dying of cancer yet it didn’t make me cry, so I don’t think I was to invested. And I can’t decide if the writing style was to gimmicky or not. It’s a tough one. It definitely wasn’t bad and I know a lot of people love it. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. It’s out March 31st.

Lastly I read The Exhibitionist by Charlotte Mendleson. My goodness did I hate this book. I hated everything about it. HATE IT. The worst thing I’ve read in a long time. I wouldn’t recommend this at all. Awful. Absolutely awful. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. It’s out March 17th.

Sorry to end the wrap up on such a sour note but we’ve got to honest haven’t we? Are you planning on reading any of these? Let me know!

Until the next review.

Jthbooks

#contemporary, #literature, author, blog, book blog, book blogger, book bloggers, book review, books, fiction, gay, lgbt, literary ficton, queer, review, Uncategorised, ya, yafantasy, young adult

January Wrap Up

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Another month has come and gone. And yes, this wrap up is very late. February has hit me hard and I didn’t feel like writing this.

I had a fantastic reading month in January. I enjoyed all of the books, even found some new favourites. I managed nine books. Can you tell I spent most of my month reading?

So let’s talk about the books shall we?

First up I read Here Again Now by Okechukwu Nzelu. There’s no doubt in my mind that this will be in my top 10 books of the year. I just thought it was brilliant. It’s emotional, stunningly written. I’ll have a full review up but I hope you all read this book. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. It’s out March 10th. Preorder this one.

Then I read To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this one. I think this book goes from strength to strength with each section and by the end I couldn’t put it down. I think it’s pretty spectacular. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. It’s out now.

Up next was A Terrible Kindness by Jo Browning Wroe. This was another enjoyable book for me, and again it made me a bit emotional. It’s a beautiful book and it’s out now. Thanks to the publishers for my copy.

Fourth this month was When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo. It took me a little while to get into this one, and towards the end I found the story to more cohesive. It was beautifully written and I found myself really savouring the last few pages. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. It’s February 10th.

Fifth this month I read Please Miss by Grace Lavery. This wasn’t my favourite of the month, but it certainly wasn’t bad. It had some brilliant things to say on gender and trans lives and those bits I absolutely loved. The rest I wasn’t to into, but like I said it certainly wasn’t bad. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. It’s out February 10th.

Then I read Brown Girls Daphne Palais Andreades. I really enjoyed this. It’s beautifully written. Such a lyrical prose that make it hard to put down. It’s a love letter to girlhood and I can’t wait to see what this author does next. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. It’s out now.

Up next was The Alpha’s Son by Penny Jessop. The perfect book to get lost in. Lots of fun. Captures that first love feeling brilliantly. I’m excited to see where this series goes. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. It’s out now.

Eighth this month I read Devotion by Hannah Kent. A beautiful sapphic historical fiction book. It took a little twist in the middle that took this book to a whole new level for me. Another beautifully written book. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. It’s out now.

Lastly I read Good Intentions by Kasim Ali. A great book to finish the month on. This book has so much to say and it’s all weaved in beautiful writing and compelling storytelling. It’s out March 3rd.

So that’s it for this month. I really hope you’ll pick some of these up. Let me know.

Until the next review

Jthbooks.

#fiction, #literature, author, blog, book blog, book blogger, book bloggers, book review, books, bookstagram, fantasy, review, Uncategorised, ya, yafantasy

December Wrap Up

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The last month of the year has come and gone. And it was a weird reading month for me. Some I really loved. Really loved. Some I didn’t at all.

I read Seven books in the month of December. That’s not too bad. Of course things get a bit hectic this time of year.

So let’s talk about the books shall we?

First up was The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers. This turned out to be one of my favourite reads of 2022. It’s haunting, it’s heartbreaking. It’s just incredible! I know I’ll be thinking of these characters for a long time. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. It’s out January 20th.

Second was Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim. I really enjoyed this book. I learnt a lot about Korean history that I didn’t know and it’s just captivating and entertaining. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. It’s out February 3rd.

Then I read Violeta by Isabel Allende. I have to say this was a let down for me. I felt no attachment to any of the characters, I didn’t enjoy the story, it had no depth to it. It all felt glazed over and the story didn’t flow. Nah. Didn’t like this at all. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. It’s out in January. Th

Up next I read The Christie Affair by Nina De Garment. Hmmm, I’m not sure about this book. It’s definitely not a bad book, it just felt the like something out of nothing. I just didn’t quite see the point. It’s certainly not one I’m going to remember. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. It’s out January 20th.

Fifth this month I read Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors. I was really surprised how I enjoyed this novel. I couldn’t put it down. I loved the different perspectives and the story. I loved the writing. It’s funny, it’s devastating. I’ll look forward to reading more from this author. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. It’s out February 17th.

Then I read The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea by Axie Oh. Yes. Yes to this book. It’s so beautiful, so imaginative. It’s just a great fantasy based on East Asian tales. I love Axie Oh’s writing so much. I could’ve done with the romance being developed a little bit more but I was still into it. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. It’s out February 22nd.

Lastly I read Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu. This wasn’t a bad book at all, in fact at times I think it really shined. But it also sometimes felt a little long. The more I think about this one the more I’d don’t like it. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. It’s out February 2nd.

So that was my reading month for December. Are you going to read any of these? Or have you read any? Let me know.

Until the next review

Jthbooks

#contemporary, blog, book blogger, book bloggers, book review, books, bookstagram, gay, lgbt, queer, review, Uncategorised, ya, yafantasy

ARC Book Review: If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich.

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Title: If This Gets Out

Authors: Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich

Publishers: Hodder Children’s Books

Length: 400 pages

Synopsis: Eighteen-year-old Ruben Montez and Zach Knight are two members of the boy-band Saturday, one of the biggest acts in America. Along with their bandmates, Angel Phan and Jon Braxton, the four are teen heartbreakers in front of the cameras and best friends backstage. But privately, cracks are starting to form: their once-easy rapport is straining under the pressure of fame, and Ruben confides in Zach that he’s feeling smothered by management’s pressure to stay in the closet. On a whirlwind tour through Europe, with both an unrelenting schedule and minimal supervision, Ruben and Zach come to rely on each other more and more, and their already close friendship evolves into a romance. But when they decide they’re ready to tell their fans and live freely, Zach and Ruben start to realise that they will never have the support of their management again.

A secret queer relationship in a boy band? Do I really need to say more to get you to read it? Isn’t that enough? Don’t we all want to read that? I know I do! And trust me… It didn’t disappoint!


There’s so much to love about this book, for me the main thing was that relationship. It was so sweet, so believable and so swoon worthy. Don’t we all just need a swoon worthy romance between two hot dudes every once in a while. I love that it was a slow burn romance. I was begging them to get together!


I also loved the bi representation in the book. I thought it was really well done, nothing about the book was rushed at all. It was really detailed and layered for a young adult contemporary. I loved reading Zachs realisation of his feelings and more importantly the acceptance of himself. Reading about this kind of thing can never be understated.

I really liked that there was more to this novel than just the romance though. There’s a lot that goes on that is important and deep things (I’ll let you find out when you read the book). But I think it’s all dealt with incredibly well!


Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich are a forced to be reckoned with in If This Gets Out. They’ve written a cohesive book, with two distinctive characters. I’d happily read more by these two authors.

Well what more is there to say? Zack and Ruben have my heart! I’d very much like a sequel. And I can’t tell you how many times I went to listen to one of the bands songs only to remember that they don’t exist! Now that’s a sign of good writing! Don’t miss this one!

Thank you so much to team tumblr for my copy of this book in return for an honest, unbiased review. It’s out today in the UK.

Until the next review

Jthbooks

blog, book blog, book blogger, book bloggers, book review, books, bookstagram, fiction, gay, historical fiction, lgbt, literary ficton, queer, review, Uncategorised, ya, yafantasy

Top 10 Books of 2021

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The year has come to an end and it’s time for the obligatory blog post about the best books of the year.

So I read 100 books this year, which was my goal and I just managed to complete it at the end of the year. I literally finished it two days before the end.

I read so many fantastic books this year. These are the ones that have stuck with me. They are the ones I couldn’t stop talking about, thinking about and couldn’t stop recommending!

So let’s talk about them shall we?

1) Still Life by Sarah Winman. Boy oh boy did I absolutely love this book. I adored it. It’s full of love, it’s full of joy. And it left my heart so full. In a tough year it was exactly what I needed from a book. And it’s written beautifully. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. If you’d like to read my whole review click here.

2) Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. I loved All The Light We Cannot See and was eagerly anticipating this book and it didn’t disappoint. I couldn’t put this book down. I had to know what was going to happen. It was historical fiction, it was sci-if and it was surprisingly heartfelt. Just fantastic. Thanks again to the publishers for my copy.

3) Darius The Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram. I know so many people love this book and I can say it surpassed all my expectations. It’s so beautifully and delicately written, with some of the best YA characters I’ve read. I can’t wait to read the sequel but I’m saving it for something special. Truly a remarkable queer book.

4) Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard. I didn’t think there would be a fantasy book in this list but I’m always up for a surprise. I just thought this multi perspective book was brilliant. It was filled with cliffhangers, action, brilliant characters and great world building! I’m eagerly anticipating the sequel. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. You can check out my full review here.

5) The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun. I didn’t think there would a romance book either but this book completely stole my heart. It has some fantastic mental health rep, it’s hot and sexy and it’s romantic! And it’s a lot of fun. Sometimes you just need a fun book!

6) The Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers. The most recent addition to the list. A story that spans a century yet feels so intimate. It’s really beautiful. And the characters are phenomenal. You become so invested in their lives. It’s just so brilliant! Thanks to the publishers for my copy.

7) The Antarctica of Love by Sara Stridsberg (translated by …..). This novel took me completely by surprise. Unlike anything I’ve ever read. So brutal but so heartfelt. I definitely shed a few tears over this one. The writing is so lyrical. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. You can check out my full review here.

8) The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak. This really is a stunning novel. It just somehow works in the even with everything going on. It’s really down to Elifs phenomenal writing. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. You can check out my full review here.

9) In The Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado. This queer memoir is a work of art. It’s harrowing and beautiful. I want everyone to read this book so desperately. It’s really something special. I won’t forget this bike for a long time. Thanks to the publishers for my copy.

So that’s it! My top books of the year. I loved all these books so much! Have you read any? Or do you plan to? Let me know!

Until the next review…

Jthbooks

#fantasy, #fiction, #yafantasy, author, blog, book blogger, book bloggers, book review, books, bookstagram, fantasy, fiction, review, Uncategorised, ya, yafantasy, young adult

ARC book review: Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen

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Title: Skin of the Sea

Author: Natasha Bowen

Publisher: Penguin Books

Length: 303 pages

This is the proof copy and the final cover is just as stunning!

Synopsis: This is the story of many things. Of the Mami Wata – Black Mermaids who collect the souls of enslaved people who die at sea and bless their journeys home. Of Simi who wants to save lives not souls. Of a great love – a love that threaten worlds and anger Gods. Of a terrible choice and the lives that hang in the balance. This is a story that will change history. Do you want to hear more?

There is so much to love about Skin of the Sea. It’s a really impressive debut fantasy book that I really can’t find anything wrong with.

Simi, a mermaid who captures the soul of people after they’ve been thrown of the slave ships, is a fantastic character to follow. She has such depth and is really complex. In fact all the characters in this book are brilliant. I have to give a special little shout out to Issa. I’ll never forgive Natasha Bowen for what’s she did!

There’s a romance to the book that definitely isn’t the main subject of this book, but Natasha someone gives it such depth and believability that I was IN.

Skin of the Sea is immersed with African Mythology and History, that for me, takes this book to another level. It gives the book such depth and makes it really powerful. It’s also really heartbreaking. It’s a mermaid who captures the souls of black people who have been thrown off the slave ships and this really heartbreaking. Natasha manages to fit this in amongst all the fantasy and capture the brutality.

The ending. THE ENDING. The story has such a brilliant build up and it doesn’t disappoint. After I read the end, I turned the pages looking for me because I needed it. I can’t believe it was left on that cliffhanger. I need more. I NEED MORE. And it’s going to be such a long wait till book two. But as soon as I can get my hands on it I will.

Skin of the Sea is a book I think everyone should read and be prepared to be swept away. Natasha is a brilliant new talent and I can’t wait for book two.

Thank you to Michelle at Penguin Books for my copy of this book in return for an honest, unbiased review. It’s out now.

Until the next review

Jthbooks

#contemporary, #fiction, #literature, author, blog, book blog, book blogger, book bloggers, book review, bookstagram, lgbt, queer, review, Uncategorised, ya, yafantasy, young adult

September Wrap Up

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Well, September absolutely flew by. I seriously don’t know where it when. Can anyone tell me? I’m going to use the excuse that the month went by so quickly as the reason I only read six books this month.

Six in a month is definitely the least I’ve read in a month so far this year. But that’s okay. We’ll try and bounce back next month.

Let’s talk about the books shall we?

First up in September I read Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall. Did I love this book? Yes, yes I did. It definitely wasn’t perfect but it’s just so much fun and so romantic. It was just a quick, sweet read. So glad I finally picked this one up. It’s out now.

Then I read Little Thieves by Margaret Owens. This is a brilliant fantasy book that had me hooked from beginning to end. It was so intriguing and intricate. It had such a wonderful ending to. I was surprised at how much I loved this one. Thanks to the publishers for my copy. It’s out October 5th.

Up next was Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen. This was a brilliant, insightful complex book about the a family struggling to human. It really is fantastic. It’s a beast of a book so it took me a while to read, but it was so worth it. Now the long wait for the next instalment. Thanks to the publishers for my copy, it’s out October 5th.

Fifth this month I read Darius The Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram. Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant. The queer YA books need to be this good. It’s understated, quiet and yet so powerful. With characters you’ve felt you’ve known your whole life. I can’t recommend this one enough. It’s out now.

Then I read Piranesi by Suzanne Clarke. I have to be honest and say this one disappointed me. I thought it was going to be something fresh and original, I thought the first half was intriguing and exciting, but ultimately it became predictable and like something I’d read before. I thought the second half was really underwhelming and that’s when I was expecting to go to great heights. I really was let down. It’s out now.

Lastly I read A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske. This wasn’t a bad book at all, but I just found it all pretty average. I didn’t find it particularly engaging, or like I got to know the characters at all. I just needed more from this book. I’ll probably read the second one, Thanks to the publishers for my copy. It’s out in November.

So that’s it for me this month. Not my best reading month that’s for sure.

Have you read any of these books? Or are you planning to? Let me know.

Until the next review

Jthbooks

#fiction, #yafantasy, blog, book blog, book blogger, book bloggers, book review, books, bookstagram, fantasy, gay, queer, Uncategorised, ya, yafantasy, young adult

ARC Book Review: Little Thieves by Margaret Owens

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Title: Little Thieves

Author: Margaret Owens

Publisher: Hodderscope

Length: 500 pages

Synopsis: Vanja Schmidt knows that no gift is freely given, not even a mother’s love- and she’s on the hook for one hell of a debt. Vanja is the adopted goddaughter of Death and Fortune, and up until a year ago was the dutiful servant of Princess Gisele. That was when Vanja’s otherworldly mothers demanded payment for their care, and Vanja decided to steal her fortune back… by stealing Gisele’s life. Thanks to an enchanted string of pearls, Vanja transformed into her former mistress and took her place, leaving the real Gisele a penniless nobody. Now, Vanja leads a lonely bit lucrative double life as a princess and jewel thief, charming nobility while emptying their coffers to fund her great escape. Then, one heist away from freedom, Vanja crosses the wrong god and is cursed to slowly turn into jewels, stone by stone. Vanja has just two weeks to figure out how to break her curse and maker her getaway. And with a feral half-god, Gisele’s sinister fiancé, and an overeager junior detective on Vanja’s tail, she’ll have to pull the biggest grift yet to save her own life.

It always takes me a little while to get into fantasy novels. It takes me while to get to know the magic, the world and it did take me a while but the difference with Little Thieves is that it’s enjoyable learning the all of these things.

There is just so much to love about this book I’m not sure where to start. But I think it’s how much I really enjoyed the characters. Vanja is a fantastic main character to follow. I loved how complex and flawed she was but still likeable. I just loved her growth. I also loved Emeric and Ragne. But I enjoyed them all.

What Margaret does brilliantly in this book is create connection between the characters that is so real and believable. I loved, loved loved the friendship between Vanja and Ragne. It’s definitely one of the highlights of the novel for me. Of course I also loved Vanja and Emeric, but I’m not going to spoil that for you. Towards the ends of the there’s almost a found family trope and it adds a lovely element to the book.

Here’s something I often think goes unappreciated in a novel is how enjoyable it is to read. Even when not much wasn’t happening in the plot, it was great to read about the characters and the world. You could tell the story was building (and Margaret does it so well) to the ending. It’s exciting to see if Vanja will break her curse and stop Adalbrecht. As a reader it just keeps you hooked from beginning to end.

Now let’s talk about that ending shall we? It’s so good! So so good! The last 100 pages are such page turners that I just couldn’t stop reading. The ending was exciting and intense. It even had one of those moments where I was like what did I just read! I loved it. Loved it.

Margaret Owens has written a complex, intricate fantasy novel filled with brilliant characters, wonderful magic and a story that has a lot of heart. I do believe it’s a stand-alone book but damn I want a sequel!

Thanks to Kate and Hodderscope for my copy of this book in return for an honest, unbiased review. It’s out October 5th.

Until the next review

Jthbooks