February recap

Hi there, we’re done with dark and cold February and I’m happy with that. In March I go for a few days to Florence in Italy and this greatly influenced my (current) reading (and I’m still planning some other reads set in Florence).

Read(ing)

I managed to finish 4 books, not bad for such a short month. It were all lighter books and it’s difficult to choose a favourite. I think I’ll go for ‘The marriage portrait’ because it was a slow but interesting read, also The royal secret was a one of the better books in the Marwood and Lovett series that I’ve read so far.

Number of pages read: 1.577 pages
Number of books finished: 4
Favorite read: The marriage portrait
Centuries visited: B.C., 13th century, 16th century, 17th century
Countries visited: England, Scotland, Italy and Greece
Currently reading: The most beautiful woman of Florence
Next up: No idea

Reviewed

• Lost roses by Martha Hall Kelly
• The alchemist’s daughter by Mary Lawrence
• The lady of the loch by Elena Collins

Added to my TBR

• Clytemnestra by Constanza Casati
• The shadows of London by Andrew Taylor
• Plague by C.C. Humpreys

What’s your favourite read of February?

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January recap

I didn’t post a recap of December (I only read two books in December, Miss Austen and When Christ and his saints slept), but now I’m back for January. January was a good first reading month, with lots of diversity in terms of scenery.

Read(ing)

Circe is a book I kept for the perfect time. I wanted to make it my first book of the year. I loved it and know that it will be there in my favourites list of 2023. Although, I must say I still prefer Nathalie Haynes’ Greek myth novels.

Lost roses was another favourite, it’s about three women during WOI and the Russian Revolution. A bit dramatic and with many coincidences, but I was engrossed with it. The shadow king is a special book about a -for me- unknown period in time (Mussolini’s attack on Ethiopia in the 1930’s). The alchemist’s daughter was a light read on the train but couldn’t convince me to read the next books in the series. Three new to me authors also this month, I only read a book from Miller before (the praised ‘A song for Achilles’).

Number of pages read: 1.577 pages
Number of books finished: 4
Favorite read: Circe
Centuries visited: B.C., 16th century and 20th century
Countries visited: England, Russia, United States, France, Ethiopia and Greece (diversity ;))
Currently reading: The royal secret by Andrew Taylor and The lady of the loch by Elena Collins
Next up: Maybe The marriage Portrait or The shadow of Perseus.

Reviewed and blogged

• Circe
• Top Ten Tuesday: new-to-me authors I discovered in 2022
• My 2023 TBR
• When Christ and His Saints Slept by Sharon Kay Penman
• My ten favourite books of 2022
• My bookish 2022 in numbers

Added to my TBR

Not so many books because it was a busy month.

• Booth by Karen Joy Fowler
• Lilac girls (a sort of sequel of Lost roses)

How did you start your reading year?

My 2023 TBR

Every year I make a list of 10 backlog books (so no new releases) that I want to read in the coming year. Mainly consisting of books I already own or of favourite authors, this should be an easy task. Last year I scored 8/10, I hope to do even better in 2023.

1. Written in my own heart’s blood by Diana Gabaldon

A book I didn’t manage to read last year. A bit on purpose as I want to take my time for the Outlander series and, with my busy private life, I wouldn’t be able to do that. After my move this year I hope to focus on this big book.

2. A column of fire by Ken Follett

The other book of my 2022 list I didn’t get to. I hope to finally grab my hands around it in 2023. This is also a big book that will take some time, but I know that I’ll enjoy it.

3. The steel beneath the silk by Patricia Bracewell

The last book in the Emma Of Normandy trilogy. I’m curious to see where Bracewell will end her story (and what she’ll write next).

4. The reindeer hunters by Lars Mytting

After reading The bell in the lake it’s time to return to Norway for this second part in the Hekne series. An ideal winter read.

5. Kingdom come by Toby Clemens

‘Kingdom come’ is the last book in this series about two common people during the Wars of The Roses. I hope this series will give Thomas and Catherine a great ending. And too bad, we haven’t got any other books from Toby Clemens in a while.

6. The queen’s promise by Lyn Andrews

A novel that has been on my physical shelves for a few years now so it’s finally time to read it. It’s about Anne Boleyn and her infatuation on Henry Percy. Books about Anne Boleyn are always tricky, so let’s see if I like this one.

7. The stone rose by Carol McGrath

The final book in the she wolves trilogy, but they can all be read as stand alones. This is about queen Isabella of France becoming the wife of Edward II. A dangerous couple.

8. The heretic queen by Michelle Moran

I want to read more about Ancient Egypt so this next book from Moran about Nefertari seems like the perfect start.

9. The marriage portrait by Maggie O’Farrell

I’m so excited that I’ll be going to Florence in March. And it just seems nice to read this book set in 16th century Florence before my holiday. I already have it on my shelves so that should be easy.

10. The woman of Troy by Pat Barker

This list can’t be complete without a Greek myth retelling on it. I still need to read Barker’s follow-up novel of ‘The silence of the girls’. In 2022 there were other myth retellings to lead me away from my cause, but this year I will get my hands on this one.

Ten books to look out for. Do you have a 2023 TBR?

Books coming out in 2023 that I can’t wait to read

Instead of looking back to what I’ve read in 2022 (I wait for that until I finish the last page of 2022), I want to look forward to the new books that will hit the shelves in 2023. I haven’t been asking a lot of e-arcs yet. But I’ve taken a look in the upcoming (historical) books list of Goodreads and some other websites to compile this list. All of them are from authors I’ve previously enjoyed reading.

The temple of Fortuna – Elodie Harper

The third and final book in this much beloved trilogy. I loved to read about Amara’s journey in Pompeii. And as we all know, it will not end well for the city, but how will it end for Amara?

Atalanta – Jennifer Saint

Ariadne and Elektra were great books, so I don’t expect less from this one. Atalanta is a mythical figure I absolutely know nothing about. So this should make for even greater reading pleasure.

The London Seance Society – Sarah Penner

Anything set in (Victorian) London might do the trick for me. I enjoyed The Lost Apothecary and am curious about this one with a different topic.

The king’s pleasure – Alison Weir (The heart and the crown is the UK title)

A book from Henry’s viewpoint! Which is I believe difficult to write, but I didn’t dislike Henry in the Tudor queens books I’ve already read from Weir. I’m curious to see what she makes of him.

Prize women – Caroline Lea

Anything by Lea is an auto read as I loved The glass woman. I still need to read The metal heart though. This novel is set in Canada in the 1920’s.

Disobedient – Elizabeth Fremantle

My favourite author writing about the paintress Artemisia, a historical figure I’m quite interested in. Especially as it will bring us to Italy. And I believe it’s the first time Fremantle doesn’t write about the English court?

A marriage of fortune – Anne ‘O Brien

I keep an eye on anything ‘O Brien writes. Although I still need to read many of her books, including the first book about the Paston family of which this is sequel.

The shadow of Perseus – Claire Heywood

Heywood’s Daughters of Sparta wasn’t bad at all. I enjoyed reading it. Now she’s writing about Perseus and Medusa, it feels reminiscent of Stone blind.

The stolen crown – Carol McGrath

I still need to read her last book ‘The stone rose’, but I’m curious about this novel that tells the story of Empress Matilda.

Of course, there will be a few more books that will attract my intention during 2023.

Which books are you looking forward to?