Infernal Fall

Dear bookstagrammers,

Trust you are well! Thanks to @bookinfluencerscom and @bt_mitchell78 , I had the opportunity to review an exceptional book based on Dante’s Inferno but with a modern twist. Infernal Fall takes you on a journey through hell and beyond and makes you experience something that is beyond thinking. The review here is without any spoilers and is my sole opinion.

Infernal Fall is based on the story of Daniel, a young man that hopes to make a decent proposal on a mountain during a hike. However, a dark cavern ruins his plans and makes a journey downhill toward hell. A demon tells him that the only way to get his freedom back is to negotiate with Satan but Daniel finds himself traversing the Underworld in search of his ultimate wish. Through this, our character had to pass through several levels of hell to return back to Kristine, the woman he loves.

This book was a hell of a journey (excuse my pun). It was worth reading because it makes the experience of Dante’s Inferno in a contemporary world more realistic and appealing. It was interesting to see how the different levels of sins are interpreted throughout the story. It was a fast read and obviously a little bit dark since it is hell-related but very (very) interesting. The book is about an ongoing process of terror and unexpected events. Even if one is not familiar with Dante’s work could enjoy it. The language is to the point and very descriptive. I highly recommend this book! Well done!!

#bookblogger #bookishlove #bookstagrammers #bookstagramfeature #beautifulbooks #book #bookblogging #bookinsta #bookig #bookinstagram #bookish #bookworm #booklove #booknerd #booknerdigans #booksbooksbooks #bookaddict #bookgram #bookhaul #readeverydamnday #read #readeveryday #readeverywhere #reading

Unleashed

Dear Bookstagrammer,

Another book review is here! Thanks to bookstagrammers.com and the author Amber Swenor I had the opportunity to read non-fiction; a motivational book named Unleashed, A Been-There, Rocked-That Guide to Radical Authenticity in Life and Business. Usually, I don’t read books that are considered motivational or self-help books l but I gave this book a chance and I enjoyed my time reading it. This review is my opinion and spoiler-free.

The book takes the reader on an adventure in the life of a rock star, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur, Amber Swenor. The author wants to express how one could claim the rockstar identity and embrace authenticity in life. Despite the fact that people might judge you, the author gives tips and suggestions on how to move away from toxic environments and embrace who are you and what you are meant to be in life. Even if life is sometimes unfair and people might bring you down the book can help in motivating you to search for who you are. I enjoyed how the author wrote her raw stories and many times it hits the nail on its head when it comes to my personal story as well. I admired how Amber had the courage to follow her dreams of forming a rock band, participating in pageant contests, working in foreign countries, and changing jobs even with the risk of losing everything.

I recommend it to those who love a self-help book, especially to those who need to find themselves again. This book is a journey that could help you make the decision to become your true self.

Remy vs Rome

Dear Bookstagrammers,

 

Trust you are well and in good health!

Thanks to bookstagrammers.com and bonniecallahanbooks, I've read this beautiful book, Remy and Rome. I immediately fell in love with it because it is situated in my favorite country, Rome. When I read this book, I was passing through a difficult situation in my life and the book made it easy to escape a little and found myself in the beautiful Eternal City. This review is my opinion and spoiler free.

Remy, the character of our story found herself in Rome, the place where she shared her first kiss.

She was in Rome to rediscover herself when she agrees to go on a date with a total Italian stranger. Little did she know that that stranger was a wanted international criminal. Remy finds herself under house arrest with the protection of charming Lorenzo Rossi, a Sicilian detective in charge of this investigation. She agrees to help and thus, they must solve a series of clues to track down this criminal. In order to do this, she must face Fabio, the international criminal together with a very persistent ex-boyfriend, Eric.

I won't spoil anything else but I highly recommend this book to all those who love the romance genre. It is such a sweet book and it is written in such simplicity yet very descriptive. This book will literally take you around Rome since the site descriptions are very faithful to what one could find in the Eternal City. It is a fast-paced book that will hook you immediately to the story. I spent hours even during my suppose sleep-time reading to uncover what will happen next. I truly loved the characters, especially the main protagonists. I adored how the story progresses. I give this book a solid 4 and a half stars!

Simone LaFray and the Chocolatier's Ball

Hello bookstagrammers,

Trust you are well and that everyone is in good spirits!

Another book review is here! The author S.P. O’Farrell through Bookstagrammers.com chose me to review Simone LaFray and the Chocolatier’s Ball and give my honest opinion about it. Who can refuse a book when there are chocolate and mouth-watering desserts involved? Also, let us not forget that the story is situated in the middle of magnificent France.

The story is about Simone, a twelve-year-old investigator that helps her father to run a family patisserie in the middle of France. She is also a very good investigator through the footsteps of her mother she is trying to decipher the most scandalous thief that returned to Paris for a very devastating event. The problem is that an important ball is coming up and in the French patisserie, not everything is sweet as it seems.

This book is a highly recommended read for middle-school students, especially those students that are learning about France in school. It is ideal for a school book club. The main themes of the book are trust, responsibility, and family. The story is light and fast-paced which makes the reader eager and on edge to see what happens next. The plot is very engaging and the words used are ideal for those students who are learning English as well. Highly recommended book. Can’t wait to read the second book!

Melt

Dear Reader,

Bookstagrammers.com and the author Selene Castorvilla chose me to read ‘Melt’ and give my honest opinion about it. This is a book that I have read in literally in two days and kept me hooked even late at night. It is a book that you love or hate. For me, this book was a love affair. In fact I gave it a five-star which is not the usual rating for me. This review is my unbiased and honest opinion.

The story revolves around two characters, Joey and Dorothy. Both characters are so different from each other and lives in a world that is opposite. Dorothy is this sweet, teenage girl living her life which Joey is this messy, with a very bad reputation in town. Both worlds collided and both of our characters has to make a series of decisions that helps them to survive in their world. Unfortunately, the past is something that haunts the core of Joey and his addictions led to a scary reality.

This book gave me Colleen Hoover vibes without the smut. I was completely hooked by the poetical writing from Joey’s perspective and the fluent, deep narrative of Dorothy. The building of the characters is extraordinary. There are some trigger warning that one must notice including domestic violence and substance abuse. The description of the characters are so deep and poignant. It is extremely real and knowing that the story is based on true facts made me feel more connected to the characters. For me it is a highly recommended read.

Still, The Sky

Thanks to @tompearsonnyc and @bookstagrammerscom , I was given the opportunity to read this work of art. ‘Still, the Sky’, is a poetry composition that delves into the delicate beauty of the Greek Mythology. Already poetry is something elegant and sophisticated, now imagine it intertwined with the most beautiful retelling of Greek Mythology. 

This book makes references to many mythological tales and creatures including Icarus’ Fall, Theseus’ slaying of the Minotaur, Ariadne, Pasiphae, Minos and more. There are various themes in the poetry that I truly enjoyed including life, dedication and love. The elegance of the words composed are truly remarkable.

Apart from the words, Pearson’s books have a lot of artifacts depicted in the book that one could intertwine with what one has just read. My experience with the book is like going to a museum that have an interactive and a holistic experience. 

I highly recommend ‘Still, the Sky’ to those who are familiar with Greek Mythology and are in love with poetry. A good mastery of the English language is very important when reading this book since the author weaves his thoughts with words in a very elegant yet multifaceted manner. I must admit that sometimes, I did get confused and this is one of the reasons why I always insist why poetry is so fluid, sophisticated yet graceful.

A Brighter Tomorrow

Today, is another book review and I think this book is one of my personal favourites. Dr. Lori Schneider, MD through @bookstagrammerscom chose me for the campaign to read this book. The review here is my honest opinion and without any spoilers.

A Brighter Tomorrow is different book from the usual lot that I read. It is a pick-me up, memorial kind of book. It is a book of poems with the inside full of beautiful artworks. I spent a lot of time admiring the work behind each picture.

The book is about a society that is emerging post-Covid-19, a virus that hit us severely during the year of 2019 and 2020. Somehow, everyone was affected by this pandemic and instilled in us, fear.

The author chose that despite everything, see the positive. Despite the Pandemic, difficult political era in her country and racial injustices, she zoned out to express her feeling through poetry. As I was reading her work, I could feel the passion that she was writing with, and I could feel hope, courage and love that emerged from every word she wrote.

The poems are very easy to read and I highly recommend it to those who are moving away from the past and are trying to find a hopeful future.

Każ Miftuħ

Today’s book suggestion is from @merlinkotba. It is a different book from the usual lot that I read but I had a blast reading it. Każ Miftuħ is an activity book for adults. It contains 9 criminal cases that the reader have to solve. Every case has a set of clues that one has to think to try in order to solve the case. Imagine a board game but in a book form. Ideal for us, bookworms! I recommend this book as an activity that one can do with some friends especially near the beach with a BBQ on the side. Take with you some papers, pencils and biros because I felt like I was Sherlock Holmes trying to solve the cases. I didn’t do all the cases because I am thinking to do them with my friends, maybe organise a group competition who will solve the case first. Totally recommend this book especially if you are interested in solving cases, have some time to spare with your friends and love brain teasers.

They Both Die at the End

This book is my 24th book of the year and it has been in my to be read list for a very long time. Finally, I had time to read it and it did not disappoint. The book is amazing. The concept of it  s something out of this world. I was quite sceptical about the spoiler in the title because I thought that it will not have the thrill that I was expecting. This is not the case.

Imagine a telephone operator that calls you on the day of your death to inform you that your end is 24 hours away. Death-cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them the bad news. They are going to die within 24 hours. Through an app called the Last Friend, Mateo and Rufus met each other and the good news is that these two must meet up for their last adventure of their lifetime if they are compatible enough to survive the last 24 hours.

This book is recommended to all those who are a fan of LGBTIQ+ reads, love romantic genres and are in need of a good cry. It is not an easy book since it deals with very important and philosophical issues. This book can help you to reflect on various aspects of your life. Chapters are short which are a bonus and the language is quite easy to comprehend. Totally recommend it.

The Backpack Years

 The Backpack Years is a travel memoir that is ideal for this time of the year. @bookstagrammerscom and the authors Stephanie and James Wilson gave me this opportunity to review this book and it did not disappoint. It is a refreshing, part travel, part romance memoir of two individual beings that intertwines into a blissful adventure. This review is solely my opinion and spoiler free.

The story takes place with James and Stef, our two backpackers that accounts for how their previous life before getting to know each other was on one side miserable and on the other side void. James, driven by debt had to flee to Australia to find a new lifestyle. While Stef, with the excuse of studying abroad in Spain, left a life of unnecessary risks. The adventures took these two persons apart from each other, yet life has a magical way of forging their path together. What is written, cannot be undone. These two characters accounts an adventure of a lifetime that took them around thirteen countries and around four continents, but this shows the determination of how far one will go for love.

As I said before, the story is ideal for this time of the year. It is the time where the Pandemic is ending which means that people are travelling more. Many of us truly missed the adventure, and this story could fill the void that Covid-19 left in our heart. It is a story of hope for those who life sees it as cruel and full of despair. It is the story of Romeo and Juliet in a modern-tale account. The only difference is that it ends in a twist that I cannot spoil. I highly recommend this book especially if you have the soul of a traveller.

SAFE: From Pain

 The author @emotionally_safe through the collaboration with @bookstagrammerscom gave me the opportunity to review this book. It is the first non-fiction, self help, autobiographical book of the year and it was outstanding. A short book yet so powerful. The review is spoiler-free and my opinion.

In the first few pages of the book, one is transported into the life of the author. The story is very touching and heartfelt since she passed from many difficult situations in her life including sexual assault, attempted suicide, forced marriage and a culture that is always expecting more from her. I could see how sometimes a person can learn simply by listening to what one has to say. Her story is something that I really felt in my heart. The author never experienced liberty until she is forced to make a decision in her life. Through her story, Poonam shows how the SAFE method can help people especially those passing from vulnerable situations how to embrace their own journey and how to find through happiness.

Mythos

 

@mythosorigin asked me to review his book Mythos in exchange for an honest review. Although Sci-Fiction is not something that I profoundly fond of, yet I decided to give it a shot. Here you can find a spoiler-free review and honest.

The story is situated in Planet Mythos where it is driven through the force of a Goddess. Usually, the female heirs produce one child that are in succession for the throne. However, unexpectedly this female Goddess bore five children. As soon as she gave birth to the fifth child, she died which left Mythos in a very difficult position. The second son was chosen as an heir, but his personality made it difficult for Mythos to fulfil its destiny. Even though the brothers were separated at birth, yet their destiny is forever intertwined with each other. The mysterious hooded figure could be the ruin of such place that could leave Mythos on the edge of a cliff.

The author was capable enough to create this fictional world from its roots. As I was reading the chapters I found it interesting that the author dedicated some chapters to get to know characters especially the brothers of Dimago, the heir of Mythos. It seems like this is a long introduction however I believe this was necessary since it led to a development of the characters, that helped me as a reader to get immersed more into this world. I enjoyed the fact that there was a progression in the story and ultimately the story reached its climax with a bang. As my first Sci-Fi read, I enjoyed it. I totally recommend it to those who love this genre especially if one is searching for a dramatic, mysterious read.

A Court of Mist and Fury

 I have read A Court of Mist and Fury after reading A Court of Thorns and Roses and I could see the difference. This book is out of this world, leave you breathless and eager to read more. Finally I have given the answer of who is Rhysand and the intentions of Tamlin.

I was so overwhelmed with the experiences and I couldn't think of a better twist in the story. I know why everyone is so keen about Rhysand and now I can confirm that yes, I know what everyone is feeling! I do too!! I am not doing a summary of the book because it is important for the reader to read book 1 and avoid any type of spoilers at this point of the book.

What I can say is that I highly recommend this series because the character development is amazing and the plot is something that will leave you speechless. Sarah J. Maas is a true genius. Also I don't recommend this book for young adults anymore since there are some sexual scenes that I would avoid to the younger one's. This is the best book I have read so far from the ACOTAR series.

Check out the Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CdDkYY8LKuy/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

A Court of Thornes and Roses

A Court of Thornes and Roses is a book that I was afraid to read because I thought it was over-hyped but it is one of the best stories I have read this year. Sarah J. Maas writing is incredible. It is a new adult fantasy novel. I don't agree with some saying it is a young adult novel since some romantic parts of the story are not related to young adult. This review is my opinion and spoiler-free.

The story is about Feyre, a huntress and a care taker of her family for years. In order to survive she had to hunt and kill a wolf during one of her hunting experiences in the forest. Yet, the wolf was not the animal she expected. The wolf was a magical creature. Taken prisoner by a very powerful enemy, Feyre had to discover the ultimate intention of Tamlin and his kingdom and how she is going to survive the High Queen of Prythian. It is hard to talk about the books without revealing something.

I can fully understand the hype of the book and I fully agree in a certain sense. The characters development is phenomenal and although it lacks the world description experience yet I was satisfied. The first part of the book confused me a lot. There were instances that I had no intention why the characters behaved in certain way. Thus, made me curious to the point that I couldn't stop reading it. The ending made a lot of sense and answered many of my questions revealing other questions especially from what I heard from the Bookstagram community. (Why Rhys is so loved by the community?? Haha! I have to read book two) The story is fast paced, not complicated and the chapters are perfect in length. It is a book that one reads for leisure without getting emotionally involved in it. Still it is a good story and although there are aspects that made me cringe or over simplified yet I did enjoy my time.

 Can't wait to start the second book.

The Informants

@author_snickerson81 gifted me The Informants after being chosen for @bookstagrammerscom . 

This book is a mysterious, crime fiction ideal for this month. As I was researching what the book consists of, I have read that the author himself was a Special Agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration. The review is my own honest opinion and spoiler free.

The story is about thw wife of a famous Mexican drug lord that was poisoned infront of an 11-year old daughter while having dinner. A huge  reward was set to identify the waiter responsable and the hit man that made this operation real. For this to succeed, many members of the cartel had to be on field to identify the murderer. The Drug Enforcement Administration holds an important conference to investigates the cartel members. Toro, which is an assassin and that even his reputation paves a way for him,  kidnaps an agent and threathens to kill him if the murderer is not identified. 

This is the first book I have read as mystery crime fiction and to be honest I have taken some time to read it. Not because of the writing but there are so many essential details that I was afraid to lose something along the way. The book have so many characters involved and it was like watching a movie, fast and action filled. I felt that I was part of the story, as I was a partner solving the crime. I tried even solving the crime beforehand. Obviously without any success. I had to re-read certain paragraphs in order to fully understand and grasp certain situations because I felt that this was written from someone that truly experienced crime because there are certain details that only a person involved had to know them. I had to search for some terminologies and I had to take a special care for the names that the author has written beforehand. It helped me a lot. I recommend this book especially if you are into a crime-fiction kind of story. 

Murder in St. Judes

The author of this book @bert_busuttil gifted me this book. I immediately fell in love with the cover since it is so vibrant and eye-catcher. However, as soon as I started reading it, I became obsessed with it. In fact, I finished the book in just three days because I couldn’t stop. The length of the chapters is ideal which makes it easier for the reader to pause and continue. Also, some trigger warnings are important also to be mentioned especially for sensitive audience. The review here is spoiler free and my honest opinion. 

The story is situated in St. Jude’s when a very macabre scene was discovered near the statue of the Madonna in a convent. Few paces far from the scene another macabre scene was found. Inspector Lucio Vella was called in to investigate the crime scenes, teaming up with policemen, members of clergy and brother Marius from the convent.

This remote fishing village never experienced such a horrible homicide and while facing his greatest demons, Vella had to unravel the truth and seek justice.

From the prologue itself, the book is already promising and the only thing that comes into my mind when I see this book is that the story is remarkable. No detail was extra, and every page has something important going on. I was shocked from the beginning, but it helped me to hook myself to the story and read further on. The development of the characters throughout the story is notable and I could feel what they had experience. I felt the anger, sadness and grief. The suspense was continuous, and I couldn’t let go.

Some topics that might cause trigger are homicide and suicide which is very important to point out at this stage. However, the story is highly recommended to those who enjoys a crime and mystery book. I gave this book a solid 4 star! Well done, Robert! Can’t wait for your next book.

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The Song of Achilles

The Song of Achilles is a book that I believe had to be made a classic. This is the book that I can't recommend enough! I love it, absolutely love it! This is the book that made me fall in love with reading and it is the same book that stopped me from reading something else in order to recover from the story. Within a year, I have read this book twice and it never disappoints. The first time I've just read the book while the second time I read it while listening to audio and annotated it as well. This was a very beautiful experience and I have understood more from the story. This review is spoiler-free and my honest opinion.

The story is from Patroclus's point of view and it is the retelling of the stories of Achilles. Achilles is the best of all the Greeks, the son of a Goddess and a very important king. Destiny brought Achilles and Patroclus together and there, an inseparable bond was created, eventually falling in love with each other. Achilles however had to make a decision that due to a prophecy might lead to something lethal. Little did Patroclus know that his intervention can help Achilles save his reputation. I can't give more information since I promised that this review is spoiler free.

This book is out of this world! Love Miller's writing skills and her way of portraying the characters. The last few chapters shattered me into pieces and the ending was something that left me in tears. I can't recover from this story yet which is why I gave it 5+ stars. The story is fast paced and every detail is important is the story. I loved the development of the characters and how they are portrayed. Loved it!

Aristotle and Dante discovers the secrets of the Universe

This book has been in my to be read list for ages and finally I found the time to read it. I heard a lot of good reviews and it did not disappoint. It is a book that is written for the teenagers and I highly recommend all the teenagers to read it at least once in their lifetime. It is an LGBTIQ+ read and this review is spoiler free and my sincere opinion.

The story explores the friendship between Ari and Dante in the end of the 1980's. Ari is 15 years old and he is completely different from Dante. Ari is a solitary person that had a wish, to start swimming. Dante offers him this opportunity and a very special relationship is born. One could explore the differentiation between Ari's family and Dante's family and in one way or another, one might relate to their story or at least a fragment of it. It is a story that discusses the issues of self identity, friendship and love. It is a story about family struggles but also about care and affection. It is a story that describe the life of these two men from 15 years to 17 years old that wanted to discover the secrets of the Universe.

This is a book that I highly recommend especially to all teenagers. The writing is superb and one could experience the growth of the characters in every single page. I adored Ari and Dante. The chapters are short which makes it easier for the teenager to connect with it. Although there are some themes that I have expected much more insight, I believe that the book has beautiful story that hooked me up until the last page of the book.

It Ends with Us

This is the second book I've read by Colleen Hoover and it is a book that many people were hyped about it. Personally, I think it is a great story. This review is spoiler free and honest. It is important to mention that the book contains triggering subjects such as abuse, domestic violence and rape.

It Ends with Us is a story about Lily, Ryle and Atlas. Lily, a girl that came from a house with domestic violence, helped a homeless guy named Atlas when she was young. With Atlas, a very beautiful relationship was born. When they grew up, Lily and Atlas separated and Lily met Ryle that had a different kind of relationship that led to something very difficult. Lily had to fight the demons of her past while passing through a very difficult situation. She eventually had to make a very important decision whether to love or leave. I don't think it is necessary to write a detailed synopsis since it might contain spoilers. 

This book is not an easy read and although it contains a lot of action, one has to take care of possible triggers. I did enjoy reading the plot of the story and the actions hooked me up. Although I am still thinking that I felt a little bit distant from it. Maybe it was not the best time for me to read this story and I wanted something different or maybe after the disappointment of Ugly Love, I expected something more. I appreciated the fact how some characters handled certain situations and emotions and how the situation regard abuse was tackled. I could feel that they were genuine and raw. I am thinking to re-read this book in the future and gives it a second chance since many people seem to be obsessed with it and I think I was biased when reading it.

Meta tlaqt lil Adam

This book was gifted to me by @elena.cardona.56 It is a book filled with poems. The review is spoiler free and in Maltese.

L-awtriċi Elena Cardona ikkuntatjani fuq il-paġna ta' Facebook tiegħi, Once Upon a Maltese reader, biex tibgħatli dan il-ktieb, naqrah u nagħti opinjoni onesta' fuq dak li hemm miktub. Dan huwa ktieb qasir, b'ġabra ta' poeżiji. Il-poeżiji jattrattaw suġġetti varji imma b'tema waħda rikorenti tul il-ktieb kollhu; is-sbuħija jew ejja ngħidu in-nuqqas tagħha f'ċertu aspett ukoll. 

Nammetti li waħda mill-aktar kitbiet diffiċli li jiena nsib biex naqra hija l-poeżija. Ma nħossx li huwa l-ġeneru tiegħi minħabba li ħafna drabi poeżija tħallik timraħ u tagħtik wisq liberta' interprettativa. Personalment inħossni nintilef. Nammetti wkoll li l-muża biex taqra l-poeżija hija wkoll essenzjali u għalhekk inti li ħa taqrah, nagħtik parir biex tieħu l-ħin tiegħek. Pero' għamilt il-kuraġġ u qrajt dan il-ktieb. 

Ma ddejjaqtx. Qas xejn anzi! Kull kelma miktuba hija meqjusa, f'postha u riflessiva ħafna. Ebda kelma ma hija żejda jew mhux f'posta. Dan huwa ktieb rakkomandat għal persuni li għandhom għal qalbhom il-poeżija. Apprezzajt ħafna l-fatt li Leanne Ellul kitbet ukoll xi notament fil-bidu ta' dawn il-poeżiji. Fl-aħħar l-awtriċi stess kitbet xi notament għal qarrejja. Hawnhekk, għandek xalata ta' ħsibijiet u interprettazzjonijiet jekk titħajjar taqrah.