My Recent Reads #3

Welcome back to Recent Reads! My fortnightly post highlighting some books that I have recently read. I have some gems to share with you this week, so strap yourselves in!

The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar 

The Henna Wars was such a cute read that melted my heart! After having this book recommended to me many times, I finally got reading it and I was overcome with emotion. It was a cute romance, but there was more to it than that – firstly, Nishat is a lesbian, but is also a Muslim and is hit with the struggles of wanting to come out and be who she is, but also not wanting to let her family down. Secondly, racism. You are shown throughout the book how Nishat has to deal with racism, in particular from one certain person and how she copes with it. Overall, it was an endearing, adorable romance that I just devoured.

Gracie Fairshaw and the Mysterious Guest by Susan Brownrigg

This was such a fun middle grade mystery that reminded me of the Nancy Drew and Famous Five books. The mystery element to the story was well thought out and was executed extremely well, and I found myself gasping come the end of the book. It also has great disability rep, which is needed more in MG. I really hope we get more from this world and characters as it was, overall, a delightful read. Full review here.

The Ship of Shadows by Maria Kuzinar

The Ship of Shadows is one of my favourite MG reads of the year so far, I literally couldn’t put it down! It had kick-ass female pirates, a thrilling plotline and amazing characters and magic. The way it intertwined the magic with myths and legends made for an original twist and the magic system was just incredible. Each pirate we meet has their own unique personality and I loved how they were all from different cultures. Overall it was a fast-paced, thrilling, captivating read and I cannot wait for the sequel. Full review here.

Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis

Harrow Lake is the YA Horror that you all need in your life! From the get go you are filled with this creepy, unsteady feeling that doesn’t go away for the entirety of the book. As you get further into the story, it gets darker, and it will give you goosebumps and you may not sleep easy. Ellis’s writing is so vivid and realistic and that makes for an exciting, yet terrifying reading experience. It’s a shocking, chilling read that will get under your skin for sure.

The Wild Way Home by Sophie Kirtley

The Wild Way Home was a beautifully written adventure about one boy called Charlie, and how he overcomes his troubles. I’d never read a book featuring a character from the Stone Age before and I found it both intriguing and unique to say the least. Charlie and his new friend Harby were a great duo and I found their short but sweet friendship to be very heartwarming and their motto ‘keep safe’ was proof and how much they meant to each other. This is definitely a book to try if you want a short read that is packed full of adventure, love and friendship.