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VILEST THINGS BY CHLOE GONG // blog tour book feature: yelling about one of my fave authors and how i need to start this series yesterday!
Indeed I am extremely late but my life is far too chaotic for my own good and here is my personal apology to Chloe Gong. You can yell at me all you want about me not having started this series but I promise you I’ve had a thorough talking to myself already. Anyways, of course, I couldn’t miss posting about this during release week and,,, I’m on the blog tour. Ha there’s that too. I do deserve to be shunned for this but let’s not dwell on the negatives here,,, Anyways, big thanks for joining me and TBR and Beyond Book Tours to celebrate the release of Vilest Things, book two in a trilogy I am terrified but excited to sink my teeth into *insert devil emoji* Title: Vilest ThingsSeries: Flesh and False Gods book #2Author: Chloe GongPage count: 384Date published: 10 September 2024Genre: Adult Fantasy Sci-fi 💫 Synopsis: Calla Tuoleimi has succeeded in the impossible. Despite the odds, she has won San-Er’s bloody games and eliminated King Kasa, her tyrant uncle and the former ruler of Talin. She serves now as royal advisor to Kasa’s adopted son, August Shenzhi, who has risen to the throne. Only Calla knows it…
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AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER & NOVEMBER RECAP // oops i am late again aka turning 22, my degree kept me very busy ft. finishing my dissertation, some great reads & lots of book mail
Even though I quote Britney Spears “Oops I did it again”, I don’t think even she describes my predicament over the last few months. Have we ever seen this many months in a singular Ruby recap? You all know the answer to that. Um anyways, we’ll get into it later but in short, uni kicked my ass and I have therefore had no life. — The Hundred Loves of Juliet by Evelyn Skye {★★★☆☆}: gah the premise was so promising but unfortunately I was not hooked and this one was just underwhelming. A fun read that I sped through but not a new favourite. Ty to Headline for the eARC via Netgalley – GR review here! The Priest and The Shepherd by Chloe Gong {★★★★★}: kicked my butt into gear and devoured this lil prequel novella before jumping into the big guns and ugh!!! Phoebe and Silas are such babies and I love them so much!!!! Foul Heart Huntsman by Chloe Gong {★★★★★}: I shan’t say much here because I did a lot of that in my review but, yes this is the best book I’ve ever read and I do not exaggerate. Okay maybe a but but she was…
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FOUL HEART HUNTSMAN BY CHLOE GONG // blog tour book talk: say hello to my favourite read of this year and hands down the best conclusion to a showstopping ya historical fiction fantasy series!!!
Hi hello friends! And welcome to my tour stop celebrating the upcoming release of Foul Heart Huntsman. As you can guess, I’m hyperventilating over this just a little bit and I’ll just shut up now so we can cry together,,,, Big thanks to Colored Pages Book Tours for having me! Title: Foul Heart HuntsmanSeries: Secret Shanghai series book #5Author: Chloe GongPage count: 560Date published: 26 September 2023Genre: Young Adult historical fiction fantasy 🫀 Synopsis: Winter is drawing thick in 1932 Shanghai, as is the ever-nearing threat of a Japanese invasion. Rosalind Lang has suffered the worst possible fate for a national spy: she’s been exposed. With the media storm camped outside her apartment for the infamous Lady Fortune, she’s barely left her bedroom in weeks, plotting her next course of action after Orion was taken and his memories of Rosalind wiped. Though their marriage might have been a sham, his absence hurts her more than any physical wound. She won’t rest until she gets him back. But with her identity in the open, the task is near impossible. The only way to leave the city and rescue Orion is under the guise of a national tour. It’s easy to convince…
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LAST VIOLENT CALL BY CHLOE GONG // book talk: died and went to heaven reading these masterpiece novellas from my fave series
Finally being the obedient fan that I am and caught up on my fave hence these reviews are very close together. Did you all know I love Chloe Gong? Didn’t know if it was obvious or not haha Quick disclaimer: I’m actually not spoiling this book in particular, but the entire plot is a spoiler for previous books in the series, especially Our Violent Ends, hence me titling this a book talk. However, if you’re up to date with the series, I’m not spoiling anything *wink wink* Anyways, this has been a long time coming and I’m excited to get into this! Title: Last Violent CallSeries: Secret Shanghai book #3.5Author: Chloe GongPage count: 233Date published: 28 February 2023Genre: New adult historical fiction ☎ Synopsis: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Chloe Gong come two captivating novellas surrounding the events of Foul Lady Fortune and following a familiar cast of characters from These Violent Delights. In A Foul Thing, Roma and Juliette have established themselves as the heads of an underground weapons ring in Zhouzhuang, making a living the way they do best while remaining anonymous in their quiet life. But when they hear about Russian girls showing up dead in nearby…
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MARCH RECAP // graduation, moving, some reading & other chaos
Quite chuffed with my incredibly inventive title if I do say so myself *wink wink* We all know that I am a comedian by nature. God I need to shut up now. Anyways, back to your irregularly scheduled belated recap, as per usual, due to very obvious reasons in the title. I honestly don’t remember what happened last month, it was all very blurry but I shall try my best to recount it to you. Into the chaos we go! Last Violent Call by Chloe Gong {★★★★★}: I was never prepared for this book and I have read it and am still not prepared. Chloe never misses and this book was perfection, as is everything she writes. My heart stopped beating for approximately 200 pages and I need to tattoo this book onto my forehead. It was stunning and I will have a full review up hopefully soon, GR review here in the meantime *screams for eternity* The First Move by Jenny Ireland {★★★☆☆}: The lovely people at Penguin SA had an eARC available and I needed a smol pick me up so I read this on a whim. Devoured this in like a day and agh what a cute…
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JANUARY & FEBRUARY RECAP // somehow i read 15 books ft. graphic novel mania, readalongs, lots of new books & back to uni
It’s the way I forgot to post my January until halfway through February and decided another two weeks was worth waiting. I mean what else is new here? Ruby Rae Reads: perpetually late to everything Lmao love that for me Anyway, I have lots to talk about, so let’s jump right in! Seven Percent of Ro Devereux by Ellen O’Clover {★★★★★}: started off the year strong with this absolutely stunning YA debut contemporary romance ugh it was SO SO SO GOOD!!!! Absolutely everything I ever wanted from this book about creating an app, familial tension, angsty emotions and childhood friends to enemies to lovers. It was *chef’s kiss* and you all need to read it RIGHT THIS SECOND!!!! Big thanks to the author for sending me an eARC via Netgalley, click here for my GR review <3<3<3 Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman {★★★★½}: decided to get off my butt and finally read these and ugh I had the bestest day literally just reading all of these comics. A stunning first instalment and I do love how accurate the show is. It’s kind of scary. Big thanks to Pan MacMillan SA for the review copy xoxoxo Heartstopper Volume 2 by…
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FOUL LADY FORTUNE BY CHLOE GONG // book talk: a show-stopping spectacular 1930s shanghai adventure that blew my mind into a million pieces and i need the next book right now!!!
IT HAS BEEN 84 YEARS AND I HAVE FINALLY READ THIS FREAKING BOOK ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOLKS It’s honestly embarrassing it’s taken me this long. Like truly. Hate myself for that. But I finally finished it and off its the way this book FINISHED ME!!!!!!!! I shall now cry about it for eternity,,, Title: Foul Lady FortuneSeries: Secrets of Shanghai book #3Author: Chloe GongPage count: 528Date published: 27 September 2022Genre: Young Adult historical fiction 💀 Synopsis: It’s 1931 in Shanghai, and the stage is set for a new decade of intrigue. Four years ago, Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death, but the strange experiment that saved her also stopped her from sleeping and aging—and allows her to heal from any wound. In short, Rosalind cannot die. Now, desperate for redemption from her traitorous past, she uses her abilities as an assassin for her country. Code name: Fortune. But when the Japanese Imperial Army begins its invasion march, Rosalind’s mission pivots. A series of murders is causing unrest in Shanghai, and the Japanese are under suspicion. Rosalind’s new orders are to infiltrate foreign society and identify the culprits behind the terror plot before more of her people…
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MY FAVOURITE BOOKS OF 2021 // a whopping bizarre top 8 ft. some honourable mentions
Life is currently a mess and I really wanted to get a lot more end of year posts out this month, but alas, 2021 will just have to close on the messy path it was already on. I have no idea what I’m writing but we’re rolling with it *nervous laughter* Apologies as I did have a fun idea for a Christmas recommendations list, but I just had no motivation to get it done. You’ll have to wait until next year folks. As usual, lowkey doing this post is stressful because I leave it till the very last day of the year JUST IN CASE a new favourite needs to squeeze on here. There hasn’t been one but it’s okay, at least I’m wrapping up all the books. Related posts: Top Books of 2020 2021 Mid Year Freak Out Tag Today I have 15 books in total to talk about, 7 are honourable mentions and 8 are the top favourites. I’m chuffed with this selection, though I’ll try and keep this post short and sweet so we can zoom through them. Very excited to talk about them, so let’s get into it! HONOURABLE MENTIONS: in no particular order (maybe least…
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MOST ANTICIPATED 2022 BOOK RELEASES // willing to sell my soul for at least 10 of these, not exaggerating aka elevating your tbr by approx 40 more books
In the innocent words of 2020 Ruby aka “manifesting that 2021 will be a better year”, I shall not be making the same mistake,,, Okay that was a tad dramatic and I’m sorry I had to take you down that dark, forsaken path, but let’s be honest: 2021 has S-U-C-K-E-D. But at least there are some good books coming out? Not as many as I thought but definitely some I’d be willing to give my future firstborn to. Let’s get into it! Also I say this every year but a sneaky few always manage to get on the list. Anyways, I have tried to keep this list fairly short and only add books I’m genuinely interested in. I’ve also cut down on the amount of sequels and books by debut authors that have a sophomore book coming out purely because I have far too many other books to get to. I’ve found there’s absolutely no fun in adding books to your anticipated releases list only to find a year later you still haven’t read them and I hate it so shall be attempting to stop that habit. Enough with the rambling, let’s jump into ’em <3<3<3 JANUARY — When You…
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OUR VIOLENT ENDS BY CHLOE GONG // book talk: this book broke me a thousand times over and slowly put me back together rip me
The day is here and you are not ready. Go grab your tissues BECAUSE I SOBBED MY EYES OUT SO HARD ITS NOT EVEN FUNNY. Will I be sharing those pictures? Keep reading and we’ll see. If you are new to this blog, then you wouldn’t know that *clears throat* I cannot stop raving about my favourite book of 2020 aka These Violent Delights by my idol Chloe Gong. Who is a literary genius and I want to be her. Nobody is doing it like her honestly!!! In case you missed them, I’ve interviewed her and I have a review of book one up <3<3<3 Click the images Title: Our Violent EndsSeries: These Violent Delights book #2Author: Chloe GongPage count: 400Date published: 16 November 2021Genre: Young Adult historical urban fantasy 🥀🔪 Synopsis: The year is 1927, and Shanghai teeters on the edge of revolution. After sacrificing her relationship with Roma to protect him from the blood feud, Juliette has been a girl on the warpath. One wrong move, and her cousin will step in to usurp her place as the Scarlet Gang’s heir. The only way to save the boy she loves from the wrath of the Scarlets is to…
