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Read Around the World Challenge: Europe - August Update

Happy Wednesday everyone!  Today, I'm sharing my seventh update and mini reviews for the Read Around the World Challenge.  Of the 46 books for the 46 European countries on my original tbr, I managed to complete 9 in August for a total of 42 completed so far.  I've only got 4 books left!  You can check out my profile here on the challenge website here.  Keep reading to see my thoughts on the books I read this month:

 ❋ 
The Teacher of Cheops by Albert Salvado isn't bad, but I wonder if something just got lost in the translation to English. I normally like stories set in Ancient Egypt, but this one wasn't worth it for me.  I definitely wouldn't have bothered with this one if it wasn't for the Read Around the World Challenge.

My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.


 ❋ 
D (A Tale of Two Worlds) by Michel Faber is definitely a case of wishing I liked it quite a bit more.  I've never read this author before, so I didn't have any expectations for it going in.  That said the story has so much potential, but it doesn't manage to live up it.  None of the characters really stood out to me and it definitely reads younger than YA which is how it was marketed.

My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.


 ❋  ❋ 
Girl at War by Sara Novic is one is pretty great and had more punch than I was expecting it to by the time it was done especially with the 2001 scenes. I just wish I had a little more knowledge of the war going into the book.  It's still odd to me that the times this is set qualify it as historical fiction. I guess I'm getting old.

My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.


 ❋  ❋ 
I don't read a lot of poetry, but the poems in At the Devil's Banquets by Anise Koltz were fascinating. I didn't realize that the edition I read would have both the original French and the English translation side by side on opposing pages. The English translation was perfectly fine, but they sure sounded much more interesting in the original French.

My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.


 ❋  ❋ 
I can't believe I put Ruby Red (Precious Stone Trilogy #1) Kerstin Gier off for so long, but I really enjoyed it.  I'm a sucker for time travel and this one reeled me in right off.  I'll definitely have to try book two soon.

My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.


 ❋  ❋ 
Arsene Lupin, Gentleman-Thief (Arsene Lupin #1) by Maurice Leblanc has always been on my radar and I knew the general idea of the stories before now, but I'm glad I finally decided to start in on the series.  The stories included here are a lot of fun even if some of them are a bit spare.   The illustrations in this edition suit it so well. Now I need to read the rematch between Arsen Lupin and Herlock Sholmes!  

My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.


 ❋  ❋ 
How did I not know going in that The Scarlet Pimpernel (The Scarlet Pimpernel #1) by Emmuska Orczy inspired the likes of Bruce Wayne/ Batman, Clark Kent/ Superman, and many others?  That was so much fun! I'm going to have to look into the rest of the series!  I'm glad I listened to the audiobook because the narrator did a great job of bringing everyone to life.

My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.


 ❋  ❋ 
I had no expectations for The Lost Girls of Rome (Marcus #1) by Donato Carrisi but I really enjoyed this. I hope the rest of the series is available in English via my library.

My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.


 ❋  
Before the Feast by Sasa Stanisic feels just like a fairy tale and I loved that for it.  I don't really have much else to say about this except that the cover of the book really suits the story.

My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.


Have you read these books?  Are you participated in this challenge?  As always, thanks for visiting my blog and perhaps even commenting down below!

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