13/13 Update Three - Historically Vampiric

You may have noticed the button above in my sidebar (or if you're ignorant of all things sidebar like I tend to be then you probably haven't!) about The Little White Dove 13/13 Reading Challenge. It's a reading challenge issued by The Little White Dove (duh!) to read 13 books in 2013. If you know even the smallest thing about me you'll know that I get massive lady wood for all things books and reading, so joining in a reading challenge for 2013 was a no-brainer! You can read my first update here, and my second update here.

What I'd read at last update (11.06.13) - 

1. Bones are Forever - Temeperance Brennan Series - Kathy Reichs

2. 11th Hour - Women's Murder Club Series - James Patterson

3. Deadlocked - Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Series - Charlaine Harris

4. Black Ice - Detective Jill Jackson Mysteries - Leah Giarrantano

5. Vodka Doesn't Freeze - Detective Jill Jackson Mysteries - Leah Giarrantano

6. Voodoo Doll - Detective Jill Jackson Mysteries - Leah Giarrantano

7. Feed - Newsflesh Triliogy - Mira Grant

8. Deadline - Newsflesh Trilogy - Mira Grant

What I've read since last update (11.02.13) -

9. Blackout - Newsflesh Trilogy - Mira Grant

10. Dead Ever After - Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Series - Charlaine Harris

11. The Boleyn Inheritance - The Tudor Court Novels - Philippa Gregory

What I'm Currently reading (August 2013) - 

12. The Constant Princess - The Tudor Court Novels - Philippa Gregory

So, I've almost finished the challenge. One and a half books to go. That's not a shabby effort in 7 months if I do say so myself! Considering in those 7 months how much we have had on, not to mention work, toddler-wrangling and baby-growing!

After I finished the Newsflash Trilogy I needed to return to something that was familiar and what better way to do that then with 13th and final book in the Sookie Stackhouse series, Dead Ever After.

It wasn't a bad read, and I can't say I'm too surprised by the ending, but I would have liked a little more closure for some of the characters. Yes, Sookie is the main character, and so of course it's right that all the action centered around her, and we did get a wrap-up for nearly all of the characters that have popped in and out of the books throughout the series. 

But the characters I think she really let down in this final book were the ones that without, there would have been no Southern Vampires series. The vampires! I don't think Bill and Eric, especially Eric, got the treatment they deserved and I found that a little unsatisfying. having said that though, I can't imagine the pressure on Charlaine Harris when it came to ending the series in a way that would keep the majority of fans happy and I think in that regard, and the fact you're never going to please everyone, she did a pretty good job.

After putting the dead to rest for the last time I moved back in time, to the world of the Tudor Court. I've read quite a few Philippa Gregory books, starting with The Other Boleyn Girl and I've really enjoyed them all, and The Boleyn Inheritance was no exception. 

The Bolyen Inheritance follows the story of three women of King Henry VIII's court, Anne of Cleves, his 5th wife, Katherine Howard, his 6th wife, and Jane Boleyn, widow of George Boleyn, Anne Boleyn's brother, who was executed along with Anne.

I found the story to be fascinating and so tragic, three women with no real control over their futures, doing all they can just to survive in the dangerous would that is King Henry's court. The story of Katherine Howard, barely 16 when she was married to the King, is particularly tragic. Granted these books aren't accurate reflections of history, but Philippa Gregory, being an historian, takes great care to back up her fictionalised world using what actual facts are known about these women.

After finishing The Boleyn Inheritance I started on The Constant Princess, a book I've had sitting on my bookshelf for a little while now after I found it for $7 in one of those pop-up bookstalls in the marketplace. The Constant Princess focuses on Katherine of Aragon, King Henry VIII's first wife, and widow of his older brother Arthur.

I have only managed to get halfway through it as I have been distracted by all things baby-making at the moment and getting stuff ready for the imminent arrival. I figure it's probably going to be a while before I actually finish it but that's ok because the next book I really want to read, the new Bridget Jones, isn't out until October I think.

So anyway, that's where I am at, as at the end of July. Not knowing what this new bubs is going to be like I'm not sure how the reading will go from now on but hopefully I'll get a few chapters in here and there!

Have you been reading anything new lately? Any suggestions for me to add to the To Be Read list?

Linking up with the awesome Grace for Flog Yo Blog Friday