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Kaye 📖 Rivers

@kayerivers

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🔮 Mainly fantasy, partly everything
🇸🇪🇵🇪 mom of two trying to get some reading done
🌍 Reading around the globe
CR: Ireland 🇮🇪

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Whistler – Ann Patchett

A slow story about family, identity, and past trauma that manages to reel you in without you even realising it. Such a bittersweet story.

I’d never really thought about children’s utter powerlessness when it comes to stepparents, and how bonds can be forged as easily as they can be broken—but not necessarily forgotten.

And also, putting past (and current traumas) into words. Allowing the real you take the stage.

What do you think of these type of slow burners? Any favourite?

#annpatchett #whistler #literaryfiction #bookreview #bookstagram by @kayerivers

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19 hours ago

A great reading month for me 😍 how was your September?

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 4-8 — Beth Brower
Foster — Claire Keegan
Small Things Like These — Claire Keegan
Frankie — J. M. Gutsch & Maxime Leo
Whistler — Ann Patchett
Alchemised — SenLinYu
Ultravåld — Tone Schunnesson
The Women — Kristin Hannah

#readingmonth #bookstagram #emmamlion #historicalfiction #fantasybooks by @kayerivers

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2 days ago

The Women by Kristin Hannah

The sweet spot between history and captivating fiction has found a permanent place in my heart, and The Women is no exception. What a story.

Not only did I learn about the Vietnam War, the politics surrounding it, and the American public’s opinion of it, but also about the plight of women during this time and how silenced and utterly disregarded they were.

We get to follow young Frances (Frankie), who wants to serve her country. It’s a tale of identity, love, politics, friendship, and ultimately, finding your own way.

So glad I read it! Do you have a favourite Kristin Hannah or historical fiction book?

#kristinhannah #thewomenkristinhannah #historicalfiction #bookstagram #bookreview by @kayerivers

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12 days ago

🐈 Frankie by Jochen Gutsch and Maxim Leo

It’s an unexpectedly deep story from the perspective of a stray cat who adopts a suicidal human. It touches on many different themes, such as depression, grief, the meaning of life, love, and hope.

It’s a thought-provoking, short book and perfect in between longer reads. Originally written in German. Also, so cute with the cat as the main POV!

Rating: 3/5 ⭐

#contemporaryliterature #philosophical #frankie #jochengutsch #maximleo by @kayerivers

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21 days ago

OMG—I got so lucky while thrifting in August, but I was also unexpectedly gifted two books by a friend ❤️

Which should I start with? 🤩

#bookhaul #bookstack #thriftedbooks #bookstagram

Of Blood and Bone by John Gwynne is set in the same world as The Faithful and the Fallen, which I loved! But why haven’t I heard more about these? That makes me afraid… Have you read them? Are they as good?

#johngwynne #ofbloodandbone #epicfantasy

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse is a gamble! I hadn’t heard anything about it but was intrigued by the pre-Columbian-inspired setting, looking forward to checking it out. Anyone that read this?

#rebeccaroanhorse #blacksun #betweenearthandsky

Strange Pictures and Strange Houses by Uketsu have been on my radar, and I was unexpectedly gifted these by a friend ❤️ I get easily scared, so I’m a bit afraid to get started. Are they very scary? Piraneesi gave me nightmares, I kid you not. 😅

#uketsu #strangepictures #strangehouses #mystery

And lastly—The Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski! Six books, so not the full series, but still, it was such a bargain I couldn’t stop myself. This will definitely be my Polish read. Do you have a favourite Polish book?

#thewitcher #andrzejsapkowski #geralt #darkfantasy by @kayerivers

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24 days ago

A quiet, slow novella. About the wrongs that are and the rights that could’ve been.

Claire Keegan has a magical way with words that creeps up on you and forces its way into your heart. This was heartbreaking in all its slowness and in all the things that weren’t said. And this only in 88 pages.

Do you have a favourite Keegan novella?

#clairekeegan #foster #irishliterature #contemporaryliterature #readaroundtheworldchallenge by @kayerivers

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a month ago

Sorry for going AWOL, but September is my busiest month aaand… I’ve been devouring The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion. @bethbrower , how can you do this to me? I never expected to become so enamoured with this world, and it’s been a long time since I felt such emptiness after finishing a series. Luckily, there’s a whole lot more Emma M. Lion planned.

Tragic circumstances, horrendous relatives, but oh-so-witty and lovable characters—with all the Pride and Prejudice vibes. Love it.

One note: the first book felt a bit like a prologue so expect it to be a bit slow, but afterwards? I couldn’t stop myself.

Have you read these? How are you dealing with the Emma M. Lion hangover?

#theunselectedjournalsofemmamlion #emmamlion #historicalfiction #historicalromance #bookrecs by @kayerivers

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a month ago

Ultravåld by Tone Schunnesson

Uncomfortable. Dysfunctional. Disturbing.

One of the most talked about books in Sweden 2026.

What happens when dysfunctional people with trauma create dysfunctional children and give them trauma? Ultravåld gives you a glimpse into such lives through different POVs: the completely detached-from-reality mother, the cold and emotionless brother, the anxious sister, and the (I can’t even start to state what the hell is wrong with) father.

The story sits uncomfortably in your stomach, threatening to come back up, but it hooked me and kept me reading, building towards a crescendo. It became a bit too “Hollywood” for me towards the end (trying to keep this very spoiler-free), which took away from the experience.

Have you read Ultravåld? How did you feel?

#swedishliterature #svenskliteratur #ultravåld #toneschunnesson #bookreview by @kayerivers

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a month ago

Àyànmó – Ìbèrè by Ponle Oluwole

I kid you not, I should’ve read the physical book instead of listening to the audiobook. Misunderstand me correctly—the narrator was great, but epic fantasy in audio seems to go over my head. I’m a map follower. 😅

This epic fantasy is inspired by Yoruba mythology and was sooo cool, but I needed a glossary. Guess what had the glossary? The physical book. 😂

Otherwise, this was an amazing adventure with a badass female main character. We get to know more about her as she herself discovers more about her own background. Good against evil, epic battles, and a LOT going on.

There’s quite a lot of military context, and one thing that bothered me a little was how eloquent everyone was. The language was so top-notch 😅

I’m actually considering buying a physical copy and rereading it before book two, because I think I’d enjoy it even more that way.

Thank you sooo much @theneverendingbookdragon , for the recommendation! I wouldn’t have found this otherwise, and I loved having it as my fantasy read for Nigeria. 🇳🇬

Do you have a favourite Nigerian read or African fantasy?

#nigerianfantasy #nigerianliterature #readaroundtheworld #readtheworld #bookreview by @kayerivers

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a month ago

Hyped book? Yes. Does it deserve it? Yes.
This was such a CUTE read and I did not expect that 🥹 I truly enjoyed how the story was set up and the way it unfolded. I sometimes got stuck trying to understand parts of the science but that’s just me 😅 also, spiders have a whole new meaning to me now ❤️

#bookreview #andyweir #projecthailmary #microreview #readingnow by @kayerivers

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2 months ago

I’ve had so much fun reading in August, and I think I’ve had ALL THE FEELS. Tragedy, horror, adventure, happiness. And that’s what I love about reading. The experiences.

I unexpectedly stumbled upon The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion and loved these short diaries. They’re so witty and fun! On the other end, Half of a Yellow Sun as well as Kindred have been the books that impacted me the most this month. Both absolute masterpieces. Both modern classics.

I’m a bit behind on my mini-reviews but will try to catch up! We’re transitioning to a new schedule at home after summer vacation, but I’m still home with my little one.

Half of a Yellow Sun - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
My Sister, the Serial Killer - Oyinkan Braithwaite
Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir
Kindred - Octavia E. Butler
Golden Son - Pierce Brown
Àyànmo: Ìbere - Ponle Oluwole
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion 1,2,3 - Beth Brower
Katabasis - R. F. Kuang

#monthlywrapupreads #monthlyreading #augustreadingwrapup #augustreads #books by @kayerivers

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2 months ago

☝️me looking on my evergrowing pile of TBR 🤣

I have a batch of physical books so think I need to step up my game! Also, think I have a great mix this time around and a perfect transition to autumn 🍁 what are you reading in September?

#tbr #septembertbr #bookstagram #bookstagramsweden

I’m so looking forward to buddy read Alchemised of SenLinYu together with bokklubb romantasy. I’ve heard so much of it and omg - is it a brick of a book or not 😅

Anything I should know before diving in?

#senlinyu #alchemised #tbr #bookclub

Drumroll pls 🥁 next country is 🇮🇪 IRELAND!

Claire Keegan and Maggie O’Farrell are househokd names for Irish literature and my friend picked the physical copies up for me when she travelled to Manchester ❤️
Also longing to read The Children of Gods and Fighting Men a fantasy set in Ireland. I think this is going to be a great country read!

Any important Irish book I should add?

#maggieofarrell #clairekeegan #shaunalawless #readingaroundtheworld #thechildrenofgodsandfightingmen

Omg. How have I been sleeping on Emma M Lion? My girl be struggling! I love the wittiness 🥹

Also, time to pick up Ultravåld which had been such a sensation in Sweden. Bit scared to be honest

#emmamlion #ultravåld #bethbrower #toneschunnesson #tbr by @kayerivers

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2 months ago