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  • 30th November
    2024
  • 30

November Update

Update
I fucked up.
In early November 2024, I decided to close down my self-hosted site, moonlightlibrary.com.
What I didn’t realise though, was that coming back to my original free WordPress blog www.moonlightlibrary.wordpress.com would destroy my direct subscribers.
I exported my subscribers, so I do have the record of everyone who was subbed before I shut down ML.
However, when I tried to…

  • 31st October
    2024
  • 31
  • 25th October
    2024
  • 25

Quitting self-hosted blogging

I’ve been thinking about this for a really long time.
My Early Blogging Journey
I started reviewing books in 2010 because I didn’t really have anyone else to talk to about the books I was reading. In 2012 I launched my book blog, The Moonlight Library, and I really enjoyed all aspects of my original blog, which was hosted for free on wordpress.com. I  worked really hard on it, and I proved that…

  • 18th October
    2024
  • 18

How Goodreads and Blogging Transformed Me As A Reader

Reflecting on my journey as a reader and blogger, I often wonder how different things would be without the incredible community and resources provided by Goodreads. It’s fascinating to consider how my reading habits have evolved and how much I owe to both blogging and Goodreads for the diverse range of books I’ve encountered. Without these platforms, my literary world might have been much…

  • 11th October
    2024
  • 11

Authors Don’t Owe You Everything

Ever found yourself asking why the dragons in a fantasy novel are all blue, or how a sci-fi society manages their interstellar postal service? It’s totally natural to have those burning questions, but let’s talk about why not every nook and cranny of a world needs to be explained for the story to shine.
Worldbuilding is one of those magical elements that can turn a good book into an unforgettable…

  • 4th October
    2024
  • 04

The Ivies by Alexa Donne

I quite enjoyed The Ivies by Alexa Donne.
Donne debuted as a sci-fi romance author, but it appears she has pivoted and found a niche in YA thrillers, and I for one applaud that. I love it when an author who has found moderate success in one genre pivots into another and it takes off.
Before I go any further I do want to talk about the mystery genre in general: to reiterate that if you can predict…

  • 30th September
    2024
  • 30
  • 27th September
    2024
  • 27

Gone Too Far by Natalie D Richards

I really enjoyed Gone Too Far by Natalie D Richards who, I have discovered since reading the book, is known for YA psychological thrillers. Gone Too Far was published in 2015 but it feels like it could have come out recently. I also want to mention that YA thrillers are one of my favourite genres in audiobook, and I almost never read them in ebook or paperback because I’m largely unable to resist…

  • 20th September
    2024
  • 20

League of Liars by Astrid Scholte

League of Liars is not what I was expecting, but I still really enjoyed it.
I thought the book was very well plotted, with distinct and well-rounded characters. I really enjoyed the chaos of the magic system and I thought it was more of an original take than what we usually get in YA fantasy: rather than giving magic powers to people, anyone can access this magic but the results are often…

  • 13th September
    2024
  • 13

ARC Review: A Five-Letter Word For Love by Amy James

I have been charmed by a romance book based on Wordle.
Do y’all remember the word game that took over the internet during the pandemic? That’s what this book is based on: a young woman named Emily, adrift in life, unfocused but convinced she’s destined for greatness, and her love for Wordle.
I don’t like reading books in one day, but I started A Five-Letter Word For Love on Day 1 and finished it…