GoodReads Monday

This weekly meme was started by @Lauren’s Page Turners. It is now being hosted by Budget Tales Book Blog. To participate, choose a random book from your GoodReads TBR and show it off. Which sounds easy enough until you have to decide how to choose that book! I think I will use a different way each week, like picking a color or number of pages. I will let you know each week how I chose the book and then something interesting about it, like how it ended up on the list or why I want to read it. Got it? Okay let’s get started.

Happy Monday! I am back from my travels and I am very much looking forward to a quiet August. For this week’s pick I chose a book by a favorite Australian author. This is the second book in a duology. I really enjoyed the first book, Isles of the Gods and I am really looking forward to this second book.

The Heart of the World by Amie Kaufman

Publication Date: September 17, 2024

Summary from Goodreads:

When Selly and Leander began their treacherous voyage to the Isles of the Gods, the captain’s daughter and the playboy prince were strangers. But amid talk of war and a deadly attack on their ship, the unthinkable happened.

They fell in love.

Leander’s ritual at the island temple was meant to prevent a war between the gods. Instead, it nearly cost him his life, and drew the goddess Barrica back from exile. Now, as her Messenger, Leander is imbued with her deadly magic, and only Selly’s presence can stop it from consuming him.

But Barrica wasn’t the only immortal roused from sleep. The God of Risk, Macean, was awakened by an enemy all thought dead, and across the sea he’s calling for war.

The fight to save their world will take Selly and Leander from the gilded ballroom of the royal palace to the hallowed halls of an ancient library. Battle lines will be drawn, and bonds will break.

With the wrath of gods and the machinations of power-hungry rulers straining their loyalties, can their love withstand the trials that await them?

Amie Kaufman also announced recently that she is coming to the US for this book, and she will be in Seattle around the time of its release. I haven’t decided yet if I will go or not, but I’m kind of leaning towards going. Who knows when she might be back again, so I should see her while I can. I will probably try to reread the first book, before tackling this one as I am a little hazy on the details. But I am super excited to be getting the next book in this great fantasy duology.

Until next time…