All Antonia Bernardin Blog posts

Welcome to the place for endless scrolling

If you don’t care about the categories and just want to scroll through my posts newest to oldest, this is the place!

And No Birds Sing – CT Klass

Indie spotlight: And No Birds Sing – CT Klass CT Klass is a Welsh speaking writer of creepy stories living in Yorkshire Their book And No Birds Sing is a sun-bleached, nostalgic, coming-of-age story in the tradition of British folk horror, perfect for 90’s kids, weird kids, and anyone who was ever scared to look…
Setanta and The Lady By The Water – J M Lane

Setanta and The Lady By The Water by J M Lane was the 37th book I read this year and another Indie book sent to me through the Indie spotlight post I did on Tiktok!
20 ‘He falls first’ book trope recs list

It’s time for another trope recommendation list and this time I turned to Booktok asking for inspiration on tropes I hadn’t made lists for yet. ‘He falls first’ is exactly as it sounds… it’s books where the male main character falls first! My rec lists don’t come with loads of chit chat, it’ll just be…
Current TBR – September

Interested in my upcoming reads? Here’s a little glimpse into what I plan to read soon and what you can expect to see on the blog shortly after! With a holiday coming up, I’m planning the books I’ll be taking away with me.
August reading wrap up

I read seven books in August and it’s a mix of some veryyy long ones and some short ones that bumped the total up. The biggest headline news is that I finally finished Zodiac Academy, so stand by for those reviews! Here’s a summary of everything I read in August. Take a look to find…
Call of the Black Wing – Tristan Gray

Indie spotlight: Call of the Black Wing – Tristan Gray In a treacherous world filled with deception and distrust, Fiadh the Crow had plied her trade ridding the people of the Seann Àite of spirits and monsters. Beneath it all lies whispers in the dark leading men astray, whispers from a world beyond her own….
Trapped – Sarah Gorman

Trapped by Sarah Gorman was the 36th book I read this year and my first review of an Indie book sent to me through the Indie spotlight post!
For Whom the Bell Tolls – Jaysea Lynn

My 33rd read of the year was For Whom the Bell Tolls by Jaysea Lynn, the first book in the Hell’s Belles series. I have followed this author for years on Tiktok and I was so excited when she announced the book, but slightly concerned because some skits for Tiktok definitely don’t translate well to…
Prove me wrong – Rebekah Bertram

Prove me Wrong by Rebekah Bertram was the 38th book I read this year, this book was sent to me by Twisted Tales PR and marketing as an ARC but the book is now officially out and available for you to read too!
The Paradise Problem

My 33rd read of the year was The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren. I’ve been making my way through a lot of their books lately and I really enjoy them, so be prepared for a wholly biased review.
Falling for Red – Elenor Pountain

Indie spotlight: Falling for Red – Elenor Pountain He’s a serial ladies’ man who can charm his way into any woman’s underwear. She’s a career focused woman who has no time for relationships. What happens when you meet someone, who you feel could be everything right, but you’re scared to invest? Could they have their…
Small Talk

Small Talk: 10 ADHD lies and how to stop believing them by Richard Pink and Roxanne Pink was my 32nd read of the year.
July reading wrap up

I read six books this month but a couple were a little longer, so I’m pretty pleased with that total! I’ve had a lot more time for reading lately so although that 100 books total might not happen, I think I’ll end up with a pretty respectable total! Here’s a summary of everything I read…
Reclaim Your Narrative – Morghan MacVillar

Indie spotlight: Reclaim Your Narrative – Morghan MacVillar Reclaim Your Narrative is a guided journaling book that blends science-backed writing methods with thoughtful prompts and spacious pages for self-expression
Slaying the vampire conqueror

My 31st read of the year was Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent, book 2.5 in the Crowns of Nyaxia series.
Loud

The 30th book I read this year was Loud by Drew Afualo. Drew is a Tiktoker whose content is famous for dragging the not so nice men of the internet but she has since gone on to be involved in a few podcasts and bunch of other cool stuff. As someone who has enjoyed her…
My Cradle Your Grave – Sharon Jackson

Indie spotlight: My Cradle Your Grave – Sharon Jackson Sharon is an avid reader and a self proclaimed book bug, who took her nightmares and turn them into crime novels!
The Soulmate Equation

My 29th read of the year was The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren, I am a huge fan of this author duo and recently bought a whole bunch of their books to make my way through.
All my rage

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir was the 27th book I read this year. This author also wrote The Ember in the Ashes series, which I absolutely loved so I just bought this book on faith, even though it’s a completely different genre.
Sun Blessed – Daisy Florence

Indie spotlight: TSun Blessed – Daisy Florence- Daisy Florence is a writer of dark fantasy and romance. She’s a sucker for powerful women, feminine rage, and the dark and mysterious. ‘It only takes one day to destroy a kingdom.’
June reading wrap up

Somehow I read 7 book in June… considering I also moved, not entirely sure how that happened but that makes this my month with the most reads? Here’s a summary of everything I read in June. Take a look to find what I’ve either already reviewed or reviews to come.
Reading, writing and life check in – 1/2 of 2025

We’re at the half way point of 2025 and It’s time for a check in! Lots has been happening in life, some reading has occurred and almost no writing….
The Dating Ban – Dani Elias

Indie spotlight: The Dating Ban – Dani Elias – A British author who can’t write morally grey even if she tries. Green flag guys rule her book world. Prepare for a laugh-out-loud romcom bursting with quirky characters, cheeky banter and enough chemistry to steam up your coffee.
Greek Mythology retellings – HM Roberts

Indie spotlight: Greek Mythology retellings by HM Roberts – an author, mum of three, yoga enthusiast and chocolate eater. HM Roberts writes character driven Greek reimaginings, with lyrical prose and tragic endings.
Chaos – Franziska Samson

Indie spotlight: Chaos – Franziska Samson, a debut fantasy author whose book is the first of series. Seraphina has no memories of her past except for disturbing dreams, when she’s thrown out of her peaceful life into the middle of a battle, she discovers there’s more to her powers than she knew and she’s forced…
All Gods Must Die – Soraya Cole

Indie spotlight: All Gods Must Die – Soraya Cole – this is the first book in a new fantasy series that is inspired by Irish Mythology. Full of mystery, betrayal, a unique magic system and a prophecy, get ready to be brought on one epic adventure.
Aunties series

The Aunties series by Jesse Q Sutanto was my 22nd, 24th and 25th read this year. This series is made of: Dial A for Aunties, Four Aunties and a Wedding and The Good, The Bad, The Aunties.
Imposter syndrome – writer edition

Since 2021 I have done yearly reflections on imposter syndrome and how I have experienced it. None of these spoke about me and writing though, so I think it’s time we talked about it
Melting for you – Tegan Phillips

Indie spotlight: Melting for you – Tegan Phillips, Tegan is a debut author writing romance stories with ‘big movie’ kind of love. In the game of second chances, can they follow the rules?
10 fantasy books recs – recent releases

Here’s a quick and easy rec list of fantasy books I have read, that are recent releases (or at least, the final book in the series was).
May reading wrap up

Once again, I only read 5 books but that’s okay, that seems to be my current normal so, although it’s not good for my overall reading goals, I’m okay with where I’m at, life is busy. Here’s a summary of everything I read in May. Take a look to find what I’ve either already reviewed…
Words of Encouragement – Janice J

Indie spotlight: Words of Encouragement – Janice J has written 4 books on Encouragement. Three are season-themed (with the 4th due out soon), and one more has short words of encouragement comprising 7 categories.
Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac

This review has been a long time coming! Over the last few months I have been listening to the Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac series by Caronline Peckham and Susanne Valenti. This was my 66th, 80th and 82nd read of last year, and the 17th and 23rd of this year!
Warrior Fae

This is book 5 in the Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac series by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, and it was the 23rd book I read this year.
Ark Angel – Mikaela A.E.

Indie spotlight: Ark Angel – Mikaela A.E – dystopian with a twist, blending soft sci/fi and fantasy elements. A reader described it as an interesting blend of “hunger games and the matrix.” Another reader said it was “dystopian chaos with plant based trauma”
Sweet Fate – Dia Constantine & Ellena Andrews

Indie spotlight: Sweet Fate – Dia Constantine & Ellena Andrews. Sweet Fate is the first book of the Fate’s Trilogy, part of the Tales of the Blood Lilies. The story is focused on the desire of Fate, who is embodied as a woman, to become mortal, thereby giving up her immense power.
Zodiac Academy memes

It’s time for more bookish memes! I read Zodiac Academy a couple years back and loved it, so it ‘s strange that I’ve never done a meme compilation
The Five Crowns of Okrith series review

The Five Crowns of Okrith by A.K.Mulford is a series that have spoken about very enthusiastically here before. I’ve been reading this authors books since they were a debut indie author, I thought it was about time I compiled all the reviews together in one place now this is a complete series
Holly Ruscoe – Not Just Skin Deep

The first indie spotlight: Holly Ruscoe – Not Just Skin Deep – an honest and empowering guide to healing after heartbreak.
Current TBR – May

Interested in my upcoming reads? Here’s a little glimpse into what I plan to read soon and what you can expect to see on the blog shortly after!
Funny Story

Funny Story is the latest book by Emily Henry and was my 21st read of the year. I’ve yet to read a bad one by her so let’s see if this newest book is just as good!
April reading wrap up

April was a little better than last month! It helps I had some time off over Easter but I’m also making an effort to put down my phone and read instead. Plus, I’ve given up on following a TBR, I’m letting myself mood read for a bit. Here’s a summary of everything I read in…
Seven Days in June

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams has been on my TBR forever after seeing booktuber, Lexi – AKA newlynova, recommend it a bunch. Well, I finally read it and it was my 20th read of the year!
Deep End

The latest book by Ali Hazelwood, Deep End, was the 19th book I read this year. This one caused quite a stir on booktok so I HAD to read it.
Broken Fae

Broken Fae is the 4th book in the Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac series by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti and was my 17th read of 2025.
My Feral Romance

My Feral Romance by Tessonja Odette was the 16th book I read this year, I wanted a short-ish listen and this book was included on Everand, so I thought, why not?
20 ‘She’s mine’ book trope recs

It’s been agesss since I’ve done a book trope rec list! So let’s get going with our favourite run if this was said to you by a real-life partner trope: ‘She’s mine’/ ‘their mine’/ ‘your mine’. It it toxic AF? Yes. But as long as it’s fiction we can indulge in it a little.
Indie/ debut author spotlight

I’m launching an Indie Author Spotlight to promote smaller and indie authors. The posts will feature information from submissions, providing these authors with visibility as my way helping out
Chaotic Guidance

The 18th book I read in 2025 was Chaotic Guidance by Dari A. Malaunt I was given an ARC copy of the book and now it’s officially launched, I can share my thoughts!
Reading, writing and life check in – 1/4 of 2025

This post is part of series of quarterly check-ins, with a little bit about life, a little writing, and a little bit of reading stats