The Last Namsara (Iskari #1)

Author: Kristen Ciccarelli

Publisher: Gollancz
Year: Oct 2017

Pages: 415

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Reading Time: 1-8 October

Binding: ARC

Goodreads

Blurb:

 Asha is a dragon slayer. Reviled by the very people she's sworn to protect, she kills to atone for the terrible deed she committed as a child.

 One that almost destroyed her city, and left her with a terrible scar.

She wears her scar with pride, but to others, her skin tells a story of devastation, of fiery deaths, of Asha's irredeemable wickedness.

 Only the death of Kozu, the First Dragon, will bring Asha true redemption and unite her father's fractured kingdom. But no one' battles Kozu and lives, so to defeat him she will have to do some very wicked things. . .

Review:

 Nearly a month and 4 books later I have gotten around to writing my review. I won a copy of the arc at YALC on the Gollancz stall. There was a lucky dip of golden eggs so I rooted around a bit and picked one out. I opened to find chocolate eggs and thought damn, chocolate being the standard sorry you didn't win prize but the stall runners gave me a small cheer. Hidden amongst the golden wrapped chocolates was a small jewel. A slither of paper telling me I'd won the arc. Whoop! WHOOP!!!
 Look at it. . . it's glorious. Shiny, red and gold and shiny! Whispers *I like it more than the official cover.* What? How dare she? I think the the arc reminds me of Camelot, flags, sigils and all the traditional stuff you don't get so much outside of Game of Thrones. I like the black and white scheme on the official cover but I just don't like faces on covers. The use of the lower face is really well done and mysterious BUT if it's supposed to be Asha then where's the scarring? I've got a signed edition on order from Goldsboro regardless. . .
 Alert, Ciccarelli will be in the UK, where do I find this fantastic woman? Who's doing an event? PLEASE!
 Can you tell I'm excited by this book? It has dragons, who wouldn't be excited? I'm putting too many questions in this post.
 I really enjoyed the writing, there was a nice pace throughout and though it may be like stories you've seen before, Ciccarelli really makes you live this book. I think that happened for me mostly due to the presence of Asha's betrothed, Jarek. He was a very real and looming threat that had me as worried for Asha as I would be for myself in his hands. Par the dragons, the world building has history and religion on an excellent scale that I can see will only be developed in coming books. So the Iskari is set to be a trilogy, the magical three hits again. I'm not sure it's going to be enough for me.
 Now, at my local Waterstone's this isn't found in the teen/YA section but the fantasy and sci-fi section for older readers. Finding a way of saying adult section without saying it is difficult. Not the kids section, just the general books, ya know? I have to say I think it's YA. The romance in there is very typically YA. The subjects dealt with regarding slavery and Jarek are guided by a strong hand and become more sinister as everything goes on. Loved it.
 Dragon fire is toxic and Asha was burned badly as a child in an accident that led to many deaths and great destruction in her father's city. But dragons can only breathe fire when they are told stories, stories which everyone is forbidden to speak. In her position she is constantly watched by the people though they never meet her eyes. For the horror she endured, her people suffered worse and blame Asha so she has spent her life since hunting dragons. All at once Asha is trying to be accepted by her people whilst knowing she is above them, her approaching wedding to the possessive Jarek is her only way out. But then one of his slaves meets her eyes after a fresh burn from dragon fire and everything begins to unwind.
 This is the beginning to a series I can see growing on a large scale and I've seen pitifully little of it in the media thus far. Jump on this bandwagon people! Join me! There is character development to be had. Tension to make you sit on the edge. Injustice to make you tear out hair. Faith to make you hope. Stories to make you wonder.
 Dragons. 'Nuff said.

Moxie

Author: Jennifer Mathieu

Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton

Year: Sep 2017

Pages: 340

Genre: Young Adult

Reading Time: 4 - 8 Aug
Binding: Uncorrected Proof Copy

Goodreads

Blurb:
 Vivian Carter is fed up. Fed up with a school administration at her small-town Texas high school that thinks the football team can do no wrong. Fed up with sexist dress codes, hallway harassment, and gross comments from guys during class. But most of all, Viv Carter is fed up with always following the rules.
 Viv's mum was a tough-as-nails, punk rock Riot Grrrl in the '90s, and now Viv takes a page from her mother's past and creates a feminist zine that she distributes anonymously to her classmates. She's just blowing off steam, but other girls respond. As Viv forges friendships with other young women across the divides of cliques and popularity rankings, she realises that what she has started is nothing short of a girl revolution.

Review:
 I loved this book, I haven't read what I would label a strictly feminist book until now. I won a copy of this arc at YALC and am so glad that I got it otherwise this book wouldn't have gotten on my radar for my TBR. It's the kind of book I skim over when I see it. The pink, the contemporary setting. Blech!
 Way to stomp on my stereotyping, Jennifer Mathieu!
 I only recently left school and wish that Moxie was around then. The setting is entirely believable because for the most part, it's relatable. There were slight differences for me having gone to school in
the UK. The footballers were just my school's sporty lot that didn't have much else going for them. The PE teachers let them get away with everything and other teachers didn't bother because the students clearly didn't care. The 'make me a sandwich' comments were used at my school but bullying was such an issue for everyone we never really thought about it. We had uniform, but stupid things like nail polish, natural hair colours, bras not visible through our white blouses and only one set of earrings was only ever a problem for the girls. Yet the stage where boys walked around with their trousers halfway down their asses went mostly unnoticed. All of these school experiences helped me connect and empathise with the girls in  Moxie.
 I struggled for a while over whether Viv was inspirational or not. She's a small town girl who doesn't step out of her comfort zone and keeps quiet. Her anger and resentment isn't expressed until she publishes the first Moxie zine. She keeps quiet about her involvement in Moxie, which makes her inspirational for me. I'm not a quiet person once you get to know me, say something I disagree with and I'll call you out. Viv kept quiet for a selfless reason until a very Wild Child moment. The lack of a face behind the Moxie zine inspires others and makes the other girls in the school feel as though anyone can do it. Leading to good and bad consequences as you'd expect of any kind of revolutionary movement.
 Viv got on my nerves in one small respect which is an achievement, believe me. I pick holes in contemporary female characters a lot as I think of who I can relate them to and why I didn't like them. A bad habit. Viv uses the word 'zine' and wants to insist everyone else do so when talk about the Moxie 'zines'. Irritated me to no end. I genuinely had to look this word up, I knew it was short for magazines but I had to make sure. At the time I'm writing this I'm finding out it actually is also usually self-published by one or very few people and reproduced via photocopiers. So technically, she's right and I just thought it was some retro word she was picking up from her mum.
 The other female characters in Moxie cover a large range for a smallish book. You have the inspirational woman in Viv's mum. You have a beaten down feminist, a girl who thinks feminism is some kind of cult and girls just too nervous about standing up for themselves. Though this is based in a small town in Texas there are girls of many races and a few of different sexualities. Don't get me wrong, the range could always be greater but the point it makes gets across.
 There has been a little debate over a character called Seth but I thought he was believable more than anything. He's a guy that tries to understand and help feminist movements and he gets a bit idolised in the beginning. To be honest, when he didn't understand and Viv got angry I thought she was bang out of order. As a guy, it's shown he simply can't understand how the odds are stacked against girls. It's also shown that he's willing to listen and learn so he can better understand and support the females in this book. He highly contrasts the males that are causing the problems at this school but again, I think that draws parallels with the real world, especially in school.
 The first line on the proof cover is 'A MANUAL ON HOW TO START A FEMINIST REVOLUTION' and I couldn't agree more. This book shows that whatever action is taken doesn't have to be big. It reminds you revolutions start small and grow. I really can see this as a hidden instruction manual for some and see these actions working in schools. It's excellent.
 I can't see any woman or girl that went to a school not feeling rallied by the end of Moxie. That's how I felt, rallied, alone in my bedroom reading this I felt ready to go out and fight because someone out there would join me. Not literally fight, I'm too small for that but my nails do gain me some points. I wanted to go back to my school and set things right, I wanted to be in a room full of people feeling the same, I wanted to DO SOMETHING! That's a first and I certainly hope it won't be the last.

Editing Emma

Author: Chloe Seager
Publisher: HQ (Harper Collins)
Year: Aug 2017
Pages: 328
ISBN: 9780008220976
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Reading Time: 1 - 4 Aug
Binding: Signed Paperback
Goodreads

Blurb:

 When Emma Nash is ghosted by love of her life Leon Naylor, she does what any girl would do - spends the summer avoiding all human contact, surrounded by the Chewit wrappers he left behind.

 Seeing Leon suddenly 'in a relationship' on Facebook, however, spurs Emma into action. She vows to use the internet for good (instead of stalking Leon's social media), chronicling her adventures on her new Editing Emma blog.

 But life online doesn't always run smoothly.

 From finding her mum's Tinder profile, to getting catfished and accidentally telling the entire world why Leon Naylor is worth no girl's virginity . . . Surely nothing else could go wrong?

Review:

 This is totally not the kind of book I would usually pick up, but it was signed and an exclusive early release at discounted price for YALC so I went for it! Who can say no to a signed bargain?
 A lot of people are comparing this to Louise Rennison's books which is understandable. It's the same kind of humour, plot and intended audience. Here I should point out I own three books of the Confessions of Georgia Nicholson series and I don't remember finishing any of them, maybe only the first. I enjoyed the humour, laughed my head of when I watched the movie but couldn't get past the pathetic and petty actions that were so unbelievable. It was much the same with Editing Emma.
 The humour was good, really good. Of what I remember of Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging this book is for a slightly older audience. There's joking about masturbation, a subject not nearly talked about enough amongst young women that will be relatable for some and abhorrent for others not there yet. I thought it was hilariously nonchalant considering where the text was being posted.
 The book is a series of posts on Emma's private blog. The concept of a private blog I have a problem with, I just don't understand it. Why bother? Why not just go with a good old-fashioned, handwritten diary. The handwriting shows emotion. You can sketch stupid stuff. It can be burned. Someone is going to find this blog. As I see it there were some comments on the blog posts by people Emma surely wouldn't have given the address to. Maybe they were Twitter posts, it was unclear. I have no problem with epistolary-like books, I enjoy them, it's a breath of fresh air in a library of chunky books and long chapters. But she posted so often it became unbelievable, this blog was clearly being used as a diary to express every thought in her little head.
 A good book in general but especially a contemporary book you are supposed to empathise with, in my opinion, needs a likeable character. Emma was no such thing. She ponders after Leon and exhibits some really creepy habits that set a pretty pathetic character that I'd have nothing to do with if I  met her in real life. I'm not picking up those pieces all the time, get on with your life. I had a few crushes I obsessed over and I knew I thought about them too much. Yes, we all stalk our crushes on social media. Yes, the tings they touch can occasionally look as if they've turned to gold. But she was on another, unbelievable level. I just can't or don't want to imagine someone could really be sunk to such a pathetic level over a boy at that age.
 I wasn't a fan of her friends either, their characters were your typical range of friends but they were portrayed bitterly through Emma and so came across negative. Her friends in truth, were so lovely by even dealing with Emma in her state but she was blind to their needs. If they had problems of their own they were selfish, if they didn't make an effort to cheer her up they got the cold shoulder. All vented about on the 'safe place' of her blog. For me it portrayed that kind of competition and pettiness between  girls that is very true and brought back a lot of bad memories for me.
 I haven't got the book on me whilst writing this (Hola Feurteventura!) but I remember the ending to be this kind of discovery that didn't ring true. It just. . . appeared. It was a bit of a non-ending to a straight lined character arc. Emma was changing her outlook on life as a new way to deal with her rejections. Same old story. Denial disguised as a revelation.
 At a younger age, all for this. If you're getting into Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal snogging about now, go for it. It's a funny and to an extent realistic book. A few years later you'll see the flaws.

YALC 2017 Book Haul

So I've been quiet the past few months, I've had A levels and then YALC, need I say more?

Here are all the books I gained at YALC with a swag video to come later, beware my use of 'awesome' and 'excited'.

S.T.A.G.S.

Author: M.A. Bennett

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Year: Aug 2017

Pages: 290

ISBN: 9781471406768

Genre: Young Adult Thriller

Reading Time: July 31 - Aug 1
Binding: Signed Paperback

Goodreads

Blurb:

It is the autumn term and Greer MacDonald is struggling to settle into the sixth form at the exclusive St. Aidan the Great boarding school, known to its privileged pupils as S.T.A.G.S. Just when she despairs of making friends Greer receives a mysterious invitation with three words embossed upon on it: huntin' shootin' fishin'. When Greer learns that the invitation is to spend the half term weekend at the country manor of Henry de Warlencourt, the most popular and wealthy boy at S.T.A.G.S., she is as surprised as she is flattered.

But when Greer joins the other chosen few at the ancient and sprawling Longcross Hall, she realises that Henry's parents are not at home; the only adults present are a cohort of eerily compliant servants. The students are at the mercy of their capricious host, and, over the next three days, as the three bloodsports - hunting, shooting and fishing - become increasingly dark and twisted, Greer comes to the horrifying realisation that those being hunted are not wild game, but the very misfits Henry has brought with him from school...

Review:

 Let me start off by saying this is not a mystery. What is going to happen is clear, sometimes because Greer is retrospectively telling us the story and likes to remind us of what happens at the end but also because it's pretty obvious. When the popular kids at school invite the misfits on a secluded weekend that involves weapons, something bad is going to happen and the characters that don't suspect something are naive. Greer likes to make comments on things she sees and link them to her knowledge of movies. When this first happened I thought it was cool, then I realised it added nothing to the story and was just one of the characters odd quirks that entertained herself. Some of the references (Cogsworth) were funny but there were some that I didn't understand, so it got a bit pretentious and added nothing to the story. You'd also think that Greer would have watched plans to humiliate the misfits play out a million times with this movie knowledge, so why the hell wasn't she suspicious sooner?

 This is a thriller for a younger audience, I believe the age suggestion is 14+ and I think at 14 I would have enjoyed it much more. But at 18, I wanted this to be darker. None of the traumatic or shocking parts are really dealt with, they happen quickly and are mostly dismissed by Greer. Instead there is a lot of scenery description (nice) and some teenage relationship obsessing. I think Greer is 17 but she acts about 14 in the face of a possible relationship. I'm not sure whether it's accurate as people get giddy around these kind of changes or if it's a drawback of an adult writing as a teenager. Either way, if an older audience had been decided and this was New Adult instead, it could have been awesome and more bloodthirsty to my liking.

 The plot is good, but knowing who lives and dies from the first few chapters is a bit weird. Greer makes comments on how stupid she was or how she should have felt throughout and this only reminds you that she survives, meaning there aren't any real stakes in this book. If it had been left open, the thriller element of this would have come through perhaps to even a mild horror.

 We spend little time at the school, enough to make an introduction into why Greer's invitation is odd and then we jump into the action. This was really good as I don't think that having long dreary lessons with Greer being lonely and self-pitying would have been entertaining or helped me empathise with her. It likely would have made me dislike her character more. I liked Greer until around the morning of the shootin' day. If you read it, you'll know why. Her attitude was...urgh. She didn't develop a huge amount and nor did any other characters, there were only realisations of what the Medievals were really like. 

 I should mention this Medieval thing, because it could get really annoying. The popular group is called the Medievals, they are old money and act like they still live in our world a few hundred years ago. They use cars but ignore modern technology. Technology is 'Savage'. With a capital 'S'! Swearing is Savage. Phones are Savage. Anything that is Savage is automatically discarded by most people in the school who want to become a part of the Medievals. This is one of those school cliches that works in a book. If it's a social norm at S.T.A.G.S. then it fits, but it's constantly referenced and Greer checks herself for anything Savage before acting in front of the Medievals over the weekend.

 The end was a slow kind of redemption. The act you've been waiting for the entire book happens and there are 50 or so pages left. Things continue and you wonder why until a few things happen and everything becomes bigger than the characters realised which answered a couple of questions I had along the way.

 I realise my review has been pretty negative but I feel like this book won't work for readers that are ready for adult thrillers, it's a kid's thriller book. There are quirks that are irksome for older readers that you wouldn't notice at a younger age. I noticed them, but I still read this book in under 24 hours and enjoyed it whilst I was reading. I'd love for the idea to be told for an adult audience. The underlying ideas the Medievals have are pretty awesome and could pull off some great following books.

A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOTAR #3)

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Year: May 2017
Pages: 699
ISBN: 9781619634480
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #3
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Time: 27 - 30 April
Binding: Hardback
Goodreads

Blurb: 

 A nightmare, I'd told Tamlin. I was the nightmare.

 Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin's manoeuvrings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit - and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well. As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords - and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

 In this thrilling third book of the Court of Thorns series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, the earth will be painted red as mighty armies grapple for power over the one thing that could destroy them all.

 Review:

 I was so lucky that my pre-order shipped early, a year of waiting for this has been truly painful and not a single day has gone past in which I haven't thought about the characters from this series (mostly Rhys). I knew this was going to be my favourite book yet, ACOMAF was exactly what I craved of the characters and this was another step up.

 I was wondering at how long we'd be in the Spring Court during this beast of a book. For me it was the perfect amount just to set the action rolling. Tamlin's role only gets more interesting in this book, and as someone who was rooting for Rhys from the first instant of ACOTAR that is one hell of a compliment. Maas writes characters that you can so easily love or hate. I have had a pure hatred for Nesta the entire series and whether I was meant to or not, such strong feelings towards certain characters can only be a testimony to Maas' craft.

 I didn't put this book down easily, other than to bang my head on the wall or pace my room nervously. I cried, thrice. It's one of those books that takes you through so many emotions that there's no single way to describe it. I thought watching Game of Thrones was stressful, but no longer...

 There is so much I could say, yet too much to know how to write about.

 Cassian stepped up in my expectations, Mor's revelation was a shock but made so much sense, Azriel was more prominent so we could see his strength and resilience. I can't understand how Feyre seems to constantly know what she's doing, I don't think I've been giving her enough credit in the last books. Rhy is just magnificent, uttterly magnificent. Lucien was heartbreaking, the High Lords were fascinating and the battles were glorious.

 When Empire of Storms was released last year Maas revealed a real skill for writing battles . . . and then blew it out of the water in ACOWAR. Suppose the WAR part should have been an indicator, how purposeful was that? Enchanting and gripping descriptions throughout and for me the plot never disappointed. I wanted more lemons and fun scenes, but totally understand why they perhaps should stay in ACOMAF and don't quite fit in ACOWAR.

 My only worry is for the next books, wherein the focus of them hasn't been revealed and that will torture me until there is an announcement. I love these characters so much and no matter the changes don't want to say goodbye. The Chaol novel is not going to tide me over, I'm not a fan of him anyway (gasp!) and was really disappointed by the rescheduling. So what am I to do until May 2018!? 

 Re-read, deny, re-read, cry....

Strange the Dreamer

Author: Laini Taylor
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Year: March 2017
Pages: 532
ISBN: 9781444788983
Series: Strange the Dreamer #1
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Time: March 30 - April 9
Binding: Hardback
Goodreads

Blurb:

 THE DREAM CHOOSES THE DREAMER, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND - and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he's been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

 What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?

 The answer await in Weep, but so do more mysteries - including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo's dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? And if all gods are dead, why does she seem so real?

 WELCOME TO WEEP

Review:

 On Sunday I attended An Evening with Laini Taylor at Waterstone's Piccadilly and it was amazing. Katherine Webber interviewed, radiant as always! The insight to Taylor's development as a writer and inspirations was really encouraging. I found a fair few similarities to her early years of becoming a writer, mainly in that she didn't write anything! It's taking me a while to find a good stimulus with my exams, but I'm really close!

 Strange the Dreamer had been across the YA media for a little while, I did little research into it, wanting a surprise. I think I got as far as knowing about blue people (Karou's hair and now blue skin, what is this obsession with blue!?) and a librarian... Perfect recipe for any book on my shelves! I love nothing more than a character with a deep appreciation for books, what better way to connect with them? I pre-ordered a copy from the elite Golsboro (who then recalled when they sent out the printed signature copies, nightmare trying to get a quick return delivery in time for the real signing!) and avoided a nice sounding book box that I could tell would be featuring this book. Later I saw the signing and got myself on the list pronto, having never finished the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy (gasp) but remembering Taylor's skill at world building and knowing I'd annoy myself if I missed the opportunity to see her speaking.

 Strange the Dreamer was excellent, the language has Taylor's usual exquisite detail and storytelling. In my mind it's not difficult to read at all, neither is it boring but I was so busy that it took me until the day of the signing to finish this book. So much revision to do! I managed to find a copy about a week early from publication too, but couldn't start on it as I was so engrossed in Days of Blood and Starlight.

 Lazlo Strange is a beautiful character, the ideal guy I don't think I've read about in such a central role before. He has a journey of discovery we all wish of for our own lives and I'm so glad we experience the story with him rather than from the POV of the Muse of Nightmares as Taylor initially envisioned. It creates a much larger sense of mystery.

 The book is quite accurate to lots of issues in the present day, the colour of skin still creating divides and the aftermath of unspeakable horrors has left deep scars. The roots of those scars breeding hatred and fear that can only rise to more horrors unknown.

 It's very difficult to talk about this book without giving away spoliers, Let's simply say I thought I knew who was being described in the prologue but no, so wrong. I was shocked to find that Taylor had also thought she knew who it was until the end. It really shows how a story can take charge of itself despite the authors intentions. Past the shock, amazing move by Taylor! 

 I AM HIGHLY EXCITED FOR THE NEXT NOVEL AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS READ!

Good Me Bad Me

Author: Ali Land
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Year: Jan 2017
Pages: 338
ISBN: 9780718182922
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Reading Time: 18 Feb - 13 March
Binding: Hardback Signed Edition
Goodreads

Blurb:

 Annie's mother is a serial killer.

The only way Annie can make it stop is to hand her in to the police.

But out of sight is not out of mind.

The secrets of her past won't let her sleep, even with a new family and name - Milly.

As a team of experts prepare Milly to face her mother at trial, she must confront her past. A fresh start. Now surely she can be whoever she wants to be.
But Milly's mother is a serial killer.

And blood is thicker than water . . .

Review:

 I'm always on the hunt for signed goods at bookshops, the first line of this blurb with the orange signed edition sticker confirmed Good Me Bad Me as a new addition to my shelves. Psychological thrillers are always a good venture out of fantasy and young adult for me, I felt secure in the hands of Land with her degree in mental health.

 At first I thought the main character, Annie/Milly, was much younger. I think this happens a lot when adults try to write from a younger POV, I wasn't fifteen long ago and I didn't think as simply as Milly did. But how am I to know that this isn't the effect her childhood has had on her? It's all a part of the psychology. No one truly knows the mind of these people, it's always educated guessing and speculation until the end.

 The crime being explored is the kind of horrendous act that would be plastered over the news and have families glued to the screen, an excellent choice to draw in readers like myself. This is based in the real world after all. Plenty of pauses where I put the book down and just had to mull things over, haunted to say the least.

 The fostering situation is more developed than the days I used to watch Tracy Beaker, so accurate for the girls ages and surroundings. London breeds mean characters, privileged ones especially that are always excellent to read about such as darling Phoebe. Whom I wanted to punch immediately after meeting. Tells you Land wrote her properly! Her entourage the typical buffoons that I most definitely have seen walking the streets of London too.
 This is a tantalising mystery, made simple in Annie's mind yet we're left to guess so much. Land leaves lots to be wondered at, making you realise your own capacity for what this Annie could have been through. If the contents of this book doesn't disturb you enough, your own imagination when filling in the blanks should.

Caraval (Caraval #1)

Author: Stephanie Garber
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Year: Jan 2017
Pages: 402
ISBN: 9781473629141
Series: Caraval #1
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Time: Jan 12 - 14
Binding: Hardback
Goodreads

Blurb:
 Welcome to Caraval, where nothing is as it seems.
 Scarlett and Tella have never left the tiny isle of Trisda, pining from afar for the wonder of Caraval, a once-a-year week-long performance where the audience participates in the show.
 Caraval is Magic. Mystery. Adventure.
 When the sisters' long-awaited invitations finally arrive, it seems their dreams have come true. But no sooner have they arrived then Tella vanishes, kidnapped by the show's mastermind oraniser, Legend.
 Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is an elaborate performance. But she quickly becomes entangled in a dangerous game of love, magic and heartbreak.
 And real or not, she must find Tella before the game is over, and her sister disappears forever.

Review:
 I'm so glad to finally get my hands on this book! It's been getting mentioned for what seems like ages and I didn't get to read it on publishing day as I had to hunt for my favourite design. You have no idea of the trouble I went through to get that clock! Calls and reservations and all sorts of nonsense! The artwork that went into this is amazing, the exterior designs are excellent (yes, I got the Tesco exclusive as well!) but on the inside... The letter designs are so real, the chapter designs intricate and time separating pages just as thought through!
 I think the anticipation that got built up in the time I was waiting to finally read this truly added magic to my experience. I'm finally allowed in on the story and the wait made the experience more enjoyable than I think it would have if I'd picked Caraval randomly off the shelves.
 So, two days to read and the first day I was weeping after finishing King's Cage and only read the first chapter of Caraval to get my reading in motion. It was an easy read so I tore through this book. Waterstones have put this in the Adults rather than Young Adults section, which I have to question. The way the romance carries chapters of this book makes it YA. Nothing was that bad to make it teen inappropriate. Especially if ACOTAR is allowed on the shelves!
 The characters were what I expected and as someone without a younger sister I despised Tella for her inability to really take care of herself, much as I did Prim in The Hunger Games trilogy. I know, I'm cruel. The way Scarlett attaches colour to emotions added to the magic. Julian calling her Crimson was the icing on my cake for his character, loved him! Dante, oh the tattoos. You'll have to read it... The males were interesting and I'd like to see more of them in future books. And that cliffhanger - uh! I had no idea what was happening, couldn't guess right at any part, which impressed me. It's hard not to know what to expect at the ed of a YA book recently.
 Therefore, you must join the magic. I'm expecting more character depth in future books, this was a fantastical introduction to the world of Caraval. Garber's got to reveal it's secrets in the end or what fun would that be?

King's Cage (Red Queen #3)

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Publisher: Orion Publishing

Year: Feb 2017

Pages: 507

ISBN: 9781409151197

Series: Red Queen #3

Genre: Young Adult

Reading Time: Feb 7 - 12
Binding: Paperback

Goodreads

Blurb:
 Mare Barrow is a prisoner, powerless without her lightning, tormented by her mistakes. She lives at the mercy of a boy she once loved, a boy made of lies and betrayal.
 Now a king, Maven continues weaving his web in an attempt to maintain control over his country - and his prisoner.
 While Mare remains trapped in the palace, the remnants of the Red Rebellion continue organising and expanding. As the prepare for war, no longer able to linger in the shadows, Cal - the exiled prince with his own claim on Mare's heart - will stop at nothing to bring her back.

Review:
 Wow, it feels as though it's been a long wait for this book. When Red Queen first came out I was utterly captivated by this world, by the time Glass Sword was released I'd reread my favourite bits of RQ so many times I was obsessed! Now King's Cage is an excellent instalment for the series and I was kept awake all night thinking of my own plots for RQ#4. A step up from Glass Sword, but I don't ever think it's fair to compare a book to the first in the series, it's the one that started it all and we'd only just discovered the world by then.
 After the last book - actually since book one - I've wanted to see more of Samson Merandus, the whisper had me intrigued and I wasn't disappointed. We spend a lot of time in the one place throughout this novel, which was a big contrast to the constant moving in GS. I didn't get bored of it, the settings were a luxurious place of nightmares. We do see more of the world again, the travelling spurred by Maven's schemes.
 Maven... Oh my, Maven. I'm a straight up Cal supporter but...Maven's got me a bit in this one. He's incredibly intelligent and confused. The loss of the last book left so much to discover about him and he opens up to a little of his history under his mother's wrath. It's fascinating. He's still playing games and he's gotten better, so much still needs to be explained of how he feels for Mare.
 Cal, I needed more of! Again, he has to make a choice and the end, well. I was awake all night. I want to see how the brothers would choose to directly compare them so I can decide who is best for Mare because right now I really don't know.
 We also had a couple different POVs in this book and when I noticed we switched to Cameron's POV I nearly screamed. Cameron, I'd forgotten about and she was a real stubborn character to read from, very similar to Mare but filling us in on all the characters we were missing. Then Evangeline... Well, that was just a phenomenal mind to get into.
 New characters made for huge plot turning points, so I need to avoid them but Anabel, I will kill you! You ruined it all!
 I'm going to go and crawl in a heavily stocked library until the next book...

The Devious Dr. Jekyll (Electric Empire #2)

Author: Viola Carr

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Year: Oct 2015

Pages: 447

ISBN: 9780062363107

Series: Electric Empire #2

Genre: Steampunk

Reading Time: Jan 31 - Feb 07

Binding: Paperback
Goodreads

Blurb:
 Solving the notorious Chopper case was supposed to help crime scene physician Dr. Eliza Jekyll - daughter of the infamous Henry - establish her career in the chauvinistic world of Victorian law enforcement. But the scrutiny that comes with her newfound fame is unwelcome for a woman with a diabolical secret: her dark and jealous shadow self, Lizzie Hyde. And there is the mercurial Royal Society agent with his own secret to hide, Captain Remy Lafayette. Does he want to marry Eliza or burn her at the stake? It's impossible, however, for Eliza to push Remy away when he tempts her with the one thing she can't resist: a bizarre crime to investigate. And although Eliza is uncertain about Remy, Lizzie isn't. Lizzie wants to steal the magnetic and persistent agent and usurp Eliza's life.
 As the search for a bloodthirsty torturer dubbed the Pentacle Killer draws Eliza and Remy into a terrifying world of spies, art thieves and evil alchemy - where the price of immortality is madness or damnation - only Lizzie's dark ingenuity can help Eliza survive. Eliza and Remy must race to thwart a foul conspiracy involving the sorcerous French, but they must also overcome a sinister enemy who is all too close to home: the vengeful Lizzie who is determined to dispose of Eliza for good.

Review:
 Firstly, I'm so glad I didn't have to wait long to read this book after reading the first, there was no time to forget the small details or mix up the character names and I'm really excited for the third book later this year (April apparently)! Another excellently steampunkish cover was waiting to greet me at the library, I read it quickly enough to be satisfied and just slowly enough to prolong the joy.
 Carr's descriptions are elaborate, still building a world that's growing in size and relevance to the story. The actions of The Diabolical Miss Hyde have not been forgotten and now our favourite murderer is on the loose again causing all sorts of trouble with Eliza. Her struggles are hypnotic to read, completely plausible yet entirely insane!
 The Pentacle Killer is the kind of murderer I could read endlessly about. Black magic (or whatever you want to call it) never fails to make an interesting murder case on page or screen. Trying to put the pieces together was once again thrilling and though I identified the suspect, I most definitely had no idea of the why or how. It was a surprising twist and reminded me of another piece of classical literature that I really need to get my hands on at some point...
 Eliza and Lizzie's interactions are still interesting, still struggling with one another for their own lives, endangering and saving each other on a daily basis. Eliza is still working to find her way in the world without and against her male counterparts. Her conversations with the gorgeous Remy are still so amusing as they stand over several mutilated corps, working the crime scene as well as their own feelings. Just get on with it, the two of you! We get to see more of Remy this time, his brother included and that was certainly entertaining. All of these interactions continue to spur Lizzie's jealousy, she starts to dabble where she shouldn't and continues to cause edge-of-seat trouble for herself.
 Hipp was perfect, of course. How can a mechanical pet not be?
 Our cliffhanger was a big one, a world changing one for the Electric Empire setting. I'll be waiting for the April release, Sherlock cap on to try and solve the next case with these excellent characters!

Windwitch (The Witchlands #2)

Author: Susan Dennard
Publisher: Tor Teen
Year: Jan 2017
Pages: 377
ISBN: 9780765379306
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Time: 17 - 31 Jan
Binding: Hardback
Goodreads

Blurb:
 After an explosion destroys his ship, the world believes Prince Merik, Windwitch, is dead. Scarred yet alive, Merik is determined to prove his sister's treachery. Upon reaching the royal capital, crowded with refugees, he haunts the streets, fighting for the weak - which leads to whispers of a disfigured demigod, the Fury, who brings justice to the oppressed.
 When the Bloodwitch Aeduan discovers a bounty on Iseult, he makes sure to be the first to find her - yet in a surprise twist, Iseult offers him a deal. She will return money stolen from him, if he locates Safi. Now they must work together to cross the Witchlands, while constantly wondering, who will betray whom first?
 After a surprise attack and shipwreck, Safi and the Empress of Marstok barely escape with their lives. Alone in a land of pirates, every moment balances on a knife's edge - especially when the pirates' next move could unleash war upon the Witchlands.

Review:
 It feels like it's been forever since Truthwitch was released, I'd forgotten a lot of the details so I had some gaps when reading this. Seriously, reread the first novel if you've got the time! I'll do a rerun of the series when the last book is set to come out! I'd forgotten quite a few characters apparently, Auduan, never! Red eyes, oh yeah!
 Say what you like about changing POV chapters, I feel like it made me read faster, I got excited to return to a character so would tear through the next few stories to see them again. It still took me a little while to read, not because it was difficult or I didn't have much time but I was savouring the next instalment of The Witchlands series, it'll be a while until we see the next! The changing POV let me connect with each character more, you went along the story with all of them, felt how information changed each one of them!
 Though Safi and Iseult are apart, the sisterly way they think of one another is such that it's as if they were together, knowing the others thoughts and habits gets them out of difficult places. There's loss in their separation and strength in their memories of one another, it's really amazing to see. I only imagine it's sisterly as I have no such thing, but am sure once the sibling rivalry is gone some if this love there... At least I hope.
 Aeduan. Still love him, can't get enough. Nuff said.
 Merik's character building is going strong and I can't wait to see more from him. His relationship with Vivia is fascinating but you can read about that for yourselves. The Shadow Man had me intrigued and I still have one hell of a load of questions! Yes cliffhangers, it's a series of course!
 On top of all the fabulous character work, I'm so glad we got the see more of the world they're in! That gorgeous map in the front of the book is actually getting put to some use, thank goodness. I can't stand maps that are just a waste of ink. Again, I can't reveal too much, but the Game of Thrones lover in me was satisfied by Safi's journey and her new companions (who are awesome). Again, can't wait for more!
 If you've not yet divulged yourself in this story, I'd suggest doing so now but the wait would be torture. So I suggest two months before the final book is released, enough time to read and join the excitement!

Hacksaw Ridge

Actors: Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Luk Bracey, Vince Vaughn, Teresa Palmer, Hugo

Weaving, Rachel Griffiths
Director: Mel Gibson
IMDB
Trailer

Review:
 Firstly, why is the UK getting this film so damn late? And why did it not get at least one of the Golden Globes nominated? Ridiculous, this moved me so much more than La La Land. People in the cinema were clapping at the end, none of that for the musical. It's been a while since I've watched a good war movie and I wasn't sure if this was one I wanted to see, the accents put me off. Seriously. Got over that bit very quickly, Garfield's acting was incredible, he's been appearing in some amazing movies recently and I can't wait to see him perform in more!
 Based on the true story of Desmond Doss, there is a real build in backstory before getting to the actual war that they allowed some artistic license with. It wasn't bad at all, quite believable. It lasted a little while longer than expected before getting to the actual war scenes, which also then lasted longer than I thought it would but I was glued to the screen the entire way through.
 There were emotions of all ranges, yes the horror, shock and sadness you would expect from a war movie, but also lots of laughter (not expected) and a huge amount of respect at the end. Your heart is almost cleaved out of your chest and the tears have to be held back by the end. Jaw dropping moments and such incredibly heartbreaking, brilliant music have you rocking back and forth in anticipation.

 The battle scenes were chaotic, completely baffling. The camera work was excellent, Gibson knows what he's doing with a story like this. I can highly recommend this film, rent it if you've missed it at your cinema. Don't miss out on this one.

Wing Jones

Author: Katherine Webber
Publisher:Walker Books
Year: Jan 2017
Pages: 378
ISBN: 9781406369090
Genre:Young Adult Contemporary
Reading Time: 14 - 17 Jan
Binding: Paperback
Goodreads

Blurb:
 With a grandmother from China and another from Ghana, fifteen-year-old Wing Jones is often caught between worlds. When tragedy strikes, she discovers an extraordinary talent she never knew she had. Wing's running could bring her family everything it needs. It could also keep Wing from the one thing she truly wants.

Review:
 This was not a book I would have usually picked up, contemporary isn't a genre I read a lot of. I prefer far fetched fantasy, it's such a way to escape! On the 20th of February I'll be going to a Waterstones event with Katherine Webber and Stephanie Garber (author of the highly anticipated Caraval), so I wanted to read it in preparation! Despite my hesitation, I'm so glad I picked up this book, it was refreshing to have something outside of my usual fantasy binging!
 Our eponymous character is aged fifteen, naive and rejected. The odd one out, she fits in nowhere. A great central character for the book. Whilst everyone may not be part of a racial minority such as Wing, everyone feels an outsider in some way. You can relate to her, see parts of her family in your own whilst also learning about the experience of someone like Wing during teenage years. The boy crushes, family grumbles and bullying. The earlier experiences in Wing's life give her more than the average person's daily grievances, there is more depth to her character that Webber writes well into a teenager's mind.
 Another reason I often don't read contemporary is that the situations are so real. The tragedy that occurs could happen to anyone and the consequences be so much worse. Reading about Wing dealing with the trauma her family faces is both heartbreaking and encouraging. Some light can come out of such deep darkness, Wing finds the way she can escape and it's beautiful. As the reviews say, it makes you want to pull on your own running shoes and dart straight out you front door.

 It's an enlightening read, quick to chew through and an excellent debut for Webber! I can't wait to read more from her!

The Diabolical Miss Hyde (Electric Empire #1)

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Author: Viola Carr

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Year: Feb 2015

Pages: 440

ISBN: 9780062363084

Series: Electric Empire #1

Genre: Steampunk

Reading Time: Oct 15 - Jan 13 (I put it aside for a while)

Binding: Paperback
Goodreads

Blurb:
 In an electric-powered Victorian London, Dr. Eliza Jekyll is a crime scene investigator, hunting killers with inventive new technological gadgets. Now, a killer is splattering London with blood, drugging beautiful women and slicing off their limbs. Catching "the Chopper" could make Eliza's career - or get her burned. Because Eliza has a dark secret. A seductive second half, set free by her father's forbidden magical elixir: wild, impulsive Lizzie Hyde.
 When the Royal Society sends their enforcer, the mercurial Captain Lafayette, to prove she's a sorceress, Eliza must resist the elixir with all her power. But as the Chopper case draws her into London'd luminous, magical underworld, Eliza will need all the help she can get. Eve if it means getting close to Lafayette, who harbours an evil curse of his own.
 Even if it means risking everything and setting vengeful Lizzie free. . .

Review:
 Grabbed by a steampunk cover and drawn in by a mysterious blue eyed man, I'm glad I picked this one up at my local library and intrigued for the rest of the series. Not only was there fulfilling action, there was no shying from the less pleasant side of Victorian London. Whores are mentioned aplenty, but worry not, this is not another A Song of Ice and Fire book, it's mostly mentions to the true history. Carr's use of description is like poetry, beautiful and world building. I opened this book and put it back down for a long time, thrown off by the beginning a bit. I needed to get my other reads out of the way for this one before I tore through it.
 We meet both sides of Eliza in the novel, Lizzie's language is rude and feisty where Eliza speaks like a real lady and shudders at bared ankles. It's refreshing to read from the different characters, explore their different voices and attitudes whilst comparing them to the other half of themselves. The build of their relationship is one I'm looking forward to seeing adapt further on in the series. Other characters were just as excellent, so many with secrets to hide that are pretty darn out there, but I'll let you find that out.
 The murderer got me until maybe a chapter or two before the reveal, I'd had inklings earlier but that happened for a great many of the characters. That's true testament to Carr, I've so often recently guessed the twists and reveals in plots because I read so much of the same genre. I'm really glad I figured it out later than usual, it kept me reading faster as so much else went on around the murders.
 I also love that Carr used chapter names, it can be such a building part of a story, the anticipation gets higher and the reading quicker! The next instalment is The Devious Dr. Jekyll, which I must find immediately of course . . . and, yes, they have it! Must be off, I need to get to the library! 

Death Note 1; Vol. 1 & 2

Author: Tsugumi Ohba

Artist: Takeshi Obata

Translator: Tetsuichiro Miyaki

Publisher: VIZ Media

Year: Dec 2010 (Originally published weekly from Dec 2003- May 2006 in Weekly Shōnen Jump)

Pages: 386

ISBN: 9781421539645

Series: Death Note #1 (Vol.1&2)

Genre: Manga

Reading Time: Dec 19 - Jan 6

Binding: Paperback - Black Edition

Goodreads

Blurb:

Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects - and he's bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to ride the world of evil. Will Light's noble goal succeed, or will the Death Note turn him into the very thing he fights against?

Review:

 It's taken various comic cons, suggestions, pleads and admiring glances at that gloriously black binding for me to finally buy a copy of this book. Really, what does my library have against manga? I admit, after reading the blurb, I thought what much else is there to the story? How can this go on for 6 books? But I have been surprised, and will continue to read this series for a while to come.

 The Death Note isn't as simple as it sounds, there are rules, lots of them and more yet to be discovered by myself I'm sure. As Light learns the rules he adapts the way he uses the notebook, continuing to make the story more complex and intriguing. It's also thought provoking, which any great book should do, let alone a comic. There's mystery behind what Light does and a psychology to the main character that you have to question. Is he really just a good citizen, cleaning up the world? Will the power drive him crazy? Could I do as he's done if I were in his situation? So, yes, I must read the rest of this series. . .

 But what a great idea, the Death Note is the dream of every teenager at one point or another! The fact that it's put into the hands of a teenager is brilliant, bang on the audience's territory and right up my street! The continuing black and white artwork helps set the mood, this is of course a terrible weapon and must be treated as such. But if Ryuk's unchanging facial expression doesn't make light of it nothing does. 'Hyuk! Hyuk!' Our lovable Shinigami is a fine eater of apples and monster from another world. An excellent companion for Light.

 The threat to Light and Ryuk are those on the side of the law, coming in the shape of the mysterious L and Light's own father. L is as quick as Light, this is a heads-on battle, with the mystery of the Death Note between them. Light is learning the new rules and L is fast on his heels, taking the clues as Light chooses to or not to leave them. Though L doesn't necessarily do this to save the poor people's lives that are at risk, but you can learn about that yourself.

 How the first readers allowed a week between each chapter to read this, I have no idea. It's a quick read (though with Christmas and mock exams I took longer than I should have) that I think is a wonderful addition to my shelves!

Resolutions

“Another year gone! And I must trouble you with an old man’s wheezing waffle before we seek our teeth into our delicious feast. What a year it has been! Hopefully your heads are all a little fuller than they were...” – Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

I don’t know where the year went, so many losses and discoveries. I certainly hope my head is fuller, heading for my A-Level exams before summer this year, but I fear my memory has inclined itself to more fictional characters and plots than textbook information and essay technique. Explain and analyse, blah bla bl...

In 2016 I discovered new favourite books and authors, continued to admire the works of Sarah J. Maas, Pierce Brown, Leigh Bardugo, Victoria Aveyard and so many more! I tried many box subscriptions, bought way too many books, met more authors and snuck myself into getting an unlimited cinema card for my birthday. Fabulous stuff!

This year, I hope to continue with the same. But with the New Year comes the tradition of resolutions, usually just the one but I’m obsessed with lists and have bundled up a fair few for myself to try and achieve this year:

-         First and foremost, begin a blog. Most specifically a book blog, hoping the continual writing will help me finally finish a first draft of my own novel. The odd film review here and there, an update on my writing progress now and again and if you, fine reader, choose to follow my on goings than thank you! I of course haven’t quite got that choice. And if you do then this first post should let you know just a bit more about myself, which the continuing of my resolutions list should do just fine!

-        Go to the gym more (shocker). I currently work on a casual contract at a gym and so get a free membership which I really need to abuse more! Not an every day thing, but at least twice a week.

-         Target myself with 10 more books than I did last year which was one per week. This year, 62 book reviews should be coming this way!

-         Walk my dog more. He’s happy without walks but I would love my dog to come and cuddle me a bit more, hopefully more loving will communicate to him through trips out.

-         Finish the first draft of my book (more of a target) let’s get the dream going!

-         Manage my money better. I should really be adding to my savings rather than my book collection, I don’t have any more room.

-         Travel more, try to get myself out of the continent for the first time or at least plan it!

-         Keep my room clean. Just got it done up beautifully, Mum will get pissed, let’s not blow it!

-         Get ready for a job when I leave college, no university for me, I’ll learn enough on the job!

-         Get out more! London for author events, out with friends, all of it. Stop being a little loner!

-       Be more artistic. All these paints will soon dry out and these white canvases are beginning to annoy me.

I’m sure there are more, but for now, that’s a good enough list to keep me occupied for the upcoming year. You’ll notice healthy eating was not on the list... let’s just say there’s no chance.

I can’t tell you much more on what this blog will be because I don’t know yet, among my interests are fantasy and sci-fi books, graphic novels, comics, TV, movies and the occasional play. I suppose you’ll see reviews of all these in the future but for now I wish you a Happy New Year and good luck with the resolutions! I hope you wish the same for me, I may need it.