Wednesday 31 May 2017

Review: Rebel Spring (FK book 2)

 Rebel Spring
 Falling Kingdoms Book 2
 Morgan Rhodes


The war rages on.

Now that the kingdoms have fallen to King Gaius' rule, the people of Mytica are torn between following their new leader and rebelling against him.

Those who are following him and his new way of life are witnesses to his brutal way of ruling and the new announcement of his son Magnus' engagement.

Gaius has also begun to build a road through the land to connect what was once was divided, to become one. This causes the rebels to form together and come up with a plan to take down Gaius once and for all, but nothing in this series goes as planned.

The Watchers have been getting more bold in making ties with the Mortal land as well. They contain the power to enter Mortal dreams and communicate with those they choose. Those affected will be bigger players in the War than they ever thought.

Cleo, Magnus, Lucia and Jonas' story continues to rage on through action packed pages that you are unable to tear yourself away from. I found myself having to reread passages because I was so caught up in the event, that I missed certain aspects (hello, excitement. and lots and lots of sadness)

An unbelievable sequel to his series that was nonstop all the way through. These characters grab on to your heart and pull you into their story. Each chapter will give you a new piece of the puzzle as you travel the land and see the pieces fall into unexpected places.


Thursday 25 May 2017

Review: Falling Kingdoms (Book 1)

 Falling Kingdoms
 Morgan Rhodes

If you like books where everyone is dead by the end, then THIS IS THE ONE FOR YOU!

Honestly, authors could at least wait until book 2 to kill everyone off ... sheesh

The land of Mystica is made of 3 different lands; Limeros, Palesia ans Auranos. Each with their own King, kingdom and culture.

When the Princess of Auranos goes travelling to Palesia, and the guard that is with her takes the life of a young man, it sets off a chain of events that begins a war between the three lands.

Historically, magic used to be in the lands. Only some still believe that magic can be used by those that carry it - Witches and sorceresses - and that Watchers, forgotten beings that go between the Immortal and Human world still exist.

Prince Magnus of Limeros has been cautious his whole life. With the secrets he learns of his father's mistress, and the history of his sister, his whole world may come crashing down upon him.

A gripping beginning to an intense and complex series.  Honestly, it is very Game-of-Throney and everyone dies. Rhodes does an amazing job of keeping us readers hooked. The first time I took a break (from crying, no doubt) I was halfway through the book. I fell into this world and did not want to leave.

Heartbreaking and beautiful, you will be unable to put it down! Make sure you have the sequel close by the second you are done.

and hello to these gorgeous covers *swoon*



Monday 22 May 2017

Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses SERIES

A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Court of Mist and Fury
A Court of Wings and Ruin

Sarah J Maas

*Plot Spoilers as you go onto each book. Nothing major :)

Book 1: A Court of Thorns and Roses 

Feyre and her family have been poor ever since her father lost their wealth in some bad trading years ago. The bad deal resulted in her fathers injury, and since then Feyre has been the one to take charge of caring for the family. Not to mention she made a death-bed promise to her mother.

Feyre lives in a world that is divided by Mortal and Fae. This divide is by The Wall that runs through the woods where Feyre hunts.

When Feyre goes hunting and kills a wolf, she's unaware of the Fae Treaty that states she must pay for the life she took with her own. Because the wolf was Fae.

When a Beast comes to take her beyond The Wall to his home to live out her sentence, Feyre is unsure what lies ahead for her but all she is concerned with is getting home to her sisters.

Tamlin and his staff live in what is called the Spring Court.
They have also been under a spell (aka a curse) for the last 49 years and have been sentenced to wear masks over their faces, which are irremovable.

Tamlin quickly becomes protective over Feyre but it soon grows to love. When her life is threatened by the Evil one who cursed Tamlin and his court, Tamlin will do anything to save her.

But she will do anything to save him.

Even if it means going deep into Fae territory to save Tamlin and his court, knowing that she is a mere mortal and everyone is telling her to turn around.



The world building of this series is breathtaking. I was loosely aware it was a "Beauty and the Beast" type story arc, but once the history got explained, and I saw the story unfold between them - you cannot be anything but hooked.  Such a rich back-story and history to the characters and the land and it grows with each page.

The characters themselves vary for me. I love the Fae (who doesn't love a good Fae story) but Feyre is wishy-washy for me. She seems strong at one point, and weak the next. Not for what she goes through, but just in her emotions.

Either way, a powerful beginning.
 



Book 2: A Court of Mist and Fury


Feyre survived.

She rescued Tamlin, she faced Amarantha.
She died.
and came back.

Now that she and Tamlin are back in the Spring Court, the curse broken and engaged to be married, life can go on.

However, Feyre is struggling with the Change that happened to her while she was in Amarantha's lair.
and no one wants to help her with it.

On the day of her wedding, she knows she is not ready to go through with it and with the help of her panic attack, the deal she made with Rhysand while she was imprisoned is now due.

One week with him, in the Night Court, every month.

Tamlin is furious with him (weren't we all?) but a deal is a deal, and a bond like that cannot be broken so Feyre is whisked away to be everything and anything Rhys wants for one whole week.

This continues for a few months.

The struggle Feyre is going through to become herself again continues to get worse and worse as Tamlin continues to be blind to it. In his effort to save her, he ends up ruining her ... to the point where she begs to be saved.

Rhys obliges.

Feyre is now living in the Night Court, with a note sent back to Tamlin to back off.

Feyre makes friends with Rhys' inner circle of comrades, and even joins them in their plans for the impending war. But first, they have a task they must accomplish. A task that involves the Prison, a cauldon, and Feyre's sisters.

A task that Tamlin is working on as well, but not for the same reason.



THAT ENDING WAS SO #$(@(!% THAT I THREW MY BOOK! I could not believe the events that kept unfolding as I devoured this one in a matter of hours one morning. Maas just keeps the hits coming and coming until there is nothing left of us readers. THE FEELS, OMG!

The more I read about this world, the more I want to crawl into it.
I mumbled to my husband that he needs a pair of wings and he thought I meant that's what I wanted for dinner that night. Little does he know ... *fangirl sigh*

The characters deepen in this one. Feyre is still on the fence with me, and I want to hate Rhys and love Tamlin but ... they are both making this very difficult. Just .. I ... UGH!

Honestly, all you want is more more more.
*fangirling for days*

Why I put this series off for so long I'll never understand.
but I am not sure I could have handled waiting in between for each book.
my goodness those endings ...

and all that sexytime in the middle; hello hotness (no wonder Rhys' temporary last name is HotPants); ou lala #wingspan



 




Book 3: A Court of Wings and Ruin

To save her friends, and her sisters, and everything she holds dear, Feyre becomes quite the actress.
She is back in Tamlin's court in hopes of finding out his plans to send back to the Night Court.

Her Court.

Hybern's war is getting closer and closer. With the help of the Cauldron, he has become the most powerful force the Courts have ever faced. But is their combined strength enough to save the Fey and Human world from total destruction? Only time will tell.

The last half of this book is really all war.
Lots of blood shed.
Lots of loss.

HAVE KLEENEX ON YOUR PERSON AT ALL TIMES FOR THIS ONE!

We get some character back-stories and honest confessions as we go through the trials this group faces. (Some are more shocking than others. Some make perfect sense. Some are just plain MEAN!)

I cannot get too into the plot without spoilers galore so ... I'll stop with that. Trust in Maas; she does not let us fans down with these characters and the events.

and thankfully, this isn't the end of this wonderful world.

I want Tamlin and Lucien's perspective on the story though. Hopefully we'll get novellas (that turn into full-on installments cough cough, wink wink) about these characters too.

Feyre's character finally worked me over on this one. She was much more strong than she was in the first two books (not that she wasn't strong for surviving, but she was a bit flaky in the beginning for me).


Overall, an AMAZING series. There are really no words for how much I loved it. I saw everyone excited over ACOWAR and so I jumped on the bandwagon that week (bought all 3 a few days after it came out, and the series was devoured by the following weekend) and I'm so very glad I did - so thank you to everyone on Twitter who was fangirling about it. Without you, I doubt I would have picked it up. and I would have missed out on one fantastic adventure.


 

Saturday 20 May 2017

Review: Lion

 Lion
 Saroo Brierley


I had heard of the movie, but didn't know what it was about. A friend of mine (knowing what a bookworm I am) asked if I had watched/read it about a month ago, and since I hadn't, she explained what it was about.

So the next time I was in the bookstore, I picked it up.
It was read in one sitting.


An interesting and sometimes difficult read, this is the story of a boy who gets lost.

Saroo is 5 when he is separated from his family. An innocent mistake really.
He and his oldest brother go out one evening - scourging the city in hopes of finding food, money, or anything useful they bring home to their other siblings and mother.
His brother sits him down on a train and tells Saroo that he will be right back.

He doesn't return for quite some time, and Saroo falls asleep.
The train moves.

The journey that Saroo then faces being
a) 5 years old.
b) in an unknown city
c) unsure how far he is from home
d) with little-to-no language to explain who he is, and where he is from.

makes for a difficult one.
but the courage of this one little boy is very inspiring.

However, most of this is the memory of a 25 year old man who is recalling back to what happened in those infamous weeks where he was lost.

From his home town, he was carried away to live on the streets, to a home for delinquents, to an orphanage, to Australia where he was adopted.

This is the story of how he becomes lost
and finds his way home.



A beautiful story but heartbreaking. The description of the lifestyle/quality of life that Saroo sees around him in India goes into detail I am just not used to reading about (not that I am unaware of what happens around the world, but not seeing/hearing about it on a daily basis makes for a weak stomach).

This is a true story, and it is out of my comfort zone of YA fantasy but I liked it. it dragged at points, but it is understandable why. Everything that Saroo writes about is necessary for the story. There are also photos from when he finds his family and we see the journey he took as a 5 year old boy.
It is mostly a happy ending, which is a comfort as you read it.

I recommend it. 4 stars


Similar stories that I know of:
- Life of Pi, Yann Martel
- The Face on the Milk Carton, Caronline B Cooney
- The Deep End of the Ocean, Jacquelyn Mitchard
- Dawn, VC Andrews (Cutler series. Kidnapped child vs lost though)


 
                *


*I'm including the movie-tie in cover just because. Now that I've read it, this is actually one movie that I won't mind watching. Most book-turned-movies I avoid. 

Wednesday 10 May 2017

Throwback shelfies!


So, I was digging through an old laptop (after the lesson learned of backing up my files) and I found old shelfie pics

Which made my lil heart happy.

so I thought I'd share some of 'em and see how my collection has grown since I was a wee' teenager.


This is the earliest pic I could find

 

Why on earth there is so much nonsense on my shelves I have no idea! (the fact that there is space is astounding to me. Look at all those VHS' and CDs!)

This is ... 2007 so I am 17.
That is 10 years ago.
jeeze.
Top row is VC Andrews (who always gets her own shelf)
Then we have R.L Stine. and FOUR norma klein. FOUR?! what on earth is this nonsense?!Then there are a bunch of classics (which I end up getting rid of, and now I am buying again. stupid me.)
and THE BOXCAR CHILDREN! oh how i love them.
but i think i got rid of them too a few years ago... sad.
then I have series. and then non series.
and A WHOLE LOT OF JUNK. 
  
  

Very similar to the photo before and this is just a few months later (i can tell by the pics that on there)
but I have now added Harry Potter and Pendragon which are staples in my favourites list now. plus a "vampire" section has been added. oh dear. 



  



This is Fall of '08.
it has significantly grown.
and the shelves are beginning to warp.
Prom photos are everywhere too...
Norma Klein has grown, thank goodness.
so has everything else.
and this is the year my obsession with fandom-related ornaments started. my first Harry Potter and gone with the wind ones from hallmark can be seen. Go me! (now the collection is behind glass doors with all my other breakables)
and so now I am just beginning College... sigh.
wow.

 
Blurry nonsense but this is a year or so later.
Cleaned up and even did a paint job.
 many of these books I still have around ...

AND NOW - 8ish years and not living at my parents later - MY SHELVES LOOK LIKE THIS:
 
  


However, a box-full are missing bc my mother is reading them.
and they are double layered (which drives me BANANAS because I cannot admire all their beauty at once but... space, y'know)

but it has grown considerably. and very little "stuff" is on them -again, make room for the books!
So the white shelf is all my "series" (plus some scrapbooking stuff because my twin of this one is my business and crafts stuff is overflowing with weight)
and the black shelf (which I have a twin of and it is slowly being taken over...) is my specific authors such as R.L stine and VC Andrews, and my non-series/classics/bios/random ones I am unsure where they belong yet I must take care of. 


so that is my shelfie history lesson!
I haven't done a count in a ver-ver long time
BUT
they are all written down in a notebook
of which i keep track of my "read" lists for the year
and my collection...
so counting is a possibility.

TA DA!

<3 

Monday 8 May 2017

Review: The Beauty of Darkness (Remnant Chronicles 3) -

 The Beauty of Darkness
 The Remnant Chronicles - Book 3
 Mary E. Pearson


In the final segment of The Remnant Chronicles, we continue to follow Lia, Kaden and Rafe (with a little bit of Pauline) on their mission to stop the Komizar.

I do not want to get too much into story description because no one likes spoilers so bear with me.

While Rafe intends to bring Lia back to Dalbrek, Lia's plans have always been to travel back to Morrighan. She knows she must follow the destiny set out by her name, and protect her home from the Komizar.

When Rafe becomes King, he can no longer be at Lia's side every moment of the day, and they must part for a while in order to follow in their respectful duties. (Well, as much as both of them can).

This action packed and stunning tale comes to gripping blows as all the players come to learn who's side they are on, and who they are willing to lay down their life for.

Pearson's writing never fails for a second in this breathtaking finale. This love triangle nonsense didn't go my way for a while, which annoyed me, but she wraps up the story in a perfect way so no complaints. The multi-POV adds so much to the story, even if Pauline's was a waste in my opinion. I'd rather have gotten one of the other boys, or the Komizar, or Lia's mother...  but the ending was so beautifully tragic that it had me craving more which is always the sign of a good book.


Overall, I liked this series but I didn't love it. I only picked it up because I am looking for an older work of Pearson and this one kept popping up as a "recommended for you" instead. Which in turn, I recommend it, if you like mid-fantasy and strong female leads, but it hit and missed for me in all the wrong spots.

Regardless, I am still #TeamRafe !


   


Friday 5 May 2017

Review: Afterworlds -

 Afterworlds
 Scott Westerfield

This was a unique story, and a 2-in-1 to boot.

Darcy sat down one month and wrote a whole book, called "Afterworlds". She sent it off to an agent, who sent it off to a publisher, and now we are following Darcy on her way to becoming a published author.

Every other chapter, we also get to read "Afterworlds" - which started off as my kind of story, but turns into a murder mystery and I personally lost interest. I kept at it though.

Darcy's journey is an interesting one - she moves to New York, she meets other YA "debs" and some seasoned authors, gets advice on her writing, gets advice on her life. Finds her way with the help of her younger sister who acts as a kind of conscience (and accountant).
The focus of the book becomes the ending of "Afterworlds" as per the editing notes her publisher has sent her.

For this particular booklover, my books of late have been short, so this book (especially the 2-in-1 factor) felt like it dragged for me. The story was interesting but the middle couldn't hold me.
Doesn't help that hardcovers weigh a million and 10 pounds and I had to have a pillows on my lap to hold up the book.

If you are into writing your own work, and want to see someone else live through the journey of becoming published (with advice along the way), it definitely helps for inspiration. As a story on its own, I wasn't overly impressed.



 

Review: Everything, Everything -

 Everything, Everything
 Nicola Yoon


The cover had caught my attention, but a friend of mine had told me to give it a try after explaining I didn't like "13 reasons why" (which is always helpful in deciding what to choose next off the TBR even if I didn't have it yet. The bookstore was having a sale...  don't have to ask me twice)

Immediately I was in love with the style of this book- I devoured it in a couple of hours - and the main character Madeline.

Madeline is on house arrest, due to her unique illness that, in layman's terms, is one that makes her allergic to the world. Her mother is her best friend, her nurse is the only connection to the outside world, and she lives her life through the billions of books she reads.

When the new neighbours move in next door, Madeline is immediately drawn to the son of the family and she knows, without a doubt, that she is going to fall in love with him.

Spoiler alert, she does.

Yoon has written one of the most beautiful stories I've ever read. Madeline and Olly's story is one filled with love and a deep understanding of each other (which is hard to find these days).

This book is truly about Maddy's journey. Life is the longest thing we have, and while books are fantastic, it's also important we get out and see the world for what it has to offer.
Even if it means facing our fears, and going against everything we've ever been told.

This is one that will be on the reread pile for years to come. Move to it to the top of your TBR piles, lovelies.

 


p.s the movie comes out this month if you like that sorta thing *winks*

Tuesday 2 May 2017

Review: There Will be Lies

 There Will be Lies 
 Nick Lake 

I DO NOT PROMISE NO SPOILERS BECAUSE THIS BOOK MADE ME MAD! yet I kinda liked it.
I know, I know. There are 
plenty of warnings and hidden colours! 

I actually looked it up on GoodReads because I wanted to make sure that I wasn't the only crazy one. 


spoiler: I'm not.


So, I read about this book from another blog and the secret of the character is what grabbed me at first.


Not that it has anything to do with the story, but still.


A lot of people were confused as to why the dialogue was written the way it was - where I got it quicker than the average bear because I live and work in that community - and I knew already. 
and her mom's behavior makes TOTAL sense. Shelby isn't the only one who is overprotected because of this reason (it actually made me angry and I saw a friend of mine who is also *SPOILER Deaf* and I ranted to him because this is ridiculous).


So throughout the novel, Shelby is drifting in between two worlds. Our world, yes, look around, the world you are currently in - I hope it's the same as mine, otherwise, well, then don't look around and this makes no sense - and what is known as “The Dreaming” where she is The Maiden and has been called there to kill The Crone and save The Child. This is all with the help of the handy, dandy (yet weirdly mysterious) Coyote. There are some elks and an eagle, and some wolves. None of it makes sense but it's based on some Apache history that is not explained very well IMO.The actual story line (minus The Dreaming because what in the name of all that is delicious and calorie free knows what that was about?) was decent. I've read similar twists before but I did not see these ones coming. It keeps you on your toes. 
or hoofs, depending what chapter you're on.
(except no, because it's weird and you may fall asleep) 



*SPOILERS the rest of the review ! 


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IT ALSO MAKES NO SENSE THAT SHE GOES BETWEEN BEING HEARING AND BEING DEAF THROUGHOUT THE BOOK.

what even is this nonsense?! I mean, i get that its in her head or something but...


*blinks* 

WHAT!?
Just, no. 


I loved the style of writing actually, it was refreshing to see something not so... formal. Since all the conversation is happening inside Shelby's head, essentially, her sarcasm and wit is on point. 

I especially loved the mocking of the interpreter since I happen to be one. Fantastic! 

I wonder who or what gave Lake the inspiration or insight to writing this kind of character though. Though non-hearing eyes is a rare thing to see. 

Especially from someone who's not d\Deaf\HoH themselves... - that I could find? 



and ESPECIALLY in a fiction novel. 
So, there's that.
But I wouldn't show this to a community member...