Rating: 4.5 STARS! Genre: YA/SciFi/LGBT Series/Standalone: The Extraordinaries #2 How I got this book: eARC via NetGalley and TorTeen Flash Fire is the explosive sequel to The Extraordinaries by USA Today bestselling author TJ Klune! Nick landed himself the superhero boyfriend of his dreams, but with new heroes arriving in Nova City it’s up to Nick and his friends to determine who is virtuous and who is villainous. Which is a lot to handle for a guy who just wants to finish his self-insert bakery AU fanfic. ARGHHHHH!
This book was AMAZING! The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune (book one in this series) was one of our Turn The Page book club selections last year and it was fantastic. Ever since finishing it and processing that cliffhanger of an ending, I've been desperate to get back to Nick and his friends and to find out what would happen next. If you haven't read book one yet, please note that there are spoilers for book one below. Flash Fire completely pulled me out of my recent reading slump, plunging me back into Nova City and the world of The Extraordinaries. I hadn't realised how much I'd missed these characters, but instantly fell back under TJ Klune's spell from page one as we're reunited with loveable, relatable Nick who's still coming to terms with the fact that his boyfriend is a famous superhero who can create fire, while also dealing with new revelations about his dad. TJ addresses a lot of big issues in this book, centring mainly around Nick's dad, a police officer demoted for violence, and how police brutality is affecting his perception of his dad and how he can reconcile that with the man who raised him and who he loves. It's a continuing theme and a deeply explored message throughout the entire book as Nick deals with how other people react to his dad, and what his dad has done. As always, I love the inherent queerness of this book, and all of TJ's books. Acceptance just shines throughout and makes the story more powerful. I love the action in this book, which feels a bit more intense than in book one, as the danger and tension builds around Nick and his friends. While Nick deals with things in his unique, often hilarious, way we have a fantastic, realistic portrayal of what it might be like to date someone with superpowers. We're also introduced to new characters in the book, and for those familiar with Klune's adult series', you might find a certain new character familiar. Honestly, though, as great as the plot and pacing and world-building of this story is, it'd be nothing without Nicky. He's such a refreshing, honest, sex-positive character who you can really root for and is so real he practically jumps from the pages. Prepare yourself for some epic reveals in this book, some things I saw coming, some I didn't, homages and Easter eggs to Klune's other works, edge of your seat, heart in your throat, tears in your eyes moments, and another GD cliffhanger that has me itching to read the next instalment!! A very-close to perfect read for me, so I'm going to leave you with my favourite quote: "It wasn't perfect, but then, Nick thought beautiful things didn't always have to be." Rating: 3.5 STARS Genre: YA/Paranormal/Fantasy Series/Standalone: Kingdom of the Wicked #1 How I got this book: Bought Two sisters. One brutal murder. A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself… And an intoxicating romance. Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe—witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family’s renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin… desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and to seek vengeance at any cost—even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden. Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked Princes of Hell that she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia’s side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women’s murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems… Review by Sophie.
TW: Murder, grief, self-harm (for spells), loss of a loved one, magical compulsion. “Whatever you do, you must never speak to the wicked. If you see them, hide. Once you’ve caught a demon princes’ attention, he’ll stop at nothing to claim you” I’m so glad that I finally got around to reading this beautiful book! We’re first introduced to Emilia and Vittoria – twins who are also witches, living in secret amongst humans. They’ve been told stories of The Wicked since they were young - a constant warning and reminder of the danger posed by Demons and the underworld. The girls live in Italy with their family and also work at their parent’s restaurant ‘Sea & Vine’. The food described in this book sounded delicious and literally had my mouth watering more than once! One-night, Vittoria is late for work at the restaurant, and Emilia is sadly the one who discovers her sisters mutilated body. I thought the author did an incredible job here of describing the grief of losing a loved one, and how truly consuming it is, the darkness and weight of it, especially when dealing with it alone. “Grief Carved me in half. And fury honed the pieces into a weapon”. Emilia sets out on a hate fuelled mission of revenge to find her sisters killer and deliver the justice they deserve. Unknowingly, she accidentally summons a demon prince. Wrath – the god of war himself, and together they agree to find the killer together. Now, I must say, I’ve never had whiplash from a book like I did this one. The Constant bickering and love/hate relationship going on here is unreal and truly comical in places. “I wanted to offer a twig of trust”. “You mean an olive branch”. “Same concept, Witch” Wrath was by far my favourite character, and I really wish we had even more of him the story, I found him totally compelling, wrapped in all his mystery and darkness. Emilia’s character as we progressed was kind of a downfall for me. There were times where I questioned why she did certain things, and she would lose it and completely flip out over the strangest of things, to the point where I almost found her too annoying. The plot was easily guessable – not something I’m normally good at doing, I just wish Emilia had figured it out sooner too. The ending was a completely horrifying cliffhanger, and I’m now at the point where I can’t stop thinking about it, or the need to start reading the sequel. There are a lot of unanswered questions in here which I’m hoping the second book will shed some light on, and also hoping that Emilia’s character is able to grow into the badass we all know she’s capable of being. The style of writing was easy to read and I jumped straight into the story. Most of the time I absolutely couldn’t put this book down. The mystery and suspense had me gripped from the off, and I loved the whole Demons, Witches and dark magic setting. I'll definitely be reading the sequel to find out what happens next when its released in October this year! “Magic is a living, breathing entity, it thrives on the energy you give it. Like all forces of nature, it is neither good nor bad – but it simply becomes based on the user’s intent. Feed it love and it blossoms and grows. Nourish it with hate and it will deliver hate back to you tenfold. I think this book is perfect for fans of The Underworld Saga – by Chani Lynn Feener. Rating: 3.5 STARS Genre: YA/Fantasy Series/Standalone: The Language of Magic #1 How I got this book: eARC via NetGalley & HarperVoyager Within the boroughs of London, nestled among its streets, hides another city, filled with magic. Magic is the first sin. It must be bound. Ever since Anna can remember, her aunt has warned her of the dangers of magic. She has taught her to fear how it twists and knots and turns into something dark and deadly. It was, after all, magic that killed her parents and left her in her aunt’s care. It’s why she has been protected from the magical world and, in one year’s time, what little magic she has will be bound. She will join her aunt alongside the other Binders who believe magic is a sin not to be used, but denied. Only one more year and she will be free of the curse of magic, her aunt’s teachings and the disappointment of the little she is capable of. Nothing – and no one – could change her mind before then. Could it? TW: Child abuse (physical, mental, emotional), murder, suicide, enslavement (using magic), teacher/student (age 16) relationship, underage drinking, death, estrangement, fat phobia (body shaming)
Looking for a book to fill the void left by Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina? Threadneedle perfectly combines the dark, twisted magic and teen drama that will satisfy fans of Sabrina and Gossip Girl. Anna is sixteen years old, living with her aunt in London and training to become a Binder. Since her father murdered her mother, and then killed himself when she was just a baby, Anna has been raised by her aunt. She's a cruel woman who teaches Anna that magic and love are the greatest sins that must be stamped out at all costs. Through daily punishments and pain, Anna is taught to fear magic and love, suppressing herself until she is nobody. Anna's only ray of light is the infrequent visits from her mother's best friend, Selene, who calls every few years to see Anna and to leave magical gifts in secret. This year, Selene is back for good, it seems, bringing her daughter Effie, and a mysterious boy, Attis to stay, and changing Anna's life completely. Anna is a complex character. She's suffered through years of abuse at the hands of the woman who raised her. She's controlled, manipulated, and ridiculed, and simply going through the motions until the binding ceremony set to lock away her magic. Despite the years of misery, Anna has a quiet resilience, determination, and a strong curiosity that causes her to ask questions and seek truths, even as she fights with what's right and wrong. She's an easy character to root for as she's morally good and after suffering for so long, she deserves to be free. The cast of characters soon builds and makes for a fun, diverse cast that adds drama and tension to the plot, which definitely helps to keep things moving. I had no problems staying gripped from start to finish. In Anna's Aunt, the author has created a disturbing villain, one who is vindictive and cruel whilst believing her actions are just and necessary to protect Anna from all that she fears. I loved the magic system the author has created. The different languages of magic, and how the magical world entwines with the 'real' London, make for a really compelling, fantastical story that holds threads of danger and threat. I also loved that the characters acted their age and were, for much of the time, focused on somewhat typical troubles like bullies and crushes which, when dealt with through magic, deliver interesting consequences. There were so many things I loved about this book; the magic, the characters (and their relationships to each other), the pacing, the library, and the twists and shocks at the end, which were not at all what I expected. The only thing I felt a little disappointed by was the ending, which I just wanted more from but which has now left me waiting, hanging on for book two so I can find out what on earth will happen next! Overall, Threadneedle is a really gripping, darkly magical read filled with interesting, realistic characters, that's perfect for fans of Sabrina and Gossip Girl. Rating: 3.5 STARS Genre: YA/Fantasy Series/Standalone: The Bright & The Pale Duology #1 How I got this book: Bought (FairyLoot March 2021) Seventeen-year-old Valeria is one of the only survivors of the freeze, a dark magical hold Knnot Mountain unleashed over her village. Everyone, including her family, is trapped in an unbreakable sheet of ice. Ever since, she’s been on the run from the Czar, who is determined to imprison any who managed to escape. Valeria finds refuge with the Thieves Guild, doing odd jobs with her best friend Alik, the only piece of home she has left. That is, until he is brutally murdered. A year later, she discovers Alik is alive and being held against his will. To buy his freedom, she must lead a group of cutthroats and thieves on a perilous expedition to the very mountain that claimed her family. Only something sinister slumbers in the heart of Knnot. And it has waited years for release. TW: Death (of a family member), discrimination, false imprisonment/slavery, childhood trauma, work camps
I REALLY did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did! I received a copy of this absolutely gorgeous book in my March 'Frozen Fables' box from FairyLoot. It's pitched as a, sort of, The Bear and the Nightingale meets Shadow and Bone style book and it sounded fantastic, so I was really excited to join in with the FairyLoot read along. Naturally, as is my way, I joined the read along a couple of days late BUT the pace in this book is so fast and the writing so easy to fall into, that I caught up pretty quickly. Valeria is a seventeen-year-old assassin, taken in by the leader of the thieves guild and trained to steal secrets (mostly). She escaped from her home when a terrible plague broke out, killing her entire family. Alone and hunted by the czar's army, she seeks refuge with the assassin's guild where she builds a life for herself, stealing secrets. I started getting Throne of Glass vibes straight away and found Valeria to be a compelling, and resourceful character. We're introduced to Valeria inside the thieve's guild as she's given a new mission from guild leader, Luiza, a woman Valeria sees as her surrogate mother, who took her in as a child when she had no one else to turn to and who is her only confidant since her best-friend and partner Alik was murdered a year ago. Naturally, the job goes wrong and Valeria finds herself cornered by strangers and faced with the unexpected news that Alik is alive, and he wants to see her. Not sure how she feels, or what to expect, Valeria sets out on a journey to find Alik and return to her homeland. She's not ready to confront the memories she has of Alik or her home, and dreads the voice that calls to her in her dreams, pulling her back to the mountain at the centre of it all. The romance in this book is sweet, and I really liked the fact that it didn't overshadow Valeria or her strength. She's very capable and doesn't rely on the lover interest to 'save' her, which was great to read. This book is a fast-paced, race against the clock adventure with tension that builds fantastically, to the point of being really creepy, the closer Valeria gets to the mountain. Honestly, do not read the scenes in the mines at night! (I got chills.) It's a story of friendship, love and inner strength underlined by an ancient battle between gods. The ending was fantastic, and while I almost expected it, it was a great cliffhanger that's left me really excited for the next instalment. I really want to see Valeria come into her own now and have high hopes for the finale. If you love friends-to-lovers romance, assassins, dangerous adventures, rebellions, and ghosts, you're sure to love The Bright & The Pale by Jessica Rubinkowski. Rating: 3.5 STARS Genre: Contemporary/YA Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: ARC from Harper360YA Don’t you just love the smell of old books in the morning? Madeline Moore does. Books & Moore, the musty bookstore her family has owned for generations, is where she feels most herself. Nothing is going to stop her from coming back after college to take over the store from her beloved aunt. Nothing, that is—until a chain bookstore called Prologue opens across the street and threatens to shut them down. Madeline sets out to demolish the competition, but Jasper, the guy who works over at Prologue, seems intent on ruining her life. Not only is he taking her customers, he has the unbelievable audacity to be… extremely cute. But that doesn’t matter. Jasper is the enemy and he will be destroyed. After all—all’s fair in love and (book) wars. TW: Absentee parent (child abandonment), fatfobia (internalized), underage drinking, car accident (no permanent injury)
Okay, so, I saw this advertised as an enemies-to-lovers style YA set in rival bookshops and just knew I had to read it. After pestering Harper360YA (#sorrynotsorry) they graciously sent out an ARC copy for me to read and review. The story centres around Madeline. She's 17 years old, working at her family-owned bookshop, and dreaming of running the store herself when she's older and finished with college. I really love Madeline. She's intelligent, quirky and passionate about her bookshop. It's where she was raised by her aunt since her mom basically abandoned her and her half-brother when they were young. Understandably, Madeline is extremely mad when a rival chain bookshop opens up across the street from her indie store and begins taking customers. Things then go really downhill from Madeline as the mother who abandoned her returns, she discovers the cute guy she's been crushing on for weeks is actually stealing her ideas and using them to run the bookshop across the street and she actually has no idea whether she wants to go to college or what she wants to do. Madeline is immediately compelling and, as a book lover, very relatable. There are a couple of things I really love about Madeline: 1. She's really passionate about the things she loves. 3. She's very sex-positive/open about sex. I would have really preferred it if Madeline wasn't so self-conscious about her size/weight. I guess I'm just a bit tired of the whole 'fat person must hate the way they look' theme in a lot of YA and I think it would have really suited Madeline's confidence in other areas if she was also more confident about her body. However, saying that, she does sort of break through her fears by herself and become more self-confident throughout the book. The writing and the pace of this book were great and had me hooked from the first page. Madeline's antics made me laugh, and I struggled to put the book down, as I hoped everything would work out the way she wanted it to. I also loved the bookshop setting. Reading a book that's completely filled with books, books and more books was really enjoyable. Things got a little more fun when Madeline finds out Jasper's true identity and the prank wars began, the stakes raising until catastrophe strikes. This particular section really frustrated me, as I didn't feel Madeline deserved the blame for what happened. It was NOT her fault and I think it only highlights how awful a lot of the other characters in the book are. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I read a book that I enjoyed, where I detested most of the supporting characters. From Madeline's aunt not telling her about the store's money trouble until she's in a meeting with the rest of the staff to lies, betrayals, sabotaging her efforts, attempts to control her life and forcing her to spend time with the person who abandoned her as a child, Madeline's family do a pretty crappy job of showing they care. They almost always lay the blame at Madeline's feet, don't support her, keep her in the dark, and then attack her anytime she shows any emotion. It made my blood boil, and I was constantly hoping that things would just change for Madeline and she could grow beyond the situation she was in. I've read a couple of reviews saying that Madeline is self-centred and makes poor decisions, but she's 17 years old. She's fresh out of high school, in a difficult family situation, and with the only constant in her life facing closure. What teenager wouldn't be a bit laser-focused on doing all they could to save the place they feel most at home? Jasper is also a tough character to describe because I didn't really like him. I think after the initial war between the two characters the author gives a bit more depth to his character, BUT I don't think it negates his actions. Overall, Last Chance Books starts as a fun, flirty, rivals-to-lovers rom-com that becomes more complicated as Madeline tries to save her bookshop while dealing with her growing feelings for her new nemesis, and leading to a bittersweet-style ending that's perfect for fans of YA romance like What If Its Us. Rating: 4.5 STARS Genre: LGBT/YA/Contemporary Series/Standalone: Heartstopper #3 and #4 How I got this book: Bought In this volume we’ll see the Heartstopper gang go on a school trip to Paris! Not only are Nick and Charlie navigating a new city, but also telling more people about their relationship AND learning more about the challenges each other are facing in private… Meanwhile Tao and Elle will face their feelings for each other, Tara and Darcy share more about their relationship origin story, and the teachers supervising the trip seem… rather close…? Heartstopper is about love, friendship, loyalty and mental illness. It encompasses all the small stories of Nick and Charlie's lives that together make up something larger, which speaks to all of us. Note: I've only included the bio here for Volume 3 as the Volume 4 bio contains spoilers.
TW: Homophobia (homophobic language), mental health (eating disorders and self-harm) I had a huge surprise last week when Heartstopper Volume 4 turned up several weeks early from the bookshop. So, I dropped everything to enjoy my annual Heartstopper re-read. Reading these books is the perfect way to spend a couple of hours. I love the characters that Alice Oseman has created. They're complex, diverse and relatable. Nick and Charlie are the sweetest. I love re-discovering their relationship every year and watching them grow together and support each other. I think Volume 3 might be one of the sweetest volumes between Nick and Charlie, where Volume 4 is probably the saddest and most challenging one yet as they finally face the problems that have been building since Volume 1. As always, Nick and Charlie's friends and family are also developing and I particularly loved Tori, Charlie's sister in Volume 4, as she proves, yet again, how awesome she is and how much she loves her brother. Reading Heartstopper is always bittersweet because I love it so much and just never want it to end. Check out my review of volume one and volume two. These books are the perfect way to while away a few hours with a fun, sweet YA romance while the author also works in serious issues and diversity in a way that feels both natural and impactful. Rating: 4 STARS Genre: LGBT/YA/Fantasy Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: Bought It’s 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. Teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom select wives based on a girl’s display of finery. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again. Sixteen-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. At the ball, Sophia makes the desperate decision to flee, and finds herself hiding in Cinderella’s mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all–and in the process, they learn that there’s more to Cinderella’s story than they ever knew . . . This fresh take on a classic story will make readers question the tales they’ve been told, and root for girls to break down the constructs of the world around them. Review by Sophie.
TW: Physical (domestic) abuse, homophobia, kidnapping, slavery (selling people), death/murder Rep: F/F romance. Black, lesbian and gay characters I’ve been wanting to read this for a while and was so glad when we chose it for the Turn the Page Book Club this month. This is my first fairy tale retelling and honestly, I didn’t know what to expect! “Do not be silent. Raise your voice. Be a light in the dark.” The book has a really strong opening, and the author does a fantastic job of setting up this dark and cruel, almost dystopian, world where women have no rights, no freedoms, and their only purpose is to serve and obey the men of Lille. In Marseilles, if you’re a woman, your fate is sealed at an annual ball where girls are presented in the image of Cinderella to be chosen as a wife. For these girls, there is no one to turn to and no escape. We meet our main character, Sophia, sneaking around, hiding from guards and trying to find the girl that she loves. Queer relationships are forbidden in Lille and the two girls face a prison sentence or death if caught. Straight away we learn that Sophia is loyal, headstrong and not afraid to fight for her rights as she tries to convince Erin to flee before the ball. “I was twelve when I told my parents that I would much rather find a princess than a prince.” Sophia, like all the other girls her age, is expected to attend the annual ball, so that she can be chosen as a wife. Those who aren’t chosen after the third time are considered forfeit and disappear, never to be seen again. The atmosphere in the story really builds as we begin to see the oppression of Lille's women and hints of something more sinister at play. “The palace underestimates the resourcefulness of women forced into a dark and dangerous place.” Soon, Sophia is on the run. Aided by her very sweet friend, Luke, she escapes the ball and seeks refuge in Cinderella's tomb. Here' we're introduced to the mysterious and seductive Constance, who I loved, even though I had my suspicions about her character! The two then set off on a journey to uncover the truth about the Cinderella story in an attempt to free the women of Lille. “That you try to flatter me when I have a blade at your neck makes me want to slit your throat and spare the world your ignorance.” Constance is totally badass, and I actually love her! I love how sassy she is, but also how collected she is too. She always seems to have it together. She’s quirky, fun, loyal and caring, and she’s got style. Together, Constance and Sophia make a great team, and author does a great job of building their relationship over the course of a relatively short period of time, in a fairly small novel. When we're introduced to Amina, the sarcasm and constant bickering between her and Constance had me laughing out loud, and I loved it. I really enjoyed how the writer created moments of fun and happiness during dark and difficult times. “The pockets,” she says. She puts her hands in them and gives a little twirl. “I love pockets.” I wish there was more of Constance in this story. Yes, she was one of the main characters, but I still kind of feel like I was missing a huge part of her in the book. I wish there was more about how badass she was, and more of what she was doing with her time before Sophia. The same goes for Amina. I loved her character and her personality, and even though I didn’t agree with all of her actions, I thought her character was brilliant and witty and funny. The ending was a little predictable, but all in all I loved this queer, feminist story. The writing was strong and compelling, and I loved the dark, twisted plot. Cinderella is Dead, was a great read and has set the bar for me regarding fairytale re-tellings. I can’t wait to discover others and can only hope they draw me in and capture me as well as this tale did. Rating: 3.5 Stars Genre: Contemporary/LGBT/YA Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: Bought Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda goes to Italy in Arvin Ahmadi's newest incisive look at identity and what it means to find yourself by running away. Eighteen-year-old Amir Azadi always knew coming out to his Muslim family would be messy--he just didn't think it would end in an airport interrogation room. But when faced with a failed relationship, bullies, and blackmail, running away to Rome is his only option. Right? Soon, late nights with new friends and dates in the Sistine Chapel start to feel like second nature... until his old life comes knocking on his door. Now, Amir has to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth to a US Customs officer, or risk losing his hard-won freedom. TW: Racism (racial profiling), bullying, homophobic behaviour and language, blackmail
This book has been on my TBR for a while now, and I was really excited to read it. The writing and 'voice' of Amir instantly drew me into the book and his character. He's an instantly likeable narrator, and Ahmadi's writing style is easy to fall into. That being said, this book didn't really read like a Young Adult novel, or at least not a modern YA. It felt a little more classic and 'grown up' than the typical YA, more so than Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda. Neither was better or worse than the other. This just felt a little more adult and also hugely autobiographical, which after reading the author's acknowledgements makes sense. I really liked Amir, his voice and his story are immediately gripping, and it's so easy to understand why, when caught between blackmailing bullies at school and a family he's certain won't accept him, he feels the only solution is to run away. When Amir finds himself suddenly in Rome, the overwhelm and the feeling of being lost is extremely clear, but I absolutely loved the 'found family' element of the story as Amir makes new, albeit much older, friends and is welcomed into a new circle of people where he's able to be himself for the first time in his life. “The thing about bigots is they always go out of their way to acknowledge my fabulous existence, when I hardly notice theirs.” A fantastic thing about Amir is that he's not at all perfect. His decisions are in the heat of the moment, rash and at times disastrous. He's a messy character, but this only serves to make him more realistic as he struggles to find his place in the world. However, it comes with a slight downside in that the plot and character development didn't always feel as though they were moving as much as they could have. Amir's story takes us across Rome and feels at times like part YA coming-out story and part Italian travel guide as we're taken along to various landmarks and treated to a full tour of Rome, both the tourist attractions and the LGBT+ scene. Amir's new crowd is flamboyant, with complex characters who bring life and colour to Amir's story and add new depth through their own challenges and relationships. For me, what made the book really powerful were the interrogation room scenes, which run throughout the novel as Amir and his family recount the events that lead to them being there. Amir's father's scenes were particularly brutal and heartbreaking as he had to deal with being detained and separated from his family while trying to come to terms with the love for his son battling the ideals he'd been taught. The representation of Iranian culture and characters felt authentic. However, the portrayal of the Italian characters felt a little on-the-nose and cliche. Most of the characters Amir meets in Italy are American and the only Italian characters he meets are stereotypical, somewhat problematic (an unhappy, unfaithful, semi-open relationship) or almost an afterthought, added only to benefit a particular scene or moment. I had some questions at the end of the novel, particularly the references to the previous time that Amir ran away, which wasn't really elaborated on, and so I would have liked a bit more information there. I did like the ending, but it was much more of a mellow, uplifted feeling than the overjoyed, positivity I'd almost expected. Overall, I think young and older readers would enjoy this poignant coming-out story as Amir is a character who feels accessible to all ages and walks of life as he reminds us that the most important thing in life is to own your own truth. "The ship is turning around. It will be a stormy ride, but we are going to make it through this journey together. All of us." Rating: 3 Stars Genre: YA/Fantasy Series/Standalone: Shadow and Bone Trilogy #1 How I got this book: Bought Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee. Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart. As always, I'm late to the party! I read Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom a couple of years back, only to realise that I should have read this series first. (Oops!)
Although, I don't feel like reading those two books has spoiled anything for me in Shadow & Bone. I really, really wanted to love this series, it's so popular and we have the Netflix adaptation coming out next week, so I'd convinced myself it was going to be a great read. So, what the hell happened? In the first 11 pages of the book, I counted 3 fat jokes (like, really?!). The whole tone of the book at the beginning felt really immature, not what I'd expect from a YA by a prominent female author. Alina, our chief character, is a bit dull. She's plain-looking, which I liked (although the casting director for the show clearly missed that because the actress they've cast is gorgeous), but other than her obsession and unrequited love for Mal, her childhood companion (I hesitate to say best-friend because their whole relationship dynamic screams that they literally only stuck together because they had no other choice), she doesn't have a great deal else going on. She's an orphan (because of course she is) training to be a cartographer in the first army, I can't really remember if there was a reason they're both in the army, I think they just are, but she doesn't seem to have any real desire to do anything other than cling to Mal's side. As the book progresses, it's also clear that her heart is a fickle thing indeed. Mal is incredibly annoying. He's a womanising playboy with an immature streak and constantly blames/belittles Alina. He honestly drove me mad and I can't understand how he's a legitimate love interest; why would Alina want to be with this guy after constantly hearing him brag about the women he's "bedded"? I guess I just don't understand the appeal. So far, this doesn't seem like a 3 star read, so let me round up the things I DID like about this book: - The world-building - while confusing, it was interesting. I liked the idea of the shadow fold, this area of complete darkness that's separating the lands, making crossing nearly impossible, and the volcra, creepy creatures that live within the fold and basically eat anyone who dares enter. - The magic - the magic system is again very confusing, but pretty unique, I think. I liked the concept of the different Grisha and that their powers are reflected by what they wear. My biggest issue with the Grisha is that they're all children (or at least they all act like children) yet they have these incredible powers but don't really use them. - The Darkling - This character feels like he has potential. He's a villain, and he does many villainous things, but he is compelling and I think he has an interesting story to tell. There were moments when I felt conflicted, because I did honestly empathise with him, but then he'd turn around and do something dastardly. I just hope he doesn't become a two-dimensional 'bad-guy' and that Bardugo actually gives him some depth and character development. “The problem with wanting," he whispered, his mouth trailing along my jaw until it hovered over my lips, "is that it makes us weak.” - Genya - I LOVE Genya. She's a great, complex character, and a hell of a lot more interesting than Alina. Once I got over the first few chapters, the pacing did kick up a notch and I enjoyed the story a lot more. I think Alina's journey was much more interesting than Alina herself. Her struggle to tap into and control her own power, while predictable, made for more compelling reading than her lack of character. I'm really hoping that, as the series progresses, Alina grows more of a spine and actually does more for herself and becomes a stronger character. Fingers crossed she also ditches Mal and we get some new, interesting (hopefully diverse) characters. Overall, I enjoyed the world-building, the magic system and the side-characters, but I felt the main character needed a lot more development and that some aspects were more confusing than they needed to be. I'll definitely be reading the next book in the series, because the potential is there, I just hope that it picks up and lives up to the hype. “The Darkling slumped back in his chair. “Fine,” he said with a weary shrug. “Make me your villain.” Rating: 4.5 STARS Genre: YA/Fantasy Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: Bought Every seven years, the Agon begins. As punishment for a past rebellion, nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals, hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines, all eager to kill a god and seize their divine power and immortality. Long ago, Lore Perseous fled that brutal world in the wake of her family's sadistic murder by a rival line, turning her back on the hunt's promises of eternal glory. For years she's pushed away any thought of revenge against the man--now a god--responsible for their deaths. Yet as the next hunt dawns over New York City, two participants seek out her help: Castor, a childhood friend of Lore believed long dead, and a gravely wounded Athena, among the last of the original gods. The goddess offers an alliance against their mutual enemy and, at last, a way for Lore to leave the Agon behind forever. But Lore's decision to bind her fate to Athena's and rejoin the hunt will come at a deadly cost--and still may not be enough to stop the rise of a new god with the power to bring humanity to its knees. TW: Attempted rape of a child, child marriage, child abuse, murder (incl. children)
We selected this book for the April 2021 Turn The Page book club. Can I just say that this book really exceeded my expectations?! I haven't read any other books by Alexandra Bracken, and this book seems to have some mixed ratings, but the Hunger Games/Divergent comparisons initially put me off, as dystopian fiction isn't really my thing. Thankfully, while this book reminded me of both, for me at least, it outshone them. “Scars are tallies of the battles you’ve survived.” The book begins with a poem from Zeus before we're launched immediately into bloodshed as a new God murders an old God. It's a short but bloody and brutal introduction, setting the tone for the rest of the book. I absolutely love Greek mythology and had sort of forgotten how much until I started reading this book. And regardless of what happens, Artemis is still my queen! The first chapter introduces us to Lore, fighting in a boxing ring. She basically kicks ass and is immediately compelling in her ferocity and through her struggle with grief. “It wasn't that anger was inherently good or bad. It could lend power and drive and focus, but the longer it lived inside you unchecked, the more poisonous it became.” Lore's character makes this story work. Without her, it wouldn't have gripped me how it did, forcing me to keep reading even though the plot, for at least the first quarter/third of the book, is quite slow and drawn out. Miles, Lore's best friend and housemate really helped as well. He's funny, sweet and caring, with a sarcastic, edgy side that comes out later, and I love him! He deserves all good things, and I'd have loved some chapters from his POV. As Lore finds herself face to face with a wounded Athena on her doorstep, she's suddenly plunged back into the world she's spent seven years hiding from, and things get interesting. The entire story flits back and forth across New York as Lore does what she feels is necessary to avenge her family and save Athena. I really enjoyed the contrast of the new gods and the old gods, and while some of the history, politics, bloodlines etc was a bit confusing, I think the mythology and the backstory it provided added to the story enough to make it less dystopian in style and allowed the fantasy to take a better hold of the story. What really kept this plot moving was the sheer amount of twists and treachery. Honestly, it got to the point where I expected every single character to betray Lore with their ulterior motives, or to end up murdered themselves. At one point, things got so bad (in a good way) that I was begging Lore to just murder everyone, and had to take a quick emotional support break via a tub of Ben & Jerry's. “Monsters lived in the shadows. To hunt them, you couldn’t be afraid to follow. And the only way to destroy them was to have the sharper teeth and the darker heart.” The author did a fantastic job of revealing just a snippet of information, forcing me to keep reading, while never giving too much away. Until when she finally did, it had the most impact. Making it so that I couldn't stop reading. I was worried about the LGBT+ characters in this book who I was really hoping wouldn't go down the usual, 'let's kill them to hurt the chief character' route. While I don't want to give too much away, I really enjoyed the direction the author took, in a way that was much more compelling than the storyline between Lore and Cas, her childhood best friend. I really didn't like these two characters together at first as Cas seemed to tame some of Lore's wildness and the relationship felt a little forced after 7 years apart. I did, however, love the ending, which wasn't a cliffhanger (thank the Gods!!) and left me reeling from everything that had happened. There are some difficult themes dealt with in this book, as outlined in the trigger warnings above, but what the author does well is she uses them to make Lore an advocate for women's rights and a spearhead for change among the bloodlines (districts, factions.....) “Monsters had fangs, but that was why lionesses were given claws.” Overall, I really enjoyed the characters, the unexpected twists and deceptions and the brutality of this story which, while painful, felt necessary to the story and in keeping with the darkness of Greek mythology. I think fans of Percy Jackson, The Mortal Instruments, and The Hunger Games would particularly enjoy this diverse feminist fantasy. “A person alone could be controlled, but a person loved by others would always be under their protection.” |
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About Kay (She/Her)
Book addict, film mad, music lover, business owner, writer and mum (not necessarily in that order), living in the UK. About Sophie (She/Her)
Sophie loves books (obviously). She has a passion for photography and spotting wildlife, and is interested in anything made with passion and creativity. THIS BLOG IS SPOILER FREE!
Rating system: 5 Stars - AMAZING!! 4.5 Stars - Almost perfect! 4 Stars - I really loved it 3.5 Stars - I liked it alot 3 Stars - I liked it (I don't typically review books that I rate below 3 stars)
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