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Rating: 5 STARS!!  Genre: LGBT/YA/Graphic Novel Series/Standalone: Heartstopper #2 How I got this book: Bought  Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. An LGBTQ+ graphic novel about life, love, and everything that happens in between: this is the second volume of HEARTSTOPPER, for fans of The Art of Being Normal, Holly Bourne and Love, Simon. Nick and Charlie are best friends. Nick knows Charlie's gay, and Charlie is sure that Nick isn't. But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is discovering all kinds of things about his friends, his family ... and himself. Heartstopper is about 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. This is the second volume of Heartstopper, with more to come. TW: Homophobia.
If you haven't read Heartstopper Volume One yet, you can catch my review here. This is going to be one of those short and sweet reviews because, besides saying how much I truly love this graphic novel, I'm not sure how else to convince you all to read it! I thought that Heartstopper Volume One was good, but this is even better. So many more cute, mushy feelings. As always Alice Oseman's illustrations are beautiful, the story is so sweet and Charlie and Nick are both likeable and compelling. Alice also does a fantastic job of making you care about the supporting characters and their stories and we're treated to a fantastic snippet from another story at the end of this book. The storytelling and voices are relatable and current, making the whole thing speed by far too quickly! I can't wait until I have every volume and can read through from start to finish! If you're looking for queer, YA romance with tons of inclusivity and rep that'll make you feel warm and gooey on the inside, you need Heartstopper in your life.
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Rating: 5 STARS!!  Genre: Contemporary/LGBT/YA Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: Bought  In the town of Newsands, painfully shy Alex is abandoned by his two best friends for the summer. But he unexpectedly lands a part-time job at Wonderland, a run-down amusement arcade on the seafront, where he gets to know the other teen misfits who work there. Alex starts to come out of his shell, and even starts to develop feelings for co-worker Ben... who, as Alex's bad luck would have it, has a girlfriend. Then as debtors close in on Wonderland and mysterious, threatening notes start to appear, Alex and his new friends take it on themselves to save their declining employer. But, like everything in Wonderland, nothing is quite what it seems... This might be my absolute favourite book of the year so far and it's easily my top Pride Month read!
I was in a bit of a funk when I picked up this book, but Simon James Green (and Alex) managed to flip my bad mood on its head. This book is a riot, I started laughing on the very first page and I don't think I stopped until long after I closed the book. Alex, like Noah before him (if you haven't read Simon's debut novel Noah Can't Even, you can find it on Goodreads here!) I adored Noah, but I LOVED Alex in Wonderland! Alex is so instantly relatable with his shy awkwardness and his extremely bad luck that was so familiar it was unsettling. I love the English seaside setting, reading about the pier, the mini doughnuts and, of course, Wonderland itself made me crave the seaside so much (I haven't been for years) that it inspired me to take my family to New Brighton Beach last weekend so that my four-year-old could experience the joys of playing in the ocean, sand between your toes and the intoxicating thrill of the 2p machines! Alex in Wonderland is so many things; a coming of age story, a first-love story, a friendship story and a mystery. It also tackles sexual identity and diverse representation through Alex, Efia and Ben and divorce through Alex's family in a way that keeps the pace moving and the story so much fun to read. Simon James Green writes with a fantastically comedic, authentic voice and brings Alex's character tripping off the pages. I also really enjoyed the other characters in this book; Alex's step-mum (who I loved to hate), Lemon Boy (the second pizza restaurant scene had me shaking with laughter), Ben (and his dimples), Efia (and her meddling) and Maggie (who's sarcastic and crazy but caring at heart). Without giving too much away, the only part of this book that I didn't like too much was the ending, Alex deserved to be treated better, much better! Overall though, this was the perfect summer read. It's light, incredibly funny, relatable and so awkwardly-romantic you'll be biting back a grin the entire way through! Now, I'll just be sitting her not-so-patiently waiting to see what awkward, adorable muppet of a character Simon James Green blesses us with next. Rating: 5 STARS!  Genre: LGBT/YA/Graphic Novel Series/Standalone: Heartstopper #1 How I got this book: Bought  Charlie Spring is in Year 10 at Truham Grammar School for Boys. The past year hasn't been too great, but at least he's not being bullied anymore, and he's sort of got a boyfriend, even if he's kind of mean and only wants to meet up in secret. Nick Nelson is in Year 11 and on the school rugby team. He's heard a little about Charlie - the kid who was outed last year and bullied for a few months - but he's never had the opportunity to talk to him. That is, until the start of January, in which Nick and Charlie are placed in the same form group and made to sit together. They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn't think he has a chance. But love works in surprising ways, and sometimes good things are waiting just around the corner... TW: Homophobia, mental health and manipulation.
Confession time: 1. I honestly thought I'd already written the review for this but I guess not because I can't find it anywhere. Not that I'm complaining too hard as it gave me the perfect excuse to re-read this again for pride month. 2. This is the only graphic novel I've read that I actually loved and couldn't put down. I read this in around an hour. So, onto the review. Heartstopper started life as a web comic and I did attempt to read it on the website but I found the format a little too distracting so, when I found out that a book was coming I couldn't get hold of it fast enough. Nick and Charlie attend an all-boys British Grammar School which sort of reminds me of my own high-school except that mine was co-ed and nowhere near as posh! Charlie is 14 and Nick is 16 and their story is most definitely a super-cute YA. What's amazing about this graphic novel, aside from the gorgeous art and realistic British dialogue is that it's so inclusive. It has gay, lesbian and bisexual (whoop whoop!) rep. It's racially diverse and has mental health rep. I'm not sure that I've ever read anything quite so instantly adorable as the story of Charlie and Nick and in volume one it's lovely to see their friendship begin blossom and effect how they each deal with their own demons. Pictures really are worth a thousand words, and Alice's are worth even more. After just a few scenes, I wanted to wrap Charlie and Nick in a giant hug, punch Ben in his stupid face and be best friends with Tori and Tara. I've pre-ordered Volume Two which comes out next month and I can't wait to get it because the ending of Volume One is too sad and I need the infectious happiness that bursts from the earlier pages. Charlie and Nick are precious and if you want a reason to smile today, go grab this book and fall in love. What about you? Have you read Heartstopper by Alice Oseman? Rating: 5 STARS!  Genre: YA Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: Bought  Tessa has major attitude and an impossible dream—not a greatcombination for success. But she believes that fate has delivered the ungainly horse Buffoon to her, and Tessa is determined never to be separated from him. What's more, she intends to one day become a jockey and ride Buffoon in the Grand National. But how can a girl with a violent temper and a “can't do” philosophy gain the physical strength, courage, and money needed to become a jockey—especially when her stepfather would like nothing better than to see her fail? Determination and grit may not be enough—but Tessa's not going to let go without giving it her all. TW: Alcoholism, abandonment, domestic abuse, violence, attempted murder, mental illness, depression, grief, loss and neglect.
You guys, I have so many emotions about this book but no words to express them. End of review. Just kidding, there are lots of words, it's just getting them into coherent sentences that's presenting a challenge. Truthfully, I've even considered just filling the page with crying and heart emoji's and the occasional knife for good measure (you'll get it if/when you choose to read it!) I should probably start by saying that this is a re-read but that I haven't read this book since I was a young teen (so around 12-16 years ago) and when I did I loved it SO MUCH because: 1. I love horses. 2. It's set in England/Ireland with authentic characters. 3. It's a gritty YA that deals with some really challenging themes. 4. Did I mention the horses?? Honestly, I was terrified of reading it again, afraid that it just wouldn't be the same because of how much I've changed since reading it the first time and I've put it off for quite a long time just in case, but it finally felt like the right time and I'm so overjoyed to report that it was, and somehow, it was so much more! It felt as though I was reading it for the first time all over again. The emotions, like the characters, are wild and unruly in this book. They're so strong, compelling, addictive and the ride is thrilling despite being so painful. 'Tessa stood and stared, shaking. She was numb, seeing it, never having known death before. Not like that, in the middle of brilliance, the light going out like the sun falling from the sky without warning. So fast the passage from life to death, she could not cope with it.' I devoured the book from start to finish, revelling in the story, it's dark twists and turns and the characters. At the end I was an emotional wreck, having suffered through pain and grief, with the characters but holding out that uncrushable hope throughout that everything will work out and that despite all the bad, things will come good in the end. Despite the incredible number of trigger warnings at the top of this review, this is a book of hope, of the power of love and how sheer, unwavering determination and handwork can overcome surmountable odds. The main character Tessa is such a strong and compelling character. Because of her past, she's dealing with loss, grief, parental abandonment and a tempestuous home life that's shaped her into a girl with a violent, turbulent nature, a hate-the-world attitude and a bone-deep refusal to do see the good in anything. That is until a horse comes along who might just change everything for better and for worse. Blind Beauty follows Tessa's journey from a young child to a young woman and it's a moving journey. Tessa goes through so many challenges and we see a really harsh side of her, something that's been forged at the hands of others through their abuse and neglect but despite her nature, I couldn't help but feel drawn to her character, to root for her, to desperately wish for her happy ending, even if she doesn't believe in it herself. The characters in this book are colourful and unique with clashing personalities asunder. The writing is unusual, a bit jarring almost as the author gives a glimpse into the mind of almost every character, even those that aren't human, but it's so gripping and I couldn't put the book down, lost in this horse-crazed world. Side note: If you love horses, you'll either love or hate this book as the horses suffer just as much as the humans in various ways. This book is easily one of the most touching and painful books I've ever read. It has feminist undertones, which shine through at key moments, something I love to see in YA fiction. "...And fourteen-year-old Buffoon! And a girl - a girl-" As if the rider were an ostrich, or a monkey. A girl! It's such a heartbreaking, powerful story about how loving someone (in this case a wonderful horse) with your entire being can either make you or destroy you entirely. At the end of this book, I was a bit of an emotional wreck but I almost instantly wanted to re-read it, which, is the mark of a truly good book, if nothing else. Have you read this book? What did you think? Rating: 5 STARS!!  Genre: Paranormal Romance/LGBT Standalone/Series: Green Creek #1 How I got this book: Bought  Ox was twelve when his daddy taught him a very valuable lesson. He said that Ox wasn’t worth anything and people would never understand him. Then he left. Ox was sixteen when he met the boy on the road, the boy who talked and talked and talked. Ox found out later the boy hadn’t spoken in almost two years before that day, and that the boy belonged to a family who had moved into the house at the end of the lane. Ox was seventeen when he found out the boy’s secret, and it painted the world around him in colors of red and orange and violet, of Alpha and Beta and Omega. Ox was twenty-three when murder came to town and tore a hole in his head and heart. The boy chased after the monster with revenge in his bloodred eyes, leaving Ox behind to pick up the pieces. It’s been three years since that fateful day—and the boy is back. Except now he’s a man, and Ox can no longer ignore the song that howls between them. Trigger warnings: Mental/physical/child abuse.
If you've been reading my blog for a while or you're following me on Twitter, you'll know that TJ Klune has quickly become one of my favourite writers. I can't get enough of his immersive writing style and I absolutely love how diverse his characters and the genres he writes in are. I've only read two other books of his so far, one being a SCI-Fi whilst the other is a more epic fantasy. So far, I've loved everything I've read by this author and Wolfsong is no exception. It all starts with Ox. Sweet, beautiful Ox who's unlike anyone else. He's plagued by the words of his father. Telling him he's too stupid, too dumb, too slow. He's kind. He's strong. He's brave. He's so loving. He's the cornerstone of this whole book and I am in awe of who he is and who he becomes. TJ writes characters that are vivid and diverse. His dialogue is so real that you can just hear it in your head without any effort. Each character is unique and I love the development arcs for each and every one. What's great is that even though Ox is the narrator of this book, you still see so much growth from the others that they all feel like main characters. The romance in this book is a scorching slow burn, friends-to-lovers relationship that builds steadily throughout the book until it consumes you. The plot line is seriously epic, the action is fantastic, the creatures and backstory are so detailed and full of pain, love and ALL THE FEELS that I'm so not over it. Not even a little bit. I love that, whilst there are a lot of darker, tense moments, there's still plenty of humour and there are so many fantastic, complex relationships to explore; friends, brothers, parents, family, pack. I mixed things up a little on this read, sometimes reading the eBook, other times listening to the audio-book and the narration by Kirt Graves was brilliant and so very immersive. Wolfsong draws you in, grabs hold of your heart, tears it apart, repairs the fragments and leaves you not quite whole but wanting more. This is a paranormal shifter novel done absolutely right! Rating: 5 STARS!!  Genre: Romance/LGBT Standalone/Series: Standalone How I got this book: ARC from the author  In the spring of 1995, Nate Cartwright has lost everything: his parents are dead, his older brother wants nothing to do with him, and he's been fired from his job as a journalist in Washington DC. With nothing left to lose, he returns to his family's summer cabin outside the small mountain town of Roseland, Oregon to try and find some sense of direction. The cabin should be empty. It's not. Inside is a man named Alex. And with him is an extraordinary little girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader. Artemis, who isn't exactly as she appears. Soon it becomes clear that Nate must make a choice: let himself drown in the memories of his past, or fight for a future he never thought possible. Because the girl is special. And forces are descending upon them who want nothing more than to control her. You're going to have to forgive me if this review turns out to be incoherent because sometimes there just aren't words to describe how amazing a book is, but I'll do my best!
I want to start by saying that the only other book I've read by TJ Klune so far is The Lightning Struck Heart which is a hilarious, outrageous m/m fantasy romance that I adored. This book is NOTHING LIKE THAT BOOK - but that's in no way a bad thing! From the synopsis, I expected a romantic suspense novel and so I was not prepared for all of the awesome shit that goes down in this book. Fear not, you know this is a spoiler-free review site, so I'm going to give you my reactions, without giving anything away because honestly, this book is one of the best books I've ever read and I want you all to read it without knowing what to expect! The plot is fantastic, I absolutely love the authors writing style and was instantly swept up into the story and into Nate's head, seeing this story through his eyes was perfect! I love Nate, and Alex and Art, three completely individual characters who's pain, suffering and love was so vivid that I felt connected to them, desperate for things to work out. "...somehow we're all made of dust and stars." Nate is sweet, kind and haunted by his past, Alex appears tough and strong but has a much deeper core, and Art...well, I'll let you discover how amazing Art is by yourself. I love everything about The Bones Beneath My Skin, the way it makes me smile and laugh, the way it warms my heart, the way it sends my heart racing or just stops it dead, the way it has me holding my breath and even the way it has me on the verge of tears, afraid to keep reading but unable to stop. The pacing, the writing, the realistic dialogue, the genuine, evolving connections be they romantic, sexual, friendly or familial, were all perfectly portrayed. The enemies-to-lovers style romance itself is such a fantastic, realistic portrayal of an m/m romance, focusing less on the sex and mostly on the chemistry, tension and bond between these two complex characters. To try and sum this up simply, I couldn't get enough of this book, I read and read for hours, never wanting to put it down and whether you like romance, action, or adventure, I urge you to read this incredible story about oppression, standing up for what matters, appreciating the smaller things in life, and dreaming of an impossible future. "You can fear what you don't understand, but in the end, you can still be brave. You can still stand up for what's right." It's a story of laughter, love, caring, anger, pain, suffering, denial, belief, and a whole shed load of bacon. "Are we going on an adventure?" Trigger Warnings: There are some dark topics that are explored in this book including; suicide, mental illness, grief and homophobia. Rating: 5 STARS  Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance Standalone/Series: Signs of Love #4 How I got this book: Bought  It’s a time for searching, and a time for finding, Pisces: keep casting your line and you will hook what you’re looking for. Zane has it all planned out: land the perfect Meet Cute, fall in love, and live happily ever after. Should be simple enough if he put his mind to it. A little creativity and some thinking outside of the box, and voila, he’d be married to the woman of his dreams. It would be perfect. And it would be before his visa ran out. But why are his feelings running wild now that the pressure’s on? Why is his picture-perfect plan turning into a muddled mess of morphed metaphors he can’t make sense of anymore? Just as well he’s met an English professor to help. And even though their first meet is anything but cute, this down-to-earth teacher may just be the realist Zane needs to ground him and give him a shot at love after all. Don’t cast your line too wide, Pisces. Your perfect catch may already have bitten. Okay, so you might already know that Anyta Sunday is one of my absolute favourite romance authors, and her Signs of Love series is just AMAZING!!
When I saw her new release, I just had to one-click and I couldn't be happier, if a little sleep deprived (I bought this book at around 10pm last night and I didn't finish reading until 4 this morning!!) It's THAT GOOD, not to mention crazy adorable! My favourite thing about Anyta's writing is definitely the slow-burn. These are easily my favourites, the tension she builds is so perfect that it's practically fizzing off the page and I LITERALLY cannot stop myself from reading. The 'Signs of Love' series is all about bringing together two people who are pretty opposite in terms of their star signs and their personalities. Pisces Hooks Taurus is no exception and it's so much fun to see these two characters who seem at first to have almost nothing in common, grow so close. As a word lover, I found this book particularly enjoyable as one of the characters is an English professor, whilst the other is intrigued by intelligence and so there's lots of cute and very fun wordplay and book appreciation to be found in Pisces Hooks Taurus. Both Beckett and Zane are complex characters with unique personalities, challenges and character development arcs. They each have their own goals and obstacles to overcome and the two of them together provide plenty of laughs, especially when aided by a meddling, goodhearted elderly neighbour. This story had me grinning from ear to ear, my toes curled in all the right places and the whole thing was just perfection, made even more so by the quotes from romance novels (mostly by Austen) separating each chapter. "In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." I'm a mood reader, and when I picked up this book I wanted something that would cheer me up, and make me feel, this book swept me off my feet and I'm already contemplating re-reading the whole series. Prepare yourself to meet Beckett and Zane, and brace your heart for an agonising slow-burn romance that will melt your heart. 'Beckett cast his gaze upward and muttered toward the stars, "Slow burn."' Note: This book can be read as a standalone but honestly, this entire series is too good to be missed! 
Welcome to my stop on the To Be Honest blog tour!
I'm so excited to share my review with you all! I've had my eye on this book for ages because I'm always looking for more body positive rep and I was thrilled at the chance to read it, so huge thanks to Xpresso Book Tours for allowing me to participate in the tour!
Rating: 5 STARS!
Genre: Contemporary YA Standalone/Series: Standalone How I got this book: ARC from Xpresso Book Tours 
Savannah is dreading being home alone with her overbearing mother after her sister goes off to college. But if she can just get through senior year, she’ll be able to escape to college, too. What she doesn’t count on is that her mother’s obsession with weight has only grown deeper since her appearance on an extreme weight-loss show, and now Savvy’s mom is pressuring her even harder to be constantly mindful of what she eats.
Between her mom’s diet-helicoptering, missing her sister, and worrying about her collegiate future, Savvy has enough to worry about. And then she meets George, the cute new kid at school who has insecurities of his own. As Savvy and George grow closer, they help each other discover how to live in the moment and enjoy the here and now before it disappears.
I just want to jump up and down and rave about this amazing book, so you'll have to bear with me here! First of all, here's a quick summary of what I LOVE most about this book:
This book was impossible to put down from the moment I started reading, and I flew through it so quickly that I could honestly read it again. I love Savannah, I love her confidence, her positive outlook and attitude, her loyalty and her compassion. "News flash: fat isn't a bad word, Mom." I also love that she's completely relatable. She has principles that she stands by, she has her own insecurities, and she has anxiety (something I feel is portrayed exceptionally well by the author, especially since not one single person treats it as a problem or a burden they have to deal with or as something that she should just 'get over'). "It suddenly felt like all the air had been pushed out of my lungs. I swayed on my feet as the ringing in my ears began. No matter how many panic attacks I had, my body always believed that it was dying." I also found Savannah likeable and truly funny, this book had me chuckling so many times, especially when she's around George and her thoughts take a turn for the amusing. "My mouth watered (for multiple reasons, mostly the pizza, though, to be honest) and I invited him inside." Parts of this book were a little tough for me personally. I've "struggled" with my body image my entire life, and truthfully, a lot of that stems from people close to me telling me that they're worried for me, that I should try to be more healthy to the point where I no longer felt comfortable in my own skin. The way Savannah's mum treats her perfectly illustrates the things I've gone through in my own life and honestly, there were moments that were so real they had me close to tears. "You'd be a lot happier if you could just make the choice to lead a healthier life." One thing that Savannah has that I didn't is an amazing, supportive friend. I absolutely adore Grace, Savannah's best friend, who is always in Savannah's corner. Then there's George; sweet, naive, blushing George. The romance in this book is completely adorable, especially as both George and Savannah are a little clueless when it comes to expressing their feelings. If you're looking for more body positivity in your life, if you're sick and tired of body shaming and reading books with toxic friendships, I urge you to read To Be Honest. I especially recommend to fans of Becky Albertalli who I think will adore Maggie Ann Martin's writing style! I'm so thankful to Maggie Ann Martin for writing this fantastic book and to Swoon Reads for publishing it! We need more body positive YA. I feel certain that if I'd read more books like this when I was younger, I wouldn't have spent most of my teenage life feeling so insecure. "There's no expiration date on acceptance."
What do you think? Remember that you can click on the cover photo above to add To Be Honest to your Goodreads TBR!
Thanks again for stopping by and joining me on my leg of the tour! Click here to follow the rest of the tour! You can also enter below for your chance to win a print copy of To Be Honest (US/CAN only - giveaway hosted by Xpresso Book Tours)! Rating: 5 STARS!!  Genre: Fantasy Standalone/Series: The Nevernight Chronicle #1 How I got this book: Bought  Mia Covere is only ten years old when she is given her first lesson in death. Destined to destroy empires, the child raised in shadows made a promise on the day she lost everything: to avenge herself on those that shattered her world. But the chance to strike against such powerful enemies will be fleeting, and Mia must become a weapon without equal. Before she seeks vengeance, she must seek training among the infamous assassins of the Red Church of Itreya. Inside the Church's halls, mia must prove herself against the deadliest of opponents and survive the tutelage of murderers, liars and demons at the heart of a murder cult. The Church is no ordinary school, but Mia is no ordinary student. I'm going to start by pointing out that I've marked this book as a Fantasy novel, not a YA Fantasy (as shown on Goodreads) because there is no way in hell that this book is a YA...and by no means is that a bad thing!
I absolutely LOVE it when books live up to their hype, and I admit that I was a little sceptical over Nevernight, because I'd tried to read this book about three times over the past year, and I just kept re-reading the first two chapters and then stopping. My biggest issue was with the footnotes which I struggled with to begin with, I just felt that they detracted from the story a bit and pulled me out of the 'zone'. You might be wondering why then that I decided to rate this as a 5 star read. Simply put, some of the footnotes aside, this is one of the most incredible books I've ever had the pleasure of reading. This is my second Jay Kristoff novel, Illuminae being the first, and I can only say that the man is both ingenious and insane. He clearly hates standard formatting, but it works so well that I honestly can't complain, and his character and world development are phenomenal! Mia is a fantastic character, I love her strength, her pain, her courage and her fear. Nevernight surprised me by having a really fantastic feminist undertone, alongside some brilliant quotes. "Beauty you are born with, but brains you earn." After struggling with the first three chapters, I suddenly fell face first into the story during chapter 4 and it dragged me along for an amazing ride. To be honest, I'm not sure what to talk about first and I really don't want to give much away, but here's a quick run-down of some of my favourite things: Mia (and her shadows), Mr. Kindly (and his sass), the sand krackens, the librarian, the bookworms, the library itself, the blood walk, Naev, Adonaii, Marielle, Hush, Tric (and his impressive skills 😉), Lord Cassius, Mouser, Spiderkiller, AAlea...aaand there's so much more that I can't think of right now. Surprisingly, this book is packed full of witty humour which comes through in the footnotes, the characters (mostly the 'teachers') and Mr. Kindly. "She crushed what was left of her smoke out, grimacing. 'Maw's teeth, I've got to cut down.' '....there are more dangerous things around here to put in your mouth...' Mister Kindly peered at her through the grey pall. '....dweymeri boys, for example....'" 😂😂😂 The Red Church made me think of a cross between the house of black and white and Hogwarts, if run by Death Eaters, and I'm really sorry, but I think I've found my new favourite potions master because Spiderkiller is incredible and terrifying! It's bloody, brutal, graphic and I loved every bit of it. The characters, the plot twists, the shock moments (yeah, I'm looking at you Solis!! 😱😱😱), the violence, the 'romance' - arrrggh! I can't get over how perfect it was!! I am so ready for book two, and if you haven't read Nevernight yet, I'd highly recommend that you do! Rating: 5 STARS!!  Genre: Sci-Fi/Romance/YA Standalone/Series: The Xenith Trilogy #1 How I got this book: Bought  Delaney’s entire world is thrown into chaos after she is mistaken for Lissa Olena, an alien princess hiding out on Earth in order to escape an arranged marriage. Kidnapped by the princess’s head bodyguard, Ruckus, and imprisoned in an alien palace, Delaney is forced to impersonate the princess until Olena can be found. If she fails, it will lead to an alien war and the eventual enslavement of the entire human race. No pressure or anything. Factor in Trystan, the princess’s terrifying betrothed who is intent on unraveling all her secrets, and her own growing feelings for Ruckus, and Delaney is in way over her head. Get lost Amid Stars and Darkness, in this YA sci-fi romance from debut author Chani Lynn Feener. I've been a HUGE fan of Chani Lynn Feener ever since I discovered her Underworld series last year - if you love Greek mythology, strong heroines, swoon-worthy boys and three-headed dogs, go check it out!
When I read Amid Stars and Darkness for the first time it was the first sci-fi I'd ever actually made it through, let alone enjoyed. It was so much fun and definitely a 5-star read! Book two, Between Frost and Fury, is coming out next month and it's one of my most anticipated reads this year, that's why I decided to re-read book one to refresh my memory. Side note: I have a shocking long-term memory. It really is awful and in all aspects of life it really bothers me, except when it comes to reading books. Forgetting the details helps to make a re-read much more special. This story is so easy to fall into, one second you're on page one, meeting Delaney and Olena, and the next you're almost finished. The pace is fantastic and I read the entire book in just a few short sittings. I just couldn't put it down and was hooked from the very beginning. I instantly loved Delaney who's an amazingly strong, resilient and witty character whilst still handling her situation realistically, she's definitely braver than me, I'd have been curled up in a corner panicking the entire time! The imagery and world-building in this book are fantastic, I love the comparisons between Earth and the aliens, especially the pool room which is simply magical. I hope there's more of this amazing world to explore in book 2. What I love most is that this book isn't just a typical romance, it's full of action and dastardly plots that keep your eyes glued to the page. I won't say too much about the other characters in this book as I really don't want to give too much away. Just know that I had so much fun with all of the characters. Ruckus is strong, loyal, sweet and HOT. Trystan is big, brooding and pretty malicious for the most part, so why is he my favourite?!? Prepare yourself for one hell of a cliffhanger ending! That ending has had me hanging on so long for the sequel. I luckily managed to snag an ARC of Between Frost and Fury from the lovely team at Swoon Reads, so I'm reading it next!! I can't wait! I'm desperate to get jump back into this fantastic world! If you're a fan of 'enemies/friends to lovers', strong-willed heroines, drop-dead gorgeous heroes & villains, and action-filled plots, you'll love Amid Stars and Darkness! |
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About KayleighBook addict, film mad, music lover, business owner, aspiring writer and mum (not necessarily in that order), living in the UK. Currently Reading:
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