Thursday, 30 June 2016

Blog Tour / Extract: Alice by Christina Henry


I am totally excited to be part of the this amazing Blog Tour! On todays stop I have an extract for you of this dark and disturbing adaptation of Alice. Hope you enjoy it! My review will soon follow too!


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Down the Rabbit Hole

Two vines exploded from the maze wall, and wrapped around her ankles. The vines tugged sharply and she fell hard to the ground on her back. Before she or Hatcher could do anything she was pulled along the grass and the roses closed around her.
     Thorns pricked at her skin everywhere, poked at her face and hands and the top of her head and wormed through her jacket and pants. She thought Hatcher yelled her name but she couldn’t tell, for roses were in her ears and her nose and under her eyelids, crawling inside her. She opened her mouth to scream and roses pushed their way inside, choking her.
Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop. She wished she were a Magician; she would make the roses go away, get them out of this maze, fly away from the Old City forever and forget about the Jabberwocky and the Rabbit and Cheshire and the Walrus and Mr. Carpenter and roses, everything that could make her scared or cry or bleed. She would make the roses burn to the ground so they could never hurt anyone again.
Her hands were hot, hot with her own blood running from the thorn pricks in her arms down over her palms, and suddenly there was smoke, and a sound like a million tiny creatures squealing. Then the thorns were yanked from her skin and the flowers crawled away from her throat and nose and ears and eyes and something pushed hard into her back, and she was out, flat on the grass and crying and spitting rose petals from her mouth.
“Alice, Alice.” Hatcher’s voice, and then Hatcher’s hands all over her, patting and soothing, and then Hatcher’s arms taking her into his lap and rocking her as she cried and cried and cried.
All the strength she thought she’d found was gone now, smashed beneath the roses’ assault.
Hatcher rubbed his hand down her back and said, “Alice, my Alice, don’t cry. I can’t stand for you to cry.”
“I w-want to go h-home,” she said. Her tongue tasted like salt and roses.
“Where’s home, my Alice?” Hatcher said. “Where’s home? We don’t have a home, you and I.”
“Then I want to go back to the hospital,” she said. “We were safe there. Nothing could hurt us. Nothing could grab us and take us away.”
“Except the doctors,” Hatcher said. “Or the medicine they gave us. Or our own memories. We weren’t safe there, Alice. It was an illusion. And the hospital burned down. There’s nowhere for us to go back to. We can go forward. We can find our way out.”
She cried harder then, because she knew what he said was true. They had nowhere to go and no safe place to be, and they were trapped in this labyrinth by the whim of a madman.
“How do w-we even know there is a way out?” she said. “How do we know that Cheshire won’t keep us here, running in circles forever?”
“We don’t know,” Hatcher said. “I do know this. You’re a Magician, as sure as I’m mad.”
“Not now, Hatch,” she said. She was tired and scared and not up to fighting about this.
“Look,” he said, taking her chin and turning her head toward the rosebushes.
There in the hedge was a hole— a smoking, charred, empty place where roses used to be.
“Did you set it on fire?” Alice asked. “Is that why they let me go?”
“You set it on fire,” Hatcher said. “I don’t think the roses will trouble us any longer.”
At these words he stood, still holding her in his arms like a child. She never thought about how big and strong he was, but she was very tall and he could hold her like she was nothing, a little bit of a thing. He approached the wall of the maze, and Alice turned her head into his chest, her eyes closed.
“No,” he said. “Look.”
She opened her eyes just enough to see through the slits, and then opened them wider, astonished. The roses were curling back on themselves, rolling into tight little coils. Alice reached her hand toward the vines, her curiosity stronger than her fear.
The roses shrank away from her touch, emitting that high- pitched squeal, like they were afraid.
Afraid of her.




Wednesday, 29 June 2016

WWW Wednesday (29th June)



 WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words. It’s open for anyone to join in and is a great way to share what you’ve been reading! All you have to do is answer three questions and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.
The three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?


I am currently reading...

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Agoraphobia confines Norah to the house she shares with her mother.

For her, the outside is sky glimpsed through glass, or a gauntlet to run between home and car. But a chance encounter on the doorstep changes everything: Luke, her new neighbour. Norah is determined to be the girl she thinks Luke deserves: a ‘normal’ girl, her skies unfiltered by the lens of mental illness. Instead, her love and bravery opens a window to unexpected truths …

An important and uplifting debut from a British author, which tackles mental health issues such as agoraphobia and OCD.
 



I have recently finished...

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America’s most famous pop star flees the spotlight to recover from her latest break-up in Maine—only to fall for a local boy and be faced with an impossible choice at the end of the summer: her new guy, or her music.

Multiplatinum pop icon Lily Ross’s biggest hits and biggest heartbreaks (because they are one and the same):


1. AGONY. (That feeling when her ex ripped her heart out of her chest and she never saw it coming.)
2. GHOSTS. (Because even famous people are ghosted by guys sometimes. And it sucks just as much.)
3. ONCE BITTEN. (As in: twice shy. Also, she’s never dating an actor or a musician ever again.)


But this summer’s going to be different. After getting her heart shattered, Lily is taking herself out of the spotlight and heading to a small island in middle-of-nowhere Maine with her closest friends. She has three months until her fall tour starts-three months to focus on herself, her music, her new album. Anything but guys.


That is . . . until Lily meets sweet, down-to-earth local Noel Bradley, who is so different from anyone she’s ever dated. Suddenly, Lily’s “summer of me” takes an unexpected turn, and she finds herself falling deeper and harder than ever before. But Noel isn’t interested in the limelight. She loves Noel-but she loves her fans, too. And come August, she may be forced to choose.
 



I plan on reading next...

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Meet Celaena Sardothien.
Beautiful. Deadly.
Destined for greatness.


In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake: she got caught.

Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament—fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted?

Tuesday, 28 June 2016

Review: The Witche's Kiss by Katharine & Elizabeth Corr

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Sixteeen-year-old Meredith is fed-up with her feuding family and feeling invisible at school – not to mention the witch magic that shoots out of her fingernails when she’s stressed. Then sweet, sensitive Jack comes into her life and she falls for him hard. The only problem is that he is periodically possessed by a destructive centuries-old curse. Meredith has lost her heart, but will she also lose her life? Or in true fairytale tradition, can true love’s kiss save the day?





Oh wow, how I needed this! Lately all I have been reading is rather heavy and dark reads, so this is something that came at just the right time. Look at this cover!!! Its so obviously whats sold me this book and why I just needed to read it.

Meredith lives with her brother and her mother, although the mother is always absent working abroad. She is a witch, but has never been trained because her mother does not wish her to be. Being a witch has been past on for generations and is the reason why her mother argues with her grandmother. Meredith keeps dreaming about a boy she has never seen before and off places she has never seen. When her and her brother hear a strange knock from their loft they go and investigate and from then on Meredith's life is turned upside down. With the help of her grandma she discovers that she is destined to bring down someone evil, someone who has also cursed Jack many centuries ago. But Jack is so much more then she could ever possibly imagine.

This is a retelling but this is only really visible in some places and while I haven't got much experience with those I have enjoyed recognising some bits from the fairytale while still reading a completely different story.

I will be honest, this is not the best book I have read and it hasn't blown me of my feet. BUT I did really enjoy it. This is a nice and light read that was a lot of fun. I really loved the relationship between Meredith and her brother. But I am always a little annoyed when the books include absent parents. The world building was rather good and I am a fan of the switches between the past and the present. I think they have been integrated in a way that was really easy to follow and suited the whole story rather well.

All in all I have had a great time reading this. I am a big lover of all magic and witches. And of course I can never get enough of rather complicated love. This book has all the right ingredients for a successful YA fantasy, including a super stunning cover!

This is an adorable fantasy novel that will be loved by many.

The Witch's Kiss will be released 30th July.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for my copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Sunday, 26 June 2016

Weekly Wrap Up and Stacking the Shelves #26

Weekly Wrap Up...

Its been a rather crazy week. Weather it was at work or at home. As a result it has been rather quiet on my Twitter and Blog. I am sorry about that, hopefully I will have much more time next week. I have only managed to read 1 book and unfortunately I have had to DNF one. I have managed to finished The Witch's Kiss and unfortunately had to DNF The Otherlife, which I am really gutted about.


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Sixteeen-year-old Meredith is fed-up with her feuding family and feeling invisible at school – not to mention the witch magic that shoots out of her fingernails when she’s stressed. Then sweet, sensitive Jack comes into her life and she falls for him hard. The only problem is that he is periodically possessed by a destructive centuries-old curse. Meredith has lost her heart, but will she also lose her life? Or in true fairytale tradition, can true love’s kiss save the day?


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Three years ago, Ben's beloved friend and tutor Jason died in mysterious circumstances. And he begins to wonder if his old friend Hobie had something to with it...

I always get away with it when I try stuff like this. Partly it comes down to sort of assuming that I'm going to. I've got loads of confidence. And Loki got away with everything. Well, almost everything.

When troubled, quiet Ben begins at the ruthlessly competitive Cottesmore House, school to the richest, most privileged boys, he is befriended by Hobie: the wealthy class bully, product of monstrous indulgence and intense parental ambition.

Hobie is drawn to Ben because he can see the Otherlife: a violent, mythic place where gods and monsters roam. Ben has unnerving visions of Thor and Odin, and of the giant beasts that will destroy them, as well as Loki, god of mischief. Hobie is desperate to be a part of it.

Years later, Ben discovers his beloved tutor Jason is dead. And he can’t help wondering if Hobie – wild, restless, dangerous Hobie, had something to do with it…

Beguiling, shocking and richly imaginative,
The Otherlife is about the darkest impulses within us all.
 



Stacking the Shelves...








This week I have added 2 books to my shelves. Once again Maximumpop has been sooooo good to me and I have won a review copy of Sing, which I have now started to read. Thank you for another great competition! You guys are awesome.

My second book is The Book of Learning by  E.R. Murray. This has been kindly send to me by Mercier Press with some lovely help from the author. Thank you so much, I am very much looking forward to this. Thank you so much!!

 


America’s most famous pop star flees the spotlight to recover from her latest break-up in Maine—only to fall for a local boy and be faced with an impossible choice at the end of the summer: her new guy, or her music.

Multiplatinum pop icon Lily Ross’s biggest hits and biggest heartbreaks (because they are one and the same):


1. AGONY. (That feeling when her ex ripped her heart out of her chest and she never saw it coming.)
2. GHOSTS. (Because even famous people are ghosted by guys sometimes. And it sucks just as much.)
3. ONCE BITTEN. (As in: twice shy. Also, she’s never dating an actor or a musician ever again.)


But this summer’s going to be different. After getting her heart shattered, Lily is taking herself out of the spotlight and heading to a small island in middle-of-nowhere Maine with her closest friends. She has three months until her fall tour starts-three months to focus on herself, her music, her new album. Anything but guys.


That is . . . until Lily meets sweet, down-to-earth local Noel Bradley, who is so different from anyone she’s ever dated. Suddenly, Lily’s “summer of me” takes an unexpected turn, and she finds herself falling deeper and harder than ever before. But Noel isn’t interested in the limelight. She loves Noel-but she loves her fans, too. And come August, she may be forced to choose.





Sometimes, it takes more than one lifetime to put things right...

After the death of her beloved grandpa, Ebony Smart’s world is turned upside down. Sent to Dublin to live with an aunt she didn’t know existed, she soon discovers that her new home, 23 Mercury Lane, is full of secrets.

Learning that she is part of an ancient order of people who have the power to reincarnate, Ebony quickly discovers that a terrible evil threatens their existence. With just her pet rat, Winston, and a mysterious book to help her, she must figure out why her people are disappearing and how to save their souls, including her own, before time runs out …
 

Wednesday, 22 June 2016

WWW Wednesday (22nd June)



 WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words. It’s open for anyone to join in and is a great way to share what you’ve been reading! All you have to do is answer three questions and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.
The three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?


I am currently reading...

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Sixteeen-year-old Meredith is fed-up with her feuding family and feeling invisible at school – not to mention the witch magic that shoots out of her fingernails when she’s stressed. Then sweet, sensitive Jack comes into her life and she falls for him hard. The only problem is that he is periodically possessed by a destructive centuries-old curse. Meredith has lost her heart, but will she also lose her life? Or in true fairytale tradition, can true love’s kiss save the day?


I have recently finished...

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In a warren of crumbling buildings and desperate people called the Old City, there stands a hospital with cinderblock walls which echo with the screams of the poor souls inside.In the hospital, there is a woman. Her hair, once blonde, hangs in tangles down her back. She doesn't remember why she's in such a terrible place-just a tea party long ago, and long ears, and blood...Then, one night, a fire at the hospital gives the woman a chance to escape, tumbling out of the hole that imprisoned her, leaving her free to uncover the truth about what happened to her all those years ago.Only something else has escaped with her. Something dark. Something powerful.And to find the truth, she will have to track this beast to the very heart of the Old City, where the rabbit waits for his Alice.


I plan on reading next...

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Three years ago, Ben's beloved friend and tutor Jason died in mysterious circumstances. And he begins to wonder if his old friend Hobie had something to with it...

I always get away with it when I try stuff like this. Partly it comes down to sort of assuming that I'm going to. I've got loads of confidence. And Loki got away with everything. Well, almost everything.

When troubled, quiet Ben begins at the ruthlessly competitive Cottesmore House, school to the richest, most privileged boys, he is befriended by Hobie: the wealthy class bully, product of monstrous indulgence and intense parental ambition.

Hobie is drawn to Ben because he can see the Otherlife: a violent, mythic place where gods and monsters roam. Ben has unnerving visions of Thor and Odin, and of the giant beasts that will destroy them, as well as Loki, god of mischief. Hobie is desperate to be a part of it.

Years later, Ben discovers his beloved tutor Jason is dead. And he can’t help wondering if Hobie – wild, restless, dangerous Hobie, had something to do with it…

Beguiling, shocking and richly imaginative, The Otherlife is about the darkest impulses within us all.


Tuesday, 21 June 2016

Review: Duskfall by Christopher Husberg (Chaos Queen #1)

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Stuck with arrows and close to death, a man is pulled from the icy waters of the Gulf of Nahl. Winter, a seemingly quiet young fisherman’s daughter, harbours a secret addiction that threatens to destroy her. A young priestess, Cinzia, must face a long journey home to protect her church from rebellion. A rebellion sparked by her sister.

Three characters on different paths will be brought together by fate on one thrilling and perilous adventure.


Its always a little daunting when you receive a book from a new voice in a genre, a book that barely has any reviews you can quickly read through and simple one you know little about. Duskfall was all that. A new Author and absolutely no reviews that I could find. However it just sounded amazing and I had to take a risk. And it has absolutely paid off. This is a new refreshing book in one of my favourite genres, fantasy.

The story follows 3 characters all with their own path, past and secrets. Knot is found drowning in the sea and he has no memory of who he is. However he does have dreams, which seem like memories, but he does not like those dreams at all. He discovers he knows how to fight and he has lots of other useful skills he has no clue how he acquired. Winter is a Tiellan woman, who has been on board of the ship that has found Knot. She is about to discover that she has more power then she could ever imagine and that she has a fate she can not escape. Priestess Cinzia returns home after years of being away, finding her sister branded as a heretic. She is hoping that she can save her sister and her family from any further trouble her sisters rebelling against the church could bring to their door. They all follow their own paths, not knowing that it will lead them together. They might just all need each other to get to where they need to be.

How this is a debut novel, I do not know. This is well written and superbly planned out. Far beyond a clumsy first novel. The characters are all incredibly interesting, weather its the main characters or all the others they meet along the way. I love the diversity not only where the characters are concerned but also their paths and believes and experiences. Its as if we get 3 stories in one.

The world building is very refreshing, completely unique and just so damn good. I love it. And let me tell you one thing, when a vampire turned up I squeeled. Seriously. It seems those have disappeared lately and its nice to see them again. BUT this is not a vampire story, not at all. I do however feel like most authors are rather worried to touch that subject, after the twilight/vampire overload, so I really appreciate this and I freaking enjoyed it.

This is also no cliché fantasy love story, there is some romance, but it starts in the most unconventional way. Loooooved it!

What a debut!! Husberg has proven his talent with just one book and I feel like we will see much more of him in the future. I certainly can not wait to see what comes next.

Utterly original, magical and impossible to put down.

Duskfall is out TODAY!

Thank you to Philippa and Titan books for my copy in exchange for my honest and fair review.

Monday, 20 June 2016

Blog Piece: Christopher Husberg on writing Duskfall (Chaos Queen #1)

Today I am really proud to be presenting you with a blog piece by Chris Husberg on writing Duskfall. I have just finished this amazing fantasy book and I can't rave about it enough. I will post my review soon but I hope you all enjoy reading this post...



The Magic of the Mundane

When I first started writing seriously, I was enthralled by the mysticism of it all. The idea of the muse, of inspiration striking at just the right moment, was intoxicating to me. In creative writing classes I’d purposefully procrastinate writing short stories until the night before they were due, when in a frenzy of caffeine and tempestuous typing I’d eventually produce something presentable. That’s what I thought writing was; something mystical, out of my control, with long bouts of procrastination interrupted by flashes of inspiration.
I’d tried writing novels under that old way, the way of the mystic writer. And, while I’d begun a half dozen of them at least, even made significant progress on a few, I had not finished any of them. I’d heard professional writers talk about writing every day and hitting specific word counts before, but had dismissed that advice because it didn’t seem to apply to me (I freely admit that my pretentiousness knew no bounds back then). It sounded boring and mundane, first of all. And what use did I have for structure, anyway? I had the muse! …but while the muse had a decent track record of showing up when I wanted to start a project, it was always suspiciously absent whenever the time came to wrap things up and bring a novel home.
So, with the first draft of Duskfall, I knew something had to change. Defeated and humbled, I decided I might as well try the boring, mundane approach to writing. At least 2000 words/day, five to six days/week. I discovered that what I’d feared was more or less happening: the mysticism was disappearing.
But—and here’s the miracle—somehow, the magic remained. And six months later, I had a full, finished draft of Duskfall.
Here’s what happened. Instead of waiting, twiddling my thumbs, hoping for the muse to make an appearance, I went to work. Every day I wrote, I was giving the muse an opportunity to show up. The more I wrote, the higher that probability became, until I started experiencing days, sometimes weeks at a time where the words seemed to pour out of me. This wasn’t the cheap mysticism to which I’d aspired before; this was real magic. (Or at least it felt that way—give me a break, I’m a fantasy writer, after all.)
The same is true today. No matter what part in the process, no matter what else is going on in my life, if I hit the page consistently, I see results.
To be clear, my writing life still has its share of excitement. We just welcomed a baby girl into the world, and as amazing as that has been, it’s thrown my writing into a whole new spectrum of crazy. Procrastination still has a role in my process too, believe it or not. I’ve realized it’s important for me to sometimes let things percolate, marinate, and slow-cook in the back of my mind while I do other things. The difference, of course, is that instead of procrastinating for months or years at a time, it’s now only for days or weeks. So, yeah, my process isn’t perfect. But the mystic veil over my eyes has been shed, and I see writing for what it is. An art, yes, but a profession, too, and those things are not mutually exclusive.


Duskfall by Christopher Husberg (Chaos Queen #1)



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Stuck with arrows and close to death, a man is pulled from the icy waters of the Gulf of Nahl. Winter, a seemingly quiet young fisherman’s daughter, harbours a secret addiction that threatens to destroy her. A young priestess, Cinzia, must face a long journey home to protect her church from rebellion. A rebellion sparked by her sister.

Three characters on different paths will be brought together by fate on one thrilling and perilous adventure.



Duskfall will be published 21st of June by Titan Books.



Sunday, 19 June 2016

Weekly Wrap Up and Stacking the Shelves #25

Weekly Wrap Up...

I have managed to read two books this week, which wasn't easy, neither of those has been a light read. So I am rather proud of myself. The first one was And I Darken by Kiersten White, which was absolutely outstanding. You can read my review here. And the second book was Duskfall by Christopher Husberg, a new, fresh and original fantasy series that I have enjoyed very much. Tomorrow I will have an exclusive extract for you on my blog, which I cant wait to share with you.

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No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwyla likes it that way.

Ever since she and her brother were abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman sultan’s courts, Lada has known that ruthlessness is the key to survival. For the lineage that makes her and her brother special also makes them targets.

Lada hones her skills as a warrior as she nurtures plans to wreak revenge on the empire that holds her captive. Then she and Radu meet the sultan’s son, Mehmed, and everything changes. Now Mehmed unwittingly stands between Lada and Radu as they transform from siblings to rivals, and the ties of love and loyalty that bind them together are stretched to breaking point.

The first of an epic new trilogy starring the ultimate anti-princess who does not have a gentle heart. Lada knows how to wield a sword, and she'll stop at nothing to keep herself and her brother alive.





27133894

Stuck with arrows and close to death, a man is pulled from the icy waters of the Gulf of Nahl. Winter, a seemingly quiet young fisherman’s daughter, harbours a secret addiction that threatens to destroy her. A young priestess, Cinzia, must face a long journey home to protect her church from rebellion. A rebellion sparked by her sister.

Three characters on different paths will be brought together by fate on one thrilling and perilous adventure.



Stacking the Shelves...






Its been a little quiet on my shelves lately but this week I have added 4 new books. Two have been of NetGalley, The Witch's Kiss and The Otherlife. Will be starting on those as soon as I have finished my current read, Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher. 2 new books have also come through my letter box. Thank you to Chicken House for this pink beauty that is Under Rose-Tainted Skies. And thank you so much to Alma Books and the author Elizabeth Rose Murray for the adorable Caramel Hearts.

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Sixteeen-year-old Meredith is fed-up with her feuding family and feeling invisible at school – not to mention the witch magic that shoots out of her fingernails when she’s stressed. Then sweet, sensitive Jack comes into her life and she falls for him hard. The only problem is that he is periodically possessed by a destructive centuries-old curse. Meredith has lost her heart, but will she also lose her life? Or in true fairytale tradition, can true love’s kiss save the day?


26889448


Three years ago, Ben's beloved friend and tutor Jason died in mysterious circumstances. And he begins to wonder if his old friend Hobie had something to with it...

I always get away with it when I try stuff like this. Partly it comes down to sort of assuming that I'm going to. I've got loads of confidence. And Loki got away with everything. Well, almost everything.

When troubled, quiet Ben begins at the ruthlessly competitive Cottesmore House, school to the richest, most privileged boys, he is befriended by Hobie: the wealthy class bully, product of monstrous indulgence and intense parental ambition.

Hobie is drawn to Ben because he can see the Otherlife: a violent, mythic place where gods and monsters roam. Ben has unnerving visions of Thor and Odin, and of the giant beasts that will destroy them, as well as Loki, god of mischief. Hobie is desperate to be a part of it.

Years later, Ben discovers his beloved tutor Jason is dead. And he can’t help wondering if Hobie – wild, restless, dangerous Hobie, had something to do with it…

Beguiling, shocking and richly imaginative,
The Otherlife is about the darkest impulses within us all.
 




Agoraphobia confines Norah to the house she shares with her mother.

For her, the outside is sky glimpsed through glass, or a gauntlet to run between home and car. But a chance encounter on the doorstep changes everything: Luke, her new neighbour. Norah is determined to be the girl she thinks Luke deserves: a ‘normal’ girl, her skies unfiltered by the lens of mental illness. Instead, her love and bravery opens a window to unexpected truths …

An important and uplifting debut from a British author, which tackles mental health issues such as agoraphobia and OCD
.
 




Liv Bloom’s life is even more complicated than that of your average fourteen-year-old: her father walked out on the family when she was young, her mother is in a recovery centre for alcoholics, and her older sister is struggling to step into Mum’s shoes. The only person she can turn to is her best friend Sarah, who gets out of scrapes at school and is a constant source of advice and companionship. One day Liv discovers a book of recipes written in her mum’s handwriting, which sets her off on a journey towards self-discovery and reconciliation – but a theft, a love rivalry and a school bully are just some of the many obstacles on the way.

Structured around real cake recipes, Caramel Hearts is a coming-of-age novel about love, disappointment and hope, and discovering the true value of friends and family, no matter how dysfunctional they are.

Friday, 17 June 2016

Review: And I Darken by Kiersten White (The Conquerors Saga #1)

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No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwyla likes it that way.

Ever since she and her brother were abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman sultan’s courts, Lada has known that ruthlessness is the key to survival. For the lineage that makes her and her brother special also makes them targets.

Lada hones her skills as a warrior as she nurtures plans to wreak revenge on the empire that holds her captive. Then she and Radu meet the sultan’s son, Mehmed, and everything changes. Now Mehmed unwittingly stands between Lada and Radu as they transform from siblings to rivals, and the ties of love and loyalty that bind them together are stretched to breaking point.

The first of an epic new trilogy starring the ultimate anti-princess who does not have a gentle heart. Lada knows how to wield a sword, and she'll stop at nothing to keep herself and her brother alive.


It took me some time to finally sit down and start this review, because this is such a intelligent and fascinating book that I am not sure if I can do it justice. But I will have to try. I have been a fan of the Paranormalcy series so I was very eager to get my hands on this one. But this is nothing like her previous books at all. This is a completely new level, its a massive step up.

Lada Dracul is not your average princess, she is ruthless and very unladylike. Forever craving the love and attention of her heartless father, Lada would do anything to get his respect. When Lada and her brother Radu get abandoned by their father and held captive in another court to ensure their fathers cooperation, Lada trains to be a warrior. She is determined to wreak revenge and make her captives pay. However life at a different court isn't all bad and it opens her eyes to her fathers true colours. Not only that but Lada and Radu find friendship in the most unlike place. When all sort of feelings come into play Lada's and Radu's already strained relationship becomes even more complicated. Mehmed soon becomes a huge part in their life and their decision making. Will he steer them off their path or will he help them go in the right direction?

This book is so so intelligent and often challenging my mind in a way I never expected. While I often read very easy reads, books that float smoothly, this one was a little harder to read. But not in a bad way, it just kept me on my toes, claiming my full attention at all times.

The world building is amazing, with many incredible places. What is amazing is how White managed to integrate so much about religion without ever making it in the slightest judgemental. For lack of a better word I found it extremely interesting. In some way it is a twist on something historical, turning it into something very different and dark.

Lada is fierce, dark, strong and determined. She is everything a book heroin should be and so much more. Not your usual damsel in distress that we find so often in books and far from someone waking up and finding themselves to be something powerful. She is just that from the start, without the supernatural. Basically she is totally bad ass and I bloody love her.

Her brother Radu is very much the opposite. Soft, loving, gentle and often scared. But he too is one very interesting character. He grows so much within this story I have come to love him almost as much as Lada. Their relationship is a very complicated one, while they are related they are not always on the same side.

This book got me all kinds of levels of excited. It is completely original, utterly gripping and completely well written. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. It has completely surprised me several times and has stayed on my mind since. It is dark and gory and beautiful at the same time.

And yes there is some romance involved, but while its rather enjoyable it doesn't take over the story.

I cant recommend this enough. If you are expecting something like Paranormalcy you are in for a bit of a shock. This will keep you up at night and will drag you into its world. Don't pick it up for a quick read, give it your time and your undivided attention and you will not regret it.

And I Darken will  be published on 7th July and you need to pre-order it now.

Thank you to Harriet Venn and Penguin Random House for my copy in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Wednesday, 15 June 2016

WWW Wednesday (15th June)



 WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words. It’s open for anyone to join in and is a great way to share what you’ve been reading! All you have to do is answer three questions and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.
The three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

I am currently reading...

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Stuck with arrows and close to death, a man is pulled from the icy waters of the Gulf of Nahl. Winter, a seemingly quiet young fisherman’s daughter, harbours a secret addiction that threatens to destroy her. A young priestess, Cinzia, must face a long journey home to protect her church from rebellion. A rebellion sparked by her sister.

Three characters on different paths will be brought together by fate on one thrilling and perilous adventure.




I have recently finished...

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No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwyla likes it that way.

Ever since she and her brother were abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman sultan’s courts, Lada has known that ruthlessness is the key to survival. For the lineage that makes her and her brother special also makes them targets.

Lada hones her skills as a warrior as she nurtures plans to wreak revenge on the empire that holds her captive. Then she and Radu meet the sultan’s son, Mehmed, and everything changes. Now Mehmed unwittingly stands between Lada and Radu as they transform from siblings to rivals, and the ties of love and loyalty that bind them together are stretched to breaking point.

The first of an epic new trilogy starring the ultimate anti-princess who does not have a gentle heart. Lada knows how to wield a sword, and she'll stop at nothing to keep herself and her brother alive.


I plan to read next...

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In a warren of crumbling buildings and desperate people called the Old City, there stands a hospital with cinderblock walls which echo with the screams of the poor souls inside.In the hospital, there is a woman. Her hair, once blonde, hangs in tangles down her back. She doesn't remember why she's in such a terrible place-just a tea party long ago, and long ears, and blood...Then, one night, a fire at the hospital gives the woman a chance to escape, tumbling out of the hole that imprisoned her, leaving her free to uncover the truth about what happened to her all those years ago.Only something else has escaped with her. Something dark. Something powerful.And to find the truth, she will have to track this beast to the very heart of the Old City, where the rabbit waits for his Alice.

Monday, 13 June 2016

Review: The Sin Eaters Daughter by Melinda Salisbury

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A startling, seductive, deliciously dark debut that will shatter your definition of YA fantasy. Sixteen-year-old Twylla lives in the castle. But although she's engaged to the prince, no one speaks to her. No one even looks at her. Because Twylla isn't a member of the court. She's the executioner.As the goddess-embodied, Twylla kills with a single touch. So each week, she's taken to the prison and forced to lay her hands on those accused of treason. No one will ever love her. Who could care for a girl with murder in her veins? Even the prince, whose royal blood supposedly makes him immune to her touch, avoids her.But then a new guard arrives, a boy whose playful smile belies his deadly swordsmanship. And unlike the others, he's able to look past Twylla's executioner robes and see the girl, not the goddess. Yet a treasonous romance is the least of Twylla's problems. The queen has a plan to destroy her enemies-a plan that requires an unthinkable sacrifice. Will Twylla do what it takes to protect her kingdom? Or will she abandon her duty in favor of a doomed love?


I have had this book on my shelf for some time and I don't even know why it took me so long to pick it up. I often put review copies first so my own collection sits there and waits until I can squeeze it in somewhere. When I first started this book I was a little confused, I know it has a lot of fans and I was unsure as to why. Because it was all a little strange, a girl that can kill just by touching someone, gods that are like day and night, a sin eater who feasts at peoples funerals, eating away their sins in a rather disturbing matter... I didn't see how this was going to be amazing.

Then bam, a massive turn in events, followed by bam, another one. And suddenly I was on the edge of my seat and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough!! Now I see it, this book is just fantastic.

Twylla is the daughter of the sin eater, when one day the queen comes and gives her the opportunity to have a different life at her court, explaining to her that she is the goddess-embodied, Twylla doesn't hesitate. Leaving her family behind she starts a new life at court, but its not all she hoped for. She is made to drink poison which results in her touch being deadly. Twylla does not like executing people and she does not like the queen for making her. Not only that but Twylla is lonely, she has no friends beside her guards and even those leave for fear of  her touch. Until her new guard arrives who seems to see her for who she really is. She is also betrothed to the prince, which she hasn't seen in years, who happens to return and who is trying to get closer to her. Suddenly her life is thrown upside down...

I have fallen in love with this book so much, it took me a while but I got there in the end. I really liked Twylla altho I did find she was a little naïve at times. But she has a big heart and she is good through and through. However I have loved Lief so so much. I want a Lief in my life. Nothing beats a book for me more then an amazing bookboyfriend. And Lief is as dreamy as they come.

All in all the book is full of interesting characters. The evil queen. The honerable prince... I enjoyed every page. While I still thing some of it was a little strange I can not wait for the next one. The book  has the only ending that was right for it. But to get there we get many many turns and surprises, which kept me on my toes all the way through.

What really made this book is the relationship between Twylla and Lief. Its a really special and sweet one. It is all a little typical for that genre, but that's ok. Its one of the reasons I love it so much and keep sticking to YA fantasy.

Unique, while a little strange, dark and utterly enjoyable,




Sunday, 12 June 2016

Weekly Wrap Up and Stacking the Shelves #24

Weekly Wrap Up...

After finishing 4 books last week I have only managed one this time. I don't know whats been happening. I have been poorly for 2 days and I just wasn't getting anywhere with my current read. I hope I will manage to finish it tomorrow. But on a positive note I have finished a book I really loved and I have been wanting to read for some time, The Sin Eaters Daughter. My review will hopefully be up tomorrow or latest Tuesday.

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A startling, seductive, deliciously dark debut that will shatter your definition of YA fantasy. Sixteen-year-old Twylla lives in the castle. But although she's engaged to the prince, no one speaks to her. No one even looks at her. Because Twylla isn't a member of the court. She's the executioner.As the goddess-embodied, Twylla kills with a single touch. So each week, she's taken to the prison and forced to lay her hands on those accused of treason. No one will ever love her. Who could care for a girl with murder in her veins? Even the prince, whose royal blood supposedly makes him immune to her touch, avoids her.But then a new guard arrives, a boy whose playful smile belies his deadly swordsmanship. And unlike the others, he's able to look past Twylla's executioner robes and see the girl, not the goddess. Yet a treasonous romance is the least of Twylla's problems. The queen has a plan to destroy her enemies-a plan that requires an unthinkable sacrifice. Will Twylla do what it takes to protect her kingdom? Or will she abandon her duty in favor of a doomed love?


Stacking the Shelves...







I have added two new books to my shelves. One is an ARC of Stealing Snow, which looks and sounds amazing, I went begging for that one, ha ha. I believe its been described as Frozen for Young Adults, I like the sound of that. Thank you to Lizz at Kids Bloomsbury for this amazing book.
My second one is also a Bloomsbury, yay, but this time its a prize from a Maximumpopbooks competition, did I mention I love those guys?? Anyway, its a copy of A Court if Mist and Fury, which I already have, BUT, this one is signed.... eeeeek. Not only that but it also came with this amazing tote bag and a badge, lucky girl right here!!!




Seventeen-year-old Snow has spent the majority of her life within the walls of the Whittaker Institute, a high security mental hospital in upstate New York. Deep down, she knows she's not crazy and doesn't belong there. When she meets a mysterious, handsome new orderly and dreams about a strange twisted tree she realizes she must escape and figure out who she really is.

Using her trusting friend Bale as a distraction, Snow breaks free and races into the nearby woods. Suddenly, everything isn't what it seems, the line between reality and fantasy begins to blur, and she finds herself in icy Algid--her true home--with witches, thieves, and a strangely alluring boy named Kai, none of whom she's sure she can trust. As secret after secret is revealed, Snow discovers that she is on the run from a royal lineage she's destined to inherit, a father more powerful and ruthless than she could have imagined, and choices of the heart that could change the fate of everything...including Snow's return to the world she once knew.

This breathtaking first volume begins the story of how Snow becomes a villain, a queen, and ultimately a hero.






Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

Wednesday, 8 June 2016

WWW Wednesday (8th June)





 WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words. It’s open for anyone to join in and is a great way to share what you’ve been reading! All you have to do is answer three questions and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.
The three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?


I am currently reading...


25324111

No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwyla likes it that way.

Ever since she and her brother were abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman sultan’s courts, Lada has known that ruthlessness is the key to survival. For the lineage that makes her and her brother special also makes them targets.

Lada hones her skills as a warrior as she nurtures plans to wreak revenge on the empire that holds her captive. Then she and Radu meet the sultan’s son, Mehmed, and everything changes. Now Mehmed unwittingly stands between Lada and Radu as they transform from siblings to rivals, and the ties of love and loyalty that bind them together are stretched to breaking point.

The first of an epic new trilogy starring the ultimate anti-princess who does not have a gentle heart. Lada knows how to wield a sword, and she'll stop at nothing to keep herself and her brother alive.



I have recently finished...

21936988


A startling, seductive, deliciously dark debut that will shatter your definition of YA fantasy. Sixteen-year-old Twylla lives in the castle. But although she's engaged to the prince, no one speaks to her. No one even looks at her. Because Twylla isn't a member of the court. She's the executioner.As the goddess-embodied, Twylla kills with a single touch. So each week, she's taken to the prison and forced to lay her hands on those accused of treason. No one will ever love her. Who could care for a girl with murder in her veins? Even the prince, whose royal blood supposedly makes him immune to her touch, avoids her.But then a new guard arrives, a boy whose playful smile belies his deadly swordsmanship. And unlike the others, he's able to look past Twylla's executioner robes and see the girl, not the goddess. Yet a treasonous romance is the least of Twylla's problems. The queen has a plan to destroy her enemies-a plan that requires an unthinkable sacrifice. Will Twylla do what it takes to protect her kingdom? Or will she abandon her duty in favor of a doomed love?


I plan on reading next...


27133894


Stuck with arrows and close to death, a man is pulled from the icy waters of the Gulf of Nahl. Winter, a seemingly quiet young fisherman’s daughter, harbours a secret addiction that threatens to destroy her. A young priestess, Cinzia, must face a long journey home to protect her church from rebellion. A rebellion sparked by her sister.

Three characters on different paths will be brought together by fate on one thrilling and perilous adventure.

Tuesday, 7 June 2016

Review: Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine (The Great Library #2)

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With an iron fist, The Great Library controls the knowledge of the world, ruthlessly stamping out all rebellion, forbidding the personal ownership of books in the name of the greater good.

Jess Brightwell has survived his introduction to the sinister, seductive world of the Library, but serving in its army is nothing like he envisioned. His life and the lives of those he cares for have been altered forever. His best friend is lost, and Morgan, the girl he loves, is locked away in the Iron Tower and doomed to a life apart.

Embarking on a mission to save one of their own, Jess and his band of allies make one wrong move and suddenly find themselves hunted by the Library’s deadly automata and forced to flee Alexandria, all the way to London.

But Jess’s home isn’t safe anymore. The Welsh army is coming, London is burning, and soon, Jess must choose between his friends, his family, or the Library willing to sacrifice anything and anyone in the search for ultimate control…  

Oh this is breaking my heart, I almost didn't want to write this at all, because I really enjoyed the first book and I am a big fan of Rachel Caine. But this one just didn't do it for me. I don't know, there was just something missing for me. While it was filled with action, missions and battles it failed to really grab me.

After everything in the first book everyone is now in their assigned jobs, Jess now being in the army. However they discover that their friend Thomas is not dead, as they have been made to believe, and is instead being held prisoner. Jess and his friends go on the hunt for the truth and the location of their friend. This is one dangerous game for them all and they soon find themselves in all kinds of trouble.

So yes, it is action packed, there is always something going on. But even from the start I found it a little hard to get back into the story. While Morganville Vampire for example had 15 books and I loved them all, here I struggled with the second one. It kinda lost all its charm that it had in the first book. I haven't really bonded with the characters to be fully invested in the story.

While I am a big fan of books that don't purely base their stories on a romance, triangle or heartache, I think this one could have done with some of that. I felt like we just went from one battle to another and another... Don't get me wrong if this is what you like then you will love this. But for me it just wasn't the one.

This will not stop me loving Rachel Caine's work. I hope that in the future I will once more fall in love with her work.

I did manage to finish this book and I don't wanna just finish this review with negative comments. Because it wasn't aaaall bad. The whole idea and world building is still amazing and unique. And it never really got boring in a way, something was always going on. Its not that I hate it, I just didn't love it, when I really wanted too.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy in exchange of my fair and honest review.

Paper and Fire will be released in the USA on the 5th July and UK 21st July.

Sunday, 5 June 2016

Weekly Wrap Up and Stacking The Shelves #23

Weekly Wrap Up...

YAY!!! I have managed to read 4 boos this week. Yes 4! Now this is really good for someone who's average is 2. I have read A Gathering Of Shadows by V.E. Schwab (review) , Every Exquisite Thing by Matthew Quick (review), This Savage Song also by V.E. Schwab and Paper (review) and Fire by Rachel Caine. Its been a pretty good book week. I am off work and my little one has been out a lot so I have made the best of my free time. Lots and lots of reading.


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Stacking the Shelves...






This week I have added 3 books to my shelves. They have been bought by me with my birthday vouchers. And I am really excited about every single one of them.


Six of Crows

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.


Kaz's crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.


Snow like Ashes

A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.


Ten Thousand Skies Above You

Ever since she used the Firebird, her parents' invention, to cross into alternate dimensions, Marguerite has caught the attention of enemies who will do anything to force her into helping them dominate the multiverse—even hurting the people she loves. She resists until her boyfriend, Paul, is attacked and his consciousness scattered across multiple dimensions.

Marguerite has no choice but to search for each splinter of Paul’s soul. The hunt sends her racing through a war-torn San Francisco, the criminal underworld of New York City, and a glittering Paris where another Marguerite hides a shocking secret. Each world brings Marguerite one step closer to rescuing Paul. But with each trial she faces, she begins to question the destiny she thought they shared.

The second book in the Firebird trilogy,
Ten Thousand Skies Above You features Claudia Gray’s lush, romantic language and smart, exciting action, and will have readers clamoring for the next book.

Friday, 3 June 2016

Review: This Savage Song by V.E. Schwab

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There’s no such thing as safe in a city at war, a city overrun with monsters. In this dark urban fantasy from author Victoria Schwab, a young woman and a young man must choose whether to become heroes or villains—and friends or enemies—with the future of their home at stake. The first of two books.

Kate Harker and August Flynn are the heirs to a divided city—a city where the violence has begun to breed actual monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent—but he’s one of the monsters. One who can steal a soul with a simple strain of music. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate, who’s just been kicked out of her sixth boarding school and returned home, August jumps at it. But Kate discovers August’s secret, and after a failed assassination attempt the pair must flee for their lives.

Schwab has gone and done it again, she has produced another masterpiece. I have been so eager to read this I used my day off for it. But let me tell you, no regrets. I have only just discovered Schwab few weeks back and she has quickly become one of my all time favourite authors.

This is the story of Kate and August who live on the opposite sides of a split city, a city overrun by monsters. One side is letting the monsters run free while the other is protecting it from it. While Kate wants to impress her powerful and ruthless father, August just wants to be good and human. Because August is actually a monster himself, one of a very rare kind. To get close to Kate, in case his family needs her as leverage, August enrols into a human school. Its not long before things turn for the worse for them both and for their city. They soon find themselves running for their life...

This is nothing like Schwab's previous books. While this is younger then the others, this is in no way your standard YA fantasy. There is no love triangle or Romeo and Juliette drama that takes over the whole story. This is once again world building at its very best, I was sucked into this world from the very first page. Kate and August are both incredible characters, both so complex and enjoyable.

This is unlike anything else I have ever read. While so many young adult reads follow a certain pattern this is breath of fresh air. Schwab has proven to us how very versatile her writing talent really is. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and I found it impossible to put it down. I have completely forgotten the world around me for a whole day.

Once again the ending leaves us eager for the next book, without wanting to throw the book against a wall because it delivered a crazy cliffhanger. Instead it left my imagination going wild of all the things still to come.

Weather you have read any of Schwab's books before or not, or even weather you liked them or not, it doesn't matter... You want to read this book. You really shouldn't give this one a miss. This has gotten 5 stars all the way.

Unique, captivating and completely unforgettable.

This Savage Song will be released on the 7th June in the U.K.

Thank you to Lydia at Titan Books for my copy in exchange for my honest opinion.