Wednesday 31 August 2016

WWW Wednesday (31st August)


 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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Eden’s on her way back to Santa Monica for the summer, and she hasn't seen Tyler since the devastating fallout of their forbidden relationship. Eden claims to have moved on—but Tyler wants to rekindle the flame.

He convinces Eden to visit his new home in Portland, Oregon, where he has set up a center for troubled teens. Eden’s proud of what he’s built, but the last time they were together, it nearly destroyed Eden and their family. Then a tragedy draws them together, and Eden must search her heart and decide if Tyler is worth the risk once and for all.


I have recently finished...

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It's been a year since eighteen-year-old Eden Munro last saw Tyler Bruce: her stepbrother…and her secret love. Although they called time on their forbidden relationship for the sake of their family, Eden can't help but feel excited when Tyler invites her to join him in New York City for the summer. 

Anyway, Eden is happy with her boyfriend Dean, and surely Tyler has moved on too. But as they spend a long, hot summer in the excitement of the city that never sleeps, it soon becomes obvious that they aren’t over each other. But can they resist temptation?

In Did I Mention I Need You?, the second volume of Estelle Maskame’s phenomenal DIMILY trilogy, Tyler and Eden must face up to their feelings and decide what to do next. Is their love strong enough to face the challenges that lie ahead?


I plan on reading next... 

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The bestselling author of the Shatter Me series takes readers beyond the limits of their imagination in this captivating new middle grade adventure where color is currency, adventure is inevitable, and friendship is found in the most unexpected places.

There are only three things that matter to twelve-year-old Alice Alexis Queensmeadow: Mother, who wouldn't miss her; magic and color, which seem to elude her; and Father, who always loved her. The day Father disappears from Ferenwood he takes nothing but a ruler with him. But it's been almost three years since then, and Alice is determined to find him. She loves her father even more than she loves adventure, and she's about to embark on one to find the other.

But bringing Father home is no small matter. In order to find him she'll have to travel through the mythical, dangerous land of Furthermore, where down can be up, paper is alive, and left can be both right and very, very wrong. Her only companion is a boy named Oliver whose own magical ability is based in lies and deceit--and with a liar by her side in a land where nothing is as it seems, it will take all of Alice's wits (and every limb she's got) to find Father and return home to Ferenwood in one piece. On her quest to find Father, Alice must first find herself--and hold fast to the magic of love in the face of loss. 

Tuesday 30 August 2016

Review: The Deviants by C.J. Skuse

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Growing up in the sleepy English seaside town of Brynston, the fearless five – Ella, Max, Corey, Fallon and Zane – were always inseparable. Living up to their nickname, they were the adventurous, rowdy kids who lived for ghost stories and exploring the nearby islands off the coast. But when Max’s beloved older sister Jessica is killed, the friendship seems to die with her.


Now years later, only Max and Ella are in touch; still best friends and a couple since they were thirteen. Their lives are so intertwined Max’s dad even sponsors Ella’s training for the Commonwealth Games. But Ella is hiding things. Like why she hates going to Max’s house for Sunday dinner, and flinches whenever his family are near. Or the real reason she’s afraid to take their relationship to the next level.



When underdog Corey is bullied, the fearless five are brought back together again, teaming up to wreak havoc and revenge on those who have wronged them. But when the secrets they are keeping can no longer be kept quiet, will their fearlessness be enough to save them from themselves?




This book made me cry, a lot. And I am not normally a blubbering mess when I read a book. But this one broke me. The Deviants is a book I first notice at the YALC. People talked about it everywhere and even sat around reading it. Now I know why. 

This is the story of Ella and her group of friends. Once a very close gang of friends, years later some barely speak to one another at all. However Ella and Max have remained a couple since they was kids. But while most people take their relationship to the next level Ella cant bring herself getting closer to her boyfriend. Everytime she tries it ends in a disaster and a very upset Ella. Due to some unfortunate events some of the old gang teams up again. But once they are all together again their secrets seem to be so much harder to keep, What are they hiding? What happened to their friendship in the past?

I freaking loved this book. It was impossible to put down, I couldnt wait to discover their secrets and I have literally fallen in love with the characters. Every single one of them. What an amaying bunch of characters, every single one of them was so different and interesting. I wanted to be friends with them all. 

But the story itself is even better. I was hooked from the start and it kept me captivated all the way through. I can't even explain how incredibly well this has been written and planned. The story taking you deeper and deeper into something you didnt see coming at all. And thats another incredible thing, no matter how hard I tried to figure out what was happening, I  didn't stand a chance. The end took me by surprise and destroyed me emotionally. I wasnt prepared for that. 

Once in a while a very special book comes along and surprises you, brakes you and stays with you for a very long time, the Deviants is that kind of book.

I can't praise this enough and wether you like YA or not is completely irrelevant in this case. 

Emotional, unpredictable and completely unforgettable. 

Thank you to Young Adult HQ for my copy.

The Deviants will be released 22nd September and you can't miss this one. 

Monday 29 August 2016

Review: The Girl Who Cried Wolf by Bella James

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A growing up story with a difference, and a startling debut, The Girl Who Cried Wolf shows the tumultuous transition from teenager to young woman and is a story about believing in something, whether love, faith or simply yourself. 

Anna Winters is beautiful, reckless and entirely self-absorbed. She spends more time thinking up reasons to call in sick to school than she does studying for her A levels. She shies away from her family, from responsibility – from anything in fact that doesn’t involve peach cider and endless parties with her friend Jules.

Anna assumes that her headaches are an inconvenient symptom of her wild lifestyle, until a doctor tells her that she has cancer…

As a terrifying black cloud descends upon her, Anna finds solace in Michael, another patient in the oncology ward. Michael shows Anna a chink of light in the darkness and sees beauty behind her illness and loves her sassy wit. He makes Anna forget she is ill.

Michael recovers; but Anna’s prospects worsen. And in emergency surgery, as she hovers between life and death, she is given a stark glimpse of why her life is so broken, and as she realises the simple fulfillment of being truly content, fears it may now be too late…



I really wanted to love this book. From the blurb I fully expected this to break me and read like the fault in our stars, but that didnt happen for me. While the raw story is a good one and should break your heart, in truth I failed to really connect with this story and its characters. 

This is the story of Anna, who is a reallz angry girl, always missing school and coming up with planty of reasons. Instead she much rather gets drunk and shies away from any responsibilty. She never really worried about her headaches, thinking those could be the result of hangovers and lack of sleep. But when she is forced to have a medical check up she gets the worsed possible news, its cancer. During the hospital stay she falls for a boy in recovery. 

I am just really unsure if I liked Anna or not. She is always so angry. even when she is faced with something good and happy she still moans and turns it into a negative. And while i unserstand she is going through the most horrible time in her life I failed to see her progress in her behaviour. 

I enjoyed the story of her family. The struggle her mother went through was heartbreaking. Anna's sister was a favourite of mine. But it didnt save the story for me. 

What disspointed me the most was that even the story between Anna and Michael wasnt very heartwarming. He felt almost like an afterthought to the story and I literally failed to see the moment when they fell in love. He was just suddenly there. 

If I could have emotionally attach myself to the characters and the story this would have been wonderful. Instead it felt like a list of events, time passing to fast and switching from one big event to another. 

Honestly I am gutted. I did manage to finish this book, which means I honesty didnt hate it but I didnt love it. Such a shame too. 

Its worth noting the copy I have received wasnt the final edit and that maybe some things will come accross in a slightly better light once its finished. 

Thank you to Accent Press for my copy of this book.

The Girl who cried Wolf will be out 15th September. 

Sunday 28 August 2016

Weekly Wrap Up and Stacking the Shelves #35

Weekly wrap up...

This week I have managed to finish 2 books and one audiobook, which has been a very new experience for me. I have finished Moon Chosen by P.C. Cast which has been really looooong and also Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, which I have wanted to read for some time. My first ever audiobook was This Shattered World (Starbound #2) by Amy Kayfman and Meagan Spooner, I have read the first book last year sometime and really enjoyed it. However I am not sure about the audiobook experience.







Stacking the shelves...

I have been told there is 2 book parcels waiting for me at home and I can't wait to open them when I get there. Although I can guess what it is I will show you when I actually hold the books in my hands. 


(This is hopefully the last time my post are rather bare. I will be home on Tuesday and back at my laptop) 




Wednesday 24 August 2016

WWW Wednesday (24th August)


 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...


I am also listening to...




I have recently finished...


I plan on reading next... 




One again I have to apologise for the lack of blurbs and the fact I can't tidy this post up a bit. I am reduced to using my phone and it's not going great. Will be home and back to normal next week. 



Tuesday 23 August 2016

Review: Double Down by Gwenda Bond (Louis Lane #2)



Lois Lane has settled in to her new school. She has friends, for maybe the first time in her life. She has a job that challenges her. And her friendship is growing with SmallvilleGuy, her online maybe-more-than-a-friend. But when her friend Maddy’s twin collapses in a part of town she never should’ve been in, Lois finds herself embroiled in a dangerous mystery that brings her closer to the dirty underbelly of Metropolis. 

This came though my letter box as a complete surprise and let me tell you, I like surprises a lot, esp in the form of a book. But this one made me extra happy because I really loved the first book. Growing up around Superman movies and TV shows, the characters have always been in my life. And I always loved Louis. I still enjoy this quirky and new retelling in which Louis Lane is still at highschool and already working in a young team for the paper.

In Double Down Louis has settled more into her new life, she is much more confident in what she does and even more determined. Her virtual friendship with SmalvilleGuy is still going and growing further within this book. Things start getting interesting for Louis and her friends when Maddy's twin sister needs their help. She got herself into some trouble and now she has episodes where she can see though someone else's eyes. But that's not all, another friend will need Louis' help and to top it off things are also happening in the forum where Louis met SmallvilleGuy...

I will be honest, I didn't love it quite as much as the first one but I still did love it. What I struggle with a little is Louis and SmallvilleGuy's virtual relationship. While others have a love life around them it sort of annoys me that they don't. Not really anyway. Meeting in a virtual world just doesn't quite do it for me. Superman and Louis' story has always been my favourite part in all the shows. However, I do really enjoy reading Louis's adventures. You forget what a great impact she actually always has in saving people. I love her detective mind and her clever ideas.

I really enjoy solving the mystery along side Lois and her friends. But I hope in the future there will be more interaction between her and SmallvilleGuy.

If you ever liked Smallville or Veronica Mars, this is the perfect book for you. But either way if you like your book with some mystery that needs solving then you need to pick this series up. I for one can't wait for the next one.

I have had an amazing time reading both books and while I am pining for more love to come its actually kind of refreshing to not have a book overloaded with feels but rather filled with lots of fun. This series honestly doesn't get enough attention just yet, I hope this will change very soon.

Double Down will be released on 8th September.

Thank you to Georgia and Curious Fox for my surprise copy.

Sunday 21 August 2016

Weekly Wrap Up and Stacking the Shelves #34

Weekly Wrap Up...

This week I have managed to read 3 books while sunbathing in Turkey. Now that's a good way to read and as much as I wish I could be beck on my sun lounger I am also happy about where I am now. Which is at my parents house in Germany. Once my time is over here its almost time to get back to work and school runs. Hopefully manage 3 more books this week tho. I have managed to finish The Devients by C.J. Skuse, An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir and Children of Icarus but Caighlan Smith.

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When you set out for revenge, dig two graves

Growing up in the sleepy English seaside town of Brynston, the fearless five – Ella, Max, Corey, Fallon and Zane – were always inseparable. Living up to their nickname, they were the adventurous, rowdy kids who lived for ghost stories and exploring the nearby islands off the coast. But when Max’s beloved older sister Jessica is killed, the friendship seems to die with her.

Now years later, only Max and Ella are in touch; still best friends and a couple since they were thirteen. Their lives are so intertwined Max’s dad even sponsors Ella’s training for the Commonwealth Games. But Ella is hiding things. Like why she hates going to Max’s house for Sunday dinner, and flinches whenever his family are near. Or the real reason she’s afraid to take their relationship to the next level.

When underdog Corey is bullied, the fearless five are brought back together again, teaming up to wreak havoc and revenge on those who have wronged them. But when the secrets they are keeping can no longer be kept quiet, will their fearlessness be enough to save them from themselves?




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Laia is a slave.

Elias is a soldier.

Neither is free.


Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.



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It is Clara who is desperate to enter the labyrinth and it is Clara who is bright, strong, and fearless enough to take on any challenge. It is no surprise when she is chosen. But so is the girl who has always lived in her shadow. Together they enter. Within minutes, they are torn apart forever. Now the girl who has never left the city walls must fight to survive in a living nightmare, where one false turn with who to trust means a certain dead end."


Stacking the shelves...







No books for me. I have been away for 10 days and my post box stayed completely empty. But that's ok. gives me time to do some catch up and read some of my personal books.


Saturday 20 August 2016

Review: Dear Charlie by N.D. Gomes

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Death should never meet the young. But it did. Thanks to my brother, death made fourteen new friends that day. Maybe even fifteen, if you count Charlie.

At sixteen, Sam Macmillan is supposed to be thinking about girls, homework and his upcoming application to music college, not picking up the pieces after the school shooting that his brother Charlie committed.

Yet as Sam desperately tries to hang on to the memories he has of his brother, the media storm surrounding their family threatens to destroy everything. And Sam has to question all he thought he knew about life, death, right and wrong.
 


Dear Charlie was one of the many books i have brought home with me from YALC and i couldn't wait to read it. The blurb just sounded amazing and very unique. Not only have I never come across a book about school shooting but I was even more intrigued by the fact that it was based in the UK. Dear Charlie is the story of Sam who is dealing with the aftermath of his brothers horrific actions. Charlie, Sam's older brother, shot several people at his school before he took his own life too. Now Sam is struggling to understand why his brother would do something like this, while mourning his brother and dealing with the hate towards his family from the media as well as everyone around them. Sam's life changes over night, simple things like going to school and going shopping turn into a huge nightmare. To top it off the mood in the house isn't much better. But what this book shows most of all is that no matter what life goes on, no matter how hard and impossible it seems.

I really enjoyed the plot of this book, its one of those books that could start some huge debates. There is so much to talk about. It sort of made me think this would be a good book to read at school and have great talks with your classmates. I believe that there is many different opinions about the subjects surrounding this story, be it the shootings at schools, the media bullying and many more. But while I found it all very interesting I couldn't quite connect with Sam. I am not really sure what it was, there was a slight lack of emotions in some places. That didn't stop me from flying through this book though.

The characters will not stay with me for a long time but the subject will. Seeing news about shootings is heart breaking and hat off to Gomes for touching this subject. I think there should be more books and movies about it, to really highlight not only what happens during these horrific events but also what continues to happen to the victims, their families, as well as the family of the shooter.  

This book will make you think and will open your eyes.

All in all its been a good and quick read and I would recommend it to anyone who would like to read a very different YA.

Dear Charlie will be released on 20th October.

Thank you to Young Adult HQ and the lovely ladies at their YALC stand for my copy.

Wednesday 17 August 2016

WWW Wednesday (17th August)




 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... 



I have recently finished... 



I plan on reading next... 


Well I hope to start Gemina next, all depends if I can fit it into my hand luggage for my next trip. If not it will be the first book I read as soon as I am properly back at home. 

Once again sorry for the lack of blurbs and more effort with my post. Still on holiday but going home tomorrow. 





Monday 15 August 2016

Review: The Sleeping Prince by Melinda Salisbury (The Sin EatersDaughter #2)

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Return to the darkly beautiful world of The Sin Eater's Daughter with a sequel that will leave you awed, terrified . . . and desperate for more.


Ever since her brother Lief disappeared, Errin's life has gone from bad to worse. Not only must she care for her sick mother, she has to scrape together rent money by selling illegal herbal cures. But none of that compares to the threat of the vengeful Sleeping Prince whom the Queen just awoke from his enchanted sleep.

When her village is evacuated as part of the war against the Sleeping Prince, Errin is left desperate and homeless. The only person she can turn to is the mysterious Silas, a young man who buys deadly poisons from Errin, but won't reveal why he needs them. Silas promises to help her, but when he vanishes, Errin must journey across a kingdom on the brink of war to seek another way to save her mother and herself. But what she finds shatters everything she believed about her world, and with the Sleeping Prince drawing nearer, Errin must make a heartbreaking choice that could affect the whole kingdom.


So I was a little worried about picking this up, I have loved The Sin Eaters Daughter and most of all the characters in it. So when I realised this was going to be about different characters I was a little worried. But I needn't worry at all because Melinda has done it again, she has produced another book I love why with superb characters. 

This book takes off some time after the first one and follows Lief's sister Errin. Lief has been my favourite character in the first book and his family has been mentioned before. Errin is having a hard time without her brother there to help. She has to look after her sick mother and come up with the rent for their cottage, to do so she makes poisons and herbal cures. With The Sleeping Prince coming forever closer and now threatening her home, everyone has to move to savety. But Errin can not move her mother. Errin discovers a secret about her very mysterious friend, which she is using to get him to help her and her mother... however things don't go to plan. 

This is a very different story to the first one, but I loved it just as much. Errin is an amazing character, even while facing the biggest danger out there she is still fighting to save her mother at all cost. She is strong and loyal. But it's Silas that is gonna stick with me. He could not be more mysterious if he tried and I couldn't wait to figure him out. Once again Salisbury comes up with some amazing twists that I did not see coming at all, leaving you yearning for the next book as soon as you are finished. I think the last book is going to bring this story to an unforgettable ending. The way book one and two have been melted together is pure genius.

Filled with amazing new and existing characters and world building at its finest this has once again been a very fun and enjoyable read. The writing is just outstanding and pure bliss to read. I can honestly say that I will have all of Salisbury's books on preorder from now on. 

Unique, impressive and captivating. I just totally love this series and wish it didn't have to end.



Sunday 14 August 2016

Weekly Wrap Up and Stacking the Shelves #33

Weekly Wrap Up...

I am currently on holiday in turkey still. Enjoying family time, the sun and the water. I try to read where I can and have managed to read 3 books. The first one I finished was Louis Lane #2 Double Down by Gwenda Bond. I loved the first one and this one didn't disappoint. The second book was The Girl Who Cried Wolf by Bella James, which unfortunately wasn't a favourite. And the one I have finished most recently was The Deviants by C J Skuse which was incredible. I was hoping to finish 4 but it's so hot here I am in the water as much as I can. Only got 4 full days left and I really don't want to leave.




Stacking the Shelves...

Well I have no idea if there is any new books for my shelves at home. Won't find out till next week Thursday. I hope there is at least something waiting for me at home. 

Once again I am so sorry for the lack of blurbs and a prettier post, with a flimsy wifi this is really hard. Be back to normal blogging as soon as I am home.



Thursday 11 August 2016

Review: Songs about a Girl by Chris Russell

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Charlie Bloom never wanted to be 'with the band'. She's happiest out of the spotlight, behind her camera, unseen and unnoticed. But when she's asked to take backstage photos for hot new boy band Fire&Lights, she can't pass up the chance.

Catapulted into a world of paparazzi and backstage bickering, Charlie soon becomes caught between gorgeous but damaged frontman, Gabriel West, and his boy-next-door bandmate Olly Samson. Then, as the boys' rivalry threatens to tear the band apart, Charlie stumbles upon a mind-blowing secret, hidden in the lyrics of their songs...
 


OMG!!! I don't know where to begin! I freaking loved this book!! All the stars... all of them, everywhere. When my best friend was raving to me about this book I knew I would like it too, but this has been so much more then I expected.

Charlie Bloom likes to be invisible and with her best friend. She lives with her dad and she loves to take pictures. And while everyone is crazy for the new hot boy band Fire&Lights, Charlie couldn't really care less. She still remembers one of the band members, Olly, from when he used to go to their school. But what she never expected is for Olly to contact her and invite her backstage to take some pictures of the band. Completely against it at first, Charlie is convinced by her best friend and suddenly finds herself not only backstage at a huge concerts, but she soon turns into a fan herself. Charlie spends a lot of time with Olly but also finds herself completely drawn to Gabriel. But its when Charlie hears the bands new songs that everything becomes complicated and Charlie has to know exactly where those words have come from... Being so close to one of the biggest bands around also comes with a price and Charlie will have to find out the hard way.

Oh my... my poor fangirl heart. I am far from 17 now, but after reading this i really wish i was again. I have spend my teenage years loving all sort of boybands and let me tell you it was a good time for boybands back then. Some of my favourite memories involve my favourite music and I still love a concert and certain artists very much. This book is like a dream come true. But this is so so far from fan fiction. Its so much deeper then that. Its not just about a girl who falls for a pop star. Its about family, friendship, loss and bullying. It shows not only the glitzy side of fame but also the dark side, weather its for the artist themselves or the people around them.

I seriously couldn't put this down and finished it in less then 24 hours. I was completely drawn into the world of pop stars and concerts. Russell obviously knows what he is talking about, the way he describes the feel of a full arena is so perfect I almost felt like I was there myself. I love all the characters, the chemistry in the band and Charlie and her best friend. I am completely in love with Olly and Gabriel myself.

The secret around the songs lyrics just adds to the excitement of the book and works towards a very jaw dropping end. An end that leaves you wanting more. Oh please don't make us wait to long! I need the next book and I need it right now.

This has been one of my favourite books this year by far and I want to reread it already. And I don't do that kind of thing, ever.

Highly addictive, utterly charming and impossible to put down. This book will transport you some place else and make you forget everything around you. From the beginning till the end you will want to be with the band.

Thank you so much to Lauren and Hachette Children for my copy.

Wednesday 10 August 2016

WWW Wednesday (10th August)


 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... 

The Girl Who Cried Wolf by Bella James 



I have recently finished...

Louis Lane - Double Down by Gwenda Bond 



I plan on reading next... 

The Deviants by C J Skuse 


I am really sorry for the lack of pictures and blurbs. Currently on holiday and the wifi is not great at all.  But wanted to at least do my weekly Wednesday post, while everyone is still sleeping and it's kind of working. Will be back to my normal posts as soon as I get back. 

Tuesday 9 August 2016

Review: Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige (Stealing Snow #1)

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Seventeen-year-old Snow lives within the walls of the Whittaker Institute, a high security mental hospital in upstate New York. Deep down, she knows she doesn't belong there, but she has no memory of life outside, except for the strangest dreams. And then a mysterious, handsome man, an orderly in the hospital, opens a door – and Snow knows that she has to leave …
She finds herself in icy Algid, her true home, with witches, thieves, and a strangely alluring boy named Kai. 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 everything. Heroine or villain, queen or broken girl, frozen heart or true love, Snow must choose her fate …
A wonderfully icy fantastical romance, with a strong heroine choosing her own destiny, Danielle Paige's irresistibly page-turning Snow Queen is like Maleficent and Frozen all grown up.
 


What a great fairy tale of a surprise. When I saw this book turning up on twitter I knew I had to have a copy for myself, there might have been a little begging involved. And its been totally worth it too. This has been an absolute pleasure to read, it has all the right ingredients for a fantastic fantasy novel.

This is Snow's story who lives in a mental hospital. Snow has one friend in there, her big love Bale. But she fears that their first kiss has broken him, now she is not allowed to see him at all. But Bale disappears one night and a strange mysterious boy convinces her to stop taking her meds and run away and follow Bale. Snow ends up in icy Algrid, where she learns that this strange place full of magic and strange beings is her real home. Not just a home, but her father is the evil king. A prophecy suggests that she is the one to bring the king down and rule this world herself or fail and let the King have all the power. But all Snow wants is to save Bale and go back home. On her travels she has the help of two boys that couldn't be more different but Snow finds herself attracted to both. But
how dangerous is her kiss really? And will she find Bale?

This has been a really refreshing kind of book and I read a lot of fantasy. I loved all the little touches of different fairy tales here and there. I always find myself rooting for Snow even when she fights her destiny and power. But most off all I loved the boys... all the boys. Like Snow there is no way I could decide which one I like the most. And I actually really love this idea. While its usually always obvious which one belongs to the main character straight away I love how Snow is torn and so are the readers. Because lets face it, she is 17, she has been locked away, now there is attractive and amazing boys around... you are bound to be totally confused with your feelings flying all over the place!

The ending was really unpredictable and the book was filled with lots of twists and surprises. I couldn't put it down and I am already very excited for the next one. I can not wait to see Snow grow even more in the books to come, for her power to come to its full potential.

I have never read anything by Paige before but I am now a fan. This has been an absolutely magical book, exciting from the first page to the last with a huge potential for so much more to come. If you love fantasy you are going to eat this up and love every minute off it. I know I did.

A magical fairy tale, unique and full of dreamy boys.

Stealing Snow will be released on 6th October.

Thank you to Lizz Skelly and Bloomsbury Childrens Books for my copy.


Sunday 7 August 2016

Weekly Wrap Up and Stacking the Shelves #32

Weekly Wrap Up...

I have managed to read 4 books this week, yep 4! This is actually really good for me who normally manages only 2. The fact I am off work right now and my daughter had 2 sleepovers obviously helped. Not only did I manage to read 4 books but it was 4 really good books too. The first one being an early copy of Stealing Snow, which was a great sort of fairy tale, the 2nd was Songs About a Girl which has easily become one of my favourite reads this year, 3rd was The Sleeping Prince and i am so glad i have finally picked that up and last but not least was an early copy of Dear Charlie which is a book that could start some very serious debates.

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Seventeen-year-old Snow lives within the walls of the Whittaker Institute, a high security mental hospital in upstate New York. Deep down, she knows she doesn't belong there, but she has no memory of life outside, except for the strangest dreams. And then a mysterious, handsome man, an orderly in the hospital, opens a door – and Snow knows that she has to leave …
She finds herself in icy Algid, her true home, with witches, thieves, and a strangely alluring boy named Kai. 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 everything. Heroine or villain, queen or broken girl, frozen heart or true love, Snow must choose her fate …
A wonderfully icy fantastical romance, with a strong heroine choosing her own destiny, Danielle Paige's irresistibly page-turning Snow Queen is like
Maleficent and Frozen all grown up.
 


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Charlie Bloom never wanted to be 'with the band'. She's happiest out of the spotlight, behind her camera, unseen and unnoticed. But when she's asked to take backstage photos for hot new boy band Fire&Lights, she can't pass up the chance.

Catapulted into a world of paparazzi and backstage bickering, Charlie soon becomes caught between gorgeous but damaged frontman, Gabriel West, and his boy-next-door bandmate Olly Samson. Then, as the boys' rivalry threatens to tear the band apart, Charlie stumbles upon a mind-blowing secret, hidden in the lyrics of their songs...



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Return to the darkly beautiful world of The Sin Eater's Daughter with a sequel that will leave you awed, terrified . . . and desperate for more.

Ever since her brother Lief disappeared, Errin's life has gone from bad to worse. Not only must she care for her sick mother, she has to scrape together rent money by selling illegal herbal cures. But none of that compares to the threat of the vengeful Sleeping Prince whom the Queen just awoke from his enchanted sleep.

When her village is evacuated as part of the war against the Sleeping Prince, Errin is left desperate and homeless. The only person she can turn to is the mysterious Silas, a young man who buys deadly poisons from Errin, but won't reveal why he needs them. Silas promises to help her, but when he vanishes, Errin must journey across a kingdom on the brink of war to seek another way to save her mother and herself. But what she finds shatters everything she believed about her world, and with the Sleeping Prince drawing nearer, Errin must make a heartbreaking choice that could affect the whole kingdom.



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Death should never meet the young. But it did. Thanks to my brother, death made fourteen new friends that day. Maybe even fifteen, if you count Charlie.

At sixteen, Sam Macmillan is supposed to be thinking about girls, homework and his upcoming application to music college, not picking up the pieces after the school shooting that his brother Charlie committed.

Yet as Sam desperately tries to hang on to the memories he has of his brother, the media storm surrounding their family threatens to destroy everything. And Sam has to question all he thought he knew about life, death, right and wrong.
 


Stacking the Shelves...








This week has been a really good one for my shelves. I have treated myself to some kindle books in the sale, one of which I already own but I didn't want to take the physical copy on holiday. Red Rising is one I have been wanting to read for a while so snapping it up got 99p was great. I hear a lot of great things about the Did I Mention that I... series so added those too. And An Amber in the Ashes is the book I already own, that I will hopefully finally finish on holiday.
The amazing Nazia at Little Brown has emailed me The Girl Who Cried Wolf which looks and sounds amazing, thank you.
Cara at HQ Young Adult has send me The Deviants, which I have been eyeing up since YALC, everyone is raving about this one and i cant wait to read it, thank you so  much. Funny enough I also received it on NetGalley so its coming on holiday with me.
You know what's even better then book post? Surprise book post, Louis Lane Double Down was a massive surprise, thank you Georgia and Curious Fox, I have loved the first one and have already started this one now.
And to finish this week offm GEMINA arrived!! I literally squeeled. Been trying to get my hands on that for months. Eeeeeek thank you so much OneWorld Publication for this absolute  beauty. If I wasn't scared of the sun destroying it I would already be reading it right now.
I also still have to pick up one parcel from DPD in Leeds, which is a bit of a nuisance but I couldn't have it redelivered and it might have been send back to the sender if I left it there while on holiday.