Weekly Wrap Up and Stacking the Shelves #5

Weekly Wrap Up

The first book I have finished this week is Viral. And my review is up on my blog now!

Blurb: So far, twenty-three thousand and ninety six people have seen me online. They include my mother, my father, my little sister, my grandmother, my other grandmother, my grandfather, my boss, my sixth year Biology teacher and my boyfriend James.


When Leah Oliphant-Brotheridge and her adopted sister Su go on holiday together to Magaluf to celebrate their A-levels, only Leah returns home. Her successful, swotty sister remains abroad, humiliated and afraid: there is an online video of her, drunkenly performing a sex act in a nightclub. And everyone has seen it.

Ruth Oliphant-Brotheridge, mother of the girls, successful court judge, is furious. How could this have happened? How can she bring justice to these men who took advantage of her dutiful, virginal daughter? What role has Leah played in all this? And can Ruth find Su and bring her back home when Su doesn't want to be found?

The second book I have finished is Another Love, I really enjoyed that one. So heart breaking, my review will be up on Tuesday.

Blurb: In the early years of their love affair, Romilly was happy. She had worked hard for her stunning, modern house in one of Bristol's most fashionable suburbs. She adored her gorgeous, gap-toothed daughter and her handsome, kind husband. Sure, life was sometimes exhausting - but nothing that a large glass of wine at the end of the day couldn't fix. And then a new neighbour arrived and everything unravelled. A glass of wine became a bottle; one bottle became two. Romilly's family were once everything to her. Now, after years of hiding the drinking, she must finally admit that she has found another love...

Time to say goodbye is one I haven't finished. And its not because it was a bad book, I just felled it wasn't for me. Not only do I have a 6 year old daughter myself but I also felt like after a few pages I knew where this story is going to end. I felt myself looking interest. Shame. Its not something I do very often,

Blurb: Is there ever a right time to let go?

HOW DO YOU LEAVE THE PERSON YOU LOVE THE MOST?

Will Curtis’s six-year-old daughter, Ella, knows her father will never leave her. After all, he promised her so when her mother died. And he’s going to do everything he can to keep his word.

What Will doesn’t know is that the promise he made to his little girl might be harder to keep than he imagined. When he’s faced with an impossible decision, Will finds that the most obvious choice might not be the right one.

But the future is full of unexpected surprises. And father and daughter are about to embark on an unforgettable journey together . . .

Stacking the Shelves

Hosted by Tynga’s Reviews

Look at this beauty I have won from Maximumpop and Maximumpopbooks. This book looks beautiful and sounds amazing. Cant wait to read it.

Blurb: Lois Lane is starting a new life in Metropolis. An Army brat, Lois has lived all over—and seen all kinds of things. (Some of them defy explanation, like the near-disaster she witnessed in Kansas in the middle of one night.) But now her family is putting down roots in the big city, and Lois is determined to fit in. Stay quiet. Fly straight. As soon as she steps into her new high school, though, she can see it won’t be that easy. A group known as the Warheads is making life miserable for another girl at school. They’re messing with her mind, somehow, via the high-tech immersive videogame they all play. Not cool. Armed with her wit and her new snazzy job as a reporter, Lois has her sights set on solving this mystery. But sometimes it’s all a bit much. Thank goodness for her maybe-more-than-a friend, a guy she knows only by his screenname, SmallvilleGuy.

Now this has been the most amazing book post!!! OMG so beautiful. It sounds like exactly my thing. I need to squeeze these in asap. Thank you to Lizzie at Headline Books for these three babies.

Blurb: The Earth has been invaded by the Illyri, a beautiful, civilized, yet ruthless alien race. Humanity has been conquered, but still it fights the invaders. The Resistance grows stronger, for it is the young people of Earth who are best equipped to battle the Illyri.

Syl Hellais, conceived among the stars, is the oldest alien child on Earth, the first to reach sixteen years of age. Her father rules the planet. Her future is assured. And Syl has hidden gifts, powers that even she does yet fully understand.

But all is not as it seems. The Illyri are at war among themselves, and the sinister Nairene Sisterhood has arrived on Earth, hungry for new blood. When Syl helps a pair of young Resistance fighters to escape execution, she finds herself sentenced to death, pursued by her own kind, and risks breaking the greatest taboo of her race by falling in love with a human.

Now the hunter has become the hunted, the predator become prey.

And as Syl is about to learn, the real invasion has not yet even begun...

Now this is something very exciting for me! My first Graphic Novel. I have always wanted to try one and I will now have my chance. This is so different to anything I have reviewed before but I cant wait.

Blurb: Continuing the only complete collection of Modesty Blaise adventures! The return of the 'ass-kicking femme fatale'. Full of classic action and adventure and dripping with ‘60's chic.

Now for the first time ever Net Galley has granted my wish and WOW WOW WOW look at this cover. It's so pretty I think I am in love. So much so I had to start reading this book straight away. Loving it already.

Blurb: She’s more gunpowder than girl—and the fate of the desert lies in her hands.

Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mystical beasts still roam the wild and barren wastes, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinni still practice their magic. But there's nothing mystical or magical about Dustwalk, the dead-end town that Amani can't wait to escape from.

Destined to wind up "wed or dead," Amani’s counting on her sharpshooting skills to get her out of Dustwalk. When she meets Jin, a mysterious and devastatingly handsome foreigner, in a shooting contest, she figures he’s the perfect escape route. But in all her years spent dreaming of leaving home, she never imagined she'd gallop away on a mythical horse, fleeing the murderous Sultan's army, with a fugitive who's wanted for treason. And she'd never have predicted she'd fall in love with him...or that he'd help her unlock the powerful truth of who she really is.

Blogtour / Review: For The Most Beautiful by Emily Hauser

Three thousand years ago a war took place that gave birth to legends - to Achilles, the greatest of the Greeks, and Hector, prince of Troy. It was a war that made - and destroyed - both men, a war that shook the very foundations of the world. But what if there was more to this epic conflict? What if there was another, hidden tale of the Trojan War that had yet to be told?

Now is that time - time for the women of Troy to tell their story

This is the first time I am doing a review for a blog tour and I was so so worried, what if I didn't like the book? But I didn't need to worry, I could not put this book down. I have finished it in two days which is pretty good for me.

The book is a reimagining of the Trojan war, but from the point of view of the women during that time. Instead of concentrating on the battle itself, the worriers or even the gods it is all about two women. Two different women, both strong in their own way, both playing a very important role in the Trojan war. Two women who, because of their seemingly small acts, become the unknown heroes.

Krisayis is the daughter of a priest, destined to become a priestess herself. She however would much rather be someone else. She lives at the kings court, friends with the princess Cassandra and in love with the youngest prince Troilus.

Briseis is a princess herself, while she has been at the right age to be married for some time a prophecy scares most men away. Her last hope is Mynes who appears not to be scared of the prophecy and they are married. Briseis cant quite believe her luck and she soon finds herself in love with Mynes.

But just as their life's seem to be perfect everything is about to change... Prince Paris brings home a new wife, the most beautiful women in the world. However he has stolen her from her husband. Who sends 1000 ships to revenge Troy. An awful war starts and in the middle of it all are Krisays and Briseis.

Captured by the Greek soldiers, loosing everything they love, both women decide to do more then just live with the fate they have been dealt.

I can't tell you enough how much I liked this book. I don't know much about the Trojan war so I don't really know how much of this has been changed and how much is still the same. But that doesn't really matter, what matters is that this book has been interesting from the very first page. Not only that but I always fear, that with historical fiction, there will be things I will not understand, but I needn't worry it was all very easy to follow weather you studied the Trojan war before or not.

Most fascinating are the two main characters, so different and yet both so strong and likable. But we cant forget the gods, who have been meddling in the war all along. I did really enjoy reading about how they had their hands in all of it. But I am glad it wasn't the main plot, I rather enjoyed the women playing the biggest part. Believing that women have been overlooked in the telling of the Trojan war, before now.

This has been a total emotional rollercoaster for me. It broke my heart, it made me laugh, cry and it made me happy. I was genuinely upset that this book has ended. It left me wanting to know more about the Trojan war and this era in general.

Absolutely beautiful, stunning and unforgettable! This book had me sitting on the edge of my seat many time, every chapter was fully packed and important to its story.

If you have read any of my reviews before, you will also know that I am a big fan of beautiful covers and this one is my favourite so far this year. Absolutely gorgeous.

Thank you to Patsy Irwin for my gorgeous copy and thank you to Lily Capewell for allowing me to be part of this amazing blog tour.

Review: Viral by Helen Fitzgerald

So far, twenty-three thousand and ninety six people have seen me online. They include my mother, my father, my little sister, my grandmother, my other grandmother, my grandfather, my boss, my sixth year Biology teacher and my boyfriend James.


When Leah Oliphant-Brotheridge and her adopted sister Su go on holiday together to Magaluf to celebrate their A-levels, only Leah returns home. Her successful, swotty sister remains abroad, humiliated and afraid: there is an online video of her, drunkenly performing a sex act in a nightclub. And everyone has seen it.

Ruth Oliphant-Brotheridge, mother of the girls, successful court judge, is furious. How could this have happened? How can she bring justice to these men who took advantage of her dutiful, virginal daughter? What role has Leah played in all this? And can Ruth find Su and bring her back home when Su doesn't want to be found?

Wow what a line to start a book with! But you will have to find out for yourself. Certainly had me interested from the very first line. Imagine going to Magaluf, getting stupidly drunk, so much so you do something you would never ever do. That's exactly what happed to Su. The same Su who is a virgin and ready to go to university. But things get even worse when, during her most embarrassing moment, she is being filmed and finds herself all over the internet. The video goes viral and the views keep going up and up.

What else is there to do but disappear. Instead of going home, Su doesn't turn up at the airport and her sister has to go home by herself. Now while Su is hiding away in Spain, her family is picking up the pieces. The mother who is a successful court judge, the sister who is blaming herself and the father/husband who is suddenly questioning his wife's treatment of the girls. Because Su is their adoptive daughter while Leah is their biological daughter.

We go on to experience the extreme backlash of such a viral video. One that doesn't only affect the person in the video but all the people close to her. How much damage can it do? And what can you do when no laws have been broken? But most of all, how far will a mother go to revenge her daughter?

This has been a very interesting read. While its not the best book I have ever read it had me hooked all the way through. I was absolutely gobsmacked at how much damage one silly night can do. And its kind of very scary, because this is the world we live in. Not only is it cool to go to magaluf or suny beach to get in this kind of state. But with everyone having a camera phone these days, every embarrassing moment can be made public. This certainly opened my eyes to a lot of things.

However the book doesn't only focus on the video, it also focuses on a rather complicated mother and daughter relationship and one between two sisters, of which one is adopted.

A very compelling and intelligent read. I really enjoyed the characters and where the story ended.

Thank you to Sophie at Faber & Faber for my copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Viral will be published on 4th February.

WWW Wednesday (27th January)

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...

Blurb: Is there ever a right time to let go?

HOW DO YOU LEAVE THE PERSON YOU LOVE THE MOST?

Will Curtis’s six-year-old daughter, Ella, knows her father will never leave her. After all, he promised her so when her mother died. And he’s going to do everything he can to keep his word.

What Will doesn’t know is that the promise he made to his little girl might be harder to keep than he imagined. When he’s faced with an impossible decision, Will finds that the most obvious choice might not be the right one.

But the future is full of unexpected surprises. And father and daughter are about to embark on an unforgettable journey together . . .

I have recently finished...

Blurb: So far, twenty-three thousand and ninety six people have seen me online. They include my mother, my father, my little sister, my grandmother, my other grandmother, my grandfather, my boss, my sixth year Biology teacher and my boyfriend James.


When Leah Oliphant-Brotheridge and her adopted sister Su go on holiday together to Magaluf to celebrate their A-levels, only Leah returns home. Her successful, swotty sister remains abroad, humiliated and afraid: there is an online video of her, drunkenly performing a sex act in a nightclub. And everyone has seen it.

Ruth Oliphant-Brotheridge, mother of the girls, successful court judge, is furious. How could this have happened? How can she bring justice to these men who took advantage of her dutiful, virginal daughter? What role has Leah played in all this? And can Ruth find Su and bring her back home when Su doesn't want to be found?

Blurb: In the early years of their love affair, Romilly was happy. She had worked hard for her stunning, modern house in one of Bristol's most fashionable suburbs. She adored her gorgeous, gap-toothed daughter and her handsome, kind husband. Sure, life was sometimes exhausting - but nothing that a large glass of wine at the end of the day couldn't fix. And then a new neighbour arrived and everything unravelled. A glass of wine became a bottle; one bottle became two. Romilly's family were once everything to her. Now, after years of hiding the drinking, she must finally admit that she has found another love...

I plan on reading next...

Blurb: She’s more gunpowder than girl—and the fate of the desert lies in her hands.

Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mystical beasts still roam the wild and barren wastes, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinni still practice their magic. But there's nothing mystical or magical about Dustwalk, the dead-end town that Amani can't wait to escape from.

Destined to wind up "wed or dead," Amani’s counting on her sharpshooting skills to get her out of Dustwalk. When she meets Jin, a mysterious and devastatingly handsome foreigner, in a shooting contest, she figures he’s the perfect escape route. But in all her years spent dreaming of leaving home, she never imagined she'd gallop away on a mythical horse, fleeing the murderous Sultan's army, with a fugitive who's wanted for treason. And she'd never have predicted she'd fall in love with him...or that he'd help her unlock the powerful truth of who she really is.

Blurb: A former intelligence agent stands accused of terrorism, held without charge in a secret overseas prison. His memoir is in the hands of a psychologist with her own agenda, and her annotations paint a much darker picture. As the story unravels, we are forced to assess the truth for ourselves, and decide not only what really happened, but who is the real terrorist. Peopled by a diverse and unforgettable cast of characters, whose reliability as narrators is always questioned, and with a multi-layered plot heaving with unexpected and often shocking developments, Jihadi: A Love Story is an intelligent thriller that asks big questions.

Blurb: An unforgettable and addictive story, perfect for fans of Lesley Thomson, Diane Chamberlain and Tracy Buchanan.

Review: Front Lines by Michael Grant (Soldier Girl #1)

World War II, 1942. A court decision makes women subject to the draft and eligible for service. The unproven American army is going up against the greatest fighting force ever assembled, the armed forces of Nazi Germany.

Three girls sign up to fight. Rio Richlin, Frangie Marr, and Rainy Schulterman are average girls, girls with dreams and aspirations, at the start of their lives, at the start of their loves. Each has her own reasons for volunteering: Rio fights to honor her sister; Frangie needs money for her family; Rainy wants to kill Germans. For the first time they leave behind their homes and families—to go to war.

These three daring young women will play their parts in the war to defeat evil and save the human race. As the fate of the world hangs in the balance, they will discover the roles that define them on the front lines. They will fight the greatest war the world has ever known.

Oh wow what did I just read? Bloody amazing! When I read the blurb of this one I HAD to have it, what an incredibly interesting idea. I haven't read anything by Michael Grant yet but I have certainly heard of his work and seen it all over social media, its all on my tbr pile. When I received an early copy for Net Galley I was really pleased.

This book did not disappoint and I had really high expectations. We are taken back into World War 2, but with one huge twist, in which women are not only allowed to serve but are in some cases even made to. Following 3 girls on their journey into what is probably the most horrific time in history.

Rio is from California, after the death of  her sister in service she is kind of lost, although she is to young to join the forces she is toying with the idea. Her friend however is determined and is trying to convince Rio to join her. After a date  at which Rio accidently blurts out that she is also signing up, she feels like she now has no way but to do so. She is a women, so all this means for her is an office job, right?

Frangie is from Arizona, she is determined to join the Army to become a medic and later on go to college. Her father cant work anymore and the family struggles every day. Signing up seems the only solution. Will her skin-color make things even harder for her?

Rainy is from New York, her and  her family are Jewish, naturally hating the Nazis. She wants to join the Army Intelligence. She is willing to work hard and kill some Nazis. Will she be able to get her wish?

We follow the girls through basic training, every single one different, but all alongside men. Having to deal with horrible comments while working harder then they have ever done before.

Never would they have expected to end up on the front line. But that is exactly where their path is leading them.

I couldn't put this book down. Grant has captured life in the army in a very believable and honest way. He has created 3 amazing main characters, which I admire all. I don't think I would have the strength these girls are showing throughout the book. 3 strong young women, that we get to watch growing and turning into incredible strong soldiers. I feel like I have bonded with everyone and like I have shared all their pain and fears with them.

This book is very visual too, there is no messing about, some scenes are very gruesome. But I appreciate that in a way, this is World  War 2 we are talking about, not a walk in the park. Grant has managed to capture the real horrors of war and turned it into a YA read.

I love this book so much and I can not wait for the next one, to see what other horrific and hopefully also great experiences the soldier girls will go through. I can only imagine, that things will first get even worse before they will get better and I want to be there when the soldier girls come out of this war.

We are very lucky to live in a world where joining the forces is a choice and not forced upon us. This story is a true eye opener to that.

I don't think this book is for any specific person, weather you like YA or weather you are interested in reading about a war, you will love this. It is an incredible book that will stay with you long after you have finished the last page. And I for one will be recommending this one everywhere. Even my husband knows most a lot about this book now too.

Let's not forget the cover, as an absolute cover lover I have to mention that not only is this one beautiful but very fitting and captivating.

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

This book will be published 28th January!


The USA cover is this one here...

Weekly Warp Up and Stacking the Shelves #4

Weekly Wrap Up

I have managed my usual 2 books this week. Both really good books, but Front lines has really blown me away! My review of Front lines will be up on Monday! Keep your eyes open for that one.

Blurb: Childhood friends Patricia Delfine and Laurence Armstead didn't expect to see each other again, after parting ways under mysterious circumstances during high school. After all, the development of magical powers and the invention of a two-second time machine could hardly fail to alarm one's peers and families.

But now they're both adults, living in the hipster mecca San Francisco, and the planet is falling apart around them. Laurence is an engineering genius who's working with a group that aims to avert catastrophic breakdown through technological intervention into the changing global climate. Patricia is a graduate of Eltisley Maze, the hidden academy for the world's magically gifted, and works with a small band of other magicians to secretly repair the world's ever-growing ailments. Little do they realize that something bigger than either of them, something begun years ago in their youth, is determined to bring them together--to either save the world, or plunge it into a new dark ages.

A deeply magical, darkly funny examination of life, love, and the apocalypse.

Blurb: Perfect for fans of The Book Thief and Code Name Verity, New York Times bestselling author Michael Grant unleashes an epic, genre-bending, and transformative new series that reimagines World War II with girl soldiers fighting on the front lines.

World War II, 1942. A court decision makes women subject to the draft and eligible for service. The unproven American army is going up against the greatest fighting force ever assembled, the armed forces of Nazi Germany.

Three girls sign up to fight. Rio Richlin, Frangie Marr, and Rainy Schulterman are average girls, girls with dreams and aspirations, at the start of their lives, at the start of their loves. Each has her own reasons for volunteering: Rio fights to honor her sister; Frangie needs money for her family; Rainy wants to kill Germans. For the first time they leave behind their homes and families—to go to war.

These three daring young women will play their parts in the war to defeat evil and save the human race. As the fate of the world hangs in the balance, they will discover the roles that define them on the front lines. They will fight the greatest war the world has ever known.

Stacking the Shelves

Hosted by Tynga’s Reviews

The first book post I got this week is the adorable Out of the darkness, thank you so much Katy Hogan for this cute post. I am totally in love even with the cute little paper clip.

Blurb: DOES EVERYTHING IN LIFE HAPPEN PURELY BY CHANCE? OR ARE WE GUIDED TOWARDS PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP US IN OUR HOUR OF NEED?
Following the sudden death of her beloved mother, Jessica Gibson's world falls apart. But after meeting a man who seems heaven-sent, she starts to feel she has something to live for again, and soon discovers that their connection holds far more significance than she could ever have imagined. And when Jessica strikes an unlikely bond with Alexandra Green, the two new friends are taken on an emotional journey into the world of the supernatural, where psychic mediums pass on messages from beyond the grave. What -- or who -- is causing the strange goings-on in Alex's home? What secret is she keeping from Jessica? And who is the young woman who so badly needs their help? In a series of surprising twists and turns, the pieces of the puzzle finally fall into place and a mystery is unwittingly solved -- with life-changing consequences for all involved.
'Out of the Darkness' is an uplifting tale of friendship and redemption; of love and loss. And life...after death.

Now look at this one! I mean, this must be the most beautiful book post I have ever received. That key too, I will keep that one save for ever. Wow! Thank you Sophie Jonathon for this stunning book.

Blurb: Playful, ambitious, and exquisitely imagined, What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours is cleverly built around the idea of keys, literal and metaphorical. The key to a house, the key to a heart, the key to a secret—Oyeyemi’s keys not only unlock elements of her characters’ lives, they promise further labyrinths on the other side. In “Books and Roses” one special key opens a library, a garden, and clues to at least two lovers’ fates. In “Is Your Blood as Red as This?” an unlikely key opens the heart of a student at a puppeteering school. “‘Sorry’ Doesn’t Sweeten Her Tea” involves a “house of locks,” where doors can be closed only with a key—with surprising, unobservable developments. And in “If a Book Is Locked There’s Probably a Good Reason for That Don't You Think,” a key keeps a mystical diary locked (for good reason).

Oyeyemi’s tales span multiple times and landscapes as they tease boundaries between coexisting realities. Is a key a gate, a gift, or an invitation? What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours captivates as it explores the many possible answers.

Butterflies!!! YAY! How gorgeous is this?? The wrapping has already been snatched up by my daughter, however she is not going anywhere near this stunning book.  Thank you Elizabeth Masters, this post has certainly put a smile on my face.

Blurb: What magic is this?You follow the hidden creek towards a long-forgotten house.

They call it Keepsake, a place full of wonder ... and danger. Locked inside the crumbling elegance of its walls lies the story of the Butterfly Summer, a story you've been waiting all your life to hear.

This house is Nina Parr's birthright. It holds the truth about her family - and a chance to put everything right at last.Harriet Evans. She brings you home.

Corvus Publishing, you beauties! Thank you for another incredible book. I can not wait to sink my teeth into this one, knowing already that its going to be a good one.

Blurb: How far would you go to protect your child? When her daughter is bullied, Laura makes a terrible mistake...

Laura loves her daughter more than anything in the world.

But nine-year-old daughter Autumn is being bullied. Laura feels helpless.

When Autumn fails to return home from school one day, Laura goes looking for her. She finds a crowd of older children taunting her little girl.

In the heat of the moment, Laura makes a terrible choice. A choice that will have devastating consequences for her and her daughter...

Can not beat a Amazon order on a sunday!!

Truthwitch Blurb: On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a “witchery”, a magical skill that sets them apart from others.

In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble—as two desperate young women know all too well.

Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It’s a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially amongst the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires.

Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her—but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safi’s hotheaded impulsiveness.

Safi and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and ship’s captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

Illuminea Blurb: This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.

This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

Review: All The Birds In The Sky by Charlie Jane Anders

Childhood friends Patricia Delfine and Laurence Armstead didn't expect to see each other again, after parting ways under mysterious circumstances during high school. After all, the development of magical powers and the invention of a two-second time machine could hardly fail to alarm one's peers and families.

But now they're both adults, living in the hipster mecca San Francisco, and the planet is falling apart around them. Laurence is an engineering genius who's working with a group that aims to avert catastrophic breakdown through technological intervention into the changing global climate. Patricia is a graduate of Eltisley Maze, the hidden academy for the world's magically gifted, and works with a small band of other magicians to secretly repair the world's ever-growing ailments. Little do they realize that something bigger than either of them, something begun years ago in their youth, is determined to bring them together--to either save the world, or plunge it into a new dark ages.

A deeply magical, darkly funny examination of life, love, and the apocalypse.

Oh wow I don't even know where to begin, normally I will finish a book and write my review straight away. In this case I needed a little while to think about it. I am still not entirely sure what I am going to say.

All the birds in the sky mixes magic with science which sounds amazing. This produces a great idea, one I haven't come across yet. Combined with an amazing cover I was very eager to start this book.

It begins amazingly, so much so that I loved the first parts. In the first part we get to meet Patricia and Laurence as small children and discover how different they are. Patricia being a witch who can speak to animals and Laurence who is very intelligent and talented in science.

Soon after that, the book jumps to their years at school, which is probably my favourite part. This part of the book reads like a YA book. This is the time when they both meet, where both are being bullied for being different. Bullied not only by other pupils but also the parents and teachers it seems. Its like the whole world is against them. Nobody understands either one of them and people try to make them into something they are not. This part of the book is the one that haunts me the most. It shows how painful and horrific life can be for someone like Patricia and Laurence. And also how much it can change when you finally find someone who will understand you.

Patricia and Laurence, both feel drawn to each other even tho they couldn't be any more different. Laurence who is building a super computer and Patricia who is just discovering more about her magic. But why is there someone who doesn't want them to get close? How clever is this computer of that Laurence is building?

After some events Patricia and Laurence are being split up, their life taking them in completely different directions.

Now the next part of the book is the one I am not so sure about. When both meet again in their adult life, one a scientist and Patricia now in control of her magic. I still completely adored the magic aspect. it was the scientific part that I found hart to follow at times. I had to go back a few pages sometimes to see if that would help me understand and sometimes it did. But I did find that this part slowed my reading down some.

However, then you come to the end of the book, seeing how it all comes together in the end, magic and science, was very much worth the read.

This is a very unique book, incredibly well written and rather surprising in the end.
The characters are so complex and interesting, I loved getting to know both Patricia and Laurence. And their very complicated relationship was incredibly interesting to follow.

I believe while writing about science one has to be very careful to make sure that it is understandable for every one, weather it is fiction or non fiction. I didn't always understand everyone that was going on, which was a bit of a shame for me.

But all in all, well done on mixing magic with science! This book has been bizarre in a very good kind of way.

Thank you to Lydia Gittins at Titan Books for my copy of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.

Expected Publication 26th January by Titan Books

WWW Wednesday (20th January)

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...

Blurb: Perfect for fans of The Book Thief and Code Name Verity, New York Times bestselling author Michael Grant unleashes an epic, genre-bending, and transformative new series that reimagines World War II with girl soldiers fighting on the front lines.

World War II, 1942. A court decision makes women subject to the draft and eligible for service. The unproven American army is going up against the greatest fighting force ever assembled, the armed forces of Nazi Germany.

Three girls sign up to fight. Rio Richlin, Frangie Marr, and Rainy Schulterman are average girls, girls with dreams and aspirations, at the start of their lives, at the start of their loves. Each has her own reasons for volunteering: Rio fights to honor her sister; Frangie needs money for her family; Rainy wants to kill Germans. For the first time they leave behind their homes and families—to go to war.

These three daring young women will play their parts in the war to defeat evil and save the human race. As the fate of the world hangs in the balance, they will discover the roles that define them on the front lines. They will fight the greatest war the world has ever known.

I have recently finished...

Blurb: Childhood friends Patricia Delfine and Laurence Armstead didn't expect to see each other again, after parting ways under mysterious circumstances during high school. After all, the development of magical powers and the invention of a two-second time machine could hardly fail to alarm one's peers and families.

But now they're both adults, living in the hipster mecca San Francisco, and the planet is falling apart around them. Laurence is an engineering genius who's working with a group that aims to avert catastrophic breakdown through technological intervention into the changing global climate. Patricia is a graduate of Eltisley Maze, the hidden academy for the world's magically gifted, and works with a small band of other magicians to secretly repair the world's ever-growing ailments. Little do they realize that something bigger than either of them, something begun years ago in their youth, is determined to bring them together--to either save the world, or plunge it into a new dark ages.

A deeply magical, darkly funny examination of life, love, and the apocalypse.

Blurb: Three thousand years ago a war took place that gave birth to legends - to Achilles, the greatest of the Greeks, and Hector, prince of Troy. It was a war that made - and destroyed - both men, a war that shook the very foundations of the world. But what if there was more to this epic conflict? What if there was another, hidden tale of the Trojan War that had yet to be told?

Now is that time - time for the women of Troy to tell their story

I plan on reading next...

Blurb: Can you imagine keeping a secret so devastating, you couldn’t even tell the people you love?

Honor’s secret threatens to rob her of the independence she’s guarded ferociously for eighty years.

Jo’s secret could smash apart the ‘normal’ family life she’s fought so hard to build.

Lydia’s secret could bring her love - or the loss of everything that matters to her.

One summer’s day, grandmother, mother and daughter’s secrets will collide in a single dramatic moment.

Is it too late for second chances?

Blurb: So far, twenty-three thousand and ninety six people have seen me online. They include my mother, my father, my little sister, my grandmother, my other grandmother, my grandfather, my boss, my sixth year Biology teacher and my boyfriend James.


When Leah Oliphant-Brotheridge and her adopted sister Su go on holiday together to Magaluf to celebrate their A-levels, only Leah returns home. Her successful, swotty sister remains abroad, humiliated and afraid: there is an online video of her, drunkenly performing a sex act in a nightclub. And everyone has seen it.

Ruth Oliphant-Brotheridge, mother of the girls, successful court judge, is furious. How could this have happened? How can she bring justice to these men who took advantage of her dutiful, virginal daughter? What role has Leah played in all this? And can Ruth find Su and bring her back home when Su doesn't want to be found?

Blurb: In the early years of their love affair, Romilly was happy. She had worked hard for her stunning, modern house in one of Bristol's most fashionable suburbs. She adored her gorgeous, gap-toothed daughter and her handsome, kind husband. Sure, life was sometimes exhausting - but nothing that a large glass of wine at the end of the day couldn't fix. And then a new neighbour arrived and everything unravelled. A glass of wine became a bottle; one bottle became two. Romilly's family were once everything to her. Now, after years of hiding the drinking, she must finally admit that she has found another love...

Blogtour, Extract: Sunkissed Carys Jones ... plus a giveaway too!

I am very proud to be part of the Sunkissed Blogtour. Today is my stop and I have an extract from the book for you.

But first of all here is a little something about the author.

About Carys Jones

Carys Jones loves nothing more than to write and create stories which ignite the reader's imagination. Based in Shropshire, England, Carys lives with her husband, two guinea pigs and her adored canine companion Rollo.

When she's not writing, Carys likes to indulge her inner geek by watching science- fiction films or playing video games.

She lists John Green, Jodi Picoult and Virginia Andrews as her favorite authors and draws inspiration for her own work from anything and everything.

To Carys, there is no greater feeling then when you lose yourself in a great story and it is that feeling of ultimate escapism which she tries to bring to her books.

And here is the beautiful cover.

Blurb: Dawn Summers is dying. It’s 1853 and as the seventeen year old continues to fade away she has visions of the father she never knew, urging her to fight for her life.

In the small village of Fandova the only medical care is in the form of the mysterious Dr. Moralus who has a known penchant for bloodletting. Thomas, Dawn's fiancé, is warned against inviting his intervention, but feels he has no choice, he pleads with the doctor to save Dawn’s life…whatever it takes.

 And last but not least here is an extract from the book to get you all excited, enjoy!

"She’s dying, isn’t she?" the words were delivered more as a statement than a question as Thomas Weeville knelt at the bedside of Dawn Summers. He looked up into the eyes of the mother of his future bride and saw they were fearful, yet solemn.

"We have abandoned hope," Eileen Summers admitted, unable to shed tears for her dying daughter as her own body had relinquished all the liquid it held through falling tears during the young girl’s arduous battle against a sickness which fought her for her soul.

"No, we cannot," Thomas said desperately, cupping Dawn’s hand in his own. Her fingers were like ice, drained of any previous warmth, and they hung limply in his palm, devoid of energy. "Dawn can fight this, I know she can. She is strong."

Eileen Summers gave the boy a pitying glance. If only he would accept the inevitable fate that awaited Dawn he would save himself countless hours of pain. She had noticed the strange gait with which he now walked was attributed to the days he spent knelt at the altar of the modest village chapel, begging for leniency towards the woman he loved, begging for a miracle.

"It is God’s will." Eileen said the words and they stabbed at Thomas like a knife. He wanted to scream at her that God was now dead to him. What sort of God let someone as wonderful and spirited as Dawn suffer and ultimately fade away? Thomas had prayed until his hands and knees were raw, but his pleas went unanswered. As Dawn’s life drifted away, so did his faith.

"I won’t give up on her," Thomas said defiantly, strengthening his grip on Dawn’s weak hand. He heard Eileen sigh in the doorway before leaving the room. She did not understand Thomas' pain. She had two other daughters and had already lost three to some of the harsher winters of the past few years.

***

In the small room of the log cabin the fire spat and crackled, warming the air all around. Thomas leant his head on the bed and let his eyes close as he listened to the laboured rise and fall of Dawn’s chest. Her breathing was heavy but regular, which he knew was a good sign. He would be able to rest a little, safe in the knowledge that this night was not that when death would be coming for her.

This is where you can grab a copy of Sunkissed:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28185079-sunkissed?from_search=true&search_version=service

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B019AKS304/ref=x_gr_w_visstd_sin_t1_test_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_visstd_sin_t1_test_bb_uk-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738

And there is even a giveaway for you :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Elementals: The Prophecy of Shadows by Michelle Madow

Filled with magic, thrilling adventure, and sweet romance, Elementals is the first in a new series that fans of Percy Jackson and The Secret Circle will love!

When Nicole Cassidy moves from sunny Georgia to gloomy New England, the last thing she expects is to learn that her homeroom is a cover for a secret coven of witches. Even more surprisingly … she’s apparently a witch herself. Despite doubts about her newfound abilities, Nicole is welcomed into this ancient circle of witches and is bedazzled by their powers—and, to her dismay, by Blake—the school’s notorious bad-boy.

Girls who get close to Blake wind up hurt. His girlfriend Danielle will do anything to keep them away, even if she must resort to using dark magic. But the chemistry between Blake and Nicole is undeniable, and despite wanting to protect Nicole from Danielle’s wrath, he finds it impossible to keep his distance.
When the Olympian Comet shoots through the sky for the first time in three thousand years, Nicole, Blake, Danielle, and two others in their homeroom are gifted with mysterious powers. But the comet has another effect—it opens the portal to the prison world that has contained the Titans for centuries. After an ancient monster escapes and attacks Nicole and Blake, it’s up to them and the others to follow the clues from a cryptic prophecy so that they can save their town … and possibly the world.

Cover love!!! I just cant help but love a beautiful cover, still so very much guilty of that.

This Book follows Nicole as she moves to a new place and starts in a new school. Finding herself in a strange homeroom class where she is, for the first time, confronted with magic. Nicole can't believe what she is hearing. All the people in the class including her are witches, able to harness energy to turn it into magic. Magic that takes years to learn, but somehow Nicole gets the hang of it much quicker then anyone else.

All the children gather together to watch the Olympian Comet shoot through the sky. In a group with Blake, Chris, Danielle and Kate, the five experience the Comets passing with a big jolt. From that night on their powers seem to enhance. Being able to harness energy from the 5 different elements they soon discover how much more powerful they are.

The teacher eventually hands Nicole a prophecy, believing that it is about her. Together with her friends she goes on a scavenger hunt to discover more about the prophecy. They will have to work together and use their individual powers to make it through. But what awaits them at the end? And is there more to Nicole then meets the eye?

Of course there is also a boy that catches Nicole's eye, Blake, who is in a relationship with Danielle. And this is the part I don't really like. It makes cheating look a little to innocent to me. As much as Nicole is fighting her feelings, I believe both should fight them much more. Or how about the fact that Nicole's mother encourages her to go for the boy she wants weather he is in a relationship or not? This bit kind of got to me, its not something I would want to teach my children.

Other then that this has been a lovely read and a good start to a new series about magic. It was a nice, easy quick read, with a lovely new take on witchcraft. I enjoyed the character very much, a group of friends that are all very different. You can already tell that they will have many adventures together in the future and I cant wait to read about those. I wish I could dream about Blake some more, but I can't find myself to do so.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

This Book will be published on 26th January.