Review: Ink by Alice Broadway

I bought this book when I went to YAShot, when I went into Waterstones and bought some books I probably shouldn't have. I'd heard about it so much that I thought I'd finally buy it and see how much I liked it - and wow did I like it.

Here it is:

Every action, every deed, every significant moment is tattooed on your skin for ever. When Leora's father dies, she is determined to see her father remembered forever. She knows he deserves to have all his tattoos removed and made into a Skin Book to stand as a record of his good life. But when she discovers that his ink has been edited and his book is incomplete, she wonders whether she ever knew him at all.

Okay, first, I just have to get this out of the way - how flipping beautiful is this cover?! it's amazingly detailed and probably one of the most beautiful covers I now have in my collection. It's even gold leaf so it's shiny on the physical copy - so of course I was going to pick it up. I've said multiple times that pretty covers are my weakness, and with this particular book I could never have got the kindle version and missed out on this precious thing. So, I definitely give kudos to whoever designed it.

I'll just say now: the book definitely lived up to its beautiful cover. It was a spectacular read, and so unique in the plot, that I was just stunned into silence when I finished it, and I want to read more already.

I think the thing that made me adore this book so much was the premise - the idea that you tattoo your lives onto your skin, both the good and the bad, for everyone to see and that then your life is remembered by the marks that you decide on. I just loved the idea that you get remembered by your family - or the community if you have no family - its such a beautiful concept. Also, if you've read it you will see little fairy tales dotted throughout tailored to the world this book is a part of - and I really can't resist any book that has fairytales in.

The way this book ended left me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen - and I adored the tattoo that Leora chose as her first mark - I can't wait to see what people think and what she may do in the next book. I really hope to learn more about the Blanks and see what they are like, and if what Leora has been told is true. I'm so annoyed that I won't know for a little while as I can't buy Spark, but atleast I will cheer myself up by knowing that when I do finally read the next book it will be closer to the third instalments release!

I am definitely giving this book 5 cats!

Have you read this before? What did you think? Comment below!

Review: Brightstorm by Vashti Hardy

So, I won a proof copy of this when Amy from Golden Books Girl done a competition, but I hadn't got round to reading it until now. Mainly because I've only rarely read MG so wasn't too sure, but that concern went right out my head as soon as I started this lovely book.

Here it is:

Twins Arthur and Maudie receive word in Lontown that their famous explorer father died in a failed attempt to reach South Polaris. Not only that, but he has been accused of trying to steal fuel from his competitors before he died! The twins don't believe the news, and they answer an ad to help crew a new exploration attempt in the hope of learning the truth and salvaging their family's reputation. As the winged ship Aurora sets sail, the twins must keep their wits about them and prove themselves worthy of the rest of the crew. But will Arthur and Maudie find the answers they seek?

I absolutely breezed through this book. I started it on the train journey home one day, and finished it by the end of that night. It was short and sweet, and such an easy laid-back read: just what I needed after a busy week. You could say that I fell in love with this book - it's so lighthearted that you just can't help it.

I think the think I loved the most about this book was how it flowed, there were no parts that dragged, and that's a lot different than usual for me but definitely a great thing. The names in this book were one of the things that filled me with joy when reading - they're all so fancy and interesting (e.g. Brightstorm, Culpepper, Welby) - it made me wonder if I could come up with such fascinating names myself too (just for fun).

Also, I will say the idea of Thought Wolves, wolves that can talk to you through mind speak, were so brilliant. I really wish they were real, as I think they'd be so interesting to meet and talk to (and cuddle).

There's not much more I can say other than this was such a gem of a book, really quirky and a great read if you want a pick-me-up, and I really hope to hear more from the Brightstorm twins in the future. I give it 5 cats!

Have you read this book before? What was your favourite part? Comment below!