Review: To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini

So, I will be one to say I was exited when I learnt that Christopher Paolini was writing a new book, as I do love the Eragon series. When I found out it was a sci-fi book I was definitely intrigued, I've recently found I like space themed books, but I have never really tried to read a whopper like this. I absolutely adored it though, and definitely recommend it. Here it is: 

Kira Navárez dreamed of life on new worlds 

Now she’s awakened a nightmare 

During a routine survey mission on an uncolonized planet, Kira finds an alien relic. At first she’s delighted, but elation turns to terror when the ancient dust around her begins to move. 

As war erupts among the stars, Kira is launched into a galaxy-spanning odyssey of discovery and transformation. First contact isn’t at all what she imagined, and events push her to the very limits of what it means to be human. 

While Kira faces her own horrors, Earth and its colonies stand upon the brink of annihilation. Now, Kira might be humanity’s greatest and final hope . . .

Can I just say, I was absolutely lost for words when I finished this book, it was that amazing. It was everything I expected when I first heard about it, and so much more. I was a bit intimidated when I first went into the book, not having read much sci-fi and also with how long this book is - over 800 pages! However, once you start you get sucked straight in. Even with the more scientific references you are still able to keep up with the book, and the plot really draws you in.

When you really get into the story you get hooked so easily as there's so much action and really big twists that you would never expect, but I suppose that's what's best about this book. In fact, the plot to this book was just mind-blowing, so much so that it kept me on edge wondering what was going to happen and the last 20% blew me away, it was so full of emotions and I even teared up at one point it was written so beautifully. 

I got my finished copy not long before publication (thanks to Tor for my review copy) and I just had to take a look through at the diagrams in the book - I love diagrams! They will definitely come in handy when I have a re-read, and I think a re-read is definitely in order just to see if I missed anything.

Overall, I loved this book and it's just proven that Christopher Paolini is an amazing writer, and one I will always read. I definitely recommend picking up a copy of this beast of a book.

I give this: 5 cats!

Have you read this yet? Comment below if so to tell me what you thought!

ARC review: The Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth

It's not often that I read adult fiction, but when I was asked if I'd like a copy of Veronica Roth's new adult fantasy book, I knew I had to try it as I loved so many of her books. If I was going to jump into adult fantasy I may as well jump in with an author I already know and love right?

If you haven't heard about it, here it is:

Fifteen years ago, five ordinary teenagers were singled out by a prophecy to take down an impossibly powerful entity wreaking havoc across North America. He was known as the Dark One, and his weapon of choice - catastrophic events known as Drains - leveled cities and claimed thousands of lives. The Chosen Ones, as the teens were known, gave everything they had to defeat him.

After the Dark One fell, the world went back to normal . . . for everyone but them. After all, what do you do when you're the most famous people on Earth, your only education was in magical destruction, and your purpose in life is now fulfilled?

Of all the five, Sloane has had the hardest time adjusting. Everyone else blames the PTSD - and her huge attitude problem - but really, she's hiding secrets from everyone . . . secrets that keep her tied to the past and alienate her from the only four people in the world who understand her.

On the tenth anniversary of the Dark One's defeat, something unthinkable happens: one of the Chosen Ones dies. When the others gather for the funeral, they discover the Dark One's ultimate goal was much bigger than they, the government, or even prophecy could have foretold - bigger than the world itself.

And this time, fighting back might take more than Sloane has to give.

I will say now, this was quite a complex and hard-hitting book - it deals with so many deep subjects, PTSD, addiction, depression etc. but all of it was written so well that you felt like you were really able to connect to the characters and I really  liked that about this book. I particularly found it interesting to read about how each of the 'Chosen Ones' dealt with the aftermath of their victory differently. Sloane especially is one of my favourite characters, some of her parts really pull you in and make you sympathise with her.

This was definitely a book that kept you on your toes, you thought you knew where it was going, and then bang there was another plot twist dropped in and your mind is left scrambling trying to figure out how you missed it. These twists were amazingly written, so much so that you felt like you should gave guessed what was happening all along.

The book was actually split into different parts, so it was easy to break into different sittings if you're not the biggest or fastest reader, which I think is useful for many potential readers.

Overall, I really liked how complex and different adult fantasy fiction is, I think that this has made me want to read a lot more of it. I definitely know that if Veronica decides to write more adult fantasy I'll definitely be reading it.

So, I give this book: 5 cats!

Are you planning on reading this or are you planning to read it? Comment below with your thoughts.

This book is out on the 7th of April and I definitely think you should go and pick it up!

Blog Tour: Queen of Sea and Stars by Anna McKerrow

So, I havent posted in a while and thought I would get back into the swing of things by taking part in a blog tour! As you know I love all things fantasy, but this time I'm branching out to an adult fantasy book, which hopefully I'll be reviewing in the next few weeks!

Today's post is all about Anna McKerrow, the author of the Greenworld trilogy (Crow Moon, Red Witch and Wild Fire), Daughter of Light and Shadows and Queen of Sea and Stars.

Here's her most recently released book:

Faye Morgan, a hereditary witch, moves away from her tiny coastal village in Scotland to London to be with her new boyfriend, Rav. But though she hopes she can live a normal life in a new city, her blood bond to the realms of faerie can’t be denied. With a faerie war brewing, can Faye realise her destiny and discover who she really is? A tale of faery magic, desire and modern witchcraft.

For this blog tour I have a guest post from Anna about some of her favourite Witch books, so if you love Witchy books like me, you may find some interesting recommendations!

"I’ve loved all of these books, so for those of you looking for fiction and nonfiction about witchcraft, these are well worth a look:

The Sea Priestess / Moon Magic

Dion Fortune

The Sea Priestess and its sequel, Moon Magic, are some of the first books I ever read about magic. They’re novels, but they were intended to provide a kind of subliminal introduction to the principles of working with the moon and creating magic. They’re incredibly rich with wisdom, written by Dion Fortune, one of the most wise and talented women in British magic and the occult. There are other novels which are all great - read them all!

Faery Craft

Emily Carding

This is a wonderful introduction to faery magic and faery witchcraft with lots of hands on activities, if you feel called to the path of the fae!

The Serpent of Lilith

Stewart Farrar writing as Margot Villiers

This is another occult novel I recommend. I think it was written in the 50s or 60s hence my copy’s lurid cover and some of the sexual politics inside, but it’s a really interesting look at the “black” magic of the goddess Lilith and the (at the time) “white” magic of the goddess Isis from a western witchcraft point of view. Then, the dark feminine was very much feared in magical circles, but now, with a greater understanding of dark goddesses like Lilith and the rise of feminism, we recognise Her for her true transformational power.

Priestesses, Pythonesses, Sibyls: The Sacred Voices of Women who speak with and for the Gods, eds Sorita D’Este

I recommend all books from Avalonia Books, who specialise in witchcraft. This collection of essays from a variety of women working with different gods and goddesses as channels is very interesting.

Spellcraft for Hedge Witches: A Guide to Healing our Lives

Rae Beth

Rae Beth is a hedge witch, meaning that she works with nature-based folk traditions and works alone, not in a coven or group. This book is based on our connection to the realms of faerie as the natural elemental kingdoms, so it’s full of meaningful, caring and detailed faery witchcraft.

Witches, Sluts, Feminists: Conjuring the Sex Positive

Kristen J Sollee

This nonfiction book makes the timely connection between sexuality, sexual freedom and witchcraft. Very interesting.

HausMagick: Transform Your Home, Create Your Sanctuary

Erica Feldmann

This is a rather lovely coffee table style book about earth/home magic by the owner of HausWitch, a funky witchy shop in Salem, Massachusetts which specialises in magic and modern home décor.

A Witch’s Mirror: The Art of Making Magic

Levannah Morgan

This is a very useful and practical book about traditional Devon witchcraft with lots of how to craft activities. It’s witch-craft, after all: all about making things.

Dreaming the Dark: Magic, Sex, Politics

Starhawk

Even though this was written in the early 80s, the political landscape today seems much the same as the one Starhawk describes in Dreaming The Dark. The book details how to use witchcraft in political resistance - #hexthepatriarchy, indeed.

Circe

Madeleine Miller

My favourite fiction book from last year. Madeleine Miller’s writing is intensely beautiful, writing the life of Greek mythology’s archetypal witch.

Practical Magic / The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman

Even better than the film! Alice Hoffman is a wonderful writer and in these books she chronicles the lives of a family of witches in New York and its surrounds. It’s luminous, yet based in reality."

Do you think you'll read any of the suggested books? Anna's most recent book is now available to order, so go get your copy!

Goodreads Look-in!

So, I've been reading a lot, and because of this I can't always review the books I have read. So now, I'll be doing to occasional Goodreads look-in where I will be showing my ratings and a few thoughts of the books I have read.

Here we go:

A Sky Painted Gold by Laura Wood: 5 Stars. Such a beautiful book, really made me wish to be in the pages and part of the glitz and glamour.

I Invited Her In by Adele Parks: 4 Stars. Definitely a surprising ending, and a good venture out of my usual book genre, just goes to show I need to expand my genre's more often!

Sea Witch by Sarah Henning: 5 Stars. I adored this retelling, it gave some interesting views on everything and was just beautiful.

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas: 5 Stars. I re-read this series and it was just as breathtaking, if not more so than before. This is still my favourite book of the series.

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas: 5 Stars. This was a re-read and wow I loved it, and that ending. I'm glad I decided to re-read near to the new/last book of the series coming out so it is fresh in my mind.

Heart of Thorns by Bree Barton: 4 Stars. I got into this quite slowly, but it definitely kept me wondering what would happen, and it ended in a perfect place to leave me wanting more.

Ariadnis by Josh Martin: 4 Stars. Definitely an interesting concept, and I loved the way it went through both POVs of the main characters. I can't wait to get the next book.

The Warrior Queen by Emily R. King: 5 Stars. An amazing ending to a great series, I loved seeing different characters and places, and I'm glad it ended the way it did.

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl: 4 Stars. I've always wondered what happened after the first book as I've seen the movies, it was definitely an interesting way to take the series.

The Mystery of the Three Quarters by Sophie Hannah: 4.5 stars. I've always watched Poirot and never read one of Agatha Christie's books, I think I definitely need to now, and definitely need to read more mystery.

Damsel by Elana K. Arnold: 4 Stars. This book really intrigued me trying to figure out what was happening. I absolutely loved this take on princesses, princes and dragons, and the ending blew me away. I would say though it is quite a dark tale!

Arrowood by Mick Finlay: 4.5 Stars. I've recently got into reading mystery, and this one definitely didn't disappoint, I loved the setting, the characters and the story and I can't wait to read the second book. Definitely happy to have picked this up from HQ crime night!

This is just a few of the many books I've read and only reviewed on Goodreads, have you read any? What did you think of them? I'll be posting another Goodreads look-in in a few months!

Blog Tour: The Lost Man by Jane Harper

So, I'm back again on another blog tour for a Jane Harper book - this time called The Lost Man. As soon as I was asked if I wanted to be a part of the blog tour, I knew I HAD to say yes, as I absolutely adored Jane's last book, Force of Nature.

This book, however, has a totally different narrator and style, being narrated by Nathan, a ranch owner in Western Australia. Here's the book:

He had started to remove his clothes as logic had deserted him and his skin was cracked. Whatever had been going through Cameron's mind when he was alive, he didn't look peaceful in death.

Two brothers meet at the remote fence line separating their cattle farms under the relenting sun of the remote outback. In an isolated part of Western Australia, they are each other's nearest neighbour, their homes three hours' drive apart.

They are at the stockman's grave, a landmark so old that no one can remember who is buried there. But today, the scant shadow it casts was the last hope for their middle brother, Cameron, who lies dead at their feet.

Something had been on Cam's mind. Did he choose to walk to his death? Because if he didn't, the isolation of the outback leaves few suspects...

I will say one thing about this book, it pulled me in straight away. I love my crime TV shows, and this set the scene just like it from the first chapter, setting the scene of the crime, and then pulling you into the main story line. It absolutely captivated me from the first chapter.

I think I loved the book so much because it was a singular POV, unlike Jane's previous book which I had read, so this surprised me a bit, but in a good way. It helped me to connect to the book a lot more, and really get into it, as I follow the MC Nathan.

I loved the way that you were really taken through the whole story slowly, it wasn't an information overload and you slowly got given little tidbits which made you wonder if they would have anything to do with the main story of Cameron's death, or if the points were red herrings  to put you off the track. I'm surprised to say I didn't see where it was going until it got quite close to the end of the book, and so I think I was turned by these little zingers and made to think it was a certain character and then change my mind with the next little twist that was dug up - so I I'll say that it was quite twisty and made me second guess myself, which I love.

I think one of my favourite parts of the book was the writing of the scenery. Jane really brings that little part of Australia to life, and I think that her ability to really describe the landscapes and set the scene is amazing - just like in her last book too.

Overall, this is my favourite of her books, I couldn't find any faults, and I breezed through a lot quicker than I thought I would - I couldn't put it down I wanted to know what was going on such much! Definitely a mystery book I'll read again.

Thank you to Little Brown for gifting me a free e-ARC and letting me be a part of the blog tour! I'll definitely be recommending this to my mystery loving friends and family.

I give this: 5 cats!

The Lost Man is out now, and you should definitely go and buy a copy. Have you read it? What did you think? Comment below!

Review: How to Stop Time by Matt Haig

Okay, I bought this book because I'd heard so much about this author, and especially this book, so I picked it up when I saw it in Costco. I didn't get around to reading it for a while though, and putting words into my review took even longer, which is a shame as it was such an inspiring book!

Here it is:

I am old. That is the first thing to tell you. The thing you are least likely to believe. If you saw me you would probably think I was about forty, but you would be very wrong.

Tom Hazard has a dangerous secret.

He may look like an ordinary 41-year-old, but owing to a rare condition, he's been alive for centuries. From Elizabethan England to Jazz Age Paris, from New York to the South Seas, Tom has seen a lot, and now craves an ordinary life. Always changing his identity to stay alive, Tom has the perfect cover - working as a history teacher at a London comprehensive. Here he can teach the kids about wars and witch hunts as if he'd never witnessed them first-hand. He can try and tame the past that is fast catching up with him.

The only thing Tom mustn't do is fall in love.

How to Stop Time is a wild and bittersweet story about losing and finding yourself, about the certainty of change and about the lifetimes it can take to really learn how to live.

I'd heard so many good things about this book before I bought it, and I loved that it would include both current day and historical sections from the life of the narrator Tom. I always have liked books that bring different timelines, and this one was even more interesting because it brought a lot of different times in history into one book! I think that Matt Haig really managed to bring the reader into the different times, as well as making you feel like you meet all the different historical figures dotted throughout (like Shakespeare or Scott Fitzgerald), and it's not often that you can find a writer that manages that.

It did take me a while to get used to the fact that the MC was still narrating from the modern day at points in the chapters about past events, but I quickly got used to it, and actually started to like that style of writing after a while. I really adored the history parts of this book - it gave you such an insight into how Tom's life had gone, and I really connected with him because of that.

Most of all I think I loved this book because it made me nostalgic. There is one chapter specifically, where Tom goes back to his hometown in London that really made me think of all the times I'd talked with my Grandparents, and how they would tell me how much had changed about the town they lived in since they were younger. It was a new feeling from a book - nostalgia - and I adored that feeling, it made me smile.

I admit that this was the first book from Matt Haig that I had read, and from it I am definitely going to read the others. If they're anything like this book, then I'm sure they will blow me away with how powerful and thought provoking the writing will be. There are so many beautiful quotes in this book that really got me thinking - not something that often happens in a book for me. I definitely have to try reading more adult fantasy books in the future if they're as good as this one.

I give this book: 5 Cats (and more if I could)

Have you ever read this book? I highly recommend it if you haven't! Comment below.

Blog Tour: House of Glass by Susan Fletcher

I got asked if I wanted to be a part of the blog tour for this book, and I jumped at the chance. It's been a while since I've done a non-YA tour and thought it would make a lovely change, and I was not disappointed by the book at all!

Even better is the book is out today, so go grab a copy! Here it is:

June 1914 and a young woman - Clara Waterfield - is summoned to a large stone house in Gloucestershire. Her task: to fill a greenhouse with exotic plants from Kew Gardens, to create a private paradise for the owner of Shadowbrook. Yet, on arrival, Clara hears rumours: something is wrong with this quiet, wisteria-covered house. Its gardens are filled with foxgloves, hydrangea and roses; it has lily-ponds, a croquet lawn - and the marvellous new glasshouse awaits her. But the house itself feels unloved. Its rooms are shuttered, or empty. The owner is mostly absent; the housekeeper and maids seem afraid. And soon, Clara understands their fear: for something - or someone - is walking through the house at night. In the height of summer, she finds herself drawn deeper into Shadowbrook's dark interior - and into the secrets that violently haunt this house. Nothing - not even the men who claim they wish to help her - is quite what it seems.

Reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier, this is a wonderful, atmospheric Gothic page-turner.

So, you might know by now that when I venture from YA it is usually to historical fiction - I can't help it, it's always so refreshing and I love that, sometimes I think I should have been born in another time with how much I love historical fiction books. But, this book is set just before the start of the first world war, so it's a bit different than my usual historical fiction read.

One of the things I loved about this book was that it touched on so many things - war, woman's rights, and even a touch of mystery in the form of hauntings. It was quite a dark Gothic book with the old house and the haunting side of things, with little bursts of light from the mentions of the glass house and the flowers and plants etc. - and I did really love the mention of plants throughout as it really reminded me of when I was younger and would hear my grandparents discussing plants and gardening, it was a nice little reminder.

It also kept me guessing what would happen until the very end with the mix of different genres, would it be a romance, a horror, or just a normal historical fiction? I liked the mystery of guessing and the conclusion of the book really had me gasping - so overall it's definitely a book that keeps you entertained until the very end.

I adored the MC Clara. She was a narrator that you could really connect with as she recounted her younger years and her journey to Shadowbrook - I really loved the way she was her own woman and she really shook up the small town when she went to work at the house and had different views on things to others - I loved that she was so opinionated and outspoken for the time the book was set.

Overall, I give this book: 5 cats.

A I said, this book is out today, I would definitely go buy a copy if you like historical fiction with a touch of mystery. If you've read the book comment below and tell me your thoughts!

Review: Vox by Christina Dalcher

I was so glad to be part of this Vox Blogger day, it was such a great read, definitely one I'l recommend to whoever will listen to me.

Here it is:

Set in an America where half the population has been silenced, VOX is the harrowing, unforgettable story of what one woman will do to protect herself and her daughter.

On the day the government decrees that women are no longer allowed more than 100 words daily, Dr. Jean McClellan is in denial--this can't happen here. Not in America. Not to her.

This is just the beginning.

Soon women can no longer hold jobs. Girls are no longer taught to read or write. Females no longer have a voice. Before, the average person spoke sixteen thousand words a day, but now women only have one hundred to make themselves heard.

But this is not the end. 

For herself, her daughter, and every woman silenced, Jean will reclaim her voice.

I'm going to make this a short and sweet review, as in this book women are, after all, only allowed 100 words. This will be more than that, but shorter than my usual ramblings in honour of the plot.

One word sums up this book: wow. It is is a chilling concept, and a book that keeps you on your toes until the end trying to guess what will happen. It really is terrifying to think that something like this could actually come to pass if people aren't careful.

Character wise - I think I have a new favourite "villian" in Reverend Carl - he is a horrible human and you really learnt to hate him while reading - though Morgan was a close second.

Just, to be quick, I blew through this book because it was so spectacular, and I just want more - I want to know what happened after the end of the book, and I just want more books like it.

I give this: 5 cats.

Have you read this book? If not, it's out now and I highly suggest you go and grab a copy! Comment below with your thoughts.

Blog Tour: The Secret Legacy by Sara Alexander

So, today is my stop on the blog tour for this amazing book. I got a proof copy of this book at the HQ summer showcase, and I just flew through it. I was so glad to get a place on the blog tour.

Today, Sara is talking about her top 5 spots in Italy, as this book is set in the beautiful Positano, and I highly recommend buying a copy!



My Top Five Spots in Italy

Italy is my ancestral home and the one that has infused my identity with a passion for good food with a side of good yarn shared over a full table. I would like to boast that I have exhausted the country, delved into every mountainous crag, breath taking forest and turquoise bay it has to offer but I would be stretching the truth even further than a fiction writer. I have been lucky to visit a lot so far and my list of to-sees grows annually and with much pleasure – I haven’t told the family officially but I’ve day-dreamed my jaunt to Venice for the very near future.

Till then, here are some of the top places I have spent time in and would urge anyone to make plans to travel to.

1. Sardinia

I’m biased of course, because my mother is from this island and I feel like I’m very much descendant from that tribe of diffident cooks and storytellers that it’s famed for. Sardinia is a land of mystery and tumultuous history, it is jagged mountain silhouettes and breath taking turquoise sea coves with some of the freshest seafood you might ever have. Don’t stay hogging the beach though, there are fantastic archaeological sites dotted around the island as well as the spectacular Gennargentu national park at its centre.

2. Rome

This city seduced me a few years ago and we are still in the first throws of romance, where you struggle - or care little to - spy the fault lines in one another. I love the verve of this city, the swagger, the chaos, the unexpected surprises of antiquity as you walk through it. I adore the food, and how readily available it is. I love getting lost there, following my nose to the next nook or market. I’ve dodged the tourist crowds and let my wanderings take me further afield, and that’s something I would urge any traveller to do. I’m currently working on the second draft of a book set here so am indulging my imagination in retracing those steps with pleasure.

3. Positano

It is easy to fall in love with this cliffside town, especially if you catch it before half the world descends, just at the precipice of late spring. Take shoes that are made for walking not prancing because everywhere you go you’ll need to climb hundreds of steps. It makes digesting the twice-daily injections of gelato easier to digest. I love to escape uphill and walk the Path of the Gods, a fantastic hike that winds around the cliff edge for spell binding views of the Amalfi coast. I visited Pompei the last time I went to Positano and like the thousands of people who did so before me, left captivated by its spell. On my first visit to Positano in 2005, the idea of The Secret Legacy sprang into existence and gnawed at me to be written ever since.

4. Sicily

I was lucky to work on a film on location in Sicily and found it an intoxicating place. Perhaps it was the whole experience of being on set that added to the glamour of my memories there, but I loved the earthiness of the culture, the spice of its history, the clashing tones of the Sicilian dialect so different in rhythm from those on the mainland. I’d urge a traveller to make time to lose themselves along the coast around Noto, visiting the tiny towns that dot the east coast, fishing villages that are made up of one main street and small restaurant huts on stilts with narrow jetties that lead from the shore toward them where you can eat the freshest sea food in Italy. Take a plate and dive into their sea food antipasti buffets, squeeze one of their fresh lemons into a glass of cold sparkling water with a side of hearty red and you will have my version of heaven.

5. Cinque Terre

This is the area close to Genoa that is a cluster of picturesque villages with buildings painted dainty hues against the craggy dark blue coast. It is a ritzy part of the Ligurian world (I’m a lover of simple pleasures but pair it with regular dips in luxury), one where the hip Genoans take their swanky shoes on a well-heeled Sunday parade. This is the land of pesto so know that you will have a beautiful experience of that glorious garlic basil marriage. Make time to eat it with trofie, the traditional handmade pasta twists that are the perfect pairing to the sauce, catching every nuance of that lustrous olive oil, rich pine nut, tangy parmesan, fragrant locally grown basil and punchy garlic in one mouthful.

Buon Viaggio!

June Wrap-Up!

Yet another wrap-up for a busy travel-reads month! Some great things have been read and reviewed, and these are just a few of them with some mini-reviews attached.

Ruins (Sentinel #2) by Joshua Winning

I loved the first book in this series, but with so much to do it took me a while to get round to reading this which was a shame as it was even more action packed than the last book was, and kept me hooked when I had time to read.

I loved meeting all the new characters - my favourite being Nale with his faithful dog Zeus - and it was definitely interesting to see a few new POVs too - specifically Rae and Dawn (though Dawn's POV didn't last too long). I always think it's nice to get some back stories - and this book done that perfectly, which really helped me to connect to the characters a bit more. Though, I admit I still would have loved to see more of Malika's backstory!

Plus, I think this book was left in the most enticing way possible - it made me want to read the next one ASAP - but I'll be saving it for a little while longer. I give this book 5 cats!



Ariadnis By Josh Martin

I got this book when I went to Drink YA in one of the goodybags, and it looked so interesting that I picked it up relatively quickly considering my TBR pile is getting larger and larger. I loved the premise, and the plot kept me hooked wondering just where this would turn out.

I think the one downside I could find was the short chapters, switching between the two MCs did confuse me a bit at first because I got a bit confused as to who was who and trying to figure out the two different cities, but I got over that and then I got sucked in.

I think one of the cutest things were the illustrations of the MCs on the back inside cover, they really helped me to imagine everything, that and the illustration of the two cities before the book started. Overall, definitely an interesting read, and I saw there was another book in the series which I will definitely be picking up! I give this book 4 cats!

Ascension by Victor Dixon

So, I got this on Netgalley, and then won a finished copy in a competition on twitter, but I was a bit late to read it. Which is such a shame because it was amazing.

I've not read many space books, but it seems to be something that's coming back, and I kinda love it because there are so many takes on space to go for, and this was just one amazing take on space travel. Speed dating has always interested me - how can you possibly meet someone and decide so quickly on if you like them or not? - and add in a bit of space this made this such an interesting read!

I already want the next book, even though this has just come out, and I can't wait to see what will happen to everyone after the crazy conclusion! I give this: 5 cats!



Under a Sardinian Sky by Sara Alexander

I got invited to a HQ event, where they showed off some upcoming books. A lot of them weren't my usual (AKA they were adult fiction not YA) but I picked up lots of new books including this one.

I adored it. That's all that I can say really. It was such a nice refreshing read, just what I needed when I was in a bit of a YA slump, and it made me really just want to go to Sardinia to see if it's as beautiful as the author described it.

I think what I liked most about this book was the fact that it was a mix of historical and modern day, which is something I do love in books, and it also had a tiny bit of mystery so I was left guessing what would have happened to the MC throughout. Plus, it was so nice to go back to a romance read, I used to read them a lot more a few years ago, but got into Fantasy after a while instead.

Overall, I give this 5 cats! I'll definitely be reading more like it (and I picked up the authors next book so that will be interesting!)

May Wrap-Up!

So, I've been super busy this month starting a new job, but I get loads of travel reading time, so I guess my wrap-ups are becoming a regular thing now!

As before, these aren't all the books I've read this month, some get a full review but will be posted whenever I get around to it.

Mini review time!

The Beasts Heart by Leife Shallcross

I got this book as an ARC from Netgalley, but finished it so close to the release date that I thought I'd just do a mini review in my wrap up instead. As you should know, I adore re-tellings - of any form usually, all the writers differences in plot always fascinate me, and this was definitely an interesting take on Beauty and the Beast!

I loved seeing a book telling us of the Beasts POV. I've only seen one other take on it, and both are so different that it was great. I loved the history of the Beast - the backstory was filled out nicely and it was one of my favourite bits. I also liked the way the mirror was used in this book - to only see Isabeau's family, and only when the magic allowed it. In fact - the magic of this story was what drew me in the most - it was so intriguing!

4.5 Cats to this book (only because it took me so long to get into it)

The Extinction Trials by S. M. Wilson

I got this in a bookbox a while ago, and only just got round to reading it. There's been a big hype about this book, and it left me wondering if it could live up to it - it could and it did. This was my first dinosaur based book, as I've never really been a big fan of dinosaur based things, but this changed my way of thinking and I'll definitely be reading more in the future.

I admit, I always take a long look at maps before, so I saw Blaine's shack on the map and wondered about him - and where he might come in, so I wasn't as shocked as I probably should have been when he was introduced, but it did have me trying to guess about his origins which was fun.

Overall, I give this 5 cats, and I can't wait to see where it goes in the next book after everything that happened.

Carnivore by Jonathan Lyon

I got this book from the publisher, because I saw the cover and thought it was beautiful, and then the description had me intrigued. It's not often that I go out of my zone and read adult fiction, but sometimes I do and so far it's all been good.

This book was quite hard to read - not in a bad way, but because it was so intense and you had no idea where it would go. I've never read something as intense as this - and I warn you this is definitely not a book for those faint of heart and it has quite a lot of trigger warnings. But it was beautifully written - the descriptions in this were amazing, even if it was hard to keep up with the main character at times.


I give this book 3.5/4 cats. It was enthralling but totally not what I expected, and maybe a bit more intense than I thought. If I knew what I was going in to, I probably would have rated it much higher.

An Almond for a Parrot by Wray Delaney

I picked this book up for it's beautiful cover, and was slightly intrigued by the thought of a biography-like historical fiction so I bought it. I wasn't sure how much I would like it, but as soon as I started reading I got sucked right in to Tully's story - I especially liked how it went from her time in prison to her recollection - or 'memoir' of her time before she was imprisoned. In fact, I got so sucked in I almost missed my train stop because I couldn't tear myself away one morning!

There is one thing I will admit though, I wasn't expecting it to go into as much detail on her sex life as it did, and I definitely had a laugh at the terms Tully used during the more intimate scenes (I don't know if that's what they were called back then but wow they were weird) but other than that I had no complaints.

I give this book 4 cats. It is an adult historical fiction though, so maybe not for everyone!

Review: Nothing is Strange by Mike Russell

I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review, which will follow.

This book is definitely not normal, as you might think from the title 'Nothing is Strange'. EVERYTHING is strange in this book, and that's what I loved about it.

Here it is:

20 mind-expanding short stories.

Inspiring, liberating, otherworldly, magical, surreal, bizarre, funny, disturbing, unique... all of these words have been used to describe the stories of Mike Russell so put on your top hat, open your third eye and enjoy: Nothing Is Strange

There are so many weird and wonderful stories in this book, and I loved so many of them. There were actually some that when I read them I really wished they were longer, and made into their own books because they fascinated me so much.

A couple of my favourites were: Escape from the Bustcher's Shop, The Living Crown, and my favourite (one I wish was made into a full story) is The Diaries of Sun City.

Also, I'll just say these were definitely short stories, perfect for short travels. I loved that I could read one or two on a short train journey and then not have to wonder about what would happen because I managed to finish them before I had to get off at my stop.

I'm actually really starting to love short story compilations, and this one was definitely a great one because I thought they were weird and strange, just like me!

I give this book 4 cats!

Do you like short stories? Have you read these? Comment below!

ARC Review: Jane Seymour - The Haunted Queen by Alison Weir

I received an e-copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, which will follow.

I've always had an interest for Historical Fiction books over the years, of course not as much of an interest as fantasy or YA but I do love it, so when I saw this book I had to request it.

Here it is:

THE WOMAN HAUNTED BY THE FATE OF HER PREDECESSOR.

Eleven days after the death of Anne Boleyn, Jane is dressing for her wedding to the King.

She has witnessed at first hand how courtly play can quickly turn to danger and knows she must bear a son . . . or face ruin.

This new Queen must therefore step out from the shadows cast by Katherine and Anne - in doing so, can she expose a gentler side to the brutal King?

JANE SEYMOUR

THE THIRD OF HENRY'S QUEENS

HER STORY

Acclaimed, bestselling historian Alison Weir draws on new research for her captivating novel, which paints a compelling portrait of Jane and casts fresh light on both traditional and modern perceptions of her. Jane was driven by the strength of her faith and a belief that she might do some good in a wicked world.

History tells us how she died.

This spellbinding novel explores the life she lived.

SIX TUDOR QUEENS. SIX NOVELS. SIX YEARS.

I have always loved Tudor history. We never learnt much of it while at school and I always hated that because it is one of my favourite parts of history. So, I got most of my information from TV shows (I  binge watch The Tudors quite regularly) and from books that my sister likes. So, when I saw this available to request on Netgalley I snapped at the chance even though I hadn't read Alison Weir's two previous books on the subject.

I was so keen to get into this book, because most fiction on this period of time focuses mostly on Anne Boleyn or Queen Elizabeth I. So, the idea of reading the thoughts of Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's only wife to bear him a son, was intriguing. And what a story Alison Weir has told. From the childhood wish of being a Nun, to serving Queen Katherine and Queen Anne Boleyn, to being Queen herself, Jane Seymour's life is told in a sweeping story that gets right into the time. It's amazing when a writer can transport you into the life of the main character, and when reading this I was transported to Tudor England.

I loved that at the end of the book you got a timeline of events so you could see when everything happened, and then there is a summary of how Alison Weir came up with the little points that were never a part of history before. It was fascinating to read her summary and it really shows that history can be interpreted in different ways if you just look at all the details.

Overall, I give this book 5 cats, and I'll definitely be reading the previous two books and any future books to come too!

Have you read any of Alison Weir's books? Comment below!

Review: The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton

So, I originally received this as an advanced e-copy from Netgalley, but didn't get round to reading it until now which is a shame as it was so amazing.

Here it is:

A KINGDOM AT RISK, A CROWN DIVIDED, A FAMILY DRENCHED IN BLOOD

Tessa Gratton's debut epic adult fantasy, The Queens of Innis Lear, brings to life a world that hums with ancient magic, and characters as ruthless as the tides.

The erratic decisions of a prophecy-obsessed king have drained Innis Lear of its wild magic, leaving behind a trail of barren crops and despondent subjects. Enemy nations circle the once-bountiful isle, sensing its growing vulnerability, hungry to control the ideal port for all trade routes.

The king’s three daughters – battle-hungry Gaela, master manipulator Reagan, and restrained, starblessed Elia – know the realm’s only chance of resurrection is to crown a new sovereign, proving a strong hand can resurrect magic and defend itself. But their father will not choose an heir until the longest night of the year, when prophecies align and a poison ritual can be enacted.

Refusing to leave their future in the hands of blind faith, the daughters of Innis Lear prepare for war – but regardless of who wins the crown, the shores of Innis will weep the blood of a house divided.

I first decided to request this because the cover immediately caught my eye, it was so beautiful. Then, when I saw the description I was even more intrigued as it sounded like something right up my alley. By the end of this book I was so annoyed with myself for leaving it in my TBR for so long, as it was a spectacular read. I later found out that this is based on a Shakespeare story (I've never read any really) so if you're a fan of that and fantasy then I'm sure you'll adore this book.

I admit, the first bit of the book did confuse me a bit, enough that I wondered if I would get into it at all, but as soon as it got to the POVs of the sisters I got sucked in. It was so nice to have the different POVs of each of the main characters at the beginning, it really gave you a sense of what each of the characters would be like throughout the book and gave you a good baseline as to how the book may go.

I'll say that this was definitely a fascinating book, and come towards the second half I didn't want to put my kindle down. I'm a bit obsessed with just watching the stars (not that I can read them or anything) so I think that the star prophecies in this book really called to me, and made me that much more interested. Then, adding to that the idea that in this land you could also talk to the earth and the trees and the wind, it intrigued me and kept me interested, it's just such a magical idea.

Just overall, I think I can explain this book in one word: beautiful. The imagery in this book is some of the best I've ever read - it was all so magical and beautiful that it actually left me breathless. I really do urge you to read this book just for that!

I give this book: 5 cats (and I would give so many more if I could)

This is probably going to be one of my top reads of 2018, and I will be buying a physical copy when I can. Have you read this? Comment below!

Blog Tour: The Force of Nature by Jane Harper

Okay so, this is my first blog tour, and I am really excited about it! I was sent this book by Little Brown in exchange for an honest review, which will follow.

As you know, I am mainly a YA blogger, but I had recently decided to branch out, and mystery books were ones that had intrigued me most - because I do love my mystery TV shows, so why wouldn't I like a mystery in book form?

When I was contacted about being part of a blog tour for this book, I jumped right onboard, and I'm glad I did because I absolutely loved it. Here's the book:

 

FIVE WENT OUT. FOUR CAME BACK...

Is Alice here? Did she make it? Is she safe? In the chaos, in the night, it was impossible to say which of the four had asked after Alice's welfare. Later, when everything got worse, each would insist it had been them.

Five women reluctantly pick up their backpacks and start walking along the muddy track. Only four come out the other side.

The hike through the rugged landscape is meant to take the office colleagues out of their air-conditioned comfort zone and teach resilience and team building. At least that is what the corporate retreat website advertises.

Federal Police Agent Aaron Falk has a particularly keen interest in the whereabouts of the missing bushwalker. Alice Russell is the whistleblower in his latest case - and Alice knew secrets. About the company she worked for and the people she worked with.

Far from the hike encouraging teamwork, the women tell Falk a tale of suspicion, violence and disintegrating trust. And as he delves into the disappearance, it seems some dangers may run far deeper than anyone knew.

I admit, I was worried about the fact that I hadn't read the first book of Jane Harper's - The Dry - before reading this book. But I was happy to find out that my worry was for nothing as it could easily be read as a stand-alone book in itself, and you will definitely not have to worry about not understanding things about the characters. However, I warn you - if you read this you will want to buy The Dry - I certain want to!

The thing I liked most about this book was the fact that it alternated from the present day (in the POV of Agent Falk) to the past (and the events of the hike that ended in tragedy). I always love it when books jump between times, and it really helped to pull you into the book and the plot line. 

In this book the chapters that represented the events of the hike alternated between the 5 women's POVs and I felt like this was a great idea - as it really kept you guessing as to who might have been responsible for what happened to Alice, and it also gave you an insight into just what Alice was thinking while on the company retreat - Alice's POV was definitely my favourite of the book.

I guess the question you'll most want answered about my read of this book is did I guess what happened to Alice and who the culprit was? The answer is no.

I didn't guess what happened at all, and I definitely didn't guess who the culprit was - which is always great in a mystery book. I adore it when I can't figure out what happened and why. I definitely think this was down to the switching POVs - it had me switching my guesses every chapter!

Overall - I loved this book, and it had so many twists that I felt like I was on my toes trying to guess just what was happening. Definitely one to read - and I'll definitely be reading The Dry in the future.

I give this book: 4.5 Cats!

Thankyou to Little Brown for asking me to be a part of this Blog Tour, and for sending me a copy of this book to review! If you've read this book feel free to comment below!

Review: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

So, I admit, this is a book that I had heard about in passing, but didn't think about reading until I watched the TV show (I know, I know, I should have read the book first, but surely a lot of people have done what I have done before).

The TV show had me hooked, and I really hoped the book would give me a lot more details and hook me even more. It did.

Here it is:

The Republic of Gilead offers Offred only one function: to breed. If she deviates, she will, like dissenters, be hanged at the wall or sent out to die slowly of radiation sickness. But even a repressive state cannot obliterate desire – neither Offred's nor that of the two men on which her future hangs.

Brilliantly conceived and executed, this powerful evocation of twenty-first-century America gives full rein to Margaret Atwood's devastating irony, wit and astute perception.

So, definitely not my usual read, in fact, I very rarely go out of the YA genre, but I do love a dystopian novel, and as I'd seen the TV show I wanted to see if anymore details were given out in the book.

Now, the TV show was hard-hitting as it was, reading the book however really gets to you more than the TV show could. It's such a powerful book, and as you read you really begin to connect to Offred and hope for her freedom from the oppressive regime that she is a part of.

One thing I liked about this book is that you see little bits of Offred's rebellious mind in some of her narrations. Throughout the book you mainly see Offred as someone who has been made into someone who doesn't go against the regime and believes in the regime she is a part of, but there are also a few little points in the book where her old self comes out to shine, and I found these parts of the book so interesting.

One thing I didn't like, the book didn't really use quotation marks and that stumped me a bit throughout and I found it hard to keep up with the narration, but that is the only thing that bothered me about the book, and it is such a small thing that you eventually get used to that it's not even much of a complaint.

Overall, I liked the book, it gave a little bit more detail for me, and I definitely liked my foray out of the YA genre. In fact, I bought another book outside of YA because of this book, and I hope to find it just as good.

I give this book: 4 cats!

I liked both the book and the TV show, which is quite unusual, have any of you got opinions on either the book or TV show too? Comment below!