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!

Blog Tour: Queen of Volts by Amanda Foody

 So, I have been on the tours for all of the books in this series and I knew that when I saw that HQ were asking for people to join in with the third and final book, I had to be a part of it. My review for this stop on the blog tour is below!

If you are interested, you can find the previous book reviews HERE (Book 1)  and HERE (Book 2).

And, here's the book:

Return to the City of Sin, where the final game is about to begin…and winning will demand the ultimate sacrifice.

Only days after a corrupt election and brutal street war, one last bloodthirsty game has begun. The players? The twenty-two most powerful, notorious people in New Reynes.

After realizing they have no choice but to play, Enne Scordata and Levi Glaisyer are desperate to forge new alliances and bargain for their safety. But while Levi offers false smiles and an even falser peace to the city’s politicians, Enne must face a world where her true Mizer identity has been revealed…and any misstep could turn deadly.

Meanwhile, a far more dangerous opponent has appeared on the board, one plucked right from the most gruesome legends of New Reynes. As the game takes its final, vicious turn, Levi and Enne must decide once and for all whether to be partners or enemies.

Because in a game for survival, there are only losers…

And monsters.

Guys, I cannot get over this book, it was packed with action from the very beginning and it was just the best final book in the series. In this book you get to see even more POVs - Levi and Enne like usual, but also Sophia, Lola and Harvey as an added extra, it was great to get into the minds of even more characters and see what they were thinking during the whole process. I never thought I'd like a series where more and more POVs were added in each book, but for this series it works and totally changed my mind - it really helps you to see all the different points to the plot as the new game begins.

I mentioned in the King of Fools review that different points were slowly coming together, and in this book you finally see all of these drips of information morph into one big spectacular plot, with so many crucial points in previous books all making sense. Whilst reading this I had multiple 'lightbulb' moments, when I finally saw just what Amanda Foody had been planning and hinting at - it all came together and made this into the perfect finale to a series.

I won't spend too much time on talking about Enne and Levi,  but I will say I adored them in this book, the relationship between them is so beautiful, and their journey together throughout the series, although tumultuous, is so intense and in this book it all finally comes together and they make such an amazing team. I admit, I squealed at times in this book with the dynamic between these two, I just love it and I love their coupling.

The final moments of this book were sheer brilliance, and I think that Amanda gave us the best ending to the series there could have been, I won't spoil anything, but for me it was amazing and just what I wanted when I finished this series - I hope you all agree when you read it.

Overall, I give this book 5 cats! (as well as the series overall)

Make sure to check out the other stops that were on the tour as seen below!

ARC Review: Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron

So I got this ARC from Netgalley after I was one of the lucky few to get their wish granted by Harper Voyager (yay!). I'd been hearing so much about it I knew that I needed to try, and I'm so glad the wish paid off, it was definitely worth it!

Here's the book:

THERE’S MAGIC IN HER BLOOD.

Arrah is a young woman from a long line of the most powerful witch doctors in the land. But she fails at magic, fails to call upon the ancestors and can't even cast the simplest curse.

Shame and disappointment dog her.

When strange premonitions befall her family and children in the kingdom begin to disappear, Arrah undergoes the dangerous and scorned process of selling years of her life for magic. This borrowed power reveals a nightmarish betrayal and a danger beyond what she could have imagined. Now Arrah must find a way to master magic, or at least buy it, in order to save herself and everything she holds dear.

An explosive fantasy set in a world of magic and legend with a twist you will never see coming.

Oh, guys, I really have no idea where to start on this book because it is so amazing. Like really, really amazing, so I don't know if my words will do it justice at all. But, my main love in this book was the imagery. Rena describes everything in this book so vividly and beautifully that you feel like you are inside the book alongside Arrah, seeing all the beautiful magic around her. I think the imagery is what really pulled me in and got me hooked.

It wasn't just the imagery that was written well, however, it was also the characters.Each character you meet seemed to have their own story, and everything seamed together nicely - it didn't feel like any one character had too little of a story or that all the different backgrounds got confusing. I think this was great as it really made it easy to keep up with the story despite the many different backgrounds.

In fact, I definitely wonder how Rena managed to think up such a complex, beautiful book as she did with characters and settings just flowing together so well - I asked this question as part of a Q&A Harper Voyager are having, and I can't wait to see if it will be answered!

All I know guys, is that I'm so glad I heard about this book - even if, I admit, the main reason I even thought to look it up and see what was happening was because of how beautiful the proofs that were flying about were. That's not to say the full cover isn't beautiful, it is, and I always get my head turned by anything with gold leafing on.

I don't know how I'm going to wait for the next book, as this will only be out next week, but I guess I'll just have to reread it until I know when the next one is out.

So, I give this book: 5 cats (and so many more if I could).

This book is out 19th September, go pre-order! I'm sure  you wont regret it. If you've read this book / want to read this, comment below I'll be interested to see your comments!

Review: Magic Bitter Magic Sweet by Charlie N. Holmberg

So this is a lovely book that I got on a daily deal, and although I read this a while ago, I decided to re-read it because it was so intriguing!

Its such a sweet book, that mixes tiny little bits of fairy tales in as well, which made it all the better.

Here it is:

Maire is a baker with an extraordinary gift: she can infuse her treats with emotions and abilities, which are then passed on to those who eat them. She doesn’t know why she can do this and remembers nothing of who she is or where she came from.

When marauders raid her town, Maire is captured and sold to the eccentric Allemas, who enslaves her and demands that she produce sinister confections, including a witch’s gingerbread cottage, a living cookie boy, and size-altering cakes.

During her captivity, Maire is visited by Fyel, a ghostly being who is reluctant to reveal his connection to her. The more often they meet, the more her memories return, and she begins to piece together who and what she really is—as well as past mistakes that yield cosmic consequences.

From the author of The Paper Magician series comes a haunting and otherworldly tale of folly and consequence, forgiveness and redemption.

This is actually the first book that I'd read from Charlie Holmberg, but after this I went out and bought some of her others - and now her Paper Magician series is one of my favourites. After re-reading it made me adore the book even more than I did before! I picked up a lot more things than I did the first time round, and some of the things I picked up had me wondering how I didn't notice them.

One of my favourite parts of this book was the fairy tale references dotted throughout - I didn't catch that on the first read until part-way through but the second time round I really picked up on it and it was so much better because of that. In case you were wondering, some of the ones included were Hansel and Gretel and the Gingerbread Man tales.

I admit, the plot did frustrate me a bit the first time I read this - but only because you couldn't guess where it was going, and it did leave you a while before explaining what exactly happened to Maire, but it was actually a well written book - I just get frustrated when I can't guess what will happen.... but I guess that's actually a good thing for most people! I think I preferred the re-read because I knew what was happening and it gave me time to really pick up on things I may not have the first time around.

Most of all though, I loved how it all wrapped up in the end and I adored the epilogue the most of all. It really let you guess what had happened to Maire and fill in the gaps the way you wanted to, which is my favourite way of ending books.

Overall, 4.5 cats to this book!

Have you read this? Do you agree with me about it/did you guess what would happen? Comment below!

Review: The Exact Opposite Of Okay by Laura Steven

Okay, I read this before it came out, as it was an e-ARC sent from Netgalley for a review, but I adored it so much I had no idea how to do such an amazing book justice. But, after putting it off so long, I decided to finally try and put my thoughts into words that will show how great this book is.

First though, here's the book:

Izzy O’Neill is an aspiring comic, an impoverished orphan, and a Slut Extraordinaire. Or at least, that’s what the malicious website flying round the school says. Izzy can try all she wants to laugh it off – after all, her sex life, her terms – but when pictures emerge of her doing the dirty with a politician’s son, her life suddenly becomes the centre of a national scandal. Izzy’s never been ashamed of herself before, and she’s not going to start now. But keeping her head up will take everything she has...

It is so hard to put down how amazing this book is. I think it was just what I needed when I picked it up, and it's definitely one I'll read again, which is something I rarely say for books that aren't in my usual genre. In fact, as I don't think I'll do this book justice I'm just going to do my thing and ramble.

I adored this book, it gave me so many laughs so quickly, and I always adore a strong female character - and Izzy was definitely that. She never let things get to her no matter how hard it got - and I definitely respect that, I wish I could be as strong as Izzy is sometimes. In fact, I think Izzy is one of my favourite contemporary characters that I've read so far.

One of my favourite things about this book was that it brought in so many different points so quickly - the elderly, employability when young without experience, friendships turned love interests, etc. I couldn't believe how much was packed in this book, and that was without the main plot too, nothing was focused on too much and they all got, what I think was, the right amount of discussion time.

I've been hit hard before by internet/social media problems (nothing quite so big as Izzy, but at the time it felt like it) and I think it was so important to read something like this and see that sometimes there's no need to let the internet take over your life, or if it does you can still bounce back with the help of people in your life.

But, I'm rambling. All I can say is this is an amazing book and I can't wait to see what happens in the next one. (oh and I need to do a shoutout to Dumbledore the dog - of course I couldn't forget him - small HP references are my life).

So, I give this book 5 cats!

Have you read this book before? What are your opinions? Comment below!

Review: Distortion by Victor Dixen

So, I was so glad to get accepted on Netgalley for a copy of this, as I adored the first book in the series (my mini review for that can be found HERE)

But, here's this book:

Six girls, six boys: looking for glory and romance on Mars 

They thought they were masters of their destiny.

They are the twelve pioneers of the Genesis programme. 

They thought they were taking part in the most extraordinary of missions.

In fact, they are the victims of the cruellest of plots.

Leonor was looking for glory - and love - on Mars.

She thought she would be able to open her heart there. 

But what she has done is open up a Pandora's box of her past ...

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I am really into the space thing at the moment! I don't think I've read many before I started blogging but I'm seeing them pop up more and more often now and I am all for this, its such a wide thing to write about so there so many untapped opportunities in it, and I really think that this is one of them: speed dating in space.

Well, I say that, this is more of a 'will they colonise Mars' plot as compared to the last book, but it definitely had more of the romances in as the final couples get married and start their lives. It was definitely interesting to see the development, as in the last book the couples only saw each other for their speed dating sessions.

I also loved that the plot got even more twisted in this book, there are so many different twists and turns and little threads coming together, leaving you to ask questions and wonder what will happen and how everything will come together in the end - and oh gosh guys, this book is certainly left in an interesting place, I can't believe I have to wait until next year to find out what happens!

You definitely begin to connect with the characters a bit more in this book, as they finally all come together and you see their real personalities as opposed to their speed-dating personalities, and you see a lot more of the boys in this one too, which makes it a whole lot better.

Altogether, definitely a great second book, and one you'll be speeding through, and you'll definitely not want to put it down towards the end!

I give this: 4.5 cats!

Have any of you read this series? What do you think? And what are your opinions on space books? Comment below!

Blog Tour: Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa

So, I got invited to be a part of the Blog tour for this brilliant new release, and I got offered a copy in exchange for a review (which I was so glad about as I was so excited for this book to come out!).

Here it is:

A single wish will spark a new dawn.

Every millennium the missing pieces of the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers are hunted, for they hold the power to call the great Kami Dragon from the sea and ask for any one wish.

As a temple burns to the ground Yumeko escapes with its greatest treasure - the first piece of the scroll. And when fate thrusts her into the path of a mysterious samurai she knows he seeks what she has. Kage is under order to kill those who stand in his way but will he be able to complete his mission? Will this be the dawn that sees the dragon wake?

I haven't read many books that are in this kind of setting - with Samurais and spirits and Kitsune's - and as soon as I got into this I really wondered why I hadn't - it's so magical, and definitely something that keeps me interested throughout.

I admit, I had a bit of a problem keeping up with all the different titles and names of spirits, but who wouldn't when you're new to that world? I got the hang of it a bit more the more I got through it, and it was always fun when I found out I knew what something was as I had learnt - and I'm sure I'll learn loads more in the future books too.

It did take me a while to feel like things would pick up - there was a lot of travelling in this book, but everything was described so beautifully that I felt I was transported to this world, so as the characters stopped travelling when they found new places it was beautiful. I also definitely connected with one of the MCs Yumeko - I don't see how you couldn't as you felt like you were experiencing everything new with her, as she previously has never left the temple that she had been brought up in.

There were so many different characters met through the whole book - Yumeko was definitely a friendly person, which I loved, who helped people whenever she could. I'm sure you'll fnd yourself both loving and hating characters as you go along - I sure did.

I loved that this book alternated between the view of Yumeko and Tatsumi - which is strange as usually I don't get along too well with different POVs, but Julie wrote this perfectly and had me liking the differences between the two MCs - and I definitely hope to see the alternating POV in the next book too after all the twists that kept you hanging at the end!

Overall, this is a spectacular book, and I am already itching to get hold of the next one, but I guess I'll have to wait a while!

I give this book: 5 cats! (and more if I could, it really took me on an adventure)

Have you read this book yet, comment below? If not you should definitely go pick up a copy!

Keep an eye out for the other blog tour posts for this book too:

Review: City of Dust by Michelle Kenney

So, I got this from the Author (and on Netgalley) for an early review but it took me so long to put into words, and I've been in a bit of a blogging slump that I've only just got round to reviewing it.

If you were wondering about this series I reviewed the first in it - Book of Fire previously and that can be found HERE.

Well, here's the book:

The fight is never over.

Life in Arafel is no longer safe. Not since August’s disappearance, and whispers of a ghost controlling Pantheon.

Meanwhile, Talia stands torn between secretive twin, Eli, and best friend, Max.

Betrayal forces Talia to leave the sanctuary of her forest home as she pursues the stolen Book of Arafel. A book which could destroy the freedom of all those she loves if it falls into the wrong hands. And when she enters the ancient ruined city of Isca, she fights to protect the vulnerable from the iron grip of the Pantheon, while learning to fight for the man she loves.

But with the shadow of the Black Aquila looming ever closer, will she put the freedom of others above her own, or will she follow her heart?

Okay, I will just say this, this book will leave you hanging in a way which makes you wish you could grab the next book and read it all to find out what happens. It will also tug on your heart strings, I admit I definitely went on an emotional rollercoaster while reading this - ups and downs and twists and turns came together to make an absolutely amazing book that I couldn't put down.

I think the thing I loved the most about this was you got to meet a boat load of new characters - and I love to meet new people in a series, it makes it so much more interesting. That, and the new creatures from mythology coming to life really absorbs you, and it's one of the reasons I could easily re-read these books - the characters and creatures just jump off the page.

Also, guys, FLUORESCENT CAT came back!! Well, kinda, this one was only partly fluorescent, and now I can't decide whether I would want a totally glow in the dark cat, or one that only has a fluorescent nose and ears.... which would you choose?

You also, of course, got to see more of Talia and Max, and a little of August too - and guys, I am still obsessed with this love triangle, but I think I will always be #TeamInsider/#TeamAugust. I just can't wait to see how it goes in the next book.

Overall, an amazing extension to the series, and I actually want to cry that I'll have to wait until next year to see what happens to the whole lot of characters.

I give this book: 5 cats!

Do you love this series as much as I do? Are you itching for the next like me? Comment below!

ARC Review: A Thousand Perfect Notes by C. G. Drews

This is definitely not one of my usual reads, but as I have started branching out and everyone was talking about this book I decided to give it a try - especially with such a beautiful cover. So, thanks to Netgalley who gave me a copy of this book in exchange for a review!

Here it is:

An emotionally charged story of music, abuse and, ultimately, hope.

Beck hates his life. He hates his violent mother. He hates his home. Most of all, he hates the piano that his mother forces him to play hour after hour, day after day. He will never play as she did before illness ended her career and left her bitter and broken. But Beck is too scared to stand up to his mother, and tell her his true passion, which is composing his own music - because the least suggestion of rebellion on his part ends in violence.

When Beck meets August, a girl full of life, energy and laughter, love begins to awaken within him and he glimpses a way to escape his painful existence. But dare he reach for it?

Okay let me just say how amazing this book was. I've been in a small slump lately where I do read, just not much and not very quickly. But this book threw the slump out the window - I finished it within a few hours, it was an unputdownable book in my opinion!

But, when a book starts with the MC talking about wanting to cut off his hands, you know you're going into something that will definitely be interesting, so it wasn't too much of a surprise that I adored it so much.

It usually takes me quite a while to get into a male-narrated book, I'm so used to female POVs I guess, but I connected with Beck so quickly. I loved his character, and the slight development that was slow-going but definitely there - I think because of August mainly. Which is another thing I loved - their relationship. It was so pure and refreshing to see something that didn't just jump into anything big. To sum-up I just love so much about the characters in this book, they were developed perfectly.

The ending of this book though is the thing that made this for me - I was close to tears it was so perfect. Overall, I think I could describe this book as so amazing it left me speechless - I don't think I can do it justice in my review, so I'll leave it here.

I definitely give this book 5 cats - it was just what I needed to recharge my book batteries!

This amazing book comes out in a few days (7th June) - I highly suggest you go buy it! If you've read it or plan to read it comment below, I'd love to hear your opinions!

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: The Plastic Magician by C. N. Holmberg

I got an advanced e-copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review that will follow.

I absolutely adored the Paper Magician series by this author, and as soon as I saw this available on Netgalley I just knew I had to have it - and luckily I was accepted!

Here it is:

Alvie Brechenmacher has arrived in London to begin her training in Polymaking—the magical discipline of bespelling plastic. Polymaking is the newest form of magic, and in a field where there is so much left to learn, every Polymaker dreams of making the next big discovery.

Even though she is only an apprentice, Alvie is an inventor at heart, and she is determined to make as many discoveries—in as short a time frame—as she can. Luckily for her, she’s studying under the world-renowned magician Marion Praff, who is just as dedicated as Alvie is.

Alvie’s enthusiasm reinvigorates her mentor’s work, and together they create a device that could forever change Polymaking—and the world. But when a rival learns of their plans, he conspires to steal their invention and take the credit for it himself.

To thwart him, Alvie will need to think one step ahead. For in the high-stakes world of magical discovery, not everyone plays fair…

I absolutely loved jumping back into the world that Charlie Holmberg created, as I adored the Paper Magician trilogy when I first read it, in fact after this I'll probably go back and re-read them. However, it was definitely nice to get a spin off with a whole lot of new main characters and to learn about the totally different field of Polymaking - atleast compared to the Folding magic we learnt about in the original trilogy. I did like the little cameo Ceony made though, only small but it was great to see a little glimpse of her in this book!

While starting this I did worry about meeting a new MC after I loved Ceony so much, but I ended up loving Alvie just as much - she was such an interesting character. She constantly gets lost in her thoughts and gets random big theories pop into her head at some inopportune moments, but she was definitely her own character and built some amazing relationships.

I admit, I guessed quite early on who the antagonist would be in this book - but quite a lot of the time I do have a sixth sense for that kind of thing in both books and TV shows. This character though gave me the heebie-jeebies right away so I was always going to be wary of him. It was also quite obvious who the love interest would be to me, but I was happy about that! Everyone deserves a romantic interest, and this pairing was so cute that it had me routing for them from their first meeting. I also liked that the romance fit in nicely with everything and didn't overshine the main plot of the book.

Overall, definitely a great foray back into the world of magicians, and I was so glad to have got an advanced copy. I give this book 5 cats!

Have you read any of the books in this series? 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!

ARC Review: The Smoke Thieves by Sally Green

I got this as an advanced e-copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, which will follow.

I'd heard a few things about the author of this book, Sally Green, before I saw this on Netgalley, and then when I saw this beautiful cover I was drawn in, and who wouldn't be?! It's so beautiful with the smoke against the white background. So, I requested it and got accepted (Yay!).

Here it is:

A princess, a traitor, a soldier, a hunter and a thief. Five teenagers with the fate of the world in their hands. Five nations destined for conflict. In Brigant, Princess Catherine prepares for a political marriage arranged by her brutal and ambitious father, while her true love, Ambrose, faces the executioner's block. In Calidor, downtrodden servant March seeks revenge on the prince who betrayed his people. In Pitoria, feckless Edyon steals cheap baubles for cheaper thrills as he drifts from town to town. And in the barren northern territories, thirteen-year-old Tash is running for her life as she plays bait for the gruff demon hunter Gravell. As alliances shift and shatter, and old certainties are overturned, our five heroes find their past lives transformed and their futures inextricably linked by the unpredictable tides of magic and war. Who will rise and who will fall? And who will claim the ultimate prize?

The first thing I have to mention about this book is that it is split into 5 different POVs. I'm not used to books with this many POVs so it did take me a little while to get into it, but eventually I started to like it. I especially liked that at the beginning of each chapter there was a little drawing to show which MC you would be listening to next - a jug for March, a flower for Catherine, a Sword for Ambrose, an eagle seal for Edyon and smoke for Tash.

I think that one reason why I came around to so many different perspectives was that it really kept me guessing as to how all of the MCs would end up meeting and interacting, and just how the plot would bring them all together. It wasn't until quite far through the plot that you saw everything coming together - and I definitely liked that it kept me on my feet guessing what would happen near the end of the book.

I definitely had a favourite character in this book - Catherine. She was so strong and had her own personality despite how she was brought up in a land where females are supposed to be obedient and quiet wives. I loved how she was able to make a name for herself in Pitoria and really come out of her shell after going there for her wedding.

Most surprising of all for me was the fact that for once I wasn't routing for one of the MCs love interests. When it came to Catherine I didn't ship her and Ambrose at all (despite the fact that it would have been an obvious ship). No, instead I really ship her and Prince Tzsayn, and I can't wait to see where everything goes in the next book (I see a love triangle maybe and I adore love triangles!).

Overall, it's such an interesting book, with an intriguing plot about demons and demon smoke, and I really just want the next book already to find out more about what's going to happen now all the characters were together!

I give this book: 4.5 cats!

If you want to read it, this book comes out May 3rd, and I would definitely recommend it! Have you read this, or are you planning on reading this? 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!

ARC Review: To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

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

I was super excited to get accepted for this book! It contained mermaids, sirens, princes, and pirates, what else could I want? I'd been hearing about it for a while and thought I'd see if I could get accepted for it, and I did! Yay!

Here it is:

Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?

I had such high expectations going into this book, after all I don't think I've actually read a book about sirens and pirates before. It does seem to be the season for books about the high seas and mermaids and sirens etc. though doesn't it? I've seen a few that will be coming out! But that's off topic, I can say now that this book definitely lived up to my expectations - and it even exceeded them!

It's such a fast paced book, and has loads of action in it, especially near the end. Essentially though if I was asked to describe it for someone, I would probably say a lovely dark twisted take on the Little Mermaid - or should I say the little siren considering Lira is a siren?

I can't not mention Elian - he's both a prince and a pirate guys! How swoon worthy is that?! He's one of my favourite characters - a prince who just wants to be on the sea but has obligations back home as the first in line to the throne. We see little tidbits of his dilemma about choosing between his country and his crew in the book, with him accepting certain obligations and responsibilities - and it kept me on my toes wondering just what would happen to him - would he go back to his kingdom after completing his goal of killing the Prince's Bane? Or would he stay on the seas with his crew like his heart wants. He's just an amazing character, and one of my new heart-throbs of fantasy fiction - I hope you all agree when you read this book!

I will say this is a stand-alone book - just the one. I am both loving that, and hating it - loving it because it means you get the storyline all wrapped up nicely and there's no waiting for more books, but also hating it because it means I don't get to come back to this amazing world that the author has created - I really hope that what I'm saying makes sense to you all?

But, overall, I am giving this book 5 cats because it is so amazing!

Have you read or are planning to read this? Comment below! It comes out March 6th and I'm so tempted to buy a finished copy it was that good!

Review: Sentinel by Joshua Winning

So, I got offered an e-copy of this book by the author in exchange for a review, and I'm glad I accepted because it was such an intriguing plot!

Here it is:

"What is a Sentinel? A guard. A detective. A killer..."

They are the world's best-kept secret - an underground society whose eternal cause is to protect the world against the dark creatures and evil forces that inhabit the night.

Now Sentinels are being targeted, murdered and turned as the fury of an ancient evil is unleashed once more. And when 15-year-old Nicholas Hallow's parents are killed in a train crash, the teenager is drawn into a desperate struggle against malevolent powers.

Sentinel is the first book in the Sentinel Trilogy - a world of unconventional heroes, monsters, murder and magic.

When a blurb mentions 'heroes, monsters, murder and magic' of course I'm going to accept when I'm asked if I want to review it - it's right up my alley! Plus, if you add in a secret society then that just makes it all the more intriguing - and I love a bit of intrigue!

This is one book that didn't suck me in straight away, but not in a bad way - instead I was 'lulled' into the plot I could say. One moment I was just slowly picking up on things that made me slightly more curious, and then bam! I was in the book and stuck there wanting to know what happens (a weird way of putting it but I hope someone understands what I mean by that!).

One of my favourite things about this book was Hallow House - I love the idea of it. A house with so many mysterious secrets and weird rooms, I loved it because I want a house just like it.

I also can't wait to see where the plot goes in the next book - I want to see what was being kept secret from Nicholas, and I really want to see what's going to happen with his powers! Luckily, I was also given a copy of the second book to read too, so you'll be seeing a review of that up soon too.

I can't not mention my favourite character - or favourite baddy I should say - Malika. She is an amazing character, beautiful but deadly - and someone you wouldn't want to meet on the street. She was written beautifully and I can't wait to read more about her in the series.

All I can say really is that if you love mystery and fantasy mixed together this is a book for you. After all whats not to like - there's a talking cat (I love a good talking cat in a book), a mysterious house, and a mysterious raven man (nice cover link there), and I hope there will be even more mystery to come!

I give this book 4 cats!

Have you read this book before? Or the series? What did you think of it? Comment below!

ARC Review: The Rogue Queen by Emily R. King

I received this e-book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, which is going to follow:

So, this is a book that I have been so excited for and waiting ages for too. I've reviewed both book one and book two (BOOK ONE - BOOK TWO). So, please be aware that there may be spoilers for both the first books in this review if you read ahead!

I didn't actually realise that this was on Netgalley until this week, so this was a really quick read for me, as I wanted to post this review before the book is out on 13th February!

Here it is:

In the explosive third volume of The Hundredth Queen Series, the queen of fire faces off against a demon of ice.

Despite the odds, Kalinda has survived it all: Marriage to a tyrant. Tournaments to the death. The forbidden power to rule fire. The icy touch of a demon.

That same demon now disguises itself as Rajah Tarek, Kalinda’s late husband and a man who has never stopped haunting her. Upon taking control of the palace and the army, the demon brands Kalinda and her companions as traitors to the empire. They flee across the sea, seeking haven in the Southern Isles.

In Lestari, Kalinda’s powers are not condemned, as they are in her land. Now free to use them to protect those she loves, Kalinda soon realizes that the demon has tainted her with a cold poison, rendering her fire uncontrollable. But the lack of control may be just what she needs to send the demon back to the darkest depths of the Void.

To take back the empire, Kalinda will ally with those she distrusts—and risk losing those most loyal to her—to defeat the demon and bring peace to a divided nation.

Okay, first off, let me just say this: Wow.

This third book did not disappoint me at all. It was fast-paced, full of action and I never would have guessed where this went if I'd tried. That is the main thing I liked about this book - the fast pace of it. There was so much action, especially in the latter half of the book, that it felt like you were immersed in everything that was happening.

Also, I will comment on the fact that there was a love-triangle in this again: something that I adore in books, and that I have commented on in the second book's review. This time though it was definitely more intense between Kalinda and Ashwin than I expected - as Kalinda found something with Ashwin that helped her with her inner fire after the Voider demon breathed his icy breath into her, and I never would have guessed just why that was (and I won't spoil it for those who want to guess when they read the book).

The chapters go between both Kalinda's and Devens POV - starting out when they were together, and then leading to separate adventures. I found this interesting because you got to see the relationship between them from both of their eyes and also got to see what was going on in the different places they were throughout the chapters.

I loved that you also got to see more of the competitors from the second book - and also saw more about both their worlds, and that they all banded together to help each other as much as possible. As well as that you see the Tarek's wives and courtesans stand together to fight for their lives. So, I think the message of unity in this book is amazing, and it's definitely something I loved to see.

I could talk about this book for ages, especially the ending and the little twist right at the end - but I won't make you read all of my rambling thoughts.

I give this book: 5 cats!

Have you read this series, or this book? Did you love it as much as me? Comment below!

Review: Mr Rochester by Sarah Shoemaker

Okay, so I got this as an e-ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a review. It came out November 2017, but I didn't get around to reading it until now (oops).

However, I am so glad I did request this book. Jane Eyre is one of my all time favourite books, and my favourite classic book, so the idea of Mr Rochester's story being told intrigued me so much.

Here it is:

Uncover the secrets of Edward Fairfax Rochester, the beloved, enigmatic hero of Jane Eyre, as he tells his story for the first time in Mr Rochester, Sarah Shoemaker's gorgeous retelling of one of the most romantic stories in literature.

On his eighth birthday, Edward is banished from his beloved Thornfield Hall to learn his place in life. His journey eventually takes him to Jamaica where, as a young man, he becomes entangled with an enticing heiress and makes a choice that will haunt him. It is only when he finally returns home and encounters one stubborn, plain, young governess, that Edward can see any chance of redemption - and love.

Rich and vibrant, Edward's evolution from tender-hearted child to Charlotte Bronte's passionately tormented hero will completely, deliciously, and forever change how we read and remember Jane Eyre.

I had so many expectations going in to this book, and I was not disappointed. This book embodied Mr Rochester perfectly, and told the story of his life perfectly.

As I've said before, I've read Jane Eyre many times, because it is my favourite classic book, and I've always wondered about Mr Rochester, and what his life story was, and also what he was thinking when he met Jane in the original. This book takes my questions and answers them all, in detail I definitely didn't expect at all.

My favourite part of this book is the beginning, as we learn about Mr Rochester's life from a child, until he comes back to the UK, and it is my favourite because of all the new details you get: his schooling, his family, his life in Jamaica and marriage to Bertha etc. It made me love Mr Rochester even more than I did before (though I did question some of his actions when it gets to him meeting Jane).

I don't really know how I can describe this books greatness, I feel like I will never be able to do this story justice. So, all I can say is that this is an amazing re-telling and if you love Jane Eyre like me, then you'll love Mr Rochester too.

I give this book: 5 Cats!

Have you read this book before? Do you love Mr Rochester as much as I do? Comment below!

ARC Review: The Wicked Cometh by Laura Carlin

I was given an e-ARC of this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, and here it is!

I was mainly drawn into this book because of the cover, and then later because so many people were talking about it on my Twitter. It had such a small intriguing caption at first that I decided to request it, especially because I'd really been into Historical Fiction books at the time.

It turns out that it was both a Historical Fiction and a Mystery book, and I loved it. Here it is:

The year is 1831

Down the murky alleyways of London, acts of unspeakable wickedness are taking place and no one is willing to speak out on behalf of the city's vulnerable poor as they disappear from the streets.

Out of these shadows comes Hester White, a bright young woman who is desperate to escape the slums by any means possible.

When Hester is thrust into the world of the aristocratic Brock family, she leaps at the chance to improve her station in life under the tutelage of the fiercely intelligent and mysterious Rebekah Brock. But whispers from her past slowly begin to poison her new life and both she and Rebekah are lured into the most sinister of investigations.

Hester and Rebekah find themselves crossing every boundary they've ever known in pursuit of truth, redemption and passion. But their trust in each other will be tested as a web of deceit begins to unspool, dragging them into the blackest heart of a city where something more depraved than either of them could ever imagine is lurking . . .

Can I just say: my heart, my poor, poor heart.

This book had such a thrilling ending to it, and I was almost ready to leave my heart broken, until the giant twist at the end that left it a little less broken than it was before. (I wont spoil it and say why, but you will know what I'm talking about if you have read this before)

I admit, this was definitely not what I expected from the book when I first requested it - but I was happily surprised by it. The relationship that builds between Hester and Rebekah was something I definitely didn't expect, but it was such a slow build that you were constantly routing for them to get together throughout the story. 

And the fact that this book is based around a female,Victorian detective couple - definitely something I'd not read or heard of before.

If I was asked to describe this book? I'd say it had so many twists and turns that you can never think to keep up with, and a thrilling conclusion that you would never have guessed.

Definitely another great foray into Historical fiction, and a dip into Mystery, I loved it.

I give this book: 5 Cats!

This book comes out on the 1st February. If you fancy a Victorian mystery, with a slow-build relationship, this is the book for you. Have you read it yet? Or are you planning to? Comment below!

Kindle TBR

Okay, so, I thought I'd share with you my kindle TBR's. Which is a lot. Sometimes I see interesting things that I want to read on the kindle daily deal and I just buy it (oops I have an addiction).

I just can't help myself when I see cheap e-books!

So, I thought I'd share them with you (as I tend to read kindle books on my bus/train journeys and so may be reviewing some of these soon).

1. Order of Darkness collection by Philippa Gregory

So, this I bought when it was on kindle daily deal, as I've got some of Philippa's other books and they interest me. This book seems to mix both history and fantasy, which seems like it'll pull me in, and I can't wait to read them.

(annoyingly I won the paperback version of this book the day after I bought them on kindle, so I do hope I like them!)

2. Caraval by Stephanie Garber

I have seen so many people talking about this book that I decided to buy it to see if I liked it, I may just have to get the actual book version if I do because I love this cover so much!

3. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

I can't remember where I heard about this book, but the description just made me want to pick it up and read it. Plus, I love dystopian series lately, and this seems like an interesting twist on that side of things.

4. The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman

Yet another book that I've heard a lot about, so I decided to get it to see what the hype was about! As you can tell, from the Philippa Gregory books, I love historical fiction with some fantasy wrapped in so it seemed like my type of book.

5. Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

So, I loved the Mortal Instruments series, and it was only a matter of time before I tried to read some of the spin-off's that were written. I decided to change it up though and buy these on Kindle instead of in book form, just in case I don'y like them as much as the others.

Thats the most recent of my TBR's from the Kindle list, but I do have others, such as Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb, Harmony Black by Craig Schaefer, Gateway to Fourline by Pam Brondos, and Letters to Zell by Camille Griep.

I'm sure there will be many more in the future, but these are some that I've been meaning to read for a while, and probably will read soon.

Have you read any of these books? Or wanted to read any? Comment below!