Review: After the Fire by Will Hill

Okay, so, I bought this book because of numerous recommendations by Zoe. She has been mentioning it for a long time, and when reading the description of this book I thought it sounded quite interesting.

It wasn't quite in my usual genre, but as you may have seen, I've started branching out, and trying to read a bit more YA that isn't fantasy, and I think this book was a great pick for me.

Well, here it is:

The things I’ve seen are burned into me, like scars that refuse to fade.

Father John controls everything inside The Fence. And Father John likes rules. Especially about never talking to Outsiders. Because Father John knows the truth. He knows what is right, and what is wrong. He knows what is coming.

Moonbeam is starting to doubt, though. She’s starting to see the lies behind Father John’s words. She wants him to be found out.

What if the only way out of the darkness is to light a fire? 

As you may tell from the description, this is a a very intense book, but I admit, I've quite liked the hard-hitting books lately that really get you thinking.

This book is all about Moonbeam, a 17-year-old who has grown up in a cult that centres around religion. It shows her story through both 'Before' chapters, where she describes different times in her life in the compound as well as retelling what happened in the lead-up to the fire, and 'After' chapters, where we see what has happened to Moonbeam, and a few of the children survivors, directly after the fire.

In the 'After' sections of the book, we meet both Dr Hernandez and Agent Carlyle, who are the ones interviewing Moonbeam to find out what she knows about the fire and the workings of the cult, though Agent Carlyle only comes into the book partway through as at the beginning Dr Hernandez was trying to get Moonbeam to open up after she had a lifetime of being told that 'Outsiders' were not to be trusted and shouldn't be talked to.

I must admit, one of the reasons I liked the book so much was the writing of the sessions between these 3, and the way they all interacted, especially Moonbeam and Agent Carlyle, I loved the dialogue between them at points.

But, the main reason I loved this book was because of Moonbeam. I loved how strong she was throughout the book, explaining her past and trying to overcome it, and I liked how she was written towards the ending, where although she had worked through a lot because of her sessions, she still had a way to go, which I think is really realistic. Moonbeam is now one of my favourite written characters, as she was written perfectly.

There was only one thing I wasn't too sure on, which was the ending (I won't spoil it for those who haven't read it). I was happy it ended the way it did, but I just wasn't sure on it, but either way it was still an amazing book, and one I will definitely be putting on my re-reads list.

I give this book: 4.5 Cats! (so close to 5, but I just wasn't sure on the ending!)

Overall an amazing book, and I definitely want to read more like it, what did you think of this book if you've read it? Comment below!

Review: The Emerald Circus by Jane Yolen

So, I got this e-book from Netgalley as an ARC, in exchange for an honest review. I did start reading it before it came out, however I only just finished it, so technically it is no longer an ARC.

This book was published in November, so I am a little bit late, but I got around to it, and I definitely enjoyed it. Here it is:

Where is Wendy? Leading a labor strike against the Lost Boys, of course.

A Scottish academic unearths ancient evil in a fishing village. Edgar Allan Poe's young bride is beguiled by a most unusual bird. Dorothy, lifted from Kansas, returns as a gymnastic sophisticate. Emily Dickinson dwells in possibility and sails away in a starship made of light. Alice’s wicked nemesis has jaws and claws but really needs a sense of humor.

In Jane Yolen’s first full collection in more than ten years discover new and uncollected tales of beloved characters, literary legends, and much more. Enter the Emerald Circus and be astonished by the transformations within.

There were two things that drew me into requesting this book from Netgalley. One is the cover. Green is my favourite colour, and the mixture of greens and yellows on this cover is such a beautiful eye-catching mix that I was drawn in as soon as I saw it available for request. (Can you tell the majority of things I request are because the cover drew me in yet?) Then the description had me hooked, I love a good re-imagining of the classics, and anything based on Alice in Wonderland will have me intrigued.

This was also my first time reading something that was purely short stories, as usually I only read full novels, and it was definitely eye opening for me, as it was so refreshing to be able to finish a story quickly on short journeys and not worry about having to remember what had happened when you stopped reading.

My favourite of this book was a story called Lost Girls - it switched up the story of Peter Pan, and painted a totally different picture of the goings on in Neverland, which I loved. It included numerous 'Wendy's' taken through the ages to Neverland and just what happened to them, and totally mixed up who the typically 'Good' characters were and who the 'Bad' characters were, which is different to most re-imaginings I've found.

At the end of this book, Jane Yolen also included a little summary of where she came up with the ideas for the short stories, and I liked that she added this. It helped you if you didn't understand what story the plot came from (as I couldn't tell for a few of them) and also showed you her inspirations.

Overall, a great book, and I'll definitely be reading more short-story compilations in the future!

I give this book: 4 cats!

What are your opinions on short stories? Have you read this book and got a different favourite short-story than me? Comment below!

ARC Review: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

I received this book from Netgalley in the form of an e-ARC for an honest review, so here it is!

I'd heard so much about this book before I requested it, and of course the cover also drew me in, but just the idea of a faerie world based book had me desperately hoping to be accepted, and I was.

I admit, I did a little happy dance when I saw the acceptance email. It took a little while to get to reading it, but over my holiday I devoured it and read it ridiculously quickly (even for me).

Here's the book:

Of course I want to be like them. They're beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

One terrible morning, Jude and her sisters see their parents murdered in front of them. The terrifying assassin abducts all three girls to the world of Faerie, where Jude is installed in the royal court but mocked and tormented by the Faerie royalty for being mortal. 

As Jude grows older, she realises that she will need to take part in the dangerous deceptions of the fey to ever truly belong.

But the stairway to power is fraught with shadows and betrayal. And looming over all is the infuriating, arrogant and charismatic Prince Cardan . . . 

So, I don't know how to explain how amazing this book was. I absolutely loved it, as I have always loved Faerie related books, but I don't see as many as I would like, so this was a great addition to my faerie/fantasy collection.

I liked that in this book there were a lot of traditional superstitions about Faeries, and it was nice that while I was reading this I could compare all the different superstitions used and see which ones overlapped with other books I had read.

In fact, I loved how different this book was to other Faerie books I've read - it was dark and totally fascinating, letting you understand the more darker side to the Faerie world (which was exactly like I have always imagined the Faerie world to be - dark and slightly twisted if you aren't careful). The writing style of Holly Black is beautiful, it really had me feel like I was in the book seeing what she described, and I sometimes have trouble imagining things in books.

My favourite character was Jude, the main character in this book. She went from a young, inexperienced child to someone that could navigate her way through the Faerie world with ease, and I can't wait to see where her character goes in the next book.

So, all I can really say to sum up this book is that is is beautifully written and the writing style is amazing, and all I want to do is curl up and read it again. It's definitely reignited my interest in Faerie books, which I am definitely grateful for.

I give this book: 5 cats! (and I would give it more if I could!)

Have you read it or are planning to read it? This book is out the 2nd January, and I would definitely recommend it for those who love dark and twisted Faerie tales! Comment below with your opinions, I'd love to hear them!

ARC Review: Everless by Sara Holland

I got an e-ARC of this book from Netgalley for an honest review, which is coming up now!

I'd heard so many people talking about Everless that when it came up on Netgalley (and with a beautiful UK cover) I couldn't resist requesting it, and I was so happy when it got accepted!

With everything going on I only got around to reading it during my holiday, but I absolutely flew through this book as it was such an original concept to me.

Here's the book:

In the land of Sempera, the rich control everything - even time. Ever since the age of alchemy and sorcery, hours, days and years have been extracted from blood and bound to iron coins. The rich live for centuries; the poor bleed themselves dry.

Jules and her father are behind on their rent and low on hours. To stop him from draining himself to clear their debts, Jules takes a job at Everless, the grand estate of the cruel Gerling family.

There, Jules encounters danger and temptation in the guise of the Gerling heir, Roan, who is soon to be married. But the web of secrets at Everless stretches beyond her desire, and the truths Jules must uncover will change her life for ever ... and possibly the future of time itself.

Like I said, I've never heard of a book with a plot like this one and so it really intrigued me. The idea of blood/time being used as currency and that it can also make you live for longer? Definitely an original and interesting concept for me. It drew me in quickly and had me hooked.

I loved the ideas in this book, and it had twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Usually, I can guess where the plotline will go, but in the rare cases where I don't I always find I love the books even more, just like this book.

You guys also know how much I love a little romance in a story, and I'm glad to say this had just the right amount, without making the plot all about love. In fact, there's only small hints of a romance in this book, but I really hope that in the future books it will pan out a bit more and become more of a plot-line.

I don't like to spoil books for anyone, so all I will say is that the ending blew me away and had me gasping, something I don't do often with a book. I already want to know what will happen in book 2 even though this book hasn't come out yet! The ending really made me re-evaluate the conclusions I'd come to about certain characters, and that is what made me love the book so much.

Definitely one I will recommend for those who love plot-twists!

I give this book: 5 cats!

Have you read this book or are planning to read this book? Comment below telling me your opinions!

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!