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:

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: 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!

Review: Ink by Alice Broadway

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

Here it is:

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

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

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

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

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

I am definitely giving this book 5 cats!

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

Review: Brightstorm by Vashti Hardy

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

Here it is:

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

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

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

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

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

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