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OUR CHEMICAL HEARTS

19/11/2018

54 Comments

 
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Henry Page has never been in love. He fancies himself a hopeless romantic, but the slo-mo, heart palpitating, can't-eat-can't-sleep kind of love that he's been hoping for just hasn't been in the cards for him—at least not yet. Instead, he's been happy to focus on his grades, on getting into a semi-decent college and finally becoming editor of his school newspaper. Then Grace Town walks into his first period class on the third Tuesday of senior year and he knows everything's about to change.
 
Grace isn't who Henry pictured as his dream girl—she walks with a cane, wears oversized boys' clothes, and rarely seems to shower. But when Grace and Henry are both chosen to edit the school paper, he quickly finds himself falling for her. It's obvious there's something broken about Grace, but it seems to make her even more beautiful to Henry, and he wants nothing more than to help her put the pieces back together again. And yet, this isn't your average story of boy meets girl. Krystal Sutherland's brilliant debut is equal parts wit and heartbreak, a potent reminder of the bittersweet bliss that is first love.


Our Chemical Hearts encloses a moving story about love, grief, loss, and even guilt, displayed in a new light within its enclosed pages, waiting to be discovered. – Abooktopia
Our Chemical Hearts is a gorgeous quick read that takes a few unexpected turns as our main protagonist Henry Page tries to undercover the mystery of Grace Town, a girl with a tragic past. But what Henry doesn’t realise is how greatly her past has impacted her present lifestyle.  With Grace as Henry’s main forefront of his thoughts and the slow detriment of his priorities as dream school editor, he soon learns a lot about himself, his family and his friends’ and that love isn’t always how you expect it to be.
 
I adored the characters contained within the pages of Our Chemical Hearts and the contrast among each character and their family members. It was great having them present throughout the story so that the plot wasn’t wholly based upon love but also about friendship, family and growing up. I enjoyed the interactions between Henry and Grace when they were together and the little quirky conversations they had throughout their texts and in person.  The characters felt realistic and honest which caused me to become thoroughly invested into Krystal’s book and ended up completing the book in one sitting. My favourite thing about this contemporary read was the moral of the story about how one should love someone for who they really are and not just the idea of them.
 
Henry Page had a fun and refreshing personality that mirrored the kind of personality you look for in a friend, as he was humble, yet witty with his own little quirks. As for Grace Town, she was mystery that was hard to understand at times, yet you could apprehend some of her infuriating actions for you can’t fault someone for trying to cope with their own inner pain. Overall, I was content with the ending of this story as it was quite realistic and honest; displaying a new angle of loss and the dealings of guilt and sadness and how everyone can express it differently for grief occurs differently for everyone. 
***I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review***
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I am Krystal Sutherland, writer of books. Or, more specifically, I am the writer of one lonely book, OUR CHEMICAL HEARTS, which is being published in September 2016 by Penguin in the US and ANZ, and Hot Key in the UK.

I was born and raised in Townsville, in the far north of Australia. Since escaping to Sydney in 2011, I've also lived in Amsterdam, which was awesome but cold, and Hong Kong, where I currently reside (though I speak neither Dutch nor Cantonese).

Growing up, I never dreamed of being a writer. I wanted to be a) a florist, then b) a volcanologist, then c) an actress. It wasn't until shortly after my 18th birthday that I sat down to write my first (terrible) novel.

OUR CHEMICAL HEARTS, thankfully, is slightly better than that hot mess. Nonetheless, I am notoriously bad at explaining what it's about, except to say that it involves the terribly tragic and awful experience of falling in love for the first time.

I have no pets and no children, but in Amsterdam I owned a bicycle called Kim Kardashian. It was somewhat difficult to get along with. I was fond of it regardless.



Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland
54 Comments

TRUST ME I'M LYING BY MARY ELIZABETH SUMMER

21/10/2018

49 Comments

 
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Staying out of trouble isn’t possible for Julep Dupree. She has managed not to get kicked out of her private school, even though everyone knows she’s responsible for taking down a human-trafficking mob boss—and getting St. Agatha’s golden-boy Tyler killed in the process. Running cons holds her guilty conscience at bay, but unfortunately, someone wants Julep to pay for her mistakes…with her life.

Against her better judgment, Julep takes a shady case that requires her to infiltrate a secretive organization, one that may be connected to her long-gone mother and the enigmatic figure called the blue fairy. Her best friend, Sam, isn’t around to stop her, and Dani, her one true confidante, happens to be a nineteen-year-old mob enforcer whose moral compass is as questionable as Julep’s. But there’s not much time to worry about right and wrong—or to save your falling heart—when there’s a contract on your head.

Murders, heists, secrets and lies, hit men and hidden identities…If Julep doesn’t watch her back, it’s her funeral. No lie.


Trust Me, I’m Trouble is an incredibly engaging, sassy, intense and wonderfully written entertaining mystery filled with adventure and the perfect blend of bittersweet romance. – Abooktopia
This book was a riveting sequel that I loved with its sassy and incredibly entertaining characters. Trust Me, I’m Trouble, is a beautiful young adult suspense series that continues to follow our main protagonist, Julep, as she continues to go about her seemingly ‘normal’ life whilst being a grifter, or better known, con artist. After following her father’s footsteps in running schemes after her mother had abandoned her and her father, Julep has a new case to solve where she must infiltrate a secret cult organisation that may be connected to her mother and the famed Blue Fairy. However, there are new dangers lurking in the shadows, including the fact that her head is now a target on a hit contract.
 
One of the many great things I love about Julep’s character is how she is an anti-hero for she is not only a con artist and a criminal, but she solves important worthwhile cases. The story is told through her perspective throughout the entire book, which is a perfect way to introduce the story as I quite enjoy the conversational tone of a first person perspective as it allows one to easily slip straight into the story. This book kept me on my toes with its fast pace and twists as you watch Julep grow and learn from her mistakes as she came to realise that ignoring your problems doesn’t make them go away, and that just because you wish to believe that someone still has good within them, does not always mean that they will change who they are.
 
The bittersweet romance was of the perfect blend in this sequel as the author gave us something we didn’t know that we needed. I adored how Julep has a potential romance with Dani, where her bisexuality is bought to the surface, as Dani understands some of the things Julep has been through. I love how she won’t dare push Julep into opening up until she is ready to leave her comfort zone, willingly. It was also incredibly entertaining to watch the two characters skirt around each other and to see that Dani was just as closed off as Julep. I enjoyed how the book ended with the strong ending with each chapter getting better than the last.
***I received a copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review***
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Mary Elizabeth Summer contributes to the delinquency of minors by writing books about unruly teenagers with criminal leanings. She has a BA in creative writing from Wells College, and her philosophy on life is “you can never go wrong with sriracha sauce.” She lives in Portland, Oregon with her wife, their daughter, their scaredy-lab/pitbull, and their evil overlor—er, cat. She's the author of the TRUST ME series, of which TRUST ME, I'M LYING and TRUST ME, I'M TROUBLE are out now, and a third is in the works.


Trust Me by Mary Elizabeth Summer:
BOOK 1: Trust Me, I'm Lying
BOOK 2: Trust Me, I'm Trouble
49 Comments

THRONE OF GLASS BY SARAH J. MAAS

30/9/2018

75 Comments

 
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The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those don't.

As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?


If you’re looking for the bigger picture with great story telling, gruesome action, and plot twists, then Empire of Storm has it all. - Abooktopia
I highly recommend reading The Assassin’s Blade before this book if you haven’t already as most of the characters and locations in this book actually originate from those short novellas, which provide you with some juicy back story and a better understanding.
 
First off, where do I even start? Empire of Storms was far better plotted than the last two books and moved at a much faster pace with drama and plot twists entangling you with all its perfect nastiness and wit. I swear this series just gets better and better and thicker and thicker. Also if you ever thought there was a love triangle at the beginning of this series, you were so very, very wrong, which is one of the many great reasons I love about this series. There’s a bigger picture when it comes to Throne of Glass and a thicker plot that you could ever have foretold. Sarah J. Maas has truly grown her book series into a tale that is richer, cleverer, more cunning, and more intriguing in ways that interlink the subplots together to unite the full story. The way this story has become something so much more than the first instalment is mind-blowing.
 
However, due to other POVs of other characters rather than your usual Aelin, can cause you to feel less connected with her character than in the previous books, but the reason behind why this is the case all comes together in the end and makes so much more sense. Seeing Celaena through other characters was something different but she is still the incredibly brave, determined, and selfless character you always knew her to be as her story gets even more complex and the writing style becomes more mature as Celaena becomes wiser.
 
All of the characters are absolutely amazing and have grown so much since the first book. The character development and secondary characters were satisfying to read and discover. I honestly don’t know how Maas does it, but she juggles and balances all of these characters perfectly for they are all just as equally important to one another with each character having their own personalities and stories to tell.
 
I understand how there has been a lot of debate about the steamy scenes in Storms of Fire and that many are calling it unnecessary, but it does add in something different and amusing to read and I do know of many who enjoy reading scenes such as them. Especially in an actual book, rather than some made up fanfiction. The sexual scenes in the book were tamer than A Court of Mist and Fury and it felt like Maas was trying to be as descriptive as she possibly could whilst managing to keep it as vague as possible for younger readers.
 
Overall, I am completely wrecked because of this book in the best possible way. It was astounding with so many amazing moments that wished to engulf me. If you want to ride one hell of an emotional rollercoaster, this book is the one for you as the plot and twists most definitely continue in this installment and only get more mind-blowing as the series continue.
***I received a copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review***
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Sarah J. Maas is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series (Queen of Shadows, Book 4, will be out in September 2015), as well as the A Court of Thorns and Roses series (out 5/5/15).

Sarah lives in Bucks County, PA, and over the years, she has developed an unhealthy appreciation for Disney movies and bad pop music. She adores fairy tales and ballet, drinks too much tea, and watches an ungodly amount of TV. When she's not busy writing, she can be found exploring the historic and beautiful Pennsylvania countryside with her husband and canine companion.



Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas:
BOOK 1: Throne of Glass
BOOK 2: Crown of Midnight
BOOK 3: Heir of Fire
BOOK 4: Queen of Shadows
BOOK 5: Empire of Storms
BOOK 6: Kingdom of Ash
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SPLINTERED BY A.G. HOWARD

28/8/2018

46 Comments

 
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Alyssa Gardner has been down the rabbit hole and faced the bandersnatch. She saved the life of Jeb, the guy she loves, and escaped the machinations of the disturbingly seductive Morpheus and the vindictive Queen Red. Now all she has to do is graduate high school and make it through prom so she can attend the prestigious art school in London she's always dreamed of.

That would be easier without her mother, freshly released from an asylum, acting overly protective and suspicious. And it would be much simpler if the mysterious Morpheus didn’t show up for school one day to tempt her with another dangerous quest in the dark, challenging Wonderland—where she (partly) belongs.

As prom and graduation creep closer, Alyssa juggles Morpheus’s unsettling presence in her real world with trying to tell Jeb the truth about a past he’s forgotten. Glimpses of Wonderland start to bleed through her art and into her world in very disturbing ways, and Morpheus warns that Queen Red won’t be far behind.

If Alyssa stays in the human realm, she could endanger Jeb, her parents, and everyone she loves. But if she steps through the rabbit hole again, she'll face a deadly battle that could cost more than just her head.


Readers who appreciate dark classics will fall in love with this brooding retelling of Lewis Carroll’s original tale, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, that is filled with eerie art and twisted love tales. – Abooktopia
First off, I would just like to take a moment to appreciate the gorgeous cover designs that reflect the dark edge that comes alongside these tales, and not to mention, the gorgeous coloured text on the inside that made the reading journey all the more special and unique with it’s dark re-telling.
           
Unhinged took off with Alyssa trying to fight for the life she chose after her last journey in Wonderland. Despite struggling to keep her netherling side under control, Alyssa’s life has returned to her old norm with her mother by her side and her devoted boyfriend Jeb being there for her. However, with only a matter of days before her graduation, unexpected surprises come hurtling back from the past. With Wonderland not quite being done with her, she discovers that her court may be in immense danger. The only question left is, should she continue living the life she chose, or the one she was born to save? What else is one to do when you’re a descendant of Alice from the original children’s tale by Lewis Carroll.
 
I cannot wait to see how this series will end as the ending to this book couldn’t have been more perfect with the plot line coming back to complete the full circle. Despite Unhinged not being set in Wonderland, we still got the chance to see all the whimsical creatures with the increasing appearances of things that shouldn’t exist in Alyssa's human world. With her worlds starting to collide, Morpheus makes a sudden appearance in the human world as things start to get a whole lot more complicated. With Jeb having not yet recovered his memories from this time in Wonderland, a darker side of Alyssa is shown where her desires wish to break free from her loyalty towards the boy she believes she loves, and to race her attraction towards Morpheus as the want in her heart starts to become impossible to deny. With her mother holding her back from her destiny and Morpheus urging her to take it, Alyssa is stuck between the decisions of her two worlds with each ones survival in her hands.
***I received a copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review***
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A.G. Howard was inspired to write SPLINTERED while working at a school library. She always wondered what would've happened if Alice had grown up an the substle creepiness of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland had taken her stage in her story, and she hopes her dardeeer and funkier tribute to Caroll will inspire readers to seek out the stories that won her heart as a child.

Her pastimes are reading, rollerblading, gardening, and family vacations which often include impromptu side trips to 18th century graveyards or condemned schoolhouses to appease her overactive muse.


Splintered by A.G. Howard:
BOOK 1: Splintered
BOOK 2: Unhinged
BOOK 3: Ensnared
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A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES BY SARAH J. MAAS

15/7/2018

75 Comments

 
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When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

A Court of Thorns and Roses is a unique retelling of Beauty and the Beast, with its very own unique twist and faerie lore that diverts from its traditional tale. – Abooktopia
It is said that the fey are the greatest danger in the world to humans. The fey have no mercy when it comes to torturing their victims as they rip them from limb to limb. Shred to shred. These are the stories children have been told, ever since they could walk. Since the Great War between both fey and humans alike, the mortals have avoided all contact with the fey at necessary costs. Thousands of mortal’s died in the war, but peace was bought amongst them as the treaty was signed. The treaty was simple. Follow these three conditions, and the peace may be kept.

1.   Fey cannot keep the humans as their slaves.
2.   Fey cannot hunt the mortals for fun
3.   Fey cannot trespass into mortal land
 
When 19-year-old huntress Feyre treks deeper into the woods, closer to the wall where the fey lurk, she hopes to find a healthy catch to feed her starving family, who are dependent on her. When she spots a beautiful silent doe, Feyre can’t believe her luck! But she’s not the only one hunting the doe. There lurks a wolf. Allowing the wolf to hunt its prey, Feyre hopes that she can then later kill the wolf for its pelt. Though there’s something cunning in the way the wolves looks. It looks almost fey, but it can’t be. The wall has protected her people for years, keeping them out of their lands.

Later that night when all is well and peaceful, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for the death of the wolf that was killed by Feyre’s arrow. She is given two choices. Die a painful and miserable death or be dragged into a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends.

It is then she realises her fatal mistake. It was no wolf she killed, but fey. And the beast-like creature before her is not beast, but Tamlin – one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

The world building was immensely detailed throughout the book as we read from Feyre’s perspective, which helped us as readers connect with the protagonist. Feyre was just as witty and incredibly as she was strong headed with determination and stubbornness. To be honest, there are probably not enough adjectives in the eniglsh dictionary, let alone human language that could even begin to describe just how memorising this retelling of Beauty and the Beast is. I adore how it diverts from the traditional stories, and how it has so many deep and meaningful messages throughout the novel. I am beyond excited for the second novel, and cannot wait for it to be released into the world!
***I received a copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review***
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Sarah J. Maas is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series (Queen of Shadows, Book 4, will be out in September 2015), as well as the A Court of Thorns and Roses series (out 5/5/15).

Sarah lives in Bucks County, PA, and over the years, she has developed an unhealthy appreciation for Disney movies and bad pop music. She adores fairy tales and ballet, drinks too much tea, and watches an ungodly amount of TV. When she's not busy writing, she can be found exploring the historic and beautiful Pennsylvania countryside with her husband and canine companion.


A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas:
BOOK 1: A Court of Thorns and Roses
BOOK 2: A Court of Mist and Fury
BOOK 3: Untitled
75 Comments

THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS BY CASSANDRA CLARE

12/6/2018

49 Comments

 
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When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...


I quite enjoyed this adaptation and found that the pacing suited the book well as it illustrated all the important scenes that appeared in the first third of City of Bones, up to Magnus Bane’s party, and even included some other smaller details. However, it would have been preferable to have the entire contents of City of Bones in this single volume as a larger and thicker copy, rather than having the one book split into several graphic novels. Though, I am glad that Cassandra Jean has chosen to include most scenes from the book, rather than fast pacing and skipping the extra information. The art is simplistic, easy on the eyes and represents each character well enough, despite Isabelle’s character not quite picturing up to some of Jean’s past work. Although readers should keep in mind that the characters are of fifteen to sixteen years of age, so having less remarkable features on their character art, allows for them to appear more youthful and innocent before the hardships they all endure throughout the course of this series impacts their growth. It is to be noted that the publisher also ended up using an earlier version of Jean's artwork for the first chapter in the volume, which resulted in some last minute changes such as Simon's hair and his glasses that were not included original in the draft. This has caused the chapter to be different from the rest of the graphic novel. Overall, this graphic novel was an exciting and enjoyable read as it was great seeing all the characters again in a well-loved series, but this time, bought to life through art. This book is definitely a great read for those who wish to jog their memory on the contents of what occurs in The Mortal Instrument, in a fun, light and easy way.

The Mortal Instruments Graphic Novel:
The Graphic Novel Volume 1

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THE YOUNG ELITES BY MARIE LU

3/5/2018

54 Comments

 
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Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

A dark fantasy world full of complex villains that are neither good, nor bad as there is a bit of hidden darkness within everyone. - Abooktopia
The Young Elites is set in the aftermaths of the blood fever: a deadly illness that swept through the lands of Kenetrra. The few children that survived were left with strange markings, and in some cases, were disfigured and scarred.  But that is not the only marking left on these children as some are said to hold mysterious gifts that are not of this world.
 
Adelina Amouteru is a troubled girl who has spent her whole life by her abusive father’s side, feeling unloved and worthless. She is spat upon, as an abomination due to her status as a survivor of the blood fever. It was a fever that marked her once black hair, silver and a gruesome jiggered scar where her left eye once was. When Adelina lashes out at her father, and unleashes some of her power, she forced to run as she is marked as an enemy of their society.
 
Marie Lu creates a story that intrigues her readers with its dishonesty and brooding atmosphere that is set in a time of bankruptcy. Adelina’s struggle in accepting her powers allows for the story to be both emotional and beautiful amongst the action in which it holds. This was thanks to the delicate time that Lu took in building the relationships between her characters, which added an edge of realism amongst the wild and breathless tale.
***I received a copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review***
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Marie Lu is the author of the New York Times bestselling novels Legend, Prodigy and Champion. She graduated from the University of Southern California and jumped into the video game industry, working for Disney Interactive Studios as a flash artist. Now a full-time writer, she spends her spare time reading, drawing, playing Assassin's Creed and getting stuck in traffic. She lives in Los Angeles, California (see above: traffic), with one husband, one Chihuahua mix and two Pembroke Welsh corgis.



The Young Elites by Marie Lu:
BOOK 1; The Young Elites
BOOK 2: The Rose Society
BOOK 3: The Midnight Star
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THE DRAGON'S HOARD SUBSCRIPTION BOX

27/4/2018

49 Comments

 
I was kindly granted  the opportunity to review this marvelous Dragon's Hoard subscription box, which I came to quickly love. The box I received had a theme of 'Music is All Around'.

The Dragon's Hoard Box is a monthly subscription crate based in Australia, that firmly supports small Australian businesses as they will always seek to include Australian-made-goodies amongst their monthly bookish merch. The Dragon's Hoard is a wonderful home run business that provides a reasonable alternative for booklovers in Australia who are looking for something closer to home, or just something with a new and different focus.

Each YA book subscription box supplies a paperback YA books based upon a monthly theme that is loosely classified as Fantasy/Sci Fi, with 3-5 bookish merchandise and goodies. Each crate costs about $30.00 AU.

Also please note that the dragon drawn around the middle logo, is not a part of the original box design, as my had mother accidentally written on the from of the box, so I covered up the scandlous writing with a drawing of a dragon to match the box's design.
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***I received this product in return for an honest and unbiased review***
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Australia misses out or pays a fortune to share in the love sometimes. That’s where The Dragon’s Hoard Box comes in! We want to provide a reasonable alternative for booklovers on our side of the world looking for something closer to home, or just something with a different focus. We welcome people from all over the world. Whether you’re an old hand at the SFF thing, or you really liked the Fantasy or Science Fiction elements you encountered in other genre books, you’ll find something in our books to love.


December Dragon's Hoard Box Contents:
DRAGON'S HOARD BOX WEBSITE: TheDragonsHoard
CHAI LATTE CANDLE: Nook & Burrow
STATIONARY CARD: Purple Marshmellows Creative
BUTTON PINS: TreeHouseofBooks
CHARM BOOKMARK: Charmed Fiction
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HARRY POTTER BY J.K. ROWLING

11/3/2018

52 Comments

 
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When Magizoologist Newt Scamander arrives in New York, he intends his stay to be just a brief stopover. However, when his magical case is misplaced and some of Newt's fantastic beasts escape, it spells trouble for everyone…

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them marks the screenwriting debut of J.K. Rowling, author of the beloved and internationally bestselling Harry Potter books. Featuring a cast of remarkable characters, this is epic, adventure-packed storytelling at its very best.

Whether an existing fan or new to the wizarding world, this is a perfect addition to any reader's bookshelf.


Tears will be shed and imaginations sparked in this all-new compelling screenplay of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. This sceenplay will satisfy your Potterhead soul if you couldn't get enough of Newt Scamander. - Abooktopia
I watched the movie before reading the screenplay, and adored both of them so dearly. As I read through the screenplay, I could vividly picture each scene from the movie, stark clear. Reading it was like seeing the movie all over again! There is great attention to the screenplay as there is so much detail of each scene alongside the chapter designs, which are absolutely gorgeous to look at. The screenplay doesn’t add much new stuff to the movie, however it does give a few little details and confirmations that one may not have picked up in the movie.
 
The screenplay follows young British, Newt Scamander, on his travels in New York City during the roaring 1920’s where he is an advocate for the care and protection for magical creatures as a Magizoologist. Alongside him he travels with a case that contains far more than just a toothbrush and pyjamas, but rather contains a few magical, fantastic beasts. However when his magical case becomes misplaces, it is the start of Sacamander’s continual string of problems through the city. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg of what’s troubling the city…
 
The world building and characters are absolutely amazing and I cannot help but love Newt Scamander’s quirky, awkward and quiet personality where he never really quite looks at people in the eye and tilts his head to the side with his little awkward side steps. Though he is shy, when he conversely enters inside his case with his creatures, his whole demeanour changes as he is in his own element. Some of his purest moments were when he completed a mating dance with his erumpent (which I couldn’t help but squeal due to his adorableness in that moment) which was so honest and pure as he was not ashamed of anything at all as he only cared about the wellbeing of his erumpent girl as he wished to get her back safety in his trunk where humans could not harm her. Despite not being an actual hero, Newt Scamander is as hero worthy has his older brother, as he is only worried about the wellbeing of his creatures and friends due to his big and caring heart.
 
Each and every character was amazing and unique in their own ways with Jacob being an easy going and loveable barrel of laughs and Queenie was the suitably a queen (just as her name suggests) with her cute giggling nature that is so caring and girly-girl like, whilst her sister Tina was also just as wonderful with her worrying nature as the responsible one.
***I received a copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review***
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Although she writes under the pen name J.K. Rowling, pronounced like rolling, her name when her first Harry Potter book was published was simply Joanne Rowling. Anticipating that the target audience of young boys might not want to read a book written by a woman, her publishers demanded that she use two initials, rather than her full name. As she had no middle name, she chose K as the second initial of her pen name, from her paternal grandmother Kathleen Ada Bulgen Rowling. She calls herself Jo and has said, "No one ever called me 'Joanne' when I was young, unless they were angry." Following her marriage, she has sometimes used the name Joanne Murray when conducting personal business. During the Leveson Inquiry she gave evidence under the name of Joanne Kathleen Rowling. In a 2012 interview, Rowling noted that she no longer cared that people pronounced her name incorrectly.


Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
BOOK 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
BOOK 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
BOOK 3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
BOOK 4: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
BOOK 5: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
BOOK 6: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
BOOK 7: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
BOOK 8: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
52 Comments

ELECTRIC EMPIRE BY VIOLA CARR

2/1/2018

48 Comments

 
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Solving the infamous Chopper case has helped crime scene physician Dr. Eliza Jekyll establish her fledgling career in the chauvinistic world of Victorian law enforcement. But the scrutiny that comes with her newfound fame is unwelcome for a woman with a diabolical secret. And there is the mercurial Royal Society agent and wolf man Remy Lafayette. Does he want to marry her, eat her, or burn her at the stake? Though Eliza is uncertain about Remy, her dark and jealous shadow self, Lizzie, wants to steal the magnetic and persistent agent, and usurp Eliza’s life.

It’s impossible to push Remy away when he tempts her with the one thing she can’t resist: a bizarre crime. The search for a bloodthirsty ritual torturer dubbed the Pentacle Killer draws them into a terrifying world of spies, art thieves, and evil alchemy, where the price of immortality is madness?or damnation—and only Lizzie’s dark ingenuity can help Eliza survive.

As Eliza and Remy race to thwart a foul conspiracy involving the sorcerous French, they must also overcome a sinister enemy who is all too close: the vengeful Lizzie, determined to dispose of Eliza for good.


The Devious Dr. Jekyll is yet another complex and intriguing story filled with mystery with it’s enthralling discoveries that are the perfect blend of historical and literary characters in one. – Abooktopia
 The Devious Dr. Jekyll is the sequel to Viola Carr’s ‘The Diabolical Miss Hyde’, which is an extension of the infamous tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde that follows the story of his daughter Dr. Eliza Jekyll and her dark side Miss Lizzie Hyde who resides within her.
 
Sharing the same body, Dr. Eliza Jekyll, a forensic investigator, continues to be at odds with her other half, Miss Lizzie Hyde who lurks in the shadows at night as an unapologetic woman who knows nothing of boundaries. Both reluctant to give the other dominance over their shared body, they must learn to work together when their mutual existence could be compromised with a serial killer on the loose, followed by uncanny rituals. As Eliza comes to uncover the truth behind the mystery of the gruesome and unnatural killings, her darker side, Lizzie, has grown restless of living in the shadows… But that’s not the only issue.  There is more to the murders than anyone ever could suspect. It soon becomes clear that the murders are part of a bigger picture that could have deadly consequences, and Eliza is caught up in the middle of it all.
 
Overall, this book is packed to the brim, full of murder, mystery and mayhem with dark twists turning everything you know upside down. Eliza and Lizzie’s complicated relationship continues to be full of surprises. Despite them sharing the same body, the two characters prove to be completely different entitles with their own unique and dynamic personalities where they each have different characteristics that define them.
***I received a personalised signed copy of this book in return***
***for an honest and unbiased review***

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Viola Carr was born in a strange and distant land, but wandered into darkest London one foggy October evening and never found her way out. She now devours countless history books and dictates fantastical novels by gaslight, accompanied by classical music and the snoring of her slumbering cat.

Viola also writes urban fantasy adventure and dark paranormal romance under a pseudonym known as
Erica Hayes.



Electric Empire by Viola Carr:
BOOK 1: The Diabolical Miss Hyde

BOOK 2: The Devious Dr. Jekyll

BOOK 3: The Dastardly Miss Lizzie
48 Comments

BEHIND THE PAGES STORE

28/12/2017

70 Comments

 
 These character lip balms are a must have for every book nerd out there! They are honestly without a doubt, one of the best lip balm products you can get out there as they are guaranteed to hydrate and moisturise even the driest of cracked lips. I love how the lip balms are naturally coloured with mica that applies transparent on your lips with a bit of natural simmer that glistens in the light and leaves your lips feeling soft and supple with an extra bonus of your lips smelling just like your favourite book character.
The texture of each lip balm applies smoothly onto your lips with the perfect blend of fragrance oils and natural ingredients.

It also contains the following ingredients:
Coconut Oil, Cocoa Butter, Beeswax, Shea Butter, Castor Oil, Vitamin E, Natural Sweetener, Natural Coloured Mica, + Selected Fragrance Oils

As you can see in the pictures below, I received my favourite Parabatai pairing, Jem Carstairs and Will Herondale, from The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare. Will’s scent is described as ‘Smoke & Rain’, which is the perfect description as the scent is quite musky and hard to determine just like his character. As for Jem’s character lip balm, it smells delectable with its ‘Smoke & Burnt Sugar’ scent that has quickly come to be my favourite.

Every product from Behind The Pages is made from all natural ingredients that are perfect for those who have sensitive skin. I have been using this product and cannot recommend it highly enough! So what are you waiting for? Pucker up and check out those kissable lip balms from Behind The Pages and all their other wonderful products.

Also please note that handling times may vary as each product is made to order.
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***I received this product in return for an honest and unbiased review***
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At Behind the Pages, bookmarks and posters are all digitally designed by our fairies then magically printed out with sparkle and foil. Our 3D book collages are made with extremely well loved second hand books and turned into 3D beauty. Don't forget the newest addition to the store with the Bookish Soaps. You can now take your fave book boyfriends into the shower with you.


Behind The Pages Store:
Website
Esty
Society6
Instagram
70 Comments

OWLCRATE SUBSCRIPTION BOX

17/11/2017

77 Comments

 
In all my life since the beginning of book crates, I have always dreamed of owning an OwlCrate to call my very own: ever since its first launch. I am now proud to say that against all odds of being unable to purchase online, I was granted the opportunity to receive their October, ‘Once Upon a Dream’ themed OwlCrate for review, which I still cannot get over! It feels as if this is a dream and that the crate will miraculously disappear without a trace. (Thankfully that is not the case; otherwise my poor heart would break.)
 
For those of you who do not know, OwlCrate is a YA book subscription box that supplies newly released YA books with 3-5 bookish merchandise and goodies. Each crate costs $29.99us shipping ($6.99 to US, $10.59 to Canada, $19.99 Worldwide). Each box comes with a card detailing the items included and about the month’s chosen theme.

Also please note that the photos below do not do the Neverland Beanie justice.
You can check out a store photo of the product here.
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Upon appearance, the crate arrived in pristine condition with neat shipping details on the back of the box, sealed shut for safety. The design (as you can see in the photos below) is decorated with simple designs that are eye catching and presentable, worthy to be placed upon a bookshelf for display. The box itself is quite study and well made. Inside the box you’ll find a number of bookish items based on the crates theme alongside the main item, a new highly anticipated YA read. The hardback book you receive is guaranteed to be a new release that comes with a signed book template by the author that you can stick in, and a pre-scanned letter from the author as well that is exclusive to OwlCrate. You also receive an exclusive OwlCrate pin (that is a new edition to the boxes) that is adorned with the same design as theme card and on the edges of the pin it states the theme, and the number of the OwlCrate edition based on each month.
***I received this product in return for an honest and unbiased review***
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OwlCrate was created to share the joy of reading with the world. We believe in the importance of literature, and the magic of the written word. Stories help to expand our minds, expose us to new experiences, and show us that we're not alone. But we also know that reading can often feel like a solitary activity, and we wanted a way to bring book nerds together. By sharing the fun of unboxing your OwlCrates, as well as reading each month's chosen novel along with other members, we hope you find a safe and happy place among our community.


October OwlCrate Contents:
OWLCRATE WEBSITE: OwlCrate.com
ADJUSTABLE BRACELET: The Geeky Cauldron
BUTTON BOOKMARK: My Heart, My Tribe
OZ PASSPORT: Philosphers Guild
NEVERLAND BEANIE: Whosits and Whatsits
77 Comments

THE INFERNAL DEVICES BY CASSANDRA CLARE

7/4/2017

53 Comments

 
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Tessa Gray thought her journey to London would be the beginning of a new life, but she never could have envisioned the dark turn that life would take... Abducted upon arrival, Tessa is introduced to London's Downworld, the sordid supernatural underbelly of the city, and informed that her future will be recast to service a man known as "The Magister". Only the intervention of the London Institute's Shadowhunters delivers the girl from this fate, but sinister forces are still gathering around Tessa. Even so, Tessa's attraction to two of the young Shadowhunters who have taken her under their wings may prove more dangerous by far...

In this dazzling manga of The Infernal Devices, readers will rediscover the Shadowhunter history of London 1878 in this all-new adaption with intricate illustrations capturing the details of a world beyond shadows. – Abooktopia
​Fans of Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunter Chronicles will cherish this exquisite adaption of The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Angel, in manga form. I am so ecstatic that this series has been adapted this way, as I personally cannot stand the ‘hideous’ comic adaptions of books I love, as they tend to ruin my views on the characters; a tad bit. But a manga adaption? I am all up for that for I am in love with the gorgeous artwork and I’m not even a manga reader myself.
 
The Infernal Devices is a steampunk fantasy, which takes place in London, 1878. The manga stuck true to the original books and even included phrases from them, making it a perfect adaption that follows the series accurately. The funny scenes and lines still cracked me up and I adored seeing how the manga displayed each characters emotion dramatically. I was overjoyed with the illustration in this book and the way my favourite characters were presented. However there was one character that looked out of place unfortunately, Henry. It seems as if his character was drawn for comic relief with his childish face with lack of detail. I honestly don’t know how I feel about the way he was drawn but I can kind of, sort of, understand why his particular character was drawn in such a unique way as throughout the book series, Henry Branwell’s character was underestimated by the Clave and many who did not know him thought of him as a fool when in reality he was a genius at work creating new technology that would change the shadow world forever and help aid the shadowhunter’s in their tracking of demons for generations to come. Henry’s character can come off as a little childlike in the midst of him getting excited about his new ideas for inventions, but how could one not get all giddy at the thought of the possibilities? Especially when his inventions prove to be of value to the Clave.
 
Overall, Hyekyung captured the characters quite perfectly and they were how I imagined each of the characters to appear which was fantastic to see. Hyekyung did a good job at carefully selecting what scenes needed to be included, as I know that not every scene could have been included in this adaption. This manga is the perfect refresher for The Infernal Devices series if you want a quick recap and read of the series and cannot recommend purchasing a copy enough, for the images are striking to gawk at.  However, I do recommend reading Clockwork Angel first by Cassandra Clare as it provides one with a lot more background information that is skipped out on in this manga adaption. 
***I received a copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review***
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Cassandra Clare was born overseas and spent her early years traveling around the world with her family and several trunks of fantasy books. Cassandra worked for several years as an entertainment journalist for the Hollywood Reporter before turning her attention to fiction. She is the author of City of Bones, the first book in the Mortal Instruments trilogy and a New York Times bestseller. Cassandra lives with her fiance and their two cats in Massachusetts.

The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare:
BOOK 1: Clockwork Angel
BOOK 2: Clockwork Prince
BOOK 3: Clockwork Princess
53 Comments

THE BONE SEASON BY SAMANTHA SHANNON

15/2/2017

69 Comments

 
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The year is 2059. Nineteen-year-old Paige Mahoney is working in the criminal underworld of Scion London, based at Seven Dials, employed by a man named Jaxon Hall. Her job: to scout for information by breaking into people's minds. For Paige is a dreamwalker, a clairvoyant and, in the world of Scion, she commits treason simply by breathing.

It is raining the day her life changes for ever. Attacked, drugged and kidnapped, Paige is transported to Oxford – a city kept secret for two hundred years, controlled by a powerful, otherworldly race. Paige is assigned to Warden, a Rephaite with mysterious motives. He is her master. Her trainer. Her natural enemy. But if Paige wants to regain her freedom she must allow herself to be nurtured in this prison where she is meant to die.

The Bone Season introduces a compelling heroine and also introduces an extraordinary young writer, with huge ambition and a teeming imagination. Samantha Shannon has created a bold new reality in this riveting debut.


The Bone Season contains one of the most richly built worlds that you will ever come across, filled with concrete detail – Abooktopia
How do I even express my deep and burning love for this book? Samantha Shannon has truly created a masterpiece filled with such elaborate world building. I will admit it does take one a while to adjust to the world setting, but once you do, you will assimilate perfectly into the world of Scion.
 
It is the year 2059, in London, England. The world is a place where gifted humans known as clairvoyants can connect with the æther, allowing them to manipulate ghosts and objects with the sheer power of their minds. Paige Mahoney is a clairvoyant known as a dreamwalker who is able to move in and out of minds, touching their dreamscapes. She commits high treason just by existing for all clairvoyance is prohibited and downright sin in Scion. Being out-casted by society, clairvoyants are forced to join the criminal underworld of Scion London known as the Seven Seals. As a part of the syndicate, Paige works for the notorious mime-lord known as Jaxon Hall and scouts for information as his mollisher and Underlord heir. She is his most prized possession for her voyant abilities are of the highest order. Paige has managed to stay undetected her entire life under Scion’s radar but it isn’t until she fatally unleashes her abilities in a life-threatening situation against two officers, does her abilities become discovered by the government. Hunted down and thrown into Sheol 1, a secret prison colony run by a race of beings known as the Rephaim who survive on the auras of humans, Paige is determined to escape and expose the truth behind the government.
 
As part of the sentence to all clairvoyants captured and sent to Sheol 1, they must abide by strict rules of the Rephaim and be assigned to a keeper who determines your every action and when you may eat and sleep. Paige’s Raphaite master is Arcturus Mesarthim, known as Warden for he is the Blood-Consort to the Blood-Sovereign, Nashira Sargas. Though the Rephaim are cruel and malicious towards their voyants and show no mercy to those who do not abide by their command, Paige’s keeper, Warden, however values her mental health and encourages her to develop her dreamwalking abilities beyond what she believed she could ever have achieved.  Warden merely wishes to be a teacher who can broaden her skills, rather than a keeper that is to be fear. Despite Warden’s signs of redemption, Paige is reluctant to trust the Rephaim that keeps her captive.
 
The amount of imagination and detail that is expressed all across the pages throughout the book is mind-blowing and stunning as the world building is intensely nuts, yet perfect. The characters were loveable and each had their own unique personality and background. In fact, you couldn’t help but also admire the cunningness of some of the more villainous characters and kind of care for them, yet hate them for all that they have caused.  The Bone Season is one of the most richly crafted worlds I have ever come across for it is richly detailed orientated.
***I received a copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review**
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Samantha Shannon was born and raised in West London. She started writing in abundance when she was twelve, started her first novel when she was fifteen, and studied English Language and Literature at St Anne's College, Oxford, from 2010 – 2013, graduating with a 2:1.

In 2013, she published The Bone Season, the internationally bestselling first installment in a seven-book series of fantasy novels. Its first sequel, The Mime Order, was published in 2015, and she's currently editing the third book in the series, The Song Rising. She is also working on a high fantasy novel. Film rights to the Bone Season are held by the Imaginarium Studios, Chernin Entertainment and 20th Century Fox.


The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon:
BOOK 1: The Bone Season
BOOK 2: The Mime Order
BOOK 3: The Song Rising
BOOK 4: Untitled
BOOK 5: Untitled
BOOK 6: Untitled
BOOK 7: Untitled
69 Comments

THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS GIVEAWAY! (NEW COVER)

30/1/2017

437 Comments

 

🎉🎉 GIVEAWAy 🎉🎉
HAS ENDED

***Winner is: Brooklyn F. ***
Walker Books Australia have sponsored this amazing giveaway of the newly redesigned set of The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. This set of six books is complete with the new gorgeous covers and spines that are a must have for every die-hard fangirl and fanboy!

You know you can’t resist entering *smirks*
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 To enter follow the rules below:
  • Yes! Giveaway is International
  • Please ensure you have parental consent
  • One winner will be announced
  • Click the Read More button to view Entry Forms
  • All entries will be checked for valid proof
  • Invalid Entries will automatically be deleted
  • Lastly, No Cheating! Thank you.
  • I will be checking ALL entries

If you have any questions regarding the giveaway or my blog, merely shoot me a message in the comments section or contact me through the Contact Form on my Blog.

Read More
437 Comments

ALIENATED BY MELISSA LANDERS

15/11/2016

52 Comments

 
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Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.

Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.


Get ready for an intense race of survival that will cause one to be faced with the decision of choosing between all you’ve ever known and a planet you’ve never been to – Abooktopia
Cara Sweeney is the valedictorian for her high school’s ad and runs a blog where she was chosen to be a part of The L’eihr Exchange Program where three students are to host an exchange student from the other planet who made contact with earth about two years ago. The L’eihr wish to create an alliance with Earth and the exchange program is one of many ways to test out how well the two species are to get along with one another and to help create some familiarity between the two planets. However, not everyone supports the exchange program…
 
When Cara’s exchange student Aelyx first arrives, his differences and ethnics make the transition rather difficult and troublesome with his constant negative remarks to the human lifestyle and the lack of the L’eihr exchange students’ support doesn’t help much either with the situation. Especially considering Cara doesn’t know that Aelyx and the other L’ehir exchange students want this exchange experiment to fail in order to throw the humans into a state of paranoia to make them refuse to associate themselves with the L’ehirs in anyway or form.
 
After countless attempts to assimilate Aelyx into human society, he finally finds himself enjoying life on Earth and realises that not all humans are whom the L’ehir’s thought to be and starts to regret ever having placed his sabotage plans from the program into motion. With protesters staking out at the school, Cara’s life becomes more problematic especially with her now ex-befriend and ex-boyfriend and the rest of the school have shunned her out for supporting the program and the fellow planet. With strangers sending her threating letters, those who surround Cara start fearing for her life and the consequences of the social media manipulation that has been placed upon the L’ehir’s.
 
Unsure of whom to trust anymore, Cara finds that the alien boy that she has slowly come to love has been lying to her since the beginning. Deadly consequences follow after Aleyx’s past actions that he had wished to hide from Cara, as he fear that once knowing the truth, she would want nothing to do with him. Unfortunately for him, the past always seems to resurface and lies get dug up.
***I received a copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review***
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Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives just outside Cincinnati in the town of Loveland, “Sweetheart of Ohio."


Alienated by Melissa Landers:
BOOK 1: Alienated
BOOK 2: Invaded
BOOK 3: United
52 Comments

THRONE OF GLASS BY SARAH J. MAAS

31/10/2016

41 Comments

 
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or the first time, fans of Sarah J. Maas's sweeping New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass saga can experience the vivid imagery of her expansive world. Celaena battling the ridderak in the catacombs, Chaol in the gardens of the glass castle, Manon riding her wyvern through the Crossing, and many other favorite moments, characters, and objects come to life as readers explore the vibrantly detailed realm of Throne of Glass. Stunning original black-and-white drawings will bring fans deeper into the series than ever before-making this a must-have companion to Sarah J. Maas's beloved books.

 The perfect remedy to a book-hangover from Empire of Storms – Abooktopia
If I wasn’t on board with the trend of adult colouring books, boy am I now. Especially since it has seeped its way into the book fandom community!
 
In all honesty, I had no clue that there was to be an adult colouring book for Throne of Glass, to be released alongside Empire of Storms, until it rocked up in my mailbox as a gift from Bloomsbury, which was a lovely surprise. You could say I flicked through the pages of this colouring book multiple times when I first got it and still continue to do so, every now and again. I adore how there are snippets of the story on the left hand of the pages to explain each scene that is drawn and what is happening in the picture and what part of the book it’s from.
 
Although I love this book, there is one problem… I DON’T KNOW WHAT COLOUR EACH OF THE PICTURES AUGHT TO BE. HELP ME. I NEED TO KNOW. But other than that… This colouring book is perfect and at least the little story snippets to the side do come in handy at times for colour guidance, which is what I, oh so desperately want and need. So in other words, you could say I won’t be colouring in this copy any time soon unless I purchase a second copy and some fancy colouring pencils. Probably watercoloured pencils or textures.
 
For those of you who have not yet finished reading Throne of Glass through to Empire of Storms, I recommend not reading the snippets as they do contain some major spoilers, so just bare that in mind if you are partway through the series.
 
The artwork is gorgeous and I’ve found it to be fairly easy to identify whom each of the characters drawn represent. Oh and did I forget to mention the quality of the pages? The colouring pages are quite thick with a nice smooth texture, easy for colouring in, and the thickness ensures that no colours seep through the back of the page and unto the other side or that rough bumpy indentations appear on the other side from the pressure of the pencils. Which is something I’m really happy about. But there is one thing I have observed, and that is the fact that some of the pictures in it don’t quite seem to fit in the rest as they lack a bit of detail and the drawings seem to be a bit larger in comparison to the rest of the artwork.
***I received a copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review***
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Sarah J. Maas is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series (Queen of Shadows, Book 4, will be out in September 2015), as well as the A Court of Thorns and Roses series (out 5/5/15).

Sarah lives in Bucks County, PA, and over the years, she has developed an unhealthy appreciation for Disney movies and bad pop music. She adores fairy tales and ballet, drinks too much tea, and watches an ungodly amount of TV. When she's not busy writing, she can be found exploring the historic and beautiful Pennsylvania countryside with her husband and canine companion.



Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas:
BOOK 1: Throne of Glass
BOOK 2: Crown of Midnight
BOOK 3: Heir of Fire
BOOK 4: Queen of Shadows
BOOK 5: Empire of Storms
BOOK 6: Untitled

41 Comments

BROKEN SKIES BY THERESA KAY

15/10/2016

48 Comments

 
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Reunited with her brother, and surrounded by Flint, Peter and her new-found grandfather, Jax Mitchell has still never felt more alone. The choice to follow Rym back to the city to find answers and see Lir is an easy one, but their reunion is cut short and Jax is forced to leave Lir behind. She finds herself traveling with some unexpected companions and heading back toward a place she’d hoped to never see again.

After being imprisoned—and tortured—on the orders of his uncle, Lir hasn’t seen daylight or linked to anyone in weeks. After a lifetime of connection, the pain and loneliness is almost too much to bear. Elated that Jax actually came, Lir finds renewed hope and the strength to continue fighting his uncle's influence over the E'rikon, even when things look hopeless and Lir’s been branded a traitor by the very people he’s trying to save.

While Jax and Lir fight separate battles, their missions have more in common than they realize. It’s a race against time to stop men driven only by greed and power. But the ones they trust the most might be the very people working against them—and "family" doesn't mean what it used to. Will they recognize their friends from their enemies in time to save the people they love or will they lose each other in the process?


Broken Skies is a hidden gem in disguise that will have you gripping on the edge of your chair until the very last page. – Abooktopia 
I am proud to say that this did not suffer from the second book syndrome, which was satisfying to find, as this series truly is a hidden gem in disguise. The long wait was well worth it for Theresa Kay has truly created a masterpiece and the plot and character progression was brilliantly done.
 
Fractured Suns jumped right back into the story at Peter’s cabin where Jax presently lives out in the woods with her brother, Jace, and a few other companions. Jax continued to show her strong willed and persistent characteristics, which make our beautiful heroine. With the aid of her new-found strength, Jax was a force to be reckoned with, with Lir supporting her throughout the journey. Lir I swear, is pure swoon worthy material for a fictional male character. With new introduced dual POV, we readers get so much more out of both of these amazing characters as their stories intertwine so effortlessly together with the pace of their relationship. The action was packed with romance, adventure, and plenty of character development as Jax and Lir’s relationship developed furthermore with new secondary characters coming into the picture. Oh and don’t even get me started on the plot twists… They will have you shocked and gripping onto the edge of the pages as Theresa Kay has no fear in creating the impossible and is more than willing to go where others wouldn’t dare. The stakes were higher than ever, and the challenges that our two main characters faced were increased for the whole world is now at stake.
 
This book will quickly pull you back into the story where you first left off and immerse you once again in a world surrounded by heartwarming characters. It is honestly such an enjoyable read and will surprise you with its peril, heartbreak, betrayals, and love. 
***I received a copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review***
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The only person she knows who had a subscription to Writer's Digest at eleven and was always excited to write research papers, Theresa has been putting words to paper since a young age. Living in the mountains of central Virginia with her husband and two kids, she works as a paralegal by day, binges on Netflix at night and finds bits of time in between reading almost everything she can get her hands on and laundry to craft stories that tend to feature broken characters in sci-fi or paranormal worlds, with a touch of romance thrown in for good measure.

She's constantly lost in one fictional universe or another and is a self-proclaimed “fangirl” who loves being sucked in to new books or TV shows. Theresa originally wanted to write horror novels as an ode to her childhood passion for Stephen King novels, but between her internal Muse’s ramblings and the constant praise for her sci-fi pieces from her writer’s group – The Rebel Writers – she knew she should stick with what was working.



Broken Skies by Theresa Kay:
BOOK 1: Broken Skies
BOOK 2: Fractured Suns
BOOK 3: Shattered Stars
48 Comments

THE NEVERNIGHT CHRONICLE BY JAY KRISTOFF

30/9/2016

57 Comments

 
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***This book is intended for readers 18+ as it contains explicit sexual contents and a lot of violence***

In a land where three suns almost never set, a fledgling killer joins a school of assassins, seeking vengeance against the powers who destroyed her family.

Daughter of an executed traitor, Mia Corvere is barely able to escape her father’s failed rebellion with her life. Alone and friendless, she hides in a city built from the bones of a dead god, hunted by the Senate and her father’s former comrades. But her gift for speaking with the shadows leads her to the door of a retired killer, and a future she never imagined.

Now, Mia is apprenticed to the deadliest flock of assassins in the entire Republic—the Red Church. If she bests her fellow students in contests of steel, poison and the subtle arts, she’ll be inducted among the Blades of the Lady of Blessed Murder, and one step closer to the vengeance she desires. But a killer is loose within the Church’s halls, the bloody secrets of Mia’s past return to haunt her, and a plot to bring down the entire congregation is unfolding in the shadows she so loves.

Will she even survive to initiation, let alone have her revenge?


Prepare to immerse yourself in this intense and brutal tale that is flinching, fearsome, and unforgettable, with a perfect blend of blood, magic, murder, and seduction. – Abooktopia
At the age of ten, Mia witnessed her father’s unjustly execution and her mother and brother’s damnation. In her terror, on the same night that her mother and brother were taken away and imprisoned into a mental asylum, Mia discovers a hidden gift that enables her to talk to the shadows. Unbeknown to what this all means, Mia accepts the shadow as her companion and devotes her life to the lethal arts. Learning all that she can in hopes of joining The Red church, a mysterious school filled with a group of the deadliest assassins in The Republic of Itreya. There she will train to become a blade and avenge her family’s betrayal and those who wronged her. However, the journey to The Red Church will be a dangerous one, and she will soon find out that the trials of the Ministry and the Lord of the Blade will demand more than she’s willing to give and that she will question what point it is okay to turn into a monster; just like the one you are trying to kill, in the name of revenge.
 
Nevernight was truly something special and phenomenal with a perfect blend of blood, magic, murder, and seduction. The writing was superb and flowed right off the page in an almost dark, poetic rhythm. It had a unique and unexpected shadowy feel to it that was enthralling. The world was richly detailed, filled with little asterisks throughout the book to provide extra little footnotes. The writing style can take a while to adjust to and can be quite overwhelming at the start as you try to get a feel for the world, but once you do, the story picks up and the roller-coaster begins, with the twists and turns coming at you relentlessly. You are left constantly on the tips of your toes and the edge of your seat, anticipating for the next blood bath to behold. Brace yourself for the intense and dark foreboding page turns.
***I received a copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review***
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Jay Kristoff is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of THE LOTUS WAR, THE ILLUMINAE FILES and THE NEVERNIGHT CHRONICLE. He is the winner of two Aurealis Awards, an ABIA, nominee for the David Gemmell Morningstar and Legend awards, named multiple times in the Kirkus and Amazon Best Teen Books list and published in over twenty-five countries, most of which he has never visited. He is as surprised about all of this as you are. He is 6’7 and has approximately 13030 days to live. He abides in Melbourne with his secret agent kung-fu assassin wife, and the world’s laziest Jack Russell.

He does not believe in happy endings.



The Nevernight Chronicle by Jay Kristoff:
BOOK 1: Nevernight
BOOK 2: Untitled
BOOK 3: Untitled
57 Comments

THE MALEDICTION BY DANIELLE L. JENSEN

15/9/2016

39 Comments

 
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Beneath the mountain, the king’s reign of tyranny is absolute; the one troll with the capacity to challenge him is imprisoned for treason. Cécile has escaped the darkness of Trollus, but she learns all too quickly that she is not beyond the reach of the king’s power. Or his manipulation.

Recovered from her injuries, she now lives with her mother in Trianon and graces the opera stage every night. But by day she searches for the witch who has eluded the trolls for five hundred years. Whether she succeeds or fails, the costs to those she cares about will be high.

To find Anushka, she must delve into magic that is both dark and deadly. But the witch is a clever creature. And Cécile might not just be the hunter. She might also be the hunted…


Hidden Huntress showed no hint of ‘middle book syndrome’ but rather proved to be an exquisite continuation to Stolen Songbird that was just as suspenseful and nerve-racking as the first. – Abooktopia
Hidden Huntress was mysteriously intriguing to read as one tried to unravel the stimulating questions that surrounded Tristan and Cécile. In this sequel there was so much more at stake and it felt as if all Cécile’s trials were undefeatable as she went off and escaped from Tollus to hunt for the witch that cursed the trolls to their confinement. No matter how hard and dark times got, Cécile still managed to push though, and never gave up in trying to find a way to be with Tristan again, a troll prince who was once destined to rule, but now lay captive within his own city. Without his protection or help, Cécile finds herself to be still within the grasp of the King.
 
One of the things I loved most about this sequel was that fact that we got to be in Tristan’s head so much more, and got the chance to read about his thoughts and feelings and the pain he went through. It allowed one to get a better grasp on his character and to understand every detail about him and how he wished to be a better troll, not only Cécile but also for everyone else in Trollus who looked to him. My heart honestly ached for Tristan and Cécile to be together as I desperately wished for their chemistry to appear on the pages before me as I treasured the romance between the two. Unfortunately the two were separated for more than half the book, fighting their own battles.
 
Danielle’s writing flowed beautiful and allowed for POVs to be easily distinguishable with a hint of fantasy vibe. The ending was glorious and filled with actions and much intrigue. It was cleverly plotted with layers of plot twists and complications.
***I received a copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review***
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Danielle L. Jensen is the USA Today bestselling author of the acclaimed Malediction Trilogy: Stolen Songbird, Hidden Huntress, and Warrior Witch (Angry Robot Books).

Danielle was born and raised in Calgary, Canada. At the insistence of the left side of her brain, she graduated in 2003 from the University of Calgary with a bachelor’s degree in finance. But the right side of her brain has ever been mutinous; and in 2010, it sent her back to school to complete an entirely impractical English literature degree at Mount Royal University and to pursue publication. Much to her satisfaction, the right side shows no sign of relinquishing its domination.


The Malediction Trilogy by Danielle L. Jensen:
BOOK 1: Stolen Songbird
BOOK 2: Hidden Huntress
BOOK 3: Warrior Witch
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