Review: The Lost Ones by Anita Frank

The Lost Ones by Anita Frank is historical fiction, with an eerie, haunted feeling which leaves the reader hanging until the final pages of the book. It delves into the lives of two sisters who are brought back together by catastrophic events of World War I and their supernatural experiences in an old manor. It is suspenseful, keeps the reader guessing throughout the plot and uncovers many notorious secrets which some characters thought they had concealed forever.

The synopsis is as follows:

Some houses are never at peace… England 1917

Reeling from the death of her fiancé, Stella Marcham welcomes the opportunity to stay with her pregnant sister, Madeline, at her imposing country mansion, but she arrives to find a house of unease and her sister gripped by fear and suspicion. Before long, Stella is troubled by the same strange incidents that plague Madeleine- sobbing in the night, little footsteps on the stairs- and as events escalate, she finds herself drawn to the tragic past of the house. Aided by a wounded war veteran, Stella sets about uncovering Greywick’s dark past- secrets the dead whisper from the other side…

From the outset of this novel, I was entranced by the vivid, descriptive writing. The prose was written beautifully and the sentences flowed on so effortlessly. It was pleasurable to read and made me as a reader feel as though I was bearing witness to the events which were unfolding. The descriptions of the various areas of the manor also made it easy to imagine myself there, back in 1917. Unlike many authors, Frank was able to successfully write characters as though they were from that time period. The language, their actions and everything in between was notable for that time.

One of the highlights of this book were the characters. Each of the characters had defining characteristics which were able to be developed throughout the course of the plot. Stella was a well-rounded character who was grew so much and was able to come to terms and identify her own personal issues which were plaguing her over time. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing her friendship with Annie develop, despite their differences in social standing. Another character stand out for me was Cook: while she was a minor character, I liked her inclusion and features throughout the text and her influence overall in the text. The interactions between the characters was also great and their dynamics with each other, which changed over time.

From the beginning, the mystery is what draws the reader into the text. There is mystery regarding so many elements of the book, including but not limited to the characters back stories and the strange events unfolding in the house. It captures the attention of the reader, as we want to continue to find out why things are occurring and what is influencing them. The haunted incidents are creepy yet by the epic conclusion of the book, the reader is able to understand why they are ultimately occurring. Stella and Annie are key detectives in the mystery and over time, have the ability to uncover the grisly truth. Another strength of the book is that the mystery continues to puzzle the reader until near the end. This allows the author to maintain the attention of the reader until the conclusion, when the mystery is resolved and old issues are confronted.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed into the mysterious world of The Lost Ones. The plot, the characters and the haunting mystery all tied together to create a cohesive and engaging text which accurately drew upon historical events in a meaningful way. I would highly recommend this text to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, mystery or literary fiction.

I rated this book: 4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Harlequin Publishers for providing me with a copy for review

The Lost Ones is available for purchase in Australia now!

Review: Supernova by Marissa Meyer

Supernova by Marissa Meyer is the epic conclusion to the popular superhero versus anti-hero series, Renegades. As a final book in a trilogy, it does not let fans of the series down as it packs a punch. It has the action and characters that we have all come to love, as well as a very intense plot which thickens as you get further through the book. 

On a side note- I have briefly mentioned something that is unleashed in this book which some may consider a spoiler (but I do not go into detail about it, rather just mention what it does), so if you haven't read the other books, you should feel safe to read on as it doesn't really spoil anything! It is something I thought was a great inclusion so wanted to ensure I mentioned it in my review. 

The synopsis:

Nova and Adrian are fighting to keep their identities and superpowers secret. While the battle rages between their alter egos and their allies, there is a darker threat shrouding Gatlon City. Nova and Adrian must brave lies and betrayal to protect those they love. Unless they can bridge the divide between heroes and villains, they stand to lose everything, including each other.

Supernova is a huge book, totalling 550 pages. As it is so large, I will only attempt to skim the surface and mention some of the main parts that I enjoyed. Overall, while it is gigantic in size, the plot is constantly turning as the reader keeps turning the page to see what is going to happen next. I came into Supernova hyped, as I could not wait to see what was happening next in the saga. It follows on directly from Archenemies as Nova comes to terms with an act she committed which has serious repercussions for not only herself but the Anarchists and the Renegades. The tensions between the two enemies strengthens as a weapon is released which takes superpowers away. I enjoyed the inclusion of Agent N, as it made the characters wary of who may be in possession of it and that they needed to act carefully so that they were not affected by it. By having a substance in the book like that, something that essentially takes their super human powers away, it really keeps you guessing as to who has it, who will it impact and what will their losses be. The book is centred around people with powers and by including that element and by threatening to make them human, there is a strong sense of living on the edge through the plot.

Meyer creates the most realistic characters who the reader can really empathise with. It was great to see these characters develop further in this final instalment and see the different issues that they were faced with and how they tried to confront them. Nova and Adrian have so much depth and in this instalment, really begin to question where their alliances belong. They have to be two of the best written protagonists I have witnessed in a book before. I love how we get to read from both of their POV, to witness both sides of the story. Meyer does not force you to take the side of either Nova or Adrian, but allows you as the reader to see both of their lives. This is present throughout each of the books but I feel makes the most impact in this book as there is so much more going on. I also really enjoy all of the side characters. In a book with so many characters, you would assume you wouldn’t find out much about them but throughout Supernova, we learn so much more about each of the minor characters. They are so well developed and each have their own backstories which adds to the book in so many ways. I would possibly love to see a spin-off series with some of the other characters as the focus as I believe Meyer has created a wonderful world which can be built upon in the future.

Another aspect of this book I thought was great was the pacing. Often large YA books appear intimidating and are extremely slow and painful to read. Thankfully, this was quite the opposite. While reading Supernova, I never found myself bored or fidgeting. The action packed plot and superb writing kept me engaged from start to finish. There was always something else that kept me hooked to finish reading it.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Supernova and would highly recommend the series to anyone who finds themselves looking for a new YA series to sink their teeth into. While I am not normally one to reach for books about superheros, this series has opened my eyes to a whole new genre of YA fiction which I hope will grow in the years to come. Meyer writes in such a way that draws the reader in and they do not want to finish until the book is complete.

I rated this book: 4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Pan Macmillan for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Supernova is available to purchase in bookstores around Australia now!

Wearing Paper Dresses: Review

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Wearing Paper Dresses by Anne Brinsden! 

Wearing Paper Dresses is a raw tale, detailing the struggles and triumphs of life in the extremely remote Mallee region in north western Victoria in the middle of the 20^th Century. The story focuses on the life of young protagonist Marjorie and follows her and her family’s journey over a number of years. The reader is a witness to the rural lifestyle and shows that no matter how far away you are, the Mallee is always with you.

The synopsis is as follows:

You can talk about living in the Mallee. And you can talk about a Mallee tree. And you can talk about the Mallee itself: a land and a place full of red sand and short stubby trees. Silent skies. The undulating scorch of summer plains. Quiet, on the surface of things.
But Elise wasn't from the Mallee, and she knew nothing of its ways.

Discover the world of a small homestead perched on the sunburnt farmland of northern Victoria. Meet Elise, whose urbane 1950s glamour is rudely transplanted to the pragmatic red soil of the Mallee when her husband returns to work the family farm. But you cannot uproot a plant and expect it to thrive. And so it is with Elise. Her meringues don't impress the shearers, the locals scoff at her Paris fashions, her husband works all day in the back paddock, and the drought kills everything but the geraniums she despises.

As their mother withdraws more and more into herself, her spirited, tearaway daughters, Marjorie and Ruby, wild as weeds, are left to raise themselves as best they can. Until tragedy strikes, and Marjorie flees to the city determined to leave her family behind. And there she stays, leading a very different life, until the boy she loves draws her back to the land she can't forget...

Delving into the world of ‘country’ based fiction is something new to me but is opening my eyes to a whole new genre of writing. This book, while written in third person, allows the reader to imagine they are present and a witness to the events which are unfolding through the vivid descriptions of setting. While not having travelled to the region, Brinsden successfully captures the essence of the region for all readers as the familiarity becomes apparent as we progress through the narrative. I really enjoyed how it also spanned over a number of years so we could see the family over time and how they adapted to life in the country and their triumphs and struggles. I did find it confusing at times, when shifting between time, to work out how much time had passed and how old the characters would have been. I’m unsure if this was intentional and for the reader to work out, but it did make it a little hard to follow. By the end, I assume Marjorie was in her early twenties but it was not disclosed.

One of my favourite elements of this book was the characters and their relationships and how they developed and faltered over time. Marjorie was bold and daring, Pa was set in his ways, Elise was confused and Jesse determined. Each of the characters were developed so well throughout the narrative as we beared witness to their highs and lows. In particular, Elise was a stand out. Coming from the city, she was already a social outcast when she relocated to the Mallee region. Despite her best efforts to fit in, she found herself in a downward spiral towards insanity which began to severely impact those around her. After catastrophic events occurred, she further distanced herself from her family and the world. The author did this in such a way that the character remained authentic as she believed it was the environment impacting her actions and moods. I liked seeing the relationship between Marjorie and Jesse develop over time as well. From the beginning with him being coined a childish nickname by Marjorie, to them leaning on each over as times became tough and their families became infested with issues. Despite time passing and locations changing, they still had a special bond which held them together.

While I enjoyed the pace of the book, the characters and the country setting, I feel as though the book did lack an overall plot. The plot emphasises the importance of place on the characters and their lives and tells their experiences over a period of time. Despite this, I feel like other than a retelling of events, there was no climax but by the end, there did seem to be a resolution in place. Overall, the story with its chronological tale with flashbacks squeezed throughout, was one I will remember for a long time due to the memorable characters and beautifully descriptive settings.

I rated this book: 3 stars ⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Pan MacMillan for providing me with a copy of Wearing Paper Dresses for review and for the opportunity to participate in the blog tour!

Wearing Paper Dresses was released in September is now available for purchase in bookstores and retailers throughout Australia

Wayward Son review

Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell is the highly anticipated sequel to fan-fic favourite Carry On. Continuing on, presumably a few months after the previous novel, Wayward Son addresses some of the repercussions from the previous book as the characters go international to save the day. All the favourites return as well as some equally awesome new characters who pack a punch.

The synopsis:

Simon Snow did everything he was supposed to do. He beat the villain. He won the war. He even fell in love. Now comes the happily ever after, right? So why can’t Simon get off the couch? What he needs is a change of scenery. That’s how Simon and his two best friends end up in a vintage convertible, tearing across the American West.

That’s how they end up in trouble.

This book drew me in, again, through the wonderful characters that are immersed within the pages. I really love sequels as you get to see the characters who you got to know so well again and watch their development over the course of the book. While the first book is so focused upon Simon, this book gave more attention to the other main characters and their personal struggles after finishing school. The inclusion of the new characters was great too: I really like Shepard and how energetic and enthusiastic he was about helping the gang. The vampires in Las Vegas were a welcome addition as well, who doesn’t love reading about vampires living in the casino capital of the world? Baz’s interactions with them were great as well, while he was originally hesitant, he knew that he was going to be the only one successful enough to get their support. The multiple perspectives were a welcome inclusion as well. By providing multiple narrators in a book, the reader is able to gain a better insight into how they think and the actions that they take. They are all written so differently and I admire the author’s ability to do this.

One element of the book I was a little confused about was the relationship between Baz and Simon. At the conclusion of Carry On, Simon and Baz had become an item and their relationship had blossomed. In Wayward Son, they are barely talking and I found this really interesting as it was never disclosed as to what the issue was that caused this. Whilst I enjoyed the banter which the two always find, I was hopeful that their relationship would develop further in this book.

A highlight of the book for me was he road trip element. Following the characters through their travels in a new country adds uncertainty and adventure and it kept me guessing as to what was going to happen next! Being to the United States myself before, I liked being able to follow along on the places that they visited and the experiences that they had. I also wish I had powers to fill my car up with fuel without needing to pay for it! The inclusion of the different types of slang in the two different countries was interesting as well and I applaud Rowell for doing this as no two countries have the same slang and it was nice to see it included within a book.

One issue I found within the book was the focus on trying to find Agatha. The characters spent the entire book focused on trying to find Agatha while they did not seem to address the other underlying issues which were impacting them. Agatha treated them pretty poorly and it surprised me that they would be so willing to travel across the Atlantic to go and see her despite her ignoring them. Her storyline within the book was intriguing and I spent most of the book assuming what was going to happen and was blindsided with what did occur.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience of reading Wayward Son and feel that any true Rainbow Rowell fan will adore it as well. It has the well developed characters, an interesting plot and the banter between the characters that everyone loves.

I rated it: 3.5 Stars

Thank you to Pan MacMillan for providing me with a copy of Wayward Son for review.

It is now available for purchase in Australia where books are sold.

Aus YA Bloggers Blog Tour: I am Change review

Good morning everyone and welcome to my blog stop on the Aus YA Bloggers, in conjunction with Walker Books, tour for I am Change by Suzy Zail. 

I Am Change is a revolutionary book which focuses upon female empowerment and determination in the face of a society where women have no voice. It tackles some very complex and serious issues within Ugandan society and is influenced by a number of women from the country. Zail has taken elements from each woman’s story and woven them together to create a heartfelt narrative which gets to the core of the lack of human rights in the country, especially in regards to women. From the outset, it is an extremely moving and emotionally challenging read but has the power to provide those women with a voice of their realities in the 21^st Century.

The narrative follows Lillian, a young girl living in a small African village, and her plight to fight for change in a society where women are considered to solely bear children and look after their family. While the norms of her society are against her, Lillian is strongly determined to show her family and her village that she is capable of so much more than just getting married off at a young age and having a large family.

From the outset of the book, it is clear that Lillian is a strong willed and determined young girl. She, unlike many other girls her age, is completely focused on attending school and getting as far in her education as she can. This isn’t considered the norm as it is in developed countries, as it is really only the boys who are expected to further themselves. While she is subject to many setbacks, her goal never seems to waver. Despite her family trying to prevent her from going to school and throwing obstacles at her, she still tries her best at everything that she does. When all this is going on, the raw emotion in the writing is evident. The reader is able to sense the fear instilled in Lillian, that her dream of completing her education is slowly being torn away from her.

This book is so raw and emotional and makes the reader aware of the injustices still going on the other side of the world. There are various triggering scenes which include rape, domestic violence and female genital mutilation. These are unfortunately all things which are still occurring in the daily lives on Ugandan women. Female students are exploited at school by male, dominating teachers who believe that they are there to rule over the female students. These girls are taken advantage of so that they are able to have the rights that the male students are given automatically. Lillian’s friend is one of the girls who is affected by this and Lillian wants to seek revenge but due to her standing, this seems like an impossible task. One of the saddest scenes in this book regards Lillian’s sister, Nakato. Nakato went missing years ago and when Lillian goes to the city, she sets herself a goal to find her. The reader discovers that the only reason Nakato fled was because she did not want to her genitals to be mutilated, which was considered to be a custom of their tribe. Due to this and the fact she was unable to return to her family, Nakato resorted to a life so far from what she had hoped for herself.

Another aspect of the book which really drew out the emotion was when the characters were talking about marriage. In the 21^st Century, it is still common practice for girls under the age of 16 to be married to men more than double their age. The characters in this book were no exception as some of Lillian’s school friends were married off. Lillian was horrified by this and wanted to ensure that she was not subject to this, as she believed that people should marry for love and not to improve their social standing.

Overall, I am Change is a book which I believe all young girls should read (but maybe not until they are 15-16). While it did take me a little while to get into the book, by the end I was in awe of Lillian and the strength she possessed over her short life thus far. It is a book which promotes women’s rights in countries where women still have little rights and are treated incredibly poorly. It raises awareness of issues which, in Western countries, many people would consider to have disappeared many years ago. I hope that by raising more awareness of the injustices of these women, that change is able to occur in the future and these traditional views of these countries are able to adapt to be more inclusive of all.

I rated this book: 3 and a half stars out of 5

Thank you to Walker Books for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review and for Aus YA bloggers for providing me with the opportunity to participate in the blog tour!

I am Change is available now in Australian bookstores.

Crown of Coral and Pearl: Review

Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford is the first instalment in a new young adult fantasy series. Taking place on top of the ocean and on land, it shows the lengths that those will go to for their family and others, for almighty power. It is fast paced and action packed and despite this, the characters are also extremely well developed. 

Before I go too much further, I will add the synopsis below:

For generations, the princes of Ilara have married the most beautiful maidens from the ocean village of Varenia. But though every girl longs to be chosen as the next princess, the cost of becoming royalty is higher than any of them could ever imagine… Nor once dreamed of seeing the wondrous wealth and beauty of Ilara, the kingdom that has ruled her village for as long as anyone can remember. But when a childhood accident left her with a permanent scar, it became clear that her identical twin sister, Zadie, would likely be chosen to marry the crown prince- while Nor remained behind, unable to ever set foot on land. Then Zadie is gravely injured, and Nor is sent to Ilara in her place…  When she arrives in Ilara, Nor is confronted with a cruel prince and a castle that is carved into a mountain which is difficult to leave. She discovers that the prince has sinister plans for her homeland and that she needs to uncover them before it’s too late.

Crown of Coral and Pearl is a unique take on young adult fantasy. It incorporates settings which I have never read about before and a fascinating plot.  The idea of having an ocean village was interesting from the get go. It was intriguing how this race of people lived out in the sea, on top of the ocean in floating houses and were unable to step foot on land without getting into trouble by the kingdom that ruled them. Once we get further into the story, I really liked the idea of the New Castle and Old Castle. Having a castle built into a mountain, with all these interesting caverns underneath and other features made for a change from the normal ‘royal castles’ which feature in every young adult fantasy book. The castle appeared to have a personality of its own which really added to the plot.

The plot was a wonderful aspect of this book and really made it shine. I liked how the author focused on so many themes including the strength of a sisterly bond, the concept of beauty, hidden love, the struggle of ultimate power and the strength of determination to name a few. I admire the author and how she didn’t rush into the main plot of the story. She allowed adequate time to set up the main setting (ocean village), the relationships between the main characters who were living there, provided an opportunity for the reader to understand their situation within the kingdom, what they did for an occupation and an insight into how the most beautiful girl was sent away to be queen. By setting the book up like this, the reader was able to have a strong grasp about what was occurring before the plot moved along and a deep understanding of the characters and their motives. Throughout the rest of the book, the plot was well paced and the reader was not left bored at any point. There was constantly something happening to Nor or something that she was trying to find out, to assist her overall motive to stop the prince.

The characters were extremely well rounded and developed. They made the book so enjoyable and were very realistic in their descriptions and actions. While there were little physical descriptions, the characters were easily able to distinguish from their emotions and their actions that they made throughout the book. When the characters were happy, as a reader you could feel that through them and the same when they were sad or distressed. The author used a substantial amount of emotive language to get this across to the reader. I loved the relationship between Zadie and Nor and how they would do anything for each other. Despite the hardships that they faced, they were both willing to make sacrifices for each other to ensure that they were where they were meant to be. I also enjoyed seeing the relationship between Nor and Talin develop over time, as they came to help each other in their plight for the same thing, to protect the people of Varenia. The author can also write a villain extremely well. From his introduction, it was clear that Ceren was a character to be aware of as he appeared suspicious from the beginning from his intentions. One character I really struggled to like and did not feel sorry for was Nor and Zadie’s mother. She was so concerned about maintaining her twin daughter’s beauty, no matter the expense it had on her relationship with them. She was cold and even when her daughter was sent away to be married, she did not even have the heart to say goodbye. While she did not appear in the book for long, her impact on Nor was felt throughout the course of the book.

I extremely enjoyed reading Crown of Coral and Pearl. It was a wonderful book which delved into a new land and featured so many interesting and deep characters with calculating motives. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a new young adult fantasy read.

I rated this book: 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Harlequin Publishers Australia for providing me with an advanced copy to provide an honest review.

Crown of Coral and Pearl will be released on the 19^th of August in Australia.

Blog Tour and review: Trails in the Dust by Joy Dettman

Trails in the Dust by Joy Dettman is the seventh installment in the Woody Creek series. It follows Jenny Hooper and her extended family, as they grapple with their own issues and how these may come to impact the family to a larger extent. While it is the seventh book in the series, it can be read as a stand alone as the reader can gain most of the context from within the book.

The synopsis:

After many tumultuous years spent grappling with the past, Jenny Hooper might have expected her latter years to be the best of her life, and they are - until tragedy strikes. Left floundering in a house full of memories, not all of them good, Jenny knows a reckoning is in order.But it won't be easy. History is beginning to repeat itself for Jenny's adopted daughter, Trudy, who finds herself trapped in an abusive relationship. Jenny and her older daughter, Georgie, can only stand by and watch as Trudy's life implodes. Meanwhile, half a world away in the UK, Cara and her husband Morrie nurture a devastating secret that keeps them at arm's length from Jenny. But most of all, Jenny wants to renew contact with the beloved son she lost decades before when she was at her lowest ebb. Only that, and having the chance to tell him the truth about what happened, will give her peace. But is it too late?

Trails in the Dust was my first Joy Dettman book so going into this, I was unsure what to expect or if I would be able to begin my reading journey of the series, starting with the final book. I feel like it would benefit readers to pick up from the beginning of the series, for clarity and to see the journeys that the various characters have taken over time. Despite this, it certainly could be read independently and most of the plot will make sense.

Dettman has cemented herself as an author that excels when writing about small, rural towns. The small Australian town vibe in this book connects the reader to the plot from the first chapter. Throughout the course of the book, we are provided with various different lenses to deepen our understanding of the situations which come about through the multiple POV. This is done in such a way that the reader is able to consider one character in a variety of different ways and how those around them feel about them. The main perspective focused on is that of key character Jenny. Jenny is portrayed as a caring mother at the beginning, yet this is contradicted during this book as she attempts to reconnect with her long lost son. This is a sore point for Jenny and due to this and other critical events during the book, Jenny is portrayed as someone who is quite flighty and willing to take risks. I found some of the decisions Jenny made over the course of the book difficult to understand, due to events which had previously unfolded. This adds to the quality of the book, as Dettman has the ability to make somewhat rash decisions feel natural and like something that would occur in real life situations. The inclusion of the flashbacks to various different points of Jenny’s (and the other character’s lives) were also insightful. The reader was able to attain a greater understanding of the context of the situations at hand and why they were so significant.

Trails in the Dust is quite a realistic book. The events and situations which unfold throughout the book are things which could easily occur within real life. The tragic death of loved ones, foster caring, domestic violence, issues relating to old age in general and adoption are all topics which are covered in the book. The characters within the book are also painted as imperfect too. Each of the characters have their own personal issues that they are coming to terms with and attempting to resolve. Some of these issues impact other characters in the book, while others just impact themselves. Despite the majority of the book being realistic, I found the part near the end where Nick is high on drugs and kidnaps Jenny to be somewhat unrealistic.Despite this, I could see how it was included due to the build up of tension between Nick and Jenny's daughter Trudy, throughout the course of the book. 

I did find the book to be a little hard to read and follow at some points and am unsure whether this would have been aided if I had read the previous six books in the series. This may be due to the author’s incredibly descriptive style of writing which does take some adapting to. I also found the characters to be quite unlikeable, I’m not sure whether this was what the author was going for or not. They were so immersed within their own bubbles that they were not aware of what was going on around them and the implications their own actions were having on the world around them. There were also so many different characters, it was difficult to decipher who was related to who when it was often never explicitly stated, especially in relation to some of the side characters.  This may be easier for those who have read the other books in the series.

Overall, Trails in the Dust was a nice change of genre for me. I would recommend to those who enjoy books set around small country towns with an emphasis upon family. While it certainly can be read as a standalone, if you would like a little more context, I would recommend checking out the first book in the Woody Creek series.

I rated this book: 3 Stars ⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to MacMillan Publishers for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is now available for purchase in Australia from bookstores nationwide.

Publication date: 25^th June 2019

Publication form: Trade paperback

RRP: $32.99

Review: Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Storm and Fury is a young adult fantasy novel which integrates supernatural beings into a high paced text. It is not the first novel of Armentrout's that I have read, I have previously read some of her YA contemporaries and also quite enjoyed them too. It is quite lengthy for the first novel in a series but it engages the reader throughout, as the plot evolves over time. It encompasses so much within its pages and plot including, but not limited to, strong friendships, deceit and betrayal, adventure, complex yet lovable characters and of course demons who stir up trouble. 

The blurb:

Eighteen year old Trinity Marrow may be going blind, but she can see and communicate with ghosts and spirits. Her unique gift is part of a secret so dangerous that she’s been in hiding for years in an isolated compound fiercely guarded by Wardens- gargoyle shape-shifters who protect humankind from demons. If the demons discover the truth about Trinity, they’ll devour her, flesh and bone, to enhance their own powers.

When Wardens from another clan arrive with disturbing reports that something out there is killing both demons and Wardens, Trinity’s safe world implodes. Not the least because one of the outsiders is the most annoying and fascinating person she’s ever met. Zayne has secrets of his own that will upend her world yet again- but working together becomes imperative once demons breach the compound and Trinity’s secret comes to light. To save her family and maybe the world, she’ll have to put her trust in Zayne. But all bets are off as a supernatural war is unleashed…

The things I enjoyed…

•           I really enjoyed the world building. The author was able to successfully use two current states within the US (Virginia and Washington D.C.) to establish her story. While she could have created her own world, I think by putting it into the context of the United States, it made it feel more authentic. Her descriptions of the settings made you feel like you were there.
•           The characters. I loved Trinity and her determination and courage. Despite having a degenerative disease which was impacting her vision, she still aimed to do her absolute best at everything which was thrown at her. I also really enjoyed seeing the relationship between Trinity and Zayne develop. While at first Trinity was hesitant about the mysterious Zayne and his outsider clan, she eventually opened up to him and their relationship blossomed. I also really liked Peanut the ghost. He was such a fun addition to the cast of characters and was extremely enjoyable to read about. His antics and mischief brought happiness to Trinity when she was struggling most.
•           The different demons within the book made for a rollercoaster ride. You never knew when the demons were going to appear and this kept me engaged throughout the course of the book. I did get some vibes similar to that of V.E. Schwab’s Monsters of Verity series which is one of my favourite series’ of all time so I thought it was great that another author has delved into the world of demons and monsters and written them so well.
•           The inclusion of the Wardens and their gargoyle form was also a fascinating element of this book. I haven’t read a book before that includes gargoyles and thought it was a wonderful inclusion to the book. The shape shifting in their forms was very interesting too and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about it.

Things I thought could have been adjusted... 

•  Storm and Fury is quite a lengthy book. While I thought it was written very well and the plot kept me engaged throughout, I did feel like the book dragged in some places. I do think it lacked in some action during the middle of the book and that the action near the conclusion seemed to happen very quickly. As it was a book over 500 pages, I would have thought the action that has been building up over the whole book would have been a little longer. Overall though, most of the book was well paced and kept me interested in what was going to happen next.
•  I did find Trinity’s secret a bit predictable (but this may just be due to me reading too many books and working plot twists out too early!) I feel like the extent of her powers was sort of washed over too, I would have liked to have known more about them. This may be in the author’s previous series which I have not read, so I won’t hold that against her and she may have already explained it.

Overall, I did thoroughly enjoy Storm and Fury. It had elements which made it stand out from any other fantasy book I have read before and which kept the reader interested and engaged throughout the plot. I would highly recommend it to older YA fantasy lovers who like books with a complex plot and who love the fight of good against evil.

I rated this book 3.5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐🟀

Thank you to the publishers, Harlequin Books, for providing me with a copy for review.

Storm and Fury is out now and can be purchased from bookstores in Australia.

Book Review: The Secret Letter by Debbie Rix

The Secret Letter is a beautiful, yet heart wrenching tale which addresses the horrors of World War II from the perspective of the Germans and the British. It delves into the lives of two adolescent girls, not only from two different countries but quite different backgrounds, and their experiences during the years of the war. The story begins in 1939 and spans through until the early 1950s, following each girl, the difficulties that they faced and how one of them changed the others life forever.

We are told the story from two different perspectives: that of 13 year old Magda and 15 year old Imogen (this is how old they are when the story begins in 1939). Magda lives in a rural German village, not far from Munich, where she is forced to participate in Hitler related activities at school and pretend she hails him as the Fuhrer. This is something that she struggles with as she discovers over time, through communication with her brother, that Hitler is doing dreadful things (including taking her best friend away). Over the course of the book, Magda grows enormously, as she aims to do what is right and not what all the other Germans are doing. When enemy fighter planes go down near the farm, Magda does all that she can to assist and help them back to health so that they can make home to their families and to the cause against Germany. Despite being subject to harassment, sexual abuse and threats from the Gestapo, Magda stays true to her beliefs and fights for the freedom of all. I found her character developed so much throughout the book. At the beginning she made small changes to rebel against her school mates, which then led to larger changes including supporting the White Rose and hiding enemies in her house. I admired her strength and determination and how she had no fear, no matter what situation she was put in. She was such a selfless character who always wanted to help those around her who were going through hardships. 

The second narrator is Imogen, a young British girl who is forced to move to the lakes with others adolescents from her city so that they are away from the risks of bombings. As she moves around throughout the war years, from the lakes to London, France and back again, she throws her heart and soul into her job working for the war effort as a Wren but she always feels like something is missing. Imogen struggles with her love life, as she has a couple of short flings but pines for her one true love, unsure if he ever loved her as more than a friend. I found Imogen’s love life throughout the book to really play with my emotions. She was a girl that knew what she wanted, but it was just out of her reach. This would have been the case for so many relationships within the war time, the men going off to war and the women never knowing if they would come back. Rix made this part of the plot so seamless, it was as if the reader was feeling the same emotions as the characters.

I adored this book from start to finish. By having the story span over a number of years, it was great to see all of the characters develop and change so much over time and the impact that their actions had on future events. I was immersed into the world of Germany and England and felt like I was a part of the story, the story, the characters and the events were extremely emotive. Rix writes beautifully and in such a way that the contents of each page feel lifelike. One part that really toyed with my emotions was when Magda was sexually assaulted, I was extremely upset and hoped that she would get her revenge. There was no point during this book where I felt the plot lacked or slowed down, it was a high paced adventure that kept me engaged throughout. The most special part of this book was reading through and trying to work out the connections between Imogen and Magda prior to anything being revealed. As the first chapter was told in the present day, a letter between the two characters, you knew that there was going to be some form of connection between them and it was fascinating seeing how Rix interwove their stories together. The most amazing part of this book was the relationships between the characters and I feel like this was what kept me so interested as I wanted to see what happened at the end.

I would highly recommend this to those who have read The Nightingale and The Book Thief and thoroughly enjoyed them. It is a story of sacrifice, love, motivation, strength and perseverance which captivates you until the final page. It is historical fiction but is based on true events which occurred during World War II. I was blown away by this book and I’m sure you will be too.

I rated this book: 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to the publishers, Bookouture, and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy.

The Secret Letter will be released internationally on the 22^nd of July 2019

Book Review: King of Fools by Amanda Foody

King of Fools is the second book in the Shadow Game series (with Ace of Shades being the first), written by Amanda Foody. If you haven’t read Ace of Shades and plan to in the future, there are a couple of spoilers from that, as this is a sequel and the synopsis does mention a couple- just skip the next paragraph or first couple of sentences.

King of Fools is an action packed, fast paced sequel set in the notorious City of Sin, which follows on directly from the first instalment. It begins as Enne and Levi have just escaped the Shadow Game, when they are faced with the fall out and a series of repercussions, including a bounty on both of their heads. This book focuses on the main characters attempting to fix the fate of New Reynes through their own deeds and with the assistance of other stakeholders and gangs. This is done both criminally and politically. The narrative is told through three different perspectives of Levi, Enne and Jac as they each face different challenges over a series of months. Levi, with the development of an unlikely partnership, Enne, attempting to build her own gang and stuck between being a street lord and proper lady, and Jac who builds an unlikely friendship with a woman who holds significant power over one of the cities wealthiest families.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Despite its intimidating size, it kept me engaged throughout and the fast pace made me want to keep reading into the night. One thing that really stood out to me was the inclusion of three narrators. As there was a lot more going on in this book, by having each of the main characters narrate, as a reader, we were able to see further into the plot and what was going on. This also allowed for the characters to develop further and to discover more about their context. I especially liked reading Jac’s point of view, as he was only a secondary character in the first book and this book really allowed for him to show what he was capable of. Jac was able to prove that he was more than just Levi’s second and he could make his own choices based upon what he believed in. I found Enne’s chapters thrilling to read too, as she battled with herself and what she believed in, whether she should be a street lord or whether she should just be a set of eyes for Vianca.

Unlike other young adult fantasy books, I commend Foody for writing about some topics which other authors may find confronting or shy away from. Within this book, there is mention of drug addiction and abuse, torture and parental abuse (to name only a few). While these scenes may be confronting for some, they allow the reader to visualise the high stakes of the city and the lengths that the characters will go to, to ensure that they are in control.

Another aspect of the book I really enjoyed was the inclusion of Enne’s gang and the feminist representation within. These girls all came together with a common goal of seizing power in a city where the men were seen to rule the gangs. Despite their differences, they all worked together to achieve their goals despite numerous setbacks. I also admired the character of Enne and how she changed so much from Ace of Shades. Her character development was phenomenal, going from a girl who was used to a fancy finishing school, to leading a gang. Over time, she learnt the ways of the city and that it was a fight to survive.

This book also included mystery within its pages too. This aura of mystery made me want to continue reading, to find out what was happening. There was the mystery regarding who Vianca’s third omerta was which left the reader guessing throughout the whole book. There was also the mystery regarding Sophie, who she is and what her intentions were over the course of the book. These were two things within the book which kept me guessing until the very end and made me engage more with the plot.

I also felt like the characters were further developed throughout this book. While the various other gangs were introduced in Ace of Shades, King of Fools gave Foody the opportunity to flesh out these gangs and the members within them. The reader was able to find out more about the gangs, what they were after (considering the events of the previous book) and how they aimed to achieve this. There were shifting alliances, new members joining old gangs and new gangs being formed. I especially liked learning more about the Scarhands and the Doves as they were previously introduced but not too much was known about them.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading King of Fools and following Enne, Levi and Jac on their journeys in New Reynes. This was a book that kept me engaged throughout due to its fast pace and inclusion of so much action. I am very much looking forward to reading the next book when it is released to see where the plot goes!

I rated this book: 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

King of Fools will be released in Australia later this month and has already been released in the US. Thank you to the publishers, Harlequin Australia, for providing me with a review copy via NetGalley

More about the book and information regarding where to purchase can be found by accessing the link below:

https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9781489276971/king-of-fools/

Blog Tour: Sky by Ondine Sherman

Welcome to my blog and my stop on the Sky blog tour!

Sky by Ondine Sherman is a young adult contemporary book which tackles many issues young adult authors have shyed away from in the past. It considers veganism and the struggles that come with that, animal rights, coming to terms with the death of a parent and trying to fit into a new town.

The synopsis is as follows:

After her mother’s death, Sky leaves her city life to move in with her aunt and uncle in a small Australian town. When her mum was alive, Sky knew who she was: a kind hearted and full of a passion for justice, especially the rights of animals. She was also a vegan whose hero was Jane Goodall. And until recently, she preferred the company of dogs to boys. But being vegan and trying to fit in to her new home isn’t easy. Her aunt has forgotten she doesn’t eat meat, and Sky is desperately lonely without her mother and friends. It seems the only way to fit in and make friends is to pretend to be someone she’s not.

When Sky starts to investigate the local chicken farm for a school project, the cruelty she witnesses goes to the very heart of who she is. She knows she has to do something, but what? Can one single act really make a difference? 

Let’s start off with the characters. I thought the inclusion of a vegan protagonist was a great idea, but the execution I did struggle with a little. I found Sky to be quite difficult. She had been through a lot in the past few months with the loss of her mum and with the move to the country to live with her aunt and uncle. Despite this, I still feel like she was very blunt towards her aunt. She was abrupt towards her because she forgot that she was vegan. I feel like Sky could have just told her that she didn’t eat meat because I’m sure it was just an honest mistake and that it wasn’t due to her not caring about her. Her aunt was also going through a very difficult time, losing her sister, struggling to make ends meet and conceive. I just wish that Sky was a little more understanding and could see that she was not the only one with problems in her life.

I found the parts of the book regarding her new friends interesting. All Sky wanted to do was fit in and that ultimately meant hanging out with the ‘cool’ kids. I enjoyed seeing Sky and her attempts to fit in with this group, while it did not eventuate in the end. This is an all too common situation in high schools, with students trying to fit a mould that they don’t fit and bringing it into the book made it more realistic. I was saddened when she was trying to fit in by not eating (where there were no vegan options), I feel like she should have been upfront about this but suppose that she felt she would not have been cool if she’d been honest about her views.

The animal rights arc within this book was extremely prominent and so critical to the main themes being conveyed. I applaud Sky for standing up for the chickens and for what she believed was right. Without her risky antics, the farm would never have been discovered as being unethical and she could live knowing that she made a difference to the lives of hundreds of animals. I feel like by using chickens as examples, you get two sides of an argument. Some people do not believe that having chickens in cages is animal cruelty while others do. If this had of been written with a more severe case of animal cruelty, you would not have been able to see two sides of an argument. Nevertheless, the book goes into great depth about the impact that the cages have upon the chickens and how they would benefit from being free from the cages.

I thought that this was a really eye opening book. This was the first book I’d ever read that is focused around animal rights and veganism. In young adult books, it is so important to consider new views and I feel like this book did it in a positive way. These are issues which are present in Australia today and I felt that Sherman has done an excellent job at portraying these to those who may not have been aware of them.

While I am not vegan, while reading this book I came to accept veganism and it increased my understanding of vegans and how they are so passionate about what they believe in and strive to make the world a better place. I would highly recommend this book to younger young adult readers as it is very easy to read and deals with complex issues that they might find easier to understand in a novel format. It places so much importance on veganism as a lifestyle choice and how Sky aims to stick to this despite numerous battles.

I rated this 3/5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐

Sky is available for purchase now from all good booksellers in Australia

Thank you to Pantera Press and Aus YA Bloggers for providing me with a copy of the book for review purposes and for allowing me to participate in the blog tour!

 Happy reading J

Review: The Boy who Steals Houses

The Boy who Steals Houses is the second novel written by Australian author C.G. Drews. It is just as emotional as her first novel, A Thousand Perfect Notes (if you haven’t read it, please do yourself a favour and pick it up), but also focuses on so many other important issues that other authors seem to shy away from.

The synopsis is as follows:

Can two broken boys find their perfect home?
Sam is only fifteen but he and his autistic older brother, Avery, have been abandoned by every relative he's ever known. Now Sam's trying to build a new life for them. He survives by breaking into empty houses when their owners are away, until one day he's caught out when a family returns home. To his amazement this large, chaotic family takes him under their wing - each teenager assuming Sam is a friend of another sibling. Sam finds himself inextricably caught up in their life, and falling for the beautiful Moxie. 
But Sam has a secret, and his past is about to catch up with him.

Often it takes me a while to get into a book, but this novel had me captivated from the first few pages. Early on we learn that main character, Sam (Sammy) Lou and his brother Avery are both homeless. While Avery often gets by through couch surfing, Sam goes around breaking into people’s houses, whether they are on holiday or just out for the night, so that he has somewhere safe to stay. He collects the house keys from each house so it gives him a sense of hope that maybe one day he will have somewhere that he can call home. The story is told through both the present day and through a series of flashbacks. The flashbacks retell events which occurred between the boys and various family members over a number of years. The most difficult part I found to deal with was the domestic violence. The domestic violence that both him and Avery were subject to was difficult to read and how Sam in particular was treated by various people within his life was upsetting. Both boys had been through so much in life, they were well overdue for some happiness. Throughout the whole book, all I wanted to do was alleviate some of Sam’s pain.

One aspect of the book I really thought was well done was the Autism rep. All too often authors shy away from representing people with disabilities in their books but the character of Avery was so well done. The tics, panic attacks, need for routine and things to not change and being naïve are all things commonly associated with Autism and these were all represented in Avery. The one thing which stood out to me was his relationship with his ‘older’ friends and how they took advantage of him. This is all too common of people with Autism as all they want is to feel accepted. I loved seeing the relationship between Avery and Sam develop throughout the novel too. Even though Sam was the little brother, he was so protective of his older brother that he would do anything to ensure that he was safe. This was not only in the present time of the story, but through the flashbacks too.

While I absolutely loved every aspect of this book, what really stood out to me were the characters, not only Sam and Avery, but each member of the DeLainey family who appear after Sam is discovered in their house. Each DeLainey family member has their own quirks and it was great seeing them develop a relationship with Sam over time. Moxie was certainly a stand out and she was such a fun character to read about as she dared to be different. It was like reading about a regular family from the suburbs and it was so easy to relate to in that sense. I also really liked reading about the other characters who were key to the story, but who had a negative impact upon the main characters (I won’t go into detail as, spoilers). While these characters were awful to Sam and Avery, it was interesting to discover the reasons behind their actions and how these had an impact on the future.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Boy who Steals Houses. While it was an emotional rollercoaster which involved so many themes, ultimately it was the relationship between Sam and Avery which made this book so special. The brotherly bond was critical to the plot and withheld everything that was thrown at them over the years. So will Sam and Avery find a place to call home? You will need to read this beautiful piece of work to find out!

I rated this book: 4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Boy who Steals Houses is released on the 9th of April in Australia

Thank you to the publishers, Hachette Australia, for providing me a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.