Emmie and the Tudor Queen review

 

Emmie and the Tudor Queen is the stunning sequel to 2019, Emmie and the Tudor King. The latter was one of my favourite reads of last year and I was excited to fall back into the same world and immerse myself with the characters I’d come to love. It did not disappoint as it integrated another one of my favourite things, history and in particular, Tudor history! If you haven’t read the first book you may want to stop here, or if you are happy with some mild spoilers, feel free to read on!

The book starts where the last one finished up, with Emmie deciding she wants to live in the 16^th Century with Nick and leave her old life behind. She is announced as the future queen and there is still a strong sense of scepticism about who she is and where she has come from. While there is a lot of other problems within the inner circle going on throughout the course of the book, the key part of the plot is Emmie ultimately deciding if the 16^th Century is really worth it or if she should return to the 21^st Century to be with her parents.

My favourite part of sequels is the opportunity we are provided with to reconnect with the characters we came to love in first instalments. It was great to see the character development of the main characters, Emmie and Nick, and how they started to approach problems they were faced with in a different way. Emmie’s resilience really shone through in this book and there were numerous times where I thought she would give up but she persevered. I also really enjoyed some of the side characters and felt they added so much to the experience. Alice Grey and Francis were highlights, whose development grew so much in this book and it was nice to see the chemistry grew between them.

It was certainly a fast-paced book which wasn’t too long, and kept me engaged throughout. There was always some form of drama unfolding which needed to be dealt with, whether it being Emmie and Nick’s difficult decision to make about where to live, Alice and Francis’ relationship which was very entertaining and overall, Emmie’s dilemma which was the key focus of the text. Something that really stood out and I felt worked really well was the shifting back and forth in time between the 21^st Century and 16^th Century. In this book, it happened more often and each time Emmie went home, she was more torn about whether to stay or whether to leave again to be with Nick. I also loved the dynamic between her and her mum which started off a bit hostile but grew throughout the pages as she came to understand the situation (however unreal it may have seemed!)

As a lover of historical fiction and someone who is, admittedly, becoming fonder of romance as she grows older, I thoroughly enjoyed the wild ride that Emmie and the Tudor King took me on. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will grow to love the characters who each bear their own strengths and weaknesses. Definitely excited if there is a sequel! 

Emmie and the Tudor Queen is available now in Australia/US! Thank you to the author, Natalie Murray, for providing me with a copy for review! 

I rated this book: 4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Where We Begin review

 

Where we Begin is a unique, coming of age novel which has the reader hanging on until the final pages. While marketed as a YA contemporary, it includes some mature themes which would be targeted for older young adult readers and adults. It is a book which includes elements of a variety of genres including mystery, romance and part thriller while the key theme identified is the emphasis of family.

In the book, we follow seventeen-year-old Anna. She is unhappy with her home life as her dad works overseas, there is tension with her mum, her mum also dislikes her choice of boyfriend due to his race and she is overall, very stressed. She packs her things and runs away in the night, to her estranged grandparents house in Central Victoria. She thinks the move will help her work out her feelings, but with two people she hasn’t met before who are acting very strangely, will it bring up ghosts from the past?

I devoured this book in a couple of days. Hooked from the first page and drawn into Anna’s very intense life, I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going on. From the first chapter, it was clear that there was more going on but as we read on, more information is disclosed and clues are dropped. The plot was fast moving, even while Anna was living with Bette and Hessel, and continued to throw things at Anna until the end of the book. I loved the mystery and how it was evident there was something sinister going on in the small town. and This kept me guessing until the conclusion. I don’t want to go into detail because it would be a bit spoilery but there are certainly some family twists and turns! As a frequent reader of mysteries and thrillers I may have caught on to the twist but it still packed a punch.

The highlight of the book for me were the characters. Every single character had strong, distinct characteristics which set them aside from the others. All too often main characters in contemporary books seem to melt into one another and appear the same but not in this one. Anna is a fearless, determined young woman who is seeking answers about her mother’s mysterious past life and won’t let anyone get in her way. Bette and Hessel, the unusual grandparents who have been absent from Anna’s life but the reader is unsure as to why. A stand out character for me was Basil. From his first appearance, he was an instantly likeable larrikin who lit up the room. He was very well written as his enthusiasm and care towards others spanned throughout the entire book. Despite them only just meeting, Basil and Anna struck up an instant friendship which felt authentic. Another character who wasn’t featured much but had a strong impact was Cathy, Anna’s mum. Cathy and Anna had a complex relationship which was fleshed out as the plot progressed and it was nice to see by the conclusion, they were each able to identify their mistakes and begin to move on.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book in its entirety. The descriptions of setting were vivid throughout, making the reader feel like they had stepped out in Central Victoria. The plot was well thought out and the flashbacks provided further context to the issues in the present day. Nieman has approached some serious issues in a sensitive manner and considered scenarios which could be based on true events. I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to read about the key themes of family, belonging with some mystery intertwined.

Where we Begin is released on the 25^th of August. Thank you to Macmillan for providing me with a copy for review.

I rated this book: 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: You Were Made For Me by Jenna Guillaume

You Were Made For Me is a fluffy, contemporary YA novel that leaves the reader in a ‘feel good’ mood. Contemporaries are some of my favourite reads as they confront realistic issues which are present for many teenagers and adults alike. Something else that is great is that it is written by a Love Oz Ya author!

The book is focused on main character Katie and her dream of having her first kiss and a dream boyfriend. She is seventeen years old and embarrassed that unlike her best friend, she’s never had a love interest and feels like she needs to change this. One day, she and her best friend magically make her dream boat character and the rest of the book deals with the implications of this.

When I first came across this book, the plot instantly intrigued me. A girl creating her perfect boyfriend? It seems like something every woman would be interested in and I couldn’t wait to read it to see one, how it happened and two, what the issues arising might be. I wasn’t disappointed. It is a short book but one which the reader will fly through as it keeps you engaged, from start to finish. While it addresses somewhat similar issues to contemporary YA novels, it adds an extra element by having a character developed out of basically nothing. It was interesting seeing the dynamic between the characters change once this addition was introduced and how Katie and her friends attempted to hide him from their families (quite unsuccessfully!)

The characters in this book each differed significantly and their own traits were very distinct unlike some other YA reads. I liked how Katie and her friends were not part of the popular clique and were the ones trying their hardest to fit in as we got to witness their struggles and later, triumphs. Theo was probably my favourite character in the book; he remained the realist throughout and just wanted to help Katie, Libby and Guy rather than trying to shift the focus to himself. He is so selfless despite losing him mum previously to illness and being a bit of a forgotten soul in his family. Guy was one character that I struggled to get into. He was essentially a long lost Hemsworth brother as described by Katie and as he was ‘perfect’, had very robotic tendencies. He wanted to be everything Katie was, hanging out with her 24/7. I feel he may have needed some more depth but I think the author was going for these characteristics to make him appear needy so Katie would realise that being perfect, isn’t actually a reality. It also allowed her to eventually see that her crush at high school, Declan Bell-Jones, was an absolute waste of time!

One thing I did find I struggled with was some of the writing. The writing felt quite juvenile, aimed at characters aged in their early teens rather than late teens. This was evident as main character Katie appeared overly dramatic which seems to be a characteristic of younger protagonists. She was referring to kissing a boy as being a milestone moment for her whilst many other young adult books grapple with other issues at this age. I was intrigued that within scenes similar to this that there would be a random outburst regarding sex or something more mature, which seemed out of place considering the rest of the plot. The characters just needed to appear a bit older than they were portrayed to make it seem more realistic for the age group.

A real stand out and the focus of the book would be the themes which were addressed throughout. The overarching theme was that being perfect isn’t really all that it’s perked up to be and friendships trump relationships every time! I applaud the author for also including a diversity including a Filipina-Australian, referencing asexual and aromantic and also considering characters who were not the stereotypical size small. These are things which are starting to be more commonly found in young adult books and it is great to see more people being represented!

Overall, I found this a great, easy read which read quite similarly to a rom-com. It was fun, had a wide cast of characters who you either loved or hated and kept me turning the page to see what happened next! I’d highly recommend to anyone wanting something lighter to read to raise their spirits.

3 and a half stars

Thank you to MacMillan for providing me with a copy for review

You Were Made For Me by Jenna Guillaume is released in Australia on the 11^th of August!

Music From Another World review

Welcome to July and to another book review from me! 

Music from Another World is a beautifully written and heartfelt novel which deals with some diverse issues in a different time period. While it is ultimately classed as YA historical fiction, it feels more like a contemporary novel which delves into 1970s America and follows the two protagonists as they fight for causes close to their hearts. At times it made me smile, laugh and cry all in one!

The book follows Tammy, a closeted lesbian from Orange County and Sharon, a girl just trying to find her place in a hyped up San Francisco and their journey as pen pals over a year long period. Both girls attend highly religious Christian schools and are working towards supporting the LGBTQI scene, but attempting to conceal it so that they are not punished by their families. At this time, the LGBTQI scene was only starting to emerge and this is evident throughout the book as the girls come to terms with what it means to support the cause and how it may impact their lives forever.

First up, I need to rave about how this book was formatted. It was written as a series of letters, between both Tammy and Sharon and their own personal letters that they wrote in their diaries. It gives the story a personal touch as you get an insight into how they were feeling and wanted to approach different situations they were confronted with. In these letters, they also went into detail about things that they were doing and how they unfolded which other books written in this way tend to neglect. I also liked how there were gaps of time in the plot. While there were a couple of months missing at various points, the narrative still plodded along and it was easy to decipher what had happened during this time without missing knowledge.  

Another aspect of the book that I really enjoyed were the characters. While the plot of the book was extremely engaging, the characters really made this book. I loved reading from the perspectives of both Tammy and Sharon: Tammy who wanted to reveal herself to her family but was too afraid of how they would judge her and Sharon who wanted all LGBTQI people to be equally treated and respected within society. Both of these girls were genuine, had flaws and faced issues which were representative of the time in history. Despite the hardships that they faced, I loved how they remained true to themselves right the way through. Another character that really made the book was Tammy’s aunt. While depicted as the ‘villain’, I felt that Aunt Mandy added an extra element to the book. She was nasty, she was manipulative while putting on a façade and having her as a close contact as Tammy made it even more realistic- I am sure that there were situations like this that have arisen throughout history as families attempt to oust family members because they may not conform. Sharon’s brother was also a favourite as he was the only one that she could rely on to be honest with her.

The diversity in this book is what made it such a great read for me. While I have read a number of books with gay main characters (namely Simon Vs, Autoboyography), I had never read a book featuring lesbian main characters. I feel like there may not be as many books featuring female-female relationships but am hopeful that more will be featured/more well known in times to come! I also really enjoyed the contrast between the Christian characters and those hoping to break free from the constraints.

Overall, a very informative and enjoyable read with some strong themes throughout! I would highly recommend this to anyone wanting a quick read with a strong message at the forefront.

Rating: 4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Harlequin for providing me with a copy of the book for review. Music from another world is available for purchase in Australia now! 

Review: Precious You

Precious You is a psychological thriller like you’ve never read before. From debut author Helen Monks Takhar, we read the narrative from the perspective of the master and the apprentice, the woman who is trying to extend her career and the young woman who is trying to sabotage it. As the story goes on, the plot becomes more intense and things you never imagined begin to occur, which makes it a page turning nail biter.

The book starts out by introducing Katherine, a 40 something magazine executive from London. She is having trouble with her love life as she feels disconnected to her partner, she is struggling in her job and her boss gives her a new intern to assist (who just happens to be the boss’s niece!) To make matters worse, this intern begins to manipulate Katherine and over time, the situation deepens to unimaginable lengths. The relationship between these two characters is the primary focus for the narrative and what they do to try and get back at each other in the process.

I read this book relatively quickly. Psychological thrillers, while I enjoy them, are not books I reach for regularly. I’m not sure why this is the case as I thoroughly enjoy them and trying to work out what it happening throughout the course of the novel. The pacing is consistent throughout, with many twists and turns. Once Katherine thinks she has the evidence, once again it is not in her favour. It did become painful throughout the book to see Katherine be pinned for everything as Lily appeared to be so awful but it made the reader think, over the course of the entire book, what is the actual reason behind this? Which I won’t go into as SPOILERS, but it made for an interesting finale!

For a debut thriller novel, the characters were written incredibly well. They were not supposed to be likeable, and I couldn’t stand any of them by the conclusion of the book. Each character had their flaws and these were evident from the outset and played upon throughout the book. Katherine was anxious, Lily liked control and Iain was naïve: these traits were perfectly woven throughout the narrative. It was also great to have the book told in first person, through the perspectives of both key main characters. It allows the reader to get into the head of both characters who are plotting against each other and see why they are thinking in this way. The side characters in this book are also fascinating. While we don’t directly hear from them, they are all very easy targets who have a tendency to be walked over without realising. I couldn’t stand Gemma, the boss of the magazine firm, while she claims to be the head of the business, she allows her niece who has just started there to begin to make all the executive decisions. Does that sound brainwashed or what? By having her like this, it made the rest of the story flow well.

My favourite part of the book was the constant mystery. You couldn’t predict what was going to happen with radical changes at every turn. By having it this way, it made the reader want to see what was going to happen next.

Overall, this was an intense ride and a book I’d recommend to those who love a good psychological thriller!

Precious You is available for purchase in Australia now from where books are sold!

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

The Sin Eater Review

As a historical fiction lover, I was thoroughly looking forward to sinking my teeth into The Sin Eater by Megan Campisi. A beautiful cover with very little explanation for it was about. While the blurb gives little information,

An old adage says that there are really only two stories: a man goes on a voyage, and a stranger arrives in town. This is the third: a woman breaks the rules

I was intrigued to read on to find what the book was about. The book is set in the 16^th Century and focuses on the main character, May, who commits a minor crime and pays for it with significant consequences. She becomes the titular character, a sin eater, someone who people call for when a loved one is dying and she takes on board all of their sins as her own. It also involves food, as particular foods represent particular sins and then there is a feast afterwards where the sin eater will eat these foods in the presence of the deceased person. It’s all very strange and reminded me somewhat of a dystopian world where women are viewed as inferior and given this job to repay for their sins.

I loved the idea of this book, something completely different for the genre of historical fiction. I was fascinated by the relation of sins to different items of food, the role of the sin eater and wondered while this was fictional, if something similar was around in the medieval times. The portrayal of the main character of a sin eater was a wise choice too. All too often, the main character of a book would be someone who would be confronted with a character like this but it was eye opening to read through May’s perspective. She went through so many changes at such a young age but approached them with grit and determination. She was really the only character in the book that you really got to know. The other characters were all minor and many were not even referred to by their first names. I was a little confused by the nicknames of the characters living in the castle and they seemed to blur into one. I was not able to identify anything about them and feel it would have been beneficial to know more about them to engage more with the plot.

Another crucial aspect of the plot was the mystery. I love reading about mysteries and trying to decipher who did what, it really draws my interest to a book and makes me want to keep reading. The mystery in this book started off well, trying to work out who committed the crimes by using clues. By the end of the book, it got a little strange and even once it was solved, I found myself very confused as to what actually occurred and ‘who dunnit’. Again, this may have been due to my lack of connection to these other characters and forgetting who was who.

My favourite part of this book would be the writing. It is woven together beautifully, the author carefully considering the language to use to make it feel authentic to the time period. While I may not have been completely engaged with the plot and the characters, it was the writing that kept me reading on. I admire the way that Campisi created the character of May and how she built her up over time: from a fragile young girl who seemed frightened and lost, to a strong, determined and capable young woman who had to grow up almost overnight. She had to face such hardships but would not let others get her down.

I’d recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction that is a little bit different, with dark undertones. It is an interesting book that makes the reader think about life through a different lens.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan for providing me with a copy to read and review! The Sin Eater is available for purchase now in Australia, in stores and online!

Review: Ember Queen by Laura Sebastian

Ember Queen is the final installation in the Ash Princess trilogy, where we follow Theodosia and her journey towards reclaiming her country which was taken away from her and her family. It is a conclusion of epic proportion that emphasises the justice that should prevail. As this is the final book in the series, there will be spoilers for previous books so if you have not read Ash Princess or Lady Smoke and you do not want spoilers, maybe avoid reading until you catch up! Or if you love spoilers, read along!

The synopsis:

Princess Theodosia was a prisoner in her own country for a decade. Renamed the Ash Princess, she endured relentless abuse and ridicule from the Kaiser and his court. But thought she wore a crown of ashes, there was fire in Theo’s blood. As the rightful heir to the Astrean crown, it runs in her veins. And if she learned nothing else from her mother, she learned that a Queen never cowers. Now with a misfit army of rebels to back her, Theo must liberate her enslaved people and face a terrifying new enemy; the new Kaiserin. Imbued with a magic no one understands, the Kaiserin is determined to burn down anyone and everyone in her way. Theo must learn to embrace her own power if she has any hope of standing against the girl she once called her heart’s sister.

I came into this book with high expectations. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in the series and with the (semi) cliff hanger at the conclusion of Lady Smoke, was determined to see Theo finally rise to power. This book ultimately builds up to the final hurrah where we see Theo and her allies working towards their goal of regaining the power that was taken from them years ago. This has been the focus for Theo since the beginning of book one so to become so close to the goal in this book creates an air of anticipation. The plot is well paced throughout as it builds gradually before reaching the climax in the ‘final battle’ between Theo and the Kaiserin. While many books rush to get to this point, Sebastian successfully builds the excitement and anticipation as many other things are happening in the background. I loved the inclusion of each of the leaders being immersed in each other’s dreams and how while they thought they were safe during this ‘down time’, they eventually discovered they were susceptible to injury.

Another aspect of the book which I really enjoyed and think stood out from other fantasy books, was the magic system. While it has been included in the other two books in the series, I feel like it really made a huge impact in this final installation. The different powers and the impact of characters, including Theo, going into the mines gave them powers beyond their control. I thought it was great that they also freed all the prisoners in the mines too as they could have just kept them there to work for them so that Theo and co could have an even greater hold of power. I admired the way that the characters came to terms with their powers and aimed to use them for the greater good, especially Blaise. Throughout the series he struggled with his strength but in this book, he finally sees how it can contribute in a positive way. The friendship that builds throughout the series feels so authentic and it is great to see that even though Theo and the others are so different, that they can come together to fight for the greater good. Art was a personal favourite of mine and it was wonderful to see her grow over the trilogy and reach her potential despite several setbacks.

I feel like the conclusion of Ember Queen was what the readers were hoping for but it was not without heart ache. It was certainly an epic ending which gave justice to the storyline we have been working towards since the beginning. Like all great fantasy books, it was not without some plot twists which threw what we were expecting out the door. I was on the edge of my seat and finished the second half of the book in one sitting as I couldn’t wait to read what was going to happen next. 

Overall, a wonderful fantasy series that focuses on a strong female protagonist and her hoping to reach the justice that she deserves for herself and her family.

I rated this book: 4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ember Queen by Laura Sebastian is available to purchase in Australian bookstores and other shops where books are sold from today

Thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia for providing me with a copy to review!

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