Thursday, June 7, 2018

Review: Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young




Sky in the Deep
by Adrienne Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Definitely recommend this to people who are fans of YA fantasy, and especially if you're interested in Vikings!

The plot of this book is fun and easy to follow, and filled with action. The characters are all generally likeable, Eelyn especially. Her character develops throughout the novel, and we can see her perspective changes gradually as she learns from the people she is surrounded by. Her relationship with other people also changes throughout the novel, and she learns to trust Fiske, her brother, and their family.

If you're not really into Vikings or YA Fantasy, this is probably not something for you. However, if it sounds like something you'll enjoy, it is definitely worth picking it up and giving it a try!

Full review here




View all my reviews

Until next time! xx

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Review: Only Human by Sylvain Neuvel




Only Human by Sylvain Neuvel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Only Human is finally out!!
description

An amazing conclusion to the trilogy, and definitely worth picking up. I've been a fan of this trilogy since Sleeping Giants, and I am so glad that I discovered the Themis Files.

We see familiar characters who we have grown to care about, and meet new faces as well, both good and bad. The character development is clear, both from the first book to this one, and within this one alone.

This is definitely a book, and series, that I recommend to people. If you haven't picked it up yet, you should definitely give it a try!

View all my reviews

I also filmed a more detailed, but still non-spoiler, review on my channel as well! If you want to check that out, you can see it here




Until next time! xx

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Review: The Song in Our Hearts


Title: The Song in Our Hearts
Author: Chantal Gadoury
Publisher: 48fourteen Publishing
Year published: 2017
How I got this book: I got sent this for free from the author, in exchange for an honest review
My rating: 3 stars

Goodreads synopsis:
High school junior Charlie Blake has never seen anyone quite like Micah Jacobs in her small town of Grand Lakes. With his carefree spirit, rough-around-the-edges personality, and handsome grin, Charlie is transfixed.

But Charlie's been burned before with her first crush, at the hands of an ex-friend and a cruel joke. Because of those scars, Charlie keeps her guard up when it comes to boys. But a class project - that may or may not involve kissing for the camera! - forces her to not only confront Micah, but her true feelings. 

While prepping for the assignment, Charlie finds herself in Micah's car accompanied by the music og Journey, Elvis, The Cars, and Peter Gabriel. Between slushies, burning rafts, pizza, and great music, Charlie and Micah bond as she learns the importance of letting go of the past and opening herself to new people.

When their project comes to an end, Charlie wonders if she should finally confess everything she's been denying before she loses the chance. When words fail, will the songs in her heart be enough?

My thoughts:
I had no expectations going into this book, as this honestly isn't my favourite genre, and that way I wouldn't be disappointed. And I wasn't. With this book, what you see, is what you get. Though, that is my opinion on this genre in general, and not just this book. 

We follow the main character, Charlie, and her journey with Micah, and how her feelings for him affects her. It was obvious that Charlie is younger than me, as I could not relate to her feelings or her reactions to what happened around her, though I understand why she did that. I liked Charlie as a character, though I disagreed with her quite a lot, but I don't feel the need to agree with characters to like them. I also liked Micah, and how the relationship between them evolved throughout the book.

I found it quite funny that they were working on Frankenstein for their school project, as I am currently reading that for school as well, but it didn't really affect my thoughts and feelings on the book. It's just one of those coincidences that you think about when reading the book.

This is a cute book. It's a sweet story that you can fly through. I got the feeling that the main message from this book was to not care what other people think or say about you, because they don't really matter. Those that really do matter, won't care anyway, and I think that is a great message to send. Considering that this is a YA book, it's important to remind young readers of that. The romance is sweet and innocent, and I really liked that it mainly focused on their friendship first, on not just on the romantic aspect.

If you enjoy reading light, fluffy YA books, this is definitely the book for you. You get what you expect, and I don't think every book needs to be more than that. It is an enjoyable read, and that's really all you need. I gave it 3 stars, mainly because this isn't my favourite genre, and not because of the book in particular. That's why I highly recommend it if you think this sounds like something that's right up your alley.


Buy this book?
Amazon (US)
Amazon (UK)
BookDepository (worldwide, affiliate link)

Monday, January 29, 2018

Review: Allerleirauh


Title: Allerleirauh
Author: Chantal Gadoury
Publisher: The Parliament House
Year published: 2017
How I got this book: I got this as an e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review
My rating: 4 stars

Goodreads synopsis:
Once Upon a Time...

In the kingdom of Tranen, a king makes a promise to his dying wide that he'll only remarry a woman who possesses her golden hair. In time, the king's eyes are turned by his daughter. Realizing her father's intentions, Princess Aurelia tries to trick him by requesting impossible gifts: dresses created by the sun, moon and stars, and a coat made of a thousand furs. But when he is successful, Aurelia sacrifices her privileged life and flees her kingdom, disguised by the cloak and a new name, Allerleirauh. 

She enters the safe haven of Saarland der Licht, where the handsome and gentle Prince Klaus takes her under his care. Hoping not to be discovered by her father's courtiers, Allerleirauh tries to remain hidden under her new identity when she finds unexpected love with Prince Klaus, even though is arranged marriage to the princess of a neighboring kingdom approaches. Risking everything, Allerleirauh must face her troubles past and her fears of the future along her journey to self-acceptance in this triumphant retelling of the classic Grimm Fairy Tale.

My thoughts:
When the author, Chantal Gadoury, first contacted me about her book I'd never heard of it before. She told me it was a re-telling of a fairytale, also called Allerleirauh, I was intrigued. Though I'd never heard of the fairytale either, I saw that it was by the Brothers Grimm, so I wasn't too worried. Even though I don't read that many retellings, I always enjoy them when I do, so I was excited when Gadoury sent me a digital copy of her book.

As mentioned, Allerleirauh is a retelling of a fairytale of the same name by the Brothers Grimm. In English, Allerleirauh means "all-kinds-of-fur", and it's what the main character calls herself. You don't need to know the original story before reading this, I didn't, but it also won't spoil much of the novel, if you know the story beforehand. If you want a brief summary of the original story, this is the synopsis from wikipedia: 

 A king promised his dying wife that he would not marry unless it was to a woman who was as beautiful as she was, and when he looked for a new wide, he realized that the only woman that could match her beauty was his own daughter.
The daughter tried to make the wedding impossible by asking for three dresses, one as golden as the sun, one as silver as the moon, and one as dazzling as the stars, and a mantle made from the fur of every kind of bird and animal in the kingdom. When her father provided them, she took them, with a gold ring, a gold spindle, and a gold reel, and ran from the castle the night before the wedding.
She ran far away to another kingdom, and slept in a great forest there, but the king of that place and his dogs found her while he was hunting. She asked the king to have pity on her and received a place in the kitchen, where worked, and because she gave no name she was called "All-Kinds-of-Fur".
When the king held a ball, she snuck out and went to it in her golden dress. The next morning, the cook set her to make soup for the king, and she put her golden ting in it. The king found it and questioned the cook and then All-Kinds-of-Fur, but she revealed nothing. The next ball, she went dressed in her silver dress and put the golden spindle in the soup, and the king again could discover nothing.
The third ball, she went in the star dress, and the king slipped a gold ring on her finger without her noticing it and ordered that the last dance go on longer than usual. She was not able to get away in time to change, she was able only to throw her fur mantle over her clothing before she had to cook the soup. When the king questioned her, he caught her hand, seeing the ring, and when she tried to pull it away, her mangle slipped, revealing the dress of stars. The king pulled off the mantle, revealing her, and they married. 
As this is a re-telling, Gadoury's story isn't exactly the same as the original, but she really kept the "fairytale feeling" and main events, which I really enjoyed. She keeps the dark theme, considering the father & daughter marriage, but I think she handled it really well. There is a huge trigger warning for rape, sexual abuse and incest in this story. I won't go into details, as I don't want to spoil too much, but if you're sensitive to those topics, you should keep that in mind when starting this book.

One of my favourite parts about this book is the main character, Aurelia. She is so sweet, and I really enjoyed reading from her perspective, and seeing her outlook on life in general.

Even though the story deals with some dark topics, this isn't a sad or heavy book at all. It has that typical fairytale feeling of hope and magic. Gadoury's writing style attributes to this as well, as the language she uses really captures the overall feeling. It's easy to read, and you just fly through the pages.

I definitely enjoyed this book a lot, and I am so happy that Chantal Gadoury contacted me, and wanted me to read this bok. If you enjoy fairytale retellings, then you should give this book a chance. It's fast paced, and you really connect with Aurelia and care about her, and the story in general. It deals with some hard topics in a sensitive way, and I think that's reason enough alone to pick this book up, and giving it a chance. I wouldn't recommend it if you're too young, because of said topics, but otherwise I'd recommend this to everyone. I ended up giving it 4 stars, and I can definitely see myself rereading this book in the future.

Thanks again to Chantal Gadoury for giving me a free e-book copy of her book in exchange for a completely hones review about it. 

Buy this book?
Amazon (US)
Amazon (UK)
BookDepository (worldwide, affiliate link)

Sunday, January 14, 2018

10 BOOKS ON MY 2018 TBR

Hello!

It's been such a long time since I've posted anything on this blog, or just been active on my social media in general. I took a break during exam season, as I needed to focus on school, but it ended up lasting the entire Christmas break as well. However, I am now back at school, and ready for my routines again, and I will try to make my blog one of those routines.

As you can see from the title, this post is all about the books I want to read in 2018. My goal is to read 50 books, though I'll hopefully be able to read quite a lot more than that. In this list, however, I have picked 10 books that I really want to try to get to during the year. The list is split up in two parts, with part one being books that are coming out in 2018, and that I don't own yet. Part two has the books that I already own, that I really want to get to.

Books coming out in 2018, that I don't own yet

Untitled (Throne of Glass #7) - Sarah J. Maas
This book doesn't have a synopsis yet, but I am still super excited! I just want to know what's happening to all my beloved characters.

A Court of Frost and Starlight (ACOTAR #3.1) - Sarah J. Maas
Feyre, Rhys, and their close-knit circle of friends are still busy rebuilding the Night Court and the vastly-changed world beyond. But Winter Solstice is finally near, and with it, a hard-earned reprieve. Yet even the festive atmosphere can't keep the shadows of the past from looming. As Feyre navigates her first Winter Solstice as High lady, she finds that those dearest to her have more wounds than she anticipated - scars that will have far-reaching impact on the future of their Court.

The Hazel Wood - Melissa Albert
Seventeen-year-old Alice and her mother have spent most of Alice's life on the road, always a step ahead of the uncanny bad luck biting at their heels. But when Alice's grandmother, the reclusive author of a cult-classic book of pitch-dark fairy tales, dies alone on her estate, the Hazel Wood, Alice learns how bad her luck can really get: her mother is stolen away - by a figure who claims to come from the Hinterland, the cruel supernatural world where her grandmother's stories are set. Alice's only lead is the message her mother left behind: "Stay away from the Hazel Wood."
Alice has long steered clear of her grandmother's cultish fans. But now she has no choice but to ally with classmate Ellery Finch, a Hinterland superfan who may have his own reasons for wanting to help her. To retrieve her mother, Alice must venture first to the Haze Wood, then into the world where her grandmother's tales began - and where she might find out how her own story went so wrong.

Everless - Sara Holland
In the kingdom of Sempera, time is currency - extracted from blood, bound to iron, and consumed to add time to one's own lifespan. The rich aristocracy, like the Gerlings, tax the poor to the hilt, extending their own lives by centuries.
No one resents the Gerlings more than Jules Ember. A decade ago, she and her father were servants at Everless, the Gerlings' palatial estate, until a fateful accident forced them to flee in the dead of night. When Jules discovers that her father is dying, she knows that she must return to Everless to earn more time for him before she loses him forever.
But going back to Everless brings more danger - and temptation - than Jules could have ever imagined. Soon she's caught in a tangle of violent secrets and finds her heart torn between to people she thought she'd never see again. Her descisions have the power to change her fate - and the fate of time itself.


Books I already own

Geekerella - Ashley Poston
Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic science-fiction series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the magic Pumpkin food truck and her dad's old costume, Elle's determined to win - unless her stepsisters get there first.
Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons - before he was famous. Now they're nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he has ever wanted, but Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, Darien feels more and more like a fake - until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise. But when she disappears at midnight, will he ever be able to find her again?

Our Dark Duet (Monsters of Verity #2) - Victoria Schwab
The world is breaking. And so are they. Kate Harker isn't afraid of monsters. She hunts them. And She's good at it. August Flynn once yearned to be human. He has a part to play. And he will play it, no matter the cost. The war has begun. The monsters are winning. Kate will have to return to Verity. August will have to let her back in. And a new monster is waiting - one that feeds on chaos and brings out its victims' inner demons. Which will be harder to conquer: the monsters they face, or the monsters within?

Caraval - Stephanie Garber
Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett's father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval - the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show - are over.
But this year, Scarlett's long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval's mastermind organizer, Legend. it turns out that this season's Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.
Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.

Furyborn - Claire Legrand
When assassins ambush her best friend, the crown prince, Rielle Dardenne risks everything to save him, exposing her ability to perform all seven kinds of elemental magic. The only people who should possess this extraordinary power are a pair of prophesied queens: a queen of light and salvation and a queen of blood and destruction. To prove she is the Sun Queen, Rielle must endure seven trials to test her magic. If she fails, she will be executed...unless the trials kill her first.
A thousand years later, the legend of Queen Rielle is a mere fairy tale to bounty hunter Eliana Ferracora. When the Undying Empire conquered her kingdom, she embraced violence to keep her family alive. now, she believes herself untouchable - until her mother vanishes without a trace, along with countless other women in their city. To find her, Eliana joins a rebel captain on a dangerous mission and discovers that the evil at the heart of the empire is more terrible than she ever imagined.
As Rielle and Eliana fight in a cosmic was that spans millennia, their stories intersect, and the shocking connections between them ultimately determine the fate of their world - and of each other.

And Then There Were None - Agatha Christie
First, there were ten - a curious assortment of strangers summoned as weekend guests to a private island off the coast of Devon. Their host, an eccentric millionaire unknown to all of them, is nowhere to be found. All that the guests have in common is a wicked past they're unwilling to reveal - and a secret that will seal their fate. For each has been marked for murder. One by one they fall prey. Before the weekend is out, there will be none. And only the dead are above suspicion.

City of Bones - Cassandra Clare
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes likes Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...



These are some of the books that I really want to read during 2018. I'm sure that I'll think of more later, or discover some new ones as the year goes on, but this is my TBR for now! 
What do you want to read in 2018?