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

Review: Only Human by Sylvain Neuvel

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

Only Human is finally out!!


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

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.


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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. 

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Review: I See You (VIDEO)

Hello!

I started, and finished, I See You by Clare Macintosh when I went home to visit my parents last weekend, and I finally got around to filming and reviewing it on my channel!

Have you read I See You, and if you have, what did you think about it?

Until next time! xx

Review: Let the Dead Speak (VIDEO)

Hello!

I'm back with yet another video review, this time reviewing Let the Dead Speak by Jane Casey. I got this book from free from the publisher through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinions on it.

Even though I am mostly doing video reviews at the moment, I will still be doing some written ones as well. However, that might be of the books that I want to go more in depth on, and not just quick, short, spoiler free ones.

I hope you enjoy the video!

Have you read Let the Dead Speak, or any other books, by Jane Casey?

Until next time! x

Review: The Border (VIDEO)

Hello!

As you may, or may not, know, I usually do my reviews for books in a written format. However, I've been meaning to film some as well, and I ended up posting my first review on my YouTube-channel today! It's a review of The Border by Steve Schafer, which I got as an arc from the publisher.

I will continue to write reviews as well, though I haven't been reviewing a lot of books recently. I haven't been reading as much, and what I have read haven't been anything I felt like writing a review for. I will be back, however! As soon as I read a book I really want to talk about, or I feel like reviewing, it will definitely be posted on my blog.

Until next time! x

Review: The Devil's Prayer

Title: The Devil’s Prayer

Author: Luke Gracias

Publisher: Australian eBook Publisher

Year published: 2016

How I got this book: I got this through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

My rating: 4,5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

A nun commits suicide in front of thousands in Spain. In Australia, Siobhan Russo recognizes that nun as her mother, Denise Russo, who disappeared six years ago.

In search of answers, Siobhan travels to the isolated convent where her mother once lived. Here she discovers Denise’s final confession, a book that details a heinous betrayal that left her crippled and mute, and Denise’s subsequent deal with the Devil to take revenge. In the desperate bargain Denise made with the Prince of Darkness, she wagered Siobhan’s soul.

As  Siobhan discovers the fate of her soul, she learns that hidden within the pages of her mother’s confession is part of The Devil’s Prayer, an ancient text with the power to unleash apocalyptic horrors.

And now her mother’s enemies know Siobhan has it.

Can Siobhan escape an order of extremist monks determined to get the Prayer back? Can she save the world from its own destruction?

Explicit Content Warning: «The Devil’s Prayer» is a historical horror thriller that contains brutality, rape, sex, drug abuse and murder. Readers may find its content offensive and confronting.

My thoughts:

I had no idea what to expect when starting this book. I’s only read a short description, as  it was the cover that really drew me in. The first-ish chapter was a bit heavy, and it made me a bit nervous that the rest of the book was going to be a bit boring. It was definitely not boring. The first part is important, as  it really sets up the rest of the story.

In short, this book starts with a nun, Denise, who commits suicide in Spain. A very public suicide. The rest of her family finds out, and her daughter, Siobhan, travels from Australia to Spain, to get answers. She then learns that she’s not safe in Spain, and gets hold of a book her mother write to her before she died, which tells the story about her life, and everything that led to her suicide.

Once I got really into this story, I didn’t want to put it down. Which was a bit unfortunate, as  I was on holiday in England whilst reading this, and therefore didn’t have a lot of time to read. It’s faced paced, and we move back and forth between the present and Denise’s story. Eventually, Denise’s story catches up to the present, and we understand a lot more. 

have to mention, as  a warning, that there are a lot of gruesome details in this book, so it’s definitely not for everyone. Without spoiling too much, there are rape, torture and murder scenes there are quite detailed. The author has a way of describing things in a way that makes you feel like you’re there, which is both great, but can also be a bit much in certain parts of the book. 

As previously mentioned, this is not a book for everyone. But if you don’t mind detailed gore, you should pick this up. There are a lot of interesting theories and such included, which made it unlike anything I’ve ever read before. 

This is a thrilling page-turner, that you’ll want to finish in one sitting. There are so many questions throughout the story, and it’s hard to know what to think and expect. I will absolutely recommend that you pick this up if it sounds interesting at all to you. You won’

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Review: Indian Summer

Title: Indian Summer

Author: Marcia Willett

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books

Published: 27th of June 2017

How I got this book: I got this as an arc from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

My rating: 3 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

Some memories can be forgotten… Others won’t ever go away. From internationally adore author Marcia Willett comes the magnificent new novel, Indian Summer.

For renowned actor Sir Mungo, his quite home village in Devon provides the perfect retreat. Close by are his brother and his wife, and the rural location makes his home the ideal getaway for his old friends in London.

Among those is Kit, who comes to stay for the summer, bringing with her a letter from her first and only love, Jake, and a heart in turmoil. Years have passed since they last saw each other, and now he has written to Kit asking to meet again.

As  the summer unfolds, secrets are uncovered that will shatter the sleepy community, and even tear a family apart. But those involved soon realize that the only way to move forward might be to confront the past…

My thoughts:

When the publisher first contacted me about this book, I wasn’t sure I would like it. I am glad that I gave it a chance, as  it ended up being an enjoyable read, though not something I’d normally pick up.

We follow a handful of characters, and their stories all intertwine at some point during the novel. Because there are so many characters, it took me quite a while to really get into the story, and to start caring about the characters. However, I did get there eventually, and when I did, I was able to really enjoy the book.

I would say that this book is definitely more character-driven, than plot-driven. I don’t have a preference either way, so I didn’t really mind, but it is something to keep in mind if you have a preference for plot-driven books. The setting is a small village in England, where the characters find themselves for a lot of different reasons. There really isn’t much action during the book, only a few things here and there. 

The first half is mostly getting to know the different characters. It’s not boring, not exactly, but it’s not a page-turner either. It is totally worth getting through it in the end, though. Most of the characters are extremely likable, and none of them are perfect. They all have flaws, which is how it’s supposed to be. 

This is a great book to read during the summer, especially outside during a sunny day, when you can really relax and get into a book. It’s heartwarming, and you are able to connect with the characters, despite the fact that there are a number of them. This is a good read for when you want a light-hearted book that’s easy to read, that has just a little bit of action.

If you’re a big fan of YA, this probably won’t be the perfect book for you. However, if you’re in the mood for something new, I would suggest picking it up. This is not a book for everyone, but if it sounds like something you might enjoy, you should give it a chance.

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Review: Everything but the Truth

Title: Everything but the Truth
Author: Gillian McAllister
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: March 2017
How I got this book: I got this as an arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
My rating: 4 stars

Goodreads synopsis:
Just how much can you trust the person you love?

It all started with the email.

Rachel didn't even mean to look. She loves Jack and she's pregnant with their child. She trusts him.

But now she's seen it, she can't undo that moment. Or the chain of events it has set in motion.

Why has Jack been lying about his past? Just what exactly is he hiding? And doesn't Rachel have a right to know the truth at any costs?

My thoughts:
This is a great thriller, with plenty of twists and turns. I never knew what to expect from the characters, and I didn't realise what Jack's secret was until Rachel found out.

We see Rachel develop throughout the book, and her relationship with Jack changing. We also get flashbacks from a year before this takes place, where she worked as a doctor with a young patient. Throughout the story I felt like I really got to know her, and though I didn't connect with her that well, I was able to see things from her perspective.

Another thing I enjoyed about this book as the setting. It was set in Newcastle and in the highlands of Scotland. I've actually been to Newcastle before, so it felt familiar. And I absolutely adore Scotland, and enjoy reading stories that are set there.

I won't give away any of the twists or the ending, because that will ruin the book for you, if you want to read it. All I will say is that I was a bit disappointed with how things ended, and especially Rachel's reaction to everything. That's mainly because I view everything different from her, but it still felt a bit weird for me.

Though I wasn't a big fan of the ending, I still enjoyed this book overall, and would definitely recommend it if you like reading thrillers. I only started reading a bit of thrillers this year, and I am loving it so far. This book isn't for everyone, but if you enjoy thrillers and the plot seems exciting, you should pick this up and give it a try.

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Review: My Sister's Wedding

Title: My Sister's Wedding
Author: Vicky Pattison

Publishing date: June 15th 2017
How I got this book: I got this as an arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
My rating: 4 stars

Goodreads synopsis:
For better or worse, two families are about to become one...

The Ashworth sisters couldn't be more different. Becky is focused, driven and about to marry her lovely fiance, Daniel Balfour. Lizzie, on the other hand, bounces from one temp job to another, keeps falling for the wrong man and is a whirlwind of chaos in Becky's otherwise well-ordered life. But they love each other fiercely and the Ashworth way has always been family comes first.

As preparations for Becky and Daniel's wedding get underway, it soon becomes clear that the Ashworth way is not the Balfour way. Daniel's family have never thought Becky was good enough for him, but he loves her and that's always been enough for the happy couple. But when Lizzie gets caught in the crossfire between Becky and the Balfours, Becky and Lizzie find themselves drifting apart at a time when they need each other the most. Will they be able to repair the damage before Becky walks down the aisle?

My thoughts:
My Sister's Wedding is the first book I read by Vicky Pattison, not having heard of her before reading this book. I'm glad I didn't really know who she was before picking this up, as I was able to go into this with no expectations or opinions. 

This is a fast read, perfect for warmer weather. We follow two sisters, Becky and Lizzie, who are as different as can be. It was clear that Pattison had put a lot of thought into these characters, and the differences between them. They had a sister-dynamic going on, with Becky being the over-protective older sister. Both characters developed as the story went on, and I felt they both grew from what they experiences.

We have one main plot in this story, but Pattison added a few smaller stories that weave nicely into the larger picture, and they add a layer of depth to the story. Everything is wrapped up nicely in the ending, with the different characters getting what they deserve in the end.

A perfect chick-lit book to bring with you to the beach or travels, as it is easy to get into. The chapters all have a nice length, not too long or too short. If you don't like chick-lit, you'll probably not enjoy this book that much, but if you do, you should definitely give this one a shot.

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Review: The Book of Summer

Title: The Book of Summer
Author: Michelle Gable
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Published: May 9th 2017
How I got this book: I got this as an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
My rating: 4 stars

Goodreads synopsis:
Physician Bess Codman has returned to her family's Nantucket compound, Cliff House, for the first time in four years. Her great-grandparents built Cliff House almost a century before, but due to erosion, the once-grand home will soon fall into the sea.Though she's purposefully avoided the island, Bess must now pack up the house and deal with her mother, a notorious town rabble-rouser, who refuses to leave.

The Book of Summer unravels the power and secrets of Cliff house as told through the voices of Ruby Packard, a bright-eyed and idealistic newlywed on the eve of WWII, the home's definitive guestbook, and Bess herself. Bess's grandmother always said it was a house of women, and by the very last day of the very last summer at Cliff House, Bess will understand the truth of her grandmother's words in ways she never contemplated.

My thoughts:
This is the second book from Gable that I've read, and I really enjoyed this one as well, perhaps a bit more than I'll See You In Paris (review here).

We follow to perspectives in this book, Bess and Ruby, who are granddaughter and grandmother. Bess' narrative follows her and her journey in Nantucket in 2013, and Ruby's story follows her at the same place in 1940's, during World War II. We also meet Bess' mother during the book, and we learn that this is a really interesting family, with different problems. Cliff House is what matter's most to the family, having been around for almost 100 years, and it has a lot of family history.

Reading about the relationships between the different members of the family was really heartwarming. They don't always get along, but it is clear that they all love each other dearly. The characters are different, and no one is perfect, which makes me connect with them even more. Because of the dual perspective we learn more about both Bess and Ruby as the book goes on, and we see some similarities in their stories. They both endure hard times, and go through some of the same experiences. 

After I finished this book I read that Gable has used real events in this book, with how the bluff in Sconset is disappearing, and even having the weather as accurately as possible.

The ending of this book is unsurprising, but it is sweet and nice, so I didn't really mind. There are mysteries that are unraveled towards the end, but nothing out of the blue. This book is perfect for summer, and reading on the beach. It gives you a warm feeling inside, makes you happy and is easy to get into, perfect for the beach.

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Review: All Our Wrong Todays

Title: All Our Wrong Todays
Author: Elan Mastai
Publisher: Dutton
Year published: 2017
How I got this book: I got this as an e-arc from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
My rating: 3 stars

Goodreads synopsis:
You know the future that people in the 1950s imagined we'd have? Well, it happened. In Tom Barren's 2016, humanity thrives in a techno-utopian paradise of flying cars, moving sidewalks, and moon bases, where avocados never go bad and punk rock never existed ... because it wasn't necessary.

Except Tom just can't seem to find his place in this dazzling, idealistic world, and that's before his life gets turned upside down. Utterly blindsided by an accident of fate, Tom makes a rash decision that drastically changes not only his own life, but the very fabric of the universe itself. In a time-travel mishap, Tom finds himself stranded in our 2016, what we think of as the real world. For Tom, our normal reality seems like a dystopian wasteland.

But when he discovers wonderfully unexpected versions of his family, his career, and -maybe, just maybe - his soul mate, Tom has a decision to make. Does he fix the flow of history, bringing his utopian universe back into existence, or does he try to forge a new life in our messy, unpredictable reality? Tom's search for the answer takes him across countries, continents, and timelines in a quest to figure out, finally, who he really is and what his future - our future - is supposed to be.

My thoughts:
I went into this book wanting to like it, I really did, but I just couldn't. Something didn't feel right to me, and it just irked me the wrong way. With that said, if you have read it and enjoyed it, I'm happy for you. People enjoy different things, and this review is just how I feel about it. This does not mean that any other opinions are wrong, they are just different, and I respect them. 

I have to start with Tom, our main character. He is obnoxious, arrogant and incredibly self-centered. Yes, he is the narrator of this book, but I haven't disliked a main character this much in a long, long time. Several times throughout this book I just wanted to slap him, and yell at him to get himself together and stop acting the way he did. But I couldn't do that, because, obviously, he is just a character in a fictional book. 

All Our Wrong Todays is written as a memoir, from Tom himself. This is clear throughout the book, and I did enjoy that it didn't have the normal narrative style. However, this also made me dislike Tom a lot, maybe more than if it had been written like a novel. One of my biggest problems with Tom is his obsession with Penny/Penelope, depending on which reality we're talking about. He is so infatuated with her, that he literally goes back in time to make sure she doesn't die. However, in doing that, he erases his entire timeline, and ends up in "our" 2016. You would think that would be the end of it, but no. He somehow finds Penny in the other reality, convinced that they're supposed to be together. Never mind the fact that she has now idea who he is, or that time-travel is possible. He is so obsessed with her, and I just couldn't take it. It really irritated be throughout the story. 

The author included a lot of science in this book, which some probably finds really interesting. I wish I did, but it made me lose focus, and I ended up skimming about half the book. I didn't really care for all the science-talk, it only distracted me. And even so, not all of the science made sense. Or even all of the plot, some things were really confusing, and made it hard to follow the story. 

To me, it seems like Elan Mastai had a great idea, but he was, unfortunately, not able to execute it that well. I appreciate the idea he had, and it is interesting, but the book didn't do it for me. The 2016 Tom comes from seems great, and I really wish we could have seen more of that, because that really intrigued me with this story.

Though I am sorry to say that I will not be recommending this to any of my friends, I have to say that this book isn't terrible. If you like time-travel, science, or this book just seems interesting, I think you should give it a go, and hopefully, you'll enjoy it more than I did. 

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A Court of Wings and Ruin Review and Discussion [VIDEO]

Hello!

I had so many thoughts and feelings after reading A Court of Wings and Ruin, that I knew I couldn't just sit down and write a review. I wouldn't have been able to describe my feeling as accurately as in a video, so I decided to make one. I am quite new with making videos, so I apologize for that in advance.

I hope you enjoy!

Review: Waking Gods

*This is the second book in a series, you can find my review for the first book, Sleeping Giants, here*

Title: Waking Gods (Themis Files #2)
Author: Sylvain Neuvel
Publisher: Del Rey
Year published: 2017
How I got this book: The author sent me a free e-book, because of my interest in the first one
My rating: 4,5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:
As a child, Rose Franklin made an astonishing discovery: a giant metallic hand, buried deep within the earth. As an adult, she's dedicated her brilliant scientific career to solving the mystery that began that fateful day: Why as a titanic robot of unknown origin buried in pieces around the world? Years of investigation have produced intriguing answers - and even more perplexing questions. But the truth is closer than ever before when a second robot, more massive than the first, materializes and lashes out with deadly force.

Now humankind faces a nightmare invasion scenario made real, as more colossal machines touch down across the globe. But Rose and her team at the Earth Defense Corps refuse to surrender. They can turn the tide if they can unlock the last secrets of an advanced alien technology. The greatest weapon humanity wields is knowledge in a do-or-die battle to inherit the Earth ... and maybe even the stars.

My thoughts:
This is the sequel to Sleeping Giants, and because of that, it will contain spoilers for that book. It will not, however, contain spoilers for this book. I just want to say that I am really glad I read this book. The plot picks up 9 years after the last book ended, and during those years not much has happened, mostly just scientists researching Themis. However, this book starts with a new robot showing up in London, and no one knows how it got there, or what it means. 

Neuvel continues to use the same narration style in this book, and it works just as well as last time. I greatly enjoy this style of narration, as we get are able to look into the mind of different characters, and the pacing is quite fast, as there isn't room for a lot of description. My only concern with this kind of narration is that it is a lot of telling, instead of showing, but I think Neuvel handles that great, and he is able to keep me interested and focused throughout the story. 

In Sleeping Giants we follow Dr. Franklin and her team looking for the rest of Themis, but in Waking Gods the focus has shifted. They already have Themis, and are trying to figure out everything she can do. At the same time, Earth is invaded by another Robot, and everyone is trying to learn as much as possible about that. Because of this invasion, it gives of a apocalyptic vibe, which I enjoyed a lot. It kept me on the edge of my seat, and it was so full of suspense that I didn't want to put it down. I never knew what to expect from the next chapter, or the next page, and that is what I want from a book.

We follow the same cast of beloved characters from the previous book, which made me happy, as I connected with them in Sleeping Giants. There are some new ones, that's to be expected, but the main characters we already know. I started caring even more for the characters during this story, and some of the things a few of them had to go through, really made me emotional. 

Waking Gods really has everything a great book needs. An exciting and captivating plot, great narration, good writing, and loveable characters. I have recommended Sleeping Giants to several of my friends, and after this book, I will push them even harder to read both of these books. The author, Neuvel, has said that there will be at least three books in this series, and I am really looking forward to the next one. I want to know how the story will go from here, and if you've already read this book as well, I'm guessing you are wondering as well.


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Review: Doing It

Title: Doing It!: Let's Talk About Sex
Author: Hannah Witton
Publisher: Wren & Rook
Year published: 2017
How I got this book: Bought it through BookDepository
My rating: 5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:
Figuring out how to build and maintain healthy relationships - with your family, friends, romantically and with yourself - is a crucial part of being a teen. It's not easy though, particularly in a digital age where information and advice are so forthcoming it can be hard to know who or what to believe or trust. Porn is everywhere, sexting is the norm and messages about body image are highly mixed. Hannah combats this by tackling subjects ranging from masturbation and puberty to slut shaming and consent in an accessible, relatable and extremely honest way. She is unembarrassed about bringing little-discussed topics into the open, and such empowers teens to have the confidence to conduct relationships on their terms, and in a way they feel comfortable with.

My thoughts:
I am an avid watcher of Hannah's YouTube channel, and I expected to throughly enjoy this book from the moment she announced she was writing one. Based on her channel, I guessed that she would write a book like this, and I am so glad she did. The book is both educational and funny, which makes it easy to read.

Hannah's voice in the book isn't too formal, and I felt like she was talking to me through a video, not writing an educational book. You can tell that it's really her behind the writing, and I had her voice in my ear as I was reading. 

This book covers a lot of different subjects, also including things she might not have experiences herself. She has a lot of guests in this book to help with this, as they are able to provide a voice from experience. One thing I really enjoyed was that Hannah kept repeating that she knew she was privileged, as in the fact that she is a cis, straight, white female. I am that as well, and I think it is important to understand that we will never experience things the same way as, for instance, a black, transgender female. That is why I think it was so brilliant that she brought in friends, instead of writing everything from her perspective.

Hannah has said that this book is mainly for 16+, and I understand why. It deals with some adult subjects, and I think it's harder to understand if your younger. However, this is a book I feel like a lot of people should read. You might learn a lot about things you've never thought about before, and it can really open your eyes. I am telling several of my friends to read this book. And it's a quick and easy read as well, I read it in just under two hours. So it's not a big commitment either.

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Review: Bird Box

Title: Bird Box
Author: Josh Malerman
Publisher: Ecco
Year published: 2014
How I got this book: Bought it at the store Outland in Bergen
My rating: 4,5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:
Something is out there, something terrifying that myst not be seen. One glimpse of it, and a person is driven to deadly violence. No one knows what it is or where it came from.

Five years after it began, a handful of scattered survivors remains, including Malorie and her two young children. Living in an abandoned house near the river, she has dreamed of fleeing to a place where they might be sage. Now that the boy and girl are four, it's time to go, but the journey ahead will be terrifying: twenty miles downriver in a rowboat - blindfolded - with nothing to rely on but her wits and the children's trained ears. One wrong choice and they will die. Something is following them all the while, but is it a man, animal, or monster?

My thoughts:
I didn't really know what to expect when I went into this book. The only thing I'd heard about it, was that it's a great book to listen to as an audiobook. Before that, I'd never heard of it before. So when I saw it being recommended at a bookshop, I just had to pick it up. And I am so glad I did. 

This isn't the biggest book, and I flew through it in just a couple of days. Even though it is under 300 pages, there is so much happening and you connect with the different characters. You switch back and forth from Malorie going down the river and flashbacks, which sets up the story. 

The premise is really interesting, and I haven't really heard of anything like it before. The idea that there is something that will kill you out there, but you can't open your eyes to see them is really intriguing. Humans are curious, so I can't imagine how hard it is to knowing there's something there, but you can't look at it. Because of this, I was always at the edge of my seat. Because the characters can't look outside, we don't know anything that's happening outside either. We only know what they know, or guess, which really helps the suspense in this book.

I am really glad I picked this book up, and I have recommended it to several of my friends and family members. This is unlike what I usually read, but it made me want to read more books like this. It's super suspenseful and quite scary, without feeling too much like a horror book. 

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Review: Mer

Title: Mer

Author: Joelle Sellner

Publisher: Diamond Book Distributors
Year published: 2017
How I got this book: I got this as an arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
My rating: 4,5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:
Twilight meets the legend of Atlantis in this gripping graphic novel from writer Joelle Sellner and artist Abby Boeh. After the death of her beloved mother, Aryn's father has moved her family to a new town hoping for a fresh start. At first things seem to be going well - Aryn is making friends at school. But there are dark forces moving under the surface that Aryn cannot see; and her new crush may not be ... human.

My thoughts:
It was the cover of this graphic novel that caught my attention, and I just knew that I wanted to read it. And, thankfully, I was able to. 

The art in this graphic novel suits the plot and the setting, and it really drew me in. This is an artstyle that I want more of, and I also liked the diversity in the characters. They don't look alike, and we have different sizes and colours, which really made me happy. 

The plot is incredibly fast paced, which is not surprising, considering that it is a graphic novel. I flew through this in one sitting, and when I finished I wanted more. The author has really though about how to use mermaids in this story, and I loved that she also used the legend of Atlantis. 

If you like mythology, mermaids and other sea-related creatures or myths, this is definitely something you should pick up. If you haven't read any graphic novels before, this could be a great place to start. 

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Review: How to Be Happy

Title: How to Be Happy: A Memoir of Love, Sex and Teenage Confusion
Author: David Burton
Publisher: Text Publishing
Year published: 2015
How I got this book: I got this through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
My rating: 4 stars

Goodreads synopsis:
A funny, sad and serious memoir, "How to Be Happy" is David Burtons's story of his turbulent life at high school and beyond. Feeling out of place and convinced that he is not normal, David has a rocky start. He longs to have a girlfriend, but his first "date" is a disaster. There's the catastrophe of the school swimming carnival - David is not sporty - and friendships that take devastating turns. Then he finds some solace in drama classes with the creation of "Crazy Dave", and he builds a life where everything is fine. But everything is not fine.

And, at the centre of it all, trying desperately to work it all out, is the real David.

"How to Be Happy" tackles depression, friendship, sexual identity, suicide, academic pressure, love and adolescent confusion. It's a brave and honest account of one young man's search for a happy, true and meaningful life that will resonate with readers young and old. 

My thoughts:
I generally enjoy reading memoirs, and this was no different. I haven't read that many, but this was the first time I didn't know anything about the person the memoir is about. Even so, I still enjoyed it. 

The writing is very straightforward and easy to read and understand, so it was a fast read. I did however feel like it should have a different title, as "How to Be Happy" is quite misleading. If anything, this book left me feeling sad. There wasn't a lot of focus on the happy part, just a bit at the ending, which didn't really make up for the lack of it in the rest of the book. 

I always find it interesting to read about other people's lives, and this was no exception. It's nice to see how other people see the world and react to their circumstances, and I think it opens my mind and helps me understand the people around me.

If you don't like reading memoirs, this book is probably not for you. If you are like me, however, I would give this a chance. You don't have to know a lot about Burton to enjoy this book, something I appreciated. 

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Review: Princess in the Spotlight / Take Two

Title: Princess in the Spotlight / Take Two  (The Princess Diaries #2)
Author: Meg Cabot
Publisher: HarperTeen
Year published: 2001
How I got this book: Borrowed it at my local library
My rating: 4,5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:
"Seriously, Lily," I said, "I have to have guard diligently against falling in love with somebody like your brother, because in the end I might have to marry Prince William."

Not that would be such a great sacrifice.

Nothing's simple when you're the new Princess of Genovia. At least, that's what Mia reckons.

With her mother dating her Algebra teacher, a secret admirer sending her mysterious e-mails, and a bad case of the hots for her friends Lily's brother Michael, Mia's discovering that life as Princess Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo can feel like a right-royal muddle!

My thoughts:
I enjoyed this book more than the first one, but that might because I have gotten used to the writing and I am more invested in the characters.

Mia is as funny in this one, as in the first, which I really liked. Her reaction to the world around her is always funny, and I do feel for her most of the time. It can't be easy living her life, but it is still fun to read about. 

There are, of course, some romance in this book, with Mia receiving anonymous love e-mails. I found it quite easy to figure out who it was, but it didn't take away any enjoyment from my side, so I didn't really mind. 

Hopefully, I'll be able to find the next couple of books at my local library, because I would like to continue on with these books. However, I don't think I would buy them, so it all depends on my local library. 

If this series sounds like something you'd enjoy, I would recommend picking up the first one and figure out what you think. They are intended for a younger audience, so keep that in mind if you're my age or older. 

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