Book Review of Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu

Holy Popcorn Batman! this was a good book.

Okay before I start, I have to admit that this was my first Marie Lu book. Yes I know, I should be hanging my head in shame, and I am. Now onto the review.

Before he was Batman, he was Bruce Wayne. A reckless boy willing to break the rules for a girl who may be his worst enemy.

The Nightwalkers are terrorizing Gotham City, and Bruce Wayne is next on their list.

One by one, the city’s elites are being executed as their mansions’ security systems turn against them, trapping them like prey. Meanwhile, Bruce is turning eighteen and about to inherit his family’s fortune, not to mention the keys to Wayne Enterprises and all the tech gadgetry his heart could ever desire. But after a run-in with the police, he’s forced to do community service at Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison that holds the city’s most brutal criminals.

Madeleine Wallace is a brilliant killer . . . and Bruce’s only hope.

In Arkham, Bruce meets Madeleine, a brilliant girl with ties to the Nightwalkers. What is she hiding? And why will she speak only to Bruce? Madeleine is the mystery Bruce must unravel. But is he getting her to divulge her secrets, or is he feeding her the information she needs to bring Gotham City to its knees? Bruce will walk the dark line between trust and betrayal as the Nightwalkers circle closer. (Goodreads)

I absolutely loved this book, I loved Marie’s writing and the fact that the book was fast paced, I loved her take on Batman’s story. I really liked the way that she wrote about Gotham city, the way she described it, gave it a cloudy, dark mood that is the setting of Gotham.

Bruce Wayne as a character, I think she did really well, in this book he has just turned 18, and he gets into a bit of trouble and ends up doing some work in Arkham Asylum. I so enjoyed the fact that most of the book was set in Arkham. Bruce is a typical teenage boy, he makes mistakes but he always tries to fix them. I liked his friends and the fact that one of them was Harvey Dent, If your a fan of Batman you should know who he is.

I really liked Madeleine Wallace, she was such an interesting character and I was always routing for her, when somethings was happening, I was like nearly yelling at the book, shouting “Girl sort your shit out.” I honestly think there could be a second book after this one, I just really want to explore Marie’s version of this tale. Marie stuck to most of the major plot points in the Batman universe, like the death of his parents, him being in charge at Wayne Enterprises ect.

The action scenes actually got my blood going, I was on the edge of my seat, it was a real page turner.

This book has really made me excited to read more books by Marie Lu.

I highly recommend this book, even if you don’t know anything about Batman, I think you would enjoy it.

Goodreads: 5 Stars

Thanks Bookworms.

September TBR

Today I’m going to share with you, what I plan to read in September.

All of the synopsises will be from Goodreads.

Paperbacks

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

Cassidy Blake’s parents are The Inspectres, a (somewhat inept) ghost-hunting team. But Cass herself can REALLY see ghosts. In fact, her best friend, Jacob, just happens to be one.

When The Inspectres head to ultra-haunted Edinburgh, Scotland, for their new TV show, Cass—and Jacob—come along. In Scotland, Cass is surrounded by ghosts, not all of them friendly. Then she meets Lara, a girl who can also see the dead. But Lara tells Cassidy that as an In-betweener, their job is to send ghosts permanently beyond the Veil. Cass isn’t sure about her new mission, but she does know the sinister Red Raven haunting the city doesn’t belong in her world. Cassidy’s powers will draw her into an epic fight that stretches through the worlds of the living and the dead, in order to save herself.

Playing Twm by Ruth Morgan

It couldn’t get much worse for Midge – moving from London to sleepy mid Wales.

Teased relentlessly by her new schoolmates, and comforted only by the news that Dylan Blane – Hollywood super-star – has Welsh roots, Midge prefers her personal dream-world to the dubious attentions of Kneck Edwards and his loutish friends.

Co-starring with pin-up Dyaln strictly in her imagination, Midge is electrified as dreams start turning into reality. When an international movie company arrives to film Outlaw Twm in the wild Welsh hills, not only does Midge land a walk-on part, but she gets to work alongside Dylan Blane himself.

Only that’s when Midge’s dreams start turning into nightmares…

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Hailsham seems like a pleasant English boarding school, far from the influences of the city. Its students are well tended and supported, trained in art and literature, and become just the sort of people the world wants them to be. But, curiously, they are taught nothing of the outside world and are allowed little contact with it.

Within the grounds of Hailsham, Kathy grows from schoolgirl to young woman, but it’s only when she and her friends Ruth and Tommy leave the safe grounds of the school (as they always knew they would) that they realize the full truth of what Hailsham is.

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

The last thing Jamie Watson wants is a rugby scholarship to Sherringford, a Connecticut prep school just an hour away from his estranged father. But that’s not the only complication: Sherringford is also home to Charlotte Holmes, the famous detective’s great-great-great-granddaughter, who has inherited not only Sherlock’s genius but also his volatile temperament. From everything Jamie has heard about Charlotte, it seems safer to admire her from afar.

From the moment they meet, there’s a tense energy between them, and they seem more destined to be rivals than anything else. But when a Sherringford student dies under suspicious circumstances, ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Jamie can no longer afford to keep his distance. Jamie and Charlotte are being framed for murder, and only Charlotte can clear their names. But danger is mounting and nowhere is safe—and the only people they can trust are each other.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post By Emily M. Danforth

When Cameron Post’s parents die suddenly in a car crash, her shocking first thought is relief. Relief they’ll never know that, hours earlier, she had been kissing a girl.

But that relief doesn’t last, and Cam is soon forced to move in with her conservative aunt Ruth and her well-intentioned but hopelessly old-fashioned grandmother. She knows that from this point on, her life will forever be different. Survival in Miles City, Montana, means blending in and leaving well enough alone (as her grandmother might say), and Cam becomes an expert at both.

Then Coley Taylor moves to town. Beautiful, pickup-driving Coley is a perfect cowgirl with the perfect boyfriend to match. She and Cam forge an unexpected and intense friendship–one that seems to leave room for something more to emerge. But just as that starts to seem like a real possibility, ultrareligious Aunt Ruth takes drastic action to “fix” her niece, bringing Cam face-to-face with the cost of denying her true self–even if she’s not exactly sure who that is.

Kindle

Warcross by Marie Lu

For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. Needing to make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.

Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas

Two years after escaping Gotham City’s slums, Selina Kyle returns as the mysterious and wealthy Holly Vanderhees. She quickly discovers that with Batman off on a vital mission, Batwing is left to hold back the tide of notorious criminals. Gotham City is ripe for the taking.

Meanwhile, Luke Fox wants to prove he has what it takes to help people in his role as Batwing. He targets a new thief on the prowl who seems cleverer than most. She has teamed up with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, and together they are wreaking havoc. This Catwoman may be Batwing’s undoing.

Vicious by V. E Schwab

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong.

Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?

So there you have my TBR for September, I hopefully will read all of them.

Thanks Bookworms.

Rhondda Book Fair

Today was a new experience for me. I have never been to a book fair before, and I have to say I absolutely enjoyed myself. I left with a bag of books, that actually killed me while trying to carry it, so many books were bought.

The Rhondda book fair has happened for the past 3 years, this one was the fourth. It was run and set up by Colin R Parsons, who is a childrens author. It’s so good to have something like this in our community, as a book lover who lives in a small town in Wales, there are not many things that happen to do with books. When I found out about this 4 days ago I was amazed that something like this was happening here, the chance to meet authors and get books is an amazing experience. It also brings the community of book lovers together.

It was so good to see and meet all the authors there, they were all lovely and I had some really interesting chats with some of them. As soon as you walk through the door there was a cake stand, and what more could you want, cake and books equals an awesome day to me.

Books

These are all the books I bought at the fair. Most of them are signed by the authors. The list of authors that turned up at the event were Graham Watkins – Daniel Parsons – Angela Fish – Christoph Fischer – Sally Spedding – Mark Dorey – Will Macmillan Jones – Tom Phelps – Dave Lewis – Julie McGowan – Julian Roderick – Nigel C Williams – Damian Harvey – Gail B Williams – Phil Carradice – Helen Forder – Darrell James – Ruth Morgan – Mike Thomas and Jan Newton.

Some of the best conversations I had were with Ruth Morgan, Colin Parsons and Sally Spedding. They were all genuinely, lovely people.

I honestly hope this happens again next year, I really enjoyed my time at the fair, if I could have bought more books I would have, I just couldn’t physically carry anymore.

Thanks Bookworms

Most Anticipated Book Releases For the Rest of the Year.

Today I want to share with you, the books I am looking forward to, coming out in the next few months. Oh my gosh there are a load of books I need in my life, I’m going to be broke by the end of the year, but its okay, I will get all the pretty books.

This list will go in order of release date.

4th September

Not Even Bones by Rebecca Schaeffer

Dexter meets This Savage Song in this dark fantasy about a girl who sells magical body parts on the black market — until she’s betrayed.

Nita doesn’t murder supernatural beings and sell their body parts on the internet—her mother does that. Nita just dissects the bodies after they’ve been “acquired.” But when her mom brings home a live specimen, Nita decides she wants out — dissecting living people is a step too far.

But when she tries to save her mother’s victim, she ends up sold on the black market in his place — because Nita herself is a supernatural being. Now Nita is on the other side of the bars, and there is no line she won’t cross to escape and make sure no one can ever capture her again.

Nita did a good deed, and it cost her everything. Now she’s going to do a lot of bad deeds to get it all back. (Goodreads)

I’m so excited for this book. If someone tells me there is a fantasy book coming out that is like Dexter, you can bet your ass I’m going to want to read it.

25th September

The Sisters of the Winter Woods by Rena Rossner

Raised in a small village surrounded by vast forests, Liba and Laya have lived a peaceful sheltered life – even if they’ve heard of troubling times for Jews elsewhere. When their parents travel to visit their dying grandfather, the sisters are left behind in their home in the woods.

But before they leave, Liba discovers the secret that their Tati can transform into a bear, and their Mami into a swan. Perhaps, Liba realizes, the old fairy tales are true. She must guard this secret carefully, even from her beloved sister.

Soon a troupe of mysterious men appear in town and Laya falls under their spell-despite their mother’s warning to be wary of strangers. And these are not the only dangers lurking in the woods…

The sisters will need each other if they are to become the women they need to be – and save their people from the dark forces that draw closer. (Goodreads)

This story just sounded intriguing. Also the cover is really pretty, I know you shouldn’t buy a book based on the cover, but what are you going to do, I like a pretty cover.

2nd October

There are a few books coming out on this date.

The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee

Felicity Montague is through with pretending she prefers society parties to books about bone setting—or that she’s not smarter than most people she knows, or that she cares about anything more than her dream of becoming a doctor.

A year after an accidentally whirlwind tour of Europe, which she spent evading highwaymen and pirates with her brother Monty, Felicity has returned to England with two goals in mind—avoid the marriage proposal of Callum Doyle, a lovestruck suitor from Edinburgh; and enroll in medical school. However, her intellect and passion will never be enough in the eyes of the administrators, who see men as the sole guardians of science.

But then a small window of hope opens. Doctor Alexander Platt, an eccentric physician that Felicity idolizes, is looking for research assistants, and Felicity is sure that someone as forward thinking as her hero would be willing to take her on. However, Platt is in Germany, preparing to wed Felicity’s estranged childhood friend Johanna. Not only is Felicity reluctant to opening old wounds, she also has no money to make the trip.

Luckily, a mysterious young woman is willing to pay Felicity’s way, so long as she’s allowed to travel with Felicity disguised as her maid. In spite of her suspicions, Felicity agrees, but once the girl’s true motives are revealed, Felicity becomes part of a perilous quest that will lead her from the German countryside to the promenades of Zurich to secrets lurking beneath the Atlantic. (Goodreads)

I read the first book by audio, and it was so funny, I can’t wait for this one to come out.

Muse Of Nightmares by Laini Taylor

In the wake of tragedy, neither Lazlo nor Sarai are who they were before. One a god, the other a ghost, they struggle to grasp the new boundaries of their selves as dark-minded Minya holds them hostage, intent on vengeance against Weep.

Lazlo faces an unthinkable choice—save the woman he loves, or everyone else?—while Sarai feels more helpless than ever. But is she? Sometimes, only the direst need can teach us our own depths, and Sarai, the muse of nightmares, has not yet discovered what she’s capable of.

As humans and godspawn reel in the aftermath of the citadel’s near fall, a new foe shatters their fragile hopes, and the mysteries of the Mesarthim are resurrected: Where did the gods come from, and why? What was done with thousands of children born in the citadel nursery? And most important of all, as forgotten doors are opened and new worlds revealed: Must heroes always slay monsters, or is it possible to save them instead? (Goodreads)

AHHHHHHH!!! So Excited for this, I just can’t.

The Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke

A dark and gorgeously drawn standalone YA fantasy about a band of mercenary girls in search of female glory. Won in a major six-house auction!

Frey, Ovie, Juniper, and Runa are the Boneless Mercies—girls hired to kill quickly, quietly, and mercifully. But Frey is weary of the death trade and, having been raised on the heroic sagas of her people, dreams of a bigger life.

When she hears of an unstoppable monster ravaging a nearby town, Frey decides this is the Mercies’ one chance out. The fame and fortune of bringing down such a beast would ensure a new future for all the Mercies. In fact, her actions may change the story arc of women everywhere. (Goodreads)

Dry by Neal and Jarrod Shusterman

The drought—or the Tap-Out, as everyone calls it—has been going on for a while now. Everyone’s lives have become an endless list of don’ts: don’t water the lawn, don’t fill up your pool, don’t take long showers.

Until the taps run dry.

Suddenly, Alyssa’s quiet suburban street spirals into a warzone of desperation; neighbours and families turned against each other on the hunt for water. And when her parents don’t return and her life—and the life of her brother—is threatened, Alyssa has to make impossible choices if she’s going to survive

I love Neal Shusterman, Im so excited to read this.

Melmoth by Sarah Perry

For centuries, the mysterious dark-robed figure has roamed the globe, searching for those whose complicity and cowardice have fed into the rapids of history’s darkest waters—and now, in Sarah Perry’s breathtaking follow-up to The Essex Serpent, it is heading in our direction.

It has been years since Helen Franklin left England. In Prague, working as a translator, she has found a home of sorts—or, at least, refuge. That changes when her friend Karel discovers a mysterious letter in the library, a strange confession and a curious warning that speaks of Melmoth the Witness, a dark legend found in obscure fairy tales and antique village lore. As such superstition has it, Melmoth travels through the ages, dooming those she persuades to join her to a damnation of timeless, itinerant solitude. To Helen it all seems the stuff of unenlightened fantasy.

But, unaware, as she wanders the cobblestone streets Helen is being watched. And then Karel disappears. . . . (Goodreads)

9th October

What if It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it.

Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things.

But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them?

Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated.

Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited.

But what if they can’t quite nail a first date . . . or a second first date . . . or a third?

What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work . . . and Ben doesn’t try hard enough?

What if life really isn’t like a Broadway play?

But what if it is? (Goodreads)

I feel like I have been waiting a million years for this book, I can not wait!!!

20th November

Fire and Blood by George RR Martin

With all the fire and fury fans have come to expect from internationally bestselling author George R. R. Martin, this is the first volume of the definitive two-part history of the Targaryens in Westeros.

Centuries before the events of A Game of Thrones, House Targaryen—the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria—took up residence on Dragonstone. Fire and Blood begins their tale with the legendary Aegon the Conqueror, creator of the Iron Throne, and goes on to recount the generations of Targaryens who fought to hold that iconic seat, all the way up to the civil war that nearly tore their dynasty apart.

What really happened during the Dance of the Dragons? Why did it become so deadly to visit Valyria after the Doom? What is the origin of Daenerys’s three dragon eggs? These are but a few of the questions answered in this essential chronicle, as related by a learned maester of the Citadel and featuring more than eighty all-new black-and-white illustrations by artist Doug Wheatley. Readers have glimpsed small parts of this narrative in such volumes as The World of Ice & Fire, but now, for the first time, the full tapestry of Targaryen history is revealed.

With all the scope and grandeur of Gibbon’s The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Fire and Blood is the ultimate game of thrones, giving readers a whole new appreciation for the dynamic, often bloody, and always fascinating history of Westeros. (Goodreads)

It’s not the book I was hoping for, I mean is he ever going to release Winds of Winter. Anyway I’m always up for a new book set in Westeros .

So there you have it, these are all the books I am looking forward to for the rest of the year.

What are some of the books you can’t wait to get?

Thanks Bookworms

Book Review: Legendary By Stephanie Garber

After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.

The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister’s. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice. But now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval…the games have only just begun. (Goodreads)

I really enjoyed this book, I think I prefer this book to the first one Caraval. I Love Stephanie’s writing it seems almost poetic, the way she describes places, smells and colours, leads to some beautiful prose. She also uses colours in an interesting way to make you feel like you are there.

I love the world in Caraval, and how magical it is. The story is good and I loved the fact that this book is told from the point of view of Donatella, where Caraval is told in Scarlett’s point of view. Donatella I found to be a much more interesting character, she is more fiery and she seems stronger than Scarlett.

Even thou I guessed the end of this book, it didn’t take away the enjoyment of reading it. I highly recommend this series. It’s such an interesting fantasy story and you get caught up in the lives of the characters, and also the games of Caraval, I love the aspect of hunting down clues, it gave the book a mystery feel.

I can’t wait for the last book to come out. Let the Games BEGIN!!

Goodreads: 4.25 Stars

Thanks Bookworms

August Book Haul

Today I am going to show you the books that I have bought in August. All of the synopsis will be from Goodreads.

Cassidy Blake’s parents are The Inspectres, a (somewhat inept) ghost-hunting team. But Cass herself can REALLY see ghosts. In fact, her best friend, Jacob, just happens to be one.

In the spirit of trying more middle grade I picked this up.

There’s no ancient evil to defeat or orphan destined for greatness, just unlikely heroes and classic adventure. Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater, are two enterprising rogues who end up running for their lives when they’re framed for the murder of the king. Trapped in a conspiracy that goes beyond the overthrow of a tiny kingdom, their only hope is unraveling an ancient mystery before it’s too late.

This is the story of two sisters, who happen to be princesses. Theirs is a world in which those who die in glory return as gods to live confined to a pantheon in Hallandren’s capital city. A world transformed by a power based on an essence known as breath. Using magic is arduous as breath can only be collected one unit at a time.

Told in Kvothe’s own voice, this is the tale of the magically gifted young man who grows to be the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen.

The intimate narrative of his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, his years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-ridden city, his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, and his life as a fugitive after the murder of a king form a gripping coming-of-age story unrivaled in recent literature.

A high-action story written with a poet’s hand, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that will transport readers into the body and mind of a wizard.

When Cameron Post’s parents die suddenly in a car crash, her shocking first thought is relief. Relief they’ll never know that, hours earlier, she had been kissing a girl.

‘It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.’ Thus memorably begins Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, one of the world’s most popular novels. Pride and Prejudice–Austen’s own ‘darling child’–tells the story of fiercely independent Elizabeth Bennett, one of five sisters who must marry rich, as she confounds the arrogant, wealthy Mr. Darcy. What ensues is one of the most delightful and engrossingly readable courtships known to literature, written by a precocious Austen when she was just twenty-one years old.

This is my second, copy of this book.

It was only an accident — but it would change their lives forever. Last summer, four terrified friends made a desperate pact to conceal a shocking secret. But some secrets don’t stay buried, and someone has learned the truth. Someone bent on revenge. This summer, the horror is only beginning….

Why does the exclusive boarding school Blackwood have only four students?

Kit walks the dark halls and feels a penetrating chill. What terror waits around the next corner?

If you guys have read any of these books let me know.

Thanks Bookworms

Book Review: Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd.

Acclaimed authors Holly Black (Ironside) and Cecil Castellucci (Boy Proof) have united in geekdom to edit short stories from some of the best selling and most promising geeks in young adult literature: M.T. Anderson, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, John Green, Tracy Lynn, Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Barry Lyga, Wendy Mass, Garth Nix, Scott Westerfield, Lisa Yee, and Sara Zarr.

With illustrated interstitials from comic book artists Hope Larson and Bryan Lee O’Malley, Geektastic covers all things geeky, from Klingons and Jedi Knights to fan fiction, theater geeks, and cosplayers. Whether you’re a former, current, or future geek, or if you just want to get in touch with your inner geek, Geektastic will help you get your geek on! (Goodreads)

I found this collection of stories on a whim, when I was looking on Amazon. Honestly this was just a random purchase, but I’m so glad that I picked it up. Some of the stories in this book are so funny.

Geektastic is a neutral zone for all the geeks out there (yes this does include me)

There is a love story between a Jedi and a Klingon, a Buffy the Vampire Slayer sing along, A Rocky Horror Picture show obsessive, A girl who wants learn about geek things to understand what her boyfriend talks about, and a girl who loves Dinosaurs.

Some of the fandoms mentioned are Star Wars, Star Trek, Buffy, Lord of the rings, Rocky Horror, and many more.

My favourite stories were, The Jedi and The Klingon, and Dino-Girl. I found these to be the funniest, thou Dino-Girl did turn a little dark towards the end.

Also between each story there were little comics, this was one of my favourite:

I highly recommend this, if you fancy reading a quick, funny book.

Goodreads: 4.25 Stars

Thanks Bookworms

Books I need to read on my Kindle.

I have so many books on my Kindle, I have decided to show you guys the ones I want to finish by the end of this year.

The first book I want to get to is:

Legendary by Stephanie Garber

A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval…the games have only just begun. (Goodreads)

I listened to Caraval on audio book and I absolutely loved it, so I am so excited to get to the second book in this series. I think that this will be my next read.

Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi

Alice Alexis Queensmeadow 12 rates three things most important: Mother, who wouldn’t miss her; magic and color, which seem to elude her; and Father, who always loved her. Father disappeared from Ferenwood with only a ruler, almost three years ago. But she will have to travel through the mythical, dangerous land of Furthermore, where down can be up, paper is alive, and left can be both right and very, very wrong. Her only companion is Oliver whose own magic is based in lies and deceit. Alice must first find herself—and hold fast to the magic of love in the face of loss. (Goodreads)

I haven’t read much middle grade novels, but that is something I plan to change. I have heard nothing but good things about this series and I cant wait to read this book. It looks like it will be a quick, enjoyable read.

WarCross by Marie Lu

I can’t believe that i haven’t read this yet. It’s been on my TBR for ages, I hopefully will get to this soon.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Crazy Rich Asians is the outrageously funny debut novel about three super-rich, pedigreed Chinese families and the gossip, backbiting, and scheming that occurs when the heir to one of the most massive fortunes in Asia brings home his ABC (American-born Chinese) girlfriend to the wedding of the season.
When Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home, long drives to explore the island, and quality time with the man she might one day marry. What she doesn’t know is that Nick’s family home happens to look like a palace, that she’ll ride in more private planes than cars, and that with one of Asia’s most eligible bachelors on her arm, Rachel might as well have a target on her back. Initiated into a world of dynastic splendor beyond imagination, Rachel meets Astrid, the It Girl of Singapore society; Eddie, whose family practically lives in the pages of the Hong Kong socialite magazines; and Eleanor, Nick’s formidable mother, a woman who has very strong feelings about who her son should–and should not–marry. Uproarious, addictive, and filled with jaw-dropping opulence, Crazy Rich Asians is an insider’s look at the Asian JetSet; a perfect depiction of the clash between old money and new money; between Overseas Chinese and Mainland Chinese; and a fabulous novel about what it means to be young, in love, and gloriously, crazilyrich. (Goodreads)

I wanted to read this book before the film came out, but I didn’t. I have heard such good things about this series, that I really hope I read this before the end of year, and I want to see the film so I better get to it quickly.

The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar

This voyage is special. It will change everything…

One September evening in 1785, the merchant Jonah Hancock hears urgent knocking on his front door. One of his captains is waiting eagerly on the step. He has sold Jonah’s ship for what appears to be a mermaid.

As gossip spreads through the docks, coffee shops, parlours and brothels, everyone wants to see Mr Hancock’s marvel. Its arrival spins him out of his ordinary existence and through the doors of high society. At an opulent party, he makes the acquaintance of Angelica Neal, the most desirable woman he has ever laid eyes on… and a courtesan of great accomplishment. This chance meeting will steer both their lives onto a dangerous new course, a journey on which they will learn that priceless things come at the greatest cost…

What will be the cost of their ambitions? And will they be able to escape the destructive power mermaids are said to possess?

In this spell-binding story of curiosity and obsession, Imogen Hermes Gowar has created an unforgettable jewel of a novel, filled to the brim with intelligence, heart and wit. (Goodreads)

Honestly there is no reason why I haven’t got to this book yet.

What book do you guys think I should start with? Let me know.

Thanks bookworms

Book Review: These Rebel Waves by Sara Raasch.

Adeluna is a soldier. Five years ago, she helped the magic-rich island of Grace Loray overthrow its oppressor, Argrid, a country ruled by religion. But adjusting to postwar life has not been easy. When an Argridian delegate vanishes during peace talks with Grace Loray’s new Council, Argrid demands brutal justice—but Lu suspects something more dangerous is at work.

Devereux is a pirate. As one of the outlaws called stream raiders who run rampant on Grace Loray, he pirates the island’s magic plants and sells them on the black market. But after Argrid accuses raiders of the diplomat’s abduction, Vex becomes a target. An expert navigator, he agrees to help Lu find the Argridian—but the truth they uncover could be deadlier than any war.

Benat is a heretic. The crown prince of Argrid, he harbors a secret obsession with Grace Loray’s forbidden magic. When Ben’s father, the king, gives him the shocking task of reversing Argrid’s fear of magic, Ben has to decide if one prince can change a devout country—or if he’s building his own pyre.

As conspiracies arise, Lu, Vex, and Ben will have to decide who they really are . . . and what they are willing to become for peace.

Okay I have a lot of thoughts on this book, and most of them are not good. The story is told in a 3 person perspective, only one of the characters kept me engaged in the story and that was Devereux or Vex as they call him in the book. The other two, Adeluna I just didn’t engage with the character, and Benat bits just bored me. Honestly she should have just told the story from the pirates point of view, and added the characters from his view, it would have made for a much more compelling story.

I felt like the story was just all over the place, the Politics and the religion system wasn’t explained that well, they would give you some piece of information, then go off and give you more information, without fully explaining the previous piece of information. I just found it all to be confusing.

I almost DNF’d it so many times but I carried on, and I wish I didn’t.

Honestly this book was put out to be this big pirate adventure, fantasy book, and I honestly don’t think it lived up to that description.

On to some of the parts that were good.

The Magic system was interesting, the magic was through plants, I haven’t read anything like that before so that kept me interested. There was also LGBTQ representation in it.

Goodreads: 1.75 stars (I hate giving low ratings) 😦

Thanks Bookworms

Classicsathon Wrap up. A book readathon.

Through the month of August, Lucy the Reader on Youtube (will link her channel at the bottom) decided to create a readathon, which is called Classicsathon. Anyone could take part, and all you had to do was, read as many Classic books as you want durning August. You could read one or ten it was completely up to you. I ended up reading six.

1. Anne Of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.

As soon as Anne Shirley arrives at the snug white farmhouse called Green Gables, she is sure she wants to stay forever . . . but will the Cuthberts send her back to the orphanage? Anne knows she’s not what they expected—a skinny girl with fiery red hair and a temper to match. If only she can convince them to let her stay, she’ll try very hard not to keep rushing headlong into scrapes and blurting out the first thing that comes to her mind. Anne is not like anyone else, the Cuthberts agree; she is special—a girl with an enormous imagination. This orphan girl dreams of the day when she can call herself Anne of Green Gables. (Goodreads)

I loved Anne Of Green Gables so much, that it has now gone into my top favourite books, that I have ever read.

Goodreads: 5 stars

2. The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories by Angela Carter.

Angela Carter was a storytelling sorceress, the literary godmother of such contemporary masters of supernatural fiction as Neil Gaiman, David Mitchell, Audrey Niffenegger, J. K. Rowling, and Kelly Link, who introduces this edition of Carter’s most celebrated book, published for the seventy-fifth anniversary of her birth. In The Bloody Chamber—which includes the story that is the basis of Neil Jordan’s 1984 movie The Company of Wolves—Carter spins subversively dark and sensual versions of familiar fairy tales and legends like “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Bluebeard,” “Puss in Boots,” and “Beauty and the Beast,” giving them exhilarating new life in a style steeped in the romantic trappings of the gothic tradition. (Goodreads)

This wasn’t my favourite out of the classics I read. I really thought I would enjoy these stories, but they just didn’t interest me. I love fairytales, but I found these to be boring to be honest.

Goodreads: 2.25 stars

3. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell.

When her father leaves the Church in a crisis of conscience, Margaret Hale is uprooted from her comfortable home in Hampshire to move with her family to the north of England. Initially repulsed by the ugliness of her new surroundings in the industrial town of Milton, Margaret becomes aware of the poverty and suffering of the local mill workers and develops a passionate sense of social justice. This is intensified by her tempestuous relationship with the mill-owner and self-made man, John Thornton, as their fierce opposition over his treatment of his employees masks a deeper attraction. (Goodreads)

I really enjoyed North and South. I loved the romance between Margaret and John. After you have finished this book, I would go and watch the tv series, starring Richard Armitage. (heart eyes all the way)

Goodreads: 4 stars

4. Persuasion by Jane Austen

Twenty-seven-year old Anne Elliot is Austen’s most adult heroine. Eight years before the story proper begins, she is happily betrothed to a naval officer, Frederick Wentworth, but she precipitously breaks off the engagement when persuaded by her friend Lady Russell that such a match is unworthy. The breakup produces in Anne a deep and long-lasting regret. When later Wentworth returns from sea a rich and successful captain, he finds Anne’s family on the brink of financial ruin and his own sister a tenant in Kellynch Hall, the Elliot estate. All the tension of the novel revolves around one question: Will Anne and Wentworth be reunited in their love? (Goodreads)

I really enjoyed this book, the only problem I had with it was, Anne Elliots family. They were the worst people and they really got on my nerves, especially with how they ignored and took advantage of Anne.

Goodreads: 3.75 stars.

5. Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell

This is Elizabeth Gaskell’s first novel, a widely acclaimed work based on the actual murder, in 1831, of a progressive mill owner. It follows Mary Barton, daughter of a man implicated in the murder, through her adolescence, when she suffers the advances of the mill owner, and later through love and marriage. Set in Manchester, between 1837-42, it paints a powerful and moving picture of working-class life in Victorian England. (Goodreads)

Out of the two Elizabeth Gaskell books I read, I prefer North and South, but this was still an enjoyable book and it was really well written for her first book.

Goodreads: 3.5 stars

6. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

Peter Pan, the book based on J.M. Barrie’s famous play, is filled with unforgettable characters: Peter Pan, the boy who would not grow up; the fairy, Tinker Bell; the evil pirate, Captain Hook; and the three children–Wendy, John, and Michael–who fly off with Peter Pan to Neverland, where they meet Indians and pirates and a crocodile that ticks. (Goodreads.)

I really enjoyed Peter Pan, I found this to be a really quick read, and I found it to be much darker than I thought it was going to be. If you don”t read much classics then I highly recommend you start with some children’s classics, you will find these much easier to get into than the other classics.

Goodreads: 4 stars

If you want to get more information on Classicsathon, then go to Lucy’s youtube channel.

Thanks Bookworms