Street Song by Sheena Wilkinson
Posted on 20 April, 2017 by Faye - No Comments
Street Song by Sheena Wilkinson
Hi Guys!
Today is my stop on the Street Song blog tour and I have a review of this fab book to share with you all!
First though, here’s the info about the book.
About the Book
When life goes off-key, change your tune.
RyLee’s career is over. After winning a national TV talent show and becoming a teen pop sensation, his fame and success has quickly been followed by addiction, media scrutiny, and career suicide. After a brief spell in rehab, 18-year-old Ryan has some rethinking to do.
His stepdad – music promoter and self-appointed creator of ‘RyLee’ – wants him at home and in school, and under his thumb. But after an argument descends into violence, Ryan decides to run away from his old life, his failed career, and his dysfunctional family.
When he meets the stunningly witty but distinctly average guitar-player Toni almost directly outside his front door, the opportunity to start afresh seems too good to pass up. Before long, he has arrived in a new city, joined Toni’s amazingly talented band, and reinvented himself under the name ‘Cal’. For the first time in his life Ryan has friends around him, he’s playing the music he’s always wanted to play, and – despite living in a hostel, busking for his wages, and living under a false identity – he’s finally happy.
But just when Ryan feels like he has truly started over, his past begins to catch up with him.
Goodreads. Amazon. Waterstones.
My Review
Sometimes You
Sometimes you pick up a book and it can take some time to get into it but fortunately this was not the case with Street Song. Before I knew it I had read almost half of the book and was very, very curious about how it was all going to end. This book was entertaining, uncomfortable, heart-breaking and heart-warming all at the same time. It is a very powerful and poignant book that I think a lot of teenagers could find a very interesting read. It’s a book about homelessness but also about accepting help when you really need it. It’s full of music, friendship and love – everything you might just want in a contemporary Irish YA.
Have To
Cal has tried his hardest to turn his life around after his past but it hasn’t been that easy. One day things go too far and he does the only thing he can think of; leave. From here the book progresses into how Cal becomes a different person and finally puts his past behind him. It is a compelling book and one that is also full of mystery too. I ended up really liking Cal and the two girls that he meets up with. Together they make three protagonists that are truly fascinating to read about and help bring to life so many emotions.
Break Before
For me, character development is essential in a novel. It is what can turn a book from a complete mess to a masterpeice – in my eyes. Characters and character development show that the novel is working. It brings emotions to the surface and pulls the reader in. It also truly takes you on a journey which is what I love most about books. In this book Sheena Wilkinson does a brilliant job of bringing the characters to life and giving them all personal journey’s that they go on during the book. My favourite character though, by far was Cal. His journey was also the biggest and I felt so many emotions for him and it made me think differently about some things too.
Being Fixed
Overall, I found this book was easy to read, addictive and interesting. It is full of action, emotions and sensitive topics. Sheena Wilkinson has done a brilliant job of writing these topics into the book without bogging it down or by putting too much of a negative spin on things either. It’s all very informative as well. I think it’s a really powerful book that you really shouldn’t be missing. It’s a book that I am incredibly glad I read and would definitely be recommending as a fascinating YA book to read.
Follow the Tour
Posted on 20 April, 2017 by Faye - No Comments
Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer
Posted on 6 April, 2017 by Faye - 1 Comment
Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer
Hello All!
Today I have a bit of a different post. I have a review of my favourite book of 2017. Yes, I just said that. And to go along with it I have a little guest post from the author; Brigid Kemmerer too!
3 words to describe…
By Brigid Kemmerer
Letters to the Lost: Emotional, Hopeful, Romantic
Declan: Dark, Loyal, Frustrated
Juliet: Grief-stricken, Lost, Thoughtful
Yourself: Kind, Motherly, Caffeinated
Title: Letters to the Lost
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Published: 6th April 2017
Pages: 400
Format: Paperback
Source:: Review Copy
Add It: Goodreads, Amazon UK, Waterstones
Juliet Young has always written letters to her mother, a world-traveling photojournalist. Even after her mother’s death, she leaves letters at her grave. It’s the only way Juliet can cope.
Declan Murphy isn’t the sort of guy you want to cross. In the midst of his court-ordered community service at the local cemetery, he’s trying to escape the demons of his past.
When Declan reads a haunting letter left beside a grave, he can’t resist writing back. Soon, he’s opening up to a perfect stranger, and their connection is immediate. But neither of them knows that they’re not actually strangers. When real life at school interferes with their secret life of letters, Juliet and Declan discover truths that might tear them apart. This emotional, compulsively-readable romance will sweep everyone off their feet.
Sometimes You
If you’ve been following this blog a while that you might know that Brigid Kemmerer is one of my most favourite authors that I have discovered since I started blogging. I fell in love with her first series, Elementals and found that every single book just got so much better than the next. So when I found out that she was publishing another book and that it had gained rights in the UK, I could not wait to get my hands on it. And fortunately, Letters to the Lost has lived up to all of the expectations I put upon it. It was, quite literally, worth the wait and is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I would not say that it was Brigid’s best book but I think my heart is just too much in love with the Merrick brothers to let that happen.
Just Need
There is one thing that Brigid Kemmerer does in her writing that always makes me envious of her talent because she always manages to make you fall hard for her characters. No matter who they are or what evil they do, she gets inside of their head so succinctly that you cannot help but understand and empathize with the characters, to the point that you just want to hug them and tell them that everything will be okay, even if it won’t be. This is something she has once again managed in Letters to the Lost. All of her books are essentially character focused, which are my favourite kind of books. This book is even more so. Essentially it is the story of two people and how their lives change once they start to intertwine. It is a book where two characters grow because of each other and it is absolutely wonderful to read.
Someone To
Honestly, I am not entirely sure how she does it but somehow Brigid always makes me fall in love with the worst of her characters – probably because her characters are not actually bad but simply misunderstood. She lets their voices come alive and allows you to become well and truly attached. This is why Declan is my favourite character in Letters to the Lost. While both characters go on a journey that strengthens their character, I feel that Declan went on the biggest journey. He had a bad reputation, he acted like he didn’t care and he did not get along with his Step Father. He was stubborn, full of fury and seemed to believe the world hated him. But underneath all of that he was also caring, protective, gentle and incredibly clever. I felt that he went on the biggest transformation but also, he just managed to let all of his anger and fears melt, allowed the people in his life a chance to see him as he truly was and not how the world portrayed him.
Find You
I always try my hardest not to get too gushy in reviews as I know that sometimes it can feel a little biased and hard to make someone else want to pick up a book if all you’re screaming at them is “READ THIS BOOK, READ IT NOW.” But honestly, that is exactly how I feel about this book. It was an emotional roller-coaster (spoiler: as all Brigid’s books are), it touched my heart (spoiler: as all Brigid’s books do) and it made me think just a little differently about people and how they don’t always show who they truly are on the outside; how sometimes you have to probe a little further to find out what people are really like. But mostly I loved this book so much because it is an addictive, heart-wrenching and heart-warming book that I will happily re-read time and time again. So if you haven’t read this book, I urge you to do so. (Or well… any of Brigid’s books…)
** I received this copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. **
The Jungle by Pooja Puri
Posted on 23 March, 2017 by Faye - 2 Comments
The Jungle by Pooja Puri
Hi All!
Today is my stop on the blog tour for The Jungle and I have for you all my review of this book that gripped me from the very first page.
First though, here’s some information about the book.
About the Book
There was a story Jahir used to tell me. About how the first humans were born with wings. Can you imagine what that would be like? To fly anywhere in the world without worrying about having the right papers?
Mico has left his family, his home, his future. Setting out in search of a better life, he instead finds himself navigating one of the world’s most inhospitable environments the Jungle. For Mico, just one of many ‘unaccompanied children’, the Calais refugee camp has a wildness, a brutality all of its own.
A melting pot of characters, cultures, and stories, the Jungle often seems like its own strange world. But despite his ambitions to escape, Mico is unable to buy his way out from the ‘Ghost Men’ the dangerous men with magic who can cross borders unnoticed. Alone, desperate, and running out of options, the idea of jumping onto a speeding train to the UK begins to feel worryingly appealing.
But when Leila arrives at the camp one day, everything starts to change. Outspoken, gutsy, and fearless, she shows Mico that hope and friendship can grow in the most unusual places, and maybe, just maybe, they’ll show you the way out as well.
My Review
All Anyone
There is a lot going on in the world today. Yesterday something awful happened in London. Every day awful things happen in third world countries and this is what this book really gets you thinking about. Set in the migrant camp in Calais it allows you to take a step out of modern world comforts and into the thoughts of those who suffer and seek asylum every single day. Often in the media, refugees and migrants are not looked upon as humans who just want a better life than the one they had, they’re portrayed as vermin who are trying to steal our jobs and homes. This book is powerful in portraying just how human refugees and migrants are.
Wants Is
Pooja Puri has picked a very sensitive topic to write about but in my opinion has written a book that really works and automatically pulls at your heart and emotions. This book is different to other YA books out there as it doesn’t follow a traditional plotline but it also doesn’t need to. This is a book about hope. It is a book about desperation and despair. A book about friendship and family and a book about dealing with life the best way you can. And Pooja has managed to do this incredibly well.
To be
There was a vast array of characters in this book and it really shows the differences between people and how we can all come together, no matter our backgrounds. Our main protagonist is Mico who goes on a very interesting journey in the book. I found him to be a unique character to read about. My favourite character though is Leila. She is fierce and strong but also weak and vulnerable. She has been through a lot and goes through a lot but still has a fiery passion underneath. A marvellous character to read about.
Safe and Alive
All in all this book is powerful and unique. I would definitely be interested in reading more books like it. It’s a relevant topic and a book that can make people more empathetic towards refugees and migrants. This book gives them a story and it makes them real and human. It reminds us that they are not bad people, they are just people trying to live a better life. This book is one that I would highly recommend. It is a book that will really make you think.
About the Author
Pooja Puri first tasted publishing success with her short story, ‘Chess’, and later graduated from King’s College London with a First Class degree in English Language and Literature. Whilst at university she read for a publishing house and has since worked in the education sector. In 2014, she was chosen as a winner of the Ideas Tap Writer’s Centre Norwich Inspires competition. She will soon be embarking on a MA in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University.Follow the Tour
Posted on 23 March, 2017 by Faye - 2 Comments
Recently Released Diverse Books I Want To Read
Posted on 17 March, 2017 by Faye - No Comments
Recently Released Diverse Books I Want to Read
So the past few months have been fairly busy for me. At the beginning of the year I was ill and it put me behind on a lot of things and I have since been playing a very vicarious game of catch up. What all of this means is that my reading time has almost completely disappeared and I’ve been struggling to finish books. Thus, I have missed out on some amazing releases so in this post and two other posts coming to you in the next few days, I wanted to share with you some books I really want to read so that you can find out about them too!
For this I have come up with four categories, YA Mental Health Releases, YA LGBTQIA Releases, General YA Releases and Adult Books.
YA Mental Health Releases
A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard
I’ve had this one on my reading pile for far too long and I’ve been wanting to read it for even longer than that as well. I loved Sara’s first book, Beautiful Broken Things and I have heard some good things about this one so I am itching to dig into it! If you haven’t heard of it before, do click on the link to see what I mean.
Damage by Eve Ainsworth
This is yet another book that I was drawn to as soon as I heard about it. It sounds incredible. Dark, emotional, powerful and full of strength. What more could one possibly want? I will definitely be diving into this one as soon as I can!
Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner
I’ve actually only just heard about this book but now that I know about it, I really want to read it. While it doesn’t officially deal with mental health on the surface, it does sound like it brings up anxiety and panic attacks and I’m definitely intrigued to see how this is dealt with in the book.
History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
I will put my hands up here and say that I did not read Adam’s first book but this book sounds just the right kind of book for me. Aside from a brilliant blurb that really hooked me, this also has a protagonist with OCD written by an author who suffers from OCD. So I definitely want to see how it all gets handled!
Optimists Die First by Susie Nelson
Yes another book that I’ve only just heard about but that doesn’t make me want to read it any less. It sounds like such a fascinating read and I’d be really curious to see how it all comes together in the end!
YA LGBTQIA Releasea
Our Own Private Universe by Robin Talley
Robin Talley is one of those authors that has a knack for writing about sensitive but powerful topics and this is no different in her newest release. I have been itching to read this one and it has come highly recommended by one of my friends too so I cannot wait to see what it is all about.
Birdy Flynn by Helen Donohoe
This is a title that I am slightly cheating with (*shhh*). It’s not out until May but it is one that I have been dying to read for so long that I feel like it’s already out! I’ve been meaning to read it for ages. I will get to it eventually because I think it’s going to be one incredible read!
The Inexplicable Logic of my Life by Benjamin Alire Saenz
I fell hard for Benjamin’s first book, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and so the minute I found out he was writing another book, I knew that I was going to have to read it. This, of course, has not happened yet but it will at some point. It will.
The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
Admittedly I did not finish Becky’s first book – or I haven’t yet – but I am really excited by the premise of her second book! I have already heard good things too so my hands and eyes are itching to sink into her words. It’ll be good to see what the story is all about and how Becky deals with it.
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
Lastly, but certainly not least, we have We Are Okay. I have never actually read anything by Nina – eeek – but the blurb of this one just sounds amazing. And, once again, I have heard wonderful things about the book from fellow readers which all has me waiting impatiently to find the time to give this book a whirl!
And that’s all for today! Did you read any books recently released with these themes that I might have missed?
Posted on 17 March, 2017 by Faye - No Comments
Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones
Posted on 14 February, 2017 by Faye - 2 Comments
Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones
Hi Guys!
Today is my stop on the Wintersong blog tour and I am here today to share with you all a very exciting excerpt from the novel!
Before you get to see this exclusive sneak peak though, here’s some more information about the book!
About the Book
Beware the goblin men and the wares they sell.
All her life, nineteen-year-old Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, mysterious Goblin King. He is the Lord of Mischief, the Ruler Underground, and the muse around which her music is composed. Yet, as Liesl helps shoulder the burden of running her family’s inn, her dreams of composition and childish fancies about the Goblin King must be set aside in favor of more practical concerns.
But when her sister Käthe is taken by the goblins, Liesl journeys to their realm to rescue her sister and return her to the world above. The Goblin King agrees to let Käthe go—for a price. The life of a maiden must be given to the land, in accordance with the old laws. A life for a life, he says. Without sacrifice, nothing good can grow. Without death, there can be no rebirth. In exchange for her sister’s freedom, Liesl offers her hand in marriage to the Goblin King. He accepts.
Down in the Underground, Liesl discovers that the Goblin King still inspires her—musically, physically, emotionally. Yet even as her talent blossoms, Liesl’s life is slowly fading away, the price she paid for becoming the Goblin King’s bride. As the two of them grow closer, they must learn just what it is they are each willing to sacrifice: her life, her music, or the end of the world.
Goodreads. Amazon UK. Waterstones.
Exclusive Excerpt
I whirled around. Sitting on my bed were a pair of goblin girls. They stared at me, tittering behind their hands. With a twist of the stomach, I noticed they had too many joints in their long, twig-like fingers. Their skin had the greenish-brown tint of a spring wood just waking from its winter slumber, and their eyes had no whites about the pupils.
“No, no, mustn’t touch.” One of them waggled an unsettlingly long finger at me. “His Majesty wouldn’t be pleased.”
I dropped my hand to my side. “His Majesty? The Goblin King?”
“Goblin King,” the other goblin girl scoffed. She was the size of a child, but proportioned like an adult, a little stocky, with shining white hair like a thistle-cloud about her head. “King of the goblins, feh. He’s no king of mine.”
“Shush, Thistle,” the first goblin girl admonished. She was longer and thinner than her counterpart, built like a slender birch tree. Her hair was branches wound with cobwebs. “You mustn’t say things like that.”
“I’ll say what I want, Twig.” Thistle crossed her arms with a mutinous expression on her face.
Thistle and Twig carried on as though I were nothing more than another fixture in the barrow. Even among the goblins, I faded into the shadows. I cleared my throat.
“What are you doing here?” My voice cracked through their conversation like a whip. “Who are you?”
“We are your attendants,” said the one called Thistle. She grinned, her smile row upon row of jagged teeth. “Sent to prepare you for the fête tonight.”
“Fête?” I did not like the way she said prepare, as though I were a kill for the feast, a roast to be trussed. “What fête?”
“The Goblin Ball, of course,” said the one called Twig. “We host revels each night during the days of winter, and tonight promises to be special. Tonight Der Erlkönig introduces his bride to the Underground.”
Käthe.
“I must speak with Der Erlkönig,” I said. “Immediately.”
Twig and Thistle laughed, branches rubbing against each other in a sudden storm. “And so you shall, maiden. So you shall. All in good time. You are his guest of honor at the ball tonight, and you shall meet with him then.”
“No.” I tried to impose my will upon them; I was bigger, after all, although not by much. “I must speak with him now.”
“All you mortals are so impatient,” Thistle said. “I suppose that’s what comes with feeling the hand of Death upon your neck at all times.”
“Take me to him,” I demanded. “Right now.”
But both Twig and Thistle were implacable, ignoring my words and circling me with curious eyes. I wanted to shy away from their scrutiny, from their judging eyes, from the sense that they were measuring me against some invisible mark.
“Not much to work with,” Thistle remarked.
“Hmmm,” Twig agreed. “Don’t know what we could do to improve her appearance.”
I bristled. Plain as I was, at least I wasn’t grotesque, not like these goblin girls.
“I shall address him as I am, thank you,” I said sharply. “My appearance needs no improving.”
They gave me a look of pity mingled with contempt. “It’s not your choice, mortal,” Thistle said. “It pleases our esteemed sovereign to have you properly dressed tonight.”
“Can’t this wait?”
Twig and Thistle exchanged looks, then laughed, another burst of branches in a storm.
“There are rituals, and there are traditions,” Twig said. “The Goblin Ball is a tradition. There is a time and place for boons and audiences, and the Goblin Ball is not the appropriate time or place for either. You are Der Erlkönig’s guest of honor; this night is for you. Enjoy yourself. All other nights belong to him. And to us.”
About the Author
S. Jae-Jones, called JJ, is a voracious and indiscriminate reader, an avid traveller, and something of an adrenaline junkie.
Born and raised in sunny Los Angeles, she lived in New York City for ten years before relocating down to Dixie, where she is comfortably growing fat on grits and barbecue. When not writing, she can be found rock-climbing, skydiving, taking photographs, drawing pictures, and dragging her dog on ridiculously long hikes.
Follow the Tour
Posted on 14 February, 2017 by Faye - 2 Comments
A Day Without Speaking
Posted on 14 January, 2017 by Faye - 1 Comment
A Day Without Speaking
Hi All!
I’m here today to share with you all how difficult I would find it to spend a day without speaking. The reason I’m doing this is to help spread the light on Selective Mutism which is a severe anxiety disorder and is also what Steffi in A Quiet Kind of Thunder suffers from.
So before I begin, here’s some more information on the book!
About the Book
Steffi doesn’t talk, but she has so much to say.Rhys can’t hear, but he can listen.
Their love isn’t a lightning strike, it’s the rumbling roll of thunder.
Steffi has been a selective mute for most of her life – she’s been silent for so long that she feels completely invisible. But Rhys, the new boy at school, sees her. He’s deaf, and her knowledge of basic sign language means that she’s assigned to look after him. To Rhys, it doesn’t matter that Steffi doesn’t talk, and as they find ways to communicate, Steffi finds that she does have a voice, and that she’s falling in love with the one person who makes her feel brave enough to use it.
From the bestselling author of Beautiful Broken Things comes a love story about the times when a whisper is as good as a shout.
Goodreads. Amazon UK. Waterstones.
A Day Without Speaking
When I first thought about how difficult it would be to not be able to speak, I thought about the amount of times a day people speak to you and expect an answer back. Strangers that have never met you who you may accidentally bump into in the street. People who ask you for directions or the time or for your help with something. This would be tricky – and something that I also think would be also be incredibly hard for a deaf person too – but then I dived a little further and realised that I talk… a lot. I used to think of myself as a quiet girl. A girl who kept to herself and spoke only when she felt she needed to and in part, I am still that person but I also talk a lot more than I even knew.
The second thing to come from this thought process was the thought that I would not be able to work in the job I am currently doing. A large part of my job is talking to customers. It would be impossible to do my job if I was incapable of talking – and of course, how would I have interviewed for the job in the first place? On an average day I talk to maybe 100 people. Sometimes all I say is hello. Sometimes I just have a quick interaction while I sign them up to the library and other times I have to have a more in depth conversation so that I can help the customer in the best way possible. Then there is all of the essential talking that happens between myself, my colleagues and my superiors. Words of discussion, of explanations, of tasks that have or need to be completed. Without this communication, it would be a disaster. How would my colleagues communicate to customers the reason there are less books is because I am creating a nicer area for them if I hadn’t told them this first?
So without a doubt, my job would not be there. So what would I do for a living instead? I cannot even fathom a job where there is no talking at all. I’m sure that there is probably something. Maybe something in crafts or art, but even then you have to have the talent for it and how would you sell it without words?
Then I thought about eating out. I do this more often than I probably should. But eating out means ordering. Ordering is very difficult without words. I presume in a restaurant you might be able to point at the dish on the menu but what if you needed something changing? Or what if you’re in a coffee shop or somewhere like McDonalds or Subway? At least if you go food shopping, these days you can get by without words because in most larger stores you can either self-scan your items or do a scan and shop but if you need help or a staff member asks you something, how would you go about answering them?
There is so much about my day to day life that requires speech or words of some kind that the idea of being physically incapable of doing it, scares me. I’ve always been petrified of losing my sight or my hearing but never really thought about speech. Until now. And it is now something that I am grateful for and will treasure from now on.
As someone who suffers from anxiety, I can understand that fear. I can understand the worry that must go through the mind when it comes to being unable to speak. I know that when I suffer from panic attacks, I can barely talk. I need to get myself to a safe space but telling someone that isn’t possible. I’m usually just about dealing from not being able to breathe. And I also know that the fear of certain situations has stopped me from going places or trying new things. So, I can see how it is possible to deal with this fear by not speaking.
And knowing how tough this would make life, I can only hope that the people they love understands that and accepts them as they are. Because they’re going to need every last ounce of support they can get.
You can find out more about selective mutism on the NHS website: here and on a few Selective Mutism specialist websites, such as this one and this one, and also on this anxiety websire, here.
As well as A Quiet Kind of Thunder, I would also highly recommend, What I Couldn’t Say by Faye Bird as another UKYA book to read which features a main protagonist with selective mutism.
How Would It Affect Your Day?
Wing Jones by Katherine Webber
Posted on 1 January, 2017 by Faye - No Comments
Wing Jones by Katherine Webber
Title: Wing Jones
Author: Katherine Webber
Publisher: Walker Books
Published: 5th January 2017
Pages: 384
Format: Paperback
Source:: Review Copy
Add It: Goodreads, Amazon UK, Wing Jones
Jandy Nelson meets Friday Night Lights: a sweeping story about love and family from an exceptional new voice in YA. With a grandmother from China and another from Ghana, fifteen-year-old Wing Jones is often caught between worlds. But when tragedy strikes, Wing discovers a talent for running she never knew she had. Wing’s speed could bring her family everything it needs. It could also stop Wing getting the one thing she wants.
Sometimes You
If you’ve been following this blog for a while then you may know that I really like running. I’m not any good at it, not by a long shot but I like it and have really missed being able to run this year due to my physical limitations so, when I heard about Wing Jones, I knew it was a book that I simply had to read. It was about running! Thus, I picked up the book after hearing many high recommendations for it and am happy to inform you that I really, really enjoyed the book. It was so much more than I was expecting and I just loved it from start to finish.
Just Have To
Katherine Webber takes you on a very inspirational and emotional journey in this book. She doesn’t shy away from the dark and scary topics that arise and she doesn’t sweep everything under the carpet as though it is nothing. She has created a marvelous book that really makes you think while also making your heart swell with pride and happiness by the end of it all. Which is basically everything I love in stories all wrapped up in one neat little bow. (I am trying really hard not to just gush about this book, is it working yet?)
Open Your Wings
One of the biggest things I love about this book is that it is truly character-driven. This story is about Wing Jones and how she learns who she is and grows into someone she loves. It’s a truly wonderful journey that really filled my heart with hope, happiness and pride. I felt so much for Wing Jones and was so glad when things ended the way they did. I also really loved Aaron and Eliza. I thought they were wonderfully strong characters too who helped to shape Wing and mold her journey. But the biggest thing I loved about the cast of this book was how diverse all of the characters are. Katherine Webber has not shied away from creating a realistic society in this book and I truly loved that. This is the kind of book we need in YA right now.
And Fly
In case you’re not entirely sure yet, I completely and utterly loved this book. I devoured it quickly and greedily because I wanted to stay with Wing. I felt so many emotions while reading this book from sadness, to pain, to hope, to happiness. I swung in so many directions and I felt this really made the book that much more exciting and entertaining. I felt like I was in the story and more than anything else I just wanted to make Wing feel happy and safe. I wanted her to be okay more than anything else. Ultimately, I am surprised that this is Katherine’s debut novel and I will definitely be keeping an eye on her from now on!
** I received this copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. **
Posted on 1 January, 2017 by Faye - No Comments
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
Posted on 29 December, 2016 by Faye - No Comments
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
Title: I’ll Be Home for Christmas
Author: Tom Becker, Holly Bourne, Sita Brahmachari, Kevin Brooks, Melvin Burgess, Katy Cannon, Cat Clarke, Tracey Darnton, Juno Dawson, Julie Mayhew, Non Pratt, Marcus Sedgwick, Lisa Williamson and Benjamin Zephaniah
Publisher: Stripes
Published: 22nd September 2016
Pages: 384
Format: Paperback
Source:: Review Copy
Add It: Goodreads, Amazon UK, Waterstones
The UK’s top Young Adult authors join together in this collection of new stories and poems on the theme of home. Contributors include: Tom Becker, Holly Bourne, Sita Brahmachari, Kevin Brooks, Melvin Burgess, Katy Cannon , Cat Clarke, Juno Dawson, Julie Mayhew, Non Pratt, Marcus Sedgwick, Lisa Williamson and Benjamin Zephaniah. £1 from the sale of every book will be donated to Crisis, the national homelessness charity. To find out more about Crisis, see www.crisis.org.uk.
Ever since I first heard about this book, I was very excited to read it. There are very few YA Christmas books out in the world and I absolutely love Christmas books so I really wanted to read this. I’m not the biggest fan of short stories but I’m starting to love them a little bit more with each one I read! Thus I was excited and dubious about this book but I’m very pleased to let you all know that I actually really enjoyed this book. It was very different and I completely loved how different and varied all of the stories were. Some were lovely, some darker, some just very unique. It really brought together the theme of home and how it can mean something different to everyone.
Reviewing a book like this is quite hard as I don’t want to bore you all by reviewing each and every story in the book so this is just a little review to say that I really enjoyed reading it, would happily read it again every year and really loved all of the messages that I got from the different stories. Every story was very-well written and entertaining and I got wholly swept away by the entire book as a whole. My favourite three stories were:
Cat Clarke’s, Lisa Williamson’s and Juno Dawson’s
But every author brought something wonderful to this book and made it a complete and utter delight to read. While it is essentially a Christmas book, I really feel this book could be read at any time of year and it’s strong message will always be the same. So if you’re looking for something a little bit different but still an entertaining and thoughtful read, then make sure you pick up I’ll Be Home for Christmas!
** I received this copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. **
Posted on 29 December, 2016 by Faye - No Comments
British Books Challenge 2017 Sign Up!
Posted on 18 December, 2016 by Faye - 2 Comments
British Books Challenge 2017 Sign Up!
I’m very pleased to announce that I’m going to participate in the British Books Challenge next year! I haven’t done any challenges for the last two years but I thought aiming to read at least one book by a British author every month was probably a good challenge to do. I’ll probably create a goodreads bookshelf to add all the books I read to keep myself up to date!
I’m not entirely sure which books I’ll read yet and I don’t really want to tie myself down to reading any specific books just yet BUT here is a list of the books that I’m really looking forward to reading. This is a selection of books that are coming out next year and books that are already released.
The Potential Book Selection
So you know… I only have a few books to choose from… so far!
If you want to join up to the British Books Challenge too, you can find out how by clicking here. You don’t even have to have a blog to enter!
Posted on 18 December, 2016 by Faye - 2 Comments
Fragments by Nathan Barham
Posted on 27 November, 2016 by Faye - No Comments
Fragments by Nathan Barham
Hello All!
Today I am here to tell you all about Fragments by Nathan Barham the first book in the Alora’s Tears trilogy, all of which are already out and ready for you to read!
About the Book
There is no magic in Vladvir…
Tucked away in a quiet valley, the community of Tolarenz offers a refuge and safe haven for its people, keeping persecution at bay. One young citizen—Askon son of Teral—is destined to lead them, but first he must leave them behind: one final mission, in service of the king.
In the north, leering nightmare creatures known as the Norill gather. Their armor is bone and skin; their weapons are black and crude and cold. They strike in the night, allies to the darkness. It is to them Askon marches, his men a bulwark against the threat.
For there is no magic in Vladvir.
What Askon finds when he arrives seems impossible: smoke and fire, death and defeat, and all around a suffocating sense of dread. The Norill seek something they call ‘the Stone of Mountain,’ but in the half-remembered stories from Askon’s childhood, it was always ‘Alora’s Tear’: a gem with powers great and terrible. A gem that cannot exist.
Unless there is magic in Vladvir…
Goodreads. Amazon US. iBooks. Nook. Kobo. Barham Ink.
About the Author
Nathan spends most of his working days with the students of Genesee Junior-Senior High School in Genesee, Idaho. Whether it’s essay structure, a classic literary work, or the occasional impromptu dance routine, he strives to keep students interested in the fun and the fundamentals of the English language.
When he’s not teaching, he wears a number of hats, though the one that says “Dad” is the most careworn and cherished (it says “Husband” on the back). It hangs on a hook in a house where music is a constant and all the computers say “Apple” somewhere on their aluminium facades. From time to time it is said that he ventures into the mysterious realm called outside, though the occasion is rare and almost exclusively upon request by son or daughter.
Website. Tumblr. Twitter. Facebook.
Will you be reading this trilogy?
Posted on 27 November, 2016 by Faye - No Comments
