Saturday 18 October 2014

Review | Kate Triumph by Shari Arnold


* I received this copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review *


Kate Triumph by Shari Arnold
Young Adult / Paranormal / Romance

16. October 2014
Kindle Edition


Summary:


Normal is so overrated. At least that's what seventeen-year-old Kate Triumph tells herself everyday. But the truth is she lives in constant fear that someone will discover how not normal she really is. With her startling speed and her unusual ability to heal, Kate believes she's something of a freak. 

Then Andrew Shore arrives.

He claims he's her father, sticks around for a few days and leaves her a plane ticket. “Come to Mercer Island,” he says. “Give me a chance to get to know you.” Soon Kate is floundering in a world of new: new address, new car, new high school and, of course, new father. Not to mention Zack, her intriguing new neighbor, who makes her want to abandon her steadfast rule of never allowing anyone to get too close. But when she discovers someone is trying to kill her, life for Kate gets a bit more complicated. And a lot less normal.
summary from: goodreads


4 out of 5 stars



This story starts off slow and it takes a bit to connect to the characters, at least it did for me. But once you connect to them this books is impossible to put down. It is definitely a book worth reading.

Kate, the main character of this novel, is sharp, sarcastic and very funny. I loved reading about her life and finding out more about her abilities, that make her more special than the average person. I also enjoyed reading about the other characters. I especially enjoyed the interactions between Andrew and Kate, seeing them bond and get to know each other was amazing. The romance in this book is on point. Kate and Zack have awesome chemistry and their interactions gave me warm feelings.

I loved the ending of this book. I had no idea how it could be resolved or how the ending could satisfy me. But it did. It ended on an perfect note.

While the ending, as I said, is perfect I would love a sequel as there is plenty of room left for new adventures. This is also the first book Shari Arnold published (as far as I am aware of) and I must say that I am looking forward to reading more of her work.


Friday 10 October 2014

Review | How I Found You by Gabriella Lepore


How I Found You by Gabriella Lepore
Paranormal / Young Adult / Romance

21. May 2014 | Book Guild Ltd
Kindle Edition, 286 pages


Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Rose arrives at sleepy, remote Millwood expecting to spend a quiet summer with her aunt and uncle on their estate. But after a series of dark and disturbing dreams, and the surprise arrival of charming brothers Oscar and Caicus Valero, her world is thrown upside-down. What are the brothers hiding? And what is it about Oscar that is so familiar? Before the summer is out, Rose will be forced to confront her destiny, even if it means facing the demon of her dreams.
summary from: goodreads


4.5 out of 5 stars



This book surprised me in all the good ways. This is one of the best paranormal books that I have ever read. And now I shall tell you why.

Starting of with the characters, this book has some of the best and most enjoyable characters to read about. Not only the main characters were interesting but also the side ones, you just wanted to know their story. Rose and Oscar, without a doubt in my mind, are one of the best couples there is. I loved each of them individually and together they made an amazing combination. I loved the interactions these two had.

Moving onto the story. The story is very mysterious and it keeps you guessing what is really going on. It is also very fast paced which makes it impossible to put this book down. I read it in one sitting, yes it was that good. 

This book is told in dual perspective, the perspective of Rose and Oscar. I enjoyed reading both of their perspectives and I could easily tell which was whose perspective, which is not the case in many books that have multiple perspectives. Gabriella Lepore has an amazing way of telling a story, the writing is beautiful and you just want to continue reading.

All in all I would highly recommend this book. I can't wait to pick up something else by Gabriella Lepore, I just need more of her stories in my life.



Sunday 5 October 2014

Review | Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles (Graphic Novel)


* I received this copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review *

Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; adapted by John Green
( Dover Graphic Novel Classics )
Graphic Novel / Classic / Mystery

19. November 2014 | Dover Publication
Kindle Edition, 51 pages


Summary:

The intrepid detective and his faithful assistant take on a supernatural challenge in one of Arthur Conan Doyle's most popular mysteries. This graphic novel's original illustrations accompany an easy-to-read account of Holmes and Watson's investigation of a family curse. Readers will be irresistibly drawn into the search for a giant spectral hound that haunts the fog-shrouded moors.
This Dover Graphic Novel Classic offers readers ages 8 and up an exciting introduction to a time-honored tale. Expertly abridged and packed with dramatic illustrations, this version offers a streamlined narrative that retains all of the storytelling essentials.
summary from: goodreads


3 out of 5 stars


I am a very big fan of Sherlock Holmes and having the opportunity to read one of the stories as a graphic novel adaptation made me happy.

This graphic novel is quite short and each panel is packed with information. The art style is simple and clear making it easy to understand what is going on in each panel.  The language is understandable, the text bubbles are not overwhelmed with dialogue. Therefore it is a very easy version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's work.

There are some things I wished the adaptation had. The first that comes to mind is colour. As the art in this graphic novel is very simple I found myself wishing it had some colour, to add to the story. I also thought that there should be a few 'silent' panels, as every single one was packed with information. I feel if there ware 'more show, not tell' panels it would have made this graphic novel more enjoyable.

All in all this was an enjoyable read where we get a glimpse of the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Though I had some problems with it I found it enjoyable and I flew through it.


Friday 3 October 2014

Review | The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness


The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness
( Chaos Walking #2 )
Young Adult / Dystopia / Science Fiction

2. May 2013 | Walker Books
Paperback, 553 pages


Summary:

I have thought about writing a summary but, in the end, I decided against it. This book is a direct continuation of the first one, The Knife of Never Letting Go , and anything I say about the plot of this book would spoil the first one. That is something I don't want to do. Now let's get onto the review.


5 out of 5 stars


The characters in this book, the whole series actually, are simply amazing they are the core of this story. You can't help falling in love with them. Patrick Ness has created some of the most interesting and amazing characters that I have ever read about. 

Starting with Todd, my favourite character. As I kept reading further into the book I found myself falling in love with him more and more. His character development is amazing, very interesting and intense to read about. He is a flawed character, he makes mistakes and regrettable decisions. Being put into the situation that he is it is only natural that he makes the decision that he does. That makes him more human.

Moving onto Viola, a character I am loving more and more. In this book we find more and more about her as we are reading through her point of view. She is a strong and very smart character. I am loving the relationship between Todd and Viola. Their relationship is so sweet and endearing, they trust each other and they care about each other so much. They are amazing together but also on their own, which is not the case in many books.

This series has some amazing villains. In this book we meet a new one beside the obvious villain of the first book. They are manipulative, they deceive and lie. Those are the characteristics that make the best villains, in my opinion at least.

The writing style of Patrick Ness is so amazing. It is unique and beautiful. I love the way he writes the story, the dialog is fantastic. This book is an emotional ride. I am reading the next one right away, I need to know what happens next!


Wednesday 1 October 2014

Review | The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

* I received this copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review *


The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
( The Magisterium #1 )
Fantasy / Magic / Middle Grade

Random House Children’s Publishers UK
11. September 2014


Summary:

Twelve-year-old Callum Hunt has grown up knowing three rules by heart:
-Never trust a magician.
-Never pass a test a magician gives you.
-And never let a magician take you to the Magisterium.

Call is about to break all the rules. And when he does, his life will change in ways he can't possibly imagine.
summary from: goodreads


4 out of 5 stars


Starting off with the world, I am thoroughly intrigued by it. It is a lot darker than you would expect of a Middle Grade book, which surprised me greatly. It doesn't mean I liked it less because of it, quite the opposite actually. It made me more interested in the world, it's history and the story itself. The magic system is interesting as well and I am looking forward to finding out more about the magic and all the possibilities it holds.

Moving onto the characters, a lot of them whom I am very interested in. My favourite character has to be Callum with his sarcastic comments and amazing personality. Tamara and Aaron, the other two main characters, were very likeable as well although not until further in the book, more so towards the end. I also found many of the side characters interesting, Jasper, Drew, Rufus, Celia, Alistair and others. What I loved the most was finding out the stories behind each character and what makes them who they are.

The reason I gave this book four and not five stars is because of the plot and action in this book, or the lack of it. This book is more of a set-up introducing the characters and the world with it's history. I liked that even though we learned about the world of The Magisterium there is a lot of it left undiscovered, which makes me look forward to future books even more.

For all of those who thing that The Iron Trial is a Harry Potter rip-off let me tell you that it isn't. The Iron Trial a magical ride on its own filled with amazing characters, a fascinating world and plot twists I never saw coming.

The only negative thing...I have to wait a year to find out what happens next...Damn.


Saturday 30 August 2014

Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan | Book Review


Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan and illustrated by John Rocco
Mythology / Fantasy / Adventure
Hardback, 336 pages

Summary:

A publisher in New York asked me to write down what I know about the Greek gods, and I was like, Can we do this anonymously? Because I don't need the Olympians mad at me again. But if it helps you to know your Greek gods, and survive an encounter with them if they ever show up in your face, then I guess writing all this down will be my good deed for the week. 

So begins Percy Jackson's Greek Gods, in which the son of Poseidon adds his own magic--and sarcastic asides--to the classics. He explains how the world was created, then gives readers his personal take on a who's who of ancients, from Apollo to Zeus. Percy does not hold back. "If you like horror shows, blood baths, lying, stealing, backstabbing, and cannibalism, then read on, because it definitely was a Golden Age for all that." 
summary from: goodreads

5 out of 5 stars

First of all, as you can probably guess by the star rating, I loved this book. I have been looking forward to it for quiet some time now and it did not disappoint. Rick Riordan is amazing. Now lets go onto the review.

The first thing you notice, when you look at this book, is the beautiful cover. It's also soft which makes it even more amazing. The illustrations are simply stunning. There is a small illustration at the beginning of each chapter and there are bigger ones throughout the book. They reflect the story perfectly and make the reading experience even better and more exiting.

The chapter names are hilarious, as they were in Percy Jackson and the Olympians. One of my favourite is The Golden Age of Cannibalism (not sure what that says about me). The whole book is in Percy's perspective which means there is a lot of sarcasm and witty comments. What else could you ask for?

The stories in this book were amazing. Some were intriguing, some emotional and others gross. Rick Riordan made all of them fun and gripping, you just couldn't stop reading them. I found out a lot more about Greek Mythology, which was the point of this book. Percy explains everything very simply, so that everyone can understand it.

This book was everything I wanted and more. I would recommend it to everyone, no matter who they are they are going to find something enjoyable about it.


Monday 25 August 2014

Pretty Deadly, Vol. 1: The Shrike | Comic Book Review



Pretty Deadly Vol. 1: The Shrike by Kelly Sue DeConnick; illustrated by Emma Ríos and Jordie Bellaire
( Collects Pretty Deadly issues #1-5 )
Graphic Novel / Fantasy / Western / Comic
120 pages

Summary:

Death's daughter rides the wind on a horse made of smoke and her face bears the skull marks of her father. Her origin story is a tale of retribution as beautifully lush as it is unflinchingly savage.
summary from: goodreads




4 out of 5 stars

Firs of all, as it says on the back of this comic, it is for mature audience. There is mature context, such as violence, sex, gore, nudity and language.

Now onto the review:

The way this story was written reminded me a lot of a fairy tale, especially in the beginning as there was a lot of rhyme. The story is told by a butterfly and a bunny, which I thought was very different but interesting, non the least. They tell the story of different people whose lives intertwine and bring them together, for the better or the worst.

The western setting was also very interesting and new for me, as I haven't watched or read any westerns. I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would, which is always great.

One of the most important aspects to any story, for me, are the characters and they didn't disappoint. I loved finding out more about their past and seeing them interact with each other. My favourite are Ginny, Sissy and Fox. What I appreciated a lot were the many amazing and strong female characters. Most of the characters, that we follow in this story, are women who can take care of themselves and who know what they want. It was really amazing reading about them.

The art was amazing. There are pages that have different colour schemes and images that took my breath away. Here is one of my favourite, a pretty dark one. I very much enjoyed the art style and the simple colours.


The only reason that I gave this graphic novel 4 stars instead of 5 is because it lacked something. I don't know what exactly it is but something was missing for me, maybe I will find that something in the next volume. I very much recommend this graphic novel, although it isn't for everyone since it has a lot of blood and gore. 

All in all it is an enjoyable and interesting read and I can't wait to read more of this story.


Friday 25 July 2014

Saga: Volume Three by Brian K. Vaughan and Finoa Staples | Comic Book Review


Saga: Volume Three by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Fiona Staples
( Collects Saga issues #13-18 )
Graphic Novel / Comic / Fantasy / Science Fiction
144 pages

Summary:

Saga is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the universe. Searching for their literary hero, new parents Marko and Alana travel to a cosmic lighthouse on the planet Quietus, while the couple's multiple pursuers finally close in on their targets.
summary from: goodreads




5 out of 5 stars

*This review contains spoilers for the first and second volume*

This volume was very action packed, with a lot of surprises and amazing scenes. I think this is my favourite volume, out of the three that are currently out. It's too bad that there are no more out and that I have to wait until next year to get more of this story (if I have the correct information).

I love seeing all the characters grow throughout the story, for me that is one of the most important aspects in a story. Their interactions are fun to read and I am liking all the characters, which doesn't usually happen. I love Alana, Marko and Izabel the most, they just stick out to me and I love every scene with them.

A new character that we meet is D. Oswald Heist, who is the author of the book that brought Alana and Marko together. I liked him as a character, he was very interesting. A character I am warming up to is Gwendolyin. For some reason, and I honestly don't know why, I didn't like her that much. This volume changed that. I really want to find out more about her now.

Another thing I love about these comics is that we follow multiple stories that are connected in some way or another. The story is very interesting so far, it's getting more and more action packed with each chapter. The writing and art are still amazing, I have a feeling they will continue to be. Now I only have to wait for the next volume to come out.

Thursday 24 July 2014

Saga: Volume Two by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples | Comic Book Review


Saga: Volume Two by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Fiona Staples
( Collects Saga issues #7-12 )
Graphic Novel / Comic / Fantasy / Science Fiction
144 pages

Summary:

Saga is sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the universe. Thanks to her star-crossed parents Marko and Alana, newborn baby Hazel has already survived lethal assassins, rampaging armies, and horrific monsters, but in the cold vastness of outer space, the little girl encounters her strangest adventure yet... grandparents.
summary from: goodreads


5 out of 5 stars


* This review contains spoilers for the first volume *

I am officially obsessed with this series. I loved this way to much. I am glad that I own the third volume and that I can read it immediately. I can't seem to find anything I dislike about these comics.

The second volume, compared to the first, had a lot more thrilling and intense moments. Things started to get more action packed and even more awesome than in the first one. The writing and art continued to be beautiful and amazing.

One thing I loved about this volume is that there were flashbacks. Through them we were able to see how Marko and Alana met and how they fell in love. We learned more about both of their pasts as well, which was great.

As it was shown at the end of the first volume, we get to meet Marko's parents. I loved both of them, they really added to the story. I loved seeing the relationship between Marko's parents, him and Alana. That was really amazing and sad, although I am not going to say why it was sad because it would spoil it.

Alana and Marko are still my favourite characters. I am finding myself liking Izabel more and more. She is sassy and sarcastic, both traits I love in characters, and I simply find her amazing. I can't wait to read more about her.

Another aspect of this volume that I liked is that we saw more of The Will and his party. Although he is hunting Alana and Marko I am really enjoying his character. It's always fun reading about him and Lying Cat. The additions to his team are also great and I can't wait to see where it will take them.


Wednesday 23 July 2014

Saga: Volume One by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples | Comic Book Review


Saga: Volume One by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Fiona Staples
( Collects Saga issues #1-6 )
Graphic Novel / Comic / Fantasy / Science Fiction
160 pages

Summary:

When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall in love, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old universe. 

Saga is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the worlds. Fantasy and science fiction are wed like never before in this sexy, subversive drama for adults. 
summary from: goodreads

5 out of 5 stars

First of all, as it says on the back of these comics, they are for mature audience. There is mature context: violence, language, nudity, sex.

Now onto the review:

What I really enjoy about the characters in Saga is their complexity and depth, they are neither black nor white, good nor evil, but different shades of grey. There is, of course, history behind every character and I found myself wanting to find out more about them. They are simply intriguing. Another thing I really liked an appreciated was the diversity of characters which you, sadly, don't see very often.

The main characters are Alana, Marko and their daughter Hazel. Alana is a fierce and hot headed character, she knows what she wants and is very strong. Marko is more light-hearted compared to Alana, he is also very sweet and protective. They are my favourite characters so far. I love this couple.

Now onto the antagonists. The one that stuck out to me is The Will. He is a freelancer who gets the job of hunting down our main characters. I enjoyed his character, even though he was after Alana, Marko and Hazel. 

The background plot of this story is the war between Landfall and Wreath. Then there are Marko and Allana who are trying to stay alive and away from the war. So far the story is a cat and mouse game between our main characters and the people after them. We don't really know where the story is going, so far it's interesting and gripping.

The dialog is very enjoyable, it's funny and sassy. The story is narrated by Hazel, which only opens up more questions to which I can't wait to find the answer for. I am loving the art in this graphic novel. I think Fiona Staples style is simply beautiful. The colours are vibrant and it looks amazing.


And for the end here is an example of the art:



Friday 27 June 2014

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman | "Book Review"





The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Fantasy / Horror / Adult
Paperback, 181 pages

Summary:

This bewitching and harrowing tale of mystery and survival, and memory and magic, makes the impossible all too real...
summary from: goodreads





5 out of 5 stars

I decided to choose this short summary instead of a longer one because I think it's better going into this book not knowing much. For the same reason my review is going to be a short one, just me stating my general feelings for this beautiful book.

( There are quotation marks in the title of this post because I can't really consider this a book review, but I also don't know how else to call it. It's just simply me saying how much I loved this book. )

I genuinely loved everything about this book. The writing was simple yet captivating and magical. The story full of wonder, happiness, sadness. I couldn't put this book down. I know that I am going to read this book over and over again, always discovering something new. I find it not possible to find fitting words to describe this book and do it justice. Nor the right ones to end this post, so I am going to end it with a few beautiful quotes, which this book is full of.

Quotes:

“I lived in books more than I lived anywhere else.” 

“I do not miss childhood, but I miss the way I took pleasure in small things, even as greater things crumbled. I could not control the world I was in, could not walk away from things or people or moments that hurt, but I took joy in the things that made me happy.” 

“Nobody looks like what they really are on the inside. You don’t. I don’t. People are much more complicated than that. It’s true of everybody.” 



Tuesday 24 June 2014

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas | Book Review



Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Fantasy / Young Adult / Romance
Paperback, 404 pages

Summary:

In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien. 

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass--and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.

summary from: goodreads

4 out of 5 stars

I am really glad that I decided to pick this book up. From the start the premiss of this book drew me in. I love books about assassins and having a strong female makes it even better.

I liked that the book is from the perspective of many characters. What I liked even more is that there wasn't a specific chapter dedicated to one point of view but that they altered within chapters. I also loved the fantasy and magic elements of this book, they were very well thought out. There even was some mystery which made this book even more captivating.

There are many books with strong female characters but Celaena Sardothien sets herself apart from any of them. I love her character, her strengths and weaknesses, simply everything about her was intriguing. She may be my favourite female character ever. I loved reading from her perspective, following her train of thought was amazing and very fun to read. Another thing I loved about Celaena is her character development. At the beginning of the book she leaves a death camp and is in a weak state, which is understandable. Throughout the book we see her grow and become the person that she was before that year of hell, and I really appreciated that.

Dorian Havilliard, the Crown Prince, is a very interesting character. He isn't the usual prince, he doesn't really want to be one, he enjoys spending his time reading rather than fighting. He was kind, sweet and understanding. His and Celaena's interacting was amazing and I think they brought some lightness to the story, which otherwise would have been much darker.

Chaol Westfall, the Captain of the Guard, is a strong and serious character, at the beginning of the book. He seemed very judgemental and cold. Through the book we find out more about him and he unravels into a great character. Seeing him warm up to Celaena and interact more and more with her was amazing.

I very much enjoyed the romance in this book. It wasn't the main plot of the book, it was more of a side story which made the book even more enjoyable for me. The relationships between the characters didn't feel forced, everything seemed natural and was well placed out.

Overall, the story was interesting, the characters captivating and the world Sarah J. Maas created fascinating. I am very glad that this series is going to be six books long (if I am not mistaken), because I simply need more of this story.



Saturday 7 June 2014

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo | Book Review


Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
( The Grisha #1 )
Fantasy / Young Adult / Romance
Hardback, 356 pages

Summary:

The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka.


Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be the key to unravelling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free?

The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfill her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him.

But what of Mal, Alina’s childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can’t she ever quite forget him?

Glorious. Epic. Irresistible. Romance.

summary from: goodreads

4.5 out of 5 stars

I am finding it rather difficult to gather my thoughts and write a review of this book. In my opinion this book was simply amazing. I loved it very much and for that reason I find it hard to put my feelings into words to describe, and do justice, to this book.

This book has a very quick start, it immediately immersing the reader into this world. There was no dull moment, no time to catch your breath. I loved every moment of it. The plot was very interesting and thought out. There were many plot twists that kept me engrossed and urged me to continue reading. After I finished reading it I needed a time to process what had happened.

I loved the characters. Alina, at the start of the story, was very naive and weak. Throughout the book we see her grow as a character and come in terms with who she is and what she wants. It was an amazing character development. She wasn't a perfect character, she had flaws and made mistakes, but she realised them and strived to do better.

I loved the Darkling. I am not going to say much about him because I really don't want to spoil anything. He is a mysterious character, he is powerful and his name itself terrifies many people, nobody knows what he might do. Enough said.

In the beginning Mal was not a character I was interested in. He seemed boring and not someone I would like. I am still not quiet sure what to think about him.

The writing style was amazing. The descriptions were vivid and it was easy imagining everything that was happening. Other than this I can only say that I loved this book and that I am very exited to read the sequel and find out more about this world and the characters.