August 27, 2015

REVIEW: Truthwitch Chapter Sampler

Truthwitch (Witchlands #1)

Publication: 5th Jan 2016

DISCLAIMER: Recieved in exchange of an honest opinion. No clouded judgement here.


Susan Dennard is both an amazing human being and an amazing author. My words cannot do the justice that this very small chapter sampler that my eyes have just witnessed.

It starts, by throwing you straight into this world. No info dumping but the gradual accumulation of information about the different types of powers that we are sure to keep encounting. Something i'm hugely grateful for because its something I hate in books. It encouraged me to keep reading, to keep going til I got to the end of chapter 15 and genuinely cried. I HAD NO MORE?!

ALL characters here were fantastic to read about. ALL felt unique and I felt drawn to know more; gradually a caring mechanism took place.

Sooz's writing is such a pleasure to read. She knows when to temper her writing to suit the scene. From bad ass sword fighting to a new location, nothing felt lacking.

I can't evaluate on plot because it's only 15 chapters and they're is still another 200 pages of twists and turns I don't know yet, but:

This is a NEED to be on your To Be Pre-Ordered list. A must read for the start of 2016 for all you YA Fantasy lovers. And I know who you are (just kidding, or am I?)

What are you waiting for? Go!

August 25, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Writing YA Fantasy 101

TTT is hosted by the wonderful blog: The Broke and The Bookish; where every week book bloggers come together to bring their teop ten on a given prompt.
This weeks TTT is:

Top Ten books on your syllabus if you taught X 101.

For this im going with Writing YA Fantasy 101.

Let's begin class!

10.) Harry Potter (I can't choose just one!)

Okay, this isnt exactly a "young adult" novel and is classed mostly as a children's book but this would be where we explore world building and seeing what we could extract and bring into our own understanding of this element.



9.) Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3)

I should put all three down because who just reads the 3rd book in a series? I want to teach you about a character who is deadly and a killer but not just consumed by one emotion like so many heriones are being written as in today's YA.



8.) Splintered (Splintered #1)

FAIRY TALE RETELLINGS!!
I am a sucker for them- particularly Alice in Wonderland. Exactly what Splintered is; only things are much darker than Carroll intended. I'd want you to turn in a 2,000 worded short story, going for a much darker twist on your own favourite tale.



7.) The Novice (Summoners #1)

The Novice by Taran Matharu was originally written on the writing social networking platform: Wattpad.
This I think we would have a play at. Writing a novel in a month through this and seeing the advantages and disadvantages with our own writing.


6.) Sabriel

I have never read a Garth Nix *hides* but I would really like to! I think it would be fun to read a book that the tutor has never read and share together. Being a bit spontaneous we'd make up a writing excersise.


 5.)The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walkng Trilogy #1)

"Dystopian" fiction I consider as a part of the "Fantasy" subgenre. As I continue to read Patrick Ness' Chaos Walking trilogy its slowly becoming one of my favourite YA dystopian novels. Ness has such a unique writing style which I think all potential writers should have the opportunity to develop- why not?


4.) Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1)

Wait! Is this an urban fantasy that isn't set in either North America OR Great Britian? 
Yes sure-ee!
Physical written proof you can set you fantasy anywhere. 

3.) Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms #1)

Multiple POV. Granted I have not read this one yet but doesn't mean it's not high on my TBR. But I hear this uses multiple POV- another good fantasy writing skill we all could study and inquire. Plus I just really would love to crack down and read it.

2.) His Dark Materials

All I have to say for this is no YA fantasy list is complete without a bit of PP. I believe this will soon follow as a mordern classic of our time and i'd be that mad tutor who would add a book just because they think everyone should read it.



1.) Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1)

I've seen a quote about Cassie stating she be "the new queen of YA Fantasy" so I had to put her in the list.
Sorry, what?
Am I sure that's the reason? 
Yes, of course! It has nothing to do with me being obsessed with everything Cassie writes, right? *nervous giggles*


So here is my list of books you would all need to read before this year classes begin.

What YA Fantasy books did I miss that you would want to study this year?






REVIEW: A Feast for Crows ( A Song of Ice and Fire #4)

A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire #4)

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

DISCLAIMER: This is a sequel book and review could contain mild spoilers of which I had no intensions to be.



My thoughts:

I haven't reviewed the first books in the series but here's a quick run down of my previous ratings:

- A Game of Thrones: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- A Clash of Kings: ⭐⭐⭐
- A Storm of Swords: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I went into this not expecting much. Other people's reviews leaving me skeptical as a decline was sure heading this way. Being "boring" and a "poorly written" follow up.

And I disagree. Quite a lot, actually.

Book 2&3 are more battle orientated, history heavy and dangerous in a vicious Valar Morghulis kind of way.

AFfC isn't quite like that. It's a far more slower pace, mulling over and covering the political intrigue as we watch them evaluate the line of battles and war; as all those left are repositioning the pawns on the chess battlefield. Which is why I can understand why people would't like this. But I loved all the political play.

The cast of POV characters are more focal on those left on Westeros. Allowing the exploration of new plotlines from the Iron Islands and Dorne, as well as letting us into the overly paranoid mind of Cersei Lannister. Or should I say overly drunk mind- let's say she's almost as fond of Arbor Gold than Jaime.

Oh Jaime! Oh Brienne, our Maiden of Tarth! How I ship you two, beats me? Considering all the underlying thoughts of one another in the opposite POV. Jaime even defending Brienne at one point!?! The only thing i'll guiltily allow myself to is this singular OTP.

All I will say is this felt like we've reached the eye of the storm- and Winter is Coming. Fast.

August 23, 2015

REVIEW: Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2)





DISCLAIMER: This is a sequel novel and so spoiler-free is NOT Garenteed but I will be brief on plot detail to the bare minimum.

READ AHEAD AT YOUR OWN EXPENSE.










My thoughts:

This was a little slow to get into- I will admit. The changing with the dynmatics of the plot threw me out of the ball park for the first two-three chapters but after that I eased back into the world of Erilea. For the first time we Celeana as the King's Champion; taking on the role of an assassin that we get to see for the first time. And let's just say she's known as Adarlan's Assassain for a reason- she kicks ass.

In this installment we see another of Caleana's romatic interests: Chaol Westfall. I honestly don't like this? And I don't know why. Their relationship just felt all fire to me and it got in the way for me. But at the same time Dorian felt like a kicked puppy that wanted their owner but was wary. Seeing who would be the 'owner' in all this- i'd be wary too; Celaena knows how to make and handle weapons.

This was slightly slower paced than Throne of Glass but I think this suits the slow-burner of a plot. It felt that all the consequences were more weighed down in this book, and weighing onto Celaena. Giving the more personal of reasons of what I think this is all leading towards; not just because of who she is *cough SPOILER cough* 

Maas has obviously done research into certain areas of this book that would otherwise have been blindingly obvious to being made up. Those small details of intricacy leave me forever craving more and more AND EVEN MORE.

Still action-packed; Celaena kicks ass in the slow burner of a revolt against the King of Adarlan. Twists and turns will leave you guessing on the edge of you Glass Thrones and will leave you hanging off the edge of the cliff; the craving to pick up Heir of Fire- almost too irrestiable.

August 22, 2015

REVIEW: Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1)

MEET CELAENA SARDOTHIEN.
BEAUTIFUL. DEADLY.
DESTINED FOR GREATNESS.

In the dark, and filthy salt mines of Endovier,
an eighteen-year-old is serving a life sentence.
She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind,
but she made a fatal mistake. She got caught.

Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal:
her freedom for one huge sacrifice.
Celaena must represent the price in a to-the-death
tournament- fighting the most gifted thieves and
assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free.
  Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny.

                                                       But will her assassin's heart be melted?

 My thoughts:
●●●●● 5/5- It hit all the spots!

Okay, it's time to get to the nitty and gritty. Its very obvious to say that i'm impressed with Sarah J. Maas debut novel. I mean, it got everything a young adult fantasy novel needs:
  • Assassins
  • A fractured kingdom
  • Fae
  • Unknown markings
  • A fight for freedom
  • Handsome Princes and Captain of the Guards.
  • A fiesty and strong female lead.
Both Dorian and Chaol (pronounced as Kay-all) are both enigmatic characters that from the start- they practically grabbed me by my t-shirt and wouldn't have let me go until I read the last sentence. Celeana- our protaginst- is a character that has always known she's the best at what she does, and has no way, shape or Ridderack to know otherwise- she didn't earn the title of Adarlan's Assasain for nothing. But her cockyness presented a charm that still makes me laugh (and smile) after finishing.

Maas' intricacy to weave in the multiple sub-plots intensifies the tension built around the intial story: an assasain trying for her freedom and recovering from the groveling and cruel salt mines and the events leading to her capturing. It encaptivated me from the word: GO!

If you a lover of both young adult and fantasy novels, this is one that I highly recommend at everyone's expense.

Watch out all YA heroine's; there's a new girl on the block.