REVIEW| Godsgrave

Godsgrave (The Nevernight Chronicles #2)
Jay Kristoff
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+
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DISCLAIMER: This review might contain spoilers for Nevernight due to the nature of this being a sequel. You can read a review for Book One, here.

Synopsis:

Mia Corvere has found her place among the Blades of Our Lady of Blessed Murder, but many in the Red Church hierarchy think she’s far from earned it. Plying her bloody trade in a backwater of the Republic, she’s no closer to ending the men who destroyed her familia; in fact, she’s told directly that Consul Scaeva is off limits. But after a deadly confrontation with an old enemy, Mia suspicions about the Red Church’s true motives begin to grow.

When it’s announced that Scaeva will be making a rare public appearance at the conclusion of the grand games in Godsgrave, Mia defies the Church and sells herself to a gladiatorial collegium for a chance to finally end him. Upon the sands of the arena, Mia finds new allies, bitter rivals, and more questions about her strange affinity for the shadows. But as conspiracies unfold within the collegium walls, and the body count rises, Mia will be forced to choose between love and revenge, and uncover a secret that could change the very face of her world.

Review

The Cover

Kerby Rosanes nailed it, didn't he? Just look at the detail on Eclipse's fur, the helm with the plume, the cat that isn't a cat. All of it. I just want to keep looking at it. I want to keep drawing out every little detail and relaying it to the contents of the book. I think that's why these covers work. They are so simple, but for a UK cover are so detailed that it forces you to see it on the table, and on the shelf. 

If Nevernight featured the red sun, and Godsgrave featuring the blue, my guess is that Book 3 will contain a certain golden sun. Completing the three sun's of Aa. 

*flaps arms in fangirly mess*

The Content

Jay Kristoff, I fucking hate you. In the best possible way. You utter bastard.*

Last year in my Nevernight review, I wrote these words: "This book left me broken and hurt. A double edged blade- one side left you broken and crying, the other giggling long into the night."  WEEEEEEEELL... Kristoff upt'd the anti. 

I would take this as broad statement as to what the whole trilogy will equate to because boy, the sarcasm humour, the stabby stab parts, the brutal Roman influences, the quick shortening of breaths as I fail to reach the end of the page in less than a minute, all of it and more is why these books have stolen what is left of my wrecked heart. 

These characters you will grow very attached to, very very quickly. Which is unfortunate as there is a tendency to GRRM them. If you catch my stabby-stab drift. I even have a fondness for a certain grumpy, old tough-nut cookie of a prick, that acts like an emotionless bastard, but like a cookie has a soft and warm centre. It seems that I have a weakness. Shit. They are authentic, and several layers of complications. 

Plot? Think twists and turns, now add some 'what the fu-?!!' and a little flavouring of blood. Nope, not even close. That's just your starters. Main and pudding is to follow. Although if you're anything like Mia, you'll hand it to the dog. 

Something that I really love about these books is the layers. (I promise, I won't do a shrek metaphor.) It's one thing to point out the complicated plot or characters, but one thing I really admire is Kristoff's narrative voice. Flashbacks, in balance with the present storytelling and then there is the footnotes which adds humour, musings and further world building. It's storytelling, at its best!

If you want a sequel that is more ruthless than the first, isn't afraid to be savage AF both killing and sarcasm-wise and you fancy practically shitting yourself every time you turn a page, then gentlefriends, this is the book for you.

Did this review make sense? Probably not.
Did the book leave laying on the floor, feigning death? You bet your silver cigarillo case.

*Okay, I might have been a tad harsh. I don't hate you. Just a current mild distrust and dislike. 

REVIEW| Strange the Dreamer

Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer #1)
Laini Taylor
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+

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Synopsis:

The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?

The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? And if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?

Welcome to Weep. 

Review

The Cover

Favourite cover of the year? 
Possibly? 

I will say that the picture above, really doesn't do the cover justice. The azure blue and gold, makes it something to full on display- like a peacock and his feathers. 

The moth taking center front, is brilliant spacing by the designer. Could this cover be considered book-cover-porn? Definitely.

The Content

This whole book is just quotable, but here a just a snippet few favourites:

"It was impossible, of course.But when did that ever stop any dreamer from dreaming?"

"He wasn't an alchemist, or a hero. He was a librarian, and a dreamer. He was a reader, and the unsung expert on a long-lost city no one cared a thing about."

"He read while he walked. He read while he ate. The other librarians suspected he somehow read while he slept, or perhaps didn't sleep at all."

"His nose was broken by a falling volume of fairy tales his first day on the job, and that, they said, told you everything you needed to know about Lazlo Strange" 

What more could I dream to receive from a new Laini Taylor book?

• Long lost world? Tick.
• A bibliophile? Tick.
• Children of Gods? Tick.
• Adventure? Tick.
• Magic? Tick.
• Laini Taylor's beautiful prose? Tick.

Trying to fully fathom and translate my thoughts and feelings into coherent words of phrases is really hard. Even months later looking at my notes, I still completely glaze over and drift back into the world of Weep. 

Unlike Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Strange the Dreamer is completely secondary world building and so lacks the touchstones that her previous work had. But, I feel like this made it more enjoyable to read. I could allow myself to completely drift off. A world with so many layers and depth that I just want to keep going back to reread, knowing that I will always find a new element to enjoy. And that's what you need in a favourite book. And this is definitely one reaching into my top ten.

This is a tale for not only the bibliophile, but for the imaginaries, the reachers, the fantasy-dwellers. It reaches and grasps at so many tangents that twine this story together. It left me heartbroken and wistful and desperate for my own long lost land. 

WRAP UP| Apr-May '17

I've had quite a good reading quarter, even with deadlines around every corner (promise, this is the last time I'll mention it).

I am in a current state of writing reviews for most of the books I've read over the last three months. 

April

The Song Rising (The Bone Season #3)
Samantha Shannon
⭐⭐⭐⭐

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I made the mistake of reading this the day before leaving Uni. I was emotionally wrecked. So good! 

I spoke to Samantha Shannon about this, and she said why I might not have liked it as much as I LOVED The Mime Order. If her theory is true, then I am going to be OBSESSED with book 4.

Strange the Dreamer (Muse of Nightmares #1)

Laini Taylor

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+

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This might just be a new favourite of mine. Everything that I wanted this to be it became. And more.

If you love myths, fairy tales, lost tales, heart-wrenching stories and lyrical writing- get to this one, and quick!

Nobody Told Me: Poetry and Parenthood
Hollie McNish
⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Required reading for University.

This one took me by surprise. Why were we being made to read a book about parenthood and children?

Torchwood Tales (Audible Exclusives #1-7)

Various Authors

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- The Sin Eaters

⭐⭐⭐⭐

- In the Shadows 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Hidden

⭐⭐⭐

- Department X

⭐⭐

- Everyone Says Hello

⭐⭐⭐

- Ghost Train

⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Army of One

⭐⭐⭐

Torchwood: World Without End
John Barrowman, Carole Barrowman
⭐

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This was written by the man who knows the characters, arguably, the best. Captain Jack Harkness. So, why did this suck?

This needed to be longer, a graphic novel rather than a bind up of a few issues. This one will definitely have a review coming up soon- my most disappointing read of the year so far.

May

A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3)
Sarah J. Maas
⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Well, this conclusion has been rather polarizing. A lot of people loving it and others that just hated it. I was- meh?

The first half was fantastic, and then it went to shit. Again, another one where I'm in the middle of editing a review for this. But, I'm indifferent to it. It wasn't going to live up to ACOMAF, was it?

Champion

Marie Lu

⭐⭐

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Its been about a over a year since I started Legend, just under a year since I read prodigy, so why did I think it a good idea to read the final book in the trilogy? Who knows?

I was lost for most of this story, to be honest. That was a given. The only thing that gave this book the rating I did was the fact that it was a unique ending to a dystopia. One that I haven't read before in YA.

A Dance with Dragons 2: After the Feast (A Song of Ice and Fire #5.2)
George R.R. Martin
⭐⭐⭐

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I've had this on my "Currently Reading" tab on Goodreads for probably 18 months, and I was just sick of seeing it on there. I read it. Pushed myself to read it as fast as I could. It was like Hell- all my least favourite POVs. 

Where was Dany? Arya? Sansa? Cersei? I needed my woman!

Stardust

Neil Gaiman

⭐⭐⭐⭐

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I listened to the audiobook for this one. Read by Neil Gaiman.

I think it would have been interesting if the movie kept the intended audience for the film as much as the book. The good ol' tradition that fairy tales are for children only.

I really did like this one. 

REVIEW| Windwitch [ARC]

Windwitch (The Witchlands #2)
Susan Dennard

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

12th January, 2017
Tor UK

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Synopsis for Truthwitch:

In a continent on the edge of war, two witches hold its fate in their hands.

Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home.

Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she's a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden - lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult's true powers are hidden even from herself.

In a chance encounter at Court, Safi meets Prince Merik and makes him a reluctant ally. However, his help may not slow down the Bloodwitch now hot on the girls' heels. All Safi and Iseult want is their freedom, but danger lies ahead. With war coming, treaties breaking and a magical contagion sweeping the land, the friends will have to fight emperors and mercenaries alike. For some will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

Review:

The Cover:

I have gone from preferring the US cover to the UK one. Tor has got this one just... right. 

Unlike the quick cut and paste job they did for Truthwitch (sorry, but it's kind of true) they managed to blend the woodlands and Scott Grimando's final artwork into an overall appealing piece. It's calming. Like the eye of the storm, before all hell breaks loose. 

The palette is softer, earthier and green. It makes me question whether the covers are going to continue on with this softer tone or not. Or, is Bloodwitch going to be bolder?

The Content:

I'd describe these books like a turning wheel, Dennard's protagonists shifting to focus and have drive via another character. Windwitch moves from Safiya as our leading character to Merik and his journey.

Dennard set out to play with perspective, to show how there is no clean line between good and bad, between villain and hero. And she pulls it off. By introducing new points of views, our judgments are balanced- everyone has a perspective. No villain believes they are the bad guy.

And I may or may not like Vivia more than Merik... My little misunderstood bean.

Windwitch stands as a book that showcases an author who keeps pushing, keeps moving to make what they write to be the best that they can write. This book, for me, never slumped. It kept momentum, kept me turning the page and had me rethinking about my views.

I just want to put this out there, but not only does this have one of my favourite angsty romances going it also may have slipped in some hints at a fantastic lesbian romance and a character who is trans. I shall mention no more, seeing as I could talk all day about this. 

I think something that really keeps me thinking about this book and coming back to every sequel, giving it my love and time is the feminine power that ripples throughout the book series. Every female character never gets jealous of those more powerful then them, They acknowledge it and respect their power, in fact it is often the men who seek the power. It's empowering to women readers.

Thank you, Sooz.

Top Ten Books of 2016

Another reading year has passed by, it seems. And as I am posting this, so has three months of the New Year too. 

While the entire year has been struck down by Brexit, the US election, and the world proving just how many find it satisfying to inflict pain and fearmongering - I have stuck my guns and pushed myself to keep myself together and keep reading. It was either that or lose myself in memes over on Tumblr.

What am I kidding? I've spent three months rewatching Doctor Who and realizing I will forever cherish those four years David Tennant provided in the expanses of my childhood. And remain, he does, with the sole purpose to procrastinate throughout my time at University. Oh, how nothing ever changes.

Okay, enough rambling:

Here I present my favourite books of the past year.

Even though, this is a bit too late and not really relevant anymore.

I have tried to keep them in order of chronological reading:

Truthwitch (The Witchlands #1)

                    &

Windwitch (The Witchlands #2)

Susan Dennard

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REVIEW

I have been tied to this book for a very long time now.

I was honored with the badge of Voidwitch, joining the Street Team- the Witchlanders- back in October 2015.  I have since reread the book three times and have a review due soon of Windwitch. But we all know how much motivation I have been lacking recently.

This came to me at a time when I was kind of giving up on any thoughts of making it to the end of my sixth form courses. Because of this, I had a reason to keep having fun and escape, making the end of my A-Levels all that more bearable.

This wonderful story, full of strong and kick-ass female friendships. It captured my heart from the first page, as my reading pace was slowing but, I was hooked and ready to discover the Witchlands. And I hope to support these novels until their completion and surpass that.

The Night Circus 

Erin Morgernstern

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This was a book that I have had every intention of reading but, just never picked it up. It was one of those books I just knew I was going to fall head over heels in love with. Then one day, I got this real sudden urge to run and buy a copy.

And, in all honesty, I have no regrets. Except, the bit where I took two years to buy a copy.

The way this book read, was almost lyrical. Beautifully structured to fluctuate between tenses and person narration without feeling overly jarring and stagnant. It flowed as if magic was pouring out of the pages themselves. 

I definitely want to read some more magic realism pieces like this- both novelisation and short stories. So if anyone has any suggestions for me to put on my list, please let me know.

Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices #1)

Cassandra Clare

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Cassie... Cassie.. Cassie. 

O' how you destroyed me.

This broke my heart and ripped it to pieces and then tried to put them together again, all mismatched and out of place.

This is one of those reads that I didn't give the full five stars to- however, the reason it made it on this list is because of how much Cassandra Clare has come to grow as a writer. 

Out of all her Shadowhunter novels, whatever you may think of them, I have to say this is my favourite opening to a trilogy/series she has come to publish. 

Granted there were times where I felt like Cassie was tooting her own horn (which is why I lowered my rating down to a four) but, overall she pieced together this mystery and planted the seeds needed to move this trilogy onto the next events of Emma's journey.

The Wrath & The Dawn (The Wrath & The Dawn #1)

Renee Ahdieh

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I am not typically someone who goes into a book for romance-centric plots. Unless I am in the mood for it. 

And so I found myself from school one day- not skipping, promise- but, wanting to read something of the mentioned above. 

I was surprised by just how much I did love it. I think this was one of those rare occurrences last year that I read the entire book in a day. Not one sitting mind you. 

I've just never been able to do that.

It was just full of that beautiful prose that just swifts you away from any conscious thought. I kind of wish that I had tabbed it. Also, a book that was not influenced greatly by western fairy tales and folklore! 

More of that, please.

A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1)

Sarah J. Maas

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REVIEW

The book that surprised everyone.

To be fair, I did kind of work it out when I read ACOTAR. [I'm keeping shum, just in case you've been living under a rock for the last year.] And these were for reasons, I would rather not discuss. 

A couple of books on this list I have found that I have been rather hesitant to put on here. 

A lot of controversy and nit-picking occurred over the past year and continues. I'd even gone on to see a small rift and division in the book community. For Sarah J. Maas, it has been about her lack of representation in her work and using her platforms to highlight this. Which I have come to completely understand and can agree with. I would like to see more diversity from Maas.

But, I just had to put this on here for the love of Rhys, of Feyre's character development, and for the side characters. 

Why is it always the side characters with Maas?

Nevernight (The Nevernight Chronicle #1)

Jay Kristoff

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REVIEW

Like I said before with A Court of Mist and Fury, this is a book that, quite recently, I have come to see discussions about its representation. As well as Kristoff allegedly blocking people over the criticism. 

Thought I would just state that I am aware of this.

However, Nevernight is on this list because I stand by what I said in my review. I loved this book. And still, do. I thought it was cleverly written, and I loved the witticisms of our voice narrator. I was left turning page after page. Until I got to the end. And then BAM! I got hit with a case of reading blues.

It's now been ten months and I'm still thinking about the plot twist. Hot-diggity-dang.  

Illuminae (The Illuminae Files 0_1)

&

Gemina (The Illuminae Files 0_2)

Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff

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ILLUMINAE REVIEW

GEMINA REVIEW

I feel like these books have been on the hype train for a couple of years now. And I can officially say I am on board. -Toot Toot- The format just works for these books; I'm still able to still visualize and fall in love with these characters. Although, I think Illuminae remains the stronger book, so far.

Without these, I probably wouldn't have got back into the Sci-Fi genre. 

This Savage Song (Monsters of Verity #1)
V.E. Schwab

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REVIEW

I have been aware of Victoria's books for a while. She was one of those of authors I held off from reading because I just knew I would fall in love with the words she would string together, and the characters she feeds with life.

And, I was not wrong. In either statement. I have since begun her Shades of Magic Trilogy and dying to just binge her books. If University would just allow for that- bring on the Summer!

This one made it on the list because I think this remains relevant to the current state of America, and of the world, as the last couple of years has progressed. With the increase of violence, both premeditated and unpremeditated acts. What if these began to cause monsters? 

Uprooted

Naomi Novik

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REVIEW

I've noticed that there seem to be two sides to this book: the people that adored it and those who care nothing for it. 

Guess what side of the coin I'm on? Or, should I ask what side of the cover?

This is one that I just got swept up in, as I read. The prose, utterly beautiful, I loved the nature and unpredictability of the magic which I know many people aren't too fond of. 

Naomi managed to keep me guessing to the next plot point, all throughout the 400-or-so-pages and not one of them I could guess. 

Maybe just me?

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet (Wayfarers #1)

Becky Chambers

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REVIEW

Where do I even begin in trying, to sum up my emotions on this one?

I did manage to write a review, though, so maybe give that a try?

Gosh, definitely one of my favourite books of all time. It's up there. I really can't say anymore- just, read it if you haven't already.

Please.

What were some of your favourite books of 2016? Or maybe, what books you've read in the first few months of 2017?