Thursday 27 December 2012

The Books and Bookish Gifts I Got For Christmas!

Hey guys! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I know I said that my giveaway was going to be the last post of the year but I thought it might be cool to share with you some of the things I got for Christmas that are either books or books/blogging/reading/writing related in an informal chatty style vlog. I decided to separate them into parts. Part One is purely books and Part Two bookish gifts in case any of you are just interested in watching one or the other and to save it from being one long video. I personally love being nosey at stuff like this so hopefully you’ll enjoy being nosey too!

The Books I Got For Christmas (Part One) 



 Bookish Things I Got For Christmas (Part Two)

 


I hope you enjoyed the vlogs! Happy New Year everyone and I’ll see you in 2013!

Thursday 20 December 2012

The Merry Christmas Giveaway for a January 2013 Pre-Order!

Hey everyone! This is going to be my last blog post of 2012 and I decided that I wanted to give one of you a Christmas present of a January pre-order from The Book Depository. Here is the list of books you can choose from, one international winner will win one book.


Books You Can Win 
Shades of Earth by Beth Revis (US Hardcover)
Just One Day by Gayle Forman (US Paperback)
Splintered by A. G. Howard (UK Paperback)
Undone by Cat Clarke (UK Paperback)
The First Last Kiss by Ali Harris (UK Paperback)
Reason to Breathe by Rebecca Donovan (UK Paperback)
The Archived by Victoria Schwab (US Hardcover)
Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans (UK Paperback)
Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff (UK Paperback)
How We Met by Katy Regan (UK Paperback)
Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes (UK Paperback)
Shadows by Paula Weston (UK Paperback)
Cupcakes at Carrington's by Alexandra Brown (UK Paperback)
The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna (UK Paperback)

Rules 
To enter the giveaway please fill in the Rafflecopter
Giveaway is open to wherever The Book Depository Ships
Please select a book from the list a book not mentioned on the list will not be counted
Giveaway Ends: 5th January 2013
Winner will be contacted by email and will have 1 week to reply else another winner will be selected.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

It’s been another incredible year, Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate! Good luck to you all and I’ll see you in the New Year :)

Monday 17 December 2012

Thank You and Announcement!

So this is just a quick little post to say one huge thank you. As some of you may know I made it into the top ten of the blogink competition, now before you all get too excited, I didn’t win. But I’m actually really okay with that. Getting into the top ten was amazing enough on its own and the support I received during the contest was staggering and really touched me so I wanted to take the time to say that, although I didn’t win, your support was amazing and I wanted to say a huge thank you to those of you who watched/supported my video.


To celebrate getting so far in the competition I’ve decided to go ahead and reward myself with something I’ve been looking into and thinking about for some months now. Everyone… I’m getting my own custom blog design!

I really started to look into getting the blog a designer this summer but something was always not quite right. I’d find designers I liked but then I wouldn’t go through with it either because the price was too high, the waiting list too long or they weren’t taking any new orders at the current time and then I got ill and it just didn’t happen. I decided to look back into it as a treat for both me and you guys when I got into the top ten and found my dream designer in Lori at Imagination Designs. Lori’s been fantastic to work with so far and we’ve already come up with some ideas about what I want for the blog. I put down a deposit the other day and I’m currently on the waiting list for April.

The blog is going all fancy pants! I love what we’ve come up with so far and Lori has designed some of my very favourite blogs so I’m really excited for my own personal dream blog design in 2013. I figured this was a good way of giving myself a pat on the back, bettering the blog, and also giving a little something back to you guys with a pretty blog to look at.

Needless to say this is something I’m really excited about and I hope you guys will like the final outcome when it’s ready. Once again thank you so much for supporting me during blogink, and even though I didn’t win I’m looking forward to bringing new and exciting things to this blog in 2013!

Saturday 15 December 2012

Letterbox Love (16) The one with ALL of the books!


Letterbox Love is a meme hosted by Lynsey @ Narratively Speaking for UK based book bloggers to showcase the books that they’ve received each week.

This week was probably one of the best book weeks of all time; it was like Christmas come early! I think the publishers decided to ship a load of review books out before they break up for Christmas because every day this week my postman’s come loaded down with goodies! Needless to say a lot of happy jigs were done this week here’s my loot!

 For Review


Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff
Hunger by Melvin Burgess
The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna
Requiem by Lauren Oliver (Proof Copy)
Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans



Confessions of an Angry Girl by Louise Rozett
Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder
A Passionate Love Affair with a Total Stranger by Lucy Robinson
Beyond by Graham McNamee
Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne (Proof Copy)



Hidden Among Us by Katy Moran (Proof Copy)
Black Spring by Alison Croggon (Proof Copy)
OMG! Is This Actually My Life? by Rae Earl (Proof Copy)
Colin Fischer by Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz (Proof Copy)

E-Books 
The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch
The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark
Sister Assassin by Kiersten White
Geek Girl by Holly Smale
Flawed by Kate Avelynn (bought)

That’s it from me for another week! If any of these beauties have caught your eye and you’d like to find out more about them simply click on the title and the link will take you to goodreads for a full synopsis, reviews, and to add them to your wishlists. As always thank you to the lovely publishing folk for the review copies. If you’re looking forward to a certain book in particular and want to request a review feel free to in the comments and I’ll do my best to get around to the book sooner rather than later. And if you decided to do a Letterbox Love, Book Haul, IMM, Showcase Sunday, Mailbox Monday or whatever else featuring the books you got this week leave me a link as I’d love to check out your books too! ^_^

 Happy reading till next time!

Wednesday 12 December 2012

My Most Anticipated Books of 2013!

It’s that time of year again! Christmas is approaching, the 2013 titles are flooding in, and my 2012 to be read pile is dwindling so it’s time to turn my attention to the new upcoming books which publishers have me drooling over in the year to come. Whilst this list is only a very small fraction of the books I’m looking forward to I wanted to do a post featuring the ones I’m most looking forward to and that I think should be on your radar too! I’m going to be finishing off the year with the last few books on my TBR pile and I’m so looking forward to January and the coming months to getting around to some of these pretties! So here they are in no particular order…


The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay 
Coming June 4th 2013 by Atria Books
Synopsis
I live in a world without magic or miracles. A place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. A place where people die and music disintegrates and things suck. I am pressed so hard against the earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet to walk. 

 Former piano prodigy Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone learning about her past and to make the boy who took everything from her—her identity, her spirit, her will to live—pay.

Josh Bennett’s story is no secret: every person he loves has been taken from his life until, at seventeen years old, there is no one left. Now all he wants is be left alone and people allow it because when your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.

Everyone except Nastya, the mysterious new girl at school who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. But the more he gets to know her, the more of an enigma she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he will ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding—or if he even wants to.

The Sea of Tranquility is a rich, intense, and brilliantly imagined story about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.

Why I Want to Read it – The synopsis for this completely sucked me in and the few bloggers that have already read it are already dishing out the 5 stars for it!


Pantomime by Laura Lam 
Coming February 5th 2013 by Strange Chemistry
Synopsis 
R. H. Ragona’s Circus of Magic is the greatest circus of Ellada. Nestled among the glowing blue Penglass—remnants of a mysterious civilisation long gone—are wonders beyond the wildest imagination. It’s a place where anything seems possible, where if you close your eyes you can believe that the magic and knowledge of the vanished Chimaera is still there. It’s a place where anyone can hide.

 Iphigenia Laurus, or Gene, the daughter of a noble family, is uncomfortable in corsets and crinoline, and prefers climbing trees to debutante balls. Micah Grey, a runaway living on the streets, joins the circus as an aerialist’s apprentice and soon becomes the circus’s rising star.

 But Gene and Micah have balancing acts of their own to perform, and a secret in their blood that could unlock the mysteries of Ellada.

Why I Want to Read it – Once again I’ve already heard amazing things from a few of my favourite bloggers. I love my Fantasy and this one sounds really different!


The First Last Kiss by Ali Harris 
Coming January 17th 2013 by Simon and Schuster
Synopsis 
How do you hold on to a love that is slowly slipping away from you? Can you let go of the past when you know what is in the future? And how do you cope when you know that every kiss is a countdown to goodbye?

This is the story of a love affair, of Ryan and Molly and how they fell in love and were torn apart. The first time Molly kissed Ryan, she knew they'd be together forever. Six years and thousands of kisses later she's married to the man she loves. But today, when Ryan kisses her, Molly realises how many of them she wasted because the future holds something which neither of them could have ever predicted…

Why I Want to Read it – I recently read and adored Miracle on Regent Street this author’s debut it was my favourite chick-lit novel of the year so I’m expecting great things from this one.


Pivot Point by Kasie West 
Coming February 12th 2013 by HarperTeen
Synopsis 
Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . . 

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

Why I Want to Read it – I haven’t heard much about this one yet but the synopsis sounds so interesting that I can’t wait to give it a read!


The Archived by Victoria Schwab
Coming January 22nd 2013 by Hyperion
Synopsis 
Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.

 Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive. 

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

 Being a Keeper isn't just dangerous-it's a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da's death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

Why I Want to Read it – I got a sneak peak of this on Netgalley and it looks incredible. I’m really interested by the idea and have heard Victoria’s writing is amazing.


Dead Romantic by C.J. Skuse
Coming February 4th 2013 by Chicken House
Synopsis 
Camille wants to find the perfect boy, with an athlete's body and a poet's brain. But when she's mocked at a college party, she kows there isn't a boy alive who'll ever measure up. Enter Zoe, her brilliant but strange best friend, who takes biology homework to a whole new level. She can create Camille's dream boy, Frankenstein-stylee. But can she make him love her?

Why I Want to Read it – I love CJ’s books and have been anticipating this one for some time. As I said to her on twitter it sounds brilliantly barmy!


Just One Day by Gayle Forman
Coming January 8th 2013 by Dutton Juvenile
Synopsis 
When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

Why I Want to Read it – I’m in awe of Gayle Forman’s writing and can’t wait to read another gorgeous contemp by her!


Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans
Coming January 15th 2013 by Usborne Publishing
Synopsis 
"I pause to look around the hive – all the podlike chambers are lit up as the drones shoot up on memories… I’ve wanted to get out of here before, but now the tight quarters start to choke me."

Felicia Ward is dead. Trapped in Level 2, the waiting room between Earth and Heaven, she spends endless days replaying memories, of her family, friends, boyfriend…and of the guy who broke her heart. The guy who has just broken into Level 2 to find her…

 Felicia learns that a rebellion is brewing in Level 2, and it seems she is the key. Suspended between Heaven and Earth, she must make a choice. Between two worlds, two lives and two loves. A choice that will change everything…

THREE LEVELS - TWO LOVES - ONE CHOICE

Why I Want to Read it – Book Blogger turned Author? Yes please! I followed Lenore’s book blog for ages, a fellow lover of dystopians, I’m so proud that she’s broke into the genre with what sounds like a great read, I can’t wait to check it out!


Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes 
Coming January 3rd 2013 by Penguin
Synopsis 
In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power—brutally transforming their subjects’ lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:

Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.

 Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished—and finds himself the leader of a people’s revolution centuries in the making.

Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword...

The only outcome that’s certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

Why I Want to Read it – This has been pitched to me as a Game of Thrones for teens. A few blog friends have read and loved it already and I do love my Fantasy so I’m sure to love this!


The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan 
Coming March 14th 2013 by Sphere
Synopsis 
As dawn breaks over the Pont Neuf, and the cobbled alleyways of Paris come to life, Anna Trent is already awake and at work; mixing and stirring the finest, smoothest, richest chocolate; made entirely by hand, it is sold to the grandes dames of Paris.

It's a huge shift from the chocolate factory she worked in at home in the north of England. But when an accident changed everything, Anna was thrown back in touch with her French teacher, Claire, who offered her the chance of a lifetime - to work in Paris with her former sweetheart, Thierry, a master chocolatier.

With old wounds about to be uncovered and healed, Anna is set to discover more about real chocolate - and herself - than she ever dreamed.

Why I Want to Read it – Paris? Chocolate? Romance? Need I say any more really? I also read my first Jenny Colgan this year and adored it so this sounds like a recipe for success! *Cheesy pun noted*


Shadows by Paula Weston 
Coming January 3rd 2013 by Indigo
Synopsis 
It's been almost a year since Gaby Winters was in the car crash that killed her twin brother, Jude. Her body has healed in the sunshine of Pandanus Beach, but her grief is raw and constant. It doesn't help that every night in her dreams she kills demons and other hell-spawn. And then Rafa comes to town. Not only does he look exactly like the guy who's been appearing in Gaby's dreams, he claims a history with her brother that makes no sense.

Gaby is forced to accept that what she thought she knew about herself and her life is only a shadow of the truth - and that the truth is more likely to be found in the shadows of her nightmares. Who is Rafa? Who are the Rephaim? And most importantly - who can she trust?

Why I Want to Read it – I’m a sucker for an Angel book and an Aussie author. That and the building hype surrounding this book makes January seem like such a long way away.


The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna 
Coming January 3rd 2013 by Definitions
Synopsis
Eva’s life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination – an echo. Made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, she is expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her ‘other’, if she ever died. Eva studies what Amarra does, what she eats, what it’s like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.

But fifteen years of studying never prepared her for this.

Now she must abandon everything she’s ever known – the guardians who raised her, the boy she’s forbidden to love – to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive.

Why I Want to Read it – This is another one where the synopsis completely sucked me in. Plus I’ve heard some pretty brilliant things for this book from US bloggers so I’m excited to see what all the fuss is over!


So those are the books I’m biting my nails over in anticipation for the release next year! Hopefully I’ve sparked your interest in some of these and you’ll be adding them to your 2013 wishlists too. I wanted to keep this list strictly debut, stand alone, or first in a new series because there are so many sequels coming out that I can’t wait for that this list would be taken up by them and I wanted to give some recognition to some books you might not of heard of before, because let’s face it, if you loved the rest of the books in the series you’re going to want to read the next instalment which should be on your radar already!

All links lead to goodreads so you can add them to your wishlists, I’d love to know what books you’re looking forward to reading in 2013 so let me know in the comments! :)

Monday 10 December 2012

Review for How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

Review for How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr 
Publisher: Usborne
Release Date: September 1st 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Families, Grief, Teen Pregnancy
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Source: Received from the publisher for review



Goodreads Summary:
"Jill's life lost all meaning when her dad died. Friends, boyfriend, college – nothing matters any more. Then her mom drops a bombshell: she's going to adopt a baby.

Mandy is desperate for her life to change. Seventeen, pregnant and leaving home, she is sure of only one thing – her baby must never have a life like hers, whatever it takes.

As their worlds change around them, Jill and Mandy must learn both how to hold on and how to let go, finding that nothing is as easy - or as difficult - as it seems."

Review 
I’d read and loved Sara Zarr’s ‘Story of a Girl’ a few years back and so when I heard that her latest novel How to Save a Life was being published in the UK as her debut over here I was really excited for UK YA fans to discover what a talent this author is.

How to Save a Life is told alternately between Jill and Mandy two girls who couldn’t be more different. Jill is grieving the death of her father when her mom announces that she is going to adopt a baby – a life for a life. Mandy is young, vulnerable and pregnant and is planning on giving her baby to Jill’s mother. But through both death and new life the two girls have one thing in common- they’re both after a new beginning.

The topics of teen pregnancy and bereavement have both become really overused subjects in YA and what impressed me most about this novel is how Sara Zarr took two really overworked topics and created something totally fresh by combining them both together. Whilst this book deals with grief and teen pregnancy at its heart is a moral on the true meaning of family. I loved the direction that Zarr took this story and how unique and entirely hers she made these topics.

Jill and Mandy are two beautifully flawed characters. Jill I liked instantly and despite Mandy coming off as a bit of an odd ball at the beginning by the end she turned out to be my favourite character. You get to know more about the kind of life that Mandy’s had and the reasons behind giving up her baby as the book goes on and my heart definitely went out to the girl. Both characters have their faults and are far from perfect but ultimately I just wanted to reach inside the book, give them both a big hug, and help them through their problems.

I’m not usually a fan of love triangles in the slightest but in this book it was done really well. Jill has to choose between her long term boyfriend from her former life (before her dad died) or a guy who’s fallen in love with the new Jill post dad. I loved both guys but was rooting for one in particular. This love triangle was done beautifully and was relevant to Jill who is caught in a type of limbo in her life between the past and the present with her grief so it only made sense that would be reflected in her love life too.

How to Save a Life was a beautiful book. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect ending and the last few chapters brought on the tears. If you’re looking for a book with a lot of heart, endearing characters, and a hopeful message I’d fully recommend this novel.

Wednesday 5 December 2012

Review for Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson 
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: 3rd July 2012
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Fairytale Retelling
Rating: 5/5 stars
Source: Bought



Goodreads Summary:
"Before Peter Pan belonged to Wendy, he belonged to the girl with the crow feather in her hair...

Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the alluring teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland and immediately falls under his spell. 

Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything—her family, her future—to be with him. When she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter.

With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Peaches comes a magical and bewitching story of the romance between a fearless heroine and the boy who wouldn't grow up."

Review 
I’ve been on a huge Peter Pan kick recently and have enjoyed re-visiting Neverland. Neverland is the kind of fantasy world that is so detailed and rich with imagination that even now as an adult I can’t shake the feeling that this place must exist. Picking this book up I was really excited to revisit one of my favourite magical lands from a character I knew little about but was always intrigued by, Tiger Lily.

What surprised me about this novel is that it’s actually narrated by Tinker Bell a mute fairy who because she goes unnoticed is an observer of other people’s thoughts and feelings. At first I wasn’t sure how well that would work but it worked brilliantly as Tink flutters around Neverland spying on everybody. Tink was probably my favourite character, her little fairy heart holds so much love for Peter Pan but because she knows she can never be with him realistically, she wants Tiger Lily and Peter to be happy together. Tinker Bell was such a good friend and I fell in love with her character instantly I also felt really sorry for her at times as she loves these people she watches and becomes so invested in their lives yet nobody but Tiger Lily saw her as anything but a funny little bug.

After only a couple of chapters I was absorbed in this world and could tell that it would be a 5 star all-time favourite book of mine and a large part of that was down to Jodi Lynn Anderson’s writing. I’d never read this author before Tiger Lily and I only wish I’d discovered her sooner because Jodi’s writing is phenomenal. Jodi brings Neverland to life as the magical enchanting place I loved as a child but she also adds her own spin on it and makes it darker so it suits a Young Adult audience. Whilst I was reading I’d jot down so many quotes because there were so many sections of this book that moved me.

Whilst set in Neverland this book had a real contemporary feel to it. After all Tiger Lily is but a teenage girl whose fallen in love for the first time with a boy she shouldn’t have. I can’t imagine any girl hating this book. After all, we’ve all been young girls after a fairytale of our own at some point, right?

What I loved most about this book, gorgeous prose aside, were the characters. Tinker Bell, Tiger Lily, Tik Tok, Pine Sap there are so many to love. Surprisingly I couldn’t stand Peter or Wendy. Peter, whilst charming, was trouble from the start and I wanted to warn Tiger Lily to stay well clear. Then Wendy comes along and ruins everything for Tiger Lily and by this point you’ve come to love this messy haired girl with the brave and thirsty heart so much that you can’t help but feel animosity toward Little Miss Perfect Wendy. I was actually rooting for Tiger Lily’s best friend Pine Sap throughout whose obvious love for her made him so endearing.

Tiger Lily opened up both my imagination and my heart and left me totally spellbound. Jodi Lynn Andersons writing was so beautiful and poetic that I’ll definitely be looking out for her other novels. This book has a strong and imperfect heroine, a beautiful love story, and a dash of magic. It’s one of my favourite books of 2012 and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Monday 3 December 2012

November Round Up and Book of the Month!

November's Book of the Month is Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson 

This was my last book read last month and so I haven't had chance to post a review on why this book is so excellent yet but fear not it's coming soon! Tiger Lily was gorgeous, magical, and whimsical. What I loved about it is despite being set in a place as magical as Neverland, Tiger Lily read like your normal teenage girl hurting over her first love. It was like fantasy meets contemporary and I loved, loved, loved it! Definitely one of my favourites of 2012.



Books Read in November
80.) Meet Me Under The Mistletoe by Abby Clements (4*)
81.) Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone (4*)
82.) Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor (4.5*)
83.) A Winter Flame by Milly Johnson (3.5*)
84.) How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr (4.5*)
85.) Easy by Tammara Webber (4*)
86.) Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson (5*)

Total Books Read = 7 
Thoughts: One book more read than last month, yeah! Still not up to my usual reading rate but with Christmas coming up I think this is a fair number. Will I be reaching 100 books at this rate? Probably not. But hey it still could be possible.

November's Book Awards 
Best Plot: Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
Best Writing: Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
Best Cover: Meet Me Under The Mistletoe by Abby Clements
Best Characters: Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Best Ending: How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr
Best Romance: Easy by Tammara Webber
Most un-put-down-able: Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Most Memorable: Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Best Moral: Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

Top 3 Most Recommended Books: Tiger Lily, Days of Blood and Starlight, How to Save a Life

Books I’m Looking Forward to Being Released in December
Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder
That's it! Not many releases in December unfortunately :(

Have you read any of the books I’ve read this month? What were your thoughts on them? Do you want to see a particular review for any of the books I’ve read this month sooner rather than later? Leave me a comment and let me know and I hope you’ve found some interesting books to add to your wishlist and don’t forget to treat yourselves to Tiger Lily (or even give it as a gift to the YA lover in your life this season or put it on your list to Santa ;)) – you won’t regret it! Here’s to another month of fab reading ahead - lets finish off 2012 in style! :D

Friday 30 November 2012

Make a Book Bloggers Dream Come True?

Hey Guys,

So if you follow me on Twitter you may have heard the news that I got into the last 10 of the Mira INK competition which I was beyond thrilled about! There were so many amazing entries that I didn’t think for one moment I’d make the top 10 and go through to round two, but here I am.


So here’s the part where I need YOUR help. The competition is to win a year’s paid contract with Mira INK as their book blogger (don’t worry if I win I’ll still be blogging here too! No way am I giving up my baby) plus a laptop or ipad. This is a dream come true for me but for this next stage I can’t do it without your help.

We’ve had to make a 60 second vlog explaining why we think we should win and in this stage it’s all about getting love for your video, likes, comments, views, I need to reach out to as many people as I can. So I ask you this, if you’ve ever enjoyed a post on this blog, if I’ve ever helped you find a book, you could say the biggest thank you ever by simply going and watching this video, liking it and leaving a comment showing your support. You guys have the ability to make my dreams come true and I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I would be.

Here’s the link to my vlog 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4eS-lewifg

And for anyone who’s interested here is the post that got me into the top ten http://shecanflyfree.tumblr.com/post/35646604803/thisisourstory 

Thank you so much for your support now and always.

Love Jess x

Wednesday 28 November 2012

Review for Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

Warning
This is a review for the sequel to Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Although there will be no spoilers about Days of Blood and Starlight there may be spoilers about the first book in this series. For my thoughts on the first book head on over here.

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor 
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Release Date: 8th November 2012
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Crossover, Paranormal
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Source: Received from the publisher for review



Goodreads Summary:
"Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a new way of living – one without massacres and torn throats and bonfires of the fallen, without revenants or bastard armies or children ripped from their mothers’ arms to take their turn in the killing and dying.

Once, the lovers lay entwined in the moon’s secret temple and dreamed of a world that was a like a jewel-box without a jewel – a paradise waiting for them to find it and fill it with their happiness. This was not that world."

Review 
Daughter of Smoke and Bone was by far my favourite book of 2011 and so naturally Days of Blood and Starlight was my most anticipated release of 2012. So much so that I dropped everything when it arrived so that I could devote an entire weekend to reading it.

This sequel was very different to Daughter of Smoke and Bone for many reasons. Firstly it definitely has more of a Fantasy feel to it, now that the cat’s out of the bag and we know what Karou is the world of Eretz is ours to explore in this novel. Secondly, whereas Daughter of Smoke and Bone was veiled in mystery and magic Days of Blood and Starlight is very war orientated making it at times a bleak and heavy read. And lastly whilst the first book in the series had a gorgeous romance there is none of that in this book with Karou and Akiva apart doing their own separate duties on their opposing sides of the war. That’s not to say that I didn’t like these changes, this book was excellent, but in a completely different way than Daughter of Smoke and Bone was.

One of the things I loved about this novel was the return of some of the characters I got to know and love in book one plus the introduction to some new loveable faces. The book focuses on many different characters throughout Karou, Akiva, Zuzana and Mik along with new characters Ziri, Sveva, Sarazal and Rath to name but a few. This gives the reader not only an opportunity to catch up with everyone but also different vantage points to view the war from and the effect it’s having on different parts of Eretz and the people that live there, not to mention the effect this war is having in the human world. Because there are a wider range of characters keeping up with the different subplots and who everyone is proved tricky at times, it’s definitely a book that requires your full attention something you may want to take into consideration before reading.

As always Laini Taylor’s writing was absolutely sublime. She has a way with storytelling that makes every chapter feel like its own little story that fits in as a piece of a bigger picture. Her writing is very description heavy and whimsical which is perfect for setting the scene of Eretz. I loved how there was also witty light-hearted banter between our human characters to lighten the mood when needed. I especially loved Karou and Zuzana’s conversations as I just adore both girls and their friendship.

The ending to this book was absolutely incredible with plenty of twists, turns, and shock revelations. I wasn’t sure if this books ending could live up to the epicness that was Daughter of Smoke and Bones’ but Laini Taylor has done it yet again and managed to completely surprise me. Overall Days of Blood and Starlight was an incredible book, although I didn’t love it quite as much as Daughter of Smoke and Bone it was still a strong and worthy sequel that sets things up brilliantly for what I’m certain is going to be an explosive last book to this enchanting series.

Sunday 25 November 2012

Letterbox Love (15)


Letterbox Love is a meme hosted by Lynsey @ Narratively Speaking for UK based book bloggers to showcase the books that they’ve received each week.

So if you follow me on twitter you may have read my tweets about my postman holding out on me. And then this week a load of books arrived all at once! It was like Christmas come early :). These are the pretties I got this week...

 For Review (Finished Copies)


The House of Memories by Monica McInerney
Reached by Ally Condie
The First Last Kiss by Ali Harris
The Disappeared by C. J. Harper


 For Review (Proof Copies)


Hidden by Marianne Curley
The Day I Met Suzie by Chris Higgins
Siege by Sarah Mussi


 E-Books (Bought)

   

The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines
The Secret of Ella and Micha by Jessica Sorensen

That’s it from me for another week! If any of these beauties have caught your eye and you’d like to find out more about them simply click on the title and the link will take you to goodreads for a full synopsis, reviews, and to add them to your wishlists. As always thank you to the lovely publishing folk for the review copies. If you’re looking forward to a certain book in particular and want to request a review feel free to in the comments and I’ll do my best to get around to the book sooner rather than later. And if you decided to do a Letterbox Love, Book Haul, IMM, Showcase Sunday, Mailbox Monday or whatever else featuring the books you got this week leave me a link as I’d love to check out your books too! ^_^

 Happy reading till next time!

Wednesday 21 November 2012

A New Genre: New Adult – What is it?

If you’re familiar with the blogging or book industry you may have heard the term “New Adult” around and about over the past few months and I decided that it was something I wanted to talk a little bit about on the blog...


So if you’re reading this post then you may know a bit about me and the blog but if not I just want to put it out there that I am 22 years old and this is a blog that reviews and discusses Young Adult and Chick-lit books. Since about the age of 17 I’ve alternated between reading Young Adult and Chick-lit, why? Because they are the genre’s I most relate to. I’m not a teenager anymore but I was not long ago and remember all too well the angst and that feeling of trying to find who you are and all of those incredible firsts and so I find that I connect with teenage characters an awful lot. But then on the other hand I’m also a young woman who can relate to the feelings of dealing with the working world, relationships and friendships, and standing on your own as you’ve flown the nest and are now trying to make a new life and family of your own. All of these topics are looked at in Chick-Lit or Women’s Literature.


I remember thinking when I was 17 that it was an awfully big leap. To go from teenage books to suddenly stepping into the shoes of older women, where was the middle ground? Did people between the ages of 18 to early twenties just not exist in the literary world? I’ve only managed to find a handful of books dealing with people around that age group The Study Series by Maria V. Snyder being one and The Jessica Darling Series by Megan McCafferty being the other. But even those books didn’t seem to have a true home; publishers didn’t seem to know whether to classify them as YA or Adult Fiction because they have such huge crossover appeal. But at last my friends that gap in the market has been realised and so the genre New Adult is born.


New Adult is a new genre for books that don’t quite fit as either YA or Adult Literature. But mostly from what I understand of it they are a more mature version of the YA books that I love now, about people my age, venturing out into the world for the first time on their own and with more mature themes too. I’m so glad that publishers have realised there is this huge other market out there that need books they can relate to and already there have been some exciting new novels released into this genre that seem to be taking the blogosphere by storm. Books like Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire, Easy by Tammara Webber, and Slammed by Colleen Hoover. I have yet to read any of these new books hitting this genre yet but I expect seems as I’m this genres target audience that I am going to love them.


At the moment all of the New Adult releases seem to be contemporary which is great as I love those kind of books but I can’t help but feel like this is just the beginning and we’ll see all kinds of different stories appear as this genre grows. Hopefully because of the already phenomenal success and popularity of the books mentioned more authors will be tempted to write for this genre too. I for one am happy that my age group finally has a voice in the literary world.

Have you read any New Adult novels yet? As I’m a newbie what would you recommend I start with?

Sunday 18 November 2012

Letterbox Love (14)


Letterbox Love is a meme hosted by Lynsey @ Narratively Speaking for UK based book bloggers to showcase the books that they’ve received each week.

I didn't do a Letterbox Love last week so these books are from the past two weeks...

 For Review


Lovely, Dark and Deep by Amy McNamara
Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor ( Already read and it was fantastic!)
How We Met by Katy Regan (Proof Copy)


 E-Books (Bought)


You Had Me At Hello by Mhairi McFarlane
The Truth About Faking by Leigh Talbert Moore

So that’s it from me this week! If any of these beauties have caught your eye and you’d like to find out more about them simply click on the title and the link will take you to goodreads for a full synopsis, reviews, and to add them to your wishlists. As always thank you to the lovely publishing folk for the review copies. If you’re looking forward to a certain book in particular and want to request a review feel free to in the comments and I’ll do my best to get around to the book sooner rather than later. And if you decided to do a Letterbox Love, Book Haul, IMM, Showcase Sunday, Mailbox Monday or whatever else featuring the books you got this week leave me a link as I’d love to check out your books too! ^_^

 Happy reading till next time everyone!

Thursday 15 November 2012

Review for Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone 
Publisher: Doubleday
Release Date: 25th October 2012
Genre: YA, Romance, Coming of Age, Time Travel
Rating: 4/5 stars
Source: Received from the publisher for review



Goodreads Summary:
"Anna and Bennett were never supposed to meet: she lives in 1995 Chicago and he lives in 2012 San Francisco. But Bennett has the unique ability to travel through time and space, which brings him into Anna’s life, and with him a new world of adventure and possibility.

As their relationship deepens, the two face the reality that time may knock Bennett back to where he belongs, even as a devastating crisis throws everything they believe into question. Against a ticking clock, Anna and Bennett are forced to ask themselves how far they can push the bounds of fate, what consequences they can bear in order to stay together, and whether their love can stand the test of time."

Review 
When I first read the synopsis for Time Between Us and heard that it was being pitched as ‘The Time Travellers Wife for teens’ I knew that this was a book that I would enjoy. The Time Travellers Wife is one of my favourite adult novels and with YA being my preferred genre I felt sure that I was on to a winner, and this book didn’t disappoint!

Needless to say Time Between Us is definitely one for the romantics! Our heroine Anna is from 1995 and lives in Chicago - the same place she’s lived her entire life. Anna has big plans for the future and wants nothing more than to travel the world, enter Bennett. Bennett’s a seventeen year old time traveller from San Francisco 2012 and his time traveling has happened to land him in Anna’s time and place. As the couple get to know and trust one another Bennett reveals to Anna his secret and to her delight finds that he can take her to anywhere in the world at any time, as long as it’s during the seventeen years Bennett has been alive, at the blink of an eye.

Anna and Bennett were great characters who had a beautiful love story. Anna really stood out to me as a fantastic heroine and a good role model for teen girls. She’s ambitious, hardworking, and isn’t afraid to dream big or naïve enough to think that life will be handed to her on a plate. As well as being a love story Time Between Us is also Anna’s story as she grows as a person and takes charge of her own destiny.

Bennett’s version of time travel was unique to any other book I’ve read on the subject and was never confusing or hard to follow like some time travel stories tend to be. A key theme that was brought up was that of ‘the butterfly effect’. I thought it was very cool and considerate of Bennett that he had these rules not to change anything so as not to mess with the future. Like he says, sure it could make the future better but it could also make it a lot worse. I liked how Bennett believed he had to let people make their own choices, shape their own destinies. And that these things have to happen so people become who they’re supposed to be.

In a lot of ways this book was very different to how I thought it would be. Of course it’s very romantic, but it also has a lot of underling morals at its heart too. About how people have a knack of coming into your life precisely when you need them, and the importance of living life to the fullest. How when life’s kind enough to offer you a second chance you should grab it with both hands. This is a story about falling in love and letting that person enrich your life but not become your only means of existence.

Overall Time Between Us was everything I hoped it would be and more. If you like romance or coming of age stories this is a book you won’t want to miss. It’s a beautiful and unique story that I only wish I could travel through time and give to myself when I was a teenager!

Monday 12 November 2012

Review for Meet Me Under The Mistletoe by Abby Clements

Meet Me Under The Mistletoe by Abby Clements 
Publisher: Quercus
Release Date: 25th October 2012
Genre: Chick-lit, Christmas, Romance
Rating: 4/5 stars
Source: Received from the publisher for review



Goodreads Summary:
"Childhood friends Laurie and Rachel's lives have taken very different paths since they picked up their A-level results together. Laurie is living in London and dedicated to her career, keeping track of her friends on Facebook. Rachel is seemingly living the family idyll in a cottage in Yorkshire - except she worries her marriage is starting to show cracks. When Rachel's mother in law falls ill and needs treatment in London, and Laurie decides she needs to get away for a break, a house swap falls into place. Soon Rachel is braving the mean streets of London while trying to keep her family together, while Laurie tries to figure out how to work an Aga and befriend the locals - and forget the man who seems intent on breaking her heart. Will their relationships survive this test? And will they make it home in time for Christmas?"

Review 
Christmas is by far my favourite time of the year and as soon as Halloween is over with I allow myself to start getting a little bit excited for it! This means starting on my festive chick-lit books that I look forward to reading all year and at the very top of that pile this year was Meet Me Under The Mistletoe and so on November 1st I pulled this one down from the shelf and prepared myself for a heart-warming festive read and this book certainly delivered!

The book begins on November 20th with chapters alternating between Laurie and Rachel two very different leading ladies. Laurie and Rachel were best friends during high school but over the years have fallen out of touch as life has taken them down separate paths. Laurie is a city girl who works for a big fashion company in London and Rachel lives in the countryside and is a stay at home mum. But when things start going wrong in both women’s lives during the countdown to Christmas, life throws them back together again when they agree to do a house swap to take a break and get their affairs in order. Needless to say the plot has a similar feel to that of the Christmas movie The Holiday which is one of my all-time favourites and if you’re a fan of that film I think that you’ll enjoy this book’s theme too.

I love when books have more than one main character and I thought that it worked particularly well for this book. Prior to reading, in other reviews I read that you’re either a Laurie or a Rachel kind of gal and I’d definitely say that I’m a Laurie. That’s not to say that I disliked Rachel I just connected with Laurie more and enjoyed her chapters the most. I think that having two very different heroines works in this books favour because whether you’re single or have a family, are a city girl or a country bumpkin, there is a lovable heroine for all to relate to.

Meet Me Under The Mistletoe was the perfect book to get me in the festive mood and is a brilliant read for this time of year. The beginning starts off as pretty much your usual chick-lit and the Christmas spirit builds as the book goes on leading up to and finishing on Christmas day, but will the girls be home and have their problems sorted in time for Christmas?

I finished this book with a big grin on my face and it left me with a warm Christmassy glow long after I put it down. Meet Me Under The Mistletoe was the perfect book to kick off this year’s Christmas reading with, and what I enjoyed about it most was that unlike a lot of chick-lit novels I had no idea who either girl was going to end up kissing under the mistletoe! This was a sparkling, fun, Christmas story that fans of the genre won’t want to miss!

Thursday 8 November 2012

November TBR Pile Vlog


The Monthly TBR meme is hosted by Booksessed and since I already do these video's I thought why not link up this month?

You guys liked it so here I am again with another monthly to be read pile video! November is all about making a start on those Christmassy reads and catching up on the books released this year that sound really good but for some reason I haven’t gotten around to. So this is me squeezing in as many Christmas books and exciting 2012 releases before the years over, enjoy!

   

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Abby Clements (read)
A Winter Flame by Milly Johnson
Crewel by Gennifer Albin
How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr
Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone (read)
Shadows and Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

 What’s on your reading piles for this month? I’d love to know!

Monday 5 November 2012

October Round-Up and Book of the Month!

October's Book of the Month is The Diviners by Libba Bray 

There was a lot of hype surrounding this book and I’m glad to say it lived up to it! Whilst this is a chunksta of a novel it didn’t feel long at all as I whizzed through it. This is a book that has everything glamour, loveable characters, intrigue and danger I couldn’t get enough and can’t wait for the next book in the series. For more info on the book and more of my thoughts my full review can be found here.



Books Read In October
74.) What’s Left Of Me by Kat Zhang (4*)
75.) The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (3.5*)
76.) Ten by Gretchen McNeil (4*)
77.) The Diviners by Libba Bray (4.5*)
78.) The Unquiet by Jeannine Garsee (4*)
79.) The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (4.5*)

Total Books Read = 6 
Thoughts: So I had more books than this on my TBR pile video but considering I didn’t get to read them all I still think I did rather well. In September I only read two books with being ill so this month was me testing the reading waters and getting back into the swing of things. Plus two of them were over 500 page long books so considering all of this I’m pretty chuffed with last months reading!

October's Book Awards
Best Plot: What’s Left Of Me by Kat Zhang
Best Writing: The Diviners by Libba Bray
Best Cover: What’s Left Of Me by Kat Zhang
Best Characters: The Diviners by Libba Bray
Best Ending: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Best Romance: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Most un-put-down-able: The Unquiet by Jeannine Garsee
Most Memorable: The Diviners by Libba Bray
Best Moral: What’s Left Of Me by Kat Zhang

Top 3 Most Recommended Books: The Diviners, The Evolution of Mara Dyer, What’s Left Of Me

Books I’m Looking Forward to Being Released in November
Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor ( most anticipated book of the year!)
Reached by Ally Condie
Black City by Elizabeth Richards
(Links lead to books Goodreads page for more info)

Have you read any of the books I’ve read this month? What were your thoughts on them? Do you want to see a particular review for any of the books I’ve read this month sooner rather than later? Leave me a comment and let me know and I hope you’ve found some interesting books to add to your wishlist and don’t forget to treat yourselves to The Diviners – you won’t regret it! Here’s to another month of fab reading ahead!

Saturday 3 November 2012

Letterbox Love (13)


Letterbox Love is a meme hosted by Lynsey @ Narratively Speaking for UK based book bloggers to showcase the books that they’ve received each week.

   

Books Featured in this Video 
Pantomime by Laura Lam
Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick
Forget Me Never by Gina Blaxill
How to Fall by Jane Casey  (No Goodreads page as of yet, but you can check out the author!)
The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
A Winter Flame by Milly Johnson

For more information on the books featured click on the title of each book and it will take you to the books Goodreads page for a full description and so you can add it to your wishlists! If you’ve read or are looking forward to any of the books I got feel free to let me know what you thought about them or request reviews and such in the comments. And if you decided to do a Letterbox Love, Book Haul, IMM, Showcase Sunday, Mailbox Monday or whatever else featuring the books you got this week leave me a link as I’d love to check out your books too! ^_^

Tuesday 30 October 2012

Review for What’s Left of Me by Kat Zhang

What’s Left of Me by Kat Zhang
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: 27th September 2012
Genre: YA, Dystopian, Futuristic, Sci-Fi, Romance
Rating: 4/5 stars
Source: Bought



Goodreads Summary: 
"Imagine that you have two minds, sharing one body. You and your other self are closer than twins, better than friends. You have known each other forever.

Then imagine that people like you are hated and feared. That the government want to hunt you down and tear out your second soul, separating you from the person you love most in the world.

Now meet Eva and Addie.

They don’t have to imagine."

Review 
What’s Left of Me has to be one of my most anticipated books of this year. I love the dystopian genre and this books premise sounded so interesting. What’s Left of Me is set in a futuristic world where everybody is born with two souls. After a certain amount of time one soul is supposed to become dominant and claim the body as its own whilst the recessive soul fades away into nothing. This book is about Eva a recessive soul who although has no control over her body has never completely faded away and so haunts her twin soul Addie. They are what’s known as a hybrid and because they are feared and hated by the government Addie has to keep Eva’s presence a secret.

What I didn’t expect from this book is for the story to be told from Eva, the recessive souls, perspective. With their body being shared I fully expected a dual narrative between Addie and Eva and whilst reading from Eva’s point of view didn’t do much for me liking and understanding Addie’s character it really got me into Eva’s mind set and got me thinking about how horrible it would be to have no control over your body, to no longer exist to the people you love, to essentially haunt what used to be your life. I felt so sorry for Eva and was rooting for her to get equal rights over her own body along with Addie.

Although Eva loves Addie and never holds a grudge against her for being the dominant soul, Addie did get on my nerves at times throughout the book. Even though I knew she couldn’t help how things were she was at times a bit selfish and I couldn’t help resent her as she held Eva back.

The world that the girls inhabit is a scary one indeed and I felt the girls’ fear and desperate need to stay together in a world where the government surgically want to remove and kill one of them. The only thing that made this book less than perfect for me was that I would have liked to have learned a bit more regarding the government and why exactly they feared the hybrids. I didn’t really understand why it was so important for people to only have one soul and I hope that plus what’s going on outside of America is touched upon more in the next book in the series.

Overall What’s Left of Me was a fascinating read that had me completely absorbed. I loved the characters, I loved the love story, and I loved the unique plot. But most of all I loved how this book totally got me inside Eva’s head and made me think about what life is like for her. What’s Left of Me is a gripping futuristic read about what it means to be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to change you.

Friday 26 October 2012

Review for The Diviners by Libba Bray

The Diviners by Libba Bray 
Publisher: Atom
Release Date: 18th September 2012
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Mystery, Romance
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Source: Received from the publisher for review



Goodreads Summary:
"It's 1920s New York City. It's flappers and Follies, jazz and gin. It's after the war but before the depression. And for certain group of bright young things it's the opportunity to party like never before.

For Evie O'Neill, it's escape. She's never fit in in small town Ohio and when she causes yet another scandal, she's shipped off to stay with an uncle in the big city. But far from being exile, this is exactly what she's always wanted: the chance to show how thoroughly modern and incredibly daring she can be.

But New York City isn't about just jazz babies and follies girls. It has a darker side. Young women are being murdered across the city. And these aren't crimes of passion. They're gruesome. They're planned. They bear a strange resemblance to an obscure group of tarot cards. And the New York City police can't solve them alone.

Evie wasn't just escaping the stifling life of Ohio, she was running from the knowledge of what she could do. She has a secret. A mysterious power that could help catch the killer - if he doesn't catch her first."

Review 
The Diviners is one of the most hyped over books of 2012 here in the YA blogosphere and although I was intimidated by its size (this book comes in at just under 600 pages) the promise of a read that was worth every page had me eager to check it out.

The Diviners certainly is an ambitious book that tackles many different themes; religion, the supernatural, the occult, and history itself to name a few. This is a huge accomplishment for Libba Bray and from start to finish I was absorbed. I wondered to myself with it being such a big book if it could have been edited down further, and whilst perhaps a few chapters could have been knocked off, this story wouldn’t be as richly developed as it is without them. Every page adds an extra layer to the story, characters, and mystery, and this book wouldn’t be as magnificent as it is without that added depth. So is it worth the extra reading time? Most definitely.

I can’t decide what I love best about this book; it’s such a solid, well rounded story with no weaknesses that let it down. Libba’s writing is sublime, atmospheric when setting the scene of a 1920’s New York City, majestic and intriguing when we’re following in the footsteps of our villain, and filled with all the splendour and fun of the bright young things that make up our main characters. Libba’s writing was absolutely phenomenal showcasing what a talent she is as a writer.

What I found really unique about this book was how diverse the plot was. Instead of picking one subject to write about Libba blends supernatural powers with ancient magic, religion and rituals with a murder mystery and of course there’s the historical aspect. I can only begin to imagine how much time and effort went into the research behind this book. This author has created something completely new with The Diviners and there was constantly something going on making it a real page turner.

I absolutely fell in love with this cast of characters! Evie is one of the sassiest, funniest, heroines I’ve ever had the pleasure to read about. She’s a true good time girl through and through and she made this book so entertaining to read and lifted the mood with her witty and humorous remarks when needed. Despite being marvellous Evie is by no means perfect and can be a tad selfish and naughty at times but she’s certainly not a bad person. I love my humane and flawed characters and so I fell in love with Evie, warts and all. There’s a wide range of warm and vibrant characters to get to know and love, I loved all of them so much that I will gladly follow them into as many books as Libba Bray wants to write.

Normally I’d recommend a book to a person based on whether its character, plot, or writing, driven and their preferences but this book is just so all around fantastic that I’d recommend it to anyone who simply loves a good story. The Diviners is a wonderfully imagined, captivating book that you pos-i-tute-ly won’t want to miss!
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