Friday 28 December 2018

Review: The White Queen by Philippa Gregory


A poor widow, Elizabeth Woodville, is left with nothing after her husband is killed in battle, leaving her and her two sons penniless. Believing that she is meant for something greater, she sets her sights on the young King Edward of the House of York. After a short courtship, he marries her in secret and she finds herself as the Queen of England.

Queen Elizabeth is very clever, and very manipulative of the King. Despite being a nobody, she convinces the King to marry her, and sets about installing her vast family into as many important positions in court as possible. This series is written from the point of view of the women of the families, since their stories are so often ignored, and this has been done incredibly well. This book is the first in a series about the Cousin's War, between the houses of York and Lancaster for the throne of England, each family believing that it is theirs by birthright.

I love a bit of historical fiction, and Philippa Gregory's has to be some of the best in the world.

Saturday 22 December 2018

Review: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart


Cadence and her group of Liars (cousins, mostly) go to her Grandfather's private island every summer. But one year, she has an accident which leaves her with a head injury and significant memory loss of the entire summer. Now she's trying to piece together what happened to her, one memory at a time.

This book was a great quick read, but I have mixed feelings about it. It's been on my 'to read' pile for ages, and I finally picked it up to read before Christmas. I read it in two days.

To be honest, the story was quite slow. The first half or so was just giving information, and this was a long, roundabout process. The second half was better - it was a lot more interesting and the plot moved forward much quicker.

The redeeming quality of this book was the big twist, which I truly did not see coming. It added a whole new layer to the story, and was exciting enough to save the story for me, even if it was a bit peculiar. Despite the slow start, this is one of those wonderful books that you can pick up, read and enjoy, and put down again once it's done.

Sunday 16 December 2018

Review: A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas


Side note before we begin - you have to accept this book for what it is, which is more of a filler than a plot-based novel.

That being said, I enjoyed it just as much as the others. I love seeing life at the Night Court after the Battle of Hybern and seeing the Inner Circle go about their daily lives. This is definitely the book to read if you're interested in more of the relationship-based details, as it shows the Inner Circle recovering and trying to move on.

Most of them, anyway. What on Earth is Nesta's problem?! Just when I thought she was finally on side, she's gone completely the other way. It has set up nicely for the spin-off series though - I'm very excited to find out how Nesta and Cassian get on in the Illyrian mountains.

Review: A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas


This series just keeps getting better and better! I don't have a single bad word to say about it.

Having finally escaped Tamlin's court and taken her rightful place as High Lady of the Night Court, Feyre is expecting life to slow down again, but this is not the case. The King of Hybern is threatening to bring down the wall that protects the humans, and the Inner Circle must rally all the Courts together to be able to stop him.

The relationships between the Inner Circle were my favourite part about this book, followed closely by the glimpses we get about life within the other courts. Of course, we also see Nesta and Elain struggling with their transition into High Fae, and this causes problems that even the Inner Circle might not be able to fix...

Saturday 6 October 2018

Review: A House of Ghosts by W.C. Ryan


First things first, this cover is BEAUTIFUL. It is worth reading for that reason alone.

But the story? Not great. I really wanted to love this, but I just didn't. There were aspects that were good: the characters were interesting and the premise of the supernatural was what drew me to the book in the first place, but it just didn't deliver. There was an occasional mention of ghosts and spirits throughout, but they don't really contribute anything to the story, and the outcome would have been just the same if they hadn't been included at all. There were also a lot of questions that were left unanswered. The way it ends leads me to think that it has been left open for a second book, which may well explain why somethings were left unexplained, but I can't say I'll be rushing to pick it up.

Tuesday 4 September 2018

Review: Killer T by Robert Muchamore


This book is set in a not-too-distant future, where gene-editing is commonplace, and anyone with money can be 'modded' in order to be exactly what they want: taller, stronger, tanned. You can even have anti-ageing mods, and mods that reduce your risk of inherited diseases.

But with gene-editing comes synthetic diseases, and this story is set in the midst of a Killer-T pandemic, a virus that has a 90% mortality rate, and is sweeping the globe with no known antidote. We follow the story of Harry and Charlie over 10 years, and we see the world before, during and after this pandemic.

This book is a reflection of what could happen in the future, and for that reason, it is TERRIFYING. I liked the fact that it was spread over a 10 year period, as this meant that we could really see the effects of Killer-T and what it did to the population. The reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I didn't love the ending - I won't ruin it, but to me it just wasn't a great ending to what was a great book.

Wednesday 22 August 2018

Review: Perfect Ten by Jacqueline Ward


This was SO good!

Caroline is trying to get her life back together after getting divorced and losing custody of her children. Her ex-husband was having affairs throughout their entire relationship and marriage, but Caroline could never prove it, and as a result, Jack made everyone believe that she was paranoid and dangerous, despite her successful career, and he took the children as a final blow. But Caroline is desperate to get her children back, and after finally finding the evidence that she was missing before, she will do whatever it takes to make this happen.

This is incredibly well-written. I spent the first half of the book wondering whether Caroline was actually mad, and the second half rooting for her as she schemed and manipulated to ensure that everyone found out what Jack was really like. The way she does it is clever - doing just enough damage that he has to respond, but not enough so that she can be blamed.

I read the majority of this in one sitting too (yay for lazy afternoons! :)) and it was full of twists and turns. Highly recommend!

Review: You Only Live Once by Jess Vallance


I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did, but I started and finished it in one sitting. And I really enjoyed it. To be honest, I'm a little disappointed that I couldn't have read this book when I was sixteen, because I'm exactly like Gracie is, studying-wise, and I could have really done with this book then. That being said, I'm twenty-two, and this book still really resonated with me.

Gracie has worked her butt off her whole life, and during the summer following her GCSE's, she mistakenly self-diagnoses herself with a fatal illness. One trip to A and E later, and Gracie realises that she isn't dying, but she is missing out on life, so she proceeds to try and have what she thinks will be the best summer ever. But of course, things don't quite go to plan.

This is a really light-hearted, easy-reading book, and I would highly recommend it.

Thursday 16 August 2018

Review: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas


This is now my favourite book of all time. I thought the first one was good, but this one is better. I'm so excited for the third one, it's ridiculous.

Feyre, as a result of many things, finds herself at the Night Court with Rhysand and his Inner Circle, and she manages to integrate herself into it. She's still trying to figure out who she is after the drama of the last book, and Rhys is the only one who understands this.

In my humble opinion, this book is worth reading for the development of Rhys and Feyre's relationship alone, but be warned, it is a slow burner, so if you are expecting a fast-paced, full-on relationship, this is not the story for you.

The last 30 pages of this book are so full-on, but in a good way. And that last line! DO NOT read ahead to the last line because it will ruin the book for you, but that last line! I've never been so excited to read a third book in a series in my entire life.

Friday 20 July 2018

Review: Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier


"I guess you saw what you wanted to see."

I actually finished this book yesterday, but I had to take a full 24 hours to think about what I wanted to say, because this book just has so much going on.

In terms of the thriller element, you can't fault it, and that's why I've given it five stars. I was hooked from the very first page, and even though this is a very gritty novel that deals with some very real issues, it is well-written and you can't help but want to read on. I couldn't put it down, even during the moments that were quite difficult to read.

I wrote myself some notes as I was reading this book, and one of the first things I wrote about the first chapter was this: 'First chapter = ?! Amazing! I'm hooked!' If the first chapter of this book doesn't make you want to read the rest of it, I don't know what will.

Our main character, Geo, is... peculiar, to say the least. I can't say I'm a massive fan - and I don't know if that was the point of her, but she wasn't a character for me. That being said, I think she is perfect for this novel; interesting and different enough to keep me reading the entire way through.

Highly recommend this if you want a gritty thriller full of twists and turns!

Monday 16 July 2018

Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas


I cannot even begin to describe how much I loved this. Well, put it this way: if I was going to write a book (it's on my list!), this is exactly the kind of book I would want to write. I just love the whole fantasy theme, court setting, mythical creatures thing... it's just my favourite type of book.

So, Feyre is a young girl who hunts in the enchanted woods in order to feed her family, who have fallen on hard times. While hunting one day, she shoots and kills what looks like a wolf, but is actually a faerie from Prythian - the faerie kingdom that exists at the expense of the human realm. As punishment for killing a magical creature, Feyre is sentenced to live out her days at the Spring Court, amongst faeries of all kinds, and it is here that she meets Tamlin. They fall in love, but all is not what it seems in Prythian, and Feyre is forced to prove her love in order to save the Spring Court and the entire faerie realm.

We also meet a character called Rhysand, who is very mysterious, and I cannot help but wonder how his relationship with Feyre will develop in the second and third books. This book has everything you could want from a fantasy novel, and I cannot wait to dive into the second book.

Monday 18 June 2018

Review: Grace After Henry by Eithne Shortall


After not reading anything for MONTHS, I dove straight back in with this beauty, Grace After Henry. After the sudden unexpected death of her boyfriend Henry, Grace is trying to deal with the grief and move on, but she keeps seeing Henry everywhere she goes. A few weeks later, a plumber turns up to fix the boiler and he is the DOUBLE of Henry - and it turns out that he is Henry's long-lost identical twin, and Henry had absolutely no idea that he existed.

I liked the story - it moved at a decent pace and I really understood Grace's decisions, why she did what she did. I did find it a little bit peculiar, a little far-fetched maybe, the whole long-lost twin thing that just happened to turn up on her doorstep, but there is an overarching theme in this novel - that of fate and coincidence, so I guess it makes sense.

After not reading anything in what feels like forever, this was a lovely novel to get back into, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Sunday 15 April 2018

I Miss Blogging

It's been such a long time since I've sat down and actually planned out something to write about, other than a book review. Don't get me wrong, books are one of my great loves and I will continue to write reviews on them, but I miss writing about other things.

It's my fault, really. I've let life get in the way. Since finishing university almost a year ago (can I still use this excuse?!), I've jumped straight into my job, which I love, and I've been trying to figure my life out ever since. But honestly, I don't want my entire life planned out at twenty-two years old. I'm perfectly happy just going with the flow. I say that so much, maybe I should get it tattooed somewhere on my body. Clearly 'this too shall pass' was not the right choice. (Nope, it definitely was. No idea what I'm talking about? See my post on getting my tattoo here!)

So, note to self: make your blog more of a priority in your life. Hopefully you'll see some more varied stuff from me soon.

No promises, though.

Friday 13 April 2018

Review: The Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae by Stephanie Butland


This was such a beautiful story! I had really high hopes for it, since I've also read and LOVED Stephanie Butland's Lost For Words (see review for that here!), which was an amazing story too.

I have nothing bad to say about this book! I loved all aspects of it - I loved getting to know Ailsa as she tries to figure life out after having a heart transplant. I loved the relationship between her and Seb, which developed slowly but surely, and I loved the realness of her other relationships: the strained one with her mother and the non-existent one with her father.

Stephanie Butland manages to write characters that are just so REAL; they're flawed and they struggle and they generally are just trying to figure things out. It makes for a wonderful read that you cannot possibly let go of easily. I can honestly say that five stars is not enough for this book - I loved it.

Thursday 5 April 2018

Review: Every Note Played by Lisa Genova


This book made me cry! It is the heartbreaking story of Richard, an acclaimed concert pianist who is diagnosed with ALS, and struggles to come to terms with the loss of his body.

We switch back and forth between Richard's point of view and Karina's, his ex-wife who blames him for their divorce. It was interesting seeing how Karina deals with this news, as she instantly feels guilty, and becomes his carer out of a sense of obligation more than anything else.

The one thing I would say about this book is that I wish we could of had more of an insight into how Grace, their twenty-year old daughter, deals with this news. We get glimpses of her as she comes back and forth from university, but this is pretty limited. I know the important person is Richard and his diagnosis, but it would have been nice to have some more from her.

The end of this novel is heartbreaking but hopeful, as Karina finally feels like she can move on with her life and become her own person after many years of putting herself second. I would definitely recommend this book, even though you may need tissues to finish it!

Friday 30 March 2018

Review: The Pharmacist's Wife by Vanessa Tait


This book was nothing like I was expecting, but I really enjoyed it nonetheless.

Rebecca is 28 and newly married to a chemist who has just opened a new pharmacy in Victorian England and is experimenting with creating new drugs. One thing leads to another and he ends up creating heroin, which he then begins 'treating' her 'female hysteria' with. Through drug-addled days and nights, Rebecca discovers that her husband is not the Victorian gentleman that everyone thinks him to be, and so she sets out to overcome her heroin addiction and bring him down once and for all.

I really enjoyed Rebecca's character development. As a young woman she fell in love with a childhood friend, who moved to Egypt for his work and never came back, and so she married Alexander and became the timid Victorian wife. However, as she discovers her husband's secret life, she comes back into her own and the story ends with her finally becoming an independent woman.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would definitely recommend it.

Thursday 29 March 2018

Review: Her Mother's Daughter by Alice Fitzgerald


I don't really know how I feel about this book. I keep going back and forth as to whether I enjoyed it or not, but ultimately I keep landing on the same conclusion: it wasn't really for me.

We flick back and forth between two time periods: 1980, when Josephine is leaving her less-than-happy family in Ireland for a new life in London, and 1997, when Josephine's daughter Clare is looking forward to going to Ireland and meeting her other grandparents for the first time.

It took me a long while to get into the story, and even when I did, it felt like I was reading it just to finish it, and not because I particularly cared about the story. It also just sort of... ended, without any real conclusion. It wasn't a bad story, it just didn't really appeal to me.

Tuesday 20 March 2018

Review: The First Dance by Catherine Law


I really enjoyed this book. It was different to what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it anyway.

We go back and forth between different time periods in Alexa's life - from her as a young girl, to her as a young woman, and finally ending with her later on in life. After rejecting the proposal of her childhood best friend, Harvey, on her eighteenth birthday, Alexa runs away to become a companion to an older lady. She is searching for love and family, but does not realise exactly what that means until it is almost too late, when her search for both of these things brings her back to her home of Porthdeen, Cornwall.

I loved the three generations ideal that was woven throughout this story, and I also liked how we were able to follow Alexa as she travelled from Cornwall to Venice in order to find her grandmother and learn more about herself. I liked the ending of this book too, since it went full-circle and we end up almost where we started. There's something quite pleasing about that. I would definitely recommend this book - it was a really lovely read.

Monday 12 February 2018

Review: The Second Child by Caroline Bond


I really liked this. For me, it was a very different book from what I usually read, but I enjoyed this. The story was easy to follow and I liked that it switched between different viewpoints, as this added different dimensions to the plot.

The book opens with Sarah and Phil getting the results of a genetics test and finding out that their daughter, Lauren, is not actually their child. Obviously, both are confused as to what happened in the hospital fourteen years ago, and agree to finding their biological daughter and her family. This situation is made more complicated due to the fact that Lauren has Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome, and their entire lives have been about looking after her, believing that she was their daughter. As the two families collide and attempt to exist, the fallout effects everyone.

This was a nice story about a near-impossible situation. The only downfall would be the end. It ended suddenly, and without really resolving the situation. I would have liked to know what happened with the two families. Despite this, it was still a nice, fairly easy read.

Sunday 4 February 2018

Review: The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda


It’s hard to know where to begin with this book, because so much happened! I read the entire thing over two days - it was hard to put down because I HAD to know how it ended.

Leah moves to a new town with an old friend, Emmy, in order to start over. But one day, Emmy disappears into thin air and two people are attacked near their house - one of which looks really similar to Leah. The police investigation that follows comes to the conclusion that Emmy never really existed, and Leah must prove that she is not involved in the events.

This was such a good read with loads of twists - I certainly could not have predicted the ending, and it was incredibly well-written. It revealed just enough to keep you interested, but not enough for you to guess the twist. I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a complex thriller.

Sunday 28 January 2018

Review: Sunflowers in February by Phyllida Shrimpton


When Lily wakes up one day and realises she has been hit by a car and died, she must figure out how to contact the people she knows in order to tell them that she hasn't moved on. She figures that the best way to do this is through her twin brother, Ben. But when Ben and Lily do finally get in contact, not everything goes as smoothly as it was meant to.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. I loved the storyline, and the question of life after death, but I found Lily to be incredibly annoying, and completely selfish. I loved the premise of this, and the story was really gripping; the cover is beautiful, and definitely appeals to me as a reader. I feel like I would have found Lily less annoying if I had read this when I was younger. Maybe I just don't have the patience for 15 year old girls anymore. Nevertheless, this book was a really good read, and I'd highly recommend it.

Friday 19 January 2018

Review: Sourdough by Robin Sloan


I don't really know what I was expecting when I started reading this book, but it definitely wasn't this. That being said, I enjoyed this. It was different, in a good way. I kinda wanna start baking sourdough bread now.

Lois Clary is working in a technology company, making good money but not really enjoying herself. When her favourite takeaway closes down, the people who own it leave her a sourdough bread starter, so that she can continue making the food for herself. She ends up coming into contact with a group of mysterious people who aim to 'fuse food and technology', and she begins on a new path in life, with mixed results.

This book was completely different from anything that I've ever read before, but I really liked it. It was interesting, and I loved the sourdough bread element. A story that is basically just about sourdough bread shouldn't work, but this one does. My mum loved it too. Highly recommend.