Five Reasons To...
Published: 8th March 2018 (UK)
Source: Book box/Edelweiss
Genre: Fantasy, Historical, Young Adult
My Rating:
Step into The City of Brass, the spellbinding debut from S. A. Chakraborty—an imaginative alchemy of The Golem and the Jinni, The Grace of Kings, and One Thousand and One Nights, in which the future of a magical Middle Eastern kingdom rests in the hands of a clever and defiant young con artist with miraculous healing gifts
Nahri has never believed in magic. Certainly, she has power; on the streets of 18th century Cairo, she’s a con woman of unsurpassed talent. But she knows better than anyone that the trade she uses to get by—palm readings, zars, healings—are all tricks, sleights of hand, learned skills; a means to the delightful end of swindling Ottoman nobles.
But when Nahri accidentally summons an equally sly, darkly mysterious djinn warrior to her side during one of her cons, she’s forced to accept that the magical world she thought only existed in childhood stories is real. For the warrior tells her a new tale: across hot, windswept sands teeming with creatures of fire, and rivers where the mythical marid sleep; past ruins of once-magnificent human metropolises, and mountains where the circling hawks are not what they seem, lies Daevabad, the legendary city of brass?a city to which Nahri is irrevocably bound.
In that city, behind gilded brass walls laced with enchantments, behind the six gates of the six djinn tribes, old resentments are simmering. And when Nahri decides to enter this world, she learns that true power is fierce and brutal. That magic cannot shield her from the dangerous web of court politics. That even the cleverest of schemes can have deadly consequences.
After all, there is a reason they say be careful what you wish for . . .
I can probably think of more than five reasons to read The City of Brass but I will attempt to be concise and give you the best reasons for reading this utterly amazing book, even if it does involve convincing you folks to read the first book in yet another series. Actually, I’ll probably just try not flail too much and actually write coherent sentences because this was me after finishing:
Complex and Interesting Characters
The characters in this book were the best. Nahri was this amazing con artist. She could sense illness in people and she also conned the rich out of their money to fuel her pursuit of moving to be able to pursue being a doctor. Despite her abilities and their unknown origin, she didn’t believe in magic until a djinn (daeva) arrives in her life and she discovers there is an entire city of djinn called Daevabad. I loved how Nahri may have discovered a world of magic, demons and djinn but she never loses who she is and wants to be. Sure, she takes moments to question what she wants but she is still her own person and tries to avoid being swept away.
Then there is Dara, the mysterious djinn Nahri summons who has a dark past he mostly can’t remember and the bits which he does don’t always shine himself in the best light. He remembers a different world to the one he arrives in and although he wasn’t always a good person I did love him and the connection he built with Nahri. He was the man who introduced her to this other world and the two built a bond from that and helped one another grow.
There was also Prince Ali, one of the sons of the current ruler of Daevabad. I didn’t always love his actions or agree with his opinions but he did add a whole other element to the story. I won’t reveal the reasons why but Dara and Ali didn’t get along or agree on all things. They were on opposite sides of things and I sided much more with Dara on this but Ali wasn’t all bad. He was blunt and interesting and he was a good friend to Nahri even if he was far too blind to the faults of those closest to him.
Amazing World Building
The world Nahri and all of the characters inhabit is such an interesting one. Seeing how the world of the djinn overlapped with the human world was so cool. And then there was the city of Daevabad, that entire city was so interesting. It genuinely felt like a real place. I could visualise that city and the people living in it. It was fully fleshed and so interesting. You can tell that research went into studying the historical period the book is set and also in learning about the cultures which influenced those of the djinn. It wasn’t just one culture but multiple ones which influenced the different types of djinn. I thought it was a highlight of the book how real the world the characters inhabited was.
Family Mystery
Nahri had no knowledge of her own family. She didn’t question her origins too much on the streets of Cairo as she had to spend far more time concentrating on surviving and passing under the radar of the authorities as not all she did was strictly legal. It meant that as time went on and she learnt more about her possible past (and Dara’s past) the more intrigued I was and I just know that this will get explored in the next book (which I totally want in my hands now… I cannot be wishing away the year though). I think the mystery of both her origins and those of Dara led me to get sucked in as you see small hints of the past but there is so much more to be explored as the series progresses.
Djinn! (Or Daeva if You’re That Kind Of Guy)
This was such an original take on djinn. I haven’t read a lot of books featuring djinn anyway, but this one was so unique. The djinn and their society were so interesting. It was so similar to human society anyway which is logical but it was also unique. Each type of djinn had their own culture and each was so individually defined by both appearance but also their beliefs. Their abilities weren’t just chalked up as being magic but instead, there were abilities which folks tended to and then the half djinn, shafits, who were treated as lesser beings. Some of the mixed blood people also possessed abilities and I would be very interested to see why some did and some didn’t. There was the daeva (who took on the original name of the djinn) who were fire-based djinn and there were a large variety of others. The different djinn tribes actually lead on to the next point.
An Interesting Take On Racism and Religion And Class Which We Can All Relate To
One of the elements I liked most about this book is that it showed the mirroring of certain elements of the human world in that of the djinn. As soon as we were introduced to the world of the djinn through the eyes of Ali and then later Nahri it was obvious to me that there was discrimination against the shafts with the view that full-blooded djinn as being superior to those of the half blood shafit. It was similar to the pureblood superiority seen in Harry Potter but in City of Brass it goes beyond that with those in the different djinn tribes having their own rivalries.
The corruption seen in the ruling class of the djinn also meant viewing full blooded djinn as superior to those of the half blood shafits. They also had the view that the Daeva tribe were backward as they had their own religion whilst the rest of the djinn had a new different religion which was adopted and these divisions split the focus of the djinn and weakened them allowing corruption to spread.
I have to say, whilst the divisions in djinn society weren’t always comfortable to read because it made me so angry but it is one thing I love about fantasy reads. Even with its historical setting it was brilliant at highlighting the ingrained biases which occur in society and fantasy is an excellent way of achieving this. It was brilliant!
Have you read this and if so what are your reasons for others to read (if you loved it as much as I did)? And what’s your favourite fantasy read of late?
I know it’s been a good long while, but do you guys recall almost two months ago now I began reading The Naturals series? I adored every page and even though I had some doubts at the end of the first book (I could sense a love triangle developing as soon as I started and I am so not up for that) but the book hooked me in even though it included something I hate and I read the entire series in the space of four days and if that doesn’t announce my love for the series nothing will. It was because of Kaja this book even came on my radar and that was because someone else had recommended the book to her as she enjoyed some Kelley Armstrong books so that’s my sole reason for getting the first book in the series.
I couldn't figure out how to review an entire series because spoilers! And then I remembered I could give you vague highlights in the form of a five reasons to read post (genius, I know).
It’s a Good YA Thriller Series!
Look, I feel that is a totally valid and brilliant reason to read. I can think of zero similar YA reads like this one and I adored it. I am known for being a fan of police procedural dramas and I know they are so formulaic and obvious but I will sit and watch them late at night and I love it. Sit me in front of NCIS or Criminal Minds and I am a happy bunny. As such, finding a really good YA thriller series about murderers just ticked all my boxes (that makes me sound weirder than I actually am, honest). It had an interesting mystery which developed of the books and it didn’t seem weird that the characters had these unique abilities as they weren’t superpowers, they were better observance and the ability to see body language and manipulate folks. It was like being hyper-aware and brilliant so it made total sense.
It Didn’t Feel Like Nancy Drew All Grown Up
Look, as much as I adore Veronica Mars with every fibre of my being, that girl was a grown-up Nancy Drew with some serious sarcasm going on and I adored she was a PI. She was a genius with her episode mysteries which I totally wouldn’t have cracked but you have to admit it’s totally farfetched, a bunch of teens solving crimes. This book series managed to make it at least make sense why teens would be solving murders and it’s not because of an incompetent police force and because they are hiding behind just the right corner to catch the criminal. The ‘abilities’ of the characters totally made sense and whilst recruitment by the FBI sounds a little farfetched I’ve seen more ridiculous storylines.
The Scooby Gang Was Awesome and Not Cookie Cutter Sweet
The MCs and secondary characters in this book are not completely 100% good. They are flawed and interesting and considering they are only teenagers they felt like fully fleshed characters who acted like teens! They all had kind of messed up childhoods, I will give you that. Poor angsty teenagers with their parents removed, but they also didn’t anger me with their teenaged ways (look, I like when teens in YA actually sound like their real-life counterparts but anyone who is passed teen age will realise that sometimes teens can sound a little ridiculous with their woes, they are legit but it also makes them sound ridiculous when you give them context for their problems). And these characters weren’t perfect and I loved how they get their backstory revealed over the course of the four books. They get to develop and grow and it was awesome.
There Was An Overarching Storyline
Often, thrillers don’t have any link to them beyond the characters. They stay in the same world but as a whole, they are pretty standalone books. But then YA series tend to have an ongoing story arch where the characters pursue a goal through a series of books. This series manages to combine those two things together into this wonderful stories. Each book had its main storyline which loosely led to each secondary character getting some spotlight as their backstory gets revealed and developed, and then there was the mystery of the week. At the same time, there was the storyline of Cassie and her mother’s murder and the entire story which develops from her trying to find out what happened to her mother. I won’t say too much on that because of course it gets revealed throughout the books and spoilers! It was insanely good and interesting and I didn’t guess the whodunnit of the mystery too early which would have ruined everything. And that overarching mystery keeps you reading because it’s so damn addictive.
It Wasn’t Afraid to Get Dark
The first few books didn’t get too dark but they dealt with murder and they weren’t afraid to give the details. The backstories of our characters weren't exactly all bright and shiny either so there were such things as abuse happening to characters in their past and it was a touch messed up but it added to the layers of each character and the struggles of their past. And then the fourth book, it got really dark there for a while and I loved how Barnes wasn’t afraid to include the kind of storylines you would expect in adult thrillers. She didn’t dumb down her mysteries and storylines for a younger audience because teens are just as capable of dealing with a darker storyline and you see just the same thing on TV.
So there you have it. I really enjoyed this series and whilst I warn you, you do have to brace yourself for a love triangle. I will say that from the go ahead, it’s there. I do not deny it, but it’s balanced out by a good storyline, excellent writing, and interesting characters. You get sucked in and if you aren’t interested in continuing the series after that first book I am impressed.
Have you read this series? Anyone got some recommendations for some good mystery/thriller type books? I used to read them all the time and stopped for some reason.
I recently read an absolutely fantastic book. I bought it by mistake (sometimes you add stuff to your basket and click buy when you intended to just save it until later) but I had no regrets in buying it. Once I began I knew I would love it. The style of writing and the characters themselves and then the fantastic story all added up to hook me right in. I couldn’t figure out the words to explain my love for this book and then I remembered I like to rave about books and the perfect way to do it was give you all five reasons to read it.
You’re Welcome, Universe – Whitney Gardner
Published: 7th March 2017
Source: Bought
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
My Rating:
A vibrant, edgy, fresh new YA voice for fans of More Happy Than Not and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, packed with interior graffiti.
When Julia finds a slur about her best friend scrawled across the back of the Kingston School for the Deaf, she covers it up with a beautiful (albeit illegal) graffiti mural.
Her supposed best friend snitches, the principal expels her, and her two mothers set Julia up with a one-way ticket to a “mainstream” school in the suburbs, where she’s treated like an outcast as the only deaf student. The last thing she has left is her art, and not even Banksy himself could convince her to give that up.
Out in the ’burbs, Julia paints anywhere she can, eager to claim some turf of her own. But Julia soon learns that she might not be the only vandal in town. Someone is adding to her tags, making them better, showing off—and showing Julia up in the process. She expected her art might get painted over by cops. But she never imagined getting dragged into a full-blown graffiti war.
Told with wit and grit by debut author Whitney Gardner, who also provides gorgeous interior illustrations of Julia’s graffiti tags, You’re Welcome, Universe introduces audiences to a one-of-a-kind protagonist who is unabashedly herself no matter what life throws in her way.
Diversity Out The Wazoo
Seriously, I loved the fact that this book wasn’t trying to tick the diversity box. It didn’t force it but instead simply was. The main character was deaf, and she was proud of being part of the Deaf community. She didn’t see why she had to change herself to fit the ‘hearies’ instead she questioned why she had to adapt to their world. She was also an Indian MC with two moms and that wasn’t a big deal. She was accepted by those around her and she accepted herself and that was awesome. I know one of the biggest complaints about the publishing world is the lack of representation as people fail to see characters who are like them. This book definitely succeeds in showing that it isn’t difficult to include diversity as this one does it without it being a problem.
The thing I really loved about this book was the fact that there were multiple characters who were deaf and the fact that they were all part of the Deaf community and it was just awesome. I especially loved her moms. That’s a whole other point, though.
Present Parents
Now, having lesbian parents in a book is not ground-breaking. I loved it but the actual reason I loved Julia’s parents is actually because they were so present and involved in her life. One of my biggest pet peeves in YA books is when parents are just utterly absent. I mean, I get parents being the enemy in YA, they so often feel that way as a teenager. I get bored of seeing bad parents in books, though. I know they feel like the enemy but most parents aren’t bad ones and I do find the whole bad parent trope boring. To see Julia’s two moms suspicious of her, checking up on her and inspecting her bag was great because that’s what parents do. When you get expelled from a school you don’t get complete trust from your parents and I liked that. I liked seeing Julia sitting with her parents over a meal and chatting about her day and getting annoyed with them when it feels like they’re spying. I liked seeing genuine family life with one parent who feels a little guilty and gives small gifts, like cool new boots, even if they aren’t necessarily deserved. I want that kind of parent in YA because that is the kind I know and recognise. I want more awesome parents and strong family bonds.
The Integration of Art Into The Story
Art, graffiti more specifically, plays a major part in this story and so the fact the book features artwork throughout to demonstrate art from the story was fantastic. I am not always the best at visualising things in a book so I really enjoy seeing things to support the story. The only thing which would have made it better was if the artwork was in colour (I would buy a special edition if they did that). It felt like the colour of the artwork would have added something a bit extra as a lot of thought went into the colour choices. That may just be me, though.
The Friendship
I love when a book features friendship of any kind and this one is all about friendship. This is most definitely a book where our MC Julia learns no man is an island. She forms this fantastic friendship with YP without intending to and it was awesome. She connects with her purely on accident and then the friendship she develops is brilliant not only for her but YP as they both accept each other just as they are, something they haven’t had much of previously.
There is also an element of toxic friendship and often who we view as friends can take advantage. Often toxic friends aren’t acknowledged but this time it is and Julia goes kind of an extreme way of showing she is better friend (and some might question if what she does makes her a worse person) but it was satisfying to see the contrast between good friendship and bad and even when a good friend betrays you it is very different to just having a bad friend. Just everything about friendship in this book is right.
The Story Felt Real
Okay, we can’t all relate to graffiti artist dreams and I got confused about some of the slang used (it made me feel old and out of touch) but Julia felt like a very real character. She was a teenager who acted selfishly and impulsively and didn’t think about others all of the time but she felt like a real teenage girl. She could be selfish but then she would go out of her way for YP even when she didn't truly consider her a friend at that point. She could do something to prove a point and act like a crazy self-destructive psycho but also be really sweet. it was insane and I love that because that is how you act as a teenager. Consequences come later and I loved the path she took to apologise. I just really enjoyed it.
Bonus:
Learning Deaf Culture
I cannot say for certain, I know no one who is deaf, but I felt like a lot of work went into making the representation of the Deaf community accurate. Like the alarm clock where it seemed like an earthquake and the way, there are short names for people which get chosen for you. The way that too often when you have an interpreter with you people will speak and look at the interpreter rather than looking at who is doing the talking. It was small, it was the little things like people muttering about Julia’s use of her phone to type communication as the youth of today and the embarrassment of learning she’s deaf. And her quick dismissal of having an implant to hear when she feels she’s not missing anything by not hearing. And her outrage at the ESL class and how much she didn’t enjoy English with all the grammar rules. Just every part of Deaf culture and the difference between being deaf and being Deaf was amazing.
As you can see I loved this book and I think you will too. It is a fantastic read which is real and interesting and included characters which felt real. Have you read this, what did you think? And can you recommend books which will make me just as excited to read?
Published: 10th January 2017
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Fantasy, Steampunk
My Rating:
Her vengeance. His vision.Ari lost everything she once loved when the Five Guilds’ resistance fell to the Dragon King. Now, she uses her unparalleled gift for clockwork machinery in tandem with notoriously unscrupulous morals to contribute to a thriving underground organ market. There isn’t a place on Loom that is secure from the engineer turned thief, and her magical talents are sold to the highest bidder as long as the job defies their Dragon oppressors.Cvareh would do anything to see his sister usurp the Dragon King and sit on the throne. His family’s house has endured the shame of being the lowest rung in the Dragons’ society for far too long. The Alchemist Guild, down on Loom, may just hold the key to putting his kin in power, if Cvareh can get to them before the Dragon King’s assassins.When Ari stumbles upon a wounded Cvareh, she sees an opportunity to slaughter an enemy and make a profit off his corpse. But the Dragon sees an opportunity to navigate Loom with the best person to get him where he wants to go.He offers her the one thing Ari can’t refuse: A wish of her greatest desire, if she brings him to the Alchemists of Loom.
Where to begin with this book? I hadn’t read any Elise Kova books before. I’d seen the entire blogging world rave about them but I hadn’t actually read a single one of them. Turns out I am an idiot who should have been reading her books far sooner as they are amazing! I couldn’t get enough of The Alchemists of Loom and even though it took me nearly a week to read (the equivalent of a century in reading terms, for me) I loved every second of it. I feel like I was dragging out the reading so the book wouldn’t end. I don’t know if I can fully explain why so here are five reasons you should get reading this newest offering from her:
DRAGONS!!!!!
Look, dragons get me every time. Well… they do when dragons are done right. Dragons are done right in this book.
I mean, we get two opposing views of dragons in the form of Cvareh and then Leona. Cvareh is trying to overthrow the Dragon King with the help of the Fenthri rebels (who he has never meant and can’t even be certain exists). Then there is Leona who blindly and valiantly serves the Dragon King (who she is totally in love with) and will do anything to achieve his aims. She is superior and looks down upon the Fenthri as an inferior race. I mean, Cvareh had a similar view of Fenthri being ugly and repressed but his time with them changes his views. He grows to admire them and his willingness to change his views and grow is amazing when Leona refuses to.
The Action Never Stops
I mean, seriously, you begin with action and it doesn’t actually slow down from there. You are little dropped into one of Ari’s jobs as the white wraith and the action continues from there. It was amazing. I was thoroughly confused from the beginning as she uses a system of measurement I didn’t understand what she was stealing and what half the things she was talking about were but it was gripping. I wanted to know who Ari was. Why she was doing what she was doing (I still didn’t fully understand her by the end, but that’s what the next book is for, right?). I wanted to know everything and that only got worse as the book progressed.
Why was Cvareh on Loom? What did he have that meant he wanted to go to the Alchemists? Who were the Alchemists? Why did Ari hate the Dragons so much? What had the Dragons done to Loom which was so bad? How did Chimera work? SO many questions and only some of them actually got answered this time around. It was a roller coaster really and I loved every second of it.
The Characters Rocked
I loved everyone in this book. Even the mean old bad guys, because they were interesting. I love a character who is interesting and grows and has personality. The characters in this book definitely had that. Like I said, Leona was annoying and awful and so flawed, but you completely understood why she hated the Fenthri and loved her King. Same goes for Ari and why she hated Dragons so much. There was good reasoning behind it. And Cvareh, you got he knew nothing of Loom and the Fenthri and was learning as he went along. He went down to Loom blind and hoped for the best. And Ari and Cvareh grew and learned to overlook their original thoughts on one another (even when they really didn’t want to) they had major character growth and they grew and developed.
And Flor. God, I loved Florence, precious flower that she was. She was so sweet and optimistic and she was always willing to see the best and the positive. She trusted Cvareh, despite him being a Dragon and her learning they were bad. Unless he acted otherwise she was willing to believe he was good. She also seemed to act like salvation and a moral compass for Ari leading her in the right direction, even when Ari didn’t want to go. I definitely want to see more of Florence and Arianna’s friendship in the next book. Florence was a favourite for me.
World Building Is Awesome
I love some good old world building and this is done really well. I think it helps that you are dropped in head first with no boring explanations and world building instead you’re already in the world and the action happens and you have a steep learning curve. That may not be for some, but it works. The reason it works is because of the multiple POV we see throughout. Each character knows something about one world and they help you learn as it goes on. I love that about this book. I normally hate multiple POV because I don’t like characters and I get invested in one story over another, but in this book, you need all the multiple POV to guide you through this new world and learn. It was genius! It was genuinely amazing.
I Loved The Societal Structures
You may think this is linked to world building, and it is, but it’s also really not. The thing I loved was the differences between Dragon society and Fenthri society. It was really interesting, especially as you see the effect of the Dragon’s forcing the Fenthri to conform to their view of how society works and how hindering and unsuccessful it is because that is not how Fen society works. I mean, the mere fact that it is addressed that another’s world view doesn’t work when forced onto others was just on point. Especially when you have Ari, a strong proponent of the old ways and how much more successful they were. I definitely wanted to know more of the old ways of the Fenthri and how they used to work. I won’t mention specifics, but it seems the old ways were way more successful before the Dragon’s view of family and structure should work. I do also want to know more about Dragon society because it was so damn interesting.
So there you have it. If I haven’t convinced you now I may never succeed in doing so. Have you read this, what did you think? And have you read any of Elise Kova’s books, are they just as good as this one sounds?
Genre: Fantasy
The year is 1926, and Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident, were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt's fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.
Someone mentioned in a comment a little while ago that they wanted a review of Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them after I said I watched it a couple of weeks back. I have been meaning to write it ever since.
I will begin by saying I am a massive Harry Potter fan. I haven’t indulged in the blackhole of my obsession for a while and this film definitely makes me want to. I have to say that there isn’t a way to review this film. Instead I will give you five reasons you should be watching this film already.
Newt Scamander
I think one of the reasons I loved this film so much was because Eddie Redmayne was so utterly charming in his portrayal of Newt Scamander. Newt is this awkward person who fails epically at speaking with people. Just, human interaction in general is not his forte. Instead, he understands and studies animals. He is always trying to do the right things but he doesn’t always go about it in the right way. My favourite scene is the one where he is dancing trying to attract the attention of one of his beasts which have escaped.
Fantastic Beasts (They Are Adorable and Hilarious)
I have a serious need for both a Niffler and a Bowtruckle after watching this film. I mean, combine the two together and I may begin my life of crime. It would be seriously amazing. I’d have my Bowtruckle picking locks and getting me out of trouble and I’d have my Niffler doing the theft of all the shiny things. The places that creature can get into is spectacular. And they can hoard so much stuff within them. It’s magic, really. It helps they are both amazingly adorable.
Prohibition Era Wizarding World
I didn’t realise this was a thing I wanted and needed in my life until watching this film. But it is. Also, have you seen the clothes! And the set design itself! It is just absolutely stunning. I mean, the clothing was so pretty! Then there was the subtle things added in to make in look like 1920s New York with a wizarding world twist. It’s just awesome. And I loved the little glimpses of Harry Potter history we get as well. I love when a world gets fleshed out.
It Was A Good Addition To The World Which Can’t Anger Folk (Mostly)
![tumblr_oav1m8lbPK1uy3ut1o2_500[4]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJ_xW8O9zo-0KP1RvfNvO4hN_tIEeUzbGeXHBh9rIq2K1XPn5IvoRdO-tkbZDATl4-Pvm5dmL9BLuMTafS1CwiDPg4sSCMEmtE_sEwQ3Kvsmn0__2y0cJtrTnUmlWlk2vLIP_1M9SbZk/s1600-h/tumblr_oav1m8lbPK1uy3ut1o2_500%25255B4%25255D%25255B3%25255D.gif "tumblr_oav1m8lbPK1uy3ut1o2_500[4]")
Look, I was as excited as everyone else for the release of The Cursed Child in bookish form (even though it’s a play) but hot damn was it a let down. I adored it because it’s Harry Potter and it elements and character I absolutely adored… but that storyline was a hot mess that would have only been written in fanfiction land… and even then it would probably be a crack-fic so I get why everyone was up in arms about it. Fantastic Beasts has only annoyed folks in one way and that is with the casting of one of the characters. Otherwise, that film is flawless.
Also, Did I Tell You The Characters Are Awesome And The Storyline Rocks?
Look, I’m struggling to think of smart reasons for you to watch. Basically, it’s a really good film. It’s a solid storyline with some really fabulous characters and it deserves your love. I mean, I liked the characters you don’t even like that much. I mean, Tina and Queenie were awesome and I most definitely want to know more about them. I want to know more. I want to know what Newt learnt and what he writes in his book. I want to know more about all of them. I want to know what happens with Jacob because he was adorable and most probably my favourite. I just want more.
Have you seen Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them yet? Did you like it? If you haven’t have I successfully persuaded for you to give it a try? Or are you waiting for the DVD release?
I requested this book on NetGalley a while ago now and it was sat on my Kindle getting no love whilst I tried to talk myself into getting excited for my ARCs again. I couldn’t figure out how to review this book because I really enjoyed it but how do you explain that properly? How do you put into words what clicked with this book which get people to read another debut? Then I remembered my 5 reasons reviews and figured that was perfect.
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Historical, Fantasy, Young Adult
My Rating:
It’s Boston, 1919, and the Cast Iron club is packed. On stage, hemopaths—whose "afflicted" blood gives them the ability to create illusions through art—captivate their audience. Corinne and Ada have been best friends ever since infamous gangster Johnny Dervish recruited them into his circle. By night they perform for Johnny’s crowds, and by day they con Boston’s elite. When a job goes wrong and Ada is imprisoned, they realize how precarious their position is. After she escapes, two of the Cast Iron’s hires are shot, and Johnny disappears. With the law closing in, Corinne and Ada are forced to hunt for answers, even as betrayal faces them at every turn.
Here are five excellent reasons to give it a go.
Friendship! Because You Can Never Have Too Many Friends
Look, when the book begins with a letter from the author explaining she wanted to write a book about friendship then you know you’re in for a good book. Destiny Soria stated the heart of this story is the friendship between Ada and Corinne and she is completely right, it is. There is romance and family drama and a bunch of really interesting characters but the heart of this novel lies in that friendship between Ada and Corinne. These are two girls who couldn’t have had a more different upbringing who are best friends. They may not have always known each other and they most definitely do not always like each other but they are always there covering one another's back.
I loved that this book included a genuine female friendship that was not overshadowed by a romance and there was no fighting over a boy. They were just two girls struggling in a world which seemed to be against them. They didn’t always bring out the best in each other (best friends can always bring out your ugly side too) but they certainly tried to do the best they could and they always looked out for one another (even if the other one thought that they were wrong).
Diverse Cast Who Aren’t Afraid To Address Issues
I liked that this wasn’t a whitewashed cast of characters but instead an interesting collection from black characters as well as characters from other parts of the world who were also part of a minority (I feel like specifying who it is and where they’re from my count as a spoiler so I am keeping schtum).
I loved that inequality was also highlighted in the book. Be it the fact one character was part of a nationality of immigrants who were marginalised and looked down upon. Then there was Ada who was not only a mixed race character who had enough stigma from being black in a country that has a long history of racism, but also had a mixed heritage with one black parent and one white so she had a whole other set of stigmas placed upon her growing up and that shows in her personality in the book. And let's not forget the book had two gay characters in there as well and their struggles to be together with dealt with so well taking into consideration the period it was set in. This book had it all but none of it ever felt like it was just added in for brownie points.
I mean, this book was obviously dealing with social stigma from the fact hemopaths have basically been outlawed but there was no hesitance about addressing other issues either! I mean, surely any idiot can see the parallels, right?
It Was Historical
I full on had flashbacks to history lessons. This book is set during the run up to prohibition and during a time when asylums were still a well known and acceptable kind of institution. I mean, it was all so interesting and seemed pretty well researched (although, as I am not an expert I cannot say that with any kind of authority).
I mean, the set up for hemopaths and the banning of them performing seemed a logical set up for prohibition. It was done so intelligently that I really loved it.
Look, I Love Criminals
Look, I am a sucker for criminals and con artists and they are here in abundance in this book. I do feel cheated that there are a couple of characters I would have liked to know better, but the ones we did get to know I loved.
I mean, Ada and Corinne with the perfect criminal double act because who would suspect them? They are con artists but they have morals and they are lovely about it. And the people who they live with? They have questionable morals but you can’t help but like them. They little club gang is sweet and I loved them for it. They all have their own roles but they all seem to be leading a life of crime to help one another. Who can hate on a crook with heart?
Family Is Important!
This may seem like a random reason to love a book but I don’t care. The fact is I loved the various family dynamics of this book. There was Ada’s family, who were very close when she was younger who she has drifted away from for various reasons. There is her amazing mother who adored to bits and her father who I adored from the brief mentions of him. Then there was Corinne and her family and how she felt utterly other from them and the connection they had (seriously, that family has a lot of issues but I wanted to hug them a bit towards the end). And then there was Gabriel and his mother, his family dynamic was sweet and didn’t scream mama’s boy even though it totally should have.
Outside of the actual blood family there was the family these characters had chosen in the form of the club and it’s members and those they began to welcome into their circle. I really loved how you had the contrast between born and and chosen family and those who Ada and Corinne to keep close to them.
***
Basically, I could go on for a while. I really liked this book and it’s a debut I strongly recommend. Go read it now!
Have you read Iron Cast? What were your thoughts? What was the best really good debut you’ve read lately?
Truthwitch was one of the most hyped books of 2016, for me. I mean, I think the build up for this book began near enough a year before it was released and gradually it became more and more talked about. You literally could not avoid this book even if you wanted to. Eventually, it got to the point where I wasn’t even going to read the book. I wasn’t certain I was going to like it anymore. It had been talked about so much and raved about so often that there was no possible hope of this book ever living up to my expectations. I didn’t want to do that to the book. End up being disappointed when it was no fault of the book and every fault of the marketing campaign for it.
I received a copy of this book in the second Illumicrate I received in February, even then I waited until April to read it. I just couldn’t be certain what to expect from it. I’d already witnessed other bloggers have differing opinions on it, possibly due to the hype. After, finally, reading it in April, though, I had to question why I waited so long. It was a really enjoyable read.
Source: Illumicrate
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
My Rating:
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.
So why should you overlook the hype around this book and get reading?
This book is all about the friendship
Seriously, there are friendship goals in this book. This entire book is about two girls, Safiya and Iseult, and the bond they forged in their years together. The friendship is solid, they make each other better and always work together, even if they don’t always agree on things. They make each other better. I mean, they are opposites in so many ways, they shouldn't be friends, but they are and it’s amazing.
Everything which happens in this book happens because they are both trying to protect each other and because they care for each other. It’s great reading a book where it’s not a romance being the driving force, but instead a friendship.
There are so many fantastic characters and shades of grey
It’s been a little while since I’ve read a book where my feelings towards characters flip-flopped so much. I liked them, I disliked them, I was rolling my eyes and wanting to hug them. I just couldn’t make my mind up of what to think. Take Iseult, I say I love her friendship with Safiya, but at times I found her so boring. Then sometimes I loved how in control and restrained she was, but that’s what bored me about her a chapter previously. Safiya I adored half the time and half the time thought she was an impulsive brat who doesn’t consider anything or anyone else before she acts.
Aeduan is the bloodwitch tracking the two witches and he’s the villain and I love him. I want so much more story in the next book for him. He acts for very selfish, self-serving reasons but he is just perfect. He isn’t written as this evil character but instead well written so he has the potential to be more in the story. I can’t wait for more from him, even though I frequently wanted to punch him in the face.
The magic system is unique (I think)
I haven’t read a magic system like the one in the book before. It’s sort of like a people with powers thing, but not. There are various witches who fall into different strands of witchery and then there are divisions over the abilities they possess within that strand. It’s actually quite interesting how different witches get defined and the different preconceptions people have. I mean, in general, the world building in this book is really good. It surprised me in a lot of ways.
One thing I will say to temper your expectations, though, is that I didn’t love this book. I enjoyed it, but I was continually filled with doubts throughout my reading. Dennard did a very effective job of banishing the things I disliked. When I disliked flaws in a character's personality she helped the character grow to overcome that flaw. When I was upset with the pacing she got the story moving so fast your head was spinning. The writing and world building in this book is good and I can see the potential for more. I don’t want people to write this book off too soon. Is the hype justified? Maybe. Ask me again after I’ve read the second book.
The politics in this book is insane and very realistic
The politics. I love books where the politics and scheming feel genuine. Does it suck that we don’t get more of it and it’s more in depth? Yes. But what we do get is still pretty aces. I mean, everyone’s got their own angle in this and it’s insane. You’ve got the crazy kind overtaxing everyone and then the rich fire nation and they join forces and this poor small nation is essentially destroyed without them actually fighting one another.
I really felt for Merrick’s struggle. His people lost their land and their food sources and no one is willing to trade with them, there is essentially an embargo on them as their rivals hope to starve them out and weaken them so they have no other option. Instead, this small nation struggles and fights. Some turn bitter and want to take sneaky underhand methods, and he wants to do it the peaceful way. It was amazing. I also loved the reiteration of the fact that history is written by the victors so no-one even knows of the struggles of his nation as it’s been glossed over in the history books.
You don’t know who to trust or what to believe
My favourite thing about this book (apart from the friendship bit, that’s my favourite) is the fact that you never know who should be trusted. I mean, you really don’t. Safiya’s uncle is he a cruel drunk and a genius mastermind? Is the bloodwitch good or bad? What about these firewitches? Who do we trust? What’s going on?
I just didn’t know what to think when reading and I loved being surprised. I think it’s the only way to truly enjoy this book is to go in blind and see how it goes. I was shocked at the twists and turns the story took. They aren’t the most shocking ones I’ve ever read but it was still an enjoyable read.
Look, don’t let the hype stop you from reading. For me, this was a book where the hype was there for good reason. It’s an enjoyable read and it deserves the attention.
Have you read Truthwitch, what were your thoughts? Can it feel like the hype is stopping from reading books?
This is a slight adaptation to my 5 reasons to read feature. Normally I would give five reasons for you to read a book but I think you should read this play if you’re a Harry potter fan anyway. I also couldn’t find a way to put into words my thoughts on the play, especially as I was only reading a script and that could never compare seeing it live on stage. In the end, I decided the best thing to do was give you a list of non-spoiler filled thoughts I had whilst reading that may help motivate you to get reading, especially if you are one of those readers that gets so excited about reading something you immediately decide to not read it as it can never compare to the idea in your mind. It ended up being five thoughts (well, it was a couple more it seemed fitting to trim down to five).
Also, please admire my fabulous handwriting in my slightly edited header to fit the name change for this post.
Shall we begin?
Source: Bought
Genre: Fantasy, is Harry Potter a genre?
My Rating:
Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016.
It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.
While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.
It picks up where we left off in Deathly Hallows.
One thing I really enjoyed about the play is that we are essentially going from where we last left Harry & Co and I loved that. It’s like returning to old friends and seeing how things are. I think it needed to be that way so you feel comfortable. I was very nervous I wouldn’t like the play so to begin somewhere familiar was a comfort. I mean, I know the characters are familiar, but there are new ones and the ones I know have aged and growing up can change a person a bit.
It’s sort of like reading fanfiction but not at the same time.
One thing I will say about this play is it feels a bit like fanfiction. I think it’s because I never expected to get more of the Harry potter world. There were brief glimpses of character history on Pottermore but I never expected a story beyond that of Deathly Hallows so immediately reading it I already felt like I’d entered the fanfiction world. Then, some of the story elements just smacked of fanfiction to me as well. That was probably unintentional, I mean, the fandom has explored every potential storyline you could imagine and some you probably had never even thought of so it was difficult for the play to not have elements of fanfiction to it. The voices felt very spot on and I really enjoyed it but I couldn’t help questioning ‘is this really part of canon?’'’ and I can’t decide if that is good or bad.
I loved the characters, Ron is my favourite and that is shocking.
Now, don’t hate me, but I was never a massive fan of Ron. He complained too much and got jealous of Harry for the most ridiculous reasons. No matter how much I reminded myself he was a kid growing up and they get jealous over stupid things, and he is one of like ten million children (or 7) so it sucks feeling like you’re competing with your best friend to be noticed. I get Ron wasn’t being a dick in the books but I find it really hard to forgive his childish behaviour, such as in Goblet of Fire when he took forever to forgive Harry or in book 7 when the Horcrux totally affected his moods. I think my issue with Ron has always been that he realises his mistakes but he struggles to apologise and admit when he’s wrong.
Anyway, this is not a rant about Ron. I actually want to say I liked him so much more in the play. he was funny and a good friend and I loved his relationship with Hermione. And I just really liked him. There were some darker moments in the play and I think Ron really gave it some light-hearted relief when needed. He wasn’t just comedic timing, though. He really cared and I think grown up Ron was everything he had the potential to be and showed glimpses of in the books without the hormonal teenage drama and jealousy which frequently ruined the character for me.
The thing is, it wasn't just Ron. I really enjoyed so many of the characters in this book. I really liked Draco and Scorpius and their relationship. I don't want to say too much, but I enjoyed all the characters we saw, I only wish some people got a bit more page time. Also, the absence of certain characters was strongly felt and I wish everyone got to be in it.
The story was completely unexpected and I liked it.
I think, for me, The Cursed Child was very much shrouded in mystery. I didn’t know what to expect from the play or what kind of storyline it was going to be and I thoroughly enjoyed what I got. I remember the theories which used to bounce around with the announcement of each Harry Potter book title. The ideas about what it means and who will be what. I mean, don’t we all remember trying to guess who the Half Blood Prince was? I liked that they kept it all secret with the play and what it would be about. Everyone was guessing who The Cursed Child was an dit made me all nostalgic for previous release dates.
It was a perfect dip back into the Harry Potter universe and I love that we got this.
Look, people may have their issues with the play, I certainly had a few thoughts about it, but I am so glad we got to bring back the excitement of the previous Harry Potter books. I know it wasn’t whole new book and we haven’t necessarily gotten some of the stories we all want but it was a pleasure to return to a world which feels like home. And the best thing is if you didn’t like it you can ignore it as canon. It doesn’t affect the world we already know and love and you can ignore the exploration 19 years in the future (or the present day world of Harry Potter). I think that’s why it was so mart to do the play in this way, if Rowling had decided to delve into the past and do something then it very well could impact the Harry potter canon and that would be awful if people didn’t like it.
Have you read The Cursed Child yet, or even been lucky enough to see it on stage? What were your thoughts? Are you happy to return to the world of Harry potter or did you want to leave it as it was?
You know those books you just adore and struggle to put into words why to any sane human being? That is what Who’s That Girl was to me. At first. I thought it was just a romantic storyline book being set in The Midlands which was making me happy (along with an insanely pretty cover I seriously want to photograph from every angle). It wasn’t that, though. I already knew Mhairi McFarlane was an excellent writer (I’ve read her other books after all) but it was more than that, this was a well-written book with amazing characters, a fantastic storyline, it was genuinely funny and it was realistic. You don’t get what you expect and I adored every second of it. I would read it again immediately if it didn’t feel like that would be premature and too soon… that and my growing pile of unread books is threatening to fall and kill me one day if I don’t tackle it.
I thought I would write a review on the book, but how do your write a review without sounding overly gushing when you knew that this book would be love once you were a few chapters in and already started out Masterchef when you did, in fact, want to watch it on TV? Instead, I will begin a new feature I had already been contemplating and that is my Five Reasons To… where I convince you to do things. It was going to just be a feature where I convince you to read various books, but why limit myself when there is so much potential for everything else to get included in this?
Instead of flailing aimlessly in an ineffectual review to get you to read a new favourite of mine I will give you five reasons why you should read it. If that doesn’t convince you I can say I tried and move on.
The Book
Published: 7th April 2016
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Chick-Lit
An achingly funny story from the author of the bestselling YOU HAD ME AT HELLO
What’s the one thing you do at a wedding? Kiss your groom. What’s the one thing you DON’T do at a wedding? Kiss someone else’s groom.
When Edie is caught in a compromising position at her colleagues’ wedding, all the blame falls on her – turns out that personal popularity in the office is not that different from your schooldays, and if the groom is the head boy, Edie is closer to the geek with NHS glasses and purple braces. Ostracised by her colleagues, her boss suggests an extended sabbatical and has the perfect project to fill it – ghostwriting an autobiography for hot new talent, Elliot Owen. All she has to do is keep her head down, get on with the star and not snog him. Easy, right?
Wrong. Banished back to her home town of Nottingham, Edie is not only dealing with a megabrat of epic proportions but also facing the ghosts of her past as she moves back in with her widowed father and layabout sister. As she questions the woman she has become, Edie realises that turning to look at her past is not just painful – it could potentially change her future.
Why You Should Read It:
It’s Hilarious
Seriously, this book is laugh-out-loud funny. There are a lot of books I have found funny, but there is a smaller list of books that made me laugh out loud. I actually had my mom come ask me what I was cackling about. It is honest, surprised out of you laughter that makes you snort (or cackle) and basically gives that laugh you tend to reserve for family and friends.
It’s Set In The Midlands!!!
Look, I am very easy to please when it comes to books. I like it when I find a good book set in the UK, and they aren’t as easy to find as they aren’t as widely advertised in the blogosphere. This book is one of the even rarer books that are set in the UK and aren’t exclusively set in London! You wouldn’t believe how rare that is. It’s set in Nottingham, which isn’t really all that local, but it’s The Midlands and it makes me insanely happy. Anyone who reads UK books and watches British TV is probably convinced London is the centre of the universe with the way it’s the only place people can safely name. I understand it’s the capital, but it’s nice to see other places too.
Anyway, this is meant to be about the book, not about UK geography. It was so refreshing to have the book be set in Nottingham and then to have a famous actor be from there and actually like his hometown! I just, it was really nice to have characters come from their lives in big cities and actually like a smaller city and not disparage it for being ‘not-London’ or whatever. I feel like all I ever see are books and films where your main character is moving to the big city to begin their life, not returning home to find themselves.
It Has An Awesome Sentence About Friends
‘Some friendships, they’re like favourite mix tapes. You hit pause but when you un-pause and play it again, you pick up right where you left it. You know all the right words and what comes next.’
I mean, this fully fits me and my friends from home and my housemates at uni. We may not have kept in perfect contact, but when we do get together it’s like we saw each other yesterday.
Who’s That Girl does friendship so perfectly. I adored and Hannah and Nick, they were hilarious and the perfect friends for Edie because they helped her face reality.
The Characters Were Perfect
I’ve already said I love Hannah and Nick (and I do, why are they not my friends?) but I also loved everyone else. I love Archie and the utter ridiculousness of his character. I loved Edie and how she was adorable and unsure and allowing life to carry her forward instead of acting herself. I loved Meg and how she was ready to be an utter hypocrite but she was still an awesome sister. Edie’s dad was the sweetest man and so funny, I just wanted to pick him up off the page and cuddle him close. I loved Elliot and his wit as well as his ridiculously good looks. I just really loved every single character in this book. Even the characters you weren’t meant to like I adored because they were such excellent villain characters whilst still coming across like real people.
I Loved Edie And Elliot’s Talk About Parents
I don’t want to spoil anything (like at all) but there was a really wonderful moment over halfway through the book where Elliot and Edie talk about their parents and their feelings on things and I felt like it was so amazingly on point describing things that I couldn’t help but hug this book close for getting it so right! It is a spoiler what specifically I loved and I don’t want to spoil things without you reading it first, but when you get to their conversation about parents you will know what I’m talking about and you will understand. It feels like Mhairi McFarlane gets the impact that their experiences can have and they were so utterly correct in their summation of the issue and their circumstances and I will love this book every day for being perfect on this point (as well as others).
***
Look, I probably haven’t managed to convince you, but I can honestly say I tried. I have loved Mhairi McFarlane ever since I read Here’s Looking At You and found myself a weeping mess hugging the book and trying to thrust it at everyone I knew because it made me smile like an idiot. I can say I tried, though. I needed to try because this book is a definite favourite of 2016 and McFarlane has reaffirmed to me why she is a must buy author and a favourite of mine.
Have I managed to convince you to give Who’s That Girl a chance? And have you read any other Mhairi McFarlane books? I would appreciate any suggestions you have for books that fit my 5 reasons for you reading this book too, I love finding new things to love.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
Social Icons