Samantha Cook's Blog, page 7
April 2, 2018
A supernatural giveaway - Daimonion by J.P. Jackson
Today we have a very special giveaway! Author J.P. Jackson has kindly offered a digital copy of his debut novel, Daimonion, Book
One of the Apocalypse.
Daimonion is beautifully written and devilishly plotted from start to end. Since being published in summer last year, it's already won a rainbow award for Best Gay Alternate Universe/Reality. This is one of those stories which I'm grateful to
One of the Apocalypse.
Daimonion is beautifully written and devilishly plotted from start to end. Since being published in summer last year, it's already won a rainbow award for Best Gay Alternate Universe/Reality. This is one of those stories which I'm grateful to
April 1, 2018
Welcome to the Writing Fest 2018 - and a Terry Pratchett Giveaway!
Happy Easter, everyone, and welcome to Scookie Review’s Writing Festival 2018!
For the month of April, I’ll be posting up guest articles from writers at various stages of their careers, each of them awesome in their own right. Some posts will be from familiar faces to this blog, and others new. I'll also be adding in a couple of author interviews, chapter critiques, and a beta-reader classifieds
For the month of April, I’ll be posting up guest articles from writers at various stages of their careers, each of them awesome in their own right. Some posts will be from familiar faces to this blog, and others new. I'll also be adding in a couple of author interviews, chapter critiques, and a beta-reader classifieds
March 29, 2018
Book Review: The Astonishing Colour of After
THE ASTONISHING COLOUR OF AFTER by Emily X.R. Pan
4 Stars
Verdict: A synesthesiastic tale of dealing with loss.
When Leigh's mother commits suicide, she visits Leigh as a bright red bird. Leigh follows her mother's memories to Taiwan to meet her grandparents for the first time and to try to understand her mother's passing.
For a book so sad, it's very colourful. Leigh often shares her
4 Stars
Verdict: A synesthesiastic tale of dealing with loss.
When Leigh's mother commits suicide, she visits Leigh as a bright red bird. Leigh follows her mother's memories to Taiwan to meet her grandparents for the first time and to try to understand her mother's passing.
For a book so sad, it's very colourful. Leigh often shares her
March 22, 2018
Book Review: Uprooted
UPROOTED by Naomi Novik
3 Stars
Verdict: The intrigue vanished into an endless battle.
Agnieszka lives in the valley on the boarder of the corrupted Wood, a forest with evil roots, full of malevolent creatures. The Wood is merciless, taking whoever it wants and twisting them into vessels to carry out its bidding. The only thing stopping the Wood from taking over her valley is the cold wizard,
3 Stars
Verdict: The intrigue vanished into an endless battle.
Agnieszka lives in the valley on the boarder of the corrupted Wood, a forest with evil roots, full of malevolent creatures. The Wood is merciless, taking whoever it wants and twisting them into vessels to carry out its bidding. The only thing stopping the Wood from taking over her valley is the cold wizard,
March 15, 2018
Book Review: Six of Crows
SIX OF CROWS by Leigh Bardugo
5 Stars
Verdict: Absolutely fantastic, brimming with character.
Kaz Brekker, criminal mastermind known as Dirtyhands because he'll accept any job, no matter how bad, is offered the heist of a lifetime. Save a scientist from the Ice Court, receive millions. To pull it off, he hires a crew of misfits desperate enough to risk their lives on an impossible task.
In
5 Stars
Verdict: Absolutely fantastic, brimming with character.
Kaz Brekker, criminal mastermind known as Dirtyhands because he'll accept any job, no matter how bad, is offered the heist of a lifetime. Save a scientist from the Ice Court, receive millions. To pull it off, he hires a crew of misfits desperate enough to risk their lives on an impossible task.
In
March 8, 2018
Book Review: Grave Mistake
GRAVE MISTAKE by Izzy Shows
4 Stars
Verdict: A generic supernatural world discovered by a not-so-generic lady.
Blair is skint, which is why she sometimes pretends to be a PI. This time her client is nuts, thinking her husband is having an affair with a ghost. Blair investigates his disappearance as a non-believer, but stumbles across a whole world of urban supernatural magic that quickly
4 Stars
Verdict: A generic supernatural world discovered by a not-so-generic lady.
Blair is skint, which is why she sometimes pretends to be a PI. This time her client is nuts, thinking her husband is having an affair with a ghost. Blair investigates his disappearance as a non-believer, but stumbles across a whole world of urban supernatural magic that quickly
March 1, 2018
Book Review: The Maze Runner
THE MAZE RUNNER by James Dashner
4 Stars
Verdict: Better the second time around.
#2 - The Scorch Trials
#3 - The Death Cure
Thomas wakes up in a strange glade with no memory but a sense of familiarity. He's surrounded by 60 other boys and an unsolvable maze filled with deadly beasts called grievers. The rest of the boys have survived in the glade for over two years, but when Thomas arrives,
4 Stars
Verdict: Better the second time around.
#2 - The Scorch Trials
#3 - The Death Cure
Thomas wakes up in a strange glade with no memory but a sense of familiarity. He's surrounded by 60 other boys and an unsolvable maze filled with deadly beasts called grievers. The rest of the boys have survived in the glade for over two years, but when Thomas arrives,
February 22, 2018
Book Review: Genuine Fraud
GENUINE FRAUD by E. Lockhart
2 Stars
Verdict: Confusing and pointless (sorry!).
Jule is on the run. I'm not sure there's really more to say. Piecing together the why and when is up to the reader, but it all revolves around an entitled college dropout called Imogene.
I struggled to get the point of this one. The story isn't in chronological order, which sounds quirky and fun, but what it
2 Stars
Verdict: Confusing and pointless (sorry!).
Jule is on the run. I'm not sure there's really more to say. Piecing together the why and when is up to the reader, but it all revolves around an entitled college dropout called Imogene.
I struggled to get the point of this one. The story isn't in chronological order, which sounds quirky and fun, but what it
February 18, 2018
Writing festival 2018 - Come join us!
Thanks to everyone who has shown interest so far for the Writing Fest 2018 in April. Articles have begun to trickle in, but there's still plenty of time to take part.
If you're interested but haven't let me know yet, please drop me a note using the contact form on the left (this might not be visible on a phone).
I'm still looking for writers and book reviewers who are interested in any of the
If you're interested but haven't let me know yet, please drop me a note using the contact form on the left (this might not be visible on a phone).
I'm still looking for writers and book reviewers who are interested in any of the
February 15, 2018
Book Review: The Gender Game
THE GENDER GAME by Bella Forrest
4 Stars
Verdict: Improves along the way.
Two sides of the river, each ruled by a different gender, both on the cusp of war. When Violet accidentally commits womanslaughter, she's given one last chance at life - to cross the river to the male dominated state where woman's rights are suppressed, and steal back a mysterious egg that contains her country's secrets
4 Stars
Verdict: Improves along the way.
Two sides of the river, each ruled by a different gender, both on the cusp of war. When Violet accidentally commits womanslaughter, she's given one last chance at life - to cross the river to the male dominated state where woman's rights are suppressed, and steal back a mysterious egg that contains her country's secrets
