Amy Powis's Blog, page 10
April 28, 2020
Book Review: Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman
* I am reviewing these books which I was gifted for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *
Title: Aurora Rising
Author: Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman Publisher: Rock The Boat Source: Publisher
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
From the internationally bestselling authors of THE ILLUMINAE FILES comes an epic new science fiction adventure.
The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the Academy would touch…
A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm
A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates
A smart-ass techwiz with the galaxy’s biggest chip on his shoulder
An alien warrior with anger management issues
A tomboy pilot who’s totally not into him, in case you were wondering
And Ty’s squad isn’t even his biggest problem—that’d be Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, the girl he’s just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler’s squad of losers, discipline-cases and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy.
They're not the heroes we deserve. They're just the ones we could find. Nobody panic.
Book Review:
I, like a lot of people, loved The Illuminae Files by these two authors and was excited to see what they were going to do next. When I heard about this book, I knew that it was going to be right up my street and it was. It was a fast-paced sci-fi story that had great characters so what more can I need.
One of the things that I really loved about the story is, of course, the characters. While Tyler was a little annoying at first, I think that it developed into a good character and this was really great to see. The story also offers a diverse range of characters so there is basically someone for everyone. What can I say I just love a merry band of misfits!
I also loved that elements from the Illuminae Files were still seen in this one. While there was nowhere near the same level of diagrams and such seen in Illuminae, I did like the maps and logs that were seen throughout.
The plot was also really engaging and I loved seeing all the characters bond out of the situation that they had been put through and to see the changes that changed throughout. I think that it had the right balance of mystery and action all set in the sci-fi world and I was there for it.
I also really enjoyed the world-building throughout and the different races of characters in the book. It was good to think of what they may look like and again added different dynamics to the group which again I really enjoyed reading about!
While I do remember the end to be quite emotional, I can't wait to read Aurora Burning to see where the story goes next and to revisit all the characters!
The Verdict:
Aurora Rising is a fast-paced sci-fi story with great characters that will take you out of this world!
Have you read Aurora Rising? Do you want to? Let me know in the comments below!
Title: Aurora RisingAuthor: Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman Publisher: Rock The Boat Source: Publisher
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
From the internationally bestselling authors of THE ILLUMINAE FILES comes an epic new science fiction adventure.
The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the Academy would touch…
A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm
A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates
A smart-ass techwiz with the galaxy’s biggest chip on his shoulder
An alien warrior with anger management issues
A tomboy pilot who’s totally not into him, in case you were wondering
And Ty’s squad isn’t even his biggest problem—that’d be Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, the girl he’s just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler’s squad of losers, discipline-cases and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy.
They're not the heroes we deserve. They're just the ones we could find. Nobody panic.
Book Review:
I, like a lot of people, loved The Illuminae Files by these two authors and was excited to see what they were going to do next. When I heard about this book, I knew that it was going to be right up my street and it was. It was a fast-paced sci-fi story that had great characters so what more can I need.
One of the things that I really loved about the story is, of course, the characters. While Tyler was a little annoying at first, I think that it developed into a good character and this was really great to see. The story also offers a diverse range of characters so there is basically someone for everyone. What can I say I just love a merry band of misfits!
I also loved that elements from the Illuminae Files were still seen in this one. While there was nowhere near the same level of diagrams and such seen in Illuminae, I did like the maps and logs that were seen throughout.
The plot was also really engaging and I loved seeing all the characters bond out of the situation that they had been put through and to see the changes that changed throughout. I think that it had the right balance of mystery and action all set in the sci-fi world and I was there for it.
I also really enjoyed the world-building throughout and the different races of characters in the book. It was good to think of what they may look like and again added different dynamics to the group which again I really enjoyed reading about!
While I do remember the end to be quite emotional, I can't wait to read Aurora Burning to see where the story goes next and to revisit all the characters!
The Verdict:
Aurora Rising is a fast-paced sci-fi story with great characters that will take you out of this world!
Have you read Aurora Rising? Do you want to? Let me know in the comments below!
April 23, 2020
The Hunger Games: The Series That Made Me
So this post is a long time coming. I can't tell you how many times I have thought about writing this blog post. How many different versions of this blog post that could have existed but had now been forgotten due to the test of time.
I was going to write it after I saw Mockingjay Part 2, two years after it's release. (This is partly because of issues that I couldn't get the cinema at the time of seeing it. I will discuss more later.) Alone. In my room. With the lights off. As I slowly cried, even though I didn't cry at half the deaths in the film.
I was also going to write this once there was prequel news and the Ballard of Songbirds and Snakes was announced. It even got published by accident so some of you might have seen my empty blog post published but still I couldn't write it.
Fast forward to last week. My family, in this whole lockdown situation, started to rewatch the series. They were on TV so I started to watch Catching Fire and I felt something in me. That feeling in my stomach of something that means the whole world to me. I couldn't watch it with them because it made me too emotional so instead, I went to my room. I read and watched films instead.
I knew it was time to write about it. I was going to post this last week but it didn't happen. So here we are now and it is happening. (Hopefully, I will finish it. Only if that I can finally take it off my To-Do List.)
So why did it take so long? Well, it is a long story so let's start from the beginning.
I was a Twilight obsession teenager who couldn't get into YA Paranormal romance. I tried a couple of books but they were just not for me. I was looking for something more. Flip to me watching some random MTV Movie Awards and a teaser trailer comes on TV. It is for The Hunger Games a new film that is coming out the next year. (I rewatched the trailer, I don't know why I was interested but... Thank God I did!) I must have been hooked. I found out that they were books and I remember going into the school library if they had the books. We had one set. The librarian was reading them.
Cut to the Christmas holidays I go into the Works and on there 3 for £5 offer is The Hunger Games. I buy the whole set and everything changed.
This is all really dramatic but I don't think that I would be who I am today without the Hunger Games.
First, let's start with books. Of course, when I started reading The Hunger Games, it literally opened a can of worms. I had so many books that I love now. The Maze Runner. Divergent. The Blood Red Road series. Unwind and so many more.
This also led me to discover so much more including Booktube and my then fangirl presence on Twitter. I could now connect with so many more people who loved the series as much as I did. I finally felt less alone being a reader. I also have fond memories of Twitter Hunger Games and I am still a little bitter that I didn't win any of the games ever.
I also discovered Booktube in this period and remember watching CassJayTuck Catching Fire trailer teaser reaction and laughing hysterically at her chanting Finnick at the top of her lungs and I agreed. I'm also sure that I got so many recommendations for this period and of course, I still watch Booktube today so...
This may be quite weird because I run a book blog but this film made me really into films. I loved seeing who was going to be in future films and who was going to be producing and directing. It allowed me to see what really goes into making a film. This made me really excited for this series as well as other YA book to movie adaptations. This then made me get into films in general.
I think most of you are probably aware that Jennifer Lawrence is a good actress and after The Hunger Games film came out I basically watched all of her other films especially the indie ones. The ones that hit me the most was Winter's Bone and Like Crazy, both of which are good films and introduced me to indie films which are some of my favourites now.
Due to her future film roles, I became increasingly interested in the Oscars and the whole Academy Awards circuit which I now try to watch religiously and follow all of the action. This interest has made me really interested to not only write my own books but to also be involved in filmmaking and screenwriting. I think the impact made me more knowledgable in the film industry and was one of the reasons why I wanted to write in the first place. So yeah it means a lot to me.
Before I read The Hunger Games, I had, of course, had read female characters as leads of the story but someone like Katniss going through hell and back is a complex character and the books conveyed this so well! I go back to her and she is just by far one of my favourite characters ever, even if I do get a couple of confused stares in real life.
As well as being a fundamental time in my life when I initially started the series, The Hunger Games series has been one that I have come back to in my life. I remember not feeling the best when I reread Mockingjay and it was weird to think that it could give me comfort, but it did during that time. I even respected the ending more than the first read. It's weird because I haven't read them recently but everyone else is. I think I wanted to reread them sometime soon but I have SO much to read so we shall see.
I think that it is safe to say that the Hunger Games literally changed who I was a person. They were literally my coming of age story and it was everything that I needed when I found them.
I think that one of the things that got me was when I realised that the final film was going to come out when I was at university. I had dreams that I would finally be able to go to the premier. Wait outside and see everyone who had helped shape me as a human being.
Cut to me. Watching the live feed in my room at university. I remember that I just went to the kitchen and started making dinner with my flatmates. I think that I realised that the series had helped me through so much and now it was over.
I had to change and I didn't want it to be over.
For it to be over meant growing up and I didn't want that. Hence the tears when I finally watched it two years later. It was finally over and it was no longer the biggest part of my life. It had done so much for me as a human and now it was gone. I think that it something that I will hold with forever. I will always love this series with every fibre of being. After all, it did make me.
(On a different note I also still haven't watched The Death Cure film and that also came out two years ago because The Maze Runner was also an influential series for me. I just don't want to talk about James Dashner though and I think that The Hunger Games influenced more.)
Has any series made you? If so, what was it? Let me know in the comments below!
See you soon,
Amy
I was going to write it after I saw Mockingjay Part 2, two years after it's release. (This is partly because of issues that I couldn't get the cinema at the time of seeing it. I will discuss more later.) Alone. In my room. With the lights off. As I slowly cried, even though I didn't cry at half the deaths in the film.
I was also going to write this once there was prequel news and the Ballard of Songbirds and Snakes was announced. It even got published by accident so some of you might have seen my empty blog post published but still I couldn't write it.
Fast forward to last week. My family, in this whole lockdown situation, started to rewatch the series. They were on TV so I started to watch Catching Fire and I felt something in me. That feeling in my stomach of something that means the whole world to me. I couldn't watch it with them because it made me too emotional so instead, I went to my room. I read and watched films instead.
I knew it was time to write about it. I was going to post this last week but it didn't happen. So here we are now and it is happening. (Hopefully, I will finish it. Only if that I can finally take it off my To-Do List.)
So why did it take so long? Well, it is a long story so let's start from the beginning.
I was a Twilight obsession teenager who couldn't get into YA Paranormal romance. I tried a couple of books but they were just not for me. I was looking for something more. Flip to me watching some random MTV Movie Awards and a teaser trailer comes on TV. It is for The Hunger Games a new film that is coming out the next year. (I rewatched the trailer, I don't know why I was interested but... Thank God I did!) I must have been hooked. I found out that they were books and I remember going into the school library if they had the books. We had one set. The librarian was reading them.
Cut to the Christmas holidays I go into the Works and on there 3 for £5 offer is The Hunger Games. I buy the whole set and everything changed.
This is all really dramatic but I don't think that I would be who I am today without the Hunger Games.
First, let's start with books. Of course, when I started reading The Hunger Games, it literally opened a can of worms. I had so many books that I love now. The Maze Runner. Divergent. The Blood Red Road series. Unwind and so many more.
This also led me to discover so much more including Booktube and my then fangirl presence on Twitter. I could now connect with so many more people who loved the series as much as I did. I finally felt less alone being a reader. I also have fond memories of Twitter Hunger Games and I am still a little bitter that I didn't win any of the games ever.
I also discovered Booktube in this period and remember watching CassJayTuck Catching Fire trailer teaser reaction and laughing hysterically at her chanting Finnick at the top of her lungs and I agreed. I'm also sure that I got so many recommendations for this period and of course, I still watch Booktube today so...
This may be quite weird because I run a book blog but this film made me really into films. I loved seeing who was going to be in future films and who was going to be producing and directing. It allowed me to see what really goes into making a film. This made me really excited for this series as well as other YA book to movie adaptations. This then made me get into films in general.
I think most of you are probably aware that Jennifer Lawrence is a good actress and after The Hunger Games film came out I basically watched all of her other films especially the indie ones. The ones that hit me the most was Winter's Bone and Like Crazy, both of which are good films and introduced me to indie films which are some of my favourites now.
Due to her future film roles, I became increasingly interested in the Oscars and the whole Academy Awards circuit which I now try to watch religiously and follow all of the action. This interest has made me really interested to not only write my own books but to also be involved in filmmaking and screenwriting. I think the impact made me more knowledgable in the film industry and was one of the reasons why I wanted to write in the first place. So yeah it means a lot to me.
Before I read The Hunger Games, I had, of course, had read female characters as leads of the story but someone like Katniss going through hell and back is a complex character and the books conveyed this so well! I go back to her and she is just by far one of my favourite characters ever, even if I do get a couple of confused stares in real life.
As well as being a fundamental time in my life when I initially started the series, The Hunger Games series has been one that I have come back to in my life. I remember not feeling the best when I reread Mockingjay and it was weird to think that it could give me comfort, but it did during that time. I even respected the ending more than the first read. It's weird because I haven't read them recently but everyone else is. I think I wanted to reread them sometime soon but I have SO much to read so we shall see.
I think that it is safe to say that the Hunger Games literally changed who I was a person. They were literally my coming of age story and it was everything that I needed when I found them.
I think that one of the things that got me was when I realised that the final film was going to come out when I was at university. I had dreams that I would finally be able to go to the premier. Wait outside and see everyone who had helped shape me as a human being.
Cut to me. Watching the live feed in my room at university. I remember that I just went to the kitchen and started making dinner with my flatmates. I think that I realised that the series had helped me through so much and now it was over.
I had to change and I didn't want it to be over.
For it to be over meant growing up and I didn't want that. Hence the tears when I finally watched it two years later. It was finally over and it was no longer the biggest part of my life. It had done so much for me as a human and now it was gone. I think that it something that I will hold with forever. I will always love this series with every fibre of being. After all, it did make me.
(On a different note I also still haven't watched The Death Cure film and that also came out two years ago because The Maze Runner was also an influential series for me. I just don't want to talk about James Dashner though and I think that The Hunger Games influenced more.)
Has any series made you? If so, what was it? Let me know in the comments below!
See you soon,
Amy
April 21, 2020
Book Review: Meat Market by Juno Dawson
* I am reviewing these books which I was gifted for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *
Title: Meat Market
Author: Juno Dawson Publisher: Quercus Source: Netgalley
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
Jana Novak's history sounds like a classic model cliché: tall and gangly, she's uncomfortable with her androgynous looks until she's unexpectedly scouted and catapulted to superstardom.
But the fashion industry is as grimy as it is glamorous. And there are unexpected predators at every turn.
Jana is an ordinary girl from a south London estate, lifted to unimaginable heights. But the further you rise, the more devastating your fall ...
Honest and raw, this is a timely exposé of the dark underbelly of the fashion industry in an era of #TimesUp and #MeToo. It might just be Juno Dawson's most important book yet.
Book Review:
This was quite good.
First, I'm going to say that this has a lot of trigger warnings attached to it including eating disorders, transphobia, sexual assault, sexual harassment, body shaming, coercion and drug use as well as general mental health awareness. Please be careful when reading it as it is, in general, a very heavy book.
I have to admit that even though Juno Dawson is a massive author in the UKYA community, I haven't read a lot of her books so I think that this meant that it took me a while to the story. I couldn't connect to Jana's voice and didn't really like some of the slang that was used in the book. While I did get into Jana's voice, there was just something about the slang that I didn't like.
Also, the book does not shy away from scenes of a sexual nature and while I commend Juno from making sex seem realistic especially with Ferdy, some of the language used made me cringe a little. As an asexual person, I can't say that I love reading about sex scenes in general so this may be more a me thing than something that others have to worry about. Overall, I don't think that my small complaints about this book affected my reading experience because this is a really important read.
I think that Jana's voice does shine through and Juno's characterisation of her is perfect and you do get to connect with her and feel her pain throughout the book. I think that she always stays true to herself and has just a strong voice that you often don't see in YA.
I also loved all the other characters in the book. All of the models from Lien to Carla to Annabella to Wesley were all unique in their way and often used to show how the model industry treats different people and how they are so easily disregarded in a meat market. Her friends were also a great part of the story and also offers so much diversity. Again, the story offers so much more than just stereotypes and honestly, the relationships do make the story. I loved Jana and Ferdy's relationship and just supported in so much. The relationships in this book are tough and they are complex and they go through hardships but honestly that just life.
The book is very honest. It does not shy aware from the truths that happen in the model industry. It shows the harsh realities. The long waiting. The unexpected fame. The drugs. The awful people and sexual harassment. This was handled so well and I think that it was so hard to read about at some points as Juno has built Jana to someone that we really care about and to see her go through it was heartbreaking. I think that it really does take care of the sensitive topics and although at some points of the story I was expecting the worse, it does offer hope and it a story like this, it is always important.
I also read this mostly today and I didn't tell myself that I could turn it off so yes it was really good and really important. I was so close to tears when I finished so that just encapsulate how it made me feel.
The Verdict:
Meat Market offers an honest and raw insight into the fashion industry and is such as important read in the post-#MeToo Age.
Have you read Meat Market? If so what did you think of it? If not would you like to?
Title: Meat MarketAuthor: Juno Dawson Publisher: Quercus Source: Netgalley
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
Jana Novak's history sounds like a classic model cliché: tall and gangly, she's uncomfortable with her androgynous looks until she's unexpectedly scouted and catapulted to superstardom.
But the fashion industry is as grimy as it is glamorous. And there are unexpected predators at every turn.
Jana is an ordinary girl from a south London estate, lifted to unimaginable heights. But the further you rise, the more devastating your fall ...
Honest and raw, this is a timely exposé of the dark underbelly of the fashion industry in an era of #TimesUp and #MeToo. It might just be Juno Dawson's most important book yet.
Book Review:
This was quite good.
First, I'm going to say that this has a lot of trigger warnings attached to it including eating disorders, transphobia, sexual assault, sexual harassment, body shaming, coercion and drug use as well as general mental health awareness. Please be careful when reading it as it is, in general, a very heavy book.
I have to admit that even though Juno Dawson is a massive author in the UKYA community, I haven't read a lot of her books so I think that this meant that it took me a while to the story. I couldn't connect to Jana's voice and didn't really like some of the slang that was used in the book. While I did get into Jana's voice, there was just something about the slang that I didn't like.
Also, the book does not shy away from scenes of a sexual nature and while I commend Juno from making sex seem realistic especially with Ferdy, some of the language used made me cringe a little. As an asexual person, I can't say that I love reading about sex scenes in general so this may be more a me thing than something that others have to worry about. Overall, I don't think that my small complaints about this book affected my reading experience because this is a really important read.
I think that Jana's voice does shine through and Juno's characterisation of her is perfect and you do get to connect with her and feel her pain throughout the book. I think that she always stays true to herself and has just a strong voice that you often don't see in YA.
I also loved all the other characters in the book. All of the models from Lien to Carla to Annabella to Wesley were all unique in their way and often used to show how the model industry treats different people and how they are so easily disregarded in a meat market. Her friends were also a great part of the story and also offers so much diversity. Again, the story offers so much more than just stereotypes and honestly, the relationships do make the story. I loved Jana and Ferdy's relationship and just supported in so much. The relationships in this book are tough and they are complex and they go through hardships but honestly that just life.
The book is very honest. It does not shy aware from the truths that happen in the model industry. It shows the harsh realities. The long waiting. The unexpected fame. The drugs. The awful people and sexual harassment. This was handled so well and I think that it was so hard to read about at some points as Juno has built Jana to someone that we really care about and to see her go through it was heartbreaking. I think that it really does take care of the sensitive topics and although at some points of the story I was expecting the worse, it does offer hope and it a story like this, it is always important.
I also read this mostly today and I didn't tell myself that I could turn it off so yes it was really good and really important. I was so close to tears when I finished so that just encapsulate how it made me feel.
The Verdict:
Meat Market offers an honest and raw insight into the fashion industry and is such as important read in the post-#MeToo Age.
Have you read Meat Market? If so what did you think of it? If not would you like to?
April 16, 2020
Blog Tour: Rebel With A Cupcake by Anna Mainwaring Book Review
* I am reviewing these books which I was gifted for free by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *
Title: Rebel With A Cupcake
Author: Anna Mainwaring Publisher: FireflySource: From Publisher
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
Jesobel Jones is bold and beautiful. The daughter of a hand model and a washed-up rock star, she sees no need to apologise for her rambling house, her imperfect family, her single status … or her weight. Jess makes her own cupcakes and she eats them, too. That is, until Own Clothes Day when a wardrobe malfunction leaves Jess exposed, and a mean girl calling her the one thing that’s never bothered her before: fat.
Book Review:
When I got an email to join the blog tour for Rebel With A Cupcake, I was really excited as I enjoyed Tulip Taylor and really wanted to read her follow-up release in the UK although this book has been published in other territories before. After reading what Rebel With A Cupcake was about, this was even more obvious as a fat person myself I like to read books with the main character who are also this way. While I did enjoy Rebel With A Cupcake, I did have some problems with it but it still gets across the message that you can be bold and beautiful delivering positive messages that everyone needs right now.
So I will get the negatives out the way first, I noticed some small errors in the book such as missing speech marks and this kinda annoying to me as well as the fact that it mentions A* although the numbering system is now in play. I know that it is an older book but it could have been updated.
I am also not a big fan of girl hate which this book kind of features and did affect my reading experience but I also think that the book does also have some key female relationships and friendships that did help with this issue. While Jess and her friends are not perfect, no friend group is and this was also just in general nice to read about.
Jess is herself just a great character, she breathes positivity and goes on a really nice journey in the book. I think that it was nice to see her progress throughout the book and grow to be the best version of herself that she could be. I think it is also great of other people to see her and she is just, in general, a fiery character who definitely knows who she is and is proud of it.
I think that family is often side-lined in a lot of YA but I think that Rebel With A Cupcake does this so well and it was nice to read about the family dynamics. I think that a lot of this comes in the form of Cat and how much she opposed Jess. Both are very different but I think that they offer so much to each other that it was great to see them both grow. I also really like her Gran. It may just be because I miss my Nans at the moment but yeah I liked her as a character.
I am a sucker for a good romance and Rebel With A Cupcake offers quite a good one in the form of Alex. I think that although the superior candidate was always Alex, it was good to see her relationship with Matt so that she could grow as a person and learn who really was right for her. I did think that it was going to be hit or miss with the romance towards the end but you know that love always prevails.
I obviously think that body positivity is mainly important for this book. It was again great to see Jess became a Rebel With A Cupcake. I also loved the blog post and it was really powerful and what I needed to see someone finally accept who they were and be proud. I think that it would be great if everyone who felt crappy about their body could read this because everyone needs just a little hope at this time.
The Verdict:
Rebel With A Cupcake is a powerful and important novel that tells readers that you are great just the way that you are.
Thank you to Faye Rogers and Firefly for having me on the blog tour! Feel free to check out the other posts!
Have you read Rebel With A Cupcake? Do you want to? Let me know in the comments below!
Title: Rebel With A CupcakeAuthor: Anna Mainwaring Publisher: FireflySource: From Publisher
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
Jesobel Jones is bold and beautiful. The daughter of a hand model and a washed-up rock star, she sees no need to apologise for her rambling house, her imperfect family, her single status … or her weight. Jess makes her own cupcakes and she eats them, too. That is, until Own Clothes Day when a wardrobe malfunction leaves Jess exposed, and a mean girl calling her the one thing that’s never bothered her before: fat.
Book Review:
When I got an email to join the blog tour for Rebel With A Cupcake, I was really excited as I enjoyed Tulip Taylor and really wanted to read her follow-up release in the UK although this book has been published in other territories before. After reading what Rebel With A Cupcake was about, this was even more obvious as a fat person myself I like to read books with the main character who are also this way. While I did enjoy Rebel With A Cupcake, I did have some problems with it but it still gets across the message that you can be bold and beautiful delivering positive messages that everyone needs right now.
So I will get the negatives out the way first, I noticed some small errors in the book such as missing speech marks and this kinda annoying to me as well as the fact that it mentions A* although the numbering system is now in play. I know that it is an older book but it could have been updated.
I am also not a big fan of girl hate which this book kind of features and did affect my reading experience but I also think that the book does also have some key female relationships and friendships that did help with this issue. While Jess and her friends are not perfect, no friend group is and this was also just in general nice to read about.
Jess is herself just a great character, she breathes positivity and goes on a really nice journey in the book. I think that it was nice to see her progress throughout the book and grow to be the best version of herself that she could be. I think it is also great of other people to see her and she is just, in general, a fiery character who definitely knows who she is and is proud of it.
I think that family is often side-lined in a lot of YA but I think that Rebel With A Cupcake does this so well and it was nice to read about the family dynamics. I think that a lot of this comes in the form of Cat and how much she opposed Jess. Both are very different but I think that they offer so much to each other that it was great to see them both grow. I also really like her Gran. It may just be because I miss my Nans at the moment but yeah I liked her as a character.
I am a sucker for a good romance and Rebel With A Cupcake offers quite a good one in the form of Alex. I think that although the superior candidate was always Alex, it was good to see her relationship with Matt so that she could grow as a person and learn who really was right for her. I did think that it was going to be hit or miss with the romance towards the end but you know that love always prevails.
I obviously think that body positivity is mainly important for this book. It was again great to see Jess became a Rebel With A Cupcake. I also loved the blog post and it was really powerful and what I needed to see someone finally accept who they were and be proud. I think that it would be great if everyone who felt crappy about their body could read this because everyone needs just a little hope at this time.
The Verdict:
Rebel With A Cupcake is a powerful and important novel that tells readers that you are great just the way that you are.
Thank you to Faye Rogers and Firefly for having me on the blog tour! Feel free to check out the other posts!
Have you read Rebel With A Cupcake? Do you want to? Let me know in the comments below!
April 9, 2020
Book Review: Daughter Of The Zel by Phoebe Ritter
*I am reviewing these books which I was gifted for free by the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *
Title: Daughter Of The Zel
Author: Phoebe Ritter Publisher: Self-PublishedSource: From Author
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
Raised on the border between Nevda and Zel, Efa has two certainties in life.
Their country's neighbours, the warlike Zel, are to be feared.
Her touch will kill, so she can never leave the island.
When Efa is kidnapped and discovers she is half-Zel, certainty will be hard to come by.
Book Review:
When Phoebe asked me to review the book I was quite excited, I don't often read a lot of sci-fi but I normally do connect and enjoy books in this genre. Daughter Of the Zel was no exception as I really connected with the story and I think that I should probably read some more sci-fi!
The start of this book is really engrossing. I was in the story all the way and I was really excited to see where the story was going to go to. I feel like we were with Efa the whole way as her life was changing in front of her eyes.
With this, I felt like Phoebe really built the world up and I was definitely in there with all of the characters. I also really enjoyed seeing all the characters connect to their new worlds and surroundings and seeing this get all uncovered.
The characters were also well-developed especially Efa and we got a real sense of what her reactions her to the situation that she was put in. I think that her the characters that she reacted to were a way to expand the world further and introduce us into this world. They were also just really interesting to read about especially towards the end of the story.
While I did really enjoy the book, I felt like the writing in the book changed throughout. The writing at the beginning felt really immersive and well-edited. It flowed really well and I didn't really notice it but something felt a little different when I got to a different part of the book. I just felt like it was not the same but I got over it and it didn't affect me after that.
I do feel like it does have some typical YA cliches in the book but I don't think that they were a bad thing. I think that the whole 'girl whose touch can kill' is a little bit overdone but I think that it was handled well and was taken in a new direction. While the ending is one that I have seen before, it offers a new approach to the story and leaves it open to explore someone new and exciting. I am therefore really interested to see where the story goes next and will definitely like to see where it goes.
The Verdict:
Daughter Of The Zel is a short and quick read that will have you reaching for the next book as soon as you can get it.
Have you read Daughter Of The Zel? Do you want to? Leave it in the comments below.
Title: Daughter Of The ZelAuthor: Phoebe Ritter Publisher: Self-PublishedSource: From Author
(Amazon|Goodreads)
Book Summary:
Raised on the border between Nevda and Zel, Efa has two certainties in life.
Their country's neighbours, the warlike Zel, are to be feared.
Her touch will kill, so she can never leave the island.
When Efa is kidnapped and discovers she is half-Zel, certainty will be hard to come by.
Book Review:
When Phoebe asked me to review the book I was quite excited, I don't often read a lot of sci-fi but I normally do connect and enjoy books in this genre. Daughter Of the Zel was no exception as I really connected with the story and I think that I should probably read some more sci-fi!
The start of this book is really engrossing. I was in the story all the way and I was really excited to see where the story was going to go to. I feel like we were with Efa the whole way as her life was changing in front of her eyes.
With this, I felt like Phoebe really built the world up and I was definitely in there with all of the characters. I also really enjoyed seeing all the characters connect to their new worlds and surroundings and seeing this get all uncovered.
The characters were also well-developed especially Efa and we got a real sense of what her reactions her to the situation that she was put in. I think that her the characters that she reacted to were a way to expand the world further and introduce us into this world. They were also just really interesting to read about especially towards the end of the story.
While I did really enjoy the book, I felt like the writing in the book changed throughout. The writing at the beginning felt really immersive and well-edited. It flowed really well and I didn't really notice it but something felt a little different when I got to a different part of the book. I just felt like it was not the same but I got over it and it didn't affect me after that.
I do feel like it does have some typical YA cliches in the book but I don't think that they were a bad thing. I think that the whole 'girl whose touch can kill' is a little bit overdone but I think that it was handled well and was taken in a new direction. While the ending is one that I have seen before, it offers a new approach to the story and leaves it open to explore someone new and exciting. I am therefore really interested to see where the story goes next and will definitely like to see where it goes.
The Verdict:
Daughter Of The Zel is a short and quick read that will have you reaching for the next book as soon as you can get it.
Have you read Daughter Of The Zel? Do you want to? Leave it in the comments below.
April 7, 2020
April TBR: O.W.L.S. Readathon and Reading the YA Book Prize Shortlist
So I am normally one to do a TBR but I thought it would be interesting to post what I am doing this month because I am doing a couple challenges which overlap with each other. (You can clearly see this from the title though!) So let's get started...
Reading The YA Book Prize Shortlist
Every year I look to see how many books I have read on the shortlist for the YA Book Prize and while I normally do OK this year I knew that I was slacking. Even worse I have 8 out of the ten books on my TBR so I obviously had an idea. Why not read them all! What is cool about the YA Book Prize is that they have twitter chats to go along with each book so hopefully, I can take part. Here are the nominees:
A Good Girl's Guide To Murder by Holly Jackson
Deeplight by Frances Hardinge
Furious Thing by Jenny Downham
Meat Market by Juno Dawson
The Deathless Girls by Karen Milwood Hargrave
The Gifted, The Talented and Me by William Sutcliffe
The Places I've Cried In Public by Holly Bourne
Crossfire by Malorie Blackman
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
The Quiet At The End Of The Universe by Lauren James
As I have already read The Black Flamingo and The Quiet At The End Of The Universe I will not be reading them again although I loved both of them.
I have also not read all of the Noughts & Crosses series so don't feel comfortable reading Crossfire because spoilers so instead will be reading Knife Edge, the second book in the series.
O.W.L.S. Readathon
So I feel like a lot of people are doing the O.W.L.S. Readathon that is happening throughout April and I am now one of them! I felt like with me reading the YA Book Prize Shortlist, there was overlap so it seemed like the right time. I had also seen it over the last couple of years and always wanted to do it.
So what actually is it? I hear you ask!
Set up by Book Roast on Youtube, it was designed to replicate the exams at Hogwarts that take place in April. There are 12 prompts and although you can do as little or as many as you want these can also lead to career projection which is what I am doing.
I am taking the easy route which is a Journalist/Writer which means that I have to complete three prompts but I will do some more as well.
For this I need to complete the following prompts and the books that I will be reading for each one:
History Of Magic- Witch hunts: a book with witches/wizards
The Witch's Kiss by Katharine & Elizabeth Corr
Muggles Studies- Book from a perspective of a muggle (contemporary)
Rebel With A Cupcake by Anna Mainwaring
Herbology- Mimbulus Mimbletonia - A Book Starting With A M
Meat Market by Juno Dawson
So those are the definite three but I can also do the following if I read the above books:
Arithmancy - Magical Qualities of The Number Two: Balances & Opposites: Read Something Outside Your Favourite Genre
The Good Girl's Guide To Murder by Holly Jackson
Charms - Lumos Maximus: Read A Book With A White Cover
The Places I've Cried In Public by Holly Bourne
Defence Against The Dark Arts - Grindylows: A Book Set At Sea/Coast
Deeplight by Frances Hardinge
I might even read a book under 150 pages which will fit the Potions prompt by considering I have a lot of books already. I might need to calm down.
Anything Else:
If that wasn't enough I would love to read A Wizard Of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin as part of the LeGuinAlong hosted by AFrolicThroughFiction and I set myself the challenge of reading an audiobook at a month from my TBR Jar and this month it is Sweet Sorrow by David Nicolls.
So I know this is a lot. But some of them are short and I have audiobooks (which will probably save me) so hopefully, I will read as many as I can!
Who knows!
What are you reading in April? Are you taking part in any readathons this month? Let me know in the comments below!
See you soon and stay safe,
Amy
Reading The YA Book Prize Shortlist
Every year I look to see how many books I have read on the shortlist for the YA Book Prize and while I normally do OK this year I knew that I was slacking. Even worse I have 8 out of the ten books on my TBR so I obviously had an idea. Why not read them all! What is cool about the YA Book Prize is that they have twitter chats to go along with each book so hopefully, I can take part. Here are the nominees:
A Good Girl's Guide To Murder by Holly Jackson
Deeplight by Frances Hardinge
Furious Thing by Jenny Downham
Meat Market by Juno Dawson
The Deathless Girls by Karen Milwood Hargrave
The Gifted, The Talented and Me by William Sutcliffe
The Places I've Cried In Public by Holly Bourne
Crossfire by Malorie Blackman
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
The Quiet At The End Of The Universe by Lauren James
As I have already read The Black Flamingo and The Quiet At The End Of The Universe I will not be reading them again although I loved both of them.
I have also not read all of the Noughts & Crosses series so don't feel comfortable reading Crossfire because spoilers so instead will be reading Knife Edge, the second book in the series.
O.W.L.S. Readathon
So I feel like a lot of people are doing the O.W.L.S. Readathon that is happening throughout April and I am now one of them! I felt like with me reading the YA Book Prize Shortlist, there was overlap so it seemed like the right time. I had also seen it over the last couple of years and always wanted to do it.
So what actually is it? I hear you ask!
Set up by Book Roast on Youtube, it was designed to replicate the exams at Hogwarts that take place in April. There are 12 prompts and although you can do as little or as many as you want these can also lead to career projection which is what I am doing.
I am taking the easy route which is a Journalist/Writer which means that I have to complete three prompts but I will do some more as well.
For this I need to complete the following prompts and the books that I will be reading for each one:
History Of Magic- Witch hunts: a book with witches/wizards
The Witch's Kiss by Katharine & Elizabeth Corr
Muggles Studies- Book from a perspective of a muggle (contemporary)
Rebel With A Cupcake by Anna Mainwaring
Herbology- Mimbulus Mimbletonia - A Book Starting With A M
Meat Market by Juno Dawson
So those are the definite three but I can also do the following if I read the above books:
Arithmancy - Magical Qualities of The Number Two: Balances & Opposites: Read Something Outside Your Favourite Genre
The Good Girl's Guide To Murder by Holly Jackson
Charms - Lumos Maximus: Read A Book With A White Cover
The Places I've Cried In Public by Holly Bourne
Defence Against The Dark Arts - Grindylows: A Book Set At Sea/Coast
Deeplight by Frances Hardinge
I might even read a book under 150 pages which will fit the Potions prompt by considering I have a lot of books already. I might need to calm down.
Anything Else:
If that wasn't enough I would love to read A Wizard Of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin as part of the LeGuinAlong hosted by AFrolicThroughFiction and I set myself the challenge of reading an audiobook at a month from my TBR Jar and this month it is Sweet Sorrow by David Nicolls.
So I know this is a lot. But some of them are short and I have audiobooks (which will probably save me) so hopefully, I will read as many as I can!
Who knows!
What are you reading in April? Are you taking part in any readathons this month? Let me know in the comments below!
See you soon and stay safe,
Amy
April 2, 2020
Escapril 2020
So last year I wanted to share all of my Escapril Posts on my blog but never got the chance so as I am doing this year I finally have my chance. I will be updating it as much as I can throughout the month. So let's get started...
Day 1: Dawn
Dawn
I wonder how long it will be until I see the daylight.
See the sun break.
To see a new dawn.
A new day.
A new beginning.
Day 2: Growth & Decay
Day 1: Dawn
Dawn
I wonder how long it will be until I see the daylight.
See the sun break.
To see a new dawn.
A new day.
A new beginning.
Day 2: Growth & Decay
April 1, 2020
Swings, Roundabouts & Silver Linings
If you saw my last post then you know that I have been having a bit of time lately
but it's not all bad.
I have been yes I have no idea what tomorrow looks like and next week is but a
lifetime away but in these dark times, there is always light (or a silver lining).
I think in this time it can make us feel invincible like the world is our oyster. If
you're not working you have all of this time and nothing to do it with.
You could write your dream book, set up that thing that you have really wanted
to make or clean that draw that you haven't touched in years.
We are told that we must do everything at this time and if we are not productive
then we feel like a little bit of a failure but these are challenging times.
It's hard. For your health. Mentally and physically.
So I think that it is the small things that make a difference.
The time I spend on perfecting to make an origami dragon and after ten crappy
attempts, I'm finally there. (I also got to do an origami dinosaur too so I'm really
happy.)
The day that I spent all day reading something I haven't done in so long.
The fact that I have discovered I quite like walking and have made it part of my
morning routine. (I don't think I'm ever going to be one of those joggers but
walking is still cool.)
The time spent with my family.
Dancing around in my room to music because no one is watching.
Just being by myself because being by yourself is quite cool.
And just living in the moment. In the now.
It kind of feels like everything just stopped and we adapted.
It peaceful and haunting at the same time.
So find solace in the small things because that's all we can do while it blows over
because that's all we can do.
Stay safe and wash your hands.
See you soon,
Amy
but it's not all bad.
I have been yes I have no idea what tomorrow looks like and next week is but a
lifetime away but in these dark times, there is always light (or a silver lining).
I think in this time it can make us feel invincible like the world is our oyster. If
you're not working you have all of this time and nothing to do it with.
You could write your dream book, set up that thing that you have really wanted
to make or clean that draw that you haven't touched in years.
We are told that we must do everything at this time and if we are not productive
then we feel like a little bit of a failure but these are challenging times.
It's hard. For your health. Mentally and physically.
So I think that it is the small things that make a difference.
The time I spend on perfecting to make an origami dragon and after ten crappy
attempts, I'm finally there. (I also got to do an origami dinosaur too so I'm really
happy.)
The day that I spent all day reading something I haven't done in so long.
The fact that I have discovered I quite like walking and have made it part of my
morning routine. (I don't think I'm ever going to be one of those joggers but
walking is still cool.)
The time spent with my family.
Dancing around in my room to music because no one is watching.
Just being by myself because being by yourself is quite cool.
And just living in the moment. In the now.
It kind of feels like everything just stopped and we adapted.
It peaceful and haunting at the same time.
So find solace in the small things because that's all we can do while it blows over
because that's all we can do.
Stay safe and wash your hands.
See you soon,
Amy
March 31, 2020
Unprecedented Times
I feel so selfish.
We live in unprecedented times. I don't know how many times I have heard that in the last couple of days. In my head and flicking through social media trying to find a purpose. It's never-ending and I do it because it gives me something.
Because I need it. I need to do something else because if I have time to think: I worry.
It has affected me but in a small way. No one in my immediate family has had it although I do know someone, a distant relative, who has died which is why I feel so selfish.
People are dying and I am worried about me.
I feel so stupid to say but I am.
It sucks but I am.
You see while we have been curled up in our rooms and houses for a week my education continues. I'm still at University and by September I am still expected to hand in a dissertation.
A dissertation that I can't finish because everything is closed.
I have an essay due in at the beginning of May and I can't complete it properly because my university's closed and so is the library. I have limited books and fewer supplies. But I make do.
I can't currently work which is a silver lining I guess because I can finally complete an essay without having to work, a small luxury I haven't been able to do in a year.
But all of this feels well shit because as I will say again people are dying every single day of this disease and I am worried about if my degree is going to be OK.
Again stupid. So stupid.
I think this is just so weird though because we all had planned this year: holidays, events, parties and this can change just like that. After last year I was thinking about the unexpected but I don't think that anyone thought that it would be this. Even after seeing the first case at the end of December, I couldn't have predicted this.
We are living through times that are unpredictable and unprecedented and that's hard for someone who likes control.
But we have to make do. Do our best. Protect those who will save us. Protect the most vulnerable.
I commend the key workers who are saving so many lives every day and our putting themselves in harm's way to protect others and keep them fed and healthy. That deserves the world right now.
But all of those at home have to stay together. Stay home. Stay safe. Wash our hands and do our best to look after ourselves and others.
Because this is what we can do.
As a human race, we will get through this. There may be some big consequences but we will survive. Adapt. Because we have to.
And that's what we always do.
Stay safe and see you soon,
Amy
We live in unprecedented times. I don't know how many times I have heard that in the last couple of days. In my head and flicking through social media trying to find a purpose. It's never-ending and I do it because it gives me something.
Because I need it. I need to do something else because if I have time to think: I worry.
It has affected me but in a small way. No one in my immediate family has had it although I do know someone, a distant relative, who has died which is why I feel so selfish.
People are dying and I am worried about me.
I feel so stupid to say but I am.
It sucks but I am.
You see while we have been curled up in our rooms and houses for a week my education continues. I'm still at University and by September I am still expected to hand in a dissertation.
A dissertation that I can't finish because everything is closed.
I have an essay due in at the beginning of May and I can't complete it properly because my university's closed and so is the library. I have limited books and fewer supplies. But I make do.
I can't currently work which is a silver lining I guess because I can finally complete an essay without having to work, a small luxury I haven't been able to do in a year.
But all of this feels well shit because as I will say again people are dying every single day of this disease and I am worried about if my degree is going to be OK.
Again stupid. So stupid.
I think this is just so weird though because we all had planned this year: holidays, events, parties and this can change just like that. After last year I was thinking about the unexpected but I don't think that anyone thought that it would be this. Even after seeing the first case at the end of December, I couldn't have predicted this.
We are living through times that are unpredictable and unprecedented and that's hard for someone who likes control.
But we have to make do. Do our best. Protect those who will save us. Protect the most vulnerable.
I commend the key workers who are saving so many lives every day and our putting themselves in harm's way to protect others and keep them fed and healthy. That deserves the world right now.
But all of those at home have to stay together. Stay home. Stay safe. Wash our hands and do our best to look after ourselves and others.
Because this is what we can do.
As a human race, we will get through this. There may be some big consequences but we will survive. Adapt. Because we have to.
And that's what we always do.
Stay safe and see you soon,
Amy
March 19, 2020
Five Reasons To Read The Relic Guild Trilogy by Edward Cox
*I am reviewing these books which I was gifted for free by Gollancz in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *So a while ago I was asked to review The Relic Guild Trilogy by Edward Cox and although I am a little behind schedule, I am finally going to tell you some reasons why you should pick up the books. So let's get started...
1. Interesting Characters
Often fantasy series can have very typical characters but I really enjoyed the diverse group of characters that were featured in the book. Although the characters themselves may not be typically likeable, it was interesting to see the journeys that they went on and to see if they would warm to each other.
2. A Complex World System
I am not the best at reading fantasy series or fantasy books in general but I think that a lot of fantasies have a very stereotypical setting and it was great that this was different. I liked seeing the world of the Labyrinth evolve and grow and serve the plot in different and unique ways.
3. Immersive Writing
I really enjoy a good writing style and Edward Cox definitely has this. I think that Cox does enough to make the writing immersive and allow me to get into the world. It is simple but often in the best way and allowed me to connect to the story and the characters.
4. Captivating Plot
The book starts off and doesn't really give the readers much to go on and while it does offer a slow start, the book is captivating and get you involved from the get-go. As it continues to unravel, it becomes more and more interesting and Edward Cox leaves the book littered with some plot twists that make you want to continue and read the whole series.
5. Perfect for A Listen
Even though I had a physical edition of the book, I love a good audiobook listen with the fantasy read and The Relic Guild is no exception. Imogen Church is a really great narrator and brings the book and the characters to life. It allowed me to fly through the book and great into it when I was struggling to get into the book.
Here is a summary of the first book in the trilogy, The Relic Guild...
Magic caused the war. Magic is forbidden. Magic will save us.
It was said the Labyrinth had once been the great meeting place, a sprawling city at the heart of an endless maze where a million humans hosted the Houses of the Aelfir. The Aelfir who had brought trade and riches, and a future full of promise. But when the Thaumaturgists, overlords of human and Aelfir alike, went to war, everything was ruined and the Labyrinth became an abandoned forbidden zone, where humans were trapped behind boundary walls a hundred feet high.
Now the Aelfir are a distant memory and the Thaumaturgists have faded into myth. Young Clara struggles to survive in a dangerous and dysfunctional city, where eyes are keen, nights are long, and the use of magic is punishable by death. She hides in the shadows, fearful that someone will discover she is touched by magic. She knows her days are numbered. But when a strange man named Fabian Moor returns to the Labyrinth, Clara learns that magic serves a higher purpose and that some myths are much more deadly in the flesh.
The only people Clara can trust are the Relic Guild, a secret band of magickers sworn to protect the Labyrinth. But the Relic Guild are now too few. To truly defeat their old nemesis Moor, mightier help will be required. To save the Labyrinth – and the lives of one million humans – Clara and the Relic Guild must find a way to contact the worlds beyond their walls.
Have you read any of The Relic Guild books? Do you want to? Let me know in the comments below!
See you soon,
Amy
