Amy Powis's Blog, page 4

Book Review: We Were Wolves by Jason Cockcroft

  * I am reviewing this book which I was gifted for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *

Title: We Were WolvesAuthor: Jason CockcroftPublisher: Andersen Press
Source: Kaleidoscopic Tours

(Bookshop UK| Hive| Goodreads | Storygraph)

Book Summary:
'A truly original and affecting piece of work. Unsettling but beautiful, sparse but packed with heart, it’s a real invasion of the senses' Phil Earle

'Yearning regret punctuated by glimpses of real companionship and pure dread. What a joy to see Jason’s pictures matched by such an unsentimental but tender story' Geraldine McCaughrean

Boy lives in a caravan on his own in the woods. His dad, John, is in prison and promises to get out soon. All the boy needs to do is survive alone for a little while longer.
But dark forces are circling - like the dangerous man in the Range Rover, who is looking for his stolen money. And then there are the ancient forces that have lain asleep in the woods for an age... 
Book Review:
We Were Wolves has been on my radar for a while so when I was given the opportunity to review it as part of the tour I jumped at the chance. While it did take me a while to get into the book as it was a little confusing to work out what was going on, I got the hang of it. As they say, the ball was rolling. The actions do get going and I think that Jason Cockcroft does make you invested in the story especially with Boy and Mol. What can I say I am always up for a dog character.The story also takes us into a unique setting, which is part of the inspiration behind the Instagram post. The outside setting is one that I don't really see in YA and it was interesting to see a character who lives by non-traditional means. I enjoyed the way the actions picked up in the halfway mark and this definitely made me more engaged with the story. At the core is a story of toxic relationships, especially with a father and son. Jason Cockcroft definitely made me emphasise with Boy throughout the story which is a talent to his writing. Obviously, a review of this book would not be complete without mentioning those illustrations. They are so beautiful and I loved them. They definitely gave me A Monster Calls vibes but I think this is just the black and white. I do, however, think if you liked one then the other may just be your cup of tea. I do recommend the book and I can't wait to see what Jason Cockcroft does in the future.
The Verdict:
Highly imaginative and entertaining, We Were Wolves is a great read which bridges the gap between middle grade and YA reads.
Have you read We Were Wolves? If so, what did you think? Do you want to? Let me know in the comments.

Book Review: The Truth About Keeping Secrets by Savannah Brown

  * I am reviewing this book which I was gifted for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *

Title: The Truth About Keeping SecretsAuthor: Savannah Brown Publisher: Penguin Random HouseSource: NetGalley

(Bookshop UK| Hive| Goodreads | Storygraph)

Book Summary:
Sydney's dad is the only psychiatrist for miles around their small Ohio town.

He is also unexpectedly dead.

Is Sydney crazy, or is it kind of weird that her dad-a guy whose entire job revolved around other peoples' secrets-crashed alone, with no explanation?

And why is June Copeland, homecoming queen and the town's golden child, at his funeral?

As the two girls grow closer in the wake of the accident, it's clear that not everyone is happy about their new friendship.

But what is picture perfect June still hiding? And does Sydney even want to know?

THE TRUTH ABOUT KEEPING SECRETS is a page-turning, voice led, high school thriller.
Book Review:
I have loved Savannah Brown's poetry and YouTube channel for the last few years so when she was releasing a book, I knew I had to read it. The Truth About Keeping Secrets is an interesting and thoughtful read and I can't wait to see what she writes next.
Although I am not really a thriller type of person, I knew that I still wanted to give this ago. This also didn't hinder my enjoyment because I actually really enjoyed it and as someone who normally guesses the mystery, I didn't in this one.
One of the main reasons why I enjoyed this so much was because Savannah Brown knows how to write a novel. There was something so special about the way that the forms characters and builds the whole mystery. The characters were also really compelling and interesting to read about. 
The way that Sydney was written was raw and realistic. I think that the way that grief and mental health was so great and realistic. This was definitely a strength of the book although and was a major draw for each one.
I was obviously interested in the mystery and I don't think that I guessed what happened but I did read it a while ago. Also, I must mention the queer elements which I did enjoy and added to the book.
The Verdict:
The Truth About Keeping Secrets is a thrilling read that deals with mental health with excellence.
Have you read The Truth About Keeping Secrets? If so, what did you think? Do you want to? Let me know in the comments.

TBR Challenge?

Book Review: The Boy I Am by K.L. Kettle

  * I am reviewing this book which I was gifted for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *

Title: The Boy I AmAuthor: K. L. KettlePublisher: Little Tiger Books
Source: From NetGalley/Wildest Dreams Book Box

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Book Summary:
They say we’re dangerous. But we’re not that different.

Jude is running out of time. Once a year, lucky young men in the House of Boys are auctioned to the female elite. But if Jude fails to be selected before he turns seventeen, a future deep underground in the mines awaits.

Yet ever since the death of his best friend at the hands of the all-powerful Chancellor, Jude has been desperate to escape the path set out for him. Finding himself entangled in a plot to assassinate the Chancellor, he finally has a chance to avenge his friend and win his freedom. But at what price?

A speculative YA thriller, tackling themes of traditional gender roles and power dynamics, for fans of Malorie Blackman, Louise O’Neill and THE POWER.
Book Review:
After hearing about The Boy I Am, I was super excited, partly because I think the cover is one of the best ones of the year, but also as the concept really caught my attention. After consistently looking it on my bookshelves for a couple of weeks, I finally caved in a read the book. The Boy I Am is YA at its best and more people should definitely have this on their radar. 
When I first started reading the book, it is safe to say that I was hooked. K.L. Kettle has built such a complex world that I was immersed in it. From the first page, the book sets up the thrilling elements and does not let the reader go. I think the elements of the world are so unique and creative and I have never read something like this before. 
This is a credit to the writing because we are first met with Jude who I rooted for immediately. This is a common thread in the book as I wanted to protect him throughout as he offered a unique worldview and was the reader's guide to the world. Even though he does change in some ways throughout the novel, I feel like he remains a strong character and keeps his beliefs.  
I also enjoyed the other characters in the novel, especially the Chancellor and Vik. All of the characters had so much depth and were complex, that I was able to root for them and despise all of their actions. I think having Jude as the main character offers a different side in the way that reactions and relationships form between them as we see the true reality of the world. 
The book is obviously key in the themes that it discusses. The main thing that I gained from The Boy I Am is about power and the idea that power can corrupt whoever has it. It also discusses the stereotypes that come from women and men which I think that it accomplished. It made me think a lot and I love it when a fiction book does this.  
I have to admit that I was in a bad mental health place when I read the end of the book and I know this had an impact on my reading experience. This is obviously sucky as I definitely did not connect to the end in the same way as the beginning. 
Saying this, I did like where the ending went and thought that Jude is well-developed and I think that it still was a great way to end the story as a whole. The ending was also great at portraying the ideas that were woven throughout. 
Basically, The Boy I Am is a very good YA book and I am excited to see what K.L. Kettle writes next.  

The Verdict:
The Boy I Am is a thrilling and important read dealing with power and femininity where everything may not be as it seems. 
Have you read The Boy I Am? If so, what did you think? Do you want to? Let me know in the comments.

Writing A Poem Every Day & Bad Writing

 So as you may know if you read my blog recently, I have been writing a poem every day for Escapril. This is also my third year doing it and as a result, I have learnt a couple of things.

Namely: not all of the writing will be good. I will write bad poems. I have written bad poems.

One of these is because I am doing Escapril in the middle of life. I'm working. I'm producing blog posts. I am looking for other work.

This poetry is not my life.

I have seen a lot of people say they are spending ages editing their poems and they are writing more than one.

I'm barely editing it twice. Once on the paper, I write it on and another when I put it in Canva. I also know that there are spellings errors on my posts because Grammarly stopped working for a couple of days.

But for me. This wasn't the point.

Over the last year, I have been writing a lot. Yes, I am writing these blog posts but poetry? I kind of neglect it. I only write it if I have an idea and these are very rare.

So for me, Escapril is all about improvement. So some of the poems might be bad but I know that I am not spreading hours on them.

It's about an idea. Making a concept wrong. Making my idea a little complex. Putting into practice all of the things that I have learnt from reading so much poetry.

I know that I haven't done this for each prompt but I am learning what I like and seeing what works well. From this, I know where to improve. I know how to get better.

At the end of the day, I am a poet and I know it. I also know that I will have a couple of bad poems too.

Because that's how I will be a better writer. For poetry and prose. 

Book Review: Rules For Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall

 * I am reviewing this book which I was gifted for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *

Title: Rules For VanishingAuthor: Kate Alice MarshallPublisher: Walker Books
Source: From Publisher

(Bookshop UK| Hive| Goodreads | Storygraph)

Book Summary:
Do you want to play the game?

Once a year, a road appears in the woods at midnight and the ghost of Lucy Gallows beckons, inviting those who are brave enough to play her game. If you win, you escape with your life. But if you lose...

It's almost a year since Becca went missing. Everyone else has given up searching for her, but her sister, Sara, knows she disappeared while looking for Lucy Gallows. Determined to find her, Sara and her closest friends enter the woods. But something more sinister than ghosts lurks on the road, and not everyone will survive.

Stranger Things meets The Blair Witch Project in this gripping ghost thriller, perfect for fans of Michelle Harrison, Lauren James and Frances Hardinge.
Book Review:
Not really being into horror, it has been a journey to see that I can actually read this book. For someone who has been scared of horror, Rules For Vanishing does deliver being a creepy and frightful read. A read where the lights must definitely be left on!

I think I was quite apprehensive when reading this because I know that I can stand horror but I was wondering how far it was going to do. So please be warned that this book is really creepy and I did get really sucked in.

This is obviously a massive credit to the writing which I was a massive fan of. Horror or not, it is clear that Kate Alice Marshall can write suspense and kept me on the edge of my seat.

When I started the book, I knew it was going to be something that I read in one sitting. I wanted to know what happened to all of the characters and I really enjoyed being creeped out. I had to stop at some points because it got to me so much.

I think a lot of this had to do with the characters and the writing style as it was written in past and present. I loved that all the cast had some type of connection because you really wanted to know that they all survived.

The characters are also all quite diverse and I believe the main character was bisexual. At the core of the story is really a sister relationship which I also want more in stories in general. Of course I also loved it here too.

As I mentioned before, the book does have some mixed media, which I love in books. Here it is in the form of police interviews which I think added another layer to the story and kept the suspense throughout.

Basically I really did love Rules for Vanishing and with a really diverse bibliography, I can't wait to see what Kate Alice Marshall does next. Of course her blacklist is also ready and waiting for me to devour! 
The Verdict:
Rules For Vanishing is a delightfully dark and delicious tale that will have you creeping out of your skin. 
Have you read Rules For Vanishing? If so, what did you think? Do you want to? Let me know in the comments.

Book Review: Three Things I Know Are True by Betty Culley

 * I am reviewing this book which I was gifted for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *

Title: Three Things I Know Are True Author: Betty CulleyPublisher: Harper360
Source: From Publisher

(Bookshop UK| Hive| Goodreads | Storygraph)

Book Summary:
This moving debut novel in verse about a teenage girl dealing with the aftermath of an accident that nearly takes her brother’s life is a stunning exploration of grief and the power of forgiveness.

The reminder is always there—a dent on the right side of Jonah’s forehead. The spot you’d press when you felt a headache coming on. The bullet tore away bone, the way dynamite blasts rock—leaving a soft crater.

Life changes forever for Liv when her older brother, Jonah, accidentally shoots himself with his best friend Clay’s father’s gun. Now Jonah needs round-the-clock care just to stay alive, and Liv seems to be the only person who can see that her brother is still there inside his broken body.

With Liv’s mom suing Clay’s family, there are divisions in the community that Liv knows she’s not supposed to cross. But Clay is her friend, too, and she refuses to turn away from him—just like she refuses to give up on Jonah.
Book Review:
I have been really into verse novels for the last couple of years so when I saw that Three Things I Know Are True was up for review I knew that I had to review it. Three Things I Know Are True was a great and memorable novel that is highly under-read.

While I did enjoy the book overall, I did think that for a verse novel it was a bit on the longer side which meant that I did have a period where I wasn't completely in the story. For the most part, though I did enjoy the prose and the verse which was quite lyrical and for the most part meant that I kept reading.

I also think that the book is different from other verse novels in the topics that it covers, mainly gun violence and gun control. I do think that this topic is handled well and I was surprised at the way that it was placed in the book as I had not seen this way before.

Betty Culley does not shy away from the consequences of the situation and I think that it was really complicated in the way that it was dealt with. No character in the situation is seen as completely bad and the nuance is really strong throughout. This is seen even more when the relationship between two characters develops in the story into a romance. I did enjoy this element and think that overall it was done well.

I also like the characters especially Liv as she wasn't the most likeable but I think under the circumstances in the book it makes sense. I also did enjoy this element and I think that it made the book as a whole more believable.

I did enjoy the rest of the characters even though they all complicated in their own way. Also, money and poverty are not seen widely in YA and the fact that this is an element in the book was also really important.

I do recommend that you pick up Three Things I Know Are True as it is underrated and is perfect for those who read verse novels but have read the most popular ones! 

The Verdict:
Three Things I Know Are True is a heart wrenching and heartbreaking story that tackles grief and the true power of love.  
Have you read Three Things I Know Are True? If so, what did you think? Let me know in the comments.

Writers Block

With blogging and writing, I am normally quite good with coming up with ideas to talk about, but recently this has not been the case.

I keep thinking that I am through and worst of it but at the same time it seems like I have only go on a week to week basis. The reviews are always coming but in the wake of doing weekly content for the majority of the year so far, the inspiration pool has become dry.

Although I have ideas for stories and creative writing, with my blog content, I always want to talk about something that I care about. Whether that be something personal or an issue that I see in the wider community, but for some reason, this has become increasingly hard.

I would be lying if I said that at the current moment I was involved in the book community and the ideas that are floating around so I don't feel like I can comment on any issues.

Although I do want to say that the Anti-Asian and Antisemitism conversations with Jay Kristoff and Emily Duncan are not authors that I will be supporting on my blog. Including books that they coauthor in. I do have a review copy of Aurora Burning but I do not want to read this now and will not get space on my blog.

I feel like the ideas have to come as inspiration and they can find me randomly at the strangest of times. Like writing this blog post. As I seem to have come up with two more ideas in the last five minutes.

I also have that one blog post that I have been putting off for like two years because it is hard to together.

So I do have ideas but I am consistently worried that they will run out. Let's put it this way I will never be the blogger who can plan their posts months in advance. At this point, I am two weeks ahead.

And even if I don't have any ideas one week, I still have a lot of book reviews to post so don't worry! 

Reading and My Mental Health

I have spoken a lot about my mental health in various ways on the blog but often I don't mention how it impacts my reading but today is the day.

This topic has been on my mind recently because my mental health hasn't been the best recently and I have no desire to read at all.

This is quite annoying to me because I obviously enjoy reading. At the moment, I am reading a lot of books that are so good but due to my mental state, I don't want to finish them. I am afraid that due to my poor mental health will hinder my enjoyment and I will associate it with it.

The books lay unread and I get disappointed at myself for not reading. I see my Goodreads stay at the same number and I get disappointed in myself.

The cycle continues.

When my mental health is bad I often get little sleep as well which again affects everything. I tend to read more at night and when I am tired I don't want to read even though it helps me sleep. I also don't want to read it because I am afraid of not enjoying the book.

Again. The cycle continues.

I know that this is a common thing with my mental health. That I find reading hard and that I have a lot of distractions. On the NHS website, they literally ask you if you have been distracted or are finding it hard to do things you love.

Knowing that I am not alone makes me feel better somehow. Like it is a comfort.

Like other times, I hope that I can escape the reading slump and get back to doing what I love.

Reading. 

Book Review: The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe

 * I am reviewing this book which I was gifted for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. *

Title: The Girls I've Been Author: Tess SharpePublisher: Hodder Children's Books
Source: Netgalley

(Bookshop UK| Hive| Goodreads | Storygraph)

Book Summary:
A deliciously commercial YA page-turner about the daughter of a con artist who is taken hostage in a bank heist.

Nora O'Malley is a lot of things. A sister. An ex. A secret girlfriend. Kind of crooked, but reformed... somewhat.

Nora O'Malley's been a lot of girls. As the daughter of a con-artist who targets criminal men, she grew up her mother's protege. But when mom fell for the mark instead of conning him, Nora pulled the ultimate con: escape.

For five years she's been playing at normal. But she needs to dust off the skills she ditched because she has three problems:

#1: her ex walked in on her with her girlfriend. Even though they've all been inseparable for months, Wes didn't know about her and Iris.

#2: The morning after, they all have to meet to deposit the fundraiser money they raised together. It's a nightmare that goes from awkward to deadly.

Because #3: right after they get in the bank, two guys start robbing it.

But they have no idea who they're really holding hostage.

The robbers are trouble. Nora's something else entirely. 
Book Review:
Everyone always raves about Tess Sharpe's debut book, Far From You so when I saw that she had a new book out I thought I would give it a go. In the contention for one of my favourites of the year, The Girls I've Been is a thrilling read with a very compelling main character.

After starting it on a whim one night, the writing really spoke to me and I really heard Nora's voice come through. I knew that I was really hooked so I brought a copy straight away.

Seeing Nora's story unravel was really interesting and the intersections that broke up the writing left a lot I'd suspense and made me really want to keep reading. I found that the different aspects of the lives that she had were so exciting and I loved how they built who Nora was in the current moment.

The characters were also really great and I loved the complex relationship between the three of them. Even though Nora had the most experience in conning a bank robber, they all bought something to the table which made them more complicated and fleshed out.

Iris, Wes and Lee all had their own separate arcs and I loved reading about all of them concerning Nora and themselves. Them being well developed meant that I cared about them more deeply in the context of the story.

Also, I liked the inclusion of endometriosis and even though I cannot talk about the representation, this will probably help a lot of other people. All the main three characters were also in a bi love triangle which I really enjoyed reading about.

The plot as a whole was really gripping and Tess Sharpe did a great job of writing tense into the story until the very end. Even though I was scared about the ending if any one of the characters was going to die. Not to spoil it but I did really love the ending and it was very satisfying.

The Girls I've Been is great and I can't wait to read more from Tess Sharpe in the future because I am sure that I will love it all the same. 
The Verdict:
The Girls I've Been is a compelling and fast-paced read that will have you on edge until the last page. 
Have you read The Girls I've Been? Do you want to? Let me know in the comments!