Heather James's Blog, page 38
April 7, 2016
April Books I'm Excited About
We're a week into April already and the April showers have come out in force. Do I need to go out in a rain coat, or sunglasses? Sandals or snow boots? Is the car going to be covered in blossom or frost? I wish the British weather would make up its mind! Until it does, I think I'll be safest tucked up indoors with some of the amazing books that are being published this month. These are the three I am looking forward to the most.
Scarlett Epstien Hates it Here by Anna Breslaw{published 19th April}
Meet Scarlett Epstein, BNF (Big Name Fan) in her online community of fanfiction writers, world-class nobody at Melville High. Her best (read: only) IRL friends are Avery, a painfully shy and annoyingly attractive bookworm, and Ruth, her pot-smoking, possibly insane seventy-three-year-old neighbor.
When Scarlett’s beloved TV show is canceled and her longtime crush, Gideon, is sucked out of her orbit and into the dark and distant world of Populars, Scarlett turns to the fanfic message boards for comfort. This time, though, her subjects aren’t the swoon-worthy stars of her fave series—they’re the real-life kids from her high school. Scarlett never considers what might happen if they were to find out what she truly thinks about them...until a dramatic series of events exposes a very different reality than Scarlett's stories, forever transforming her approach to relationships—both online and off. {Goodreads Summary}
Scarlett Epstein Hates it Here is a novel about a girl who starts writing fan fiction about her CLASSMATES. It's an idea so brilliant I sort of wish I'd had it while I was at school. I think this is going to be really funny and I can't wait to start reading it.
The Rose and The Dagger by Renee Ahdieh {published 26th April}
In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad has been torn from the love of her husband Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once believed him a monster, but his secrets revealed a man tormented by guilt and a powerful curse—one that might keep them apart forever. Reunited with her family, who have taken refuge with enemies of Khalid, and Tariq, her childhood sweetheart, she should be happy. But Tariq now commands forces set on destroying Khalid's empire. Shahrzad is almost a prisoner caught between loyalties to people she loves. But she refuses to be a pawn and devises a plan.
While her father, Jahandar, continues to play with magical forces he doesn't yet understand, Shahrzad tries to uncover powers that may lie dormant within her. With the help of a tattered old carpet and a tempestuous but sage young man, Shahrzad will attempt to break the curse and reunite with her one true love. {goodreads summary}
I think I gushed about The Wraith and The Dawn enough in my review for it to come as no surprise that I am very, very excited for the sequel. I'm not really sure where this story is going to go next, but I'm hoping for more magical elements, as well as romance, of course.
The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi{published 26th April}
Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of Death and Destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father's kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran's queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar's wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire...
But Akaran has its own secrets -- thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most. . .including herself. {goodreads summary}
Bustle described this as "a loose interpretation of the Cupid and Psyche tale woven into Hindu mythology" and the Classics geek in me wanted to pre-order it immediately. Chokshi's Pinterest board for the novel is really pretty too.
Happy reading everyone!
Scarlett Epstien Hates it Here by Anna Breslaw{published 19th April}
Meet Scarlett Epstein, BNF (Big Name Fan) in her online community of fanfiction writers, world-class nobody at Melville High. Her best (read: only) IRL friends are Avery, a painfully shy and annoyingly attractive bookworm, and Ruth, her pot-smoking, possibly insane seventy-three-year-old neighbor.
When Scarlett’s beloved TV show is canceled and her longtime crush, Gideon, is sucked out of her orbit and into the dark and distant world of Populars, Scarlett turns to the fanfic message boards for comfort. This time, though, her subjects aren’t the swoon-worthy stars of her fave series—they’re the real-life kids from her high school. Scarlett never considers what might happen if they were to find out what she truly thinks about them...until a dramatic series of events exposes a very different reality than Scarlett's stories, forever transforming her approach to relationships—both online and off. {Goodreads Summary}
Scarlett Epstein Hates it Here is a novel about a girl who starts writing fan fiction about her CLASSMATES. It's an idea so brilliant I sort of wish I'd had it while I was at school. I think this is going to be really funny and I can't wait to start reading it.
The Rose and The Dagger by Renee Ahdieh {published 26th April}
In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad has been torn from the love of her husband Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once believed him a monster, but his secrets revealed a man tormented by guilt and a powerful curse—one that might keep them apart forever. Reunited with her family, who have taken refuge with enemies of Khalid, and Tariq, her childhood sweetheart, she should be happy. But Tariq now commands forces set on destroying Khalid's empire. Shahrzad is almost a prisoner caught between loyalties to people she loves. But she refuses to be a pawn and devises a plan.
While her father, Jahandar, continues to play with magical forces he doesn't yet understand, Shahrzad tries to uncover powers that may lie dormant within her. With the help of a tattered old carpet and a tempestuous but sage young man, Shahrzad will attempt to break the curse and reunite with her one true love. {goodreads summary}
I think I gushed about The Wraith and The Dawn enough in my review for it to come as no surprise that I am very, very excited for the sequel. I'm not really sure where this story is going to go next, but I'm hoping for more magical elements, as well as romance, of course.
The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi{published 26th April}
Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of Death and Destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father's kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran's queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar's wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire...
But Akaran has its own secrets -- thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most. . .including herself. {goodreads summary}
Bustle described this as "a loose interpretation of the Cupid and Psyche tale woven into Hindu mythology" and the Classics geek in me wanted to pre-order it immediately. Chokshi's Pinterest board for the novel is really pretty too.
Happy reading everyone!
March 23, 2016
Six of Crows
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone... A convict with a thirst for revenge. A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager. A runaway with a privileged past. A spy known as the Wraith. A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. Kaz's crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first. {Goodreads summary}
“Six people, but a thousand ways this insane plan could go wrong.”
Following my initial disappointment that All of the Above wasn't told from multiple perspectives, it was great to be able to move onto one that was! Six of Crows follows the adventures of a crew of criminal masterminds in the making, written from the perspective of five of them. The varying perspectives gave the novel a unique and exciting twist, and I was never disappointed when they switched as they were equally interesting. I'm not entirely sure why the sixth member didn't get chapters of his own (I spent most of the novel expecting him to die at any moment as a result!)
“Kaz leaned back. "What's the easiest way to steal a man's wallet?"
"Knife to the throat?" asked Inej."Gun to the back?" said Jesper."Poison in his cup?" suggested Nina."You're all horrible," said Matthias.”
When I started Six of Crows, I didn't actually realise that it was a companion novel to a trilogy; I'm not sure how, but Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy has managed to completely pass me by, but that's something I plan on correcting very soon. However, I would definitely say that you don't need to have read the previous series to enjoy Six of Crows; the world building is so fantastic that I never felt as though I was missing information or back story.
“How are you finding our country?” “It’s a magical place,” Nina gushed. If you like ice and more ice.”
The writing in this novel is beautiful. Spending a lot of time in GCSE English lessons means that my brain is subconsciously on a constant lookout for 'literary techniques' and there is some beautifully constructed imagery in this book:
“The heat of the incinerator wrapped around Inej like a living thing, a desert dragon in his den, hiding from the ice, waiting for her. She knew her body’s limits, and she knew she had no more to give. She’d made a bad wager. It was as simple as that. The autumn leaf might cling to its branch, but it was already dead. The only question was when it would fall.”
I could definitely write a PEEL point on the imagery in that paragraph. But literary analysis aside, it's just so nice to read.
"Being angry at Kaz for being ruthless is like being angry at a stove for being hot. You know what he is.”
“The heart is an arrow. It demands aim to land true.”
One of my favourite things about Six of Crows was the relationships between the different characters. Not just romantic ones, but friendships and, with a melting pot of different personalities and beliefs, the tensions. I particularly loved the arguments.
“It's not natural for women to fight."
"It's not natural for someone to be as stupid as he is tall, and yet there you stand.”
Trying to narrow down quote options for this review was really hard. I could have posted a review entirely made up of my favourite quotes, but at that point, you may as well just go and read the book.
Go on. You really, really should.
"Well, we've managed to get ourselves locked into the most secure prison in the world. We're either geniuses or the dumbest sons of bitches to ever breathe air.”
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone... A convict with a thirst for revenge. A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager. A runaway with a privileged past. A spy known as the Wraith. A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. Kaz's crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first. {Goodreads summary}
“Six people, but a thousand ways this insane plan could go wrong.”
Following my initial disappointment that All of the Above wasn't told from multiple perspectives, it was great to be able to move onto one that was! Six of Crows follows the adventures of a crew of criminal masterminds in the making, written from the perspective of five of them. The varying perspectives gave the novel a unique and exciting twist, and I was never disappointed when they switched as they were equally interesting. I'm not entirely sure why the sixth member didn't get chapters of his own (I spent most of the novel expecting him to die at any moment as a result!)
“Kaz leaned back. "What's the easiest way to steal a man's wallet?"
"Knife to the throat?" asked Inej."Gun to the back?" said Jesper."Poison in his cup?" suggested Nina."You're all horrible," said Matthias.”
When I started Six of Crows, I didn't actually realise that it was a companion novel to a trilogy; I'm not sure how, but Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy has managed to completely pass me by, but that's something I plan on correcting very soon. However, I would definitely say that you don't need to have read the previous series to enjoy Six of Crows; the world building is so fantastic that I never felt as though I was missing information or back story.
“How are you finding our country?” “It’s a magical place,” Nina gushed. If you like ice and more ice.”
The writing in this novel is beautiful. Spending a lot of time in GCSE English lessons means that my brain is subconsciously on a constant lookout for 'literary techniques' and there is some beautifully constructed imagery in this book:
“The heat of the incinerator wrapped around Inej like a living thing, a desert dragon in his den, hiding from the ice, waiting for her. She knew her body’s limits, and she knew she had no more to give. She’d made a bad wager. It was as simple as that. The autumn leaf might cling to its branch, but it was already dead. The only question was when it would fall.”
I could definitely write a PEEL point on the imagery in that paragraph. But literary analysis aside, it's just so nice to read.
"Being angry at Kaz for being ruthless is like being angry at a stove for being hot. You know what he is.”
“The heart is an arrow. It demands aim to land true.”
One of my favourite things about Six of Crows was the relationships between the different characters. Not just romantic ones, but friendships and, with a melting pot of different personalities and beliefs, the tensions. I particularly loved the arguments.
“It's not natural for women to fight."
"It's not natural for someone to be as stupid as he is tall, and yet there you stand.”
Trying to narrow down quote options for this review was really hard. I could have posted a review entirely made up of my favourite quotes, but at that point, you may as well just go and read the book.
Go on. You really, really should.
"Well, we've managed to get ourselves locked into the most secure prison in the world. We're either geniuses or the dumbest sons of bitches to ever breathe air.”
March 17, 2016
Why We Love... Zoe and Beans
Picture Book Review: Zoe and Beans
I'm going to try and start posting a picture book feature on the blog once a month, about whatever me and my toddler have been enjoying recently, and there was no contest when deciding that the first book (series) to be featured was Zoe and Beans by Chloe and Mike Inkpen.
I first came across this series in Waterstones just before my daughter was one and loved the adorable artwork and clever stories. Since then, we've bought all of the picture books and one of the board books.
Zoe is a fantastic character. She's independent, resourceful, and clever, but she's not perfect and can sometimes be a bit grumpy and lose her temper (my daughter's favourite moment in the books is when she shouts her name at the uncooperative parrot in Hello Oscar).
The series is also great on an educational/interactive level as it introduces lots of new vocabulary, with enough repetition for toddlers to join in too. Zoe and Beans are huge favourites in our house and are read on a daily basis. I'm sure we're not going to tire of them any time soon.
I'm going to try and start posting a picture book feature on the blog once a month, about whatever me and my toddler have been enjoying recently, and there was no contest when deciding that the first book (series) to be featured was Zoe and Beans by Chloe and Mike Inkpen.
I first came across this series in Waterstones just before my daughter was one and loved the adorable artwork and clever stories. Since then, we've bought all of the picture books and one of the board books.
Zoe is a fantastic character. She's independent, resourceful, and clever, but she's not perfect and can sometimes be a bit grumpy and lose her temper (my daughter's favourite moment in the books is when she shouts her name at the uncooperative parrot in Hello Oscar).
The series is also great on an educational/interactive level as it introduces lots of new vocabulary, with enough repetition for toddlers to join in too. Zoe and Beans are huge favourites in our house and are read on a daily basis. I'm sure we're not going to tire of them any time soon.
March 10, 2016
The Unmumsy Mum
The Unmumsy Mum by Sarah Turner
*****
The Unmumsy Mum writes candidly about motherhood like it really is: the messy, maddening, hilarious reality, how there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach and how it is sometimes absolutely fine to not know what you are doing. The lessons she's learnt while grappling with two small boys – from birth to teething, 3am night feeds to toddler tantrums, soft play to toilet training – will have you roaring with laughter and taking great comfort in the fact that it's definitely not just you {Goodreads Summary}
Can I give this book a million stars please? The Unmumsy Mum's blog posts and FB updates brighten my days. As it says on the back of the book "This is not a parenting manual. This is real life!" I could relate to so many of the anecdotes in this book and I'm sure I'll be relating to many more over the next few years.
This book made me laugh, smile and cry (the chapter dedicated to Turner's mum took me a few attempts to get through), but there was also a really serious message inside the book: that it's okay not to love every second of parenthood, because some days are just a bit rubbish, but the good days, the smiles, the giggles and the cuddles make it all so very worthwhile.
*****
The Unmumsy Mum writes candidly about motherhood like it really is: the messy, maddening, hilarious reality, how there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach and how it is sometimes absolutely fine to not know what you are doing. The lessons she's learnt while grappling with two small boys – from birth to teething, 3am night feeds to toddler tantrums, soft play to toilet training – will have you roaring with laughter and taking great comfort in the fact that it's definitely not just you {Goodreads Summary}
Can I give this book a million stars please? The Unmumsy Mum's blog posts and FB updates brighten my days. As it says on the back of the book "This is not a parenting manual. This is real life!" I could relate to so many of the anecdotes in this book and I'm sure I'll be relating to many more over the next few years.
This book made me laugh, smile and cry (the chapter dedicated to Turner's mum took me a few attempts to get through), but there was also a really serious message inside the book: that it's okay not to love every second of parenthood, because some days are just a bit rubbish, but the good days, the smiles, the giggles and the cuddles make it all so very worthwhile.
March 2, 2016
All of the Above
All of the Above by Juno Dawson
*****
When sixteen-year-old Toria Bland arrives at her new school she needs to work out who her friends are in a crazy whirl of worry, exam pressure and anxiety over fitting in. Things start looking up when Toria meets the funny and foul-mouthed Polly, who's the coolest girl that Toria has ever seen. Polly and the rest of the 'alternative' kids take Toria under their wing. And that's when she meets the irresistible Nico Mancini, lead singer of a local band - and it's instalove at first sight! Toria likes Nico, Nico likes Toria, but then there's Polly...love and friendship have a funny way of going round in circles. {Goodreads Summary}
I'm going to start by saying that this book wasn't at all what I expected. From the title and the quote on the back, I was convinced this was going to be told Virginia Woolf 'The Waves' style with multiple protagonists. I got over my initial disappointment that this wasn't the case pretty quickly (I still have no idea what happened in The Waves; I never had a clue who's POV it was). All of the Above had me gripped from the beginning. I loved the style it was written in, the characters, the plot, the unexpectedness. This novel made me laugh and (very nearly) cry.
"Only Orange smarties don't taste the same. So she picks them all out and gives them to me."
Toria was a fun character. Her desire to fit in at the beginning of the novel was really easy to relate to, and I loved her rules for making friends. I also loved her friends, especially Daisy *sobs quietly in the corner*. I wish Alex, Alice and Freya had been more developed. I would especially love to know more about Freya's backstory, particularly the story behind her outburst at towards the end. Basically, short stories from all the characters in this novel would be greatly appreciated; I'm not ready to let go of Toria and her gang yet!
"Daisy. I didn't want her to become a cloud when she'd always been sunshine."
All of the Above is a story about growing up and self discovery. But above all, it's about love. It has a really uplifting message for teens who are struggling to fit in or are questioning their feelings. It touches on some difficult topics, like anorexia and self-harm, which would usually be the focus of their own book, but are shown here in the context of everyday life. Mental illness is all around us and All of the Above showed that really well.
"The room was empty now.The world was empty. It was just Polly and I dancing, a little island in a great big ocean."
All of the Above was the first book I've read by Dawson, but it definitely won't be the last.
*****
When sixteen-year-old Toria Bland arrives at her new school she needs to work out who her friends are in a crazy whirl of worry, exam pressure and anxiety over fitting in. Things start looking up when Toria meets the funny and foul-mouthed Polly, who's the coolest girl that Toria has ever seen. Polly and the rest of the 'alternative' kids take Toria under their wing. And that's when she meets the irresistible Nico Mancini, lead singer of a local band - and it's instalove at first sight! Toria likes Nico, Nico likes Toria, but then there's Polly...love and friendship have a funny way of going round in circles. {Goodreads Summary}
I'm going to start by saying that this book wasn't at all what I expected. From the title and the quote on the back, I was convinced this was going to be told Virginia Woolf 'The Waves' style with multiple protagonists. I got over my initial disappointment that this wasn't the case pretty quickly (I still have no idea what happened in The Waves; I never had a clue who's POV it was). All of the Above had me gripped from the beginning. I loved the style it was written in, the characters, the plot, the unexpectedness. This novel made me laugh and (very nearly) cry.
"Only Orange smarties don't taste the same. So she picks them all out and gives them to me."
Toria was a fun character. Her desire to fit in at the beginning of the novel was really easy to relate to, and I loved her rules for making friends. I also loved her friends, especially Daisy *sobs quietly in the corner*. I wish Alex, Alice and Freya had been more developed. I would especially love to know more about Freya's backstory, particularly the story behind her outburst at towards the end. Basically, short stories from all the characters in this novel would be greatly appreciated; I'm not ready to let go of Toria and her gang yet!
"Daisy. I didn't want her to become a cloud when she'd always been sunshine."
All of the Above is a story about growing up and self discovery. But above all, it's about love. It has a really uplifting message for teens who are struggling to fit in or are questioning their feelings. It touches on some difficult topics, like anorexia and self-harm, which would usually be the focus of their own book, but are shown here in the context of everyday life. Mental illness is all around us and All of the Above showed that really well.
"The room was empty now.The world was empty. It was just Polly and I dancing, a little island in a great big ocean."
All of the Above was the first book I've read by Dawson, but it definitely won't be the last.
February 17, 2016
War & Peace: Post Two - Too Good To Stop Reading
This epic novel is getting better and better. I am now 28% of the way through. My Kindle gives me roughly fifteen hours of reading time left. I'm reading War and Peace at work (I never took the break I was expecting too as An Ember in the Ashes didn't fit in my work bag but, ironically War and Peace did, in the form of my Kindle) so I'm doing half an hour's reading a day, three days a week. If I keep that pace up, I should be finished in around five weeks. That's actually a lot less time than I expected it to take, which I think is a testament to how much I'm enjoying the novel.
I think I'm part way through episode two, in TV show terms. Speaking of which, half way through the finale I was ready to give up on the book, unsure I'd be able to keep reading if I knew it was all going to end so bleakly. But then that ending! It was far, far better than I could ever have expected (I'm being as vague as possible to avoid spoilers). It has given me even more motivation to keep going. I will get to the end of War and Peace!
I'm definitely still enjoying the 'peace' more than the 'war', but I'm finding the battles more interesting to read than I expected. There's a lot more detail to them than the TV show went into, so they're the parts of the novel I know least about.
February 14, 2016
An Ember in the Ashes
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
****
Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.
Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.
It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.
But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.
There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself. {goodreads summary}
An electric novel which kept me gripped until the very end. An Ember in the Ashes is a dual narrative, fantasy YA novel split between two very distinctive, but equally interesting, characters: Laia and Elias.
“Life is made of so many moments that mean nothing. Then one day, a single moment comes along to define every second that comes after."
At the beginning of the novel, Laia is weak, nervous and scared. She is almost an anti-heroine in terms YA stereotypes. She behaves in the way most ordinary people would if their world was torn apart and they were forced into a terrifying, deadly situation. As a result, she is really easy to relate to and I found myself rooting for her instantly.
“There are two kinds of guilt. The kind that's a burden and the kind that gives you purpose. Let your guilt be your fuel. Let it remind you of who you want to be. Draw a line in your mind. Never cross it again. You have a soul. It's damaged but it's there. Don't let them take it from you.”
Elias is a soldier, trapped in a world of violence and fear that he doesn't want to be a part of. The strongest facet of his personality is his humanity; his desire to get away from the death and destruction his people force him to commit. His motivations are clear to understand, even when he does heart-wrenching, terrible things.
“All the beauty of the stars means nothing when life here on earth is so ugly.”
One of the strongest elements of this novel was its antagonist. Keris, the commandant, is almost Umbridge-level horrible. So far, she doesn't appear to care about anyone other than herself and her brutality knows no limits. I really hopes she gets her comeuppance by the end of the series; I'm looking forward to seeing her suffer! There was some really strong characterisation throughout the novel and the secondary characters are all very well developed. Although I have questions and theories about some (like Cook) which I hope are answered in future books.
“I'd rather die than live with no mercy, no honor, no soul.”
An Ember in the Ashes is very deserving of the praise and accolades it has received so far. It is a brilliantly written book and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next when book two comes out in August.
****
Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.
Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.
It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.
But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.
There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself. {goodreads summary}
An electric novel which kept me gripped until the very end. An Ember in the Ashes is a dual narrative, fantasy YA novel split between two very distinctive, but equally interesting, characters: Laia and Elias.
“Life is made of so many moments that mean nothing. Then one day, a single moment comes along to define every second that comes after."
At the beginning of the novel, Laia is weak, nervous and scared. She is almost an anti-heroine in terms YA stereotypes. She behaves in the way most ordinary people would if their world was torn apart and they were forced into a terrifying, deadly situation. As a result, she is really easy to relate to and I found myself rooting for her instantly.
“There are two kinds of guilt. The kind that's a burden and the kind that gives you purpose. Let your guilt be your fuel. Let it remind you of who you want to be. Draw a line in your mind. Never cross it again. You have a soul. It's damaged but it's there. Don't let them take it from you.”
Elias is a soldier, trapped in a world of violence and fear that he doesn't want to be a part of. The strongest facet of his personality is his humanity; his desire to get away from the death and destruction his people force him to commit. His motivations are clear to understand, even when he does heart-wrenching, terrible things.
“All the beauty of the stars means nothing when life here on earth is so ugly.”
One of the strongest elements of this novel was its antagonist. Keris, the commandant, is almost Umbridge-level horrible. So far, she doesn't appear to care about anyone other than herself and her brutality knows no limits. I really hopes she gets her comeuppance by the end of the series; I'm looking forward to seeing her suffer! There was some really strong characterisation throughout the novel and the secondary characters are all very well developed. Although I have questions and theories about some (like Cook) which I hope are answered in future books.
“I'd rather die than live with no mercy, no honor, no soul.”
An Ember in the Ashes is very deserving of the praise and accolades it has received so far. It is a brilliantly written book and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next when book two comes out in August.
January 20, 2016
War & Peace: Post One - Opening Thoughts
I wonder how many posts I will end up with on this by the end of the year? I started War and Peace on Thursday 7th January. These are my opening thoughts.
After mistaking the introduction for chapter one then spending five minutes or so flicking past prefaces and notes, I finally found the opening page. According to my kindle, this put me at 5% through the book. Here's hoping I get through the remaining 95% just as quickly!
My initial plan was to read two or three chapters before starting An Ember in the Ashes, but I've actually made it a few chapters into book two before deciding to pause. War and Peace is much better than I expected. I'm really enjoying it. I think this is largely due to the BBC adaptation currently on TV, which is making it easy to keep track of who is who and what is going on.
So far, one of my favourite things about the novel is Tolstoy's amazing skill at characterisation. In a few, carefully crafted sentences he gives you a clear insight into even minor characters, allowing you to imagine them quite clearly. It is truly impressive.
I'm also really enjoying the drama of the court: the gossip; the etiquette; the scandals.
Unfortunately, even starting book two only puts me 13% through the book, with 29 hours worth of reading time left. I've also just got to the first major 'war' section of the novel, so I've decided to give it a rest for a bit (maybe I should just read the peace bits?) This Buzzfeed article suggests it's "interesting until page 200, and then mainly turns into a doorstop" which is a little concerning! Although the same article recommends reading Ulysses, which I would never, ever advise, so I won't trust it too much.
I will definitely pick War and Peace back up once I've finished AEITA (possibly before as I can read it on my phone at anytime) and I'll post another update next month. Also, if you're not already watching the TV show, start now on iPlayer. You won't regret it.
January 13, 2016
Popsugar Reading Challenge
I didn't do brilliantly on last year's challenge, but this year's list is too interesting not to try. You can see the list, with full details of the challenge here. I've also recreated it below so I can keep track of what I manage to read. I will put a line through the ones I complete. If there's a book title but no line, it means I know which book I'm planning to read to cover that topic, but I haven't finished it yet.
A book based on a fairy tale {Winter}
A National Book Award winner
A YA bestseller {The Wrath & The Dawn}
A book you haven't read since highschool
A book set in your home state (I'm going to interpret this as London/SE England)
A book translated into English
A romance set in the future
A book set in Europe
A book that's under 150 pages
A New York Times bestseller
A book that's becoming a movie this year.
A book recommended by someone you just met.
A self-improvement book
A book you can finish in a day
A book written by a celebrity
A political memoir
A book at least 100 years older than you
A book that's more than 600 pages {War & Peace}
A book from Oprah's Book Club
A science-fiction novel
A book recommended by a family member
A graphic novel
A book that is published in 2016
A book with a protagonist who has your occupation
A book that takes place during summer
A book and its prequel
A murder mystery
A book written by a comedian
A dystopian novel (this one shouldn't be a problem!)
A book with a blue cover {The Rose & The Dagger}
A book of poetry
The first book you see in a bookstore (yay- shopping trip necessary!)
A classic from the 20th Century
A book from the library
An autobiography
A book about a road trip
A book about a culture you are unfamiliar with
A satirical book
A book that takes place on an island
A book that is guaranteed to bring you joy
A book based on a fairy tale {Winter}
A National Book Award winner
A YA bestseller {The Wrath & The Dawn}
A book you haven't read since highschool
A book set in your home state (I'm going to interpret this as London/SE England)
A book translated into English
A romance set in the future
A book set in Europe
A book that's under 150 pages
A New York Times bestseller
A book that's becoming a movie this year.
A book recommended by someone you just met.
A self-improvement book
A book you can finish in a day
A book written by a celebrity
A political memoir
A book at least 100 years older than you
A book that's more than 600 pages {War & Peace}
A book from Oprah's Book Club
A science-fiction novel
A book recommended by a family member
A graphic novel
A book that is published in 2016
A book with a protagonist who has your occupation
A book that takes place during summer
A book and its prequel
A murder mystery
A book written by a comedian
A dystopian novel (this one shouldn't be a problem!)
A book with a blue cover {The Rose & The Dagger}
A book of poetry
The first book you see in a bookstore (yay- shopping trip necessary!)
A classic from the 20th Century
A book from the library
An autobiography
A book about a road trip
A book about a culture you are unfamiliar with
A satirical book
A book that takes place on an island
A book that is guaranteed to bring you joy
January 9, 2016
The Wrath and The Dawn
The Wrath and The Dawn by Renee Ahdeih
*****
In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad's dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph's reign of terror once and for all. {goodreads summary}
I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but I would like to start by saying how pretty this book is. I'm not sure if you can tell from my picture, but the edges of the paper are feathered. It felt so nice to read. The cover image has a really clever effect too; TW&TD first caught my attention when Lauren DeStefano kept posting pictures of it on her facebook page.
“I know love is fragile. And loving someone like you is near impossible. Like holding something shattered through a raging sandstorm. If you want her to love you, shelter her from that storm…And make certain that storm isn’t you.”
The writing in this book was beautiful. There were paragraphs I read over and over again, they sounded so lovely. TW&TD is a YA twist on One Thousand and One Nights/The Arabian Nights. When her best friend, Shiva, is killed by Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan, Shahrzad vows to seek revenge and offers herself as Khalid's next bride in an attempt to get close enough to kill him. However, it doesn't take long for a genuine relationship to blossom between Khalid and 'Shazi' (because plot) and Shazi finds herself warring between her desire for revenge and her growing feelings for Khalid. One of the overarching themes of the novel is revenge and the additional pain and suffering it can cause; all of the characters fall prey to its lure at some point in the novel. There were plenty of twists and turns along the way and some fantastic mini stories (I know there is a posh word for that, but my brain is refusing to remember it at the moment - I was thinking mise en abymes, but google is suggesting that they are something else). The ending was heartbreaking in a way that has left me desperate to read the next in the series: The Rose and The Dagger.
“So you would have me throw Shazi to the wolves?”“Shazi?” Jalal’s grin widened. “Honestly, I pity the wolves.”
Shazi was a great character: her feisty wit was fun to read and I always wanted to know what she would say next. The italics used to show her internal turmoil was a really clever touch and often vocalised criticisms I might otherwise have had as a reader over her feelings for Khalid. It was a clever way of presenting a difficult emotional situation and I wouldn't have believed Shazi's actions without it.
“I will live to see tomorrow's sunset. Make no mistake. I swear. I will live to see as many sunsets as it takes. And I will kill you. With my bare hands.”
Khalid was flawed, but still an intriguing hero and I am really looking forward to seeing him develop across the series. His possessive nature would have been grating if Shazi hadn't called him out on it whenever it reared its head.
“No. I want someone who sees beneath the surface-someone who completes the balance. An equal.” “And how will you know when you’ve found this elusive someone?” Shahrzad retorted. “I suspect she will be like air. Like knowing how to breathe.” Shazi and Khalid's relationship was my favourite aspect of the novel and was the source of some of the most electric language. The scenes between them were beautifully written.
“What are you doing to me, you plague of a girl?” he whispered.“If I’m a plague, then you should keep your distance, unless you plan on being destroyed.”“No. Destroy Me.”
If you haven't read The Wrath and The Dawn yet, I really recommend that you check it out soon. I hated having to put it down and can't wait to return to the stunning world Ahdieh created in May.
*****
In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad's dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph's reign of terror once and for all. {goodreads summary}
I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but I would like to start by saying how pretty this book is. I'm not sure if you can tell from my picture, but the edges of the paper are feathered. It felt so nice to read. The cover image has a really clever effect too; TW&TD first caught my attention when Lauren DeStefano kept posting pictures of it on her facebook page.
“I know love is fragile. And loving someone like you is near impossible. Like holding something shattered through a raging sandstorm. If you want her to love you, shelter her from that storm…And make certain that storm isn’t you.”
The writing in this book was beautiful. There were paragraphs I read over and over again, they sounded so lovely. TW&TD is a YA twist on One Thousand and One Nights/The Arabian Nights. When her best friend, Shiva, is killed by Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan, Shahrzad vows to seek revenge and offers herself as Khalid's next bride in an attempt to get close enough to kill him. However, it doesn't take long for a genuine relationship to blossom between Khalid and 'Shazi' (because plot) and Shazi finds herself warring between her desire for revenge and her growing feelings for Khalid. One of the overarching themes of the novel is revenge and the additional pain and suffering it can cause; all of the characters fall prey to its lure at some point in the novel. There were plenty of twists and turns along the way and some fantastic mini stories (I know there is a posh word for that, but my brain is refusing to remember it at the moment - I was thinking mise en abymes, but google is suggesting that they are something else). The ending was heartbreaking in a way that has left me desperate to read the next in the series: The Rose and The Dagger.
“So you would have me throw Shazi to the wolves?”“Shazi?” Jalal’s grin widened. “Honestly, I pity the wolves.”
Shazi was a great character: her feisty wit was fun to read and I always wanted to know what she would say next. The italics used to show her internal turmoil was a really clever touch and often vocalised criticisms I might otherwise have had as a reader over her feelings for Khalid. It was a clever way of presenting a difficult emotional situation and I wouldn't have believed Shazi's actions without it.
“I will live to see tomorrow's sunset. Make no mistake. I swear. I will live to see as many sunsets as it takes. And I will kill you. With my bare hands.”
Khalid was flawed, but still an intriguing hero and I am really looking forward to seeing him develop across the series. His possessive nature would have been grating if Shazi hadn't called him out on it whenever it reared its head.
“No. I want someone who sees beneath the surface-someone who completes the balance. An equal.” “And how will you know when you’ve found this elusive someone?” Shahrzad retorted. “I suspect she will be like air. Like knowing how to breathe.” Shazi and Khalid's relationship was my favourite aspect of the novel and was the source of some of the most electric language. The scenes between them were beautifully written.
“What are you doing to me, you plague of a girl?” he whispered.“If I’m a plague, then you should keep your distance, unless you plan on being destroyed.”“No. Destroy Me.”
If you haven't read The Wrath and The Dawn yet, I really recommend that you check it out soon. I hated having to put it down and can't wait to return to the stunning world Ahdieh created in May.
