A Write Review

Theodosia was six when her country was invaded and her mother, the Fire Queen, was murdered before her eyes. On that day, the Kaiser took Theodosia's family, her land, and her name. Theo was crowned Ash Princess--a title of shame to bear in her new life as a prisoner.

For ten years Theo has been a captive in her own palace. She's endured the relentless abuse and ridicule of the Kaiser and his court. She is powerless, surviving in her new world only by burying the girl she was deep inside.

Then, one night, the Kaiser forces her to do the unthinkable. With blood on her hands and all hope of reclaiming her throne lost, she realizes that surviving is no longer enough. But she does have a weapon: her mind is sharper than any sword. And power isn't always won on the battlefield.

For ten years, the Ash Princess has seen her land pillaged and her people enslaved. That all ends here.

REVIEW

Ash Princess is about a young queen robbed of her throne by an evil dictator. After years of brutal punishment and torture, the young queen-to-be decides to take a stand and sets out to save her people from enslavement, working alongside the falling resistance to claim back her throne. Yes, we've all heard about this story before and as someone that is a huge fan of court-based story lines, I tend to be a bit more critical when this genre is done wrong. I went into Ash Princess with a lot of skepticism because time after time, writers have created slow-running stories that don't pack any real punch.

But as soon as the book started, I was hooked and trapped in the world of Astrea. I must applaud Laura for her introduction into this world. From the start, we witness exactly what the evil Kaiser is capable of, forcing Theodosia to perform a heart-breaking act of loyalty. I admit, after years of reading books that played around torture and punishment, I was happy to read one that held nothing back. Ash Princess is about a world that was taken over by an evil tyrant and to ensure we all understand what this means, Laura showed us the brutality of war. There has to be bloodshed, torture, rape and misery to make all of this believable.

That being said, Ash Princess stands out for being unbelievably entertaining and brutal. Yes, as we read the plot and learn more about the characters, we realize that it resembles a lot of already used stories. But just the other day, a friend of mine mentioned that it's about what each individual writer does with that plot. How do they ensure the reader is compelled to read the next page? How does their characters differ from the rest?

Ash Princess happens to be one that breaks the pattern of silly queens-to be. Theodosia surprised me in many ways. Yes, she was naive at times and walked right into a love triangle, but despite that, she is strong and she knows that her country comes first. In other books, we usually have a heroine that goes through life blindly, letting us believe she will make a difference but usually ends up only doing something valuable towards the end of the book. But Theodosia was different. As soon as she decided to get her throne back, she got to work - formulating plans, sacrificing her security and manipulating everyone around her. I can't deny it was very compelling, though my eagerness to turn each page relied heavily on the violence, manipulation and misery of it all.

Despite loving how fierce Theodosia was, my favourite part about Ash Princess would have to be the pace. The biggest problem I've ever had with court-based story lines was its pace - which is usually extremely slow. But like I said, as soon as Theodosia made up her mind, the story took off and I could barely keep up. Yes, her manipulations involved a lot of subtle conversations and secret getaways, but the author made sure I was never bored. Each conversation Theodosia had was vital for the plot, teaching us more about our main character and the company she keeps.

I wasn't a huge fan of the other main characters, mainly because I didn't find them very unique. Surprisingly, I was drawn towards characters like Artemisia, Elpis and Kaiserin. These characters had layers we could explore. It was their story lines that stayed with me long after I had finished the book.

“You’re a lamb in the lion’s den, child. You’re surviving. Isn’t that enough?”

― Laura Sebastian, Ash Princess

I didn't want to mention anything about the love triangle (sigh) but I guess I have to warn everyone that one does exist. I am not a love triangle fan, something I have mentioned before. In my opinion, the writer already knows who the main character will end up with so why prolong that? ANYWAY, that being said, the love triangle could drive some of you crazy but push through. Here I am, a love triangle hater and I still really enjoyed this book. What can I say? It was just a really good page turner!

If you're looking for yet another fantasy about a fallen princess, evil dictator, secret rebellion, intriguing magic and of course, romance, then Ash Princess will certainly keep you entertained. Its fast, action-packed and brutally entertaining.

Warning: there are some graphic descriptions.

Book was sent to me by Pan MacMillan Publishers in-exchange for an honest review.

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An emotionally charged story of music, abuse and, ultimately, hope.

Beck hates his life. He hates his violent mother. He hates his home. Most of all, he hates the piano that his mother forces him to play hour after hour, day after day. He will never play as she did before illness ended her career and left her bitter and broken. But Beck is too scared to stand up to his mother, and tell her his true passion, which is composing his own music - because the least suggestion of rebellion on his part ends in violence.

When Beck meets August, a girl full of life, energy and laughter, love begins to awaken within him and he glimpses a way to escape his painful existence. But dare he reach for it?

REVIEW

Do you ever just finish a book and sit there, trying to wrap your head around what you just read? A Thousand Perfect Notes hit me by surprise - taking me out of my book hangover and introducing me to a new set of lovable characters. I wasn't planning on enjoying this book because I hadn't been interested in a lot of contemporary reads lately. Too many of them were sappy and emotional, causing me to ugly cry for characters that I later realized were just made to emotionally destroy the reader. Don't get me wrong, I love these characters but there are times these stories are so emotional and heart-breaking, you end up not wanting to pick that book up ever again.

The surprising part about A Thousand Perfect Notes was the fact that Beck was created to touch your heart-strings and bring you to uncontrollable tears - AND I LOVED HIM. What can I say, I am a sucker for a good emotional overdose. This book is about a 15-year-old boy that wishes to be accepted by the one person that should love him the most - his mother. But because of her past, his mother cannot bring herself to look at her son (and daughter) without regret and loss. Her dreams of becoming a famous pianist was shattered and now her son has to follow her footsteps, or else.

That looming 'or else' was the hardest part of this book and could trigger some readers. I despised Beck's tyrant of a mother but towards the end, she started showing signs of something else. I love that the author added in these additional characteristics, allowing the reader and a confused Beck to work through his mother's true intentions. This story is mainly about the cycle of abuse and how it can easily be carried on. However, you are an individual and despite your past, you are able to overcome it.

As we're taken along Beck's journey, we meet the strong-willed and carefree August. I initially expected August and Beck to have a spectacular romance. But it was subtle enough to peak my interest. They liked each other but Beck had bigger things to figure out - including who he was as a pianist and person. August didn't play a major role in his life with his mother. Beck and August barely discussed his bruised face on a Monday morning. She was just there for comfort, to show him there is more to life than his music and sometimes we need at least one friend to inspire a break through.

I struggled at first to connect with Beck - especially since he was just a 'good boy' and followed all his mom's rules and lies. I later had to accept that simply calling the police isn't always an option. His relationship with his sister and August helped him grow and I admire his strength in the end. He did everything for his little sister - who is a force to be reckoned with - and in the end, he chose what was best for the both of them.

“He hates how innocent her face is, how her lips are twisted in a quiet smile, how her breath puffs in globes of cold white. He hates it because she is hope and tomorrow and he is goodbye and the end.”

This book isn't for the romantics. Yes, we get some unbelievably cute scenes between Beck and August, but it was more than that. Their friendship/relationship came at the right time. It saved Beck and inspired him to stand up for himself. I read this book within one day. It's perfect for when you want to spend sometime ugly crying, while ultimately learning about self-worth and the power of friendship.

What was your favourite part?

Book was sent to me by Pan MacMillan Publisher in-exchange for an honest review.

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Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns.

Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid's voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy's bidding but only for a terrible price.

Inspired by myth, fairy tale, and folklore, #1 New York Times–bestselling author Leigh Bardugo has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love.

Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, these tales will transport you to lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse.

This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, all of them lavishly illustrated with art that changes with each turn of the page, culminating in six stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail as the stories themselves.

REVIEW

When I finished this book, I was left with two thoughts: that was unexpected and wow, Leigh Bardugo's writing abilities shine in short stories. Personally, I am not a fan of short stories. Too often have I been fooled into buying these books, only to discover that they add nothing to the actual plot. But nevertheless, I decided to crack A Language of Thorns open one night - with the sole intention of just scanning through it - but I later found myself completely enthralled within just a couple of pages.

Filled with stories as dark and intricate as its stunning cover, these stories are perfect to capture your attention for hours. I was nearly halfway done by the time I finally looked up again, sparing the last few stories for days to come because I had grown fond of reading one story every night. Bardugo successfully destroyed the short story curse hanging over my head, allowing me to see the beauty of fairytales and folklore within existing fictional worlds. It helped grow the Grisha Universe, adding new depth and history to an ever-growing world. I've always said that I admire when writers are able to create history, folklore and myths, entire cultures and religions. That's IMAGINATION at it's finest. And A Language of Thorns was definitely imaginative.

While most of her stories are inspired by traditional fairytales we've all grown up with - Little Mermaid and Hansel and Gretel - you wouldn't be able to tell right away, unless you're a classic cartoon fanatic (like me). The author successfully honoured the greats but overhauled them to create intense, poetic and dark storylines with unexpected turns on almost every page. New lessons are taught, often translated into beautiful quotes that stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

"This goes to show you that sometimes the unseen is not to be feared and that those meant to love us most are not always the ones who do."

Despite being loosely advertised as a fairytale book, which is usually romantic and spectacular, A Language of Thorns is nothing similar to what we expect from this genre. We see a different side to the author, who showed off her talents on every page. If you're the romantic at heart type, then this book will not satisfy your romantic bone. Yes, there is love at the heart of all the stories, but they don't always end with the happy ending you'd expect - making every story an even better read.

My favourite night time stories were The Too-Clever Fox and The Soldier Prince.

What was your favourite story?

This book was sent to me by Pan MacMillan Publishers in-exchange for an honest review.

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In the kingdom of Sempera, time is currency—extracted from blood, bound to iron, and consumed to add time to one’s own lifespan. The rich aristocracy, like the Gerlings, tax the poor to the hilt, extending their own lives by centuries.

No one resents the Gerlings more than Jules Ember. A decade ago, she and her father were servants at Everless, the Gerlings’ palatial estate, until a fateful accident forced them to flee in the dead of night. When Jules discovers that her father is dying, she knows that she must return to Everless to earn more time for him before she loses him forever.

But going back to Everless brings more danger—and temptation—than Jules could have ever imagined. Soon she’s caught in a tangle of violent secrets and finds her heart torn between two people she thought she’d never see again. Her decisions have the power to change her fate—and the fate of time itself.

REVIEW - I knew what I wanted as I went into this book. If you've been a longtime follower of mine, you'd know I'm a huge fan of these sort of books - full of royalty and intrigue. Throw in some romance, mystery and a bit of magic, you have me hooked.

Now before anything, you need to know that I have watched this story-line before with the movie In Time. I found the story absolutely fascinating because at the end of the day, the less money you have directly impacts your quality of life. This was one of the major reasons I wanted to read Everless, because I knew so much could be done with it.

However, this all culminated in me expecting a bit too much from the author. I liked the book very much but I was more attracted to life outside of court. I somehow thought that the author would tackle important issues through this corrupt system of blood for money. Yes, we saw a glimpse of what it meant to be low on blood (money) but we never got to discuss how to change that. I'm hoping we explore this in the next book because I know that Jules has a long journey to go.

At the end of the day, the book was an introduction to Jules and this world. We discover that she is more than what she seems (big surprise) and her history at court might just be the answer to everything. It's a pretty standard story but I still found myself up late, dying to know what happens next. At times, Jules was quite naive and reckless but I've decided to give her a chance. I'm honestly intrigued by what Sara does next and how she turns this story into something bigger.

I also loved that even though Jules was smitten with one handsome prince to be, the time spent on the romance was not all-consuming. Yes, Jules acted naively but the development of her relationships wasn't her main goal. That doesn't mean I don't want to know more about her future with another certain individual.

All in all, I found the book interesting enough to pull me through the night until the last page was turned. It was filled with mild mystery and easily detectable clues. Even though I was initially attracted to the life a court, this book has the potential to break out of that genre and become an epic fantasy series.

Book was sent to me by Pan MacMillan Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

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A love story across the ages - and for the ages - about a man lost in time, the woman who could save him, and the lifetimes it can take to learn how to live

Tom Hazard has a dangerous secret. He may look like an ordinary 41-year-old, but owing to a rare condition, he's been alive for centuries. Tom has lived history--performing with Shakespeare, exploring the high seas with Captain Cook, and sharing cocktails with Fitzgerald. Now, he just wants an ordinary life.

So Tom moves back to London, his old home, to become a high school history teacher--the perfect job for someone who has witnessed the city's history first hand. Better yet, a captivating French teacher at his school seems fascinated by him. But the Albatross Society, the secretive group which protects people like Tom, has one rule: never fall in love. As painful memories of his past and the erratic behaviour of the Society's watchful leader threaten to derail his new life and romance, the one thing he can't have just happens to be the one thing that might save him. Tom will have to decide once and for all whether to remain stuck in the past, or finally begin living in the present.

How to Stop Time is a bighearted, wildly original novel about losing and finding yourself, the inevitability of change, and how with enough time to learn, we just might find happiness.

REVIEW

There are many ways to explain how I felt while reading this book. I felt love, sadness, longing and anxiety, all wrapped up in 336 pages. Oddly enough, one of the main themes of this book is nostalgia and how our past memories can influence the character we become in our personal life story. There is no doubt that Matt designed a masterpiece that could leave any reader dramatically in love. The writing was extraordinary, a trait that dripped off of each page. Matt is one of the most poetic and beautiful writers I've read so far, which made this slow read much more entertaining.

Tom was initially hard to relate to. Not because he was a grown man. I discovered a while later that Matt had truly created a character that you could just tell lived many lives, through many decades. He was an old soul, a person in love with how simple the world used to be and yet bared the scars to prove that he had truly felt pain during these simpler times. He felt loss and love throughout his life, experiences that ultimately influenced the man he grew up to be.

Despite loving how deep this character went, I found myself steadily drifting off. Not because the writing hadn't intrigued me. Seriously, Matt Haig is a writer in it's truest form. But, there was so much living to read through. Tom had many interesting and influential memories that just had to be told. But, there were a few memories that honestly could have been left out. The storyline drifted from the point at times, which I could understand because I didn't see one specific point of this novel.

The description and promotion for the book made it seem like a love story - an epic one at that. But, to be clear for future readers, this is not only a love story. In fact, the 'love' aspect of this story is subtle. It takes a backseat in many parts of the story, allowing the true story to shine. Tom is the story. His quest in life is to find his daughter but in a large way, I felt like Tom's story was about finally belonging. The world had changed, his family has been stripped away from him and he was an anomaly that was encouraged to hide his extraordinary ability. Yes, I understand the secrecy. You have to understand why he chose loneliness in-order to understand who Tom is. Loneliness had become him and as he dove into his past, he allowed us to see why he had become the man he is today.

The ending took me by surprise because it was all neatly wrapped up in the space of a few chapters. I had walked miles with Tom by this point, which included love stories, famous meetings with great writers and lonely walks in the park with a lovable dog. I simply wanted all of this history and effort to matter in an extraordinary way. The writer clearly knew his history throughout this book, showing off his knowledge on almost every page. And this is why I wanted epic. I needed an epic ending.

It's a slow read, one that deserves long rainy evenings with a good cup of something warm beside you. Tom might be a bit hard to relate to at first but settle in, let the creativity and pure talent of the writer take you away.

Book was sent to me by Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.

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A girl’s quest for perfection results in dangerous consequences in this layered, suspenseful YA novel by the author of Playlist for the Dead.

How far would you go to be perfect?

Kara has the perfect life. She gets perfect grades. She never messes up. Until now. Because perfection is an illusion, and Kara has been struggling to maintain it for as long as she can remember. With so much pressure to succeed, it’s hard not to do whatever it takes.

But when Kara takes a new underground drug to help her ace the SATs, she doesn’t expect to get a text from a blocked sender, telling her to follow a set of mysterious instructions—or risk her dark secret getting out. Soon she finds herself part of a group of teens with secrets of their own, who are all under the thumb of the same anonymous texter. And if they don’t find a way to stop the blackmailer, their perfect futures will go up in flames.

This dark, emotionally resonant contemporary YA novel is perfect for fans of We Were Liars and The Secret History.

REVIEW

How far would you go to be perfect?

Kara is a young girl who excels at everything and it’s expected of her to do well because she’s ‘Perfect Kara’. Her parents and teachers put pressure on her to succeed – she internalizes this and adds more pressure on herself to be perfect, which is impossible.

There’s an innocence to Kara that you can relate to because she’s a nice person, she obeys her parents, she’s a good friend, she’s likable, but she’s also vain. She comes across an imperfection that needs to be covered, which unlocks a hosts of other demons that were lurking beyond the surface. In a bid to get through her SATs, she takes something to calm her nerves that brings with it a world of trouble, lies and secrets.

This is a book that deals with anxiety and panic attacks, something that a lot of us might deal with but not actually know we have: why do you always wear your hair down to hide your ears that you feel might be too big, when ‘it’s not really such a big deal’? When you think of it like that, it makes the story more relatable.

The book was an easy read with wholesome characters that added to the story, but there was so much more that Michelle Falkoff could have explored. It felt as everything was just taken at face value, when there was a lot of unexplored material below the surface.

As soon as I saw the anonymous text, I immediately thought of Pretty Little Liars. The ending was unexpected (at least to me it was), but the outcome was way too easy. I thought it was unbelievably easy and it reminded me of Gossip Girl.

This book was okay and a lot of Kara’s problems could have been solved with honesty, trusting her friends, being allowed to make mistakes and have flaws like a human being and trusting herself.

- Christine

Book was sent to me by Jonathan Ball Publishers in-exchange for an honest review.

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For fans of Grace Helbig and Alexa Chung comes a fresh, hilarious guide to growing up your way from social media influencer and lifestyle vlogger Arden Rose.

In Almost Adulting — perfect for budding adults, failing adults, and eaters of microwave mug brownies — Arden tells you how to survive your future adulthood. Topics include:

-Making internet friends who are cool and not murderers

-Flirting with someone in a way to make them think you are cool and not a murderer

-Being in an actual relationship where you talk about your feelings in a healthy manner??? To the other person???????

-Eating enough protein

-Assembling a somewhat acceptable adult wardrobe when you have zero dollars

-Going on adventures without starting to smell

-How sex is supposed to feel, but, like, actually though

By the end of the book — a mash-up of essays, lists, and artwork — you'll have learned not only how to dress yourself, how to travel alone, how to talk to strangers online, and how to date strangers (in PERSON!), but also how to pass as a real, functioning, appropriately socialized adult.

REVIEW

Here's the thing... I don't like self-help books.

I'm not hating on the entire genre, especially since I have literally seen people change because of these helpful books. But, we're all different and these books just aren't for me. That being said, this opening statement doesn't mean I didn't enjoy this quirky little gem - specifically designed for young adults approaching the big 'grown up' stage. I was surprised by how fast I sped through Almost Adulting, blaming it on the easy style of writing and relatable stories. Made up of essays, list and funny little drawings, this successfully grabbed my attention for a solid few hours.

Arden tackles many issues plaguing young adults today, including body image, mental health and sex. She doesn't have any medical degree behind her that could back everything she's saying. Instead, the famous YouTuber relies on her own experiences to deliver wisdom. I appreciated her attempt at discussing mental illness, especially now that the world is evolving and the stigma surrounding these illnesses are still staying firm. Relating to her battles and reading about how she came out of that dark time helps anyone realize that there is a way to overcome your struggles. These heavy topics, which could place anyone in a dark mood for hours, were delivered in a funny way that helped lighten the mood and place you in great spirits.

"Just do whatever it is that you’re second-guessing. Unless the thing you are contemplating doing is meth. Don’t do meth.”

Even though I laughed, had multiple "that's so me" moments and applauded Arden for her blatant honesty when it came to sex, I don't regard this as a self-help book. I would call this a memoir instead, something that Arden's fans could appreciate more. The book mostly revolved around Arden telling us about HER life and what SHE experienced. She then tells you what she thinks you should take from her stories but as soon as you start to understand what she's trying to say... she ends it off with 'but you do you'. There were so many contradictions within her writing. At one point she would give you advice and tell you what to never do but she'll turn around real quick and sort of wash her hands clean by saying something around the lines of 'it's your life, so make your own choices'.

I also felt like this book was a love letter to her boyfriend Will, another YouTube sensation apparently. She documents their everyday life, how they met and all the little cute things they do together. I'm all for love but there were times she unnecessarily dragged Will into a chapter that had nothing to do with him. These would usually be about how having him saved her and he helped her through her hard times and his so supported and and and... But, here is my issue: what about the girls that don't have a Will? There are a lot of girls that could read this book and think that they need a guy to save them and help them through a tough time. If you're going to write a self-help book then you need to teach somehow how they can survive without the aid of a boyfriend/girlfriend.

These minor issues bugged me but I still had a great time reading this book. Her personality bounced off every page, making the book personal in many ways. I enjoyed her kind wisdom and the issues she addressed are part of the stark reality we have all come to know as 'normal'. She taught me new ways to address mental illness and encouraged me to judge less. During October, also known as Mental Awareness Month, I want to spread this advice and inspire all my readers to educate yourself on the various illnesses. Not only for yourself, but for your friends, family, co-workers and neighbours.

- Tina

Book was sent to me by Jonathan Ball Publishers in-exchange for an honest review.

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Pushing Perfect by Michelle Falkoff

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