Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber [BOOK REVIEW]

February 27, 2022February 27, 2022 innah96Leave a comment

Twin Crowns was such a magical read. From the moment I read the synopsis, I wanted to know more about these two sister twins. The action starts from the very first page, and it never stops. Even when it ended, I was immediately craving to read the second book in the Twin Crowns series. Needless to say, I will be pestering and stalking both authors for book spoilers and updates.

About The Book:

Pages: 512

Format I read it in: Paperback / Limited Edition Uncorrected Proof

Publisher: Electric Monkey

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

★★★★★

Synopsis:

Two sisters. One throne. Who will ultimately rise to power and wear the crown?

Wren Greenrock has always known that one day she would steal her sister’s place in the palace. Trained from birth to avenge her parents’ murder and usurp the princess, she will do anything to rise to power and protect the community of witches she loves.

Princess Rose Valhart knows that with power comes responsibility including marriage into a brutal kingdom. Life outside the palace walls is a place to be feared and she is soon to discover that it’s wilder than she ever imagined.

Twin sisters separated at birth and raised into entirely different worlds are about to get to know each other’s lives a whole lot better…

My Thoughts:

The royal theme entwined with magic really hooked me. The stories about the witches were some of my favourite scenes whilst reading this book. All the awful things that happened to them, things that were done to them. How they were forced to go into hiding and give up so many things, the throne being one of them. However, what really made me love them was the willpower for them to keep fighting. They never give up and finally come back to fight for what truly belongs to them.

“When you break open the stone heart of Anadawn Palace and seize your rightful place on its throne, all the winds of Eana will sing your name. May the courage of the witches go with you, my little bird.”

I also loved that this book features twin sisters.

I was very glad that we didn’t have any of those stereotypical moments that authors like to do with twins. It was such a relief! Wren and Rose are two completely different people with different personalities, and this book really explores that. They are both so very lovable in their own unique way. I connected with Wren slightly more than I did with Rose. Perhaps due to the fact that Wren is more adventurous, outspoken and sarcastic. However, Rose is also amazing – and her story is very emotional. The development she is going through is inspiring. It’s not easy to suddenly realise that your whole life has been based on lies, and now you are away from home and have to relearn everything from the beginning.

“I imagine the battles a princess must fight don’t often call for knives and swords.”

Everything about this book captivated me. The world, the twin sisters, the witches… Then Tor and Shen, the Cliffs, the desert and the unknown places we are still yet to explore. I can vividly imagine every detail in this world, because it was so perfectly described. The story itself carried excitement and suspense at the end of each chapter. It made me desperate to keep reading. And the chapters swapping between Wren and Rose’s points of view only add up to the fast pace the book has.

The romance in this book is adorable.

We have a few slow burn romances entwined with humour. I am so invested in these people’s relationships and I can’t wait to read about their happy ever afters. The bonds that they make are very wholesome and adorable, and I am here for it.

Rose glared at him. “Do you always talk to women the way you talk to your horse?”
“You should be flattered. There’s no one in this world I respect more than Storm.”

I also had the privilege to attend two online meetings and meet both authors. They shared so many incredible details about the book, the places and the motivation behind it. Reading this book with some amazing bookstagrammers as part of a readalong and also whilst chatting with the authors made this book very special to me. I will forever cherish that experience!

To sum up, although I could go on forever, please pick this book up! It’s the magic YA fantasy you’ve been yearning for. As soon as you finish the first chapter and the magic starts working, you won’t be able to put Twin Crowns down. I am sure Wren’s enchantment spells have something to do with this!

About The Authors:

Catherine Doyle grew up in the West of Ireland. She holds a first-class BA in Psychology and a first-class MA in Publishing. She is the author of the Young Adult Blood for Blood trilogy (Vendetta, Inferno and Mafiosa), which is often described as Romeo and Juliet meets the Godfather. Her debut Middle Grade novel, The Storm Keeper’s Island (Bloomsbury, 2018), is an adventure story about family, bravery and self-discovery.

Aside from more conventional interests in movies, running and travelling, Catherine also enjoys writing about herself in the third-person.

Katherine Webber was born in Southern California in 1987. She currently lives in London with her husband, Kevin, and their young daughter. In addition to her YA, Katherine also co-writes young fiction, as Katie Tsang, with Kevin.

She loves an adventure, whether it is found in a book or in real life and has travelled to over 45 countries. Travel, books, and eating out are her favourite indulgences.

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman [BOOK REVIEW]

February 15, 2022February 15, 2022 innah96Leave a comment

The Devouring Gray has a very gripping introduction. I love a trope when a new person comes to town. And add to this a small town with founding families that all keep secrets. Very creepy small town setting and danger looming. I loved this book and can’t wait for the next one.

About The Book:

Pages: 389

Format I read it in: Paperback

Publisher: Titan Books

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

★★★★

Synopsis:

Branches and stones, daggers and bones,
They locked the Beast away.

After the death of her sister, seventeen-year-old Violet Saunders finds herself dragged to Four Paths, New York. Violet may be a newcomer, but she soon learns her mother isn’t: They belong to one of the revered founding families of the town, where stone bells hang above every doorway and danger lurks in the depths of the woods.

Justin Hawthorne’s bloodline has protected Four Paths for generations from the Gray—a lifeless dimension that imprisons a brutal monster. After Justin fails to inherit his family’s powers, his mother is determined to keep this humiliation a secret. But Justin can’t let go of the future he was promised and the town he swore to protect.

Ever since Harper Carlisle lost her hand to an accident that left her stranded in the Gray for days, she has vowed revenge on the person who abandoned her: Justin Hawthorne. There are ripples of dissent in Four Paths, and Harper seizes an opportunity to take down the Hawthornes and change her destiny-to what extent, even she doesn’t yet know.

The Gray is growing stronger every day, and its victims are piling up. When Violet accidentally unleashes the monster, all three must band together with the other Founders to unearth the dark truths behind their families’ abilities—before the Gray devours them all.

My Thoughts:

It was so easy for me to get sucked into the story. Even though we have four founding families with a lot of characters and different histories, it wasn’t too hard to understand how they all fit into the story as a whole. If you have read “We Were Liars” by E. Lockhart, you can feel the same vibe from this book too. The adventures of the group, their personal stories, secrets and battles. Their eagerness to defeat the status quo and the Gray.

“She thought about heroes, and villains, and legends, and monsters. And decided that whoever told the story was more powerful than all of them.”

Without spoiling anything, the danger that looms over this town is unique. There is a strangeness and an eeriness. The spookiness that an episode of “Stranger Things” can bring. And in this whole world, where things are very real, but they seem very unreal, we have our main characters. They make this fictional town seem very real. They make us readers believe this is the normal, and I believed them throughout the book. The family roots and history tales, the power and responsibility they carry. Their bravery to fight something they know is very dangerous.

Violet was my first favourite character. But very shortly after she arrived, Harper because the queen in my eyes. And then all of them, every single one of them. Now, I am most intrigued by Isaac. But maybe because his story is not told in full. He’s yet to share the full tale and when he does, I’ll be here for it.

“People could hurt each other without being monsters. And they could love each other without being saints.”

The Devouring Gray is that YA fantasy thriller that you’ve been waiting for. It will give you the chills and the feels. New girl comes in town with a mystery town eerie twist is something that should intrigue anyone. I will be eagerly waiting for book 2.

About The Author:

Born in New York City but raised in Japan and Hong Kong, Christine Lynn Herman subscribes to the firm philosophy that home is where her books are. She returned to the United States for college, where she traded out a subtropical climate for harsh, snowy winters and an Honors English degree at the University of Rochester. Currently, Christine and her books reside in Brooklyn, along with her partner and their extremely spoiled cat.

Her debut novel, THE DEVOURING GRAY, will be released by Disney Hyperion on April 2, 2019, with a sequel to come the following year.

Books · Monthly Tags

February TBR 2022 – The TBR Raffle

February 9, 2022February 9, 2022 innah96Leave a comment

Hello, fellow readers!

A week later, but better late than never – here’s my February TBR.

You probably already know this, but just a reminder that I share my current reading updates on my Instagram posts and stories, and my Goodreads and Storygraph account, so don’t forget to follow my Instagram and other socials (all listed at the bottom of the blog) to see what I am reading at any given time during this month. Sometimes my TBR varies, as I add additional books during the month.

Before I start my February TBR, as this is still the beginning of 2022, I want to add that there are a few challenges that I have chosen to participate in. Firstly, I am doing the PopSugar Challenge of 2022, The StoryGraph’s Onboarding Reading Challenge 2022 and a few other small monthly challenges that are organised either by myself or by fellow readers.

And with that being said, let the February TBR commence.

The February TBR Raffle

I am filming my TBRs on my Instagram Stories. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, and check my Raffle draw (usually posted as a highlight or a reel).

My TBR Raffle game is simple: I have a number of prompts that I put in small papers, into a jar. I draw a prompt, and I fit in a book that matches my prompt. Here is a list of the current prompts I have. Feel free to leave any prompt suggestions in the comments. Once the paper is drawn, I put it back into the jar, so it has an equal chance to get drawn again. I draw a total of 5 prompts, which result in 5 books for the month. If I fail to read a book, it automatically goes into the next month.

My February TBR

✨ 1. Giveaway

Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier is a book I won as a giveaway, and it came together with a kit for making pizzas. I, of course, made the pizza and ate it immediately, but never had the chance to get to the book. When this prompt came up, it was easy to pick it up.

Synopsis:

Eighteen years old, pregnant, and working as a pizza delivery girl, our dysfunctional heroine is deeply lost and in complete denial about it all.

Her world is further upended when she becomes obsessed with Jenny, a stay-at-home mother new to the neighbourhood.

As one woman looks toward motherhood and the other toward middle age, the relationship between the two begins to blur in strange and ultimately heartbreaking ways.

Bold, tender, and unexpected, Pizza Girl is a moving and funny portrait of a flawed, unforgettable young woman as she tries to find her place in the world.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

✨ 2. Beautiful Cover

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman was my choice, because I love the neon pink on the cover. Although, I have to admit, the competition was ruthless. Also, the synopsis sounds thrilling, and I am already half-way through it whilst writing this blog post, and can tell you I am loving it so far!

Synopsis:

Branches and stones, daggers and bones,
They locked the Beast away.

After the death of her sister, seventeen-year-old Violet Saunders finds herself dragged to Four Paths, New York. Violet may be a newcomer, but she soon learns her mother isn’t: They belong to one of the revered founding families of the town, where stone bells hang above every doorway and danger lurks in the depths of the woods.

Justin Hawthorne’s bloodline has protected Four Paths for generations from the Gray—a lifeless dimension that imprisons a brutal monster. After Justin fails to inherit his family’s powers, his mother is determined to keep this humiliation a secret. But Justin can’t let go of the future he was promised and the town he swore to protect.

Ever since Harper Carlisle lost her hand to an accident that left her stranded in the Gray for days, she has vowed revenge on the person who abandoned her: Justin Hawthorne. There are ripples of dissent in Four Paths, and Harper seizes an opportunity to take down the Hawthornes and change her destiny-to what extent, even she doesn’t yet know.

The Gray is growing stronger every day, and its victims are piling up. When Violet accidentally unleashes the monster, all three must band together with the other Founders to unearth the dark truths behind their families’ abilities—before the Gray devours them all.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

✨ 3. Series

After reading The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski and really loving it, I am desperate to dive into the Witcher series and read more about Geralt of Rivia. Getting series as my prompt was the perfect excuse.

Synopsis:

For more than a hundred years humans, dwarves, gnomes and elves lived together in relative peace. But times have changed, the uneasy peace is over and now the races once again fight each other – and themselves: Dwarves are killing their kinsmen, and elves are murdering humans and elves, at least those elves who are friendly to humans… Into this tumultuous time is born a child for whom the witchers of the world have been waiting.

Ciri, the granddaughter of Queen Calanthe, the Lioness of Cintra, has strange powers and a stranger destiny, for prophecy names her the Flame, one with the power to change the world – for good, or for evil… Geralt, the witcher of Rivia, has taken Ciri to the relative safety of the Witchers’ Settlement, but it soon becomes clear that Ciri isn’t like the other witchers. As the political situation grows ever dimmer and the threat of war hangs almost palpably over the land, Geralt searches for someone to train Ciri’s unique powers.

But someone else has an eye on the young girl, someone who understand exactly what the prophecy means – and exactly what Ciri’s power can do. This time Geralt may have met his match.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

✨ 4. Sent by Publisher

I am very privileged to receive a lot of book form publishers, so this was also a very difficult one. But I couldn’t not choose Extasia by Claire Legrand – it’s a new YA horror novel and it’s coming out this month, so I am so excited to be picking it up and reading it for its publication month.

Synopsis:

Her name is unimportant.

All you must know is that today she will become one of the four saints of Haven. The elders will mark her and place the red hood on her head. With her sisters, she will stand against the evil power that lives beneath the black mountain–an evil which has already killed nine of her village’s men.

She will tell no one of the white-eyed beasts that follow her. Or the faceless gray women tall as houses. Or the girls she saw kissing in the elm grove.

Today she will be a saint of Haven. She will rid her family of her mother’s shame at last and save her people from destruction. She is not afraid. Are you?

This searing and lyrically written novel by the critically acclaimed author of Sawkill Girls beckons readers to follow its fierce heroine into a world filled with secrets and blood–where the truth is buried in lies and a devastating power waits, seething, for someone brave enough to use it.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

✨ 5. Instragam Scroll

This may have been the first time this prompt has come up in the raffle. When I get this one, I scroll through my Instagram feed, until I find a book posted that I own. When scrolling, The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli came up. It’s a book I won as a giveaway, but one which I am very excited to start.

Synopsis:

In the beginning, there was the Namsara: the child of sky and spirit, who carried love and laughter wherever he went. But where there is light, there must be darkness—and so there was also the Iskari. The child of blood and moonlight. The destroyer. The death-bringer.

These are the legends that Asha, daughter of the king of Firgaard, has grown up learning in hushed whispers, drawn to the forbidden figures of the past. But it isn’t until she becomes the fiercest, most feared dragon slayer in the land that she takes on the role of the next Iskari—a lonely destiny that leaves her feeling more like a weapon than a girl.

Asha conquers each dragon and brings its head to the king, but no kill can free her from the shackles that await at home: her betrothal to the cruel commandant, a man who holds the truth about her nature in his palm. When she’s offered the chance to gain her freedom in exchange for the life of the most powerful dragon in Firgaard, she finds that there may be more truth to the ancient stories than she ever could have expected. With the help of a secret friend—a slave boy from her betrothed’s household—Asha must shed the layers of her Iskari bondage and open her heart to love, light, and a truth that has been kept from her.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

✨ 6. Sent By Publisher

The team at Avon have been kind enough to send me a paperback copy of The Lighthouse by Fran Dorricott, which is being published in February as well. I think it’s the mystery/thriller book I will need to break apart my YA fantasies this month, and I think it will be amazing!

Synopsis:

No one expected them to go there. The question is: will any of them leave?

Six friends travel to a remote island north of the Scottish Highlands for an old school reunion. They’ve rented The Lighthouse – a stunning, now abandoned building that was once notorious for deaths at sea.

On the first evening, someone goes missing. The group search all through the night to no avail. But when the five remaining friends return to the lighthouse early the next morning, they are shocked to find James inside. He’s looks terrified – but won’t say a word about where he’s been.

The party vow to put the strange night behind them and enjoy the rest of their stay, but when more unexplained things begin to occur, tensions escalate. It’s clear James knows something, but nothing will persuade him to give up the secrets of the island. Is he protecting his friends from a terrible truth, or leading them into more danger?

A chilling, gripping and powerfully atmospheric suspense novel with a gothic edge.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

Make sure to follow me on Instagram, so you can stay up to date with my current updates during the month.

And that’s my February TBR. Have you read any of the above books? What is on your February TBR? Let me know in the comments!

Book Review · Books

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon [BOOK REVIEW]

February 7, 2022February 6, 2022 innah96Leave a comment

I was surprised by how much I really enjoyed The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon. When I picked the book up, I knew I was looking at an international bestseller, but I still had my doubts. Well, not anymore…

About The Book:

Pages: 452

Format I read it in: Paperback

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

★★★★

Synopsis:

The year is 2059. Nineteen-year-old Paige Mahoney is working in the criminal underworld of Scion London, based at Seven Dials, employed by a man named Jaxon Hall. Her job: to scout for information by breaking into people’s minds. For Paige is a dreamwalker, a clairvoyant and, in the world of Scion, she commits treason simply by breathing.

It is raining the day her life changes for ever. Attacked, drugged and kidnapped, Paige is transported to Oxford – a city kept secret for two hundred years, controlled by a powerful, otherworldly race. Paige is assigned to Warden, a Rephaite with mysterious motives. He is her master. Her trainer. Her natural enemy. But if Paige wants to regain her freedom she must allow herself to be nurtured in this prison where she is meant to die.

The Bone Season introduces a compelling heroine and also introduces an extraordinary young writer, with huge ambition and a teeming imagination. Samantha Shannon has created a bold new reality in this riveting debut.

My Thoughts:

The Bone Season gripped me from the start. Literally from the first chapter, I was alongside Paige, getting to know her clairvoyance as she’s discovering it herself. Paige is a character that you want to root for, but you also want to understand the other side, just to ensure she’s making the right decisions. Meeting the gang in the underworld of Scion London gave me an introduction of the dystopian world that Paige lives in. Clairvoyant people are being imprisoned left, right and centre, and when something goes horribly bad for Paige, she discovers that it could be much, much worse. And somehow she managed to end up there.

“I fitted with these people. They understood the strangeness of my world, a world I was only just beginning to discover.”

The world building in this book is on another level.

Samantha Shannon created a world with different orders of Clairvoyance. On top of that, she created dystopian cities and a different type of creatures that have a role to play as well. Through Paige, we meet so many vivid characters, all unique and lovable in their own way.

I loved the chapters when Paige would reminisce about her past. It helped me understand her so much better and it ties very well with the story in the present. I also loved how the parts with the past tie into the plot to create a plot twist in itself. I feel like every scene was created the way it was with a certain purpose. To serve a bigger role and to tie into the plot in one way or another. But it never felt as if a scene was written just for the sake of it.

One of my favourite parts in this book were the parts focusing on emotion.

There isn’t a romance in this book, so to speak. But there were moments of building connections. Of building trust. Times of sharing experiences, memories and big heartbreaks. But all these moments were an addition to a friendship that turned into a little bit more. It only complimented a personality, rather than become a main focus of the story, which made these moments even more special.

“I didn’t believe in hearts. I believed in dreamscapes and spirits. Those were what mattered. Those made money. But my heart had hurt that day. For the first time in my life, I’d been forced to acknowledge my heart, and acknowledge its fragility. It could be bruised. It could humiliate me.”

And that ending… When that ending happened, it shattered me in a very delicate way. I grieved for one reason, but felt joy for another. The bittersweet taste is still between my fingers, feeling it as I was closing the last pages. But there is one thing for sure – this story doesn’t end here and I’ll sure as hell read the next book in the series.

About The Author:

Samantha Shannon studied English Language and Literature at St. Anne’s College, Oxford. The Bone Season, the first in a seven-book series, was a New York Times bestseller and the inaugural Today Book Club selection.

Her next novel, The Priory of the Orange Tree, was published in February 2019 and became a New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller. Her work has been translated into twenty-six languages. She lives in London.

Book Review · Books

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid [BOOK REVIEW]

January 27, 2022January 27, 2022 innah963 Comments

Going into “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid, I knew I should be expecting something spectacular. And still, it managed to surprise me and leave me amazed.

About The Book:

Pages: 385

Format I read it in: Audiobook

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

★★★★

Synopsis:

Evelyn Hugo is one of the most renowned Hollywood actresses of her time. Over the years, she has made a true legacy with the many movies she has made and the Oscars she has won. And yet, what fans are always wondering about are her husbands. After all, Evelyn Hugo had seven husbands in her lifetime and managed to outlive them all. And now, in the 80’s, she’s ready to tell her story. But only if Monique is the one writing it.

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jump-start her career.

During the next few weeks, Evelyn shares all the secrets she has with Monique. It’s finally time for the world to know who Evelyn Hugo really is.

My Thoughts:

I can’t help but wonder how I would have felt it I had read the paperback copy of the book, instead of listening to it. And the more I think, the more convinced I am that I would have enjoyed the same. Except maybe I would have made more notes and captures a few more quotes. Listening to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo took me on a journey, that I’m not sure I was expecting, but it was one I most certainly needed.

Evelyn’s strong character and personality shines from the very first chapter. Having met some very big celebrities in my life, I could exactly picture that aura that she carries, where people walk on their tip toes when she’s around. That moment when you know you’re surrounded by greatness. That is Evelyn. And with every new page, I was more and more invested in what she had to say. Her determination is contagious. And her upbringing sad. The way men treat her is outrageous, but the way she lets them is even more aggravating. But she knows what she wants and she’s aware what she needs to do to get there.

“Be wary of men who need something to prove.”

And then Evelyn meets Celia, and things start to change, but also stay the same at the very same time. The relationship Evelyn has with Celia is so beautiful and so devastating. The happiness and the sadness that comes with it, and the burden of such a big secret that they have to bear. All because people are not ready to hear. The determination, sacrifices, love and hurt – with Evelyn I felt it all. And more.

Reading books that feature Hollywood celebrities is not my first pick, but I loved this book. I was hooked and couldn’t stop listening, from one chapter to the next. From one movie to the next one. And from one husband to another. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is sad, but beautiful. It was shocking, but not surprising to read about a Hollywood that has a certain idea of beauty and fame and a guidance on what’s right and what’s not.

I am so glad I picked this book up – it was definitely worth it. Both Evelyn and Monique and their unique stories really stuck to my heart, and I will cherish them always. 100% recommend.

About The Author:

Taylor Jenkins Reid is the New York Times bestselling author of Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones & The Six, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, as well as four other novels. Her newest novel, Malibu Rising, is out now. She lives in Los Angeles. You can follow her on Instagram @tjenkinsreid.

About The Book:

★★★★★

Synopsis:

My Thoughts:

I also loved that this book features twin sisters.

The romance in this book is adorable.

About The Authors:

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★★★★

Synopsis:

My Thoughts:

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Hello, fellow readers!

The February TBR Raffle

My February TBR

✨ 1. Giveaway

Synopsis:

✨ 2. Beautiful Cover

✨ 3. Series

✨ 4. Sent by Publisher

✨ 5. Instragam Scroll

✨ 6. Sent By Publisher

Synopsis:

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About The Book:

★★★★

Synopsis:

My Thoughts:

The world building in this book is on another level.

One of my favourite parts in this book were the parts focusing on emotion.

About The Author:

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About The Book:

★★★★

Synopsis:

My Thoughts:

About The Author:

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