Tag: fantasy

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon [BOOK REVIEW] The bittersweet taste is still between my fingers, just as I am closing the book. But one thing is for sure - this story doesn't end here and I'll sure as hell read the next book. The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon [BOOK REVIEW]
Book Review · Books

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon [BOOK REVIEW]

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The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon [BOOK REVIEW]

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:

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon [BOOK REVIEW]


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:

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon [BOOK REVIEW]

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.

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Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris [BOOK REVIEW] Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris [BOOK REVIEW]
Book Review · Books

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris [BOOK REVIEW]

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Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris [BOOK REVIEW]

If you’ve read my review for Dead Until Dark, you already know my feelings before getting into Living Dead in Dallas. I wasn’t impressed with this book, but I will continue reading the series.

About The Book:

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris [BOOK REVIEW]


Pages: 279

Format I read it in: Paperback

Publisher: Gollancz

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

★★★

Synopsis:

Sookie’s co-worker is killed outside the bar where she works, and very shortly after, she has a dangerous encounter with a mythological creature that wants to deliver a message. On top of that, Sookie and Bill are sent to Dallas, trying to locate a missing vampire. Things escalate, and now both humans and vampires might be in a grave danger.

My Thoughts:

It’s a big shame I can’t get over the fact that I don’t like Sookie. If she was annoying in the first book, she’s twice as annoying in this one. Her inner monologues are terrible, and her personality even worse still. When I was reading her story, it felt like someone was taking about a 12-year-old. She still believes people should treat her in a special way because she can read minds, but she doesn’t mind being treated by Bill as if she were a possession. She’s the first one to judge people for not being modest, but she flirts with people and vampires whilst she has a boyfriend and is also involved in some interesting situations involving sex. I think I’ll stop here, because I’ve already decided Sookie’s not the reason I like this book series, so time to move on.

In the first book, I liked Bill for his maturity, but his behaviour, especially towards Sookie didn’t impress me. I also think he didn’t get much time in the book, and hopefully his behaviour in the next book will improve. Luckily, Eric was here to make up for it. Now he’s a vampire I like. He intrigued me a lot and I want to see more of Eric. And as much as I don’t like Sookie, I liked her scenes with him and I foor for her and Eric to be together at some point.

The beginning of the book already made me realise some of the bigger issues this book has. Firstly, with this Church, or so called, Fellowship of the Sun. The characters in this book are racist. Starting with Sookie’s co-worker, who I won’t name because of spoilers, but is well known for fans of the TV Show. He is the only (so far) black friend that Sookie has met. And when he is killed, there are many things she says that are not okay. Not to mention the thoughts she also reads from other people in the town.

The Fellowship of the Sun

Living Dead in Dallas is the book where we meet The Fellowship of the Sun. The members of this cult are people that hate vampires, and not only think that vampires should go back to hiding, but they want vampires dead too.

“What the Klan was to African Americans, the Fellowship of the Sun was to vampires.”

Then, we get to these people from the Church, who discriminate the vampires. And later on, we even get to meet one vampire, who is gay and a pedophile, but because he chooses the way of God and decides to “meet the sun”, is forgiven for his sins. Godfrey is actually one of my favourite characters in this book, together with Eric, but I don’t think the other characters should have handled his sins in the way they did. I also might be biased from watching the TV Show, as Godfrey and Eric had a way better story and plot than they did in this book. Regarding the Fellowship of the Sun, I expected much more to this. However, as some of the characters are still around, I have a feeling that we might read more from them in the next books.

I liked the involvement of other creatures too, not only the vampires. I liked Sam’s little side story that tangled with Sookie’s experience in Dallas, although I wasn’t too keen on her being so inquisitive on his romantic life, when it’s none of her business. On the subject of vampires, however, I really enjoyed the rules the vampires have and their ranks and statuses. Even their punishment, if someone betrays them, although quite cruel, they seemed fair.

To my surprise, we do get to meet Tara in this book. But if you’re a fan to the TV show, she’s nothing like Sookie’s bestie that we know and love. Here, she is more interested in accompanying Eggs to orgies, one of which Sookie joins as well. But I won’t get into how that happens and why and let you read that bit for yourself.

Summary

Overall, I quite enjoyed Living Dead in Dallas although there are a lot of questions and things that don’t sit quite right with me at all. It took me on a fantasy adventure full of vampires and kept me intrigued until the end. I didn’t like Sookie, but the many incredible side characters made up for that. I will continue the series, as I am a bit invested now, and I look forward to see what Club Dead has in store for me.

About The Author:

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris [BOOK REVIEW]

Charlaine Harris Schulz is an American author who specializes in mysteries. She is best known for her book series The Southern Vampire Mysteries, which was adapted as the TV series True Blood. The television show was a critical and financial success for HBO, running seven seasons, from 2008 through 2014.

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Hollow City (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #2) by Ransom Riggs [BOOK REVIEW] Hollow City (Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children #2) by Ransom Riggs [BOOK REVIEW]
Book Review · Books

Hollow City (Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children #2) by Ransom Riggs [BOOK REVIEW]

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I wanted to read Hollow City as soon as I finished Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. And now, after finishing Hollow City, there’s only one thing I want to do. Immediately start Library of Souls – the third book in the series.

About The Book:


Pages: 428

Format I read it in: Paperback

Publisher: Quirk Books

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

★★★★★

Synopsis:

We start where we left off, as soon as the children escape the island, they realise foes are everywhere. Everyone is out there to get them and now they need to save Miss Peregrine as well. Get prepared to join these peculiar children and go through many different loops, discovering other peculiars. And most importantly, saving the woman that has been taking care of them all throughout these whole years.

My Thoughts:

The first thing I loved about this book was the beginning. I loved the eerie theme that the books starts with. Travelling at sea and getting from one island to another is a great start to project the turbulent experience all of these children are about to experience.

“I, too, said a silent goodbye, to a place that had changed me forever – and the place that, more than any graveyard, would forever contain the memory, and the mystery, of my grandfather.”

Their adventure, albeit very dangerous, was also very thrilling to me as a reader. Witnessing the children surviving and discovering new places, new destinations and new loops was a blast. Firstly, we get to visit a loop that was only supposed to be a story they read about in a book. A myth that actually turns to be true. And not only that, but we also meet some of the most peculiar creatures with the most incredible personalities. New quest to add to my personal journal – find yourself a chicken that lays explosive eggs. Because why not.

“But you can’t feel bad every second, I wanted to tell her. Laughing doesn’t make bad things worse any more than crying makes them better. It doesn’t mean you don’t care, or that you’ve forgotten. It just means you’re human.

The children then continue their journey, encountering a few caravans with Gypsies. This part of the book was the most exciting one for me. The fear the children have melts from the hospitaling of these lovely people. And although they’re on a mission and surrounded by danger, for once they felt safe. Meeting Radi, the son of Bekhir and reading about his story was incredible. I could almost feel how he felt and could only imagine how hard making choices must be in his situation.

“In that moment I was deeply grateful to the Gypsies, and for the simple mindedness of the animal part of my brain; that a hot meal and a song and a smile from someone I cared about could be enough to distract me from all that darkness, if only for a little while.”

Hollow City was so good, I even started liking Jacob a bit, especially towards the end of the book. I am not so sure how I felt about Emma in the end, though. She was trying to make decisions that weren’t hers to make, and that really put her in my bad books. I think Library of Souls will probably cover more of this section and answer some questions for me. Also, a little tip – don’t read this series alongside the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin. There’s a big chance Emma and Melisandre to clash as the same character. Fire and age, well, what do I know. 🙂

“She thought they were weak and cowardly – that they’d taken the easy way out. I couldn’t help wondering, though, if these peculiars simply knew more than we did about what the wights did with their captives. Maybe we would choose death, too, if we knew.”

Ransom Riggs impressed me again, and I am so happy I read Hollow City. Once again, the photographs were amazing. But even more important than that, is how Ransom took these photographs, and made them into a story. All whilst making them in an order that compliments the reading perfectly. He is truly a master of his craft.

Please pick it up! To escape reality and enter a peculiar world! To meet children who are so incredibly unique. And to witness a new world, full of time-manipulation, adventure and grave danger. Pick Hollow City – to experience childhood again, for it is the most confusing, interesting and amusing part of all our lives. And also, the most peculiar.

“There was romance in the unknown, but once a place had been discovered and cataloged and mapped, it was diminished, just another dusty fact in a book, sapped of mystery. So maybe it was better to leave a few sports on the map blank. To let the world keep a little of its magic, rather than forcing it to divulge every last secret.”

About The Author:

Hi, I’m Ransom, and I like to tell stories. Sometimes I tell them with words, sometimes with pictures, often with both. I grew up on a farm on the Eastern shore of Maryland and also in a little house by the beach in Englewood, Florida where I got very tan and swam every day until I became half fish. I started writing stories when I was young, on an old typewriter that jammed and longhand on legal pads.

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Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth [BOOK REVIEW] Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth [BOOK REVIEW]
Book Review · Books

Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth [BOOK REVIEW]

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Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth [BOOK REVIEW]

Before I dive into the lengthy review of Divergent by Veronica Roth, I have to say one thing. I truly need to stop watching the movie adaptations before I read the books. It happened with the Divergent series. Then it continued with Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children. It also happened with The Hunger Games and Harry Potter. I need a special app that won’t let me watch a movie adaptation, unless that book title is on my “Read” shelf in Goodreads.

About The Book:

Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth [BOOK REVIEW]


Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s

Pages: 487

Format I read it in: Paperback

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

★★★★★

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Tris is forced to make a terrible choice. In a divided society where everyone must conform, Tris does not fit.

So she ventures out alone, determined to discover where she truly belongs. Shocked by her brutal new life Tris can trust no one. And yet she is drawn to a boy who seems to both threaten and protect her.

The hardest choice lies ahead.

My Thoughts:

Even having watched the movie first, Divergent was such a fun experience. I loved diving into this dystopian world, getting to know Tris. I wish I read it sooner. This book just proves that Young-Adult fantasy is still a favourite genre of mine, no matter how much older I get.

The factions were really interesting to me, and I was curious to see which faction I would belong to. Funnily enough, I am pretty sure I am a Divergent. And also, I think actually, all of us are too. You can never really fit into just one faction. We all carry a little bit of every trait, one more than the other. Humans are also curious by nature. We want to explore different things, learn new things. Our choices, wishes and goals in life also change all the time. And I loved how Veronica Roth took this topic, this ideam and expanded it into its extreme. By that, giving us a dystopian world with a brave female lead.

“Working together, these five factions have lived in peace for many years, each contributing to a different sector of society. Abnegation has fulfilled our need for selfless leaders in government; Candor has provided us with trustworthy and sound leaders in law; Erudite has supplied us with intelligent teachers and researchers; Amity has given us understanding counselors and caretakers; and Dauntless provides us with protection from threats both within and without.”

I especially loved Tris’s journey with the Dauntless. Also her dilemmas, and the need for her to make a choice of what feels right and what people expect of her to do. I was also very in love with Four. He is my book crush right now, and I cannot help, but adore him.

“We believe in the ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.”

Everything about the book, from storylines, to world building, to character development was so well executed. Every little thing had its own meaning, nothing felt excessive or out of place. It gripped me from the very beginning and kept me hooked until the very end. I still have to buy and read the rest of the series, and I cannot wait to start the next book.

I definitely recommend you pick this up if you love dystopian fantasies. Divergent is popular for a very good reason, and definitely deserves the hype.

About The Author:

Veronica Roth is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Divergent series (Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant, and Four: A Divergent Collection), the Carve the Mark duology (Carve the Mark, the Fates Divide), The End and Other Beginnings collection of short fiction, Chosen Ones, and many short stories and essays. She lives in Chicago.

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Brambles (Dauntless Path #0.5) by Intisar Khanani [BOOK REVIEW] Brambles (Dauntless Path #0.5) by Intisar Khanani [BOOK REVIEW]
Book Review · Books

Brambles (Dauntless Path #0.5) by Intisar Khanani [BOOK REVIEW]

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Brambles (Dauntless Path #0.5) by Intisar Khanani [BOOK REVIEW]

I am so glad that the author, Intisar Khanani, sent me an ARC e-copy of Brambles. Brambles is a prequel to Thorn, and is a part of the Dauntless Path series. I absolutely adored Thorn, and you can read my review of it HERE. When I heard there is a prequel, I was immediately sold!

About The Book:

Brambles (Dauntless Path #0.5) by Intisar Khanani [BOOK REVIEW]


Publisher: Harper Teen

Pages: 40

Format I read it in: Uncorrected Proof – ebook

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

Synopsis:

In the kingdom of Adania, everyone knows what Princess Alyrra did to earn the court’s contempt, her mother’s disdain, and her brother’s hatred.

She betrayed her own.

Yet, the truth hides another story, one of honor and honesty, of a princess gambling her own life for another’s. It’s a tale of courage and consequences, and a choice that can never be undone.

A short story prequel to her multi-starred fantasy, Thorn, Intisar Khanani’s “Brambles” gives Alyrra’s account of what really happened all those years ago, and how a few critical days turned her life into a daily fight for survival.

My Thoughts:

In Brambles, we get to meet princess Alyrra before she is betrothed. We also meet her family and Valka as well. As short as this book was, it was filled with a lot of emotion, as well as a good moral story of doing what is right. Valka enjoyed messing up with the servants and ruining their lives, and when Alyrra stood up to her, it was at this point that everything changed.

Alyrra did what was right, but it was interesting to see her brother and her mother’s reactions. Clearly, their reputation was much more important to them than integrity. It is also in Brambles that we witness Alyrra’s brother and how cruel he can be. And most importantly, it is here we witness her first connection with the wind.

If you have already read Thorn, Brambles will be such a delight for you. It has Easter eggs hidden in it, and it also shows us a different side to the characters in more depth than we get to know them in Thorn. It is also lovely to see Alyrra’s life before she needs to move to the city, and how she behaves when nobody is watching.

But at the same time – if this is the first book you decide to pick up from this series, it is a perfect introduction to the story that’s about to follow. You’ll get to meet Alyrra and find out more about the circumstances she lives in. Intisar Khanani beautifully created a loop of content, that no matter which book you choose to read first, it will be a delight nevertheless.

I still find it amusing how the author managed to create such a compelling and intriguing prequel in only 40 pages.

Rating:

★★★★

About The Author:

Intisar Khanani grew up a nomad and world traveler. Born in Wisconsin, she has lived in five different states as well as in Jeddah on the coast of the Red Sea. She currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband and two young daughters. Prior to publishing her novels, Intisar worked as a public health consultant on projects relating to infant mortality and minority health, which was as close as she could get to saving the world. Now she focuses her time on her two passions: raising her family and writing fantasy.

Intisar is the author of the Dauntless Path books (Thorn, The Theft of Sunlight), and her indie epic fantasy series, The Sunbolt Chronicles.

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