Tuesday 25 March 2014

Aren't we all just….



In celebration of the almost nearness of Wednesday I want to share what I'm currently devouring with you…..


I can hardly wait to post my review of this absolutely amazing book, it will surely be a bitter sweet moment for me as it will mean that Ive finished and this world will be closed to me forever. As I'm sure you can appreciate I am taking as long as I possibly can and savouring every chapter. Godstars, I just never want it to end!

Stay tuned…. x

Wednesday 19 March 2014

All you need is a Spark

Amazingly Requiem For Readers has just cracked 5000 page views!!! I want to give a MASSIVE Thank you to all of my readers out there and to celebrate here is a special preview post for you… This little gem is due out next month, enjoy and thanks a million!xx


Moth & Spark - Anne Leonard
Available - April 2014

This is an adventurous fantasy debut for Anne Leonard and it sits quite comfortably in the traditional/historical fantasy camp with a medieval-esk world; swords, spies and intrigue, a great battle of empires and of course dragons!

What is not so traditional is the duel dialogue making both the male and female lead characters equally important even in a somewhat patriarchal society. The female protagonist Tam while being pegged as a commoner is clever, resourceful and practically minded, age both gives and receives strength from our Hero Prince Corin and effortlessly earns her place beside him. The dragons thankfully have a pivotal role, they aren't just a superfluous addition but a beautiful and rather complex layer that ties the story together. 

What I have to say I loved most however is the fact that it's a stand alone novel - in a domain that is fatigued with long winded series that often seem to have no end in sight this is a refreshing escape and a very promising introduction from Anne. 




















Which cover do you prefer?….

Monday 10 March 2014

Not Half Bad...

Half Bad - Sally Green
Available - Now!

Nathan is a witch, born from a long line of witches but where Nathan's story differs to his brethren is that he is the only half white/half bad 'mixed breed' witch on the scene. Begot of a charming white witch mother and a dangerous black warlock father Nathan has lived his entire life knowing neither of them and facing persecution from both sides - I mean this kid has had it ROUGH.

When the story starts we know as little about his heritage as he does and we share in his horror and pain as he grows, learning the dark secrets of his past and the hatred of a society that is to be his future. I really enjoyed getting to know this character, and while life has genuinely been tough on him he just keeps going, getting through it a day at a time and I applaud this kind of storytelling  - its raw and uncomfortable with not a hint of sugar coating making it stand out amongst the YA "overcoming adversity while crushing on a really hot guy" realm. That's not to say the love interest doesn't occur but is only a small element of the tale and takes a back seat in the plot, even throwing in an occasional curve ball to keep you guessing.

Even though I can't see Nathan's situation improving any in the next instalment I'm looking forward to getting back into the action!


Wednesday 5 March 2014

Two Great Stories, One Amazing Author.

Eternally Yours, Immortal Beloved Bk3/Darkest Fear, Birthright Bk1 Mash up - Cate Tiernan
Both Available Now

Both stories, while they are from the same author are for me, like night and day- Young Adult vs Adult, the Beginning vs the End, modern storyline vs one rich in history and while the two protagonists do share similarities in their avoidance of the big issues Immortal Beloved's Nastasya is wounded and yet coming to grips with a lifetime of running from herself where as Birthright's Vivana Neves comes across as a bit selfish and annoying.

Having said this of Viviana I do remember being the seemingly ancient age of 17 and feeling just as strongly in regards to my own ideals as she does in her views of her shape shifting heritage and I was just as passionate and sure which no doubt was seen as stubborn ignorance, that i was right and my feelings were justified. However, in the end whether they were or weren't doesn't matter as inevitably they slowly changed anyway, all part of the natural progression of time and experience as Vivi is about to find out. We meet Vivi a seemingly average high school girl, she has a best friend she adores and parents who she loves but doesn't agree with..fair enough the sticking point they can't see eye to eye on is rather abnormal. Their family is part of a long line of Jaguar shape shifters and instead of jumping for joy at her hereditary superpower Vivi feels like a freak and shies away from any form of involvement in her parents proud heritage until brutal attack on her family forces her to dive a little deeper into herself and her other side. While it is early days yet with a colourful cast, mysterious love interest and an exciting setting like New Orleans I am looking forward to seeing her growth and understanding as the series progresses. 



Flipping to the other side of the coin and the grande finale for the Immortal Beloved series which I loved so much! Nastasya is spirited and employs sarcasm like a master, her humour has me giggling to myself constantly and breaks up the tension and darkness in the plot. Nastasya has come a long way and her character development is clear, the feelings she slogs through are confronting and honest and her 'wholeness' is so close you can almost touch it - until of course her self doubt chimes in and ruins things. Her struggle I found very relatable I mean truthfully haven't we all fought similar demons, self doubt and to a degree loathing? Of course not everyone has the privilege or ability to run from these feelings for four centuries!

As with the previous books the layers of her 450 years are described with intimate details for each period that make you feel for a moment in time that you were there, Beautifully written and so unique this is a series I have thoroughly enjoyed and can highly recommend.

No matter the series, I can't wait to see what Cate delivers next.

For a more in-depth look at the Immortal Beloved series check out my previous review here

Tuesday 4 March 2014

The World… After.



World After - Susan Ee
Available Now 

Reading a great book is like gazing into a beautiful painting for so long that you begin to see yourself reflected within, as no doubt was the artist's intention - to make the unfamiliar familiar.

For those of you who headed my advise on the first brilliant book in this series then like me you are no doubt eagerly awaiting the next instalment…well the wait is blessedly over, now Penryn's story continues with gusto!

Sadly answers are few and far between but there are plenty more questions with book 2 loosing none of the momentum built in the first as it charges revealing more horrors the 'angels' plan to unleash upon us. The tenuous relationship between Raffe and Penryn continues to grow as the line between friend and enemy blurs further however, if you are hoping for a soppy explosion of heartfelt D&M's at their reunion then let me burst that bubble for you now! but I think that's for the best as it allows the characters to focus on whats most important and find strength within themselves. As with the continued strength in the characters this story has everything I adored in Book 1, the action, suspense, humour and grotesque are all combined so beautifully making it ridiculously easy to read - so savour it while you can, I think it will be a long wait for the answers we seek in the grand finale.