Geek Girl: Head Over Heels

Title: Head Over Heels (Geek Girl #5) 
Author: Holly Smale
Genre: YA
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 6/10

Head Over Heels follows self-assumed geek girl, Harriet Manners, and her newly-acquired clique. After the disastrous happening of All That Glitters (Geek Girl #4), Harriet has decided to take a break from modelling, and just stick to what she does best: studying.

Of course, the fashion world stops for no one, and when Wilbur calls her asking to join his new modelling agency, Harriet finds herself agreeing to help her friend. As she later finds out, she is Wilbur’s only client, and quite literally the only thing standing between her friend and the end of his career.

Smale has always shown a great ability to create a character who is both quirky and unique, while also being uniquely relatable. And for her audience of young tweens and teens, it is vital to have role models such as Harriet Manners in their lives; Harriet tells them that being different is okay, that being clever doesn’t mean you have to be socially awkward or ugly — and that, no matter who you are, and how you relate to the world, there are people out there who see the world in the same way as you, and will be happy to spend time with you, no matter what others might say.

I think to me, however, the biggest gift of these books is always seeing Harriet discover a new and empowering truth about herself; last one was that her happiness wasn’t dependant on a boy, no matter how cute. In Head Over Heels, it was Harriet’s approach to modelling. While so far she’d been able to skate her way through with minimal effort to the actual job she was doing, Head Over Heels finds Harriet having to take it seriously in order to help Wilbur. That felt like such a huge turning point in her character development, and a step towards maturity; she’s learning to take responsibility for her choices and her actions, learning that modelling is an actual job that takes work and preparation and involves more than just showing up and hoping for the best.

What I liked the most about Harriet, from the very first novel, was how unapologetic she was about being herself, and it’s always an absolute pleasure to see this theme continue throughout the novels — Harriet is a geek girl, and very proud of it.

Overall, yet another great coming of age novel by Smale, and one in a series that I hope young girls everywhere will take heart; we need more Harriet Manners in the world. 

The Crown (The Selection #5)

Title: The Crown (The Selection #5) 
Author: Kiera Cass
Genre: YA Dystopian
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

The Crown follows the events of The Heir, and we are once again swept up in Princess Eadlyn’s tumultuous life.

Following the Queen Mother’s heart problems, Eadlyn is thrust headfirst into the position of Regent of Illéa. Now not only does she have to navigate her own Selection, she also has to rule a country that seems to hold great dislike for her while her father stays by her mother’s side, and her brother has run away to get married.

Faced with the prospect of imminent rebellion in her beloved country, Eadlyn has to make some tough choices — both in her personal life, and in her public one, as Regent, and learn that sometimes in life, compromise is a must... and that others, a firm hand and steely determination is what is needed. Alliances are tested and truths are exposed as she tries to hold on to control of her own life.

I really enjoyed this last instalment to Cass’ series. Eadlyn’s journey felt true and relatable; her struggle to find a viable balance between her duty and work as a monarch, and her own heart and desires is one that is easy to relate to. And the way Cass presented Eadlyn throughout the novel made her an easy narrator to root for — an important factor, considering it’s a first-person narrative.

It was also nice that Cass managed to keep a level of uncertainty regarding Eadlyn’s chosen suitor from the Selection. Until it happened, we are kept unsure of whether or not she will actually go through with what her hearts wants her to — or if she will yield to the responsibility her birth has placed on her.

Cass presents an engaging novel about finding strength in yourself, learning to trust your instincts and be true to your heart. Eadlyn’s age and gender are never a problem in the novel, despite others trying to make it one. Cass’ protagonist is a spunky, take-no- prisoners kind of princess, who has no time for anyone’s thoughts on what she should or should not be allowed to do because of her age or the fact that she is a girl; she takes to her tasks with gumption, and proves that a woman can rule just as well — if not better, in fact — than a man, and be very happy while doing so.

Special mention to Cass’ excellent handling of the LGBT+ community representation in this novel. Until books are no longer advertised as ‘LGBT’ if the main character is queer, there will always be the need for better representation in literature, and especially in Young Adult Lit. The way Cass added it in here was both surprising and tastefully done. The characters weren’t defined by their sexuality, and were allowed storylines outside of it; their romance wasn’t rushed and neither one of them died — always a decided plus. 

The Abyss Surrounds Us (The Abyss #1)

Title: The Abyss Surrounds Us 
Author: Emily Skrutskie
Genre: YA Fantasy/Sci-fi
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 7/10

For Cassandra Leung, bossing around sea monsters is just the family business. She’s been a Reckoner trainer-in-training ever since she could walk, raising the genetically-engineered beasts to defend ships as they cross the pirate-infested NeoPacific. But when the pirate queen Santa Elena swoops in on Cas’s first solo mission and snatches her from the bloodstained decks, Cas’s dream of being a full-time trainer seems dead in the water. 
There’s no time to mourn. Waiting for her on the pirate ship is an unhatched Reckoner pup. Santa Elena wants to take back the seas with a monster of her own, and she needs a proper trainer to do it. She orders Cas to raise the pup, make sure he imprints on her ship, and, when the time comes, teach him to fight for the pirates. If Cas fails, her blood will be the next to paint the sea.
But Cas has fought pirates her entire life. And she's not about to stop.

***

After having had some trouble getting interested in books for a few months, The Abyss Surrounds Us managed to firmly get into the swing of things again.

The relationship between Cas and Bao was amazing to see develop: from reluctant trainer, to almost that of a proud mother. And the character development that Cas went through from start to finish was truly beautiful to witness. Skrutskie managed to make it so that Cas's journey felt fluid and natural - from her first day out on her own boat, to the self-discoveries brought on by captivity.

Another definite plus was the relationship between Cas and Swift. It started out so subtle, that by the time it is addressed in the text, it feels almost inevitable. But the way Skrutskie manoeuvred around the issues that arose from the situation both girls were in was what truly shone: at no point did the romance feel wrong, forced or even detrimental to Cas as a character in captivity. Much to the contrary, in fact: Cas's strength and determination when it came to Swift made her shine as a character that not only knows what she wants and deserves from life, but also one I hope young girls will look up to. The world needs more Cassandra Leung's in literature; not only to show that it is okay to love another girl, but also that love, in whatever form it comes in, should never come above your own sense of self, identity, freedom and morals.

Truly a very entertaining read right to the very end. Definitely recommend, and I'm very much looking forward to the next book, because that cliffhanger was a killer! 

The Impostor Queen

Title: The Impostor Queen
Author: Sarah Fine
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: 4/5
Cover: 10/10

Sixteen-year-old Elli was a small child when the Elders of Kupari chose her to succeed the Valtia, the queen who wields infinitely powerful ice and fire magic. Since then, Elli has lived in the temple, surrounded by luxury and tutored by magical priests, as she prepares for the day when the Valtia perishes and the magic finds a new home in her. Elli is destined to be the most powerful Valtia to ever rule.
But when the queen dies defending the kingdom from invading warriors, the magic doesn’t enter Elli. It’s nowhere to be found.
Disgraced, Elli flees to the outlands, the home of banished criminals—some who would love to see the temple burn with all its priests inside. As she finds her footing in this new world, Elli uncovers devastating new information about the Kupari magic, those who wield it, and the prophecy that foretold her destiny. Torn between the love she has for her people and her growing loyalty to the banished, Elli struggles to understand the true role she was meant to play. But as war looms, she must align with the right side—before the kingdom and its magic are completely destroyed.

***

I really couldn't have picked a better book to get me back into the reading saddle... or a worse one, depending on how you look at it.
The Impostor Queen had everything I like the most in fantasy novels: beautifully set up worlds, strong characters with awesome powers and lots of action. It also had, much to my delighted surprise, an LGBT element. Now, this might just be me being too grumbly, because I can just as easily see it having happened exactly like it did if Mim was a guy, but dammit, I wanted more of Mim/Elli! I was so wary when I first picked up the hints of feelings there, and then when they kept on coming, I fell in head over heels. I mean, come on: a queen-to-be in a fantasy novel where the blurb never even mentions her sexuality, so it's not marketed as the selling point (which is good, btw, no matter my disgruntled view on the whole Mim ordeal, because, hey... we got a bisexual fantasy queen! And the book wasn't even marketed as LGBT, it just... happened! *dreamy smile* like I said on GR, surprise gays are always such a delight), and I got all happy and squeal-y because YES, a lesbian queen! Finally a f/f ship that could actually survive and be canon and fill me warm, fuzzy feelings!
Alas, I thought too soon. Elli loved Mim, but it was not meant to be, so Elli quickly moved on to Oskar. As amazing a guy as Oskar actually was (actually another rather rare thing in YA these days, so double the kudos to Fine for an actually likeable guy!), I could never quite get behind that pairing because I was still crying over the lost potential with Mim.
I'll get over it. One day. Maybe.

I did love the world that Fine created, and can't wait to see what happens next. Raimo's ominous warning gives me hope for the next book, and I can't help but feel that maybe some of the Sutari people we saw in this book will make a comeback in the next one.

Popcorn Love

Title: Popcorn Love
Author: K. L. Hughes
Genre: Contemporary NA
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

A prominent figure amongst New York City’s fashion elite, Elena Vega is a successful businesswoman and single mother to an adorable three-year-old son, Lucas. Her love life, however, is lacking, as those closest to her keep pointing out.At the persistent urging of her closest friend, Elena reluctantly agrees to a string of blind dates if she can find a suitable babysitter for Lucas.Enter Allison Sawyer, a free-spirited senior at New York University.Elena is intrigued by Allison’s ability to push her out of her element, and the young woman’s instant and easy connection with a normally shy Lucas quickly earns Allison the job.After each blind date, Elena returns home to complain to Allison about her lacking suitors. As they bond, Elena begins to realize that the person possessing all the qualities she most desires might just be the woman who has been in front of her the entire time.The vast difference between the two women’s social statuses, however, may be an obstacle not easily overcome.

***

It's always rewarding and exciting when you're in a fandom with fanfic writers that are so amazing, their AUs get picked up and published. This method of finding new authors has given us some of the biggest names of current literature (although I hold judgment on the quality of that writing in some cases. I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about). Cassandra Clare's wildly popular The Mortal Instruments started out as (and this is still weird for me to think about if I'm honest) Draco/Ginny Harry Potter fanfiction.

I'm lucky to be in a fandom where the writers are so talented, it wasn't one AU that got picked to be published -- but three. And Popcorn Love is the first of those three to hit the shelves.

The thing about this story is that it's cute. So, so cute. And so well executed. All the characters, no matter how small their appearance, are fully fleshed out. There were no shallow characters, and the plot moves along wonderfully.

Allison and Elena are delightfully shy while also being incredibly confident - in other words, they're brilliantly human. They are flawed, and we can't help but root for them as they fumble their way to love.

Having read it in its' original version, with the original names, there were quite a few chuckles that came from reading the new names (although, Swan Queen fans, look out for an easter egg when Allison is playing the guitar! You'll know it when you see it).

Definitely recommend it to anyone wanting some nice, easy fluff to read. Perfect holiday read, or back to school de-stress read!

And dare I hope for a sequel? (I'm probably just being greedy...)

Queen of Shadows

Title: Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4)
Author: Sarah J Maas
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . .

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.

Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.  

***

I tried to write a spoiler-free review. I really did. Despite my best efforts, some of them leaked in, so... proceed with caution if you haven't read it yet.

I don't think I can say enough how much I love these books. Maas paints and weaves an intricate world, where all the characters entwine together in intricate, complicated patterns. And trying to figure out those patterns is an awesome hobby - for example, I hope like hell that Manon will side with Aelin, despite their... misgivings towards each other. And now things are looking more possible on that front... because of [spoiler] reasons.

It's all very exciting, and there wasn't a dull moment to be found; even the slower ones just tended to be tooth-rottingly sweet.

The Dorian chapters ripped my heart to shreds. All of them. Every single last one of them. Damn my weakness for fictional men with dark hair and blue eyes!
On the other hand, the Rowan chapters filled me with joy. Yay for the Rowan Fire Fanclub! And no, of course I didn't cry when Rowan showed up *shifty eyes*

But the cake for Best Character Ever goes, hands-down to Lysandra (with honorary mentions to Aelin, Manon and Elide). Such a lovely, lovely surprise to see her blossom into herself. She had me in stitches by the end of the book with her relentless teasing of Aedion. I can't wait to see more of her and Evangeline (that kid is gonna be something else; with all the people she has around her as her role models, there is no way she won't grow up to be a ball of sass, and I hope we get to see more of that sass).

I'm excited about where we left off; I think there's loads more to come in the next two books, although some of the... complications... were dealt with faster than I expected (then again, with a 600-page behemoth, is that really any surprise?).

ps: FLEETFOOT!

Firewalker

Title: Firewalker (The Wordlwalker Trilogy #2)
Author: Josehpine Angelini
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

Worlds divide, magic slays, and love lies in the second book of Josephine Angelini’s The Worldwalker Trilogy.
"You think I’m a monster, but my choices, as ruthless as they seem, are justified."
Lily is back in her own universe, and she's ready to start a new life with Rowan by her side. True, she almost died in the Pyre that fueled their escape from New Salem, and must hide her magic for the safety of everyone she cares about, but compared to fighting the Woven, the monstrous creatures inhabiting the alternate Salem, life is looking pretty good.
Unfortunately, Lillian, ruthless ruler of the 13 Cities, is not willing to let Lily go that easily. If she can’t persuade Lily to return to her world, she will force her to come back by doing away with the ones she loves.
Picking up right where Trial By Fire left off, Firewalker is another sexy, fast-paced, heartbreaking thrill ride from internationally bestselling author Josephine Angelini!

***

The Rowan Fire Fanclub lives! Woo!
Except it took a hard blow in Firewalker... no spoilers, though.

One of the best things about Firewalker, and the way Angelini weaves her characters, is how there is no good and bad. To quote Voldemort, "There is no good and evil. There is only power". Voldy, despite his psychopathic tendencies, does describe what goes on in Firewalker pretty aptly.

As we're taken through Lillian's memories and past experiences, it becomes more and more hard to brand her as the evil bitch witch. None of Lily's choices are easy, but - and here's the true beauty of so many books recently - when it comes down to it, Lily makes her choices for her. Not for Rowan, who she knows she will hurt by agreeing with Lillian. Not for Tristan, her best friend and the only one who believes in what she says; she does it because it is the right thing to do.
For the first time in a very, very long time, I had no idea how the book would end, because it didn't hinge on who she would choose. And I cherish that uncertainty for what it is: fresh, new, different storytelling. Bravo!

And kudos to Ms Angelini for creating believable, lovable and three-dimensional characters, all in third person, allowing us to jump around. On that note, Carrick is still as creepy as ever.

Best new addition mentions have to go to Breakfast and Una - I can't wait to see more of them as we move forward!

Also, without spoiling anything... hats off to Angelini for having the guts to do the hard thing. I wasn't ready, I didn't see it coming at all, and it took me completely by surprise. I need to have a good cry over it still, but it takes courage to do something like that, and honestly, it felt true to the story, so... yay?

The Falconer

Title: The Falconer (The Falconer #1)
Author: Elizabeth May
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

"One girl's nightmare is this girl's faery tale

She's a stunner.
Edinburgh, 1844. Eighteen-year-old Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, has everything a girl could dream of: brains, charm, wealth, a title—and drop-dead beauty.

She's a liar.
But Aileana only looks the part of an aristocratic young lady. she's leading a double life: She has a rare ability to sense the sìthíchean—the faery race obsessed with slaughtering humans—and, with the aid of a mysterious mentor, has spent the year since her mother died learning how to kill them.

She's a murderer.
Now Aileana is dedicated to slaying the fae before they take innocent lives. With her knack for inventing ingenious tools and weapons—from flying machines to detonators to lightning pistols—ruthless Aileana has one goal: Destroy the faery who destroyed her mother.

She's a Falconer.
The last in a line of female warriors born with a gift for hunting and killing the fae, Aileana is the sole hope of preventing a powerful faery population from massacring all of humanity. Suddenly, her quest is a lot more complicated. She still longs to avenge her mother's murder—but she'll have to save the world first.

The first volume of a trilogy from an exciting new voice in young adult fantasy, this electrifying thriller combines romance and action, steampunk technology and Scottish lore in a deliciously addictive read."

***

Life has been so hectic lately, it took me way longer than it should have done to finish The Falconer; especially because there's very little not to love about this book.

I'm a sucker for historicals, so that probably helps. But the plot itself is beautifully woven, and the reveals are expertly delivered. May does a great job of keeping the balance between showing the world and introducing new characters, and keeping the pace at a level that will keep the reader interested.

And Kam was an absolute delight of a narrator. Spunky and self-assured, she is deeply flawed, and she knows it. She owns her flaws and uses them to her strength.

But what I loved, loved, loved about The Falconer was that, while the romantic elements certainly ran in an undercurrent throughout the novel (hard not to, when the society depicted is one that still places so much emphasis on marriage), it by no means eclipsed the actual plot; and, most wondrously, the love interests played other parts in the novel, rather than just pretty furniture for girls to fight over. Even more shockingly, all the attention and love wasn't instantly directed to the boys - yes, they're beautiful, but they also serve as very important plot elements (and I'm saying 'them', when really it's just 'him', but I had to include Gavin in there, because of reasons... though I adore the fact that May didn't try to make it into a love triangle with him).

Definitely give this one a read! It's filled with action, and all around amazing characters (I want a Derrick!)

Forsworn

Title: Forsworn (The Last Oracle #2)
Author: Emily Wibberley
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: 4/5
Cover: 7/10

I'd like to thank Emily Wibberley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

"It’s been a year since Clio made her sacrifice to the Deities and embraced her destiny as the Oracle to save her people.

The only family she has left is a brother who wants her dead.

The prince, her oldest friend, is a king with his own agenda.

And the man who once loved her, now hates her.

All she can do is try to forget about Riece, the enemy commander whose heart she broke to save his life, as she serves the Deities. Her days are filled with Visions and bloodshed in a never-ending war against the Untouched. To add to her problems, she must pose as King Derik’s mistress to conceal her forbidden powers from the Emperor’s spies.

When Riece unexpectedly returns to Sheehan with a new and beautiful ally, Clio knows she must put him out of her mind once and for all, but first, they are thrust together into battle against a mysterious Untouched warrior with otherworldly power. To reclaim her city, she must team up with the man she hurt, the man she still loves but can never be with, and finally confront the questions about her origin—questions with answers that Clio may not be prepared to face."

***

You can read my review of the first book of the trilogy, Sacrificed, here.

Forsworn was a delight to read. As someone who's been struggling to find a plot that captivates me long enough recently, Wibberley provided me with the perfect place to dive back into books.

Clio, continuing from Sacrificed, is still the strong, spitfire, headstrong girl she was. I loved seeing how accepting the mantle of the Oracle changed her, and it was great to see her relationship with Derik evolve and change.
Most important to me, though, was see Clio flourish on her own. Yes, she is pining after Riece (and, really, who can blame her, right?), and yes, she still loves him. That doesn't stop her from carrying on with her life without him, and kicking some serious butt. It also doesn't stop her from running into his arms the second the opportunity arises. I love that, that we were able to see Clio act on her own, that she was perfectly capable - if reluctant and saddened - to live without Riece, before we got thrown back into the romance.
And I absolutely loved her relationship with Ashira. The speech at the end, about how being strong doesn't mean being hard and unfeeling was truly beautiful, and a message young girls should be told more often. You can still be feminine and be strong and independent (part of the reason why I'm absolutely in raptures over Zarae, I think haha).

Diazon was a surprise, and, while I'm glad that was sorted, I also love the can of worms he managed to overturn while he was still kicking; I'm looking forward to what this will all mean to Clio going forward.

ps: in case you were wondering, I'm in denial over Lireen. And I will never not be.

The Heir

Title: The Heir (The Selection #4)
Author: Kiera Cass
Genre: Dystopian
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

"Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.
But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.
Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought."

***

I had forgotten why I loved these books so much. Cass' writing is like a breath of fresh air in the sameness of YA today.
I was a bit wary, because historically, I don't deal too well with authors changing the POV of their books. Usually, that happens after one book though, and the reason I don't like it is because I've only just started getting that character as the protagonist, so to have another one shoved at me is disconcerting and unpleasant. With this though, it was obvious that America's story was done. She'd said her piece, so changing narrator actually felt pretty organic. It helped that Eady was an absolute delight.
It was wonderful to read about this young girl who is terrified to love because she thinks it will make her weak. The thought of Eadlyn being aromantic actually occurred to me quite a few times, but I guess we'll see how that plays out. Seeing her go from "no, I will not find a husband, ew husbands!" to actually wondering about the merit of the entire thing was a great journey.
And for the most part, I loved seeing Mer and Maxon as parents, and meeting all their crazy kids.
And the boys from the Selection were awesome. It feels weird to have finished the book and not have a favourite in mind. I've grown very attached to Henri, Kile and Erik, and I seriously hope that, whatever happens, she and Henri are still friends by the end of it. Really looking forward to the next instalment!

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3/5
Cover: 8/10

A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Timesbestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.
When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.
As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.
Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

Oh, boy.
Where to even start. First of all, I love Beauty & the Beast, it's my favourite fairytale, and I generally quite enjoy the retellings of it; in fact, fairytale retellings are my crack. I love reading them, I love analysing them, and I love comparing how different they are to the tales I grew up with. So, I was pretty excited for ACOTAR.
I mean, a Beauty & the Beast retelling by one of my favourite authors, and the book had been getting rave reviews? It was like a dream come true. But somewhere along the way, something went horribly, terribly wrong.
Don't get me wrong, the last ¼ of the book was actually pretty amazing. But until I got there, the story dragged by, filled stuff that could be seen as necessary filler background if it had actually been used to develop the romance. Instead, one day Feyre wakes up, essentially trapped in this house, and decides that the guy who can turn into a lion and who had scared her witless, to the point where she flinched away from him, no longer scared her, and actually, he's really quite handsome.
Now, okay, I know the nature of the fairytale involves some rather questionable romance aspects, but it really says something when a Disney movie, that cannot be longer than an hour and a half manages to make romance more believable than a 400 pages book. But I'm going to keep that rant for the feminist review, so suffice it to say, I didn't buy what Maas was selling.

And maybe it was just that, even though the book was in first person, it felt like it would have benefitted from being in third. I lost count of the amount of times I was jarred out of the narrative by Feyre thinking 'I', when I'd been pretty sure it would be a 'he/she'. It's possible that's just me being used to Maas' books being in third person, but I felt like that was maybe not the best decision in the world.
And then there were the characters. I loved Lucien so much, and, like I mentioned before, did not buy the Tamlin-is-an-awesome-guy routine. Feyre was a good, solid narrator at most times, although she did have her annoying moments.
But, the characters that most intrigued me was also the one we saw less of?! I wanted to get to know Rhys. I wanted to sink my teeth into his character, find out of what made him tic; we sort of almost got there in Feyre's cell, but there are still so many questions left. What was that look he gave Feyre at the end? Why did he protect her? What's his angle? I NEED TO KNOW! And Nesta, she was awesome, and I'd love to have seen so much more of her.

The most amusing thing for me was solving Amarantha's riddle in seconds. I'm thinking either my Ravenclaw-ness is rearing its' head, or that riddle was way too easy!

All in all, a fun book that kept me entertained. Despite my misgivings with it, it had a solid plot and interesting characters, plus awesome world building.

The Orphan Queen

Title: The Orphan Queen (The Orphan Queen #1)
Author: Jodi Meadows
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

Wilhelmina has a hundred identities.
She is a princess. When the Indigo Kingdom conquered her homeland, Wilhelmina and other orphaned children of nobility were taken to Skyvale, the Indigo Kingdom’s capital. Ten years later, they are the Ospreys, experts at stealth and theft. With them, Wilhelmina means to take back her throne.
She is a spy. Wil and her best friend, Melanie, infiltrate Skyvale Palace to study their foes. They assume the identities of nobles from a wraith-fallen kingdom, but enemies fill the palace, and Melanie’s behavior grows suspicious. With Osprey missions becoming increasingly dangerous and their leader more unstable, Wil can’t trust anyone.
She is a threat. Wraith is the toxic by-product of magic, and for a century using magic has been forbidden. Still the wraith pours across the continent, reshaping the land and animals into fresh horrors. Soon it will reach the Indigo Kingdom. Wilhelmina’s magic might be the key to stopping the wraith, but if the vigilante Black Knife discovers Wil’s magic, she will vanish like all the others
Jodi Meadows introduces a vivid new fantasy full of intrigue, romance, dangerous magic, and one girl’s battle to reclaim her place in the world.

I can almost hear you all give a sigh of relief. Yes, this does mean I can finally stop harping on about this book. But not before I give it one last go, in a last attempt to get you to read it. Fair warning, the first paragraph will be technical and serious. I can't promise what the rest of the review will be like, other than that it will have no spoilers.

Meadows' story is compelling, and I literally could not put it down. Four hours after the file download on to my kindle, I was crying over the ending. The characters are interesting and, for the most part, beautifully layered. I would have liked to have seen more of the Ospreys, other than the introduction and fleeting glimpses throughout the novel, but also understand that, given the nature of the plot, it wasn't possible - hopefully in the sequel, it will be. The plot itself needs a fair amount of attention to follow, but if you do, is pretty darn solid. I can't think of any gaping plot holes off the top of my head, just the endless list of questions about and for Black Knife.

Now on to the fun (and slightly less coherent? I had four hours of sleep, and am still emotionally compromised over that ending, so bear with me on this) part. Wil was a delight of narrator, and personally I would be honoured to call her my queen. Watching her grow and develop was beautiful, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it happen.
Patrick was a douchebag, as advertised. No surprise there, though his dead-set, stubborn need to go against everything that Wil said really pissed me off. This woman is supposed to be his queen, and here he is, basically ordering her around like she's his slave. I hope he gets his comeuppance.
A review of OQ wouldn't be complete if I didn't mention Black Knife. Don't worry, dear skittish readers, I won't divulge his true identity - half of the fun is trying to figure it out for yourself and (I'm very proud to say), I guessed rightly after her first encounter with him. I don't care what happens, or what anyone says, if they don't get married, I give up on life. Yes, I am aware that there are numerous things in the way of that, but what good love story doesn't have a little adversity in it? (admittedly, the ending does pose the possibility of more than just a "little" adversity, but still).
Melanie really bothered me, and I'm not entirely sure I trust her quite so readily as Wil does. She's too emotionally attached to the cause. I really hope we find out more about that side of things.

Was it worth the wait? Absolutely. Hold on to your hats, grab your defibrillators (you'll need it, that ending is just cruel!) and dive in!

Got to the end and refuse to leave Wil's world, or just need something to cheer you up a little? I did a GIF review that you can find here.

Bone Dry

Title: Bone Dry (Soul Shamans #1)
Author: Cady Vance
Genre: YA
Rating: 4/5
Cover: 7/10

I was given a copy of this book by the author. This in no way influences my views and opinions on the book.

Sometimes it isn’t as easy as choosing right or wrong.
Sixteen-year-old Holly Bennett is a comic book nerd, a con artist, and a shaman. Most days Holly wishes she could trade in her power of spirit communication for something more useful--like fireballs or Wolverine claws. She knows spirits aren't exactly Casper the Friendly Ghosts. They're dangerous beings from Lower World who snack on human life, and messing with the magic from their world is an express ticket to big trouble. But when a shaman sticks her mom's mind between their world and ours, Holly becomes the unexpected breadwinner in the family. She uses her burgeoning shaman powers to set up fake hauntings and "banish" the so-called ghosts from her wealthy classmates' bedrooms. For a fee, of course.
When actual spirits start manifesting, Holly discovers that other shamans have come to town, summoning life-sucking spirits for their own ends. And the newcomers may just hold the clue Holly's been looking for--the one that can release her mom's mind from its Lower World prison. With the help of both a cute web comic artist and her partner-in-con, Holly plots to take them down, throwing her into a whirlwind of speedboat getaways, breaking and entering, and astral projections into the spirit world. And as her mom's mind slips further away, Holly has to fight to save her, and the rest of the town, before they get sucked into Lower World permanently.

Holly's story was one that interested me from the get-go. Vance tells the story beautifully, and - dare I say it? - with heaps of originality and humour. Here is a girl who, yes, is attracted to a hot guy (and who can blame her? Nathan is hot and nerdy; what's not to love?), and who -literally - fainted after one of her first encounters with him. But the romance isn't central to the plot, there isn't even the hint of a love triangle, and Nathan's hotness doesn't distract Holly from doing what needs to be done.
Oh, for more heroines like Holly Bennett.

Plus, the plot is good, fast-paced and interesting. The baddies are seriously creep-tastic (both the human ones and the supernatural ones), and there's the underlying arc of Holly's mother that sort of wraps the whole novel together, running beneath every other, smaller arc, and keeping things neat.

The one issue I had with Bone Dry, was that some characters (mostly the secondary characters, ie Laura and the other people from school) all sort of blurred together for me after a while, and I would have liked to get to know them a little better. Laura got a little more of fleshing out, but she was a fab character, and I hope to see more of her in the future!

The Winner's Crime

Title: The Winner's Crime (The Winner's Trilogy)
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: 4.5/5
Cover: 10/10
Publication Date: March 3rd (US), March 12th (UK).

I was given an egalley of this novel from the publisher vie netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Lady Kestrel's engagement to Valoria's crown prince calls for great celebration: balls and performances, fireworks and revelry. But to Kestrel it means a cage of her own making. Embedded in the imperial court as a spy, she lives and breathes deceit and cannot confide in the one person she really longs to trust ...

While Arin fights to keep his country's freedom from the hands of his enemy, he suspects that Kestrel knows more than she shows. As Kestrel comes closer to uncovering a shocking secret, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth.

Lies will come undone, and Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them in this second book in the breathtaking Winner's trilogy."

***

The marvellous thing about Rutkoski is she can make me care about a character even as I want to strangle him for his stupidity.
I had to put my kindle down at least three times and go for a walk and take a deep breath, Arin was aggravating me so much. I mean, I can see why some doubt would be in his mind, but his lack of faith in Kestrel made me want to slap him a good one on his head. He should seriously know better.

The hard part here is reviewing this without spoiling anything, because if I say one thing, it unravels another, and it's just a vicious cycle.

But what I can say, was that I really liked Verex's character. He grew on me, and his worry over Kestrel was really cute. I hope things turn out okay for him in the next book, because there was some hint that they might not be entirely peachy, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
Risha really interested me. Knowing more of her backstory was great, and I'm very interested to see where Rutkoski takes it from there; logically, there are two open options for her character, and it'll be fun to see which one she takes.

What I did not appreciate, like I said before, was Arin's thickheadedness. He drove me to distraction, that silly man! I love him, don't get me wrong, but oh my god, someone needs to give him a good, hard shake to see if some reality sinks in. The same goes for Tensen. I'm a horrible person, because I was actually grimly accepting of the end; in a way, he brought it on himself, breaking his damn word and keeping the letter. If he hadn't been found with that, everything would've been fine. Now look what happened... brilliant job at screwing everything up, Tensen. Really brilliant *scowls*.

Now for Kestrel herself. I liked her development, and that she was still trying to save the whole world. It's impossible, of course, but she does her very best, and I loved that. Her daydreams about Arin were so cute, I nearly cried, especially when she started having mental conversations with it, like he was actually there - too sweet! And the idiot has no clue... hmpf.

The Darkest Part of the Forest

Title: The Darkest Part of the Forest
Author: Holly Black
Genre: YA Fantasy/UF
Rating: 4/5
Cover: 9/10

"Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.

Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once.

At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.

Until one day, he does…

As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?" 

***

I have been reading so many books with faeries in them lately (I'm calling it my Fantasy Run), this seemed like the obvious continuation.

Now, Black did an amazing job of creating an intriguing, fun world.
But, there was just something missing to make it amazing. Don't get me wrong, I loved the pairings, and even did a full happy dance to the positive LGBTQ+ representation. Severin was bi and Ben was gay? Loved it, really did, and like I mentioned to someone a while back, this wasn't a gay character just for the representation; it was an actually properly fleshed-out gay character, with good character development, and actual point in the plot. So, kudos to Ms Black for that.
I also want to make my relief over the lack of a love triangle very, very clear. Yes, thank you for writing a good YA book that doesn't have two guys fighting over a girl (or, you know, a guy and a girl fighting over one guy, as it would have been in this case.)

I guess it was just that, for a story that deals with scary, trickful faeries, they didn't feel all too scary at all. It was more like funny pranks - oh well take years off your life, but not by killing you, no, by training you to be an awesome soldier. The scariest part, honestly, was Sorrow - and while I really liked the symbolism of how she was "defeated", it was also a bit of an anticlimax, and sort of made the ending very predictable.

Overall though, an enjoyable read. For my introduction to Black's books, I was pleasantly surprised.

All That Glitters

Title: All The Glitters (Geek Girl #4)
Author: Holly Smale
Genre: YA Contemporary
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 8/10
Release Date: 26th February

I was given an egalley of this book by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

""My name is Harriet Manners, and I am still a geek." The fourth book in the award-winning GEEK GIRL series. Harriet Manners has high hopes for the new school year: she's a Sixth Former now, and things are going to be different. But with Nat busy falling in love at college and Toby preoccupied with a Top Secret project, Harriet soon discovers that's not necessarily a good thing... "

***

"If people are kind to you, Harriet, it's because you're kind to them. If people are there for you, it's because you are there for them."

Oh, I am sobbing like a baby. I did not expect this. Excuse me while I take a moment to compose myself *deep breaths*. Not gonna lie, I did not expect this to hurt quite this much.

I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but if you read Geek Girl #3, you know that the ending was absolutely heart-reanding. It hurt. So for some reason, I expected this to be different. Don't ask me why. And, in a way, it was different. Harriet Manners is still up to her usual nerdy shenanigans, entertaining me to no end. But, at the same time, she's grown incredibly since we first saw her in Geek Girl. Smale did a brilliant job of bringing this home in All That Glitters; because, while she grew and matured steadily throughout the last three books, always surrounded by the same people and relying on them to get her feet back under her, that growth and maturity didn't really shine through. 

So, it's only in All That Glitters, when she's separated from Nick, Wilbur (both of whom have my heart for all eternity, it's not even funny), Toby and Nat, that we really see her strength and steel come through. Yes, she's still geeky, and yes, she still trusts too easily. But, she has also learned from her past, and is moving forward with her life.

I especially applaud the way in which Smale managed to keep secrets from us throughout the entire novel. Most of them, when they came to light, caught me completely by surprise. And even though he made me cry like a baby (you think I'm kidding. I'm not), I really really liked the ending. I saw it coming, but still sobbed. It was a painfully real echo of a pain we've all experienced at one point in our lives (or will do, if we haven't yet), and Smale portrayed it brilliantly.

I look forward to the next volume with eager anticipation, and hope to see much more of Jasper here on out.

Reluctantly Charmed

Title: Reluctantly Charmed
Author: Ellie O'Neill
Genre: Magical Realism
Rating: 4/5
Cover: 8/10

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher via edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

"Kate McDaid is listing her new-year’s resolutions hoping to kick-start her rather stagnant love life and career when she gets some very strange news. To her surprise, she is the sole benefactor of a great great-great-great aunt and self-proclaimed witch also called Kate McDaid, who died over 130 years ago. As if that isn’t strange enough, the will instructs that, in order to receive the inheritance, Kate must publish seven letters, one by one, week by week.

Burning with curiosity, Kate agrees and opens the first letter – and finds that it’s a passionate plea to reconnect with the long-forgotten fairies of Irish folklore. Almost instantaneously, Kate’s life is turned upside down. Her romantic life takes a surprising turn and she is catapulted into the public eye.

As events become stranger and stranger – and she discovers things about herself she’s never known before – Kate must decide whether she can fulfil her great-aunt’s final, devastating request ... and whether she can face the consequences if she doesn’t.

Witty, enchanting and utterly addictive, Reluctantly Charmed is about what happens when life in the fast lane collides with the legacy of family, love and its possibilities … and a little bit of magic. "

***

Reluctantly Charmed was a delight to read; easy and sweet, the book flowed well through the ups and downs of Kate's life.

O'Neill does a fabulous job of getting Kate's character across at all times. The narrative twists and turns, lose and filled with digressions at times, which is exactly the kind of person Kate is presented as being: always a little confused by life, but happy to go along with it. The line O'Neill treads with the narrative is a thin one between cute, good characterisation and an overwhelming amount of telling instead of showing; she successfully manages to keep it always on the good side of it throughout the novel.

I loved the fact that, for all that it starts off as a funny, quirky novel about what would happen if fairies were real and suddenly wanted to reconnect, in the end it posed much more important questions about freedom, about humanity and human nature. Seeing Kate grow was a beautiful process, aided by an extremely colourful secondary cast of characters.

Definitely worth a read to anyone looking for a fun, whacky novel that will sweep you away to a charming world.

The Ruby Circle

Title: The Ruby Circle (Bloodlines #6)
Author: Richelle Mead
Genre: YA
Rating: 3/5
Cover: 2/10

"The epic conclusion to Richelle Mead's New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series is finally here...

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

After their secret romance is exposed, Sydney and Adrian find themselves facing the wrath of both the Alchemists and the Moroi in this electrifying conclusion to Richelle Mead’s New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series. When the life of someone they both love is put on the line, Sydney risks everything to hunt down a deadly former nemesis. Meanwhile, Adrian becomes enmeshed in a puzzle that could hold the key to a shocking secret about spirit magic, a secret that could shake the entire Moroi world."

***

Having to write down that 3/5 up there nearly killed me; I've been an avid Mead fan for years now, so it pains me to have to write a less favourable review.

This book was about Sydney and Adrian, apparently. I hardly noticed them amidst the Rose and Dimitri show. To be honest, the only saving grace of this entire novel was Rose and Dimitri's continued presence. They made things interesting, brought the fun of the Strigoi and gave us some pretty awesome news and twists.

Aside from that though, the book was rushed, and the problems easily brushed aside. Something I often look to when I buy the last book in a series, is the length of it. And, the first signifier that Ruby Circle would fall short came at the quick comparison between Ruby Circle and Last Sacrifice. Whereas Last Sacrifice could be used as a door stopper, Ruby Circle hardly hit 300 pages - and I'm being kind. The result of that was a plot that, while slightly more compelling than that of the last two books, felt cramped, rushed and we were left with a disgruntled, unfulfilled feeling, as in the end Sydney simply swept all their troubles under the rug, easy as pie.

And I won't even talk about how OOC (out of character) some characters were, because I could spend a day harping off that; but let's just say I didn't buy one second of Daniella's sudden change of heart, and kept expecting her to turn on everyone... except she didn't, she apparently just really doesn't care if her son married a human - this from a woman who threw a fit that would make a prima donna proud when he brought Rose to dinner.

Was I happy with the ending? In many ways, yes. I feel like it's probably time Richelle stepped away from this world for a while, since the characters seem to be evading her, and focus on writing us an awesome Loki for Age of X. I also very much liked the... situation the book left some characters. It was cute, and way overdue.
But at the same time, it felt a bit like a repeat of the Dark Swan series - a tantalising possibility for a future filled with everything we've ever wished for, forever left out of our reach. So, while I think maybe some time away from the VA world might be good, I have to say, I do very much hope she comes back to it one day; even if it's just another short story, to let us know what's going on in Rose and Dimitri's life, and if he managed to get her down the aisle finally.

Red Queen

Title: Red Queen (Red Queen #1)
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

"The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?"

***

Suspend your disbelief. 

That's what we're asked to do every time we so much as pick up a book, especially a fantasy one. But Red Queen takes it a step further, asking us to so much more than just accept the new rules. This might just be the hardest review I've ever had to write, because while hindsight is 20/20, it also permeates everything that came before. Still, I promise no spoilers. I'm keeping those for the GIF review that will be up later on.

The first thing you need to know about Red Queen is it's got the mother of all plot twists. I've seen some people say they saw it coming clear as day, and I have to ask how they managed to do that. I will admit I had my reservations, but by the end, they were pretty much dust, and then... well. Not so much.

And now to the crutch of the business: there's rumours of a love triangle going around. I can't help wondering if those people actually read the end. And even without the ending, let me assure you: there is no seesawing that makes you want to strangle a bitch.

You'll want to strangle many bitches, but for very different reasons. I don't trust myself to talk about the two boys of the not-triangle without any spoilers, so we're skipping that part. Suffice to say, they're hot.

Mare was a delight of a narrator. Her unflinching loyalty and courage, not mention the fact that she is a veritable well of sass (I personally think they should change the title to Sass Queen, but that's just me...) made being in her head no hardship. And speaking of titles, it's very clever, because you go in with certain expectations because of it, so I spent so long just going around in circles in my head, wondering how on earth that was going to work out. But work out it did. Sorta.

Go read it, I promise you won't be disappointed - this is a debut that hints at the amazing quality of books to come this year, and let me tell you, I am so excited for this years' books, it's gonna be quite a year.

Want more of Mare and her world? Check out the GIF review here! As usual, it is full of spoilers, so only click if you're okay with that or have read the book.