A Review – How To Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie

This was a book chosen for the book club I'm a part of. February was The Paper Palace. March was How To Kill Your Family. I must say, The Paper Palace was a much more acceptable title for a book to read in public. I did get a few strange looks while reading this book!

I generally share about the book club on my Instagram, so if you fancy following along each month, and reading the same books as I am, keep an eye on my posts over there. The next book we're reading is All The Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood.

Let me introduce this book, and then we can get into my review!

They say you can’t choose your family. But you can kill them.

Meet Grace Bernard.

Daughter, sister, serial killer…

Grace has lost everything.

And she will stop at nothing to get revenge.

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

While Grace grew up not wanting for more love from her mother, there are many things she missed out on. Her father refuses to believe that Grace is his child, ignoring his daughter to keep her existence from his wife and focusing his love on his other child instead. But Grace not only missed out on her fathers love, but also on the lifestyle her half-sister enjoys. Her father is an incredibly successful businessman, which comes with riches most can’t even imagine. And he wasn’t even willing to spare enough to keep Grace's mother from working herself to an early grave. 

After losing her mother, Grace has been planning her revenge against her father. And unfortunately for her father, the plan is vast and does not work out in his favour. One by one, Grace plans and carries out the murder of each family member, building up to be able to finally reach her fathers name on her list and cross it off. 

As Grace makes her way through her list, you slowly start to learn just how far she will go to achieve her goals. Each murder almost feels like a different episode of a show, as she changes course and moves from one victim to another. She finds herself in some strange scenarios, travelling and immersing herself in her relations’ lives as she attempts to figure out the best way to kill each one. 

I loved the layout of the book. Grace is telling the story of her murders herself, writing out her story, from a prison cell. Where she is for, ironically, a murder she didn’t actually commit. So not only does the book show her thoughts as she carries out her plans, we also get her thoughts as she looks back on what she’s done, as the story builds to the point where she was arrested. Grace’s dark humour throughout adds a lighthearted tone to the story, so even though it’s a book about a mass murderer, and the crimes are detailed within the pages, you find yourself laughing as you read. 

Despite enjoying Grace’s commentary through the book, I didn’t find myself liking her too much. Granted, her father didn’t provide any financial support and left Grace and her mother living in poverty, and when Grace’s mother was dying, he didn’t even look their way, but turning immediately to killing everyone her father is directly related to was an incredibly drastic turn for Grace to take and, overall, she is still technically the villain of the story. She kills innocents who had nothing to do with her father abandoning her mother, people who didn’t even know of her existence and died not knowing why, or who was targeting them. She wasn’t a character I was supporting in any way, if anything I was hoping she would get caught sooner rather than later. 

While I wasn’t a supporter of Grace, I did find her murder plans almost entertaining, as dark and disturbing as they were. Some of the lies Grace tells to get out of particular situations are rather comical and the murders themselves are not set up how you would expect them… There are no general stabbings or poisonings! It is all very creative, unexpected and, strangely, very entertaining to read.

I do especially love the title of this book. It is an interesting one to read in public, as it can look a little like a how-to book if you only glance at the title! Reading it around family was also rather entertaining! I know someone who said he saw this book on his wife’s nightstand and was a little concerned!

I really enjoyed this book, I read the whole thing across two days, and didn’t want to stop reading. There was a twist at the end that ended up tying in really neatly to the story, although to begin with it seemed entirely irrelevant. The story itself seemed really original, and for a book I knew next to nothing about when going into it, it greatly exceeded my expectations. Also, the tagline (They say you can’t choose your family. But you can kill them.) is amazing.

And done!

The overall opinion of the book club was that this was a very good book, and we all enjoyed reading it. I must admit, I enjoyed this one a great deal more than I liked The Paper Palace – that one wasn't exactly my cup of tea.

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

Book and Movie Comparison – Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott, Mikki Daughtry, and Tobias Iaconis

Five Feet Apart was a film I watched because I remembered someone once mentioning it was a good film, and it had Cole Sprouce in it (I was in my Riverdale phase... it didn't last too long).

I actually found this book in my brother's room, and stole it because I've wanted to read it since I watched the film, but didn't want to buy yet another book that would sit on my shelf for ages before I finally read it. Unfortunately, after two days of me having it, he asked for it back, so I had to hurry up and read it before he broke into my house and stole it back.

The Movie

Stella Grant (Haley Lu Richardson) is every bit a seventeen-year-old… she’s attached to her laptop and loves her best friends. But unlike most teenagers, she spends much of her time living in a hospital as a cystic fibrosis patient. Her life is full of routines, boundaries and self-control – all of which is put to the test when she meets an impossibly charming fellow patient named Will Newman (Cole Sprouse).

There’s an instant flirtation, though restrictions dictate that they must maintain a safe distance between them. As their connection intensifies, so does the temptation to throw the rules out the window and embrace that attraction. Further complicating matters is Will’s potentially dangerous rebellion against his ongoing medical treatment. Stella gradually inspires Will to live life to the fullest, but can she ultimately save the person she loves when even a single touch is off limits?

There are few movies that I watch, and then subsequently force my whole family to watch. This was one of those. Stella and Will have CF, and are both in the hospital for different treatments. But while Stella is organised, and sticks to a strict regimen with regards to meds and looking after her body, Will has practically given up. He is simply waiting for his 18th birthday, when he will finally have control of his own life, and can walk away from all the hospitals and live the rest of his life seeing the world, and doing what he wants to do. But when he meets Stella, she forces him to start looking after himself, and it seems he has finally found something to stay alive for.

This is a heart wrenching film to watch. A love story, but the protagonists can't get within 6 feet of each other, lest one passes on germs that could kill the other. And yet, they find ways to spend time together, growing closer, while staying far apart.

I don't know how many times I've watched this film to date, but I know I've enjoyed it every single time (even though I'm now very definitely out of my Riverdale phase, and Cole Sprouce is not quite so exciting).

The Book

Can you love someone you can never touch?

Stella Grant likes to be in control - even though her totally out of control lungs have sent her in and out of the hospital most of her life. At this point, what Stella needs to control most is keeping herself away from anyone or anything that might pass along an infection and jeopardize the possibility of a lung transplant. Six feet apart. No exceptions.

The only thing Will Newman wants to be in control of is getting out of this hospital. He couldn’t care less about his treatments, or a fancy new clinical drug trial. Soon, he’ll turn eighteen and then he’ll be able to unplug all these machines and actually go see the world, not just its hospitals.

Will’s exactly what Stella needs to stay away from. If he so much as breathes on Stella she could lose her spot on the transplant list. Either one of them could die. The only way to stay alive is to stay apart. But suddenly six feet doesn’t feel like safety. It feels like punishment.

What if they could steal back just a little bit of the space their broken lungs have stolen from them? Would five feet apart really be so dangerous if it stops their hearts from breaking too?

Amazon UK • Amazon US

As I mentioned, I stole this book from my brother, and when he started asking for it back, I knew I had a limited time in which to read it before I lost my chance and the book was removed from my person. Reading this book quickly was no problem. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. I read the whole thing in two days, and I did read some of it while at work because I didn't want to put it down.

I loved seeing both Stella's and Will's point of view as the story progressed. Every chapter switches perspective, so you know what they're both thinking, and watch as they both fall in love, and struggle with the distance. They are so close, and yet their disease keeps them painfully far apart from each other. 

Comparison

Honestly, it is quite hard to compare this movie and book. I don't think I have come across a movie that is so similar to the book. If I didn't know that the book came first, I might've said that the book came after the movie, it was so alike. It is almost astounding how similar they are, especially considering how information, scenes, and sometimes entire characters are cut while making the movie, and the dialogue is generally heavily edited.

The book had decidedly more information about CF, as it is told by the people living with it, rather than in the film, where you are just watching the characters. Stella, in particular, describes the ins and outs of it, what it is, how she struggles with it, and what the dangers are. In addition, Will's B Cepacia diagnosis is explored in depth more in the book than in the film – the disease means he is no longer a candidate for a lung transplant, and should he pass it on to Stella, she would also be taken off the list. But other than some more explanation about Stella and Will's physical, and mental, struggles, the book is not that much different from the film.

The actors have done a fabulous job at portraying Stella and Will. Stella's almost obsessive need to do everything right, and as safely as possible, comes across as clearly as Will's nonchalance, even though his general lack of care about his treatments acts as a mask to hide the range of emotions he feels about his CF, and his dwindling life expectancy. 

If you have enjoyed this book, but have been afraid to watch the film in case it doesn't live up to your expectations, I say just watch it. It is incredibly similar to the book – I would struggle to find a scene that greatly differs between the two.

And done!

I did try to get my brother to participate in this post, as he was the one whose book I had stolen, and I know he likes both the book and the film, but he was too busy napping to write a short piece to help me out. Typical teenager.

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – Testing Faith: Kalili's Temptation Book 2 by AC Adams

There is something so great about really enjoying a book, and then the author approaching you asking if you want to read book 2.

Before book 2 even releases.

I did have a few books I absolutely had to get to first, but I definitely pushed some aside to get to this one first! I am ever so greatful to the author for giving me the chance to read this book early, and for gifting me a copy!

Let me introduce the book, and then we can get into my review!

Kalili has Faith.

Heaven and Hell don't approve.

Their trials have only begun.

Kalili and Faith - the last of the Thirteens - have found the passionate partner they craved, leaving lonely lives behind. Their love might be forbidden, even scandalous to their peers, but they don't care. They'll brazen it out.

But if they thought they were done with their former employers, they were mistaken.

Just because they've fought free of the first efforts to bring them back into the fold doesn't mean they're in the clear.

Now, with their true natures becoming known, powerful and power-hungry forces are aligning to make them offers they can't refuse.

Lilith. Gabriel. Beelzebub. Ariel.

Add to that their new friends and allies, unexpected obstacles, and a dash of the malevolent undead, and you have TESTING FAITH.

One thing's for certain: eternity will never be the same.

The immortals are going to learn: never bet against a pair of Thirteens!

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

Angels and demons still battle for souls. Right and wrong, good and evil, work to achieve what they need for either the Below or Upstairs to benefit. But Kalili and Faith are no longer simply Demon and Angel. They are the last of the Thirteens – but that doesn’t mean the Below or Upstairs approve of their relationship.

Despite plenty of people working against them, Kalili and Faith have their allies, and their network of people slowly grows as they make deals and pledge allegiances in what is shaping up to be a worldwide war between those above, and those below. 

I missed these characters! Until I started reading this book, I didn’t properly realise just how much I missed Kalili and Faith, how much I enjoyed spending time with them and living their story besides them. They might’ve managed to stay on Earth so far, but Faith’s mission on Earth was to kill Kalili, not that it went entirely to plan, and she only has so long before she is summoned back to Heaven to give a report of her mission. And, of course, Kalili is not dead, so there are problems on all fronts.

There are plenty of new friends and allies in this book. I won’t talk too much about the allegiances, and the sides being picked, for the sake of not giving out spoilers, but the friends I can definitely talk about. Thia once again plays an important part in this story, being there for Kalili as a friend, and helping out where she can. Thia is incredibly brave, standing up for herself when the need arises, even if the ones she is standing up to are much more powerful than she. I also really liked the introduction of Zophiel to this book. She is an angel who, like Faith, doesn’t quite follow the directions she has been sent to Earth with, and breaks a few rules here and there. I loved Zophiel, and hope she continues to be a part of the story in the next book. 

I loved the difference between this book and the first, in that this story is told equally by Faith and Kalili, whereas the first book was just told by Kalili. As their story progresses, they become more of a singular entity, two souls joined together into one being. Faith and Kalili are much less than the stereotypical ‘good angel’ and ‘evil demon’ than they were throughout the first book, their personalities shining through and their ideals settling for a happy medium as they become more accustomed to being Thirteens, and altogether different from angels and demons. 

There are a lot of steamy scenes in this book – Faith and Kalili are horny to a level that transcends just angels and demons, and a war between Upstairs and the Below. After living so much of their lives without knowing each other, now they are together, they simply cannot get enough. If you are not a fan of these kind of scenes, then this definitely isn’t the book for you, because Faith and Kalili do not hold back! Their connection to each other, in both the literal and magical sense, is strongest when they are together sexually, and as they come to grips with what they, as Thirteens, can really do, they get up to a lot of experimenting!

There is the addition of some well known characters to this book that were not necessarily a part of book 1. Just to reel off some names, Lilith, Gabriel, Michael… most everyone knows these names, but the way they slot into this story is not necessarily how you might expect. Faith and Kalili are now part of a much bigger story, one that they do not control all the strings to, and find themselves with more enemies, and more potential allies than ever. As things start to reach a level much more than just an Angel and a Demon falling in love, there is more action, suspense, and intrigue than ever. It is the kind of book that you fall asleep reading, because you just don’t want to put it down.

Once again, the author has done an absolutely astounding job with bringing Faith and Kalili’s story out into the world. Angels and Demons. The immortal, and the undead. An unknown hierarchy in Heaven, and a simmering revolt in the Below. An overflowing amount of love between two who seem destined to be together, but have been kept apart for all their lives. There is plenty and more in this book to keep you reading, and I absolutely adored the entire thing. This book has only just come out, so I know I will be waiting for a while, but I will be waiting incredibly impatiently for the next book in the series to come out!

Once again, thanks to the author for gifting me an ARC to read. I absolutely love this series, and cannot wait to continue reading when the next book is ready! I would recommend starting with book 1, as there is a lot of information in book 1 that you need to get into book 2 properly, in order to properly understand what is going on and who is who, but if you start with book 1, there is an absolute guarantee that you will be buying book 2 not long after!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – Light in the Shadows by Georgia C. Leigh

I am very grateful to have been offered a chance to read this book before it was released. I do so love reading books before they are available to the public. It makes me feel like I'm part of a secret book club or something.

Anyway, let me introduce this book to you, and then get into my review!

Sheltered from the world since birth, eighteen-year-old Haven arrives at the Academy eager to learn what it means to be seraphim. Her excitement quickly fades as she struggles to master her gifts, to befriend and trust others, and above all, to understand herself.

But when she discovers an ancient magic within, she loses the glimpse of friendship she longs for and is thrown back into isolation. Her magic unknowingly awakens a dark shadow in her world and catalyzes those who seek to control her, to bind her and use her for her power. And if she can’t be bound, they will ensure she is dead.

Ryker, a world walker and a demon hunter, is the only one powerful enough to contain her magic and knows what it is like to be wanted for someone else’s gains. Ryker’s brutal methods may give her the chance to understand her gift and control it, but they are running out of time. Haven must fight for a life she desperately wants, one where she can follow her own path, and her heart. And, maybe, finally find love before her life is chosen for her.

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

Haven is excited to finally arrive at the Academy and learn the ins and outs of being a seraphim. But she has spent her whole life hidden away, and the world of socialising and getting to know others isn’t something she is overly familiar with. As Haven finds herself thrown into an entirely new world, it is not just learning to control her gifts that she must focus on, but also figuring out who to trust. 

Ryker is an incredibly powerful seraphim, with a unique gift. When an ancient magic is discovered within Haven, Ryker finds himself working with her to try and gain her control over them before they are used to control her. Many people would use her for the powers she holds, and Ryker has little time to try and teach her. 

Haven is an incredibly strong character, although she is not without her limits. She struggles a lot in this book, as she makes friends, but pushes them away when things get hard, even though she really needs them. Haven is not used to relying on others to help her, but rather withdraws into herself when she doesn’t know how to keep going. I absolutely loved reading about Haven, and watching her grow as a person. Nearer the start of the book, she is incredibly naive, although she has never had proper friends, so she is unlearned in the workings of other people. She does gain an understanding of the world as she spends more time at the Academy, and I found myself liking her more the further into the book I read.

I found the Academy itself rather interesting. It reminded me a little of the training in the Divergent series, as all the young adults work to grow their physical and mental skills, but with a fantasy twist on it, with wings, and magical powers. There are plenty of people who work outside of the Academy who come in to teach their own specialised skills, and these people are mainly the ones who change Haven’s life. In particular, Ryker and his twin brother, River. I could go on and on about how much I hate River, although I feel I would begin to spoil the story, so I don’t want to get onto the topic of him. Ryker, however, is absolutely lovely. He finds himself doing things he doesn’t want to do for Haven’s benefit, and puts himself through things that affect him, just to ensure she is safe. Their training together is not always pleasant to read about, but just knowing the sacrifices he makes for her, when he doesn’t even know her, is proof that he is a fabulous person, and a wonderful character to read about. 

This book did take a while to get started. There is little explanation about the world itself, and I found it difficult to figure out what was happening, and why. There are also a lot of characters to keep up with, and the relationships are a little tricky to figure out at first, when you don’t know what’s going on with the setting. I do wish there was a little more explanation about the setting, for I think it would help the reader understand what was happening immediately, although if you stick with it, things slowly sort themselves out, and it gets easier to follow all the individual characters as their paths intertwine.

I wasn’t aware, going into this, quite how long the book itself was. Only when I came to write this review did I realise that this book is 546 pages long, and is book 1 of 4 in the series. There is not necessarily a lot of romance in this book, but it follows Haven’s time at the Academy in great detail, clearly building up necessary relationships and information for books yet to come. It did take me quite a while to read this book, which I was not expecting, but I did enjoy how in-depth the book is. There are plenty of books, I will use the example of Divergent again, where there are time skips, and I wished to follow the characters thorough their entire journey. This book allowed me to do that, and I felt I connected to Haven more by following her so closely.

Fantasy itself is a very broad genre, but if you are a fan of fantasy that follows young adults in a school, that includes learning to control dangerous magical abilities, and has a few steamy moments here and there, this is certainly the book for you! I can’t wait to continue reading this series. Book two can’t come soon enough!

And done!

I mentioned on a previous post that I had a list of books I wanted to read and review before the New Year. I have been incredibly unsuccessful with that, but at this point, I have only two more books on that list. I'm getting there!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – The Daddy Chronicles by Jayne Martin

Yet again, this is another book that I was so kindly gifted by the author. And, yet again, this is another book I wanted to read and review before the New Year. That went well. Nevertheless, I am slowly catching up, and making my way through my massive to-read list.

Let me introduce this book to you, and then we can get into my review!

One out of three women in the U.S. identify as fatherless. An absent father who occasionally appears to bestow his affections only to disappear again leads a daughter to seek out others like him – men who are charismatic, but emotionally unavailable – throughout her lifetime.

In this emotionally-charged memoir written in cinematic vignettes, Jayne Martin fearlessly bares the parts of her that were broken when her father left the family upon her birth and, in doing so, leads readers on their own journey toward wholeness and healing. Whether you are a fatherless daughter or someone who loves one, The Daddy Chronicles will tear at your heart and open a world of understanding.

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

Delving deep into her own memories, and exploring the ins and outs of her childhood, and the emotional trauma she grew up with, Jayne Martin invites you to learn her story, to join her and to relate your life to her own. 

I find writing a review for such a deep book, wherein Jayne opens up her mind and allows you to step inside and have a look around, difficult. To give this book the credit it deserves, I find it tricky to review it as I would review any other book. Talking about fictional characters, and discussing their traumas is almost easy, but delving into words that speak of the past, that follow a real person – I find myself conflicted as to whether to go into things in quite so much detail. 

I will start by saying, this is not the kind of book I would normally read. I am not generally a fan of memoirs, although I have never been entirely sure why. It is, perhaps, the way they are laid out, following a life from start to a finishing point, and the writing style of memoirs is always so much different than the writing style of fiction novels. This book, however, was different. Jayne has a truly unique writing style. The voice she uses to write in changes as she writes about herself at different ages, not going into subjects and reasons her younger self wouldn’t have understood, while making such things painfully clear to the reader. The layout and short chapters almost reminds me of a poetry book, which in itself is a very smart stylistic choice. When I think of reading poetry, I think of digging deeper, trying to find a meaning behind everything, and with this book, Jayne reminds that there isn’t always a meaning, there isn’t always a reason – sometimes, even though you feel otherwise, there isn’t anything that you could’ve done to change the outcome. I also particularly loved the way Jayne shows her attachment to different people by whether or not she reveals their names. While her childhood best friend may be named, the-girl-who-is-not-my-sister whom Jayne never grew close to remains simply that in Jayne’s mind. It gives a layer of distance between the person and the reader, for the reader can never really get to know them, as Jayne never did.

I cannot easily relate to Jayne, for I am lucky that my parents have been together and happy my whole life, although Jayne paints a very vivid picture of how, no matter what happens around her, not having her father around is something she is always painfully aware of. Like a stone in her shoe, Jayne constantly feels her father’s absence, although there is little she can do about it, and has to simply deal with the pain and keep on walking. I can feel Jayne’s pain and sadness through the words, as she desperately searches for a feeling of love and security that only her father can give her, but she isn’t going to receive from him. Throughout her life, she was lost, jumping around both mentally and physically, struggling through different traumas and an immense feeling of loneliness while moving from place to place through her mother’s relationships, and then her own. 

This book itself is very short and easy to read, I read it within about twenty minutes, although I am a fast reader. It is a simple book if you are just consuming words and moving on. But, when you look even just slightly deeper than what is on the surface, you find a pool of emotion, and it is all too easy to fall forwards and start to drown. I fear losing my father, but to never have known him? To go my whole life without the love and support I feel is almost a given in life? Jayne’s words bring a perspective that I’ve never been able to properly observe before, and needless to say, this is a book that truly moved me.

And done!

This was a difficult review to write. As mentioned in the review itself, I don't read memoirs, and when writing, I realised just how many conclusions I jump to when writing about fictional characters, which is something I do not feel is right to do when writing about a person.

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – The Fourth Charm (Dramsmit Childrens Mysteries Book 2) by Robert Howell

This is another book that I very gratefully received from the author. I read quite a lot of young adult fiction, but I haven't read much children's fiction since I was that age. This book is targeted at 8-15 year olds, so it is a bit of a different one for me.

Let me introduce the book, and then we can get into my review!

It has been a few months since Sharron, Wally and Chip found their true home at Bellevue Manor, and their place in the witch community. They continue to learn their craft, and their powers grow. Yet their true destiny lies in their love of mystery solving. Using their unique abilities, they take on the challenge of solving supernatural mysteries. Their success in this though may become their undoing. For now, the Witch Council itself has come to them to help solve a mystery that is threatening the Witch community.

Some entity is stealing the familiars from witches, including the familiar of their good friend Ronnie. They put on their sleuthing caps, using all the research tools at their disposal, to find the answer.

Then comes the prophecy from Saleena. The only chance they can survive this, is if they use the Fourth Charm. But what is The Fourth Charm? Not a single book in the extensive Dramsmit library mentions anything about it. Nor do any of the witches they have spoken with, including Saleena. They race to find the answer to this question, yet mysterious and powerful forces oppose them every step of the way. Can they find the Fourth Charm, and the ability to use it, before all is lost?

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

Sharron, Wally, and Chip may still be fairly new to the magical world, but they have not been negatively impacted by their late start to their studies. They have a unique ability, the power of three, that allows them to join their magic together into a singular force, and they have a knack at coming up with new spells that help them along their adventures.

The three take up the role of detectives, combining their powers and problem solving abilities together, to solve the mysteries that the magical world throws at them. When a mystery arises that even the Witch's Council cannot solve, Sharron, Wally, and Chip find themselves facing possibly the most difficult mystery they’ve ever solved before. 

There is a lot of information in this book that you must understand for it to make sense, but once you have the general gist of the magical world this book contains, you are in for a wild ride! Having not read book 1, I do feel like I missed some important aspects of the story, but that is a problem that can easily be remedied. I would definitely recommend reading this series in order, as I’m sure it is easier to understand the magical world if you learn about it as the main characters do, rather than starting halfway through the story.

The magical world itself in this book is one I have not come across elsewhere. It is a very original world of potions, spells, and creatures that captures your attention. The language used, and the mystery itself in this book, is perfectly suited to the age group this book is targeted towards. If I had read this book at age 12, I know I would’ve loved it. Having said that, I actually read this book as an adult, and I still greatly enjoyed reading it! It is not over simplified for children, so while it is suitable for a younger audience to read, it is also perfect for those outside of the targeted age range. 

I loved the way Sharron, Wally, and Chip are portrayed. They are powerful, and incredibly smart, but they are still children. Chip, as the youngest, often comes out with new words that he has just learnt, and although they know what they are doing, they are often held back by their age. The adults around them take measures to ensure they are safe, but this often comes across as the grown ups trying to hold them back. This can be seen from both perspectives when reading, and I’m sure different aged readers would see things differently. While reading, as a ‘grown up’ myself, I saw three children trying to take on an adult’s role, but not having the necessary tools to actually move forwards themselves. It does portray an important message, that even though you might know how to do something, needing a little help is not something to be afraid of. 

The mystery in this book is one that definitely keeps you guessing as you read. With mythical creatures, and the infusion of myths and legends into the story, the twists and turns the story takes are plenty to keep your attention hooked. I read this book in one sitting, and I can see plenty of avid young readers absolutely adoring this series. This book really reminded me of The Roman Mysteries series by Caroline Lawrence, but with the added sparkle of a magical world and mythical creatures that the three must combat or befriend.

There are several mentions of the children having suffered violence in the past, as they went through different social systems after the deaths of their parents, and the children do face danger during the book, but the violence in the scenes is mild, and none of the children themselves are hurt at any point.

This is a wonderful book for children, or young teens, who enjoy mystery books, or have a love for magical stories. It also makes a great quick read for those adults who like to sit back with a simpler story. If magic and mysteries are your thing, this is the series for you!

And done!

I wasn't sure how I was going to get on with this book, due to the targeted age range, but I actually really enjoyed reading it. It was a lovely break from some of the heavier topics covered in the books I've been reading lately. I read the whole thing in one sitting!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – Do You Ship Us by Claire Rosalind

I saw a post on Twitter by this author that grabbed my interest and, fulfilling the entire point of social media, I then checked out her profile, and had a look at their book. I promptly decided it looked and sounded amazing, and I simply must read it.

So, check out the book, and then scroll to read my review!

Jasper Reid is everything his fans of The Obsolete want him to be. Whether it's for the dance-y pop songs he writes, his flirty and mischievous onstage persona, or the masterful way he plays along with the fans' ships, he's the perfect performer. On the verge of turning twenty-one, in what's expected to be the next boy band phenomenon, his life could not get any better.

Until he meets Ryan, an irresistibly attractive dancer, who is added out of the blue to their vocal band. Jasper is quick to call bullshit on the manager's reason for this addition, but even quicker to accidentally flirt with their new member.

This close to the band's success, Jasper's pissed to be the one vocally training this dancing liability. Between Jasper's outspoken nature and Ryan's anxiety, tensions rise. When a plan to improve Ryan's confidence backfires, putting the spotlight on something Jasper's been ignoring all his life, truths come to light.

Can Jasper let himself get swept up in his own real-life, convoluted, fanfic love story while protecting Ryan from the negatives of fame, uncovering the real reason their manager added him, and saving the band? Or will a photo scandal throw everything out in favor of some satisfyingly petty revenge?

CW: this book features an on page suicidal panic attack, discussions of previous suicide attempt, discussions of emotional manipulation, and instances of sexual coercion. 

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

Jasper is one of the main reasons The Obsolete has so many fans shipping the band members. He flirts just to rile up the fans, and they love him for it. But, when a new band member is dropped on them without any prior warning, Jasper is quick to question their manager’s true motives, especially since the new member, Ryan, is a dancer, not a singer.

Ryan doesn’t fit into the band immediately, especially since the rest of the band members have already formed friendships, and he finds it difficult to get any of them, in particular Jasper, to accept him as a member. But when Jasper is forced to help train him, and get his singing up to scratch, Jasper and Ryan find themselves spending more and more time around each other, and the fans are quick to come up with a new favourite ship – but what if, this time, it wasn’t fictional?

I absolutely loved both Jasper and Ryan, and following their growing relationship. In particular, I enjoyed following Jasper as he slowly came to the realisation of what exactly he felt. Jasper had been brought up in a very religious household, and pushed towards a relationship with a woman he feels absolutely nothing for. But when Ryan comes along, something changes, and he starts to wonder whether he might’ve been gay all along. Jasper really struggles coming to terms with his sexuality, mostly because he is scared that the other band members won’t accept him, and that he will lose his friends. Fear such as this is certainly saddening to read about, but Ryan is next to Jasper every step of the way, to support him, and to, slowly, fall in love with him.

There is plenty of depth to this story outside of just Jasper and Ryan’s relationship. The band find themselves facing legal issues with their contracts, as their manager scrounges every last penny he can out of the band without giving them any of it. This thread of the story was particularly interesting to follow, as the band become aware of just what their contracts contain, and try to work their way around some of the clauses that seem to simply box them in. I must say, I absolutely hated their manager, Chris. I don’t think I could’ve hated a character more. He is simply vile, using blackmail against the band members to get what he wants, and having absolutely no care about the actual members of the band. He causes so much emotional damage, simply for his own monetary gain. He is an absolutely vile man, and my hatred for him is a testament for how well his character was written. Like Jasper, I would absolutely love to punch him in the face!

I will admit, it did take me a while to properly get into this book. I spent the first few chapters slightly confused, as things jumped around a little and there wasn’t much explanation as to who the characters were. However, once I figured out who the characters were, things made infinitely more sense, and by the halfway point, I couldn’t put the book down. In fact, I fell asleep reading it, because I didn’t want to put it down to go to bed.

There are a lot of mental health matters covered in this book, and I do like that the trigger warnings are in the blurb, so you can be aware of what you will find within this book before you decide to read it. Ryan in particular suffers a lot in this book, and there are some scenes that are very difficult to read, so do be prepared going into this book that these scenes are very distressing. I truly felt for Ryan, he has already gone through so much before the events covered in this book, and he goes through plenty more during the book. He is a character I really wanted to give a big hug to.

Even though he isn’t particularly a ‘main’ character, I think Blake really stole the show in this book. He is incredibly humorous, as well as amazingly supportive of his friends. He and Jasper are great friends, and while Ryan may be someone that Jasper needs, Blake is also important to Jasper, but purely as friends, nothing more. He is always ready to drop things to be there for Jasper, and offers support and consolation when needed, as well as simply being around to crack some jokes and cheer everyone up. I think everyone needs a friend like Blake!

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is the start of a very promising series, and I can’t wait to follow The Obsolete as their story continues throughout the series. If you are a fan of celebrity romances, drama, scandals, slow burn romance, and powerful friendships, this is absolutely the book for you!

And done!

I haven't posted properly in absolutely ages, but I do hope to change that! I have a list of books lines up that I want to get reviews for out before the New Year, so maybe with a clear list, and a goal in mind, I might be successful... who knows?!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – Devoured: vampire action horror scifi by Cassie Carnage

So, Spooky Season Week didn't go exactly to plan...

First off, I started a day late, so I was going to be finishing a day late. But my seven days worth of posts was almost impossible to keep up with. I barely had any time all week to make the posts anyway, as it was a particularly busy week with work, but by Sunday, I had nothing ready, and there was no way I could possibly finishing reading this book and write the review in the ten minutes I had before I had to start work. So, Spooky Season Week ended abruptly on day 5.

But, I do want to finish it, so this post will be day 6, and the final post will go out on Saturday (hopefully!)

So, now I have explained myself, let me get going with the post!

Jonah, a newly turned vampire, must fight the National Center for Rejuvenation (NCR), a company that is hellbent on filling the world with more of his kind. Just when he thought things couldn't get worse, he discovers that NCR is experimenting on creating unstoppable mutant werewolves.

In order to save his ex, and the world, he must join an uneasy truce with a group of deadly mercenaries as they fight to destroy the source of evil that NCR is hiding.

Amazon UK • Amazon US

My Review!

A newly-turned vampire, Jonah has to acclimatise himself to a lot of change very quickly. Firstly, he is now a killing machine, with a hunger for blood that it seems he can never quite fully satisfy. Secondly, there is an evil vampire queen hellbent on controlling him and making him a part of her brood. And thirdly, there is a man who was supposedly his fiancé, although he has lost all the memories he ever had of Doctor Mallory Conrad, who is involved in secret organisations he never knew existed, even before he was a vampire. 

Jonah finds himself taking lots of different sides, going against Mullo, the vampire queen, and finding himself among a group of highly trained mercenaries, fighting to rid the world of all vampires and werewolves, and to stop the organisation that’s trying to fill the world with the supernatural, and mutating vampires and werewolves with a hidden evil, to make them much more deadly. 

Jonah is not your typical newly turned vampire. He doesn’t have an identity crisis, or struggle morally as he realises he must kill to survive. A killer instinct sets in, and he adapts to survive in an instant. This book very much portrays vampires as having a hunting instinct that takes over almost immediately, and it is clear that Jonah’s entire personality changes. He is not a human who must drink blood to survive, but a human who has been turned into an entirely different species. This was a very interesting portrayal of vampires, and one that comes across as much more real in the telling than other, more moral, vampires. 

Something I particularly loved in this book was the way Mal and Jonah’s relationship changed so dramatically. They were betrothed, but being turned into a vampire took away all of Jonah’s memories of Mal, as well as changing him as a person. Mal knows that Jonah is different, but when he looks at him, he still sees the man he wanted to marry. For Mal, it seems infinitely harder to be around Jonah, for he still has the memories of their relationship before Jonah was turned. Throughout the book, though, their relationship continues, although it is much more toxic than before. Their relationship becomes an addiction, rather than love, with Jonah feeding off Mal and the both of them getting a high from it. As the book progresses, this grows worse for both of them, and it definitely added a layer to the story, with both needing the other, and both struggling with the memory of their human love in the past, showing how much they have both been affected by Jonah’s vampirism. 

With the different organisations, either fighting vampires and trying to rid the world of them, or trying to create more, and mutate them, there are a lot of characters who you are not sure are trustworthy. Not many people trust Jonah, but he doesn’t trust a lot of them either. Most of the vampires can’t think for themselves, they are controlled by Mullo, but Jonah has his own mind, although the more time that passes, the more animalistic he becomes, the more memories of his past life he loses, and the less people trust him. It’s incredibly rare that the vampires in this novel are, for lack of a better word, sentient, so Jonah is a mystery in himself. The entire portrayal of vampires in this novel is original in itself, I have never come across a lot of aspects that the vampires in this book possess. The author has done a fabulous job at making these vampires incredibly believable. In my opinion, they are a lot more believable than mainstream vampires. 

While Jonah is a killer, although that is not exactly his own choice, he is still a rather likeable character. He doesn’t exactly detest the fact that he must kill to survive, but he doesn’t agree with vampirism, or that vampires and werewolves should be free to roam and kill as they please. He wants to destroy them as much as the mercenaries do, and his supernatural abilities certainly help him in his mission to rid the world of the supernatural evil. And as much as his relationship with Mal is toxic, there is still an element of care between them, to the point where it’s difficult to figure out if Jonah is really a good guy, or if he himself is evil and is ruining Mal's life by being around him.

This is an incredibly unique vampire novel, and certainly one I enjoyed reading. This book has been sat in my e-reader for months, and I definitely wish I read it sooner.

And done!

Even now, catching up with the posts for Spooky Season Week, this post is going up several hours late.

Oh well.

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

Movie Reviews – Horror Films – Spooky Season Week, Day 4!

I have no internet at the moment, or I have internet in my building, it just doesn't quite reach my bedroom. While this is very useful in making me go to sleep and stop me staying awake and scrolling for hours, it also means I don't have many options when it comes to actually watching anything. So during the day, I've been downloading things, and watching them in the evening/at night. Which probably isn't the best way to consume horror films, really late at night, and with nothing downloaded to watch afterwards, but still.

Anyway, here are the movies I watched, and the reviews!

Bodies are turning up around the city, each having met a uniquely gruesome demise. As the investigation proceeds, evidence points to one suspect: John Kramer, the man known as Jigsaw, who has been dead for over 10 years.

My Review!

I haven’t watched a lot of very popular movies, and some that I have never seen is any movie in the Saw franchise. I have obviously heard about the films, but I had no idea what they were about or anything. To be fair, I didn’t even realise this was a part of that franchise, although I should’ve been able to guess, given the title. I am not sure how this film compares to the original Saw films, but I really enjoyed it. The story itself was simple to follow, although I’m sure knowledge of the previous films would’ve added to the viewing experience. It got a little confusing towards the end, but again, it wasn’t particularly hard to figure out what was happening. There were certainly characters I liked more than others, although this is a film where good guys and bad guys don’t really exist. It is just a case of who was worse, for there weren’t really any people I would class as ‘good’. Everyone had flaws and most had done terrible things. But still, some characters were much more likeable than others. I am not one who finds horror movies particularly scary, to the point where I was so tired I fell asleep watching this and had to rewind a bit to continue watching it the next day. This film didn’t scare me at all. I would almost go as far as to class it as more of a thriller than a horror film. But still, I did enjoy watching it, and would very much like to go back and watch the rest of the movies in the Saw franchise. 

After firing up a lost 1980s survival horror game, a young coder unleashes a hidden curse that tears reality apart, forcing her to make terrifying decisions and face deadly consequences.

My Review!

This film is one that I, once again, knew absolutely nothing about, and just decided to watch on a whim. I am not generally the kind of person to get at all freaked out at horror films, my inability to be fazed by them is actually something I pride myself on, but this movie had me physically gagging at several scenes. It is not for those with a weak stomach. This film is almost a horror version of Jumanji, in a way. A game that affects the real world. The choices are sometimes presented as incredibly clear, or vague, and the things that happen afterwards are more often than not, completely unexpected. Either way, whatever choice is made usually involved horrific deaths. Kayla is a character completely torn apart by things that have happened in her life, but she doesn’t get a chance to break down and mourn. She is forced to keep going, no matter what, and the game Curs>r, the cause of everything that happens in this film, only makes her grief worse. A curse to some may be a blessing to others, but either way, Kayla goes through hell and has to suffer the consequences of loading up the game in the first place. Not for the faint of heart, but this film is wonderful. I did really enjoy it, even though it did make me feel a little sick. 

After being forced to take a room in a boardinghouse, an immigrant in search of the American Dream finds herself in a nightmare she can't escape.

My Review!

This film was very much one of suspense, that emitted the feeling of being trapped, and not being able to do anything about it. Ambar is desperately trying to improve her situation, but is running into dead ends wherever she turns. She doesn’t have the ID she needs, and can’t get any. She can’t improve her job, can’t find anywhere safe to live. The best she can find is a boarding house, but there is something wrong with the place. The more time she spends there, the more desperate she is to leave, but how can she? She needs to spend money she doesn’t have in order to make more money. She is lost, alone, and desperate. The whole horror aspect of this film almost takes a back burner in comparison to Ambar’s struggles, although that in itself was enough to give this film a sense of dread and uncertainty. I really felt for Ambar, she has no one to help her and no way to escape the things she needs to. And the horror aspects of the film, which do only really come into play in the last half hour, certainly add to the overall sense of not knowing whether Ambar was safe or not, or where she would find herself the following day. I can’t say this is one of the best horror films I’ve ever watched, it had it’s moments, but it didn’t keep me gripped throughout it. Mostly, I felt sorry for Ambar, and was just hoping she would find what she needed and would find somewhere safe to properly start her life. 

And done!

This post went up late because it literally wasn't written. I wrote most of it in the last half hour before it went up. I was supposed to include five films, but only ended up actually watching three before this post was meant to go up. Whoops.

This Spooky Season Week is a little unplanned...!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – Heaven's Peak: A Gripping Horror Novel by Miguel Estrada – Spooky Season Week, Day 2!

With the time for spooks and scary reads upon us, I scrolled through my e-reader in the search of something that looked like it fell into the horror genre. This book was the one I stopped on, and opened.

Now I'm making this post, I realise that this book is by the same author as Seven Sins, the book I read for my Spooky Season Week last year... coincidence?! Anyway, you can read my review of Seven Sins here, and read on for my review of this book!

The beautiful resort town of Heaven's Peak is home to gorgeous landscapes and terrifying secrets.

After the tragic death of his mother, teenage photographer Kevin Miller moves to a new town with his alcoholic father and eight-year-old sister in the hope of bringing the family together and starting over. However, everything changes when Kevin witnesses his sister being kidnapped by a bizarre creature. The police are skeptical of his story, so he decides to unveil the mysteries surrounding the town on his own.

On the other side of the investigation, FBI agent Norman James will do anything to solve the baffling case, except believe a traumatized teenager's nonsense.

Meanwhile, newscasts predict a blizzard approaching in the next couple of days, as people in the town begin to behave strangely.

Will Kevin and Norman find Kevin's little sister before Heaven's Peak is consumed by darkness?

Heaven's Peak is the first full-length horror-thriller novel from author Miguel Estrada. If you like suspense, mystery and dread, prepare for a ride you won't forget.

Amazon UK • Amazon US (it's free, so go grab a copy!)

My Review!

Heaven’s Peak is the place Kevin has been dragged to, the place he must now make his home. After the death of his mother, his father is hardly fit to parent any longer, preferring the company of a bottle of alcohol over the company of his children, and so Kevin must step up to look after his younger sister, Jenny. 

But Heaven’s Peak already has a history of people going missing. A girl in one of Kevin’s classes, Sofia, is the older sister of a young boy who went missing recently. And when Kevin sees what is really behind the kidnapping, the night when he comes home to find his sister gone, he knows he can’t simply sit back and let the police deal with it. Sofia’s brother hasn’t been found yet, and the police absolutely did not believe Kevin when he described the humanoid monster that took Jenny. There is nothing left to do, but for Kevin to find Jenny himself. 

Kevin is a flawed character. He is not a hero, who knows exactly what needs to be done to move forward, although others may view him as such a strong person. His only goal is to find Jenny, no matter what he has to do, but he also drags Sofia into things she is not comfortable doing. She is desperate to find her brother, but she would rather not put herself in dangerous scenarios, and Kevin rarely sees things from her point of view. He also struggles with sanity as he learns more. There is no way a sane person would claim so surely that a monster is behind the disappearances, but Kevin cannot deny what he saw. 

Other than Kevin and Sofia, this book also gives the perspective of FBI agent Norman James. I love books, whether thriller or horror, that give the view of the people who are supposed to be investigating the case, as well as those who are doing it of their own accord. James is one of the only officers who seems to be actually trying to find any of the missing people, he finds himself in a force of officers who don’t appear to care, and he is the only person who believes Kevin may be telling the truth when he talks of monsters. James is a character I really enjoyed reading about. He is focused, and gets incredibly frustrated when he is treated as inferior and the people around his don’t take things as seriously as they should. He is stuck within a corrupt group, and as you read, you too become more and more frustrated. He doesn’t have what he needs to properly move forward his investigations, and things fall apart without the proper protocols and dedication. 

The monsters themselves are difficult to talk about without giving away important parts of the plot. I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that they really are monsters, for this is a horror book with supernatural elements. They are incredibly unique, I have not come across anything supernatural fiction with monsters such as these before. The author has done a wonderful job in making a new kind of horrific being, which is just as scary as any mythical or supernatural creature I have read about before. I have read some reviews of this book, and quite a few have described this book as missing some key details. However, while some may say there was an air of incomplete about this book, with a lack of explanation about the creatures, such as why they were taking people, or how they came to be, I actually liked the way the author left out these details. At no point does the reader know any more than any of the characters, so you are drawn more into the story, desperate to find out more, and for the truth to be revealed. By still not revealing these details at the end, you are left feeling incredibly uneasy, not sure if the characters are safe or not. It is incredibly difficult to explain without giving away the ending, but the author has certainly succeeded in writing a book that is full of suspense! 

I did really enjoy reading this book. There is intrigue and suspense all the way through, which makes it next to impossible to put this book down. Like the last book I read by this author, I stayed up late to finish reading, as I simply had to know what was going to happen, and whether Kevin was going to be able to find Jenny. If you like monsters and unease, this is certainly the book for you.

And done!

I think, out of this book and Seven Sins, this is certainly the superior book.

I don't have much to say down here, other than trying to do Spooky Season Week this year was probably a mistake, considering it is the Sunday before I start as I write this, and I have yet to actually schedule any posts for the week at all...!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!