Poisoned by Jennifer Donnelly

Snow White's stepmother wanted to get rid of the beautiful stepdaughter who was challenging her title of 'most beautiful' - by any means necessary. Was Snow White poisoned? What happens to the poisoned, and the poisoner?

Jennifer Donnelly turns her feminist eye to this most delicious of fairy tales and shows Snow White as she's never been seen before.

Sophie is Snow White, with hair black as coal and lips red as apples. You all know the story, but Donnelly has put a fantastic feminist twist on this retelling, focussing on the importance of kindness and the strength needed in a male-dominated world.

You know that saying: history is written by the winners? Well in this case, it has been written by the men. The wicked queen wasn’t all that wicked, she had to be extra strong to keep the throne in a world where men didn’t like women in charge; and she wasn’t vain, asking the mirror who was the fairest of them all, but rather asking how to keep herself in power; Snow White herself was kind but that didn’t make her passive or weak, it was how she persevered and cared for her kingdom.

I really enjoyed this; as a fan of the Brothers Grimm tales and of all fairy tale retellings, I greatly appreciated the new spin and the little hints to the original, like the three attempts of murder that the stepmother tried: the laces, the hair comb and finally the poisoned apple. While it almost felt slow-paced, Sophie traversed most of her kingdom and met a lot of people, some friendly and some foes, on her quest to topple the queen and get her heart back from the King of Crows. Speaking of whom, the personification of fear and pain was fascinating and very clever, especially mixed with the metaphor of cutting out Sophie’s heart – which would not only kill her but also remove her kindness and goodness. It was only the quick thinking of the “seven brothers” that saved Sophie’s soul and allowed her some extra time to make a plan and discover her own strength. 

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Mini Reviews: Cinderella Is Dead and Chasing Lucky

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
It's 200 years since Cinderella found her prince, but the fairytale is over.

Sophia knows the story though, off by heart. Because every girl has to recite it daily, from when she's tiny until the night she's sent to the royal ball for choosing. And every girl knows that she has only one chance. For the lives of those not chosen by a man at the ball are forfeited.

But Sophia doesn't want to be chosen – she's in love with her best friend, Erin, and hates the idea of being traded like cattle. And when Sophia's night at the ball goes horribly wrong, she must run for her life. Alone and terrified, she finds herself hiding in Cinderella's tomb. And there she meets someone who will show her that she has the power to remake her world.

The premise of this was fascinating and well executed: women have been manipulated into believing the sugar-coated version of Cinderella’s love story and anyone who doesn’t fit the strict male-dominated values is imprisoned. Sophia is terrified of the ball, of being pawed and leered at, of being a pawn in a man’s game, so she flees. In the hidden mausoleum of Cinderella’s final resting place, she meets Constance, who is like her and wants to topple the unfair system and the lies surrounding Cinderella’s so-called “happily ever after”. 

Unfortunately, I didn’t quite believe the romance between Sophia and Constance. Between Sophia still having feelings for her best friend and the pace of overthrowing the patriarchy, the romance kind of fell by the wayside. Not to say that it was badly written or anything, I just wanted to be swept up in it. But the plot? That was incredible, especially the subtle hints to the original tale and then subverting them, making the women of this story take centre stage, as is right.

There were lots of twists and turns, it was very fast paced and full of secrets waiting to be uncovered. I even gasped a few times with surprise! All in all, a solid read for me, maybe could have benefited from a bit more world-building but the message and the story were great.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Chasing Lucky by Jenn Bennett

Budding photographer Josie Saint-Martin has spent half her life with her single mother, moving from city to city. When they return to her historical New England hometown to run the family bookstore, Josie knows it's not forever, so there's no reason to change her modus operandi—keeping to herself, dreaming of the day she can leave.

But after a disastrous summer party, a poorly executed act of revenge lands her in big-time trouble. As in, jail...alongside the last person with whom she’d want to share a mugshot: the son of the boat mechanic across the street, Lucky Karras. Outsider, rebel…and her former childhood best friend.

Josie and Lucky become the talk of their coastal small town. But during a summer of secrets, everything changes, and the easy friendship they once shared grows into something deeper and more complicated. Can Josie and Lucky swim past obstacles that come with rough waters, or will they both go down together?

Jenn Bennett is on my auto-buy list, she is a brilliant author and her stories always just wrap me up and break me a little bit, and “Chasing Lucky” was no different. Josie is a budding photographer and wants this next year to go as smoothly as possible, so she can graduate high school and intern with her estranged father, a famous photographer, in Los Angeles. Problems ensue, because of course, the main one being Lucky, her childhood best friend whom she hasn’t spoken to since she and her mum left town. Josie’s been on the run with her mother since a big fight with her grandmother five years ago. She was too young to really understand what the fight was about but for the last five years, Josie and her mum have moved from town to town, never really settling, until her grandmother asks them both to come back to man the family bookshop while she’s away. 

While this was a story about Josie getting to know her childhood best friend again, about them falling in love (which they did and it was freaking adorable), it’s also about family and secrets and communication. The reason that Josie and her mum didn’t return to Beauty for five years was because Winona didn’t know how to communicate with Josie, and because she didn’t communicate well with her own mother, Deidre. Secrets and white lies and “didn’t tell you to protect you” can’t stay hidden forever, and it is a horrible way to teach your daughter about honesty and communication between family.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh

Everyone has been talking about this book! Renee’s latest novel is set in the 1870’s, in New Orleans, the city full of secrets, both human and mythical. Setting the scene for a new series, The Beautiful tells of Celine, a young woman fresh off the boat, hoping to find a new start in a new city, where no-one will know what she’s running from. Somewhat ironic, because it seems just about everyone in New Orleans is not what they appear.

A hunter is stalking the citizens of New Orleans, leaving young women with their throats mutilated. The police are baffled but Celine is starting to suspect that this so-called Court of Lions knows something. Part crime thriller, part swooping romance, this was stunningly gorgeous to read but honestly… it took me a while to get into. I don’t like to admit that, because everyone else has spoken so highly of it but I think that lyrical language, while amazing, didn’t suit my style of reading which is typically dipping in and out. Having said that, the ending massively picked up and I read the last 20 or so percent in one evening. 

What made it for me was the characters and the setting. New Orleans is a fascinating city and Renee’s style of writing made it seem so magical and mysterious, and the Court of Lions was just as mysterious as the city they inhabited. A group of not-quite-humans have sought refuge in the city and their leader was the charming and handsome Sebastian. Trouble was, he knew it, and pulls Celine into their tangled web, despite everyone’s better judgement. 

Although I had some trouble getting into the flow of the writing (which is entirely my fault, not the book’s), it was gripping and thrilling and darkly lyrical, perfectly encapsulating the feel of the magic of the city and all of its enigmatic inhabitants.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Fandom by Anna Day

Cosplay ready, Violet and her friends are at Comic-Con.

They can’t wait to meet the fandom of mega movie, The Gallows Dance. What they’re not expecting is to be catapulted by freak accident into their favourite world – for real. Fuelled by love, guilt and fear, can the friends put the plot back on track and get out? The fate of the story is in their hands ...

A fast-paced, genre-flipping YA fantasy adventure from a brand new author, writing in homage to the best YA fiction.

It is every fangirl's dream to fall into their favourite book but Violet soon realises that the dangers are a lot closer when she's really there. When she and her friends crash through some sort of hole in space and time and land in The Gallows Dance, Violet has to fill the protagonist Rose's shoes and continue the story.


Honestly, I was sort of conflicted going in to this; it was news to me how the story came about, partnered with the Big Idea Competition but I didn't let that deter me. I figured it can't be that different from fanfiction! As a contemporary inside a dystopian, it was well aware of the stereotypes and the characters didn't want to fall into them, but they also made fun of the tropes and famous names - it was a little strange. None the less, pretty good world-building, as she had to establish both home and inside-the-book structure and all the characters were interesting to read about. Violet I could identify with straight away and her relationship with younger brother Nate was incredibly similar to me and my brother; I got a little annoyed with how many times she referred to Kate's "soft Liverpool accent" but Kate was awesome, like the resident sceptic. Alice was pretty awful and I struggled to understand why they were even friends but shared history is important, I guess.


I could also see how it was going to veer off the "canon" of the original story, the original being that Rose fell in love with Willow and her death sparked the revolution. But right away, Willow was two-dimensional and annoying, which was the point so it worked. And Ash was utterly adorable, maybe the typical puppy-dog, other side of the love triangle, but it was fascinating the way this crash gave him a better backstory.


It was a very twisty plot, as the "canon" is dragging them along but their very presence is ruining the original storyline. Some of the reveals and surprises were quite clever and I really enjoyed the twists and hiccups as the canon must be completed. However, I could see the hole right away - the hints were obvious but even then, I wasn't sure if it was all just a coma dream or not - kept me on my toes!


All in all, I really liked it: it wasn't really heavy or complicated to read, the world was typical dystopian but that was the point, and the characters made the story funny and very enjoyable. Maybe just don't expect too much but still a good story.


Published 4th January 2018 by Chicken House. Thank you to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Maresi by Maria Turtschaninoff

Maresi came to the Red Abbey when she was thirteen, in the Hunger Winter. Before then, she had only heard rumours of its existence in secret folk tales. In a world where girls aren't allowed to learn or do as they please, an island inhabited solely by women sounded like a fantasy. But now Maresi is here, and she knows it is real. She is safe.

Then one day Jai tangled fair hair, clothes stiff with dirt, scars on her back arrives on a ship. She has fled to the island to escape terrible danger and unimaginable cruelty. And the men who hurt her will stop at nothing to find her.

Now the women and girls of the Red Abbey must use all their powers and ancient knowledge to combat the forces that wish to destroy them. And Maresi, haunted by her own nightmares, must confront her very deepest, darkest fears.

A story of friendship and survival, magic and wonder, beauty and terror, Maresi will grip you and hold you spellbound.

The Red Abbey is proud to be a refuge for girls and women the world over, offering sanctuary and an education to those who come to then leave and make the world a better place. Maresi has been there for years and now considers it home. She and the other girls learn about the world, how to farm and build, and read and write, and their belief system of the Mother goddess. 

It was such a quiet, almost quaint, setting for a fantasy world, and I loved it. Fantasies rarely bother with small-town sort of problems and just getting to know the abbey, known the world over but having no real part in it, was fascinating. 

As it was all women, no men allowed, it really felt like a feminist story; the girls were aware that men can be dangerous but weren't taught to fear them necessarily, just be wary of different cultures. 

Things at the Abbey changed when Jai comes and Maresi tells the story of her arrival and her transition to life in the Abbey. It was an interesting concept, as the story is told as if from memory. It meant that some details were so obviously huge but we got a very clear picture of life and then how that drastically changed when Jai's nightmare comes true.

I was really late to the party with this book but I'm glad I finally got round to it, as I really enjoyed it. The mix of magical fantasy and cruel realism was jarring and dramatic but it really was a story about friendship and girl power, and I loved that. 

Published 14th January 2016 by Puskin. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Remembrance by Meg Cabot

All Susannah Simon wants is to make a good impression at her first job since graduating from college (and since becoming engaged to Dr. Jesse de Silva). But when she’s hired as a guidance counselor at her alma mater, she stumbles across a decade-old murder, and soon ancient history isn’t all that’s coming back to haunt her. Old ghosts as well as new ones are coming out of the woodwork, some to test her, some to vex her, and it isn’t only because she’s a mediator, gifted with second sight.

What happens when old ghosts come back to haunt you?
If you’re a mediator, you might have to kick a little ass.

From a sophomore haunted by the murderous specter of a child to ghosts of a very different kind—including Paul Slater, Suze’s ex, who shows up to make a bargain Suze is certain must have come from the Devil himself—Suze isn’t sure she’ll make it through the semester, let alone to her wedding night. Suze is used to striking first and asking questions later. But what happens when ghosts from her past—including one she found nearly impossible to resist—strike first?

I adored the Mediator series, it was so very funny and what originally drew me to paranormal books, so I was beyond excited to see how Suze had grown up. This time around, nearly ten years later, Suze has another ghost to wrangle, this time of a little girl clinging to her best friend, harming anyone who would hurt her, all the while trying to keep her job and plan her wedding to the gorgeous and very much alive Jesse de Silva.

Jesse was as cool and kind and handsome as I remember! Being bought back from the dead has clearly done wonders for him! Training to be a doctor, what he wanted to be if his father hadn't stopped him, Jesse had embraced modern life and his future with Suze. I mean, he still has old-fashioned values pertaining to certain intimacies that drives Suze bonkers, but apart from that, their life together is shaping up quite nicely. Until the devil returns.

Paul is back in Suze's life and she is not happy about it. I don't know how I feel about the fact that he hasn't changed much; when he was a teenager and all moody and self-obsessed, we could blame hormones, but as a mid-20 year old, he's just obnoxious and dangerously narcissistic. When he says that he'll help Suze with the so-called demon living inside Jesse but only if she sleeps with him, I practically shouted at the book. That's blackmail and not to mention a horrible thing to do! Paul really needs some help learning a little empathy.

I'm not going to talk about the plot too much, because in true Cabot fashion, the two sides of the story intertwine a bit. Plus I really wouldn't want to spoilt anything! I will say, however, that it definitely lives up to the rest of the series. I could tell how much time had passed, and although Suze still had her sarcastic voice and liked to punch first, talk later, she had definitely grown up. She was training to be a child psychologist, meaning she could help the living and the dead better, and for that I was beyond proud of her.

This was such a great read, both new and nostalgic, and full of Cabot's trademark wit and drama. A great ending to what will always be one of favourite series.

Published 2nd February 2016 by William Morrow Paperbacks.

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin’s manoeuvrings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit—and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well. As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords—and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

Before we start, this is going to be short, because if you want to read this then you would have by now, and it will also be full of spoilers, as it is the third book in a series.

Ok, let's go! With all the drama around SJM's characters, worlds, whitewashing and flighty females, I can see how she tried to address and correct these issues in this book. Feyre and Rhys were still going strong and was, in my opinion, a great example of a healthy relationship. After what Tamlin did to her, Rhys clearly states that he views and wants to treat Feyre as an equal. Yes, he wants to protect and shield her, but if she wants to do something then he's not going to stop her just because he thinks it's too dangerous. 

We see much more of the world in this instalment, with a congregation of the Courts to deal with the Hybern issue. Here, we see different skin colours, different powers and varying sexuality's at play. Not only did I really appreciate the diversity but also the banter was legendary! Anyway, back to the world-building, we also saw elements of different mythologies as folk tales and legends for the magical explanations. 

There was a lot to love in this book, as I was quite worried going in! The tension was building throughout most of the story, as Hybern's forces were gathering, allies weren't forming and the Wall between the Fae and human world was weakening. All this accumulated into the epic battle finale, where I definitely cried on two occasions! I think as a conclusion for Rhys and Feyre's story, I really liked it. A lot of loose threads were tied up but enough left open for other character's stories to be explored. 

Published 2nd May 2017 by Bloomsbury.

Barefoot On The Wind by Zoe Marriott

There is a monster in the forest... 

Everyone in Hana's remote village on the mountain knows that straying too far into the woods is a death sentence. When Hana's father goes missing, she is the only one who dares try to save him. Taking up her hunting gear, she goes in search of the beast, determined to kill it - or be killed herself. 

But the forest contains more secrets, more magic and more darkness than Hana could ever have imagined. And the beast is not at all what she expects...

Hana lives with her family in a small village in the middle of a dangerous forest. Her family has lost more than most to the monster that hides in the dark but one night, her father returns from an attack, the first ever to do so. But he is injured and Hana is the only one brave enough to take on the monster in the forest. 

Hana is hurt on her hunt and taken in by a stranger but it seems that he knows more about this dark forest than he lets on. As Hana heals and they grow closer, the magic in the woods turns deadly. Marriott has said that this is a feminist retelling of Beauty and the Beast, written as if Beauty had the choice to stay in the forest rather than as part of a deal to save her father. I think it made a huge difference in the portrayal of bravery and their love story, as the Beast doesn't hold anything over Beauty's freedom. 

The whole story was such an interesting re-imagining of the classic tale, and with Marriott's lovely descriptions and skill for magical worlds, it practically burst off the page. Although short and sweet, I really enjoyed this Japanese-style fairy tale and was reminded of why Beauty and the Beast is my favourite story. 

Published 1st September 2016 by Walker Books.

King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard

Mare Barrow is a prisoner, powerless without her lightning, tormented by her lethal mistakes. She lives at the mercy of a boy she once loved, a boy made of lies and betrayal. Now a king, Maven Calore continues weaving his dead mother's web in an attempt to maintain control over his country—and his prisoner.

As Mare bears the weight of Silent Stone in the palace, her once-ragtag band of newbloods and Reds continue organizing, training, and expanding. They prepare for war, no longer able to linger in the shadows. And Cal, the exiled prince with his own claim on Mare's heart, will stop at nothing to bring her back.

When blood turns on blood, and ability on ability, there may be no one left to put out the fire—leaving Norta as Mare knows it to burn all the way down.

The third instalment started off pretty slowly; Mare is a prisoner, paraded and used as a puppet for Maven's amusement. Mare is showing signs of PTSD and the longer she is prisoner, the more she seems to show Stockholm Syndrome, being glad to the smallest acts of kindness from Maven. I had forgotten how twisted Maven was, but peeking behind the mask and seeing his weaknesses made the black and white seem grey. It's not his fault that his mother was insane and messed with his head, but now that she's gone, it is entirely Maven's decision to continue acting like her puppet.

Like I said, the book started off slowly, there didn't seem to be a whole lot of plot, which is why it took me so long to read it. However, the character development, especially on Mare and Maven's side, was brilliant and terrifying. While Mare was with Maven in the palace, we had odd chapters from Cameron's perspective, to see what's happening back at camp, and then later on from Evangeline, which was utterly bizarre. Honestly, I couldn't remember Cameron at all, I had no idea who this person was, which ruined things for me a little bit, but the pieces came back together (albeit slowly).

I really enjoyed this, even though it felt so long. The villain dissection with Maven was quite spectacular, even made me feel sorry for him, and Mare went through a lot for the cause, which made up for the whining she was doing in the previous book. The last third made the book for me, the action finally picked up and although there's a long way to go, it felt like the Guard was actually getting somewhere in there fight against the Silvers. Plus, Cal and Mare reached a good point in their relationship, until the last second when someone (Cal) did something stupid, but we'll have to find out the repercussions of that in book four!

Published 7th February 2017 by Harper Teen. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Scarecrow Queen by Melinda Salisbury

The final battle is coming . . .

As the Sleeping Prince tightens his hold on Lormere and Tregellan, the net closes in on the ragged band of rebels trying desperately to defeat him. Twylla and Errin are separated, isolated, and running out of time. The final battle is coming, and Aurek will stop at nothing to keep the throne forever . . .

Warning: spoilers for previous books, and possibly some minor ones for book three.

This is the epic finale, one that I've been waiting eagerly for, and it did not disappoint. Told in joint perspectives between Twylla and Errin, we see the multiple angles planning for the war, with Errin in the castle and Twylla on the front lines. All these characters, the girls especially, have grown so much, seen so much that has changed them and they've had to change with it, and I' so happy with their ending. 

Errin is being held captive at the castle by Aurek, who has a little doll of her that he uses to control her. Silas is being forced to make the Elixir and Lief is Aurek's right-hand man, hunting down resistance. Meanwhile, Twylla is on the run and trying to find help to overpower Aurek's rule. Not a great start to the revolution but Twylla becomes the symbol of hope when she used to be for death, and it's a great turn around and development for her character. I just loved to see her face her fears and become the leader that everyone knew she could be.

We also see the return of Merek, the supposedly dead prince, who helps Errin escape and joins the rebellion - I can remember liking Merek in book one and he really comes into his own here; as the rightful king, he has that natural leadership and power but wants what is best of his people. He also wants Twylla, which was utterly adorable, as they both have bigger concerns but their attraction was electric. 

Everything was pulled together, all the different story lines tied up, as well as a somewhat hopeful new start for the kingdom. Salisbury's writing just flowed, I had actually forgotten how good her writing was but I fell right back into it, her almost lyrical descriptions and beyond complicated and dark characters. It was the perfect ending to this story.

Published 2nd March 2017 by Scholastic.

Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton

This is not about blood or love. This is about treason.

Nearly a year has passed since Amani and the rebels won their epic battle at Fahali. Amani has come into both her powers and her reputation as the Blue-Eyed Bandit, and the Rebel Prince's message has spread across the desert - and some might say out of control. But when a surprise encounter turns into a brutal kidnapping, Amani finds herself betrayed in the cruellest manner possible.

Stripped of her powers and her identity, and torn from the man she loves, Amani must return to her desert-girl's instinct for survival. For the Sultan's palace is a dangerous one, and the harem is a viper's nest of suspicion, fear and intrigue. Just the right place for a spy to thrive... But spying is a dangerous game, and when ghosts from Amani's past emerge to haunt her, she begins to wonder if she can trust her own treacherous heart.

This is the sequel to the amazing Rebel of the Sands, but with a very different feel. Luckily, I loved it and the different pace and setting just added to the world-building. Hamilton has once again proved her excellent story telling skills and added a complicated plot. There was also a mad mix of characters, including a few more and the re-emergence of some old faces, but not nearly enough Jin!

As Amani is in the palace, being held hostage, she is able to play victim and send information back to the rebel camp. In doing so, she comes to understand more about the hierarchy and power trips in the palace. She also gets in close with the Sultan, who was such an interesting character. We already knew he was a bit of a douche in book one but seeing him face to face and actually getting to know him, Amani starts to feel conflicted because he actually does just want what is best for his country. It turns out he's doing it all wrong, but still! The fact that is it wasn't all in black and white, and giving the villain a heart was very clever and well written. 

The ending made me cry - just a warning! After most of the book was a game of political and magical cat and mouse, the final battle for escape was gut-wrenching. What I loved most about this book was that it didn't feel like a filler; even though the pace had slowed down compared to the first book, Amani was learning things about the rebellion and herself, moving the plot and character development along nicely. 

I adored this book - I know there are some very mixed reviews out there, and while I did miss the gun-slinging action of book one, I really loved the political games and the development of the magical lore in this book. I did miss Jin though, but I think Amani proved herself in this one, cut off from her support but still determined to help the rebels and her friends, even at risk to her own life. With everything set up for the finale, all I can say is: bring it on!

Published 2nd February 2017 by Faber and Faber.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland, she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love. Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen.

Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

I am not entirely sure what I expected but I really liked it; I was maybe a little disappointed there wasn't as much madness as you'd expect from Wonderland, but the little references, the back stories, were spot on. In fact, for the most part, it was very much just a love story, with Cath meeting Jest but being unable to do anything about it because her mother was pushing her towards the King.

Cath was a pretty regular girl, an only child, who loved to bake and dreamed to opening up her own shop with best friend Mary Ann. But being the daughter of a marquess has expectations and doing such an unladylike thing like baking isn't one of them. At a ball held by the King, everything changes when her eyes meet Jest's, the new court Joker. I immediately feel for him, let alone Cath! He was charming and utterly adorable, and as he and Cath grow ever closer, I could feel myself wishing for that happy ending they both deserved. But of course, Cath was destined to be the Queen of Hearts, even though the King was a complete buffoon. 

Here was my main problem with this: the King was an idiot, sure, but the whole court and limited options for women had a very Victorian feel to it. I get that the original was written then and Meyer was just imitating that style, but still - in a land where animals talk, playing cards are guards and things come out of a Joker's hat, is it really that weird for a girl to just want to bake? Not to mention the total unfairness of expecting Cath to just be happy that the King has picked her, despite knowing next to nothing about her!

Like I said, it was basically a love story with Cath and Jest falling head over heels for each other despite it being completely inappropriate. There was a little drama but it didn't come to a head until the very end, as Cath and the rest of the Land of Hearts were under threat of the Jabberwock. I won't say anything else, lest I spoil it, but let's just say I really enjoyed the overall story, especially the romance, but with not a lot happening other than Cath fretting over disappointing her family, it felt quite long. A must for fans of the original story and for forbidden romances and overall madness.

Published 9th February 2017 by Macmillan. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

When Jonathan Harker visits Transylvania to help Count Dracula with the purchase of a London house, he makes horrifying discoveries about his client and his castle. Soon afterwards, a number of disturbing incidents unfold in England: an unmanned ship is wrecked at Whitby; strange puncture marks appear on a young woman’s neck; and the inmate of a lunatic asylum raves about the imminent arrival of his ‘Master’. In the ensuing battle of wits between the sinister Count Dracula and a determined group of adversaries, Bram Stoker created a masterpiece of the horror genre, probing deeply into questions of human identity and sanity, and illuminating dark corners of Victorian sexuality and desire. 

My October classic is a re-read from university, and I'm glad I did because I'd forgotten a lot of the details, especially Dr Seward and his patient Renfield - the inspiration for Igor if I ever saw one. Mostly told with journal entries, a few newspaper articles and letters, Stoker paints a wide picture of traditional Gothic horror, from Jonathan's treacherous journey into rural Romania to Mina and Lucy's inexpiable troubles in England and their final encounter with the formidable Count Dracula. It was very interesting to read it after having had lectures on the subject - brought back memories of discussions on femininity, sexuality, Victorian history and religion, all of which Stoker brings into the story. 

Mina and Lucy are total opposites in terms of womanhood: Mina is a modern woman, wanting to better herself, wanting to be part of the team fighting the Count, she's soft and brave and clever. Lucy on the other hand is naive and gullible and oh so sweet, it's no wonder Dracula was able to manipulate her! She is also used as the epitome of "evil feminism" when she changes, as she physically and mentally becomes a monster. In the 1890's, there's only so much a good woman should be able to do!

The men were mostly all typical Victorian men: smart and brave and typically masculine in their strategies and professions. Van Helsing comes to rescue them with his vast knowledge of apparently everything, but it isn't until they see what has become of Lucy that they even consider the supernatural. The way it is built up until only the impossible exists is very typical of a Victorian sensation novel and Stoker definitely knew what horror story he was creating. 

I adore this story. I admit, I did struggle, the Victorian novel is very dense and takes a lot of concentration, but the short chapters, the gripping plot and the variety of characters makes this the incredible story that it is. 

Published May 12th 1986 by W.W. Norton & Company (first published May 26th 1897)

Haunt Me by Liz Kessler

Joe wakes up from a deep sleep to see his family leave in a removals van. Where they've gone, he has no idea. Erin moves house and instantly feels at home in her new room. Even if it appears she isn't the only one living in it. Bit by bit, Erin and Joe discover that they have somehow found a way across the ultimate divide - life and death. Bound by their backgrounds, a love of poetry and their growing feelings for each other, they are determined to find a way to be together.

Joe's brother, Olly, never cared much for poetry. He was always too busy being king of the school - but that all changed when Joe died. And when an encounter in the school corridor brings him face to face with Erin, he realises how different things really are - including the kind of girl he falls for.

Two brothers. Two choices. Will Erin's decision destroy her completely, or can she save herself before she is lost forever?

You know when you are really excited for a book but honestly so scared you won't like it? Yeah, I had that reading this. I saved it for autumn even though I got a copy in July because ghosts are perfect for Halloween reading. And I might have read it at the wrong time, right after the latest Lockwood and Co which has very different kind of ghosts! But I still really liked it; the writing was quite soft and flowy, built up this traditional romantic atmosphere but had this undercurrent of issues.

It was a slow start, not a lot happens but get a very good sense of the characters, especially Erin. And yet, the love story felt rushed. Time lapsed a little to skip ahead to the good parts which means we didn't really feel Erin and Joe fall in love, it just... was. 

Joe’s monologue as he struggles to come to terms with what he is now, not being able to touch or feel anything, not remembering how he died, was pretty amazing. How one of the first things he remembered was his relationship with his brother, and then the therapeutic way he wrote poems but kept them hidden, revealed a lot about his character and what sort of person he was before he died. I didn't always like the way he was with Erin but I really appreciated the difficulties he had with his identity without his memories; very interesting.

Like I said, the insta-love almost ruined things for me but I really liked the different style love triangle, as Erin is drawn to Joe's brother Olly. Now their love story I really supported; it was adorable and tender and tentative. They really got to know each other without previous baggage and I think did them both good.

Alongside the super-cute romance, Kessler dealt with quite heavy issues – bullying, self-harm, drugs among others – accumulating into that finale where Erin feels so hopeless that she doesn’t see any other way out. All the drama was in the second half and it was a really unique coming of age story with first loves, death and grief, and true friendship. Definitely one to remember and my new favourite of Kessler's. 

Published 6th October 2016 by Orion. Thank you to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

What if you aren't the Chosen One? The one who's supposed to fight the zombies, or the soul-eating ghosts, or whatever the heck this new thing is, with the blue lights and the death?

What if you're like Mikey? Who just wants to graduate and go to prom and maybe finally work up the courage to ask Henna out before someone goes and blows up the high school. Again.

Because sometimes there are problems bigger than this week's end of the world, and sometimes you just have to find the extraordinary in your ordinary life.

Even if your best friend is worshipped by mountain lions.

My first Patrick Ness and I'm glad I started with this one, it was funny, satirical, witty and so clever. It was also really weird, with its indie kids and zombie deer and creepy blue lights. 

Ness gave a fresh take on the standard heroic science-fiction, where we see the impact on those around the action, people like Mikey. Mikey and his friends have ordinary lives and ordinary problems, like graduating high school and big unrequited crushes, which is a hell of a lot more recognisable some kid named Satchel falling in love with an elf or whatever they were supposed to be. 

Never mind all the indie kids' drama, at its heart was a story about growing up and moving on, as Mikey's anxiety over graduating and leaving for college is a common and very relatable issue. Speaking of, Ness gave a brilliant portrayal of mental health, with Mikey's OCD and anxiety, his sister Mel's battle with anorexia - mixed in with the parental problems that comes with an alcoholic dad and an absent, career-driven mum, it's no wonder the kids have issues but it was all about dealing with them, not making excuses and treating it as an illness, not a problem. 

All in all, I was very impressed with my first Ness story. It cleverly blended the stereotypical drama of science fiction with the everyday issues to normal life to bring together an enjoyable and relatable story with brilliant characters. 

Published 5th May 2016 by Walker Books.

The Hawkweed Prophecy by Irena Brignull

The babies were born as the clock struck twelve. A bat fell from the air mid-flight. A silver salmon floated dead to the surface of the river. Snails withered in their shells, moths turned to dust on the night breeze and an owl ate its young. The spell had been cast.

Poppy Hooper has managed to deceive her father into believing that there is nothing mysterious or unnatural about her. He ignores the cats that find her wherever she goes, the spiders that weave beautiful lacy patterns for her, even her eyes - one blue, one green with an extra black dot orbiting the pupil.

Ember Hawkweed is a pitiful excuse for a witch. When the other girls in her coven brew vile potions, Ember makes soap and perfume. Fair and pretty, Ember is more like a chaff than a witch. One of the Hawkweeds will be queen of the witches - but everyone knows it won't be Ember.

When the two girls meet, Poppy discovers her powers, and finds out the truth. Bound by their unlikely friendship and the boy they both love, the girls try and find their place in the world. But the time of the prophecy draws nearer - and the witches won't give up the throne without a fight. 

I was really excited about this one - modern witches, ancient prophecies, switched at birth - what's not to love? And it started out so great! Poppy has always stood out at her school, animals seemed to flock around her, even her poor mother went crazy looking after a little girl who she was sure wasn't her own. Meanwhile, Ember was a pathetic excuse for a witch, getting teased by the girls, especially her "chosen one" cousin Sorrel. Right away, I quite liked how the girls were just looking for where they belonged and a true friend who understood them.

For me, the story started really well but then meandered in the middle and made the ending feel rushed. I really didn't understand Leo's part in the story at all, apart from as Ember's love interest. We meet Leo quite randomly, as a side character in Poppy's half of the story, then Ember falls head over heels for him, as does Sorrel. In some way, I could understand their fascination with him: he was, after all, the first ever boy that they had laid eyes on. I kept waiting for the big connection but I think he was just the love interest, the cute boy for the girls to fight over - which I really didn't like. Not only that, I just didn't understand him; Leo was homeless, ran away from an abusive step-father, but apart from Sorrel fighting them off for him, it wasn't mentioned again! Not to mention, Poppy was such a strong character, desperate to be understood and to find a proper home, but then she gets love struck and nearly ruins her only friendship? Not cool.

I really wanted more about the witches, why they had stayed hidden and apart from the modern world. I could understand that interacting with normal men wrecked their magic but the world has grown since medieval times, they wouldn't have been burnt at the stake anymore! We did get some explanations and the magical realism was really interesting, as was Poppy's part in the prophecy and the coven as a whole.

All in all, I really wanted to like this and I did enjoy it for the most part but the love triangle (maybe a square with Sorrel?) ruined things for me. All of the characters, from the girls to their families, especially the mothers, were such an integral part of the story and their power, both magical and emotional, was sidelined to Leo's character, which mostly just caused a distraction. 

Published 16th June 2016 by Orchard Books. Thank you to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

Destined to destroy empires, Mia Covere is only ten years old when she is given her first lesson in death.

Six years later, the child raised in shadows takes her first steps towards keeping the promise she made on the day that she lost everything.

But the chance to strike against such powerful enemies will be fleeting, so if she is to have her revenge, Mia must become a weapon without equal. She must prove herself against the deadliest of friends and enemies, and survive the tutelage of murderers, liars and demons at the heart of a murder cult.

The Red Church is no Hogwarts, but Mia is no ordinary student.

The shadows love her. And they drink her fear. 

Right off the bat, I have to say that this book was really quite difficult to get into. The setting and story were both very complex and involved heavy world building, with three suns, warring religions, fear of the dark, this book is definitely not for the faint hearted. Having said that, once I got into the swing of it, I really liked it. The world was fascinating, the characters were brilliant and diverse, and the entire set up with the religions, killing for the goddess of the night or praying to the god of the sun, was just incredible. 

So, we hear from Mia as she travels to the Red Church, a secret school for assassins. As she and fellow traveller Tric make their way across the desert, we have interspersed tales from her childhood, specifically how her father was killed for treason and her family imprisoned, and then how she ended up on the streets and on the path to revenge. 

Mia is a very interesting character. Effectively orphaned at age ten, she is taken in by a merchant and taught how to take her anger and wield it like a weapon to avenge her father and her family. And then there's the shadow shaped like a cat that feeds on her fear and cloaks her in darkness. The shadow not-cat reminded me very strongly of Salem, from Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and that's how I pictured him, with his sarcastic wit and thinly-veiled insults. 

The Red Church was like Hogwarts for assassins, but tougher; if they fail, they die. Literally. Even though it was so tough, the mortal danger was balanced by great characters. The teachers were all slightly insane but very dedicated to their students, and Mia's fellow students all had horrible and specific reasons for being there. Tric in particular was incredible. With Mia from the start of their journey, Tric has been there for Mia through thick and thin, and even though they are supposed to be rivals for the coveted few spots in the Church, they grow closer. I think Tric was good for Mia, he was a human friend and brought out not only her competitive side which aided in the Church, but also passionate and a true ally. 

All in all, a spectacular fantasy world with brilliantly mental characters and a killer story line (see what I did there?). Definitely worth the heavy world building for the dark twists and hot romances. 

Published 11th August 2016 by Harper Voyager. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas

Feyre is immortal.

After rescuing her lover Tamlin from a wicked Faerie Queen, she returns to the Spring Court possessing the powers of the High Fae. But Feyre cannot forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people - nor the bargain she made with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court.

As Feyre is drawn ever deeper into Rhysand's dark web of politics and passion, war is looming and an evil far greater than any queen threatens to destroy everything Feyre has fought for. She must confront her past, embrace her gifts and decide her fate.

She must surrender her heart to heal a world torn in two.

I'm sure by now you've heard every opinion under the sun about this book - it definitely has split the fandom! So instead of a traditional review, I'm just going to give a few highlighted thoughts.


I know lots of people were annoyed about the change of love interest. And I thought I would be too, I mean Tamlin was just about the perfect hero in book one, right? But when he literally trapped Feyre in his castle and she had a panic attack? Yeah, I don't think so! I already had some feelings for Rhys from the first book, I thought it was a bit slimy and sarcastic but was very much putting on a face. This was developed very well in book two, as Feyre and Rhys get closer, it's evident that he is much more complicated that we thought, not to mention kind, generous and sweet.


Anyway, as much as I loved Feyre and Rhys together, and I did totally whoop out loud when something finally happened, I am a little torn for Tamlin. Then I remember what he did - and yes, he had his reasons but my thinking is that he either didn't notice or didn't want to notice that Feyre had changed, not just physically but emotionally, after their ordeal at the end of book one. Tam just couldn't see her as anything more than the poor little human girl and Feyre literally wasn't her anymore.


Anyway, enough of the romance talk! The story itself, Feyre learning to use her powers as a new evil lord is worming his way into their land, was brilliant. Balanced between budding romance and great thrilling adventure, Feyre learns more about herself and the complex Fae land and rules at Rhys' Nightmare Court. All in all, I really loved it - it was funny, very clever, surprisingly hot, and of course pulled together with Maas's brilliant writing.


Published 3rd May 2016 by Bloomsbury.

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

"Tell me that and we'll go. Right now. Save ourselves and leave this place to burn. Tell me that's how you want your story to go and we'll write it straight across the sand."

Dustwalk is an unforgiving, dead-end town. It's not the place to be poor or orphaned or female. And yet Amani Al'Hiza must call it 'home'.

Amani wants to escape and see the world she's heard about in campfire stories.

Then a foreigner with no name turns up, and with him she has the chance to run.

But the desert plains are full of dangerous magic. The Sultan's army is on the rise and Amani is soon caught at the heart of a fearless rebellion...

An epic story of swirling desert sands, love, magic and revolution.

Honestly, I was a bit apprehensive, especially as everyone has been raving about it, but really loved it. Just everything about this story was enthralling and interesting. Amani wanted to escape her little dusty town, where all that awaited her was a loveless marriage. What I loved straight away about Amani was how independent she was; she knew she couldn't rely on anyone to help her escape. So she uses her impressive skills to win money in a shooting game. Unfortunately things don't go according to plan, not when a stranger turns up and the shooting game turns into a bar-room brawl.


Loyal almost to a fault, sarcastic and funny, Amani was an amazing character to follow as she ran from everything recognisable and got caught up in a revolution with a boy she barely knows. And Jin was just... sigh. Almost devilishly handsome and charming, and he knew it, the chemistry between him and Amani was sizzling and while I am a sucker for a good romance, I appreciated that it didn't overrule the main story and it wasn't either of theirs main concern while running for their lives. Saying that, I did adore their relationship, how they pushed and supported each other.


I loved the mix of old Western and Aladdin style mythology; it was all magical horses made of sand and tricky djinni's and lost princes looking to reclaim his throne. Plus we learned about half-djinni's, dangerous and powerful people from a human and djinni pairing. Even though it was all supernatural, the fear and hatred towards these people was horribly similar to our world and it made my heart hurt.


I could rave about this a lot more, very easily, but I'm going to stop and finish with: magical, romantic and a true adventure, this is a fantastic debut and definitely an author to watch. When's book two out?


Published 4th February 2016 by Faber and Faber.

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

The enchantment continues....
The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories—and secrets—that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies?

With nine stories—five of which have never before been published—and an exclusive never-before-seen excerpt from Marissa Meyer’s upcoming novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the bestselling and beloved Lunar Chronicles.

I loved all of this; seeing my beloved character's pasts, getting a deeper explanation for their development, was all kinds of fantastic. From little Winter and Jacin playing in the palace to meeting Scarlet's grandmother properly, as Michelle shelters young Cinder, all of these short stories had something to offer into the world and my favourite characters.

And it all came together for the epilogue, where we see them all once again, preparing for Scarlet and Wolf's wedding. I just completely fell in love with them and their world all over again, desperate to give them all a giant hug and re-read this series. 

Seeing more from these characters and the world reinforces this as one of my favourite ever series of books, as Meyer explores their background, how they came to develop into the characters we recognise and how this world changed them, for better or worse. All in all, a brilliant collection that just adds to my love.

Published 3rd February 2016 by Feiwel and Friends.