2 Stars

ARC Review: Blood, Ink & Fire

08:00

Blood, Ink & Fire
By Ashley Mansour

 Source: Netgalley
Release date: 1st December 2015
Genres: Young Adult, Dystopian

Imagine a world without books…
In the future, books are a distant memory. The written word has been replaced by an ever-present stream of images known as Verity. In the controlling dominion of the United Vales of Fell, reading is obsolete and forbidden, and readers themselves do not—cannot—exist. But where others see images in the stream, teenager Noelle Hartley sees words. She’s obsessed with what they mean, where they came from, and why they found her.

Noelle’s been keeping her dangerous fixation with words a secret, but on the night before her seventeenth birthday, a rare interruption in the stream leads her to a mysterious volume linked to an underworld of rebel book lovers known as the Nine of the Rising. With the help of the Risers and the beguiling boy Ledger, Noelle discovers that the words within her are precious clues to the books of the earlier time—and as a child of their bookless age, she might be the world’s last hope of bringing them back.

Blood, Ink & Fire is a gripping, evocative tale that asks, who would we be without books?


 **I received a free ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion**

 When I began this book, I really wasn’t sure if I was going to like it or not. I hadn’t read many reviews before hand, so I was unsure. Though, the concept was really intriguing, so I was really hoping for it to be great - it’s a book for book lovers, and sounds beautiful, but sadly it left me really disappointed.

 The main thing that let it down was the pacing. I got really bored in the middle, and wasn't fully engaged with the story at all. Some parts felt way too rushed, yet at others it was painfully slow. The ending was really disappointing too - it felt incredibly rushed, and gave me no closure at all. I won’t be reading the sequel (if there is one) as I didn’t enjoy the book, which makes me feel even more let down, as it just didn’t explain anything!

 One thing I did like was all the family themes explored. A large section of the plot was defined by Noelle’s love for her family, and it was refreshing! There’s slowly starting to be more family themes in YA, but for now, I’ll take what I can get! ☺

 Something that I really didn’t like in this book was the romance. Noelle’s involvement with Ledger was cringe-worthy and unnecessary anyway, but an added love triangle? No thanks! To be fair, it wasn’t huge, but I was confused as to why it was added in. I didn’t enjoy any aspects of the romance, and it just distracted from the plot. 

 I really liked the protagonist, Noelle! She wasn’t perfect, but she definitely had her fist-pump worthy moments. She was flawed, but real depth was shown, and I liked how determined she was. I enjoyed reading about her, even if I wasn’t convinced by all her decisions!

 Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this book. It had its moments, but I was so disappointed, and I didn’t enjoy it. There were some beautiful quotes, but it was too oddly paced for me, and too many aspects that let me down to give it a higher rating. I’m really disappointing, because I thought it had so much potential!

5 Stars

Review: Only Ever Yours

09:30

Only Ever Yours
By Louise O'Neill

 Source: Personal purchase, paperback
Genres: Young adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Feminism

Goodreads Synopsis:
frieda and isabel have been best friends their whole lives.
Now, aged sixteen and in their final year at the School, they expect to be selected as companions - wives to wealthy and powerful men. The alternative - life as a concubine - is too horrible to contemplate.
But as the intensity of the final year takes hold, the pressure to remain perfect becomes almost unbearable. isabel starts to self-destruct, putting her beauty - her only asset - in peril.
And then, the boy arrive, eager to choose a bride.
frieda must fight for her future - even if it means betraying the only friend, the only love, she has ever known...

I have been putting reviewing this off for ages now, but now I’m finally gathering my thoughts to attempt a review. Because it’s just that good. Anyone who has had the pleasure of reading this will know just how hard-hitting and important it is. I didn’t love reading it, because it was a truly harrowing read, but  what I did love was how important it is, and how much it gave me to think about. it’s one of my favourite books because of this. I recommend it to everyone - regardless of your gender.

I can’t tell you how important this book is. You just have to read it for yourself, and I think the less you know, the better. It’s a haunting view of our society, but after reading, and thinking a hell of a lot about society, it’s scarily true. I know we don’t generally see women in the same way that they do in frieda and isabel’s world, but if you really think about it, we’re not too far off.
This has made me want to do something about it. I’m a teenage cis girl who has dealt with sexism for my whole life. Usually, I’ve just learnt to “accept” it, but this book has really inspired me to do something. Although life isn’t as bad as it is for the girls in Only Ever Yours, our society could become this way, and I don’t want it to happen. This book has inspired me to try and make a change (even if it’s really small).
If you’ve ever spoken to me (especially in real life), you’ll know I’m an intersectional feminist. I knew as soon as I heard about this book that I just had to pick it up. Before, I hadn’t read a book that was so blatantly feminist - it’s a hard thing to brand yourself as today, in a world that pretty much hates feminism. I was so shocked to read this, because I wasn’t expecting it at all. I have recommended it to everyone, because it’s just so good.

Please, please, just read this book. Even if you don’t “enjoy” it, it’s one of the most important books you’ll ever read, and is so cleverly crafted that I don’t see how anyone could ever regret reading it. My hat goes off to Louise O’Neill for writing such a crucial book, and I know I will read every single book written by her in the future, because I know they won’t disappoint.

4 stars

Review: Slated

16:52

Slated
By Teri Terry

 Source: Library, paperback
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Thriller, Romance, 

Goodreads Synopsis:

Kyla’s memory has been erased,
her personality wiped blank,
her memories lost for ever.

She’s been Slated.

The government claims she was a terrorist and that they are giving her a second chance - as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla’s mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in her search for the truth?

I really didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I have read Teri Terry’s other book, Mind Games, and I enjoyed that too, but I didn’t really think it was anything special. I went into Slated a bit dubious, but I ended up really enjoying it. As with the author’s other book, the plot and ideas where the thing that made it stand out.

This is a science-fiction dystopian, and had all of my favourite elements of one. At the start, it was quite confusing and nothing was really explained, but I liked this because it meant I was hooked from the very beginning - I just had to find out more! As the book progressed, things were partially explained, but a lot was left open-ended, which makes me really desperate to read the sequel!
The characters in this book really didn’t stand out as anything special. Kyla was quite a good protagonist, and I enjoyed reading about her, but she’s definitely not my favourite. I felt at times she could be a bit naive and too innocent - I think if I was in her situation, I would have been less dependent on others and done more for myself.

The romance in this book really didn’t do anything for me. There were only a few small touches of it, but I skimmed through these scenes because they were just boring. I’m never a fan on romance in dystopian, and this was no different. It didn’t add anything to the story, and I think it should have just have been left out.

I really enjoyed this book. It was perfectly paced and so exciting that I was gripped throughout. I would recommend to fans of science fiction, and to people who are new to the genre - the style is simplistic so the book isn’t too hard to navigate. A lot was left unanswered (I think more questions were raised than answered!), so I’m really looking forward to the rest of the series. Overall, a really fun read!

4 stars

Review: Ready Player One

16:49

Ready Player One
By Ernest Cline

 Source: Library, paperback,
Genres: Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian, 

 Goodreads Synopsis:

It's the year 2044, and the real world has become an ugly place. We're out of oil. We've wrecked the climate. Famine, poverty, and disease are widespread.

Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes this depressing reality by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia where you can be anything you want to be, where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets. And like most of humanity, Wade is obsessed by the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this alternate reality: OASIS founder James Halliday, who dies with no heir, has promised that control of the OASIS - and his massive fortune - will go to the person who can solve the riddles he has left scattered throughout his creation.

For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that the riddles are based in the culture of the late twentieth century. And then Wade stumbles onto the key to the first puzzle.

Suddenly, he finds himself pitted against thousands of competitors in a desperate race to claim the ultimate prize, a chase that soon takes on terrifying real-world dimensions - and that will leave both Wade and his world profoundly changed.

My review:

There was so much hype around this book, so I was expecting it to be amazing. I really love dystopian and science fiction, it was perfect for me. I did expect the world building to be a little slow, so it didn’t come as a surprise, but I didn’t find it boring at all. There’s so much hype around this book so I knew I just had to read it.
The concept was really cool. Although the idea about the human race failing to technology was not the most original, the spin that this book put on it made it so much more original. It was very predictable, but I didn’t mind because I wanted to find out how the characters got to that ending.


The book was filled with geeky ‘80s references that I didn’t get all the time, so they mostly blew over my head. I think this means that although most people class this book as Young Adult, I’d definitely recommend for all ages, especially adults. It wasn’t crucial to the plot, but I know that if I was older I would have gotten more out of the book, because I know they would have been right up my street.


Although the book was slow in some parts, there was lots of action. Every time I was about to get a little bored, a fast-paced fight scene appeared and I was instantly hooked again. The writing style was very addictive so it was relentlessly readable.

The way that the book is set in the future, yet gives a message about today’s society was truly haunting. I know this book won’t be for everyone, but I definitely really enjoyed it. Also, I believe it’s being made into a film, and I think it will work really well, so I’m really looking forward to that!

 Rating:

4 stars

Review: An Ember in the Ashes

12:37

An Ember in the Ashes
By Sabaa Tahir

Source: Personal purchase, ebook,
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Dystopian, 

Goodreads Synopsis:

Laia is a slave.

Elias is a soldier.

Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

My review:

From the moment I began this book, I knew I was going to absolutely adore it. Everything about the book was perfect - the writing was vivid and beautiful, and it was fast paced so I was never bored. There was lots of action which was really exciting, so I constantly wanted (needed!) to read on.

The characters were so well-developed and complex. I loved all the characters we were supposed to like, and I loathed all of the characters we weren’t. I cared about them all so much because of the way they were so cleverly written - I had sympathy and empathy for them, even though I’ve never been in a situation like it.

My favourite character was Helene. She was fierce and independent, yet was flawed in a way which made her so much more realistic. Although she was a side-character and sometimes got overlooked, I would much enjoy a book entirely centered around her because there was so much depth that we didn’t get to see.

The romance was done so well. It didn’t distract from the main plot, though did take up a significant amount of the book. This was the perfect balance for me - I was invested in it (though I really didn’t mind who Elias and Laia ended up with - everyone was great!), yet didn’t want it to be the main plot. The love triangle was done really well because there was no deliberating over who to choose, which can sometimes get boring.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Everything was perfect, so I’d recommend to fans of The Wrath and the Dawn, or The Winner’s Curse (though this is so much better in my opinion). It ended on a huge cliffhanger, so I’m extremely glad that it has been announced that the book is turning into a series! I know I’ll definitely be impatiently waiting for everything to do with it.

Rating:

2.5 stars

Review: The Program

09:00

The Program
By Suzanne Young

 Source: Personal purchase, e-book
Genres: Young Adult, Dystopian, Romance, Science Fiction, Mental Illness, 

 Goodreads Synopsis:

 Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

 My review:
I expected this book to be amazing. The concept was really promising for a heart-breaking and gritty dystopian, that could have been painfully relatable to today’s society. Although it was scarily similar to today, I was disappointed. It was a love story first, dystopian second. Some may find it beautiful and heart-wrenching, but I just got a bit fed up with the book. It was a bit repetitive, and I thought it had the potential to be so much better.

My main problem with the book was the focus on romance. I was disappointed with the lack of world building and the description of the dystopian setting. I know some will really enjoy this book, but it just wasn’t for me at all.

It got a little repetitive and slow moving towards the middle too. Sloane was a very annoying lead, so I got tired of her ‘mourning’. I feel like she could have done more to change her situation (because she obviously wasn’t happy with it), instead of just thinking about herself, and how she was feeling at the time.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, but I feel it has too many flaws for me to continue with the rest of the series. The ending was very inconclusive, but not much was left to happen, so I think this would have worked as a stand-alone too. I know that fans of romance will really enjoy this, so I would recommend it to fans of Shatter Me, though the writing style isn’t as poetic or beautiful.

Rating:

3 Stars

Review: More Than This

21:19

More Than This
By Patrick Ness

 Source: Library
Page count: 470
Genres: Young Adult, Dystopian, Thriller, 

 Goodreads Synopsis:

 A boy drowns, desperate and alone in his final moments. He dies.

Then he wakes, naked and bruised and thirsty, but alive.

How can this be? And what is this strange deserted place?

As he struggles to understand what is happening, the boy dares to hope. Might this not be the end? Might there be more to this life, or perhaps this afterlife?

 My review:
Having never read a Patrick Ness book before, but hearing so many good things about all of his works (especially this one), I went into this book expecting greatness. Sadly I was a little disappointed - although the writing style was really addictive and I enjoyed the book, it didn’t take the direction I’d hoped.
Everything was just very average. The characters were interesting to read about, but I felt that they didn’t really develop through the book. Seth was a good protagonist, but I couldn’t really relate to him, and some of the decisions he made confused me a bit (I wouldn’t have done the same if I was in his situations).
This book had very promising potential. I found the initial concept very intriguing and the book started off really well - I instantly cared about the story so really wanted to read on. The reason I’m disappointed with the book was because of the overall direction the story took. I was expecting a philosophical reflection on life and death, not just a fight for survival. I was hoping for daring plot twists that I had never heard of before, not just the average dystopian/thriller.

I enjoyed the book and I definitely would recommend it if you’re looking for an exciting dystopian/thriller. I enjoyed the book but I was disappointed with the direction the book took.

Rating:

Dystopian

Recommended Summer Reads

22:12

Summer is well on it’s way here in the UK, with it being the hottest July day (for the UK) on record! I know I’m ‘feeling summery’ (although I am sat inside right now, with a fan and ice water), but I can’t feel truly in the season without some perfect books! In this mega list, I will do different genres which I think are ‘summery’ (I don’t really know how a Fantasy novel can be summery, so I guess you can just read it all year round), or that you should just read right now.

Paranormal Mystery
1. Vampire Academy - Please don’t let the title put you off this book. It’s about a bad-ass heroine being loyal, courageous, and hilarious in an unusual high school.
2. The Raven Boys - This book is perfect for the beach because you can spend time getting through the world-building and discovering this unusual yet lovable world.
3. Don’t Look Back by - It’s so addictive, perfect for long days spent doing nothing. You’ll be able to race through it, because it’s impossible to put down!
4. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - This is one of my favourite books of all time. It’s so readable, and I flew through it. I wish I was able to read it in the sun, in one sitting!
Romance
1. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe - I loved this book. I read it while under the camping sun, and it’s so fluffy and enjoyable it makes a perfect summer read.
2. I’ll Give You the Sun - This book is so amazing. I love Jandy’s writing style, and it even has the word ‘sun’ in the title. Need I say more?
3. Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda - This is another book of pure joy and fluff. I think I was smiling for the whole way through it because it’s just so enjoyable.

Fantasy
1. Half Bad - I really enjoyed this book, and wish I could forget everything about it, and just read it again. It has a really original concept, and a unique world too.
2. The Mortal Instruments - If you haven’t read these books yet, where have you been?! I’d suggest marathoning all 10 books in the Shadowhunter Chronicles before the TV show comes out in January!
3. A Court of Thorns and Roses - This is another book that I really love. It’s based around Beauty and the Beast, so has a really badass protagonist who - like all of Sarah J. Maas’ characters - completely slays.
Dystopian
1. Only Ever Yours - Although it’s not exactly an enjoyable read, it’s very addictive, and a very important book. It really appeals to my feminist side (which is all of my sides), so I would recommend it to all genders too. Please don’t be put off by the cover!
2. Enclave - I’m yet to continue with the series, but I really want to. It has zombies and a flawed-yet-lovable protagonist. And it has no romance. Yes please!
3. Shatter Me - This is one of my all-time favourite series. The writing style is so beautiful, I completely flew through them all. Perfect for when you have a lot of time to read!

What would you recommend for summer?

4.5 stars

Review: Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3)

19:16

Ignite Me
By Tahereh Mafi

 Source: Personal purchase, paperback
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Romance

 Goodreads Synopsis:
The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, called “a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love.”
With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world . . . but that’s not all he wants with her.
The Shatter Me series is perfect for fans who crave action-packed young adult novels with tantalizing romance like Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Legend by Marie Lu. Tahereh Mafi has created a captivating and original story that combines the best of dystopian and paranormal, and was praised by Publishers Weekly as “a gripping read from an author who’s not afraid to take risks.” Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and satisfying end.


Wow! I am still breathless from my book. It was so beautiful that it left me utterly speechless, and I enjoyed it so much. I will definitely miss the Shatter Me series so much - Tahereh’s writing is so lyrical and was my favourite element of the series. I was swooning throughout the entire book: it was purely stunning.


One of the things I enjoyed so much was the characters. Although Juliette was still a little annoying at the start, she changed so much through the book. By the end, she was strong and independent, and could finally make decisions for herself. I was really impressed with the way she changed in such a short amount of time.
Warner was definitely my favourite character. He had so much depth and backstory, meaning he was incredibly interesting to read about. I loved how we found out a little more of him in sections - I was constantly waiting for more Warner scenes! Seeing his relationship develop with Juliette was also one of my favourite elements.
The things that made this book not as good were the ending and the action scenes. The action was very rushed, and we didn’t get to see much of Juliette finally turning badass. The book ended on an action scene which meant the ending was rushed. I would have been much more content if even just an epilogue had been added because I felt the story ended so suddenly.


Another of the things that I loved so much about this series is that it’s so addictive. I read this entire book in 2 sittings, and under 12 hours (which must be some sort of record for me!). I was constantly hooked because it was so exciting. I know that I will read anything Tahereh Mafi ever writes because her style is so addictive.

Overall, this was a really good book. I was disappointed with the ending, yet still deeply loved it.

 My reaction:

My rating:



4 stars

Review: Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2)

17:00

Unravel Me 
By Tahereh Mafi

 Source: Personal purchase, paperback
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Romance

 Goodreads Synopsis:
tickticktickticktickit's almosttime for war.
Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.
She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.
Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.
I think this book suffered from second-book-syndrome. You could tell it was the middle book in the series, and it felt like a filler for the series. Nothing really happened, and it was mainly about character development and the character’s relationships with each other changing. I found it interesting, and enjoyed it greatly, but it just lacked something special to make it stand out.

The thing that I disliked most about the book was Juliette. She was still as equally as annoying as she was in Shatter Me. Although she didn’t cross out almost every word, she was still very emotional all the time, and in my opinion, over sensitive. She was interesting to read about, but just irritated me quite a lot.

Another problem I had with this book was that nothing really happened. This is the same with the whole series - it’s a lot of talking about what they’re going to do, though they never really do it. Also, a lot of the action is rushed or skimmed over because Juliette is never there. Everyone protects her, so she is never in any of the fight scenes. This is a shame because it would have made the book a bit different and made me more interested.

Nevertheless, I still really enjoyed the book. My favourite element was definitely the writing style. Everyone I know raves about Tahereh Mafi’s lyrical writing style - it’s so vivid so I can really picture the world clearly. I know I will read any future work of hers - no matter what the genre - because I am so in love with her poetic style.

Overall, this is a great book. I highly enjoyed it, yet would have prefered more action and less romance and character focus. I would recommend this series if you are looking to read a dystopian, but don’t want too much of the world building, defeating the government, or action scenes (basically all the good bits!), and would prefer mainly romance.
My reaction:

My rating:


2.5 stars

Review: The Winner's Curse

18:21

The Winner's Curse
By Marie Rutkoski

 Source: Personal purchase, paperback
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Dystopia, Historical

 Goodreads Synopsis:
Winning what you want may cost you everything you love... 
As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. 
One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. 
But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined. 
Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.


 I was attempting to say positive things about this book, but I realised that my feelings throughout the entire book were:

This book was definitely a cover buy, and one that - after reading the book - I kind of regret. There were elements I liked, but I feel like the bits I really disliked overshadowed them. My main problem with the book was that it was boring. It felt like nothing happened.

The problem was, for the main part of the book, there was no goal. There wasn’t a journey to get somewhere. Nothing was happening! It made me lose interest in the characters and the plot. The ‘plot twists’ were underwhelming, and there was no tension at all. It was so tame in parts that I actually considered giving up.

My favourite thing about the book was Kestrel. She was really strong-willed and interesting to read about because she was so original. She was clever, cunning and crafty, which is unusual in YA books. At some points, she reminded me of myself greatly.

Another thing I didn’t like was the ending. It was meant to be the exciting part, but because I’d already lost interest, I didn’t find it exciting at all. At parts it was confusing, and I really had to force myself to finish the book.

Overall, I didn’t enjoy the book. Although it was really well written and had complex characters, I found it dragged and made me lose interest. I probably won’t be picking up the next book, and would recommend it to fans of Red Queen, because they have similar settings, and are both quite tame. Also, if you’re not a massive fan of fantasy but want the slow burning romance, or want to get into the genre, I would recommend this book.

My reaction:

My rating:


Favourite quotes:

“Isn't that what stories do, make real things fake, and fake things real?”

“Happiness depends on being free, and freedom depends on being courageous.”