Hello and welcome (back) to beebliophile! I’m currently trying to post once a week, and after a week of looking at the task in my bullet journal I have finally pulled myself together and I’m writing a post!
The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer
This one has recently come to my attention due to the announcement that Stephenie Meyer is releasing another book, Midnight Sun. In case you haven’t heard, it’s Twilight but from Edward’s perspective. While I have considered reading these books many times, the lack of LGBTQ+ characters and the whole Bella deciding between 2 frankly creepy boys put me off a bit. I’m thinking of reading them, just to see what’s up before Midnight Sun is released. I’ve seen the movies though, so I already have a rough idea of the plot.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
I don’t have a good reason for not reading this. I want to read it and it’s meant to be excellent, I’ve just never got round to it and I’m not a huge reader of contemporary. As soon as I get my hands on a copy, I’m gonna read it.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
As I just said, I’m not a huge reader of contemporary YA. I’ve watched this movie, it was sad I guess. I’ve read a couple of John Green’s other books and I wasn’t gripped so I probably won’t end up reading this. Plus for personal reasons I don’t want to read about people with cancer at the moment.
The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
This is starting to be a bit of a theme, I’ve seen the movie but I haven’t read the book. I promise I usually read the book first, it’s just I’m a huge fan of contemporary YA films and not so much the books. I’m on the fence about this one- maybe I’ll read it, maybe I won’t.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
Once again, you know it, I’ve seen the movie and haven’t read the book. This book I would like to read however, because I really enjoyed the movie and I’d love to know the writer’s style in telling the story. Why I haven’t read it? Just never got my hands on a copy.
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Surprisingly I haven’t seen the movie for this one. Shocking, I know, but it didn’t really grab me. That’s the reason I haven’t read the book or watched the movie. And it’s a good enough reason for me.
The Sun is also a Star by Nicola Yoon
This one also has a Netflix movie which I haven’t watched. Contemporary YA, not my thing, didn’t grab me. Nothing more to say really.
Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott
I actually recently watched the movie based on this book and it was very emotional. Still, probably won’t read it. Now I’ve seen the movie I know what happens and my lack of enthusiasm for contemporary YA means I likely won’t read it.
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
Let me say I have strong intentions to read these books, I really do. I even have The Book of Dust from the prequel series on my bookshelf. Yeah, I really don’t have a reason for not reading these except I haven’t got round to it.
13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
I haven’t watched the TV series and I haven’t read the book and I don’t really intend to consume either. I’ve seen a lot of bad reviews of both and I’m put off. Just not for me.
So those are 10 popular YA books I haven’t read yet. Now you may be thinking- ‘Bee, why are there so many contemporary YA there when you don’t really like them a lot?’ You make a good point. The problem is when I looked for more popular YA books I haven’t read there aren’t many, because I have read a lot of popular YA fantasy. Like, A LOT. That’s why there’s so much contemporary YA on here. If you want to check out which books I have read, pop over to my goodreads!
Have I missed your favourite YA books? Do you think I should read the ones above? Comment below or feel free to contact me using this page, instagram or twitter!
Hey guys! Sorry for the absence, I’ve been quite busy with schoolwork and just working on looking after myself during quarantine. I’m going to try and start blogging at least once a week and I want to say a massive thank you for being so patient with me! Since I’ve spent so much time recently not blogging, I thought I’d give you an insight into what I’ve been up to.
Reading
It’ll come as no surprise that I read a lot. If you’re reading this you probably already knew that, since this is a blog dedicated to books. I read for about 30 mins to an hour everyday and I read at medium speed, I think? Recently I’ve been reading loads of poetry, but I also read plays, fiction and nonfiction and anything my family leave around the house. Just yesterday I was reading a book about coincidences that someone left on the stairs.
2. Writing
Like many bookworms, I also love to write. I write a daily diary, poetry and fiction. I’ve written one novel so far which is completely unreadable and I keep putting off editing it because I have this weird hate of reading my own work. I’m currently in the middle or writing another novel, a fantasy based on the four horsemen of the apocalypse. I also write poetry which I find very therapeutic.
3. Schoolwork
Not a hobby, but I am currently in Y12 at a sixth form college. The A-Levels I’m taking are Classical Civilisation, English and Economics which are an interesting mix. I’m not a fan of online lessons, but since they’re the only kind available at the moment I kind of have to do them. In Classical Civilisation we’re studying The Aeneid which I’m really enjoying, in English we’re analysing The Whitsun Weddings by Philip Larkin and in Economics we are learning about economic integration. I spend a fair chunk of time doing schoolwork.
4. Arts and Crafts
I consider myself quite a creative person. Since lockdown in the UK started I have been making pompoms, and I have loads of art supplies which I plunge into at random. My current favourites are some graphics pens, but I also enjoy scrapbooking, watercolours, acrylic painting, photography and making cards.
5. Listening to music
Listening to music is one of my favourite things to do. I like to listen to music when I’m out on a walk, or in the shower, or tidying my room, or anytime really. I’m listening to music while writing this blog post. I have quite an eclectic music taste, and I think spotify is as confused as I am from my recommended playlists. I’m really into the Imagine Dragons currently, as well as the soundtrack from the movie Burlesque and the musical Six.
6. Playing minecraft
I love minecraft. I don’t have animal crossing like seemingly everyone else in the entire world, but I’ve been spending a fair amount of time on minecraft which is definitely my favourite game to play. I like how you can do survival or creative and I love wandering round a world and creating houses wherever I feel like it and sometimes blowing stuff up for no reason. On the topic of games, I redownloaded candy crush and I can’t stop. It’s so fun and relaxing and addictive. My friends tease me for it but I refuse to delete it. It’s fun!
7. Watching films and TV shows
The TV show I am currently working my way through is New Girl, which is quite fun and has lots of short episodes which I like. I’m hugely indecisive with choosing movies, so my watchlist on streaming platforms is massive and I never seem to actually get round to watching any of them. I did watch The Mandalorian though, and I adore baby Yoda. He is so so so cute and his relationship with The Mandalorian makes my heart cry. If you have Disney Plus go watch The Mandalorian, it has all the awesome worldbuilding of Star Wars in more accessible episodes.
8. Practicing Taekwondo
Last September (2019) I started Taekwondo with one of my younger brothers. I’d always wanted to learn a martial art and though I am not a sporty person (understatement) I fell in love with Taekwondo. I love how you can move up through the belts and learn new patterns and kicks and punches, I love the way it makes me feel powerful and the way my body feels like my own when I’m practicing. When I’m concentrating on Taekwondo I forget the rest of the world and it’s a wonderful feeling.
9. Spending time with my family
The amount of time I spend with my family has gone up DRASTICALLY since the start of lockdown. Turns out that’s what being trapped in a house with five other people does! I’ve actually really enjoyed it though. As a family we’ve done an online escape room, had badminton tournaments, lego competitions and had a laugh. Before I would leave at 7:20 and not get back home till 5, and my Dad left at the same time and got back around 7, so I’ve got to spend lots more time with everyone. We’ve definitely got on better than I expected, even if my brother who’s two years younger than me is now taller than me. He keeps calling me Shorty.
10. Sleeping
How could I not mention sleeping? I do love a good nap, it just boosts my energy for the rest of the day and I have a very comfortable bed. Plus now that I don’t have to get up early I’m actually getting enough sleep and it’s great, I definitely recommend it if you can.
And that is 10 things I do when I’m not blogging! Obviously it’s not everything I do, but I think those are the things that take up the largest share of my time while in lockdown. Do you share any of my hobbies? What have you been up to in lockdown? I would love to hear about it, feel free to contact me using any of the links below, or check out what I’m reading on goodreads!
Hello and welcome to my April 2020 round-up! I honestly cannot believe itās the end of April already and we are all stuck inside watching the weather through our windows. This is not how I thought 2020 was going to go, but Iām trying to make the best of the situation. Iāve been writing daily for Camp NaNoWriMo and making pom-poms like thereās no tomorrow. There is something incredibly therapeutic about winding wool round and round and round, especially while watching one of my favourite movies like Burlesque. Back to the books, Iām struggling to read as much as I did before, but I try to read a little each day, even if it is only a couple of pages. Iāve been feeling quite overwhelmed, so thanks for bearing with me while my blog posts are very sporadic. I will try to get some book reviews up soon!
Top 3 novels I read in April
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
What I liked about it: the unique format, the drama, the way she writes about music
What I did not like about it: Nothing that I can think of.
My favourite character: Camila. What an amazing woman.
Position in series: 1/1
Genre: Historical fiction, music
Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman
What I liked about it: sassy misfit crew, aliens, lots of sarcasm, the action and excitement
What I did not like about it: my heart exploding
My favourite character: Tyler or Zila. I didnāt realise how awesome I think Tyler is until I actually considered it.
Position in series: 1/3
Genre: young adult, science fiction, fantasy
Dust by Hugh Howey
What I liked about it: an incredible conclusion to the Wool trilogy, the worldbuilding, the unravelling of the plot
What I did not like about it: DEATHS.
My favourite character: Jules. I would die for that woman. Amazing.
Position in series: 3/3
Genre: science fiction, post-apocalyptic
Poetry of the month: Wild Embers by Nikita Gill
What I liked about it: emotional and empowering
What I did not like about it: that it wasnāt longer!
My favourite poem: For Her
Genre: poetry, feminism
Special mention: Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
Why: this book means more to me than I can put into words. It has saved lives and reminds you that at no point are you alone. You can get through than this. There is more to life than your mental illness.
Genre: nonfiction, mental health
And that, folks, is my April in books. For a full list of everything I read in April, check out my goodreads which I try my best to keep up to date! I hope youāre all well, even if youāre feeling unmotivated like I am. Wishing you and your families all the best, and if you ever want to talk you can reach me through my contact page here, Instagram here or twitter here.
I am currently in my first year of A-Level English Language and literature. For those of you unfamiliar with the British schooling system, A Levels are two year courses with exams at the end in the last two years of school. You generally turn 17 in the first year (Y12) and 18 in the second year (Y13) before going onto university.
Needless to say, I have read quite a few books in english over the years, as well as some for classical civilisation A Level which I am also currently doing. I do not remember every book I have done in class since I was 4 years old, and instead of looking things up or reminding myself what these books are about, I’m just going to state as many as I can remember and give a sentence or two on what I can remember. This post does contain spoilers, but not for any books released recently. In fact I don’t think there’s anything after the year 2000, which is kind of crazy. Without further ado, let’s begin.
A Level Texts
The Whitmore Weddings by Philip Larkin
The Whitmore Weddings by Philip Larkin are a collection of poems with themes such as disillusionment, looking back on your youth and bleakness. While I enjoy studying poetry and I appreciate the poetic devices Larkin employs, I often find the subjects of his poems quite tedious or repetitive.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Great Gatsby is a story about a guy called Nick and the various rich and poor people he meets over a summer in New York in about the 1920s. There’s lots of rich people behaving badly and a mystery around who Gatsby actually is. I had a love-hate relationship with Nick, I liked his insights at some point and he isn’t a bad guy but I often found him hypocritical, passive or plain irritating.
The Bacchae by Euripides (English Translation)
I think The Bacchae is great. I’m quite biased, since I adore Ancient Greece and Greek mythology but it’s pretty awesome. The play follows Dionysus as he comes to the birthplace of his mother and punishes his family, particularly his cousin Pentheus, for not believing that he is a god. It is tragic but it’s also just really cool. I do love a good Bacchic ritual.
Oedipus the King by Sophocles (English Translation)
Oedipus the King is a play follows the story of Oedipus as he sets out to save his city from a plague by finding the murderer of the previous King. This story was a whole lot of wild, and I found Creon’s character in this play quite difficult to reconcile with the Creon I knew from Antigone. The ending is quite gruesome and mildly horrifying, but the story is never boring. I liked Oedipus and his wife’s marriage before… you know.
Frogs by Aristophanes (English Translation)
Frogs is an Ancient Greek comedy play and it’s not only quite funny but also incredibly random and very interesting, especially with all the references to contemporary events of the time. I’m not a fan of scatological humour like the Ancient Greeks (look it up) but Frogs is still great fun.
The Odyssey by Homer (English Translation)
The Odyssey is my favourite text I have studied so far in Classics. It’s pretty famous, but if you don’t know it follows the story of a hero called Odysseus as he attempts to return home after the war at Troy. I adore all the greek mythology contained in it, I love the story it tells and the refrains and the characters. Homer is truly an epic poet.
GCSE Texts
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
The Woman in Black was my favourite of my GCSE texts, even after 3 years of studying it I still really enjoy it. It follows the story of Arthur Kipps as he recounts the events that traumatised him in his youth when he goes out to an isolated house in order to sort the accounts. It’s such a good traditional ghost story and even though I normally hate horror, the actual story is excellent.
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Macbeth is another famous one. The play follows the story of Macbeth, who becomes the king of Scotland. There’s lots of questionable decisions and questionable morals. I really liked Lady Macbeth, who just does whatever she wants really and is very ambitious. Also the witches are great, just randomly appearing and messing things up. Considering the themes in Macbeth actually makes it better, especially the question of fate vs free will.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Jane Eyre. Not a fan of this one, I’m afraid. I know lots of people do like it, and the setting descriptions and plot are interesting, but once Rochester got involved I just went nope. Rochester is fifty shades of creepy and I wish Jane had ditched him. I liked all the different settings, especially Lowood, but I found Jane too passive as a narrator at times and as I said before, Rochester and Jane together makes me shudder.
Y7- Y9 Texts
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
At this point the texts are more distant in my memory, so these reviews are about to get vague. From what I can remember, this is a story about a horse and this boy. I think it’s the horse we follow but I honestly cannot remember. I’m pretty sure it was a good book though, despite my dislike of war. What I can remember is our school trip to see War Horse in the theatre. That was incredible, I highly recommend it.
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
I don’t really remember much about studying this play, but I know the basic plot. There’s a storm and a ship is wrecked. Twins called Viola and Sebastian (I think) get washed up separately. Viola pretends to be her brother in order to get by. Viola ends up working for a lovesick Duke, and the lady he is in love with falls in love with Viola disguised as a boy. Not sure what Sebastian is doing all this time, but then he turns up and the lady thinks Sebastian is Viola and they end up together and Viola and the Duke end up together. It’s a cool story, and I like the movie based on it called She’s the Man.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
This play has several plots. The one of four lovers who are in a tangle. An argument between the fairy king and queen. A bunch of actors preparing for a play. The all end up bumping into each other at various points. It’s a good story and quite fun to act out. I think at one point in class we had to rewrite parts into modern settings and someone did a gangster version. That was funny.
The Tempest by William Shakespeare
My memories of this play are very, very vague. There’s a magician who lives on an island with his daughter, a sprite and a green guy? Some people get washed up and the daughter falls in love with someone? No idea what the actual plot is. Obviously I wasn’t impressed, though, or I would probably have more of an idea about this one.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Frankenstein is about a scientist who puts together a corpse out of random body parts then animates it with lightning. The creature then harasses him, and the scientist is very morally questionable. Some people might or might not die. This is quite a dark tale, as well as being quite sad. Sympathy is definitely for the monster, not Frankenstein himself.
Primary School Texts
Coming to England by Floella Benjamin
It’s definitely been a while and these are the only two texts I remember reading at primary school. I know we read others as a class, but I can’t for the life of me remember what they are. Coming to England has stuck in my memory, and even now I can remember scenes from the book clearly. The joy of Floella’s life in Trinidad, and the horrible racism she experienced in England as her parents worked their hardest to give Floella and her siblings a good life. It’s a really good book, and I recommend reading it whatever your age is.
The Wreck of Zanzibar by Michael Morpurgo
I honestly have no idea what happens in this book or what I thought of it. I just remembered the word Zanzibar.
And that concludes my mini review of all the books I’ve read at school and can remember! What books did you read at school? What did you think of them? Comment below or tell me on twitter, I think it’s fascinating how everyone studies different things.
People all over the country have been putting pictures of rainbows up in their windows and outside their houses in order to cheer everyone up in these not-so-great times, so I thought I’d do my part and try and cheer you all up with a book for every colour of the rainbow! I’ve done both a paperback and a hardback rainbow, although I have to admit my paperback one is a lot better. Why do I own so many dark hardbacks?!
Paperback Rainbow
From left to right:
A succulent
The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon– I can’t wait for The Mask Falling to come out! I read the first three of this series a while ago, and I absolutely adored them. I’m definitely going to have fun rereading them in anticipation for The Mask Falling.
The Merlin Conspiracy by Diana Wynne Jones- I read this with my mum as a child, and while I can’t actually remember what happens, I remember that it was awesome! Diana Wynne Jones is an incredible author, and I adore Howl’s Moving Castle.
The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee- I read this quite recently, having had it sitting on my shelf for months. The gossip girl comparison is accurate and the ending left me furious, so as to whether I read the rest is a mystery.
This Vicious Cure by Emily Suvada- The only one on this list I haven’t read, This Vicious Cure is the conclusion to a trilogy. I thought the previous books were great, so I have no doubts that this one will be too.
Shift by Hugh Howey- I am actually in the middle of this at the moment. It’s quite a change of pace from Wool, being a prequel, but it’s just as gripping. This is truly brilliant science fiction.
A Smuggler’s Path by I.L. Cruz- I was gifted this in return for review, and although it is chaotic at times, A Smuggler’s Path is never boring and I look forward ti reading the third book in the series
A succulent
Hardback Rainbow
From left to right:
A succulent
Bedlam by Derek Landy- when I read the first series of Skulduggery Pleasant, I was obsessed. I loved everything about Valkyrie and Skulduggery and their relationship and the various characters they knew. In the revival Valkyrie is very different, and I miss the old her, but Landy’s writing is brilliant as ever and I look forward to reading this one.
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon- this is currently my favourite book, and has been since I first read it. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to write a review, because a) it’s massive and b) I love it too much. A female-led fantasy epic with a slow-burn sapphic relationship and dragons? Just take my money.
Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch- you might have noticed that this rainbow has not one, but three Ben Aaronovitch books on. This is because I am completely obsessed with the Rivers of London series and I managed to get my mum hooked as well. Pure brilliance. A modern London detective series with magic and crime and humour that I will continue to recommend to everyone I meet.
False Value by Ben Aaronovitch- I will admit I have not read this one yet, because I cannot bear for it to end. It came out recently and my mum ordered it immediately but I just can’t bring myself to step into Peter Grant’s world because inevitably I’ll have to leave. Also the cover glows in the dark which I think is the coolest thing ever.
The Wicked King by Holly Black- the second book in a delicious trilogy filled with magic and faeries and betrayal. Holly Black is a brilliant writer and I had the privilege of meeting her last year. She has blue hair which I think automatically elevates her to awesome.
Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch- I honestly devoured this series. They’re so easy to dive into and I am emotionally attached to all of the characters and the books are the perfect mix between reality and magic.
Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman- I read this last week and it is pretty much the perfect YA sci-fi. A badass space crew, mysterious girl from the past, all the sass and the occasional battle? Just my cup of intergalactic tea.
A succulent
I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and it at least made you smile a little bit. Keep going and stay home, save lives. Shoutout to the NHS for being absolute superheroes!
Why not make your own book rainbows and post them on instagram or twitter? Remember to tag me so I can see your favourite books!
Iāll start off by saying I absolutely adored the cover for this book, it was what first attracted me to it. A girl in Viking-esque style stepping out of a choppy sea? Amazing. As usual I did no research on this book before reading it, and therefore had no idea this was the second in a series. Thankfully it doesnāt directly follow on from the previous book, because that would have been very confusing. Instead the main character from the previous book appears as a very minor relation to one of the main characters in this book, Halvard. This review is a bit messy, but so were my thoughts about this book so it couldn’t be helped. The synopsis:
For as long as she can remember, Tova has lived among the Svell, the people who found her washed ashore as a child and use her for her gift as a Truthtongue. Her own home and clan are long-faded memories, but the sacred symbols and staves inked over every inch of her skin mark her as one who can cast the rune stones and see into the future. She has found a fragile place among those who fear her, but when two clans to the east bury their age-old blood feud and join together as one, her world is dangerously close to collapse.
For the first time in generations, the leaders of the Svell are divided. Should they maintain peace or go to war with the allied clans to protect their newfound power? And when their chieftain looks to Tova to cast the stones, she sets into motion a series of events that will not only change the landscape of the mainlandforever but will give her something she believed she could never have againāa home.
Now, if youāve read the first book, Iām assuming you went into this book knowing about the history between all the clans and who the Svell are. I didnāt, and if you are going to read this book, I highly recommend reading The Sky in the Deep first. You can read this one and understand it, but it takes some detective work to have any idea whatās going on.
Some basic details I picked up were that Tova comes from a territory not connected to the mainland, from a people called the Kyrr. Theyāre mysterious and no one messes with them. On the mainland there are the Svell, who Tova lives with, and the Nadhir, who are made up of two joined clans, the Aska and the Riki. Some people called the Herja attacked the Nadhir a while ago. While this book is described as a standalone, I think I would have got less distracted by random details if I had read the first one.
The book is written in first person from two perspectives, Tova and Halvard. Tova is a Truthtongue, which means she can read the runes. The Svell hate her and think she is an insult to their god, so want to kill her while their Tala (holy person) keeps her alive for his own uses. Tova is uniquely in tune with the spinners, who control the destiny of gods and men. She can sense the web the spinners weave, and occasionally hears things. I did a bit of research and while the spinners are called the Norns in Norse mythology, they are roughly equal to the fates in Greek mythology. This book definitely felt more historical fiction than fantasy. Halvard is the heir to the Nadhir chieftain and the link to the previous book.
The writing of this book was the best bit about it. There were some stereotypical features such as memory flashbacks to provide background to Halvard and Tova and some outsiders who save the day, but the plot got better as the book went one, with the mysterious Kyrr who Halvard knows and the brief encounters between Tova and Halvard before they meet properly. I really enjoyed the simple, evocative descriptions of setting and the vivid writing of action, the mixture of fate and free will, inevitability and brutality.
The ending was my favourite part of The Girl the Sea Gave Back. That sounds like an insult, but I donāt mean it as one, itās just the book took me a while to get into and everything pulls together very dramatically near the end. It had the contrast between Tova and Halvard tentatively trusting one another, Tova finally not feeling like an outcast and a great final battle. There was a bit of romance if you like that kind of thing, although I slightly thought Tova and Halvard should be left as friends. Overall I would recommend this book, but only after reading the first one. Would I survive? Maybe not, Iām not a particularly violent person.
I could not wait to get into this book, and thankfully I had it within armās reach when I finished Stormās Herald. Like I said in my review of Stormās Herald, I did indeed receive Stormās Herald and Stormās Clouds in exchange for review, but all opinions expressed are my own! VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: this review does contain a spoiler for the first book (Stormās Herald). Nothing that will change the plot dramatically or ruin it, and I did suspect this once I was about Ā¾ through the book, but if you want to read it completely spoiler free then donāt read this review! All my other reviews are spoiler free unless explicitly stated.
Everything is really well explained at the start of the book, not explicitly but through the first few pages of character interaction so if you forgot anything in the previous book you can work it out pretty quickly. Of course, I had finished the other book seconds earlier so that wasnāt such a problem. The chapters in this book are really long, and it can be a bit on the nose sometimes, but there are moments of real humour where I genuinely laughed. I loved that they set off on a quest with no clear plan except āfind a dragonā when they had no idea where it was. Again there is a lot of jumping to random perspectives for a few pages to see what is happening elsewhere, but I had got used to it at this point and I could generally tell how they were linked to the main story at this point. There was a lot more of the Fae court and the magic school in this book as well as the quests, including lots of focus on Princess Elise and what she was up to. There was more tension in this book than in Stormās Herald, which had me reading faster and faster!
THIS IS THE SPOILER. Okay, Iām done yelling about it being a spoiler. What I want to talk about here is Garth. Garth has enough personas to fill a city here people, and they are very varied. Garth is actually Gwythr, a guy who was a hero in the Faeās war. Heās now human and wanders around as Garth, except when he is Gyaltso, an old dude who turned Kaldenās hair white then straight up left him which I found hilariously random. I have several problems with Garth. The first is quite petty but I think Garthās nickname of ālittle birdā for Lynette is so creepy and it made me cringe and my skin crawl every time he said it. Maybe itās meant to be cute, but NOPE. And even weirder, a trope I hate, is Lynette being *strangely attracted* to the bad guy (Garth) who is nice only to them. I know Garth isnāt technically bad, but he isnāt exactly good either. Also, this isnāt a problem but how does Garth get around so fast? Can he teleport? What?!
Anyway, back to the rest of review. Princess Elise was a lot more prominent in this book and although she was a little irritatingly perfect, I did like seeing what she was up to. It was quite stereotypical that the lady in waiting was a spy, like it wasnāt even subtle. At some points I felt there were too many characters, but if I just thought of the characters from the random jump arounds as one time things it was a lot easier to focus on the main ones. There were some giants who inexplicably spoke like Scottish people. Not sure what was going on there. Then there is Waya. Waya is introduced as a boy and it is later revealed they are transgender, or at least very confused about their gender and sexuality. You see, Waya is in love with a girl, and to impress her parents they go on a quest to act manly. While I liked Waya as a character and I would definitely be interested in knowing more about them and whether they decided to have Garth magically change their body, it did feel a bit like a token because Waya is the only character I can think of who is on the LGBTQ+ spectrum. Once again in this book time jumps around with no respect for how much time it seemed had passed. One minute Iām chilling, and the next two years have passed, and I am like WHAT.
In conclusion I really enjoyed Stormās Clouds. Especially the sentient library which moves books around to mess with the librarians. I could read a whole book about that library. I really liked the ending, and I very much need to know what happens next. Would I survive this book? Yeah I would, Iām living in that library.
Happy Easter everyone! Or just happy Sunday if you donāt celebrate Easter, I hope you have a great day with chocolate regardless. If you want to read these books, Stormās Herald is free as an ebook on Amazon 10-12th April, and Stormās Cloud 24-25th April.
I received both Stormās herald and its sequel, Stormās Clouds, in exchange for a review. All views expressed are honest and my own. I have a very terrible habit of writing notes while Iām reading a book, then writing the actual review quite a while afterwards. It means that sometimes my notes are very vague and incomprehensible, but not this time. I had so much fun rereading the notes I made, I think they are possibly some of the best notes Iāve ever made. And you canāt have good notes without an interesting book to make them on, so kudos to Stormās herald. Hereās the synopsis:
A peasant girl who dreams of becoming a sorceress, a boy who imagines himself a knight ā trailed by a ruthless mercenary armed with an ancient sword.
All Lynette wanted was to leave her boring village life ā to attend the Fae Academy and become a Druid priestess like her teacher before her. Her clumsy attempts at magic are a reminder of how much she has yet to learn. But if they would only accept her, if the Fae Kingdom ā closed to human visitors for centuries now ā would only just open its doors, she is certain she could become a master of the magical arts.
Yet her journey puts her on a collision course with a reawakened evil ā offering a kingās ransom for the recovery of a long-lost relic. Treasure hunters of every variety ā werewolves, mercenaries, common thieves and undead alike ā are soon locked in pursuit of its promised riches. Together with Baxter, a young squire who fled his own kingdom, and Eirlon, a gnome who trades in rare antiquities, Lynette is drawn unwillingly into the hunt for the elusive relic.
Hounded by goblins, ogres ā and darker things ā Baxter carries his own burdens: secrets that have made him the enemy of the crown. And then there is Garth, the mysterious mercenary who both frightens and intrigues Lynette: the weapons-master armed with an ancient blade ā snatched from the hand of a long-vanished fae prince.
Willingly or not, Lynette, Baxter and Eirlon must together solve the riddles behind the relic ā and stay one step ahead of the ruthless killers that pursue them.
Like many a fantasy, and lots of books now I think about it, Stormās Herald begins with introductions to various different viewpoints over the first few chapters. Quite quickly I understood the basic worldbuilding and the traditional type of fantasy I was reading. Slightly uncommonly, new points of view were introduced throughout the book, sometimes only for one chapter. These were usually to show what was happening somewhere else in the world, but sometimes I found the switching too frequent, so it took me longer than usual to properly get to know the characters. Slowly all of the various characters crossed each otherās paths, and for once there was none of the hiding information from these people are clearly on your side. I was very thankful for that, because nothing irritates me more than a character being unnecessarily reticent as a plot device. The storytelling is not very complicated, but the story was good, and it was fun and easy reading.
Letās move onto the characters. There were four main viewpoints I could identify, with several minor ones who would appear once or twice like Kalden. The main viewpoints were Lynette, Elise, Eirlon and Baxter. I donāt know if I have a favourite, but I like them all in different ways and by the end of the book I was very interested in seeing what happened next. The story begins with Lynette, a normal girl with magic her half-fae teacher is teaching her to control. After some *events* Lynette sets off to the Fae-gate from which she can enter the fae lands and join the magic school. Lynette is the typical beautiful, magical peasant in many ways and she does get attached to a very dodgy guy, but when he first meets her in the forest and is very creepy (in my opinion), she doesnāt put up with it which I applaud.
Baxter is apprenticed to a knight and is very accepting of his master being a horrible person because of his nobility but apart from that heās quite a nice guy. Heās just a regular, hardworking human who predictably ends up with a crush on Lynette, but the focus on the romance is very minor. Eirlon the gnome is pretty cool. A chill guy, albeit with a minorly annoying habit to keep things to himself. Elise is the fairy princess, heir to the fae throne. She doesnāt take any rubbish from anyone and despite her insecurities she pretty much does what she thinks is right. Iām down with that. The other character mentioned in the synopsis, Garth, I have a LOT of opinions on but that would be spoilers so that will be going in my next review. The fae are what you would expect of fae in a traditional fantasy, with longer life spans, few children, attuned with nature and big fans of trees.
This is not a particularly descriptive book in terms of physical descriptions of people/settings, but personally I actually tend to pretty much read those and forget them anyway unless theyāre long and lyrical, so I didnāt mind. The one thing that threw me in this book was the passing of time. From one chapter to the next 9 months could have passed and there would only be a brief mention of it which was a bit wild, but once I got used to it, I just rolled with it.
When I got to the end of the book, I was very thankful to have the sequel next to me because I really wanted to know what happened next. I was left like what?!?! But ready to read the next one. Would I survive? I think I would, if I stayed out of the way of goblins.
Two Darks Reigns is the third book in the Three Dark Crowns series by Kendare Blake, a Fantasy YA series with four books plus novellas told in the present tense. I read Three Dark Crowns a couple of years ago now, along with the sequel, so as usual I decided not to read a summary of the previous books and jumped straight into the third book in the series. How badly could it go?
Synopsis:
Queen Katharine has waited her entire life to wear the crown. But now that she finally has it, the murmurs of dissent grow louder by the day. Thereās also the alarming issue of whether or not her sisters are actually deadāor if theyāre waiting in the wings to usurp the throne.
Mirabella and Arsinoe are alive, but in hiding on the mainland and dealing with a nightmare of their own: being visited repeatedly by a specter they think might be the fabled Blue Queen. Though she says nothing, her rotting, bony finger pointing out to sea is clear enough: return to Fennbirn.
Jules, too, is in a strange placeāin disguise. And her only confidants, a war-gifted girl named Emilia and her oracle friend Mathilde, are urging her to take on a role she canāt imagine filling: a legion-cursed queen who will lead a rebel army to Katharineās doorstep.
This is an uprising that the mysterious Blue Queen may have more to do with than anyone could have guessedāor expected.
This story definitely feels like a YA, but thatās what itās meant to be, and I enjoyed it. At times it felt a bit slow and meandering, especially nearer the start, yet as I got more into the story, I found myself really wanting to know what all the mysterious dreams and signs meant. Through Arsinoeās dreams we are shown the events of the life of someone in the past who I grew to quite like. Iām a big fan of the story being focused on three sisters and their relationships with each other as well as the overarching plot, which Iāll be honest I did not see coming. From the first book I did not expect to end up here, yet I was equally interested in all the viewpoints and there was the occasional cliff-hanger which Iām almost always down for.
The main characters of the story are the three sisters, Queen Katherine, Princess Mirabella and Princess Arsinoe (both supposed to be dead, along with Jules who grew up with Arsinoe with the naturalists. My favourite character was Braddock. If youāve read the previous books, you know who Iām talking about. I stand by my choice. Also, while I wasn’t such a fan of Jules in the previous books I grew to like her a lot more in this one. Iām also very into the setting, because while the āmagic island hidden from the mainlandā trope is a common in fantasy, I liked the way Kendare Blake decided on its relations with the mainland and the way it is set up.
In conclusion while I am not as obsessed with the series now as I was when I read the first book, this is still an interesting series and I will definitely be reading the final book to find out what happens to all the characters and see how the author chooses to resolve the plot. Would I survive? Yeah, probably. I think Iād be a naturalist or poisoner.
I absolutely LOVED To Kill A Kingdom. Iām a huge fan of retellings done well, and this bewitching dark retelling of the little mermaid was both brilliant and felt different to the original. The main thing to take away from this review was I had great fun reading this book. It was the first time Iāve read a book in one sitting in a while, I just couldnāt put it down!
The Synopsis:
Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe mostāa human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elianās heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.
The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobbyāitās his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, sheās more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for goodāBut can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankindās greatest enemy?
Like a lot of fantasy stories, the first chapter or so had a bit of explanation but the way it was weaved into the story was not at all boring. We get introduced to the two main viewpoints, Elian and Lira pretty early in the story so we get lots of time seeing their individual sides of the story. Alexandra Christo balances the fairytale feel to the story perfectly with and edge of cruelty which stops the story being to sickly. Thereās plot twists, marriage alliances, disguises, sirens pirates and a magic quest for a crystal. What more could you ask for in a fairy-tale fantasy? The enemies to lovers trope is a common one but I thought it was done really well here, slowly enough that it didnāt feel like two characters being shoved together and then you get partway through the book and theyāre in love and Iām in love and thereās so much romantic tension. It made me very happy, I smiled most of the way through this book.
There are two points of view in To Kill a Kingdom, and if you asked me to choose one I would have a very hard time. I liked the narrative voice of the siren Princess Lira, her development from cruelty throughout the book, but Elianās crew completely stole my heart. Elian is a prince who adores the open sea and killing sirens, and to begin with their POVs are completely contrasting with the darker Lira and more noble Elian. That being said they are both bloodthirsty from the beginning. What better to bond over than violence and murder? There is some great banter, lots of romantic tension and a pirate crew I would die for. If Alexandra Christo would like to write a book solely on that crew, I would definitely buy it. The setting comprises of several different kingdoms, each with fairy-tale aspects that match their name in some way. For example, Prince Elian is from Midas, a kingdom of gold. The kingdoms are wonderful, nothing too complicated but described succinctly to perfectly capture the mood of the place.
In conclusion this is a brilliant standalone fairy-tale retelling with what I thought was a pretty perfect ending. Would I survive this book? I reckon I could live in Midas or one of the other kingdoms without too much trouble. Not the sea though. As I have previously mentioned, I get seasick.
