A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

Book: A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

Read From: 22nd September - 26th September 2021

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Following along from the events in The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, we follow three of the side characters through the past and the present.

That’s all I’m going to give you by way of summary I’m afraid, because I’m determined not to spoil anything from The Long Way! At the same time, I’m determined to give this book its own review because it’s more of a companion novel rather than a direct sequel, and also I’m really loving this series at the moment! I ordered the third book straight away, and it’s currently on my shelf waiting to be read after I finish the books I was procrastinating due to loving the Wayfarers so much!

It wouldn’t be a spoiler to say that this 2/3 main characters in this book are Blue and Pepper, and we get to see the past events that led to them ending up in Port Coriol. In the present timeline, we also follow them alongside their AI, Sidra. There are some interesting themes in this book about autonomy which really appealed to me as medical ethics is one of my modules this year and we've been looking at how fundamental autonomy is!

The backstory of Pepper and Blue is just heart-breaking and it will make you love them even more. Sidra's story is also not shy of sadness as we see a lot of her struggles with identity, particularly as a lot of people (or rather, species) don't see AI's as people. Thankfully, Sidra has her new Aeluon friend Tak to help her through and their friendship was just the purest!🥺 I think that The Long Way definitely had a stronger found family theme, but I was so pleased that it was still featured in this book - in both of the timelines!

Fully aware this review is massively lacking substance but I really don't want to spoil anything! If you take one recommendation from me, please let it be this series! I've seen mixed things about the third book but I'm hoping that I'll like it just as much as the first two. If you love found family... read the Wayfarers series!

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet

Book: The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet

Read From: 19th September - 21st September 2021

Rating: 5/5 stars 

Summary: Rosemary Harper doesn’t expect much when she joins the crew of the aging Wayfarer but all she wants is some distance from her past. Rosemary has never met anyone remotely like the ship’s diverse crew, including Sissix, the exotic reptilian pilot, chatty engineers Kizzy and Jenks who keep the ship running, and Ashby, their noble captain. Life aboard the Wayfarer is about to get extremely dangerous when the crew is offered the job of a lifetime - tunnelling wormholes through space to a distant planet. But risking her life wasn’t part of the plan. In the far reaches of deep space, the tiny Wayfarer crew will confront a host of mishaps and adventures that force them to depend on each other. To survive, Rosemary’s got to learn about love and trust, and realise that having a family isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the universe.

Ahhh! I can’t believe this has been sat on my shelf waiting to be read since NOVEMBER 2020. That’s nearly an entire year! I think the reason I’d been putting it off is because sci-fi is really out of my comfort zone and I always feel so intimidated by the genre - even though I’ve really enjoyed the (albeit very few) sci-fi books I’ve read in the past! I’m so thankful this got picked for @rainbowreadersbookclub September book because I ended up loving it! I dread to think how much longer this amazing book would have been sat on my shelves otherwise!

As much as I want to sit here and gush about each individual character, I would be here all day. Each and every one was so well developed - their backstories were extremely well thought out and often poignant! Through this eclectic bunch of characters we were able to learn so much about the world Chambers so cleverly crafted, as well as the species within it. I feared at times the book would become a bit too info-dumpy and I worried I would get lost but this was not the case at all! Any world-building and the addition of contextual information was woven into the story so well, broken up with wholesome dialogue and the development of our characters’ relationships.

This book is one that will stick with me for a long time - mainly because of how it covered so many important topics but in the most creative way! There are so many underlying themes: colonialism, gun control, racism, xenophobia, gender-fluidity, religion, polygamy, mental health, sexuality, the importance of pronouns (even neo-pronouns!) and respecting other peoples culture - just to name a few. The way these discussions were integrated into the story was absolutely remarkable, and even though this was published back in 2015 - they are still very relevant today!

PLEASE read this! Even if you’re scared of sci-fi like me and ESPECIALLY if you loved The House in the Cerulean Sea because this is literally the adult version set in space. A Long Way exceeded all of my expectations, I ordered the sequel before I even finished because I just need MORE! This novel only solidified that found family is my absolute all time favourite trope and I will be recommending this book to everyone!

Beyond The Black Door by A.M. Strickland

Book: Beyond The Black Door by A.M. Strickland

Read From: 4th August - 8th August 2021

Rating: 3/5 stars 

Summary: Kamai and her mother are Soulwalkers who can journey into other people's souls while they sleep. But no matter where Kamai visits, she sees the black door. It follows her into every soul and her mother has told her to never open it. But when tragedy strikes, Kamai does the unthinkable: she opens the door.

Okay, where to begin? This review is one that I’ve been putting off for the longest time because (for once) I’m at a loss for words. I liked and enjoyed this book. I didn’t fall head over heels in love with it, but I didn’t dislike it in any way either.

I thought the concept of peoples Neyhm’s was so well done and it was super interesting to visualise. I really liked how they were individualistic to each soul and also, in a way, reflected who they were as a person. From cobbled stone walls with wooden doors to a luxurious palace - Strickland does not shy away from vivid descriptions, which made this ready lusciously atmospheric.

And it was also DARK! I definitely wasn’t expecting it to be as dark as it was but this was an added positive which only enhanced the atmosphere and reading experience. If you like morally grey characters, definitely give this book a try.

Unfortunately I don’t have a lot else to say about this book, which is definitely down to the length of time it’s taken me to get around to reviewing it and not necessarily reflective of the novel itself. I’m definitely keen to try Strickland’s other standalone fantasy book, In The Ravenous Dark!

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

Book: House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

Read From: 13th September - 19th September 2021

Rating: 3/5 stars 

Summary: Annaleigh and her sisters live at Highmoor, a manor by the sea alongside their father and stepmother. Once they were twelve, but now loneliness fills the halls as four of the girls lives were cut short - each death more tragic than the last. Haunted by ghostly visions, Annaleigh is convinced their deaths were not an accident. Her sisters have been sneaking out every night to attend balls and Annaleigh isn't sure whether to stop them or join in. Because what - or who - are they really dancing with?

This was our @fantasyfriendsbookclub pick for Standalone September, and let me just tell you... we read this a month early!😆 This would have been the most perfect book for spooky season - when I tell you that it's dark, I really do mean it so be sure to check any trigger warnings before reading.

Despite being a young adult novel, it did not read like one at all and this was something I really liked. Not only is it mature in themes, the writing style is so lyrical and beautiful! I suppose it could be considered waffley at times, but surprisingly I really liked this (I don't normally!) - it added to the haunting atmosphere and it really captured me. 

I feel like Annaleigh was the only character I really connected with. That's not a bad thing by all means - in fact it was probably bound to happen considering she is the protagonist. But as a reader who normally falls in love with side characters in books, it was a shame there wasn't really one I felt strongly towards. I especially wanted to love Verity, but I think that this was destined to not happen with eight sisters who all play a pretty equal role throughout the story - I think it would have been easier to connect with the sisters if there were two or three that were more central to the story. I did really like Cassius though! I thought he was very mysterious and intriguing.

The thing that gave rise to a lot of discussion in the book club chat was the ending - a lot of people said that it was rushed and I definitely felt the same way when I eventually got there. There were a lot of questions left unanswered, and not necessarily in an ambiguous way like some standalone books tend to end. I also didn't fully understand the mythology element - I liked it but at the same time it did seem kind of random!

Overall this was a great standalone fantasy and made a nice change from committing to yet another series. I'm happy it was picked for book club as I'm not sure I would have picked it up otherwise! Definitely glad to have read it, it's just not one I would ever revisit. If you're looking for a hauntingly captivating story filled with beautiful ballgowns one minute and curses and ghosts the next - this book is for you!

The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary

Book: The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary

Read From: 11th September - 15th September

Rating: 2.5/5 stars 

Summary: Addie and her sister are off to a wedding in Scotland but not long after they set off, their car is crashed into by none other than Dylan, Addie’s ex, and his friend Marcus. Conveniently, both parties are going to the same place so decide to car share. As a result, the 400 mile drive gives Addie and Dylan plenty of opportunity to confront the messy history of their relationship.

This was definitely not my favourite O’Leary - by a mile. I don’t normally give half star ratings but this wasn’t ‘bad’ - I definitely wouldn’t group it with some of the books I’ve previously rated 2 stars. But at the same it’s definitely not on the same level as some other books I’ve recently rated 3 stars. I can see why people would enjoy this but unfortunately it massively fell flat for me and didn’t hit the mark that O’Leary’s novels usually do for me.

I think the book definitely got better in the second half. There were some events and one-liners that admittedly made me chuckle and in true O’Leary fashion there was some exploration of deeper and more sensitive topics. I just wish they were expanded on a little more - so much more could have been sensitively discussed surrounding the themes. Instead, it didn't necessarily progress the plot in any way, and whilst not brushed to the side, I think a lot more could have been done with a lot less (TW: Rape).

I thought the dual timelines were interesting! I liked how in the present day we got hints of stuff that happened previously and it was exciting to know that we'd be going back to relive those moments with the characters. After a while though the present timeline did start to get a bit boring, it just seemed like idle chatter to drag the book out while we waited to dive into the past again. The forced proximity trope was interesting though!👀 The past felt a little too insta-lovey for my liking. I’m very rarely a fan of this trope and so it's unsurprising that I didn't love it in this book.

As for the characters, I liked Addie. By no means is she my favourite protagonist but I didn't mind reading from her and being in her head - she was likeable and in some parts relatable. Deb was okay too although she did make some really random choices - especially surrounding Kevin (if you know, you know). Talking of random, RODNEY? Even when you find out why he is there - it still just seems super random, and to be honest not really needed. 

Marcus and Dylan were absolutely detestable male characters. Marcus was just toxic and his redemption arc should have, in my opinion, been non-existent. I just don't think there's any coming back from what he did - particularly when the reason why seemed quite incomprehensible? Dylan wasn't a great character either and I think it's so important to connect to the characters in a romance book, ESPECIALLY when they are the love interest and half of the book is written from their point of view!

Even though I didn't get on with this book, it will definitely not be my last O'Leary. I'm willing to put this one down as being an outlier because I absolutely loved The Switch and The Flatshare. I'll definitely be reading her fourth book The No-Show when it releases in 2022 and will be crossing my fingers that I like it more than The Road Trip. I personally wouldn't recommend this book, however I do highly recommend both of her other novels.

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

Book: Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

Read From: 8th September - 13th September 2021

Rating: 4/5 stars 

Summary: Shiori, the only princess of Kiata has a secret - forbidden magic runs through her veins. When it catches the attention of Raikama her step-mother, Shiori realises that Raikama has a dark magic of her own and banishes Shiori, turns her brothers into cranes and warns her that with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die. Penniless, voiceless and alone, Shiori uncovers a conspiracy to overtake the throne which is more twisted and deceitful than Raikama's betrayal and so she enlists the help of a paper bird, a dragon and the man she fought so hard not to marry.

I'm unfamiliar with The Brothers Grimm's 'The Six Swans', which is what Six Crimson Cranes is a retelling of. As such, I went into this book slightly apprehensive because I would have no idea if it was a good retelling or not! I genuinely don't think this mattered though, this was such a whimsical and magical read (although darker at times!) and it read like it's own fairy tale - I think this book would make such a great Disney movie! Lim did such a fantastic job of crafting the world of Kiata with the incorporation of Eastern folklore and mythology only adding to the richness of the world-building. This is one of the most transportive books I've read in a while and I think that's only helped by the absolutely GORGEOUS map and even more gorgeously vivid descriptions - I could visualise everything so perfectly! From the food (so many people have said this book made them really hungry and I can only agree), to the festivals, to the palace, to the outfits, to the wintery north - even the little fishing village of Tianyi!

Whilst the world-building was done extremely well, the highlight of this book was without a doubt the characters. Every single one was developed so well irrespective of whether they were a main character, a side character or a villain. Shiori was a fantastic protagonist, she was determined, fierce, selfless and at times reckless which only demonstrated her devotion to her brothers and breaking the curse - not for herself but for them. Despite being a large band of siblings, it's so clear to see how close their bond is. This was such a key theme throughout the course of the book - you could tell that Shiori really loved her brothers and vice versa. I loved Kiki from the start and Takkan really grew on me with the more I read. I also enjoyed Seryu's appearances, he was so funny! Sadly as the plot progressed these became few and far between but I have a feeling he will definitely be making more of an appearance in book 2 which I can't wait for!

As excited as I am for the release of the sequel, this book has really encouraged me to finally get my hands on Lim's Blood of Stars duology which has been on my radar for the longest time. She has such a magical and lyrical writing style - I'm so keen to experience this in her other works! I've seen nothing but positive reviews for Six Crimson Cranes and here I am putting MY 50 pence in to tell you that all of the praise is worth it! You can't get more magical than dragons, curses, enchanters, quests, demons AND the evil stepmother trope👀 This book is 100% worth your time and I would highly recommend it! Shout-out to the lovely Lola from @queenbeebookstagram for yet another brilliant (and successful) buddy read!🥰

The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris

Book: The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris

Read From: 5th September - 6th September 2021

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: 16 year old Alex lives with his younger brother Isaiah on a quiet street in Chicago. But recently their neighbours have begun calling the cops on anyone who doesn't look like their version of safe. When Alex picks up a family photo, his whole life changes: he has a vision that Isaiah might die. Alex wants to save Isaiah, but he knows the dangers of the future. How will he protect his brother when the street they grew up on doesn't feel like home anymore?

Brittney Morris I LOVE YOU! I had high hopes for her second novel after reading her debut SLAY last year, which slotted its way into my favourite books of all time. Now, after reading and loving her second book, I will never not read anything she releases in future. Her books need more hype - it's genuinely a shame that I'm not seeing them anywhere near enough on book-related social media.

Magical realism is usually a hit or miss for me, but this was definitely a hit. The concept was original and thought-provoking - if you had the chance to see the future of something or someone, would you? If you would, at what cost?

The writing in this book is so powerful, each and every sentence packs a punch and you’ll learn so much in just 300 pages. It covers a LOT - from toxic masculinity, inter generational trauma and the pressure to be a provider. It’s also written in such an accessible way. It’s a young adult book and so obviously reads like one but it’s done so well as you can either take it all at surface level OR, if you wanted to, you can really pay attention to the themes discussed and see the various ways in which Morris approaches them and how they’re reflected.

This novel is described as a 'love letter to the Black men who had to grow up too early, and for whom the task of being carefree and joyful and Black and male might seem impossible’. At one point, I picked up on the fact that Isaiah wasn’t written like a 12 year old and then I caught myself because that is exactly the point.

As I already said, I will never not read any of Morris’ future releases. It’s safe to say that she is now an auto-buy author for me and after loving her first two books I’m sure they will just keep getting better and better.

Defy The Night by Brigid Kemmerer

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Book: Defy The Night by Brigid Kemmerer

Read From: 6th September - 10th September 2021

Rating: 5/5 stars 

Summary: A deadly sickness has taken over the kingdom of Kandala and is only treatable with Moonflower petals - rationed out to the kingdom by the elites. There isn’t enough to go around so Tessa and Wes take matters into their own hands by stealing the petals from the Royal sector and distributing them to the poor. However the sickness requires King Harristan and Prince Corrick to rule without mercy, and the price for smuggling is as grave as death.

Do you ever pick up a book and just know from the first chapter, or even first page, that you’re going to love it and that it’ll be a 5 star read? This was exactly how I felt about this one. Inspired by Robin Hood, this story and concept completely gripped me - throw in merciless rulers, disgruntled political figureheads and loveable outlaws and you have a recipe for literally everything I could’ve ever wanted from a YA fantasy novel. I absolutely loved this!

The world-building was so vivid and rich, it was so easy to imagine Kandala. I loved how the kingdom was split up into sectors, with each being governed by a consul. It was such an interesting political dynamic because A. it highlighted some key power imbalances particularly where Moonflower supply was concerned, and B. whilst all of the consuls have Kandala as a whole in their best interests, of course they also want what’s best for their sector - even if this is conflicting!👀 I seriously can’t get enough of court politics and royal drama, ESPECIALLY when you never know who to trust! 

As interesting as the plot was though, what absolutely MADE this book for me was the characters. I adored Wes and Tessa from the first page - they worked so well together and there were so many funny and cute moments between them, I couldn’t get enough (especially of their banter)! Prince Corrick and King Harristan were complex characters - particularly Corrick - we normally see redemption arcs in later books but it was almost like this one happened throughout? He would do something completely abhorrent but then in the next paragraph or even sentence he would say something that completely changes your outlook as a reader about who he is as a character and I LOVED this! Even the side characters were so well developed and all had their own individually crafted personalities - Allistair was jarring but all of the interactions he was involved with were super entertaining. And QUINT🥺 the purest, funniest and most loyal soul who should be protected at all costs!

CURSEBREAKERS WALKED SO THAT DEFY THE NIGHT COULD RUN. I’m SO excited for the next book to come out but at the same time I’m grateful it didn’t end on a cliffhanger so that I’m not waiting around for a year, maybe more, just to find out what happens. There were some unanswered questions though which give a great set up for book 2! I think it’s obvious at this point that I highly recommend - this is such a great YA fantasy and would be enjoyed by both lovers of the genre and those who are new to it.

Thank you Bloomsbury for the gifted review copy!

The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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Book: The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Read From: 2nd September - 5th September 2021

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary (The Inheritance Games): Avery is mind boggled when she inherits an unfathomable estate from a complete stranger. Little does she know, the world that awaits her at Hawthorne House is filled with bitterness, resentment, puzzles, mystery and a band of mysterious grandsons who are just as desperate as Avery to uncover why she was the one who received their grandad’s fortune.

Waiting for this book to come out was honestly the longest year of my life! After the mega cliff-hanger in book one I was so excited to get the answers to all of my questions and Barnes DEFINITELY delivered. There were revelations and plot twists left right and centre - I could barely catch my breath from the last reveal and then yet another spanner was thrown in the works! This definitely helped keep my attention as I felt this book was not as fast paced as The Inheritance Games in terms of plot progression. However, the shock-factor included in most chapters definitely helped it seem more fast paced than it was!

I had no idea this book was going to be a trilogy but as soon as I found out I quickly began to realise that a lot of the storyline felt like a set-up for the grand finale. This is the case with most 'middle' books though, I find its so rare to find a book that doesn't actually succumb to the 'second book syndrome' in trilogies. So, whilst mildly annoying I can't say it's completely unexpected!

Obviously you wouldn't go into this book expecting realism but I think that is what makes it all the more delightful - it's so far detached from reality that this series is so good for a quick and mind-boggling escapist read. I really enjoyed being back with these characters and even though we get to know the Hawthorne grandsons a little more in this sequel, there is still an air of mystery about them which makes it all the more intriguing! However I have to admit, I wasn't a fan of the love triangle at all!😖 Thankfully, despite having much more of a feature in this book than the first, it's only a minor sub-plot so it didn't overshadow the main story too much.

Overall though, this was great! It had Barnes' signature quick and addictive writing style throughout which made this book so binge-worthy and I'm excited to see which direction she takes the final book in - especially as there are various avenues she could take it down!

Thank you Penguin for the gifted review copy!

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Book: Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Read From: 3rd August - 5th August 2021

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the quinces ritual himself and sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin Miguel and set it free. However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school's resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He's determined to find out what happened and tie up some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no other choice, Yadriel agrees to help him so they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants him to leave. 

I loved this book so much! A couple of pages in, I thought I was a bit out of my depth because I didn’t really understand the magic system and what a brujo actually was, but this was soon resolved and I ended up devouring this story in only a couple of days because I was hooked!

A stand out feature of this book was definitely the banter between characters. Although they’re cousins you can literally tell that Yadriel and Maritza are the best of friends and their relationship and humour was just incredible. The addition of Julian into this crew made it all the more better too - he fit in straight away with all the sarcasm and dry humour. There were times I laughed out loud which is very rare for me where books are concerned so I think this is only testament to how well Thomas crafts the personality and wit of their characters.

AND THE STORY🥺 it was bound to be emotional, particularly as it’s obvious from the outset that there will be a huge focus on Yadriel’s gender identity which is such a touching journey to dive into in and of itself. But the premise of sending Julian back to the afterlife😭 I came to love these characters so much and so the undertones throughout the whole story about sending Julian back, all whilst seeing friendships and relationships develop, really had me in my feels.

Overall this was an amazing read. It was entertaining, fun and binge-worthy but at the same time it also taught me a lot about Latinx magic and witchcraft that still exist today. If you’re looking for a standalone fantasy recommendation with the most loveable characters look no further!

The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang

Book: The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang

Read From: 26th August - 2nd September 2021

Rating: 5/5 stars 

Summary (The Poppy War): Rin is a poor orphan from Tikany in the south who is desperate to escape her horrible aunt and uncle. So, she decides to sit the Keju - an exam to determine the most talented in the Empire - in order to earn herself a place at the most elite military school in Nikan. Whilst there, she learns she has an affinity for shamanism and her powers may be the only thing to save her people as a Third Poppy War looms.

Please direct my therapy bills to R.F. Kuang because I was really put through it with this one. I often use the phrase ‘a rollercoaster of emotions’ to describe a book that impacts me in many ways but this book takes that expression to a whole new level. My brain was constantly flitting between surges of adrenaline whilst reading the most epic battle scenes, to shock at the most insane plot twists, to happiness back to heartbreak, then relief. Trying to make sense of that previous sentence is comparable to how I felt while reading this sequel. It was honestly such a crazy journey.

I think that my failure to feel any form of boredom or repetitiveness over the course of 654 pages FILLED with battle after battle is testament to how talented Kuang is as a writer and just how intricately she creates her stories. This book was extremely well done and you could tell that even down to the tiniest details the plot was thought out to within an inch of its life.

Don't even get me started on the characters! Each and every one takes 'morally grey' to a new level but you just can't help but love them. Even the antagonists are so fascinating to read about - although you can never really be sure who exactly the antagonists are👀 (yes, this book gave me mega trust issues). Notable characters are of course Rin who was as fierce as ever and such an amazing protagonist! KITAY!! Protect him at all costs please🥺 Nezha, absolutely no words. The Cike have my entire heart. I could go on and on...

To save you my rambling, please just read this series! I've not even read the final book yet but I can already tell that its going to be one of my favourite trilogies of all time. Which is saying a LOT coming from someone who only really reads YA fantasy because they're scared of adult fantasy. There are many many trigger warnings for these books though so please be sure to check them all out before diving in: most prominently war, death and rape/sexual assault. This is a definite recommend from me and I cannot WAIT for The Burning God to be released in paperback because I'm desperate to know how this all ends!

Fool Me Twice by Carrie Aarons

Book: Fool Me Twice by Carrie Aarons

Read From: 22nd August - 28th August 2021

Rating: 2/5 stars

Summary: My best friend died just before her 18th birthday and left me her bucket list to complete. The last item is to break the heart of her ex-boyfriend, the one who dumped her when she got cancer. But what happens when my revenge plot starts going south, and I fall in love with him?

The above summary absolutely HOOKED me. I saw it on TikTok, completely unaware it was a plotline for a book, and after finding out the title I knew I had to add it to my Amazon wish-list straight away. You could imagine my excitement when it was FREE on Prime Reading! Needless to say, I was so intrigued I had no choice but to start reading it immediately. I couldn't have been more disappointed! If you liked this book, please take this as your warning to stop reading this review...

I mean, chapter one opened with the line "fuck, it's a fantastic morning to be a fantastic stud". Should I have DNF'ed then and there? Probably. But I thought I'd give this book the benefit of the doubt, particularly as I'd never heard of the author before and I know that people on Bookstagram are always looking for some hidden gems in the form of books, so I decided to carry on reading. I wish I hadn't.😅

If I'm being honest, this read like a trashy Wattpad fan fiction. No shade intended, I used to thoroughly enjoy my One Direction fanfics back in the day, but considering I have recently been reading consistently great romance books by the likes of Talia Hibbert, it was inevitable from the first 50 or so pages that this book was going to massively fall flat. If I had to summarise, I would say that this book gave me the ick.🤢 There were so many moments that had me physically cringing it was painful to read. For example, the love interest's penis was referred to as an 'anaconda'?! and an orgasm was compared to listening to Ariana Grande's 'god is a woman'... need I say any more?

As much as it seems like I'm purely ripping into this book, please trust me when I say I genuinely wanted to like it - the premise is SO interesting but the execution just wasn't there for me! It was really difficult for me to connect to the characters when the majority of their internal monologue was about how horny they were. Plus, there was such an unnecessary side plot and as interesting as it was, it really didn't add to the story.

I think I've definitely learned my lesson with regards to author's marketing their books on TikTok and maybe next time I see one that looks even remotely interesting, I'll at least read a few reviews before diving straight in. Am I glad I stuck it out until the end? Not really. But do I regret reading this? Also not really. I guess it was entertaining, even if it wasn't in the way the author intended. At least it was free!

Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

Book: Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

Read From: 5th August - 8th August 2021

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary (Vicious): Victor and Eli started out as college roommates. A shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong. Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe). Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the arch-nemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?

I've said it before and I will say it until the day I die... V.E.👏🏼SCHWAB👏🏼SUPREMACY👏🏼 I don't understand how one person can churn out all of these amazing books and just hit the nail on the head EVERY SINGLE TIME!? If you require evidence to demonstrate why they are my favourite author of all time... simply read this duology (soon to be trilogy? I hope? Please pull through for us in 2024)🤞🏼

If I had to compare these books to anything, it would be The Poppy War and Six of Crows. Whilst the books differ massively in plot, the common theme is that they all contain extremely morally grey characters BUT you can't help but root for them. "Plenty of humans were monstrous, and plenty of monsters knew how to play at being human". Victor and Eli are two sides of the same coin, you're always questioning what the 'right thing' is in order for you to pick someone’s side, but it's a trick question. There is no 'right' and that is exactly what makes this series so addictive!

These characters have me in a chokehold, I just loved them all so much - particularly Victor and his little gang with Sydney, Mitch and Dol🥺 I don’t want to spoil anything by saying too much about Vengeful, but June and Marcella were incredible - such an amazing example of badass female characters. Marcella is the definition of ‘gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss’ and nobody can change my mind.

Would I recommend this series? OBVIOUSLY. Would I go so far as to recommend it over my favourite trilogy of all time - V.E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic? To be honest, yes. I think the concept and plot of this book alongside the themes it covers would appeal to a wider range of readers. I also think even if you’re not someone who typically reaches for fantasy, this would be perfect as the duology is a little too close to reality where it’s almost scary. If someone told me that there were ExtraOrdinaries walking among us I think I’d genuinely believe them - it was so realistic and explained so well. PLEASE READ THESE BOOKS!

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman

Book: The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman

Read From: 28th July - 4th August 

Rating: 3/5 stars 

Summary: Uprooted from the city, Violet Saunders doesn't have much hope of fitting in at her new school in Four Paths, a town almost buried in woodland. The fact she's descended from one of the town's founder's doesn't help much either - her new neighbours treat her with distant respect and fear. When she meets Justin, May, Harper and Isaac - all children of founder families - she sees the otherworldly destruction and wonders if the townsfolk have the right to be afraid. When bodies start to appear in the woods, the locals become hostile. Can the teenagers solve the mystery of Four Paths, and their own part in it, before another calamity strikes?

I'll admit, it took me a while to get into this one properly. Initially I felt like this book was doing a bit too much to be like Stranger Things. However, when I properly got into the book at around the 100 page mark, I definitely became a lot more invested and it was clear that Herman made the concept her own by creating such a fascinating magic system! I love small town drama and I love family drama - The Devouring Gray was a combination of both! Add in some magic and you have an extremely gripping read.

I desperately wanted to love these characters but I just couldn't! It's not even that I disliked them either - I've just found that after finishing the book they were pretty forgettable to me and whilst I enjoyed this book, it's not one that will stick with me for that very reason. I think when you find yourself rooting for characters it really enhances the reading experience and sadly, as much as I enjoyed this book whilst I was reading it, my impartiality towards the Four Paths gang led this book to be middle of the road for me.

I would definitely recommend this if the concept sounds interesting to you though, it was a super fun and addicting book! Unfortunately it's not one that will stay with me but I am keen to read the sequel regardless and see how things pan out - I just probably won't get to it for a while because I'm not completely invested.