Rating: 3.5 STARS Genre: YA/Paranormal/Fantasy Series/Standalone: Kingdom of the Wicked #1 How I got this book: Bought Two sisters. One brutal murder. A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself… And an intoxicating romance. Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe—witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family’s renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin… desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and to seek vengeance at any cost—even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden. Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked Princes of Hell that she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia’s side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women’s murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems… Review by Sophie.
TW: Murder, grief, self-harm (for spells), loss of a loved one, magical compulsion. “Whatever you do, you must never speak to the wicked. If you see them, hide. Once you’ve caught a demon princes’ attention, he’ll stop at nothing to claim you” I’m so glad that I finally got around to reading this beautiful book! We’re first introduced to Emilia and Vittoria – twins who are also witches, living in secret amongst humans. They’ve been told stories of The Wicked since they were young - a constant warning and reminder of the danger posed by Demons and the underworld. The girls live in Italy with their family and also work at their parent’s restaurant ‘Sea & Vine’. The food described in this book sounded delicious and literally had my mouth watering more than once! One-night, Vittoria is late for work at the restaurant, and Emilia is sadly the one who discovers her sisters mutilated body. I thought the author did an incredible job here of describing the grief of losing a loved one, and how truly consuming it is, the darkness and weight of it, especially when dealing with it alone. “Grief Carved me in half. And fury honed the pieces into a weapon”. Emilia sets out on a hate fuelled mission of revenge to find her sisters killer and deliver the justice they deserve. Unknowingly, she accidentally summons a demon prince. Wrath – the god of war himself, and together they agree to find the killer together. Now, I must say, I’ve never had whiplash from a book like I did this one. The Constant bickering and love/hate relationship going on here is unreal and truly comical in places. “I wanted to offer a twig of trust”. “You mean an olive branch”. “Same concept, Witch” Wrath was by far my favourite character, and I really wish we had even more of him the story, I found him totally compelling, wrapped in all his mystery and darkness. Emilia’s character as we progressed was kind of a downfall for me. There were times where I questioned why she did certain things, and she would lose it and completely flip out over the strangest of things, to the point where I almost found her too annoying. The plot was easily guessable – not something I’m normally good at doing, I just wish Emilia had figured it out sooner too. The ending was a completely horrifying cliffhanger, and I’m now at the point where I can’t stop thinking about it, or the need to start reading the sequel. There are a lot of unanswered questions in here which I’m hoping the second book will shed some light on, and also hoping that Emilia’s character is able to grow into the badass we all know she’s capable of being. The style of writing was easy to read and I jumped straight into the story. Most of the time I absolutely couldn’t put this book down. The mystery and suspense had me gripped from the off, and I loved the whole Demons, Witches and dark magic setting. I'll definitely be reading the sequel to find out what happens next when its released in October this year! “Magic is a living, breathing entity, it thrives on the energy you give it. Like all forces of nature, it is neither good nor bad – but it simply becomes based on the user’s intent. Feed it love and it blossoms and grows. Nourish it with hate and it will deliver hate back to you tenfold. I think this book is perfect for fans of The Underworld Saga – by Chani Lynn Feener. Rating: 3.5 STARS Genre: YA/Fantasy Series/Standalone: The Language of Magic #1 How I got this book: eARC via NetGalley & HarperVoyager Within the boroughs of London, nestled among its streets, hides another city, filled with magic. Magic is the first sin. It must be bound. Ever since Anna can remember, her aunt has warned her of the dangers of magic. She has taught her to fear how it twists and knots and turns into something dark and deadly. It was, after all, magic that killed her parents and left her in her aunt’s care. It’s why she has been protected from the magical world and, in one year’s time, what little magic she has will be bound. She will join her aunt alongside the other Binders who believe magic is a sin not to be used, but denied. Only one more year and she will be free of the curse of magic, her aunt’s teachings and the disappointment of the little she is capable of. Nothing – and no one – could change her mind before then. Could it? TW: Child abuse (physical, mental, emotional), murder, suicide, enslavement (using magic), teacher/student (age 16) relationship, underage drinking, death, estrangement, fat phobia (body shaming)
Looking for a book to fill the void left by Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina? Threadneedle perfectly combines the dark, twisted magic and teen drama that will satisfy fans of Sabrina and Gossip Girl. Anna is sixteen years old, living with her aunt in London and training to become a Binder. Since her father murdered her mother, and then killed himself when she was just a baby, Anna has been raised by her aunt. She's a cruel woman who teaches Anna that magic and love are the greatest sins that must be stamped out at all costs. Through daily punishments and pain, Anna is taught to fear magic and love, suppressing herself until she is nobody. Anna's only ray of light is the infrequent visits from her mother's best friend, Selene, who calls every few years to see Anna and to leave magical gifts in secret. This year, Selene is back for good, it seems, bringing her daughter Effie, and a mysterious boy, Attis to stay, and changing Anna's life completely. Anna is a complex character. She's suffered through years of abuse at the hands of the woman who raised her. She's controlled, manipulated, and ridiculed, and simply going through the motions until the binding ceremony set to lock away her magic. Despite the years of misery, Anna has a quiet resilience, determination, and a strong curiosity that causes her to ask questions and seek truths, even as she fights with what's right and wrong. She's an easy character to root for as she's morally good and after suffering for so long, she deserves to be free. The cast of characters soon builds and makes for a fun, diverse cast that adds drama and tension to the plot, which definitely helps to keep things moving. I had no problems staying gripped from start to finish. In Anna's Aunt, the author has created a disturbing villain, one who is vindictive and cruel whilst believing her actions are just and necessary to protect Anna from all that she fears. I loved the magic system the author has created. The different languages of magic, and how the magical world entwines with the 'real' London, make for a really compelling, fantastical story that holds threads of danger and threat. I also loved that the characters acted their age and were, for much of the time, focused on somewhat typical troubles like bullies and crushes which, when dealt with through magic, deliver interesting consequences. There were so many things I loved about this book; the magic, the characters (and their relationships to each other), the pacing, the library, and the twists and shocks at the end, which were not at all what I expected. The only thing I felt a little disappointed by was the ending, which I just wanted more from but which has now left me waiting, hanging on for book two so I can find out what on earth will happen next! Overall, Threadneedle is a really gripping, darkly magical read filled with interesting, realistic characters, that's perfect for fans of Sabrina and Gossip Girl. Rating: 3.5 STARS Genre: YA/Fantasy Series/Standalone: The Bright & The Pale Duology #1 How I got this book: Bought (FairyLoot March 2021) Seventeen-year-old Valeria is one of the only survivors of the freeze, a dark magical hold Knnot Mountain unleashed over her village. Everyone, including her family, is trapped in an unbreakable sheet of ice. Ever since, she’s been on the run from the Czar, who is determined to imprison any who managed to escape. Valeria finds refuge with the Thieves Guild, doing odd jobs with her best friend Alik, the only piece of home she has left. That is, until he is brutally murdered. A year later, she discovers Alik is alive and being held against his will. To buy his freedom, she must lead a group of cutthroats and thieves on a perilous expedition to the very mountain that claimed her family. Only something sinister slumbers in the heart of Knnot. And it has waited years for release. TW: Death (of a family member), discrimination, false imprisonment/slavery, childhood trauma, work camps
I REALLY did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did! I received a copy of this absolutely gorgeous book in my March 'Frozen Fables' box from FairyLoot. It's pitched as a, sort of, The Bear and the Nightingale meets Shadow and Bone style book and it sounded fantastic, so I was really excited to join in with the FairyLoot read along. Naturally, as is my way, I joined the read along a couple of days late BUT the pace in this book is so fast and the writing so easy to fall into, that I caught up pretty quickly. Valeria is a seventeen-year-old assassin, taken in by the leader of the thieves guild and trained to steal secrets (mostly). She escaped from her home when a terrible plague broke out, killing her entire family. Alone and hunted by the czar's army, she seeks refuge with the assassin's guild where she builds a life for herself, stealing secrets. I started getting Throne of Glass vibes straight away and found Valeria to be a compelling, and resourceful character. We're introduced to Valeria inside the thieve's guild as she's given a new mission from guild leader, Luiza, a woman Valeria sees as her surrogate mother, who took her in as a child when she had no one else to turn to and who is her only confidant since her best-friend and partner Alik was murdered a year ago. Naturally, the job goes wrong and Valeria finds herself cornered by strangers and faced with the unexpected news that Alik is alive, and he wants to see her. Not sure how she feels, or what to expect, Valeria sets out on a journey to find Alik and return to her homeland. She's not ready to confront the memories she has of Alik or her home, and dreads the voice that calls to her in her dreams, pulling her back to the mountain at the centre of it all. The romance in this book is sweet, and I really liked the fact that it didn't overshadow Valeria or her strength. She's very capable and doesn't rely on the lover interest to 'save' her, which was great to read. This book is a fast-paced, race against the clock adventure with tension that builds fantastically, to the point of being really creepy, the closer Valeria gets to the mountain. Honestly, do not read the scenes in the mines at night! (I got chills.) It's a story of friendship, love and inner strength underlined by an ancient battle between gods. The ending was fantastic, and while I almost expected it, it was a great cliffhanger that's left me really excited for the next instalment. I really want to see Valeria come into her own now and have high hopes for the finale. If you love friends-to-lovers romance, assassins, dangerous adventures, rebellions, and ghosts, you're sure to love The Bright & The Pale by Jessica Rubinkowski. Rating: 3.5 STARS Genre: Contemporary/YA Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: ARC from Harper360YA Don’t you just love the smell of old books in the morning? Madeline Moore does. Books & Moore, the musty bookstore her family has owned for generations, is where she feels most herself. Nothing is going to stop her from coming back after college to take over the store from her beloved aunt. Nothing, that is—until a chain bookstore called Prologue opens across the street and threatens to shut them down. Madeline sets out to demolish the competition, but Jasper, the guy who works over at Prologue, seems intent on ruining her life. Not only is he taking her customers, he has the unbelievable audacity to be… extremely cute. But that doesn’t matter. Jasper is the enemy and he will be destroyed. After all—all’s fair in love and (book) wars. TW: Absentee parent (child abandonment), fatfobia (internalized), underage drinking, car accident (no permanent injury)
Okay, so, I saw this advertised as an enemies-to-lovers style YA set in rival bookshops and just knew I had to read it. After pestering Harper360YA (#sorrynotsorry) they graciously sent out an ARC copy for me to read and review. The story centres around Madeline. She's 17 years old, working at her family-owned bookshop, and dreaming of running the store herself when she's older and finished with college. I really love Madeline. She's intelligent, quirky and passionate about her bookshop. It's where she was raised by her aunt since her mom basically abandoned her and her half-brother when they were young. Understandably, Madeline is extremely mad when a rival chain bookshop opens up across the street from her indie store and begins taking customers. Things then go really downhill from Madeline as the mother who abandoned her returns, she discovers the cute guy she's been crushing on for weeks is actually stealing her ideas and using them to run the bookshop across the street and she actually has no idea whether she wants to go to college or what she wants to do. Madeline is immediately compelling and, as a book lover, very relatable. There are a couple of things I really love about Madeline: 1. She's really passionate about the things she loves. 3. She's very sex-positive/open about sex. I would have really preferred it if Madeline wasn't so self-conscious about her size/weight. I guess I'm just a bit tired of the whole 'fat person must hate the way they look' theme in a lot of YA and I think it would have really suited Madeline's confidence in other areas if she was also more confident about her body. However, saying that, she does sort of break through her fears by herself and become more self-confident throughout the book. The writing and the pace of this book were great and had me hooked from the first page. Madeline's antics made me laugh, and I struggled to put the book down, as I hoped everything would work out the way she wanted it to. I also loved the bookshop setting. Reading a book that's completely filled with books, books and more books was really enjoyable. Things got a little more fun when Madeline finds out Jasper's true identity and the prank wars began, the stakes raising until catastrophe strikes. This particular section really frustrated me, as I didn't feel Madeline deserved the blame for what happened. It was NOT her fault and I think it only highlights how awful a lot of the other characters in the book are. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I read a book that I enjoyed, where I detested most of the supporting characters. From Madeline's aunt not telling her about the store's money trouble until she's in a meeting with the rest of the staff to lies, betrayals, sabotaging her efforts, attempts to control her life and forcing her to spend time with the person who abandoned her as a child, Madeline's family do a pretty crappy job of showing they care. They almost always lay the blame at Madeline's feet, don't support her, keep her in the dark, and then attack her anytime she shows any emotion. It made my blood boil, and I was constantly hoping that things would just change for Madeline and she could grow beyond the situation she was in. I've read a couple of reviews saying that Madeline is self-centred and makes poor decisions, but she's 17 years old. She's fresh out of high school, in a difficult family situation, and with the only constant in her life facing closure. What teenager wouldn't be a bit laser-focused on doing all they could to save the place they feel most at home? Jasper is also a tough character to describe because I didn't really like him. I think after the initial war between the two characters the author gives a bit more depth to his character, BUT I don't think it negates his actions. Overall, Last Chance Books starts as a fun, flirty, rivals-to-lovers rom-com that becomes more complicated as Madeline tries to save her bookshop while dealing with her growing feelings for her new nemesis, and leading to a bittersweet-style ending that's perfect for fans of YA romance like What If Its Us. Rating: 3.5 STARS Genre: Adult Fantasy/LGBT+ Series/Standalone: Magic of the Lost #1 How I got this book: Bought (Illumicrate - check out my unboxing!) Touraine is a soldier. Stolen as a child and raised to kill and die for the empire, her only loyalty is to her fellow conscripts. But now, her company has been sent back to her homeland to stop a rebellion, and the ties of blood may be stronger than she thought. Luca needs a turncoat. Someone desperate enough to tiptoe the bayonet's edge between treason and orders. Someone who can sway the rebels toward peace, while Luca focuses on what really matters: getting her uncle off her throne. Through assassinations and massacres, in bedrooms and war rooms, Touraine and Luca will haggle over the price of a nation. But some things aren't for sale TW: rape, racism, slavery, torture, violence, gore
Rep: physical disability, queer I've been ruminating on my review of The Unbroken for a couple of days. My head was a little all over the place when I finished reading it and I wasn't exactly sure how I felt about the book. The Unbroken is unlike any book I've ever read. It's a very dark, adult fantasy, and while it is fiction and contains magic, it feels very real as the author deals with very heavy, unpleasant topics. The book centres around two characters, giving us a dual POV from Touraine, a conscript taken from her home as a child and raised as a soldier by the empire that took her, and Luca, the would-be queen. We meet Touraine as a lieutenant of the conscripts (the Sands). She's loyal to the empire that raised her, despite the hardships she and her soldiers face at every turn, but now she's met with new, unexpected challenges as she returns to the country she was taken from as a child to help quell the rebel resistance. Unlike her fellow soldiers, Touraine has no interest in defaulting or making connections in her homeland, knowing only too well the consequences for desertion and fully believing that if she works hard and is loyal, the empire will reward her. But things quickly go awry as Touraine prevents an assassination attempt against Princess Luca and finds herself surrounded by enemies and suspicion. Luca is a princess trying desperately to claim the throne from her uncle, who doesn't see her as a capable ruler and has sent her to stop the rebellion as a test of her abilities. Struggling to make allies and work around her uncle's military, Luca turns to books and strategic games to forge peace and unlock the country's secrets to win back her throne. “What is war if not a complicated web of mathematics and charm? Luca thought.” One thing I love most about this book is the gender roles. When being introduced to a person in a position of power, you almost always come to expect a man, because that's the general rule in life and in fantasy. When you hear General, Lieutenant, Sir, you typically expect the person to be male, but that is completely not the case in this book and it was very refreshing. I absolutely love that this book centres around violent women in positions of power. Not only that, but the characters are all morally grey, there is no good and evil here, there is complexity and drive that makes each character harder to like while also giving deeper reasoning and motive behind their actions. On the surface, Touraine and Luca couldn't be more opposite, Touraine is a hardened soldier whose every other word is a curse. Luca is a princess, a would-be queen, who spends her time pouring over books and research. But when you look deeper, both Touraine and Luca deal in death, and they're both doing what they feel is necessary to protect that which they care about. For Touraine, that's the Sands, her family, and for Luca, it's her throne and her empire. The characters are so complex, and that's such a fantastic element in this book. Honestly, it's so difficult to decide whether I like or support certain characters because at first, they seem to go in one direction and then they make choices that, while it makes sense to the character, just made me want to scream at them. The supporting characters are also fantastic. They add a lot to the story and to the overall tension and politics. Personally, Touraine, the conscripts, and the rebels are my favourites, while I found it much harder to like Luca and the other Balladairan's. "We just die, and when we die, we're not even worth the wood to burn us.” This book is sapphic, the queerness is a quintessential part of the book, and I love that it's just present and there with no explanation needed. However, saying that, I had a problem with the romance element in that it felt really rushed. For me, there wasn't quite enough chemistry between the two characters to justify their actions, so I just wish there was more of that build-up. The world-building was fantastic, I loved the description of the land where the story takes place; it felt extremely real, and there is a magical element to this story, which is really quite dark, I just would have liked to see a bit more of this. It came through more towards the end of the story though, so I'm guessing that will feature more heavily in book two. My biggest issue was the pacing, which felt a little all over the place. It starts slowly, then there's some action which speeds things up, and then things slow down again as the characters deal with politics and planning, before the action comes back and speeds things up, and repeat. Some sections just felt a little too rushed, when it would have been nice to have more development, and then some scenes/chapters dragged and felt as though not a lot happened. The pacing wasn't bad, it was just really mixed. Overall, I think The Unbroken is a really interesting first novel in an adult fantasy series. It's laid a lot of groundwork in terms of the politics and the bloodshed that we can expect from the rest of the series. I love the gender-role reversing and the queerness of the characters, but just wish the romance had more time to develop and that the pacing was a little quicker. I think fans of dark fantasy and violent, morally grey female characters will love The Unbroken by C.L. Clark. "Be the rain." Rating: 3.5 Stars Genre: Contemporary/LGBT/YA Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: Bought Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda goes to Italy in Arvin Ahmadi's newest incisive look at identity and what it means to find yourself by running away. Eighteen-year-old Amir Azadi always knew coming out to his Muslim family would be messy--he just didn't think it would end in an airport interrogation room. But when faced with a failed relationship, bullies, and blackmail, running away to Rome is his only option. Right? Soon, late nights with new friends and dates in the Sistine Chapel start to feel like second nature... until his old life comes knocking on his door. Now, Amir has to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth to a US Customs officer, or risk losing his hard-won freedom. TW: Racism (racial profiling), bullying, homophobic behaviour and language, blackmail
This book has been on my TBR for a while now, and I was really excited to read it. The writing and 'voice' of Amir instantly drew me into the book and his character. He's an instantly likeable narrator, and Ahmadi's writing style is easy to fall into. That being said, this book didn't really read like a Young Adult novel, or at least not a modern YA. It felt a little more classic and 'grown up' than the typical YA, more so than Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda. Neither was better or worse than the other. This just felt a little more adult and also hugely autobiographical, which after reading the author's acknowledgements makes sense. I really liked Amir, his voice and his story are immediately gripping, and it's so easy to understand why, when caught between blackmailing bullies at school and a family he's certain won't accept him, he feels the only solution is to run away. When Amir finds himself suddenly in Rome, the overwhelm and the feeling of being lost is extremely clear, but I absolutely loved the 'found family' element of the story as Amir makes new, albeit much older, friends and is welcomed into a new circle of people where he's able to be himself for the first time in his life. “The thing about bigots is they always go out of their way to acknowledge my fabulous existence, when I hardly notice theirs.” A fantastic thing about Amir is that he's not at all perfect. His decisions are in the heat of the moment, rash and at times disastrous. He's a messy character, but this only serves to make him more realistic as he struggles to find his place in the world. However, it comes with a slight downside in that the plot and character development didn't always feel as though they were moving as much as they could have. Amir's story takes us across Rome and feels at times like part YA coming-out story and part Italian travel guide as we're taken along to various landmarks and treated to a full tour of Rome, both the tourist attractions and the LGBT+ scene. Amir's new crowd is flamboyant, with complex characters who bring life and colour to Amir's story and add new depth through their own challenges and relationships. For me, what made the book really powerful were the interrogation room scenes, which run throughout the novel as Amir and his family recount the events that lead to them being there. Amir's father's scenes were particularly brutal and heartbreaking as he had to deal with being detained and separated from his family while trying to come to terms with the love for his son battling the ideals he'd been taught. The representation of Iranian culture and characters felt authentic. However, the portrayal of the Italian characters felt a little on-the-nose and cliche. Most of the characters Amir meets in Italy are American and the only Italian characters he meets are stereotypical, somewhat problematic (an unhappy, unfaithful, semi-open relationship) or almost an afterthought, added only to benefit a particular scene or moment. I had some questions at the end of the novel, particularly the references to the previous time that Amir ran away, which wasn't really elaborated on, and so I would have liked a bit more information there. I did like the ending, but it was much more of a mellow, uplifted feeling than the overjoyed, positivity I'd almost expected. Overall, I think young and older readers would enjoy this poignant coming-out story as Amir is a character who feels accessible to all ages and walks of life as he reminds us that the most important thing in life is to own your own truth. "The ship is turning around. It will be a stormy ride, but we are going to make it through this journey together. All of us." Rating: 3.5 Stars Genre: LGBT+/Fantasy Series/Standalone: TBC How I got this book: Bought - Fairyloot Sinister sorcery. Gallows humor. A queer romance so glorious it could be right out of fae legend itself. Master of One is a fantasy unlike any other. Rags is a thief—an excellent one. He's stolen into noble's coffers, picked soldier's pockets, and even liberated a ring or two off the fingers of passersby. Until he's caught by the Queensguard and forced to find an ancient fae relic for a sadistic royal sorcerer. But Rags could never have guessed this "relic" would actually be a fae himself—a distractingly handsome, annoyingly perfect, ancient fae prince called Shining Talon. Good thing Rags can think on his toes, because things just get stranger from there... With the heist and intrigue of Six of Crows and the dark fairy tale feel of The Cruel Prince, this young adult fantasy debut will have readers rooting for a pair of reluctant heroes as they take on a world-ending fae prophecy, a malicious royal plot, and, most dangerously of all, their feelings for each other. I have so many mixed feelings about this book, and I've been torn over how to rate it. So, I'm going to start at the beginning.
I've been excited to read this book ever since I first heard of it, and so I jumped at FairyLoot's December box once I knew it was inside. I imagined The Cruel Prince meets Six of Crows, which just sounded fantastic. I started reading with high expectations. I loved the idea of a heist-style plot and the unexpected LGBT romance, and that a queer couple wrote it was really exciting. In the beginning, I was not at all disappointed. The prologue was unexpectedly brutal, but it was incredibly gripping and had me hooked immediately. Then, in chapter one, we meet Rags. He's a cocky, sarcastic thief from the slums who's found himself on the end of a job gone wrong, bruised and battered in the royal dungeon, trying to plot his escape. I love Rags. He's the perfect incarnation of the loveable rogue. A sweet-heart with a rough, sardonic exterior and I instantly wanted the best for him. "Daring a ravens, rich as magpies." As Rags sets off on his journey, I flew through the pages. The pace was brilliant, the deception and trickery gripping, and that puzzles and challenges that Rags has to face are really interesting. I was convinced that this book was going to be a 5* read for me. The next character we meet is Tal, affectionately referred to by Rags as Shiny and, even though something between them felt a little 'off' for a while, I grew to enjoy their connection and the scenes they shared. However, shortly after this point, the narrative completely changed and split into multiple POV's. After 20 chapters of focusing solely on Rag's perspective, it felt really jarring to suddenly have POV chapters from completely new characters. The pacing also took a bit of a nosedive from here and I sped through to find Rag's chapters, which were easily the ones I enjoyed the most. A couple of the characters, to me, felt a little stiff and lacking depth and it took a while for me to settle back into the story. Saying that though, as I neared the end of the story, the pace, the danger and the intrigue picked up again to where, upon finishing the book, I'm back to feeling how I did at the beginning and really wanting to read the next book (although it hasn't been confirmed yet) to find out what happens next and how it all plays out. (Read: I really want Rags to get the happily ever after he deserves.) Can you see what I meant now about not knowing how to rate this one? So, I've decided to go for 3.5 stars because I loved Rags and enjoyed the plot itself but just felt that the pace took a nosedive once the additional POV's were introduced. What do you think? Agree or disagree? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! Rating: 3.5 Stars Genre: Contemporary YA Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: ARC via NetGalley and UCLan Publishing When his dad moves out, Jamie tries to fill his shoes. He needs to become head of the household – right? With his mum dealing with the aftermath of toxic masculinity at its finest, and his little sister Bex struggling to understand what’s going on, Jamie has to navigate the choppy waters of what he thinks it means to be a man. Having learned that the best way to deal with feelings is to push them down as far as they’ll go, he finds help from an unlikely source. Drinking makes him feel invincible – Super Jim can take on anything – and anyone… But how long will it be before this particular well of wisdom runs dry? And what will it take for Jamie to realise that help was at hand all along? From the author of the Geekhood series, the first of which was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Award, comes Smashed by Andy Robb. Funny, touching, with a narrator readers’ will instantly love, Smashed is a rollercoaster exploration of young masculinity. The story would appeal to fans of Me Mam, Me Dad, Me and Noah Can’t Even. TW: domestic violence, emotional abuse, manipulation, blackmail, kidnapping, depression, teen alcoholism, sexism.
The main reason I was drawn to this book was that it was recommended to fans of Noah Can't Even, which I adored. It becomes very clear, very quickly, that this book centres around domestic violence. Jamie is struggling to cope after The Night Everything Went Weird when his mum got The Rainbow Eye and his dad started sleeping downstairs. He now finds himself as 'man' of the house, responsibilities stacking up as he has to mediate his mum and dad's relationship, take care of his younger sister and bear the 'Weight of Manhood'. I really liked Jamie at first, he's a compelling character, with an inner voice that draws you in and makes you hope everything will work out for the best. Just thinking of Bex saying those words is enough for the recently installed radiator in my throat to get hot and my eyes to blur with the sting of salty tears. But, there came a point where his inner voice stopped being an almost 16-year-old boy and instead took the tone of a grown man trying far too hard to be funny and falling completely short (to put it simply, the voice of the author overtook Jamie's voice, and it wasn't enjoyable). When he describes his English teacher's breasts as 'pendulous milk tanks' I almost threw up, threw the book, and stopped reading. The writing reeks of sexism, even though the supposed point is to make a stand against toxic masculinity. So, I was at the point where I felt convinced I wouldn’t finish this book. The choice of language, the toxic masculinity and the blatant sexism annoyed and disgusted me, but something was compelling about Jamie and his plight that almost forced me to keep reading. I blink twice, before smearing on the smile I rehearsed in the mirror. "Oh, you know me, Becky" I nod. "I'm fine." Jamie finds that the 'Weight of Manhood' becomes harder and harder to carry, but he's got no choice. His mum needs him, his little sister needs him, and he doesn't know how he feels about his dad. Add to this a girlfriend he feels is smothering him, Jamie needs an escape, and his mum's drinks cabinet is right there...ready for the taking. There were a few things in this book that made me cringe. If it hadn't been for the sexist language (I mean, for god's sake, he literally gives a girl the nickname 'nipples' at one point), the almost forgiveness for unforgivable acts and some really stupid decisions that would NEVER EVER HAPPEN. At no point would you EVER freely allow your young child to go off with a man that a.) hit you, b.) stole from you, c.) basically kidnapped your child, d.) has previously used said child to manipulate/blackmail you and the child in question. You'd literally call the police and keep the man as far away from your children as possible. The secondary characters do add a lot to the story. Jamie's best friend is a great character, and I'd actually love for him to have his own story. His girlfriend is sweet and his little sister is both adorable and heart-breaking as she struggles to understand what's happening at home. One thing I can say for Andy Robb is that he can write a villain with scary accuracy. I held my breath through the entirety of Chapter 30 and wanted nothing more than to see Jamie's dad behind bars. The pacing also is fantastic. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, watching with wide eyes as Jamie's life crashes and burns around him. Overall, Smashed is a heart-breaking journey of a young boy who spirals out of control as he attempts to deal with the aftermath of domestic violence and to come to terms with what it truly means to be a man. I can't deny that it was compelling, but I think that some language choices and messages left a lot to be desired. Rating: 3.5 Stars Genre: Contemporary Romance Standalone/Series: Devil's Rock #4 How I got this book: Bought From the wrong side of the tracks and with most of her family in jail or dead, Piper Walsh is used to everyone in town thinking the worst about her. It doesn’t seem to matter that she’s worked hard to build a good life for herself. So she isn’t surprised that when she comes into contact with Sweet Hill’s wildly irresistible, arrogant sheriff, Hale Walters, they’re instant adversaries. Piper has nothing in common with the town golden-boy-turned-lawman—and she refuses to be a notch on his bedpost. Despite rumors, Hale avoids fooling around with the women of Sweet Hill, many of whom are hoping to get him to the altar. But staying out of Piper’s path is proving near impossible. The infuriating troublemaker clearly has no respect for his badge. As she continues to push his buttons, it becomes clear to Hale that he must either arrest Piper—or claim her as his own. TW: Rape, Drugging, Abuse, Predators.
So, it seems that I subconsciously decided to binge read this entire series. I'm going to blame that decision on the crappy, cold British weather we're having right now and my longing for a bit of heat. I wasn't disappointed. The fourth book in the Devil's Rock series focuses on Hale (Sweet Hill's Sheriff and all around golden boy) and Piper (the girl from the wrong side of the tracks with a dark secret) - tale as old as time, right? Truthfully, I didn't expect too much from this book but it pleasantly surprised me. Aside from the dialogue which felt a little stiff and unrealistic in places, the chemistry between Hale and Piper was great, especially as Hale is revealed to be a little more of a 'bad boy' than he first appears. Piper is funny, strong and confident and was the key to how invested I was in the outcome of this story. This book is a romance, can be read as a stand-alone (although I recommend that you do check out the rest of the series) and features a sweet HEA. As with the other books in this series the author does deal with some pretty dark themes and there are references to rape, abuse, murder and predatory behaviour. This is meant to be a dark and gritty romance series so bear that in mind if you do decide to give it a try. I loved the tension that was built between the two characters in this book and I devoured the whole thing in a couple of hours. If you're looking for a book to keep you warm on these cold autumn nights, the sizzling chemistry between Hale and Piper will certainly do the trick. Rating: 3.5 STARS Genre: Paranormal/LGBT/Romance Series/Standalone: Soulbound #1 How I got this book: Bought When the gods come calling, you don’t get to say no. Patrick Collins is three years into a career as a special agent for the Supernatural Operations Agency when the gods come calling to collect a soul debt he owes them. An immortal has gone missing in New York City and bodies are showing up in the wake of demon-led ritual killings that Patrick recognizes all too easily from his nightmares. Unable to walk away, Patrick finds himself once again facing off against mercenary magic users belonging to the Dominion Sect. Standing his ground alone has never been a winning option in Patrick’s experience, but it’s been years since he’s had a partner he could trust. Looking for allies in all the wrong places, Patrick discovers the Dominion Sect’s next target is the same werewolf the Fates themselves have thrown into his path. Patrick has been inexplicably attracted to the man from their first meeting, but desire has no place in war. That doesn’t stop Patrick from wanting what he shouldn’t have. Jonothon de Vere is gorgeous, dangerous, and nothing but trouble—to the case, to the fight against every hell, and ultimately, to Patrick’s heart and soul. In the end, all debts must be paid, and Patrick can only do what he does best—cheat death. Okay so lately, I'm starting to wonder if the problem is less with what I'm reading and more with me because I'm starting these books and enjoying them and then somewhere along the line, something stops connecting.
I mean, the premise of this book sounds amazing - it's why I chose to read it and I loved the main character. Patrick is gritty, his past is dark and painful and yet he's struggled to keep going, against really sh***y odds. I loved this book for quite a while, the characters are varied, unique and fun. There are vampires, werewolves, mages, witches, demons, Greek gods and so much danger and action that I couldn't get enough. Hell, here was my tweet about the book when I was around 30-50% of the way through it: Really enjoying my current read, I'd love to see a movie of this book, lots of action, demons, gods and other fun stuff! Jono was a slightly less interesting character with an interesting 'secret' but even though I did feel that their relationship was a little too forced and somewhat rushed, I enjoyed the development. So, what went wrong? The truth is, I don't really know and I know from the Goodreads reviews that I'm in the minority here with my lower than 4-star review. I guess at one point I started to notice the descriptive writing a little too much and it sort of rubbed me up the wrong way at how certain (completely insignificant things) were overly described. As mentioned above, I also felt that the relationship was a little forced but then that's sort of part of the plot so maybe it was intentional, either way, it just didn't work that well for me personally (I guess I'm more of a slow burn kinda gal than insta lust). I loved the action but felt that it was dampened a little in parts by too much description. Overall, I really liked the characters, enjoyed the action and all of the paranormal elements whilst the pace and relationship let it down for me. I probably won't continue with this particular series but never say never. What do you think? Have you read A Ferry of Bones & Gold, do you agree or disagree with my review? I'd love to know your opinion in the comments below! |
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About Kay (She/Her)
Book addict, film mad, music lover, business owner, writer and mum (not necessarily in that order), living in the UK. About Sophie (She/Her)
Sophie loves books (obviously). She has a passion for photography and spotting wildlife, and is interested in anything made with passion and creativity. THIS BLOG IS SPOILER FREE!
Rating system: 5 Stars - AMAZING!! 4.5 Stars - Almost perfect! 4 Stars - I really loved it 3.5 Stars - I liked it alot 3 Stars - I liked it (I don't typically review books that I rate below 3 stars)
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