A Court of Wings an Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

This is the third book in the ACOTAF series. My reviews of books 1 and 2 will be linked down below. Sorry, it’s taken so long, but I was busy with school in January, so this had to wait until February.  Anyway, happy belated new year and I hope that you had a lovely Christmas.

When I read this book, I thought that it was the last one in a trilogy, but I was wrong, the 4th book is coming out on the 1st of may, this year. So at the beginning of this book, Feyre is staying with Tamlin and keeping up a false pretence of still being in love with him. When to Tamlin’s dismay, still hates him and is using him for information. I thought it was a bit odd how Lucien could tell that she was lying but Tamlin couldn’t. However, I didn’t think that the beginning section was written very well anyway. Feyre (the main character) did a lot more in this book than she usually does, I still don’t particularly like her, but I do like that she is a strong and empowering female character. And I also liked her determined attitude and her impressive leadership as High Lady. Anyway, when Feyre returns to the Night Court to see Rhysand and her sisters, she has a meeting with the inner circle where they decide they need to fix the holes in the wall between the human lands and Prythian. And training starts for Nesta to help fix the wall.

SPOILERS IN THIS SECTION!!! I DID WARN YOU!

Even more, characters are introduced in this book. Jurian who plays a key role in the story, the Hybern twins (not so important), and the high lords from all 7 courts. This is probably the best book out of the 3 that are out at the moment because a lot more interesting things happened like Elain being a seer, she basically became Professor Trelawney (from Harry Potter) but not as cool. And Bryaxis, the bone carver and the weaver join Feyre and Rhysand to fight Hybern. And they all fight together and it’s probably the coolest part of the book!I thought the war scenes in this book were amazing and the link between the colours of the shields and the book covers was clever. Also, can we just talk about the ending? OMG, Rhysand dies. I was distraught and confused. Though saying that, it was kind of pointless to include his death because almost immediately the high lords and Feyre brought him back to life, so I don’t see where Sarah J. Maas was going with this one.

the spoilers are over…

My favourite characters were probably, the inner circle, not including Feyre (Cassian, Azriel, Mor and Rhysand), Miryam and Drakon, and Helion – Helion was definitely my favourite!!! As enjoyable as this book was, it wasn’t an amazing piece of literature so I can’t really say that it was an amazing novel. However, I did enjoy it so it gets a 7 out of 10. This book is for both boys and girls and if you like fantasy and romance books then you’ll probably like this. Thank you for reading and remember to keep scrolling to see the blurb, age rating, social media and more…

 

Blurb: Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin’s manoeuvrings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit – and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.

As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords – and hunt for allies in unexpected places. 

Age: 14+

Links to reviews of Books 1 and 2 are here:

Book 1 – ACOTAR http://larawhitfield.co.uk/?p=698

Book 2- ACOMAF http://larawhitfield.co.uk/?p=702

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New review coming next week (I’ll try not to forget). Thanks for reading.

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Apache by Tanya Landman

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!

This book is about an Apache young woman who goes astray from the traditions of her tribe and decides to become an Apache warrior to avenge her mother, father and brother Tazhi. However, following the path of a warrior isn’t easy and the hardships along the way are evident in the book. Tanya Landman herself said that “I’ve made no attempt to produce an accurate historical novel.” but having said that the book does seem like it’s quite accurate. There are a lot of characters in the book but the main ones are Siki and Golahka. All the characters in the book are different but there are so many I can’t name them all. This book is not happy, if you are the type of person who cries in books then there will be tears from you over this. I will say that it’s quite a confusing read and sometimes I found that occasionally it was difficult to follow what was going on so this isn’t an easy or quick read, but definitely a good one.

Anyway, there are numerous battle scenes in the book between the Mexicans and the Apache. Where SPOILER: numerous people are killed. But if you’ve read any Sarah J Maas books, I’m sure you can cope. Despite this being a Teen/YA novel, it’s quite a serious book and Tanya Landman ventures towards the older half of the teenage years with this novel. However, I do think that anyone could and should read this and I found it very empowering especially for women and teaches young girls to follow their dreams no matter what. This book would be a great last-minute Christmas present for your friends or family and definitely worth the read. I give this book 9 out of 10 stars and hope you enjoyed my review.

Blurb: Siki is an orphan of the Black Mountain Apache. Her mother was killed by Mexicans three years ago and her father lost in an ambush the winter before that. When Siki witnesses the brutal murder of her little brother Tazhi, she vows to become an Apache warrior and avenge his death.

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Thanks for reading.

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A court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Hello, I’m so sorry it’s been so long. I’ve been on holiday and had school to catch up on so I lost track of time. Anyway, here is your overdue book review.

Link to my review of the first book is here http://larawhitfield.co.uk/?p=698

Anyway, this is the second book in the Sarah J Maas ACOWAR series. I really enjoyed this series overall (review of book 3 will coming soon) however I definitely preferred this book over the first as it got interesting a lot quicker than the first one did. In this book, you meet a lot of new characters, Mor, Cassian, Azriel, Ianthe (can’t remember if you meet her in the first book) and you learn a lot more about Rhysand.

SPOILER ALERT – spoilers from book 1, beware!

At the end of book 1, Feyre succeeds in freeing Tamlin from Amarantha but in doing so she is killed. However, she is resurrected by the High Lords and she lives. Which brings us to the beginning of book 2 where she is back in the Spring Court with Tamlin but not all is well. Despite Feyre now being a high fae (which is really cool) she isn’t happy and suffers from Nightmares and on top of that, her bargain with Rhysand. This book is even more exciting and thrilling than the first and Rhysand’s inner circle of friends are probably the coolest people you’ll ever meet in a book and in real life. This book was hard to put down and I finished it within a matter of days. I’m sorry the review is so short, it’s because I read the book in may and it’s now November so it won’t be in as much detail as my usual reviews. I give this book 8.5 out of 10 stars and thank you for reading, a review of the 3rd book is on its way. Make sure to scroll down for the blurb, summary link, age range and my social media.

If you can’t be bothered to read the book, I found a great summary of it for you, just click on this link http://www.bookseriesrecaps.com/what-happened-in-a-court-of-mist-and-fury/

Blurb: Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court – but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people. Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms – and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future – and the future of a world cleaved in two.

NOT FOR YOUNGER READERS 14 YEARS AND OLDER.

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A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Blurb: Feyre’s survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price …

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jeweled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre’s presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever

Age: 14+

Price: £5.19 (on Amazon)

The ‘A court’ series has been huge ever since it came out and all my friends were reading it, so I gave it a go, and I really enjoyed it. My favourite characters were Lucien, Rhysand and Amarantha. I didn’t really like Feyre, I know, I’m sorry, but no matter how hard I try, I just don’t like the main character. I thought she was too sullen and wasn’t funny like some of the other characters and was just a bit dull in general. However, I do realise that the book would’ve been boring without her and nothing would have happened, but still, I didn’t like her. Anyway, I really liked the book overall and thought the story line was interesting and clever. Especially the middle/end of the book when you meet Amarantha and everything starts unraveling. The only problem I had with this book is that it was very cliché and you could kind of see what was coming. Though that wasn’t the case for the part of the book with Amarantha and Rhysand. All in all, there isn’t a lot to say about the book other than the fact that I enjoyed it, which does say a bit about the content and that there wasn’t a lot of it. But if you are looking for a good fantasy romance book then I would highly recommend this. This book is aimed at girls mostly but I think that any book is for any gender and I give it a 9 out of 10 stars. Here’s a link to Sarah J. Maas’s website if you’re interested http://sarahjmaas.com/ Thanks for reading…

P.S. Sorry it took so long.

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Blog redesign…

Clearly this isn’t a book review, but I just wanted to tell you about the changes that I have made to my blog recently. As you may realise, my blog is now blue and looks very different since the last time you looked. I changed it because I was bored with my old theme and wanted something newer and nicer looking. For those of you who are interested, the theme I changed to is called ‘Veggie Lite’ and is free to download on WordPress themes (I haven’t got the pro version). By the way, this picture will now be my profile picture for all my social media to do with my blog.

What do you think of the new theme, let me know in the comments, you can also tweet me @Njtbbtc, or Instagram message @NJTBBTC or even email me laranjtbbtc@gmail.com (check out my contact me page). There will be a book review tomorrow so keep your eyes open. And don’t forget to subscribe with your email, it’s free.

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Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Blurb: This is a world divided by blood – red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart.

Age: 13+

Price: £2.00 (on amazon)

My friend made me read it and I am glad she did. This book is about a girl from a poor family who becomes a servant in the Silver Palace. Suddenly she finds out that she has an amazing power which I thought was a bit out of the blue, but then again, there wouldn’t really be a story without her possessing her power. And then she works with the Red Guard to bring down the Silvers. In a way, this book is like the last Hunger Games book, ‘Mockingjay’ with a rebel force fighting against a dominating race/capital, so if you liked the Hunger Games then I think you will like this. However it is different in the way that there are a lot more plot twists and not so many people die.

My favourite characters were definitely Maven, Kilorn, Cal, Elara and Mare. Elara was so evil and very clever, she can read minds which makes her even cooler than she already is. The other 4 are the standard main characters in most books, the main character, Mare, her best friend Kilorn and then the two love interests/friends, Cal and Maven. Even though Victoria Aveyard didn’t have the most original characters, I still really liked all of them and couldn’t imagine the book without them. I give this book a 9 out of 10 stars and recommend it to both genders. If you have read the Hunger Games and enjoyed them I would definitely consider reading this and if you didn’t like them, give them a go anyway. Sorry I haven’t posted in so long, but I have a new policy now and will be posting at least 3 times a month so you won’t be left with no review for months. Anyway, happy summer and comment what book you are currently reading.

LaraLeave a comment

Spy for The Queen of Scotts by Theresa Breslin

Blurb: As lady-in-waiting to Mary, Queen of Scots, the beautiful Ginette – known as Jenny – is the young queen’s closest childhood friend. Growing up in the elegant but ruthless French court, surrounded by enemies and traitors – not least the jealous, manipulative Catherine de Medici, and Mary’s own scheming half-brother, James – Jenny has always been fiercely loyal to her mistress. But when she overhears a mysterious whispered plot, closely followed by several unexplained deaths at court, she puts her own life in danger and turns spy for Mary.

Jenny quickly realises not a soul at court can be trusted, and when she and Mary return to their Scottish homeland for Mary to claim her throne, they face even greater peril. Desperate to protect her friend from those who would slit her throat to steal her crown, while battling her feelings for the charismatic nobleman Duncan Alexander, Jenny becomes embroiled in a dangerous web of secrets, betrayals and lies.

Age: 12+

Price: £4.95

I’d heard that this book was really good, so when I saw it in the library, I picked it up and gave it a read, and it was definitely worth it.

This book is all about Mary Queen of Scots life who ruled Scotland from 1542 to 1567 and her made up childhood friend Lady Ginette. This book cleverly mixes history and fiction to create an amazing book about Mary’s tragic life story. This is very much a spy book and has plenty of deceit and lies in it, so if that’s the type of thing that you enjoy then I highly recommend this to you. The only thing I would say is that the author could have put in more details about Mary’s real life rather than making some of it up. And there some parts of the book where nothing was happening and that could have been made much more interesting. However, I really enjoyed this book on the whole and give it an 8 out of 10. Sorry there isn’t much to say about this one as saying anything else would give away the book and I don’t want to ruin it for you. This book is suitable for both genders and hope that those of you in the UK are having a great May half-term! P.S. What books are you reading currently?

 

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11,984 by Scott T. Evans

Blurb: Currently writing this science fiction comedy about a utopia where everyone is rich and famous and the world is free of war, crime, poverty, and disease. Everything is perfect, until strange colours start appearing in the sky . . . 

Price: Not sure, sorry

Age: 12+

Thank you very much Scott, for sending me this book!

This book is very much in the sci-fi, fantasy genre, so if you like that kind of thing then I suggest that you give this book a go.  I enjoyed this book because of the crazy futuristic world that they lived in, it was really cool. I thought it was really clever on behalf of the author (Scott) to describe their surroundings so well that I could see the amazing place they lived, that was definitely my favourite part of the book. I also liked all the characters, especially Star and Troll and Litterbot, Litterbot was really funny and probably the best character in the whole book. The only criticism I have for this book is the fact that I had no idea what was going on in the beginning and I still didn’t understand for a while afterwards until you had met all the characters. But that may just be me. I am not a huge fan of Sci-fi but I did like this book as it was very funny and made me laugh. If you are a Sci-fi enthusiast then I would recommend this to you as you would probably like it. The book is aimed at girls and boys and if you love sci-fi, you should read this. I give this 7 out of 10 stars and hope you enjoy…

LaraLeave a comment

Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

Blurb: In July 1942, thirteen-year-old Anne Frank and her family, fleeing the occupation, went into hiding in an Amsterdam warehouse. Over the next two years Anne vividly describes in her diary the frustrations of living in such close quarters, and her thoughts, feelings and longings as she grows up.

Age: 11+

Price: £5.99

I am very sorry for the long wait for the review, but it is here now…

I asked for this book for Christmas as I was really interested to read the diary of a girl who lived through the Holocaust. In case you didn’t know, the Holocaust was something that happened during WWII, where the Nazis were trying to get rid of the Jewish race through genocide (trying to kill them). This meant that Anne’s family had to go into hiding and so this is the diary of a girl during this horrible period in history. You can probably guess that things didn’t work out as the Franks were betrayed towards the end of the war. We are privileged to have documentation of what happened in that time.

This book was really interesting at the beginning but gradually got less and less interesting, as she started to only talk about Peter and how much she hated Mrs Van Dan. She was in a horrible situation stuck with people she didn’t really get on with, and the only thing she could do was write her feelings in her diary. But to me this started to become a bit tedious. This was not written to be published, as it was a diary that was found after the war and published by Anne Frank’s father. Sadly, they cut quite a lot of bits out as she was being to rude towards the families and it “couldn’t be published”. I think that these should have been kept in as it would have made it more truthful and you knew how she was truly feeling. Of course, I knew that it wasn’t going to be the most exciting book I have ever read because she was isolated in a hideout and really had nothing to write about, because she had no access to the outside world. It was interesting to find out how different and similar her life is to mine, some of it was scarily relatable and some of it was awful and I am very lucky to have never been put in that situation. Overall, I found it interesting yet terribly sad and it would sometimes fail to hold my attention, but saying that, I am proud to say I have read such a classic. I give this book a 6 out of 10 stars and I hope that you enjoyed my very late review.

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Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga #4) by Stephenie Meyer

Blurb: Now that Bella has made her decision, a startling chain of unprecedented events is about to unfold with potentially devastating and unfathomable consequences. Just when the frayed strands of Bella’s life – first discovered in Twilight, then scattered and torn in New Moon and Eclipse – seem ready to heal and knit together, could they be destroyed… forever?

Age: 14+

Price: £6.99

I have finally read the Twilight saga. If you didn’t know, this is the last book in the series of 4. I have reviewed all of them as I read them, so if you are interested, the links are here.

 

Book 1: http://larawhitfield.co.uk/?p=423

Book 2: http://larawhitfield.co.uk/?p=492

Book 3: http://larawhitfield.co.uk/?p=505

Anyway, I really enjoyed this book, much more than all of the others. The last books never tend to be the best, but this series was different. There was a lot more going on than the other 3. There were so many more characters, about 20 new vampires were introduced to you and several other ‘normal’ characters. The only problem I had with the characters was Jacob. Don’t get me wrong, I love Jacob, he is one of the best characters but in this last book. Stephenie Meyer kind of ruined him for me. He was much less cheeky and funny and was suddenly very mature. Where as I liked it when he was immature because he contrasted with the others and made the book more interesting. Besides that, I really liked it, Jasper became much more interesting and Bella actually did something for once. I also liked the plot twists and the secrets in this book which made it more appealing to the reader. Renesmee is really cool, but you will have to read the book to find out who that is, because I’m not going to tell you. If you are considering reading the Twilight series, I would say that you should, partly because the last book was good. But don’t just skip straight to the last one without reading the others. Because that’s cheating. I still wouldn’t give this a 10 but I will give it a 9. This book is aimed at girls, but I think that boys should read it too. Enjoy!

 

LaraLeave a comment

One by Sarah Crossan

Blurb: Grace and Tippi are twins – conjoined twins.

And their lives are about to change.

No longer able to afford homeschooling, they must venture into the world – a world of stares, sneers and cruelty. Will they find more than that at school? Can they find real friends? And what about love?

But what neither Grace or Tippi realises is that a heart-wrenching decision lies ahead. A decision that could tear them apart. One that will change their lives even more than they ever imagined.

Age: 13+

Last year I went to the Hay Festival, click here to read about my experience http://larawhitfield.co.uk/?p=394. Anyway, I went to see the winner of the YA shortlist award and this book one. So here is my long promised review of the winner.

I really loved this book! It was interesting as Sarah Crossan has written the whole book in verse. Please don’t think that it is a book with a load of silly rhymes in it, because it isn’t. Even though it is written in verse, it doesn’t actually rhyme. It’s just like reading a normal book but there is more flow to it. This book is about conjoined twins hence the name of the book. My favourite characters were obviously Grace, Tippi and Dragon. All the characters had very different and sometimes clashing personalities which made the book really interesting. I read this book within a couple of days because I couldn’t put it down. This was a really sad book. So if you don’t like that kind of thing then this probably isn’t for you. I nearly cried at the end, read it to find out why. I would recommend this to girls and give it 10 out of 10 stars. Enjoy!

P.S. There will be a new page on my blog shortly called ‘Book of the Year’ where I will be announcing my favourite book from each year. It will be up really soon so keep your eyes peeled. I will say when it is up on my twitter – Njtbbtc – and Instagram – NJTBBTC.

LaraLeave a comment

…And A Happy New Year? By Holly Bourne

Blurb: Spinster Club girls Evie, Amber and Lottie are reunited for the mother of all New Year’s Eve parties. Having spent months apart since finishing college, they’ve got plenty to catch up on: how is Evie juggling a relationship with her OCD? Does Amber plan to spend more time with Kyle in America? And where did Lottie end up? Get ready for some serious partying – and some major New Year’s revelations – from everyone’s favourite cheesy-snack-loving feminists. 

Age: 14+

Price: £9.99 (in hardback)

Holly Bourne is the author of one of my favourite book series ever! Therefore I was very excited when this came out and have been dying to talk to you about it. I really liked this book however it wasn’t as good as the other 3, for reasons that will be mentioned soon. I liked that there was a huge get together for New Years Eve and everyone mentioned in the previous 3 books were in it which was nice as you got to see some characters that hadn’t been mentioned in a while. I was pleased that Kyle was a main character (ish) in this book. The book was in sections from each persons point of view (Evie, Amber and Lottie) which is different to the others, but I liked it. However, I didn’t like that there wasn’t much happening in this book apart from a party at Amber’s house for New Years Eve. It was a small book, but more things could have happened. Also, I wasn’t a fan of the ending, it wasn’t as good as some endings for some books I have read. But apart from those 2 little negatives, I really enjoyed it and was so happy that Holly Bourne  wrote another even if it wasn’t as good as the other 3. I give this book an 8 out of 10 and hope all you feminists out there enjoy this book and enjoy the rest of the series as well.

LaraLeave a comment

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (screenplay) by J.K.Rowling

Blurb: When Magizoologist Newt Scamander arrives in New York, he intends his stay to be just a brief stopover. However, when his magical case is misplaced and some of Newt’s fantastic beasts escape, it spells trouble for everyone . . .

Age: 9+

Price: £9.99

I went to see the film the day it came out and I loved it!!!!

I really liked the screenplay because it gave extra details that you may have missed when you watched the film, even I missed some things and I went to see it twice. I really liked the little pictures of the creatures on the cover and on the pages between each scene (they are so cute). When I watched the film, I found it hard to understand Credence’s character but after reading the book I suddenly understand a lot more about him, which made me happy. I loved this book and highly suggest that you read it even if you don’t like Harry Potter. It’s a really nice easy read, perfect for the new year. There’s not much more to say about it apart from that it is suitable for both genders and I give it a 10 out of 10 stars. Hope you are having a wonderful 2017 and enjoy your reading.

LaraLeave a comment

Eclipse (Twilight Series #3) by Stephenie Meyer

Blurb: ‘Bella?’ Edward’s soft voice came from behind me. I turned to see him spring lightly up the porch steps, his hair windblown from running. He pulled me into his arms at once, and kissed me again. His kiss frightened me. There was too much tension, too strong an edge to the way his lips crushed mine – like he was afraid we had only so much time left to us.
As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob – knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?

Price: £5.99

Age: 13+

The first book review of 2017, yay!

I definitely enjoyed this more than the second book in the series (New Moon).

This book was much better than the 2nd but it still hasn’t beaten the 1st book. I really liked the increase in characters in this book (including new recruits to the werewolf gang) as the same old characters were starting to get a bit boring to read about. This book was a lot more thrilling and violent than the others for reasons that I cannot say because they would be spoilers. I liked this book more because Bella was less of a drip and it was a lot more exciting with some Vampire problems (in Seattle). The only thing I would say is there were a lot of moments where nothing was really happening and there was just a boring conversation. Also, there were stupid arguments with Edward and Jacob which were completely unnecessary and petty, which annoyed quite a bit. All in all, I did like the book and would recommend it, so it gets a 7.5 out of 10.

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The Outlanders (Fulfilment Series #2) by Erin Rhew

Blurb: With King Jesper dead and Prince Wilhelm mortally wounded, Halfling prince, Nash, and the Fulfilment, Layla, assume the throne of Etherea. They must contend with a new Prophecy Candidate who asserts her position, and Layla is surprised to find her fate intertwined with this challenger. Facing a myriad of choices, Nash and Layla’s decisions affect not only their own futures but that of two kingdoms. 

Age: 13+

Price: £3.98 (may vary)

As you may know, the lovely author Erin Rhew sent me the Fulfilment Series. I read the first book (The Prophecy) and reviewed it on my blog go to http://larawhitfield.co.uk/?p=438 and I really enjoyed it. So I proceeded to read the 2nd. The only thing  didn’t really like about this book was the lack of action. Maybe it’s because at the end of the last one, there was a lot of action and fighting and in this one there was very little, but otherwise, I really enjoyed it. I liked the plot twist and that it ended on a cliff hanger, leaving you wanting to read the last book. I also liked the fact that there were more characters incorporated into the story. The Outlander queen came across as a very strong character and I am looking forward to read the next book, purely to see what she will do next. As you can tell, my favourite character was the Outlander queen. Which brings m to another thing. Erin Rhew introduced a whole new place in the book that non of the other characters had properly explored before. I give this book an 8 out of 10.

I WISH YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

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Born Scared by Kevin Brooks

Blurb: Elliot is terrified of almost everything.

From the moment he was born, his life has been governed by acute fear. The only thing that keeps his terrors in check are the pills that he takes every day.

It’s Christmas Eve, there’s a snowstorm and Elliot’s medication is almost gone. His mum nips out to collect his prescription. She’ll only be 10 minutes – but when she doesn’t come back, Elliot must face his fears and try to find her. She should only be 400 metres away. It might as well be 400 miles…

Price: £5.99

Age:12+

This is not the type of book I would normally read, but I really enjoyed it. This an adventure book about a boy called Elliott who is scared of pretty much everything and his twin Ella-May. I got given this book by my mum’s friend as a present and she thought I might like and I did, I loved it. There are some quite scary and violent parts so I suggest that if you are sensitive to violence, this is not a good book for you. I would recommend this to people who love adventure books (and violence) because this brilliant. It’s even won an award, the Cilip Carniege Medal which is a big prize awarded by librarians. My favourite character was definitely Ella-May and the evil Santa’s because they were so good at being evil. I read this book at just the right time as it is Christmas Eve and there are only 8 days to go!!!! I give this book 9 out of 10 stars and hope you enjoy, I will see on the 24th of December to wish you a Merry Christmas!

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New Moon (Twilight Series #2) by Veronica Roth

new-moonBlurb: I stuck my finger under the edge of the paper and jerked it under the tape. ‘Shoot,’ I muttered when the paper sliced my finger. A single drop of blood oozed from the tiny cut. It all happened very quickly then. ‘No!’ Edward roared … Dazed and disoriented, I looked up from the bright red blood pulsing out of my arm – and into the fevered eyes of the six suddenly ravenous vampires.

For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself: Edward Cullen. But being in love with a vampire is more dangerous than Bella ever could have imagined. Edward has already rescued Bella from the clutches of an evil vampire but now, as their daring relationship threatens all that is near and dear to them, they realise their troubles may just be beginning …

Price: £6.99

Age: 13+

I enjoyed the first one, but this one was a bit disappointing. I found this book a bit girly and silly. Edward leaves Bella and then she suddenly becomes obsessed with Jacob and it got a bit annoying. However, saying that there were some good bits to it, for instance the ending and right at the beginning, but the middle was very under-whelming. I did like that there were loads of new characters (vampires) introduced into this book and Jake’s secret was pretty cool though it was kind of obvious what it was and it took Bella absolutely ages to guess which annoyed me. I will read the rest of the series even though I was disappointed by this book as I was told that the last book (Breaking Dawn) is the best, so we shall see. I give this book a 6 out of 10 and aim it more at girls than boys, but by all means give it a read.

P.S. I am a bird, well not literally, I joined Twitter the other day, go follow me….@Njtbbtc

 

 

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The Cursed Child by J.K.Rowling & Jack Thorne

harry_potter_and_the_cursed_child_special_rehearsal_edition_book_coverBlurb: It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband, and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

Price: £10.00

Okay, so it has been 15 years since the last Harry Potter book and this didn’t disappoint. I absolutely loved it and all the characters. This is written in the form of a script, but it didn’t bother me at all. We have tried so many  times to get tickets but haven’t succeeded. I loved all the characters, my favourites were Rose, Scorpius and Albus. I thought that the story was amazing and loved all the stage directions The only thing I would say is that the ending was a bit boring and there was a lack of spell casting. However, saying that, it is my favourite book that I have read this year and for that reason, I am disregarding my small criticisms and giving it a 10! I would recommend this to all Harry Potter fans and I suggest you read it if you haven’t already. I would love to know what you thought of it and whether you got tickets to see it or not?

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What’s a girl gotta do? by Holly Bourne

spinsterBlurb: HOW TO START A FEMINIST REVOLUTION: 1. Call out anything that is unfair on one gender, 2. Don’t call out the same thing twice (so you can sleep and breathe), 3. Always try to keep it funny, 4. Don’t let anything slide. Even when you start to break…Lottie’s determined to change the world with her #Vagilante vlog. Shame the trolls have other ideas… 

Age: 14+

Price: £6.99

So, as you probably know, I am a huge fan of Holly Bourne books and loved ‘Am I normal yet’ so I was really excited when this book came out. My friend lent it to me and I loved it!!! This book is about Lottie starting a feminist revolution to stop all sexism. Unfortunately, things start to go wrong. I thought that this book was amazing and can’t wait to read Holly’s new book that has just come out called ‘And a Happy New Year’. There are some new characters in this book who I really liked for example, Megan and Will. Even though they both appeared in the other books briefly, their characters really stood out and you got to know a lot more about them. This book is 14+ for a reason and I suggest that if you are younger, it is probably not the book for you as the content is very mature. I give this book a 10 out of 10 stars and aim it at girls, but by all means, boys, give it a read! ENJOY!!!

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Geek Girl (#4) All That Glitters by Holly Smale

Prepare to be disappointed….

allthatglittersHarriet Manners knows many things.

She knows that toilet roll was invented by the Chinese in 600 AD.

She knows that a comet’s tail always points away from the sun.

And she knows that the average healthy heart beats 70 times per minute. Even when it’s broken.

But she knows nothing about making new friends at Sixth Form. Or why even her old friends seem to be avoiding her. And she knows even less about being a glittering supermodel success. Which she now is – apparently.

Price: £5.99

Age: 12+

Now, I won’t say that I hate this book, but I definitely didn’t like it. I was really disappointed by this book as I loved the first 3 books but this one was a huge let down. I felt like Holly Smale had run out of ideas and decided to make Harriet a ‘superstar’. I feel like she should have ended it with Picture Perfect. However, I did like the ending because it was back to the usual style of the other books. I’m not entirely sure why I disliked it so much, but I did and my friend agrees as well that this is a big disappointment. I did like all the new characters for instance Jasper and India and you got to know more about Liv and Ananya who are Alexa’s henchmen (or partners in crime). I give this a 4 out of 10 and sadly would not recommend it to you. I am planning on reading the 5th book, but if it is rubbish, please tell me. And for those of you in the UK…

Happy Bonfire Night

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Asylum (#1) by Madeleine Roux

jimbobBlurb: For sixteen-year-old Dan Crawford, the New Hampshire College Prep program is the chance of a lifetime. Except that when Dan arrives, he finds that the usual summer housing has been closed, forcing students to stay in the crumbling Brookline Dorm formerly a psychiatric hospital. As Dan and his new friends Abby and Jordan start exploring Brookline’s twisty halls and hidden basement, they uncover disturbing secrets about what really went on here . . . secrets that link Dan and his friends to the asylum’s dark past. Because Brookline was no ordinary mental hospital, and there are some secrets that refuse to stay buried.”

Age: 14+

Price: £7.99

You probably know that it is Halloween tomorrow and I am soooooo excited as it is one of my favourite times of the year (can’t wait to go ‘Trick or Treating’). So here is a creepy/scary book for you.

This book is absolutely terrifying  and addictive. I am absolutely obsessed with this book. My best friend lent it to me after reading the whole series (this is the first one by the way) and said I should read it, so I did, and BAM!!!! I love it! It is so scary and creepy and I couldn’t put it down. My favourite character was definitely Abby and I like Jordan as well. There was a really clever plot twist at the end that I really enjoyed. My favourite bit however was near the end when suddenly everything pieced together and you finally understood everything. You should definitely read this book as it is perfect for giving you nightmares on Halloween night (don’t worry, it’s not that creepy). I give it a 10 out of 10!!!!!! And recommend it to both genders and to anyone who loved ‘Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children’. And…….

happy-halloween

 

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Eldest (Inheritance, #2) by Christopher Paolini

eldest_book_coverBlurb: Darkness falls . . . Despair abounds . . . Evil reigns . . .

Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire. Now Eragon must travel to Ellesméra, land of the elves, for further training in magic and swordsmanship, the vital skills of the Dragon Rider. It is the journey of a lifetime, filled with awe-inspiring new places and people, each day a fresh adventure. But chaos and betrayal plague him at every turn, and Eragon isn’t sure whom he can trust.

Meanwhile, his cousin Roran must fight a new battle back home in Carvahall – one that puts Eragon in even graver danger.

Age: 13+

Price: £5.99

This is a sequel to the book Eragon, if you would like to read the review, here is your link http://larawhitfield.co.uk/?p=184…..

On the whole, I really enjoyed this book, however, it was very, very long-winded. If anything, it was too descriptive of everything. For instance, Eragon is travelling and it takes about 3 chapters for him to get to where he needs to be. Anyway, aside from the negativity, the books are always worth reading because the endings are amazing, but don’t be that person who skips pages or chapters in books, because you never know, you may miss something important. As I was saying, there is a twist at the end that I was kind of expecting but it still surprised me. I liked this one more than the first in some ways as you got to know a lot more about Roran, Eragon’s cousin (or ‘brother’) which I was happy about. I am still unsure whether to read the other 2 books as this one took so long to read and the size of the last 2 books is a little scary. I give this book 7 out of 10 stars recommend to both genders. Please tell me if you have read the last 2 and whether they are worth the read.

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The Castle by Sophia Bennett

Layout 1Blurb: Peta Jones is an ordinary girl struggling with the loss of her father, an ex-army hero who died in mysterious circumstances. When she receives clues that he may still be alive, she embarks on a dangerous rescue across the Mediterranean to a clifftop castle, home to an exiled billionaire. Soon she discovers that what some people will do for money, Peta will do for love.

Price: £6.99

Age: 12+

This is the last of my holiday to Spain book series and another book that I am impressed with….

I was given this book for my birthday along with another book by the same author called ‘The Look’ which I haven’t read yet but it is on my list. This book is about a girl who tries to find her dad. This book is really sad and thrilling at the same time. Because of the content, I would place it in the adventure books category and mystery, but it could be in my sad books category as well. My favourite characters were Peta, the 2 slave children (won’t mention their names because it may be a spoiler). This book is a lot darker than I expected it to be and there were a lot of characters cleverly portrayed so that you immediately hated them. I think that this book was amazing and would definitely recommend it to people who enjoy adventure, mystery thrillers. This is for both genders and I give it 10 out of 10.

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Skulduggery Pleasant (#1) by Derek Landy

skulduggsBlurb: “With his sunglasses gone there was no denying the fact that he had no face. All he had was a skull for a head.”

Meet Skulduggery Pleasent: wise-cracking detective, powerful magician, sworn enemy of evil.

Oh yes. And dead.

Age: 11+

Price: £4.99 (library)

OH MY GOODNESS, YOU MUST READ THIS!!!!!!!

So as you may know from my last blog post, I have been in Spain this summer, so this is another of my holiday novels. You already know that I love this book by the rather large phrase in red, so I apologise if this review is very long, but you will understand when you read it, that you want to do nothing but talk about it…..

Anyway, onto the review. This is a fantasy – action novel and I LOVED IT! It’s super original with the skeleton as the good guy and that there is another world lurking in the shadows to be found. My favourite characters were Skulduggery (obviously), Stephenie and Tanith who is just awesome in every way. The way it has been written is similar to Rick Riordan’s style of writing, so if you like his book you should read this, if you don’t like his books, you should read it anyway. This is the first book in the skulduggery series and I am definetly going to read the rest! Also, would you be interested in seeing a series review after I have read them all rather than 12 different ones, think about and let me know. I would say that this is aimed at both boys and girls and I really hope you enjoy this book (you better read it).

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Geek Girl #3Picture Perfect by Holly Smale

Geek girl 3Blurb: Harriet Manners knows more facts than most.She knows that New York is the most populous city in the United States.She knows that its official motto is ‘Ever Upward’.She knows that one in thirty-eight people living in the US lives there.But she knows nothing whatsoever about modelling in the Big Apple and how her family will cope with life stateside. Or ‘becoming a brand’ as the models in New York say. And even more importantly, what to do when the big romantic gestures aren’t coming your way from your boyfriend…

Price: £4.99

Age: 12+

This is the third book in the Geek Girl series, I have reviewed the first book, so if you would like to  read the review for that one then here is the link http://larawhitfield.co.uk/?p=125

I have read the second book, but for some reason forgot to review it, so if you would like to see a review of that, please tell me. Now onto the review

I read this book in between swimming in the pool and drinking cocktails (non alcoholic obviously), yes, I was in Spain! While you lot were all sitting indoors, I was lounging in the sun and tanning, anyway .This book was my favourite out of the three, partly because it was so different to the rest of them. This one was sadder and you learnt  a lot more about Nick. I was also surprised that Fleur made a reappearance in this one, for a good reason though. I was happy to see a lot of new characters in this book where as the others only had a few. I can’t wait to read the fourth book and already have a copy of it because my friend kindly lent it to me. I give this book 10 out of 10 stars and aim it at girls, but by all means, if you are a boy and fancy reading this then go ahead, no one will stop you. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy the rest of your holidays (if you are in the UK).

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The Prophecy by Erin Rhew, #1 of The Fulfillment Series (Trilogy)

erin rhewBlurb: Growing up on a small farm in the kingdom of Vanguard, seventeen-year-old Layla Givens lives a deceptively tranquil existence. But her carefully constructed life quickly falls apart when she’s abducted by a religious zealot who proclaims her The Fulfillment of an ancient peace prophecy and whisks her away to marry her greatest enemy.

Price: £0.99 (on kindle)

Age: 13+

I love fantasy books and this is just another great one. I loved all the characters in it, I have several favourites. Layla, Grant, Will, Nash and Vespa. The battle scenes in the book were amazing and described vividly. The only thing that I would say about this book is that I would like to have heard more about Layla’s parents but maybe it’s in the other books. I would recommend this to people who have read and loved Forestium and the Crimson Claymore because they are all slightly similar great fantasy books. I would definitely read the other 2 books so look for a review of them in the future. I would say this book is probably more for girls than boys, because of the several love stories that go on throughout the book, but if you are a boy and think it sounds good, then by all means, give it a read. I give this a 9 out of 10 star rating and hope you will read and enjoy it!!

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Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl (Daisy’s review)

Today I will not be reviewing a book, in fact, my sister will be. I have a younger sister and she also loves to read. She read Danny the Champion of the World last year and she loved it. So that is what she will be reviewing today. I have decided to let her review a book now and again from today onwards. Hope you enjoy….

danny the champion of the worldBlurb: Danny thinks his dad is the most marvellous and exciting father a boy could wish for. Life is happy and peaceful in their gipsy caravan, until one day Danny discovers his dad has been breaking the law. What’s more, soon Danny has to join his father as they attempt to pull off a daring and devilish plot against horrible, red-faced Mr Victor Hazell . . 

Age: any

Price: £4.99 (or get it from the library)

Hi i’m Daisy, Lara’s younger sister and I enjoy reading aswell,as you may guess. Anyway on to the book

This book is full of humour and is very sweet. I think all of Roald Dahl’s books are amazing but I enjoyed this one due to the way it was written and the story line was awesome. My favourite character was Danny’s dad since he was funny, sweet and held a special secret. Mr Victor Hazell was described well and I loved the part he played in the book because he added some laughter into the story. My favourite part was when Danny found out his dad’s secret and saved him. I also enjoyed how Roald Dahl weaves different stories into this book. Sergeant Samways was very funny in the way he tried moving some peasants onto Mr Hazell’s land and they scratched Mr Hazell’s new silver Rolls-Royce. I could go on and on but I won’t because,  reason 1, it would be a spoiler alert, and reason 2, it would be way too long and no one would read it. Overall I give it a 10 out of 10.

I hope you enjoyed Daisy’s review. Also, if you are a Pokemon/Pokemon Go fan, Daisy’s website is a guide to the Pokemon world, so if you are interested, go and check it out at http://www.daisywhitfield.co.uk.

P.S. I now have a pinterest account so go and check it out at Njtbbtc.

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USE IT OR LOSE IT!!

Today’s blog post is slightly different from normal, this blog post is about libraries.

I have been going to the library for as long as I can remember. Going to the library is what got me into books and reading. I used to do this reading challenge in the summer, where you had a poster, and every time you read 2 books, you got the first set of stickers, this carried on until you had read 6 books. I used to look forward to doing this every year, because if you completed it you got a sticker, certificate and some freebies. As I was saying, I don’t think that I would be a book blogger if mum had never taken me to the library.

I know I always include the price of the book but I do use the library a lot. As a book blogger, a library is a very important thing. We have a local library and the council recently majorly reduced the opening hours, which is a huge problem considering I have school and then on the weekend I am busy. This means I don’t have much opportunity to get to the library because often when I get home from school it is closed. If it was open more I would definitely go more.

Libraries are for everyone. Especially people who can’t afford to buy books. Lots of people say we don’t need libraries anymore because of all the technology. Well, that’s not true because what if you can’t afford the technology or don’t have access to it. There is also no risk with buying a book you don’t like. If you pick out a book from the library and hate it, you can just go back and swap it for another one, and it didn’t cost you anything. If your book is overdue and you are an adult then you have to pay a small fine, but that isn’t even the price of a book in a shop.

If you don’t use the library, the council will shut them down and we don’t want that. So if you find that you are bored and it’s raining outside during the holidays, go down to your local library and have a look, it doesn’t take a lot of effort and you may be surprised. Basically, USE IT OR LOSE IT!!

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Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

TwilightbookBlurb: About three things I was absolutely positive.

First, Edward was a vampire.

Second, there was a part of him—and I didn’t know how dominant that part might be—that thirsted for my blood.

And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.

Age: 13+ possibly 14+

I know these books have been reviewed to death, but there is no harm in one more review.

I wasn’t sure if I would like this book, but it was nowhere near as bad as I thought. This book is about a girl falling in love with a vampire and the problems that it causes. This is like any other love story but with the added gore. I could relate to Bella with her being clumsy, but not because I fall in love with vampires. I thought that the characters were good and that a vampire love story was an interesting idea. I did like this book and the way that it was written. However it was too cliché for my liking with the falling in love and then the Romeo and Juliet thing with we can’t be together but they do it anyway. I have heard that the other books are better so I will make an effort to read the rest of the series. Also, shout out to my friend (you know who you are) who is obsessed with these books and made me read it. I give this an 8 out of 10 stars and recommend it to teenage girls.

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Lyre by Tina V. Tatum

lyreBlurb: The daughter of the great warrior Kitonga, protector of the Yimbe village, Lyre was always aware of the beauty of combat which led her to dream of becoming the first female warrior. She received what she asked for and more, but becoming a hero like her father came with a price.
She must battle warriors unlike any the Yimbe village has ever seen and face challenges both physical and mental. Lyre is truly a hero unlike any other.

Price: £4.99 (KIndle Edition)

Age: 13+

Firstly I would like to say thank you to Tina because the PDF of this book didn’t work and so she sent me a gift on amazon of the book which was ever so kind of her.

Anyway…

I enjoyed this book and read it during exam week and it kept me entertained during revision period. This book is a fantasy novel and has a wide array of characters. My favourite characters were Lyre and Miata . This book has an evil plot twist towards the end of the book which I hated but I don’t think I would love the book so much if it hadn’t happened. I thought the names were really interesting and sounded very tribal, unusual and unique. This is a rather different book than those that I would usually read, but I enjoyed it all the same. I would give this 8 out of 10 stars because some things that happened that I cannot tell you because it would be a spoiler. This is for both genders and I recommend it to Eragon fans. Hope you enjoy.

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Am I Normal Yet by Holly Bourne

am i normal yetBlurb: All Evie wants is to be normal. And now that she’s almost off her meds and at a new college where no one knows her as the-girl-who-went-nuts, there’s only one thing left to tick off her list… But relationships can mess with anyone’s head – something Evie’s new friends Amber and Lottie know only too well. The trouble is, if Evie won’t tell them her secrets, how can they stop her making a huge mistake?

Price: £6.99

Age: 14+

 

I went to the Hay Festival in early June and came across this wonderful book. This book is about a girl recovering from OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and GAD (generalised anxiety disorder) and it’s about her starting college and going to house parties and doing whatever 16 year olds do, but there is one problem, boys.

This is rated a 14+ because of the content, which includes sex, drugs and alcohol so I would advise younger readers to steer clear of this book until they are older. On a happier note, I loved this book so much. The way it was written was really clever and witty and overall the book was hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. I was glued to the book and finished it within a matter of days. My favourite characters were Lottie, Evie and Amber because they were so funny and amazing. Give this book a go, I am sitting my summer exams this week so this would be the perfect time to get a good book. I would say this book is for girls and hope you enjoy it.

P.S. HAPPY FATHERS DAY

 

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The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge

lie treeBlurb: Faith’s father has been found dead under mysterious circumstances, and as she is searching through his belongings for clues she discovers a strange tree. The tree only grows healthy and bears fruit if you whisper a lie to it. The fruit of the tree, when eaten, will deliver a hidden truth to the person who consumes it. The bigger the lie, the more people who believe it, the bigger the truth that is uncovered.

The girl realizes that she is good at lying and that the tree might hold the key to her father’s murder, so she begins to spread untruths far and wide across her small island community. But as her tales spiral out of control, she discovers that where lies seduce, truths shatter . . .

Age: 12+

Price: £6.99

As you may know, this is a well recognised book, having won the Costa Award which is a very big book award, and was nominated for the Bookseller YA shortlist award 2016. I read this book and I really enjoyed it. I have read another Frances Hardinge book called ‘Cuckoo Song’ click this link to read the review of it….http://larawhitfield.co.uk/?p=162 but personally I preferred ‘The Lie Tree’. Unlike her other books, this one includes a murder and I know all of them are mystery books, but this one is an actual murder story! I liked that you have no idea who the murderer is right up until just before it is revealed. This book is set in the 1860s as Frances said at Hay Festival and I found it really sad that the main character Faith, was turned down by her Father and his scientist colleges because she was female. This book is full of secrets and lies and it is very superstitious which I could relate to. However, the thing that made love the book the most and that probbly pushed it from a 9 to a 10 was simply the way that it was written, I just love the way that Frances Hardinge writes her books. The way a book is written tends to change things, maybe it’s just me (oh well).  I had my copy of this book signed by Frances Hardinge at  the Hay Festival as well which is an extra bonus. This book is for both genders and I give this book a 10 out of 10 stars and hope you enjoy it too.

P.S. I am finally on Instagram, username is NJTBBTC

P.P.S. NJTBBTC unless you haven’t worked it out stands for Never Judge Teen Books By Their Covers….

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Hay Festival (Thursday 2nd of June)

13315220_138403179902056_2476331013229078124_nOn Thursday the 2nd of June I was up in Hay-on-Wye at the amazing hay festival, this is an international literature festival that takes place every year, they go to asia, europe, america,etc. Anyway, I went to see the YA shortlist award. Surprisingly all of the authors but 2 and everyone else was funny and likeable, the line up was…

 

Am I Normal Yet? by Holly Bourne

One by Sarah Crossan

Unbecoming by Jenny Downham

The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge

The Curious Tale of the Lady Caraboo by Catherine Johnson

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

Asking for It by Louise O’Neill

The Sin Eater’s Daughter by Melinda Salisbury

Concentr8 by William Sutcliffe

The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson

The winner was the book One by Sarah Crossan and I shall be reading and posting a review of this book shortly. I thought it was a great selection of books this year and think that you will enjoy all of them. I have just finished ‘the lie tree’ and ‘am I normal yet’ so reviews of these books will be going up shortly and please tell me if you have read any of the following books and tell me if you like them.

We also went to see a talk with Frances Hardinge – The lie Tree, Lynn Gardner – Rose Campion and Katherine Woodfine – Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow who have all recently written a murder mystery book. They were there talking about what makes a great mystery and so on and I found that really interesting.

Lastly, sorry for such a long blog post, of course, I got my books signed, I mean that is one of the joys of hay festival is going to see authors then getting your books signed, I just feel like the book suddenly feels more precious to you as it is now signed by an amazing and talented author!

P.S. I am now part of the world of social media, so go and follow me on Instagram, I have a public account and my name is….

Instagram Name: NJTBBTC

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First Class Murder by Robin Stevens

51tx5S1aiVL._SX324_BO1,204,203,200_Blurb: Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are taking a holiday on the world-famous Orient Express – and it’s clear that each of their fellow first-class passengers has something to hide. Even more intriguing: there is rumour of a spy in their midst. Then, during dinner, there is a scream from inside one of the cabins. When the door is broken down, a passenger is found murdered, her stunning ruby necklace gone. But the killer has vanished – as if into thin air. Daisy and Hazel are faced with their first ever locked-room mystery – and with competition from several other sleuths, who are just as determined to crack the case.

Price: £6.99 (probably cheaper on amazon)

Age: 10+

As you may know already, this book is part of a growing series, at the moment there are 4 books but I am sure that there are more on the way. I think that this book is the best book so far but I haven’t read the 4th book yet so I can’t say much. Anyway, this book is slightly different to the others as the murder happens not as close to the start of the book as the others do, also there are more characters with interesting personalities. This book is very cleverly written and I really enjoyed reading it. Alex, Mrs Vitellius and as usual Hazel and Daisy were my favourite characters and i thought that the book was even more intriguing  because of the double mystery in the novel (you have to read it to find out). I would recommend this to girls more than boys but that doesn’t mean you can’t read it and I give it 10 out of 10 stars, enjoy!!!

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Hay Festival!!!

logo-hay-festivalYou may or may not have heard of the hay festival, it is an international literature festival. Anyway, there is a hay festival in Hay-On-Wye, Wales, and I am going to the festival this year. I went last year and there was a great line up, I went to see Chris Riddell, author of Goth Girl and Otteline, Neil Gaiman, author of Coraline, Stardust…. and Michael Morpurgo, author of Listen to the Moon, War Horse. This year there isn’t as good a line up, but I am going up on the Thursday (2nd of June) with my best friend and my mum. Weare going to see Frances Hardinge, author of Cuckoo song (check out my review for it) and the lie tree. Also we are going to see the YA shortlist award that will be announced live at Hay. I am so excited. Who ever wins the YA shortlist award, I will buy the book and write a review on it for you. I will write another blog post after I get back from Hay, tell me in the comments if you are going!!!!!

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The Crimson Claymore by Craig A. Price Jr.

27831594Blurb: When Searon loses everything he once holds dear, he begins a quest for revenge, leaving behind everything except his Crimson Claymore. He runs into something he doesn’t expect…a sarcastic wizard, who won’t leave him alone unless he forms an army, an army that could fulfill his revenge, and save all of humanity in Calthoria.

Price: $14.99 (£10.26) or $5.99 on the kindle (£4.10)

Age: 13+

Before I say anything else, I would like to apologise to Craig if he is reading this, that it took me so long to read and write a review of it, well first thing is, it took 2 weeks to come from America and then it took me a while to read it, so I am very sorry, but now onto the review.

I really enjoyed this book, I would recommend it to Eragon and LOTR/The Hobbit fans and people who love the fantasy genre. There is a lot of detail crammed into this book which I like because you get a bigger picture of what’s going on. My favourite characters were Anaela, Karckeolos (hope I spelt that correctly) and Starlyn. The book was well written and I enjoyed reading it, the only thing I would say is WHERE DID STARLYN GO???? Because she kind of just leaves, I’m guessing it’s to find her sister but I would like to know, also, it ends on a cliff hanger. I know that this is book 1 of hopefully a series, and I am looking forward to the next book. If you like romance, fantasy and killing then go for it. I would say this is for both genders and give it 9 out of 10 stars.

 

 

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The Withered Arm by Thomas Hardy

twaBlurb: The road from Anglebury to Holmstoke is in general level; but there is one place where a sharp ascent breaks its monotony. Farmers homeward-bound from the former market-town, who trot all the rest of the way, walk their horses up this short incline. The next evening, while the sun was yet bright, a handsome new gig, with a lemon-coloured body and red wheels, was spinning westward along the level highway at the heels of a powerful mare. The driver was a yeoman in the prime of life, cleanly shaven like an actor, his face being toned to that bluish-vermilion hue which so often graces a thriving farmer’s features when returning home after successful dealings in the town. Beside him sat a woman, many years his junior—almost, indeed, a girl. Her face too was fresh in colour, but it was of a totally different quality—soft and evanescent, like the light under a heap of rose-petals

Price: £1.00 or free on the kindle

Age: 13+

This book is a short story by a very well respected author. The book is creepy and weird, but not so much scary (I don’t know if I was meant to find it scary, so watch out) yet it still comes into the horror category. It is a victorian so some readers may struggle with the language, but I didn’t find it very difficult so you probably won’t either. I got this book for my birthday and it took me about 45 mins to read it, it is very short and definetly worth reading. It is about a woman who accidently curses her ex-husbands new wife. Hence the title, it’s about a woman with a withered arm and lots of odd things happen along the way. This book is absolutely amazing and I highly reccommmend it to anyone who is into short but intruiging stories. This is aimed at both girls and boys and I hope you enjoy the book.

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Harry Potter series by J.K.Rowling

2578192374The Harry Potter series is one of the most highly praised book series on our planet, and this is definitely one of my favourite book series.

I will give each of the books a score out of 10, and then add them up to reveal the grand total out of 70 for the series.

 

Harry Potter and the philosophers stone – 8.5 / 10

Harry Potter and the Chamber of secrets – 9.5 / 10

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – 9.5 / 10

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – 10 / 10

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – 10 / 10

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince – 10 / 10

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – 9.5 / 10

Which gives the series a grand total of 67 out of 70, which in my opinion is a very high scoring series.

Now, let’s go on about my favourite book, which was ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix‘ because it was nice to have a change of scenery, all the books so far had been set in Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizadry so it was nice for it to be set mostly in Sirius Black’s house. This also was the book where Harry finally met a fatherly figure that he had been wanting for the whole of his life so far and meeting Sirius was a good thing however J.K.Rowling goes and spoils it by killing him at the end of the book. The other good bit of the book was that you get to meet Luna Lovegood who is one of my favourite characters as she is just so odd but doesn’t seem to be aware of it which I think is rather funny. There is also the cool battle at the end in the Ministry of Magic.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post, please tell which book was your favourite and why because I would love to know because I am a nosy person!

 

 

 

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Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

missperegrine_334x518Blurb: A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And a strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children;, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children who once lived here – one of whom was his own grandfather – were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a desolate island for good reason. And somehow – impossible though it seems – they may still be alive.

Price: £7.99

Age: 13+

WARNING: This book is creepy!

This book is by far the weirdest book I have ever read, and if you thought that Frances Hardinge wrote weird books, then think again! I came across this book because of my best friend, she was talking non stop about it and then she lent it to me to read. So, obviously I read it. The start wasn’t my favourite part of the book, I liked the very first chapter with his granddad telling the stories, but then, I don’t really know, I guess it didn’t fit in as well as the rest of the book. But after the not as good part, came the great part. This book is about a boy who meets a load of children who have strange abilities, and then becomes friends with them. There is a film being made about this book, so read the book before you see the film because the film looks amazing! There is some swearing in the book which I highly doubt will be in the film, but you never know. This book is part of a series, the second one is called ‘Hollow City’ and the third is called ‘Library of Souls’. I can’t wait to read the other two, please give this book a go if you like weirdness and horror.

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Girl About Time (#1 Ruby Red) by Kirsten Gier

51QB7cJ4x7L._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_Blurb: Every family has secrets, but what happens when you are the family secret? Gwyneth is shocked to discover she’s inherited the family time-travelling gene. One minute she’s shopping, the next she’s trapped between centuries. But she’s not the only time traveller. Soon she’s caught up in a dangerous mystery with a gorgeous boy and a secret society determined to change the past.

Price: £6.99

Age: 13+

I really enjoyed this book! This book is part of a trilogy and the other two are called ‘Saphire Blue’ and ‘Emerald Green’. This book is about time travel and strangeness, this is a very weird book but boy will you enjoy it. I don’t actually like the front cover as in my opinion, it doesnt look like the main character and that annoyed me a bit, but otherwise, this is one of the best fantasy books I have read this year! (and that is saying a lot) I give this book 10 out of 10 stars and I would say this book is for girls rather than boys. Please say if you would like me to review the rest of the series.

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Percy Jackson Series (5 books) by Rick Riordan

pjI don’t normally write a review for series’, but this is an exception.

This is a series that consists of 5 amazing books…..

 

#1 Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief – 9 out of 10 stars

#2 Percy Jackson and The Sea of Monsters – 9.5 out of 10 stars

#3 Percy Jackson and The Titan’s Curse – 10 out of 10 stars

#4 Percy Jackson and The Battle of The Labyrinth – 10 out of 10 stars

#5 Percy Jackson and The Last Olympian – 10 out of 10 stars

As I read this series, the books seemed to get better and better. My favourite book by far was the third book, Percy Jackson and The Titans Curse, this book is where you meet one of my favourite characters, Nico Di Angelo, who you then get to know even better in the Heroes of Olympus series which is set after the Percy Jackson series.

The first book is where you first meet Percy and find out that he is Demigod of one of the THREE (you must read the book to understand this). He then gets whisked off on a quest and things go wrong because Percy is the worlds biggest idiot. Luckily he has Annabeth.

This series is all about Greek Mythology that still exsists, for example, the gods, monsters and strange creatures that could be classed as monsters. This series will make you cry with all the sacrifices that are made and will make you laugh at the ridiculous chapter names. I loved this series and just wish that it was an ongoing thing that never ended. There are films for the first 2 books, but don’t watch them as they are worse than having to watch Brian Cox (annoying astronomist) on the television. So please read the books and tell me what you think.

 

 

 

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Chinks by Helen Wilkinson

51SHEASD6YL._SX325_BO1,204,203,200_I thought, that since it is Easter Day, I would write a review, no matter what. And then I suddenly remembered that we had read a book in my English class and I thought that I should review it.  So here you go……

Blurb: One boy’s search for a Dad and a dog.

Sorry, I can’t seem to find the blurb.

Age: 12+

Price: £4.99

I would never have read this book if we hadn’t read it in our english class, but I am so glad that we did read it. The book is really sad and is about a boy who moves house but IT turns out that the house is awful and then has to live there with his mum’s ‘evil’ boyfriend who hates him. But then he finds a dog and things change, for the better…….

I thought this book was really sweet and it almost made me cry in some parts of the book. I thought this would be a good book to review as it is now the Easter holidays and som people need a good book to read over the holidays. I would say this book is suitable for both genders, maybe boys more than girls, and I give 9 out of 10 stars, so give it a read if you aren’ t too busy. AND HAPPY EASTER TO YOU ALL!!!

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Divergent by Veronica Roth

divergentBlurb: In a society divided into factions all are forced to somewhere they belong. And the choice for Beatrice Prior makes shocks everyone, including herself.

During extreme initiation tests, Tris must determine who her friends are and whether she can trust the man who both threatens and protects her. Because Tris has a deadly secret. One that might ave those she loves… or destroy her.

Age: 12+

Price: £7.99

I knew about the film and my friends had all read it and were begging me to read it, so I did. And I am glad that they told me to do so. This book is a bit like the hunger games with the book mostly based on war, fighting and love. I did really enjoy this book. I love how it is written, I  have a soft spot for books that have been written in first person (not sure why??). If you have read the hunger games and loved it, you will definitely enjoy this book. I am aware that there are three other books in this series and I am keen to read them. So when I have read them, I shall review them individually. This book is for both genders and there are some very soppy moments and awfully sad and depressing moments where you want to scream out and want the torture to stop. It doesn’t, but you get over it. I give this book 10 out of 10 stars and can’t wait to read the next one.

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The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

index.jpg123Blurb: HERE IS A SMALL FACT – YOU ARE GOING TO DIE

1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier.
Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall.

SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION – THIS NOVEL IS NARRATED BY DEATH

It’s a small story, about:
a girl
an accordionist
some fanatical Germans
a Jewish fist fighter
and quite a lot of thievery.

ANOTHER THING YOU SHOULD KNOW – DEATH WILL VISIT THE BOOK THIEF THREE TIMES

Price: £7.99

Age: 13+

Saddest book I have ever read!!!!!

Quite a long-winded book. Took me a couple of weeks to get through it, but I loved it. I love the way it is written and thought that it was a clever way to write a novel from death’s point of view. This book is about the second world war which I have an interest in at the moment. It is  a very sad book about suffering, so if you like funny happy books, don’t read this. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good book, and I am aware of their being a film that I must see. This book is for both genders but maybe more girls than boys because of the main character being a girl. This book is so sad and I very nearly cried, but I didn’t. (I never cry in films or books) I definitely hope ou read this and that you enjoy it as much as I did.

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A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan – Doyle

123Blurb: There’s the scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein of life, and our duty is to unravel it.

After a harrowing tour in Afghanistan, Dr Watson returns to London to convalesce at 221B Baker Street, home to the enigmatic Sherlock Holmes. Their lives are irrevocably thrown together by news that a man has been found dead in a grimy ‘ill-omened’ house, with the word ‘rache’ – German for revenge – written in blood on the wall. This grisly discovery is complicated further by the look of utter horror on the victim’s face, and the complete absence of any wounds on the body or sign of a struggle.

Age: 11+

Price: The complete Sherlock Holmes is available on the kindle for free, and so is this book. However, if you do not have a kindle and wish to by this book, then it is £2.50.

I really enjoyed this book. It is quite long and hard going because it was written a while ago, but I thought it was amazing. I am a huge fan of the TV series so I was super excited to finally read one of the books. This book is very similar to the first Sherlock Holmes episode, “A Study in Pink” where Sherlock and John meet each other for the first time. This is ever so slightly different from the program, but not the same. Murders are always scary, but I didn’t think this one was too bad. There is a part after they solve the murder, where i thought the book was going off on a tangent. Turns out, if you keep reading, it makes perfect sense, so don’t give up on it. This is an amazing book and I highly suggest that you read this book about a double murder, a weird heart disease and a young girl. This book is definitely for both genders and I really hope you read it.

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Forestium (Portallas #1) by Christopher D. Morgan

Forestium-front-cover-finalBlurb:  Joshua’s life is on the line, as he attempts to navigate through the magical world of Forestium to find the truth about his father. He and his companions will need to use all their cunning to stay alive and avoid the dark forces of the Goat. Will he find the magical orbs and open the Portallas, a magical gateway to other worlds, before he’s killed?

Age: 10+

Price: It is available on amazon as an ebook only. Which is priced at £3.83.

I was super excited to review this book because it was a new experience for me to be contacted by an author and given an ARC (advanced reading copy) and I really wanted this book to be good, and it sure was. The prologue was intriguing and draws you into the story. And then the actual book starts ten years after the prologue.

The book is about a 17-year-old boy called Joshua, who refuses to believe that his father is dead and goes off to search for him with his best friend Andrew and an Imp named Galleon. This book is going to be published in February or March and will probably be available on amazon. This book is for both genders. I really enjoyed this book so I hope when you read it, you will too.

‘Forestium’ is the first book in the series ‘Portallas’ and I cannot wait for the rest of the series to come out. This is an adventure/romance/fantasy novel and in some parts I found it scary, partly due to the chapters about ‘The Goat’. My favourite characters were Isabelle, Sarah, The Goat and Lilly. The only thing I didn’t like about the book was at the end, so I wont say because it is a spoiler alert, but it has something to do with Joshua’s dad. I reckon people who have read Eragon will enjoy this book so if you have read it, I would recommend giving this a shot.

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Forestium-3d-image-4forestium-map-large

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Coming soon…….

This is not a book review, but it does lead to one.

This is a very exciting thing for me, an author (Chris Morgan) asked me if I would like to read his book, ‘Forestium’ before it is published, obviously I was super excited and agreed. I know have a copy of ‘Forestium’ and I am super excited to read it. After I have read it, I will write a review and by then, the book should be out for everyone to read.

I am super excited about this and cannot wait to tell you guys all about it!! ??

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Listen To The Moon by Michael Morpurgo

Listen_to_the_MoonBlurb: May, 1915.

Alfie and his fisherman father find a girl on an uninhabited island in the Scillies – injured, thirsty, lost… and with absolutely no memory of who she is, or how she came to be there. She can say only one word: Lucy.

Where has she come from? Is she a mermaid, the victim of a German U-boat, or even – as some islanders suggest – a German spy…?

Only one thing is for sure: she loves music and moonlight, and it is when she listens to the gramophone that the glimmers of the girl she once was begin to appear.

WW1 is raging, suspicion and fear are growing, and Alfie and Lucy are ever more under threat. But as we begin to see the story of Merry, a girl boarding a great ship for a perilous journey across the ocean, another melody enters the great symphony – and the music begins to resolve…

Age: 10+

Price: £4.00 also available in most local libraries, if not, you can ask them to order it for you

I read this book back in 2015 just before the hay festival, and had completely forgotten about up until now when I was sorting out my room and found the book. I loved this book, it was so touching and what I liked the most was there were characters in this book with whom i could relate to. This book is the tale of a young girl who is found on an island. She has no memory of why she is there or how. But then she starts to remember, and it all comes flooding back. This book will make you laugh and cry, and it is Michael Morpurgo best book yet. This book is for both genders and I guarantee an enjoyable read. It was also nominated for the costa book award!!

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Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

5162WSS0S5L._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_Blurb: My name is Magnus Chase. I’m orphaned and living rough on the streets of Boston. And things are about to get much worse.

My day started out normally enough. I was sleeping under a bridge when some guy kicked me awake and said, ‘They’re after you.’ Next thing I know, I’m reunited with my obnoxious uncle, who casually informs me that my long-lost father is a Norse god.

Nothing normal about that. And it turns out the gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Apparently, if I can’t find the sword my father lost two thousand years ago, there will be doom. Doomsday, to be precise.

A fire giant attacking the city?

Immortal warriors hacking each other to pieces?

Unkillable wolves with glowing eyes?

It’s all coming up.

But first I’m going to die. This is the story of how my life goes downhill from there…

Age: 10+

Gender: Both, but will probably suit boys more than girls.

Price: only available in hardback at the moment £7.50

I loved this book!!! Rick Riordan is one of my favourite authors, which is probably why i loved it so much. This book is about a boy who is a son of a norse god, and then dies, and then a load of other stuff happens which I will let you find out for yourselves. This book is original and funny, with ingenious chapter names. My favourite character was Samirah Al Abbas (A.K.A. Sam) who is a Valkyrie, she is so cool! If you loved this book, there is a second one coming out which i am super excited about called Magnus Chase and The Hammer of Thor. Also, if you are a massive Rick Riordan fan (like me) thee is a book about Apollo coming out in summer called The Hidden Oracle. I give his book 10 out of 10 stars and i really hope you like it as well.

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Murder most unladylike by Robin Stevens

51XARzbGkwL._SX324_BO1,204,203,200_Blurb: When Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong set up their very own secret detective agency at Deepdean School for Girls, they struggle to find any truly exciting mysteries to investigate. (Unless you count the case of Lavinia’s missing tie. Which they don’t.)

Then Hazel discovers the Science Mistress, Miss Bell, lying dead in the Gym. She assumes it was a terrible accident – but when she and Daisy return five minutes later, the body has disappeared. Now Hazel and Daisy not only have a murder to solve: they have to prove one happened in the first place. 

Age: 10+

Price: £5.00

This is possibly one of my favourite murder mystery of all time. It’s a really enjoyable book and you seem to build a close relationship with the characters in the book. I really enjoyed reading this book. Robin Stevens has written 2 other books in this series, ‘Arsenic for tea’ and ‘First class murder’ I have read ‘Arsenic for tea’ and have bought his latest one ‘First class murder’ and cannot wait to read it. This is quite an easy read and i read it in a day. The only fault I have with this book is the title, it gives away the gender of the murderer and towards the end, because if the title, it is rather obvious who murdered Miss Bell. I give this book 9 out of 10 stars and I hope that you will enjoy it.

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