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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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.

What’s a girl gotta do? by Holly Bourne

Blurb: 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!!!

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Blurb: 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.

Lyre by Tina V. Tatum

Blurb: 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

Blurb: 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

Blurb: 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….

The Crimson Claymore by Craig A. Price Jr.

Blurb: 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.