Children Of Blood And Bone by TOMI ADEYEMI

This book teaches an important lesson, and despite it being set in a fantasy world, unlike our own. The events and the way people are treated, is a reflection of how our society treats people today. Tomi Adeyemi states at the end of her novel in the Author’s Notes that she felt that she needed to do something after hearing stories of innocent black women, men and children getting shot by policemen and women. This novel was her way of doing something meaningful, to fight against this problem. Anyway, onto the review…

This book is based off African mythology, focusing mostly on the many different gods that they have. The story starts in Zelie’s home town, Orisha. Zelie Adebola who is a (diviner, white hair, should have magic powers but magic has been suppressed) lives with her father and her brother (Tzain) and lionaire Nailah. Having just earnt her staff, she is sent on a quest to restore magic, and restore the maji’s powers in order to defeat King Saran. Waterstones puts it much better, if you’d like a good description. I won’t go into detail since it’s quite a long book. Zelie meets many different characters along the way, Amari (King Saran’s daughter who is on the run with a scroll (scroll is important)), Inan (Amari’s brother), Olamilekan (or Lekan) and Zu to name a few. Zu was probably my favourite and Zelie as well, and I really liked Binta, even though you never meet her. I think Tomi Adeyemi really got something right with the characters in her book, and how they all interact with each other. I thought Zelie was very inspirational, considering everything she’s been through, Tzain is thoughtful and kind, and Amari is quiet and shy, but a very important and strong character. And then there are the bad guys obviously, otherwise the book would be boring. Of course, there are some really cool characters that I didn’t mention, but as I said earlier, the book is really long and I would be here forever.

This novel is a beautiful mixture of an adventure, a love story, fantasy and sadness. This book is a tear jerker, so I wouldn’t read this in a public area, you have been warned. You would really love this book if you’re a fan of exciting and thrilling novels (towards the end I couldn’t put it down, I was desperate to finish it). Fantasy lovers will like this and I think that this is my favourite fantasy book ever written, so thank you.

After reading this book I wanted everyone to read this, and I still do, I don’t care if you don’t like fantasy or love stories, you need to read this book. It spreads such an important message, something that I believe everyone should know. And I just really loved this book, hence why it was in my top 3 books of 2018. Anyway, I give this book a 10 out of 10 stars, and will continue to recommend it as long as I shall live (that’s a tad dramatic, even for me). I’d say it’s for people aged 13 and upwards because it’s rather upsetting in some parts of the book, and you should definitely read it!

Blurb: Magic can burn, turn tides, light the darkness and bring back the dead. But magic is gone. So one girl must bring it back in the first in a gripping fantasy trilogy.
They killed my mother.They took our magic.They tried to bury us.Now we rise.

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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.

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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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.

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…

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!

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.

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.

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!

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

harry_potter_and_the_cursed_child_special_rehearsal_edition_book_cover Blurb: 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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Eldest (Inheritance, #2) by Christopher Paolini

Blurb: 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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Skulduggery Pleasant (#1) by Derek Landy

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

Blurb: 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!!

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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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.

Harry Potter series by J.K.Rowling

The 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!

Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Blurb: 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.

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

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.

Percy Jackson Series (5 books) by Rick Riordan

I 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.

Forestium (Portallas #1) by Christopher D. Morgan

Blurb: 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.

Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

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.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Blurb: One boy . . . One dragon . . . A world of adventure.

When Eragon finds a polished stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon soon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself.

Overnight his simple life is shattered and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands…

Age: 11+

Price: £6.99

In my opinion this is a fantasy novel like no other, it is one of my favourite fantasy novels by far. There are 3 other books in this series and Eragon is the name of the first, book number 2 is Eldest, Brisingr and last but not least Inheritance. These books are highly enjoyable and I couldn’t put it down until I finished. I give this 10 out of a possible 10 stars and aim it more at boys than girls, but I enjoyed it so, anyone can read it but I think it suits boys more than girls. Please tell me if you enjoyed this book! Christopher Paolini does have a website, here is the link….http://www.paolini.net

The Whizz Pop Chocolate shop by Kate Saunders

I read this book recently and it’s brilliant, and I want to share it with you.

Blurb: WELCOME TO THE MOST MAGICAL HOUSE IN LONDON! Oz and Lily’s family have inherited it, together with the mysterious shop downstairs. Long ago, it’s famous chocolate – makers were clever sorcerers. Now evil villains are hunting the secret of their greatest recipe. The terrifying power of this magic chocolate could destroy the world. The children are swept into a thrilling battle, helped by an invisible cat, talking rat and the ghost of an elephant.

Age rating: 8+

Price: £6.99, also available in any library

In my opinion, this book is brilliant and cleverly written, the author Kate Saunders has also written ‘Bewitched’, ‘Magicalamity’ and a sequel to ‘The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop’ called ‘The Curse Of The Chocolate Phoenix’ so you should definitely check it out if you loved this book as much as I did. This book has a very original story line and is aimed at both genders, it was written in 2012 and I would give it 9 out of 10 stars.