Blog Tour: Soul of the Sword – Julie Kagawa

June 29, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Series: Shadow of the Fox #2
Release Date: June 25th 2019
Publisher: HQ Stories
Pages: 304
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis

One thousand years ago, a wish was made to the Harbinger of Change and a sword of rage and lightning was forged. Kamigoroshi. The Godslayer. It had one task: to seal away the powerful demon Hakaimono.

Now he has broken free.

Kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko has one task: to take her piece of the ancient and powerful scroll to the Steel Feather temple in order to prevent the summoning of the Harbinger of Change, the great Kami Dragon who will grant one wish to whomever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. But she has a new enemy now. The demon Hakaimono, who for centuries was trapped in a cursed sword, has escaped and possessed the boy she thought would protect her, Kage Tatsumi of the Shadow Clan.

Hakaimono has done the unthinkable and joined forces with the Master of Demons in order to break the curse of the sword and set himself free. To overthrow the empire and cover the land in darkness, they need one thing: the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. As the paths of Yumeko and the possessed Tatsumi cross once again, the entire empire will be thrown into chaos.

Review

Soul of the Sword is the second instalment in Julie Kagawa’s Shadow of the Fox series. This quick, action packed adventure was one of my favourites of last year so I was so excited to return to this world. What I got was even more action, even more gripping plot and of course the characters that I love.

The setting for this story is just so beautiful and it really comes to life in Julie Kagawa’s writing. The vibrant world leapt off the page, and I loved every second of being in that world. The plot is very much a journey as the characters continue on their quest and I really enjoyed seeing the different places they ended up. Soul of the Sword is incredibly quick paced, and definitely has that anime-adventure feel to it.

The story is told in alternating POVs between quite a few different characters, and I really liked getting to see things from these different perspectives. Yumeko is absolutely my favourite character, she’s so sweet and lovely and I loved her take on the world. There’s lots of fun banter between the characters, which split up the action nicely too.

This second book is everything you could want. The plot went places I absolutely didn’t expect and the last few chapters had me racing through to find out how it was going to end. I am now absolutely desperate to read book three and I can’t wait to see where Kagawa takes this brilliant story next.

Book Review: Blackwing – Ed Mcdonald

June 26, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 4 Comments

Series: Raven’s Mark #1
Release Date: October 3rd 2017
Publisher: Gollancz
Pages: 360
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review.

Synopsis

The republic faces annihilation, despite the vigilance of Galharrow’s Blackwings. When a raven tattoo rips itself from his arm to deliver a desperate message, Galharrow and a mysterious noblewoman must investigate a long dead sorcerer’s legacy. But there is a conspiracy within the citadel: traitors, flesh-eaters and the ghosts of the wastelands seek to destroy them, but if they cannot solve the ancient wizard’s paradox, the Deep Kings will walk the earth again, and all will be lost.

The war with the Eastern Empire ended in stalemate some eighty years ago, thanks to Nall’s ‘Engine’, a wizard-crafted weapon so powerful even the Deep Kings feared it. The strike of the Engine created the Misery – a wasteland full of ghosts and corrupted magic that now forms a No Mans Land along the frontier. But when Galharrow investigates a frontier fortress, he discovers complacency bordering on treason: then the walls are stormed, and the Engine fails to launch. Galharrow only escapes because of the preternatural magical power of the noblewoman he was supposed to be protecting. Together, they race to the capital to unmask the traitors and restore the republic’s defences. Far across the Misery a vast army is on the move, as the Empire prepares to call the republic’s bluff.

Review

What can I say? This is one bloody brilliant book. Blackwing is set in a sort of post apocalyptic land, The Misery is a wasteland fraught with danger, monsters and who knows what else. The story follows Captain Galharrow, a man tasked with finding and executing any criminals who have fled into The Misery.

The book is full of action and excitement. It’s also very dark and vivid. Ed McDonald certainly holds nothing back and the reader is treated to all the sights, sounds and smells of life in this world. It felt like a very unique read, and unlike any other fantasy book I’ve ever read.

Blackwing also has quite a lot of terminology and names relevant to the story such as ‘Spinners’, ‘gracked’ and ‘darlings’. This was a little confusing at first, but you quickly pick up who is who as you delve into this absorbing story. This book is really fantastically written and in between the action the reader is treated to plenty of world building and explanation about the magic and monsters of The Misery.

The story’s main protagonist – Captain Galharrow is also a truly fascinating character. He’s straight to the point and unlikeable to many, but he’s also loyal and stands by those in his team. Galharrow is supported by some other really excellent characters – Nenn who I just loved, she’s battle crazy and has no nose, as well as Tnota who can find the team a route of just about anywhere, and Ezabeth the mysterious Spinner that Galharrow has to protect. The chracters were all really excellently portrayed as flawed human beings, and the story was all the more enjoyable for that.

Blackwing is a magnificent read. I was sucked in by the first few chapters and before I knew it I’d read half the book in one sitting. It has easily jumped into my top books for 2017. If you love books by authors like Mark Lawrence and Joe Abercrombie, you should pre-order this one now. It’s dark, gory and full of action and magic. I mean honestly what more could you possibly need? This is a stunning debut, and I definitely cannot wait to see what’s in store next!

May Wrap Up!

June 21, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 8 Comments

I definitely feel like I’ve got my reading mojo back recently and in May I managed to read 15 books. Some of them are just little novellas rather than full books but I had a really interesting reading month overall, so lets dive in!

1. Exit Strategy – Martha Wells
I’ve steadily been working my way through The Murderbot Diaries on audio because they’re fun and interesting reads. This is the fourth instalment in the series and while I enjoyed it, I felt it was getting a bit repetitive. The narrator does a really brilliant job of bringing Murderbot to life and the whole series make for really quick reads. I’m caught up on the series now and looking forward to the next instalment which is due for release in 2020. (3/5 stars)

2. Sea Witch – Sara Henning
Sea Witch is a dark retelling which focuses on the Ursula character in The Little Mermaid. This was another audio book read for me and I fell in love with the characters. It was a fast paced read and the narrator was fabulous. I thought the book came to a really interesting conclusion and I assumed it was a standalone but there is a second instalment coming out which I’m really intrigued to read because I’m not sure where the author can go next. Full review is here if you want to know more! (4/5 stars)

3. Aurora Rising – Ami Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
I LOVED this book. The story of a bunch of misfits tasked with saving the galaxy was everything I needed and I’m crediting this book with pulling me out of my reading slump. I adored everything about this book from the characters to the fun, action packed plot. I’m already desperate for more and I’m absolutely going to reread this one soon. My full review for this is here if you want to know more! (5/5 stars)

4. Joker – Brian Azzello
This is a graphic novel I’ve had on my shelf for quite a while so I decided to pick it up one afternoon. I read it in one sitting and I did enjoy it, but it felt kind of forgettable? I only remember the very basics of the story. It felt very much like a crime story that happened to have Batman and Joker in it rather than a superhero tale. I wasn’t all that keen on the art style either, so overall it felt very average. (2.5/5 stars)

5. Wicked Saints – Emily A. Duncan
This was another book that I really really enjoyed. The magic system in this book really intrigued me and I really fell in love with the story. It could have done with a bit more character development and I’m hoping this is something that is addressed in the next book in the series. Full review for Wicked Saints is here! (4.5/5 stars)

6. As Far As the Stars – Virginia Macgregor
This book was so cute! The story of two characters with family members on a plane that has crashed, it’s a sweet and fascinating story as they attempt to deal with what has happened to the plane and explore their feeling for each other. It’s the perfect summer road trip novel and there are lots of really beautiful moments in the story. I took part in the blog tour for this so you can see my stop here if you want to know more. (4/5 stars)

7. Locked In – Mark Lawrence
I recently discovered some Mark Lawrence short stories that I hadn’t read so I quickly snapped up the opportunity to read them (they’ve available on his website). This one was my favourite, a quick and dark little story that kept me hooked the whole way through. A perfect read if you’ve got some time to kill and easily read in one sitting. (4/5 stars)

8. Quick – Mark Lawrence
This was another of the short stories. This one felt a bit shorter so I didn’t feel like I got the chance to get to know the character as much, but it was still a fun little story featuring a young man with strange powers – again this would be perfect if you were waiting for something and had a bit of time to kill – a fun and light read! (3/5 stars)

9. The Princess and the Fangirl – Ashley Poston
I love love loved Geekarella so I was super excited to read The Princess and the Fangirl and it was everything I wanted and more. The story is a retelling of The Princess and the pauper and features two adorable romances, one is also female/female and they were just the cutest! I really enjoyed reading this and it was so fun to see characters from Geekarella pop up. Kind of hoping Ashley Poston continues with this and does more of these geeky retellings because I’m obsessed. (4.25/5 stars)

10. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder – Holly Jackson
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked this up. There was lots of buzz around this at YALC last year and I was interested to give it a go. It ended up being quite an intense, twisty thriller and every theory I came up with ended up being shot down. There were plenty of twists that I absolutely did not see coming. (4/5 stars)

11. The Selection – Kiera Cass
I finally got around to reading the first book in The Selection series and I totally get what everyone was telling me. It wasn’t exactly a ground breaking read but it was fast paced and I couldn’t seem to put the book down. It was an addictive story and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next. (3.5/5 stars)

12. Limited Wish – Mark Lawrence
This was probably my favourite book of the month and I’m pretty obsessed with this series. The second instalment of the Impossible Times trilogy was just as brilliant as book one and I raced through this book because I was just so desperate to know what was going to happen to Nick and the gang. Full review for this one can be found over here. (5/5 stars)

13. My Secret Lies With You – Faye Bird
This was a strange little thriller about a young girl who makes friends with a group of people on holiday. Someone they met last year has gone missing and the group attempt to unravel that secrets around her disappearance. This was another one that I finished very quickly, it’s an exciting readable tale that I think thriller fans will really enjoy. (4/5 stars)

14. Green Arrow: Midas Touch – Dan Jurgens
This was just not for me. I really like Green Arrow and picked up a copy of this New 52 graphic novel but I didn’t get on with it at all. I thought the story was quite slow, it was all action with very little plot. I didn’t feel like I got to know any of the characters and I didn’t really care for the art style. (2/5 stars)

15. Evidence of the Affair – Taylor Jenkins Reid
I saw a few booktubers talking about this novella written by the author of Daisy Jones and the Six. The story follows a woman who discovers her husband is having an affair and so tells the lovers husband all about it. The two strike up a friendship as they attempt to deal with their partners lies and secrets. It’s all told through letters and it was a really fascinating read. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from this author because this is the second time I’ve read something from her that wasn’t my kind of thing and loved it. (4/5 stars)

So those are all the books I read in May! I definitely found some new favourites and I’m hoping I can read just as many in June. Definitely let me know what you’ve been reading recently and if you’ve read any of these I’d loved to know what you thought!

Blog Tour: My Secret Lies With You – Faye Bird

June 19, 2019June 19, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Synopsis
Three close friends. Two unforgettable summers. One girl’s darkest secret.

Alys appeared last summer, and then she vanished without a trace. Cait’s new in town and she needs to know the truth: Who is Alys?
“A tantalizing story of summer, secrets and deep unease” – Sue Wallman, author of Lying About Last Summer.

Guest Post: My Favourite Mysteries

This film, based on Stephen King’s Novella The Body, has a very special place in my heart. Four twelve-year old boys go in search of missing boy Ray Brower. There’s a rumour that he is dead and that his body is lying somewhere outside of town. The boys want to find it. They set off together. They walk and they talk. And as they do they share the biggest and the smallest things of their lives so far in small town Oregon,1959.

Conversations range from survivor guilt over the death of a sibling through to a discussion about who, in a fight between Mighty Mouse and Superman, would win. It’s Superman, by the way. “No way can a cartoon beat up a real guy.” There’s a whole heap of other serious, funny, moving, brilliant, painful conversation in between. The boys encounter danger – a man in a junkyard, leeches in a swamp, and there is the classic moment as they walk along the railway line over a bridge that is a real heart-in-your-mouth-gasp-scream-at-the-screenmoment because by this point in the film you love these boys like they are your brothers or your sons. Well, I did anyway. I still do.

This film was made in 1986 and is definitely one of the main influences that the scriptwriters of Stranger Things the Duffer Brothers, drew on when they created the characters of Will, Mike, Dustin and Lucas. In fact if you haven’t watched this film already then do, and look again at episode 4 of Season 1 of Stranger Things. I’m a huge fan of Stranger Things in part because it draws on so many of the iconic movies of my own 80’s childhood. ET, Poltergeist, Alien and Firestarter immediately come to mind, but there are references that reach far wider, small details or scenes that tip their hat to Indiana Jones (literally – see Hopper) and The Breakfast Club (see Steve and Nancy) and even extend to Karate Kid.

But what I particularly love is that I can watch the show with my teenage daughter who is as hooked as I am despite the fact that she sees none of these 80’s throwbacks and references.

Genius Duffer Brothers! I can’t wait for Season 3. And if you ever ask me if I want to sit down and watch Stand By Me again, I’ll say yes. Always yes. It’s a powerful story about friendship and coming of age and it’s brilliance, for me, never wanes.

Massive thank you to Faye for her wonderful guest post and be sure to check out all the other blog stops for more mysteries. Check back tomorrow for a full review of the gripping My Secret Lies With You!

Blog Tour: Nexus – Lindsay Cummings & Sasha Alsberg

June 16, 2019June 16, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 1 Comment

Series: The Androma Saga #2
Release Date: May 7th 2019
Publisher: HQ Stories
Pages: 544
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.

Synopsis

Her ship is gone, her crew is captured and notorious mercenary Androma Racella is no longer the powerful Bloody Baroness, but a fugitive ruthlessly hunted across the Mirabel Galaxy. The bloodthirsty Queen Nor now rules most of the galaxy through a mind-control toxin and she’ll stop at nothing to destroy her most hated adversary.

Andi will risk anything, even her precious freedom, to find a cure. Stranded with her unlikely ally, Dex, on the unforgiving ice planet of Solera, their plan to infiltrate a black-market city proves dangerously irresistible.

Back in Arcardius, Nor’s actions have opened Mirabel to invasion. As Andi’s crew fights to regain their freedom, Andi and Dex discover a threat far greater than anything they’ve faced before.

Only by saving their mortal enemy can the crew of the Marauder make one last desperate strike to save the galaxy—unaware that a shattering, centuries-old secret may demand the most wrenching sacrifice of all.

Q&A

1. For those that haven’t read Zenith, can you sum it up in three words?

L: fearless space pirates 🙂

S: Blood. Friendship. SPACE!

2. What is the process like for writing the books – do each of you focus on particular characters or do you collaborate on everything?

L: This was a very collaborative duology, where we both worked together on FaceTime and Google Docs, so we could do a lot of the plotting together, (and laughing a lot), and then kind of alternating throughout each POV as we went.

S: For Zenith we wrote on top of each others writing, so we each worked on every character together. Meanwhile for Nexus, we each took a few characters each and wrote 4-5 chapters from each POV then would switch with each other. Both ways worked for us!

3. How did working on Nexus compare to working on Zenith?

L: ZENITH was done in 6 weeks, whereas NEXUS had over a year of time to work on! Second books are difficult, so we’re grateful for that extended time to get the book to where it needed to be!

S: It felt very different because as an author, you cannot expect all books to be done the same way as the last. It was tricky finding that happy medium. We had less time to write Zenith but Nexus almost felt like a (good) upward battle. We learned a lot…and deleted a lot.

4. What was the inspiration behind the story?

L: we just wanted to write a series about friendship, specifically female friendships that don’t turn sour. Our own friendship helped spark the idea!!

S: Friendship and our love for space. We wanted to create a book where girls could be friends without turning against each other. We also just wanted to have an epic space opera with a diverse cast of characters like they do on Firefly and Star Wars.

5. Now that Nexus is about to be released, what are you working on next?

L: I have an upcoming book (stay tuned on info for that!!) full of outlaw girls and alien horses, dark magic and mayhem.

S: Im working on an urban folklore fantasy novel called Project Red (no the official title). You can follow my progress on it over on its IG page: @Projectredbook 🙂

6. Finally can you recommend us a good book you read recently?

L: I’m really loving Maureen Johnson’s TRULY DEVIOUS series. It’s a great mystery!

S: THE CHOSEN by Taran Matharu! So. Good. Its about a group of kids who suddenly disappear, just to be transported to another world and from there, things get really EPIC. It has lost history, dinosaurs, an *amazing* cast of characters and an ancient, unknown evil who is playing puppeteer.

Massive thank you to Lindsay and Sasha for participating in this Q&A and make sure to check out the other stops on the tour!

Book Review: Maresi – Maria Turtschaninoff

June 15, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 5 Comments

Series: The Red Abbey Chronicles #1
Release Date: January 5th 2017
Publisher: Pushkin Press
Pages: 256
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis

Maresi came to the Red Abbey when she was thirteen, in the Hunger Winter. Before then, she had only heard rumours of its existence in secret folk tales. In a world where girls aren’t allowed to learn or do as they please, an island inhabited solely by women sounded like a fantasy. But now Maresi is here, and she knows it is real. She is safe.

Then one day Jai tangled fair hair, clothes stiff with dirt, scars on her back arrives on a ship. She has fled to the island to escape terrible danger and unimaginable cruelty. And the men who hurt her will stop at nothing to find her.

Now the women and girls of the Red Abbey must use all their powers and ancient knowledge to combat the forces that wish to destroy them. And Maresi, haunted by her own nightmares, must confront her very deepest, darkest fears.

A story of friendship and survival, magic and wonder, beauty and terror, Maresi will grip you and hold you spellbound.

Review

Maresi is an enchanting read which follows a young girl who lives at the Red Abbey. This gorgeous island is home to a group of women and girls, who work for themselves and forbid men to come to the island. When their world is threatened Maresi and the sisters must use all their knowledge and power to save everything that they know.

This was such a fascinating little book. It sucks you in deeper and deeper and leaves you desperate for more of this stunning world. I completely fell in love with the island setting and I loved the way the author brought it to life. The abbey and the nature surrounding it was vividly painted on each page and it definitely brought the story to life.

The plot is a bit more of a slow burn, giving you time to get to know the characters and the world before ramping up the action in the latter half of the book. I enjoyed getting to know Maresi and Jay. They were multi-layered characters with dark pasts and it was lovely watching their friendship bloom.

Maresi is an incredibly unique feminist fantasy tale. This is a coming of age story, full to the brim with the themes of friendship, family and the strength of women. This is a beautifully told story and I’m so looking forward to going back to this world in books two and three.

Book Review: What Lies Around Us – Andrew Crofts

June 14, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 4 Comments

Release Date: 13th June 2019
Publisher: Red Door Books
Pages: 256
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review.
Rating: 4.25/5 stars

Synopsis

It is possible that since this book’s publication you will have heard that I have died in ‘suspicious circumstances’. Obviously I hope that will not be the case, but I believe it is worth taking the risk in order to get this story out there.

Why would one of Silicon Valley’s most powerful billionaires offer a British ghostwriter a million dollars to write the autobiography of Hollywood’s biggest star?

Only once he is living and working among the world’s richest and most beautiful people does the ghost realise that there is way more than a publishing deal at stake.

The ghostwriter must face the dark underbelly of the tech industry. He must face corruption and manipulation, come to blows with people who will do anything to remain at the top of their game and uncover the dark truth behind what it really means to be an influencer . . .

What Lies Around Us takes the reader into a world of myth-makers and power-brokers and reveals who is really running the world. Who is telling the stories and controlling the way we all think with a mixture of old media, social media and fake media?

Review

I read and loved The Secret of the Italian Gardner by Andrew Crofts a while ago, so when I was contacted about What Lies Around Us I jumped at the chance to read it. If it’s possible this book was even more gripping and addictive and I could not put it down.

Andrew is a British ghostwriter and is contacted out of the blue by Roger, a Silicon Valley tech giant about ghost writing a new book. The book isn’t about him, but about a leading actress of blockbuster films and reality television. So why is Roger so interested in getting this book published? He’s willing to pay a million dollars for Andrew to write it, but he’s very specific about what he wants. As Andrew gets to know his subject a devastating set of events occur and Andrew begins to wonder is it mere coincidence that he was writing the book – or has somebody planned this?

This might be a small book but it really packed a punch! There were so many mysteries going on and I just had no idea how it was going to end. When I turned the last few pages I was so surprised. The plot is brilliantly executed and definitely kept me guessing.

The characters are really fascinating and Andrew really gives you the opportunity to get to know them – Roger the seemingly nice business man with ruthless ambition, Jo-Jo the beautiful actress with her perfect husband and family. As the story goes deeper the curtain is peeled back to see there’s so much more going on underneath.

I loved the gorgeous setting of the story – it really came to life in this book. I also really liked the writing style and found myself wanting to read more and more just to find out how it was going to end. I ended up reading the book in two sittings because I just couldn’t get enough. The story focuses on a whole range of themes but is most notably about power and ambition, and just what you’ll do to get it. The story also broaches the subject of social media and the influence it has on the world – I found this aspect really interesting and overall thought it was a thoroughly engaging read.

If you’re looking for an exciting, fast read, What Lies Around Us is a must read. It’s an engaging, thought provoking thriller and I’m so looking forward to reading more books from Andrew Crofts.

Book Review: Two Can Keep A Secret – Karen M. McManus

June 13, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 6 Comments

Release Date: January 10th 2019
Publisher: Penguin
Pages: 336
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: I bought a copy of this in Sainsbury’s
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis

Echo Ridge is small-town America. Ellery’s never been there, but she’s heard all about it. Her aunt went missing there at age seventeen. And only five years ago, a homecoming queen put the town on the map when she was killed. Now Ellery has to move there to live with a grandmother she barely knows.

The town is picture-perfect, but it’s hiding secrets. And before school even begins for Ellery, someone’s declared open season on homecoming, promising to make it as dangerous as it was five years ago. Then, almost as if to prove it, another girl goes missing.

Ellery knows all about secrets. Her mother has them; her grandmother does too. And the longer she’s in Echo Ridge, the clearer it becomes that everyone there is hiding something. The thing is, secrets are dangerous–and most people aren’t good at keeping them. Which is why in Echo Ridge, it’s safest to keep your secrets to yourself.

Review

I really enjoyed Karen M McManus’s debut novel – One of Us Is Lying, so I was excited to give her new book a shot. The story follows twins Ezra and Ellery who are sent to live with their grandmother whilst their mother is in rehab. The small little town is famous for the murder/disappearance of two Homecoming Queens – one of which is the twin’s aunt. Whilst getting acquainted with the town strange things start happening and the mysterious killer claims to have returned – but will Ellery be able to uncover the truth about her aunt’s disappearance?

Two Can Keep A Secret is the sort of book you take on a plane ride or pick up on a quiet afternoon to while away a few hours. You start off reading a few pages and it immediately sucks you in – hours later you’re still sitting there, desperate to know how it’s going to end. That was definitely my experience of reading this book. It’s a twisty, turny read and definitely lots of fun.

I really liked the setting in this story, the creepy little town filled with secrets really gave me Riverdale kind of vibes and I loved that the twins take jobs in an odd, creepy theme park. The characters are interesting ones too although at times I did feel like they could be more fleshed out. The story gives us alternating points of view between Ellery and Malcolm, a local boy who ends up involved in the mystery. Both characters give interesting perspectives and I liked seeing things from different points of view, particularly as the intensity heightening and the mystery was revealed.

The story is a multi-layered one and there are quite a lot of themes and ideas within the novel, covering topics like family, friendship, understanding yourself and lots more in between. It’s an engaging story that’s executed well. I enjoyed the overall story and definitely felt surprised at some of the shock twists. One or two of the twists were a little predictable but even though I knew what was coming, I still enjoyed the way it was revealed and tied into the rest of the story.

If you’re looking for a fast paced and engaging read, Two Can Keep a Secret should definitely be on your list. If you’ve read One of Us Is Lying, I’d absolutely recommend picking this up because this will definitely be a new favourite in the YA-thriller world.

Waiting on Wednesday: Here There Are Monsters – Amelinda Berube

June 12, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 2 Comments

Synopsis

The Blair Witch Project meets Imaginary Girls in this story of codependent sisterhood, the struggle to claim one’s own space, and the power of secrets

Sixteen-year-old Skye is done playing the knight in shining armor for her insufferable younger sister, Deirdre. Moving across the country seems like the perfect chance to start over.

In their isolated new neighborhood, Skye manages to fit in, but Deirdre withdraws from everyone, becoming fixated on the swampy woods behind their house and building monstrous sculptures out of sticks and bones.

Then Deirdre disappears.

And when something awful comes scratching at Skye’s window in the middle of the night, claiming she’s the only one who can save Deirdre, Skye knows she will stop at nothing to bring her sister home.

Thoughts

This waiting on Wednesday I thought I would talk about Here There Are Monsters, which really caught my eye recently and I’m so excited to pick it up! The cover really caught my eye and when I saw the comparison to The Blair Witch project I was pretty much sold. It sounds like a really fascinating story about sisterhood and I love a good horror novel. I haven’t read anything by this author but she also has another book called The Death Beneath the Ice that also sounds really intriguing, so I might pick that up to get a feel for her writing. I’ve seen some kind of mixed reviews for Here There Are Monsters already, some saying they were kind of disappointed with it but I’m excited to give the book a go and find out for myself if it’s worth the wait. Here There Are Monsters is publishing August 1st 2019 from Sourcebooks Fire.

Book Review: Summer Bird Blue – Akemi Dawn Bowman

June 9, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Release Date: April 4th 2019
Publisher: Ink Road
Pages: 375
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: I bought a copy of this at NYALitFest
Rating: 3/5 stars

Synopsis

Rumi Seto spends a lot of time worrying she doesn’t have the answers to everything. What to eat, where to go, whom to love. But there is one thing she is absolutely sure of—she wants to spend the rest of her life writing music with her younger sister, Lea.

Then Lea dies in a car accident, and her mother sends her away to live with her aunt in Hawaii while she deals with her own grief. Now thousands of miles from home, Rumi struggles to navigate the loss of her sister, being abandoned by her mother, and the absence of music in her life. With the help of the “boys next door”—a teenage surfer named Kai, who smiles too much and doesn’t take anything seriously, and an eighty-year-old named George Watanabe, who succumbed to his own grief years ago—Rumi attempts to find her way back to her music, to write the song she and Lea never had the chance to finish.

Review

Last year I read Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman and completely fell in love with the characters and the beautifully written tale. When I heard Summer Bird Blue was going to be published in the UK I snapped up a copy straight away. The story follows Rumi, a young girl who loses her sister in a car crash. Her mother, consumed with grief sends her to live with her aunt in Hawaii over the summer and there Rumi has to learn to cope with her grief and find the music that was so important to her and her sister.

This is such a unique, beautifully told story about family, friendship and grief. The story very much focuses in on Rumi as she tries to figure out how to live her life without her sister. It was well executed and I enjoyed seeing Rumi make friends with next door neighbour Kai and find a way back to the music that she loves so much.

Starfish was a five star read for me and part of the reason for that was the realistic characters. The characters in Summer Bird Blue are very realistic and well fleshed out, but I didn’t connect with them in the same way I did with Starfish. I really enjoyed the story, but it didn’t take my breath away like the previous book.

The story is incredibly emotional and I love the beautiful Hawaiian setting. I also loved that Bowman could so easily have introduced a romance between Rumi and Kai and instead have them remain friends. The story touches on a lot of incredibly important issues – not just grief but finding yourself, relationships and what it means to be a family. It isn’t a particularly light book, the story is quite a heavy one, but it’s executed extremely well.

While I really enjoyed it this book just didn’t blow me away, but I know Akemi Dawn Bowman fans will be overjoyed to read another gorgeous book from her. If you’re looking for a story that will keep you turning the pages but will also give you a lump in your throat, you should definitely pick up Summer Bird Blue.

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Synopsis Three close friends. Two unforgettable summers. One girl’s darkest secret.

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Three close friends. Two unforgettable summers. One girl’s darkest secret.