Book Review: Daisy Jones and the Six – Taylor Jenkins Reid

May 18, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 9 Comments

Release Date: March 7th 2019
Publisher: Hutchinson
Pages: 368
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: I bought a copy of this in Sainsburys
Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis

For a while, Daisy Jones & The Six were everywhere. Their albums were on every turntable, they sold out arenas from coast to coast, their sound defined an era. And then, on 12 July 1979, they split. Nobody ever knew why. Until now. They were lovers and friends and brothers and rivals. They couldn’t believe their luck, until it ran out. This is their story of the early days and the wild nights, but everyone remembers the truth differently. The only thing they all know for sure is that from the moment Daisy Jones walked barefoot onstage at the Whisky, their lives were irrevocably changed. Making music is never just about the music. And sometimes it can be hard to tell where the sound stops and the feelings begin.

Review

Daisy Jones and the Six tells the tale of world famous Daisy Jones and the Six, a rock band that took the world by storm in the 60s. After a hit record and sell out shows – the band suddenly disbanded and no one knows why. Now years later, the band recount the tale of what led to them breaking up.

Now I’m going to point out straight away that this is completely not the kind of book I would normally read. The majority of the books I read are Science Fiction and Fantasy, so this is completely outside of my comfort zone. I picked this up because of all the hype for this and another of Reid’s novels – The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – and thought it might be quite an interesting read. What I didn’t expect was to be absolutely blown away by this book, and have it be one of my new all-time favourites.

Daisy Jones and the Six is told in a really fascinating way, the book unfolds as a series of interviews – with the band recounting their time recording music and touring. The story is exclusively dialogue, there’s not really anything in the way of scenery descriptions or anything of that nature. Despite that the story completely came alive for me and I felt like Daisy and the band were real people – in fact by the time I was finished I wanted to google the band to learn more about them. The story really makes you feel like these people were real, and brings to life the sights and sounds of life in the 60s.

Daisy Jones and the Six holds nothing back and there’s plenty of drink, drugs and the difficulty of dealing with fame. It’s a fascinating tale and you get the sense early on that it’s going to end badly, yet you absolutely cannot look away.

The story is emotional and heart breaking in the best possible way and I honestly struggled not to bawl my eyes out at it on the way home from work. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like Daisy Jones and the Six, and it’s definitely a book I keep thinking about despite finishing it a while ago.

I’m so glad I took the jump and tried something out of my comfort zone, because this is absolutely a new favourite. I’m incredibly keen to try more from this author and if you’ve seen the buzz around Daisy Jones and thought that the book isn’t your cup of tea I’d definitely suggest giving it a go – you might just find a new favourite.

Book Review: Wicked Saints – Emily A. Duncan

May 17, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 9 Comments

Series: Something Dark and Holy #1
Release Date: April 2nd 2019
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 385
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: I bought a copy of this book from Wordery.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Synopsis

A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself.

A prince in danger must decide who to trust.

A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings.

Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war.

In a centuries-long war where beauty and brutality meet, their three paths entwine in a shadowy world of spilled blood and mysterious saints, where a forbidden romance threatens to tip the scales between dark and light. Wicked Saints is the thrilling start to Emily A. Duncan’s devastatingly Gothic Something Dark and Holy trilogy..

Review

Wicked Saints is a dark and wild ride of a book! The story follows two warring kingdoms, and the people who will do anything to make sure they are their kingdom are the victors. We follow two people – Nadya, a young woman with divine powers who has lived all her lives in a monastery, and Serefin, a powerful blood mage and High Prince of Tranavia. The two are on opposite sides but are fighting with everything they have for survival.

This book is a bit of a rollercoaster. It’s a dark dark story, full of magic and blood. There are a few trigger warnings for this book, particularly for self-harm so I’d definitely recommend checking that out before picking this up if you feel it might be a problem. The story is full to the brim with adventure, a quest for power and a determination to succeed. It makes for an incredibly intoxicating story, and I definitely didn’t want to put this one down.

I thought the story was really fascinating, and the world building well-constructed. The two kingdoms fighting over religion was really interesting and I thought Duncan breathed some new life into this idea that’s been done many times before. The magic system was really intriguing and I enjoyed learning more about the gods with each chapter.

The story is split into alternating viewpoints with Nadya and Serefin and I actually enjoyed both characters plot arcs equally. I liked Serefin’s back story – the high prince with an incredibly strained relationship with his father – who just wants the war to be over. I did feel like Nadya could have done with a bit more of a back story – it would have been interesting to see more of what life was like in the monastery for her.

Overall the story is well paced, growing more intense and quick as it reaches the climax. There were quite a few twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, and that certainly made me enjoy the story all the more. I won’t say too much about the ending so that I don’t spoil it for anyone, but I did feel that it was over very quickly. I felt like we were building and building to this big moment and it was over very fast. I am however super excited to see what will happen in the next instalment of the series. There’s already been quite a bit of hype surrounding this book so I can definitely attest that it’s worth it!

Book Review: The End We Start From – Megan Hunter

May 16, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 2 Comments

Release Date: May 17th 2017
Publisher: Piacador
Pages: 160
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Synopsis

In the midst of a mysterious environmental crisis, as London is submerged below flood waters, a woman gives birth to her first child, Z. Days later, the family are forced to leave their home in search of safety. As they move from place to place, shelter to shelter, their journey traces both fear and wonder as Z’s small fists grasp at the things he sees, as he grows and stretches, thriving and content against all the odds.

This is a story of new motherhood in a terrifying setting: a familiar world made dangerous and unstable, its people forced to become refugees. Startlingly beautiful, Megan Hunter’s The End We Start From is a gripping novel that paints an imagined future as realistic as it is frightening. And yet, though the country is falling apart around them, this family’s world – of new life and new hope – sings with love.

Review

I loved everything about this book. From the eye catching cover to the beautiful prose, this book took my breath away and I devoured it in one sitting. The story is set in a dystopian world that has been ravaged by floods and follows a young mother as she seeks to survive in this new world. It’s a very short book, only one hundred and sixty pages, but in that short space of time a lot happens to the young protagonist.

The thing I really loved about this book was Megan Hunter’s writing style. It’s very lyrical and absolutely beautiful to read. It was part of the reason why I kept turning page after page and before I knew it I’d finished it. The book is a somewhat cautionary tale on the negative effects that pollution have on the environment, and I think it’s a really superbly written story. It’s full of heart and emotion, and I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like it.

This book is really haunting, and it stayed with me long after I finished reading it. In fact several days afterwards I was still thinking about what a stunning book it was. The young mother’s plight as she gives birth, searches for food and is housed in a refugee camp is both harrowing and also realistic, as it’s infinitely possible with today’s destruction of our environment.

If you’re looking for a small book that packs a big punch, The End We Start From is definitely going to be one of the big books of 2017.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Testaments – Margaret Atwood

May 15, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 6 Comments

Synopsis

And so I step up, into the darkness within; or else the light.

When the van door slammed on Offred’s future at the end of The Handmaid’s Tale, readers had no way of telling what lay ahead.

With The Testaments, the wait is over.

Margaret Atwood’s sequel picks up the story 15 years after Offred stepped into the unknown, with the explosive testaments of three female narrators from Gilead.

‘Dear Readers: Everything you’ve ever asked me about Gilead and its inner workings is the inspiration for this book. Well, almost everything! The other inspiration is the world we’ve been living in.’ Margaret Atwood

Thoughts

This is a book I’m looking forward to so much. For a long time Margaret Atwood was an author that I knew of but had never read before. While I was at University one of our modules included The Handmaid’s Tale and I became completely engrossed in the story. I’ve read it a few times and still to think day it blows me away. Since then I’ve read a number of her books and I’ve loved every single one. The ending of The Handmaid’s Tale definitely left me wanting more and I’m so intrigued to find out what’s going to happen in Gilead fifteen years after the events of the first book. The Handmaid’s Tale is one of those books I recommend to everyone, it’s such a brilliant piece of writing. The story is incredibly dark and I honestly have no idea what’s going to happen next, but I’m sure it will be an unputdownable read. The Testaments is publishing September 10th 2019 from Vintage Books.

Top 10 Page to Screen Adaptations I Want to Watch!

May 14, 2019May 14, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 3 Comments

Today on Top Ten Tuesday we’re talking about page to screen adaptations. I’m forever behind on adaptations so I thought it might be fun to post about some of the ones I’d really like to get around to watching!

1. American Gods
This is the number one priority on my list – I keep meaning to watch it and just haven’t got around to it yet but it honestly looks amazing.

2. Love, Simon
Love, Simon is one where I haven’t seen the movie or even read the book but I’ve heard such amazing things that I really just need to get a copy of the book and then watch the movie straight afterwards.

3. Pet Semetary
I was really looking forward to this adaptation and recently went to the cinema to see it only to discover they weren’t showing it anymore (we went to see Us instead). I did enjoy the recently remake of It (though I had thought it would be scarier). Looking forward to seeing how I get on with Pet Semetary.

4. The Hate U Give
I think I’m the only person on the planet that hasn’t seen this movie. It did so well and I’m sure it’s brilliant – I just haven’t gotten around to seeing it yet.

5. The Darkest Minds
I heard sort of mixed things about the movie adaptation to The Darkest Minds so I think that’s part of the reason why I haven’t watched it yet – if you have definitely let me know your thoughts!

6. A Simple Favour
I saw the movie trailer for this and thought it looked really interesting. When I heard it was based on a book I thought maybe I could read the book first and then see the movie, but here we are having done neither – story of my life.

7. Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children
I’ve only read the first book in this series and I haven’t had the chance to see the movie yet, but I absolutely love Eva Green so I’m really keen to see the movie adaptation – and to get around to the rest of the books in the series!

8. The Perks of Being A Wallflower
I literally have no excuse for why I haven’t seen this movie. I’ve read the book twice (once fairly recently) and I really want to see how the film compares – maybe I need to have a weekend of binging movie adaptations!

9. Good Omens
This one is a slight cheat because it isn’t out yet but it looks incredible and I’m determined this will not be one that takes me four years to watch..

10. Divergent series
I have actually seen the first movie in the Divergent series, but not the other two. I did quite like the first film so I’m interested to see how it continues in film form.

So those are the page to screen adaptations I really want to see! What adaptations are you excited to see? And if you’ve seen any good ones recently definitely let me know what you thought!

Book Review: Aurora Rising – Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

May 13, 2019May 12, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 6 Comments

Series: Aurora Cycle #1
Release Date: May 7th 2019
Publisher: Rock the Boat
Pages: 478
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: I bought a copy of this in my local Waterstones
Rating: 5/5 Stars

Synopsis

The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the Academy would touch…

A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm
A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates
A smart-ass techwiz with the galaxy’s biggest chip on his shoulder
An alien warrior with anger management issues
A tomboy pilot who’s totally not into him, in case you were wondering

And Ty’s squad isn’t even his biggest problem—that’d be Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, the girl he’s just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler’s squad of losers, discipline-cases and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy.

They’re not the heroes we deserve. They’re just the ones we could find. Nobody panic.

Review

Aurora Rising was one of my most anticipated releases of 2019. I adored the Illuminae Files and I was hoping this would be just as fun and exciting. If it’s even possible Aurora Rising was even more incredible than I had hoped and it was an immediate five star read.

The story follows Squad 312, a group of Legionnaires who are flung together as the academy dregs no one else wants on their team. When squad leader Tyler discovers the girl he rescued from space stowed away on his ship it sparks a series of events that they might not live to see the end of.

Aurora Rising is just the most fun and fast paced story. As can be expected with this space epic it sets a pretty relentless pace and I was constantly trying to squeeze chapters in because I was dying to know what would happen next. There’s a really brilliant cast of characters and I grew really attached to all of them. The book is full of sarky, sassy moments and plenty of banter between these wonderful characters.

The plot is really intriguing and I really enjoyed the twists and turns of the story – some of the surprises were a bit obvious and I saw them coming – but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story. There were some emotional moments too and the story certainly ended on an enticing cliffhanger – I’m dying to find out what’s in store next for the squad.

There is a bit more romance in the story than I was expecting and a case of insta-love that I’m not so keen on but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment too much. Overall I thought this was a really fantastic read and if you enjoy fast paced action stories or you’ve read work by these authors before, I’m sure you’ll love this one.

Six For Sunday: Books I Want to Reread

May 12, 2019May 12, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 5 Comments

This week on Six for Sunday the prompt is books you want to reread! Rereading isn’t something I do very often and there are loads of books I would love to read again.

1. A Song of Ice and Fire Series – George R. R. Martin
George R. R. Martin is one my all time favourite authors and I love the A Song of Ice and Fire series so much. I did my dissertation on the female characters in the series and that was the last time I reread them. I’d love to dive into the series again and I’m thinking it might be interesting to listen to them as audio books this time around.

2. Abhorsen Series – Garth Nix
I have a ton of Garth Nix books that I’ve read over and over as I was growing up and my favourites are definitely the Abhorsen Series and Shade’s Children. It’s been quite a while so I’d love to get my old battered copies out and have another read of them.

3. See What I Have Done – Sarah Schmidt
See What I Have Done is one of those books that I still think about even though it was a few years ago that I read it. An imagining of the story of Lizzie Borden – who was accused of murdering her Father and Stepmother with an axe – it was just such a dark and twisted story. I completely loved this book and I want to read it again to see if my feelings are still the same.

4. The Sin Eater’s Daughter Series – Melinda Salisbury
This series broke my heart. I loved each book in this series and it’s definitely still one of my favourites. The world building is superb and I completely adored the characters. The series finished in 2017 so I really need to dive back into the world.

5. The Winternight Trilogy – Katherine Arden
Katherine Arden’s Winternight Trilogy is (aside from ASOIAF) probably my most beloved series of all time. From book one I knew this was going to be a favourite and I’m so sad that the series finished in December last year. It’s not been that long since the last book was released but I’m really keen to return to the story.

6. The Queen of the Tearling – Erika Johansen
The Queen of the Tearling is a book I read a really long time ago when it first came out. I really loved it and was really excited to read the other books in the series, but for some reason I never got around to it. I really want to read books two and three but I’m definitely going to have to reread The Queen of the Tearling to understand what’s going on.

So those are the six books/series that I would love to reread! What’s on your reread pile?

Blog Tour: King of Fools – Amanda Foody Q&A

May 11, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 6 Comments

Series: The Shadow Game #2
Release Date: May 2nd 2019
Publisher: HQ Stories
Pages: 602
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.

Synopsis

Indulge your vices in the City of Sin, where a sinister street war is brewing and fame is the deadliest killer of them all…

On the quest to find her missing mother, prim and proper Enne Salta became reluctant allies with Levi Glaisyer, the city’s most famous con man. Saving his life in the Shadow Game forced Enne to assume the identity of Seance, a mysterious underworld figure. Now, with the Chancellor of the Republic dead and bounties on both their heads, she and Levi must play a dangerous game of crime and politics…with the very fate of New Reynes at stake.

Thirsting for his freedom and the chance to build an empire, Levi enters an unlikely partnership with Vianca Augustine’s estranged son. Meanwhile, Enne remains trapped by the mafia donna’s binding oath, playing the roles of both darling lady and cunning street lord, unsure which side of herself reflects the truth.

As Enne and Levi walk a path of unimaginable wealth and opportunity, new relationships and deadly secrets could quickly lead them into ruin. And when unforeseen players enter the game, they must each make an impossible choice: To sacrifice everything they’ve earned in order to survive…

Or die as legends.

Interview

1. For those that haven’t had the chance to read Ace of Shades yet, what three words would you use to describe it?

Casinos. Magic. Gangsters.

2. Ace of Shades was such a hit with fans, how did it feel writing the second book?

I wrote the first draft of it before Ace of Shades released, so I was really just writing it for me–all the story elements I wanted to explore, all the ways I hoped to see these characters grow. The hardest part was wanting to blab about all the new characters and new things that happen when readers were still experiencing the first book for the first time. I’ve felt more of that pressure in writing the third book. I know there are characters readers really want to see survive or end up together, but whatever happens, I hope it still lives up to their expectations.

3. What was the process like for writing King of Fools – was it different to Ace of Shades?

Very! I originally wrote Ace of Shades in high school, and it was rewritten over and over again throughout a span of five years. King of Fools was drafted in two months. I wrote King of Fools as a more experienced writer, and as a book that was already contracted for publication. There was less time, fewer readers, and set deadlines. Still a deeply rewarding experience, though!

4. What was the inspiration for the magic system in the series?

My initial idea was magic as currency, but I still wanted to create the sort of world where people had powers. Thus the currency had to come from one of those powers–the power that the world valued the most. That was how I created the backstory for this world, the Mizers, the Revolution, everything.

5. The cover designs for all of your books are beautiful, did you have much input into their designs and what was your reaction when you saw them?

I had the most input on the King of Fools cover. I think this was because there were a lot of delays on the manuscript’s editorial process, which meant my design team needed to put together a cover without actually knowing what was in the book, so I got to be the authority. I suggested the color and the stripes, mainly. And I wrote the tagline. Kathleen Oudit at Inkyard made it all come together.

6. Now that King of Fools is about to be released what are you working on next?

The final book in The Shadow Game series, Book 3, which releases Fall 2020. I’m also thinking a lot about what comes after–I have a lot of ideas.

7. Finally could you recommend us a good book you read recently?

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman–a creepy woods aesthetic, lovable and memorable characters… and a book happened to be written by my best friend. 10/10 would recommend.

Thank you so much to Amanda Foody for answering my questions and be sure to check the other stops on the tour!

Book Review: How To Stop Time – Matt Haig

May 10, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 5 Comments

Release Date: July 6th 2017
Publisher: Canongate Books
Pages: 325
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly gave me a copy of this book when I was an Intern.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Synopsis

“The first rule is that you don’t fall in love, ‘ he said… ‘There are other rules too, but that is the main one. No falling in love. No staying in love. No daydreaming of love. If you stick to this you will just about be okay.'”

A love story across the ages – and for the ages – about a man lost in time, the woman who could save him, and the lifetimes it can take to learn how to live

Tom Hazard has a dangerous secret. He may look like an ordinary 41-year-old, but owing to a rare condition, he’s been alive for centuries. Tom has lived history–performing with Shakespeare, exploring the high seas with Captain Cook, and sharing cocktails with Fitzgerald. Now, he just wants an ordinary life.

So Tom moves back to London, his old home, to become a high school history teacher–the perfect job for someone who has witnessed the city’s history first hand. Better yet, a captivating French teacher at his school seems fascinated by him. But the Albatross Society, the secretive group which protects people like Tom, has one rule: never fall in love. As painful memories of his past and the erratic behavior of the Society’s watchful leader threaten to derail his new life and romance, the one thing he can’t have just happens to be the one thing that might save him. Tom will have to decide once and for all whether to remain stuck in the past, or finally begin living in the present.

How to Stop Time is a bighearted, wildly original novel about losing and finding yourself, the inevitability of change, and how with enough time to learn, we just might find happiness.

Review

I was really struck by the eye-catching cover for How to Stop Time and so when I picked it up and read the synopsis I just knew I had to read it. I really loved this book and absolutely raced through it. The writing is so addictive that I honestly couldn’t put it down. I loved the premise of this book, mainly because it was a unique spin on the being who lives for centuries idea. Tom is not immortal, he simply ages slower than the rest of humanity. It’s a rare condition, and this idea makes the book seem all the more believable.

I loved reading about Tom in different time periods, as he interacts with some of those most well known in history, each time period really comes alive and Haig’s writing really brings out the sights, sounds and smells of those periods. I think it’s definitely a mark of a fantastic story and a fantastic writer that each time period is so distinctive and vivid. The book is of course split into two different points, one from Tom’s past as he adapts to live in different periods, and his present day life as a history teacher in London.

This book was really the kind of book that sucked me in for hours on end, and definitely stayed with me after I finished reading it. There’s been plenty of hype about this book, and in this case I can say it is absolutely justified. It’s beautiful and will make you happy and sad in equal measure. Tom is a wonderful protagonist and this is a stunning book. This is my first time reading a book by Matt Haig, but after this whirlwind it definitely won’t be my last.

Waiting on Wednesday: Queen of Nothing – Holly Black

May 8, 2019 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 9 Comments

Synopsis

He will be destruction of the crown and the ruination of the throne.

Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold onto. Jude learned this lesson when she released her control over the wicked king, Cardan, in exchange for immeasurable power.

Now as the exiled mortal Queen of Faerie, Jude is powerless and left reeling from Cardan’s betrayal. She bides her time determined to reclaim everything he took from her. Opportunity arrives in the form of her deceptive twin sister, Taryn, whose mortal life is in peril.

Jude must risk venturing back into the treacherous Faerie Court, and confront her lingering feelings for Cardan, if she wishes to save her sister. But Elfhame is not as she left it. War is brewing. As Jude slips deep within enemy lines she becomes ensnared in the conflict’s bloody politics.

And, when a dormant yet powerful curse is unleashed, panic spreads throughout the land, forcing her to choose between her ambition and her humanity…

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, comes the highly anticipated and jaw-dropping finale to The Folk of the Air trilogy.

Thoughts

Today for Waiting on Wednesday I wanted to talk about Queen of Nothing by Holly Black – the third and final book in the Folk of the Air trilogy. I had planned to leave this one until later in the year because the book was due for release in 2020. However with the update that Queen of Nothing has been brought forward for a November release – I couldn’t help but get excited that we are only a few short months away from the conclusion of this series. With the exception of reading The Spiderwick Chronicles as a kid I’ve never read anything by Holly Black until I picked up The Cruel Prince but I absolutely fell in love with her writing style and the magnificent world that she’s built. I know The Cruel Prince has a lot of divided opinions but it is honestly one of my favourite series. I’m sad that it’s going to be the last book but I’m dying to know what’s going to happen next. The first two books have ended on major cliffhangers so I have no idea how it will all turn out. This series is full to the brim with magic, betrayal and the best characters. If you haven’t picked it up yet I’d definitely recommend binging the first two books in the series. The Queen of Nothing is publishing November 19th 2019 from Hot Key Books.