Books I Want To Read Before the End of the Year!

November 30, 2018November 29, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 14 Comments

It’s getting to that time of year! How scary is it that 2018 is almost over already? With a little over a month to go before January 1st I still have a ton of books I want to read, and my TBR is no shorter than it was in January. I thought I could make a slightly ambitious list of books I’d love to squeeze in before 2019 begins!

1. City of Brass – S. A. Chakraborty
This has been on my TBR for ages and I know the sequel is coming out in 2019 so I would love to get to it before the end of the year. It sounds like such a brilliant fantasy book that I know I’m going to love it.

2. Gemina – Ami Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
So recently I did a post where I predicted books I thought would be five star reads and one of them was Illuminae. I picked it up as part of Tome Topple and it was absolutely amazing. I’ve already picked up a copy of Gemina so I definitely have to continue on with this series ASAP.

3. State of Sorrow – Melinda Salisbury
I honestly don’t know why I haven’t read this yet. Favourite author? Check. Book sounds amazing? Check. I suppose I’m hyping it up a bit in my head but I’m hoping to bite the bullet and read it really soon.

4. To Kill A Kingdom – Alexandra Christo
Little Mermaid inspired book? Yes please. I met Alexandra at YALC this year and she was really nice and signed for forever so I definitely want to get to this ASAP because I have a beautiful signed copy calling me from my unread shelf.

5. Ash Princess – Laura Sebastian
Ash Princess is a book that caught my eye a few months ago and I actually have a Netgalley ARC of it to read too. I’ve heard mixed things about it but it sounds like it would be up my alley so I’d love to get to it soon.

6. Nevernight – Jay Kristoff
With me reading and loving Illuminae so much I’m really interested to read Nevernight so I thought I would add this to the list. I know so many people love this series and it has been on my TBR for ages so this is definitely a good excuse to dive in.

7. Into the Drowning Deep – Mira Grant
I saw lots of people reading this over Halloween and I really hoped that I would get to it then but it just didn’t happen. I’ve actually never read anything by Seanan McGuire so I’m hoping this will be a good introduction to her work because I really want to try her Wayward Children books.

8. A Shiver of Snow and Sky – Lisa Luddeke
This is another one that I can’t believe I haven’t read yet. It’s a gorgeous book and it sounds incredible – someone please tell me off if I don’t get around to reading this soon because book two is already out and I haven’t even read the first one.

9. Circe – Madeline Miller
I bought a stunning hardback copy of this when it came out earlier in the year but for some reason I haven’t had the chance to read it yet. I’ve heard some really amazing things so perhaps I can binge read it over the Christmas holidays.

10. Girls of Paper and Fire – Natasha Ngan
Another Netgalley E-ARC that I also have since bought a copy of. I’ve seen so many people give this four and five star reviews and I’m honestly so excited to read it. It’s actually a little bigger than I thought it was but I’m really hopeful I can squeeze it in before the end of the year.

So those are the 10 books I’d love to get to before the end of the year! I’m probably being a bit over ambitious because I have review books for January to tackle in December too, but I thought it would be fun to include this in my end of the year wrap up and see how many I ticked off the list! If you’ve read any of these do let me know what you thought and if there’s any you think I should prioritise first!

Book Review: Mirage – Somaiya Daud

November 29, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 2 Comments

Series: Mirage #1
Release Date: 28th August 2018
Publisher: Hodder Books
Pages: 320
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: I received an E-ARC via Netgalley and then I picked up a copy of this in my local bookshop.

Synopsis

In a star system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she, too, will have adventure, and travel beyond her isolated moon.

But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects: she is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place.

As Amani is forced into her new role, she can’t help but enjoy the palace’s beauty—and her time with the princess’ fiancé, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear. If Amani ever wishes to see her family again, she must play the princess to perfection…because one wrong move could lead to her death.

Review

THIS BOOK. I requested a copy of Mirage on Netgalley because it sounded like it had quite an interesting premise. After meaning to get around to it for a while I picked it up on a whim and honestly this is easily one of my top five favourite books of the year. I could not put this down and I’m so excited to find out what’s going to happen next.

Untitled design (97) Mirage is a stunning debut that complexly weaves fantasy and science fiction elements to create this gorgeous world where no one is safe and things can change in the blink of an eye. I love the blend of planets and technology with mythology and faith. It worked so well together and I enjoyed every second in this world.

The story is fast-paced and told from the point of view of our main character Amani. My one criticism with this book would be that I wanted more, I’d have loved more time to explore the different places Amani visits, and find out more about the different cultures and people that are ruled by the Vathek. The characters are also completely fascinating. Amani who is dealing with this horrific situation of being a body double and pretty much a slave – she chooses to remain strong and fight back instead of breaking under such an awful situation. I also really loved Maram, she’s a complex character – a future Queen hated by everyone for being half Vathek and half Kushaila, on the surface she seems like your typical villain but there’s so much more going on.

Mirage blends so many themes and ideas in a really beautiful way. There’s family and friendship, what it means to belong and a dash of romance too. There’s also much darker themes as the story looks at the subjugation of the Andaalan people who are forced to speak a new language and serve the new ruling Vathek. This story is gripping and engaging and will definitely leave you on the edge of your seat wanting more. Your only problem is going to be waiting for the release of Court of Lions in 2019.
5 stars

Book Review: The Sisters of the Winter Wood – Rena Rossner

November 28, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 5 Comments

Release Date: 25th September 2018
Pages: 464
Publisher: Orbit Books
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review.

Synopsis

Raised in a small village surrounded by vast forests, Liba and Laya have lived a peaceful sheltered life – even if they’ve heard of troubling times for Jews elsewhere. When their parents travel to visit their dying grandfather, the sisters are left behind in their home in the woods.

But before they leave, Liba discovers the secret that their Tati can transform into a bear, and their Mami into a swan. Perhaps, Liba realizes, the old fairy tales are true. She must guard this secret carefully, even from her beloved sister.

Soon a troupe of mysterious men appear in town and Laya falls under their spell-despite their mother’s warning to be wary of strangers. And these are not the only dangers lurking in the woods…

The sisters will need each other if they are to become the women they need to be – and save their people from the dark forces that draw closer.

Review

The Sisters of the Winter Wood captured my attention from the very beginning and absolutely did not let me go. This is a stunning fairy tale style story that will definitely be on my list of favourite books of 2018.

The story follows two sisters – Liba and Laya – who live on the outskirts of a forest. When their parents leave to travel to their father’s home town, the girls must fend for themselves as well as deal with the secrets that they have learned – that Liba can transform into a bear, and Laya into a swan. But not everything in the forest is friendly and with people in nearby towns spouting anti-Semitic views, the sisters must fight to save each other.

I loved everything about this book. The writing style is gorgeous, and the chapters alternate between the two sisters. Liba’s chapters are told in a traditional format and Laya’s are told in short prose like sentences. I loved the difference between the two and it really brought to life the difference between the practical sister and the dreamlike one.

The plot is exciting and beautifully paced. I raced through this book in two days because I could not put it down. I adored the wealth of detail in the magic and the way Rossner weaved all the magical elements into the story.

The story isn’t just a reimagining of the classic fairy tale. Woven into the tale is a life in a small village and how the seeds of hatred can spread through a nation. As bad things happen and people are discovered dead, the townspeople look to blame the Jewish for their bad luck. I thought this was a really fascinating element to the story and was even more intrigued to discover that this was inspired by true events that occurred in the authors ancestry. It definitely added another fascinating layer to this brilliant story.

The story deals with so many topics, friendship, family, sister love and loss. It’s a stunning debut and fans of books like The Bear and the Nightingale will absolutely adore this one. For me it was the perfect autumn read, full of gorgeous depictions of the forest and plenty of dark and creepy moments. The Sisters of the Winter Wood is a magnificent, engrossing read that you definitely need to add to your wish list.

Blog Tour: The Girl In the Broken Mirror – Savita Khalan

November 27, 2018November 26, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 2 Comments

Release Date: 29th March 2018
Publisher: Trokia Books
Pages: 288
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The author kindly contacted me to participate in the blog tour and sent me a copy to review.

Synopsis

Jay’s creative writing exercise is to write a fairy tale, to end with ‘they lived happily ever after’. But the way her life is panning out she’s not sure it will ever reach that stage. A powerful moving gripping story which explores themes of family, loyalty and culture clash but is ultimately about hope and understanding.

Review

This is an incredibly moving story that I found difficult to put down. I picked it up early in preparation for the blog tour and found myself still sitting in the same spot a few hours later, absolutely gripped by this emotional tale.

This book covers a lot of difficult topics such as suicide and rape, so this is by no means a light read, but it is a beautifully written tale that stays with you long after you’re finished reading. The book follows Jaya – starting with the morning after she is raped and then jumping back to the events leading up to that night. The story really hones in on different cultures and Jaya’s attempts to be both English and Indian and in particular keep to the traditional Indian beliefs.

This is a gripping story that really looks in depths at relationships, between friends as well as between mother and daughter and I found it such a fascinating insight. The characters were wonderfully written and I definitely became attached to Jaya. On more than once occasion this book brought me close to tears and I think that’s a mark of a very powerful story.

Previous to 2018 contemporary YA was not something that I read all that often but recently I’ve found myself picking up books in that genre more often. This is a really excellent piece of contemporary YA that I would definitely recommend. It might be a hard hitting read, but it is most definitely worth it.

Book Review: The Blue Salt Road – Joanne Harris

November 26, 2018November 26, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Release Date: 15th November 2018
Publisher: Orion Books
Pages: 256
Find it on: Goodreads. Waterstones.
Source: I won an ARC of this at YALC.

Synopsis

An earthly nourris sits and sings
And aye she sings, “Ba lilly wean,
Little ken I my bairn’s father,
Far less the land that he staps in.
(Child Ballad, no. 113)

So begins a stunning tale of love, loss and revenge, against a powerful backdrop of adventure on the high seas, and drama on the land. The Blue Salt Road balances passion and loss, love and violence and draws on nature and folklore to weave a stunning modern mythology around a nameless, wild young man.

Passion drew him to a new world, and trickery has kept him there – without his memories, separated from his own people. But as he finds his way in this dangerous new way of life, so he learns that his notions of home, and your people, might not be as fixed as he believed.

Review

This is the second of book by Joanne Harris based on The Child Ballads. The first being A Pocketful of Crows which I read last year and adored. This time around the story focuses on selkies and Harris weaves a beautiful fairytale of adventure, love and loss.

The story follows a young woman named Flora who tricks a Selkie into becoming her mate. Once pregnant she steals his seal skin meaning he can never return to the water. According to myth when the Selkie is separated from his skin he cannot remember who he truly is. The story follows the Selkie as he seeks to reclaim what is his, as well as protect his newborn child.

Joanne Harris really is the Queen of beautiful, lyrical writing and her style fits so well with this kind of story. It allows you to really sink into the story, enveloping you in this world of wild seas, full of danger and violence.

Like A Pocketful of Crows I found this book fascinating. I loved the bold story with memorable characters and the gorgeous illustrations really helped to bring the story to life. Although it’s a short little book (in fact I read in a single sitting on the train from London to Edinburgh), it certainly packs a punch and I still think about it even though I read it a while ago.

With gorgeous artwork both inside and out, this really is a stunning book. The story is a beautifully woven tale of magic, adventure and love. Fans of Joanne Harris will definitely not be disappointed and if you enjoy fairy tales and retellings, this should absolutely be on your wish list.

Blog Tour: Shadow of the Fox – Julie Kagawa

November 25, 2018November 25, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 5 Comments

Series: Shadow of the Fox #1
Release Date: 1st November 2018
Publisher: HQ Stories
Pages: 454
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review

Synopsis

A single wish will spark a new dawn. Every millennium, one age ends and another age dawns…and whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers holds the power to call the great Kami Dragon from the sea and ask for any one wish. The time is near and the missing pieces of the scroll will be sought throughout the land of Iwagoto. The holder of the first piece is a humble, unknown peasant girl with a dangerous secret. Demons have burned the temple Yumeko was raised in to the ground, killing everyone within, including the master who trained her to both use and hide her kitsune powers. Yumeko escapes with the temple’s greatest treasure – one part of the ancient scroll. Fate thrusts her into the path of a mysterious samurai, Kage Tatsumi of the Shadow Clan. Yumeko knows he seeks what she has and is under orders to kill anything and anyone who stands between him and the scroll.

Review

This is the first book in an all new fantasy series from renowned fantasy author Julie Kagawa. The story is told in alternating points of view, following characters with pieces of an ancient scroll that has the power to awaken the great Kami Dragon. This story is exquisitely told and complexly weaved with mythology and lore.

This is my first book by Julie Kagawa and I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to her work. I loved her characters – Yumeko is a kitsune, a half fox demon. She’s not altogether human and I love her mischievous cunning side. Kage too was really fascinating and unusually I enjoyed both characters perspectives equally – something that I find doesn’t often happen when you have multiple POVS. Her characters were well developed and I enjoyed the amount of character depth as they found themselves on this wild adventure.

I thoroughly enjoyed Kagawa’s writing style. The story is quick paced and continues to ramp up as the story progresses. The book touches on some really important themes, like friendship, family and ultimately doing what is right. It’s a really gorgeous fantasy story and I loved learning more about Japanese mythology. The setting was beautiful and I loved the sense of atmosphere that shines through in the book. The story is very much a journey, and I am already dying to know what’s going to happen next. If you’re looking for a new own voices fantasy that’s chalk full of fantasy and mythology, Shadow of the Fox is definitely the book for you.

October Book Haul!

November 24, 2018November 24, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 8 Comments

This is, as is traditional with Nicole and book hauls, a very late post. So I’m just going to dive right in and talk about the books I picked up/was sent in October!

From Publishers

1. The Conviction of Cora Burns – Carolyn Kirby
This was a piece of surprise book mail that arrived from No Exit Press. It’s a piece of historical fiction about a young woman born in prison, who fears she might inherit her mother’s violent tendencies. It’s for fans of Sarah Schmidt and Laura Purcell so I am definitely intrigued to read this one!

2. Odd One Out – Nic Stone
Another piece of surprise post was Odd One Out by Nic Stone. I’m yet to read Dear Martin though I do have it on my wishlist. I’m excited to read this one and it looks like it will be quite a quick read so hopefully I get to it before the end of the month.

3. The Haunting of Drearcliff School – Kim Newman
I love Kim Newman’s books so when Titan offered to send me a copy of his newest Drearcliff School novel, I jumped at the chance. Newman’s books are always fast paced with such fascinating spooky plots that I’m sure I’m going to love this one as much as the other Kim Newman books I’ve read.

4. Girl Squads – Sam Maggs
This is a non-fiction book about ’20 female friendships that changed the world.’ I started reading this today and honestly it’s completely fascinating. The stories range in time and location, covering athletes, artists and everything in between.

5. The Dark Vault – V. E. Schwab
My new found love affair with books by V. E. Schwab continues with this bind up of The Archived books. I am yet to pick this up because it’s absolutely massive but I’m going to try and binge read it at the start of December.

6. A Remedy For All Things – Jan Fortune
I participated in the blog tour for this fascinating book – you can read my guest post from the author here – and Jan kindly sent me a copy of the book to review as well. I haven’t had the chance to pick it up yet but I’m really looking forward to giving it a go.

7. The Silver Queen – Josie Jaffrey
Josie kindly sent me a copy of The Gilded King a few months ago and I loved it. (Review for that is here). She also very kindly sent me a copy of the next book in the series, The Silver Queen. I’m honestly dying to know what happens next so I am for sure picking this up as soon as possible.

Books I Bought

8. I’ll Be Gone In the Dark – Michelle McNamara
I’ve heard really fascinating things about this book and I’m trying to read more non-fiction instead of just fantasy and science fiction all the time so I thought this might be a really interesting read.

9. Mythos – Stephen Fry
I’ve never read anything from Stephen Fry but I’ve always wanted to read more about the Greek myths. I saw the paperback copy of this for sale online and thought I may as well pick up a copy.

10. The Missing Girl – Shirley Jackson
I’ve been wanting to read more Shirley Jackson since I read We Have Always Lived In the Castle earlier in the year so this short little book of short stories was a perfect chance to read more of her work. I read it earlier in the month and gave it 3/5 stars.

11. The Haunting of Hill House – Shirley Jackson
Along with The Missing Girl I also bought a copy of The Haunting of Hill House. This has definitely been my favourite of her work so far. It was creepy and odd and I really enjoyed it. I gave this one 4/5 stars.

12. Sea – Sara Driver
This was in all honesty a cover buy. I picked it up in a second hand book shop because I love pirate-y/sea type books and I’m basically looking for something to fill the void that The Wicked Deep left. It sounds like a fun and quick fantasy read and I’ve heard pretty good things about it already!

13. The Shining – Stephen King
I also bought this in a second hand book shop because I’ve never read The Shining. I saw the movie a long time ago but I don’t really remember the story so I’m excited to go into it with a blank slate and I’m hoping I really enjoy it. I was hoping to read this at Halloween but that obviously didn’t happen so hopefully soon!

14. Small Spaces – Katherine Arden
Katherine Arden’s middle grade novel was everything I hoped it would be and more. It was dark, spooky and very entertaining. I (unsurprisingly) gave this 5/5 stars and I’ll have a review up for it very soon.

15. The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein – Kiersten White
I ordered this as soon as it came out because I was really intrigued with this fresh perspective on the Frankenstein tale. I read it really fast and I loved Kiersten’s writing style and take on this classic story. This was another 5/5 star read and one of my favourites of the month.

Waiting on Wednesday #7: Holy Sister – Mark Lawrence

November 21, 2018November 20, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 2 Comments

Synopsis

They came against her as a child. Now they face the woman.

The ice is advancing, the Corridor narrowing, and the empire is under siege from the Scithrowl in the east and the Durns in the west. Everywhere, the emperor’s armies are in retreat.

Nona faces the final challenges that must be overcome if she is to become a full sister in the order of her choice. But it seems unlikely that Nona and her friends will have time to earn a nun’s habit before war is on their doorstep.

Even a warrior like Nona cannot hope to turn the tide of war.

The shiphearts offer strength that she might use to protect those she loves, but it’s a power that corrupts. A final battle is coming in which she will be torn between friends, unable to save them all. A battle in which her own demons will try to unmake her.

A battle in which hearts will be broken, lovers lost, thrones burned.

Thoughts

I am so excited for the release of Holy Sister in 2019. I’m a big fan of Mark Lawrence, he always creates these gorgeous worlds with plots that you absolutely cannot get enough of. I race through all of his books but I must say this series – The Book of the Ancestor is one of my favourites. I gave both books one and two five stars and I’m sure Holy Sister will be just as kick ass and intense. Nona is just a brilliant protagonist and I’m desperate to know what happens to her next. Whilst the covers are not really my favourite (I prefer the cover art for The Prince of Thorns), I’m so excited to add this book to my collection. Holy Sister is publishing April 4th 2019 from HarperVoyager UK.

Falling Into Fantasy TBR!

November 18, 2018November 28, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 3 Comments

Am I the crazy person that’s going to try and participate in two readathons at once? Yes yes I am. I recently posted my Tome Topple TBR, in which I’m hoping to read four big books over the next weeks (you can take a look here). But I also really wanted to join in on this readathon because it sounds fun and I have so many good fantasy books to read!

This readathon is being hosted by Penguin books and runs from today (the 18th) to the 25th of November. If you want to know more you can take a look at their website here!

So there are eight challenges and I’ve picked a book for each one. It’s unlikely I’ll manage to read all eight but you never know, so here goes!

1. Read the first book in a series
For this I’m going to try and read Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart because it’s been on my TBR for ever and it sounds so good!

2. Read A Book That’s Been On Your TBR Too Long
I thought for this one I could finally pick up The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo. It’s such a beautiful book and I can dip in and out because it’s short stories.

3. Read An LQBTQ Fantasy
I’m so excited to pick up Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst. I’ve had this book for Christmas a while ago and I keep meaning to read it so I’m definitely making it a priority this time around!

4. Read A Diverse Fantasy
I’m going to pick up Mirage for this one after meaning to read it for another readathon and not getting around to it. It seems quite short too so I’m hoping I can fly through this one.

5. Read A book with multiple POVs
Another fantasy I’ve been meaning to read for so long is Dividing Eden by Joelle Charbonneau. This book sounds terrific and I haven’t seen that many reviews for it so I’m hoping it will be a good one.

6. Read A New Fantasy
I recently got sent a copy of Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa and I’m participating in the blog tour at the end of the month so I figured this would be the perfect prompt to read this one.

7. Read A Sequel
The author Josie Jaffrey sent me a copy of her book The Gilded King and I loved it so much. She very kindly sent me the second book in the series, The Silver Queen last month and I’m itching to read it so now I have no excuses!

8. A Booktube Recommended Book
For this I’m going with Neverworld Wake by Marisha Peshl. I’ve seen so many booktubers talk about this book that I figured it would be a great one to read for the readathon.

So that’s my TBR for the Falling Into Fantasy readthon! If you’ve read any of these definitely let me know what you thought!

Book Review: A Sky Painted Gold – Laura Wood

November 17, 2018November 18, 2018 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Published: July 5th 2018
Publisher: Scholastic Books
Pages: 356
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review.

Synopsis

Growing up in her sleepy Cornish village dreaming of being a writer, sixteen-year-old Lou has always wondered about the grand Cardew house which has stood empty for years. And when the owners arrive for the summer – a handsome, dashing brother and sister – Lou is quite swept off her feet and into a world of moonlit cocktail parties and glamour beyond her wildest dreams.

But, as she grows closer to the Cardews, is she abandoning her own ambitions… And is there something darker lurking at the heart of the Cardew family?

Review

A Sky Painted Gold is a YA reminiscent of The Great Gatsby with the glitz and glamour of the 1920s. The story follows Lou, a young girl living in a small village in Cornwall. She has always dreamed of who might own the secluded mansion house in her village. When the owners arrive Lou is swept into a world of parties, glamour and romance.

This is definitely not the kind of book that I would typically read. I do love historical fiction but I tend not to pick up romance heavy books. This however really caught my eye and I’m so glad I picked it up because honestly I absolutely adored this book.

This book is gorgeously written and really envelopes you in the sights and sounds of the era and that gorgeous mansion by the water. I loved sinking into the story and it is definitely the perfect read for a beautiful summer’s day. The plot was well paced and it felt very character driven, giving us the time to get to know the wonderful characters in this story.

Our protagonist Lou is definitely one my new favourite characters. She’s smart, quick and just a brilliant character to follow. Although the story does follow a romance, there is so much more going on and there were so many other characters that I adored in this story. The book touches on such a wide variety of themes – family, class, relationships and so much more. Something I found really fascinating about this book is the way that Wood portrays Lou’s family. She has a big loving family and she’s incredibly close with her sister who has recently been married. It’s fascinating to see the dynamics change and the relationships evolve as Lou spends more and more time at ‘the big house.’

A Sky Painted Gold is a beautiful engaging novel. It has a gorgeous setting and exquisite writing. A Sky Painted Gold was easily a five star read and I’m so excited to read more from Laura Wood in the future.