Book Reviews Archives - Page 54 of 115

#LoveOzYA Anthology Review: Begin, End, Begin | Part 1

Jul 14, 2017

If you don’t know what Begin, End, Begin: A #LoveOzYA Anthology is, then where have you been? Begin, End, Begin is an anthology highlighting the talent we have in Australia for young adults.

This anthology features authors Amie Kaufman, Melissa Keil, Lili Wilkinson, Ellie Marney, Jaclyn Moriarty, Michael Pryor, Alice Pung, Gabrielle Tozer, Will Kostakis and Danielle Binks.

As I wanted to review this anthology, I thought I would do my reviews in parts. A couple of reviews each post and then an overall review of the anthology. Today is part 1.

One Small Step … by Amie Kaufman

Pages: 22
Publish Date: May 1, 2017
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 1460708652
Other Novels Include: These Broken Stars, Illumiane

This story contains: explosions, the first person born on Mars, a greenhouse, two girls, a small tree called Horace, kissing, difficult decisions about what to do after school, action sequences, and that awkward moment when you try to figure out if your best friend is into you.

One Small Step … :

I’ve read three books by Amie Kaufman now and I just seem to enjoy everyone. I am not a massive science fiction fan. I read it every once and a while and most of the time I don’t love the books. But I adored ‘One Small Step…’ And even though it is a short story, I still every much loved the characters.

‘One Small Step …’ follows protagonist Zaida, the first person to be born on Mars. While time skips back and forth effortlessly, we see what happens to get her in a certain situation.

While there are time jumps, it isn’t hard to grasp when time skips or what is happening. Kaufman also did a fantastic job with world building in such a short amount of time. The world was easy to get to get a hold of and although it was a science fiction set in space, it’s quite unique.

I really liked the relationships explored throughout ‘One Small Step…’ From friendship to romantic. It was great to see both those relationship and character grow throughout.

‘One Small Step …’ explores themes of family, friendship, and love. It’s about survival, finding yourself and not letting others decide for you.

I Can See the Ending by Will Kostakis

Pages: 40
Publish Date: May 1, 2017
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN:1460708660
Other Novels Include: The First Third, The Sidekicks

Love is never as simple as Boy Meets Girl, not for a psychic teen anyway. Nothing spoils Boy Kisses Girl quite like a vision of Girl Dumping Boy . . .

I Can See the Ending:

‘I Can See The Ending’ was an interesting read. It follows protagonist Adam who can see the future, and when he sees the girl he likes, dumping him in the future. Well, things don’t go to plan.

While I would normally love something like this, I didn’t connect with Adam. I am not entirely sure why. I liked the concept of the novel, a lot. It was great actually. But because of the loss of connection with the characters, I wasn’t able to fully immerse myself into the story.

In saying that I still really enjoyed the story, I liked the character interaction and the inner turmoil of Adam. It was great to see a story, where someone can see the future struggle with the outcomes. To decide if things are worth the risk. If it’s okay knowing what is going to happen and what you do with that information.

Overall ‘I Can See The Ending’ was an intriguing read. It explores the notion of seeing the future, learning that everything is not what it seems, family and friends. It explores learning to live your life and not let things stand in your way. ‘I Can See The Ending’ about finding out who you are and letting life take its course.

Check out my interview with Will in my #LoveOzYA feature last year.

In a Heartbeat by Alice Pung

Pages: 17
Publish Date: May 1, 2017
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 1460708598
Other Works Include: Laurinda, Her Father’s Daughter

Kim has two heartbeats – one her own, another that she didn’t mean to create – and her mother has hit the roof.

In a Heartbeat:

I had never read an Alice Pung book before I picked up ‘In a Heartbeat,’ and now I am intrigued. ‘In a Heartbeat’ follows seventeen-year-old Kim, who finds out she is pregnant and has to deal with the aftermath of being a pregnant teen.

I really enjoyed this story overall, I like reading stories of teens that do fall pregnant because I think that authors can really delve deep into characters and ups and downs of parenthood.

I loved that we got to see the cultural aspects of a young teen being pregnant and how it does play a part in the way that we live our lives. Kim was an easy protagonist to get along with and it was great to see the interaction between her and her own mum.

However, at times I was confused as to what she was talking about. Kim kept on shifting from mother to grandmother and it took me a while to realise it was the same person. It’s her mother, but her baby’s grandmother. This could have totally been just my fault.

Overall ‘In a Heartbeat’ is a heart-warming story of teen pregnancies and the trails that come along with it. From being a single bother to cultural beliefs. It explores the notion of family, being a teenage and motherhood. It’s one that is really important and it doesn’t take long to read.

Pick up your copy of Begin, End, Begin: A #LoveOzYA Anthology now, with publication in the US soon.

BUY IT NOW: QBD | Dymocks | Readings | Amazon US

So, I am loving the anthology so far. It’s great to see so many amazing short stories, by Aussie YA authors. It puts into perspective how great #LoveOZYA really is.

Have you read the anthology yet? What did you think? What is your favourite story? Are you planning on reading it? Let’s Chat!

Blog Tour | The Color Project by Sierra Abrams + Giveaway

Jul 6, 2017

The Color Project by Sierra Abrams

Pages: 464
Publish Date: July 18, 2017
Publisher: –
ISBN: 161984625X
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Bernice Aurora Wescott has one thing she doesn’t want anyone to know: her name. That is until Bee meets Levi, the local golden boy who runs a charity organization called The Color Project.

Levi is not at all shy about attempting to guess Bee’s real name; his persistence is one of the many reasons why Bee falls for him. But while Levi is everything she never knew she needed, giving up her name would feel like a stamp on forever. And that terrifies her.

When unexpected news of an illness in the family drains Bee’s summer of everything bright, she is pushed to the breaking point. Losing herself in The Color Project—a world of weddings, funerals, cancer patients, and hopeful families that the charity funds—is no longer enough. Bee must hold up the weight of her family, but to do that, she needs Levi. She’ll have to give up her name and let him in completely or lose the best thing that’s ever happened to her.

The Color Project:

I received an earc of The Color Project by Sierra Abrams for review as part of The Color Project Blog Tour. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

Stay until the end to win a copy of The Color Project.

I’ve been looking forward to this one for quite some time. It sounded like my type of contemporary novel. What I didn’t expect was to cry like a baby and grin like an idiot at the same time. The Color Project is a whirlwind of emotions, you are taken for a ride and it’s a little crazy.

The Color Project follows protagonist Bee as starts a new job, meets a new boy and has her life changed forever. Bee has only started working at the flower shop when her car breaks down, but when she goes to get it fixed, she is transfixed by someone new – Levi. Levi likes to wear bring shirts and when no at the repair shop, all his time goes into The Color Project. When then someone in her family gets sick, and everything falls apart.

Bee was a very interesting character to read along with. I felt that I could connect with her in a lot of ways. We liked a lot of the same things and I felt that if we knew each other in real life – we would be great friends. In saying this I also felt that Bee was very stubborn and that really hindered me liking her at times. I just wanted to shake her all about and knock some sense into her. However, I felt that Bee had a really nice character arc and I enjoyed seeing her journey.

Levi, please can he be mine? He was adorable, strong and just made my heart skip a beat. I loved getting to know Levi, he had many layers that I liked finding out about. However, at times I felt that he only looked at things one way and that took away from him.

The romance in The Color Project was totally adorable. I liked seeing Levi and Bee fall for each other. It was slow and nice to see, two young characters fall like they did. At times I did cringe, not because it was bad. But, because I could see things coming between then.

The Color Project had a massive focus on family and friends. And although there was a little bit of ‘the bad family,’ there was also so much love. I loved the dynamics of Bee’s family and how at a time of need they were all there. It was beautiful.

Although I did really like The Color Project, I did feel that the writing was lacking a little. That doesn’t mean it was bad. I just wanted someone more. I feel as Sierra Abrams novels go on, her writing will only become better and better. It’s a great start and I cannot wait to see more. I wasn’t a massive fan of all the talking that Bee did to us. Nevertheless, I think there is potential.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Color Project. I feel in love with the characters and where they wanted to go. It’s a really good debut novel from a young author. The Color Project explores the notions of family, friendship and first love. It’s heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time, it’s real and raw.

Have you read The Color Project? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? Let’s Chat! Don’t forget to enter the giveaway below.

GIVEAWAY

To celebrate the release of The Color Project on the 18th of July. I am holding a giveaway for 1 lucky person to win a Kindle ebook of The Color Project. This giveaway is open internationally as long as you can receive a Kindle copy.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Now I Rise by Kiersten White

Jul 1, 2017

Now I Rise by Kiersten White

Pages: 480
Publish Date: July 6th, 2017
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0552573752
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

Lada Dracul has no allies. No throne. All she has is what she’s always had: herself. After failing to secure the Wallachian throne, Lada is out to punish anyone who dares to cross her blood-strewn path. Filled with a white-hot rage, she storms the countryside with her men, accompanied by her childhood friend Bogdan, terrorising the land. But brute force isn’t getting Lada what she wants. And thinking of Mehmed brings little comfort to her thorny heart. There’s no time to wonder whether he still thinks about her, even loves her. She left him before he could leave her.

What Lada needs is her younger brother Radu’s subtlety and skill. But Mehmed has sent him to Constantinople—and it’s no diplomatic mission. Mehmed wants control of the city, and Radu has earned an unwanted place as a double-crossing spy behind enemy lines. Radu longs for his sister’s fierce confidence—but for the first time in his life, he rejects her unexpected plea for help. Torn between loyalties to faith, to the Ottomans, and to Mehmed, he knows he owes Lada nothing. If she dies, he could never forgive himself—but if he fails in Constantinople, will Mehmed ever forgive him?

As nations fall around them, the Dracul siblings must decide: what will they sacrifice to fulfil their destinies? Empires will topple, thrones will be won . . . and souls will be lost.

Now I Rise:

While there will be little to no spoilers from Now I Rise, there will from And I Darken.

I received an e-arc from Delacorte Press and a review copy from Penguin Teen Australia of Now I Rise in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

Last year, And I Darken was one of my favourite reads last year. So to say that I was excited to read Now I Rise would be an understatement. I love political and character driven historical novels and this series has worked just so well.

Now I Rise starts not too long after And I Darken. Lada has gone off with her men trying to fight and win back her empire. While Radu decided to stay back with Mehmed, hoping that he will finally notice him. That doesn’t last for long with Mehmed requires Radu’s skills and sends him to Constantinople. On one side Lada is fighting her way through towns and villages, gaining force and a name. While Radu is slipping his way into the world on Constantinople and finding his way to the top.

Things just got a whole lot harsher for Lada in Now I Rise. We know from the first book that things weren’t exactly looking up for her and things just seem to go from bad to worse. Though she doesn’t admit it both Mehmed and Radu broke her heart in book one – they didn’t choose her. And I think that this plays a lot into who she becomes in book two. We see her start becoming harsher, more brutal and more like Vlad the Impaler.

I really enjoyed seeing a female show brutality, it’s a rare thing in YA and that along makes me want to read more. But even though Lada is very hard to get along with at times. We start to see her change her ways. Lada starts to realise in the world that she lives in, to get back her empire – she needs allies. It’s the last thing that she wants to do, but with a little convincing from her men; she might just have to do.

Hold hands with the devil until you are both over the bridge. Or kill the devil and burn the bridge so no one can get to you.

Lada’s character arc throughout this series has already been so well done, but it hit new levels in Now I Rise. We start to see her take charge and unfortunately or even, fortunately, that means she is becoming more brutal.

I felt that reader got to know Radu a lot more in Now I Rise. He really took a stance in this novel – not physically per say. But his character stood out more and I loved it. While I didn’t agree with a lot of his discussion in And I Darken. I understood why he went that way. The reader is able to see Radu grow so much more in this one and really become someone.

In book one he was a snowflake, which had to be protected. And while he still might need to be protected, he starts becoming strong on his own – he doesn’t need Lada as much. He makes so pretty hard-hitting decisions in Now I Rise and holy it hurt.

Oh gosh, my heart broke for both Lada and Radu, and I am not sure that their siblings’ relationship can be fixed. We see in And I Darken that Radu doesn’t go with Lada and I think it hurts her more than she realises. And then he doesn’t go when she asks for help. I am intrigued to see where their relationship goes.

Mehmed, I don’t give a shit about him. He can go die. During book one, I was in the middle about him. I didn’t know where I stood. But, after everything that happens in Now I Rise, especially that one incident with Lada. No thank you. Goodbye.

The world will destroy her in the end. Too much spark leads to explosions. But your sister will destroy as much as she can before she goes out. She will go down in flames and blood.

I was so intrigued by the whole novel that I didn’t want it to stop. I was taken from the get go and wanted to know what was going to happen next. There were so many twists and turns. When I thought something was going to happen and it didn’t. That is what I love so much about this series. I have no idea what to expect.

There were just so many emotions reeling through me. Sometimes I was ready to battle, then I had tears streaming down my face. My heart was racing, my fingers were turning page after page.

Overall, I adored Now I Rise. While I know that some people are going to say that it was too long, or too boring. It just not for them. This series is all about character arcs and political agenda. It’s not essentially about war – but what leads up to it. The decisions, the connections, and the allies. It’s the strategy that comes before the battle.

Now I Rise explores the notion family and who you can really trust. It’s about forming allies and knowing that at any time, they can turn on it. It explores finding out who you, who you are not. Now I Rise is hard to read at times, it’s brutal, it’s fierce and it shows that women can be in charge and ruthless. It’s something that you will pick up and won’t want to put down.

Have you read Now I Rise? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? Have you read And I Darken? Let’s Chat!