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Book Review + Giveaway: The Edge of Everything by Jeff Giles

Feb 11, 2017

The Edge of Everything by Jeff Giles

Pages: 400
Publish date: February 9th, 2017
Publisher: Bloomsbury Australia
ISBN: 1408869071
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – Dymocks

It’s been a shattering year for seventeen-year-old Zoe, who’s still reeling from her father’s shockingly sudden death in a caving accident and her neighbors’ mysterious disappearance from their own home. Then on a terrifying sub-zero, blizzardy night in Montana, she and her brother are brutally attacked in a cabin in the woods–only to be rescued by a mysterious bounty hunter they call X.

X is no ordinary bounty hunter. He is from a hell called the Lowlands, sent to claim the soul of Zoe’s evil attacker and others like him. Forbidden to reveal himself to anyone other than his victims, X casts aside the Lowlands’ rules for Zoe. As X and Zoe learn more about their different worlds, they begin to question the past, their fate, and their future. But escaping the Lowlands and the ties that bind X might mean the ultimate sacrifice for both of them.

The Edge of Everything:

I received an ARC of The Edge of Everything by Jeff Giles from Bloomsbury Australia, in exchange for an honest review. This has no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book. Plus stay to the end to win 1 of 2 paperbacks of The Edge of Everything.

The Edge of Everything was one of my most anticipated debuts for this year and I am sad to say that I was disappointed. I wasn’t that it was bad or that I didn’t like it, it just wasn’t what I was expecting.

The Edge of Everything follows protagonist Zoe who has by far had a horrible year. Her father dies in a freak caving accident and her neighbours disappear from their home. Then during a blizzard, strange things start to happened. When she meets X, everything around her changes. X, isn’t an ordinary bounty hunter, residing from a hell called the lowlands. His got 2 jobs, take souls of those who hasn’t been the best of people and not let anyone see him, but that person. But everything changes when he meets X.

It’s been a couple of weeks since I finished The Edge of Everything and I’m still not too sure if I liked the protagonist. Both were hard to really enjoy. Even though Zo, was seventeen I didn’t feel it. She has this childish nature about her, that wasn’t sitting with me well. I loved the way she adores her brother, it was beautiful to see.

I liked X, much more than I did Zoe. His whole life his lived in the Lowlands and he knows nothing about the human world. I adored X, reaction, and interaction with the human world. I had a little laugh here and there. X has had a horrible and harsh upbringing and I liked that we didn’t see this angry person, but someone that is confused.

The Edge of Everything had a very good sense of family. At the start of the novel, we find out the horrible death of Zoe’s father. We know that they haven’t found his body, and this tears the family apart. They haven’t had a great time to grieve and it’s hurting them. However, I loved Zoe’s relationship with her brother. It was beautiful to see and just warmed my heart. I had a sense that her brother was on the autistic spectrum, but it wasn’t really focused upon. And although X doesn’t know who his family is, I liked the sense of family, even comradery.

The romance was my least favourite part of the book. It was pretty much non-existent. However, it was sweet at times, but it went from just meeting to ‘love.’ I think they both work well with each other. Zo and X are completely different, but they were adorable together. X is totally blaza to whatever is going on. I am hoping that the next book will build on their relationship and not jump right into it.

The world of The Edge of Everything was very unique. It’s horrible and intense. And every though we do find out about it in the book, I feel like there is so much more. X lives in a world of disgust and not knowing who you are.

The writing style of Jeff Giles wasn’t also my favourite in The Edge of Everything. I found it too simplistic and felt that at times I was being talked down upon. The world has many layers, I don’t know why the writing couldn’t.

The ending of The Edge of Everythingnonetheless was intense and I loved it. It was actioned packed and I had no idea was on earth was going to happen next. Those last couple of chapters were probably some of my favourites.

Overall, The Edge of Everything was an exciting read. It explores the notion of family and grief. It explores finding out who you are and where you belong. It’s intense, fast-paced and will keep you on the edge of your seat. There is magic, bounty hunters, exploring caves and so much more.

Have you read The Edge of Everything by Jeff Giles? What did you think of it? Where you as excited as I was to read it? Are you planning to continue the series? For those who haven’t read it are you planning to? Let’s Chat!

And now to the giveaway. You can have the chance to win 1 of 2 paperbacks thanks to Bloomsbury Australia! Check out all the information below. Nevertheless, this is only open to Australia residents.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: A Thousand Letters by Staci Hart

Feb 9, 2017

A Thousand Letters by Staci Hart

Pages: 282
Publish date: 9th of February
Publisher: –
ASIN: B01NB0MXYL
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Sometimes your life is split by a single decision.

I’ve spent every day of the last seven years regretting mine: he left, and I didn’t follow. A thousand letters went unanswered, my words like petals in the wind, spinning away into nothing, taking me with them.

But now he’s back.

I barely recognize the man he’s become, but I can still see a glimmer of the boy who asked me to be his forever, the boy I walked away from when I was young and afraid.

Maybe if he’d come home under better circumstances, he could speak to me without anger in his voice. If I’d said yes all those years ago, he’d look at me without the weight of rejection in his eyes. Maybe if things were different, we would have had a chance.

One regretted decision sent him away. One painful journey brought him back to me. I only wish I could keep him.

A Thousand Letters:

I received a copy of A Thousand Letters by Staci Hart from InkSlinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I’ve tried to write this review with as little spoilers as I can, but there a few that will pop up.

I picked up A Thousand Letters on a whim, I saw it popping up on my twitter timeline and then I got an email about it. It was a spare of the moment pick and I am glad that I did. A Thousand Letters is an emotional and heart wrenching read – so be prepared.

Seven years ago Elliot made a mistake, a mistake that has haunted her. It’s torn her apart. She hasn’t spoken or seen Wade since that last moment. But when he returns, their past comes back and all the emotions reach the surface.

Elliot was a really easy protagonist to get along with. I loved how much she cared, even when so many people around her didn’t. Seven years before not only did she break Wade’s heart, but her own and since then her life hasn’t been the same. Throughout A Thousand Letters the reader is able to see how Elliot is both suffering and needs to let it go. Elliot is very close to Wade’s. She has grown up with him, and his father cares for her so much. His one of the only people that believe in her.

Wade was difficult to get along with. I understand why he acted the way that he did for a lot fo the book, but it was also hard to go along with yet. Wade has a lot of issues. And for the first time in seven years his seeing Elliot again. But, it’s not all good. He is on leave from the army because his father isn’t good health wise. It was heartbreaking, and all over emotional. Wade is one of those guys that holds all of his emotions in and then cracks – and he does it a few times in A Thousand Letters.

The romance was hard not to fall for, but at the same time it anger me to the core. Seven years ago Elliot and Wade had fallen in love and then he asked her to marry him. There were a few reasons why she said no, but not loving him wasn’t one of them. I think Wade’s reactions were, difficult. He doesn’t think about what she says and he blurts it all out. Throughout the book, we see both Wade and Elliot struggling with their feelings and seeing each other after all this time. Wade did some questionable things throughout the book, but there love for each other was also beautiful.

A Thousand Letters has a big sense of family and friends. Some bad and some good. It was really nice to see the balance between families that care and the ones that don’t. I loved that Wade’s family cared so much for Elliot, she was a part of the family.

And although I really enjoyed reading this book, I did feel there was slightly too many characters. It’s hard keeping up with so many people, trying to remember who they are and how they are related.

Overall, A Thousand Letters is a heartbreaking read and will leave you an emotional wreck. It’s about family, friends and second chances. It’s about forgiveness, letting go and falling in love.

Have you read this book? Are you planning on reading it? Let’s Chat!

Book Review: No Virgin by Anne Cassidy

Feb 6, 2017

No Virgin by Anne Cassidy

Pages: 183
Publish date: November 3rd, 2016
Publisher: Hot Key Books
ISBN: 1471405788
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

My name is Stacey Woods and I was raped.

Stacey is the victim of a terrible sexual attack. She does not feel able to go to the police, or talk about it to anybody other than her best friend, Patrice. Patrice, outraged, when she cannot persuade her to go to the police, encourages Stacey to write everything down. This is Stacey’s story.

No Virgin:

Trigger Warning: There are scenes that include rape, assault, and the aftermath.

I received a copy of No Virgin by Anne Cassidy from Hot Key Books (Allen and Unwin) in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

Firstly I want to say, that I have struggled to write this review. Everything that I seem to have wanted to say just didn’t come out right. On the other hand, this book is powerful, heartbreaking and raw to the core.

No Virgin follows protagonist Stacy as she deals with the aftermath of being raped. It’s a heartbreaking journey that’s raw and will slap you in the face. The book begins with Stacy after she has been sexual assaulted, she’s in a bathroom. Her mind reeling with what has happened. She gets up, walks out and is faced with her rapist, he gives her money for a cab and she leaves. Nevertheless, The lead up to her assault is told after her best friends suggest she writes her thoughts, how she feels.

Stacy is a very shy protagonist. She keeps to her best friend, doesn’t tell her family much and also does what she has to, to get through high school. I had a real hard time connecting with Stacy. I am not entirely sure what it was, there was something that separated us. However, I did like Stacy’s passion. All she wants to do is work in the fashion industry, and she has figured out things on her own.

There isn’t much of a relationship between Stacy and her family. She lives with her mum, fourteen-year-old sister and her sister’s kid. However, this family is pretty dysfunctional. Her sister is nowhere near a mother to her son, relying on others around her including Stacy to look after him. It’s hard to see this, to witness someone so young looking after a baby. It’s like the world is on Stacy’s shoulders. All these people need her, but there isn’t many there for her. However, from the little that we do see, her father does try.

The rape scene was… hard to read. I had to step back, put my book down and breathe. I had to try and centre myself. It’s not for the fainthearted. Nevertheless, it was also heartbreaking.

What I liked most about the book was how Anne Cassidy dealt with the aftermath. Stacy wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. How she was supposed to deal with what did happen. If she was going to report him. If she need help. And there is no doubt there are other people that feel this way too.

I always like to read books that explore difficult topics. They are heartbreaking, hard to read and most of the time, take a lot out of me. But, we need books that deal with rape because it’s real. Things like this happen in the world that we live in. And if teens are blind to it, or don’t know it’s going on – they won’t know how to deal with events like this when they do happen.

Overall, No Virgin is under 200 pages, and nevertheless, it packs a punch. It has so much in it, but nothing overtakes. There is the time before and then everything after. It’s hard, raw and real. However, No Virgin is not for everyone. It’s not sugar coated and so it shouldn’t be.

Have you read No Virgin? How did you feel about it? Are you planning on reading it? Also, have you read other books by Anne Cassidy? Let’s Chat!