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Book Review: Hotel for the Lost by Suzanne Young

Dec 28, 2016

Hotel for the Lost by Suzanne Young

Pages: 304
Publish date: October 4th, 2016
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1481423010
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – Dymocks

Stay tonight. Stay forever.

When Audrey Casella arrives for an unplanned stay at the grand Hotel Ruby, she’s grateful for the detour. Just months after their mother’s death, Audrey and her brother, Daniel, are on their way to live with their grandmother, dumped on the doorstep of a DNA-matched stranger because their father is drowning in his grief.

Audrey and her family only plan to stay the night, but life in the Ruby can be intoxicating, extending their stay as it provides endless distractions—including handsome guest Elias Lange, who sends Audrey’s pulse racing. However, the hotel proves to be as strange as it is beautiful. Nightly fancy affairs in the ballroom are invitation only, and Audrey seems to be the one guest who doesn’t have an invite. Instead, she joins the hotel staff on the rooftop, catching whispers about the hotel’s dark past.

The more Audrey learns about the new people she’s met, the more her curiosity grows. She’s torn in different directions—the pull of her past with its overwhelming loss, the promise of a future that holds little joy, and an in-between in a place that is so much more than it seems…

And the 13th chapter will only add to the mystery behind the 13th floor of Hotel Ruby…and ultimately, what it means for Audrey.

Welcome to the Ruby.

Hotel for the Lost:

I received a review copy of Hotel for the Lost by Suzanne Young from Simon and Shuster in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I hadn’t heard much about Hotel for the Lost before I picked it up. The synopsis intrigued me and it sounded like something that I was going to like – and I did.

Hotel for the Lost follows protagonist Audrey, her brother Daniel and their father when they come to rest at Hotel Ruby as they make their way to their grandmothers. The past couple of months has been hard on their trio. Audrey’s and Daniel’s mother has passed and the whole family is grieving. So when they arrive at Hotel Ruby, Audrey is relieved and wanting to take some time.

I wasn’t a massive fan of Audrey as a protagonist. I wasn’t able to connect with her or feel her raw emotions from losing her mothers. It was like this barrier between Audrey and the reader. Her grief was evident throughout the book, however, I just wasn’t able to feel it. Audrey was also dealing with a recent breakup that she kept on going back to throughout the book. She keeps on referring to the breakup, even though she is adamant that she wasn’t in love with him. It became a drag after a while.

I did, however, love how much she cared for her family. Even though there was a lot of tension with her father. The reader is able to see that she still cares for him. However, I wanted to see a good father/daughter relationship as we don’t see it much in YA. Though, I did understand his grief and the way that he acts is somewhat understandable.

Daniel and Audrey’s relationship was a classic brother/sister one. I loved the banter between the two and even though Daniel acted like a moody teenager, so did Audrey. They both had their differences, but the reader is able to see that they love each other.

I like the friendships that Audrey builds in Hotel for the Lost. Even though most are the staff of Hotel Ruby, they find a connection and bond easily. Though I did feel they bonded a little too quickly. In saying that, Hotel for the Lost is set over a couple of days.

That was one of the reasons the romance in Hotel for the Lost was hard to love. Though I did find both Audrey and Elias adorable. Elias is a charmer, he was an interesting character that did take the spotlight at times.

The storyline of Hotel for the Lost was predictable. I knew what was going to happen before it did, and I wasn’t entirely surprised by the ending. It was like I was having deja vu throughout the whole book, but I didn’t hate it. I wanted to keep on reading and find out if I was right or not.

The writing style of Suzanne Young in Hotel for the Lost was simple, but I also enjoyed it. I didn’t have to stress over what I was reading. It flowed easy and the dialogue was realistic.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Hotel for the Lost. It was a fast-paced, thrilling read that did keep me on the edge of my seat. Hotel for the Lost explores the notion of family, death, grief, friendship and standing up for yourself. If you are in the mood for a thrilling, entertain and emotional read then Hotel for the Lost is for you.

Have you read Hotel for the Lost? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? Have you read anything else by Suzanne Young? Let’s Chat!

Book Review: Clanless by Jennifer Jenkins

Dec 19, 2016

Clanless by Jennifer Jenkins

Pages: 300
Publish date: October 4th, 2016
Publisher: Month9Books
ASIN: B01KIHPZCW
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US

Striker Gryphon has lost his position of honour among the Ram, and is now a hunted man. A traitor.

Zo, the object of his affection, was murdered by members of his former clan. To honour her memory, he journeys to the highly secretive Raven “Nest” to warn strangers of their impending demise—though it could cost him more than just his pride.

He doesn’t know that Zo is very much alive and in another part of the region assisting Nameless refugees over a mountain swarming with wild men known as “Clanless.”

As each struggle to make sense of what their lives have become, they fight and claw to reach the Allied Camp, their last hope in bringing peace to the region.

But the road back to one another is treacherous and uncertain. And freedom will come with a price.

Clanless:

This review of Clanless contains spoilers from book 1 – Nameless.

After reading Nameless by Jennifer Jenkins, I knew that I had to get right onto reading Clanless. The ending was intense and I needed to know what was going to happen next.

Clanless starts off where Nameless left off. The protagonist, Zo on the run with her sister, Joshua and a few more that joins them on the way. Zo and the crew are attempting to find refuge and allies that can help them fight. However, they are on the run from both the Ram’s wrath and the ‘Clanless’ – wild men that hunt in the woods.

Again, I really enjoyed Zo as a protagonist. I loved her strength and her determination, to not only keep her sister alive but others that have joined her. In Clanless we get to see a weakness of Zo, her love. Her love for everyone around her, not only makes her a liability but slows her down. Believing that Gryphon has betrayed her and could be dead – she lets this grief get a hold of her, however, I liked it. In the previous book, Zo didn’t show too much emotion, but that was thrown all out in window in Clanless.

Gryphon is a traitor. Well to his people he is, Gryphon has lost his position and honour amount the Ram and now is on the Run. Through Clanless the reader is able to see a whole different side to Gryphon. One that wasn’t even evident in Nameless and even though there is a stark difference – I think I like this one better.

Gryphon is not only on the run, but believes that Zo is dead and it’s his fault. For her, he goes on a journey to find the Raven people. He wants to warn them what is coming. But, when the world that he thought he knew isn’t the same, it’s a struggle. Gryphon emotions are quite raw throughout Clanless and sometimes it was hard to believe that he could show so much emotion.

A thing that I loved about Clanless was the friendships. Zo and her sister. Oh gosh, my heart could break for them. Both have gone through so much and their bond was beautiful. We see a lot of protagonist/sister bonds in YA – but, I think that Jennifer Jenkins explored it so well.

Zo and Joshua have a very interesting relationship. They grew fond of each other in Nameless, Joshua more than Zo, but they still had this distance. However, with the how the first book ended, the reader is able to see them both grow and share in their grief for Gryphon.

One of my favourite things about this series is the world building. It’s fantastic. In the first book, we are dropped into this world and as the story went on, we found out more. And it carries on into Clanless. I love the layers of the world that Jennifer Jenkins has created. We aren’t thrown into the world and then information is chucked at us, but it’s treaded to us slowly and beautifully.

Clanless is a ‘survive in the wild’ type of book. With everyone on the run trying to get places and not be killed. While finding out more about the world, the plot moves on and the reader is taken on a journey with the characters.

Overall, I enjoyed Clanless. It’s an epic journey of surviving, strength, grief and finding out who you are. It is about joining forces, creating allies and finding out who the real enemy is. It has exceptional world building, intriguing character, a plot that runs wild and friendships that are knotted together. Trust no one, because you don’t know who is going to stab you in the back.

Have you read Clanless? Did you like it? Have you read Nameless? Did you like that? Are you planning to read this series? Let’s Chat!

Book Review: Magnus Chase and The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan

Dec 8, 2016

Magnus Chase and The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan

Pages: 512
Publish date: 4th October 2016
Publisher: Penguin Teen Australia
ISBN: 0141342552
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Thor’s hammer is missing again. The thunder god has a disturbing habit of misplacing his weapon – the mightiest force in the Nine Worlds. But this time the hammer isn’t just lost, it has fallen into enemy hands. If Magnus Chase and his friends can’t retrieve the hammer quickly, the mortal worlds will be defenceless against an onslaught of giants. Ragnarok will begin.

The Nine Worlds will burn. Unfortunately, the only person who can broker a deal for the hammer’s return is the gods’ worst enemy, Loki – and the price he wants is very high.

Magnus Chase and The Hammer of Thor:

This review will have spoilers from the previous book Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer.

I received a copy of Magnus Chase and the Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan from Penguin Teen Australia in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

When I pick up and Rick Riordan book I know that I am going to like it. It was just as hilarious, nail biting and adventurous as The Sword of Summer.

The Hammer of Thor continues to follow Magnus Chase son of Frey who is still coming to terms that he is an einherjar. Magnus’ life before these books was tough, and his life after death isn’t any better.

Someone has stolen Thor’s hammer…again. And who better to try and retrieve it than Magnus Chase and his squad. The hammer wasn’t just taken by anyone, it’s fallen into enemy hands. And if Magnus and his friends can’t retrieve it, well Ragnarok will begin and everything will be destroyed.

I don’t think there was anything that I didn’t like about The Hammer of Thor. It’s one of those books that makes you laugh at 1am, bit your nails and nearly bring you to tears. It’s everything that you want in a book, wrapped into one. The Hammer of Thor not only showcases the characters that we already know and love, but introduce us to more that you cannot help, but fall in love with.

Magnus is just as amazing as he was in The Sword of Summer. He is witty, fun and most of the time his a dork. But, that is why I love him. He has this compassion about him, and maybe that is also one of his faults. He cares, too much sometimes. And he will stop at nothing to help his friends.

Sam, oh my heart breaks for her. I liked her in the first book, but I grew to love her in The Hammer of Thor. I adored that she never wanted to give up on her beliefs, what she has grown up to believe – even when she is living in a world which goes against everything. Sam goes through some tough things in this book and I want everything to work out for her – because she totally deserves it.

Alex Fierro a shape-shifting child of Loki is introduced to the reader when Sam brings Alex to Valhalla. At first, Alex is hard to get along with, Alex is rude and simply doesn’t want to be there. But as the story goes on, we find out why and it’s totally understandable. Alex is also gender–fluid who identifies with he/she depending on the day. I love that Riordan was able to include someone who is gender-fluid, you don’t see it much in YA and it’s needed. It’s needed for those who want to understand who they are and might not know how. I love how Alex was so open and blunt about it. It was great to see.

The banter between the group was fantastic putting a massive smile on my face. Although Magnus, Sam and Alex all have different personalities, they all meshed together well.

Throughout The Hammer of Thor, we are going on a journey to find Thor’s hammer, but like most Riordan’s book, it’s not that simple. Our character sometimes are taken where we don’t expect. It might not work in other books, but the diversions work so well here.

Another thing that I loved about The Hammer of Thor was the diversity. I think it’s something that Riordan does so well. It’s nice to see different races, religions, sexualities and gender identifications and disabilities represented in a young adult novel. We are seeing it more and more, but we need it to be so that we don’t go looking for it.

Overall, The Hammer of Thor is an engaging hilarious novel that takes you on a journey that you never want to leave. It’s about friendship, family, and finding out who you are. It’s nail-biting, entertaining and one for everyone, plus with that last line – I am in need of the final book.