Angel Reads

17 Aug

Book Review: The Last Good Day of the Year by Jessica Warman

Posted by angelreads Book Reviews 3 Comments

The Last Good Day of the Year by Jessica Warman

Pages: 278
Publish date: 31 May 2016
Publisher: Bloomsbury
ISBN: 0802736629
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – Dymocks

Ten years ago, in the early hours of New Year’s Day, seven-year-old Samantha and her next door neighbor, Remy, watched as a man broke into Sam’s home and took her younger sister, Turtle, from her sleeping bag. Remy and Sam, too afraid to intervene at the time, later identified the man as Sam’s sister Gretchen’s much older ex-boyfriend, Steven, who was sent to prison for Turtle’s murder.

Now, Sam’s shattered family is returning to her childhood home in an effort to heal. As long-buried memories begin to surface, Sam wonders if she and Remy accurately registered everything they saw. The more they re-examine the events of that fateful night, the more questions they discover about what really happened to Turtle.

The Last Good Day of the Year:

I received a review copy of The Last Good Day of the Year by Jessica Warman from Bloomsbury Australia in exchange for a review, this has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I picked up The Last Good Day of the Year on a whim. I had heard nothing about it and had never read anything by the author, and I had no idea what to expect. Overall, I liked it the book, but I did have some problems with it.

The Last Good Day of the Year follows protagonist Sam 10 years after the kidnapping of her young sister Turtle when she and her family return to where it all happened. The kidnapper was caught, but as she starts to re-evaluate the weeks leading up to the disappearance and those around her – she starts to think that maybe the kidnapper is still out there.

I love mystery/thriller novels, they are probably one of my favourite books to read apart from fantasy, so I was looking forward to see where The Last Good Day of the Year took me. I loved where it was going until the last 50 pages or so where I didn’t even understand what was going on. I had to re-read it a couple of times and still I don’t know what happened. However, nearly everything leading up to that I enjoyed.

I loved the mystery element of The Last Good Day of the Year. It was captivating and interesting to read. I wanted to know what happened, how everything came to par. I didn’t know what was going to happen next and I was on the edge of my seat. Everyone was unreliable and that is perfect for this type of novel. I was intrigued.

I wasn’t a massive fan of protagonist Sam, I cannot pinpoint why exactly, and there was just something about her that didn’t fit right with me. I wanted to see more character development as well, at times I felt like she was 12 years old. However, by the end, I was quite happy with who she becomes.

The Last Good Day of the Year Quote

The family is another story – I pretty much disliked them all the way through. The mother, I understand that she lost a child – but the way that she treats some of her kids – you would think that after losing one child she would treasure the rest. The father was kind of ‘not there’ for me, I didn’t feel him as a character.

I also wasn’t a massive fan of how the book was set out. Most of the book was set in the present day, however there was quite a few chapters set in the year of the kidnapping and it wasn’t as strong as the rest of the book. Those chapters could have easily been done as flashbacks or summaries. I felt that it jolted the flow of the book being pushed back in time.

Another thing that I did enjoy was the romance, it might have seemed quick. But Sam and Remy have known each other quite a long time and it felt ‘right.’ They had already built a friendship and even though it was rocky, it all worked.

Overall, The Last Good Day of the Year was a compelling read. The tension was perfect and convinced me to feel anxious and on the tip of my toes wanting to find out more. However, I wanted more from the protagonist and author.

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Have you read The Last Good Day of the Year by Jessica Warman? Did you like it? Are you going to read it? Have you read any other books by her? Let’s Chat!

12 Aug

#LoveOzYA Interview: Helen Chebatte

Posted by angelreads Author Interviews, OZYA, OZYA Interviews No Comments

OZYA Author Interview- Helen Chebatte

I love Aussie YA. I love reading books from authors that live in the same country as me, that know things that people out of Australia might be so confused about. I love how sometimes they can incorporate this into their book and it is fabulous.

So I decided to created a feature where I interview Australian Young Adult authors about their craft, journey and some interesting facts. I thought it was a fun way of everyone around the world to get to know these authors and maybe make them want to pick up their books. And that is what I am aiming to do, spread the word about #LoveOZYA and get everyone reading it.

You can check out my previous interviews with authors like Jay Kristoff, Gabrielle Tozer, Sarah Ayoub and last week we had Jessica Shirvington, at Angel Reads.

Today on my #LoveOZYA Interview series we have Helen Chebatte, author of Bro (Hardie Grant Egmont, 2016).

Hi Helen, welcome to Angel Reads. First can you introduce yourself to everyone? Tell us a little bit about yourself.

HelenChebatte Hi everyone! I’m Helen Chebatte and I’m an author, actor and drama teacher, living in Sydney.

I work professionally in film television and theatre. Some of my credits include roles on All Saints, Crownies, the feature film Cedar Boys and more recently the romantic comedy Alex and Eve. After many years in the film industry however the writing bug bit me – quite surprisingly! This resulted in the publication of my debut novel, BRO, released early 2016.

What has your writing journey been like? When did you start? Why?

Writing came much later in my life. Growing up I had no interest in writing, acting was my dream and I pursued that diligently. However about ten or twelve years ago, a short time after my father passed away, I wrote as a way of expressing my grief. It wasn’t until I stopped I realised how much I loved it. I started again but this time I wrote creatively. It was so much fun I began to take it more seriously, enrolling in courses, attending festivals and subscribing to writing organisations. I also co-founded a writers group during this time and we’ve been meeting once a month for many years now.

What was the process of getting your first book published?

I’d always liked entering my manuscripts in writing competitions. It was a way of getting feedback on my work. But I got a lot more when I entered my YA novel, BRO into the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Frustrated Writers’ Mentorship Competition. I won! With that came a most eye-opening mentorship. We worked on many aspects of the manuscript, improving it considerably. It wasn’t enough to get me over the line though.

Fun Fact About Helen Chebatte

Following the mentorship I had it assessed professionally. This meant more work until eventually it was ready for submission to publishers. Within weeks I had three separate publication offers come through. You can imagine how I felt – I was jumping so high you’d think there was a trampoline under my feet.

I decided to go with Hardie Grant Egmont. They were fantastic! Hilary Rogers knew exactly what BRO was about. She understood multiculturalism and its importance in Australian literature and she was supportive of the character’s language which was very important to me and to the authentication of the story.

What was your journey as a debut YA author in Australia? What was the hardest thing?

The year between signing a publishing contract and the release date was hardest – in a fun sort of way. The manuscript underwent another thorough sweep. Strengthening the parts that moved the story forward and carving away those that suddenly had no bearing on the narrative was challenging.

Trying to keep focus on the changes and their effect on the rest of the story was an intricate balancing act. I was fortunate to have a great team at Hardie Grant Egmont; their sharp eyes helped me keep the equilibrium. It’s odd because while some days it was exhausting, it was also very creatively satisfying.

You are an OZYA author, what are some of your favourite Aussie YA books?

So many! I loved reading the YA novels Sea hearts and Tender Morsels, both by Margo Lanagan – I could read them again. Into that Forest by Louis Nowra is also great. I thoroughly enjoyed The Incredible Here and Now by Felicity Castagna as well as Nona and Me by Claire Atkins – both brilliant.

Others that stand out in my mind are Shadow Girl by John Larkin, The Dead I Know by Scott Gardner, The Shiny Guys by Doug Macleod and Friday Brown by Vicki Wakefield.

I have yet to read Bro, but I will have to get on it real soon. You can find Helen on twitter at @helenchebatte, on her website, and you can add her book to your goodreads.

Bro coverf Bro by Helen Chebatte

Pages: 240
Publish date: February 1st 2016
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont
ISBN: 9781760125509
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon AU – Dymocks

Romeo knows the rules.
Stick with your own kind. Don’t dob on your mates, or even your enemies.
But even unwritten rules are made for breaking.
Fight Clubs, first loves and family ties are pushed to their limit in Helen Chebatte’s explosive debut novel.

***

Thank you Helen for joining me at Angel Reads and sharing your journey. Have you read Bro? Did you like it? Are you going to read it?

Come back next week for some more Aussie fun. If you want to know more about the #LoveOZYA movement check out the website for all the details. Also if you have any Australian YA authors that you would like to see me interview, just let me know and I can see what I can do.

09 Aug

Book Review: The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye

Posted by angelreads Book Reviews 2 Comments

the crowns game The Crown’s Gamed by Evelyn Skye

Pages: 416
Publish date: May 17th 2016
Publisher: Harper Collins Australia (Balzer + Bray)
ISBN: 0062560603
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – Dymocks

Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air. They are enchanters—the only two in Russia—and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the Tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.

And so he initiates the Crown’s Game, an ancient duel of magical skill—the greatest test an enchanter will ever know. The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the Tsar’s most respected adviser. The defeated is sentenced to death.

Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for the chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg. But can she kill another enchanter—even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has?

For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown’s Game is the chance of a lifetime. But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with—beautiful, whip smart, imaginative—and he can’t stop thinking about her.

And when Pasha, Nikolai’s best friend and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love… or be killed himself.

As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes dangerously clear… the Crown’s Game is not one to lose.

The Crown’s Game:

I received a free copy of The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye from Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review, this has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I wasn’t 100% sure that I was going to pick up The Crown’s Game, from the early reviews there were some problems that I normally don’t like in books, but then I was hearing great things about it, so I decided why not.

I am glad that I did, though it’s not my favourite book in the world, but I overall enjoyed it and would read other books in the series.

The Crown’s Game follows protagonists Vika and Nikolai, the only two enchanters left in Russia, as a war is brewing they are both put the test in the ancient magic duel of the Crown’s Game where one lives and the other dies.

I have very mixed feeling about The Crown’s Game. I am not too sure how I feel about it, but I cannot decide if I dislike it more than I like it.

Vika, has lived on a small island her whole life, taught by her father and eager to show her powers off. I enjoyed Vika most out of all the characters, she didn’t annoy me, and was an easy protagonist to get along with, however I felt that she ‘fit in’ to quickly on the mainland for some reason. She has lived on an island for her whole life, with no many people liking her and she just treated the mainland like it was nothing. Her emotions were also great – I enjoy the emotions she felt and at times I wanted to get her a great hug.

Nikolai – I felt nothing for him. I didn’t even feel like her was a protagonist at times. He gave me no sort of emotions, I just wanted more from him. At times I wanted to hit him though, as he was annoying at times.

One thing I was disappointed about was the lack of brutality with the games. I expected more, wanted more. It was all fluffy and artistic and I would totally be good with this if the result of the end wasn’t that one died and one lived.

The Crown's Game Quote-2

The romance was also a big letdown for me, I knew it was going to be a love triangle going on and I was prepared for that, what I wasn’t prepared for was the instalove. Both of the love interests didn’t even get to know Vika before they started to fall for her. While Pasha was very vocal with his love, Nikolai was quiet. However, both didn’t even know her.

When there is a love triangle, I normally like the first person that falls for the protagonist and vice versa – but with this, I felt that the love interests didn’t like Vika enough and the same goes the other way.

The ending was a letdown too, things were gearing up and then I was confused and, then it ended. It was kind of a mess for me. Pasha did some things that people might hate – but with the position that he was in and everything he knew just flipped on his head – I don’t blame him.

Nevertheless, I actually enjoyed the world that was created in The Crown’s Game. It was intriguing and different to see. I love any play on an ancient country, it’s one of my favourite settings for books (or movies), that is what first pulled me into this book.

I also enjoyed the writing style of Evelyn Skye. I loved the descriptions of the world, the protagonists surrounding. I loved the imagery that she created and I wanted more of it.

Overall, I enjoyed The Crown’s Game, it’s not my favourite book out there, however, I would read more books in the series. One of my favourite things about the book was the world and writing style. I wanted more from the characters and the romance just wasn’t my favourite.

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