3.5 Stars Archives - Page 8 of 16

Book Review + Q&A: Freeks by Amanda Hocking | Blog Tour

Feb 4, 2017

Freeks by Amanda Hocking

Pages: 336
Publish date: February 9th, 2016
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
ISBN: 1509807659
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Welcome to Gideon Davorin’s Traveling Sideshow, where necromancy, magical visions, and pyrokinesis are more than just part of the act…

Mara has always longed for a normal life in a normal town where no one has the ability to levitate or predict the future. Instead, she roams from place to place, cleaning the tiger cage while her friends perform supernatural feats every night.

When the struggling sideshow is miraculously offered the money they need if they set up camp in Caudry, Louisiana, Mara meets local boy Gabe…and a normal life has never been more appealing.

But before long, performers begin disappearing and bodies are found mauled by an invisible beast. Mara realises that there’s a sinister presence lurking in the town with its sights set on getting rid of the sideshow freeks. In order to unravel the truth before the attacker kills everyone Mara holds dear, she has seven days to take control of a power she didn’t know she was capable of—one that could change her future forever.

Freeks:

I received an arc of Freeks by Amanda Hocking from Pan Macmillan Australia as part of the Freeks Blog Tour. This has no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book. Stay to the end for a quick Q&A with Amanda Hocking!

I hadn’t read an Amanda Hocking book before this one, they never really caught my attention enough. But, after reading Freeks I might give them a try.

Roll Up, Roll Up to Gideon Davorin’s Traveling Sideshow where everything is not what it seems. Freeks follows protagonist Mara, who has always longed for a normal life. But instead, travels with her mother as she performs in this marvellous show. It wouldn’t be too bad if she was actually in the show, but with no special talent. She is left to do the dirty work.

Mara was an interesting protagonist. She isn’t what I’m used to reading and I couldn’t put my figure on why, but I really enjoyed her. She knows what she wants, and even though she is in a world that isn’t exactly normal she doesn’t let things stop her. I felt for her, though. Mara just wants to live a normal life. Go to school, have friends and have a normal job where her mother and she aren’t living from town to town.

It was hard to strive through Mara’s free nature. How she just walks into a party that she was invited too, even though she knew no one. How she stays at a guy’s house, and she only met him. However, this is the life that Mara has lived most of her life, it’s what she is used to. She’s in a town for a couple of days, hangs around and then she is gone. But something is different this time.

The tension and suspense in Freeks is fantastic. Because this world is rich of necromancy, magical visions, and pyrokinesis, the reader has now idea what is going to happen next. And with people disappearing and weird attacks, no one in the traveling show is safe. It was strange the outcome of the attacks, but it seemed to work in a weird way. It’s like, okay, I get it, sorta.

The romance, hmm. I don’t know how I feel about it. If the book was set over a longer period of time, I would have loved it. It would have worked so well. However, Freeks timeframe is about a week and the romance just moved way to face. Gabe was so adorable and charming. I enjoyed reading about him. But, everything was on high alert. I wanted to step back and take everything in.

There is a real depth of friendship and family in Freeks. A lot of the show have been together for a couple of years and they care about each other. But, the reader is also able to see that sometimes families do break. Especially when they are faced with turmoil. Mara relationship with her mother was strange. Her mother’s abilities sometimes get the better of her and she can snap. That’s when Mara has to step back and away. And although I can understand how and why her mum is like this, I felt for Mara. There were times where she needed her, she needed her mother to hold her, and she wasn’t there.

There are also some strong friendships throughout the book that shined. It was great to see that friendships aren’t all about age and school. It’s not about girls being friends with girls and boys with boys.

Overall, I enjoyed Freeks. Is it my favourite book out there? No. But, while I was reading I was immersed into this world and captivated by the characters. Freeks explores the notion of family, friendships, new relationships and believing in yourself. It’s about standing up for what is right, and where you want to be in the world. Freeks is a fasted paced read, that you could read when you want a little magic.

Apart from reading this intense read I also had the amazing chance to have a quick Q&A with Amanda Hocking and this is how it turned out!

What did you love most about writing the characters in Freeks?

I loved their nomadic comradery. Mara and her fellow travelers are so accepting and understanding of each other. There’s a lot of love and compassion amongst the characters.

If there was one novel/series you wished you had written, what would it be?

Oh gosh, there are so many amazing books that I wish I’d been able to write. It’s hard to pick just one. But I do really wish I had been writing for the Netflix TV series Stranger Things. Does that count?

Who are your biggest influencers right now?

Jim Henson is my hero, so I think he influences both my approach to creativity and life in general.

But as far as contemporary authors go, I would say Courtney Summer, Claudia Gray, and Neil Gaiman are some of my authors, and I would say they different influence and inspire me.

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Have you read Freeks by Amanda Hocking? Did you enjoy it? Are you planning to read it? Have you read other books by her, where do you think I should start?

Book Review: Who Afraid Too? by Maria Lewis

Jan 29, 2017

Who Afraid Too? by Maria Lewis

Pages: 352
Publish date: January 17th, 2017
Publisher: Piatkus (Hachette Australia)
ISBN: 9780349408996
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Tommi Grayson: all bark, all bite . . . and now she’s BACK!

After the worst family reunion in history, Tommi needed some space. She’s spent the last few weeks trying to understand her heritage – the one that comes with a side order of fur – as well as learning about her Maori ancestry and how she can connect to it. But she can only escape for so long.

When an unspeakable evil returns, Tommi will need every piece of knowledge and all the skills she has. With the help of allies old and new, frenemies both helpful and super-annoying, she’s going to take the fight to the enemy . . .

Who Afraid Too?

I received a free copy of Who’s Afraid Too? by Maria Lewis from Hachette Australia in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feeling about the book.

Last year when I read Who’s Afraid I was taken by shock. It wasn’t what I expected, but I loved what I read. When I was given the chance to read book 2 early I hopped right on it. At first, I was a little confused as to what was going on. And I don’t think that has anything to do with the book, just me.

Who’s Afraid Too? continues to follow protagonist Tommi Grayson as she struggles with her new life as a werewolf. She has lost her friends, her life was a lie. And she can’t help it that she is falling for someone she is not supposed to. And now, someone is stealing babies.

Tommi much like the first book is someone that you might not get along with. She is sassy and angry and has an attitude, but I love it. I love seeing a woman, who is strong, tough and can stand her ground. At times she did make so stupid decisions, but that is what happens in life. I love how real Tommi is. I also like how clueless at times she is about romance and her feelings. It’s like she is a teenager again – but it worked.

I really enjoyed the people that we meet throughout Who’s Afraid Too? Some were easier to get along with than others. But I really enjoyed the dynamics that were created throughout the book. The banter, the jealousy and the friendships. It’s not something that you see a lot and it works.

I did, however, feel that there were parts that dragged on a little too much. I was getting a little bored, but then it picked it up. The book isn’t even that long, only hitting 350 pages. I felt that there needed to be more action in a way.

Talking about action, at times I felt that it wasn’t intense enough. I wasn’t on the edge of my seat, gripping the pages. The events that were happening were intense, but I didn’t feel it.

I really like the world that Maria Lewis is starting to build. As the novels go on we are finding out more and more. I can tell there are many layers to the world and we have only touched the based. Nevertheless, I like how Lewis hasn’t info dumped everything all at once, things are slowly seeping in.

The romance – oh how I loved it. Although there wasn’t much. But, that is what you get when it’s forbidden. It’s slow burning, but then addictive at the same time. Lorcan is about duty, but there is something about Tommi, that drives him crazy and he cannot help my lose control.

That ending, though – yes – shit is about to go down. The last 30 pages or so had me turning page after page. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. If anyone was going to die, what was happening? The stakes went sky rocket. And that is what I love.

Overall, Who’s Afraid Too? explores finding yourself, standing up for yourself and letting people help you. It’s about being who you are and not letting people dictate you. Although slow at times and needed an intensity burst, Who’s Afraid Too? is a read for those who love strong women and forbidden love.

Or more close to 3.75. Have you read Who’s Afraid Too? Did you like it? Are you planning too? Have you started this series yet? Are you going to? Let’s Chat!

Book Review: Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Jan 12, 2017

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Pages:
Publish date: January 21st, 2017
Publisher: Hachette Australia
ISBN: 9781473629158
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – Dymocks

Welcome to Caraval, where nothing is quite what it seems.

Scarlett has never left the tiny isle of Trisda, pining from afar for the wonder of Caraval, a once-a-year week-long performance where the audience participates in the show.

Caraval is Magic. Mystery. Adventure. And for Scarlett and her beloved sister Tella it represents freedom and an escape from their ruthless, abusive father.

When the sisters’ long-awaited invitations to Caraval finally arrive, it seems their dreams have come true. But no sooner have they arrived than Tella vanishes, kidnapped by the show’s mastermind organiser, Legend.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But nonetheless, she quickly becomes enmeshed in a dangerous game of love, magic and heartbreak. And real or not, she must find Tella before the game is over, and her sister disappears forever.

Caraval:

I received an ARC of Caraval from Hachette Australia in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I was very excited to get Caraval in my hands, where it’s all about magic and fighting for what you love. However, it wasn’t what I expected, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t like it.

Caraval follows protagonist Scarlett Dragna and her sister Tella as they are invited to enter the magical game of Caraval. But, when they arrive Tella vanishes and Scarlett must do everything in her power to find her. However, everything is not what it seems. And you don’t know what’s real or not, you have to trust in yourself. And try not to be caught up in the game.

Scarlett was the type of protagonist that I clicked with. She cared so much for sister that she would do anything for even, anything. She has this presence about her that I really enjoyed reading. And as the book went on she grew stronger. One of the things I loved about Scarlett was her weakness – she love and compassion for her sister, was also her downfall.

Tella, on the other hand, was so frustrating at times. She reminded me a lot of one of my sisters when she was younger – and I just couldn’t take it. I don’t know if it’s the big sister in me or what. Although, we didn’t get to see much of her in the book.

One of the things I loved most about Caraval was the notion of family. It was great seeing both sides of the same rock. The readers are able to see the loving relationships between Scarlett and Tella. Where Scarlett will do anything for her sister and vise versa. Then on the other side, it’s the horrible relationship they have with their father. It’s rare that we get to see the good side of families in YA, especially in fantasy.

I don’t know how I feel about the romance in Caraval. It’s very hard to talk about it without giving anything away. But, it’s not your usual YA romance, also there are so hurdles along the way – that she didn’t sit right.

Be warned – Don’t believe anything in Caraval. It’s one of those books where you don’t know what is real and what isn’t until the last page. You are second guessing yourself the whole book, along with the characters. You don’t know what or who to believe. It’s like you are on a scale, tipping slowing. And however frustrating it is, it works in Caraval.

The world of Caraval was fascinating. They have this game that is never in the same place. Where you don’t know what is going to happen next and when you win – you get 1 wish. I was swept up into this magical world with beautiful writing that seemed also fairytale-like.

The ending was intense. The whole of Caraval lead up to this point. And everything clicked or was washed away. It was like layer upon layer finally clicking.

Overall, I enjoyed Caraval. It can be confusing and angry you to the bone, but it works. It explores the notion of family, friendships and doing what you think is right. It’s about finding believing in others and finding yourself. I cannot wait to read the second book in this two book series.

Have you read Caraval? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? Let’s Chat!