Review #39 - The Eye of the North by Sinead O'Hart

Details:

Title: The Eye of the North

Author: Sinead O'Hart

Publisher: Stripes Publishing

ISBN 13: 978-1847159410

Synopsis:

Emmeline Widget has never left Widget Manor – and that’s the way she likes it. But when her scientist parents mysteriously disappear, she finds herself being packed off on a ship to France, heading for a safe house in Paris. Onboard she is befriended by an urchin stowaway called Thing. But before she can reach her destination she is kidnapped by the sinister Dr Siegfried Bauer.

Dr Bauer is bound for the ice fields of Greenland to summon a legendary monster from the deep. And he isn’t the only one determined to unleash the creature. The Northwitch has laid claim to the beast, too.

Can Emmeline and Thing stop their fiendish plans and save the world?

Review:

Review #38 - State of Sorrow by Melinda Salisbury

Details:

Title: State of Sorrow

Author: Melinda Salisbury

Publisher: Scholastic

ISBN 13: 978-1407180274

Synopsis:

Sorrow all but rules the Court of Tears, in a land gripped by perpetual grief, forever mourning her brother who died just days before Sorrow was born. By day she governs in place of her father, by night she seeks secret solace in the arms of the boy she's loved since childhood. But when her brother is seemingly found alive, and intent on taking control, Sorrow has to choose whether to step aside for a stranger who might not be who he claims to be, or embark on a power struggle for a position she never really wanted.

Review:

Review #37 - Outwalkers by Fiona Shaw

Details:

Title: Outwalkers

Author: Fiona Shaw

Publisher: David Fickling Books

ISBN 13: 978-1788450003

Synopsis:

The border's closed, Jake said. No one can get into Scotland, just like no one can cross the Channel...This is England and it's no longer a free country. The Government can track anyone, anywhere, from a chip implanted at birth. But Jake has escaped from his Academy orphanage, and he's got to get to Scotland with his dog, Jet. When the Outwalkers gang grabs him, they go off-grid while the Government hunts for them. The closer they get to Scotland, the more dangerous it is. Because now, it's not only their own lives that are at stake . . .

Review:

Review #36 - The Sandcastle Empire by Kayla Olson

Details:

Title: The Sandcastle Empire

Author: Kayla Olson

Publisher: Harper Collins

ISBN 13: 978-0062484871

Synopsis:

Now a powerful group called the Wolfpack controls the earth and its resources. And even though Eden has lost everything to them, she refuses to die by their hands. She knows the coordinates to the only neutral ground left in the world, a place called Sanctuary Island, and she is desperate to escape to its shores.

Eden finally reaches the island and meets others resistant to the Wolves. But the solace is short-lived when one of Eden’s new friends goes missing. Braving the jungle in search of their lost ally, they quickly discover Sanctuary is filled with lethal traps and an enemy they never expected.

This island might be deadlier than the world Eden left behind, but surviving it is the only thing that stands between her and freedom.

Review:

Review #35 - The Polar Bear Explorers Club by Alex Bell

Details:

Title: The Polar Bear Explorers Club

Author: Alex Bell

Publisher: Faber and Faber

ISBN 13: 978-0571332540

Synopsis:

Join Stella Starflake Pearl and her three fellow explorers as they trek across the snowy Icelands and come face-to-face with frost fairies, snow queens, outlaw hideouts, unicorns, pygmy dinosaurs and carnivorous cabbages . . .

When Stella and three other junior explorers get separated from their expedition can they cross the frozen wilderness and live to tell the tale?

Review:

Review #34 - Princeless: Raven the Pirate Princess vol 2: Free Women by Jeremy Whitley

Details:

Title: Princeless: Raven the Pirate Princess vol 2: Free Women

Author: Jeremy Whitley

Publisher: Action Lab Entertainment

ISBN 13: 978-1632291295

Synopsis:

Raven and her crew cast off to the high seas and the adventure of their lives! But before they can take on Raven's brothers they'll have to learn where they are and what's happened since Raven was locked away. So they're headed to Raven's ancestral home island, The Island of the Free Women. It's swamped with every kind of thief, assassin, and despot. Can Raven's crew face their first challenge? Can they even handle being cooped up in the same ship together? 

Review:

Review #33 - I hate Fairyland vol 2 - Fluff my life by Skottie Young

Details:

Title: I hate Fairyland vol 2 Fluff my life

Author: Skottie Young

Publisher: Image Comics

ISBN 13: 978-1632158871

Synopsis:

All hail Gertrude, the new Queen of Fairyland. After thirty years of wreaking havoc across this magical world to find her way back home, she must now overcome her biggest challenge yet... ruling the place she hates most. Join Gert as she continues her never-ending quest to get the FLUFF out of Fairyland. 

Review:

Review #32 - Magisterium 4 The Silver Mask by Cassandra Clare & Holly Black

Details:

Title: Magisterium 4 The Silver Mask

Author: Cassandra Clare & Holly Black

Publisher: Corgi Childrens

ISBN 13: 978-0552567749

Synopsis:

Callum Hunt's life has fallen apart.

His friend is gone. The spy has escaped. His secret is out.

He is facing an existence behind bars, banished from the rest of the magical community for what he is - for what he might become.

But a shocking revelation has promised freedom - at a cost. Will he stay strong, and faithful to his friends and teachers? Or take the risk, and destroy everything he's ever loved?

This fourth year at the Magisterium will be unlike anything else that has gone before . . .

Review:

Review #31 - Nephilim by John and Carole Barrowman

Details:

Title: Nephilim

Author: John and Carole Barrowman

Publisher: Head of Zeus

ISBN 13: 978-1781856437

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Rémy is a Conjuror – someone who can alter reality with his music. But such a talent comes with a price. He and his superpowered friends, Matt and Em Calder, are engaged in a dangerous battle to save humanity as we know it.

If they are to succeed, they must first decide who to trust. An amoral seventeenth-century artist? A heavily-tattooed Chicago gangster? Or a nephilim, half angel and half human, with silver-flecked wings?

But time is running out. They must take action soon. For where fallen angels rule, chaos will reign.

Review:

Review #30 - Saga vol 1 by Brian K Vaugn

Details:

Title: Sags vol 1

Author: Brian K Vaugn

Publisher: Image Comics

ISBN 13: 978-1607066019

Synopsis:

When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall in love, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old universe. 

Review:

Now We Rise! - Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Details:

Title: Children of Blood and Bone

Author: Tomi Adeyemi

Publisher: Macmillan Childrens

ISBN 13: 978-1509871353

Synopsis:

They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us. 
Now we rise.

Zélie remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. When different clans ruled – Burners igniting flames, Tiders beckoning waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoning forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, anyone with powers was targeted and killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope. Only a few people remain with the power to use magic, and they must remain hidden.

Zélie is one such person. Now she has a chance to bring back magic to her people and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must learn to harness her powers and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where strange creatures prowl, and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to come to terms with the strength of her magic – and her growing feelings for an enemy.

Review:

For a debut novel I found this book to be outstanding. The world the author created was detailed and steeped in history, the characters were well developed and appealing and the magic system was really unique and simply amazing. The whole book kept me engaged and wanting to read, I was led through laughter, sadness and nail biting suspense. 

I really loved the set up of the story, seeing everything unfold from three different points of view led to some great insight into varying mindsets. I highly recommend this one to anybody who appreciates fantastic world building and clever magic systems. 

I gave this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

As an added extra check out the table below for details on how to find out what Maji Clan you belong to!

Mine is Lighter which I am happy with, I quite like the idea of being able to play with light and dark. It'd be handy when I needed a torch ;)

Thank you so much to My Kinda Book and Macmillan for the chance to be part of this amazing blog tour! 

Top 5 Wednesday - 7th March 2018

Top 5 Wednesday!

Top Five Wednesday was created by Laineyand is currently hosted by Sam from Thoughts on Tomes. There is more information at the goodreads group. 

March 7th March: Freebie

So since today's topic is a free for all I decided to go with my top 5 pre-orders of 2018 (I have not included Hero at the Fall by Alwyn Hamilton or The Invasion by Peadar O'Guilin as at the time of writing this I have already received them).

Review #28 - Poe Dameron vol 3 Legend Lost by Charles Soule

Details:

Title: Poe Dameron vol 3 Legend Lost

Author: Charles Soule

Publisher: Marvel

ISBN 13: 978-1302907426

Synopsis:

It's a sad day for Poe Dameron and the Resistance, as they mourn the loss of a fallen comrade. But their fight is far from over - the First Order must be stopped! And Captain Phasma knows just how to get Terex to toe the line.

Review:

Review #27 - Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter

Details:

Title: Vassa in the Night

Author: Sarah Porter

Publisher: Tor Teen

ISBN 13: 978-0765380548

Synopsis:

In Vassa's neighbourhood, where she lives with her stepmother and bickering stepsisters, one might stumble onto magic, but stumbling out again could become an issue. Babs Yagg, the owner of the local convenience store, has a policy of beheading shoplifters and sometimes innocent shoppers as well. So when Vassa's stepsister sends her out for light bulbs in the middle of night, she knows it could easily become a suicide mission. But Vassa has a bit of luck hidden in her pocket, a gift from her dead mother. Erg is a tough talking wooden doll with sticky fingers, a bottomless stomach, and a ferocious cunning. With Erg's help, Vassa just might be able to break the witch's curse and free her Brooklyn neighbourhood. But Babs won't be playing fair. Inspired by the Russian folktale "Vassilissa the Beautiful" and Sarah Porter's years of experience teaching creative writing to New York City students, Vassa in the Night weaves a dark yet hopeful tale about a young girl's search for home, love, and belonging.

Review:

Review #26 - Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco

Details:

Title: Hunting Prince Dracula

Author: Kerri Maniscalco

Publisher: Jimmy Patterson

ISBN 13: 978-0316551663

Synopsis:

Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper's true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe's best schools of forensic medicine...and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend. 
But her life's dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school's forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life once again.

Review:

Review #25 - The Fandom by Anna Day

Details:

Title: The Fandom

Author: Anna Day

Publisher: Chicken House

ISBN 13: 978-1910655672

Synopsis:

Violet and her friends love being part of the fandom for The Gallows Dance. But at Comic-Con, they’re somehow catapulted into the story itself – for real. Trapped in a twisted world where they’ve accidentally killed the original hero, Rose, there’s only one way to survive: Violet must fill Rose’s shoes and put the plot back on track. No story is worth dying for … is it?

Review:

Review #24 - York: The Shadow Cipher by Laura Ruby

Details:

Title: York: The Shadow Cipher

Author: Laura Ruby

Publisher: Walden Pond

ISBN 13: 978-0062306937

Synopsis:

It was 1798 when the Morningstarr twins arrived in New York with a vision for a magnificent city: towering skyscrapers, dazzling machines, and winding train lines, all running on technology no one had ever seen before.

Fifty-seven years later, the enigmatic architects disappeared, leaving behind for the people of New York the Old York Cipher—a puzzle laid into the shining city they constructed, at the end of which was promised a treasure beyond all imagining. By the present day, however, the puzzle has never been solved, and the greatest mystery of the modern world is little more than a tourist attraction.

Tess and Theo Biedermann and their friend Jaime Cruz live in a Morningstarr apartment—until a real estate developer announces that the city has agreed to sell him the five remaining Morningstarr buildings. Their likely destruction means the end of a dream long held by the people of New York.

And if Tess, Theo, and Jaime want to save their home, they have to prove that the Old York Cipher is real. Which means they have to solve it.

Review:

February Wrap Up and March TBR

So in February 2018 I managed to read a total of 14 books.

In order of reading I completed Furthermore by Teherah Mafi, Poe Dameron vol 2 by Charles Soule, The Extinction Trials by SM Wilson, Sky Song by Abi Elphinstone, Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell, Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst, Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend, Shadowblack by Sebastien de Castell, Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card vol 2 by CLAMP, York by Laura Ruby, The Fandom by Anna Day, Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco, Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter and Poe Dameron vol 3 by Charles Soule.

  

  

  

 

Stats -  

Hardback = 5

Paperback = 4

Graphic Novel = 3

Audiobook = 2

2*'s = 1

3*'s = 1

4*'s= 3

4.5*'s= 5

5*'s= 4

14 books was definitely far more than I expected to read, I was hoping to read a good amount but didn't expect to match January.  My 5 star reads were Spellslinger, Shadowblack, Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card vol 2 and Poe Dameron vol 3. Spellslinger and Shadowblack were re-reads but this time I listened to the audiobooks which were amazing. The most disappointing read for me this month was Vassa in the Night, this sounded really interesting but just ended up being weird. I didn't get what was happening a lot of the time and just found the whole thing lacked cohesion.

So in March I have quite a few busy weekends and I am on holiday for a week. So my hesitant TBR for March is as follows; Outalkers by Fiona Shaw, State of Sorrow by Melinda Salisbury,  Release by Patrick Ness and Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer.