Showing posts with label amreading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label amreading. Show all posts

Friday, 1 July 2016

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken Book Review



Passage, n.
i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes.
ii. A journey by water; a voyage.
iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time.

In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them—whether she wants to or not.

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home... forever.


SPOILER FREE REVIEW
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Knowing about the hype this book had, I went into reading it with utterly high expectations. I had requested it specifically because I had heard how much everyone loved it and were recommending it. Unfortunately it did not have the same effect for me and I think having those expectations too high at the start may have been the reason I expected too much from it. Aside from the fact, it was a good book and I did want to keep reading. Maybe reading Desolation prior to this put me in a reading slump so maybe that's why I didn't seem to enjoy this book as much as I wanted to.

The main character, Etta Spencer, seemed like a typical girl who had a passion for a musical instrument, just like anyone else would. I loved how all she wanted to do was be the best she could be and how she found the beauty in playing - the way she could lose herself in the music and forget about the audience. As lovely as it is to see a character enjoy a normal hobby, this was definitely short-lived due to the unfortunate event of her being thrust into this new world without knowledge and then finding out later that it was her instrument that kick-started the action. I felt like she didn't have an amazing character development and the fact that she let herself be distracted by her love interest when she is meant to be trying to save the world (a constant trope that seems to be never-ending) was a bit of an annoying thing while reading. Yeah, the romance was cute and might have kept the storyline alive a little bit more, but that was what bothered me. I was hoping to see more action left with way more dramatic cliff-hangers and deaths (Sarah J Maas has seemingly set my bar way too high). Nicholas seemed like a real person, the way he spoke, acted and made decisions. He was more focused on the idea of getting what he wanted in terms of being free and that seemed to enhance the plot thankfully. I had really high hopes for Sophia but she just ruined her chances of being a likeable character - however she could possibly redeem herself in the next book.

I really loved the way the plot was laid out and the idea of time-travel through portals. There aren't many books like this and that's what I did like out of everything. I feel like time-travel is a difficult thing to write about without being too unrealistic or illogical and Alexandra did a on-point job of making it feel like it could be something that would make sense in the real world. However I had a hard time picturing what certain objects looked like, maybe because I was skipping through the book due to my inability to focus or maybe because it just wasn't really described that well. I have to say that I did enjoy it to a point which helped me continue reading and left me feeling like I wanted to see how the story continues in the next instalment. Having different families being against each other and wanting revenge sort of reminded me of the Game of Thrones series (bear in mind I have only seen the TV show but am planning on reading the books at some point). I haven't read Alexandra's other series, The Darkest Minds but I do want to try it out at some point.

My overall opinion of Passenger is that I did like it, but not enough to consider it one of my favourites. I'm hoping the sequel is better because that might be the turning point of the series and determine whether or not I might actually feel like fully recommending the series. Etta wasn't the type of heroine I was really rooting for and for me that's a big thing when it comes to enjoying a book. I feel like everyone is different and personally I am quite fussy with what I read. A LOT of people did love it and I think that you should just pick up the book and see if it suits your personal preference of literature. I gave this book a 2.5 out of 5 stars!

Things I loved about Passenger!:

* The chemistry between Etta and Nicholas was really cute! However the fact that there was a major instalove trope made me feel a bit off about the whole relationship.

* The book is all about time-travel with the pro's and con's that come with it. The way it was explained was really well done and I think it could potentially have an amazing sequel if written well, if not better!

* Etta has a hobby of playing the violin which weaves in with the main plot which I absolutely love! It has a purpose and isn't left to be something that is put to the side because of the character's quest and responsibilities.


Thank you HarperCollins New Zealand for the review copy! Go like their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/Harpercollinsnz?fref=ts

Go add Passenger to your Goodreads list HERE


Go buy it on MightyApe with 1 day delivery in New Zealand HERE


Buy it on Book Depository with free shipping world wide HERE

Thursday, 7 January 2016

Girl In The Woods by Aspen Matis: Book Review



Girl in the Woods is Aspen Matis's exhilarating true-life adventure of hiking from Mexico to Canada—a coming of age story, a survival story, and a triumphant story of overcoming emotional devastation. On her second night of college, Aspen was raped by a fellow student. Overprotected by her parents who discouraged her from telling of the attack, Aspen was confused and ashamed. Dealing with a problem that has sadly become all too common on college campuses around the country, she stumbled through her first semester—a challenging time made even harder by the coldness of her college's "conflict mediation" process. Her desperation growing, she made a bold decision: She would seek healing in the freedom of the wild, on the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail leading from Mexico to Canada.

In this inspiring memoir, Aspen chronicles her journey, a five-month trek that was ambitious, dangerous, and transformative. A nineteen-year-old girl alone and lost, she conquered desolate mountain passes and met rattlesnakes, bears, and fellow desert pilgrims. Exhausted after each thirty-mile day, at times on the verge of starvation, Aspen was forced to confront her numbness, coming to terms with the sexual assault and her parents' disappointing reaction. On the trail and on her own, she found that survival is predicated on persistent self-reliance. She found her strength. After a thousand miles of solitude, she found a man who helped her learn to love and trust again—and heal.

Told with elegance and suspense, Girl in the Woods is a beautifully rendered story of eroding emotional and physical boundaries to reveal the truths that lie beyond the edges of the map.



SPOILER FREE REVIEW
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If there were any way to present a memoir in a way which would inspire thousands then Aspen Matis has done it. Here in this beautiful written book lies a story of agony and betrayal turned inspiration and courage. In my time of reading books and watching movies, there has never been anything so delicate and bold at the same time, in my opinion. Matis has brought writing a real life story to a whole new level and unfortunately she had to be the bearer of this burden-turned-blessing. In this memoir, Matis described how the terrible moment of being date raped broke her confidence and trust in everyone around her, including her family, which ends up leading her to make a bold decision to walk the entire Pacific Crest Trail - basically walking the entire trail from Mexico to Canada - in order to find herself again. From the young Debby Parker to Aspen Matis, a young, shattered soul walks through 2,650 miles of desert and mountains in order to transform herself into the strong, successful woman that she is today.

Like I have said in past reviews of memoirs, I hate the idea of completely criticising it because it is a real life story. To say this was a well-written book is a complete understatement. I thoroughly devoured this within a couple of weeks, just because I was busy and couldn't read as much. I did however spend almost a whole night finishing the last 200 pages and I would do it over and over again if I could. Diving in to such a highly acclaimed book made me feel fresh and renewed as I have never read anything so dense and wild - it had me hooked from the start. Matis has a profound way of using words to descriptively visualize the setting in your mind. I feel like most fictional stories don't have enough of this which shows that she really knows her stuff - plus she has an amazing and vivid memory which she manages to print on to the page flawlessly. Her determination to start and finish this five month journey with or without help from other trekkers is totally inspiring for all girls and woman alike - a true example of a leader and heroine. The fact that she also managed to deal with the majority of the hikers being men, especially knowing how she was raped by one at her college in Colorado, she finds the will to accomplish more than anyone else by making peace with these strangers and even hiking for a few days and nights with a few. Not only does Matis retell her story in full retrospect, but she vividly details the beautiful chemistry between herself and another hiker whom seems to respect her for who she is and sees the truth in her eyes. From trail magic to trail angels, this journey is one hell of a ride that you will want to be on.

Things I LOVE about Girl In The Woods:

* She had her name changed from Debby Parker to Aspen Matis! The basic idea of her decision to do this was the fact that she felt it discerned her from the person she used to be. After the hike she feels she has learnt a lot and transformed herself through a journey of nature and beauty, why else would you want to change your name? I feel like it fits her, especially seeing as she mentions the name, Aspen many times throughout the book.

* The beauty of the trail seems unimaginable unless you actually do it yourself! As much as Aspen managed to describe the beauty of this trail, from dusty badlands to treacherous mountain tops, I still feel like this walk would not be fully imagined until you actually go there yourself. Now I'm not saying that anyone should just take Aspen's advice and do this trail just because of anything. She had her reasons to do the trail but there is also another main point that I picked up while reading; taking walks in nature is purifying and beautiful and you can do it anywhere. Personally I love nature and being around trees and lakes so I would do this anyday I had the chance. It's just a shame there weren't as many photos of the trail as I would have expected!

* From Debby to Aspen: The story of a girl who became a woman! Coming of age stories are one of my many favourites and I would have to say that reading about Aspen's transformation made me feel empowered and invincible. The fact that she walked this trail at 19 years of age, which is how old I am at this exact moment, makes me feel personally like I could attempt the same and come out a better person too. It is inspiring to me just as much as it would inspire anyone else and though I respect Aspen for taking such a dangerous journey to find herself, I would not be so bold unless I had something to push me that far too. I think I'll just stick to day walks for now!

* Aspen is such a beautiful person and she is my hero! From what I have read so far about Aspen, not from her book but from interviews, reviews and praises, I feel like Aspen has proved to us females that we are just as tough as males and just because we are expected to sit tight, be polite and do whatever is expected of us, it's not what we have to do. We can go out and choose to trek crazy trails like this. We can choose to make a living on our own and be independent without a man to support us. We can be ourselves and not have to expect people to like us. Girls have a right to be heard and be important and powerful just as much as guys. Aspen makes me feel like I have a voice that will be heard because she proved to me that even though something precious was taken from her, she can survive and become stronger because of it. She won't let anything break her and because of that, neither will I.

Overall I have given this book a 5 out of 5 stars. This book was inspiring, beautiful, courageous, infectious and delightful. I couldn't have read anything more amazing and I just hope that one day I will be able to read her next book and by that time, her voice will be heard by millions.


Thank you HarperCollins New Zealand for the review copy! Go like their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/Harpercollinsnz?fref=ts

Go add Girl In The Woods to your Goodreads list HERE


Go buy it on MightyApe with 1 day delivery in New Zealand HERE



Buy it on Book Depository with free shipping world wide HERE

Friday, 11 December 2015

Destined for Doon by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon


The second book in the popular new Doon YA series that takes on a classic story, Brigadoon, and spins it in a new way to give readers a fresh, modern experience.

In this sequel to Doon, Kenna Reid realizes she made a horrible mistake-choosing to follow her dreams of Broadway instead of staying in the enchanted land of Doon. Worse, she's received proof she and Duncan are meant to be, along with torturous visions of the prince she left behind. So when Duncan shows up and informs Kenna that Doon needs her, she doesn't need to think twice. But even if Kenna can save the enchanted kingdom, her happily ever after may still be in peril.


The Doon novels are a part of Blink, HarperCollins Christian Publishing's new YA imprint that delivers empowering and heartening literature while maintaining a tradition of imaginative and impactful storytelling.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW
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So this was a book that I read in literally two days because I was so moved and interested by the first one. Having being resubmersed in the world of Doon with Veronica and Jamie was the most exhilerating thing because I had requested it at the library literally right after I finished the first. Who knew that I would be so interested in a novel set in Scotland which was basically all about a magical kingdom with royalty and a whole town of loyal citizens. Reading the reviews of the first and second books on Goodreads just gave me even more reason to sit down for hours both days just reading to my hearts content, despite the love for the series that I had already gathered through reading the first and anything that Sasha Alsberg had to say about it. It is truly going to stay on my list of my favourite books I have ever read (video to come on that too - I have like a whole list of videos that I haven't yet filmed so bear with me please!).

Destined for Doon follows the story of Veronica, now living as the Queen of Doon with Jamie McCrae as her husband-to-be, and MacKenna who has left Doon and realised too late that she has now had a "calling" where Duncan has appeared to her begging for her to return to Doon to him. Fortunately Duncan is asked to come back to retrieve MacKenna for Queen Veronica as Doon is yet again in danger and she needs her best friend to help her think straight. Travelling back to Doon is a mission for them, not only is the trip highly awkward, but they discover that the main entrance of Doon has been corrupted by a flesh-eating magical curse that has been left by one of the witches and they have to try and take the back way through. MacKennna and Duncan finally make it back to the castle in Doon and Veronica describes to her everything that has happened since her "departure" of Doon and states that it has only been two months since, though MacKenna says she has been away for at least a whole year (it is described in the first book - if you forgot - that the time passes differently between both worlds). Veronica and MacKenna work together along with the McCrae boys to figure out what is really causing the virus in Doon to spread before it completely consumes everything and Doon is lost forever.

Things I LOVE about Destined for Doon:

* MacKenna is starting to realise how much she cares for Duncan! As frustrating as she was in the first novel, MacKenna finds that coming back to Doon has made her realise how much she really cares about Duncan but has no idea whether or not he has had visions of her too. Still the undeniable bond begins to build and things finally start to look like they're working out for the two lovebirds. However it might take a lot more than destiny and visions of Duncan to prove that she really belongs here in Doon.

* Veronica is a Queen and I can't even contain myself with how cool that would be! Like seriously, who doesn't want to be a princess or a Queen? I always wanted to be one even though I was such a tomboy as a kid. It comes with responsibility but it also comes with power and respect. A position a person like me would clearly be accustomed to seeing as I like being my own boss and not being told what to do (hence wanting to be an author - no one will tell me how to write my stories. There will only be deadlines which I don't mind trying to keep up with). Everyone is destined for something and I feel that's one of the main messages that this book portrays. If I were born in Scotland and maybe a whole century earlier, I could have been on the throne right now *Subtly buys self a cool circlet crown thing that Veronica wears off of the internet to show my rightful status*.

* It's the sequel to Doon and I couldn't be any happier! When one tends to enjoy one book thoroughly, they tend to be pretty keen to get the next in the series. 'nuff said really.

Overall I have given this book a five out of five stars because it satisfied my Doon craving after suffering for a week. Yes, a week and it was horrible, okay. Now I'm gonna have to get the third one which I'm sure is called Shades of Doon because Sasha said she was going to read it while she was travelling Scotland which would have really set the mood I guess. Also, I'm gonna have to look into the play that inspired the authors Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon to write these books because when one gets a whiff of Doon, they don't go back. And I don't regret a thing.

Go add Destined for Doon to your Goodreads list HERE

Go buy it on MightyApe with 1 day delivery in New Zealand HERE

Buy it on Book Depository with free shipping world wide HERE


Doon by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon: Book Review



Veronica doesn't think she's going crazy. But why can't anyone else see the mysterious blond boy who keeps popping up wherever she goes? When her best friend, Mackenna, invites her to spend the summer in Scotland, Veronica jumps at the opportunity to leave her complicated life behind for a few months. 

But the Scottish countryside holds other plans. 

Not only has the imaginary kilted boy followed her to Alloway, she and Mackenna uncover a strange set of rings and a very unnerving letter from Mackenna's great aunt—and when the girls test the instructions Aunt Gracie left behind, they find themselves transported to a land that defies explanation. Doon seems like a real-life fairy tale, complete with one prince who has eyes for Mackenna and another who looks suspiciously like the boy from Veronica's daydreams. But Doon has a dark underbelly as well. The two girls could have everything they've longed for...or they could end up breaking an enchantment and find themselves trapped in a world that has become a nightmare.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW
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I first heard about this series through Sasha Alsberg who is also a Booktuber on YouTube as "abookutopia" for any of you that haven't read my previous posts - clearly I've mentioned her a few times before. She is literally obsessed with this series and is basically the reason she absolutely LOVES Scotland (aside from Outlander of course). Picking up Doon for the first time, I had a vague idea about what it was all about and the fact that, according to Sasha, it's quite similar to Outlander. In my own words it's like a teen version of Diana Gabaldon's highly acclaimed book series that has been made into a TV show. One of the major reasons it's quite similar to Outlander, despite the fact that they're both set in Scotland in a very similar setting, is that one of the princes that Veronica meets in the book is called Jamie. So practically since I have been totally hypnotised by everything Sasha has said and talked about with Outlander, for some strange reason I started to imagine the Jamie from the tv series as the Jamie McCrae in Doon. Fun stuff, don't you think? This is basically how I got hooked almost immediately.

Doon is about two best friends, Veronica and MacKenna, who decide to take a holiday trip to Scotland for two weeks to get away from the hassles of life and stay at MacKenna's aunty's house who passed away when she was just a young girl. Veronica mentions that after her break up, she starts seeing visions of a Scottish dude in a kilt that keeps calling out to her which at this time, MacKenna tries to shove the idea off as a post-break-up symptom and it's probably nothing out of the ordinary. The girls go for drinks with a new friend and end up hearing about the long-lost story about Doon. The next day cleaning out the attic, they find Mackenna's aunt's rings and journal which state that everything about Doon is true because she had spent the majority of her life there. Veronica believes it straight away but MacKenna is sceptical. She ends up chasing down Veronica who has run off to the Brig' o' Doon which her aunt Gracie describes in her journal and they find themselves both travelling through a magical misty portal to Doon in a matter of seconds. The story weaves through with them being accused of witchery, falling for the princes, Jamie (the guy Veronica was seeing in her visions) and Duncan McCrae - who of which have had to grieve their father who succumbed to sickness, making new friends and discovering that Doon was in more danger than they had ever thought possible. Veronica and MacKenna realise that they were meant to come to Doon in order to help it through it's crisis and save it before it's too late. Unfortunately MacKenna isn't as prone to believing in destiny as Veronica is.

Things I LOVE about Doon:

* The fact that it is set in Scotland! In terms of my own bloodlines, I am partially Maori and Scottish with a few other things but this book being set in Scotland made me so much more interested in the country that I really want to visit. Also because I am meant to have some sort of royalty through my family and my grandmother on my Dad's side was apparently meant to be eighteenth in line for the throne of some sort (I'm going to do a video elaborating on this so keep posted and subscribed to my YouTube channel if you would like to see that). I love feeling like I can submerse myself in a storybook world where this could have been my reality if my family had of stayed in Scotland. It makes the idea so magical and beautiful. Plus it's based in a castle in a country setting so it's pretty awesome considering.

* Veronica and Jamie are literally the most realistic and cutest almost-couple! When Veronica starts seeing Jamie as a vision and then realises that he was an actual person in Doon makes it so much more interesting and hooking to me because it was like it was destiny for them to meet (Spoiler alert but not really: It was destiny). When they start to interact it's not so much an instant connection for them or so they think. The realism in this grabbed me instantly and I was feeling more and more frustrated for Veronica but I like that when a book makes me feel like the character does. That's basically the point of a book, right?

* The "calling" is the most romantic thing and I wish that happened in real life! Basically a "calling" is when a person from the real world and a person from Doon starts having visions either in their dreams or in the day, it means that they're destined to be together and that the Protector of Doon is willing it to happen. The fact that it doesn't happen to MacKenna makes her feel real bummed out and is basically more reason for her to feel like she doesn't have to stay so she can get back to her studies at her dream college and become an actress. Personally MacKenna annoyed me a bit with this but there are different types of people with different wants and needs. Plus you can't expect every character to be like Veronica. There's gotta be someone who ruins the fun.

Overall I have given this book a five out of five stars because it is the type of book I would want to forget and then read with a fresh start to enjoy the way it made me feel all over again. Who wouldn't wish that to be honest? Something like The Winner's Curse and Swoon annoyed me and I probably wouldn't want to relive that again. This book I would want to jump right into now if I could and live there forever. Thanks to Sasha again for introducing me to such a wonderful book and reintroduced me to my own roots. I might one day find my destiny in Scotland just as Veronica did.

Go add Doon to your Goodreads list HERE


Go buy it on MightyApe with 1 day delivery in New Zealand HERE

Buy it on Book Depository with free shipping world wide HERE


Wednesday, 9 December 2015

The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings: Book Review


An action-packed, blood-soaked, futuristic debut thriller set in a world where the murder rate is higher than the birthrate. For fans of Moira Young’s Dust Lands series, La Femme Nikita, and the movie Hanna.

Meadow Woodson, a fifteen-year-old girl who has been trained by her father to fight, to kill, and to survive in any situation, lives with her family on a houseboat in Florida. The state is controlled by The Murder Complex, an organization that tracks the population with precision.

The plot starts to thicken when Meadow meets Zephyr James, who is—although he doesn’t know it—one of the MC’s programmed assassins. Is their meeting a coincidence? Destiny? Or part of a terrifying strategy? And will Zephyr keep Meadow from discovering the haunting truth about her family?

Action-packed, blood-soaked, and chilling, this is a dark and compelling debut novel by Lindsay Cummings.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW
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Lindsay Cummings is yet another author with a book that I just happened to discover while watching an interview with her and Sasha Alsberg on YouTube. When I heard about her debut novel, The Murder Complex I instantly felt like I really wanted to read it. Probably because it was all about survival and strategy which is something I like reading about to learn just in case the world ends up being a similar type of "f**ked up" reality. I saw this at the library and without even reading the blurb I picked it up in an instant and added it to my already massive pile of books I'd have to sort through two hours later and decide which I was actually really wanting to take home - obviously The Murder Complex ended up being one of those "chosen ones". That, my friend, is the power of book reviewers if you think we don't really do or mean much to anyone. Though if I were to give a quick overall review on this book, I'd really just have to say that if a debut novel can make me question how they are over the age of twenty and basically have not been discovered by a few simple short stories at high school or something crazy like that then they are definitely doing their job. I'm just a little melancholic thinking about the fact that this is only a duology and I won't have that much time to delve into this world once I get my hands on the next book, The Death Code, as it will be the last one.

The Murder Complex is the story of a young girl called Meadow and a young boy named Zephr, who both live in a city where everything is cut off from the rest of the world by a massive gate surrounding it and cannot live without having to survive first. They are controlled by a government of people who watch their every move and make sure that they do not attempt to escape the perimeter of the city or the tiny pins in their arms will zap them dead. Meadow is coming up to her test which decides whether or not she can get a job and provide for her family. Zephr is one of those that collects the dead bodies of the unfortunate to live and survive with his older friend, Talan who he practically considers his only family even if they aren't related. Soon Meadow and Zephr end up meeting almost by fate and start discovering some weird and different things that they didn't expect to be true. Meadow ends up feeling responsible and regretful for the things she has done but soon finds her way with Zephr and they come up with a plan to do what no one sane has ever thought about doing before. Escape.

Things I LOVE about The Murder Complex:

* Meadow and Zephr are cute together and I ship them so much! If there was any couple cuter than Aelin and Rowan, I'd have to say that Meadow and Zephr are next in line. I don't know why but I think it's the way I notice them when they start to connect and realise how much they actually like each other. It's not a confusing or disorientating experience for them and I like that because I have kind of gotten sick of seeing relationships in books where they can't make up their damned minds and it's like, come on! What on Earth is stopping you two? Love each other already! You were meant to be!

* Survival is one of my favourite things to read about! You have to thing about one thing if our world becomes anything similar to The Murder Complex, Red Queen or The Hunger Games; Who are gonna be the ones to survive because they know what the hell they're doing? It'll be the readers and movie fanatics. We'll have watched and thoroughly subconsciously taken in everything we need to know about survival. I already know I'll be good with a bow and arrow thanks to a school camp and thanks to The Hunger Games, both book and movies, I know how to set a trap for an animal and how to sleep in a tree without falling out of it. You've got to think that even though book reviewers or book lovers in general may get crap for having a job in something "so basic" or not having a "real job", we will be the ones who have learnt to live in different types of realities and think more logically and sanely about it because we have thrust ourselves mentally into these worlds. You think we come out the same once we're done with a book like that? No my friend. I know myself I was very different once I had finished reading all three The Hunger Games novels. You come out a stronger person in a way and that's what I love about novels like this. Think I'm crazy and all but that's what I believe and good luck to you non-readers when you need to know how to live in the woods and survive and no one is there how to teach you.

* It's unique in its own way - new content is what every reader needs! Yeah it may be a 'survive or die' novel which is pretty similar to The Hunger Games but it isn't like any other novel I've read or heard before. New content and ideas are always attractive to the average reader so it's much more understandable that something like this novel would do pretty well. I applaude to the up and coming authors that have the guts to write about something that hasn't really ever been written before. I feel like that's the true art of being an author. You hook readers by being the one with fresh and new ideas. That's how you become a best selling author (think about every best-selling author you've read - is every one unique from the other? Yup, thought so).

Overall I have given this novel a four out of five stars. This book was so bloody and brutal so obviously it may not be the best for very squeamish or easily offended people (However I'm pretty squeamish so it didn't sicken me that much). It was highly descriptive and well thought through. I did absolutely love it and basic enough for me to feel hopeful about my own writing (This is literally what I think about everytime I read a novel). I can't wait to get into The Death Code but at the same time I'm already wishing it wouldn't end so soon. Fanfiction anyone?

Go add The Murder Complex to your Goodreads list HERE


Go buy it on MightyApe with 1 day delivery in New Zealand HERE

Buy it on Book Depository with free shipping world wide HERE


Monday, 7 December 2015

The Jewel by Amy Ewing: Book Review


The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.

Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.

Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence... and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW
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Being a debut novel of an author who once considered this story to be a "thesis project" made me really think about how much talent this author has. When I picked up this novel at the library, I did because I was continuing my infatuation with books about empires and princesses and all that jazz. Little did I know that when I would finish it, I would be completely pulled into the storyline and love interests that plagued the book. I found myself laughing at hilarious dialogue and literally almost crying at parts where Violet was being treated badly. The level of emotion and relatable moments was unbelievable and I don't think I've ever read such an emotional book since Breaking Dawn. I have to say well done to Amy for doing so well on her first YA fantasy series.

The main idea of the story intrigued me as so far I have never read anything about young girls in a kingdom who are born with a mutation that allows them to bear children which keep the royalty alive. They are taken away from their families living in the slums and are sent to a school that teaches them how to control their powers and acts accordingly in order to be presented to the royalty of the Jewel. The Jewel is the wealthiest area of the Kingdom being the very centre of a whole city which surrounds it in a circle, and each circle around it is a different type of reality and wealth. From the Jewel outwards it becomes a poorer and poorer state of life. Violet is from the very edge of the city where everyone is poor and is ripped from her family at the age of twelve to go stay at this school for four years before she is finally transferred to the Jewel to be prettied up for an auction and then bought off to the highest bidder as a surrogate to be their bearer of children.

Throughout the novel I constantly noticed Violent rebelling to certain things and feeling like she did not want to be controlled which is exactly how I would feel in that certain situation. Feeling like she was nothing but a tool to be used and then thrown away without feeling like she was even part of a family or to even have the chance to mother her own child. Knowing that her best friend, Raven, has to go through the same thing she does kills her inside - even more so knowing that she or her can't do anything about it. A forbidden love emerges too soon for her to even process it but she has to remind herself that in her position, she is not allowed to have any sort of relationship with anyone. The only friendship she has, and is really allowed, is the one with her mute servant, Annabelle. I feel a major pang of sympathy for Violet because she will never see her family again through this experience but she discovers some things and not everything as it seems. In terms of her powers she does better than others with growth which is why she was bought by the Duchess of the Lake. She wants to have a baby faster than any other so that it will be chosen and betrothed to the Electress' newborn baby son. All this seems so overwhelming to such a young girl at sixteen years old and I feel so bad for her being a mother myself and knowing that if I were in her situation, I would be going a little bit mental about the whole idea of it too.

Things I loved about The Jewel:

* Violet and Ash are a match made in heaven! These two were so obvious from the start. I absolutely loved every moment they managed together and the fact that they cared so much to even risk possibly being found out and executed. They're so cute and I can't wait to see how they develop in the second novel!

* The idea of the image, shape and growth powers is so unique and awesome! Considering the fact that most novels these days are writing about either the same "superpowers" or ones that just seem too typical, it's nice to see an author come up with something that's different and challenges the minds of the readers that have been buried in literature with every trope on the surface of the earth (a little dramatic but seriously though).

* I need a friend like Annabelle, although it would be nice if she could actually speak! She was the sweetest person to Violet the whole time she stayed at the Duchess of the Lake's house and always spent time with her when she had nothing to do. I loved that she was caring and was so amazing at dressing Violet up in clothes and makeup for any event she was expected to attend. I would probably cry if she ends up being killed off in the future.

* How unique and different the storyline and themes were! If every author managed to have an open mind like Amy then we'd have a hell of a lot more readers! I think some can get very bored of the same thing over and over like a love triangle or a rebellion rising and as much as I tend to love books like that, it's nice to read something that has never been written about before and it brings competition to the writing game. Readers want this to be fun and so that it's more challenging to choose who should win a book award.  We want fresh content and new names and places that are completely made up. We want stuff like this and that's why I loved it so much.

Overall I have given this book a four out of five stars for being such a dramatic change in the writing game. It has different themes and even Violet thinks a little differently from most protagonists which is what I really enjoyed. I can't wait to read the second one and find out what happens after that devastating ending which you'll have to read if you want to know what that is!

Go add The Jewel to your Goodreads list HERE


Go buy it on MightyApe with 1 day delivery in New Zealand HERE

Buy it on Book Depository with free shipping world wide HERE

Monday, 30 November 2015

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas: Book Review


The queen has returned.


Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past…


She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.


She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.


The fourth volume in the New York Times bestselling series continues Celaena’s epic journey and builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.


SPOILER FREE REVIEW

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Describing this novel in one decent sized review will never ever be enough to express how much I love Sarah J. Maas and her books. Having just met her only a couple of weeks ago when she visited Auckland, New Zealand for her Queen of Shadows book tour I am obviously still shaken up by the experience and how much more amazing she is (and totally gorgeous!) in person. Not to mention that she said to me as soon as I walked up to her, "You're so beautiful, oh my gosh!". If you don't believe me I will have a video up on my channel to prove it which I will link here on this post once it is up *flips hair confidently*.

Basically everything that I had dreamed of about this series had come true in this wonderous six hundred page novel. That doesn't make sense now really but when you read it, you'll totally find yourself agreeing with that bold statement. More blood, more sass, more vengeance and more romance. This book is literally the best one out of all four (not including the novella of which I haven't read yet so I'm hoping Allen & Unwin will be nice to me one day and send me a copy). Thinking of what could happen next is a total mystery to me as there are no clues that I noticed while reading Queen of Shadows to hint very much about what will happen next apart from the obvious when you get to the end. SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE FIRST THREE BOOKS YET!: Celaena Sardothien now goes by the name Aelin Galathynius and she makes a hell of an appearance when she returns from Doranelle. A lot of things are at stake, including family and friends and little does she realise what her sudden outburst in Heir of Fire convinces the King of Adarlan to do in spite of the Queen of Terrasen's actions.

Aelin and Chaol finally see one another again although things are still tense and Chaol has more struggles of his own. Trying to find his way after having sent Aelin to the safety of Wendlyn did not go as planned once he realised what the King was fully capable of and decided to take the risk of becoming a rebel. There is a lot of tension and catty arguments which might break you into laughter as it did to me. This novel definitely has all the right sass, love and heartbreak that every other ToG book had, just times that by a thousand.

Things I absolutely LOVED about Queen of Shadows:

* Lysandra is basically Aelin's soul twin and I love her! She is introduced as an old friend from when they were in the hands of Arobynn Hamel, King of the Assassins. At first she isn't welcomed to easily but the differences of her personality are noticable to Aelin and therefore begins to trust her a bit more. She's just the friend Aelin needed after being so torn from Nehemia's death.

* Aedion is the best cousin ever and he's so loyal to Aelin! Obviously Chaol's plan to save Aedion is somewhat of an event in this novel so it was quite interesting to see Aedion's reaction to Aelin saving him and Aelin's reaction to his cousin. In four words I would describe it as - It warms my heart!
* Manon is a serious badass and may even have a soft side! Elide is a new character introduced in QoS and Manon seems to notice something different and special about this new young girl. Having much more trouble with her second, Asterin, than usual, Manon takes the time to figure out Elide and develop a little sense of empathy towards her. This is definitely something I wanted to see and everything that develops from that is simply so awesome!

* If you thought Heir of Fire was dreamy and made you swoon over Rowan Whitethorn, wait until you read Queen of Shadows! Only Sarah J. Maas knows how the story ends up but I just always felt like Rowan was exactly the type of mate that Aelin needed. They are very close through spending so much time together in Wendlyn and finding out that they were each other's carranum, but in the fourth installment they begin to realise that the way they feel together is much more than that and a blood oath. The answer to how that goes down is basically in this novel and that's just the thousandth reason why you have to read it!

Overall, I have rated this book (yup, you guessed it) a five out of five stars. It could not have gotten any better and the way Sarah is able to use descriptive words in such a delicate way that it melts your brain into an overload of amazingness and inspiration (how else could I explain it? Her writing is beyond words really!). As much as I tried to stall reading this so it could last longer I didn't managed to savour it well because I could just not put the book down. If you would like to be completely blown away into a whole differet dimension of fantasy and romance then pick up this book, retreat to your happy place and do not leave until you have devourered it with your body, mind and soul. Okay not the first one but you get what I mean. Sarah J. Maas is a literature Goddess and I will never ever take that back.



Go add Queen of Shadows to your Goodreads list HERE


Go buy it on MightyApe with 1 day delivery in New Zealand HERE

Buy it on Book Depository with free shipping world wide HERE

Saturday, 10 October 2015

Outsiders by Tammy Ferebee: Book Review


Jaylen Hayes knows that she is different from all other seventeen-year-old girls. Possessing extraordinary intelligence, she is also uncannily powerful and inexplicably hated by wild animals. But it is not until she transfers to Trinity High that she learns the truth about who—and what—she really is. 

Instinctively drawn to two new classmates—the intense and passionate Indigo, and the charismatic and breathtakingly gorgeous Michael—Jaylen soon learns the shocking secret of their shared heritage, and the bloodline that extends to the stars. However, all is not what it seems, and Jaylen soon finds her newfound security threatened when a trusted friend becomes a dangerous and vengeful enemy.

*I received a copy of this book from Tammy in exchange for an honest review!*

SPOILER FREE REVIEW
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Well I am literally lost for words. I have just finished this novel and now I have to attempt to organised all my crazy thoughts and emotions into writing a great review - because it was literally that brilliant! When I first found Tammy and learnt a bit more about her novel, Outsiders through a video she posted on her YouTube channel explaining the book and reading the blurb so that we could have somewhat of an idea as to what it was about. I am literally so glad that I found her because this book had me pining for more and more. Basically I couldn't handle not reading it, so I did everything that was required to have the house clean and everyone fed so that I could lock myself away in my bedroom, sit down on the bed and binge read until the end. It was only a few moments ago that I finally came back to civilisation and realise that Jaylen and Michael were just fictional characters and there's no such thing as aliens with super powers (well you never know, I might actually believe that) and so here I am - back to my own life where I am suffering through a major book hangover, drinking tea and writing this review.

Now please don't sit here reading this thinking that I'm only saying this much because I offered to do a review for Tammy and I only want to give her a review she'll want to hear. Well actually, no. That's not why I'm writing such an awesome review. Before I asked for a review copy, I had the strangest feeling that this was something I really wanted to read. Now as some people may know, I'm pretty hard to impress if a book isn't written well and usually my first gut instinct about a book is right. In this case, I was absolutely right and I couldn't thank Tammy more for being so good at this and making me believe in myself more as a writer as well. Tammy has pure talent as an author and even though it was self published, I'm more than positive that a company like HarperCollins would have snatched the manuscript up in a heartbeat. Even so, I love the cover design and how the name, "Outsiders" has been made into a font which resonates the eeriness of the novel. Don't get me wrong, there are lots of awesome events that happen and relationship drama's that makes you want the popcorn every two seconds - this novel definitely has it's fair share of scares and heart attacks. I have to admit, at least twice I basically wanted to cry my heart out for the characters but I couldn't or I'd look seriously psychotic in front of Chad. But I can say that this is one hell of an emotional rollercoaster, and you are bound to want to get on!

If I could say anything about the main character, Jaylen, it would be to mention how strong of an individual she is. The fact that she has been through so much with being through foster homes and two of her mother's dying; her real one when she was a little girl and her perfect foster mother when she was much older. I wish I were as tough as her and be able to stop myself from crying so easily - that takes massive talent! The fact that she started to live with Ms. Ward, the woman who put Jaylen in and out of foster homes through out her childhood, is a pretty major difference and a bit awkward, but like any other novel there is definitely development after time being spent together. The girl Indigo, who she met at her first day at Trinity High, was a great first friendship for Jaylen and really brought her out of her shell. When Jaylen met Michael, hearts were everywhere and of course Jaylen was in denial, more so thanks to Indigo, but what school is there where a friend of yours won't get even the tiniest bit jealous over the attention you're receiving from the guy she likes too, but is thankfully more interested in you? I like how Michael was a respectful male who had a good relationship with his mum. I also like how there is a reoccurring theme of a broken family, where Michael never knew his father either. This novel definitely had a strong theme of Americanized schooling showing through how the school handled things with classes, the fact that Prom was a massive thing and the harsh yet truthful discussion in the classroom that only the 'more attractive' people are chosen as Prom King or Queen, and how the graduation is taken as a massive milestone in life leading to their future at a faraway College. This is really interesting for someone like me who isn't immersed in that type of high school culture and I thoroughly enjoyed everything about the storyline, even when it almost had me in tears.

Overall I have given this novel a 4.5 out of 5 stars for its overall awesomeness and how much it drew me in. I absolutely loved this book and I cannot wait until the second one is released so I can find out what happens next! Amazing work, Tammy! I hope you decide to hit me up in the future so I can read more great content from you!

Go add Outsiders to your Goodreads list HERE


Go buy it on MightyApe with 1 day delivery in New Zealand HERE
(Please keep in mind that this is only the case if they have it in stock)

Buy it on Book Depository with free shipping world wide HERE

Sunday, 27 September 2015

"The Inked Fae" Excerpt!: by Ella Fleming-Christie


Hey everyone! I've recently gone back to my story that I've been writing, "The Inked Fae" and edited the first chapter a bit more so that I can present it to you guys in a considerable manner. I am really proud of my story and the way I have researched almost every little detail of what I would like to present in my book so that it will be as enjoyable for you to read as it is for me to write it. I hope that you become as immersed with Faylinn, the main protagonist, as much as I have. Here is the very first chapter for you to enjoy!



The Inked Fae


By Ella Fleming-Christie




Chapter One


“I swear to god I didn’t do it!” I protested as my mother outstretched my arm exposing the ever so beautiful water tattoo that just happened to magically appear on the inside of my right forearm overnight. It was a picturesque pure white andalusian horse which appeared to be galloping and it had intricate swirls of different colours that included yellow, red, blue, green and purple circling around like a mini tornado. I just couldn’t explain myself. It had just appeared as I woke up this morning. Of course, my mom would never believe me. Yeah Mom, of course I’m not lying. A tattoo just magically appeared on my wrist the night after my sixteenth birthday party. You know I would never do such a thing. Nope. She would never believe me. Unless she believed in magic which I doubted would help in this situation. Even though she was fully qualified as a High Priestess of Wicca since she took a course with “Sacred Mists Online College” which was practically magic I guess, although none of the stuff she did made much sense anyway.
“I told you, no crazy stunts or acts of stupidness. This included.” She chastised while pointing at my arm. “Just because you’re sixteen now and able to make more decisions for yourself, that doesn’t mean you should go crazy with the call of opportunity. You are a ‘straight A’ student. Imagine what the teachers will think of your actions.” There was almost a flicker of sorrow that crossed her face which disappeared as quickly as it came. She apparently didn’t have an easy life growing up so she knew what it was like to make stupid decisions too. But the difference was that this wasn’t my decision. It definitely wasn’t there when I went to bed last night. I would have definitely noticed something so out of the ordinary.
“Mom, I swear to the Goddess, I did not do this nor did I even want it. I don’t think I would have missed something as crazy as this. I was perfectly conscious the whole night. Plus you know I’m not a drinker.”
“Ok darling. Well when you can give me a reasonable explanation on how this tattoo was placed on your arm without you even knowing, then I shall believe you.” She studied the work of art for a little bit longer before she turned to retrieve the toast that had popped out of the toaster. “So, what did you want for breakfast?”
I stared at her blankly. “I’m not that hungry.”
“I’ll cut up some fruit for you. After all, you’re a maturing teenager. You need all the food you can get,” My mom replied with a stifled grin.
It was true, I wasn’t overly big in size. In fact you could compare my body shape to a pixie. If they even existed––something which I certainly didn’t ever question about. I kind of doubted that I would ever immensely expand just because my body was meant to somehow now not able to process food as quickly as before. If anything I wanted a few curves. I wasn’t that stereotypical sexy, tan, blonde chick. I was more of a supermodel thin with the flawless pale skin stereotype. My hair was a mousy brown and my eyes were a special kind of violet. No one else I knew had the same eye colour. It was funny because I didn’t look like my mother in the slightest. She always said I looked like my father but she never had photos of him. She only had a bad sketch which some random artist had done for her by giving him details about my father’s facial details so I never really knew exactly what he looked like. Sometimes I wished that I knew where he was but even my mother was clueless of his whereabouts. According to my mom he left when I was only a baby, claiming he had to be somewhere more important. She always said that the reason for his sudden departure wasn’t as bad as it sounded. There were just things she couldn’t quite explain until I was old enough to understand. That thought struck a heartstring. Maybe I was old enough now to know what my mum had meant all those years.
“Mom…” I said hesitantly.
“Yes, darling?”
All of a sudden I found a rush of strength which enabled me to say the words and I sat up straighter in my chair, “Where’s my dad?” My mother’s body stiffened and she slowly twisted around to place my bowl of fruit salad in my hands. I really didn’t have an appetite but I knew she expected me to finish my food before I left for school. “I’m old enough to know now. I’m sixteen and practically an adult. I think you need to explain to me what really happened back then and where he is now,” I spoke without hesitation.
An instant look of shock set on her face and pursed her lips, almost like she didn’t know how to respond to my assertiveness. I was certainly never this demanding when I was younger even as a little kid, but now I felt a surge of energy flow through me; a feeling of wanting to know who I was and who my father was. “I see that you have grown into a strong confident woman and I should start to acknowledge that. But can this specific subject wait? At least until after dinner tonight? I need to think about this. It’s hard to explain but you will soon realise why.”
I couldn’t understand how hard it would be to tell me. Could it really be that bad? Did he die? Was he a marine in the army who just never came back? Or did he just leave with a stupid excuse because he didn’t care about us anymore? My mind started fooling with my emotions and I started to feel lightheaded. “Ok, that’s fine.” I tried a spoonful of the fruit my mother left in front of me to distract the tension I felt practically sizzling in the air. I felt a little better eating something although I still wasn’t hungry. It sweetened my tongue and filled my body with natural sugar fueling me with at least a little enthusiasm to want go to school. I just wanted to get it over and done with. I wanted to know now but I knew that I couldn’t persuade her to tell me any sooner. She was the light hearted kind and the thought of my dad upset her a little. My mom had never dated anyone from the time that he left. Maybe she thought he would come back one day. Or maybe she just knew he was gone for good but just never got over him. Although still massively curious, I got up from the seat in the kitchen to grab my bag and start leaving for school. “Thanks Mom,” I murmured monotonously.
“Oh, Fay?”
I quickly spun around to see if she was going to say something more about my unknown father. “Yeah?”
“Be careful now. It’s a big world out there and very easy to run into trouble. All I’m saying is re-evaluate everything you think you know and keep an open mind. I just want you to stay safe and know that I love you.”
Disappointed about the lack of information and her unwillingness to speak about the subject any sooner, I promised her exactly that. Then I walked out the front door without saying goodbye.


That night we sat silently on the couches separated from each other; one end of the couch each to ourselves. Normally I would sit right next to her and she would stroke my hair while I leant on her shoulder. But tonight was different. There were unanswered questions that I wanted solved and she was definitely taking her time. I decided to take a stand and start off the interrogation, as a policeman to a suspect.
“Ok… Mom. I know this is going to be hard for you. But right now I am asking––as your daughter––for you to just please toughen up a little and give me a straight answer.” My heart instantly started to race. I had never spoken so boldly towards my mother before but I just couldn’t take the suspense any longer.
She closed her eyes for what seemed like forever and then inhaled and exhaled deeply - almost as if she was meditating. She looked up at me with tear filled eyes and smiled. “You’re father would have been so proud of what you have become. You are exactly how he said you would turn out to be.”
I didn’t understand one bit. Was he a psychic of some sort? I was sure you couldn’t exactly determine how your children would turn out unless you were the one to parent them and he certainly wasn’t here for a massive fraction of my life.
“Faylinn, I have to tell you something that you may not believe and it very well has almost everything to do with that artwork on your arm.”
“What? This monstrosity? The thing you couldn’t believe me about this morning and you gave me hell for it?” Her hypocrisy was fueling an explosion of my emotions. It wasn’t what I needed if I wanted to get information about my dad but I was definitely finding it hard to contain. It was also the first time in years that she had called me by my full name. I stopped myself for a second and took a breath. “Wait… so you mean to say that you knew about this before it even happened? Did you arrange this or something? Like have someone drug and ink me while I was out cold?”
She sighed heavily, “No, I had nothing to do with it. I’m not like you. Well I am, I’m just not the same right now.” I almost took offence until all of a serious expression took over her face, “You have history which makes you different from everyone else. Well mostly. There are other fae kids such as yourself, although you’re somewhat of a different case. We were talking about it last night.”
“What are you talking about, Mom? You’re seriously freaking me out now. . . We?” I looked at her with wide eyes. What was she trying to tell me?
“An old friend came to see me last night while you were out. Someone very important; he knew your dad.” She sighed heavily, “You are needed somewhere else, Fay. You say that you are old enough to take on responsibility and be mature for all that it’s worth. You need to realise that everything you decide now places you between the possibility of life or death. The tattoo and the horse within the art; the weird sensations and changes you may already be starting to feel; demanding to know who, what and where your father is, there is all a reason for these sudden changes. There is also a reason we have a similar tattoo.” With a sudden movement she slid her top up and just to the right of her belly button was the most beautiful tattoo artwork of a swan with green intricate lines swirling around it almost exactly like mine.
I became too enveloped in shock to breathe. The room suddenly felt too occupied, like there was only enough oxygen to supply one person. I wasn’t too sure I’d be particularly thrilled about where she was going with this. Finally I managed to compose myself enough to squeeze out a reply, “Mom… just tell me.”
She repeated the deep meditational breathing and locked her eyes onto mine. I felt like she was a monk about to reveal my destiny to me or something. Pssh.

“Faylinn, you are a faerie.”


I really hope you enjoyed reading the excerpt! Please let me know what you thought of it; whether it sounds like it could be published or whether it needs a bunch more work! I would love to post another couple of chapters so you get to know a couple more characters of which I absolutely love and experience Faylinn use her powers unexpectedly for the first time.

If you wish to contact me about a publishing deal or something else then please contact me through my business email: B.theclairsentient@gmail.com

What was the most intriguing thing about the excerpt you just read? Let me know in the comments below!