Gambit (The Prodigy Chronicles #1) - C.L. Denault [Review]

Book: Gambit (The Prodigy Chronicles #1)

Author: C. L. Denault

Published: 31st March 2015

Publisher: REUTS publications
Source: eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley

Pages: 556

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

From author C. L. Denault comes the first in a new series of books - Gambit, The premise promises familiar territory - a war-torn society, an elite class who have fame and fortune, and an underclass who live in poverty. Overall, the book is a solid addition to the dystopian genre, but not necessarily a stand-out read.

The plot on a whole is reasonably engaging, and opens strong, with an intriguing plotline surrounding the main character, Willow, set in her humble village on the outskirts of civilisation. The setting gradually changes, introducing the technological advancements evident in the main city areas, and this provides an interesting contrast with the horse-and-carriage type world from which Willow originates, and helped to keep the story fresh.

Additionally, there was a dose of romance in this book (heavily towards the end, but fairly light throughout) which is just the right amount for readers (like myself) who prefer to avoid novels with nausea-inducing levels of romance.

In terms of the characters: there were a lot. Like, a solid cast of a few main characters, thrown in with a heap of other secondary characters which come and go throughout various points in the novel. With so many characters it was a little tricky to keep up, and although this ensured this provided new life to the storyline, it is something to bear in mind.

Willow is undoubtedly the main character in this book, and thankfully she was a reasonably likeable heroine. She's a little naive, brave, and has a lot of room for growth - some of her decisions did have me questioning her brain capacity.

Reece (who is really the other main character here) was very agreeable to begin with, however I did severely question some of his motivations, and his reason for being interested in Willow. Their 'relationship' needs more development as other than her finding him good looking (and I guess he feels the same toward her?), I'm not really sure as to the foundation of their relationship, like at all. I enjoyed their banter, but it seemed, to me, that their feelings of hate quickly transformed into proclaimed love, which is slightly implausible.

I also enjoyed most members of the Roanoke family and quickly learned to despise the Tiernam family, but the writing does set you up to feel this way. I also didn't much care for Willow's various extended family, as there wasn't enough development of their characters for me to form any attachment to them.

Although, the plot was interesting and had reasonable levels of action, there is definitely the potential for things to be amplified in the sequel, and there's a lot to build upon from this first book, so I'm definitely hopeful.

If you're a big fan of the YA dystopian genre, this is a decent addition and definitely worth a read. 

Deadpool [Review]

"From the studio that inexplicably sewed his fucking mouth
shut the first time, comes... me!"

Take a dash of Kick Ass’ tone, sprinkle in a bit of Tarantino-style violence, and mix with the loveable charm of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, and you will have created the sumptuous formula for Deadpool, the latest project from the legendary studios.

The maniacal movie follows the story of Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds), a mercenary who falls in love with an escort named Vanessa Carlysle (Morena Baccarin) but is suddenly diagnosed with terminal cancer. Attempting to survive his death sentence, and spare the one he loves from heartbreak, he turns to an experimental secret agency who claims they can give him the cure he seeks. Of course, things go horribly wrong and Wilson adopts the persona of Deadpool to take revenge on the person, Ajax/Francis (Ed Skrein), who has disfigured him.

At this point, the film feels like Reynolds’ own little mutant baby that has been moulded for over a decade. Yes, that’s right, the actor who absolutely murdered The Green Lantern comes back revived for his scene-stealing role as the ‘sexy motherfucker’ in the red suit. Thankfully, Reynolds redeems himself in a role which will have you wondering whether he was indeed created by some sort of Marvel gods to play this character. Every joke, every twist and every ridiculous expression is unequivocally Deadpool, and Reynolds exercises such finesse with every swear-laden dialogue delivery and childish movement. Starring alongside him, Morena Baccarin captivates in her role as Wilson’s equally foul-mouthed girlfriend, and Baccarin shows that she has the charisma and delivery to match his quick-witted puns time and time again. Additionally, Brianna Hildebrand – a relative unknown – also captures attention with her atomic abilities and moody stares as Negasonic Teenage Warhead; certainly a one to watch out for in the future.

It goes without saying that you have to be in the right frame of mind to watch Deadpool. If you’re looking for a Merc with a mouth then this film’s got you covered. If you want satisfying action sequences and a killer climax then you won’t be disappointed. Just be sure that you’re coming for Deadpool, and not just another Marvel hero, as it probably won’t be appropriate (it’s not one for the kiddies).

Essentially a frenzied fest of fuckery, Deadpool is every comic book fan’s blissful dream – if your dreams were filled with profanity, blood and gut-wrenching fourth-wall breaking jokes. One of the most refreshing things about Deadpool is it doesn’t assume the audience is an idiot, and there’s so many in-jokes and pop culture references that even the most well-versed entertainment connoisseur may struggle to get all of them, and that’s ok, because it’s all part of the fun. Everything from the opening credits, to the ending sequences is full of self-mocking, reaffirming that the creators behind this piece knew exactly what they were going for and committed fully to it.

When Marvel is vastly running out of ways to differentiate its barrage of movies, as demonstrated by the utterly disappointing The Avengers: Age of Ultron, it needs something a bit different to distinguish itself, and Deadpool certainly does this. Arguably the best thing the company has churned out since Guardians of the Galaxy, it offers something a bit different to audiences who are perhaps feeling a little disenchanted. Naturally, there are certain elements that you expect in a superhero film, like the classic villain, the girlfriend, and the danger, so there are certainly plot elements and structure that the film follows, but this is to be expected. And certainly, the film does not shy away from this, setting the scene for such elements in the very blunt opening credits, which praise the writers and mock other members – like the director and producers. In this way, the film recognises that the source material and writing are integral to the story, and commends them as such, which is surprisingly refreshing to see, as usually much praise is thrust towards other individuals.

Ultimately, when it comes to unrestrained humour and chaotic fun, Captain Deadpool reigns supreme. 

Glass Sword (Red Queen #2) - Victoria Aveyard [Review]

Book: Glass Sword (Red Queen #2)

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Published: 11th February 2016 (UK)

Publisher: Orion

Pages: 464

Rating: 4/5 stars

First things first, Red Queen was one of my favourite reads from last year, so I had pretty high hopes for the sequel, Glass Sword, and a hella lot of trepidation. Second books are often a difficult thing to get right, however I am pleased to report that Aveyard does not let up with this second addition to the 4 book series. 

Again, we are thrust back into the world of Mare, Cal, and their rag-tag band of questionable soldiers, all fighting for freedom, justice, vengeance - all that good stuff.

One thing I will say is that Mare has put up with a lot of shit. This book deals well with her transformation following the events of the first book. She has well and truly been broken and rebuilt, and if the ending is anything to go by, she is in for a lot more heartbreak. Someone cut this girl some slack. 

Maven, oh Maven. His parts of the book are truly the most sinister/creepy to read. I thought his mother was bad (yes, Elara, I'm talking about you) but oh my god, this kid needs help. For those who have a soft spot for him and Mare together, I respect you, but seriously. His and Mare's relationship (if you can call it that) is so toxic, it could dissolve metal. And that's all I'm going to say about that.

On a similar note, there is very little typical romance to speak of in this book, which works for me, however if you are into heavy romances, I would bear this in mind. Honestly, Mare's romantic prospects look so bleak, at this point I would say she is better off alone, even if she might not think so yet. Cal is there, burning away (flame on!), but he needs to get his shit together, big time. I feel for ya bro, but times are tough, you just gotta roll with the punches.

I loved some of the newer character additions, my absolute favourite being Jon, despite his albeit brief page time. I am so enthralled by his character - I mean who wouldn't be? The man is truly an enigma, and I hope we get to uncover that enigma a bit more in the third book.

This novel deals with a lot of difficult themes - there's guilt, regret, vengeance, retribution, sacrifice, and a whole boat load of murder. It can make for an intense read, and although I loved it, consider yourself warned.

The ending - OH WOW. The book starts admittedly slow - the pace meanders along leaving you with a sinking feeling and, true to form, there are a few unpredictable moments before the 'finale', which leaves you feeling like you've been punched in the face. Except now we have to wait for book 3 for the bruises to heal. It's a good ending, but I'm just not okay, OK?

Ultimately, I am intrigued to see what will come considering this is a 4 book series, and I look forward to what I'm sure will be a nail-biting, but brilliant follow-up. 

Red Witch (Crow Moon #2) - Anna McKerrow [Review]

Book: Red Witch (Crow Moon #2)

Author: Anna McKerrow

Published: 10th March 2016

Publisher: Quercus Children's Books
Source: eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley

Pages: 416

Rating: 3/5 stars

McKerrow delivers the second book in the Crow Moon series, which provides a satisfying read, although lacking in some areas.

I'll start off by saying that I had enjoyed reading Crow Moon, and was excited to start reading the sequel, which follows the adventures of Demelza Hawthorne, or Melz, for short. The character of Demelza is well-rounded, she's naive but sure of herself, and cautious at times, whilst still being brave and determined. I liked her a lot, which is just as well because the whole book is told from her perspective anyway. 

Some of my favourite parts of this book were those containing the Gods & Goddesses, especially the Morrigan, who would dominate every page she featured on (every time she appeared I had constant visions of the Morrigan from The Wicked and the Divine series, just me?). These sections were some of the most well-written, and were the easiest to get caught up in, mainly because I love mythology and deities, and all that mysterious goodness (so if you do too, this is a major draw).

Initially, I loved the character of Bran, again, because of the intrigue associated with his character, however, as the book progressed, I found his motivations to be too well cloaked, and ultimately, I felt like his character ended up slightly underdeveloped. The same can be said for the characters of Catie, Ceri & Demi, who I can only hope will make a reappearance in the third instalment of the series. 

The book started well, and finished well, however the middle became a bit muddled for me, I found myself growing slightly bored, and the story did not take the direction I expected at all. This is not necessarily a bad thing, it's just that although a lot happened in this book, the pacing was uneven at times. 

The concept of Greenworld/Redworld continues in this book and provides an interesting take on societal segregation, especially with regards to the commentary on the powers of those in charge to present a distorted version of reality to citizens; this is something I enjoyed and appreciated. 

Ultimately, this is an enjoyable read with some good characters, however the lack of further development in terms of particular story-lines and characters left the book feeling slightly disjointed and lacking a consistent pace, although, hopefully this may be remedied in the third book in the series. 

Rebel of the Sands (#1) - Alwyn Hamilton [Review]

Book: Rebel of the Sands (Rebel of the Sands trilogy #1)

Author: Alwyn Hamilton

Published: 4th February 2016 

Publisher: Faber & Faber
Source: eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley

Pages: 368

Rating: 5/5 stars

This is the first book in a trilogy from debut author Alwyn Hamilton - and boy, is it a good one. 

Coming into this book, I had heard a few good things, and the premise seemed interesting and fairly promising. Having now finished the book, it's safe to say, I loved it. Not only that, it is one of very few books that has gripped me from beginning to end. It's so easy to get lost in the world Hamilton creates, and I found myself willing the book to be longer just so I could keep reading.

Importantly, the characters in this book are so damn endearing. I loved the main character of Amani - she is a dreamer, she's a skilled marksman, and she's got a smart mouth (truly she struggles to know when to be quiet) - however it is especially this last quality that makes her so endearing. It's so easy to follow her story as she yearns to get out of Dustwalk, the small, depressing town she grew up in. Truly, her story-line is one we can all relate with, which is what partly serves to make this such a gripping read, I found myself really investing in her adventures, and spurring her to succeed.

The addition of the character of Jin, the mysterious foreigner, provides a good contrast to that of Amani, and they truly compliment each other well. There is a continuous romantic narrative in the story, however it never becomes overbearing or dull, and there are enough secondary characters, that every reader should be able to find someone to connect with.

There is a good mix of character development, world building and action in this novel, and ultimately the balance is just right. There's enough fast-paced sequences and dreamy story-telling elements that the story really moves along at a perfect pace, I never found myself becoming bored or skim-reading (as can be the case with other books), and that is a true testament to the excellent skills of the author.

Ultimately, I came into this expecting an average read, and what I got was a most unexpected, and pleasant surprise. I did not expect this to be one of my favourite novels this year, but the consistently solid story-line, interesting characters, and magical elements have cemented this as one of my top books of 2016.

The Revenant [Review]

"As long as you can still grab a breath, you fight. You breathe...keep breathing."

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to see DiCaprio in a type of survival game-show, where he encounters several horrifying scenarios in order to achieve the Oscar he so infamously has been denied, then this could be the movie for you. The Revenant sees DiCaprio’s Hugh Glass endure attacking bears, vengeful tribes, broken ligaments, raging rapids, and the cruel natural wilderness, all in an attempt to find the trapper John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy), who murdered his son, Hawk (Forrest Goodluck), and no doubt kill him. Steered firmly by DiCaprio’s visceral drive, the film takes us on a journey through northern Louisiana Purchase, as poor Glass struggles his way through the unknown.

Naturally benefitting from its capable cast, acting heavyweight Tom Hardy joins us fresh from his role as The Krays in Legend, playing opposite DiCaprio as the cowardly Fitzgerald. The cat-and-mouse game the two play is an intriguing one, and even the loveable Hardy manages to make everyone thoroughly hate him in this movie; a testament to his skill. But of course, the main star of The Revenant is undeniably Leonardo DiCaprio. It would seem that this film has risen the actor to dizzying new heights of magnitude, and surely solidifies him as an acting virtuoso who can play most anything.

Aside from the impressive performances, at its core, The Revenant is a grim movie, and one that will test your limits in gore as blood is spilled, animals get sliced open, and body parts come off in a most alarming manner. The bleakness of the situation however, is transcended by the beauty of the picture. A testament to the uncontrollable power of nature, watching The Revenant is an experience in itself; from an aesthetical viewpoint the scenery and cinematography is brilliantly captured by Emmanuel Lubezki and envisioned by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, with every dawn break and wintery landscape being utterly breath-taking. You can’t help but feel alongside DiCaprio in his role as Glass, and every trial he faces feels like one you are living and experiencing for yourself. It truly is a masterclass in immersion.  

Despite the thrilling experience, the film is hindered by its glacial beginning, which is slightly worrying, and as Glass crawls across the harsh terrain to uncertainty you can’t help but think whether the pace will be crawling along too. Fortunately, this is quickly rectified, but there are occasional relapses into the utterly unnecessary that elongate its running length but do nothing to add to the story, such as a scene in an abandoned church where DiCaprio sees visions of his dead child. You would think this would be some sort of poignant and emotional moment, but it ultimately adds very little and seems grossly misplaced.

While The Revenant suffers from a few missteps in narrative, the overall value of the piece is undeniable. A blueprint for an almost perfect western drama, the film utilises its stars to its advantage while also serving up an astounding visual feast that is fantastically fulfilling.

Night Study (Soulfinders #2) - Maria V. Snyder [Review]

Book: Night Study (Soulfinders #2)

Author: Maria V. Snyder 

Published: 26th January 2016 

Publisher: MIRA Ink
Source: eARC provided by Harlequin (UK) via NetGalley

Pages: 400

Rating: 5/5 stars

Based upon the previous book in the series - Shadow Study - I had high hopes; however I was slightly cautious that, alike a handful of second-in-the-series books, this novel would fail to impress.

I need not have worried. This book is truly fantastic, and an excellent follow up to the previous novel.

For a second installment in the series (if you discount the previous Chronicles of Ixia books), this novel is surprisingly fast-paced and a lot happens. This is great if, like me, you prefer a narrative that seamlessly flows throughout, without stagnation in the middle. Each chapter ends on a mini-cliff hanger, and this does well to sustain the tension, making this novel a real page-turner (I had much difficulty putting it down). 

This increased sense of tension was something I found to be slightly muted in the first novel in the series (and served as my only complaint), but throughout this novel the drama is really there - the stakes are high, and this is communicated well throughout the novel, allowing a deeper understanding of the purpose of the characters. 

Unlike the first novel, in which main characters Yelena and Valek spend a significant portion of their time apart, in this addition to the series, a good portion of the novel is dedicated to them being together and puzzling through as a duo, which allowed for many cute relationship moments between the two. If, like me, you're a fan of their relationship (and I hope you would be) then you will definitely appreciate this element. The amount of romance feels appropriate to the tone and pacing, and always compliments, rather than clouds, the story line. 

Another big pull of this novel is the character development. If you're a seasoned veteran of the Chronicles of Ixia series, you might feel pretty comfortable with the characters and understand a lot of their motivations and background. However, the writing in Night Study focuses on a good amount of background and personal story surrounding the characters; a key highlight for me was being able to read more about Valek's relationships and progression throughout the novel. Another bonus is that in this novel we get to read from the perspective of Leif (even if his sections did make me rather hungry with his constant talk of food). 

Ultimately, the story followed on nicely from the first book, and left things on an exciting note for the third installment in the series. I am very excited to get my hands on book three, as if Night Study is anything to go on, it will surely be a winner.