Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) - Leigh Bardugo [Review]

Book: Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2)

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Published: 27th September 2016

Publisher: Orion Children's Books

Pages: 546

Rating: 5/5 stars

Wow, this book is a real corker. The follow up to Six of Crows this book follows the whole gang - Kaz, Inej, Nina, Matthias, Jesper & Wylan - as they face off against Van Eck and his cronies. There's heaps of stuff going on in this book, all set in the Grisha universe. There's a lot to love about this book and its arguably Bardugo's strongest work to date.

It's an almost impossible task to make the reader connect with, nor care about, all the primary characters in a book, especially in a book such as Crooked Kingdom which features an ensemble cast of characters. However, Bardugo manages it. I cant recall a book in which I've enjoyed all the main characters. Every one is complex and layered and interesting. No cardboard cut-out or prop characters who serve no purpose; the main gang is so diverse and I appreciate that immensely. Although my all time favourite will always be Inej, I found myself connecting with all the main crew. Even Wylan, who I cared less for in the first book, gets some excellent character development in this sequel, and Bardugo provided much welcomed insight into his back story and some of his relationships, particularly with Jesper, and his family.

Similarly, this book manages to achieve what is a rare feat for me - having absolutely zero repulsive or insta-love romances! I adored all the potential respective pairings, and the romance is absolutely not the center of the book. It is very subtle, and fits in well with the harsh backdrop of Ketterdam. It is complimentary and simply adds another layer to the characters. Kaz and Inej are such interesting characters on their own and although they do not share a typical romance by any means, there are a couple of segments that allow you to catch a glimpse at what could have been had their backgrounds been different. Matthias and Nina are as snarky and witty as ever, and their banter makes up for some of the more light-hearted passages in the book, particularly towards the first half. Jesper and Wylan are so god-damned adorable, and they really become more than just add-ons in this book, with some excellent scenes alone and together.

Ketterdam is notoriously a city of suffering, and all the main crew are no strangers to this. Everyone has secrets, pasts they'd like to forget, relationships they wish they could mend etc. The multiple POVs flow relatively seamlessly and you get a good amount of time with each character. The chapters start off quite far apart but get closer as you move along through the story, which really emphasises the increasing stakes. There's action elements in pretty much every chapter, but things really pick up at around 250 pages or so.

Bardugo's writing is flawless. I liked the Grisha trilogy, but boy has she really perfected how to tell an excellent story. Bardugo blends together a thrilling tale, detailed world building, and developed and engaging characters. Although the language and style may be strange if you happen to be relatively new to the world of the Grisha, Six of Crows did a pretty good job at being accessible to new readers, so if you've read that, then you'll be fine with this. There's a cool map at the beginning detailing the layout of Ketterdam including all the new locations visited in this novel (university district, the cemetery, the church etc.), and I always appreciate the extra detail, so this was a nice touch.

There's also some really thoughtful nods to the Shadow and Bone series, with certain characters being mentioned and a few surprises! It really brings up a bit of nostalgia that I appreciated.

This book really comes alive and everything feels so vibrant and palpable. From the Warehouse district, to West Stave, to the Geldin district, the image Bardugo creates with her writing is clear and mesmerising. Like other immersive series such as Harry Potter, whenever I read Bardugo's books concerning the Grisha, it always feels like coming home - there's something familiar and comforting (even in a harsh universe such as the one she creates) and that's something that's very difficult to construct - and only a handful of authors have managed to emulate this.

In terms of twists and turns, there's definitely a few! There was a really good narrative surrounding Wylan and Jesper in particular, and a lot of unanswered questions were resolved. The level of tension increases the further into the book you get, and this makes for a real page-turner. Towards the end I was on the edge of my seat, and I definitely had tears in my eyes at some parts. The plot is so intricate that when you see everything come together it is really impressive.

A quick note - THE ENDING. Oh my god, my poor heart couldn't take it. I'm still not okay. One things for sure, I need more books set in the Grisha universe. I have so many unanswered questions! I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way - Bardugo knows how to pull on your heartstrings, man.

Overall, Crooked Kingdom completely met and exceeded my expectations and I savored every beautiful, beautiful page. If you haven't read this yet, I strongly urge you to get your hands on a copy. 

A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes #2) - Sabaa Tahir [Review]

Book: A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes #2)

Author: Sabaa Tahir

Published: 8th September 2016

Publisher: HarperVoyager

Pages: 454

Rating: 4/5 stars

Picking up where An Ember in the Ashes left off, this book follows Laia and Elias as they flee the Emperor, the Commandant and well, pretty much everyone. Things appear pretty grim for them, and sufficed to say, this theme continues throughout the book.

I had heard a few mixed reviews for this follow-up novel before its release, so I postponed reading it, however, having now finished, its safe to say I actually found this book to be pretty enjoyable. 

The book opens with a suitably sinister undertone, which I loved (what can I say, I like things a little creepy). This really helps to raise the tension at the beginning and each chapter/point of view (POV) ends with a disquieting moment, or important revelation which serves to drive the pace of the story and encourages you to read further. I appreciated this element, however if you prefer a more laid-back sort of pace, then you might not. However, I am partial to a lot of action and suspense in books, so its safe to say I was hooked.

The story has 3 POVs - Elias, Laia, and Helene. I really, really, enjoyed reading the parts from Helene's perspective. She is my favourite character and I loved being able to explore her relationships, particularly with her family, more and gaining insight into her personal thoughts and motivations. This is also allowed a further understanding of her feelings towards Elias, which was much appreciated. I was intrigued by her interactions with Marcus and the Commandant, although they are of course suitably sinister and frequently violent. 

Laia's perspective is without a doubt the most boring; while her character was relatively satisfactory and sometimes enjoyable throughout the first book, she is at times unbearable during this novel. This detracted away from some of my enjoyment of the book as at times she needs to put things into perspective and honestly someone needs to give her a good shake. Helene Aquilla, she ain't. That girl can handle a lot. Laia - not so much. 

I am definitely a fan of a Helene/Elias relationship and I absolutely do not ship, nor believe Laia and Elias as a couple. Did this decrease my overall enjoyment of the novel? Not quite, but it is something to bear in mind. The character POVs and storyline lead heavily towards a Laia/Elias pairing, but I am certainly not buying it, and Laia, in my opinion should probably remain a single pringle. This leads me on to her and Keenan's relationship (and his character as a whole) which I can barely tolerate. I have never felt an affinity toward Keenan, and therefore I struggled to read passages in which he featured for the first two thirds of the book. He reminds me of Jack in Bridget Jones' Baby, a film I watched recently - very try hard, and a bit of a douche, who (to me) has relatively little reason to be there (at least for most of the book). He does get significantly more character development toward the end however I was less impressed and more relieved. 

In terms of new characters, I really liked Shaeva and Afya, they are both such interesting character and although they play fundamentally different roles throughout this book, they were welcome additions and helped to breath fresh life into the story. 

Tahir definitely has a real way with words, and the writing flows beautifully; it's really easy to picture the scenes and feel immersed in the story. The Empire came alive and I especially enjoyed the descriptions of The Forest. That's not to say this novel is perfect - it isn't - but it is told well, making it an enjoyable read.

This book has a lot of interesting themes regarding death, loyalty and sacrifice. There's some very intriguing passages concerning the more mythical creatures (jinn, efrit, etc.), and the bridge between life and death or the beyond - termed 'the waiting place' in this book. This land is governed by the soul catcher and I found her segments really thought provoking and captivating, particularly as she seems to be neither kind nor callous, she merely just exists, and there's a lot of her backstory that has yet to be unraveled. Her interactions with one main character in particular constituted some of my favourite parts of the book. 

Just a quick mention to the actual physical copy of the book - oh my god, I am dead. It is stunning. The beautiful orange/gold embossed cover spine is so stunning and really eye-catching. Yes, cover art isn't everything, but I can appreciate a good one when I see it. 

One negative is that the book does suffer slightly (at least toward the first two thirds) from 'middle book syndrome' in that it is largely unclear as to why the main characters are doing what they are doing. I imagine if the main characters were to actually discuss this properly it would go something like this:

Laia - Okay Elias, I know we're like, wanted by the whole Empire and your pal Helene is totally gonna have to track you down and, you know, kill you, but could we make a very quick detour from fleeing for our lives and go rescue my brother from a completely impenetrable prison?

Elias - I'm sorry what?

Laia - Pleeeeease

Elias - Okay, well, I'm sure you have a good reason for risking both our lives (and countless others) for this mission right?

Laia - Well, there are rumors that he can make fancy weapons...

Elias - What? Weapons? I have weapons?!

Laia - Yeah but these are super fancy

Elias - Oh er, okay, cool, I guess, because we totally need those right now... for all the fighters we don't have...

But you get my point, I know we're supposed to believe/accept that breaking Laia's brother out of prison is of immediate importance, but I'm frankly skeptical. We don't really get to see a lot of Darin throughout the book so I'm hoping reasoning and motivations will be explored a bit more in the next book. 

The last third of the book was extremely fast-paced and engaging, and really helped to drive the story and provided some interesting twists and turns, some that were expected, and some that were definitely not. This last section is without a doubt the strongest of the book and really rounded out the plot nicely, leaving lots of potential for the next novel, and I'm hopeful for lots of further development for the main 3 characters in the next installment. 

Empire of Storms (ToG #5) - Sarah J. Maas [Review]

Book: Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #5)

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Published: 6th September 2016

Publisher: Bloomsbury PLC

Pages: 693

Rating: 4/5 stars

I'll preface this review by saying that I am a massive fan of this series. It was a bit of a slow burner for me, but I found myself absolutely loving the books (Heir of Fire was a real winner for me), and although this book is not as good, in my opinion, it's not truly awful either. I know there's been a lot of divided opinion and I think this mainly stems from the character development in this novel (a la A Court of Mist and Fury), as opposed to the plotting or general themes of the book. 

For me, it's important to point out that, yes, the characters are similar to those of ACOMAF, however this did not affect my enjoyment of the book too much as I absolutely loved ACOMAF and so I enjoyed the parallels. Having said this, did it become slightly repetitive over time? Perhaps. Aelin and Rowan are indeed kindred spirits with Feyre and Rhys (from ACOMAF), and you could interchange the dialogue between the two books and you would not notice the difference. Again, not necessarily a criticism, merely an observation. However, because of this point, it does seem that Aelin (and indeed Rowan) do some things that would seem slightly out of character for them, and this theme continues among the other characters as well. The most notable individual this affects is Dorian. His behavior is sporadic, at best, with some truly cringe-worthy flirting and sexual referencing, and gone is the sweet and honorable prince of past days. Now, again, this did not bother me so much, because Dorian has never been one of my favorite characters, but I can imagine if you did have a soft spot for him, this might take some getting used to. 

As previously mentioned, this book definitely has its string of sexual references and NSFW content. There is a 'mature content' warning on the back of the novel, so this is definitely not young adult, and is more typical of new adult writing. I don't necessarily mind more mature themes, however, like ACOMAF, some of the sex scenes are a bit cringe, and there's a lot of growling (is this a thing?), so just bear this in mind. Although it might be your cup of tea, it seemed a bit out of place. Along similar lines, there is a lot of 'relationship pairing' in this novel, and all of them are heterosexual. Again, not every character has to be paired up in a book with another, and if you are going to go full hog, it might be worth pairing characters up realistically, particularly in Dorian's case, as he began as a character that could seemingly be gay, or bisexual, and ends up in this novel engaging in a pretty standard heterosexual relationship (or at least, as standard as it can be in a land filled with fae, witches, and the equivalent of Voldemort). 

However, some of the characters do truly shine throughout this book, and my favorite is definitely (and shall hopefully always be) Manon. She is truly a unique and layered character, who neither fits into the 'hero' or 'villain' archetypes. I very much enjoyed her story-arc throughout this book, particularly with regard to her role as Wing-Leader, and her witch heritage, and I am so excited for this to be explored further in the sequel. Her relationship with Aelin makes up some of the best parts of the books, and I liked their prickly and witty interactions, and have enjoyed these elements in previous books. Lysandra is also in her element here, and we get to see further extensions of her shape-shifting abilities, including one really awesome section in Skull's Bay. Other characters that take on more of a role in this book include Elide and Lorcan - now, although I don't really enjoy their dynamic together, I do like their characters individually. Elide has been through a lot, and she's not necessarily got anything that amazing or special in her arsenal - she's got average fighting skills, she feels fear, she's had a damaged history - and this makes her more relate-able to the average reader than the rest of the cast that includes mystical, seemingly all-powerful fae and cut-throat witches. Lorcan, I believe, has a lot of potential, and I'm looking forward to how he will develop in the sequel following the final developments at the end of this book. 

Although I would have appreciated more villain-elements in this book - Erawan and Maeve do feature, but they are a bit more of a side plot, in Aelin's quest for the keys/lock. However, the ending (which is arguably the strongest part of the whole book) sets up these elements nicely, and really makes you pine for the sequel. Ideally, this level of pace and tension would have been distributed equally throughout the novel and not clumped together towards the end. Despite the fact that there are some interesting action-elements and twists and turns scattered throughout the book, these do mainly appear at the end which serves to make the pace a little meandering and and foggy in the first two thirds of the book. Although I felt compelled to keep reading in hopes of some clarity, pages could have definitely been cut and the novel would have been no worse for it. 

Despite these aforementioned shortcomings, the story elements and that ending helped to raise the quality of the book for me, over what would have ordinarily been a 3 star rating, and thus, I have awarded 4 stars, but only just. I have faith that the sequel to this book will help to address some of the issues raised - particularly with regard to character development, which seems to be a common theme among other reviewers I have encountered. Based upon the events of the finale, it seems like there is a lot of promise for the next book, and I feel confident that with some alterations and an attempt to make this series a bit more distinct from her other series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Maas can deliver a solid, engaging, and enthralling read that will do Throne of Glass fans justice. 

Burn (Dark In You #1) - Suzanne Wright [Review]

Book: Burn (Dark In You #1)

Author: Suzanne Wright

Published: 1st November 2016 (new edition)

Publisher: Piatkus

Pages: 384
Source: eArc provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Going into this book, I was unsure of what to expect - I had not heard of the series previously, however a quick check of popular opinion indicated that others really enjoyed this book. Therefore, I set myself modest expectations and hoped to be pleasantly surprised. As expected, this is definitely a fun read, and although it would not be what I would usually turn to - I may have to explore other books by this author!

Okay, so let's get into details. This book follows tattooist Harper Wallis, who resides in Las Vegas, and details the consequential events that occur once she finds out that her psychic mate or 'anchor' is a guy who's rumored to be the most powerful demon in existence. Intriguing, right? Although this is a story centering round demons and the paranormal, and there's definitely a subtly creepy atmosphere, it's scattered with occasional wit and humor, and the characters are a bit cheeky, so it feels like a more light-hearted and less dramatic read, which for me, is a good thing.

Usually, I tend to not be drawn to the more paranormal demon-centric reads, however, this was a welcome change. Harper, the main female protagonist, is full of energy and sass. She's not your typical damsel in distress/please help me type, which is perfect for me as I prefer my heroines to be a bit more proactive. Her thoughts and actions are realistic and not over the top, and she reacts to the news of her new psychic mate about as well as any of us would take it, which I actually liked. Moving on to the aforementioned mate - Knox - he's absolutely brimming with sass and initially exudes your typical dominant, alpha-male vibe, which at first turned me off a bit. Yeah, he's sexy, but I'm looking for a bit more than that, you know? This was relatively corrected throughout the novel as we get a bit more insight into his character, however I could do with a little bit more in this regard as he still comes across as a bit overbearing and possessive throughout the novel, when Harper is just trying to do her own thing. She's a person, not a piece of furniture, you know?

The setting is great; Las Vegas is always bound to be exciting, and although we don't necessarily get to explore a lot of it, there is a good amount of detail, and the setting serves its purpose - it's not referenced overwhelmingly, but it provides a nice backdrop for the story, which is really about Harper and Knox. 

There is definitely a lot of romance and a bit of mature content in this book (so not one for the younger reader), however, in most cases I prefer this as I like my books to be a bit more realistic and mature, particularly in terms of relationships. There is excellent chemistry between Harper and Knox, and this really helps to drive the book through the slightly more meandering passages. In terms of supporting characters, there's not really a great deal of noteworthy ones, however Isla is definitely an interesting character which has a lot of potential throughout the novel, even though she could have featured more prominently. In terms of related characters to Harper, she has relatively little friends to start off with, and although I did enjoy Khloe, I wish she would have featured a bit more. As for Knox, a lot of his security detail and surrounding demons all kind of mesh into one for me, there's a lot of dudes and names, and I ended up losing track of who is who (Tanner? Levi? Keenan?). 

However, ultimately, the novel is a fairly light-hearted and engaging read, which would definitely attract most readers who are fans of the genre, despite its shortcomings. There's enough action to drive the narrative, and the two main characters are strong, and enthralling, which should satisfy most readers who prefer more dynamic protagonists. 

Nightshades - Melissa F. Olson [Review]

Book: Nightshades

Author: Melissa F. Olson

Published: 19th July 2016

Publisher: Tor

Pages: 176
Source: eArc provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Coming into this book, I wasn't really sure what to expect - the only thing I knew was that there were vampire-type creatures, that weren't your usual vampires thank god.

The book follows the events after a series of people have gone missing, and federal agents have been murdered. The BPI (Bureau of Paranormal Investigations) are tasked with apprehending the culprits. The main protagonist, Alex McKenna is tasked with investigating the crimes and apprehending the culprits. McKenna is new on the scene and has a severely limited amount of time to solve the murders and make sense of the shade-related killings. The shades are 'vampire-esque' creatures, except way more violent and creepy than you're likely to encounter in your usual ~twilight~ era novel.

This all leads to McKenna tracking down Rosalind 'Lindy' Frederick - a shade trying to maintain a low profile - who works the night shift as a translator in an office.

To start with, the premise was intriguing and I appreciated the unique take on vampires (no sparkles here, guys). The opening is suitably engaging and the creatures are mysterious and intriguing; there is a real draw to continue reading & not put the book down.

The characters are likable and make for an unusual pairing, and I appreciated the gender balance. Alex is smart, determined and a relatively level-headed character. Lindy is quick-thinking, calculating and altogether bad-ass. She recognises the weaknesses of her own race (they are predators but they need prey to survive) and tries to perfect her human appearance by copying the behaviour of her co-workers. I thought her actions were really interesting and definitely showed a lot of tact (what can I say, I prefer a smart female protagonist).

After McKenna's offer of working together, she's understandably apprehensive - I mean, if she agrees to help it's basically like signing her own death warrant - there's a vampire hierarchy, you know, and shit will go down if you try to make waves. I really enjoyed their pairing - they make a good team and the balance is just right; there's a little light romance but nothing too overpowering.

The pacing is reasonably good, however due to the length (this is essentially a novella) the characters are introduced fairly quickly (cutting costs on characterisation and background), and we are plunged straight into the main story-line/action, which can make the plot feel slightly rushed or incomplete.

Ultimately, this is a relatively enjoyable read (although would have benefited from being a full-length novel). The characters are endearing and intriguing, but their background, motivations and development are sacrificed to make way for the main action, making it slightly difficult to become invested in the outcome. 

The Shadow Hour (The Girl at Midnight #2) - Melissa Grey [Review]

Book: The Shadow Hour (The Girl at Midnight #2)

Author: Melissa Grey

Published: 12th July 2016

Publisher: Atom

Pages: 368
Source: eArc provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Rating: 3/5 stars

The second in The Girl at Midnight series, this book follows Echo & the gang as they face the consequences of their actions from the last novel. As before, there are a lot of good parts to this book, that I definitely enjoyed, but, as with the first, there are a few parts that felt a little disjointed.

In terms of the writing, as usual, Grey manages to weave a picture of the world that is truly bursting with colour: every setting feels decadent and vibrant, and there is a real diversity in terms of settings - from Scotland to China, the characters definitely go on a journey. The general writing style is one of my favourite parts of the book, especially the descriptions of the locations, such as Avalon. 

Moving on to the characters, I definitely have my favourites. Echo is a fairly likable heroine, although even she does make the occasional dumb decision that has me thinking 'what are you doing??' - but, she has had to grow up fairly quickly, so she's bound to make some errors, in all fairness (although sharing is caring, and she should definitely share her inside thoughts and feelings with the other members of Team Echo). Overall, she is fairly consistent in her character and I especially enjoyed the parts concerning the background of her mother as this really helped to add more depth to her character.

With regard to her companions - the main male characters of the novel (as in the first) are Caius and Rowan. They are both enjoyable in their own ways - Caius is brave, loyal, and his relationship with his sister is intriguing and engaging. On the other hand, Rowan is funny, sassy, always has a quick retort and is definitely more likable (to me) in this novel. However, do I think either of them are a suitable romantic interest for Echo? No, I don't. There are so many issues with their respective relationships (the Rowan/Ruby incident and the Caius/Rose saga), and therefore both potential love interests seem unattainable to me. Personally, I would love Echo to just end up with nobody, and live for herself, although I doubt that will happen (but a girl can dream). 

The crowning glory of this book, for me, comes from the peripheral or supporting characters, particularly - you've guessed it - Jasper and Dorian. I love their unlikely relationship and in this book we finally get a bit more closure regarding their will they/won't they status. I swear to all known (and unknown) deities, if either of them die, I will be absolutely livid.

Another enjoyable character is Ivy; she's absolutely more proactive in this book, and has a good amount of character growth continuing on from the events of the previous novel. Her relationship with Echo, and The Ala is sweet and very familial, her and Echo are definitely reminiscent of sisters, and I liked their concern for each other. 

However, some characters I felt were a little underdeveloped or definitely had a lot more to give (and I hope this will be rectified in the final book) - and specifically, I'm talking about both Caius' sister, dragon prince & altogether kick-ass woman Tanith, and a new character Quinn. Quinn is a warlock and when we are introduced to his character, there's a lot of mystery and intrigue, and he absolutely has the best dialogue consisting of snide remarks and a heap of sass. However, as the story progresses, he is slightly relegated to the background, and I really do hope he will appear more in the final book as there's definitely more to explore there.

In terms of Tanith, I am so fascinated by her and Caius' relationship, however throughout the book she comes off a little ~pantomime villain~ for me, and I'm still rather unsure as to her motivations - for instance, it's mentioned several times by Caius that he doesn't believe her to be evil, yet her actions follow the classic villain narrative; she is also predictable and rather shortsighted. Again, hopefully this will be illuminated a bit more in the next book. 

Finally, the plot pacing is slightly uneven. The beginning and the end of the book are solid, however the middle wavers slightly in terms of direction - there are a lot of good scenes, don't get me wrong, but the narrative feels less focused, and some major plot points can be seen a mile off. There's a lot of varied scenery, however it feels a little like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (the movie), in that the characters in The Shadow Hour visit a bunch of a different and interesting places, but tend to go through the same procedure whilst there - i.e. arrive, look for something, leave, and repeat. I would have enjoyed slightly more variety in the plotting, although, this is not necessarily uncharacteristic of the majority of second-in-a-series books. 

Overall, this is an engaging, colourfully written book with lots of potential, and although it falls slightly short of its aspirations, there is a lot of promise for the final installment. 

A Promise of Fire (#1) - Amanda Bouchet [Review]

Book: A Promise of Fire

Author: Amanda Bouchet

Published: 2nd August 2016

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Pages: 448
Source: eArc provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Rating: 5/5 stars

Wow, I was not expecting to enjoy this book so much. True, I had heard good things, so I was hopeful, but this book is amazing and surpassed even my (sometimes) high expectations. I loved it so much, it's almost like it was written with me in mind.

So, I'll break it down as to why I loved this book.

Firstly, there is a heap of interesting mythology. Now if there's one thing you should know it's that I LOVE books with mythology in them. My favourite being Greek mythology - and guess what? This book has an absolute abundance of Greek mythology and references. Be still, my beating heart. There's mentions of Poseidon, Zeus, Hades, and a bunch of mythical creatures like Cerberus, and dragons. I mean DRAGONS, people (!) - this book is astounding. I love the way the mythology is woven into the story and it feels like there's so much more coming in this regard and I am very, very eager for the next book. 

Moving on to the characters, what's not to love? Cat, our lead, is such an enigma, and a mystery. She's bad-ass, brave, and super sassy, which is something I truly loved. She's quirky and different and altogether endearing. She has an intriguing backstory that I can't wait to hear more about in the next book, and her relationship with Griffin is lovely. It's a slow burn, and I like that; there's no insta-love here (at least on her part), and I really appreciate that. She's not without her flaws, she's rude and bold and blunt, but she's strong in her beliefs and loyal in her heart. I loved all the elements of mythology surrounding her character and couldn't help but root for her from the get go. 

Griffin is the classic dark mysterious stranger - he's a ruthless warlord who's used to getting his way, is a bit overpowering and doesn't sway easily, but that's all part of his charm. Although I found his behaviour at times perplexing, there is definitely more to his character than we are shown in this book, especially his relationship/connection to the gods. I enjoyed his aspirations in terms of how he wants to rule the kingdom, even if they were altogether a bit naive. His character is really complimentary to Cat and they work together nicely. Their relationship forms the crux of the book and I was glad that it gelled so well, as it's a really important part of the story and takes up a fair few pages.

Other notable characters, for me, included Andromeda - I can't wait to hopefully see more of her character in the sequel. She's very complex, intriguing and downright cruel, and the story of her family is violent and brutal, but utterly engrossing. Another standout for me is Selena, and again, I hope to see more of her in the future. Her relationship to Hades was interesting, but I loved how motherly and protective she was of Cat and how concerned she was for her welfare, it was really cute and touching. 

Ultimately, I would call this book a fantasy-romance, and normally I'm not one for the romance, but it's a testament to the excellent writing skills of Bouchet that I thoroughly enjoyed this read. As I say, this is a slow burner so if you're not interested in constant swooning and you prefer more tongue-in-cheek, gradual build romances, this is for you. The writing is well-paced and engaging and the story has enough action segments to keep even the most fair-weather reader interested. There were lots of kick-ass fight scenes and the description of the settings were excellent. I particularly enjoyed the atmosphere of the circus in the beginning, with all its magic and mystery. The elements of magic are some of the best parts of this book (oh who am kidding, I love all of it) and there's bound to be something to entertain almost every reader.

If you're debating on whether to start this book, or think romance isn't really your thing, I urge you - get your hands on a copy, for this is a captivating and entertaining read, and makes for a truly promising start to the Kingmaker series.

Iron Cast - Destiny Soria [Review]

Book: Iron Cast

Author: Destiny Soria

Published: 11th October 2016

Publisher: Amulet Books

Pages: 384
Source: eArc provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Rating: 4/5 stars

When I first heard about this book, I was very intrigued - individuals with a blood disorder that allowed them to create beautiful visions and illusions, or conjure up vivid memories or emotions - I mean, I was sold. I am so happy to report that this book really lived up to my expectations and I enjoyed it immensely.

The novel follows Corinne and Ada, two unlikely best friends, who are diversely different but share the same condition - they are both hemopaths. Hemopaths are those with a blood affliction that gives them the ability to do some truly bizarre things, as previously mentioned, like create illusions, make themselves appear as another person, or trigger memories or emotions. Corinne comes from a wealthy family with a great level of influence, however she does not care for her family's political views and hides her affliction from them, choosing to seek refuge at a hemopaths club in Boston, called The Cast Iron. Corinne is funny, sarcastic, brave, headstrong, and her plans tend to go a little awry. She protests she is not a nice person, but I'd disagree.

Ada does not come from privilege and is shunned by society for her race; she is forced to cover her hair with a scarf to avoid confrontation, and is often looked down upon and segregated. However, she never feels unequal to Corinne and she is most definitely not relegated to a secondary character, this is very much a story about the two girls, together. Despite her hardships, Ada is caring, resourceful, creative, supportive, and a truly great friend.

One of my favourite elements of this book was the friendship between Ada and Corinne. It was beautiful, and touching, and often it is so rare to find a strong relationship between female characters in literature that does not solely center around men, or result in rivalry. Corinne and Ada always had each other's backs and it was fun to watch their adventures together.

Other notable character mentions include Saint, who is another employee of the Cast Iron. His character development throughout the novel excels at a rapid rate and everything I thought about him at the beginning of the story was brought into question by the end. I loved that you couldn't necessarily guess where things were heading, and in the end, he became one of my favourite characters. Another special mention goes to James and Madeleine, who are actors at a nearby theatre; I loved their relationship dynamic (which is not one you might originally think of), and the parts of the book in which they featured were a real highlight.

There are elements of romance in this book, but they are definitely not central to the plot - they act more as an accompaniment, which is much preferred. The pace is good, with an intriguing opening and solid finish, with plenty of didn't-see-it-coming moments, which are sure to keep you turning the pages.

Another strength of this book is the setting - it's very immersive, and quite unique. Boston comes alive with the excellent writing, and the descriptions of the club, it's patrons, and the asylum in particular are very vivid. It's also set in the 1920's (one of my favourite eras in terms of aesthetics), and the atmosphere feels very in keeping with that time period, particularly with the behaviour of the characters, their motivations, and of course, their clothing (Corinne's wardrobe is especially impressive).

Overall, the setting, characters, and the unique premise of this book ties together nicely, and the author delivers a solid and enjoyable read that is suitably engaging and impressive. The illusions and emotions that the hemopaths are able to conjure and create are described with colourful detail and thought, which makes for a truly immersive read that I'm sure most would enjoy.

The Sin Eater's Daughter (#1) - Melinda Salisbury [Review]

Book: The Sin Eater's Daughter (#1)

Author: Melinda Salisbury

Published: 24th February 2015

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Pages: 336

Rating: 1.5/5 stars

I started this knowing there were mixed reviews - some people love it, some people, not so much. I wondered where I would fit in on the scale - having now finished the book, unfortunately I fall more towards the 'not so much' opinion.

The book starts off with such promise, I was really enjoying the intrigue and mythology surrounding Twylla. The sin eating was a really cool concept, which definitely could have been expanded on more in this book. I also like the myth of the sleeping prince, and the gods, and Daunen, and I feel like there was absolutely more potential here for development, rather than the disappointing conclusion with regards to the story arc concerning Daunen.

Another, honestly, frustrating element were the characters. My favourite was the queen, even though she became more pantomime-villain esque as the story went on. I wanted more in terms of her motivations and her inner thoughts, as opposed to her being reduced to a character the audience could 'boo' at every so often.

The main female lead, Twylla, was intriguing at the start, and a little naive, but as the story progresses her character only serves to be a cliche, with many events befalling her, which result in increasingly idiotic actions on her part. There is a love triangle in this book, and whereas normally the female lead must choose between two attractive males, NONE of Twylla's choices are appealing.

The Prince, Merek, is so wooden and stagnant he is reminiscent of a cardboard-cut-out. He could literally be called 'generic prince'. There is very little character building here, not to mention that his name alone is lacking distinction. His name is very similar to Prince's from other franchies - think: Maven from Red Queen, Maxen from The Selection, and Merik from Truthwitch.

Whereas Merek is just plain boring, Leif is akin to the village idiot. He has barely any brains, he's aloof, and absolutely not cut out for any serving or attending work. I found myself wondering throughout the whole book why ~oh why~ has he been hired?? Surely the Queen has better judgement? And finally, in the end, we are enlightened as to this fact, and everything finally falls into place. Although, the reveal is not satisfying, nor is it clever.

Whereas this could have succeeded as a book about mythology, religion, and morals, it instead becomes a book of utterly cliche characters, boring tropes and dull love interests. So it's really no wonder Twylla was doomed from the start.

I have, however, heard that the sequel is much improved, but I can't quite bring myself to delve again into the depths of this questionably constructed literary universe.

Hope and Red (#1) - Jon Skovron [Review]

Book: Hope and Red

Author: Jon Skovron

Published: 30th June 2016

Publisher: Orbit

Pages: 416
Source: eArc provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Rating: 4/5 stars

I had no idea what to expect with this one, I didn't have much to go on - but the premise sounded intriguing. It was definitely not what I was expecting, but that is by no means a bad thing.

If I had to describe this story, it's an amalgamation of Gangs of New York and Pirates of the Caribbean, with a little bit of Assassins Creed thrown in for good measure. There's gang fights, ship sailing, sea creatures, sordid encounters, and a ton of folk slang. Seriously, there's a glossary at the back and everything. Now, rather than being off-putting, this actually served to make the story more immersive, and I really felt transported to the fictional universe that Skovron has created. 

This book is bold, brazen, and unashamedly crude. There is graphic violence, horror and sex. After reading the opening few pages, I was immediately hooked, and had a million and one questions. Although the pace is somewhat meandering in the first 20-40%, it soon picks up (once Hope and Red actually meet each other) and the action is full throttle from pretty much then on. Although I was at times confused concerning certain parts of the narrative - there are some seemingly random passages from the point of view of a biomancer - the purposes of these passages becomes clearer towards the end of the book, and sets up the next novel nicely. 

The biomancers, in fact, were an interesting concept, and I would love to know more about them (I'm hoping this will be covered in the next book) and, indeed, I'm anticipating more development concerning the figure of the emperor, too. 

This brings me on to the characters; none are quite alike, and everyone appears to have a tragic backstory. There's Red, and orphan, living on the streets - he's charming, silly, daring, and altogether a great guy. He starts off unsure of himself, but he really progresses throughout he book, along with the help of the notorious Sadie the Goat. Sadie is just as silly and daring, and she really helps Red to find his 'place' in the world. Their banter was cute, much appreciated, and I enjoyed their dynamic.

Then there's Hope - Bleak Hope, to be exact - named after the town in which she was born. Of course, like her name, her life has not been all that great, and she moves from one bad situation to the next (can the girl catch a break?). She's determined, honorable, loyal, and super bad-ass with a sword. She survives so many trials and struggles, and she never gives up - It's safe to say I adored her character.

Her dynamic with Red is one of the best parts of the book, and, as mentioned, when they actually meet a fairway into the book, their chemistry becomes evident and they compliment each other nicely. Don't get me wrong, this is by no means a ~love story~ and there is definitely no swooning or instant love to be found. It's a gritty, sometimes ugly, and tense story, with a fair amount of gore and violence. There's some truly creepy stuff throughout this book, but there's also some warm friendships to be found, and an excellent sense of community among the wags of New Haven, which help combat the darker parts of the story. 

Ultimately, this is a book unlike any other I have read, and it definitely surprised me. I think it can only improve in the next book, and I am looking forward to seeing how both Hope, and Red, change and develop. If you're a fan of tales of adventure, hardship and you love a bit of crude folk slang, then you're sure to love this tale... keen?