Caragh Reviews // The Island by Olivia Levez

Published - 3rd March 2016
Publisher - Oneworld Publications
Format - Paperback
Synopsis -  Frances is alone on a small island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. She has to find water and food. She has to survive. And when she is there she also thinks about the past. The things that she did before. The things that made her a monster. Nothing is easy. Survival is hard and so is being honest about the past. Frances is a survivor however, and with the help of the only other crash survivor, she sees that the future is worth fighting for. The Island is a gripping and thoughtful story about a girl who didn’t ask to be the person she is but is also determined to make herself the person she wants to be.

 Truly thankful to Rock the Boat for sending me a copy of this to review!

I wasn't really sure what to expect when I started reading this. The main character is sixteen year old Fran, who has done something so terrible, she's being sent away. But that's all the information we're given straight away. It was such a difficult situation for me, because Fran is horribly unlikable right from the start. She is standoffish, judgemental, unkind and just downright bratty. However, I persevered and wow, that was the best decision I could have made.

The Island is beautifully written and engaging. There aren't 'chapters' as such; mini ramblings is more what I would call them. They pass from Fran's past to the present so often that you kind of have to speed read to really make sense of things. This worked really well for me though. As each 'section' was so short, I was propelled to keep going. Just one more little section. Oh go on then, i'll do another couple. And on it went until i'd read the entire thing within a couple of breaks at work and an accidental all-nighter.

As time goes on, we experience a lot of trauma and adventure through the eyes of Fran. We watch her risk her life over and over just to survive. Fran frequently refers to herself as 'medusa' or a 'rock' because she is emotionless and can withstand anything but the longer Fran is on the island, her cracks start expanding and she lets the reader in, to begin to understand her. She is not a regular teenager and although I wouldn't go as far as saying she is easily forgivable, I can certainly admit to sharing her emotions and feeling a lot of anger myself.

On the subject of anger though, WHAT THE HELL IS WITH THAT ENDING?
Obviously i'm not going to go into detail here, the books barely even been released. I can say though with my hand on my heart, that I have never been as angry with a book ending as I was with this one. I watched this girl struggle and face her traumatic past whilst she fought to stay alive in her traumatic present. I appreciated her, I went from detesting her to wanting to cuddle her. And yet THAT is my reward? I'm afraid not. I fully expect some kind of answer to be released one day and I will not give up hope.

Until then, if you don't like resolution, this one may need some consideration before reading. In all other respects though, a wonderful, enlightening book that will definitely do great things in the future.

When I met Rachel Caine....again!

If you've read my blog at all before, then there's a very high chance that you've heard me express my love and adoration for the Morganville Vampire series by Rachel Caine. As well as the MV series, Rachel has written a multitude of books that I have devoured and loved almost equally. Morganville will always hold a special place in my heart though. I even have a (VERY slight) personal connection. Myrnin, an insane yet loveable vampire, hales from none other than Conwy, North Wales - just like me.

I have had the pleasure of meeting Rachel twice before but have only managed to get a handful of books signed due to time constraints and huge queues. This time was so different though, and so wonderful and lovely! We browsed the shelves of Waterstones for a while where my enabling boyfriend bought me copes of All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven and Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider :) After a bit too much browsing, I noticed a whole bunch of people taking their seats so we had to rush over. Thankfully, my as above wonderful boyfriend took charge of getting my stuff together so I could run over in time! All the signing events that i've attended before have been rush jobs. Queue, put books in front of author, sign, leave. This was a whole different experience for me and I loved it!

Rachel began by telling us a lot about herself, her aliases, how she got started etc. I did know most of it as I'm a bit of a Rachel-stalker but it was nice hearing it from herself. She then held a Q&A which again, I really enjoyed. I was even brave enough to ask my own question - Rachel loves Myrnin & Shane the most too! It was such a relaxed atmosphere and though it was extremely girl-heavy there was a wonderful mix of ages. Following this, we were treated to a reading! Rachel read a chunk of the short story Vexed, featuring Myrnin and Oliver. Is there anything better than hearing a story read by the person who created it? You get a real sense of the intention and meaning behind the words.

Once the reading was finished, we began the queuing to get our books signed. This was the part I was most nervous about. For once it wasn't even because I was nervous to meet her; it was the sheer amount of books that i'd brought with me to get signed. 16 in total. The staff at Waterstones and Rachel were actually so nice about it. I had to queue three times but it was absolutely worth it. As is typical, we had a chat about my name (it tends to be what gets me noticed most often!) and lots of other random things. We were also given goody bags which I may still be fangirling about. The bag itself is a red tote with Midnight Bites on it :)

Though I never have much trouble picking up a book and reading it - the whole experience reminded me of just how much I love to read and how much a part of me it is. We are so lucky that we get to meet the people behind the words and actually learn from them. Rachel was so open and honest about writing and publishing. I'm sure there were more than a couple of people who left the building that night, inspired and ready to write.

Me though? I'm not a writer. I just love to be immersed in the worlds and imaginations of others. So with that, keep an eye out on my upcoming review of Midnight Bites. I've been so looking forward to the day I could return to Morganville and it's finally here.

BLOG TOUR // Dumplin' by Julie Murphy

Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin'” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked…until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back. Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all. With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs, and a wildly unforgettable heroine—Dumplin’ is guaranteed to steal your heart.

Thanks to Alice and Harper360 for my copy and for letting me take a place on the blog tour. But mostly thanks to Julie Murphy for reminding me that being fat does not determine who you are and what you are capable of.

Whilst I was reading Dumplin' over the holiday period, a few people asked me what it was about. The only description I could give was "It's about being fat, and how that's totally okay". Of course on the grand scale of things, it's so much more than that but at face value, that's what I took from it.

Like Willowdean, not only do I think of myself when I hear the word "fat" but if we're being honest, I also emotionally/mentally believe that i'm bigger than I actually am physically. For anyone who struggles with weight or physical issues you already know how debilitating it can be, especially when its you yourself who puts limitations on what you are able to achieve.

The first line that really grabbed my attention was this - 'The word fat makes people uncomfortable.'
That's really interesting to me and is absolutely true in regards to my own life. I've always viewed the word fat as just that, a word. A factual one but still just a word. 'Fat' only becomes derogatory with a tone and an intention. I've spent my whole life describing myself as fat only to have a rebuttal of 'oh but you're not!'. Which apart from being a blatant lie, just adds to the idea that 'fat' insinuates something shameful.

Dumplin' is a book that tries to take that shame and turn it into something positive and usable. Honestly? It's kind of a beautiful thing. The book is about more than body issues though. There's some real hard-hitting information in there disguised as throwaway comments. There's this great section of the book that had me nodding furiously along as I agreed with every statement;

'Having sex doesn't make you a woman. That is so freaking cliche. If you want to have sex, have sex, but don't make it this huge thing that carries all this weight. You're setting yourself up for disappointment.'

Over the years i've read so many books that try to plead a case about sex. Whether that's to abstain, that you're not mentally ready to make a decision about sex, or you should only have sex when you're a mature adult who is in love. In memory though, this is the first time a character in a YA novel has openly said - sex is just sex. Of course others will have different opinions but personally that's exactly how I feel. Sex isn't this big mystery or life changing moment. If you're looking for a way to become a woman - the chances are you already are one. Being a woman is not a direct link to sex and it is not okay to believe that.

In relation to that, I also felt like jumping off the seat every time Willowdean had a conversation with her Mother and it ended in Will being the real adult. Time and time again Will serves as a voice for women all over the world, 'News flash, Mom: a man will not cure my troubles'. AMEN, SISTER! However, that doesn't mean to say that I didn't fall completely head over heels in Book-Love with Bo *heart-in-eyes emoji*. Isn't he every girl's dream? Towards the end of the book, Will makes it clear that the only person who has ever truly judged her by her weight, is herself. I am also guilty of this. I think in YA books, about teenage girls, it can be all too easy to have the hormone-filled boys become the reason that girls have low self esteem but throughout Dumplin', Bo is consistently oblivious to her weight and genuinely cares for the girl behind the fat. Nor does she rely on Bo to discover her confidence or self esteem - she does it all herself. It really is inspiring.

Dumplin' has been going the rounds on blogs and social media for quite some time now and honestly, I think it deserves the praise immensely. Despite the subject matter and the learning curve that I was on whilst reading the book, it was never preachy or eye-rolling. Dumplin' is completely relatable for all girls. Obviously, those of us with weight issues will find a connection to Willowdean but it doesn't end there. There is so much in this book and there is something for everyone.

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy is out TODAY!

p.s) If anyone knows the answer to this, was that really a reference to The Yellow Wallpaper? (pg.139)

Caragh Reviews // The Copper Gauntlet by Holly Black & Cassandra Clare

Published - 3rd September 2015
Publisher - Corgi Children's
Format - Paperback
Synopsis - Callum Hunt’s summer break isn’t like other kids’. His closest companion is a Chaos-ridden wolf, Havoc. His father suspects him of being secretly evil. And, of course, most kids aren’t heading back to school in the magical world of the Magisterium . . . It’s not easy for Call . . . and it gets even harder after he checks out his basement and discovers that his dad might be trying to destroy both him and Havoc. Call escapes to the Magisterium but things only intensify there. The Alkahest - a copper gauntlet capable of separating certain magicians from their magic - has been stolen. And in their search to discover the culprit, Call and his friends awaken the attention of some very dangerous foes - and get closer to an even more dangerous truth. As the mysteries of the Magisterium deepen and widen, bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare take readers on an extraordinary journey through one boy’s conflict -and a whole world’s fate.

My review for The Iron Trials can be found here: Magisterium #1

I'm going to start this review by saying there's not a huge lot I can actually talk about as it would be so completely spoiler-ridden so please forgive a crappy review for a decent book.

The Copper Gauntlet got off to a slow start for me. Those of you who have read the book probably highly disagree since such incredible revelations happen right at the beginning of the book - but I feel like after everything we discovered in the first book, there would be more of a wow-factor. However I loved that Havoc was still around and still as weird and loveable as we had come to know him.

The thing that I loved the most about The Copper Gauntlet is also what kind of annoyed me. I can already imagine my boyfriend's face when I write this as we've been joking about it. It was incredibly Percy Jackson-esque. Call and his loyal friends, off on a mission, risking their lives. Searching for an artifact without any real sense of direction but still ending up exactly where they need to be at the right time - with a hell of a lot of issues in between. Sounding familiar? Really though, I LOVE that! The first book in the series was set at school and though it was awesome, I did worry how they would make an entire series work, but changing the scene was great.

Another thing that carried on from the first book was the relationships between Call and his friends. This was really important to me as it's one of the major things I look for in books of this kind. The massive bombshell that was dropped in book 1 had been playing on my mind and the connections Call had made were at risk. Things like that worry me!

I had assumed that there would be a huge weight on Call's mind throughout this book, with all of the previous year hanging over him but I didn't really feel that. Call made a LOT of references to him being an 'evil overlord', but it was kind of more annoying than anything else. It seemed like it was every other page he was questioning himself or others. I can understand why of course, but it still didn't stop it from being irritating.

In terms of the actual story, and it pains me to admit it, I can't really remember the details. Although it has only been a couple of weeks since I read it, it's kind of floated out of my mind. Again, I want to urge that that has nothing to do with whether the book was enjoyable or not (it was), it just felt a lot more generic than the first one. The shock factor had worn off and now it's just a case of seeing where they go from here. There was a lot of action though and as with the last book, from here, anything could happen. I look forward to the next release to see how Call is going to face the future.

Caragh Reviews // The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak by Brian Katcher

Published - 18th June 2015
Publisher - Katherine Tegan Books
Format - Paperback
Synopsis - When Ana Watson's brother ditches a high school trip to run wild at Washingcon, type-A Ana knows that she must find him or risk her last shot at freedom from her extra-controlling parents.
In her desperation, she's forced to enlist the last person she'd ever want to spend time with—slacker Zak Duquette—to help find her brother before morning comes.
But over the course of the night, while being chased by hordes of costumed Vikings and zombies, Ana and Zak begin to open up to each other. Soon, what starts as the most insane nerdfighter manhunt transforms into so much more. . . .

I got this book for Christmas from my boyfriend and he did a great job picking it out. Not only is it perfect post-Christmas reading material (conventions, nerdy references, quick and easy reading) but it's also been compared to Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist which is one of my all-time favourite books.

When I say there are nerdy references, I really mean that! At least very couple of pages there's a joke or reference to something and I couldn't help but laugh. There's just something comforting about understanding and connecting with a book on such a simple level. As my first book of the new year, it put me in the mood for reading, which is always good! The writing was really simple and I flew through the entire book within a couple of hours which doesn't happen too often these days. 

The characters themselves weren't entirely relatable to me as i'm not particularly an academic type of nerd like Ana (at least anymore) and i'm way too socially awkward to be like Zak. Though as a fan of conventions and all things sci-fi-/fantasy etc, I was still able to get excited about the contents of the book. I can also definitely see younger readers fitting themselves in nicely with Ana and Zak and their personalities etc. 

There wasn't a whole lot of action until the end of the book but I didn't feel like that made the book suffer at all. It was enjoyable just to experience Ana and Zak's relationship and Ana's experiences outside of her comfort zone. I think I rated this 3 stars on GR and that's pretty fair. I didn't 'get' a lot from reading it but it was fun and cute for sure. This would make a great book to read whilst travelling as you could probably jump in and out of it as needed or a cute summer fun read!

Happy New Year....belatedly (FT. Challenges!)

Hello lovely readers!

I know I know, it's already 9th January so i'm a bit behind the times but honestly, the year has started with a bang and my attentions have been elsewhere. Unlike most of my posts, this one will be a bit of a long one so I hope you can stay with me.

On a personal note, my beautiful nephew was born at the very start of the year and I was honoured to be invited to be in the delivery room for his birth. Both mother and baby are healthy and doing wonderfully and i'm over the moon to be an Aunt again to Bobby Jack :)
Work started up again immediately after the New Year and so a lot of time has been spent getting back into the routine of things, fuelling myself with endless cups of tea and many many early nights. I have a lot of reading goals for 2016 (which i'll get to very shortly) but as a personal life goal i'm back at the gym, three mornings a week before work. It's exhausting, especially with my lifestyle and unsociable work hours, but i'm hoping to see great results by the end of this year! Which leads me on to 2016 on Loaded Shelves and what I hope is in store....

I have a WONDERFUL challenge post to share with you! Holly @ The Arts Shelf has created a 60 book YA Challenge (the link takes you directly to the post) which is not only achievable, but is so varied and roomy that it'll be super fun to complete. My GR challenge is also set to 60 books so fingers crossed, I can complete both challenges simultaneously! I've also created a separate page at the top of the blog dedicated to that particular challenge so that you can check my progress. So far so good - i've already filled in 2 of the challenge reads!

Other challenges i'm taking part in are a little less 'official'. In previous years i've set myself an eBook challenge - in which I read as many digital books as possible in order to lower the amount of physical books I have at home. I've finally reached the point where more than half of my annual read list is digital and so i'm clawing it back a little. In 2016 my aim is to read an even amount of physical and digital books. I desperately need to reduce my physical TBR whilst keeping up with netgalleys and digital books (which generally I get through more of, and quicker as it's more portable for work purposes!)

Let me know what challenges your taking part in this year and go and give Holly some blog love and check out her 60 YA Challenge!

Caragh Reviews // Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon

Published - 3rd September 2015
Publisher - Corgi
Format - Paperback
Synopsis - Madeline Whittier is allergic to the outside world. So allergic, in fact, that she has never left the house in all of her seventeen years. But when Olly moves in next door, and wants to talk to Maddie, tiny holes start to appear in the protective bubble her mother has built around her. Olly writes his IM address on a piece of paper, shows it at her window, and suddenly, a door opens. But does Maddie dare to step outside her comfort zone? Everything, Everything is about the thrill and heartbreak that happens when we break out of our shell to do crazy, sometimes death-defying things for love.

If you've heard about this book then you've heard about...that thing that happens at the end. Or at least you've heard that something happens. For the purpose of this review, I think i'm probably going to ignore that completely. Like a lot of other reviews i've seen, I wasn't impressed by it. However, I completely and unconditionally loved this book regardless of that thing. So on we go...!

Oh my goodness. From page 1 I was unashamedly hooked. I'm not too coy to admit that I was staying at the in-laws when I bought this book last Saturday and that by Sunday afternoon i'd not only completely ignored the entire family but yes! I had finished it in just 2 sittings (damn sleeping needs...).

Madeline was a fantastic character and I resonated with her in a lot of ways. Although I certainly can't compare my life to hers, I too was a very sickly kid. I missed a lot of school, events and friendships and it wasn't until I got older that I was diagnosed and had to navigate my life in a new light. Maddie was such a strong character to make me truly believe what was happening. Although I knew it was 'just' a book of course, it didn't stop me needing a few moments to have a little cry about what she must be going through and feeling. Which I did need. Many, MANY times. Not embarrassing at all! This is of course due to Yoon's incredible writing. I think I could believe anything that was written down by her.

Nicola Yoon herself has said that part of the reason for writing the book is that we need more diversity and that is something that is not only absolutely true, but is something that is very close to my heart. Maddie is mixed race, something that isn't talked about a whole lot within the book and my heart BURSTS at this. In the most respectful way, it just wasn't a big deal. Maddie's race made no different to the love I felt for her and her story. It made no difference to the love that Ollie had. It literally wouldn't have made the story any different if Maddie were white.....which begs the question of why isn't there more bi-racial/black protagonists? I realise that my opinion means very little in the grand scheme of things but the real world is made up of many colours - so let's show that in our literature too. It's especially important to show this in literature for children and young adults.

Nicola Yoon's writing and Maddie's story had my heart pounding and tears rolling throughout the book. It was also intelligent, funny and romantic (in a multitude of ways). I really dislike "instalove" in books, particularly YA where it features a LOT and I know that some people felt that way about Everything Everything but honestly, I didn't get that. I felt the struggle between Maddie and Ollie. Maddie is fiercely independent (which sounds ironic considering the premise of the book) and I understood the difficulties she faced opening up and letting Ollie into her confined space.

For me, this book really stood apart from anything else i've read in a long time and I think it will be hitting the top spot for a long time to come.

Caragh Reviews // Talon by Julie Kagawa

Published - 28th October 2014
Publisher - Harlequin/MIRA
Format - Kindle
Synopsis - Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser. Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George. Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.

Talon was an incredible surprise and a bit of a whirlwind! I didn't really know much about it and i'm one of the few people left who haven't read anything by Kagawa before. Right from chapter one you are thrown in the deep end. Dragons! Enemies! Secrets! Missions! I mean come on, who isn't dragged into a book that is primarily about dragons!

I'll admit, it was a little weird to wrap my head around agiant, scaly dragon kind of morphing into a little frail 16 year old girl but you know what? The logistics don't really matter and I didn't spend too much time thinking about it as the pace of the book had me reading at lightning speed.

For me, Talon had the perfect balance between your typical crush story (hello, love triangle!) and a whole lot of excitement and adventure. Ember was really likeable and relatable which is super important to me. I think the only character that I didn't really connect with was Dante and considering how that goes i'm not totally surprised by it.

What spurred me on whilst reading Talon was the relationship between Talon (the organisation) and St George. I wanted to know where this war came from and why it mattered more than anything else (more on this in my review of Rogue, later!). The book was so fraught with tension over this and honestly, I was kind of stressed out just thinking about the possibilities. The end of the book was so explosive that it left me reeling. What was going to happen? Were any of them safe now? What is Dante thinking? There were so many questions that there was never a single doubt in my mind that the very next book I would read was the sequel, Rogue. Review coming soon......

Caragh Reviews - The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Caroline Mackler

Published - 5th January 2012
Publisher - Simon & Schuster
Format -Paperback
Synopsis - It's 1996 and very few high school students have ever used the internet. Facebook will not be invented until several years in the future. Emma just got a computer and an America Online CD. She and her best friend Josh power it up and log on - and discover themselves on Facebook in 2011. Everybody wonders what they'll be like fifteen years in the future. Josh and Emma are about to find out.

Not too long ago I read Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why and it really impressed me! So when I saw this for £1 in a local bookstore I had to have it and I read it pretty much immediately. I was born at the end of the 80's so I grew up without the internet and I remember it's impact as it started filtering into our every day lives and in peoples homes rather than at school. My first internet provider was also AOL and so this was right up my street.

The idea of not just being able to get glimpses of your future but through Facebook is terrifying and insane. I wonder what my past self would have thought if I could see the Facebook status's I post about my life now. I probably would have given up all hope! That's the beauty of this book, and it's really moralistic. Context is everything. Sure, if all I saw of my future was how I have baby food in my hair and no social life to speak of, i'd probably want to do everything I could to make my future a little bit more pleasing but in reality - I probably was happy about that. 

The Future of Us had so much potential that I scrambled to the end to get the satisfied feeling I was craving from this book. It just...sort of didn't happen. I did enjoy it! It was a fun, quick read but I felt like it really missed an opportunity to do something amazing. Instead, The Future of Us focuses on the petty romance/friendship between Josh and Emma and perhaps more infuriating - Emma's obsession with having a good husband. Somebody should inform the writers that a girl does not equate her lifetime happiness with whether she has a decent husband to make her happy. I thought that perhaps Emma would see the error of her ways and realise that she doesn't NEED that man to have a happy future - but she doesn't. The teens do learn valuable lessons of course - live for the moment and see what the future brings. It was just disappointing that both in the present and the future, these two kids are preoccupied with being in love. I'm not sure if it's a book I would really recommend to people unless they specifically wanted something like this but it was cheap and passed a couple of hours so it wasn't too bad.

Caragh Reviews - Percy Jackson & The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

Published - 1st August 2010
Publisher - Puffin
Format - Paperback
Synopsis - Freshman orientation is about mastering new things, but this is ridiculous. Percy didn't expect that in his first week at school, he would have to face a squad of demon cheerleaders. And the dangers are far more than scholastic: Kronos's armies are threatening even the relative safety of Camp Half-Blood. The fourth installment of Percy Jackson and the Olympians deals out action, surprises, suspense, and gripping characters.

I've been reading the Percy Jackson series on and off for a while now and i'm finally nearing the end! I absolutely ADORE these books and Battle of the Labyrinth was no exception. From the opening line until the book ended I was completely hooked, on the edge of my seat and in love with the characters and the world that Riordan has created.

The one constant in Percy's life since finding out his true parentage has been Camp Half-Blood. It's a home, he has friends, loved ones and a purpose but this time, it is far from safe. Percy & co must save Camp Half-Blood and stop Kronos from rising, no matter what it takes. I found this book was a lot faster paced because of the threat to the Camp and to those Percy loves. It also introduced more Gods and their children which is just one of the things that I love about this series - I'm actually learning something. I know next to nothing about mythology but I can definitely hold my own now! I'm actually looking at getting some non-fiction books about mythology soon thanks to Percy. 

One problem I have with the series, which isn't a problem at all really, is that I love Luke. He is so well written (though cryptically). I harboured grand ideas that somehow, Luke would redeem himself and return to Camp Half-Blood as family and not as an enemy. For anyone who has read the book, you'll understand why my certainty about Luke is waivering. I am SO anxious to find out what the hell is going on that it takes up a lot of my time! I've invested way too much into the Percy Jackson series lol! Though i've been spreading out the books hugely, I plan on reading the final book this week and so with that in mind, this isn't an overly insightful review as I feel i'd just repeat myself with the next review! 

As a little side note - if anyone has read the second Olympian series by Rick Riordan - do you recommend it?

Caragh Reviews - Severed Heads, Broken Hearts by Robyn Schneider

Published - 1st September 2013
Publisher - Simon & Schuster
Format - Paperback
Synopsis - Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: In one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra's knee, his career as a jock, and his social life. No longer a front-runner for homecoming king, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra's ever met— achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures. Together, Ezra and Cassidy discover flash mobs, buried treasure, secret movie screenings, and a poodle that might just be the reincarnation of Jay Gatsby. But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: If one's singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes?

This book has been re-named for some ridiculous reason so if you're unfortunate enough not to come across the original title (which I ADORE) then it's new name is The Beginning of Everything. 

This is probably, definitely going to be a biased review because honestly, if it was possible to rate books more than 5 stars (in Goodreads terms) I would totally max the crap out of the rating. I quite simply, absolutely and completely maniacally LOVED this book.

The cover of Severed Heads, Broken Hearts was the first thing that grabbed my attention, and then the cover & blurb quote both made references to John Green/Augustus Waters and I was sold immediately. The blue and the mixing of black and white in the centre is very TFioS which naturally turns heads now but to give a more substantial reason of why I picked the book up - it actually sounded interesting. I'm also happy to report that the blurb on the back of the book really does contain the essence of the book itself.

The story is told from Ezra's POV and so the laugh-out-loud humour is of course his too which makes it a genuinely funny and interest story. Severed Heads, Broken Hearts dives straight into it and within a couple of pages the "twist" is already thrown at us. I've said this multiple times now but I honestly just couldn't stop laughing at the beginning. Ezra is gorgeous, loveable and completely down to earth so that anyone can relate and his transition from Top Jock to Debate Nerd is heartwarming and also painful at times. All of the characters are well written, even side characters who don't really mean anything to the story but definitely add something to Ezra's learning curve. 

Another thing I particularly enjoyed was the pop culture references scattered throughout! Stuff like that really gets me going as it appeals to my own nerdy side. My favourite character by far was Toby. His reaction to the 'severed head' situation and the way he was more than happy to invite Ezra back into his life like they'd been best friends forever was brilliant and I wish there were more genuine people like him. His references to Doctor Who and his memorabilia were probably what won me over the most - nerd, remember? ;)

Severed Heads, Broken Hearts just felt really genuine and was a completely refreshing read in comparison to everything else i've read recently which falls just short. It had everything I was looking for, it was GREAT, quick and fun read and prompted me in the right direction to go on a reading binge. I would definitely recommend this one!

Review // Between The Lines - Jodi Picoult & Samantha van Leer

Published - 5th July 2012
Published By - Hodder & Stoughton
Format - Hardback
Goodreads Synopsis - Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah.

And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom.

Delilah and Oliver work together to attempt to get Oliver out of his book, a challenging task that forces them to examine their perceptions of fate, the world, and their places in it. And as their attraction to each other grows along the way, a romance blossoms that is anything but a fairy tale.

For a long time, Jodi Picoult has been my favourite author and so when I heard that she was releasing a YA book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Between The Lines was composed by both Picoult and her daughter, new author, Samantha van Leer. 


First, let me start by saying the physical book itself is beautiful! The cover is gorgeous with a slightly raised gold trimmed border and the art is just perfect. Inside, the book is filled with both full page stunning illustrations and smaller, text related pictures along side the words. Each narrating character has their own font, and font colour which is a first for me! The purples and greens really worked and helped the overall magical feel of the story. It is truly beautiful. 


The story itself is one that I imagine every book lover can get into - I mean, who *doesn't* get sucked into the book? My favourite line throughout this wonderful fairytale is this, ""Did you really think that a story exists only when you're reading it?" Because, of course, the story always exists.

Delilah and Oliver were adorable characters and I was sad to say goodbye to them at the end of the novel. In fact, I don't think there was a single character I didn't like. I even loved Seraphima...eventually. It was just a lovely read and has definitely inspired me to read a little more outside of my reading comforts.

Between The Lines is definitely different (by miles!) from anything that Jodi Picoult has written before but please don't let that put you off. It was beautifully written and the perfect way to introduce younger readers to Jodi's writing.

Review // Insurgent - Veronica Roth (Divergent #2)

Published - 1st May 2012
Published By - HarperTeen
Format - Kindle
Goodreads Sypnosis - One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Insurgent is the second installment to Veronica Roth's dystopian series Divergent. Almost every sequel to a book brings with it copious amounts of expectations and even more criticism. Luckily, I escaped the hype of Insurgent and only had my own expectations to fulfil.


The five factions, Abnegation, Candor, Amity, Erudite and Dauntless are all coping with the events that unfolded in Divergent, and they all have their own ways of doing so. We follow Tris on her quest for truth in this book and encounter all of her adventures too. It isn't often that I find a book where I feel like one of the characters myself. Insurgent was not just another dystopian fiction book for me, it became my world for the two days in which I was reading.


The book was beautifully written and there is honestly not a single sentence, paragraph, page or chapter in which I wasn't captivated by what was happening. There are so many revelations in Insurgent that it was an emotional rollercoaster for the reader as well as the characters in the book. If, like me, you were hoping for more Tris and Four action then you will not be disappointed. However, I must warn you that the trials and tribulations the lovestruck couple experience in Insurgent is not always fun. I will let you find out yourself if their relationship survives this book...!


The end of Insurgent had me shouting from my seat! Naturally, as the middle book of a trilogy, it ends on a cliffhanger. This put me off a little as I'm an impatient reader and like to get down to business and complete an adventure. However, it does its job and I am officially part of the Divergent Nation and eagerly await the release of the next book to find out just what is going to happen to the world of Beatrice Prior.

Review // The Fault in Our Stars - John Green

Despite the tumour-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely re-written.

The Fault in Our Stars is the book of the year! Nerdfighter, Vlogbrother and spectacular author John Green has created a masterpiece with Hazel's story. From the first page, Green grabs your attention and the voice and character of Hazel was identifiable to me. We are told at the beginning (not a spoiler because it's in the blurb!) that Hazel has terminal cancer and so we immediately know that this story is going to be a journey of some kind. I never expected that journey to be mine though.

There are some beautiful and thought-provoking quotes within this book that I would love to share with you guys but i'm honestly one of those people who believe you should discover things like that yourself as words have different meanings to everyone. In true Green style, this heart-warming and heart-wrenching story that follows Hazel is also incredibly funny. Hazel, Augustus and Isaac have wonderful sense of humours that add to the wonderful characters that they are. They take on a life of their own and the words on the page become so much more than that. I urge all readers to experience this book and please let me know what you think of it.

Goodreads Challenge 15/50
Debut Author Challenge 2/5
Dystopian Challenge 4/5
Paranormal Fantasy Challenge 2/5

Review // Zombicorns - John Green

Zombicorns by John Green was never written to be a published thing. From what I remember, it was written for charity. This book is not available for sale but it can be found online for free. I don't have time to look for the link right now but if you can't find it, i'm willing to send it by email. Just ask in the comments.

I didn't enjoy this story as much as I do the other books he has written but I think that's because it's so short and I didn't get into it enough. However, I DID still like it and it is some powerful writing.

Green makes some beautiful comments on society and what it means to be a person. Although in true John Green style, it's not overloading at all and humans are compared with dogs in an amusing but thoughtful way.

Another of my personal favourite moments is when Caroline shouts, “LEEERRROOOY JEEENNKKIINNNSS!” Despite the fact that two teenage girls are literally fighting for survival in a world gone mad, there are still huge elements of fun. (Leroy Jenkins being a video that went viral.)

Zombicorns successfully shocked me towards the end and its twist (if that's the right word to use) came out of nowhere for me. That doesn't happen very often.

This should be a definite read for any nerdfighter and zombie lover and also for those who just want a quick short read :)

Goodreads Challenge 12/50

Chick Lit Challenge 0/5
Debut Author Challenge 2/5
Dystopian Challenge 3/5
Paranormal Fantasy Challenge 2/5

Review // The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

In a dark vision of the near future, twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live TV show called The Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed.
When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister's place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.

This isn't the cover of my version.

I barely know where to start with this review, hence why it has taken a while to put it up here.
The Hunger Games has changed my way of reading. I've always enjoyed reading YA and Dystopian novels but believe it or not, this is one of the first YA Dystopian books I have read and putting my experience into words is going to be difficult.

As a person who reads a lot of books consecutively, it is difficult for me to really get attached to a book. I move on from one book to the next so fast that the love I hold for a particular character is immediately cast aside. The Hunger Games was different though. After every couple of chapters I had to put the book down to seriously think about what was happening and to keep my emotions in check. I was genuinely terrified for Katniss, Peeta and Rue and also everyone back in District 12. I was holding on to the bed, anxious to know what was going to happen next! It's been a long time since a book made me feel that way.

The only downside I have of The Hunger Games is what happens in the caves. (No spoilers!) The rest of the book was filled with excitement and an uncertainty and then it dulled too much. I realise that for the ending to fully work, there needed to be a respite of sorts but this was too much. I didn't like the way that the book became focused on relationships, love and emotion. It just didn't feel right and was a little uncomfortable. It didn't effect the overall story though so that's all I will say!

I wish that more people had read this book and I can't wait to see the film production next month :)

Goodreads Challenge 10/50

Chick Lit Challenge 0/5
Debut Author Challenge 2/5
Dystopian Challenge 2/5
Paranormal Fantasy Challenge 2/5

Review // Shimmer - Alyson Noel

Riley Bloom is starting to get to grips with being dead. OK, so she'll never turn thirteen, but she can manifest anything she desires. And, after her first success as a Soul Catcher, she's finally got her 'glow' on. Then she meets Rebecca - a furious ghost who is trapped on Earth, desperate to seek revenge for her own death - and Riley's determined to help her, even if it means defying her cute-but-annoying guide, Bodhi, and breaking all the rules...

Shimmer, is the second book in the Riley Bloom series [a sort of spin off of the Immortals series].
The first book, Radiance, wasn't really one of the best books i'd read but as a book lover with slight OCD, I feel obliged to continue the rest of the series anyway (sometimes they get better and become great!)

The first few chapters of Shimmer just didn't interest me at all. It's sad really because whilst reading the Immortals, I *loved* Riley and wanted to know more about her, but this series just doesn't hook me at all. I kept reading though and surprisingly, it got better!

It still isn't brilliant by any standards but a little after the half way point, I actually started caring about what was happening. Shimmer seemed to be full of moral questioning and whilst I usually don't like that, it worked here. The next book in the series, Dreamland, is out now and of course i'll be reading it and hopefully I stay interested in Riley, Bodhi and Buttercup but for me, the Riley Bloom books are nothing in comparison to the ones about Ever.

 

Goodreads Challenge 7/50

Chick Lit Challenge 0/5
Debut Author Challenge 0/5
Dystopian Challenge 0/5
Paranormal Fantasy Challenge 1/5