July 2015 Wrap Up

Jen 
I managed to read quite a large number of books in July, but over half of these were audiobooks and shorter companion books that didn't take very long to read at all. 

A Game of Thrones Puzzle Quest by Tim Dedopulos → 4/5 
Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout → 5/5 
Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer (audiobook) → 3/5 
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer (audiobook) → 1.5/5 
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (audiobook) → 4.5/5 
New Moon: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion by Mark Cotta Vaz → 4.5/5 
Eclipse: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion by Mark Cotta Vaz → 4/5 
Breaking Dawn Part 1: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion by Mark Cotta Vaz → 4.5/5
The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide by Stephenie Meyer → 4/5
City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare → 4/5 
City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare → 4.5/5 
City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare → 5/5 
The Shadowhunter's Codex by Cassandra Clare and Joshua Lewis → 5/5 
The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan & Maureen Johnson → 4/5
The Mortal Instruments Companion: City of Bones, Shadowhunters and the Sight: The Unauthorized Guide by Lois H. Gresh → 1/5
Confess by Colleen Hoover → 6 stars!! 
Divergent by Veronica Roth (audiobook) → 5/5 
Divergent: Official Illustrated Movie Companion by Kate Egan → 5/5 
Inside Divergent: The Initiate's World by Cecilia Bernard → 5/5 
Insurgent by Veronica Roth (audiobook) → 5/5 
Allegiant by Veronica Roth (audiobook) → 4/5 
Four: A Divergent Story Collection by Veronica Roth (audiobook) → 5/5 
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult → 4/5 
Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge → 4.5/5 
Gilded Ashes by Rosamund Hodge → 5/5 
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith → 5/5 
If You're Lucky by Yvonne Prinz → 5/5 
A Storm of Swords Part 1: Steel and Snow by George R.R. Martin → 4.5/5 
A Storm of Swords Part 2: Blood and Gold by George R.R. Martin → 5/5 
Made for You by Melissa Marr → 4/5  


Mel
This month was a little more productive than last month, albeit that some of the books were really short, but I'd finally gotten through one of the larger books that I've been wanting to finish for a while now.

Death Note: Black Edition Vol. 1 by Tsugumi Ohba → 4/5
Geek Drama by Holly Smale → 4/5
Weird Things People Say in Bookshops by Jen Campbell → 4/5
More Weird Things People Say in Bookshops by Jen Campbell → 4/5
Speaking in Bones by Kathy Reichs → 5/5
Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas → 5/5
The Silent Stars Go By by Dan Abnett → 4/5 

Jen's July 2015 Book Haul!

Left side 
Dream Cities: Colouring for mindfulness by Rosie Goodwin & Alice Chadwick 
Outlander & Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon 
Falling Kingdoms & Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes 
The Assassin's Blade, Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight & Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
White Hot Kiss, Stone Cold Touch & Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout 
Daimon, Elixir, Half-Blood & Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout 

Right side 
If I Stay & Where She Went by Gayle Forman 
Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick 
Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge 
The Strange & Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton 
Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo 
Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers 
Alienated & Invaded by Melissa Landers 
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon 
The Martian by Andy Weir 
All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr 
The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black 
The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly 

Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas

Goodreads summary:

Consumed by guilt and rage, Celaena can't bring herself to spill blood for the King of Adarlan. She must fight back...

The Immortal Queen will help her destroy the king - for a price. But as Celaena battles with her darkest memories and her heart breaks for a love that could never last, can she fulfil the bargain and head the almighty court of Terrasen? And who will stand with her?

***SPOILER WARNING***

If you have not read Throne of Glass or Crown of Midnight, this post may contain spoilers.

Heir of Fire is quite a long book, and its pace is definitely slower than Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight. There wasn’t so much mystery in this book as the previous two, but it really didn’t need it. There was more action to compensate.

Several new characters are introduced in this book, my favourite being Rowan. Rowan is a fae prince and warrior who teaches Celaena how to use her abilities properly. He starts out as quite a hard person, only speaking when needed, and giving Celaena one hell of an ass kicking whenever she tries to land a blow on him (she believed she could, and tried to prove it). Slowly, as she opens up to him, he does the same and the two realise that they are actually quite compatible together, and a friendship grows into something rather unbreakable. He is not a romantic interest for Celaena, but rather a friend to fill the gap that Nehemia has left. And it’s beautiful.

Another new character we meet is Manon and the other members of the witch clans. I really didn’t like them.  I guess this is to be expected, because they are to be the King’s pawns, but they really slowed down my progress through the book.  I found them to be quite dull and every time I came to a chapter involving these characters, I’d set the book down. Eventually, I just decided to plough my way through those chapters and just go for the remaining portion of the book.

We also meet Sorcha, who is a healer at Rifthold. She has technically been in the previous books, but was just a nobody healer until Dorian finally notices her. He befriends her, as she can mix up a tonic to keep his magic at bay. She turns into a romantic interest for him too, which I think is necessary for him to realise that he is over Celaena.

There is also a formidable new foe to worry about too. These creatures are very much like the creature Celaena and Dorian meet in the chambers below the library in Crown of Midnight, only much stronger and are killing demi-fae. Celaena’s first meeting with one forced her worst memories to surface, and to say it didn’t go well is an understatement.

Aedion is another new character. He is a soldier for the King, but is working from the inside to overthrow him. He strikes up an alliance with Chaol and they plan ways to get Dorian and Sorcha safely out of the castle, since Chaol is leaving for Anielle anyway. Aedion is the cousin of the missing heir of Terrasen (who we learn is actually Celaena in Crown of Midnight) and is striving for the day when she is finally Queen. Although quite a no-nonsense character, I found him to be likeable.

The book is divided into three plot lines, one following Celaena and Rowan, one following Chaol, Dorian and Aedion and the other following Manon and the witch clans. Celaena and Rowan are thrown into battle before setting off for the Queen’s palace, Chaol, Dorian and Aedion come face to face with the King, and the witch clans are competing for the highest rank amongst themselves to prepare for when they fight for the King.

Some of these events go well.

One does not.

Overall, this book was excellent and despite the slow going, I still give it a 5/5 rating and can’t wait for Queen of Shadows later this year!

Review: If You're Lucky by Yvonne Prinz

 

Expected Publication: October 20th 2015 by Algonquin Young Readers 

Source: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Goodreads description: 
Is Georgia’s mind playing tricks on her, or is the entire town walking into the arms of a killer who has everyone but her fooled? 

When seventeen-year-old Georgia’s brother drowns while surfing halfway around the world in Australia, she refuses to believe Lucky’s death was just bad luck. Lucky was smart. He wouldn’t have surfed in waters more dangerous than he could handle. Then a stranger named Fin arrives in False Bay, claiming to have been Lucky’s best friend. Soon Fin is working for Lucky’s father, charming Lucky’s mother, dating his girlfriend. Georgia begins to wonder: did Fin murder Lucky in order to take over his whole life?  

Determined to clear the fog from her mind in order to uncover the truth about Lucky’s death, Georgia secretly stops taking the medication that keeps away the voices in her head. Georgia is certain she’s getting closer and closer to the truth about Fin, but as she does, her mental state becomes more and more precarious, and no one seems to trust what she’s saying.

As the chilling narrative unfolds, the reader must decide whether Georgia’s descent into madness is causing her to see things that don’t exist–or to see a deadly truth that no one else can.  

---

This is a young adult mystery/suspense novel and I loved it. It started off great and just kept getting better. The plot and the writing was captivating, it was so fast paced and definitely a page turner. I finished it within a few hours because I just had to keep reading to know what would happen next. 

The main character Georgia has paranoid schizophrenia and with the help of medication, she has been able to maintain a happy and healthy life. Until her older brother Lucky dies and his friend Fin suddenly comes into their lives. I thought that Georgia was a very likeable and relatable character. I have not read many books, if any, that deal with the topic of mental illness and I thought that this book handled it well in keeping it realistic. 

Fin was also a very well written character. I suspected that something wasn’t quite right with him from the very start, partly from the hints given in the synopsis but also partly because I just didn’t like the way that he swept in and seemed to charm everyone that he met. 

The suspense and mystery aspect was very well written. I liked that the suspense was built up slowly and the fact that Georgia had schizophrenia and was not taking her medication definitely added an extra twist. For so much of the book you are kept guessing as to whether Georgia is suffering a delusional episode or if what she suspects about Fin is really true.

Overall, this was an excellent fast paced read that dealt with grieving the loss of a loved one and mental illness. I gave it a 5/5 rating and I would highly recommend it if you like mystery and suspense.

Best Quick Reads for 2015 (so far) - Mel Recommends

I’ve read quite a few short books this year, so I had the idea to pick the best ones of the bunch and put them all in one post (not in any particular order).

Troll Mountain by Matthew Reilly.

A young hero.

Barbaric monsters.

An impossible quest.

In a remote valley, a tribe of humans is being killed off by a terrible disease.

There is a rumour that the trolls of Troll Mountain have a cure for the illness: a miraculous elixir.

When Raf's sister gets sick and his tribal leaders refuse to help him, he makes a courageous decision. He sets out on his own for Troll Mountain ... to steal the elixir.

The journey to the mountain has begun ... (Goodreads summary)

Being a fantasy novel, this was right up my alley. I loved the adventure, I loved the moral to the story and I especially loved that it was so short! If you’re looking for a fantasy read that you can polish off in one evening, then this book is highly recommended!

Very Good Lives by JK Rowling

In 2008, J.K. Rowling delivered a deeply affecting commencement speech at Harvard University. Now published for the first time in book form, Very Good Lives offers J.K. Rowling’s words of wisdom for anyone at a turning point in life, asking the profound and provocative questions: How can we embrace failure? And how can we use our imagination to better both ourselves and others?

Drawing from stories of her own post-graduate years, the world-famous author addresses some of life’s most important issues with acuity and emotional force. (Goodreads summary)

Not only can she write fantasy and crime mysteries (under her pseudonym Robert Galbraith) JK Rowling writes one hell of a motivational speech! Having seen the rough end of the game of life, I felt that I could relate to this. Definitely read this if you need a pick-me-up.

Geek Drama by Holly Smale

“My name is Harriet Manners and I am a geek.”

Harriet Manners knows that the hottest observed place on earth is Furnace Creek in Death Valley. She knows that dolphins shed the top layer of their skin every two hours. And she knows just how badly auditions can go, especially when you’re a model. But she has no idea what to do when her arch-nemesis decides the school play is the perfect opportunity to humiliate her…

Can GEEK GIRL survive the bright lights of the stage? (Goodreads summary)

If you have read the Geek Girl novels (or at least the first one), then you’ll be familiar with Harriet Manners. This is a new novella that takes place between the second and third books in the Geek Girl series that offers a quick laugh and plenty of Harry Potter references. Definitely something to read in one evening.

The Ice Dragon by George RR Martin

An enchanting tale of courage and sacrifice for young readers and adults by the wildly popular George R.R. Martin, author of A Song of Ice and Fire, the series that inspired HBO's Emmy Award-winning GAME OF THRONES.

Lavish illustrations by acclaimed artist Luis Royo enrich this captivating and heartwarming story of a young girl and her dragon.

In the world of A Song of Ice and Fire the ice dragon was a creature of legend and fear, for no man had ever tamed one. When it flew overhead, it left in its wake desolate cold and frozen land. But Adara was not afraid. For Adara was a winter child, born during the worst freeze that anyone, even the Old Ones, could remember.

Adara could not remember the first time she had seen the ice dragon. It seemed that it had always been in her life, glimpsed from afar as she played in the frigid snow long after the other children had fled the cold. In her fourth year she touched it, and in her fifth year she rode upon its broad, chilled back for the first time. Then, in her seventh year, on a calm summer day, fiery dragons from the North swooped down upon the peaceful farm that was Adara's home.

And only a winter child-and the ice dragon who loved her-could save her world from utter destruction. (Goodreads summary)

From the author of A Game of Thrones, comes this delightful, illustrated children’s novel that I absolutely adore! Definitely another good read for fans of fantasy and adventure. Find my full review here.

Doctor Who: The Anti-Hero (a Time Trips story) by Stella Duffy

Arriving at the ancient Musaeum of Alexandria, the Doctor is keen to explore. He might find some new recorder music, and Jamie might discover a new porridge recipe, while Zoe will love the antiquated ideas about astrophysics. But once inside, they all find rather more than they bargained for, and it soon becomes clear they may never leave the Museaum alive… (Goodreads summary)

This is actually a short story from Time Trips, which is a collection of short Doctor Who stories, but it was available from NetGalley, so I decided to give it a go. Aimed specifically at Doctor Who fans, I love the fact that there are still stories being written for fans of the original series of the show, and not just the 2005 reboot featuring Doctors 9 through 12. So if you happen to be as much of a Doctor Who fan as I am, give this a go!

Death Note: Black Edition, Vol 1 by Tsugumi Ohba

Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects--and he's bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of his noble goal...or his life? (Goodreads summary)

By all means, you don’t have to get the Black edition specifically, but I would definitely recommend this manga for anyone who’s been looking for a good manga title to read. This volume contains chapters 1-16, so there’s plenty to keep you busy. (And the book looks hella good if you opt for the Black edition!)

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Review: The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one and the same?

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one.

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust. 

(Goodreads description)

I have to say that I liked this book a lot more than I was expecting to, because I had heard so many people say that they didn’t really like it. This book has been compared to The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins so many times, which is the main reason people give for not liking it. But I really don’t think it is as extreme as everyone makes it out to be. Yes, there were times where I could see the similarities, but not just with The Hunger Games. In fact, I could draw similarities between this book and Divergent by Veronica Roth, Legend by Marie Lu and Matched by Ally Condie. I feel that the more dystopian series that I read, the more I will be able to pick out the similar overall themes between them, but I still try to read each book for what it is without making comparisons to other books. Each series is different and unique, with its own original characters, world and plot structure.

While this seems like an interesting dystopian world to me, I feel that the world building definitely could have been more extensive. We aren’t really given too much information on the world, how it came to be this way, or on the government itself. Only that everyone is so focused on being chosen as a candidate for the Testing in order to attend the university. It also seemed like the true portrayal of the government didn’t really show until later on in the book, and it was a gradual process. We discover, as the main character does, how truly callous and dangerous the government really is.

The romance aspect also surprised me a little at first because to me, it just seemed to come from nowhere, but I really liked their relationship and how it grew. But the romance is minimal and didn’t take away from the action, which I appreciated.

I loved the character of Cia in this book (though the name itself, not so much). She was strong, determined, resourceful, had an analytical mind and definitely had that survival instinct. I really liked the way we were able to see the thinking process that went on in her mind before she came to a decision.

I also really liked Tomas, who came from the same colony as Cia and was her ally during the Testing. I still have my suspicions about him, as he is definitely hiding some secrets, but I really liked how he and Cia worked together and kept each other going.

There were quite a few characters that I did not like, but that is probably inevitable as they are expected to compete with each other to reach their ultimate goal. The one character I did single out was Will. I withheld judgement on him at the start, but as the book went on, I disliked him more and more, and as it turns out, with good reason!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The suspense was built up really well and kept me turning the pages. There were quite a few plot twists thrown in and some that definitely took me by surprise. I gave it a 4.5/5 rating and while other people may not agree with me on how this book compares to other dystopian series, I would still definitely recommend it to those who enjoy the dystopian genre.

Jen's updated 2015 Most Anticipated Releases

The majority of the books I had included in my original 2015 most anticipated releases list have since been released, so I thought I would do an updated list for the second half of the year.

Soundless by Richelle Mead

I’ve never read anything by this author before but I’ve always wanted to, after hearing how much everyone loves the Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series. But I didn’t want to start off with a long series, so this book seems perfect. I have heard some people say they didn’t really like it, but a standalone fantasy involving Chinese folklore? I definitely want to read this one.

Through the Dark by Alexandra Bracken

I have the three books in the trilogy sitting on my shelf but I am waiting for this collection of novellas to come out and then I can read them all.

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

I just keep hearing more and more good things about this series that I’ve finally caved and bought the books that are out so far and I have already pre-ordered this one.

Frozen Tides by Morgan Rhodes

This is yet another YA fantasy series that I kept hearing nothing but good things about that I caved and started buying the books because I can’t wait any longer to start reading this series.

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

This is the first book in yet another YA sci-fi dystopian series but it seems to have such an awesome futuristic space setting. According to the Goodreads description, the book is told in a series of hacked documents including emails, military files and medical reports. What else could you want in a book?

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

I have heard nothing but good things from the early reviews and it sounds like a very interesting YA contemporary so I definitely want to read this when it comes out. 

November 9 by Colleen Hoover 
I know absolutely nothing about this book, but Colleen Hoover is my newest auto-buy author. I haven't read all of her books yet, but the ones I have read were absolutely amazing so I cannot wait to get my hands on this one.

The following books were included in my original list but I am including them again because I want them so badly.

Winter by Marissa Meyer

The Game of Lives by James Dashner

Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner