Unelmoija: The Mindshifter

***

3 Stars/5

Thanks to Elle Boca for giving me this book to review.

Amy, along with her college friends Krissa and Lilly, are going to South Beach for a well-deserved girl’s weekend, but everything goes wrong when Lilly goes missing. Amy and Krissa pick up the trail from a nightclub to find out what happened to Lilly and to rescue her, but they had no idea they were entering a world of slavers and trafficking. Amy is helped by a group of people who are trying to stop the slavers but the leader is not someone she was expecting. Time is running out to save Lilly before she disappears and only Amy’s powers might be able to rescue her in time.

Unelmoija: The Mindshifter is the second book in the Weeia series and is a likeable novel. While still fast paced like the first book, it was much darker and has a more serious tone. However, also like the first book I felt Amy’s past was not fully explained and it was talked about like it was normal for you and your mum to be kidnapped and your sister to be missing.

Amy has grown since the first book as she is more sure of herself and comfortable with her powers but is still the same girl. I wish that Duncan was in this book more as he was my favourite character from the last book. The leader of the people fighting against the slavers (cannot say their name because of spoilers) annoyed my as they were just a bit too perfect and was good at everything. Another annoying thing with this book is the dissing of the police as the police, at least in the UK I cannot talk for other countries, try their best and while there are some bad ones, the vast majority want to help people.

Unelmoija: The Mindshifter was an enjoyable book and I would recommend to fans of the first book Unelmoija: The Dreamshifer. 

Unelmoija: The Dreamshifter

***

3 Stars/5

Thanks to Elle Boca for giving me this book to review.

Amy has recently discovered she has powers but she does not know how to control them and has no idea how she has them. When going for a jog on the beaches of Miami she meets a mysterious man who claims to be her father and a young man called Duncan, they say that she is part of a people called Weeia and that she is a Dreamshifter. With people wanting to kill her will she be able to master her skills in time?

Unelmoija: The Dreamshifer is an enjoyable paranormal book which is fairly light and very fast paced. However, the main problem I had with this book is that it felt like I was halfway through the story and nothing from the past was fully explained, such as such as Amy and her mother being kidnapped and Amy’s sister being missing, it was talked about like we the readers already knew what had happened.

Amy is an active, witty and likeable character who does not know who to trust and is confused about her powers. I liked Duncan as he is a protective and funny guy who can be sarcastic but also sweet. However, I did get a bit bored of the food scenes as it did get a bit repetitive.

I liked this book and am looking forward to reading the next one, Unelmoija: The Mindshifter. I would recommend Unelmoija: The Dreamshifter to fans of YA paranormal books. 

The Temple of Doubt

*

1 Star/5

Thanks to Edelweiss and Sky Pony Press for giving me this book to review.

Hadara’s life changes when a falling star crashes near her home in the off-limits wilds, where she and her mother pick illegal herbs to heal people, which is believed to be heresy. Two powerful priests arrive to investigate the star as they think it is a demon come to try and destroy the God Nihil. Hadara and her mother are chosen to be guides in the wilds but Hadara doubts the truth she has been taught about the sacred and profane.

The Temple of Doubt has an interesting story concept but I just could not get into it. It seemed to story moved along slowly which might have contributed to me not getting into it.

Hadara is an ok character as she is feisty and rebels against her way of life. However, I found her crush very shallow and irritating because she hardly knew the bloke and because he did not rape her does not mean that he is a good person and love interest. Most of the other characters I did not feel much for, one way or another.

The Temple of Doubt is an interesting idea but I could not get into it and stopped at 58%. 

Of Ice and Snow

****

4 Stars/5

Thanks to Amber Argyle for giving me this book to review. Of Ice and Snow is part of Daring Hearts compilation, I have not read the rest yet but I hope to soon.

Otec has always been the overlooked son of an overflowing house. When a young woman, Matka, one of the highmen staying in his village, wants to look for a plant, he is happy to help. When he is away, his home is attacked he must find a way to save his family but can he trust Matka as he is not sure if she is friend or foe. Is Otec willing to become the leader he never thought he would be.

I really enjoyed Of Ice and Snow, the prequel novella to Winter Queen as it tells us of how Ilyenna’s parents met. It is fast paced and full of action and Amber wrote from a male POV well.

I really liked Otec as he feels like he is the useless son who is not good enough, but he is brave, kind and very protective of his family. I liked Matka as she is willing to help people she doesn’t really know but I would have liked some chapters from her POV as it would have helped getting to know her better.

I really liked this prequel novella and I hope to read the rest of Daring Hearts soon. I would recommend Of Ice and Snow to fans of Winter Queen or any of Amber Argyle’s other books.

The Season of Lightning

****

4 Stars/5

Thanks to Xpresso Book Tours for giving me this book to review.

                                                 

Verity is the only daughter of a well-known retired general and plantation owner. She has lived a relatively happy life with her free Silvras companion Trilly and the annoying nobleman Lord Roth. However, trouble is stirring when a masked vigilante who is called the Hawk wants to free the Silvras, the oppressed lower class. Everything Verity thought she knew is turned upside down and she finally sees the injustices in her land but is she able to right them?

The Season of Lightning is a very enjoyable fantasy novel with good world building. It is fast paced and I couldn’t put it down and has a slow romance but I did enjoy the love/hate relationship. I can see the hints of Austin’s Emma but I couldn’t see Robin Hood in it as it was more about revolution, than stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Also I did not understand the title of this book as it did not relate to the story.

Verity grows up a lot in the book and she is a kind, loyal and fiery person who is constrained by the society she lives in and what is expected of her. I really like Roth as he is charming and intelligent, he also has strong ideals and challenges Verity. I guessed who the Hawk was from near the beginning, but he is an interesting character.

I really liked this book and I look forward to reading more books from Kate Avery Ellison. I would recommend The Season of Lightning to fans of The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski and the Secrets of Itlantis by Kate Avery Ellison. 

Spindle

**

2 Stars/5

Thanks to W R Gingell for giving me this book to review.

Poly has been woken by a kiss after she has been asleep for 300 years, but the man who woke her, Luck is not a prince but then Poly isn’t a princess either. Poly cannot figure out who would want to curse her and why, why she has no memories of the day she went to sleep and how come her hair keeps on growing at an extraordinary rate. With someone trying to kill her and Luck, will Poly be able to figure out why she was cursed in time. As poly discovers breaking the curse is just the beginning of the story.

Spindle has an interesting twist on the sleeping beauty story but I felt the plot and writing was a bit too complex and it was sometimes hard to keep things straight. I think part of this was that it was very slow and I felt some points were not properly explained. It had lots of twists and some romance.

Poly is a smart, sensible girl who adapts well to new situations and is kind. I think some of my confusion is from Luck as he is all over the place, is an enigma and I had no idea what he was thinking.

Spindle is an ok book with an interesting story idea but I found it a bit too confusing. I would recommend Spindle to fans of W R Gingell other books. 

The Corridor

***

3 Stars/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Alloy Entertainment for giving me this book to review.

The Corridor, which is a portal to a parallel earth, which is called second earth, appeared 17 years ago. The Corridor almost destroyed second earth and has humans called Mods who have powers. Estele has lived near the Corridor all her life but when it fluctuates near her, she discovers she has a dangerous power to open portals, not just to second earth but other earths. When the Corridor starts to fail, Estele has to somehow save her earth, with the help of an escaped Mod and an arrogant man from another earth, they have to find a way to stabilise the Corridor before it is too late and everyone she has known is destroyed.

The Corridor is an enjoyable YA sci-fi novel, with an interesting idea of the parallel earths and has some romance, twists and some action. It was a bit slow paced at the beginning but it does pick up, however, it is not helped with the book skipping the 6 months when Estele is experimenting with her new powers.

I liked Estele as she was a strong lead who is self-reliant as she did not turn to anyone when she developed her powers and wants to belong. However, she was not as strong as Ana who is haunted by guilt but is still feisty and adaptable. I really liked the romance in this as it was not the first guy we met and Estele was interested in.

I liked this book and I am looking forward to reading the next book The Thirteenth World. I would recommend this to fans of YA sci-fi fans. 

Darkhaven

****

4 Stars/5

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for giving me this book to review.

Ayla Nightshade never wanted to be the heir of Darkhaven as her half-brother Myrren was meant to rule but because he does not have the ability to shift, she is forced to take his place. Things are bad for Ayla when a shifter attacks a priestess and she is imprisoned as a suspect, but thing get worse when on the night Myrran frees her, their father is murdered by the same creature and Ayla is now a traitor. With the help of disgraced soldier, Tomas, Ayla is determined to prove her innocence, discover the shifters identity and find out the secret her father is hiding but will they solve the murder in time.

Darkhaven is a really enjoyable which has fantasy and steampunk elements to it and different POV. It is fast paced, dark, full of twists and surprises and interesting characters. The idea of the shifters and the different forms they can be.

Ayla is a likeable character who is looked down on from almost everyone but is willing to stand her ground, however she did act like a damsel in distress a lot of the time. I also liked Myrren as he loves his sister and believes in her but also has a sense duty and honour. Tomas Caraway is a brave person who is looking for redemption and I think he is my favourite character in this book.

This is a really good book and I am looking forward to reading more from this author and hopefully another book in this world. I would recommend Darkhaven to fans of Nihal by Licia Troisi and Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson.

Liebster Award!

I am really happy as I have just been awarded my first ever Liebster Award! Thanks to Tea, Book & Me for nominating me!!!

The rules are: 

My questions to answer are:

1.    What is that one quote which identifies you as a Bookwyrm? Explain its significance.

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” George R. R. Martin.

I identify with this as I feel that books are an escape from reality, as you get to experience other’s life.

2.    Do you like the smell of ancient books more so than the newly fresh one you just bought?

No, I love the smell of fresh books, as it reminds me of bookstores.

3.    Hardcover? Paperback? Or ebooks?

I used to prefer paperbacks but now I love ebooks as they are so easy to get and you can discover new authors.

4.    If you love a book, would you want it to be adapted into a film? Why or why not?

If they can do a good job like with The Hunger Games, yes, but if they can’t then I would they rather they not ruin it.

5.    Hot chocolate? Tea? Coffee? Water? Which would be your favourite go-to during winter?

A nice cuppa tea (typically English).

6.    Do you ever feel bad for the trees, based on the amount of books you see in the library, bookshops, on your bookshelf’s or even just in general?

If you ask anyone I know, I feel guilty about everything, but most publishers nowadays are good at replanting trees they use, so mostly not.

7.    If an author allows you to rewrite a novel he/she has written. Which would it be? Why? What would you have changed?

I would have to change the ending of The High Lord by Trudi Canavan because it makes no sense the decision Akkarin and Sonea made and then no sacrifice would have had to be made (sorry can’t go into more detail without spoilers).

8.    List the top 5 fictional characters which you would love to have as your best friends?

In no particular order

1.    Susan Death from the Discworld series

2.    Connor Drake from the Drake Chronicles

3.    Luna Lovegood from the Harry Potter series

4.    Joker from the Mass Effect games

5.    Sydney Sage from the Bloodlines series

9.    If an apocalypse is about to happen, what would you do to your books?

I love my books but I would probably ignore them and pack survival stuff but I might take along some of my dad’s outdoor survival books.

10. If you were to publish a book, unfortunately you’re going to anger either the editor or the illustrator, in which you would end up with either a fantastic blurb, but with an awkward front cover or vice versa. Tick tock time to choose?

If was a paper book then I would prefer the good cover but if it is an ebook then I would want a good blurb.

11 random facts about me are:

1.    I name my pets after book/film characters for example Indiana, Merry and Pippin.

2.    I always write stuff down before I type it out (including this)

3.    I have phobias of roller-coasters and flying

4.    I am doing a degree in psychology with The OU

5.    Even though I like his quote, I have never read any of the A Song of Fire of Ice books and I only just started watching Game of Thrones a month ago

6.    I like playing RPG video games

7.    I didn’t start reading for fun until I was 16, before that I hated books and reading

8.    I have dyslexia

9.    I like baking cakes

10. I am really shy especially around people I don’t know well

11. I’m very weird, as I enjoy filing and organising

The 5 bloggers I am nominating are:

A Book Paradise

Books and Stars

Enchanted by YA

Literary-ly Obsessed 

My Book Addiction

My 11 questions to you are:

1.    What is your favourite book/series?

2.    Which country, apart from the one you live in, would you chose to live in?

3.    Which book do you love which most people have not heard of?

4.    Where do you do most of your reading?

5.    Which would you choose out of going into a book or bring a character out of a book? Which book/character would you choose?

6.    Who is your favourite villain?

7.    What do you think your patronus would be?

8.    Which character do you think is the most similar to yourself?

9.    Which pre-order book are you most looking forward to?

10. Do you prefer books which are standalone or series?

11. If you could date one fictional character who would it be and why?

Thank you!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

*****

5 Stars/5

Warning, this review has spoilers for this book and the entire series.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the final brilliant book in the Harry Potter series and it answers all the question raised in the previous books but still leaves us wanting more. This is different from all the other books as the war has been lost and Hogwarts is not the main setting of the story. While this is the most adult book in the series, the series does still feel innocent especially as the characters do not think like most teenagers.

These books have all been about how love triumphs all and that death is not the end but the beginning of a new story. Unfortunately, it was obvious that the Deathly Hallows were added just to this book as there was no references to them in previous books unlike the Horcruxes. One thing I have never liked in this series is the labelling of Slytherin students as evil, as just because they are cunning and ambitious does not mean they will all turn into Death Eaters. Is it bad that I was more upset over Hedwig dying than Moody’s death?

I always felt that Harry should have died at the end of this series for two reasons, firstly then Rowling would not have been pressured to write more in the series, and secondly it felt like Harry’s entire life was destined to stopping Voldemort and, like Frodo in The Lord of the Rings, I am not sure he would have been able to move and carry on with his life without a purpose. I also really liked Neville’s development over the series as he has gained confidence and has become the person he was meant to be.

I love Ron and Hermione’s relationship and when I first read this book when I was younger, I was hoping that they would end up together but now I feel that with the amount of time they spent together without acting on their feelings they would have been stuck in the friend zone. Snape is one of the most interesting and complex characters and I loved learning more about his past. I also liked hearing about Dumbledore’s darker past which I feels humanises him. I guessed what was going to happen to Lupin and Tonks in this book after Harry was named Godfather, as I could tell that Ted’s situation would mirror Harry’s.

When I first read this series I thought the ending would have been about Hogwarts and maybe Harry and Voldemort’s links to the houses or that Neville was actually the chosen one. After I finished this book when it originally came out I felt like my childhood had ended as I had grown up with these characters and even now 8 years later I also got the same feeling. I would recommend the entire Harry Potter series to everyone, even those who have watched the films as they don’t have the magic of the books.

All was well.