August Graphic Novel Haul

Considering the amount of graphic novels I acquired this month I thought it would be a good idea to give them their own post.

1. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson.

Nimona is a shapeshifter and also the side kick to the villainous Ballister Blackheart. Nimona and Blackheart now set out to prove that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin is not as heroic as he appears to be.

2. Wytches Volume 1 by Scott Snyder, Jock, Matt Hollingsworth, Clem Robins and David Brothers.

Rooks family move to escape an awful event and hope to start over but there is something even more awful waiting in the woods -  and it's hungry.

3. Low Volume 1 by Rick Remender and Greg Tocchini.

In this world humans have taken to living at the bottom of the ocean and haven't seen that earth for years. Now that is about to change.

4. Deadly Class Volume 1 by Rick Remender and Wes Craig.

Marcus is invited to attend a school that teaches the deal arts - killing in other words - children of the most notorious murderers, drug lords and so on attend. It's all fun and games really.

5. East of West Volume 1 by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta.

All I know is what I have seen on reviews about this one. Sci-fi western with a lot of violence.

6. Walking Dead Volume 1 by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore.

If you don't know about The Walking Dead then you've been hiding under a rock.

7. Saga Volumes 3 & 4 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples.

Basically my favourite graphic novel series ever. Sci-fi meets Romeo and Juliet.

These are the graphic novels I have acquired this month.

What have you been reading?

Katie x

August Book Haul

This was a good month for book not so much for my bank account...

1. Armada by Ernest Cline.

Zack begins dreaming about the game he has been playing recently, Armada. Even stranger his dreams start to become real.

2. Precocious by Joanna Barnard.

Fiona is reunited with a school romance which sparks an affair.

3. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey.

Aliens have invaded earth and now the humans must survive in this post apocalyptic world.

4. Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater.

The third instalment of the Raven Cycle. The Raven Boys is the first novel that details Blue's journey with the boys from Aglionby Academy otherwise known as the Raven boys. Not all of them are what they seem.

5. Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine.

This was an auto buy. Rachel Caine is one of my favourite authors and if she writes about about a library that dabbles in alchemy then of course I'm going to buy it!

6. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.

Wade Watts is not a fan of reality and therefore busies himself with the game OASIS. The game is a little more deadly than anticipated.

7. Fire Walker by Josephine Angelini.

Book two of the Worldwalker trilogy. Lily is allergic to everything but she isn't going to let it stop her from enjoying her home town. But Lily is thrust into an alternate reality after wishing she could just disappear.

8. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (Proof copy out Sept 2015)

A novel set in the Grisha world.

7. River of Ink by Helen Dennis (Proof copy out Jan 2016)

A teenage boy is found knowing nothing about himself but when given the facility to draw begins to scribble like no tomorrow. As he builds a new life his old one becomes a bit of an issue.

Those are all the books I've ended up with in August.

What books have you bought this month?

Katie x

Signed Books

Personally, as a book lover there is nothing more special than a book signed by a favourite author. I thought it might be a nice idea to share with you the signed books I have collected over the years. 

1. Armada by Ernest Cline. 

Author of the acclaimed 'Ready Player One', this book encompasses all that I enjoy sci-fi and video games!

2. A variety of the Wardstone Chronicles by Joseph Delaney. 

One of my favourite series that I talk more about here.

3. Empire of the Saviours by A.J. Dalton. 

One of the most bizarre books I have ever read. I couldn't even attempt to decipher the plot even if I tried. 

4. Half the World by Joe Abercrombie. 

The sequel to Half a King. I won't tell you the plot to this 'cause spoilers but Half a King is the story of Prince Yarvi. Yarvi has always been viewed as a disappointment in his fathers eyes but now he's trying to regain a position he didn't want to begin with. 

5. Precocious by Joanna Barnard. 

A contemporary novel in which not everyone is what they seem. 

6. Lyme Hall by Stuart Webb. 

A gothic story that tells of a young girl Rose's relationship with her father who only care that deer are disappearing from their estate and not for his daughter who is beginning to see and hear things that aren't there. 

7. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. 

Basically she's awesome. More about Ms. Maas here. 

These are all the books that I currently own that are signed in some way. 

Do you have any signed books? 

Katie x 

Review: Playlist For The Dead By Michelle Falkoff

Title: Playlist for the Dead
Author: Michelle Falkoff
Pages: 280
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 978-0-00-811066-6
Rating: 4.5/5

This contains triggers for suicide, bullying and homophobia.

A while ago I read something similar to Playlist for the dead (henceforth known as PFTD) and very much enjoyed it. That was Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher in which a set of tapes detail why a girl killed herself. In that they had a clear impact on the story. In PFTD I only wish the playlist was fully explained, rather than interpreted by the main character Sam.

Having literally just finished this book (seriously I finished it and got the camera out) the message that sticks out most for is that everyone struggles to be the person they want to be and therefore hide some aspect of it. I really like that message because to me it puts everyone on a level playing field. You shouldn't judge someone because you don't know what demons they're dealing with.

I thought the majority of the characters were brilliant. Sam, the protagonist of the book, displayed such tangible grief at the loss of his best friend you couldn't help but wish you could comfort him in some way. Astrid was probably my most favourite character as her personality did such a 360 in order for her to become the person she wanted to be. I could go on for days about these characters.

All in all PFTD got 4.5 because it was believable. Everyone felt guilt as a result of Hayden's suicide and everyone had there own little part of the story that together, didn't explain the cause of Hayden's suicide but gave some form of closure to the whole thing.

Worth a read for sure!

Katie
x

July Wrap Up

This month I expected to read a lot more than I did as I was going away on holiday. However, meeting friends on holiday somewhat scuppered that but I'm not remorseful in the slightest. So these are the books I did manage to read in the month of July.

1. Saga Volume Two - Brian K. Vaughn. 5/5

This is a graphic novel series that I am thoroughly looking forward to continuing. The story is very dynamic and encompasses all the sci-fi I could ever want to get my hands on!

2. The Sin Eater's Daughter - Melinda Salisbury. 4.5/5

Absolutely wonderful. I don't want to spoil the book but I particularly enjoyed the ending as it wasn't conventional. I suggest you read the book in order to find out what I'm on about. I thought Twylla was a wonderful character and it was nice to see her grow throughout the book into a stronger character.

3. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl - Jesse Andrews. 3/5

I enjoyed the book but was decidedly disappointed considering the amount of hype I had heard over the book. The writing style wasn't my favourite and although I found certain aspects funny I hated Greg's narration. I found him far too whiney.

4. Girl With All The Gifts - M.R. Carey. 5/5

If you haven't read this then you are missing out. It's a dystopian novel with zombies but written in such a heart wrenching way, Its absolutely wonderful. Melanie is such a likeable character and wise far beyond her years.

5. The Rats - James Herbert. 4.5/5

I don't have a physical copy of this to show as I was lent it by a lovely gent a met on holiday. A horror book based on the concept of mutated rats with a taste for human flesh. Not for the faint hearted but a cracking read!


What have you read this month?

Katie x