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

June Wrap Up

June was a pretty good reading month for me all in all. I finished exams too which is a major bonus. So the books I read in June are as follows.

1. Saga Volume One

A brilliant fantasy graphic novel. The two main characters are Alana and Marko who hail from two waring planets. Alana is from Landfall and Marko is from Wreath - a satellite of Landfall - who wield magic. The two meet on Cleave, another planet, where Alana is assigned to guard Marko who is currently a P.O.W. Love ensues and a child is born. They are then chased around the galaxy and 'Saga details all their adventures.

The art is amazing and I love the diversity of the world. There are so many bizarre characters!

2. Seconds by Brian Lee O'Malley.

This is illustrated by the chap who did the Scott Pilgrim graphic novels which is pretty damn cool. The basic idea is that when you change one aspect of your life it has repercussions later on. The main character, Katie, finds a mushroom and note pad in which she writes what she wants to change then ingests the mushroom. She wakes up to find that what she asked for has been granted but it doesn't always work out.

I really enjoyed this. I'm pretty sure I read it in one sitting.

3. Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas.

I've fangirled about this previously in my review (here). The third book in the Throne of Glass series, simply phenomenal.

4. Assassin's Blade by Sarah J Maas.

The novella's to the Throne of Glass Series. I wouldn't recommend reading these first, but after the first novel 'Throne of Glass' I think they'd provide a lot of great back story to Celaena.

5.  The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart.

Basically, the book for young feminists. I also fangirled here.

6. The Here and Now by Anne Brashares.

Basic plot. In the future there was a plague that killed millions. These people have gone back in time to escape this but are forbidden to have any real connections to the people of that time. Failure to obey this rule means very strict punishment... like solitary confinement/death. Prenna disobeys these rules and falls in love with a human from that time that helps her uncover the cause of this blood plague carried by mosquitos. Hilarity and feels ensue.

I liked this but it took a little bit of time to get into as I felt like the beginning was somewhat slow however the end totally made up for the slow start!

7. Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira.

Beautiful! This was such a lovely read. Laurel is asked to write a letter to a dead person as an english assignment. Highly feelsy considering Laurel's sister May has just died. These letters to multiple dead people detail how Laurel copes with losing her sister and how she gains new friends.

What did you read in June?


Katie x

June Book Haul

I did some damage book wise this month...

1. Saga Volume 2

I won't go in-depth about this one as it's the second and I don't want to spoil anything. Sic-fi/fantasy graphic novel. I have given a synopsis of Volume 1 in my June wrap up ()

2. Chew Volume 1

An FDA agent named Tony Chu is a Cibopath meaning he can know the story of a piece of food by eating it. This extends to humans and this ability helps him solve crimes.

3. Nail Biter Volume 1

The Nail Biter was a notorious killer who is now helping the police to solve crimes.

4. Arena 13 by Joseph Delaney.

This was an auto buy for me. I adore Delaney's Wardstone Chronicles so I had to pick this up when I saw it.

5. Stormglass by Maria V. Snyder.

Not gonna lie I picked this up because it was £1. But it looks promising!

6. Cold Spell by Jackson Pearce

Another book in the fairytale retelling series. I believe that Cold Spell is based on The Snow Queen.

7. My Sword Hand is Singing by Marcus Sedgwick.

I saw vampires and I went for it. If I'm honest the cover got me too!

8. Love Reborn by Yvonne Woon.

Third book in the Dead Beautiful trilogy.

9. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews.

I saw this on Peruse Project and Katytastic's Youtube channel and it looked right up my alley. Greg coasts through high school being acquaintances with everyone and his closest friend is Earl. His mother then forces him to befriend a terminally ill girl. I am predicting feels.

10. The Voyage of the Basilisk by Marie Brennan.

The third book in the Memoirs of Lady Trent Series.


What books have you been buying?

Katie x

Review: The disreputable history of Frankie Landau-Banks By E. Lockhart

Title: The disreputable history of Frankie Landau-Banks
Author: E. Lockhart
Pages: 342
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Hot Key Books (2014) Hyperion Books (2008)
ISBN: 978-1-4714-0440-5
Rating:4.5/5

*Blurb taken from the back of the book*

"Frankie Landau-Banks attends one of the most privileged schools in the country. She is popular, cute and funny. Her main preoccupation is the gorgeous Matthew Livingston. But that's not all there is to Frankie. She's also smart. Then Frankie discovers Matthew has been keeping secrets from her. What will she do to get even? How far will she go? It's up to Frankie..."

One of my most favourite protagonists I have ever read. Frankie is everything that a woman should be; ambitious, intelligent and hella feisty. I think this is a brilliant novel as when you go beyond the surface it's a novel that depicts how some women are still excluded from certain aspects of society, even though they may be extremely well suited to said area of society and help further it in some way, just as Frankie does in escalating the Pranks of the Bassett Hounds and planning them with such meticulousness that it gains her a nuance of praise.

Frankie aimed to change the perception of herself, she no longer wanted the be "Bunny Rabbit" but a force to be reckoned with. Arguably, she is. I love he use of neglected positives. I believe myself to have some things in common with Frankie which is why I think I enjoyed the book so much. Having friends who can be grossly sexist is challenging, I tend to be ignored by some and when I make an intelligent point in a conversation it is met with startled looks as if to say "Hang on, you thought of this?"

Dear readers of a novel idea, as I write this post I am distinctly "gruntled" (neglected positive example 1.) I have pretzels, Vimpto and an episode of Game of Thrones to watch. I implore that you read this novel, if for no other reason than to laugh at the giant boob. (Clarification if given in disreputable history.)


Have you read this novel? Did you enjoy it, let me know!