Book Review - Dreams of Gods and Monster by Laini Taylor

Dreams of Gods and Monsters

(Daughter of Smoke and Bone #3)

Author: Laini Taylor

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy.

Published: April 17 2014

Pages: 613 pages (Tall Paperback) (Hodder & Stoughton)

Read: November 12 2015 - August 28 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz.

Common enemy, common cause.

When Jael's brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people.

And, perhaps, for themselves. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love.

But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz ... something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.

What power can bruise the sky?

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy. 

At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?

Book 26/65 - 2016 Goodreads Reading Challenge

Dreams of Gods and Monsters was the final book in the trilogy Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. 

I was so apprehensive to read this book. I bought it way back when the book was released. I started the book then and put it down because hell I didn't want to finish up with this world! So then I said I need to read this now and I read this so slowly... But I finally did finish this book and it was just amazing!

I can't believe I'm finished this series! Ahhh I won't have any more adventures with Karou and Akiva and Zusanne and Mik and everyone and I just need more. Crossing fingers and hoping Laini Taylor might come back to this world and write a spin off or something.

But anyhoo. This book was a perfect conclusion. It was long, action packed, questions were answered and it just concluded the trilogy so well. 

Everyone knows I adore Karou. She is high on my favourite female characters list and I just loved the way that her story concluded in this. It was just fitting. The ending was fitting for the trilogy and by damn, I love this trilogy!

And I cannot wait for Laini Taylor's new book, Strange The Dreamer, which is due to come out in March 2017. I can not wait! Because it just sounds so amazing! Like her Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy. 

Book Review - Am I Normal Yet? by Holly Bourne

Am I Normal Yet?

(The Spinster Club #1)

Author: Holly Bourne

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mental Health, Feminism.

Published: August 1 2015

Pages: 434 pages (Paperback) (Usborne)

Read: August 14 2016 - August 25 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

All Evie wants is to be normal. She’s almost off her meds and at a new college where no one knows her as the girl-who-went-crazy. She’s even going to parties and making friends. There’s only one thing left to tick off her list…

But relationships are messy – especially relationships with teenage guys. They can make any girl feel like they’re going mad. And if Evie can’t even tell her new friends Amber and Lottie the truth about herself, how will she cope when she falls in love?

Book 25/65 - 2016 Goodreads Reading Challenge

Am I Normal Yet? is the first novel in Holly Borne's companion trilogy The Spinster Club. In Am I Normal Yet? we meet our main character Evie as she tries to what she belives become 'normal'. Evie has a mental illness, OCD, which she had been labelled for in her previous school so now at a new school, at a new beginning with her medication decreasing Evie wants to be like every other sixteen year old girl and that means she wants a boyfriend. And so we follow her story. 

I met Holly Bourne last October and from hearing her talk about her books I instantly just needed to pick them up. So I bought all her books at the event because I knew from just meeting Holly Bourne and then with the hype that was surrounding this book that I would read it eventually. 

Honestly, I did put this book off for quite some time because from reading the synopsis I really thought this book wouldn't be what I have an interest in. From the blurb I got the story of a girl just looking to find a boyfriend. In no way did I think I would be so wrong about the premise of a book after reading the back of the cover. 

This book is so deep. It is such an inspiring and life changing story to read. It was incredible. I fell in love with the main character Evie and our two side characters Lottie and Amber which feature in the next two books. I was blown away by this story.

Evie's personality just made this book. I loved her wittiness. I literally fell in love with Evie. She became such a favourite character of mine. I felt so much emotions for her. 

This book left me laughing, shaking with anger, bursting into tears and smiling until there was no tomorrow. It was such an emotional roller-coaster. I really can't wait to keep continuing on with this companion trilogy and finding out what happens in Lottie's book and of course seeing more of Evie in it too. 

Yup this is definitely one of those books that I wished I had read sooner. But I'm so glad that I did read this book and all thanks to the amazingness that is the author Holly that made me pick this up in the first place. 

My Updated TBR - 11/09/2016

My Updated TBR

I just wanted to do this post as a well over mid year updated tbr for myself to compare to the tbr I made back in February 2016. 

In that TBR I had 74 books on my shelf that I had yet to read, let's see what it is now...

1. Weightless by Sarah Bannan
2. Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
3. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
4. In The Skin Of A Monster by Kathryn Baker
5. Soulmates by Holly Bourne
6. The Manifesto on How to be Interesting by Holly Bourne
7. How Hard Can Love Be? by Holly Bourne
8. What's A Girl Gotta Do? by Holly Bourne
9. The Diviners by Libba Bray
10. Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra
11. The Lost and The Found by Cat Clarke
12. The Girls by Emma Cline
13. Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
14. The Passage by Justin Cronin
15. Resist by Sarah Crossan
16. Apple and Rain by Sarah Crossan
17. All The Light We Cannot See by Anthoy Doeer
18. These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly
19. The Graces by Laure Eve
20. The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman
21. Front Lines by Michael Grant
22. Deadline by Mira Grant
23. Blackout by Mira Grant
24. Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray 
25. The Call by Peadar O Guilin
26. Shadow of the Wolf by Tim Hall
27. The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig 
28. The Appearance of Annie van Sinderen by Katherine Howe
29. Rogue by Julie Kagawa 
30. Cujo by Stephen King 
31. Pet Semetary by Stephen King 
32. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff 
33. You Know Me Well by Nina Lacour & David  Leviathan 
34. Whisper To Me by Nick Lane
35. Demon Road by Derek Landy 
36. The Lonliness of Distant Beings by Kate Ling
37. Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
38. Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
39. Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
40. Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr
41. Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr
42. Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr
43. A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin
44. A Storm of Swords PI by George R. R. Martin 
45. A Storm of Swords PII by George R. R. Martin 
46. A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin
47. A Dance With Dragons PI by George R. R. Martin
48. A Dance With Dragons PII by George R. R. Martin 
49. Did I Mention I Love You? by Estelle Maskame
50. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson 
51. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 
52. After You by Jojo Moyes
53. Uprooted by Naomi Novik
54. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
55. Zoo by James Patterson
56. Zoo 2 by James Patterson
57. Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch
58. Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes
59. Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs
60. Allegiant by Veronica Roth
61. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
62. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
63. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
64. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling
65. If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo
66. Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
67. This Savage Song by V.E Schwab
68. Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott
69. Posion Study by Maria V. Snyder
70. Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder
71. Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder
72. Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder
73. Sea Glass by Maria V. Snyder
74. Spy Glass by Maria V. Snyder
75. Allies & Assassin's by Justin Somper
76. Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater
77. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater 
78. Needlework by Deirdre Sullivan
79. An Ember In The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
80. Slated by Teri Terry
81. Book of Lies by Teri Terry
82. The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas
83. Girls on Fire by Robin Wasserman
84. Broken Sky by L.A Weatherly
85. Fragments by Dan Wells
86. Ruins by Dan Wells
87. And I Darken by Kiersten White
88. In The Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winter
89. The Last Star by Rick Yancey

My TBR has increased by 15 books since February.

48 of the 74 books are still on this TBR from February. 

Now I have decided that I want to work really hard at making my TBR 50 or less by the end of this year and that is a goal I'm hoping to keep up with. 

Have you read any of these books. If so, which ones would you recommend? :)

Book Review - The Creeper Man by Dawn Kurtagich

The Creeper Man 

Author: Dawn Kurtagich

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Horror.

Published: July 14 2016

Pages: 400 pages (Paperback) (Orion Children's Books)

Read: July 31 2016 - August 4 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

When Silla and her little sister, Nori, escape London and their abusive father, Aunt Cath's country house feels like a safe haven. Leaving the smog and fear behind, the girls have the love and freedom they never had in their violent home. But slowly, ever so slowly, things begin to unravel.

Aunt Cath locks herself in the attic and spends day and night pacing; every day the surrounding forest inches slowly towards the house; a mysterious boy appears from the enclosing wood offering friendship, and Nori claims that a man watches them from the dark forest. A man with no eyes who creeps ever closer. . .

Book 24/65 - 2016 Goodreads Reading Challenge

The Creeper Man is Dawn Kurtagich's second novel and I was highly anticipating this since I heard of its release back at the beginning of the year I think it was. 

I was blown away by The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich so I had extreme expectations for this book.

And it did not disappoint.

I love how creepy Dawn Kurtagich makes her books. Like man, the creeper man, the descriptions of this character alone had me sleeping with the lights on but that was not only the scary description in this book. 

This book was just apprehension, tension and looming dread from the very first page. I love Dawn's writing style. It is just perfect for the genre of books she writes. The disjointed, descriptive, write as the characters thinks and speaks just adds so much to the horror feeling of this novel. 

I was incredibly spooked. And I loved the characters so much that I was so scared for them and they were just incredibly fleshed out and deep that they were literally like real individual people for me and I love it when characters are like that. Everything they felt, I felt for them and I was just so invested in these characters. 

Then the ending of the novel had to be one of the biggest twists I've ever read in a novel. I was not expecting it at all. The plot of this book was incredible and that ending just made it ten times more fascinating and I was utterly shocked just finding out what was going on. Out of all the twists that I was creating in my mind, like betrayals and other weird conclusions, I never, ever, ever guessed or even had an inkling at what that ending revealed. 

This book, just like The Dead House, was stunning. The physical format, the writing, the characters, the story, the ending. Everything was just perfect and Dawn Kurtagich is now one of my auto-buy authors. I will be excitedly awaiting more book news from Dawn as I am going to read every book that she writes. Simple as.

Book Review - A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas

A Court of Mist and Fury

(A Court of Thorns and Roses #2)

Author: Sarah J Maas

Genres: New Adult, Fantasy, Faeries.

Published: May 3 2016

Pages: 624 pages (Paperback) (Bloomsbury Children's Books)

Read: June 20 2016 - July 24 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Feyre is immortal.

After rescuing her lover Tamlin from a wicked Faerie Queen, she returns to the Spring Court possessing the powers of the High Fae. But Feyre cannot forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people - nor the bargain she made with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court.

As Feyre is drawn ever deeper into Rhysand's dark web of politics and passion, war is looming and an evil far greater than any queen threatens to destroy everything Feyre has fought for. She must confront her past, embrace her gifts and decide her fate.

She must surrender her heart to heal a world torn in two.

Book 23/65 - 2016 Goodreads Reading Challenge

Dear sweet lord above! This book was just a crazy roller-coaster for my emotions. I mean crazy roller-coaster. So you can indeed expect this review to be just my crazy, jumbled thoughts all over the place too. Are you ready for the madness!!

But no need to be afraid - there will be no spoilers. Even though I'm possibly sure everyone in the world has read this novel right now. You don't know how hard it was to keep away from spoilers after the first few weeks this book was released. I literally just stayed away from all social media. And thankfully I wasn't spoiled for anything!

Now where exactly do I begin?? How about how I felt after I finished ACOTAR? Well, I, just like many others was completely happy and loved up with the idea that Tamlin and Feyre got away but I know I was one of those people that just could not forget about Rhysand. He was gorgeous and addictive in ACOTAR and now I am solely and will be forever Team Rhysand after finished A Court of Mist and Fury. I remember needing this book after finishing ACOTAR because I needed to know what would happen with that bargain and as soon as Rhysand appeared in A Court of Mist and Fury I knew he was exactly what I was waiting for.. Come on, he is just ridiculously sexy, right?? (I love him!!)

Then we got new characters into this world that just became more favourites to add to the list! The Night Court gang was just amazing. They were amazing characters and I instantly fell in love with each of them and their back stories. All so tragic, but all which made them what they are.

What I really loved more about this book was the world building and the plot behind the whole novel. There was so much more in this novel. There were so many stories and back stories of characters that came out in this book that just made this world fill out more as well as developing each character with them. And I thoroughly enjoyed that. I enjoyed being able to see past and present of this world. 

And the plot! As I mentioned above it was one the aspects that I loved about this book and boy, oh boy, the plot in this book was delicious. I found with ACOTAR, even though I loved it, it took me a while to actually get through the book but that was not the case with this one. When it wasn't action packed it was giving me the back stories and fleshing out the world and character and all the twists and turns that I didn't see coming. I think I was left shocked on so many occassions with this book when I didn't see what was coming. And hello emotional roller-coaster because these twists and turns had me shocked, frustrated, sad, betrayed, happy, devastated and everything in between. 

I really can't wait to get the next book into my hands and see what happens. That ending was just the epitome of doom. What the hell is going to happen? Book 3 is definitely going to have me fearing the survival of every single character in this novel. I have not read a series ender by Sarah J. Maas before and I just know it is going to be epic. (Yes, I know she announced 3 more books in the ACOTAR series but I believe they are going to be a spin-off centering around different characters, can't wait for that either!!)

I knew that was going to be a jumbled mess of words... good luck to all who chance at deciphering it into sometime logical....

Book Review - Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Barnard

Beautiful Broken Things

Author: Sara Barnard

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary. 

Published: February 25 2016

Pages: 322 pages (Paperback) (Macmillan Children's Books)

Read: May 29 - July 9 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

I was brave
She was reckless
We were trouble

Best friends Caddy and Rosie are inseparable. Their differences have brought them closer, but as she turns sixteen Caddy begins to wish she could be a bit more like Rosie – confident, funny and interesting. Then Suzanne comes into their lives: beautiful, damaged, exciting and mysterious, and things get a whole lot more complicated. As Suzanne’s past is revealed and her present begins to unravel, Caddy begins to see how much fun a little trouble can be. But the course of both friendship and recovery is rougher than either girl realises, and Caddy is about to learn that downward spirals have a momentum of their own.

Book 22/65 - 2016 Goodreads Reading Challenge

Isn't the cover of this book just stunning! I must admit that the cover was the reason I was drawn to this book and then I read that it was all about female friendships and I was like 'that'll do, I'm picking this up right now!' 

And I am so happy that I did pick this up because I truly enjoyed this book so much. And not in the way that 'enjoy' usually means. This book was so heartbreaking. The friendships so real, complicated and toxic. 

I enjoyed that each character was so realistic. Each had many flaws and there were times when I just sat there and thought 'what the hell are you doing?' but that is the way things are in life. We all make mistakes. Relationships, friendships, they are all complicated. There is nothing ever simple or straightforward. There is nothing ever easy. And this book portrays the hardship of a toxic friendship and how it affects both people in the friendship and others outside. 

Again, I'm just going to say it, that I enjoyed this book because of the realness behind it. Even the ending of this book didn't wrap everything up in a nice little bow. It was real! This book was such a refreshing read because of this and I would put this book in line with 'Asking For It by Louise O' Neill' simply because they are both realistic and true and don't sugarcoat hard topics. 

I will be keeping my eyes out for more novels from Sara Barnard especially after loving this book so much!