Anticipated Reads for 2021

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Midnight Magic Blog Tour

Good morning everyone and welcome to the next stop of the Midnight Magic blog tour celebrating the release of the new book from the lovely Michelle Harrison! Author of such tales as The 13 Treasures, A Pinch of Magic and now Midnight Magic!

It gives me great pleasure today to present to you an extract from the book itself which is wonderfully illustrated and such a fun read. I read this to my niece who is nearly 3 and she loved it!

So without further ado here we go...

Isn't that delightful and doesn't it make you want to read more? Well you can - my full review is coming in the next few days and you can buy the book right now! Do go and check it out because it is a delight and children will love it!

You can also follow the tour on tomorrows stop on Story Snug!

Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis [Review]

Written by: Kat Ellis.

Published by: Penguin.

Format: Paperback.

Released: 9th July 2020.

Rating: 4/5.

Official synopsis: "Welcome to Harrow Lake. Someone's expecting you . . . Lola Nox is the daughter of a celebrated horror filmmaker - she thinks nothing can scare her. But when her father is brutally attacked in their New York apartment, she's swiftly packed off to live with a grandmother she's never met in Harrow Lake, the eerie town where her father's most iconic horror movie was shot. The locals are weirdly obsessed with the film that put their town on the map - and there are strange disappearances, which the police seem determined to explain away. And there's someone - or something - stalking her every move. The more Lola discovers about the town, the more terrifying it becomes. Because Lola's got secrets of her own. And if she can't find a way out of Harrow Lake, they might just be the death of her..."

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I will preface this review by saying I do not like scary things as a general rule. Normally books are okay as you can use your imagination to dampen it down a bit, but scary movies, no thank you... No. Thank. You. And you only have to look at the (albeit stunning) creepy cover for Harrow Lake to know that things aren't going to be all sunshine and kittens...

Lola is sent to live with her grandmother when her father (who is a successful film director...) is attacked in their own home. She has never met her grandmother, knows very little about her mother and has a strange relationship with her father who she only ever refers to by his first name. When she arrives, her bag has gone missing and so she must wear her mums old clothes something that seems to both please and annoy her grandmother. As Lola begins to explore the little town which was the setting for one of her fathers most successful films, which coincidentally starred her mother, strange things begin to happen. People look at her strange, they whisper and she begins to see that she isn't welcome. And then she learns about the urban legend of Mister Jitters and how her mother may somehow be involved...

Honestly, Harrow Lake surprised me. I went into it with an open mind, almost expecting to have to shut it and say I couldn't go any further, but I kept going and I am so glad that I did because I thoroughly enjoyed it from the very first page. It's engaging, wonderfully written and has a thriller feel to it, keeping you glued to the page wondering what on earth is going to happen next. There were a few moments that made me jump, moments that made me smile and laugh, moments that made me feel for the characters and the situation they have found themselves in. Harrow Lake has it all. I loved all the little twists and turns. 

I loved the feel of it all. The setting that seemed to be stuck in time, never evolving from the moment the cameras finished rolling whilst the film was being made. Everyone dresses old fashioned. It's classic old-school horror aesthetic. Small town. Seemingly cut off from the outside world. Secrets around every corner.

I would highly recommend you read this, even if you aren't a horror fan. It was chilling and fun at the same time and it'll have you jumping at something moving in the corner of your eye for a while after reading it too!

My thanks to Simon at Penguin for my review copy in exchange for an honest review!

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini [Review]

Written by: Christopher Paolini.

Published by: Tor.

Released: 15th September 2020.

Format: Hardback.

Rating: 5/5.

Official synopsis: Kira Navárez dreamed of life on new worlds. Now she’s awakened a nightmare... During a routine survey mission on an uncolonised planet, Kira finds an alien relic. At first she’s delighted, but elation turns to terror when the ancient dust around her begins to move. As war erupts among the stars, Kira is launched into a galaxy-spanning odyssey of discovery and transformation. First contact isn’t at all what she imagined, and events push her to the very limits of what it means to be human. While Kira faces her own horrors, Earth and its colonies stand upon the brink of annihilation. Now, Kira might be humanity’s greatest and final hope . . . 

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I have been a long time fan of Paolini, since around the time that Eldest came out and I followed the Inheritance Cycle all the way to its thrilling conclusion and have been waiting to see what he would do next. Now, nine years after the release of the last book in the series, Inheritance, we finally have our answer in To Sleep in a Sea of Stars. A book that Paolini has been talking about and teasing for several years as he went through the process of drafting and re-drafting the novel several times, often posting pictures on social media of the manuscript growing chapter by chapter.

I will admit, I am not normally a massive sci-fi fan, particularly that aimed at an adult audience, but I knew the moment that this was announced it would be a must-read for me as I had been anticipating a new Paolini book for a very long time, and from the very first page I was hooked and was well and truly along for the ride. And what a ride! For a book that clocks in at just under 900 pages I cannot explain just how much it flew by. The pacing ebbs and flows. When the book begins it doesn't really take long for the action to begin and then it kind of settles for a little while just building everything up, getting all the key players into place and then BAMN. This bad boy exploded. Quite literally. There were times where I felt like I couldn't keep up - it was relentless and I loved it. The last two parts of the book itself where simply mind-blowing. Every page would bring a new "WOW WTF THIS IS CRAZY!!!!" moment and just when you thought it was going to climax it would reach a new high and just keep going. Breathtaking.

It's difficult to really say much without spoiling the book. What I loved about it more than anything was that it wasn't what I had expected at all. I had in my head what I thought it was going to be and it just completely surprised me from the word go. I liked this as no one likes a predictable read, there's no fun in it! The book itself is quite dark in places (not just because it's in space...) but there is some humour interspersed in there too which I really liked, helped break up some of the more hard-hitting moments.

As for the characters, we obviously spend the most time with Kira, a xenobiologist who has been on a mission to help determine whether or not human colonies can be set up on a planet many, many lightyears away from the home planet, Earth. She's firey, determined, doesn't take anyones crap. I loved her. There is also a great supporting cast too. A large one at that! I did sometimes find it a little complicated to keep track of who was who and who and said what and who had done what but soon found myself getting into the rhythm. One character I particularly loved was a ship mind called Gregorovich who was a particular highlight.

I really feel like Paolini's writing has improved a lot as well. It's been several years since I read the Inheritance books (re-read, anyone?) but it just flew like in the years that he's been working on it he has really honed his craft. The action scenes were tight and so much fun to read. The quieter, more emotional moments were soft and equally enjoyable.

Overall this book was well and truly worth the wait. Breathtaking. Exhilarating. With more planned in this universe and a prequel novel already completed (according to his own live stream I watched a few weeks ago) it looks like there'll be plenty more Paolini to enjoy! I'll be here waiting!

Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman [Review]

Written by: Neal Shusterman.

Published by: Walker.

Released: 6th August 2020.

Format: Hardback.

Rating: 4/5.

Official synopsis: "Caden Bosch is on a ship that's headed for the deepest point on Earth: Challenger Deep, the southern part of the Marianas Trench. Caden Bosch is a brilliant high school student whose friends are starting to notice his odd behaviour. Caden Bosch is designated the ship's artist in residence to document the journey with images. Caden Bosch pretends to join the school track team but spends his days walking for miles, absorbed by the thoughts in his head. Caden Bosch is split between his allegiance to the captain and the allure of mutiny. Caden Bosch is torn."

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I haven't read many of Shusterman's books in all honestly. I have read Scythe, the first book in the Arc of the Scythe trilogy and I absolutely adored it and have been meaning to get around to the rest of the trilogy, I just haven't had the chance yet. But then I saw this pop up on Netgalley and the premise really drew me in and I just knew I had to read it.

I can't lie, when I first started it I was a little thrown. Mostly the book is made up of very, very short chapters that flit about from one place to another very quickly. One moment, Caden is at school, trying hard but failing to keep up with his friends conversations. The next he is aboard a ship and trying to keep up with the captains demands. I found the complete flips sometimes quite hard to wrap my head around, but once I got used to it it was okay. Once I got into it the book itself was such an intense and all consuming read that you just cannot put down. The fact that the chapters are so short only adds to this as the old "ooh, just one more chapter before bed" leaves you a little unsatisfied as they're so short it actually turned into another ten or fifteen chapters before bed... Following Caden as he struggles with his mental health is a real journey and one that I really enjoyed being along for the ride. It's a weird book because some of it makes little to no sense at all... the chapters on the pirate ship for example... Sometimes I read a few of them a couple of times thinking I'd read it so quick I had missed it, but they literally make no sense at all and I think this is intentional, as sometimes these thoughts that invade our minds make no sense either. 

It is an incredibly thought provoking read, dealing with a rage of hard hitting topics, suicide included and there are some really hard hitting moments that actually made me have to put the book down for a few moments just to compose myself to carry on. I don't profess to be a mental health expert, but there were certain aspects of this book that really hit home with me from when I was younger and some of the thoughts I had after my mum passed away. This book felt like the most realistic depiction of mental health that I have read for a while and for that I must commend Mr. Shushterman.

It was also a very poetic read, just the way it was written, the structure of some of the chapters. Once you really got into it it was very easy to get carried away.

I also saw when googling the book that Disney are making it into a film for their Disney+ service so think it will be interesting to see how they interpret and make it for a wider audience. 

Overall I really enjoyed this and would highly recommend it to others! It is out right now so do go and check it out!

My thanks to Walker/Netgalley for my review copy!

Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer [Review]

Written by: Stephenie Meyer.

Published by: Atom.

Released: 4th August 2020.

Format: Hardback.

Rating: 3/5.

Official synopsis: When Edward Cullen and Bella Swan met in Twilight, an iconic love story was born. But until now, fans have heard only Bella's side of the story. At last, readers can experience Edward's version in the long-awaited companion novel, Midnight Sun.This unforgettable tale as told through Edward's eyes takes on a new and decidedly dark twist. Meeting Bella is both the most unnerving and intriguing event he has experienced in all his years as a vampire. As we learn more fascinating details about Edward's past and the complexity of his inner thoughts, we understand why this is the defining struggle of his life. How can he justify following his heart if it means leading Bella into danger? In Midnight Sun, Stephenie Meyer transports us back to a world that has captivated millions of readers and brings us an epic novel about the profound pleasures and devastating consequences of immortal love.

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Way back in 2008 when Stephenie Meyer revealed that there had been a leak of a book she had been working on from Edwards point of view I remember being sad that we weren't going to get it anymore. We got those initial 12 chapters that she had written but she said she didn't know if she would ever return to working on it. Fast forward to 2020 when Midnight Sun was finally released! Does it add anything to the world of Twilight? Hm... marginally. There are some things that have been expanded upon. Behind the scenes knowledge so to speak.

I feel like to do a full blown review would be pointless seeing as everyone is reading it so I won't go too deep into it but I will say that I curse my FOMO. I hate missing out on the big things, big releases that I wouldn't necessarily feel the need to partake in. I mean yeah, I enjoyed the original series back in the day, but you have to admit it hasn't aged very well. And this book only showed just how creepy Edward really is. Within seconds he was thinking about ripping Bella apart, even a whole classroom full of teens just because he didn't want to leave any witnesses to his rampage... Then all of a sudden he can't decide if he wants to kill her or protect her... The obsession... it isn't cute...

The highlight of the book? Rosalie. She was ace. The rest... Meh. It was just too long. A few weeks before the release of the book I saw a video on youtube where Meyer was talking to a book tuber  back in 2019 and she said that it was long, that she had been writing it because her mum wanted it and she'd just gotten to the meadow scene and it was already longer than Twilight itself. Edward just overthinks things too much and I had to keep stopping myself from reading because it was just too much. There just wasn't enough new info to warrant 750+ pages in my opinion. If anything I feel like this has only dampened the flame that I once held for Twilight as a fifteen year old reading it for the first time.

And now there is word that there will be 2 more books to come... In the same video I mentioned earlier she said that she has plans for some books about Jacob and Renesme and I pray to god these aren't the two books she has planned because it just gets creepier, but you know my FOMO is going to make me read every single word. Argh. Why can't I just miss out for once. Argh!

It got a 3 out of 5 simply because it did bring back some nostalgia, but I didn't like it enough to go any further than that.

Date Me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye [Review]

Written by: Kevin van Whye.
Published by: Penguin Random House.
Format: Paperback.
Released: 21st May 2020.
Rating: 4/5.

Official synopsis: "Everyone at Fairvale Academy knows Bryson Keller, the super-hot soccer captain who doesn't believe in high-school relationships. They also know about the dare Bryson accepted - each week he has to date the first person who asks him out. A single school week is all anyone gets. There have been no exceptions to this. None. Until me, that is. Because brilliant Bryson Keller forgot one thing. He never said it could only be girls . . ."

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After reading two big books back to back (the angsty Midnight Sun and the balls to the walls sci-fi thriller To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini) I really wanted something a bit shorter and something fun, something cute, something contemporary, which is weird for me as I am not normally a contemporary type of guy. I'm here for fantasy and complete and utter make believe. But this book is totally what the doctor ordered and I fell head over heels in love with it! Honestly, this book is ADORABLE!

Bryson Keller is dared at a party to date the first person that asks him out every Monday at school, for one whole week. After that they are to go their separate ways and someone else has to take their place. Everyone knows about the dare. It has its own hashtag, girls queue up to get the opportunity to be Bryson's girlfriend for the week, and why wouldn't they? Handsome. Athletic. Popular. Bryson is everything the girls want. But after a disastrous morning, and with the dare affecting him, Kai decides that he wants to take a pop at the whole thing and asks Bryson out.  I mean, no one said it was just girls that could ask, right? For the next five days, Bryson is his. He's the first person that Kai has come out to (not counting his ex-best friend who did a one-eighty on him after he came out...) and he's shocked by the reception he gets. But Bryson is just being the good guy that he is, right? He's straight. Of course he is... Isn't he?

Honestly this book felt like a warm hug, apart from the moments when everything just goes wrong and even then it felt like a safe space. It made me laugh, it made my heart swell, it made me cry. Oh it made me cry, alright! Yikes. This book gave me all of the emotions and I cannot recommend it enough. The characters were all great, both Bryson and Kai themselves who were different to your standard jock/nerd pairing. Bryson isn't just a meathead like most jocks are portrayed to be. He has heart, he's kind and gentle and super-swoonworthy. Kai wants to be a writer but he isn't your stereotypical nerd. He's not too bad at sports. He has other interests. Bryson is the kind of guy you can see yourself falling for, just the little things he does, you can't help it. And Kai is the kind of guy that you feel for. You want him to have everything good in the world. And then there is the supporting cast. Kai's family were a particular highlight in particular his younger sister, Yazz. Bryson's mum and his sister. Kai's best friends Donny and Priya were great. Even the bad guys, or as they are often referred to, assholes. The sort of characters you just know from the off are horrible people.

My only problem with the book is that when I got to the end I wanted more! More, more more. I turned the page and was actually sad that it was over. Hopefully we get a sequel one day. There was so much left unresolved. The book spans just 2 weeks and there are so many questions I want answered. I need to know!

It was nice to see an own voices coming out story. The market is getting better but it still too overly saturated with the straight white female offerings which can be good but sometimes feel slightly fetishised. So it was nice to feel like you were in good hands, someone who knows exactly what they are talking about. Their lived experience. More of this please! Coming out is hard. As someone who has been there and done that, I know. 

The only reason this got a 4 and not a 5 was just that in some places it felt a little clunky and awkward, which I get in parts was due to Kai being awkward anyway, but it sometimes drew me out of the story a little bit. Sometimes the dialogue was a little too clunky and I'm not a fan of when someone is called by their full name ALL the TIME. Bryson Keller. Bryson Keller. Bryson Keller. It gave me slight flashbacks to reading The Fault In Our Stars when we were subjected to Hazel Grace Hazel Grace Hazel Grace every five seconds. We get that that is your name. Your first name will do. But that was a very small problem just one that got on my nerves slightly. But still, I adore this book and demand that you read it now. It's fun, cute, SUPER cute! I cannot recommend it enough!

I am excited to see what Kevin van Whye has in store with his next book, Nate Plus One, due in 2022. A book that is pitched as What If It's Us meets Crazy Rich Asians!

My thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy via Netgalley!

BUY FROM AMAZON UK

The Book of Snow & Silence by Zoe Marriott

Written by: Zoe Marriott.

Format: Paperback.

Released: 30th June 2020.

Rating: 4.5/5.

Official synopsis: "Fierce Princess Theoai is devastated when betrayal by her own sister destroys her chance to inherit their mother’s crown. Exiled across the sea to wed a prince she has never met, she soon finds that taking possession of her new crown will be more perilous than she could ever have imagined. The snowy realm of Silinga is rotten to the core, and Theoai’s handsome Prince is spoiled and reckless, with eyes only for the beautiful mute who washed up on the shore the day after Theoai’s arrival: Shell. But though she enchants the entire palace with her unearthly dancing, Shell is more than just a romantic rival, and against her will Theoai is drawn to her. As they both navigate the glittering, treacherous court, their relationship changes from hostility to friendship – and then to a love that will shake the very foundations of the cold kingdom that seeks to tear them apart. THE BOOK OF SNOW & SILENCE is a sweeping, Feminist novel of enchantment, ambition and, above all, love."

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The moment I saw Zoe announce this book on twitter I just knew that it was up my street. A queer retelling (of sorts) of the original Has Christian Anderson version of The Little Mermaid. Erm, yes please and thank you very much.

Princess Theoai is aboard a ship destined for her new home, the frozen world of Silinga, a far cry from her desert homeland of Yamarr, where she is to wed the Prince, the spoilt and Uldar. When disaster strikes and Theoai finds herself alone in these foreign lands, she is determined to do what it takes to get the crown. But as she finds herself more and more entertained with the mysterious mute, Shell, things will not be as easy as she had first hoped.

I really enjoyed this book and I had thought that I would. It features some of my favourite things. First off, I am a winter guy. Give me winter over summer any day of the week and I will be happy. I like it cold. I like snow and ice and so this was perfect for me. I adore The Little Mermaid both Disney and Hans Christian Andersons decidedly darker original. When I was younger, I wanted to be the actual mermaid herself so I have always loved any variation on the tale. But for it to be a queer retelling. Ugh, be still my beating heart. I love betrayal, I love the sea, I loved so much in this book that it was a pleasure to read from start to finish. 

There is a great cast of characters for you to fall in love with and also to dislike. From our narrator herself, to Shell, the Crown Prince. Captains of the ships. And the animals! They're characters too, right?! I loved the use of animals in the book. The second I saw the word orca I was sold. If you want to get me hook, line and sinker just mention orcas and I am down. And the bears. Good lord, the bears. I shall say no more. 

Zoe's writing is so fluid and rich, it was a joy to read. I felt like I was being taken along for the journey, almost as if I was there. It was that engaging and entrancing. The world is so well fleshed out and it just made sense. The different nations and their cultures. The differences between them, and indeed their similarities. It all felt so real.

I really hope that this is the beginning of something because I want more. It was so fun and enjoyable that I don't want it to stop more. Sequel? Please and thank you!

My thanks to Zoe for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me a sneak peak at this wonderful world!

It is out TODAY! Go get it. You won't regret it!

Burn by Patrick Ness [Review]

Written by: Patrick Ness.

Published by: Walker.

Released: May 2020.

Format: Hardback.

Rating: 5/5.

Official synopsis: "In 1956 Sarah Dewhurst's father shocks her by hiring a dragon to work the farm. The dragon is a smaller blue rather than the traditional larger reds, though even the reds are now scarce. When the blue dragon, Kazimir, unexpectedly saves Sarah and her friend Jason Inagawa from the attentions of the racist police deputy, Kelby, everything changes. Sarah is part of a prophecy and she must escape the clutches of Malcolm, an assassin from a Believer Cell, the dragon-worshiping cult. When Sarah, Malcolm, and Kazimir eventually converge, they are thrown into another universe, where dragons seem never to have existed. Can they save this world and the one they left?"

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I tore through this one. I knew that I would enjoy it... Come on... It's Patrick Ness for goodness sake. Can he do no wrong? But I didn't expect to love it as much as I did. 

I was sold as soon as I heard the word "dragon" mentioned when the book was announced and I have to say that this book completely exceeded my expectations, in the sense that it wasn't what I expected at all. It didn't feel so much like a fantasy as I had expected. Yes, there were fantastical elements but it all felt so real. As if it was right that the dragons were a part of our world, and why would it be questioned?

I fell in love with Sarah as a protagonist, her attitude, the way she carried herself, her ability to not let her fathers feelings of dragons influence her own. And speaking of dragons, how could you not just want more and more and more of Kazimir?

I loved that it tackles a lot of different subjects. Racism. Homophobia. There are still echoes of what happened in World War 2 and with the treat of a cold war looming, the tension is palpable. 

As ever, there is always a little weirdness to Patrick's books and I love how, much like Release there is a second story going on away from the main focus point of Sarah and the dragon. Following FBI agents Dernovich and Woolf was a ride on its own.

All in all this is one not to be missed and I thoroughly enjoyed every single second! An exhilarating read!

Hideous Beauty by William Hussey [Review]

Written by: William Hussey.
Published by: Usborne.

Format: Paperback.

Released: 28th May 2020.

Rating: 5/5.

Official synopsis: "When Dylan and Ellis’s secret relationship is exposed on social media, Dylan is forced to come out. To Dylan’s surprise they are met with support and congratulations, and an amazing reception at their highschool dance. Perhaps people aren’t as narrow-minded as he thought? But Dylan’s happiness is short-lived. Ellis suddenly becomes angry, withdrawn, and as they drive home from the dance, he loses control of the car, sending it plunging into Hunter’s Lake. Barely conscious, Dylan is pulled free of the wreck, while Ellis is left to drown. Grief-stricken, Dylan vows to discover what happened to Ellis that night and piece together the last months of his boyfriend’s life – and realises just how little he knew about the boy he loved."

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Hideous Beauty was the first book I read in 2020. I've waited this long to actually put all my thoughts together for a few reasons. 1) I don't like to review books too early before publication. And 2) Because this book held my heart so tightly I didn't even really know what to say. It has taken me a while to really collect my thoughts and to just take a deep breath and say how I feel. I love this book. 

I've followed William's career for a while now. I remember reading his debut trilogy, Witchfinder, way back when they were published and I remember enjoying them. There are reviews somewhere in the depths of this blog, and I've enjoyed everything he has published since. But with this book, there's something about it that just calls to me. I remember having a chat with Will over Twitter once saying that I thought that UKYA was seriously lacking some good gay stories. I'm not talking characters shoe-horned in to tick a quota. I'm taking full on gay stories that are proud to be there. I remember saying that I wished we had our own version of Simon VS. the Homosapien Agenda. Something that felt quintessentially British. Something that reflected, at least in parts, the British gay experience. And I feel like Hideous Beauty is a perfect example of this. 

Will's writing is so engaging and had me turning the pages so quick. I felt so drawn into the world of Dylan and Ellis that I just could not stop reading. Even when terrible, terrible things were happening I just couldn't put it down. It was so addictive it should come with a warning!

The characters are an absolute mixed bag. We have lovable characters, characters you love to hate, characters that you literally want to gag when they come up on the page because you know someone exactly like them in real life and you cannot stand them. I loved this. No one felt like they had been shoe-horned in. It all felt so real and natural. The typical popular girl at school who is a bit of a bitch. The dumb brother who just can't help but say stupid things. The best friend who is always there, even when they have their own stuff going on. William did such a good job of giving everyone the right amount of page time and fleshing them out. But enough of the back up dancers, let's get to the boys themselves!

Dylan is gay, but he isn't ready to tell the world yet. He's met El, and things are going great, better than great, until he's outed and forced to reveal something that should have been on his own terms, when he was ready. When tragedy strikes, and Dylan's life is changed forever, the book transforms into a mystery thriller that will have you desperate to find out just what the hell is going on! I saw a lot of myself in Dylan. Timid, always the one to hide in the back or in the library just letting everyone else get on with their lives while I have my head stuck in a book. Scared of what people might think about me, trying to draw as little attention to myself as possible.

El. Oh God. Wonderful, charismatic, loud and proud El. I, much like Dylan, fell for this boy from the very beginning. There is just something about him, maybe his air of mystery, that just makes you gravitate towards him. Like no matter what happens, when you're with him, you're safe.

Page 93. That's all I need to say. Page 93. If you know, you know. This particular page had me sobbing and I remember messaging Will when I read it and thanking him. Thanking him for showing me that someone else understood something that I had felt myself. Just, when you read, you'll know. 

As the book progresses it becomes more and more heart in your mouth, gut-wrenchingly good. And that last chapter. I mean, I cried quite a few times reading this book and I'm not ashamed to admit it. One thing I really appreciated was the darkness in the book. I don't mean to sound like I'm insane, but what I mean is sometimes YA can be too fluffy and I'm so glad that Hideous Beauty has this grittiness to it. It deals with some pretty dark themes that I felt just made it all the more real. No ferris wheels here, boys and girls!

Personally, I really struggled with coming to terms with my sexuality, both in my teen years and right up until I came out at 21. Sometimes I still do. This book made me feel so many emotions, made me think about so many different scenarios in my own life where I could have done things differently, where I could maybe have been a little braver, just like Dylan. Just like El. That is the beauty of a good book. Yes, it takes you away from your own life and takes you into a world that isn't your own, but it also makes you think about your own life, how you see the world. It's a magical experience and one I am so glad to have had with reading this book. Thank you Will! Books like this would have made all the difference to my fourteen year old self and I really hope that it helps some kids today in ways they might never have had otherwise.

I know this review has been a little but of a ramble, but I have so many thoughts and feelings that I could literally sit here all day and just gush about this wonderful book. I cannot recommend it enough and I cannot thank Will enough for such a wonderful, wonderful read. It was exactly what I needed, when I needed it and I cannot wait for others to share on this amazing journey and I cannot wait to reread it and live it all again, even the tears. 

Hideous Beauty is out now!

Viper's Daugher by Michelle Paver [Review]

Written by: Michelle Paver.
Published by: Head of Zeus.
Format: Hardback.
Released: 2nd April 2020.
Rating: 5/5.

Official synopsis: "For two summers Torak and Renn have been living in the Forest with their faithful pack-brother, Wolf. But their happiness is shattered when Renn realizes Torak is in danger - and she's the threat. When she mysteriously disappears, Torak and Wolf brave the Far North to find her. At the mercy of the Sea Mother and haunted by ravenous ice bears, their quest leads them to the Edge of the World. There they must face an enemy more evil than any they've encountered. Viper's Daughter plunges you back into the Stone-Age world of Torak, Renn and Wolf: a world of demons, Hidden People and exhilarating adventure which has entranced millions of readers."

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Anyone that knows me at all knows that I am a Michelle Paver stan. That's right. Not a fan. A stan. If she released her shopping lists, bound together with a cover, I'd buy it and read it again, and again. Since 2004 when I first read Wolf Brother, the first book in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series, I haven't looked back and haven't missed a single book that has been released... She's my fave, basically...

So you can imagine the excitement I felt when last year, Michelle announced that there wouldn't be just one, but three, yes THREE, brand new books in the series, taking the total from six, to nine. It had long been teased, and Michelle had said time and time again that she would never say never and that if the ideas came to her then she would of course love to revisit the world of the Forest, and go on adventures again with the lovable Torak, Renn, Wolf and the whole ensemble. And by God I'm glad she had the right ideas because reading this was like stepping back in time (well, obviously it is set 6,000 years ago...) to being that kid again so in awe. 

Reading it felt like coming home. You see, I had a rough patch when I read the series the first time. Most of us do. Adolescence... Ugh... But the books were a constant for me. Somewhere I could escape and feel free, and it didn't matter what was going on in the outside world. I was with Torak, Renn and Wolf, and we, together, fought the Soul-Eater's and the demons of the Forest. Then, when my mum passed away in 2016, I reread the series three times and each time I felt more and more like the me I had been before. 

The moment I picked this book up, I took a deep breath, and I won't lie, I was scared... I had been waiting for this moment for ten years (since the last book, Ghost Hunter was published...). What if it wasn't good. What if it, like a lot of series revisits, just soured what was originally there? I needn't have worried because from the first page I was there. It was back, and oh my, it was magical! I felt like I was home and it was an emotional moment for me!

Despite the fact that she has been away from the world for the best part of a decade, the characters feel as rich as they ever did. Torak is still as head strong as he was in Ghost Hunter, Renn is still as stubborn and Wolf is as lovable as he has ever been in the series. It was so nice to see the characters that we fell in love with in the first place, plus a whole array of new characters, both human and otherwise... We meet clans that we haven't met previously and getting to see their different views and way of living was very interesting. The mixture of cultures within the series was always something I really loved.

And the twist... There is a twist. Who doesn't love a twist? I didn't see it coming and when it hit me I gasped and actually had to put the book down and take a breather for a moment of two before continuing on. The climatic scenes were exhilarating and took the book towards a very satisfying end that leaves you desperate for more, and thank the Guardian's there are still two more to come, so thankfully we get more!

As magical and exciting as ever, her writing more crisp and exciting than ever, Michelle has breathed new life into her own series ready for a new generation of avid readers to fall in love the exact same way that I did. I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us in Book 8, Skintaker, and Book 9!

My thanks to the lovely people at Zephyr for my copy, and to Michelle for signing it. There's a reason your my favourite because as well as being a great writer, you're a lovely person too!

Wranglestone blog tour!

I am so happy and honoured today to be hosting a stop on the Wranglestone blog tour to celebrate the release of the book of the same name by Darren Charlton! It’s been one of my most anticipated books for a while now and a review is on the way, but today it’s all about Darren and a letter to his younger self! Take it away, Darren!

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Dear Darren, 

Now, you won’t know this whilst you’re busy bumbling around school being the subplot, the sidekick or the GBF (before such a thing even existed), to all your friends. You won’t know that whilst they’re experiencing their first loves and get to see the rest of the whole wide world mirror their own experiences back to them in books, (Heathcliff and Cathy) TV (Charlene and Scott) and film (Han and Leia), that your time will come. Not only will you go on to experience all those things for yourself, but you’ll go on to write about them too, and have them turned into a book.

More than that, this book, with its two loved-up boys living in a crazy world of dangerous monsters and even more dangerous grown-ups, will also find its way into some schools and some children’s lives. I know. This is unimaginable, right? Because where you are right now, such books not only don’t even exist yet but would be illegal even if they did. 

So, hold on. You will lose all that weight. You will go on to university despite failing your A levels twice because you fought for a place down the telephone, and you will go on with that ‘useless’ 2:1 English Literature and Theatre studies degree to have a creative life. And maybe the best kind, too.

You’re going to be a storyteller giving teenagers like you, something you’ll never have, a book that might just have helped you on your way. A story with two boys who love each other very much. 

But you will go bald! By 24. (sorry) 

Love, 

darren x 

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It’s so nice to think about the advice we’d give our younger selves now knowing what we know. My advice to my younger self would be don’t be such a push over and stop being so scared all the time. What would your advice to your younger self be?

Wranglestone is out right now and you’d be doing yourself a real injustice if you didn’t go out and get yourself a copy!