chelsealouise's reviews
342 reviews

4.5/5: ‘Paperweight’ is a Young Adult, Mental Health Contemporary by Meg Haston; Stephanie ‘Stevie’ Deslisle is trapped in an Eating-Disorder Treatment Centre on the dusty outskirts of the New Mexico desert. With twenty-seven days until the anniversary of brother Josh Deslisle’s death – the death she caused – Stevie intends to end her life too. Haston provides an insightful look into the minds of young people dealing with severe Eating Disorders. Paperweight is a compelling novel that gets inside the head of someone struggling with bulimia and allows the reader to understand some of the psychology and triggers of an eating disorder. While Haston’s novel revolves around Stevie, the surrounding people in her life are just as vital to the novel. Stevie pushes away close family, is dependent on her dangerous friend Eden and seeks the approval of her distant mother. She compares herself to the other girls in her treatment centre and hesitantly connects with those around her. Two of the most significant people in Stevie’s life are her brother, even after their separation, and her psychologist, “Shrink,” who shows Stevie the path to healing. Paperweight is a heavy read; dealing with important issues that are often hidden and/or are personal to the audience. I’ve never read a book that deals with issues such as eating disorders in this way and in this much depth and I was pleased that I read a book like this one because it allowed me to be transported into the mind of someone with an eating disorder to better understand what it must be like for them. The story is also told in flashbacks, which explains how and why Stevie ended up in an eating disorder treatment facility. There was a lot of mystery attached to this and that made Paperweight even more addictive. There was a lot of incentive to finish this book and uncover the mystery of what actually happened to Stevie and her brother. I liked getting to know her brother and her friend Eden. It was great for Stevie to finally realise how toxic some of the people in her life were, and this again added to her character development. The ending of this book was flawless, in my opinion. There was no ‘happily ever after’ or an epilogue that was too perfect to be true. This book ends without you really knowing exactly what Stevie is going to do and what is going to happen next. This book tackles issues of Eating Disorders, Depression, Betrayal, Death and Suicide head on and I really appreciate how these topics were written with such raw and brutal honesty. However, I feel as though this book may be triggering for someone who has an eating disorder or is recovering from one, so I advise you to read this book with caution. It is a phenomenal and vital story – Educational!

3.5: ‘I Do Not Trust You’ is a Young Adult, Mythological Fantasy by Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz; Memphis ‘M’ Engle and Ashwin ‘Ash’ Sood, two unlikely friends create an alliance to save M’s archaeological father – and the world from the Cult of the Ancient Egyptian ‘Set’. Burns and Metz devised a story of an archaeological hunt combined with fascinating mythology and daring exploits; a quest for a lost and powerful artefact. An epic journey, full of chases, ancient temples, magic and romance follow. I don’t read hieroglyphs, am unfamiliar with the worship of Set and Horus, don’t know the geography of France and have no knowledge of Sanskrit. That means I can’t speak to the accuracy of the text, the legends it describes or the settings it speaks of. Typically, in these kinds of stories, copious artistic liberties are taken, and in this novel that is especially true, since Ash can wield magic and the plot involves the possible reincarnation of a god. Those looking for a travel journal or historically accurate depiction of ancient civilizations should probably look elsewhere. However, those looking for a fast-paced, rollicking good time have come to the right place. The strongest and most enjoyable component of the tale is the relationship between M and Ash. As the title states, in the beginning, they don’t trust each other. M knows that Ash is willing to negotiate with her only because she has the map. She also knows he wants to steal it from her so he can take the map back to the Eye, which she can’t afford to let happen since it would leave her with no collateral to negotiate for her father’s life. She is rightfully wary of him yet grows to admire him as she comes to know him. I liked that even when they didn’t trust each other M and Ash treated each other with respect. I liked that they were able to talk out their differences and work as a team. This book scores high on exploits, fun and camaraderie. Ash and M visit Paris, Norway, South America, North America and a handful of other places as they decode ancient keys and go from being reluctant allies to close friends. The authors handle this all with a light, loving hand, setting the perfect tone for our adventure. The tale not only involves multiple locations but has multi-cultural stars. Ash is a twenty-two-year-old South Asian Brit and M a biracial (white/Chinese Malaysian) American. They’re very much from the cultures they were raised in. Unfortunately, the downfall arose in the repetitive nature of the travel; searching for pieces of Set and constant conflict. I Do Not Trust You is for fans of Laura Croft, Indiana Jones, James Rollins and the classic novels of Alistair MacLean – Boisterous!

3.5/5: ‘The Night Circus’ is an Adult-based Historical Fantasy by Erin Morgenstern; two powerful magicians, Prospero the Enchanter and the enigmatic MR. A.H-, groom two young proteges, Celia Bowen and Marco Alisdair, to proxy their rivalry with the exhibit of ‘Le Cirque des Rêves (The Circus of Dreams) as a stage. Morgenstern’s work is a phantasmagorical tale set in an ahistorical Victorian London; enchanting and effective, in spite of the sentimental conclusion. The patient, lucid construction of the circus – the creators, performers and followers – makes for a world of illusion beyond that of realistic fiction. There is a matter-of-factness about the magicians' magic, a consistency about the parameters of the circus world, that succeeds both in itself and as a comment upon the need for and nature of illusion in general. While the novel's occasional philosophical gestures seem glib the book enacts its worldview more satisfyingly than could any summary or statement. Rather than forcing its readers to be prisoners in someone else's imagination, Morgenstern's imaginary circus invites readers to join in an exploration of the possible. Around her protagonists, Morgenstern assembles a cast of intriguing eccentrics, including Herr Friedrick Thiessen, the clockmaker and chief circus groupie, Tsukiko the contortionist, and Poppet and Widget, the red-haired twins born on the circus's opening night. Through the movements of her characters in this sparklingly realised alternative reality, Morgenstern explores the relation between competition and collaboration, collusion and manipulation, fate and freedom. The Night Circus poses questions about the essential connection between fantasy and reality and the human need for the former for the sustenance of the latter. However, the largest criticism is pacing; the plot is character driven and therefore, it takes almost ¾ of the novel for action to strike up. It grew boresome and required large amounts of effort; hence the duration of time to complete the read. I resorted to listening to the latter half of the novel on Audible to bring draw me out of the reading slump the story brought upon. The low rating purely revolves around the structure, the story-telling needed to pick up the pace. Above all, the novel is a genuine pleasure to read. Like any successful illusion, it could be carefully unravelled; but surely, as rare as it is, it should simply be enjoyed – Dreamy!

4/5: ‘The Inexplicable Logic of My Life’ is a Young Adult, LGBT+ Contemporary by Benjamin Alire Sáenz; Salvador Silva, begins senior year with an unfamiliar fire burning within him, as the child firmly enfolded in the love of his gay adoptive father Vincente and their extended family, suddenly, every cut and insult sends Sal into a violent rage. He begins to question these minor impulses, whilst struggling with self-identity and the tragedies of loss. Sáenz is a poet as well as a novelist, his language is sharply musical. Staccato sentences form a barrier around the protagonist, at the same time as his earnest first-person narration invites the reader inside. This push and pull mirror the dance that Sal is doing with his loved ones as he struggles to reveal what's truly in his heart. It is difficult to talk too much about the plot of this book, as it follows a year-in-the-life format, using emotional battles and breakthroughs as its climactic peaks. Its true strength lies in the complex and sympathetic characters that populate Sal's world, and the way they work together to build an unconventional family. On the subject of family, it must be said that there are an awful lot of dead mums in this book. By the end, so many mothers have died that it's a little hard to keep track of whose ashes are being scattered at any given time. It feels a little excessive, to the point where at least one death was rendered almost absurd where it should have been tragic. Father figures, with the exception of Sal's adoptive dad, are also conspicuously absent, gone before they could contribute much more than DNA. It's an interesting choice in a genre that is famous for killing off and side-lining parents in creative ways so that teens can get into trouble without having a grown-up around to sort them out – but that clearly isn't the choice here. Sal's adoptive dad is a constant presence, and there are a variety of aunts and uncles orbiting around the family, ready to do the work. Here, the death and absence of parents is a litany of loss written across our characters' lives. Sáenz tackles issues of race, queerness, feminism, and poverty with a deft and gentle hand, wrapping up the things that could have made this into an "issue" book into a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. These characters feel like fully realized people, and Sáenz gives us a window into a brutal and beautiful year in their lives – Wonderful!

DNF/5: ‘Night Film’ is an Adult-based, Thriller Mystery by Marisha Pessl; Ashley Cordova, daughter of horror-film director, Stanislas Cordova, has died in possibly unpleasant circumstances – with autopsy classifying it as a ‘suicide’-case. Enter narrator, Scott McGrath, a disgraced writer deciding to investigate the case. Pessl conjures an air of mystery and dread; which plays with games of cosmetic ‘documentary’ evidence: handwritten notes, interview typescripts, missing-person reports, etcetera. Additionally, there are also screenshots of fake online articles. Regrettably, I had to DNF this novel; there are severe trigger warnings for this novel, including suicide and depression. At this period of time, my Mental Health cannot fathom it – therefore, it was the rational decision to abandon the novel until I am stable enough. However, I shall return at a later date; do not take the low-rating as a distaste for Pessl’s work; it is merely due to the difficulties in continuing forward with the deeply-emotional and chilling plot. As a postmodern horror-movie novel, Pessl has excelled in creating a truly eerie piece of literature; for avid fans of a classic murder-mystery, I highly recommend – Chilling.

3/5: ‘To Best the Boys’ is a Young Adult, Fantasy by Mary Weber; Rhen Tellur, a sixteen-year-old scientist, works desperately to find a cure to a deadly disease plagiarising her seaside town. In order to claim a scholarship prize – to increase the likelihood of discovering a cure – Rhen disguises herself as a boy to enter Mr. Holm’s labyrinth, a yearly all-male competition into Stemwick University. Weber created a Fantasy world that evokes Victorian England with an intertwine of supernatural creatures including those of Ghouls and Sirens, roaming the margin. Sadly, this time period is not confirmed, and the shift between language choice does not help to solidify the background of the world. Also, the plot and character development proceeding in a predictable manner; elements were dragged out, and the puzzles of the ‘Labyrinth’ were simple to solve – no real challenge, per se. The maze was underwhelming, as it is merely a couple of chapters long. Though, the morals and themes of women empowerment and feminism were a clear strength, in a male-dominated competition. Sadly, the foundations of the plot were solid and creative, but underdeveloped. One other criticism is the side plot regarding the Mother to Rhen, whose disease is the main motivation for her involvement in the competition. The issue is never resolved, rather the origin of the disease is the key focus – though this is a personal preference. Nevertheless, Weber has formulated an entertaining piece, a strong page-turner. The novel is a competent but, an unremarkable addition to a ‘nevertheless, she persisted’ display – Simple!

3.5/5 Stars: ‘Fable’ is a Young Adult, Adventure Fantasy by Adrienne Young; ‘Fable’, is the start of a grand, seafaring adventure, a salt-water-soaked story to delight those whose hearts belong at sea. It is the perfect whirlpool of swashbuckling action, swoon-worthy romance, and sensational world-building; Young balances realism and spectacle in creating ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’-eques vibes. The magic is subtle, and it does not feel forced or overly fantastical that draws away from the rawness of the plot. The magic enhances but is not the spotlight. For once, the romance is not cliché, no insta-love; their emotional baggage creates a safe haven shared between characters. The issue lied in the plotline; elements felt predictable and lacked oomph. For a character-driven novel our secondary characters could have benefitted from further development and insight into their involvement in the ship.

DNF/5 Stars: ‘Becoming Dinah’ is a Young Adult, Coming-of-Age Contemporary by Kit de Waal. Disclaimer: As of 2020, I shall no longer be reviewing 1-Star novels. Please do not let the low star-rating affect your decision to pick up ‘Becoming Dinah’. I may decide to pick this up again in the future.

3.5/5 Stars: ‘Serpent & Dove’ is a Young Adult, Fantasy Romance by Shelby Mahurin; ‘Serpent & Dove’ is a heart-breaking and heart-warming tale, with the power of love at its core. It is dual perspective narrative following Louise le Blanc, a Witch, and Reid Diggory, a Chasseur (or ‘Witch-Hunter’) – set in Cesarine, Fictional France. The French influence, in all aspects of ‘Serpent & Dove’ was a treat – making for a vivid and enticing atmosphere and backdrop; listening through Audiobook enhanced the French theme further. Mahurin crafted an interesting and intricate magic system as strongly as possible; but, the beginning suffered from vagueness about the system of magic, and an unproductive mystery surrounding our main female protagonist. Fortunately, it is resolved as the romance element picks up. As a clear warning for sensitive readers, there is a smouldering opposites-attract, enemies-to-lovers romance; of which, includes an explicit – consenting – sex scene, with descriptions of pain. Unfortunately, there were several occasional pacing hiccups and an easily guessable concluding twist; however, it did not disrupt the entertainment aspect. Suffice it to say, Witches, Chasseurs, and Secondary Characters come in all colours; with great development and all-round charm to round out the themes of morality and empathy. In particular, Coco and Ansel.

4.5/5 Stars: ‘The Last Magician’ is a Young Adult, Historical Fantasy by Lisa Maxwell; ‘The Last Magician’ is a twisted tale of alchemy and spell-binding magic. Insert a richly re-imagined version of 1900s New York – set during the time of Tammany Hall – and you have a feuding battle between magical factions. The past and present perspectives are interconnected in complex ways; combining secret societies; gangs; turf wars; heists; and a diverse cast. It immerses you into the world ruled by the Ortus Aurea, where people born with natural magic are scorned and fear the Brink, a wall that devours magic, resulting in death. Maxwell gives a welcome air of multi-dimensionality amongst the characters; our protagonists’, Esta and Harte, in particular, flirt and feud, and their interplay proves to be a highlight. The plot is intricate, and precise, shifting between several third-person perspectives; providing plenty of detail. It is truly a door-stopper with a total shake-up of an ending.