chroniclesofabookmum's reviews
680 reviews

“Whatever you’ve heard about Caraval it doesn’t compare to the reality. It’s more than just a game or a performance. It’s the closest you will ever find to magic in this world”

REMEMBER, IT’S ALL A GAME. WHAT HAPPENS BEYOND THIS GATE MAY FRIGHTEN OR EXCITE YOU. BUT DON’T LET ANY OF IT TRICK YOU.

Once a year the infamous Master Legend hosts Caraval – open only to those who have been invited. This year the week-long game is on Legend’s glittering Isla de los Sueños, where the winding streets are an elaborate snow-covered maze and the people are never who they seem to be.

At midnight on the first day, the show begins and the visitors become players. Each of them is vying for the coveted prize: a single wish. All they must do is unravel the mystery of Caraval. But in a game where danger hides behind every charming snake, running isn’t without kiss and their wish might be their last..

“Welcome, welcome to Caraval! The grandest show on land or by sea. Inside you will experience more wonders than what most people will see in a lifetime.You can sip magic from a cup and buy dreams in a bottle. But before you fully enter into our world, you must remember it’s all a game. What happens beyond this gate may frighten or excite you, but don’t let any of it trick you. We will try to convince you that it is real, but all of it is a performance. A world built of make believe. So while we want you to get swept away, be careful of being swept too far away. Dreams that come true can be beautiful, but they can also turn into nightmares when people won’t wake up”

I apologise for the long quote, it is just so beautiful and necessary it needed to be included. This was a re-read for me and I feel like I loved it even more second time round. This book is just so whimsical and enchanting.

The world in which Garber has created is so unique, magical and just generally fantastic. I found myself struggling to put Caraval down and wanting more and more. In fact I hardly put it down as I read it in less than 24 hours. I just can’t get enough. I want to have a go, please pick me Master Legend! Stephanie has such a way with words that you can easily put yourself into the world and live it through the characters eyes. She has such a beautiful flowery writing style, that just flows perfectly. I feel like the writing style itself really does allow you to full immerse yourself into reading the book, and the easy prose makes it an enjoyable and addictive read.

I love the dark and eery atmosphere that is portrayed within this book. With each turn of the page you are wondering whether something bad is going to happen. The violence within it can be brutal and disturbing, whilst that may not be for everybody, it definitely was for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I feel that it worked perfectly with the mysterious plot and didn’t feel forced at all.

What I really loved about this book was not knowing what was real and what was not. I could not decipher when Stephanie was messing with my emotions and when to take what she was writing as verbatim. I found that I was constantly on my toes second guessing what was going on and that is something I really enjoy in a book. I think it takes such a talent to immerse the reader that much, send them down so many different paths with different theories, convincing them that they are correct and then BAM plot twist. The last 80 or so pages, were so jam packed with twists and turns, it was fantastic and really kept me on the edge of my seat. As soon as I finished I wanted to pick up Legendary and plunge myself into this fantastic world again.

The first time I read this book I definitely did not ship Julian and Scarlett, I just spent my time eye rolling, I was not feeling it. However the second time round I really warmed to them and found myself routing for them, I have officially been converted. An opinion that didn’t change was that Scarlett annoyed me. In parts she came across as so whiny and stupid I found myself wanting to shout at her. GET ON WITH IT. Towards the end, I feel like Scarlett really came into her character and I began to really warm to her. I am looking forward to seeing her character develop in Legendary.

I am in awe with the world Stephanie Garber has created and I cannot wait to dive straight back in with Legendary. I 100% recommend that you read this book! I love it so much and I am convinced that you will too.

“Every person gets that one impossible wish, if the person wants something more than anything, and they can find a bit of magic to help them along.”

"As fantastical as Caraval might feel, the next few nights are very real. Elantine has invited us here to save the empire from her greatest fear. For centuries the fates were locked away, but now they wish to come out and play. If they regain their magic the world will never be the same, but you can help stop them by winning the game. To do this you must be clever and follow the clues to find the dark object that can destroy them forever. Once you have it, Legend will give you a prize so rare that I am not allowed to utter it here."

After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragon has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn't yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal and what Tells owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend's true name.

The only chance of uncovering Legend's identity is to win Caraval, so Tells throws herself into the legendary competition once more. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice. But now the game is asking for more. If Tella doesn't fulfil her again and deliver Legend's name, she'll lose everything she cares about - maybe even her life.

But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever.

Is it possible to find a book that is better than Caraval? I didn't think you could, however I can confirm that reading Legendary has confirmed that there is in fact a book better than Caraval. I absolutely loved reading this so much. The plot for Legendary is definitely more complex than Caraval and I think that is why I loved it so much. There were so many twists and turns that kept me on my feet, and I am not ashamed to say that half of the plot reveals I did not see coming. Caraval was such a dark and mysterious world, something that I really loved. Legendary really built on this premise and was even better.

My favourite part about Legendary is that it is in the POV of Tella instead of Scarlett. I really felt the absence of Tella in Caraval as from what we did see of her she was definitely my preferred character. Tella is so badass and sassy, I just love her so much! She is so loyal to her family and friends and I just love how brave she can be, she is not afraid to stand up for what is right and what she believes which is something I love to see in a protagonist. Tella knows what she wants and she will do anything in order to succeed in getting it, she will fight anybody that is in her way. Her personality traits displayed in the book really made me fall in love with her. If anybody wants to form a Tella fan club, let me know, I am down for that shit!

I really enjoyed learning about the history of the Fate's which is a new concept that Stephanie introduces into Legendary. My favourite being the Prince of Hearts, yes he's a villain, but he's a sexy villain and every book needs a sexy villain in their lives.

“Every good story needs a villain. But the best villains are the ones you secretly like”

I am really intrigued to find out how Garber progresses the story of the Fate's in Finale, I really would like to read more about them. It is such a creative and unique idea, that I cannot wait to see what Garber does with it.

Stephanie Garber's writing style is just beautiful. I really find that through the style that she adapts for her books I can immerse myself into the world and the characters. I can picture myself being the main protagonist and experience her story as it is being told. The descriptive language is amazing, and with Legend being set in a beautiful yet dark world I really found that I could imagine everything that was being described, I felt like I was watching the story unfold and not just reading it.

Legendary is the book in which you finally discover who legend is. Did I expect it? Yes. Did it disappoint me? Absolutely not. I feel like the reveal was done really well and made sense. It wasn't some farfetched ridiculous idea that just didn't make sense and only served the purpose of shocking the reader. No, this was expected but it still excited me and now I know who Legend is I cannot wait to see how the mysterious character progresses.

I will openly state that I am normally disappointed by the second book in the series as it is quite a slow-burn stop gap, especially in trilogies. This was not the case and I actually enjoyed this one more than Caraval even though I didn't think it was possible. You need to pick up this series and read it. It is so wonderful and I now cannot wait to read Finale!

"Not everyone gets a true ending. There are two types of endings because most people give up at the part of the story where things are worse, where the situation feels hopeless. But thats when hope is needed most. Only those who persevere can find their true endings."

SO BEAUTIFUL!

“Welcome, welcome to Caraval .. all games must come to an end”

Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun – with lives, empires and hearts at stake. There are no spectators this time: only those who will win, and those who will lose everything. Welcome, welcome to the Caraval’s Finale. All games must come to an end …

I was kindly sent this book from Hodder in exchange for an honest review. Firstly I want to say thank you to Hodder and the wonderful author Stephanie Garber for giving me an early opportunity to read this book.

I CANNOT describe the squeal/scream that came from my mouth when I opened this parcel. It was such a surprise, I am still in complete awe that I was lucky enough to receive this, I will be forever grateful to the guys at Hodder.

“Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun.”

The Caraval series is one of my favourite ever series and I did not want this to end. I will admit that I was worried that the ending would not do the two other fantastic books in the series any justice but that was NOT the case. FINALE WAS INCREDIBLE GUYS. I actually think this might be my favourite book in the series. Stephanie Garber continues with her whimsical, unique and captivating verse, entrancing the reader from the very beginning until the very end. I love her writing style, I have done since book one and this really did shine in her third and final book. I feel as if as the storyline has progressed so has Garber as an author and it is just wonderful to be able to see.

In my review of Legendary I discussed how excited I was to see the story of the Fates expanded upon and how I was intrigued to see how Garber did this. This has to be one of my favourite parts of this book. In fact, I think this is the reason Finale is my favourite book in the series. The Fates kept me on my toes throughout the whole of Finale and I love how the characters within the Fates grew throughout the plot. At times it was so dark and intense, and I think these times were my favourite. I really built a connection with some of them, whether that be love or hate, and the outcome surrounding these characters felt right, it was not forced and left me feeling satisfied.

To discuss each and every character that I loved within this review would take far too long and it feels unnecessary to do so. Just know that Tella is bad ass, the way her character grows within Finale is just amazing. I’ve loved her character from the moment that I met her, she has always been one of my favourites and this book just confirms that. I love how strong and brave she is, how she will do anything to protect those that she loves. Does anybody know if Tella is looking for a best friend? I WILL BE THAT FRIEND (in a none weird, non stalker-ish way … honest?!).

I loved the different POVs in this book, it was as if two different stories were being told. Both in which were wonderfully captivating and compelling, as a reader I was sucked in to each POV wanting more and more each time. Each POV did the plot justice, and whilst I had my absolute favourite character going into Caraval I’m not sure if I’d be able to choose if I was asked now. I love the way in which this book was written, it really did capture my attention and leave me wanting more each time.
The romances within this book were complex and they certainly kept me on my feet. I found myself rooting for one ship to suddenly decide that I didn’t want that scenario for the characters anymore and jump onto another ship. This literally happened throughout the whole of the book, I loved the development of the romances and the effect they had on my thought process throughout my time reading this. In essence, we have two love triangles on the go and just when I thought I knew what would happen with each, Stephanie would throw a curve ball and totally change my theory. It wasn’t until the end that I was given closure with these, closure in which left me shocked but also SO HAPPY.

This book took me over a week to read, is it because I didn’t enjoy it? Absolutely not. I just didn’t want to admit to myself that this was the final book and the Caraval world as I know it was going to come to an end. All good things have to come to an end at some point though, right? I was worried that I would hate the ending and I would not get the closure that I would be looking for from the final book in the trilogy. Fortunately, Stephanie proved me wrong. This was the perfect ending to a perfect series and I genuinely could not wish for more. It felt like a steady ending, Stephanie really did gradually bring this to an end in a beautiful way, at no point did this story feel rushed. Don’t be fooled, if Stephanie announced that she would be writing another book in this world (ahem, *begs*) I would be so excited. But I have accepted the fact that this is not the case, and I am okay with that.

“Every story has four parts: the beginnings, the middle, the almost-ending, and the true ending.”

And that true ending, was truly fantastic. Honestly, I am so excited for this book to come out so I can discuss it with people. I recommend each and every single one of you purchase it. If you love the series I can guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

Again, thank you so much to Hodder for sending me an advanced copy of this book. You guys have literally made my year. This was such a fantastic opportunity.

“People think that ghosts only come out at night, or on Halloween, when the world is dark and the walls are thin. But the truth is, ghosts are everywhere. In the bread aisle at your grocery store, in the middle of your grandmother’s garden, in the front seat on your bus.”

“Stories have power,” she says. “So long as you believe them.”

They’re here.

They’re watching.

Cass can pull back the Veil that separates the living from the dead.

When Cass’s parents start hosting a TV show about the world’s most haunted places, the family heads off to Edinburgh. Here, graveyards, castles and secret passageways teem with restless phantoms.

But when Cats meets a girl who shares her “gift”, she realises how much she still has to learn about the Veil – and herself. And she’ll have to learn fast. The city of ghosts is more dangerous than she ever imagined.

I can only compare my relationship with this book, to Cassidy’s relationship with the Veil – from the instant I saw it I was drew in and once I was emerged I just could not leave. Honestly, this book is brilliant. I knew from the moment I picked it up that I would love it purely based on the fact that V E Schwab is the author. I am yet to find a book of hers that I do not love. Obviously, this book is aimed at a younger audience however I am still glad that I picked it up because I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The world-building in this book was phenomenal. I feel like this aspect of writing is particularly strong for V E Schwab, every book I have read from her so far have really excelled in this area. I have always been immersed and hooked in the world that she is describing and this book was no exception. I loved the dark element of this book, and the building of the world beyond the Veil – a concept that I absolutely love. I truly loved this aspect and I found myself wanting more and more from it.

I really loved the relationship between Cassidy and Jacob. It is quite clear from the beginning that she lives a chaotic lifestyle with very little support from her parents. The flourishing relationship between her and Jacob, Jacob practically being her only friend is truly heart warming and I absolutely loved watching it develop. In general, I don’t think that I have ever believed in ghosts, however this book did get me thinking about children and their imaginary friends? I will definitely view that idea differently after reading this book. I also really enjoyed the banter between them, so many times I found myself laughing whilst reading City of Ghosts and it was mainly down to the banter between these pair. From Jacob jumping in photos to make Cass laugh, knowing that nobody else can see, to the jokes he makes towards his lack of understanding of Cass’ beloved Harry Potter.

That brings me on to another point. THERE ARE SO MANY HARRY POTTER REFERENCES MY HEART IS SO FULL. I already know how much of a super fan Schwab is of Harry Potter as I was lucky enough to attend a book signing of hers this year, but to see her incorporate her love into one of her novels is fantastic and it just made me love the book even more. I also loved the fact that this book is set in Edinburgh and Schwab did not forget to include the routes of how the story began and the magical elements that this City possesses. Honestly, the Harry Potter references in this book just solidified the fact that I loved it so much.

"Are you a fan of Harry Potter? Are you asking because I am English? No, I’m asking because it’s Harry Potter and it’s amazing. And the author wrote the books here. Well, the history of the Elephant House is contested by the locals. But I have always fancied myself as a Ravenclaw.”

I also really enjoyed the dark elements of this book, particularly the Red Raven. For a middle grade/YA book I found this fairly intense but I thoroughly enjoyed it. This might have had the desired scary effect if I was a younger reader however I absolutely was spooked and it really did get me thinking.

I definitely need more from these characters and from this world. I cannot wait for the next book to be released later in the year so I can absorb myself into this world again. Bravo, Schwab, yet again you have produced a book that I have truly loved.

“Theres a difference between wanting to stay and being too afraid to let go”

"This little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed at home, this little piggy had roast beef, this little piggy had none.

This little piggy went BOOM."

It's one of the most disturbing cases of DI Fawley has ever worked.

The Christmas holidays, and two children have just been pulled from the wreckage of their birmingham home in north Oxford. The toddler is dead, and his brother is fighting for his life.

Why were they left in the house alone? Where is their mother, and why is their father not answering his phone?

Then new evidence is uncovered, and DI Fawley's worst nightmare comes true. Because this fire wasn't an accident.

It was a murder.

And the killer is still out there ...

I am the first to admit that crime/thrillers are not my favourite genre, they used to be however I stopped reading them as I found them all the same and very easy to guess what is coming. I failed to see the mystery in them. Cara Hunter, however, is the exception to this. Cara is such a fantastic author for this genre, she is by far my favourite. When I discovered the release date for No Way Out, I knew that it had to be mine and I had to read it immediately.

Firstly, this police procedure novel is so accurate. Having first hand experience of working in a very similar environment I can confirm that Hunter has certainly done her research. Due to my close working relations with this kind of environment I always find myself critiquing the author because of their lack of knowledge and research. However Cara's research is so accurate that I did not get this feeling at all while reading this book and her other two prior to this. This appears to be very rare in the crime/thriller world so I commend Cara for this.

Throughout this book we are spoon fed the mystery gradually. Cara drops snippets of information right through to the end of the book. This allows the reader to create many different theories, which constantly changes through different periods. I think I blamed each and every character at some point in the book, in my mind on one occasion they were guilty. This would quickly change with another crumb of information, my theory would be blown out the window and again I wouldn't have a clue who it was. Whilst, I did guess partly who was guilty (obviously, I suspected everybody at some point) I did not guess the whole theory. Cara is so good at making you think you know "whodunnit", leading you into a false sense of security for you to eventually realise how wrong you really are.

I normally love a book with chapters so that I can pace my reading and ensure that I have what I think is a safe place to pause in a book. Cara does not do this, there are no specific chapters in the book. I think this is a fantastic idea for this kind of genre as it adds to the already fast pace of the book making the reader want to continue and not put the book down. Utterly, mind-blowing. What I also really enjoyed in relation to the layout of the book is the different media inputs that are included such as; press releases, fire reports, police reports and telephone calls etc. I feel like these really added to the suspense, I really appreciated them and I thought they were a brilliant way to keep the reader hooked and involved in the mystery that was unfolding.

I enjoyed how DI Fawley took a back seat within this book so we got to know the other characters in more depth. There was always the underlying plot of Adam's personal life which I enjoyed reading about. However, I also really liked getting to know other characters, understanding their personalities and how they work. I am looking forward to getting to know them further in future books. Moving back to DI Fawley briefly, I really feel like I have built up a relationship with him during the previous books especially with that of his heart breaking personal life. However, THAT ENDING. I absolutely loved that ending. I won't lie, and deny the fact I had a little tear whilst reading it. I can't wait to see how that plot develops in subsequent books.

Pushing the mystery element aside, Cara also touches on the subject of Post Natal Depression. Whilst she only touches on it, she does this in such a sensitive and delicate way that I really feel like it benefits the reader, especially those who may be suffering the same thing. The message I really got from this is that it is okay not to be okay, it is okay to put yourself first and that it is imperative that you ensure you have the support structure to allow you to get better and be yourself again.

This may well be my favourite book in the series so far and that is really saying something due to the fact I have loved each and every one of them. I was hooked from start to finish. With certain authors of this genre, once I have read one or two of their books I find that the mystery and the suspense is exactly the same which makes it easy to guess what is going to happen next. With Cara, I cannot do this, each time I pick up one of her books I get such a unique experience which is one of the things I really love about her.

I would 100% recommend this book to each and every one of you reading this. Even if this is not your preferred genre, please pick it up and give it a go. I really do not think you will regret it!

"All gentle persons of university age (respectively seventeen to nineteen) are cordially invited to test for esteemed annual scholarship given by Mr. Holm toward one fill-ride fellowship at Stemwich Men's University ... 

For All: Mr. Holm and Holm Manor bear no responsibility, liability, or legal obligation for any harm, death, or partial decapitation that may result from entering the examination Labyrinth."

The task is simple. Don a disguise. Survive the labyrinth. Best the boys.

Every year for the past fifty-four years, the residents of Pinsbury Port receive a mysterious letter inviting all eligible-aged boys to compete for an esteemed scholarship to the all-male Stemwick University. Every year, the poorer residents look to see that their names are on the list. The wealthier look to see how likely their sons are to survive. And Rhen Tellur opens it to see if she can derive which substances the ink and parchment are created from, using her father’s microscope.

In the province of Caldon, where women are trained in wifely duties and men are encouraged into collegiate education, sixteen-year-old Rhen Tellur wants nothing more than to become a scientist. As the poor of her seaside town fall prey to a deadly disease, she and her father work desperately to find a cure. But when her Mum succumbs to it as well? Rhen decides to take the future into her own hands—through the annual all-male scholarship competition.

With her cousin, Seleni, by her side, the girls don disguises and enter Mr. Holm’s labyrinth, to best the boys and claim the scholarship prize. Except not everyone’s ready for a girl who doesn’t know her place. And not everyone survives the maze.

This book came in the March 2019 Fairyloot "Favourites Box". It isn't one that I had ever heard of before and therefore was pretty apprehensive going into it. I took part in the Fairyloot read-along, which was my first and I am pleased to say that this book surprised me, I did enjoy it.

From first being introduced to Rhen I knew that she would be a character I really enjoyed watching grow. She is so brave, but sassy at the same time. I found myself laughing and crying with her numerous times, I was routing for her from beginning to end. She seems to have been through so much in her short life, however she always managed to pick herself up and start again each time she was knocked down. I really enjoyed reading about her family life and getting to know the dynamics better. I found that this really grew with me throughout the story, and whilst sad, there was such a strong and supportive family network that I just craved more and more of. If any character deserved such a wonderful and loving family it was definitely Rhen. I am a bit weird like Rhen, her fascination with corpses amazes me and made me love her even more. She had me laughing out loud so much with her being completely oblivious to other peoples thoughts about this and still discussing it out loud, even using her fascination as some kind of chat up line. Absolutely brilliant. I'll talk corpses with you any day Rhen.

Disclaimer: Due to my job I have had a lot of exposure to corpses. I am honestly not just a weirdo who loves a dead body ... honest.

I hate love triangles, I actually think it is a trope that makes me not want to pick up a particular book. If I'd have known before picking this book up that it contained elements of a love triangle, whilst subtle I would most likely have regarded it and not picked it up. I really liked reading about Rhen's love life and was really routing for one side from the beginning. I absolutely loved Lute, I think he was hands down my favourite character. Honestly, I loved him so much. Gradually finding out about his family situation and the reasons behind his actions just made my heart melt. Keep being you Lute. His love for Rhen is just beautiful, everybody needs a Lute to love them unconditionally. Many of the things he said had me emotional, he's just so damn cute. However, I actively hated Vincent, he made me frequently angry and I ended up just wanting to punch Vincent in the face. Please, if you know Vincent can you punch him on behalf of me and probably every other reader of To Best The Boys. Talking about arseholes ... Germaine, I also hate you and I would happily punch you in the face also. Who the heck does he think he is?!?!

As you can tell I have real opinions based on most of these characters and I think it is the way that Mary Weber portrays them in her book. I love her character building, it is so strong throughout the book. I felt like I had such a connection with most of the characters including those I did not particularly like. It was really nice to build up such a connection to them as I continually felt the emotions that they were confronted with, as a reader it added to my experience and enjoyment immensely.

For me, the only reason this book didn't get 5 stars was due to the world building element. I feel like the concept of this book was fantastic and whilst it was good, for me it could have been better. I felt like the majority of the book was spent building up to the labyrinth but actually not a lot of the book was in the labyrinth which for me was a shame. I felt like it was a short rushed part that I definitely would have liked to have seen more of. What I did get of the world I absolutely loved, the criticism isn't about the world in particular but I just would have loved more of it.

I would really like to see this as a series, or have more books with this kind of concept from Mary Weber. I really liked this book, it pleasantly surprised me. It was a nice, quick and easy read that I would recommend.

3.5 stars

“We all carry good and bad within us, light and dark. That is what makes us human. And remember, no matter how far into the darkness we may fall, it is never too late to seek the light.”

Firstly, welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Nocturna by Maya Motayne. The wonderful people over at Hodder and Stoughton contacted me and asked whether I would like to take part in the blog tour for this book, they sent me an ARC of Nocturna in exchange for an honest review. I just want to say a huge thank you to those over at Hodder that gave me this fantastic opportunity.

The synopsis for this book instantly drew me in and I just knew that I had to get my hands on it. The premise of a shapeshifting thief is something I certainly haven’t come across before and automatically I was hooked. I find that lately a lot of fantasy series are very much the same, the magic system and the world is so similar and I have started to avoid picking up books due to this. Nocturna appeared to me to be completely different and something very unique which is why I jumped at the opportunity to be part of this blog tour.

If you have read my reviews before you will know that I love a strong, sassy, female protagonist. Finn was definitely one of those. I absolutely loved her character from start to finish, she made me laugh so much. I found that the character building surrounding Finn was fantastic and I really felt like I got to know her the further into the book that I got. I feel that the different POVs that the author portrays whilst telling the story really helps to build that relationship further. I don’t know how I feel about Alfie, I like him but I didn’t love him. There was something missing from him that didn’t draw me in, I found that in parts he frustrated me and I before I knew it I would be rolling my eyes at some of the decisions that he made. Thank the lord for Finn aye! This isn’t a criticism of the book in the slightest, it is just my personal opinion on the character. Whilst on the topic of characters, I would have loved to have seen more of Luca who was very much present but a secondary character. I’m intrigued to see how the plot in relation to Luca develops.

The world and the magic system was very unique and I love how Maya managed to move away from typical YA Fantasy elements and put her own spin into the world. I did really enjoy this and whilst reading I didn’t automatically think of another fantasy based book which is something I find myself doing often. The only real criticism I have about this is that it was a slow burner and at times I found myself wanting more action. I suppose with it being the first in a series you can’t really expect it to be full on action packed when there is a new world, magic system and character to introduce. Maybe I am just being impatient? The whole thing just really intrigues me which means I just felt like I wanted more and more. Perhaps, I should calm down and wait for the second book. Did you know I can be very impatient? I’m working on it. It was a really easy read for me to read, which is what I enjoy most, however at points it was a little to easy for me to put down which left me slightly disappointed.

I am sold on the next book in the series and I am looking forward to seeing how the story develops. I am very excited to read more from this world and watch the magic system and characters develop.

A big thank you again to Hodder and Stoughton for giving me this opportunity and sending me out an advanced copy of Nocturna to read.

So before I go, I suppose there is only one last thing left to say …

MAGIA PARA TODOS!

Check out my blog - theanxiousbookworm.video.blog - for a bonus Q&A with William Shaw

“The thing about growing up is learning who you care for”

Welcome to my stop on the Deadland blog tour. I was kindly sent this book to review by Quercus Books and given this wonderful opportunity, thank you so much guys.

Deadland is the first William Shaw book that I have read, when I was asked to partake in this blog tour I was apprehensive as this is the second book in the series. I was reassured by the publisher that it would not matter and this book could be read as a stand-alone, I am so glad that I listened as this was such a fantastic book. Deadland is so unique compared to other crime related books that I have read in many different ways; ways in which I will discuss in this review.

This crime mystery, instead of being fast-paced was a slow burn for me. However, I feel like this was a really positive aspect of the plot. It had me hooked, I was slowly drip fed information to which I could build theories (none of which were right, might I add) gradually. In between this I was able to really get to know the characters. William does fantastically when it comes to developing characters, I felt a real connection to many of them throughout the book and it could be seen that a lot of time and care was put into them. My particular favourites were Sloth and Tap, I loved watching their friendship grow and learning about the under-class social backgrounds that they have derived from. I found it really interesting and was really eye opening to how the under priviledged lived. Never have I felt such strong emotions towards a criminal character, however these guys really pulled at my heartstrings and I absolutely loved that some of the story was told from their POV.

I also loved Ferriter as a character. A really important theme of consent in relation to sexual intercourse was explored with her character. A theme that I believe is slightly blurred within society; a big part of my work is dealing with this kind of theme and therefore I was very interested and pleased with how William portrayed this through the eyes of one of his characters. I really liked watching her develop, blaming herself to the realisation that what happened was wrong and in no way is she to blame. She was another character that I really felt for, I really enjoyed getting to know her and also eventually getting to know her background. What a strong independent female character, this really was the cherry on top of an already fantastic book. Other important themes that were touched upon within this book were critical incidents such as Grenfell and also same sex relationships. All of which I feel are very important and was humbled to see that they had a part in this story.

If all of the above is not already good enough, William Shaw is most definitely a Harry Potter fan. Throughout reading Deadland I noticed the subtle Harry Potter references. I happen to know that William is also a Hufflepuff (the best house ever), check out my Q&A at the bottom of this post for more information.

Honestly, I would really recommend that all who read this review should pick this book up. It was such a good read, something to really get your teeth into. There is so much going on and so many fantastic qualities, so much so that I am confident you will not regret picking it up. Since reading this book I have already picked up the other two books in this world so that I can dive straight back in.

“Even in the Future the Story Begins with Once Upon a Time.”

WHY HAVE I NOT PICKED UP THIS SERIES BEFORE?!?! Omg, I am hooked. I actually went into this book thinking that I would not enjoy it, but Cinder definitely proved me wrong. I loved it!

Cinder, is a Cinderella re-telling. In this version, Cinderella is a cyborg! A CYBORG. Let me reassure you, Cinder is badass. She is such a sassy, strong female character who I grew to love so much throughout the book. Also, I love that Cinder is a mechanic. Yes a female mechanic. How dare you Meyer. Absolutely brilliant, I love it when authors challenge gender norms and roles.

The romance! I generally roll my eyes at romance within books and it isn’t something that I particularly enjoy reading. BUT I definitely shipped this relationship. I found myself so connected to both characters and constantly routing for them. I am intrigued to see whether this is continued in the next few books. Even I could feel Kai charming me and I am a self confessed heartless cow. Cinder, if you’re not interested pass him my way! I would still give this book a go if you do not like romance books as it was a very subtle plot that can easily be ignored, but personally I did like reading about it.

The side plot of the deadly plague really had me hooked. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book. Obviously, I don’t enjoy the idea of the plague, that clearly came out wrong. But I did find reading this part of the book very interesting. It is deadly, and lets just say Meyer isn’t afraid to be brutal with characters you would rather stay alive. I’ll leave that with you … let that be a warning. Alternatively, I do dare you to try not to build a connection with characters in this book.

I could not put this book down. The world, the characters, and even the magical system had me hooked. I read this book in 24 hours and immediately requested the rest of the series from my local library. I may actually reread Cinder whilst I am waiting for the others to arrive. I NEED MORE FROM THIS WORLD!

I did knock a star off, maybe that’s me being harsh. However the reason that I did this was due to the fact that I guessed the plot twist at the end fairly early on within the book. It didn’t necessarily hinder my enjoyment of the book but I would have preferred to have not guessed so early on in the story.

Despite the plot twist Cinder was left on a real cliffhanger and it made me want to pick up the next book instantly. This was a book that I actually went to work thinking about, urging home time to hurry up so I can get home and finish reading the book. Unfortunately I need to wait for the rest of the series to come into my library however I am super excited to see what happens next. You can guarantee I will be binge reading these once they arrive.