kellysrambles's reviews
605 reviews

The Fury by Alex Michaelides

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adventurous mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I flew through this book: it is fast-paced, extremely readable and has a host of characters which I mostly loathed (but in a good way?). I was very intrigued by the murder mystery and enjoyed the few twists and turns that the plot took along the way. 

I really like an unreliable narrator and also enjoyed the relatively light-hearted way in which this book is narrated. It made it a breeze to read and had me questioning what exactly was going on. 

It may not have blown my mind in a way I would have liked but it was definitely an enjoyable thriller! 

Thank you to Michael Joseph, Alex Michaelides and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest review. 
Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

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adventurous emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

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emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Fights That Make Us by Sarah Hagger-Holt

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challenging informative inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

šŸŒˆ  The Fights That Make Us by Sarah Hagger-Holt šŸŒˆ

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This book had both rage and joy coursing through my veins. An important read for young people who may never have heard of Section 28 nor be aware of its impact. Eye-opening maybe for those who do not realise that this fight still continues for those of us who identify as LGBTQ+. 

Jesseā€™s passion for their exhibition is inspiring and the only real downside for me is that I canā€™t see it for myself! Jesseā€™s parents are brilliant and their friendship with Simran really warmed my heart. 

I particularly enjoyed how this flirted back and forth between Jesse and Lisaā€™s timelines which really allowed the reader to draw comparisons and similarities between their stories. 

ā€œChange only happens if you do something to make it happenā€

An inspiring, thought-provoking read that Iā€™ll want to throw into the hands of all the young people I teach. 

Thank you to Usborne, Sarah Hagger-Holt and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest review. 
A Cruel Twist of Fate by H.F. Askwith

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
33% read and I realised Iā€™m not at all interested in what is going on and I keep putting it down. Not for me at this time. 
So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
15% into the book and I found myself constantly checking how much Iā€™d read - which isnā€™t a good sign. 

Iā€™m certain this book will be popular but for me there is too much going on and I donā€™t feel like I know what is happening, where itā€™s happening or who the characters are. Maybe Iā€™ll return to it one day but for now itā€™s not for me. 
Echostar by Melinda Salisbury

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dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Echostar is a frightening glimpse at the ever real world of AI and technology and the dangerous influence they can have on a person. 

When Deva initially tells Ruby about Echostar, Ruby feels betrayed by her best friend for cheating and not telling her about it. When Ruby turns to Echostar for help, she couldnā€™t possibly imagine where its use would lead her. A frightening set of events culminate in an explosive ending showing the damaging impact this kind of technology can have on someoneā€™s life - especially a vulnerable child. The end of the story sent a little shiver down my spine! 

A Black Mirror-esque short story which a huge impact and a story which will stick with me as our reality becomes more and more influenced and controlled by technology. 

Thank you to Barrington Stoke, Melinda Salisbury and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest review. 
Faebound by Saara El-Arifi

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Faebound is a romantic fantasy brimming with magic, prophecy and romance. It has everything I love about a fantasy: heaps of magic, its own mythology, animal companions, friendships, frenemies, twists and turns all topped off with a burning sapphic enemies to lovers romance. 

Set in a world where only the Elves remain, Yeeran is a fierce warrior who, alongside her diviner sister Lettle and fellow warrior Rayan, stumbles upon the world of the Fae - a world they thought had ended thousands of years before. Captives in the Fae land, this book took on so many twists to the plot and I loved each of them - some you could sense were coming but others had me shook. 

There are so many fantastic characters: from our fierce sisters Yeeran and Lettle, to the powerful Furi, the mysterious Komi and the faithful Rayan. I absolutely adored Golan - the Lightless stylist to the Royal Fae - he read like a hug from a best friend. Pila and the obeah (magical companions) were right up there with my favourites too - Pila definitely had a little sassy side and some of her snarky comments to Yeeran made me chuckle at times. 

Thereā€™s action, friendships, betrayal, prophecy, romance, magic, spice(!) and so much to love about this book. For a fantasy novel it was an easy read and the world building made everything so vivid and easy to imagine. 

This was my first time reading a book by Saara El-Arifi and Iā€™ll definitely be highly anticipating the rest of this trilogy and checking out her other novels. Brilliant! 

Thank you to Harper Voyager UK, Saara El-Arfi and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest review. 
The Boy Who Fell From the Sky by Benjamin Dean

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Ah this book is delightful! It is magical and left me with a lovely fuzzy feeling at the end whilst not shying away from the complexities of human emotions. 

Zedā€™s father is a famous Demon Hunter, not just famous, THE BEST. This story is all about Zed discovering the truth about Demons and the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with it. Is he letting his father down? Has he been lied to his whole life? Should he do what others want and expect or stand up for his own beliefs? 

I adored this book from start to end. A host of characters to love and loathe and Zed himself struck the wonderful balance of being funny and compassionate. 

ā€œRejecting who you are, forcing yourself to become someone youā€™re not, is painful.ā€

This story is full to the brim of messages of acceptance and the importance of not pre-judging others without getting to know them. A wonderful message wrapped up in a magical adventure! 

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Childrenā€™s Books, Benjamin Dean and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest review. 
Then There Was One by Wendy Cross

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

3.5 stars 

This book has a ā€œThe Hunger Games meets Lostā€ kind of vibe which is what initially piqued my interest. 

Told from the POV of 3 characters: Bex, Raya and Zane who have all been chosen to compete in the once in a lifetime opportunity to win Ā£500,00 in famous reality show The Pinnacle. However all is not as it seems and it isnā€™t long before the 10 contestants realise there is more than money at stake as the competition takes a very swift and sinister turn. As the body count piles up, the tension increases as you wonder who is next and who could possibly be orchestrating such an event. All unfolds over a fast-paced read and although the ending wasnā€™t entirely surprising to me, it was still good. 

I liked the characters - Raya in particular was my favourite - but I canā€™t say I fully cared for them which definitely brings my rating down a little. Although we learn more about them as the book progresses, I just found it hard to really root for the others. It was definitely interesting to learn about their backstories and why it was they ended up in this situation in the first place. 

The world itself is well-created and the descriptions of the landscape were vivid enough that I was able to easily envisage the scenery as I read. The book is definitely fast-paced and a lot does happen. The ending has also left itself open for a second instalment which I would definitely check out from pure curiosity of what will happen next! 

Thank you to Penguin Random House UK, Wendy Cross and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest review.